Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha
Chapter One: Escape
"Open up!"
They pounded on the door, and her mother held her closer.
"Kagome…You must get away. Hurry, before they get in."
"But mama-"
"Go! Now!"
Kagome crawled out of the mother's arms, heading for the window. Kouga opened his arms to her, and she stepped into them. He turned and leaped out of the house, just as the door banged down, and men swarmed the place.
"Mama…" Kagome whispered, clutching Kouga's shirt between her small fingers.
--Flashback--
"You have a debt to pay, you know that, Ayamakita."
Kagome's mother scrunched her hand into a fist, which hung limply at her side.
"I'll pay it when I can. I have no money to give you right now." Ayamakita responded wearily, running a hand through her hair. The man slammed his fists down on the table, causing Ayamakita to jump.
"If you do not have the money by the end of the month, you will pay me with your daughter." Ayamakita grimaced. "She's fifteen! Kagome can decide whatever she wants to do." The man chuckled. "Fifteen isn't old enough. She'll be a perfect-"
"Leave her out of this!"
The two turned instantly, watching as Kouga walked over to them.
"Kouga, we all know she looks to you as a friend, but her mother is the one who's in debt here." Kouga smirked at the man's shaky greeting.
"I don't care. As long as it involves Kagome, it involves me."
Kagome heard all this from the doorway, and, hearing more than enough, backed away.
--End of Flashback--
Ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooO
"You can stay here tonight." Kouga said, digging through boxes as he spoke. The apartment living room was small, consisting of a small couch and a T.V.
"Aha!" Kouga exclaimed, pulling out a blanket and pillow. He laid them down on the couch, and turned back to her.
"I hope you'll be all right here..." He said softly. Kagome blinked. "Oh, I'll be alright!" She said, using her fake smile. Kouga eyed her slowly, and then nodded. "Food's in the refidgerator, if you get hungry. I'll be in my room if you need me-- Second to the left." Kagome kept smiling, and he left her to her thoughts.
She plopped herself down on the couch, curling up into the fetal position. "Why, mama? Why didn't you just let them take me? Why...?"
Kagome sobbed into the pillow, trying to muddle her crying. Her mind was tired, but she couldn't fall asleep. Thoughts of what might have happened to her mother ran throughout her mind. "Mama...please be okay..." Kagome whispered, and fell into a troubled sleep.
Ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooO
Her eyes opened, and she glanced around nervously, not remembering where she was. Relization dawned on her, and she relaxed-- but not much.
Kouga opened his door and stepped out, smiling playfully at Kagome. "I see you're awake. I was just going to make breakfast. Care to join me?" Smiling a little also, she stood up.
Chewing on her cereal, Kagome barely heard what Kouga was talking about. She was focus on the most important matters-- Where was she going to live after she left here? and What happened to her mama? Sighing, Kagome excused herself from the table and walked toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Kouga asked, alarmed. Kagome turned back to him, smiling.
"To start my life again."
The wolf-man watched as the girl opened the door and stepped out.
Before the door closed, he caught it and pulled it back open.
"Kagome, stay safe, okay?" Kagome nodded, and turned to go. Kouga grabbed her arm. "Remember, I'll always be here if you need me." She smiled.
"Don't worry Kouga, I'll be alright. Really. I promise." He let go of her arm, and she hopped down the stairs to the bottom of the apartment building.
"You better keep your promise, Kagome." Kouga whispered gently to the open air, before turning and shutting the door behind him.
Ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooO
Kagome sighed and stared at the desk in front of her. This school was terrible also. She would have gotten a job and skipped school, but no store needed a fifteen-year-old.
Grabbing her bag as the bell rang, Kagome headed into the school office.
"So, Miss Higurashi, how do you like our school?" The woman behind the counter asked absently, shuffling papers on her desk.
"I'm not sure. I'll think about it, okay?" Kagome lied. She had no need to think about it; this school sucked. The it had graffiti everywhere, and a rotten stench that made her want to puke.
Stepping out into the fresh air, she sighed and walked away. Her new apartment was okay, she supposed, but Kagome didn't want a apartment-- she wanted a house. Something that she didn't have to pay someone to live in.
The girl stretched slowly, her joints aching. Sleep hadn't been good lately. Nightmares kept coming back to her about the night she got seperated from her mother.
Kagome shook her head, willing herself to forget. Her mother was found dead two weeks ago. The only family member she had left was her little brother, and even he had a family to take care of him. A foster family, to be exact. She wasn't old enough to take care of her little sibling, the orphanage told her.
So she let him be taken into the care of a woman and her husband, ones who seemed nice enough and wanted a child. Kagome bit her lip, suddenly doubting her decision.
But inside, she knew that was the right thing to do. She just couldn't believe it. Kouga and his wife, Ayame, went off on their second honeymoon. So she was all alone.
'Perfect. Just perfect.' Kagome thought. Then she stood straighter. She would show them all she didn't need anyone. She would be alright on her own.
She hoped.
A/N: There's the first chapter...Please review!