Angel: I'm trying to work on this as kind of a distraction from everything that's going on so if this chapter isn't as good as normal I'm sorry, my head is in so many places right now.

Sesshoumaru: I am sure they will understand.

Inuyasha: They better or I'll kick their asses!

Angel: Thanks guys.

Angel's Disclaimer: Sadly I do not own any characters in this story except Chad, and maybe a few others later. They belong to Ms. Rumiko Takahashi and if I owned them Sesshoumaru would be locked in the hall of Bishis for eternity so no fan girl could get drool on his perfectness, except me and now Inu!

Inu's Disclaimer: As she said, I don't own any characters. If I did, then in the series Inuyasha and Kikyou would be together, who should be burning in the deepest pit of hell. And that Sesshoumaru would be mine.

Things Change
by Wick3d Ang3l & InuTaiyoukaiGal
Chapter Sixteen: The Reckoning

Kagome felt the hand move from her neck quickly. She could hear something growling, she wasn't sure what it was, it sounded inhuman and guttural. Fear; that was the only thing she could sense in the room. She could also sense something else, though it was hard to tell what it was or to pinpoint its location. But whatever this thing was, it was causing mass amounts of fear. She knew she should be afraid, she was defenseless against whatever was in the room with her and Chad but she felt surprisingly safer now that it was here. Chad was babbling about something, stumbling over his words. The only thing she could make out was accident and sorry. Suddenly there was a scream unlike anything she'd ever heard, it was primal and filled with pain. She could feel herself slipping into the darkness, before she completely let go she heard whatever had come into the house kneel beside her. "You are safe now," was the only thing she heard.

--

A doctor walked into the waiting room and looked around to find the relatives of the young girl in his care. There were so many people in the room and since he hadn't met any of the family he wasn't sure who he was looking for. "I am looking for the family of Miss Kagome Higurashi," he called out.

A group of people in the corner stood and made their way towards him. The woman stood at the head of the group, he guessed she must be the mother. Beside her stood a demon, wolf by his guess, which confused the doctor, the demon looked a bit young to be the girl's father, but then again who knew. Behind them was an older gentleman and a boy, looking to be about 8 or 9 years old. The doctor sighed. There were 2 specialists, soon to be 3 when Saito arrived, on her case and they had flipped a coin to decide who would tell the family. Sadly he had lost. This was always the hardest part... "I'm Kagome's mother," the woman said. "How is my daughter?"

"She's in critical condition." The doctor said in a serious tone. "She has several broken ribs, one of which punctured her right lung. Her left arm is broken in three places and her left leg is broken as well. She fractured her skull, but it's nothing too serious. Our biggest concern at the moment is that she's bleeding internally, we went in and tried to fix it, but there is only so much we can do. Your daughter is a very strong girl, to be completely honest with you we are surprised she survived."

Her mother turned to Kouga and sobbed into his chest. He put his arms around her and let her cry. Kouga looked at the doctor, his eyes held no emotion, which frightened the doctor, in his opinion the emotionless ones were the most likely to hurt him if he didn't tell them what they wanted to hear. "How is our baby?"

Ah, so this was the boyfriend. "Miraculously the fetus was unharmed. The patient used her spiritual power to place a barrier around her uterus."

Kouga nodded and looked down at Kagome's mother. "I told the police I would make a statement as soon as I found out what condition she was in." Her mother nodded her head. "Please tell her I love her."

"I will," was all she could muster.

Kouga walked out of the building and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. "It's Kouga... No, I'm headed to the station now... Yes, call Lord Sesshoumaru, I'm going to need a damn good lawyer," he said as he climbed into his car.

--

"Kagome, honey, it's mom. I'm not sure if you can hear me or not, but it makes me feel better to talk. I can't stand just listening to these machines... I want you to know that the baby is ok, so worry about yourself ok?" Her mother sobbed into her hands. "This is all my fault. I should have listened to you when you told me to get rid of Chad. I should have known he couldn't be trusted alone with you. I just don't understand... he seemed almost shocked and upset when I told him about you being pregnant. I thought maybe for once he cared about something having to do with our family... I've been such a fool Kagome, I'm an idiot."

Kagome moaned in pain as she tried to move. "M-mom," she questioned softly.

Her mother grabbed her hand. "Right here honey."

Kagome looked around as her eyes started to focus. "Where... where are we?"

"We're in the hospital honey."

"The hospital?" Kagome exclaimed, now fully awake. "Why? What happened?"

"You don't remember?"

"The last thing I remember was... I don't know... everything is so foggy." Her eyes widened as realization dawned on her. "Is the baby ok?"

Her mom nodded. "The doctor said you used your energy to put a barrier around the baby. Angel is going to be here in a while to do an ultrasound and all that to make sure it's ok."

"What happened to me?"

"I... um, it was Chad... You went home early from school and he attacked you. He pushed you down the stairs and Kami only knows what he would have done if Kouga hadn't shown up."

Kagome's eyes burned with rage. "Where is he!? I'll kill him!"

Her mother looked away. "You don't have to worry about him, he's been taken care of." She sighed. "What I don't understand is why he was so dead set on hurting you and the baby."

Kagome looked away. "Mom... I... it's because he's afraid the baby is his."

Her mom looked dumbfounded. "What do you mean?" she asked slowly.

Kagome's shoulders shook as she sobbed. "He raped me mom. He attacked me one night when you were working late and he's attacked me..." Kagome looked at her mother. "I was so ashamed, I couldn't tell you because he said he'd turn it around and make it out that seduced him... I didn't know what to do..."

"Did you really think I would believe him over you!?" her mother exclaimed. "I would have had him arrested! I would have made it so he could never hurt you again! How could you not trust me with this!?"

Kagome glared. "How could I trust you? How many times have I taken a beating for you?? How many times have I begged you to leave him?? You've always taken his side, how was I supposed to know this would have been any different!?" Kagome laid back, her head spinning. "Just leave mom, I need to rest."

Her mother opened her mouth to say something, outstretching a hand to comfort her daughter, but she couldn't. She retracted her hand slowly. She knew what Kagome said was true and it killed her to think how she'd betrayed her daughter's trust.

--

"Kouga, I'm detective Jin Hirakima, my partner detective Momiji Tashinoa is at the hospital with Miss Higurashi," a man said as he took the seat across the table from him. He had short black hair combed back, and dark brown eyes, covered by glasses. He wore a fadded blue, possibly gray, business suit. "Let's get straight to the point. Why were you at the Higurashi residence this afternoon?"

"Kagome Higurashi is my girlfriend and the mother of my child. When I found out she was sent home early I was worried so I went over as soon as I got out of school to check on her."

"What happened when you got there?"

"I can't remember, I walked in and I saw Chad with his hand on Kagome's throat and then it's blank."

"That's convenient, a man is laying in a hospital bed, fighting for his life and you can't remember what happened. How do we know you didn't attack Miss Higurashi then Mr. Hiretsukan for witnessing?"

Kouga stood and slammed his hands on the table. "How DARE you! I would never hurt Kagome, I love her!"

The detective stood as well. "Maybe that's the problem, maybe you love her too much. Maybe you walked in on something that looked a bit too romantic for your liking and attacked them both. Maybe you thought if you couldn't have her nobody would."

Kouga jumped across the table and shoved the detective against the wall. "I would NEVER hurt Kagome, or our child. Chad is a bastard, he tried to kill them both and I did the world a favor. I hope he dies in that hospital bed, helpless and alone."

Kouga backed away and put his hands behind his head as officers poured into the room. The detective smiled as they handcuffed him. "Temper, temper, this only adds fuel to the case against you."

--

"Where's Kouga?" Kagome asked the woman detective that had come to get her statement. The detectinve had medium-lengthed dark brown hair put into a bun and onyx-colored eyes. She wore a scarlet red business suit.

"He's at the station. He's talking to my partner Jin. I'm detective Momiji Tashinoa and I've been assigned to your case. I know your memory is still a bit foggy, but I need you tell me everything you can remember from today."

Kagome closed her eyes, trying to remember. "I remember going to school this morning, I was in Computer Science when the teacher said I needed to go to the office. I went to the office and they told me something, um... I remember! They told me I would have to take classes in a different building because I was pregnant. I got mad and yelled at the dean so her suspended me for three days and sent me home."

"That's good, what else do you remember?"

"I remember walking home and talking to mom. I went to my room and changed out of my uniform then I sat on my bed and started reading a book... Someone walked in, I-I can't remember who..."

"It's ok Miss Higurashi, take your time." The detective shook her head as her cell phone went off. "Just a second." She left the room and came back in a few minutes later. "We have a suspect in custody."

"A suspect, but I know who did it!"

"You remember?"

"No, but I know it was Chad. It wouldn't be the first time he's hurt me, is he the suspect you're talking about."

"Nobody has told you?" Kagome gave her a blank look. "Mr. Hiretsukan is in the ICU. Our suspect, Kouga Okami, attacked him and we can't be sure he isn't the one that attacked you too."

"Kouga would never hurt me, or my baby."

The detective raised an eyebrow. "Your baby? Is he not the father?"

Kagome looked away. "He is... I know he is."

"Kagome, I can't help you if you aren't completely honest with me."

Kagome sighed as she looked up at the detective. "There is a small chance someone else is the father..."

"Who?"

"Chad Hiretsukan."

--

Angel: Ugh, I hate this chapter... It was a pain in the butt to write, not just because of everything that's going on, but because I HATE writing about cops and interrogations and all that jazz, most of this was pulled from random episodes of Law & Order: SVU, I love that show!

Inu: Boy, this one was odd editing.

Sesshoumaru: Why is that?

Inu: She said she hated it when she gave it to me so I made some major changes, and I don't even know if she liked it.

Angel: I do :p