Hello everyone. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing my story. I wanted to thank the people who read it because not everyone reviews. I don't review half the stories I read...bad Cassi-chan anyway I wanted to say thank you for all of the support and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 3: Darkness like inside of me

"...You'll never believe the nightmares, you'll never know the pain you caused..."

Kouga thrust himself into Kagome harder and harder, ignoring her tearful pleading with him to stop. It was as if he got some sick pleasure from seeing Kagome cry.

Kagome woke up sweating and breathing heavily. She clutched her chest and tried to slow her breathing. That had been the third time she'd woken up that night. Images from the morning before kept assaulting her dreams, not allowing her to get any sleep.

She looked at her alarm clock, it was 4:30. Kagome sighed and ran her fingers through her tangled hair. She had only gotten about two and a half hours of sleep. It was no use trying to go back to sleep now.

Kagome got out of bed and got dressed slowly. Her body still ached terribly. She winced slightly as she pulled her skirt up over her hips.

Kagome left the house at five, after a rather large breakfast. She would be about an hour early getting to school, but she didn't care. She just really needed to get away, find some sort of distraction.

School didn't seem like it would be much of a distraction after all, Kouga went to her school; but it was better than being at home, alone with her preoccupations.

She kept her eyes on the ground as she walked, trying to clear her mind. It was no use. No matter how hard she tried, there was only one thing she thought about.

It seemed to take forever to get to the school. There were a few people here and there, but not many, there was still half an hour before school started..

Kagome saw an empty bench near the front doors and sat down. Completely immersed in her own thoughts she didn't take notice when someone sat down on the bench next to her until they spoke.

"You're Kagome right?" She heard a voice ask. She looked to her left and saw the boy Miroku had introduced her to yesterday.

Kagome nodded.

After a moment of silence Inuyasha spoke again. "So are you always this quiet?"

Kagome shook her head. "Sorry, I just have a lot on my mind lately."

A gust of wind blew by and Kagome shivered.

Inuyasha smiled. "Do you want to head inside with me?" he asked, offering her his hand.

Kagome didn't take his hand, but she did stand up and head toward the building. "Are you coming?" she asked, looking back at Inuyasha.

He nodded and followed her inside. There were more people now then when she had first arrived. The two of them spotted Miroku and Sango standing by some lockers along with Kouga.

She expected him to have some sort of apologetic look on his face, or one of shame, but the only facial expressions she noticed hinted toward anger. She realized that he was looking at Inuyasha.

Kagome took a step to the side as if to further the distance between her and her companion. She didn't want to instigate any type of confrontation.

Kagome stood to the side as Kouga and Inuyasha got acquainted. She didn't miss the slight annoyance in Kouga's voice as the two of them spoke. Had he always gotten angry so easily? She'd never taken notice before now. She let it go. He was probably still upset with himself over hurting her. That had to be it.

She also wasn't ignorant to the odd glances she was getting from Sango. She knew that her best friend wasn't dense enough to suspect that something was different. She only hoped that she didn't have the heart to voice her concerns.

"So Kagome," she felt a sudden addition of weight on her shoulder. "Think it would be okay if we talked for a minute?" Kagome turned to face Kouga. His arm was around her shoulders and he was smiling.

She willed herself not to draw back from his touch. She readily agreed to his request, perhaps he was going to apologize.

"I'll see you in class okay Sango?" she smiled at her friend. It wasn't a real smile, but it sure passed as one.

Sango nodded and the two of them headed back outside.

Kouga took her by the arm and led her to the back of the school. She took noted the fact that he still grabbed her bruised arm.

"What were you doing with him?" Kouga demanded angrily.

"What?" Kagome whispered. He was upset with her?

"Huh? Are you cheating on me Kagome?" He slapped her. "Do you remember what I told you about that?"

Kagome cringed as the meatallic taste of her own blood permeated her mouth.

"Answer me." Kouga was now merely inches from her face. She could feel his hot breath on her neck. It sickened her, and yet she found herself unable to pull away. Mesmerized, she only managed to choke out a one word response.

"No."

He didn't seem satisfied.

"What was that?" he sneered, still moving closer. He was so close that she could barely feel his lips move over her skin as he spoke.

"I said...n-no. I...I'm not cheating o-on you." Kagome stuttered. She felt his lips curve into a sadistic smile. The lack of warmth was evident as Kouga pulled away from her, still smiling.

He didn't say a word, only walked away, leaving Kagome standing alone.

She brought her hand to her mouth and touched her lips gingerly. She could feel the bottom one starting to swell. She hoped that it wouldn't be too noticable. It wasn't easy to hide a fat lip with concealer.

Kagome waited a while before going back inside, with any luck she would just catch the bell and wouldn't have to stand around and chat.

At least one thing could go her way. She stepped through the double doors in the front of the school at the exact moment that the first bell rang. She hitched her bag onto her shoulder and walked quickly to her homeroom, as if to avoid any unwanted encounters.

By the time Kagome reached the classroom, half of the class were inside; most of them talking and laughing with someone sitting near them. She spotted Sango already seated in the desk behind her own. She made her way over there quietly.

"Kagome? What did Kouga--what the hell happened to your lip?" Sango asked immediately.

Kagome racked her brain for excuses. "I tripped on the steps outside, Kouga tried to catch me but he didn't make it in time." She laughed nervously.

Sango didn't buy it. "Kagome..." she hesitated. "If something was wrong you would tell me right?" She gazed at her friends lip anxiously.

Kagome smiled widely...too widely. "Of course I would Sango." she said in what she hoped was a reassuring tone. "Why would I hide something important from you? Don't worry."

Sango shook her head but drop the subject.

Kagome turned around in her seat so that she was facing forward, she hated lying to Sango, but she didn't have any other choice. She couldn't tell anyone. What would they say? She knew what they would say. They would call her weak, and worthless. They would call her a whore and tell her that she had been asking for it and that she deserved it. They would tell her to get over herself and that she had no reason to suffer...she'd wanted it, that secretly she'd enjoyed it. She knew that, that was what they would say, because that was the exact thing she had told herself over and over as she lie awake, tormented by visions of her real life nightmare.

The rest of the day seemed like a blur to Kagome. She didn't remember doing anything or being anywhere at all. She merely drifted all day from one place to another, without really deciphering a purpose for any of the things she was doing or places she was going.

Now she stood in front of a mirror, staring aimlessly into the glass. Almost as if trying to look past her reflection.

She looked down at the water pooling in the palms of her hands. She watched as the water trickled out slowly, before filing them again and splashing the cool liquid onto her face.

An image came into view in the glass before her. It was her, but at the same time, it wasn't her. It still looked like her, but instead of her happy joy-filled eyes, the orbs she stared into were dark and souless.

She moved her hand to her swollen lip. How could she have been so stupid. She had really thought that he was sorry.

Maybe things had gotten out of control? Had the situation really gotten that far out of reach?

"No." Kagome said out loud, shaking her head. "I am in control."

She shut her eyes tightly.

"I am in control. I am in control. I am in control." She repeated that phrase over and over. It became her mantra. "I am in control."