InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Home for Kagome ❯ Scare ( Chapter 4 )

DISCLAIMER: Rumiko Takahashi, now and forever, owns 'Inuyasha' and all characters involved. I, now and forever, own nothing but my own twisted plot and any original characters I might add. Hope this settles any confusion. Please don't sue me, I'm broke.

 

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Chapter contains talk of abortion, though only a small section of the chapter deals with it. If this offends anyone, feel free not to read. Personally, I am pro-choice, but I also believe that every couple must decide for themselves. I am not trying to preach.

 

Chapter 4 - Scare

 

Three weeks had passed since that fateful afternoon when Kagome was so brutally attacked, and Kagome was recovering surprisingly well. She suspected it was because she knew that the people who mattered the most to her didn't blame her and still loved her. That, plus she now knew that Inuyasha loved her and wanted to be with her. His promise that if, when she recovered, he would gladly take her for his mate if she still wanted him, always put a smile on her face when she thought of it. She doubted she would be ready to act on that promise anytime soon, but just the fact that it was there made her want to recover that much faster.

 

Things were quiet at home. She hadn't left the Shrine yet, let alone gone back to the Feudal Era, because she still got nervous when she was out in the open or surrounded by too many people. She'd been spending most of her time in front of the television with Inuyasha, or upstairs reading a book. Though she had officially dropped out of school, she rather like studying, though these days instead of math or science, she spent her time studying things she was actually interested in like herbal-lore or natural medicine. She was becoming quite knowledgeable on the subject and planned on asking Kaede for lessons on Miko healing when she finally went back.

 

Souta had returned home two weeks ago. Although he had been told that Kagome had been attacked and pulled out of school, and that he wasn't to talk about it, he still did not know why nor did he know the true nature of the attack. Michiko and Bejiro both felt he was too young to understand, and didn't want to worry him. As for Kagome, she didn't feel comfortable talking to her little brother about it.

 

Kagome at first hadn't wanted to talk about the attack at all, but after two and a half weeks, she had finally broken down and confessed to her mother everything that had happened that afternoon. After telling the understanding older woman everything that happened, and crying on her shoulder for an hour or so, she actually felt a lot better, as if a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She really felt after that that she would be able to move on and put it all behind her. It would just take some more time.

 

Inuyasha, Michiko and Bejiro were all proud of her, of the progress she was making. Although she still had nightmares occasionally and still didn't feel safe leaving the sanctuary of the house, the old life was returning to her eyes and she seemed to be happier.

 

However, one morning exactly three weeks after the attack, Kagome received a scare that threatened not only to undo all her progress since the attack, but also to turn her entire life upside-down.

 

###

 

Back in the Feudal Era, things weren't nearly so cheerful. Sango, Miroku, Kaede and Shippo were all deeply worried about Kagome, not having heard from either her nor Inuyasha since that day Inuyasha had come to dump the bodies. Although they were sure Inuyasha would have come and told them if anything was truly wrong, they could not help but worry about how she was doing. Shippo was so upset by the whole thing he was crying himself to sleep every night, and the other's weren't in a much better place emotionally speaking. Although Kaede diligently continued with her village duties, and Sango and Miroku showed the same determination with slaying any demons that threatened the nearby villages while the listened for rumours of Shikon Jewel Shards or Naraku, it was still clear that something else was often on their minds.

 

While the villagers all suspected that it had something to do with Lady Kagome and the hanyou Inuyasha's notable absence the last few weeks, they didn't really know anything, as none of them were willing to talk about it. Even the young kitsune, who was usually so cheerful and talkative, had become closed.

 

It improved no body's mood that the ookami Koga would turn up at the village every few days, demanding to know the location of Kagome's home village. Koga was becoming more and more frustrated that he could find no trace of `his woman' or her village, and that was showing more and more every time he turned up. On the other hand, as the others were becoming more worried everyday that went by with no new news of their beloved friend, they weren't exactly bothered that Koga was upset.

 

In all, everyone was anxious for news of Kagome. But since none of them could travel through the Bone Eater's Well to receive any, they just had to hope that everything was okay with Kagome.

 

###

 

As far as Kagome was concerned, everything was far from okay, as she sat on the bathroom floor crying her eyes out. She had been hoping she was wrong, that everything would be okay in another day or so. She couldn't pretend that anymore, and the possible reasons for it terrified and sickened her.

 

Kagome was still there when Inuyasha found her just before lunchtime. He had been outside in the Shrine with Bejiro that morning, helping the old man move some old antiques the shrine had collected over the years that were too heavy for him to move on his own. Kagome had been quiet enough that even though she had been crying most of the morning, her mother had not noticed and thought she was just up reading quietly in her room again. Inuyasha on the other hand, could smell the flood of her tears the moment he entered the house. Somewhat alarmed, as she had not really cried since she had finally told her mother everything, Inuyasha hurried upstairs and pounded on the bathroom door, threatening to break it down if she didn't open it herself.

 

Slowly, Kagome got up and went to unlock the door. As soon as the door opened and Inuyasha saw Kagome's heartbroken expression, he pulled her into a bone-crushing embrace. She hugged him back with equal strength as she burst out crying again, this time with her face buried into his haori. Inuyasha gently stroked her hair as he quietly cooed to her. He was worried as to what had caused Kagome to break down like this. She hadn't looked this hopeless since that horrible day when all this began.

 

“Kagome what's wrong?” Inuyasha asked once Kagome's tears had slowed. “Why are you crying?”

 

Kagome's response was to start crying harder once more. Gently, Inuyasha picked her up and carried her into her room. There he sat down on the bed with her on his lap until she finally stopped crying.

 

Looking up at him with scared and slightly hopeless eyes, Kagome finally spoke, her voice hoarse from all her crying. “Inuyasha, my period's late, four days.” She said, sounding scared. “I'm never late. I, I might be pregnant! What if I am, what if I'm carrying Kano's child?! What am I going to do?!?” At that she broke down crying again.

 

Inuyasha suddenly felt sick to his stomach as his blood ran cold. No wonder she was crying.

 

“But, but I thought that those pill things were meant to stop you from getting pregnant!” He said, confused and scared for her.

 

“They don't always work.” Kagome said through her tears. She couldn't believe this was happening. Aside from the fact that the very idea that she might be carrying that monster's child made her sick, she knew wasn't anywhere near ready to be a mother. And what about Inuyasha? He said he wasn't bothered by the fact that she was raped aside from wanting her to get well, but would he really be able to handle her carrying then raising another man's child? While she knew that she had the option of abortion, she wasn't sure whether or not she could go through with it. It was one thing taking a Morning After Pill, but could she decide to actually go ahead and kill a child she knew was growing inside her? It wouldn't be her child's fault how it was conceived after all, wouldn't be it's fault it's father was a disgusting example of a human being. She knew that being perfectly okay with taking a Morning After Pill but not even being able to consider an abortion could be seen as being rather hypocritical, but she didn't see it that way, nor did she really care. It was just the way she thought of it.

 

Inuyasha on the other hand was livid, not at Kagome but at the man who did this too her. It was bad enough that he had hurt her, destroying a part of her he knew she would likely never get back, but now he seemed to be hurting her from beyond the grave. Kagome had suffered enough.

 

“Is there anyway you can tell for sure?” He asked gently, trying to keep the anger out of his voice to avoid upsetting her even more. “Can your modern medicine tell you?”

 

“Tell her what?” A voice asked from the doorway. Inuyasha and Kagome looked up to see Michiko standing there with a concerned look on her face. “Kagome, sweetie, what's wrong? I just came upstairs to tell you lunch is ready and… what's this about modern medicine?”

 

Kagome broke down crying again and was unable to speak for a few minutes. Looking at her in concern, Inuyasha quietly told Michiko what Kagome had told him. When he was finished, Michiko looked very much like he felt; angry, scared and sympatric all at once.

 

“We can tell that with modern medicine Inuyasha.” Michiko said, trying to keep her voice calm as to not upset her daughter further. “I'll make an appointment at the doctor's as soon as possible. The sooner we know one way or the other the better. Kagome, sweetie, please calm own. Just because you're a little late doesn't necessarily mean you're pregnant. I had my fair share a pregnancy scares myself before I had you and nothing came from them.” Kagome nodded into Inuyasha's chest, but wasn't convinced.

 

Once Michiko was gone, Kagome looked up at Inuyasha fearfully. She was scared to ask, but she had to know how he felt about this.

 

“Inuyasha, if you don't want me anymore, I'll understand.” She said softly, praying all the while that he would reject what she was saying.

 

“What the fuck are you talking about?” He asked, though not harshly. “Why wouldn't I still want you?”

 

“Even if I'm carrying another man's child?” She asked, afraid to look him in the eyes. “I know I could abort, kill it before it has a heart beat, but I don't think I could bear to do that, that I could live with myself knowing I had killed my child no matter how it came to me.”

 

“Of course you couldn't do that.” Inuyasha snapped, horrified at the very idea. “You're the kindest, most pure-hearted person I've ever known, you could never do something like that. What's more you shouldn't, it's not the child's fault after all.”

 

“I know.” Kagome said. “But if I am pregnant, would you really be able to accept it? I mean its father…”

 

“Its mother is the woman I love.” Inuyasha interrupted firmly. “That's all I need to know. I won't deny that I hope to the Kami you're not pregnant, Kagome, but only because I want to spare you any further pain and heartbreak. You've been through enough. But if you are, I'll still stand by you, you and your child. I swear it.” At this Kagome broke down crying again, though this time her tears were of relief.

 

Things were rather stressed for the rest of the day, as Kagome, Inuyasha, Michiko and Bejiro (who had come in as his daughter-in-law made the doctor's appointment, and demanded to know what was going on) wondered whether or not Kagome was pregnant and just what it could mean if she was. Although Inuyasha had soothed one of her fears when he promised Kagome that he would stand by her no matter what, she was still terrified. She didn't know how to be a mother, she was too young, she wasn't ready for this. Not to mention that it would be a child of rape, and she would be forced to remember that every time she looked at it. That wouldn't be fair to either her or the child. And what would people say about her? Having a child out of wedlock? She wasn't sure which world would be against her more.

 

Souta was the only one who didn't know what was going on. He could feel the tension around the family that night, but he had no idea what it was about. Things had been stressed around the house for a couple of weeks now, since before he had come home from camp. Since Kagome was attacked. He didn't know why that had made her so sad and jumpy lately, or why Inuyasha and his mother and grandfather were so worried about her all the time. Kagome had been attacked plenty of times, by hundreds of different demons. He didn't know why things were so different this time. He intended to find out one day, but he knew his family and Inuyasha well enough to know that it wouldn't be until they were ready to tell him and right now they weren't in a telling mood. Finally unable to stand the silence anymore, Souta went upstairs to do his homework and go to bed. Everyone else soon followed his example, the stress of the day making them tired as well.

 

Michiko had gotten Kagome an appointment at the doctor's a eleven o'clock the next morning. Inuyasha insisted he come with her, as did Michiko, so at ten o'clock the three of them set out, arriving at the doctor's office at quarter-to-eleven. Kagome and Inuyasha sat next to each other, Kagome trying to make herself as small as possible while Inuyasha held her hand and tried to give her whatever comfort he could. Michiko sat across from them, trying to read a magazine but not really seeing it.

 

Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Kagome was told the doctor would see her now. Much to Inuyasha's dislike, he was told he couldn't go in with her and was forced to remain sitting in the waiting room. Michiko on the other hand, refused to be told she couldn't go with her daughter and so the two went in together. Kagome was weighed and gave a urine sample to be tested. While that was done, a kind faced middle-aged doctor by the name of Chizu Ishimoro gave her a physical examination, and declared that she was in good health. Finally, the test results came back.

 

“Well Miss Higurashi.” Dr. Ishimoro said, looking at the results the nurse had just delivered to her. “It appears your suspicions were wrong. You're not pregnant.”

 

Kagome's knees almost gave out under her she was so relieved. “I'm, I'm not?” She asked. “But I'm never late. Are you sure?”

 

“Yes.” Dr Ishimoro said calmly, gesturing for her to sit down as she took on a slightly lecture-like tone. “There are several reasons why a woman's period may be late besides being pregnant. Not eating properly can be one, have you had any drastic change in your diet lately?”

 

“No.” Kagome said, so relieved at the fact that she wasn't pregnant that she was barely listening.

 

“Well then, have you been under any unusual stress lately?” Dr Ishimoto continued. “Too much stress can also cause problems in a woman's menstrual cycle.”

 

Now that she could believe as being the cause. Despite the fact that she had been getting attacked and fighting for her life on a regular basis for nearly two years, she couldn't remember ever being more upset or more stressed than since she was raped.

 

Kagome nodded slightly. “That might be it, a lot of crazy things have been happening in my life lately.” She said carefully, not willing to tell this doctor everything no matter how nice she seemed.

 

Dr Ishimoto nodded. “Well, skipping one period isn't nearly as uncommon as most people seem to think it is.” She said calmly. “There isn't really any cause for concern at the moment, though if you continue to miss periods, you should come back again, just to make sure you aren't suffering from any kind of a medical condition. However, since you are usually regular and you say you have been under some unusual stress lately, I don't think that will be necessary right now. I think we're done now, or is there something else you wish to ask about?”

 

“No, that's it.” Kagome said with relief as she stood up. “Thank you doctor.”

 

Kagome was so happy she was almost skipping out of the doctor's office, while Michiko was so relieved she was struggling not to cry. When they re-entered the waiting room, they didn't need to even tell Inuyasha the doctor's news. If the looks on their faces didn't tell him every he needed to know, the overpowering scent of relief they were both giving off would have.

 

Letting out a sigh of relief, Inuyasha returned Kagome's smile. He was so happy, not only that Kagome wasn't pregnant, but also because of the first time since the attack, he could see no trace of fear or shame in Kagome's eyes. For the first time in weeks, Kagome once again looked truly happy. For the first time in weeks, she looked like the Kagome he knew and loved, and he was so happy to have her back.

 

 

Author's Note:

 

It is a medically proven fact that too much stress can cause a woman's period to be late or even be skipped altogether. Periods can also be affected by not eating properly, or by a change in lifestyle. I don't think it is too much of a stretch to assume that being gang raped may have caused enough stress for this to happen to Kagome. However, it is also true that Morning After Pills are not always effective. No contraception is 100% effective all the time. It was a good idea for Kagome to see a doctor to make sure as to whether or not she was pregnant.

 

Name translations (there may also be other translations, but these are the ones I found)

 

Michiko (Kagome's mother) - Beauty / Wisdom

Bejiro (Kagome's Grandfather) - Enjoys peace

Chizu (Doctor) - A thousand storks. A name that implies longevity.