Hello everyone!

I'm really sorry for making you all wait for so long.

First, I want to thank all of you who were so kind into wishing me well, about my grandmother's problem.

I'm pleased to say that, although slowly, she is stadily recovering within her own limitations. =)

Her most recent process, after having been through a convulsive crisis that got us thinking she wouldn't make it, is the ability of eating trough her mouth, once again.

For her and for us, her victory is everyday we can keep her with us as healthy as possible.

So, this is a brand new chapter that I hope will get you guys into the spirit of it again; those of you who keep asking for Inuyasha's appearance, I have to say that... you're almost getting your wish!

I'm sorry for any mistakes in English that might appear!

Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: Just so everybody knows, Inuyasha and company aren't my property; if it were, there would be a lot more chapters after the series conclusion! =) This story, however, is for all of you to enjoy and mine to own! ;)

Chapter 11 - Fast Forward

The following days seemed to pass in a blur.

Kagome had more work at every passing day and Kikyo took every chance to mess with her work: she pissed her off, messed with her charts and even tried to change twice the medication she was preparing for a patient. Her co-workers started noticing her behavior and stood by Kagome's side. Jakotsu even started an alert for Kikyo's presence: whenever he shouted "Iceberg!" Kagome and the other nurses would know that she was coming. Kikyo understood quite quickly what was happening and what the name meant. Of course that being unable to prove it only made her rage spike up.

Kanna came to Kagome, one day, telling her that Kikyo had been asking questions, hoping to know who Kagome's friends were at the hospital. She had even tried to turn Kanna's opinion on Kagome, but the orthopedist had been smarter. Byakuya also told her that Kikyo had been talking badly about Kagome in the doctor's room once, when she had gone there to deliver some charts and after she had gotten out.

"- Don't worry about that one!" – said Byakuya, reassuring her. –" She talks about you but doesn't do much on her own work. Jinenji even complained to me that she spends her days wondering in the corridors… we all know you, Kagome and we know what you can do and what you've done till today, so don't worry!"

Miroku even told Kagome, amidst one of the dinners in her house, that Kikyo avoided him as much as possible. It seemed that she didn't want to meet with any other person that had seen what she could do in the past and that could easily tell the truth.

It had been three weeks since Sesshomaru and Rin had gone out to dinner, and they had ended up becoming betrothed after those three weeks. Rin had come to Kagome's house on the same day, after lunch, jumping and squealing saying that she had already forgiven him and they were engaged. They were getting married in a few months, since Sesshomaru wanted it to be as soon as possible.

"- Figures… - Kagome had sighed. –" But, how did you forgive him that easily? What did he do, Rin?"

"- Everything, Kagome. We had dates and dinners, we went dancing and on walks and he was honest and open and romantic and… well, when I wake up this morning in his arms I felt… like I could do it every day!"

"- Forgive him?" – Kagome mocked.

"- Live with him, silly! He fills me up, Kagome…"

"- My, my… just a few days and the girl's already betrothed! You have luck, I'll tell you! I didn't even think Sesshomaru would propose right away!"

"- He did it when I woke up today… it was so romantic! I was staring into those eyes and he just said "Marry me"."

"- That sounds more like a command than a question…" - Kagome said, laughing. Sesshomaru would always be Sesshomaru.

Kagome had, of course, been happy for her friends. She too was trying to move forward with her life, after all. She and Kouga had gone in a couple of dates and he had been introduced to her friends, who accepted him completely. Sango told Kagome she believed him to be a little too much know-it-all but nice, and Rin had told her he was hot. Sesshomaru and Miroku both seemed to accept him naturally and, at the frequent dinners Kagome gave at her house, they would quite animatedly discuss politics and laws, whether Miroku was related or not with what Kouga and Sesshomaru were saying.

They weren't in a relationship but Kouga was always telling her that he wasn't in a hurry and that she could take all the time she needed. He was really sweet, supporting her and accompanying her when she needed the most. Still, she was afraid of moving into a relation with him. Kouga hadn't met Hiroyuki as her potential boyfriend, merely as a friend had they exchanged greetings, and that for Kagome was the most impeditive condition. She doubted he would react nicely and so she was pushing the meeting till later.

She hadn't heard of Inuyasha from any of her friends. Sesshomaru merely told her he was working and that, for his pleasure, things between him and Kikyo were very strained: Inuyasha arrived home later and later because of work, as he claimed, and Kikyo was starting to get more and more demanding.

"- She's afraid you'll stole him, Kagome… "- had laughed Miroku, one day.

"- Well, she can be relaxed about that. She can keep him locked in a closet or a cellar because I have no intention of doing so!"

However, if there was one thing Kagome hadn't been good at for a long time was at lying. Her friends noticed that whenever Inuyasha's name came up, her eyes would shine differently and she would remain lost in thoughts for a long time after. When Sesshomaru told them about Kikyo and Inuyasha's strained relation, she even caught herself singing in work the next day.

Deep inside, Kagome knew she had to forget and that was what her head told her to do. Yet, her heart kept on commanding her into dreaming of a possibility that didn't seem that remote, now…

It had been months now, since Inuyasha was back. One night, as Kagome was working the night shift, Jakotsu called her when she appeared at the corridor:

"- Kagome, diva… you'd better pick this call up. It's Sesshomaru."

"- Sesshomaru?" – she said, suddenly becoming worried. Sesshomaru and Rin were staying with Hiroyuki tonight. – "What did he say?"

"- It's about Hiroyuki…"

Kagome almost flew to the telephone.

"- Hello?"

"- Kagome. It's me, Sesshomaru."

"- What happened? Is something wrong with Hiroyuki?"

"- We're with him at the ER, down here."

"- What happened?" – she asked, concerned.

"- You'd better come here, if you can…he seems scared. He felt sick and throw up…"

"- I'm on my way. Stay there."

Jakotsu was looking at her, concerned.

"- What happened?"

"- Hiroyuki is sick. Sesshomaru is with him in the ER right now…"

"- Then you have to go!"

"- I know! Where's Kaede?"

"- Forget Kaede! Just go, I'll tell her!"

"- Where are you going, Kagome?" – asked Kikyo, appearing behind them.

"- None of your business…" - said Kagome, already preparing to leave. –" Jakotsu, please deliver this charts to Ayumi, please. I'll try and be back as soon as possible…"

"- That wouldn't be wise, Kagome. Leaving work in the middle… how unprofessional…"

"- Don't you have a job to do, Kikyo? I've already done mine, so…"

"- Did you?" – said Kikyo, picking up a few charts and tossing them into the fish tank near Jakotsu who, surprised by her actions, didn't caught them in time.

"- No!"

"- Ups! Seems now you still have work to do…"

"- What's going on here?" – asked a concerned voice. It was Kaede.

"- Head nurse…"

"- What happened, Kagome? You seem tense… what are those charts doing in the tank?" – Kaede asked, surprised.

"- Seems like Kagome tripped and got them wet…" - mocked Kikyo.

"- You little… "- started Jakotsu.

"- Are you saying that Kagome tripped over Jakotsu and his desk and let those important charts get soaked? Do you honestly believe what you're saying, Dr. Kikyo? I mean, I'm old but not stupid!" – said Kaede, eyeing her suspiciously.

"- Head nurse," - said Kagome quickly and worriedly. –" Hiroyuki is sick and his uncle is here in the emergencies with him… can I...?"

"- Oh God! What people do to escape work…" - said Kikyo, despising her. –" In my time we didn't get time to stop in the middle of a shift…"

"- In your time, Kikyo, dinosaurs weren't able to become pharmaceutics!" – shouted Kagome and making the other flinch in surprise. Jakotsu burst into laughter and Kaede had to hide a smirk. –" If you didn't have time to stop, then what are you doing here standing?"

Kikyo turned around with a "humph!".

"- You say that your child is sick? Then what are you still doing here, dear? Go, now!"

"- But my charts…"

"- I'm sure you'll be able to re-do them again once you're back…"

"- Mrs. Kaede, it was Dr. Kikyo that tossed those charts into the fish tank! I saw it all…" - said Jakotsu, looking at Kagome quickly.

"- I'm sure Dr. Kikyo would have a pretty nice explanation for us. For now," - said Kaede, turning her attention to Kagome once more. –" you go and find out what happened with your son."

"- You're married, Kagome? Well, I would like to meet the unlucky man someday…" - mocked Kikyo once again. Kagome merely turned around and said:

"- I'm not married, Kikyo."

"- So how…?"

"- I'm a single mother. Now if you'd excuse me…"

With that, Kagome left them running as fast as she could. She entered the ER waiting room and immediately encountered Sesshomaru and Rin, who was weeping silently. Her heat seemed to stop, altogether.

Sesshomaru saw her and waited for her to come near to say:

"- He's stable now, Kagome…"

"- What happened?" – she said, sitting beside Rin.

"- Appendicitis. But he's alright already…"

"- I'm so sorry, Kagome…" - wept Rin –" He was in such pain and I thought he was pulling a prank…"

"- What? Why?"

"- He wasn't eating his vegetables and suddenly he flinched and… well, at first I also thought he was pretending. Then I noticed the change in his smell, he throw up and we came here." – explained Sesshomaru.

"- Did you fill in the charts?"

"- Yes."

"- And did you refer that he's allergic to penicillin…?"

"- I did all that, Kagome. It's not the first time he has to come here, so calm down…"

"- Yes, Kagome. He's stable and you'll get to see him in a few minutes."

"- Was he in pain?"

"- He's stronger than he seems… he merely complained when the doctor started to press his stomach… which reminds me, Kagome…" - said Rin.

But Rin didn't get to end her phrase for a nurse called Kagome's name:

"- Mrs. Kagome Higurashi?"

"- We'll talk later…"

"- Kagome…" - Rin started but Sesshomaru cut her off.

"- Go. We'll talk later."

"- Sesshomaru…" - Rin said in a warning tone.

Kagome paid no mind to their small exchange of glances and followed the nurse until his son.

"- How is he?" – she asked.

"- He's fine. He doesn't seem scared at all but he's still weak…he is receiving antibiotics and sores by IV. He needs a lot of rest… but the doctor will be there in a few minutes to explain to you…"

"- Thank you."

Hiroyuki was laid on his left side, dressed in a hospital garment in one large white bed, his knees flinched upwards, beside other two patients. His eyes, wandering freely through the room around him stopped when he saw his mother and his mouth opened wide in a smile.

"- Mom!" – he said. Kagome could see he wasn't totally fine. Pushing the curtain and closing it around his bed, she noticed the IV in his arm and how pale he seemed.

When Kagome sat near him, Hiroyuki reached for her and she hugged him as tight as she could.

"- Hello, honey. How are you feeling?" – she said

"- Sick and it hurts. I throw up at aunt Rin's … I'm sorry…"

"- It's okay, she's not mad."

"- She's not?"

"- No. She was worried about you."

"- Where is she?"

"- She's outside. Uncle Sesshomaru is with her."

"- They are going to marry!" – he said, grinning. –" Uncle gave her a ring, mom!"

"- He did? She didn't tell me anything! Although he had already proposed…"

"- You see? I was right! Now I'm having two aunts!"

"- Yes, you are. "– said Kagome smiling a little. She lifted her hand and took his temperature. –" No fever…"

"- They said I can't eat for now…"

"- That's true. You won't be very hungry, for they are going to keep you nourished trough here." – she explained, pointing to his arm.

"- The doctor said this happened because I didn't eat enough vegetables."

"- He did?"

"- Yeah, he was really cool, mom! He was really nice and he said that he needed to teach you to teach me to eat my vegetables."

"- Well, seems like you like him a lot. I have to know who he is so I can thank him!"

"- He's been treating me really well! Ah! Look, he's coming."

"- How do you know?" – she asked, smiling.

"- Mom, my nose!" – he said, as if it was obvious. The curtains behind them were pushed aside. –" Ah! Hello again!"

Kagome paid no attention to her son, because she felt him before she even heard him talk. A chill through her spine was the only alert she received before turning around.

"- Kagome?" – said a deep, velvet voice.

So, what did you guys think? Did it match your expectations?

Next chapter, they are facing each other for the first time in year. I'll let you guys have a small preview =) Hope you like it!

As always, your comments and critics are welcomed!

See you guys next chapter!

Next Chapter:

"(...) - Mom? – repeated Inuyasha, a frown in his face. He looked at his chart and glanced to Kagome once more. – You're Hiroyuki Higurashi's mother? (...)"

"(...) - Hiroyuki never lies. – Kagome said, strongly and proudly. Inuyasha flinched a little. – He learned what lies can do and doesn't do it. He never lies. As did his mother… (...)"

"(...) - What happened with Hiroyuki's father? – he asked, looking at her back. He saw her stiffen a little and presumed the worst. He had always been fast in jumping to conclusions, proven as he had believed Kikyo at once, in the past. Suddenly he was feeling angry, very angry. – I'm going to kill him, so just tell me who he is? Did he force you…? (...)

"(...) - We're not friends, Inuyasha! – she said, her eyelids closed. When she opened her eyes she could see how he seemed surprised and hurt by her statement. She didn't give him a chance to say anything more and walked into her son's room, without even glancing behind. (...)"