Okay, here is the next chapter of my little fanfiction. I really appreciated the support I got from you guys in your reviews, since this is my first fanfic. And although I don't quite know how long this story will be, let me assure you that I will finish it. I'm not going to be one of those authors who writes 2 chapters of a story and then doesn't update for a year. So no worries, there will be at least one update a week, maybe sometimes two, or more, depending on the support I get. I will not write a story that no one likes, or reviews. So if it gets bad just tell me and I'll scrap it. Okay, now that that is over, a couple replies and then I will begin chapter 3 of my fic "The Creeper Comes to Tokyo." I know, lame name. If anyone has any suggestions for a new one, I'm all ears, noses, and other body parts. Just a bit of Creeper humor, heh heh.

Puppkid- Honestly, do you think I would actually kill her? I'm appalled!! (grins evilly) I can't believe you would actually accuse me of such a thing! (takes plushy of character in question and begins stabbing it maniacally) But seriously, if you want to know, you're just gonna have to… read the rest of my story. (gasp) heh heh ehhh…

Disclaimer: Yeah yeah, don't own Inuyasha or the Creeper, you get the idea.

"…" People talking

'…' People thinking

Chapter 3: Reality of the Dream

Kagome was sitting in a crowded movie theatre, mentally cursing her friends Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi. How they had talked her into this, she still had no idea. All she had wanted to do was relax from her shard hunting adventures, and maybe finish some of the piled up homework she had been neglecting.

She sighed to herself as she remembered the events of earlier that day, anything to take her mind off of what was on the screen before her.

 ~ Flashback ~

She had been sitting at her desk for two hours. Her homework long forgotten as she sat there, her chin resting delicately on her hand as she mused over the one person she could not seem to get out of her head lately.

"Stupid Inuyasha," she muttered to herself, "why does he always have to make me feel so worthless? Why can't he be just a little nicer to me? I mean after all we've been through together, the countless times we've fought side-by-side, the numerous times he has protected me, you would think that he would finally change a little."

' But after all, it wasn't me he was protecting, it was his precious shard detector.'

Kagome both hated and enjoyed being able to detect the shards of the shikon jewel. She enjoyed it because it gave her a reason to be with Inuyasha and the others. If she didn't have the power, Inuyasha would no longer need her, and probably tell her to go home.

Just the thought of leaving his side forever threatened to again reduce her to tears.

' Why?' she thought 'why do I have to care so much what he thinks of me?'  Why can't I just hate him? He gives me plenty of reasons to do that. So why do I hate to leave him, even when I know that he will never see me as anything more than his 'shard detector'.

"Why damnit!?" she screamed into her hands, her tears flowing freely now, ruining the problem she had been working on. Tears of agony and despair, but mostly tears of frustration.

That was why she hated being able to sense the shards. The frustration it caused. The frustration of not being able to know if when the few times he had acted kind to her it had only been because she either reminded him of her or if it had been because of the jewel. Did he even see her as Kagome? Or was she just 'Kikyo's reincarnation' to him? She knew thinking of such things would do her no good, and she really could never actually ask him. She realized though, that she really didn't want to ask him. Just thinking about such things was painful enough, but to actually have her thoughts confirmed would be too much to bear.

"Maybe I should just stay here." She whispered to herself "Maybe I should just never return, and just give up on the whole quest." She muttered dejectedly.

But she knew that she would never do that. She had promised to do her duty and return as the jewel detector in two days. And that is exactly what she would do. She would keep returning, day after day, until the quest was finished, and then she would give him the jewel, and leave him forever.

Kagome was broken away from her musings by the ringing of the telephone. Fearing that her grandpa would get there first, she raced out of her room and down the stairs, just grabbing it before he had the chance to answer.

"Hello?" She asked cheerily into the receiver

She was met with a squeal of delight, followed by the voice of her friend Yuka, saying

" Oh Kagome-chan! You're actually home! How was your trip to that health camp in Kyoto? Were there any hot guys there?

'Health camp in Kyoto? Grandpa actually thought of a reasonable excuse for my absence?' Yuka continued to talk about all of the hot guys Kagome supposedly met on her trip to Kyoto, before saying,

"But your mom said that you would be there for at least another week, what are you doing home so early?"

'Oh, so it was mom who had made up the excuse. Figures, since grandpa probably would have just come up with some other bizarre disease for me to have. To think he actually thought he was being creative by making me out as a hemophiliac.'

"Hi Yuka-chan! Uhh, why am I home so early? Well one of the campers had this really horrible contagious disease, and a lot of people were catching it and becoming even more ill. Actually, he wasn't even supposed to be there, so they had the whole camp quarantined, and everyone was sent home early."

"Oh, that's awful. You're lucky you didn't catch it too Kagome, what with your sensitivity to disease and all. So, what do you have planned for tonight?

"Nothing really. Why, what did you have in mind?"

"Well, Ayumi, Eri, and me wanted to catch a movie after we went to the mall, and we were wondering if you wanted to go too. We haven't seen you for like forever, and we wanted to just hang out like we used to do before you started getting sick all the time."

"Sure! I'd love to see a movie with you guys. So, what movie are we going to see?"

" We thought we would just decide when we got there."

"Oh, okay"

"So we'll pick you up at around 8:30 okay, bye Kagome-chan!"

"Bye Yuka-chan!" click.

'8:30  huh? Well that gives me three hours to finish this assignment and get ready.'

Gods knew Kagome needed a little more fun in her life, and spending time with her friends would take her mind off of all the homework she had to do… among other things as well.

She finished her assignment in one hour and decided that she should pick out her clothes that she would wear. Nothing fancy or anything, just something casual and comfortable. She decided on a pair of low-cut jeans and a simple violet T-shirt with flower patterns on the sleeves and around the neckline. She modeled the outfit in front of her mirror and laughed in delight at how cute she looked.

'Inuyasha would probably laugh at me and call me stupid for wearing such a thing.' She thought sadly. ' He would say something like "Wench, how do you expect to run in those weird tight clothes. Kaede-baba could run faster than you if you wore that stupid thing!" He thought she was ugly anyway, nothing compared to his beloved Kikyo.

She shook her head furiously. No. She would not allow thoughts of him to ruin her good mood. She would go out tonight, have fun, and not think about her life on the other side of the well one. little. bit.

At 8:45 she heard the doorbell ring, and ran down the stairs. She grabbed the door handle and opened the door only to be met by the smiling face of Hojo.

"H-Hojo! I wasn't expecting to see you here!" She exclaimed a little too cheerfully.

She saw her three other friends behind him, and looking pointedly at Yuka, said, "Yuka-chan didn't mention on the phone that you would be joining us at the movies."

Hojo, completely oblivious to the undertones in her voice, just replied cheerily, "Yeah, I met up with them at the mall, and your friend Eri suggested I should come along too." He handed her a package, blushing, and said, "Here, I brought you some medication for your rheumatism."

'Geez, does he have to blush like that every time he talks to me?' Kagome liked Hojo sure; he was a kind, sweet boy. The only problem was that she didn't like him the way he, or her friends wanted her to like him.

"Thank you Hojo-kun, that was very… err, thoughtful of you."

Hojo was about to reply when he was rather violently pushed aside as Kagome's friends grabbed her by the arm and dragged her into the house with just a hasty, "Be right back!" in his direction.

Hojo just blinked in confusion, before shrugging and leaning against the doorframe as Kagome and her friends huddled in the kitchen. Rather, Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi huddled while Kagome was smashed in between them.

"Come on Kagome-chan!" Eri whined in exasperation. "The guy of your dreams offers you a gift, and all you can say is that he was 'thoughtful'?"

"Yeah Kagome-chan," Yuka interrupted. "You finally have the chance to go out with Hojo again after all of the times you've been sick. If you want him to stay your boyfriend, you'll have to act a little nicer towards him."

Ayumi, always the voice of reason interjected with, "But Kagome already has a boyfriend, remember she told us about him that day at WacDonalds?"

"Ayumi!" Eri protested hotly. "Kagome needs to forget about that jealous, two-timing jerk and find herself a respectable man, like Hojo."

Kagome, blushing a deep crimson, just stayed silent as her friends argued over her head. She knew better than to open her mouth at a time like this. It just provoked them

~ End Flashback ~

So here she was, at the final minutes of the painfully long movie, with Hojo again attempting to put his arm around her by pretending to yawn. She rolled her eyes at the lame attempt and again shrugged her shoulders, stopping him dead.

But in her efforts to evade Hojo, her eyes fell on the screen before her, causing her to groan audibly.

The only movie being played at the time they arrived was a gaijin horror film called House on Haunted Hill. Normally Kagome wouldn't mind watching a little gore, but the movie kept reminding her of that dream she had the previous night. That dream had frightened her, truly frightened her. She could still feel the revulsion she had felt at the sight of that monster. She could clearly see his cruel smirk, gleaming eyes, and long pointed fangs in her mind's eye. And she could not shake that impossible feeling she kept having, the feeling that it had been real, that those people had actually been murdered before her eyes.

Kagome was pulled from her thoughts by a hand gently nudging her shoulder. The film had ended and her friends were leaving. She got up, shaking the memories from her mind and followed them out the exit into the night.

She shuddered as the cool autumn wind cut through her light clothing. 'Should have worn a jacket or something' she thought miserably. 'Inuyasha's fire rat haori would be great right about now' No sooner than the thought entered her mind, she felt warmth around her, and discovered Hojo's jacket wrapped around her shoulders.

"Thank you Hojo-kun," she replied contentedly, just glad for the warmth.

"Umm… Kagome? W-would it be alright if I walked you home?" he stammered. Then added hastily, "It is really dark out, and I would feel better if I knew someone was with you, you know, for safety."

Kagome glanced at her friends, who of course were shooing her away with their hands and grinning at her.

"Go on Kagome." Eri said coyly. "You go have fun, we'll talk to you tomorrow."

Kagome just blushed and nodded her head to them. She might as well accept the fact that they would never stop trying to pair her up with him. Staying silent was sooo much easier than arguing with them. And all Kagome wanted to do at that point was crawl into bed and go to sleep. She yawned as she waved goodbye to her friends, and turning to Hojo, set off in the direction of the shrine.

They had been walking in an uncomfortable silence for 5 minutes now, Kagome staring at the sidewalk in front of her, and Hojo doing the same, except occasionally giving her a quick furtive glance.

'Why do I feel so uncomfortable around Hojo?' she thought to herself. 'I mean he's handsome, popular, and one of the nicest guys at school. So why can't I just like him?'

"Because he's not Inuyasha" she whispered quietly to herself.

Kagome looked up and could see the lights of the shrine. 'Almost there she thought relieved. Truth be told Kagome had been nervous for more reasons than just Hojo. She just couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen. Maybe it was just that dream again.

They were only a block away now, and Kagome was beginning to think that she was just being silly, when all of a sudden she felt hands roughly grab her from behind. She was violently pulled back into an alley and felt herself being crushed against the solid form of a man. Her first instinct was to scream, but she felt a cold, sharp object pressed to her throat followed by a rasping voice saying,

"Don't scream, or I'll gut you and your boyfriend over there."

Kagome felt her head being violently jerked around, and she just caught sight of Hojo being held by a burly, towering man, in a ski mask. His lip was puffy, and there was a trickle of blood flowing down his face from his forehead.

Despite the warning, Kagome began to struggle in the man's arms. She knew what they were planning to do to her, and she would rather die than be violated in such a way. She refrained from screaming however, because she knew that the moment she did they would kill Hojo too.

The man holding her however just chuckled, and placing his lips an inch from her ear whispered, "Heh heh, struggle all you want sugar. I like it when they resist me, makes it more fun and exciting. Panic took over and she began to fight back with a primal need. She flailed her arms, bit, scratched, and finally was able to bring her elbow down into his groin. He released her, doubling over,  and she stumbled for the opening of the alley, only to be tackled from the front and forced to the ground.

"Damn Spider,"  laughed the man who had held her. "Careful or you'll damage the goods."

"Jesus Haza, what's wrong, couldn't handle one little girl?" He sniggered from on top of her.

"Hey, don't blame me, the bitch is strong for her size."

"Then let's work her together man."

"Fine by me Spider, you're the boss."

The casual way the two of them spoke about raping her sickened Kagome. She couldn't do anything to stop them, and they knew it. She couldn't let this happen to her, she just couldn't.

'Please someone save me' she silently pleaded, tears streaming down her delicate face. But no one came as she was lifted off of the ground and brutally slammed into the back wall of the alley.

The man known as Haza approached her, and backhanded her hard across the face, splitting open her cheek and sending her to her knees.

She heard muffled groans and impacts followed by more laughter. She looked up through her tear stained eyes and saw Hojo being held with his hands behind his back, his hair held in the man's fist as he was forced to look at what was happening to her.

"Don't even try to be a hero lover boy." The man sniggered. "You're gonna be a little boy and watch my pals play with your friend there. Who knows, you might enjoy watching her moan in pleasure."

Tears of frustration brimmed his eyes as he was forced to watch her suffer. He let out several choked sobs and whispered over and over again, "I'm sorry Kagome, I couldn't protect you." "I couldn't protect you."

Kagome was again violently hauled to her feet and slammed against the wall. The two men each pinned an arm above her head, and began to roam their hands up and down her sides. Slowly so as to prolong the revulsion. And then there hands were everywhere on her body. Groping forcefully as she let out sobs of despair.

'Please, she silently pleaded to the heavens, someone help me, please',

" Inuyasha" she begged  '

I need you'

He followed the scent of fear as he soared through the night. It was exquisite. Driving him with hunger and need, he searched out the source. As he came closer he noticed that there were in fact two sources of fear, but one vastly paled in comparison over the other.

One he would enjoy, just like any other kill, but the other, the other source was more like a need. It filled his every pore, and washed over him like a dense fog. He felt saturated in it, and he knew that he had to know what was driving him so mad with desire. Every time he awoke, he would have a desire like this at least once. These were the kills he lived for, the reason of his existence. He needed this person, and would claim them, no matter what.

His search brought him to a dark alleyway. It was filled with several people, but only one caught his attention. It was her. She was the source of his need. She was pinned to a wall by two men, struggling to get free. She was terrified, and so was the other person he saw, who was currently being held by one who was blocking his path to his goal. So like all obstacles he decided to remove it.

He crept up silently behind the man. Careful so as not to alert him. He loved the expressions on their faces when they never saw it coming. The look of surprise in their eyes before the realization of their fate set in. He was now directly behind the man, looming over him in the thick darkness. He reached into the folds of his coat and produced a long smooth shaft of steel. He pressed a small lever and twin axe blades sprung from the shaft locking into place. The man turned around in surprise at the noise, but did not even have the chance to scream. He brought the weapon down with deadly intent, and with one smooth motion took the man's head clean from his shoulders.

Kagome tried to scream when she saw the neck of Hojo's captor explode in a gush of crimson. But the strong hand over her mouth muffled it into a small gasp. The men were still touching her all over, trying to make the experience as humiliating, and long as possible. They were so absorbed in what they were doing that they did not even hear the sickening splat, as his severed head hit the ground. Hojo was immediately covered in a thick sheen of blood as the man collapsed against him. If he had been just a little taller, he too would have been killed by the blow. Overwhelmed by the situation, he just crumpled to the ground. Lying there in a heap as his savior stepped over his and the mangled body of the man he just killed. At first she thought it was Inuyasha come to save her, but as the figure stepped into the light of the moon, she visibly paled. Her skin became clammy as she stared into those cruel eyes, the men crushing her forgotten, as she went rigid as a pole and moaned audibly.

She was paralyzed with fear. It was like nothing she had ever felt before in her entire life. "No" she begged. "Oh God please no, not this, anything but this."

It was the monster from her nightmare. Every vivid detail registered in her mind; the tattered trench coat, the wide brimmed hat, the scaly green skin, but most of all, she remembered the eyes. Those cold cruel eyes that seemed to bore into her very soul. And right now those eyes were fixed on her, only her. His massive wings were folded against his back like last time, and he was giving her that same fanged grin he had displayed just before he had murdered those two in the park.

"Why me?" She pleaded. "Why did it have to be me?"

Her captors chuckled, unaware of the horror that was looming directly behind them. "because you happened along sugar. That's how it happens"

But his laughter was cut abruptly as the Creeper finally made his move.

He silently stalked behind them and with one swift motion extended his wings to their full extent, before wrapping them around the two unsuspecting fools. Their laughter turned to screams of horror as they fought to breathe within the leathery mass. The force pressed them even closer to her body, crushing her as their faces, contorted with fear, pressed futilely against her, fighting for air.

She screamed at the looks of pure terror on their faces, and fought to get them off of her. All she wanted was out. She was being suffocated and knew that at this rate she would pass out. But doing so would ensure her death. So she fought unconsciousness and watched as their bodies gave a few more feeble attempts of escape, before finally sagging against her, their dead visages imprinted on the thin material.

He withdrew his wings and they crumpled to the ground at his feet. He stood there watching her, the hideous slit in his nose retracting and contracting rapidly as he drank in her fear.

She was paralyzed by the look in his eyes. She couldn't have ran if she wanted to. He advanced upon her, gripping her wrists as he ran his nose up and down her body, smelling every last inch of her. Smelling a particular long time the area of her chest, leaning his head against it, listening to her heart beat. He smiled at her as he lifted one clawed hand, placing it delicately on her cheek. She flinched at his touch, and he just grinned wider. He then dragged one claw across her face, drawing the slightest trickle of blood, before he leaned down and licked it off, savoring the taste. She knew she was going to die, and only one thought filled her mind as she stared into those hunger filled eyes,

'Inuyasha'

Inuyasha leapt out of the well into the well shrine. It was night time and Kagome was probably asleep by now. He ran quickly across the shrine grounds, and leapt up to her window. But he found the room empty, Kagome nowhere to be found.

 He sniffed the air and alarm bells went off in his head as he smelled it.

It was Kagome's blood.

He could just make out her scent and he nearly gagged at the amount of fear he detected. Kagome was in mortal danger and he was not there to protect her. Gripping Tetsuaiga, he leapt onto the roof to get a better smell. She was close, very close. He leapt over buildings as he followed the scent of her blood.

He just prayed that he was not too late. He found himself in an alleyway. Bodies littered the ground and with his keen eyesight he could make out two figures against the back wall. One appeared to be a man, and he was pinning someone against the wall.

It was KAGOME!

The look of terror in her eyes made him want to retch. Nothing should make her so frightened, and he cursed himself for driving her off in the first place. He might have not been there to protect her when this started, but he was going to assure that no harm came to her in any way.

He snarled as he leapt through the air, but the moment he left the ground, the figure extended WINGS and took off into the sky with an unconscious Kagome in his arms. Inuyasha landed atop the building and immediately began pursuing after the winged demon. The wind whipped his hair as he fought to keep up with the figure. He leapt over streets, and buildings, bridges, and fields as he desperately tried to keep the figure in view.

After what seemed like hours, the figure finally landed at the door of a giant structure, and entered into the building.

Inuyasha stopped to catch his breath at the opening and noticed a small sign swinging by the door. Upon closer inspection he made out the words HOUSE OF PAIN written in blood. Inuyasha silently approached the doorway and crossed the thresh hold. Not knowing exactly what horrors he would find in this 'House of Pain'.

A/N- Dun Dun Dun. Yay! My first evil cliffy. Sorry to leave you off here, but I just love to cause suspense. Will Inuyasha make it in time? Or will poor Kagome become the Creeper's midnight snack! You'll just have to read to find out. I personally loved writing this chapter. I know it was a bit angsty in the beginning, but I've found that it really enhances the later romance. And yes, this will eventually be an Inu/Kag fic, complete with mild fluffiness. But nothing too over the top since this is a horror story. Well, it's 2 A.M. now and I'm really tired, so I'm going to bed. I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE send me some feedback. Your reviews just make me want to write more. And if anyone has a good idea for another title, I'm all for it.

Ja until next time!