Chapter 17

Foxgem: Hello. I know you all want to kill me but I hope to make you all happy with this chapter…maybe…

Chapter 17

Problems

2 weeks have gone since the discovery of this new threat. During the first week the whole family went in to get tested. Since it was a rare STD the information would have to be flown out to a facility out in Sweden. Any day now the Doctor would call and give the news.

Everyone was on the edge. Kagome kept a bright happy face in front of the children but the nights she fell asleep crying in Inuyasha's arms too often to count. Inuyasha put on a brave exterior for Kagome and kids but inside he felt like he was dying. Inuyasha was so paranoid it wasn't funny. If he got a stomachache he would flip out worrying that indeed he did have it. Or if Kara bumped her knee he would have to hold himself back from rushing to the emergency room.

Kikyo was put on bed rest because she kept getting worked up about Hojo and how he screwed everyone's lives up. Naruku got his migraines more often and had to extreme pills for them.

Rin, Sess, Miroku, and Sango all took turns watching the kids and going to work. It wasn't easy on any of them. Why? Why did this all have to happen? How could things…get so bad? These were some of the many questions Kagome asked herself each day.

Kagome would stare at the people walking by as if nothing interesting was happening. Couldn't they see the gift they were all given? Kagome wanted to shake the world till everyone understood how precious it is to walk down the street with no worries.

Kagome sat on her couch staring out the window as she usually did. The kids played quietly knowing that something was bothering their mother. Whenever the kids came around the parents got really quiet and you knew they were talking about something they didn't want you to hear.

Shippo stood and walked over to Kagome. Kagome still stared at the window. "Mom? Dad will be home soon. It's okay."

Kagome turned and smiled a sad smile. "I know. I count on it." Kagome rubbed his head messing up Shippo's hair.

"Mommy? Can we go to the park?" Nathan asked looking up at her from the floor.

Kagome shook her head. She was not missing that call. "No. Mommy is waiting for a very important phone call that she cannot miss."

"OH! Is about when we are going to move into our new palace?" Kara asked running up and climbing on Kagome's lap.

Kagome smiled. "You could say that." Kagome told Inuyasha they were not going to move until they found out. Kagome wanted all of her family with in reach when the doctor called.

"YEAH! I can't wait. I want to move now!" Nathan said grinning really big.

"Me too!" Kara said jumping up and down on Kagome's lap.

"HEY! Me too!" Shippo said going to go play with Nathan.

Just then Nathan's nose began to bleed heavily.

"Oh no!" Kagome's heart wrenched as she scooped up Nathan and took him into the bathroom. No, no, no, no!

Kagome laid Nathan on her bed and got him to hold the tissue paper to his nose. Then she went to go call Inuyasha. But before she could pick up the phone it began to ring. Kagome's heart stopped. Then she picked up the phone.

"Kagome! The doctor just called! He is receiving the fax now. I called everyone and they are on their way!" Inuyasha said driving as fast as he could.

Kagome clutched the phone. "Inuyasha! I am so glad it's you."

"What's wrong?" Inuyasha asked worried.

"It's Nathan. He has one of his bad nosebleeds again. It just keeps coming and coming…I don't know what to do."

"Hang on. I am almost home. Just keep Nathan lying down, k? I will see you soon. I love you."

"I love you to." Kagome said hanging up.

Kara came running into the room. "Nathan is joking on his own blood, mommy!"

Kagome ran into her room to see Nathan sitting up, coughing and spitting blood out of his mouth.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no. " Kagome repeated over and over again. After shooing the kids away, Kagome made Nathan sit up and while she held tissue over his nose he held a bowl in which he could spit in.

It took Kagome 20 minutes to stop the bleeding. Of course by then he was out like a light. Kagome sighed as she stared all around her bedroom. Crap. Her covers were smeared with blood as well as her floor. Kagome stood and turned just as Inuyasha ran into the room.

Inuyasha took one look at Nathan and all the blood and felt like crying. "You do know…what this could mean…don't you?" Inuyasha asked.

"Yes." Kagome whispered. Inuyasha opened his arms and Kagome flew in them.

Inuyasha just held her tight. Finally Kagome asked, "Is everyone here?"

"Yeah…what are we going to do about Nathan?" Inuyasha asked.

Kagome stared at the little boy. "Shippo and Kara can watch him. If he starts to bleed again then I am taking him to the emergency room."

"In that case we need to hurry. The doctor came a number to call when we were ready." Inuyasha said kissing her head.

Kagome pulled away. "Lets get this over with. I have to know." Inuyasha nodded then took her hand and led her to the living room. Everyone sat with grave faces. Even Kikyo showed up (much to Naruku's disappointment).

"Kara? Shippo? I need you guys to watch Nathan. If anything happens you run back here to tell me, okay?" Kagome said calling to her children.

"Okay mom. Come on Kara." Shippo said standing. Shippo took Kara's hand and they went off together. As soon as Inuyasha and Sess could be sure they wouldn't hear they called the doctor and put it on speakerphone. It rang twice before the doctor picked it up.

"Hello? This is Doctor Tishaki. How may I help you?"

Inuyasha piped in. "This Inuyasha and I am calling to find out the results of the test."

"Does your wife know that you are doing this?"

"Yes. In fact my whole family is here. You are on speaker phone." Inuyasha said taking Kagome into his arms. Was he ready to hear this?

"All right. Then let us begin. Do you wish for me to start with the children…or what?"

"We don't care."

"All right. When it comes to Inuyasha…your test came out negative." Inuyasha felt his chest tighten even more…what if Kagome has it?

"When it comes to Kara, She doesn't have any trace of the disease. "When it comes to Kagome…negative. Kagome doesn't have any trace of the disease in her blood."

"Oh no…" Kagome gripped onto Inuyasha with all of her might. Her eyes began water.

"When it comes to Nathan…positive. Nathan does have it. He has a bad case of it. We do not expect him to live to see his 10th birthday."

Inuyasha felt terrible. Of course he expected this but…he did love the boy. He loved the boy so much. It didn't matter who his real mother and father were. Inuyasha and Kagome thought of him as theirs. Inuyasha held onto Kagome while she cried. Inuyasha hated all of this. If he ever got a hold of Hojo…he was going to kill him all over again.

Sess hung up the phone while everyone shook in disbelief.

Kagome kept asking the question why. Inuyasha had no answer. Why was this happening to them? Foxgem: okay…because I command it…had to break it up the sadness. What had they done?

Kara came running into the room. "MOMMY! Nathan is puking up blood."

Kagome jumped up in a flash and ran into her room. Shippo was busy trying to hold the bowl while Nathan puked. Inuyasha somehow reached Nathan before Kagome did. After watching the couple run out Sess ran out the door to start the car while Rin and Sango fretted after Kara.

Inuyasha picked him up in his arms heedless of the blood spilling all over his clothes and ran out the door. "Kagome! Call the hospital and warn them that I am coming." Inuyasha yelled as he climbed into the car with Sess in the drivers seat.

Kagome stared after them. Kikyo took one look at her sister then called the hospital. Kagome knelt blindly look after the speeding car. Tears flowed down her cheeks un-checked. Shippo came up behind her. He was still exhausted from taking care of Nathan. Shippo leaned down and picked up Kagome's limp hand. As if it was a relax she grabbed Shippo and pulled him to her chest.

Shippo looked up into his mothers eyes and saw the terror, love, and all the emotions a son knew that what just happened wasn't everything that was going on. Why? What could happen now? He finally had a new mommy. He had a new full family. Why? What could have possibly happened?

Sango went over to Kagome and touched her shoulder. "Come on. I will take you to the hospital."

It took a minute for Kagome to respond. Kagome very slowly let go of Shippo. Kagome stood up still numb and let Sango lead her toward the car that Naruku was driving. Sango shut the door and they were off.

Sango shook her head. Kagome was going to snap. Kagome couldn't take all of this. Sango wished Kagome could just get away from everything for a day. Kagome needed a break. Sango felt Miroku wrap his arms around her. Sango leaned back in his grasp. Kagome needed to know why this was all worth going through. Inuyasha needed to find someway to show Kagome that love of a family is worth this.

Kara dug her head into Shippo's shoulder. Shippo rocked her back and forth. Kara was so afraid. She had no idea what was going on. Kara looked at her Aunt Rin and asked in a tear voice, "Aunt Rin? Is Nathan going to die? I once had some goldfish and they died. We had to flush them down the toilet. Will we have to flush Nathan? I don't want my brother to die!"

Rin had no idea how to answer that. Luckily Kikyo did. "Kara, they will not flush Nathan down the toilet. And as for Nathan dying…we all have to die sometime. Maybe this is Nathan's time."

"NO! He can't die!" Kara shook her head vigorously.

Kikyo smiled sadly then patted the couch next to her. "Come here, child." Kara walked over and climbed up on the couch. "Give me your hand." Kara gave Kikyo her hand. Kikyo guided the hand to her stomach. Kara waited and then she felt little kicks. Kara grabbed her hand back in surprise.

Kikyo smiled as she hugged the little girl. "Did you feel that? What you felt were my sons. They are here in my belly. Soon I will give birth to them and they will live just like you and me. Just like we are all born. We all must die. Today is not your time, not mine, Mommy, Daddy, or even Nathan's time. No one is going to die. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe next year. No one knows."

"Aunt Kikyo? What is going on? I know there is something you all aren't saying. What is going on?" Shippo said trying to act brave.

Kikyo looked at the small pup. He had his hands in fists and he was glaring at the floor. That boy had been through so much. He deserved better. Kikyo sighed. "Shippo, if your parents want you to know they will tell you. But you will not hear it from me. Rin? Please take the kids and clean them up." Kikyo said giving Kara to Rin.

Rin called to Sango and they took the kids off to be clean.

1111111111111111

Meanwhile…

Kagome sat in the waiting room of the emergency room holding herself. Naruku sat next to her holding her hand. Naruku could tell Kagome was at her mental breaking point. She was pale and shaking if she was cold. Naruku couldn't take this sitting down.

What if this happened to him and Kikyo? Would Kikyo be able to deal with all of this? What if he told her what Inuyasha found when they examined him? Should he tell her? Or should he just get it done and never tell her? Naruku shook his head. He couldn't hide the scars. He had to tell her. But how could he tell her?

Just then Inuyasha came walking into the room. Inuyasha clapped Naruku on the shoulder while he went to Kagome. Inuyasha was exhausted. He was pale and his eyes were red with lack of sleep. Inuyasha somehow managed to pull Kagome into his lap. Inuyasha rested his head on hers and he shut his eyes.

Kagome shut her eyes as she curled up next to him. Before he could blink they were both out like lights. Naruku smiled. Then Naruku went up to the Doctor who fallowed Inuyasha.

"How did it all go?" Naruku whispered.

The Doctor took one look at the exhausted couple before grabbing Naruku and taking him out into the hall.

The Doctor sighed, "Not good. We stopped the bleeding and we gave him more blood. With this new disease that he has…his genes are all messed up. His immune system is down to a dangerous level. If someone coughed on him…it would be good-bye for him. He needs a good warm climate and lots of love. His parents are in for a rough ride."

"They have already been through a lot. Kagome is at breaking point and Inuyasha is…exhausted." Naruku commented.

"It will only get worse for them." The doctor said shaking his head.

Naruku looked back at the room where Inuyasha and Kagome slept. "How long before we can move Nathan?"

"What did you have in mind?"

Naruku bit his lip. "They are moving to the U.S. as soon as Nathan is better. Their house is built and everything is just waiting for them. How long before we can move Nathan?"

The Doctor sighed. "We don't know. It could be in 3 days. It just depends on his condition."

Naruku nodded. Then after telling the Doctor thank you, Naruku went to call his wife.

2222222222

Inuyasha woke up to find themselves still in the hospital with Kagome in his lap. Inuyasha ran a hand through her hair. Just then Kagome looked up at him. Inuyasha did his best to smile. "Hi."

Kagome smiled. "Hi."

Inuyasha nuzzled her neck. "How are you?"

"Fine. And you?"

"Good." Inuyasha kissed her. Then with a sigh he pulled away. "Shall we go to check on Nathan."

Kagome looked down. "Yeah."

"Nathan is doing fine. I don't want you two to get up." Sess growled from the seat at the other end of the room.

Inuyasha smiled. "You stayed?"

"Of course, mutt. Why wouldn't I? Anyway…they say you guys can move in 3 days…that is of course if Nathan behaves himself." Sess rolled his eyes.

Kagome jumped up. "Nathan is awake?"

"Of course…" Before Sess could say another word Kagome flew out of the room.

Nathan sat up in the middle of a huge bed. He didn't like the lights. They were too bright. Nathan shivered. And it was too cold. Didn't they hear of heat? Just then his mother came flying around the corner. As soon as she saw him she smiled.

"Hi mommy. What took you so long?" Nathan asked smiling holding up his arms so she could hug him.

Kagome hugged him tightly, "Guess what?"

"What?"

"We are going to go move into the nice huge house as soon as you get out of here." Kagome said smiling brightly.

"Really?" Nathan asked.

Kagome's eyes twinkled. "Really. You will get your own room and everything. It will be just like in the stories I used to read to you." Kagome sat on the bed staring at her son. Nathan had a breathing tube and a I.V. in his hand.

"Will you read to me now?" Nathan asked looking to where the nurse had laid some.

Kagome picked them up. "Of course." Kagome laid down very carefully next to her son and began to read to him all about a blonde girl and 3 big mean bears.

333333333333

Foxgem: I know this is all going fast…but bear with me. I am trying to get this done before I leave on a 2-week vacation to the middle of nowhere.

3333333333333

Later that night…

The whole gang sat around the table eating what Rin and Sango cooked.

"This is good." Kagome said digging into her food.

Inuyasha sighed smiling. "Yeah. Thanks."

"No problem. We are just glad we could do something to help." Rin smiled as she scooped more onto her plate.

Sess cleared his throat. "I think we need to discuss what is going to happen now."

Inuyasha set his utensils down and pushed his plate away from him. "We do. It looks like we will be moving within the week. Unfortunately, I just got a call from work. I need to get back. So I need to leave tomorrow. I hate leaving Kagome here with all the kids but…I have no choice. I have left work for…2 months. I really need to get back."

Kagome put down her fork. "I know." Kagome smiled at Inuyasha, "Don't worry we will just be fine."

Inuyasha nodded then continued, "Sess? What have you and Rin decided?"

"We are going to stay here. Of course we will see you twice a month so that should be good. We want to raise our family here. This is where we will stay." Sess replied as Rin grabbed his hand and held it tightly.

Inuyasha nodded then he turned to Sango and Miroku, "My offer still stands. Do you wish to move with us and live in our house?"

Miroku looked at Sango, "This is for Sango to choose. Sango?" Miroku looked across the table at his wife.

Sango flushed. "No. Thank you. But like Rin and Sess, I want to raise my children here. I love Japan. I don't think I ever want to leave. But we will come to visit you whenever."

Kagome grabbed Sango's hand and smiled. "We will come and visit you maybe."

"Kikyo? What are your plans?" Inuyasha asked looking at the giant stomach. "I know that you are 8 months pregnant, but what do you want to do about Naruku's-"

Naruku stood up, "No, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha's widened. "You haven't told her…?"

"NO! Stop talking about it. I will not put that on my wife." Naruku snapped.

Kikyo looked at the two men. "Okay what is going on?"

"That is what we would like to know." Kagome said confused.

"No, Inuyasha. NO." Naruku's voice sounded like he was pleading.

Inuyasha stood. "You will tell. Or I will. She needs to know. We need to take care of this as soon as possible."
When Inuyasha said "So, you will leave your wife and pups all by themselves? You will let your pups never get the chance of meeting their father?"

Kikyo was scared, "Naruku? What is he saying." "You will NOT tell. It is mine to tell! And I will not." Naruku stood to walk out

Naruku gripped the door. Curse him. "What he wants me to tell you…is…" Naruku turned around and walked to his wife. With a sad smile he rubbed her stomach. Then he kissed Kikyo. Kikyo gripped his shirt.

"What is wrong?" Kikyo's voice was barely a whisper.

Naruku felt the tear coming. "I may never be able to look at our children…or even touch them. I have brain tumor."

Kikyo's scream was that of a dying person. "NOO!"

Foxgem: There you go. Be happy. Oh! And guess what. We are nearing the end. Okay vote…should Naruku die? Or Should Nathan Die? Choose! how cruel I am!