AN: I feel terrible that I haven't updated this story in forever... I had writer's block again. D:

^^' Here's the Third Chapter, and if we're lucky I should get Chapter Four up soon as well. (:

Chapter 3: So Cold

It was after school, and Kagome was walking to her new job, already in the scrubs that her advisor had advised her to wear; the blue material with purple and pink floral designs covering the material of her shirt, and the safety shoes that were plain white in color, and had no shoe strings, and instead were kept in place with stretchy strings.

She opted to leave her backpack in her locker to save the trouble of carrying it, and she was thankful that she had made that decision, because the walk to the floor she was on was the top one, and carrying something as heavy as her backpack around with her would have exhausted her before she even got to work.

Eventually she made it to Kaibara Hospital, and she easily made her way in to the receptionist - a pretty - faux - blonde middle aged woman with bitter eyes hidden behind stereotypical 'smarts' glasses. She began to become hesistant to ask her anything as she slowly approached the desk.

"Excuse me?" Kagome questioned timidly, and she recieved an automatic response as crisp blue eyes met her own warm ones.

"May I help you?" it was forced kindness - the kind that ran businesses, but at least she wasn't being openly rude to her, despite how much it was easy to tell she wasn't pleased to have a new face there.

"I'm here to see Sohma-sensei..." she began.

"Do you have an appointment?"

"Uh, no," Kagome frowned. It probably did seem like she had something wrong with her...

"Then you're going to have to fill out a lot of papers, and even then it might take a while to -"

Kagome shook her head exasperatedly before she stopped her from explaining anything useless any further. "No, I'm here because I'm his new assistant for the volunteering program."

The lady didn't seem to like that Kagome had cut her off, but she nodded going through some papers that was on her desk. "I take it that you're Higurashi Kagome?"

She nodded, the woman passed the papers over, and told her to fill them out.

"It's just an agreement form, and there's only one of them," she told her. "Then I'll point you off in the direction of his office to get situated."

Kagome nodded and took the papers and pen before she began filling them out, with a smile on her face.

Doctors and nurses of every level and specialization passed him as he landed on the floor of his destination at Kaibara Hospital. Of course, each and every one of them either stopped and stared or backed off and stepped away because they knew who he was. Though they knew not of why he was there.

It was a last minute decision on his part after hearing information from Hatori himself on the Higurashi's medical data, and he couldn't help but send himself out to meet her in person himself. If only to keep her away from Hatori, or just simply to make sure that she knew nothing of his family's secret through Hatori treating them. It didn't matter, today he was going to make sure he set rules down, and should she not understand what he was saying, he'd order Hatori to get rid of her.

Akito felt his heart racing as his newest anxiety tried to attack him with his guard down, but he was adamant that he won't let this get to him. With that thought, he calmed down and pushed open Hatori's room door before stepping into his office, seeing that the man in question was looking over files for patients before he called out clearly, "Hatori."

He watched as Hatori dropped the papers t his desk absently and turned to meet his gaze with his lone eye covered. "Yes, Akito-sama?"

Akito held back a victorious grin as he read Hatori's expression. "I thought I'd drop by to see about this new assistant you were supposed to be getting..."

"She isn't here yet."

"Yes, I know," Akito glanced towards the papers, dark eyes lingering for a moment. "You still have Higurashi-san's file, don't you?"

Hatori didn't answer but reluctantly picked the papers up from his desk as he looked at Akito with resentment. But Akito knew that resentment was a short way from loving, and he was fine with that. Fear was only healthy for a family which is as strong as his to stay together with. "When are you leaving? She should be arriving soon."

"Don't be in such a hurry, Hatori," Akito gazed sharply at the doctor, eyebrows raised. "Last time you tried to do things your way you ended up with a broken heart and an injured eye. And to think it was all because of a foolish woman."

He saw Hatori glaring at him from the corner of his eyes, but he didn't bother to stop. He'll know soon enough, he thought.

"Had she not been trying to tear our family apart, you wouldn't have gotten hurt at all."

Hatori still didn't speak to him and instead he went to go slip off his doctor's white jacket as he made himself presentable at his desk. He probably thought that ignoring his problem would make it go away, Akito stared in satisfaction at him. "But, if you insist, I'll leave - though, this is coming with me; and don't bother coming by to give me that 'medicine' it isn't helping."

After recieving such unclear instructions from many different apparrel, Kagome finally made it to Sohma Hatori's office. Her heart was beating heavily from the nerves and she found herself trying to school her expression as she made to knock on the door, a small smile on her face.

One, two, three - raps and she waited.

Soon enough a deep violet-haired guy wearing a black long-sleeved t-shirt and black pants stepped out. He wasn't looking at her at first when he stepped out, but when he did Kagome held her breath as she saw the cold look in his eyes as he glared at her; or maybe it was through her? She couldn't be sure, but she immediately turned her gaze away, looking toward the ground, even though she still felt his heated gaze on her.

I hope he's not..., she thought. But... he doesn't look like a doctor, though?

"Hatori, you have company," he murmured, stepping out of the door and turning to meet her gaze once again with something akin to hate overlaying the coldness. "I take it that you're Kagome."

Who is he?, she thought.