InuYasha looked up at the screen and saw the crumpled SUV lying at the bottom of the gorge. The reporter announced that it appeared that it had been deliberately driven off the highway just before the county line bridge. The driver was presumed dead. Concern and confusion washed through him, he recognized the vehicle.

Kikyo would be devastated. He picked up the phone and called Miroku. Married to Sango, daughter of the chief of police, and a fine officer in her own right, he would have some information.

"What the hell is going on?" he asked.

"He did it on purpose," his friend answered. "It happened last night, after midnight. Sango went to tell Kikyo this morning."

InuYasha frowned. "Damn, why hasn't she called me?"

That Suikotsu had committed suicide wasn't really a surprise. He'd battled bipolar disorder, along with ptsd from being a war medic, for years. This was his third, and last attempt. Still, the reality that he'd succeeded was painful and shocking.

"Sango offered to stay with her, but Kikyo said she was fine. Said she'd call her sister to stay with her. What else could she do?" Miroku asked.

"Her sister lives in Ohio, it will take a while to get here," InuYasha answered. "I'm going over there."

Miroku agreed it was a good idea, and said he'd meet him there. Once at Kikyo's and Suikotsu's small bungalow, they were met with more questions. The front door was slightly ajar, and Kikyo's car was gone. They stood in the yard, staring apprehensively.

"I should call Sango before we go in there," Miroku said. "You don't think she-"

"The hell with that," the hanyou answered, "I'm going in."

InuYasha got out of the jeep and bounded up the steps, calling Kikyo's name. She didn't answer. Swearing, he shoved the door wide and went in. Miroku followed, phone in hand, informing Sango as he went.

The house was empty. It was also trashed. Books, brick a brack, and other odds and ends littered the house. In the bedroom, the couple's wedding photo was smashed and left on the bed. Suikotsu's clothes were torn from the closet and left in a crumpled heap. His dresser drawers were hanging askew, with various bits and pieces in them on the floor.

"Kikyo did this," InuYasha said, pain in his voice. "No one else but Sango has been here. And Suikotsu."

Over the years of their marriage, Suikotsu had become more and more withdrawn, and the couple never entertained. Kikyo rarely attended events because he refused to go out.

"I thought he was taking medication," Miroku offered. "I thought he was doing better."

InuYasha growled. "That's what Kikyo wanted people to think."

Truth was, Suikotsu swung from strict observance of his medication needs to wild abandonment of all drugs, save alcohol. It was a messy cycle, and even InuYasha knew only a small bit.

"But he went to the Spring Fling," Miroku said. "Talked to everyone there. He seemed to be fine. Kikyo was even smiling and relaxed."

In the bathroom, InuYasha found a dozen or more pill bottles, all empty, in the trash. He could see without touching them that they were all Suikotsu's.

"Damn," they both said together.

"What are you two doing?" Sango asked, stepping into the bedroom. "This could be a crime scene."

InuYasha didn't answer, but pushed past her and headed into the kitchen. He began rummaging through drawers until he found what he was looking for.

Ignoring Sango's protests, he opened the address book and found the number for Kaede. Kikyo's older sister picked up on the first ring. A few tense moments later, and they had their answer. Kikyo had not called. Kaede had known nothing until InuYasha phoned her. She was now rushing to leave for Maine, and her sister.

"Where is Kikyo?" Sango asked. "If she didn't call her sister, then what is she doing?"

They exchanged grim looks. "I've got to call dad, get out an A.P. B. She could be a danger to herself."

While Sango did that, InuYasha headed back to his jeep. "I'm going after her, I know some places she might be."

Miroku nodded and jumped in, ready to help his friend. Sango remained behind, speaking to her father, and waiting for backup.

InuYasha and Miroku made their way around town, to all Kikyo's friends, her job, and her favorite hangouts. Sadly, the last was a short list. She had become all but a recluse as Suikotsu spiraled out of control, feeling that her presence could somehow keep him stable.

Finally, InuYasha dropped Miroku off back at Kikyo's to pick up his car. The police had finished inside, and the place was deserted. Kikyo had not come back. Sango had no updates on her whereabouts.

"I'm headed up into the woods," InuYasha said. "That's the last place we haven't checked."

"Want some help?" Miroku asked.

"No," the hanyou answered, "I can move faster on my own, cover more ground."

"Okay, but call me before night," Miroku instructed. "Sango says we'll stay here tonight, waiting for her in case she comes back."

InuYasha nodded, and drove off quickly, headed for his own home and the supplies he would need. Once in the woods, he parked near the trailheads that intersected with the Appalachian Trail. Kikyo's car was not in the parking area. She must have used another one. That's what he hoped anyway, he didn't have time to search them all, and with great concern, started off.

It was late afternoon, and he needed to find a place to shift soon. He'd cover ground much faster in his Inu form. He scrambled up a steep portion of the trail and cut off into the deep brush. In a flash, he shifted, his clothes falling, fur unfurling in a wave with a final twist when his body shifted. Being hanyou, it took more concentration to shift, and some pain. Once transformed however, he moved as swiftly and quietly as any full youkai.

Sending out his senses, which were stronger in this form, he avoided areas close to the heavily traveled Appalachian Trail. InuYasha was running quietly along a ridge when he heard voices. He froze in place and made sure he was concealed.

A small group of hikers walked by, occasionally chatting about something or other. Quiet fell and then a lone woman emerged on the trail. He was positioned on a steep hill, hidden amongst the trees. He could see her clearly. She was so beautiful it took his breath away. She had black hair falling in loose waves down her back. Her build was slim but curvy. He was so drawn to her he had to force himself to be still. As an inu, he was driven by instinct and primal urges. And whoever this woman was, she called to every cell in his body. He made himself wait longer than necessary after she passed by, so he could manage the strength of pull he felt for her. Eventually, he left his hiding place and reluctantly turned away from the woman and continued his search. He could always track her later, he reasoned with his beast.

The light faded and a storm rolled in. He had yet to find Kikyo when he was forced to seek shelter from the storm himself. As he approached one of his preferred caves, he saw a human form limping along the faint trail leading to the cave and stumble inside. He was sure was the woman he saw earlier. She looked hurt. He stopped in his tracks. His concern for her ran so deep it was visceral. He slipped under the boughs of a balsam tree and waited. When it was almost dark, he shifted back into his hanyou form.

Before heading to the cave, he quickly checked for one of the small packs he kept hidden among rocks nearby. Such packs were well hidden and scattered for miles in these woods for shifters to have quick access to clothing and supplies if they needed to shift into human form unexpectedly. He dressed, slung the pack over his shoulder and walked to the cave. The woman was asleep on the ground. She was inside a sleeping bag, but shivering visibly. InuYasha approached her slowly, touching her on the shoulder. Her eyes flew open. In the faded light, her soft grey eyes shone, filled with fear.

InuYasha held his hands up. "It's okay. I got caught in the storm too. Looks like we had the same idea. Are you okay?"

His pulse had skyrocketed the moment she opened her eyes and he got a good look at her face. He could look into her eyes all day— a beautiful silvery smoke, with lashes long and lush. Her mouth was full and sensual. Those eyes and her wavy hair brought to mind a warm summer day. She pushed herself up to a seated position, a grimace flashing across her face.

"Are you hurt?" he growled. His protective instincts ran high. This woman, whoever she was, was so compelling, InuYasha only wanted to wrap her in his arms and keep her safe. Along with a few other things, but that wasn't his focus now. She stared at him and seemed to conclude he meant her no harm.

"I slipped on some wet rocks. I sprained my ankle and scraped my leg pretty bad. I can't believe I fell. I'm almost to the end of the trail. I made it all the way from Georgia without getting hurt."

He forced himself to focus, pulled his backpack off and reached inside for the small medical kit he kept in every pack he stashed. "I'm InuYasha Taisho," he said. "Let's see if I can help a bit."

"Kagome Higurashi," she replied quietly.

"So how long have you been on the trail?" he asked as he pulled out antiseptic, ointment and bandages.

"Almost six months. I started in mid-May," she answered. He nodded.

"Hang on, I'm going for wood, I'll bandage you up when I get back," he told her and disappeared into the growing darkness. He was gone only a few moments, returning with an armload of mostly dry wood, kept in one of his nearby stashes. He arranged it quickly and soon had a fire started and heat started to circle in the small cave. Kagome's shivering lessened almost at once.

"Can I see your leg?" he asked.

She hesitated and then carefully scooted out of her sleeping bag. Her ankle was swollen, and the side of the same leg was scraped from thigh to ankle. The skin was red and swollen, particularly on her thigh.

"You weren't kidding, you have some bad scrapes there. Where do you want me to start? I'd prefer to stabilize your ankle first," InuYasha said.

Kagome's eyes widened. "Wouldn't it be best if a doctor did that? I'm sure we can make it through the night and get help in the morning."

"I'm a paramedic with the fire department. I know what to do," he said simply.

"Oh… oh. Well, in that case, do what you have to," she murmured.

InuYasha ignored the excited growl of his beast at that, and dug through his kit to see if he had anything firm to help hold her ankle in place. A short while later, it was done. He'd used cotton bandaging and an ace wrap to hold it in place. He was relieved it appeared to be a bad sprain and that she hadn't broken it. She sat quietly while he swabbed the scrapes on her leg with alcohol, dabbing them with an ointment quickly.

Satisfied he'd done all he could, InuYasha carefully placed gauze over the scrapes. He tried not let his hands linger on her silky skin. He tugged his water bottle out and handed it to her with some ibuprofen. "This will take the edge off the pain."

Kagome's smile was tired, but she took the water and ibuprofen gratefully. InuYasha tugged his own sleeping bag out and laid it beside hers. "I know we just met and we're in a cave in the middle of the woods, but it's cold and wet. I'm thinking it's best if we stay close to keep warm. I promise I won't hurt you."

Though his body wanted to be close to her for other reasons, as well as do far more than simply share body heat, he was speaking the truth. Her exhaustion was showing. She was injured and his beast would see her well first.

Kagome nodded, beyond complaining at this point. She felt safe and cared for with this stranger. InuYasha helped her carefully slide back into her sleeping bag. After she finally fell asleep, he lay down beside her, watching her sleep in the glow from the fire, thinking of Kikyo, and Suikotsu, and wondering how he was going to work this all out.

XXXXXXXXXXxxx

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