Disclaimer/AN: Okay, here's a new one for ya. I know I still have work to do for my other stories "Once More With Feeling" and "To Have Loved and Lost". But honestly I've hit a block with those two so I may not be updating for a while. This is based off a story I wrote a long time ago that I found a hand-written copy of. I've re-read and revised a lot of it, plus I made it a fanfiction instead of original story. It had been inspired by Fruits Basket but you'll see that it's not much like it, really. This story is going to be a more serious one with touches of humor and underlying tales of romance. The first couple of chapters will be about Kagome herself, then we will merge into the place she ends up with my other main characters (Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Koga, Sesshomaru, and Rin). You'll see how their stories tie together. I really hope you enjoy this read. Also, I do not own Inuyasha.

WARNING: There will be really bad things in this story. We're talking thorough accounts of rape and drug use and things of that nature. I have rated this story M for a reason. Please be mature when you review.

Kagome sighed as she reached her room and set down her back pack. She didn't have much homework tonight, thank goodness. She was in her last year of high school and lately it seemed homework was given out like a severe case of the flu. She turned on her light and began her nightly routine of changing and turning on her rock music. She liked to listen to a little bit of everything, but rock suited her mood more and more these days.

She had a lot going on in her head. She could barely focus on anything because most of the time, her thoughts drifted to her mother. Her once proud, beautiful, strong mother.

Who was now broken and weak. Just like any other human being, really. This was horrible, though.

Her mother used to be full of smiles and love for everyone and everything. Even when Kagome's father died, she was still strong and tried to be cheerful so as not to bring anyone else down with her sadness. She was still sad, and Kagome had caught her crying alone in her room several times. But it wasn't something Kagome could blame her for or hold any grudges about. When someone was sad and grieving, they had every right to cry as much as they felt they needed to.

Kagome had been very young when her father had passed. He'd died in a car accident on a stormy night. According to the reports, it was due to weather conditions. He'd been on his way home and had taken the short cut, which involved the use of an extremely sharp curve. Anyone could surmise what had happened with that.

Because of this, Kagome hated storms. She hated them for the threat they posed to families who just wanted to be together and love each other until they'd all had a chance to live their lives to the fullest. But alas, life was never quite fair, was it?

It had seemed better when Kagome had turned twelve and her mother had finally decided to get married again. The guy seemed nice enough. He was very nice to Kagome when he came around and he showered her mother in love and affection. He made her mom smile, and that was enough for Kagome. Life was great for the first few years. Kagome had a father again. Her mom had a husband to love again. They did things together and got along very well. He came home after work every day and kissed her mother and asked Kagome about her day at school. Things looked perfect. Hell, they were perfect. But...

Things are never what they seem.

It started with a few beers a night. He didn't seem much changed by them, except for the smell of his breath. Then a few became several, and several became cases and cases at a time. It was as if the guy was constantly drinking some kind of alcohol.

Kagome knew something about him was different when she came down from her room after getting ready for school and found her mother in the kitchen with a huge black eye. Her mother insisted she'd hit her face with the refrigerator door, and was very stubborn about it, so Kagome relented.

But when her stepfather came home from work that night, he went straight to the fridge to grab his favorite drink and glanced her mother's way. Kagome couldn't tell if he was pleased with himself or disgusted. The fact that she wasn't able to determine this was very disturbing.

"God, Ai. Your face looks fucking awful. You should cover that up." he had said. And with that, he grabbed a plate of food and sat down in their living room. They heard the television turn on. Kagome was sitting with her mother in the dining room. She looked at her, and could see tears welling up in her eyes.

"Mom," she began. But her mother shook her head and ran from the table to her bedroom.

Kagome walked out and had stopped in the living room to stare at her stepfather.

"Ritsu, what is the matter with you and mom? Why would you say something so awful to her?" she demanded.

The beer bottle he'd just finished came flying at her head. She had just barely gotten out of the way in time. Her look was one of horror and shock.

He smirked, but looked so menacing Kagome felt terror shake her all the way to her core. "You'd do well to stay out of grown up problems, Kagome. It's none of your business. Don't you ever question me about your mother again. Do you hear me, brat? You'll be sorry if you do."

Kagome swallowed the fear and walked away towards her room. Hours later, her mother came in to tell her good night.

"Mom! What is going on with Ritsu? Why is he being such a jerk to you? And to me! He just threw a beer at my face!" Kagome yelled.

Her mother frowned. Kagome could have cried. Her mother's swollen black eye looked so pitiful with her sad expression. She looked so resigned and defeated and Kagome's chest hurt to look upon her.

"Kagome. I'm sorry he did that. I will talk to him. Just please, don't get in his way. Don't make him angry. If you do that, it will be better." her mother said. Kagome had frowned, shaking her head as her mother said good night and left the room.

That had been a year ago. Kagome was seventeen. Almost grown and able to leave this hell she'd once called home. Despite what her mother had advised, things had not gotten better. No, they were worse. Much, much worse.

He'd switched to liquor a few months after the incident. Her mother carried more than just a black eye around with her. There were other bruises and marks scattered over her entire body. Every move she made was shaky and hesitant. Fear had taken over her entire mind. It had consumed their lives.

Ritsu became angry with everything she did. The food wasn't as good, it was too warm in the house, the electric bill was way too high, he needed more alcohol, etcetera. It was endless. Kagome had let herself slip once to argue with him because she couldn't stand the look of hurt and fear dancing in her mother's eyes.

"What the fuck, Ritsu? You're the only one who drinks the stupid shit around here so why don't you get off your fucking ass and go get some more yourself? That way you can't get mad if the right one isn't bought!" she'd screamed. Her mother gasped in shock.

"Kagome, no!" she said, starting to move toward her.

Ritsu was fuming. Kagome could see the veins pulsing under his skin. His face was becoming red. He was very, very angry. But she didn't care. She continued.

"You think you're so much better and more of a man because you push my mom around like your little fucking slave? No man does that! You used to love and respect us both and now it's like you've become a demon hell-bent on making our lives miserable! All she does is try to please you. Why can't you respect that and maybe try to be a better husband for once?"

He had stepped toward her, in a rage.

"You do not tell me what to fucking do in my own fucking house!" he shrieked, his arm extending and colliding with Kagome's cheek. The blow was so strong she went flying a few feet and finally hit the ground. He leered above her. His foot, which still wore a thick loafer, found her hand and began applying pressure on her fingers. She cried out in pain. "I will behave as I like! Your mother is MY wife! I will do with her and to her what I wish, and as I see fit! I warned you a long time ago what would happen if you questioned me, you little shit! You're such a fucking piece of shit brat! You are NOTHING!"

He'd finally left her there on the floor, crying silently. She couldn't move, could barely breathe. Her mother came over and helped her up, crying herself. She took Kagome into the bathroom to bandage her fingers, two of the three that had received the worst damage were black and blue. She was positive they were broken. She looked in the mirror and the bruise that decorated her right cheek was showcasing the same hues.

"I'm so sorry, Kagome. I told you to stay out of his way."

"Mom, why are we still here? Why can't you divorce him? Call the police?"

"You know Ritsu's friends are in the force. They already know. I called the first time he ever laid a hand on me. I was brushed off as if I deserved it. We can't run. He'll find us. I'm not strong enough to kill him, so here we are."

Kagome was a bit startled at the last part, but didn't let it bother her. At this point, she'd be happy if Ritsu ate dirt and choked on it. Her mother finished tying off the bandage and looked at Kagome's face.

"Kagome, you are almost done with school. You have a chance to get out of this place. You can go to college and get as far away from Ritsu as you can. He didn't adopt you, so you are not legally his child. You can do whatever you want. I just want you free and safe. You can leave Ritsu to me."

Tears streamed down Kagome's face. "But mom, I don't want him to hurt you, either. There's gotta be something we can do!"

Her mom just shook her head. Suddenly Kagome was furious.

"Mom! Nothing is ever going to change around here unless you make it happen! You've got to try more, try harder. Stand up to him! If he attacks you, defend yourself. Just DO something. He's just going to keep thinking it's perfectly acceptable to treat you this way unless you make it crystal clear that it isn't. Get a backbone, tell him to go fuck himself, and get the hell out."

Her mother still looked so sad. She just smiled at her. "Sometimes you remind me so much of your father it hurts. I love you. Go to your room and don't come out til he goes to bed, okay?"

It was only a few weeks after that, now. Kagome leaned against her door. Her mother was supposed to come knock when it was time to eat. Normally it would happen right before Ritsu was due to be home from work. The knock came right on time, and Kagome followed her mother to the dining room. They both sat down and Kagome began to eat.

"How is your hand today, dear?" her mother asked. Kagome held her hand up. One finger was slightly crooked but otherwise the bruises were finally fading.

"It still hurts to bend them. It'll take weeks before I can use this hand for anything again." Kagome said, taking a bite.

Her mother sighed. After Kagome was done, she hugged her mother.

"I don't blame you for anything, mom. Please know that. I love you."

Her mother returned the hug tightly. "I know, Kagome. I love you too. I'll come say goodnight in a while."

Kagome returned to her bedroom to start on her homework. Finals were fast approaching and everything that was sent home was study materials to help keep their minds "alert and refreshed". Whatever that meant.

She heard the door slam down the hall. Ritsu was home. She looked at the clock. He was home much later than usual today. Now that she thought of it, he'd been coming home later and later over the last week or so. She gazed at the lock when it hit her.

Was he cheating on her mom with another woman? Of all the rotten things! It wasn't enough to come home and abuse her, but he had to do this too? It was like rubbing salt in the wound.

"Asshole." she seethed and slammed her book shut.

She then heard raised voices. It wasn't just Ritsu's voice that was yelling. She heard her mother as well. Intrigued and curious and worried all at once, Kagome quietly opened her door and lightly tread down the hall. She stayed out of sight and she came to a stop, peering into the room where her mother and Ritsu were hashing it out.

"I'm done, Ritsu! I loved you, and I thought you loved me. I thought this was all because of the drinking, that deep down maybe you weren't such a misogynist prick! But now that you're dallying with other women at work I can see I was wrong!" her mother shouted.

Go mom, Kagome thought.

"Ai, how dare you speak to me like this! How dare you accuse me of this! You have no fucking proof! I got held up at the office and you have no right or reason to doubt that." His fist came up threateningly.

"Go ahead and hit me if you think that will make me change my mind about you. Honestly, it's been made up about you for a long time. Years, in fact. I'm over it, Ritsu. I'm over you. I want nothing more to do with you. It's over! Finished! You've hurt me in so many ways that I'm numb to any more punches or insults you can throw at me! So go ahead, that's your choice. But afterwards, I'm getting my daughter and we are getting the hell out of this house! You are going to jail! YOU can deal with the consequences of all your actions towards me and my girl all these years."

He was silent for a moment. Kagome was silently cheering her mother on. It was about time she said something and stood up for herself. They were going to leave together and everything was going to be fine!

What happened next changed her life as she knew it.

"Ai...I'm so sorry." Ritsu said. Tears were in his eyes. "You're so right. I've been terrible to both you and Kagome. Especially you. I'm sorry I hurt you. I'm so sorry! Please don't leave me!" He fell to his knees.

Surely mom won't fall for this, thought Kagome. But she watched her mother stand there a moment looking down at him. She slowly came down to her knees as well and embraced him.

"I knew it! I knew you wouldn't go! I'm so sorry! Please stay. Love me. I love you." Ritsu blubbered.

"Ritsu, I love you. But...I've got to go. You can get clean, stop drinking, stop womanizing...and live a better life. But I can't be in it. It hurts too much." Ai said. She started pulling away.

She was jerked back. Suddenly Ritsu was on top of her, his hands around her throat. Kagome gasped.

"You think you can just leave me whenever you fucking please, you bitch? You married me! You knew what you were getting into! Don't tell me after all this time it's too much for you? So what if I fuck another bitch here and there? That's none of your concern!"

Ai was gasping for air. "Rit...su...stop...please!"

"You're gonna pay! You're gonna pay!" Ritsu screamed, squeezing tighter with every repetition.

Kagome screamed. "Get off her!" She charged him. She collided with his elbow, knocking the breath out of her. She crumbled to the ground and came face to face with her suffocating mother.

"Ka...go...me..."

Kagome was sobbing. She couldn't breathe.

"...run!"

She saw her mother's eyes become dark and distant. She wasn't struggling anymore. Kagome, still sobbing, stumbled up and away from Ritsu's reach. She stood there a moment in shock, staring at her mother's now lifeless body. She watched as Ritsu slowly withdrew his hands and looked up at her. He was crying. But he was smiling.

"Kagome...sweetheart..."he began.

She took a step back as he started standing up. "No.." she whispered. She stumbled back. "No...!"

"I'm sorry about your mom...she was just such a bitch. Can you believe she was going to leave me?" he said. His speech was slurred and his eyes were wild.

"Ritsu, please!" Kagome yelled.

Ritsu covered his ears. "God! Why do you women always scream so loud? You're hurting my ears!" He stepped forward.

Kagome screamed and shot over to the land line phone. She needed to hide and call the cops. But a hand stopped her.

"Just what do you think you're doing, little lady?" Ritsu demanded and threw her onto the ground. She hit her head on the way down against the end table. She was seeing double.

She tried to scoot away as he advanced on her. "Ritsu! Stop it! Stop! Please!"

He pinned her down with his hands and knees so that he was straddling her. He leaned in close to smell her neck. "Y'know, for a brat, you sure are pretty. I never noticed how much of a woman you've become, Kagome. You smell lovely."

She began to sob. "Ritsu...no! Don't do this! You're my stepfather! Please!"

But he was too far gone. Perhaps the alcohol had finally killed all the sanity he had left. She didn't know. She felt his hands grope her breasts. She was too disoriented by her head injury to struggle as hard as she wished she could. The tears kept coming and coming. She couldn't stop them. She heard the zipper of his pants being pulled down. She could feel his erection against her hips. Her clothes were moved or torn, whatever he needed to get them out of his way.

She rolled her head to look away from him, feeling herself get weaker and weaker. She looked and saw her mom's dead body on the floor not too far away. She was gone. And as Ritsu pushed himself into her, Kagome knew it was all over. She didn't beg anymore. She didn't cry out in pain. Her virtue was gone. Just like her mother.

She felt nothing but the pumping in and out of her with her stepfather's manhood. It hurt. She could feel a slick liquid between her legs. Whether it was from him or from her, she didn't know. He pulled her hair, bit her neck hard, slapped her back and forth across the face. She heard him say something about coming soon...what did that mean?

And right before her world went black, she saw someone burst through their front door.

The police.

Well, as I said. This will have its graphic scenes. But it's only done to bring you closer to my characters, feel what they're feeling. I apologize on the cliff hanger, but the next chapter will be posted soon as it is already underway!