Hello, hello! I'm so sorry for this late update to those who are still with me! I've been grounded off the computer for a while, yes excuses, excuses. I was wanting more reviews, but those are only wants. Example, if you want more chapters review more, I'll update faster! No kidding!

Disclaimer: It breaks my heart to say Inu-Yasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi and not my poor soul.

You guys don't care about all that anyways, so here's the next chapter, I warn you, it's really short. . . heh. . . . . . .

Things weren't horrible, but they were not the best, especially for Kagome and everyone could tell. Actually, she seemed down right crazy to those who knew her. Since the disappearance of Inu-Yasha, yet again, she hadn't shed one tear.

For once she was keeping her real feelings locked up tight within herself. Her closest friends knew if she kept it up, she'd break her own spirit.

But if any one asked about him, she'd just say he could handle himself. He was, after all, partly demon. Though even the smallest of minds could see through her open eyes to the hidden worry.

However, there was some extra cheer in her life that came in the form of a little girl named Rin. Recently her and the toad demon were staying in the village. He'd been forced into doing so because of Kagome. She'd argued that he couldn't protect the girl very well without his master. For Jaken though, there really hadn't been an argument.

At the moment, the toad demon was shifting under the scrutiny of her gaze.

She opened her mouth to speak and he gulped uneasily.

" It seems we have a mission."

" Do we really have to work together?!"

" That's the mission."

At a time like this, in fact, any other time Jaken did not find sarcasm amusing, so he answered with a glare.

Her eyes reflected the same attitude.

" Don't you dare give me that look! You know as well as I do you know Sesshoumaru most and I know Inu-Yasha most. If we work together," she cringed silently, " then. . . we might have a chance to find Inu-Yasha! . . . Oh and you can find Sesshoumaru."

~Losing Grace~

Nighttime, as mysterious and menacing as it was, he took comfort in the dark hours. After all, he was a demon, a demon more human than he'd ever been, yet more demon than ever as well.

Slowly he raised his amber eyes to the moon and then closed them to focus on the turmoil of his thoughts. If only the girl was here to comfort him. Perhaps that wouldn't solve the problem, but he'd lose himself in her warm smile, and serene giggles. For just that moment she would be his world, and he would forget the harsh reality,even for an instant.

His greatest enemy might be her because of her aptitude in softening his demon heart.

Still, he could not stand her to see him such a state of weakness thus retreating into the forest. And he would stay there until he was healed, after all she should know he would return.

~*~*~

" Would you keep up!"

Annoyed, Jaken glared at the dawdling female over his shoulder.

" Hey, I'm going at my own pace!"

" Stupid human. . ." he muttered to himself. His patience was growing thin because of the girl's stubborn attitude, but there wasn't anything he could do about it. The girl's angry attacks weren't something he took lightly.

And he'd just picked up a scent that resembled his master and the lord's disgraceful brother. Not exactly the same, but he wasn't taking any chances, especially none with this girl.

Today would be a chancy day anyway, he realized staring at the gigantic panda yokai (bet you've never heard that one!) demanding the shikon jewel.

The idiot female just had to bring it!

Before Jaken could make the staff of heads useful he was thrown aside by one of the huge black paws. He could only hear, but was wishing he couldn't at that point in time for the female was screaming something. It had to be inaudible because it sounded strangely like his name. As if that human would care for his health!

***

" Jaken!"

Instinctively Kagome clutched the jewel protectively in her hand.

The demon bear raised his paw over her in a silent threat, the jewel or her life. Either way he'd get the jewel. Under her breath she cursed herself for forgetting her wooden bow.

The yokai grew impatient with her stunned quiet and slashed angrily at the young girl.

It wasn't an easy feat, but she managed to dodge the sharp black claws.

After she got off her scratched knees, Kagome searched desperately for any type of weapon.

She understood at that moment that preventing your death and searching for a weapon to prevent your death were pretty hard to do at the same time.

The black claws of the panda were mirrors to her face before death. All she could do was gasp at the fear inside her own self, before she was rudely pushed into the undergrowth of the forest.

Desperately, she tried to untangle herself from the thorny bush. Behind her aching body she heard growls and sounds of fangs gnashing, but also the clean swipe of claws.

For a brief moment she stopped.

' Jaken doesn't have any claws! Oh no, does that mean?!'

With new strength she pulled herself from the evil needles of the bush.

" Jak- errr. . . Inu-Yasha?"

It took Kagome a minute to go through her thoughts at that moment in time because so many had flooded her mind.

And she stood there staring at the half-demon she'd grown so found of. She suddenly knew how much she missed him, most of all, his bright golden eyes, which were clouded with confusion just then.

Happy tears burst into her eyes and she skyrocketed to him. She clung to him like gum does to ones shoe, but didn't receive the same warm welcoming.

" Inu-Yasha. . ." The young girl murmured and squeezed him tighter.

Suddenly he began to struggle, attempting to pry her arms off of his body.

" Who are you talking about? I'm Inu-Maru."

Contact with Author:

Phoenixblade: Thanx lazy girl!

Mala: I'm glad you think so, your such a nice person

Bunny: Sorry if I'm confusing you about Kirara, I was to lazy to write her battle scene, so just imagine she was there. S/K aren't that bad are they? I'm a fan of both, but I prefer the kind I'm writing right now, another fan girl huh? And I'm hoping Treotha won't last long, I do know she definitely won't last as long as Naraku did!

Evolutionaryspider: A new fan? I'm so happy! And yes, I'm happy it's a S/K too. Ne ways, I finally updated, but left another cliffhanger. I'm so bad!

Tasha: Finally continued, I'm sorry you waited for it so long, really!

Romm: Yes, I'm a cliffhanger freak. I wouldn't beware any beer!

Sierra-Falls: This isn't as ASAP as I'd have liked it to be, but I still got it out, so oh wells. Sorry to keep you waiting!

SSW:I do so agree.