Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha . . .

ROCK ON!!!!

Kagome and Sango treaded up the stairs in silence, lost in their thoughts. The older woman glanced at her friend. She could've been killed today . . . no wonder she's so shaken up . . . damn these steps, there's so many . . .

The young heiress walked up the stairs automatically, her face passive. Someone's after me, I know that much . . . but who . . . and why . . . it doesn't make sense . . .

The two finally made it to the top, Sango panting and glaring at her friend, who was breathing normally. Kagome glanced at the older woman. "Tired?" she teased quietly, a small smile creeping on her face. Sango's face brightened at the smile, the first one ever since the incident. "You wish," she retorted, nudging her with her elbow.

The women made their way to the house at the edge of the shrine, just east of the long staircase. Kagome opened the door. "Tadiama," she called out hollowly. No answer. She walked into the kitchen, where a note laid on the table.

Kagome,
I was called off to a last minute conference in Nagasaki; I'll be back sometime next week. Your brother had a field trip to Kobe, and he'll be back next week as well. Sorry for the last minute notice, sweetie, but I know you're old enough to take care of yourself. I'll be calling daily to check up on you, and if you need anything, well, you know Jii-san's number.

Love,

Mom

The young miko handed the letter to her friend, and made her way to the sink to fix themselves some tea. Great, Mom left me alone . . . tuh, Kagome, you're not scared, are you? C'mon now . . . you'll be facing these kinds of things every day when you take over for Jii-san. "Want some tea, Sango?"

"Huh? Oh sure . . ." The demon slayer reread the letter and frowned. She's all alone until next week . . . what if something else happens . . . "Kagome, are you sure you'll be okay until your mom comes home?"

The sudden clatter of mugs caused the older woman to turn to her friend. "Kagome?"

The heiress was at the sink, her hands shaking. She had let go of the cups she was holding at her friend's question. "I'm fine, don't worry," she answered shakily. Sango walked over to her, and hugged her. "Kagome, you don't need to through this alone. I'm here. If you need me to stay for a week, I will."

"I don't want to put you through any trouble," Kagome mumbled into her friend's shirt.

Sango grinned. "Trouble? Please, when it comes to you, I'll gladly break my back to keep you happy."

Kagome hugged her friend tighter. "Arigatou, Sango-chan . . . I'd appreciate it if you'd stay."

"Kagome, you know I love you like a little sister," she said, ruffling her hair. "Well, I need to go home and get some clothes, but I'll do that later," she added, seeing her friend's face pale.

The heiress pulled away, pouring water in a kettle. "So, Sango, how'd you meet Miroku?" She asked casually, trying to change the subject.

Sango took the hint and engaged in the conversation. "Oh, it's kinda funny . . . I was speeding down the highway and he happened to pull me aside . . ." She chuckled at her friend's surprised expression. "Don't worry, I didn't get a ticket; after he saw it was the famous 'Sango Taijiya' he pulled over, he let me go after professing how beautiful I was, and groping my butt." She grimaced at the thought, and glanced over at her friend, who was doubling over laughing.

"Hey! It wasn't funny! He violated my personal space!" She protested.

"Uh huh, looking at the blush on your face, you were real pissed," she laughed.

Sango blushed even redder, and sipped her tea. "Oh sure, like you weren't checking Inuyasha out earlier."

That silenced the younger woman. Her best friend looked up from her tea, the silence scaring her. "Kagome?"

"I was not checking out Inuyasha," Kagome said quietly. The older woman cringed at the tone of her voice. Stupid me, how could I forget about that stupid boy incident . . . "Ah, gomen, Kagome."

She stood up, and walked to the sink, setting her cup down. She turned around, a fake smile on her face. "Well, I'm going to go change really quick. Will you wait down here, Sango?"

Sango nodded, and watched as her friend walked out of the room.

Flashback

"Kagome! What happened?"

Sango watched in horror as her friend staggered toward her, her face bruised, cradling her left arm. "Kagome!"

She rushed out of her car and caught Kagome as she fell forward. "Who did this to you?" she demanded. There was no reply. Kagome had passed out from the pain.

End Flashback

The demon slayer's thoughts were broken by a scream that pierced the air. Kagome!

She ran up the stairs, two at a time, and bolted to Kagome's bedroom. The scene before her was horrendous.

Kagome's bedroom had been vandalized, her furniture scattered everywhere, her mattress ripped. The walls were painted with blood-red paint, with the words "You won't get away" written. Kagome was in the middle of the room, her eyes wide, her body shaking.

"Sango-chan . . " The older woman rushed to her side, only to have Kagome fall limply in her arms.

She had fainted.

"So, Inuyasha, what do you think of Kagome?" Miroku asked slyly, blowing the fizz off his beer.

"Well, she's a stuck up woman, that's what I think," Inuyasha retorted, taking a swig from his own alcoholic beverage.

"Hmm, before you said she was a stuck up girl, now she's a woman . . ." The dark-haired man tapped his chin. "Maybe you're warming up to her."

"In your dreams, bouzou," Inuyasha snapped, turning his head away. To tell the truth, the hanyou had been quite taken by the heiress. Her black hair shone brilliantly in her sun, and even though she was distressed, his first impression of her was that of pure beauty.

::crackle:: Miroku, come in Miroku ::crackle::

Inuyasha turned around staring at the radio attached to his partner's belt. "I thought we were off duty."

"So did I," Miroku mumbled, picking up it up. "Miroku here, what's the situation?"

::crackle:: Vandalism at a shrine on the corner of Cherry and Maple; all other officers are tied up at the moment, please report to the scene immediately, over ::crackle::

Inuyasha's eyes widened. "Cherry and Maple? Isn't that where we dropped off Kagome and Sango?"

Miroku nodded. "Let's go." The two bolted out of the bar and into the car.

"You do know we've been drinking," Inuyasha remarked, fastening his seatbelt.

"It's an emergency; the others will understand," Miroku replied, taking out a light and fastening on his roof. "Hold on tight," he said, as he stepped on the accelerator.

Kagome . . .

AU: oh no, what's gonna happen next! if there's any mistakes or repeats, I apologize; its close to midnight and I forced myself to finish this. thanks for the reviews, and stay tuned!