Disclaimer: Inuyasha n'est pas propriété de moi.

Author's Note: I know, I know—one week overdue! I'm so sorry about that, guys—so much had to be done. Examinations are looming and I've still so much to do, so after this there'll probably be a gap of another three weeks, but don't feel too bad because by next chapter we'll have more Sango/Miroku, definitely more Inuyasha/Kagome, and for those who've been waiting for her, Rin! Just hold on a little bit longer, okay? I hope you enjoy this chapter and make sure to leave me feedback, okay? It really helps get me thinking and in the mood to write.

Toodles, have fun, and take care! -smooch-

Chapter 12

Compromise

The infirmary was often a busy place, with visitors from both within the university and without. While it was campus policy that only students, faculty, and staff of the university could access its benefits, it was common knowledge that as of late the health center accommodated anyone as long as it was able, whether school professor or loitering ne'er-do-wells from across the street. It hadn't been a gradual shift, and it hadn't begun amongst the actual physicians, either. It had begun with the acceptance of a single intern, who had afterwards become extremely popular because of his work. The upside was that his coworkers became more like him and the health center became a better place as a whole. The downside was that more often than not the people (usually from the estrogen-loaded sex) flooding the infirmary had health problems that were either faked or self-inflicted.

This was why the famed intern had resigned himself to another four hours of shotgun sobbing, completely unnecessary birth control inquiries, pap smear requests, and all manner of treatment and testing more suited to a female physician. Two hours into his shift and he was torn between blessing the Kami for his peace and wondering with apprehension as to the whereabouts of his usual clients. What could be going on in the world that nobody was coming? Did some cataclysmic comet just pass that man would heretofore forget his violent and careless nature? A faith healer was in town? Maybe the girls ran out of excuses for having to visit.

Nonetheless, when the sound of delicate chimes filled the air a pair of mossy green eyes lifted from an intense study of a medical report, observing the infirmary's newest visitors cryptically. Lowering the report the tall young man got to his feet and approached them without questioning, immediately moving towards the unconscious young woman that his acquaintance held in his arms.

"Fall?" he asked seriously, his hand encountering a sizeable lump as his fingers felt about her head.

"More like throw," Miroku replied grittily, the tone so unfamiliar that his acquaintance looked up in surprise. "Will she be all right, Hatori?"

"We'll have to see," he answered in turn, keeping his voice from revealing any of his peaked curiosity. Gesturing to the first door down the hall by the lobby, he bent to the intercom to call for another intern to cover for him. "Take her inside and put her on the bed."

Straightening to follow after he'd made arrangements, it was then that Hatori noticed the two other people who had entered the lobby. Their presence made him sigh inwardly, his curiosity dropping dramatically as he conceived what could have happened. Whenever it had something to do with Kagome Higurashi or Inuyasha Takahashi, people other than themselves were bound to get hurt. He absolved Kagome of any blame, but the hanyou was another matter entirely. Hadn't it been barely two days ago that Sango had brought Kagome in after Inuyasha's little welcome-back fight with Koga? Now it was Sango's turn on the examination table, and Miroku, who—of the two males, had the injured arm—had to be the one to carry her in.

"You'll have to wait for another intern to see to you if you're hurt, Inuyasha," Hatori said evenly. "I'm more likely to harm rather than heal you after all the trouble you've caused."

"Fuck you, Hatori," Inuyasha growled, though to Kagome's ears his response was less aggressive and more sheepish and ashamed than anything else. Confirming her suspicion was the fact that he was kicking the floor awkwardly, claws shoved deep into his pockets like a child in the middle of a parent's reprimand.

"Are you all right, Miss Kagome?" Hatori inquired, already giving her a completely professional visual inspection from where he stood.

"I'm fine," Kagome beamed, her face coming alive with warmth. "Just a little bit shaken, Hatori-sempai."

The first time she had met him had been the day before yesterday, and in her state of shock and distress she had clung to him like a babe to its mother. It hadn't surprised her that he was at the top of his pre-med class—he was exactly her idea of a doctor. He didn't say much, didn't express much emotion, but there was something steadfast and assuring about him, and she had instantly felt that she was in excellent hands the moment he had placed his hand on her forehead.

"You'd best sit down then," Hatori instructed, as though "I'm fine" meant the exact opposite of what it meant. "Drink something hot—preferably tea or hot chocolate, if you prefer. It's best if you get some food in you as well, not heavy, but not—" and his tone conveyed extreme disapproval—"what girls refer to as 'diet.' Sango will be here for a while yet, I think. I don't believe it's serious, but she should be allowed a few hours rest and I'd like to examine her when she wakes up." His eyes turned to the hanyou, who jumped and glared when he was addressed. "Do you think you can see to it, Inuyasha?"

"I'm not an idiot, you know," Inuyasha snapped. "But it's not like any of this is my fault, so why should I do anything you say?"

"Was I implying that it was?" Hatori asked, brows lifting. "And if I were, what would you expect me to think? Unless you can give me a different answer as to why you're here, I'll assume it's because you feel responsible for some of what took place. Or are you merely concerned about Sango?"

Inuyasha's mouth opened, worked furiously amidst various sounds of indignation for about ten seconds, then snapped shut abruptly. Crossing his arms he turned his nose up into the air in a move that made the word "prima donna" flash brightly through Kagome's mind.

"I came because somebody had to carry that wolf," Inuyasha explained contemptuously, shooting Kagome a dark look, nose still tilted into the air. "As he's the one to blame for the whole incident with Sango, you can question Kagome's sense of morality. Seems friends come second to love interests nowadays."

Kagome colored vividly at his insinuations but resisted the urge to dignify them with violent retribution.

"Excuse me, but I think Hatori-sempai would understand completely my insistence that we bring Koga here! He could be seriously hurt!"

"Weren't you listening to what he said to me? If I had anything to do with hurting Sango he'd shove arsenic down my throat instead of putting antiseptic on my wounds! What do you think he'd do for Koga?" He gave Hatori a threatening glance, as though daring him to treat Koga any differently. "And Koga's a demon, Kagome, a rock to the head won't do much harm! Not like there's anything in there to harm in the first place..."

"If you did bring Koga here to be treated," Hatori cut in smoothly before Kagome had a chance to let another explosive retort fly, "where is he?"

Inuyasha shrugged. "In the boot. Hell if I have to carry him around much more."

Instantly Kagome's hand was knotted in Inuyasha's silvery hair and she yanked with a force that made even Hatori flinch.

"Bitch!"

"You jerk! What do you mean 'the boot'!"

"I take it you didn't know where he'd put Koga," Hatori murmured as Inuyasha struggled to pry Kagome's hand off, inwardly smiling at the hanyou's remarkable display of restraint. It would be inconceivable to believe that Kagome—impressive as she could be—would be able to overcome Inuyasha physically, yet here the hanyou was, cowed by her because he didn't want to hold her painfully and simply break her grip.

"Of course not!" Kagome screeched at him, and Hatori berated himself for making it sound like she did. "I was riding with Miroku and Sango!"

"Kagome," Inuyasha ground out, taking a deep breath and standing dangerously still with his head tilted in Kagome's direction, "let go of me now."

"Only if you go out there and bring Koga in here!" Kagome insisted stubbornly, tightening her grip resolutely.

"Miss Kagome—" Hatori began cautiously, noting how Inuyasha's shoulders jerked violently at her statement.

"LET GO NOW!"

"NO!"

Hatori had barely taken four steps to break them up when he heard a sharp gasp and light danced over Inuyasha's silver hair as it swished over his shoulder. Kagome's hand, still curled into a fist, held several glimmering strands, her wrist held high above her head by the powerful hanyou. Inuyasha's head was bowed, his hair concealing his face, though Hatori had a vague idea of what he would see with the bangs out of the way.

"Let go of her, Inuyasha," Hatori said sternly, his heart beating with apprehension as Kagome struggled to free herself to no avail.

Kagome couldn't scream. Somewhere between the minute his claw had locked onto her wrist a second time and she'd felt pain shoot up her arm, her voice had left. She could feel her bones crunching under his strength and she wouldn't be surprised to hear the sound of snapping were it not for the blood pounding in her ears. She felt utterly lost and disoriented, caught up in the terror and disbelief of the moment. Inuyasha's violence would never have been something to surprise her, moreover floor her, but since the last moment they'd had together it seemed inconceivable for him to harm her. True, it was hard to tell why he did things, but it didn't seem plausible for him to harm a girl he was trying to woo, not after he'd managed to...well...warm things up. Then again it wasn't occasional for the said girl to try and tear a guy's hair out after he'd cuddled her and...well...

"Let go of her, Inuyasha," Hatori repeated, taking a step towards the frozen pair, wondering if he'd end up on an examination table all too shortly. Well at least I'll skip the step of having to be carried over here in Inuyasha's trunk...

Inuyasha's head lifted slowly, and he shook his hair out of his face, displaying an expression that chilled Hatori more than any growl would have. Two rows of gleaming white teeth flashed in the light, Inuyasha's firm lips lifting to showcase them in a grin that boded ill for all of them. He turned towards Kagome with the very expression, releasing her and stepping back.

"I'll go fetch your precious wolf, Kagome," he said evenly, though his eyes were swirling with darkness as he said it. "Don't you worry, I won't harm him."

The first thing she did was clutch her throbbing wrist. The second was to open her mouth. The third was to simply stand there, staring at him. His eyes flicked over to her hands and he turned away from her abruptly, striding towards the doors. In a heartbeat Hatori was next to her, pulling her hand from the shell her other hand had created and handling it gently.

"You'll bruise," he informed her shortly, sighing when she flinched as he moved her wrist in a particular direction. "And it'll swell. It's not quite a sprain, but even table tennis will be hell if you try it within the next week or so. I'll bind it, just in case."

Kagome just stood there numbly, allowing herself to be led away.

Outside, the brilliant blue sky mocked him.

Inuyasha glared up at it, angrier than he'd imagined he could be after what had taken place not half an hour ago. His worst rival had been injured, his best friend had a chance with the girl he'd adored and been obsessed with for almost a lifetime (twisted opportunity though it was), and the girl he'd been obsessed with for over six years had apparently found her niche in his arms. Then in one blindingly stupid minute he'd not only hurt her, he'd given Koga an opening with a probable, "Oh, don't you feel sorry for me, Kagome?" line.

His fangs snapped painfully against each other as he bit back the urge to howl and curse.

Trust Koga to find a way to worm into her affections while he was unconscious.

Envy ate at him as he thought of Miroku and Sango, how he would be there to brush her bangs back from her face as she woke. She would undoubtedly adore him the moment she opened her eyes and saw him there, and Inuyasha's palms bled as he clenched his fists, envisioning how things could have been with Kagome right at that moment. At least Miroku and Sango had gained something from this fiasco, and hadn't lost it through their own actions.

Which—Inuyasha was forced to admit—was exactly the case with him. As typical and as gratifying as it would be to blame it all on Koga, it had been his sparkling idea to stick the wolf in the trunk. Not only that, but the moronism had furthered itself with him letting Kagome know that he'd done it. If he'd just kept his mouth shut, he'd have had the chance to play magnanimous hero. Though it galled him to carry Koga around like he was someone from 911 it didn't have any weight against the fact that it would make Kagome virtually worship him, and probably by that very night he'd have wined and dined her and gotten a good long make-out session. It was the last part of the lost possibility that made him almost forget about using his key and just tearing the trunk open. But he wasn't as stupid as to let his temper get the better of him five minutes after it had made him lose a chance to gain something extremely important, and with deliberate slowness he opened the trunk and gingerly lifted Koga out. Dragging him by a foot or arm was infinitely more appealing, but that would only make Kagome fall to her knees and fret over him infuriatingly. Then he'd only damn himself further by planting a foot in Koga's bleeding head.

Which was bleeding all over his shoulder.

Goddamn it!

Probably the worst part of it all was the look in Kagome's eyes as he'd held her with her wrist high above her head. Her pupils were so large that her widened eyes were almost black, and her expression was something just past deer-in-the-headlights. It was one thing for her to hate his guts—another thing completely for her to look at him like he was a monster.

He felt like a monster.

Hatori was waiting for him in the reception area when he walked back in. Even in his current self-punishment state Inuyasha flinched at the prospect of a lecture from someone who saw too much too well, and consequently hit too many marks for his comfort. No doubt he had already gone over his crushing speech twice, and Inuyasha did the only honorable thing he knew he could do at the moment—stand there without any internal bracing and wait for his punishment.

Predictably, Hatori let him agonize over it and wait. Or perhaps he was just being a good intern as he took a good look at Koga's wound and sighed heavily. Without a word he motioned for Inuyasha to follow him and without waiting or checking to see if he was, led him to one of the available rooms. Despite himself, Inuyasha's head wheeled around as he failed to pick up Kagome's scent over all the disinfectant, trying to see if any door was left ajar or open.

"Carefully," Hatori added unnecessarily as Inuyasha set Koga down on the examination table. His dark eyes noted the blood on Inuyasha's shirt and silently admired the hanyou for not whining about it. In fact, as idiotically as he'd behaved moments before, there was much to admire in Inuyasha's repentant stance, and the way he seemed to beg for punishment. Hatori knew that unkindness was a kind way to make the hanyou feel better, to let him let go of his guilt because he was paying for his actions, but he knew that it was also short-term and it did not fix anything or make the pain truly go away. Because he was in the business of fixing people and making pain go away, he went against his better judgment and let go of the stinging tirade he'd thought up as he'd gotten Kagome settled in the next room.

Inuyasha kept his eyes fixed on the floor as Hatori observed him without comment, wondering if the intern was thinking to draw out the punishment or merely trying to find the best way to deliver it.

"Are you sorry?"

The brisk, abrupt line wasn't at all what he'd been expecting. His head shot up and golden eyes widened at the solemn look on Hatori's face. Was he letting him off just like that? Was Hatori's benevolent streak that strong?

"Are you sorry?" the intern repeated calmly, the epitome of patience as though there were no injured patients in two rooms with head injuries awaiting his care.

"I..."

Kagome's frightened face flashed in his mind.

Mowing down his pride, Inuyasha swallowed so he could answer clearly. "Yes."

Hatori nodded, though even that gave none of his feelings away. He moved towards the tray where instruments and other necessities lay ready to be used, back already turned to him.

"Koga's wound is somewhat serious—in any event much more serious than Sango's. It won't take longer than ten minutes before I see to Sango, but even after I've examined her I'll have to check on Koga. Do you know how to bind a sprain?"

He was wrong.

Hatori was the cruelest man alive.

"Don't," Inuyasha warned, and it didn't surprise him nor shame him any further that his voice shook slightly.

Turning his head to look back at him, Hatori gave him a level look. "Just do it, Inuyasha," he instructed evenly. "She's in the next room to the left and it's best to do it before it starts to swell. After you've bound it, put an ice pack on it—you'll find one in the mini fridge."

And just like that Hatori shut him out completely so that it was just him and Koga's wound. Inuyasha didn't even have time to ponder the consequences of refusing and throwing another harmful fit. If Kagome's wrist swelled before it was bound he'd only be furthering his crime against her. Besides, wasn't he in the mood for punishment? Hatori was an expert at it, apparently, and he'd found a way to dispense it and save himself time, work, and breath.

His feet were feeling like the proverbial lead as he exited and moved to the next room. Pushing a shaking hand through his hair, he twisted the knob with the other and pushed it open, bracing himself for Kagome's hysterics and flying objects as soon as she caught sight of him. He pushed down his demonic—and even human instincts—and resigned himself to the fact that he was not going to duck.

Which was why he looked like a complete fool, standing in the doorway with his eyes closed and hand in his hair as he waited for a tray or stethoscope to hit him in the face.

Kagome sat on the examination table, cradling her wrist and staring at him as he stood there, seeing the twisting pain in her chest mirrored in his eyes as he opened them and looked at her. His hand fell away from his hair and it shielded his face as he tipped it down, breaking eye contact effectively. Her breath caught as he moved into the room and shut the door, an ominous click filling the air. Instinctively, she scooted backwards.

Inuyasha didn't approach her as immediately as she thought he would. He took a moment to pick up a roll of bandages from the material tray before he turned back towards her, face still half-hidden by his hair. As he approached he began to speak, and it was what he said then that stopped her from cowering against the wall.

Strangely, no word was a threat.

"I'm sorry for your wrist," he said softly, stopping at the edge of the examination table. "You can believe it or not and I understand you if you can't. If you want to, you can kick and scream and throw anything you want at me. You can even pull my hair, if you still want to do that. But I'm going to have to bind that wrist, so I'll have to get a little closer and I'll have to touch you. If you can bear with that for five minutes, you can do whatever you want to me after that."

He didn't even squeak when her heel crashed into his forehead. He'd expected that earlier on. What he hadn't expected was for her to yell what she was yelling at him, nor for her to be crying while she was at it.

"You jerk, what do you take me for! You couldn't have stopped at the 'sorry', now could you! You just had to launch into the rest of your little guilt trip and make me feel like the complete meanie by offering me a chance to hurt you!" From where he sat on the floor, tiny trickle of blood running over his vision, Inuyasha saw that she was standing now, stamping her foot once in apparent frustration as she wiped her eyes furiously. "You're such an idiot!"

Inuyasha could only stare at her as she stood crying, completely bewildered and at sea as to what to do. His forehead was stinging, pulsing with a promise of a headache from hell in the near future, but his focus was completely on the mystifying creature before him, who seemed to be crying from exasperation with him, though that opinion was altered slightly as she stamped her foot again and gave a warbled sob as she sniffled over her hand.

"It hurts," she whispered, and in an instant he was on his feet, taking her hand gently from her and holding it at an angle while his free hand shook out the bandage.

"Leave it to me," he whispered back reassuringly, stepping back so he could extend her arm and hand properly, trying to ignore the little huffs of breath she took as he did so.

"Why are you doing this anyway?" Kagome asked resentfully, not caring to thank him as the pain subsided upon his first tightening tug.

"Because I'm responsible for it," Inuyasha answered almost inaudibly, not looking at her. "And Hatori wanted to rub it in."

"Shouldn't you be proud?" she prodded waspishly, and when he paused and looked up at her she gave him a ferocious glare, daring him to take it out on her already vulnerable wrist. For a moment it looked almost as though he would.

"Surprisingly, I'm not," he owned humorlessly, glaring right back at her before he turned his eyes back to his work. "For some reason, making you cry makes me sick. Right now, I'm not sure if I'm feeling remorse or it's the sight of you that I disgust."

"Well that's a fine thing to say!" Kagome snapped, her palm itching to connect with his cheek. "First you hurt me, then you insult me! You sure that isn't disgust with yourself for picking on a girl?"

He paused again, but didn't look up at her. The anger in his expression was fading, but it remained fierce somehow as he gently pulled the bandages tight a second time.

"Not disgust with myself for picking on a girl, Kagome," he said somberly, his thumb smoothing over the bandages over her pulse. "Disgust with myself for picking on you. And doesn't insulting you qualify as hurting you, too?" He lifted his eyes to hers and she felt her breath hitch at the grim humor in them.

She sniffed despite the heat she felt entering her cheeks.

"Don't flatter yourself," she groused. "As if any of your insults really matter to me. They're just annoying."

"So are you," Inuyasha snorted, and she felt the heaviness lifting as he continued, despite his words. "But do you think that means that you don't matter to me?"

Words, Kagome, she chanted in her head as his thumb danced over her pulse at every interval as he wound the bandages over her wrist. Her glare seemed to be enough of an answer, and he shook his head resignedly—which made her even more peevish, because he very much resembled a professor who had given up explaining a mind-numbingly simple issue to a consistently uncomprehending student.

"Where's Koga?" she asked tersely as Inuyasha pulled the bandages tight a final time and began to knot.

"Hatori's seeing to him right now," he answered tonelessly, not looking at her as he finished and gently began testing her hand. The intensifying pain had been stemmed somewhat, and only a dull throbbing remained due to the taut bandages, though Kagome's expression of gratitude was cut short when Inuyasha raised his eyes and she saw the thinly-veiled scorn in them as he added, "Let me just get an ice pack and you can go coo over him right now."

"What is your problem?" Kagome fairly shrieked, temper far beyond its boiling point as Inuyasha simply turned his back on her and walked over to the mini-fridge to rummage. "I understand that you and Koga hate each other, but why are you so angry with me? Is it wrong to be concerned about someone who's hurt?"

"It's wrong," Inuyasha hissed, slamming the fridge shut with a force that tipped it precariously to one side, "to be concerned about people who got injured for injuring other people! Or have you forgotten about Sango?"

"How dare you!"

"How dare I tell you the truth?" He reached for her hand but she backed away from him so that he sighed heavily and put his hands on his hips. She looked so angry and affronted he felt like thrice the mega-jerk he was for taunting her when she'd had such a day, but he was being honest, wasn't he? In part, at least. It would never do to let her know the other reason why her concern for Koga bothered him. He'd simply have to emphasize on the safer one. Forcing his expression to relax and his stance to loosen, he proceeded more cautiously. "How else am I supposed to see things, Kagome? The guy goes ballistic for reasons only known to him and harms Sango in the process. She's a girl we all care about—your best friend and the girl my best friend...well..."

Her expression was still tense, but the anger was dissipating from it and from her scent—that much he could tell. She was still hurt and was very likely to snap back into her ire the minute he said something even remotely abrasive, but if he handled things rightly she'd defuse by the second he finished speaking.

Sorry, Miroku. She probably knows it anyway, so confirming it won't change much...

With this in mind, he firmly pushed the image of a betrayed Miroku to the back of his mind, figurative earplugs lodging themselves in place to block out ringing cries of, "Why did you betray my confidence, Inuyasha!"

"He really cares about her, all right?" he continued safely, not brave enough to mention the L-word lest Kagome rejoice and let slip to Sango, which would result in it reaching Miroku, who would then turn his wrath upon none other than Inuyasha. "I think Koga deserved what he got. Believe me, Kagome, if Miroku were a demon he'd have done much worse."

"But Koga did that and got hurt because of me," Kagome persisted, visibly tormented by the idea. "He was rushing over so carelessly because of me."

"No, he was rushing over moronically because I was with you. Kagome, you have to concede that it's no one's fault but his own. If he weren't so fucking suspicious none of this would've happened."

"Oh, and you'd be so calm if your roles were switched?"

He shrugged indifferently. "Would he be able to do anything that would worry me? I don't think you'd allow him, Kagome."

And I'd allow you? Kagome swallowed the brambly retort to that particularly conceited statement and focused on the direct cause of her sprained wrist.

"Why in Kami's name did you lock him in the trunk?"

Inuyasha paused and considered the question.

"Firstly..."

He barged in on us at the worst possible time.

"...he hurt Sango."

And because I can't stand the fact that you could care about him after that.

"After that he didn't merit my backseat."

Kagome stared at him silently, trying to digest that his abysmal treatment of Koga was on Sango's behalf. As much as he justified his concern for her, his reason just didn't hold much weight in Kagome's eyes. She was far more likely to believe that Inuyasha's actions were out of pure hate for Koga, and it was this that had hardened her resolve to see Koga properly cared for. Standing idly by while someone who held so much malevolence for a person decided to take advantage of that person's injury was by all standards simply not right.

But if Inuyasha said so...who was she to dispute what was in his heart and mind? Wasn't overanalyzing Inuyasha the root of all her confusion and problems? Kurenai's advice echoed in her mind and she sighed deeply.

"It was still a terrible thing to do," she insisted stubbornly, eyes devoid of anger but assuredly grim. Then in a simultaneous plea for help and gesture of pardon, she extended her bandaged hand to him. "But if you're sorry for it now, I won't say anything more."

I'm only sorry because it affects you.

Choosing not to reply, Inuyasha took her hand and positioned the ice pack over it, reaching for her other hand and putting it in place.

"Hold it like this, all right?" he instructed, his lip twisting as he considered the use of a cast. A tentative look at Kagome eliminated all possibility of that—her expression told him she'd read his mind and was strongly against what was in it.

A beat of silence fell awkwardly between them and Kagome felt a strange sensation jangling the nerves in her stomach as the warmth of Inuyasha's hand clashed violently with the chilling bite of the ice pack. Staring at the way his hand still supported her sprained one while the other held her other hand in place over the ice pack...it sent an even odder feeling spiraling through her chest.

"Thank you," she murmured, an oddly soft note in her voice.

"That was unexpected," he teased, burnished eyes sparking.

"Couldn't you just say something ordinary?" she complained even as her eyes began to smile. "Like 'you're welcome'?"

"Well you aren't," Inuyasha snorted, removing his hands and stepping back.

Now that was unexpected.

"I'm not?" Kagome blinked, the pain that his words effected surprising her more than anything.

Inuyasha grinned. "Well I'm not exactly sure what you're thanking me for. For all I know, it's for being your constant emotional punching bag. Whenever you're pissed with something, Kagome, you take it out on me. You said it yourself, right? You think Koga's hurt because of you, and it sets you on the edge. Then I act conveniently stupid and you give me punishment that isn't proportioned to my crime. Haven't I said this before?"

Her mind flashed back to the day he'd ripped the street into two after she'd said something terrible to him for no justifiable reason. She'd come out unharmed, though much more initially shaken than she was now. He'd pointed it out, all right. And she'd been just as unable to wave it off sufficiently or prove it untrue.

"You have," she agreed quietly—sincerely. "And I'm sorry if I do. You don't exactly make it easy to feel guilty, but you're right. Not everything is your fault."

"Gee, thanks." Notwithstanding the fact that she'd insulted him twice throughout her apology, Inuyasha had a very good feeling about where things were heading. "Now that you've conceded that I am also an injured party, I have every right to claim recompense."

Her brow popped up wryly. "Oh really? Such as?"

"Well, I have to see. What exactly can you do, Kagome? Do you have any talent?" His eyes skimmed over her body and he winked at her suggestively as one of his claws brushed over her lips.

Her other brow popped up before her eyes narrowed and she pursed her lips in a decidedly shrewish manner. The way the warmth of her eyes blazed into scorching flame warned him that she was about to take back her heartfelt apology, so before she could say something that would hurt both of them, he forestalled her by smirking and wrinkling his nose at her.

"I already know the answer—it'd be a rip off if I demanded that sort of apology from you," he condescended derisively. "You'd probably give me frostbite with that mouth of yours."

"Not that it would help with all the problems you must have in that area," she quipped, gravely offended by the implication that she was frigid, though unwilling to snap over it.

"Temper," he remarked with a laugh. "Forget what I said about frost, you'd just bite."

She flushed hotly and glowered warningly at him, delighting him even more. But he didn't miss what this meant in terms of Kagome's body language. She'd just about had it with him, and even the most gentle prod would send her over the edge and lodge her feelings for him back into enemy territory. Toeing the line at this point was important. It was fun to banter and bicker with her, but he wasn't in the position to do it constantly without driving her away. Not yet, at least. He was going to change that, of course, but for him to do it he needed to be careful with her right now.

"That mouth isn't half bad when it comes to spouting lines, though," he mollified pensively, relieved to see the anger in her face dim a bit, though she blushed even more fiercely than before.

So she's complimented...keep going, Inuyasha, keep going...

"That's why you're going to need it when you make things up to me," he announced with a grin, finding her absolutely adorable when her brow crinkled up and she frowned at him uncomprehendingly.

"You want me to read you poetry?" she asked in disbelief.

"No, you silly girl," he chortled, "I want you to be my rehearsing buddy. We're both probably going to be in the play, so we might as well practice together."

"Is it really necessary?" she continued to question dubiously, her lack of enthusiasm for the idea stinging despite the fact that he had expected it. "I mean, you have Kurama, don't you? He was part of your audition. And Eri will want to work with me, I'm sure."

"Kurama's busy with his own thing—the audition was just a favor. And about Eri, so what? You can't tell me you honestly want to work with her."

Kagome swatted his arm on impulse, wincing because she used her sprained one. Scowling at him on behalf of it—and her friend—she didn't appreciate the fact that he seemed to see right through her.

"You're not comfortable around her," he prodded evenly. "Admit it."

"That has absolutely nothing to do with my decision to work with her," Kagome defended a little desperately. "I owe her a lot for helping me get into the play, and it's only fair that I get over myself and do what's best for the sake of the production."

"Can you really work and give a hundred percent when you're so repressed, Kagome?"

She bristled, not liking the immediate response that came to mind at that question.

"What do you know, Inuyasha? The point is, I owe her and I'm obliged to pay her back. If she wants to work with me throughout this production, it's the least I can do to cooperate."

He shrugged and looked away, not pressing the issue further. Perhaps it was the fact that Inuyasha had actually made a concession that floored her and made a strange uneasiness trickle down her spine—or the small smile on his mouth that told her there was something extremely important that he knew that she did not.

---

"Why are you always foisting me off onto Hatori!" Akito demanded, nails digging into her arm viciously as he yanked Kurenai back into her car. They had been in the middle of having a pleasant excursion through the museum's modern art display and he had been commenting on how a particular painting had reminded him of her. He'd been so caught up in expressing his feelings over the piece that he'd strained himself and needed to sit down and be taken care of. Instead of doing it herself, the ungrateful bitch had insisted they visit Hatori.

Gritting her teeth as her elbow banged against the steering wheel, Kurenai counted to ten. She had been doomed to something like this the instant Akito had laid eyes on her inside the theater earlier on, and to an extent he was right—she was foisting him off onto Hatori because she'd had just about enough of him.

One.

He hadn't wanted to show her a few pieces of art. He'd wanted to show her one—a ten-foot by fifteen canvas spread of a woman's eviscerated body, the contents of which were strewn out in an intensely shaded puddle before her. Cradled amidst her intestines and other innards was a barely developed baby, upon whose head one of her clawed hands rested. Her other arm was spread out to the side, her face turned away from the viewers and her matted dark hair covering most of it.

Two.

He'd leered at her and prodded her about the similarities between the woman's body and her own. He'd spoken of twisted conceptions and how most mothers would probably have done the same thing the woman in the painting had apparently done—clawed out her own innards and removed the offending child that she nonetheless claimed as her own.

Three.

A dangerous part of Kurenai's being had loomed up at what he'd meant, and Akito—or his body at least—had sensed it in time to pull an emergency defensive maneuver. He knew her well enough to know that if he weakened she would never hurt him, and the instant she was about to snap he'd suddenly collapsed. His fever certainly wasn't an act or something to joke about, but what the mind believed the body sanctioned, right?

Four.

So she'd fussed over him, but from the way he moaned about her constantly hurting him it was apparent that she wasn't doing a good job. That's when the idea to take him to Hatori—who was probably on shift by now—had popped up.

Five.

He didn't take it very well.

Six.

"Why don't you take care of me!" he'd screamed, shoving her violently as she'd knelt beside him and tried to help him up. "You made me like this!"

Seven.

And he'd continued screaming at her as she'd dragged him bodily to her car, knotting the seatbelt furiously so that he'd be unable to get loose.

Eight.

Now Hatori was only a matter of meters away, but even he would be unable to restrain Akito when he was in this sort of mood. She needed to calm him down, needed to make him see that she would only harm them both if she stayed with him any longer. To do that she needed to calm down, needed to pull her intellect and dignity together.

Nine.

"Answer me! Look at me, you worthless whore!"

Ten.

Kurenai's hand moved to gently but firmly pry Akito's talons off of her pulsing arm. Taking a deep breath and not forcing him when he resisted, she looked straight into his livid countenance and wiped the answering anger from her face.

"Precisely because I'm worthless to you, Akito," she answered calmly, relief spreading through her chest at the way surprise registered on his face at her response. Adding the tiniest bit of force, she maneuvered her thumb between his palm and her arm and continued trying to wrest herself free as she added, "I can do no more than harm you, whereas Hatori can help you."

"You can help me," he hissed resentfully, tightening his grip and crushing her thumb into her arm as he leaned towards her. His free hand moved and he jerked the seatbelt over his head and torso so he could lean towards her. "You just don't want to."

"Akito—"

"Shut up!"

She did. There was no time for words as she barely refrained from breaking his fingers as she pulled free. Whirling so that she could step backwards out of the car, she grabbed him in turn and pulled hard, heedless of whether or not he bumped into anything as she yanked him out. He was screaming at her again—painful, colorful expletives, if you bothered to listen, but she no longer cared. Inhuman rage was taking over, and possibly the only part that was still Akito's cousin kept her from forgetting why she was doing this. She was going to get Akito into Hatori's care if she had to send him into intensive care to do it.

Hearing the commotion outside, Hatori's substitute came out and sighed long-sufferingly. It was true that they had fewer patients today than most, but each of the ones coming in were easily as much trouble as ten.

---

Kagome shot Inuyasha a speculative glance as he finished tying the ice pack in place with a spare bandage. It was still advisable to use a cast, but she wasn't about to imprison herself over something that Hatori had termed as "almost a sprain." If it wasn't quite a certain condition, then it didn't entail that condition's full treatment.

It was clear from Inuyasha's expression that he disagreed with her, but for some alarming reason he had taken up the habit of not openly stating his qualms. Kagome was fairly tempted to see how far he would carry on, and briefly considered refusing to eat and seeing if he would force her. Unfortunately for that, her stomach was growling quite loudly, resulting in Inuyasha's ears twitching in a fascinating manner before he looked up at her and grinned, grumpy features dissolving into teasing handsomeness.

"Let's see to that stomach, shall we?" he offered, checking his watch. "It's not yet rush hour, so most of the good places may still be free. What are you in the mood for?"

"That's a question the cafeteria staff will answer," she replied, grinning back. "If they're in the mood to feed us dog food my mood won't matter much, will it?" Catching the way his brow twitched she added hastily, "Not that dogs eat bad food..."

"Who said anything about eating at the cafeteria?" he asked snippily, ignoring her barb at canine nutrition. "I'm in the mood to celebrate our acceptance into the play, aren't you? Personally, I want Italian, but if you want Chinese, whatever. My treat."

She couldn't help it.

She hooted at him.

"Aren't you charming?" she snickered, unable to control herself at his awkward gallantry.

"Be grateful!" he snapped, though not as sharply as usual. Turning his nose up and away in a remarkable likeness of Sesshomaru he huffed and used his long legs to move quickly away from her.

Not minding at all, she kept her pace and smiled after him, grinning broadly when he stopped and shot her an irritated look, though he did keep waiting for her. Upon reaching him, she opened her mouth to comment on it when she noticed that his irritation wasn't directed at her anymore.

For rubbing her arm and leaning against the wall was none other than Kurenai.

Kagome remembered that Inuyasha hadn't spoken of Kurenai in a good light earlier on, and it was clear from his malevolent growl that whatever it was between them, it hadn't changed since then. The object of his irascibility turned at the sound, her visage grimmer than the last time Kagome had seen it. Merely quirking a provoking brow at him, she moved her gaze immediately to Kagome, her warm smile freezing the instant she saw the hand that Kagome made the mistake of using to wave.

Oh dear, Kagome cringed, hiding her hand immediately behind her back as Kurenai straightened and without a word walked over to her.

"Move, hanyou," she warned as Inuyasha stepped between them automatically.

"Make me," was Inuyasha's typical response. "Though before you do, why not consider moving yourself? Kagome and I were about to go have lunch."

If Kurenai was surprised, she didn't show it. Instead, she sighed in a long-suffering kind of way and rolled her eyes.

"All the more reason for you to start the car and bring it up front, don't you think?" she reasoned patronizingly. "So that Kagome dear—whose injury looks quite recent—doesn't have to walk?"

Inuyasha's eyes narrowed, but to Kagome's surprise he merely shrugged it off with a faint, "Keh" and walked out the door. It was puzzling to the extreme the talent that the Sohmas seemed to have with handling Inuyasha. First Hatori and now Kurenai. Maybe it had something to do with the grave, veteran-like mien that she and Hatori exuded.

"So much for a plan, huh," Kurenai observed dryly, though her eyes remained gentle.

Kagome grimaced and shrugged. "Treating Inuyasha professionally and impartially is so much harder than I thought. I don't think I have what it takes to hold him at arm's length."

Kurenai nodded understandingly. "He doesn't seem like the type to allow it. Not with you, anyway. Somehow...I feel that if he really cares for you, distancing yourself from him will only make him try harder to pull you close." When Kagome didn't stir, her cat-like eyes tapered into slits and she prodded at the younger girl's cheek playfully. "Of course, if that's what you want..."

"Oh, stop it!" Heat bloomed from where Kurenai had prodded and Kagome stared daggers at her as the older girl began giggling.

"Well how am I to know?" Kurenai reasoned, still smirking. "Besides, you've conceded that you can't hold your emotions—positive or negative—" she sniggered wickedly—"in check very much when you're in direct contact with him."

"That doesn't mean that by expressing my emotions I'll be expressing something like l-l—" She stumbled over the word and glared ominously when Kurenai's laughter rang through the halls.

"Oh, Kagome, go on," Kurenai guffawed, waving her hand infuriatingly. Her head turned to look over her shoulder and she grinned at Inuyasha through the glass doors as he beeped to let them know he was there.

Deciding that staying and arguing out that annoying point with Kurenai would only succeed in bringing Inuyasha himself into the picture when he barged in after he got tired of waiting, Kagome swallowed the barrage of protests and with her uninjured hand pulled open a door. Shooting one last look at Kurenai, she stated firmly: "Dealing with a person with your real feelings in consideration doesn't mean anything except honesty."

Kurenai merely winked and smiled.

---

Miroku sat in tense silence as Hatori re-examined Sango upon his request. Despite the intern's conclusion that the she did not have any concussion, and would only suffer from a minor headache and a lump for a few days, Miroku's heart seemed unwilling to halt in its race. His mind was frozen on the moment that Koga had thrown her off and the sickening thud he'd heard the instant she'd connected with the ground.

His blood boiled anew and it was all he could do to remain seated. Koga was somewhere in the infirmary, of that much he was certain. Hatori would not have been delayed if he hadn't seen to someone else before moving on to Sango. Quashing the murderous thoughts that sprung up at the prioritization of the very root of Sango's suffering, Miroku reminded himself that as a student of medicine, Hatori was obligated to tend to the more gravely afflicted.

Must.

Sango moaned as Hatori lifted her head carefully off the pillow.

See.

Sweat was beading on her brow.

Reason.

When she flinched as though struck, Miroku actually got to his feet. Hatori gave him a cautionary look before turning back to his examination, making Miroku grind his teeth in aggravation. How long was this going to take?

"She'll be fine," Hatori repeated quietly, laying her head back down and stepping back, turning to Miroku. "Just a minor headache and a bump that will recede in a day or two. She'll feel a bit dizzy when she wakes up. If she does and I'm not here, make sure she lies down for a while. I'll arrange for someone to get some soup over here later—I expect she'll come to in half an hour or so. She shouldn't take any immediately—help her sit up a bit and gain some bearing before that. Then when she's sure she's steady, she can get up. Though I insist that she be taken home right after."

Miroku listened attentively, nodding every so often to indicate he'd understood. When Hatori had finished and began putting away some instruments, despite the other man's presence Miroku let himself go.

Eager fingers traced over Sango's worried brow, smoothing it and smoothing away the bangs that covered it. It had been something nearing a physical ache that he had been tamping down for what seemed like forever, the need to touch her. It had often been gratified in the times that he'd managed to cop a feel, and it wasn't merely the fact that he wasn't about to receive a punishing slap for his caresses that made them so feverish this time around.

The sensitive pads of his fingers skimmed over the smooth, clean skin, the sweet yet strong contours of her face. If she had been awake her eyes would be dropping dreamily, her lips parting to bathe those pads with warm, moist breath. It was both an image that he craved and dreaded—the fulfillment of it would be the deepest of his desires coming to fruition. But along with it...

Along with it came the sobering implications.

To have Sango, it meant becoming something in turn. For what he craved from her, she demanded a fee that he would not be able to pay. Even if he were willing to pay it, it was not in him to give.

So while she slept, he touched her with a tenderness that undermined all his lecherous fondling in the past. His hand traced the hollow of her throat, the curve of her arm, lingered at her elbow and finally found her hand. Squeezing it, trying to convey to her that he was there, he rested his cheek against it and closed his eyes, the heat of her hand and the steady beat of her pulse against his fingers achieving what Hatori's informed words could not.

The door clicked softly, indicating Hatori's departure of the room, but Miroku failed to notice.

In those moments, everything that was Miroku was centered on Sango's warmth, her pulse, and in time with it, the now steady beating of his heart.

Further Author's Notes: To my non-member reviewers!

lexa22: Sorry if my gaps have been long as of late, school and other pressures are really weighing down on me and I can't seem to cope as well as I used to. I'm bearing up though, so that's still a good thing, and I'll do my best to update more often. Sorry again about the number of characters—I understand that it can be confusing! Lol! Feel free to zoom back every few chapters and refresh yourselves as to their identities, or feel free to ask me if you find certain aspects of them to be annoyingly difficult to grasp. Thank you so much for your review—it really means a lot! -smooch-

fire: Glad to see you back, honey! -hug- Hope you liked this chapter, too, and if you didn't let me know! Thank you for reviewing! -smooch-

To everyone else who's finished this chapter, if you've got an opinion on it, please do share it with me. All my readers are a reason to keep writing, all my reviewers have the power to inspire. I want to thank everyone who's been so supportive. Writing for you has been my therapy, and I want a reason other than myself to continue. If you liked it, let me know. If you didn't let me know why. Lol.

Seriously though...until next time. -hug-