Hey, guys, I'm back. And yes I have updated. I have gotten a lot of reviews asking for this story, as well as a few othersto be updated. Now I'm not going tomake any excuses seeing as how I really don't have any good ones except for a long, drawn out battle with Writer's Block. So anyway I've been trying to write and get caught up. Currently, if you haven't noticed I updated Knight of Kagome's Heart as well, so I'm possibly getting my mind back. Anyway I won't bore you anymore and sorry if this chapter is boring and short, but at least I updated.

Disclaimer: No, I don't own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho.

Let Me Protect You

Chapter 3

When Kagome's eyes finally fluttered open the next morning she came to the stark realization that she had no idea where she was or what had happened to her.

What had happened?

Where was she?

Where was Inuyasha?

Oh, wait….

Almost immediately, unwelcome scenes assaulted her eyes, dark scenes, scenarios she wished would just go away, ones she was never supposed to see in the first place. They were scenes of a woman held pinned against a tree. At first glance you might think she was being attacked. But all bets were off just as quick as the clothes.

Kagome's mind replayed the images as the woman began moaning, hands began to wander, and clothes began to disappear. She watched again and again as the woman was slowly laid upon the forest floor. But the last scene, the one that hurt the most and probably would for some time, was of a silver-haired hanyou slowly climbing on top of the woman and her crying out his name in heated bliss. And then….she couldn't see anymore; for the forest hindered her view.

But she didn't have to look to know what was right before her eyes.

Kagome cringed feeling the effects of a migraine coming on, and the first few vestiges of a cold. Kagome flinched and her aura flared out around her as she desperately tried to suppress her emotions. Still half asleep, yet in the midst of a hellish nightmare, she tried to hide away in the soft pillow of wherever she was at, no longer caring that she had no clue where she was or how she had gotten there. She knew she wasn't in her own home, as she'd been in the Feudal Era for the past year, ever since she'd been forced to seal the well from Naraku. And now; now she just wanted to go back to sleep and disappear, to literally fall off the edge of the earth. No one would miss her, well almost no one. Shippo would need her and that knowledge struck fear in her heart. How could she even think about leaving him behind when she was the only family he had left? No, she couldn't do that to him.

But she oh so desperately wanted to be rid of these feelings and yet, she wanted them to stay; as a reminder of how foolish she had been; how incredibly naïve she was. She'd always known that Inuyasha wasn't the one for her and this scenario certainly proved it. But for him to go behind her back, especially with her, her best friend and almost sister like companion. Why couldn't they have come to her first and explained everything instead of having to hide their feelings? Sure, she would have been slightly hurt at the revelation, but at least she would have known and wouldn't have had to witness what she wasn't supposed to.

Kami, Kagome, you're such a fool.

Her eyes stayed glued shut and the pounding was building, causing Kagome to whimper while trying to suppress the pain and make it go away. The ringing in her ears was rising but she could have sworn she heard someone talking to her quietly. "Ssh." There it was again. She started thrashing worried that about some kind of attack.

"Miss, please calm down. I don't want to hurt you. I'm only trying to help you," a voice spoke from beside her head and she opened her eyes, squinting in pain, trying to spot her visitor. She caught his hand coming towards her and flinched expecting some kind of attack. She could feel him flinch slightly when her miko powers burned him. She was surprised however, when the man simply re-placed his hand on top of her forehead and began rubbing her temples in a circular motion. She instantly dropped her barriers at the calming gesture.

Whatever he was doing was working. She was willing to forgive him for bringing her to an unknown place of residence as long as he kept that up.

"It's okay miss. You can trust me. You are safe with me," he spoke gently and Kagome was strangely comforted by his words and relaxed under his gentle persuasive hands. She didn't even know who he was, yet his presence was soothing and not all together unpleasant. Kagome licked her dry, chapped lips, trying to urge her mouth to say something, anything.

"Who…who are you?" she finally asked shakily, attempting to sit up a bit and open her eyes a bit. "And where am I?"

"I don't know if you remember correctly but I came upon you last night and you…fell asleep," the man replied in a whisper, keeping his voice down. Kagome couldn't see it but Kurama's cheeks blushed a light red color.

Kagome began blushing as well. She wanted to moan in embarrassment. Oh…now she remembered why she wasn't afraid of him and why he seemed so familiar. He was the man who'd approached her last night in the darkened park. She'd known he was coming closer to her, but at the time hadn't felt like caring.

Suddenly his aura flared and Kagome could feel it all around her. There were so many emotions interlaced together that she had trouble distinguishing them all. But the most overwhelming one was a dark sadness which seemed to envelop his whole being.

She found herself analyzing this particular feeling wondering how anyone that could help her and comfort her in the way that he did last night, could be so burdened and forlorn. That's when she began feeling that annoying tingle in the back of her spine; the one that warned of an eminent threat. Demon; this man was a demon, not that it was too surprising. Over the last few years, her growing powers had been able to pick up on the occasional demon energy. It seems she'd been wrong in thinking all the demons had been wiped out. They were obviously just in hiding or something.

"You're a, you're a demon," Kagome stated louder, sitting up immediately regretting it when he released her temples and her headache returned and more importantly, his aura jumped in obvious surprised. She opened her eyes, disregarding the blurriness and turned to meet emerald green eyes filled with some kind of emotion she had trouble identifying.

If there was one word she could use to sum up his appearance; it was sin. Yes, this demon was pure sin, a temptation even she had trouble disregarding. He had long, very long red hair which tumbled over his back and shoulders. She could see it spilling across his face, falling into his eyes and onto the bed. Her fingers itched to burry themselves in the long mane and see if it was as soft as it looked. Oh, if only he had ears. She could tell he was a kitsune, although she didn't know what kind. She'd never seen one that looked like him before.

And if that wasn't enough, he had deep emerald eyes which were by now trained on her face, apparently waiting for something. Nothing was showing on his features, a mask which rivaled Sesshomaru's, yet it was his eyes that held her in place. They were so filled with pain and heartache that it almost hurt to hold his gaze. Almost as if he heard her thoughts, the emotions cleared and now he was only looking at her with something akin to curiosity and worry; although Kagome could still feel the suppressed pain just below the surface.

The man looked down suddenly, backing away before answering, "Yes I am a demon, but I won't hurt you." He spoke sadly as if he were in another world and Kagome saw the ache flash through his eyes. Obviously something horrible had happened to him for his aura was literally rolling in endless black and red waves of pain, anger, and frustration. And in that moment Kagome wanted nothing more than to comfort him.

"It's okay," she suddenly whispered, reaching out and placing a hand on his forearm, drawing forth a stunned gasp and a more intense look. "You're safe with me," She found herself repeating the words he'd spoken earlier.

The man stared at her for a few minutes before a small smile fell across his lips. "I believe that was my line," he said and she giggled slightly. "So, do you mind if I ask for your name, miko?"

She was pleased that he had asked and wondered how he knew she was a miko. The answer, of course smacked her in the face. He was a demon so naturally he would be able to tell.

"My name is Higurashi, Kagome," she found herself replying. "And what is your name, demon? And for that matter, where am I?"

The demon smiled gently, pleased that she didn't seem frightened of him in anyway like most people would have been; like his mother. "My name is Minamino, Shuichi, but you can call me Kurama. And to answer your second question; you are in my apartment. When I found you last night you fell asleep. I had no idea where you lived so I decided to bring you back here."

"Kurama…is that your demon name?" she asked, wondering why the name sounded familiar.

He nodded and the his eyes flashed again.

"Well then it is very nice to meet you…Kurama," Kagome responded, blushing slightly. "And I'm sorry for falling asleep on you…it's just that I…"

Kurama laid a gentle hand on her own arm. "It's okay. Whatever happened is your business. You are certainly under no obligations to spill."

"Thank you," she whispered smiling the first true smile in the last few days. The two sat staring at each other, immersed in their own curiosity of the other.

Suddenly, from down the hall Kurama could hear Yusuke start the shower, causing both occupants of the room to jump at the noise. A few minutes later and the boy was singing very happily; and very loudly. Even Kagome heard it and began giggling when Kurama blushed at his friend's attempt to sing some classic Aerosmith song.

"Sorry about my friend," he apologized. Boy is Yusuke going to be mad when I tell him about this. "You see we share this apartment and he must have forgotten that we have a guest with us," Kurama said, blushing when she only continued laughing.

"Hey, it's your apartment," Kagome teased. "But just one question, hm?" Her face was pulled into a more serious look, although Kurama could still see the laughter in her beautiful blue orbs.

Kurama raised an eyebrow in silent askance.

"Where did he learn to sing like that?" She asked, before giggling and falling back onto Kurama's bed. Kurama, who hadn't quite expected that question, was stunned for a few seconds before a smile fell across his face and he began laughing just as loudly.

Kurama continued laughing, although his chuckles died down a bit as he continued to watch the beautiful girl. And she was most definitely a gorgeous creature. She had long, glorious black hair, even longer than his own locks. Her hair was currently in disarray having just woken up, but the look gave her an almost endearing quality. Her laughing blue eyes were a dark blue color, a color which gave her an almost exotic look. She certainly was a sight. So why did Kurama get the feeling something was about to change?

Kurama let his eyes travel over her features again and rejoined the laughter, for once letting go without fear of rejection or humiliation.

Oh yes things were definitely on the rise. Now the only question was, what was he going to do about it?

Well, there it is. Let me know what you think. Ciao

Ja ne.

Kura-kun's-lovr