The car ride to Sango's was incredibly agonizing as my guilt and anxiety continued to grow and grow. I couldn't stop fidgeting in my seat as my wet shirt clung to my skin chilling me to the bone, and I knew all my movements would soon annoy this girl and she would pull over to kick me out. My hair was starting to dry but it was clumped and sticky due to the coffee that was infesting it. I shifted onto my side to glance out the window and shivered as Sango called out my name, this was it...she was going to kick me out.

"Kagome, do you mind–" I wouldn't let her finish, I wouldn't let her tell me a known fact of that I wasn't wanted.

"No, I don't mind. Just pull over here and I can find my way home..." I looked away as I felt tears spring into my eyes. No! Why was I crying? I vowed never to shed another tear after the abuse started. Crying helped no one. It made you weak, but as it seems now I guess father was right. I'm still weak.

"No, what are you talking about? I would never kick you out! I was just going to ask if you wanted the AC off. You look really uncomfortable," she gave me a sideways glance shock clearly etched on her facial features.

I cleared my throat and shifted in my seat so that I was facing forward again. "It's ok, you don't have to,"

The brunette shook her head and turned off the AC. "Kagome, you have to stop pushing me away. Let me care about you,"

I was stunned into silence. Never before has anyone ever stated such a thing to me. I opened my mouth to speak but Sango beat me to it. "Wonderful! We're here," she put the car into park and pulled the keys out of the ignition.

I pushed open the car door and slid out of her massive tank of a car landing with a dull thud. I gripped my stained shirt with my fingers and pulled it away from my skin with a grimace, it felt so cold and sticky. The stinging in my face and neck had started to go down but in all I looked like I had a major case of sunburn. Sango met me on the other side of her Hummer and led me inside her house.

She led me past the living room and down a hall to the left. "Here's the bathroom," she opened the first door and gestured for me stop inside. "I'll let you get cleaned up and I'll bring you some towels and clothes as well as ointment for your face," she left the door cracked behind her and I listened to the fading patter of her footsteps before I made any move to undress. I've never let anyone see me undressed, the scars are just too gruesome and to be honest I have a hard time looking at myself in the mirror. As I walked over towards the shower I put my hand on the knob and turned it to hot and waited patiently for the water to start warming. When the water was to the temperature I desired I began to lift my sopping wet shirt over my head, but what I didn't hear was Sango opening the door behind me.

"Hey, Kagome! Here are the towels, clothes, and..." she looked up at me and I looked at her completely frozen in my place with my shirt hoisted above my head and resting at my elbows, my midriff bare and showing. "...ointment for your face. Just come out when you're ready!" she gave me a cheery smile and promptly shut the door leaving me with my morbid thoughts.

She...she didn't say anything. There is no way she couldn't have seen the scars that encased my torso. Could it be that she didn't care or was too disgusted? Will she be able to look at me again? I shook my head and promptly continued to undress and

stepped into the water's ever-flowing current. After washing the dry clumps of coffee out

of my hair and rinsing the sticky residue off my skin I shut the water off. As I stepped out

I glanced into the mirror sighing as I caught a glimpse of my reflection. I picked up the

bottle of ointment Sango had left for me and put a small amount into my hands and

placed it on the burns that painted my face.

"Will I ever be beautiful, mom?" I whispered as I wrapped the towel Sango lent me around my body. I grabbed the t-shirt and shorts that laid on the counter and headed out of the bathroom and went back into Sango's room. Once I was sufficiently dried I slipped on the spare clothes and tied my hair up in a high ponytail. I walked over to the bedroom door and rested my hand on the metal knob, but I couldn't bring myself to open it. "She...she can't know...I won't let her know. Well, I can't stay locked up in here forever," with that I pushed open the door and headed for the living room.

"Ah, Kagome!" Sango pushed herself off the couch and met me half way. "You feeling any better? Oh your face looks so much better!" she grasped my hands and I fought with all my might against the clenching of my muscles for I knew how much that hurt her. She opened her mouth again to speak and I cringed, but the doorbell cut off her train of thought. "That must be Inuyasha and Miroku," she walked over to the front door and I took a seat on the living room couch giving out a big sigh of relief.

"How's the wench?" I heard a gruff voice grunt from the front door.

"Be nice, Inuyasha!" Sango punched the boy in the arm as she brought him and his friend into the living room.

"It's Kagome, you dumbass," I crossed my arms over my chest in indignation and

leaned back into the couch.

Sango and Miroku shared a look and burst into fits of laughter that were cut short by a glare of death from their hanyou friend. "Who the hell are you callin a dumbass bitch?!" he stalked over towards me and pointed a finger in my face.

"The one yelling his head off in my face and making himself look like a dumbass, and your girlfriend just threw hot coffee in my face and your calling me a bitch!" I screeched as I slapped his hand away from my face and I could feel the tears sting the corners of my eyes.

The room went dead silent and for the briefest of moments I thought I could see a hint of guilt and hurt flash in Inuyasha's golden eyes. The other two held their breaths and watched the two of us as we just stared at each other. He scoffed and licked his index and thumb finger then kneeled before me.

"She's not my girlfriend…and about her…I'm sorry," he stretched his hand, which was wet with his saliva, towards my face but I smacked it away.

"Ew, gross! What on earth are you doing?" I went to push his hand away again but he grabbed my wrist in his free hand.

"You can sanitize yourself later wench! Will you just let me do this?" he bared his fangs at me in a scowl but it quickly softened.

As his slick thumb brushed up against my cheek I grimaced. "What is this supposed to do exactly other than gross me out? Ow…it burns!"

He smirked as he licked his fingers again and began to wipe his saliva all over my face. "Demon saliva heals faster than any antidote around and because I'm half demon my saliva is still pretty efficient. It might burn for a little while but that's because it's working. I...thought it might help…ease the pain," he looked away as he took his hand away wiping it on his shirt.

"Th-thanks…" I could feel cheeks burn but not from the coffee burns. Does he…actually care about me?

"I tried my best guys…but sadly she's still ugly," he chuckled to himself as he saw my face go cherry red with rage. On second thought…maybe not. He's still an ass.

I opened my mouth to retort along with Sango but we were both cut short by the front door being thrown open accompanied by the sound of a wailing boy.

"Hey sis! We've got a problem," the teenage boy who claimed to be Sango's brother stated as he led the crying boy into the living room.

"She's dead! She's dead! She's…she's done this…before…and now she's dead!" the little boy sobbed into his arm that covered his face.

"Souta, stop it!" I shouted over the ruckus as I shot up off the couch. My heart clenched as I looked from him to the others standing around the room, their faces contorted with shock and confusion. If I didn't stop Souta now…it would be all over for me.