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((Neon))

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Kagome's heart pounded with fear, enough to make her choke on any possible words that might have escaped her lips. The hand dropped from her mouth, but the one on her hand tightened and dragged her away from the still howling phone. "Let me go," she hissed, terrified. "Let me-"

"Hush!" the man snarled, ducking behind a shelf and jerking her after him. She snapped her mouth shut when she realized what he was wearing. Ridiculous neon yellow, just as Miroku had promised. Relaxing nervously, she watched as his gray gaze followed someone. "This way, Miss Higurashi," he said suddenly, pulling her further into the store.

She willingly followed, biting her lip. "You're here to help, right?" she said warily. "Miroku said-"

"I'm one of the people sent to watch you," he replied calmly. They ducked past a rack of clothes and then out a side door. "You have no reason to fear me." He paused, narrowing his eyes as he examined the bustling street. "Hiten is approaching, he has discovered me. We must hurry. May I?" He held out his arms.

Kagome nodded and he scooped her up before darting forward just as Hiten exploded through the door, eyes ablaze with anger as he lunged. The demon carrying her cursed and leaped back before whirling around and taking off at a dead run. Kagome gasped in surprise, but tried to help him be faster by pressing against him and making herself as small as possible.

Hiten moved to race after them, but another man in ridiculous neon clothing appeared and slammed at full force into the thunder demon. Kagome bit her lip, watching over the man's shoulder. He growled until she stopped. "Mr. Takahashi should be here to keep you properly safe in a few hours," he muttered, "We must return you to Miroku before then."

"Inuyasha won't be mad if you don't get me there on time," Kagome pointed out, "He'll be mad if Hiten gets to me again."

"Which won't happen," the demon said firmly, leaping easily over a street full of busy cars. He slowed to a walk, then set her down. "We should be able to relax now," he muttered as he peered around, "So long as we are careful."

"Thank you," Kagome told him with honest sincerity. Then she asked, "You have a phone I could borrow? You kinda cut me off from a phone call with Inuyasha. He's got to be losing his mind right now..."

"Of course, Miss Higurashi." He handed her his phone and flashed her a grin. Kagome returned the smile as she began to dial Inuyasha's number, deciding then and there that she liked the demon despite not knowing his name. She held the phone up to her ear, smiling faintly as soon as the growling half-demon picked up.

"What the hell do you want?"

"Me again," Kagome said with false cheerfulness, her eyes gentle.

"What happened?" Inuyasha demanded. "Were you hurt?"

Kagome blinked, startled. She was hurt, but not by the demon beside her. She glanced at her broken arm with a grimace, along with the other injuries from rolling out of the car. "Err, I was hurt. But I'll get the injuries looked at soon. I'm safe now, one of the demons working with you guys found me and helped me out."

"Good," Inuyasha sighed in relief. On the other side of the phone, he shoved his hand through his thick silver hair, staring out the plane window with a frustrated growl. Across from him, his father watched silently as he said, "I want you looked at as soon as possible, Kagome."

"I know, I know," she sighed back, sounding amused though pained. He gritted his teeth furiously. "I should of asked you to stay," she admitted suddenly, sounding guilty. "Then I wouldn't of scared you so bad."

Inuyasha's golden eyes flashed at her guilt. She had no reason to feel guilty! "It's fine, wench. As long as you're alright now...I can kill Hiten now that he's shown himself to the world."

"Do you think he knew, Inuyasha? That he was showing his face everywhere?"

"Dunno, maybe." He snorted and let his head fall back to rest against the seat. "It works for us, though. Now I'll have permission to kill him, just like I said."

"I don't want you to kill him though," she protested.

"Feh. I want to be the one to, though," he retorted. "He hurt you. i want to personally make sure he doesn't do it again."

"I don't want blood on your hands."

"I'll make sure none gets on them then," Inuyasha growled back. "I don't care what you say, wench. He's mine to do with what I want as soon as possible." Inutaisho shot him a look. "Within legal limits, of course. Which now includes his death." He paused, looking to his father. "It does, right? Because of what Hiten did, I can kill him?"

Inutaisho sighed. "Yes, it is now alright for you to kill him. He, in public, kidnapped Kagome and caused her harm. Ask Totosai if you must, but you are able to." His eyes flashed. He didn't approve of his son's line of thought.

Inuyasha gave a broad grin. "See? It's fine for me to kill him, I won't get in any trouble for it and you'll be safe."

Kagome was silent and his smirk vanished. "Kagome?"

"I don't want him to be killed by you because of me," she whispered. "It's my fault that someone has to die."

That had the half-demon baring his fangs in a snarl. "I'm getting rid fo him to keep you safe, Kagome! Don't go all sympathetic on the bastard now. First chance he gets, he kills you, don't you get it?"

"I know that. It doesn't mean I have to like the idea of someone dying, though," she grumbled in response. "How soon until you get back to Japan?"

"A few hours at the most," he admitted. "You'll be fine until then, right?"

"I think so. As long as Hiten doesn't find us again, I should be alright."

"Good. I need to go now, alright? Got some work to do for Sesshomaru. You be careful, wench, I want you to be just like you are now when I see you. Got it? Give me a list of those injuries now so I'll know."

Kagome giggled. "Goodbye, Inuyasha." She hung up.

"Kagome does not approve of you being the one to kill Hiten, Inuyasha," Inutaisho said quietly.

Inuyasha shrugged. "I don't trust anyone else to do it. With my luck, he'll escape and end up killing her anyway. He's gotten close. I don't want it to happen again..."

"I don't think he wants to kill her. He would've done so on stage," Inutaisho mused. "He wants something else...she's a miko, perhaps it has something to do with that?"

Inuyasha shrugged again as he growled, "I don't know what he wants but he won't get it." He raised his chin proudly. "Kagome is mine. Only I can touch her and anyone else who does is dead. And that includes Hiten."

He hoped Kagome wouldn't hate him if he got what he wanted.

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A/N: Bad chapter, but. Hope you enjoyed, thanks to reviewers! :3