InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Cheating Fate ❯ The Things Doctors Go Through ( Chapter 6 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Sango was paged to the emergency room as soon as Kagome got off the phone and told her the good news. Kagome had another date. Two nights in a row and Sango couldn’t even snatch one, but she was happy for her nonetheless. Kagome had told her that Koga already knew about Ami and he still had wanted to date her . . . Sango couldn’t help but feel envious.

She sighed as she made her way into the small procedure room. “I’m Dr. Taijiya.” she said out of habit as she walked into the room. Her patient was a white male and looked to be around the age twenty-three. She noticed his right leg was in a grotesque angle and concluded that it needed surgery. She picked up his paperwork and learned his name was Miroku Houshi. She looked back up at him and caught him staring at her. “So, you want to tell me how you managed to do this?” she asked him.

Miroku winced as he tried to move his leg into a more comfortable position. “I was on my way to the bathroom. The floor must have be wet because I slipped and landed in the bathtub. I don’t how long a laid there. I just remember hearing this snapping sound then I must have blacked out. I came to maybe an hour ago.”

When he was done explaining, Sango sat down in the stool next to the examination bed. “Have they already done x-rays on your leg?” Miroku nodded and Sango flipped back the pages until she came across them. “Looks like you snapped you tibia right in two. Which caused some excessive damage to your tibialis anterior.”

“My what?” Miroku asked.

“It’s the muscle in front of the tibia.” she replied and when Miroku continued to stare blankly at her, she added, “The bone you snapped.” Sango watched the realization hit him, then continued. “Well, you’re going to need surgery, but don’t worry. There won’t be any incisions made. We’ll just be moving the bone back in place and putting it in a cast. You’ll be given anesthetics, so you won‘t feel a thing.” Miroku nodded along with her. “Are there any questions you’d like to ask?”

“Yeah,” he groaned as he once again shifted his leg. “when can you get this started?”

Sango couldn’t keep the smile from coming to her face. “As soon as you’ve signed the papers.” she said as she handed him his paperwork. Miroku scrawled his name down quickly then handed it back to her. “Alright. I’ll have a nurse wheel you into the operating room, and then hopefully the next time we met you’ll be in a cast and ready to go.”

“Dark purple.”

Sango looked at the man in front as if he were crazy. “I beg your pardon?” she asked as he sighed and looked sadly down at his leg.

“The cast better be dark purple.” was his reply and Sango couldn’t help but let out a laugh. She liked the fact that this guy could still be in control of himself even when he was in great pain. It was a wonder the man wasn’t in shock, but of course, calmness could also be a form of it.

“Well obviously it will be.” she replied jokingly. Miroku smiled up at her as a nurse came in pushing a wheelchair. Sango watched as the nurse helped Miroku into his chair. She didn’t know why, but she felt as though she were being lured by this man. It was a feeling Sango had never felt for a patient before. Therefore, she knew she had to ignore it. She snapped herself out of her gaze and walked out of the room. She would help this Miroku guy get better than put him out of her mind.

Kagome felt lighter than air. The day wasn’t turning out to be so bad, despite the fact that InuYasha had almost discovered the truth. She was going on a date with Koga tonight and the thought elated her. Koga had always been a good friend. In high school, he was the only one she could talk to openly, though she had to admit she never thought him the type to date. Although, now she was willing to give it a try.

With Ami safely back with the nurses, after Kagome had a long talk with them about keeping a closer eye on her, Kagome felt as though she deserved a cup of coffee. Caffeine was exactly what the day needed to make it perfect. Of course, too much of a good thing often blows up in your face.

“Kagome! Hey Kagome, wait up!” a familiar male’s voice called after her. Kagome froze in her tracks. More out of panic than wanting to comply to his calls. When he reached her side, Kagome turned and faced him. “Hey when’s your break?” he asked.

Kagome didn’t know whether to tell him she was on her break now or not. Why did he want to know? “Umm . . .” Kagome started, still thinking to herself.

“Cause I’m on my now and I was wondering if you’d like to have a cup of coffee with me.” he said when she continued to say nothing.

Kagome was shocked to say the least. A cup of coffee? And where would that lead? She didn’t need to go through this again. “Oh I don’t know InuYasha.” Kagome said uncertainly. She didn’t want to know how awkward it would be between them. They hadn’t had a normal conversation in years.

“It’s not like a date. I just want to know what you’ve been up to.” InuYasha said as he pushed his hands into the pockets of his pants. “You know, how you came to working here. It’s a pretty rare job.” When Kagome still looked uncertain, InuYasha added, “I’ll even buy your coffee.”

Kagome looked defeated. She really wanted that cup of caffeine and InuYasha was even willing to pay for it. She could use the extra pocket change. She sighed. “Why not.” InuYasha smiled at her, and then quirked an eyebrow at her as if to ask “when?”. “I’m actually on my break now.”

“Well isn’t that convenient?” InuYasha joked and smiled at Kagome as she rolled her eyes. He couldn’t help but be reminded about the first time he had asked her on a date.

InuYasha was on his way to his locker at the end of his detention. It wasn’t his fault his history teacher couldn’t teach and that the class was a total bore. Could you blame a guy for wanting to end his boredom by making fun of the way the guy taught?

If InuYasha hadn’t been looking over at the library door at that moment, he would have missed seeing the one person he had sub-consciously been searching for since the kickoff party. He stopped in his tracks and just stared, as if to convince himself that it really was her. She was sitting at a table facing him and quickly flipping the pages of a textbook. When she’d found a page worth scanning, she paused then twisted to her right to furiously scribble something down in her notebook.

InuYasha smirked to himself when he realized it was just him and her. Besides the ancient librarian, who couldn’t hear a thing even if her life depended on it. InuYasha walked into the library and stopped in front of Kagome’s table. When she didn’t look up, he cleared his throat, but she continued to ignore him as she looked back toward her textbook.

What could possibly be more interesting then him? InuYasha didn’t like to state the obvious, but he was the hottest guy in school. Normally when he walked up to a girl she became putty in his hands. Yet this girl continued to ignore him. Usually something like this would annoy him, but, as the girl continued in her obviation, InuYasha couldn’t help but feel even more drawn to her.

Sensing that she had ignored him long enough, InuYasha tried the verbal front. “I don’t think we introduced ourselves the last time we met.” he said in the most charming voice he could muster.

Kagome’s reply was a simple, “Hmm.” She didn’t even look up. InuYasha felt a growl grow in his throat as he decided to make her notice him. He leaned forward and took her book right out from under her nose. “Hey!” she yelled, finally looking up at him. “Give that back!”

‘So there is some fire in her.’ InuYasha thought to himself with a smirk. “I’ll give it back once you stop ignoring me.” he said as he waved the book out of her reach. InuYasha watched her glare at him until realization hit her. Her glare turned into wide-eyed astonishment. ’That’s right. Remember me now?’

“Yo-You’re the guy that was at that party. The one who found my earring.” she said and InuYasha nodded with a grin on his face.

“Yep. The one and only.” he replied as he closed her book and placed it on the desk farthest away from her. She didn’t even seem to notice him do it either. Just continued to stare up at him in shock. “Now like I said. I don’t think we introduced ourselves the last time we met. I’m InuYasha Takahashi.”

Kagome’s expression never changed as she stuttered for her name. “I-I’m K-Kagome Hi-Higurashi.” she said as she stuck out her hand, intent on him shaking it.

‘Higurashi . . . Higurashi . . . Where have I heard that name before?’ InuYasha thought to himself. Sure he had known that her first name was Kagome, but her last name he hadn’t had a clue. Thus, now it sounded vaguely familiar. ’Higurashi . . . Wait! Didn’t some Higurashi chick win an award in science last Spring?’ InuYasha looked at Kagome more intently as she slowly put her hand back down in dejection. ’She was the girl the guys had been making fun of? The geek who was more into books than into social interacting?’ InuYasha now, for the first time, felt bad for ever laughing with his friends. He had had no idea who his friends had been talking about. He just figured this Higurashi person had been the perfect portrait nerd, but now looking at her and knowing who she was, he couldn’t believe his eyes.

“What?” Kagome asked after a minute of his intense gaze.

InuYasha snapped out of his stare. “You’re the Higurashi girl who won that award last Spring?” He couldn’t control the words coming from his mouth. InuYasha noticed how her eyes saddened. He felt like an ass.

“Yeah.” she replied firmly, her voice not matching the emotion in her eyes. “You came to make fun of me to my face now?” InuYasha was shocked. How had she known that his friends had made fun of her? She must have known what he was thinking, because she added, “That’s right. I know what you all say behind my back. That I’m some geek that could probably build a spaceship, but probably didn’t know how to French kiss.”

InuYasha winced at her reply. It sounded a lot harsher than when his friend had said it. He was brought back to reality when he saw her picking up her books and notebooks. He grabbed her wrist to stop her. She glared back up at him. “Look, I know you probably don’t think I’m worth your time right now,” he said and he saw her give him a ’Ya think?’ look, but he continued, “but I’d really like to make it up to you.”

Her eyes widened a fraction then narrowed to slits. “Why?” she asked and InuYasha smirked.

“I just want to get to know the real you.” he said feeling confident that she would accept his offer. It was usually that line that made the girls melt, but when he heard Kagome let out a humorless laugh, his smirk fell.

“You actually think I’d believe that?” she replied as she slipped her wrist out of his grip. InuYasha blinked dumbfounded at her. She rolled her eyes in response. “I’m not interested, okay.”

She began picking up her books again, but once again InuYasha stopped her. “Wait. Is it because you’re with that wimp Koga?” he asked recalling him at the party.

Kagome looked confused at first, then raised a eyebrow. “Koga? No, we’re just friends.” she answered and somehow InuYasha felt relieved. “I’m not interested because I don’t want to be your little experiment.”

“Who said anything about you being an experiment?” InuYasha asked. “I just want to take you out on a date. To have a good time.”

“You don’t get it do you?” Kagome said, resting her textbooks on her hip. “I don’t want to date anyone. I’m too busy. I’ve got tests to study for. I don’t have time to go around and party all the time.”

“Why were you at the kickoff party then?”

“. . . I was forced to go.” she replied after a moment. “Koga wanted to go and he begged me to go with him. I did what any good friend would have done.”

InuYasha grinned again, sensing a loophole. “Okay then, let me buy you a drink.” he said. “Let’s become friends.”

Kagome looked to be thinking it over. She narrowed her eyes at him. “Become friends. Just friends? Even though I’m pretty sure we won’t become friends just by sharing a drink?” she asked, waiting for him to answer.

“Acquaintances, then.” InuYasha said and he watched Kagome’s shoulder’s drop in defeat.

Kagome looked around as if to make sure nobody was watching the exchange. “Fine.” she said almost in a whisper. InuYasha smirked to himself. “When?”

“How about now?” he asked, “I’m done here and you look like you’re about to leave. Why don’t I take you to get a drink now?” He watched her eyes widen a little, before biting down on her lower lip. When she nodded, InuYasha placed his hand on the small of her back, causing her to jump, and led her out of the library.

Kagome laughed as InuYasha told her yet another thing his roommate, Miroku, once did to get him slapped across the face. She couldn’t believe she was having a decent time with him. She had thought it would have been awkward, but she found that she could still talk to him as if he hadn’t ever left. She didn’t know whether to be worried or overjoyed about it.

“Did he really ask her to bear his child?” she asked, with a huge smile on her face. She couldn’t believe someone could be that creepy.

InuYasha nodded. Trying to act serious, but the smile was evident on his face. “Oh yeah, and she’s not the only one he’s asked. He asks any young attractive woman he meets.” InuYasha told her and Kagome’s eyes widened.

“That’s ridiculous!” she laughed. “How old is Miroku anyway?”

“Uh, he’s about seven years older than us. He’ll be graduating college in the Spring.” InuYasha said as the reality of his own words hit him. “I’ll be needing a new roommate soon.”

Kagome looked down at her half drunk coffee. “It sounds like you both have fun though. Despite the fact that he’s a pervert.” she said.

InuYasha nodded. “Oh yeah, we have a blast. If I weren’t so scared of him groping you, I’d have you meet him.”

Kagome looked up at him in surprise, then smiled when she saw him smirking at her. “Well, maybe I want him to grope me.” She laughed out loud when InuYasha’s smirk fell and his eyes widened in shock. “I’m joking. Gosh.”

InuYasha rolled his eyes at her. “He broke his leg this morning.” InuYasha said out of the blue, causing her to look at him in concern. “He’s in surgery now. Thinking about going to see him when he gets out. You could come with me if you want.”

Kagome debated this. She didn’t know if she should or not. Having a cup coffee with him was one thing. Meeting his friends was another. “I don’t know InuYasha. It was nice talking with you, but I just don’t think we should make a habit out of it.”

“Why not?”

“Because.” Kagome said. It usually worked on Ami, but InuYasha looked to be waiting for more. She sighed. “Look, I just don’t think us spending time together would be appropriate.”

“Appropriate? Why would us spending time together not be appropriate?” InuYasha asked confused. “We use to date, Kagome, if you haven’t forgotten. I think sharing our break together every once in a while would be appropriate.”

Did she remember? Of course she remembered dating him! Why wouldn’t she! “You’re right. We did date, InuYasha. That means that your time with me is over and has been over since you left me.” Kagome said in a dangerous voice, then stood up and walked out of the cafeteria.

InuYasha watched her go at a complete loss. She was still torn up about that? Could she ever hold a grudge. He sighed as he downed the last of his coffee, then headed toward the emergency room to check on his friend.

He could hear his name being called, but the strain on his eyes was too much. He wanted to open his eyes and look up into the face of whoever’s beautiful voice was calling him. With much difficulty, Miroku wrenched his eyes open slowly. His vision was blurry and all he could see was a blurred outline of a figure sanding over him.

“Miroku? Are you awake?” the figure asked and Miroku blinked until his vision was clear. It was his doctor standing over him. She had been calling his name. Miroku nodded slightly and the woman leaned away from him, much to his disappointment. “Glad to hear it. You’ve got a visitor.”

Miroku looked away from her and found InuYasha leaning against the doorframe. He looked back over toward his doctor as she scribbled something down in his paperwork. When she finished, she looked back up at him and smiled. “I’m glad you’ve come to. Excuse me while I go and process some of your x-rays.”

Miroku didn’t know why, but that was the most sexiest thing he’d ever heard in his life. Before she walked away from his bedside, Miroku grabbed her hand. She looked over at him startled. “Yes? Did you need something?”

“I just wanted you to have the honor of bearing my children.” he said and he watched the doctor’s eyes widen. She looked over at InuYasha and he rolled his eyes.

She laughed it off. “The anesthetics must not have completely worn off yet.” she said as she whipped her hand out of his.

“I’ll bet.” InuYasha muttered to himself.

Sango was just recovering from the question and was about to leave when she felt something graze her bottom, then stay there. She whirled around and looked at Miroku with a disgusted look on her face. “Mr. Houshi, I’m going to have to ask you to reframe yourself.” she said to him with as much venom as she could muster. Then she added dangerously low. “If you weren’t my patient, I would have beaten you black and blue.”

Miroku smiled idiotically up at her. “You sure have a way of turning people on Dr. Taijiya.” he said and Sango shivered, but not in a good way.

“Please excuse me.” she gritted out before storming out the door, leaving InuYasha with Miroku.

InuYasha shook his head as he approached Miroku’s bed. “Real smooth. I hope you know that she’s the one you have to come and see once every two weeks to get that leg checked out.”

“And what, InuYasha, is wrong with that?” Miroku said with a grin. “I think this leg of mine is a blessing. Because of it, I just met the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

InuYasha let out a laugh. “You say that about every woman.”

“Ah, but she has proved me wrong about any other woman.” he said before gently placing a hand on his purple-cast. “She even remembered the color I told her. Most doctors would have conveniently forgotten.”

InuYasha rolled his. He had seen the same scene with Miroku before and he had a feeling that this time wouldn’t be any different. “I’ve been running into her a lot lately.” InuYasha said to himself rather than to Miroku.

“Well, this is a relatively small hospital InuYasha. Of course your paths are going to cross. You work together.” Miroku said.

InuYasha shook his head. “Every time I see her it’s got nothing to do with work. Like earlier today, I was helping this kid find her aunt and it turned out to be her and now she’s your doctor.” InuYasha explained.

Miroku sighed. “I’m sorry, my friend, but I’m not about to hand her over to you without a fight. You might work with her, but she is my doctor. I believe I have the upper hand.”

InuYasha blanched at him. “I don’t want her.” he replied in controlled voice. “You can have her if you want. I’m definitely not going to stand in your way.”

Miroku quirked an eyebrow at him. “And what’s wrong with her?” he asked and InuYasha could tell where this was going. “Is she not good enough for the almighty InuYasha?”

“Almighty?” InuYasha asked with a smile. “Now that’s a new one. Tell me Miroku, how does your mind work?”

Miroku couldn’t help but let out a laugh. “In mysterious ways my friend. In mysterious ways.” he replied. “Now really, what’s wrong with her?”

InuYasha scratched the back of his neck. “Nothing.” he said in a casual tone. “She’s just not my type.”

“You mean beautiful isn’t your type?” Miroku asked and InuYasha rolled his eyes. He knew where this was leading. Next he’d tell Miroku that it wasn’t the fact that she was beautiful it was simply because he didn’t feel attracted to her. Then Miroku would think he’d insulted his choice of women and then it would roll down hill from there.

InuYasha sighed. “Look Miroku, there’s just nothing there. I just don’t feel anything for her.” he said and it must have satisfied Miroku because his shoulders relaxed. “Now tell me this, how are you going to try anything with her? ’Cause you know if she’s caught with you she could get fired.”

Miroku tapped his chin in thought. “Well, I guess we’ll have to cross-examine each other in private until I’m healed then.” he replied. “Wouldn’t want my dear doctor fired.”

“Pervert.“ InuYasha smirked. “You don’t even know her name.”

“No I don’t, but I assume that you do.” he inquired. After another moment, he spoke. “And her name would be . . .?”

InuYasha thought back to what the kid had called her. “Uh, Sango. I think.” he replied. Thinking back now, it had been weird the way she reacted when he had handed her the kid. Like she was shocked to she her with him. Was it really that unusual for him to be seen with a kid?

“Sango huh? Sango Taijiya. Has a ring to it, don’t ya think?” Miroku said, pulling InuYasha out of his thoughts.

“Huh? Oh, yeah, sure whatever.” InuYasha agreed, not really knowing what Miroku had asked. His mind began to wander again, but this time to a specific raven haired woman and to conversation they had. He didn’t understand why he couldn’t spend time with her. How was he supposed to bring back the old Kagome if she wouldn’t let him anywhere near her?

Miroku rolled his eyes. “So it’s settled. You’ll be doing my laundry for a month then?”

“Uh hu--wait a minute! What?” InuYasha said pulling himself back into the conversation. “When did we start talking about this?”

“When you started spacing out.” Miroku replied and smiled when he saw InuYasha look guilty for being caught daydreaming.

“Feh. I’m going to go ask the nurse when you can get out of here. The sooner your out the better. For everyone.” InuYasha told him as he left the room, leaving a laughing Miroku behind. He gritted his teeth all the way to the front desk.

Kagome felt exhausted by the time she and Ami got home. It had been a long day and it wasn’t over yet. She still didn’t have a babysitter for Ami and her date was in two hours. She couldn’t call her mother cause she didn’t want to burden her with another night of watching Ami and Sota was probably hanging out with his friends. There was only one person she could call and she knew she’d feel guilty about it, but it was her last resort.

She picked up the phone and dialed her friends number. When she picked up the phone with a snappy hello, Kagome felt sure that she wouldn’t be helping Sango’s mood any. “Hey Sango. Rough day?”

“Isn’t that the understatement of the year.” she replied and Kagome swallowed loudly. “Hey aren’t you supposed to be getting ready for your date?”

“Heh heh. Yeah, see that’s the reason I’m calling you.” Kagome said uncertainly. “You see I don’t have anyone to watch Ami. Mom needs a night to herself and I couldn’t ask Sota since he watches her on the weekends . . . I was wondering if--”

“If I could do it?” Sango finished for her and Kagome smiled into the phone.

“Yeah. Would you mind?” Kagome asked. “I know it’s a lot to ask and it’s on short notice, but . . . You could come over now and we could talk about why your day was so crappy.”

She heard Sango laugh on the other end and felt relieved. “Alright, alright. Maybe talking about my crappy day will do me some good. Release some stress. I don’t know. I didn’t take psychology.”

Kagome laughed along with her. “Thanks, you’re the best Sango.” Kagome said and she could practically hear Sango roll her eyes. “I guess I’ll see you in about ten minutes?”

“Yeah, yeah. See you then” Sango said before hanging up. Kagome couldn’t keep the smile from coming to her face. She owed Sango for this.

Kagome looked over at Ami, who was playing with her Barbie dolls and teddy bears, and was amazed at how much she looked like her father. She had been surprised that he hadn’t been able to recognize her, but then again, he didn’t know he had a daughter. So why would he think anything of her resemblance to him? She would just have to pray that such a close encounter wouldn’t happen again. “Ami, are you hungry?” Kagome asked and Ami paused her playing to look over at her.

She nodded enthusiastically. “Yes Mommy!” she said as she followed her mother into the kitchen.

“What would you like to eat?” Kagome asked as she started pulling out suggestions from the cupboard. “How about macaroni and cheese with a handful of grapes?” Ami looked at the plastic cup of unmade macaroni and cheese and grimaced. “Okay, how about . . . Grilled cheese with goldfish crackers?”

Ami looked more excepting to this option so Kagome put back the macaroni and cheese, and headed toward the refrigerator. She pulled out two slices of cheese and a stick of butter. Kagome loved making grilled cheese. She use to help her mother make it all the time and she looked forward to sharing that experience with Ami when she was a little older.

When Kagome was finished, she placed the plate with the grilled cheese sandwich, sliced in half, and a small pile of goldfish crackers in front of Ami. She devoured half her sandwich and most of the crackers before she pushed her plate away.

Kagome pick it up and smiled. “How was it?” she asked, but Ami remained quiet. Kagome furrowed her brow in confusion. Usually Ami took every opportunity to talk, but still remained silent. “Ami are you alright?”

“Feh.” Ami replied with a smile and for a moment Kagome just froze. Even though Ami hadn’t said it in quite the same way her father normally would, it still hit Kagome like a ton of bricks.

“Wh-what did you say?” Kagome stuttered, not wanting to believe her ears. Ami continued to smile up at her as she said it again. Kagome couldn’t believe her ears. She had only spent twenty minutes with him, if even that, and already she was picking up his habits.

Kagome was brought out of her thoughts when she heard the doorbell ring. “That must be Sango.” Kagome said to herself as she picked Ami up out of the chair.

“Auntie Sango’s here!?” Ami exclaimed, filling Kagome with a sense of relief that she was back to her old self.

“Yes Sweetie.” Kagome told her as she made her way toward the front door. “Auntie Sango is going to be watching you tonight. Mommy’s got to go out again tonight.”

Ami looked up at her mother with a confused expression on her face. “Mommy’s leaving again? Why?” she asked and Kagome heard the disappointment in her voice which caused her heart to break.

“Because Mommy’s going out on another date, Sweetie, but Mommy promises you that tomorrow night we’ll do something together. Okay?” Kagome bribed, hoping her daughter would not make her feel any more guilty than she already was. Ami just nodded in response looking down at Kagome’s shoulder’s rather than at her face. Kagome sighed. She hated letting Ami down. It felt like a little piece inside herself died each time.

When she finally got around to opening the door, Sango stood on the other side with her arms crossed over her chest. “Took you long enough to answer the door.” she said in a joking manner. She smiled as she uncrossed her arms and leaned down to Ami’s level. “How are you doing tonight, Ami?”

Ami looked from Sango then back at her mother. “Feh.” she replied and Sango looked up at Kagome in confusion.

Kagome looked at her helplessly. “I don’t know how, but somehow she picked up his old habit in the short amount of time he was with her.” Kagome replied to Sango, who only sniggered in response. “Well, I have to go get ready, but I’ll try to finish early so we can talk about your day. Okay?”

Sango nodded. “Yeah go ahead. Ami and I are just gonna play with her dollies for a while. Aren’t we Ami?” she asked and Ami grew excited. She bounced up and down in her mother’s hold while out stretching her hands to Sango.

Kagome laughed and handed her over to Sango. “Alright. You two play fair. I’ll be down as soon as I can.” she said before she retreated to her bed room.

Sango looked down at Ami in her arms. “Well, I’ll tell you what, we are gonna have a blast.” she said and Ami giggled as Sango walked over to where her abandoned toys lay on the floor.

After about an hour had past, Kagome walked into the living room. She was wearing a black spaghetti strap dress that ended above the right knee then sloped down to her mid left calf. She had curled her hair loosely so that it spiraled over her shoulders. Sango looked up at her and smiled widely. “Where have you been hiding that dress?” she asked and Kagome blushed.

“My mom bought it for me. She made me wear it when she took me out for my twenty-first birthday last March.” Kagome replied and cautiously looked herself over. “Do you think it’s a bit much?”

Sango looked at her like she were crazy. “Are you kidding? You’ll have Koga eating out of the palm of your hand.” she told her and Kagome gave her a small smile.

“Mommy looks pretty.” Ami piped up and Kagome laughed as she sat down next to Sango on the floor with her legs folded under her.

“Why thank you Sweetie.” she said as she leaned forward and kissed her daughter on the cheek. Then she looked back to Sango. “Alright, I’ve got about half an hour before Koga should be here. Spill.”

Sango sighed. She told Kagome about the patient she had. How he had been the perfect gentleman, and then when he came out of surgery he was a lowlife pervert. Kagome couldn’t help but laugh when she told her his name. “It’s not funny. He violated me. The only other person who touched that way was a dirty old man who hadn’t gotten laid in a decade.” Sango said, but it only made Kagome laugh more. Sango glared at her.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I know it’s not funny, but . . .” Kagome started as she tried to calm herself down. She took a deep breath and then sighed. The smile on her face was still there, but she knew she had to be careful about saying InuYasha’s name in front of Ami. Kagome leaned closer to Sango so that Ami wouldn’t over hear. “InuYasha told me about him. Said he goes around and asks every attractive woman to bear his child. He even gropes them.”

Sango rolled her eyes as Kagome leaned away. “That fits his description alright. The pervert. And I’m gonna have to see him every couple of weeks too. Seeing as I’m his doctor. He’s such a scoundrel!”

Kagome continued to smile. “Well, you know you could always get another doctor to take him. Since you don’t want to deal with him.” she suggested and Sango looked to be considering it.

“I can’t.” she replied with a depressed expression on her face. “I really need a good paycheck this month. Believe me, if there was some way to keep myself away from him and still get the money . . . But there isn’t. So it looks like I’m stuck with him.”

Kagome was about to tell her to look on the bright side. That at least he was young. He could have been another old guy, but the doorbell rang causing Kagome to remember her date. She leapt up off the ground. She smoothed out her dress and fluffed her hair before she walked over and answered the door.

Koga smiled at her in awe as she stood in front of him. “Why Kagome, you look beautiful.” he said as handed her a bouquet of daisies. “But then again, you look beautiful no matter what.”

Kagome felt her face heat up as she accepted the flowers. “Thank you Kouga.” Kagome replied as she stepped aside, silently inviting him inside. “I hope I’m not too overdressed. You wouldn’t tell me where we were going.”

“Not at all.” he replied as he walked into the house. “You’re dressed perfectly.” Kouga glanced around the living room and noticed a woman and a little girl playing on the ground near the corner. “Ah, this must be your daughter . . . Ami, right?”

Kagome nodded as Ami looked over at the sound of her name. She studied Kouga for a moment before coming to the conclusion that he was a friend of her mother’s. “Who are you?” she asked boldly.

Kouga chuckled as he knelt down next her. “Name’s Kouga.” he said as he stuck out his hand. “How do you do?” Ami giggled as she shook his hand, and realizing that the man was friendly, she handed him one of her stuffed bears.

“This is Fuzzy.”

Kouga looked down at the bear and smiled. “Well, I think Fuzzy is a really nice bear. Light brown seems to suit him.”

Kagome smiled as she watched Kouga and Ami interact. It was nice to know that she got along with him. Maybe this could work out. Kouga seemed to like both her and Ami, so maybe . . . Kagome shook her head of those thoughts. ‘You’re getting way ahead of yourself girl!’ she thought as Kouga patted Ami on the head and handed her back her bear. He stood up and faced Kagome. “Are you ready to go?”

Kagome nodded and grabbed her purse. She then headed over to Ami and kissed her on the cheek. “Mommy will see you soon Sweetie.” she said as Ami continued to play with her toys.

“Bye Mommy.” she said as she made one of her Barbie dolls sit down beside Fuzzy.

Kagome smiled at Sango, who smiled back, and then walked out the door with Koga.