Disclaimer: I do not own Inu-Yasha.

Author's Note: Sorry I haven't updated as soon as I usually do. A lot of (good!) things are going on right now, and I've been busy.

I read erm, more fanfic than I'd prefer to tell. But I don't know what these mean: OC, OOC, and AU. Can any of you tell me what they are?

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"Lie down!"

"No!"

"Lie down!"

"I said no, wench!"

"SIT!" Inu-Yasha was again met with the sickening sensation of flying down face first, being tugged impatiently by the rosary around his neck. This time, however ungracefully, he went face first against the pink pillow on Kagome's bed. He mumbled irritably into the pillow but did not get up. It was soft and he was tired. Kagome sat down beside him, turning his body to feel his forehead.

"Yeah, you're sick. Get some rest. How long does it take demons to get better from illness?" She removed her warm hand from his forehead.

"A day, if that, since it's just a cold." He huffed into the pillow, rolling back over.

"I'll go make you some soup, okay? His grunt taken as a sign of his understanding, she walked into the kitchen to make him some soup. She hummed contentedly. She was still peeved, truth be told, but their really bad arguments scared her. She hated their anger and their fighting. It was good to be home, and even better with him in it.

She was so gentle and sweet humming like that. Inu-Yasha listened peacefully to the sounds in the kitchen. The preperation of the soup she'd promised. It was actually nice here. He closed his eyes, allowing his guard down. This era wasn't perfect, there were so many new dangers in this world he couldn't possibly hope to understand. But right now they were safe. Kagome wasn't a feared miko, the Jewel was seen as silly legend, and any demons that exsisted pretended they didn't for their own safety. Within moments, he was fast asleep.

"Inu-Yasha?" He made no movement as she eased her way in the room. She smiled to herself at the sight, setting his soup on the bedside table. She pulled the covers over him and brushed his hair out of his face. She would have rubbed his ears, too, but it would have disturbed him. "Sweet dreams, Inu-Yasha."

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"What do you think is taking them so long?" Sango was worried all over again. Damn, did she ever allow herself to be happy? "He always, ALWAYS, comes back before nightfall."

"Do you not see it as a good sign they spent the night together?" Miroku said evilly. He promptly regretted it when his head made contact with Sango's feared Hiraikotsu. "Aw, c'mon, Sango, did you have to do that?"

"It wouldn't be nessesary if you weren't such a lecher! You know Kagome isn't that kind of girl. And Inu-Yasha gets embarassed if she HUGS him, much less...erm..Kaede, is supper almost ready?"

"Aye."

He sighed. "Yeah, you're right. I don't believe anything's happened, though. It's only been a single day. Though, if it's much longer, I'll worry myself," he said looking in the direction of the Bone Gobbler's well.

Suddenly, there was the sound of heavy breathing. Sango and Miroku both tensed, Kirara already out the door. Miroku's hand hung tenatively over his right hand, ready to rip the prayer beads off and destroy the monster. But there was no evil aura, and had it been Naraku's they would have already known.

Outside, Kirara's growling ceased.

"Inu-Yasha! Sister! Where are you!?" Loud, gruff voices panting with a lack of air. It was glaringly obvious who they were, though. Hakkaku and Ginta.

"They are gone in Kagome's era. Is there anything we can do?" Sango asked kindly, walking outside beside her companion.

"It's Kouga! You must help us!"

"What's going on?" Miroku was also at Sango's side. A quick, deadly glance from her told him it was no time to let his sinful hands wander.

"Kouga's badly hurt. Kagura...Kagura...she took one of his jewel shards...she's intending to kill him..for Naraku...please..hurry...help us." Their words tangled together, but the jist of it was clear: Kagura attacked Kouga for the sake of gaining his two shards of the Shikon Jewel. And she'd already halfway completed her job. Kirara transformed at Sango's light touch. Within seconds, Miroku and Sango were on her back. Miroku's hands were extended to Kouga's two very faithful friends.

"Let's go."

The sight they saw was a bloody one. Anxiety was mounting for all but Naraku, who laughed menacingly from his space in the shadows. Where no one could see, no one could attack, and he didn't have to do a damned thing. That was power.

Kouga was thrown on the rocky ground, bleeding profously from his left leg and head. One of Kagura's attacks had hit him directly and crashed into his forehead. Kagura was too engaged with her task to notice. She was free, almost free...

"Hiraikotsu!" She dodged the attack, but just barely. She was doubled over in pain as Sango's boomerang flew back into her hand. Ginta and Hakkaku were already beside Kouga, lifting him up.

"Hurry, run while you can, protect...my...Kagome..." he whispered painfully. "I would like to have seen her one last time..."

"You're not dying Kouga, and you're not going to!" Ginta said with power in his voice.

"Take him to Kaede!" Miroku called over, without removing his gaze from Kagura.

Ginta nodded, tearing off through the forest back to the village.

Kagura growled. "How DARE you get in the way," she hissed enraged. "I will kill you all for what you have done." She held the jewel shard tightly in her palm. Slipping it safely into the folds of her robe, she raised her fan and attacked. She hit no one. Though humans, Miroku and Sango were skilled enough warriors to not be blown to bits by this Naraku-like being in the first round.

She recklessly threw her fan around, sending waves of deadly wind in all directions. They screwed things up for her. Again. And again and again and again and again. This would be the last time. This time they would die.

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"It's so good to be back!" Kagome turned to smile at Inu-Yasha happily. She loved it here, she really did. It was so different than modern Tokyo. Some bad, many of them good. The best was scowling back at her.

"Hmph."

Hopping on his back, he sped to the village. They were there in no time only to see Ginta freaking and Kaede tending to a very bloody Kouga.

"Ka-Kaede?" Kagome stuttered.

"Aye! Lady Kagome, Inu-Yasha, it's you. Ye have been needed her."

"Can it, you hag, and just tell us what the hell happened!"

Kaede sighed, but said nothing. Now was not the time. "Kouga was attacked by Kagura. She attempted to steal the jewel shards in his legs, but only managed one. Sango and Miroku have left to battle her."

Kagome felt awful. While she was sulking back home, her friends were in real danger. Kagura must have been desperate or infuriated, because she hardly ever won or continued a battle. When it looked difficult, she got on her feather and left. Suitable considering the coward she was born from. She has done damage before, but never anything like this to any of them.

"Ye must hurry!" Kaede cried. "Ye must go and help them! They need help!"

Inu-Yasha nodded, ignoring his churching stomach. A scent he hated. Mass amounts of blood.

"Ready, Inu-Yasha?" A determined Kagome looked at him, expectantly.

"No. I am. You're staying." He said absently, focusing on the trail of blood. It was strong, he knew exactly what trail to follow.

"NO! I'm going, too!" she said.

"You WON'T! Don't you remember what happened last time?"

"Last time they attacked me, not us them. Last time it was in my own era where I'm supposed to be safe. Besides, I can handle it," she shot back.

"Kagome, no. I can't...lose you. If I wasn't there in time to protect you..." An old guilt was etched on his face, the guilt of not being able to protect another.

"I'm sorry, I won't sit around and wait while Kagura goes on a killing spree!"

"Inu-Yasha?" They both looked at Ginta.

"What do you want?"

"Be careful."

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Author's Note: Another bad chapter. Sorry. I'm having trouble. Thanks so much to everyone for reading and anyone who's reviewed, you people know who you are. Wow, I look at these chapters and feel such pride in the word count and realize...how short 1,000 words really is. Well, it's the weekend so I'll be sure to give another chapter soon. Later!