Chapter 6: Knight in Shining Armour

Written by Pseudomonas. :)

Nakamura Suikotsu knocked on the door lightly; he knew that there was no such need since he was a doctor but he had his manners and Yamada did not seem to him a person who took courtesy lightly. He wrapped his fingers around the cool metal knob.

"Come in."

The doorknob turned; Suikotsu pushed open the door and flashed his signature friendly smile at Sesshoumaru.

"Morning Yamada-san!"

Sesshoumaru looked up expectantly, "Am I going to be discharged soon?"

His eyebrows drooped to the side and Suikotsu shook his head a little, "Not yet."

The vet arched his eyebrow up irritatedly in response, "I am feeling much better now, you know."

The doctor smacked his lips, took over the chart that hung at his bed and quickly glanced over his thyroid readings, "Well, I think in a week or so you'll be ready to go out and back to your work, provided that you take your medication obediently."

Sesshoumaru's lips tightened to a thin line; the doctor was speaking to him as if he was some child or dog. He knew that he was not that religious in taking his medication but each and every time were entirely accidental and unintentional, since business at the vet clinic was brisk.

The doctor brightened up his smile and tried to mentally project his cheerfulness into his patient's angry eyes, "Yamada-san! Cheer up, it's only a week. Or are you missing that female visitor already?"

The veins in Sesshoumaru's forehead throbbed a little; was there even iany/i link between him and Kagome in the first place? And why did the doctor query about her? Was he interested in finding more about her? Or perhaps he had overheard their conversation and was trying to fish for her number? What was his motive? What had he and Kagome talked about?

More inane and seemingly nonsensical questions popped into his mind as he stared right at his doctor's face. Sesshoumaru knew that he was a clever person and thus firmly believed that, his brain occasionally worked faster than he could interpret and sometimes, even bypass Reason and Logic. He assured himself that the questions were part of some offensive/defense mechanism that his subconscious self had erected in face with the boisterous and yet somewhat 'interesting' Kagome.

Correction.

He never had to do such a thing, at all. He had swatted her away like a mosquito from his rubber wall of intelligence, sarcasm and well-practiced tact all merged together, Sesshoumaru somewhat assured himself that she was never a 'threat' or a 'lure' and fixed his stare at the doctor's reddening face.

"Perhaps, I am," Sesshoumaru answered wryly and relaxed his glare as Suikotsu's neck started to turn red as well. He had somehow hit on a nail and he wanted to know more, to delve into the doctor's mind since his curiosity was aroused by now.

Suikotsu loosened the checkered tie around his neck and pushed his titanium-framed spectacles up a little, "It's a little hot today, isn't it? Ah ha ha ha..."

Sesshoumaru shifted his eyes and pretended to look out of the window; two can play at this game, "Yes, it is a little warm today. I wonder if Kagome feels the same too."

The doctor hung the chart back at his bed-frame and laughed again. That was the only thing he seemed to be capable of doing now, since he was dying to know more about Kagome from him, and Yamada was exhibiting some weird mannerisms that he was not entirely sure whether his patient was leading him on or just being plain possessive.

I'm not going to stumble or lose my face in front of him! Suikotsu thought angrily to himself while he maintained the warm smile on his bespectacled face.

"I don't think so, since she was wearing a sleeveless top just now when I bumped into her. Yamada-san, is Higurashi-san your close friend?"

The vet blinked as he tried to keep his face as bored-looking as possible, "No."

The doctor felt as if a cool breeze had rushed into his lab coat and let out a genuine smile, "Ah I see... for once I thought she was your girlfriend, since you don't have visitors other than your younger brother..."

The corners of his mouth twitched a little at his somewhat sarcastic, yet concerned remark, "Well she wants to be, but I'm not that interested in her."

Suikotsu's jaw almost dropped; was the vet being honest, in the first place? He tried to busy himself around Sesshoumaru, hoping that he might not notice anything and laughed again, "I see! Higurashi-san is very pretty and charming..."

Sesshoumaru whirled his head around and smirked inwardly, "Are you interested in her?"

Suikotsu froze; his question was like a gunshot and thoughts of what he was currently meddling with flew out from his brain like birds taking flight into the sky from a tree-branch. He could feel the heat rising up to his face from his neck again, and he desperately wanted to cover his face with a pillow or walk out from the room.

But he was a doctor; he had his dignity and pride and he would not lose his composure before a mere vet. He saved humans, whereas his patient saved animals. He was a likable person, Sesshoumaru was apparently not judging from Kagome's reaction to him. He knew that he was rather good-looking in his own way, and had his own fan-club in the hospital too.

He closed his eyes and smiled widely, "Well, well... Is this war then?"

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes and said nothing.

Suikotsu could feel the ominous tension building up in the small room and laughed, "It's a joke Yamada-san!" He opened his eyes and smiled at his expressionless-faced patient, "But, if you are not interested, I guess you don't mind if I go after her, do you?"

Sesshoumaru never thought that his doctor was as irritating as her, and perhaps even bordering on being frustrating and sneaky. But before he could say anything, the doctor let out a childish laughter, waved his hands and made his way to the door.

"One week, and you'll be discharged!" Suikotsu closed the door carefully and stared at the metal doorknob. Sesshoumaru stared at the door and silently cursed both Kagome and Nakamura with all his carefully stored-away vulgarities.

And this is war, Yamada. The handsome, well-built doctor grinned to himself.

"AH-CHOO!"

Sango turned to her left, "Caught a cold?"

Kagome wrinkled her nose a little and shook her head, "I think that bastard is cursing me."

Sango could not help but to laugh out loud, "For goodness' sake Kagome! You are behaving like a kid!"

She sent a glare to her long-time friend and scowled, "I am not. You should have seen the way he talked to me. But if he's cursing me, that means that I have irritated him somehow."

Sango giggled at her friend's grin, "And that's why you have bothered to dress up a little today?"

Kagome nodded her head as she halted the engine and stepped out of the car, "Of course! That jerk. But I got to meet a handsome guy though."

"Who? Tell me about it!" Sango stepped into Kagome's house and kicked off her shoes, "A doctor?"

She nodded her head and rubbed her forehead, "And he's pretty well-built too!"

Sango's eyes gleamed as she opened her fridge and whisked out a bottle of iced water, "Woah... first Sesshoumaru, and now this doctor! So what happened?"

Kagome plopped herself on the couch tiredly and fingered the spot where her forehead had smashed onto his chest, "Well, I knocked into him, or him into me, sort of. I fell down since he was really muscular and I thought I ran myself into a wall or something... And hey, don't plunder my fridge!"

She smiled sheepishly at her worn-out friend and continued to chomp on the chocolates, "These are really nice... Say, did u get his name?"

Kagome frowned and made an ugly face at Sango, "You pig! Always stealing my snacks... honestly Sango, why aren't you fat!" She took over a bar of chocolate from Sango's hand, popped into her mouth and continued, "Actually, he did tell me his name but I can't remember... but I'm sure I can recognize him if we meet again. He's really... big and hunky and suave..."

Sango noticed the faraway look in her eyes and chuckled, "Our Kagome is infatuated! Horror of horrors!'

Kagome promptly slammed the cushion on Sango's head, "Idiot, you'll pay for this!"

In which a good amount of a cushion-fighting and giggling ensued, until the phone rang loudly.

"Hello!" Kagome panted a little as she tried to glare at Sango, who was gathering all the cushions and preparing to launch another attack.

"Kagome, it's me!"

The dog breeder's shoulders slumped as Houjou's voice came over the phone; Kagome decided that the most urgent issue to settle was not the thyroid article, arguing over with Sesshoumaru, or her coming dinner; but to get a better phone and install caller-ID.

"Yes... hi..." She sat down dejectedly and wondered how long this phone call would last.

"Have you read my letter?" His voice sounded too bright and too enthusiastic for her liking. Sango noticed the dulled expression in her eyes and kept quiet, since she had a good idea on who the caller was.

Kagome closed her eyes and sat down on the floor, "Not yet, I might not have-"

Houjou frowned; he had spent a lot of time over that poem he wrote for her, "Kagome, you must read it! And I hope, really hope to get a reply from you, be it written or spoken... and we have not gone out on a date in so long, have we?"

She leaned her head against the low table, "Er... it seems that way..."

"I think the last time we went out for a movie was three years ago, Kagome."

Great, now he wants to make me feel guilty... Kagome silently sighed to herself and answered, "Ah yes..."

Houjou smiled widely; he wanted to be with Kagome, alone so that he could better express his love for her. They had known each other for so long but yet spent so little private time together that Houjou was sure that was the reason why she had not fallen for him, yet.

"Well, shall we catch a movie tomorrow? I know you are busy but I think a movie and dinner won't take up too much of your time?"

Kagome thought he sounded really hopeful, and she knew that she could not refuse him. She had never really been able to refuse anyone actually. "Well..."

"And I don't want to see Bankotsu, Kouga, or that sissy guy! Kagome, we need time together, alone, you know," Houjou's lips thinned a little.

She wanted to laugh out loud; both at her precarious and dead-end predicament and at how Houjou had described Jakotsu, perhaps she should try to dissuade him from wearing red lipstick.

"Er..." She was trying to think of a way to wriggle out when he interrupted her again.

"So Kagome, I'll meet you at the cinema tomorrow at 6 pm, ok?"

She could almost imagine the silly, yet little predatory grin, that was always on his boyish face. Kagome did not understand why she did not like Houjou, since he was pleasant-looking and rather well-mannered, even though he was also a little pushy and... threatening in the most innocent way.

"Okay," she tried not to sigh into the phone. Sometimes, Kagome was rather scared of him too.

She put the phone back to the receiver and fixed a hopeless look at Sango, "It's Houjou, somehow, he has gotten me to promise him to a movie date tomorrow at 6 pm, and without the guys. I'm so lousy at rejecting people like that man. And he wants me to reply to the letter he wrote for me..."

Sango knew that there was not much she could offer to help Kagome and wrapped her arm around her shoulders in an attempt to comfort her instead, "Well, let me help you with that damned letter then. You know, maybe the movie date tomorrow is not that bad afterall; you could take this opportunity to clear things up with him. Running away from such a love-stricken boy is no use at all..."

Kagome nodded her head stonily, took out the envelope from her bag and read the contents.

"Oh my god..." Both women exclaimed.

Sango's jaw hung loose, "Kagome," she swallowed, "Houjou is..."

The dog breeder finished her sentence, "Obsessed with me. Very, in fact."

Sango took over the letter, "You'll need my help with this man, come let me re-read it again."

"Burning darkness
Eternally alone on a path to nowhere
Hell will not leave me, each day it brings me smoldering torment

You are the light

This world holds suffering through hatred
Enemies seek to deceive
Seek to extinguish the flame
Seek to destroy the new love

Light will prevail

Destiny forges strength to carry on
Fate will survive and birth a new dawn
Light will find darkness bringing eternal peace

Eternal Light

My Love burns so bright
Burning, scarring my blue heart
The light is hope and hope is death to darkness

Together we shall burn"

Kagome could feel a headache coming on and said, "Sango, I need called-ID..."

Kagome made her way to the cinemas nervously as she brushed past hurrying workers who had just knocked off. She took another quick glance at her long-sleeved white top and assured herself that it was indeed the ugliest and oldest top that she had in her wardrobe. She had dug in her storeroom for a long while for the pair of faded jeans that she was wearing, because it did not emphasize any of her curves and the last thing she wanted was Houjou to fantasize about her.

"Kami, what have I got myself into?" Kagome muttered to herself listlessly and as she waited for the green man to come on, someone tapped on her shoulders and she spun around like a frightened cat, "What-"

"Kagome!" Houjou smiled brightly, too brightly at her and in his hands, was a big bouquet of lovely roses. Too lovely to come from him.

She gaped at the roses, not knowing what to say as he thrust the bouquet to her arms, "For you, beautiful roses to go with my beautiful date."

She stuttered her thanks and crossed the road, determined not to let their eyes make contact and asked, "Erm... so is the movie starting soon?"

Houjou was dying to put his arm around her shoulder; Kagome was so slender, so small yet her figure was so enticing and captivating that even her old blouse and jeans could not hide her body from him. In fact, he was inwardly glad that she had chosen to wear something so conservative, since he felt that he was the only one who should be allowed to see her body and not other men. Unlike Yumi, who was always flaunting her figure in small tight clothes, although he had to admit that she was quite a temptress, with her long, well toned legs and round, shapely chest.

His groin tightened a little at the memory of her legs pulling him closer to her damp body for deeper penetration while he buried his face within her sweet, ample breasts. Yes, Yumi was indeed a nice girl to fuck with, not very brainy, very agreeable and utterly in love with him. But she was not someone that he wanted to spend the rest of his lifetime with. He might keep her as a mistress, for old time's sake but Kagome would always come first.

His eyes moved to her back; he could make out the outline of her bra since her white top was a little translucent. He wondered to himself what kind of lingerie she was wearing inside that old, worn out top. His dark gaze traveled down; even though her butt was well-covered in those loose jeans, he could still see the pert and bouncy muscles with every movement that she made. The tightening in his groin increased as his imagination wandered off further to what lay beneath it. Did she keep her curls, or did she shave them? He would not mind either; he smiled to himself a little.

He had thought of Kagome much; her face, her smiles, her voice and most of all, her body. Houjou admitted that he was a bit of a sex-freak, but what man wasn't? He had dreamt of Kagome's naked luscious body lying alluringly on itheir/i bed countless times as she waited for him to make sweet, dark love to her. He could even smell the musty, wet scent of her arousal, the softness and firmness of her breasts, the fiery heat and rigid clamp of her tight, vaginal walls around his pent-up manhood. In his dreams, Kagome always yielded to him, her face innocent and flushed as she pleaded to him for more sex.

Houjou licked his dry lips as her soft, desperate moans resounded in his ears again. In his dreams and fantasies, her body was always nude and glistened with golden perspiration as he thrust into her uncaringly, wildly, madly like a crazed man. Yes, he was crazy over Kagome, to the point that he would do anything, anything just to hear her moan out his name, the way Yumi always did. He would even die for her, if there was a need to.

Afterall, was not love, deep, true, passionate love, all about that?

Kagome tried to hide her disgust at Houjou's lusty look at her privates; did he not notice that she had turned around!

"Houjou? Houjou?" She spared one finger and nudged it against his shoulders insistently.

The young man swiveled his head up at the interruption to his recollection, "Huh? Oh... yes Kagome?"

The hairs on her arm stood a little; his voice was too sweet, much too sweet for comfort.

"I asked, when is the show starting?"

Houjou flashed his boyish smile at his date, "Soon! Another fifteen minutes.. Can you wait for a while Kagome?"

The woman nodded her head and signaled to him that she would wait by the entrance. Houjou made a quick dash to the Gents and as he slammed the door of his cubicle, he took out a photo of Kagome that he had managed to secretly take when she was out walking her dogs. On that particular day, she was wearing a pretty pink camisole and shorts, which really left nothing much to his over-exercised imagination. Without further adieu, Houjou unzipped his pants and with one hand holding onto the precious, much-used photo, he started to work on his already very stiff penis.

He gazed hungrily and dreamily at her cleavage and long, slim legs, her flawless fair skin and dark shiny hair, "Kagome..."

The movie had been relatively event-free, to Kagome's relief, as she walked out from the cinemas with both her arms wrapped around the big bouquet of roses. On top of his attempts to lean closer to her and hold her hands, Kagome had evaded them perfectly and expertly, all thanks to some crash courses from Sango who had much experience with Miroku.

And I don't want to know what he did in the toilet... She shuddered a little to herself, and prayed that Houjou would remain sane as long as possible until she managed to escape from this date.

"Kagome, where do you want to eat?"

Dinner?

The question and answer seemed to click in her mind and Kagome hugged the bouquet to her stomach and feigned a pained look on her face, "Aw..." She hissed and clicked her tongue.

Houjou frowned, "Are you alright? Stomach ache?"

She nodded her head, "I think it's the usual… You know, my stomach flu..."

He had never known that she had stomach flu, but nevertheless, he knew that Kagome would not lie to him. "Do you want to go to the hospital?"

She could hear the disappointment in his voice and shouts of victory echoed in her head, "Oh no... I think it could be the popcorn, you know. Oh aw aw aw..." Kagome bent over, not caring that she was crushing the lovely deep red roses under her grip.

"Let me send you home and put you to bed then!"

Alarms bells rang in her head as she sighted the gleam in his eyes; when had Houjou changed so much! Kagome took a step back and tried to give a wry smile, "Oh no no… It's fine, really. I just want to rest alone and OH!"

Kagome fell to her knees as her back encountered something rather hard and solid. The bouquet lay beneath her knelt figure and she turned around to glare at the offender.

Little did she know that help had arrived for her, in the form of a knight in shining armour, literally.

Suikotsu was standing in front of her, looking apologetic and surprised at the same time. He was wearing a really crisp white shirt, with the long sleeves rolled up in deep blue denims while he held onto a large bag briefcase. On the top of his head was a pair of shades, shining happily and merrily at her under the light of the lamp-post.

Kagome thought that he looked a little goofy with shades since it was already eight at night. Nevertheless, without any hesitation and throwing all thoughts of modesty aside, she got up to her feet in one fluid motion akin to a ballet dancer (for she had taken ballet lessons before when she was very young) and flung herself at the doctor, wrapping her arms around him in a death-grip.

"Oh! You are here!"

Suikotsu's lips parted at her sudden hug and the fingers around the handle of his briefcase almost slipped. Houjou glared daggers at this handsome man and wondered what was his relationship with his Kagome. The stranger was a head, no, two heads taller than him, very well-built and he did not think that he was confident enough to tackle him.

Kagome whispered into the doctor's ears, "What's your name? Help me!"

Things swiftly fell into place in his mind as Suikotsu looked at the angry man fisting before him and the way Kagome was desperately clinging onto him. Suikotsu wrapped his free arm around her waist, pulled her away from his body and gently, politely rubbed his forehead against a very shocked Kagome.

"Kagome! Where have you been? I was trying to call you!"

She thanked Kami in her heart and flashed her cheerful and grateful smile at the doctor, whose name still did not come up to her mind.

"Oh! I'd forgotten to tell you that I went out to catch a movie with Houjou-san, and my cell phone is spoilt," Kagome kept her hands on his shoulders, just in case.

Suikotsu nodded his head knowingly the way doctors did, shifted his friendly eyes to a red-faced Houjou and bowed a little, "Konbanwa. I am Nakamura Suikotsu. Kagome has told me about you before, but it seems that this is the first time I'm meeting you in person!"

Kagome let out a sigh of quiet relief at the doctor's quick wit and humour, but before she could say anything, Houjou walked up a little to them and stared at Suikotsu.

"What is your relationship with Kagome?"

The doctor was wondering what he should say since he was not sure how far he could bring this game, when Kagome thankfully answered for him, "I'm sorry if I'd forgotten to tell you Houjou-san. Suikotsu is my boyfriend."

The world crashed down before Houjou's eyes as Kagome smiled endearingly at the tall hunky male beside her.

"Suikotsu, my stomach flu is back, can you bring me home?" Kagome pleaded with her eyes, hoping that the kind doctor would continue his charity.

Suikotsu marveled at her acting and at his luck; he was wondering how he should wriggle the information about Kagome from Yamada's mouth and this incident happened! He was now playing the hero in rescuing the damsel and he could not imagine a better start to knowing this amazing lady whom his mind kept revolving around.

He bent over a little and smiled cheerfully, "Of course! Get onto my back; I'll piggy-back you!"

Kagome thought he sounded a little too enthusiastic too, albeit in a nice open way that she really liked. Perhaps she could finally find herself a man, in this helpful friendly doctor, a part of her brain mused to herself. Not bothering to pick up the bouquet of roses, she clambered over the doctor's firm strong back and apologized to Houjou.

"Houjou, I'm sorry... Perhaps next time," she turned her face away and waved goodbye at the forlorn man.

Houjou looked at the crushed roses, and felt an unbidden anger rising up to his chest. He would not let this be; Kagome was his, and no one else's.

When they were finally out from Houjou's field of vision, Kagome let out a long-held sigh and found herself smiling at Suikotsu's warm body. The night was a tad chilly and his grip on her legs was firm, steady and gentlemanly.

"So, where do you live?" Suikotsu grinned to himself.

AN: The above poem from Houjou was written by Rinseternalsoul, isn't it so dark and creepy! Heh. :p