The Woman Behind the Mask

Chapter 1


~~~~Dream~~~~

"Kagome you are such a brat," said a little girl.


"I am not!" yelled a little 12 year old Kagome that was close to tears.


"You are so stuck up, why do you go back to where you belong," said other little girl.


"Just leave me alone!" Kagome yelled through her sobs.


"Hey look she's crying."


Chants of "Kagome is a cry baby" began to spread like wildfire.


And poor Kagome stuck in the middle with no one to help her.


~~~End Dream~~~


Kagome jerks out of her dream, her throat chocked with sobs and her face drenched with tears. Her raven black hair is matted down to the sides of her face from sweating so much. After she finally realized it was a dream, Kagome, now 18, settled back down.


Kagome fell back onto her soft bed relieved that it was just a dream. Kagome looks lazily over at her clock and sees that it is almost time for her to get up anyway. Since she was afraid to go back to bed anyway seeing this as a good thing.


Kagome hops out of bed and walks over to her closet and pulls out her school uniform and heads toward the bathroom.


"Maybe a hot shower will calm me down," Kagome said to no one in particular.


After the shower, Kagome slowly got dressed still really not wanting to go to school.


"Well at least it is better than around here." Kagome thought to herself.


Kagome slowly trudged down the stairs to head out for school. As she turned the corner she saw her step-father asleep on the couch. Around him, beer bottles were strewn across the floor and the table. Kagome tip toed as quietly as possible toward the door so as not to arouse her drunk father. As she quietly walked she stepped on a warped floor board which creaked and groaned as Kagome stepped on it.


This, of course, aroused her drunk father from his drunken sleep.


He immediately stood up and turned towards Kagome who was frozen on the spot. Her father stomped over to Kagome and grabbed her roughly by her arms and lifted her up off the ground.


"Why aren't you at school young lady!" growled Kagome's father as he shook her violently.


Before Kagome had a chance to respond he tossed her backwards hard right into a wall. Kagome fell to the floor hard. Her father jerked her up off the floor and roughly shoved her out the door.


"Get out of my sight you worthless kid!" Kagome's father yelled as he slammed the door behind her.


Kagome picked herself up and brushed what she could off of her uniform.


"At least nothing is visible this time," Kagome thought as she looked at herself.


Then slowly Kagome headed off to school.


When she finally arrived school was about to start. Kagome ran inside a quickly down the hall to her classroom and made it in just in time. She walked in and took her usual seat next to Inuyasha who glanced at her since she had almost been late.


"Kagome, what's going on with you. That is the fourth time this week that you were almost late and that is not like you," Inuyasha asked with just a slight hint of concern.


"It's not big deal. I just almost slept in too late," Kagome replied back as she looked a Inuyasha with a smile on her face.


"Whatever."


"Woah that was close. I can't ever tell him about all this. He would probably kill him and leave the mess for me. Besides he's going with that girl Kikyo anyway." Kagome thought


As the day wore on Kagome had completely forgotten about what had happened at home and was back to her normal happy self.


"So what are you doing this weekend Kagome?" asked Sango.


"I really don't have any plans as of right now," answered Kagome.


"Why don't you come to the movies with us then on Friday?" asked Miroku.


"Sure, it sounds like fun. Which movie are you guys planning to see?" asked Kagome.


"Well, we were thinking about Bulletproof Monk," replied Inuyasha.


"Sound interesting. I'll make those my plans for this weekend then," Kagome replied with a smile on her face.


"What's wrong Kagome?" thought Inuyasha "Earlier you were so uptight and now you not. Something is wrong and it is a big deal and I plan to find out."


After school ended Kagome said good bye to her friends and began the long walk home. Suddenly she heard a voice behind her and stopped.


"Kagome," the voice called.


It was Inuyasha.


"Oh man, if he takes me home and my father is there I'm dead."


"Yes, Inuyasha," asked Kagome.


"Kagome I need to talk to you," Inuyasha stated.


"I wish I had the time I need to..."


"No! We have to talk now," Inuyasha growled


This started Kagome and she began to get very nervous which Inuyasha could smell. She looked over him. His violet eyes had anger, hurt and something she didn't expect...concern.


"O...ok. We'll talk Inuyasha," replied Kagome's shaky voice.


"Kagome, I know something happened to you this morning besides wakin' up too late. Kagome what is what wrong," asked a really concerned Inuyasha.


"I told you Inuyasha. I just slept in late and that's all there is to it."


"Kagome you are a terrible liar. Just tell me what's wrong please."


"I told you! Now if you excuse me I have to get home."


Kagome turned and walked away back towards her home leaving Inuyasha even more concerned than before.


Inuyasha shrugged and turned and walked of in the other direction muttering under his breath.


Finally Kagome arrived home and slowly slid the door open. She slowly looked around for her father and did not see him. Gratefully she walked in glad that he was not home yet. Kagome took off her shoes and stepped up the stairs and walked into her bed room. Kagome threw her book bag and shoes onto her bed. Then right behind her she felt a tall presence. Kagome spins around and sees her father standing in a corner smiling evilly. Her father strides over to her, grabs her arms roughly and forces her against the wall.


Kagome easily caught the scent coming from him. He was drunk, big time.


"Didn't I tell you Kagome what would happen if you came home late again," said her father as he draws his fist back.