Kagome didn't know how to react: she felt as though 'out of place' would be the understatement of her lifetime. This room felt like a place she didn't belong, that she was going to dirty it just by being inside of it. The room was small, a waiting area for the doctor she'd been assured they were coming to see. Yet, despite its humble size it was magnificently covered and she was afraid to sit or walk too far inside.

Crushed velvet lined overstuffed cushions, each residing in pale birch carved into claw like patterns along the 'feet' of the couch and matching chairs. The legs somewhat lost in the thick cream carpeting. The coffee table the furniture surrounded seemed to be crafted of the same striking grained pattern of wood as the chairs. Its surface clear of clutter save for a single bowl at the center.

Even the bowl was exquisitely crafted; it looked as though it should be in someone's collector case. In her neighborhood that would be the sort of piece someone kept for only the best occasions and here it was settled in the waiting area holding colorful pieces of individually wrapped candies. Even the confectionary of this place was well beyond what she could normally afford, they were candies generally only bought by the richer members of society. She stood to the side of the door as the silver haired demon that brought her here moved by her and spoke to the receptionist. The woman at the desk had darker hair but there were points to her ears that showed some sort of demon quality but it must have been minor, so he'd brought her to a demon doctor? That wasn't really a comforting thought…

"He should be here soon Lord Sesshomaru, you and your guest are welcome to have a seat. Should I arrange the appropriate paperwork with your secretary?" The woman was asking, she seemed polite enough but then Inuyasha had seemed fairly decent before he'd turned into a complete monster. Even the man with her seemed polite for the most part but he'd also threatened her lightly when she'd hesitated earlier…

"No records are necessary; I'll pay with the appropriate amount in cash." Sesshomaru replied coolly, golden gaze eyeing over the receptionist indifferently a moment before he glanced back toward Kagome. She wasn't paying attention to them.

Her eyes were focused on a lovely landscape painting that took up most of one of the waiting room walls. Kagome was relieved they were leaving her out of the conversation. Her shoulder ached incredibly, she could still feel it bleeding lightly and she felt dizzy. Kagome knew she should sit down but the furniture was probably worth more than the entirety of what her family owned, she feared ruining it if she sat there.

"I will take her back to a room presently, whichever is available." Kagome heard him saying it even as she felt the touch of fingers on her arm. After Inuyasha earlier she couldn't help the reaction. She jumped at the contact and then winced as the movement seemed to only make her bleeding worse again. Kagome followed Sesshomaru after a moment, the woman leading them into a room that seemed remarkably similar to her own doctor's office after the extravagant waiting area. At least the metal and plastic examination table she could sit on and know they would be able to clean it of her blood.

She wobbled as she sat down, glad for the ability to relax a moment.

"Thank you…" She managed after she sat down. Glancing at him and wanting to offer a smile but instead looking back down when she noticed his stony expression was exactly the same as the last time she'd looked. "I mean…helping me, saving me from Inuyasha…"

"You can show appreciation by leaving the city and being discreet as to what happened tonight." He replied neutrally, still clearly intent on having her gone. She hadn't had a chance to bring that up before now.

"I can't leave." Kagome shook her head, glancing down again when he frowned at the comment. "I have to take care of mom and help with the shop, I have work to do."

"I imagine your mother will be safer without Inuyasha poking around looking for you and your occupation can be accomplished regardless of the city you are in." He stated logically, glancing at the clock.

"I'm not a whore." Kagome frowned at having to explain this. She was a little insulted Sesshomaru had taken Inuyasha's comments so seriously. Perhaps it was the blood loss, she shouldn't speak so frankly to a noble but the dam had already broken. "I'm a seamstress. I work with my mom in her shop and I'm usually a stand up member of society. I just got sucked in by that pervert's sob story about wanting to just go out when I shouldn't have…the perverted jackass took advantage…erm I mean…sorry, never mind that. I don't sell sex for money, I wouldn't even know how. I'm a virgin."

It wasn't until near the end of her tirade that she realized she wasn't acting properly, even that last part she probably shouldn't have added but she was pretty relieved she was still a virgin. Common sense dictated cursing in front of a noble wasn't the best plan so she had been quick to apologize. Still, she didn't want him thinking she was a streetwalker, she had always been a good girl and even going with Inuyasha at all had been fairly out of character for her. Not a mistake she'd make again…

Her eyes on the floor she didn't see the slight smirk Sesshomaru held a moment while she was going off about the worthless half-breed. It was gone by the time she glanced up again; the door had opened and the momentary show of amusement was gone. The doctor was a slightly older man, bent over a little, his hair held back by a ponytail and small glasses in front of dark eyes. He frowned as he glanced between them and then walked toward Kagome, looking at her shoulder without touching her.

"That's quite a gash…you've probably lost some blood, you're a little pale. Is that normal?" The doctor went right to questions. There was no 'how are you'. Kagome always thought a doctor asking if you were all right when you were clearly sick was silly so she didn't really care too much for the lack of pleasantries.

"I'm usually a little pale." She answered, not sure how else to answer, other people had called her pale in the past. She didn't do a lot of looking in a mirror, she didn't have time for it. "I was bleeding a lot."

"Did you give her blood?" The doctor asked Sesshomaru, she didn't really understand what that would mean. Demons were supposed to have all manner of abilities so maybe their blood could help people? Gross.

"Of course not," the insult felt by whatever the doctor had implicated was clear in his tone.

The doctor continued despite the displeasure from the full demon nearby, "Okay, I'll need you to take your shirt off or we'll need to cut it off at the sleeve and around the wound so I can clean and then bandage it. We'll need to get you some blood and fluids wouldn't be a bad idea. I'll need to admit you to a room."

"Not possible." Sesshomaru refused immediately, so much for a hero. "That would require paperwork; this transaction is not one that will be recorded."

The doctor frowned, seeming to think twice about what he originally wanted to say while Kagome continued to watch. She couldn't really argue or the like since this guy was taking care of her even if it was clear he had conditions. Until those involved her outright dying she'd just go along.

"I can't leave her in here all night Sesshomaru, these are my normal hours. I have other patients and without a reason I can't just shut down my clinic. I think people will notice when they're waiting and a human exits." The doctor was speaking levelly but it seemed to be with effort, apparently they knew each other well enough that he felt he could leave out the demon's title and address him informally. "Even if I fix the wound it'll take time to heal and she should be watched if she lost that much blood. Unless of course you are willing to offer your own to her, you know that would heal her without the need for my involvement."

His blood could just heal her? She hadn't heard of that involving demons before, was it just him? Maybe just full demons? They were quite rare anymore, even the doctor seemed some sort of watered down blood – though clearly more than the receptionist. It was all a little much and really she'd never wanted to be a scholar on the topic, they were frightening creatures. Already she was learning there were more than she'd really liked to have known about in this town…she'd rarely seen them in her neighborhood. Perhaps once every few months in the shops…

Tonight she'd seen four; to include the first full blood in years…it was all surreal…

"If that was ever a possibility then you wouldn't be speaking to me now." Sesshomaru stated coldly, at least he didn't want her to take his blood and she'd rather go the human route. Magic brought darkness and that was something she didn't need after tonight…"Fix her and bring the equipment you require elsewhere. Where is your home girl?"

Kagome hesitated, not sure what to say to him. The slight narrowing of his eyes inspired her to speak quicker than she would have otherwise. "I ah…well our house doesn't really have space, there's fabric everywhere and…"

"I will arrange for her to stay in the hotel across from your establishment." Sesshomaru interrupted her mid-excuse, his golden gaze returning to the doctor. "Fix her shoulder and then we can relocate."

"I'll need to give her anesthetic or her body could go into shock…" The doctor sighed as he replied, apparently accepting whatever they'd come up with. He dug out a syringe and some other tools, rubbing some alcohol on her arm before inserting the needle. "Hold still please."

"I…my mom will be worried if I don't return home." Kagome spoke up, suddenly starting to stand until a pale hand held her firmly in place. "She'll come looking or call the guard. You didn't want people to know…I…go…"

Kagome's expression was concerned as she stared at the beautiful face of her demon savor, though it grew dark even as she was speaking and her head hung forward as she lost consciousness.

"Quite the interesting young woman," The doctor remarked, as though he was amused. He'd seen the curiosity flicker through Sesshomaru's expression at her worry for the demon's wants. "Lay her back and I'll get started. I can have her moved to the hotel and call it a charity case. I assume you'll want to check with her family. I'll make certain you pay me for it. Any other specific requests?"

Sesshomaru paused before he replied. Laying her down and digging her wallet from her pocket to look for her address. Thankfully she had identification on her person…he replaced the wallet and then frowned at the deep gash revealed when the doctor finished cutting off the shirt's sleeve. "Yes. Give her a general check up, blood work, the usual tests required of an escort. I'll have to enroll her..."

The doctor frowned a little glancing at Sesshomaru. "A human? I know you aren't interested as your father was, don't make the same mistakes as your brother. Better to let her return to her life."

Sesshomaru's face darkened his voice more frigid than the arctic when he spoke again. "Half-brother, and Inuyasha will not allow her to wander freely when she resembles Kikyo. So I am perfectly precise, listen well: Never compare me to that unworthy half-breed again, your practice is useful but you will be replaced if your lack of respect continues. She is mine, what I do with her is of my concern alone, now fix her."

Sesshomaru swept away, the nerve of the doctor was frustrating, he allowed the old man a certain personal relationship since they had known each other from the time Sesshomaru was a cub but he wouldn't tolerate comparison to that unworthy half-breed. No, he had plans for this human that would unmake his little 'brother', the slight smirk he wore as he walked from the clinic was sinister.

End Chapter

Wow, I'm not sure how to say thanks for all the feedback. It's pretty much why I fought to work out a second chapter for everyone that seemed to enjoy reading the first. Though it has distracted me from other work, bad distractions!

-Aura