Chapter Three: Off to The Hospital

 Inuyasha woke up the next morning with the sunlight beaming into his room. He tried to pull his covers over his head so that he could get more sleep, but the light just wouldn't go away. He forcingly heaved himself out of his nice cushy bed and over to the door. As soon as he had left the warmth of his comforter, everything felt much cooler. It didn't really help him that he was wearing simply a pair of boxers, his usual nighttime attire.

 Once out of his room, he went straight to the kitchen. This being his regular routine in the morning, he failed to notice the person sitting at the table. He walked over to the fridge, opened it up and grabbed the milk carton. It was a centimetre from touching his mouth when an obvious fake cough stole his attention. He jumped when he looked over to see his older brother sitting at the table, starring openly at him.

"What are you doing here? It's Saturday aren't you usually at your dorm doing who knows what?" Inuyasha asked as he placed the milk on the counter and went over to the pantry to settle for some cereal for breakfast.

"So quick to jump to conclusions. Can't a brother stop by to see his only younger sibling?" Sesshomaru asked.

"You're here half the week. We argue the whole time. Why are you here?" he pressed. "I sure as hell know it ain't to see me."

"Aren't you the clever one," Sesshomaru said in an expressionless tone. "You're right; I didn't come to see you. I despise seeing you. The only reason I don't stay at my dorm is because that retched social worker always stops by uninvited during those days. I don't know why I don't just let them put you in an orphanage. Ah, probably for the same matter I came to discuss with you."

"You came to discuss something with me?" Inuyasha asked raising an eyebrow. "Well go on then, speak. The sooner you leave the better. This place is so much peacefuller when you're not around to disturb it with your presence."

 His older brother made no sign of even hearing the insult. He starred down at his claws, examining them. "I came here to talk with you about a decision I've already made. It will benefit me greatly and maybe add a little bit of gossip to your school life as well." He paused for a moment before continuing. "Yesterday, there was a terrible accident involving two families. One of the drivers was drunk. One family, the Hidori's, made it out safely. A few scratches, nothing serious. But the other family, the Higurashi's, were not so lucky."

Higurashi… where was that name from? Inuyasha tried to pin point the first name in his head. Kagome! The girl he picked on and teased! Oh no, was she hurt? …Since when did he care? He'd only loose his number one prank victim for a while. Ya, that's all. He wasn't worried about her well being or anything.

"The Higurashi's are being treated at the Tokyo Hospital. But, the girl… Kagome, she didn't happen to be in the vehicle. I believe you are acquainted with her. She was found to be at home and was informed of the matter. She was also informed that she was too young to be left to fend for herself while her family remained hospitalized. She has to go live elsewhere. In the care of others."

Inuyasha starred at his brother confusingly. "So… how does that concern me or even you for that matter?" He pondered for a minute when Sesshomaru didn't answer. Then it dawned on him. "No… huh-uh… you didn't…?" He was unable to get a reasonable response out of his mouth. Sesshomaru looked over at him, his expression still the same serious, calm one it always was.

"Y-you did! You offered to take her in, didn't you? I don't believe this! Your not even here most of the time. How do you expect to take care of her? …Wait… since when are you the good deed doing type of guy? Huh? You, Sesshomaru, the king of all good haters, when do you go around helping the needy?"

Sesshomaru sighed. "Well dear brother, if you must know, I am simply doing this 'good deed' as you call it, to bring up my image. The community is beginning to think rather lowly of me. Since this Sesshomaru is known by all in Tokyo, it's important for me to stay intact with what most of the people want to see of me. By doing this action I am insured a good reputation with everyone and won't seem too good with my street friends. I barely have to do a thing. It was an offer I simply could not refuse."

 Inuyasha looked about to knock some heads together. How dare he go and take this 'offer' behind his back? This was his house too. Sesshomaru didn't even live in it half the time. And Kagome Higurashi of all people! Sure he loved playing pranks on her and humiliating her, but how was he suppose to do that here? It wouldn't be as fun to do anything to her if no one was there to enjoy it with him. AND how was he supposed to go about his regular daily routines with a woman around? Like now for instance. He was in his frigin underwear! What was he going to have to put on a pair of pants to go eat breakfast in his kitchen? That was absurd!

"NO WAY! I won't allow you to bring her here! I don't care what you do with her instead but she is NOT coming here!"

 His brother shook his head with amusement. "I knew you would act this way. So enclosed in your own space, not allowing anyone to intrude. That's why I acted beforehand and already made arrangements. I will be picking the girl up at 2 p.m." Sesshomaru looked at his brother up and down before continuing. "I suggest you get dressed. And clean this place up a bit. We wouldn't want that girl to think messy of us now would we?"

Inuyasha simply growled in response.

 Kagome was awaken early in the morning by a loud beeping sound. She absentmindedly tried to slap her alarm clock out of habit, mumbling about it being too early to wake up on a Saturday. Her hand slapped the hard wood of her desk instead. That certainly woke her up! That would be the last time she chose to sleep at her desk that's for sure! But wait, why was she sleeping at her desk? She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and looked over at her bed. The comforter lay unmade, but looked to have not been slept in for very long. Maybe she sleepwalked over to her desk and chose it as a fit place to sleep for the remainder of the night. No, she never recalled sleepwalking in her entire life, why would she suddenly start now? She tried to remember back to last night.

I climbed in through the window and then went to have a bath. Then I'm pretty sure I went straight to bed. Yes, I did. Hmm…Oh! The phone woke me up around midnight. The phone? She looked down at her phone, it was off the hook. It was also the source of the noise that had woken her up. She remembered back to the phone call. Her family… all in the hospital. She must have fainted, but wait she remembered more. Something about being too young and having to go live with someone else. But who? Who was it the Doctor said she would have to go with? Inu something… Inutaisho… no it was… Inuyasha! Oh no… Suddenly she felt light headed, as if she were about to faint again. She realized why she had passed out the first time… after being told that who wouldn't have? She stood up and stumbled over to her bedroom door. She grabbed her housecoat of the hook behind it and draped it around her before heading downstairs.

Is there any possibility I may have dreamt the entire thing? The emptiness her house gave off answered her question easily. She let out a sigh as she began to prepare herself some Cherrios for breakfast. Maybe living with Inuyasha won't be so bad… Ya right. The guy humiliated me countless times in front of the whole student body. Living with him is going to be hell. But his brother with be there to make sure he doesn't try anything stupid on me right? She reassured herself with that thought and left her half eaten breakfast to go have a shower.

 Two hours later she was dressed and had packed all her things. Now all she had to do was get down to the hospital. This proved more difficult then one would imagine. She couldn't walk because she had about two suitcases filled with clothes and personal items- who knew how long she'd have to stay. She couldn't drive down there because she was under age. She had no one to drive her there considering everyone she would have asked happened to be already where she wanted to go. Maybe she could call a taxi if she could find enough money to pay for it. From the shrine to the hospital would probably cost her around ten dollars. As much as she hated taking this type of transportation, what other choice did she have?

 She dropped her suitcases off down by her front door and went in search of the cash she needed. She went into her grandfather's room first, knowing that he usually always left his wallet at home on his dresser even when he went out shopping. She spotted the beige leather wallet quite quickly. Kagome grabbed it eagerly.

…She could have sworn she saw a moth fly out of that musty smelling empty thing. She didn't have time for this. She hastily threw it down and went on with her search.

 Kagome knew for a fact her brother held no money captive in his room. On the rare occasion when he did happen to have any cash he almost immediately spent it on a video game or candy. So, instead she went straight to her mother's room. She was sure her mother had taken her purse with her considering she did go out grocery shopping, but also knew her mother kept a stash tucked away in her jewellery box just for those little emergencies. Well, this was an emergency! She pulled open the black box and was welcomed with a tiny ballerina spinning in circles while a classical tune played in the background. She grabbed a good quarter chunk of the money and slammed it shut. Now wasn't the time to sit and listen to 'Swan Lake'. Kagome ran back downstairs, grabbed the phone book and the phone. It was already half past twelve; she did want some time to visit with her family before being taken off to live with him.

"Yes, hello. I'd like a taxi to take me to the Tokyo Hospital. I live at the Sunset Shrine. Ya the place with all the steps, it's difficult to miss. Alright, thank you." Kagome hung up the receiver. She sighed heavily as she stuffed the money into her jean pocket and took one final look at her house before lugging her suitcases out the door. Who knew how long it would be before she'd be able to come back here again.

 The taxi didn't arrive until half an hour later, leaving Kagome stranded on her own steps. She was about to go back inside and try calling again when it finally arrived. The driver looked badly ungroomed. He had shaggy red hair and a shaggy red beard to match. He wore a lime green sweater that inhabited easily seen stains and a pair of jeans much to large for him. He smiled a toothy grin at her as he climbed out to take her bags, revealing a mouth full of yellow chipped teeth.

"Afternoon miss," he said in a croaky type of voice. "How are you this fine Saturday?"

"I'm good. How are you?" Her mother had taught her to be nice to all people, even those who made your skin crawl. He practically threw her bags in and slammed the trunk closed. He then scratched his head, making little bits of who knows what fall to the ground.

"I'm doing mighty fine today, thanks for asking." He went over to her and opened up her door.

"Uh no problem." Kagome said unsurely as she climbed in the back. He soon reached his door and went in.

"Sorry 'bout the delay. I was preoccupied with some other affairs," he said as he turned on the engine. "So tell me miss, what's a pretty little lady like you heading over to the hospital for? Eh? Your not in any sort of trouble are ya?"

 This was exactly why she hated taking cabs to wherever she wanted to go. The drivers were always so, nosy.

"Uh, no. I'm going to visit a few people." She said, hoping the guy wouldn't press any further into her personal affairs.

"Aww that's mighty nice of you. Will you be needing a ride back?" He looked at her through the rear-view mirror before scratching his head again loosening everything on it like before. She felt like throwing up right then.

"No. I'm getting picked up by someone else thanks."

 The rest of the ride went as so. The driver spent a few more minutes butting into her business like he knew her, but then settled to turning on his radio. If she wasn't desperate to get to the hospital she would have seriously considered opening up her door and rolling out onto the paved road. The driver had begun to sing along to the song on his radio, which just happened to be 'Toxic' by Britney Spears. Kagome didn't hate Miss Spears but didn't like the way she acted very much, but knew she would be tempted to hurl every time she'd here this particular song.

"Your toxic; I'm slipping under," sang the driver. He even touched his upper body while singing, which extremely grossed Kagome out. He sang like he was really enjoying himself, much to the girl he had sitting in the back's distaste. Kagome wondered if he even remembered she was still back there. If he had, couldn't he have saved her of his little performance and do that on his own time. She really hoped the hospital wasn't much further…

 Lucky, just minutes after she had hoped that, the said building came into view. She jumped out of the car as soon as it came to a stop outside the main doors. She handed the man her money, careful not to touch his hand, and went inside.

 The last time she remembered going to the hospital was when her father had died. She had only been about seven years old, and had few memories of the event. It happened the same month her grandfather had come to live with them. She remembered he had come to take care of her and her brother because her mother had been a wreck for weeks. It was only when she had gone to a psychiatrist had she been better about it all. Kagome still didn't dare talking about her father in front of her though in fear of losing her to sorrow once more.

 Kagome figured she had probably stumbled into the waiting room considering she had used the main doors. The room expressed the hospital's bad need of better funds. The walls were white, or at least they must have been white once. Dirt smudges, crayon markings, and even little speckles of blood covered the walls. The floor was black so there was no way to tell what types of bacterial elements may reside on it. And this was suppose to be a hospital? Weren't the doctors suppose to cure the illnesses, not make those not ailing sick? The chairs were even questionable. They had about fifteen comfy grey ones, mixed in with a large amount of hard wooden, worn out ones. Comfort certainly didn't seem to be they're number one priority. In the centre of the room lay a large desk, cluttered with papers and medical related things. A plump looking lady stood behind it, a donut in one hand and a book in the other. Kagome could just read what the book said on the front from where she stood, 'Medical Research For Dummies'.

"Uh excuse me ma'am," said Kagome as she walked over to the counter. The woman still didn't seem to hear her. "Ahem… hello? Ma'am? HEY LADY!" The woman jumped at the sudden outburst apparently just noticing Kagome's presence. She popped the last of her donut in her mouth, put her book down, and looked at Kagome obviously wanting to know what she wanted.

"I'm here to see the Higurashi family. My name is Kagome Higurashi." The lady looked pretty peeved to be taken away from her book to actually do her job.

"Higurashi…Higurashi," she mumbled as she searched down her list. "Ah! Here it is. I'm sorry miss but they've all died. There bodies were sent for an autopsy this morning. I'm truly sorry."            

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Wow…what a loooong chapter! It like over both of my last chapters put together! Probably boring though right? Those who said I improved I bet are taking that back… This seriously wasn't meant to be this long, but I couldn't find anywhere to stop. I really hope it doesn't suck…

 On another topic, I was sooooo happy at the amount of reviews I received! I have my review alert thingy on and when I checked my emails I literarily jumped at how many were reviews!

Now, why I haven't updated in a bit… I was trying to get this chapter out by Sunday night… unfortunately my family kicked me off our computer… (Note to self. By own computer  -.-;) Then last week I was away at my friend's house for like half the week and then I went to the gym. It's been hectic. Not to mention a new CRAPPY semester has started for me in school.

 Anyway. Thank you sooooo much Katherine, WinterSonata, Evil Chibi Kitten, ChristyKay, katy, silentslayer, Sierra, SHOJO-INU, and tashy911. I'd like say stuff back to you guys right now but I think I'm about to be kicked off my computer again. My dad says I'm on too much… Feh! Ya right! PLEASE REVIEW!!!! Flame me, tell me what to improve on, I like getting any kind, just please review!!! Thanks!!!