Warning!: Violence and some graphic material! (If you're reading the edited version then it's probably edited out, if you're reading the unedited version on aff, then it's not. )
Why She Kept Her Head Down
By: Angelwarrior1
Chapter 17: Training Days Gone By
"Don't let your guard down"
Kagome swings around bringing her elbow back, only to be counter-attacked by a quick kick,
swooping through her feet and knocking her to the floor.
"I told you, you can't let your guard down. You must always be ready."
She looked up to her trainer, Rei, and lifted herself off of the ground. She wouldn't give up,
she couldn't.
Upon training at the center,she found much information on her trainer Rei. That Rei had started the center after some sort of incident, that of which she still doesn't know, and that most of of his students sought his aid after hearing his story. Now not all of his students were abused females, but 60 of them were, so Kagome knew that he must've been a good trainer.
"How long have you trained before coming here?"
"Not long, for a couple of months maybe. I didn't have much time before we had to leave
again"
"Well, at least you know a good amount, it'll be much easier to learn some of the tougher
things, since you know the bear essentials."
They trained the whole day, until the time when school was over. Kagome couldn't risk being caught.
"You did well today Kagome." Rei looked at Kagome with a pleased look, then turned serious.
"May I ask what you're training for?"
Kagome knew he would ask eventually, he pretty much could see her anxieties.
"My stepfather...we used to live with him, but he became too controlling. He dominated over us like some sort of black cloud, we left one night after things escalated out of control. Now, after months of running and hiding in fear, he's found us and has us under his control yet again. I'm tired of running, I've run so long. It feels like forever since I could have a peaceful nights sleep. I just want to get my mother out of his grasp as well as myself." Kagome bowed her head with her eyes closed.
"I see. Your story sounds so familiar to me." Rei looked at his other students who were going through similar trials.
"Um, if you mind my asking.. What was your reason for opening this place? Why do you help so many people with their problems?" Kagome asked hesitantly.
"Oh, so you've heard then that I've gone through something myself eh?" Rei looked down at her with a small, yet sad, smile.
"It was about five years ago. I had a girlfriend, someone I really fell for. I wanted to marry her
even, which was a big deal for me. But I didn't know, I didn't see... She was being abused at home,
but I never saw any marks, we weren't that intimate you see, so I never knew. I wish I did, I kept
thinking, 'If only I'd seen the signs before, I could've done something.' But I didn't, I just went
on with my days, foolishly unaware of her daily suffering. I can't believe I didn't notice how she
hesitated from touching, she shyed away from my touch so many times, I just assumed that was her
nature. Then one day when we were on a date, I saw a faint bruise on her arm and asked about it,she
said it happened when she bumped into her cabinet. It didn't make sense but I just excepted it.
Then one day I heard in school, it was so strange. I couldn't find her anywhere that morning,I asked
everyone, but no one had seen her. Then... the principal came on the intercom and announced that a
student had died the night before. I was devastated, I had just seen her the day before and just like
that she was gone. After she died I got into kick-boxing, it helped ease my pain. I wanted to be
stronger for both of us, I knew she was an angel watching over me. At least, I'd like to think so.
While I was in college a girl I had been friends with since high school started showing up with some
strange bruises of her own. I asked her where they came from, but she made up lame excuses. I couldn't
let it go though, I had to know. So I cornered her one day and made her tell me what was up. She did,
it was her boyfriend. She wanted to leave him, but he became obsessive and refused to let her go."
Kagome listened in awe at his story. He was so strong. He reminded her of Inuyasha in a way. Always trying to help someone out if he could, like her. If she had never met Inuyasha...well, she didn't really want to think of her potential situation if she had never met him. It would've been like a living hell for her if she had never met him.
"I trained her, so she could, in time, defend herself against him. She was a very fast learner,
just like you, and soon I couldn't even get her."
"So did she beat the shit out of her boyfriend?" Kagome asked with sudden anger that surprised both of them.
Rei only smiled at her angry outburst and said with pride, "Yep, she kicked his sorry ass to the curve, several times I might add. Just like I think you will."
"You really think I can do it? My stepfather isn't the only threat you know, there's also my step-
brother. If he attacks me while I'm fighting off my step-father then I may as well be dead."
"I know. That's why you can't fight back yet, you have to be ready first. If you do you could
endanger you and your mother's lives. I'll make sure you're ready." Rei smiled an encouraging smile
at her.
"So..after she got away, you decided to open your own training center?" Kagome had to know.
"Yes. With her help and others, I opened this place especially dedicated to women in the same position as you are in." Rei looked up at the ceiling.
"I'm sorry, but I have to go now." Kagome looked down at the floor, sad to leave the safe and warm feeling she had whenever she was in the center.
"I understand. Be safe." Rei looked at her with a hint of concern in his eyes.
She smiled at this and left. She jogged home, since she was running late and prayed that she wasn't in trouble.
"You're ten minutes late!! What were you doing you little whore!!!!!" The man slapped the young woman down to the floor.
"I-I'm sorry! A teacher made me stay late!" Kagome apologized in an attempt to ease his anger.
It only fueled it.
"What did you say!! So now you're becoming a delinquent at school as well!! And now you're talking back!!! I'll teach you some respect!!" He took off his belt and began to beat her with it.
She felt every blow, it was mindnumbing. She didn't slip into a state of unconcsiousness though, it
would only result in her being beaten once she awoke even more. She was pushed up against the wall,
she could see Naraku in the background, sitting there on the couch watching. Just watching with a
pleased smirk on his face. How could he just sit and watch something like this? Her step-father's
face came into her view.
"Look at me when I'm talking to you!!" He punched her in the stomach.
She slid to the floor, clutching her damage. He kicked her in the chest. She fell to the wooden
floor. She could feel darkness coming, but she fought against it. He pulled her head up by her head,
she moaned. He dragged her through the house. She knew what was coming, his favorite part. The part
she hated. He dragged her to her room. She fought against him, despite the fact that he always won.
He punched her several times in the face. It was like last time, only this time he tied her hands to
the bedpost. He unzipped himself and pulled down her pants. There was no use fighting. Tears
streamed down her face as his pace quickened. She hated the bastard! Wanted to kill him now.
But she couldn't. She just had to lay there and take it. Play dead. Lay there quietly until it was
over. And she did, she forced herself to stop crying. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction anymore,
she hated herself more for being weak and crying. Begging him to stop. She would take it for, but
she would kill him when the time came. He straightened his clothes and left once he was with done
her. She layed on the floor, a little more broken than before.
'Inuyasha' A tear streamed down her cheek.
Inuyasha was in shock. It had been weeks since Koga had reported the condition of Kagome's home. She
was gone. The bastard had taken her away from him. Naraku undoubtedly had played a part in this as
well as Kikyo. She was the one who had shot him. Police had found Kikyo not very far from the scene,
blood splattered on her clothes. They said her mental condition wasn't stable. When police questioned
her about the incident she honestly had no idea what they were talking about. They even showed her
a picture, she looked at it and asked who it was. It was like her mind had erased Inuyasha and
everyone she had known linked together, including Naraku.
'At least I don't have to worry about Kikyo trying to finish me off. But...where are you Kagome?
are you okay? Are you safe? But... more importantly where can I find that those bastards who did
this to you?!'
Miroku entered the doorway, looking at his friend in the hospital bed in deep thought.
"Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha looked over at him in surprise.
"Yes?"
"The doctor says you should be able to leave tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?! But I have to go!! Kagome-!"
"I'm sure she's still alive Inuyasha. I mean she's a fighter, you saw how she knocked Kikyo out.
She's a lot tougher than you give her credit for. Though I do see why you're concerned. I looked
up some info on Naraku. He's got a rap sheet a mile long."
"What you got?" Inuyasha sat up when he heard this.
"Robbery, battery, he was even suspected in some murder investigations that are still unsolved to this very day since there was no proof that he actually did it."
"I see. So is there a way we can find this bastard?"
Miroku's face grew solemn.
"I'm afraid not. No one could tell me where he would be. It's like he disappeared."
Inuyasha's eyes became unfocused as he stared at the wall.
"Then..there's nothing I can do...Kagome...Am I going to lose her?"
Well, that's the update for now. Review for more.
