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Chapter 22 - Risky Business

"So you'll do it?"

"I'm not sure. This is dangerous… what if we get caught?"

He knew that it was risky, that was exactly why he'd briefed all his men before he'd allowed them to go out and talk to others. He didn't need to be told again how incredibly perilous this plan was. "We won't get caught. By the time he realizes, it'll be too late. We'll have won. So… are you in?"

The man nodded hesitantly, "…I guess."

"Tell others about this. It'll increase your chance of surviving."

"Got it."

"Now go, before we're seen together and people get suspicious."

The man nodded and turned away.

A mop of light brown hair topped off the tan face and serious green eyes of Haru. He watched as the man scampered away. That was another one on his side, but that was still not nearly enough.

Haru glanced around and his eyes rested on one of his men approaching him inconspicuously. He walked toward him casually and together the two began wandering aimlessly. "What is it Ryu?"

Ryu gazed into the distance, "I just came to tell you that the others are making progress and a lot of the men are agreeing to join us…"

Haru sensed that there was more news. News that was not necessarily good news, so he gently prompted the man, "But…?"

"But Sai raised a good point earlier on. He said that the men might say that they'll join us… but we have no guarantee that they actually will."

Haru chose his answer carefully, "Once the men see that we have powerful reinforcements, they will have no more doubts. Tell Sai that he need not worry."

Ryu nodded and retreated.

Haru frowned and pondered what Ryu had said. He was right of course, they didn't have any guarantee at all that these men wouldn't turn around and tell Naraku all about his little scheme; nothing to make sure that these men wouldn't back out at the last second and leave him and his handful of men to fight alone.

Haru saw another man he could "convert" walking alone so he quickly pushed his thoughts to the back of his mind and moved towards him.

He had no time for doubts; no room for mistakes.

Shrouded by the wispy clouds, Kagura observed the events happening on the ground from high above, undetected by the humans on the ground. She'd manipulated the wind to carry the voices of the men up to her.

'So… this boy is going to rebel is he? Foolish is what he is. These humans will be no match for the demons that Naraku has working for him. This is suicidal. Perhaps I should report this to Naraku…'

Kagura propelled her feather away from the human camp. She meandered above the trees, heading slowly for Naraku's residence.

'Perhaps I shouldn't report this! This is the chance I've been waiting for! These humans might not be as stupid as I thought they were. If they're leaving our side, they're joining Inu Yasha and Sesshomaru. If I were to join these miscreants, I might even get my heart back from Naraku. Maybe this isn't such a bad thing.'

Kagura's path altered and she flew out in the direction that Inu Yasha should be.

After flying at a high velocity for a while, the demoness finally spotted the group far below. They had made progress, but not nearly enough progress. They were still over a week away from Sesshomaru's castle and Kagura knew that Naraku was getting impatient. He would not wait.

'But if Inu Yasha isn't there… then they might not win. I might not get my heart back; I might be stuck under Naraku's thumb forever!' Kagura shivered at the thought, 'Maybe if Naraku were to send a demon to tell them that they're going too slow they would speed up…'

Kagura sped back to Naraku and quietly entered his chambers. She waited for him to acknowledge her presence before speaking.

"Kagura? Is there something that I can help you with?" he asked in a smooth voice without looking up.

"I have some information about Inu Yasha."

"Mm?" Naraku turned to face her. This had caught his attention nicely. "What is it?"

"They are still quite a ways away from the Western Lord's castle."

"That's it?" Naraku asked, clearly disappointed.

"I think that we could get his group to reach the castle faster if they had some incentives. Perhaps if we were to tell them that the attack is to take place at noon four days from today?"

"Yes, yes, do that. Send the same demon from last time."

Kagura dipped her head before exiting the room. She found the demon and told him what he'd been assigned. The demon departed at once, leaving Kagura to her thoughts.

'If I were to join Inu Yasha… I could get my heart back and then I would be as free as the wind. I wouldn't have to answer to anyone…' Kagura's mild deliberations snowballed until she had no more doubts about what she had to do. 'Naraku doesn't deserve to wield the power of the wind. I'm going to join Haru and Naraku will fall.'

Kagura shut herself in her room and thought about how this was going to play out. She knew how big of a chance she was taking, but it was worth it. Anything would be worth the risk if she could just get her heart away from that vile demon.

Inu Yasha was suddenly alert, his nose shot into the air. A growl escaped his throat, "Naraku," was his only answer when his teammates looked at him quizzically.

Miroku cast a glance at the women before sprinting after Inu Yasha who'd set off at breakneck speeds following the scent.

Sango quickly changed into her demon slayer's outfit before she and Kayo leapt onto a transformed Kirara and flew after the males.

Inu Yasha stopped short at the foot of another destroyed village and a disgustingly familiar demon.

The demon cast a sideways glance at Inu Yasha before commenting, "What took you so long?"

Inu Yasha growled, "What do you want?"

The demon pretended to think about what to say until the rest of the group was pooled around Inu Yasha. Finally, he opened his mouth, "Naraku-sama has set a date for the attack and he thought that you should know so that you might grace us with your presence." The demon chuckled to himself before he continued; "He's going to attack the castle in four days at noon whether you're there or not."

Inu Yasha's pupils dilated as he stared at the demon. A sudden yelp from behind him caught his attention and he turned to find Kayo crumpled on the ground with a worried monk and a petrified demon slayer crouched next to her.

"Kayo! What's wrong?" Sango asked frantically. "Miroku, what's happening to her?"

"I think it's one of those headaches that Hao mentioned…" Miroku answered.

Inu Yasha muttered to himself about all the unnecessary risks the group had to face before turning back to the demon. He eyed the demon dangerously and unsheathed his sword. He would kill this annoying pest here and now.

The demon's eyes followed the hanyou's movements. He smirked at Inu Yasha's determined face, "Don't make me laugh mortal." He turned and cast one last glance at Inu Yasha. He was about to start fleeing when his eyes widened in shock.

As a stunned Inu Yasha watched, a thin line appeared, running from the demon's head straight through to his feet. Blood spurted from the cut and the demon abruptly split in two, his remains falling on opposite sides of the path.

Kayo was still writhing in pain on the ground. She was clutching her head and her teeth were clenched. Miroku was beside her doing everything in his power to help her.

Sango got up from the miko's side and slowly walked to Inu Yasha's side, watching the sight before her.

Amidst the shower of blood, there stood a figure wielding a dripping blade. The figure slowly began to approach the group.

His bright orange hair tussled and his green eyes upset, Shippo stomped into Kaede's hut. He was dirty, tired, disappointed and angry at himself.

The old miko who had been eating at the time, stopped at the noise and looked up. Spotting Shippo, she put down her bowl and eyed him quizzically, "Shippo? Is that you? Weren't you supposed to go with Kagome and Sesshomaru?"

Shippo's lower lip quivered pathetically, "I-I was! B-but they left too f-fast! I c-couldn't catch up to th-them! I even w-went after them for a while, b-but they were going too f-fast!"

The old miko was shocked, "You followed them? Do you know how dangerous that was?"

Shippo wiped at his eyes, "I know it was risky to follow them with all those demons out there… but Kaede-san, I had no choice! I had to follow my okaa-san. I had to make sure that she was okay!"

Kaede gazed at the kitsune sympathetically and lovingly picked a twig out of his hair. "There, there Shippo. I'm sure that Kagome is fine. Sesshomaru-sama hasn't hurt her yet so I'm certain that he won't hurt her at all." She offered the boy a smile of assurance.

He wiped away his tears and asked shakily, "Are you sure Kaede-san?"

"Hai, of course I am. Kagome is fine. She's perfectly safe and happy. Everything will be okay. She'll be okay."

Pain.

All she knew was pain; searing, pounding pain.

Pain that she'd never felt before.

Pain that had assaulted her so suddenly that she'd been caught totally off guard. Everything had dulled in comparison to the sharp, unbearable pain that she was feeling now. Her senses, her thoughts, her awareness, her surroundings; everything took a backseat to the crippling pain that had her sprawled on the floor, oblivious to everything around her.

Through the haze, she could hear rumbling. It was soft rumbling, barely loud enough for her to hear, but it was something. Perhaps if she concentrated on it, it would dull her pain. Despite the discomfort it caused her, she summoned the last dregs of her willpower and forced herself to focus on the rumbling through all the dizzying pain.

"Kagome? Kagome! Can you hear me? Kagome!"

Voices.

It wasn't just noise.

They were voices… calling her name.

Perhaps they knew she was in pain?

Maybe they were willing to help her?

Kagome worked to open her mouth and she tried to remember how to form words.

'Help me!

I'm in pain!

Make it stop!

Help!'

What came out though was a grunt and nothing else. No matter how hard she tried, her mouth wouldn't form words. All that came out was the grunts of pain.

More rumbling.

Kagome concentrated again. She wanted to know what was going on.

Would they be able to help her?

Would they be able to stop the pain?

"What's going on?"

"I don't know! She just collapsed. I think she can hear us though. When I called out for her, she responded."

"I see. Is there anything you can do to help her?"

She didn't hear the answer.

The pain was too much.

A cry escaped her mouth and her hands flew up to her head subconsciously, clutching it in hopes that that would stop her suffering.

Suddenly, the pain dulled slightly and Kagome felt herself regaining her reasoning senses.

A cool feeling washed over her and most of the pain spiralled away.

She tried to force her eyes open, but it was no use, her eyelids were just too heavy.

Soon she was aware of a heaviness advancing on her. There was no use in trying to escape it; it was coming from all around her. She didn't even have the energy to resist, so she didn't even try. She allowed it to consume her and her consciousness, pulling her into the peaceful, painless depths of slumber.

"Will she be okay?"

"Hai."

"She's no longer in pain?"

"Iie. I cast a sleep spell. She should be sound asleep by now."

The darkness had melted into a scene and Kagome stood by, watching in horror. On an outcropping of rock, Sesshomaru and Naraku faced off. They flew at each other at inhuman speeds. They were moving so fast that all Kagome could see were two blurs.

'I should help… Sesshomaru could get hurt…'

Suddenly a cry sounded and Kagome started, praying that it hadn't been Sesshomaru who'd cried out.

Naraku was clutching his bloody shoulder and glaring daggers at Sesshomaru. Kagome let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. 'He's okay.'

As she watched, Sesshomaru slowly approached a wounded Naraku when, suddenly, out of nowhere, Inu Yasha appeared. He didn't look as he normally did. His shirt was torn and his eyes were red. Scars tattooed his skin and he was covered in blood. Whether it was his own blood or not didn't seem very important at the moment.

'He's become a full demon!' Kagome realized with a jolt.

"Inu Yasha!" she called, beginning towards him.

His head turned a fraction of an inch and when he spotted her, a crazed, murderous look entered his eyes.

He dove for Sesshomaru and completely ignored Kagome's presence.

"IIE! STOP INU YASHA!" Kagome screamed when she realized what was going on.

'He's going for Sesshomaru! No! Not now! Not when he's so close to finally killing Naraku!' Out of pure instinct, Kagome nocked an arrow and aimed it at Inu Yasha's speeding figure. Just as she was about to release the arrow, she hesitated.

'If I shoot… Inu Yasha will be purified. He'll die. I… I don't want him to die! But… Sesshomaru!'

Kagome struggled with herself. She couldn't decide whether or not to shoot. Unfortunately for her, that action would determine the fate of the Inu brothers. If she shot, Inu Yasha would be purified; if she didn't…

'I shouldn't shoot. Sesshomaru can handle himself. He wouldn't leave himself unguarded long enough for Inu Yasha to land an attack.'

Looking upon the scene before her told her otherwise. Sesshomaru's attention was completely focussed on Naraku. He paid no heed to anything around him. He didn't even notice his younger brother flying at him at a dangerous speed.

'I… I have to shoot!' Kagome decided. Of all the risky and dangerous things she'd done, this was by far the riskiest and the most dangerous. She was about to shoot someone who was supposed to be on her side.

As she was repositioning her bow, she noticed something. The scene had gotten further away.

'Hmm…that's odd.'

As she watched, the arena got further and further away from her as if the area between her and the battle was being stretched.

It was too late.

Her grip on her weapon relaxed and the bow and arrow cluttered to the ground. She fell to her knees and watched as the scene played out.

Sesshomaru finally noticed Inu Yasha and just as he was turning to block the attack from his brother, Naraku flew up behind him and impaled him with a poisonous tentacle.

Sesshomaru froze in shock and tried to leap away, but Inu Yasha broke through his weakened defences. Together, Inu Yasha and Naraku attacked him repeatedly.

Kagome caught the demon lord's gaze and was struck by the pleading look in his eyes. She watched as his expression hardened and a betrayed look entered his eyes. 'You are to blame for this,' a voice whispered in her head.

Inu Yasha stepped in between Kagome and Sesshomaru, breaking the eye contact. A deafening silence blanketed everything and Kagome heard a dull thud as Sesshomaru's body hit the ground. She was afraid to look, but when she finally did, she saw the lifeless face of the Western Lord. From his mouth trickled a thin trail of crimson blood.

"IIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

Her eyes shot open. She was staring at a white ceiling. She frowned. 'What's going on? Wasn't I just…?'

She blinked and her eyes explored the view before her. It was just plain white. Turning her head, her heart froze. She was staring into the concerned, golden eyes of the man she'd just let down; Lord Sesshomaru.

A/N) I know, I know, short chapter. I was just tying up some loose ends.

Review! :)