AN: This is the beginning of the climax of the first part. Yes, there are two parts to this story. Unfortunately there are also three climaxes to this story. (*an*: holy crap. That sounds wrong.) Anyway. So the first part is coming to an end. Inuyasha is a little OOC at the end of the chapter, but it's important for him to be. I promise he comes back into character real soon. Also, a reviewer complained that the first person was hard to read. I've tried to make it easy to guess who is talking, and the POV only changes when there's the ~ symbol, but I'm asking the reader. Is the POV hard to read? whould I place a character name before each POV? This chapter is an experiment. Review if this way is easier. If you don't reiew to tell me you like it, I'm going to stop. I think having the characters name at the beginning takes away from it.

Chapter 8: Anxious

Hiten

I watched my younger brother sit in the back of the car through the rear-view mirror. The human sat in the driver's seat and I nervously shot a glance at him. Just because we were working together didn't mean I trusted him. Far from it. I didn't believe that there was any trust in the alliance. We just happen to need each other's help, and we were both willing to put aside personal opinion for the day. But as soon as this job was over, we'd never speak again. In fact, I'd probably kill this human for free, he disgusted me so much.

I'd never allowed anyone to be under the delusion that I loved my job. But I didn't allow anyone to think I hated it either. Sometimes, my jobs made me sick, and other times I'd do it for half the pay; it was a bit of give and take. Besides, money is money.

"It's going to rain soon." My brother told me from the back seat. I looked at the windshield and as he said those words a droplet of water splattered across the glass. Another fell and then another and another. The rain started off slow but gained force until the roar of rain against the car roof was almost deafening.

"They're in place." The human shouted at me and I nodded. "Will the weather hurt your side of the operation?"

"Are you kidding?" I smirked. "We're the thunder brothers. This couldn't be more perfect."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sesshomaru

"Who was that?" Rin asked as I hung up my cell phone. I walked back over to our bed and sat down.

"My informant." I shrugged. It wasn't strictly a lie, but it wasn't strictly true either.

"It was Kagura, wasn't it?"

"Yes. She told me that my assumptions were correct."

"Oh. That's terrible. Do you ever hate the fact that you're usually right?" Rin asked, a frown on her face.

"Sometimes."

"Sessh?"

"Humm?"

"I'm worried about your brother. He looked so lonely and sad when I saw him today. And now he's going to be attacked."

"Nothing will happen."

"I'm still worried about your brother."

"There is nothing to fear." I repeated, as the rain began to fall more heavily. "I've sent Kagura and Kohaku to watch over him."

"What? You're not going? Sessh!"

"No, you've already had two panic attacks today. Besides, what if some hot head decides my fiancée would make a good target? I have many enemies you know."

"I know, but still."

"No. Inuyasha will be fine." I told Rin as I lay down on the bed. Rin turned slightly so that she was lying against my left arm and chest.

"Do you think there will ever be a day when Inuyasha and his kind are safe?"

"Honestly? No. But I'm trying. That's all I can do."

"That's all anyone can ask."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Kagome

I sighed as I looked out one of the large windows in the hallway. It was starting to rain and I hated precipitation. Don't get me wrong. Rain is all fine and good, it helps crops and grass and it's a great mood setter as it can be romantic or youthful or sad or just about any mood you want it to be. It's just not good when I have to drive home from work. Taking out my roll of keys, I found the one to Inuyasha's room and unlocked his door. I walked in and locked the door behind me. I tried to find him in the dim room and finally I saw him sitting in front of the one-way mirror.

"Inuyasha." I greeted him as I sat down next to him. He didn't say anything, just nodded to show he knew I was present. "How are you?"

"Been better."

"Didn't you enjoy your brothers visit?"

"Tell me, Kagome. I'm crazy, aren't I?"

"Inuyasha."

"I used to dream that someday my doctor and Sesshomaru would decide I could leave. That someday everything would be better and that I would never have to look at this place again. But that's never going to happen is it? Sesshomaru's visit made me realize that. I'm never going to be free, am I? Am I, Kagome?!"

"I…......" I whispered, not knowing what to say. He was right and I knew it. I couldn't deny that everything he had said was true. He was trapped here and he was never going to get out. And it struck me how sad that was. He hadn't seen anyone besides doctors and patients for twenty years and for fifteen of those he would not speak. He was a victim of his own mind and nothing could be done to save him. "Oh, Inuyasha."

"Don't pity me." He snapped and I opened my mouth to reply, when my words were covered by rapid gunfire. There were some shouts and then some loud screams.

"Oh my God." I gasped, as I could hear people screaming in agony. There was no mistake. Quickly I smacked myself in the head. I needed to think straight. I couldn't just sit here and panic. I needed a plan. I looked over at Inuyasha to see if he had any ideas, but he was calmly sitting as if he was waiting for our end. Reaching over, I unbuckle his straight jacket and start wrenching it off his back.

"Kagome? What are you doing?"

"You need to get out of here. It's no good just waiting here, waiting to die."

"What about you?"

"I've got to go help the others. If you go down this hall and make a left…......"

"Are you crazy?!" Inuyasha shouted, as he grabbed me by the shoulders and gave me a rough shake. I almost shouted in pain as my head slammed backwards and hit my spine. "You'll be killed!"

"But I can't…......" I trailed off.

"Yes, you can! Kagome, even I can do nothing!"

"But the others…......"

"Kagome, I would never, ever run away from any fight of any kind unless I was positive it was suicide. No! Listen!" Inuyasha hissed as I opened my mouth to interrupt him. "I'm an odds man. I'll run a-million-to-one odds any day of the week if you give me an inch! But this? This is certain death. Me, you, anyone else will be gunned down before we take a step in their direction. All we can do is go for help and come back."

"I…...... but…...... oh, you're right."

"Then lets go." Inuyasha nodded and we quietly slipped out of his room and ran away from the gunfire and death.