Chapter 25: Enduring
"Excuse me, sir?" A young candy-stripper asked, as she knocked on the door to Rin's room. I looked up and quickly glanced at my watch.
'Eight in the morning? Am I still at the hospital? How did I manage to fall asleep? Wouldn't the hospital throw me out?' I wondered, as I looked around the room.
Souten and Shippo were both blissfully asleep; Souten had managed to curl up in a chair, while Shippo was sprawled on the floor. The male-nurse, Suikotsu, was still sitting in the corner but he also seemed to be asleep Kagura and Kana were still in their seats, however Kana had moved to sit on Kagura's lap so that Dr. Higurashi could sit. I couldn't locate Inuyasha, but his scent was still fresh, so I didn't think he could have gone too far. I looked down, found that I had managed to curl up next to Rin, and quickly set about disengaging myself without ripping any of the IV's out of Rin's arms.
"Yes?" I finally asked, once I had managed to sit up
"There's a message for you." The girl replied, extending a folded piece of paper.
"Thank you." I nodded and the girl quickly left. Not opening the letter, I tried to figure out why I was still in the hospital and where the rest of my crude 'army' was.
'Okay. I remember the hospital allowing me to stay the night here, but what about the others? Perhaps the staff forgot? We were pretty quite after Kouga and Ayame went to assemble the clans. Well, it doesn't matter. Most of us spent the night, and that's just the way it is.
'As for the others... let me think. Ayame and Kouga went with Ginta and Hakkaku to assemble the wolf clans. They probably stayed over the night, since the wolves are pack animals and visits, even ones about war, usually take up one or two days. Souten, Shippo, Dr. Higurashi, Inuyasha, Kagura and Kana are all here with me. Miroku and Sango went off to get that leg of Sango's treated; he probably stayed with her. Kohaku split once he heard Sango was here, but I'm sure he's around. Most likely to be on the roof, or the surrounding forest.' I decided, after a couple seconds of thought. I was glad my 'allies' tended to group together. It was so much easier to track them.
Finally, opening the letter, I frowned at the familiar scent that it gave off, but I read it anyway.
'To: Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands
From: Naraku, leader of the purist factions
I am willing to meet with you over our 'disagreement'. Bring as many companions as you wish and meet me at the meeting place on Kanashimi mountain at Eight forty-five this morning.'
I sighed, as I folded the note, before glancing back at my watch. Eight-o-four. I could make it in time, even if I gathered everyone. Standing up, I walked over to Kagura and nudged her.
"Huh?" Kagura muttered, as she looked up at me, and rubbed her eyes. "What time is it?"
"Just after eight. I got a message. Naraku wants to meet with me on Kanashimi Mountain at a quarter-till-nine."
"So? Go on then."
"I want the rest of you to come with me." I sighed. "Get up and get Kana up too. When you're awake enough to walk, go find my idiot brother and Kohaku. When you're finished call Ayame and tell her to come back, we'll need her and Kouga. Hurry up; I'll wake the others and get Miroku. He'll be useful at a meeting like this."
"Do you think anything will be resolved?" Kagura asked, as she gently woke Kana.
"Nothing will be resolved until one side is dead."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Are you sure?" I asked. "I'm sure I'll be just fine by myself. It's not like I'll be alone, you know. Plenty of others will be there to help me, if I need it, and you really should be resting anyway."
"Put a sock in it, Miroku." Sango snarled as she limped down the hall. "I can still walk without crutches, so I'm still your bodyguard."
"I know Sesshomaru doesn't expect you to work with a fractured leg bone. Damn it, Sango, you need to rest!"
"Oh, stow it, Miroku. I'm not stopping till I'm dead!"
"Sango, do you want to die?! Because if walking on that leg doesn't do it, I'm going to have to kill you as revenge for all this stress you're giving me." I sighed, as Sango attempted the stairs.
"If I call in sick, Sesshomaru's going to sack me."
"Sango, you already have a job."
"But he pays me better. Look, if I don't work for Sesshomaru an entire year, he won't tell me about Kohaku."
"He knows what happened to Kohaku?"
"I guess so." Sango replied as I slipped my arm under her shoulder and helped her down the last few stairs. "I'd really like to know something definite. I've been living for two years assuming, but not knowing for certain, if he was really gone."
"Sango?" Kagome asked as she walked down the hall. "You shouldn't be walking around on that leg."
"I need to go with you guys."
"But, Sango…" Kagome began, and I placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't bother, she won't listen." I explained as I finally gave into the inevitable. Holding out my hand, I tried to offer Sango support, but she tossed her hair over her shoulder and returned to her earlier way of ignoring my help. I frowned as I watched her slowly limp on ahead to Rin's hospital room. When Kagome and I followed and entered Rin's hospital room, I was surprised at how many demons and humans were all ready present.
Sesshomaru was sitting on Rin's bed, cleaning a large, modern-looking silver handgun. Another silver pistol, which was more of a dull silver color and a far older make (it looked like it had been taken out of an old western movie), was sitting in his lap, perhaps all ready cleaned.
In the corner closest to the window, a young, albino demon was sitting on the lap of an older wind demon. At least, I think the older woman was a wind demon. Well, anyway, they appeared to share some sort of close relationship, because the older demon had an arm wrapped around the younger demon's waist.
Inuyasha had vacated his seat for Sango, and walked over to stand with Kagome, so I was forced to stand next to a pair of younger demons. I recognized Shippo from the institute but his female friend was a new face, though she and Shippo seemed to be close. The male nurse who had originally examined Sango's leg was standing in the corner of the room. I thought it was strange because though he obviously belonged to the group, he still acted like he didn't exactly belong.
"Are we all here and armed?" Sesshomaru asked, as I had finished doing my mental scan of the room. There was a murmur of agreement from everyone present except for me and Kagome, so he didn't look up as he took off his jacket. He pulled on two shoulder holsters and put his two guns away, before picking up a couple of extra bullets and a clip and putting them in his pocket. I frowned and mentally wondered why the bullets were silver tipped. Sesshomaru finally pulled his jacket on over the holsters and looking up. "What are you doing here, Sango?"
"I'm Miroku's bodyguard. Until I'm released and paid in full, I'll be doing my job."
"Indeed." Sesshomaru nodded, though it seemed as if his mind were already thinking about something else. "Where are Ayame and Kouga? I do remember requesting their presence."
"Ayame said she was already on the other side of Kanashimi Mountain. She promised to meet us at the base of the mountain with Kouga and a few other leaders of the wolf clans." The older wind demon replied, as she stood and helped the younger wind demon stand as well.
"Very well." Sesshomaru said after a moment of thought. "We'd best be going then."
We all stood and waited for Sesshomaru to go, but he just straightened his jacket and picked up a large duffel bag. He reached into the bag and after a minute pulled out a large stuffed doll. It was wearing a tiny black coat and had long silver hair and green eyes.
"What the hell is that?" Inuyasha asked.
"It's a symbol." Sesshomaru replied as he dropped the bag and kicked it under Rin's bed. "I always leave my Sephiroth plushy with Rin as symbol that I'll return."
"It's a bit of cotton." Inuyasha shrugged.
"It's a symbol, stupid. Well, you never were very 'romantic', were you?"
"I heard that. What's with you and this Sephiroth person anyway? Isn't he just a computer game character?"
"I happen to feel that Sephiroth and I have a lot in common. We both have silver hair, surprisingly high intelligence levels and…"
"Bloated egos." Inuyasha finished.
"Strangely similar yet inferior clones." Sesshomaru growled before he bent over slightly so he could squeezed Rin's hand. He seemed to mumble something in Rin's ear, (I couldn't make it out, since I was standing too far away), before he straightened up and walked out of the room.