Kagome fell, landing with a thud on the steep, sandy slope that dropped down to a ravine. She'd nearly gone over the edge in her earlier flight, and was grateful for the knowledge of this place now. As she slid to a stop, wincing from some of the sharp rocks she'd encountered on the way down, the sound of the men above reached her.

"Kagome, get back here!" Hojo yelled. "If you come back now, I won't hurt your family, I promise."

LIAR!

Everything in her screamed it, but she couldn't help but hesitate.

"Kagome! If I have to come down there, you're going to be very, very sorry," he added.

"Sorry?" she heard Naraku say, "I'll kill that bitch, but first I'll make her beg to die!"

That decided it. One way or the other, it was going to be bad, for her and her family. She stumbled to her feet and fled down the dark ravine. She didn't know if Hojo and Naraku could find another way down, or if they'd risk the fall to follow her. But she did know that they would, indeed follow. They were angry now, maddened from her defiance, from being outsmarted by her once again. She had to flee, or die.

The sky was lightening, making her way easier but also causing her to wonder just how long she had been gone from the treehouse. Of course, it could have been late when she'd woken, she hadn't checked the time being too overjoyed with Hojo's return.

She wasn't overjoyed now. She wished the bastard had stayed missing. She wished he was dead! She might be ashamed of her feelings later, but right now they were sure and deep and true. Hearing more shouting behind her, she realized they had gained the ravine floor, and pushed herself harder.

Another few twists and turns and they gave a shout of triumph as they saw her. She sobbed, knowing her time was almost up. Hojo would kill her family, and Naraku would…

I'll make her beg to die!

She fought for another burst of speed, but found none. She half screamed a sob as she tripped, falling heavily to the rocky ground. Glancing back, she could see the men come around the last bend, almost upon her. In her terror, she began to scream for help despite the fact that they were far from human habitation. She screamed and screamed.

They were twenty feet and closing fast when a soft thud sounded behind her. Kagome spun around on her hands and knees and saw…him. She nearly sobbed with relief. He was there. InuYasha. Surely he would protect her?

"Help me, please," she begged.

Golden eyes flickered down to her, then back up to her pursuers. At his sudden appearance, as if from thin air, the men had skidded to a halt.

"What the hell is that?" Hojo asked, stunned.

Naraku spat, but didn't approach. "Youkai," he said. "Or at least half. Looks inu, with those ears."

"Dog? Are you saying that thing is half dog?" Hojo sputtered.

"Yeah, don't move," Naraku warned. "He'll be hella fast; one wrong move and he'll have your head on the ground."

Hojo cursed under his breath. "Now what?"
Neither man had so much as a stick to fight with, their guns were back at the treehouse.

"Are you armed?" Hojo asked.

"Not with anything that will make a difference," Naraku answered. The pocketknife he carried was less than useless now.

Behind Kagome, InuYasha was taking in the situation. Kagome was naked, scratched and bleeding and obviously terrified of these men. One was the man who had angered her in her treehouse some nights past. The other he wasn't sure of, but he surmised that this one was no better, being that he was with the first man.

InuYasha crouched a bit, sniffing the girl at his feet. Blood, sweat, fear and…them. They'd had their hands on her, on her naked skin. There was also a trace of some herb, smoky and bitter that lingered about her person.

InuYasha was uncivilized, but he wasn't stupid. It was plain what these men were about. He straightened, and let a growl roll out into the ravine that ended with a terrible snarl. The men started, and only Naraku's hiss of warning kept Hojo in place.

At his feet, Kagome gasped. She had never seen the wild man like this. His hair gleamed in the early morning light, and his eyes glowed with fearsome retribution. His lips were drawn back, showing his wickedly sharp fangs and his ears were plastered to his head. The sheer rage coming off him had her cringing.

When he raised his hand and cracked his knuckles, Naraku swore.

"Shit, run!" he said, but as he turned to do just that he shoved Hojo, causing him to stumble.

Hojo screamed a curse as his partner left him, scrambling to his feet and glancing back. He wished he hadn't. It was death coming for him. He wet himself. It was his turn to sob as he ran after Naraku. Neither man made it to the bend in the ravine. InuYasha was upon them with two powerful leaps. The first brought him level with Hojo, whom he brought down with a slash of claws on his way by. Naraku he shoved, wanting to take his time with this one. His scent was on the inside of Kagome's thighs, and he had to pay for that.

Naraku had struck his head as he landed, and was dazed and unable to defend himself. InuYasha raised his hand to begin his revenge when Kagome cried out behind him. He spun around.

It was too much. Too much had happened in the past few days and she couldn't take any more. Seeing him bring Hojo down with a single swipe, blood spurting and then watching him start to dismember Naraku sent her over the edge.

"No!" she cried. "No, no, no more!" She saw him snarl at her, but she raised her hand in entreaty. "Please, take me out of here. Take me away."

InuYasha's ears swiveled back and forth. Hojo was unmoving on the ground, and Naraku lay groaning and clutching his head at his feet. Leaving a kill undone did not please him, but her meaning was plain enough. In an instant he had decided. He spun, striking Naraku on the head with his fist. He went down and did not move again.

The wild man leapt back to Kagome's side, golden eyes boring into hers. She reached for him once again, praying he understood. Before she could repeat her request, he reached for her, curling an arm around her waist, another beneath her knees, lifting her toward him. The next thing she knew, they were simply gone. He ran, taking great leaps as he left the men behind. And then they were airborne.

Kagome gasped as he landed surefooted on a ledge halfway up the ravine wall, where it was much higher than where she had fallen. He gave another mighty leap and they gained the cliff's edge. By now, she was clinging to him, her arms around his neck, his warm skin pressed to hers.

This brought her to the fact that she was naked. Heat rushed through her, but then she forgot her immodesty. He gave her a single glance, checking her condition, and then they were moving again. So smoothly and rapidly, it was as if they were flying. Her loose hair flew back to tangle with his.

He gave another leap and to her astonishment, they were in the trees. His muscles bunched and stretched, sleek and firm, and as he jumped from branch to branch, and the leaves brushed over her like a gentle breeze. How did he know where to land, which branch would hold their weight? How did he keep his balance with her in his arms? She tensed for a moment and closed her eyes, as she envisioned them crashing to the ground. After a moment, she relaxed. InuYasha showed no hesitation in his movements. He obviously had been traveling like this for a long time. He was as skilled as any monkey here in the trees, and she nearly giggled at the image this thought provoked.

InuYasha was no sweet monkey however. She remembered that day in the jungle, that night in her bed.

Man. Woman.

She couldn't contain a small shiver of concern. What would happen now? Where was he taking her? Her question was soon answered when they landed on the massive branch of a wide-reaching tree. To her surprise, the broad branches held a treehouse, much smaller and less complicated than her own. He held onto her until her feet were stable and then released her gently onto the narrow deck in front of the entrance.

"What is this place?" she asked, not really expecting him to answer.

"Home," he said.