Hey! Don't hate me please! I've been busy (remember that long rant at the end of HIWTHI? Yeah) Anyway, I just got back from a friends house, I've been there the past couple days. And plus, I kinda lost all inspiration. BUT I'm back! So no hating! Lol, enjoy!

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Kagome closed the door quietly, hoping no one would hear her. Grandpa was probably asleep and her mom was most likely at work. She prayed Souta was blasting the music again, a habit he had started after their fight.

She didn't want anyone to see her.

Slowly she made her way up the stairs, strands of hair falling across her darkening face. She was so confused. Jason had never hurt her as bad as Inuyasha. She was lucky that he loved her.

So why was she fighting back tears?

She didn't understand the emotions swirling within her. Part of her would give anything to go back to the days when she went shard hunting with Sango and everyone. But it was too late. She knew that much. Inuyasha wouldn't soon forgive her and she couldn't see herself living that life . . . not anymore. Memories of friendship and laughter now only confused her more. She didn't understand them.

The rest of her insisted it was wrong for her to be anything but perfectly happy with Jason. She didn't want to hurt him like his old girlfriend had . . . like Inuyasha had hurt her. He loved her. He loved her. She tried to repeat the words over and over in her mind like a mantra, but they soon faded into nothing.

She paused before opening her door, overcome with a sudden overwhelming tiredness. She didn't know where she found the strength, but she somehow managed to force herself through the doorway, stopping short at the sight of her brother.

"Souta." It was intended to be a cry of outrage, but escaped her as a mere whisper. He turned towards her, hands clenching a crumpled piece of paper tightly, almost desperately. Her heart sank.

Her song.

"Kagome." He lifted his gaze to her face and both flinched visibly.

"Souta," She repeated, desperate to explain herself. He didn't respond, just stared at the bruise still forming on her bony cheek.

"He hurts you." It was a whisper. The paper glided to the floor. She opened her mouth, ready to defend his actions, but was startled to find tears flowing down her cheeks. She sank to her knees, and would have fallen over completely if Souta hadn't ran across the room and enveloped her in a strong hug.

"I'm sorry." The words tore from her mouth in broken sobs. She had let him down. She wasn't sure exactly how, but the guilt was unbearable. "I'm so sorry."

He didn't say anything, just held her. Glancing up at him she was shocked to see tears of his own coursing down his cheeks. "Me too." Sorry for not being there for not being there when she needed him. Sorry for fighting with her when she was in such trouble. Sorry for not realizing what was happening sooner. Sorry for not protecting her like a brother should.

They clung to each other with a desperately, heedless of the tears that wouldn't stop coming.

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There had been a rumor of a jewel shard near Kaede's village, bringing the group much closer to the well than Inuyasha liked. No matter how hard he tried, his mind insisted on bringing up images of her at every opportunity. He caught scent of the well and growled as yet another memory resurfaced.

"About time you got back wench." He was perched on a tree near the well, where he'd been sleeping for the past week. She was rarely gone more than three days when she went back to her time.

"Well excuse ME. I have things to do you know!" Her eyes flashed with annoyance. "Do you have any idea how many tests I had to take? And I bet I flunked them all too cause I'm always HERE!"

"If you hate us so much why don't you go BACK to your time and STAY there!" He growled.

"I have responsibilities here too! I promised I'd gather all the jewels and--"

He jumped off the tree, landing right in front of her. She stubbornly refused to flinch. "I release you from your promise. Go back to your time. We wouldn't want you to have too many RESPONSIBILITIES now would we?" He spat the word, eyes filled with an emotion she'd never seen him show.

But she'd seen it in her own reflection numerous times.

Every time he compared her to Kikyo . . .

She smiled softly. "I'm sorry Inuyasha, I was being stupid. You're not a responsibility at all. And I don't want to fight with you."

He took a step back. "Feh, as if I care if you think of us as a responsibility. I was just mad because you delayed us so long." He paused, than grinned devilishly. "Wench." He added.

"Inuyasha?" She didn't wait for him to answer. "Sit."

He fell to the ground with a thud.

"It's good to be back." She laughed, stepping over him.

It was good to have her back, though he'd rather die than admit it.

Now he had to wonder if he'd have told her, would she have run off with Jason?

Maybe not.

Or maybe she wouldn't have cared.

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Hojo blinked rapidly, trying to assure himself that he was not, NOT, in feudal Japan.

It wasn't working.

Hesitantly he took a few wavering steps away from the well. At the sound of voices, however, he leapt behind it.

"Are you COMING Shippo?!" The growl was so fierce it sent shivers up his spine. "Let's just get this over with!" Hojo thanked his lucky stars he wasn't Shippo.

"You're being MEAN Inuyasha! If Kagome were here," The voice broke off, probably due to a fierce glare from 'Inuyasha'.

Wait.

Inuyasha . . .

Kagome . . .

Crap.

Holding his breath, he steeled himself, forcing his body to step out into the open. "Inuyasha!" He called, his voice echoing across the clearing.

He wasn't prepared for the white haired hanyou that landed in front of him.

"What?" Inuyasha demanded irritably. "Who are you?"

Hojo gaped. "You're a . . . a . . ."

The dog demon growled. "A hanyou. So. What."

Hojo shook his head wildly. "Nothing! I mean, that's not what, that is . . . Are you the one Kagome knows?" His voice may have been a bit higher than he'd intended . . .

Inuyasha growled even more fiercely, but Hojo took that as a yes and stood straighter. If he was a friend of Kagome's, he wouldn't hurt him . . . Right?

"I go to her school. My name is Hojo, and I-" He broke off at the other mans glare.

"YOU'RE Hojo?" His teeth flashed. "You're the sorry scum that won't stop asking her out. She's told me about you." He snorted. "She says you're 'nice' and 'polite'." He spat the words as if they were insults. "What do YOU want? And tell me why I should just kill you now." He was NOT in a good mood.

"Because I came to get your help." Now that he wasn't scared spitless, it was easier for him to talk to the half demon as if he were normal.

"Why would I help YOU?" He asked the question with contempt. His companions had caught up, a girl with long dark hair, a monk, and a little kitsune.

"Does he have any jewel shards?" The kitsune demanded.

"No brat, shut up. He wants 'help'."

"What kind of help?" The girl turned her serious gaze on him. "Is your family in trouble?"

The monk smiled widely. "Do you have a sister?"

There was a thud as the girls weapon collided with the back of his head. "What was that for Sango!"

"Perverted thoughts Miroku. Stop having them." She twitched.

Hojo watched, wide-eyed. Shaking himself, he tried again. "I don't need help for me or my family. It's for Kagome."

Once again he was interrupted by a multitude of voices.

"Where is she, Homo? What have you done to her?"

"Kagome! She hasn't been back in weeks!"

"SHE doesn't have a sister."

"Miroku, SHUT UP!"

"Kagome needs your HELP!!!!!!" He shouted, causing everyone to freeze and look at him.

Finally.

"She's started dating this guy at school, Jason, and he's a total jerk. I don't know why she puts up with him, but he tells her to stop eating, and that she's not good enough for him. He's even," He broke off at the sight of their faces.

"I knew it." Sango's face was intense. "I told her he didn't love her."

"He says it too her all the time. I heard them on the phone." Inuyasha clenched his fists.

"Wait." Miroku held up a hand. "EVERYONE knew this but me? Why was I left out?"

"I didn't know!" Protested Shippo.

"That makes me feel SO much better."

"But the point is," Inuyasha was talking again. "What are we supposed to do about it?"

Hojo shook his head. "Not all of you. Just Inuyasha. You're the one she loves."

"She doesn't love me." His face was a mask, devoid of all emotion.

"Don't you care for her at all?" Hojo was getting frustrated. "I don't know what goes on here in this era, but we're not talking about someone being mean to her. He's changing her! You probably wouldn't even recognize her anymore! And he's hurt her! I've seen the bruises."

Inuyasha turned his intent gaze on the human, threatening to burn him up with the passion in his amber eyes. "He hurt her?" It was a question, but barely.

Numbly Hojo nodded.

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I'm ending it here. Kinda short but I've had a LOOOOOONG night and I'm tired and I'll write more later. Sweet dreams everybody!

Rogue Pryde