Chapter Two: Well Hello Again. Let's Talk.
"Sango, who's my one o'clock again?" I asked as I finished my sushi and threw the empty container away. Sango scooped another roll into her mouth before patting the corners with a napkin and reviewing the schedule in front of her.
"Doesn't have a name. Says it was court-appointed Anger Management and all of their information should be faxed by the time they arrived. That's weird," she muttered to herself.
"Yeah really, but the weirder thing is I'm not the one they normally stick people who simply need counseling with."
"I know." She skimmed the paper some more, looking for any clues. "To get an appointment here, you need one hell of a recommendation and a pocket book for next day scheduling," she murmured, more to herself than to me.
"Next day?" I asked perplexed. No one got an appointment in less than a week and those were seriously mentally ill patients, not just angry ones. "They must have connections or something. But why me I wonder. I'm probably the newest psychiatrist in town." I furrowed my brows as I looked over Sango's shoulder at the paper, trying to decipher some clues of my own.
"Yeah, but you know you're the best, Kagome. It's why they offered you so much to come back here and work for this office. The people with money must realize that too. That or this person needs serious help." She stood suddenly and made for the door, leaving her trash from lunch still all over my desk.
"Where are you going?" I asked as I slid the trash remains into the waste basket.
"To stock the tranquilizers. The last thing we need is some super angery asshole trying to take down his doctor for doing her job," she said dryly as she disappeared through the door. I sat down and stared at the schedule. I glanced at the clock and saw it was 12:45. Well, I guess all I could do was wait and see. I took out some clean sheets of paper and clipped them to my clip board for note-taking purposes, then checked myself in the reflection of my dark computer screen to make sure I didn't look alarming and thanked god I hadn't worn red. I looked back at the clock. 12:48. I sighed and stood to get some tea before my patient arrived. I would make the time go by quicker and my curiosity calm for the duration of my waiting period.
…
Sango sat patiently at her desk, rattling off her meaningless secretarial tasks as she waited for the one o'clock to show and some action to go down. She loved the way this business kept you on your toes and gave her a reason to man-handle people. She heard the glass door brush open against the carpet and looked up to freeze where she sat.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, venom lacing her words.
"I should ask you the same question," Inuyasha retorted. "Is this where you work? For some high-priced shrink?" Sango looked stunned and quickly stoned her face to appear blank.
"You're the one o'clock Anger Management patient?" she asked in a low, quiet voice.
"I ain't nobody's patient. I'm doin' this shit against my will so stop wasting my time and tell the doc I'm here, Jeez!" he huffed as he threw himself into one of the stiff chairs in the waiting room/front lobby. Sango only nodded and shot up from her seat rushing to the office door.
…
Sango ran into my office and slammed the door behind her. I gave her a wild, questioning look.
"What in the-"
"I didn't know! I didn't tell I swear!" My heart dropped at her words.
"What are you talking about?" I asked calmly. She took a deep breath and straightened her posture.
"Brace yourself. You're one o'clock's here. If you need anything, buzz me." And with that she stepped out of my office only to return after a moment. "Right this way, Sir," she said politely as I stood to great the new patient. My smile dropped to a look of horror I couldn't hold back when I met those warm golden eyes I'd dreamt about for seven years; those endless ochre pools that's identical innocent equals gazed up at me everyday. I couldn't believe he was standing in my office after all this time just staring back at me. I'm sure I was close to fainting for lack of oxygen but I still couldn't breath. He was here. Holy fuck! He was here!
…
Inuyasha was frozen in a moment from long ago when her warm honey-brown eyes darkened into their cold chocolate brown demeanor. He remember the end of summer those seven years ago when he told her he couldn't come with her to America because he was in love with Kikyo; that day when he witness the light fade from behind her eyes, the growing darkness expressing the continual breaking of her heart. How do you face someone you love more than anything after you do something that stupid? How do you tell them that you knew it was a mistake the moment the words left your mouth? How do you explain why you broke their heart? For their own good? What kind of excuse was that to lying and utterly destroying someone's spirit?
…
We both stared at each other a long minute before the reality of our situation became clear, and despite my dark secret and obvious conviction with this male that so greatly impacted my life, I painted my warrior mask of pleasant and professional doctor mentality onto my face and smiled a cold and heartless smile at Inuyasha Taisho.
"Hello Inuyasha. Are you my one o'clock?" I asked sweetly. He just nodded, dumbstruck with his mouth agape. I turned to Sango. "Thank you Mrs. Hoshi, leave us so we're not wasting anymore time." Sango nodded with wide eyes as she silently left the room, closing the door behind her. I walked over to my chair and took a seat using my hand to suggest Inuyasha sit in the chair across from me. Picking up my clipboard and pen before speaking again, the same professional, emotionless smile painted on my face, I started. "Alright Mr. Taisho, let's discuss why you're hear." Inuyasha just stared at me before shaking his head vigorously and hardening his eyes.
"That's all you have to say to me? After seven years, you move back and don't even call and when you see me it's 'oh Inuyasha, you're my one o'clock?'" he attempted a high pitched feminine voice that sounded nothing close to mine. "That's a bunch of bullshit! I knew I smelled you in Miroku's house yesterday! What the fuck Kagome?!" I widened my eyes in fear that he might have also detected our son but regained myself.
"I'm sorry you feel that way, but our past relations are of no consequence to you being here today and I don't want Toga, who obviously pulled some strings to get you here, wasting his money so let's just talk about your anger due to the fact that it is the real cause of our reunion." I did my best to not lace the words with venom but they were clipped none the less. He just shook his head.
"Kagome…"
"Dr. Higurashi. We need to keep this professional while you're in your sessions."
"Whatever. If that's how your feel."
"Mr. Taisho…"
"Please, call me Inuyasha," he said with an overbearing use of sarcasm.
"Alright. Inuyasha, tell me about the assault. They didn't say much so I need to know the details." He leaned back and crossed his arms, the corner of his mouth twitching into a scowl and his jaw clenched in anger. "The sooner you can talk about this, the sooner we can work on resolving your anger and I can give a good report to the courts."
"Fine." He exhaled and leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees. "Miroku and I were out drinking at a bar when some asshole starts fucking with the waitress so I told him to lay off. Faggot calls me a dirty half-breed and I beat him senseless. What else is there to say?"
"Well, I understand that statement made you feel angry, but have you not been dealing with that kind of criticism your entire life? What made this random stranger so different from anyone else with negative outlooks on your species?" Inuyasha sat back again, crossing his arms and glaring, signaling he wasn't saying anything else. We sat in silence for five minutes before I tried a different approach. "Is something particularly stressful going on in your life right now that has you on edge?"
"What the fuck's it matter to you?!" he screeched as he shot up from his seat.
"Please have a seat." He snorted and plopped back down on the chair returning to his silence. "I'm asking as your therapist because your 'spontaneous' attack is obviously the result of deeper issues that need to be resolved before I can, in good conscience, give you a passing report so to speak."
"Nope. Not talking about anything other than the assault."
"Obviously, you're very defensive about your major stress factors but you have to discuss them in order to move past them and get to the bottom of the more exuberant flare of anger that's causing you to lash out."
"Tell you what, Kagome…"
"Dr. Higurashi."
"Yeah, 'Doc' if you answer my questions, I might answer yours."
"That's not very professional."
"I don't care. It's not like I can just sit here and talk about everything that's wrong in my life and not know anything about yours. I mean, obviously you're doing well for yourself. You're a rich doctor now so that's good. Tell me how America was."
"That's not something I can discuss Inuyasha. I'm not the person in therapy so my personal business isn't of any concern to the situation."
"Bullshit, Kagome…"
"Dr-"
"Ka-go-me! I don't give a fuck what 'professionalism' grants appropriate or not. You know you can't just expect me to open up when you're a steel wall."
"Steel wall?" I asked with a glint of humor in my eyes.
"Shut up," Inuyasha chuckled. "Brick wall. Whatever. You're still acting like the great wall of China and expecting me to cave like a beaver damn." We laughed a small laugh together before I steeled myself once more, cursing inwardly about falling into old habits so easily.
"I suppose that's understandable. America was life-changing to say the least. I've learned a lot and now I only came back because they offered me a nice some for this position. You're turn." Inuyasha's small smile faded as sadness washed over his eyes.
"I was hoping you would have just come back when you were done."
"Why would I do that?" His gaze drowned me in how hurt he was by my statement but I never faltered. "I didn't really have much to come back to, did I?"
"Guess not." He looked down at the ground before standing and strolling across my office to look at the degree's I had framed on the wall. "Were they nice to you over there?" This question caught me off guard but I just nodded then replied a small 'yes' when I realized his back was turned. He walked around to my desk and his eyes landed on the picture beside my computer; my heart dropped. I shot up in an attempt to redirect his attention but his demon speed beat me to the punch and he snatched up the picture and glared at it. "Who the fuck it this?" he asked pointing to the picture of Shadow and I on his fifth birthday. I held back the tears before taking a deep breath.
"My son," I said hoarsely. He set the picture down with ease.
"So you're married now?" If I were on the outside looking in, I would have laughed at the irony that was unfolding.
"No. His dad's not in the picture." Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at me in contemplation. "Come sit," I said as I turned and took my seat, trying my best to give nothing away. He followed my lead and sunk into his chair.
"What's his name?" he asked quietly. I looked at him a long moment before replying.
"Shadow."
"Shadow? You named him something in English?"
"Fitting isn't it since he was born in an English speaking country?"
"Yeah, I guess you're right. But why Shadow?" I smiled to myself at the memory.
"He's gifted to say the least. When he was born, the lights in the delivery room went out immediately. When they tried to move me rooms or take him to a lighted place, the same thing would happen. It was frustrating but they finally managed to get us situated in a dimly lit recovery room. He wouldn't be anywhere but in the shadows, so I named him Shadow. It's just the first of many found memories and his name reflects how we first met I suppose. He got over his need for darkness around four months, thank goodness."
Inuyasha chuckled to himself. The sound of his amusement over my story of Shadow's birth wrenched my heart. "So his dad's a shadow demon?"
"No. Enough about me and my son. Let's talk about you." His smirk that he passed down to his next generation faded into a scowl.
"You want to know what's really going on in my life that's got me on edge?"
"Absolutely. That's why you're here."
"Not technically, but Kikyo and I are getting a divorce." I cringed at her name, the cracking sound of my heart about to burst under pressure all over again. I had to be professional though.
"Oh? How long have you been married?" My voice sounded ridiculous as it reverberated back to my own ears.
"Four years. We've been separated for the past year and half."
"I see. And are you on edge because she's pushing for the divorce or another matter concerning the event?" Inuyasha shook his head. I was going to need a strong drink after this day; this I knew for sure.
"No. We realized that the only reason we got married was for my business. She started to stop acting like she cared about a year into it, then I found out she was cheating, then I found out she was trying to steal all of my money, and now we're locked in a battle over who get's what and I'll be damned if she's taking anything of mine!" He let a low growl of disgust escape his throat.
"I see. That must be very stressful. No wonder you're having trouble venting your anger in less violent ways."
"That's not the half of it, but it's a start."
"Indeed." I glanced at my clock, relieved our time was up. "Well, that's all for today, but we can meet this same time next week and if you continue to be so forthcoming with your problems, I'm sure we can have this Anger Management wrapped up in no time." I smiled at him and stood to escort him out.
"Not so fast," he said as he approached me, getting a little too close for comfort. I could smell him again and it made me sick with the sadness of loss I'd been feeling this whole time. It made me think of when I found his old sweatshirt once I got to America and kept it until the smell was gone. When Shadow was born and would cry uncontrollably, it was the only thing that would calm him down. I tried to throw it away, but my loving son wouldn't let me. He sleeps in it when he has bad dreams. Things like this were why I didn't ever want to see Inuyasha again. I could feel tears burning the back of my eyes.
"Kagome…" he stepped closer and put a firm hand out to stop his assault.
"I'm sorry Mr. Taisho, but our time is up. I have other patients to see. We'll see each other next week. Try to keep your anger under control until then, ok?" I pushed him towards the door, opened it, scooted him out, then smiled as I slammed it in his face. I leaned against the door, sliding down to the floor willing myself not to let the useless tears fall. I could feel him just standing there for what seemed like an eternity. When I finally heard his footsteps retreating a stood up, walked to my desk, plopped down in my chair and let the sobs of my past rack my body as I tore myself apart inside for letting my feelings come out, even slightly. The door flew open and closed quickly as Sango rushed to my side. She threw her arms around me and rubbed my back.
"Shh. It's ok, Kagome. You know how strong you are for not immediately referring him to a different therapist," she said softly. I stopped crying for a second.
"Oh I'm so stupid! I should have totally done that!" I cried as the tears fell harder.
"Shh. It's ok. Just calm down. You'll get through this. You've been through so much worse. Just take some breaths." I nodded and got my sobs under control. Once I had everything situated, I told Sango to bring in my two o'clock. I couldn't let Inuyasha have any power like he used too. I couldn't fall into that again; I'm done with Inuyasha Taisho as anything other than a patient.
…
Inuyasha stood at the exit of the office as he listened to Kagome's sobs and the scent of her tears filled his nose. He tore the door open and left swiftly before he tried to comfort her, knowing he would only make things worse. Once he got away from any trace of her scent, he meant to just walk to the parking garage and grab his car but his head was swimming with questions and memories and Kagome.
She really wasn't happy to see him. Why should she be? That summer they shared not holding anything back had been the happiest and freest time of his life but something that felt that good couldn't last; happiness wasn't real. Kagome had never been one to hold a grudge but after seven years, he could tell the difficulty she had with being near him. The surprise and regret and heartache in her eyes told him what he did, that he thought was for the best, was the worst thing anyone would ever do to her. He shook his head, coming out of his inner monologue and realized he was almost across town. Autopilot must have taken over, causing him to just keep walking. He noticed he was close to Miroku's, so he decided to stop in and see his friend.
Walking up to the front door and knocking swiftly, he waited for the door to open. His sensitive ears could pick up a high pitched voice he didn't recognize and scrambling going on behind the door. After the commotion continued and the door had yet to be answered, he knocked again, this time a little harder. The door flung open as a disheveled looking Miroku stepped through the door. His large grin was so big it was suspicious.
"Well, hello there Inuyasha! What brings you here?" Inuyasha narrowed his eyes and pushed past his friend into the house, taking sniffs cautiously to determine who else was around.
"I went to therapy today. Guess who my therapist happens to be. I'll give you a hint. Your WIFE is her secretary!" Inuyasha's voice started low but escalated into shouting as he rolled up his sleeve and walked towards his best friend, remembering that he had been keeping Kagome's homecoming a secret from him. Miroku backed up with his hand up defensively, laughing awkwardly trying to reason with his friend.
"Now, now Inuyasha, didn't you make any progress with your anger today? She is the best therapist in Tokyo," Miroku all but stuttered as he hit his back on the wall and ducked as the hanyou threw a punch.
"You knew Kagome was back and you didn't tell me?!" Inuyasha yelled as he threw another punch but stopped his fist abruptly when a black blur rushed into the room and stopped between his hand and Miroku; definite familiar golden eyes glared at him.
"What'd you say about my mom?" the small boy asked in a sharp voice. Inuyasha slowly pulled his hand away in disbelief as the child from the picture on Kagome's desk scowled at him. "And why are you trying to hurt Uncle Roku?"
"Uh… I…" Inuyasha was dumbstruck and in shock; this little boy was the one from the photo but he was older than that photo for sure. Internally shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Inuyasha let his aura flare out to intimidate the boy into backing down so he wouldn't have to explain himself. Once it engulfed the child, a young black brow quirked and Inuyasha smirked until the child let his aura flare as well, causing Inuyasha to step back. Not only was his power equal to Inuyasha's, there were miko elements that singed his skin. Clearly, this was Kagome's child. Inuyasha looked at him closely before leaning down and sniffing his scent, well trying to because the boy didn't have a scent; strange. A low growl caught his attention and Inuyasha leaned away from the boy. "You're pretty brave for a pup," Inuyasha murmured as he continued to stare at the boy. He had Kagome's face, warm and inviting, but slightly sharper, more masculine features, pointy ears like his brother though the child was clearly hanyou. His eyes were the mystery. They were so familiar yet so unique, Inuyasha couldn't place it.
"Well wouldn't you be if someone was threatening your family?" The boy was smart and quick, Inuyasha had to give him that. "Uncle Roku's a big boy; he can take care of himself. But what did you say about my mother? You better stay the hell away from her!" A fierce growl ripped through his throat.
"Calm down kid. I would never hurt your mother. I've known her awhile. I'm just upset I had to find out she was back home by surprise." The growl didn't cease so Inuyasha tried again, sticking his hand out in a non-threatening gesture. "I'm Inuyasha. Who are you?" The boy quit growling and darted his eyes from Inuyasha's eyes to his hand and back. Finally, he reached out and gripped it firmly, shaking it like the man he believed himself to be.
"Shadow," was all he replied.
"Good to meet you, Shadow. You're strong like your mother."
"Inside, yeah. But she says I get my physical strength from my father."
"Do you know him?"
"Nope. Don't need too either, unless it has something to do with a genetic disease I need to know I'm inheriting." The coldness in his voice was impressive to Inuyasha to say the least. Shadow turned on his heels and waved over his shoulder. "See you later. I've got homework to finish and Kai's calling my name." With those words spoken, he disappeared into his black streak, leaving Inuyasha and Miroku alone.
"Wow," Inuyasha said as everything sank in. "What kind of asshole leaves someone as wonderful as Kagome to raise a kid alone? Obviously she did a good job, but still, it's the principle of the matter."
"I agree, but I'm pretty sure it was Kagome's choice."
"Well that bastard should have done better. A sire not being there for his pup is the weakest thing I've ever heard." Inuyasha was morally disgusted by the fact that some man could just not involve himself in his son's life. He was borderline sick to his stomach about it. Kagome didn't deserve that, this he knew for sure.
"Well, this is how things are. She did fine and Shadow is an excellent boy." Miroku looked at the clock and was glad it was only 3:30. Kagome would freak if she knew Shadow met Inuyasha. He was thankful that his friend was too distracted when he arrived to notice Miroku scrambling around with scent-concealing powder.
"Miroku, why didn't he have a scent though?" Or not, dammit, Miroku cursed to himself.
"Maybe you're nose is just off, Inuyasha."
"Maybe. I'm pretty out of it today ever since I saw her. She looks great, especially for having a kid."
"She does." The phone began to ring off the hook as Miroku crossed the room to answer. "Hello?... Oh Hi Dear… No, that's fine… I know… Yes… Yes… Don't worry… Well… Yes- I know!... No it's fine!... Yes Dear… I'll tell him… Love you too… Bye." He hung up the phone and turned to Inuyasha. "Seems like you're not the only one effected by today's surprise reunion."
"That was Sango I take it." Miroku nodded. "If I had known, I would have scheduled someone else and not put her through this. I was hoping she could let bygones be bygones after seven years but I guess that's too much to ask." He turned towards the door. "Call me tomorrow man. I need some rest." Miroku nodded knowing Inuyasha wouldn't see him and followed him to the door. Saying a quick 'bye' he shut the door, fell against it and let out the breath he'd been holding since he first saw the silver-haired half-demon walk up.
"Uncle Roku, who was that exactly?" a small voice asked from the doorway to the kitchen. Shadow was standing there, leaning on the doorframe with his arms crossed baring an expression too similar to one of his father's.
"Just an old friend. Why?"
"He looks familiar and I think he smelled familiar too. If you hadn't spilled all that stupid yucky powder, I could have pin-pointed it. Be careful next time, geez," he exclaimed as he turned to walk back towards the table and his homework laying around. He was already done but trying to figure out who exactly he just met was less suspicious if you looked busy with something else. Miroku seemed to buy it as he walked past him, towards the tea to brew a fresh pot.
"Oh, your mother called. She's going to be a little late picking you up."
"That's fine. I've got a lot of homework for tonight anyway." Shadow was going to get to bottom of this mystery if it was the last thing he did.
