Chapter 7

Kagome set down her phone, rereading the text Sango had sent her. After a week of working at the club, she had saved enough money to buy a phone. Sango had been kind enough to get and get it for her, so she didn't have to go outside and face the chance of having to speak or interact with a male.

It was a problem that Kagome was going to need to get past. As it was, she hadn't gone outside once. While she was homeless, people tended to stay away from her. They didn't go near the homeless unless it was to throw a coin or two her way.

Now she wasn't homeless. She had nice clothing, was able to shower as many times as she wanted and had started to finally gain back the weight she had lost. She was more approachable now. Not to mention, if she was to buy something, there was a fairly large chance she would have to speak to a male. One who wouldn't understand her aversion to touching.

For now, Sango and Miroku ran any errands she needed. It annoyed her, to know she was still so dependent on others. She wanted to be free, to be able to go as she pleased and not worry about if a stranger she happened to be talking to had ill intentions.

She would get better. She was determined to use the opportunity given to her and turn her life around. She wouldn't fail. Not this time. Shaking her head, she pushed all other thoughts away, once more looking at the text Sango had sent.

It was tips on how to flip a bottle. Kagome had a few practice bottles laid out on the bar. Sango had her customary tricks, and Kagome wanted to make her own, but first, she had to learn how to flip a bottle without dropping or spilling it.

These bottles were empty, used from the night before. She would learn to throw them, then she would add water to get a feel of how to do it with the real thing. Picking up the first bottle, she tested the weight in her hand, and then threw it up in the air. It hit her palm, but slid right out, falling to the ground and shattering.

She slumped for a second, but then picked herself up, determined. Growing up she had always been told she was stubborn. She would use that trait to achieve her goals, the first being to be able to throw a bottle in the air and catch it. Grabbing a second bottle, she was glad she remembered to put on shoes this time, because the floor was going to be a mess.

She tried once more, throwing it in the air, but this time her aim was off, and the bottle slammed into the wall behind her, shattering three full bottles on liquor. She watched it all dribble down the back bar and stomped her foot with aggravation. Throwing her head back, she let out a frustrated groan. This was not getting to be any easier.

Knowing she just cost Miroku some money, she reached into her pocket, pulling out her cash, and stuffed a few bills into the register. So far no one had caught her sneaking money back to Miroku. They kept finding the cash, but they had no idea who was doing it. She wanted to keep it that way. Unfortunately, luck wasn't on her side.

"Ahh, so that is who was sneaking money into the register. I should have known." Miroku was leaning against the wall, just in front of the stairs that led to his apartment. Kagome shrieked, caught off guard at him suddenly being there.

"Will you stop doing that!" She had a hand over her beating heart, looking at him with narrowed eyes. He smirked, walking towards the bar. Staying on the other side of it, he reached around, spinning the register so it faced him. Typing in the code needed, it popped open, and he pulled out the drawer, revealing all the cash that Kagome had been stuffing in the register.

Some of it had been folded up nicely and put into a corner. Miroku intended to give it all back the moment he found out who was leaving it behind. Now that he knew, he picked it all up, adding a few extra hundred bucks, and put it on the bar between them. "Keep your money, Kagome."

"That's more than I put in there!" She crossed her arms, turning her nose up. "Besides, I'm trying to pay you back for the room, and the clothes, and everything else. Is that so bad?"

"Not bad." Miroku shrugged, setting on a stool, and shrugging his shoulders. "Some would even say it's noble of you. However, I don't want your money. I don't want anything from you. Use that money to get on your feet."

She glared at him for a moment, could see he was going to refuse to take it, and sighed. She counted out the extra he gave her and left it on the bar. He raised an eyebrow, looking at it. "I'll take back what I put in there, but nothing extra."

Miroku sighed, standing to his feet. His nightmare had been particularly harsh, and he honestly wasn't in a good mood. "Take it, Kagome. If you don't, I'll give you a raise." He started to walk away, smirking at Kagome's outraged gasp.

"I haven't earned a raise!" He waved a hand over his shoulder, heading back upstairs to his room. She swallowed, looking down at the money. Something had really seemed to be bothering him. She assumed he had another nightmare since he was down there with her anyway, but he had never been that upset about them before. She realized then, she was worried for him. It was a foreign feeling, one that she pushed away. It made her uncomfortable.

…

Miroku sat on his bed, head in his hands. His body trembled as the memories flashed through his mind. His dream had been particularly horrible, trigger an onslaught of vile memories to rush through him. It had been the first time he seen his mother being beaten.

He had only been five. His father had discovered that she was pregnant by another man and didn't take kindly to it. He beat her until she miscarried. At the time, Miroku didn't know what was happening. He just knew his father was calling his mother a whore, told her that he was going to get rid of the bastard child she carried, and then beat her until he did exactly as he said.

All Miroku could see was his mother barely breathing, a pool of blood forming under her from between her legs. There wasn't much he could do at that time, so he called Touga. Touga and Izayoi had rushed over and taken his mother to the hospital so she could get checked out.

That was the only time Miroku's father had ever hit him. He was angry Miroku had called for help. He had wanted his wife to bleed on the floor longer. His father's favorite past time aside of drinking, was smoking. That night, every cigarette the bastard smoked was put out somewhere on Miroku's body. To this day he had little circular scars scattered across him, even one on his back end.

Aside of learning of his mother's death, it was the worst memory he had. Every so often, this would happen. He would break down, think of his past in its entirety, and let it destroy him. It never failed. Every few months it would happen again, and he would be stuck as a mess for a few hours until he could get it all out. There was only one person who had ever been able to pull him out of it.

Hand shaking, he picked up his phone, calling a number he had memorized. It only took a second for her to answer. "Mama." One word. It was enough for her to know that Miroku was having another break down. The only time Miroku called Izayoi mama was when he was having one of his episodes.

"I'll be right there." He hung up, letting his phone fall to the floor. He slid off his bed, his head going between his knees, his hands around the back of his neck. Grinding his teeth together, he squeezed his eyes shut tightly.

He had hoped that going to speak to Kagome would be enough to keep this outburst at bay. It wasn't. The longer he sat down there, the worse it became. It was why he left like he did. He needed to get away before she saw his break down. He had kept these a secret for so long, the only one to know was Izayoi and Touga.

He wasn't sure how long he sat there, but soon enough he felt arms wrap around him, and something inside of him snapped. Izayoi was there, holding his head to her chest as she comforted him. He gripped at her clothing, pulling on them, but she didn't care. She never did. She just wanted him to be okay. She was what a mother was supposed to be.

Like normal, she began to sing, rocking him as he cried. Every time this happened, he felt weak. He felt like less of a man, but in the moment, he didn't care. He just wanted the memories to stop. He wanted to go on about his day like he didn't have a past that was constantly haunting him.

For an hour, she sat there holding him. She let him get it all out, praying that her youngest would one day find the peace he deserved. When he finally seemed to settle, his body was limp against hers. Every time he had an episode, it took a lot out of him. It exhausted him.

"My sweet, Baby boy." She wiped away his tears, her hands running over his face gently. "Will you be okay?"

He nodded, sniffling. Pushing himself up, he leaned against his bed, eyes closed as he tired to compose himself. "It was the first time. When she was pregnant."

Izayoi's mouth thinned, and she grabbed his hand, rubbing it between both of hers. "I don't like seeing you like this Miroku. I wish you would get help, talk to someone."

He chuckled darkly, opening his eyes and looking at her. "Now why would I do that when I have you?" She gave him a smile, but she was still tense.

"You remember how your mother was my best friend." Izayoi turned, leaning against Miroku and placing her head on his shoulder. "We were inseparable through college. I remember when she met that man. I didn't like him from the start. He partied too much, was unfaithful, I just knew he was bad news. At first, she kept what he was doing a secret. She didn't tell anybody. It wasn't until she became pregnant with you, that she finally told me. I tried to get her to leave, but she refused. She loved your father no matter how horrible he was."

"I wish she had never met him." Miroku had his head back, looking up at the roof.

"I wish he had been better. I don't think I would ever wish she never met him. If she hadn't, you wouldn't be here, and I would never be okay with that." She sighed, still rubbing his hand. "Your mother wouldn't want to know that her bad decisions are still affecting your life. I know you have never been one to talk about what happened, but will you please think about it?" She looked up at him, and he looked down at her, mouth in a tight line.

"I'll think about it." He looked away, and sighed. "Kagome wasn't down there was she?" He did not want her to know about these breakdowns. She was the last person he wanted to know.

"No one was there when I came in." Izayoi smiled, leaning back so she could look at him better. "When do I get to meet her? She has been here a week, and I still haven't been introduced. I know! Invite her to our weekly dinner."

"That would go over well." Miroku shook his head, and then looked away. "She is scared to go outside. She's scared of men, can't stand to be touched by them. Izayoi, it hurts me to see the proof of her abuse." He placed a hand over his heart, looking towards the wall. "Why? Why is she so different than all the other girls I have helped?"

"Only time will tell."