InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dancing with Scissors ❯ In Sickness... ( Chapter 21 )

Sesshoumaru had every intention of going into work that morning. The office on the weekend was nearly empty and offered a chance at relative peace—few people there, no one asking anything of him, an opportunity to work without distractions and finish some lingering projects—and he had planned to take advantage of it. Instead he found himself being drawn, like it or not, into the situation at the guest house.

 

Rin was sitting on Kagome's big bed, trying to soothe a large, blanket-covered lump. He sat and noticed the lump shivered uncontrollably. “Kagome, look at me.” He switched on the lamp on the bedside table.

 

“Nooo! The light, it buurrnnns.”

 

He brushed her hair away from her forehead and was alarmed at how hot and damp her skin was. “Good god, you're on fire.” He gently tilted her chin up; her face was flushed, not the pretty blush when she was embarrassed, but a vivid, dangerous red, and her eyes were fever-bright. “Kagome, you've gotten Rin's illness. You need to be seen by a doctor.”

 

Kagome closed her eyes and groaned, shuddering involuntarily. “Cold.”

 

Sesshoumaru's expression darkened; she seemed much worse than Rin had when she was at her sickest. “What's the name of your physician?”

 

“Dr. Rita…I don't even remember her last name. It doesn't matter; Planned Parenthood is closed on weekends.” She fumbled for Rin's hand resting on her shoulder. “Hi, honey. You need your medicine, don't you?” She tried to sit up, but collapsed before she made much progress.

 

“You lie back and rest. I'll take care of Rin.”

 

She nodded weakly, hating that she was so incapacitated, but grateful that she had someone she could trust to give Rin the correct dose of the foul-tasting antibiotic; the girl could be most uncooperative. “It's in the frig.”

 

Sesshoumaru and Rin went into the kitchen, and she, knowing her uncle was concerned about Kagome's condition, took the antibiotic without the usual complaint and demands for bribery. “Kagome's really sick, isn't she?” She was worried too and especially troubled by the fact that Kagome had gotten sick because of her.

 

Sesshoumaru watched Rin's face, fear and confusion at play on her precious, childish features, and he recognized her need for reassurance in the wake of her parents' deaths. He knelt down and let her crawl into his arms, wrapping her own slim ones tightly around his neck. “It must be hard for you to see her like that after she's done such a good job taking care of you.”

 

Rin nodded solemnly. “Will she be okay?”

 

“I promise she will be fine. Have you had breakfast yet?”

 

“No,” she said, then added quickly, “It's not Kagome's fault.

 

“I know,” he said. He thought for a moment about his dilemma. Kagome needed to see a doctor and was in no shape to take care of herself, but there was the issue of Rin. His plans of going to work had already been abandoned, and with his parents out of town his options were limited. “How would you like to spend the morning with Anita while I take Kagome to a doctor?”

 

“Why can't I come with?” she asked anxiously. “Kagome might need me.”

 

He laughed softly; apparently Kagome wasn't the only one with a latent mother bear instinct. “Rin,” he said with resolve, “I promise nothing bad will happen to your aunt, but I don't know how long we will have to wait around and I know you'd have a better time here with Anita.”

 

His calm strength and confidence went far in mollifying her, but she remained unconvinced and leveled a dubious stare at him.

 

The gold eyes were a perfect mirror of his father and Inuyasha's stubbornness; he needed to think creatively. “You may even be able to persuade her to make cookies.”

 

This perked Rin up considerably. “For breakfast?” she asked, giddy at the thought of something so illegal.

 

He laughed, more loudly this time, at her extreme cuteness, the temptation to conspire with her pushed away by responsibility and the sure knowledge that Kagome would disapprove when, not if, she found out. “After breakfast.”

 

In Rin's eyes the question was a technicality, so the negative answer didn't matter. Anita spoiled her more than all her blood relatives combined; she could have cookies for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Then she remembered Kagome, sick and alone, and had a guilt-ridden panic attack. “What about Kagome? Are you sure you can make her better?”

 

“I am. First I need to get her to a doctor. Fortunately I have a friend whom I can call to help us.”

 

He brought Rin to the mansion and turned her over to the housekeeper, who was delighted to have the company of the littlest Taisho.

 

XxXxX

 

Kagome hovered in the space between sleep and wakefulness like a miserable, broken bird. She was in too much pain to give herself comfortably over to the abyss, but she was far too tired and sick to achieve full consciousness. In her false-dream state she was a child again with Kikyou sitting by her side, Inuyasha incongruously nearby, his fingers cool and smooth against her fiery brow, telling her she needed to see a doctor. She knew it was wrong—they were dead—and tried to push the image away, tried to be rational. The players were replaced by Rin and Sesshoumaru, which made more sense, but when she opened her eyes, she was alone again. Easier to keep eyes closed and not fight. If only she wasn't so cold, she may even be able to stop shivering and get some rest.

 

A voice interrupted her efforts at oblivion, pulling her into awareness.

 

“Kagome.” A hand, lightly shaking her shoulder, joined the voice. “Wake up.”

 

The persistent voice and jarring were enough. She opened an eye groggily and saw Sesshoumaru sitting next to her, looking gorgeous, and she felt as if she was stuck on a loop of déjà vu. “Uughhhh…I feel like death.” Painful reality had returned full force. “Every muscle and joint in my body hurts.”

 

“Kagome, you need to get up and get dressed. No, don't go back to sleep,” he prodded, gently shaking her again when her eyes began to droop. “I'm taking you to see a doctor.” He went to her closet and pulled out a casual dress he'd seen her wearing recently. “Kagome.” She'd fallen back to sleep. “If you can't stay awake, I'll be forced to dress you; I know you're not wearing anything.” He hoped the passive threat would be sufficient to rouse her, though he readily confessed to himself the idea had naughty appeal.

 

In her delirium, Kagome thought Sesshoumaru's strong, sure hands touching her aching body sounded like bliss, but that bit of her that screamed Sexy Equals Scary was loud enough to force her to move. She slowly sat up, clutching blankets around her to guard against the cold and took the dress he held out, grimacing at the pain that had spread through her limbs. “Now what's this about a doctor? I hate doctors,” she said, repressing memories of white coats, hospital beds, and choking fear.

 

“My racquetball partner is an MD, but he's teeing off in an hour, so we need to hurry.”

 

She shook head, then winced at the pain and subsequent waves of nausea. “I can't afford—”

 

“I'll take care of it. Get dressed.”

 

Kagome was not fond of being told what to do, though his expression, one of sympathy, diffused her mulish urge to resist him. “Privacy?” She groaned at the way talking made her throat hurt.

 

He half-smiled at her attempt at cheek, still concerned about how sick she seemed, but happy that she wasn't ridiculously refusing his offer of assistance. “I'll be waiting in the living room.”

 

Kagome put on the dress and started shivering as soon as she got out of bed, so she threw on her robe. “I'll be right there,” she croaked, hoping he could hear her. “I've got to use the bathroom.” The foul taste in her mouth made brushing teeth almost as necessary as urination. She opened the medicine cabinet to get the toothpaste, saw a brown plastic bottle, and smiled. “Mmm…narcotics.” In Kagome's world, drugs were reserved for occasional recreational use, though she made exceptions for cases of major, ugly hang-overs and certain amounts of pain that no one should be forced to shoulder, such as the high ankle sprain she had suffered the year before and the body aches she was currently experiencing.

 

XxXxX

 

Sesshoumaru looked at his watch for the fifth time in five minutes, wondering what was taking Kagome so long. He had a reputation for being chronically on-time and hated to spoil it. His physician friend was taking time out of his morning to do him this favor, and though he was too important a person to be refused, it would be rude to make the man wait. He thought for a moment that perhaps Kagome had fallen back to sleep, but she came shuffling toward him before he went to investigate.

 

“Please tell me you're not wearing that thing.” Between her slippers, hideous robe, messy hair, and baggy eyes, her look said I Give Up, but time constraints didn't permit him any chance of convincing her to do something about her attire.

 

She adjusted the robe and hugged her arms tightly around herself and tried to glare at him, but only managed to look more pathetic. “I'm cold.” She went to the refrigerator and poured herself a small glass of grapefruit juice, then took the vodka out of the freezer, splashed some in, and drank it in one swallow.

 

“I'm not sure that's what you need.”

 

“I'm positive that it is not only unnecessary, it's downright stupid.” She scowled; the combined flavors of the tart juice and mint instantly made her regret the decision to brush her teeth. “But right now I don't give a rat's fucking ass. I hate doctors and just want to hurt a little less.”

 

Kagome tended to the neglected dog's breakfast with promises that she'd make it all up to him, and they left. Due to light traffic and a sleeping Kagome, the drive was mercifully uneventful, and they arrived quickly. He opened the car door and helped her out, then noticed she was wearing a peculiar, lop-sided grin.

 

“Ah. That's better,” she said, satisfied like the proverbial canary-swallowing cat. “I think the drugs are starting to kick in.”

 

“Drugs?” he asked ominously.

 

“I had some Percocet at home. It expired last month, so I took two…just in case.”

 

This can't be good, he thought, but was distracted by Kagome hanging on him. She leaned her head on his arm and as she stumbled along squeezed his bicep as though she was assessing a piece of choice fruit.

 

“You work out, don't you?” she cooed, with what seemed like an inept attempt at flirtation, and she reminded him of a drunk hooker.

 

“Come on.” He ushered her inside the medical complex and, after looking on the directory for the office number of his friend's dermatology clinic, steered Kagome into an available elevator. He pushed the button for the tenth floor, but before he could stop her, she began pushing all the other buttons.

 

“What are you doing?” he growled.

 

She giggled innocently. “I always wanted to do that.”

 

The elevator climbed painfully one floor at a time, and each time it stopped and the doors opened to an empty vestibule, he felt like he was being mocked. Kagome, humming and swaying unsteadily against him from the constant stops and starts, seemed ignorant of the fact that he wanted to throttle her.

 

Finally, inside the posh office, they were greeted by a tall, good-looking blond man wearing a golf shirt.

 

“Aaron, thank you for meeting us. I hope you haven't been waiting long.”

 

“Sesshoumaru,” the doctor replied, “it's always good to see you outside the athletic club. I just got here a few minutes ago. Whom do we have here?” He noticed Kagome's appearance and tried to hide his amusement at seeing one of the most powerful men in the city accompanied by someone who looked like an escaped mental patient.

 

“This is my niece's aunt, Kagome Higurashi. Kagome, this is Doctor Hertz.”

 

“Hurts?” She clutched Sesshoumaru's arm tightly. “That's a shitty name for a doctor.”

 

The blond man laughed lightly. “Bad name, good guy. Let's go into an examination room.”

 

Kagome looked up at Sesshoumaru, her big brown eyes pleading, full of fear. “Will you come with me?”

 

He nodded, somewhat confused at her reluctance to go alone, unable to deny her and the trust she was showing in him. They followed into a room, and Kagome was helped onto an exam table.

 

“So you're Kikyou Higurashi's sister. Very sorry about your loss,” the doctor murmured as he took her pulse. “I was at Arrow's last concert. I must say you are quite a talented singer. Given any thought to joining the band?”

 

Kagome panicked expression softened. “Oh…I'm just okay,” she said, incapable of stopping the wide grin that blossomed on her face. The good doctor's bedside manner was apparently winning her over.

 

“I'm told you may have contracted strep from your niece. Sore throat?”

 

“Sore everything,” she confided, leaning in closer to him.

 

Doctor Hertz looked at her with studied compassion. “Poor girl. Tell me about it. How do you feel? Sometimes these childhood illnesses can really do a number on adults.”

 

Kagome finally had the sympathetic ear she'd wanted. “I feel like stepped-on shit. Every joint and muscle in my body aches. Like I got hit by a train,” she whined. Once the sharing had begun, she wasn't about to stop. “My head feels like it's gonna split in half. I'm really cold, then really hot, then really, really cold. I can barely stand on my own and walking makes my mind spin and my stomach flop over. My throat feels like I spent last night eating sandpaper and broken glass. I'm tired as fuck. And the Percocet is only helping a little.” She finished her litany with a little pout that she hoped wasn't over the top.

 

“Percocet…good stuff.”

 

“Breakfast of champions!” Kagome chirped. “That and the Greyhound. I'd have done a wake and bake, but I didn't think my throat could handle it.”

 

“I see,” he said, highly amused. Usually in his experience, patients were unwilling to confess such details, but this woman's frankness was charming in an illicit, humorous way, and if she happened to look like a fugitive from an asylum, at least she was a very cute fugitive.

 

“Just kidding about that last part,” Kagome blurted, certain, despite her pharmaceutical-induced haze, she could feel the waves of disapproval coming from across the room where Sesshoumaru was seated.

 

The doctor put a digital thermometer in her mouth. “Normally my nurse or physician assistant does this part, but I think I remember from med school how these things work,” he said with an easy, reassuring humor. “I'm not entirely incompetent.” After a series of beeps, he looked at the reading. “Damn,” he said, suddenly becoming more serious. “104.3 No wonder you feel so bad. This is a very high fever.”

 

Kagome shot an awkward I Told You So look at Sesshoumaru and decided she had a shiny new savior…not quite as drop-dead gorgeous, but far less serious. The exam continued, heart and lungs listened to, cervical lymph nodes palpitated, small talk made.

 

“Let's have a look at your throat.”

 

Kagome opened her mouth wide, trying to be as cooperative as she had asked Rin to be a few days earlier, hoping her breath didn't smell too strongly of vodka.

 

“Red with nasty spots. Most likely strep,” he pronounced, “but I need to swab your throat and do an RADT to be sure. Not allergic to penicillin, are you?” He took a long cotton swab and brushed the back of her throat, causing her to gag and choke.

 

“Shit,” she said after recovering. “That damn gag reflex. I guess it's been way too long since I gave head.”

 

The doctor peered over his shoulder at Sesshoumaru, who merely rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Am I to assume that's the drugs talking?”

 

“Actually, no. She's not known for delicacy of language.”

 

“Kagome, you become more interesting every moment,” he laughed. “You two go sit in the waiting room where it's more comfortable. The rapid strep test will only take a few minutes.”

 

When Aaron returned, the pair was seated on an overstuffed sofa, Kagome fast asleep with her head resting in Sesshoumaru's lap. He sat down next to them and handed Sesshoumaru a small piece of paper. “The test was positive. Get this scrip filled and start her on the antibiotics right away and make sure she finishes the whole course. She'll probably just sleep the rest of the day, but in the meantime, I'm worried about her fever.”

 

“You indicated it was high.”

 

“Dangerously. Give her ibuprofen…up to 800 milligrams every four hours. It will help with the pain too. Avoid any more Percocet; that stuff is highly addictive. Cold compresses will help. I know she says she's cold, but it will feel good on her forehead. And lots of fluids. Dehydration with a temp this high is a serious issue.”

 

“When will she start feeling better?” Sesshoumaru was trying to plan his schedule and juggle work with caring for Kagome and Rin in his mind, though he was secretly, for reasons he preferred not to analyze, glad he would be playing nursemaid for the near future.

 

“Probably sometime tomorrow, but if she starts getting a rash, call me.” He saw the relief, just visible under Sesshoumaru's stoic features. If he hadn't had so much experience playing competitive sports with him, it probably would have gone unnoticed. “So are you two…” His voice trailed off, implication clear.

 

“No.”

 

“Well then, you wouldn't mind if I asked her out. Normally I'd never dream of it, but she's not a regular patient, and she's cute as—” He cut himself off. The white-haired man seated next to him was glowering, clearly displeased. Past experience with Sesshoumaru's competitive nature was unnecessary for an accurate reading of this particular, proprietary look. “Never mind. But I'll just say that she's still contagious for twenty-four hours after the antibiotics are started and if you come down with a fever or a sore throat in the next few days, call your regular doctor for an appointment.”

 

“Have the bill sent to my office.” Sesshoumaru gently grasped Kagome's shoulders and began to ease her upright.

 

“Can'tagirlgetanyfuckingsleeparoundhere,” she mumbled.

 

“Precious,” Aaron said. He found her incoherent vulgarity inexplicably endearing. “I won't send you a bill. Let's just consider us even after all you did to get me on the board of directors for the arts foundation. Are we still on for a racquetball on Wednesday?”

 

“Looking forward to it.”

 

He watched them leave. Though not close friends, he knew Sesshoumaru fairly well from athletics and society functions. The younger Taisho was often seen with the most attractive, accomplished women in town, though never with the same one for more than a handful of instances. Sesshoumaru twined a supportive arm around the waist of the waifish beauty, and the doctor knew there was something between the two of them; the verdict was out on if either yet realized it.

 

XxXxX

 

“This one next.” Rin handed her uncle yet another book and settled back into his arms. “It's one of my Mommy's favorites,” she whispered, so not to rouse the slumbering, feverish mass that she affectionately dubbed Snorlaxagome.

 

Sesshoumaru opened the book and turned to the first page of the story. It was a watercolor of a night-time scene—child abed, woman seated nearby, black cat watching a dark, star-filled sky outside the open window. It was a tranquil, intimate picture, one that conjured select, treasured moments of his own childhood; he drew Rin closer and began to read. “I took the silver singing needles to make a blanket for your bed. Rest your head, close your eyes. I'll knit you dreams and lullabies.”

 

Sesshoumaru paused, interrupted as Snorlaxagome shifted and moaned, waiting to see if she would quiet again.

 

“I think she's waking up for real this time,” Rin said.

 

Kagome turned over and blinked bleary eyes at the people next to her on the bed. “Hey, you two,” she croaked. “What time is it? How long have I been asleep?”

 

Rin climbed off Sesshoumaru's lap and lay down next to her aunt, putting a small hand on her forehead. She had taken so much comfort from Kagome's hand upon her brow when she had been the sick one; Rin wanted to do the same and hoped she was doing it correctly.

 

“It's six in the evening,” Sesshoumaru said. He smiled softly as his sweet little niece imitated the mothering gesture. “How do you feel?”

 

“God awful.” She looked around and took in her surroundings. Dog sprawled on the edge of her bed, inelegantly showing off tummy and genitals, was to be expected. A nightstand with neatly organized pill bottles, thermometer, and ice water…less than normal. Sesshoumaru, sitting on the bed next to her, long legs out-stretched, was unprecedented.

 

He saw surprise and confusion flash briefly in her eyes. “Rin didn't want to leave your side,” he said in explanation, though truthfully he also felt much better being able to watch her sleep, occasionally touching her face to reassure himself that she wasn't getting any hotter, helping Rin press a cold cloth to her head without waking her.

 

Kagome smoothed Rin's hair and kissed her cheek. “You are just like both your parents, sweetie. Always looking out for me,” she said, blinking away tears. “What would I do without you?” She looked up at Sesshoumaru. “You too. Thanks…a lot. I hope this babysitting and caregiving isn't totally screwing your life up.”

 

“I've been able to get a few things done via email. And it has forced me to delegate authority, something I've been told many times I need to do.”

 

She reached out and squeezed his hand in appreciation, tucking away the knowledge that she would need to thank him more thoroughly when she felt whole again, and turned back to Rin. “I think I was dreaming of your grandmother's dog demon.”

 

“Really?” Rin squirmed with excitement; she loved hearing about other people's dreams.

 

“I dreamt that I was floating, and it was kinda fun and peaceful. I didn't have any control over where I was going, but it didn't matter. Then…I don't know…it got dark, and I started falling, faster and faster. Really scary. Suddenly I was caught. I found myself encompassed by something warm and fluffy, but it was strong too. So I felt safe and opened my eyes and I saw white fur wrapped all around me. And it was soft like a cloud, but firm, like the bottom would never drop out.”

 

“Why do you think it was grandmother's dog demon?” Rin asked.

 

“Because I knew I should trust it, just like your grandmother said about her dream. And it kinda smelled like a dog.”

 

“Ewww, Kah-gome,” Rin whined. It all sounded like a wonderful dream, but the end bit ruined it for her. “Oberon stinks!”

 

The dog heard Rin squeal his name and, taking it as an invitation, went to nuzzle her face. The adults watched, laughing, as her protests quickly became giggles, which only made the dog lick her with increased enthusiasm.

 

“Alright Obi,” Kagome said to intervene when she thought they'd both had enough. “Off!” He lay back down, resting his black head on Rin's legs in what could only be read as a claim of superiority. “You don't smell bad, do you?” Kagome reached down to pet him, but the pain that flared from simple movement made her wince and reminded all of them that she was still very ill.

 

Sesshoumaru brushed back dark tendrils of hair plastered against her face, distressed that her skin seemed so hot again. “Kagome, you should have some more ibuprofen. It's been six hours, and Aaron said your fever was too high. And you need to drink some water.”

 

Kagome took his hand before he could pull it away and pressed the cool, smooth fingers tightly against the murderous pain in her forehead. “Feels nice,” she said. She smiled weakly up at him. She had expected to see a stern disciplinarian, irritated at the interruption in what she knew was a busy schedule, but instead she only found worry and compassion. “Can I use the bathroom first? Then I'll be a good patient and cooperate.” She reluctantly released his hand and sat up, an accomplishment that she didn't anticipate would leave her feeling so drained. “Ugh…I'm ready to go back to sleep and I'm not even out of bed yet. Shoot. Rin honey, I forgot all about your afternoon dosage of medicine.”

 

“Uncle Sesshoumaru gave it to me. And he fixed me lunch and dinner and we fed Obi together.”

 

Kagome sighed and rested her hand on his arm. “Thanks. Again. For everything. I'm going to owe you a huge payback after this. I don't know what I would have done without your help. Especially taking care of Rin.”

 

“Just concentrate on getting better.”

 

Rin watched the two adults connecting and again felt that she was part of a family. The first time they were all laughing and happy together, and though this time was under much different circumstances, she still was surrounded by warmth and assurance that the people she loved loved her back, loved her together. “Can I sleep in here with you tonight?”

 

“Sure, sweetie, but I'm not sure how much good I'll be at reading to you. I think all this talking has put my sore throat at the limit.”

 

“That's okay.” Rin hugged Kagome, then looked up at her uncle, positive of one thing—she didn't want him to leave them. “You can sleep here too.”

 

“Rin, you're bed is way too small for an adult of normal height, never mind someone as tall as your uncle.”

 

Rin summoned her most dramatic Well Duh expression; her aunt could be so blind to the obvious solution sometimes. “He can sleep here with us. I slept with Mommy and Daddy all the time and this bed is as big as theirs was.”

 

Kagome was afraid to hazard a glance at Sesshoumaru. His presence next to her was certainly comforting, but the thought of the three of them cuddling together, while she had to admit was enjoyable, was not reality, and pretending was not a game she wanted to play. She decided to toss out the logic card instead of trying to explain adult notions of inappropriateness to an innocent, hopeful little girl. “Rin, Sesshoumaru can't sleep here,” she said lightly. “There's too much sickness in this room, and we don't want him to get sick too, now do we?”

 

Rin thought this was ridiculous. First, in her child's mind, she couldn't imagine him ever getting sick; he would never be weak and bed-ridden like she and Kagome were. Second, Rin's logic was more than capable of keeping up with Kagome's reasonable explanation. “But Kagome, he's been in here all day taking care of you. What difference would sleeping here make?”

 

“Rin,” Sesshoumaru said, lifting her face so she'd look at him. “I've got my own room, with my own bed.” He put a finger to her quivering lip to prevent a tearful outburst. “But we can compromise. I'll help you get ready for bed and stay here until you're asleep, and I'll come back first thing in the morning.”

 

Rin didn't think that sounded like much of a compromise and, though satisfied with the arrangement, decided she would see if she could still bargain. “Will you make me breakfast?”

 

“Perhaps.”

 

Kagome sighed with relief that Sesshoumaru was getting so good at dealing with Rin's personality and that the potential sticky situation was avoided. She rose to go to the bathroom, but the room lurched as soon as she was on her feet. Sesshoumaru was at her side in an instant, solid and warm, keeping her from falling. She buried her face in the white hair at his shoulder and waited for the dizziness to pass.

 

“Thanks. I guess I got up too fast.”

 

“Don't overexert yourself. Let me help.” He picked her up and carried her down the hall.

 

Kagome was too tired and weak to protest, and his arms made her feel protected and weightless. “Thanks for working your magic with Rin. I don't think I could have handled a tantrum right now. Don't know what's gotten into that kid.”

 

Their eyes locked; they knew very well what was going on with the girl. She was trying to recreate her family. Kagome suddenly was flooded by melancholy—loss of her parents, loss of Kikyou and Inuyasha, her orphaned niece who was grasping onto her substitute parents with both hands.

 

Her face couldn't conceal anything. Sesshoumaru set her down in front of the bathroom door and held her. “She'll be okay.”

 

“I know,” Kagome whispered.

 

Sesshoumaru helped her straighten, making sure she was steady on her feet. “Just need to find my land legs.” She stepped away from him and shivered. “Shit, I'm cold.” Suddenly she became aware of what she was wearing—a gauzy, white negligee that made her look like the heroine on the cover of a romance novel. “This…isn't what I put on this morning.” She froze and wished she could die, rather than hear his response.

 

He knew he could torture her with a few carefully chosen fibs, but let her off the hook; it would be more gratifying if she were feeling better and could fight back. “Anita helped you get changed and into bed when we got back from the doctor while I gave Rin lunch. You were pretty out of it.” He had no doubt that further opportunities to tease her would be forthcoming.

 

Kagome tittered self-consciously. “She couldn't have pulled out my fleece PJs? I'm practically nak—” She closed her eyes and fled into the safety of the bathroom. “Be out in a minute,” she called from the other side of the door.

 

“Uncle Sesshoumaru.” Rin was standing next to him holding Kagome's ugly robe. “She forgot this.”

 

“You are a little protector, aren't you?”

 

Rin nodded. “It's nice to have someone to protect.”

 

He tossed her up in the air and soaked in the sound of her delight. He couldn't agree more.

 

&&&

 

I do not own Inuyasha. Nor do I have any claim to Planned Parenthood, Percocet, any Pokemon characters, or the book From Lullaby to Lullaby by Adele Geras. Thank you for reading!