InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Broken ❯ Chapter 6 ( Chapter 6 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the supporting characters.

Broken

Chapter 6

Shortly after Mrs. Higurashi, Kagome and Inuyasha made it home, they sat down at the dining table to speak about what is next.

Kagome put the packet that Sana had given her down on the table in front of her. She skimmed through it quietly while Inuyasha and her mother waited patiently for her to say what may be on her mind.

She noticed that the first half of the packet was all about at home Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The second half was more about depression and anxiety symptoms and medications that can help with that. She flipped back to the first page and began to read the first half of the packet out loud, so she doesn't have to repeat herself to anyone afterwards.

°•°•°

5 Surprisingly Effective Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Exercises

While CBT does involve meeting with a licensed therapist on a regular basis, there are a few tips that anyone can follow to assist in improving their mental health. Here are five that you can get started on right away.

°•°•°

The Three C's of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy:

Catch: Identify the thought that came before the emotion.

Check: Reflect on how accurate and useful the thought is.

Change: Change the thought to a more accurate or helpful one as needed.

°•°•°

1. Engage in active problem solving

Take specific actions to find solutions and make the best of a situation. This will help you regain a sense of control in your life and can be effective with a variety of life obstacles including unemployment, illness, or the loss of a loved one.

Problem solving steps:

-Determine your problem orientation — your way of thinking about the problem, your attitude.

-Define your problem(s) in a clear and concrete fashion.

-Brainstorm and evaluate potential solutions.

-Take appropriate action based on your previous steps.

°•°•°

2. Restructure your thoughts

Identify negative thought patterns and disrupt them before they lead to negative behavior. If you are depressed, for example, a vicious cycle can develop between your harmful thoughts, unhealthy emotions, and damaging behavior patterns.

Try to stop this feedback loop. Look out for the running commentary going on in your head. Don't take it at face value. Examine your thoughts and realize that they are just thoughts. This can help stop unhelpful thinking patterns and allow you to make a conscious effort to change them.

Thought restructuring steps:

- Use a thought diary to record your thoughts and emotions and various points throughout your day.

- Write down automatic thoughts (thoughts that provide a running commentary of our experiences).

- Write down all emotions related to those thoughts and rate their intensity on 0-100 scale (typically there is more than one and no emotion has the same intensity).

-Write down reactions to the experience.

°•°•°

3. Break up your tasks into smaller more manageable steps

Tackle difficult and seemingly overwhelming goals by systematically breaking tasks into smaller steps. By having small wins throughout the process, you'll be able to get much further than thinking about the issue as one big looming chore. Once you get going, a snowball effect takes place — and you'll be amazed at how far you've come.

°•°•°

4. Schedule new activities

Engage in activities and behaviors that you wouldn't normally do. Start off slow and gradually increase the frequency in which you do your new activity/behavior. This will help bring you out of your shell and bring new responsibilities that can have beneficial effects to your entire well being. Pick up a new hobby, join a fitness class, volunteer your time — basically do anything that involves new activities and new responsibilities.

°•°•°

5. Practice mindful meditation and relaxation breathing

Meditate regularly. Mindful meditation helps you disengage from obsessive and harmful thoughts by learning to connect to the present moment. It allows you to silently reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and senses all in the present moment without judgment. Don't actively try to not think about anything. Thoughts will inevitably arise in your mind, simply let them fade away and stay in the present moment.

If you're brand new to meditation and not sure where to start — do some breathing exercises. Relaxation breathing helps decrease physiological signs of anxiety (sweating, shallow and rapid breathing, increased heart rate) and has other proven health benefits.

Tips for beginner meditation

-Sit upright in a comfortable position

-Close your eyes

-Focus on your breathing

-Take slow, deep "belly" breaths

-Aim to have at least 6 deep "belly" breaths to help reduce stress level

-Practice regularly

°•°•°

Each of the above techniques are effective in helping to create a more psychologically grounded lifestyle. When implemented together along with regular professional help, they can truly transform your life.

°•°•°

Kagome took a deep breath in and looked at both her mother and fiancé. After a moment of thinking over what she had just read, she spoke to Inuyasha.

"I think... I want to ask Miroku to help me meditate."

Inuyasha grabbed her hand and rubbed the back of it softly with his thumb. "Ya sure, Kagome? He can be kinda..."

Kagome narrowed her eyes at him. "Come on, Inuyasha. Even I know he wouldn't do anything like that after what I've been through. I want to go back to see everyone anyway. They must be worried." She looked down at her lap and sighed. "I left them pretty harshly and I've already been gone for five days." Her eyes started to water. "Poor little Shippo must be beside himself." She looked up at her mother. "Can I get everyone an apology gift before going back?"

Mrs. Higurashi smiled at her daughter. "Of course you can dear, but I am positive they are not mad at you."

Inuyasha squeezed Kagome's hand lightly. "Keh, 'course they ain't. The monk is actually the one to give me some..." He blushed when he realized what he was about to admit.

Kagome looked at him with an eyebrow raised. "What?"

He averted his gaze and mumbled. "He gave me advice 'bout helpin' you... It really helped 'cause there ain't no way I woulda known the first thing to do..." He sighed and looked back into Kagome's watery eyes. "I owe the monk my thanks for that..."

Kagome smiled and hugged Inuyasha tight. "You have grown so much since we met, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha nuzzled his face against her cheek. "Feh..."

Mrs. Higurashi coughed softly, separating the blushing mates and smiled. "Is there more to read, dear?"

Kagome nodded and turned the page. "It is more about anxiety and depression symptoms... and there is more about the medications Dr. Sana recommended I be on." She began to read through the page aloud like she had done before.

°•°•°

Identifying signs of anxiety and depression

What is stress, and what happens when you can't cope well with it?

Stress can present itself after being fired from a job, going through a divorce or losing a loved one. Even getting married, transitioning to a new job or having a baby can cause stress. Everyone experiences stress at one time or another.

Many people define stress as either good or bad when it's neither. Stress is an event you view as out of your control, and it typically occurs outside your daily routines. How you react shapes your ability to cope with these and other similar events in the future.

When people struggle to cope with stressful situations, depression and anxiety become more noticeable.

How are stress, anxiety and depression connected?

Anxiety and depression can be caused by several things, including:

- Genetics

-Environmental exposure

-Personality

-Life events

Early signs of anxiety and depression

An early warning sign for anxiety or depression occurs when someone begins avoiding things once enjoyed.

Other warning signs for anxiety include:

-Shakiness

-Increased heart rate

-Tightness in the chest

-Rapid breathing

-Racing thoughts

-Nausea/Vomiting

-Diarrhea

-Late or missed period

Meanwhile, warning signs for depression include:

- Isolating oneself

- Frequently thinking negative thoughts

- Recurring feelings of sadness

- Advanced signs of anxiety

-Nausea/Vomiting

-Diarrhea

-Late or missed period

Advanced signs of generalized anxiety disorder include:

- Excessive worry occurring more days than not for at least six months

- Feeling restless

- Fatigue or frequently feeling tired

- Difficulty concentrating

- Irritability

- Muscle tension

- Sleep disturbances, like difficulty falling or staying asleep

- Distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning

Advanced signs of a major depressive disorder include:

-Feeling down or depressed most of the day, nearly every day

-Diminished interest in activities you once enjoyed

-Significant changes in your weight (increase or decrease)

-Difficulty with sleep, like difficulty falling, staying asleep or sleeping too much

-Fatigue or frequently feeling tired

-Difficulty concentrating

-Recurrent thoughts of death

-Distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning

 °•°•°

Why it's important to address your mental health

It's important for people to address their mental health to live lives that are fulfilling. Acknowledging and treating your mental health helps create resilience. It also teaches you to better cope. Then when a similar situation occurs, you are equipped to handle it.

Stressful situations are going to happen. How you react can determine how these situations will affect you. Many resources are available regarding anxiety, depression and stress. Talk to your health care team if you have concerns about your mental health.

 °•°•°

Kagome wiped the tears from her face and looked up at her mother. "I guess this explains some things... I have been getting sick and my period is almost a week late now..." She took a shuddering breath in and out. "I'm just so thankful it wasn't... what I thought it was..." She rested her head on Inuyasha's shoulder and sighed.

Mrs. Higurashi also felt more relieved. Even just seeing how Kagome is reading through all of this without completely losing it... She is very proud of her daughter and she knows that in time, things will get better.

"Kagome, dear... I spoke to the psychiatrist earlier and she told me you already consented to try those medications." At her daughter's nod, she continued. "I went ahead and told her to fill them for you. I will pick them up at the pharmacy in the morning and you will start taking them before bed each night, alright?"

Kagome nodded as she gave her mother a watery smile. "Thank you, mama." She turned to look back into the eyes of her mate. "Thank you... I don't know what would have happened if I didn't have you..." A single tear dropped from her eye, but Inuyasha caught it as he cupped her cheek. "Actually, I do... I... I wouldn't be here right now... I... I love you Inuyasha..."

Inuyasha kissed Kagome on the forehead and hugged her tight. "I love you too, koibito." He mumbled it into her ear.

The three turned in their seats when they heard footsteps approaching. Kagome pulled away from Inuyasha's embrace and saw her grandfather staring at her. She quickly averted her eyes. Her grandfather is a very traditional man. She worries that he may never see her the same now as he did just the day before. Her eyes shut tightly as she tried not to melt into a puddle of tears.

Then she gasped when she felt the familiar embrace of her Jii-chan. The ability to keep her tears at bay was quickly thwarted as she wrapped her arms around his back and sobbed into his neck.

"I am so sorry, my mago musume. Aishiteru."

Her sobs wracked her small form as she tried to catch her breath. "Aishiteru, Jii-chan..."

Her grandfather pulled away to look into Kagome's eyes. He wiped her tears away and gave her a small smile. "My beautiful mago musume... How you have grown so fast." He turned to Inuyasha and nodded his head. "Take care of her, part-timer. She needs you."

Inuyasha nodded his head in return as he reached forward and grasped Kagome's hand in his own. Jii-chan kissed Kagome on the top of her head before going back out to the shrine.

Mrs. Higurashi stood from her seat and clapped her hands together. "Well, I'm going to start on dinner. I actually need a few things and you wanted to get some gifts for your friends in the past. So, would you and Inuyasha walk down to the store for me, dear? It would be very helpful and get you out of the house for a little while."

Kagome wiped her face free of her tears once again and smiled up at her mother. "Sure, mama." She turned back to Inuyasha. "Come on, put your cap back on so we can go."

Inuyasha crossed his arms, unable to stuff them in the sleeves of these stupid future clothes, and stood up from his seat with Kagome. "Keh... women and shopping." He shook his head, feining exasperation. He smirked when Kagome slapped him on the chest and smiled up at him.

Mrs. Higurashi handed Kagome the small grocery list as they were walking out the door. She also handed her some yen to be able to pay for everything she may need for the Sengoku Jidai.

Mrs. Higurashi closed her eyes and sighed after her daughter and future son-in-law left. 'Kami-sama... please, help my daughter get through this tough time...' A single tear trailed down her cheek. 'And protect her when she returns to that other world...'

She opened her eyes back up and began getting dinner prepared. As much as she wants to keep Kagome home and out of danger, she won't interfere with her daughters destiny... and she definitely won't interfere with true love. She looked up at the ceiling as if staring straight into the heavens as she fingered the thin golden necklace she always wears around her neck.

'Otto... Watch over our daughter when I cannot.'

°•°•°

Kagome and Inuyasha are holding hands as they are walking down the sidewalk on their way to the store. Inuyasha is watching her out of the corner of his eye, paying complete attention to every emotional change, every beat of her heart, every breath she takes. He can admit that he is being a little over pretective, but as her mate, he will be damned if anything happens to her ever again.

Kagome glanced at Inuyasha and noticed his stiff posture. His eyes are obviously trained on her, whether or not she was meant to notice. His ears are twitching from underneath the red baseball cap. His hand is tight around hers. She sighed and rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"Inuyasha... if I wanted a personal guard dog, I'd get one..." She had a small grin appear on her face as his scowl and adorable growl appeared as if on cue. Her eyes rolled once again. "Oh, lighten up, Inu. It was a joke."

"Keh... I ain't a dog, Kagome. But I am your mate. So, I will watch ya and make sure ya stay safe." His head nodded once in satisfaction, as if that was all that needed to be said.

Which it was, if Kagome's fluttering heart and pinking cheeks had anything to say about it.

She ducked her head and squeezed his hand. "Thank you, Inuyasha..."

Inuyasha grinned in smug satisfaction.

They made it to a small grocery store and walked inside. Inuyasha always loves this place. They have so much Ramen! Which reminds him...

"Hey, 'Gome... what's your mom makin' for dinner?"

Kagome looked down at the piece of paper in her hands and laughed. "I think your having Ramen tonight." She smiled at him when his adorable sparkling puppy dog eyes bore into her brown orbs. "Mama wants me to get some stuff to make Kare Raisu."

Inuyasha made a face that had her holding back another laugh. "Bleh, ain't that the spicy stuff that hurt my tongue?"

Kagome nodded her head. "Hai, which is why she also wrote down to get you whatever you wanted to eat. Do you want Ramen or steak? You liked steak last time you had it." They made it to the isle where the rice was and she grabbed enough to last them a week.

When she turned to Inuyasha, she had to hold her laugh in once again. He really looked like a puppy trying to think too hard. His head was cocked to the side, his ears were standing straight up under his cap, his lips were in a thin line and his eyes were sparkling in concentration.

"Do you want both, Inuyasha?" She swore in that moment, if he had a tail, he would be wagging it right then. She shook her head at his adorableness and grabbed his hand again to drag him over to the next area.

Kagome had Inuyasha pick his Ramen flavors, which he seemed to think they needed enough for a month even though they would be back from the past in two weeks for her next appointment.

"Do you really need that much Ramen?"

He growled as he dumped the truck load of cup noodles into the cart. The look he gave her was obviously meant to say, 'is that an actual question, baka woman?' She smiled widely at him before stepping up on her tip toes and kissing him on the cheek. She laughed when he blushed, obviously not used to any public display of affection.

'Well, tough. I am from a different time. I will damn well kiss my mate whenever I want.' She smiled smugly to herself as she led him over to pick his steak.

He did that adorable thing where he cocks his head to the side and his eyebrows pinch together in concentration. "What the hell is the difference between all the different kinds?"

Kagome was then forced to explain how some are more tough and others are more juicy. Some steaks are lean and some are more fatty.

After a good twenty minutes of trying to get the stubborn baka to choose, she chose for him. She grabbed a sirloin and a filet mignon and placed them in the cart. The baka hanyou then had the audacity to grin at her as if it was his plan all along to get both. She sighed and shook her head as they went towards the register to check out. She grabbed two of each flavored Pocky that they always keep by the register, before placing the groceries in front of the cashier.

When they finished with the grocery shopping, Kagome mentioned since they have so many bags, (mainly filled with an endless supply of Ramen), then they need to go back home to drop them off before heading back out to buy some gifts for their friends.

They walked in the front door and her mother had to stifle a laugh at the hanyou. He looked very pleased with himself as he carried twenty bags filled with Ramen cups, (she's glad that her son-in-law is obsessed with such a cheap meal), and one bag with a couple of steaks. Kagome shook her head and rolled her eyes at her mates antics. She helped her mother put away the groceries and handed her the one single bag that she had initially went to the store for. Mrs. Higurashi thanked her daughter and watched as they left once again. She sighed happily to herself. Kagome still has a sadness to her eyes, but the silver haired, doggie eared hanyou seems to be exactly what her daughter needs.

Kagome and Inuyasha are back outside and on their way to a different store. When they finally made it to the correct destination, Kagome dragged him inside against his protests.

"Come on, Inuyasha. It's for Shippo."

"Keh! It smells and it's loud! Why are there so many screaming brats around!?"

Kagome face palmed as a mother holding said 'screaming brat' stared at Inuyasha in unamused shock. Kagome apologized to the woman before narrowing her eyes at Inuyasha and crossed her arms.

"I will say 'it,' Inuyasha."

Inuyasha crossed his own arms while still standing in the doorway. "Feh. Ya can't slam your mate into the ground, Ka-go-me. It ain't right."

Kagome took a deep breath in as she pinched the bridge of her nose. She glared at him once again, this time making him gulp and his ears to lower beneath the cap.

"Three..."

"Hey! I ain't a pup!"

"Two..."

Inuyasha growled as he marched forward and grabbed Kagome's hand to drag her further into the store.

"Feh!" He growled and mumbled under his breath, "baka woman. So fuckin' bossy."

"Inuyasha..."

Inuyasha winced and pulled her into his side by his left arm. "I said I love you, woman..."

Kagome smiled satisfyingly and hugged him with the arm closest to him. "Heh, I like the way you try and make up with me now."

Inuyasha leaned forward and whispered against her ear. "I can make up with you a better way..." Kagome's heart rate picked up and her face turned cherry red. She started to sputter out nonsense, causing Inuyasha to laugh. Truthfully, he hadn't thought before he spoke. It seemed to just come out, but her reaction was priceless. "Come on, woman. You said ya needed to find some stupid toy for the runt."

Kagome shook her head free of whatever the hell Inuyasha might have meant by that statement and nodded her head. She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the art supplies. She picked up two different coloring books; one with a bunch of different foxes and one with scary demons. She grabbed a box of colored pencils, the one that comes with the sharpener attached to the back of the box, and also a pack of crayons. When she turned back around, Inuyasha was gone.

'Really? He has the attention span of a dog...' She snorted at the analogy her mind had come up with. 'Better not let him know I thought that.'

She walked two steps and then he was there as if he never left. She grasped at her racing heart and glared at him.

"You scared me half to death! Where were you, anyway?"

Inuyasha blushed and pulled something from behind his back to show Kagome. A huge smile broke out on her face when she saw the stuffed demon fox he held in his hand. She even noticed that it looked similar to the young kitsune's father.

"Oh... Inuyasha..." She had tears in her eyes as she looked up at him.

"Keh... I saw it and thought he might wanna have it..."

Kagome nodded her head happily as she took it from him and held onto his hand once again. They checked out and then left to go to the next store.

Kagome took him to a women's clothing store and he grunted. 'This woman is tryin' to kill me.' His brain seemed to short circuit for a moment. 'Is it possible to die from too much shopping? Keh!' He growled before speaking aloud. "First the brat market and now a girlie one? What're we doin'?"

"Come on baka. I'm finding a kimono for Sango." Inuyasha grunted, but obediently followed behind his mate and into said 'girlie market'.

After about fifteen minutes of searching and finding nothing, Kagome was about to give up when Inuyasha spoke up hesitantly.

"What 'bout that one?"

She looked to where the brash and surly hanyou was pointing and gasped as her eyes widened comically. Right there was a beautiful kimono that looked like it came straight from a high tier feudal era merchant. It was light blue and had beautiful pink and purple flowers in an exquisite pattern along the bottom hem towards the middle and across each sleeve. There were about five different shades of pinks and two different shades of purples covering the light blue background just slightly. It looked like spring put into the perfect kimono.

Kagome kissed Inuyasha on the cheek and grabbed it in what she believes is the right size before rushing to the checkout and leaving the store.

She then dragged her hanyou to their next destination. She had the perfect idea in mind for her good friend Miroku and she thought about how in extension, it will also be a gift for Sango. She remembered seeing it just sitting up on a shelf in the book store, so that's where she took her mate next. She walked right over to the spot she had seen it and nearly jumped in joy when it was still there.

Inuyasha watched his crazy mate warily. He saw her pick up some strange book and cocked an eyebrow as he read the cover. He nearly fell to the floor in laughter. The cover clearly stated, How to 'Woo' the girl of your dreams.

Kagome turned to the laughing hanyou, smiling at how his laugh brightens up the room and makes her heart stutter in her chest. When he finally stopped laughing enough to be able to speak, he shook his head and looked down at his sneaky girl.

"Such a sneaky wench. Sango ain't gonna be too happy 'bout that one."

Kagome shrugged her shoulders as she led him to the check out. "I think she will be in the end. Maybe he'll stop being such a hentai and treat her right."

He only shook his head in amusement as they walked up to the checkout desk. Kagome picked up two blank journals from the spot across the counter, remembering what she had read about writing her thoughts and feelings down. When they were finished checking out, they left the store, an amused hanyou still chuckling about the book his crazy fiancé picked out for the hentai houshi.

The last place Kagome and Inuyasha went to was some sort of drug store. She grabbed her usual medical supplies; bandages, pain pills, etc. But she also picked up a bunch of extra medical supplies for Kaede to hopefully aid her in treating the sick and injured villagers.

When they made it back home, it was pretty late. Dinner was almost finished and Kagome had completely forgotten about her invitation to Ayumi. She rushed upstairs to her bedroom and put all of her bags down before heading back down and towards the kitchen.

"Kuso..." She mumbled under her breath, causing Inuyasha's dark eyebrows to raise in question. He followed her and eyed her questioningly.

"What's wrong?"

Kagome ignored him as she helped set the table and explained to her mother that she invited Ayumi. She apologized for forgetting to let her know sooner and Mrs. Higurashi waved off her daughter's concerns, simply stating, 'the more the marrier.'

Inuyasha crossed his arms and watched as Kagome kept herself busy. He vaguely wondered if she has been running around like a headless chicken all day to stay distracted. Sure, Kagome isn't necessarily a lazy person, but she also doesn't usually do so much in one day. He grabbed her by the arm to stop her rushing around and positioned herself in front of him. She looked up into his eyes questioningly.

"Ya alright, Kagome?"

She shrugged her shoulders and smiled up at him. "Mmhmm! Just getting ready for dinner, Inuyasha." She responded happily.

In his opinion, it seemed to be a little too happy. He decided in that moment to keep an extra ear, eye and nose out, to double check her fluctuating emotions. He reluctantly let her go to finish her task right before there was a knock at the door. He sniffed the air before speaking.

"It's the peppy girl from earlier."

Kagome looked at him weirdly. "Peppy? That is not a word from your time, and her name is Ayumi, Inuyasha."

The hanyou shrugged his shoulders. "Souta called her that before."

Speaking of Souta, he rushed out of his bedroom when he heard the knock. "If no one is gonna get it, I will!"

Kagome looked up to Inuyasha's twitching ears and her face flushed. "Why did you take your cap off, baka!?"

She ran to the living room where he had unceremoniously thrown it after coming inside. She grabbed it, quickly waving to the entering ninth grader on her way back to the kitchen, and then slamming the red cap onto the irate hanyous head. She let out a sigh of relief as Ayumi walked into the kitchen and saw an out of breath Kagome and her scowling fiancé.

Souta came rushing in and sat down at the dining table. "I'm starving! Hey, Inu-no-niichan, will you play a video game with me, tonight? pretty pleeasssee!?"

Inuyasha's scowl turned into an amused grin. "Maybe, kid." That was enough to get the young boy to drop the subject... for now.

Ayumi turned to a nervous looking Kagome and cocked her head to the side. "Hey Kagome, why does your brother call Inuyasha older dog brother?"

Kagome chuckled nervously and scratched the back of her neck. She sent her brother a glare, causing him to gulp to her immediate satisfaction.

"Oh, uh... I'll explain later... When we talk after dinner, alright?"

Ayumi just shrugged her shoulders and easily agreed.

Soon, the whole family including Ayumi was sitting around the table. Everyone except for Inuyasha had a big bowl of curry rice. Inuyasha, the glutton that he is, has three cups of Ramen noodles, a mixture of chicken and beef flavors, in one big bowl and a plate with two different medium rare steaks on it.

Jii-chan watched as Inuyasha dug into his steak with his hands, shoving it into his mouth. He spoke up after swallowing a bite of his food. "Are you sure this is the young man you want to marry, Kagome?"

Kagome narrowed her eyes at her grandfather. "Hai, Jii-chan. You know full well I do."

Ayumi and Mrs. Higurashi only giggled while Souta tried his best to copy what his hero was doing. Kagome sighed at her families antics.

After dinner was finished and Kagome offered to do the dishes - to her mother's complete surprise - the two teenagers and one hanyou left to go up to Kagome's room. Souta had tried to convince Inuyasha to hang out with him, but was told that they had to do something important. The hanyou ruffled the boys hair and promised to play his soc-cor game with him in the morning before they leave later in the day. Souta had laughed and corrected the word for him, saying 'It's soccer not soc-cor.' Kagome hid her giggle when it reminded her of a specific scene from Harry Potter.

Kagome opened her bedroom door and let her friend and mate inside, shutting and locking it behind them. She went and sat on the edge of her bed, Inuyasha sitting as close to her as possible while Ayumi pulled Kagome's desk chair in front of the bed and sat down to face them.

Kagome pulled Inuyasha's hand in hers and rested it in her lap as she took a steady breath in and out. She locked eyes with her concerned friend and spoke up after a moment of uncomfortable silence.

"So... I wanna tell you a few... unbelievable things. I really feel like I can trust you with this information, but you have to promise me you won't tell anyone. Not even Yuka and Eri."

Ayumi's eyes widened as she took in the nervous girl in front of her. "This sounds serious, Kagome. Is everything okay?"

The tears that she has been forcing to stay hidden all day, burned behind her eye lids at that question. Sure, her joy from being with Inuyasha was real... but every now and then, she just felt like she was going to cry. So, she kept herself as busy as possible to keep the memories away.

Now that she is specifically planning on telling her friend of what happened, well not all of the details... she sighed... It will be pretty hard.

'Okay? Not really... but... I'm trying...'

Inuyasha smelled the salt of her tears immediately and wrapped his arm around her waist. "Ya sure 'bout this, koibito?"

Kagome nodded her head and looked back at her obviously worried friend. "When you saw me today, I was there because something... traumatic... had happened to me recently..." She took a moment to gather her thoughts. "But... for you to really understand everything, I need to tell you some other things first. The real reason I haven't been going to school much this year."

Ayumi's eyes widened as she looked between Kagome and Inuyasha. "You haven't been sick?"

Kagome shook her head. When she noticed the look on her friends face, she was quick to thwart whatever ideas that were beginning to form in her youthful mind.

"It's not like I'm running away with Inuyasha for fun or anything... but yes, I am with Inuyasha and some other friends when I'm not at school."

Ayumi just nodded her head slowly, waiting for what she can only assume will be one helluva 'bomb shell.'

Kagome steeled herself for her friends reaction. 'Like a band-aid.' "Inuyasha, take the cap off."

Ayumi looked confused for all of three seconds until Inuyasha did as he was told. Immediately the fifteen year old girls gaze was transfixed on Inuyasha's adorable and twitching doggie ears.

"Wha...?"

Kagome reached up and scratched one of Inuyasha's ears, causing the hanyou to blush and growl at her.

"Inuyasha is a hanyou. Half youkai, half human."

Ayumi was still staring at Inuyasha's ears, watching as they twitched and swiveled around, meaning they are obviously real. Inuyasha smirked, causing her eyes to lower and see a fang poke out of his mouth. Her heart rate quickened and she had to physically shake her head to force herself to look back into Kagome's eyes.

"He has cat ears?"

Inuyasha growled. "Oi! I ain't a cat! I'm a dog, damn it!"

They both paused to stare at Kagome when the young Miko busted out in laughter. Inuyasha was scowling but it soon softened at the beautiful sound coming from his mates lips. His scowl turned into a small pout, which had Kagome laughing even harder at the look on his face.

Inuyasha couldn't help but think how perfect she looks in this moment... but another two minutes of uncontrollable laughter later, and he was quickly losing his patience.

"Oi, woman!"

She only turned to look at him, but her laughter still continued so he sighed and did the only thing he could think of to shut her up. He pulled her by the back of the neck and smashed his lips to hers. The amusement was immediately gone and Kagome's heart was racing for a whole different reason. Not one to really show PDA, he pulled back after just a couple of seconds. He smirked triumphantly and crossed his arms at the look on Kagome's face. Eyes half-lidded and staring at him as if she is silently begging for more. Ayumi coughed awkwardly, causing them to look back at her. All three of them were blushing profusely.

Kagome was more than embarrassed now, but she has to admit that it felt really good to laugh like that. "Sorry... It just caught me off guard. Inuyasha is half Inuyoukai." She turned to said half Inuyoukai and smirked at him. "And what about always saying, 'I'm not a damn dog'?" She did her best irate hanyou impression.

Inuyasha growled and glowered at her. "I'd rather be treated like a damn dog than compared to a stinkin' cat!"

Kagome crossed her arms and glowered back. "You like Buyo! He is a cat!"

"I tolerate that fat cat! He's fun to mess with!"

"Inuyashaa... Don't make me say 'it'!"

"Feh... whatever woman, just get on with the explanation."

Ayumi nodded her head as her face showed how obviously flabbergasted she still is. "Hai, I would very much like to know what is going on."

That's when Kagome explained everything. She told her about her fifteenth birthday, when she was dragged down into the Bone-Eaters well by Mistress Centipede. How she was transported through time, five hundred years in the past to the Sengoku Jidai. How she saw Inuyasha pinned to the Goshinboku, seemingly asleep. Everything that led to her meeting her friends; Kaede, Shippo, Miroku, Kirara, and Sango. How she fell in love with Inuyasha and how they finally admitted their feelings to each other just recently. She skipped over the kidnapping and rapes for the time being, just explaining what their mission is in the past and why she can't always be at school. She also told her that her mother signed her up for homeschooling, which she will be starting pretty soon.

When she was finished with her long but necessary story, Inuyasha's face showed his obvious amusement at the look on Ayumi's face. Finally, the girl spoke.

"Well... that seems to be too insane to make up." She chuckled and shook her head. "That explains the explosion at the cultural festival! It wasn't special effects at all, was it!?"

Kagome released the breath she was holding, glad that her friend won't try to get her committed, and nodded her head. "Mhm, that was Inuyasha's Tetsusaiga. Baka blew up the kitchen one time because there was a roach!"

Ayumi laughed while Inuyasha growled in annoyance. "You were scared of the little bug!"

"That didn't mean I wanted you to blow the house down!"

Ayumi laughed once again. "Like the Big Bad Wolf!"

Kagome joined in on her friend's laughter as Inuyasha's growl turned into a snarl. "Oi! Don't compare me to those ookami kuso's either!"

Kagome shook her head and squeezed his hand as she looked to Ayumi. "He has an issue with wolves because there's a wolf youkai who constantly declares his love for me."

Ayumi and Kagome chuckled at Inuyasha's growl and then Ayumi spoke again. "Was that Koga or the other one... uhm... oh yeah, Miroku!"

Inuyasha turned and narrowed his eyes dangerously at his fiancé. "You told your friend's about wolf kuso and the pervert!?"

Kagome shrugged her shoulders. "We're girls, we gossip. I spoke about you too, you know."

Inuyasha smirked, "Yeah? And whatcha say about me?"

Kagome blushed and shook her head. "Oh, nothing. It doesn't really matter anymore anyways."

Ayumi spoke up. "She said you were a two-timing possesive bad-boy."

Kagome's face blanched. "I didn't say that! You all just took it that way!"

Inuyasha's ears fell as he looked away. "Feh, I told ya I was stupid. I just felt like I had to push ya away..."

Kagome reached over and massaged his ear until it was standing back up and she smiled at him. "None of that matters now, alright?" He nodded his head and looked back at her as she pulled her hand away to hold his once again and continued talking. "So, now that you know the truth about us... that is what leads to the reason for my new psychiatrist..."

Ayumi gave her friend a worried look. "Something happened while you were in the past?"

Kagome nodded her head as she looked away from their gaze. Tears came to her eyes once again because now she actually has to think about it again. Talk about it again. Ayumi reached forward and grabbed onto Kagome's free hand, giving it a small squeeze. Kagome looked up and gave her friend a watery smile before she began with her tale.

She began at the beginning. How she was bathing in a hot spring with her friend Sango. She had told Sango to leave because she wanted to relax more, but Sango was getting too hot to be in the water any longer. The fire cat, Kirara stayed to protect her, but it didn't do much good because of the evil hanyous tricks. She remembered the purple mist that made Kirara unable to transform while she was unable to stand or call out for Inuyasha. She said that the last thing she thought of was Inuyasha's name...

Kagome squeezed his hand for dear life when the next part of the tale came.

She explained that she woke up unable to move, paralyzed to a bed with no clothes on. Naraku had tried to convince her that Inuyasha wasn't coming and that he didn't care. She fought back with words, but couldn't do much with her weak human body since he had locked away her powers. She said he used some sort of drug that would force her body to comply even though she was begging him to stop.

Tears are flowing down her face as Inuyasha's eyes are rimmed red. He is holding her body half across his lap now.

She shortened the rest of the tale, there are still details that she never wants her hanyou mate to find out.

She told her how she was raped and fed false memories and images for multiple days in a row. Her mind was breaking and she soon couldn't remember who she was or who her friends were. Naraku had tricked her into almost killing Inuyasha but Inuyasha and her friends ended up saving her, injuring Naraku and running away. Another priestess named Kikyo managed to put her mind back together but she woke up with all of those memories intact. She remembers everything that happened and every false memory he had poisoned her mind with. She also explained how she knows which memories are the fake ones and which had truly happened.

Kagome reluctantly spoke about how she hurt herself and tried to end it all, but then Inuyasha gave her a reason to live. Remembering the people who love her, her friends and family, gave her a reason to live. She is now seeing a psychiatrist and going to be on some new medication for her anxiety, depression and PTSD. She also mentioned how she definitely is not pregnant and didn't contract any kind of diseases.

By the time she was finished with her long but still shortened tale, Kagome and Ayumi were in tears and hugging, while the hanyou was rubbing circles on Kagome's back and trying not to allow his own tears to fall from his red-rimmed golden eyes.

Ayumi pulled back from Kagome's embrace and looked her in the eyes. "Oh, Kagome... I'm so sorry for what happened. You are so strong." She turned to Inuyasha and surprised him by hugging him around the neck. "Thank you for loving Kagome and being there for her."

Inuyasha blushed and nodded as the girl pulled away and sat back onto the chair in front of the bed. Kagome held onto Inuyasha's arm and rested her head on his shoulder as they all regarded each other silently.

After a few minutes of silence, Ayumi tentatively spoke up. "The reason I go to see my psychiatrist is because..." She turned away from the gazes on her and took a shaky breath in. "When I was thirteen, I stayed at my aunt and uncle's house for the summer. My uncle... he molested me... luckily he didn't get so far as to... rape me... because my aunt had walked in that final time... and it stopped him... but it took them the next few months to convince me I needed to see someone. I told them I was fine but I wasn't. When I turned fourteen, I finally agreed to see a psychiatrist and she has helped so much in the last year." She looked back into her friend's watery eyes. "I am so so sorry you had to go through all of that, Kagome. What I went through is no where near the same thing but... I do understand. At least a little bit..."

Kagome was quick to pull Ayumi back into her arms with more tears flowing down both girls faces. "Your pain is not any less important than mine, Ayumi. I am sorry about what you went through too." She pulled back and gave her a small smile. "I am happy that I have someone on this side of the well to talk to now. You are welcome here whenever I am here, okay?"

Ayumi smiled and nodded in response.

After the long and exhausting talk, Kagome was too tired to stay up any longer. She invited Ayumi to stay the night since it was too dark out to be walking home alone and the girl readily agreed. Ayumi was also wanting to see Kagome and Inuyasha disappear into the well. She did believe them but it would be pretty awesome to see with her own eyes.

Kagome allowed Ayumi to borrow a pair of pajamas and they both got dressed while Inuyasha went to get back into his fire rat. Kagome got an air mattress out and set it up on her bedroom floor for her friend, before crawling into bed and beckoning the blushing hanyou in with her. Inuyasha mumbled a small 'keh' before getting behind her and wrapping his mate up in his arms. He gave her a quick kiss and the two humans drifted off to sleep while the hanyou only rested enough to be able to protect Kagome.

°•°•°

A/N: How was this chapter? I always like when either one or all of Kagome's friends find out about her secret, so I incorporated it here.

Next chapter, Kagome and Inuyasha will be going back to the past! How is everybody doing? Will they run into any issues in the two weeks they will be there before having to come back home for her appointment? Keep reading to find out.

Please leave an honest review and I'll work on the next chapter ASAP!