InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Finding Kagome ❯ Chapter Forty Six ( Chapter 46 )

DISCLAIMER:: The characters of InuYasha are the property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise, and Viz. The others are mine. I make no money from this in any way, shape or

form.

 

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FINDING KAGOME

 

 

 

 

Chapter 46

 

 

The exhausted miko secure in his arms, InuYasha made his way up the stairs toward her assigned quarters, his mind racing with confusion. He needed to have that talk with Kagura sooner than later, he determined. The idea that Sesshoumaru could even conceivably be ill was more than his mind could wrap itself around.

 

InuYasha's brow furrowed as he considered possibilities. Sesshoumaru had a good 700 years on him, but youkai didn't age in the human sense. The only examples he even had of old youkai had been Totosai and Myoga, both contemporaries of his late father. Neither of them ever seemed to get sick. That is if you disregarded Totosai's selective memory, which InuYasha was convinced had never been more than an act. Or Myoga's tendency toward long winded, scholarly explanations, which had always been quickly remedied with a good squishing. Certainly Sesshoumaru had aged, but that should not have made him weak. He recalled his denial when Sesshoumaru referred to himself as an “old youkai” while trying to convince him to stay and allow the help in the search for Kagome.

 

Now that he finally had the woman in his arms it should be over. They should be able to move forward with their lives. But no, there had to be complications. As if the damn Shikon wasn't bad enough. Always more complications. It seemed to be his fate. And apparently now, one of those complications was directly related to his brother's health, of all things. Why couldn't life ever be simple?

 

Thinking back to the condition Sesshoumaru had been in after battle with Ayame, actually injured and limping, the normally fastidiously groomed former Lord of the Western Lands had been covered in gore. InuYasha wondered if he had really been so wrapped up in his own misery that he had been blinded to the now obvious signs that something was terribly wrong. Sesshoumaru had, after all, taken the bitch out relatively easily, or so it seemed. Though he had to admit, his memory of the events was pretty spotty after dropping Tessaiga. Even the fact that InuYasha had felt the need to offer to carry the limping youkai back to the car hadn't sunk into his thick skull until now. Perhaps witnessing Sesshoumaru's fucked up method of disciplining his driver had shaken him up more than he realized.

 

Then days later, after seeing Kagome's apartment he had been so furious with Kouga that he didn't even think to questioned how it was possible that the stinking wolf had managed to actually touch, let alone injure his brother. Sesshoumaru could move faster than the eye could follow. The only way InuYasha had ever been able to hit him during their feuding period had been with the Wind Scar, even then missing his target more often than not. Kouga was fast, but not faster than Sesshoumaru. Especially without the aid of Sacred Jewel shards. Yet he had managed to rip a bleeding gash into Sesshoumaru's side. Then the fucking idiot wolf had gone so far as to promise to finish the job some undetermined time in the future. That arrogant piece of shit. Kouga really deserved to die. And soon.

 

“You know, I can't understand half of what you're saying,” a murmur came from against his shoulder, derailing his train of thought. “The few words I do understand, I wouldn't want to repeat in nice company.”

 

“Keh,” InuYasha grunted, his ears warming with embarrassment. Until that moment he hadn't realized that he had been muttering to himself in Japanese. Now he knew for sure he was seriously losing it, talking to himself out loud. And in front of Kagome no less. Great. Just fucking great.

 

“Are you really that mad at me?” Kagome asked tiredly.

 

“What? No!” he replied a little too forcefully, but her question brought him back to his initial reason for being so pissed off. Pausing at the top of the stairs, he reconsidered his reply. “Fuck, yes, damn it!” He looked down at her, noting the shadows of exhaustion around her eyes. She'd been through enough for one day, and yet she had insisted on trying to do even more. “I told you to get the hell away from him and you ignored me,” he muttered. “So, yeah. I'm a little fuckin' unhappy about that.”

 

Junior yipped from the bottom of the stairs, and InuYasha chuffed low in response. He glanced down to make certain that the sound from his stupid human throat had been understood. The pup wanted attention, but now was not the time. He needed to address this problem Kagome seemed to have with listening to him. Then he would tend to the pup. Whining, Junior about faced and scampered back down the hallway below.

 

Resuming his trek along the wide hallway of the second floor, he spotted the door to the 'Rose Room' where Kagome would be staying. There was another reason to be pissed off. She'd been assigned her own room, on the opposite side of the mansion from his quarters. He'd brought her home just to be kept away from her, the reminder of which did nothing to improve his mood.

 

“It's just like the thing with the reporter,” Kagome murmured sadly, “only this time there weren't any cameras recording it. You just don't want me to help people.”

 

“The hell!” he sputtered as he pushed open the door to her room. Roughly depositing her on the floral comforter, she gasped with surprise. He clutched her chin none too gently to force her to face him. “Look at me,” he hissed, eyes flashing as she moved to pull away. “He's dangerous, and if you had a lick of sense in that . . .” his voice softened slightly as he noted a sheen in her eyes, “in that beautiful head of yours, you'd know that.”

 

“But, he's your brother . . .” she began to protest.

 

“Which until very recently,” he interrupted harshly, releasing her chin, “meant absolutely nothing to him.”

 

“But, what about . . . to you?” she inquired quietly with a sniffle. Glaring at her in silence for several heartbeats, he scowled at his inability to readily respond to the simple question and looked away. He honestly wasn't sure how he felt about Sesshoumaru right now, and the hint of tears in her eyes was taking the wind out of his sails. He wanted to make a point, not make her cry.

 

She pressed on a little more boldly, “I know you call each other mean names, terrible names. But I'm not blind, InuYasha. I see how much you respect him, look up to him.”

 

“Bullshit,” he negated as he slumped to sit beside her, considering her words. The bastard was manipulative and pushy. Sure, he'd begun to trust him more, and he had helped make the search for Kagome go faster. It wasn't the asshole's fault that she had pushed herself too far. After all, he had tried to push her away at first. In some ways he was becoming the Aniki that InuYasha had always secretly wished for. But look up to him? That would be admitting that Sesshoumaru was better, and he would never do that. Even if he secretly suspected it to be true, he would never give the asshole the satisfaction. “I don't look up that far, he's not so much taller than I am. That's not the point, Kagome... ”

 

“I'm not talking about your height, silly.” Then she smiled, her darkened eyes sparkled and he could swear the sun had begun to shine in the twilit room. In the back of his mind he knew she was dodging his reprimand, but the swelling in his heart nullified the need press the issue. Reaching to touch his folded arms, Kagome grew serious again. “I also see how important you are to him. He really wants you to be happy. Even if it means taking me hostage to keep me close to you.”

 

“You aren't a hostage, damn it! I wish you'd stop talking like that. You're under our protection until this Ookami crap is over with.” Hopefully by that time, she would want to stay by his side. Although, close by her definition and his, appeared to be two different things. This room was not close. Her eyes downcast, he watched her for a silent moment. One thing was for sure, he needed to do something about their current sleeping arrangements. Having her across the mansion at night was not going to be acceptable.

 

For now though, he supposed it was good that she could rest while he conferred with the healer. He wished he had Kirara to watch over her while she slept. But that was a bridge he'd burned centuries ago, right alongside Shippou. He had been able to trust them completely. Kagura being so near put his teeth on edge, and he still had reservations about Sesshoumaru. That bastard was up to something.

 

He pondered how much more pushy Sesshoumaru was going to be, now that Kagome seemed to have helped him to feel better. Would he be able to trust him once Kouga was no longer their mutual enemy?

 

“You really don't remember anything about Sesshoumaru, do you?” At the solemn shaking of her head, a very uncomfortable knot began to form in his stomach. “You remembered me, Kagome. I could see it in your eyes the first time we met. And they told me you had memory of Kouga. That prick doesn't deserve for you to remember him.” He watched her thoughtful expression. “There's a lot about Sesshoumaru that you should remember . . .”

 

All she had was a handful of watered down stories to go by. She really didn't remember. Not enough to avoid danger. Kami, she had been close enough to Kouga to have his scent all over her. He shuddered as he thought of her secret plan to try to go through the well, to try to find 'the hanyou'. Watching her expression change to one of concern, his knot in his gut worked its way up into his throat nearly choking him. He couldn't lose her again. He needed desperately for her to just wake up.

 

“You know, you're acting like I have amnesia, InuYasha,” she stroked his arm, softening the sting of what she said. “I thought you were the one that was supposed to have that problem,” she offered with a grin at his eye-rolled response. “It was another life - a lifetime half a world away - I don't know if people are even supposed to remember their past lives. Most don't, you know.” She studied his arm in thought, and then suddenly looked up. “Did Kagome remember anything about Kikyo's life?” Her head tilted to the side slightly as she mentioned the other two women, like one would indicate another person of the same name or distinction. It was becoming a habit when she mentioned the previous Shikon no Miko. Now he was beginning to understand, that was precisely her intent. In her mind they were different women.

 

Maybe Sesshoumaru had been right. Maybe she really wasn't the same girl.

 

“No, she didn't in the beginning,” he replied sullenly. “If she had she would have never pulled that arrow out of my chest.”

 

 

 

“Wait... wasn't Kikyo murdered?” Kagome's brow furrowed with alarmed confusion. “But, are you saying Kikyo was the one who sealed you to Goshinboku? Why would she...”

 

“She had her reasons! When Kagome found out why, she stood up for me, defended me,” he caught himself nodding to the side, a mirror of her own habit when indicating her aunt, and hated himself for it. “She saved me more than once. You say I am a hero. I'm no hero...” for a brief moment he felt the tug of grief on his heart, “To me Kagome was the real hero.” And she was still gone. Until the day this woman in front of him could remember their lives together, who she really is, Kagome would remain gone. He had to find a way to wake her up from the sleep this new life had over her.

 

“InuYasha?” The gentle warmth of her voice drew him back from the painful feelings of loss. “What's wrong?” A chilled hand brushed lightly at his cheek.

 

“Its nothing,” he lied, his voice no more than a croak. Taking her hand in both of his, he sniffed noisily and rubbed it to warm it up. “Just tired. Still a lot to get done, too.” With a sigh he added, “Remind me one of these days to tell you the real story.” If she didn't remember their history, then he would teach it to her. Whatever it took.

 

Lowering her hand back to her lap, he moved to rise from the bed and do the right thing, and leave her alone to rest. But he found himself immobilized by a miko's grip on his errant forelocks. Locked in front of her face, he couldn't disguise his shock. For being a different person, the act was too hauntingly familiar.

 

“Wait!” she gasped urgently. He couldn't help his surprise at her wide eyed blush when she realized what she had done. “I... I'm sorry.” She released his hair and wrung her hands together in embarrassment. “I just ... I want you to stay.”

 

“Kagome” he whispered, afraid to trust his voice. Stroking her cheek, he took her still joined hands into his and brought them up to brush his lips.

 

“Please?” she implored. “Just for a little while.”

 

“Promise, no more talking?” He murmured against her fingers. At her nod he scooted up beside her and fluffed her pillow. “You'll get sick if you don't get some sleep. I'll stay a bit . . . until you start snoring.” The healer could wait. Kagura would have to wait. Whatever devious torture Sesshoumaru had planned for him could definitely wait. Kagome would always come first, and anyone who didn't like it could go straight to hell.

 

“Snoring, huh? Then you'll be here a long time,” she giggled lightly, scooting down under the covers, “because I never snore . . .” She pulled them back in invitation for him to climb under with her. InuYasha froze, staring at the sheets. “InuYasha, I'm cold... help me warm up, please?” The request sounded so innocent, and even though he had shared her bed at Sally's, something about this was different.

 

“So when was the last time you stayed awake to see if you do snore?” he asked, hesitantly slipping between the sheets and pulling her close. She was cold. Even through the fabric of his hakama her toes were like little pebbles of ice against his legs.

 

“I don't remember,” she murmured before yawning into his shoulder. “But I can irrefutably say that I do not snore... now, you on the other hand...”

 

“Hey, didn't I say no more talking?” he interrupted with a grin against her neck, turning her and pulling her closer to spoon against him.

 

If this wasn't his Kagome, then why did he crave her touch so much? If this girl wasn't his mate, then why did his heart leap in his chest every time she smiled? Why did she fit so perfectly against his body? Why did he feel this overwhelming sense of having finally arrived... home. The warmth that began to radiate between them only solidified those feelings of home as he cradled her against his chest.

 

“Mmm, this is nice . . .” she murmured sleepily, resting her head on his arm, and he tightened his hold around her waist thinking, mine. She wriggled her backside against him, settling in as he hugged her closer and he barely suppressed a groan. Yes, this was definitely different. His discomfort aside, she needed to sleep.

 

“You need to stop that, wench.”

 

“M'kay, not another word,” she murmured around a yawn, then dragged her cheek against the fabric covering his upper arm, squirming against him once more.

 

“I didn't mean the talkin'” he ground out around another near moan. When he pointedly pressed his awakening arousal against her rear, Kagome gasped and stilled immediately. Smirking against her hair, he elaborated, “Best not start something you aren't in any condition to finish.” He could feel her heart hammering against her ribcage, and knew he had made his point. He was also pretty certain he had just scared the living crap out of her. At that he frowned. He never wanted to scare her, or make her sad.

 

When she twisted to face him, peer at him with half lidded eyes, he was certain he was dreaming. “I'm sorry, InuYasha. I just...” then she nipped at his chin.

 

“Your doin' this shit on purpose,” he observed registering the longing in her eyes. It was suddenly no longer a matter of choice, and he kissed her, soundly and thoroughly. She tasted of innocent seduction with a hint of mint tea, and it opened a floodgate from his heart to his groin. Rolling to his back, he pulled her to rest on top of him, losing all sense of reality with the feel of her in his arms. There was nothing else in the world but this moment. She straddled a thigh and framed his face with cool hands, beginning her own assault on his mouth. He raised a knee, allowing himself to feel the heat radiating from her through their unshed clothing. Gods, she was as hungry for him as he was for her. Two once lost, starving souls, rediscovering their home in each other.

 

The urgency as they consumed one another's mouths fought with the building urgency as they slowly rocked against each other. The tingling sensation as his nether region began to tighten and triggered something in his mind which brought him shockingly back to reality. No. Not now. Almost as if someone had thrown a bucket of water on him, he wanted to scream. Instead he moaned in protest of his own sensibilities, and broke his claim of her swollen lips, declaring breathlessly as he loosened his unconscious grip on her behind, “I'm gonna make you pay for this, wench.”

 

“Is that a threat or a promise, dog-boy?” She panted, wrinkling her nose in frustration.

 

“Consider it a promise,” he murmured, threading his fingers into her hair. “First you need to sleep. Are you warm enough now?” She nodded and he tucked her head under his chin, whispering hoarsely, “Then to to sleep, koishii.”

 

“Mm'kay” she murmured. “Koishii... beloved.” She traced circles on his chest with her fingertips then whispered, “Aishiteru, InuYasha.”

 

On hearing her say the word, he kissed her hair then stroked her back gently between her shoulder blades. She was his, but now was not the time to seal their union. Regardless of how much he needed her, she was in no condition to take that step. He needed her to remember what they had meant to one another. He needed to be absolutely certain that she understood what their mating would mean.

 

Because, this time, he would settle for nothing less.

 

As he waited patiently for her breathing to even, he succumbed to the weight of his own eyelids, and the last thing he heard was a faintly whispered, “Its okay, I know.”

 

 

 

 

~oo00O00oo~

 

 

The hospital had been a zoo. Even the attending nurse, full of her own distractions, had compared it to a full moon. The woman had been so out of sorts, she simply smiled and nodded her wheat colored curls when Michael had flirted shamelessly with her. Selene would have added another knot to his head if she'd known of a spot on it that wasn't already lumpy. His right arm had indeed been broken, and now he was sporting a fresh cast and a very disgruntled expression.

 

She asked him to explain to her exactly why he had refused to ask for Kagome's help, and he had replied with a confusing monologue about moths, 'pink junk' and 'prolonging the inevitable'. Completely confused, Selene attributed his disjointed ramblings to exhaustion, pain and more than likely too much tequila. The adrenaline rush of fending off their attackers had apparently masked the effects of the alcohol, since he had become rather rummy while they sat in the waiting room.

 

He'd napped in the examination room while awaiting the lab and x-ray results, and though she didn't envy his condition, she did envy that he at least had a pillow. When the pretty nurse caught him sleeping, she had lectured them both about the dangers of falling asleep with a head injury, citing another patient who still hadn't awakened after several hours of observation. This seemed to sober Michael bit, and he opted to sit up for the rest of the wait.

 

They had begun to talk in a code of sorts, after the nurse had walked into the middle of a discussion on what Kouga's ultimate intentions were with Miranda. The young woman didn't react well to an overheard comment regarding the attack on Kagome, and even froze momentarily in the process of taking Michael's vitals at Selene's mention of Caleb. Perhaps there had been something on the news about him, and it dawned on her that their new friend might be just a bit too high-profile to discuss in public. Consequently, all open discussion of youkai or their motivations had been curtailed until Michael's release.

 

Selene couldn't pinpoint the reason for the acute sense of foreboding that had begun plaguing her after they left the hospital. The events of the previous night seemed to have draped a curtain of surrealism on everything, which was only compounded by her lack of proper sleep. Enough so that the darkened entrance to alleyways, alcoves in buildings, even the rooftops high above appeared to be animate, menacing. Even the odd stray wandering the streets drew suspicion. The overall effect was a heightened sense of awareness of everything as they made their way to what they both hoped would be the relative safety of Michael's apartment.

 

Michael, his unbruised eye dark with fatigue, was focused on the impending meeting with his advisor. It was scheduled for 'first thing' this morning, which would mean around 8 a.m. when faculty arrived at the University. Only a couple of hours away. Selene had tried to talk him into postponing, but he wouldn't hear of it. Apparently his advisor was very intolerant of anything she deemed to be procrastination.

 

“Okay, so would it be easier if I went with you?” Selene glanced into the rear view mirror, and gently braked for a red light, not wanting to jar Michael any more than absolutely necessary. As the car came to a complete stop, she glanced to find him frowning.

 

“Now that would be a fine impression to make,” he muttered, absently drumming the fingers of his left hand against his fresh cast. “No, this is my problem to fix. She'll either believe me, or she'll have me locked up.” He chuckled mirthlessly.

 

“Maybe if I was there to corroborate . . .” Selene ventured quietly, scanning the early morning shadows. The sun had not quite finished its ascent over the hills to the east, and though the sodium street lamps were still active on the shadowed streets, they provided little to no light. Moving deeper into the city towards Michael's apartment, the buildings loomed oppressively. Danger was everywhere.

 

The number of stray dogs seemed to be increasing, which struck her as odd. Registering a similarity in their appearance drew her darting glances. There was a leash ordinance within the city limits, and she wondered why they hadn't been picked up by the overnight patrols. Probably more budget cuts. No more 24 hour animal control patrols. She wondered if perhaps there was a dog show in town and some had gotten loose. They looked like a large breed of husky, and seemed to be traveling in small groups. It would be worth a call into headquarters once they arrived at Michael's. She didn't want to stop and waste time cajoling dogs into her car. Not after the strange events of the last two days.

 

As she approached an intersection, a pair on a corner took notice of the car. The larger of the two raised his head up attentively and for a moment her eyes locked with those of the canine, and it brought a shiver up her spine. Not only did the dog appear to be intelligently examining the passing vehicle, but for a moment, there was a harrowing familiarity to its eyes. The image branded itself in her mind. She was accumulating a veritable catalog of 'snapshots' like that. Not the least of which was the strange creature that had accosted Kagome in her own home.

 

She cringed slightly at the memory of her cavalier approach to the beast, still high on their swiftly coordinated defeat of his accomplice, which couldn't have been better if it had been choreographed. She and Michael had each been arms on the same body, and in retrospect she realized it had been mostly reflex. It was if they had been doing this sort of thing regularly for years together. Gripping the steering wheel a little tighter, she had to admit she didn't have that same level of confidence now.

 

“Windham can't lock you up, monk. Look at the company she keeps,” she commented distractedly. Speaking of canine, Caleb was half Inu-youkai. Dog demon. So his strange and reclusive brother would have to be. . . “I mean, she was right there with Seth when he called Caleb that first time . . .” Signaling to turn left, she let her gaze rest on Michael briefly. He hadn't changed position, still hugging his arm, but the drumming against the cast had ceased. He hadn't seemed to notice the dogs, which she noted with relief were far behind them now.

 

“You have a point.” There was an ounce of hope in his expression as he looked up at her. “Do you think she already knows what he is? Oh, hell. Of course she doesn't . . .” he shook his head before she could respond, and adopted the look of a man on his way to the gallows. “She'll have me locked up for sure . . . DAMN!”

 

“Why don't you do what I did when I called in,” Selene offered, pulling up to the entrance of the parking garage, and rolling down her window to scan her key card. Time waiting for him to get his arm cast had been well spent, with a call to the precinct and a message left on Seth Inudono's voice mail to tell Kagome to call her. The silly woman's refusal to own a cell phone could be so frustrating. “Just tell her that your friend is in trouble, and you and I are doing everything we can to help her. She doesn't have to know the rest of it.”

 

“Won't work, not with her. Don't be so damned co-dependent, Mike,” his mocking falsetto drew a raised brow from his beloved, as she maneuvered up the ramps of the parking garage. “She'd lecture me about getting myself too involved; tell me to call in the authorities.” Michael laid his head back against the seat and glared out at the shadows. “A good therapist only suggests alternatives, we don't fix people. Without your own life in order, you are worthless to help anyone...” He waived a delicately poised hand through the air in mimicry of one of his advisor's odd little mannerisms.

 

“Gah! Kagome's the closest thing you've got to a sister!” Selene countered. “She's not having a breakdown, she's being attacked!” Pulling into a parking stall, she killed the engine. Her tone softening, she continued, “Not wanting you to help a friend in trouble would be like telling someone to leave their dieing mother to the doctors, and get their ass back to work . . . surely she isn't that much of a taskmaster.”

 

“You don't know her, Sally. There's a reason that Caleb calls her a witch,” he informed her as he awkwardly reached for the handle of the door. “But Kagome's problems are just the tip of the iceberg. How do I explain to this woman, a behavioral scientist, that I've recently discovered that I am the reincarnation of a Buddhist monk, and that I have certain spiritual powers that allow me to fight demons? It sounds like a damn precursor to a messianic complex!! Oh, yes and of course, my fiancé is a kick-ass demon slayer, and my best friend's a priestess that can heal pretty much anything that still has a heartbeat. There we go. That will be very convincing,” he muttered sarcastically, glowering at the cast. “I have to do this. Alone. I just wish it wasn't right after a night like last night.”

 

“I don't want you to go alone, monk. I can't tell you why, but I've got a bad feeling.” Their eyes met briefly, and she knew that his meeting was going to change everything. How or what she had no idea, but it would effect every other person in their circle.

 

Selene shook herself to clear her mind, jumping when her .phone rang. Cursing her skittishness she answered it hoping that it was Kagome. Michael climbed out of the car while she wordlessly listened to the call. I was not Kagome, and she was unprepared for the onslaught her ears received. After a few moments of non-committal noises uttered in response, she pressed the end call and stared up at Michael with disbelief.

 

“Miranda just threw Kouga out. She sounds really bad. I've never heard her go on like that.” She shook her head in awed disbelief. “I guess you're on your own after all, monk. She needs me.”

 

 

~oo00O00oo~

 

Sesshoumaru stood quietly by the doorway to the infirmary, as he watched his physician and most trusted confident examine his younger brother. Large sausage fingers pulled down under darkened eyes, tugged on rounded ears, tapped against ribs, as Beorn poked, prodded and listened with a variety of specialized instruments. Sesshoumaru did not envy his sibling, having had much to do with such instruments himself in recent years. Beorn had become his most reliable mentor when it came to working around his gradually depleting condition. The Bear had spared no effort in trying to diagnose the malady, utilizing every known modern technique and state-of-the-art device, diligently searching for a cure, all to no avail. But the simple touch of human had reversed centuries of decline. Remarkably, it had been the same woman that had purified InuYasha without real intention.

 

 

Unsurprisingly, he had found InuYasha splayed out on the miko's bed, with the girl draped over him like a blanket, both snoozing away contentedly, if not rather noisily. Between the two of them, he was surprised the walls weren't vibrating. It was obvious that they were both completely wrung out; however it was imperative that he know the level of permanency to InuYasha's condition prior to leaving for the Inquisition. The Council would undoubtedly refuse his claim of InuYasha as Heir should he remain permanently human.

 

He had watched with interest, when upon waking his brother had slipped his pillow down to the side and gently laid the miko specifically to nuzzle against it. Sesshoumaru had never before realized the importance of scent recognition in Human Beings, and found his brother's actions fascinating. The two had been together such a short time, but the bond between them appeared to be surprisingly strong. Perhaps there was some validity to the seeming nonsense InuYasha had been spouting about pair bonding beyond one lifetime.

 

If Sesshoumaru hadn't known better, he would have thought that his brother suffered from a hangover. Puffy face and darkened eyes squinted against the light as they made their way toward the infirmary, intentional evasion of his curious sidelong glances. Unsure if InuYasha was embarrassed at being discovered with the miko or angry for some imagined violation against him, Sesshoumaru decided it was best to not ask. Thus the trek to the infirmary had for the most part been silent, barring the occasional, explosive, and expressly muculent sneeze which seemed to overtake the hanyou en route. Sesshoumaru did nothing to disguise his disgust as he watched his brother run a wrist below his nose, and then wipe it nervously on his shirt with a sheepish grin. Perhaps it was something Beorn could medicate. One thing he knew beyond doubt, there would be an element of hygiene introduced into InuYasha's curriculum immediately.

 

 

“Oi!! You're magin me feel like a fuggin horse up for sale!!” The nasal exclamation drew Sesshoumaru back to the moment. InuYasha plucked at the thumb pulling at his upper lip to examine his teeth. It seemed to be the final straw for his brother. Running his sleeve across his again running nose, the dark haired hanyou tried unsuccessfully to pull in air through blocked nostrils, and then hacked oddly, apparently in an effort to unblock the obstruction. Sesshoumaru grimaced with open disgust at the display.

 

“Now, now, InuYasha... be a good boy and I'll give you carrot,” cajoled the healer, his grin not quite reaching his eyes as he observed the man with a hint of concern. Sesshoumaru glanced around and spied a box of tissue on a nearby table. Grabbing it, he casually tossed it at his uncouth brother's head, to have it caught in midair before it connected, thanks to the half-breed's unfettered reflexes. Maybe that would be enough of a hint for the philistine. InuYasha only offered him a sneer in thanks, before blowing his nose loudly into a handful of tissues.

 

Raising a small flashlight Beorn commanded InuYasha's attention again. “At the risk of sounding cliché, open up and say AH. It appears that in your weakened state you've contracted a viral infection.”

 

“Geh!” InuYasha responded somewhat nasally. “My dose always feels stuffed up when I'mb like dis.” He frowned, tilting his head and looking around for the source of the stunted sound his voice was making. “Whud da hell?”

 

“Excessive mucous, elevated temp, adenoids are swollen, membrane's irritated here, see?” The physician leaned back to allow Sesshoumaru a look down InuYasha's throat. Instead the Demon waved his hand, declining the offer with distaste. He really didn't need any more of a visual than he was already getting. Beorn seemed to find that amusing, chuckling as he rolled his ancient wheeled stool to a cabinet. Pulling out a bottle he shook a capsule into a small paper cup, getting up to pull some water from the tap.

 

“I take it you've never had a cold before,” Beorn observed, returning to his patient. Patting InuYasha on the shoulder reassuringly, he presented him with the smaller cup. “Take this, it'll relieve the symptoms.”

 

“You gan geep dat shit,” InuYasha slurred, motioning to the cup of water, before he took the pill and forced it down. “I hate dat nasty stuff! It don't even taste like water. Comes out of a pipe from Kami knows where... you gan just... geep it.”

 

“I never realized you had such discerning tastes, little brother,” Sesshoumaru commented with a hint of sarcasm.

 

“I never knew dat's where it game from,” InuYasha replied, nodding toward the small sink. “More like survival instinct, it smells off and tastes worse; I'll stig to the bottled stuff.” He hacked gain, trying to clear his throat. “How long till that pill starts working?” he asked with annoyance.

 

“Give it about half an hour or so. I'll need some blood for analysis, roll up your sleeve,” the Bear replied. When InuYasha glared at him in disbelief, he added, “That is if you want answers.”

 

“Oh hell!! I fuggin' hate needles!!” InuYasha glared at the physician then at Sesshoumaru. “You didn't say he was gonna stig me again!!” Again he sniffed noisily, and as he raised his arm to use his sleeve again, Sesshoumaru grabbed the box of tissue and smacked it into his chest with a pointed glare.

 

“Okay, let's talk about this,” Beorn sat again on his stool facing his patient, the extractor settled on his lap. “Let me tell you what I know so far without a specimen. I understand your girlfriend did this to you, is that right?”

 

“Don't gall her that. She's not just a girlfriend, damn it.” InuYasha muttered hoarsely, eying the mechanism of torture on the healer's leg.

 

“Alright then, whatever she is to you, this woman has in her possession an artifact that made this possible. It stands to reason that repeated, prolonged exposure to that relic, that Sacred Jewel, would hinder your ability to return to your normal form.” Beorn had a look of distaste as he mentioned the Shikon no Tama by its common name.

 

“That gan't be right,” InuYasha shook his head and glanced over at Sesshoumaru. “I gan't make her give up the Shikon.”

 

“A full analysis of your blood will help us to know one way or the other,” the doctor rose, apparatus in hand. “It helps if you look away.”

 

InuYasha balked, backing up mere inches on the examination table. Sesshoumaru found it amazing that a man who had survived gaping wounds - some of which he, Sesshoumaru had inflicted - yet had continued fighting, was now cowering from a simple poke in his arm. Sesshoumaru pondered the validity of using his brother's own tactic against him. Perhaps angering him with an insult would divert his attention.

 

“Shall I state it from my perspective, little brother? The value of what will be learned far outweighs the momentary discomfort that you face. Honestly, you are disappointing me, InuYasha.” The daiyoukai grinned maliciously, “Either submit, puppy, or your Aniki will have to hold you down.”

 

“You're such a bastard...” InuYasha growled, glaring. Hesitantly he complied and raised his sleeve, tensing with a cringe worthy of an impending explosion. Beorn followed through swiftly with the device, not even attempting to hide his amusement.

 

“I'm serious about staying away from the girl, InuYasha,” the physician sobered markedly. “She can't possibly be helping your recovery, especially with that relic. I understand that you feel the need to help her, just keep your distance while doing it. Got it?”

 

Sesshoumaru stared blankly at his healer. Had he actually just prescribed that InuYasha stay away from his mate? The flash of horror that registered on his brother's face confirmed that the daiyoukai had indeed heard correctly.

 

“Are you quite finished?” InuYasha demanded while pulling his sleeve back down into place, his jaw now in a grim set. At Beorn's nod, he slid off the table, pure indignation in human form, “Good, 'cause you can both go right to hell.”

 

As InuYasha stormed out of the door, Beorn snorted and motioned for Sesshoumaru to quickly close the portal for privacy. Once it was fully closed the great bear burst out into a full bout of belly shaking laughter.

 

“I fail to see the humor,” Sesshoumaru drawled raising an irritated brow at his friend. “Nor do I see why that was necessary.”

 

“He's just entirely too much fun to provoke,” the bear chortled, “I couldn't resist. Oh hell, Sesshoumaru, you've said as much yourself, with your tales of battles over that sword of his. And you!! You're one to be pointing fingers!! Who assigned that girl a room clear across the mansion from him? I'd be pretty annoyed about that, myself!” With a wheezing gasp, the physician grabbed a tissue and wiped at a laughter induced tear.

 

“That was the Lady's call. Take it up with her,” the daiyoukai looked away dismissively.

 

Kagura had determined after speaking with the girl that she had been well raised and it was only appropriate that they have separate sleeping arrangements. In addition, he could not argue his mate's logic when she suggested that the separation could well be instrumental in hastening InuYasha's bonding with the girl. Sesshoumaru could not shake the feeling that a bond would have interfered with, if not completely prevented the hanyou's purification.

 

“Anyway, maybe the girl will lose that blasted jewel if they think it's responsible. I for one am not entirely convinced that it isn't. Just having the damn thing in the house makes me uncomfortable.”

 

“You are not the only one,” the daiyoukai replied absently. “However, Kagura is of the mind that as long as Miss Higurashi is in possession of it, all will be well. Surprisingly. It is definitely not something to be simply lost.”

 

“After all that you've told me Kagura's been through, I'm amazed she is even allowing the girl in the house at all,” Beorn muttered, keying in the analysis sequence in his portable unit. “I should have some answers in a couple of hours. Now, are you going to explain to me exactly what happened last night?”

 

“I have endured your examination, is that not enough?” Sesshoumaru opened the door again. “I have no more answers than I have given. I quite honestly... do not know. Only that with her touch the malaise began to dissipate.” He examined his hand for a moment, and then announced, “I will be traveling to the session on my own volition, for the first time in nearly two centuries.”

 

“Do you think that wise?” Beorn looked up from the analysis unit. “You yourself said that the girl met with resistance, that it wasn't complete.” At the Youkai's cold stare, he simply shrugged. “Of course, you'd be the best judge, since I can't seem to find anything. All the deterioration has appeared to have receded...”

 

“But...” Sesshoumaru prompted. He had trusted this demon with his life for nearly a century. Though the improvement of his condition was remarkable, he would consider what advice the physician offered.

 

Beorn's sigh was one of frustration. “There's no way to tell how long it will last. Unlike with InuYasha's condition, I have no way to determine the permanence of this 'healing'.”

 

Poised at the door, Sesshoumaru pondered momentarily on the possibility that he would decline again. If that were to be the case, he determined that he would enjoy his returned vigor for as long as it lasted. Until it became certain one way or the other, he would continue with his current course with the Council as well. Providing InuYasha's results could prove that his current form was not to remain permanent. It was his habit to examine all possible outcomes and prepare for each the best way possible.

 

A muted scuffling from down the hall accompanied by a round of loud yaps from the puppy broke into his thoughts. It sounded as though someone were arguing, or perhaps pleading was better word, and Sesshoumaru raised a brow. He discerned the owners of the voices, and rolled his eyes. It was Thomas and Laura attempting to calm InuYasha down.

 

“SESSHOUMARU, YOU PRETENTIOUS PRICK!!” came a graveled bellow from the same direction. “GET YOUR ASS IN HERE AND EXPLAIN YOURSELF!!”

 

“His vocabulary seems to be coming along quite nicely,” the doctor commented casually looking up from putting his instruments away. “Nice work, old man.”

 

“He will have the entire staff scattering for cover,” the daiyoukai replied with irritation, glancing down the hallway. “He's apparently discovered the summons. It specifically mentions my request regarding Rights of Succession.” The daiyoukai hesitated uncharacteristically at the door, before assuming his commanding air. “I want those results as soon as you have them. And that disgusting snot needs to stay dried up. I won't have him infecting the rest of the household.” The order was terse, his transition from patient and friend to that of The Taisho complete.

 

“Of course, Sir,” Beorn acknowledged dutifully.

 

“I do believe his voice is already improving...” Sesshoumaru offered speculatively, softening the blow of his abrupt transition, then strode down the hall to face his infuriated sibling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

~oo00O00oo~

 

To be continued…