A/N: For the 'Angle' theme on Dokuga's LJ comm - 400 words, no more no less. Originally posted on December 6, 2010. This won second place!

Having a 'glass jaw' means that a fighter can be easily knocked out. It's an enormous weakness in the ring when an opponent knows exactly how to strike.

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Glass Jaw

Acting undercover was dangerous work - she had never thought different. Acting undercover around demons was almost laughable. Only the complete stagnation of the case had convinced the captain to agree to put Kagome in this position with the promise that if anything - anything - went amiss, the operation would end immediately.

And that was only one of the reasons the photos emblazoned with her real name were such a problem. She should have turned them in. Despite the tongue-lashing she would receive for going on a date and kissing Sesshoumaru, her safety remained the true priority. Someone out there knew who she was, and it jeopardized everything. Her job, her life, the case and Sesshoumaru too.

She would turn them in. She would. But first, she had to see him again. She couldn't leave him in this place without warning him. Maybe he could escape this mousetrap before it closed on him.

Still, it had taken some time to gather the courage to walk into that warehouse again. She hovered at the betting table for a long time, casting surreptitious glances at anyone that came near.

"If you're going to bet on your precious pup, I'd hurry," muttered Kagura. "He's next."

Kagome turned to the cage and saw Sesshoumaru on the platform having his powers sealed with a tag. "Right," she said, throwing down half of her cash for the night. "On Taisho."

The wind witch rolled her eyes. "I'd be looking for a new favorite soon," she said.

She scowled, ready to ask Kagura what she had meant by that remark, but the whistle signaling the start of the fight drew her attention. Sesshoumaru's opponent was a stranger to her - a lithe panther demon - and she moved forward to get a closer look.

The panther came out with the first strike - an angled jab that Sesshoumaru cleanly blocked. The crowd cheered at the dog demon's counterattack, but Kagome felt fear grip her heart. Something wasn't right. Sesshoumaru wasn't moving in that cool, calm style that defined him - he didn't anticipate attacks, but only reacted. A hook actually forced him to cover his head.

She pushed through the mob as fast as she could. This opponent was nothing. What had gone wrong?

An uppercut connected, and now, everyone saw it - Kagome froze in place as Sesshoumaru fell to the mat, his eyes rolling back.

He didn't get up again.

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