Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN INUYAHSA!!! However, I do own this! holds up Sesshoumaru plushie MINE!!!!!!

A young hanyou girl with silver hair and keen golden eyes was running home during lunch for the third time this week. She turned her head, hoping that she lost the group of teenage youkai. She hadn't.

Folding her ears back against her head, she put on a burst of speed. She could see her house and her eyes lit up. She bolted towards her sanctuary, knowing her father was home. Her sneakers hit the lawn as she raced to the front door.

She felt the cool brass of the door knob on her palm and she laughed triumphantly. But when she turned the knob, she realized it was locked.

"Otou!" She screamed as she began pounding on the door. "Otou, open the door! Otou!"

She felt two strong arms wrap around her from behind and throw her to the ground. She cried out in pain when one of the brought a knife down across her face. She ear swiveled in the direction of the house and felt the blade of the knife rip through it. A pool of blood stained the walkway when it sliced her arm open.

She screamed again as they began to deliver powerful blows to her abdomen. Just as the hanyou closed her eyes and passed out, her father came out of the house. One of the teenagers looked up and ran from the full grown youkai. His comrades watched him flee, wondering why he'd run from beating a hanyou. Then they realized why.

"Oi, what seems to be the problem?"

The group turned their heads to the inu youkai. His eyes were burning into theirs and he seemed to be growling. No, not him. A large Border collie came bolting out of the house, snarling and barking. As the dog charged them, the teens climbed to their feet and stumbled away frantically, the dog snapping at their heels. Smiling to himself, he watched them run away then looked down at his daughter.

"Oi, Kimi, they're gone." He said. "Kimi, did you hear…me…"

She wasn't moving and he saw the blood running down her face and ear. As he picked her up, he was somewhat relieved to discover that she was still breathing. He rose to his feet as Kuma, Kimi's dog, bounded up to him with a piece of a bloody cloth in her mouth.

Kuma, seeing her young mistress's condition, dropped the rag and bolted into the house. About two minutes later she came back out with a phone in her jaws and dropped it at the youkai's feet, barking up to him. She was a truly remarkable dog and a faithful friend.

"Arigato, Kuma."

He picked the phone up and frantically began dialing his wife's office number. He pressed his ear against the cold plastic while trying to keep Kimi from falling. This would be their third trip to the hospital this month.

"Hello?"

His heart leapt into his throat when he heard those words. He was so frightened.

"Rin?" The youkai asked. "I have to take Kimi to the hospital."

"What happened?!" The woman on the other line shrieked. "Sesshoumaru, what happened to her?!"

"The same thing that always happens!" He shouted. "She came running home with a gang of teenagers in pursuit of her!"

"Is she alright?" Rin asked with concern in her voice.

Sesshoumaru took a long pause before answering. He didn't want his wife to get upset.

"Sesshoumaru?"

"Huh?"

"What is wrong with my daughter?" Rin asked harshly.

"…She isn't conscious and she has a deep gash on her left cheek and ear. She'll probably need stitches even though she's a hanyou."

"Oh, dear Kami-sama." She muttered.

"Listen," The youkai said firmly, "I'm going to run over to see if Sango can give me a ride to the hospital right now. Just relax and I'll meet you there, ok?"

"Alright." Rin said, fighting back her tears. "I'll see you there."

As he heard the click on the other line, he hung up the phone and began sprinting to the house next door. Kuma was right beside him, barking and whining. This dog was extremely loyal to the young hanyou and never left her side outside of school.

The collie made it to the door before the youkai and began to bark and scratch on it mercilessly. Sesshoumaru reached the door just as his neighbor opened it.

"Sesshoumaru," She said looking at the hanyou in his arms. "What happened? Was it the same group?"

"Yes." He panted. "Sango, I need you to drive us to the hospital; Rin has the car today."

Sango nodded and headed into the house for a moment. Sesshoumaru stood on edge waiting for her to return. When she did, she had a towel with her. She gently took Kimi's arm and wrapped it up tightly.

"Alright." She said once she was done. "Now let's get her in the car and hope nothing bad happens."

"Doesn't something bad always happen?" He asked dryly. "Don't jinx it."

The woman nodded. She knew how many medical procedures had gone wrong for the child.

"Well let's get her in." She said.

A young woman with dark hair and equally dark eyes closed the door to a silver mini-cooper and turning the key in the ignition. Third time this month she'd be there. The engine of the car hummed and she threw it in reverse. Rin backed out of the spot and sped out of the lot.

"I can't believe this." She said. "I can't believe how prejudice people are that they'd hurt a kid."

The woman's anger was rising and she was gripping the steering wheel. Her face was turning red and she clenched her teeth. Finally, she couldn't take it and exploded.

"It isn't fair to her, damn it!" Rin cried as she stomped her foot, jamming on the brakes.

Horns blared and tires screeched as the tiny car came to a stop in the middle of an intersection. But then, time seemed to stand still as the sound of crunching metal and screams ripped through the afternoon air.