J: I know it's past the update time frame but this time I'm going to excuse myself from it because A) This chapter is massive! and B) You all love me too much to be upset over the time being extended between updates right? You know how I know you love me? These numbers say so and so do your reviews :) You guys are all awesome and are my motivation to be inspired to keep writing this.
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THANKS TO: TsukiyoTenshi, RangerRainbow, IntertwinedMelodies, Slytherin's Pimp, Lakeya2700, DarkSilverCloud, Kagomepastandpresent, PurpleGoddess9, Heartlessinhyrule, Bluumberry, Kairi8912(for both reviews), and creamberries for both your reviews.
J: Honestly I wanted to add more to this chapter than what I original have written but then the chapter length would be ridiculous (not that any of you would complain) and the follow up chapter would have been off-flow, if that makes any sense to you at all? Anyhoodles enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think of it.
Chapter Eleven
On the other side of the city a small restaurant thrived with morning activity as business workers, construction workers or anyone able to afford a decent breakfast at 12 in the afternoon cluttered the confined space with their bodies and chatter.
'Breakfast Beats All' was a run down restaurant that survived off those that came from the heart of Tokyo. The owner Tajomaru Hanamura stood behind the bar that served juice, coffee, pop, and alcohol on the weekends. He was a portly balding man with a flattened nose and roving beady eyes that missed nothing. Including all the moments his waitresses bent over to retrieve a dropped item or to clean up a spill on the floor.
His newest hire had just bent over at the perfect angle when the phone mounted on the wall rang breaking his concentration and drawing the customers' attention. Putting on his polite business appearance he answered, "Breakfast Beats All, this is the manager speaking...Is this an emergency?...Yes of course...Higurashi!"
Kagome had been taking the order of one of their regulars when her name was called. As she rushed over she picked up a tray of empty glasses the new girl had forgotten to take to the back. Going behind the bar to take the phone she ignored Tajomaru's glower, "This is Kagome Higurashi."
"Ms. Higurashi I'm Suikotsu, Shippo's teacher. I'm afraid there's been a fight and Shippo is here at Tokyo General."
Silence swept through the restaurant as the sound of a metal tray and seven glasses crashed to the floor. Kagome's heart went still as a single thought consumed her mind, 'Did He do this?!' Suikotsu's voice called out to her through the phone. Dragging in a breathe she hadn't realized she'd needed Kagome answered in a rush, "I'll be there as soon as I can!" She placed the phone back in its cradle and raced for the back room for her purse.
As she came back out at a run Tajomaru stepped into her path, "Where do you think you're going Higurashi? You're shift isn't over for another three hours."
A spark of pink danced across her hair as her anger and fear manifested her power, "I will say this only once respectably. My son is in the hospital and needs me, I am leaving early. Now please move."
Tajomaru was a boar demon, seeing and smelling the purity radiating off of Kagome was enough incentive to make him step out of the way.
The road block gone Kagome charged out of the eatery and hailed a taxi as it was passing by, "Take me to Tokyo General Hospital as fast as you can!" It was to her advantage that her driver was a single mother as well that could see the signs of another distressed mother.
In the TaishouCorp office Sesshoumaru sat with the phone against his ear, on the other end was Kouga Wolf the principal of Taishou Elementary, "There's been a problem."
His mind raced to one thought, "Rin?"
"Your daughter was involved but she isn't hurt, it was her classmate Shippo Higurashi. An older bat demon, and two bird demons got into a fight with Shippo. He's been taken to Tokyo General Hospital. Rin asked me to tell ya." Kouga's voice gave no indication to how he was feeling about this situation. But Sesshoumaru knew that Rin would be distraught and wanting to make sure Shippo was okay.
"Tell Rin I will come get her and we will go to the hospital. Has Ms. Higurashi been contacted?" As Sesshoumaru talked he turned off his computer, collected his suitcase and jacket and went to the door. Kouga had been smart and put the call through to his cell phone. His secretary scrambled to keep up with him, her expression showing confusion about what was going on. He dismissed her with a glare to continue to the elevator.
"Suikotsu told me she's been told and is on her way to the hospital. How you want to handle the three kids that attacked the kit?" Normally expulsion would be the immediate answer but because Rin, the adopted granddaughter of the school's founder was involved, a meeting between the parents and Sesshoumaru was the other option.
Sesshoumaru got into his car and told Jaken where to go, to Kouga he answered, "Keep the children detained and tell the parents to come to the school. I will speak with them along with Ms. Higurashi."
There was a pause as Kouga was likely scrunching his face in confusion at the addition of Shippo's mother. Seeing no fault to this he agreed and disconnected.
Rin was waiting with another teacher at the school gates when Jaken stopped in front of the school. Sesshoumaru opened the door for Rin just as in time for her to jump in and grab onto him. He closed the door then pulled Rin securely into his arms, "Shippo got hurt because he protected me Papa! The bullies wanted to hurt me but Shippo saved me."
As Rin sniffled back her tears Sesshoumaru took in Rin's scent for any blood. He was relieved to find her unharmed but her scent was lacking, "Where is your protection necklace?"
Rin's small hands grasped tighter to Sesshoumaru's jacket, "I-I took it off t-to show to one of my f-friends and she t-took if away from me. I-I'm sorry Papa! I-I-It's my fault Shippo is hurt." The combination of worry and guilt was too much causing Rin to cry and sob.
Sesshoumaru suspected foul play, it was too convenient for Rin's necklace to be taken away and then for her to be approached by the older demon boys. He knew how bullies operated from the time of his and InuYasha's childhood when pure blooded youkai use to torment his half brother. Rubbing soothing circles into Rin's back he explained to Rin, "It was not your fault. The fault belongs to the boys that hurt Shippo. They are the ones that chose to act against you and Shippo."
The soothing touch and his calm voice helped Rin to relax to the point of just sniffles. There was a box of kleenex in the car just for when Rin cried. Pulling out a tissue he pressed it to her nose and ordered, "Blow." Rin took hold of the tissue herself and blew her nose clean of the mucus that built up from crying.
Before Rin or Sesshoumaru could say anything more Jaken pulled the car up to the emergency entrance of Tokyo General Hospital. Keeping his arms around Rin he carried her into the building and went to the administration desk where he could see Kagome speaking to the nurse, "I'm Kagome Higurashi. Shippo Higurashi's mother."
The nurse typed in the name and refocused on Kagome, "Yes he's in intensive care right now. It will be a while before I will know anything. I'll let his doctor know you're here so he may find you as soon as possible for an update."
"Thank you." Her response was automatic as her mind fought to keep all the worse case scenarios from overwhelming her.
"Ms. Higurashi." Kagome spun at hearing her name and found herself at eye level with Rin being held in Sesshoumaru's arms.
Remembering that the children were inseparable Kagome's eyes scanned over Rin to be sure she wasn't hurt as well. Seeing no damage done to the girl she met Sesshoumaru's eyes, "Mr. Taishou, Rin, I wasn't expecting to see you here."
"I was called about the attack since Rin was partially involved. Rin wished to make sure Shippo was safe." Sesshoumaru had seen Kagome's eyes inspect Rin for injuries and felt a twinge of respect towards the woman. Despite being at the hospital for her own child she wanted to be certain Rin was safe as well. At the mention of Rin being partially involved her expression became more concerned and her eyes went back to Rin for another inspection.
Seeing the hurt and left over tears in Rin's eyes Kagome kept her voice gentle as she asked Rin, "Did you get hurt at all Sweetie?"
Rin shook her head, "No but Shippo got hurt because he saved me from the bullies. Will Shippo be okay?" Tears threatened to spill from her eyes again.
Kagome's own emotions were rolling through her in a continuous storm. Relief that it wasn't her worst fear, anger at the other children for putting Shippo in the hospital, concern for Rin and her own worry about the answer to Rin's question. Motherly instinct kept the storm under control for her to continue to speak softly to Rin, "I don't know but the doctor will come tell us in a little bit. Do you want to wait with me?"
Rin looked up to Sesshoumaru's face, "Can I Papa? Please?"
Sesshoumaru had intended to wait so he didn't hesitate to nod then carry Rin over to the seats meant for family and friends of the injured or ill. Kagome sat next to them and held out her hand to Rin to hold. Clasping the little girl's hand to give her own physical support and to receive some support for herself Kagome asked, "Can you tell me what happened Rin?"
Rin nodded and told the whole story of how she'd lost her necklace and chased after it. How the bullies she'd met on her first day of school with Shippo tried to hurt her but Shippo used fire to save her. She'd run for a teacher and came back to find Shippo bleeding and the older two boys tried to run away.
Pride added to the emotional storm easing off the worst of it from her mind.
Sesshoumaru had been impressed with Kagome but now that feeling leaked over to her fox kit. He'd only ever heard of adolescent fox demons with two tails being able to use a concentrated physical youkai attack. Fox fire and illusions were abilities they were born with, concentrated attacks were learned from family or earned from hardship. Althought Rin had nearly shared everything about the fox kit the history of his life before being adopted was still unknown.
At the part about the older boys Sesshoumaru told Kagome, "The ones responsible will be expelled from the school. Before then its been arranged for us to talk to the parents."
Kagome clenched her free hand as she nodded that she heard, her eyes remained on the doors into the ER, 'In this era violence among children, demon or human, is intolerable. Their parents must be mean to their kids so they take it out on the other kids that are smaller. Well I'm going to set them straight and show them what they did wrong.' Kagome's fury in her thoughts tangled into her power.
Sesshoumaru's youkai momentarily wavered at the sudden flux in purity radiating off of the woman sitting next to him. Had Jaken or any other weaker demon been this close at the sudden spike their skin would have smouldered or broke out into a rash. The pure energy travelled through Kagome's hand holding Rin's and a faint pink glow covered both girls. The contact of the reiki against his youkai caused the slightest tremor of discomfort through his arms, then just as quickly the reiki covered him in tingling warmth. 'Her energy registers me as harmless as Rin without her even concentrating on the energy's response. Her anger is not directed towards me, labelling me friend not foe.' This observation was tucked away as intriguing just as the doctor came through the doors, "Ms. Higurashi?"
Kagome sprung from the chair, "Yes that's me."
The doctor smiled at her immediate reaction, "Ms. Higurashi I'm pleased to tell you that Shippo will be just fine. He was brought to us fast enough to sterilize and close the wound before infection and blood loss could cause problems."
Kagome smiled and sighed in relief, every muscle in her body relaxed at the same time. "Thank goodness."
"We've placed Shippo in a room in the Paediatric Wing. He's resting now from the pain medication and anaesthetic we used to keep him asleep for the patch job." The doctor's eyes flicked to a spot over Kagome's shoulder where she sensed Sesshoumaru now standing behind her.
Eager to confirm with her own eyes the condition of her kit Kagome asked, "Would it be possible for all three of us to see him right now?"
"That's not a problem at all, please follow me." The doctor held open the door he had come through allowing Kagome, Sesshoumaru and Rin to pass through before leading them down the hallways. "You know it's thanks to Shippo's youkai blood that he survived. By the time he arrived most of the bleeding had clotted and stopped. As long as he gets plenty of rest he'll only need to spend a single night here and the rest of his recovery can be done at home."
They turned down a hallway that had pink walls with birds and butterflies on the left and blue walls with cars and trucks on the right. Almost halfway down the hall they stopped in front of room 665A. Looking in Kagome felt her heart crumple at the sight of her boy.
Shippo lay in a bed meant for larger children. The blanket was tucked up under his armpits so his hands lay on top of the blanket with an IV drip circulating medication connected to his right wrist. His clothes were gone and replaced with the basic hospital gown that covered the bandages Kagome was sure were wrapped around his entire upper torso.
Her boy was supposed to be running around her feet wanting share stories and smiles, not laying in a bed sedated. 'He's alive and he'll be his old self again in no time.'
"Will he wake up?" Rin's timid question drew Kagome's gaze away from Shippo and down to the girl standing next to her. Tears were building at the corner of her brown eyes and her hands clenched the blankets making her knuckles white.
Acting off instinct Kagome pulled up the visitor's chair to the side of the bed then gently tugged Rin over to sit in her lap. Surrounding Rin in the warm embrace of her arms Kagome whispered, "Yes Shippo will wake up. The doctor gave him medicine so he can sleep and get better."
Remaining in the doorway Sesshoumaru watched his daughter's expression as relief relaxed her shaking body. Rin's question of Shippo waking up came from a time that Rin probably did not want to remember. Before being put in the orphanage Rin had been forced to watch her mother waste away in bed in a coma. Every day her alcoholic father would tell her that her mother would wake up one day. On the day her father killed himself in a car crash the decision was made to pull the plug on her mother's life support. In one day Rin was told that her mother would never wake up and her father had gone to heaven with her mother. Sesshoumaru believed that anyone other than Kagome or himself telling Rin that Shippo would wake up would be rejected. Rin accepted the truth from Kagome because the absolute promise in her words made it impossible to doubt.
Certain that Kagome and Rin wouldn't be leaving Shippo's bedside any time soon Sesshoumaru left the room with a gesture to the doctor to follow. Out in the hallway he told the doctor, "All the medical expenses for Shippo Higurashi are to be charged to my family."
"Ah yes of course Mr. Taishou I'll arrange for it right away." The doctor scurried away to follow orders without a single thought as to why.
Taking out his cell phone he called Kouga, "Change in plans. Tell the parents to return to the school tomorrow for the same time, and the children are expelled with no room for argument." Kouga confirmed the order allowing Sesshoumaru to return to the door frame.
Looking into the room he saw that Rin had moved closer in order to hold Shippo's hand. Looking closely at their joined hands Sesshoumaru saw the reason for Rin's bright smile.
Even sedated Shippo still recognized the feel of Rin's hand and had his fingers curled around hers. Kagome's own smile of hope and happiness seemed to brighten the room just as much as Rin's.
J: Just wanted to throw out a couple things before letting my fingers relax.
1. I know nothing about how hospitals function so everything in the hospital was more or less a guess, you are welcome to correct me.
2. I have been trying to keep all the character's names connected to their role in InuYasha but for the life of me I couldn't remember the Japanese word for 'wolf.' If anyone knows it then please share so I can use it in the future for Kouga's last name.
3. If you are seeing a lot of mistakes it is because I do not have a Beta or the time or patience to edit myself. If you've got a beta recommendation that would be awesome and much appreciated.
Until next chapter my duckies!