Hey, I know what you're thinking. No more excuses please:P Well, I am sorry…again. I keep thinking my schedule will clear up to keep writing this, but it stays very busy. I am not quitting on this story. Writing is one of my favorite things to do, and a good way for me to escape from the pressures of my life and reality. So I can't say that I will be able to make quick updates, but I am going to try. I would really like to wrap this story up in a couple chapters. Once again, I am sorry for the delay.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

Rumors And Love

Chapter 19: Hide and Seek

A slow squeak echoed through the dark hallway as Kagome opened the door. She tried to see down the hallway, but could only see the darkness. Taking a deep breath, she took a step forward hoping that no surprises were lingering in the dark.

She counted her steps to herself. One step, two, three, four…….and then the floor board squeaked beneath her. Taking her foot back off that spot, she tried to take another step forward. There was a strange feeling beneath her feet. It was almost as though the area where she stepped was lighter than the previous area. Carefully bending down, she felt the floor blindly. She could feel a rug under her finger tips. She got down on her knees and crawled along it to find the end. She pulled up the corners and removed the rug from its former position rolling it backwards. Once she had it out of the way, she crawled over it onto the bare floor once again searching it with only her hands. She felt something cold almost like metal. Wait...that's exactly what it was. Only it was more than that. It was a handle. She pulled it, and at that moment she saw a light down the hall.

"Shit." She quickly got off the floor, and threw the rug back over it.

She could see the shadow of a male figure in the light. There was no question over who it belonged to. It was Naraku. She would have to sneak by the door without him noticing. It was all she could do to get out of there. Taking a gulp of air, she proceeded forward. "God help me."

Inuyasha had been walking for hours on end. Somehow he kept ending up in the same place. He was going in circles, and kept coming to the Higurashi's shrine. Only this time he decided to try a different approach to his problem. He changed his footing, and walked toward the front door. Hesitating a moment, he raised his fist and pounded lightly on the mahogany finish.

The door opened just enough to see a small hand, and half of the face who it belonged to.

"Sota," he smiled. "How have you been?"

Without a word, the door continued opening, and standing next to the boy was his mother. "Why are you here?" she questioned. "You don't belong here."

Taken back, he spoke up. "I am here about Kagome. I know who did it, but I need help finding him."

She shook her head. "The Police are already taking care of it. And I already know who it is as well." She glared into his eyes. "I know exactly who."

Inuyasha took a step forward. "I am not responsible for any of this!"

"Inuyasha, it's too late for you." A thud was heard, and he looked down to see the phone laying on the floor next to Mrs. Higurashi's feet. When he returned to her eyes, water was gathering in them. "You will get what you deserve, you beast. Don't you ever come here again."

He took two steps back, and felt fingers clutching onto his arms and tightening their grip. He heard her words over again in his head. He didn't have to turn to know who it was holding him. It looked as though it was over for him, but he knew it was not over yet. Ripping his arms free he spoke to her, "You're wrong."

Her tears wove down to her chin and dripped to the floor beneath her. "Am I?"

"Your daughter is still alive. If you let them take me, you will never see your daughter's face again."

"Hanyou!" The police yelled as they made an attempt to grab him from behind. Grabbing his arms, and pushing him head first onto the ground, they cuffed his wrists. He lifted his head to look at her with tears of his own.

"Please Mrs. Higurashi! There is no time for this! We must get to her."

Her face was of shock. "How can you say such things to my face without a thought of remorse? My heart is already broken, don't lie to me! You killed her." She broke down into broken sobs. "Just tell me, Inuyasha. Please tell me what you did with my daughter. Just let me give my little girl a proper burial."

He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You fool!" he yelled. "Your daughter is alive! Naraku has her! He made it look like I did everything, but it's wrong! He has your daughter, and if we don't act immediately I don't know what could happen to her. I am begging you!"

"That's enough, hanyou!" An officer gripped his hair, and pulled him up to his knees. "Get up."

Inuyasha stood. "Please…trust me." He looked desperately into her eyes. "Please…I-I love her." A tear fell down his face. "Please."

She stood in disbelief with a hand covering her mouth.

"Didn't you hear us! That's enough!" They pushed him toward the car. "Get going."

His shoulders slumped and he took his last steps as a free man.

"Wait."

Inuyasha' head turned to look at Mrs. Higurashi who was responsible for the word. She walked to him. "Inuyasha," she began. "Are you…were you telling me the truth?"

Curiously he answered, "Yes."

"Could you take me to her?"

His eyes filled with sudden hope. "I would need help. I only have a name."

She put a hand on his shoulder. "Help me find my daughter."

He nodded without hesitation.

"Ma'am?" an officer asked.

"Release him," she ordered.

"We can't do that. He is a main suspect of this crime," he answered firmly.

"He knows where she is. You must!" she pleaded.

"Not until we ask him a few questions."

"There is no time for that!" Inuyasha interrupted. "We need to go now!"

The man pulled Inuyasha's hair to get him to look directly at him. "No."

Rolling his eyes, Inuyasha stepped on the man's foot, turned around and kicked him in the groin.

"Hey, you can't do that!" another officer exclaimed.

Inuyasha gritted his teeth as he pulled at the cuffs around his wrist. They began to cut into his skin, but he pushed the pain aside. The chain of the cuffs broke leaving him two hands to fight with.

The officer's jaw hung open at the strength of the half demon.

"So," Inuyasha smirked. "Still want to argue?"

The man shook his head and took a step back as Inuyasha approached him. "Sorry about this," Inuyasha said. "But I can't leave you awake to tell everyone about this." He hit the officer on the head knocking him out cold. Turning around he saw the horrified mother. "We must go."

Nodding she walked away.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"Well, we need a way to get around." She held up her keys, and Inuyasha smiled. "So let's go get her back."

Kagome paced herself as she tip toed soundlessly down the hall. She was only inches away from the door. She could hear Naraku's voice.

'He must be on the phone,' she thought to herself. She was ready to go past the door when she heard a click. She froze. He had hung up the phone, and the shadow became bigger and bigger as it walked in her direction. Her breath had caught in her throat, and she turned her head. Leaning against the doorway was Naraku.

"My dear, how did you get out of those confinements? I thought I had them so well done too."

Without listening to another word she darted off down the hall not caring where it would lead her. She just needed to find a way out and get away from Naraku. She had to get back home. Thumps of footsteps could be heard behind her following her wherever she went. He was coming and there wasn't much she could do. She had reached the end of the hall with a room on either side of her. Without thinking she went into the room on her right. The first thing she saw was a closet, and she went inside it closing the door behind her. She put her back against the wall and slid down it until she was sitting on the floor with her knees drawn up to her chest.

She heard his steps stop. He too had reached the end of the hall. Had he seen her go into this room? She held her breath to listen for any signs of him. There was nothing. Had he gone away? Had he given up?

He seemed too cunning to give up on something like this. Her heart skipped a beat when a loud thump was heard against the closet door. Her eyes darted to the door. "Oh my gosh." She looked at the doorknob. She hadn't locked it. The knob slowly turned as she watched in fear. It was all over…he had her now.

Aw, don't you just hate those cliffhangers:P Well, please review for me. By the way, thanks for the reviews on the previous chapter. I appreciate your kind words. I'll catch you guys later.

InuLimbo