DISCLAIMER: I don't own Inuyasha. I'm just a fan of the show. All rights to the character belong to its creator Rumiko Takahashi.
NOTE: Please remember that all italicized paragraphs at the beginning of the chapters refer to past events. That's how most chapters in my story will begin.
CHAPTER 7: CHAOTICALLY TURNING
It was late in the afternoon. In a couple of hours the sun would be setting. The warm winds of summer seemed to stand still as the time rolled on by without a care in the world. The only sound that could be heard was the squeaking of the floor whenever somebody moved across it. It was almost uncanny how quiet it was in the house compared to how noisy it usually was.
Inuyasha brought his long claws to his head to scratch his itching scalp. It was definitely time for him to wash his hair again. He thought while sitting at the dining room table looking through an old photo album which he rarely did. Not that he didn't like looking at pictures, but sometimes it would be just too painful to reflect on all the people he'd lost in his young life.
After his parents died, especially his mom, he wanted to die too. He really did. He saw death as better option than living because nothing in the world could compare to the pain he felt when both of them were gone. He wanted to commit suicide and even tried to a few times. Just thinking about it all now made him sick to his stomach. He didn't ever want to go back down that road again.
"What's with the glum look DogBreath?" Koga asked before walking from the open doorway and taking a seat at the table across from Inuyasha.
Inuyasha shook his head not wanting to remember anything else from his dark and dreary teenage years. Whoever said that the teen years were the best of your life was high on crack. There was absolutely nothing great about those years, especially if you lived them in his body.
Koga stared at the photo album in Inuyasha's hand. "Is that book the source of your depression?" Koga asked before reaching for it.
Inuyasha pulled it away and closed it. "I'm not depressed you stupid wolf. I was just thinking about something."
"Well it couldn't have been anything good. You looked as if you'd just lost your best friend."
"It was nothing serious. Don't worry about it."
"If you say so. Just trying to help."
"Thanks, but I don't feel like reliving the past right now."
Koga caught the unsaid meaning and backed away. Apparently Inuyasha was referring to that dark self loathsome part of his life that he securely kept tucked away from the rest of the world.
"So what are you doing here? Kaguya never lets you out of her sight." Inuyasha joked.
"She's at work and she does not cling to me like that." Koga replied trying to force away a blush.
"Oh man! Look at you! You're turning into a tomato." Inuyasha flew into a fit of laughter.
Koga opened his mouth to reply but couldn't think of anything clever to say to his best friend. So he just sat in his chair, mouth agape while Inuyasha laughed for all Koga's furrowed brows and red face was worth.
"It's okay man. I still love ya." Inuyasha said content on joking with his best bud.
Koga folded his arms and glared at the silly hanyou.
"Keh. It's not your fault you're whipped."
Koga pressed his lips together, suppressing a smirk before replying to Inuyasha teasing. "At least she's legal, Mr. Jail-Bait."
Inuyasha's eyes bulged out his head in shock.
"Yeah I said it! Now what?" Koga teased back at his friend.
"Don't get your teeth knocked out Koga!" Inuyasha stated all hints of mockery now gone from his tone.
Koga refused to back down. "Like I said, at least my woman is legal."
"She ain't my woman!"
"Isn't she? I couldn't tell a few weeks ago. Poor little thing ran out of this house aroused, sweaty, and teary-eyed with the scent of an over sexed horny hanyou all over of her."
Inuyasha looked away from Koga and stared down at the floor. Suddenly it seemed more interesting than anything else right now. He didn't dare reply to his friend's comment. He still felt horrible for everything that happened between him and son's babysitter.
"Dude! What were you thinking?"
"Keh. I don't know."
"Apparently so. You do know her folks can prosecute you for having sex with her."
"I didn't have sex with her!"
"But you were going to. In fact I'm willing to bet she's the one that stopped you."
"I wouldn't have done it anyway."
"You don't know that and you never should've let things get out of hand like that Inuyasha."
"I know that. I've already had this discussion with Kagome. I apologized to her and we've both put it behind us."
"No you haven't."
"How are you gonna tell me what I didn't do?"
"Because it's not possible for you to have already moved on from the situation. You and Kagome both have opened the forbidden door to physical attraction and emotions. It never should've been opened, at least not yet. What is she supposed to believe if you tell her you don't want her one minute and then pounces on her in the next breath?"
"I told her we couldn't have a relationship. I told her this repeatedly. She's the one who wouldn't stay away."
"So you had to give in to her dangerous temptations?"
"I didn't want to. I promise I didn't, but dear Kami! She's so gorgeous."
Koga raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"I know I shouldn't have looked at her like that because she's a teenager but she doesn't look like one, at least not body wise. I bet when she hit puberty she gave all the boys she went to school with a heart attack."
Koga laughed and Inuyasha finally gained enough courage to face him again.
"You still can't have her buddy."
"I know that. I told you we both put that whole encounter behind us."
"I know you two did. I'm just not sure it's gonna work."
"How come?"
"You still want her and she's in love with you."
"She thinks she's in love with me." Inuyasha didn't bother to correct the beginning of Koga's last statement because it was the truth. He still desired Kagome.
"In all honesty Inuyasha, I can't say that I believe Kagome's feelings for you aren't real."
"That girl isn't in love with me Koga."
"How do you know she isn't?"
"Cause girls like Kagome don't love people like me. It's not even possible."
"Oh God! Don't start with that stuff again."
"Hanyous weren't meant for loving Koga."
"If Sango heard you say that she'd cut your balls off."
"Well I guess you'd better give her a big pair of scissors because it's the truth. Nobody loves hanyous. Heck, nobody even likes them. I know that better than anyone else."
"I wish you wouldn't talk like that DogBreath. It's depressing."
"Maybe so but it's true."
"Explain Kenshin?"
"What about him?"
"You love him. Don't you?
Inuyasha looked away from Koga. His gaze settled onto an half opened window. He found himself staring out of it as his thoughts shifted to past events locked away, connecting him to unforgettable moments in time. Why did Koga have to make him recall the most depressing days of his life.
"I should love him. Shouldn't I?" He finally replied.
Koga stared at his best friend quietly, wondering what was on his mind.
"Truthfully speaking, I really don't know how to answer that question. It's been so long since I've felt love that I don't really know what it feels like anymore."
"What about your sister? You can't tell me Sango doesn't love you."
"My parents died when I was young. She felt obligated to take care of me."
"What about Kenshin's mother?"
"She was a hanyou like me. We pitied each other. I think she was a great person but I did not love her and she certainly didn't love me."
"If you don't know how love feels how can you be sure what you felt for her wasn't love?"
"Trust me WolfMan. It wasn't love."
Koga looked surprised at his best friend's admission. He was certain that he at least loved her.
Inuyasha turned away from the window stealing a glance at the only male he ever called friend and immediately noticed the strange expression on his face.
"What?" He asked Koga in confusion.
"Nothing. I guess I'm just surprised to hear you say that."
"Keh."
"Was there not anything you loved about her?"
Almost immediately Inuyasha smirked before his cheeks grew red. There were many things he loved about Kenshin's mother and especially one in particular. Just thinking about it now stirred excitement deep within him and caused his heart to slam hard against his chest. Tempting and very erotic thoughts filled his mind.
"Oh! Dear God!" Koga groaned.
"What?" Inuyasha asked, feigning innocence.
"Dude! You have a one track mind."
"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."
Koga shook his head "So that's what you loved about her. A good lay, huh?"
Inuyasha pressed his lips together in an attempt to suppress his impending laughter.
"That good?" Koga asked with a smirk.
"Sweet Kami! Was she ever! Baby girl's sex had it going."
"Really now?"
"That girl was phenomenal in the sac. Best I ever had."
"Probably because she was the first you ever had." Koga replied before laughing.
"Keh."
"You know I'm right."
Inuyasha joined Koga in his fits of laughter. When it came to sex he did seem to have a one track mind. It was the only thing he was good at. God knows he wasn't worth much in the emotional department. After all, who'd want to love a filthy hanyou such as himself?
Filthy Hanyou. Just the thought of the words was enough to put him in a sour mood. He released his breath raggedly as his mind quickly shifted from mirth to melancholy. Why did everyone who held some semblance of importance in his life always leave? Was he destined to be lonely? After pondering his thoughts for rather lengthy moments his mind became filled with images of Kenshin. At least he'd always have him. Well, he hoped he'd always have him.
"Everything okay Yasha?"
Inuyasha nodded slowly. "She was a wonderful person."
"Kenshin's mom?"
"Yeah. Aki was awesome, and even if we didn't love each other I'll always be grateful for the few years she was in my life. I suppose if this messed up heart of mine was capable of loving anybody, she'd be the perfect candidate."
Inuyasha turned his gaze away from Koga, staring out of the window again. The two grew quiet as there was nothing more to be said.
Koga knew Inuyasha shared as much with him as he intended to share and he wasn't a very sharing person. He actually felt bad for the guy. All those years of rejection nearly sent him into a life of perpetual solitude. The only individuals he considered friends were three people and two of them were related. Koga's youth was nothing like his best friend's and just thinking about how Inuyasha must've grown up left a bitter taste in his own mouth.
The two men were so wrapped up inside of their pensive thoughts that they barely heard the soft creaking of the screen door as Kagome arrived with Kenshin in tow. She closed the door behind her before stealing a quick glance at the two males. Her brows furrowed together in thought.
"Yasha? Koga? Is everything okay?"
Koga nodded and Inuyasha quickly turned away from the window. Both of their gazes landed on Kagome's innocent, concerned face.
"It's about time you two got back with the ice-cream." Koga replied to her. He knew Inuyasha wasn't about to enclose to her their conversation.
So they're gonna ignore me. Kagome thought. Who cares? It's not like it's any of my business anyways. Besides, she didn't need to get too involved where Inuyasha was concerned. Things were still kind of weird between them even though they both made up with each other.
With the tray of ice-cream cones in one hand and Kenshin's hand inside her other, Kagome quickly walked over to the table and began distributing ice-cream.
Kenshin accepted a vanilla ice-cream cone with rainbow sprinkles from Kagome. Then he sat down at the dining room table, quietly eyeing the family album that rested upon it.
"Cookie dough?" Kagome asked as she handed Koga his double scoop waffle cone.
Koga accepted the cone Kagome gave him before flashing his dangerously sexy smile. "Ahh Higurashi. You know me so well." He then leaned down a bit and planted a chaste kiss upon her forehead.
Kagome blushed and laughed. "You'll do anything for ice-cream. Won't you?"
"Just about anything." Koga replied before laughing with her.
Inuyasha stared at the two of them, feelings of confusion and jealousy invading his thoughts. Why couldn't he get a grip on his emotions when it came to this girl? It wasn't like they were ever gonna have any sort of relationship. It was pointless to even think about it.
Kagome turned towards Inuyasha, her warm inviting smile still intact. It quickly disappeared when she noticed the scowl on his face. Before she realized she'd done it, her small hand had cupped his strong jaw, the muscles in it quickly flexing and responding to her gentle touch. Dear Kami! She was his undoing.
Koga licked his ice-cream as his eyebrows shot up in shock. He sensed the unsaid emotions erupting between his two friends. One thing he was sure about. Kagome's attraction to his best friend wasn't one-sided. He could tell that Inuyasha wanted her just as bad as she did him. If a stranger were to walk by and witness the trance that both of them seemed to be in, they'd have no choice but to acknowledge the intimate connection between the two.
"Are you okay Inuyasha?" She whispered. Her voice like warm silk upon his skin
"Keh."
"Are you?"
"Yes I'm fine wench. Now would you take your hand off of me?"
"I'm sorry." She replied before quickly moving her hand away.
"Can I get my cone?" He grumbled, irritated with himself for falling under Kagome's magical spell.
"Sure." Kagome replied, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. She had to get a tighter control on her emotions. She handed Inuyasha the chocolate ice-cream cone. Chocolate was his favorite to eat.
"Thanks."
"Hey! Wait a minute! You called me a wench!"
"So what!"
Kagome stomped her foot down onto the floor. "Take it back!"
"Nope."
"Then give me back the ice-cream cone!" She demanded.
"Nope."
Kagome growled and leaped for the ice-cream.
Inuyasha held it above his head and smirked at her attempts to retrieve it.
Kagome folded her arms and glared at him. "You childish jerk!"
Koga laughed at both of them.
"Who are you calling a jerk?" Inuyasha said. His voice taking on a playful and teasing tone.
"I called you childish too." Kagome replied smugly.
Inuyasha smirked at Kagome and she smiled, her heart fluttering wildly in her chest. Then they both laughed and rather loudly too. It felt good for both of them to be on neutral ground and joke as they both tried to find their way back to friendship.
Kagome sat down in a chair next to Kenshin at the table. Then she reached for her strawberry ice-cream cone. Laughing with Inuyasha was a whole lot better than arguing with him.
Kenshin pulled the photo album his father had been looking through closer to him so he and Kagome could both take a look at the old pictures.
Kagome looked on eagerly as she and her favorite little boy ate their ice-cream.
"That's my granddad InuTaisho." Kenshin admitted proudly as he pointed to a tall male dressed in a pure white and royal blue silk robe.
Kagome stared at the male in wonder. She could tell from the design of his robe that it was expensive. It probably was imported from China. It was really beautiful, but more beautiful than it was his face. His eyes were the color of a golden sunset, shining brighter than a thousand suns. His nose was narrow and distinct, chiseled to perfection. His lips were pale and full and his smile spoke of mischief. Indigo jagged marks marred either side of his cheeks. They were rather strange looking but they didn't take away from his looks. He was delectable. Inuyasha looked a great deal like him, with the exception of his cute doggie ears.
"Wow!" Kagome released a playful whistle.
"Stop checking out my old man." Inuyasha teased.
Kagome smiled. "Sweet Kami! Your dad was gorgeous Inuyasha. Wow! What happened to you?"
Inuyasha smirked at her.
Kenshin flipped through the pages of the photo album as Koga peered over his and Kagome's shoulder, also looking at the pictures. Inuyasha sat at the table across from them. He had no desire to look into the photo album anymore. It only made him feel miserable and sad.
He did however watch as Kenshin pointed to different people in the images telling Kagome who they were. She gushed and oohed and ahhed about how beautiful everyone was. She especially liked one picture in particular of him when he was a toddler and was mooning Sango. His mother had taken the picture herself. He was almost three and Sango had just turned eight.
Kenshin continued to flip through the photo album until he came upon a picture of his grandmother. She was standing outside with her arms stretched out underneath a juniper tree. Her long raven tresses were pulled up into a high ponytail atop her head. Her eyes were a deep shade of ebony and her bow shaped lips were turned upward in a loving smile. She wore a simple cream-colored sleeveless summer dress and she was the most gorgeous woman Kagome had ever seen.
"Oh Inuyasha! Your mother was really, really beautiful. I can see so much of Sango in her. Wow! She was so pretty."
Inuyasha glanced at Kagome and his son momentarily but still refused to join them in looking through his photo album.
Kenshin smiled warmly at the photo of his grandmother Izayoi. "Grandma was pretty. Too bad I never got to meet her. Auntie Sango said she was the best mother in the whole world."
"I'm sure she was munchkin." Kagome replied to him sincerely.
Kenshin flipped through more and more pictures of his family until he came upon one of a young teen-aged girl. A girl he didn't remember, but one that was capable of stirring warm and fuzzy feelings within his heart.
She had hair the color of midnight. It spilled down her shoulders and framed her face like a dark halo. She sat upon a park bench and was smiling warmly at the person sitting next her. It was Inuyasha. His arms were folded at his chest and he was scowling.
Kagome covered her mouth to suppress her impending laughter and failed miserably. Was it ever a time when Inuyasha didn't frown?
Kenshin turned away from that photo and on to the next round of images. Kagome and Koga looked on at each one of them. As Kenshin continued to turn through them Kagome noticed that the girl with the dark hair was in quite a few photos with Inuyasha.
Her gaze flicked from the pictures to Kenshin and then to Inuyasha. Who was this girl?
She turned her attention back to Kenshin again and noticed his small fingers rubbing over a photo of the mysterious girl and in this particular one she was wearing a hospital gown. Her eyes were closed and her head was bent forward in a manner that many associated with prayer.
Kagome gasped and stared at the picture. The girl was holding a baby in her arms with hair black as the dead of night and there upon his little head were two tiny puppy ears. The baby had to be Kenshin, which meant that this girl was his mother.
She opened her mouth to say something but snapped it shut as Kenshin flipped to the next picture. It was of the mysterious girl again. She was leaning back in a hospital bed wearing a sleepy, lopsided grin. She looked rather ill in the picture.
As Kagome continued to stare at the picture she took notice of the girl's hair again. It was very shiny and thick, and there at the top of her head sat two doggie ears. There was no denying it. This girl was definitely Kenshin's mother. Her hair was the same shade of black as Kenshin's.
Kagome scratched her head. Something in the back of her mind told her that she knew this girl. A strange sensation seized her chest as feelings of nostalgia invaded her mind. This girl looked like her former babysitter and that's who Kenshin reminded her of. Could it be that this was the same person?
She turned to Kenshin quickly as she finally found her voice. "Who is this girl? How do you know her?"
Kenshin smiled affectionately at Kagome. "I don't know her but my dad does. I only know that she's my mom, was my mom." He corrected himself.
"What's her name?"
Kenshin went back to staring at the picture of his mother. Her warm, beautiful smile entrancing him beyond measure. He seemed to get lost inside of his thoughts whenever he looked at pictures of his mother. He didn't really pay attention to the other people in the room and hadn't an inkling to the seriousness of the conversation going on that was centered around him.
Inuyasha stared at Kagome in confusion. "Why? You don't know her."
Kagome directed her to Inuyasha. "Please! I have to know her name."
"I don't get where you're going with this, but her name was Aki."
"Short for Ahiko?" Kagome asked.
Inuyasha frowned. How did Kagome know his late girlfriend's name?
"Was that her name?"
"Yes." Inuyasha finally replied. "Her name was Himura Ahiko."
"Oh my God! Now it all makes sense." Kagome muttered. The truth finally settling into her brain.
Inuyasha scratched his head and glared at Kagome. "What are you going on about? And how do you know Aki?"
Kagome covered her mouth with her hand and glanced down at Aki's photo. Now she knew why she felt this strong connection to Kenshin. For it was the same connection she felt with his mother. She was nine years old when she last saw Aki before she passed away and there wasn't a day that went by in all her sixteen years of living that she didn't think of her.
"Kagome?"
"She was what I am to Kenshin, Inuyasha."
"What?" He asked in confusion.
Kagome took a deep breath before turning her gaze back to her silver haired friend. "I remember you. I remember it all." Kagome said her voice thick with intense emotions.
"Kagome you're not making sense.
"I saw you at the hospital that day."
"What day?"
"The day Kenshin was born. You were running down the hall but she'd already died."
Inuyasha looked at Kagome in disbelief.
Koga stared at Kagome as if he'd seen a ghost. "Wait! What? Are you telling us that you were at the hospital that day?"
Kagome nodded. "My mom was there getting ready to give birth to my other little brother. He didn't make it though."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Koga answered sincerely.
"It's okay. It seems so long ago now. There were many things going on that day and one thing that I'll always remember besides losing my little brother is talking to Ahiko. She was really sick." A tear slipped down her cheek quietly. "I talked to her and she let me hold baby Kenshin and then I had to leave."
Kagome got out of her chair and slowly walked over to Inuyasha and touched his arm. She could still remember the look of lost and sadness on his face when he stumbled into the hospital only to find out Aki had already passed away. It broke her heart to remember it. She reached up and cupped his jaw.
"I'm sorry."
Inuyasha only stared at her strangely.
Koga looked over to them wondering about Kagome's admission. What were the chances of her actually knowing Kenshin's mother? The whole situation was just plain uncanny to say the least.
"Kagome this all sounds very strange."
"I'm not making it up Koga."
"I know that. I actually believe you." He assured her. "But you have to tell us how you even know Ahiko. I can't believe that she'd let a girl she didn't know hold her newborn baby."
Kagome kept her gaze on Inuyasha as she answered Koga's question. "I did know her Koga."
"You did?"
"Yes. You see, when I was a little girl, Aki used to be my babysitter."
Kagome slammed the door of her uncle's cherry-red Lexus Hybrid and tossed the keys into the pocket of her calico cargo shorts. She smoothed down the front of her fitted pink tank top and stared down at her beige flip flops. She released a slow breath, slung her purse over her shoulder and then began her journey towards the hospital entrance.
She was lying down in her hotel bed when she received the call from Miroku about Sango's tragic tumble at the park. Miroku's voice was so shrill and frantic that she didn't fully understand what happened to Sango. She only knew that Inuyasha was involved which meant that all hell probably broke loose. Sango and her brother both had tough-as-nails-personas.
She scurried out of the parking lot of the Sardonyx Grace Hospital quickly. Thank Kami she found a good parking space, cause she didn't feel like doing a lot of walking tonight and she would've done a lot of walking if she happened to land a crappy parking space. Sardonyx Grace was the largest and most elaborate human hospital in Furigana.
She made it to the hospital entrance quickly as feelings of déjà vu crowded her psyche. The last time she was at a hospital her and Inuyasha were arguing like nobody's business. Now she was at the hospital again. It was a different one but she couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible was about to happen. Bad things always happened at hospitals. Maybe that's why she hated going to them.
Here goes nothing. She uttered mentally bracing herself for whatever situation lay before her. Although she was hoping that nothing too serious had transpired between the Ishikawa siblings. The doors came open automatically and Kagome entered through them in search of her family and friends.
She walked up to the front desk prepared to ask about Sango when she heard a male voice swearing and yelling to the top of his lungs. Almost immediately she groaned and moved away from the desk. His voice was becoming clearer and so was other voices that she hoped wasn't at the hospital.
She heard the broken cries of children. The yelling and screaming of at least three other adults. The sound of several footsteps and even the sounds of things being tossed at the walls. She was almost afraid to turn the corner because she knew for certain she'd get caught up in the aftermath.
The noisy members of the crowd finally made their wait to the usually quiet waiting area. The first people Kagome noticed were Miroku and Inuyasha yelling and threatening to snap each other's necks. Koga was holding Miroku's son Miatsu with one hand and trying to pull Inuyasha away from Miroku with the other hand. His wife Ayame was trying to pull Miroku away from Inuyasha while holding her baby Amaya with her right arm. The whole situation nearly broke her heart.
However, it paled in comparison to the look of paranoia on her nephew and nieces faces. As always Kara and Kay stood behind their big brother clutching the back of his shirt. Their dark brown eyes were large and fearful as they clung helplessly to Kenshin. He was their protector. The sad thing about that was the fact that he needed someone to protect him. He might've been part demon but he wasn't mature enough to fend for himself.
Kagome looked up into his amber eyes. There was so much mental anguish swimming inside of them. He looked lost and hurt and afraid. He looked broken. She'd seen only one other look like that before. She was seven and though they hadn't known each other then, she'd never forget that broken and empty look she saw on Inuyasha's face.
She felt tears gathering in her eyes and she snapped. Her nieces were scared out of their mind. Her only nephew was afraid of his father and on the verge of a total meltdown. There wasn't much more his mind could handle. She was certain of it. She'd kill Inuyasha before she'd let him destroy his children even if it broke her in the process. She had to protect the children.
"This is all your fault Inuyasha!" Miroku shouted in anger. "If you hadn't gotten Sango so worked up she wouldn't even be in this hospital!"
"I didn't push her on the ground!" Inuyasha roared back.
"No you didn't but you certainly dealt the damage! I swear to Kami if she or our unborn baby dies I'll kill you myself!"
"Miroku!" Ayame shouted. "Don't talk like that!"
"Don't worry Ayame." Inuyasha said as he inched closer to his brother in law. "I'm hardly threatened."
Miroku balled up his fist tightly and slammed it into the wall barely missing Ayame's face.
Koga's eyebrows drew up in anger before he glared at Miroku. "Watch your hands monk or you're gonna have more than DogBreath to deal with."
"Screw you stupid wolf. I'm not afraid of you or that mangy mutt bastard behind you!"
"Koga! Don't encourage him! He's already pissed off." Ayame said to her husband.
"He almost hit you!" Koga shrieked.
Inuyasha smirked. "Don't worry Koga. If your wife and Miroku got into a fist fight then Ayame wouldn't have anything to worry about. Fighting Miroku is like fighting another girl."
"I've had just about enough of your childish attitude Inuyasha. You need to frigging grow up."
"Shove it choir boy or I'll put another hole in your other hand!" Inuyasha teased cockily.
Miroku smirked. "Oh I'm so afraid!" He said sarcastically.
"You should be. I could snap that scrawny neck of yours in two."
"STOP IT! STOP IT RIGHT NOW!" Kagome screamed to the top of her lungs.
Ayame, Miroku, Koga, Inuyasha, Kenshin, Kay, Kara, Miatsu and even baby Amaya immediately stopped talking and turned their attention to a very irritated and angry Kagome. Their anger seemed to dissipate. Her fists were balled at her sides and she looked about ready to kill all of them, except the children.
She stalked her way over to the whole group of them. They were so engrossed in their argument that they hadn't noticed the lady at the front desk calling security. If she couldn't get her friends under control, then the police would intervene and somebody would probably get arrested and that was the last thing any of them needed.
"What is the matter with you guys? Fighting in a hospital? There are sick people here who don't deserve to be subjected to this nonsense."
Inuyasha released his breath in annoyance. He could feel one of Kagome's speeches coming on.
Kagome rolled her eyes at him. He was trying to get under her skin and doing an excellent job at it.
"Could you guys at least not fight in front of the children? You're scaring them."
Miroku looked over towards Koga and noticed Miatsu clutching onto the wolf demon tightly, his lower lip trembling. Immediately he felt guilty. The poor little guy had already witnessed his mother take a nasty fall. He didn't need to see his father wind up in a bloody state as well.
Kagome touched her best friend's arm. "Ayame, you should get little Amaya home. She looks sleepy and you're probably tired. I'll stay here with Koga and the guys."
"Kagome?"
"She's right babe." Koga said before moving away from Inuyasha. "You and Amaya should head home and get some rest."
"How are you going to get home?" Ayame asked not wanting to leave yet, especially with everything spiraling out of control.
"I can take him home." Kagome replied. "Uncle Na-Na let me borrow his Lexus."
Ayame slowly nodded before kissing her husband's lips. "I'll see you later."
"Ditto." Koga whispered to her affectionately.
Kagome smiled secretly. Not only were Ayame and Koga her two best friends, they were also her favorite couple. She hoped one day she'd be lucky enough to find what they found in each other.
Ayame bundled up little Amaya and quietly exited the hospital waiting room.
Miatsu climbed down from Koga's hip and walked over to Kagome and grabbed onto her leg. She looked down at him and flashed him a tender loving smile.
"Hey there little guy." She bent down and lifted the little boy and securely placed him on her hip.
"I'm going to go check on Sango." Miroku announced. "Can you watch my little guy for me Kagome?"
Kagome nodded.
Miroku whispered a thank you before turning an evil glare at Inuyasha. Then he disappeared around the corner and down the hall in search of his wife's hospital room.
Kagome anchored Miatsu a bit higher onto her hip and turned her attention towards Inuyasha. He was still pissed at her. She could tell. So it was up to her to be civil cause he certainly wasn't gonna be the first to spark up a conversation with her. Maybe she should start with the children first. They were safer to talk to than their father.
"Hey guys?" She said after turning in their direction.
Kenshin looked at Kagome briefly before turning his gaze away from her.
Kagome frowned. Something was amiss about her nephews glance.
Kara and Kay peeped from behind their brother smiling shyly at their aunt.
Kagome offered them a warm smile. "How are my favorite girls?"
The twins moved to step away from Kenshin looking at their father nervously.
Kagome noticed the odd interaction and suddenly felt sick to her stomach. She reached out her free hand to them not caring that Inuyasha forbade her from being around his children.
"Come here." Kagome urged them.
"No!" Kenshin whispered firmly.
Both girls folded their arms and remained behind their brother.
Inuyasha smirked and almost giggled out loud.
Kagome looked at Kenshin strangely. Why did he tell his sisters not to come to her? Was he mad at her? She hoped not because the ill feeling between her and his father wasn't entirely her fault.
"Kenshin?"
"I don't want to talk to you." He uttered in a tight clipped voice sounding more like his father than he ever had in his life.
"Munchkin?" Kagome called to him affectionately in the beloved nickname she bestowed upon him when he was six years old.
"My name is Kenshin not munchkin." He replied to her coldly. It was as if he turned his emotions off completely.
Kagome's throat quickly became thick. She was going to cry. She could feel it in her gut.
"Honey, just because your dad and I don't get along doesn't mean that I don't love you. Okay? Aunt Kagome will always love you, you and your sisters."
That little admission caused Kenshin's bravado to crumble a little. He pressed his lips together before staring at Kagome. "You don't mean it."
"Yes I do! I love you. You know that."
"But you're not my real aunt and I'm a filthy hanyou. Nobody loves filthy hanyous."
"No! No! Don't say that! You're not a filthy hanyou. Please don't believe that honey!"
Kenshin folded his arms at his chest feeling utterly hurt and confused. "I want to go home dad."
Inuyasha, who had been standing a small distance away from them, smirking and watching the whole interaction between Kenshin and Kagome, now wore a guilty expression upon his face.
"Can we go home dad?"
Inuyasha nodded to Kenshin and turned to Koga. "Do you mind taking them home with you?" Inuyasha asked before taking the keys to his automobile from the left pocket of jeans and tossing them to Koga. "I don't want to leave until my sister is okay."
"No problem and give me an update on her status when you can."
Inuyasha nodded curtly and sent his three children out the door with his best friend.
Kara and Kay waved to their aunt before they left. Kenshin refused to even look in her direction again. They all slowly and quietly left the hospital and headed for Koga's and Ayame's home.
Kagome turned to Inuyasha angrily. "What did you do to him?"
"I didn't do anything to him."
"You're a liar!" She sighed heavily. "I know you hate me but did you have to poison your own kids against me too? That's really low Inuyasha."
Inuyasha sighed and glared at her. "You know what! I don't have time for your drama Kagome."
"You're so heartless! You are the most heartless man I've ever met!"
"Dear Kami! Spare me the speech."
"Is it worth it?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You're trying to get rid of me Inuyasha. You're trying to wipe away every ounce of my existence."
"Honey you don't mean anything to me. Why would I want to get rid of you? You hold no significance in my life."
Kagome felt bile rising in her throat. She knew her half demon brother in law was harsh, cruel and never loved her, but he didn't have to treat her so cold. She blinked back tears and shifted nervously with Miatsu in her arms. She would not let this man break her. She refused to.
"Why do you hate me so much Inuyasha?"
"Keh."
"No! Please tell me because I need to understand what I did to you that was so horrible."
"Kagome I'm really not in the mood for this right now."
"Then make some time!" She whispered angrily not caring that her tears now freely spilled down her cheeks.
"I really don't want to argue with you."
"I don't want to argue with you either Inuyasha. I've never wanted to argue with you. I know we have our differences but I don't want the children to get hurt."
"My children aren't going to get hurt."
"If they're caught in the middle of our fighting then they will get hurt."
"I'm done talking about this Kagome."
"No Inuyasha! What do I have to do to get through to you? It seems like no matter what I say or do you get mad at me. You act as though if I've wronged in some way and that makes me feel guilty, and the only thing I'm guilty of is a crime of passion."
Kagome! Please! Stop it! I don't want to hear it."
"No! Let's just lay everything out on the table. You know how I feel about you Inuyasha. Heck, everybody knows how I feel about you. And you know I don't even care anymore. It's not like you and I will ever have any type of relationship."
Inuyasha stared down at the floor for a moment. Hearing her admit those words left a very sour taste in his mouth and he felt like the biggest fool to ever set foot on God's green earth. He'd screwed up big time. He had an uncanny knack for royally screwing up everything and everyone in his life.
"Can't we come to some kind of understanding for the children? I love Kara and Kay and my munchkin. I don't care if they're half demon, full demon or not. I love them, blood related or not. Please don't take them away from me. Please! I'll do whatever you want, but please don't make them hate me."
Inuyasha shifted uncomfortably beside Kagome wishing that the floor would open up and just swallow him into the lowest and hottest depths of hell. He disgusted himself and he felt guilty as sin. This beautiful, innocent woman was standing here telling him that she loved him, and would probably do anything for him, and he didn't even have the guts to answer her back truthfully.
She loved him. She loved his children and never asked for anything but for him to allow her to be a part of their lives. That wasn't asking for much, but because he was so stubborn, egotistical and lust driven he drove her away and blamed her for everything that went wrong in their lives, when in actuality, he was the culprit. He was the source of all the heartache. It was his doing all along.
Kagome watched the conflicting emotions pass over Inuyasha's face as he contemplated his next words. He really seemed to be struggling internally. Her fingers itched to caress his worrisome face.
"MURDERER!" Miroku's agonizing cry erupted inside the walls of the hospital.
Kagome and Inuyasha nearly jumped out of their skin at the sound of Miroku's voice. They both turned around in time to see Miroku wildly swinging a long golden staff their way. Inuyasha pushed Kagome away from him as the staff narrowly missed her head and came crashing down onto the top of his own.
Kagome clutched Miatsu close to her chest as she forced her weight backwards in order to take the brunt of the fall. She landed heavily onto her back and yelped. It hurt but she was okay and Miatsu landed on top her. He released a loud scream and cried into Kagome's chest. She ran a hand through his hair and checked his face. He was okay just quite a bit scared.
She looked over to Inuyasha who'd been hit so hard with Miroku's staff that he staggered back but didn't fall. He looked dizzy. He attempted to regain his posture but before he got a foot straight Miroku crashed his staff against his face. It landed hard on his nose and this time he staggered backwards and fell onto the floor.
Kagome gasped as blood began to quickly drip from Inuyasha's nose. Then she heard a cracking sound and knew immediately that something had to be broken. With Miatsu still clutched tightly to her chest she forced her body up and stood on her feet, running to stop Miroku from attacking Inuyasha.
Miroku swung his staff at Inuyasha again but missed as he rolled out of the way.
Inuyasha wiped at his bloody nose with the back of his hand and prepared himself to attack his brother in law. He had no idea why Miroku's staff affected him so much. He'd been hit with it before and it'd never been this powerful.
Miroku moved forward. There was so much hatred and malice swimming in his eyes. He raised his staff and swung it again at Inuyasha.
Inuyasha leaped forward and grabbed the stick from Miroku and winced in pain as his hands began to burn. He threw it against a nearby wall only to notice that it was covered with sacred sutras. That's why the golden stick was able to deal harmful blows to his body. Miroku had specifically placed some ancient magic onto the thing so his attack would be affective. His fury intensified momentously and he lunged for his sister's husband madly.
Miroku glared at Inuyasha dangerously as his body began to glow a mystical shade of white channeling every ounce of spiritual energy he possessed inside of himself.
Inuyasha's body trembled in anger in spite of the pain he felt. His own body tingling in anticipation to pummel Miroku right into the ground. He didn't have any spiritual energy but he did have brute strength and was more than capable of delivering a fatal blow to his spiritual friend.
The sounds of chairs shuffling across the floor rang throughout the hospital walls. Nearby innocent people were screaming or speedily pursuing an exit. Some people ran and others crawled afraid for their lives as they watched the half demon and his well endowed friend with immense spiritual energy preparing to attack each other.
A call was made for the hospital security guards and they had yet to show up. Once word got around about what was going on, on the first floor people who weren't patients began to quickly leave Sardonyx Grace Hospital. Even the police were afraid to enter the hospital because they knew they weren't dealing with ordinary humans. If things escalated further, then they'd have to call in the demon police for reinforcement.
Kagome watched in terror as the two powerful men squared off against each. She had to stop them or they would kill each other. She released a ragged breath and with light fastening speed she threw her body between the two of them hoping she didn't hurt herself or Miatsu in the process. Her breath came out shallowly and quickly. Her back was to Inuyasha and her chest was facing Miroku. She forced herself to calm down and yet held on to little Miatsu. His little body trembled against her and soaked her tank top with his warm tears.
"Stop it! Both of you! You're gonna kill each other."
"No! I'm gonna kill him!" Miroku uttered bitterly.
"I'd like to see you try." Inuyasha roared back menacingly.
"Back off Inuyasha!" Kagome pleaded with him. He was clearly the strongest of the three of them and could no doubt do the most damage.
"Back off? He's the one that came at me."
"Because you hurt my wife! You hurt her! You hurt your own sister!"
"I wasn't trying to hurt Sango. You know that!"
"You were trying to hurt her. You filthy, disgusting, bastard hanyou!"
"Miroku stop it! I don't believe Inuyasha would intentionally hurt his sister."
"You wouldn't believe it. You're too blinded by your own warped feelings for him."
"That's not fair and for the record I'm not blinded by anything."
"You can stand by this murdering freak of nature if you want to but I want no parts of him."
"He's not a murderer Miroku."
"Yes he is! Sango lost the baby and it's all his fault." Miroku spat at Inuyasha brokenly. He couldn't stop his voice from shaking. He was burning with anger but on top of that he was also hurt.
Kagome gasped and shook her head. "No! That can't be!" Kagome uttered feeling her hands tremble. She clutched Miatsu and pressed her face into the soft black curls of his hair weeping quietly.
Inuyasha felt his heart sink from his chest and fall down to his knees. He flexed his fingers as bitter, alkaline bile threatened to rise from his liver and up to through esophagus. He clutched his stomach securely and pressed his lips together tightly. He could feel the contents of his last meal preparing to erupt from his now sick stomach.
Miroku pointed a quivering finger at him. His emotions raw and edgy and searching for release. "You killed your own niece. A tiny innocent baby still growing inside of my wife's womb. You're so hateful and spiteful that you hurt and harm everything and anything that crosses paths with you, even your family.
Inuyasha felt his emotions slipping out of control and he immediately backed away from Kagome and Miroku. He needed to get away from them. He needed to get away from everyone.
"Run if you want to but it won't change anything. I know what you are. You know what you are and soon the whole world will. After I'm done with you everyone will see what a coward you are. Picking on a pregnant woman, making her miscarry, and now she's in a coma and I have to be the one to inform her that our baby died when she wakes up, if she wakes up."
Kagome leaned up and touched Miroku's arm giving it a gentle squeeze. Everything was going from bad to worse from insult to injury. How did everything spiral out of control so quickly? She shifted her body so that she could face Inuyasha as she stood in front of Miroku. He had to be really feeling lost right now.
Miroku stepped away from Kagome and moved closer to Inuyasha still not satisfied with leaving things the way they were. Kagome reached for him and he stepped away from her touch. He wasn't done breaking the already broken half demon. He stood face to face with him.
"Leave! Get out! You taint everything you touch! You're poison! You're venom! You're a damaged man because you were a damaged child. You were damned from your beginning."
Kagome tugged onto Miroku's shoulder helplessly as his son continued whimpering into her chest. The entire hospital seemed almost too quiet. She, Miroku, Inuyasha and Miatsu were the only occupants still standing on the first floor in the waiting area.
"Miroku! Don't do this! I know you're hurt but breaking Inuyasha won't bring your baby back."
"And my baby wouldn't be dead if this miscreant hadn't attacked my wife. My little girl is dead and she ain't ever gonna come back because Inuyasha murdered her. You disgusting piece of filth. Your mom should've aborted you. Why would anybody give birth to a freak of nature? You were a mistake!"
Inuyasha flinched nervously as his hands began to shake.
"You were mistake. An abomination! A wild, abominable animal who belongs in a cage. Hell, a zoo is too good for the likes of you! Your father must've forced himself on your mother because there's no way a willing female would bed a monster herself for the sole purpose of damning creation with your existence."
"Miroku stop it! You don't have to do this! You don't have to sink this low." Kagome pleaded with him.
Inuyasha felt his anger boil inside of him as his youkai blood rumbled to life within him. He had to get his emotions in check. He never went full demon unless he was near death and he was nowhere near death. However, the things that Miroku said to him were true and were just as painful as a sharp sword piercing his heart turning over and over inside of his chest.
"You're filthy, dirty and disgusting and you don't deserve to breathe the very air that you're breathing."
"Miroku PLEASE!"
"You're a monster Inuyasha! You're a vile, abominable, filthy, dirty-bastard hanyou monster. A MONSTER!"
"MIROKU!"
Inuyasha staggered away slowly from then until he backed into a wall. His youkai blood roared to life inside of him. His mouth was forced open by his growing fangs and before Kagome or Miroku witnessed his complete transformation he jumped away from the wall and burst through the doors of Sardonyx Grace Hospital, shattering the glass of the doors in the process.
Kagome stared out of the hospital room window for the tenth time tonight watching the stars shine like diamonds in the black sky. She had no idea what time it was and really didn't care at the moment. So much had happened within the last twenty four hours and she wondered herself if things were ever going to get better.
She hadn't seen Ayame or Koga since last night when the whole fight broke between everyone. She didn't have the heart or the guts to call them and tell them what was going on even though she knew she needed to. Kenshin, Kara and Kay were still staying with her best friends and had to be wondering why their father never showed up to get them.
Miroku took Miatsu away last night and went to his shrine. He asked Kagome to stay with Sango until he returned. He needed time to collect his thoughts and purge the evil from his heart. He hadn't called Kagome since earlier in the morning because he didn't know how to face his wife despite the fact that she hadn't woken up yet.
She had no idea what was going to happen next but it couldn't be anything good. Inuyasha was still missing and the longer he remained away the more she worried about him.
She smoothed down her wrinkled tank top that she'd worn since yesterday and moved away from the window and walked over to the bed that Sango was resting in. Her eyes immediately went to the older woman's swollen abdomen. Feelings of grief swallowed her up and she felt herself growing sad. Sango was going to be crushed when she realized her baby died.
Kagome reached towards her and placed both of her hands onto Sango's belly. In another hour she was going to be taken down to surgery so the doctors could remove the baby from her body. They were able to stop her from bleeding yesterday but unfortunately there wasn't much they could do for her baby and so she passed away before she was even granted the chance of making an arrival into the world.
Sango was in so much pain yesterday that her body went into shock and she slipped into a coma. After her fall at the park she never woke back up and the medical team that worked on her weren't certain when she'd awake again. Because her body endured so much yesterday they decided to wait until tonight to remove her unborn child from her.
Kagome squeezed her body into the bed with Sango's and pressed her head against Sango's whispering consoling words to her, knowing the older woman couldn't hear her but somehow hoped that they got through to her anyway. She wished there something she could do to help Sango. She wished there was a way to bring her baby back to life.
She sat up and leaned away from Sango as tingly feelings settled into her stomach. Her hands began to shake involuntarily and she pressed them together. Fear rolled off of her in heavy waves as blazing white energy burned deep within her body. She tried to force herself away from Sango's body but her feet wouldn't obey her. It was as though if the pure burning light within her was trying to get her attention.
She shuddered under the force of it. Her aunt Kaede always told her that she and her sister Kikyo possessed unique abilities but they never paid any attention to her. Although, there were a few times when the both of them witnessed a myriad of white lights spilling from their bodies. They were descendants from a large clan of mikos but that never mattered to them because mikos were pretty much extinct nowadays.
However, Kagome couldn't deny the immense amount of strength tugging within her begging to be released. She knew what this ancient magic wanted her to do but she was reluctant to give in. She didn't like calling forth this spiritual power because it had let her down when her sister was in the hospital dying. After she did die she never bothered trying to tap into her spiritual energy again, but this time it was forcing her to react. She didn't have to try to tap into it. It roared to life inside of her soul of its own accord.
She stood ramrod straight and moved her left hand to top of Sango's belly and her right to the bottom of it. Her eyes closed slowly as she began to utter words from an ancient time. Her lips moved up and down as her hands did upon Sango's body. They moved around in a circular motion until they both stopped in the very center of her belly.
Bright white light tinted with a pinkish purple hue flowed off of her in tremendous waves and poured down her fingers and onto Sango. The pure energy danced inside of her body warmly rubbing up against her insides until it dripped from her body.
Kagome felt herself sweating as her body began to react to the immense amount of energy leaving her. She swayed for a moment but she wouldn't take her hands away from her beautiful friend whose heart was as pure as gold and spirit as strong as a warrior's.
She felt life spark to life within her unconscious friend as her eyes began to grow heavy. She lost her footing and slipped falling to her knees. She used up too much energy this time but it was worth it. Her hands slowly slid away from Sango's body but not before she felt the jolt of life burning underneath her fingers. With a content smile she closed her eyes and succumbed to the darkness overtaking her. She couldn't wait to wake up tomorrow. Everything was going to be okay.
Hello readers! Sorry it took a while to complete this chapter. I'll try to have the next one posted sooner. This chapter was really intense and emotional and kind of difficult for me to write but I had to pull out some emotional stuff. I hate writing angst but the bad has to come before the good. Things will change for the better soon….eventually. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please don't forget to leave a review or send message. Until next time!
~ASIAN~DELICACY~