A/N: Sorry for the delay! I'm going to be truly busy for the next few months, but I will do my best to get at least another chapter out before the end of August. I couldn't sleep last night, as I was busy thinking about this story again, so never fear--I am doing the best I can to keep working on it and to finish it before the end of the year, if possible. Thank you all for reviewing and for reading!

Why? What have I done to offend thee o mighty and really pissy god?

Kagome had locked herself in the first stall she could find. She felt the warm tears turn cold as they fell down her cheeks but didn't bother to wipe them away. For some reason, she found that if she concentrated hard enough on the cold, wet paths cut by them, it was easier to not think about what had just happened. She'd been trying not to think about this morning… what she'd said to him…

Reasoning that there was no possible way to any more mortified today Kagome decided to give in to her inner five-year-old.

"SSSSSHHHHIIIIIIIIIIITTTT!" Kagome let her lungs empty of air, enjoying being proactive about this situation and not just sitting in silent misery. As she took a calming breath, however, she heard an elderly woman's voice from the next stall call out to her.

"Goodness… what did you order?"

Not being able to think of some witty reply, Kagome answered honestly, "Chicken fried steak and egg breakfast… (sniffle)"

There was a moment of silence. Kagome could hear the woman leave her stall and what must have been the clack of her walker making its way to the sink. After washing her hands and drying them, Kagome was beginning to think that perhaps her honesty had saved her from further embarrassment.

Then the woman spoke again. "Thanks. I've had some nasty bouts with the porcelain poltergeist myself, but never anything as terrible as what you've just been through, child. Chicken fried steak and eggs, eh? Not here, I won't!" Kagome heard door open and the frenzied clatter of a walker fading away.

Wow. Just when you think you've heard it all… maybe I just won't go into another bathroom until I am back, safe at my own sweet apartment…

And as if she wasn't feeling poorly enough, the last thought reminded her once more of her uncomfortable predicament.

She really didn't know why she had said that to Inu Yasha. Yes, she thought about him constantly, but did she really love him? Maybe she just said it in the heat of the moment… How could she be in love? She'd known him for what? Six, seven days? He was rude, mean, and had said straight to her face that he didn't want her around.

But… those things he was saying… she couldn't just sit there and listen to him. She had to say something. Was that why she felt so bad about all this? What if she had only said it without meaning it? Kagome sighed heavily as she forced herself to wade through these uncomfortable thoughts.

What if she really was in love? She'd heard of weirder things: people falling in love with pen pals on death row and marrying a complete stranger—a complete psychotic and dangerous stranger. So why couldn't she fall in love with a dangerous, incredibly handsome, half-human-half-demon, quasi-stranger?

Suddenly clips began to flash through Kagome's sub-consciousness: Inu Yasha taking a picture of her crying… holding her letter from home above her reaching hands while smirking down at her… calling her a 'wench'...

At this, she felt her wavering feelings solidify on the angry end of her emotional spectrum.

He was acting like this huge martyr by trying to carry everything alone. Did he think that Kagome didn't already know that he was a hanyou and a fugitive and a jerk? Well, she did know. She knew all of that! …but she also knew that there was more to him than that.

He tries to act like nothing hurts him and that he doesn't care about anyone but himself. He is so afraid of trusting anyone that he pushes away anyone who even starts to get close to him. He was so… so selfish! Kagome been nothing but supportive of him. Not that he'd asked her to tag along... But anyone else would have made a break for it back on Friday afternoon and gone to the police. Didn't that count for something? And as if he had any reason to doubt her, she had said it—straight to his face: I will not leave you. Or even worse: how can I forget someone I'm in love with?!

Even at the memory of saying it, she felt a renewed wave of embarrassment crash over her. What a corny thing to say! What, am I the heroine of some cheesy shojo comic? I cannot believe I said that to him… But even as she tried to justify her feeling of humiliation, a part of her had to admit that she meant every word; even now. Sure, maybe she was rushing things a bit by saying she was in love, but that didn't mean that he meant nothing to her. Even though she was frightened and facing things she was never prepared for, she couldn't imagine walking away from him.

The sentimental/romantic part of her said it must be love. Hmph. Maybe the Disney brand of love where physical closeness between a male and female guarantees instant chemistry and lasting happiness: 'I know I just met you two days ago, but you are the love of my life! Marry me! (swoon)' Spare me. Or, possibly worse, there was the 'love' from romance novels. 'I know he treats me like dirt, but I love him!' Ugh. If that's the kind of 'love' I feel right now then I don't want it. If I am going to be in love, then by god, I am going to do it right and on my terms!

I won't read more into his words or actions or lack thereof.

I won't convince myself that lust is more than just that. A good body doesn't mean a good person and vice versa.

…but…

I won't convince myself that love doesn't exist.

I won't believe that I am unattractive or undesirable just because one stinking male doesn't fall all over himself every time I walk in the room.

I might find the love that every chick-flick since the dawn of time has promised me, and I might not. … but by god, I will know the difference.

Kagome wiped the remaining tears from her eyes and face. She felt a new confidence; an unprecedented level of control in her life. And she liked it.

I don't know if I am in love with him, but I will not be afraid of him… or of myself.

She washed her hands and face at the sink and smiled as she prepared herself to walk back out into the world with her chin held high and her heart braced for whatever the hanyou threw at her next. She threw open the bathroom door and felt her stomach sink to her feet.

He was gone. There was no food, no bill and no Inu Yasha.

As she stood there, mouth agape, she slowly began to notice other customers looking her way and whispering behind hands and menus.

Blinking away new angry tears, Kagome quickly walked out of the diner.

So much for that idea.

--

He awoke with a start at the sound of a bland voice calling for "HOE-JOE… WILL HOE-JOE PLEASE REPORT TO SECURITY. YOUR PARTY IS WAITING FOR YOU…"

Massaging the crick in his neck, Hojo began to slowly gather together his belongings gathered from nearly 48 hours' residency at terminal 22-A. Children had been leaving offerings of vending machine snacks and small toys to amuse the poor young man. After figuring out his predicament Hojo had foraged around and fashioned a sign reading: STRANDED, JAPANESE AND CONFUSED. PLEASE BE KIND.

A few hours ago, he had been paged for a phone call from Mrs. Higurashi, explaining the situation. Apparently, Kagome-san had been kidnapped by a dangerous and unstable hanyou and her friends from here were about to go after them. For whatever reason, though, they were kind enough to agree to come by and pick up Hojo in Boston before setting off on their journey. What noble and kind friends Kagome-san has!

The droning voice repeated the call for Hojo to report to the security desk. With all his newfound treasures/offerings packed carefully away and his area nice and tidy, Hojo turned to meet his new friends and embark on a great journey to save his fair Kagome!

--

Koga was picking his teeth with a claw when Sango nudged him in the ribcage. They had been on Hojo's rescue mission together for only a few hours but they were all already feeling a bit… stressed.

There had been a loud and lengthy "discussion" over whether or not they would make the trip to Boston to pick up the mystery-man. Sango said it was none of their business and illogical to drive four hours in what may be the exact opposite direction of where Inu Yasha and Kagome might be. Koga made it perfectly clear that if he met this human who supposedly was trying to claim Kagome for his own, he would disembowel him on sight. Miroku, however, pointed out that while driving to Boston might not be helping them find Kagome, it would give them something to do other than sit at home and twiddle their thumbs.

So as the three of them stood waiting in the atrium of the Boston airport, Miroku did his best to transfer some hostility towards himself, rather than let the innocent Hojo take the brunt of Sango and Koga's frustrations. He was on his seventeenth verse of "It's a Small World, After all" and his girlfriend and the wolf demon were indeed exuding waves of hostility in his direction.

Miroku could feel that his luck was running out and prayed fervently that this Hojo kid would show up already. Suddenly, he was forced to break off verse eighteen to find the source of a loud commotion. Near the sliding glass doors marking the entrance several security guards were trying to rescue a man who looked to be in his early twenties from the clutches of the doors. The man's backpack was so grossly large that it had been caught as the doors were closing. As he was of Asian decent and looking moderately disheveled, Miroku had absolutely no doubt that the infamous Hojo had made his entrance.

Sighing quietly, Miroku prepared himself for what he knew was going to be a very trying ordeal.

--

Kagome skulked out of the restaurant, planning whatever revenge she could against Inu Yasha, until she was literally stopped in her tracks by running into the backside of someone waiting outside the diner.

Mortified once more, Kagome brushed some tears aside and stammered a hasty apology as she tried to walk past the man without making eye contact. The man suddenly reached out and grabbed her by the arm and turned her to face him. In her confusion and fear, Kagome closed her eyes tight, screamed and began to struggle against his steely grip. "Let-me-go!" She accentuated the last word with her strongest kick landing squarely in her captor's crotch.

She only opened her eyes when she heard something crash to the ground as the man yelped in pain. Yelp. As in, the sound a puppy would make. SHIT. Kagome opened her eyes finally to see Inu Yasha doubled over on the pavement. Putting things together, Kagome looked next to the crumpled hanyou and confirmed her fears. She heard something falling after racking Inu Yasha; it was their food. He had had the food boxed up and was waiting for her outside. He didn't just leave her. He was trying to be nice and she had attacked him.

Crying for the third or fourth time that night (she'd lost count), Kagome looked down at him, trying to find words… any words to fit this situation. When none came, she sat quietly beside his crumpled and gasping form, to wait for his breath to return. She couldn't help thinking with a small smile, Well, the ball's in his court now…

--

In the hotel room that night, Kagome pulled the covers tightly against her chin. They hadn't said a word since she'd nearly destroyed the family jewels. Inu Yasha, surprisingly, had not berated her or even tried for guilt/sympathy points. He slowly sat up and composed himself. They'd sat there for a minute or so when he stood up and offered a hand to help Kagome to her feet. After that he hadn't even made eye contact with her.

She was exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster she'd been on today. Every time she would replay the day's events she would only become more confused. It was like picking the petals of a daisy. I'm falling in love; I hate his guts; I'm falling in love; I hate his guts... She'd tossed and turned for hours before sleep mercifully muted her thoughts.

In the morning she wouldn't remember the last thought to go through her mind before falling asleep: Love or hate, I wouldn't rather be anywhere else but here…

--

Inu Yasha was having a bit more trouble being honest with himself. The last time he'd gotten this close to being close with anyone was Kikyo. And what a mistake that was! He thought bitterly. It briefly crossed his mind that there was a startling resemblance between his ex-lover and this new… person. He didn't know how to think of Kagome. She wasn't really his type, for one thing: being with Kikyo was a first and last mistake, he reminded himself. Kikyo was pretty hot for a human and she had this dangerous thing about her, but Kagome… she looks like a child version of Kikyo… Innocent. That was Kagome…

He turned over again under his blanket. These thoughts were too frank, too real, for him to pursue. He heard Kagome turning over, too, muttering gently in her state of semi-sleep. For the millionth time he cursed himself for being too weak to walk away from her. He knew it wouldn't be much longer until they either got to Vegas or were caught. Things were going too smoothly, though, and the only thing that bothered him more than that was the idea of her being caught in the middle of his mess.

Okay, he didn't hate her. He was perfectly willing to admit that. She was a lot of fun to be around—when she wasn't being weird or annoying. Or when she wasn't saying things he couldn't handle.

"I will not leave you."

Punching his pillow, he felt himself flushing again at her words. It was times like this that he almost wished he had people to talk to about this sort of crap.

"How can I forget someone I'm in love with?!"

How could she say that? This was the problem with females: complication. They complicated everything! He was trying to be nice and save her a lot of trouble and possibly pain and what does she do? She says she's in LOVE with him! How selfish is that? He was trying to be nice and what does she do? She makes his problem her problem.

And then, just when things were finally getting comfortable again, what does he do? He screws it up! He wished he could just forget the look on her face when he'd said "Yeah, a pig you're in love with!"

He groaned in his mind again at the memory. It was like telling a kid that they'd just had the Easter Bunny for dinner. …But it was her fault, dammit! It was her fault for saying that she was… in love…

He didn't remember the last thought that floated through his mind before sleep claimed him. The only thing worse than her saying it was… that I was so happy when to hear it.

--

As conscious thoughts began to surface in Kagome's mind, the first thing to come up was in regards to the day of the week. Mrph… what day is it… Oh, it's Monday… As that thought sunk in, Kagome sat bolt upright in her bed. It was still dark in the room, but she'd always kept a thick blanket over her windows to shut out light and cold, so she had no idea of the time. She turned to look at the clock and froze when she read the time as 10:32 AM.

"CRAP! I missed class!" Kagome screamed and jumped out of bed, frantically untangling herself from her sheets and running straight into solid wall where her closet should have been. The last thing she remembered was falling and hitting her head on something sharp and before the blackness came.

When she woke again, her head felt like it was in a vice. Kagome tried to turn over onto her stomach but realized that she was somehow trapped. She tried to open her eyes but closed them immediately when light pierced her retinas. As she struggled to open her eyes, she heard a voice creeping into her consciousness. "…ome… Kagome… OI WENCH?!"

Her hands flew to her ears to protect them from this verbal onslaught only to find another pair of hands already there. As this registered, her brain put 1 and B together: Inu Yasha was straddled across her, holding her head in his hands and screaming at her to wake up. She forced herself to peek at her surroundings to confirm this wild story which her brain had concocted and only noticed the look of panic on his face before she winced and closed her eyes as he shook her again.

"Kagome? Are you alright?!"

"Ugh, I will be as soon as you stop screaming and shaking me." She felt his hands relax and allowed herself a tiny smile. "You could also get off of me, you know…"

When there was no movement, she opened her eyes again. She saw the look of panic still on his face, if not a little relief, too. He wasn't gripping her head now, but one hand was holding her gently behind her head. She felt a rough hand wipe away hair from her face and watched Inu Yasha as he watched her. He seemed to be trying to convince himself that she really was alright. Kagome swallowed with enormous difficulty.

When his eyes met hers again, she saw him unguarded for the first time. There was so much sadness and age in his eyes, she felt the initial threat of tears. Quickly she turned from him and the intensity of his gold eyes and leaned on one arm while using the other to gently push him aside.

They each froze as they waited for the other to take the next step. Neither seemed willing to move first.

Kagome finally began to sit up but wavered as nausea washed over her. Inu Yasha twitched as if to move to her side but stopped before his arms could reach her. He seemed to have made a decision as he nodded briefly to himself and turned his back on her. When he spoke, Kagome could hear the forced gruffness in his voice. "You idiot. You aren't home. Be careful, will ya? You nearly gave me a heart attack, screaming like that, you know. I couldn't see with the curtains pulled and nearly tripped over you when I went to open them. You must've run into the wall and hit your head on the chair when you fell. You'll have a monster goose-egg for a few days. Wouldn't be surprised if you gave yourself a freaking concussion."

As he told her this, he'd gone to the small container for ice and deposited a few cubes into a clean washcloth. He walked back to her in silence and handed her the washcloth without any further words. When she gingerly reached up and accepted the makeshift icepack, he turned immediately and began to prepare for departure.

Kagome winced as she put the icepack to her temple. The throbbing began to slowly subside as she thought of something. "Inu Yasha?"

"Mm?" He didn't look at her when he responded.

"Um, how long was I… you know, out?" She finished lamely.

He paused, as though, unsure he should answer. "…I don't know. What, you think I was counting the seconds or something?" he answered tartly.

Too tired and in too much pain to take the bait, Kagome sighed and said, "No problem. Thanks for the ice." And slowly began to stand up and begin putting herself together for the day to come.

--

It was Monday already. Kagome had been missing since Friday afternoon and Sango was still waiting around with tweedle-dee, tweedle-dum, and tweedle-dumbass with nothing to do but worry.

They were all staying at Sango's place so that the moment news came, they could be on the road. Oddly, Miroku had been the one so far to keep the peace. He'd kept his hands to himself since they picked up Hojo and was setting a cheerful mood and keeping conversations light. He'd tried to make small talk with the new comer, Hojo, but had quickly realized the folly there. The boy didn't seem to have two brain-cells to rub together, poor thing. He was cute, Sango admitted that much to herself, but the serious lack of independent thought brought his average waaaaaaay down.

Again, Sango tried Kagome's cell phone number. She'd been calling all weekend, trying to make contact with her friend, but her phone was either dead, off, or out of network. Sango cursed the thieving cell phone companies again. More bars in more places, my ass. She thought bitterly.

--

They had a routine by now. When they woke up, Kagome and Inu Yasha would both don bathrobes and take their clothing to the hotel laundry facilities, if available. One would stay to watch the clothes while the other showered first. Usually about the time that the washer was done, they would switch out. Whoever showered first was also responsible for raiding the kitchen buffet/mini-fridge and bringing supplies to the other.

Kagome had lost at jan ken for the first time in a long time and was now sitting beside the washing machine, still holding the washcloth to her temple. She was re-playing this morning in her mind for the eighth time already.

With a small smile to herself, she sighed and thought, So that's how you fall in love…

--

In the car, neither party seemed willing to speak. Too much awkwardness in too short a period will kill a good conversation every time. Kagome looked out her window as usual, while idly feeling the growing bump on her forehead. It already looked terrible. Add to that the fact that she'd barely slept last night and she looked beyond terrible.

Inu Yasha was trying to play it cool, Kagome could tell. He seemed to focus on the road and look bored but Kagome saw through his macho act. He shifted in his seat every minute or so and kept sighing heavily. Add to that the white knuckles gripping the steering wheel and she knew darn well that he was just as confused/upset as she was.

She was smiling at that thought when she heard the noise coming from the back seat. Funny, she thought, that almost sounds like a cell phone vibrating… She turned to Inu Yasha to mention this when she saw his reaction to the noise. He was casting guilty glances between Kagome and the backseat and wringing his hands on the steering wheel.

Barely believing he could possibly have hidden this from her, she coolly stared him down, waiting for the indignant denial that would free her from the obligatory beating she was planning for him.

When he didn't deny it, but merely turned away from her gaze and flattened his ears against his head, she threw off her seat belt and began climbing into the backseat to investigate for herself.

Unfortunately, she forgot a few things before taking this course of action.

1. She was wearing a skirt

2. You can see a lot in a rear view mirror (no pun intended)

3. Inu Yasha was trying to drive a technically stolen vehicle down a small town road

4. Inu Yasha, however he may try to deny it, was still a male

So as she flung herself half-way over the front seat, Inu Yasha was granted a rare sight—a full view of Kagome's Hello Kitty panties. Transfixed by this image, he forgot that he'd taken his eyes off the road. Actually, he'd taken the whole car off the road while his eyes had wandered.

Kagome, meanwhile, had found a cellular phone inside a pocket of the sword's carrying case. She had barely had a chance to answer it when the car went off the pavement. She heard a woman's voice on the other line before dropping the phone in her own attempt to keep from flying across the out of control vehicle.

Kagome directed every foul word she could think of at an already swearing and oddly red hanyou.

When the car finally rolled to a stop, Kagome turned to Inu Yasha, a goddess of vengeance and destruction. She grabbed his shirt in both hands and blinked back tears as she interrogated him.

"Why didn't you tell me you had a freaking cell phone?! What the HELL is wrong with you? If you had a gee-dee cell phone, why didn't you let me call my friends or family? Do you have any idea how guilty I feel for letting them worry about me for so long?! I've been gone for almost three days, now! What if Sango's called my mother and my mother is worrying about me? Huh? Well, jerkface? I know you're selfish and as long as I am the only one being hurt, it doesn't matter! But you listen here, you had NO RIGHT to let everyone else worry about me!"

She saw the mixed looks of panic, remorse and the old sadness play across his face before she released him to search for the phone she'd dropped earlier. When she found the phone again, she saw the other caller hadn't hung up yet. Embarrassed that someone may have overheard this, she put the phone to her ear to see if they had heard her.

"Uh, I'm so sorry…" Kagome stammered into the phone. A delicate and distinctly Japanese woman's voice responded, unsurprised.

"Ah. Moshi-moshi? Inu Yasha ga…"

"Ah. Hello? Is Inu Yasha there?"

"Eh? Inu Yasha? Aa. Hai. Chyoutto matte kudasai…"

"Oh? Inu Yasha? Um, yeah, hold on a second please…"

Inu Yasha's ears perked at the sound of his name and took the phone as Kagome wordlessly handed it to him. He didn't bother with Japanese as he arrogantly answered.

"Oi. What the hell do you want?"

Kagome saw the smirk disappear and turn to anger and fear when the woman responded to his question. She wished she could hear as well as the half-demon could, as she was fairly sure Inu Yasha wouldn't repeat what the woman had said to shake him so much. Inu Yasha crushed the phone in his one hand suddenly and threw the remnants out the window, sending a foul epitaph after it.

Before Kagome could ask what was going on, she heard sirens and saw the flashing lights announcing company. She looked to Inu Yasha for instructions. Were they going to make a run for it? She was shocked and a little hurt to see him stare blankly forward and slowly raise his hands in the air.

"What?! You're giving up? I thought this sword was important to you! You coward! We can make it, Inu Yasha!" She grabbed his arms and tried to lower them, unable to accept having misreading his character so thoroughly.

He didn't look at her or lower his arms. He merely said, "You shouldn't assume you know everything, kid." Then he did turn to her, "Oh, and you may want to pull down your skirt. I don't think either Hello Kitty or your bum, as cute as they may be, will get us out of a set up."

As Kagome let all this register, the police had surrounded the Volvo and drawn their weapons.

She tried to smooth out her skirt, which was indeed almost up to her waist, as she ran the last part through her brain again, …get us out of a set up. What could that mean…

A/N: Woo! Long chapter, eh? I hope you all liked it! Let me know if you have any questions or comments, please. If you would prefer to ask directly, feel free to visit my page and email me.

Thanks!