**Disclaimer**

My ownage includes absolutely none of Inuyasha...To my sheer horror =(

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Chapter Eight: Birthday girl Pt.2

"I need you."

"He's worse."

"Please..."

I sat on my bed. Sheer terror overtaking my form. Souta....in trouble. I felt my heart thumping inside my throat. I tried my hardest to swallow it back down. He was hurting Souta. And I was hanging out with friends. I bit my lip hard trying to contain the tears that I knew would start falling soon enough. He was my little brother. I was supposed to protect him. Swell job I was doing. Little brother. Those words kept repeating in my head.

=Commence Flashback=

"Meet your little brother Souta!" My mother was looking at me with pure happiness etched onto her face. I looked down at the bundle in her hands. The baby's face was so round. He was looking up at me. His grey eyes. His head was covered in dark hair. He had the chubbiest face. And I fell in love with him that exact second.

I smiled up at my mother."I'm a big sister!" I cried happily. Mother nodded. "So I gots ta protect him?"

"Yes Kagome. You are bigger. So you must always look after him." She handed me the baby. I was sitting down on the couch. I happily took the baby in my hands and smiled proudly while my father shot the photo.

I looked down at Souta's face. Still smiling. "I promise to always protect you Souta." I kissed his forehead. My mother awed. I was so ecstatic to be looking out for someone. To be someone's protector. I thought it was the best job in the world.

=End=

I was broken from my memories when I heard knocking at my door. I sniffled. Then I remember that Inuyasha was coming here. Oh no! What was I going to do? If I told Inuyasha that I had to go he would want an excuse. And I knew that I could never ever lie to him. Damn that boy. I quickly wiped away the tears and straightened myself. I had to tell him...At least a little bit. I needed to save Souta. But i had no car. Inuyasha did. I took a deep breath. I would tell him. And if he ran, then it wasn't meant to be. I bit back more tears I felt surfacing.

I walked to the door and pulled it open. Inuyasha looked so amazing. He was in black and white pinstripped pants with a black button up shirt that had japanese symbols etched on in white calligraphy. I looked up into his eyes and bit my lip. "Inuyasha.." I whispered.

He frowned. "What's wrong Kags?"

His tone sounded so caring. I inhaled. "I need you to do something for me. And considering it's my birthday I'm hoping you will agree to it." He nodded slowly. "I need you to take me across town. To the other edge of Tokyo."

He blinked. "Why Kagome? What's wrong?"

"My brother..." Tears began to fall. Inuyasha pulled me into his arms.

"It's okay Kagome. You can tell me anything."

"My brother...needs me. It's an emergency."

Inuyasha pulled away and nodded. He took my hand and pulled me out of my apartment. I had a moment to lock the door as he pulled me. We came to his car and he opened the door for me. Such a gentleman. He then got in and we sped off. I was muttering directions to him. All I could think was-please don't let me be late.

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Nearly an two hours after Souta called, we pulled up in front of my father's house. My old house. I shivered. I hated this place with such a passion. I got out of Inuyasha's car and walked up the walkway. I heard Inuyasha behind me. Please Souta, be okay. I knocked at the door and then thought it foolish because I was here to save my brother. I tore the door open and walked into the house. The smell was putrid. It reminded me of the time I went to the morgue and had to identify my mother's body. Not the greatest moment.

I was trembling. Oh Kami. That smell. Not Souta! I barreled through the living room. Ignoring a certain place on the carpet that still haunted my every thought. I checked the kitchen and bathroom. Inuyasha right on my tail. We checked Souta's room and we finally came to my father's room. I grabbed Inuyasha. This was the one thing I absoultely feared. Seeing my father again.

I opened the door slowly and saw that this room was the source of the smell. Laying on the bed that was sprayed with blood was my father. My father's corpse. He had a gun in his hand along with half of his face shot off. I don't know why it happened but my legs gave out and I fell to the ground. Just staring. My mother had died. And now my father commited suicide. I was an orphan. Tears began to fall before I could even try to stop them. I didn't know why I was crying. I felt relieved and saddened all at the same time. There was one point when I truly loved my father. When he and I would spend Saturdays together at the arcade.

Why did everything have to change? Why did he have to change?

I continued to cry. I felt Inuyasha beside me. He had bent down and put his arms around me. I turned and cried into his chest. The monster wouldn't haunt my dreams anymore. He couldn't get me. Never again. I had calmed down a little bit with that thought and pulled myself up. I still had to find Souta. I took a deep breath and pulled Inuyasha gently from the room. I made my way to my old room. On the door, my name was still on it. The plaque was dark purple and written in fancy writing. I pushed open the door and looked around. The only thing still in this room, was my four post, twin bed. The mattress was naked and the walls were bare. There were a few boxes hanging around. I stepped further into my room and walked over to another door. My closet. This is were I would hide Souta, when my father was drunk.

Another deep breath and I pulled the door open desperately. Laying in the closet was my brother. My little, ten year old brother. He was balled up with his knees pulled to his chest and his eyes squeezed shut. "Souta?" I whispered.

His head shot up and he looked at me. Hie eyes were swollen from crying and he had a few bruises on his face. I went to my knees and pulled him into my arms. Both of us crying hyseterically. "I am so sorry Souta!" I kept repeating over and over.

"Sis, I am so glad you are here."

"I will never leave you alone again Souta. I swear." I held onto him tightly as though he would disappear. I was rocking him whispering that I loved him over and over. Thank Kami he was safe.

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About three hours later, Souta was asleep on my bed. He was freshly showered and now just sleeping peaceful for the first time in a while. I walked into the living room and Inuyasha was just getting off the phone with Kamui. He was explaining to her what was going on. Or at least what he knew. I took a deep breath. I had to tell Inuyasha. He knew way too much for me to ignore. Souta told us that dad got worse after my mother died. He was drinking more and more. He was bringing women home nightly and Souta could hear the women crying at night. Their father made even more of a habit to hurt Souta. He told Souta, with each swing he took, that it was my fault Souta was getting abused. If I had been there, then my father would be hitting me and not Souta.

I wished that too. My poor brother. He was only 10 for crying out loud. That made my blood boil. How could someone ever hurt a child. Especially if that child is THEIRS! I would never ever do that. When and if I ever had a kid, he would be treated with love and care. I would never take discipline as far as my father did.

Inuyasha sat on the couch. I walked over and sat beside him. "Inuyasha," I began.

He looked up at me. I didn't see reject in those beautiful amber eyes. At least not yet. "Kagome, did your father ever hurt you?"

I couldn't help it, I let out a hurt laugh. Scoffing along with my laugh. "Always." I whispered when my psycho laughing had ended.

"Where is your mother?"

That question was harder. It was harder to answer than asking me if my father raped me. I could live with that. But it was becoming more and more difficult to remember that my mother was gone. That she would not walk through that door and hold Souta and I while we cried. I was Souta's only protector now. "My mother died about six months ago." I replied looking away.

Inuyasha took my hand in his. "You've been living alone all this time." I nodded slowly. "Kagome, why didn't you tell any of us? Me especially, I'm your boyfriend." He said the last part in a sad whisper.

"I know I should have Inuyasha. I have wanted to tell you that many times. But, in truth, it is so hard for me to say it. Because if I say it, that's means it's real. She is really gone." My voice faultered. Inuyasha pulled me into a tight hug.

"What else haven't you told me?" He whispered into my hair. The tickle on my ear made me sigh happily. I just hope he stayed around to continue.

"Inuyasha--I am not a pure miko." I whispered back. I felt him straighten up under my embrace. I cringed. This is what I feared.

"What do you mean?"

"A miko is no longer pure once she has--" I couldn't even say it.

"Sex?" Inuyasha supplied.

My whole body shook at that word. "Yeah."

He pulled away and his eyes searched mine."You have had sex?"

I could see the pain in his eyes. But he needed to know. And I needed to trust him. "I wouldn't call it sex. Seeing as it wasn't consentual."

His eyes widened. "You mean--? By who?"

Again memories flashed into my head. That night. I closed my eyes willing it to go away. "Yes and--" My mouth was open and nothing was coming out. "By my f--" Come on Kagome just say it. "By my fath--" I broke off.

"You're father?!" Inuyasha practically shouted. I nodded. "You're father rape--- Oh kami Kagome!" He pulled me onto his lap and just held onto me. He wasn't running. He was comforting me. Maybe he did really care. Maybe I could trust him. My heart swelled at the thought.

Maybe seemed alot brighter to me now.

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YAY new chappy! W00t Go me!

Anyways I hoped you like.

Please review.

Ja Ne