Kagome leaned up against the tiled white wall as her muscles relaxed from the hot water that pounded on her body. She ran her hand through her soaked hair and let out a much-needed sigh. She didn't want to open her eyes to what she was going to see going down the drain. The pain was enough to know what was running down her body.

The blood was going to stop sliding down her stomach sooner or later, so she waited. Waited almost half an hour until she squinted and peered down at her feet. The pink water that ran down to the drain was light. I hate him so much. She thought as she closed her eyes once again.

She winced every second or two when the water hit her wounds but the pain didn't compare to the comfort she was feeling. She was safe for now, it was peaceful and calming to be in the shower but once she turned off the running water and stepped out of that enclosed room, that's when she had to be aware of her surroundings. Where her siblings were, what they were doing and most importantly the time. The time of day was the most important thing out of the three. She had to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner, or else more scars will be added.

"Kagome! Get out of the damn shower!" Hiten hit the door once and Kagome quickly turned off the water and grabbed the towel that hung against the wall. Stepping out of the tub she glanced at the mirror that hung on the door. As fit as she was, and as well toned her body was she was still ugly. The many scars and the bruises on her arm and right eye were all her flaws that she ever had. Her black colored hair was healthy, her teeth were straight and pearly white, she was fit and had a personality that everyone loved. Now that her life was now full of fear she lost it, she lost her personality and became unsocial, she was a social out cast because she was so self conscious about the scars and her bruises, worrying everyday to make sure those disgusting marks were covered well.

Bankotsu was smart; he didn't want any of this to get out so he made sure that all his punishments were placed where no one would see them. Bruises were placed on her face, knowing that make-up could easily cover it and cuts were sliced on her stomach or upper thigh area. All she had to do was to always make sure that others wouldn't see them and she really made sure that no one ever laid their eyes upon them.

Wrapping her self with the towel she opened the bathroom door slightly and peered out the small opening to see if anyone was walking through the corridor. Seeing that the coast was clear she quickly ran through the corridor, heading toward her room. Almost there and I'm safe as I'll ever be. She thought as she walked as fast and as calmly as she could but her heart raced even faster when a door opened in front of her and she immediately stopped in place, gripping the towel tightly around her.

"You're dripping all over the carpet." His brows furrowed as he raised his hand, she quickly shut her eyes waiting for a blow across her face but felt his hand gently caressing her cheek. "What's wrong my dear sweet sister? You seem afraid?" The corner of his lip rose as he pulled her closer. He was having his fun, torturing, and teasing her and that made his day.

"I'll just go to my room a dry off. I'm sorry."

"You can change in my room and I'll watch." He stared down as she looked at him in disbelief.

"N-No thanks Banko-"

"I hate when you call me by that name. Remember when we were little when you use to call me Kotsu-Kun. If you want, you can call me that or Big brother." He moved his head near her ear and his grin widened. "Kagome-chan." She winced as his warm breath brushed against her ear. The mere whisper of that one word made tears run down her cheek and it was hard not to tremble.

"Kagome-chan, what's wrong?" He said with a sinister smile.

"I'm sorry big brother. I'll just go in my room and change." Bankotsu took a step back and she immediately walked passed him and opened the door to her room.

"Cover that bruise on your eye. It's pretty annoying to look at." She nodded before entering her room and closed the door. Than why the hell are you doing this to me. Always hitting me, always hurting me. You weren't like this before. She locked the door and leaned her back against it and slowly sank down to the floor. She shoved her hands into her hair and cried. Why can't you be the way you were? When we were younger, when you never ever hurt me but protected me."


"What a darling little girl. She's so beautiful and intelligent. I didn't know a 7-year-old could play the piano and the violin so well." The women gathered around the young girl who smiled at all their compliments. "Darling, What is your name?"

"Kagome Higurashi Ma'am." She bowed at the women.

"Oh the Higurashi's. Your mother must be very proud of you. I'm glade you and your mother could make it here. I hope you're having a good time Kagome."

"Yes Ma'am, The party is very enjoyable and outstanding. Your house is magnificently large but my older sister and my two older brothers are here also." She glanced behind the woman and caught site of her older siblings who were watching them adore Kagome.

"What a large vocabulary you have. You can't stop amazing us Kagome." The women around her gave her a sweet smile as they continued to compliment her. "Your brothers and sister can't compare to you. You were blessed." After a few more compliments Kagome politely excused her self from the conversation that seemed to go on forever and walked toward her brothers and sister. She smiled at them as she approached them but it soon faded as Kikyo glared down at her, Hiten's expression was the same but her oldest brother held a smile. "Is something wrong Kotsu-kun?" She wrapped her arms around her brother's waist and looked up at him as he placed a hand on her head.

"Of course not my cute little sister." Bankotsu gently grabbed her wrist and led her to the balcony. It was secluded when they got there, everyone were enjoying the entertainment in the Victorian styled home and he was glade that now one was there. He went up to the railing with her little sister's hand still in his.

"This party was fun Kotsu-Kun. The people here are nice and they said I was blessed." She looked out at the garden below and smiled as she held her brother's hand tightly.

"Is that so? Did you like their comments they gave you?" He knelt down beside her and placed his hand roughly on her shoulders.

"Yeah, I did. I told them about you and Hiten and Kikyo to."

"But they didn't say anything about us right? They only focused their attention on you."

"Um-They said you guys were-"

"Don't lie to me Kagome-Chan. Remember what I said about lieing?"

"You said not to." She winced as his grip on her shoulders tightened.

"Then don't lie to me. They said nothing about us right?" His mood change and his whole expression just seemed more serious each and every second she remained silent.

"The said nothing about you but Kotsu-kun, it doesn't really matter what they said. I think your great and funny and the greatest big brother ever. I love you Kotsu-Kun" Kagome lunged toward her brother and wrapped her arms around his neck. As much as she was afraid of him, it just didn't matter how mad he looked, she wanted him to smile again and he did. She pulled away and he had his great smile plastered on his face once again. Kissing her forehead he got up and picked her up in his arms.

"Do you want to go home?" He inquired.

"How about mommy? I think mommy wants to stay here longer."

"We'll walk home together. So do you want to go home or do you want to stay?" His voice seemed to crack at the end. His eyes began to deeply focus on her but she couldn't really understand why he was changing so suddenly. With his ice cold glares and his frown made her very uncomfortable to be held in his arms.

She gave him an assuring smile. "Sure, big brother, I want to go home now. It's getting boring any way." He went back to his normal expression and walked out on the party without even considering to tell anyone that they were even leaving in the first place. They walked through the streets and talked about stupid stuff like mom, her future and everything in between.

"Big Bro, When I get older I'm going to have a boyfriend." Bankotsu jerked his head back in shock and stared at her as she smiled.

"Boyfriend?"

"Yeah, A boyfriend."

"Where did you hear that?"

"Well the women at the party and I saw these soap opera's with mommy and having a boyfriend seems fun and someone there to be with you seems really great and happy." He tilt his head to the side, trying not to believe what she was saying.

"Your 7-years-old. You don't need a damn boyfriend."

"That's why I said, when I get older I want a boyfriend not-" Fear struck her for the first time in her life as her brother, who always held a smile, who always laughed and played with her put her down on her feet, kneeling in front of her he grabbed her by the arm and tightly squeezed it. It was painful but the glare he shot at her was more painful.

"You're not going to talk like that you understand me!" His glaring black eyes just sank into her own frightened eyes. It was hard to look at him and his anger increased as his hold on her arm just shot up in pain. It was the first time the numbing feeling of being so frightened and being so scared entered her mind as well as her body. She couldn't move or speak, her lower lip trembled as she tried to find the right words to say let alone try to control herself to talk. "Kagome! Don't you dare say that again alright!"

"Y-Y-Yes b-brother." Once she had finish he smiled like nothing happened and picked her up once again. she held his neck and rested her chin on his shoulder as tears escaped her eyes.


After cooking breakfast and setting the plates on table, she looked upon her work and smiled. Bacon, scrambled eggs, ham and rice was set neatly on the plate and she quickly glanced at the toaster as the bread suddenly popped up. After calming down from the unexpected ring she grabbed the two pieces of toasted bread and walked toward the stairs.

"Finally woken up, you fucking idiot." Hiten snatched the slice of bread in her hand and placed it in his mouth.

"Hey that was-" She gulped as he looked back and gave her a hellish glare. After seeing her frightened reaction he smirked and took a seat in front of her plate of food.

"What the fuck were you complaining about? You have another slice in your hand."

She down cast her eyes. "But I haven't eaten anything and those 2 slices were the last one and this one slice isn't enough to-"

"So what? I don't care if you haven't eaten. You should've made your own damn food." Kagome glared at the floor and clench her hand into a fist. You should have made your food, instead of being lazy and making others do it. Lazy bastard. She wanted to say that so badly but she kept her composure and looked up at him as he stuffed eggs into his mouth.

"Your right Hiten. At least I have one more-" Her hand clasped air and she looked at Kikyo who passed her and bit down on her bread. The last one. Kikyo smiled and took a seat next to Hiten and took another bite out of the piece of bread that was supposed to get Kagome through the afternoon.

"What's wrong Kagome? Are you going to cry?" Kikyo stated.

"No. I'm just going to head to school early." She picked up her bag from the couch and walked to the front door.

"Hey! Stop right there." Kagome rooted her feet to the floor and stood up straight. She turned to face Bankotsu and sighed. When I'm almost there. He always catches me. He glared and put a hand on her shoulder, bringing her closer to him.

"I cooked you breakfast. I didn't do nothing wrong."

He leaned her lips up to her ear and chills ran down her spine, all the way to her toes as his breath brushed against her neck. She held her breath as he whispered. "Does the slice to your thigh still hurt?" He placed his hand on her hips as he trailed his hand down the side of her leg.

"N-No, Of course not."

"Than stop limping. If I get called into the office because my pour little sister has a cut on her thigh and her stomach I wouldn't know what to do to you when we get home." He smiled as he departed his hand away from her leg, he kissed her forehead and lifted her chin, trying to observe her face in the light.

"Wh-What is it Banko-"

"Didn't I say I didn't want to be called that?" Tilting her head to the right and then to the left, he observed every inch of her face.

"I'm sorry big brother."

"That's better." He smirked and kissed her forehead once again. "You're to beautiful. You changed your make-up?"

"Yeah. I had to change it. My old cover up was to light to cover the bruises." It seemed like her explanation of the sudden change in her make-up didn't make his seductive grin appear but the reason why was the only thing that made him happy. It was torture that made his smile appear so suddenly but if only his smile could appear because-

"So you want to walk to school with me?"

"Bankotsu, why are you going to even walk to school with that little bitch?" Hiten was shocked at everything that he saw right in front of him. His older brother was actually taking an interest on spending time with their younger sister rather than beat her. But they didn't know how much he made her suffer because most of the time they weren't there.

"I want to show my beautiful sister off." Kagome felt uncomfortable as Bankotsu put his arm around her shoulders. She glanced at Kikyo who had a scowl on her face.

"Beautiful? What's gotten into you Bankotsu?"

"Come on Sis. We'll get you something to eat on the way to school." He escorted her out the front door as the two looked on at them. It was unlike him to do such a thing. To be in such a good mood as he was just right then and there. He was to nice and Kagome knew that he had something up his sleeves. It was strange for him to smile in the morning and for him to even speak so kindly and ignore the food that she prepared for him. He was up to something malicious and Kagome didn't keep her guard down at the unsuspected offer.


Looking out of the window, totally ignoring the lecture the teacher spat out to the class, she wondered. The walk to school wasn't all bad, they actually talked to each other and he laughed a couple of times. It wasn't a laugh that just burst out but a small grunt of a laugh that was short and quick, but it was a laugh nonetheless. It was weird, walking to school with his older brother but they didn't have the time to get something to eat and she could feel her stomach churning. The feeling was awful and the starving sensation was annoying.

"Kagome! The class is over!" She snapped out of her thoughts and quickly stood up.

"Sorry Inuyasha. I didn't mean to space out like that." She gathered her things and got up and she forgot about her leg that she stumbled into Inuyasha's chest. He caught her and panic set in, something was wrong with her and he didn't know what was wrong but she started to sink toward the ground. Inuyasha knelt down as she went on her knees.

"Kagome what's wrong?" Inuyasha just looked at her pale face as she struggled to leave her eyes open. She felt weak and the pain dissipated as she slowly fell into unconsciousness. "Kagome, Kagome! Stay awake! Come on, Stay awake!" She smiled as her body eased up and she leaned up against his chest.

"Kagome!"


Not really a good chapter but I had to make it. I hope you liked it though, even though you got bored at some point but I hope you liked it. I liked it but that's just not enough lol. Well it's getting more and more difficult to update frequently because I'm working on another fic right now but because you guys left so much great reviews I'll update this one faster.