Mrs. Higurashi and Sesshoumaru made their way back to Kagome's room, Hojo was left to deal with the aftermath of his broken gift basket, surrounded by a swarm of giggling children who eagerly devoured the spilled fruit. The sound of excited chatter and laughter of children echoed behind them.
Closing the door behind them, Mrs. Higurashi turned to Sesshoumaru with a soft smile. "I was surprised to find you in the pediatric ward, Sesshoumaru. You truly have a gift with little ones."
Sesshoumaru inclined his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "It is nothing," he replied, though there was a hint of warmth in his voice.
Mrs. Higurashi studied him for a moment before reaching for her bag, preparing to leave for the day. "I'll be back tomorrow with some new clothes for you. Please, watch over Kagome tonight."
He nodded, his gaze shifting to Kagome's peaceful, sleeping form. "Of course," he said quietly, a promise in his words. Tonight, he intended to find a way to unblock the flow of her reiki.
As Mrs. Higurashi left, Sesshoumaru settled into the chair beside Kagome's bed, keeping a silent vigil over her as she slept. For the next few hours, he read through books Souta had brought him or occasionally opened the laptop too watch instructional videos on JSL. As night fell, enveloping the room in darkness, Sesshoumaru found it easier to track the flow of Kagome's reiki. The pink tendrils of energy wove and threaded throughout her body, but they were still unable to break past the base of her skull.
Initially, Sesshoumaru had thought the blockage might be a lingering effect from the centipede attack, but he began to suspect it was due to the explosion following Naraku's death. Mrs. Higurashi had mentioned that the doctors were puzzled by Kagome's unreturned hearing and her slow healing process. They were particularly concerned about the stitches on the back of her head, which seemed unable to stay closed as the wound tried to reopen.
Leaning forward until his elbows rested on the safety bars of the bed, Sesshoumaru rested his chin on his hands, watching Kagome breathe softly in her deep sleep. His golden eyes, reflective in the moonlight, drifted to the arm he had previously healed with his saliva. He might be able to assist again with the head wound, but the hearing loss was another matter. The only method he knew to heal internal damage was unconventional and potentially contentious.
A contented sigh escaped Kagome's lips as she shifted in her sleep, turning to face him. Her hand brushed a phantom itch on her face before settling back. The sight brought a soft smile to Sesshoumaru's lips.
From the moment he had rescued her at the hot springs and ensured her safety after the centipede attack, Kagome had become part of his pack. As her Alpha, it was his duty to ensure she was cared for and healthy. With a quiet sigh, he leaned back in his chair, resolute in his decision. When she woke, he would propose the only solution he knew to force her reiki through the blockage and heal her. She might not appreciate the option, but it was the only way to restore her health.
There were still a few hours left before dawn. The room's stillness was broken only by Kagome's soft yawns and faint groans. The nurses had yet to return to replace her medicine, and the pain from the gash on the back of her head was beginning to resurface.
Battling waves of nausea, Kagome slowly sat up, blinking until her tired eyes adjusted to the dim light. As she glanced towards the window, she almost screamed. Sesshoumaru stood there, his back to her, but his head turned slightly, allowing his piercing gold eyes to lock onto hers. It made her feel like prey being stalked by a predator.
The sight of him jolted her fully awake. She watched, her breath catching, as he moved with grace, gliding over to the bed. He switched on a small lamp, its warm glow casting soft shadows in the room, before settling back into his chair. His large presence was strangely comforting in the quiet night.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, his movements measured.
Kagome was slow to process his words. She wasn't sure if it was because of the pain, the unexpected sight of Sesshoumaru in modern clothing, or the practiced ease with which his hands moved as if he had been using JSL for years. His graceful signing seemed almost second nature.
A slight tilt of his head and a concerned frown prompted her to finally respond. "I feel…" Terrible, awful, like my head is going to explode, she thought, but instead said, "fine…" Her hands trembled slightly, likely from the pain or perhaps the lack of food or water.
Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed, sensing the lie. Her scent reeked of discomfort and anguish. "Do not lie to me, Kagome," he said, his fingers forming the sign for her name she had taught him and Rin by the campfire. Seeing him sign it made Kagome blush involuntarily. It felt so… intimate.
Trying to avoid his intense gaze, she admitted, "My pain medicine has run out. I need more."
Sesshoumaru resisted the urge to roll his eyes. At least she was being somewhat honest with him now. Standing up, he leaned over her and pressed the call button on the other side of the bed. He needed her to be comfortable or at least able to focus on what he intended to discuss about her reiki.
Kagome continued to avert her eyes, looking at anything other than Sesshoumaru until the nurse finally arrived.
Fortunately, Kagome did not have to wait long for a nurse to arrive. What she hadn't expected was the nurse's face to light up the moment her eyes landed on Sesshoumaru.
"Oh! Hello again!" The nurse beamed at Sesshoumaru, who nodded in acknowledgment. "Thank you again for your help with the children. Because of you, they all got their vaccinations without any more fussing." As she spoke, she went about changing Kagome's IV bag.
Sitting back, Kagome silently watched the interaction. They seemed very familiar with each other, and for some reason, that didn't sit well with her. There was an ease and friendliness in the nurse's demeanor that made Kagome feel oddly… jealous.
The nurse turned to ask her something, but before she could, Sesshoumaru gently took Kagome's chin and turned her to face him. Kagome blushed a deep crimson at the unexpected touch. When he let go, he signed to Kagome, asking what else she needed. His golden eyes focused solely on her.
Unable to tear her ocean eyes away from his intense gaze, Kagome awkwardly signed that she would like some water and maybe something to eat. Sesshoumaru nodded, finally breaking eye contact to relay her needs to the nurse.
After observing their interaction, the nurse seemed to put two and two together. She clapped her hands together in realization. "This must be your wife! Your mother-in-law told us you were here to look after her."
Sesshoumaru's eyes flickered to Kagome for a moment, noting that she was still unable to follow the conversation. He responded to the nurse, "I am her boyfriend, not her husband." Now that the meddlesome human male wasn't around, he felt free to correct the assumption, using what he thought was this era's title for Alpha.
The nurse smiled, glancing between the two of them. "I'll be back soon with a jug of water and something light for you to eat," she said. There was an odd twinkle in her eye as she left, one that had Kagome feeling a bit confused and more than a little embarrassed.
Sesshoumaru turned his attention back to Kagome. "Rest. Once you have eaten, I have something to discuss with you."
Kagome merely nodded and leaned back in her now-raised bed.
The same nurse soon returned with a tray of water and a meal of rice and porridge. She exchanged a few more words with Sesshoumaru, much to Kagome's ire, before leaving them alone once more.
As she quietly ate, Sesshoumaru sat back, his arms crossed, watching her intently as if ready to intervene should she choke on a grain of rice. His unwavering gaze was beginning to annoy her.
Finally, unable to take his stare any longer, she slammed her chopsticks down with more force than she intended and glared at him. "What is it? What do you want to talk about?"
Sesshoumaru remained silent, his golden eyes narrowing as he studied Kagome. It was clear she was upset, but the reason eluded him. He had sensed her displeasure when the female healer had spoken with him, but he couldn't fathom why it bothered her so much.
His sharp gaze took in every detail of her expression, searching for clues. The furrow in her brow, the tight set of her lips, and the slight flush on her cheeks all pointed to her irritation. Despite his keen perception, the intricacies of human emotions, especially those of Kagome, often puzzled him.
"While you slept, I was able to determine the cause of your hearing loss and why your wounds are not healing as they should."
Whatever Kagome had been expecting, it wasn't this. She had noticed her powers weren't working properly, but she had chalked it up to the stress of recent events and other worries. The fact that he had cared enough to actually notice made her feel weird and tingly.
"What is it?" she asked.
Sesshoumaru moved closer, and using his fingers, gently ran them down the back of her neck, causing her to involuntarily shiver. "Here," he said with one hand, his voice soft but certain, "something is blocking your reiki from progressing to the damaged areas." His hand then flattened and lightly pressed into the spot he had pinpointed. "It must have been caused after the battle with Naraku."
Trying her best to ignore how warm his calloused hand felt on her neck, Kagome thought back to that day, but her memories were still a bit hazy. What he was saying made sense, though.
Gazing up at him once more, she asked, "Do you know how to fix it?"
This was the part of the conversation Sesshoumaru had dreaded. Yet, he knew it would do no good to withhold potential remedies from the priestess. Removing his hand and taking a deep breath, he steeled himself for the discussion.
"There are... three methods I have identified as possible solutions," he began, his hands measured and serious.
Kagome's eyes widened slightly, and she leaned forward, hanging on his every word.
"All methods involve a powerful opposing force to manipulate or push your reiki. However, it would require a significant amount of energy, more than you currently possess in your weakened state," Sesshoumaru explained. "It might also take several attempts and could be physically taxing."
Kagome nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "What are the… methods?" she asked, her movements tinged with hope and apprehension.
"Our energies differ just enough to work, but the three methods are a bit... intrusive," Sesshoumaru began, his hands steady yet filled with a hint of reluctance. "The first method involves a bite. By infusing my power into it, I should be able to clear the blockage, but it may come with unintended consequences." He decided not divulge that this bite would be equivalent to a courting mark.
Kagome's face paled, and she quickly shook her head in refusal. Seeing her discomfort, Sesshoumaru reluctantly moved on to the next option.
"The second method involves an oral transfer," he continued, "I would need to press my lips against yours, pushing my aura inside to attempt to clear the blockage."
Kagome's cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and her hands flew up in a flurry of frantic "no's." Sesshoumaru noted her extreme horror and embarrassment, making him cautious about explaining the third option.
"The third method," he began, his hands quivering slightly, "would be very intimate. It involves intercour-"
Before he could finish, Kagome suddenly sat up straighter in her bed, her hands signing rapidly, "No, no! Option two, option two!"
Sesshoumaru paused, taken aback by her sudden insistence. Her cheeks were still flushed, and her blue eyes wide. He realized that, despite her mortification, she was willing to endure the second option rather than hear about the third.
"Very well," he signed. "We will proceed with the second method when you are ready."
Kagome nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. The prospect of such close contact with Sesshoumaru was both daunting and exhilarating. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves, and met his gaze. "Thank you," she signed, her hands trembling slightly.
He gave her a small nod, his eyes filled with concern and his own hesitation. "Rest for now, Kagome."
With that, she leaned back into her pillows, her mind racing with thoughts of what was to come. Was she really about to have her first kiss with Sesshoumaru of all people?