A/n: Hmm....I actually have nothing to say, other than read and review! (You got off easy) Btw, where I would usually put asterisks to signal a change in scene, there is now a bar, because ff.net is going crazy and asterisks like...don't exist or something. Sorry guys! R&R Pleeeeeeeeease! :)

Disclaimer: cries pitifully and hugs Miroku doll (which I have btw...thank you Risa!)

Chapter 5 - Developments

Everyone in the room stood still, their silence a startling contrast to the high-pitched squeals of Kagome. Kaede and the other servants winced; the other person in the room growled.

His hands were plastered on top of his head, and his mouth was contorted into a snarl of obvious displeasure. The mask on his face hid all else, and it stuck out on his face like any normal dog's face. Sadly, it had been created to promote fear in enemies, and it had scared Kagome half sense-less.

The screaming didn't seem to be waning, and Inuyasha soon tired of it.

He stomped over to the girl, whose eyes were squeezed tightly shut. He placed his hands on her shoulders and yelled with all his might into her ears.

Thankfully, Kagome opened her eyes and stopped shrieking. She looked wide-eyed up at the demon, and opened her mouth once more.

He placed a clawed hand over her lips, muffling her second scream. Although she couldn't see it, he glared evilly at her, and his nostrils flared.

He could smell her fear, and it sent a shiver up his spine. He smelled her, just as she was, her own personal scent. Inuyasha wanted to bite, to lick and to chew. He wanted to devour.

Kagome sense the demon's change, even through her fear of him. She stopped trying to scream, his hand now just an obstacle against breathing normally. She looked up at the face of the man holding her, trying to discern what exactly the change in him was. All of a sudden, it hit her like a wave.

He was predator, she was prey.

Frantically, she tugged herself out of Inuyasha's grasp and pulled her hand back to slap him out of his stupor. She knew he wasn't always like this, and wanted him to be back to normal. Whatever that was.

A worried Kaede rushed forward in the nick of time, pulling Kagome back before Inuyasha's arm swung down, barely missing the girl. After a few seconds of shocked silence, he shook himself and gulped before looking up at Kagome. And he flinched.

She was staring at him, tears forming in the deep brown pools. She was gazing at him silently, a sad and pained look on her face. He blinked, not knowing what to do. He had no recollection of what had just occurred, but he could guess, as many could testify. He probably just tried to attack the girl.

So why was there pity in her eyes? Oh well, he knew he didn't like it.

"Oi, what are you looking at?" he snarled. Kagome's lips trembled, and his eyebrow raised behind the mask. What was with this girl?

Before he knew what was happening, he was being tugged forward into the girl's arms and hugged fiercely, much to his chagrin. His eyes widened, and he tried to listen to what the girl was mumbling, but it was difficult. He couldn't remember the last time someone hugged him...

"You poor thing, you poor thing, you poor thing..." Inuyasha pushed her off his chest. 'More pity!' his mind screamed. He managed to convey this thought in a low growl. Kagome wiped a few tears from her eyes and he growled again. She was crying? Why in all hell was she crying?!

Kagome suddenly looked down and grasped Inuyasha's hand. He flinched at the contact. He'd put the mask on just in case she didn't know he was a demon. He was afraid that she would think him a hanyou and then see what he was. He didn't want that. But, she had to know he was a demon right? She was a powerful miko for crap's sake! He could tell just by smelling her, which he tried to refrain from doing again.

She turned the palm over, her brow wrinkling in concentration as she eyed the wounds his own claws had inflicted upon his calloused hands. There were many scars, some scabs, and fresh blood from only the past few minutes.

She looked up into his eyes, ignoring the mask. He tried to frown, but he was stunned. She looked almost exactly like Kikyo. But as he looked into her eyes, he saw warmth, and there was no greed or selfishness to be found. There was kindness, and a gentleness that he hadn't seen the likes of in years.

He pulled his hand back, frightened. 'Who the hell is this girl?!' he wondered for the millionth time. In that moment, Kagome turned to Kaede and muttered something, but he was to preoccupied to care what words were spoken.

In a matter of moments, the mystery girl was binding his wounds and placing herbs onto the open cuts. It stung, but it was better than being fried by her miko magic.

He set a grimace on his face as she bound up his wounds. He was tempted to sit and pout, but she was kind of preventing him from doing so. Whether or not she knew it, she was leaning on his arm in a strange way even as she did all kinds of mumbo-jumbo to it. If he tried to sit, she'd come crashing down with him.

As she finished, he saw Miroku and Sango enter through another door, and he knew they would have thousands of questions that he didn't want to answer.

He yanked his hand away from her grasp, and dashed up the stairs as fast as lightning. One could hear a door slamming in the distance, and everyone resumed what they'd been doing before anything had happened.

Confused beyond all reason possible, Kagome turned to Kaede with a puzzled frown. Kaede smirked, knowing that the time for inquiry had arrived. She beckoned to Miroku and Sango with one hand, and took Kagome's hand with another, and led them toward another room.

This was going to take a while.

Inuyasha sat at a beat up desk shoved in the corner, and was slamming his head repeatedly onto it's surface, effectively smashing the old mask into smithereens.

Now the girl probably wasn't going to give them any information regarding the outside. 'Or worse,' his head came off the desk, 'She might take even more pity on me!' He let out a howl of frustration, then look at his destroyed mask.

No point for it anyway. He'd meant to hide the signs of being a demon. If an outsider saw those red eyes, they might not think him too intelligent, start fighting, commence war, etc. etc.... And that was completely wrong.

So he'd start hiding in his room again. She'd probably want to leave now anyway...

"I'm not leaving," Kagome stated. Kaede glanced at her with a smile.

"Thank ye, child. We've need of your help." Kagome nodded and looked to Sango and Miroku. Who were they?

Kaede saw the look and panicked. Her plan would be foiled! "Excuse us Kagome. Private matters you understand." And she dragged Sango and Miroku to another room.

"What is it Lady Kaede?" Miroku asked. Sango frowned thoughtfully at the Head Servant. She had an idea it was about the girl, but had no other leads.

"I have a plan, and it must work, or Inuyasha may lose his life." The two young people jumped, unaware of this complication.

"What's going on Kaede-baa-chan?" The old woman smiled mischievously, then pulled the two closer to her and began to conspire.

Sorry about the short chapter guys. My dad just went into the hospital for some things and yeah... it might be cancer and they have to run a grip of tests... but I really hope I'll keep updating. I'll try as hard as I can to get your chapters out. Can't promise anything though, sorry :( Review please! I want to know what you guys thiiiiink. Btw, I post little tidbits of info on my bio page! Just so ya know. If I can't update, I tell you on there. Thanks everyone! -Ariana