Falling Rain

Chapter 2: Kagome

Warning: This chapter contains a slightly graphic rape scene. If you are uncomfortable with such, do not read – the scene will be marked and the story can be read without it. Thank you.

She could feel herself growing weaker with every step, her body weighing down with the lack of nourishment and the abuse she'd endured; still she forced herself to keep moving. Her legs burned, sides screaming with pain. The various cuts and bruises were throbbing, calling for her attention. Branches and thorns grabbed at her, added to her myriad of cuts and bruises as though she weren't in enough agony.

She gripped her uniform tighter, what was left of it anyway, and pressed it against her battered body in hopes of preserving at least a smidgen of her dignity while she stumbled through the dark forest practically naked. Voices whispered around her, the trees taunting her with vicious poison, telling her what she already knew. She was ruined.

Why had this happened to her? What had she done wrong? Kagome could only wonder, question the Gods above for answers that she knew would not come as she fought back the growing darkness. She had to keep moving forward, even if only just another step. Her mind wandered in hopes of finding some semblance of relief from the searing pain that coated her existence for the past several days.

But as soon as she relaxed her mind, the memories came rushing in on a tidal wave of emotion, the flames of her pain threatening to swallow her whole in her reality.

~flashback~

Kagome walked leisurely towards the village with her small purple backpack; she had replaced the yellow monstrosity after Naraku's downfall as she'd had no need of such a large thing any longer. She now had a permanent place with Inuyasha in Kaede's village.

Kagome hummed softly to herself as she walked along the well beaten path, her body completely relaxed after a hot bath at her mother's home. She thanked whatever deity kept the well working for her and let her mind wander back to the person that always captured her thoughts; Inuyasha. He had come to her after Kikyou had passed and told her that with Naraku being dead and Kikyou's soul avenged, they could finally focus on each other and their growing relationship.

She still expected to wake up and find herself locked in the future sometimes, forever torn from the man she had come to care so much for.

Instead she woke every morning to the scent of musky pine and earth, Inuyasha's arm draped over her midsection and his fangs poking out with his playful grin as he toyed with her hair. They had not done anything more than cuddle and shared a small kiss every now and again, neither being ready to take such a large step in their relationship as mating would be.

They had discussed it a while back and agreed that they were both more comfortable with what their relationship had become, neither wanting to tempt the warm feelings to grow cold with brash decisions. She still yearned for something more sometimes, her body calling out for something more, but she was too afraid to move past this point in her relationship with Inuyasha and ruin what they had.

Kagome was brought out of her thoughts when the wind was knocked out of her, a ball of orange fur thrust into her vision. Rocking back slightly before catching her balance, Kagome smiled and reached up to hug the not-so-little kit currently snuggling into her shoulder.

"Hey Shippou, did you miss me? You better have been good while I was gone!" Kagome tried to keep her face serious as the kit pulled back and stared into her eyes, his own wide with innocence.

"Kagome! Of course I was good, I'm always good!"

He stared down at her with child-like adoration and hugged her once more before climbing to sit on her shoulder, an act that was becoming extremely difficult but he still tried none-the-less.

"So is tonight the night Kagome? The one you told me about before you left?"

There was a bit of excitement in his voice and Kagome could tell he was trying to suppress it in case there were sensitive ears listening.

"Yes Shippou, tonight is the very special night that I told you about. Did you do what I asked you to do?"

He nodded with both thumbs up and grinned mischievously at her, making her giggle just a little.

"I sure did! Sango and Miroku are ready to go when we get to the village. We're going to visit the graves of Sango's family and pay our respects since they're gonna be married soon. Inuyasha says Miroku wants to go 'cause he has to say prayers to Sango's father and ask forgiveness for defiling her"

Kagome laughed and ruffled Shippou's hair affectionately.

"You did good sweetie"

She noticed him blush and puff his chest out in pride from the corner of her eyes. He was such a cute kid and the closest thing she had to family here, if that made any sense.

She had asked him to pass on her plan to Sango and Miroku in hopes that they could come up with a viable excuse to leave the village for the next few days. She knew that if they were around then Inuyasha would never show his true thoughts or emotions over what she was going to do. He would be too focused on acting tough for everyone and she really wanted it to be special, just for the two of them.

She could see them in the distance now, both waving and smiling knowingly. She returned their waves and ran to greet them, laughing with Shippou as they took off.

When they reached the pair, Shippou immediately jumped from Kagome's shoulder to Miroku's. The monk didn't even flinch when the kit landed not so gracefully, instead smiling at her and opening his arms for a hug.

She ran into his arms, comfortable in the knowledge that he had stopped groping everyone except for Sango. Soon after his antics stopped, they confessed their affection for one another and made plans for the future. Kagome was now able to easily hug the monk that had become like an older brother to her over the past few years.

Her face burned with mortification as he whispered some not-so-innocent suggestions about the coming evening, causing her to slap his arm and run from him, embracing her slayer friend instead.

She whispered all of the things he had said and was satisfied to find her friend glaring at the Cheshire-like grin of the monk. Sango did not share in Miroku's amusement this time.

Once all of them had said their farewells, Kagome watched as her friends flew off on the back of Kirara. She looked down to check her watch and breathed out a nervous sigh. It was near supper time and about a good time to find Inuyasha without seeming suspicious.

It was easy to find him because he was always in the same place when he wasn't working or running after some demon or another. A large tree grew next to their hut with a huge branch that was perfect for lounging; he took the chance to do so many times and was currently there laying atop the branch with his eyes turned to the stars as they started making their appearance.

She watched his adorable ears twitch and swivel as she approached, his eyes following the line of sound she had made until all she could see was the honey hues that stared right through her. Kagome smiled and waved up to him to which he gave his own small smile before jumping down to land in front of her.

"Hey Kagome," his nose twitched and his arms crossed in front of his chest in his usual gruff manner, "so ya already saw them huh? I thought you'd miss 'em with how slow ya are and all"

Kagome laughed at the same joke they always toyed with and moved to enter the hut.

"Yeah, I got here just as they were leaving. Lucky me!"

She walked inside and was pleased to find that he had started the fire at some point, keeping the room warm for her arrival. She sighed in bliss and enjoyed the way the warmth settled into her skin and chased away the chill from the night, listening as the bamboo door fell closed behind her.

Inuyasha had followed fairly closely behind her, so close that she could feel his body heat burning into her back. Her heart beat faster in anticipation of what she was about to do for him, for them. She set her bag on the ground and placed a hand over her heart in an attempt to calm her nerves and steady her breathing.

"Hey Kagome, you okay?"

His gruff voice snapped her out of her thoughts and she turned sharply only to jump and stumble backwards when he was no more than a couple of inches from her face. Her attempt to catch her balance failed and she felt herself falling, her eyes closing and her hopes rising.

Unfortunately for her, her hopes were in vain; she felt a searing pain shoot through her wrist when she landed on it, caught between her hip and the hard wooden flooring underneath. Inuyasha had not caught her like she had expected.

She looked up to find him staring down at her as he placed Tetsusaiga against the wall where he usually kept it. Tears rimmed her eyes from the pain and she heard him scoff at her, not even bothering to help her up.

"What the hell woman? You knew I was right behind you! Pay attention next time and maybe you won't fall"

Kagome sighed and shook her head. She should not have expected anything more from him. He was not the knight-in-shining armor type and she was foolish to think that such would ever change. He was there for her when she needed him most and that was what mattered. She had to stop getting caught up on the small stuff.

Lifting herself slowly off her wrist with the support of her other hand, Kagome managed to pull herself up into a kneeling position before standing on her now shaky legs. Wincing only slightly, Kagome reached out with her uninjured hand and rested in on Inuyasha's arm.

"Here, I have something I want to give you…"

She reached up with her left hand, a whimper falling from her lips with the pain it caused. After seeing a raised eyebrow, clearly displaying his annoyance, she steeled herself and tried again. She pushed past the pain in her wrist and undid the spell on the bead, lifting them over his head to show what she had done, much to his surprise.

"What the hell? Are you leaving? What's going on?!"

Panic flashed through his eyes, his gaze flitting from her face to the necklace she had placed in his hands.

"No, I-"

She watched as anger hardened around him, felt as the beads bounced against her leg from where he threw them to the floor, and winced where his claws poked her shoulders from his tight grip.

"Inuyasha-"

"SHUT UP! So I'm not good enough for ya anymore, is that it? Gonna release me and hurry back down the hole to your home, huh?"

His eyes were tinged with red and turning darker by the moment. She knew that she had to tread carefully even as she felt tears running down her face. Maybe taking off the beads hadn't been such a good idea after all.

"It isn't like that Inuyasha, I swear! I trust you and I wanted to show you that. You shouldn't be held by a spell or controlled because you're too good for that! I'm not going anywhere Inuyasha. Please…believe me!"

"Hell no! You promised you'd stay with me bitch and that is exactly what you're going to do! I'm going to make sure you keep your promise no matter what!"

His eyes turned the deepest shade of crimson fury by the time he was through talking. She felt his claws pricking deeper into her arms, holding her still and forcing her to stare into his eyes.

A bone-chilling smirk graced his features before he clenched his hands into fists and punched her in the stomach, watching as she doubled over in pain and wheezed for air. Without waiting a moment longer, he tossed her over his shoulder and ran into the forest, stopping at her safe place; the sacred god tree.

WARNING – RAPE SCENE

She wanted desperately to scream for help but the air was knocked from her lungs and she couldn't find a way to gasp in enough air as he ran through the forest. A choked whimper was wrenched from her throat when he threw her to the ground, a rock digging mercilously into her backside.

She looked up to the sacred god tree and shook, fear causing her to cast an arm over her head in a feeble attempt to protect herself from his irrational wrath.

"You're pathetic wench! Look at you…whining like a small pup! You asked for this!"

She felt his knees brush against her side when he dropped down in front of her, the grip of his hand around her wrist causing her to yelp in pain.

"You're going to look at me bitch! You're going to know who you belong to…got that?!"

She met his eyes with a timid nod, noting the way they glowed in the dark with malice and ill-intent. Though she tried valiantly, Kagome couldn't hold the sob in when her fear and confusion collided.

Her eyes closed in pain when he grabbed her injured wrist, immediately regretting the action when she felt a set of claws slide angrily across her face. She lifted her uninjured hand to her cheek and felt the drops of blood that coated her fingertips, her eyes wide with fear and unable to look away from him.

She could feel the punctures and the blood, but the bruise would hurt worst of all she knew; already her eye was swelling.

"There now, if you don't want any more punishment like that then I suggest you do what I say. Understand?"

He growled down at her, his face mere inches from her, his eyes boring into her with malice and growing larger with the scent of her blood. His malicious grin and the way he dragged his tongue over his fangs made her shiver in fear and anticipation.

Her eyes widened in realization and she dropped her hand to her lap, trying desperately to show him that she trusted him and was not trying to harm him or leave him.

"Inuyasha please… don't do this…you know you don't want to…PLEASE…I know you!"

She recoiled when his hand rose up above her again, the memory of the pain suffusing with her reaction. His triumphant grin made her blink back her tears and she almost gasped when his hand gently came down to rest against her swollen cheek. She felt a glimmer of hope spark inside her when he leaned down to whisper in her ear, his breath blowing along the soft skin under hear ear.

"You don't know shit about me Ka-go-me, but when I'm through with you, you'll know every inch of me…or at least I'll know every inch of you. You should never have lifted those beads from him…stupid human"

The demonic, unfamiliar version of her friend and love pulled away and she started to sob loudly, which only caused his sick smile with widen further. She watched helplessly as he closed his eyes and savored her please. It would be better not to give into him, not to give him what he wanted, but she was terrified to the point that her body was shaking too much and she found herself working hard just to not bite her tongue with the uncontrollable tremors.

She hoped that him closing his eyes was a sign that he was fighting against his demonic half, but that was quickly torn asunder when he opened his eyes again to reveal the same crimson hatred as before. She felt her heart sink and panic set in, but somewhere in the middle of it all she realized that something was wrong.

How had he turned? Why was he not able to fight back the demon inside of him? Had Tetsusaiga's seal somehow been broken?

But then it hit her; Tetsusaiga was not here. He had left his sword in the hut propped against the wall where it usually laid when they were inside.

A new fear shook through her body as she realized that her chances of surviving whatever he had planned for her were slim. Her only hope was to be silent, submissive to his wishes. Sango had told her that her best hope of survival in this type of situation was to bow to the demons wishes and submit to his ultimate power over her.

She never thought that she would need that advice…not with the person she trusted most in this world.

Without warning, his claws slashed out at her, the front of her uniform shredding to pieces. He did the same to her bra and skirt until she was left shivering in only her lacy underwear and what little strips of cloth still clung to her. He was ruthless, leaving marks form his claw in swipes up and down her chest, her waist, and her legs.

Blood welled and peaked from her newly formed wounds and she fought to remain still, to not fight him. It wasn't enough for him though. Inuyasha began slowly dragging his claws into each of her wounds, retracing them and pressing deeper to elicit more pain. Kagome was only able to keep herself quiet for a moment before shrieks of pain fell from her bruised lips, mindlessly begging him to stop.

When his hands moved away from her body, she watched him peruse her wounds with a sick sort of pleasure before his sights settled on her hips. He dug his claws into the flesh there and flipped her roughly, causing her to land face down in the dirt and once again crushed her injured wrist beneath her weight, though the pain seemed almost miniscule now compared to her other, newer wounds.

Tears fell from her eyes in rivers of pain as she realized what he was about to do to her. She was brought out of her dread-filled thoughts when a hand came crashing down upon her barely covered bottom and drew a wail of pain from her throat.

His assault continued until her cheeks felt numb and were no doubt as red, swollen, and cut up as the rest of her body seemed to be. Eventually he leaned down and tasted her blood slowly, almost as if he were savoring it.

"Oh my dear Ka-go-me…I am going to enjoy this immensely!. You, however, are going to wish that you had never set foot in this time"

His voice was deep, rough, almost a growl as it left his lips and more guttural than she had ever imagined it could be.

He left her with that final thought and tore the last small piece of garment that kept her from him, leaving her now bare and vulnerable to his deranged gaze.

"On your hands and knees bitch!"

Kagome did as she was told, struggling several times to lift her abused body where he wanted it, hoping against hope that he would at least spare her life if she complied with him. As soon as she was up though, he pushed her should down and pressed her chest into the ground, her ass in the air before him. She glanced behind herself quickly only to have her face shoved back into the earth, dirt filling her nose and eyes.

He was completely naked behind her, somehow having divested his clothing at some point. She didn't know how he had done it, but she knew one thing for sure…it was over now.

Just as the thought passed through her mind, she felt him press into her virgin body, a whimper leaving her lips with the realization, turning into sobs with the pain of him ripping through her body with each thrust.

He pounded into her brutally, claws ripping and poking wherever they landed on her exposed body. She knew that she would have scars after this, but she didn't care so long as there was an after to be had.

Knowing that she would be scarred in more than just her body, Kagome forced her mind to leave her be, to numb itself to what was happening. She closed her eyes and focused on thoughts of her family and friends, of all the things back in the future that were safe and good and comforting. She thought of her mother, her grandfather, buyo, her friends, and even Hojo.

If she made it out of this alive, even he wouldn't accept her now. She was ruined, tainted, used and cursed to be alone forever. Unloved and unwanted all because of the selfish sadism of one half-demon that had promised to protect her.

As the thought of eternal loneliness settled within her, she felt a ripping sensation cut through her very soul; it felt as though she were being torn in two by some incredible force. It dawned on her that she was breaking, watching from the outside in as her soul was cut to pieces; she allowed herself to succumb to the feeling, to the distraction it provided her, only to be yanked back to reality when Inuyasha pulled her hair and flipped her onto her back again.

Not having the strength to fight, she let herself be consumed by the pain until she could no longer tell how much time had passed with him above her. At one point the sun was in the sky, at another time she felt Inuyasha fall asleep on top of her. She attempted to move sore muscles and heard a ferocious growl, looking up to find his crimson eyes staring down at her.

Once awakened, Inuyasha did not hesitate in the brutal act of taking her again and again, leaving only to relieve himself but making certain to tie her hands and feet together. She scoffed at the notion that he thought she could run anywhere. She couldn't even lift her head anymore.

END RAPE

She knew that she wouldn't get far even if she could move, but then he did something stupid. He left for the village muttering about keeping the peace and forcing his eyes to appear normal again. She had hoped then, but he had killed her hope easily.

He smirked at her, evil and wrought with surety.

Hours after he had left, Kagome struggled to lift herself up into a sitting position against the sacred got tree, dragging her ripped clothing with her. Breathing heavily at the small feat, she pushed herself even harder to stand up, catching her balance with one hand on the trunk of the enormous tree.

She had to get out of there. It didn't matter where she went so long as it was away from him. Nothing mattered more than the need to survive, to get away, to save herself from his torturously sadistic needs. She just had to not be there by the time he got back.

With determination coursing through her body, she pushed herself forwards and stumbled into the thick cover of the forest. It had to be close to supper judging by the dimness in the sky, the position of the sun. Inuyasha had long since cast her watch into the forest so she couldn't be exactly sure of the time, just that it was evening and that the creatures of the night would be coming out soon.

She looked up to see dark clouds looming in the distance, full and ominous. She welcomed them because with the rain came salvation. With the rain came the clean wash of her scent so that he couldn't follow her.

She headed towards the falling rain for protection.

~flashback~

Just as she had expected, Kagome had felt the cool wind pick up followed by the first few drips of rain only an hour more after she took off. And now here she was, soaked and stumbling through the trees and bushes with barely enough in her to keep breathing.

Her foot caught on something and she felt herself falling towards the unforgiving ground, too exhausted to even reach out. Mud, water, and loose foliage splashed up around her, merciful in its soothing coolness against her burning skin. But she had no more energy to try anymore, to move from the place that she had fallen.

Instead she sat back on her heels and dropped her head against her chin and clutching her scraps of cloth tightly against her breasts, hoping that some predator might come and offer her a quick death.

Her prayers, she thought, were answered when a shadow fell over her. Looking up made her only more certain that the Gods had shown her mercy this time and she silently thanked them. Sesshoumaru stood over her, his pristine white clothing soaked through and displaying for the world exactly how strong this demon form was.

She pushed herself forward, holding her injured hand to her midsection and hung her head low, waiting for him to make the final move, hoping he would make it quick.

Time moved around her in slow waves, the rustle of his wet clothing, the slosh of mud under his weighted boot, the feel of his claws against her chin pulling her face up to meet him. An image of claws ripping into her flashed through her mind and she made a soft sound before letting her head be tilted up.

She felt nothing, no connection to life, no relief, and no fear…nothing as he stared into her. He seemed to study her for a long moment and during that time she begged him with her one eye to end it for her, to let her fall to the depths of hell and be done with it. He seemed to not hear her though. If only she could find her voice.

Her heart pounded against her chest when he rose in front of her, her head bowing and her eye closing in acceptance. Finally, finally it would be done with.

Her eye snapped open when she felt the cool weight of his shirt drop around her and she blinked in confusion when his hands reached around her midsection, the weight of his obi and the strength of his knot solidifying her fears. He wasn't going to kill her quickly…he was saving her!

Just as suddenly as the thought came, she felt herself lifted into the demon lord's arms. And though she was freezing from the rain, she felt a measure of warmth seep into her when he tightened his arms and took off at a run. She snuggled into the collar of his haori and breathed deeply, finding his scent to be more soothing than she'd expected. She huddled closer to his body, stealing what heat he could offer and accepting whatever fate he had decided for her.

Whatever he had planned for her had to be better than what Inuyasha had planned; at least she hoped it was.

As she felt the rush of wind around her, she looked up from her position in the strong arms of the demon Lord Sesshoumaru. And oddly enough she found herself feeling a measure of safety in the arms of her once-enemy and admired his strength as she blinked up at him.

There in his arms with the wind rushing around her fitfully, she succumbed to his strength and sought safety in the falling rain.

Okay then kiddies, this is the one and only time that we'll be doing a relapse chapter for multiple view points. I'll have the next chapter up soon, but let me know if there are any issues with the story so far.

See you soon