Chapter Nine
The Jewel

When she woke up, she was greeted for the second time by a bare chest- it was of the same Hanyou, but it had a different effect. He was so warm. Cuddling closer, she closed her eyes again. Maybe if he didn't know she was awake, he would stay and keep her warm longer…

"Kagome?"

He had seen- she should have known. Not moving, she opened her eyes. "Hmm?"

"You feel okay?"

"My head hurts, but otherwise I'm okay."

"Good."

"Where are we?" she asked, glad he had not made her move.

"Kaede's house. They plan on sending us somewhere, trying to find a place where Naraku won't get you. And they're looking up reasons why he would be so interested in you."

Inuyasha himself was surprisingly comfortable- he had been in many beds with many women, but never so intimately; except for maybe Kikyo, but that was a long time ago. It was strange, feeling so comfortable after a night of just watching her. Usually, he was gone before the woman woke up or he kicked her out as soon as she got up.

"Inuyasha?"

"What?" he asked, rolling over on his back and allowing Kagome to lie beside him.

"I'm sorry I'm such a burden."

He looked down at her, but her eyes were closed again. She must be talking about yesterday- when he called her a responsibility, making her sound like a liability. He said nothing- he wasn't comfortable enough to tell her that he didn't think of her that way- he was getting there, maybe. Unless something went wrong, like it always did.

There was silence for a few minutes before Kaede came in, carrying a tray of food. "Kagome, I'm glad to see your up. I'm sorry, I don't have another extra bed…he insisted."

Kagome smiled smally and sat up, noticing Inuyasha's hovering hand to offer assistance as needed. "I'm fine, Inuyasha," she said looking at him before looking at Kaede. "It's fine," she added, nodding. "He's warm."

"Keh." Inuyasha took a bite of the food Kaede sat down and shrugged. "I wanted to make sure nothing got by me again. Being in another room seems to be to far away for her not to get in trouble."

Kagome glared momentarily before tearing off a piece of toast. "It's not my fault."

Kaede sat down on a chair beside the bed, scratching her face absently. "Actually, Kagome, I think it's your family's."

Looking up sharply, Kagome's eyes widened. "What about them?"

"Your grandfather owned a shrine," Kaede said, wanting proof of that fact.

"Yes," Kagome replied, nodding. "He died two years ago- we sold the shrine and everything. My mother didn't want to deal with it, and my brother isn't interested in any of the old ways. I wanted to be a nurse, so I couldn't take care of it. I think it's more like a store thing now, a tourist trap."

"You didn't sell everything," Kaede replied, pulling paper from her dress pocket. "The records say that you kept some of the items."

"Yes…some things my grandfather didn't want me to sell, he babbled on about them all the time. They are supposed to be really powerful and everything, if you believe in all that," Kagome replied, shaking her head and not seeing the relevancy of it all. "They're useless."

"Not according to ledged, and not according to demons," Kaede said. "Where did you put these items, Kagome? They weren't in your apartment."

"No…my grandfather wanted them locked away." Kagome frowned, pulling toast apart. "Is that what Naraku wants? That old junk?"

"No, he wants the jewel." Kagome just stared- her grandfather had gone on and on about some jewel when he was alive, but she hardly ever listened. "The Shikon Jewel. The jewel that makes the user all-powerful, if you know how to wield it. It can make Hanyou's full human or demon; it can make demons even more powerful. It can do virtually anything if used properly."

"I doubt it's true. Its just legend…"

"The old demons remember times when a Miko lost her life to save it. There were demons that ruled with it, Kagome, and I think Naraku knows how to do so."

Inuyasha had been silent up until this point, but he finally spoke. "It makes half-demons full-demon?" he inquired, not eating for once. "Does it work?"

Kaede just looked at the silver-haired male, pity lining her face. "We need to get that jewel from where you are keeping it, Kagome," she said, turning her head back to the raven haired girl. "We have to destroy it. It's the only way to keep it from anyone's hand that plans on using it for bad deeds. I doubt any demon needs to have more power in this day and age."

Kagome nodded, shocked that a jewel she thought was worthless was causing all the trouble. "It's just an old relic…I doubt it even works, and this Naraku is doing all this for no point."

Inuyasha made an annoyed sound and got up, grabbing his pants from the floor. Noticing his face, Kagome saw a look on his face that she didn't recognize- he was obviously thinking, which might have been why she had never seen it before.

"Inuyasha? What's the matter?" He didn't answer Kagome as he left the room, not bothering to find a shirt.

Kaede watched him go with sad eyes. "Whatever ye do, Kagome, keep him from using that jewel on himself. Inuyasha has forever wanted to be a full demon…I fear that want will turn him against even Miroku and Sango. But he seems to have a soft spot for you…"She trailed off and Kagome stared at her, studying her worried face. "No good would come from him being full demon," Kaede said, rising. "Try, Kagome." Then she nodded, taking away the tray. "Now get ready, child. There is a dress there that you can wear- it's your size, I borrowed it from the neighbor. We are going to wherever you have this jewel."

--

Kagome kept the box tightly in her hands, sitting behind Inuyasha as he drove. "What are we going to do with this?" she asked, not wanting to open the box- she didn't know what effect it would have on Inuyasha and she didn't want to temp him, whether it worked or not. If Naraku went to these measures to get it, obviously it had some power.

"We are going to see Myoga," Kaede said. "He knows of the old legends. We are meeting up with a guard, just in case. Sango and Miroku will come, though they know they will be of little use. The wolf tribe had agreed to come- or at least, Koga and one other demon. Then anyone else that Sesshomaru assigned to duty."

Kagome was surprised, and she met Inuyasha's eye in the rearview mirror. "It sounds like a big production, just for this…"

"It's become less of a problem just amongst gangs, but more of a problem for the entirety of Japan and even the world," Kaede replied. "If Naraku got that jewel…"

"The entire earth would be screwed." Inuyasha spoke, driving to fast as they headed out of the city again.

"Yes," Kaede said, nodding her head gravely. "It must be avoided."

They pulled up to yet another house, though this one was neither grand nor run-down; simply somewhere in the middle. Myoga came out of the house and greeted Inuyasha warmly, who seemed annoyed by the entire situation.

"Myoga," Kaede said, greeting him. "We need to know how to be rid of a sacred jewel- it must be destroyed."

He was about to respond when another car pulled up- a large SUV- and Koga got out of the drivers seat. Hakkaku was in the other, and the wolf went to open the back seat, stretching out an arm to let Sango out.

"Those are extra hands if needed," Kaede said, nodding gravely. "Sadly, Naraku has been harassing us all in search of the Shikon Jewel."

Myoga stared, surprised, and glanced at Kagome. "The Shikon Jewel?" he asked, his voice high and excited. "Oh yes, that must be kept from Naraku's hands- if he got it, the entire world would be doomed!"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes, heading inside. "We all know that," he said darkly, not even greeting Miroku and Sango- it was very obvious something was bothering the half-demon.

Kagome watched him go, still holding the box to her chest. Was it something about the jewel? Ever since Kaede had mentioned it, he had been like this…moodier than his usual moody, which was odd.

Koga came up, following Kagome's gaze. "He's not worth it," Koga said, taking Kagome's hands. "I would take better care of you."

Kagome sighed, looking back towards the wolf demon. "It's not like that, Koga. Inuyasha doesn't like me like that. Or at least, I don't think so…I'm only a responsibility to him." She noted the sadness that she tried to hide in her voice, and obviously Koga noticed it too.

"You should focus on people that would love you," Koga said, putting a finger under her chin to make her look up.

Sango came over, leaning on her one crutch. "Inuyasha's watching," she said quietly, looking at the house- the Hanyou watched with burning eyes, darting between Koga, Kagome, and the box locked in her arms. "He looks so angry…Angrier than usual, at least."

Koga smiled arrogantly, drawing himself up. "He knows I'm a threat." About to speak to Kagome, she just went over to Miroku. Helping him up, he leaned on her as they managed to get him up the porch steps- Inuyasha opened the screen door, holding it for them.

As they walked past him, Kagome could have swore she heard him utter a threat to the monk- "You touch her, I'll take off your hand" – as well as Miroku moving his free hand from behind his back and paling a little under his tan.

Kagome hid her annoyance- sometimes it was like he cared for her, sometimes it was like he didn't give a shit. She wished he would make up his mind.

Everyone except Koga and Hakkaku came into the house. They stayed outside, scouting and listening for danger. Myoga was searching his books for stories about the Jewel while Kaede helped, and Kagome, Sango, and Miroku sat in the living room amusing themselves. Inuyasha, however, stood away from them, staring out the window.

Myoga finally stood up, his voice excited when he spoke. "How to destroy the jewel!" he said, his eyes darting back and forth as he read. His face fell slightly and he settled back in his seat, not noticing all eyes were boring into him, waiting for him to continue- except Inuyasha, who made no movement to show he had heard anything at all.

"The jewel can only be destroyed by the family line that created it," Myoga said. "Any records of the Miko's family tree were supposedly destroyed…Burned, in a great fire in the 1800s, but there may be some records at the Old Library in Kyoto." He paused again, his eyes searching for something on the pages. "The jewel can be burned with the body, or the woman or man can simply wish it away."

"Surely any sane person would choose that option," Miroku said, frowning at the vast differences between the two methods.

"There is a price. When the jewel is wished away, it disappears- and so will the wisher." He cleared his throat. "Plus, the jewel holds great power- only the purest of the pure will be able to wish such a thing away, most would have thoughts of using the jewel for their gain and power."

"So only true souls would be able to wish such a thing," Sango said. "Pure at heart with no hint of greed in them."

"Or at least little enough to where they can evade the power of the Shikon jewel," Kaede said, sighing. "We had best hope that this Miko's ancestry line are all very, very kindhearted and generous. Is there any way of knowing who the ancestry line is?"

"Well, the Miko who created the jewel's name was Midoriko," Myoga said. "If we go to a library and search the oldest records, maybe we can trace the family tree up to a point where we can trace it to this time."

Kagome sighed in something of relief- now, at least, they had hope and they knew what Naraku was up to. "Good. The sooner the jewel gets destroyed, the better."

Sango nodded. "Yes. I don't think he is going to ease up on us until he gets his hands on Kagome," she said, but she eyed the box. "We'll have to be extra careful now."

Kaede stood, her hands braced behind her back. "Myoga and I will visit the Old Library- it holds the oldest records of families in Japan. We will search and call you immediately if anything is found out."

Myoga nodded and disappeared, running to gather things for the trip. Kaede headed towards the door, turning when she got there. "Guard that jewel with your life, Kagome Higurashi. Let nothing tainted touch it. You're as kindhearted as they come." Kagome blushed at the compliment and nodded, fiddling with the hem of her skirt. "Inuyasha." The half-demon turned and glared at the old woman, hands crossed across his chest. "You guard her with your life. Even though she would have gotten involved in this regardless of you or not, she's still your responsibility."

Kagome turned her head away at the word 'responsibility'- is that what she was to everyone these days? Inuyasha snorted, turning back towards the window. "Nothings gonna touch her, old woman, when she's with me. Don't worry yourself into a heart attack."

There he went, being protective again- because of his responsibility to her. Kagome sighed and ran her finger lightly along the box, looking up as Myoga came in.

"As far as I know, Naraku does not even know I exist," he said, his nasal voice getting to Inuyasha's head. "I do not come up on any of your records, as that is how your father wanted it. You may stay at my house, because no one knows this is here, either, except those I trust with my address."

Sango stood, leaning on her crutch, and helped Miroku to his feet. "We'll go back to Sesshomaru and update him. If all three of us disappear, Naraku will suspect something."

"We've got spies everywhere," Miroku added. "When they make a move, we will know. We'll keep you updated, and try not to leave the house very often."

"I feel like an animal trapped in a cage or some shit," Inuyasha muttered darkly. "Seems like I'm always hiding, and I fucking hate it."

He slammed his fist against the wall and turned, going down a hallway towards the rooms. Everyone watched him until they saw him go into a room, slamming the door.

"He'll cool down," Kaede said, sounding sure of herself. "Be careful, child. The hospital needs you."

Kagome gave Sango another hug, bending down to give Miroku one as well. "I'm sorry guys," she said- what if something happened and she never saw them again?

"Don't apologize. We'll kill Naraku and you'll be free to go about your business," Sango said, heading for the door. "Be careful with that dog back there," she added loudly, hoping Inuyasha would hear.

"He'll be okay…he always is," Kagome said, sighing as they all left. "Just…watch yourselves."

"Don't worry about us, worry about you. You're the one Naraku wants dead," Miroku reminded her, pausing as he was halfway through the door. "Don't do anything drastic, and pass that message to our dear Hanyou."

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