Wow guys I am astounded by the feedback 22 reviews! All of them were read and appreciated. School has been a bit tough on me so I apologise for deadlines being missed and so on. Also I recently posted a one shot so go to my profile and check it out, it isn't as "serious" as this fic but you may get 1 laugh or two. Anyway without further delay I bring you the next chapter.

Disclaimer: Inuyasha does not belong to me.

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Second chances

Shaking white fingertips traced the aged passport sized photo of an ethereal like being in disbelief; the piercing golden eyes looked at her with disinterest and finality.

She had never seen anything like it.

Unable to help herself she gingerly drew her finger over a pointed aristocratic nose before lightly touching a high cheekbone slashed with magenta superiority. She was not one to want somebody after a glance but Kagome found that it was impossible to deny...that this murderer was attractive in all the wrong ways. It was disgusting how she couldn't take her eyes off that strong chin nor could she stop her tiny finger from tracing his moon dipped hair. This monster...animal...sick, individual was deceitful, she could just picture how he was supposed to look.

Dirty, malformed claws dripped in the blood of his victims, a face distorted to a point that normal features were unrecognisable and a hulking mass of a body with a belly obviously full with the cries of his prey. Yes...that fit him to a tee, not this beautiful lie.

Removing her black framed glasses she placed a slightly sweating palm to an equally slicked forehead. She couldn't do this; she was struggling to separate her professional mind from her regular mind. She needed to focus! Miroku was counting on her, with a quick flick of her wrist she came across a list of drugs that had been tried on the Daiyoukai.

213 tried

213 failed

Subject's natural toxins destroy any medications given, whether it be oral, injected or inserted. No further attempts to orally insert should be made unless in the presence of a being of holy descent.

Without being faced with a picture of the patient Kagome found her professional mind quickly forth coming, she jotted down some notes in her medical note pad. After skim reading some minor details she quickly came upon the last page. She was in slight shock, the whole case was barely 4 pages most of which were filled with the do's and don'ts around the patient. Flicking again through the light file purposely avoiding the page with his face upon she placed it upon her bed and sighed.

This was the part where she deeply considered the case, she had held her side of the bargain and looked through the case file and was under no obligations to accept. Miroku may try to persuade her but even he could see that this...demon was beyond help besides could she ever look into those amber eyes and see hate?

What was wrong with her, she was 29 years old for God sake a doctor! Not a horny teenager and definitely not a mindless bimbo. She hadn't even taken on the case and she was already losing her mind, she would stay, clear and concise. With that statement seared in her brain she picked up the folder and placed it beside her work satchel.

Never again would she act so unprofessionally, so irrationally...so wild.

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Miroku left the board meeting with a tight smile and sweaty palms. The contributors of the hospital were mounting so much pressure upon him. They needed to cut the budget and getting rid of some of their staff was placed upon him. He looked at the list of staff members that the hospital wanted gone at the end of the month and guiltily his eyes stopped at the person at the top of the list.

What kind of friend was he? He hadn't lied when he told Kagome she could easily achieve a higher ranking in the hospital if she was to 'cure' Sesshoumaru, but he also didn't tell her about her job that were facing the cut if he failed to show why she was an impeccable doctor. According to the board members, doctors that did not show above average skills in the field did not deserve to stay here and knowing his friend if he should tell her the situation she would quit immediately and he didn't want that for her. He knew how much this job meant to her, after all the effort she had put into the hospital she didn't deserve to dropped, he wouldn't stand for it.

Kagome will take this case whether she liked it or not...

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Patting a child on the head Kagome waved goodbye to one the more successful patients that had come to the end of her treatment. She lifted her glasses and wiped a stray tear from her face. This is what she lived for, to see happiness reach the eyes of the kids she treated. If she could bring some light back into their suffering, the long hours spent researching their backgrounds and coaxing them to talk was worth it. She glanced at her watch and saw that it was lunch, she was dreading the meeting she was going to have with Miroku, she knew her long time friend would try to convince her to take on the case but she would stand firm. Nobody would force her into something she felt uncomfortable with, close friend or not. Walking to her office she picked up the tattered folder and made her way to the cafeteria.

After a short walk filled with nervousness and some odd placed guilt she ordered a cup of bitter coffee and took a seat waiting for a friend and colleague. She waved at some of the other doctors and nurses who went to get a meal. She couldn't eat for some reason, her stomach was churning and dreading the meeting she was about to have.

Calm down, just break the news to him gently, Miroku is very understanding besides I didn't promise him anything.

"How's my fave Doc"

Kagome jumped at the chipper tone of the person occupying her thoughts. Miroku was all smiles and grins as per usual. He took a seat opposite Kagome placing a plastic tray filled with some suspicious items that Kagome didn't even want to believe was food.

Catching her eyeing his food with distain Miroku broke apart the wooden chopsticks and prodded some limp looking strands of noodles.

"Come on, I think they tried today," Taking a bite he nodded and took another bite. "Even the cafeteria can't mess up Ramen."

"It seems so"

Miroku immediately noticed Kagome's demeanour, she looked nervous and guilty which could only mean one thing. Taking a swig of his beverage he smiled at his apprehensive friend and pointed to the item in her hand.

"So what did you think?"

Of course he knew what she thought but he was already lining up counters to her arguments, she would take this job!

"Miroku, thanks for the opportunity but I think I will pass." She slid the folder to a reluctant Miroku who picked up the folder with a sigh.

"It's a shame, Kagome you could really help this guy"

Kagome relaxed it seemed Miroku wasn't going to press her to help.

"After all when a child grows up with such a troubled past it's little wonder they become as troubled as our friend here."

Kagome stiffened; they hadn't mentioned in the folder that the Sesshoumaru had a troubled past but how troubled could a person be to commit such heinous crimes.

Miroku went on without being asked he could already see the curiosity and pity in Kagome's eyes. He hated to do this but he knew she had a soft spot for children with a troubled past and if this was what it would take to convince her, he would poke that spot till she caved.

"Sesshoumaru grew up with an absent father and a sick mother," Miroku looked grave as Kagome gasped.

"Sesshoumaru's mother could not deal with his father's infidelity and because Sesshoumaru looked so much like his father he bared the full brunt of her rage."

"What did she do?" Kagome whispered.

"Not much is known Lord Sesshoumaru refuses to tell we have only little information from old retainers that's why we need somebody he can learn to trust," Miroku reached over and grabbed her hands in a desperate plea.

"You can be that person, he is lost and needs guidance. Please Kagome you are his only chance, nobody will touch this case."

Kagome closed her eyes, the small niggling of guilt becoming a full pounding. If he was hurt as a boy with nobody to talk to, she envisioned the lives of the children she had helped, if they didn't have her help what would they have become. She couldn't bear this if she could help even a little, she sighed and opened her eyes to a resigned Miroku.

"Look Kagome if you can't handle..."

"I'll do it, I just hope it isn't too late" she muttered, it may be too late for that little boy but maybe it wasn't too late for him. Despite the despicable things he had done, if he was made that way it was no way his fault.

Everybody deserves a second chance