Jaid: Hello all! Here's the next chappy. I hope you enjoy! Reader response is at the bottom.

Jad: Where's Naga?

Jaid: I locked him up. I didn't want to be made fun of today.

Jad: *sweatdrop* Ooookay…

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(San's POV)

"They're following us." Gabe said.

"I know." I answered, a chill going down my spine as I swerve into a lane behind a red car. I glance at him. He seems fine now, though his breathing does seem to be slow and a little heavy. He's leaning forward in his seat, almost as if he's listening for something.

"San, look out!" he shouts. I look at the road, and then slam on the brakes as all the other cars around us stop for a red light.

"Okay." Gabe said, after recovering. "Good thing we have our badges on us. We can always claim police business, right?"

I glared at him. He looked back innocently.

"What?"

"This really is not a time to joke around."

"I was being serious."

Tightening my jaw in annoyance, I looked at the road again. We were almost too the police station, when all of a sudden, a few dozen of those snake things suddenly rose out of the ground and hurtled themselves at us. I screamed and turned sharply to avoid them, nearly driving another car off the road. One hit the windshield and cracked it. I got the car back under control and stomped down on the gas pedal with all I had. There is the sound of glass breaking behind us and I know that they are chasing us.

"San! Stop the car." Gabe orders.

"Yeah, and then do what?" I ask sarcastically.

"I don't know, but if they get in here…"

I hate it when he's right. I pull off the road and we both get out. The things come right after us and we start to run. Ducking in an alleyway, we run to the next street, only to realize that the snake-things have only guessed our movements and come at us from the front. They head towards us and we both dodge.

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(Gabe's POV)

I dodge the things as best I can; the strange oppressive feeling in my chest is there, but not as severe as it first was. San cries out as she barely moves out of the way and a snake creature hits her stomach, cutting her deeply as it passes by.

"San!" I shout, picking up a pipe that was on the ground. I can't risk shooting my gun, but damn it all, we've got to do something! I beat one away and it evaporates. I blink and start hitting them as best I can. San sinks to the ground slowly and doesn't move. I stand in front of her, trying to protect her as best I can, but I wasn't as fast I as I needed to be. I've gotten cut too, and I can feel my limbs slowly becoming numb. A creature comes up and actually bites my leg. Crying out, I swing at it, trying to get it off, but it doesn't budge. I sink to one knee and look at the remaining monsters.

'So this is it.' I think. 'Well, it's one heck of a way to go. I just wish I knew what is going on.'

All of a sudden, there's a flash and a yell. The creatures scream and scatter. Hojo stands in front of me, a huge sword in his hand. Kagome is close behind. I look at them confused.

"What the hell?" I ask hoarsely. Hojo drops and the sword and as it leaves his hand and falls to the ground, it becomes a rusted, old katana. Hojo grabs me by the shoulders.

"Are you okay?" he demands.

"Yeah." I answer, sounding a little slurred. The pipe, which I've just noticed is glowing with a faint blue, drops from my hands. "Just fine."

Then I black out.

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(Hojo's POV)

Gabe slumped forward and I supported him as Kagome ran to San. The girl was still conscious, but she held an arm around her midsection and was breathing heavily. Blood dripped to the ground.

"What are they?" she demanded. "What's going on?" There's desperation in her voice that cuts me, but I can give no answer.

"I don't know." I answer. "Nobody does."

"Shh, it's okay, San." Kagome says soothingly. "Can you stand?"

San nods hesitantly and Kagome helps her to her feet and we drag them both to our car. I deposit Gabe in the back and run back for the Tetsusiega. Re-sheathing it, I come back and get into the car.

"San's unconscious now too." Kagome says worriedly. J

"Hospital?" I ask.

"Yeah, I guess." She answers. "No, on second thought, let's just take them home."

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(Kagome's POV)

Bandaging San and Gabe up brought back a lot of memories. Memories I don't really care to remember. I put the bandages away, as San sleeps in our guest room. I think they might have been poisoned and I need to get some herbs to help counteract it.

Looking at my hands, I realize I'm shaking. Sinking to sit on the toilet seat, I place my head in my hands. It's starting all over again and I'm wondering if I'm even prepared. A ghost of a smile slips across my face and I know I must be more prepared than I was at fifteen.

Standing, I go downstairs to check on Gabe, whom we put on the sofa. He's not there; only a red sweatshirt, a gun and a badge are left. A car starts outside and I know it's him.

"Inu-Yasha!" I cry, running for the door.

"What?" he yells, thundering down the stairs and running after me. "What is it?!"

I don't answer him as I enter the garage. A piece of paper is where our car used to be.

"Damn bastard." Hojo mutters. I bend down and pick it up.

"Gone to get some answers, hopefully. I'll take care of the car; don't worry. Watch over San. She's something special. Gabe"

"I'm going to kill him." Hojo growls. "I'm going to frikken kill him."

"I wonder where he's going." I hear myself say distantly. Looking up, I watch as the sun sets in red.

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(Gabe's POV)

I drive for a while, coming to an old, dirty part of town. It's dark by the time I park, lock the car and head out. I feel numb and sick as I stumble down the broken sidewalk. I must look like a messed up, drunk gangster, but as that is normal for this bit of town, the few people out don't pay me any attention. I pass a house where a redheaded young man is sitting on the porch. He gives me a strange look and calls out, "Do you need help?"

"No man." I call back, trying to straighten my walk. "I'm fine."

The guy doesn't answer, but I can tell he's not convinced. I stumble to an old house and climb the creaking steps.

"Yo, anybody here?"

A middle-aged, rather short and fat man appears in the doorway. "Sanchez-san!" he exclaims bowing. I sigh.

"Hacchi, come on, let me in. Is Mushin here?"

"Yes." He answers, opening the many times patched screen door. "In here."

I step shakily over several pieces of garbage as I enter the house. Mushin is here all right, snoozing on the couch. Walking over, I swipe his pillow and whack him on the head.

"Wake up, you old drunkard." I say loudly. Mushin snorts and then opens one eye lazily.

"Well, if it isn't the kid." He mumbles. "Don't know anything; haven't heard anything for days."

"This is something different." I say. "Now get up."

Mushin sits up with difficulty. "What's wrong with you?"

"This." I snap, showing him the cuts on my arms. Kagome bandaged them nicely, but they are turning black and to tell the truth, it's freaking me out. But then again, there's not much that doesn't these days…

"Hmm…" Mushin looks over them critically. "Why come to me?"

"Because, I think you can tell me some things I want to know. But first, I think I was poisoned. Can you…?"

Mushin 'hmmed' and looked at my wounds. "I'm sorry, kid. But these poisons are going to kill you. Feel sick?"

"Yeah."

"Numb?"

"…Yeah."

Mushin shook his head. "Sorry. You won't live to see daylight."

A jolt goes through me. So I was going to die after all. And not just me but San too. God, she didn't deserve that.

"Don't look so down." Mushin says and I glance at him in disbelief.

"You'll be fine." He chuckles. I give him a fair imitation of San's glare.

"What?" he says innocently. "Can't take a joke?"

Growling, I smack his head. "Do you want me to arrest you?"

"No, no need for that. Let's not be hasty." Mushin says rapidly. "I don't have the right medicines, but I can take you to a lady who does. She lives in the old apartment complex across from here."

"Not that old witch."

"Precisely." Mushin stands up and grabs a cane to steady his drunken walking. "Hacchi! We're going!"

"Coming, coming." Hacchi bustles in.

"We're going to see the witch." Mushin chuckles dryly. I stumble along after him, leaning on Hacchi, even though the guy is shorter than me.

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(Hojo's POV)

I waited up for Gabe till eleven. He didn't come back. I fell asleep on the couch, only waking after Kagome found me at about three in the morning. San wasn't looking good; pale and her breathing was very slow.

"What are we going to do?" I ask.

"I don't know." Kagome answers.

Down below, we hear a car pull up and then a few moments later, the door opens. We rush downstairs. A short, fat little man stands there, shaking like a bowl of jelly.

"You are the Hojos?" he asks in a quavering voice.

"Yes." I answer. The little man holds out a packet.

"These herbs will help your friend." he says, then bows. "I come from Sanchez-san."

"Where is he?" I ask.

"Um…" the man pauses. "I'm not sure. I brought your car back."

I must have looked stressed, because Kagome steps forward with a pleasant (though slightly tired) smile.

"Thank you. Any directions for the medicine?"

"Yes, the powder needs to be put in tea. The other stuff can be applied to the wound. You do know how?"

"Yes." Kagome nods. The man bows low then scuttles out. I turn to Kagome.

"What is up with that?"

She shrugs as she walks to the kitchen. "Obviously there's something that Gabe doesn't want us to know."

"I got that." I say as she puts water on to boil. "I wish he wasn't so secretive all the time."

"It could be harmful." Kagome agrees, but there is a hint of sarcasm to her words. She turns to me. "Why don't you go on to bed? You've got to deal with the Surati girls tomorrow."

I groaned. "Don't remind me. Damn. I was hoping Gabe would help me out. Cory seems to like him."

Kagome pushes me a little towards the door. "Go to bed. I'll take care of San and be there later."

"You're sure?"

"Inu-Yasha…"

"I'm going, I'm going."

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(Gabe's POV)

The old lady gave me something to drink and it knocked me out. By the time I woke up, I was back in Mushin's house. I heard him bustling in the kitchen, singing a song at the top of his lungs. Blinking, I sit up somewhat groggily, then inspect my cuts. They are no longer black; in fact they are very nearly healed. Impressive.

Standing shakily, I walk to the doorway. Mushin is attempting breakfast and poor Hacchi is actually the one making it, trying to work around the drunkard.

"Hey." I say. The two look up.

"Sanchez-san!" Hacchi greets enthusiastically. No matter how many times I've told him to call me Gabe, he doesn't. I swear, he'd call me master if I let him.

"How you feeling boy?" Mushin asks, looking at me critically. Hacchi takes advantage of Mushin's distraction and whisks away the bowl of eggs Mushin was trying to scramble.

"Tired, a little shaky. But a damn sight better than I was last night." I say. Mushin nods and grins approvingly.

"You'll have to pay her you know." He comments. I sigh, put my hand in my pocket and pull out my wallet. Opening it, I pull out all that's in there. About 6000 yen.

"Here. You can keep whatever she doesn't take."

Mushin's eyes grow wide as he takes the money.

"But," I add. "You have to split it with Hacchi."

The short man looks up with an extremely grateful look.

"I'll go use the bathroom." I say quickly before he can thank me profusely. I hate it when he does that; makes me feel weird.

After breakfast, I say my good byes and head out. I'm going to have to walk and mentally curse myself for not keeping enough money to at least catch the bus home.

"Hey."

I turn. It's the same guy from last night, but now he's raking up his small yard.

"Hi." I answer.

"You feeling okay?" he asks.

"Yeah." I answer, a little slowly. "Thanks for asking."

The young man smiles, but it's tinged with sadness that is echoed in his green eyes. "Your welcome. Headed home?"

I nod.

"Need a ride? I noticed Hacchi taking your car."

"You know them?"

"Well, we are neighbors." He comments, somewhat wryly. I grin.

"Yeah, I guess."

"A ride?" he raises an eyebrow.

I look at him critically for a moment, but he seems all right. I still have the talent for knowing things about people right after I meet them and he feels fine to me. I shrug.

"Sure, why not?"

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Jaid: Well, I wanted to do more, but I think I'll save it for another chapter. I didn't change Mushin or Hacchi's names; it was simpler not too. Hope you like! Remember, R&R!!!

Reviewer Response:

Sakura Kounji: lol, thanks again! Oh good, somebody understands, lol. ACK! GET SHIPPO OUT OF THE SUGAR QUICK!!!!!

Ley: Ooh, I'm sorry. Flu is a bummer. I got it and had to go the hospital because I had no liquid left in my body. x_x Yeah, I still love GW too, but Inu-Yasha's so cool!