Disclaimer: You know the drill.
Author's Notes: Um, I got some weird reviews last chapter. I never called Sesshoumaru a girl. I am completely aware of the fact that he is a guy. Reread the section. I said "the one the girl held." Meaning not the girl, but the person that she was holding. Got it? And KurroNeko-Yasha, I said quite clearly in the first chapter that Katherine is only partially based on me. My real name is a derivative of Katherine, and I'm prone to similar little temper tantrums and spazz attacks. I've never actually beaten anyone over the head with a stick, though. ^_^ Last, to jagNtrunksshh: The silver hair will come into play later. It's really a very important part. You'll see around chapter four or so.
Hanakin, who made a quick cameo last chapter, is a good friend of mine with a ***HUGE*** thing for Miroku. So I decided to write her in, like I did in that Pokemon fic oh-so-long ago. Remember that, Hanakin? ^_~
Okay, this is gonna be an angsty, dramatic little chapter. I don't know where I got these ideas. Actually, yeah I do. I've been watching waaaaaaaay too much FY lately. Plus, I have a taste for drama. Not soap opera drama, though. Think along the lines of Gundam Wing drama, although this really doesn't fit too much into the actual plot anywhere. Just something I decided to stick in. Okay? And as a general reminder, review!
"I have a big test tomorrow! I have to go back!" Kagome was trying to climb in the well, but a certain hanyou was in her way.
"No way! We have to look for more Shikon shards!"
"Get Katherine to help you! She's good at finding shards!"
"I don't want that stupid girl! I want-" He was cut off when his head snapped back. Katherine was pulling his hair so that his head tilted back and she was able to look into his eyes. Or rather, glare daggers into his eyes. She knew she had been insulted, and she sympathized with Kagome wanting to get home. So she was doing the double duty of letting Inu-Yasha know that she knew what he just called her and distracting him so Kagome could yell…
"SIT!"
And with that, Kagome climbed into the well and was gone.
~**~
The moment Kagome climbed out of the well, her intuition started screaming that something was desperately wrong. And when she reached the house, she saw that she was right.
It was a ruin.
"Mom! Grandpa! Sota!" She climbed into the wreckage, digging desperately through the rubble, trying to find someone, anyone. Just when her search started to seem like it would be in vain, she heard a small voice.
"Sis?"
"Sota? Where are you?" She found her little brother pinned underneath a large piece of plaster.
"Kagome…you came. I knew you would…" He winced as if in pain.
"It's okay Sota. I'll get that thing off of you." She tugged at thing on top of him, with no results. She tried harder, but no luck. Sota started to drift off. "No! Sota, hang on!" Tears stung Kagome's eyes. She gave an almighty pull, and somehow, she managed to pull it off of him.
Everything after that was a blur. Somehow, she managed to get Sota to the hospital and have him treated. He had five broken ribs and a torn muscle in his leg. He would survive.
"Yukata…" whispered Kagome, rocking back and forth slightly, sitting on a chair with her eyes shut tightly. "Thank God…"
"Miss Higurashi, do you know what happened? We treated him this far without parental permission because it was an emergency, but we can't continue farther without signed forms from a parent or guardian," a worried- looking nurse told the teenager.
Kagome looked up, teary-eyed. "I was out, um…visiting friends. When I came back, our home was totally destroyed. I couldn't find my mom or grandfather, and I barely found Sota. I think Mom and Grandfather may be…" she trailed off, afraid saying it would make it true.
"Oh, no," the nurse said softly. She had seen a news story about a shrine that had been completely destroyed by an unknown cause. A family of four lived in it. They had found an adult woman and an elderly man, both dead, but neither of the children that lived there. Could these be…?
"I understand," she said. "Don't worry; we'll take care of your little brother. And…and don't worry about the bill." She stumbled off, biting back tears.
Kagome stared after the nurse, worried by her reaction. What did all that mean?
A doctor walked in holding a clipboard. "Miss Higurashi, you may see your little brother now." He led her to her little brother's room
Sota lay on the bed, looking very small and pathetic. He was hooked up to various machines, and had an oxygen mask on. Apparently, his ribs had broken in such a way that made it difficult for him breath without aid. His eyes were closed. Kagome gently touched his hand. "Sota?"
He opened his eyes. He was unable to talk with the mask on, but he smiled vaguely. Kagome began to cry at the sight of her little brother in such a pathetic state.
~*Two weeks later*~
Dr. Moore, the pretty American doctor who had been attending Sota walked in. "Hey, Sota, Kagome," she greeted them. She wore a smile, but it was a thin smile, as if covering something. Her grey eyes were slightly bloodshot, as if she had been crying.
"H-hello, doctor!" Sota stammered. He had improved drastically in the two weeks that had passed. Dr. Moore said that it was because he was so healthy. Sota had developed a small crush on her.
Her smile faded, and she sighed heavily. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but they thought it would be better if someone you knew, to an extent, told you. I'm sorry, guys. In the accident that ruined your house, your mother and grandfather died."
There was a shocked silence. Sota was the first to start crying, with the other two following close behind. "I'm so sorry, you two. Listen, when Sota is ready to be released, which should be about a week, the social worker will be here to take you to the…" she hesitated, as if she didn't want to say the word. "The orphanage." She looked around nervously, then said a bit too energetically, "Okay, Sota, how is that leg of yours? Let's try to bend it…"
~**~
Kagome stared out the window broodingly. She was easily the oldest person there, and nobody seemed to want her. Plenty of people had seemed willing to adopt Sota, but the moment they found out that he wouldn't be separated from his teenage sister, they decided that there were other children they would rather adopt.
In the month that they has been there, Sota had changed, at least towards Kagome. He had gotten angry, blaming her for his still being there. Nevertheless, he still refused to be separated from her. It was beginning to look as though the siblings would never get out of there.
"Kagome?" One of the social workers walked in. "There's someone here who might be willing to take you and Sota. He'd like to meet you first.
Kagome followed the man into the office, where another man sat in a chair, apparently waiting for her. The social worker introduced the two. "Kagome, this is Takashi Ono. Ono-san, this is Kagome Higurashi."
Ono-san, who appeared to be in his mid-30s, smiled a friendly smile at Kagome. "It's a pleasure, to meet you, Higurashi-san. I'll call you that if you like, though I prefer informality myself, especially since we're going to be living together if all goes well. You may call me Takashi, if you like."
Kagome smiled back. "You may call me Kagome."
"Well, Kagome, it's a pleasure to meet you. I've always wanted a son, but getting a *daughter* along with that… That goes beyond my wildest dreams!" He leaned back slightly and studied her. "How would you like to get out of this dump – excuse me – and come live with me?"
Kagome was a little startled at his sudden decision, but she wanted to get out of there as soon as possible, and wasn't about to pass up her chance. "I'd like to," she said slightly cautiously.
"Great then! As soon as I get some of the papers filled out, you and Sota can come live with me!"
~**~
Kagome lay trembling in her bed. Her life had become a nightmare so quickly! She had to get away. But where to?
The well.
She hadn't been there for months…not since her life had the nerve to fall apart so suddenly. How had it happened? She had asked Sota what happened to the house. He said he wasn't sure. All he saw was a scary-looking man with wavy black hair (AN: as sexy as Naraku is, and I do admit he's sexy, he *is* scary-looking!) and a bright light. Only one man seemed to fit the description: Naraku.
Kagome had never liked Naraku much. After all, he was trying to kill her and her friends. But to target her family, who had nothing to do with their conflict like that… Rage boiled within her at simply the thought. Plus, it was that first tragedy that had led to her life becoming such as mess…
It hadn't seemed *that* bad until about three months ago. She was lonely in the orphanage, but she still had her friends at school. But even then, once the death of her mother and grandfather was found out, every time she entered a room people gave her pained, pity-filled looks and whispered among each other.
That seemed to cease once Takashi adopted her and Sota, but shortly after that, a new nightmare began, more painful than the last. Kagome shivered at the thought of it…
*Flashback*
It was a quiet night, with no crickets chirping or owls hooting, or any of the normal night sounds. It was just…silence. As Kagome listened to the silence, she heard something else: a person walking into her room. She blinked at the shape, silhouetted against the moonlight pouring in through the window. It was far, far too old to be Sota, so that left one person: Takashi.
"Takashi?" she asked, just to be sure.
"Yes, Kagome. Takashi." He stepped forward, and the moonlight momentarily lit up his face. His expression…it frightened Kagome. It was…deranged, almost.
"What do you want?"
He chuckled. "What do I want? Why, to have fun of course." He advanced towards her bed. "Isn't that the purpose of my life?" He pinned her down. "To have fun?" And with that, he raped her.
*End flashback*
Kagome winced, the pain flaring up at just the memory. And it wasn't the only time. Once a week for three months, he would come in and rape her, then leave. She never told anyone. Like so many other rape victims, she was frightened and embarrassed. But slowly, she distanced herself from all her guy friends. She even pushed away at her female friends, though not as much.
After three months of pain and torture, she had had enough. For the sake of what sanity hadn't been torn out of her along with her virginity, she needed to leave.
But there was something she had to take care of first.
~**~
"Sota. Sota, wake up…"
"Is that you, sis? What's wrong?"
"Sota, I'm leaving. I can't stay here anymore, so I'm going back to Inu- Yasha and everyone back in the well." Kagome's voice cracked slightly. She loved her little brother so much!
"But why?"
"I…I can't tell you. But I'll tell you this: stay here. Takashi obviously likes you a lot, so he'll take good care of you. I'll be fine where I'm going, so don't worry about me."
Sota sat bolt upright. "But there are so many scary things there! Like demons and monsters and…and…and Godzilla!"
"Don't be ridiculous. There's no Godzilla there. And besides, Inu-Yasha will be there to protect me." A small, nagging voice in her head said, *But will he really protect you? Or will he betray you and hurt you?* She didn't express those fears out loud, of course.
"Oh, right. Fine, I'll try not to worry about you, as long as you promise not to worry about me."
Kagome had to smile. Of course she would worry about him. He was her baby brother, after all. But she just lied, "Of course I won't. You're a boy who doesn't need protecting." She felt a sharp pang, and swept him up in a hug. "Goodbye, Sota-chan. We'll probably never see each other again, so goodbye."
"Bye, Kagome," Sota sniffled, obviously trying not to cry. "I'll be strong, and try not to need to be protected."
Silently, Kagome rose and walked through the house. Finally, she was leaving this nightmare behind.
End notes: Yatta! I'm finally long! And wow, this chapter is a doozy. Six pages! That's twice the normal length for me. By the way, everyone read "Shokkan" by Kanna! I've started beta reading for it, starting with chapter four. Ugh, it's 1:00 AM and I need sleep. But oh well, I'm not getting it. This is my last non-school night before he great evil begins. So, until then, ja matta ne, and be sure to review!
Author's Notes: Um, I got some weird reviews last chapter. I never called Sesshoumaru a girl. I am completely aware of the fact that he is a guy. Reread the section. I said "the one the girl held." Meaning not the girl, but the person that she was holding. Got it? And KurroNeko-Yasha, I said quite clearly in the first chapter that Katherine is only partially based on me. My real name is a derivative of Katherine, and I'm prone to similar little temper tantrums and spazz attacks. I've never actually beaten anyone over the head with a stick, though. ^_^ Last, to jagNtrunksshh: The silver hair will come into play later. It's really a very important part. You'll see around chapter four or so.
Hanakin, who made a quick cameo last chapter, is a good friend of mine with a ***HUGE*** thing for Miroku. So I decided to write her in, like I did in that Pokemon fic oh-so-long ago. Remember that, Hanakin? ^_~
Okay, this is gonna be an angsty, dramatic little chapter. I don't know where I got these ideas. Actually, yeah I do. I've been watching waaaaaaaay too much FY lately. Plus, I have a taste for drama. Not soap opera drama, though. Think along the lines of Gundam Wing drama, although this really doesn't fit too much into the actual plot anywhere. Just something I decided to stick in. Okay? And as a general reminder, review!
"I have a big test tomorrow! I have to go back!" Kagome was trying to climb in the well, but a certain hanyou was in her way.
"No way! We have to look for more Shikon shards!"
"Get Katherine to help you! She's good at finding shards!"
"I don't want that stupid girl! I want-" He was cut off when his head snapped back. Katherine was pulling his hair so that his head tilted back and she was able to look into his eyes. Or rather, glare daggers into his eyes. She knew she had been insulted, and she sympathized with Kagome wanting to get home. So she was doing the double duty of letting Inu-Yasha know that she knew what he just called her and distracting him so Kagome could yell…
"SIT!"
And with that, Kagome climbed into the well and was gone.
~**~
The moment Kagome climbed out of the well, her intuition started screaming that something was desperately wrong. And when she reached the house, she saw that she was right.
It was a ruin.
"Mom! Grandpa! Sota!" She climbed into the wreckage, digging desperately through the rubble, trying to find someone, anyone. Just when her search started to seem like it would be in vain, she heard a small voice.
"Sis?"
"Sota? Where are you?" She found her little brother pinned underneath a large piece of plaster.
"Kagome…you came. I knew you would…" He winced as if in pain.
"It's okay Sota. I'll get that thing off of you." She tugged at thing on top of him, with no results. She tried harder, but no luck. Sota started to drift off. "No! Sota, hang on!" Tears stung Kagome's eyes. She gave an almighty pull, and somehow, she managed to pull it off of him.
Everything after that was a blur. Somehow, she managed to get Sota to the hospital and have him treated. He had five broken ribs and a torn muscle in his leg. He would survive.
"Yukata…" whispered Kagome, rocking back and forth slightly, sitting on a chair with her eyes shut tightly. "Thank God…"
"Miss Higurashi, do you know what happened? We treated him this far without parental permission because it was an emergency, but we can't continue farther without signed forms from a parent or guardian," a worried- looking nurse told the teenager.
Kagome looked up, teary-eyed. "I was out, um…visiting friends. When I came back, our home was totally destroyed. I couldn't find my mom or grandfather, and I barely found Sota. I think Mom and Grandfather may be…" she trailed off, afraid saying it would make it true.
"Oh, no," the nurse said softly. She had seen a news story about a shrine that had been completely destroyed by an unknown cause. A family of four lived in it. They had found an adult woman and an elderly man, both dead, but neither of the children that lived there. Could these be…?
"I understand," she said. "Don't worry; we'll take care of your little brother. And…and don't worry about the bill." She stumbled off, biting back tears.
Kagome stared after the nurse, worried by her reaction. What did all that mean?
A doctor walked in holding a clipboard. "Miss Higurashi, you may see your little brother now." He led her to her little brother's room
Sota lay on the bed, looking very small and pathetic. He was hooked up to various machines, and had an oxygen mask on. Apparently, his ribs had broken in such a way that made it difficult for him breath without aid. His eyes were closed. Kagome gently touched his hand. "Sota?"
He opened his eyes. He was unable to talk with the mask on, but he smiled vaguely. Kagome began to cry at the sight of her little brother in such a pathetic state.
~*Two weeks later*~
Dr. Moore, the pretty American doctor who had been attending Sota walked in. "Hey, Sota, Kagome," she greeted them. She wore a smile, but it was a thin smile, as if covering something. Her grey eyes were slightly bloodshot, as if she had been crying.
"H-hello, doctor!" Sota stammered. He had improved drastically in the two weeks that had passed. Dr. Moore said that it was because he was so healthy. Sota had developed a small crush on her.
Her smile faded, and she sighed heavily. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but they thought it would be better if someone you knew, to an extent, told you. I'm sorry, guys. In the accident that ruined your house, your mother and grandfather died."
There was a shocked silence. Sota was the first to start crying, with the other two following close behind. "I'm so sorry, you two. Listen, when Sota is ready to be released, which should be about a week, the social worker will be here to take you to the…" she hesitated, as if she didn't want to say the word. "The orphanage." She looked around nervously, then said a bit too energetically, "Okay, Sota, how is that leg of yours? Let's try to bend it…"
~**~
Kagome stared out the window broodingly. She was easily the oldest person there, and nobody seemed to want her. Plenty of people had seemed willing to adopt Sota, but the moment they found out that he wouldn't be separated from his teenage sister, they decided that there were other children they would rather adopt.
In the month that they has been there, Sota had changed, at least towards Kagome. He had gotten angry, blaming her for his still being there. Nevertheless, he still refused to be separated from her. It was beginning to look as though the siblings would never get out of there.
"Kagome?" One of the social workers walked in. "There's someone here who might be willing to take you and Sota. He'd like to meet you first.
Kagome followed the man into the office, where another man sat in a chair, apparently waiting for her. The social worker introduced the two. "Kagome, this is Takashi Ono. Ono-san, this is Kagome Higurashi."
Ono-san, who appeared to be in his mid-30s, smiled a friendly smile at Kagome. "It's a pleasure, to meet you, Higurashi-san. I'll call you that if you like, though I prefer informality myself, especially since we're going to be living together if all goes well. You may call me Takashi, if you like."
Kagome smiled back. "You may call me Kagome."
"Well, Kagome, it's a pleasure to meet you. I've always wanted a son, but getting a *daughter* along with that… That goes beyond my wildest dreams!" He leaned back slightly and studied her. "How would you like to get out of this dump – excuse me – and come live with me?"
Kagome was a little startled at his sudden decision, but she wanted to get out of there as soon as possible, and wasn't about to pass up her chance. "I'd like to," she said slightly cautiously.
"Great then! As soon as I get some of the papers filled out, you and Sota can come live with me!"
~**~
Kagome lay trembling in her bed. Her life had become a nightmare so quickly! She had to get away. But where to?
The well.
She hadn't been there for months…not since her life had the nerve to fall apart so suddenly. How had it happened? She had asked Sota what happened to the house. He said he wasn't sure. All he saw was a scary-looking man with wavy black hair (AN: as sexy as Naraku is, and I do admit he's sexy, he *is* scary-looking!) and a bright light. Only one man seemed to fit the description: Naraku.
Kagome had never liked Naraku much. After all, he was trying to kill her and her friends. But to target her family, who had nothing to do with their conflict like that… Rage boiled within her at simply the thought. Plus, it was that first tragedy that had led to her life becoming such as mess…
It hadn't seemed *that* bad until about three months ago. She was lonely in the orphanage, but she still had her friends at school. But even then, once the death of her mother and grandfather was found out, every time she entered a room people gave her pained, pity-filled looks and whispered among each other.
That seemed to cease once Takashi adopted her and Sota, but shortly after that, a new nightmare began, more painful than the last. Kagome shivered at the thought of it…
*Flashback*
It was a quiet night, with no crickets chirping or owls hooting, or any of the normal night sounds. It was just…silence. As Kagome listened to the silence, she heard something else: a person walking into her room. She blinked at the shape, silhouetted against the moonlight pouring in through the window. It was far, far too old to be Sota, so that left one person: Takashi.
"Takashi?" she asked, just to be sure.
"Yes, Kagome. Takashi." He stepped forward, and the moonlight momentarily lit up his face. His expression…it frightened Kagome. It was…deranged, almost.
"What do you want?"
He chuckled. "What do I want? Why, to have fun of course." He advanced towards her bed. "Isn't that the purpose of my life?" He pinned her down. "To have fun?" And with that, he raped her.
*End flashback*
Kagome winced, the pain flaring up at just the memory. And it wasn't the only time. Once a week for three months, he would come in and rape her, then leave. She never told anyone. Like so many other rape victims, she was frightened and embarrassed. But slowly, she distanced herself from all her guy friends. She even pushed away at her female friends, though not as much.
After three months of pain and torture, she had had enough. For the sake of what sanity hadn't been torn out of her along with her virginity, she needed to leave.
But there was something she had to take care of first.
~**~
"Sota. Sota, wake up…"
"Is that you, sis? What's wrong?"
"Sota, I'm leaving. I can't stay here anymore, so I'm going back to Inu- Yasha and everyone back in the well." Kagome's voice cracked slightly. She loved her little brother so much!
"But why?"
"I…I can't tell you. But I'll tell you this: stay here. Takashi obviously likes you a lot, so he'll take good care of you. I'll be fine where I'm going, so don't worry about me."
Sota sat bolt upright. "But there are so many scary things there! Like demons and monsters and…and…and Godzilla!"
"Don't be ridiculous. There's no Godzilla there. And besides, Inu-Yasha will be there to protect me." A small, nagging voice in her head said, *But will he really protect you? Or will he betray you and hurt you?* She didn't express those fears out loud, of course.
"Oh, right. Fine, I'll try not to worry about you, as long as you promise not to worry about me."
Kagome had to smile. Of course she would worry about him. He was her baby brother, after all. But she just lied, "Of course I won't. You're a boy who doesn't need protecting." She felt a sharp pang, and swept him up in a hug. "Goodbye, Sota-chan. We'll probably never see each other again, so goodbye."
"Bye, Kagome," Sota sniffled, obviously trying not to cry. "I'll be strong, and try not to need to be protected."
Silently, Kagome rose and walked through the house. Finally, she was leaving this nightmare behind.
End notes: Yatta! I'm finally long! And wow, this chapter is a doozy. Six pages! That's twice the normal length for me. By the way, everyone read "Shokkan" by Kanna! I've started beta reading for it, starting with chapter four. Ugh, it's 1:00 AM and I need sleep. But oh well, I'm not getting it. This is my last non-school night before he great evil begins. So, until then, ja matta ne, and be sure to review!