DISCLAIMER: Don’t own ‘em. Sure wish I did though…

In the Blood

By: Lara Winner

Chapter 3: Here Doggy Doggy Doggy

It was only as Kagome walked across the cobble stone driveway that she realized she was facing the rear of the mansion. It had taken her a good ten minutes of stumbling around in the dark but eventually Kagome found the kitchen and from there she came upon an exit. It was no wonder she’d gotten herself lost. That particular wing of the mansion was designed for the servants.

From what she could tell the guestrooms faced the ocean and the only way to attain the view was from the front of the house. From any other side the only view would be the dense forest that edged the grounds. From the west wing she could see the gardens and from the east wing she could see the stables. But only the servants quarters the small building almost hidden it the trees behind the large estate.

It was a clever guise that had Kagome’s curiosity sparked. She may not have had the formal education of most girls her age but she was not stupid. There was only one reason to put a nondescript building away from the public eye and half in the shadows. Someone was trying to hide something.

She proceeded with caution, keeping her eyes peeled for guards. Her heart was beating with a rush of adrenaline and not for the first time she wondered if she should do this. She could turn back and go to her room and pretend she hadn’t seen a thing. No one would know and she could spare herself a lot of grief.

But that was the logical Kagome talking. The impulsive Kagome was positively excited at the prospect of an adventure. The danger and suspense were like sparkling jewels in the reach of a thief. She couldn’t resist the temptation to find out what was going on right under her nose.

Hugging her arms about her chest, Kagome rubbed her had up and down to bring a measure of heat to her cold flesh. There was a breeze blowing from the ocean and in the early morning hours it gave the air a noticeable chill. Dewy blades of grass tickled the tops of her feet around her sandals and she shivered as the icy damp soaked into her skin. It was better to focus on discomfort than the nervous tension rising with in her.

But Kagome’s unease only increased as she approached the pale brick building. It was foreboding, no doubt about that. With vines that scaled the walls from the ground to the roof, no windows, and an entrance that was set back into a small alcove devoid of lighting, it was a scene right out of a horror movie. She quickly shoved that thought away before she managed to scare herself and felt along the cold metal door for a knob or handle of some sort. On closer inspection she realized there was only a keypad with a slot to insert identification.

A slight pout curved her lips. She should have seen that coming. If there was something to hide Mr. Modegi was going to take proper precautions to insure it remained that way. It wasn’t as if he was going to give a nosy kid like herself and open door to snoop. Suddenly the armed security that manned the main gates along with the few she’d seen rounding the grounds began to make sense. Something was definitely going on here.

As if to confirm her suspicions the pitiful yelping that had originally caught her attention began once again, only this time it was faint and coming from the far side of the building. Frowning, Kagome followed the sound. Being extra cautious, she peered around the corner trying to make out anything in the vast shadows. There was no movement, only the muffled cries of an animal in pain. As she crept closer the sound grew louder, almost as if it were coming from inside.

Pressing close against the bricks at her back, Kagome held her breath as she peaked around the final corner. She half expected to see a guard or maybe another leashed inu-youkai, what she was not expecting was an opening in the ground a few feet from the wall that was designed to give the appearance of a cellar. Even from a few feet away she could see the glow of lights coming from below and it was enough to illuminate the steps that lead down it the underground compartment.

It wasn’t a normal cellar.

Cellars weren’t built with reinforced steel doors that radiated with the magic of powerful demon wards.

The noises that were coming from inside abruptly halted punctuated by the echoing slam of a heavy door. Unable to help herself, Kagome was already moving forward to investigate. It took a lot to push her uncertainty aside but she did, and silently went down the wide flight of stairs.

What greeted her was a set of corridors, one to the left and the other to the right. The walls were solid stone and the ceiling came low. Widely spaced neon lights cast the hallways in a dim glow that was barely enough to see by. Over the pounding of her heart Kagome heard the distinct murmur of voices and footsteps to her left. She ducked down the hall to the right and hid herself around the first corner until the approaching guards retreated. That was when she looked up and froze.

Directly across from where she stood was a large cage and the first thing to register in her mind was the pair of glowing red eyes staring at her. She gasped and tried to take a step back but she was already pressed against the stone wall behind her. A low growl rumbled from the dark mass of fur and Kagome could do nothing but watch as the creature rose to its feet taking a threatening step forward. It was a dog. A really big dog that was a few inches taller than her while on all fours. Its black fur was matted with dirt and its teeth were bared giving her a close up view of six-inch long fangs that were dripping with saliva.

Her first impulse was to run. Her second was the sudden surge of miko energy that rose to the surface setting her skin tingling and enveloping her in a violet shield.

But Kagome needn’t have worried. As the youkai drew close the bars that kept it confined in the cage frizzled with an electric pulse and it was then that she noticed the wards. The inu-youlai gave a whine and backed away from the purifying power but its ruby eyes never left her own as it hunched low, waiting for the power to fade so it could spring.

As Kagome looked away she realized that the entire corridor was nothing more than a row of cages. Actually they were more like cells, lined with stone and earth and partitioned off by thick titanium bars. She stepped back into the main hallway and was pretty certain of what she would find on the three rows that branched off parallel to the first. A quick glance revealed more cages.

"This is like an under ground kennel" she whispered to herself softly, still a little surprised over the discovery. But now that she understood her surroundings the thick odor of wild animal that clogged the stale air began to make sense.

Curiosity had long since won out over self-preservation. As Kagome took to walking each corridor a spark of anger flared to life. Most of the cells were empty but the four that were occupied were filthy. It was obvious they were not cleaned regularly. Stained straw covered the floor and if she looked closely she could see creepy crawly things moving around in it. Kagome shivered but the youkai didn’t seem bothered by the idea of bugs in their fur. Instead they seemed more concerned about taking a bite out of her.

To say which was in worse condition, the youkai or their cage, was impossible. She found it odd that as inu-youkai with the ability to take human shape, they remained in their canine form in such a cramped space. But then she had to wonder if they had the strength to transform. It was apparent that they were underfed. Their fur seemed to hang off their bones, sickeningly loose. And they needed to be bathed desperately, if the stench coming from each cage was anything to go by. It was sad to see that kind of disregard for a living creature and she couldn’t help but feel sorry for them.

Each row only held eight cages so it wasn’t long before Kagome found herself at the end of the fourth corridor approaching the last cage. Unlike the other cages all spaced evenly apart, this one was angled into the corner making it more narrow and setback into the shadows. At first it looked as though it were empty but as she drew closer she began to decipher the figure huddled in the corner. It was small compared to the other youkai and for a second she thought it was a youkai pup but her senses expanded and the human aura she detected caught her off guard.

A hanyou?

Suddenly the faint shape of a human body with its knees drawn up to its chest became visible to Kagome. She gasped and the soft noise caused the hanyou’s head to jerk up pinning her with eyes that reflected the meager light. It regarded her silently, lifting its nose to sniff the air. After a few more tentative sniffs the hanyou unfolded its limbs and began to crawl forward.

The shadows surrounding the hanyou receded as he came closer to the light. Instantly Kagome recognized the long silver hair that fell over the boy’s bare shoulders, the careless yet graceful way he moved, even the furry triangles that flicked back and forth atop his head. But she couldn’t stop the breath from catching in her throat as her gaze met the lazy golden eyes watching her suspiciously.

It was those eyes. There was something muted in their translucent amber depths that wrenched Kagome’s heart. It wasn’t sadness or even hurt. She couldn’t even say it was defeat. Maybe it was little of each and something else, something cold and violent that churned just beneath the surface.

Involuntarily she took as step toward. The boy crouched down and she could tell by his position that he was prepared to either lunge forward or scuttle back. There was a measure of interest in his expression and he kept sniffing the air as if couldn’t identify her scent. Then suddenly his eyes shifted past her and an angry snarl ripped from his throat.

The vicious sound coincided with a sudden cry from behind her and Kagome froze.

"Hey you! Hold it right there!"

Even if Kagome had any intention to run, which she didn’t, hearing the guard cock his gun made her blood run cold. It didn’t help when a large beefy hand gripped her arm tightly and spun her around almost causing her to topple to the ground.

The barrel of the gun was tucked beneath her chin. "What the fuck are you doing here kid? This is private property. That means no trespassing!"

Kagome could stare wide-eyed, afraid to breathe. Between the gun and burly mad towering over her, she couldn’t utter a word to save her life. Not that the guard would hear her over the frenzied snarling coming from behind her…

"Looks like you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time." The guard laughed, flashing her a cruel smile full of rotting teeth. At a particularly loud growl he kicked at the bars sending metal clanking against metal as he gave the hanyou a disgusted look. "Pipe down you stupid fucking mutt!"

"Please don’t hurt me." She pleaded.

Again the guard laughed. "That’s not for me to decide. You’re gonna come with me girly and pay a visit to my supervisor."

The hold oh her arm tightened and Kagome was left with no choice but to follow as the guard started to pull her down hall. She cast one last glance over her shoulder toward the caged hanyou boy. He was close to the bars as he could stand without getting zapped by the crackling ward. His feet were braced, claws at the ready, and teeth bared looking quite formidable. But what burned into Kagome’s mind as she was dragged around the corner and out of sight was those beautiful golden eyes stained as red as blood.

~ ~ ~ ~

"And for our top story this morning… Sesshomaru Hamada, Tribe Council candidate, has once again publicly denied any involvement in the disappearance of his brother Arashi Hamada. Sources have reported that as the election for Tribe Council chairman draws near rumors regarding the disappearance of Arashi Hamada are circulating. Though relatives close friends and supporters have spoken in favor of the politician claiming a close bond between the brothers, justice officials have not ruled out Sesshomaru as a suspect. This reminder could not have come a worse time for the Inutaki campaign. In the press conference held just minutes ago the politician has amended his innocence and reaffirmed his dedication to finding the culprit and his brother’s whereabouts. And in direct quote from the leader of the Inutaki, "I know my brother is alive. I can feel it." showed his hope for his brother’s well fare. Yet as of now the alleged abduction of three year old Arashi Hamada remains unsolved after nearly fifteen years and-"

With a satisfied smirk Naraku pressed the power button on the television remote killing the female reporters monologue mid sentence. He leaned back in chair breathing a contented sigh. It was a beautiful morning. Enjoying breakfast in the solarium with a picturesque view of the Migihara Ocean… The moment was something to savor. And the news report only added to the sweetness.

Sesshomaru was feeling the strain of the hanyou’s absence during this crucial time and that was always good news to hear, for not only did it put the arrogant son of a bitch in his place but it promoted the clear conscious of his own campaign. It never hurt to make your opponent seem shady to public eye.

But basking in this new development was cut short as Naraku’s cell phone began to ring. His smile widened at the name revealed by the caller ID.

"Tsubaki, love, always a pleasure to her form you." he drawled.

A dry chuckle met his exaggerated greeting. "My aren’t we in a good mood."

"Never better actually."

"I’m sure." She replied almost snippily, but as was her way she wasted no time getting directly to the point. "I’m returning your call and assuming you have good reason for bothering me."

Had it been anyone else speaking, the sharpness in her tone would have earned them Naraku’s scorn. But coming from Tsubaki it was refreshing and rather amusing.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do have a very good reason for contacting you. It seems I’ve managed to get my hands on a very valuable treasure and I am in need for someone with your vast expertise of spell casting to assist me in this matter."

"My level of skill as a spellcaster is well known so drop the pretense at flattery and get on with it. You’ve already got my attention."

Ahh… Tsubaki knew him too well. As old acquaintances she was a useful ally but they would always be at their best when pitted against each other. But as of late there was no reason to buck heads and while he would never actually trust the spellcaster, her greed matched his own and it made her utterly predictable.

"Then I will make this short and simple." he smirked, "I need all the information you can give me pertaining to mastering the powers of a miko."

Once again Tsubaki laughed. "A miko? I’m not sure you realize what you’re asking."

"A spell Tsubaki, that is all I need."

"There is more to it than that. First you must find someone with this ability and that will be rather difficult. While they do walk among us they are a very rare breed and I know of no spells to draw them out."

"There is no need for that. I’ve had the fortune to come a cross a child with the power in her blood. All I need is for you to show me how to harness it."

"As I said it is not that simple." She snapped. "Do you realize what you are dealing with. Miko’s are not human and nor or they youkai Naraku. They are genetic abnormalities that result from centuries of humans and youkai inter-mating. The extent of this girl’s power can rival that of the greatest youkai granted she is trained properly on how to use it. But this power is raw and when directly tapped from the source can be quite uncontrollable. Heed my warning. It is dangerous to dabble with something you know so little about."

This was not what he wanted to hear and Naraku’s good humor was quickly vanishing

"Your concern touches me, really, but believe I can handle this child. Just give me a potent spell to control her and I will personally make sure you are well compensated."

"I am going against my better judgment on this but if you insist…" she sighed. "This is not a discussion we should have over the phone. If you are sure this girl is what you say she then I will have to give you a bit of schooling on how to proceed. Contact me when you can spare the time I will see what I can do."

That was more along the lines of what he wanted to hear. "That’s my girl. I knew you would come though for me."

"You know I’m not about doing favors. This will cost you dearly." Tsubaki warned.

"I expected nothing less. Now, I am scheduled to return to Laundith later this week. I will be in touch when I arrive. I’d like to meet with you as soon as possible."

"Very well." she agreed. "By the way, with the details I must explain be sure to set aside a few days."

"Come now love, you know I run a tight schedule…" he let the words trail off suggestively earning him a laugh from the spellcaster.

"If you want my help bad enough you’ll make time."

"You’re an evil woman. You have no mercy for anyone." He teased, though his words were the truth.

"And neither do you so it seems we’re evenly matched."

"But I intend to become all the more powerful once I can put that little miko to good use."

The faint thread of rueful humor faded from Tsubaki’s voice as she said, "I know what you intend to do. You think the world will be yours for the taking, don’t you?"

"Of course. Why settle for a little when I can have it all?"

"Don’t get too overconfident yet. The power of a miko is strong but there are ways to counter it. Remember that."

"Yes.. yes.. yes." He brushed her off impatiently. "You can give me this lecture when I come for my lessons." Then he snickered. "Don’t tell me you’re developing a conscious?"

"Not at all. I’m merely watching my back. I’m not foolish enough to give you a weapon and then have you stab me in the back with it. Give me a little more credit."

When I strike you won’t see it coming… "You never disappoint me."

"Neither do you Naraku… neither do you." she laughed.

~ ~ ~ ~

Kagome’s visit with the kennel supervisor had gone rather well. Witnessing the pompous guard that had treated her so rudely get a tongue lashing from Guyo, his superior, for daring to lay a hand on a guest of Naraku’s was the highlight of her morning. It almost made her believe there was justice in the universe. But after she was shooed from the kennel the rest of her day had been… interesting.

Kagome was a young woman of her word. If she told Naraku that she would work for the five hundred dollars he offered her then by gosh she was going to work. That had seemed like a simple enough agenda and straight from the kennel she had gone to the kitchens seeking something to do. But the cook took one look at her, turned up his nose and told her to find the head housekeeper because he would not have her make a mess of culinary creations.

Feeling much like a scolded child, it had taken nearly an hour before Kagome managed to track the woman down. She explained her situation to the stern-faced neko-hanyou only to have her request to help once again brushed aside.

After pestering everyone in the manor, Kagome was at a loss as to what to do. It seemed no one wanted to be bothered by her. She’d even gone as far asking the gardener and the stable manager but just like the others they had no use for her. She had been tempted to try the kennel but she wasn’t too eager to push her luck just yet. While Guyo had told her it was okay to come and go he also warned her that they could not be responsible to keep an eye out for her and it was far better for her safety if she kept well away.

With nothing else to do Kagome had wandered back to her room. She was going to take a nap to try and put and end to the savage boredom plaguing her but one look out of the glass balcony doors changed her mind in heartbeat. To her delight she was finally able to see the ocean in all it’s glory and she then spent the rest of the afternoon parked on her balcony watching the blue water shimmer in the golden sunlight.

It was a peaceful way to spend the afternoon. Or at least it should have been but no matter how hard she tried Kagome idle musings kept straying back to her golden eyed hanyou.

She couldn’t begin to explain why the image of him would not leave her head but it was stuck there popping in and out of her thoughts. She wasn’t sure what to think or why he was having such an effect on her. He sure as hell wasn’t the first hanyou she’d ever come across and he wasn’t the cutest one either. But he was the first one she’d ever known to be so badly mistreated. Was that why she developed a funny little ache in her chest when the memory of his face distracted her?

Was her soft heart responding to his distress? Or was her sixth sense telling her to stay very far away?

It was just another piece of the puzzle in the mystery surrounding the boy. And what a mystery it was. There were so many questions she was dying to ask but Kagome had the feeling that eve if she asked Naraku she wasn’t going to get those answers anytime soon. Maybe never. Besides, it was pointless to get attached to the boy because as soon as her deal with Naraku was complete she would be leaving for the Northern Border.

All the way around it would be better for her to forget all about him.

But despite Kagome’s logical reasoning she couldn’t get the boy out of her head. It was those eyes. They were so soulful and shuttered that they haunted her. There were emotions hidden beyond the gold just begging to be released. Yet their crimson counterpart frightened Kagome. Like a rose with sharp thorns, the entreating amber became a roaring tempest of cold hatred reflected in twin pools of scarlet. The anger and the violence were very real and barely contained.

A little voice inside Kagome insisted that there was more to it. There was measure of control he maintained and she’d seen it when he was fighting. He was not in a mindless rage. Each maneuver had been well thought out. Still, he was quite dangerous in that state and she shuddered to think of what his claws would feel like tearing at her skin.

It was that train of thought which roused Kagome from her post and prompted her to find some kind of physical activity to occupy her mind. As if in response her stomach grumbled reminding her that she hadn’t eaten since the night before.

Humming under her breath, Kagome wandered her way back to the kitchens. There was a light bounce in her step because there was food near by that she could eat when she was hungry and she didn’t have to starve, at least for another few weeks. She was a simple girl, which made her very easy to please.

The cook wasn’t too happy to see her when she flounced into the kitchen through the double swinging doors leading from the hall. His foreign accent slurred the cursed he spouted as he began flailing pots and pans while yelling at his poor cowering assistant in their native language. Kagome didn’t miss the dark looks the stocky, balding chef sent her way but she smiled anyway seeing as it only made him that much more irate.

Ignoring his indignant shrieks, half of which she couldn’t understand, Kagome dug around in the fridge looking for something that she could take to eat elsewhere. Giving the cook a coronary was fun but his high pitched voice was already giving her headache so perhaps it was a blessing that he sent her from the kitchens. Spying a round loaf of savory bread and a container of strawberries, Kagome snatched the items and dashed from the kitchen hoping to escape the wrath of the demented chef.

The sun was beginning to set as Kagome took her hard won supper outside to happily munch away in peace and quiet. It didn’t take long for gaze to stray across the driveway toward the kennel and she quickly looked away. But it was no use. The hanyou was already on her mind and with a pang of guilt she looked down at the food in her hands wondering if he was as hungry as she was.

I guess there’s no sense in eating alone…

With a resigned sigh, Kagome made her way to the kennel all the while berating herself for her compassionate nature. She knew it probably wasn’t a good idea but she also knew she’d only feeling guilty if she didn’t at lest make the effort to see if the boy was hungry. She felt it was pretty safe to guess that the guards didn’t feed him well. He might appreciate her generosity.

Minutes later Kagome approached the hanyou’s cage cautiously. This time he was watching her, sitting with his back against the stone wall behind him with one leg propped up and his elbow resting on his knee negligently. The way the hanyou lounged caused the soft glow of light that spilled into his cell to play off the pale skin of his bare chest and she was surprised to see that only the faintest traces remained of the injuries he had acquired during his fight the previous night.

Kagome took another step closer. Molten gold followed her every move and that was the only sign of life the hanyou exuded. He didn’t even blink as she settled down on the earth floor beside the bars that separated them.

She knew he wasn’t dead, he was breathing after all, but his absolute stillness unnerved her. She gave a nervous laugh, lifting the wrapped goodies in her hands. "I have some food. Are you hungry?"

No response.

She tried again. "Food see? Do you want food?"

Still nothing.

Maybe he didn’t understand her, she realized. Placing the packages in her lap, Kagome opened the bread and broke a piece off. She made a show of bringing to her lips and popping it in her mouth, chewing slowly. This time she got a reaction. The golden eyes trained on her own dropped to her mouth and a look of longing flashed across their depths. The boy swallowed hard.

So he is hungry.

Breaking off another piece, Kagome slipped her arm through the bar and held it out to him. He stared at the offered food distrustfully and made no move to take it. But his hunger was once again given away as he licked his lips.

Kagome rolled her eyes. "If you want it come get it."

The furry ears nestled in his silver hair flicked forward but his gaze refused lift from her hand. With a small shrug she pulled her hand back and took the piece of bread for herself. Again the boy swallowed hard, his gaze lifting to her mouth.

Tearing off another chunk she held it out again. This time his entire body tensed and she knew he was weakening. Wondering if her own unease was what kept him at bay, she tried calling him in a gentle voice. "Come here, I’m not going to hurt you."

His fists clenched but he didn’t move.

"Here doggy doggy doggy!" she sang, waving the food exaggeratedly.

Golden eyes snapped up giving her a very nasty look.

Kagome blinked.

Does he understand me?

"You know what I’m saying, don’t you?" she asked, her cheeks tinged with an embarrassed blush.

"Feh!" he snorted. "Of course." His ears flicked in agitation and he averted his gaze back the food she offered.

So he was capable of speech. Kagome was impressed. It wasn’t likely the guards had taken the time to teach him so he must have taught himself. Flashing him a blinding smile, she asked. "Are you hungry?"

"Yeah."

She frowned and reached further in the cage. "Then come and get some. I don’t mind sharing with you."

He looked up at her again and this time there was accusation in his eyes. "Why? You tryin’ to get me in trouble or something?"

"How would I do that?"

"I ain’t supposed to take food from nobody" the hanyou snapped.

"Oh, I see. Well in that case," Kagome winked, "I won’t tell if you won’t?"

He looked away stubbornly.

"Suit yourself. If you don’t want any then I guess I’ll leave." She made as if to stand and the hanyou leapt forward reaching out and snatching the piece of bread from her fingers. He was quick, moving faster than her eyes could follow. She gasped, pulling her arm back.

He sat down close enough to the bars that she could reach out and touch him if she wanted. He sniffed the bread once then stuffed it into his mouth, barely chewing and nearly swallowed it whole. His expression turned expectant as his gaze dropped down to the rest of the loaf she held in her hand.

Dividing it in half, she handed the hanyou his share and watched with wide eyes as he tore into the chunk and devoured it in less than a minute. Breaking one last bite off for herself, Kagome handed him the rest of her own share and laughed as he polished it off just as quickly as the first one.

"You sure are hungry."

The hanyou blushed.

"Want some strawberries?" she lifted the container fill with bright red berries for his inspection.

"What’s are st-ar-bee-ry?" he asked.

"It’s fruit. You’ve never had strawberries before?"

"No."

Kagome opened the plastic container and handed a berry to her companion. Taking one for herself she explained, "You hold it by the little green leaves and bite into it like this." her demonstration ended in a sigh of pleasure as she enjoyed the sweet tasting fruit she hadn’t had since she was a child.

He sniffed at the small red berry tentatively. Mimicking Kagome’s hold on the fruit, he bit into it and began to chew. The uncertain expression on the boy’s face made her chuckle. It quickly turned to a startled laugh as he came close to getting stung by the wards when he held out his hand demanding more.

Kagome grinned. "They’re good huh?"

The boy nodded as he accepted the handful of fruit Kagome handed him. He wolfed his strawberries down just as quickly as he did the bread. When he was finished there was the barest hint of a smile on his face.

Kagome ate her berries slowly, savoring the taste of each one. No doubt the chef would go ballistic once he found them missing but at that moment she really didn’t care. This was too good a treat to pass up.

It seemed sharing her supper had been the right idea after all. The hanyou was silently observing her again with a poorly veiled look of interest. He was sitting close, not huddled against the far wall so Kagome took that as a sign of progress. She rewarded him with a reassuring smile.

"So," she asked, "Do you have a name?"

He looked surprised at her sudden question but then his brow scrunched up in a confused frown as he shrugged, "Inuyasha."

"My name is Kagome." She slipped her hand through the bar holding it out in an offer to shake.

The hanyou looked down at her hand then back up at her face then down at her hand again, his face blank.

"Shake my hand." Kagome prompted.

"Why?"

"Because that’s how you introduce yourself. We said our names and now we shake hands."

She knew she was pushing the envelope by instigating physical contact but Inuyasha looked like he could use a friend for now and to honest she could use one too. She didn’t want him to view her as a threat.

"That’s stupid." He scoffed, looking back and forth between their hands. His hand wasn’t that far from her own. Kagome was about to reach for it anyway when Inuyasha stiffened, his gaze jerking past her as he growled. "They’re coming."

Sure enough, he had no sooner spoken when Kagome heard sound of footsteps rounding the corridor behind her. She turned and found two guards walking toward them, one holding an electrically charged teaser and the other a set of chained wrist and ankle cuffs.

"I’m afraid you’re gonna have to leave now Miss." The first guard ordered gruffly. "The hanyou has fight tonight and we have to get him ready for transport."

As Kagome eyed the restraints the blood drained from her face. They didn’t need to chain Inuyasha like a wild animal. Couldn’t they see that he was a person just like everyone else?

Her question was answered by the memory of a scarlet-eyed hanyou covered in youkai blood.

Kagome’s stomach turned.

The second guard sneered. "Beat it kid!"

Unable to stand by and watch, confused by her own conflicting emotions and torn between compassion and fear, Kagome did the only thing she could do.

She fled.

Tbc…

A.N. – So, the miko and the hanyou finally meet. I think they may meet again next chapter… *grins sheepishly* I don’t remember. For those of you who found the "Arashi situation" a little confusing, Arashi Hamada is Inuyasha. Naraku abducted him when he was three years old. Sesshomaru is innocent and has no knowledge of where Arashi is. That’s all you need to know for now. The rest will come into play later.

Hope this chapter didn’t suck too badly. I’m off to work o chapter 4. *Hugs*