InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Head Over Heels ❯ Death Takes a Holiday ( Chapter 29 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter Twenty Nine
Death Takes a Holiday
 
 
 
Sesshomaru 10:20am:
 
 
I turned the corner and saw Inuyasha waiting for me his hands in his pockets, his back to the wall. His eyes were closed, his chin resting on his chest. “I knew you'd come.”
 
My head began hurting and I dismissed it, refusing to ever give into any weakness. “No you didn't.”
 
He glanced up and shrugged, “Yeah you're right but it sounded good.”
 
I took a long deep breath and looked up at the pocked marked ceiling tiles. “Where is it?”
 
Inuyasha pushed off the wall and started down the hall ahead of me, “Itis a kid and he has a name.”
 
I hated walking behind anyone, especially the half breed; it went against my grain as Alpha, head of the family.
 
But then so was saving Yokai Slayers. Even so I picked up my pace and fell ahead of Inuyasha by one step. His eyes flickered down to my feet and I heard him snort.
 
We passed through a set of heavy double doors that only opened when I pressed a large round plastic button.
 
At the end of the next hall we were stopped by what appeared to be a hospital volunteer. “Hello can I help you?”
 
Then man was old but strong and obviously lacking in something better to do than lurk around hospital corridors inconveniencing me. “No.”
 
Inuyasha added, “We're fine.”
 
He nodded. “That's very large box your friend has there.”
 
My ire rose quickly, “I fail to see how this is any of your business.”
 
My simpering half brother interceded, “It's long stem roses for our sister. They're her favorite.”
 
The wrinkles in his face relaxed and he whistled, “Those must be some flowers, very expensive.”
 
I started down the hall and heard Inuyasha answer, “Well it's because we care so much.”
 
I sped up almost racing over the tile. I turned my head and saw Inuyasha following in my wake.
 
He stopped in front a room with a curtain drawn over the door. I waited while he pulled it aside. “The kid's alone. His family must be meeting with the doctor or something.”
 
I sat the Tenseiga's box down against the floor. “I can be done with this and still have time to have the house de-frogged before lunch.”
 
A look of pure confusion passed over Inuyasha's face and I realized I'd spoken aloud. He opened his mouth then shook his head. “I don't even wanna know.” He gave me a long hard look and the unspoken word Tetsusaiga passed between us.
 
He was still holding on to the hope of getting it back. I lifted my hand and traced the long healing scratch on his cheek with my claw, “Don't make me kill you.”
 
Inuyasha pushed my hand away muttering, “Yeah yeah, kill me tomorrow.”
 
He gave me his back and pushed through the curtain. I followed him into a dark room where a thin boy lay under a white sheet. His arm sat across his chest an IV attached to his wrist. I closed my eyes and heard his meager heart pumping blood through his thin veins.
 
What a waste of time this was, I should be home firing my nanny and putting the fear of all that's holy into Rin.
 
I leaned over the boy and pushed open his left eye lid with my thumb revealing white. His eyes had rolled back in his head. He wasn't even dreaming or in a real coma.
 
The tube down his mouth was forcing air into his lungs. He was a thing, not a person. Humans are so fragile, almost like tissue paper. How they had managed to take over so much of our earth was beyond me. It spoke to our ultimate weakness that we had decided to share it with them instead of using them as cattle. After this thought, Rin's face flashed through my mind.
 
I reached down and wrapped my hands around the cord attaching his machines to the wall. The first pull wouldn't be enough to do unplug it. Medical equipment was always reinforced.
 
Inuyasha growled and knocked the cord from my hands. The only reason he was able to do so was because he'd caught me unawares. “What the fuck are you doing?”
 
I spun to face him my fangs bared, “What you asked me to.” Inuyasha didn't know how the Tenseiga worked. “We don't have time to fight over this. Soon someone will walk in and then it will be over.”
 
My half brother said nothing. He just stood there staring at me. I pushed him away from me, his feet scoffed against the tiled floor. “You been chasing that worthless crystal all these years, you of all people should understand, we must always sacrifice something to get what we want.”
 
Inuyasha snapped, “No, not like this. I won't let you.” He glared at me then added, “And it's a jewel.”
 
“This is ridiculous. You came to me for my help and now you block my hand.” I slid my hands into my pockets and took a step towards the door threatening to leave.
 
Inuyasha knew I never bluffed. He vaulted over the hospital bed, than stood blocking the door way with his own battered and bruised body. Once again I was taken with how much he cared for mortals, only further proof of his tainted blood. “Sesshomaru don't!”
 
His fangs ran over his bottom lip as his head titled downwards, his eyes closing. The smell of impending death hung in the air of the small room. “Do what you must.” His voice, wrought with defeat left a satisfying tone in my ears. Too bad it was in reference to the human and not my Tetsusaiga.
 
I growled, “It won't a difference how it's done, he hasn't much longer than half an hour.” Why was I almost consoling him? He was weak and filthy, I should destroy him not aide him. The thought Kagura wouldn't be pleased with the mortal's death lingered behind my façade of cooperation.
 
Inuyasha turned his back to me and slid his hands into the pockets of his red leather jacket, “Like the commercial says, just do it.” The words and get it over with were left hanging unspoken.
 
“Very well.” Finally sense was reigning for the first time in hours. I reached down and wrapped the cords of the human's oxygen support around my hand and gave a hard tug. The plugs gave slightly but held fast.
 
Mortal ingenuity is sometimes better than I give it credit for. No doubt this prevented some hapless janitor from accidentally unplugging the machine if he struck the cord with his buck and mop.
 
A hard yank disconnected the plugs from the electrical outlet. The air machining pumping false life into the boy's lungs fell silent. The never ending annoying beeping of the heart machine kept going measuring hollow beats.
 
Inuyasha stood looking down the hall, but even from his back I could see him wince every time the machine let out another Beep!
 
The beeps became slower, until the machine flat lined into one long ear drum splitting Beee eeeeeeeeeep!
 
“Can't you do something about that infernal noise?” I growled as I pulled open the box we'd brought.
 
Inuyasha turned without looking and pounded the top of the heart monitor with his fist. The machine sputtered, gave one last half hearted bep eeeep! Then it too was as dead as the youth it was monitoring.
 
I freed the Tenseiga from it's box and held it over Kohaku's still chest.
 
The sword's hilt warmed instantly to my touch and a soft glow of white light radiated from the blade, revealing a series of dark, squat animal like shapes leaning over him.
 
Disgust bit at the back of my throat as the blade began to hum. The creatures fell back and scattered from the bed, no doubt in search of another dying hospital resident. Though I shouldn't have been able to, my ears picked up on the faint scratch of their malformed claws scattering across the green floor tiles.
 
I count slowly to ten in my head as color seeped back into the boy's face and hands. His brown eyes opened and he began chocking on the air tube that lay in his throat.
 
I stepped back and slid Tenseiga back into the box, leaving the struggling human to Inuyasha. I'd promised to save him, not actually lay hands on him.
 
Inuyasha held the boy down with one arm while pulling the air tube free with his other hand.
 
The mortal tried to set up but the Half-breed kept him down. “It's okay Kohaku. Just relax. You've had a bad fall and you're in the hospital.”
 
 
He coughed unable to answer Inuyasha. I had Tenseiga's box firmly under my arm. “Don't let him up. It'll take a few hours before he's… normal.”
 
I deliberately said nothing about the weeks of nightmares that would inevitably follow. There was always a price. The world never gave with out taking. It would only be a matter of time before Kohaku knew the cost.
 
I took a deep breath relived my errand was finally completed. The heavy air in the room had lifted once I'd banished the harbingers of Death. It was odd, usually they faded or shattered into nothingness. But instead these shadows had fled. Perhaps it was because of the nature of the mortal hospital. Or was it something else?
 
Even though it was wisest to leave this place, I found myself walking the halls, on patrol for what, I didn't know.
_-_-_-_


The weak sent of Mimosa captured my attention and I followed the trail to a small furnished room hidden around a few twists and turns of the hall. The Witch sat on a couch facing a table, her arms wrapped around her legs, her face pressed into her knees.

I heard her heard pounding in her chest and her wracked breathing. “Just go away. I can't help you, please….”

She wasn't speaking to me; she didn't realize I was standing there. Intrigued I rested the heel of the box against the floor and waited in silence.

_-_-_-_
Kagura:

The Goblin by the table hissed at me and the small room filled with the over powering stench of raw sewage. I gagged and by sheer force of will refused to give into the reflex.

When I'd first seen it in the storage room, I was a bystander. Now I was the main attraction. Something had infuriated the beast and it seemed to think I was at fault.
 
It's head tilted back on hunched shoulders and I saw a flash of bright green eyes. Until now I've always loved green eyes, so much that I've considered getting contacts. After the burn of that dead gaze, I could go the rest of my hopefully long life with never seeing the color green again.  

I swallowed slowly forcing myself to stare down the little beast. It seemed to thrive off weakness and fear and I refused to let it feed off me.

The Goblin broke our staring contest by glancing down to the floor. My heart jumped in my chest but my hope was premature, it wasn't giving up. No it was doing something much worse… summoning re-enforcements.

The air, rife with the smell of rotten eggs, fizzled and popped with static electricity. I recognized it from my days in high school chemistry, it was sulfur.
 
Oh shit! This can't be good.

Pop!

A small dark cat thing stood on the floor by the Goblin. It's eyes were also rotting green but when it opened it's mouth the jaw seemed to have no hinge. Rows and rows of sharp teeth filled it's gums and when it closed it's mouth I realized it was missing it's nose, which must come in pretty handy because it stank.

Pop!

I didn't want to turn my attention from the goblin and his new pet but I had to see what else had come for me. A quick scan of the room gave nothing away then I saw it by the trashcan watch me, biding its time. A squat black bull dog shaped thing regarded me with an air of obvious distain. It leaned onto it's back legs and supported it's hefty torso by leaning against the table leg.

Bile built up in my throat as I realized, I was about to be ripped from limb to limb by the Muppets from hell.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

A thin shadow man stood in the corner. He tipped his hat to me and I saw he'd left home without his skin.

Another hunched goblin hovered in the air next to his brother. This one was fatter and it's shoulders shook as it chortled at me, loving my building panic.

The cat thing had a buddy, with two heads and long strings of drool dripping from it's jaws. It seemed to be chewing on something and I was careful not to see what.

This was a lot more than a hospital visit. Somehow I'd pissed off the forces of darkness and they sent a search party for me.
 
I needed help; either from some man of the cloth or anyone. I've seen some awful things but the situation was escalating fast. It was way beyond my control and I was starting to worry that Sushi would be an orphan fish.

Pop! Snap! Sizzzzz….!

The walls became a forest of growing shadows. Each had a flashing pair of green eyes, steak knives for teeth and a stench that would stay with me to the day I died, which could be very well today.

I gathered every piece of courage and strength I could muster into a hard ball in my belly and addressed the group. “You were not invited, leave this place. You can not stay. I revoke your invitation.” I was firmed and prayed silently that this would work.

Shadow man laughed and the bulldog creature spoke. His voice was low and it grated across my ear drums like nails on a chalk board. “You have no say over this public space.”

Fear raced down bones and slammed straight into my bladder. I am not ashamed to admit that my underwear was wet.

_-_-_-_
Sesshomaru:

The possibility that she was crazy never left my mind but I doubted she was schizophrenic. I pulled away from the door when I felt the Tenseiga shake in it's box. It was reacting in a way I had never seen before.

The hall was deserted and thanks to Jaken the security cameras were conveniently pointed away from me. This trip was costing me more by the second. I needed to leave the hospital as fast as possible but it was hard tearing myself away from the witch.

I opened the box and pulled Tenseiga free. The hilt was warm and the blade gave a soft glow. I leaned back and looked into the sitting room. Kagura was surrounded by harbingers of death, the creatures that come to claim the souls of the deceased and drag them off to a warmer climate.  There were almost a dozen of these demonic figures hunched around the couch slowly closing in on her.

Until today I hadn't thought those shadows were capable of doing anything but coming for the dead. If this is what haunted Kagura, it was no wonder she wasn't ready to embrace her power.

Tenseiga gives the gift of life by expelling these beasts who come for everyone; Popes, celebrities, presidents and even children. Rin never spoke of it but I was certain she remembered her death. She'd had nightmares for months after it. Each night she woke screaming for her mother, the woman whose frozen arms I'd found her in.  

One night like homeless monkeys, they climbed the wall of my garden without tripping the security system then huddled in the old greenhouse. When I found them the next day, Rin's skin was blue with frost bite and each eyelash had a thin coat of ice.
 
Her mother had been dead for hours and was past all hope but when I touched Rin's neck she was almost warm. I carried her inside to my glass display case and pulled out the Tenseiga. Later as Gert wrapped her in blankets she said the girl was as small and fragile as a tiny wren bird. Rin's the only person I've ever revived who knew I had saved them. I briefly thought back to the lie I'd given Kagura about Rin's past. At the time it was easier than going into detail about a deeply private family matter.

When Father died I tried to save him but it was pointless. He'd been gone over twenty four hours when I found him. The knowledge that he may have wanted it that way has eaten at me ever since.

Tenseiga bends to my will, but today it was demanding to be used. I wielded it in front of me and stepped into the small room.

_-_-_-_
Kagura:

I always assumed that prayer was easy. It was something anyone could do when ever they wanted or need it and required no special talents. I was so wrong. I prayed as hard as I could to any deity that would listen. Jesus, Kami, Buddha…  Was anyone listening?

The Goblin fiends thought this was funny and laughed as I pushed my fingers into my mouth all the while muttering fast and futile prayers, begging to be saved. Death while pissing myself was a humiliation I'd rather not experience.

“God damn. Get out! Leave!” A voice rocketed off the walls of the small room and a warm light dissolved the leering black figures that surrounded me. They fell apart like a bath tablet in warm water. Black curls of smoke fell towards the floor but faded before touching the tile.

The stench lifted and I was able to fill my lungs with fresh sweet air. Oh thank you Jesus, someone heard my prayers.

The monsters were gone, not pushed back but actually gone. I sniffled and tears clouded my vision. I lifted my head and saw Sesshomaru standing in the doorway holding a katana.

Then I burst into uncontrollable tears.

_-_-_-_

Sesshomaru:

I'd banished the harbingers and now the Witch was crying. Her face was pale with dark puffy circles under each eye.  I wanted to touch her, comfort her anything that let me lay hands on her or get her to stop crying.

Instead I stood in the doorway doing nothing, I hated feeling helpless, I'm a man of action but here there was nothing to be done.

She looked at me expectantly, wanting me to say something but I was at a loss.  Finally I said, “The boy, he's fine.”

She rubbed her nose on the long sleeve shirt she was wearing. “Kohaku?”

I looked around the room for a box of tissues but found none. “He's awake. The demon slayers… his family's with him.”

She hiccupped, “Inuyasha… he did it.”

The very idea that she might credit my miracle to the half breed was so sickening I cut in, “Yes I came at his request.” I glared at her daring her to deny me my due.

Her lips trembled and her ruby eyes widened, she was a far cry from the shower vixen who had visited me mere hours ago, “It was you… you and that sword. That's why Jane's still here, you saved her.”

I lifted an eyebrow, “Rin's hard on nannies and I didn't have time to find her a new one.” It was an easy guess that Jane had visited Kagura after she died. It explained why the witch had sought me out that night. I should've guess she wasn't drawn in by a love of Sinatra.

“It's just that simple for you isn't it?” She cocked her head and studied me waiting for my answer.

“Sometimes life is just that simple.” What had she expected me to say?

She dabbed her face with her already snot stained shirt sleeve. “Thank you.”

My pointed ears prickled at her unexpected words, “You're welcome.”

I wanted to say more.

I wanted to tell her if she came with me then this would never happen again. She would have nothing to fear from anyone or anything, other worldly or not. She could live at my house and play endless games with Rin and buy as many over priced ridiculous pieces of footwear she could lay her small hands on.  I would always protect her and she would want for nothing.

But I didn't.  Instead I stood holding the katana in both hands watching her like a schoolboy.

Kagura made no move to stand; she sat crossed legged on the sagging green hospital couch looking at me and saying nothing.
 
Perhaps she needed time to absorb everything. She lived a human existence and the mornings events might take some time to sink in. I decided I could wait. If she never came to terms with me then I'd have to buy a wife. It wasn't technically a monetary transaction but it might as well be.
 
 Whatever the outcome, it was time to move on with life.  Father was gone and there was nothing I could do that would change the past. But even still hell would freeze over solid before I'd give the half bred the Tetsusaiga.

That fact brought me a great deal of satisfaction. And if I was accurately reading the look on her face, then possession of the Tetsusaiga would have to be enough. This day, I didn't have the right to demand more from the Powers That Be.
_-_-_-_
Kagura:

I didn't know what to say. I thought he was a complete monster and yet he's my savior. But of course only because it suited his immediate need at the time.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't damn glad to see him.
 
Those things were going to invent a new way to inflict pain and kill me; I knew this with a ferocity that ran in the marrow of my bones. I also knew they would always be waiting. They had been counting on getting Kohaku and I had intervened through my acquaintance with the Inu-family. Cheating them out of the boy was a major slight they would never forget or forgive. They would sit behind the sheer curtain that separated our realties waiting for the slightest chance to come back for me. If I concentrated hard enough I could hear the cracking of their knuckles and rubbing of their clawed hands. Time was on their side, not mine. We wind yokai live a long time but not forever.

And if it weren't enough to have permanent supernatural hit man stalkers, I was hit with the realization Jane was a zombie after all. But she seemed so nice and normal. Kohaku was a bit of a punk and maybe I wouldn't be able to tell if there was a difference in him. For a moment I was reminded of Gage, the boy from Pet Cemetery whose father resurrected him only to severely regret it.
The black cat creature, I'd seen only moments before bore an uncanny resemblance to Gage's black cat Churchill, the first victim of the unhallowed ground.

I shivered and decided not to dwell on zombies for the time being. I was at loss for words. I knew if I opened my mouth I would only burst into tears again. I needed a stiff drink and then I was going to sleep for three days.

Sesshomaru studied me, scrutinizing every small detail of my face. I wondered if he missed me but my lips refused to form the question.

I heard the tap of his soft heels on the tile floor as he took a single step towards me. It was New Years day and yet he was in a dark suit complete with coat and cuff links. He leaned over me and my arms opened.

Sesshomaru slid his katana into a long box then laid it across my open arms. I looked up at him, my mouth opened in surprise as he denied me the bodily contact I craved.
 
His eyes held mine as he quickly slid his hand over mine and I felt the heat of his palm on my skin followed by his long aristocratic fingers, “You need this more than I do. Keep it safe.”

I held the box to my chest and watched him turn on his heels and exit the room. Confusion wrought my brain but one thought came though loud and clear, Kohaku was okay! I would have time to sort out Sesshomaru's amazing gift later.
 
I shoved the box under my arm, stood and ran out of the room, down the hall towards his room. The soles of my shoes squeaked on the freshly waxed tile floor. My blood pounded as I realized, I wasn't evil and Kohaku wasn't suffering because of my stupidity.
 
_-_-_-_
 
The Devil's Dictionary:
 
TAKE: To acquire, frequently by force but preferably by stealth.
 
DEAD, adj.

Done with the work of breathing; done
With all the world; the mad race run
Though to the end; the golden goal
Attained and found to be a hole!
—Squatol Johnes
 
I guess I just prefer to see the dark side of things. The glass is always half empty. And cracked. And I just cut my lip on it. And chipped a tooth.” :Janeane Garofalo
_-_-_-_
Notes:
I apologize profusely for taking so long to update. It couldn't be helped, life has been insane.
All I can do is blame Iz, my hedgehog editor, and of course Global Warming.
 
Seriously, thank you to everyone for your support. I have a few more chapters to go. And I won't wait nearly a year to post them, I promise.
 
To those of you who had the nerve to send me hate mail: Well I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as you have all the others, because obviously you hate this fic so much you can't stop reading.