Not sure I liked this chapter, but it had to be written. With any luck, there will be some high-quality fluff coming soon. Keep your fingers crossed; the author seems to have lost control of the story. It's writing itself! ACK!

Chapter Twenty-Six: Good Friends Make Eager Allies

Two hours later, and Ayumi was still sitting rigid, staring blankly at the table.

"Ayumi-chan?"

The girl breathed in and out, slowly but steadily, and closed her eyes. "So let me get this straight.

"You were never sick?"

"No."

"You've been traveling into the past using the shrine well?"

"Up until January, yes."

"Inuyasha is a demon?"

"Half."

"And now he's here to protect you from his murderous demon brother who wants to destroy humanity?"

"So it appears, yes."

"I... "Ayumi faltered, biting her lip. "Can I touch your ears?"

"Why does everyone in your damned era always want to grope my ears? I don't ask to touch yours, do I?"

"You can touch mine," she offered feebly.

Kagome gave Inuyasha a pleading glance, begging him to indulge the shell- shocked young woman. He relented, leaning forward with only a slight grumble of discontent. Ayumi reached up a trembling hand, feeling the soft fur as well as the slight heat radiating from the appendages. She jerked back, forced to accept the truth of her friend's story.

"So," the girl stopped again, unsure of where to go with their conversation. "What are you going to do?"

"We don't know," Kagome answered truthfully. "I'm not even entirely sure how he's planning to use the jewel. It magnifies the energy of the one possessing it, and he's said he wants to use it to go back in time and 'even the score', so to speak."

Ayumi gulped audibly. "Kagome-chan, has it always been like this? During all those trips through the well?"

"Pretty much," she sighed.

"Did your mother know? Would she be okay with you living here with a boy?"

Kagome laughed softly, sharing a look with the male at her side. "Mama would have been thrilled, actually. Inuyasha's always been my faithful protector." Said hanyou beamed at the praise.

Narrowing her eyes in disbelief, "but I thought you said he was two-timing you?"

The miko froze in her seat, feeling Inuyasha's indignant scowl searing through her. "Ha ha," she laughed nervously, "that's not exactly what I said..."

"No, I'm pretty sure you said he kept going back to his ex-girlfriend and—"

"Ayumi-chan!"

"Hai?"

"You must be mixing me up with Yuka, RIGHT?"

"I don't think—"

"RIGHT?"

"Oh. Um. Yes, I guess I am."

The trio sat in silence, Ayumi still absorbing Kagome's fantastic tale, Kagome breathing a sigh of relief over the whole incident, and Inuyasha still fuming over Kagome's hurtful gossip. As Kagome lifted up her cup of tea, she noticed Inuyasha's ears perk up.

"Inuyasha?"

"I heard something outside." He stood up, searching the room for Tetsusaiga. "You two stay in here." He grabbed the katana and rushed out the house.

"Is something wrong, Kagome-chan?"

Lifting a finger to her lips indicating silence, Kagome hobbled over to the kitchen window, flipping off the light on her way. "We're constantly in danger of attack," she whispered, "especially at night. So far we've been lucky but –" Kagome looked past Ayumi into the hallway where she noticed her bow and arrows leaning against the wall. "If we're under attack, it's very important you stay inside, okay? Low to the ground."

"Low to the ground?"

"Just trust me."

"H-hai."

Seconds later, the familiar rasp of Inuyasha's embattled grunting filled the kitchen. Kagome's heart leapt at the noise. "Stay here, be quiet, and don't come out until I tell you to!" Without waiting for Ayumi's response, she rushed to the hall, gathering her weapons and joining Inuyasha in the fray.

"Inuyasha!"

"Kagome, go back inside!"

"Iie, I'm not going to leave you alone!"

He growled at the miko, but quickly turned back to the oncoming flying serpent, slashing it effortlessly with Tetsusaiga. The slithery demon was soon followed by three of his brothers, one darting towards the miko.

"Ike!" Kagome loosed the arrow with a twang, watching with satisfaction as it sunk deep inside its target, scattering it into a million shining pieces. "I've still got it," she smirked. Still basking in her victory, Kagome failed to notice the third and final serpent sailing toward her. The demon swiped past her, its eyes suddenly shifting toward her lower body as it passed.

"Kagome, move over!" Inuyasha waited until she jumped back, then raced forward just as the small youkai turned for another pass, heading straight toward her hip. Sheathing Tetsusaiga, he rushed the beast, slashing at it, "Sankontessou!"

Silence fell over the courtyard, interrupted only by the tentative chirping of crickets in the twilight. Inuyasha heaved a breath, turning abruptly to face Kagome, his eyes darkening at the sight of her. "You're bleeding."

"Nani?" He pointed to her hip. "Oh," she touched the area lightly, flinching under the pressure. "I'm sure it's minor... Inuyasha?"

The half-demon appeared instantly at her side, lifting up her shirt with no hesitation and studied the wound. "No stitches torn," he finally sighed. "We'll have to wash it off and bandage it up again."

"Mm," she agreed. "You know it's funny; I didn't feel a thing the entire time. It's like I was totally focused on the goal, and all I could feel was the thrill of victory." She bit her lip, gazing past Inuyasha to some point in the distance. "I enjoyed that, and it scares me."

Before Inuyasha could respond, Ayumi peeked her head out of the front door. "Ano, Kagome-chan... can I come out now?"

"Hai, it's safe now."

"Kagome-chan! You're injured!"

"It's nothing," she waved off, offering her friend a soft smile. "Old wound reopened. It'll be fine after I get it cleaned off."

Ayumi studied her friend with ill-concealed worry, looking to Inuyasha for confirmation of her concern. The hanyou stood up from his kneeling position and gathered Kagome in his arms. "Let's go inside and clean you up."

"Kagome-chan," Ayumi piped up from behind the girl as she wrapped fresh gauze over her wound, "don't you think you should get help with this?"

The miko shifted on the couch and laughed bitterly. "Just who can I call? The police?"

"The military, maybe? I'm sure the Japanese government could solve this problem for you."

"Doubtful," she replied wearily. "Not without a disaster the size of Hiroshima. This is my duty, and I'm going to see it through to the end."

Off in the shadows, Inuyasha stood gazing out the living room window to the courtyard beyond. His voice low, he spoke with determination. "That last one discovered our little secret."

"Our secret? You mean the Shikon-no-Tama?"

"Aa. He was heading straight for it."

"Well we killed him," Kagome replied flippantly, "so there's no problem."

"Don't be naïve," he growled. "Just because we killed all the youkai we saw, doesn't mean we killed all the ones he sent. I scented at least one more, but I couldn't see him. No doubt it was a messenger."

"You think the demon will tell Sesshoumaru that I've got the sacred jewel inside of me."

"I know he will."

Silence fell among the trio, leaving Ayumi to sit uncomfortably on the couch in helpless confusion. As the minutes ticked by, she began to fidget, unable to stand the tense atmosphere. "So, Kagome-chan... how can I help?"

"No, Ayumi-chan. I'm not letting you get dragged into this."

The young woman sat up straighter, offended heat spreading across her face. "I'm already involved! You told me earlier tonight that you used to travel with a demon exterminator and a monk. You said they were your best friends." Kagome blinked at her, nodding slightly. "Well, I'm your friend too, and I want to help you."

"You're not trained in battle, and you don't have any holy powers either," Inuyasha reminded her, his voice heavy with the weight of their responsibility.

"So? I have two hands, a brain, and the love of my friend to offer."

"That's true," Kagome conceded, smiling gently at the girl. She tapped her chin thoughtfully, eyes shining at a sudden idea. "Can you come over tomorrow after school?"

"Of course, why?"

"It's time to erect a barrier over the shrine. I've been reading up on how to do it, but it will take a lot of wards being placed in just the right spots. I'll make the wards myself, but since Inuyasha can't touch them, I could use some help placing them."

"Anything you need, Kagome-chan. Just ask."

"All right. So tomorrow, then."

"After school," the girl agreed. She glanced down at her watch, jumping slightly in surprise. "Kami, it's past seven! My mother is going to kill me!"

Kagome struggled to stand, finding herself instantly settled back by a gruff hanyou. "Stay."

"Who's the dog here?" she grumbled half-heartedly, earning a glare from Inuyasha. "All right, all right. You walk her to the door."

The hanyou complied, locking it securely behind Ayumi and returning instantly to Kagome's side. "Does it still hurt?"

"No, not really. Only when I try to move too fast."

He appeared crestfallen, and Kagome frowned. Does he still feel guilty about it? I've told him so many times that it was necessary, and I thought he agreed with me. A thought crossed her mind, and she smiled. Then again, maybe I'm overlooking something. This whole time, ever since the night of the benefit dinner, I've been limping around the house and he's been so protective. Maybe he's afraid... her smile grew into a positively wicked grin, maybe he's afraid to touch me.

Eager to test this theory, she hid her smile and slid down the floor to land on the hanyou's lap. His head shot up in surprise, making Kagome work that much harder to hide her intent. Wasting not a second, she lifted an arm to wrap around his neck, drawing him down toward her face. She let her breath pass over his cheeks, raising a hand to massage a furry ear and nearly giggling at the feel of his tremulous groan.

"Kagome..."

"Inuyasha," she breathed, lifting up a bit to touch her lips to his. He instantly took over, devouring her with days of pent-up tension. Kagome gasped into his mouth at the fevered kiss, overwhelmed by his desperation. She could sense an urgency born of fear for her safety. He was proving to himself that she was alive and well.

The wound in her side ached slightly. Maybe this wasn't the smartest idea, she sighed. When his fangs nipped lightly at her lower lip, she grinned. But then again, smart ideas are overrated anyway.

At the top of the stairs, Souta rolled his eyes and turned back around. Screw dinner; he'd lost his appetite anyway.