Notes:  Er… :: hides ::  Please don't hurt me.  I'm sorry this took so long, and I really hate this chapter anyway.  But, um, I'm really really sorry.  I'm also sorry this chapter sucks so badly.

Disclaimer: If I owned Inuyasha, he'd be tied to my – I mean, I wouldn't be writing this.

- Watching Over –

- Chapter Six: Allies (the Good, the Perverted, and the Irritatingly Cocky) –

"Eh?" Kagome managed as her upper arm was grabbed roughly and she was jerked upwards.  "What are you doing, Inuyasha?"

     He said nothing, opting instead to toss her onto his back and jump high into the air, carrying her with him.  Pushing herself out from under the long, silver mass that was his hair, she growled into his ear, "Just what do you think you're doing?"

     After a long moment of silence, then: "You've gotta – get – away!" His voice burst out in ragged pants, and as Kagome looked down, she saw that his feet were blurred from running and jumping so fast.

     "Away from where?"

     "Your hou – se!" Pausing for a second to crouch, he leapt with nimble ease over the rooftop of a nearby house.  "Nara – ku's going – to send someone – there – tonight!"

     Kagome started.  Her house… "Wait!  My family!"

     "Oh, it's – alright.  Naraku won't – kill an in – nocent family – cause he wants – to keep the 'org – anization' a – secret."

     Kagome breathed a gigantic sigh of relief.  She didn't think she could stand it if anything happened to Grandpa, Mama, or Souta.  "Thank goodness… second question.  Where are we going?"

     A long silence.  "Er… back to the hideout," he half-whispered as they skidded to a dusty stop before the aforementioned grungy apartment-turned-complex-for-demons.  "Sorry, but it's not like there's anywhere else I can take you, exactly."

     "Fiiine," Kagome sighed, sliding to the ground.  Her legs trembled, a lot like jelly, underneath her for a few seconds until she regained her balance.  Seen in daylight, the 'hideout' was vastly less intimidating than at five o'clock in the morning on the most terrifying night of one's life thus far.  Manning the door was a half-asleep teenager with elven ears and a silky white tail poking out from the top of his jeans, which were obviously meant to conceal the extra appendage.

     Inuyasha took hold of her arm and dragged her up to the doorway.  "Huh?" the doorman jolted awake, blinking dark brown eyes at them.  "What's going on?  Fire?"

     "Um, no… we're just going in."

     The door-youkai waggled his eyebrows; he being merely a teenager, this looked quite silly on him.  "Ohh," he said with a wink.

     Kagome was about to tell him off, when Inuyasha elbowed her in the ribs.  This proved doubly effective, as it both notified her of the warning to stay silent, and knocked her breathless so that she was really literally unable to speak anyway.  Clutching her side, she followed Inuyasha into the dark hallway.  The utter lack of windows made it possible for it to cheerful and sunny outdoors, and macabre and shadow-swathed indoors.  Grey shapes passed her by, but seemed to take no notice of her.

     At long last, after marching past what seemed to be the same rooms and walls endlessly, Inuyasha shoved her into a small room.  The door sported a piece of tattered paper reading 'Inuyasha Mayane Shippou' in smudged purple marker.  But the room was unoccupied.

     Inuyasha clambered up a rickety wooden ladder to sit cross-legged atop a thin mattress.  The sheets were off-white and didn't look very warm, and pillows of all different shapes and patterns were scattered on both bunk beds.  A tiny yip squeaked from underneath the one Kagome was about to seat herself upon on the bottom bunk, and she leapt back.

     Green eyes blinking in slow, sleepy surprise, Shippou wriggled out from below the blue-and-white striped pillow.  He stared at her from under his fringe of reddish-brown hair, rubbing his eyes.  "Oh… it's you again!  Kagome Higurashi!"

     "That's me," she said, smiling at the kitsune.  "What was your name again…?"

     "Shippou!" he announced, puffing up his chest and grinning at her as he hopped to his furry feet.  With a bow and a poof, he transformed into a bright blue kitten.  Purring, it nudged up against Kagome, showing a suspiciously kitsune-like tail, then turned back into Shippou.

     An irritated grumble rose from the bed above them, muffled by the mattress.  "Stop showing off, Shippou.  You know your tail never transforms, anyway."

     Shippou stuck his tongue out, although Inuyasha could not see him.  "Humph!  What do you know, anyway?  Meanie."

     She couldn't help but giggle a little at Shippou's antics.  He acted a lot like Souta had acted at that age; or, at least, the age that Shippou appeared to be.

     Someone rapped at the door lightly – it sounded like a set rhythm, a code of some sort.  The bedsprings above groaned as Inuyasha leapt off the bed and landed on the floor with a soft thump, his peeved expression transforming to one of slight surprise.  As the rhythm was tapped onto the wood of the door again, he flung open the door.

     "Didn't expect you here so quick, Sango," he muttered, stepping aside to let a girl inside.

     Sango was a little taller than Kagome, and possessed a kind of melancholy elegance.  Her glossy dark brown hair had been pulled into a low ponytail, secured with a black scrunchie.  A pair of chocolate-coloured eyes bestowed a gentle smile upon the inhabitants of the room.  She wore a pair of jeans, ripped in the left knee, and a blue sweatshirt emblazoned with a duck that said, in English, "Got Water?"

     "Um, Kagome, this is Sango Taijiya."

     "Hey, Sango…" Kagome scrutinized the newcomer.  She didn't appear to have stripes, a tail, elf-ears, or any other body parts that were demonic.  "Are you… human?"

     Inuyasha rolled his eyes before Sango could reply.  "Of course.  What does she look like?  I, um, thought you might like company.  I think she's your age."

     Sango sighed and sat down next to Kagome and Shippou, absently stroking Shippou's tail.  "As Inuyasha said: yes, I am human."

     "So…"

     "What am I doing here?"

     Kagome gave a sheepish nod.  A strange sadness entered Sango's expression, and she sighed again.  Pushing her glasses up on her nose, she began:

     "I… I'm an orphan, I guess you could say."  She looked as though she'd never thought about it that way before.  "My parents and… little brother, Kohaku were murdered by Naraku because they stumbled upon this place.  It's strange… this place should be dangerous for me, I guess, but it's the safest place there is for me.  I think Naraku's forgotten about me, and there's always markers and cloaks."

     This was beginning to hit disturbingly close to home for Kagome.

     Just then, the door burst open again, and a someone hurtled right into Kagome and Sango.  They both screeched until a gloved hand clapped over each of their mouths – this proved to be an extremely efficient way of shutting them up.  Inuyasha applauded for a few seconds, before seeming to remember the semi-gravity of the situation and snatching the intruder by the collar of his jacket.

     "Who are you, and what do you want?" he snarled, baring his fangs and showing his claws as they glinted in the dim light.

     Dangling with hunched shoulders and wide, terrified eyes from Inuyasha's hand was a teenaged boy – probably about a year older than Sango, two years older than Kagome.  He had an appealing gleam in his indigo eyes, though of a rather untrustworthy sort.  His unruly black hair was pulled into a small ponytail at the nape of his neck, only adding to the ruffian image.  Black leather gloves encased both hands, and he wore black jeans, a grey T-shirt, and a leather jacket.  All in all, not the type that Kagome's mama encouraged her to make friends with.

     Sango sprang up from her sprawl on the bottom bunk, looking panicked.  "Not you!  How could you follow me here?"

     The boy gulped, seeming unable to tear his eyes away from Inuyasha.  His boot-clad feet kicked at the air in vain.  "S-sorry, S-Sango."

     She shook her head as Kagome sat up, looking on in curiosity.  "Let him down, Inuyasha," she ordered wearily.  "I guess it's too late…"

     The reddish-brown blob atop Kagome's head shuddered and, with a poof, turned back into Shippou.  He blinked at the boy as Inuyasha frowned and dropped him.

     "Who's he?" Shippou enquired, leaping to the boy's shaking shoulders and sniffing him.  "He smells weird."

     Sango, who by now looked quite unhappy, shook her head.  "That's Miroku Houshi…. he's been chasing me for a while, but I didn't think he would recover fast enough to follow me here."

     Kagome, Inuyasha, and Shippou all sent Sango I-don't-want-to-know-what-that-meant,-do-I? looks.

     Miroku grinned, batting his eyelashes innocently.  His cheeks were slightly flushed, his hair rumpled, and his jacket askew; he had that devilish-cute look that Inuyasha got when one of his fangs stuck out.  Inuyasha turned his nose to the air with an aggravated 'humph,' and Miroku approached the bed where the girls and the kitsune were seated.

     "S-Sango…" He sighed and collapsed with his back against the plastic bedpost.

     "Yes, Miroku?"

     "W-What the hell is going on?  That guy… his ears aren't human."

      Inuyasha 'humphed' again, crossing his arms.  "The name's Inuyasha.  And you're telling me my ears aren't human."

     The newcomer blinked at Inuyasha, then sighed.  "So?" he asked, spreading his arms.  He somehow managed to look philosophical, serious, and evil – all at the same time.  "Tell me, lovely ladies – just where am I, and what's wrong with that guy's ears?"

     Inuyasha's left ear flicked in irritation as the other flattened against his skull.  Kagome tried not to smile: it was obvious that he did not appreciate Miroku at all.

     Long silence.  Sango started, seeming to remember that Miroku had asked a question.  Blushing a little, she began bluntly:

     "He's a demon, and we're in a demon hideout."

     Eloquent, Sango was not.

     Miroku didn't seem to mind the lack of fancy words.  He closed his eyes, bangs flopping over his eyes and shading them from the rest of the world – like he was retreating somewhere to think.  All was soundless, even Inuyasha, for a moment, until he opened his eyes again.  His breathing was a little shaky, but he looked determined.

     "Okay… so I followed a beautiful lady to a demon's hideout.  I can handle this."  Miroku looked up and grinned at them, clenching his fist.  "Anything for true love!" he proclaimed.

     Kagome shook her head.  It was true, though: you could see it.  Flying between Sango and Miroku: spark, spark, flare, spark.  Fireworks.

     Or it could have just been the perversion leaking from Miroku.  Kagome suddenly couldn't decide which – a smooth gloved hand was now resting rather dangerously far up her leg.  Taking a deep breath and closing her eyes, she managed to contain her anger, and merely administered him a sound whap on the forehead.

     Raising her eyelids to take a peek, she was surprised to see Miroku struggling on the floor.  Planted right in the middle of his chest was Inuyasha's foot, pushing him into the hard, tiled floor.  It looked like it hurt, too.

     "Inuyasha!" she snapped.  "Don't!"

     He growled at her – a deep-in-the-throat, feral sound.  She was startled back for a moment, but… he wouldn't hurt her, right?  Right.  I don't know why, but… he just… he wouldn't do something like that.

     "I was just making sure this pathetic punk didn't try anything again."

     Miroku sent her a wavering smile as Inuyasha removed the pressure on his chest and he sat up, rubbing his head.  Sango frowned, and seemed to begin moving towards Miroku before stopping herself.

     Kagome looked at Inuyasha; he scowled at Miroku, crossing his arms and climbing back onto the top bunk.  She curled up on the pile of pillows arranged on the bottom bunk, kicking off her shoes and tucking her feet under herself.  What now?

     "My family!" she yelled, sitting up.  "What will they think?  Do you have a phone?"

     Inuyasha shook his head with a semi-apologetic shrug – so she was surprised to find a small, silver cell phone being handed to her.

     "Thanks, Miroku."

     Beep beepity bee…

     "Mama!  Yes, I'm sorry I didn't call earlier.  …Yes, I'm sleeping over at Eri's… with Yuka and Ayumi, too.  Don't worry, I'll be back sometime before lunch tomorrow.  Yes, I have all I need – I took it this morning, remember?  No?  Oh, well…"

     A long silence.

     "Yes, I love you too, Mama… see you!"

     Inuyasha sighed.  "Done yet?" he asked.  She could hear him shifting on the mattress above her.

     "Yeah… now what?"  She handed the minute cell phone back to Miroku, who flashed her a dazzling grin and pocketed it.

    Miroku plunged a hand into the deep inner pocket of his jacket and produced two silver Gameboys, the twisted connector cable tangling around his hand.  "You any good at Magnificent Vehicle Burglary 6?"

*****

"Round Seven.  Winner: INU.  Loser: STUDMFN."

     Sango suppressed another giggle at Miroku's 'name'.  He scowled and stuck out his tongue at her.

     Inuyasha shoved Miroku in the shoulder, sending him toppling over onto Sango, who fell onto Kagome, who hit her head on the wall.  "Sorry," he apologized with zero sincerity.

     Shippou leapt around, clinging to peoples' heads and staring at the small screens of the Gameboys, commentating on the progress of it.  He burst into applause when Kagome easily beat Inuyasha.

     "Round Eight.  Winner: KAGO.  Loser: INU."

     Shippou: "And Kagome Higurashi takes the eight round, easily defeating the pathetic cowering puddle of snot that is… Inuyasha!"

     "Keh," Inuyasha snorted.  He had been going easy on her, of course.  Yeah… that was it.  Suppressing the urge to smite Shippou's existence in this particular life, he set down the Gameboy he had been holding and leaned against the wall, hoping desperately that he looked nonchalant.

     "What is wrong with you, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked.  "You look like you've been turned to cardboard."

     Jolting upwards, he sneered at her.  "Don't be stupid."

     "I'm not."

     "Then what was that just then?"

     "I was merely… commenting!"

     "…"

     "Yes?"

     "Oh, just put one of your stupid purple slippers in it!"

     She stared at him, looking wounded.  He wasn't fooled – beneath the Bambi-esque exterior lurked the twinkle in her eye that he easily remembered from the night of the last new moon, when she had fallen on the floor and laughed and laughed for no apparent reason whatsoever.

     "Never mind," he growled, scrunching down against himself.  Shippou now merrily approached him and leapt atop his head, settling down in the long mane of silver hair.  Inuyasha swatted him away and sought refuge on his bunk.

     These long silences were really beginning to become a problem.

     Sango and Miroku cleared their throats at the same time.  Both whipped their heads around to glare at each other, cleared their throats again, sighed, and shrugged in an 'I-give-up' sort of manner.  Shippou giggled.  Inuyasha shot him a Look.  Kagome shook her head, looking quite desperate.

     Knock-knock!

     Some rapped at the door, not in a set rhythm as Sango had.  The two taps had the feel of needless impatience to them.

     It's Sesshoumaru.  Kagura.  Kanna.  Oh, gods forbid, it's Naraku, Inuyasha panicked, any last pathetic trace of enjoyment in him curling up and dying in spastic jerks like a snail dipped in salt.

     Knock-knock!

     "Open up, dogface!"

     Well, isn't this just fucking peachy.  The terror had been overridden with apprehensive irritation.  My favorite fucking person in the whole fucking world.

     "The hell do you want?" he yelled, exasperated.

     "Inuyasha!" Kagome hissed through her teeth.  "Don't be rude."

     He tried to signal a message with his eyes: Once you meet this wimpy wolf you'll be aching to be rude.  This, of course, was very complicated to send through subtle changes in expression.  He doubted she had gotten the message, though he hoped she at least understood the gist of it.

     A bored sigh could be made out through the flimsy door.  "Whatzisface – Sesshoumaru – sent me.  I think he said something about suspecting illicit – or was it illegal? – activity or something.  And… uh… something about a Higatachi."

     Kagome's eyes flicked about the room, searching for a hiding place, Inuyasha presumed.  He snatched her shoulder and hissed in her ear:

     "He doesn't know what you look like!  Pretend you're a friend of Sango's or something!  He's a little dusty in the attic, so just act innocent!"

     Her head moved up and down in a jerky, uncertain nod.  He saw Sango looking at them – she had heard, and looked caught between chuckling and actually acting the part.  Miroku was staring at the door, lips tugged slightly down and eyebrows at an angle in a philosophical expression

     "I'm coming in, dogface!"  Without warning, the door flew open to reveal Kouga, gazing down at the ragtag group, one eyebrow cocked incredulously.

*****

The first thing Kagome noticed about the displeased demon posed in the doorway was that his hair reached lengths near Inuyasha's and was the same colour as hers – jet.  It had been pulled into a high ponytail, and swung about the region of his belly button as he put his head to the side and studied them.  Inquisitive eyes of bright cobalt moved from person to person – Miroku, who was staring right back, Sango, whose head was in her hands, Shippou, who was merely blinking at the newcomer, and Inuyasha, who had the demon fixed in a glare of frightening intensity.

     She wasn't so sure.  Something about Inuyasha – the way his shoulders were hunched, how his hands were pushed deep into the mattress.  He's scared, she realized.  The revelation brought an incomprehensible mixture of relief and fright.  Relief because this proved that he was human, or at least partly so, or even just had real emotions; fright because this meant that maybe he couldn't always stand up for her in a fight, that maybe he would get the better of himself.

     The demon in the doorway cleared his throat.  Her gaze jolted upwards.

     "Who's all this, dogface?  Your taste in women is apparently improving."

     Kagome lip curled slightly.

     Inuyasha let loose a deep-throated snarl, baring his fangs.  "You – just shut up!"

     The demon smirked, and turned to face the rest of the room.  "I," he proclaimed, "am Kouga, of the wolf youkai."

     "Ugh," Inuyasha breathed beside Kagome.

*****

Notes: … Told you it sucked.  Well, review.  And stuff.  And again… I'm sorry.  Please, please, please, don't hurt me.  I'm such a cute, innocent, little girl.  So… yup.  Review and tell me how much you hated it.