Sorry this chapter is so short. The next one should be longer. Also, I think it's fair to warn you that the written version of this is only on ch. 17 (part 1 ends at ch. 15). So soon, the updates will become few. I apologize in advance for this. I'm sorta at a loss for this story lately...
Ch 11: The Story to be Told, part 1
The sleepwalking nightmare and the fall from Kagome's upstairs bedroom put Sesshoumaru Taisho into his own hospital bed.
Inuyasha paced worriedly in the waiting room, unable to contain his worry. Kagome wasn't badly hurt. She'd only received a lump on the head. She had already forgiven her koibito's brother.
After an eternity, a doctor came out and told them that Sesshoumaru was well enough to have visitors.
Inuyasha and Kagome felt awful seeing him look so pathetic. For Inuyasha, it reminded him painfully of his own father's condition; not a good memory. His brother was barely awake, it seemed, but he did not want to sleep. Sesshoumaru had a cast around his arm, and one on his leg. His head was bandaged as well, and he was covered in many bruises and cuts.
"Sessh, are you okay!" Inuyasha asked worriedly. "You look like shit."
"It's not as bad as it could have been," Sesshoumaru told him. "The main injuries are a concussion, plus my arm and leg are both broken."
"I'm sorry I wasn't there," Inuyasha said. "I went to get a bucket, and…"
"It is my fault. Don't attempt to blame yourself, Otochan."
Sesshoumaru sighed.
"I have mandatory shrink appointments after work everyday now."
"WHAT!"
"Excuse me, are you Sesshoumaru Taisho?"
Sesshoumaru turned to a tall, dark skinned man who had just appeared in the doorway of his room.
"I am. What is your business?"
"I am Takenaka Rojin."
"Taisho Sesshoumaru, and this is my brother Taisho Inuyasha with his girlfriend Higurashi Kagome."
"Yes, I know. I am a social worker form DCF, Department of Children and Families (AN: I dunno if there actually is one in Japan, but run with it…). I'm here for an inquiry on your…situation."
"What's to know?" Inuyasha butted in apprehensively. "He got hurt."
"Inuyasha, be quiet," Sesshoumaru said softly, but firmly. The younger of the two shut his mouth. "Continue, Takenaka-san."
"You were also assigned mandatory psychologist analysis appointments," Rojin explained. "This brings us to once again question your ability to care for Inuyasha properly, Sesshoumaru-san."
"But…"
"If something like this happens again, considering your past record, I will have no choice but to take custody of Inuyasha, assign him foster parents, and possibly restrain you from seeing him. If necessary, we may even need to institutionalize you. We will not hesitate to do this."
"But I…I am not unstable…" Sesshoumaru argued.
"Unfortunately, that's for us to determine," Rojin said sullenly. "I can see you don't want that, but I'm out for the well being of Inuyasha. He is still underage."
Rojin paused.
"I will be at your house in three weeks. If my inspection goes well, you may get off easy and have your classes cut short. If not, I will have to see to it that you care for your brother under supervision."
The man bowed.
"I hope you feel better. Good day."
Sesshoumaru's insides writhed sickeningly. Take Inuyasha away? He may not like Inuyasha, but he was obligated to love him, and something he'd never admit to himself was how much he'd come to enjoy caring for his little brother.
"Niichan…is that guy serious? I don't want parents. I mean, I do, but not fake ones…"
Inuyasha was, at the moment, very confused.
"He's a social worker, Inu," Sesshoumaru replied sadly. "If he appeals to his superiors, he could do all of that…"
Sesshoumaru sighed once again and Inuyasha finally noticed how tired and battered he looked: Dark circles marred his beautiful brown eyes, as did cuts and bruises. One of his eyes was even swollen shut from where he'd hit a branch.
"Bro, I know this is immature-sounding, but I will never let you be taken to an asylum. You're just as sane as I am."
Sesshoumaru scoffed.
"…well, okay, that's not exactly a compliment…but that's why we have to stick together, man!"
Sesshoumaru forced himself into a sitting position, wincing as a sharp pain in his shoulder resulted. He felt the gash there grow warm, but ignored it.
"You are ready, Inuyasha. It's time you know why Chichi-ue is in a coma and why my arm is paralyzed…"
"And sex, too!"
"No. I don't think you are quite that ready," Sesshoumaru snapped. He groaned and eased himself against his pillow. "If you want to try my patience, I'll get you thrown out now, Inuyasha. I've been up since that night, and I really do not feel well…"
"Look, I'm sorry, okay!" Inuyasha snapped. "It's just…I'm the only seventeen-year-old in the world that doesn't know how…it…works…I feel sheltered around my peers, you know…"
"I'm sorry, Inu. I didn't want you to be hurt…maybe I am a little overprotective…"
Sesshoumaru stared at his left arm.
"The first thing that you must know, Inuyasha—this is very important, you see— is that this mess begins and ends with the World."
R and R!
