Long Road Home

I don't own InuYasha.

One harmless night of drinking leads to one huge mistake. In a small town where everyone knows everyone and the politics governing teenagers are delicate there are no secrets. The only option is to run. Rated for language, alcohol, implied sex and pregnancy.

Chapter Two Aftermath

Kagome sat with her head slung over the toilet bowl gasping for air. Her stomach muscles clenched as what little was left in her stomach was heaved into the toilet. Wiping her mouth she slumped back against the wall.

"Kagome? ... Kagome?"

Sango's voice floated down the hall before she entered through the swinging door at the far end of the bathroom.

"Kagome are you in here?" Sango asked to the otherwise empty bathroom. Kagome knocked her hand against the door of the stall. A moment latter the door swung open and Sango stood starring down at her.

"Kagome? ... what's wrong?" she asked kneeling down next to her friend. Kagome wiped her hand across her mouth again before answering.

"I dunno ... I'm sick or something ..." she answered. Sango lifted her hand to Kagome's forehead.

"You don't feel warm." Sango said.

"I was sick yesterday morning and then again today when I was leaving for school and then now. I've been feeling sluggish all week to ... " Kagome finished as she tilted her head back against the cold cement wall.

"Look why don't you just head home. Lunch is just ending now, if you're feeling so sick you should skip the rest of the day. I'll tell the teachers you're ill." Sango suggested as she gave Kagome's hand a reassuring squeeze. Kagome nodded her head and picked herself up off the bathroom floor.

Nearly an hour latter Kagome was walking through the front door of her house. Her mom was still working, Souta was still at school and from the sounds of muffled snores her grandfather was asleep in the living room. The only person unaccounted for was Kikyou. Kagome was pretty sure she was at work to but she still tip toed up the stairs just in case. She didn't feel like explaining why she wasn't at school to anyone.

After dropping her bag on the floor Kagome fell onto her bed in a tired heap. She felt exhausted and sick and wanted nothing more then to step into a long hot shower. All she needed was the energy to get herself there. Kagome laid on her bed for a long while before she finally forced herself up and walked to the bathroom. On the way she peered into Kikyou's room which was empty. She was safe and home alone for at least a couple more hours.

Kagome turned the tap in the shower and hot water poured forth quickly steaming up the walls and mirror. The sound of the hot shower was so inviting she tore off her clothes and jumped in. The hot water felt as good as it had sounded and Kagome simply stood leaning against the wall letting the water wash over her body. Grabbing a bar of soap she absentmindedly worked up a lather over her skin. She ran her hand over her stomach and a thought suddenly struck her. She looked down and ran her hand over her stomach again. Was it her imagination or was she gaining weight. She had always been a skinny kid but now in her mind she seemed to have filled out a bit. The bar of soap fell into the tub with a loud thud.

"No." Kagome said to herself.

"I'm just imagining it."

But the thought simply wouldn't leave her mind. Quickly she rinsed off and got out of the shower. Throwing a towel on she ran back to her room and sat back on her bed.

"Think ... think ..." she told herself over and over. There just had to be another explanation. She tried to remember when her last period had been. It had to have been at least a month. There was the fatigue to. She'd been feeling unusually tired for weeks. Then there was the throwing up and feeling ill in the mornings and afternoons. Kagome ordered her brain to think of any other reason for it all but her terrified teenage mind could only come up with one. She was pregnant.

Kagome felt her heart racing as she tried to comprehend what was happening. She was only seventeen years old. She was graduating from highschool in a matter of weeks. How could this be happening to her now?

Kagome took a few deep breaths. Nothing was certain yet. She had to keep that ounce of hope that she was just jumping to conclusions. Slowly she calmed herself down and got dressed. If she hurried she could get to the general store before school was out. That would limit the risk of someone stopping her to ask what she was up to.

The bell rang over the door as Kagome entered the store. A kind looking man at the till nodded to her,

"Hey there Kagome." he called before tuning to put something up on a shelf behind the counter.

"Hey Mr. Brooks!" Kagome called back before darting down one of the isles. Kagome took a deep breath to steady herself. She hadn't considered the fact that she would actually have to buy the pregnancy test. Pushing the little box across the counter and seeing the look on the Mr. Brooks' face was something Kagome couldn't even bare the thought of. But she needed that test. She could asked someone to get it for her but even the idea of doing that was almost just as bad. Kagome couldn't believe the thought was actually crossing her mind but she knew the only way to avoid the inevitable embarrassment was to steal the test instead.

Kagome walked up one isle and then back down another trying to look as if she was only browsing. She finally spotted the tests in the second last isle and walked past them. Instead she stopped in front of a display of earings. She pretended to look interested in a pair while keeping an eye on where the store owner was. The bell on the door rang again,

"Kagome?"

Kagome jumped a foot in the air as Sango's voice came from behind her. She turned quickly to see her friend starring at her with surprise.

"Kagome I thought you were sick. What are you doing here?" asked Sango sounding a little confused.

"I ... well I was just getting some medicine ... you know to settled my stomach." Kagome answered.

"Are you sure you're ok?" Sango asked eyeing Kagome suspiciously.

"Yup ... what are you doing here?" Asked Kagome trying to change the subject.

"I work here!" Sango laughed.

"Oh .. well I knew that I mean what are you doing here now? Schools not out yet?" Kagome added correcting herself.

"Last class was cancelled today so I decided to get here a little early ... Anyways I'm gonna go put my stuff away." with that Sango turned and walked towards the back room.

Kagome took a deep breath again. She had to get this over with quick before Sango came back. She walked past the isle two more times eyeing the item she wanted. Finally with a quick look to the back to make sure no one was watching she grabbed the box and shoved it into her bag. Without stopping she walk back out of the isle. Looking up her eyes met Sango's who was now standing behind the checkout counter. She had a look on her face that was unreadable. Kagome held her stare for a second too long for her not to know something was wrong. Kagome ducked down the next isle and out of sight. She stopped for a second to think. Had Sango seen her take the box? Would she call her on it if she had?

Kagome raised her head and found herself looking at a shelf stocked with Gravol. Grabbing the smallest box of the cheapest brand they had Kagome returned to the checkout and placed the medicine on the counter.

Sango didn't say anything as she scanned the item through.

"Is that all?" she asked. Her tone was steady and she didn't smile. Kagome watched her friend trying to read what she was thinking. Then Kagome caught her eyes dart down to the bag at her hip and she knew Sango had seen her take the box.

"No that's it." Kagome answered as she handed over the money, trying her hardest to keep her emotions from bubbling to the surface.

Sango didn't say anything as she handed Kagome her change and the plastic bag with the Gravol in it. Kagome turned and walked out of the store. Just as she was leaving Sango called after her.

"I'll see you later Kagome." she said.

Kagome didn't look back or say anything in return.

Several hours later Kagome sat in her room. The still unopened pregnancy test cradled in her hands. She couldn't even bring herself to open it let alone take the test. If she did then she would have to face the reality that she could really be pregnant. The very idea just seemed so absurd.

Kagome's mother called up the stairs saying dinner was ready. The very thought of food made Kagome's stomach twist uncomfortably so she called back saying she was still feeling sick. Kagome listened for Kikyou and Souta to make there way downstairs before finally getting up and making her way to the bathroom. She quietly closed the door behind her before moving to sit on the edge of the bathtub. She held the box in her hand again for a moment before finally ripping the end open and pulling out the small white stick. After following the directions that came with it, Kagome made sure to clean up all the pieces of the box and what not and escaped back to her room.

Once back safely behind her bedroom door Kagome took a deep breath and looked at the result.

Positive. She was pregnant.

Kagome stared at the tiny pink plus sign unable to believe it was true. Her mind was numb as she tried to moved towards the bed. She took three steps and collapsed onto the floor near her desk. Kagome had no idea how long she was sitting there. She was only vaguely aware of the doorbell ringing and her mom calling up stairs to her. She couldn't understand what her mom had said and she didn't really care at the moment. There was a long silence again before Kagome's bedroom door suddenly opened. Kagome's head shot up at the sound of the doorknob turning and the door slowly swinging towards her.

"Kagome?" came Sango's voice as she entered the room looking around for her friend. When Sango spotted Kagome on the floor she quickly closed the door behind her and walked over to sit next to Kagome.

The two girls sat in silence for awhile. Kagome couldn't look Sango in the eye. She felt so ashamed. Ashamed that she'd gotten herself into this horrible situation. Ashamed that she'd stolen the test. Ashamed that even now with her best friend right in front of her she couldn't bring herself to say anything. Finally Sango broke the silence,

"I'm guessing the result wasn't good then?" she asked. Kagome simply picked up the test and handed it to her friend. She expected Sango to tell her she was an idiot, to ask her how she could have been so stupid to let this happen. Instead Sango shuffled closer to Kagome and wrapper her arms around her shoulders. Kagome was so stunned it took her a good minute to finally bring her arms up and return the hug. The emotions that had been building all day suddenly came out like a dam had burst inside her. The tears fell and Sango just sat rocking her friend back and forth trying to reassure her everything would be ok.

Kagome cried against Sango's shoulder for a good fifteen minutes. When she had finally calmed down enough to talk Sango took her by the shoulders and looked her straight in the eye,

"You're not going to like what I have to say but you need to tell someone Kagome." Sango said trying to sound forceful but understanding at the same time. Kagome shook her head furiously as she wiped the last of her tears from her face,

"I can't. I can't let anyone know." Kagome answered in a shaky voice.

"Kagome this isn't something you can hide forever! And you can't handle this on your own."

Kagome knew Sango was right. Being pregnant was not something that you could easily hide for long. But she just couldn't face the humiliation of people knowing she'd made a mistake and the shame it would bring to her family.

"Sango, I need you to help me. I need you to do be the biggest favour ever!" Kagome pleaded.

"What?" asked Sango.

"Just give me some time ... I just need to figure some things out and then I will tell my family. Just please PLEASE don't tell anyone ...?"

Sango eyed Kagome uncertainly,

"How long are you planning on keeping quiet? I mean having a baby is complicated. You need to get checked out by a doctor." Sango asked sounding worried now.

"Just ... just give me till after graduation ... that's two ... three weeks tops ... can you do that for me?" Kagome asked. Sango was quiet for a minute before she finally nodded her head.

"Kagome ..." Sango started hesitantly.

"What?" Kagome asked.

"You know you have to tell Kouga at the very least ..." Sango finished. Kagome opened her mouth to answer and then closed it again unsure of what to say. A worried look came over Sango face and then her eyes went wide.

"Oh my god ..." Sango said slapping her hand over her mouth,

"Kouga isn't the father is he ..." she finished still starring wide eyed at Kagome. Kagome bit her lip and shook her head no.

"Holly shit ... Kagome what the hell?"

"Shhhhhh!" Kagome said trying to remind Sango to be quiet.

"Well who the hell is it then?" Sango asked lowering her voice again.

"I ... I don't remember ..." Kagome lied.

"Bull shit! Who are you protecting?" Sango said sounding angry now.

"Look! It was about six weeks ago after the party at Mary's where we all got drunk. I was walking home, I blacked out and when I woke up ... well ..." Kagome trailed off hoping Sango would fill in the blanks herself. Sango just stared at Kagome in pure disbelief.

"Was it consensual?" Sango asked looking very angry.

"Honestly Sango I don't remember any of it ... though evidence would indicate it was consensual." Kagome answered.

In truth what Kagome had said was true. She didn't remember the night at all. She had lied about knowing who the father was though.

Before Sango had mention Kouga, thinking he was the father, InuYasha hadn't even crossed Kagome's mind. Now she had to face the idea of getting InuYasha involved which made her stomach flutter with butterflies once more.

Before that fateful night Kagome and InuYasha had been joint acquaintances of Kikyou, who happened to go to the same parties and hang out randomly from time to time. For the most part they quibbled and called each other names for fun, all the while retaining a mutual respect.

After the morning Kagome had woken up in InuYasha's bedroom and then the night in the barn when they had talked, the trace of a relationship they had became some what more subdued. Since college was out InuYasha usually spent most of the time away working construction jobs to pay for school. This meant they almost never saw each other anymore. He'd been gone for the last two weeks and was scheduled to be home in the next few days.

After several more hugs and one faint smile from Kagome, Sango finally left and headed home. Kagome went back into her room and laid down on her bed facing the ceiling. She felt completely exhausted from her head to her toes. At least now she knew why she was so tired. Moving her hand under her t-shirt Kagome ran her fingers over the skin of her belly. It did feel different to her. The skin felt tighter, firmer and, although she was sure she was just being paranoid, rounder to.

Deep down Kagome knew she was too much of a coward to face her family. This problem was hers and she was going to have to deal with it on her own. She felt bad lying to Sango but what else could she do. There was only a little more then two weeks left until highschool was over. As long as Sango didn't tell anyone she could take the exams, get her diploma and then run. She would leave a note for her family telling them she was off to try and make it as a singer on the west coast. Then she would run far enough that no one would know who she was or where she came from. There she could have the baby and put it up for adoption. Once everything was taken care off she could come back home. Being known as the fool who ran away to Hollywood and failed seemed infinitely better then the teenage fool who got herself pregnant.

Rolling over Kagome thought about all the things that could go wrong with her plan, but it was the only option she had. Fatigue won out in the end though and she quickly fell asleep.