Open Your Eyes
Chapter Ten

---

Night fell slowly at the sea. Of course, she'd spent a long time in the forest, and the shadows made night seem to fall quickly there. At the coastal city, Kagome could watch the sky for hours and it would still shed flickering light on the moving water or the soft building windows.

"Keep your face hidden," Inuyasha snapped beside her when she reached to remove the hood of the cloak he'd made her wear. She paused and glared at him, angered that he'd disrupted the silence. He pretended to not see her indignant look. "Do you know what will happen if you're seen?"

"I'll be free?" Kagome guessed this was not the answer but voiced it anyway.

He narrowed his eyes. "No," he stressed roughly, "You'll be stolen away."

"I've already been stolen," Kagome returned softly.

He bristled like a cat dropped in water. She didn't back down and just continued giving him an indescribable look, wanting to make him as uncomfortable as possible. Her heart felt heavy. She ignored that feeling.

"You could be taken away by someone who isn't nearly as generous and kind as I am," Inuyasha responded evenly and his golden eyes narrowed when Kagome snorted.

"Whatever you say," Kagome said with a shrug of her shoulders. "It's not like it matters to me. In the end, Prince Hojo will come to me."

Inuyasha sighed, as if he were dealing with a foolish child. Whenever she wanted Inuyasha to stop talking, she just pulled the Hojo card. It worked every time. And, like the other times, Inuyasha's voice fell silent and he stared moodily out towards the horizon.

And, like the other times before, Kagome felt guilty for bringing Hojo up. She didn't know why, and pointedly chose not to search further into her motives and her feelings of guilt. It was just something she didn't want to answer, for the question was fearful enough.

"I think that…" Kagome paused in thought when Inuyasha didn't turn to question her. She sighed wearily and pushed her cloak back. Billows of long ebony hair fell over her shoulders and wavered in the wind.

He whipped his head around, looking like he wanted to protest her revealing. She pressed a finger to her lips and smiled pleasantly. He stared at her, flabbergasted. She tucked a long strand of black hair behind her ear.

"I think that," she repeated before he could speak, "you're still hiding so much from me."

His dark eyebrows arched upwards and he shrugged his shoulders. He turned back towards the horizon, watching the lolling waves with a critical eye. He wasn't offering any information.

"What brought this sudden observation on?" he asked casually, but she could sense the underlying tension in his tone. She was treading on thin ice.

She shrugged her shoulders and pulled his cloak closer to her for warmth. She could smell him amid the salty sea air. She tried not to be too comforted by his presence, but with every passing day it was growing harder and harder.

"I just…" she paused to collect her thoughts before continuing, "wish you could be honest with me."

"Why would I do something as idiotic as that?"

"Why indeed?" she whispered bitterly, wishing his words didn't sting as much as they did.

He swallowed, looking uneasy. He pushed his long black hair away from his face and Kagome was once again struck by his strong profile. His piercing eyes surveyed the horizon as if he was waiting for someone or something to come over the edge of the waters far beyond.

"I can understand. You don't trust me."

"You don't trust me," he returned, his voice soft.

Kagome stared at him, her blue eyes hesitant and glittering in the dying sunset.

"Says who?" she ventured bravely and wished she could call the words back.

His eyes widened and he seemed to tense. He ducked his head, finally pulling his eyes away from the sunset before them. Kagome felt her heart thunder in her chest. There was a strange, uneasy silence pulled between them, suspended in the air.

"If you were smart you wouldn't," he finally said.

"You're always saying I'm stupid," Kagome said lightly, and the tiniest bit of amusement danced in her voice. Her eyes twinkled, but Inuyasha couldn't see them.

"You trust me, then?"

Kagome hesitated, unsure what to say to such a question. She didn't know whether or not Inuyasha wanted to hear her truthfully. She wasn't sure what it was that Inuyasha wanted to hear in the first place. She swallowed the thick lump in her throat and tried to stand up a bit straighter, tried to look a bit braver.

She heard Inuyasha shift beside her but couldn't bring herself to turn her head and watch him. He seemed to be walking away and Kagome wanted him to stay. She wanted to answer him. His footsteps were muffled by the soft sand beneath them, but Kagome heard it as if he were stomping on glass.

"I do…" she murmured, but he must not have heard her because he didn't speak. She couldn't hear his footsteps in the sand.

She clenched her eyes shut. She'd answered incorrectly. Inuyasha didn't want her to trust him. They were supposed to be enemies. He was an enemy of the crown. He'd stolen her away from her one true love.

She'd forgotten how cold the stone on her chest was.

"I do," she repeated, and tried to summon the courage to turn around and face him. She wanted to see his face, even if he was looking at her in disgust.

"Well, well, well," a brisk voice said behind Kagome that was not Inuyasha's voice. She whipped around in alarm to see a tall man towering over her. He smirked at her and his eyes were sharp. "If it isn't the princess."

Kagome took a step backwards, knowing that something was wrong. She searched for Inuyasha and found him a short ways off, on the ground with his eyes closed. Why hadn't she noticed this man's approach? Why hadn't she heard Inuyasha fall to the ground? Why hadn't he been able to protect himself?

"What did you do to him?" Kagome demanded.

The man shrugged. "Nothing he can die from. He's stronger than he looks."

And then someone behind Kagome hit her in the back of the head and everything went black.

---

When Kagome became aware of herself again she was in a darkened room. She shifted and sat up. The room was dark, but on the far side of the building Kagome could just make out the glow of a fire under the door. That thin crack of light brought her some strange comfort. Kagome stared at the warm glow longingly.

Then she wondered where she was and feared gripped her. She tried to stand up but found herself bound by ropes to a hanger in the wall. She stared at it critically and tried to reach her hands around to untie herself.

"I wouldn't try it, Princess," a soft voice whispered and she jumped, unaware that she was not alone in the room.

A young man sat on a chair, overlooking the princess' movement. She glared at him because it seemed like the right thing to do. She couldn't tell in the darkness, but Kagome could have sworn that his thin lips curved upwards. He was the man from before, on the beach.

"Release me," she commanded and her voice sounded parched.

"I don't know if I should or not."

"Who are you?"

His smirk seemed to widen. Kagome shivered and seemed to shrink into herself. She wished she could save herself, but the ropes dug into her wrists. They would leave marks. Her feet ached. She wished Inuyasha—

No. She didn't want anything from Inuyasha.

"My name is unimportant to the likes of you," he supplied evenly.

"Well, you're obviously not for the kingdom if you're willing to tie the future queen up," Kagome said bitterly and forgot that this man probably lacked Inuyasha's sense of bitter humor. Sure enough, the man's smirk seemed to slip off his face like water.

"I would never support such a dirty ruler."

"You're with the rebellion, then," Kagome amended softly. The man made a small noise in the back of his throat and Kagome knew she was correct in her guess. "And now that you've captured me, what do you plan to do?"

"Why should I tell you?" he demanded and then seemed to think better of it. He tapped his fingers against his strong chin. His fingers were dirty. "Hmm, I suppose in this situation, leaving you in the dark would not be beneficial." His blackened fingers fell to his side. "If you must know, I plan to ransom you off. The king will pay a fine price for his future daughter's head, I'm sure."

"Ah, ransom and blackmail, how quaint," Kagome said snippily.

"You've been around Inuyasha for far too long, Princess Kagome," the man said evenly and chuckled mirthlessly. "His attitude has rubbed off on you. And there's nothing I hate more than a woman who refuses to be servile."

"Hm," Kagome hummed, sounding very unimpressed with the man's words. "No, I've tried the whole servitude thing, and it really wasn't for me."

"A wisecracker, too, I see," the man said with false sweetness. "It's a shame Prince Hojo would have a fit if I returned his bride without her tongue."

Kagome clamped her mouth shut and leaned against the wall, trying to reach the ropes without being too conspicuous. She should have listened to Inuyasha. He must have known that the rebellion was lurking around, searching for the princess. Word would have spread by now that he'd stolen her away. She hated it when he was right.

"You are as beautiful as the rumors say," the man said smoothly, and Kagome did not like hearing such a compliment from him. "Your hair shines, even in the darkness. Your eyes are bright and blue, like the sea."

"Stop that," Kagome commanded. "I don't need your flattery."

"It is not flattery, Princess, it is a statement of fact. You are, by far, the most beautiful woman of this world." Kagome frowned at him. "You must be simply radiant when you smile. When you are not dressed in peasant garb. When you are draped over the arm of your prince."

She could hear the bitterness in his voice, but, at the same time, the strange sense of awe. Everyone was awed by her beauty, and it was growing thin on Kagome's nerves. Her beauty, her beauty, her beauty… was that all they ever talked about? What about her? As a person?

"I do not drape over anyone," Kagome snapped angrily. "And I am not nearly as beautiful as everyone seems to think I am. Beauty is not important."

"Ha," he laughed. Kagome wasn't sure if he was laughing at the draping, her statement, or a combination of both. "Do you think that Prince Hojo would have chosen you if you were merely average?"

"That's what Inuyasha said," Kagome muttered.

"Yes, he would say something like that, wouldn't he?" the man said lightly.

"You should release me," Kagome said, and knew very well that it wouldn't work. That didn't stop her from saying it, though.

He snorted. "No, I think I'll auction you off to the royal family. I'll get a hefty sum for you."

"You're stupid," Kagome countered creatively, unable to come up with a better comeback than that. "You'll be playing right into the king's hands if you return me."

Wait, her mind screamed at her, What are you doing? You can't possibly be helping the rebellion! You can't go home if they refuse to bring you there!

The rebel seemed to be considering her words. He tapped his fingers against his chin. "Unless," he said lightly, "this is your ploy to get free."

"Why would I do something so trepid?" Kagome questioned, her mind reeling. She had to scare this man somehow. She had to get free, so that she could go home. Before she could stop herself, she whispered, "When I could just use magic?"

The man's eyes widened in the darkness and they were a very bright color. The glow from the fire behind the door cast a strange shadow on his face as he stared at her, taking in every dip and curve of her body. Kagome felt naked.

"You have exchanged magic with Inuyasha?" he asked in wonderment.

Kagome had no idea what he meant, but decided to go with it. "Yes."

The man bit his lower lip and appeared to be deep in thought. Kagome tried to focus her attentions on freeing herself. She had to get away. She had no idea where in the city she was, and she had no idea where Inuyasha was, either. She had to get out of here.

"So, you love Inuyasha then?"

Kagome nearly choked on nothing and started coughing uncontrollably. Her entire body felt weak and her heart flopped and soared at the same time before crash landing into her stomach and staying there, where it was brutally devoured by butterflies.

"What?" she squeaked once she'd regained some level of control.

The man seemed unperturbed by her display and reiterated, "So you love him? To do something as intense and final as a magic exchanging ceremony… it is an expression of love among wizards."

One of the butterflies in her stomach was eating the others. She felt like she would die. Her face was bright red.

"It's amazing," he continued, taking her silence as an affirmative. "I never would have guessed Inuyasha would do something as intense like that, especially with the princess."

"N-no, I don't love him!" she protested. "I love Prince Hojo."

"Then why do something as intense as exchange magical ability?" he asked logically. His eyes glittered dangerously as a realization set in. "Unless, of course, you were lying."

One of the ropes around her wrist came untied. She swallowed. Well, that plan had backfired. So much for her brilliant ideas. When Inuyasha came to save her, if he came to save her, there probably wouldn't be much left to save.

"I…"

"You were lying," he said evenly. "Inuyasha would never so something as intense and final as give you a portion of his power. He is too hungry for his own strength and command. He will stop at nothing to gain all knowing power."

"That's not true," Kagome protested.

"Oh?" the man asked skeptically and Kagome already doubted herself. "Do you ever wonder, Princess, how Inuyasha lost sight in his eye?"

Kagome had. Of course she had. She glared at the rebel, simply because she did not want to answer the man's question. He chuckled again and it was grating Kagome's already thin nerves. She just wanted to get the hell out of the darkened room. She heard voices beyond and knew it was the other rebels plotting and laughing.

"Inuyasha lost his eye in the pursuit of power," the rebel said bitterly and his face twisted into a steady sneer. "He's using you."

"I know that," she snapped. "You think I don't know that?"

"Inuyasha only wants power. There is nothing else he wants."

"You're wrong!"

"Why do you defend him?" he snapped.

Kagome bristled. "I'm not defending. But I've seen the way he treats the other bandits. I've seen the way he's treated his familiar. I know. He is not cruel. He does not seek power."

"You know nothing. These are merely observations of a petty, naïve girl." Kagome growled, but he continued, regardless, "Your devotion to him has blinded you."

"I am not and never will be devoted to him," she hissed, her anger directed more at the rebel than Inuyasha. She was filled with fury and her other hand was free now. She stayed against the wall. Her legs were still bound.

"Ha," he laughed. "Your heart will be broken by him. I've seen the way he works."

"And how could you possibly know anything about Inuyasha? He's not part of the rebellion."

"I know that," the man snorted. "He should have been, though. It was our idea to form the rebellion, but in the end he refused to join and left me to run it on my own. The selfish bastard."

Kagome stared at him in shock. "You're the leader of the rebellion?"

"You think I would let anyone else watch over such precious cargo?" the supposed leader said, one octave short of being gleeful. He cleared his throat. "No, I am the leader and I am watching our most precious pawn in this game of chess."

"How do you know Inuyasha?" Kagome asked in amazement.

"I am older than he is. I was there when this entire ordeal started… I was there when Inuyasha lost everything." Kagome's heart died and the last butterfly miserably died in her belly. He stared off into the distance as if counting stars that were not there. "I thought for sure he would wish to join this side of the civil war, but he refused. He's self-righteous in that way."

"You know him well, then," Kagome said and was unsure how to feel about that.

"He grew up with my father," the leader said. "We are cousins."

"What's your name?" Kagome asked, sitting up a bit straighter. Her hands slipped behind her as she attempted to untie the bounds on her ankles. They were a bit harder than her arms had been, and she moved slowly so as not to arouse attention.

His blue eyes watched her for a long moment before he smirked and stood from his chair. He turned his back to her for a long moment, moving towards a dark corner on the opposite end of the room. He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his trousers.

"He's coming," he said after a long moment and Kagome realized the voices she'd heard earlier were, in fact, shouts of terror and frustration. The leader chuckled. "He sure is greedy, isn't he?"

Kagome couldn't respond because in that moment the door slammed open and Inuyasha stormed in, looking fully enraged.

"Kouga!" he shouted at the man in the darkened corner. He hadn't seemed to notice Kagome there yet, but Kagome was too busy staring at the leader—named Kouga, apparently—and trying to untie her legs. Inuyasha seethed, "You bastard! You better not have hurt her!"

"Fear not, cousin," the man named Kouga said evenly with a wave of his hand. He turned to regard the irritated wizard with his blue eyes dancing in the darkness. "I have not touched a hair on her head. She is vital for the rebellion's progression towards the kingdom."

"Fuck you!" Inuyasha snapped. "You and your fucking rebellion won't touch her."

He seemed to finally realize Kagome was there as she finished untying the last rope and standing upright. He marched towards her and wrapped an arm around her waist and tugged her close. In his right hand he held a sword, stained red. Kagome's face paled and she hoped he hadn't killed anyone.

"Still as possessive as ever," Kouga accused.

"You won't touch her," he repeated and his hold on Kagome tightened. Kagome's face turned red.

"She is a necessary piece to the puzzle, cousin," Kouga said lightly, and it seemed as if he were trying to appeal to Inuyasha's good side. His voice was soft and gentle. "If she were to join us, she could be a wonderful double agent. She could collect information on the royal family and we can make the kingdom fall to its knees."

"Shut the hell up," Inuyasha snapped and he brandished his sword, slicing through air. "She won't be joining the rebellion. She will not be working for you. She's coming with me."

Footsteps behind them alerted the group of three that Kouga's reinforcements had arrived. Men of all shapes and sizes streamed into the room, wielding weapons. Inuyasha turned to face them, with his eyes still on Kouga, and backed up slowly with Kagome clutched tightly to his side.

"Inuyasha…" Kagome breathed.

"Shut up, Kagome," he snapped.

"Inuyasha," Kouga said, sounding far harsher than Kagome had when saying his name. "Don't be selfish. Princess Kagome is vital for the rebellion's next stage. We need her to get something over the royal family. You, as well as anyone, should understand that. She's necessary for our upper-hand."

Inuyasha snorted and his hold on Kagome tightened further. Kagome wished she could breathe properly.

"You're all stupid," Inuyasha accused.

"Why, Inuyasha? Because we long for a free and fair ruler? Because we know the royal family used to be fair and just?" Kouga snapped and looked enraged. "Have you forgotten these things in lieu of your vengeance? Have you been blinded?"

Inuyasha's milky white eye flashed.

Suddenly, the clutch on her was broken and he shoved her against the wall and dove after Kouga. Kagome gasped for air as Kouga pulled a sword from his side and met Inuyasha head on. The men standing at the entrance to the large room sprung into action, drawing their weapons.

"Stay out of this!" Kouga shouted over his shoulder as he blocked Inuyasha's attacks.

Their swords clashed and it seemed to spark in the dark room. Kagome stared in alarm as they swung at one another, both just barely managing to dodge the other. Kagome grew fearful.

"Foolish," Inuyasha snapped and swung his sword. The hilt caught Kouga's shoulder and he stumbled. His sword clattered to the ground loudly, and it reverberated off the stone walls.

Kouga fell to the ground and Inuyasha pointed the tip of his sword towards Kouga's chest. The man swallowed and stared up at he wizard. The men started to charge towards Inuyasha.

He whipped his head around and growled. "Come near me and I will kill you."

Kouga, still eyeing the sword, said snippily, "Is there nothing you won't do for power, cousin?"

"Be quiet," Inuyasha snapped and poked Kouga's chest with the sword for good measure.

"We need the princess."

"I will kill all the men in this building," Inuyasha hissed and poked with his sword again. "And don't think I can't or won't. Because I can and I've done much worse before. I will be taking the princess with me, and you will do nothing to stop me."

The man on the ground glared. "You are wielding your power foolishly again, Inuyasha. Have you forgotten the lesson learned from losing your eye?"

"I will never forget," he snapped.

Kouga smirked and seemed to sit up a bit straighter. He managed to look valiant despite the sword pointed directly above his heart and the fact he was on the ground.

"In fact," the rebellion leader continued, "I was thinking of doing something similar myself. Hone in my magic, you know? It seemed to work for you well enough."

Inuyasha's eyes flared and he looked like he sincerely wanted to stab Kouga through the chest. Instead, he sneered at him angrily and his eyebrows slanted downwards. "If you do such a thing," he hissed, "you are truly a fool."

Kagome stared in shock. What happened that made him lose his eye?

Inuyasha stared down at Kouga emotionlessly. "You shall allow me and the princess to exit safely. You won't stand until I have gone."

"I do not bow before the likes of you," Kouga snapped.

Inuyasha smirked. "I know."

Kouga and Inuyasha were silent for a long moment as they glared at one another, their eyes clashing and sparking in the darkness. The butterflies revived in Kagome's stomach and a bead of sweat rolled down her cheek.

The tension in the room was palpable and Kagome felt increasingly uneasy with the entire thing. Everything felt strange and untrue. Kagome had no idea what was going on. Every time something began to make sense, she was thrown into a situation like this.

She was just so confused. And frustrated.

"I will kill them," Inuyasha threatened and Kagome didn't like the finality weighing in the man's voice. She swallowed.

Kouga glared, but he seemed to realize the weight of Inuyasha's words, and the truth in them. He lowered his head and made a sound that sounded suspiciously like a dark growl.

"Fine," he snapped. "Get the hell out of here."

Inuyasha grunted.

"You're making a mistake, though," Kouga accused. "We need her. Without her, we have nothing over the royal family. Inuyasha… you know how important this is. Will you turn your back on all of this? Will you turn your back on everything that's been sacrificed up to this point?"

Inuyasha stared at the wall and Kagome couldn't distinguish the look in his eyes. It was a look she'd never seen before.

Solemnly, he said, "Yes."

He took a step back and glared at the rebels surroundings him. They backed away slowly, clearing a path for Inuyasha. The man whipped his head around to stare at Kagome.

He held his hand out to her and beckoned her with a simple, "Come here, Kagome."

Kagome was rather taken aback by how calm and warm his voice sounded in comparison to his speech mere moments before. She took a step forward and moved across the long expanse of stone floor. She grabbed his hand and he instantly began walking, dragging her along with him. She ducked her head as she passed the men.

It seemed like they were really going to walk out of there unharmed until they heard footsteps behind them.

"Watch out!" someone shouted as a sword came flying towards them, the tip pointed at Kagome's stomach.

Kagome caught of glimpse of Kouga's face, and saw he looked outraged. Kagome couldn't move. She couldn't react. She stood, frozen, as it came soaring towards her.

With a flash, Inuyasha hit the sword away with his own sword. The blade sliced over his bicep and shoulder and he hissed in pain. Kagome stared in shock as a long line of blood beaded and pulsed over his reddening skin.

Inuyasha snarled and hid Kagome behind him, standing with his sword poised. "Who did that?" he hissed. "Who threatened the princess?"

Kagome stared at Inuyasha's back. She knew he was doing this simply to protect the prophecy, but a small portion of her rational mind liked to suspect he was doing it out of genuine concern for her wellbeing. That same part of her mind told her he'd never admit to it, either.

But she was more concerned with his bleeding arm. She reached out her fingertips and touched it, trying her hardest to will the blood to stop. He didn't seem to notice her touch, and she wondered if he trusted her that much to expose his back.

What had happened?

They weren't supposed to grow attached to one another, yet here they stood.

"Who did this?" Kouga shouted, and sounded almost exactly like Inuyasha. "We are honorable men here, damn it. We do not…" he faltered, looking outraged. "Who did this?"

"Shut up, Kouga," Inuyasha barked. "Don't trifle with my affairs!"

Kouga fell silent, glaring silently. The other men stood, motionless, their eyes wide. They grouped together, looking like a strange, bodiless blob.

"I'll kill you all for daring to harm her," he snapped and he raised his hand. It seemed to glow eerily in the darkness. Kagome's eyes widened and she moved forward and grasped the hand.

"No!" she said, pulling on the strong arm before her.

Inuyasha stared at her in shock. "Kagome, let go."

"No!" she repeated, ignoring his command.

His eyes narrowed. "Let go," he snapped. "Release me."

"I won't," she hissed out. "Don't kill them. Let's just go. Let's just get out of here."

Inuyasha turned and seemed to regard them all with a serious eye. He seemed to be debating doing something to them and then he shrugged his non-bleeding shoulder. He grabbed her hand and pulled her closer to him.

"Fine," he hissed and sheathed his sword, glaring at them all. He waved his hand. "Be thankful she is kind. Sleep."

His hand pulsed in the darkness and the men dropped like flies. Kagome watched them in horror, despite the fact she knew he'd only made them fall asleep. Kouga put up a valiant attempt to stay awake. His head lolled and his lips parted.

Sleepily, he spoke, "You selfish little…"

Kouga dropped to the ground, his head bouncing painfully against the stone floor. Kagome stared at the sleeping men in horror before closing her eyes and looking away. Inuyasha stood in silence for the longest time, his arm dripping blood and his eyes staring off into nothingness.

It had all moved so fast, Kagome wasn't sure what happened.

She swallowed.

"Inuyasha…?"

He didn't answer her right away. He moved over the expanse of the room and approached Kouga's prone form. Kagome followed after him, her feet padding against the ground. They stared at him for the longest moment before Kagome finally ventured to speak.

"He said he was your cousin."

"He did not lie," Inuyasha agreed and kicked the man aside. Kagome frowned at him in disapproval. He ignored her. "He is the son of the man who raised me."

"He said that you lived with your uncle," Kagome granted.

"I was only eight when I came to live with him," Inuyasha said softly. "Kouga was eleven then."

Kagome looked at Kouga's sleeping face. She turned to Inuyasha hesitantly. "Inuyasha… how did you lose sight in your eye?"

Inuyasha didn't answer right away. Instead, he made to leave the building. He grabbed her forearm as he passed and drops of blood dropped onto her white tunic. He remained silent as he pulled her along, navigating through the mazelike building. Finally, they reached the outside world, but it was night out.

"How long have I been gone?" Kagome asked.

Inuyasha seemed able to deign a response for the question. "You were missing for three days."

"What?" Kagome barked. Kouga had knocked her out for three days?

"I told you to keep your face hidden for a reason, you stupid, stupid girl," Inuyasha hissed bitterly. "And this is why! I knew the stupid rebellion would want their hands on you, and I was right, wasn't I? They knew that I'd kidnapped you, and they'd be looking for you. Fuck, when I was knocked out, they took you away! Do you have any fucking clue what I went through to find you again?"

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"And I—wait, what?" He seemed genuinely shocked she'd apologized.

"I was stupid," she said lightly.

He seemed shocked by this confession. His cheeks turned pink and he whipped his head away, looking gruff and put-upon. "Well," he muttered, "Just listen to me next time."

Kagome nodded her head and smiled lightly, unsure and unwilling to understand why her heart fluttered in her chest when Inuyasha dragged her along, still holding her hand tightly in her own. He'd saved her. Of course, he'd saved her in order to capture her, but the fact still remained that he'd come for her.

He handed her his cloak with his free hand and she obediently covered herself, thankful for a chance to cover her reddening face.