"See? That wasn't so bad."

Sesshoumaru depresses the ignition switch in his car, shaking his hair free of the low tail that has bound it all evening. "It was tolerable."

"Tolerable?" Pushing his hands aside, she slips the button of his collar free for him as he backs out. "Others saw you smile."

"Is that so?"

She laughs. "You're not fooling"—she stops suddenly, eyes widening—"watch out!"

Headlights flash through his windshield. Sesshoumaru slams on the brakes, throwing his arm out to brace her as the cold fingers of dread grip his chest.

Metal crunches.

Glass shatters.

Kagome screams.