A/N: okay. Next chapter for you guys. I hope that you like it so far (not that there's much to judge it by) haha. Well yeah. Anyway, please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

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Escape Velocity

Chapter Two

TaintedMunkeyz

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Someone call an ambulance, because something's not right
it's all going wrong tonight. Tonight.
In between the bottom of this bottle and you,
I think I'm running into rock bottom

- Boys Night Out;
Yeah, No... I Know

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Kagome turned around slowly and let her eyes widen as she gazed upon the tall figure outlined by the kitchen's entrance.

"Wh-what are you doing home so early?" she stuttered. Naraku's eyes narrowed dangerously as he stepped forward.

Kagome stepped back.

"Don't question me as if you have authority, bitch." Kagome gasped and dropped the freshly made sandwich from her hands, stepping back. It wasn't so much his words, just the shock of it all.

"I-I'm sorry." She winced and bowed her head, slightly mourning her sandwich as if it wasn't a serious situation. She knew that he could get mean. This wasn't even his true anger. She had the scars to prove it after all.

He stepped towards her once again, only this time quicker and she backed up, her backside hitting the fridge making all glass containers and bottles inside clink against each other noisily, the sound seeming louder in her drunken state. A few boxes of cereal dropped down around her and fell to the floor and she covered her ears and jumped, her heart pounding furiously behind her ribcage. The crunchy cereal spilled out across the tiled floor and crunched beneath Naraku's shoes as he shifted.

"Who told you… that you could leave the house?" he whispered slowly, dangerously close. Her hands were still covering her ears and tears pooled in her eyes as she looked into his face, his features blurry. She could make out his deep red eyes and the cruel smirk on his face, but anger could quickly be detected. Wisps of black hair fell into her face as she shook, her body suddenly turning weak. "Who told you!" he screamed in her face. She flinched, but still didn't reply, in fear that it just might be the wrong answer. His lips pulled back into a snarl and he raised his hand, smacking her across the face, making her the flesh of her cheek tender instantly. She let out a pitiful cry and sunk to the ground, not caring that she fell onto the mess on the floor.

"Speak when spoken to, pathetic wench." The tears came freely now. She remembered promising herself to never let him see her cry, but it was too much to keep inside. She wanted to scream at him. She wanted to tell him she hated him. She wanted to be free.

"I'm sorry… I-I'm sorry." She sat on the floor and rocked herself back and forth, her head between her knees. She could tell her lip was bleeding – it stung when her tongue darted out to wet her dry lips. Her hair was an even messier bun at the back of her head, the majority of her silky tendrils falling out of the tie that kept her hair up.

"Where the fuck were you?" he screamed, and kicked her side with all his might. She yelped as she skidded across the floor, pain searing throughout her entire being. She got onto her hands and knees and stood up, sagging slightly, holding onto her side.

There were sure to be bruises.

He shoved her back, sending her hip into the corner of the table. She bit her tongue to contain her scream and looked up at him through tearful eyes. He shook his head and placed his hands on his hips, his pose one of vanity. He sniffed disdainfully, looking at her as if she was garbage in an alleyway.

"Get out of my sight. You're worthless!" Her eyes widened even further as she looked at him in shock. The truth rang in her head like a mantra. He was right. Every word was true. "Leave now! Before I make you fucking sorry!" she covered her mouth, feeling as if she'd vomit. She scrambled out of the kitchen as best she could with her injuries and ran up the stairs to the bathroom, locking herself in. She turned on the shower water, as hot as she could stand it and stripped naked, standing there and letting the water pound into her skin, before sinking down to her bottom and crying, sobs shaking her entire body. It hurt to breathe; it hurt to move. So she stayed there until she felt numb.

A feeling she was all too familiar with…

X.x.X

Today was going to be a quiet day. No interruptions just quiet peacefulness and the opportunity to be lazy in all her classes, not having to worry about anything too extreme.

At least, that's what she kept saying to herself as she walked up the front main steps of Shikon High and took a deep breath before heading inside the huge building. Familiar faces floated around her, but she kept her head down, unusual since she usually walked with confidence and a bright smile on her face.

"Hey Kagome!" a cheery voice called from somewhere across the hall. Kagome peeked up through her bangs and smiled half-heartedly, giving a small wave to the person who called her name.

"Higurashi! Hey, how was your weekend?" someone else called. She sighed to herself and turned around, walking backward with precaution.

"Alright, and yours?"

"Great!" she plastered on her "I'm Happy" smile and continued to walk through the school until she reached senior hall. Couples were making out in front of their lockers and groups of kids talked and laughed, while other discussed grades with teachers.

She was just spinning the combination lock on her locker when two arms snacked their way around her middle, and a kiss was planted on her cheek.

"Hey, babe. I tried calling you last night. What happened?" Kagome bit her lip and opened her locker, almost annoyed with the hold Kouga had on her waist.

"My phone was off yesterday." She said quietly as she gathered her books for her first class. Kouga laid his chin on her shoulder.

"But you never turn it off." He said, his voice hinting at slight confusion.

"Yeah. I know. But it was yesterday." She said somewhat sharply. She bit her tongue and turned around, pecking him on the lips. "Sorry, I'm just stressed." She whispered as he tightened her hold, not noticing how she flinched.

"Yeah, me too. Coach is counting on me to do all this insane stuff for the season, and I'm dedicated but it's a hard, you know?" Kagome frowned.

How did the subject jump from her to him so fast?

"Yeah." The warning bell rang and Kagome groaned, not wanting to suffer through Honors English IV first period.

"I'll meet you here at break, ok?" he asked, slowly backing away. But not before planting another kiss, this time longer, on her lips. She smiled a little and nodded."I love you," he said and waited, walking backwards slowly. Kagome hesitated.

"Yeah. Me too." She shut her locker and headed in the opposite direction, Kouga none the wiser to her actual pain.

X.x.X

She'd applied her makeup strategically, to all the right places, so that no one could detect the large bruise that had formed on her face. She never usually did wear the compact cover-up, just for the simple fact that she never felt as if her face could breath. But desperate times, called for desperate measures.

It wasn't as if she wasn't used to the routine. She'd done it before, multiple times.

Her father beat, she covered up.

And she seemed to be pro at it. No one had asked questions. But she could tell one person was looking past the make-up, past the "I'm Happy" smile. Looking into her eyes and being able to read her like a book.

"So what happened this weekend?" Sango asked curiously as she and Kagome walked to the girl's restroom at lunch. Kagome just shrugged, her high ponytail bouncing. "Don't give me that shit. It might work on the others, but not on me." Kagome grimaced, and picked up the pace and kept her head down. "Kagome!" Sango said as she struggled to keep up. She grabbed Kagome's wrist and spun her around, not missing the fear in her eyes. "Oh my-"

Kagome covered her mouth with her hand to contain a sob, her eyes starting to water. Sango gasped and tugged her into the girl's bathroom, checking under the stalls to make sure no on was in there.

"Kag, what happened?" Sango asked as she pulled her best friend into a light embrace. Kagome let out her sob this time, not being able to hold it in, and pulled away quickly. "Please tell me." Sango's eyes watered. Kagome sank to the floor and brought her knees to her chest, burying her face in her knees. The makeup was sure to be washed away now by the tears.

"I hurt." She managed to choke out. Sango didn't need anymore. She wrapped her arms around Kagome's shoulders and pulled her closer.

"Did he hit you again?" she whispered. Kagome could only shake pitifully. "I'm going to kill him. I swear. I'm going to murder him." Sango let a few tears escape before wiping them on the sleeve of her letterman's jacket.

After about fifteen minutes, Kagome stopped crying and they sat there quietly staring at the tiled floor.

"Don't tell anyone. Please." Kagome whispered. Sango stroked her ponytail and anger flashed in her eyes at the desperate look Kagome was giving her.

"I haven't before, have I?" she asked coldly. Kagome sucked in a breath.

"Please don't be mad either."

"How can I not be? My best friend is being abused by her father!" Sango said heatedly.

"Step. And keep it down."

"Sorry." They both sighed simultaneously and continued to sit there. Kagome fidgeted with her hands and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand, revealing the bruise.

"Oh, Kag!" Sango held her face gently as she examined the damage. "That fucking bastard. What's stopping me from going and killing him right now, honestly?" Sango asked as she made to stand up. Kagome chuckled, despite their current situation.

"Classes." She tugged Sango back down, who sat in a huff.

"This isn't funny. God, how could he do that?"

"Sango, I'm used to it."

"That's the thing! You shouldn't be used to it! It's wrong!" Kagome squeezed her eyelids shut, more tears stinging her eyes.

"What am I going to do?" she whispered brokenly. Sango looked on in sympathy.

"You could come live with me," she said hopefully. Kagome shot her a blunt stare.

"I can't get your family involved. There's no telling what he's really capable of." She sighed.

"You're right." They sat there quietly. "Where else did he hit you?" Sango asked peeking at her from the corner of her eye.

"Just my sides. He kicked me. And then pushed me and I hit the corner of a table. So now I'm sore on both sides."

"I hate how you talk about it like it's the weather."

"It gets that way after so many times." Kagome said sadly. Sango shook her head.

"And how are you going to practice? You know coach won't let you play with injuries."

"Which is why he won't find out." Kagome glared at Sango and stood up. She took the compact out of her purse and reapplied it back to cover up the bruise. Sango scoffed.

"Whatever."

"Sango." She warned. "I mean it. Please keep this to yourself. For now?"

"And what the hell are you going to do to prevent it from happening ever again?" Kagome snapped shut the case and pulled out her mascara, reapplying. When she finished she turned to Sango quite suddenly.

"I've been thinking of this plan…"

X.x.X

"Kag, I dunno." Sango said quietly as she rummaged through her closet. Kagome was sitting on Sango's bed, a pillow in her lap, playing with a loose seam on the yellow pillowcase. "It's really risky, if you ask me."

"Well the only way I can do it is if you support me on this." Sango sighed as she brought out a short blue jean skirt and held it up to her, in front of her floor mirror, which was situated on her beige carpet.

"Okay. Well I support you. It's just that. Well, you'll be leaving. And what'll happen to our friendship?" Sango asked, almost getting teary-eyed.

"Sango, I think from my speech, the only words you got were 'runaway, from, and home.' I'm not leaving forever. Not even the area. I mean I don't actually know where I'll be. But I still want to go to school. I could never abandon you. You're like my sister. I'd probably rot in the back of an alleyway without you." Kagome smiled at Sango through the mirror and said girl turned around and hopped onto the bed hugging her best friend.

"Not an alleyway. Maybe in a box." Kagome smacked Sango with her pillow and laughed.

"I'll need to get a job too. Who would of thought running away would be so complicated." She sighed wistfully, at the idea of finally being able to escape the clutches of her father. It sounded so good. It was so close. And she honestly couldn't wait at all.

"Yeah. Unless you run into some perverted and horny man who will take you in for your body." Sango said getting back up and going over to her wardrobe. Kagome narrowed her eyes.

"Thanks. That makes me feel a lot better."

"Welcome." Sango giggled and chirped happily. A knock came from the door and Sango called out a 'come in!' letting them know it was okay to enter the room. Kagome smiled as Sango's mother popped her head in, her bright young face looking content.

"Kagome, dear, will you be staying for dinner?" Kagome looked at Sango out of the corner of her eye who nodded encouragement.

"Um, thanks. That'd be awesome." Sango's mother smiled warmly.

"Great. Good to have you, Kag. Dinner will be ready in five." Kagome bit her lip and stared at one of Sango's pink walls. A tall shelf that held soccer medals and trophies mostly covered it, books and pictures, and then her queen sized bed. On the wall next to that there was a computer desk and also a case holding her stereo. One wall had her walk in closet and a stand holding a TV.

She loved it here. It was so homely. Everything just screamed comfort. She never felt on edge and if she was having a bad day, all she had to do was step over the threshold at the front door and everything would vanish. Sango's mother was so great, treating her like she was her own daughter. And Sango's father, he was just as cool. Sometimes he took the girls to the park and gave them tips for playing good soccer. That's how they got to be so good. Sango's father, always pushing them to pursue the game. And then Kohaku, Sango's little brother, seemed like the little brother Kagome never had. She felt so a part of this family, never feeling like she was intruding. She wished with all her being that she were a Taijiya. She'd actually feel complete.

"We should go down to dinner, Ms. Daydreamer. Mom's probably already set the table." Kagome blinked and looked at Sango who had her hand placed on the doorknob, twisted back to look at the girl.

"Oh. Right." She nodded absently and slipped off of the bed following Sango downstairs. Her stomach started growling loudly as the scent from dinner filled her nostrils. She placed a hand over her stomach sheepishly as Sango laughed.

Upon arriving in the kitchen, Kagome saw her place set out just as nicely as everyone else's. Something she definitely wasn't used to. There was chatter among her brother and parents and they all dug into their plates happily. Kagome sat down and loaded her plate with macaroni salad and a cheeseburger.

Just as she was about to bite into the delicious hunk of meat, Sango's mother surprised her with a question that made both her and Sango choke.

"How's your father Kagome?" she asked pleasantly. Obviously she had no idea of the ordeals Kagome had to suffer through. Sango glanced at Kagome from the corner of her eye before glaring at her plate of food. Kagome swallowed the increasingly growing lump in her throat.

"He-he's good." She said quickly.

"That's great. Treating you like a princess, I'm sure?" Sango's father piped up happily. Kagome opened her mouth, and then clamped her jaw shut, before opening it again. She licked her dry lips.

"Um, yeah… as always." She quietly lied, but they didn't seem to take notice. She caught Sango's eyes out of the corner of hers and her breath hitched. She didn't like the fact that she had to lie to the people she considered her actual parents. But they'd agreed before.

They couldn't get involved.

Sango sighed and twirled the limp noodles drenched in spaghetti sauce on her plate, her appetite completely gone. Her best friend was suffering and there was nothing she could do. But that was going to change soon. She knew that. But she couldn't help but think it's for the better.

A better life for Kagome.

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A/N: um, so sorry for getting it out late. I'm sure you can all forgive me. My other stories will be updated shortly – hopefully, but I was held back by a few imperative delays. Thanks for reading. Please review.

TaintedMunkeyz