Inuyasha beat his fist into the ground again, anger contorting his features. Damn it. He needed to calm down. She was safe now. He peered over the water, clear and shimmering in the bright sun light. It wasn't the first time he had cursed the image he was met with. He peered at the yellow eyes which blinked back at him and the silver hair framing his face. The tiny dog ears on top of his head twitched in the wind, and he growled as he watched their movement in the liquid mirror. He slashed at the surface of the lake, angrily disrupting the image. If only he was human, things would be different. He sighed, willing himself not to follow that thought process. It was better not to dwell on such things. Besides, Kagome would be getting out of class soon; he should go.

He paused to look around the clearing by the lake, the familiar area spurring a feeling which could almost be considered fear. Last night, he had been careless. Kagome had stayed in the library for so long, and the sun was so warm as it beat down on him while he waited for her on the roof that he hadn't even realized he was falling asleep. When he had awoken to the moonless sky, it had been a shock to him. He should have been better prepared. He put both of them in danger. He was lucky that he had awoken as she was leaving, though it had taken him some time to climb down and catch up with her. He shuddered at the thought of what might have been had he arrived any later. He had failed her, but it wouldn't happen again.

"Forgive me," he whispered as he ran through the trees in the direction of her classroom.

"Higurashi!"

Kagome looked up from her notes startled. What had she been studying again? The wind rustled the loose paper in her hands as she turned her attention to the rapidly approaching boy. She leaned over the picnic table, propping herself up on one elbow and let out a deep sigh. Truth was, she hadn't been studying at all–she still couldn't forget the previous night's danger. It was like a haunting chill she couldn't shake.

"Houjou," she smiled with some effort.

He plopped down on the wooden bench, spilling his books across the table top. "Would you like to get some lunch with me? I don't have another class for two hours."

"Sure." She straightened, putting her notes away and rising from the table. The actions felt empty.

His grin widened, making her smile just a little more genuine, though the feeling never met her eyes. As they walked toward the dining hall, he babbled about his classes, and she felt her thoughts drift back to the previous night. It left her hollow, and she felt the smile slide from her face. She had been declared in shock and rushed to the hospital before being questioned about the event. She chose to press charges, and refused to comment about her mysterious savior claiming uncertainty and a vague memory, effectively leaving the police with only her attacker's account of him. She felt it was the least she could do for her hero.

She stopped walking when she recalled a striking image of his face. It wasn't the first time she let her mind drift to thoughts of him. The encounter was so strange, and yet she felt drawn to him because of it. Last night, she had cried herself to sleep and then dreamt of him.

"Higurashi?"

"Hmm?" She turned to look at Houjou surprised at his presence. What had she been doing?

"Are you okay?" Houjou had stopped as well and was staring with a concerned look into her eyes.

She frowned. "No, no. I think I'd better go home. I'm probably coming down with something, and I wouldn't want you to catch it."

He watched her go with a puzzled look on her face before continuing on his way to the dining hall.

Kagome sat in the empty house and felt just that–empty. Was it safe here? She laid back on the couch and stared at the ceiling, unwilling to close her eyes, unwilling to recall those images any longer. It wasn't long before she drifted to sleep.

Inuyasha stared at the blank bedroom window impatiently. What was she doing in there? He didn't dare risk a glimpse of the livingroom. It wasn't like Kagome to skip her classes. Though he was sure last night had shaken her up. Maybe she needed some time off. He clenched his fist angrily. He couldn't even comfort her. Well, it didn't matter now. If he tried to comfort her, she would just run away screaming. He knew she wouldn't leave the house again, now that she was home, so he didn't worry when he jumped down from the tree and took off down the street.

From the outside the building was plain. The abandoned glass factory would have made a perfect shelter had it not already housed the largest demon gang in the state. When he entered the building, Yura was waiting.

"You're late to report half-breed." Her words were loathsome and reprimanding.

He shrugged trying to play it off, "Got busy."

She laughed then, deep and throaty as if his words were the most amusing thing she had heard all day. "Oh, Inuyasha, you never do learn."

He jerked as two demons grabbed his arms, forcing him to his knees. "What do I owe the pleasure this time boys?" He laughed, and it was strained.

Yura descended the steps slowly as he watched her. Her breasts swayed from her sumptuous movements as she neared, but he found no pleasure in them.

"Always the ingrate," she chided as she approached, bending forward to cup his face. "If it weren't for us, you'd have been killed a long time ago."

He struggled under her touch despite himself. The outlook of this encounter was becoming less and less promising. "What do you want?"

She slapped him, the impact forcing his head to one side. He let his head droop as she continued to address him. "Only for you to do as you are told. You couldn't leave the girl alone could you?"

His heart raced. How could they have known already? She wrapped one hand through his hair, pulling his head back painfully. "You know that she's off limits. Meet with the girl again and we'll be forced to eliminate you. Do you understand?"

He grunted his acknowledgment, and she released him. "Now put yourself together, pet. You've got a job to do."

He was roughly deposited on the floor as the others left him. He shuddered and picked up the envelope before him. Inside it held only an address and a name.

She awoke with a start. The house was dark; was it night already? She sat slowly, touching her palm to her aching skull. Something felt wrong. No, she felt wrong. Different. She sighed, falling back to the soft cushions of the couch. She was being silly.

It was then that she knew someone was in the house. She sat up abruptly, her wide eyes scanning the darkness of the livingroom as she fumbled silently for her cell phone. In the kitchen. She held her breath, as she strained to listen in the darkness. She heard nothing, but she knew.

She rose slowly, muscles tensed as she crept toward the kitchen. She was being paranoid; there would be no one there. In a final rush of bravery she flipped on the lights and forced herself to enter the kitchen quickly. The brightness assaulted her eyes, and when the pain subsided she breathed a sigh of relief. No one.

She needed a glass of water to help her calm down. Her heart raced as she stood before the refrigerator doors with her empty glass. There in the very center was a white slip of paper. 1600 New Park Avenue. While it held only an address, it confirmed her worst fear: someone had been in the house.