There's no hope now... I thought to myself as I plopped down on my bed. I felt the towel loosen from around my wet hair, and I sighed, turning over to lay on my back. What am I supposed to do now? Return back to my normal life? Forget Inuyasha? Forget everything? Impossible.

I remember when I used to yearn for this day. Yearn for the chance to be a normal teenager again. To be able to go out on dates, do my homework... eat dinner every night with my family, and sleep in my own comfortable bed. Now, it was the farthest thing from what I really wanted. The others were like my family, now... I couldn't bear to think I'd never see them again. Never know how their battle with Naraku ended. I'd never know. . .

Stupid, stupid, stupid! I cursed myself for forgetting my bag. The Sacred Jewel shards, everything! The jewel shards were my connection through the well, now it was certain that I'd never be able to go back to that-- my world. This strange place was no longer my home. How long had I known that? I cursed myself to Hell for being so incredibly, unforgivably stupid.

I closed my eyes, trying to block out everything. Thinking was bad, especially when it was about Inuyasha. I pulled my blanket over my head, and by the time I pulled it off, it was morning.

My alarm rang loudly throughout my bedroom. I turned over and glared, slapping my hand on the snooze button. That was something I was going to have to get used to. No more sounds of birds chirping, or the warm sun grazing my eyelids to wake me up... Now it was noisy alarm clocks with incessant beeping. Everything about this world suddenly irritated me. . .

I stretched, sighing discontently as I pushed the covers off of me. I ran my fingers through my hair a couple of times, and stood up, pulling out a spare, clean school uniform.

School was a drag, I couldn't concentrate on a thing. All I could do was stare out the window, hoping Inuyasha would suddenly appear on the roof like he had so many times before. I felt like such a pathetic fool for acting the way I was. He didn't want me, so why should I want him? But then again, I suppose that was a foolish, and childish way to act, as well.

Sighing, I walked down the crowded street away from school, passing up my friends without a second glance. I haven't said a word to them since I got back, and that was nearly a week ago. They didn't even bother to look my way anymore. I really did have an amazing way of screwing things up. Screwing everything up.

How could I not blame myself for my situation? There was really no way around it. Inuyasha sent me back because I was-- am stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid! He got sick of having to save me all the time. I knew that now. It surprised me how obvious it was.

I sound pathetic... the past is the past, right? No pun intended. . .

"Kagome?" I turned around, more out of pure instinct than my want to give the person a response. Ayumi made her way to stand in front of me in three long strides, smiling softly as she placed a hand on my shoulder. "I know you've been a little down lately... and I was wondering if you'd like to come with us to the fair tonight? Just us girls?"

Her hopeful smile forced me into a yes, as I nodded, smiling politely. "Sounds.. fun." My definition of fun was definetly plastering on a fake smile for hours at a time with people I didn't even know anymore.

Bad attitude, Kagome. I told myself contritely. At least she was talking to me. She was always the nice and understanding one.

"Great! See you later then, Kagome!" She waved, and jogged back over to Eri and Yuka.

I waved, and turned around, walking towards the shrine at a much faster pace. It only took me about fifteen minutes to reach the shrine.

Don't look up, don't look at the well. I chanted to myself as I reached even ground. I didn't glance up not once until I reached the small step that lead to the front door.

Once I was inside, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I could already feel another episode coming on, and the outside world was not meant to be an audience for that.

Crashing on my bed moments later, I let the tears fall. It was pointless to even bother to push them back. I didn't even wipe them away anymore. I let the whole routine -the body-racking sobs, the shaking, the tears- all take its course before I got back up.

I'm an emotional wreck. The girl in the reflection of my bathroom mirror looked like a total stranger to me. Bags under the eyes, red, blotchy cheeks, pale skin... Maybe she really was a stranger.

I shook my head, and stepped into the blistering hot water under the shower head.

oOo

Four hours later, I was sitting in a roller coaster, next to Hojou. This was very unexpected... I assumed, from what Ayumi had told me, that it would have been just us girls. I should have known they were lying... they probably just thought I was moping over my "jealous, violent boyfriend" and needed another. The moment we got here, they basically vanished. Oh, they'd definetly be hearing about this later. . .

The ride was short, and less than thrilling. I was extremely bored, but I guess that was my fault; I rarely took interest in things like this. I was only dragging this out to an appropriate amount of time. I didn't want to seem to eager to leave.

"Hojou, it's getting kind of late... I think I should go home now." He smiled down at me, and shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Okay, Kagome. I'll give you a ride." He said politely. I nodded my head meekly and followed him to his car, always a few steps behind him in his eager pace. Maybe he was tired, and wanted this to be over as soon as possible, too. I know I felt that way.

I paused as he stopped in front of a black Integra. "Is this yours?" I asked, in complete awe. He simply nodded and opened my door for me.

The car ride seemed to last forever. We must have not even been five miles away from the parking lot before I dozed off.

When I awoke, we were idle. It was pitch black all around us. It made it hard to believe I had my eyes opened. "H... Hojou?" I reached out in the darkness and flinched back when my hand met heated flesh. Confusion was clearly written across my face, I could feel it, though I doubt anyone could see it.

"What are y-" I felt a hand rest on my bare leg, and I panicked. Reaching for the door handle, I pulled on it several times before I realized it was locked.

"Shh, it's okay, Kagome. We want this." His hand traveled further up, making me tremble.

"No, Hojou. Let me out!" I started panicking, and I reacted. I hit him, hard. I felt him stumble away from me, back into the driver's seat. My hand stung, and I glared into the darkness. "Let. Me. Out."

"I don't think you understand, Kagome." I felt him move towards me again, and I pulled back my arm for another slap. Quicker then I would have anticipated, he was on top of me, straddling my waist, as he pinned my arms down.

"Get off of-!" I felt his hard fist connect with my right cheek, and I instantly tasted blood. A groan escaped my mouth as I supressed a sob.

Inuyasha, Inuyasha, Inuyasha... He suddenly entered my mind, in full force. That just made me feel worse. I really was a helpless, pathetic human... I was too weak to save myself. That would always be my downfall.

"Hojou... please... don't-" Another hit. This time, I couldn't supress the sob, or the tears that escaped me. I struggled to move, and another hit, a slap this time, hit me on the right side of my face. I was sobbing uncontrollably at this point. I couldn't believe what was happening - I didn't want to.

My eyes widened when his lips crushed mine, and I struggled. I turned my head back towards the window. He didn't seem phased when he lost contact with my lips, he just moved to my neck.

"I've been after this for almost a year now... I didn't get you all of those nice things and act like I cared for nothing. So, Higurashi, it's upto you. The easy way, or the hard way?" I was about to get sick - I could feel it. My hands clenched into fists as I braced myself to scream. I'd probably only have one chance. One chance for someone to hear my cry.

I screamed, loud, as loud as I could. It was very brief, but I was sure that if anyone was around, they would have heard it. I prayed that someone heard it.

I was hit again, and I felt my forehead collide with the passenger window. My breath hitched as I felt a warm liquid rushing down my face. I screamed again, and this time I didn't stop. I didn't stop when I felt his hard fist make contact with my face. I didn't stop when his hand tightened around my throat, though I knew I wasn't getting anymore volume. I couldn't give up, though I knew I was only wasting the limited air I had.

I clawed at his hands, and flailed my legs in every direction possible. I didn't stop until I started to feel the real darkness take over.

Inuyasha. . .