I do not own InuYasha or the characters created by Rumiko Takahashi.

A Face without our Memories - Part 7

"It's time for me to go," said Kagome.

Iesada straightened up, "I understand, but I'm really glad I met you. I won't forget you."

"It's probably best that you do," Kagome suggested.

Iesada cocked an eyebrow, surprised by her response.

"This way when the right girl comes along, she can have all of you," Kagome explained. She doubted that he would heed her advice, but at least she can say she tried.

"You're a weird girl, Kagome. I'd walk you home, but I have a feeling you'd decline."

Kagome only replied with a warm smile and a nod.

"Take care of yourself Kagome."

"You, too."

Kagome sighed and hung her head as she walked home. Her pace was slow and disheartened, as the last streaks of sunlight disappeared from the night sky. If Inuyasha had seen what happened, then there was no point in explaining it, not that he would listen anyways. There was no way for her to comfort him. He would have to deal with it the same way she dealt with her feelings about Kikyo….alone. But part of her regretted having caused anyone the same turmoil feelings that she hated.

The route she walked home was fairly deserted, as it wasn't a school night. The young girl's gaze remained focused on the sidewalk, as she trudged along lost in thought. But Kagome's obliviousness to her surroundings didn't stop others from noticing her. Across the street from her were a group of men who had obviously been drinking. And they seemed to take a particular interest in Kagome and her blatant disregard for her own safety. Their snickering and cohoots went completely unnoticed until one of them grabbed her. The man quickly shoved one hand over her mouth and the other around her waist and hauled her into a side alley. The attack surprised her, but she was quick to react. Disregarding germs and consideration for her taste buds, she bit the fingers of the man covering her mouth and pulled herself out of his grasp.

Her assaulters were three men dressed in dark clothing. One of them wore a green hat and baggy clothes, one had dark hair with his arms completely tattooed and the third man who dragged her into the alley had a shaved head and a nose ring.

"Look at what we have here. We got a live one," the dark-haired man said.

The guy with the shaved head sucked on his finger, while giving her a nasty look. "You mean a downright bitch. You're gonna pay for that," he snarled.

The third man didn't have anything to say, but took a step towards her. Instinctively, she took a step in the direction of the sidewalk. "Where you think you goin'? The fun's just gettin' started," teased the dark-haired man. He seemed to be the ringleader of their group.

"Don't you losers have anything else better to do?" she said, taking another step towards potential freedom.

"No need to worry babe, we're all yours," he replied, nodding to the man in the green hat who moved to block her path.

Kagome slowly started to panic, she had refused Iesada's offer to walk her home, Inuyasha had left long ago and the street was completely vacant. The guy to her right in the green hat was steadily closing in on her, forcing her deeper into the dark alley. "SOMEONE! HELP ME!" She yelled into the night, prompting the guy with the shaved head to lunge at her. He pinned her up against the cold rough wall of the building with his forearm pressed up against her windpipe. Kagome tried to pry the man's arm away from her neck, but she wasn't strong enough. He chuckled with a mouth full of decaying teeth and the stink of alcohol. One whiff was all it took to know that they'd been drinking for too long to listen to reason. The guy in the green hat checked the streets for anyone that might have heard her. And much to her dismay his turn and nod was anything but reassuring.

Kagome was afraid to fight back because if she did get free, they were sure to catch her again. But she had to try. She used both hands to shove the guy in front of her, but he didn't budge. Next she tried to knee him in the balls, but he was prepared for such an attack. A clear sign that this wasn't the first time they had assaulted someone.

"Now back to the part where we get to have fun. And it doesn't matter how much you scream. There's no one around," said the dark-haired man with a heartless smirk.

Kagome didn't like the look in his eyes, it seemed way more menacing than any demon she had confronted. She had to get away from them. But how? The guy in the green hat stayed close to the end of the alleyway as a lookout.

And before she could come up with an idea, the guy in front of her spun her off of the wall to face the dark-haired man and held her arms behind her back. The ringleader reached out and stroked the side of her face.

She didn't like it, not one bit. "Don't touch me!" she shouted, jerking her face away from his hand. "I don't know where you get off thinking you're going to get away with this, but let me tell you. You're going to be sorry!" she scolded them, while trying to wretch her hands free.

The three of them laughed at her empty threats. The dark-haired man grabbed a lock of her hair, yanking her head closer to his. "Let's make one thing clear. You don't get a say in this and no one is coming to help you," he said through gritted teeth.

Kagome's head hurt from the tension on her hair and he had her neck craned in an awkward position. When he said no one was coming for her, all she wanted to do was cry. As much as she didn't want to admit it, no one was going to find her in time. She was on her own.

She tried to squirm out of his firm grip, but almost lost her footing in the process and the last thing she wanted was to trip and fall to the ground. "I don't think so missy," he taunted her again, yanking her hair like a leash.

"Stop it, you're hurting me!" she yelled, squinting her eyes from the pain. She didn't care if anyone could hear her or not, she wasn't going to be quiet.

Kagome felt a hand fumble at the hem of her sweater, which sent her into complete panic mode. A wave of adrenaline helped her to yank her right hand free and she slapped the guy in front of her. The other two men gasped as the sound of the slap reverberated off the alley walls.

"Let her go," the ringleader commanded sternly. Both of her arms were released, but before she knew what was happening, the dark haired man grabbed her, swung her around and threw her to the back of the alley. Her body slammed against an abandoned bicycle and some tied up bags of trash. Luckily the trash bags cushioned most of her fall and protected her head. But a slight pain ran down her left arm. Unconsciously, she had covered the spot with her right hand after she fell. Slowly she took her hand away, which revealed a thin scrape caused by her fall against the old bike. In the faint light, she could make out a small amount of blood on the palm of her hand.

Kagome looked up fretfully when she heard the distinct sound of a knife flicking out of its safety hold. The dark-haired man standing before her had a murderous look in his eye and a knife in hand. Kagome was at a loss, she didn't know what to do.

Obviously the man was mentally unstable. Who takes out a knife after getting hit by a girl?

The man took a few steps closer and stopped in front of her with his arm raised high. "Give me a fuckin' good reason not to gut you," he demanded, his voice cold and malicious.

Words failed Kagome along with her legs.

"Hmmph, didn't think so," he said, and swung his arm down without further hesitation.

All she could do was close her eyes and shield her face with her hands.

"STOP!"