CHAPTER 04: THE LAWYER
Kagome realized that Inuyasha wasn't around her.
"Where's Inuyasha?" she said uncertainly.
"Dr. Takahashi will be returning within a few minutes. Don't worry, miss," said the nurse in a gentle voice.
But Kagome couldn't help but feel a little troubled.
Around fifteen minutes, Kagome got a whiff of that now-familiar aftershave. Involuntarily, her shoulders relaxed and she gave a sigh of relief. It was then she realized that she was, albeit, slightly tensed.
"Hey Inuyasha, it's not fair to ditch a lady and run away all of a sudden," she laughed lightly, though worry clouded her heart. She couldn't see, but she wasn't stupid.
That's what she thought anyway.
"It's nothing," he muttered, dismissing the nurse with a wave. He began pushing her chair back towards the hospital. "Besides, it's almost your lunch time and Sango's dying to get you taste her new menu."
Kagome could hear an uneasy undercurrent in the otherwise lazy drawl but decided not to pursue it further.
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"Ramen with an extra helping of pork, chicken teriyaki along with tofu salad on the sides—washed down with a glass of orange juice...man, even my mouth's watering. Why don't we get such good food?"
Kagome could almost visualize Miroku drooling as the latter said those words.
Sango rolled her eyes, bending to poke a finger on his nose.
"Listen, Dr. Miroku Ryugamine...we are here to treat people, and it's a hospital, not a freaking restaurant!" said Sango, emphasizing her point with periodic jabs to his nose. Miroku slumped on his chair, though an eye observed Inuyasha with veiled interest. It was, well, unusual to see the normally stoic and grumpy doctor hang on to somebody's words. But he sure didn't miss the worry lines on Inuyasha's forehead.
Miroku twitched up his eyebrow.
Inuyasha shook his head, pointing outside discreetly.
Miroku gave a tiny shrug.
If Sango noticed this non-verbal exchange, she ignored it.
Happily oblivious to her companions actions, Kagome dug in.
"It's amazing, Sango! Are you I sure I am in a hospital and not in any Michelin-starred restaurant? Coz this ramen is the best I have ever tasted!" Kagome gushed as she chewed a mouthful.
"You haven't tasted mine," said Inuyasha grumpily, pouting like a schoolboy.
Kagome squealed, making him almost topple off the chair.
"You can cook, Inuyasha?" she asked, astounded, her lunch temporarily forgotten.
"Only ramen, not much," he said, slightly awkwardly with a hint of pride.
Miroku rolled his eyes.
"He cooks only and only ramen, that too the instant version. You cannot call that cooking, Inuyasha," he said, patting the orthopaedic on his head.
Inuyasha growled, trying to shake his hand off.
"Yeah, but unless you pour in the water the right amount and let it stay for the right time..." he began.
"But you didn't put in the ingredients..." Miroku interjected.
"Guys! This is a hospital for crying out loud!" Sango groaned, rubbing her temples.
Kagome couldn't help but giggle as she popped in a piece of chicken teriyaki. How she wished she could just see...
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Kikyo Higurashi looked like a woman on a mission. She walked up smartly into the office, the place which had made her grow into a lawyer. Clad in a sharp, casual white shirt, grey skirt, black kitten heels and the blazer folded neatly in her arms, she walked firmly into the cabin of the man who headed the department—her fiancé.
Naraku was currently in the middle of heated argument with someone on the other side of the phone. He motioned her to sit on the chair in front of him as he ploughed on. After ten minutes or so, he slammed the phone back on its stand, burying his head in his hands. Kikyo stood up and walked around the table, cradling his head in her arms as she ran her fingers soothingly over his scalp. He gave a small sigh of contentment, inhaling her scent as he allowed himself to relax.
"Oh Kikyo," he murmured, wishing to stay like that forever.
"Hush, Naraku," she said softly as she continued her ministrations.
A few minutes later, he pulled back unwillingly though his face looked slightly more relaxed. Kikyo sat back on the chair she was originally sitting.
"So, how's it going?" she asked.
"It's going to be hell, Kikyo. That guy who crashed your sister...he was none other than Bankotsu Miyagi, that brat of the guy who owns the Miyagi Corp. Already, I have received more threat calls this morning than my entire career..."
Kikyo gasped as she realised the implications.
Naraku gave her a feral grin.
"But hey, don't worry. This has fired me up even more. Threat calls? Bodily harm? Blackmail? Man, I am finally in something I always wanted to be! The adrenaline rush is nothing like the roller-coaster at Six Flags...this is freaking brilliant!"
Kikyo stared at her fiancé, as if fearing for his sanity.
Naraku took her hands in his, staring in her pools of deep onyx.
"Kikyo, love, I chose to be a lawyer so that I could be there for the people. As a child, I always had this hero complex...now, I have got this opportunity to live it out. Besides, think of what would happen if we beat the Miyagis...it's not just about your sister. There are scores of people who have a grudge against them. Maybe if we come public, then the others will be encouraged to step forth too! And as a lawyer, it would be a golden feather in my cap."
Kikyo smiled at him, her eyes shining with tears.
"But what would happen if you lose?" she asked softly.
Naraku grinned at her.
"I don't fight losing battles, Kikyo."
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As the clock struck four, Kikyo stepped out of the building for a five-minute coffee break. Unlike Kagome who preferred tea, she was a coffee person. She loved the caffeine in her system, banishing all sluggishness and bringing energy in its wake. She crossed the street, making a bee-line for her favourite coffee-shop.
"A blueberry scone and one macchiato please."
She took her order and sat down on a nearby table, nibbling a scone. Naraku and she had discussed well and deep into the case, building a strong foundation and preparing plans to seek out for clues. He had already got his information brokers on the warpath, while his long time friend in the police Hakudoshi had begun sniffing around for anything that could incriminate Bankotsu. She decided to get her mother and brother out of the country for sometime. The Miyagis were tough customers...they could try and hold them hostage if required. After making a mental note to drop in to visit her mother post work, she emptied her cup in a swig and deposited the empty paper plate and cup in a trash can.
She hurried in as she checked her watch—she had a meeting with a client regarding a divorce case.
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"...and then, could you believe it, Nee-chan? It was a home-run! I mean, how lucky could one get..."
Souta babbled away his school activities as Kagome listened to his enthusiastic voice with a smile. Her mother arranged her clothes in the wardrobe, listening to her children's chatter as she thought about the phone call she received from Naraku.
"It could get dangerous...Kikyo will visit you today evening to explain the situation. But it would be best for Souta and you to go out of the country until I get this case wrapped up. As soon as Souta's school year is over, I have an associate in India who can get him enrolled in a school. It is in Mumbai and a very good school at that. And most importantly, it is safe. Once we know the family is well-protected, then Kikyo and I can fight with nothing held back." Naraku had said.
"But, Kagome..." Aiko began in a soft voice.
"Hospitals are the safest place for a patient...besides, we are here. I swear I will get the man punished for his crimes."
"Okay...if that is the case...I agree..."
She gave a soft sigh. Naraku told her not to tell Kagome as to why they were shifting. Tension would be detrimental to her health at the moment. They decided to tell that Souta got in a sport's scholarship for a year and hence they had to leave.
She told so to Kagome.
To her surprise, Kagome gave them a gentle smile.
"Mama, Souta loves basketball and getting scholarship to a different country is always good. You get to see so many different people...and don't worry, I will be fine here. Kikyo, the doctors...I am being treated like royalty here...just promise to bring me souvenirs, okay?"
Aiko hugged her daughter fiercely, tears threatening to leak out of her eyes.
"Oh Kagome! I so hate leaving now..." she said sadly as the daughter rubbed her hand over her mother's back.
"Now now Mama, I am seriously glad for you...and for Souta. Which reminds me, get good grades in the finals so that the new school knows what we Japanese kids are made of!" said Kagome, smiling.
"You got it, Nee-chan!" said Souta, his eyes a strange mix of happiness and sadness.
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"I told you sir, I cannot divulge the details of the patient to a person other than people authorised by the family!" Ayame repeated patiently, though she was seething inside. The hulking man in a business suit was seriously creeping her out.
"I understand miss, but our hospital is better suited to take care of patients like her..." he began.
"I am sorry sir, but whatever the reason is, we cannot breach a patient's right to privacy. And pardon me for beating my own trumpet, Seven Hills is better suited than any hospital in the city to treat this particular patient. If you have exhausted your pleas, then please leave!" Ayame said, finally letting the anger seep into her voice.
The man looked startled, as if realizing that the girl who reached just upto his chest was angry with him.
"Listen lady, no need to get angry with me..."
"If the receptionist refuses to answer, the exit sign begs your attention," said a smooth voice from behind him. He turned to see a tall, lithe man in a black ponytail and sharp azure eyes stare angrily back, pointing the exit with his thumb.
Ayame winked at him in relief.
"But I was saying..." the man began again.
"Can't you see? We don't freaking care!" he said angrily. "Now please leave before we call people to bodily lift you out."
With a last angry glare, the man left.
"What was up with that guy?" Kouga asked.
"I dunno...he was asking about Kagome," she replied as she typed away into her computer.
"Kagome Higurashi? Inuyasha's patient?" he asked, surprised.
"Yep," she answered, popping the 'p' sound. "Inuyasha told me someone might come snooping, dunno how he knew."
Kouga scratched his chin thoughtfully.
"Hmm...gotta ask that mutt for some answers. Can't have random people harassing my girl. Besides," his azure eyes narrowed as his lips pressed into one grim line. "That guy, I am thinking we are in more something real serious. Keep your senses peeled, Ayame."
Ayame nodded back.
Kouga gave her a wave and moved up the stairs.
"And don't fight with Inuyasha too much," she called at his retreating back. "For all I know, he might be falling for Kagome!"
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Aiko left the bento boxes on the table, after telling Sango that there were enough for at least six people. Sango had thanked her profusely.
Now, she was home, preparing dinner as Souta was up in his room probably doing homework. She heard the living room door slide open. She set the gas on simmer and stepped out of the kitchen to see her oldest daughter standing in front of her, a rueful smile on her face.
"Oh Mama!" she cried out, hugging the older woman tightly.
"Now now Kikyo...you are our pillar, right?" she said soothingly as she hugged back.
"Mama...Kagome...why her?" she sobbed, her tears wetting Aiko's apron.
"The God has many myriad plans, child...He knows what is best," said Aiko, slowly seating her on the sofa. "And Kagome is strong...she will ride through."
Kikyo nodded, rubbing away the tear tracks on her cheeks.
"I know Mama, she is the anchor of this family—the one who always kept us moving forward..." she said softly.
Kikyo handed her mother the folder.
"I have talked to the people of Souta's school...they agreed to make an exception for him and let him take his exams early. Instead of one-and-a-half month later, his exams will be two weeks later. The folder contains the tickets, some emergency foreign exchange, credit cards, ID cards, the school admission papers, visa documents, passports and a diary of addresses for emergencies. There are also two SIM cards which you will need post landing in India."
Aiko took the folder with shaking hands.
Kikyo squeezed her shoulder gently.
"Mama, it will be perfectly alright. We have handled cases worse than this. And besides, we have an incentive to fight this time. You just make sure to bring us stuff from India."
"Okay, Kikyo...if you say so...then I trust you..."
A/N: Hello people! Another chapter, another step forward!
I love you people, especially those guys who review regularly...I feel so awesome when I see you guys review! What do we authors want more than readers who share their thoughts with us! :)
Ern Estine 13624: Thanks for sticking with "One Small Step"...more action incoming!
Sassybratt: Got that inverted commas fixed...and I went back and edited the first two chappies too...thanks a lot for pointing it out!
VEENA4: Thanks for reviewing faithfully...sorry for not making this chappie as long as the first one as the next bit would feel a bit out of place in this chappie...
rill: Sess has stuff in his past which is connected in a big way to this story...stick tight!
jj: Yep, Inuyasha has a crush on our dear Kagome...so sad he isn't accepting it himself! that's our beloved hanyou for you, completely oblivious! ;)
inulover: Can I hit Bankotsu too? I can keep you company!
QUESTION TIME!
Guess Souta's age! The one closest to the answer will get a virtual cookie! :D
Till next time, folks!
ANIME DAISUKI!
