"Don't fidget, Kaede. We won't be here that long," Kikyou said. Her younger sister crossed her arms but didn't move, her fever leaving her listless. Kikyou wrapped a protective arm around Kaede's shoulders. "I'm sure it's nothing."

"I don't like him. My friends say he's scary."

"I'm sure that's not the case—"

"Kaede?" A soft voice sounded from the doorway, and the younger sibling sunk down in her chair.

"Come on," Kikyou said, grabbing her hand and tugging her out of the waiting room. "It'll be over before you know it." Kaede continued to grumble throughout the entire examination, Kikyou having to reprimand her when she refused to open her mouth.

"Nothing much to worry about," the doctor said. "Her wisdom teeth are coming in. A fever is a typical side effect."

Kikyou breathed a sigh of relief.

The doctor wrote something down on his prescription pad, then handed it to her. "Regular painkillers should be fine, but if her fever continues, or she complains specifically of gum pain, give her this."

Kaede grabbed the seamless white paper, glaring at him before tugging her sister out the door. Heaving a sigh, Kikyou watched as she stomped through the waiting room.

"Is she onto us?" he asked, breath wafting across the back of her neck.

Kikyou shook her head. "Apparently, you haven't made a good impression with her friends."

"I am not perfect."

She smirked over her shoulder. "I wouldn't like you if you were."

His eyes gleamed, and he traced lines on her back, the sting of his whip still fresh on her skin. "Will I see you this weekend?"

Kikyou sucked in a quivering breath before she was able to nod. "She's going to a friend's house." The touch of his lips on the back of her neck was brief, replaced quickly by teeth.

"I look forward to you returning the favour."