Ooohh…we're finally getting to the plot as of last chapter! *laughs* It took long enough eh?^_~ This chapter is more a slight filler one though. I think the second main event will happen next chapter. So yeah, I love it when Inu Yasha takes command of things.^_^ He fits a role of responsibility very well in my opinion... when it counts anyway. Thanks so much to everyone who's commented so far.^_^ Love you guys! A special thanks to acorngirl and Merith for the repeated comments and just being sweet in general.^-~*

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of the characters in it. If I did I'd be rich, but I'm not... and if I had lots of money I'd probably spend it on anime anyway so pleeaasseee, don't sue me.^_^ lol

Oh, and as always,

_= thoughts *_* = sound/ italicized "_" = speech //_// = narration

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Memories of the Present

Chapter 10: The Doctor's Visit

"Inu-noneechan? W...What happened to Kagome?!"

Inu Yasha stood carefully over Kagome, the unobstructed view of her naked form barely causing so much as a blush as he hastily tried to get her into bed. Souta gaped at the sight before him. He knew that Inu Yasha and his sister liked each other, but this?! He turned around, not noticing his sister's condition, hoping to escape before either of them saw him and tried to kill him. He didn't make it more than a step before a frantic hanyou grabbed him by the shirt and ordered him to get his mother. Confused but not faultered, he did as he was told.

An hour later, the color had returned to Kagome's cheeks, but she was still unconscious. The "dock-tor" that had come by claimed that she had no temperature so she couldn't be ill, but he was worried none-the-less. At first, the man had ordered everyone out of the room in respect for the patient's current…shall we say, condition (or state of undress.^_~), and was *more* than a little upset when this odd, silver-haired boy refused to leave. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do about it, and, with the permission of the girl's mother, he proceeded to inspect his patient. Obviously, Inu Yasha was not pleased with this man touching his Kagome, but he figured it was for her own good. He kept a claw ready and an eye on the doctor's hands anyway. When the doctor had finished his inspection, he gave them small orange containers, not unlike that of the Shikon shard containers, only not made of glass. Inside, there were pills that they were supposed to give to Kagome when she woke up, but they all knew that it wouldn't help anything.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

Sun shone through the curtains of a room at the Higurashi residence. The soft waves gently caressing the features of a sleeping girl, flowing endlessly in a stream of light and warmth. The girl's eyes scrunch up in a small attempt to block the light, her connection to reality, before promptly turning over and trying to sleep again. Her dreamy bliss was short-lived, however, as she seemed to have a severe headache that would deny her of both sleep and patience. Her stomach rumbled, proving dominance over her other bodily functions. She rolled back over and sat up. The clock said noon; it was time for lunch.

Getting up, the girl quickly hobbles over to her closet and, at a cold touch, realizes the state she's in. Timidly, she creeps over to her door and shuts it. Where are my clothes?

Her head hurts, she knows that much. Why it hurts, she doesn't know. Why didn't she have any clothes on? Wasn't she at school? The frog! Wait, was that just a dream? Inu yasha... Inu Yasha had been there before; she knew that, but before what? Before... oh, she didn't care. Her stomach rumbled and all she wanted was to eat, take some aspirin, and go back to bed. Weakly, she wonders why it's hard to move around, why she feels so sluggish, but shakes it off as the wonderful smell of lunch on the table consumes her senses.

Still feeling shaky, she walks down the hall and decides to take the stairs one at a time. She grabs onto the guard rail as if for dear life and begins her decent. One... two... three... fo... silence.

"I...Inu Yasha?"

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

Life went on unnoticed by the four people sitting at the table, each caught up in their own thoughts. The phone rang and Souta went to answer it, missing the times he and his sister had always fought over the phone. School had been canceled for them both that day. Kagome's school for obvious reasons, Souta's for a "teacher in-service" day. Apparently, both would have the day off tomorrow as well.

Inu yasha still sat at the table, mind musing over what could've happened, and trying not to think of what could still be yet to come. Maybe it was an unknown virus, maybe one from this time... or his? Was she spending too much time in Feudal Japan? Maybe it was the frog's fault. That was most likely it, but he didn't know anything of the youkai of this time. He hadn't even been sure that there *were* any more after he had killed the flesh-eating mask.

As the half demon pondered, his ears picked up a soft, "Kagome...?" and a muffled thud.

Mrs. Higurashi was alone with her father at the table.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

Kagome, she's awake?! Oh thank Kami! But wait, she should be in bed. I'm surprised she could even get up; she isn't strong enough to, unless she's feeling... KAGOME!!!

She had stumbled, tripping over her own feet. He was instantly beneath her, cradling her in a warm embrace as she fell towards him. She tried to regain her balance, tripping again and pulling the carpet out from under their feet. Instinctively, Inu Yasha rolled onto his back, Kagome suspended above him as not to be hurt. He hit every step on the way down and *knew* that he'd feel it in the morning, but Kagome was more important.

"I...Inu Yasha?"

He sighs as a wave of relief washes over his mind, but his smile quickly turned to a scowl as his eyes hardened slightly, "Stupid girl! What did you think you were doing?! You could've gotten yourself killed!"

"I... I..." She was hungry, she was dizzy, and she was falling down the stairs. What did it *LOOK* like she was doing?!

"No, I don't want to hear it! I'm taking you back upstairs, and you are going to lay in bed... and stay there!"

Kagome huffs and begins to struggle as they make their way back to her room. Though cradled against him, she resists the urge to do as he asks and in a half commanding, half pleading voice says, "Hey, forget it; I'm hungry!"

"Souta will bring you something" He hadn't even looked at her.

"But..."

"No 'but's Kagome. You will do as I say and that's the end of it."

Eyes locked on his, she squirms slightly, trying to break their gaze, but to no avail. Looking up at his face, she sees that his eyes are stern, not with hatred or anger, but with decision. There is no getting around this; he'd already won.

"But..."

He nips her nose, "No." He glares at her shortly before walking over to her windowsill. Turning back, he says simply, "I'm going to Kaede-baba's to see what she has to say. Stay here until I come back." She nods reluctantly, and he hops into the tree outside her window. One more bound and he's in the well house, and then he's gone.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

I thought only Sesshoumaru could make that face... or be that stubborn... even if he is right. She laughs softly to herself, They *must* be related.

Sighing, Kagome sits up and stares longingly out the window. Was it her imagination, or was he actually concerned? She really needed to get him in her time more often. He always seems to be more open when he was there. Mentally she notes it, shrugs, and grudgingly turns to the pile of books on her desk.

I have time to do my studying now. A swift wave of nausea crashes down upon her, and she's flopped down on the bed again, face scrunched in a slight pain and body curled into the fetal position.

No way in hell.

Only when her mother came in did she open her eyes again. Her mother had brought her some ramen, probably Inu Yasha's unfinished lunch.

"Kagome honey, Inu Yasha never touched his ramen, and I thought you might want it. The warmth would probably be good for you."

Oh yeah, who guessed it? Wow, he didn't eat ramen? He *MUST'VE* been worried.

"Kagome honey?" Mrs. Higurashi was now waving a hand in front of her daughter's face, "Are you okay? Do you want the ramen?"

"Hmm? Oh, um, yeah, thanks."

Her mother smiles, "Sure hun, would you like some water as well?" At Kagome's hesitant nod, Mrs. Higurashi stands up, smoothes out her daughter's ebony hair, and kisses her on the forehead. (Got to love moms!^_^) Flashing a soft smile, she heads downstairs to gather a glass of water.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

"Fluffy, you're pretty."

"... "

"Fluffy-sama, where are we going?" *WHACK*

"Oowww!!! My Lord, why did you strike me?"

"NO ONE CALLS ME FLUFFY!!!" Rin whimpers, "... except Rin."

"Yay!"