I decided to post the second chapter up, seeing as I'm on chapter 12 as far as typing goes. I'm posting slower, though, cuz if I don't, I'll get less reviews, and I'm one of those less reviewed people anyway, so that'll be sorta sorry...

Ch. 2

"What…is that…?"

"Rabies is a disease that causes dogs to go insane from a period of two weeks to even a year after the bite, then die…"

"Not…not the Madness? Tell me you speak not of the Incurable Madness of the Dogs…"

Sesshoumaru stared at the wound on his chest.

"I…I have too much to do still…" he whispered, trailing off. "The Madness cannot kill me…this cannot be my destiny!"

And for the first time in his adult life, Sesshoumaru felt tears trickle down his face.

"Impossible…"

Inuyasha stared at his brother with nothing short of pity. The Madness was a horrible fate for a Dog. And yet, were they certain he had been bitten by one of the Infected?

"Hey, Sesshoumaru, you know…you could've just been bitten by some youkai in rage. You never know…"

Sesshoumaru's bangs covered his eyes.

"I may not know, but there is no other explanation."

Sesshoumaru looked up, his eyes tinged slightly pink from the sparse tears they had released.

"I will not lose hope, Inuyasha. I must still defeat you. Other than that, I have no fear of death. I shall die with honor."

Sesshoumaru rose to his feet, wincing.

"Rin."

The young ward came cautiously from her hiding place.

"We will depart."

Mincing his steps, Sesshoumaru began to walk away.

"No, wait!!" Kagome cried.

The taiyoukai turned to her.

"In…in my country, there is a vaccine…an immunization…for this 'Madness.'"

Sesshoumaru's elfish ears twitched the slightest bit.

"Hn?"

Kagome was at her house, contemplating her situation.

I have a demon lord sleeping in my bed. I need to take said demon lord to the hospital.

She sighed.

He'd better be a damn good actor.

"Sesshoumaru?"

"…"

"Sesshoumaru!"

"…Hn…?"

"Come on, we're walking to the hospital."

At The Hospital Door

"Er…Sesshoumaru…"

"Hn?"

"You need to act like you're hurt. You know…howling in pain and stuff…"

"I will not shred my dignity for you! I can already smell blackmail brewing…"

Kagome sighed, then slapped his wound, digging her fingernails (wish she had claws, didn't you? Not that I do...) into the tender flesh.

"AAAAGHHHHHH!!! THE PAIN!! THE PAIN, THE PAIN!!!! IT HURTS, DAMN IT!!!!!! AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!"

"Sorry, Sesshoumaru. It's for your own good. Just let me do all the talking…"

Kagome raised her voice.

"HELP, SOMEBODY!! ANYBODY!!!"

After a few seconds, several concerned doctors carted Sesshoumaru in. By now, he was unconscious and bleeding profusely.

"He was b-bitten by a d-dog…it was so sc-scary…slobber everywhere…" Kagome blubbered fakely, crocodile tears pouring from her eyes. "It had rabies!!"

Needless to say, Sesshoumaru was vaccinated for rabies, and he was also put on heavy dosages of morphine; not a good thing.

"Wench, ima kill ya soon as I healed," he slurred. "Stupid-Face!!"

Kagome rolled her eyes.

"I'm sorry, honorable Lord of the Western Planes. Can you ever forgive me?"

"Hah!! Only if you lick my fur clean like my mummy!!"

The young miko sweatdropped.

"Uh…let's get you home…"

After some serious convincing, Kagome got the doctors to release Sesshoumaru without him having to use his claws.

"But he needs plenty of bed rest!" The doctor warned.

"Yes! He'll get it!" Kagome said, trying to rush away already. Sesshoumaru, however, was still limping, and he was still loopy from the morphine.

"Ooh! What is that? It's sugar. Can I have one?"

"Sure," Kagome growled, grabbing him a lollipop. "Just move it!"

Sesshoumaru tore the wrapper off with his teeth and began to suck on the candy with a slight grin on his face.

"It's good. Tastes like cherries…"

"Sesshoumaru, I think we should take the subway. Do you have any motion sickness problems?"

"Not that I know of. 'Course, I do move at about 250 miles an hour when I want to…"

Kagome sighed, how could she forget?

Sesshoumaru's POV

By the time we had come within half a mile of this "station", all the medication had worn off and not only could I feel the prickle of my pain returning. That wasn't any problem at all. I had high pain tolerance after the initial hurting. The problem was how badly I had to urinate.

"Wench!" I said evenly.

"You called, pompous windbag?"

I literally bit my tongue to keep from retorting.

"I must urinate somewhere. Do you mind?"

"No, I'll find a facility…hey! What the hell are you doing?!?!"

I glared at her as she turned back and I hitched my pantaloons back up quickly. Was she stupid? I was in front of a tree, was I not?

"I am relieving myself while you do not watch."

"No, you need to wait until we find a restroom! You can't pee in public!"

"Very well. Escort me to your 'facilities.'"

I knew I was scowling. A Dog such as myself can hold the urge to urinate for long periods of time, but as the common saying goes, "When you gotta go, you gotta go."

And I had to go terribly.

The wench took me to a sort of resting area that she called a "gas station." So many stations here, I thought; so confusing.

"Okay, Sesshoumaru. Go to the bathroom. They have one here."

I nodded and walked briskly to where she pointed.

I pushed the door open, but quickly closed it.

"Are you insane?" I snarled matter of factly. "I cannot use this!"

Even as badly as I wanted to go, I don't think my nose would be able to hold out in that putrid waste zone.

The wench—Kagome, was it?—dragged me around the village, trying to find me a lord-friendly facility while I quickly grew annoyed. What is wrong with using a tree?!

"Sesshoumaru, let's just get to my house…why is your tail shaking?"

"I would have thought that obvious!"

Indeed, it was taking all my strength of will not to soil myself.

"To hell with this! I'm using a tree!!"

I glanced around myself in desperation.

Damn! We had wandered too deeply into the village, for there were no trees! Great…

I took off running at super fast speeds to find a tree.

Oh, yes! Got one! I stopped in front of it and checked for people. None in sight. This determined, I circled the tree and inhaled the previous markings on it. Whoever this strange dog was, he was going to be outmarked by me!

I sighed in comfort as I relieved myself via the tree. (AN: I guess that's what they mean when they say toilet-tree! Heh, heh…you know…toiletry…never mind…). By the time the wench had reached me, I was once again pulling up my pantaloons.

"Now then," I said. Where is this station you wanted to go to?

R&R, pretty please!!!!