DISCLAIMER: Inuyasha wo motte imasen!

CHAPTER 5: Narrow Escape

Kagome found herself breathing normally again as she made her way to her seat, flashing a sparkling smile as her friends waved to her eagerly.

"Kagome!" Yuka cried in delight. "What are you doing here?"

Ayumi turned around in her desk, eyeing her friend carefully. "Yeah! They actually let you outta the hospital?"

At this, Kagome's smile wavered nervously as she sat down, and she silently wondered what kind of illness her grandfather had come up with this time. She set her books firmly onto the desk, wanting to signify her determination. "Well," she stated sternly, "I couldn't just miss out on the only review class for one of the biggest exams this year!" Making this point, her friends nodded in agreement.

Kagome took this opportune moment to soak in the normalities around her: classmates' laughter ringing shrilly; kids launching their latest paper-plane models; a vexed teacher at the front of the room; the sweet smell of modern hygiene; a boy a few seats behind her that was long gone, his head resting in a puddle of his own drool. Ah, she had missed it. It felt good to get away from chaos for awhile, even though she couldn't help but rue the fact that she had left Kouga and Inuyasha at home, alone, together.

"Hey, Kagome!" Eri's voice called, jerking Kagome from her thoughts. "So, any news lately on that guy?"

"Huh?"

"You know, the short-tempered, arrogant, overprotective, self-centered guy?"

Thankfully the conversation came to a halt as the teacher's powerful voice projected loud and distinctly toward the class. Kagome really didn't feel up to talking or even mentioning Inuyasha's name right now. "Okay, okay, settle down now," the teacher ordered with amazing patience. She could've sworn she'd seen him pulling out his hair five minutes earlier. "We're going to begin the review for the Literature exam Monday. So come on, get out your books." Literature exam? Not a Biology exam! Just shows how much I've missed.

But as much as she didn't want to talk about Inuyasha , Kagome couldn't help but let her mind wander to the half-breed as the teacher began his monotonous lecture. No, Inuyasha won't let anything bad happen. He knows I'd kill him if he did.

But still, she wondered what they were doing right now. . .

Higurashi Household

Inuyasha kept a close eye on Kouga for the next few minutes, as well as following him where ever he went. He was determined to make it back to his era alive and without being mauled by Kagome, if anything were to happen.

He now found himself in the kitchen, watching intently as Kouga delved into a bag of potato chips he had found in the pantry. "Hey!" he exclaimed happily, munching rapidly on the delicious morsels. "I remember this stuff from when Kagome gave it to me a while ago! Wow, these are good!"

Inuyasha grumbled as the wolf continued to stuff his face. He couldn't believe Kagome had let the lousy creature spend the night! Had his kindness and generosity as a friend meant nothing to her? He cringed at the mere thought of Kouga and Kagome in the same bed; under the same covers. Wait . . . did they sleep in the same bed! "Hey!" Inuyasha snapped, continuing when Kouga turned in his direction with stuffed cheeks. "What did you and Kagome actually do last night anyway?"

Caught off guard, Kouga nearly choked on his mouthful. "What?" he asked dumbfounded, shocked the mutt would ask such a personal question.

Inuyasha's brow furrowed in frustration. "You heard me! What did you guys do!" His eyes narrowed with contempt. "Did you touch her?"

At these words, subliminal images of he and Kagome flooded Kouga's mind. Oh, the things he pictured. . . As much as I'd wanted to, I regretfully didn't. But hey, he could have some fun, right? With dignity, he straightened his posture and raised his chin arrogantly in the air, staring down the bridge of his nose at his rival. "Maybe," he sneered, satisfied with the growl he heard in return. "What's it to you, mutt-face?"

Anger rising, Inuyasha raised his fist menacingly. "Why—you—,"

He was cut off by a jubilant voice. "Inuyasha!" Sota called ecstatically, racing into the kitchen and clinging to his hero's leg, nearly cutting off circulation. "You're here! Now we can play together!"

Kouga watched as the half-breed's face contorted into one of pain as the boy only squeezed harder, and wondered whether it was worse being the kid's enemy or friend. He smiled in cruel amusement as Inuyasha tried unsuccessfully to shake the boy off, then turned to continue raiding the pantry.

In the corner of his eye, Inuyasha saw Kouga turn his back nonchalantly, and felt his rage immediately skyrocket. "H-hey!" he bellowed with difficulty. "D-don't think we're done! You still have some explaining to do about last night, you lecher!"

"I don't hafta tell you anything," he replied, a bit absentmindedly as his hand suddenly found something small and hard. "After all, that kinda stuff is very personal." He retrieved his catch as he said this, examining the strange item he now held in his grasp. It was a long bar of some sort, with brown wrapping which said,チョコレート (chi-yo-ko-re-e-to), whatever that meant.

As the screams behind him continued, the wolf slowly pulled back the wrapping and sank his teeth into the brown bar. His eyes grew wide as a rush of delicious, pure, undescribable sweetness hit his taste buds, causing him to shudder in delight. He took another bite, and another, till soon he found himself desperately searching fore more of the scrumptious treat. And just his luck: he found an entire pile. Kouga began to gorge on the strange food.

Meanwhile, Inuyasha was now attempting to pry the child off his suffocating leg. He bent low in order to get Sota's attention "Whose side are you on anyway!" he snarled through gritted teeth, hoping to scare the kid off him.

"Not until you promise to play video games with me!" Sota whined, doing his best to ignore Inuyasha's intimidating glare.

The demon gave an exasperated sigh as it finally dawned on him: there was no use fighting. "Fine," he muttered while crossing his arms with a pout. He never liked admitting defeat, no matter what the circumstances were. Sota's frown slowly widened into a lopsided grin. Inuyasha sighed in relief as the kid released his vice like grip and blood began to flow once again.

"Now," the dog-demon began, turning back to his former opponent, "where were we?" He blinked in mild puzzlement as Kouga finished the last bar, and began licking his fingers for the lingering sweetness. Inuyasha's glare hardened. "We're going back, now."

Both Sota and Kouga turned in surprise at his abrupt proclamation. Sota felt betrayed at how quickly Inuyasha had broken his promise. In a rush of emotions, he darted forward in an attempt to once again throw his arms around the demon's leg, only to find himself stopped forcefully by Inuyasha's outstretched hand. Apparently he wasn't going to fall for it again.

Kouga on the other hand, wasn't sure what was going through his mind at that moment. A peculiar, tingly feeling pumped rapidly through his limbs, and all he desired was movement. Yeah, that was it! He wanted to bounce! A-and talk! And yell!

"Heh! Hahahaha!" he cackled, his own voice sounding distant in his mind. "As if you could tell me what to do! I can do whatever I want to, mutt!"

Inuyasha merely frowned in bewilderment. "What the hell's wrong with you?" he queried, noting the wolf-demon's sudden jittery behavior. "Why're you talking so fast?"

Kouga failed to hear the question. "Man, is it just me or is it hot in here?" He inched toward the door. "I think I'll just get some fresh air outside!"

The dog scoffed. Heh. Fine with me. Let that stupid wolf suffocate himself in that polluted air. But it only took a moment until he realized what was happening, and remembered what Kagome had said, her words resonant in his mind. "And whatever you do, DO. NOT. LEAVE. THIS. HOUSE."

Inuyasha's heart skipped multiple beats, and a strange, frantic squeak emitted from his throat as he leaped forward to stop his enemy. But sadly he was one second to late as Kouga sprang out the door into the open world, disappearing from view. "Nooooo!" the half-breed cried in panic, nearly flying for the door. Almost there. Almost there! As soon as one foot made contact with the cool, damp grass, he could feel two small, clammy hands grasp his ankle. His conscience screamed. Hastily he dug his claws into the doorway for support while viciously shaking his captured leg. "GET OFF ME!"

He had to catch that wolf! For with every second that passed by, so did his chance of escaping Kagome's wrath.

A/N: sorry if it was kinda short, and sorry if there was maybe a tad of OoC anywhere in there. But anyway! I already know what I'm gonna do for the next chapter so I'll probably have it updated in a few days. Come on people! I need some feedback here!