Disclaimer: See Chapter One
A/N: Okay, I know Christmas isn't necessarily celebrated in Japan the way it is here, but I decided to ignore that fact…Just bear with me please ;)
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Chapter 2: Let Sleeping Dogs Lie~^~^~^~
"My hand will never be the same again. Look, I can barely flex my fingers!"
Kagome dreamed of banging her head against the steering wheel, but decided against it. " Well you shouldn't have deflected my bag like that. I wasn't even going for that part of you, just your knees. Besides," She said lightly, "The women of Tokyo are safe from your wandering hands for a while."
"Not necessarily." He held up his undamaged hand, flexing the fingers. "I've still got one of my weapons."
The look she gave him erased the slick smile he had on his face. "You never cease to amaze me. Even after all those years, you still haven't changed. Don't you ever want to find just one woman? You know, the whole love, marriage, family deal?"
He shrugged. "Maybe. I don't know yet. After all, my family has a tradition of being a long line of skirt-chasers."
"That's not exactly something to be proud of," Kagome grumbled, trying to ease her way into the other lane as cars zipped by. Now she remembered why she hated driving into the city: all that traffic and quick-paced movement. It was enough to give anyone a headache.
Miroku was slightly taken back by that. He wasn't proud of it really but it was simply a fact of his life. Some people were destined to become doctors, others to become librarians or movie stars or singers. He happened to be destined to have groping hands.
But still, this was his friend, the one girl he had actually befriended during those university years. She listened to him and—despite the occasional comment—she was nice to him. True, Kagome was extremely nice to everyone she met, but it was still different between them. Miroku had never thought it possible, but a guy and a girl could actually be friends with no strings attached.
And even though he hadn't talked to her in nearly two years, he still felt that strange urge to offer her the truth.
"Okay, so maybe I do want that whole deal, as you so kindly put it. But it just seems like there's no one out there who I could keep an interest in for more than a week. They're all so…so unchallenging."
Kagome tore her eyes away from the road momentarily to look at him. She was surprised that even after so many years of having no contact, Miroku could still be honest with her.
"You'll find her, Miroku. These things just take time, that's all."
"Too much time, it seems," He muttered, glancing out the car window at the few pedestrian fighting against the wind that howled through the roads. If the wind were blowing stronger, they'd probably just have to spread their arms and start flapping to get any kind of momentum. "You'll want to take a right at the next light."
She obliged, recognized the name of the road and glanced at him. This was one of the ritziest places in Tokyo, where all the high-class hotels and shops were found. "What have you been up to these past few years?"
He merely smiled another secretive smile. "See that parking sign a few feet ahead? Turn left there."
"Fine, if you want to play at being mysterious, go ahead. I'll find out soon enough."
"Oh, that you will, Kagome."
They entered a brightly lit garage where shiny cars were lined up in every direction. Miroku guided her into an empty spot clearly marked 'private'. Too dazzled by the number of expensive cars parked everywhere, Kagome hardly noticed when he directed her into a stairwell.
They reached a door with the words "main lobby" printed on it, and Kagome eyed her friend warily. Miroku smiled and opened the door with flourish, watching her reaction.
It was by far the most beautiful lobby she had ever been in. A giant tree decorated in golds, greens, and reds was centred in the middle of the room, reaching up well into the first floor of what could only be a rather fancy hotel. Fairy lights were strung around the check-in desks, and red ribbons dotted just about every other piece of furniture she could see. Guests were milling about, some reading magazines in the festive chairs, others waiting by piles of luggage near the revolving entrance of the hotel.
The extravagance of the place caught her breath and held it. Kagome felt a tap on her shoulder, and broke out of her reverie long enough to see a rather impatient Miroku standing behind her.
"You have some explaining to do."
"I know, and I'll explain it all as we go, but right now I've got a friend who's no doubt bleeding all over my beautiful floor. So if you don't mind…"
"I'm coming." But she stole one last look at the rich fabrics and mahogany textures as she was led away. She could hardly remember a time when she had been in such elegant surroundings.
"I'll have to give you the short version of the past two years if you don't mind," Miroku started as they entered a small elevator close to a boutique. Kagome could only nod, too shocked to muster up even a few words.
"Well, as you know I got that degree in business. About a month after we parted ways, the owner of the Silver Fan—the hotel you're standing in now—asked if I wanted to run his corporation. Besides this one, he has another resort currently being built in the mountains. I took the position, figuring there had to be some catch behind it. After all, I was young and fresh out of university, with no work experience in running anything."
"So why…?" Kagome trailed off, trying to concentrate on her friend and on the light moving up the column of numbers. 'He must live at the top of this place. Unless we're going by helicopter to some remote location.'
"Why hire me?" He gave a shrug. "Only god knows really. So here I am, one day, trying to sort out the expenses for the new resort and his secretary comes running in and tells me the boss has gone on a permanent vacation. Apparently he got bored with the whole hotel thing and decided windsurfing was where the money lay."
That caught her attention. "Wait? You run this hotel all by yourself?" Kagome asked incredulously.
"And I own it too." Miroku grinned down at her as the elevator beeped to a halt and the doors opened with a swoosh. They exited onto a cushy oriental carpet that ran the length of the hallway. "Although I'm thinking about getting a partner. This business is hard to handle alone."
"I know what you mean," She said quietly but the young man caught it anyway.
"No doubt running your own practice can be just as stressful. Here, I'll take those bags and you can take your vet stuff. He's right through that door at the end of the hallway there."
Kagome felt out of place in that brightly lit hallway, her worn down shoes treading on what was no doubt an expensive rug. She had become conscious of her wrinkled appearance down in the lobby, but for some reason it only truly hit her now that she was surrounded by money, and lots of it.
'And here I am, a vet just barely getting by to keep her practice up and running. Some people have all the luck.'
Of course she didn't truly mean that. But when there was a painting hanging in someone's hallway that cost more than her electricity bills for the next three months, she had to wonder about why the rich seemed to enjoy wasting money.
Miroku tapped a code in a small panel beside a beautifully carved wooden door, waiting for the beep.
"Ladies first." He bowed as he opened the door with flourish. Normally, it would have been a sign of respect. Translated into pervert language, it meant he could catch a good look at her behind.
The spacious penthouse was dark; the sole bringer of a light was a warm fire crackling in the fireplace. Kagome stumbled over a few chairs lined up against a counter and cursed under her breath as she tried to pry her shoes off.
"Where's your friend?"
"Over by the fire there."
It was then that the young veterinarian noticed the small misshapen figure curled up by the warmest place in the whole apartment. She could distinctly see two ears poking up from a very shaggy head, but other than that, it was a shapeless lump.
'Must be some strange dog he's got here,' She thought to herself as she made her way over unseen obstacles. 'And Miroku needs a few lessons in housekeeping.'
"Try to keep quiet, I think he finally fell asleep."
"If his wound is as bad as you say it is, I doubt he's asleep." Kagome stumbled out onto the rug on the floor and would have nearly fallen onto the poor animal if she hadn't managed to balance herself in time. "I'm going to need more light if you expect me to stitch him up."
As she waited for her friend to find the light switch, she tried to get a glimpse of her patient, but his back was to her and there were no distinguishing characteristics that she could see, minus the ears.
'He has a funny shaped head for a dog, though.'
A burst of lights suddenly erupted and there was a momentary lapse of blindness for all parties involved.
"A little warning next time, please! And did you have to turn them on so bright?" Kagome complained, trying to blink away the little stars dancing in her line of vision.
She heard someone shuffle around near her feet, and suddenly panicked. Kagome quickly pried open her bag and tried to find the bottle of anaesthetic before the dog managed to tear open his wound even further. Besides, if he was as badly hurt as Miroku seemed to imply, he would no doubt try to attack her and she needed to be prepared. She'd had plenty of animals lash out while she was bandaging them up.
"Idiot! Why didn't you warn me before turning on those damn lights? And what is that girl doing here? Don't tell me she's another one of your conquests!"
'Huh?' The stars in her eyes faded and she saw Miroku backed up against his kitchen counter by a rather pissed off dog-demon.
Suddenly she remembered the dog and looked down, only to find a bloody—but empty—sleeping bag on the floor.
"Miroku! Your dog's disappeared!" The worry rose in her throat and took hold. What if he had tried to run off? The loss of blood looked severe and if they waited any longer, Kagome could only think that the worse would happen. "We have to find him before it's too late!"
"Dog?" The demon looked from Miroku to her, and Kagome suddenly found the room a little too warm as his eyes perused hers. They were eyes of a liquid gold, and if it hadn't been for the icy glitter in them, they would have been rather appealing. "Since when does this idiot have a dog?"
"What? You didn't notice the poor animal that's been bleeding all over that sleeping bag? I thought demon's had extraordinary senses."
He crossed his arms, glaring coldly at her. "You mean the one with that blood trail?" The demon gave a nod to the droplets that splattered the floor.
"No, the other dog that's ripped open," She retorted snidely. "Of course I meant that one, stupid! Now come on, we have to follow it and find that innocent puppy you scared away with all your yelling."
"Take another look, wench."
"What do you mean by…" She trailed off as her eyes followed the red path and they rested on the source in confusion. "Wait, you're the dog Miroku was telling me about?"
"He called me a dog?" The demon sniffed in disbelief, and suddenly Miroku found two sets of eyes on him, one pissed off the other incredibly confused.
"Heh heh," The man in question laughed nervously, edging away from the imminent threat of claws. "Would any one like something to eat? Drinks? How about some coffee?"
"Nice try." Those same claws stretched out and grabbed his collar, pulling him closer. "You have some explaining to do."
"What needs explaining?"
"Miroku," Kagome warned, drawing a full needle out of her case and waving it menacingly.
He let out a sigh. "Fine, fine. That girl over there is Dr. Kagome Higurashi, and she's here to stitch you up. Kagome, this hanyou here is Inuyasha, your temporary patient. Is that enough of an explanation for you?"
"Hanyou?" Kagome inched closer to the doglike boy and looked him all over. True, he had a very human face, but the long white hair, claws and ears were typical of the dog demons. "But I don't treat hanyou!"
"A human doctor? You brought along a human doctor?" Inuyasha glared first at Miroku, then at the dark-haired girl who was inching closer. "I'll never let one of those doctors touch me. Besides, I can heal myself just fine and I don't need help from you!"
"Even if I was a human doctor, I wouldn't try to touch you, so don't flatter yourself, moron!"
"WHAT!?" He cried, "Then what kind of quack are you??"
"I'm a certified veterinarian, idiot, and I am NOT a quack!" Kagome sniffed. "Are you sure he's hurt, Miroku? Because he sure doesn't act like it."
"A VET!? YOU HIRED A DAMN VET!?" Inuyasha roared furiously, his eyes burning as they focused onto the betrayer.
Miroku narrowed his eyes, oblivious to the hanyou's noise and looks. "Last time I checked he was." His hand reached out and made quick but hard contact with Inuyasha's left shoulder. Both humans had to cover their ears from the howl that erupted.
"I—I didn't mean to do it so hard!" He cried as Inuyasha lunged for him, his good arm outstretched and claws glinting. He ducked out of their reach and ran to hide behind Kagome.
"Save me, please!"
Kagome rolled her eyes, "You owe me big time for this one."
Inuyasha sneered at the figure behind Kagome. "You can't hide him forever, quack."
He reached out to grab a hold of Miroku and throw him out the nearest window, but a sudden pinprick in his shoulder stopped him short in his tracks. Inuyasha turned on Kagome, who was holding a needle just above his shoulder. "What did you do—"
And as quickly as he had lashed out, the quicker he fell to the floor, out cold.
Not about to waste a moment of time, Kagome put the needle away and hurried to get her supplies.
"Stop staring, Miroku, and help me with clean his wound. I gave him enough anaesthetic to knock a polar bear out, but who knows how long his demon blood will fight it before the healing starts. We need to sew this up NOW!"
The young man jumped—still stunned at the pace his friend was moving at—and rushed to obey her orders. He had learned a valuable lesson that day: never, never cross a vet who had such good reflexes.
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Chapter 3 coming soon!…
And now to reply to all my lovely reviewers, who I probably cannot live without ~__^
Elendil Star-Lover: Yes I ended it, but not for long! Hopefully, this chapter resolved it all though…^__^
Azura Dea: Mean? Horrible? Any more insults and I'll have to block you from the reading list * sticks out tongue * And by the way, it's MY story and I can do whatever I want to the characters…MWHAHAHA!
Keri Maxwell: Here's more for you! And thanks for reviewing my other story…reviews are always, always appreciated!
Caligo Origuu: Interesting is one way to describe it ~__^ And Miroku's friend—besides his hands of course—could only be Inuyasha! I just can't see him hanging around Sesshomaru as much…
Celeste: Could it be? Do I actually have a reviewer who will actually stick with me and my stories?? * gapes * that's a first! And yes, Miroku all the way baby! Even though he's taken, it's always nice to dream…too bad about the writing though…it sucks that time is always so hard to find…grrr…and don't worry about the pressure…it gets my butt in gear ^__^