The Essence

Chapter 1

Punishment

Kagome's POV (whole chapter in Kagome's POV)

I curl into a ball as sharp pain jabs me in my ribs.His blows rock me from side to side. This is my punishment for being bad. "You little whore, this is all your fault!" screamed my 'fathers' voice. He's pissed at me because he got a divorce with momma and he lost the custody case over me. "You will not escape me that easily, I will find you and a whore of a mother." he screamed when he was finished. I had returned to pack so me and momma could leave but, unfortunately that bastard was still here when we got back. I looked over at my mom who had tears running down her face and bruises on her arms and cheeks. "C'mon baby, we're leaving." my mom said to me as she pulled out ehr suitcase and headed out the door. "Aren't you coming?" she asked a small smile gracing her bruised face. I was afraid. Still very afraid. I'm only 15 years old and I'm still scared of the bastard. They talk about putting me in foster care until my mom gets 'better'.

I sit in the car looking around waiting for my father to open the door and pull me out by my hair back into the house. I watch as we drive away my father becoming smaller until he is no more. I'm still scared. I'm supposed to feel safe, but I don't. "Momma, I'm scared." I chokoe out as mother pulled me into a warm embrace. "Don't worry Kagome, everything's going to be all right. It'll be all right." she said as I could see her eyes watering. "I'm sorry baby, it's all my fault." she said to me. "No it's not momma. You didn't know if daddy was a... a... bas-bad person." I say still afraid to talk bad about my 'father'. "We're almost here to your stop, I'll be going somewhere else." momma said to me. I'm 15 years old, don't even know my mom's name AND I feel like bawling like a baby.

"Kagome, welcome to the Shikno no Tama foster home, I'm sure your stay will be nice here." said an elderly woman to me. She wore a patch over her eye. I wonder why. "Momma." I say reaching out to my mom in a child like way, feeling so ashamed of the scars, bruises, and behavior of myself. "It's ok baby, everything's gonna be all right. And remember baby, I love you more than the air I breath." momma said to me hugging me giving me a kiss on the forhead and getting in the car and then, driving away. I felt tears prickling the back of my eyes, and used to not giving the satisfaction to my 'dad' of seeing my cry, they didn't roll down my face.

"Come Kagome, I'll introduce you to the others and then we'll have dinner. Oh, by they my name is Kaedae." the old lady said to me. But all I can feel is fear, constricting my chest and cutting off my air supply. 'Breath Kagome, breath.' I tell myself as I followed Kaedae into the home. I look at me soroundings, confused why all this happened. The counch had little funny footprints, puppy, no little muddy fox feet prints on it. "I'm afraid Shippo has done it again, make yourself at home, Kagome." Kaeade said as she walked into the kitchen. I'm still scared, scared out of sanity, then I smell the smell. The horrible smell of amonia.

FLASHBACK

"Kagome! Get up here now!" screamed my father's rugged voice. I rush upstairs from the basement, my new 'room'. "Swallow this." he said to me as I met him in the kitchen, I could smell the booze on his breath. 'That's all, this is all I have to do?' I thought feeling this was to easy. He poured some blue liquid into a spoon and I could tell something was not right. I open my mouth, too tired from today's 'fun' to care. He jams the metal into my mouth. Then I knew somehthing was wrong. I didn't feel like anything was wrong until I tried to breath. 'Bubble! Need air, AIR!' I thought as hair wouldn't reach my lungs. I fall to the ground in sufocation my mouth bobbing open and shut like a fish. I fall to the floor my fists bagging the floor the bubble in my throath preventing air to reach my lungs. Soon, my vision becomed blurry. My bangs on the linoleum floor becoming softer and softer. Then I hear screaming and then feel pounding on my back. My mother, had saved me from diesing before my world had gone black.

END FLASHBACK

"Kagome! Kagome, are you all right?" asked Kaedae as she shook me. What's wrong why are you shaking me then I realized, I had blanked out, staring into space. "I think you should go to bed after you eat." Kaedae said. I was still afraid. "What if..." I trail off feeling fear creep into my throat. "Oh Kagome, I see. He's not gonna find you here, he won't." Kaedae said reassuring me and slowly, I felt a smile grace my feautures and for the first time since I was 4, I felt a tiny bubble of hope grow in my chest. I walk down the hallway to go washup. "Hey, what's up." said a voice. I think it was a boy's. I freeze afraid, not knowing who it was or what it wanted. "What's wrong?" the voice asked from behind me. I turn around to see a boy taller than me, with silver hair and the most gorgeous gold and amber eyes I've ever seen. "N-no-nothing." I stutter still afraid. "My names Inuyasha, what's yours?" the boy asked strteching his hand out and I clench expecting a hit or something. "Are you all right? What's-oh...I;m not going to hit you, I just wanted to shake your hand that's all." Inuyasha said to me as I peaked with one eye. "Umm...my names... is..." I trail off under his gaze. I turn and run towards the bathroom trying to get away.

I feel so angry angryat my father, angry at the world, angry at myself, for letting this go so far. I feel sobs rack my body as I feel a rage rise in me and I turn to the mirror seeing my refelction. I don't even see a human being. I see a broken soul, a shell. I punch the mirror the glass breaking, and for some odd reason, I don't get cut and I feel...better. Feeling better to finally let my anger out, and I try to think of my future, but all I can think of is 'serving' my father. I open the batheroom door leaving the shattered glass on the floor and my knuckle prints on the wood behind it. I pass Inuyasha and go into my room, that had my name on the door and jump on my bed my body racking violently in sobs. Then I feel a hand patting my back, telling me it's all right to cry and other voices telling me whoever was hurting me isn't going to hurt me anymore and was a bastard.

"It's all right, my dad used to do some terrible things to me." said a feminie voice. I look up to find a girl in a plain white t-shirt and baggy jeans. "I'm Sango, this is Miroku, and this is Inuyasha." Sango said pointing to the other boys around me. "How can you talk about it like that?" I ask. How do I be brave and speak up? I wonder to myself. Feeling a little of the fear drain away. "Therapy, and a little courage." Sango says. "I hope, we can make the pain easier." Miroku said patting my back. (Miroku's not a perv n this fic.) "Yeah, that's what I was trying to say earlier." Inuyasha said. I look around at the three that were comforting me, and I felt more of the fear draining from my soul. I hear a car on the gravel and a door slamming I look out the window and it's him. With a bag of my possesions. "It's him." I say as I coward closer to my bed sheets. "Why I oughta to go out there and rip his damn eyes out his sockets." Inuyasha mutterd feeling the fear radiating from Kagome nad his little hanyou ears twitching like staelites.

"Kagome, your bags are here!" Kaedae called up to me. "But, I don't remeber them telling me you were brining the bags." Kaedae said rudely to my father, Naraku. (I know I suck at parents but that's main idea here.) I walk down the stairs in fear. "So how has my daughter been doing here." Naraku smirked at me. "Excuse me, I prefer that you not call Kagome your daughter cause she is, no longer. "But sure she is. So like I was saying how is the Girl doing." Naraku said. He didn't even use my name anymore. "Kagome is doing very well thank you." Kaedae said.I nod in agreement, seeing my father losing this battle so early was entertaining. "So I have all my 'daughter's things in her bags for her." Naraku said stressing the word daughter. The phone rang and Kaedae went to answer it in the next room staying close to the doorway to listing to Naraku.

Inuyasha crept down the stairs I could see his shiny head illuminatng the wooden walls. I walked over and grabbed the bag from my father and began to turn away but a vice grip garbbed my wrist and soon pinching pain was shooting up and down my arm. "You think you're the shit now, don't you Girl? I'll get you back you will not be getting away that easily." Naraku said to me and fear gripping my heart. 'I'n not the Girl, or your daughter, I'm Kagome! I disown you from my blood!' I thought and soon I felt my self saying those words. "I disown you from my blood!" I felt myself finish the thought screaming it. "I disown you from my blood! I disown you! I DISOWN YOU!" I scream my father looking like he'd been slapped. "Bastard! How long have I wanted to say those words. I hate your fucking guts, I hope youg go to hell and Satan sticks a needle in your damn eye!" I scream my arm on fire in pain. I struggle out of my father's grip as Kaedae come's out with a baseball bat. That's when I realize, 'Dad' had cracked my whole arm bone. My whole arm. I cry in pain as Inuyasha helps me up the stairs and onto my bed.

"Step one in getting on with your life. Let your anger out on the one you hate most." Miroku said as Kagome giggled a little through the pain. "Kagome, I didn't know you had it in you girl." Sango smile. "Kagome, we need to take you to the hospital, your dad should be getting some years for this." Kaedae told giving me a jacet and leaded me out the door. "Kagome, I am so sorry, I thought someone else was delivering your bags." Kaedae apologized as she drove me to the hostpital. I knew I was safe, so why did I feel like 'he' was going to come and snatch me away? I'm so confused. all I want to know is why,why, why! It seemed like Kaedae could sense my inner turmoil and said to me. "It's all right child. We never will know the answer to the most important questions." Kaedae said but that didn't satisfy me. I felt like bursting into an angry fit.

"Wow Kagome, looks like whoever did this did some damage. You're going to have to wear a cast for about 3 weeks and after that come to therapy for your arm three times a week." The doctor told me. I smiled, putting on a front as I felt fear rise in my throat. I got my cast it was painful, but the doctor said it would help. I think I should trust what he says. But experince tells me that he's lyring. Just like Naraku.

"So Kagome, I heard your dad used to beat the shit out of your mother and you. Is it true? How did it feel." a girl who looked like me. It's quite weird actually. I wanted to rip her to shreds! But I felt the shame and the fear rise in my throat blocking my words and sending tears to my eyes. Why do I have to be so weak! WHY WHY WHY! As soon as I walk through the damn door seems like someone wants to abuse me! With words or force. I hate this place, the only good thing to me here are my new friends. I look at the girl who had the smirk on her face. "Why did you let your dad do that to you? You're such a scared little bitch." the girls said to me as I ran up the stairs afraid and angry and...so many emotions. What do I do? I run and bump into Inuyasha nearly to tears. He looks at me holding me by my arms catching my eyes. I felt so broken and scared. I just break down crying in his shirt.

Banging my fists on his chest and sobbing like a little baby that I am. "Why? Why? Why?" I moan crying. He picked me up bridal style and carried me to my room. "Kagome, I really can't tell you the answer." Inuyasha said to me in such a sincere and caring voice. I've never had anyone treat me so special. It's like his words were kisses and caresses to my eardrums. I look up at him and see the pain and turmoil and his eyes. And instantly I feel guilty. Guilty for being such a baby, weighing him down with my prolems, for beging a scared little bitch. "I'm sorry. Sorry, sorry sorry." I muttered as he gave me a hug. "It's not your fault Kagome." he said rubbing my fault. "Im sorry for being so weak. It's all my fault. If I had been a good girl like daddy told me, I wouldn't be here and he wouldn't be mad at me." I muttered more tears streaming down my face in a river.

Suddenly Inuyasha takes me by my shoulder to look in his face. "Don't you ever say that! It's not your fault and you're not weak." Inuyasha said to me looking fiercly into my eyes. "What do I do?" I ask so confused. "You'll get better, I promise. I'm halfway there." Inuyasha told me softly pulling me into a final warm hug. And strangely I believed his words. I believe his words, a words of a boy, no, a very fine soon to be man. Suden;y Kikyo burst through my door with Sango following closely behind her in a rage. " Kikyo, you bitch, I hate your guts. You need to go back to hell wehere you cane from." Sango screamed as Miroku tried to calm her down. I was confused do Sango and Kikyo have a history of hating eachother because it sure seemed like it.

"She shouldn't have stolen Inuyasha from me! The whore." Kikyo screamed back at Sango pointing at me in a rage. "Hold on, I'm no slut or a whore. That's your title." I felt myself saying. Where is this coming from. What's happening, for the first time I feel strong. Strong enough to fight my own battles. "Oh so you have something to say you little puching bag." Kikyo sneered in anger. I rose off the bed feeling like I wanted to rip that bitch's head off. "Look here you has-been, I'm not a punching bag. You look like you have been there and back. Twice." I spit out. I don't know what it is about defending myself, but it sure feels good. For some reason I just launch at the girls and I feel a searing pain in my back. "Ow." I mumble. Inuyasha was holding my back and pressed on my burn. From Naraku's new game. Kikyo ran out the room, looking like she was couting to ten.

"Kagome, I didn't hurt you did I?" Inuyasha asked me as I sat in the bed with my casted arm and my back on fire. "It's all right. Just a sore from Naraku's little...game." I word, not knowing how to put it. "But it's all right, It's not bad." I say quickly as Sango and the others looked like they wanted to massacer Naraku. "Let me see." Sango said calmly. For some reason I had a strange urge to run to my old father. The nice one, before all this happened. The father that bought me presents on Christmas, the father that took me, mom, and Souta on picnics, and the father that kissed my cuts and scrapes whenever I got hurt. "I don't want to." I said softly still feeling the fear bubbling in my stomach. "It's all right, we don't have to rush." Miroku said sitting on the end of the bed. "I can't wait til I turn 18, I get to move out and start my own life." Inuyasha said a smile complimenting his features.

"Ok everyone, lights out!" came Kaedae's voice after we ate dinner. I've never had so much food placed before me in my life. If I did, mr 'dad' would tell me I had 2 minutes to eat the plate and right before I had the fork in my mouth he'd snatch it away and sneer 'too late!'. But tonight I ate until I could feel I would burst. I changed into a new pair or pajamas Kaedae got me and I laid in the darkness...afraid. I was sick and tired of being afraid. So I just thought fuck it. Let whatever happen to me, happen. So that was when I drifted into an uneasy sleep.