BlackVenus: Wow, thanks for all of your reviews. It makes me feel so loved. I really went out on a limb when I started this story. I did it because no one else had even thought of it. I wanted my story to be the only one like it out there. I was actually inspired by some pictures of the Inuyasha gang dressed up for Halloween, and then when I listened to my Nightmare Before Christmas cd I just knew I had to do something.

Ok, I don't know what Kagome's parents names are so I'm making them up. Kunio Higurashi is her father and Suona is her mother.

Bookworm: Hey you guys…my turn.

Mad-Hatter-LCarol Thanks for that clarification…:)

Hopeless Star Gazer: Thanks for understanding.

The Kikyo Hater: Sorry…didn't mean to sound mean. That whole insult thing is actually a quote from I book I just like to use. No ill will intended. Truce? —sticks hand out in a hand shake gesture—

Chapter 8: Jump Rope

The police had left after getting Kagome and Inuyashas' testimony about Hojo's attempted rape. The sun was close to setting over the shrine and Mrs. Higurashi had magically returned to her normally happy self and was cooking a feast in honor of Kagome's safe return and for Inuyasha and his father in gratitude. The two looked highly uncomfortable as Mrs. Higurashi ran around trying to do everything so that they and Kagome wouldn't have to. Grandpa had disappeared to the shrine store house, but no one really seemed to notice. Sota was staring at Inuyasha and his father in admiration, sitting between the two men.

"I can't tell you two just how much it means to us that Kagome is safe." Inutaisho smiled at Mrs. Higurashi.

"I'm just glad that my son was able to get there in time. I'm not sure if you remember our last name, but I was a…work associate of your husband." Grandpa stood up angrily, Mrs. Higurashi dropping the plate. When Mrs. Higurashi spoke it was quite.

"Sota, Kagome, go up to your rooms, now." Both children looked at each other before slowly getting up and walking to the stairs. As Kagome left, gently nudging Sota up the stairs, she cast a look over at Inuyasha before following. They went to their doors, opening them and closing them without actually leaving the hallway. Making sure to be quite, both Kagome and Sota laid at the top of the stairs, close enough to hear but not be seen. They hear Grandpa speaking.

"How dare you demons show your face here? You may have saved Kagome from that boy, but we can never forgive you for what you've done to this family. Get out now you filthy demons!" There was what sounded like a cup being thrown and shatterd against the wall. Then Inutaisho spoke in his kingly voice.

"We will leave, come Inuyasha, we have escorted Miss Kagome home. I'm sure all will be well." Two pair of steps was heard, then the front door being opened and closed gently. Sota and Kagome looked at each other confused.

Inuyasha followed his father back to the forest, noticing the tense shoulders and harsh set of his eyes. Once in the clearing, Inutaisho turned to his son.

"Inuyasha, I'm giving you a new task. I want you to become friends with Kagome." Inuyasha looked at his father with clearly visible annoyance.

"Why? Can't Sango do it?" Inuyasha was given a smack to the head.

"Sango's a vampire; she wouldn't be able to hang out with Kagome during the day without drawing a lot of attention to herself. Besides, you're strong enough even in your human form to keep her safe. And we need someone here to keep the doors in check till we can get Kagome trained." Inuyasha grumbles, knowing there is no way around a direct order from the king.

"Fine, but what about her family? They didn't seem too keen on us being anywhere near them. Do you know why?" His father was silent for a moment.

"I think it has something to do with Kunio Higurashi's death."

"Then why the hell are they mad at us? We didn't do it." Inutaisho stopped in his tracks, seeing to have been hit with a particularly painful fish to the face.

"But they think we did, and I have a feeling we've been framed." Inuyasha followed his father, already knowing where the arrows pointed.

(Higurashi home)

"It's alright Suona, just let out all the pain." Ms. Higurashi was crying hard into her elderly father's shoulder. Kagome and Sota sat at the top of the stairs, both confused. Kagome remembered the day her father had died, he had been driving to see her in the school play when he had a heart attack and crashed into a tree. 'Well that's what I was told, but what they just said made no sense. Why would they be mad at Inuyasha and Inutaisho?' Sota and her made eye contact and silently crept into their rooms.

"I need to get some sleep, after a nice hot bath."

(Halloween Town…Town Hall)

Inuyasha, Sesshomaru and Inutaisho sat across from Kagura. Kagura was there in place of Naraku since he never felt like being out when there was no one to torture. The walls were the same grey, black, and purple mix as many of the other buildings in town, the dimensions somewhat twisted. The light that streamed in from the windows was orange.

"My lords of Halloween, what did you wish to know of my boss Naraku?" Inutaisho leaded forward and gave the witch a stern glare.

"Does Naraku have anything to do with the death of Kunio Higurashi?" Kagura faltered, her face paling somewhat. 'How did they find out!?' Sesshomaru noticed this.

"Speak up witch and we might be lenient with you." Kagura easily replaced her mask.

"I'm not sure who that Higurashi was, but I can assure you that Naraku did not kill him." Inutaisho rubbed the bridge of his nose. He could tell she was lying but he couldn't do anything about it without proof. This would be a delicate situation indeed.

(Two weeks after Kagome went home…)

Birds were twittering in the branches of the sacred tree. The shine house was empty except for Kagome who the school had allowed to go on temporary home schooling status to let her recover from her traumatizing experience. She sighed from her seat in the trees' shade; they hadn't lightened her homework load in the slightest. Grumbling she finished the last of her math problems before putting the books away. It was still early in the day, her brother had been at school for an hour, grandpa was out visiting another shine, and her mom had gone back to work.

"I'm so bored." Inuyasha rolled his eyes, leaning against the tree next to her.

"Well then stop whining about it wench. Get up and do something." He smirked as she jumped, he could tell he had scared her slightly. She looked around and glared at him.

"Don't call me a wench. And what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in Halloween town?" He shrugged, crossing his arms over his chest. Kagome noticed that he was wearing normal clothes, even had his hair tied back into a pony tail.

"I don't have to be there all the time. Besides I need to keep the door in check since you don't know how." Kagome glared harder, not completely sure she should trust him after the way her mother and grandpa had acted towards him. She stood up, backing away slightly. He noticed this and relaxed his pose, trying to look friendly.

"If that's true, then why are you here, at my house, instead of at the forest?"

"I need you to learn what to do so I don't have to anymore." She looked at him in disbelief. She had been hoping for a different answer. 'Wait, it's not like I like this jerk.'

"You just came here to get me to be your replacement." He snorted, rolling his eyes at her.

"Wrong, I'm already your replacement, I'm making you get off your butt and get to work." Kagome was at a lose for words; he was right, in a way. But he didn't have to be so mean. She felt her eyes start to get watery. Inuyasha freaked out. He, the prince of all that was scary, was terrified of crying women because he had no idea of what to do with them.

"You're such a jerk. I didn't even know till your family told me." And with that she had started crying. Inuyasha backed up while trying to reach out and touch her to calm her down.

"Hey, I'm sorry. Stop crying ok." She didn't let up. "I said I'm sorry, ok Kagome. Just stop crying." He sighed as she stopped crying and looked up at him.

"You said my name." He looked around, trying not to let it get to him that he had indeed used her name.

"Yeah well I just didn't want you to cry. Now come on, let's get going. I want to do this before your family gets back." He grabbed her arm only to feel her resist him.

"What makes you think I'm going to go with you? My family doesn't trust you so why the heck should I?" He sighed, coming closer to her.

"I saved your life, what more proof do ya need that I aint gonna hurt ya?" Kagome was once again at a loss. He hadn't done anything she knew of, and maybe he would help her figure out what had happened between her family and his father. She sighed and relaxed.

"Fine, but let me get my purse." Inuyasha smiled, letting her go.

"Don't take forever."

The clearing in the forest seemed somewhat less impressive then it had the past times she had been there. Inuyasha had brought the books his father had told him Kagome would need. He handed them to her, laughing at the look on her face as she tried to hold all of them.

"You have got to be kidding me. My school doesn't even give this much to read."

"Yeah, well I had to read them too. Their're really boring." She just put them on the floor, taking a drink from her water bottle. Inuyasha took his shirt off, cracking his back before stretching out. Kagome choked on her water as he did, trying not to look at him and failing. "Do you know how to fight?" His gruff voice shook her from the daze his lightly tanned muscles had put her in.

"No, why?" He looked at her and noticed the slight blush on her cheeks.

"I'll have to teach you, and you need to know because not everything that comes out of all these doors is friendly, especially the things from my door. Now just copy what I do." When she didn't move to a fighting stance he walked over and force her into one.

"Hey don't touch me." He smirked as she swatted at him, ducking her easily.

"Learn to fight, and you can force me to not touch ya." He grinned as she gave into his demands, returning to the fighting stance.

BV: I know it's short, but it's better then nothing.

Bookworm: You know the drill. This is the part where I say something creative in an attempt to get you to review the story. —clears throat— I will send my zombie army of llamas an—no wait I used that one—uhhh…flying Potter Pupp—no wait, used that one too—hmmm…Hypno-coin 3000?—CRAP! I used that one too—World destruction—Grrrr…man this is getting annoying…OKAY! I got it…

Review or will spork your eyes out…Yes that's right I said spork! So do it! Mwhahahahahahahaha…—clears throat again—you didn't hear that. :)