Sorry It's a short Chapter. I'll do better next time lol

Kagome startled awake. She had been keeping track of the days since she first woke up. She had been in there 2 days already, who knew how long she was in there before she woke up. Her body hurt a little less, but she wasn't strong enough to break open the doors just yet. She stared at the ceiling, even breathing caused Kagome intense pain, as her bruised ribs expanded and contracted with every breath. She focused on breathing, that was all she could focus on beyond the pain. She had heard her father come and go in the past few days, never once did he come near her room.

Kagome heard a knock at the front door.

"Kagome?"

At first Kagome couldn't place the voice, but as they kept banging and screaming her name, Kagome realized it was Sango.

"Help," What was meant to come out as a scream, came out as a short throaty whisper. Kagome cleared her throat and tried again.

"Help!" It was louder, but lacked support. Kagome took a few painful deep breaths before trying again.

"HELP!" That was better. Kagome did it again. But after 10 painful minutes of screaming she stopped to listen. The house was silent again. Kagome heard a car door close, crank, then pull away. Kagome bit her lip to keep from sobbing. Her face hurt as it scrunched up with unshed tears.

Kagome felt a pull of the air as the closet doors were opened, breaking the vacuum seal that had been created. She opened her one good eye to see her father walking away. She waited, for what felt like hours, for her dad to leave the house before she even dared to venture out of the closet. She pulled herself out and slowly to her feet. Stumbling, and even falling a few times, Kagome inched toward the bathroom. The room was dark but Kagome didn't need the light. She braced herself on the sink and waited in the dark. Scared to see herself for the first time in years.

Do it.

She hesitated.

Do it.

She flipped the light switch.

She was almost unrecognizable. Her face was thin, sunken in on itself. Her cheekbones were grossly prominent and her skin discolored. Her left eye was swollen shut still, bruised purple. Her body was littered with dark purple bruises. Kagome could no longer hold back the tears. She cried, the pain of her sobs only causing her to cry more. Kagome screamed. It felt good to let it out, to be loud in her own home instead of always hiding. Kagome screamed again, a low animalistic sound ripping from her throat.

She began to tug on her bra and panties, pulling them off and turning on the shower. She reeked of blood and urine. Kagome eased herself into the shower. The luke warm water hurt as it drilled into her fresh bruises, but not as much as getting the bruises hurt,and nowhere near as bad as hiding and lying about them would hurt. Kagome held in a yelp of pain and gritted her teeth. Nothing hurt as bad as the years she spent in silence, hiding from people, terrified of her own father. Nothing hurt as bad as living your life on eggshells. Kagome swallowed the pain, and finished her shower in silence.

It was three more days before Kagome looked presentable enough to go back to school. Though her father had let her out, there was no food in the house, Kagome was on day six without food. She had stopped feeling hungry though after day four. But that was only counting the days she could remember. She really wasn't sure how long she was out clothes were a little baggy on her and she felt sluggish. She slowly dressed herself in a sweatshirt and some jeans. Her hair hung limply around her, Kagome couldn't raise her arms high enough to put it up. She had searched her house but only came up with three dollars in change, hopefully that would be enough for her to eat something today for lunch. Kagome avoided the mirror. Last time she checked, her skin was pale, her eyes huge and her face still painfully thin.

Kagome walked slowly to school. Her first class had already started by the time Kagome left the house, but she couldn't bring herself to get up any earlier. Today she was actually able to carry her books in a messenger bag she had slung across her body.

Maybe today won't be as bad as I think its going to be.

Kagome couldn't help but laugh at herself.

The day dragged by. Kagome went to the office to explain her absence. She was a senior this year, there was no way in hell she was going to get held back for absences.

Kagome took her doctors note to the office, it's amazing what you can find the internet, and sold the attendance lady, who's real title Kagome didn't even bother to remember, her sob story about how sick she had been. As expected, the woman glanced at the note, nodded her head with a sympathetic look on her face, and sent Kagome on her way.

It was a day of lies. A long, painfully slow day of lies. If Kagome could she would have ran out the door when the last bell of the day rang, but instead she did what she could muster, which, sadly enough, was a slow walk. Kagome stared ahead blankly, letting the crowded hall corral her in the right direction.

"Kagome!"

Kagome recognized the voice but kept walking.

"Kagome!" This time her name was accompanied by a hand on her arm

Kagome turned and looked at Sango.

"Where have you been? I thought you said you would be here." Sango looked concerned. Kagome flushed with anger and annoyance. She knew it was irrational, but she didn't care, couldn't stop the mean thoughts that were bubbling below the surface, threatening to spew from her mouth. Kagome could feel the tears rising.

She pressed her lips together.

"I went by your house everyday, but no one was home. And the construction workers next door to your house said no one had been home in days."

Oh.

Kagome spoke, her voice hoarse," How many days did you come by do you think?"

Sango thought for a moment, "I must have gone to your house 10 times. I mean today is Thursday so..."

Sango trailed off and Kagome didn't rush to fill the gap. The obvious question hung in the air. Kagome had two options, lie or evade. After years of explaining away absense, one would think Kagome would be better at evading questions. Kagome looked at Sango, her face scrunched into a mixture of concern and curiosity. Sango didn't press and Kagome knew she would take whatever story she told her without question, not because she believed her but because she respected Kagome's privacy.

Kagome couldn't do it, she couldn't lie to her. So she did the next thing that popped into her head.

Tilting her head to the side Kagome studied Sango's hair.

"I don't know how you get your hair into such a perfect ponytail, will you put mine up for me?"

Sango stared at her, then started laughing.

"Sure."

Kagome scrunched down a little while Sango raked her fingers through Kagome's hair.

No one except for Kagome's mother had fixed her hair. Sango's fingers were gentle as she pulled Kagome's hair into a high ponytail.

"Thanks." Kagome smiled at Sango. They started to walk towards the exit together. This moment was surreal. Kagome had never had this before. The silence was interrupted by a loud grumble.

"Sorry," Sango said, "I'm starving, wanna get something to eat?"

Kagome hesitated, feeling the burning in her stomach too. Today Kagome had learned school lunches cost you at least 4.50.

Do I have enough money?

Kagome felt the three dollars in assorted change burning a hole in her pocket. It was embarrassing.

"Come on, my treat!" Sango sang the last words, nudging Kagome with her elbow.

Kagome winced as Sango hit a bruise, but covered it up with a quick smile.

"Well who can say no to free food?"