Tease
Ch. 7
"Sesshoumaru, you really don't need to drive me." Kagome said.
Still, she gratefully climbed in the front seat of his SUV.
"Yes, I do. You've drank far more than I have. I can't have you driving," Sesshoumaru answered, turning on the engine.
"You don't have to say far more. You make me sound like a lush," Kagome retorted.
"Buckle up."
"A cop to the very end, huh?"
Sesshoumaru smirked, pulling out the driveway. The ride to the station was quick thanks to Sesshoumaru's shortcuts. Kagome ran into the lobby, nearly knocking into Naraku. Sesshoumaru steadied her.
"Where is Shippo? What happened?" Kagome cried out.
Naraku frowned at the woman, but signaled to a small holding cell where the small kit was being kept.
"Forceful removals are unusual," Sesshoumaru murmured to Naraku, "What's going on?"
"We received a call from his residence and then several calls from neighbors." Naraku said cryptically.
"Domestic violence issue?"
Naraku unlocked the door and Kagome ran in, embracing the kit.
"Miss Kagome!" Shippo gasped.
"I'm here. Oh sweetie, what happened?" Kagome asked. She lightly touched the bandages on Shippo's arms and legs. Her hands grew pink and warm as she activated her powers. Shippo didn't answer, sobbing into Kagome's chest. She rubbed his back soothingly and turned to Naraku for answers.
"Apparently Hiten had gotten drunk and had a physical altercation with Sachi. Shippo called the authorities. He was still on the phone when Hiten attacked him."
Naraku paused and Shippo stifled another sob.
"When we arrived…Hiten had put Shippo in the oven. We took him out before he sustained any third degree burns. The boy is lucky he's a demon or his injuries would have been more extensive."
Kagome tightened her hug, "Oh Shippo."
She lifted the boy into her arms, "You did the right thing, calling the police, Shippo. That was very brave of you."
"Where is his mother?" Sesshoumaru asked.
"She's being treated at Mazuru Hospital. Hiten ran at the scene, but was picked up a few blocks away. The reason I called you, Miss Higurashi," Naraku said, turning to Kagome, "was because Sachi has relinquished custody of Shippo to you."
"What about the process with foster care? Can she just turn over custody?" Kagome asked.
"I'm not familiar with how child protective services will handle things long term, however I have the authorization to leave the little boy with you tonight. If you cannot take him, he'll be put in a foster care facility."
"I'll take him," Kagome said hastily, glaring at the coldness coming from the man.
Naraku waved her over to his desk, "Alright, just fill out this paperwork and we'll get you out of here."
Kagome carried the boy to Sesshoumaru's car. He hadn't spoken more than her name since the two had arrived.
"Your partner is jerk," Kagome ground out, slipping into the back seat with Shippo. She placed the kit in the booster seat Sesshoumaru had for Rin.
Sesshoumaru started up his car. He sent a text to Botan to drop Rin off at the house.
"Naraku can come off callous," he admitted, "but he cares for the well-being of the people he protects. The sad truth is you see a lot in this line of work. Sometimes you become desensitized."
Kagome huffed, but didn't argue. Instead she looked at Shippo, speaking softly.
"Tomorrow we can see your mom and make sure you're both alright."
"No, I don't care," came Shippo's incensed response.
"Of course, you care," Kagome coaxed, "That's your mom."
"No, I hate her! I hate her, I hate her!" Shippo cried, balling up his tiny fists.
Kagome swept him into another hug, petting his hair gently, "Oh Shippo, don't say that. Your mother loves you very much."
"Then why? Why does she let him hurt me?" He whimpered.
"Sometimes adults don't have all the answers, sweetie, but your mom still tried her best to keep you safe. How do you think the police knew to place you with me? Your mom made sure she knew someone who could keep you safe even when she couldn't."
Shippo sniffled and cuddled into her gentle touch as she continued to heal his bruises and burns.
Sesshoumaru opened his door and let Kagome in with Shippo. Another car pulled up to the entrance; its headlights were glaring.
"You can lie Shippo in my room to sleep. It's a bit comfier than the couch."
"Thank you," Kagome said.
Sesshoumaru waited as Rin exited the babysitter's vehicle and ran to the door.
"Daddy!"
Sesshoumaru caught Rin before she dashed inside. She grinned.
"How was your date?"
"It was fine. Good, actually but before you go in, your friend Shippo is here with Kagome."
"I'm having a sleepover?" Rin asked excitedly, jumping up and down.
"No, Rin. Shippo was hurt. That's why he's with Kagome. This is not a sleepover so I don't want you to bother him; head to your room and I'll be in shortly."
He could see the girl turn somber and nod. Her seriousness aged her and Sesshoumaru tugged on her pigtail playfully.
"Don't have that look. You'll be able to play with Shippo soon."
Rin smiled a little. She ran upstairs, careful not to stomp too loud. Sesshoumaru looked in on Shippo, slumbering on one of his pillows. Kagome walked up behind him, holding her arms.
"Hey was that Rin I heard?"
"Yes, I'll put her to bed in a moment. How is he?"
Kagome sighed, "Okay I guess, for the circumstances. He fell right to sleep, probably because it was the first time he's felt safe in a while."
"Rin was in a similar situation. People can be so sick," Sesshoumaru said, shutting his bedroom door.
"I read in her file that she didn't have a good home life, but I never asked anything in detail."
Sesshoumaru led Kagome back to the living room and poured her a glass of water. Kagome took a sip and sat on the couch.
"Her parents weren't as violent as Hiten, but certainly no better. They kept her in a closet; she couldn't even leave to eat. They hit her to keep her from speaking out and kept her from school so her teachers wouldn't see the welts."
"How awful," Kagome gasped.
Sesshoumaru shook his head wearily before settling on the couch next to the teacher.
"I had to move all the guns out of the home. I was going to practice my shooting at the range, keep my skills up, but Rin saw my gun. She lost it, crying and screaming until she went catatonic. I couldn't figure out what happened until she later told me her father used to play Russian roulette when she ran away. It was one of her punishments. Sometimes the gun was empty; other times he would pretend to shoot her, but aim for the wall at the last minute. It terrified her."
"That bastard!" Kagome spat out, seething.
She shook slightly, wiping the tears that bubbled out her eyes.
"I hate bullies like them, picking on someone just because they can. They're children for God's sake!"
"My thoughts exactly. Luckily her worthless parents will be in jail for a very long time. Here's hoping it will be the same with Hiten."
Kagome nodded determinedly before rising again, "I should get Shippo home."
"He's already resting; you should as well. You look exhausted."
Kagome chuckled bitterly, "I guess I don't handle this type of stress well."
Sesshoumaru gave a faint smile, "At least rest a moment before heading out. I'll check on Rin."
Sesshoumaru left his date on the couch. He crept upstairs and knocked on Rin's door.
"Come in."
Sesshoumaru creaked her door open to see Rin crawling in bed. He stepped in and shut the door.
"I came to tuck you in. How was the babysitter?" Sesshoumaru asked, soothing out Rin's bed sheets.
"She was okay. She already read me a bedtime story, but she didn't use the voices like when you tell me a story."
"She was still good though?"
Rin nodded before sitting up in bed, "Is Shippo okay?"
"He's sleeping," Sesshoumaru answered with care, "Your teacher, Miss Kagome, is going to help him now."
Rin smiled, "I'm glad. I don't want him to be sad anymore."
Sesshoumaru turned on her nightlight, "I don't want that for him either. Alright Rin, we'll talk more in the morning. Goodnight."
Rin lied down, "Goodnight."
Sesshoumaru walked back downstairs into the living room.
"Kagome?"
His response was a light snore. He found her curled into a pillow, sleeping.
"I knew she was exhausted."
Sesshoumaru opened his bedroom door and then returned to living room. He lifted the woman gingerly, bridal-style. Kagome wiggled deeper into his side, enjoying his hold. Sesshoumaru slid her next to the kit. He draped the covers over the two, watching them relax in his bed. It was so tempting to lie next to her, but he was nothing if not a gentleman.
"Kagome, you really are something else," he whispered, shutting his door.
Sesshoumaru pulled a light blanket out from his hallway closet and crashed on the couch. His feet hung over the edge and he cursed his laziness for not completing his guest bedroom. He should have bought that bedroom set he was looking at a few weeks ago. He exhaled.
"No reason to regret it now. I guess it's the couch for me tonight."
