I had been concerned by Inuyasha's reaction when I told him I didn't know where Kagome was. While Miroku stayed at the hut with the kids, I walked down towards Kaede's hut to find out what was going on. When I was maybe half-way down, I heard familiar voices yelling in a distressed manor from down the road.

"Inuyasha, NO! Don't even think about it!"

"What if I didn't get to you in time? Who knows what would have happened to you! You think I'm going to just let the bastard get away?"

"I don't want you fighting anyone!"

"What, cause you think I don't have the power to? Why should I let this human body hold me back? I never let it before!"

"You don't need to go starting a fight with a lunatic, OK! Just shut up and forget about it!"

"No way in hell!"

I stormed around the corner.

"What is going on here?"

I immediately noticed their appearance. Inuyasha looked like he had just run a marathon through a jungle, Kagome looked like she had ran three.

"Uhh, ok, is everything…"

"NO, everything is NOT OK!" Inuyasha yelled.

A gust of wind whipped across the field, causing the tall grass to ripple and the nearby trees to moan and crack.

Kagome abruptly jerked her head around and looked towards the dark forest. Slowly, she began backing away, never moving her eyes from the darkness. I decided it was time to be aggressive.

"Inuyasha, what in God's name is going on?"

The anger had disappeared from his features, he was watching Kagome, who had fear plastered all over her face.

Then Kagome murmured, "Make sure everyone is inside…" Her voice was weak and dry. She turned and ran into Kaede's hut.

Inuyasha was about to follow her, I stopped him, pushing him backwards.

"No. You are going to tell me what happened."

"I'd tell you, IF I KNEW!"

"You don't know anything? You were with her, weren't you? What happened?"

He didn't look at me, just stared blankly at the door to Kaede's hut.

"Someone tried to hurt her."

He then pushed past me and hurried to the hut. I stood there for a moment, confused, and feeling like the outcast who didn't know the big secret. But I followed after Inuyasha, irritated by the neglect I was given. I was Kagome's best friend, he'd better find out more than that.

Kagome was crouching next to the window, peering out through the twine shades. Kaede was standing near the back wall with a grave look on her face. She rushed to Inuyasha as soon as she saw him.

I walked past them to Kagome. When I reached out to place a hand on her shoulder, she jumped and swung her head around to look at me.

Something wasn't right.

"Hey, what happened just now?" I noticed her bloody feet and the scratches all over her body. Her eyes were wild, and fearful.

She shook her head quickly, tears pooled in her eyes. Her lower lip trembled.

"Shh, it's okay." I gently touched her face, her skin was freezing cold and damp with sweat.

Kaede and Inuyasha murmured behind me, Inuyasha's voice exasperated and gruff, Kaede's calm and collected, as usual.

Kaede then turned to us. "Kagome, did you feel threatened by this man?"

She hesitated. "Y-Yes."

"Did he threaten to harm you?" Kaede's demeanor remained calm but Inuyasha was spazing out, looking from Kaede to me to Kagome in a frenzied circle.

"No…. he just…followed me. I can't really explain it, but-" She cut off whatever she was about to say.

"So it was some perverted bastard, we can handle it." I tried to lighten the situation.

"No Sango," I turned and looked at Kagome, her face was stern. The firelight made shadows dance across her smooth, but panic-stricken face. "It's worse than that. Go home to your family. Keep them safe, it's your priority."

I was surprised by her nobility, but I didn't move.

"I'm serious. Go." She slid her hand out of my grasp.

I stood quietly, the warning in Kagome's eyes was chilling and honest. I loved her, but I loved my children more, I wasn't willing to take any chances. I nodded at Kaede as I headed for the door and gave Inuyasha a stern glare. He'd better get some answers before I had to get them for him.

As I stepped out onto the front porch, I heard Kaede say something that made me bolt up the hill to my home as fast as I could.

"I am going to send a messenger to the neighboring village in the morning, they need to know there is evil afoot."