Author's Note:

Forgive my tardiness. It is such hard work taking care of my son and writting this.

All is calm here so here goes the new chapter. Woopie!

**Disclaimer**

I own absolutely.....nothing.

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Chapter Seven: Birthday Girl Pt. 1

Girlfriend.

For some reason that word, title, seemed so alien to me. I had never really had a boyfriend before. Sure I had gone on dates. But I never really had anything solid. Was there some specific way I was supposed to act? I suppose I could've ask Inuyasha. My boyfriend. I just wasn't sure I wanted him to know I have absolutely no experience. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

I wonder if he could tell. With all our kissing and the two dates we had been on so far. I wonder.

It had been three weeks since we begun dating. We had two dates. One was us going out for pizza and the other was just a trip to the movies. We had yet to get any futher than making out. Which is perfectly fine with me. After all, the slower the better. The longer it took me to open up to him, the more of a chance he had of coming to his senses and just leaving. I didn't want him to leave. But I was not completely sure I wanted him to know what secrets I had. I'm not sure if he can handle the horrors of my past. That's what I saw them as. Horrors.

While most girls were going out for cheerleading and out on the weekends, I was too busy looking over my shoulder for my father. For fear that he would snatch me up and carry me away. Truth be told he should be able to take me now. Lucky for me my eighteenth birthday is almost here. Two days away to be exact.

Sango, my new boss, was nice enough to give me that day off. Though I am not entirely sure. I didn't really care about my birthday. It was sort of a relief period. Once I turned eighteen there is no way for my father to get me.

Speaking of Sango.

I had been at my job for about three weeks. I found every second I was here, truly fun. I even got to meet the two other workers. Kouga and Kohaku. Kohaku is Sango's younger brother. He is actually around sixteen and Kouga is nineteen. Kouga is always making passes at me. I smile thinking he is just teasing me. But he did it once when Inuyasha came to pick me up and Inuyasha almost pummeled him. I had to break up that embarrassment.

So as I sit here, typing away on my computer I remember that things seemed to be going to well. Things usually go well before everything comes crumbling down. I was pretty much waiting for when everything would go to hell.

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"Kagome?"

I break from my thoughts and look up at Sango. She is wearing a red babydoll shirt and a pair of black jeans. She is looking at me with a small smile. My eyes widen and I glimpse around Red Record. Oh no! Had I fallen asleep? Great job Kagome. I look around and realize that it's night out and I had just finished putting away all returns. I smile.

"You okay honey?"

I nod and stand up. I was crouched down to put some defectives on the bottom shelf in the back room. I absently wipe off the invisable dirt from my black and purple pinstripped capris. "Yeah Sango. Sorry I was just lost in my mind." I smile meekly.

She shrugs. "That's ok. As long as you finished putting away the returns." I nodded. "Good. I have one more thing for you to do before we close for the night." I nod again. It is just Sango and I closing tonight. Kouga left at five. Kohaku had the day off and Miroku was across the street at a fast food resturant to get some dinner. He was not working. But he was Sango's way home. I had actually found out that Miroku and Sango were dating. For a little over a year now. I don't know how she can stand his hentai ways. Still, it's funny to watch him check girls out and then Sango pop out of nowhere to smack him. "I just need you to help me with the deposit and then we are out of here."

I followed her into the back room. While she sat at the desk and begun to count the money I stood behind her just lost in my mind again. That seemed to be happening an awful lot. After a few minutes Sango handed me the deposit and I recounted it just to be sure the count wasn't off or anything. I finished up and told her my count. It matched hers and we proceeded to end the day.

Once everything was finished in the back we made our way back to the front. I saw Miroku waiting outside and I also saw headlight. Inuyasha was here. I couldn't believe that just the thought of him waiting for me was highly exhilarating. I waited patiently for Sango to unlock the door and then I said "Good night" to Sango and Miroku as I trotted over to Inuyasha's car.

I opened the door and smiled. "Hey Inu." I said happily as I slid into the car. I looked over at him and instantly felt like the luckiest girl in the world. Inuyasha's long hair was pulled back and he was wearing a red button down shirt with a black shirt underneath. He wore a black pair of Tripp pants that were baggy.

"Hey Kags!" He leaned over and kissed me lightly on the lips. It was hard to believe that with that one kiss, my blood would heat up. I felt that this reaction was strange. But just shrugged it off and kissed him back deeply. My fingers threaded through his hair and I felt his hands careesing my face and then running down along my sides. It was just enough contact to make me shiver and press into him. I wondered if this was how everyone felt when they were in a relationship.

I pulled away reluctantly. "I guess you missed me huh?" I asked joking.

He looked at me seriously. "Of course I did Kags."

I laugh lightly. Inuyasha starts up the car and we drive away. I glance at the clock on the dashboard. 11:06pm. Just fifty four minutes until my birthday. Hurray for me. We drove in silence. I was thinking about the day tomorrow. Saturday. At least my birthday landed on the weekend. That was good. I had no work and no school, so I wondered what I would be doing tomorrow. I eyed Inuyasha. He hadn't planned me a party right? Because that was just something I couldn't deal with. Parties. I hate them. Especially when the revolve around me.

We got to my house sooner than I expected. It was like I blinked and we were there. Okay that is a total exaggeration. It was just because I was not paying any attention at all to what was going on around me. We pulled in the front and I turned to Inuyasha. "You can come up if you want." He smiled. What a wonderful smiled this man had. He turned off the car and we walked into my apartment. Somewhere along the way he took my hand in his and my heart jumped for joy.

What a pile of mush I was becoming. Especially around this boy.

We got into the apartment and I told him he could sit on the couch. I needed to change into my pajamas because I was pretty sure the second he left I would be dead to the world. I went into my bedroom and pulled some clothes out of my drawers. I went into my bathroom and proceeded to wash my face, brush my teeth and change. I pulled on my black and white pajama bottoms and my black Dir En Grey tshirt. I pulled my hair into a low ponytail and then walked out to see Inuyasha.

He wasn't on the couch but I heard him in the kitchen. I heard the beeping of my microwave and smelled the scent of food. This boy was good. I heard my stomach rumble and I let out a soft chuckle. I came to the kitchen and saw Inuyasha with two bowls of Ramen. I smirked. This man and his ramen...

"I thought you might be hungry." He said smiling as he handed me a bowl. My response was my stomach growling again. We both laughed. We moved to sit on the couch and pretty soon Inuyasha was finished. I have come to the conclusion that he actually inhales ramen. Instead of taking the time to sit there, eating and enjoying his food. A bit later I finish mine and hand it to him. He takes both bowls and rinses them in the sink. "So, What do you want for your birthday?"

I looked up at him. Oh no don't tell me he's going to get me something. "Nothing." I mumble.

He just smiles. "Come on Kags, you must want something." He sat next to me.

I thought for a minute just to humor him. My mother. I knew it was impossible but that is what he asked me. I want my mom back. I sighed and turned to him. "There is nothing you can give me Inu. There is nothing on this Earth that you can get me."

He eyed me suspiciously. "Kagome..."

I kissed his lips lightly. "Seriously. I don't want anything. But thank you anways."

"You know I'm going to get you something anyways right?" I smiled.

"I figured as much."

"Aw come on Kags. Why don't you care?" He looked me right in the eye.

I sighed again. If I tell him about my past--he will run and never look back. If I tell him how rotten I feel celebrating my birthday when my brother could be dead somewhere--he will be disgusted. I'm disgusted. But until I have money, there is not much I can do.

"Inu, please. Just get me whatever you want and I'll be happy." I said softly.

He closed his eyes and let out a breath. "Sure Kags. I'll come get you tomorrow around twelve thirty." He brushed my hair from my face lightly.

I nod. "Alright Inu." He kissed me. He seemed to linger there for a bit. And then I felt nothing. He pulled away and walked out of my apartment.

Tomorrow should be interesting....

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I awoke the next morning. Not sure of the time all I knew was that the sun was shinning viciously in my face. Damnit. I flung the blankets from my body and stalked over to the window. I tugged my thick curtains closed and reutrned to the warmth of my bed. I cuddled beneath my blanket and thought over the day.

Today was my birthday. Check.

Inuyasha will probably be getting me a gift. Even though he can't give me anything I want. Check.

Kamui planning a surprise birthday party for me at her house. Check.

I groaned. Why is there a celebration on your birthday anyways? Why is the day you were born different from every other day? Every day is someone's birthday if you think about it. My birthday is no different from any other day. Why should it be? If someone doesn't want their birthday celebrated than people should respect that. But no one really cares what I want. They just want an excuse to celebrate.

Maybe I'm just being mean.

These are my first friends in Kami knows how long. I should be happy. I should want to celebrate with them. Especially with Inuyasha. I hated when my mind had debates with itself. These debates would always confuse me. It was then that I heard my cell phone buzzing. It was on the table next to my bed. I groaned again and pulled the blanket over my face. Whoever it is should just leave me alone!

The buzzing stopped. But then soon after it started again. My eyes shot open. If this is someone calling me about my birthday, I have a few things to say to them. 1) Seeing as how it's my birthday I should be able to get what I want. What I want is just to stay in bed all day. 2) I really wish everyone would just forget about today. And they could just treat it like every other day.

Buzzing stopped. Then begun again. KAMI! I flung the blankets from my arm and grasped for my cell. I glimpsed at the caller I.D. and saw that it was Inuyasha. I flipped open my cell violently.

"What?!" It came out more harsh than I wanted it to. But right now I didn't care.

"Gee Kags, calm down." Inuyasha replied.

I glared at the cell phone wishing it was his face and that he could see it. However if it was his face, then I was pretty sure I would not be able to glare at him. Stupid boys. "Yeah yeah what's up?"

He sighed. "Happy Birthday."

I winced. "Thanks. Good bye."

"Wait Kags!" He called. I wasn't really going to hang up on him. I smirked.

"Yeah?"

"Well it's eleven. Are you going to get up and get ready?"

I vaguely remember him saying something about picking me up at 12:30 today. But to be completely honest, I had tuned it out. I hate my birthday! "What for?"

"It's your birthday. Remember?"

I growled. "So?"

He chuckled. "I am taking you out today."

I frowned. "Don't tell me. Kamui is throwing me a party. Right?"

I heard him pause. "Damn Kags why do you have to guess? Why can't you just let things happen?"

"I don't want a party. Tell Kamui thanks but no thanks."

It was Inuyasha's turn to growl. "Kagome, I will be there at twelve thirty exactly. Be ready." With that he hung up. I took the phone from my ear and studied it. I think I may have just gotten my boyfriend pissed. Nice work Kags! I rolled my eyes and sat up in bed. I suppose I should get ready.

I walked to my closet, pulling out some clothing and took everything into my bathroom with me. I shed my clothes and turned my shower on to hot. Not scorching hot. But hot enough. I took my hair out and got in. I begun with washing my hair. Then I started to scrub my body. "What a waste." I muttered. Ignoring the memories that seemed to flash in front of my eyes, I scrubbed harder. Had it really been five years? To the day. I wish there was some way I could just burn those images from my mind. But, I was pretty sure I was stuck with them for the rest of my life.

I contined to scub. I felt as though I was scrubbing my skin off. I threw the lufa thing down and just stood under the spray. Allowing the hot water to whip against my back, neck and head. After a few more minutes I shut the shower off and watched the water slid down the drain. I wish the memories would follow.

I began to dry myself off. Willing myself to not think about that today.

Once I was dried off, I put on my underwear and bra. Then I pulled on my crimson cami and my knee length black mesh skirt. I pulled thr brush through my hair and then decided to just blow dry it. I brushed my teeth and looked myself over. I sighed. I really shouldn't be wearing something so fitted. I walked out into my room and picked a black sweater from the floor. I looked around. My room wasn't super messy. I just didn't feel like putting the sweater in my closet when I knew I would need it again.

I sat on my bed and pulled on my knee high goth boots. I zipped up my hoodie then looked at the clock. 12:00pm. Damn I was ready early. What the hell. I sighed and went to my computer booting it up. I surfed the internet for a little. When I saw that it was 12:22pm I walked into my room to grab my cell.

The little blue light was on. That meant I had a message of some kind. I flipped open the phone. ONE VOICEMAIL. I sighed. I forgot to take it off vibrate. I pressed the call button and was connected to my voicemail

"One new voicemail. To listen please press 2." I pressed two. "Message recieved at 12:00pm. Today."

Silence. Then some rustling. "Sis?" I heard a quite male voice. My eyes widened.

"Souta!" I yelled.

"Sis. I need you. You need to come down here. There is something crazy going on. Dad....He's worse. So much worse. I try to avoid him at all costs. But it's so hard. I need you. Please come here. I can't....He is coming. Please Kagome." The last words were whispered.

I mindlessly sat on my bed. Souta. He was in trouble. I have to help him. But what about Inuyasha?

Some birthday.

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Sorry to end like that. I know that it's mean of me.

The first part, I dont know if anyone was realizing. Kagome was narrating in past tense.

This fic is actually all written by Kagome.

I can't say much more than that.

Just so you know there will be a sequel.

All for now. Take care

Please review.

Ja Ne