******************************************************************************************************************************************
Let's make it very clear here: My name is NOT Rumiko Takahashi and I do NOT own Inuyasha. I do however own this story, and any characters I invent.
******************************************************************************************************************************************
It was daylight before Kagome woke up. The clicks and whirs of a heart machine and the faint tingling of an IV needle told her she was in a hospital.
What happened? She wondered groggily. Then she remembered, the party, Hojo, the rape. How could he DO that to me? I was waiting! I was waiting! She shook, as once again tears threatened to overwhelm her.
Suddenly her mother's arms were around her, shushing her sobs for a few minutes, before Kagome could speak
"I'm sorry Mom."
"It wasn't your fault Kagome." Her mother said clearly, pulling her hair out of her face and to the side.
"But I let him give me a ride home
"I let your father give me a ride home many times. He never raped me."
"I tried to make him go home."
"Kagome. Who are you trying to convince?" her mother said softly stroking Kagome's hair, looking at her with those warm brown eyes of hers.
"It just feels like I should have been able to do something to stop him from hurting me!"
"I know baby, I wish we had all been there, and then this might not have happened." Mrs. Higurashi forced her daughter's head up to meet her eyes, "Or, he might have just waited a while longer to do it. Who knows? But Kagome, you did nothing wrong. You SURVIVED long enough for Inuyasha to get you help! Good thing too, you were torn up pretty bad from all the fighting you were doing." Kagome managed a weak smile at that. Then she remembered something else VERY important.
"Hojo! Where is he? If he's loose!"
"Clam down Kagome, the police picked him up. He's being held on Breaking and Entering and Aggravated Assault for now."
"What about VIOLATING KAGOME?!" Demanding an angry male voice. Kagome groaned, and for once cursed the hanyou's "perfect" timing.
"Kagome has to press charges in order for that to happen. The Police are outside, waiting to talk to you about that Kagome." They both turned to Kagome, who looked pale, and uncertain.
"You are going to do this "Press Charges" thing aren't you Kagome?" asked Inuyasha, turning to the young woman in the bed
"What if him and his friends_"
"They're mostly in jail too Kagome. Didn't you know? Convicted for murdering Hojo's ex. Hojo just got off with a deal."
"I'll protect you Kagome." Since I couldn't protect you then. Inuyasha thought, cursing himself for dolt.
There was an extended pause, as Kagome thought about it. I don't want to. If I do this, then there'll be trial, with lawyers and judge. They'll force me to relive it over and over, and his lawyer will try to make me think that it was somehow my fault! I just want to forget it ever happened. Tears filled her eyes, longing to be another position beside rape victim. But I can't. Even if I don't press charges, I won't forget. And then he'll have a green light to do whatever he pleases. Including coming after me again, or worse some other poor girl. I have to do it.
"Mom? Bring the police in please. Tell them I want to file a report."
******
Kagome like the police officers almost immediately. One was an older, short, muscular woman with the most amazing green eyes Kagome had ever seen, and the other one was young man with gentle blue eyes and sandy colored hair. They were very gentle and considerate when they asked their question, apologizing when it was obviously something that hurt.
"Well I think that's it." Said the man, "This plus the rape kit the doctor provided should be enough to hold and indict him. You're a brave woman Miss. Higurashi." Kagome forced a smile.
"I don't feel very brave, and please, call me Kagome."
"Alright, my name's Micah."
"Micah? That's an English name. Are you_"
"American? Not really. My Father was a powerful American businessman. My mother was his pretty, young Japanese secretary he took a little too fondly to. He raped her in his home, she quit, and started work elsewhere, until she found out about me. She moved us to Japan when I was two, but I showed so much of my American heritage; she thought I deserved an American name."
"I like it, it's pretty."
"Thank you. I would suggest you get some counseling though."
"Why? I feel, well not 'normal,' but pretty okay, all things considered."
"So was my mom at first." Micah whispered softly, "But then when I was six, my 'father' opened a branch here in Japan. Even though it was miles away from us. She started being afraid to go out, until she couldn't leave the house at all. She was so scared she even changed our names to keep him from finding us. Finally, I went for a week without food and Children's Protective Services stepped in. It was two years before I saw her again." The expression on his face was so serious it made her shudder. "In the meantime, I was forced to live with my father, who told all kind of despicable lies about my mother, until my stepmother stepped in, and helped me to go back to my mom, I've never seen my father since." He gave Kagome moment to think about this, before he spoke again
"Kagome, you may think you're in control kiddo, but it may be extremely fragile. If you don't see a psychiatrist, then join a support group. If you're smart, you'll do both. I'm not saying all rape victims need it. But do you really want to risk finding out if you are one who does need it?" Kagome shuddered, picturing herself becoming a recluse, closeted in her own home for years at a time.
It didn't seem like a very pleasant prospect.
******
Kagome ended up spending the better part of two weeks in the hospital while the more serious injuries, most of them internal, healed and then waited a few extra weeks before going back to her life of two worlds. And Kagome DID meet with a counselor. She figured better safe then sorry, and her case was progressing rapidly, according to the District Attorney.
Now, she was out of the hospital and getting ready to return to the Sengoku Jidai, and you could hardly tell what she'd been through by looking at her.
"Oi wench, what are you doing?" Kagome's lips turned up into the ghost that had become her smile as the burly voice r
"Noneya."
"Noneya?
"None ya damn business! So let me pack!" She declared as she threw a tank top in her bag, followed by a couple more necessities.
"There all done!" Kagome declared as she threw in Ramen, followed by a run to the bathroom, and Inuyasha let out an involuntary shudder at the sound of gagging, then retching, until finally Kagome appeared, looking not just a little green.
"Hey Kagome, you sure you're alright?"
"Yeah! *pause* No!" Kagome desperately ran back to the bathroom, and Inuyasha winced at the unpleasant sounds that followed.
It took a little longer for Kagome to emerge this time, and when she did, she definitely looked the worst for wear. She just slumped down on her bed, trying to figure out how to ask Inuyasha to stay home.
"Inu_" Before she could finish, she realized he was already at her door, with something cool for her head.
*******
"But Inuyasha!"
"No Kagome."
"But I'm still getting sick!"
"Then take whatever you need. It's been over two months since you've been back. We're far enough behind searching for the jewel shards! You're going." Kagome opened her mouth to argue but could tell that it was pointless. Sighing miserable, she resigned herself to her fate and began to pack some clothes, and a couple toiletries, and left most of the things she normally would've taken with her.
Including his Ramen.
Not much of a revenge, she thought as she quickly scribbled a note to her family, but it's all I can do for now.
"Okay, let's go dog-boy." She muttered as she hurried past him, trying to control her gag reflex. Maybe I could just let him 'have it' bet that be enough to let me stay.
She didn't plan to actually do it. Really! It was just the swirling lights of the crossover to Sengoku Jidai, and then the bright light, followed by the smells! They just overwhelmed her, and before she knew it. . . .
"Uh Inuyasha?" She gasped, trying to give him fair warning.
"What!"
"BLEH!"
"OHHHHHH!"
******************************************************************************************************************************************
A note from FB: Okay people, quick grammar lesson here:
Too-used in the same context as "also,"
To-indicates an action
Two- a number.
Okay? Please use them correctly.
******************************************************************************************************************************************
