It's time. Kagome has arrived at the sleepover and now it's time for confession. Prepare for things to heat up.

-Randall Flagg2

(1)

She looked at the door that would take her into the Masaki house. It was finally time for her to take flight from her home. Kagome still had her doubts though. This would be risky. Very risky indeed. If her father found out about this, it would be over. If anybody got in his way, they would pay a high price as well. Kagome knew they would. Her father did not really care who he hit. She knew that from the time he had invited a friend over.

(2)

Flashback

Kagome heard the sounds of her father's friend from the other room. From the sound of it nothing good was happening to him.

"Please Isamu don't! I didn't mean to-"

"I don't care. You have no right to ask me about my family." Isamu whispered. Kagome crept around the corner as quietly as she could to see what was happening.

Yet again, she was confronted with a frightening sight. Her father was standing in front of somebody in a green shirt and khaki pants. Actually he was holding the man by his shirt collar. The man her father had grabbed onto seemed to be very frightened indeed.

"Please just don't hurt me! I didn't mean to ask about what goes on in your family! I just-"

Isamu slapped the man across the face, hard.

"Quiet. I know what you were intending to do. You were intending to learn about something that wasn't any of your business."

"Please I don't know what you mean!" the man pleaded.

"You were going to ask about my family and what goes on in it. Then you would want me to tell you about my daughter next. And then you would learn about something which isn't any of your business. I know how your mind works." Isamu said. As usual his voice was calm and laid back. Kagome knew her father was not one to lose his cool.

"I wasn't! I was just asking because I was curious!"

Isamu spun around and flung him across the room. The man crashed into the wall with a sickening CRACK.

"Shut up. I've heard enough." For the first time in her life Kagome heard her father's voice drop to a growl.

Not wanting to see anymore, she left to go to her room.

End flashback

(3)

Throughout her life, Kagome had seen many odd things because of her father. None of them had been pleasant. But now it could all end. With Inuyasha's help she might be able to escape. But still, it would be risky. Her father was very good at finding out things. He was no detective but he could still figure out what was going on easily. And if she was caught, he would beat her within an inch of her life. Heck he might even kill her. He was crazy enough to do it.

Kagome reached out towards the door handle. Just one simple twist of it and she would be free. But before she could twist the handle a hand fell on her shoulder.

"Hi Kagome." Koga said before she even knew what was happening. Oddly his voice did not have the usual happiness it had when he spoke to her. He sounded glum. Almost sad.

"Hi Koga. What are you doing here?"

Koga turned her around to face him. "Why didn't you tell me Kagome?" he said sternly.

"Tell you what?"

Koga glared at her. "Why didn't you tell me about your father?! I could have helped you!"

Kagome's face went pale. "You- you saw what happened yesterday?!"

"Yes I did. Why didn't you tell me or somebody?! Has he always been like this or is this the first time he hurt you?!"

Kagome grew angry. "You mean you followed me home?! What gives you the right to butt into my business?! Why did you have to meddle?!!"

"I don't know. I just wanted to win you over so I followed you home. How was I supposed to know about what your father did to you?"

Kagome drew back her hand and slapped Koga as hard as she could. Koga's face rocked to one side. The teen clutched his stinging cheek which was already turning red.

"I only wanted to help." Koga whispered. "What is so wrong with that?"

"What the hell are you doing here Kasamatsu?!" interrupted a familiar voice. Inuyasha stormed out of the doorway leading into his house and glared at Koga. "I never invited you so what are you doing here?!"

Koga said nothing. He only continued rubbing his cheek.

"Answer me!"

Koga gave Inuyasha a blank glance. "She has something to tell you." he said quietly.

Now Inuyasha was interested. Kagome wanted to tell him something? What could it be? Oh if only he knew. Inuyasha hated secrets.

"Well you might as well come inside Kagome. Sango and Miroku are here too." Then he turned to Koga. "You on the other hand-"

"Wait Inuyasha." Kagome interrupted. "Let him in. I'd feel better if you did."

Inuyasha was a bit reluctant to, but something in her voice made him yield. She sounded.... well, desperate. As if she was going to say something that she did not originally want him to know. Oh if only he knew the secrets Kagome had been hiding beneath her personality, and even more, under her school uniform.

"Fine. You may come in Koga. But I want you out of here the moment the others leave, okay?" Inuyasha said. He was trying to sound tough, but it came out in a calm relaxed manner. The way Kagome had spoken to him made him worry.

Inuyasha turned around and went back inside, Kagome and Koga following him.

(4)

"Inuyasha?"

"Yeah Kagome?"

"Can I speak with you somewhere else?" Kagome asked nervously.

"Sure. We can talk in the guest room."

So the two of them got up and left the fun and games (Sango had slapped Miroku for groping her again) and left for the guest room. Once inside they both sat down again, Inuyasha in an armchair and Kagome on one of the beds. For a few moments there was nothing but silence. Then at last Kagome spoke.

"I have something to tell you Inuyasha. It's really important."

"Then just tell me for Kami's sake! I hate it when people keep secrets from me!" Inuyasha almost snarled. Kagome flinched at his tone. Her lips began to tremble.

Inuyasha's expression changed from one of anger to one of sympathy. "Kagome I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell it's just that-"

"It's not that." Kagome whispered. "I just want..."

"Want what?!"

It was too much. The girl's control over herself broke. Kagome got up and almost staggered over to Inuyasha. One would have thought she was drunk by the way she was walking. The teen was wondering what in the world she was doing when Kagome almost fell into his lap, buried her face into his chest and began to sob violently.

"I need your help Inuyasha! I need to leave my home before it's too late!" Kagome wailed. Inuyasha was now officially freaked out. None of what she was saying made any sense. He had no idea what she meant by "leave home". Unless that was, there was more to what she was saying.

"What do you mean?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome could not speak she was crying so hard. All Inuyasha was aware of were the desperate wails of somebody in desperate need of something and the tears which were dampening his tee shirt.

"Kagome it's alright." Inuyasha soothed. "Just calm down and tell me everything." It took awhile but she stopped. Kagome's sobs and wails finally came down to whimpers and she looked up at Inuyasha.

"I need your help escaping my father Inuyasha. He's been hurting me for sixteen years now."

If looks could kill, Kagome might have been dead then and there. A look of almost insane rage passed over Inuyasha's face making him look like a cruel parody of his normally handsome self. Heck he didn't even look human his face was so severe.

"What did you say?" Inuyasha whispered.

"I need your help escaping from my home Inuyasha. It's only a matter of time before my father kills me. So I really need your help running away."

"Tell me more." Inuyasha whispered, his voice deathly calm despite how angry he was. "I want you to tell me everything."

Kagome cleared her throat and began.

(5)

"My father had been beating me for sixteen years Inuyasha. I just never told you because I was afraid of what he would do to me."

"But I've been to your house multiple times Kagome! Your father always seemed like a nice person!"

Kagome laughed bitterly. "He's only nice when he wants to be Inuyasha. He's great at putting on facades. He only seems nice because you don't live with him."

"If he hurt you so much then why haven't I seen any bruises on you Kagome? Surely he would have left marks on you if he hurt you."

Kagome unbuttoned her blouse to reveal her slender stomach and chest. Inuyasha was shocked to see there were multiple bruises all over her body. They almost seemed to litter her torso.

"You don't have to hit somebody in the face to abuse them Inuyasha. My father only hit me in the face twice in my life. He's very cautious about where he hits me. He only hits me in places that always need to be covered."

Inuyasha was appalled. So this was the secret that Kagome had been keeping from him. All these years and he had had no idea of what had really been going on in her house. After so long, he finally knew the truth.

Kagome buttoned her blouse again. "The first time my father hit me was when I was four years old. Back then my mother was still alive. I don't think she ever found out about what he did to me. She died in a car accident before I was even ten."

"And then what happened?" Inuyasha asked.

Kagome sighed. "After she died he got even worse. Before she died my father tended to limit himself to just a punch to my stomach or a slap to my fanny and nothing more. But after she died, he started hitting me multiple times. Sometimes he would beat me to the point where I couldn't move for a day. He normally did that on days before I got out of school so I wouldn't have to skip a day. He takes no chances about getting caught."

"So he blames his wife's death on you. That's just sick." Inuyasha muttered.

"No. He never told me it was my fault Inuyasha. It's strange. After mama died, he seemed happier."

"Your father sounds sick Kagome. If I met him now I would give him a piece of my mind!"

Kagome started to sob again. "No Inuyasha! You don't know my father the way I do! He's not just abusive. He is dangerous. I'm not the only one he hurts. One time I saw him beating up somebody he invited over for dinner. He did it because the guy asked about me!"

Inuyasha was disgusted. "So he abuses everybody?!"

Kagome sobbed harder. "You don't know how bad it is Inuyasha. The first time he hit me in the face I found him whipping himself with a belt in his room. He was hitting himself because he hit me the wrong way."

"Kagome I don't want to hear anymore. Your father sounds really off of his rocker."

"He is. He's hurt me for sixteen years and now I finally gathered up my courage and told somebody. That's why I need your help running away Inuyasha." Kagome wept. "If this keeps up he's going to kill me."

Inuyasha placed his hand on Kagome's shoulder and brought her closer so she could look directly into his eyes.

"You are always welcome in my house Kagome. You will not have to worry about that bastard anymore."

"You- you mean-?" the girl stammered.

"Yes." Inuyasha smiled. "You are welcome to stay here at my house."

Kagome's lips began to tremble again. She had never felt so happy in all her life. Kagome looked downwards at the ground. A tear dripped down her face. It was followed by another. And another. She began to wail. Inuyasha hugged her tightly and let her cry into his chest. Kagome was crying so loudly that Sango, Miroku and Koga had come in to see what had happened.

"Hey Kagome what's the matter?" Sango asked.

Miroku smiled. "Maybe she just needs some company." He began to reach for Kagome's backside when Inuyasha glared at him.

"Touch her once Mikage and I swear I will beat you black and blue." Something in his voice made Miroku back down. Heck it scared him. He had never heard anybody sound so serious. And from how severe Inuyasha's tone was he was willing to bet that the threat would be carried out if he did it.

Sango stepped forward. "What is she crying for Inuyasha? I've seen her like this."

Inuyasha's face darkened. "She just told me something that I think you should all know."

"Tell us then." Sango said. Inuyasha carefully explained to everybody what Kagome had told him. By the end of it, everybody was as shocked as he was.

"Kagome why didn't you tell us?" Sango asked. "We could have helped! Why did you wait so long to tell us what your father did to you?"

"I couldn't!" Kagome sobbed. "You have no idea how dangerous he is Sango! My father is nuts! There is no telling what he would have done! He might have hurt me to the point where I'm disabled or he would have just killed me!"

"I could have told you guys." Koga said. "I followed her home and I saw him beating her. I know this guy is crazy. It was written all over his face when I looked at him."

"I'm glad you told us Kagome. At least now we can protect you from him. You can stay with Inuyasha for awhile." Miroku remarked. Kagome was now officially bawling.

"So what are we going to do? He's going to find us eventually you know. We need a way to hide from him." Sango said.

"I have an idea." replied Inuyasha. "We take turns hiding her in our houses. Each day or two we switch her. That way her father won't find her."

"That sounds like a great idea! She could spend tomorrow at your house first since she gets a long with you the best!"

"Great idea Miroku. We'll start tomorrow." Inuyasha turned to Kagome who had finally started to cry a bit softer. "It's alright Kagome. Things are going to be better for you now."

"Thank you." Kagome wept. "Thank you. All of you."

And so it began.

To be continued....

I'm not kidding when I say it's begun. Next chapter is gonna be intense, centering in on Kagome's father again. Let's just say he's not too happy about his daughter running away. Keep an eye out for it.

-Randall Flagg2