Chapter 47

Sesshomaru looked down at Naomi and Sango, meeting their pleading eyes. They wanted to see Kagome, visit with their sister. He had no problem with allowing it, but it wasn't his choice. Kagome was the one isolating herself from everyone.

She locked herself in the nursery, never coming out. When she had woken up in her bed, she remembered instantly what happened to Miroku. She refused to go back to the room they used to share and moved into the nursery. She was now sleeping on the cushions in the bay window.

Everyone comes by to see her, but she refuses them. Izayoi feels like she has lost two children and is almost constantly crying. Touga hasn't laughed in over a week. InuYasha doesn't try to see her at all. He doesn't want to see Kagome in the state she is in. Overall, the Taisho family is a wreck.

It turns out one of the paramedics had recorded everything, from Miroku not breathing, to the reactions of the family. All of it was plastered over every news station and all social platforms across the internet. They couldn't escape seeing Miroku dead no matter where they went.

There were people that were brave enough to even come by the house. Some offered food, others their condolences, but they all wanted one thing in common. Information. They wanted to know what happened to Miroku.

Miroku was not doing good. He was stable. His heart was beating on its own, his lungs working as they should. However, he had hit his head, causing his brain to swell. He was in a coma, and the doctors weren't sure if he was going to wake up. Even if he did wake up, the chances of him not suffering from a side effect of not having a heartbeat for so long, plus the brain swelling was slim to none.

If he woke, the doctors expected that he either won't be able to walk, or his memory would be gone. That was normal for cases like these. While they didn't know for sure they were telling the family to expect the worst. Worst being that Miroku never woke up again.

"I'm not asking, Sesshomaru. We are going to go see Kagome." Sango grabbed Naomi's hand, walking past Sesshomaru who just moved out of their way.

He sighed, pulling out his phone and going to sit on the couch. He was living here in his little brother's house now. He had to. He was the only one that Kagome would let near. She only spoke to him. He told her of what the doctors had said, and tried to get her to see Miroku. She refused, still claiming that she needed to stay away.

Nothing he said or did worked.

Putting his phone to his ear, he waited patiently on his father to answer. When he heard the customary hello, he dove right in, more than tired and emotionally drained. "How is he?"

"They took him back for another cat scan. We just got the results back. The swelling has gone down significantly. They still don't know if he will make it, but the chance that he will has gone up a little bit." Touga also sounded tired. He hadn't left the hospital, staying by Miroku. Izayoi never left either. They didn't want to be gone if Miroku woke up, or if he died.

"That is better than what he was yesterday." Sesshomaru leaned his head back, sighing. InuYasha, who had been silent the entire time, sat down next to Sesshomaru. He was the one who brought the girls over so they could see Kagome. He wouldn't go upstairs but stayed here with Sesshomaru until Sango and Naomi were ready to leave.

"How is Kagome?" Touga sounded hopeful, wanting a bit more good news. Unfortunately, Sesshomaru wasn't the one to call for that.

"The same. Locked in the nursery. She eats, takes her vitamins. She does what is required to care for the baby, but that is all. Sango and Naomi went upstairs to talk to her, I am unsure how that will go." Sesshomaru looked to his brother who just shrugged, not really having anything to say. InuYasha had always been close to Miroku. He was taking everything pretty hard, but he hid his feelings behind an emotionless mask.

"What about the investigation. Did they find any proof that Kouga tampered with the car?" All of the hope Touga had a moment ago was gone. It was now replaced with the sorrow they were all used to feeling at this point.

"No. They said the break line was loose. Which could have happened from everyday driving. It leaked brake fluid until there was none left and Miroku was unable to use his breaks. The emergency brake was also unusable. However, they said everything they saw was from wear and tear." Sesshomaru leaned forward, rubbing his forehead in exhaustion.

"So Kouga either bought them, or he is good at covering his tracks." Another sigh from Touga, and then the male spoke again. "I would say the latter. He is no longer rich since Kagome ruined his business. Plus, look at Mattaki and Mr. Higurashi. They died by suicide and an accidental fall with fire. Kouga is too good at covering up his tracks. And now he is doing it again with Miroku."

"Miroku is not dead." Sesshomaru closed his eyes, realizing he snapped at his father. That wasn't what Touga had meant, and he knew it. "Sorry."

"I know, Son. We are all on edge. I will let you get back to Kagome. Keep me updated, and I will do the same for you." Touga hung up, and Sesshomaru let his phone fall limply to the ground. It seemed like nothing was going to get better anytime soon.

…

Kagome sat in the bay window, looking out at the trees. She felt nothing, or at least that is what she told herself. The truth was, she felt everything. The pain, grief, sorrow, guilt, anger. All of it slammed around inside of her, overwhelming her to the point that she had to lock it away.

It was the only way she could stay calm and not have to worry about upsetting her son. The son that would no longer have a father. Once more, tears threatened to fall, and she blinked them away. She couldn't think like that. Miroku was still alive, holding on as best as he could. She needed him to be okay, needed him to live and wake up. Even if she wasn't here to see it.

Her door opening had her turned, face pinching as she saw Sango and Naomi walk in. They closed the door behind them, and Kagome turned back to looking out the window, watching the thick clouds as they passed by. It was going to snow soon.

"Kagome." Sango knelt down beside the bay window, grabbing Kagome's hand. The grieving woman tensed, but Sango didn't let her go. "We came to see you. We wanted to spend some time with our sister." Naomi nodded, agreeing with Sango.

"You should have stayed away. It's better that way." Kagome didn't look at them and pulled her hand away from Sango's. It wasn't safe for them to be here. It was bad enough Sesshomaru stayed by her, she didn't want anyone else to stick around as well.

"You don't mean that, Kagome.-"

"I mean it. All of it." Kagome finally looked down at Sango, making her friends sit back as they saw the seriousness in her gaze. "Go away, and don't come back."

Sango flinched, as if Kagome had struck her while Naomi had tears form in her eyes. Kagome hated being cruel, but it was necessary. She had to keep them away, far away, or they would be hurt or killed. Enough people had died because of her, and she wasn't going to let it happen again. She had to keep herself isolated.

"Fine. If that is how you want to be." Sango stood, storming towards the door. She stopped, hand on the door handle as Naomi walked past. "You're being selfish and cruel. You aren't the Kagome we all know and love. I want my sister back, not whatever this shell is."

Slamming the door so hard it swung back open, Kagome jumped at the loud sound. After a few moments, she stood, a hand on her belly as she went and closed the door. She could hear Sango crying, could hear Sesshomaru comforting Naomi. Her friends, her family were upset, and she was making things worse.

It would be best if she left and never looked back.

Closing the door, she pulled out the notebook she kept hidden under her pillows. She flipped through the pages, rereading everything she had written. They were all farewell letters. One to each member of the family.

She planned to leave, take the fake identity Sesshomaru had made her, and make her escape. There was only one reason why she hadn't done so yet. She flipped to the next blank page; a single name written on the top. A letter to Miroku.

She didn't know what to say. She didn't even know if she should write him a letter. He was in a coma because of her. There was a small chance he would wake up, but if he did, he would most likely suffer from serious complications.

That was her fault. It didn't matter that she wasn't the one who messed with the brake system on Miroku's car. If she hadn't been here, Kouga would have never made Miroku a target. She didn't blame herself for the actions themselves, but for the person even looking at them in the first place.

That is why she wanted to leave. As long as she remained, Kouga would be a threat. She loved her family, would do anything for them, and this was a part of that. She needed to keep them safe. Before she left, she had to decide what to do about Miroku's letter. Should she write it? If she did, what did she say? There were too many unanswered questions, and not enough time to figure it out. The longer she stayed, the more danger would come to her family.

…

Kouga threw his head back in a cackle, rewinding the news report of the crash and death of the youngest Taisho. It was officially his favorite thing to watch. His first plan had failed, Sesshomaru and Touga hadn't died like he had wanted.

Of course, that was a good thing, because Kagome would have died with them. That would have defeated the purpose of everything he was doing. It was a slight mistake on his part, but one that still worked in his favor.

Now he needed to bide his time. He would let Kagome get swallowed in her grief for her dead husband, and then he would strike. He wanted her to come to him willingly, broken and defeated. It would be perfect. To see her accept her fate as his wife. That bastard in her belly would be thrown to the highest bidder, and then Kouga would have Kagome back where she belongs.

It was only a matter of time. A time that was quickly approaching.