Bruises on a Woman

Chapter One – Meet in the Forest

A/N - This is an alternate universe. This takes place nowhere in particular, but I do live in Texas so it has a lot of American influence, sorry. Trigger warning: This story has violence, rape, and other similar triggers. Please take caution when reading if you are prone to triggers.

The sun rose on this little town, awaking all the people to rise out of bed and get to work. Everyone was busy getting children up, going out to their fields to farm, or just simply going on about their daily chores. Inuyasha was seventeen and wanted anything but responsibility. He was supposed to be working on the farm with his friend Miroku. He looked to the forest just outside of town, he often like to escape there and hide from his duties of work. He quickly scanned around to see if anyone was watching and he took off. He walked around picking up a stick and swinging it around as he walked. He found his spot there by his favorite tree. He sat down in his light blue jeans. He wore a bright red shirt and had on wrist bands on his left hand. He had white blonde hair that was cut short around his face, his bangs cutting off right at his eyes and the back falling around the top of his neck. He tossed the stick in the air, flipping it and catching it. He heard someone walking in the forest and froze. "Who's there?" He looked around and didn't see anyone. "Miroku if that's you I'm not going to work today. Tell the boss I'm taking the day off!" He said leaning back and continuing to toss the stick. Suddenly a girl stepped from behind a tree.

She had long black hair with bangs that also went to her eyes. She had on a long brown skirt and a white long sleeve button down that had a dark brown vest laying over. Her clothes fit her snuggly but covered her entire body. It was the middle of summer and almost 90 degrees outside.

"Hi, there." He started, she just looked at him nervously "I'm Inuyasha what's your name?" She just stood there and he began to stand and she backed up, "I'm not gonna hurt ya…" He said stopping. He sat back down and reached his arm out pointing his palm to the empty space around him "You can sit here if you'd like…" She slowly walked over and sat down. "I don't think I've ever seen you around the village, are you from around here?"

She looked at him still nervous, "I'm from outside the village." She whispered shyly

"Oh, do you come here often? To the forest I mean." He said propping his arm on his knee.

"I try to, I usually come here, I love this tree." She said looking up at the tree behind him.

"I know! I love it! It's so tall and big! It has to be like five hundred years old!" He said looking up.

She giggled covering her mouth. He looked back down at her and smiled she looked so thin, and pale.

"Are you okay? You've got to be hot in that?" she said

Kagome looked down and shrugged "I'm fine." He didn't believe her.

"Are you hungry?" He asked looking at her thin stomach and sunk in cheeks. She looked up at him with big eyes when he said that, "I can go get us some food."

She shook her head "You don't have to…."

"Nonsense, give me 10 minutes!" He jumped up "Wait here." He ran off.

She watched him leave and held her stomach, it had been almost two days since she's eaten. She was so hot in these heavy clothes. She rolled up her sleeves and revealed the cuts and bruises all up her arms. She looked down at them in hate. Hate of herself and hate of him. She lifted her skirt slightly letting the breeze cool her legs, she heard steps and quickly covered herself again. She hid behind the tree as her heart rate increased.

"Hey, girl, are you here?" Inuyasha called. Did she leave? Just as he was about to go walking through the forest looking for her she peeked her head around the corner. "There you are, I got some food!" He put down a basket on the floor with fruit and vegetables in it and a few pieces of meat. She smiled and sat down. "Dig in!" He said grabbing some grapes. She started to eat some of the grapes as well. By the rate she was eating them he could tell she was starving. "Here, have some meat." He said handing her the pork him and Miroku were saving for dinner tonight. She smiled and began to eat it. Inuyasha ate some of the food so she wouldn't feel like she was eating all his food but left most of it for her. "So, can I know your name now?"

She looked up at him and swallowed her bite that was in her mouth "I'm sorry, my name is Kagome." She reached for another piece of pork.

He watched her eat looking as if she hadn't eaten in days "Are you okay? You look like you haven't eaten in a while…"

She looked down and put down the piece of fruit in her hand. "I'm sorry."

"No, no, please eat." He said pushing the basket to her she looked up at him and hesitantly took another bite. "Do your parents not feed you?"

She looked down.

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to…" He said.

"I don't live with my parents….they died when I was little. I live with my godfather. Apparently he used to be my mom's best friend. I don't eat much at home." She said getting to the point before she started to ramble.

"I'm sorry," he said looking at her sadly "well, tell you what you come here every day around this time and I will bring you food!" He said.

At his words she looked up at him hopeful. "You don't have to do that! Really!"

"It's no problem Kagome!" He said looking at the basket. "I'll bring what I can every day!"

Kagome looked up at the sky and noticed the sun was at the peak of the sky "I have to go!" She said standing

"Will I see you tomorrow?" Inuyasha asked

"I will meet you here tomorrow, same time" She smiled and took off running.