I apologize for the long wait…I've been swamped with homework and this is the first free weekend I've had in a long while. Ok…now on with the story!

Guns and Roses

-Chapter Four

Kagome burst into the living room and up the stairs, panting from her long run from school. The house was empty it seemed, and she remember that her mother and Souta were going to go shopping that afternoon. Souta had the day off at his school, so that would explain why he was not home. No one would have noticed if Inuyasha had come around. Kagome hoped he was there, if not she wasn't sure what she would do next. Where could a half demon go in the city? She reached her door and turned the nob.

"Inuyasha!" she cried out in relief. He was there, safely sleeping on her bed. But her smile soon vanished as she took in the scene properly. His red coat was missing and there was a nasty gaping wound on his shoulder. Two bloody bullets lay discarded on the floor and a chill ran down her spine as she imagined him tearing them out himself. The half demon was struggling in his sleep, beads of perspiration rolling down his flush face. To say that he looked terrible was an understatement. The fact the poor guy was breathing so heavily worried Kagome. Oh Inuyasha...what have they done to you? She approached the bed and placed a hand to his forehead. His skin burned like a hot iron under her fingers and she drew them back into a fist. This can't be good...why is he running a fever? I can see that he's been shot, but he's been injured worse than this before... Suddenly Inuyasha's eyes fluttered open and a clawed hand wrapped around her wrist.

"Kagome..your home..."he mumbled weakly, and then shuddered. "Why..why's it so hot in here?" Kagome brushed back his sweaty bangs, desperately trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

"Inuyasha, you have to tell me why are the police looking for you..." she asked, fearing the answer. Did he hurt someone? How many people saw him? All of these questions made Kagome wish she had never left the past. Who knew dog boy would get into so much trouble! But then again..this was Inuyasha...troubled followed him like flies on stink.

Inuyasha frowned at the question.

"Who's looking for me?" he asked confused. "What are you talking about?" Kagome puzzled over his answer while Inuyasha pushed himself up, wincing from the effort. He was sweating even worse now through the white kimono coat. It damply clung to his chest and back. "Damn!" he cursed loudly. "Will you please douse the heat already, I feel like I'm burning alive here.."

"Just tell me what the heck happened today!" ordered Kagome, she was losing her patience, and in it's absence, was gaining an ever growing anxiety for the hanyou. Inuyasha gave her a half lidded glare, his golden eyes glassy.

"What's there to tell." he grumbled quietly. "I got my butt kick and I'd rather not talk about it."

"I think you got more than your butt kicked!"

"Look I'm fine." he said grasping at the wound in his shoulder. "But maybe you can tell me what the hell did this to me. I never knew humans could do something like that."

"You idiot! Police have guns and bullets and they could have killed you!!" she cried, tears welling in her brown eyes. "Why did they shoot at you?! What the heck were you doing?!"

"Whoa! Calm down!" Inuyasha growled. "I didn't do a damn thing except save some kid from being run down. Your stupid po-lice sure do have a twisted way of thanking people."

"You..you saved a kid?" Kagome blinked in surprise. "So where did the police come from?"

"They showed up soon after, asking me to give my sword over." he laughed. "Tough chance that would ever happen."

It all made sense now. Inuyasha couldn't help it that he carried a sword around, but in her time it was considered illegal. The police probably think he=s a crazy psychopath or something...

"Hey Kagome?" asked Inuyasha as he leaned back onto the bed. He looked extremely pale under the flush of his cheeks and his ears drooped slightly. "How'd you know I was here? You weren't suppose to be home for a while."

"The news said the cops were after someone with a sword..so I put two and two together..I mean how many people carry swords in this era? Then I realized you would most likely come here..."

"Hmn.. "sighed Inuyasha. Then after a few seconds he turned onto his side and shivered. "Damn.. "he growled under his breath. Kagome rose from the bed to get a blanket for her friend, and some Tylenol. I'll worry about the cops later. I've got to get his fever down, and figure out why those bullet wounds are making him so sick...

While Kagome was gone, Inuyasha lay in misery. His skin felt like it was on fire and his head pounded painfully with every rapid beat of his heart. Being a half demon usually protected him from infection, so it had to be something else causing him to feel so badly. Had those things he had pulled out earlier done something to him?

Kagome returned shortly with another blanket and two Tylenol. Inuyasha gladly took the strange looking medicin with a glass of water, and then laid back into the soft blankets.

"Do you feel any better?" Kagome asked with worry in her voice. Inuyasha smirked weakly. "Keh, I'll be fine." But the weariness was coming back and he winced as pain flowerd from his wounds. Kagome stayed with him until his fell asleep and she gently cupped his check in her hand. It was still too warm, she though darkly. Sighing, she tipped toed out of her room and shut the door. Inuyasha would probably feel better after his nap, but perhaps grandpa would have some herbs to help him. Kagome went downstairs, waiting and hoping that her family would come home soon.

To be continued…