Title: Work-A-Holic
Author: Tsubasa Kya
Disclaimer:I have created a mission. It is to cover the entire FF world with HieiKago love and then when I have massed an army of HieiKago fanfiction, we will march on to rule the UNIVERSE! Bwahahaha! (I still don't own.)

Chapter eight: Excuses

Ward B-6. These words were written above the ward she had worked in for several years now. She had started here as an intern in college, soon after she left the shrine. Mother. She forced her frown away from her face, knowing she looked cold and uncaring, but it couldn't be helped. Grandpa. Both of them were dead. Kagome didn't know until now.

Souta wouldn't have told her, either. No, he wouldn't have. Not if he could have avoided it. But unfortunately, Mother had left one last gift for her: a crash landing into the past. That was unavoidable. She couldn't help but end up facing what she hoped to forget forever.

Her fingers pushed open the double-hinged door, and it swung shut behind her like a broken pendulum, coming to a stop right in the middle of the frame where it belonged. Her attendants were surprised to see her. They knew she wasn't supposed to be there."Doctor--" Nurse Nina started, but Kagome held up her hand to silence the woman.

"I am not here to work." Kagome told Nina. She forced a smile, and from the small wince that Nina gave, she knew it wasn't the best she had ever managed. Of course, something would be off today. Kagome had just found out her family was down to only two people... and barely even that. Souta didn't really recognize her as family anymore. He wouldn't use her real name, would he? Barely.

Terrence gave a confused look. "Doc? They said you took a vacation day!" Jillian looked equally perplexed, "A...ah...re... yoo...he-er?"

"No, Jillian, I am not here." Kagome told her patient. Well, ex-patient. She glanced at the paralyzed demon in the corner. He did not look at her. He simply stared out the window, his third eye closed. But she could feel him watching her. "I..." she paused. She couldn't tell them. What a coward she was. It wasn't hard. "I am looking for--"

She was going to lie. But now it wasn't necessary, because the person she was going to lie that she was looking for entered her ward. He must have known she had come. Unsurprisingly. Like her, he always knew everything that went on in Ward B. "Aiko, I believe you were on vacation." Her boss--ex-boss--said.

She had no choice now. She had to say it in front of everyone. Running away? Yes, she supposed she was. She always did that, didn't she? Outwardly she was perfect. But inwardly, she was a mess. "Yes, Sir. I have important matters to discuss with you, however."

"Ah. Well, I am here. Speak." She didn't like him any more now than she did before. Such a shame he had to be so annoying.

She simply stopped smiling. She had no good news to give, at least in her mind it wasn't good. "I must apologize, but I am afraid I must quit." Her boss frowned at this. Terrence looked forlorn, and Jillian looked thunderstruck. Nina and Kagome's other attendant Kii both looked away shyly. The paralyzed demon said nothing and looked emotionless.

Her boss gave her a long look as she stood there. In his eyes, she was a perfect example of a woman with a perfect life. She had her own place. She worked two jobs because she wanted to. She spent lots of money on charity. She was beautiful. "You will, of course, be putting in your two weeks time, correct?"

"Unfortunately, no, Sir. I must leave for Tokyo immediately. There is a situation there that requires my undivided attention as soon as I land." Yes, that sounded good. She was pleased with how well that came out. But she remained without a smile on her face. "I will send you my formal resignation by post. Please give my most pleasant greetings to the faculty and staff." And she turned to walk away.

Souta had come to pick her up. He knew from previous visits where her Ward was. Stepping in through the door, he said, "Aiko, we need to go. Now. Our plane leaves in half an hour and we needed to check our bags two hours ago." She nodded at the man the world would never know was her brother. The demon in the corner didn't look at her. Jillian was crying and Terrence still looked depressed. Her boss didn't say anything. He merely smiled, likely thinking she had a significant other in her life now. He would give her blessings and a good review for any new employer as long as he remained a contact for her resume.

That's just crazy. But sexy crazy. Haha!