AN: Hey everyone! I was in a very witchy mood the other day, so I started to work on thsi fic some more. So, now this fic has officially lost it's "hiatus" status. Go me. This chapter is a little longer than the other ones (thank goodness, the other ones were so short!). I'm contemplating combineing the first two chapters into one chapter, since they were so short. What do ya'll think? Anyways, enjoy!

LAST TIME:

Sesshoumaru was brought out of his musings by the laughter that drifted up through the floorboards. He turned over in his bed, and promptly lost his consciousness to a dreamless sleep.

Clutching the blankets tighter to her chest, Kagome sighed. How many years had it been since she had run away? Three? Five? Ten? She couldn't quite remember. Not that she wanted to. Kagome had tried hard not to remember her past, to erase it completely. And she would have succeeded too, had it not been for one thing.

Her conscious.

She had had a nightmare. Crying, she opened her eyes. Her mother, brother, and grandfather were all standing outside of her door.

"Her power is peaking! Kagome, calm down!" Her grandfather's raspy voice filled her ears. She had tried, she really did. For their sake.

She couldn't calm down. Every time she tried, she became more and more fearful. The fear controlled her now, and an agony filled wail broke from her mouth. Tears ran in rivulets down her face, and white-hot pain danced down her spine.

Within moments, the modest two-floor house that rested on the corner of 7th and Pickett exploded. Shrapnel flew everywhere.

It was over within a fraction of a second. The once stable home had been reduced to a pile of lumber, siding, and insulation. Debris littered sidewalks five blocks away.

And in the middle of the rubblehad stood an eight year-old Kagome, still crying, unharmed but for the scar that now adorned her hip.

He woke promptly at sunset. Like all vampires, Sesshoumaru was keenly tuned into the schedule of the sun and moon. It had been necessary when he had first been turned, a matter of survival. Now it was just another thing that marked him for what he was. A bloodsucking parasite. Hefting himself up out of bed, he walked to the window and opened it. He scowled as he scented the evening's breeze. He would have to inform his brother.

Inuyasha was chopping some carrots as Sesshoumaru entered the kitchen. Without even a 'hello,' Inuyasha picked up a bag containing a thick crimson liquid and threw it at Sesshoumaru. Catching it, Sesshoumaru deposited its contents into a nearby mug and popped it into the microwave. Turning towards his brother, Sesshoumaru spoke the two words that Inuyasha feared above all others.

"Naraku's back."

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Kagome made a mental note to herself to fix that damn pipe. Just as soon as she could steal a wrench. Staring up at the night sky, Kagome's thoughts turned towards the mysterious stranger who had called himself Sesshoumaru. He had seemed different than all the others who had visited her alleyway. He had seemed as if he hadn't belonged to this world. Kagome could respect that. She even admired it. She wondered if he would visit her alleyway again.

Shivering slightly, she pulled the threadbare covers closer to herself in a desperate attempt to save some warmth from the chilly night air. She was just about to fall asleep when she heard someone scuffle down the alley. Quickly hiding behind a trashcan, she watched the drunken man stagger past her, muttering to himself. Yes, Sesshoumaru was most definitely different than this man.

Breathing a sigh of release as she saw the drunkard walk around the corner, Kagome moved from her hiding place and prepared to fall asleep.

She probably shouldn't have done that.

Sesshoumaru had decided to return to her alleyway. Even though he had told himself that he shouldn't. He had more pressing matters to attend to, like figuring out why the hell Naraku wasn't dead. Dead dead, not living dead. She was just a human, after all. He held no emotional attachment towards her at all. None whatsoever.

Sesshoumaru tried to remember that as he gazed down at her broken body. It was covered in black and blue bruises, and for a moment he thought that she had been beaten to death. The only assurance he had that this was not the case was the steady rise and fall of her chest. A growl worked its way up his throat and out of his mouth. He watched as she slowly opened her eyes – how had she known he was there? – and rested her gaze upon him. Her lips formed a lopsided smile, and she raised her eyes to his.

"You came back to visit me? I had my suspicions that you would, but I wasn't really sure, seeing as how I don't really know you that well and all. Are you going to make a habit of coming here and seeing me? 'Cuz if you are, I kinda want to know in advance. So I can bathe and stuff." Sesshoumaru just stared at her. How could she prattle on and on about bathing and other such dribbles when she had quite obviously been engaged in what appeared to be a very nasty beating? Sesshoumaru looked her over once, then twice for good measure.

"You're hurt." It was hard to tell who was more surprised at what had come out of his mouth, Sesshoumaru or Kagome. Before he could ponder his reasons for showing concern over a filthy human, Kagome responded.

"Yeah, well, you should have seen the other guy. Don't worry; it's just some bruising. Nothing major. It'll go away with time." Sesshoumaru blinked at Kagome's words. Those bruises had to hurt, and here she was writing them off as a minor inconvenience. Words failed him as he continued to stare at her. Everything within him screamed at him to leave her alone, to just walk away. Logic and reason told him to kill her now; she was naught but a human. No one would miss her. Sesshoumaru began to gather Kagome's belongings.

"Hey! Get off of my stuff! I didn't give you permission to rifle through my things like some sort of stray dog!" Kagome grabbed her bookbag just as Sesshoumaru had grasped it. She gave it a tug, and glared at him defiantly when he didn't let go.

"Let go woman. I'm doing you a favor. You'll be staying with me from now on. Gather your things." As Sesshoumaru gazed into Kagome's eyes, he was surprised to see anger within their depths. "What's wrong now, woman?"

"First of all, I have a name. It's Kagome. Ka-go-me. Kagome. Secondly, I will not be ordered around by anyone, much less a pompous jackass like you who expects me to go and live with him and be his…his…" Sesshoumaru simply quirked an eyebrow towards her.

"His what?"

"His prostitute!" Sesshoumaru nearly choked at that. She thought that he…him and her…that he would make her…. Sesshoumaru felt sick at the very notion of it.

"Look, woman, I have no dishonorable intentions like those you speak of, nor do I need to explain said intentions to you. I will not ask twice." Kagome gave Sesshoumaru a measuring glance; then nodded her head. Gathering what few belongings she had, Kagome stuffed them into her bookbag.

"Ok, I think I'm ready." Kagome smiled shakily as she turned towards Sesshoumaru. But nothing could have prepared her for what he did next. Sesshoumaru grabbed her, and leaped into the air.

Kagome's screams of terror filled the night.

AN: Love it? Hate it? R&R!