Chapter 21: Death by Bear
The protagonist's musings.
Sesshoumaru woke up vision hazy and in a hospital bed. They had drugged him, judging from the painless drowsy feeling running through his system. His left arm was, thankfully, still attached to his body. All in all, he had to say he was feeling okay – a little on the faint-headed side, but okay.
The room was quiet, which gave him time to ruminate on the events of the past week. Him being in a hospital meant that their families must have been notified of the kidnapping, and if Sesshoumaru knew his father, Inutaisho would be summoning his lawyers right now to sue the daylights out of Ryuukotsei. As ridiculous as his grandfather had been Sesshoumaru didn't particularly see the benefit in suing the man.
Rather, he would prefer to bargain with Ryuukotsei. A generous advance on his inheritance was in order, perhaps. Plus, if there was one way to force Ryuukotsei into reconciliation with Kagome, it would be to threaten his reputation with the public.
And speaking of Kagome Higurashi, Sesshoumaru bit back a grin. Call him narcissistic, but he believed she was falling in love with him.
After all, he was drop dead gorgeous. He'd just devoted weeks of his time and sole attention to her. Any woman would be head over heels, why would she be any different? Given that at the beginning she'd been happy to scream and rail at him, without clothes on sometimes, the fact that lately Kagome Higurashi had become blushingly docile was somewhat a hint that his charms were working their usual magic.
Ironically, Kagome was growing a little on him. He could even see himself tolerating her, long-term. As far as Sesshoumaru knew, both their fathers were hell-bent on them getting married. Sesshoumaru could, possibly, consider it. At least her looks were above decent, and Kagome was smart, if a little too vocal at times. She was of course in no way ready to get married. So she'd learnt a few good manners in her time in Japan so far. An eighteen-year-old a good wife did not make.
Of course, he wouldn't make a very good husband either. Sesshoumaru still had a few more years of bachelor partying to live up tp.
These peaceful reflections ended the moment a nurse raised the alarm that He Was Awake. Sesshoumaru Taisho was soon to discover that while getting two bullets in the arm was painful, putting up with the pain was preferable to being a hospital invalid. The events unfolded like this:
Within moments of the nurse arriving three doctors had trooped in, accompanied by his family. Sesshoumaru picked out words like "antibiotics" and "Type A positive" and "morphine", and he assumed they were discussing what they were giving him. Obviously they thought his ears had been injured rather than his arm, considering the way they whispered about him, in front of him, as though he wasn't there.
Of course, with one arm out of commission he hadn't been able to make them shut up by throwing something at them either.
Questions were asked. Questions like, "When does he use it again?" This was Inutaisho, apparently concerned about Sesshoumaru's recovery. Sesshoumaru was inclined to think that his father was simply finding out how much he could sue his grandfather for.
One of the doctors said three to six months, depending on how fast the bone healed. None of them bothered to ask Sesshoumaru for his opinion. And that pissed him off.
Izayoi, also present, actually asked the doctor if she could cook Sesshoumaru anything restorative. Much as her concern was appreciated, Sesshoumaru didn't think Izayoi was any more of a cook than he was, and was glad when Jaken showed up to change the subject. Jaken simply shoved Izayoi aside to supplant the place closest to Sesshoumaru.
"Sesshoumaru-sama!" Jaken wrung his hands frantically. "Is your honourable self alright?"
"Oh yes, my honourable self is very alright," Sesshoumaru said, while the other parties in the room turned to stare at him like they were amazed he had the strength to talk.
"Tell us everything that happened," Inutaisho ordered. "Actually, wait for my lawyers to arrive and we'll get your story all at once." Sesshoumaru should have seen that one coming. Ryuukotsei would also soon be forking out a tidy sum for compensation, probably to fund Inutaisho's imminent retirement.
Izayoi then filled him in on everything; how Kagura had bested a sleazy Onigumo and got away by climbing out a hotel window. As for Kagome, Sesshoumaru remembered getting into Naraku's car with her but that was about it. Everything after that was hazy, but according to Izayoi, Kagome had ended up smashing the car on the highway, resulting in paramedics being called to cart them off to the hospital.
How predictable of Higurashi. Even vaguely amusing, except that Sesshoumaru appreciated just how close he'd been to losing his life for good. He would have to reconsider giving Kagome those driving lessons. Or else he could arrange for Jaken to conduct said lessons, except past experience with Kagome indicated nothing got done with her unless he personally supervised.
"Sesshoumaru?" prompted his father. The lawyers had arrived; they wanted to hear his statement. Yes, he was supposed to give his version of events. Sesshoumaru wasn't sure if it was a good idea, adding fuel to fire. The few hours of soul-wracking pain were undoubtedly seared into his memory for good, but that was no reason to help his father declare public war on his grandfather. "I don't remember," he said evenly.
"Excuse me for interrupting…" A shy nurse stepped into the room. "Are you taking visitors?"
"Not until he remembers something," Inutaisho said, glaring at his son. He wasn't so easily fobbed off.
The nurse left, only to return with a gigantic bouquet of hot pink chrysanthemums. "In that case, Miss Ayaka Noda sends you her regards and hopes you feel better soon."
Who the hell was Ayaka Noda, and what had Sesshoumaru ever done to deserve this blight upon his vision… The colours were blinding. Hot pinks and brilliant purples, done up in gilt ribbon.
"Ayaka Noda?" Izayoi said curiously. "A friend of yours?"
"You could say," Sesshoumaru said weakly. If friend was a good word for one-night stand.
Of course, bouquets came from Ayaka Noda, followed by Emi Sato and Mayu Tanaka. After these three Sesshoumaru lost count. He assumed he'd accidentally slept with all of these girls before, and come to think of it in the last few weeks Kagome had kept him so occupied he actually hadn't found time to pick up anyone.
By evening word had somehow spread through town that Sesshoumaru Taisho was in X Hospital and Y Ward, and gifts and well-wishes flooded his room from admirers and acquaintances. The bouquets and fruit he had ignored successfully to the point where he could barely see the doctors and nurses through the ribbons and cellophane. Sesshoumaru did draw the line when he woke up in the middle of the night gasping for oxygen, being smothered by a giant fluffy teddy bear that had somehow fallen into his head.
Enough was enough. He would move out by morning.
"You are the legal guardian of Kagome Higurashi?" Menomaru Sada held out his patient's discharge papers to Akihiro Higurashi. "I'll get a signature here, thank you." They seldom released patients so early in the morning, but the fact was Dr. Sada himself had some business to attend to and preferred to finish his rounds early.
Akihiro scribbled off on the dotted line while his daughter stared stonily into space. "Come on, Kagome," he said, handing the forms back to the doctor. "The car's waiting."
"I'm not going on a plane anytime today," Kagome informed her father. "And that's final."
He cast her one more pleading glance. Akihiro didn't relish taking her back to America, but it was for her own safety. He shuddered to think of her, kidnapped and in the company of drug-addled lunatics. "Kagome, darling -"
"Don't darling me." Kagome stalked off into the hallway, bowing curtly to Dr. Sada. She was surprised to see Kagura outside, pacing nonchalantly.
"Oh, you've been discharged?" Kagura asked, giving her a peck on the cheek. "How are you feeling?"
"One hundred perfect, thank you." Kagome caught a whiff of perfume and inhaled closer. "Are you wearing Kenzo?" She vaguely recalled being doused herself by one of Sesshoumaru's hired hands in their numerous attempts at beautifying her.
"Yesssss." Kagura looked both pleased and secretive, and said nothing else.
"Visiting Sesshoumaru?" Kagome asked, perfectly aware of her father skulking behind her.
"Mm, no… he's two floors below you if you want to say hi though," Kagura said. Smiling radiantly, she whispered in Kagome's ear. "I actually have a date."
"A date?" Curiosity piqued, Kagome tried to wrack her brains as to whom the mystery guy might be.
Kagura giggled. "Menomaru-san."
Kagome was about to ask who when she connected the dots. "Oh. Didn't know you were on first-name basis with my physician already," she teased.
"He's single, hot, and successful," shrugged Kagura."In other words, fair game."
This earned a laugh from Kagome. "What else haven't you told me?"
"Nothing, I swear," Kagura said, crossing her heart dramatically. "But I will inform you the moment I see potential long-term developments."
"Kagura," interrupted Akihiro Higurashi. "Could you be so kind as to convince Kagome that she should for her own safety come to the airport with me?"
Although Kagura rarely found it necessary to keep out of people's affairs, on this occasion she was happy to stay out of the debate. "I'll, er, leave the two of you to sort that out." Waving gaily at Menomaru, who had finished his shift, put on her most charming smile and hurried over to him.
Kagome headed downstairs, not before banishing her father to the waiting lounge. The nurses pointed her towards Sesshoumaru's room. Kagome hesitated outside the door before knocking.
There was no answer, so she opened the door carefully and peered inside.
An explosion of colours and scents hit her. She'd known Sesshoumaru was popular, but surely this was pushing it.
"What are you doing here?" A familiar voice assaulted her ears, and Kagome turned around to see Jaken glaring suspiciously at her.
"Where's Sesshoumaru?" Kagome rescued a poor teddy bear from a corner of the room. It would appear to have been unceremoniously kicked there, and Kagome could guess by whom.
"He's with Inutaisho-sama and Ryuukotsei, discussing important issues," Jaken said haughtily, picking up a large potted cactus wrapped in ribbons and hauling it towards the door. "I am clearing the room. Why are you here?" he asked pointedly.
"To get away from my father," Kagome said casually, plucking a juicy-looking peach from a platter and biting into it. A burst of delicate flavour played on her tongue, and she quickly grabbed another one before Jaken chucked it all into the large trash can he pulled ominously. "Here, I'll help you," sighed Kagome. Against her better judgement she began throwing out flowers by the dozen, cringing slightly at the destructive waste.
The servant stared at her like she was had sprouted two heads. "Why?"
"Well, I'm bored," Kagome said like the answer was obvious.
"Bored?" echoed Sesshoumaru from the door, watching her.
She blushed like she had been caught out, although she was doing nothing wrong. "Yes, Sesshoumaru, bored." She looked at him rebelliously, and noticed Ryuukotsei standing behind his grandson with his usual pleasant scowl.
The patriarch made a huffing noise akin to scorn.
There was an uncomfortable silence, before Kagome grudgingly bobbed her head in greeting.
To her surprise, Ryuukotsei nodded coldly.
"Um, how are you?" Kagome said, smiling tightly.
"Fine," muttered Ryuukotsei. "You?"
Kagome nearly goggled at him but caught herself in time. "I'm fine, thank you." She supposed this was as deep an offering of truce could come from the old man.
Ryuukotsei coughed gruffly. "I need to talk to some lawyers downstairs, we can talk later."
"Over cupcakes and sunshine, perhaps?" Kagome asked brightly.
Thankfully Ryuukotsei left quickly before Kagome could say anything else to piss him off. "Was it just me hearing things, or did your grandfather just talk to me?" Kagome asked in amazement.
Sesshoumaru nodded. "Perhaps he had some people investigate your family and was… impressed." Like most politicians Ryuukotsei was pragmatic, and he had told Sesshoumaru that under certain conditions he might see past Miss Higurashi's flaws. After all it never hurt to marry money. Above all, Sesshoumaru guaranteed both his and Kagome's silence on this debacle for good.
"Impressed, ha!" snorted Kagome. Before he knew it Kagome had procured a pen from somewhere and was trying to sign her name on his arm.
"What are you doing?" Sesshoumaru asked, cringing as she scribbled a flowery script on the pristine white cast. Get Well Soon! xoxo Kagome was not something he wanted to carry around day in day out.
"You know, I was so worried," declared Kagome, capping the pen with a flourish. "I thought you would die."
If she thought that she could distract him from the disastrous autograph with a few cleverly-designed caring words… well, Sesshoumaru heaved a mental sigh. The deed was done anyway. He gestured for her to sit, and she obeyed, bouncing a little on his bed to test the springiness.
"So what did Ryuukotsei say?" Kagome asked curiously.
Sesshoumaru leaned casually against the wall. "I'll be entering politics for awhile." Actually, his conversation with his grandfather had been simple. Ryuukotsei wanted Sesshoumaru to keep quiet about Naraku and Onigumo, and to run for a place in the Lower House of the Japan Diet. In exchange Ryuukotsei would name Sesshoumaru as his sole heir.
"I see." Well, politics as a legitimate career. Kagome could see Sesshoumaru as a politician. "I hope you will be very successful."
"Of course," he said, looking insulted at the idea that he could be anything but.
"Tell me," Kagome said, "is Ryuukotsei going to get arrested like Naraku and Onigumo and Mukotsu? He really isn't as creepy as those three. I mean, especially Mukotsu, that guy gives me goosebumps."
"That's right, that Mukotsu," Sesshoumaru said, like he'd just recalled something. "My memory is somewhat hazy, but I seem to remember you kissing your way out of that situation…"
He took strange delight in watching her blush tomato-red. Kagome squirmed under his gaze. "Well, it's something I've learnt how to do since coming to Japan…"
"Excuse me?" A eyebrow lifted. "Your execution was lacking."
"Excuse me?" If not for her sacrifice they'd be dead in some crummy hotel, and not only was Kagome not hearing praise and thanks from Sesshoumaru, she was getting critiqued on her technique? Which, by the way, he was responsible for teaching to her?
"For the likes of Mukotsu, I suppose you could get away with it," Sesshoumaru conceded with a lofty shrug. "But you'll need to work on your angle."
Kagome snorted. "My angle! Here's something funny, Mr. Taller-than-six-feet, when you are short and cute like me, angle isn't something we can control!"
He refused to debate the point. Some things just needed to be acted out to be believed.
"Anyway," Kagome said, clearing her throat. "My Dad wants me back in America because of your lunatic grandfather."
"Will you go?" Sesshoumaru asked.
"Will you miss me if I do?" she asked lightly.
He saw through the casual ruse and shrugged nonchalantly, deciding to play with her a bit. "Not really," Sesshoumaru said. "After all, I'll be busy with my new career, and you'll probably have to get yourself a college degree."
"Is that so?" Kagome said, feeling a stab of annoyance overtake her disappointment. "I might not come back ever again, then."
"Kagome, if I have to marry you, you'll have to come back to Japan sometime," Sesshoumaru pointed out in the most logical fashion.
"I don't want to marry someone who thinks my kissing is not up to par," Kagome informed Sesshoumaru.
He could think of many, many things regarding Kagome Higurashi that were not up to par. But somehow Sesshoumaru preferred her that way.
End Chap
Dear readers, thanks for your patience again, and thank you all for the wonderful support you've shown my stories! Crescent, dana, IrisAyame off the top of my head, there are so many more of you constant reviewers... you know who you are, and I love you all. :D And Happy Valentines Day.
- ink142