Chapter Eight- Isolation room
The stench was unbearable. She tried to cover her nose with her hand, but nothing worked. The smell was so strong that it couldn't be avoided. The smell of decaying flesh.
Kagome followed the worker past several security doors. The lighting grew dimmer and dimmer past each room. The echoes of cries and pleas reached her ears, allowing her to recognize that she neared the isolation room. Passing the last security door, her eyes widened in horror. She saw endless rows of cells that held youkai in them. Some were pleading for mercy while some reacted in anger.
"What...is this place," She breathed out in shock.
"These are the youkai rebels that are caught. They are put in here until they either change their ways or kill themselves." The worker informed, "You will be cleaning up the cells that are... no longer occupied. You will be doing this for 48 hours straight with no rest as your punishment."
The stench of decaying flesh was so thick in the air. She knew what she was 'cleaning up'. Kagome changed into a jumpsuit and wore a mask that covered her mouth and nose. The mask only filtered the bacteria she would be amongst, not lessening the smell of flesh. She grabbed a cart filled with a shovel, mop and cleaning supplies. She looked at the screen in front of her that told her which cells to 'clean'.
'Cell 24,' she read as she slowly walked past rows and rows. She stopped in front of cell 24. The cell door opened for her. Darkness filled the space, only allowing her eyes to see a limp body on the ground. She slowly neared it. The closer she got the fouler the smell became. Standing before the dead body, she saw maggots crawling out of the body that was torn up by its own claws.
She had seen many dead bodies.
She never had to deal with the ones that were decayed.
Vomit spewed from her mouth as she quickly hovered over a garbage bin. Tears streamed down her face as her throat stung from the acids from her stomach. Wiping her mouth, she spat to get rid of the last taste in her mouth. She placed the mask back over her mouth and nose. Pulling out the shovel and body bag, she walked over to the body. She placed the body bag on the ground and then hesitated. The smell of rotten flesh intruded her nostrils. Leaning forward she tried to quickly roll the body into the bag. The movement caused hundreds of bugs and flies to wander around the tiny cell.
She almost puked again.
Zipping up the body bag, she dragged it towards the dump and left if there to be dealt with. The blood needed to be washed away. The stench would be forever stained in the cell walls. She swept away the maggots, bugs and eggs on the ground.
She would have to repeat the steps for 48 hours.
Her hands trembled.
She puked some more.
She repeated the steps.
She vomited until nothing was left to come out.
##
He stared at the kneeling crow with hardened eyes. His stoic expression slightly revealing his frustration.
"Speak." He didn't want the crow in his sight.
Hikaru lowered his head in a bow. A lump formed in his throat as he struggled to speak, "I heard my leader was placed in the isolation room as my punishment."
He remembered his days when he was a new recruit to Zero Division. They all started at the isolation room interrogating youkai rebels. Interrogations were held to see if they would truly leave behind the rebel. Though he never had to clean the isolation cells, the smell alone almost drove him crazy. He couldn't imagine what sort of sights his leader must be facing as she cleaned out the dead ones. Only the officers who committed a huge mistake were punished with cleaning out the isolation room. Mistakes were a rare case at Zero division, thus the worse the punishment was for the dead were left to decay for weeks or months. He voiced his plea desperately, "Please, allow me to take her place."
Sesshomaru clenched his teeth, seething. He felt heat rise from his chest at the sight of the crow. He didn't want to know who was responsible for the miko's punishment. He didn't want to see the one the miko protected.
A dangerous warning sounded from his voice as he ordered, "Get out."
Sesshomaru was already furious that he had to place the miko in the isolation room.
The crow who was responsible dared to show his face to him?
The crow must want a death wish.
"Please, you can force her to leave as I take her place. It was my fault. It was completely my fault. I disobeyed her orders and went to see Noboru." Hikaru continued to plead, thinking that the General might be persuaded. Instead, he saw the General's eyes bleed red. Hikaru shrunk back in slight fear.
"Know your place, crow. Your leader took the blame out of honour, so shut up and be grateful," Sesshomaru snarled. His patience with the crow was running thin.
Hikaru picked himself up and exited the General's office. The General's presence became too overwhelming that he suffocated from the lash of anger in the aura alone.
Sesshomaru's stoic expression remained tainted with a hint of anger. Was the miko simply protecting the crow because he was her underling? Was there more to their relationship? His frown deepened when he felt a tight stab in his chest.
What was his heart telling him now?
Standing up from his desk, he headed towards the isolation room.
All who saw their General heading towards the direction of the isolation room watched discreetly with wide eyes. The General never needed to go there. It was a job for the lowest rank.
Security doors opened for him as he neared his destination. His face remained stoic, though the stench was unbearable to even him.
His eyes landed on the miko. She stood over a garbage bin gagging, though nothing came out. "Miko, come."
She looked up over the garbage bin and saw Sesshomaru.
Her face pale white.
Cold sweat trailing down her face.
Tear streaks stained on her cheeks.
A visible tremor running through her entire body.
Sesshomaru clenched his hand. He watched the miko slowly walk towards him, weakened in her state. She said in a hushed voice, "Yes, General?"
"You're sick, Miko." His fist tightened.
"Oh," she breathed out in sort of a daze.
"You will let the crow finish the punishment," Sesshomaru demanded. He showed his displeasure when he saw her shake her head.
"I'll finish it." Kagome bowed and turned away. She continued the cleaning, even though her whole body screamed for it to stop.
A clawed hand grabbed her, making her stop in her tracks. She looked at him with her head tilted to the side. She could see the conflict in his eyes. But what conflict he fought, she did not know.
He wanted to drag the stubborn miko out of here.
"So stubborn," he said. Kagome smiled and continued her task when he loosened his grip on her wrist.
##
Author's Note: Who was surprised at what the isolation room was?
Your reviews are cherished and appreciated.
