Promise Me

Curiosity killed the cat—that's the phrase that has probably flowed through the main stream of humans for many years. That single phrase can hold many meanings, but really, the obvious always reigns out above all the others. The real meaning can be found out in two ways, one being the explanation; the easy way. But the harder way would be to experience it, and sometimes that just isn't the best way to go.

- - -

"It all started four long years ago…"

Miroku shoved his hands in his pockets and leaned against the lockers, ready to dive deep into his story.

"We had known each other for a long time, even if it wasn't as close as it had developed to slowly. The time when we grew closer, was right before she moved here. You remember what happened, don't you?" He voiced the question as a real question.

"Yeah, I pulled down her pants in front of the whole cafeteria! That stupid bitch stole my swim trunks at the public pool for our field trip, so I was getting back at her." He said, nearly spitting out the words. "But after she was taken home, that was the last time I heard from her…"

"Do you know what she was put through?" Inuyasha shook his head. "Inuyasha, her stepfather was enraged by it; he thought that she had purposely pulled her pants down. And for that he…he beat her."

"He what?" Inuyasha asked, clearly not informed by the situation.

"She was hospitalized after he was through, and her mom had a black eye and a broken wrist too. I suppose she tried to stop him, but it was no good. She was away for a long time; she had broken bones and bruises everywhere. Of course that bastard said that they were robbed, and when they wouldn't tell where they hid their money, they were beat."

"What about Souta?" He asked quietly, remembered the little tyke that had grown attached to him at such a young age.

"He was on a week-long field trip to an outdoor school; he didn't get back till well after that night." Miroku's face was filled with seriousness, and his eyes held a fiery hatred towards the man her mother still resided with today.

"After that, they moved—needing to get away from where her stepfather had purposely lied to the cops. That's when they moved here. Kagome was still happy and innocent as before, but then she befriended Kikyou. At the time Kikyou was just developing the body, but she knew how to flaunt it, and tease the male population."

"I don't get it, what the fuck happened to her?"

"Monkey see, Monkey do. Kagome wound up following Kikyou, even though she had assorted friends—Sango and Ayame—but they were nothing compared to that girl. Kikyou was the party animal, the fireworks of that gang. And Kagome wanted some of that, and once she reached grade 10, she wasn't innocent Kagome anymore."

"She was that abomination." Inuyasha whispered.

"Did I mention that that year, some bastard from another school tried to rape her?" Miroku added, trying to add in all the details so the poor man would feel some sympathy for his friend, and not hatred.

"What?" Inuyasha's eyes sprung to life with flames dancing wildly beneath the amber irises. "Who the fuck was it?"

"Hojo, but I believe that he's long gone now. Got arrested for possession of cocaine and potential rape and numerous thefts—probably locked up in some penitentiary for killing a man mind you."

"Listen," Miroku said as he placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "She's been through a lot; let her live her life the way she wants to. Don't try to hold her back, she's already broken enough."

And with that he turned back to his locker to resume his prior actions before the man had interrupted him. Inuyasha opened his mouth, about to try and dig deeper, but his mind refused to supply him with anything coherent. So he closed his mouth and turned away, leaving the man to his actions.

'If I caused this, can I fix it?'

- - -

Dropping her keys onto the shelf, she walked into her room, glancing over at her brother who was sitting at her desk, doing his homework. She was about to question his presence when she heard a thump from the area towards her house. With the size of their newly bought abode, there wasn't enough room for her inside the house. But above their garage, a small and unfinished room sat, and her step-father made the decision for her to take it. No ands, ifs, or buts.

And then the whole labor that she had to endure began, finishing up the partial done room. It had taken a few months, but with the help of her brother and some money from her mother she had finished it. The room was rather roomy, but it had gotten a little smaller when she had a small bathroom installed. She liked to think that she was living in her own apartment, but she could still hear the shouting from her step-father.

"Hey Souta." She said as she kissed him on the head, peering at his homework. He gave a strained grunt as he tried to regain the lost concentration, the end of his pencil being attacked by his teeth. There was no need to ponder why he was in her room, invading her privacy. After they had moved, her mother had taken a few therapy classes and soon found enough courage to talk-back to her husband. Though sometimes it didn't rollover well, she still spoke up nonetheless. And when those 'conversations' occurred, Souta retreated to her room so he could get some peace and quiet.

She grabbed some sweats and a white tank top before retreating into her bathroom, finally able to change out of her damned school uniform. She glanced at her weary face for a moment, not really wanting to look into the face that had betrayed herself. With a heavy sigh she exited the small space and joined her brother with homework.

Not two seconds into the work before her brother had given up hope and turned to her rather pale sister.

"What happened?" He asked bluntly, not bothering to put the saying 'beat around the bush' in action. She hesitated, but couldn't see the harm in a 'need to know' basis.

"Just saw someone that I haven't seen in a long time." She said quietly, glancing down at the lined paper before her. She tried to start back up into her flow of working, but felt the eyes of the young boy boring into her head. She raised her eyes to meet his expectant ones, and she knew nothing good would come from this.

"And…" he pressed.

"And…nothing. That's all, just didn't want to see him." She sighed, looking away.

"So it's a guy!" Her brother nearly shouted in triumph. "I knew it was something big. So spill the beans girl!" There were times when she thought her brother odd, and this was one of those times.

"Souta, you should be doing your homework…" She said gently, trying to avoid the topic.

"Kagome, we both know that whatever this guy is doing is bothering you." He said before staring intensely into her eyes. "Now tell me about him."

She sighed, knowing that she was giving into it. "It's Inuyasha—he's back."

Souta's jaw dropped and he stared at her with a disbelieving look on his face. She turned away, knowing that's how she felt at this exact moment.

He's really back.

- - -

He stared up at his ceiling, tracing the curves of the pattern as a certain young woman plagued his thoughts. It wasn't just seeing her again, it was the history, the present, and what might be the future. In only one day, he had absorbed so much information that he felt like he was going to be crushed alive by it all. But what really got to him, was the tidal wave he had caused by a tiny ripple. In some sense, he had nearly ruined her life, but then again, it was also that crazy bastard her mother was still married to.

'How could she have turned into such a monster from those incidents?' He pondered over and over, trying to find the potential cause that made her follow the path that she did.

"Inuyasha!"

She must still hold that same Kagome that he had known when they were younger, she just couldn't have disappeared. He closed his eyes, seeing her standing right there. But the more he tried to find the innocence in her, it was gone. She was a temptress that every male wanted.

And he couldn't deny that he wasn't one of them.

Sure, she was hot. Or more formally, he thought she had a great body that he wouldn't mind a chance with. But the mere fact of who she was sent him back to square one. What was he going to do?

"Inuyasha!"

He could try talking to her, but the only thing that would get him it all back in his face.

"Inuyasha, phone!"

He could try to embarrass her out of it, and make her regret ever having turned the way she did.

"Inuyasha, I said phone!" His brother shouted before the phone was chucked through the room and hit him on the head. He turned to shout at his guardian when he found himself looking at a closed door. Rubbing his head he picked up the phone, but before he answered it, it hit him.

To get back the one he had feelings for, he had to break into her heart. He had to get under her skin.

- - -

Plans were made for a reason to reach your ultimate goal. But sometimes, trying to get what you want doesn't always turn up for the better. As hard as you may try, life might come crashing down on you. Even the smartest can fail. Even if the plan is foolproof, unfortunate and unexpected events will surpass. And what can you do? Sit down and enjoy the ride, and don't forget to use your seatbelt.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I decided to update before I get too into my exam studying! Wish me luck, ha. The fifth will take a while to be started up again, because my head's at a dead end. Thanks for reading, always like to please readers!

Crowned King