Disclaimer: All characters from Inuyasha are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, but this story belongs to me. This is an Alternate Universe story. Events that happened in the manga and anime have not happened in this universe, so slight differences in character should be expected.

Chapter Three: Listen to This

Inuyasha ripped open the truck door.

"Glad you came to your senses," Miroku said as snapped shut his cell phone and started the engine. "Having to clean up blood shed is not my favorite way to start the day. Get in, we'll go get something to drink and complain about women."

Inuyasha, however, was in no mood to chat. He popped the lever that brought the seat forward and reached behind it. Miroku cursed when he saw it.

"Is that a sword? Please, Inuyasha, please tell me you aren't holding the mother of all swords. Hey!" he called out as Inuyasha slammed the door and stormed back towards the house. "Hey! Stop! You can't do this. You'll go to jail! You can't cut anyone down with a sword! This isn't the Feudal Era you know!"

"Get out of my way."

"Don't do this. Kagome wouldn't want you to do this."

"Get out of my way, or I'll go through you."

"Inuyasha, you ha…" Miroku stopped. The sword pointing at him caused him to look at his friend seriously. With a deep sigh he nodded, then stepped out of the way. "I hope you know what you're doing, my friend."

"Get back in the car," Inuyasha said as his grip on the sword tightened and he started stomping back to the door. "And go as far as you can. Call Sango and have her meet you someplace. Someplace public. Go now."

He heard Miroku sigh again, then suddenly he was walking beside him with his hands in his pocket and attempting to whistle a jaunty tune.

"What is that saying about friends and burying bodies?"

Miroku raised his hand to knock on the door, but Inuyasha's foot crashed against the wood first, splintering it. A second kick knocked it off it's hinges. Miroku was about to protest, then he heard a woman's cry. He didn't have to ask if Inuyasha heard it too, since he was already barreling down the hall.

"KAGOME!"

The door to the bedroom was wide open, so he didn't even have to slow his step to race into the room. For a brief panicked moment, it looked as if Kagome was receiving a piggy back ride from Kouga. Kouga's strangled sound let him know he was wrong. Kagome's hands were tied, but she had them looped around his neck and was trying to crush his windpipe with her wrists and arms.

He couldn't move fast enough to stop her from being thrown over his shoulder and crash into the floor. Though by the time she could say "oof", he was in a crouched fighting position.

"Get away from my wife."

But Kouga simply smiled at him. He grabbed Kagome by her hands and showed him the golden ring on her finger.

"She's MY woman now, not yours. Leave us alone!"

"If you don't take your mangy hands off her right now," he said in a low and threatening voice, "I will cut them off."

"Kagome," her kidnapper crooned as he held her hands close to his heart, though he didn't take his eyes off of Inuyasha. "Wouldn't you rather be with someone who will love and cherish you above all others? Someone who wouldn't cheat on you? Someone who wouldn't lie to you? I can give you everything you want. I can be anything you want me to be."

"You… you can never be…. Inuyasha," she whispered. "Please let me go."

For a moment it looked as if he was going to kiss her, causing Inuyasha to growl like an animal and launch himself at him. But Kouga was fast, and he managed to dodge just in time, though he lost his grip on Kagome. Inuyasha took just enough time to check and make sure she was okay before he turned back to his opponent. His hands were sticky from where they touched Kagome's wrists.

Blood.

Kagome's blood.

Inuyasha felt cold rage consume him. Nobody hurt Kagome. NOBODY! Kouga would pay for causing her to bleed.

"How dare you touch her," he growled. "How DARE you touch Kagome!"

Kouga stood tall and sneered. "You're not good enough for you, half-breed. Your eyes, your hair, it just makes you a freak. Go back to your own homeland and leave us alone. You don't belong."

"There is nothing wrong with his eyes or his hair," Kagome told him sternly as she tried to scramble to a sitting position, ignoring her husbands command to be still. "It makes him special. Unique. And he was born here, you ignoramous! So what if his dad came from another country. Big deal! Lots of people have parents that come from different backgrounds. You can't…"

"I come from royalty, Kagome. Royalty! And you come from a long line of honored priests and priestesses. We both have long histories attached to this country. This dog is an outsider. He doesn't belong with us. He doesn't deserve to breathe the same air as us!" He put his hands on his hips. "And he sure doesn't deserve you."

Quicker than a blink, he grabbed the small pocketknife from his pocket and threw it at Inuyasha. Kagome screamed, but the blade was easily deflected by the much larger sword. Inuyasha smirked at it. Then he swung his sword, cutting the post off the bed as it went.

"Hide, Kagome. It's going to get messy in here."

"Don't do anything stupid, Inuyasha."

"Just run."

She bolted for the door, but as soon as she took her first step, Kouga was pouncing after her. Letting out a shriek she dropped to the ground and put her hands over her head. There was a slight breeze, but no impact ever came. When she looked up, she saw Inuyasha standing in front of her, sword in hand. For a moment he looked like a warrior. With that look of anger and hatred on his face he looked more like a demon warrior. It wouldn't have surprised her if he suddenly sprouted fangs and claws!

"I'll rip out your eyes if you so much as look at her again," Inuyasha snarled viciously. "By the time I'm done with you, you'll regret the day you ever met her."

Kouga put up his hands and said to Kagome, "See how he threatens an unarmed man? Is that noble? Is that fair? He cheated on you. He lied to you. He broke your heart and I can't forgive him for that." He turned his attention back to Inuyasha and glared. "Put that sword down and fight me like a man."

Inuyasha narrowed his eyes, then tossed his sword on the bed. With a smirk he cracked his knuckles.

"I don't need a sword to take care of you." Leaping forward he sent his fist crashing into Kouga's face. The blow landed with a satisfying crunch.

He only had a moment to savor the sound when Kouga landed a kick into his stomach. Kagome screeched, but he managed to not be distracted it. Actually, he was grateful for the sound. That way he could tell where she was and try to keep the fight away from her. He had to keep her safe. Jumping back he dodged another kick. Lunging to the left he swung again, landing a series of several punches.

"I won't forgive you for hurting Kagome!" Kouga screamed as he kicked where Inuyasha's head had been, missing it by only a hair. "You'll never hurt her again!"

"I didn't cheat on her!"

"LIAR!"

Kouga renewed his attack, kicking and punching as fast as a whirlwind. It took everything Inuyasha had to just block the blows. He would have to… Inuyasha blinked, stopping in mid-thought. Kouga stumbled and fell, cursing as he held his bleeding head. The piece of the bedpost Inuyasha had sliced off was lying beside him. Looking over he was a bit bewildered to see a fuming Kagome. He wondered how she managed to throw it with such force with her hands tied. He couldn't help but grin. Something melted inside of him when she grinned back.

"You can't have Kagome," Kouga coughed as he spat out blood. "I wont' let you have her. She's mine." He pulled himself into a mostly sitting position and screamed. "SHE'S MINE!"

Time moved slowly.

Inuyasha's eyes widened as he realized that Kouga had pulled out a gun.

He was yelling something, but it was all a buzzing sound.

There was a pop, and a strong metallic scent.

Kagome made a sound.

He felt warmth.

His hands were sticky.

His shirt was growing wet.

Kagome was crying.

No.

Oh God no.

His arms wrapped around Kagome as he howled in pain. He cradled her body as she crumpled. There was a sound like thunder surrounding him, and voices drowned out Kagome's soft whimper. He held her closer.

"Kagome…" her name was a plea, a prayer. "Kagome… please… Kagome…. No… please…"

"Inu…yasha… o…kay?"

"Shhh baby. Don't talk. Please. Please. Please, Kagome. I love you. You're gonna be okay. I love you."

Her eyes fluttered closed.

"Sir," came a voice behind him. "Let go of the woman."

"Nooooo!" he roared as she went limp. "KAGOMEEEE!"

"Let go of the woman, sir." This time the voice came with a hand of steel on his shoulder. But Inuyasha couldn't let go. Kagome... His Kagome...

"Sir. Let. Go."

Someone grabbed Kagome as another ripped Inuyasha away. He fought, but his heart felt dead. When they twisted his arms behind his back and cuffed him, he didn't struggle. He had heard words like 'trauma' and 'blood loss', and the fight had gone out of him. Without Kagome… Without Kagome he had nothing. She was his home. His heart. His life.

"Inuyasha?"

He didn't have the energy or inclination to look up at his friend.

"Sango called the police. I told her of your suspicions and she called the police. Apparently she felt you were making complete sense for a change. Can you take those off him? He was protecting his wife."

Inuyasha squeezed his eyes shut tight. He hadn't protected his wife at all. Wasn't that one of the vows he had taken? She… she had been… hurt… protecting HIM. How could he have let that happen? She wasn't supposed to get hurt. Not Kagome. She was never supposed to get hurt.

The pinch of the handcuffs disappeared as they were taken off of him. He heard them murmuring, but he ignored it to climb to his feet. He had to see her. He had to get to Kagome. His mate. His partner. His companion. His wife.

His best friend.

Instinctively he found her. Dropping to his knees, he bowed his head over hers. Others complained and tried to move him, but he was an immovable object. His trembling fingers brushed her bangs out of her eyes.

His heart lurched as her eyes slowly opened.

"Inuyasha," she whispered.

"Kagome! Kagome!" He kissed her forehead, his heart threatening to explode. "You're going to be okay. You're gonna be fine. I love you. I'm sorry." He kissed her again. "Everything is going to be fine."

Hands pried him away from her, and she was carefully moved. This time he let them take her.

"I guess this is the 'for worse' part," Kagome muttered as she was strapped onto the gurney. "But at least it wasn't 'till death', so that's good."

Inuyasha blinked back the moisture from his eyes. The officer next to him was saying something about taking a statement, but all he could do was follow Kagome. And pray she would be okay. He would spend the rest of his life making it up to her.

Because Kagome would make it.

She had to.

ooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOoo

Author's Notes:

Thanks for your wonderful reviews. Sorry this was so late getting out. It has been mostly written for a week now, but I've been one sick authoress (sick as in ill, folks). Anyhow, I proofed it this morning and hope I caught all the mistakes. Unlikely, but I tried.