InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Phoenix ❯ Promises ( Chapter 5 )

AN: I do not own any of the characters from Inuyasha. I do not make any money doing this.

Kagome's past has pushed her to succeed in her later adult life. Living in a world that still showed discrimination, she still refuses to let that incident shape how she sees people. Wanting to help those around her, she ends up hiring a certain hanyou as her assistant.

Chapter Five - Promises

The crowds suddenly didn't matter to Inuyasha as he hastily pushed his way through to find his boss. It was an odd mixture of feelings, he was livid with how the unknown man had revealed one of her most personal experiences with the world. No doubt other online websites and blogs that followed them would write something about the situation. He only hoped the negative attention would be put on that man.

Speaking of which, Inuyasha halted and spun around to see Miroku trying to dissect the situation.

"Miroku, find that guy. Get all of this information. I don't care how, rope that girl Sango you've been talking about if you have to," receiving a nod of agreement, Inuyasha began rushing forward again.

Had she only hired him as well as several other half-demons because of what happened? Disappointment took over his system when he came to the conclusion that he really had been some sort of charity case. Not to make herself feel better, but because she was fighting for the child she once carried.

That explains the flowers and conversation with her mom, he frowned. That's why she's been so sad lately, it must've been the ten year mark of the loss.

Finding her curled up in an empty room they had been using for storage, Inuyasha slowly approached after closing and locking the door. He wanted some answers, and nobody was going to interrupt him.

"Kagome," he called out softly. "I'm sorry, I guess I didn't look over the guest list too thoroughly. This is my fault," he admitted.

"No," she let out a broken sigh while wiping tears away from her face. "There's nothing you could have done to stop him. I'm pretty sure he was going to come - guest list or not."

Inuyasha carefully took a seat next to the fragile woman, "wanna talk about it?"

"You think I only hired you because of what happened to me, right?" Kagome leaned her head back against the wall. "I'm not going to sit here and lie to you. After that happened, I did change but the belief that half-demons, full-demons, and regular humans are all people has been mine since the beginning."

That put his mind at ease slightly, and his posture relaxed. "We're not here to talk about me," he corrected. "Tell me about when it happened. Don't think I haven't noticed the way you stare off sadly, and talking about it might help a little bit."

"Promise me this conversation stays secret. No discussing it with anyone," she whispered out. Seeing him nod from the corner of her eye, she let out another sigh. "I had just turned eighteen, and I was walking home at night after studying at the library. I saw someone calling out for help, so I went. When I got close enough, he grabbed me."

She paused, and Inuyasha could tell she was going to continue but just needed a break. After a few moments, Kagome cleared her throat and continued.

"He grabbed me and he raped me."

"Did they catch him?"

"Nobody could track him down. After they examined me at the hospital the nurses took DNA swabs. I was informed that my attacker was a demon, and was told I had no chance of escaping."

"And you became pregnant," Inuyasha continued. His fist clenched at his side with deep anger. Kagome had been the kindest person he had ever met, besides his own mother and probably Mrs. Higuarshi.

"Yes, that's when I realized I couldn't keep hiding in my room all day like I had. I started taking care of myself because it was selfish of me to deprive a baby of nutrients."

"You were planning on keeping a half-demon as a baby?" Inuyasha was stunned. He could understand if that baby had been made through love and affection, but not in such an ugly and violent way.

"It didn't matter that the baby was a half-demon, Inuyasha," her head rolled to the side and rested on his shoulder causing his body to tense up slightly. "It was my baby, and that's all that mattered to me."

Once they had arrived back at the shrine, he found that the elder Higuarshi woman had bathed Shippo and given him some clean clothes to sleep in. Taking up her offer of spending the night, he was also given some spare clothes to change into while Kagome took a long shower.

He was thankful the Higurashis had an extra room available for guests. Inuyasha had thought everyone had gone to sleep but when he heard the light sobs and sniffling coming from Kagome's room, his heart sank. Deciding to throw away all hesitance, Inuyasha got out of bed and carefully moved down the hallway. Hearing her still cries, he knocked on the door twice before letting himself in without waiting.

"Inuyasha?" Her voice was so small and broken.

Deciding to not answer her, he peeled the blankets back slightly and settled in on the bed next to her. Getting the hint, Kagome scooted over to make more space for him. Embracing the woman in his arms, he slowly stroked his fingers through her hair.

"I'll protect you, Kagome," he whispered out. "Get some sleep."