Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or the other characters, all rights go to Rumiko Takahashi.

Chapter Two: Hidden Secrets.

(Miroku's POV)

High-school was nothing short of a living hell and it was only my second day. Not that I wasn't appreciative to the kindness Inuyasha had shown me, but he seemed to be a little nosy. I knew most people wanted to meet your family, but he'd just met me, there was no need to have him in here. I rested my back against the door and listened to the sound of feet shuffle down the hallway. "You walked home fast, I thought I had more time before I had to see your worthless face around here." I frowned at the man my mother had somehow fallen for and married. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be such a bother. If you'll excuse me, I'll go to my room." I walked toward the hallway, but his hand grabbed my wrist in a tight and painful grip. "How about you make yourself useful and get me a beer, then clean this place up." "Yes, sir." I headed to the kitchen and opened the refridgerator and grabbed a can of Bud Lite, the brand he kept a lifetime supply of and brought it to the bastard. "Here." He took it from my hand, popped the tab and took a drink.

I began to clean up the porn magazines and dirty clothes that the lazy bum threw around the house, when he suddenly decided to get angry. "What the hell? Are you completely retarded? This isn't cold enough. Did you grab one from the front?" I blinked, slightly annoyed. "Yes. Why would I take one from the back?" He threw his beer can at me, managing to get the foul smelling liquid in my hair and on my shirt. "Because you worthless shit, that's where the cold ones are!" I inhaled slowly, trying to keep myself from getting angry. "I'm sorry, I didn't know." He slammed his fist down on the coffee table and I flinched at the bang it caused. "You don't know anything, you're a moron." I hated this guy. "I said I was sorry. I'll get you another one."

I returned with the cold beer, fighting the urge to chuck it at him. "Here, I hope this one is cold enough, Naraku." He scowled at me. "It better be or you'll be hoping about other things." I didn't know why he constantly spoke in a code that way, no one else was here. He could've been blunt about it and just come out and say it, if you mess up again I'll really kick your ass. I returned to the task at hand, which was picking up the bums crap. I knew he hated me and if it was up to him I would be six feet under in some dense forest. "Quit with the attitude." I close my eyes slowly, pushing back the need to say something smart. The smallest things could set this guy off. "I'm not trying to have an attitude, I'm sorry if it seems that way though." He kicked off his shoes and watched me closely, waiting for me to make a mistake.

(NEXT DAY)

I walked the halls with caution trying to avoid a certain group of seven, when I saw her. She was beautiful, I pulled my gaze from her and opened the door to my locker. No need to stare or dream, girls like her never fall for guys like me. "Miroku, hey." I turned to face Inuyasha but she was the first person I saw. I swallowed hard, trying to get my heart out of my throat. Her long brown hair fell past her shoulders in soft waves and her brown doe like eyes seemed to see right through to the soul of me. "Hey, Inuyasha." My voice always seemed that much softer when I was nervous. "This is Sango, she's my cousin." I gave her a quick once over, her dark blue skinney jeans accented her small waist and long legs and her hot pink tank top hugged her perfectly. I shook off the thought, she'd think I was a pervert if she knew what I was thinking.

Inuyasha patted my shoulder and grinned at me slightly, his eyes shimmered with a certain amount of mischief that made me nervous. "She's a freshman too, I figured she could show you around." I looked back to the girl he was referring to, only to catch her eyeing me up in down, judging me in every aspect. "I'll be okay, she doesn't have to do that." I reach for my Literature text book and begin to excuse myself when she finally decided to speak to me. "It's no problem, Lit is my first period too. You can carry my books." She handed me a binder, notebook and text book and fell into step beside me as we made our way to class. Inuyasha called out, "Be nice to him, Sango!" She smiles kindly and waves to her cousin enthusiastically. "You really don't have to show me around, I can manage." She turned to me and nodded. "I know you can find you own way to class, but no one should have to do everything alone." In that moment, I couldn't find the right words to disagree with her.

(LUNCHTIME)

I made the walk to the cafeteria in solitude, which was welcomed. Sango had walked me to all my classes so far and as kind as it was, I felt as if I was transported to an alternate universe where girls took care of the guys. I just thought I should be walking her to class, but she just didn't get it. I stopped in front of the double doors and the sounds of voices and laughter drifted to my ears. I don't know why simple things jumbled my nerves in such a way. "Hey, I see you found the lunchroom." Her sudden intrusion to my thoughts startled me. "Yeah, I did and I was just leaving." She gave me a look filled with confusion and concern. "But you haven't eaten yet." I attempted to brush her observation off with a smile and a simple little white lie. "I'm not hungry." Though her eyes showed the disbelief, her words spoke of something else entirely. "Okay, if you're sure." She pushed through the doors, leaving me in the deserted hallways completely alone, which was exactly what I wanted. Wasn't it?

After I made an escape from the school, I searched for a place to hide away. I had known that she had followed after, she almost fooled me though. I really did believe that she had left me to go to lunch, but I notice little things that most people ignore. I saw her shadow in the hall when crossing in front of a window, I heard the confused sigh that escaped her lips and I could hear the almost silent sound of her shuffling feet. It was just more fun letting her believe, that I had not in fact seen her. I, instead, let her think her abilities in being sneaky were much higher than they really were. I had let her go unnoticed, until I saw where I would like to go and be alone. "I thought you were hungry?" I turned just in time to see her look of surprise. "How did you know I was following you?" I let myself lean against the brick wall of the school building. "You're no ninja, I heard and saw you. Well, I saw your shadow anyway." She blinked and allowed herself to smile, I, on the other hand, shoved my shaking hands into the pockets of my jeans. "I underestimated you, Miroku." I return her smile, with a nervous one of my own. "They always do."

She scanned the area that I seemingly lead her to. "Where are we sitting?" I slowly lifted my eyebrow and threw her a questioning look. "I thought you were eating lunch in the cafeteria with everyone else." She stepped a little closer to me. "Like I said earlier, no one should do everything alone." I took a quick sidelong glance in her direction and she was staring at me with a thoughtful expression on her face. "Why are you looking at me like that?" She moved even closer to me, close enough for me to feel the heat of her body. I looked down and found it nearly impossible to breathe with her standing so close. "You fascinate me, Miroku." I quickly took a step back. "I beg your pardon?" Her smile had me throwing up my guard. "There's something about you that makes me want to get to know you." I tried to swallow the lump that had formed in my throat. "You shouldn't waste your time." She grinned, "I never waste my time, I want to get to know you. I'll give you your space for now, but I'll definitely be seeing you around." With that she turned and walked away, leaving me shocked and slightly annoyed.

(AFTER SCHOOL)

I couldn't seem to get Sango off of my mind, the memory of her thoughtful brown eyes seared into my memory, distracting me. I had begun my chores, but my brain was elsewhere. It was as though I was on auto-pilot, his voice brought me back. "What the hell do you think you're doing?! I'm still drinking that you idiot." The sound of his palm making contact with my cheek, resounded in my ears. I look down at the can in my hand, "I'm sorry...I don't know what I was thinking." The anger in his eyes flamed with a touch of evil. "You're never thinking. The only way to get those wheels in your head to turn is to beat you." I finched inwardly, "That's not true..." He stood up quickly, throwing the table over as he did so. "If you were thinking, you'd know better than to talk back to me." With those words, my nightmare began again.

(NEXT DAY)

I woke the next day, sore and shaking heavily. I hated myself for letting him control me, for allowing him to cause me to fear. He had me trapped in a corner, I couldn't stay in that position much longer, it was only a matter of time before I came out fighting. I quickly got dressed, rushed out the door, and headed toward the school, my escape. The bruise he left of my right cheek throbbed. Would someone notice it this time? There was only one way to find out, I entered the school...my fate in a stranger's hands.

Inuyasha's voice rang out the moment I walked through the doors. "Hey Miroku. I just wanted to ask if..." He paused and his eyes widened slightly when he saw the bruise on my face. "What happened to your face? Was it Bankotsu and his gang?" I shook my head no. "What happened?" I frowned, "I can't talk about it." Inuyasha's face contorted with anger, "I'm trying to help you, talk to me damnit!" His fist made contact with the locker next to me, I flinched noticeably, and tears sprang to my eyes and the tremors returned. "Miroku? I'm sorry...I didn't mean to upset you. I didn't know you..." The look of realization crossed his features. "Holy shit...locker room now." He grabbed my wrist and practically dragged me to the boy's locker room.

He looked at me now as an older brother looks at his little brother, in his eyes, concern and anger fused together and burned around the edges. "Unbutton your shirt." That threw me off. "I beg your pardon?" Annoyance laced his voice, "You heard me." "Why on earth would I do that?" He rolled his eyes. "Because I asked you to, just get on with it." My hands shook, but for some reason I found myself doing what I was told. The bruises and scars along my torso were revealed with each button that was undone. "I should've known, should've seen the signs...you're abused. Aren't you?" I shook my head yes, avoiding eye contact. "I'm gonna get you out of this, I promise." He stormed off, leaving my nerves rattled.

I went through the motions of the day, my mind only half there. I had to find Inuyasha and tell him to forget what had happened that morning...but I never looked for him. Deep inside, I wanted his help. I couldn't get out alone, but I didn't want anyone getting hurt on my account. "Hey Miroku." Sango's sudden intrusion to my thoughts, startled me slightly. "Hey." She took a seat beside me. "I need to ask you something." I found my guard coming up again. "Um...okay...?" "Have you talked to Inuyasha today?" I lifted an eyebrow in question. "Yeah." "Do you know what has him upset?" I looked her straight in the eyes and lied using only one word. "No."

(LATER THAT DAY.)

Inuyasha turned onto the street that lead to my house, my cage. As we grew closer to the structure, his menacing form came into veiw. I stiffened and Inuyasha looked at me, anger evident on his features. "Is that him, your dad?" I shook my head. "No, that man is not my father, he's my mom's new husband." He lifted an eyebrow, "Your step father?" I frowned, "Some would call him that, but not me." He pulled his car up to the curb as Naraku stormed down the steps. He didn't hesitate to rip the door open, he painfully gripped my arm and jerked my from the seat. "Did I give you permission to get a ride home from school?!" I paled, "No sir, you didn't." He pushed me towards the house. "Get your ass inside." I quickly did as I was told, as he bent down and yelled at Inuyasha. "You stay away from my boy! Now get the hell off my property!" Then he turned around and went inside.

He slammed the door with a bang. "What the hell do you think you're doing by bringing people here?!" I cringed at the volumn of his voice. "He just gave me a ride. He doesn't know." His face contorted with anger. "I'll kill you before going back to jail." Terror struck down to my core, grabbed ahold, and shook me. "I won't send you back." He grabbed my throat and his fist came down hard and fast. My world blackened around the edges. The thought crossed my mind and the realization dawned, he was going to kill me. I couldn't breathe and he wasn't going to let me take in anymore air. I began to panic, I normally couldn't find the nerve to fight back, but my will to live had my survival instints kicking in. I started to struggle beneath him, I kicked, I squirmed, I bucked, but the bastard wouldn't let me go. I couldn't over power a grown man, that fifteen year old boy, I used to be, didn't stand a chance against him.

I could feel the fight leave my body as my vision blurred. I was going to die and his ugly mug was going to be the last thing I was going to see. I try one more time to escape his clutches, but he merely put more of his weight on the knees that was crushing my ribs. I would have died if not for the knock on the door, the sound had him releasing his deathly hold. "Dammit. It's better not be that punk ass kid that drove you home." He kicked me, knocking what little wind I had started to regain, away again, while simutanously hiding me from view behind the couch. I could hear him cross the room and open the door in an angry jerking fashion. "What?!" "Hey, Miroku forgot his backpack in my car, I thought I'd bring it back to him, in case he has homework." I tried to call out and ask for help, but I couldn't find my voice. "Where's he at?" I wanted to yell out, I'm behind the couch, but my throat wouldn't allow it, instead I closed my eyes and let sleep claim me.

(Inuyasha's POV)

The man that stood in the doorway, was an angry one. His face was flushed and twisted into a scowl only an evil man could possess and Miroku was no where to be seen. The coffee table lay on it's side, the things that were once on it strewn about the room and the silence lingered too heavily. "I just wanna give him back his bag. Can I talk to him?" The man eyed me up and down, with a stare that honestly reflected his disdain of me. "The brat ain't here. He left because I yelled at you. He'll be back for supper, so just leave the bag with me. I'll make sure he gets it." This guy had no clue that I had never driven away and knew Miroku never left. Part of me wanted to push past the dick and go look for him, the kid was somewhere inside the house. The other part knew better than to do something that reckless. I wanted to help him, not get him into more trouble. "Okay. Tell him I stopped by." He snatched the backpack and continued to stare at me coldly. "Fine." With that said, he slammed the door in my face, leaving me to wonder if the kid was okay.