Chapter Six: Attempted Rape, and strong arms

"So Kagome, what do you think of Inu Yasha's brother?"

"I don't know...he's so...polite I guess. Though I haven't heard him say please or thank you."

"And never will." muttered Miroku.

"But he's so...smooth too. Almost the opposite of Inu Yasha. Except..." Kagome recalled something Sesshomaru had said that had sounded much like something Inu Yasha had told her at the train station. The names were different, but it sounded so similar. Sesshomaru had said, "That sounds like Inu Yasha", while Inu Yasha had said, "That sounds like Kouga" at the train station. It was strange, but Kagome could detect they were brothers, though they obviously didn't like each other.

"Except what?"

"Nothing. Have you met him before?"

"Yeah. I was Inu Yasha's friend before I was his manager. Sesshomaru petrified me the first time I met him. Though to this day, I can't understand why. He's very nice, and as you said, polite. He's never yelled or threatened anyone that I've heard, though Inu Yasha's threatened him plenty of times. But I'm sure that sword at his side is used for something. It's interesting that he uses a sword, in the world of guns."

"He's known for it..." murmured Kagome, Miroku nodding.

"Yes, he is. But there's also something...below the surface. Something that just screams 'don't mess with me; I'll kick your ass'."

"I noticed that too..." Kagome suddenly remembered something she had been meaning to ask. "Hey Miroku?" They were walking through the long hallways of the mansion slowly.

"Yes?"

"You say you're Inu Yasha's manager. What does he do now that he 'quit' being a gangster?"

"He's one of the best body guards for hire."

"Really? Huh...I guess that makes use of his skills nicely."

"Yep!" replied Miroku cheerfully. Once they reached the end of the hallway, men unexpectedly started surrounding them, separating Kagome from Miroku and cornering her.

"Miroku!" cried Kagome, and the young man tried to make a lunge for her hand, but a one of the men smashed him on the head with the handle of a gun. Miroku collapsed immediately. Kagome backed up against the wall behind her, her breath coming in short gasps as she willed herself not to cry. The men grinned and moved closer to her.

"Well well brother." said Sesshomaru, once Kagome and Miroku had left the room. "How do you plan on going about this maneuver?"

"I'm sure as hell not telling you. I don't work for you anymore, Sesshomaru, you can't make me tell you everything I'm thinking or doing."

"When it concerns one of my biggest rivals, I would think that I should have a right to know." said Sesshomaru, calmly taking a sip of wine.

"I'm just going to use Kagome as bait and kill the bastard, simple as that. If I make too complicated then it might never happen."

"I see. Why don't you just kill the girl to get even with Kouga? It would be equal. Or is it because she looks so like Kikyo and you don't have the heart?"

'That's not it! It's because she's already suicidal, so I'd be doing her a favor!"

"Suicidal is she?"

"Yeah. I found her in her room at Kouga's with a gun to her head." Inu Yasha shifted in his seat, draining the rest of his beer.

"Interesting. Well, I can promise you any reward you wish if you kill Kouga."

"I am not your fucking gun for hire, Sesshomaru! This is my problem with Kouga, not yours! I don't want your stupid reward! I'm doing this for-"

"Revenge? If it's for revenge, then shouldn't you also kill the assassin that actually committed Kikyo's murder? Naraku I believe was his name."

"Sesshomaru, just mind your own business!" Inu Yasha's ears suddenly perked as he heard Kagome yell down the hall. "What's going on?" He heard her scream and jumped from his seat, turning to look fiercely at Sesshomaru. "What did you do?"

"Nothing..." muttered Sesshomaru, also standing and frowning towards the hallway. Inu Yasha dashed down the hallway to Kagome, just in time to discover a group of gang members trying to "liberate" her from her clothing. He snarled and slashed at a couple of them, causing the rest to pull back without delay. Kagome sat against the wall, her knees drawn to her chest, tears coursing silently down her cheeks. Inu Yasha gently touched her should and she flinched.

"Kagome?" he whispered, but got no response. With little hesitation, he picked her up into his arms bridal style and turned to see Miroku groaning and getting to his feet. Sesshomaru had appeared, glanced at the situation and turned a frosty gaze upon the men who had cornered Kagome.

"Did you all participate in this?" he said, his voice low and dangerous. No one answered. "Well then. I see. I suppose I will have to show you all what happens when members of my organization strays from orders."

"But sir...they were no orders not to-"one man stammered before Sesshomaru cut him off with a look.

"My orders are clear; we are not to be rude to any of my guests. I believe a rape attempt goes beyond rude. Now, whoever thought of this idea, you have ruined things for your comrades also." Inu Yasha sensed his brother's icy rage and stepped back, the girl still in his arms. Sesshomaru pulled out his sword effortlessly and sliced a couple times before stepping back and surveying his destruction. All of the men lay on the floor, many in bloody messes and Sesshomaru turned to a servant who had appeared with a silken cloth. Wiping his sword with it, he then sheathed it smoothly and muttered something to the servant before turning back to Inu Yasha. "I apologize profusely. I do not understand how I could have hired such buffoons."

"I think it's a little late for an apology," snapped Inu Yasha, looking down at Kagome who lay curled against his chest, her eyes tightly closed. "I'm leaving now. I'm going to ride with Miroku, and I'll be back for my motorcycle in the morning. Anyone touches it, they're dead." And with that, the angry ex-gangster stalked out of his brother's house and over to Miroku's car, opening the door sharply after Miroku unlocked it and sliding in with Kagome shifted so she was resting on his lap.

They reached Inu Yasha's house quickly and entered quietly. Miroku glanced at Kagome, then muttered,

"I'm sorry Inu Yasha...I tried to stop them..." the half-demon glanced at Miroku and shook his head.

"That's alright. They were all demons anyway. And there were a lot. I shouldn't have let Kagome wander Sesshomaru's house without me." Miroku still looked unconvinced, and went into a bathroom downstairs to look at his bump while Inu Yasha went upstairs to Kagome's room.

He tried to set her on his bed, but she clung tightly to his shirt, and wouldn't let go. Sighing heavily he sat down instead and gazed down at the young woman in his arms.

"I'm so sorry Kagome. I shouldn't...I don't trust my brother; I should have known his stupid gangsters would try something stupid. Please...will you forgive me? I'll even promise to be nicer." Kagome moved slightly in his arms and moaned faintly. Inu Yasha realized she was sleeping and probably having a bad dream. He pulled her closer and brushed a little bit of hair away from her face. She winced when he touched her and he frowned, feeling terrible about what had happened.

After a couple minutes, Kagome's gray eyes fluttered open as she stirred. Inu Yasha looked down at her.

"Kagome?" she glanced up at him and squinted slightly, then looked at herself.

"Oh...oh no." She struggled desperately to get free, but Inu Yasha held her tightly, saying,

"Stop it! Stop moving! You're fine." she peeked up at him slowly and her cheeks turned a brilliant red.

"Um...what happened?" Inu Yasha shifted so he could lay her down on the bed, then moved back, sitting next to her.

"At Sesshomaru's house? Well you..." Kagome's eyes widened, causing Inu Yasha to stop talking and tilt his head in concern.

"I...I know. But I don't remember you being there...weren't you talking to your brother?"

"Yes. But I heard you scream. I came and stopped those idiots. Sesshomaru killed them, actually."

"He did?" she looked utterly surprised

"Yeah. He can't tolerate impoliteness. Plus the fact that you were a guest. If you had snuck in or something, he wouldn't have killed them, but they would have been punished."

"You-you rescued me?" asked Kagome quietly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Inu Yasha turned slightly pink before he nodded somewhat.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that. Are you alright? Do you need anything?"

"Um...no, thank you though."

"Okay, I'll be downstairs if you need me." He left the room silently as Kagome watched him, a confused look on her face.

She didn't understand why she had been in his arms. She thought he didn't really care about her, at least that's the impression he had given her. And yet...recently, he had been much nicer to her. Recalling, with much blushing, the feeling of being held by him caused Kagome to sit up sharply and shake her head.

"No Kagome. Don't let yourself get swept away by a pair of strong arms. That's happened before. Remember the turn out of that? Being a prisoner for life?" She nodded to herself before lying back down to go to sleep.

Inu Yasha heard what she said as he was walking down the hallway. So she doesn't want strong arms. Well, I'm being nice too...that'll get here to like me. No, wait! I'm not trying to get her to like me, just to trust me.

But the half-demon secretly wondered what the difference was.