A/N: Okay I lied! I have chapter 9 up sooner than I planned, which means that next chapter will be posted tomorrow! I hope you like it! Please enjoy and R & R!!!
Chapter 9: Hurt Inside and Out
It was just the start of October and the temperature dropped rapidly. The trees were bare and the wind was chilly; compared to the last few weeks when the weather was warm and bearable. It was an overcast Tuesday and without the sun, it felt so brisk that the coats and gloves came out.
The school day just finished and students huddled together as they made their way out. Two girls were by the main entrance, also trying to stay warm.
With only a heavy sweater as her protection, Kagome blew into her hands to De-frost them. Her cheeks were red and her lips were turning blue. The shivering didn't cease either.
Sango was no better. With a wool sweater and a hat, she looked like a Popsicle too. The weather from this morning wasn't this bad but then the sun was peaking out.
"I can't believe it's this bad!" Sango could see her breath as she spoke. "I've never been so cold in my life." Her shivering was getting worse.
"I know. I can't even feel my fingers anymore. Oh man, Sango your lips are turning blue." Kagome then decided to walk around up and down the stairs to get some feeling in her jean clad legs.
"So are yours, Kaggie. My fingers feel like they're being picked by thousands of tiny needles; a sure sign of frostbite." She then pulled her hands through her sweater to try and get them warm.
"We need to get home and fast and I don't want to walk home. Doesn't Miroku give you the keys to his car?"
Sango shook her head slightly. "Sometimes but not today though. Where the hell are they?! They said they wouldn't be long!" Now she started to move, impatient to get home and warm.
It was a good 5 minutes before both Miroku and Inuyasha stepped out of the building. They were immediately confronted by the chilly weather and started to shiver. They saw the girls and saw how blue they were.
"Oh my God, it's about time!" Sango sucked air through her teeth and Miroku was by her side then, wrapping her in his embrace and started to move.
Inuyasha gathered Kagome in his remaining warmth and mumbled apologies for being so late. He felt how cold she was and moved quicker to his Ferrari; glad to have it back. "Miroku! I'm driving Kagome home, why don't you drop Sango off too and we'll head out?! We need to get them warm!" Miroku nodded in response.
The cars were parked alongside each other in the lot. Inuyasha got Kagome in, kissed her quickly before moving to his side and getting in. When he started the car, he cranked up the heat and did everything he could to make Kagome comfortable before backing out and high-tailing it out of there; Miroku right behind them.
The two made it back in less than 10 minutes and both boys rushed the freezing girls into Kagome's house. The house was warm thank goodness. Kagome went to lay on the couch while Sango got comfortable on the other. Inuyasha rushed into her room to get two heavy blankets and handed one to Miroku. Both girls were tucked in and were looking better already.
"How are you feeling?" Inuyasha asked; concerned at how blue Kagome looked. He sat down beside her and rubbed her blanket clad back. Ever since he first saw how cold she was; his instincts to make sure she was okay and not sick took over.
"I'm okay now." She was still shaking but not as frantically. Her toes were thawing out and her natural color was returning to her face. She smiled at how Inuyasha was looking after her.
"Are you sure? Do you want anything; soup or something?" He and Miroku had to go somewhere but wouldn't leave until Kagome was okay. She looked like she was considering it before answering.
"Well, if you're sure it's not any trouble…some nice beef ramen sounds good right now." Usually she would get it herself but with the way she was feeling and how Inuyasha was acting, she thought it wouldn't hurt.
He nodded and kissed her temple before getting up and getting what she wanted. Miroku was making some chicken noodle soup for Sango and Inuyasha set off to make Kagome's soup.
When the girls got their food with their heavy blankets around them, the boys eased up a bit and sat beside them again.
"Hey, Inuyasha and I have to run a few errands for a bit. Do you want us to get anything for you?" His arm was around Sango's shoulders; keeping her as comfortable as possible.
"We're alright now, Miroku. The cold just got to us really quickly. Thanks, Miroku." Sango's head rested against his shoulder, exhausted after a long day.
"We just want to make sure before we leave. We really don't want to but if you're okay…"
Kagome kissed his warm cheek before snuggling back into him. "We'll be fine. Besides, your warmth is all I really need." It was true. Even with the heavy blue comforter around her, Inuyasha's warmth was her true comfort.
"Alright, we'll be back. We have our cells on us, so call us if you need anything." He held his girl and kissed her fully on the lips to warm her once more before reluctantly leaving her side. Kagome smiled but inside she didn't want him to leave.
After Miroku kissed Sango goodbye, the two waved goodbye before heading out into the cold and shutting the door. They heard the Ferrari drive off before Sango walked over with her green blanket and settled beside Kagome, deciding to watch T.V to pass the time; keeping their own cell phones handy.
Inuyasha and Miroku were in the Ferrari, heading to the local hardware shop. The wind outside was tremendous and the clouds looked heavier than ever. The heat was on full blast as they drove into the beginnings of the town limits.
"I hated seeing the girls so miserable. I didn't want to leave them." Miroku started up conversation; looking uninterested at the scenery outside.
"Yeah…me too. Kagome was looking so pale and so helpless and I don't want her to become sick because of this damn weather!" His hands clutched tightly on the steering wheel.
"Sango said her fingers were starting to develop frostbite and I wouldn't let that happen. I know Sango can take care of herself but…seeing her so cold…" He sighed as he looked so worried about his girlfriend.
Inuyasha looked over before returning to the road. His thoughts were along the same lines. 'It was killing me to see Kagome suffering. I wouldn't tell her because then she would worry about me. She looked so cold and so powerless, I couldn't stand it! I don't think I could see her sick. Even in this type of dreary weather, I will make sure that she will be alright…' Throughout the years they've been together, he's never seen her this bad before. Even with his concern for his girl, he had to keep focused on the road.
"So what do we have to pick up?" Miroku asked.
"I don't know, check the list; it's in the side pocket of the door." He answered, not tearing his gaze away from the road.
Miroku searched and finally saw the list that had the tools written on it. "Alright, we need hammers, nails, screws, hooks, and drills."
The wind was picking up outside and it was so ferocious now it was shaking the car and Inuyasha was having a tough time keeping his car straight. "Okay, so we get those, get the wooden planks for the stage and then what?"
"Uh…" Miroku thought for a few moments. "Oh and we need paint too." Inuyasha only groaned.
They were approaching a light and Inuyasha was applying the breaks since he would be the first car in the line. So caught up in the conversation and trying to keeping themselves distracted from the girl's situation that they didn't see the zooming blue sports car that didn't have any intentions of slowing down. The light had turned red and The Ferrari was about to completely stop and Miroku looked in the side view mirror to see the car but couldn't say anything because the blue sports car rammed into them; pushing them into the heavy traffic at the intersection. Both looked back to see the offending blue car but were too late to get out of there and everything went black after that and the sounds of screeching were what they heard last.
In the meantime, the girls were just about warm enough. Kagome gathered their dishes and headed for the kitchen sink but couldn't shake off the feeling that something has happened to Inuyasha. Walking back into the living room, Sango was flipping through the channels, seeming bored with whatever was on. Kagome snuggled back into her blanket beside her.
"Sango, I can't help but think that something terrible has happened to the boys."
"Don't worry; I'm sure everything is alright. I know they can handle weather like this." That's what she said but her voice wavered, indicating that she wasn't that positive herself.
"You sound like you're worried too. " Sango only nodded her head in agreement, deciding that denial was pointless.
It was silent for a bit before Sango landed on the local news. What caught her interest was the "BREAKING NEWS" sign and stopped. Kagome was also interested and both sat up to see what was happening.
'Breaking news as we come to you live from the 5th West and Nihon Avenue intersection. Just 5 minutes ago, a terrible accident occurred with a Red Ferrari and a Semi-truck and another car." Kagome and Sango mouths dropped at the mention of the red Ferrari. It couldn't be, could it?! No, Inuyasha and Miroku were not in that accident, right?! They refused to believe it! 'The red Ferrari was seemingly at the line but witnesses saw a blue sports car ram into the unaware vehicle into heavy traffic; which caused this horrendous and terrible accident. The two passengers, both look like teenage males, were in the Ferrari and reports confirmed that they are both in critical condition.'
"Oh my God!!!" Both shouted simultaneously as the screen showed the wrecked Ferrari that was Inuyasha's and stared in utter shock. The semi hit Inuyasha's side while the other car clipped the side where Miroku was sitting. It was a crumpled piece of metal now. The scene was indeed too much to bear. There were police vehicles, a crowd forming, and an ambulance not far from the scene.
What they saw next is what made the tears come. They saw their boyfriends on stretchers, apparently not conscious with air masks to help them breathe. They were banged up pretty badly. They were heading into the ambulance and on the way to the hospital.
Sango was shaking her head, not believing that she saw Miroku: hurt, unconscious but hopefully fighting for survival. Her tears would not stop coming as she continued to hear the reporter on the T.V.
Kagome was beyond shock and her tears were coming down full force. This is exactly what caused her father's death and just remembering caused pain far greater than ever before. She couldn't loose another person that she loved dearly with all her heart. And seeing Inuyasha…her being ached, her heart beating faster and her head still trying to wrap around at what just happened.
Deciding that they couldn't take it anymore, the T'V was shut off, coats and hats were on and not caring if they were just recovering from a cold episode, they hopped into Miroku's car, thanking him for leaving his keys with Sango, and drove off like the devil at their heels to the hospital. Sango kept her tears to a minimum because she was the one driving. No matter what, her eyes blurred and she couldn't stop the sobs that came out. Kagome was in a worst state, tears upon tears flooding her eyes and running down her face and crying like there was no tomorrow.
Luckily the hospital was not that far and despite almost running through every red light on the way, they made it. Parking as quickly as they could, they jumped out and noticed the police cars and recognized Inuyasha's and Miroku's mothers' cars. No doubt they were beside themselves as well. Running all the way into the main lobby and waiting hall, they spotted Izayoi and Mai, Miroku's mother. They were apparently talking to the police officers and came up beside them.
After the officers walked away, both women turned to the younger girls.
"So you heard what happened, huh?" Izayoi could barely talk as she gathered Kagome in a big, sad hug. Kagome only nodded as her tears flowed onto her second mother's shirt.
"Yeah, we couldn't believe it. It was just too...too horrible." They pulled apart as their tears continued.
"Who would do such a thing?" Mai wiped her tears as she hugged Sango by the shoulders.
"I don't know. All we heard was that a blue sports car or something rammed into them and that caused the accident." Sango answered her eyes red and puffy now.
"The police told us that too. They called us and we rushed all the way here. We've been here for the past 10 minutes and police telling us the most of it." Izayoi was shaking and held onto Kagome as Mai was holding Sango.
"What did they tell you about Inuyasha and Miroku?" Sango asked.
"They wouldn't tell us much except that both are in critical condition." Mai told them. All four women were standing and were too horrified to move until they got some news.
"I just hope that they will make it." Kagome whispered, her thoughts focused between her father's accident and Inuyasha's; both horribly similar. She felt Izayoi's arm squeeze her shoulder and looked up to the older woman.
"I'm sure they will. Both of them are strong and they will pull through. Both are too stubborn to die in a car wreck like this."
"I know that's right." Mai smiled. "Miroku is too stubborn to quit and I know that from seeing him strive to become the best he could be." Sango snorted at that, a smile coming on her face too.
"Yeah, he keeps groping me and is too stubborn to quit that." Both women laughed at that true statement.
"And if I know Inuyasha, he will fight to stay alive and won't go out this way. He's too young and has many things ahead of him." Kagome nodded silently; knowing that her boyfriend was more stubborn than a mule and smiled and laughed along.
The atmosphere was thinning out and becoming less suffocating as more time went on but everyone still had their fear of the worst. Though, Kagome was optimistic that Inuyasha would pull through, that little fear of losing him was still hovering over her. Her father was killed because of the same situation 9 years ago and the pain that quenched her heart was heavy. Loosing her father was hard enough, but loosing Inuyasha, she was sure that she would never be the same again. She didn't think she could move on with her life without him.
About 2 long, dreadful hours pasted before the door opened and revealed the doctor. All four looked over and prayed that it was good news. The man's expression looked professional as he walked calmly to the eager group. He had a clipboard in his right hand and a pen in the other. He looked it over before looking up at the red and puffy faces.
"Are you Mrs. Tukashi and Mrs. Tenaha?" The elder women nodded immediately. He turned to look at Kagome and Sango before focusing on his task.
"Well, I'm happy to tell you that your sons are both lucky to be alive. They were injured pretty badly but both are doing fine now."
"Thank goodness." "Oh my God…." "Thank heavens." "Thank God." All four women sighed in relief and joy.
"Yes, were able to save them before they lost too much blood. Uh…Mrs. Tukashi-" He looked to Izayoi. "Your son, I'm afraid, can't feel anything on his left side but don't' worry, he will feel again in a few days. His right arm was badly bruised but wasn't broken but other than a few internal injuries and scratches and bruises, he will pull through." Both Izayoi and Kagome held each other and cried tears of both grief and pure relief.
"Mrs. Tenaha, your son wasn't as bad but still was pretty injured severely. His left arm was broken and his left hip was damaged but he will walk again. He suffered mild head trauma but it didn't affect his memory. Aside from minor internal injuries and scratches and bruises, he will be up and about in about a week." Sango and Mai breathed out all lost hope and looked pretty happy too.
"Can we go visit them now?" Kagome asked, wanting to see him more than anything right now.
"Only family is allowed at this time."
"But these two girls are practically family even if they are just their girlfriends. They love each other and I know it would help the boys to see their loves. Please…" Izayoi pleaded, speaking each word with the truth.
The doctor looked at both female teens and saw how badly they wanted to see them. He has seen fast recoveries due to loved ones spending time with each other. He sighed and nodded, relenting. "Okay, they can come too."
Sango and Kagome had smiles lit up on their faces. They both moved forward but stopped when they saw that Izayoi and Mai not moving with them.
"Go ahead; I think they might need you more than their moms right now. We will see them later, don't worry. It's okay." Mai said.
Both teens smiled gratefully and left the mothers in the waiting room and followed the doctor into the hallway where patients were kept.
"So how long have you known these boys?" The doctor asked curiously as they walked on.
"Well, we've known them since 6th grade but didn't become couples until 9th grade." Sango answered first, her hands folded together in anticipation.
"Yes, Inuyasha and I are together while Sango has Miroku. We are a close knit group and we will stay that way." Kagome finished the last part. The doctor nodded and remained silent.
They came to room 513 and the doctor led them in. The atmosphere of the room was somewhat depressing and kind of gloomy for Kagome. She spotted Inuyasha in a bed and walked quietly over to his side. He looked so pale and his hand was so cold to the touch but she still held it. He was hooked up to an I.V and had a breathing tube attached to his nose. His left arm and leg was held up and his other arm was wrapped in gauze. There were bruises on his usual flawless face and down to his chest. Scratches also adorned his body which made it more terrible for her.
He may be hurt on the outside and possibly inside but it affected her greatly on the inside. It pained her to see someone she loved like this. The hurt just wouldn't stop coming and she gripped his hand; praying and thanking Kami that he's still here with her. She rested her head on the bed, crying silently to herself. She could hear the door close and more footsteps to the other side of the room but didn't look up. She would remain at his side until he woke up. Even with her earlier freezing problem it was nothing compared to this. Inuyasha was almost killed and her own problems seemed insignificant. She remembered the news report and the images she couldn't look away from. Kagome closed her eyes harder as more tears stained the white sheet underneath her. She held back the sobs and tried to stay strong. She needed to be strong for Inuyasha; as he was while she was freezing to death earlier.
Both girls were in their own world and only whispers were heard throughout the rest of the night. The doctors let them stay after a harsh argument between the two girls and him. They wouldn't leave their side for nothing. Sango fell asleep with a final whisper and sat in a chair at Miroku's bedside, holding his hand for dear life while Kagome was pretty much worn out too with everything that happened that day.
