Chapter Six
Sesshomaru

When she dared to open her eyes, she was greeted with a red t-shirt

When she dared to open her eyes, she was greeted with a red t-shirt. Her hands were fisted into the fabric and she clung to his body, her own shaking. When she opened her mouth, a shuddering gasp was released.

"Are you okay?" The voice was rough, but the hands were gentle as they wrapped around her lower back and pulled her up into sitting position. They didn't move as they just sat there, until a cold cackle made them look the direction of Miroku's car.

"My, my." The voice made the Hanyou bare his teeth, even though he didn't jump up because he had a shaky girl sitting up with his support. "I was expecting more from Sesshomaru's top guns."

"You dirty bastard," Inuyasha spat, finally standing- he kept an arm on Kagome, pulling her up with him. She was still shaking, and the bullet hole was lodged in the car right where her heart had been a moment before he yanked her down. "You got us when we weren't paying attention!"

"Alls fair in my game, Hanyou," replied the monotone voice. What pissed Inuyasha further was that he couldn't see the face- he had a hood with his cloak. The fucker.

"Who the hell are you?" The man looked down, watching as Sango supported herself with the roof of the car. "Why are you doing this?"

"You don't seem as mad as I thought you would be," came the soft reply. "Or is it that you don't know?" Everyone could practically feel him smirking.

"What are you talking about?" Sango snarled, gripping the car so tight her knuckles turned white.

"Your brother." The shock on her face made the man laugh. "I have him, but don't worry. I don't plan on killing him just yet." Before a sound was uttered from the woman's mouth, he was off in a jump, landing beside the car that had made its appearance earlier. In the distance, sirens could be heard as he got in, the car speeding away with loud screeches of rubber on asphalt.

Inuyasha glared after him, biting his tongue to keep the curses from flowing off his tongue.

"You're hurt."

"What?" The voice was so soft he had barely heard it.

"Your arm." Sure enough, he was bleeding sluggishly from a shallow wound. Shrugging, he looked down into the chocolate eyes which actually looked concerned. "I'll take a look at it."

"Keh, I don't need you to. I heal fast, remember?" he asked, taking his arm from her waist. He had just realized it was there.

"Doesn't stop infection." She sounded as if she was trying to get her voice back, but couldn't quite get there. Taking a breath, she looked at Miroku's car and started over, as if just remembering that they were there. "Are you two okay?" she asked, opening Miroku's side. The bullet went through the back windshield and grazed the seat, making it fly into the windshield and shatter it.

"Yeah," Miroku said, nodding. "Sango got me down."

"You guys are not catching a break," Inuyasha said with a snort, coming up behind Kagome.

"You aren't either. Your arm alright?"

"Keh. What the hell do you think?"

Finally Sango spoke- she had been frozen. "You guys had better pray I don't kill you for not telling me." Her voice was hollow, cold, and emotionless.

"Kaede-"

"I don't give a damn."

"Sango-"

"Take me home." The demand came, icy cold. "Now." Her door was slammed, making the windows rattle and a few shards of glass fall.

Inuyasha sighed and shut the other door. Kagome stared into the window and turned, avoiding Inuyasha's eyes and turning back to the hospital. He didn't stop her. He went around the car and got in, backing out as she watched from the sliding doors.

--

He was pacing, and he didn't like the fact that he was interrupted. When the doorbell rang, he glared and slammed his beer down, making the liquid come from the top. "What the hell do you want?" he yelled, swinging the door open.

"Hi," Kagome said smally, her hands intertwined. "Did I disrupt anything?"

It was the first time that he saw her in regular clothes- not his clothes, not scrubs. She looked good, in her green skirt and navy sweater. Staring at her, Inuyasha finally shook his head. "No."

"Okay- can I come in?"

"Fine." Leaving the door open, he retreated and fell onto the couch.

"I came to check your arm," Kagome said, her voice still quiet.

"It's fine."

"Can I look at it?"

"No."

There was a moment of pause before she spoke again. "Thank you."

That made him look up and quit staring at the blank TV. "What?"

"Thank you," she replied slowly. Taking a seat on the chair- she was still wary of the couch- and crossed her legs. "That's twice that you've saved me."

"Maybe you should stay outta trouble," was the reply as he emptied his drink.

"Maybe you should. They were both your fault." She leaned back in the chair and blinked, finally getting him to look at her.

"How so?"

"They weren't after me. You cause trouble."

The words that Kaede had told him came back to him. "You've been talking to Kaede."

"She came to me," Kagome said, fiddling with a hole in her sweater. Looking down at it, she shrugged. "She just said that I shouldn't hang around you if I can avoid it. And that there are some things I shouldn't get involved in."

"I think that it's to late now," Inuyasha said, mentally cursing and remembering what Miroku had said about Kagome being somehow involved, too.

"You are more than a big gang-man aren't you?" Kagome asked, watching as he stood. "You are involved with Sesshomaru. There's no way you are just in a gang."

"Yeah."

"So what is it?" she asked, following him into the kitchen.

"Can't say. But Kaede's right." Taking a beer from the fridge, he cracked it open. "You shouldn't be here, be around me. Or Sango, or Miroku. Even that wolf."

"But?"

"But it's to late now. Want a beer?" Inuyasha offered her the one in his hand, and when she declined he emptied half of it. "He's seen you around me twice. Once with you clinging to me as if we were doing it." As she opened her mouth to retort, he spoke over her. "So now you have to be careful."

Again, as she started to respond, the front door opened. "Inu-baby!"

"Shit," Inuyasha murmured quietly- Kikyo was not going to like Kagome being here. Walking into the living room, he looked at the raven-haired girl that shut the door behind her.

"Are you okay?" she wailed. "I thought you were hurt!" Before she could throw her arms around his neck, she spied Kagome in the kitchen. "Is that the girl from the telephone? Why is she here?" she asked, stopping in her tracks.

"She just came to make sure I was okay from today," Inuyasha said, trying to soothe her.

"Why? I'm your girlfriend. She's not as pretty as me."

"Of course," Inuyasha said, placing his arms around her waist. He heard Kagome give a snort in the back and march from the kitchen, heading for the front door.

Kikyo glanced at her and grinned. "And she probably isn't as good."

"Mhmm," Inuyasha replied. Why did he feel bad when the screen door slammed shut? Leaning in to kiss Kikyo, his ears twitched when he heard the screech of wheels. Letting go of Kikyo, he dodged to the door and saw demon's surrounding Kagome. Letting out a snarl, he jumped forwards and slashed at one, using his claws.

"Inu!" Kikyo yelled from the doorway. "Why are you going after her?" she pouted. Sparing her a glance, Inuyasha looked back at Kagome; she was struggling in a demons arms, trying to get the hand from her mouth. They didn't want to be found out; they were keeping quiet. Even the car had disappeared. Jumping forward again, Inuyasha elbowed the restraining demon in the stomach and made him drop, letting Kagome bring up her leg to get his groin.

"I think you are right," Inuyasha said, bringing his fist down into the face of another silent demon- it was like they weren't allowed to even yell. "I do cause trouble." Slamming into the last demon, he looked up as the car that had stopped in front of the house opened its doors for Kikyo. As if stunned, Inuyasha stared as the car window opened and another gun appeared.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome grabbed his arms and yanked him down, just before the shot fired. When the car screeched away, she sat up; that was the second gun attack in a day.

Inuyasha was silent for a moment. "Fuck," he said, replaying Kikyo getting into the car with the people that were trying to attack him. Why?

"Why are they so eager to kill you?" Kagome said quietly, her arm still on his chest.

"I don't think they are after me," Inuyasha replied, standing up. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her along with him.

"But whenever they attack, you are there…"

"So are you."

Kagome stared at him, as if he was crazy.

"They might know something about you."

"Or maybe they are really after you," Kagome protested. "I doubt they would be after me, you're the lawbreaker."

"Hah, like that matters. But its funny how they always know where you are." Pausing, he growled. "We need to get you somewhere," he said. "Come on."

"Somewhere? Why?"

Inuyasha stopped his immediate answer of 'because I don't want you dying'. That would make it look like he actually cared. Nah, he just didn't like dead people. "Are you stupid? Three times you've almost been dead in less than two weeks. D'you want to die?" he demanded.

"No…"

"Fine then. Just until we figure out if they really are after you; if they are, you're screwed. But we can keep you alive until then." Kagome's face drained of color, but he just continued. "Let's go. Wait by the car." Going inside to get his keys, Kagome stood by the car, almost stunned. Why the hell would these creeps be after her? She didn't have anything special about her. They had to be after Inuyasha, he was just trying to hide something. Right?

The car clicked unlocked and she got in, shutting the door as Inuyasha climbed in. "Sorry about Kikyo."

"Whatever. She is probably fucking someone on that side." Starting the car, Inuyasha backed out and went the opposite way of the hospital. It was like she was sent as a distraction while Kagome got taken or whatever.

"What about you?"

"What about me? Maybe he's bigger."

Giving him a confused look, her mouth dropped as she realized what he meant. "That's sick."

He shrugged and turned towards downtown. "You'll stay with my brother. I'm pretty sure he has an open room he can spare you."

"If it'll be any trouble…"

"It won't be. He has three stories and lives alone; he just doesn't like people within a floor of him."

"Oh."

It was weird- he didn't seem fazed at all that his girlfriend had just gone off with the people that were trying to kill him. But then, he had not even seemed fazed when his best friends almost died. He was just quieter, and moody.

Curling up in a ball in the seat, Kagome stared out the window. Neither had much to say- she just watched the scenery go by, he focused on driving. She didn't even notice when he went over the speed limit, ran a stop sign, and swerved to avoid hitting a dog in the road.

"Come on, get out."

"What?" she repeated, sitting up.

"Get. Out. We're here." Pushing open his car door, he stood in the large parking lot. Here, his car actually fit in. The spaces were filled with posh cars and shiny SUVs- and a few remodeled old rag tops and such. The building was the largest unit of condos in the area; all were at least two floors, with master suites and entranceways. Because of their location, in the midst of downtown and the views, they were expensive.

"Here?" Kagome asked, getting out and staring up. She never even thought she would go into one of those condos. Her mother- a real estate agent- adored them.

"Yes here. C'mon. If we get there to late, he'll be even moodier…" Going to the building, he entered and went to the intercoms in the lobby. Pressing a button that said "D-8", he waited until a female voice came up, inquiring who was calling.

"Inuyasha. Here to see Sesshomaru." He glanced at Kagome as she came up behind him, staring at the chandelier. After another second, the maid told them to come on up. She didn't sound enthused about having interrupted her employer. Turning, he motioned Kagome towards the elevator doors. "C'mon."

The elevator was not quite as nice as the lobby- the music got into your head and pissed you off (or pissed a certain Hanyou off) and the pattern on the walls and carpet gave you a headache. It was much better when it opened up on the fourteenth floor, giving way to a marble hallway. There were only three doors on the floor- three rooms, D-6, D-8, and D-10. The condo unit didn't use odd numbers.

The door opened as they stepped out, revealing a maid that looked slightly annoyed. Because of the visitors, she was not getting to go home on time. "Mr. Sesshomaru will meet you in the sitting room," she said, grabbing her purse. "Unfortunately, it is not my duty to serve drinks after nine." As she left, Inuyasha snorted.

"Like he'd offer drinks to us." Shutting the door behind him, he left Kagome no time to ogle at the place before taking a shoulder and steering her towards the sitting room. In the doorway, he stopped her. "Sesshomaru."

The taller, silver-haired man sipped at his drink. "This had better be an emergency, Inuyasha," he said coldly. Turning, he looked at the girl that was staring at him. "I didn't think that smelled like Kikyo. She's too pure, she hasn't a whoreish scent all over her."

"Shut up," Inuyasha snapped. "I need you to keep Kagome here." Kagome didn't say anything- she just looked around the room, avoiding the gaze of Inuyasha's older brother.

"Why?"

"I don't know, but every time I turn around, someone's attempting to kill her. Either her or me, but they aim for her more so than me." He leaned against the doorframe, getting more annoyed by the second.

"Why should I care?"

"If I told you that, she'd know too much and we'd have to kill her." Finally, Kagome did move. She looked back at him, about to protest before he put a hand on her mouth. "And Naraku's involved. He wants her for some reason."

"Bottom floor. Last bedroom in the hall. Don't get in my way."

As Sesshomaru left, Inuyasha's hand dropped. Then came the questions. "Sesshomaru's your brother? Kill me? And why didn't you tell me that he was your brother? And what do you mean, Naraku wants me?"

"Questions later. I'll show you your room." Letting her stare after him before hurrying to follow, he went down a set of stairs that were unused but clean. Down here, there were only two doors- they went into the last one, which held a large bed, vanity, and nice view- the ajoining bathroom was through another door, and the entire room was decored in cream, red, black, and silver. "This is the worst room in the house."

"Worst? Are you kidding?" Kagome repeated, surprised. Looking at the artwork, she ran her hand down the intricate frame of a painting that was hanging on the wall.

"Yeah. Alright. See you tomorrow."

As he turned to leave, Kagome jumped up. "Wait, you can't go," she said quickly. "You can't just leave me here!"

"Why not?" She didn't answer, just looked sheepish. "You're scared of Sesshomaru." When she didn't answer, he grinned. "Typical. He wont hurt you." Still no answer. Sighing, he brushed hair from his eyes as she looked down. "Fine. I'll stay in the other room down the hall."

"Thank you," Kagome called after him, dropping the hand from the frame as the door snapped shut.

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