I don't own anything Inuyasha.
A/N: This goes out to Nicole, whose support has been amazing, and Madison, for being all around awesome.
I'm sorry it took so long to update. I am happy and shocked at the amount of love this story is getting and I hope I had not made anyone lose interest with my flaky writing tendencies. I am the worst. :]
…
The prior night's favor became an early morning chore. The late hours grew bright as morning crept on them and, powered by no small amount of coffee and her healing nature, Kagome methodically finished her examinations of the large pack. Most of the dogs were finding the new patches of sunlight to sleep in after their long night, but a few cuddled within the kennels that lined the back hallway. Kimiko had long since fallen asleep on a cushioned waiting room bench while her husband quietly began opening a large bag of dog food.
One of the pack, of course, was not sleeping like the others.
'Well,' Kagome thought to herself, 'this was not entirely unexpected.'
For being a massive white canine, Sesshoumaru behaved like an over-bearing mother hen. After each dog was released to nap he would quickly groom them, ensuring each still held his scent. He sneezed at the medicated shampoo and carefully pawed at each bandage. Once, he had growled confused at a matted shih tzu that had to be shaved down. Kagome rolled her eyes. The care he showed to them would have been more endearing to her if she had been able to get some sleep.
Her back ached and eyes burned, but she hesitated to perform the last examination; Sesshoumaru's.
A sudden flurry of movement echoed in the sterile halls as Nathan served breakfast. The clicking nails and anxious yelps startled Kimiko awake and Kagome walked out of her office just in time to see her fall off the bench.
Laughing, Kagome playfully mocked her friend. "Good morning, sleepy pants."
Groggy and still sitting on the floor, she rubbed her face and attempted to run her fingers through her tangled hair. "Ugh, what time is it?"
"Early." She crossed the waiting room area and offered her hand. "Come on. Nathan is feeding the dogs. You can run out and go get our breakfast."
Kimiko groaned again as Kagome helped lift her to her feet. "Have you slept at all?"
"No, but its okay," she shrugged. "I will once I am done."
"Whoa, you're still at it?"
"Just got one more." With that, she nodded towards the alpha who was eyeing them curiously.
Kimiko gulped. "Do you, uh, need any…"
Kagome half-heartedly chuckled. "No. And you should relax. He isn't that scary."
The familiar jingle and grating of keys at the front door made both women turn. A short, older woman made her way inside while humming a song, but was cut short when she noticed that the empty clinic she was expecting was not empty at all.
"Doctor Higarashi…"
Kimiko made a polite greeting before grabbing her purse and heading out the door. The nurse, still confused about why the office was filled with the sounds of dogs, stepped further in the room awkwardly.
"Morning, Yuri," Kagome addressed. "So, something happened last night."
Then, from the back of the room, Sesshoumaru lowered his head and began stalking the newcomer. The menacing gold eyes locked on to Yuri's. She did not notice him at first, but once she did her screamed echoed off the walls as she jumped back wildly.
"Whoa!" Kagome attempted to calm her. "It's okay, Yuri, he's just a dog."
The nurse clutched her scrubs near her heart. "Are you SURE!?"
Actually… she thought before turning towards Sesshoumaru. "He won't hurt you," she comforted, though her voice wasn't as confident as she had wanted. Please don't hurt anyone.
Sesshoumaru continued to creep closer, staring at the strange woman and positioning himself between her and the numerous dogs that were out of sight.
At least his ability to intimidate those around him had not diminished.
After a minute, the alpha sniffed the air several times and huffed. Even though his expressions were limited, both women could feel disapproval rolling off him in waves, but at least he did not consider Yuri a threat. He turned around without further regard to either and disappeared inside the examination room.
Her breathing was still labored, but Yuri was visibly calmer without a large white dog scrutinizing her. "Doctor, I thought you were not coming in this Saturday?"
It was Kagome turn to be completely confused. "I'm sorry?" But before Yuri could explain, she remembered and quickly looked towards the clock. "Oh no! Shuji! The brunch!" She rushed into the examination room, chanting "Oh no no NO!"
The phone call to her boyfriend explaining the circumstances had not been pleasant. He complained about how his time was just as valuable as hers, and every time she brushed him aside it made him question their status. It was an argument Kagome had heard from Shuji before and was not in the mood to placate his fears once again.
"Why don't I call you once I am done here?"
"Kagome, I understand how important your work is to you. Sometimes I just feel like nothing else will ever be as important."
She stayed quiet and Shuji sighed. "I will explain your absence today and see you tonight."
Kagome disliked when he invited himself over, but the guilt made her feel obligated to allow it. "Okay. Tonight. I have to go now, though." Her phone beeped as the call ended and she slouched against her desk. Abandoning her glasses, she wiped a frustrated tear from her cheek.
Relationships had not been easier for her since the abrupt separation of her and Inuyasha. The lack of closure and justified regret from her greatest love had left her empty. There was more to miss than Inuyasha. The loss of her entire feudal family sat heavy in her heart. Also, the adrenaline rushes from their battles had become addicting. For a time, Kagome was once again within the Shikon-like darkness, but instead of a jewel she was trapped in her own depression. She remained emotionally distant, believing that being left alone to grieve was what she truly wanted, but once she reached out to her family her recovery truly began to happen.
Talking about it removed the pressure to feel their absence. Sharing her loss with others softened her resolve to hold onto the pain, and even removed the guilt of letting go. Eventually, Kagome was once again in the light. She was thankful for the ones that were left behind and the ones she shared her life with now.
But all her intimate relationships had lacked the same gut-dropping, hair-pulling, breath-catching passion that she had for her first love. Shuji was the closest, though, perhaps because he could be as obstinate and goal-driven as she was.
A shuffling next to her broke through Kagome's exhausted and somber haze. Sesshoumaru had rested his head on the desk, his brows cocked and golden eyes locked onto her inquisitively.
"Did you ever have trouble with a loved one?" she asked him sardonically.
In response, the massive dog sighed, causing Kagome to giggle.
"Yeah, Inuyasha had that effect. Alright, Sess-sama," she stood up, ignoring the aches, "Let's get you checked out." Kagome patted the sterile, cool table top that had seen the entirety of his pack, but he still sniffed at it speculatively.
Her eye twitched. "Come on, get up on the table."
He sneered at the prospect.
The weariness began to crash down on her. She slumped over the table, groaning. "Please, Sesshoumaru." Her bloodshot eyes pleaded with him and the strain in her voice made it crack. "I can't go home unless I know you are alright."
The dog yawned, then completely laid down and sighed as his eyes slid shut.
He was just an animal. Though he showed signs and characteristics of the demon he used to be, it was clear to Kagome that those days were gone. Something over the last few centuries had left him this way; a shell of what he used to be. Still, as he drifted into sleep that they both desperately needed, she took his reluctance personally.
"Oh no you don't, Lord of the Fleas…"
The deep, annoyed rumbles that resonated within his round chest were deafened by Kagome's own grunts while she strained to pick up the stubborn dog. Her legs straddled his hips as he remained laying on the floor and her arms hooked around his front. She took a several, quick breaths before tensing her back and pulling up again. "Just- ugh- get on- err- the… TA-ble-."
Sesshoumaru was too heavy and her efforts only resulted in a pulled muscle and a surly, groaning dog. She pulled up hard one more time, but her sneakers slipped. Gasping, she hugged him tight and fell back, her butt hitting the hard ground gracelessly. She whimpered, "Ow," and did not fight it when the large inu shifted so he was lying on top of her, effectively pinning her to the cold tile floor.
Kagome was beyond tired and unjustifiably injured. Warm, dejected tears formed in the corner of her eyes while she heaved to breath under Sesshoumaru's weight. His thick, snowy fur tickled her exposed arms and she ungracefully spit out a few tendrils that made their way into her mouth. Her hands pressed against his chest to push him off, but when he didn't instantly begin to growl at her she explored instead.
She was sure he was in decent health, but her guilty conscience would plague her if she did not at least check. Sesshoumaru barely regarded the human rug under him as her small hands felt the lymph nodes in his neck, his ears for signs of mites or infection, and finally she listened to his heartbeat rumble through her for signs of arrhythmia. The gentle, lulling thrumming and the warmth of him blanketed around Kagome, so once her small inspection was done she felt content.
"All good!" she praised, then ran her hands through the fur on his arms. It was then when her fingertips found a large scar near the top of his shoulder. She paused before inspecting it closer. The raised skin wrapped completely around the limp and the scar tissue itself was extremely firm. It was old, but had been severe, and Kagome knew exactly how he got it.
"Oh my god," she breathed, then looked into his intelligent eyes. '"It really is you."
There was no doubt in her mind, but every small affirmation of his identity felt like a stunted leap down the well again. They stared at each other until he licked away one tear that escaped down her cheek and rose off her, leaving the room to nap with his pack instead.
.
Kagome's stomach had been twisted over the last few days as she stressed about possible mishaps and… increased chance of manslaughter at her office, but she was finally able to relax. Besides her theory that Sesshoumaru was deliberately positioning himself in the most opportune places to startle the staff, the week had gone by without any major incident. Having Nathan and Kimiko frequently visit also helped handle the barrage of dogs to care for.
"Oh, this one is just so cute!" Kimiko exclaimed the following Friday. "When do you think they will be ready to be adopted out?"
Sesshoumaru jolted up from his claimed corner, but went unnoticed by the group.
"Maybe in another week or two," she answered. "I want to make sure of any health problems so I can properly inform the families."
"Well, if anyone can find them a good home, it's you. But, can I call dibs on the small black one?"
The sudden growl made all three jump.
"Uh-oh," Nathan said, gently pulling his wife closer to him, "I don't think the big one likes that very much."
"He has a name, you know." The week had taken its toll, and Kagome's careful reticence of the truth faltered.
"You named him?" Nathan questioned.
Internally, she berated herself. "Er…"
"Wow," Kimiko chimed in, "Out of all of them, I didn't think you would get attached to him."
"Well, what can I say?" Kagome joked nervously. "I like a cynic."
"So," her friend urged, slightly uncomfortable. "What is it?"
"Um…" She paused to realize how macabre it would sound, but she wasn't about to deny the taiyoukai any more of himself when he had lost so much already. "It's Sesshoumaru."
Kimiko's eyes widened and, sensing her distress, Nathan quietly asked for a translation.
"It means Killing Perfection," she answered in hushed, clipped English.
"Ah." They all looked towards Sesshoumaru. He narrowed his eyes back and bared a fang as the small puppy disappeared under his chest. Nathan chuckled. "I think it's perfect."
…
A/N: Thanks for reading/reviewing. :]