Broken and Battered by Forgotten Bard

Two Beds And A Coffee Machine

"And she takes another step

Slowly she opens the door

Check that he is sleeping

Pick up all the broken glass

And furniture on the floor

Been up half the night screaming

Now it's time to get away

Pack up the kids in the car

Another bruise to try and hide

Another alibi to write "

~*~*~*~

Shippo watched his mother slowly pick up the shards of glass, hoping that He wouldn't wake up. 'He' was dangerous, and if He found them both awake, it would all start again. His mom looked up and smiled.

"It'll be all right Shippo, I promise," she whispered to him. Shippo only nodded, and started helping her pick up the glass and set up some of the furniture that had been knocked over. Shippo looked up when he heard a sharp intake of breath, and almost cried when he saw the huge bruise that had been revealed by her shirt.

"Momma...Momma, he did it again, didn't he?"

"Yes, Shippo. But he wont. Ever again." Her face was shadowed with a mix of fear and courage. "Do me a favor, dear. Go get your sister, make sure she's as quiet as possible. Help her gather some outfits, then get some of your own. Put them in your soccer bag, ok? Only bring clothing and a small toy or two. We cant take any more than that, ok?"

"Ok, momma." Shippo walked towards her, towards the door behind her. When he reached her still kneeling body, he stopped. He reached up to pat her cheek softly. "I love you, momma."

"I know. I love you, too." She stroked his hair, holding in tears. Shippo smiled sadly at her, and went to get ready.

~*~*~*~

Kagome watched her son's retreating back and swept the rest of the glass into the trash container. 'Never again Naraku. Never again will you hurt me or my children.' She reached down and straightened the sleeve of her shirt, where it was supposed to cover the bruise that glowered against her whole lower arm. She crept across the hall, past the kitchen and the pantry to the room at the very back of their house. 'No, His house,' she reminded herself darkly. She took one last silent step and eased the door open. Naraku slept in the king sized bed, even in sleep smiling evilly. She repressed a shudder, and reached behind the door for a small bag and her purse that hung on the knob.

~*~*~*~

"You WHAT, Bitch?!"

"I-...I want a divorce, Naraku."

"You." He smirked, and before she knew it the back of his hand had sent her to the floor. "You dont want that, love."

"Yes, Naraku. Yes I do. I want a divorce, and even more than that, I want my children safe. "

His foot connected with her ribs, and she winced, remaining on the floor, kneeling with her front scrunched down. Another limb of his connected with her, and she had slammed into a wood and glass coffee table. He reached down and furiously grabbed her forearm.

"You will NEVER leave me, bitch. I will never let you. You," He backhanded her with his free hand, "will," Again. "not," Again. "Leave!! You got that?!"

Broken and battered, she nodded, sobbing. She was glad the children werent home, worried he'd beat them too, if he caught them while he was in this kind of mood. He let go of her arm, and stalked off.

~*~*~*~

Kagome hurried out of the room, pushing the painful and recent memories out of her mind. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs, and shortly after Shippo had come back down, holding on to his little sister, Rin's hand. They both still wore their pajama's, and Rin tugged a small blanket after her. Kagome smiled and picked up her daughter.

"Lets go." She said to them, quietly. Shippo took her other hand, careful not to touch anything above her wrist, and walked out the door with her. Kagome locked it quickly, and put the keys in the mailbox. She opened the doors to her car, a large silver Mercury Cougar. She buckled Rin in, and made sure Shippo had fastened his. Fearfully, and almost exhilaratingly, she started the car and backed out.

~*~*~*~

Shippo, singing to himself, some time later:

"Another ditch in the road

You keep moving

Another stop sign

You keep moving on

And the years go by so fast

Wonder how I ever made it through"

~*~*~*~

Kagome, back in the past:

"And there are children to think of

Baby's asleep in the back seat

Wonder how they'll ever make it

Through this living nightmare

Kagome drove east, towards the rising sun as the children slept in the back seat. Pulling into her bank, she slid her card into the ATM. When her personal account screen came up, she withdrew all she had,heart dropping when she realized that there wasnt as much as she had hoped/though in it. She took her card and slipped it back into her wallet before pausing, deliberating. Kagome finally gave into the inevitable, and pulled out the card to her and Naraku's joint account. Glaring at it, she put it in and watched the status of that account come up on the screen. She withdrew half of the full amount...'After all, half of it IS mine anyways...' she told herself. Giddy at the amount of cash she had, she quickly stashed it in a couple places and drove off, breaking the account cards into peices and throwing them out the window.

After driving for another hour across dark highways and silent country side, she stopped at a cheap looking, brown painted motel. She pulled her car into the closest parking spot and shut it down.

"Shippo...Shippo hun, wake up a bit."

"Momma?"

"Yeah. I'm going inside for a minute. Keep an eye on the car and your sister, ok?"

"Ok." He yawned, but didnt fall immediatly back asleep as she had thought he would.

She got out and locked the doors before stepping inside the surprisingly clean and well lit office. An old man slept against the counter, snoring obliviously even though the bell on the door had jangled.

"E...Excuse me?...Um...Excuse me, sir?"

"Mmm..Heh?..Huh, What?!"

"Good Morning...I'm sorry to have awakened you. I...can I get a room for whats left of tonight?"

"Ah...yes. Although even if you get a room now, unless you get it for two nights you'll have to be out by-" The old man looked up from his paperwork and sighed. "Ne'ermind, miss. You stay as long as you need to, and we'll talk when you check out." His eyes had taken in her tired eyes, sagging shoulders and the bruises that her shirt had slipped to reveal again.

"Thank you...thank you so much." Kagome on impulse hugged the little man. "Here...here's thirty, and if I sleep for longer than that'll cover, tell me when I check out, ok? It's just me and my kids. Two. Both under 10." Kagome pressed the money into his bewildered hand, and turned.

"Wait...ah, Miss...Ye'll need a key and a roon number, ne?"

"Oh...right!" She smiled at him, and he handed her the key to one of his better rooms.

"Bring in the little ones next time, ok? My only boy doesnt have kids yet, and I've always loved littles. I'm Myouga, just to let you know."

"Thank you, Myouga. I'll bring them up as soon as we get some sleep." Kagome hugged him again, beaming, and went out to her car. She unlocked the door, and soothed Shippo's murmers of protecting his sister. She checked the room number and saw that it was the one directly across from the office.

Kagome pulled the car around and got out. Pulling open the door to the back, she picked up Rin and went to open the motel room door. Once inside she noted the room had two queen sized beds, and a coffee machine. ' No tv...' She noted absently as she took in the rest of the room. The lamps and carpet were nice, giving the room an almost rich appearance. She lie Rin down on the far side of the bed farthest from the door, and and tucked her under the blankets. She returned and did the same for Shippo. Once he was tucked in, and all the doors (both car and room)were locked, she fell into the bed.

'Well Kagome...welcome to your new life...I wonder if Myouga could use a maid here?...I'll bet we could get by with little pay, if he let us use this room...Otherwise we'll have to do something for a home...I'll have to get some groceries tommorrow...And wha-' Her thoughts were cut off as she fell asleep, not even staying awake long enough to pull the covers over her.

But the mind is an amazing thing

Full of candy dreams and new toys

And another cheap hotel

Two beds and a coffee machine

But there are groceries to buy

And she knows she'll have to go home "

~*~*~*~

Shippo, singing again even more years later. Now on the radio, a famous teen musician:

"Another ditch in the road

You keep moving

Another stop sign

You keep moving on

And the years go by so fast

Wonder how I ever made it through

Another bruise to try and hide

You keep moving

Another stop sign

You keep moving on

And the years go by so fast

Silent fortress built to last

Wonder how I ever made it"