InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Close Quarters ❯ The Doctor's Office ( Chapter 23 )

A/N: ~dangles shiny new chapter in front of angry mob~ Please don't lynch me! ~drops chapter and runs~

 

Thank you to Patchcat for editing!

 

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“So, Satou-san, do you have any thoughts that you would like to share to help us get started?” Sango's laughter died soon after they sat down and she went into full “business mode”, but Kouga was sitting next to her; still sulking with a frown pinned on his face.

 

“I was thinking about something that showed the quality of our cars. We are one of the top dealerships in Japan in the market for luxury cars that are also fuel efficient.” Sango busied herself with taking notes, but Kouga looked like he wanted to leave or start another argument. Thankfully, he didn't do either.

 

“Is there anything else you would like to have represented in the advertising?” Sango asked.

 

“Yes, we would also like to focus on the strong sense of family we bring to our business. It's very important to us since my father and I manage the business together--“

 

“Since when?” interrupted Kouga.

 

“Since I was young. I admit that I wasn't always interested, but my father has been grooming me to take over the business since I was thirteen.” Ayame said in a haughty voice.

 

“That's news to me,” Kouga said, with more than a hint of skepticism in his voice.

 

“I'm beginning to see how little we knew about each other, too,” Ayame said.

 

Sango suddenly had a feeling that the conversation was turning south. The air became heavy and thick in the same way when it's about to rain. The only thing that was missing was the smell of ozone.

 

Sango was left feeling awkward, like an eavesdropper. Kouga and Ayame stared at each while Sango looked between the both of them. She was about to clear her throat to bring them back into focus, but Ayame eased the tension first by breaking eye contact with Kouga.

 

This was turning out to be a very interesting first day back…

 

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The traffic was so frustrating that even Kagome had begun fidgeting and checking her watch every few minutes. When the cars started to move they both visibly relaxed. Fueled by her happiness to be moving, Kagome wanted to break the ice between them. She searched her mind and surroundings for something to talk about but came up short.

 

“I never thanked you for breakfast the other morning,” she said.

 

“You don't have to. Did you like it?”

 

“Yeah, it was really good.” Kagome said awkwardly. The annoyance in his tone knocked wind right out of her sails.

 

Silence fell between them again and to Kagome it felt like a small failure. It used to be so easy for them to talk; they could start a conversation--or argument--out of anything before all this happened. At this point she would have settled for a shouting match, because at least then they could clear the air. Just when she thought everything was going to be okay it seemed like the friendship they had built up over the months was crumbling under the weight of all these new problems. She hoped that it was just the situation that was making it hard to interact with him; but if that was the case, then it was still her fault.

 

She could not have been more grateful that she hadn't eaten before they left, because her body seemed to have mutinied against her. The butterflies in her stomach made waves of acid rise to the back of her throat. She was suddenly very aware of her breathing. To her self-conscious ears, every tiny breath was amplified into gale-force winds. Her palms were so sweaty and uncomfortable that she kept wiping them on her jeans. She kept sneaking side glances at Inuyasha, but there was really no need because he hadn't laid an eye on her since they got into the car.

 

It felt like she was going to explode from keeping her emotions in. She needed someone to talk to. Even though she knew it was childish, she couldn't help it, she wanted her mother. This was a problem that she and Inuyasha shared; it shouldn't be anyone else's business. So if she needed someone to talk to about it then it should be him. Logically it made all the sense in the world, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Everything felt so strained and uncomfortable between them. Despite all the progress they'd made the night before, now it felt like they'd taken two giant steps backward.

 

“About fucking time! Kagome, we're here.” She let out a little squeak of surprise. She was lost in thought that she forgot they were moving and hadn't even felt it when they stopped.

 

They got out of the car and walked across the parking lot to the doctor's office. He opened the door for and shuffled her in. The doctor's office was a small family owned business. The waiting area was small, comfortable and empty. Inuyasha insisted on sitting her down as if she were the most fragile china and signing her in.

 

Her foot started to tap in that way that made your leg jump up and down, and she could feel her stomach growing tighter. She forced her leg to stop when Inuyasha sat down beside her, not wanting him to see how nervous she was.

 

“They said the doctor's finishing up with another patient, and then he'll see you. They need you to fill this out.” He handed her a form attached to a clipboard and a pen. It was an information sheet with the standard “Are you allergic to this?” questions.

 

Filling out the form gave her something to do; and she was grateful for the distraction, even if Inuyasha was reading over her shoulder. When she was done he turned the form back in to the receptionist. After that there was nothing for them to do but wait.

 

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The meeting went a little more smoothly after that, but Sango was having a hard time convincing Ayame that Kagome would be briefed on everything they talked about and would head the project when she came back to work. Kouga stormed out of the office in a huff. As eventful as her day had turned out so far, Sango's mind was still on Kagome and her unexplained absence. She had a sneaking suspicion that this might have something to do with Kagome's pregnancy paranoia, but she couldn't be sure until she talked to her. Unfortunately, she was stuck at work because there was no way she could leave early on her first day back, especially not with new project from an important client to start on. Her own agitation was beginning to annoy her.

 

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Kagome sat on the uncomfortable examination table that had been stylized to look something like a chair. She felt more nervous than ever, and her foot bounced mercilessly on the metal step attached to the table. The slightly nervous look Inuyasha gave her when they called her name had not helped at all. She was only grateful that they had not gone to the hospital because she knew they would have been in the waiting room there all day.

 

She searched the room for something to stop her thoughts from wandering into dangerous territory. Across from her was a 2-D illustration poster on the cause and effects of Erectile Dysfunction, and she figured that was better than nothing. She actually started getting interested about three paragraphs in, and that shocked her more than anything.

 

`Wow, you learn something new everyday…'

 

The door opened so suddenly that Kagome almost jumped but caught herself. Her heart was hammering in her chest, but she managed to hide it. The doctor smiled at her before closing the door, and Kagome reciprocated with a weaker version of her normal smile. He looked at her paper work and pulled up a stool to sit across from her.

 

“Good morning, Higurashi-san. What seems to be the problem?”

 

“Well…”

 

She didn't know how to ask. It had never occurred to her that she would have to ask specifically. Now that the problem was right in front her she decided that she was the dumbest person she knew at the moment. How could she have not thought about this? Did she think the doctor would read her mind?

 

“Um, I don't know how to put this,” she said, as she wrung her hands together.

 

“I'm sure it's not as bad as you think, Higurashi-san. I've been a doctor for fifteen years so I'm sure I've heard it all,” he laughed.

 

This didn't really help her, but she figured that she was wasting time by being so shy about it.

 

“I think that I'm pregnant, but I'm not sure.”

 

“That's one I've heard many times, it's nothing to be timid about. I'm assuming that you came here for a pregnancy test?” Kagome nodded.

 

“Have you tried a home pregnancy test yet?” He asked.

 

Kagome shook her head meekly.

 

“Well, pregnancy tests performed at home can be just as accurate as ours, but we can most certainly do it here. But the results will take a few days to come back; so are you sure you don't just want to take a home pregnancy test?”

 

“No, I came all the way here so I would rather get it done now.” She replied.

 

That was only part of the reason though. Sure, they had sat through nearly an hour of traffic to get here while she fought her body the whole way. And it did seem like a waste to leave empty handed, but the other reason was that she didn't know if she could face a drug store clerk. There were some things that she just couldn't imagine buying without feeling some sort of embarrassment and a pregnancy test was one of them.

 

“Okay then, I'll send the nurse in to take care of you,” he said, while rising to leave. “And if it makes you feel any better; you've been my easiest patient all week.”

 

She knew he was trying to cheer her up, but her nerves did not subside. Her imagination picked up her fear and ran with it. She could picture the doctor and nurses gossiping about her on the other side of the door, even though she heard him walk away with her own ears. She couldn't believe how she was beating herself up over this. At the moment, she was her own worst enemy.

 

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Recommended Reads: For those who like real drama…

 

“Full Circle” by InuSaga

Summary: The final battle with Naraku ends in disaster, and the others are left to cope with the loss of someone dear. Ten years later, Sesshomaru brings Rin back to Edo with her memories erased, and leaves without explanation. In the future, Kagome is stalked by two half-demons. What's the connection?

Link: http://mediaminer.org/fanfic/view_st.php/132487

 

“Full Circle 2: The Gift” by InuSaga

Summary: It picks up exactly where the last one left off, after Sesshoumaru found Rin's reincarnation. So what can complicate a new relationship? Try emotional distance, two volatile children, and an outside enemy conspiring to ruin your life.

Link: http://mediaminer.org/fanfic/view_st.php/145373