Disclaimer: I don't own Inu Yasha, even though I'd like to. I hug'em and love'em and lock'em away some place no one else could have'em. Hehehe. Just kidding, he's too great to hide from the world.

Twisting time

Chapter 3

"I love you, Inu Yasha. I always have." With that she pulled away from him and took a few steps towards the demon. Suddenly her eyes narrowed and she raised her hands, they glowed with a fierce blue light that engulfed the demon. The demon's cry echoed through the hall. The guards behind it were thrown against the far wall. She collapsed to her knees as the demon disintegrated.

"Kagome!" Her Inu Yasha rushed to her side. "Kagome, I thought…"

She raised her eyes to his and smiled. "You ought to know I don't give up that easily." She touched his cheek and brushed away a stray tear from his eye. "I'm not going anywhere." Inu Yasha smiled and pulled her into his lap.

"But…but what about Eri? He said if he died she would too." Linu made his way forward a few steps.

The young Inu Yasha clenched his fist. "We just have to find her before his minions tell them about Gutonru."

"You make it sound so easy." Linu looked at him doubtfully.

"It is."

The older Inu Yasha shook his head. "This world is not like the one we come from. Here there are thousands of people and nearly as many places to hide. It'll be like looking for a needle in a hay stack."

"You sound like you're giving up!" The hanyou stared at his counterpart in astonishment.

"No, far from it. But unfortunately I'm no good a strategy."

"I have an idea." The young Kagome moved to Linu's side. "Do you have a cell phone?"

"Yes." He drew the device from his pocket and handed it to her. She took it to the older Inu Yasha. "Call my mother, that's where we left Eri. I'm sure if Daikumaru's minions will be there. Tell them, you're going to trade as Gutonru has request but you'll only do it in person."

"I get it. We'll draw them out and then take care of them." Of course, it was Kagome's older self that caught on the quickest. Her Inu Yasha nodded and began to dial the phone. He did as the young Kagome instructed and just as she had said the minions were still at the shrine. They agreed to the face to face meeting.

The small group made their exit and piled into Linu's car. His father made a face as he sniffed the air. "You've had that Rusike kid in here haven't you? You know I hate that kid."

"Aw, dad. He isn't that bad. Lex's just a bit rough around the edges."

"He stinks like beer and cigarettes."

"So what? He's my friend. And-"

"All right you two, that's enough." Kagome flashed a grin at her younger self. "I just can't take them anywhere." That made the young girl smoother a laugh.

"What's that suppose to mean?" Her husband scowled at her.

"It was just a joke." She stroked his hair warmly. "She got it."

"Of course, she did, she's you." He made a face at her, but it was plain to see that he wasn't really angry.

She snuggled down against him. "I was so worried about you, Inu Yasha."

He slipped an arm around her shoulders and patted her hand warmly. "I know."

The younger Kagome and Inu Yasha stared at their counterparts. Their someday-son, grinned at them in the rearview mirror. The two exchanged looks. "They look so happy." Kagome whispered.

Inu Yasha reached across the space between them in the back seat and took her hand. "Yes, they do." His eyes held such warmth, that Kagome felt her heart speed up. She squeezed his hand. She smiled. 'I wonder if he likes what he sees? I know I do.'

"So, what do we do when we get there?" Linu had been trying to think of some way to help his sister.

"These guys don't know we're here. We can use that to our advantage. Let me and Kagome out before you reach the shrine." The young hanyou put a hand on the door.

Kagome looked out the window. "Right here's good. We'll come up from the back." Linu pulled the car to a stop at the base of a hill.

"Are you sure you want to get out here. That's quite a climb, believe me. I've made it myself a couple of times."

Kagome smiled as Inu Yasha offered her his hand to help her out. "We'll be just fine. Now, go before they get suspicious." She shut the door and the car sped off. 'He seems like a good kid.' Inu Yasha mused as he watched them leave.

He could feel Kagome watching him, as he turned to look at her she smiled. "Let's go." He bent so she could climb on his back. She tucked her face in his hair. He pushed off and they flew over a good portion of the graves and shrines that lined the back yard of the main shrine. As he landed and pushed off again, Kagome spoke softly in his ear.

"Inu Yasha, do you like this future?"

'What a time to ask such a question. We're about to go into battle.' But in spite of himself he answered her truthfully. "Yes, I do." He felt her move slightly and then there was the most exhilarating sensation as she placed a soft sweet kiss on his neck.

"I like it, too." That made him smile. She liked the idea of spending her life with him and even having his children. He came to a stop just inside the tree line. There was clearing between them and the house. Kagome slid of his back and he turned to face her. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. 'Tears! No, why is she crying? I thought she'd be happy.' Suddenly she threw her arms around and buried her face in his chest. "You've made me so happy."

He sighed. 'Those were tears of happiness, not sadness. I'm glad.' He stroked her hair for a moment and then remembered their situation. "Kagome…we, uh, don't have time to…"

She released him and stepped back. "I know. Later, okay?" He nodded. Voices came from the front of the shrine. They ran quickly across the clearing and made their way around the side of the house.

In the main yard stood three men two with hostages. One man held a gun to Mrs. Higarashi, while the one that seemed to be the leader stepped forward to confront the couple that stood in the yard.

"Give us the woman and we'll let these two go."

The older Inu Yasha snarled at the man, but his Kagome slowly made her way forward. "Release them and I will not resist. I'll go willingly."

The hanyou snuck slowly around the side of the house, preparing to attack as soon as an opportunity appointed itself. He ducked for cover as the leader turned and snatched the little girl from his companion and shook the gun recklessly around the child's head. Eri's mother went terribly pale. "Don't think I'm stupid enough to fall for that old trick." The man chuckled as Eri began to weep.

"Please just let my daughter go, I'll do anything you ask!" Kagome was near tears. Behind her Inu Yasha trembled with rage.

The young hanyou looked from one hostage to the other. 'I have to make a decision. I can't take them both out at the same time and if I'm too slow….' He gasped as Kagome sprinted across to his hiding place.

"I'll get the one who has my mom. You help Eri." Before he knew what had happened Kagome had slunk away to another hiding spot closer to the man with her mother. 'Well, I guess I don't have to make a decision after all. Oh, Kagome, please be careful. Those gun things are dangerous.' He prayed nothing would happen to her as he too snuck closer to his prey.

A pair of dark eyes watched his counterpart slink towards the man holding his daughter. Slowly he edged his way forward a few steps at a time, until he stood next to his wife. "Let her go. We agreed to you're terms. Now let her go."

The man snorted. "I don't know why my boss was so frightened of you. You're pathetic, giving up your wife to get your daughter."

Inu Yasha boiled, his knuckles turning white with anger. The young hanyou knew that stance and expression all too well. He'd better do something now before his older self acted out of rage. He sprang at the man holding Eri. The man cried out as a loud crack came from the man's back. He lay motionless on the ground. Eri tumbled to the ground weeping. Inu Yasha jumped as the sound of something breaking and a gun going off popped in his ears. He spun to see his older self pinning the second man to the ground with one arm twisted behind his back to a point that looked like it might break. His eyes then flew to Kagome. At her feet was sprawled an unconscious man surrounded by a shatter potted plant. Kagome was pressing a hand against her cheek. He rushed to her side.

"Kagome, are you all right?" She nodded, but the fear was evident in her eyes and he could smell the copper scent of her blood. "Let me see." He tugged at her wrist gently until she removed the hand.

"It's just a scratch."

He agreed it was just a scratch, but by the look of it, it had not come from the shattered plant but from the bullet. His heart screamed in panic for a moment. That bullet! If it had been even a little bit off, could have killed her. He gathered her in his arms, his whole body trembling. "Kagome, I'm sorry." She was trembling too and the scent of fear engulfed her. He bent his head kissed away the droplets of blood.

Kagome's breath caught in her throat. 'He's never done that before.' She could feel her cheeks burn as she blushed. It was the most sensual experience of her life and the most intimate.

Not very far away the others gathered and examined Eri and Kagome's mom. Neither seemed hurt, though Mrs. Higarashi seemed very shaken. She stood next to her grandson and let him comfort her with an arm. Eri's parents hovered over her, trying to calm the traumatized girl. After a few minutes they all calmed and the older Kagome ushered everyone into the house, so they could call the police.

The young couple hid out in Kagome's old room, while the police came and went. The room no longer held Kagome's things; it had long since been converted into a spare bedroom for guest. Inu Yasha sat with his arms still wrapped around Kagome. He could seem to let her go. If she tried to move away, his grip tightened on her. Finally, Kagome had realized that he was frightened and she relaxed into him, letting him hold her. 'He's still trembling. Did the fight scare him that much? I've never seen him act this way. It's as if he's terrified to let go of me.' She wrapped her arms around him and resting her head against his chest, giving him her strength. When the gun had gone off, her life had seemed to flash before her eyes. But after a while, she too had slowly calmed down and regained her composure. So, why was Inu Yasha still trembling?

"Kagome?" His voice broke through her thoughts like a cool breeze.

"Yes."

"I've never been so scared in all my life. After today I….I can't live without you, Kagome. I don't want to. I won't." He'd stopped trembling but his heart was pounding so loud that Kagome had to lift her head from his chest in order to hear him speak. She looked up at him, not sure if she had heard him right. Inu Yasha found he couldn't stop. Everything that had been pint up inside him for the last year came spilling out. "I have to protect you. I want to protect you for the rest of your life. I need you with me. You make me feel whole. When you're not with me I feel so empty inside. Do you understand what I'm trying to say, Kagome? Do understand how much I love you?"

Kagome was struck dumb. 'Was that all true or is he just playing some cruel trick? Maybe he was hit in the head during the fight.' She looked up into his eyes, searching them for the truth. She stared up at him so long, that Inu Yasha began to squirm. Maybe he'd made a mistake in saying all those things. Maybe Kagome didn't feel the same. Oh god, please don't let that be! She had to feel the same! After all she'd kissed him. Granted that had only been a small peck on his neck. And when he'd kissed away the droplets of blood from her cheek, her scent it had changed becoming…

Please R&R

Sorry 'bout the cliff hangers. I got an evil sense of humor. evil grin