A/N: Sorry it's been so long guys. Sadly life got in the way for a while, as well as some other novels I'm working on. However, I still intend to finish this story, even if it takes forever. XD I also lost my beta reader (busy with life) so the next chapters will be posted as I write them. This means a lot more typos...and a less pretty finished product. *sigh*

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from the Inu Universe. Only Ryuu is mine...

"Forgetting all the hurt inside
You've learned to hide so well
Pretending someone else can come
And save me from myself
I can't be who you are"

-Linkin Park, Leave Out all the Rest

Chapter Three: Warnings

Kagome slowly came too, her eyes blearily trying to focus on the ceiling above her. Her arm ached, hell, her whole body ached, which probably meant it was time for another pain pill.

She rolled to her right and glanced at the clock by her bedside. She hadn't set her alarm the night before, but she had managed to wake up in time to get ready for school. Inuyasha had wanted her to stay home and rest, but he had finally given in when her mother had joined the argument and sided with Kagome.

It's not like I just broke it anyway. I just can't stand one more day stuck at home in bed. Besides, it's hard enough to get Inuyasha to agree to bring me back here. And I'm almost done. Just 2 more months before I graduate.

She sat up slowly and looked around her room, preparing to meet the gaze of an irritated hanyou. However the room was vacant; Inuyasha was nowhere to be seen.

Kagome shuffled towards her closet and managed to grab her school uniform. Getting dressed wasn't easy. She still wasn't sure how she was going to get her bra hooked with only one arm. She grunted as she tried to push the ends of the strap together, her good arm beginning to tire. At that moment, the window swung open behind her and she froze.

"Oi, Kag—" her face flamed as his sentence trailed off. She knew he was staring at her. The hanyou flinched from his spot on the window sill, waiting for the "sit" that was sure to follow such an intrusion. Instead, she surprised him.

"Inuyasha, I can't get this by myself, can you help me?" Kagome didn't think her face could get any redder, but she felt her neck heat up as Inuyasha approached her, muttering a soft "Keh!" at her request.

"Thank you."

The hanyou could feel the heat radiating from her body as he gently took the bra strap in his claws and snapped the ends together. His face was surely very red, and he turned away as soon as he was done. He tried desperately to think of anything other than the almost naked girl behind him, willing the blood in his body to stop its downward rush. His hakama were loose fitting, but if he wasn't careful certain problems would become very obvious

Amazingly Kagome did not "sit" him, though she was practically screaming inside with embarrassment at the entire situation. Sighing she shrugged into her shirt and turned to face the hanyou again. He wouldn't meet her eyes and his cheeks were dusted with red. She smiled slightly, knowing he had been just as embarrassed as her, but grateful that he hadn't caused a scene and made it worse than it was.

"Right." She nodded to herself and grabbed her bag with her good arm. She was just about to struggle with the door when Inuyasha maneuvered in front of her, opening it for her. He still wouldn't meet her eyes, apparently finding the carpet very interesting. She smiled at him all the same and brushed past him on the way out the door. She couldn't be sure, but it sounded as if the hanyou had groaned. She turned back, puzzled, wondering if he was sick. Golden eyes were hidden beneath his bangs, and she realized he probably still felt uncomfortable over the whole thing.

"I can't stop you, can I?" his voice was rough but soft, and it shocked her. She had been expecting him to yell, or to just leave her and spend the day in the Goshinboku.

She smiled softly as she shook her head at the hanyou.

"This is really important to me Inuyasha. I don't have much time left, but theses last couple of months will be vital to my ability to graduate." He sighed, his frame seeming to deflate against the door.

"Your mom said she'd take you this morning and bring you home. Didn't want you wandering around injured. Especially since you have a talent for finding trouble."

"I'll be fine Inuyasha, no need to worry about me."

"Keh! Who says I was worried, huh?" she watched as he turned away and leapt out the window, still never meeting her eyes. She sighed at his behavior. At least that statement was closer to the Inuyasha she was used to. What was up with him this morning anyway?

Kagome tackled the stairs with an iron will, though her head was still slightly dizzy from her aching arm. She managed to give her mother a grim smile as she sat down for breakfast at the table. Mrs. Higurashi smiled knowingly and handed her daughter a small white pill with a glass of water. Kagome downed the pain pill in between gulps of steamed rice and miso soup. It had taken her longer to get dressed than she had thought and she was running behind.

Inuyasha didn't make an appearance, though it seemed Mrs. Higurashi had made enough food for him as well. Souta had the day off due to a teacher work day and had spent the night at a friend's house. Kagome's grandfather tended to rise earlier than the rest of the family and was probably still cleaning out the shed. He would return to the house for breakfast whenever he felt the desire to do so. Kagome could only hope Inuyasha would join him so the extra food did not go to waste.

Finally she was ready, thought for reasons she could not explain, Kagome felt incredibly nervous. She shrugged it off though and piled into the car with her bag. Her mother happily chatted the entire drive, and soon Kagome found herself forgetting that she had even been nervous in the first place.

Kagome heaved a sigh as she watched the clock on the wall. Classes had become so dull compared to her life on the other side of the well. Even her history class, one she normally loved, was beginning to drag.

Finally the bell was ringing and Kagome waited until the others were gone before struggling to gather her things.

"Kagome?" she looked up, meeting a sharp green-eyed gaze.

"Yes Mr. Kyuubi?" He cleared his throat, and shifted uncomfortably in front of her.

"Ka…Kagome?" It was then that she felt a familiar youkai scrape against her senses. She met his eyes, startled, and felt her breathing stop.

"Sh—Shippou?" She stuttered as he broke into a giant grin. Her knees gave out and she sunk to the tile, staring up in shock at her history teacher.

Of course it was obvious now, but she had never noticed. Had never thought to compare his green eyes and red hair to those of the young kitsune from the feudal era. His gaze turned concerned and he knelt down before her.

"Kagome? Are you okay?" she nodded shakily, still in awe of the man standing before her.

"I'm sorry it took so long to talk to you. I wanted to ages before this, but I wasn't allowed."

"H-how is this possible? You look normal?" he nodded quickly at her question and showed her a leather bracelet around his wrist.

"This conceals both my youkai and anything non-human about my appearance." He glanced around the empty room before popping a clasp on the bracelet and sliding it off.

Kagome suppressed a gasp as Shippou pulsed twice before his demon characteristics returned. Quietly she observed his prominent fangs, the pointed ears, and not one but five tails spread about behind him. He grinned, noticing her glance.

"In another 50 years I should get my sixth tail. I may have looked no older than five or seven when we met in human years, but I had already been around for 50 years. I couldn't have transformed into you or Sango if I hadn't." Kagome reached out, placing a hand on the side of his face.

"Oh Shippou, you've changed so much." His gaze darkened for a moment, before he tugged her forward and into his arms.

"I missed you Okaa-san." Kagome hugged him back, wondering what the young kitsune had endured.

"Did I…did I come back here?" she asked, wondering if she had to worry about an older version of herself wandering around. Shippou nodded.

"I am not sure how much I can tell you, but yes, you returned to your time." Kagome didn't miss the worried look in his eyes.

"What about Inuyasha? Did he…?" Shippou looked away, not meeting her eyes.

"I—I'm not sure if I can tell you that. He…" the kitsune sighed, wondering how much trouble he would be in. Still, the look on the girl's face was imploring him to give some sort of an answer.

"He went through the well after you Kagome. I'm not sure what happened after." Kagome sighed with relief, glad to know that her hanyou was alive, or would be alive in the future. She missed the look in Shippou's eyes, the emotion that darkened his gaze and kept the smile from his face. Had she seen it, she would have realized the kitsune was not just afraid, he was terrified.

"C'mon Kagome." He muttered, getting to his feet and holding out a hand to help her up. He popped his bracelet back on as she gathered her things.

"The reason I spoke to you today is because I'm supposed to take you to him. He has a message for you and Inuyasha." Kagome shouldered her bag, and looked up, confused.

"Him? Who?"

"Sesshomaru."

Kagome paused as Shippou turned and headed off for the teacher's parking long, beckoning her to follow.

"But my mom was—" he waved off her statement, taking her good elbow to lead her onward.

"I called her this morning to let her know I would be dropping you off sometime after school. Inuyasha should be here as well…" he trailed off as he scanned the area. Their attention was caught however, when a rough voice called out above the crowd.

"Oi, Kagome!" Shippou realized as the hanyou approached that he would have had a hard time spotting him amongst the students. Instead of wearing his tradition fire rat clothing he was dressed neatly in jeans and a t-shirt. Of course he was barefoot, but his ears were hidden neatly beneath a red and black baseball cap.

The hanyou glowered at him as he approached.

"Who the hell are you? Kagome this isn't another one of those Hobo things is it?" Kagome for her part flushed and smothered a chuckled before answer.

"No Inuyasha. You don't recognize him?" Inuyasha stared Shippou down for a minute, a frown on his face, before the wind shifted and he caught his scent.

"What the hell runt, is that really you?" Shippou grinned and nodded.

"Yup, it's me alright."

"What are you doing here?" Inuyasha asked, confusion clouding his gaze.

"Well, for starters, I work here. But right now there is someone who wants to talk to you two. So climb in." he waved in the direction of a black SUV as he punched the unlock button on his key fob.

Inuyasha grumbled, but helped Kagome into the front seat before climbing into the back. "Who is it you're taking us to see?" He watched as Shippou traded a nervous look with Kagome before him a half-hearted smile.

"You'll just have to wait and see when we get there." Inuyasha growled, low and deadly, but Shippou ignored him as he backed out of the space and drove off.

"So runt, you got any kids?" Kagome looked back at Inuyasha, surprised at his tone, but he was doggedly staring out the window, and wouldn't meet her eyes. She sighed and looked out her own respective window as Shippou spoke.

"Yeah actually. I met another kitsune about 200 years ago." He laughed, eyes sparkling with the memory. "I just couldn't get rid of her no matter what I tried, so I finally took her as my mate. We have two kids, girls. One is about the same age as I was when we first met, and the other looks to be about 15 in human years." His green-eyes gaze slipped sideways at Kagome's chuckle.

"I bet they're a handful." Shippou nodded.

"Oh yes. Even more so than my mate. Though I don't suppose it will be long before you find out. My older daughter, Aimi, has her eye on your brother Souta." Kagome gasped at that, and then broke into an easy laugh. Even Inuyasha couldn't help but smirk from the backseat.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure she's already got him wrapped around her little finger." He said, though his soft chuckle died away as he began pulling into a long driveway. They passed through an open gate, and into a magnificent western-style courtyard. There was a fountain in the middle of the drive, and the house before them was both magnificent and oppressive. Kagome felt herself shiver as she realized how much the house resembled its occupant. She spared a look in Inuyasha's direction. The hanyou was growling, though she was sure he had not figured out where they were yet. Surely if he had, he would be threatening Shippou, or grabbing her and running off.

She tried to ignore the nervous fluttering in her stomach as Shippou helped her out of the car, and the three of them approached the large black doors.

Shippou reached up and grasping a heavy door knocker, wrapped on the door three times before dropping his hand back to his side. He looked as nervous as Kagome felt, but he still managed to shoot a thin smile her way. Inuyasha stood at Kagome's side, growling deeply. Kagome wondered if he was just reading their tension, or if he had figured out who the occupant was.

Kagome glanced at Shippou again to see if he would knock again, but he simply remained standing where he was.

Suddenly the door opened, and there, in his full yokai glory, stood Sesshomaru. He was dressed in an Armani instead of his standard Sengoku Jidai uniform, but there was no denying the dog demon that stood before them.

"You fucking bastard!" Kagome felt Inuyasha tense briefly before he moved, but she was too slow to stop him. Sesshomaru was not however; as he easily dodged the right hook his brother had aimed at his face. Kagome watched horrified as he dodged another punch, backing slowly into his house before the irate hanyou.

"Inuyasha. I suggest you stop this nonsense before innocent parties are hurt." The yokai aimed a pointed look at Kagome as he said this.

"Like you have a right to talk bastard. It's your fault she was hurt in the first place!" Inuyasha yelled again as he swung at his brother again. Kagome noticed the lack of his sword and felt a brief relief. If he had brought that the house would probably be in shambles already.

Shippou caught Kagome's eye and motioned desperately to her. She sighed.

"Inuyasha…" she warned. The hanyou's ears twitched.

"Don't you dare Kagome!" he yelled as he struck again.

"Osuwari!" Inuyasha went down, landing hard on the pristine wooden floors. Sessshomaru, for his part, looked relatively unfazed.

"Thank you Kagome. Now, Inuyasha, since your woman has subdued you, perhaps we can talk?" Kagome was too stunned at the idea of Sesshomaru thanking her to make out what exactly it was that Inuyasha mumbled into the floor. She probably didn't want to know anyway.

Sesshomaru led them into a large parlor room, where tea was already set out for the four of them. Kagome took a seat opposite Sesshomaru while Shippou remained sitting somewhat apart from the group. They didn't have to wait long before Inuyasha joined them. He sat next to Kagome, but didn't spare her a look. She knew he was probably pissed about the slight to his ego in front of his brother, but maybe he would forget before long.

"Inuyasha," Sesshomaru started, giving the hanyou a very serious look. "I have asked that you both be brought here for a very important reason." Sesshomaru paused, but Inuyasha only offered a soft 'Keh' and continued staring at the floor.

"That inu yokai that is traveling with you in the past? Get rid of him."

"What?" Kagome flinched as Inuyasha met his brother's gaze. His golden eyes were rimmed with red. Surely Sesshomaru noticed this as well. She reached her hand out towards the hanyou but he shrugged away with a growl.

"He is not good for your group Inuyasha. It would be best if you drove him off."

"Just what the fuck is this about?" Inuyasha's voice was deadly quiet, and Kagome felt fear trickle through her for the first time. "He is my uncle. He's been more of a family to me than any of your bastards. He's told me more of my father than you ever did, and he accepts me as I am. As a hanyou."

The looked that passed across Sesshomaru's face was inscrutable to Kagome, but it almost looked like…confusion? Regret?

"Inuyasha. By bringing you here and issuing this warning I am already altering the past, a habit I do not condone. I cannot give you more information than I am already, I can only stress that Ryuunosuken is very bad for you and Kagome, and you would be wise to drive him off." Kagome felt a chill at the serious look on both Sesshomaru's and Shippou's faces.

"Inuya—" she started, but was cut off by Inuyasha standing quickly beside her.

"C'mon wench. I'm not going to stand here and listen to this." He gave Sesshomaru a dark look. "Don't you think you can try to be my brother now and I'll forgive you. You were never my brother. You don't get a second chance." He whirled, and Kagome watched him start slightly when he caught sight of Shippou. The young fox looked broken and afraid. Kagome wondered again at what had happened to him after they left the Feudal Era. "Runt, if you ever want to see Kagome again, I suggest you get far away from this bastard. If I so much as smell him the next time I see you, we're done."

With that, Inuyasha stormed out of the room, dragging Kagome after him by her good arm. She managed to lift a hand to wave to the two yokai, but that was it.

Kagome had expected them to exit the house in the dark, so she was quite surprised to notice that it was still afternoon, the sun giving a warm and happy glow to everything that she did not feel. Inuyasha tugged again, and Kagome allowed herself to be directed toward his back. She held on tight as he took off at a run.

She wanted to say something to the hanyou, but she found herself hesitating, unsure at what to say. What was Sesshomaru playing at? He had attacked them in the field, and he had done so without warning. Now he was warning them against keeping company with Ryuu, and his eyes…they had seemed so full of regret. What could have happened to them all? Did it have to do with Ryuu?

The sun set slowly as Inuyasha ran. Kagome continued to cling to the hanyou, keeping her thoughts to herself. It wasn't until well after the sun set and Kagome was shivering that they stopped.

Kagome looked up as Inuyasha placed her on the ground, and found that her gaze was filled with the massive trunk of the Goshinboku tree. "Inuyasha?" she asked quietly, but all she got for her question was a growl. Slowly, carefully, Kagome stood and turned back towards the hanyou. He was staring hard at the ground, his eyes covered by his bangs.

"Inuyasha?" she asked again, but there was no response. She felt the anger rise in her sharper than she expected.

"Hey!" she yelled, and grabbed at his forelocks. She had expected him to look away, or stay quiet as he usually did. She did not expect him to explode into action.

She caught a flash of brilliant red eyes before being shoved backwards. Her breath huffed out of her chest as she was shoved back against the tree, a solid body pressing hard against her. She struggled against the hanyou, but a growl erupted from him and she felt the press of fangs against her throat. She froze. Inuyasha had never, ever hurt her. At least not physically, and certainly never on purpose. Surely that wouldn't change now…would it?

Kagome found herself, for the first time, afraid of Inuyasha. He was so volatile, so unpredictable when his demon blood was in control. She remembered at how tormented he had been at the sight of the destruction he had caused, how he had seemed worried of hurting his friends as well, of hurting Kagome. Even he had been worried of what he would do while out of control. Maybe, maybe she should be too.

The growling had softened while she had been thinking. Cautiously, Kagome struggled beneath the hanyou again. The growling increased again, fangs sharp and painful on her neck. She flinched and the hanyou bit down harder.

Taking deep breaths Kagome tried hard to control herself and relax. She couldn't forget how dog like the hanyou was, surely he would relent if she submitted. The idea made her feel strangely unnerved, but she was helpless against his hanyou strength. This was all that she could do.

So she relaxed, slowly moving her head away from the hanyou's to expose her neck more. The growling stopped completely, and after a few more minutes she felt Inuyasha shudder and relax. He broke away, turning his back to her. She caught a flash of gold just before he turned, and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked softly, her voice sounding as if she had been crying for hours, though she knew her cheeks were dry.

"Don't ever sit me in front of that bastard again Kagome." And then he was gone.

Kagome wanted to collapse on the ground right there and cry, but she managed to make it to the shower first.