A/N: Okay, so do you all remember that little creature from the last chapter? ^_^" I drew a really really good picture of it. I'll give everyone a link to it eventually (after I get it back from my teacher XD). Disclaimers, thanks to reviewers, and enjoy!

ALSO! HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT! I've been considering making THREE prequels to this fanfic :3 One about how Izayoi and Inutaisho met, how Rin and Sesshomaru met, and what happened between Kikyo and Inuyasha! If you'd like me to write one of these are all of them, I have a poll up! Feel free to vote and after this fanfic is over, I'll check the results and decide!

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

Inuyasha scowled as Kagome giggled and stroked the head of the creepy thing at her side. The creature gave a purr, its snake-like tongue snaking out for a brief moment as it tasted the air. "Kagome," he growled, "I've told you to get rid of that fucking thing."

Kagome frowned as the creature laid its head in her lap. "Ignore Inuyasha, he's jealous, Kuricha."

"…Kuricha?"

"Yeah, that its name," Kagome replied, smiling slightly. "This one, the good one, is Kuricha. The other one, the scary one, is Jigoku. Together, their names mean "hellish creature". Jigoku no Kuricha."

Inuyasha shuddered, curling a lip at Kuricha. "There's something wrong with you, Kagome," he decided, shaking his head.

Kagome giggled, gently pushing her companion off and standing, brushing her legs off. "Now," she told Inuyasha. "If you would please excuse me, I have some things to do at home and unpack."

Inuyasha stiffened, immediately shaking his head. "No," he snarled furiously. Kagome jumped in surprise. "You're not going anywhere! You're staying here, at the mansion!"

"What!?" Kagome snapped, glaring at him. "Excuse me, but I'm not exactly sure I said you could boss me around."
"You're my fiancé!" Inuyasha snarled, hands becoming clenched into fists.

"Uh, no! I'm not!" Kagome raged furiously, spitting mad. "Maybe I was once, but I'm not anymore! And even if I did remember you, I doubt I'd be willing to get married to you, you bastard!"
Inuyasha's eyes widened in shock, pain filtering into his sharp golden eyes. Kagome just sniffed, patting Kuricha's head, and mumbling, "Come on, Kuricha. Let's go."

Suddenly, a clawed hand snatched Kagome up by the back of her shirt. Kagome yelped in surprise as she was thrown to the floor, giving a small cry of surprise and pain. Kuricha was immediately snarling, talons clicking as it stepped forward and threateningly bared its fangs, mouth stretching open to the point of impossibility, revealing massive razor like teeth.

Kagome gasped, shocked when she saw the furious red eyes of Inuyasha. "I-I-Inu-yasha?" she stammered, whimpering.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew this had happened before.

Red eyes…claws flashing, aimed at her head…the scream that left her throat as she landed in a pile of glass…crazed eyes as the demon slammed into her car…the sobs escaping her as the building exploded…intense grief filling her heart…pain…blood everywhere…

A panicked scream bubbled up from Kagome's throat, and she choked on it, gasping, "NO! Kuricha, no, no! Don't hurt him! NO!"

Kuricha stopped, closing its mouth with a confused whine.

"Back!" Kagome shrieked at it, "Get back!"

Kuricha growled, the sound bubbling in its throat, but it stepped back, giving a small rasping sound.

Inuyasha snarled, glaring furiously down at Kagome, completely ignoring Kuricha. "Stay!"

Kagome recoiled, whispering, "Inuyasha, c-calm down," she pleaded.

The demon ignored her, crouching down and glaring at her, lowering his head so that his face was inches from hers, his fangs bared furiously. Kagome's breathing quickened. Inuyasha gingerly sniffed at her throat and Kuricha gave an uncertain rasp. "Don't move," Kagome whispered to her companion.

Inuyasha growled warningly, fangs pricking her throat before he gently took her hand, pulling her wrist up to his eyes. He made a rumbling sound, nuzzling her wrist, while Kagome struggled to think of why exactly he'd gone full demon.

And where his sword the Tetsusaiga was.

And how the hell she knew what the Tetsusaiga even was.

"Mine."

Kagome jumped in surprise, ignoring the prick as his fangs clipped her wrist. "C-calm down, Inuyasha," she murmured, gently reaching up and tugging on his bangs. "I'm not going anywhere." She gave a faint smile.

"What's going on here?"

Kagome rolled her head back and gasped. "Sesshomaru!"

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes as Inuyasha sprang back, snarling, red eyes glittering in fury. "…what occurred here?" He demanded, noting the fact that the strange creature Kagome claimed was safe was slinking towards Inuyasha, teeth bared. "Call back the thing."

"Kuricha!" Kagome snapped. "No!" She sat up and Kuricha fled to her side, pressing its quivering form against her. Kuricha hissed, its eyeless head facing Inuyasha, daring him to touch its master again.

Inuyasha returned the snarl.

Sesshomaru grunted, demanding, "What happened?"

"I said I was going to leave and that even if I was engaged to him once, I wouldn't agree to it ever again?" she said quietly.

Sesshomaru gave a furious growl at her. "Then it's no surprise that he went full youkai, you stupid woman."

"What?!" Kagome shrieked as she sat up, ignoring Inuyasha's furious growl, glaring at Sesshomaru. "What do you mean, no surprise!? Make him stop, he's scaring me!"

"…no," Sesshomaru decided. "I will do no such thing."

Inuyasha growled in frustration as Kuricha's head weaved, baring its teeth and daring Inuyasha to come near its master. Inuyasha merely scowled, and prepared to launch himself at Kuricha.

"Please!" Kagome pleaded.

"No."

"SESSHOMARU!" A voice suddenly screamed, "GET YOUR ASS OVER THERE AND CALM HIM DOWN!"

Sesshomaru winced, growling as he ducked his head. "Rin," he grumbled, "She was trying to leave after he used the Mark of Intent. She was being ridiculous."

"I don't care, Inuyasha will be even more upset, and he'll kill you if he figures out that you didn't stop him." Rin snapped, arms crossed and glared at him.

Sesshomaru just scowled at her, but listened and sent a growl at Inuyasha. Inuyasha snarled back and soon a conversation in the language of dog demon had begun, quickly turning into a very loud argument.

As this occurred, Kagome used Kuricha to climb to her feet, shaking. "Rin-chan," she whispered. "Thanks."

Rin winked, glaring at her mate and husband. "Of course, Kagome. Though I'm sure I agree with Sesshomaru. With Inuyasha's demon side on the tipping edge, I'd suggest you at least stay in the mansion for some time. Not necessarily in his room, but in the mansion. That little mark on your wrist?" she pointed. "That's the Mark of Intent. That means Inuyasha intends to mark you soon and no male can get close to you. If they touch you….zap! They get burned or electrocuted. It also means that he intends on mating you soon, hence the name."

Kagome stared blankly at her. "…Excuse me?"
"Yeah, you don't have to worry about Magatsuhi touching you anymore," Rin said cheerfully, beaming at Kagome. "He'll just get burned or electrocuted every time he tries to touch you! So you're safe!"

Kagome stared for another moment at Rin, and then whirled on the slowly changing back Inuyasha, who was still in a heated argument with his half-brother. "You…you," she stammered, trying to come up with the right words to express her feelings. "I…you…he…we…WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!?"

Even Kuricha jumped at the unexpected loud tone she used as she bellowed at Inuyasha, her eyes sparking furiously as she stalked over and snarled, "WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?! SIT!"
Crash!

There was silence except for Kagome's heavy breathing and the sound of a picture falling, hitting the ground with a faint thud.

Inuyasha's normal golden eyes blinked as he lifted his face from the ground, struggling to get up as the weight of the necklace he wore kept him down. "…what the hell?"
Kagome blinked in confusion, frowning. "What happened? Why did he fall like that, Rin-chan?"

Rin shot a look over at Kagome, her brown eyes wide. "…you said it," she whispered. "You said the word!" Rin began to grow excited, clapping, completely forgetting her anger towards her mate and husband.

` "Err, what word?" Kagome demanded, obviously very lost and confused. "Did I do something wrong?"

Inuyasha grunted as he sat up, rubbing his head with a small growl. "Of all the things you remember of me," he croaked, "You remember that." Despite his words, the half-demon had a small grin on his face that was slowly becoming a large one, his eyes eager as he looked up at Kagome.

Kagome glowered at him, giving him a soft kick to the gut that, despite the gentleness of it, forced him to cough and wheeze, attempting to catch his breath as he grinned. "I can't believe….I can't believe that you, you silly girl…remembered of all things…that word."

Kagome looked at him strangely as she reassuringly stroked Kuricha's head. Kuricha purred, rasping as it rubbed against her legs and Inuyasha burst into laughter. "…is this normal?" she asked in a soft voice, glancing warily at Rin.

Rin grinned. "No…he's just…"

"…happy." Sesshomaru offered quietly, having returned to his mate's side, nuzzling her head.

"For the first time in over a year," Rin concluded.

Inuyasha, by now, had toppled onto his back, breathless with laughter. "Damn right I'm happy," he croaked. "Finally she remembers something that's not too bad."

Kagome warily poked him with her foot. "Are you o- EEK! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

Inuyasha grinned as he grabbed her foot and jerked her gently, pulling her down and allowing him to crash into his chest again, ignoring the fact that the breath had left him again. "My wench," he said out loud, happily, gently nuzzling her head.

Kagome flushed red, squirming to get away from him. "Let go of me!"
Kuricha gave an uncertain whine.

Rin and Sesshomaru merely looked at each other, a frown spreading across Sesshomaru's face, a smile across Rin's.

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

He gritted his teeth in anger as he watched the pathetic half-demon laugh breathlessly, Kagome red as she tried to pull away.

And of course, the creature whose heart lay in his hands.

Kuricha.

He had sent the wrong one.

Damn.

Magatsuhi snarled, turning away and glaring furiously up at the sliver of the moon. A smirk spread across his face. Little did they know, he knew everything.

He knew that Miroku was staying at the hospital tomorrow night with his wife.

He knew that Shippo would be at a friend's house.

He knew that Rin and Sesshomaru would be away on a business trip for the next few weeks.

He knew that Inuyasha would be human tomorrow night.

And, he knew, a grin spreading across his face, that Kagome would be entirely helpless the next night, as long as Kuricha died.

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

Sesshomaru sniffed the air as he and Rin strode towards their shared BMW, his eyes wary.

Rin leaned on him, "What's wrong, Sessh?" She whispered.

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes furiously. "He was here," the demon snarled, his arm winding around his mate and pulling her up against him, claws flexing possessively on her hip.

"Who, Sesshomaru?" Rin demanded, gently patting his hand.

"Magatsuhi. He was here not too long ago," Sesshomaru murmured, pressing his lips to her forehead.

"Don't worry," Rin said, gently, "Inuyasha's here. He'll keep an eye on the place while we're gone, alright? Besides, Kuricha and Kagome are here as well-"

"I don't trust that thing."
"I know you don't," Rin soothed, touching her husband's cheek and running her finger's down the two magenta stripes on his cheeks. "But we have no choice but to trust it because Kagome trusts it," she told him, smiling gently, eyes twinkling. "Besides, I thought I told you…" she stood on tip toe, whispering something in his ear. Sesshomaru's eyes widened, shocked that his mate had even thought to say something like she did.

Rin beamed. "I do want a kid eventually, you know."

Sesshomaru gave a faint smile, gently kissing her nose. "When we reach the hotel, we will get right to work on that then."

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

Inuyasha growled softly, glancing at the time. The sun was supposed to set in less than ten minutes and Inuyasha was definitely frantic.

Kagome glanced over at him, raising an eyebrow. "What are you growling at now?" she demanded, stroking Kuricha's head. Kuricha purred, nuzzling her hand and Inuyasha shuddered.

"Could you please get rid of that thing?" He demanded, eyes flashing furiously. "It's giving me the creeps."

Kagome shook her head, glaring back at him. "No way, this is the only thing that's keeping me from knocking the hell out of your head right now, Inuyasha. Would you rather me beat you or would you rather me keep myself busy by messing around with- Kuricha? Kuricha, what's wrong?"

The creature had suddenly begun to writhe in Kagome's lap and Kagome cringed as its talons raked down her arm, blood spattering the couch she sat on. Inuyasha was immediately on his feet with a furious snarl. "What the hell-"

Kuricha gave an ear piercing screech and Kagome shoved away, holding her arm as she frowned, demanding, "Kuricha!? What's wrong?!"
Talons flashed and Inuyasha jerked his intended mate away from the creature as it wailed. "Stay back, Kagome! Something's not- damn it, no! Not now!"

Kagome's head jerked around in time to see Inuyasha's silver hair bleed black, his ears disappearing and his fangs and claws shrinking. "Inuyasha?!"
Silence.

Kagome hesitantly approached Kuricha, temporarily forgetting about the half-demon. "Kuricha?" She whispered. Kuricha didn't respond. Kagome hesitantly touched Kuricha's side. Kuricha didn't move, didn't breathe, and was ice cold.

"Kuricha's dead," Kagome whispered, immediately fleeing back to Inuyasha's side, ignoring the frustrated look the half-demon-turned-human gave as he tried to sniff he air with a human nose. "That means…."

Kagome gave a sharp intake, jerking her head around. "Inuyasha, Magatsuhi's here," he said urgently.

Inuyasha cast her a sharp look, narrowing his eyes. "We need to get out of here then," he replied, grabbing her by the wrist and dragging her out of the room, pressing a phone to his ear and saying sharply, "Oi, Sesshomaru!"

Sesshomaru answered. "What is it that you need half-breed?"

"We have trouble," Inuyasha hissed. "That bastard-" he broke off with a hiss when Kagome screamed and glass shattered. "That bastard's in our home! And I'm human right now!"
Sesshomaru cursed, and a screeching could be heard. "We are on our way back. Stay out of the way of danger until we arrive." Click.

Kagome lifted her head as Inuyasha tossed the phone over his shoulder, removing his hand from the back of her head. "You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," Kagome gasped, obviously shaken.

"Come on!" Inuyasha demanded, jerking her towards the front door.

"Ah, so you believe that this wasn't planned to the last detail?"

They froze, and Kagome cringed into Inuyasha's side. "Magatsuhi," she said stiffly.

Inuyasha attempted a growl, blocking said demon's view of Kagome, the rusty Tetsusaiga drawn and pointed. "Get out of my house," he demanded.

"I think not," Magatsuhi replied, shoving a hand through light lavender hair. "You see, Kagome has directly disobeyed me multiple times. I told her punishment would not be a kind one. I've merely come to retrieve her and deal her punishment before I am ready to continue on with my plan. So I'll leave you unharmed if you willingly hand her over, Inuyasha Takahashi."

"Never," Inuyasha snapped, pressing back against Kagome.

Kagome quivered, narrowing her eyes. "Inuyasha, stop," she said suddenly, her voice calm as she stepped out from behind him. She gave a faint smile. "I apologize, Magatsuhi-sama," her voice became emotionless. "I was merely distracting him in order to keep him from hunting after you."

Even Magatsuhi was shocked. Inuyasha blinked and he then frowned, gently grabbing her wrist. "Kagome," he said with a growl, "what are you doing?"

Kagome shook him off, taking a step to Magatsuhi. "I will admit, however, that I deserve the punishment you have planned. If you would consider leaving Inuyasha alone, as well as the rest of his family and Sango-chan and Miroku-sama, I will go with you."

Magatsuhi considered this. "Fine," he finally said, waving a hand.

Kagome shot Inuyasha a smile, mouthing, I'll be back! Before she vanished.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha snarled his hand grasping air. "Damn it! Bring her back, you bastard!"

Magatsuhi grinned, eyes glowing with triumph. "And she honestly thought I'd leave you alone! She is a hopeless girl. Have no fear, Inuyasha, I will return her shortly. Your Mark is not effective tonight, after all.

With that, Magatsuhi was gone, leaving Inuyasha alone to panic.

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

A/N: Terrible chapter that's too short, but what can ya do? Hope you enjoyed :D