Kagome's mother brought her purse and newly purchased shoes into the house. The priestess eyed the items warily, but took them from her mother and checked her shoes and wallet. Everything was safe and accounted for. 'Why would he return these? Isn't he working with that other demon?' She thanked her mother only half listening as she explained that someone had left them just outside the Torii gate.

"I don't know why they wouldn't just bring them to the house... anyone could have taken them." Her mother mumbled as she putted around the kitchen. Kagome knew exactly why, but she kept her observations to herself. There was no need to worry her mother even more. Shuichi really was a demon if he couldn't pass her barrier. Normally that would not automatically make him an enemy, but she was still too unsure of his motives.

He hadn't tried to hurt her...but he hadn't exactly attempted to help her either. Both actions, or lack thereof, were telling in their own way. 'Whatever. At least I got these babies back, and now I don't have to go through the hassle of getting new I.D.s' She put the heels in her closet where they could collect dust until she was forced into another dress-up occasion. 'I wonder how his fan-club would react if they knew he was a demon...' Kagome nearly giggled as she thought of their reaction.

Did this mean she would have to thank him? Her mirth was doused as her spine tingled with uneasiness at the thought. Though she could hardly sense the youkai within him, what she could get was powerful and dangerous, but he had been attending her university even longer than she had. He had an annoying fan-club that followed him everywhere, and she couldn't remember anyone going missing from university. Did that mean he was one of the good youkai? Or was he just too smart to shit where he ate?

Classes were out for the next week and Kagome spent the entire time behind her barrier. She tried to tell herself that she wasn't hiding, and that she really had no reason to be leaving the shrine right now anyway. There were plenty of chores to keep her occupied, but when she caught herself organizing the storage sheds for the second time she admitted to herself that she may be looking for excuses not to leave home.

She had made the decision not to cower behind the barrier, but every time she approached the Torii gate and the delicately swirling barrier edge with her duffel over her shoulder her heart would leap into her throat and her knees would start knocking together. She had chickened out every day this week and returned to the shrine to do more cleaning or scrubbing. Her grandfather was delighted, at least.

Today she had no choice but to leave the safety of the barrier or loose her spot in the classes she had selected for this new semester, so it was with a fortifying breath Kagome took a step through the gossimar barrier and started determinedly towards her school. Demons were not going to keep her quivering at home for the rest of her life. She had faced them before and come out alive, if not always completely whole, and there was absolutely no reason that she could not do so again.

She ignored the little voice that repeated that she had always had Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku or even Shippo to lean on last time.

'Even if I am on my own, I won't loose.' The miko promised herself as she entered school grounds. The walk had gone without incident, and had she been less ruffled by the last week and a half's events it may have even been somewhat soothing. As it was Kagome only relaxed when she was safely surrounded by other humans in her first class.

"What's with the bag?" Yuka asked around a mouthful of lunch that afternoon. Eri and Ayumi leaned close to express their own curiosity and Kagome laughed lightly before she waved them away from the item in question.

"It's just my stuff for archery." It wasn't really a lie if there was a bow inside, was it? She did put her outfit for archery inside too, so that made it even more true. The fact that she was carrying an ancient demon sword, fire-rat robes, and miko clothes didn't have to come to light.

"I'm moving into a new apartment soon, I'll call you if there's any creepy ghosts." Eri laughed. Kagome took the teasing good-naturedly. She didn't mind when her friends poked fun at her for being a shrine maiden.

"I'll send them packing." She put a stern expression on and mimicked her own grandfather's pose with a napkin, "evil, begone!" She popped the napkin onto Eri's forehead and the four of them laughed at the goofy display as the abused paper fluttered down to the table harmlessly.

"Seriously though, you're going to throw out your back again lugging that thing around." Ayumi said with a hint of worry in her voice.

"No way! It's not even that heavy." Kagome assured them as she took a drink and leaned back thoughtfully. "How are your new classes?"

Ayumi sighed dejectedly, "Haru couldn't get the same schedule as me. He even has classes during my lunch break." Eri rubbed her back comfortingly, although she didn't sound super sympathetic as she chirped about how fun choir was.

Kagome waved goodbye to her friends as she turned back to the courtyard and to her next class, only to blink in surprise at a pair of familiar emerald eyes who seemed just as taken aback to see her there. Her spine tingled and she plastered on an awkward smile.

"Minamino-san." Kagome was proud that her voice didn't break as she offered him a slight bow, "thank you for returning my things." She skirted around him and was prepared to bolt when his hand caught her wrist lightly. She squeaked in surprise and shook him off with a little more force than necessary. Her face flushed with embarrassment at the rude gesture but she refused to apologize.

"It was no problem, Higarashi-san." Instead of acknowledging her rude gesture he blessed her with a smile that would have melted a lesser woman, but Kagome was no push-over when it came to attractive men-or demons as the case may be. "Although if you're available, I'd like to discuss some things with you after your classes."

"Sorry-I can't." The priestess turned away and then she did bolt. A crowd of students blocked her from his view and then she was gone.

Yes, she's definitely part hare. Yoko purred in his head, and it just so happens hares are my favorite prey to catch.

By the time her classes got out the autumn sun had already sank behind the buildings and cast long shades over the nearly empty school grounds. Shadows of skeletal trees reached towards her like grasping hands as she trekked home. She kept one hand on the zipper of the large bag at her hip. She could feel some weak youkai, but they weren't close enough to be a threat to her. There were definitely more around now than she had ever felt, save for her adventures in the past. Kagome had to smother a hysterical laugh.

'And here I thought there were no demons in my time!' She could not quite decide if she was happy with the revelation at this point. Yes, there were demons all around her now, but none of them were the ones she had been hoping to see. She was almost home-free when she heard it. One foot had been lifted to begin the ascent of her shrine's stairs when a woman's scream pierced the air.

Kagome jumped and whipped around. Her eyes scanned the darkness and a cold sweat broke out over the back of her neck. She took a few steps towards where she had thought the noise came from when the scream came again only to be cut off suddenly. The priestess could feel the demon responsible, it's aura was pulsating with sadistic excitement. There was no indecision or agonizing over the choice as there had been with leaving her home this last week. Her bag was unzipped and she had an arrow in the bow without even having to think about it. The kami must have been with her, because even though she was running full-out and readying her weapon she managed not trip and fall flat on her face.

She could see the demon up ahead as it leered down at it's prey.

"Hey, ugly!" She snarled to gain it's attention. Her sacred arrow caught it directly in the right eye and it's body disintegrated to ash. The priestess panted as she set her bag down and knelt next to the bloodied woman. She surveyed the red mess on the woman's face and let out a breath of relief, it was only a cut to the forehead.

The woman moaned as Kagome applied pressure to the wound that gushed blood dramatically. Head cuts were always the worst bleeders.

"You're going to be okay." She assured as the woman's eyes opened. "He's gone now." The woman sighed and her eyes fluttered closed again as she relaxed back into unconsciousness. Kagome started digging around in her pocket for her phone when she felt several other demonic signatures closing in on her location, including the angry aura that had nearly grabbed her yesterday.

'Dammit! Can't catch a break!' She stood with her bow and reached back for an arrow out of habit only for panic to grip her heart as she realized her quiver was in the duffel bag twenty feet behind her and several demons already stood blocking the way. At least her angry friend from yesterday kept his distance, she could sense him above her, probably on the roof of the building. Was he waiting for something? Her attention was drawn back to the immediate threat of the demons closing in on her from the mouth of the alley.

'No big deal. I've got a sacred bow. I am a powerful warrior priestess. I got this.' She hoped that the demons could not see the way her knees knocked together as she gathered her power into the bow. It hummed to life in her hands and the energy practically sang with happiness when she plucked the bowstring once exactly as Kaede had taught her to do for exorcisms.

The demons screeched and covered their ears at the twanging sound. She took a hesitant step forward as the creatures backed away with hatred and fear swimming in their crimson eyes. A determined look settled across her features and she took a solid step forward as she plucked the string again. Several of the weaker demons fled before her but one held it's ground in front of her bag. It lunged forward with a snarl after the next pluck of the string and she jumped back and struck it with the bow out of instinct.

The humanoid beast howled in outrage as half of its face sizzled and bubbled from the contact with her holy energies. 'I need to up the wattage.' She poured all of her power into the bow and twisted to avoid the demons claws as she put all her physical strength into the next knock to it's head. She didn't feel a physical impact and for one heart-stopping moment Kagome feared that she had missed. An instant later ash sprinkled down on her and she breathed a sigh of relief. Her aura had purified the creature before she could even get a hit in.

"Maybe that was a little overkill..." She said quietly to herself as she reined in her power and dragged her bag towards the woman who still lay out of it on the ground. Kagome scanned the darkness for anymore threats as she retrieved her quiver and slung it over her shoulder with practiced ease. All seemed quiet now. For a second time she fumbled in her pocket for her phone only to drop it on the hard concrete as she shot back to her feet.

He was here. That angry aura was so close to her. One hand was at her quiver and she was halfway pivoted to face the threat when she froze in terror as cold steel touched her throat and her heart stopped in her chest.

"Drop it." A voice to match the freezing sword resting on her collarbone commanded. Kagome's bow clattered to the ground. "and the quiver." It followed her bow, but she managed to keep hold of the arrow and held it on the inside of her arm out of sight of the demon. Her heart and breath were too loud in her ears as she closed her eyes and tried to swallow, but her throat was suddenly a desert.

"You're a tough girl to get a hold of, Higarashi-san." A somewhat familiar voice echoed through the alley. Kagome dared not move to look behind her where she was sure Shuichi was materializing from the darkness beyond. She supposed she knew what this angry demon had been waiting for...backup. He stooped to retrieve her fallen weapons and carried them to set against the brick wall much too far away. "We mean you no harm."

'Bullshit.' Scoffed a very Inuyasha-like voice in her head. The sentiment must have showed on her face as Shuichi continued.

"I can see how you may not believe that, but you understand we have to take precautions for our own safety." The red-head was behind her now and saying something else, but she wasn't listening.

'I am not going to die here after everything I've gone through.' But what could she do with the demon equivalent of the flash holding a katana against her jugular? Her hand gripped the arrow hidden between her arm and body until her knuckles turned white. 'Well, if I am going to die, I'll go down Inuyasha style.' She flared her aura suddenly and caught both of the demons by surprise. The sword stung her neck as she ducked the sudden swipe and she could feel hot sticky blood from the shallow cut dripping down her cleavage.

She made to go for her bow but the black-clad demon was already between her and her weapon and the flickering of his form was her only warning that he was coming in for the kill. With a soft cry she crossed her arms in front of her and the demon rebounded off of the hastily constructed barrier. His skin sizzled where it had come into contact with the purifying energies.

She backed up and her heels hit the unconscious woman. She was trapped with no weapon except for the arrow, which would hardly do any good against a Katana, and it would do even less good considering the quickness of this demon.

Kagome's legs and arms trembled with exertion, but while her body was weak her spirit reacted to her terror and flared beautifully around her. The entire alley was bathed with the pure pink light of her holy power.

"What the hell is going on here?" Two others had appeared at the mouth of the alley. The black haired youth raised an arm as her aura brushed him and his arm sizzled slightly. The other new-comer with strange orange-red hair gaped for a moment before the first one snapped at him to do something.

As the human approached her he passed through her aura without harm. He was saying something to her, but she couldn't hear over the blood pounding in her ears and as he reached for her she acted.

"Stay away!" She screamed and struck out with the arrow. The human caught her wrist and twisted the pitiful weapon out of her grip easily. She tried to tug her arm free then went in with a knee to the groin which was also easily dodged.

"Sorry!" He said quickly before forcing her arm painfully behind her and securing her struggling body with an arm under her breasts. She writhed between the strong arm and his hard body and managed to bash the back of her skull against what felt like his nose. Her attempts were futile, his grip didn't even slacken despite the hissed curse that escaped her captor.

"Uhh what now?" The man's rough voice could be heard from behind her as she realized that she was once again captured, and this time there was no Inuyasha to come to her aid. Her heart was painful against her ribs and her lungs seized with terror.

"You'll have to knock her out." Shuichi's cool voice stated. "She's much too worked up to listen to reason."

"Seriously? Geeze, sorry about this miss." There was a jarring pain on the back of her head and she tensed before falling limply forward in his arms as darkness danced around her vision.

A/N

Thanks to all who read and enjoy this story.