i know it's been a while since i updated, but i've been so incredibly busy lately. i managed to squeeze in time for this chapter though. so enjoy and review, please!


Chapter 6


He held her long and hard. After he had admitted to himself and to Kagome what his heart had known for a long, long time, he did not let go of her.

But as the sky turned from azure blue to a fading pink, They realized that they could not stay under that tree for the rest of their lives.

Kagome, for one, had to go back home and pack up and tell her mother that she would be in the feudal era. The sudden realization that she hadn't told her mother where she would be instilled in her, for a moment, panic. She shook the sleeping hanyou awake.

"Inuyasha? Inuyasha?"

He grumbled and turned over.

Kagome tugged on his haori. "Inuyasha!" she said again, more insistently.

"What?" he answered, scowling. He wanted to sleep some more.

"I need to go home."

He sat up. Was this going to be over so soon? Did she hate him now?

"Why?" he demanded.

"I need to tell Mom where I'm going to be," Kagome replied, pausing a little to laugh. "I wonder what kind of excuse Grandpa will be thinking up of now…"

Inuyasha was relieved, but he didn't tell Kagome what was he was just thinking about now. I'd probably make her angry if I did tell her, anyway.

They got up and Inuyasha stooped a bit so that Kagome could get on.

As the hanyou ran through the forest, Kagome felt a slight chill.

"Inuyasha?" she whispered.

"What?"

"Do you feel something?"

"You mean the chill in the air? Yeah."

"Do you think a demon is nearby?" Kagome asked, worriedly.

Inuyasha sniffed the air. There was a demon lurking about, alright. But this demon was stronger. Not just any other demon, this demon's scent was pungent and familiar.

"It's a demon, alright." Inuyasha kept this little detail to himself. He didn't want to worry Kagome.

Kagome clasped her arms around his shoulders tighter and tucked her head between his shoulder blades. He could tell that she was worried already. So why make things worse?

He hoisted her higher up his back and kept on running, trying to get out of the forest faster. Kagome's head was still resting on him and he could feel her hair tickle the back of his neck. Even though he knew that danger was near, the sensation radiated. He felt a tingle and smiled a little. He liked the way that made him feel.

But there were other matters at hand. He had to get Kagome home safely.

"Did you want me to come?" Inuyasha asked very quietly.

"Huh? What did you just say?"

"I said, did you want me to come!" He yelled. He still wasn't very good at expressing himself.

"It's okay, Inuyasha. I'll be fine. I'll back in maybe half an hour. It won't take that long."

He crossed his arms. "Okay."

Kagome hoisted herself in the side of the well. Taking a deep breath she hurled herself down the well.


She yawned, staring at herself in the bathroom mirror. She looked like a total mess. Her hair was dishevelled, she hadn't been able to wash her face or take a bath.

Ew! What the heck am I wearing? She looked down at her grubby pajamas. She tore it off and threw it into the laundry hamper.


She exited the well in the feudal era with her backpack over her shoulder. It was getting dark.

Where is Inuyasha? She spun around, looking, her eyes stopping at various obvious places.

"Inuyasha!" she called, her voice echoing in the cool evening air. "Inuyasha!"

She heard a laugh instead. It was deep, haunting, and familiar. Her heart began to pulse loudly in her ears.

"So you lost your precious Inuyasha, didn't you?" came a sneering voice behind her.

"Who's there?" she demanded, turning around, dropping her backpack.

The laugh emanated from the baboon cloaked figure.

Naraku.


Inuaysha ran as fast as his legs could take him. He could sense Naraku. And he could sense Kagome's presence. He need to hurry up. Kagome was in danger. Naraku could be doing anything to her. His rage was building as he kept on thinking about how Naraku could be harming Kagome.

He heard his name. It was Kagome's voice. He ran harder still.

Kagome froze. All she could hear was her heart beating. Then she could hear the crickets chirp. Then the crow's call. Then the leaves rustle. Then the grass ripple. Everything got louder and louder and she was almost bowled over. She clapped her hands over her ears, trying to block out the sound. But it was tooloud--too overpowering.

With all the strength in her body, she cried out, "Inuyasha!"

And as her world began to fade, she heard her name being called by her beloved hanyou.

But it was too late. Naraku had captured her.