O.O I'm surprised and kind of happy right now. Sure, still a ton of homework, but a chapter in a matter of days? And the same week nonetheless? That's kind of awesome... if from me.

First, I will disclaim any right's to the InuYasha series. All credit goes to Rumiko Takahashi, whose brilliant fantasy amazes and enjoys all.
Secondly, my own characters in this fanfic are called Ha Jinsoku, which I have forgotten what it means... something about fast? Anyway, Aoi Kirei, also forgotten meaning (beautiful? cute? something like that) and Hebi Otoko. Those are mine *growls possessively*
Thirdly, I have only recently noticed I haven't changed between night, day or even if it has been weeks! Really sorry about that, I'm trying to make up for it in this chapter (.)

"Midget," the half demon once known as InuYasha hissed, "do you also dare to stand in my way?"

His eyes had lost its earlier beautiful gold – instead they were now filled with the terrifying blood red, with magenta stripes across his cheeks. He smirked as he saw his opponent only staring at him in disbelief.

"Aren't you a half-demon?" the snake asked, tilting its head ever so slightly. "I could have sssworn you had that ssstench of human around you."

InuYasha smirked. That was the only warning he gave before charging. He smiled wider as he crackled his knuckles, extended his hand and…

Missed. He growled out in disappointment and confusion as the warm blood from his foe not was covering his hands; when he didn't feel the pleasure of ripping its head clean off. He turned his head wildly, desperately trying to find the worm when he spotted a human child staring at him.

The little girl was trembling from the sight of him, her eyes wide with terror and filled with tears and fright. She was lying on her back, elbows propped up under her, crawling like a crab away from him.

He saw her fear, and enjoyed it as a painting. He heard her quiet sobs, and enjoyed it as the most beautiful music. So he tilted his head, smiled and thought of her blood – beautiful blood flowing through his fingers, her life in his hands as he-

'No!'

He tensed at his own voice rumbling through him. He had finally gotten the control back from his human self – he wasn't letting it take over again.

'I won't let you, bastard!' it shouted and a sudden pain went savage in his chest, almost as if his human soul was trying to claw its way out. He cried out, hands trying to cover an invisible wound before he slumped forward head first. There he curled into a tight ball, a quiet shriek dying on his lips.

Not far from there Ha Jinsoku sat crouched up on a tree branch, watching the whole scene unfold before me. In his human form he had short brown hair and leaf green eyes; his figure was lean but strong.

"Interesting, indeed," he muttered as he swung down on the ground, creeping warily toward the demon. 'Or whatever he is.'

The day turned to night, something Kagome thought never would come. The whole day had gone past in a blur – well, most of it was a blur since they had been running half of it. It felt as if it was only a few hours ago since she were attacked by that snake, when it in fact were almost two days ago. Maybe it wasn't that weird since she had been unconscious after the remaining poison in her system had left her trembling in her sleep.

She yawned, stretched her whole body before curling up in her sleeping bag together with the small kit close to her, who already were sound asleep. Peering through her lashes she watched her other companions slumbering: Sango with Kirara purring on the tajiyas stomach, Miroku not far from them pretending to be asleep as he inched toward the two sleepers. An audible smack rang loudly in the night before she saw the houshi settling down where he began his adventure toward Kagome's friend. A silly smile and a red handprint on his cheek made the story clear of what had happened.

Then she glanced at Kouga. He hadn't left them as he usually does – in fact, he said he would stay and protect them until the mutt, InuYasha, returned. Now the wolf youkai were sitting lazily propped up against a large tree, his eyes closed and his chest rising and sinking evenly. Well, the hanyou hadn't come back yet, but no one was really alarmed. The group was used to InuYasha disappearing at strange occasions, such as sensing a youkai nearby or seeing Kikyou's soul-stealers.

Kagome winced and hid her head under the covers. So much for trying to forget. Thousands of memories washed through her: InuYasha pinned to the sacred tree, InuYasha saying her name for the first time, InuYasha always saving her. 'InuYasha, InuYasha…'

She took a huge breath before crawling out of the bag, slowly so that the kitsune kit wouldn't wake up. When she was fully free from the warm sleeping bag she shot glances at her companions before tiptoeing out of the camp.

The half full moon eyed her as she let the cool night air clean her body mind of her depressing thoughts. Drawing deep breaths she finally raised her gaze and watched the stars wink at her as if saying "Look at us! We have no problems, we just are! We are meant to be here, to make you people watch us and sigh in jealousy over our beauty!"

Yes, they are meant to be… which she wasn't. Her tears had started to form and fall down her cheeks without her realizing. But she didn't notice, and if she did, she didn't care. This wasn't even her era! How could she belong here, if she wasn't even born here? How was anyone supposed to care about her, if it wasn't meant for them to ever meet her?

"How sad…"

Her head snapped at the words, she peered into the forest dark shadows. She could barely make out the shape of a human – or demon, in there.

"Who – who's there?" she asked, quickly brushing her cheeks dry. What was it with her, crying for him?

"Forgive me for my rudeness…" the voice's owner drawled before it stepped out into the moonlight.

Kagome gaped at the stranger's beauty, even though it was a male. Her eyes trailed over his long legs, to his broad chest, before she met his steady green eyes. Then her eyes made their way back down his lean figure, and up again. This time though, the stranger had a light smile playing on his thin lips.

"Do you like what you are seeing?" he asked politely, though his eyes were practically laughing out their amusement at her.

"Yes…" she said dreamily, before his words registered in her brain and she snapped her head up, while her cheeks started burning. "I mean no – I mean, you look good, and I mean really good, b-but that's not it! Who are you?" she asked flustered, desperately trying to remain Kagome and not become a talking tomato in front of this green-eyed God.

He smiled a little wider before bowing his head in acknowledgement at her. "My name is Ha Jinsoku, and I am sorry to say I am here to get you."

"To what?" she inquired just as the man disappeared out of sight. 'Demon!' her whole being were screaming. 'Find the others, find Kouga! Find InuYasha!'

She whirled around and bolted toward her camp, all the while cursing herself for being so stupid as to forget her bow and arrows. With only the moon as guide, it was only a matter of time before she hit her toe and was sent flying head first into a heap. Lucky for her elbows and knees this heap was something soft, but as she tried to rose she found a pair of hands holding her in place. Staring up, her blue orbs met Ha Jinsoku's cool green. They were not laughing anymore, which never were a good sign.

"I'm sorry about this…" he whispered, before all sounds disappeared and she slumped into his body. 'What's happening! I can't move!'

"This, beautiful, is a strong herb my master prepared for me to use. It will only paralyze you, since I don't want to hurt your pretty little head." He said, gently brushing her bangs away from her face, before lifting her bridal-style. "Now, I will take you with me."