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Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Rumiko Takahashi characters named here, nor do I own Charlie's Angels. I do own a pillow.
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Chapter 30
She Looks Just Like Her Mother
"What the hell's going on?" Koga shouted. He had heard the commotion and ran into the office in time to see Sesshomaru hit the floor.
"Sesshomaru attacked Inu-Yasha!" Kagome yelled back. "Just look at this, will you? His nose is completely smashed!" She grabbed a box of tissues from the desk and shoved them into Inu-Yasha's face in an effort to staunch the flow of blood.
Koga was kneeling next to Sesshomaru, trying to bring him back to consciousness. "What did you hit him with, anyway? A brickbat? Ugh, he's bleeding everywhere!"
"I clobbered him over the head with the hilt of that stupid sword. I don't know what happened; Sesshomaru saw the katana and just went nuts! He started hitting Inu-Yasha and calling him a grave robber!" Kagome turned to Inu-Yasha. "What was that all about, anyway?"
Inu-Yasha had removed his shirt by this time and packed it against his nose. "I dod hab a cloo," he said with difficulty. "He'd crady!"
"Sesshomaru?" Koga slapped his partner's cheeks gently. "Shit! He won't wake up, Kagome!"
"I didn't hit him that hard," Kagome said with concern. She inspected the unconscious agent. "It looks like he caught his head on the desk when he fell. His scalp is bleeding, but the cut doesn't look very deep. He probably just has a concussion."
"We'd better get these two to the emergency room," Koga nodded towards Inu-Yasha, who was holding his face with both hands. Koga scooped Sesshomaru up in his arms.
"Um, do you think that's wise?" Kagome asked him. "Explaining why two brothers, one of them wearing a dress, were fighting over an antique sword…"
"You're right," said Koga. "I had enough trouble explaining the mess with Kagura. By the way, your boss owes Sesshomaru some serious money for that hospital bill."
"Good luck collecting it from Naraku," Kagome muttered.
"I hab ad idea," Inu-Yasha tried to tell them. "Dobter Topu." Seeing their blank looks, he sighed. "Jud foddow me."
Kagome grabbed Tetsusaiga as they headed out the door. "Why are you bringing that?" Koga asked her. "Don't you think that's caused enough trouble?"
"I'm bringing it in case Sesshomaru comes around and starts whaling on my boyfriend again," Kagome answered with a possessive growl. "Just how is Inu-Yasha supposed to be kissing me if he's got a broken nose?"
*******
Naraku toyed with the small round jewel in his hand then held it up to catch the afternoon light. It was so pretty and looked so pure. The only time he could remember it looking lovelier was when it was around Kikyo's neck.
The silly bitch. She'd stolen the necklace hoping to exchange it for something she could snort up her nose. Then she'd discovered the necklace was so hot that her fence wouldn't take it. So Kikyo had come crawling to him, begging him to 'loan' her the money in exchange for the rock.
Naraku's dreams came true that day, or at least he'd thought they had. Kikyo wanted his help, not someone else's. He'd shipped her off to Hawaii, far away from the shrine and anyone who would recognize her or the jewel. As an added bonus, he'd made sure that the local law enforcement kept Kagome in mind as a suspect.
He'd thought his worries about Kikyo were over, in fact, he'd made sure of it. He had made sure of everything. He'd placed Kikyo into a life without cares; all she had to do was play in the sun and the sand and the surf. He'd even put her in rehab, cleansing her of the drugs she was so fond of using. All Kikyo had to do was belong to him.
Naraku hadn't lost his temper on that terrible day, the day when Kikyo told him she was marrying some kid she'd met on the beach. He'd hugged her and told her he wished nothing but her happiness. He'd even given her the Shikon jewel, telling her it was a wedding present. He'd walked away, leaving a delighted woman behind him.
And only after the wedding had he set about his slow destruction of Kikyo and Inu-Yasha. The memory made him shiver with ecstasy. It had been easy, so ridiculously easy. One lonely night he'd offered her a hit, and Kikyo had fallen back into drug use like she'd never left. Naraku had toyed with her for a long time, making sure Dr. Suikotsu kept her supplied, then ordering the supply stopped. Kikyo would halfheartedly attempt to fight it before she'd give in and throw herself at his feet pleading for what he could get her.
Meanwhile, that idiot she'd married had been stuck helplessly watching his wife send everyone around her to hell. It amused Naraku to see Inu-Yasha go deeply into debt in order to afford repeated trips to the detox center. At one point, the couple had been reduced to living in Inu-Yasha's car. The only thing that had surprised Naraku was the boy's stubborn refusal to divorce Kikyo.
Naraku closed his eyes with pleasure. Kikyo's death had been beautiful. He could still see her out there in the surf, laughing and whooping as the drugs Suikotsu had given her worked their way through her bloodstream. She'd paddled her board over to where he was swimming, giving him a loopy grin. He'd pulled her face down to his and kissed her deeply, tasting her as he removed the Shikon no Tama from her neck. Kikyo had looked surprised, then peaceful. That peaceful look had stayed upon her face, even as Naraku pushed her off her board and under the water. It still amazed him that she hadn't struggled.
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Sesshomaru opened his eyes and wished he hadn't. His head seemed to have become one giant, throbbing, aching mass of pain. And he had no idea where the hell he was.
He gingerly turned his head to the side and tried to focus. He was lying on an exam table in some doctor's office, he realized. At least, he hoped it was a doctor's office. There was a skeleton lying on another exam table across the room. Please don't let that thing over there be the doctor's last patient, Sesshomaru prayed.
Outside the door, he could hear Inu-Yasha howling in pain. Piecing together what he could hear of Kagome and Koga's conversation, his brother had a broken nose and the doctor was trying to set it. Sesshomaru ground his teeth and hoped his brother was in agony, the thieving little bastard.
I can't believe he did this. When I think of everything I've gone through because of that katana, and he had it all along! Hanging it in plain sight in some office, playing some stupid game with Ranma, hell - he probably used the thing to slice his sandwiches. Meanwhile, I'm stuck with that worthless piece of shit that won't even cut butter! When I get my hands on him…
Sesshomaru angrily pushed himself upright. The room started twirling around again, and he laid back down to regain his equilibrium. Strange-looking spots kept appearing in front of his eyes.
The door to the room burst open and a young physician dashed in. "Put her here!" he cried as he shoved the skeleton off the other table. Right behind him was a man assisting a very pregnant woman.
The woman doubled over suddenly and groaned loudly. "Umao!" she whimpered, clutching her swollen belly.
"Hang on Shikako! I'm right here with you, honey!" the man answered urgently as he helped her onto the exam table.
"How far apart are her contractio-"
Before the doctor could finish the question, Shikako let out a yell and grabbed Umao's hand. "This hurts! You bastard, I'll never forgive you for doing this to me!" she shouted at Umao as another contraction cramped her body.
"You did the right thing by stopping here," the doctor was telling Umao. "You'd have never made it to the hospital in time. And don't worry about what she's telling you, they all say that." The physician pushed his glasses up onto his nose. "Looks like we're going to have a baby today," he said cheerfully to the pregnant woman as he helped her into an exam robe.
"No shit, Sherlock!" Shikako cursed at the doctor.
Oh no. He was not going to be a witness to childbirth. No way, not ever. Sesshomaru desperately tried to pry himself off the table so he could leave the room. He succeeded in staggering a few steps until the door pushed open and knocked him to the floor.
"Oh, Dr. Tofu! I dropped by to bring you some dinner, but it looks as if you're a little busy tonight," the sweet clear voice of the young woman said. "Are you okay?" she asked Sesshomaru as she helped him to his feet.
"Kasumi!" Dr. Tofu perked up and beamed at the young woman. Sesshomaru noticed the physician's glasses were fogging over. Dr. Tofu walked over to Sesshomaru and clasped his hand. "How wonderful to see you, Kasumi! You certainly look lovely in that dress. Have you done something new with your hair?" he asked, peering closely at Sesshomaru.
"Doctor," Kasumi giggled. "I think your patient needs you." She pointed to the panting Shikako.
"Of course!" Dr. Tofu laughed. He placed an arm around Sesshomaru's shoulders and pushed him back to the exam table. "I know walking around helps with the contractions, dear, but I think it's time for you to lie down and have this baby."
"No, no, no! Gotta get away, gotta leave," Sesshomaru mumbled, struggling to get away. At the other table, Umao was begging Shikako to loosen her death grip on his hand and reminding her to breathe.
"Like I'm going to forget how to breathe, jackass! Owwwww!" Shikako cried. "Give me some drugs, dammit!"
"Perhaps a little something to calm her down?" Umao begged the doctor.
"Are you the grandmother?" Kasumi asked Sesshomaru. "I just love assisting during the births. It's so special to see these little ones come into the world. Is this your first grandchild?"
Sesshomaru felt a sharp pain in thigh and yelped. "Just a local anesthetic to help take the edge off the contractions," Dr. Tofu said. He patted Sesshomaru's shoulder. "We don't want you to hyperventilate or anything. Now, I want you to hold your husband's hand and breathe evenly for me, okay?"
"Uh, doctor? Over here?" Umao was trying to get his attention.
"I need to push!" screamed Shikako.
Sesshomaru scrambled off the table and took a step, then crumpled to the floor. He realized he couldn't feel his legs any longer. "Koga, get in here and help me!" Sesshomaru yelled as he started pulling himself across the floor with his arms towards the exit.
Koga ran into the room, skidding to a halt when he saw the other couple. "That woman is…she's…she's…" his jaw fell open and he pointed at Shikako and then fainted.
"Doctor! The baby's coming!" Umao yelled. A thin wail broke through the confusion.
"It's a girl!" Kasumi said excitedly as she assisted them.
"Why, so it is!" Dr. Tofu exclaimed as he grabbed the pillow off Sesshomaru's exam table and held it up. He knelt down on the floor and tenderly placed the pillow in Sesshomaru's arms. "She looks just like her mother, too."
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A/N: Is there any situation I won't place Sesshomaru in? Sophie-chan tells me I'm absolutely evil (and she's so right).
By the way, a lot of you are finally figuring out who Vicious Dragon is. I really didn't intend for him to be so elusive…
Eeek! I can't believe I've passed 200 reviews!!!! *faints from shock* I'm just so happy people are reading this! *glomps onto her readers*
Thanks to all of you! (And a really big thanks to ChristyKay – if she hadn't encouraged me so much on my first fic, I'd have never written this one!) :D Lavender
