A/N: Kikyou is confusing in every chapter, isn't she? And one thing…after numerously stating 'INU/KAG' in the last chapter…I still had someone ask me if this was an Inu/Kag story. I am refusing to answer this and will further on, impale any who ask this question again, with my omnipotent...STICK.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha in any way or possible reality. He belongs to the genius, Rumiko Takahashi. Keolla is not a genius, thus incapable of such a plot.

Behind the Masquerade


Red Reveries



"Sango, what's Inuyasha doing?" Miroku cried, as he swung his staff at another enemy, knocking the wolf away from his body.

Sango shot a hastened gaze over to the rapidly disappearing Inuyasha and she stared for a moment. "He's going back to the castle!" she screamed when she realized where the hanyou was heading. She swung her boomerang into a cluster of wolf soldiers and they were thrown away, while Sango reached up to retrieve Hiraikotsu with ease. "I think he's going back to the kingdom!"

There was a wild jingle of bells as Miroku smacked an enemy away from him, giving the duo a good few seconds before more attacks rained down upon them. Keeping a sharp eye on any who dared approach Sango and him, he quickly ran through all the possibilities as to Inuyasha would just suddenly abandon the battlefield and race back home. He knew it wasn't because the hanyou was a coward because Inuyasha was anything but a coward. He would have fought till the last wolf fell under his blade.

Miroku shot a quick violet glance over to magenta, and the girl gave him a troubled gaze in return. "He wouldn't have run off unless---" Miroku grunted at an interruption and threw ofuda charms straight at the enemy. It froze the wolf in his steps and Sango thrust her sword into the soldier before he had time to react, successfully making the enemy fall to her feet.

She whirled around, the piece of cloth used to hold her hair up coming undone. The silky black tresses poured over her shoulders like silk, and he reveled in the way her cheeks were flushed a pretty coral color. He caught his breath. She looked so beautiful, even among cadavers.

"Kagome!" Sango cried in horror, finishing the partial sentence for Miroku, oblivious to the way he was staring at her. "The only way he would lose all interest in battle…is most likely if Kagome is in danger…"

The two widened their eyes as realization dawned upon them.

Miroku cursed under his breath and wasted no time as he looked around for a stray horse, seeing one of the Komiya breed neighing and trying to find its master. Pretty loyal for a horse, but it would be his for now.

"Sango! Find Sesshoumaru or the King. Tell them what is happening." Miroku shouted his orders as he ran over to the horse, mounting it with ease. "I'm going to go help Inuyasha. If…If something happened to Kagome…I'm afraid that if the town isn't murdered by the wolves, they still won't survive…"

Sango looked confused, but Miroku shot her a reassuring smile. "But everything will turn out okay in the end. It always does. Be safe, Sango." With those parting words, he was off, galloping as fast as the horse would carry him, making a beeline for the kingdom.

Sango watched him depart, disappearing into the distance. Gray was slowly beginning to show through the forest and she realized that dawn was approaching. It would be a dreary morning, especially with the rain last night. Hopefully, it wouldn't start again…

She turned around, her scarlet eyes searching for any signs of Sesshoumaru or King Komiya. This was serious. She needed to find them now. This battle wouldn't mean anything if the main base was taken over and if it was, that would mean most likely many people in the town and castle would be murdered, or worse.

"Kagome, Inuyasha…Miroku…be safe," she muttered under her breath, rapidly blending into the battle as she fought to find her way towards the prince or king.

*~*~*

Kagome ran through the corridors, her breathing labored as she tried to find a hiding spot. She was right when she realized it wasn't just simple reflections. It was reflections off armor, and a hell of a lot of armor. She had screamed her bloody head off then, informing everybody in her hysteria that the wolf army was coming.

But why? Did the Komiya army lose? That wasn't possible! They couldn't have lost this quickly! Inuyasha…he had to come back!

She rounded a corner and looked around wildly. When the wolves penetrated the castle, there would be no more time to hide. But where could she hide!? A demon's sense of smell was heightened to an unfeasible limit. They would smell her out, no matter where she hid.

The dozen or so soldiers who were left behind had run off to lock the village gates and notify the citizens, and then they would lock the castle's gates. But wouldn't it be useless?! This was an army of demons trying to penetrate through a defenseless kingdom that really had nothing to offer in resistance. It was like handing the territory to them on a silver plate…

She could begin to hear herself hyperventilating. This wasn't happening. She couldn't take the strain. It was too much. This was not happening!

She screamed as she tried to find anyone, anything to offer her comfort. Running around madly, she could feel her heart beat painfully. Not emotionally painfully, but this time around, it felt like physical pain.

She was going to die.

Slamming into the door of a room she wasn't sure of, she tumbled into the dark room lit by a few candles and breathed in quickly and rapidly, her head beginning to swim in images of her being tortured slowly to death by a maniacally laughing wolf. Oh god, she could already feel the sharp metal pierce through her chest, digging deep into her beating heart before twisting itself and causing the injury to grow in size. Please, no, she didn't want to die like that.

She didn't understand physical torture, but she had the worst images in her head. How could this be reality? Wasn't she just talking to Inuyasha a few hours beforehand? And she had wished him safe?! He better well still be!

She looked up and met the terrified gaze of another woman, and Kagome in her frenzy, nearly didn't recognize who it was.

"Kagome!?" the lady cried, walking down the ladder she was on, and Kagome realized she had staggered into the library.

"Lady Komiya!" she cried in relief, and picked herself up to lunge herself at the woman, wrapping her arms around the older woman's neck. She wanted to cry, she really did, but the tears wouldn't come. She didn't want to cry.

"It's okay, little one. Don't worry," Lady Komiya comforted, rubbing small circles on the girl's back as Kagome's body shook violently. "Nothing's going to happen."

Kagome's body froze at those words. "How can you say that?! Something is going to happen! We're going to die! You, me, Kikyou, Rin, everybody! Everybody's going to be murdered and we'll never again see another sunset. We won't even have a grave because they'll throw us into the ocean, letting the wav---"

"Be quiet, Kagome. Nothing's going to happen." Fire burned in Inuyasha's mother's eyes, as she took out a key attached to a necklace, hidden under her collar. "They'll never find us…"

Kagome watched surprised as the older woman climbed the ladder again, reaching the one book Kagome had encountered before. It was that book wedged into the shelf with a hole in its spine. Kagome narrowed her eyes. Was it really a simple hole…?

Lady Komiya took her necklace off and put the key into the hole. Kagome gasped lightly when she saw the object fit perfectly as the older woman turned. Kagome took a whole step back as the shelf next to the one Lady Komiya was on, slowly started creaking open. Dust flew out like a tornado and Kagome covered her mouth, not wanting to swallow any of the toxic stuff.

"Wha…?" Kagome managed to sputter out, her azure eyes wide as she eyed the pink light slide out of the small space between the shelves.

Lady Komiya looked smug as she descended down to the ground, rushing over to the shelf the moment her feet touched the floor. She pushed the shelf and it opened further, allowing the light to spread outwards more. It shone in Kagome's face and the girl gasped.

That stupid 'hole' had needed a key to open a secret passage!

"Hurry," Lady Komiya muttered, waving her hand around as she motioned for the girl to hurry in.

Kagome didn't need another push and practically jumped into the enclosed space, finding herself in another room. There were no windows, or any other opening for that matter, and unlit candles were on the walls. That meant the ethereal pink light wasn't coming from the candles, but from that object in the middle of the room.

Kagome stared at it, entranced at the sheer color and vivacity. It looked so beautiful, propped up by a wooden contraption with a pink ball connected to a necklace.

The girl forced her gaze away as the woman ran back into the room with a candle from the library, hastily lighting up the rest of the wax substance. The room soon began to glow a luminous orange color, eclipsing the area in different shades of clashing pink and ginger.

"What is this place…?" Kagome mumbled, watching as the queen gently placed the candle into an empty frame before running back to the door and pulling it tightly shut, sticking the key into another hole by the wall. The door made a loud click and announced the door being locked firm.

Lady Komiya turned around with something similar to half uneasiness and half fervor. Did Kagome really need to know where Inuyasha obtained the zeal from?

"This is a secret room built years ago by my husband for a situation like this. The only way someone can get in is if they have this key---" She held up her trinket, allowing the golden ornament to catch the light from the candles and shine brightly. "---and the only way someone can get out is with this key. Nobody can get us in here, so we're in the safest place possible. The entrance may be thin enough to hear everything going on in the library, but it's made of the strongest material known, so nothing can infiltrate it. It also prevents anyone from sensing or smelling anyone or anything in this room…although, I'm afraid the wolves will penetrate the village walls and gates in a matter of ten minutes or so."

Kagome could feel a rock form in her throat, making it painful for her to swallow. "Did…did they die?" Kagome asked, referring to the Komiya army.

Lady Komiya snorted rather unladylike, and Kagome opened her eyes wide. If her mother saw Lady Komiya act this way, Kagome was sure her mother would fume at the other woman. But then again, this wasn't the circumstances to remember etiquette.

"They didn't die. By the looks of it, that isn't the entire wolf army, but a good quarter or so---" Kagome opened her eyes wide. All those glinting silver reflections…were just a good 'quarter?' It was confirmed now. She would meet her death before the sun even rose today. "---and I presume they got here in secrecy. I told my husband they weren't stupid but rather cunning, but no, he believes wolves have puddings for brains. Now I hope he gets back before I get killed…"

Kagome's left eye developed an incessant twitching, wondering how Lady Komiya didn't seem scared at the prospect of death.

"Where's Rin, Kikyou and Sango!?" Kagome suddenly screamed, realizing her friends and sister wasn't in the room.

Lady Komiya lifted an eyebrow. "Sango went off with the boys. It was obviously her being the only petite soldier and trying to hide that enormous boomerang in a sack…I like her rebellious streak."

Kagome nearly chuckled. Nearly.

She had expected a revolt from Sango. That girl didn't listen to orders or protocol, much like Kagome, so the cousin wasn't worried.

"But what about Kikyou and Rin!?"

At this point, Lady Komiya seemed uncomfortable as her eyes fluttered around the room in a suspicious manner. She wrung her hands in her kimono and smiled a little, trying to offer some sort of relief. "They'll be okay…" she whispered, knowing it wasn't the truth.

Kagome stared at the older woman, her azure eyes deathly calm and resolute. She held out her hands in an unwavering gesture, her eyes never leaving the queen's. "May I please have the key?" she murmured, the auburn lights playing around with shadows on her face.

The queen stared at her in shock, her hand tightening on her kimono. "No, Kagome. You can't go out there. I'm sure they'll be safe." That was a complete lie. "You'll be caught in the ambush…"

Kagome's hand shook, but only slightly. "If I don't go out there, they won't be safe. They'll be caught in the ambush…Please, understand that I must do this…as my duty for your hospitality." Her sapphire eyes burned deeply into the other woman's, strong resolve slowly overpowering Lady Komiya.

The queen found herself extending her hand out and she couldn't stop it. It felt like her whole body was succumbing to the wishes of this girl, but that couldn't be right. Things like that don't happen. However, Lady Komiya didn't have more time to think as Kagome snatched the key away, moving to the door. She shot a lingering gaze to the older woman, before asking an unnecessary question. "My queen…what is that jewel?"

Lady Komiya, whose eyes were still wide, turned around to look at the pink jewel. She shuddered at seeing its deadly beauty. "The Shikon no Tama…" she whispered under her breath, almost afraid that if she said it any louder, something terrible would happen.

There was a lapse of silence for a while, before Lady Komiya turned around to see Kagome nod stiffly, the clear determination still evident in her eyes. "I'll send the first person I see back with the key. When you hear three knocks on the shelf, please open the door for them…" Kagome said in an authoritative tone.

The queen could only nod at the power she heard in the younger girl's voice. Kagome wasn't just a simple princess with a weak grit. "Come back safe…or else Inuyasha might not forgive me."

Kagome's eyes swirled in bewilderment at the statement. Ahh…so she doesn't know. Lady Komiya smiled knowingly. "Just hurry up."

Kagome nodded once more before sticking the key into the hole, allowing the door to slowly snap and creak open. She pushed the shelf out wider, before turning to shoot the queen one more persistent glance. "I'm sorry…" she muttered, and before the queen could ask why, the girl had slammed the entrance shut.

*~*~*

He sat on top of a hut, chuckling amusedly as one of his men lit another house on fire. The residents inside screamed in terror when they saw their dwelling go up in flames, and rushed out before they were consumed by the deadly blaze. But instead of breathing in relief, the simple human woman and man didn't have much time to inhale as real wolves lunged at them, tearing flesh from bone. Their shrieks of pain rang out loud through the red and orange atmosphere as the creatures devoured their meat.

It was actually rather entertaining.

"Kouga! The castle is unguarded!" one of his men shouted up at him, and the man turned a critical cerulean eye towards the magnificent structure. He smirked evilly as he watched the castle over the fiery inferno.

"How much have we destroyed?" the wolf demanded, watching almost tediously as another couple---this time a weak demon pair---were caught and murdered. Their heads were ripped from their necks and he only slanted a scathing sneer as he watched his pets feed on the raw flesh, blood dripping like juice down their muzzles.

"We've ruined almost a quarter of their town, my prince! The other parts are still too damp from the rain yesterday to set fire on, but the soldiers are moving out to eliminate the civilians as we speak" the soldier answered courteously as the wolf-prince jumped down from the roof and landed elegantly on the ground, without a scratch, the flames roaring behind him as a burning house collapsed.

"That's enough. Tell the others to stop." The soldier nodded at his superior's command and started barking out the demand, as wolf ears turned to hear the noise. Kouga lifted an interested eyebrow when he saw some things lying in a bunch in a corner of an alley. Looking closely, he looked mildly disgusted. Were those fingers?

"What shall we do now?" the inferior wolf questioned, watching as his prince walked around among burning timber and smoking flesh, turning a sneering nose up whenever he saw some pathetic human plead for their life before squeezing the life out of them with his claws on their neck. Pathetic and weak.

At the inquiry, Kouga smirked with feral delight, as he cracked his knuckles. "We raid the castle now. Tell all my men to attack it, killing whoever they please and see inside the grounds. Make sure no one lives in there. Tell them not to even think of ravishing those dirty women." He shuddered at the thought of touching a Komiya person, much less violating one.

"All must die."

The soldier nodded respectfully. "Your command will be obeyed."

*~*~*

Kagome ventured around the corner, trying to ignore the vociferous screams ringing clearing from the town. She didn't want to look, much less hear everyone's pain. The orange-red shades of light slanting through the windows were enough to inform her that they were being destroyed. It was only within minutes before the wolves would decide to storm the castle.

"Kagome!" someone screamed, and the said girl twirled around as she saw Rin standing at the other end of the corridor. The girl ran towards Kagome at an amazing speed when she saw recognition, catching the princess around the neck as tears flowed down the girl's cheeks. "It's really you! They're coming, Kagome! They'll destroy us! I don't know where to hide. I'm so scared, so terrified. This is just like how my family died…I don't…I don't want to see that again…"

Kagome held the woman gently as Rin sobbed quietly into her shoulders. This must be terrible for Rin to endure, seeing a remaking of her own family's death. But priority powered over pity at this moment, and she couldn't waste even a second. She pushed the girl away and quickly crammed the key into Rin's hand.

Rin was about to open her mouth and say something, but the drive in Kagome's eyes stopped her, allowing Kagome to continue.

"Go to the library. Climb the ladder you'll see to your right and there will be a book with a hole in its spine on the top shelf. Stick this key in and turn. A room will open and Lady Komiya will be in there. If you hear three knocks on the entrance, open it up because it'll be somebody else. Other than that, don't open it for anyone. Got it, Rin? I have to go find Kikyou. I'll be with you in a while."

Kagome was about to rush off and continue her search for her sister before Rin caught her arm in a tight grip, fear apparent in her eyes. "No…Kagome! You have to come with me! They're coming!"

Kagome nearly surrendered to the terror in the girl's voice, or maybe it was her own fear hidden under her determination, but she couldn't. She must find Kikyou, evil sister or not. She tore her arm away from Rin, turning an apologetic look towards Sesshoumaru's friend. "I have to find Kikyou. I promise I'll be safe."

Rin looked torn at hearing that, but she only weakly nodded. It wasn't her place to stop a dogged girl, no matter how startling the situation was. "Okay…I trust you…"

Kagome felt a sharp pain hit her in the chest. She turned around slowly, so that Rin couldn't see her aggrieved face as those words repeated in her mind. "Please don't trust me…" she whispered to the second person in two days, before taking off in a dash in a mad search for her sister.

Rin stood there for a moment, those words running in perplexity through her mind. But things more urgent forced her to stop pondering on those words when she heard a loud smash down on the grounds. Moving to the window, she watched as wolves started pouring into the courtyard, the gates shattered and in pieces, as the animals' shadows looked sinister and lethal. Her eyes widened, as her body shook in tremors. She remembered them, those wolves that attacked her own kingdom and killed ever single person she ever knew. She could replay her memories over and over, hearing her mother's scream, her father's agonized shouting, and her brother's and sister's shrieks of panic. It was happening again. People were dying…did she bring bad luck wherever she went?

Her heart beat in a frenzied, irregular beat as screams echoed over and over in her mind, blending with the screams from the town. Everywhere she went, everyone she met, they were torn away from her. She meant it when she said it scared her…because it terrified her…

It was never meant to end this way.

She took off in a wild race to the library.

Kagome hardly kept in the scream in her throat as she watched the shadows flood into the grounds, their ferine grins causing a cold shiver to run through her body. They were here and there was no way she'll make it to the library in time if she planned to find Kikyou. She could still make it…if she didn't have to find her sister…

Kagome backed away from the window and started running down the corridor, her eyes still gazing for any signs of Kikyou.

But she could just go to the library…let Kikyou die…it was as simple as that. She would be safe that way. A person could be selfish…couldn't they? They could value their own life over someone else's…can't they? She was only human. And Kikyou had been nothing but mean to her, from her childhood till now.

Think about it, Kagome…if Kikyou dies…there would be no one else left for you to model after…you won't be her shadow anymore…you'll shine.

Kagome stopped in her steps as she heard those words. She could…shine…

Kikyou never did anything for you…let her die…she was cruel to you…let death visit her…you can have Inuyasha if she's gone…let her die.

Let her…die? Have…Inuyasha?!

Let her bleed…watch as the ribbons of crimson flow out of her…you can see that, Kagome. You can watch as she bled the pain she caused you…with Naraku. Don't believe her…she didn't want to save your life. She wants your life to end. Let her die…you want her to die…don't you?

That wasn't true…her sister had saved her…kind of.

Kikyou must die.

Kagome's eyes widened when she realized where her train of thoughts were leading her to. It frightened her. Clutching her head, she shook it violently, eyes shut tight. "What kind of girl have I become!? I'm wishing death upon my own sister! I'm such a horrible girl! Oh god, I'm a monster…" she whispered in disgust, not believing those sinful and wicked thoughts had just passed in her head.

She was no better than Naraku…

She was betraying everyone's trust…

She was a horrible person.

"Kagome! What the hell are you out in the middle of nowhere for!?" a shocked voice broke into her thoughts, shattering her dilemma as distress was heard in the woman's voice.

Kagome lifted her head and came eye to eye with the center of her thoughts: Kikyou. Suddenly, she felt weak around her sister again. Kikyou had saved her from Naraku, albeit she did it viciously, but she had saved Kagome…and she had just wished death upon Kikyou a moment ago. She had truly mutated into a horrible girl…

"I'm…" she whispered, trying to remember what she had been trying to do before those awful thoughts had entered her mind.

"Get in here!" Kikyou hissed, and dragged her younger sister into the room Kikyou had previously been in. She shut the door tight, securing it with a plank of wood, before pulling Kagome towards a corner. That was when she continued, "WHAT were you thinking when you just stood out there in the corridor?! Getting ready for the wolves to pounce and mutilate you!? You could have died!"

Could have died…

Kagome stared into her sister's gray eyes, her own blue eyes trying to find a reason as to why she had thought those things. She widened her eyes as she noticed genuine concern behind the older girl's words, Kikyou's eyebrows bunched together in worry.

Realization struck her like lightning as Kikyou's grip tightened around her upper arms. This was her sister, pure and innocent, without the corruption of her parents or the distortion caused by Naraku. This was Kikyou, authentically concerned about Kagome.

She felt tears grow in her eyes. She was a horrible person. Kagome was a horrible, horrible person for even wishing death on Inuyasha's fiancee…her sister…

"I was worried about you," Kagome whispered, hands clenched tightly by her side. "I didn't want the wolves to get you…although half of me wished...wished…" she stopped, unable to continue. Could have died…

Her sister had been horrible to her, but she had protected her in a way…in a way no one could understand. It was a warped and twisted kind of protection, but Kikyou had sheltered her, trying to stop the pain from reaching the younger girl. Yes, Kikyou was angry with Kagome for letting pain reach the older girl by protecting her younger sister, and yes, she had her reasons to taunt and ridicule Kagome. But in the bitter end, Kagome realized Kikyou was her sister.

Her sister.

And in the very, very bitter end, blood was thicker than water.

"I'm sorry."

She meant those words, and Kikyou's eyes widened, when she realized her mask had dropped and she had acted like she cared for Kagome. Acted…? Was it acting…?

"For what?" Kikyou whispered hesitantly, realizing Kagome had unshed tears in her eyes. Her younger sister never cried, not since Naraku had betrayed her.

"Everything…" Kagome answered, as she took her sister's hand into her own, her head bowed down. "For hating you, for wishing you'd die so I wouldn't be your shadow, for letting Naraku hurt you because you were protecting me…for everything, Kikyou. For everything."

Kikyou felt those words. She actually felt the meaning behind those words and a part of her---the part that loathed her younger sister for the ache she caused through Naraku---flattened. For once, her cold exterior disappeared as she watched her sister, almost her twin, stare at her with sincere remorse, her cold hands shaking. Her heart beat almost excruciatingly when she realized Kagome wasn't as innocent as she wished she was, and that pain had reached her, even when Kikyou never wanted her younger sister to experience it.

What more, blinded by fury, Kikyou never realized it was her that was causing all the pain.

"Kago---"

Their sisterly conversation was interrupted by a slamming at the door, the frame of the door shuddering as the wood shifted.

The two girls stared at each other for a split second before Kikyou grabbed a metal ball on a table next to her and Kagome picked up a stick on the ground, both holding their weapons close to their bodies.

"Kikyou…before I forget…when you escape, go to the library. Find the shelf next to a ladder to your right and knock three times…" Kagome murmured as they walked to the door, pushing themselves to the walls on both sides of the door so that when their enemies barged in, they wouldn't notice the two girls first.

Kikyou had been about to ask why, but the door wasn't as unyielding as she had wished it to be. The twin doors flew open, flying across the empty room and smashing into the wall. A wolf soldier rushed in, baring his fangs because he had smelt humans from outside in the corridor. He hadn't counted on the simultaneous crash of metal and wood on his head and he gurgled as his face met the hard ground, momentarily stunned.

Kikyou dropped her weapon, staring at the blotch of red appearing behind the wolf's skull. "Oh god…" she muttered, before Kagome pushed her hastily out the door. There wasn't time to just gaze at the victim and wonder if the demon was dead. Run now, think later.

"No time to lose! We have to get to the li---" Kagome squealed piercingly as a hand wrapped itself around her skinny ankle, sending her down to the ground. She whipped her head back, watching as the wolf her sister and her had attacked before glare at her through darkened red eyes, a red mark on his forehead. His claws dug into her skin and nearly punctured her Achille's Heel, if she hadn't kicked him upwards in the face with her other foot.

He howled, grabbing his chin. "Fucking bitches. You'll both pay for that…" he hissed, drawing out the sword from its sheath by his waist.

Kagome's eyes widened and she quickly grabbed the wooden stick on the ground next to her, jamming the end into the wolf's open mouth. The phrase 'Close your mouth or flies will get in there' rushed into her mind, but she didn't waste more time before the wolf growled at her, tenderly touching the back of his throat.

Kagome turned a quick glare over to Kikyou, who was still staring at her younger sister in a daze. "STUPID! Get your ass to the library, NOW!"

"Ka---"

"NOW."

Kikyou stared at her sister and for some reason, found her feet suddenly disobedient to her body. It moved on its own accord, running down the corridor when Kikyou hadn't meant to. It felt like her muscles were just working together against her own will, adopting a mind of its own. What was wrong!? Who was controlling her!? She saw the violet-blue flicker of energy from Kagome and her eyes widened in understanding.

Kagome had just used her miko powers…without knowing.

She didn't have much more time to think before her feet brought her around the corner, completely losing sight of her younger sister. The last she observed of Kagome, the wolf soldier had grabbed her and flung her into the room in a blur. Kikyou didn't want to think about what Kagome's body would collide with. She would die this way.


Kagome would die if no one saved her.


A/N: I know some of you are wincing at Kouga's behavior, but think about it for a moment. When we first met him in the manga [or anime] he only acted civil because he [most likely] didn't want Kagome to be disgusted with him. But also remember, he's a full demon. In this story, he's the prince [not that I'm saying he's not in the manga] of an entire kingdom…a kingdom that had been constantly at war with the dog demons. There's going to be some hatred between them. Some, being an understatement. Additionally, he's never met Kagome [and no, he's not kidnapping her in this story as 75% of you assumed.] So I hope you understand why he's a bit more brutal.

Also, as some of you have noticed…yes, this story is taking on a darker feel. It'll lighten somewhat, but for the next few chapters, it's adopting a true Inuyasha [the story] ambiance to it.

Ahh...everything I wrote seems to have been delayed to the next chapter...