CHAPTER 23

Before the Church Bells Sing

The bleach smelled terrible. Usually Kagome could not even make out the stench over the lavender aroma the bottle promised, but lately she felt like calling them and complaining. Her back arched violently again, her throat burned, her head was killing her. She heaved, emptying out the last of her stomach content.

"I told you that take-away looked funny," she leaned her head against her arms, which was folded on the rim of the toilet seat,

"Yeah, that chicken must have been off," Rin complained from the sink,

"Luckily you stopped like an hour ago," Kagome's voice echoed in the empty bathroom,

"Still feel bad," Rin frowned at her,

"The doctor can see you both in an hour," Shippou confirmed from the other side of the door,

Both women moaned from inside the bathroom. Shippou was too scared to enter. He and Sesshomaru each had a burger the night before, just like those two, but they never got sick. Shippou started collecting coats, handing it to them as they left the bathroom and headed towards the car. Luckily, he was able to drive them. Kagome took the front passenger seat, Rin took up the whole back – laying down.

"Just my bloody luck!" Kagome felt like crying,

"The day before my wedding and I feel like shit!"

"Mom, you are fine… The doctor will give you something and you'll be fine for all your appointments," Shippou reached for her hand, taking it gently.

His eyes flashed to Rin every so often. He was so worried. They both looked so sickly.

The wait in the reception area felt like forever. Rin rested her head on his shoulder; her public display making him nervous. Kagome did not seem to mind or care. She looked folded in half; her head rested on her knees.

"Higurashi," a petite, brown haired nurse called,

Shippou helped them up, Kagome straightening up and walking ahead, Rin held onto Shippou.

"So, what seems to be the problem," the grey haired doctor asked with a big plastered smile,

"Really?" Kagome semi-glared at him,

"Mom! Sorry she doesn't get sick often… but when she does she is cranky as hell," Shippou tried to apologize,

"No worries, there seems to be a bug around," he continued smiling,

"Okay, let's take the young lady first. That way you can get her back to your car?" Kagome nodded at the suggestion. She was the adult, and her comment was very childish. She stood straight, taking Rin from Shippou. He stood to the side.

"Lay down please," he instructed, she complied,

The doctor did a routine check: heart rate, blood pressure, a few nudges here and there. He then sent both, Rin and Kagome, to go collect some urine. He tested Rin's with a number of testers, and then sent Rin back to the car to go lie down. Kagome told Shippou to stay with her.

"Miss Higurashi, please come lie down,"

He did the same routine checks, but some reactions made him frown more than he did with Rin,

"Sit up straight please. Just relax," he turned and did the same amount of tests with hers.

He cleared his throat a while after, making Kagome jump. Her nausea was subsiding, the colour returning to her face.

"Follow me please," he led her back to the desk,

"Well," he cleared his voice again,

"Miss Rin has light food poisoning, she will be fine,"

Kagome's sigh of relief made him smile,

"She will be batter by tomorrow if she drinks her medication and gets plenty of rest,"

"Oh good. The wedding is in two days,"

"Congratulations,"

"Thank you,"

"Now you, Miss Higurashi, I'm sending you for some blood tests. You should have the results by this evening or early tomorrow morning,"

"Tests? Why?" the panic in her voice evident, and the nausea returned,

"Nothing terrible, it's just…" he paused for a second, "…routine. Just to be sure you will be all right on your big day,"

"Right," she stared at his scribbled handwriting, listening intently to all the instructions,

"It could be your nerves, so I'll prescribe something natural,"

"Natural?"

"Don't want to be drowsy, now do we?" he did not look at her, and continued his writing,

"Right,"

Kagome joined the two in the car, handing Rin a bottle of water and her first dose of medicine.

"He said you'll be fine… Just some funky chicken on that burger" Kagome smiled,

"Thank you," she swallowed them one by one, Shippou supporting her back,

"And you? What he say?" Shippou stared at Kagome's two bottles,

"Some routine tests, I'll be fine," she started the car and drove around the block to the building where she needed to go for her blood tests.

She read with note, double checking everything he ticked. It made her curious to see all the ticks as she had no idea what types of tests they would be.

"I'll be right back," she got out, walked through the sliding door, and cringed.

The smell went straight to her empty stomach, awakening the churning nausea yet again. She leaned against a chair, holding her nose.

"How can I help?" a chubby nurse came forward from the reception desk,

Kagome shoved the paper at her. She did not want the smell in her mouth. She could not describe it, and did not want to. All she knew was she needed to get out as soon as possible…

"I see you are a bit uncomfortable," a knowing glistened in her grey eyes,

"Come through immediately, I'll take your details as Hiyome takes some blood,"

She held Kagome by the elbow, leading her to a tiny, well lit room. Another nurse came in; short blonde hair and big green eyes. She was well built but short.

"Ah, what have we got today," she smiled, as the chubby nurse lowered Kagome into her seat,

"Oh thank you," Kagome said, blushing slightly,

"I had no idea food poisoning could be this bad when you have nervous jitters,"

The two nurses exchanged a quick look, and the chubby one left. She returned shortly after with a clipboard.

"While Hitome is busy, I'll help you fill this in," she smiled and Kagome nodded,

The whole process to a few minutes and Kagome was almost out the door when the chubby one, she remembered her name was Midori, told her that they would mark the tests as URGENT so that they could have the results in a few short hours.

The drive home was very quiet. Kagome looked at the clock on the dashboard; Sesshomaru should be home shortly. He went in to their emergency meeting at Shikon High. A meeting on a damn Saturday.

Sesshomaru was home by the time they got back. Pots was simmering on the stove when they entered,

"Smells amazing," Kagome's stomach did not seem to protest to the smell,

"It should help with the food poisoning, for both of you," he smiled softly at Rin,

Shippou was leading her to a sofa, draping a blanket over her. Rin blushed brightly, and the two adults just smiled to each other.

Sesshomaru and Kagome quickly poured the soup into bowls and took it to the living room. Each took a seat and started. Kagome could feel her body absorb the goodness. She felt so much better.

"What did the doctor say?" Sesshomaru asked as Kagome handed him the next wet bowl,

"He said we'll be fine," she smiled, "Looks like Rin got it worse,"

"Shippou informed me of the blood tests… What is going on?" he eyed her suspiciously, "He said it's routine… Just to check that everything is fine,"

Sesshomaru did not seem to buy the explanation, but decided to rather leave it be. The rest of the day was quite a rush. Kagome still had her nail and wax appointment. Sesshomaru made sure everything else was in order; being as scary as he could be, everything WAS in order.

Kagome and Rin just stepped into the foyer as the home phone rang. Rin made a motion to get it but Kagome stopped her with a hand on the shoulder,

"I got it," she smiled, "Pack away the groceries will you?"

Rin ran to the kitchen, and Kagome lifted the phone to her ear,

"Hello, this is Kagome speaking,"

"Hi, miss Higurashi?" a female voice asked,

"Yes? This is she?" Kagome bit her lip,

"This is Midori, from the blood tests," her voice smiled,

"Yes, I remember,"

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