A/N: Hey, I'm back. How are you? Let's just go to the reviews since I
can't think of anything else to say:
Uchiha-Keiki: Thank you. It was short, sweet, and to the point.
Hiei81: If I'm fending off an assassin, then how am I supposed to write the chapter? (Check mate)
Micheal: I'm blushing. I do take critique or suggestions but if someone insults me or especially my readers, there will be hell to pay. Advice and Insult run a thin line.
BlackCat92: There is one day that I always update and it is either early Saturday or late Friday. One of my reviewers said that they like it on the weekends because it helps them get threw the week so if not any other day, then diffidently Saturday. Thanks.
Meeko: You are one hell of a good person. This chapter has more drama if anything.
Smeagol/Sesshluva: Are you a night owl too?
Lil' Angel Aj: Way to beat around the bush Aj darling. Somethings telling me that someone switched your sugar for some other white, crystalline substance. I like you.
LiLdEmOnGaNgStEr: I still find your name really cool. Thanks for the review.
moongoddess1989: I managed to get the idea of the review, yes, but I don't like thinking so I'm glad that you REALLY liked the chapter.
Raven: Now, I know what a 69 is but I don't think I've ever heard of a star 69 before. I'll have to request your e-mail so I can get some help if I need it. Thanks for the offer.
Disclaimer: LIGHTS...err...WE DON'T HAVE A CAMERA BUT THAT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE YOU READ THIS...ACTION!!!!!!!!!!
~*~Muted Words~*~ §Helping Hands§
-Saturday-
Kagome groaned at her alarm clock. Everyone kept her up asking questions about the date. Being productive, she led them down stairs so she could add a few more clothes to the dozens that she made for Koharu.
"I'm just glad that they let me go to bed when I nearly sewed my finger to the fabric. Or maybe it was when I threatened to used them as my new pin cushions," she pondered aloud, and then she shook her head. "Nah, it was diffidently the former. I can't be that scary, can I?"
The fact was, that it was the latter. She didn't know how intimidating she could make a pin look. Hell, Kouga nearly crapped his pants at her posture. She looked ready to kill. And her, being the "homicidal" one, probably could.
Boy, were they ever lucky that the voices in Sango's head told them to go to sleep.
Sighing in defeat, Kagome rose from her bed and padded over to her underwear draw to find something to clothe herself. She chose her white bra with the matching panties. After putting them on, she dragged her feet over to the closet in search on her white uniform with the red and white striped apron. Today was Saturday.
The Higurashis always volunteer at the hospital on Saturdays. Kagome, Sango, Rin, and Kouga were candy-strippers and helped to pass out the food and talk to the patients as they went by. Kohaku and Souta usually assisted in the daycare facility and kept an eye on Shippou if he wasn't following Kagome. Sometimes they were given some tasks to do like run a form here or maybe get a coffee there.
With the exceptions of days like last Saturday, they always volunteered that day. Today, though, they had Koharu with them but she already agreed to go and follow around Kagome until she learned the ropes. If she liked it, she would probably follow in the Higurashi footsteps. It was pretty clear that the younger girl looked up to Kagome.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Kagome sighed and went to her bathroom, looking for the rarely worn concealer to hide the bags that formed under her eyes.
Meanwhile...
"Dad, why do we have to go to the hospital with you?" questioned a tired Sesshoumaru. InuTaisho was forcing his sons to go help at the hospital, and Sesshoumaru, for one, was not at all happy with the fact that he couldn't sleep in on the weekend. Of course, had InuYasha actually paid attention to his father the night before, he would be complaining as well.
However, that would have been impossible because InuYasha came through the front door singing "L-is for the way you look, at me..." yada yada yada. Apparently, InuYasha enjoyed his date with Kagome. That was obvious. At the current moment, InuYasha was passed out on the couch having fallen back to sleep the moment his head hit one of the decorative pillows. Though Sesshoumaru had to admit, he liked him better asleep.
He wasn't talking.
InuTaisho's head came out of the bathroom door. "Because, we need some extra help with lifting boxes of supplies and, besides, it's good to help those in need."
"But why can't we go later," Sesshoumaru persisted. If there was anything in the world that he appreciated, it was his sleep...and Rin. He seemed to have grown attached to her like InuYasha was to Kagome. He could only hope for the same results. Sesshoumaru plopped down next to his brother, slightly rousing the younger sibling from his dreams. The both of them began to re-enter the realm of unconciousness.
InuTaisho sighed, he had to think of some way to get them to go. Their help was pretty needed, it seemed like they were getting more patients lately and the only help they really had was the...candy...strippers...
A smirk formed on the father's lips, his head went back inside the bathroom and raised his voice, trying to keep the laughter out of it.
"Besides, the Higurashis volunteer today." His ears met the sound of rustling, struggling, then a crash. Looking out the door again, InuTaisho lost all resistance to his laughter.
His two sons were trying to untangle themselves while rubbing the backs of their heads where they undoubtedly hit the wooden floor as they fell from the sofa in shock. After they recovered, the two stood up and faced their father.
"Why didn't you tell us sooner?!!" they yelled as they ran to car. InuTaisho just turned back to the bathroom laughing.
"Suckers."
The Jidai Hospital was bustling with the usual chaos as patients were wheeled in, sitting in the waiting room, or being taken care of. Somehow, the Higurashis were able to make it to the front desk where they got their orders from the receptionist. They were given the usual wings to hand out food. Kagome (this time with Koharu) got the North wing, Rin got the West wing, Kouga got the South wing, and Sango got the East wing. The carts were waiting for them at each wing's lounge room. Each headed their own direction.
"So where are we going?" questioned Koharu in one of Rin's spare uniforms, they had the closest sizes.
"First, we go to the lounge for our wing, the North, and then we wheel around to the rooms and give whatever it is we're giving today." They found the lounge and looked for the food they were supposed to give to the patients. It was an assortment of Jello. It had on the clipboard at the end of the bed what they could and couldn't have. They both loaded the cart with as much as possible and began with the first delivery. After making it to the first door, Kagome paused before going in then turned to Koharu.
"Koharu, I wanted to warn you before we continue." Koharu turned in alarm.
"What is it?" Kagome smiled a bit sadly.
"Obviously, they aren't going to allow volunteers to go to the psychiatric ward, but this is sort of like that. None are dangerous, but they are...well...let's just say I got a tough wing. A lot of the things you'll see are disturbing like what's behind this door. If you have to leave, make an excuse like you have to go to the bathroom or something, and try not to stare, they'll get upset. Just smile and offer comfort." Koharu nodded nervously. What exactly was behind these doors? Oh well, she was about to find out; Kagome just opened the door.
Koharu tried really hard not to stare as she followed Kagome into the room. Kagome was calm like she always was. There, lying on the bed, was a girl that was literally skin and bone. She had starved herself so much that she had no muscles and all. The room was hot and she only had on a thin sheet. At the sound of the cart, the girl slowly turned her head and let out a weak laugh.
"Are you guys here to try and 'fatten' me up like the doctors," she accused in a tone as weak as her laugh. Kagome moved closer to the chart at the foot of the bed to see what she should get. It was one of almost everything. At the sound of the accusation, Kagome turned to the girl with her ever-calm, amazing eyes noting that you could see every outline of her body threw the sheet and that she was propped up.
"Fatten you," she repeated as she shook her head slightly. "I swear; those doctors are getting more callous with each day. Let me assure you that you're not here to get fat. You're here to get healthy like the other patients. Don't listen to the doctor's remarks, he just doesn't understand that he's being an ass," she said as evenly as ever. The bedridden girl didn't expect that in the least. However, she quickly recovered.
"What would you know about it? Have you even been depressed before?" Koharu quickly turned to Kagome, whose face remained the same, and wondered what she would say. Kagome walked up to the girl so that she stood by the head of the bed and not at the foot.
"I have been depressed before. Suicidal even. Be grateful that they didn't give you anti-depressants, that's what really did me in." With that, she turned and led the cart and Koharu out the room. The younger girl began to ask the questions that she restrained while in the room.
"Were you really suicidal?"
"At a time."
"Why was it so warm in there?"
"She starved away the fat tissue that would keep her warm. The sheet was the only thing she had because they didn't want to risk anything happening to her organs that she didn't already do or increase the damage."
"And her voice?"
"She doesn't even have enough strength to talk loudly."
"Is the doctor really an ass?" For the first time during the interrogation, Kagome turned to face Koharu. A smile lit her face.
"Yes, he is."
Little did either of them know as they went to the rooms they were assigned, that InuYasha and Sesshoumaru were unloading boxes of supplies in the closet in the main building. The two were rather pissed off. They've been here for three hours and neither had seen hide nor hair of the girls they liked.
"You think Dad lied to us?" asked InuYasha. They just finished with this closet and were heading to the West wing to unload the extra supplies to all of those closets too. They just finished the North wing.
"Probably, I should have known better than to believe that Rin would be here."
"That I would be where, Sesshoumaru?" Both of the boys jumped and dropped the supplies they were carrying and watched as the rubber gloves, bandages, stethoscopes, and other various, unbreakable things crashed to the floor and scattered. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to startle you," she apologized as she kneeled down to help the two young men pick up what was dropped.
"You're really here?" Sesshoumaru asked incredulously.
"Yeah, we always come here on Saturdays unless it's really inconvenient. What do you mean really? What are you doing here?" Sesshoumaru looked into her chocolate eyes.
"Well, uhh, we heard that you guys were going to be here as well, but we weren't really sure. We're helping our father, Dr. Teki. He said that they were short of help and he volunteered us." Phew, not exactly the truth, but not a lie. "What wing do you have?"
"This one, I finished early though. Those kids are always hanging out together so my job is relatively easy. Need any help?" The twins nodded quickly. They were in the middle of putting away supplies when InuYasha asked the question that had been on his mind since this morning.
"Hey Rin, where's Kagome?"
"Oh, she works in the North wing.
"WHAT?!!!!!!!!!"
Kagome turned behind her. "Did you hear anything out of the ordinary just now, Koharu?" Koharu turned.
"Like what?"
"Like someone screaming 'what'." Koharu shook her head in the negative. Kagome sighed, "I think I've been here too much."
"Kagome! Kagome!" The call came from one of the nurses who was rushing to get through the throng of people. Out of breath, the nurse finally made it to the younger woman. "The old guy in room 1017...he's dying..." Kagome interrupted.
"Isn't that why he's here?"
"...well...yes...but he's actually going to die now...NOW...he wants to see you..." The nurse hadn't even been able to catch her breath before she was running again, this time after Kagome.
Making it to the door, Kagome entered the room to find one of the friends that she made while working here about to die. He was always kind, telling stories of his childhood and how his only son had to move to another country for job purposes, that his oldest grandchild still lived close by. In fact, that grandchild was standing at the foot of the bed, looking on helplessly. Slowly, she moved to his side and grasped his cold, wrinkled hand in her's. He turned to face her and a small smile graced his old features. This is what that nurse and Koharu saw as they walked over to where the other doctors and nurses were against the wall. The old man began to speak to Kagome.
"Child, Kagome, I was hoping to hear you sing that pretty song that you sang the first day we met. I complained that there was no good music on and you just started singing that song. Please, sing that song. Let me die listening to your beautiful voice, Kagome. Will you do that for me?" Kagome had his hand against her cheek as she nodded and she kept it there throughout her entire song.
"I'm so tired of being here.
Suppressed by all my childhood fears.
And if you have to leave,
I wish that you would just leave.
Cause your presence still lingers here,
and it won't leave me alone.
These wounds won't seem to heal,
this pain is just too real,
there's just too much that time cannot erase.
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears,
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears.
I held your hand through all of these years.
But you still have...
All of me.
You used to captivate me by your resonating light,
Now I'm bound by the life you left behind.
Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams
Your voice has chased away all the sanity in me.
These wounds won't seem to heal,
this pain is just too real,
there's just too much that time cannot erase.
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears,
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears.
I held your hand through all of these years.
But you still have...
All of me."
As she sang, he smiled. She really did have a heavenly voice.
"I tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone.
But though you're still with me,
I've been alone all along."
The heart monitor went from the slow beep-beep to a single, drawn out note. Even though he was dead, Kagome was going to finish her promise to him. She was going to sing the entire song. She sang with so much emotion as she finished the song that people from outside were watching her. But she didn't care about them, she only sang louder so that he could here her in heaven.
"When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears,
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears.
I held your hand through all of these years.
But you still have...
All of me...all...me...all...me...all"
The song ended and if it weren't such a tragic time, they would have clapped. After giving the dead body of her friend a final kiss on the forehead, Kagome left the room only to run into Sango. Without a word of exchange, the two embraced each other.
"How did you know where to find me?" Kagome asked. Sango pulled away a bit.
"I could tell that you were sad, so I came looking for you. I saw a crowd, and sure enough, I found you." They both turned to see many of the nurses in tears and even some of the doctors. Koharu got to them and hugged Kagome too. "Let's get out of here." The trio left the North wing and headed to the day care center where they always stayed for their breaks.
As soon as they entered the room, Rin and Kouga could tell that something was wrong.
"What happened?" questioned Kouga.
"The guy in 1017 died a few minutes ago," Sango answered for Kagome. Though she wasn't crying like Koharu, she was in pain. After the hell she's seen, Kagome would only cry if she was over-whelmed by the heartache. Kouga hugged Kagome in an apology. That was one of her favorite people. Rin was next.
"I'm sorry Kagome, I know how much he meant to you," she comforted as she hugged her. After being released, Kagome looked up to find InuYasha. Without even thinking about it, she moved to hug him and he returned it.
"Why are you here, InuYasha?"
"Dad's having Sess and I put away supplies. I'm glad I came now." After hearing his answer, Kagome reached up and kissed his cheek.
"You're the best, you know that?" InuYasha laughed a bit and pulled away enough to see her face.
"That's what I'm told." He pulled her back to him and whispered, "Please get happy again, Kagome. Sadness doesn't suit you."
Their lunch was brought to them as they ate and watched the children play around and dog pile on Kohaku. Then, after Kagome heeded InuYasha's words, Dr. Teki came running up to her. He stopped right in front of her.
"Kagome, I need your help with something." Kagome stood as well.
"What is it?"
"One of my patients. He's a little boy and is not taking his diagnosis very well. He's throwing a tantrum and we can't get close to him because he's swinging the IV holder at everyone. He isn't responding to any of the psychiatrists. If anyone can get him to stop, I think it's you." Kagome nodded and ran after InuTaisho. They went to a ward that was a bit deserted and Kagome remembers as the cancer center for the hospital. They stopped at a window that showed them the kid fending off his attackers. Kagome opened the door and signaled for everyone to leave the room. Noticing he only had one more left, he got ready to swing again. In a rather miraculous speed, the woman had managed to not only stop his attack, but actually take away the weapon. Left with only one alternative, the boy fell to the floor, kicking and screaming.
Kagome watched the boy on the ground. If he tried to really hurt himself, she would step in. However, she wanted to handle this her own way. So all she did was watch.
The boy continually took glances at the strange girl to see if she's coming. He was wearing himself out though, so he tried to keep it going. The girl began to move towards him and he gave it everything he had only to discover that she was taking a seat at the edge of his bed. Finally fed up, he stopped his tantrum and sat on the other edge of the bed. The other girl looked at him so he decided to start the conversation.
"I have cancer," he stated the obvious but it was her response that threw him for a loop.
"I had cancer...twice."
"Twice?"
"Yup. It came back a few months afterwards."
"What did you have?"
"Leukemia. What do you have?"
"On of my kidney's have cancer cells on it."
"Tough, but I think you'll pull through."
"Why do you say that?" Kagome laughed a bit.
"Would a sick kid be able to swing around an IV stand if they were surrounded by trained professionals?" The boy laughed with Kagome.
"What's your name?"
"Kagome, you?"
"I'm Hokusai."
As soon as the adults saw the two laughing, they knew it would be safe to go in again. Dr. Teki began to explain everything as Kagome made her exit to travel back to her friends and family.
Something felt off. She felt like...there was an attack. Nonetheless, she couldn't place a specific position as to where it was coming from. Then she realized it.
She was surrounded.
Turning her head to a particularly dense shadow, Kagome made out two red eyes.
"Naraku." Laughter erupted from the shadow as her suspicion turned out to be true. Naraku emerged from the darkness and his flunkies, Juuromaru, Hiten, Manten, and Gatenmaru, followed his lead. The flunkies began to attack Kagome and each were sent flying but they were persistent and just what Naraku needed.
He managed to sneak up behind the girl of his lustfulness and firmly place a rag over her nose and mouth. Almost instantly, the substance on the rag began to take its toll on Kagome but that didn't stop her from recognizing the smell and the side effects. It was the same as the one in the locker room.
Naraku was responsible for the bomb. He put his mouth close to her ear and whispered, "I worked so hard to get you, Kagome. Now, I will have you." He ran the blade of his knife along her thigh and she squirmed and tried to get away again. His response was to side it up her body, right above her heart, and slam it through her body. "Now, now Kagome, don't try to escape or I won't miss next time. Not that it would matter. I would fuck you even if you were dead, but then I don't get to hear you scream." With that, he twisted the knife.
Sango fell to the floor screaming. It was so random that everyone in the room turned to her. She was breathing heavy like she just ran a marathon and she clutched her heart. The gang ran to her but she didn't give them time to ask any questions; she was running as fast as she could down the halls. She stopped when she reached to where she wanted to go. The others stopped when she did and her disgusted with what they saw.
Naraku was holding a rag to Kagome's mouth and a long switchblade was dug deeply into the flesh above her heart while his cronies guffawed stupidly. No one noticed the new arrivals until it was too late.
The attack came from the air. InuYasha jumped up high, landed on Naraku and got Kagome away from danger as Sesshoumaru, Kouga, Sango, and Rin tried to knock out the others. As it turned out, Sesshoumaru and InuYasha were really good fighters. They could probably give Kouga a run for his money. Sesshoumaru was against Juuroumaru, Kouga had Gatenmaru, while Sango and Rin took care of Hiten and Manten. This left InuYasha with Naraku after he made sure Kagome was out of the way.
They faced off. InuYasha had the upper hand in this fight because he had more skills but Naraku was tricky and managed to dodge a majority of the attacks and even land some of his own. They ended up evading hits than actually landing them. Naraku was getting impatient though. He discreetly pulled out another switchblade. InuYasha didn't notice.
Kagome, however, did notice and wanted desperately to help but close combat was not an option in her condition and that would hinder more than help. She tried to scream but the poison from the cloth didn't allow enough breath to form a word louder than a whisper. She looked around for anything that would help, prayed for something she could do.
Her prayers were answered.
There was a bow, an oldie like her's, and quite a few quivers full of arrows. She didn't care how or why the hell they were there but it was exactly what she needed to help yet keep a safe distance away. With effort, she pulled the first switchblade out of her lower shoulder, stood and loaded the bow with one arrow that she aimed at the hand that was about to strike her InuYasha. Knowing that Naraku's posse would try to hurt her as soon as the shock was over, she had two quivers on her right shoulder for easy access as she fired her arrow.
It made contact with the center of his hand and caused him to drop the knife and let his appendage be fastened to the wall. Like expected, everyone was frozen but the posse recovered first and felt themselves be pinned as well, just by their clothes. The Teki brothers stood in amazement as they watched Kagome shoot numerous arrows at one time, catching the fabric of the enemies' apparel. Kouga sure was right. They'd hate to be at the end of her arrow. It was obvious that she was just trapping them like that on purpose. Pride swelled in InuYasha's chest when he realized that he had a girl that could fight perfectly even if wounded. That's when he realized another thing as she dropped to her knees.
She was severely wounded. That stab wound was causing massive blood loss.
"Kagome!" He rushed to her side and ripped off his sleeve for an ersatz bandage and began to remove the upper part of her uniform to dress the wound the best way possible when he froze after getting the blouse off her shoulders. "What the hell?"
He was staring at the jagged scar that had to have come from a very deep wound and then looked to his Kagome in shock.
§§§§§§§§§§§§§§
A/N: You know, I could have stopped at so many times and left you at terrible cliff hangers but I was on a roll so what the hell? And can someone please tell me how to make things in italics? REVIEW for my self- confidence issues.
Uchiha-Keiki: Thank you. It was short, sweet, and to the point.
Hiei81: If I'm fending off an assassin, then how am I supposed to write the chapter? (Check mate)
Micheal: I'm blushing. I do take critique or suggestions but if someone insults me or especially my readers, there will be hell to pay. Advice and Insult run a thin line.
BlackCat92: There is one day that I always update and it is either early Saturday or late Friday. One of my reviewers said that they like it on the weekends because it helps them get threw the week so if not any other day, then diffidently Saturday. Thanks.
Meeko: You are one hell of a good person. This chapter has more drama if anything.
Smeagol/Sesshluva: Are you a night owl too?
Lil' Angel Aj: Way to beat around the bush Aj darling. Somethings telling me that someone switched your sugar for some other white, crystalline substance. I like you.
LiLdEmOnGaNgStEr: I still find your name really cool. Thanks for the review.
moongoddess1989: I managed to get the idea of the review, yes, but I don't like thinking so I'm glad that you REALLY liked the chapter.
Raven: Now, I know what a 69 is but I don't think I've ever heard of a star 69 before. I'll have to request your e-mail so I can get some help if I need it. Thanks for the offer.
Disclaimer: LIGHTS...err...WE DON'T HAVE A CAMERA BUT THAT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE YOU READ THIS...ACTION!!!!!!!!!!
~*~Muted Words~*~ §Helping Hands§
-Saturday-
Kagome groaned at her alarm clock. Everyone kept her up asking questions about the date. Being productive, she led them down stairs so she could add a few more clothes to the dozens that she made for Koharu.
"I'm just glad that they let me go to bed when I nearly sewed my finger to the fabric. Or maybe it was when I threatened to used them as my new pin cushions," she pondered aloud, and then she shook her head. "Nah, it was diffidently the former. I can't be that scary, can I?"
The fact was, that it was the latter. She didn't know how intimidating she could make a pin look. Hell, Kouga nearly crapped his pants at her posture. She looked ready to kill. And her, being the "homicidal" one, probably could.
Boy, were they ever lucky that the voices in Sango's head told them to go to sleep.
Sighing in defeat, Kagome rose from her bed and padded over to her underwear draw to find something to clothe herself. She chose her white bra with the matching panties. After putting them on, she dragged her feet over to the closet in search on her white uniform with the red and white striped apron. Today was Saturday.
The Higurashis always volunteer at the hospital on Saturdays. Kagome, Sango, Rin, and Kouga were candy-strippers and helped to pass out the food and talk to the patients as they went by. Kohaku and Souta usually assisted in the daycare facility and kept an eye on Shippou if he wasn't following Kagome. Sometimes they were given some tasks to do like run a form here or maybe get a coffee there.
With the exceptions of days like last Saturday, they always volunteered that day. Today, though, they had Koharu with them but she already agreed to go and follow around Kagome until she learned the ropes. If she liked it, she would probably follow in the Higurashi footsteps. It was pretty clear that the younger girl looked up to Kagome.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Kagome sighed and went to her bathroom, looking for the rarely worn concealer to hide the bags that formed under her eyes.
Meanwhile...
"Dad, why do we have to go to the hospital with you?" questioned a tired Sesshoumaru. InuTaisho was forcing his sons to go help at the hospital, and Sesshoumaru, for one, was not at all happy with the fact that he couldn't sleep in on the weekend. Of course, had InuYasha actually paid attention to his father the night before, he would be complaining as well.
However, that would have been impossible because InuYasha came through the front door singing "L-is for the way you look, at me..." yada yada yada. Apparently, InuYasha enjoyed his date with Kagome. That was obvious. At the current moment, InuYasha was passed out on the couch having fallen back to sleep the moment his head hit one of the decorative pillows. Though Sesshoumaru had to admit, he liked him better asleep.
He wasn't talking.
InuTaisho's head came out of the bathroom door. "Because, we need some extra help with lifting boxes of supplies and, besides, it's good to help those in need."
"But why can't we go later," Sesshoumaru persisted. If there was anything in the world that he appreciated, it was his sleep...and Rin. He seemed to have grown attached to her like InuYasha was to Kagome. He could only hope for the same results. Sesshoumaru plopped down next to his brother, slightly rousing the younger sibling from his dreams. The both of them began to re-enter the realm of unconciousness.
InuTaisho sighed, he had to think of some way to get them to go. Their help was pretty needed, it seemed like they were getting more patients lately and the only help they really had was the...candy...strippers...
A smirk formed on the father's lips, his head went back inside the bathroom and raised his voice, trying to keep the laughter out of it.
"Besides, the Higurashis volunteer today." His ears met the sound of rustling, struggling, then a crash. Looking out the door again, InuTaisho lost all resistance to his laughter.
His two sons were trying to untangle themselves while rubbing the backs of their heads where they undoubtedly hit the wooden floor as they fell from the sofa in shock. After they recovered, the two stood up and faced their father.
"Why didn't you tell us sooner?!!" they yelled as they ran to car. InuTaisho just turned back to the bathroom laughing.
"Suckers."
The Jidai Hospital was bustling with the usual chaos as patients were wheeled in, sitting in the waiting room, or being taken care of. Somehow, the Higurashis were able to make it to the front desk where they got their orders from the receptionist. They were given the usual wings to hand out food. Kagome (this time with Koharu) got the North wing, Rin got the West wing, Kouga got the South wing, and Sango got the East wing. The carts were waiting for them at each wing's lounge room. Each headed their own direction.
"So where are we going?" questioned Koharu in one of Rin's spare uniforms, they had the closest sizes.
"First, we go to the lounge for our wing, the North, and then we wheel around to the rooms and give whatever it is we're giving today." They found the lounge and looked for the food they were supposed to give to the patients. It was an assortment of Jello. It had on the clipboard at the end of the bed what they could and couldn't have. They both loaded the cart with as much as possible and began with the first delivery. After making it to the first door, Kagome paused before going in then turned to Koharu.
"Koharu, I wanted to warn you before we continue." Koharu turned in alarm.
"What is it?" Kagome smiled a bit sadly.
"Obviously, they aren't going to allow volunteers to go to the psychiatric ward, but this is sort of like that. None are dangerous, but they are...well...let's just say I got a tough wing. A lot of the things you'll see are disturbing like what's behind this door. If you have to leave, make an excuse like you have to go to the bathroom or something, and try not to stare, they'll get upset. Just smile and offer comfort." Koharu nodded nervously. What exactly was behind these doors? Oh well, she was about to find out; Kagome just opened the door.
Koharu tried really hard not to stare as she followed Kagome into the room. Kagome was calm like she always was. There, lying on the bed, was a girl that was literally skin and bone. She had starved herself so much that she had no muscles and all. The room was hot and she only had on a thin sheet. At the sound of the cart, the girl slowly turned her head and let out a weak laugh.
"Are you guys here to try and 'fatten' me up like the doctors," she accused in a tone as weak as her laugh. Kagome moved closer to the chart at the foot of the bed to see what she should get. It was one of almost everything. At the sound of the accusation, Kagome turned to the girl with her ever-calm, amazing eyes noting that you could see every outline of her body threw the sheet and that she was propped up.
"Fatten you," she repeated as she shook her head slightly. "I swear; those doctors are getting more callous with each day. Let me assure you that you're not here to get fat. You're here to get healthy like the other patients. Don't listen to the doctor's remarks, he just doesn't understand that he's being an ass," she said as evenly as ever. The bedridden girl didn't expect that in the least. However, she quickly recovered.
"What would you know about it? Have you even been depressed before?" Koharu quickly turned to Kagome, whose face remained the same, and wondered what she would say. Kagome walked up to the girl so that she stood by the head of the bed and not at the foot.
"I have been depressed before. Suicidal even. Be grateful that they didn't give you anti-depressants, that's what really did me in." With that, she turned and led the cart and Koharu out the room. The younger girl began to ask the questions that she restrained while in the room.
"Were you really suicidal?"
"At a time."
"Why was it so warm in there?"
"She starved away the fat tissue that would keep her warm. The sheet was the only thing she had because they didn't want to risk anything happening to her organs that she didn't already do or increase the damage."
"And her voice?"
"She doesn't even have enough strength to talk loudly."
"Is the doctor really an ass?" For the first time during the interrogation, Kagome turned to face Koharu. A smile lit her face.
"Yes, he is."
Little did either of them know as they went to the rooms they were assigned, that InuYasha and Sesshoumaru were unloading boxes of supplies in the closet in the main building. The two were rather pissed off. They've been here for three hours and neither had seen hide nor hair of the girls they liked.
"You think Dad lied to us?" asked InuYasha. They just finished with this closet and were heading to the West wing to unload the extra supplies to all of those closets too. They just finished the North wing.
"Probably, I should have known better than to believe that Rin would be here."
"That I would be where, Sesshoumaru?" Both of the boys jumped and dropped the supplies they were carrying and watched as the rubber gloves, bandages, stethoscopes, and other various, unbreakable things crashed to the floor and scattered. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to startle you," she apologized as she kneeled down to help the two young men pick up what was dropped.
"You're really here?" Sesshoumaru asked incredulously.
"Yeah, we always come here on Saturdays unless it's really inconvenient. What do you mean really? What are you doing here?" Sesshoumaru looked into her chocolate eyes.
"Well, uhh, we heard that you guys were going to be here as well, but we weren't really sure. We're helping our father, Dr. Teki. He said that they were short of help and he volunteered us." Phew, not exactly the truth, but not a lie. "What wing do you have?"
"This one, I finished early though. Those kids are always hanging out together so my job is relatively easy. Need any help?" The twins nodded quickly. They were in the middle of putting away supplies when InuYasha asked the question that had been on his mind since this morning.
"Hey Rin, where's Kagome?"
"Oh, she works in the North wing.
"WHAT?!!!!!!!!!"
Kagome turned behind her. "Did you hear anything out of the ordinary just now, Koharu?" Koharu turned.
"Like what?"
"Like someone screaming 'what'." Koharu shook her head in the negative. Kagome sighed, "I think I've been here too much."
"Kagome! Kagome!" The call came from one of the nurses who was rushing to get through the throng of people. Out of breath, the nurse finally made it to the younger woman. "The old guy in room 1017...he's dying..." Kagome interrupted.
"Isn't that why he's here?"
"...well...yes...but he's actually going to die now...NOW...he wants to see you..." The nurse hadn't even been able to catch her breath before she was running again, this time after Kagome.
Making it to the door, Kagome entered the room to find one of the friends that she made while working here about to die. He was always kind, telling stories of his childhood and how his only son had to move to another country for job purposes, that his oldest grandchild still lived close by. In fact, that grandchild was standing at the foot of the bed, looking on helplessly. Slowly, she moved to his side and grasped his cold, wrinkled hand in her's. He turned to face her and a small smile graced his old features. This is what that nurse and Koharu saw as they walked over to where the other doctors and nurses were against the wall. The old man began to speak to Kagome.
"Child, Kagome, I was hoping to hear you sing that pretty song that you sang the first day we met. I complained that there was no good music on and you just started singing that song. Please, sing that song. Let me die listening to your beautiful voice, Kagome. Will you do that for me?" Kagome had his hand against her cheek as she nodded and she kept it there throughout her entire song.
"I'm so tired of being here.
Suppressed by all my childhood fears.
And if you have to leave,
I wish that you would just leave.
Cause your presence still lingers here,
and it won't leave me alone.
These wounds won't seem to heal,
this pain is just too real,
there's just too much that time cannot erase.
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears,
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears.
I held your hand through all of these years.
But you still have...
All of me.
You used to captivate me by your resonating light,
Now I'm bound by the life you left behind.
Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams
Your voice has chased away all the sanity in me.
These wounds won't seem to heal,
this pain is just too real,
there's just too much that time cannot erase.
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears,
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears.
I held your hand through all of these years.
But you still have...
All of me."
As she sang, he smiled. She really did have a heavenly voice.
"I tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone.
But though you're still with me,
I've been alone all along."
The heart monitor went from the slow beep-beep to a single, drawn out note. Even though he was dead, Kagome was going to finish her promise to him. She was going to sing the entire song. She sang with so much emotion as she finished the song that people from outside were watching her. But she didn't care about them, she only sang louder so that he could here her in heaven.
"When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears,
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears.
I held your hand through all of these years.
But you still have...
All of me...all...me...all...me...all"
The song ended and if it weren't such a tragic time, they would have clapped. After giving the dead body of her friend a final kiss on the forehead, Kagome left the room only to run into Sango. Without a word of exchange, the two embraced each other.
"How did you know where to find me?" Kagome asked. Sango pulled away a bit.
"I could tell that you were sad, so I came looking for you. I saw a crowd, and sure enough, I found you." They both turned to see many of the nurses in tears and even some of the doctors. Koharu got to them and hugged Kagome too. "Let's get out of here." The trio left the North wing and headed to the day care center where they always stayed for their breaks.
As soon as they entered the room, Rin and Kouga could tell that something was wrong.
"What happened?" questioned Kouga.
"The guy in 1017 died a few minutes ago," Sango answered for Kagome. Though she wasn't crying like Koharu, she was in pain. After the hell she's seen, Kagome would only cry if she was over-whelmed by the heartache. Kouga hugged Kagome in an apology. That was one of her favorite people. Rin was next.
"I'm sorry Kagome, I know how much he meant to you," she comforted as she hugged her. After being released, Kagome looked up to find InuYasha. Without even thinking about it, she moved to hug him and he returned it.
"Why are you here, InuYasha?"
"Dad's having Sess and I put away supplies. I'm glad I came now." After hearing his answer, Kagome reached up and kissed his cheek.
"You're the best, you know that?" InuYasha laughed a bit and pulled away enough to see her face.
"That's what I'm told." He pulled her back to him and whispered, "Please get happy again, Kagome. Sadness doesn't suit you."
Their lunch was brought to them as they ate and watched the children play around and dog pile on Kohaku. Then, after Kagome heeded InuYasha's words, Dr. Teki came running up to her. He stopped right in front of her.
"Kagome, I need your help with something." Kagome stood as well.
"What is it?"
"One of my patients. He's a little boy and is not taking his diagnosis very well. He's throwing a tantrum and we can't get close to him because he's swinging the IV holder at everyone. He isn't responding to any of the psychiatrists. If anyone can get him to stop, I think it's you." Kagome nodded and ran after InuTaisho. They went to a ward that was a bit deserted and Kagome remembers as the cancer center for the hospital. They stopped at a window that showed them the kid fending off his attackers. Kagome opened the door and signaled for everyone to leave the room. Noticing he only had one more left, he got ready to swing again. In a rather miraculous speed, the woman had managed to not only stop his attack, but actually take away the weapon. Left with only one alternative, the boy fell to the floor, kicking and screaming.
Kagome watched the boy on the ground. If he tried to really hurt himself, she would step in. However, she wanted to handle this her own way. So all she did was watch.
The boy continually took glances at the strange girl to see if she's coming. He was wearing himself out though, so he tried to keep it going. The girl began to move towards him and he gave it everything he had only to discover that she was taking a seat at the edge of his bed. Finally fed up, he stopped his tantrum and sat on the other edge of the bed. The other girl looked at him so he decided to start the conversation.
"I have cancer," he stated the obvious but it was her response that threw him for a loop.
"I had cancer...twice."
"Twice?"
"Yup. It came back a few months afterwards."
"What did you have?"
"Leukemia. What do you have?"
"On of my kidney's have cancer cells on it."
"Tough, but I think you'll pull through."
"Why do you say that?" Kagome laughed a bit.
"Would a sick kid be able to swing around an IV stand if they were surrounded by trained professionals?" The boy laughed with Kagome.
"What's your name?"
"Kagome, you?"
"I'm Hokusai."
As soon as the adults saw the two laughing, they knew it would be safe to go in again. Dr. Teki began to explain everything as Kagome made her exit to travel back to her friends and family.
Something felt off. She felt like...there was an attack. Nonetheless, she couldn't place a specific position as to where it was coming from. Then she realized it.
She was surrounded.
Turning her head to a particularly dense shadow, Kagome made out two red eyes.
"Naraku." Laughter erupted from the shadow as her suspicion turned out to be true. Naraku emerged from the darkness and his flunkies, Juuromaru, Hiten, Manten, and Gatenmaru, followed his lead. The flunkies began to attack Kagome and each were sent flying but they were persistent and just what Naraku needed.
He managed to sneak up behind the girl of his lustfulness and firmly place a rag over her nose and mouth. Almost instantly, the substance on the rag began to take its toll on Kagome but that didn't stop her from recognizing the smell and the side effects. It was the same as the one in the locker room.
Naraku was responsible for the bomb. He put his mouth close to her ear and whispered, "I worked so hard to get you, Kagome. Now, I will have you." He ran the blade of his knife along her thigh and she squirmed and tried to get away again. His response was to side it up her body, right above her heart, and slam it through her body. "Now, now Kagome, don't try to escape or I won't miss next time. Not that it would matter. I would fuck you even if you were dead, but then I don't get to hear you scream." With that, he twisted the knife.
Sango fell to the floor screaming. It was so random that everyone in the room turned to her. She was breathing heavy like she just ran a marathon and she clutched her heart. The gang ran to her but she didn't give them time to ask any questions; she was running as fast as she could down the halls. She stopped when she reached to where she wanted to go. The others stopped when she did and her disgusted with what they saw.
Naraku was holding a rag to Kagome's mouth and a long switchblade was dug deeply into the flesh above her heart while his cronies guffawed stupidly. No one noticed the new arrivals until it was too late.
The attack came from the air. InuYasha jumped up high, landed on Naraku and got Kagome away from danger as Sesshoumaru, Kouga, Sango, and Rin tried to knock out the others. As it turned out, Sesshoumaru and InuYasha were really good fighters. They could probably give Kouga a run for his money. Sesshoumaru was against Juuroumaru, Kouga had Gatenmaru, while Sango and Rin took care of Hiten and Manten. This left InuYasha with Naraku after he made sure Kagome was out of the way.
They faced off. InuYasha had the upper hand in this fight because he had more skills but Naraku was tricky and managed to dodge a majority of the attacks and even land some of his own. They ended up evading hits than actually landing them. Naraku was getting impatient though. He discreetly pulled out another switchblade. InuYasha didn't notice.
Kagome, however, did notice and wanted desperately to help but close combat was not an option in her condition and that would hinder more than help. She tried to scream but the poison from the cloth didn't allow enough breath to form a word louder than a whisper. She looked around for anything that would help, prayed for something she could do.
Her prayers were answered.
There was a bow, an oldie like her's, and quite a few quivers full of arrows. She didn't care how or why the hell they were there but it was exactly what she needed to help yet keep a safe distance away. With effort, she pulled the first switchblade out of her lower shoulder, stood and loaded the bow with one arrow that she aimed at the hand that was about to strike her InuYasha. Knowing that Naraku's posse would try to hurt her as soon as the shock was over, she had two quivers on her right shoulder for easy access as she fired her arrow.
It made contact with the center of his hand and caused him to drop the knife and let his appendage be fastened to the wall. Like expected, everyone was frozen but the posse recovered first and felt themselves be pinned as well, just by their clothes. The Teki brothers stood in amazement as they watched Kagome shoot numerous arrows at one time, catching the fabric of the enemies' apparel. Kouga sure was right. They'd hate to be at the end of her arrow. It was obvious that she was just trapping them like that on purpose. Pride swelled in InuYasha's chest when he realized that he had a girl that could fight perfectly even if wounded. That's when he realized another thing as she dropped to her knees.
She was severely wounded. That stab wound was causing massive blood loss.
"Kagome!" He rushed to her side and ripped off his sleeve for an ersatz bandage and began to remove the upper part of her uniform to dress the wound the best way possible when he froze after getting the blouse off her shoulders. "What the hell?"
He was staring at the jagged scar that had to have come from a very deep wound and then looked to his Kagome in shock.
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A/N: You know, I could have stopped at so many times and left you at terrible cliff hangers but I was on a roll so what the hell? And can someone please tell me how to make things in italics? REVIEW for my self- confidence issues.
