A/N: Hello all! Guess what! There was another blooper in the story! If you recall, Jinenji was the security guard at Taisho Corp who tried to throw out Kagome when Sara asked him to (: The edit has now been changed (the guard now being Maten) and the finder, Lil-lo, has their Original Character Lily starred in this chapter! Great job and congrats, Lil-lo!

Disclaimer: All Inuyasha goodness belongs to the amazing Takahashi-san!

Behind the Curtain

By MissKatt

The Results

Time was ticking away way too slowly for his liking. He glanced at the flat black watch on his wrist and narrowed his eyes into a glare when he realized only five minutes had passed since the last time he had checked. Why did the time choose that day of all days to go by slowly? Was it because she wasn't there? Normally the day flew by when she worked because she would entertain him with her witty comebacks to his jesting insults or engage him in intelligent conversations.

But she wasn't there at the moment and Taisho Corporations seemed so…dull.

Sesshoumaru looked up at the double doors of his office when Touran knocked and let herself in. He mentally sighed at the reminder that Kagome was not currently his secretary, and was instead lying in the hospital. Touran had subbed in for her, as she did when Kagome was at school, but it just wasn't the same.

She bowed to him and presented him with a paper containing a list of names. "Taisho-san, here is the list you wanted."

He took the paper from her and scanned his eyes over the vast amount of names. "There is no way that all of these employees had worked on the same four files."

She frowned, pushing her light blue hair over her shoulder. "Well, no, but these are the employees who had worked on any file from September to December."

"That is not what I asked you to do," He snapped, eyes narrowing at her. "I told you to compile a list of the names of the employees who worked on the four files that were turned in uncompleted; I do not believe the task was a hard one."

Touran looked down at her hands. "I-I apologize, Taisho-san, I must have misunderstood what you meant."

"Obviously," He waved his hand at her. "You are free to go. In fact, take the rest of the day off; I do not wish to see your face again." He watched as she paled and gave a stiff bow before quickly leaving his office with her job still intact. "Kagome would have already been firing them at this point." He muttered and then picked up his iPhone as it rang. "Taisho Sesshoumaru."

"Hey, Sessh." Came Inuyasha's voice.

"How is she?" He asked, cutting straight to the point.

He sighed into the receiver. "Nothing yet. Kikyou and I have been here almost all day and she hasn't moved at all. Jinenji seems optimistic enough, but his aura tells me he's concerned."

He ran his claws through his silver bangs. "What does he intend to do?"

"Nothing yet. He says there isn't really anything he can do at the moment."

"Worthless hanyou." He murmured and lifted his amber eyes to look at the door to his office when it opened once again. He nodded at Rin when she moved into his office and flung herself on his plush leather couch.

"Hey!"

"Not you, Inuyasha; though you do have your moments." He replied with a small smirk.

"You're not exactly perfect either, you bastard!" He growled. "Anyways, I was going to see if you were going to come down. Kikyou and I are about to head out and get some early dinner. Kagome's other two friends came by earlier too, but they both had to go to work."

The heir to Taisho Corp looked at Rin as he answered. "Yes, I will be there later."

"Alright, just make sure you let us us if she wakes up while we're gone, yeah?"

"I will." He agreed and then hung up his phone on his brother, not bothering to say good-bye. "Rin, would you be opposed to going and visiting Kagome after work? If so, you may go home with your Jiji."

She smiled a little at him, her hand going to the shiny locket around her neck. "I don't mind, Papa; I want to see Kagome-san."

He nodded at her answer, glad his daughter seemed to rid herself of the hate she once had for his secretary. Maybe she would even warm up to the idea of the woman being around more.

*~~~BTC~~~*

Much to his own dismay, his father had decided to tag along for the hospital visit, saying he had already planned on doing so. So together, the three walked to the hospital room in which the small miko inhabited and gathered around her bed once they entered it. Sesshoumaru quickly noticed that they replaced the oxygen tubes in her nose with a face mask instead. Was that a good sign?

"Kagome-san," Rin called softly as she stood at her bedside. She frowned a little when the woman didn't wake up to look at her. "Umm, I wanted to thank you for my present. I really, really love it." Even though she didn't so much as stir, she continued on. "And I'm really sorry for how I acted on Christmas. I-" She choked on a cry as tears gathered in her eyes. She soon felt her father's hands on her shoulders and was glad that they both supported and encouraged her to continue. "I didn't mean what I said. I-I don't want you to go away and I do like you. So, please be okay; everyone is really worried about you, especially Papa…"

When his secretary remained motionless in her bed, he rubbed his daughter's shoulders. "I am sure she heard you, Rin," He began and then looked at his father. "Will you escort Rin to the cafeteria? She has not had dinner."

Touga glanced down at the emotional little girl and then back at his eldest son. His eyes softened when his noticed his amber pools were focused on the unconscious miko. He tilted his lips up into an understanding smile. "Of course. Come along, Rin-hime, let us indulge ourselves in sweets."

She gave her Jiji a watery smile, knowing he was trying to cheer her up. "Okay, Jiji. We'll be back soon, Papa." She told him, taking her grandfather's hand when it was offered to her and letting him guide her from the room.

Sesshoumaru waited until the door was shut before sitting down in the chair next to her bedside. Once again, he took her small hand in his and wrapped his fingers around it, his thumb running across her knuckles. "I thought I told you to wake up today, Tama." He spoke softly, his eyes watching her face for any signs of consciousness.

His only response was the same twitch in her fingers as the night before.

Perhaps he was wrong in taking it as a positive sign that she was alright. Maybe her body wasn't actually responding to his. Was it just a side effect from her injury? He sighed at the very strong possibility of it being true. Why had he let himself think otherwise? Obviously he had become foolish since his time with her.

He suddenly tensed and turned towards the window when he sensed the presence of another person. He got to his feet and ventured over to the partially open curtains covering the sealed-shut glass. He moved part of the curtain aside to study his surroundings outside and let out an irritated growl when he saw a squirrel crawl its way out of a pile of snow that had fallen from the tree next to it. It brushed off its face with its tiny hands before running back to the tree and scurrying its way to the top.

How had he mistaken a squirrel for another person? Obviously his anxiety was getting the better of him. He let out another growl of frustration as he realized how much this ordeal had affected him as well. When did the miko begin to mean something to him? Hadn't he repeatedly told himself he had not wanted her? Then why was he so on edge about her current predicament?

Another growl rumbled in his chest as he became more confused and frustrated with himself.

"S-Sessh-ou…maru…?"

His body tensed, the hair on the back of his neck rising as he heard her muffled, soft voice. He turned towards her and felt his heart clench as her glazed over eyes swiveled a little as she tried to locate him in the room. He quickly moved to her side once again so she could see him. "I am here." He answered her and became pleased when those azure eyes met his.

"Wha-" She cut herself off when she realized she had an odd mask over her nose and mouth. She tried to lift her hand, it suddenly feeling way too heavy, and fumbled around until it landed on her face mask.

"Leave it, Kagome. It is helping you breathe." He commanded.

Not really processing what he meant, she gave him a weak smile. "I like," She breathed. "when you say my name."

Sesshoumaru gave her a small smirk at what she said. "How do you feel?" He questioned. He then watched as her eyes rolled around in her eye sockets for a moment, her eyelids fluttering close until they reopened and looked around at her surroundings.

"Feel?" She asked, furrowing a brow. Wait, hadn't he just said she was wearing a mask to help her breathe? What did he mean by that? What happened? Where was she?

He felt panic begin to swell in her and saw it in her eyes when they landed on him once again. Her hand left her face mask and sloppily moved towards him, her eyes shining with confusion and fear of the unknown. He did not hesitate to take her hand in his once again and did not miss how she visibly relaxed as soon as their skin made contact. "You are in the hospital. Do you remember what happened?"

She had an accident? She closed her eyes and let her mind take her back to what she remembered before her long sleep. "I was…at work…?"

He nodded. "That is what your friend said."

She gave him a horrible attempt at a grin. "You met Shan-goh?" She didn't seem to notice how her words were a little slurred.

He nodded once again. "Yes, she is most concerned about you. As is Inuyasha and Kikyou. Your sister was afraid she was going to lose another family member."

She frowned. "That…bad?"

The Taisho Heir could not stop his free hand as it moved to gently rest upon her slightly blood-crusted hair. "Yes. You fell and injured your head, causing swelling."

She blinked up at him and raised her unoccupied, shaky hand to touch the gauze wrapped around her head. "How long," Her eyes fluttered shut again as a wave of pain and exhaustion racked her. "Out?"

He filled in what she was trying to say. "It happened late last night and it is night now so you were unconscious for almost a day."

She nodded, wincing as she moved her head, and lowered her hand. She opened her eyes to look at him again. "They here?"

"No, they wanted me to call once you were awake. I will call them now," He removed his hand from her head and tried to pull back his other, but stopped when her fingers weakly tightened around his.

"I-I…don't, please?" She begged and couldn't stop herself from closing her eyes once again. Kami, why were they so heavy to her? "M'hero…"

Why did his chest swell with pride at her words? Why did he relish in the fact that she called him her hero once again? And, why did he feel so warm that she didn't want him to let her go? What were all these unfamiliar emotions?

"I will not," He assured her and pulled out his iPhone to call his brother, who picked up on the second ring. "Inuya-"

"Is everything okay? Did she wake up?" It was the girl's sister.

"Yes, she is awake." He answered her, looking at the miko as her eyes slit open once again.

"Let me talk to her! Wait, can she talk? Is she-is she…?" Her voice trailed off as a sob ran through her.

"She is capable of speech, but it is a little slurred from what I suspect is the medicine and muffled due to the mask. She cannot manage the phone at the moment so I shall place you on speaker phone." Sesshoumaru informed her and pressed the speaker button on his phone, holding it out on his palm towards her. "She can hear you now."

"Ah! Kagome! Do you know who I am?! Do you recognize my voice?!" She asked frantically.

"Kik…you." Kagome breathed with a small smile. "Hi."

A watery laugh came through the phone. "H-hi! Oh Kagome, thank the Kami you are okay! I was so scared for you! Hold on, I'm putting you on speaker too," There was a slight pause. "There's someone else who wants to talk to you."

Her eyes closed once again. "Mkay..."

"Kags! What about me? Remember me?" Came her guy best friend's voice.

Another weak smile tilted her lips. "Yasha, hiiii."

He barked out a laugh from the other side. "Haha, hey! We're so glad you're finally fuckin' awake! You had us shitting bricks over here from worry."

"Sorry," She mumbled and then sighed softly. "I tired."

Kikyou was back on the phone. "Get your rest. We are coming back to the hospital right now so I will see you soon. And you better be prepared to get woken up with hugs and kisses."

"M'kay, byeee." She told them and opened her eyes a little. She raised her free hand to try to turn off the phone, but missed the phone twice.

He smirked a little at her poor motor skills and turned off the phone for her, placing it on the nightstand by her bed. "I told you they were worried," He commented. "As is the rest of my pack."

"Rin?" She murmured, looking at him curiously.

"Yes, even her. She apologized to you when you were sleeping."

"I thought I was dreamin'." Kagome mused and then let her eyes swivel to the door to her room when two other people walked in.

"Ah, Higurashi-san! You are awake!" Jinenji said with surprise.

"About time." A female of average height muttered from Jinenji's side.

The hanyou slanted his blue eyes down at her. "Now, Lily-san, be nice. She was only out for a day." He scolded gently and then looked at the two. "Taisho-sama, Higurashi-san, this is my nurse Lily. She handles all my after-care patients with me."

The blonde flushed, not realizing that she had come off as rude. She gave them a stiff bow in greeting and then straightened up. She tightened her ponytail of spiky blonde hair and then slid on a pair of latex gloves. "Alright, Higurashi, I am going to do some strength exercises with you to make sure you didn't sustain any nerve damage." She informed the girl, her tone not giving the girl any room to protest, and walked over to the other side of the bed.

"Um, can we do it later?" She breathed through the mask. "Really tired..."

"Too bad," Lily replied and grabbed the girl's hands, forcing her to let go of Sesshoumaru's. "Pull me towards you with as much strength as you can."

"Hmm, m'kay." Not having the chance to say no, Kagome did as told. She knew it was a weak attempt, but the nurse didn't comment on it, at least not at first.

"Alright, now bend your elbow and wiggle your fingers," She commanded. Once the girl did as she said she repeated the same thing to the other arm. "Okay, now yours legs." She tore off the sheet covering the girl's legs and didn't care that she shuddered from the hospital's sterile, cold temperature. She grabbed one of the girl's feet and told her to try and push her away. "Good, now bend your knee and wiggle your toes." Again, she did as told and she repeated the same thing with the other leg. "Okay, seems your good enough; though you're pretty weak. Is that from being human, or just from the accident?"

Kagome blinked. "Tired…?" She responded and shuddered as the cold gripped her bare legs, making goose bumps rise on her skin. She gave Sesshoumaru a thankful smile when he reached down to cover her legs once again with the blanket.

"Yeah, you said that. Maybe you do have a little amnesia as a side effect," Lily grabbed Kagome's chart from the end of her bed and read over the girl's file. She scoffed as she read over the reason for her being there. "You fell? You mean to tell me you hurt yourself so badly just because you fell? How does someone even do that? Unless you fell down a flight of stairs? But even then, you have to be quite the clumsy person to do that. I mean-"

"Lily-san, you are being rude again. I have warned you before that berating the patients is not acceptable. What is the term we use again?" The surgeon asked, looking at the young nurse expectantly.

Heat sprang to her cheeks when she was reprimanded once again. She hadn't even realized she was being harsh. She didn't mean it; really, she was just speaking her mind. She really had to put up a mental filter so she would stop spewing her words out needlessly.

"To give care is to care." She quoted for him and then turned back to Kagome and gave another bow. "I'm sorry for coming off as rough."

"S'okay." She replied with a sloppy smile and relaxed further against her pillows, eyes becoming too heavy once again.

"Good, well, then I will take my leave. I have another patient to go to." With that, the curvy, fit blonde bowed a final time and left the room, leaving the three in the room.

She barely watched her go and let her head roll towards Sesshoumaru, meeting his eyes as he stared at her intently. She lifted her hand again as she looked at him curiously. "Will you stay…until I fall asleep?" She breathed once again.

Sesshoumaru accepted her offered hand, enclosing his fingers around hers once again. "Yes," He responded softly and watched as she smiled tiredly and began to fall back into a drugged sleep. Once she was out, he looked back up at Jinenji. "I take it this means she is fine?"

The doctor nodded. "It is definitely a good sign. When she wakes up again, I will give her another CT Scan to make sure the swelling is down for good. I hope this is up to your standards?" The hanyou asked timidly.

The inuyoukai looked up at the scared doctor. He sighed, knowing that he had reacted poorly both when Kagura was in his care and when he had learned that he was working on Kagome. "You have done well, Jinenji. I realize my outburst last night was unwarranted; I was simply concerned."

The hanyou blinked at the masked apology and gave the dangerous youkai a smile. "It is quite alright, Taisho-sama, I understand completely. I really do regret not being able to save Kagura-san," He admitted softly. "She was one of the only patients I have lost."

"She was gone before she came into your care." Sesshoumaru responded honestly. "If you had been able to revive her, I would have been impressed."

The surgeon looked down at the polished floor. "But still…"

"You did well with Kagome." He complimented, turning his gaze back to the girl on the bed, her hand still holding onto his.

Jinenji flushed with the compliment and he bent his large frame into a bow. "T-thank you, Taisho-sama," He said and then straightened as Touga and Rin came back into the room. "Well, I will leave you to your visit. I shall see you when she wakes again." With that, he left the room to venture out to his other patients.

"Again?" Touga echoed, looking at his son expectantly.

Sesshoumaru nodded and then proceeded to tell them both that she had awoken and that she was seemingly fine. "Kikyou and Inuyasha are on their way now and I am sure they will wake her up again if you wished to see her."

The owner of Taisho Corp smiled. "I am just glad to know that she is alright." His honey orbs took in the way his son held the miko's hand, her nimble fingers tightening around his every once in a while.

Yes, he was very glad indeed.