{Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, so don't sue me. College has a strict hold on my wallet anyway.}

Vengeance

By Striking Falcon

Prologue: Steal Away

Inuyasha sat in a tree overhead, his tired golden eyes wandering from the stars to the sleeping forms below. Particularly one sleeping form which insisted on sleeping under any tree he decided to be in.

Or maybe it was the other way around.

Inuyasha sighed, then leaned back against the tree trunk, allowing sleep to finally close his lids. A faint rustle in the branches caught his attention, and he looked up. A small figure stood somberly on the branch above, watching him. Inuyasha jerked himself into a crouching position, one hand clutching the branch he resided on, the other grasping Tetsusaiga. The figure tossed a package to him, then disappeared. Inuyasha still refused to relax, instead sniffing the changing wind currents to see if the figure was still around, or if it had a companion. Not finding any sign of danger, Inuyasha resumed his position, his back against the tree with one leg hanging from his perch.

Inuyasha plunked the small package in his lap and ripped through the raffia strings holding it closed. Inside were three locks of hair, tied at the tips with the same raffia . He stared at them curiously, then lifted the first one he saw. The lock of hair was silver, but it was darker than his, almost a silver-gray. He sniffed it gingerly. He didn't recognize the scent, but realized it was female, and a dog demon as well. Inuyasha put it down and picked up the next lock. It was jet black, almost as black as Kagome's, but without the electric blue highlights that danced in it at the slightest hint of light. Inuyasha blushed at the thought as he sniffed the strands. Instantly the blush left his face, leaving it ghostly pale. He sniffed again, disbelief written on his face. 'That's impossible,' he told himself. 'Is this my mother's?' One more sniff confirmed his suspicions. Inuyasha placed it carefully back into the scroll paper pack and lifted the last one. The hairs were silver, longer than his and exceedingly brighter, as if the moon had blessed the bearer with it's light for locks. Inuyasha sniffed and recognized them as his father's. Releasing them back to the package alongside his mother's, a small flower fell from the strands. He picked it up, studying it carefully. It was a white rose, stripped of its thorns, with a small piece of parchment paper attached to the stem. He unrolled the paper and read the contents. As he read, his facial expression changed from one of curiosity to one of understanding, remembrance and concern. He looked down at the small form sleeping below him, then returned his attention back to the package. He retied the raffia and sighed. 'I can't help it. I promised.' He closed his eyes, his claws digging into his palm so deep they drew blood. He resigned himself to at least a few minutes of sleep as the sun came up before leaving, when a frightened voice screamed his name.

******

'What was that?' Shippou thought as something beside him made a small thump. He rolled over and opened his eyes. Kagome was still asleep, but her face was tense, almost frightened. Shippou could smell the panic overcoming her and hurried to wake Miroku. He shook the still-slumbering priest violently, causing his staff to fall over with a clink.

"Miroku, wake up," Shippou begged, his panic increasing with Kagome's.

"Miroku, please."

Miroku opened one eye and stretched out his arms.

"What is it, Shippou?"

"Kagome's having a nightmare, and she's really scared."

Miroku opened the other eye and crossed the clearing to Kagome with Shippou on his shoulder. He kneeled down and took in the girl's disturbing condition. She was soaked in sweat and thrashing slightly. Miroku wondered for a moment where Inuyasha was and why he didn't notice this, but the thought soon left him when she flipped herself brutally, landing on her back. Miroku and Shippou leaned in when her lips started to move, trying to hear what she was saying.

"No. Inuyasha, help Sesshoumaru." Miroku and Shippou gawked at each other in disbelief.

"Did I just go crazy?" Shippou stammered. "Did Kagome tell Inuyasha to help Sesshoumaru?" Miroku nodded, his disbelief evident.

"I can't believe it either," whispered Sango. Miroku looked at her.

"Did she wake you?"

"No, Kirara did. Is she ok? Where is Inuyasha?"

Kagome muttered some more, the jolted to a sitting position, eyes wide open, screaming as if her life depended on it.

"INUYASHA!!!!!!!!!!!"

A flash of red….

And he was there. Inuyasha landed at her feet, staring at her intently. Kagome stared back with unseeing, sleep-fogged eyes. The amber points of light glittered in the rising sun, piercing her dream and bringing her to slow awareness. She reached for him, her shaking hand coming to a stop short of his kimono. Inuyasha leaned forward, accepting her touch. Kagome traced her hand along his collar before admitting to herself that it was real. She thrust herself forward, wrapped her arms around his neck, and sobbed. Inuyasha faltered for a moment then regained his balance, with her legs between his. Inuyasha draped his right arm around her waist. His left hand caressed her hair gently, soothingly, allowing her to cry on his shoulder. Shippou, Miroku and Sango stared in open mouthed shock at the touching display. Shippou kept rubbing his eyes, Miroku stopped breathing and Sango let a small smile spread across his face.

Inuyasha ignored their astonished expressions, his attention only on the weeping bundle in his arms. He rested his cheek against the top of her head, waiting for her tears to stop. Kagome's crying slowed and her shoulders stopped shaking. She hiccupped slightly, grateful to the arms that were comforting them to a stop. Then she remembered who her comforter was, a feeling something like amazement at his tolerance of her weakness washing over her. Inuyasha sensed her calm down and brushed her hair from her right ear, his right hand moving from around her waist to enclose a finger around the necklace holding the jewel shard, whispering so only she could hear:

"Kagome, I'm sorry. Please don't sit me. I'll be back, I promise. Don't follow."

Inuyasha snorted mentally. He knew that last one was as good as ignored. He pushed her back, his right hand ripping the jewel shard from her neck. Before she or anyone else could react, he bolted into the direction of the rising sun.

"Kirara, follow him!" Sango ordered. The fire cat transformed and took off in the direction of the demon, leaving the others behind. Kagome had landed safely against her sleeping bag, her hand at her neck. 'Sitting him was the last thing on my mind. I know he has to go. I just feel it. But why didn't he want us to go too?' Shippou stared at her, his gaze on her neck.

"Kagome, are you ok?"

Kagome nodded and gave him a weak smile.

"Yes, Shippou. I'm fine."

She felt something warm and wet on her fingertips. Kagome pulled her hand away and paled. It was blood, darker than what she was used to. 'Inuyasha must have hit an artery,' she thought, remembering from biology that the deeper the vein the darker the blood. But this was so thick, as well as dark. She looked down at her shirt as the others were noticing the blood. Her uniform was ripped in the front, the red tie with the gold button missing. Kagome touched her neck again and fainted. Miroku was the first to speak.

"Hurry! We must get her to Kaede!"

---------

SF: Well, here I am, coming in loud and clear at fan fiction.com for the first time! {streamers fly across the stage as SF and the rest of the cast of Inuyasha celebrate.} Thank you all for stopping by for chapter one of the first fiction. Now that I'm here, the rest of my readers and myself don't have to wait with baited breath for updates.

Inuyasha: No one cares, bird brain.

SF: ::pouts::

Kagome: Inuyasha, sit!

Wham!

SF: Thank you, Kagome. Anyway, here is the preview to chapter two. {rolls out wide screen t. v. and pushes the power button. Nothing happens.} Piece of crap! Can I get some help here?

{Inuyasha whacks the top of the t. v. It sputters to life.}

Chapter Two: A Cut Above The Rest

He dozed off quickly and the old man chuckled, talking to himself.

"I wonder if the rumors are true, if this is the nicer one. I hope they are, because it would be really bad for us in the future if he were as ruthless as Lord Sesshoumaru." He chuckled again and watched his unexpected visitor sleep.