Dangerous Circumstances

Chapter Four

Aftermath's Destruction

Inuyasha sat in his brother's study, his eyes slitted, a bored yet tense expression on his face.

"Your idiocy knows no bounds."

"how many times do I have to tell you that I didn't just step out into moving traffic, it was a deserted street and she was driving like a maniac!"

Sesshoumaru glared at him impassively. Inuyasha let out a breath. "Fine. It'll never happen again. I'll just take to flying over the streets."

Sesshoumaru tapped his claws on his desk. "You may go." Inuyasha left the office in a huff.

Elsewhere, Kagome was standing in front of Kouga, biting her lip.

"So, you ran him over?"

Kagome blinked. "That wasn't the point of the story, but yes." Kouga's chest heaved and he bit his cheeks. "It isn't funny!" Kouga just looked at her. "Ok, so it is, but sir, he's a member of Special D!"

Kouga stopped laughing. "I know. Listen Kagome, we've never liked Special D. But there's been no trouble lately, because they haven't stirred up any. Just try to stay away from him."

Kagome flushed. "Er"

Kouga looked alarmed. "What?"

"We kinda" her voice trailed off.

"Yes?"

"We have a date."

Kouga blinked stupidly for a moment. "What? Cancel it!"

Kagome twisted her hands. "I don't want to give him a reason to hate me. What if he found out who I was? That could start a turf war!"

Kouga dropped his head into his hands. "Oh dear god. Fine. Go on the date."

Kagome smiled. "Thanks, sir."

"How many time have I told you to call me Kouga?"

"Sorry. Habit. May I go."

Kouga nodded. She left. He sat back into his chair, turning the various repercussions of this particular scenario over and over in his head. He couldn't stop the small coil of jealousy rising in his chest.

The next day at school, Kagome was on the look out for the silver haired hunk she had opened her home to. She was alert, making sure any and all paraphernalia from Hellspawn were firmly covered or not on her body.

She stopped at her locker, opening it with a punch and a kick, and withdrew her notebooks. She felt someone come up behind her, but didn't tense, and continued shifting things around.

"Morning."

Kagome breathed in through her nose. She could feel his warmth at her back. She turned.

"Good morning. How are your legs?"

Instead of answering her question, Inuyasha looked at her notebooks interestedly.

"Nice drawing." Kagome glanced down. He was presumably referring to the small stick figure Mr. Ferguson, baring his teeth and wielding a flaming sword.

"I especially like the horns."

"Uh, thanks. I have to get to class now."

"Okay."

Kagome took off walking down the hall to her next class. Inuyasha kept up with her, his hands in his pockets. Kagome was wondering wildly what he was doing when he looked at her and asked, "So, are you free tonight?"

"Huh?"

"For our date." He raised his eyebrows.

"Oh. Oh! Um, not tonight, actually. Tomorrow?"

He nodded. "Pick you up at eight." And he was gone. Kagome was left with a blank look on her face and what seemed like eight million butterflies have a WWF showdown in her belly.

Sango sidled up to Inuyasha in the hall. "You know," she remarked conversationally, "Sesshoumaru would kill you if he knew you were hitting on girls instead of trying to spy on Mr. Ferguson."

"Keh. Fluffy could try."

Sango rolled her eyes. "Just keep your mind on what you're supposed to be doing."

"Yeah, sure, whatever." His mind strayed to Kagome's abundant chest and smiled to himself. Her eyes still possessed him, staring at him even in his sleep.

The next day, Kagome was fussing with her outfit. She wore a black camisole tank top with a pair of sophisticated dark jeans and slightly heeled boots. Her hair was out of her face in a low pony tail and her makeup was light. She fidgeted with the neckline of the cami, then the hemline. She was excited about the date with Sutter--no, Inuyasha--and wanted to look good.

She never got to her date.

As Kagome was putting the finishing touches on her face, she heard banging on her door. She wondered briefly if it was her father, back from one of his long trips, but the pounding was much more urgent. She ran to open the door and had to quickly brace herself, as Adrian fell into her arms. The redhead was crying and when she say Kagome she seemed to sag in relief.

"Kagome, help! Zech's been hurt, they're all hurt, we need help, it's horrible, it's so horrible!"

"Calm down, Adrian," Kagome spoke with only a mild panic in her voice. "Tell me everything."

"We don't have time! They're attacking--we have to go!"

Adrian pulled Kagome out the door and in no time at all they were speeding along to Hellspawn's headquarters.

The scene that greeted them was disastrous. There were small fires everywhere, and so many bodies. Kagome felt like retching.

Kouga limped over to her from a small group of survivors. He was dripping blood, but Kagome didn't care as he swept her into a hug. The relief of seeing her leader and friend alive made her knees go weak.

"I'm so glad you're safe," he whispered in her ear. Miroku came up behind Kouga as he let her go. The dark haired youth was next to hold Kagome, but there was something different in his embrace. He held her tightly, as if

"Who--" he voice failed. "Who's gone?"

Miroku looked at her. "Aneko. Joben. Reizo." He kept rattling off names. "Zecheriah." A sob from Adrian as she threw herself over to where the dead were. As each name filled the silence, Kagome felt another tear slide down her cheek. Finally Miroku took a deep breath. "Should you tell her or should I?" he asked Kouga.

"I'll do it."

Dread filled Kagome's stomach. "Tell me what? Kouga? Miroku? What's going on?"

Kouga looked down. "Souta's dead, Kagome."

Time stopped.

Inuyasha had just thrown on his jacket and was about to open the door when it opened by itself. Or perhaps not by itself. Akira stood on the threshold, sides heaving.

"Inuyasha," he panted, "helptoo many deadSesshoumaru needsyour help." Inuyasha pushed the slim man ahead of him and strode to his car.

When he arrived at the Dream House, his heart sank. Bodies everywhere, the tangy scent of blood and fear filling the air. They had arrived in the middle of a battle. He got out of the car, grabbing the katanas he kept in it. With one slim sword in each hand, he cut a swath through the horde of enemy demons, intent on finding his brother. He caught sight of Sango, guns in hand, fighting for all she was worth.

Inuyasha found his brother, and hoped never to see him like that again. He was lying on the ground coughing up blood. Inuyasha snarled and leapt in front of him, protecting his from his assailant.

"Need some help?"

"Thanks, little brother."

"No problem." Inuyasha looked at the man in front of him. He had shoulder length black hair and black eyes. He was obviously some sort of youkai, and was emitting a large amount of youki.

"Who the hell are you?" Inuyasha flicked his swords, sending a spray of blood onto the other man's face. He laughed.

"I am one who you cannot hope to beat, hanyou."

"Oh, cut with the shit, you saggy breasted bitch." Inuyasha heard a sound behind him that could've been a snort of laughter. It was cut off by a spluttering cough. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes.

"Die," snarled the youkai, lunging. Inuyasha barely had enough time to block. He quickly swung again, but missed. He kept swinging and blocking, hoping that the other man would falter, would show a weakness, do something!

Suddenly, Inuyasha got his wish. The youkai disappeared. Inuyasha stood in shock, eyes and ears flicking about wildly, searching for the youki.

He found it. His senses picked him up again, but before he could turn and launch a new attack, he felt a searing pain in his abdomen. He looked down dazedly at the clawed hand that stuck out through his stomach.

Fuck

Amazingly, he didn't black out, causing the youkai some confusion. Inuyasha lurched forward, pulling himself off the hand and turning, using one sword to keep him up.

The strange youkai stepped forward and grabbed Inuyasha's neck, cutting off his air supply. Between the dwindling oxygen and the hole in his belly, Inuyasha wasn't doing so well, and began to black out.

All of a sudden, he was dropped on his face. He looked up to see his brother, standing over him with bloodied claws and no sign of the youkai he'd been fighting.

"Ah. He's gone." Inuyasha said weakly, before his consciousness decided to take a walk.

Kagome had screamed herself hoarse, looking into her brother's eyes, eyes glazed by death. He had caught a bullet straight to the heart. They had done everything they could. He had not died unavenged.

That's what they told her. Except he had not been avenged. Kagome would find the man that did this, and she would kill him. She promised herself, even as she drifted off into sleep. In her dreams, silver hair and gold eyes haunted her.