InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ For the Love of a Child ❯ InuYasha's Alarming Discovery ( Chapter 10 )

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

 

 

3:15 a.m.  The moonlight shines brightly through the darkened window of a ritzy uptown apartment, revealing one very disgusted, very drunk hanyou, sprawled out on the leather couch, lifting a bottle of whiskey to the bright orb in the sky.

 

“Keh!” he says.  “Some life, huh?  Most humans would think me lucky to be living here…maybe even a few demons.  But not me.”  InuYasha drinks from the bottle and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.  “I ain’t got shit!”  He drinks a little more of the amber liquid.  “Is it too damn much to ask for someone to think of me as important; to fucking place me first in their damn life?  Can’t they just care a little about me, for once?”  He looks down at the bottle in his hand and smirks.  “Naah… rarely do us hanyous get to have that particular privilege.  We’re the lowest of the low.”  He takes another swallow from the whiskey bottle.  “Yep, that’s what we are alright.  Nothing good ever happens to my ass.  I’ll probably be stuck in this fucking hell hole for another four damn years kissing her damn ass.  And doesn’t that sound just peachy.  Where else can I go anyway?  Sesshomaru?  That bastard would ride my damn ass all the time.  Hell, living on the streets would be better than putting up with his shit.  Maybe I should go out and fucking, kill myself, maybe reincarnate into something better next time.  No one would miss my sorry ass, that’s for sure.”

 

Finishing with his seventh bottle, InuYasha throws it to the side and gets to his feet.  (No law says I have to stay here tonight, is there?)  The hanyou staggards to the cabinet, grabbing and opening another bottle.  (I’m a free hanyou.  I’ll go wherever the hell I want.  And just maybe I won’t come back here at all.  That would certainly fix her fucking ass.) 

 

InuYasha, with bottle in hand, staggers to the door, staring at his keys lying on the side table.  (I know they won’t like it but…what the fuck, I’ll do it anyway.  He grabs his keys and leaves the apartment.  He gets into the elevator and pushes a button, and when it arrives at the bottom floor, the doors open, revealing the parking garage.  InuYasha takes another drink before stumbling through the doors, and continues staggering, swaying from side to side while grumbling.  There’re well-dressed couples returning home who when they see the hanyou, frown, point, and whisper.

 

“That’s KiKyo’s hanyou, isn’t it?” they whisper.  “Is he drunk?  Disgraceful!”

 

“Fucking bitch thinks she’s so all important,” mumbles InuYasha throwing his hand in the air. “I’m KiKyo Oni, who’s from the most respectable family in all Tokyo.”  He takes a deep drink of the bottle.  “Thinks I’m nothin’ more than some… some damn fucking machine!  WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’ DAMN WHORE?! he yells, gaining the attention of more of the returning residents.  “I’VE GOT NEWS FOR YOU!!  I AM SOMEBODY DAMN IT, YOU HEAR?  ME!  YOU’RE NOTHING BUT A…A LOUSY FUCK THAT’S WHAT YOU ARE!!”  The half demon again drinks from his bottle then looks around, noticing others are looking at him strangely.  “What, the fuck are you staring at?” he snarls, frightening one woman.  “Huh?  Mind your own fucking business, why don’t ya?”  InuYasha continues on.  “Yeah, I’ll fix that bitch’s ass for sure,” he mumbles.  “Work for my uncle she says.  What, will people think, she says.  Well I’m important, ain’t I?  I’m a damn Takahashe!  Don’t I deserve some fucking respect too?  That whore ain’t so much.  Just some five-hundred-year-old bitch who thinks she fucking knows it all.  Well one day…one day I’ll damn well show her ass!  She ain’t so special.  I can have any damn bitch I want.  I only have to snap my fingers and the bitches all come running to me.  They beg me for my favors.  I sure as hell don’t beg them.”  The hanyou staggers to his red 1970 Mustang convertible and gets in.  It takes several attempts before finally placing his key into the ignition.  “That bitch’s not gonna tell me what to do.  I’ll show her!  I’ll show them all!”  He finally starts the car and drives off, just barely missing the security gate while leaving the garage.

 

InuYasha puts the top down, turns on the radio, and raises the volume.  He begins singing loudly while driving haphazardly through town.  Fortunately, because of the lateness of the hour; few cars are seen on the lonely streets making it easy, for the drunken hanyou to make his way around the city without causing any harm to anyone else.  When InuYasha finally hits the freeway, he presses down onto the accelerator and feeling the cool wind flowing wildly through his long white hair races along the highway, swerving from one side of the road to the other without so much as a clue as to where he’s going, nor does he care.

 

The vehicle finally comes to a halt.  InuYasha finishes his bottle of whiskey, throwing into the back seat then looks up and around finding he’s parked outside an old, very familiar apartment building. 

 

“Hey!  Isn’t this…” he mumbles with glazed eyes.  “That’s Gome’s place, ain’t it?  HEY GOME!  IT”S ME, INU…” he yells opening his door, falling out, landing unceremoniously, onto the cold hard ground.

 

“Shit!”  He wipes the dirt from his mouth and face.  “Why the hell does the ground always fucking move here?”

 

InuYasha awkwardly gets to his feet, dusts himself off and takes two steps toward the building.  However, due to his inebriated state, he quickly staggards back falling hard against his vehicle, sliding down onto the ground.  “Keh!” he mumbles with a bemused look.  “I fall down, didn’t I?”  InuYasha remains seated on the ground for a few minutes, staring up at the old unkempt building then grabs onto the door latch.  “Well!  Upsy daisy.”  The hanyou again pulls himself up onto his feet.  “There now.”  Steadying himself, he again looks up at the building, “let’s try this shit again!”

 

Swaying back and forth, InuYasha staggers, almost tripping over his feet several times until he finally gets into the building.  He climbs up two flights of stairs; and arriving at what he believes to be Kagome’s apartment, begins beating on the door.

 

POUND…POUND…POUND!  “It’s me Gome!” he yells.  “Open up!”

 

POUND…POUND…POUND!

 

“I climbed alll the way up….whoa …”  InuYasha sways to the side, grabbing the door knob to keep from falling down.  He straightens and tries again.

 

POUND…POUND…POUND…POUND…POUND!

 

“I’m not going away Gome!” yells the hanyou and again pounds on the door.  “I wanna see ya!”  The incessant pounding continues until, other residents, finally come out into the hall.

 

“Knock it off dumbass!” yells one tenant.

 

“Yeah, dickhead some of us are trying to watch television over here!”

 

“FUCK YOU!” snarls the hanyou giving the complaining residents the finger.  “Damn humans.”  InuYasha jiggles the door knob and beats on the door again.  “Come on Gome!  I wanna talk to ya,” he whines.

 

POUND…POUND…POUND…

 

“GOME!” yells the hanyou, slapping the door hard with his open hand.  “Come on Gome!”

 

POUND…POUND…  A man, looking none too pleasant jerks open the door. 

 

“Who the fuck are…are you?” InuYasha growls, slurring his words.  “Where’s Gome?”

 

“Not here,” replies the man angrily and tries to close the door, but the hanyou puts his foot in the way.

 

“I wanna see her damn it,” says InuYasha drunkenly.  “You under…stand?  GOME!”

 

“I said she’s not here, you drunken bastard!  Go try the…”  InuYasha again tries to enter, but the man pushes him away from his door.  “Damn it, go try the third floor will ya?”

 

“I’m already on… the third… floor, dumbass,” replies the hanyou.  “Now wha ja done … with my Gome?  Where is she?”

 

“Look you!  This ain’t the third floor, alright?”  The man points to the number on his door.  “See this?  205.  Two!  What you might be looking for is three something or other, ok?”

 

The hanyou squints while looking closely at the door.  “You know what?” he says pointing at the door.  “That is a two, ain’t it?”

 

“So ya can learn something, can ya?” the man says sarcastically.  “Now get your drunken ass away from my door or I’ll call the police!”

 

“Ok, ok,” replies InuYasha with a slight wave.  “Geez, I only… wan…”  The door is slammed in the hanyou’s face.  “What’s…with these damn humans tonight?  Always disrespecting me.  Don’t they know who…who I am?”

 

The hanyou staggers up the last flight of stairs, and counts the numbers on the doors.  “303…30…04…305.  Yep!  That be you alright,” he says triumphantly and begins pounding on the door.

 

POUND…POUND…POUND!

 

“Goooome!  You awake?” he yells.  “It’s me Gome.  I wanna see ya!”

 

POUND…POUND

 

“If you don’t open up I’ll…”

 

He hears the lock finally move and sees the door slightly open.  InuYasha points his clawed finger toward the dark entrance, giving a drunken smile.

 

“I seeee youuuu,” he sings and heavily leans against the wall, giggling.

 

“Inu…Yasha?” asks a tired, timid voice from inside the room.  “Is that you?”

 

“Yep!” he says proudly with an embellished nod of his head.  “It be me, alright.  Thought you could hide from me, didn’t ya?”

 

“Don’t you have any idea what time it is?”

 

“Nope!” the drunken hanyou replies, violently shaking his head.  “Don’t you know?” he snickers.  “Clock broke?”  He laughs.

 

“You’re drunk again, aren’t you?”

 

“Sure, am fair maiden.  Drunk is the ONLY way to be happy.”

 

“What do you want?” asks Kagome sounding timid.

 

“I want to uhhh… um…want to…., can I borrow your couch?”  The hanyou sways to the side.  “This damn floor won’t stop mov…oving.”  InuYasha shakes a clawed finger toward the door.  “You’ve got one fucked up building, you … know that Gome?!  Verrrry dangerous.”

 

Kagome deeply sighs.  “Go home InuYasha.  I’m really tired tonight.”

 

“Nope!” replies InuYasha again violently shaking his head.  “Been home!  I wanna stay with you Gome.”

 

“InuYasha…”

 

“Pleeease??  Don’t make me…go… back there Gome,” the hanyou whines.  “Wanna stay with you.”

 

“Oh alright.”  Kagome opens the door wider.  “Can’t have you disturbing all my neighbors.”  The hanyou stumbles through, into the darkness of the room.  “I’ll let you sleep here tonight InuYasha,” she says closing her door.  “But you have to go home in the morning, ok?”  The hanyou continues swaying back and forth, his arms flailing in all directions.  “Did you hear me InuYasha?”

 

“It’s so gra… gracious of you to let one, as…lowly as I, enter your… domicile, fair maiden.”  InuYasha burps and bows; almost falling to the floor.

 

Kagome wincing from pain quickly catches the swaying hanyou and sets him straight.  “I’ll get a blanket for you,” she says painfully.  “You…do remember where my couch is, right?”

 

“Umm hmmm,” replies the hanyou with an exaggerated nod, again swaying to the side.  “Why not…turn on the lights fair…fair maiden and light my… way?  It’s right over…”  InuYasha turns and swerves to the side tripping on a rug and again almost falling over.

 

“NO!” says Kagome worriedly again catching him.  “You mustn’t do that InuYasha.”

 

“Why not?” he whines.

 

“Because…because the light… it may hurt your eyes.  So, let’s just keep it off for now.”

 

“Pssht!”  The hanyou releases Kagome and continues staggering around the room.  “No need to worry fair maiden,” he beats his chest.  “I’m invincibabable!  Yep!  That’s me alright.  The incredibly, invinci… cibabably InuYasha.  That’s what all my bitches call me!  I can… fuck ‘em all and…do…do ‘em all over a…again!”

 

“That’s good,” says Kagome tiredly.  “Now walk over to my couch while I get your blanket, ok?”

 

“Uh uh!  Not until I see the… face of my graaaacious…, now wha’s that word?  Uhhhh, bene…benefactor.  Yep that’s it alright!  Ain’t so common after all, am I?”  The drunken hanyou feels someone awkwardly grab and pull on his arm.  “Where’re ya taking me Gome?”

 

“To my couch,” Kagome replies pulling harder.  “You’re in no shape to see anything now.  Wait till morning and…”

 

“Nope!”  The hanyou quickly pulls away from the young woman, falls back against the wall then slides down onto the floor.  “Oopsy!” he snickers.  “I fall down again.”

 

“Yes, InuYasha, you fell down,” replies Kagome patiently reaching down.  “Now let me help you up and over to the couch so you can pass out, ok?”

 

“You’re sssooo good to… me, Gome, you… you know that, don’t ya?” he says.  Kagome holds, her breath to avoid the smell of alcohol, and tries to help him stand.

 

“I know,” says Kagome soothingly once  able to breathe.  “Now let’s walk over to my couch, ok?  You can sleep it off there.”

 

The hanyou reaches to rub her face.  “Will you sing to me Gome?”

 

“Not tonight,” replies Kagome patiently.

 

“Why not huh?” he whines.  “You sang to the boy, didn’t ya?”

 

The memory invoked by the hanyou’s words, hurt deep in Kagome’s heart.  However, she pushes it aside, to concentrate on the task of getting the hanyou to her couch.

 

“I’m too tired to sing,” she says.  “So, let’s get to my couch.  It’s over…”

 

“I want to see your beautiful face, Gome,” whines the hanyou again reaching to rub her cheek.  “Just one eenzy weensy peek?”

 

“No, InuYasha,” says Kagome, keeping out of reach while trying to keep the hanyou on his feet.  “I said I’m tired and want to go back to bed.”

 

“Can I …I wanna come to.”

 

“You’re going to sleep on my couch.”

 

“Why Gome?  I’ll be a good boy.”

 

“I don’t believe your girlfriend, KiKyo, would approve of you sleeping with me.”

 

The hanyou emits a slight growl.  “I don’t fucking care what that bitch … likes.”

 

“You will in the morning,” replies Kagome with a slight tug.  “Now come on.”

 

“No!”  The defiant hanyou pushes from the young woman, once more, falling back against the wall.  “I wanna see you, damn it!” he growls and reaching over, flips the light switch only to see the back, of the young woman, stiffen.  He smirks.  “There you are fair maiden.”

 

“TURN IT OFF…PLEASE!” yells Kagome in a panic.  “You have to turn off the light!”

 

“Nope!” replies InuYasha shaking his head.  “Not till I see your beautiful face.”

 

“InuYasha, please.”  She covers her face and lowers her head.  “You won’t understand.  You won’t understand any of it.  So, turn the light off, ok?”

 

“Are you gonna …gonna face me?”

 

“I can’t,” replies Kagome sadly, slightly shaking of her head.  “Not now.  So, turn the light out.  So, we can both get some rest.”

 

“I will when I see you.”  InuYasha continues smiling while swaying toward the young woman, almost falling into her.  “You promised me a…dance didn’t ya?”  InuYasha places his hands heavily on Kagome’s shoulders, hearing a slight groan while feeling her body tremble.  “Awe come on Gome.  I’m ain’t gonna rape ya.” 

 

“Please don’t,” she whimpers shaking her head as the hanyou slowly turns her around.  “Don’t do it.”

 

InuYasha finally able to face the sad young woman, pulls her trembling hands from her face.  His eyes widen as the pleasurable high, he is experiencing quickly diminishes.  The hanyou’s blood begins to boil and the amused, drunken, smile slowly leaves his features being replaced with an angry frown.  “Kagome?”

 

Kagome is trembling badly and seems to be in great pain as she tries to move her shoulder.  Her face is black and blue with scrapes down along the side of her skin.  Her tears falling down her cheeks are mixing with the blood from cuts near her mouth, and under one eye while the other eye is darkened, bruised, and almost swollen shut.  Her swollen lip is caked with blood and the sleeve, of her red nightgown is ripped, showing signs of her blood as well.

 

InuYasha, grabs the ripped sleeve, and angrily growls.  “WHAT THE FUCK?!” he barks looking down at the damage.  The young woman slightly jumps, with his outburst, becoming more frightened when she looks up into the hanyou’s angry amber eyes.  “WHO… THE FUCK… DID THIS?!!  IS THAT FUCKING SON OF A BITCH STILL HERE?”  The hanyou releases Kagome, turns and begins searching throughout the apartment for her attacker.  “COME OUT HERE YOU FUCKING COWARD, AND FACE ME WHY DON’T YA?!”  Finding no one else in the apartment, the hanyou returns to the living room where Kagome is still standing.  “Who did this to you Kagome?”  The young woman remains silent, afraid to speak.  InuYasha continues, to snarl and growl, his face showing a dangerous fury for the demon within him is attempting to come to the surface, wanting to fight and protect this woman.  His eyes are turning a slight shade of red; his fangs bared as his breathing increases significantly.  “I ASKED YOU WHO THE HELL IT WAS, DAMN IT?!” he yells angrily.  “TELL ME!

 

“NO!”  Kagome cringes, covering her face with trembling hands.  “Please don’t,” she begs.  “Don’t hurt me!”

 

“Hurt you?  Why would I…”  The young hanyou, seeing the fearful actions of the young woman, turns away.  Then seeing his reflection in the mirror on the wall, his red eyes, protruding fangs, and the stripes on his cheeks, he quickly closes his eyes and breathes deeply to calm and stay his inner demon.  Once InuYasha feels his anger is under control he opens his amber eyes and takes a few cautious steps toward the trembling young woman while raising a hand toward her.

 

Kagome misinterpreting his actions again takes a few quick steps back.  “Stay back!” she cries.  “Stay away from me!”

 

The hanyou stops, drops his hand, and steps back.  “Kagome?” asks InuYasha patiently.  The young woman continues trembling while hugging herself.  “Kagome, look at me.”  Slowly she looks up.  “I’m not going to hurt you, alright?  You’re safe now.  So, who did this to you?”

 

“It was…it was…”  The young woman bows and shakes her head, “it was an unfortunate accident, InuYasha,” she replies timidly.  “I missed a step and fell down the stairs, that’s all.”

 

“You don’t get this fucked up,  falling down some damn stairs.  Now who the hell was it?” asks the hanyou again, feeling his temper slowly rising.  “Tell me damn it.”

 

“It was an accident!” the woman cries turning from the hanyou.  “It could happen to anyone.”  She wipes a tear from her eyes, smearing the blood on her cheek.  “I’ll get you a blanket now.”

 

“You’re not going anywhere until… says InuYasha and hears her groan in pain, while almost falling to her knees.  “Shit!”  InuYasha, leans down to gently pick her up and carries her to her bed to carefully lay her down.  He then quickly leaves the room to enter the bathroom, finding blood smeared on the wall, sink, floor, and tub.  (How the hell could I have I missed this scent?  First on Kagome…and now here?  Was I that fucking drunk not to notice it?)  Thoughts and images, of what may have transpired earlier, begin coursing through his mind causing his fury to rise higher within him.  “What kind of sick bastard would dare do this to her?!” he growls.  “Kouga?  Could he have come here after leaving the club tonight?  Did he try to claim Kagome against her will?  Was this shit part of his sick revenge?”  The seething rage, the unbridled fury, within the hanyou’s body and soul continues to boil, driving the remaining stupor, invading his mind, away, suddenly clearing his mind and making him sober.  The hanyou tightly clinches his fist.  (I’ll kill the son of a bitch for doing this to her.  He had no right!)  InuYasha with a cold cloth in his hand returns to the bedroom finding the young woman attempting to stand.

 

“Just where the hell do you think you’re going, Kagome?”

 

“I just…”

 

“You just nothing.”  InuYasha gently pushes the woman back onto the bed.  “You’re going to lie down and let me clean those wounds.”  The hanyou sits next to the young woman, careful not to jar her body, and lightly dabs the cold cloth over the cut on her mouth.  Kagome pulls back, wincing from pain.

 

“Sorry.”  He attempts to pull her top down, to look at the damage to her shoulder, and she quickly grabs onto it.  “I have to see how bad it is Kagome,” says InuYasha with a slight tug, “to clean it.  Before it gets infected or something.”

 

“You don’t have to bother, InuYasha,” says Kagome, quietly looking away.  “I’ll take care of it later.”

 

“Yeah, right.”  The angry hanyou continues cleaning Kagome’s injuries.  “So…was this a robbery or something?  What’re the police doing about it?”

 

“Nothing,” replies Kagome quietly.

 

The hanyou’s hand stills.  “Nothing?!  They’re doing nothing after seeing this shit?!”

 

“No…I didn’t call them,” replies Kagome worriedly.

 

“Why the hell not?”

 

“Because they’re not needed InuYasha.  There’s no reason, for them to take time away from their busy schedules, just to come bother with this.  I’ll be fine.”

 

“You mean to tell me… you didn’t call for help at all?  That you’ve been lying in here suffering all this time?”  The young woman lowers her head and the young hanyou growls and reaches for the phone.  “You know what…fuck it, I’ll call them!  Hopefully, the bastards will find the son of a bitch, and mutilate his damn ass.  Or better yet, let them find him and I’ll go gut the bastard!”  The hanyou lifts the receiver.

 

“No!” cries Kagome grabbing his hand.  “Don’t call them InuYasha.  Please?  It’s not worth it.”

 

“Not worth it?  How can you even say that Kagome?” asks the hanyou angrily.  “Just look at yourself.  Hell, you can barely see at all, can you?”

 

“I’ll heal, ok?  You’ll see.”  Kagome attempts a shaky smile.  “Just please don’t call them.”

 

“So, what the hell am I supposed to do now, huh?” asks the hanyou laying the receiver down.  “Just sit here and watch you suffer?”

 

“No.  You’re supposed to do what you came here to do.  Pass out and forget you saw any of this.”

 

“Bullshit!” he growls.  “I want their names Kagome and I want them now.”

 

“InuYasha…please?”

 

“Kagome?!”

 

Seeing the angry hanyou is in no way relenting, Kagome sighs and with her good arm, reaches over to turn off her bedroom light.  “Good night, InuYasha.  Sleep well.”

 

“I’m still talking here Kagome!!”

 

“Good night.”

 

The hanyou clinches his fists and growls menacingly.  “Fine!  If you’re not going to tell me then I’ll find someone who will!”  InuYasha leaves her bedroom and storms from the apartment, slamming the door behind him.  He then goes to another apartment and angrily beats on the door until he hears the lock move.  The door slightly opens.

 

“Inu…Yasha?”

 

“Sango?” asks the hanyou surprised to find Kagome’s friends living so close to her.

 

“It’s four thirty in the morning, InuYasha,” says Sango groggily.  “What could possibly be so,” she yawns, “so important you couldn’t have waited a few more hours to come over?”

 

“Kagome!” growls the hanyou angrily.

 

“Kagome?”

 

“That’s right.  I want you to tell me who the bastards were that beat the shit out of her tonight.”

 

“Kagome’s not hurt,” replies Sango tiredly leaning against the door frame.

 

“Oh no?”

 

“No.  Other than being a little tired, Kagome was just fine when we got home.  And I know she hasn’t gone anywhere else tonight.”

 

“Then explain to me, Sango, why Kagome’s in her apartment, fucked up?” challenges the hanyou angrily.

 

“Hmm?”

 

“That’s right.  Someone did a real number on her tonight, and I want to know who the hell that fucker was!”

 

“You sure you didn’t imagine it?” asks Sango pushing away from the door frame.  “Maybe you’ve had just a little too much to drink tonight.”

 

“Do I look drunk to you?”

 

“No but…well Kagome would have come to us, if she was hurt.”

 

“Damn it, Sango I just came from there!” growls InuYasha pointing toward Kagome’s apartment.  “And I know what I saw!  So, are you…?”

 

Sango slams the door in InuYasha’s face and quickly opens it, putting on her robe while running past the hanyou, toward Kagome’s apartment.  She throws open the door and frantically begins searching for the woman.

 

“Kagome!” calls Sango.  “Where are you?!  Kagome?”

 

Coming to the young woman’s bedroom, Sango turns on the light.  Stunned with what she sees, tears fill her eyes as they widen.  “Oh, gods Kagome,” she says, walking into the room and carefully sitting on the side of the bed.  “What happened to you?”

 

“I’m ok, Sango,” replies Kagome slightly shaking her head.  “Really.  I’m really sorry InuYasha got you out of bed like this.  I know Miroku needs his sleep.”

 

“My husband’s sleep should be the least of your worries,” says Sango, tenderly touching her shoulder.  “Who did this to you?  Why didn’t you come to us?”

 

“Oh, it’s not as bad as it looks, really,” says Kagome, slightly smiling and trying to open her eyes wider.  “See?  I can still open my eyes.”

 

“That’s not funny,” says Sango with a frown.  “The police should have at least called an ambulance for you.”

 

“She didn’t call the police, Sango,” says InuYasha, entering the room.

 

“What?” asks Sango worriedly and looks back at the woman.  “You didn’t call?”

 

Miroku follows InuYasha; stopping short when he sees the condition Kagome is in.  “What the…Kagome?!”

 

“Really guys,” says Kagome still trying to smile.  “It’s only a few scrapes and bruises.  I’ll be just fine in a few days.”  The young woman looks over at Sango’s husband and her smile fades.  “I’m really sorry about all his, Miroku.”

 

“Why?” asks Miroku curiously.

 

“I’d promised to help with the furniture today,” replies Kagome sadly, rubbing her arm.  “I won’t be able to do it now.  Not until my shoulder heals at least.”

 

“Don’t you worry about it, Kagome,” replies Miroku.  “I’m sure Sango and I will do just fine.”

 

“Will you let me look at your shoulder Kagome?” asks Sango.  “I promise to be careful.”  When the young woman slightly nods, Sango turns toward the men.  “I’ve got to take her gown off, guys to see how bad it is.  So you’ll have to step out for a bit.”

 

“I’m not leaving here until…” says InuYasha angrily and feels a hand touch his shoulder.

 

“My wife can handle this, InuYasha,” says Miroku.  “We’ll only be in the way so let’s go into the living room and wait.  I’m sure she won’t be long.  Right Sango?”

 

“Yeah…not long.”

 

Miroku and a reluctant InuYasha step out into the apartment hallway, while Sango pulls the gown gently over Kagome’s head.  She finds among several scrapes, cuts, and bruises, a deep gash in her shoulder, swollen and red.

 

“Damn Kagome,” she says reaching and touching the wound.  “They were really trying to kill you, weren’t they?  Is the weapon still around here somewhere?”

 

“Maybe.  He’s a very neat person so he might have put it in the kitchen sink,” replies Kagome quietly.

 

“You mean only one attacker did this to you?” asks Sango still looking at all the bruises.  Kagome slightly nods.  “Who was it?  Did they follow us home from the bar…what?”

 

“I can’t tell you Sango,” explains Kagome sadly.  “He’ll come back, if I do.”

 

“Whatever you say to me Kagome won’t go any further than this room ok?  I won’t even tell my husband if that’s what you want.”

 

“Really Sango?  Promise you won’t tell?”

 

“Sure.  So, who was it?”

 

“Houjo.”

 

“No,” says Sango shocked.  “The one you were meeting every week…he did this to you?”

 

The young woman sadly nods.  “Houjo was here, in my apartment when, I came home tonight.”

 

“How did he get in?” asks Sango confused.  “I watched you lock your door tonight.  And our apartments are three floors up.”

 

“Our landlord let him in.”

 

“But,” says Sango disbelievingly, “our lease plainly says no one, including our landlord can enter our apartments without our permission.”

 

“I know.”

 

“Then why would he go against the lease like that?”

 

“Because Houjo lied.  He told him, he was staying with me and lost the key.  So, he gave Houjo his spare key so he could get in.”

 

“This doesn’t make any sense,” says Sango with a shake of her head.  “You took care of his son Kagome.  Did everything that bastard told you to do, so what motive could he possibly have, for hurting you like this?”

 

“I wasn’t home,” replies Kagome slightly shrugging of her good shoulder.

 

“Were you supposed to be?”

 

“I don’t think so.  But what’s worse Sango is Houjo accused me of cheating on him.”

 

“With who exactly?”

 

Tears fill Kagome’s eyes.  “InuYasha.”

 

“InuYasha?  Well of all the stupid, idiotic, lame brained…” says Sango angrily.  “Who the hell does that moron think he is Kagome, accusing you of such a thing?  Why you’re not even involved with that bastard!”

 

“I know.  That’s what’s so confusing.  I’ve been thinking about it all night and can’t come up with anything, not one single thing, I could have said or done to give Houjo the impression I was ever interested in him.  But … for some strange reason he really thinks I’m in love with him!”  Kagome covers her eyes.  “Oh Sango…tell me what am what I’m supposed to do.  What did I do wrong for him to do this to me?”

 

“You did nothing wrong, Kagome.”

 

“Then why?

 

“Listen.”  Sango reaches to dry the young woman’s tears.  “Some men are just delusional, ok?  They think they’re so damned irresistible to women that whenever a woman says no, or denies their advances, they think it’s all a game…that the woman’s just teasing, or playing hard to get.”

 

“I wasn’t teasing though,” cries Kagome with a shake of her head.  “Honest.  I don’t love Houjo Sango.  I don’t even like him.”

 

“I know you don’t,” replies Sango.  “And for the record it’s that bastard who was in the wrong here, not you.  It’s his problem so don’t you go blaming yourself, ok?”

 

“Oh Sango.  It was like some horrible nightmare I couldn’t wake up from.”  Kagome looks down at her slightly trembling hands.  “Houjo was so angry tonight.  He kept punching me over and over, slamming me against the wall…calling me names like bitch, and…and tramp.”  The distraught young woman covers her face.  “I couldn’t get away from him Sango!  I just wasn’t strong enough!”

 

“Have you told InuYasha any of this?” asks Sango quietly.

 

“No!” replies Kagome worriedly.  “And don’t you tell him either.  I mean it!”

 

“Hey,” says Sango grabbing the other woman’s trembling hands.  “I promised, didn’t I?  And haven’t I always kept my promises to you?”

 

“I’m sorry,” says Kagome apologetically, wiping the tears from her eyes.  “It’s just InuYasha must never know.  Not about this.  It will put him at great risk, if Houjo should find out, and I don’t want InuYasha getting hurt.”

 

“I think he can take care of himself, Kagome,” asks Sango.  “In fact, InuYasha would be the last person your Houjo would ever want to be messing with.”

 

“Oh, you don’t know him Sango.  Not like I do,” says Kagome with a slight shake of her head.  “Despite what he may look like, Houjo’s a very devious and dangerous man.  He’ll do or go to whatever lengths he has to, just to get what he wants.  And he absolutely…absolutely hates demons.”

 

“I see.  Sounds like he’s a few crackers short of a full box,” says Sango.

 

“Believe me, he is.  You’re very blessed to not know him.  I wish I didn’t.”

 

“If this Houjo is really as dangerous as you say Kagome, shouldn’t you do what InuYasha said and call the police?  If only to protect yourself.”

 

“Calling them would only make matters worse though.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Well.  Houjo, he has this uncanny way of making people believe, he’s so innocent; that he wouldn’t hurt a fly.  But I know what he’s truly like.  A selfish, temperamental, cruel, man who doesn’t care who gets hurt as long as he gets what he wants.  Fact is I’m not the only one he’s done this to.  I’ve seen Lisa battered and bruised, like this on more than one occasion and he always acted as if he didn’t do a thing to her.”

 

“Lisa?” asks Sango curiously.  “Your friend from school?”  Kagome gives a slow nod.  “You’re saying Houjo did this to her as well?”

 

Kagome nods again.  “Lisa was who Houjo dated before he was married.  One time, Lisa told me, he accused her of seeing someone behind his back.  She was totally innocent Sango yet he beat her to within an inch of her life.  Lisa didn’t heal for weeks after what he’d done and her friend came up missing, never to be seen or heard from again.”

 

“I see.”  Sango lightly touches the woman’s shoulder.  “This Houjo… he’s got to be stopped Kagome.  If left unchecked, he might actually kill you the next time.”

 

“He won’t kill me,” replies Kagome quietly.  “Just the men, any man I come in contact with.  That’s why I’m so worried about InuYasha.  I don’t want him killed because of me.”

 

“I still think you should tell him though.  If not for any other reason, than to warn InuYasha should Houjo find and challenge him.”

 

“InuYasha won’t leave it at just a warning, though,” says Kagome worriedly.  “You’ve just seen what he’s like.  As soon as InuYasha knows who hurt me, he’ll go right out and try to find him.  And when he does… Houjo will…”

 

“You know what I think, don’t you?” asks Sango.  Kagome slightly shakes her head.  “You’re giving this Houjo person way too much credit.”

 

“You really think so?”

 

“Sure.  Men like him are nothing but cowards.  They take their shot and if it doesn’t work out, they leave.  By now, he’s probably pissed his pants thinking you’ve either called the police or told InuYasha already.  He won’t be back here again anytime soon for fear of going to jail or InuYasha finding him.”

 

“I don’t know Sango.  I really hope you’re right.  If I ever see Houjo again it will be way too soon.”

 

“Yeah.”  Sango looks at the wound again.  “Anyway…your wound looks like it’s infected.  Do you have any peroxide in the place…alcohol?”

 

“You don’t have to bother with it,” says Kagome covering her shoulder wound with her hand.  “I’ll be ok.”

 

“It’s no bother,” replies Sango.  “So, do you have any or not?”

 

“I might have a small bottle of peroxide in the medicine cabinet,” replies Kagome with a shrug of her good shoulder.  “I never use any, so I really don’t know.”

 

“I’ll go look for it.”

 

“Sango, I…” begins Kagome watching her friend stand.

 

“I said I’ll get it, ok?  Now don’t you move from this spot!” commands Sango as she leaves the room.  Kagome gently places the blanket over her body, to wait for Sango’s return, and InuYasha walks in.

 

“Hey.”

 

“Hey,” says Kagome quietly.

 

“Can I um, get you anything?” the hanyou quietly asks.

 

“No,” replies Kagome, looking away.  “I’m fine.”

 

“Oh…ok.”

 

“You can get the pillow and blanket from my living room closet, InuYasha.  That is if you still want to stay the night.”

 

“That doesn’t concern me right now Kagome,” says the hanyou gingerly sitting on the bed.  “Tell me who it was that hurt you tonight.  Was it Kouga?”  Kagome remains silent while reaching toward her shoulder.  “Let me see your shoulder, ok?  I won’t hurt you; I promise.”  The young woman slowly pulls the blanket from her shoulder.  “Damn!” growls the hanyou seeing the reddening gash and touches it.  “So, the bastard stabbed you too, did he?”  (Great!  Just one more reason for me to kill his ass.)

 

“It’s really nothing InuYasha,” says Kagome worriedly.  “I’m fine.”

 

“Yeah, right.”  (This wasn’t Kouga’s doing, that’s for sure,) thought the hanyou lightly rubbing the wound.  (This ain’t his scent.)  “Whoever did this to you, Kagome,  fucking deserves a major ass kicking.”  The young half demon leans over the woman’s body.

 

“What are you doing?” asks Kagome worriedly.

 

“Just shut up and lay still, alright?”  The hanyou again leans over and while lightly touching her skin; begins gently licking the wound.  Kagome is shocked with the contact for his tongue, his gentle touch, stings.  Then after a few seconds, the pain begins to fade.

 

InuYasha continues licking the wound on her shoulder, and tenderly kisses it.  He moves closer to the woman’s body to softly kiss and rub his lips gently along her delicate skin, from the wound to her neck, then up toward her face.

 

Feeling the hanyou’s tender touch and hot breath on her skin, Kagome closes her eyes.  (This feels nice.  There’s almost no pain now.  I wonder what it would feel like if…)  When he lovingly kisses her cheek, her breathing increases as well as her heart beat.  (No.  I can’t do it!  Houjo will… this is wrong.)  Her eyes quickly open and she blushes.

 

“Umm, InuYasha?”

 

“Hmmm?” the hanyou replies gently nipping her skin.

 

“Won’t your, um, girlfriend get mad?”

 

The hanyou curiously looks up.  “Why?”

 

Kagome slightly shrugs.  “Well...”  The hanyou again leans in only to be pushed back.  “You belong to someone else, InuYasha,” she explains, “and this sort of thing could only cause trouble between you and her.”

 

“So?”

 

“You want to marry her, right?  KiKyo may not understand and won’t want to marry you if you do this…for me.  And you really don’t want to do this anyway, right?”

 

InuYasha backs down.  Closing his eyes, he reins in the heated desires flowing throughout his body and abruptly stands.  “You have no idea, Kagome, no idea at all what it is I want.”  The hanyou turns and exits the room, leaving the young woman staring at the door with a look of curiosity on her face.

 

“I’ll have to go to the store to buy some Kagome, alright?” says Sango entering the room.  “It shouldn’t take me…”  She pauses seeing the wound’s coloring has changed.

 

“What’s wrong, Sango?” asks Kagome worriedly.  “Why are you looking at me like that?”

 

“I could have sworn…”  Sango slowly approaches the bed to get a closer look and reaches to lightly rub the wound.  “I would have sworn the flesh was swollen, Kagome, and red.  But somehow it seems different…changed.  But not enough time has passed for that to happen, has it?”

 

“Oh, I don’t know, Sango.  I’m a quick healer.  See?”  Kagome grimaces as she slightly moves her shoulder.  “It’s feeling better already.”

 

“Hmm,” says Sango giving a bewildered look.  “So, it would seem.”