Chapter 1: He loves me...

I groaned covering my ears, as the alarm clock went off. It was the only time in the afternoon that I could ever get any sleep, but that dammed alarm clock always went off, and I wasn't allowed to turn it off for good. He wasn't home at this time... sometimes I think he set this alarm just to get under my skin. I reached out to turn it off, slapping it off the bedside table by accident.

"Crap. Look what you've done now Kagome." I said scolding myself.

I had broken his clock. he was going to be so angry when he got home. I had to replace it before he came back from work. I dressed as quickly as I could, grabbing my keys. I ran downstairs, opening the front door but it was too late. He was already pulling into the driveway. Of all days for him to come home early. I quickly hid the car keys behind my back. I watched him as he got out of the car. My heart pounded faster the closer he had gotten to the front door.

"Hi, sweetheart, welcome home. Did you have a good day at work?" I asked, kissing him on the cheek.

I hoped he wouldn't notice how nervous I was.

He raised a brow. "Going somewhere? He asked.

"No, I just wanted to greet you at the door is all."

"Greet me? Then why not just wait till I came inside?"

I put on the best fake smile I could. "I couldn't wait." I lied.

I watched him remove his jacket and roll up his sleeves. He knew I was lying, and I knew what was about to happen.

"Kagome, sweetheart. Now, you know more than anyone. That I hate being lied to. You know what happens when you lie to me."

I braced myself for impact. His fist connected with my jaw, the sound of it moving clicking in my ears. I had learned to take a hit over the years from being with him. I didn't dare dodged it; it would only make it worse. The metallic taste of my blood filled my mouth. I swallowed it. I just laid there. I didn't dare move without his permission.
As he got closer, our faces were only inches apart.

"Now, be a doll and tell me what you were doing. What are you trying to keep from me?"

I handed him the car keys. He grabbed a fistful of my hair. "And where the hell do you think you were going without my permission?"

"I-I ... your alarm clock broke... and I just wanted to replace it before you came home."

He let go of my hair. "Oh, is that all." He said kissing my forehead. Slapping me right after.

"Next time ask, and don't break my things." He warned.

"Yes, Kouga," I said my cheek still stinging. It was going to swell later. He went upstairs to take his shower. I waited till I heard the door close. I slumped to the floor. I broke down. What happened to the man that I loved, the man that would never do anything to hurt me? During my sobbing, the phone rang.

"Hello, this is Kagome speaking," I asked trying to put my best voice on.

"Kagome it's me Sango. I need to talk to you please don't hang up."

"Sango?! Do you know what he'll do to me if he finds out I've been speaking to you.?"

"Which is exactly why you need to leave him Kagome. For god's sake Kagome he made you move to Kichijoji just to get you away from all of us. Your family your friends. I'm your sister and you aren't even allowed to speak to me."

I sniffled. "Sango please..."

"Where is he?" She asked.

"He's in the shower. Sango I really can't talk to you please. Stop calling."

"Fine, since you don't want to talk over the phone. I'll just have to drop by."

"What! No Sango? Please don't. Hello?" It was too late she'd already hung up.

I placed the phone back on its hook. I went into the kitchen, washing the taste of blood out of my mouth. I walked into the hallway, looking into the mirror. My lip had swollen about twice its size. I sighed; Sango was going to raise hell when she got here. I slumped onto the couch, waiting for the hurricane that is my sister to blow in through the front door. My lip wouldn't stop throbbing, I grabbed an ice pack out of the freezer. It helped the swelling but, my lip was still black and blue. I curled up on the sofa trying my best not to cry, moments later Kouga came downstairs.

"Hey babe, what's for dinner?" He asked.

"I put your Unagi in the oven," I said.

Then, the doorbell rang. He glared at me. "Are you expecting anyone?"

"Not that I know of." I lied.

It rang again. "Well then get off your ass and open the god damn door."

I hurried to unlock the front door. Sango barged right in, getting in Kouga's face.

She shoved him and I saw his jaw clench. He balled his fists up at his side. He knew better than to hit a cop.

"Listen you prick, I'm taking my sister with me," Sango said.

He had this smug look on his face.

"Nice to see you again Sango. But like the last time I told you. Kagome doesn't want to go anywhere with you, she wants to stay here with me. Isn't that right honey."

I turned to my sister and nodded vigorously.

"Kagome please come home with me. You don't have to stay here anymore. Please, I can see how unhappy you are here." Sango begged.

She looked me in the eyes, and then she noticed my lip.

"What happened to your lip Kagome?"

"I walked into a door." I lied.

"Yeah, she can be very klutzy sometimes," Kouga said. "By the way how did you find us? I don't remember giving any of you our home address." He said glaring at me. "Did she give it to you?"

"No, you asshole. I'm a cop, no matter where you go, I can always find you."

He frowned "Isn't that illegal."

"Not when someone is in danger!"

"There is no one in danger here. Isn't that right Kagome."

I nodded. "I think it's time for you to go Sango."

"Kagome you can't be serious! How can you stay with him?"

"He's my husband, he would never hurt me. He loves me."

She started at me in disbelief. "Fine." She said. "But this isn't over.

She stormed out slamming the front door behind her. I listen to her drive away. Even though every fiber of my being wanted to chase after her and beg her not to go. I took a deep breath preparing myself for what was about to come next.

He grabbed me by my hair, slamming me into the glass coffee table. It broke on impact; I could feel the tiny splinters sticking out of my skin.

He grabbed me by the shirt propping me up. "You let that bitch come in here, and disrespect me in my own home? Are you out of your fucking mind?" I'd never seen him this angry. I was too afraid to move... a warm liquid trickled down my leg.

He grabbed me by my hair, slamming me into the glass coffee table. It broke on impact; I could feel the tiny splinters sticking out of my skin.

"Did you just... piss yourself?"

I was so ashamed. He dropped me back onto the broken shards of glass and puddle of piss.

"Clean this shit up."

I watched him walk up the stairs. Silently thanking God for letting me live one more day.

Kichijoji - A neighborhood in Tokyo, Japan

Unagi - river eel grilled over charcoal and lacquered with a sweet barbecue sauce