Kagome sat on the bathroom counter gazing at herself in the mirror. She had tried to sleep after she finished crying, but of course her mind wouldn't sleep. Her imagination had been plagued by the images she saw on that screen.

She looked ten times worse than when they had that huge argument. Her eyes were dull. Her hair had wilted even further from all her stress. Her body had thinned more, her cheeks sunken more. She had turned into this… monster. This human being that walked, talked, breathed… servitude.

Kagome had always thought that this would be easy. Inuyasha loved her, and she loved him, and that's all that mattered. It seemed like a fairy tale ending to some great and wonderful story. But, she never thought she would ever find herself like this. She thought that because Inuyasha was a half-demon, his rough exterior was just that. The exterior. She had seen his compassionate side and she thought that maybe once they were mated and married he would show it all the time.

Then, she would continue to shower him with her love. He would feel as if he was valued and so would she. They would live in modern time, get their own jobs… she would fulfill her dreams with the man she loved.

She had been wrong, obviously. He was off living his life while she stayed at home, waiting on him and for him. Everything she did, it was either for him or because of him. She cooked and cleaned for him. She kept up her facade for him. She dealt with bills and credit cards and strange women calling the house… for him. The alpha. The half-man in charge.

It wasn't natural. Not for the old Kagome.

The old Kagome was dying, and all that was left was simply mate and wife.

'This isn't me. This isn't what I wanted to be. I love Inuyasha, but I can't do this anymore. I was never the kind of girl who would just… lay there and take it. But, now look at me. I can't even stand up to him.

Kagome felt a bit at a loss. She didn't want to talk to him, or even look at him. But, she couldn't leave him. After everything… practically cheating on her with some virtual woman and some teenager at a bar… she was still his mate and she had to deal with being under him. Always submitting. Always yielding.

An old, familiar rage slowly rose in her. 'No… I'll end up killing myself if I don't do something now.' Her face hardened with resolve as she stared back at herself. 'I can't keep living like this… there has to be another way.'

With a bit more determination, she hopped off the counter and looked at herself in the mirror once more. She fixed her hair and stood up a little taller, feeling her lost pride slowly finding its way back into her veins.

'There is another way, but it won't be me that's going to budge. Not for him.'

She went to find the phone.

Inuyasha could hardly concentrate for the rest of the day. He didn't know what was bothering his mate, but it was killing him that he couldn't go home and find out. He could still partially feel her emotions through the mate mark, though only a fraction. It agitated him to no end. He sat in the office, his arms crossed across his chest and his foot tapping, watching the three delinquents in the chairs across from him.

He couldn't think of any reason why she would freak out the way she did. Things were fine. They were joking back and forth… laughing… why didn't she want to talk to him? What could she possibly be afraid of? That he would say something that might hurt her again? Was she that damaged from the past couple of weeks? He was at a loss for what to expect when he got home.

"Would you quit that infernal tapping?" he heard Takumi hiss from across the room. He looked up to see the smart mouthed adolescent giving him a look that would have a normal person disintegrate on the spot. It merely irritated the hanyou.

"Hey, shut up, kid! I don't want to hear a word out of you until someone comes to get you," Inuyasha growled. They couldn't hear the growl, but he wouldn't be shocked if they felt it. He was in no mode to deal with children.

Takumi got a look on his face then, one that he hadn't seen in years. He looked at him like he was beneath him, dirt that should be flicked off of his shoe. It alarmed Inuyasha for a moment. His mind went back to times where he felt like that dirt, and for a slight second, he cringed.

'Have I really forgotten what it felt like… to be treated like scum?' Inuyasha thought, astounded.

The boy obviously saw this and his expression changed to one that was satisfied, which brought Inuyasha out of his reverie. He growled low in his throat and bared his teeth at the boy.

"What the fuck are you looking at?!" Inuyasha shot up from his chair and clenched his fists at his sides. He wouldn't let anyone make him feel like trash again. "You got something to say to me?! Sato isn't here, so if I want to smack you around a bit, there's no one here to stop me!"

"Excuse me?!" he heard from the doorway of the office. He spun around to see an irate woman with her hand at her hip glaring daggers much like the ones the boy had sent him. She wore a pair of jeans and heals with a blue button-down silk shirt. She looked oddly familiar… but not familiar enough for Inuyasha to recall.

"You won't be laying a hand on my son!" she continued, waving an accusatory hand at him. "How about I slap you around a bit, you… you... wait…" she paused, her face going blank. "Don't I know you?"

"Uh…" Inuyasha frowned at her, trying to pull at his memory. Her scent wasn't familiar, but her voice… no, it couldn't be her. She had short haircut, and this woman had long auburn hair. And the other woman wore much more make-up. It didn't make sense.

"Oh, yeah!" She smirked and walked into the office, her hips swaying. "You're that gorgeous bastard that was kicking his tires. I remember you."

Inuyasha was at a lost then. She couldn't possibly be that woman. They smelled too different. Now that he thought about it, he couldn't smell her scent at all.

'What the… no scent? That doesn't make any sense!'

Inuyasha must have looked utterly confused because she giggled at him. "You are such a cute puppy. You look so lost."

Inuyasha deepened frown. 'Puppy?' he thought. 'What the fuck…?'

She started fishing through the purse she has carried in with her. "Come on Takumi, we're going home."

The boy immediately got up and walked toward her, his eyes and posture screaming regal indifference. When he came to his mother's side, he glared at Inuyasha.

"I thought I had a piece of paper…" she mumbled, still rummaging through her bag. "I meant to give you my number before…"

Inuyasha's eyes widened and he stiffened. 'Her number?' he thought, cautiously. 'No… I have to do the right thing. I have to make this right with Kagome.'

"Uh… um, that…" He cleared his throat. "That won't be necessary. I don't think that's a good idea…"

She looked up at him, her expression surprised and a bit confused. Then, a flash of understanding and amusement crossed her face. "You think…? No, no puppy-boy, I don't even like you. You see, you're a jerk, and I really regret giving you the time of day."

Inuyasha scowled. "What-"

"No, this is far more important. I think if you're not as much of an idiot as I think, you might understand what I'm talking about."

She pulled out a piece of napkin and stole a pen from the desk. She leaned over and scribbled something on the napkin and then handed it to him. "We need to talk," she said, an uncharacteristically solemn expression on her face. "I'm serious. This isn't some joke. You need to call me, and soon."

Inuyasha didn't know what to think of that. When did this situation get so serious? What did she mean?

All of a sudden , he felt a power surge through him that was all too recognizable. His fists clenched to his sides and squeezed his eyes closed. "Shit…" he mumbled.

'Not right now,' he thought, frustrated and tired. 'I need to get home. It's getting harder to control myself.'

"Look at him, mother," he barely heard the indignant boy huff. "He's like a dog in heat."

He forced his eyes open and bared his invisible fangs at the boy. "I think you should leave, kid," he growled at him, still fighting for control. He could feel the sweat forming on his brow and he began to tremble.

"Oh, great!" Masato said as he strolled in from the hall. "Shou-san's mother is here. So, Inuyasha you… Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha closed his eyes again, wrestling for control of his own body. He found the strength to sit down in the chair near him.

"Well, we'll be going now," he heard an amused velvety voice say. "Don't forget to call me!"

Once the footsteps of the woman and her son had faded from the room, Masato came to kneel next to Inuyasha. "Inuyasha… are you okay? Maybe you should-"

"No," Inuyasha insisted. He knew his boss would try to send him home. He put up his hand. "No, I just need some fresh air. I'll be back in a minute."

He jumped up from his seat and crossed the office, then burst through the door. A young couple was by the door and he accidentally pushed the man into his companion.

"Hey, watch it!" the man exclaimed, steadying the woman with him. They both sent him in annoyance.

"S-sorry." Inuyasha didn't have time to stop and speak to them. His beast would come out if he didn't have a place to go fix himself. He rushed in the direction of the exit without sparing them a second look.

Once he made it outside, he half jogged to the side of the building where the trucks dropped off shipments to the mall. He leaned against a brick wall and tried to calm himself.

'Damn… this can't keep happening to me. I'm going to lose my job. I have to do something… but Kagome won't want to, especially now that she's upset with me for absolutely no good reason.'

He didn't want to hurt Kagome anymore than he already had. But, the repercussions for not letting his beast have his mate… he could endanger a lot of people. Surely, Kagome knew this.

'No… no she's not going to let me near her,' he thought with dread. 'She probably can't stand me right now. It's not like I don't deserve it.'

He'd try to make it to the end of the day. He would work through it. Then, he would go home and hope his mate understood. He didn't know what he would do otherwise.

"That disgusting little shit…"

Kagome sighed and curled her legs under her on the couch. "Come on, Toshi…"

Her best friend paced the room and fiery hair swinging behind her as if it was an extension of her attitude. "What?! That's exactly what he is!"

Kagome rolled her eyes. "Yes, maybe he is, but as his mate I can't let you call him shit." She was oddly calm. "It's enraging the little bit of demon he put in me."

"How can you not be totally upset at this?!" She said, stopping to point at Kagome. "Why aren't you up here pacing with me?"

"What do you think I was doing earlier today? Didn't you hear me on the phone? I'm done crying over his sorry ass. I'm happy to watch you be pissed off though."

Toshiko put her hands on her hips in her signature way. "So, you can call him a sorry ass, but I can't?"

Kagome smirked at her friend. "Would you like it if I called your mate a sorry ass?"

Toshiko threw her hands up. "All men are sorry asses!"

Hiroshi cleared his throat. "Excuse me, mate?"

Toshiko turned to her husband, looking slightly panicked. "Oh, hi honey! I didn't see you there…"

Hiroshi stood there, his striped dressed shirt rumpling under his crossed arms and his usual glasses missing from his face. "Yes, of course," he said with a smirk. "We'll discuss your punishment later."

Kagome ignored her best friend's blush. "Hiroshi-san, did you get contacts?" she asked nonchalantly.

He smiled at Kagome, regarding her a moment. He seemed to be trying to gauge her state of mind before answering. "Yes. Yes, I did in fact. I think I'm going to keep them. The glasses were a nuisance."

Kagome grinned back at him. "But, I thought the glasses were very becoming."

"Maybe, but these are much more convenient. I think I'll still wear the glasses sometimes, but mostly use the contacts."

Toshiko glared at Kagome and then at Hiroshi, clearly irritated. "What the… why are you so damn calm, Kagome?"

Hiroshi turned to his wife. "Isn't it obvious? Our Kagome has a plan."

Toshiko narrowed her eyes at Kagome. "Plan? What kind of plan? Your last plan left you malnourished and frustrated, Kagome. Don't do anything stupid."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "It's not a plan, really. I think… I think I'm just done, Toshiko. I want to be with Inuyasha so much… I love him with all I am. I'm his mate, and nothing will ever change that. But…" she sighed. "But I think our marriage it over."

Toshiko's whole demeanor softened and she came to sit by her. "Oh, Kagome…"

Kagome's eyes watered a bit, but her voice stayed strong. "There's nothing I can do now. This was the absolute last straw. He basically cheated on me with some… cyber woman who looked just like me, only curvier. And then that other girl? I mean, she could have been lying about the flirting, but the fact that he was even at the bar… it's like he's this person I don't know anymore with a whole separate life that I'm not a part of." She sighed. "So… I'll continue to be his mate, but I don't know if I can keep being his wife…"

"Is… that even possible?" Hiroshi wondered aloud.

"I don't know…" Kagome said, taking a deep breath. "I just… I just know that I can't be with him the same way. He's hurt me too much. I did all my crying today… I did enough crying today and this past week to last me a lifetime. I'm going to live my life. Somehow, I'm going to get out from under his thumb."

Toshiko gave her friend a sad smile and put an arm around her. "Kags… I'll help in any way I can, okay? You're like the sister I've always wanted, you know that right? Just let me know."

Kagome turned to Toshiko, regarding her serious and sympathetic face. She felt a familiar sensation creep through her chest as she regarded the intense feeling on her face.

'Wow… it's like… Sango all over again. Have the gods really given me another sister?'

She suddenly missed Sango, more than she had since she got over her death. The face of her fallen friends flashed in her mind, their cheerful faces smiling at her. Tears she didn't know she left a trail down her cheeks.

She leaned over and hugged her new sister tightly, and received an even tighter hug in response.

"Thanks, Toshi," she croaked, her voice cracking.

"I mean it, Kagome," Toshiko said with conviction. "Just let me know what I can do. Don't close me off like you did before. I'll support you no matter what."

Kagome felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see Hiroshi holding a box of tissue he took from her bathroom. "Here you go."

Kagome smiled up at him. "A bit of déjà vu, hm?" she pulled away from their hug and took the box. "You're always there when I need some tissues Hiroshi-san."

He smiled warmly back at her. "That's what I'm here for. Just don't make it a habit."

Kagome cleaned herself up and grinned at the two of them. "I couldn't ask for better friends. Now, because you're such good friends, you're going to go out with me tonight. I feel like staying out late tonight."

Yes, I know. You are upset. That is fine. I would be too if a story I was reading didn't get updated for months. I will plead your forgiveness though. I'm so busy with school and all my extra things that I had forgotten about Raw Forgiveness. I have finally put it up, and now I am ready to start giving it a bit more attention.

I have what I want to do for the next few chapters planned out, so all it takes is typing it up and posting it. The next chapter is basically done. I'll give you guys some time to enjoy this chapter, and then I will post it.

I would appreciate the reviews.

mew...