Kagome jerked awake, sweating profusely. "Kagome?" Inuyasha's voice questioned, barely hiding the concern in his voice. Shaking her head, Kagome turned to look at Inuyasha and smiled. "It's fine." She whispered but got up and sat next to him. They were silent for a while before Inuyasha spoke, "Kagome? Is something…" Inuyasha stopped mid-sentence as the smell of salty tears filled his nostrils. Startled, he turned to Kagome who had lowered her head, her bangs covering her eyes. "Stop it." He said, as he tried to place a comforting hand on her shoulder. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed into the crook of her arm. Inuyasha watched Kagome, at a loss as to what to do; he couldn't comfort people and had never known how to handle crying girls.
Kagome herself didn't know why she had started crying. All these years, she had kept it inside her, had resisted the urge to cry, but the moment Inuyasha had reached out, tears had sprang to her eyes and she didn't seem able to hold it back, like she used to. All the hurt she had experienced, all the pain she had felt, all the frustrations that she kept hidden, all the hate for her abusive father, it all came out in the form of tears. She hated herself for crying. Finally, she stopped and brushed the tears away, finally looking up and giving Inuyasha a weak smile.
Inuyasha didn't know what to do. Did he say something? Did he comfort her? Inuyasha was stricken. He couldn't bear to see Kagome so grief-stricken. As Kagome finally stopped crying and looked up, he murmured, "You can talk about it… I m-mean if you w-want t-to." Kagome looked at Inuyasha gratefully and Inuyasha turned away, a blush forming across his cheeks. Kagome leaned against the tree and recounted parts of her life she had never spoken to anyone about.
"Mama, someone's at the door." Kagome announced to her mother as she ran in from the courtyard. Nodding her mother kissed her forehead and ran out. Later, Kagome's mother had introduced him as her boyfriend. Kagome was happy, she had a father figure at last. Her dad had died shortly after she was born and she couldn't remember much. The simple seven-year old girl had looked up to any man who could be counted on as a father.
After a year, Kagome's mother decided to get married to her boyfriend, Eriol. Kagome had been really happy as she held one of her grandfather's hands while her grandfather supported the one-year old Sota in the other. However, Kagome had soon realized that this marriage wasn't the most ideal.
After Eriol had moved in, Kagome had gotten beaten for simple things like snacking before dinner. Unused to these harsh punishments, she would bawl yet get slapped for crying. Her stepfather had told her numerous times that if she complained to her mother, her mother would abandon her. Her gullible eight year old mind didn't know any better. Kagome kept quiet about the beatings.
When she turned thirteen, Eriol had taken an unusual interest in Kagome and on one night, when her mother had had a function, he had gone into her room and raped her. Kagome had cried for weeks, but not in front of her mother. Although the old threat of her mother abandoning her had wore off and formed as a stupid idea, Eriol had told her that he would harm Sota and had asked her, "Will your mother believe you or me?", successfully planting the seed of doubt in her mind.
This abuse had continued on for another two years before Kagome had finally stumbled upon the ancient well that would take her to the feudal era. Eriol had been furious when he realized she was more or less protected from his grasp.
A fresh onslaught of tears fought their way out as Kagome finished. Inuyasha was taken aback and Kagome turned away. Berating herself, she told herself she should have known the consequences of telling Inuyasha. He'll never like you, not after this. Tears fell down her cheeks and she carelessly brushed them away.
Inuyasha was taken aback. This was why Kagome wouldn't go for those tests anymore? This was why she always seemed on the verge of tears when she came back after a much needed trip home? Kagome had turned away and Inuyasha didn't know what to do. I've got to go and find Kikyo and deal with this once and for all. Kagome's got to know how I feel. Now that I know this, this is probably the best gift I can give her. I can't let her suffer all alone again. Inuyasha placed a comforting arm around her shoulder as Kagome buried her face in his chest. A blush formed across his cheeks and he patted her shoulder awkwardly.
Kagome enjoyed the feel of his arms, even for just a while. She knew it wouldn't last long and she knew better than to delude herself. They'd reach Kaede's house the next day, she would see what would happen then.
It's a short chapter. Tell me what you think! R & R please and don't be mean! This is my second InuKag Fanfict.
Let me know what you think and I can use suggestions of any sort to improve later chapters. :)
