Um…ya…I'm finally updating…finally ;; I'm sick today and can't go to school so I have time to come write another chap. :woot: I'll try and update more often…it's just that I have so much freaking homework to deal with. It'll be the death of me. But anyway, enough of my rambling, on with chapter 6!

Disclaimer: I don't own it. I've told you about a million times. Now leave me alone before I set my attack moose on you.

LAST TIME:

"Mom is SO gonna kill me…"

Stepping over the fallen barstool to get to the counter, she noticed Inu-yasha's journal on the floor. Hm…he must have dropped it…guess I should return it… Putting the journal in her pocket, she exited her house and, seeing Inu-yasha turning the corner at the end of the sidewalk, ran after him.

CHAPTER SIX: HERO…?

Kagome called out Inu-yasha's name to the dark figure running ahead of her but either he couldn't hear her or he didn't want to. Determined, she sped up and saw the tall silhouette disappear around a corner. Braking, Kagome turned and walked down the alley she had just seen Inu-yasha enter. Breathing heavily she called out in a tentative voice. "Inu-yasha…? I-I have your journal…you left it at my house…hello?" There was no answer so she kept walking.

Shivering, but not from cold, Kagome gazed around the inky blackness. She could barely see two inches in front of her face. Blindly she groped around and soon felt brick beneath her extended palm. She cursed. It was a dead end. But then…where had Inu-yasha gone? Turning, her mind whirring in confusion, she glimpsed a movement in the shadows to her left. Again, more softly this time, she called out in a scared voice, "Inu-yasha is that you?"

There was silence for a few seconds then suddenly, a hand shot out of the darkness, gripping her wrist tightly and Kagome screamed in terror. Red, slitted eyes peered out at her and a low hissing was heard. Fangs gleamed in the scarce moonlight and she could see long claws, glistening, around her wrist. She screamed again and pulled back. Suddenly the thing let go and she stumbled backwards into the opposite wall. Another, larger silhouette had appeared at the opening of the alley and it was soon joined by a few others. A gruff, taunting voice rang out from their direction. "Look boys, it seems another unsuspecting girl has wandered in here. All by her lonesome too. Isn't that a shame?" Kagome could hear low chuckles from the other men and was almost certain she could see their gleaming grins.

Kagome backed up into the end wall, trembling. "S-stay away!" she ordered in what she hoped was a brave voice. The men just laughed and advanced upon her. "I-I s-s-said stay away!" she repeated trying to embolden herself. Her advancing predators took no heed of her words, they kept laughing and grinning. Desperately, Kagome searched for a way out, but could find none. The supposed leader of the group finally reached her and sneered unpleasantly.

"What's wrong? We're not going to HURT you, are we?" He glanced around at the others with a mock serious expression as though trying to reassure her. Another collective snigger was passed around. The leader grinned more widely and reached out for Kagome. She opened her mouth to scream but before any sound was released, a bright silver flash whizzed in front of her eyes. She stood; staring in horror, as the beast attacked the men mercilessly, snarling in outrage. Kagome's mouth was frozen open in shock and without really registering it, she leaned against the wall, sliding down until she was sitting upon the grimy concrete, shaking and still staring with wide eyes.

After of few seconds the men turned and ran, calling out frantically for their attacker to stop. They stumbled out of the alley and down the nearest road screaming like madmen and clutching their wounds with white knuckled hands. Stopping at the opening of the alley, the beast turned, it's slitted, red eyes upon Kagome once more. She regained her composure quickly and, a bit shakily, rose to her feet using the wall behind her for support. In a voice barely above a whisper she asked, "Wh-what are you?" With what seemed like a pained expression the beast stood in silence a few seconds more before tottering and keeling over onto its face.

Taking small, nervous steps Kagome approached the beast and kneeled down beside it. She extended a quivering hand, her heart hammering against her chest, and nudged the dark form gently. It did not stir so, carefully, she turned the creature over so it was on its back.

A gasp of horror resounded through the night as Kagome stumbled backwards clumsily. The bleak glow of nearby street lamps illuminated the scene and the dank air weighed heavily upon her shoulders. Icy fingers creeped up her spine causing the hair on the back of her neck to stand on end. There in the gloom, beat up and caked with mud lay Inu-yasha. His eyes were shut tight and the look of agony that had crossed his face before he lost consciousness was still plastered onto his pale features. Kagome didn't fully comprehend the sight for another few seconds. While the discovery slowly sank in, her face grew a sickly shade of green and she breathed in deeply, doing her best not to vomit. Continuing to take large gulps of air she steadied herself and cleared her head. I…I have to get him home she realized, I have to make sure…he's okay… With a feeling of grim purpose egging her on, Kagome grasped Inu-yasha's limp arm and hauled him up to a standing position, leaning him into her shoulder. Slowly and with much effort she supported him out of the alley and glanced around warily.

Kagome shut her eyes and let a groan escape her lips as she suddenly realised that she had no idea where she was. Being new to the area, she had never really explored much and had certainly never been down these roads. Nor will I ever be again she reassured herself, her lips stretched into a grim line.

Trying not to panic she squinted at the street signs but she didn't recognize any of the names. It had to be at lease 10:30 by now and as such was too late for her to find someone to ask for directions. Everyone was asleep by now considering the next day was a week day. Kagome swore under her breath bitterly, somehow it calmed her a bit. Her arms were aching and tired and Inu-yasha teetered off balance as her grip weakened. He fell heavily into the side of a nearby building dragging Kagome after him. She banged her hip against the wall and bit back a cry of pain. The corner of something in her pocket had jabbed her painfully between the ribs and she was currently rubbing the quickly bruising skin and cursing the object. She stopped suddenly. Through all the commotion, she had forgotten what it was that she had stuffed into her pocket. Excitedly, she dug the journal out and leafed through the pages, searching hopefully for something that could help her. None of the entries seemed to hold any directional information and she sighed in dismay. As she closed the book in disappointment a small slip of paper fell out onto the sidewalk. She stooped down and picked it up curiously. Opening it she read:

I've found where you're hiding you filthy mutt. Come back to your so-called lair immediately and I might not make your life a living hell. I'll be inside the shack. Bring what I asked for. If you attempt to hide it, there will be dire consequences.

Kagome read the message again, pondering over its meaning. His lair? Does that mean his house? Where is he staying? He had never before talked of his family or his home. He did say that his house was under renovation but…was he lying? She sighed, if only she knew a place she could take him…then the idea hit her. Sango had talked about this area before; she said it was close to her house. Kagome struggled to remember the conversation. What was the name of her street? Bird something-or-other. It intersected with Shade Tree Street she recalled dimly.

Carefully, Kagome propped Inu-yasha into a sitting position against the wall and quickly jogged to the end of the street, glancing around at the other roads it connected to. Near the far end she could just barely make out the words Shade Tree and a small smile lit her face. She sprinted back towards Inu-yasha, heaved him upright again, and began her long and arduous trek.

After minutes that had dragged on like hours, Kagome finally rounded the corner onto Sango's street. Looking at the street sign she now confirmed that it was Bird's Song Lane. The irony of such a dreary neighbourhood harbouring a street with the name "Bird's Song" seemed oddly revolting in Kagome's mind and she averted her gaze from the sign to glance down the dark street. The wind whispered through the trees swaying above Kagome's head as she made her way from house to house, trying to find some distinguishing feature that she recognized. Glancing across to the opposite side of the street, she caught sight of Sango's bright, purple car and her spirit soared in elation.

Seemingly empowered by this sight, Kagome sped up across the street and up the walkway to the front door. She rang the doorbell, not caring how late it was at this point, and waited impatiently for someone to answer. Heavy footsteps soon resounded through the house and Kagome saw a light suddenly appear in the window. Her heart leapt as a figure opened the door, peering out groggily at the two people on their doorstep. She sighed in relief, it was Sango. In a desperate voice Kagome pleaded, "Sango, let me in, please, something…" she swallowed, "something's wrong with Inu-yasha."

Sango's gaze was suddenly sharp and alert and she quickly stepped out onto the porch to help Kagome carry Inu-yasha into the house and over to a brown, leather couch. Sinking down into the cushions beside him, Kagome looked up at Sango, her eyes weary.

"What happened?" Sango asked, kneeling in front of the couch and staring at her with a strangely calm expression.

Kagome hesitated, not sure what to tell her. Finally she murmured something about following him to return his notebook and finding him passed out on the ground. As she finished she glanced up at Sango, hoping against hope that she hadn't seen through her lies. Sango watched her expressionlessly but Kagome could feel her eyes boring into her head. First a calculating look gleamed in her eyes but it soon transformed into what seemed like a stern, disdainful glare. Kagome fidgeted uncomfortably but her friend remained silent.

A sudden movement caught both of their attentions and the turned their heads quickly to look at the stirring teenage boy resting lopsidedly on the couch. His hand quavered slightly as he raised it to his forehead, groaning in pain. After a few more seconds of staying quite motionless his golden eyes snapped open and he sat up so sharply that he almost lost his balance and fell onto the carpeted floor. Uncomprehendingly, his eyes darted around, taking in his surroundings, before resting upon the two girls in front of him, both looking anxious.

As he sluggishly returned to consciousness, the girls' presence began to make sense to him and he stood up unsteadily. Kagome rose as well. "Inu-yasha…you shouldn't…" But he glared at her with wild eyes and backed away.

In a low voice he growled "Get…away…from…me…" He backed up further until a soft thud marked his connection with the wall. He looked for all the world like a cornered animal. Kagome opened her mouth to say something again but found that she really didn't know what she should say and, glancing at Sango, instantly shut her mouth.

Sango was advancing slowly upon Inu-yasha her eyes concentrated, her movements deliberate. She began to speak to him in a low, soothing voice but Kagome could not quite make out the words. Calming slowly, Inu-yasha took a step away from the wall and closed his eyes taking one great shuddering breath before opening them again, his golden orbs now focusing on Kagome.

She stared at him, her head swimming, her mouth dry. Never had she seen that hateful yet petrified expression she had received as Inu-yasha retreated from her, growling, on ANYONE'S face, let alone his. As she looked at him now, she could tell that he was back to normal again and she sat, trembling, her eyes glued onto his, as he tentatively spoke.

"Kagome…I'm sorry…I…I can explain…"

The last thing that registered in Kagome's mind before she passed out was Inu-yasha's expression of sincere regret and dread.

AUTHOR'S NOTES

Well how was it? I'm not thinking straight right now so if it's like, terrible it's because I'm sick and don't know what I'm doing. XD Anyway, please review and I will try to get up the next chapter soon. Thanks to all who reviewed my fanfic so far, it's made me extremely happy, I love to hear from you guys. And yes I know she didn't read the journal just keep your pants on.

-MoosyDude