CHAPTER 8

My lungs were burning, my legs were aching and they felt like jelly. I was having a hard time not tripping and crushing the shivering bundle in my arms, but I kept moving. I had to, or we'd be a snack for an oversized wolf.

I dared to glance behind me, only to discover that the black furred wolf was no longer chasing us. I didn't want to risk Shippo's life though. I continued running, looking for something, anything I could hide the terrified kitsune in.

Luck was on my side, fortunately, as I found a hollowed tree that was just wide enough to hide the fox demon from site.

Without missing a beat, I sprinted to the tree and hid the fox demon inside.

"Kagome, what are you doing?!" He cried as I set him in the hollow.

"Inuyasha would kill me if I let you get hurt." I said, giving him a few food items from my pack in case no one found him in the morning.

"He'll kill you if we don't keep moving!" He shouted. As if on cue, there was an ear shattering howl that sounded far too close for comfort.

"Stay hidden until someone comes to get you, alright? Do not leave this spot." I ordered and ran off before he could protest.

I had been reckless. I'd forgotten to keep an eye on the moon and look what happens! I'm being chased down by a werewolf that has no idea that it's hunting its friends!

'But are you his friend?' A voice in my head whispered. 'You did come here to kill him, remember? Why not just finish the job now, what's there to stop you?' It asked. I shook my head furiously, my feet pounding against the snow.

Why was he coming after me anyways? He could have just as easily run after Miroku, or Sango, or even Kikyo for goodness sake!

~*~Flash Back~*~

"Run, get out of here! Inuyasha's gone feral!" I shouted as I ran to the camp. Sango looked confused as Miroku's head snapped to the sky.

"Damn it!" He called and surprised both Sango and I by tossing the demon slayer over his shoulder and running off as a loud howl sounded through the air. I turned sharply to see a large black wolf bounding straight to us and fast. I made a move to run when I saw Shippo standing right there, gaping in horror at the wolf he thought of as a brother running like he was just an unintelligible animal.

And in this current instance, that's exactly what he was.

I ran forward and picked Shippo up, nearly getting my head bitten off in the process. I ran as fast and hard as I could, not missing that somehow Kikyo managed to escape.

She made a move to stab the wolf and I acted without thinking. I tackled her to the ground, protecting Inuyasha while simultaneously avoiding his hungry jaws.

It was tiring, trying to protect three people at once while avoiding getting killed by two of them. Inuyasha managed to get my leg in his jaws. I managed to get it free and it was bleeding heavily.

At some point I was able to wrench the knife from Kikyo's cold hands and she screeched like a yeti, bolting up and out of the firelight while I did the same in the opposite direction despite the burning liquid spilling down my leg, staining the once white snow a rosy crimson and yanking my pack off the ground as I passed it. The heavy paws were pounding against the ground behind me, so I had to run as fast as I could.

~*~End Flash Back~*~

And now, Shippo was safe, out of harm's way. I'd hidden him because I'd lost so much blood that my vision was getting hazy. I could barely see three feet in front of me. I ran, narrowly dodging trees as the heavy panting of a dog came to my ears.

It was possible he was following the trail of blood. After all, he was currently the lion and I was the injured antelope, separated from the rest of the herd.

Suddenly I felt my feet come out from underneath me. I'd slipped on ice and was sliding down more of it. As I slid to a stop and sat up there was terrifying crack. I froze, my eyes snapped wide open as I looked at the large clearing around me. I'd have to be an idiot not realize exactly what I was sitting on and more so to completely miss why I'd heard a crack.

I was sitting in the middle of a frozen lake.

And the ice didn't seem too happy with my sudden weight.

I gazed in horror as more cracking sounds erupted from the ice bellow me. Cracks spread further beneath the surface of the ice every time I dared to move. And what's worse, I could see the boy turned wolf running closer to the shore.

This wasn't going to end well.

I had two opportunities that could backfire in several ways.

The first opportunity was to stand and run. If I moved there's a high chance the ice would break and I would fall into the hypothermic waters. Being frozen alive was not high on my list of ways to die. But, if the ice didn't break, I could run to the other side, in which Inuyasha would either fall under the ice himself or he would continue to chase me.

The second was to stay put. If the ice broke underneath me, then I would fall under and there's a small chance Inuyasha would lose my trail if I was able to survive somehow. If the ice didn't break, Inuyasha would either slide across the lake and eat me or, yet again, fall beneath himself.

So pretty much the options were I die, he dies, or we both live and I get eaten later. Somehow, I feel like this isn't in my favor.

Well, falling under seemed like my best option at the moment. I still had the dagger I'd taken from Kikyo. I could break through the ice on the other shore. He'd have lost my scent and I would hopefully be home free… for a little while, at least.

There wasn't much of a survival chance, but it was the only shot I got.

Inuyasha howled yet again and I looked up just in time to see him a take a cautious step onto the ice. I had to hurry. It was now or never.

I cautiously began to sit up, the ice making a threatening crack once again. From Inuyasha or me, I had no idea. I carefully grabbed the knife I'd sheathed in my belt and clutched it tight.

I began to sit up again as Inuyasha put his final paw on to the ice and took a careful step forward. What would happen first? Would the ice crack? Would Inuyasha reach me and kill me? Or would I run and escape?

My only escape was through the water so the real question was would I break the ice first?

I'd decided that I wouldn't run and risk slipping again. As soon as I was on my feet I was going to drive the dagger in the ice, hoping it would break beneath me and I'd fall through.

Have I gone mad or what?

I brought my good leg slowly beneath my body, ready to stand as Inuyasha was getting dangerously closer. My heart was pounding in my chest, fear coursing through my veins. I didn't even feel the pain from my leg anymore.

I carefully pushed up on my feet, a crack emanating from the ice louder than any of the others. Inuyasha was now close enough to pounce. The ice continued to crack beneath my shaky feet. I rasied the knife above my head, ready to bring it down on the ice. Inuyasha bared his fangs and snarled. His black coat was still alien to me. I was used to seeing his silver coat that I'd grown accustomed too.

I missed his silver fur and gold eyes. This might be the looming threat of death talking, but I considered him a friend. I only wished he'd consider me one.

I couldn't help but wonder if this was what he was talking about. When he'd let slip that something was off about his wolf form.

Or maybe it was something else?

He got into a pounce position and I closed my eyes, bracing myself for both cold and pain.

Then I swung the knife down in an arc to the ice as Inuyasha pounced.

Inuyasha's P.O.V.

I woke up the next morning to find myself alone, freezing, soaking wet and the most disgusting taste in my mouth. It tasted oddly like metal.

I sat up, sore and shirtless as I took in my surroundings. I was by a lake. There was a blank in my memory of what had happened the night before. I tried to remember before I smelled the faint trace of wildflowers mixed with blood somewhere nearby. I stood to my feet and looked around. I realized she must have passed through here. That didn't ease me as I began to wonder why she was bleeding.

"Kagome! Inuyasha! Where are you guys!" I heard that demon slayer call from the trees.

"Sango!" I called. She whipped around in alarm, eyes wide. She walked to me in caution. I was completely confused.

"Inuyasha?" She asked tentatively. I raised an eyebrow at her.

"What are you staring at? You act like…" I trailed off, my eyes widening in realization.

"Where's Miroku? Where are Shippo and Kagome? What happened last night?" I asked, my heartbeat rising as I started to worry.

"Miroku's out looking for you, Kagome and Shippo." She answered, seeming to relax as she realized I likely wouldn't hurt her.

"Sango! Have you found them yet?!" Miroku's voice came from somewhere behind the demon slayer. I snapped my head up in surprise as Sango turned in the direction of the voice.

"Sort of! I found Inuyasha! What about you, any luck?!" She called back. Miroku came running from behind the trees, holding a small bundle of fur in his arms.

"I found Shippo. He was hiding in a hollowed tree." Miroku replied.

"What about Kagome?" I asked. The taste in my mouth suddenly made me very uneasy as Miroku shook his head. Shippo looked up and looked at me. I couldn't read the expression on his face.

"K-Kagome…" He whispered as tears started to flood his eyes. A shockwave of fear coursed through me as realization dawned on me.

"I… did I… I couldn't have… could I?" I mumbled. Miroku and Sango turned to me as I stared at my claws. Kagome was the only one not here. It would make sense, but….

"Inuyasha?" Sango started. I felt her hand on my wrist. I jumped back, wrenching my wrist from hers.

"Don't… s-stay away from me…" I was breathing hard. I must've looked like a cornered ally cat. She took a step forward and I took a step back.

"Inuyasha, what's wrong?" Miroku asked, also taking a step forward. That look on Shippo's face… it was grave and sad… he knew… Kagome must've hid him and ran. At some point she must've gotten hurt.

"…I killed her, didn't I Shippo?" I asked. Shippo only turned and buried his face in Miroku's chest as the two humans standing before me had looks of shock on their faces, their faces paling considerably as it dawned on them as well. That settled it then.

I was too dangerous.

I ran, fast and hard, deep into the forest as the other two called after me. I didn't care what they were saying, I had to get away from them.

I had no clue how far or how long I'd run, all I knew was that suddenly I was out of breath and standing in the middle of a small clearing. Gazing at the clouded sky.

"…Damn it…" I whispered to nothing. I clenched my fists as I remembered the brash, brave and foolish girl. She was a good hearted person and I killed her. "Damn it, Kagome! You should've killed me when you had the chance!" I shouted to the sky.

~*~Meanwhile, in the Western Kingdom~*~

"My lady, we found someone washed up on the riverbank!" A guard called.

"Who is it?" A black haired princess demanded.

"We don't know ma'am. We just found her this morning." The guard bowed. The princess raised her eyebrow.

"Show me." She demanded and the guard bowed. He led her to the river. There, a drenched figure was laying on her back, clad in red cloak.

A/N: Wow, two chapters in a day! That's a new record for me! And actually, this chapter even surprised me. I hoped you enjoyed it! REVIEW!