Chapter 4

Kagome turned around and smashed the cellular device on the granite table, effectively cracking its casing and screen. She continued to smash it until her hand hurt and until the small piece of technology was broken beyond repair.

Inuyasha gaped at the remains of his phone. He picked through the debris and fished out his SIM card. He took another phone from his pocket and placed the SIM card in its proper place. "Now I'm glad I got a SIM card," he muttered as he held the phone close.

Kagome snorted and rushed to the kitchen. She quickly washed her hand from the blood that gathered into her palm and wrapped a fresh towel around it. She rushed back through the living room and into her bedroom, where she grabbed her wallet, cell phone and car keys.

She walked back to the living room, only to be stopped by Sango. "Where do you think you're going?" the young woman asked in concern.

"Away from here," Kagome said before she pulled away. Well, at least tried to. This time Inuyasha was the one who held fast onto her arm.

"He's been looking for you for months, Kagome. Cut the guy some slack," Inuyasha said in a serious tone he very rarely used.

"Did Inuyasha actually defend his brother?" Kouga asked Miroku in mild surprise. Miroku shrugged his shoulders. He was just as surprised as Kouga.

Kagome glared. "Cut the guy some slack? This is nothing compared to what I can do, Inuyasha. Now, I suggest you let go of my arm before I decide to break it off."

Miroku gently placed a hand on her shoulder. In an instant, he felt himself crouched on the floor holding his stomach. Sango gasped and ran over to her husband. "Kagome!" she cried in surprise.

The other occupants in the room gapped at the angry female. Kagome only stared with cold eyes. "Before I leave, I'd like to know exactly how you guys found me," she demanded. Her tense posture and glaring warned them not to come near her.

Kikyo frowned. She has never seen Kagome like this in all her life. If she strains herself any more than she already is, she could harm herself and her baby. "Kagome, can you please calm down? I told them you were here, okay? It's about time you confront your problems," the young woman said. Really, running wasn't going to get Kagome anywhere.

Kagome could not believe her own ears. Kikyo, the one who was always by her side, ratted her out. Kikyo! Tears slowly formed in her eyes. "I can't believe you, Kikyo! How could you? Do you even know how much I'm in pain right now?" Kagome asked as she glared at her cousin. Betrayed was the first thing she felt. "I thought at least you, of all people, would have been on my side. When I think about it, what kind of person betrays her own family?"

Ayame was shocked. Who the hell was this woman in front of them? This wasn't the Kagome they love and know. She glanced at Kikyo. The young woman had a pained expression on her face. Wow, Kagome did some damage on the normally calm and impassive woman. Before she could contemplate further on the situation a slap resounded through the room. Ayame snapped her head to the sound. When she thought she couldn't be more surprised with Kagome's declaration, Sango slapping Kagome had almost given her a heart attack. Now it's best friend versus pregnant, temperamental young woman.

"KAGOME HIGURASHI! What the hell is wrong with you? Can't you see that we're all simply concerned for your well-being? Your behavior has already become ridiculous but we let it pass. We wanted you to recover on your own. Instead, you just keep running away from everything! Have you ever thought about the other people around you? How they would feel?" Sango yelled angrily. She panted and slowly stiffened. Maybe she said a little too much. Kagome has always been delicate from the beginning.

Kagome straightened. So Sango's against her now too? Yes, she knows she's being absolutely ridiculous with her behavior. Yes, she knows that running away isn't going to make her problems disappear. But what else can she do? Don't they realize that she's in so much emotional pain that it's making it hard for her to breathe? It's taking her all just to keep moving forward. It takes so much energy for her to keep up a smile for them. Was she being unreasonable with her actions? Or do they not truly realize what she's going through? She didn't wait to find out. Here she was, about to run away from her problems again. Kagome walked towards her bedroom, ignoring the stares at her back and the pain on her cheek. Her face will most likely have a bruise in a matter of minutes. She made sure to lock the door behind her. Grabbing the shopping bags she hadn't emptied yet, she dumped the clothes on her bed. Quickly walked to her walk-in closet, she walked to the back and dragged a medium-sized luggage bag. Systematically going through her closet, she grabbed the comfiest clothes she could find and threw them in the open bag. She added the clothes she bought the day before, having taken a liking to them for their style and comfort. After dealing with her many clothes, she grabbed her purse, checking to make sure her wallet and cell phone were inside. Slinging it on her shoulder, she sped towards her drawers and fished out her passport. Time for another vacation.

Quickly taking a glance around to see if she missed anything, she grabbed her bag and left her room. The new guest almost gave her a heart attack. Before her eyes was the reason for her misery, the jackass, Sesshoumaru Taishou. Kagome swore under her breath. Can this day get any worse?