InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Soul Therapy ❯ Chapter Four ( Chapter 4 )

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Author's Notes: Thank you for your wonderful reviews, everyone! I love hearing from you, and I'm glad you like the story so far. One question: would you like me to put Sesshoumaru and Rin in this story? And if so, do you want them as a couple, or as the typical father/daughter thing? The reason I ask is because I know where I want the story to go for Inuyasha, Kagome, Kikyou, and the other main characters, but as far as supporting characters I'm not exactly sure what to do, so I'm asking for your advice because the story, as it goes along, will need a little more depth to it. Let me know!

Also, to answer your question about Inuyasha's condition, he was in a car accident, and then in the hospital for nearly two months due to injuries. I'll go into detail about the extent of his injuries in later chapters, but for now what's happened to him is some of these injuries involved his spinal cord and his legs, thus he wasn't allowed to move for nearly the entire duration of his hospital stay. What happens is your body does literally forget how to use certain limbs if you don't use them often enough, not to mention the muscles become incredibly weak and the joints stiff from lack of use. I've known people with this problem, and it's a very long, slow, painful process back to walking normally again, but with determination a person can completely recover from an injury like this.

And for those of you who have reviewed and said you have personal experience with therapy like this, please feel free to correct me if I make a mistake, or to give me advice. I have had physical therapy for a shoulder injury for nearly two years, but that's not quite the same. So, feel free to let me know!

And just so you all know, this IS an Inuyasha/Kagome fic. It doesn't bother me that you ask, I understand because I can get that way about stories sometimes too, but I want it understood that this is Inu/Kag. I mean come on, have I let you guys down in that department yet? lol Anyway, enjoy this next chapter!

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Title: Soul Therapy

Author: dolphingirl0113

Chapter: Four

Rating: PG-13 (for sexual insinuations and attraction, as well as strong language at times)

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha

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Kagome yawned slightly and glanced at her watch, which read 8:00 am. She groaned as she stretched her arms over her head, feeling her muscles release the stress from the week. She was not used to being up this early on a Sunday, since the clinic was technically closed, but had promised Inuyasha she would come in since he couldn't make one of their scheduled appointments later that week.

"He's late," she said aloud, knowing that he had promised to arrive five minutes before the hour, and for some reason that fact annoyed her. Realizing the irony, she giggled. "It's a sad day when I, Kagome, the worst morning person in the world, am angry at someone else for being late."

The empty clinic responded with silence, and Kagome blushed realizing she was talking to herself, running a hand through her hair, which was, for once, falling freely over her shoulders. She was planning to meet her friends later for lunch, and wouldn't have time to get ready then; thus she was dressed more like, as Kouga would say, a normal person.

Thinking back, she could hardly believe that one week had already passed since she first met Inuyasha. Each day was a struggle for him, and it was mentally exhausting for Kagome, as she never knew which man would show up. One day he would be all positive motivation, and the next a negative, downtrodden, beaten man.

"Well if he's that way today I'm going to knock him right out of that wheelchair," Kagome murmured.

"And who, pray tell, are you talking about to yourself?"

Kagome had to restrain the urge to jump ten feet in the air hearing his voice, and felt her face grow hot, but somehow managed to conceal her surprise and embarrassment by the time she looked up into his face. Inuyasha was grinning from ear to ear, obviously pleased that he had unsettled her so.

She was wearing, he noted with pleasure, a more flattering outfit to her body. Hip-hugger jeans with a gentle flare at the ends, and a white, long sleeved sweater top accenting her dark hair and eyes. Her hair, too, was different. Instead of held back in the usual restrictive ponytail it now fell loosely about her face and shoulders, highlighting her heart-shaped face.

"Where's Kikyou?"

Inuyasha blinked and blushed, feeling guilty for once again staring so openly at a woman who didn't belong to him and who, because he was married, he had no right to. He chalked it up to the fact that she looked like his wife, and nothing more.

"She's um, still at home sleeping."

"So you can drive?"

"Yes," he stiffened at the implication. "We bought one of those cars with the gas and brake control in the hands."

Kagome nodded and smiled. "I didn't mean that question in a bad way, I'm just a curious person by nature and tend to ask obvious questions sometimes."

Her honest response caused all of his anger to instantly vanish, and Inuyasha found himself, yet again, resisting the urge to break out into a grin in front of this woman. What was she doing to him?

"So, are you ready to get started?" He shrugged his shoulders.

"Whenever you are, though I think I know what we're going to do."

"And what's that?" Kagome walked beside him as he wheeled himself over to one of the tables. He sighed.

"You're going to put me on one of those tables, rub my legs down, and then see if I can move my legs on my own. And if I can't you're then going to measure my reflexive ability."

"Very good," Kagome said in a sugary voice full of the kind of praise that a teacher gave a little child. "You might make a good physical therapist one day."

"Keh, not interested."

"And why ever not? Is it because of the whole financial issue?"

"No, it's just that, well," He blushed, thinking about the real reason, about the agreement he and his wife had made.

"It's just what?" Kagome pushed, stopping by a table and helping him onto its hard surface, leaning him back to begin the massage.

"You never give up once you want to know something, do you?" Kagome grinned mischievously.

"Nope, it's one of the perks of being naturally curious. You never miss a beat when it comes to getting information." She coated her hands in Vaseline and began to rub, feeling him shiver slightly beneath her. She looked up. "Did you feel that?"

He seemed surprised, but nodded. "Yeah, it felt cold."

Kagome beamed. "See, you are making progress. The first day we started rehab you couldn't feel a thing."

"I could feel a little," Inuyasha replied, remembering how he had felt that first day when she touched him.

Rather then getting used to it, the feelings of what he recognized as desire had only gotten worse, and for once Inuyasha was glad he had a handicap, because it prevented him from pulling her gruffly into his arms.

"Sure, but you didn't feel cold or warm."

"No, you're right." He leaned back as she began to massage his legs again, feeling content. If only it could stay this easy all the time, he thought happily. But then, Kagome had promised it would get a lot harder before the end.

"So are you going to answer my question or not?"

"Darn, I thought you forgot about that."

"Not me."

"You know, you'd make a good reporter."

"Don't change the subject." She grinned at him, and he couldn't help but return the gesture. Her playful mood was contagious.

"Fine, I need to finish medical school because when Kikyou and I got married we promised each other we would succeed in the world. So she went to law school, and I chose Tokyo Medical School."

"And being a physical therapist isn't considered a successful career in your book?"

His cheeks grew warm. "I-I, uh, didn't mean it like that."

But Kagome waved it aside casually with her hand, not even looking up from what she was doing as she changed the subject slightly. "You must have been awfully young when you got married to promise such a thing."

Inuyasha was surprised at how quickly she had done the math in her head, and nodded with a blush. "We got married right out of high school."

"Ah, high school sweethearts, huh?"

"Yeah, I guess you could say that." He blushed and looked away, but Kagome grinned.

"You don't have to be embarrassed about it. If you two were ready to get married, then there is no shame in how young you both were. Frankly, it doesn't surprise me one bit."

"Why's that?"

"Kikyou and I used to be the best of friends before her family moved to the suburbs while mine continued to live at the Higurashi Shrine in the middle of Tokyo. We just sort of lost contact, but before she moved we would talk about our futures and weddings and all that fun stuff girls talk about, and she always wanted to marry young and have children."

"Really?"

"Oh yeah, besides a fulfilling career all Kikyou ever wanted was a family of her own."

Inuyasha frowned. For some reason, hearing this new insight into the woman who was his wife didn't comfort him or make him feel happy. But Kagome just kept talking.

"She also dreamed, as all girls do, about becoming rich and living in a palace." She smiled to herself. "We used to intend to marry brothers who were princes and then live in neighboring palaces, riding around in our carriages all the time and shopping together until the end of time."

Inuyasha laughed at that. "Pretty ambitious for someone who chose to be a physical therapist."

Kagome stiffened, and Inuyasha realized what he had just said. Damn, he thought, he had done it again. "I didn't mean it like that."

"You really have a problem with my career, don't you?" she replied, as though he hadn't said anything. He looked away.

"Look, it's just that, well, you seem really smart, and I can't understand why someone with that kind of potential would choose this kind of career over becoming a doctor, or a lawyer, like…"

"Like Kikyou?"

He went silent, realizing how that must have sounded, and felt instantly guilty. She was looking away from him now, and he wished like crazy at that moment that he could take back what he had said.

"Kagome, I didn't mean…"

"I know you didn't," Kagome interrupted, her voice somewhat darker then before. "And it isn't what you said that bothers me. It's the memories."

"What memories?" Kagome smirked, though this time her smile lacked its usual luster, and looked at him.

"Now who's being nosy?"

"Hey, you asked me questions, now I get to ask you some."

"Fair enough, but I think you already asked your question for the day."

"When did I do that?"

"When you asked about Kikyou and I. I consider that to be a rather personal question, don't you?"

Inuyasha huffed. "Keh, that's cheating. If I'd known you were playing that way, I would have asked a better question."

Kagome laughed outright at his frown, her eyes twinkling, and the tension was gone. He sighed inwardly in relief. "Well, now you know, and tomorrow when we meet you can ask me another question, and I'll ask you one. That way, by the end of therapy we'll be very familiar with each other."

The way she said `very familiar with each other' caused unbidden images to flash into his head, and Inuyasha blushed at the thought of what it would be like to kiss Kagome. He shook his head and looked away. Where the hell had that come from?

"I still can't believe how much you and Kikyou look alike," he finally said, trying to pick some random topic that wouldn't cause any arguments. Unfortunately, that didn't work. Kagome tensed immediately. "What did I say now?"

"Nothing," she replied, but deep down she was recalling how, as they had gotten older the two girls had constantly been compared, the only difference being that Kikyou was Kagome's senior by two years. It had been hard for Kagome, and the pain and sting of some of the comments still hurt.

"You're lying," he stated simply, catching her eye. She just shrugged.

"No personal questions."

"That wasn't a question."

"Fine, then maybe you're right."

"So will you tell me the truth?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"That's something I only tell those I've known for a while."

Inuyasha understood her meaning and shut up. He had topics like that as well, topics he hadn't even discussed with Kikyou, the woman he had pledged his life to.

"So how long have you and Kikyou been married?"

"Almost five years."

"Wow, so for quite a while, considering your age."

"Like I said, we married young." He couldn't help the defensive tone in his voice. He always sounded like that when people remarked on their young age as a married couple.

"I meant no offense, it was just an observation."

Inuyasha sighed and slumped his shoulders. "I guess we have a knack for offending each other."

Kagome giggled. "Well, not on purpose. But maybe that means we'll be good friends, since the good ones are the ones who manage to get under your skin."

He smiled at the thought. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad having Kagome as a friend. After all, his wife was her cousin, and nearly her identical twin. Maybe they could keep in contact even after therapy.

"All done," Kagome finally said, lifting her hands and cleaning off his legs like she always did. He felt the usual sense of loss when her warmth left his skin. "So are you ready to try again?"

"Am I ever? I still don't know why you insist on torturing me like this."

"It's not torture, it's for your own good."

"Keh, says you. You're not the one who feels humiliated every time this doesn't work."

"You don't have to feel humiliated about anything, Inuyasha. So long as you put all your effort into everything I ask of you, there is no reason you should feel any less then proud of yourself."

"Tell that to my ego."

"I will, if it ever scales down on the arrogance."

"Whatever."

While they had been talking Kagome had moved Inuyasha into the familiar position of having his legs dangling off the end of the table. He stared at the floor for an instant before sucking in a deep breath and focusing all his energy on moving his limbs. But, as usual, nothing happened.

"As if I honestly expected a different result," he finally sighed, leaning back so his body was spread out on the table, his legs still dangling off the end.

"Stop feeling sorry for yourself Inuyasha," Kagome said sternly, all playfulness gone. "Sit back up and try again."

He felt his temper flare and he glared at Kagome, but as usual she seemed immune to his mental daggers. "I'm not feeling sorry for myself."

"Like hell you're not," she replied with a dry laugh. "You feel like the world owes you something now that fate has thrown you a curve ball."

"Shut up, woman," he hissed, but she ignored him.

"I'd be willing to bet everything has come easily for you. You were probably a jock in high school, with girls fawning over you, right? And then you also had the brains to be accepted into medical school. But now, when suddenly you might just have to work hard to succeed, you're backing away like a scared little child."

"I said shut up, wench!" he yelled, and shot up. That was when it happened.

In the process of contracting his abdominal muscles to sit up, Inuyasha's leg muscles hardened and shot out straight to give him the support he needed to rise without the aid of someone else. They fell instantly back down limp and for an instant neither he nor Kagome said a word.

But then Kagome suddenly shrieked. "Oh my god, did you see that? Did you see that, Inuyasha? You moved your legs!"

"Yeah, I saw it! I did it!"

He never thought that being in a fight with Kagome could possibly be a good thing, but in this case his determination to prove her wrong had caused him to find a strength he had never known before. And now, he could honestly say that he had moved his legs of his own accord for the first time in over two and a half months.

Without thinking, Kagome threw her arms around his neck and squeezed tightly as he returned the embrace, pulling her against his chest securely. She giggled and he couldn't help the stupid grin on his face.

But suddenly all time halted and Kagome realized she was in the arms of a strong, handsome, intelligent man with a hint of after-shave on his neck. Her blood turned hot, and her face went scarlet.

Inuyasha felt no better, desire welling up within him like a spring as he was very aware of the attractive young woman in his arms, her curves pressed against his chest. He also noted with pleasure that she smelled of vanilla spices.

Silence, uncomfortable and tense, stretched between them, and neither moved, afraid of what would happen once the moment was broken. But finally, Kagome coughed and stepped away, looking at the ground, her face cherry red.

"Um, congratulations," she said shyly. He blushed, and his face felt like it was practically radiating heat as he tried to smile in reply.

"Thanks."

"I, um, think we're done for today," she said simply, and pulled up his wheelchair.

"Okay."

"But tomorrow we'll hit the exercises hard now that I know what you can do when you put your mind to it."

That broke the tension, and Kagome once more returned to being the professional therapist with one of her patients, no longer a woman desiring the touch of a man. And, trying to follow her example, he coughed slightly and nodded.

"Whatever, I'll see you then."

She nodded and helped him into the chair, this time not blushing at all at the close contact, and watched as he wheeled himself to the door. "I'll see you tomorrow, Inuyasha."

He knew she was smiling, and the way she said his name caused warmth to spread through his heart. But he shrugged it off with a grunt and pressed the blue handicap button, causing the glass doors to open automatically. "Yeah, whatever woman."

Because his back was turned to her, he missed the slight flash of hurt on Kagome's face, but she covered it well so that when he turned one last time to nod she was smiling again. He disappeared around the corner, and Kagome sagged against the wall. "This is getting way too complicated."