Chapter 5: A New foe

When she saw the familiar face glaring down at her she flew across the limo.

Inuyasha grunted as he bared her weight, why was she hugging him?
Didn't she understand what this meant?

"Calm down!" He grunted when she only squeezed tighter, one hand reaching back to close the door, and the other landing on her back. "Damn it. What are you waiting for up there? Hit the gas!"

Kagome knew this was embarrassing and more than a little inappropriate, but she had been sure she would never see him again.

He looked so different, unlike the first time she had laid eyes on him, this time he was dressed in a well-made suit. A dark gray ensemble, with a white button up, he even had an expensive looking gold watch on his left hand instead of the black band he had worn last.

Even his short choppy hair had been brushed back and combed; in front of her stood a sophisticated upper-class man, one she did not recognize, still as handsome as ever. Yet, she couldn't help but think he looked funny this way.

It didn't matter, seeing him well and alive flooded her with relief.

"Thank goodness you're okay" Her grip tightened around him, forcing another surprised grunt from him "You came back."

Her reply was muffled in his chest, growling, he removed her arms from around him. Pushing her back enough to be able to see her face, thoroughly annoyed to see that relieved expression she had on.

"Damn it all" His tone was disapproving, she looked so fucking happy to see him, this was not the reaction he wanted, nor one he deserved.

"This is serious, it's not a good thing I'm here."

Inuyasha tried to get her to understand what it meant that he was here, the danger she was oblivious to, but the scent of fear left her as soon as she recognized him.

"I know, it's just that-" her big blue eyes blinked up at him past her full lashes, "I'm just happy to see you're okay."

Inuyasha tried not to stare at the small smile on her face, why did she have to look at him like that? She was making everything so difficult.

"Look, Bitch, I don't have much time. Just shut up and listen will ya."

Her glare was expected, what wasn't was when she reached over to yank on his square patterned black tie. "First of all, don't get all snippy with me, you're not the one that's being kidnapped. Second of all, Bitch? Bitch?! You want to get hit?"

He growled low in his throat at her, moving his head away, tugging his tie out of her grasp.

"Why you-"

"Go on, call me Bitch one more time"

They glared at each other for what seemed like long minutes, but it was only mere seconds, their battle of wills interrupted when he heard a faint thump on the roof.

Moving with an incredulous speed, he shoved Kagome behind him as best as he could in the limo, ignoring her startled protest.

"Shhh. Keep quiet." The girl immediately shut her mouth, clinging to his back as the beat of her heart increased rapidly.

Abruptly the sunroof was forced open, the stranger from before entering the limo in one fluid motion, had landed on one knee, glaring at the couple from his position.

Kagome quickly glanced at the window, seeing the same view as before, the high-pace traffic outside.

"How did he do that?!"

"I told you to shut it!" Inuyasha hissed at her from under his breath and ignored her soft-spoken apology.

"What are you doing here Inuyasha?"

"Keh! Does it matter?"

"Depends."

"You here to stop me?"

With a lopsided smirk from the kneeling man, the tension broke, "I don't get paid enough for that."

Inuyasha moved to relax on the seat, taking Kagome with him, settling her on the seat next to his, "I'm a little busy here Shippo, so make it quick."

"You can't be here Inuyasha. If Sesshomaru finds out, you intercepted he'll-"

"So, he won't find out. Great point, was that it?"

The stranger from before, Shippo, reached up and closed the window he'd just entered. He looked so natural, as if it were an everyday thing, jumping on moving cars and forcing his way in. Taking his sunglasses off, he addressed Inuyasha with one fierce glare.

"Listen here, old man, you might be scary in the right lighting. But; no way you get me to go against the big dog himself. What do you take me for, an idiot?"

Inuyasha crossed his arms over his chest, a taunting smirk over his rugged features "Keh, Shippo you make it sound like I don't take you for one as is."

Kagome wanted to check her ears when she heard a growl emitting from the smaller man, in fact she was sure of it, she could only begin to fathom the implications.

"Relax, Shippo. I just needed a quick minute to prep her, that's all."

The growling stopped, Shippo fixed his jacket and sat opposing her, meeting the startled girl head on.

"Fine. But make it quicker than quick."

Kagome calmed when Inuyasha didn't seem to be concerned with the strange man, in fact when it seemed like they knew each other well, her attitude changed.

"Wait a second, you're the one that kidnaped me?!" Turing to him in her seat, Kagome slapped her hands down on his arm in her form of retaliation, "How dare you!"

Inuyasha cringed from her volume, her hits going unnoticed, "Quit your screaming, you're not being kidnaped, you're- Uh, being summoned."

"What is this, court? How do you figure you can just send a dozen, possibly armed, men to my house, as a summoning?"

"A dozen? Damn Shippo, you were sent to get one girl, one tinny human girl."

Shippo would have retorted, but when the 'tinny human girl' stomped on the unsuspecting man, all he could do was snap his mouth shut and try his hardest not to laugh.

"What the hell Bitch?!"

"There you go again! 'Tinny human' and 'Bitch' what is your deal?"

"My deal is, I've got a Loud-Whinny-Girl, who won't shut up for two-"

Kagome stomping on his other foot had the damn keeping Shippo's laughter at bay to break. Soon the limo was filled with a hardy child-like laugh, one that had Kagome easing away from her hot temper while holding back her answering smirk.

"Serves you right, you mangy dog."

Shippo's taunt earned him a quick swipe to his head, Inuyasha abandoning the spot next to her just long enough to deliver the blow.

"Shut up!" Inuyasha made show to bring his fist up to eye level "I ain't got much time you damn idiot."

Shippo sat back in his seat, but nothing could stop the low growl emitting from deep in his chest.

Now she knew for sure, whether they meant to or not, demons growled. At least these two had to be demons, or some sort of beast hybrids. Inuyasha hadn't given her much clue and she was riddled with questions, Kagome knew, now was not the time to ask.

"I mean it runt. " Inuyasha threatened when Shippo's growl wouldn't die down, fixing him a hard glare he was satisfied when it finally broke.

Shippo took a moment to right himself, fixing his suit in an irate manner, with a few huffs along the way. "Well, you better hurry it up, cause your minute turned into seconds."

When they both turned to her, Kagome had a sinking feeling she was still in danger, "What, what did I do?"

Shippo leaned closer, addressing her with a seriousness she did not understand, "Miss. Higurashi we-"

He stopped, shaking his head and sighing deeply, building the suspension while at the same time, affectively scaring her all over again. "You should be the one to tell her."

Inuyasha scoffed, seating back against the leather seat, his annoyed demeanor confusing her even more.

"Keh, what's to tell? The Woman has two choices here, come straight out with the truth now, or have the truth forced out of her later."

Kagome jumped when he glared at her, not understanding his quiet hostility, but feeling her own anger beginning to build in response to him.

"tell you the truth? About what? Just what exactly is going on?"

Shippo leaned closer, resting his forearms on his knees as he peered down at her,

"Miss. Higurashi we-"

She raised her hand to stop him, "It's Kagome, not to sound lame but Ms. Higurashi is my mother."

"Sure, of course. Kagome, we're here to discuss the event that took place on the fifth."

Kagome tilted her head sideways "I'm sorry when was the fifth? Finals kinda turned my brain to mush."

Inuyasha growled down at her "Come on Woman, don't play stupid, as if we'd ask what you did on any other night."

She lowered her eyes at him but played along none the less, "Oh that fifth! Well, let's see. I woke up, had breakfast, just cereal I'm not a big breakfast kinda girl. Then I-"

His growl rose in volume, interrupting her jabbering, "Quit the bullshit Kagome, we don't have much time!"

"Well look at that, he Does remember my name. For a minute there I thought you'd forgotten it."

When it looked like Inuyasha was just about to continue the argument, Shippo decided to put an end to it.

"Listen Miss—Kagome; we know that you don't trust us right now, but you need to understand we're the good guys here."

"The good guys who kidnapped me..."

Shippo scratched at the back of his head, having the decency to look contrite, "I can see your point, and while I can't fault you for it, I'm afraid you're going to have to be forthcoming either way."

"Well then, I expect the same thing, tell me what is going on here. You two are demanding answers when I haven't even been told where I'm being taken to."

Inuyasha tugged at a strand of her hair to refocus her attention on him "Never mind that, you need to tell us what you did with the gun before we get there."

"Forget the gun, we need to know how she treated your wounds. That's the first thing he'll ask." Shippo countered, keeping things vague enough to frustrate the girl to no end.

Kagome gave an aggravated grunt, yanking her hair away from his grasp. "Oh my god! Where are we going?!"

As if on cue there was buzzing from the Limos intercom "10T arrival."

The voice from the driver filled the back, sparking a new set of bickering.

"Damn it, Yash, I told you!"

"Don't give me that shit, if you hadn't stuck your damn nose in it, I would have finished interrogating her and been on my damn merry way."

Kagome felt the pang in her chest knowing he hadn't been there to rescue her, or even to see her, she was being kidnapped and he knew of it. Hell, he was in on it! Why she felt so upset by this was still unknown to her, but the feeling was there, betrayal.

It shouldn't have come as a surprise, still it hurt to know this was no rescue mission, he had told her as much- if he didn't do it, the other guy would.

"No amount of preparing will get her out of this one-" Shippo's voice grew serious "And he won't be satisfied until he gets his hands on her, hearing it from you won't cut it. You know that."

Her mind raced with their words. Who was he? What did he want from her? Where was she being taken to?

"If I had the time alone with the girl I would have gotten somewhere!"

"Face it, old dog, there's nothing you can do."

Kagome felt the sick roll of her stomach, the words that they weren't saying, couldn't say but were made clear. She was a goner, whatever was awaiting at the end of this ride was not going to be pretty.

She had thought herself to be lucky, thought him to be merciful in letting her go, how wrong had she been.

"Oy! Woman are you even listening."

His nasty glare and name calling failed to get a rise out of her this time, all she did was sit back in her seat and slump down. Inuyasha felt a twinge of worry as he realized the girl had grown rather pale, he had hoped to spare her from all the theatrics but no such luck, now she would be forced to endure it all.

"We ran out of time here" Shippo announced, checking his pocket watch before fixing Inuyasha with a narrowed glare. "Whatever you were trying to do here, do it now- or get lost, he'll know you've been to see her by scent alone. I wouldn't push it further than that if I were you."

"Yeah? Well, you ain't me now are ya" Inuyasha responded, although his eyes stayed on the sullen girl, "pout all you want, you ain't getting out of this one, girl."

"Im not trying to get out of anything... I honestly don't know what I did wrong."

"Keep playing dumb Wench, see how far that gets ya."

"Okay, that's it!" Turning towards him, she couldn't help showing the hurt she felt, glaring at him with anger that was but a simple cover for her freight nerves. "I don't know what you've think I've done, other than helping you! But I've had quite enough, I want to be let off, right now!"

Before Inuyasha could voice the growl, he felt it rising inside his chest, before he could even give any form of reaction to her outburst. She had snapped up, standing as far as she could within the vehicle, while making her way towards the door.

Then, Shippo had come in, snatching her small wrist in his grubby hand.

"I'm afraid that's not an option, please Kagome, remain seated."

Kagome barely opened her mouth, ready to let this stranger have it, when Shippo was quite literally snatched away from her.

Inuyasha's deep growl filled the space, silencing the two before they could even begin a proper argument. His teeth bared in a snarl that was much more frighting for the man who could see the full effect of it.

"Do not touch her- EVER!"

Shippo might have said something in his defense, but Inuyasha gave him no room for it, bringing him closer to the door by the death grip he had on his jacket, before throwing the door wide open.

Kagome watched confused, seeing nothing but hard asphalt and blurred lines. One vehicle after the other, they all passed by like speeding bullets, with the wind creating a loud whooshing as it beat against the open door.

She never imagined for Inuyasha to toss the grown man out that door, as if he weighted nothing more than a bag of potatoes and had the same value of one.

"Oh my god!" Kagome quickly switched seats, starring out the tinted windows, trying to spot his figure somewhere along the vehicles. Fear evident as her sweet voice cracked when she screamed after him.

Inuyasha couldn't help but wonder why she cared at all, she had just met him and didn't even spend a prolonged period of time with the squirt, there was a foreign agitation making itself known the longer her cries continued.

"Calm down will ya, the runt is more capable than he looks."

She didn't listen, her eyes franticly trying to spot him as her hands fumbled in search for the lock of the door. Panic was just around the corner for her, as was whatever death awaited her, and if their own people went out like Shippo-san did, she didn't want to think what would happen to her.

"Where's the lock? It won't open..."

"Damn right it won't open, and just what the hell do you think you would do if it did open?"

The girl didn't pay him any mind, tugging on the door handle regardless of its uselessness. Tears were beginning to swim in her eyes, clouding her vision. She tried to blink them away, but for every blink, her breath shortened to match, so that every pull of air came quickly and in short bursts.

"It won't open!"

"Damn it, Kagome, quit your screaming already. He's fine, it's you who's in danger here!"

Kagome turned to yell at him, angry that he kept being so callous in the midst of everything, when she turned back to face him, he had a certain expression she couldn't seem to place.

Like there were a million things he wanted to say, wanted her to understand, but couldn't bring himself to do it.

For the first time since he arrived the scent of fear crept back into her, Inuyasha knew this was what he wanted; to get her to understand the mess she'd rolled herself in, although now that it appeared she had...

The feeling that bloomed with her fear was unpleasant, watching her lose her resolve was worse.

Briefly he thought that the smell of her fear was more than a little unsettling, worse than keeping her ignorant, the scent was one that didn't seem to belong to her person. It twisted something inside of him that was entirely new, the young man found himself to be holding his breath in a vain attempt to escape from it.

When she finally turned to him, blue eyes muted with her fear, and heart hammering away like a hummingbird's beat, Inuyasha had moved the girl into a hug long before he realized it. Sure, it was just one arm coming around her, but it was enough.

The girl came willingly, relaxing in his arms almost instantly, the heat he expelled was comforting, drowning out the gnawing fear that had almost debilitated her.

Even if it was out of line, even if he was only doing this out of kindness, Kagome dared herself to be bold. Wrapping her arm around his back, she pulled them closer, resting her cheek on his chest.

She closed her eyes, waiting for him to reject her rude familiarity, but after a pause he just sighed, then tightening his arm around her a little firmer.

"Is it really hopeless?"

She was able to feel the rumble in his chest before her ears picked up on his near silent growl, Kagome figured that it wasn't for comfort, having seen him only do this when upset, but it still managed to relax her.

"Not entirely so... if you're as smart as you claim to be."

All he had to do was gently push on her arm, and she leaned back to gaze at him all on her own, peering deep into her eyes, Inuyasha had to try to make his next words stick.

"I ain't going to be repeating myself alright, so listen up."

Her stiff nod was enough, and if he couldn't save her from this, he could at the very least prepare her for it. "Whatever happens, no matter what you see or how scared you get. Do. Not. Lie.

He'll know, no matter how small of a lie, he'll know. He hates liars. So, trust me, you won't want to lie.

He's looking for that, for anything that says you aren't who you say you are. Be smart, keep your answers short, and if you really got nothing to hide. Then, you'll make it out okay. Got it?"

Kagome absorbed what he was saying, she gave another stiff nod, silently bracing herself for whatever awaited, an easy thing to do while still in his arms.

"Don't run either, there's nowhere you could run to anyway, so running will just succeed in pissing him off.

Calling the police will do nothing, so get that straight out of your head too, not even the Commission general could help you now. Only I can, got it?"

Another stiff nod, but he was pleased to see the seriousness in her face, "Good. You'll want to keep your cool, he can be callous to no end, but human outburst only shortened what little patience he has."

"Anything else I should know?"

"Yeah. Don't go getting too scared, I won't let anything bad happen to you. Understand?"

Kagome tried to take as much comfort from his words as she could, being kept in the dark was the reason behind her anxiety, "Will you at least tell me who it is that I'm being taken to?"

Inuyasha glanced out the door, recognizing the landscape around them, "You'll know soon enough, but I've got to go now. "

"Go?" She shouldn't have clung, it wasn't in her nature, but whatever steadiness she had acquired with him felt ice thin.

"I have to leave, it'll only hurt your causes if they know I was here."

Kagome heard him but realized he hadn't let go yet, if he thought she would be the one to break the comfort in his hug, Inuyasha was dead wrong. In a situation as unique as this, she was just happy to take whatever he was willing to give, and a part of her didn't want the solace from his embrace to end just yet.

Inuyasha berated himself, he should have pulled away when her fingers grabbed his suit jacket, holding him loosely but just as captive if she were to have used chains.

Part of him didn't want to go, that was a problem in itself.

She was warm and tinny in his hands.

This girl, who knew of him, knew that the hands that petted her back had deadly talons. That had her first glimpse of his strength, and she should have by now figured out what that could mean for her.

Yes, Kagome knew he could kill her.

Still, she allowed herself to be handled by him, leaned on him of her own accord with not a trace of fear to show for it.

The Limo turned into a far too familiar street, and he knew they had no more time.

"5T arrival" The buzz that came dropped on them like a bucket of ice water, both parties growing tense as if they just now realized how entangled they had become.

Kagome was the first to move, blushing a bright red that spread over her face. Inuyasha didn't fare any better, now that she pulled back, he could feel the warmth she had left behind slowly fading. Fixing his suit, if only to give action to his sudden nervous energy, he evaluated the girl before him.

She was back, centered, with only a faint trace of her fear left.

"You good?"

"Good."

Inuyasha didn't wait for her to say anything else, opening the sunroof he hauled himself out where Shippo had come in. He gave a small push, taking towards the sky before any civilian eye caught him.

She knew it was useless to look for him, still she stared out in hopes she'd catch a glimpse of him, even as the limo turned to exit the expressway, her eyes stayed glued on the horizon where she imagined he'd gone to.

The Limo pulled into an underground parking lot, images of mob men with guns and duffle bags filled her mind, Inuyasha had been vague about a lot of things, but not of the dangers she would face.

When the limo slowed to a stop, her heart almost stopped along with it, keeping the timorous beat going even after the engine had cut off. The door was opened for her, although she didn't see the person who opened it, just what lay beyond the comfort of this enclosed space. All she could make out was the straight pathway that led to an open elevator, the darkness surrounding the bright entrance was ominous, not doing her freight nerves any good.

Slowly, but surely, she left the car.

It was a small walk from limo to elevator, but the floor seemed to curve and stretch before her. Everything else around her was pitch dark, as if there was nothing else here outside the vehicle she came from, and the opening she had to take.

Kagome swallowed hard, trying to gulp down her anxiousness.

Heading towards the elevator, that was nothing more than this chrome silver box, Kagome's battle was entirely internal. Her fear spun her a new terrible image, the newest one outdoing the last one, none of the scary images she constructed would do nothing to help her.

As soon as she stepped inside of it, the doors slid closed behind her without a sound.

'Get it together Higurashi' although she thought this, when the box subtly jerked, she did anything but.

Kagome tried to bring some of the steadiness she felt just moments ago, to bring back the words that, although roughly spoken, had helped center her.

The light clicking of the elevator, as it climbed floor by floor, was unnerving enough. Every floor she passed acted as a countdown, the further up, the tighter her muscles clenched. When they narrowed on that Lobby floor, her hands and sides hurt from being so stiff.

'Breathe'

The elevator dinged and the door slid open slowly, her sharp intake of air echoed in her ears.