A/N: It's been some time, hasn't it! Sorry for the time bump there, but I'm back, yay. Ok, enough talking, let's get to it. Not like any of you read this. Oh you do? --, Oh.

Quick recap: Kagome was hurt in the flames in her room, which was burnt up by Anumi's mom. She was saved and taken care of by Sango and Anumi, and Mr. Naraku filled me in on what happened to Anumi's mom. Finally when everything calms down, Anumi announces that Count DeLuke is on the way with the head executioner! Let's see how it all plays out.

Falling Into the Toilet

Chapter 8: Never Enough Pain

Anumi decided that the best place to hide was a small closet space in her room. No one ever wanted to be in there anyway. Well, that was her logic. I just listened and followed. Dragging my sore body into the closet, I nodded at Anumi, and she shut the door and left. I sat there for a good five minutes before a dark shadow made it's way up the stairs, and over to my closet.

There was a small tap on the closet door and I flinched slightly as the dark shadow blocked the light from entering into the small space.

"Who is it?" I whispered.

No one answered, but the dark shadow moved slowly away, pausing to look back, and then moving again.

I could hear the fat hippo, Madam Kagura, charge for the front door as soon as the Count knocked on it. She squeaked rather loudly, "Monsieur DeLuke! What a pleasant surprise! And who is this with you?"

"Madam Kagura, it should be no surprise that I have come and bring this lady with me. She is the tutor Monsieur Naraku requested of me. I informed your husband that I would bring her to you a fore night ago. Did he not tell you?"

The blood drained from my face.

"Oh, my dear husband informed me, but Monsieur DeLuke, we have your tutor. She has spent several nights with us now."

"No, for this is she," he said confused, as the cloaked figure unveiled herself to Madam Kagura.

"I am quite bewildered, my dear friend, for Miss Kagome tells me she is the tutor sent for my daughter."

"Miss Kagome? I do not believe I am acquainted with her, but she has deceived you, for this is the true tutor I have chosen for your daughter."

"Pardon me one moment, Sir."

I heard her shut the door, and lean heavily on it. You could hear the door whine under her massive weight.

"Miss Kagome! Come here! You wicked woman, come here now! You deceitful child! I knew you were no good. Anumi! Go get that wicked woman."

"Madam, she is out for a walk in the terrace."

"Fetch her, and make haste. She has deceived us all Anumi, and I shall not have it."

"Yes Madam, let me go and put on my gloves, and I shall bring her immediately."

"I must inform Monsieur Naraku right away."

There was a draft that made me shiver, the shadow had come back and it stood right in front of the doorway.

"Monsieur Naraku, Madam Kagura wishes to speak to you, she says it's urgent."

"Yes Anumi, I can hear my wife from a mile off the way she speaks."

Anumi giggled, but Mr. Weird clapped, warning her to stop. "My apologies Monsieur Naraku."

The shadow moved from the door, and traveled down the steps, while Anumi came up to the closet and whispered. "Kagome, we must get you out of here! If Monsieur Naraku finds out, he is sure to have you punished! Miss, we must get you away. Gather your things and we shall leave through the kitchen. Meet me in my room, and I shall go and ask the aid of Miss Sango. Please, make haste!"

As soon as I scrambled out of the closet, I ran to my room, as painful as it was, to gather my clothes and other things I thought would be of value. If I was going to leave, I needed some form of money, right? So I took some of the pretty things in the room. The parchment, a golden thing, some of the small paintings, and stuffed them in a suitcase looking thing that I had found in the closet, along with some of the garments that were in their as well.

"Ok, all packed, now I need to get a move on."

As quietly as I could, I snuck out of my room and went to Anumi's room. She stood there with a sullen look on her face. "I'm sorry Kagome. This is all my fault."

"Your dang right it is. Why didn't you tell me about your mother, or the other tutor? Why did you hide it all from me?"

She kept looking down at the ground, and a couple of tears escaped to the floor.

"Oh whatever, I don't have time for this horse....manure. Just get me out of here alive and I'll forgive you and all."

She looked at me gravely. "Ok."

Together, we made our way to the kitchen, and I could hear the screaming and yelling from Madam Hippo all the way at the other end of the house. "My dear husband! We have been deceived; have you no say in all of this? What should we do?"

There was no answer from the second party.

I asked Anumi, "Anumi, where is Sango?"

"She is waiting for us in the kitchen."

"Oh, ok."

"Sango!"

"Kagome, I don't believe you lied to all of us."

"Well, honestly, I didn't really know what was going on, Anumi offered me somewhere to work and stay. What else was I going to do? I had no choice really."

"You could have told me."

"Yeah, maybe..... Where am I going to go now?"

Anumi and Sango both looked at each other and shrugged.

Sango looked around for a moment, and tilted her head. "I know of a kind family who lives on the eastern side of town, a kind man who has always shown an interest in me. He will kindly accept you into his home. He is rich, and a good friend of the royal family. I will write him a letter, letting him know you are coming, and I will visit with you in two weeks."

She scribbled the name and location on some parchment that happened to be on the table. "Just ask anyone, and they will direct you. But come now, they'll be looking in here soon. Go!"

"What's the guy's name?" I asked as Anumi pushed me out the backdoor.

"Sir Miroku. Just tell him you know me. He is a monk"

"Ok, thanks!"

"Bye."

"Bye."

I would have shed a tear or two if I had the time. But when you're on the run for your life, who has time for that?

I hadn't been out of the house for more than a minute when someone shouted, "There! I see her!"

"Fetch that wretched woman!" Obviously Madam Hippo.

So, I ran faster. I didn't even look up to see who was chasing me, and just kept running.

Unfortunately, the sound of footsteps drew nearer, and I was getting tired. I had to stop for breath; maybe I could fight off the person. But I couldn't breath anymore, and so I stopped.

"Given up?"

I shuddered. It was Monsieur Naraku. Oh, of all the people who had come after me!

I tried to move my legs, but they wouldn't budge. They were just too tired.

"Listen, I swear, I didn't mean to lie to you guys. I really could have been a good tutor. I needed somewhere to stay. I'm sorry! I really am."

I still hadn't looked up at him, I was busy trying to catch my breath, and he was approaching fast. His hands rested on my shoulders as he finally caught up to me. I stiffened into a pencil.

He spun me slowly to face him. "I do not care Miss Kagome. You may be my daughter's tutor."

He voice was eerie and so smooth. He just smiled conceitedly.

I tried to back off a little, but he held on tight to my shoulders. "Please, let go."

"You are very beautiful."

"I said let go!"

He smiled again, and brought me close to his face. Was he trying to kiss me? Oh no you don't!

"Get OFF OF ME!" I drew my hand back and slapped him as hard as I could. He released me at once and held on to his cheek. Anger seized his countenance, and he took hold of my wrist, and dragged me back to the house.

"You shall pay for this. What do you think happened to the Alice's mom? She refused me as well. And now look where it has gotten her."

I gasped. "WHAT? Have you any idea! That is so wrong! Let go you pig. GET OFF ME!"

He rounded and slapped me. "Quiet."

I wouldn't cry. This selfish jerk would not see me cry. But I could not speak either, because my jaw throbbed so violently. Finally, reaching the house, Count Deadlock and Mr. Evil's wife were waiting there, both smiling triumphantly.

He threw me over so I landed next to Deadlock's feat. "Have what you want of her. Throw her in prison, behead her, I do not care for her fate."

Monsieur Naraku walked towards the house with both Madam Kagura and DeLuke watching in confusion.

Rolling me over to see my face, Count DeLuke yelled, "Why! It's that wench from the road. Left me to die she did. She was the........the one who struck me!"

"She did? What a foul witch."

I cast a wicked glance over at him, and reached my hand out and pulled at his legs hard so he trip.

"AGH!"

Ah the wonderful sound of your adversary tripping over.

"You see Madam Kagura! You bloody witch! You'll be hanged for this!"

I half yawned half laughed. I could beat this guy up in two seconds flat, even if I was on the ground.

Getting up quickly and recomposing himself, he stood over my head, glaring. Raising his foot, he went to kick my head, and it went all lights out.

Moaning at the newfound pain in my head, I woke suddenly in a carriage. As my eyes focused, they focused on a man, sitting on the opposite side of the carriage. His teeth glittered as he gave me an arrogant smile. "You should treat people better, Miss Kagome."

I went to punch him, but found both my hands and feet bound together.

He laughed. "You truly do let your temper get the best of you. Well, we'll fix that. Once your hanged you won't have any problems, other than not being alive."

I gritted my teeth instinctively. "Shut up. No one asked for your stupid opinion. And there isn't anyone who cares either."

"Awe, is Miss Kagome feeling a little angry?"

"SHUT UP!" With everything I had, I maneuvered my feet and I tried to kick him as hard as I could, but he moved in time for me to miss and fall on the carriage floor, head first. I moaned again.

"You best stay down there, that's your place."

I mumbled something into the carpet that probably wasn't yet in the dictionary.

"Pardon?" He laughed maliciously, and told the driver to halt.

"This is your stop Miss Kagome, forever." Cheesy

Snarling viciously into the carpet, he picked me up by the hair and I yelped in pain.

"Stupid jerk! I'm going to kill you for this!"

"On the contrary, it is you who will die."

Throwing me to the gravel and rock, a large man dressed in black carrying a whip, looked at me, and then to Deadlock.

"What can I do for ya sir?"

"This woman shall be hanged. On the account of battery, deceit, insult, and tyranny."

"Fine, she will be hanged tomorrow with the rest of the prisoners."

"Here is a little something to make sure she dies today." He offered the guy in black some coins.

"Sorry sir, no executions will be done today, order of the King. It's a festive day at the castle."

"Ah, alright. Just make sure it's done."

"Sir, I shall."

Count DeLuke got back into his carriage. He spit on me as a farewell gift, but I guess I didn't notice much, because I was too busy crying on the ground.

My life sucked. I just wanted to die, but not really die! I wanted it to all go away. Why couldn't I wake up from this? It's no dream, but I want it to be. Why? Why?

"ERGH!! WHY ME????"

"Heh, shut it wench, Your not dead yet." He gripped my neck and lifted me up, placing a metal cuff around my neck, which was attached to a long chain, which was in his other hand. Secured, and in pain, he tugged at the chain and led me to what looked like a prison.

"You'll be staying here tonight. Do your praying. The priest will hear ya sins tomorrow morning before the church bell rings for the beginning of the hanging ceremony.

"You people are sick." It was all I could say. I couldn't sum up much energy to fight, or even speak, as he threw me into a cell.

I sank down into the cold floor, and rested my head onto the haystack. I drifted off to sleep, where no one could touch me. Where no one could hurt me.

I stirred from a dream as a loud bell sound echoed through the air.

"Bell?.......Oh my God! No! This isn't happening. No! I have got to find a way out."

I turned as a the large man in black came into the hallway yelling, "Line up in a fashionable order. Yar priest will be here soon! I want today to go smooth."

All the prisoners groaned, as did I. I wanted out. I didn't want to be here anymore. What did it take to not make these people mad?

The bell rung a second time.

Was there no hope? Would I really die today? Heaven help me.