A/N: Thank you all for still reading. Next chapter is in the works.
"Aortic valve stenosis is when the aortic valve opening narrows."
Miroku sat on the small table as Kagome pseudo rocked back and forth in her chair by pushing the wheels back and forth. The back left one seemed to be a squeaker, and Miroku had no idea what the heeler just told him. He folded his hands over his knees—he wasn't yet used to these new clothes. The jeans were a too tight to his liking.
"Miroku?" Kagome had stopped rolling her chair and was now looking up at him with wide eyes. "Miroku, do you understand what that means?"
He stared at her for the moment—how odd it was she was taking care of him. It was so motherly and he was used to being the oldest person in their group. He shook his head slowly to answer her question.
Dr. Caligari pursed his lips and nodded slowly. He scooted closer to Miroku as he put his clipboard aside. "I'd like to do an echocardiogram to make sure and perhaps determine the width of the valve area…" He looked at Miroku, who was still slightly shorter than the doctor even though he was sitting up higher on the paper covered table. The man stuck out his large, thick hand and placed it on the young monk's which sat at his side. Miroku was a bit shocked by the touch—he'd already been told that the doctor came from a more hands-on society on a little boot-shaped country west of Japan—but he wasn't prepared to be socially touched by the stranger. He allowed the man's heavy hand to rest on his despite his confusion at how to accept the gesture.
The heeler squeezed his hand as he began. "Miroku your heart has one large artery that carries all your blood to the rest of your body. This is the aorta. It is a very necessary part of your life functions."
Miroku nodded. He knew where this artery was—though he'd never heard the name before. He'd used it once in a bad situation. He hadn't wished to, but he'd been thorough in his training and learned of the places on the body that were weak and that would bleed someone out the fastest. The hand did not leave his, and Miroku found himself watching the larger man's chin as he spoke.
"In the case of aortic valve stenosis…the opening for this crucial artery has narrowed, causing it to not only provide inadequate oxygen to your body, but also putting stress on your heart. It is very rare in younger people, but you seem to be one of the lucky few Miroku." This last part almost sounded like the professional doctor was irritated at his patient's luck. The monk knew he liked this man.
Miroku took a deep breath in, the released it. "So," he said. His gaze dropped to the meaty hand on his. "Can we fix it?"
The large doctor nodded. "There are treatment options, yes. But, first I'd like to see how far along we are."
"When can he get that echocardiogram?" Kagome piped in from beside the table.
Dr. Caligari nodded and stood, retrieving a form from a small box on the wall. It was next to a map of the human heart. Miroku watched as the meaty hands filled out the form. The large man muttered as he wrote out his orders.
"If we can make a day of it, I'd like to do that. Are you free for the rest of the afternoon?" He looked up to the young monk and his "cousin."
Kagome answered for them. "Yes, we can be here."
He nodded and Miroku felt he was on a whirlwind. "Well, you'll need to hop on over to the building beside this one. Go to radiology and give them this form. They should be able to take you within the next hour."
Miroku couldn't help but wonder how many times they might go back and forth today.
"We are here." Shippo stood beside Ueda as he took in his surroundings. The older panther youkai waved his hand to their right, indicating a spot behind a boulder. "Please stand behind that."
Shippo raised his eyebrows but proceeded to guide Sumi behind the large rock with a touch to her elbow. They had come to a stone wall of a mountainside with seemingly little edges or divots to use for climbing. Shippo could get up the mountain by changing form, but he wasn't sure how the panther might accomplish this or why they had been instructed to stand behind a boulder.
The black-skinned male looked in their direction; making sure the two were fully behind the rock, Shippo assumed. He turned back to the rock face and took in a large breath, puffing out his chest. Shippo was vaguely aware Sumi had pressed her side to his, her hip alongside his own. Ueda suddenly let out a loud feline cry at a decibel which made the fox youkai's ears ring. Shippo felt himself wince against the pain. The rock face which had seemed so solid before began to lose…density? Yes, to the kit it nearly seemed that the solid surface was dwindling away. As it faded, a large cave mouth became visible.
Ueda smiled to himself then beckoned for his companions to come. Sumi was the first to step out from behind the boulder, Shippo trailing along behind.
"Nifty trick." Shippo mumbled as he poked a finger into his ear, wriggling it against the ringing sound.
The older male laughed. "Yes well, it only responds to my mate's and my cries—well also our family members."
The fox's eyes flicked to the boulder Sumi and he had been behind. "And, uh that?" He thumbed toward the stone.
"The spell will cause you to pass-out if you do not remain behind the safe zone when I call." He grinned toothily at the other youkai. "It is to prevent someone from unwillingly using one of us to get inside. We just remember to tell guests to stand behind that rock."
Shippo nodded—thinking that Ueda was strange indeed and rather paranoid.
Sumi seemed unfazed by the previous display. If she could have vocalized it in their language, she would have told them she herself kept a similar spell over her own home.
"Well inside then."
It took few moments to get Sumi into the raised cave mouth. The thin woman seemed to have lost a significant amount of upper bodyweight, and her legs had less strength than she was used to. Shippo had to hold back laughter several times when he could hear the woman mumble a word in her language he was certain was a cuss word. She was consistent though, having picked one curse to be her favorite over others it would seem.
Once the odd group of three clamored up into the shelf that was the entrance to Ueda's home, stillness overcame the panther youkai. He sniffed at the air and his shoulders grew tense at the same time his face took on an expression of annoyance. He allowed himself a small step forward as Shippo helped Sumi up the last step into the mouth. He slowly lifted his upper lip and drew in a long breath to scent at the air again.
"What's the—"
Shippo was cut off by a silent motion from the panther. Ueda sniffed once more, the line between his brows growing more distinct.
"Shippo…tell me what you can smell, please?" The older youkai asked the younger with a quiet, even tone.
Nodding, the fox stepped in beside Ueda and inhaled deeply. He pulled back almost immediately, covering his nose as he did so.
Ueda was in his line of sight instantly. "What? What is it?"
Shippo wrinkled his nose and huffed into his hand. "Fuck that's strong!"
"What's strong?" There were heavy hands on the kit's shoulders now, squeezing.
"Uh," Shippo shook his head. "I think your mate has given birth."