A/N: Chapter six! Yay! And the next piece of the puzzle shall soon fall into place! Sorry about the delay guys, but I've moved to Indiana and I'm still getting sort of settled in. Anyway, I couldn't let you guys wait too long for the next chapter, so here it is. Thanks for the reviews I've received so far. Please keep them coming. I love to hear your feedback!
Summary: A Place Where I Belong: AU. Kagome accidentally discovers a secret that her abusive family has hidden from her. She was adopted. Desperate to find her birth mother, Kagome enlists the help of Inuyasha, a private detective who always finds what he's looking for. But what happens when she finally finds the truth? Will Inuyasha be able to help her find where she truly belongs?
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A
Place Where I Belong
Chapter Seven: Is This Love?
"So the wind tunnel is back?" Sango frowned. "That can't mean anything good…"
"It never did before. I doubt that this time is any different…" Miroku mused, staring at his cursed hand.
Kagome remained silent for a moment. Suddenly, she sighed deeply. "I don't think I can do this again…" she admitted to the group.
Sango blinked. "What do you mean by that, Kagome? You're as good a shot as you ever were!"
"That's not what I mean, Sango. I mean I don't think I can do this again. Look what happened last time. Look at what I did. Look at what this whole thing caused."
"Kagome…what are you saying?" Inuyasha worried.
Kagome directed her gaze toward the ground. "I can't face him again, Inuyasha. After what he put us through last time…and what he did to me in the future. I can't do it. I'm…I'm actually scared of him…"
"Kagome…" Inuyasha squeezed her shoulders lightly. "It will be all right. We aren't going to let Naraku get away with anything. Besides, he doesn't know where the jewel is…or where we are, and we're going to try to keep it that way for as long as possible…"
"Kagome, Naraku will not be able to find this place so easily," Sesshoumaru interjected. "It is well hidden, and has been so since it belonged to my grandfather. If Naraku could find it, we wouldn't be sitting around here chatting like we are."
"Exactly." Miroku smiled.
"How do we know that, though?" Kagome asked.
Kaede smiled. "This place is very secure, young priestess. Rest well while ye can. I will be heading back to my village. I can guarantee that Naraku will check there before he is smart enough to look elsewhere. And I will be there to create a diversion…"
"But granny Kaede…" Kagome began.
"Child, I will always be close by should ye ever need me," the old woman promised.
Kagome nodded. "You're sure you'll be all right?"
"Aye, child. I will be fine." She repeated, and without another word, she left the room.
Kagome watched her leave, and sighed deeply. "It's happening again…just like it did last time I was here in the feudal era…and just like it did in that screwed up version of the future we lived in. Why is everyone else trying to protect me? What did I ever do that was so damn great?"
Inuyasha couldn't help the surprised look that quickly registered on his face. "Kagome, take that back!" he all but demanded of her.
She frowned. "Think about it, Inuyasha…"
"Kagome, we help you…we try to protect you, because we love you," Miroku replied in a low voice. "And we don't want anything else to happen to you. You would do the exact same thing for us if we were in your spot, so I don't know why you think that this is any different…"
"It is only natural for a human like you to feel that way, Lady Kagome. You are a priestess. You see the good in others, and you've helped so many, but it seems as though you've forgotten that sometimes you deserve some help as well. But I'm sure that the shock of the day hasn't helped any either," Inuyasha's father interjected.
Kagome slowly nodded her head. "I…I'll feel better after a nap." She announced uncertainly. "I think I just need to get some sleep. This is too much. I finally think I'm free of that evil man and then everything takes a turn for the worst…"
"Not everything…" Shippo whispered to Inuyasha's father.
Sesshoumaru cleared his throat. "I'll show you to a place where you can sleep for the night. In the morning, when Rin returns, we will all meet again in the main hall for breakfast, and to talk of what lies ahead…"
Kagome smiled weakly, and followed behind Sesshoumaru, dragging Inuyasha with her.
He turned to the others, mouthed a 'be right back', and followed suit.
"This is a lot…" Sango agreed when she knew Kagome would be out of hearing range. "I just wonder how much time we'll have to cope with it before we have to confront it directly…"
"You mean this Naraku?" Aiko asked. It was really the first thing she had said apart from her earlier introduction.
Shippo cringed. "I'm glad you didn't know him, Aiko." He answered. "He was the most evil of all evils. He took pride in destroying lives…like he did to Sango, Miroku, Inuyasha, Kikyou, and Kagome…" he paused. "You know the stories, of course. I just hoped that none of us would ever have to live through that again. If I never had to face him again for the rest of eternity, it would be too soon for me."
"What are we to expect?" was her next question.
Shippo could only shake his head. Miroku was the one who answered. "The last time we dealt with Naraku in this time period, he was constantly devouring other demons…adding to his power…changing his form. It was nearly impossible to keep up with at times…"
"But we had Kagome, who could sense the shards and purify the demonic auras…" Sango began.
"And Inuyasha, who wouldn't let Naraku win. If Kagome wasn't there, he would have died trying to defeat Naraku himself." Shippo finished.
Inutaisho nodded. "I would expect he was very stubborn…" he took a deep breath. "But things will be different soon enough. This time, I'm hoping we can all have somewhat of a happy ending."
"Nice thought, father, but you weren't around last time to experience Naraku, either. He may have been a bit cocky, but he was not lacking in strength."
"Where's…?" Inutaisho began.
Sesshoumaru shrugged. "He is staying with Kagome until she falls asleep, father. He will be out momentarily."
"I still don't understand how Inutaisho is even here." Miroku broke in.
"I told you already. My daughter brought him back. Shimane did it quite on accident, too, if I remember correctly."
Sango's jaw dropped. "Your daughter…" she gulped, "a hanyou…had that much power?" she swallowed hard. "Are you telling me that a hanyou brought the Great Dog back from the dead?"
Sesshoumaru nodded. "Did I stutter? What else would you expect from me? My father is powerful, I am powerful, and my daughter, hanyou or not, will obviously inherit that trait." He allowed that information to sink in for a moment before he continued. "She has also volunteered to help against Naraku, should the need for her help arise. She is presently keeping watch for him…"
"Your daughter is…" Sango gasped.
Sesshoumaru nodded. "Yes."
Sango slowly managed to close her mouth and recover from her sudden shock. "What…power…" she managed to whisper before she sat down.
"Yes," Aiko agreed. "I have seen her in battle. And if this Naraku is as terrible as everyone seems to think, her skills will aid us well…"
"If she is that powerful, imagine if Inuyasha and Kagome had a pup…" Shippo mused.
Miroku looked at him with a lecherous grin, but Shippo shook his head. "No, Miroku. I'm serious. I mean, Inuyasha's never really brought anyone back from the dead before, but he packs quite a big punch for a hanyou. He's beaten Sesshoumaru before. And Kagome…Kagome has yet to even really uncover the extent of her own power…"
"Yes," Sango mused unhappily. "I'd imagine years of fear and abuse have probably kept her from realizing her full potential…"
---
"Just get some sleep, Kagome. It will make you feel so much better. You've barely rested at all the last couple weeks. You need to relax." Inuyasha soothed her.
She snuggled into his shirt. "I don't want to be alone, Inuyasha. I'm still afraid. I'm afraid I'll wake up, and this will have all been some screwy dream, and I'll be back in that damn room again with him…"
"I would never let that happen." Inuyasha promised. "He'll never hurt you or any of our friends again, Kagome. I promise."
"Don't make promises that you won't be able to keep, Inuyasha…" Kagome mumbled sleepily.
He smiled, hugging her protectively. "I haven't yet and I don't intend to…" he answered her. "Kagome?" he whispered.
"Hmm?" she groaned.
"Earlier, when you…well…did you mean to…"
"Hmm?" she repeated tiredly.
"Nothing…" he smiled. "Sleep tight. I'll talk to you about it later…" He placed a kiss on her forehead and tucked her in.
---
"Could we stop talking about Kagome and Inuyasha's hypothetical children for three seconds and address the fact that we still are going to have to deal with Naraku?" Sesshoumaru snapped at the group.
"Yes, could we?" Inuyasha smirked as he entered the room. "You know, considering that neither Kagome or myself were in the room while you were discussing these non-existent children?"
Sesshoumaru nodded in agreement. "The sooner we come up with a strategy, the better off we will be when the time comes."
"If you remember correctly, Sesshoumaru…last time that whole strategy idea flew out the window when Naraku's took effect. From what Kaede has told us, we were all screwed, and Kikyou had to save our asses."
"Well she won't be around to bail us out this time." Sango reminded them.
"Which is why we will need Kagome to be willing and able to fight." Sesshoumaru finished. "I'd say we have a couple of days, maybe a week or two before Naraku figures out where we are. By that time, we need to be able to face him."
Inuyasha shook his head. "Sesshoumaru…that isn't enough time. Naraku has spent the last eighteen years making Kagome's life a literal living hell. How can we ask her to face him so soon? Do you really think that she would be ready for that in two weeks…?"
"No," Sesshoumaru admitted, and Sango and Miroku turned to stare at him. "But I think you can help her. You have to help her. It will be dangerous, yes…and we all know how you feel about her…"
"But I haven't even…" Inuyasha stammered.
"…but the fact is," Inutaisho continued, "that Kagome has the jewel of four souls…and without her and her power, we can fight all we want, but we will never truly be rid of Naraku."
"Inuyasha…we have to protect future generations from Naraku…from suffering how we suffered. And we will need Kagome to help us." Shippo added.
Inuyasha sighed. "Kagome is scared. I don't even think I know all that Naraku put her through. She may be the only one to ever know the truth of that. But how am I supposed to help her overcome something like that? Why does it have to be me?"
"Thick-headed…" Sesshoumaru growled.
"Inuyasha, you idiot!" Shippo snarled. "Kagome loves you. She loves you. Haven't you noticed? And she may not trust herself right now, but she does trust you…and you can teach her to trust herself again and to believe in her own power." He paused. "We know you love her, too, Inuyasha…and none of us ever wants to go through what we went through again. Especially for Kagome's sake…"
"I'll…I'll do it…"
There was a collective gasp from the group as Kagome entered the room. Despite their heightened senses, the demons in the room had been to engrossed in their own conversation to even realize she was approaching.
"Kagome! I thought you were asleep! Uh, I mean," Inuyasha blushed in surprise. "Are you sure?"
"Exactly how much did you overhear, young priestess?" asked Inuyasha's father, much less shy than his son.
Kagome smiled, a small reddish tint appearing on her cheeks. "I heard quite a bit…"
"Kagome, I…"
"I know, Inuyasha…" Kagome smiled. "But everyone is right. If I didn't fight just because I was scared, then Naraku would win. I can't let that happen. I don't want to lose everything again…it was too painful the last time…"
"Told you…" Shippo whispered into Inutaisho's ear as Kagome took Inuyasha's hand.
---
"Lady Kaede…is that the sacred jewel of the four souls? That jewel has been gone for years! Where did you get it?" the young boy to Kaede's right stared at the glittering object.
She shook her head. "Of course not, child. 'Tis but an imitation only posing as the real thing. Nothing more than a clever diversion for those that wish to claim the real jewel…"
"What do you mean, Lady Kaede?" he asked next.
She smiled. "Do not worry yourself about it. Tell any villager that wishes to stay and fight to do so. Tell the rest that I have ordered an evacuation. The headman in the next village to the east is expecting everyone. Get any elderly, women, and children away quickly…"
"But…why?"
"Just do as I request…" she answered sternly.
---
"They think they will keep us from the girl with simple charms and diversions," Naraku smirked. "But what they forget is that I am no simpleton. And if given the choice…the stupid girl would readily give us the jewel that we seek."
"I doubt it…" Kagura mused. "She remembers everything now. Do you expect her to be that willing to hand the jewel over now? Besides, how do you know she even has it?"
"She and her friends could not have gotten here otherwise," Naraku explained, "and the girl was the guardian of the jewel…so of course she knows where it will be found."
Kagura laughed slightly. "And if you expect her to hand it over, then you are sadly mistaken…"
"She will. All I have to do is give her the choice."
"What choice…?"
"The jewel…in exchange for her life…" he smiled.
Kagura shook her head. "She would never agree to such a thing. She is a priestess. It is her job to protect the jewel."
"You could be right about that. But…she might if it was Inuyasha's life she was exchanging. She loves him. The fool. And for good measure, we'll get the fox demon. Kagome considers herself responsible for him. She loves him like a son. She loves them both. If I put them in front of her, she will have to hand over the jewel. Or watch them die…"
"How do you know she'll take the bait?"
"I know…" he assured her.
---
"Rin! You look…great! Wow! The last time I saw you, you were just a little girl!"
"And you haven't aged at all, Lady Kagome. It's very good to see you." She smiled.
Sesshoumaru smiled. The simple action nearly caused Kagome to do a double-take. "You have missed quite a bit while you were away, Rin. I'm sure you have noticed everyone has returned. But that means that our problems have returned as well. Naraku is alive and well again, unfortunately…"
Kagome shook her head at the worried look on Rin's face. "Not to worry. We've been up the better part of the night divising a strategy to use against him. While he hunts around feudal Japan for us, we'll be here…preparing for him…"
She looked at Inuyasha, and squeezed his hand lightly. "And if I have anything to do with it, none of us will go anywhere when this is all over…"
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A/N: I had to do it, guys! Next section will be out soon! Thanks for the reviews I've received so far…please keep them coming! Hope you guys liked this chapter, and that it has prepared you for what lies ahead…
Next, on 'A Place Where I Belong': Naraku crashes the party, and Kagome finds herself in a high stakes game of bargaining. Will her destiny to protect the sacred jewel of four souls force her to give up those that she loves? Tune in next time to find out!
Upcoming Story Info:
'Far Away': Something happens, and Inuyasha fears he may lose Kagome forever. Can he finally admit what's in his heart and save her…and himself? A multi-chapter songfic based on the Nickelback song 'Far Away'.
'Somewhere, Sometime': Kagome and her best friend Sango find a photo in the Higurashi shrine's well house. They've found strange things in the well house, and even the well before, but this is different. Kagome finds herself falling in love with the man in the photo...a hanyou. Even stranger is the writing on the back of the photo...in Kagome's own handwriting! Will Kagome be able to unlock the mystery of this man...a man she will never get to meet...? Or will she...?
COMING VERY SOON!