Disclaimer: sadly, I don't own the Inuyasha characters; Rumiko has that honor.
Hey readers, this is my first attempt at writing fanfiction, please be gentle. - Please read & review; constructive criticism greatly appreciated!
A/N: Hey everyone, guess what? I'm still alive and well. ::grins sheepishly:: I can't believe it took me this long to update, but it's my family's fault this time. We went away for Thanksgiving weekend, but now, we have returned and I have updated the story. I want to thank everyone who has reviewed and for you guys, I made the chapter long!
Unspoken Words
by: lady-rouge
Chapter 11
"Sesshoumaru-san."
Sesshoumaru halted his study of the intricate designs on the wall of the waiting room and stood up along with Mirouku, Sango, Kouga and Rin to face the fast approaching doctor.
"Dr. Totosai," Sesshoumaru returned his acknowledgement.
Dr. Totosai finally came to a stop in front of the small group and nodded to the rest. His face held an undecipherable emotion. "I have news of your brother's illness."
"Illness?" Rin asked with a scared tone. She turned to Sesshoumaru. "Sess, do you know anything of this?" She demanded.
All she received was a slight shook of his head and a tilt of his head for Dr. Totosai to continue on.
"Go on," Sesshoumaru said in a low tone. Dr. Totosai looked them over carefully before launching into a topic that was still very new to him.
"This might take a while, so we should all sit down in my office first." Without waiting for them to agree or not, Dr. Totosai turned around and started to walk down a thin, narrow corridor.
"Do you think one of us should go stay with Inuyasha?" Sango asked softly. "He's alone right now."
"Where's Kagome?" Sesshoumaru asked as he turned swiftly to look at her.
"She left 10 minutes ago with an excuse that she had to finish some things up," Sango said quietly.
"Inuyasha will be fine. Plus, there are nurses. I think we all need to hear this."
Giving each other a glance, they all followed Dr. Totosai down the hallway that he had just disappeared into. As they passed the many doors that filled the walls of the hallway, they noticed that all the names on the doors were of doctors.
"Here we are," Dr. Totosai's voice carried over to them and they walked over to the room that splashed bright light into the dimly lit hallway. "Just have a seat while I go grab his file in the cabinet outside this room."
They all filed into his room and sat onto one of the neatly arranged chairs that encircled his swiveling arm chair. There was a repressed tenseness that filled every corner of the room that intimidated them and made them all hesitant to make a sound. They had just sat down when he reappeared again and sat himself next to them after closing the door noiselessly.
"To start off," he said slowly, as his brain furrowed in concentration, "I would like to tell you guys that this illness that Inuyasha has is very rare. When I say very rare, I mean very rare. To make you guys understand what I understand, I will have to tell you guys the process that I went through to learn about it. Any questions before I start?" His eyes searched theirs and they nodded for him to continue.
"None," Sesshoumaru spoke firmly.
Dr. Totosai nodded and began to speak. "After that day that Inuyasha first collapsed at his office, I was bewildered at his condition and the enigma that it presented to me. Even after running tests on his blood, I was not able to match his results with anything. It was frustrating me as well as making me frightened because I have never come across anything like it. After I released Inuyasha, I continued to work on it, but it still proved to be a mystery to me." He stopped talking and looked down for a moment before looking back at them. "That was . . . until I came across Onigumo."
"Onigumo?" Sango breathed slightly.
"Onigumo," Dr. Totosai confirmed. "Have you heard of him?"
She nodded. "Yes, but only a little bit. He was actually on the news, wasn't he?"
"Yes." He nodded. "For his infamous skills of robbery."
"What does Onigumo have to do with Inuyasha?"
"He has been on the news for the search to find him, but that is not important. What is important was that he was found one day by the police in a cave. Dead."
"Dead?" Rin said softly.
Dr. Totosai nodded in confirmation. "Yeah. But what held my attention was that he died of an unknown illness that they did not confirm. I found that suspicious and researched more into the cause of his death. What I found was that his body, when they found it, had no bodily injuries. Only those from falling. From looking at the injuries that he had sustained, I saw that he had fallen from unconsciousness because there were no injuries on his knees, hands or elbows to indicate his struggle to stop falling. By the time they found him, the police said he had been like that for a long time because his body had already started to rot."
"How do you know that they are related?"
"After looking at all the information and comparing the data of both of them, I decided that I had to contact the doctor that examined him: Dr. Tae. I flew to her clinic and discussed my suspicions with her. After much convincing and arguing, she finally revealed to me that she had come across the same illness in Onigumo and that through much researching done by herself, she realized that what had happened to Onigumo was unusual in the fact that he had a different element running in his blood stream than everyone else. This was an element that identified to be a type of poison that increased in time and duplicated itself in the body as time wore on. Not sure of where to go from there, she was lost for awhile until a woman with a hand fan showed up on the doorsteps of her clinic. This woman would not tell her name to Dr. Tae, but did tell her the secrets of the illness in the private of Dr. Tae's office. At first, Dr. Tae did not know if she should trust her, but after telling her a couple of things, Dr. Tae could do nothing but believe her."
Dr. Totosai stopped talking and he looked at them silently before speaking. "Any questions so far?"
Sango, Mirouku and Rin all shook their head slowly and gazed at him mesmerized with the story while Sesshoumaru sat with a thoughtful and calculating look. Dr. Totosai nodded faintly and continued on as his eyes dimmed to a faraway place.
"The woman with the fan cautiously told her that the poison used on Onigumo was something that had been developed by the man that she worked for against her will. She then exposed to Dr. Tae that the poison was called Saimyoushou, an extract from rare poisonous bees that I have never heard of before."
"A man?" Sesshoumaru's voice was sharp. "Who is it?"
Dr. Totosai looked at him and pondered silently. "I gave my word that I would not tell anyone because we do not have the evidence to be able to arrest him, but I will tell you guys if you promise that his name as well as the information I am giving to you guys does not leave this room to anyone else." His voice was serious this time. "I am serious about it. Is this understood?"
Sango looked like she wanted to protest and the words burst out of her. "But what about Kagome?"
Dr. Totosai started. "You mean the other lady?" His face turned regretful. "I'm sorry, but not even her because this is very serious and the man is very clever."
Sango looked like she wanted to argue, but Mirouku's hand rested on top of hers and shook his head slightly. "This is for the sake of Inuyasha, Sango. His life depends on this. It is unfortunate that Kagome left, but now we can't tell her anymore." Sango shook her head angrily.
"We have to, Mirouku. Don't you see?" Her eyes watered slightly. "Don't you guys see how much Kagome cares for him? She loves him. After she found out what happened to Inuyasha, she was devastated and so she left. She was crying when she left the hospital. I saw it all and I think she has a right to know as well . . ."
Sango trailed off and her saddened gaze shifted to look at all of them before turning them slowly down to look at her tightly clenched fists. "Even though I don't agree with this, I will agree with it for the sake of Inuyasha," she said softly. Dr. Totosai nodded regretfully and finished his story.
"Dr. Tae would not tell me this, but after I swore not to tell anyone, which I have already broken," he said with a faint wary smile, "is that his name is Naraku. Nayu Naraku."
A stunned silence swept over the room as well as a small growl. "Naraku?" Sesshoumaru said softly. "You mean Naraku as in the Naraku that runs the Second biggest corporation in Japan?"
"Hai."
"What would he have against Inuyasha?" Rin asked protectively to Dr. Totosai.
Dr. Totosai looked frustrated. "This is where I run into a dead end. I would understand if this happened to Sesshoumaru because he is the president of the corporation, but Inuyasha is the vice president. This does not make sense unless he wanted to take out Inuyasha first before turning on you Sesshoumaru. If this is the case, then you should take more precautions of yourself and your family. As for Inuyasha, I have found out more information about the poison drug from Dr. Tae." He stopped to search through his file and took out a small piece of paper that was tucked neatly into one of the corners of the huge binder. "Saimyoushou is a poisonous drug that causes the person to fall harmlessly into unconsciousness. This has already happened to Inuyasha. He will wake out of it and as time passes on, he will continue to feel more weak and keep on losing consciousness until one day . . ." Dr. Totosai paused for a long time and finally looked grimly at them. "Until one day he will never wake again."
Rin and Sango gave a gasp and Rin clutched her husbands arm as she shivered slightly. Mirouku's eyes widened, but he did not say anything and only tightened his grip on Sango. Sesshoumaru's gaze did not give away his emotions and instead, they were turned downwards.
"Is there . . ." Mirouku attempted. "Is there . . . no cure?"
"There is."
Their heads snapped up and looked at Dr. Totosai intently. "What is it called?" Rin asked with hope shining in her eyes.
"Shikon No Tama."
"Where can we get it?" Sango asked hurriedly.
"We can't." Dr. Totosai closed his eyes tiredly for a while before opening them. The wrinkles and creases on his forehead made him look like he had aged tremendously since the first time they had seen him. "Neither Dr. Tae nor I know how to make it and the woman with the fan could not tell us because she did not know herself." He stopped and rubbed his hands through his small mass of graying hair and massaged his face quickly. "This is so ironic," he said with a frustrated tone to them. "We finally find out what can save him, but we don't how to make it or to get it because according the mysterious woman, only Naraku has the antidote and I'm pretty sure that he isn't going to give it to Inuyasha out of sheer generosity."
"So what do you propose us to do?" Sesshoumaru asked him.
"Right now, the only thing I can do and already have done is to have a secret agency find Naraku and trail him for any incriminating evidence that we can use against him. And with that, we can hopefully get an approval to search his property, which will hopefully lead us to the cure."
"How . . . how much time does Inuyasha have left?" Sango asked uncertainly.
To Sango's question, he sighed softly and spoke slowly. "According to my estimations, he has a couple of weeks left."
"Can't anything else be done?" Sesshoumaru said angrily. "A life is at stake here!"
"I understand Sesshoumaru-san, but what else can we do? Do you have any other suggestions?"
"One."
-
Kagome leaned slightly against her desk and sighed tiredly. Her fingers slipped from the handles of her purse and fell to the floor but she did not pay it any heed. Her eyes gazed unseeing past the gloomy sky outside and focused on the slight tip of a gray tall building that sat silently by itself. Hanyou Hospital.
"Kagome."
Kagome's head whipped around at the voice that punctured the silence.
"Mirouku!"
"Kagome," he said again before coming to sit next to her on her desk. "You're worried about him, aren't you?"
"Oh Mirouku, how is he?" Kagome asked softly. "I was going to ask Sango today, but she was not here when I came in. I figured that she was too tired to come today."
"Actually, I am here today, Kagome."
"Sango!" Kagome said happily as she turned towards the door to see Sango dressed in a magenta suit.
"Did you just get here?"
Sango nodded. "Yeah. We came as fast as we could, Kagome. We wanted to let you know before we started work that Inuyasha has woken."
Kagome's eyes broadened and her mouth opened slightly. "Inuyasha's . . . awake?"
"Yeah," Mirouku said with a small smile. "He woke up today feeling crabby and scowling at everyone. But for Inuyasha, that's a good sign, ne?"
Kagome stared distantly out the window and finally turned to them with a content smile while blinking away the tears that followed the good news. "Thank Kami-sama," she whispered softly. She turned her attention back to the two. "How . . ." Kagome cleared her throat profusely. "How is Inuyasha's condition?"
"The doctor says that it's still the same," Sango supplied with a forlorn tone.
Kagome continued on. "Do they know anything about the treatment or his condition?"
There was a pause before Mirouku spoke hastily. "I'm sorry, but they have not been able to find anything on his condition at all."
"Oh." Kagome's face held a sad and disappointed look. She missed the look that exchanged between the two as she looked at her clasped hands. "Thank you for telling me about Inuyasha. I appreciate it." Her voice choked and she stepped up to hug both of them. "Thank you guys for being such good friends to me," she whispered softly to them. "I wouldn't know what to do without you guys. You guys are the best, Sango and Mirouku." With expressions of guilt hanging to their soul, they looked worriedly at her and hugged her tighter in their embrace; trying to stop the pain that she always emanated.
-
The phone was ringing loudly when Kagome stepped into the empty office after her long lunch with Sango and Mirouku. Kagome winced guiltily at the thought of her one hour lunch. Sango and Mirouku had reasoned with her that it was Sesshoumaru's suggestion and not theirs. After much pleading and threatening, Kagome had finally agreed. What made her ashamed was that she had enjoyed it when she should have been worrying about more important things. After her lunch and throughout the long elevator ride up, she had scolded herself continuously already.
The phone's insistent rings jerked her out of her thoughts and she hurried to the phone on Inuyasha's marble desk.
"Inuyasha-san's office, how can I help you?"
"Kagome." One word. One voice. One tone. And Kagome stumbled backwards.
"N-Naraku!"
"Yes, it is me. Happy?"
"What is it?" Kagome asked.
"I want to speak to you."
"I'm at work right now, Naraku."
"When I talked to you yesterday, I thought we both agreed that if I continue to let you work for these last couple of weeks, you would pay attention to my orders."
"I did," Kagome said. "But not to irrational orders."
"Just take a break and come outside to the corner of your building. I will be waiting," his voice let off a deadly tone.
"I-"
"Unless you want things to be more difficult?" His sentence was short and to a stranger, they words would have held no alarm, but to Kagome, they meant everything and Kagome bit back tears of anger and frustration before speaking in a monotonous tone.
"Hai, Naraku-san."
His voice was pleased and held smugness. "Well done, Kagome. I'll see you."
Kagome moved to hang up the phone but could not and realized how tightly she was clenching it. She forced herself to let it go and sank into the black leather chair that jutted out of the desk. Kagome leaned back on it and tilted her head so that it lay on the backrest of the chair. A faint smell of a familiar cologne drifted to her nose from the seat and she felt her eyes water. She turned her face to breathe it in deeply before getting up reluctantly to leave the room. As she rode down the elevator, she wondered what Naraku wanted to talk to her about, but found that she had no answer. The elevator came to a slow stop and Kagome got off.
Kagome stepped out of the warm interior to feel the bustling wind outside. She shivered and took a few steps to turn the dreaded corner where she saw a vague figure standing in the corner of the alley where the sun did not reach. She took some tentative steps towards it, but the figure stepped into the small film of light that shone through to reveal a woman. Kagome stopped abruptly and halted. Where was Naraku? Kagome stared at her in confusion and began to turn away.
"Kagome."
Kagome turned back quickly and looked at her with astonishment. "He sent you?"
The woman nodded and came towards her. "Yeah," she said nonchalantly and with a flicker of her fan, she came to a stop next to Kagome. "He was called away at the last minute, so I am here to deliver a message for him."
She gave Kagome a look before concentrating on her fan and saying: "Naraku has changed his mind about the number of weeks he will allow you to work. Instead of a couple of weeks, he decided that this week will be your last."
Kagome's eyes rose in alarm. "But I can't! I told him that I need to work a couple more weeks to get-"
"He will give the rest you need to you." The woman's calm voice interrupted her before she could finish.
"I don't want free money!" Kagome said proudly. "I've worked so hard for this and now that I'm so close, I won't let him ruin this too."
"Don't worry," the woman with the fan said coolly. "He saw this coming, Kagome. That is why he will allow you to work for him to pay it off." She gave Kagome a scornful smile. "Naraku doesn't give anything for free. Don't I know that?" She gave a small cold laugh and turned to go, but halted. "Oh, by the way, he wants you to drop off your resignation to Sesshoumaru before you leave on Friday because he doesn't want suspicion to rise, got that?"
Kagome looked at the woman before nodding grudgingly. "When do I get the medicine? Naraku knows that I won't go with him unless I get it first."
The woman nodded. "Ah yes, I almost forgot. He said that he will give it to you on Friday when he comes to meet you at your house. Are we clear?"
Kagome's mind raced to see if there were any tricks in the plan, but found none, so she nodded reluctantly.
The woman gave a satisfied nod and with a quick flick of her wrist, she closed the fan and walked out of the alley and was gone. Kagome stared at the spot where the woman used to be and after what seemed like years, she finally turned from her rooted spot to head back to her office. Sango was probably worried.
-
"Kagome," Sango's voice came through her speaker. "There is a caller on line 24 who wants to leave a message for Inuyasha, could you take it?"
"No problem, Sango." Kagome said with relief. Kagome needed something to take her mind away from all the troubles in her life. Sitting by herself with nothing to do was not helping her at all, but only gaining anger at Naraku.
"Talk to you later," Sango said before disconnecting.
Kagome turned to her phone, but could not remember which line it was that Sango had said. Was it 23 or 24? Kagome shook her head slightly and gave number 23 a try. She pressed it and immediately heard Sesshoumaru's angry voice on the line. Kagome's eyes widened and she hastened to press line 24, but the other voice that Sesshoumaru was talking to spoke at that moment and Kagome froze in mid-action.
"I told you that I will not go after him," a masculine voice said irritatingly.
Inuyasha. Kagome's heart leaped and she closed her eyes.
"You seem angry though and knowing you, I have a feeling that you will do opposite of what you say. Do I have your word on it?" Sesshoumaru said with an equal amount of frustration as Inuyasha's irritation.
A loud sigh was heard and finally he answered. "Fine!"
A sigh of relief was heard from Sesshoumaru and he continued on. "Although you're still at the hospital, you'll hopefully get to come home soon if things look up." Then he chuckled. "If you do not be mean to the nurses, Inuyasha, when Rin, Mirouku, Sango, Kouga and I come to the hospital tonight, we might bring you some ramen. The doctor has allowed it."
Inuyasha's excited voice could be heard. "You better not forget it, Sesshoumaru or you're dead when you come over tonight."
Sesshoumaru just laughed.
Listening to them talk, Kagome's eyes watered slightly. They talked like there were no worries in their life. Kagome ignored the tear that rolled slowly down her cheek as she listened to them. The fight and anger in her at Naraku dispersed and instead, directed at herself. This whole situation was her fault. Naraku took advantage of it, but if she had not come back . . ., Kagome's hands clenched tightly and she scolded herself. The least she could do to set things right again in Inuyasha's life was to listen to Naraku and give Inuyasha's life back to him. This would be her final gift to him before leaving him. After that thought crossed her mind, another tear dropped and Kagome gave them a swipe before moving her finger to press the number 24. She didn't want to, not after meeting him again, but she would do anything to make him happy. Her finger gave a light push on the button and she took a deep breath before answering the other person.
-
Kagome raised her hand to knock on the door, but stopped when it was inches from hitting on the center glass that lay within the wooden door. She didn't know if she could pull it off. Her mind quickly ran through her story before she raised her hand again to give a timid knock. Silence. Kagome raised her hand again, but Sesshoumaru's commanding voice stopped her.
"Come in."
Kagome opened the door slowly and stepped in before closing it. "Sesshoumaru-san," She said politely before walking up to where he was sitting in his desk looking over some contracts to sign.
"Kagome-san," he said in return and gave her his full attention. "To what honor do I owe this visit to?" He said lightly.
Kagome stepped up to him and handed him the piece of paper that she had been holding in her hands.
His eyebrows widened as his eyes roamed around the paper and finally realized the nature of the paper.
He finally turned to her with disbelief and his eyes held confusion. "Kagome-san . . . care to explain?"
"I-I-" Under his penetrating gaze, the small strip of courage that she had managed to conjure that morning evaporated and she struggled on. "I-I've really come to love this job, Sesshoumaru-san, but it has occurred to me that this line of work is not for me. I think it's time for me to move on to a different type of setting," Kagome finished and gave herself a mental scolding. Even to her ears, those words and that reasoning sounded so false. As he looked thoughtfully at her paper, Kagome nervously played with her hands and distracted herself by admiring the many awards that the company had been given. Every now and then, she would sneak a peek to Sesshoumaru, who was now rubbing his chin while his eyes moved slowly over the paper she had prepared for him. Kagome felt transparent as she stood there in front of Sesshoumaru. Everything about her was screaming lies, but did he notice? Kagome fervently prayed not. After what was like ages to Kagome, he finally glanced up at her.
"This resignation is very soon and sudden. Tell me, why now?"
His question surprised her and the words of her previous plan spilled out. "My brother will be having his surgery soon. I want to be there to support my family when the time comes."
"Why resign?" He gave her a faint smile. "I'm just surprised because bluntly put, our company pays the highest wage in Japan."
Kagome nodded her head in agreement. "That is true, but when I go to back for his surgery. . ." she paused as if in turmoil, then continued on, "I won't be coming back anymore . . . I want to be closer to my family."
Sesshoumaru bent his head in acceptance and seemed like he was contemplating something. "Is that the only reason?" His eyes came back up and scrutinized her. Panic swept Kagome and she fought to retain her composure.
"Hai," she said before looking at him to measure the belief that he had in that story. His face still held that doubtful quality. "Is that all?"
He nodded his head. "It's been a pleasure to have you work in the company Kagome-san. I wish you well in the future."
Kagome nodded. "And you too, Sesshoumaru-san. Can you tell Rin I said goodbye?" She lowered her head ashamed. "I don't think I will see her before I leave tomorrow. Could you?"
"Aa," he nodded solemnly to her.
Kagome sighed with relief and bowed her head to him. "Thank you Sesshoumaru-san for everything."
He nodded and watched her leave his office as silently as she had entered. Somehow, he knew that that would not be the last time that he would be seeing her.
-
Somehow dust had been bothering Kagome all day. Or so, Kagome told herself as she packed her office belongings into the big plain packing boxes that she had found in the recycling bins. Her eyes had filled with water, not tears, she told herself firmly, when Sango, Mirouku and Kouga had waved cheerfully to her after lunch. Kagome just stared at their retreating backs and had rushed to the privacy of her office room to let them out. She was going to miss them so much, Kagome thought as she finished taping the top of the boxes. Sealing the last box, Kagome stood up tiredly and stretched; giving the clock a quick glance. It was already 2:23. She had to go soon. To Naraku. Her throat clenched and she found it hard to breathe as fear clawed its way to her brain. Could she go through with it? Kagome shook her head. She was asking herself a silly question. She bent down and retrieved all the boxes on the ground to lay them on her now empty desk before going over to Inuyasha's desk and using his phone. Quick punches on the phone sent the phone ringing on the other line.
"Hello?"
"Grandpa!" Kagome exclaimed happily. "I haven't talked to you in a long time. I-I miss you," her voice halted as she spoke to him.
"Kagome dear," her grandpa said cheerfully in return. "How are you doing?"
"I-I'm doing fine," she said softly as a tear sneaked its way out. "How is everyone doing? Is mom relaxing? Is Souta's heart overeating?"
"Don't worry about us," he chided to her, "worry about yourself, Kagome. We have each other over here, but you don't have anyone over there."
The truthfulness of the statement hit her and her eyes watered, but she blinked them unsuccessfully away. "I'm just perfectly fine, grandpa. Don't worry about me," she said softly as she wiped them with her free hand.
"Is mom home?"
"No, she took Souta to the doctor."
"Is something wrong?" Kagome exclaimed hastily as worry began to turn into panic.
"Calm down, Kagome. You worry too much. It's just a check-up."
Relief swept over her, but it turned into disappointment at the lost chance to speak to them one last time. Kagome wanted to cry and give into the tears that bordered the disappointment, but she resisted. "Grandpa."
"Yes dear?"
"I-" the tears she repressed finally came out and she found that she could not halt them. "I-I love you all very much. Can you tell mom and Souta for me?"
"Of course, but why don't you call back later to tell them yourself?"
"I'm going to be busy, grandpa," she lied and more tears came out. When had lying become so easy to her? Her tears fell heavily as she fought the sobs that accompanied them. "I'm going to send the last check for Souta next week, okay? Can Souta wait that long?"
"Of course, Kagome. Does that mean you will come home next week?"
"No, but I will try to come home soon. If you guys get the check before I come home, use it, okay? I want Souta to be better as soon as possible."
"Are you sure? Maybe we should wait fo-"
Kagome shook her head. "No grandpa," she said as gently as possible. "Think of Souta."
She could tell he was undecided, but he finally gave in. "Alright, but come as soon as you can, okay? We all miss you very much, especially Souta."
"I-" A tear came out and Kagome closed her eyes to repress them. "I will. I promise."
"Good-bye."
Kagome made herself utter the word, but the words held too much of a finality to them and Kagome wanted anything but that.
"Kagome?" his confused voice came over the line as the silence ensued. "Are you still there?'
"I-Good-bye," she said sadly before hanging up the phone. Her life was falling to fast around her and she didn't know how to handle it. She turned her gaze to the sunny day outside. Kagome desperately needed some of the warmth that was emanating from the sun but no matter how close she stepped up to the window, she felt nothing. Nothing but the coldness of the room.
Her hands reached out to trace the figure of two birds that sat playfully on the ledge of a building. Inspecting them, her eyes rained again as she looked at the simplicity of their life. Her tears fell silently to the thick carpet and left a dark stain on it as she let them fall to their own will. Time passed by as she stood there looking at the scene in solitude, but that tranquility was shattered by the loud bang of a door and Kagome whipped her head around to see a tired, haggard looking Inuyasha who struggled to control his breathing.
Her heart leapt and her throat closed for the second time. Inuyasha.
He raised his head up and widened his eyes as he took in her sight. "Kagome," he said softly as he took in the tears that left a mark on her face and the sadness that clung to her eyes.
Kagome stared at him speechless and raised her hands to fold them against her chest. Suddenly, she felt so vulnerable. "I-Inuyasha," she stuttered. "I-"
"Why were you crying?" He demanded to her as he stalked up to her and stopped a feet away from her. As his eyes speculated her, she flushed and averted her eyes.
"Dust got in my eyes when I was cleaning," Kagome said to him in a casual tone as she looked anywhere else but him. "That's all." She finally met his eyes and saw both concern and anger mirrored together in there as he looked her over.
"Tell me the truth, Kagome" he pleaded softly. "I'll hurt the bastard who did this to you," he growled. At her silence, he grew frustrated. "Kagome, what's the matter? Tell me," he demanded.
Kagome stared at him and to her embarrassment, tears filled her eyes. Please don't do this to me, Inuyasha.
"I won't let them hurt you anymore," he promised to her.
If you do . . . I might just think that you actually care for me even though it's not true . . .
Her refusal to say anything made him frustrated and he grabbed her shoulders roughly. "You're not going to tell me anything, are you?" He said angrily. "Not even that you were going away today."
Kagome turned her head to meet his eyes in astonishment. "How do you know?"
"Sesshoumaru mentioned it to me in our conversation half an hour ago," he said bitterly. "You would've have left without telling me, wouldn't you?" His eyes bore down on her and shame made her turn her face downward. "Thought that if you told me, I would've stopped you?" His next statement made her even more ashamed. "Well, don't be too afraid about that because I won't."
It was like a cold hand had squeezed her heart and she lowered her lashes to cover her hurt and the tears that welled up. That wasn't it at all but he was twisting her reasons around, making her sound like the bad guy that she had always feared herself of being. No, she wanted to protest to him. You've got it all wrong. It's just that I'm afraid that if I tell you, I will see the happiness that it brings to you and I don't want that pain. I'm a coward. But instead, she stood there as he stormed angrily at her; cutting her to the quick and leaving her wounded with his hurtful words. Kagome held on bravely, although inside she felt so much pain. After his tirade and seeing her emotionless face, he spoke again. "Actually, after hearing the news from Sesshoumaru, I was ecstatic." He flashed her a cold smile and something inside of Kagome broke at his words.
"Then why are you here?" She said angrily to him. "If you just want to goad me, then you've done a fantastic job. I applaud you." A tear slipped out to betray her hurt. "I'm glad to have finally made you happy, Inuyasha. If you'll excuse me, I'll just go grab my things and leave this place."
She walked quickly away as more tears slipped down and she wiped them furiously away. She wanted to go somewhere and lick her wounds for a while. Kagome reached her office and was about to grab them when two hands grabbed her and turned her around. All Kagome could see was a red shirt before she was pulled into a warm chest. His arms wrapped themselves around her shoulders.
"Hell, I'm sorry Kagome, for making you cry," he said in an upset tone as his arms pulled her closer to him. Kagome longed to give in and just stay there, but reason triumphed and she pulled out.
"Don't be," she said stiffly and turned to him earnestly with tears simmering in her eyes. "Hurt me, Inuyasha. Make me cry. Hurt me like how I hurt you, Inuyasha. If that will satisfy you and make you forgive me, then please hurt me," she ended in a whisper as more tears streaked down her cheeks. "Please. I don't want this anymore," she said bleakly.
"I don't want to hurt you, Kagome," he said softly.
Kagome shook her head as more tears swept out of her eyes. "Inuyasha, you've won. Don't you see?" She gave an empty laugh. "Don't worry, you won't ever have to worry about seeing me anymore." Her sobs shook her frame and she grabbed her bags to go out, but he halted her.
"You want me to say it, don't you?" He said desperately. "Fine, I will. I love you, Kagome. I love you so much that it hurts. Through all these years, I still have."
Tears sprang into her eyes and she looked into his to see desperation swimming there as he grabbed her wrists and pulled her towards him. Before she knew it, his lips were upon hers in a frantic kiss. His smooth mouth moved over hers roughly, but then turned gentle as he relaxed and began to explore her mouth. Kagome resisted as his mouth swept upon her, but the gentle coaxing of his tongue lowered her resistance and she gave in. His arms tightened around her waist as she began to kiss him back. Her arms slowly rose to his neck and intertwined themselves around him as she raised herself on her tip-toes. Through a fuzzy haze, Kagome closed her eyes and kissed him back; letting her instincts guide her in a desperate measure. This would be her last time with him, she thought, because Naraku-
Kagome's eyes snapped opened to see him giving her a tender gaze and tears spilled down her lashes. No, she thought softly. I can't let this happen. If Naraku knows about this, he'll hurt Inuyasha. Closing her eyes in agony, she gathered her strength and pushed him away. Surprise flitted across his face and he staggered back.
"Kagome . . ." he breathed and pain flew into his eyes as he looked at her. "I love you, didn't you hear?" He said softly.
Kagome bit back tears as she looked at his vulnerable face. His handsome, innocent face that was so expressive. She hated to be the one to hurt him. Again. She pushed back the sorrow that engulfed her and spoke to him cruelly. "You said you love me, but did I say that I love you?"
His eyes darkened in pain as he looked at her in disbelief. "You . . . you don't mean that do you?" He said in a pained tone. "You kissed me back. That must mean something, doesn't it?" He said desperately to her.
She let out a hollow laugh when all she wanted to do was cry. "Kissing someone doesn't mean anything. I just wanted to see how you had changed from six years ago. Still the same," she said in a callous manner.
His eyes darkened into a stormy color. "I'm still the same, aren't I? I'll show you," he said recklessly as he stepped up and grabbed her in a desperate manner to kiss her again. His lips descended upon hers again in a ruthless manner and Kagome fought the temptation to give in and pull him close to her.
"No!" She cried as she resisted and attempted to pull out of his embrace. "Stop it, Inuyasha," she said frantically as her struggle with him began to fail. His strength was much greater than hers and he overpowered her as he strengthened his hold on her. His mouth ran over hers and Kagome gave up the fight by standing still. Tears coursed out of her tightly closed eyes. She felt like she was falling. She couldn't do anything right, not even now, when she was endangering his life. His mouth suddenly left hers and cool air hit her mouth.
"Kagome . . ." Her name was whispered in an anguished tone.
Kagome finally opened her eyes and looked at his grief-stricken face.
"Oh God, Kagome, I'm sorry . . ." he said in a sorrowful tone. "Please forgive me. I didn't mean to do that to you, I swear," he said a distressed tone. "Please say that you'll forgive me, Kagome."
Kagome looked at his distraught face and wanted to, but if she did, there would be nothing holding her from him. She needed a barrier and fate had presented her with one. She would be a fool to not take it. The turmoil grew in her and Kagome just wanted to run away and think before she did anything foolish. In the end, logic won and she told him in a pained voice. "I don't think that I can, Inuyasha," she said softly before a tear streaked out. "Just leave me alone," she said to him in a cold voice and turned away from him to grab her bags and boxes.
His hand came to her arm and prevented her from moving any further. "Kagome," he pleaded with a broken tone.
Kagome's heart broke and she turned towards him. I'm sorry, Inuyasha. Please don't hate me. "I never loved you, Inuyasha. I'm the wrong person to be asking for this," she said frigidly and walked away.
"Kagome, you really hate me, don't you." It was said as a statement and not a question. Kagome's eyes watered and she hurried out the door; feeling his anguished stare boring into her back. It was all she could do to not run back to him and comfort him; relieve him of his assumptions. Kagome walked past Sango's empty desk and stepped into the elevator.
The picture of Inuyasha standing so alone in the office room imprinted on her mind, Kagome walked home with a heavy heart.
-
"Naraku-san."
"Yes Kagura?"
"I got the antidote that you asked me to get."
Naraku smiled and beckoned for her to bring the antidote to him. "Alright," he smiled triumphantly. "This will ensure that Kagome will come with me." He took the Shikon No Tama medicine from her and turned away. "Prepare for Kagome's arrival tonight. After that, we will decide where we will put her."
A cruel laugh ensued.
-
Kagome entered the house with the phone ringing loudly in the kitchen. Kagome quickly dropped off her boxes on the living room table and ran to the kitchen. Just as she reached it, the persistent rings stopped. Disappointed, Kagome went to pack her clothing in her bedroom, but the phone began to ring again. Perplexed, Kagome went to the kitchen again and picked it up.
"Hello, this is Kagome."
"Kagome!" A frantic voice called. Loud noise could be heard in the background and Kagome strained to hear what Sango was saying.
"You need to come quickly, there has been some trouble."
"What do you mean?" Kagome asked her.
A loud sniff could be heard, "It's Inuyasha, but this time . . . the doctor said he might not wake up. I'm so scared. I was coming to talk to you about watching a movie tonight, but I saw Inuyasha instead. He was lying on the floor and was unconscious. . ." She could hear Sango's voice trebling. "We're all at the hospital, Kagome. If you have time, please come over."
It was like a piece of log was stuck in her throat and Kagome could not speak at all. She could only stare at the phone in shock. "I-I-I'm coming as fast as I can, Sango."
Sango agreed and Kagome hung up. She ran to her bedroom and grabbed her light jacket and purse. She cast a quick glance at the clock and saw that it was already 3:58. She knew that Naraku was coming around 4, but she had to go now. Kagome hurried to the door and opened it, but jumped when she saw who was standing there.
Naraku.
Kagome bit back a startled scream and moved back into the living room.
"Kagome," he gave her a smile that did not reach his eyes. "Where are you off to in such a hurry?"
"Naraku!" She pleaded. "I'll come with you now if you give me Shikon No Tama to give to Inuyasha. "Please," she whispered and she was ashamed to feel a tear slide slowly down her cheek.
He studied her face and a malicious smile spread over his face. "So the great Inuyasha has taken a turn for the worse, huh?"
Kagome felt desperate. "Please, Naraku. I'll come with you after I drop it off at the hospital." When he didn't answer, she hung her head in defeat. She would have to find another way to get the medicine from him.
"Agreed," he said, startling her. "Are you ready to go?" Kagome nodded hastily and went to her bedroom to grab her suitcase.
"I'm ready," she said as she cast one more look at the apartment that she had come to love and stepped towards the waiting Naraku.
-
The dark car rolled to a halt in front of Hanyou Hospital and Kagome jumped out in her hurry with the Shikon No Tama clutched tightly to her heart. Her walk did not appease her growing fear and she broke into a run. She spotted the front desk and she ran to the young nurse clothed in white.
"Excuse me," she read the tag tacked on her shirt, "Nurse Eri, but is the patient Inuyasha in the emergency room?"
"Let me check," the nurse said and opened a big book to ruffle through. Her finger moved down the pages and finally stopped three-fourths of the way down. "No, he is actually in the critical condition area. If you walk down this hallway and make a left then another left down that hallway, you will see the area. His room number is 142 C."
Kagome started to run in that direction, but stopped and turned back to the nurse. "Can you tell me if his family is still there?"
She looked at a couple of posted notes at the side of her computer and shook her head. "No, Dr. Totosai called them into his office 10 minutes ago and told us not to disturb him for 20 minutes."
Kagome let out a relieved sigh and thanked the nurse before sprinting down the directed hallways. She searched the room numbers as she ran down the long hallways and halted abruptly as she saw his room. Hesitantly, she stepped into his room and her hand flew to her open mouth. The room was dark with the shades drawn. Kagome squinted and saw the motionless figure lying in the middle of the bed. Kagome stepped up to him in a trance-like state and stretched her hand slowly to him as tears trickled down her face.
A sense of déjà vu hit her and she gasped as more tears fell down when she realized why. It was just like the time when Inuyasha had been hospitalized from the car accident. Kagome covered her mouth to stop the cry that swept out of her throat as she stepped up to the bed to see his pale face. Her promise came back to her from that night and Kagome fell on top of Inuyasha as she cried.
"I'm sorry, Inuyasha," she cried. "I promised that I wouldn't let you get hurt again and I lied." Her arms sought his shoulders and she hugged her arms around him as she cried onto his chest. Cried for everything that would never be, that could never be. Her cries slowly came to a stop and she leaned up before taking out the liquid antidote that Naraku had given her. She opened his mouth gently and lightly poured it down his lips until the bottle was empty. Throughout the whole procedure, Inuyasha did not even move and Kagome's worry enhanced. She grabbed both of his big, gentle hands and held them to her lips before bringing them to her heart.
"Inuyasha," her whispered voice carried throughout the silent room. "I lied again," she said as her heart clenched. "When you said that you loved me and I threw it back in your face, it was all a lie." She whispered softly to him before bending down to kiss his warm, still lips. "I do love you," she said before turning and running out of the room. Out of the hospital and out of his life. The numbness swept her body and she ran as fast as she could until she reached the doors that freed her from the suffocating air that she was breathing in and pushed them open.
Good-bye, Inuyasha.
The cold air slapped her face, but she welcomed it to her numb body and stopped for a moment to drink in the cool air that freshened her soul. She heard the crunch of a footstep and Kagome looked up to see Naraku walking towards her from the side of the building; his black car gone. He beckoned for her hurry to him and Kagome reluctantly did as he wanted. As she reached him, his triumphant smile appeared once more and he took a hold of her arm. "Are you ready to go, dear wife?" He bent down to give her a slobbering kiss and Kagome bit back the urge to throw up. Just as fast as his lips were on her, they disappeared just as quickly. "Let's go," he said huskily to her before pulling her towards the black car that sat in the shadows of a street. They had just gone a couple of feet when a cold voice floated to them in anger and Kagome froze.
"Stop."
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A/N: Hey, I feel like I kind of threw too many things out there for one chapter. Too much events, for example. What do you guys think? Please tell me because I'm can't tellif I'm rushing things, but ifI am,I can change that.Thanks for any other suggestions that you can give me!
ALSO:Just on a side note, but I'm curious to know who you guys think it is. I'd love it if you guys told me!
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COMMENTS:
humble-bumble: He is, isn't he? LOL Thanks for reviewing!
Mini Nicka: So, did things go from worse to even more worse after reading this chapter? LOL
MaekoChan: Sorry for surprising you.NOT.LOL Just kidding.What do you think so far?
animemistress419: He would because he is Naraku. - Stupid reason, I know, but that is the only reason I can think of. I hope you don't think this is an evil cliffe as well. ::evil grin::
Nauriell:Of course, you are absolutely right! LOL
Quiet Escapist: Thanks for your helpful comments! By the way, I still have not found any other informaiton on Mirouku's(?) name, but I'm still looking at it. For your question about the length of this stroy, you'll never guess, but I'm guessing that there is about three more chapters left. It's coming down to an end soon. ::sniffs:: It is still writing itself lol, but I have a slight idea of how it's going to turn out.
kairinu: LoL Thanks for the compliment!
Bella Lamounier: You'e right about Kagome, but about Naraku . . . you'll have to wait and see . . . I know, I'm mean. lol
azn-anime-anjel: Thanks for reviewing.You're question will hopefully be answered in the next chapter! -
sadako sasaki: I will try . . . J/K Of course he will be!
readingfreak742: I am, aren't I. Well, here it is! Hope this appeased your curiousity.Thanks for your comments!
Rinelwin: You'll see in about three chapters! LoL That's hopefully the ending!
Noelle: Don't worry, I'm almost done! You'll finally get to see the end soon! - Hope it doesn't disappoint you.
InuLvr7: Don't even try to deny it, do you? LOL I know I'm evil.::grins:: Like you asked, I have stopped and updated just for you! (NOT.) lol. Hope you like it.
Miko Kitsune Kagome: Here it is! hope you like it.
ALL the reviewers: Thank you so much for reviewing and giving me feedback. I love you all so much!
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TO BE CONTINUED
Readers, tell me your thoughts and feelings! Review! -
