A/N: Hello, l'm still here peoples. lol same excuse as usual.

Anyhoo, I'll explain more later, in the meantime please enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyahsa

~Stuck~

Slowly, my eyes opened to find me in my room staring up at the roof. My eye lids flutter hesitantly, as I realize how swollen and heavy they are.

I didn't die?

Bits of my incident flashed behind my eyes as my hands flew to the chocker. This thing had tried to kill me! And damn near succeeded!

"Hey," someone said from my right, the voice vaguely familiar, "don't touch that."

Glancing towards the voice, I notice it was InuYasha. He stood at the foot of my bed studying my confused expression.

Just as he said that, my fingers grazed at the gauze and bandages wrapped snuggly around my neck. My eyes fluttered again as he looks at me solemnly, wringing a bloodied towel into a small bowl.

I remember after being brought back from certain death, clutching someone as I sobbed uncontrollably. I remembered that same person whispering in my ear, 'I'm sorry' before I passed out from all the overwhelming sense of despair.

Did he save me?

"I-" I tried to speak, but found I couldn't. It felt like I had the worst case of strep throat as it ached at the very syllable of one word. I winced and gulped, finding that too to be a pain.

"Your vocal cords are pretty bruised." He said, sitting on the opposite side of the bed. "And you scratched the hell out of your neck."

I did? I thought, as I frowned, looking at my hands.

He apparently read my mind as he offered a dry smile. "Yea, you did."

Silence passes between us because I can say nothing. I just wanted to thank him, but I couldn't manage that because it hurt too much.

In this type of situation, I didn't know what to do, other than feel ashamed of myself for even going against Sango's advice.

Inuyasha's tired sigh breaks my thoughts and beckon me back to reality.

"Sango should be here any minute."

As soon as the words left his mouth, she burst through the door panting, her eye's scanned my prostate body as she hastily scurried over. I didn't have time to blink as her hands sought out the bandage around my neck.

"Are you okay?" she said softly, sitting at my side.

I nod, blushing at the attention and embarrassed by my brash actions.

"I told you not to cross it, didn't I?" she said condescendingly and I tried to shrink back into my mattress. "You could've died."

I could only nod my response.

She sighs, running a delicate hand through her hair. She turns to look at a solemn Inuyasha. "If you would've been doing your-"

"I know, alright?" He snaps. "I told her I'm sorry."

She eyes him pensively before she sighs again. "Thanks for saving her."

He scoffs lightly as he raises from the floor. "I wasn't gonna let her die."

I could see Sango's profile, her lips forming a line as if she wanted to say more, but she looks back at me. I try to swallow again, but I wince at the sting of it. I tried to sit up in the bed, but I felt so tired and freaking ached all over as if I had a fever. Slinging an arm over my eyes, I shake my head and groan inwardly. I fucked up this time.

Inuyasha, who had become restless, moved to rest against the island of Kissa's small kitchen. After she had fainted, he bought her back to her room, quickly laying her on the unmade bed, the smell of copper twanging in his nose.

Once he called Sango, he impatiently ripped through the cupboards trying to find some sort of medical supplies, cursing when he found none. After a few more minutes of searching, he'd found one in the bathroom.

Slowly, he came back to her unconscious form, gazing at the deep wounds she inflicted upon herself, trying to yank the collar from around her neck. He sat beside her and hesitated as his hands shifted the fabric of her emerald kimono from her neck.

"Shit." he cursed, removing his hand. "Maybe I should wait for Sango."

The more he thought about it, the less he felt perturbed by it. It wasn't like he was stripping her naked.

Huffing, mind made up, he gently slid the silky material down to her shoulders, carefully removing her arms from its intricate sleeves. He raised her upper body to ease the cloth down to her waist, leaving her in a simple white Yuukata.

Eyebrows furrowed, he couldn't believe he was doing all of this. For a girl he barely knew. But it seemed a sense of guilt guided him to dab at the long scratches on her neck, wiping the dried blood from her caramel skin.

He flinched minutely as she winced in her sleep as he went over a particular large gash. Quickly covering her wounds with the gauze, he sat back to admire his work. It was nothing to write home about, but good enough. He walked over to the window where he watched for Sango. He didn't mean to rush her, but he had promised Kagome he'd take her shopping later. Matter of fact, if he hadn't bumped into Kissa once he left his room, he'd be with Kagome right now. But that would entail that Kissa would've died.

He looked back to the girl that lay comatose in her bed. The first time he'd seen her, she had this air of mystery about her and seemed to completely convinced that she shouldn't be here. He couldn't help but agree, other than her strange looks, there was nothing too special about the girl. But with all that being said, he did find it weird that she had little to no scent. She had nothing to differentiate herself from any other, it just seemed muted.

When Sango had finally arrived, he actually released a long, pent up breath he didn't know he was holding.

As she overlooked his work on Kissa's neck, there was a sudden chime going off on his pocket, accompanied by a short vibration. He pulls his phone out, already knowing who it was texting him.

'Where are u?'

"I'm going to get Keade right quick," Sango said, "Watch her okay?"

Inuyasha's face fell. "Sango, I have to go-"

"That doesn't matter." she said, almost viciously. "You owe her that much."

What, saving her form certain death and then patching her up wasn't enough to say sorry?!

He kept that to himself, and nodded stiffly, sliding back down to the floor. Sighing he quickly responded to Kagome's text.

'I'm busy right now.'

Slowly, he knocked the back of his head against the wall, lazily staring up at the ceiling. This was not how he planned his day at all.

'What do you mean?'

He glanced at Kissa lying stiffly in the bed, that arm still hid her eyes. She wasn't going anywhere anytime soon, he surmised.

Quickly he stood, poised at the door. "I'm going out alright?"

With a curt nod of her head, InuYasha threw open the door and headed towards the garage, sending Kagome a text to meet him there.

To hell with the consequences, he'd done his good deed for the day. He needed to see his girl for a while. Although the farther he made it from the woman, the harder the guilt would tug at him, nag at him.

She'll be fine. he convinced himself, pushing the unsavory feeling aside for now, clearing most of the superstition from his head to replace it with his Kagome.

After InuYasha had slipped out the door, I let my eyes close for what I wanted to be for a couple of seconds, but woke out of a deep and troublesome slumber at the soft nudge on my shoulder. Blinking, I turn my drowsy gaze towards Sango, whose face is marred with worry and a hint of anger.

"Hey, are you feeling okay?"

I nod, finding that my throat is still sore and throbbing.

She forces a small smile. "I've brought Keade to see to your wounds."

I force myself to swallow and wince at the pain.

Sango backs away from my bed to a allow an older stout lady near me, Her beady yet wise eye- I noticed she was wearing any eye patch- swept over my rigid form before lingering on Inuyasha's make shift bandages.

"Sango tells me you tried to cross the gate." she says softly.

I sigh inwardly and nod.

"A foolhardy choice child." she says and I frown at her response. Well, apparently we weren't thinking on the same wavelength.

"The enchanted collar around your neck will not allow you exit unless a blood of a Tashio is with you."

At my confused face, Sango explained. "She means InuYasha or Sesshomaru. You can't leave unless they accompany you."

Well hell, she could've told me about this earlier! Seemed like a very important piece of information!

Noticing my inner turmoil, her face flushes and she bows lowly. "I'm soo sorry for not telling you, but I didn't think you'd go so far to escape."

I could hear the honesty in her voice as she apologized and this time I couldn't help but sigh deeply.

Suddenly I could feel Kaeden's fingers glide around the bandages. I jump involuntarily as her warm hands work the wrappings loose. Feeling the cool air hit my open wounds of my neck, I shudder.

As if that wasn't bad enough, I hear the medic draw in a quick breath. I'm not completely clueless as to what it might look like, but I was hoping it wasn't too bad.

After some shuffling around, she reaches in her bag to pull out the proper items. I turn nervous as she takes out a bottle of alcohol, more bandages and some, sickly green concoction.

Oh God.

Her gaze is soft yet stern as she speaks. "The collar has bruised your vocal cords."

"That will take time to heal." she says, opening bottles and swishing things around.

She takes a cotton ball and wets it with alcohol. "The scratches are deep, but they will heal soon." the cold sting of the disinfectant makes me groan in pain. Squeezing my eyes shut, I bite the tip of my tongue, trying to stop myself screaming out loud.

At last, the pain fades into a dull throb, a constant reminder. I sigh, tried swallowing again. It still feels raw and uncomfortable, but I'd have to get used to it.

There is a noticeable rise in the bed as Keade rises with a huff.

"What will you tell Sesshomaru?" Sango asks from the end of my bed. "He's not gonna make her work, is he?"

Keade releases a humorless laugh as she trudges to the door. "It is very clear that the girl is not fit to work, but that will not matter to him."

Before she leaves, she looks back at me and her eyes soften. "It would be wise to plead her case Sango. I wish you both the best of luck."

My still puffy eyes watched as she disappeared behind the door, pondering her last words.

That bastard would make me work?!

I shook my head at my inner monologue. Surely he couldn't be that heartless, could he?

It seems that I wasn't the only one thinking this at the time, as Sango turned to me trying to ease my inner turmoil with a comforting smile.

"He wouldn't do that Kissa. I'll let him know what condition you're in as soon as I leave from here."

You sound so sure. I thought grimly.

I nod, and her smile brightens. Even though I'd only knew her for a couple of days er so, I felt that she was my only friend I'd ever have here. And if things keep going downhill, the only person I would learn how to trust.

Inuyasha was making his way to his side of the garage, trying and failing to remain content about leaving behind a seriously injured Kissa.

"If she's that important, he can watch her himself." He grunted, clicking the button for the garage door to fold open.

He almost reverts back to his care-free self once he sees his black corvette; the afternoon sun glinting off the bumper in such a way that the half demon instantly felt like doing some illegal street racing. What made it even better was the fact that Kagome was leaned against the passenger door in her favorite pair of black skinny jeans and low cut blouse that bellowed about her petite form. He smirks at her while she's busy texting away on her phone.

He saunters right up to her, wraps a tanned arm bout her slender form.

He does not notice his brother leaned leisurely against the side of the door as he steals a kiss from an unsuspecting Kagome.

Only when Sesshomaru flares his aura does InuYasha instantly stop his attack on his girlfriend as she gasps at the aura.

"What the hell do you want?" He growls, protectively stepping in front of kagome. "If you had any pride what so ever, you'd go apologize to Kissa."

His brother remains silent for a moment, before he pushes himself from the wall, eyeing the half demon intently. "If I am correct, did I not put you in charge of watching her?"

Inuyasha bristles at the man. "I know what I did!"

"Then what are you doing here?" He retorted smoothly. "You have your orders."

Inuyasha scoffs. "You're not gonna treat me like your sorry slaves."

Sesshomaru's eyebrow hitches a bit, amused. "Can't I?"

The air is tense for what seems like hours as they grow silent. Words not spoken fed his emotions, making his eyes gleam in anger.

"Because Kissa has been placed in your care, she has also been linked to you via her collar. It would be a matter of time before I activated it, but seeing as you are too stubborn to even follow as simple command, it must be done." Sesshomaru explained, coming further into the garage.

It took a moment for InuYasha to process what he'd said, but once he did, his blood ran cold.

"You wouldn't." He growled. His brother meant to attach a bit of his aura to Kissa's collar, connecting them in a way that would inexplicably trap him into being with her. In other words, he wouldn't be able to leave the property without Kissa if he didn't want another repeat of what had happened earlier.

"What's going on InuYasha?" Kagome asked, finally speaking up.

Within a blink of his eye, Sesshomaru's aura flared again, but this time latching onto Inuyasha's wavering youki. He stiffened as he could feel his brother pull at his aura, thinning it, dragging it back to himself and into a locket of some type he held in his hand.

It was over in a matter of seconds, as Inuyasha felt a bit faint and fatigued. He leans on his car for support and kagome comes to his aid to stabilize him.

"You Bastard!" he called after his retreating brother, who in turn hadn't bothered with a remark.

"InuYasha, what does this mean?" Kagome asked, searching his frantic eyes.

"It means that we have to take a rain check." He muttered angrily, slamming the palm of his hand against the side of his car, denting it. He curses again at his lack of control. "Fuck."

"Can't we just take the girl with us?" Kagome pleads, rubbing his back reassuringly. "I'm sure she wouldn't mind."

"She's in no state for traveling." Inuyasha retorted.

The warmth of her small hand vanishes as it slides from his back, dropping to her side. "I can't believe this."

Inuyasha sighs in disappointment, as he can easily smell it pouring from her.

"I really wanted to go shopping today."

"We'll plan for it later." He replies begrudgingly, still taken aback by what had just transpired. He could feel his aura tethered to the comatose girl laying in her bed yards away. Sighing once again, he tries to shake off the unnerving feeling of apprehension. There would be no way to trigger the collar's defense mechanism unless he leaves the property, without her. Turning to Kagome, he overwhelmed her with his size, engulfing her in a bearish hug.

"It'll be fine, we have the rest of the week." He muttered into her hair, tickling the shell of her ear. But deep inside, he knew Kissa's wounds would leave her bed ridden for longer than a week. All of this because of the girl he held tightly in his arms.

It was an muggy afternoon when I woke up the next day, ominous gray and heavy clouds blocked any chance of the sun's rays. I had a bit of trouble sleeping, but that was to be expected. After I was finished glancing out my bed side window, I looked at the salve I was supposed to put on my injuries. Taking in a big breath, I decided to move, I needed to get out the rest of these damned clothes.

I was actually impressed that I could move correctly, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. Upon sitting up did I notice how much I actually sweated last night, with my hair sticking in weird places on my neck and down my yuukata. The stuffy atmosphere had crept into the room, and it made everything uncomfortable.

Groaning, I stand to try and untie the obi from around my waist.

But with how my luck has been sucking lately, there was no way I would get the knot out without somebody's help. Grasping exaggeratedly at the intricately tied knot, I huffed again out of annoyance. This was starting to piss me off!

Jerking the silky fabric around my waist, I tried to twist it so I could see it. But the more time I wasted had me getting sweaty, tired and even more annoyed than before.

Where's Sango when you need her? I thought to myself desperately.

There's a knock on the door moments after the thought left my head. Throwing caution to the wind, I rushed to it, praying it was her. A smile breaks across my face as I open the door to reveal Sa-

"Eh?!" is all I can squeak out as a somber looking Inuyasha towers over me.

I wince a bit at my spontaneous reaction, bring my hand up to caress my bandaged throat. I really hadn't expected him. And in the current state of distress I was in, the hair sticking to my face, looking rather disheveled and disorientated, I backed out the doorway to slam the door shut, blushing hard.

Apparently, he could already surmise the predicament that I was dealing with as he said, "I could help ya with that, you know?"

I'd rather you not!

But, given the current situation, I had been in this thing for almost two days now, it was hot and ridiculously humid outside, and I desperately needed a shower. These reasons made this decision all the quicker in my case.

Mind made up, I opened the door again where he's still standing with that brooding look on his face. I waved him inside and closed the door after he took his sweet time crossing the threshold.

He stands in the middle of my room, arms crossed, staring down at the twisted obi, probably wondering how I managed to screw it up even more.

I wanna tell him to stop staring and get it off me, but I can't. So instead I pointed at it and mouthed the words 'Get it off.'

He smirks at me, clearly amused by the macho act I was trying to pull off. Maybe because he'd saved my life, I wasn't so afraid of him. He was far more human than that cold hearted asshol-

I'm pulled out of my thoughts as I feel a slight tug on the obi, followed by another. I look down to see tanned fingers loosen the ties with a delicate ease that had me blushing.

"My mom used to wear Kimono's a lot, she taught me how to untie them."

He said, his voice sounds somber, almost thundering within the silence of my room.

Looking up, I find his eyes tracking every movement of his hands, staying attentive to the job at hand. "She taught me a lot of useless things like this."

Well it came in handy today. I wanted to say, but I stayed still instead, listening to quiet ruffles of the silk. Silence consumes us again as his amber gaze briefly meets mine. "Finished."

Blinking in surprise, the obi is nothing but fabric laying at my feet. Seeing as that was the only thing holding the outfit closed, I quickly hugged the kimono close before I could show the guy all my goodies.

But it seems that didn't matter, because his back was turned.

"Look," he sighs, back still to me. "I'm sorry about before. I should've been there earlier." He scoffs dryly. "It's my job to protect you, and now I have no choice but to."

I stand behind him a bit confused by his words. What was he trying to say?

Shoving his hands in his pockets, he turns his head to glance at me. "I'll explain it later."

With that being said, he takes his leave and I'm left with more questions than answers.

A/N: okay so, what sesshomaru did was attach inuyasha youki, his demonic aura to kissa's collar. The locket he used is a means of keeping that bond in tact, as he is the one pulling all the strings here. So, it's like Kissa is connected by an invisible leash to Inuyahsa, and now if he decides to take leave the premises, then he's gonna hafta bring her.

I understand if some of you are confused, but that's what I'm here for.

Any questions, comments or problems let me know whenever!

Thanks for reading!

-Kasumi