Chapter Six:

2 Weeks Later

Fresh morning sun leaked into the darkened bedroom from the slit between the curtains and rolled over the hardwood floors until perfectly piercing Inuyasha's left eye, awakening him from his peaceful slumber. He slowly opened his golden eyes and slightly moved his head out of the morning's line of fire before glancing down at the beautiful woman that slept in arms. Kagome was always so warm and so comforting to Inuyasha, all he had to do was burry his face in her hair and he would fall asleep. He thought back over the past two weeks and how close they had come. They had learned more about each other than either thought possible, forming a friendship that would make anyone jealous. He could deal with the lack of intimacy. He knew she wasn't ready for anything beyond friendship and wouldn't be for awhile. He would wait, and HE would be there when she decided she could move on with her life. He knew HE would be the last man she would ever have to speculate about loving.

Kagome began to stir and slowly flutter her eyes open to gaze up at the warm pools of honey she knew as Inuyasha's eyes. Their depth was so infinite, she could drown in them if she stared too long.

"Good morning," he whispered in a deep, husky voice that sent shivers up Kagome's spine.

"Good morning," she managed to croak out in her raspy, groggy tone. Inuyasha loved her morning voice; it was so lustful and alluring. One day, he hoped to act on the desire he could hear behind it. "What time is it?" She asked as she stretched her stiff body, extending her height from the tops of her outstretched arms to her stiffly pointed toes.

"Around 6ish I believe. The clocks behind me and I'm too comfortable to move." He smiled at her as he spoke, nuzzling the hair on the top of her head. Her scent suffocated his nose and he would have it no other way. "Are you still tired? We didn't go to bed until 1. I don't want you exhausted the rest of the day." That was a lie because, if she would let him, he would have her body drained in an array of ecstasy and erotica that she never knew possible.

"No I'm ok. I'm not going to be able to fall back asleep. Can we just lay here though?"

"Of course." He smiled a warm smile at her as he tightened his embrace around her perfect body. Their bodies began to relax against each other when a knock came at Kagome's door. Inuyasha growled at the interruption to their tender moment.

"Who could that be?" Kagome asked as she shifted to move out of her bed and get the door. Inuyasha knew it was her friends. He could smell the Spice Girls on the other side of the door; at least they brought coffee, he thought to himself.

Kagome unlatched and unlocked the multiple securities Inuyasha had so kindly installed for her and flung the door open. "Good morning!" the four friends chimed simultaneously.

"Hey, guys! Come on in! What are you doing here so early?"

They giggled as the walked past her and into the living room. "We decided we hadn't seen you in almost three days and that was just wrong." Kirara stated as she set the six coffees on the table in front of the couch.

"Yeah and we were out getting Sango some coffee since she's still drunk and thought we'd stop by." Rin said cheerfully. Kagome turned and saw the red faced Sango smiling stupidly.

"Hey- I'm not still drunk…" Sango slurred over her words so terribly, Kagome couldn't help but laugh.

"Don't lie, Sango, I could smell you from the hallway." Inuyasha said as he emerged from the bedroom.

"Oh- hey Inu, what were you doing in Kagome's bedroom? You better not have snuck in the window or I'll kill you… Is Miroku with you?" The five others in the room were attempted to stifle their giggles at the clearly drunken girl.

"Nope, he's at home most likely-"

"Oh GREAT!" She cut him off. "Then who's watching him?" She went to get up like she was going to find out, "He better not be with another women or I'll kill him…" She fell backwards as soon as she was on her feet and landed on the couch with a loud hiccup escaping her throat. Everyone burst into laughter.

"I'm sure he's fine, Sango. Drink your coffee." Ayame said coolly. Something was different about her. Kagome walked up to her and looked her over. "What?" Ayame asked just as calmly until Kagome's eyes fell on the nape of her neck and grew to the size of saucers.

"Ayame! Is that a mating mark?!" Ayame blushed.

"I might have mated with Koga…"

"And when we you going to TELL MEE?" Kagome was ecstatic! She knew those two were perfect for each other.

"Well, it happened so fast. I swear it was going to be the next topic of conversation!" She giggled. "I'm surprised you didn't get one first- OW!" Kirara knocked her over the head, causing everyone to chuckle in the room except the blushing Kagome.

"Anyways… I wanted to informally invite you to the mating ceremony, Kagome. It should be next month." Rin said weakly and sweetly as she sipped her coffee.

"So soon? You two must be dying." Inuyasha teased then immediately turned green when he realized the events his brother would be partaking in after the ceremony.

"Oh hush Inuyasha. I'll tell Sesshy you're being vulgar." Rin teased back. She wouldn't dare because Sesshomaru would really kill Inuyasha, there was no doubt about that.

"I'd be delighted to come, Rin. Just tell me when and I'm there. I can't believe our little Baby Spice is growing up so fast!" Kagome said as she threw her arms around the adorable, petite brunette who was redder than a tomato at this point. They giggled together.

"You know, Kagome, it's weird…" Sango continued to slur in her drunken and humorous state.

"What's weird, Sango?"

"For once, everyone is in a relationship but you, unless you and Inuyasha have finally…" She leaned over and whispered "you know…" as she raised her eyebrows in a perverse manor.

Kagome turned redder than Rin. "Sango, you've been hanging out with Miroku too much. You might something more than coffee." Sango just sat back making the pfftt noise and waving her hand in dismissal.

The girls just sat and chatted for awhile before Inuyasha broke the gossip train. "Well, I gotta head out, Kagome, but I'll see you later."

"Ok, Inuyasha. I woke tonight but I'm sure I'll see you after." She smiled at him as he waved bye and left. Immediately after the door closed, all four girls turned to her with eyes that could melt a brick wall they were so intense. Kirara and Ayame began to sniff her like a dog after a fire hydrant. "What are yall doing?"

"So you still haven't slept with him? You're terrible at this whole rebound thing." Ayame stated bluntly.

"I'm not ready to sleep with anyone. You guys know I never slept with Hojo so why would I need to sleep with anyone to get over him." They looked at each other and shrugged. That was a minor detail they had over looked when concocting their rebound scheme.

"This is true. So then, are you falling for Inuyasha?" Kirara asked calmly as she sipped her coffee. "I mean, it's obvious you care about him. You kind of are using him as a rebound even if you guys aren't doing it, ya know?"

"What do you mean?" Kagome asked, genuinely confused.

"Well I mean, he's here every night and that's great and all, but if you're not trying to date him, you're just using him for physical comfort now that you don't have a man per say…"

"This is true but, I dunno… I really like Inuyasha… like I really care for him… it's hard to explain… he's just so sweet…" Her thoughts were incomplete but the feelings were there. Her friends smiled at each other because they could see that, they just wanted to make sure she could. Kagome had always been one to push the right thing away and except the wrong thing with open arms.

"I know how much you care about him, I can tell by the way you look at each other." Kirara explained.

"Yeah, it's totally obvious he cares about you too. I mean, he never even acted like this with Kikyo and you know how crazy about each other they were." Ayame added.

"I think you should do him, then think about getting with him. It's pointless if he doesn't know how to fuck!" The ever drunken Sango really needed more coffee and less time with Miroku. The looks she got from everyone really reciprocated that notion.

"I think yall are cute and I'm not just saying that because I want to be sister-in-laws." Rin joked.

"I know guys, I'm just not ready to deal with anything serious. And who knows, Inuyasha is probably just using me the same way and when it's done, it's done. He won't want to stick around forever so what's the point of getting my hopes up?" Kagome was always so pessimistic with men.

"Oh shut it, Kagome. You know you're just scared to actually try and make something that seems right work. You've always settled for the guys with red flags because you're self esteem has been shattered since… you know… but you really need to get over that because Inuyasha's a catch. Don't let him go because of you're stupid defense wall's selectivity of assholes." Kirara always got straight to the point and Kagome knew she was right.

"We'll see guys. We'll see." They dropped the serious note and just chatted like regular college girls about classes and the other girls relationships and how life had been treating them and what not. It was really good to catch up. They talked for hours until Kagome had to get ready to go to work. She showered and got ready and the girls left when she did.

Kagome arrived to the coffee shop early to find Bankotsu on the porch smoking a cigarette.

"My favorite coworker decided to come help me out today, huh?" Kagome giggled at this. He was so arrogant when he attempted to flirt.

"Hey Bank. You gonna actually work today or just let me do everything? I swear, by the time I leave here, you're only gonna forget how to make coffee since you never do anything but smoke on the porch."

"Not true. I make my own coffee quite well so I know I've still got the magic touch. Besides, who do you think runs this place when you're not around?"

"Shippo." She smiled.

"Touche." Kagome walked inside once she had clearly won the verbal fight and clocked in. Bankotsu joined her shortly after and they chatted their normal small talk. Kagome had stepped into the back to get more beans to roast since they were dead when the bell alerting them that a customer had arrived. She was walking to the front to make sure Bank didn't need her help when she caught sight of the man at the counter. She gasped and dove out of sight. Her heart was pounding in her chest and her flashbacks started causing her to nearly seize with fear; what the hell is he doing here? He was supposed to be living in America… Shit SHIT SHIT! What do you I do… Kagome couldn't think straight.

Naraku was in her place of work and she was praying he didn't see her. She sat just beyond the backroom door in fetal position when she heard the front door open again. Please tell me he's gone. Please, god please. Bankotsu walked in the back to look for her when he saw her in a mess with a hysterical look on her face; he was instantly shocked.

"Kagome, what's wrong? Are you ok?" He rushed to her side.

"Kagome?" She heard a male voice say in the distance. She was relieved to know it was Inuyasha, who appeared through the door not even a second after saying her name.

"Hmph." A dark, deep sadistic voice that almost sounded like there was a smile behind it murmured outside. Great. She knew Naraku heard them say her name. Now he knew she worked here… just super. She threw her head into her knees until she heard the door out front open again. A weight was lifted from her shoulders when his presence finally let and she could breath. His aura was so dark, she knew it was him.

"Kagome, what's wrong?"

"Is he gone?" Her voice sounded like she had been recently strangled and denied water for weeks.

"Who?" they both asked.

"The guy you just served." Both men sharply turned their heads towards the counter and then glanced back at her with confused looks on their faces.

"Yeah, he's gone. Who was that?" Bankotsu's voice was shrouded with worry. Inuyasha's eyes were smoldering with furry.

"No one. Just some nobody I don't wish to see…" Inuyasha looked back in the direction of the counter, trying to make sure he wouldn't forget the man's scent should he happen to bother Kagome again. He knew not to push her into talking about it; she was obviously freaked out.

They helped her up and she shook herself out of her paniced state to return back to work. Inuyasha wouldn't leave after seeing her like that so she knew she would be safe. Plus, Bankotsu was here. If anyone tried to get to her, they'd never succeed with her two closest guy friends keeping her out of harms way. She had no clue the rivalry the two competed in for her affection.

…

She slowly opened her swollen eyes to look at the bleak room around her. 'Where am I?' she asked herself. The manilla paint covering the walls was peeling like a bad sunburn. The carpet was dirty, dusty, moldy; if she stepped on it, it might attack her. She realized she was on a bed; a dirty old blue mattress with pink flowers and several brown and red stains but no sheet. She tried to move her body and it was so sore. She looked over to see her battered reflection in a dusty, grimy broken mirror. Her face was bruised; a black eye, a busted lip, a couple gashes, swollen and bruised cheeks… her arms were covered in bruises and cuts… her legs were bruised and a huge gash ran down her thigh… she was in her underwear and bra… She noticed she was chained at her ankle the floor… 'What the hell is going on?' She tried to think back to the last thing she could remember… She was walking home from school when someone grabbed her from behind; she fought as hard as she could but obviously she didn't win.

The door across the room swung open and a familiar, scary face appeared out of the shadows of the hallway. "Naraku! What are you doing here? Are you the one who attacked me?" She got up to move but fell over in agony when her mangled legs failed to support her weight. He laughed a sadistic, evil laugh.

"Oh sweet Kagome, how I've longed for this day. You've been my favorite classmate all year long and you've been so cruel every time I try to ask you out."

"I'll never date you. You're a mean, sick person. That's pretty clear, even more so now!"

"Be careful. You're clearly not in control right now, are you?" Kagome's heart skipped a beat when she realized the implications. He slowly crossed the room towards her, a nasty smile painted on his face.

"What do you want?" she managed to croak out, fear beginning to seize her.

"I just want you to be mine of course. Don't worry, Kagome. It'll only hurt at first, then you'll enjoy it." Her eyes grew wide as she attempted to back away from his every approaching form. The wall and headboard stopped her form retreating any further.

"Stay away from me! SOMEONE HELP!" Naraku laughed his sadistic laugh.

"Go ahead, scream all you want." His backhand flew across her face, a loud crack piercing the silence of the room. Kagome fell onto the bed holding the side of her face. "No one will hear you. I bought this place just for you. For us and the fun we'll soon have." He smiled a wicked smile at her. She tried to pull away but he yanked the chain attached to her foot and summoned her to him. Before she could do anything else, he had her hands bound and was in the process of attaching them to brass headboard. She screamed and kicked violently, but to no avail. Another crack of his backhanded slap cut through the malicious stale air of the room. He pulled a knife from his pocket and held it to her throat. "Kagome, stop fighting me. I do not want to end your life because you're making it too hard to have fun." She stilled her body in fear of knife at the throbbing pulse in her neck. She could feel the sharp, cool blade ever ready to sink into her flesh and send her to a permanent resting place. He moved the knife down to her bra and cut it in one swift motion releasing her breasts from their protected haven. Naraku began to kiss her from her throat to her now exposed breasts. Every touch made Kagome sick to her stomach, wanting to vomit on him if she had had anything to throw up. After ravishing her nipples in a gruesome testament of unrequited passion, he continued to trail down to her navel, then lower and lower…

"NO!" Kagome screamed as he neared her nether region. He sliced the knife through one side of her underwear and ripped the other side with his teeth to fully undress poor Kagome. She was crying hysterically, screaming at him to stop, but he didn't. He removed his clothes a separated her legs before forcing himself inside of her. She screamed even louder as she felt she was being ripped apart, straight down the middle. Blood was everywhere, from her stolen virginity and the several cuts she endured during her fight to being captured and brought to this hellhole. Kagome screamed so loud, she wore her voice out and it became raspy between sobs. Every violent thrust stole more and more of her soul. When he finished, he pulled out and sprayed her with his seed to humiliate her ever more. She just sobbed and stared down in shame as she hung, seemingly lifeless from the headboard her hands were bound to. He just laughed his sadistic laugh as he cupped her chin and brought her lifeless eyes to meet his malicious gaze. He took the knife and swiftly slashed her left eye, causing a hoarse scream to escape her lips.

"There. No you'll never be able to forget me. Every time you look in the mirror, you'll see this mark and remember you are mine. My little whore. Hahahaha"

"NO!" Kagome shot up from the bed, drenched in sweat, breath unsteady and panicked, his dark laughter still ringing in her ears.

"Kagome, what's wrong?" Inuayasha was immediately at her side trying to comfort her. He had gotten up for a second to get a glass of water when he heard her scream. She just turned into his chest and began to wail. He just embraced her and stroked her hair trying to comfort her. "It's ok, Kagome. No one's every going to touch you. I'm here. I'm here." He whispered softly. She continued to sob until, little by little, she began to calm down. She raised her hand and put it over her left eye to make sure it wasn't bleeding like it had in her dream. Why was she so cursed, she couldn't even escape her horrible past in her dreams… "Kagome?" Inuyasha noticed her touching her left eye. "That guy in the coffee shop today, that was Naraku wasn't it?" She just sobbed into his chest and gave a slight nod. "Why didn't you tell me? I would have killed him then and there." She just shook her head against his chest. "He will never hurt you again, Kagome." Inuyasha pulled her from his chest so she would look him in the eye. "Do you trust me?" She whimpered and nodded. "Then believe me when I say I will die before he gets close to you again. He pulled her back to his embrace and rocked her lovingly until she cried herself back to sleep. He laid them down and held her close the entire night, never taking his eyes off of her just in case she had another bad dream. If her face was anything but peaceful, he would wake her before it got worse. He wasn't going to let her suffer anymore.