Disclaimer: i own nothing.
Chapter nine: With a Little Help From My Friends
"Kagome's case is quite unusual, but not unimaginable. She is the daughter of Shima and Nobu Higurashi. Records show that Kagome was born at this hospital on November 12th, 1994. That would make her six this year. Records also tell us that her mother died here while having an emergency C-section in 1998. The baby did not survive either. After that, the hospital has no further information on the family. Her father has very few medical records from before, and neither him or Kagome have records after 1998. I spoke with Kagome for a while and she told me that she has been living on the streets with her father. My best guess is that he couldn't afford to pay bills and they fell on hard times. She said that they lived in the abandoned part of the subway system downtown and that her father left to go find food. That's all I really know as of now. Kagome's communication skills are sub-par, but she can carry one on with help. She's been out of school for two years maybe and is far behind where she should be in terms of education." Amelia finished bluntly, clasping her hands in front of her on the table. The files were collected in front of the social worker neatly, though Izayoi wished she could read them for herself. Legally though, she had no right to. Just hearing it had a saddening effect on her though, and she couldn't help but feel pity for Kagome. Inu-Taisho sat beside her, rubbing her back comfortingly, although he was much less affected. The girl's story was a sad one, but he rarely became emotional over things that didn't directly affect him.
The room they were in was quite the bland one; dark grey walls, grey carpeting, and a long mahogany table that could seat thirty people. But the three people inside only took the last few chairs at the end. The noises from the busy hallway were canceled by the walls, and yet the silence of the room was inescapable. Izayoi, once she had fully digested all that had been presented, sat back in her comfortable rolling chair and ran a hand through her flowing black hair. Inu-Taisho patted her hand quietly, offering some support to his wife. He knew the social worker would be asking questions now.
"Miss Taisho, I need to know what occurred that night. I have a statement from Kagome that says, 'I went to go look at the chicken and then something hit me,'. That isn't much for me to go on. Please tell me your perspective." Amelia clicked her pen twice, ready to take note of what Izayoi said.
"Well, I had just left the opera and my driver, Tom, was taking me home. It was very late and very dark. I don't know if he saw the girl or not, but suddenly he was slamming on the breaks and getting out of the car. I joined him and saw her lying on the ground. We called the ambulance and followed them here. And if course we will be covering all medical and after care expenses. I feel terrible that this happened." Izayoi swallowed hard, wringing her hands nervously. She hated situations like this. No matter what the circumstance was, she always felt guilty when being questioned.
Amelia nodded her head curtly as she wrote down the statement. "So, would you say that your driver hit the girl and THEN stopped? Or was he already stopping when he hit her?"
Izayoi looked at the woman warily, but still tried to answer. "He was already breaking when he hit her. I think it was more of a bump actually, because I didn't even feel the car touching anything." Once again, the social worker nodded as she continued writing, going on to ask more questions of the woman. Sometimes Inu-Taisho would answer when his wife fumbled for the correct words or didn't know. He didn't want this woman twisting his wive's words into something that could land them in a law suit.
Once Amelia had finished grilling Izayoi, the topic turned back to Kagome's situation. And as she gathered the papers from the table and compiled them back into the manila folder, Amelia divulged what her future would be.
"Kagome needs to remain in the hospital for another month. There were toxins found in her blood that would have soon killed her if she hadn't been brought here. They were probably contracted from all the bug bites found over her body. On top of that, she's contracted whooping cough. Her immunization hasn't been maintained and she's at a high risk of infection until we can get up up to date. She's undergoing a round of shots and medication which will leave her weak. She's also going to need extensive dental care…thankfully not many of her adult teeth have grown in. Once she is discharged, she must take medication that will make her feel even worse, and will need to be on bed rest for at least a week. She needs to have a humidifier with her at all times for two weeks after her discharge, and after that she must sleep with it until Dr. Meiner says it's no longer needed. She say's Kagome's throat was red and scratched from coughing so much and for so long. They even found blood in her esophagus and lungs." Amelia had finished re-arranging the papers and had the folder laying atop her writing pad, obviously ready to wrap up their little conference. She was leaning forward in her seat, staring intently at the couple across the table.
"It will be quite difficult to find someone who will take care of such a sick girl and take on the medical bills she will incur. I cannot place her in an orphanage or group home, as she needs round the clock monitoring and exposure to other children could be counterproductive. And besides the medical issues, Kagome has been deprived of mental and emotional stimulation for two years, and will need not only therapy but also to be tutored to catch up with her age group again. She's almost seven, and I don't know if she was ever enrolled in kindergarten. She spoke well enough, but she should be better at articulation at this age. To put it plain and simple; if I don't find a family willing to take all of that on in the next month, Kagome will become a ward of the state and most likely end up in a group home or back on the streets. She needs a foster family until I can find a permanent home." On that heavy note, Amelia stopped talking and stared at Izayoi with piercing eyes, conveying what her words could not. Izayoi understood what the woman was hinting at, and her heart longed to do it, but what about her husband? He was not an impulsive man.
Izayoi turned her face towards Inu-Taisho, eyes pleading and searching for his approval. The man beside her also picked up on the subtle message in Turner's little speech, and also knew his wife would take the bait. But he wasn't expecting those heartbreaking eyes to be turned onto him. She looked at him with the same desperate, saddening expression as four years ago. And as much as he wanted to give into her wishes, Inu-Taisho did not wish to become responsible for the girl. He was torn between his pride and desire to fulfill Izayoi's deepest wishes. Sighing deeply, Inu-Taisho rubbed his tired eyes and looked up at Amelia.
"May we have some time to think this over?" He asked defeatedly, and was instantly taken into the tight embrace of his wife. Amelia hid her pleased smile well and nodded at him.
"You have all of one month. Either you take her home the day of her discharge, or I take her to a group home. Here is my card, call me if you have any questions or have made your decision. I have to go now. Good day to the both of you." Amelia rose up from her chair and picked her papers up from the table, prepared to leave. She was a busy woman and had other appointments. But as she turned to leave, Izayoi called out.
"May we see her?" She asked hopefully, voice wavering with emotion. Amelia, who was just about to walk through the door, stopped and looked back at Izayoi with a hint of a smile.
"Yes, you can. Bye." And with that, she was gone. The door clicked shut behind her, and the Taisho's were left alone in the room. Izayoi looked at Ozora, and he looked at her. Neither one knew what to say. She was so eager to see Kagome, and he was so reluctant to get her hopes up. And before she could ask that nagging question that he saw twinkling in her eyes, Inu-Taisho stopped Izayoi.
"Let me sleep on this for a week, please. If we were to foster her, everything would change. I'm not saying no, but I'm not saying yes either Izayoi. We have to make sure the boys would be alright with it as well. May I have a week?" Izayoi smiled understandingly at him, taking his large hand in her dainty ones. She intertwined their fingers and gave his hand a squeeze.
"That's all I ask of you Touga; just consider it. I think I need this though. We lost our other child and this could be a chance to make up for it. Don't you think?" Her smile diminished when he gave her that stern, chastising look that was usually reserved for his sons.
"Izayoi, she is not a replacement for Rin. If we were to foster her, it wouldn't be a permanent thing. Please don't get so attached to her...It's not good for you." He grasped her small shoulders and forced Izayoi to look him in the eye. He could not entertain these fantasies of hers. Izayoi had been traumatized by Rin's sudden death and this could either help her heal or hurt her even more. Izayoi's face crumbled and tears flooded her eyes, but she nodded none-the-less.
"Yes, I know she's not Rin. And I know she's not my daughter. But I have a feeling that she needs me." The tears finally spilled down her cheeks, and left Inu-Taisho feeling like a royal ass. He hated seeing his love in such distress. But sometimes tough love was required. He took her into his arms, gave her a long hug, and then stood up from the table.
"Take a moment to compose yourself. I'll wait outside of the door. We'll go see Kagome when you're ready." Izayoi watched him leave her, a smile on her face even as the tears drizzled down. He shut the door quietly behind him, and it took only a few minutes until he saw the door open slowly and Izayoi step back out into the busy hospital. Her face was a little flushed, and eyes were blotchy, but she was recovered. Izayoi smiled at her husband sheepishly before he took her hand and lead her to where their son's were sitting. Upon arrival, Izayoi noticed her son acting rather strange. He wouldn't look up from his lap. She disregarded it though. "Boys, we're all going to go visit Kagome in her room, okay? Come on." She watched as Sesshoumaru begrudgingly stood up from his seat, having no problem showing his discontent with the idea, and furrowed her brow when Inuyasha wouldn't come. "Inuyasha? What's wrong?" She asked with concern, looking back at Inu-Taisho for a moment before crouching in front of their son so she was at eye level with him.
Inuyasha glanced at his mother with bleary, fearful eyes and shook his head. How could he tell his mom about the terrible thing he did? She'd kill him! His eyes shifted to look at Sesshoumaru's smug face and instantly his cheeks heated up with anger. That idiot was enjoying this. "I'm not going…I don't feel good." He mumbled stubbornly, flinching when he heard his father's short-tempered sigh. The man knew he was lying. But Izayoi placed her hand against his forehead and hummed thoughtfully.
"You feel a little flush. Maybe you should stay here." She looked back at Sesshoumaru. "Will you stay out here and keep an eye on him? We'll only be with Kagome for a short while. Please?" Sesshoumaru didn't answer; only sat back down in his seat again and pulled his phone out to start texting once more. Knowing that was the most she'd get from him, Izayoi gave Inuyasha a peck on the forehead, then walked with Inu-Taisho over to Kagome's room. She looked through the small window of Kagome's door and smiled. Kagome was lying back in her bed and holding the doll up in the air above her face. She moved it around like it was flying, making it twirl and dive in the air like a super hero. She looked back at Inu-Taisho excitedly and pushed the door open.
Kagome instantly stopped playing when she heard her door open. The sound from outside flooded her quiet room, and then the pretty melody of Izayoi's voice drowned it out. "Hi Kagome, I'm Izayoi. And this is my husband Touga. Can we come in and talk?" She asked sweetly, voice soft and comforting. Kagome sat up in her bed and looked at the two with wide, curious eyes. She was a very pretty woman, and he was so handsome. Kagome nodded her head softly, never removing her eyes from the couple as they came in. Izayoi took the seat next to the bed while Inu-Taisho stood behind her, his face unreadable as ever. But he stared down at her with eyes so familiar that it was unsettling. And his hair, it reminded her of someone else as well; but who?
Izayoi stared at Kagome for a moment, taking her appearance in. She still had the nasal tubes and oxygen mask on, but her eyes were alive for once, and that was enough to assure her. Smiling brightly, Izayoi spoke first. "Kagome, do you know how you got here?" When Kagome nodded, after what seemed like an eternity, Izayoi continued. "I'm afraid it's because of me. See it was my car that ran into you. I'm so sorry Kagome that you got hurt. How do you feel?" Kagome's eyes widened as she tried to comprehend what it was Izayoi was saying. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words were hard to get out.
"I don't hurt no more." She said slowly, unsure if that was the answer the lady was looking for. Her voice was terribly muffled by the mask on her face, but it was understandable. Izayoi's smile widened when she heard that.
"That's wonderful. So you're not mad at me right? If you are, I promise to make up for it. Just name it, anything you want and I will get it for you." She boasted confidently, a hint of laughter in her soft voice. Inu-Taisho looked at his wife warily. He wasn't so sure making promises like that was such a good idea. But he remained silent. This girl could easily ask for something outlandish, like a pony or whatever it was little girls enjoyed. He wasn't going to be buying a pony for someone he didn't know. But the words that came from Kagome's lips surprised and confused the both of them.
"Mommy's picture; I want mommy's picture." She said bluntly, never letting her eyes fall from Izayoi's face. Kagome had been feeling quite anxious for some time since she woke up in the hospital. She needed her book and her mother's picture like it was the air she breathed. "It's in the tunnel, under my bed. Inside Curious George." She insisted, her voice becoming more and more urgent. Kagome's grip on the doll tightened so much that her knuckles became white. This was her chance to get her picture back; Kagome would not let it pass by without trying to grasp it. Izayoi's smile became sympathetic and she reached out to touch Kagome's small shoulder comfortingly. It surprised her to feel just how thin and frail the girl was. The gesture seemed to have the desired effect as Kagome instantly began to calm down.
"I'll try to find it. I promise." There was a moment between them, where Kagome studied Izayoi's face for any falsehood. Was the woman lying? Just saying things Kagome wanted to hear just to make her happy? But when Kagome stared into those deep, brown eyes, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of happiness spark inside of her. It'd been so long since a woman was nice to her, and this one reminded her so much of her mother. Kagome smile prettily behind the foggy mask, her hesitant trust reaching out to Izayoi.
After a while of talking with Kagome, Inu-Taisho declared it was time for them to go home. Izayoi said her goodbyes to the girl and they made their way to the door. But Kagome had a nagging question she just had to ask before she forgot.
"Hey mister, you got a kid?" She blurted out, the mask already pulled away from her face so that he could hear her better. Inu-Taisho stiffly turned around, his cold eyes meeting Kagome's curious ones. Never mind her poor manners, but where did she get the gall to question him? Still, he could not hold it against her. She was only a child.
"I have two sons. Why do you ask?" He said cautiously. Izayoi looked at Kagome with a confused expression, and then back at her son and step-son, which were looking back at her. She saw Inuyasha duck his head again. Had something gone on between him and Kagome?
"Kagome, do you know Inuyasha?" She asked sweetly, masking her concern. The way Inuyasha was acting, it had her worried. Kagome instantly bristled at the name and her eyes flared with an unspoken rage. These kind people, well one was kind and the other was distant, were related to that beast? It was enough to make her gag. Kagome couldn't wait to tell Izayoi exactly how she knew her son.
Inuyasha kept sneaking peaks at Kagome's room from his seat twenty feet away. To his right, Sesshoumaru was texting away, seemingly unaware of what was happening. He'd already told him about that day and what he did to Kagome, so now all there was left was to tell his parents before Kagome got to. But they were taking so long in there and every minute that passed by was another chance for him to confess going out the window. Suddenly, his parents started to leave and he perked up hopefully. They weren't mad, so she couldn't have told them. But then his father stopped and turned back to Kagome. Inuyasha's hopeful face cracked. This wasn't good. Izayoi then started to look at him and then back at Kagome and by the look on her face, Inuyasha's chances at getting out clean were being dashed.
He ducked his head again, refusing to meet his mothers face once more. He glanced at Sesshoumaru. "Am I in trouble?" He whispered nervously. Sesshoumaru looked up from his phone, his thumbs freezing in mid text, and stared boredly in the direction of his step-mother. Without so much as a kind word to his soon-to-be dead brother he said, "Yes." And it was true. Izayoi was staring at her son with a look that could melt an iceberg. She was beyond pissed. Her eyes were bugging out, one twitching with rage, and mouth pursed so tightly that her usually plump lips were non-existent. It was possibly the scariest face she could make, and it was all directed at Inuyasha.
"Inuyasha!" A screeching sound echoed through the pediatric ward, startling many. Izayoi's rage could not be contained.
"You will not survive this," Sesshoumaru dead-panned and finished his text