InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Soul Therapy ❯ Chapter Twenty-Two ( Chapter 22 )

Title: Soul Therapy

 

Author: dolphingirl0113

 

Chapter: Twenty-Two

 

Rating: PG-13 (for language and, at times, sexual implications)

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

 

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For anyone who appreciated their privacy, Kagome would not recommend that they have their picture put on the front of the living section of the Tokyo Daily Newspaper. It meant that practically the entire population of Tokyo, Japan, knew who you were.

 

Work was something she had been dreading from the moment she read the article on Saturday. Since then, she had been followed by a small band of photographers (though nothing like the movie stars she saw on television) who begged her for a picture and for an interview. But, just like Inuyasha had instructed, she refused to pose, and denied any interviews, saving what she had to say for the private reporter they were going to be meeting with that afternoon.

 

The only positive about the article was that it had kicked Inuyasha into overdrive in a way that Kagome had never thought possible. That Saturday he had called in a favor to the paper, and they had agreed to send out one of their best reporters for the interview on Monday. He also had made it very clear that he was not happy with the article, and had yelled, for at least thirty minutes, to what Kagome assumed was the manager of the paper, or at least the chief editor of the living section. He surprised her again by calling the courthouse and ordering them to have the divorce papers ready to sign by Monday morning, which they did, and so, along with the interview that afternoon, Inuyasha and Kikyou would sign the papers ending their marriage (in front of the reporter, to end controversy).

 

As she walked into work thinking about everything he'd done, Kagome smiled to herself, deciding that now she had seen him this efficient, he would never again be able to use the excuse that he was a typical unorganized guy when he forgot or lost something important. But the smile instantly faded as she stared at the doors, for a minute unwilling to walk into the building that was usually such a welcome sight as she recalled the pictures of her with Inuyasha, Kikyou, and Naraku in the paper.

 

“Oh come on, Kagome,” she chided herself out loud, “You've had way worse things happen to you in your life.” And with that, she summoned her courage and opened the door, the chiming sound announcing to everyone that she was there.

 

“Kagome!” Sango rounded the corner like a woman on a mission and instantly embraced her friend tightly. “I didn't know if you would come in today.”

 

“Of course I would, Sango,” Kagome replied, feeling a little stifled in her friend's extremely strong arms. “My patients don't deserve to suffer just because I'm a little embarrassed.”

 

Sango pulled back and looked at her friend as though trying to decide if she was okay or not. “No one would have blamed you, you know, if you hadn't come in today,” she finally said, and Kagome nodded, knowing it was true.

 

She heard the sound of ruffled papers and turned to see what looked like the tops of three heads, one red, one brown, and one black, trying to hide under Ayame's desk. She laughed at that. “Oh for heaven's sake, get out here, you guys, I'm fine!”

 

Rising up, the three guilty spies tried to smile and act like they hadn't been doing anything unusual and Miroku was the first to speak. “You look happy, Kagome, that's good. We were all worried after seeing the article on Saturday.”

 

Ayame nodded. “Yeah, Kouga and I tried to call you, but your brother wouldn't let us talk to you, saying you needed your space.”

 

Kagome smiled at that, remembering how, that afternoon, Souta had switched into protective brother mode, not letting anyone near her for fear of what they would say or do. He had even gone so far as to punch one of the cameramen, and right now had a bruise on his right had that hurt so badly he could hardly grip anything, and now she was hearing rumors from people who didn't know them that he was actually her second boyfriend, and that Inuyasha had better watch out.

 

“I did, but I'm fine now,” she finally replied, and they all nodded, but the silence between them was uncomfortable. Deciding the only way to get past the strange moment was to act normal, Kagome put one of her biggest smiles on her face and glanced at Ayame meaningfully. “So, what's on the schedule for today?”

 

Realizing what she wanted, everyone ceased staring at her in concern and returned to acting normal, Kouga giving Ayame a kiss before walking off to fix up the exam tables, while Miroku and Sango went to check on everything else, from the ultrasound gel to the therapy tape.

 

“The usual,” the redhead replied, turning to the computer and sitting down. “You have one new patient, but other then that they're all returning cases.”

 

“And who's the new patient?”

 

“Some woman from a riding accident with paralysis from the waist down.”

 

Kagome winced, not really wanting that kind of depressing case that day. “Is the paralysis permanent?”

 

Ayame nodded, typing a few keys on the keyboard to bring up the chart notes. “According to the doctors it is, though they recommend trying some therapy on her legs to see if you can get a response.”

 

“Naturally they would say that,” Kagome commented with a roll of her eyes. “They just don't get it. When you're paralyzed, you're paralyzed.”

 

“Yes, but even you have said that miracles can happen.”

 

“I know, but rather then waiting around and hoping for a miracle, the woman can learn how to use her upper body in ways she never thought possible so that, before long, she'll be functioning just as well on her own as she did when she had legs.”

 

Ayame nodded. “I suppose that's true.”

 

Kagome winked. “But I'll still check her legs just in case. After all, you never know.”

 

The redhead laughed. “With the miracle worker as her therapist,” she called after Kagome, “I wouldn't be surprised if she walks again in a month.”

 

Kagome stopped, letting the new nickname settle in over her shoulders, and smiled. The miracle worker…that certainly sounded better than the hitch or the clone in Inuyasha's life.

 

Unfortunately her good mood soured a little as she went through her day, but then, who could really blame her? While most of her patients didn't believe the article in the paper, there were still a few who had asked if what the article said was true, and that had thrown her into a rage, causing her to snap at some of her patients for the first time in her life.

 

“I'm done for,” She moaned as she watched her last case of the day walk out of the room at 3:00 pm.

 

“Why would you say that?” Sango asked, coming up beside her holding a bottle of gel in her hand. She still had four patients, but Kagome was getting off early that day to go meet with the reporter.

 

“Because I practically yelled at three of my patients, and now they probably hate me and won't come back.”

 

Sango snorted. “If they don't then I say good riddance. I can't believe they had the nerve to actually believe what that article said about you! Anyone who knows you, Kagome, has to know the reporter who wrote that damn thing was way off base.”

 

Kagome smiled at her friend's attempt to cheer her up. It was working...a little, anyway.

 

“I'd better get going,” she finally said after checking the clock.

 

“Yeah, where are you going for this meeting, anyway?”

 

“Just to Sesshoumaru's office.”

 

“Really?” Sango's eyes opened wide in surprise. “Why there?”

 

“I don't know,” Kagome shrugged. “He just wanted us to have our interview and the signing there for some reason. I think he's just as mad as Inuyasha about what the article said, simply because it reflects badly on him.”

 

Sango chuckled at that. “You're probably right. Well you'd better go then, and I can't wait to have dinner with you later. Because by then you'll be dating a free man. Won't that feel nice?”

 

Kagome took in a deep breath, as though the air were fresh and clean and beautiful, and not smelling of therapy tape and sweat, and smiled. “Yeah, that will be really nice.” Waving once more to Sango, she headed for the elevator.

 

Having seen her before, the secretary in front of Sesshoumaru's office just gave her a smile and waved her on through the large mahogany doors, where Kagome found herself standing before a very empty office, save for Rin, who had taken advantage of her husband's absence and was now reclining in his chair.

 

“Shh…don't tell him I sat here,” she whispered with a wink, “He's very protective of his chair.”

 

Kagome giggled at the woman, who was only two years older then her, and moved to sit on the couch off to the side, letting out a long sigh of relief. For some reason, with the window before her that proved she was high above the ground and far away from prying reporters and random spectators, Kagome felt safe and secluded.

 

“So how are you doing Kagome?” Rin asked, rising out of the chair and sitting down next to Kagome on the couch, giving her a sympathetic smile.

 

Kagome just shrugged. “Alright, I guess, although I'm feeling a little…overwhelmed by it all.”

 

“I understand.”

 

“You do?”

 

“Of course,” Rin gave a beaming smile in memory. “I remember how it was when I first married Sesshoumaru. You wouldn't believe how much they hounded me for months.” She made a face. “I was the poor, helpless little girl that the cruel business tycoon took advantage of. People just couldn't understand that I was in love with a man so much older then myself, and that I wanted to marry that young.”

 

Kagome nodded, thinking that Kikyou had been the same age when she married Inuyasha. Clearly not all marriages that started young ended poorly. But then, maybe it had something to do with the fact that Sesshoumaru had been so much older too. She shrugged, deciding there was no point wondering, instead curious to learn more about Rin and Sesshoumaru, and their relationship.

 

“How did you meet Sesshoumaru, if you don't mind me asking? I mean, I know the basics, but…”

 

“You want the details?”

 

Kagome blushed slightly but smiled and nodded. “If it's not too much to ask.”

 

Rin chuckled and glanced toward a large, professionally taken framed photo behind Sesshoumaru's desk. Kagome had seen it many times before, but it still warmed her heart to see a smiling, eighteen year old Rin dressed in an elegant wedding gown holding up flowers in her right hand while her left arm was snaked through Sesshoumaru's. He looked very handsome in his own tuxedo, and together they made a very handsome pair.

 

“Not at all,” Rin finally replied, seeming to shake herself out of her memories. “My parents were murdered, though to this day nobody knows why or who did it, and I was left all alone at the age of ten. Sesshoumaru, who was only twenty at the time, was going to a party and saw me wandering around in dirty clothes, looking lost, and stopped the car to ask me if I was alright. After hearing my story, and later finding the bodies of my parents, he immediately took me in as his charge, and for the longest time, I felt more like his and Inuyasha's younger sister. Some of the happiest moments of my life were in that house with those two brothers who act like they hate each other but, when push comes to shove, would do anything to protect the other's honor.”

 

Kagome nodded, figuring that was probably why Sesshoumaru had insisted everything take place in his office, so he could have some control of the situation. She also thought of what he had been quoted as saying in the article, and how it had been nothing but comments in defense of both Inuyasha and herself.

 

“When did things change for you?” She finally asked after they lapsed into another long silence. “I mean, when did you decide you loved him as more then just a brother?”

 

Rin sighed, glancing once more at the picture and smiling that peaceful smile Kagome felt no one else could ever reproduce. “His family was throwing a Christmas party, and it was a masquerade theme, so everyone was supposed to come dressed as something with a Christmas theme and a mask. I came as an angel with glitter on my face as my mask, and he dressed as Scrooge from `A Christmas Carol'.”

 

Kagome chuckled at the irony of that comment, but managed to hold her comments to herself, allowing Rin to continue. At any rate, she wasn't sure the older woman would have heard her anyway. She seemed far away in her memories, and happy to be there.

 

“He was so handsome in that black suit, top hat, and cape.” She giggled in a very girly way. “He even had a cane. I was sixteen at that point, and I could not take my eyes off of him the entire evening. It must have been the same way for him, because once I entered the room he wouldn't leave my side, and the men I usually danced with he wouldn't let near me, taking all the dances for himself instead. I had never felt so happy in my entire life. After that, Inuyasha married Kikyou and moved out to go to college, and that left Sesshoumaru and myself alone. Our relationship grew over the next two years, and by the time I turned eighteen, it had progressed so much that he proposed to me, and I said yes.” She sighed, frowning. “I had no idea then the media would have such a problem with our marriage.”

 

“How did you deal with it?” Kagome asked with an almost desperate tone. “I mean, how did you handle seeing your name in the paper every day?”

 

Rin sighed and gave Kagome an understanding look. “I don't know. I'd be lying if I said it was easy. I recall coming close to wishing I had never married Sesshoumaru for the first few months, because the media wouldn't let go of it. They called him a horrible man, and me an innocent, naïve young girl. Not only was I angry about the misconception that I was this innocent Virgin Mary of all people, but I couldn't stand to hear my husband, the love of my life, being called a slime ball and a conniving man who would have an affair with an older woman before the first year of our marriage was over. It was hard, no doubt about it.”

 

Kagome watched as the woman beside her nodded her head, agreeing with herself, a frown on her face, and sighed. “So what am I supposed to do right now? Your problems are all behind you…mine are just starting.”

 

Rin took her hand and smiled. “You do what you can, and ignore the rest. I know it's hard, but that's what you have to do. Eventually the newspapers get tired of following you around, and they move on to something new and fresh and leave you alone. Its gotten so relaxed that for the past couple of years I've been able to walk down the street without one camera flash in my direction.” She sighed. “It just takes time.”

 

Kagome rolled her eyes. “And what if I don't have the patience to wait?”

 

“You find it.”

 

Laughing, Kagome nodded and squeezed her friend's hand. “Yeah, simple as that, just find it.” Rin giggled too, and that is how Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru, Kikyou, and Naraku found them.

 

The two brothers came in first, dressed like they were ready to go out to some fancy dinner. But then, as Kagome reminded herself, they were, after everything was finished at the office, including the interview. Sesshoumaru had already announced he would be treating his brother, Kagome, and her friends to a meal, which had come as a surprise to everyone, but didn't elicit any objections.

 

Inuyasha was wearing the same sharp black jacket as he had the night they'd gone out before, only this time he was wearing a red shirt, his pants matching the jacket and his shoes black and polished to a shine. Sesshoumaru was dressed in an older style, with the typical black sport coat, white undershirt, and black pants, complete with a blue tie and black penny loafers. Together they made quite a handsome pair, and with their matching silver hair and amber eyes, looked more like brothers then ever before.

 

“Kagome!” Inuyasha exclaimed, happy to see her, and moved in her direction with an ease that pleased her, considering he was still using the cane. He would be walking on his own, she was sure, within another few weeks.

 

“Hi,” she replied kindly as he sat down next to her, putting his arm around her in a very open display of affection. However, Kagome had a feeling it wasn't just to please her, but also because he didn't want to be outdone by Narkau, who currently had an arm around Kikyou's shoulders, and together the pair looked incredibly alone compared to the happy, united family of Inuyasha, Kagome, Rin, and Sesshoumaru. Kagome could only imagine how Kikyou must have been feeing at that moment, knowing by the end of the day her marriage would be over, as well as her connection to the Takahashi family and name.

 

“Did you get the papers?” Rin spoke, asking the very question running through Kagome's mind. Sesshoumaru nodded and produced a portfolio, placing it, almost reverently, on the desk.

 

“They'll sign the papers as soon as that reporter gets here,” he replied to his wife. “We want a witness from the press to see that the deed has been done, that way there will be no more damn controversy.”

 

Rin nodded and rose to her feet, moving to his side and placing her arms around his waist in a gesture that practically everyone else would have been terrified to even try. But Kagome thought it looked more like they were comforting one another as Sesshoumaru responded by pulling Rin against his body, their eyes closed. Maybe, she thought, they were recalling what it had been like when the press had made their relationship a nightmare.

 

The very thought caused Kagome to fume. What made people think they could do such things to people? Why did reporters feel that they had the right to make others lives into a spectacle for the whole world to watch, and frequently an untrue spectacle at that? She read the living section, of course, but never read the stories involving the lives of celebrities, because even before her own run-in with the press she knew most of their articles were based on false information and rumors. Unfortunately, where before she had just been tolerant, now she was furious, and knew she probably wouldn't be able to read the living section again, unless it had to do with movie and television reviews.

 

An easy silence fell on the six currently occupying the spacious office, and it was only when the reporter entered, making the number an uneven seven, that the quiet became awkward.

 

“Hello everyone, my name's Jim,” the man said, extending his hand to Sesshoumaru, who he probably recognized from many photographs over the years. He didn't seem like a very old man, with a thick head of brown hair falling over his face in an organized mess, his blue eyes almost reminding Kagome of Hojo's because they were so big and blue. His overall posture made her relax instantly, because he seemed kind, but she almost wondered if that was a bad thing in a reporter. It meant an unsuspecting interviewee might say too much.

 

Oh stop it, Kagome, she mentally chided herself, realizing she was becoming paranoid. The thought almost caused her to laugh.

 

“So what do you want to do first, the interview, or the signing?” He asked when it became apparent that no one else felt like talking. As one they looked at Sesshoumaru, who rolled his eyes at their incompetence.

 

“Oh for pity's sake, let's just sign the damn papers first,” he sighed, his voice sounding tired, and Kagome noticed Rin pick up on it immediately as she squeezed his arm gently to let him know she was there. He sent her a tender glance in reply.

 

Kagome continued to watch the couple as Kikyou and Inuyasha moved toward the desk, a smile on her face. They reacted to each other so subtly you wouldn't even notice it unless you were paying close attention, like she was at that moment. But when you saw it, you realized how in tune they were to each other's feelings and emotions, and it nearly brought tears to Kagome's eyes.

 

I hope I can have someone like that in my life, she wished, glancing purposefully at Inuyasha, who was currently pulling a stack of papers, stapled together, out of the portfolio and setting them on the desk.

 

“Does, um,” his voice cracked slightly as he spoke, “Does anyone have a pen?” Sesshoumaru nodded and pulled one from his pocket, and it was when Inuyasha took it that Kagome saw how much his hand was shaking. God, was he that nervous?

 

Following Rin's example of giving Sesshoumaru support, Kagome subtly moved to his side and placed a hand on his shoulder, causing him to look at her in surprise. She just smiled back, and his look changed to one of awe and then thankfulness, and Kagome beamed under his silent praise, happy she had done the right thing. Naraku, in turn, copied her and moved to Kikyou's side as well as she was looking rather ashen in the face.

 

Briefly skimming the contents of the papers, Inuyasha finally flipped to the place requiring signatures and looked over at Kikyou, who gave him a sad smile.

 

“Are you ready?” He asked, and she nodded without hesitation, though Kagome still saw a certain amount of sorrow in her cousin's eyes. Naraku gave her shoulders a squeeze, and she smiled up at him as Inuyasha bent over and put his signature on the paper where it said `HUSBAND' in capital letters before turning and offering the pen to Kikyou.

 

Once she took it from him it was like the weight of the world was lifted from Inuyasha's shoulders, and he turned and pulled Kagome into his arms, dropping the cane and leaning against the desk for support as she leaned into him, her cheek against his chest where she could hear his heart beat. Its pace was gradually slowing down, and Kagome smiled at that, placing her hand over the place where his heart should be and looking up at the man she loved with as much tenderness as she could muster while in public.

 

They were so caught up in each other that they didn't even notice Kikyou signing her name until she stood up and said “It's over” in a very quiet voice. Inuyasha turned around and looked at Kikyou, their eyes meeting for an instant and communicating something Kagome would never understand, but didn't want to either. They had fallen out of love, but she understood that didn't mean they didn't care for each other, and always would. And somehow, that was okay.

 

“Well,” the reporter coughed slightly to break the silence, and they all turned to look at him. He shifted slightly under their gazes, but continued to smile, pulling out a recorder, a notepad, and a pencil. “Are you guys ready for the interview?”

 

“Yes,” Inuyasha was the one to reply, and Kagome looked at him in surprise, but he just smiled at her kindly before bending over and picking up his cane, leaning heavily against the table as he did so.

 

“Alright, if I could just have the four of you,” the reporter indicated Kikyou, Naraku, Inuyasha, and Kagome, “Sit on the couch, then you, Mr. Takahashi, and your wife, can just watch from wherever else you want.” The four obeyed, and Sesshoumaru nodded as he sat down in his chair, Rin sitting down in his lap and leaning her head against his chest.

 

The reporter sat down in one of the plush chairs opposite the couch, the window framing his form, and he reached down to turn on the recorder as he poised his pencil over the paper, ready to write. “So, where do you all want to start?”

 

They looked at each other for a moment before Kagome smiled and looked back at the reporter. “I'd like to start by saying my name is Kagome Higurashi, and I am not a clone of my cousin, Kikyou. I'm two years younger then she is, and other then being friends when we were young, I have not associated with her much for the past six years. I was not even present at her wedding, and did not know Inuyasha until about five months ago when he came to the clinic for physical therapy following his car accident.”

 

She could feel Inuyasha smiling at her, but forced herself to look straight ahead at the man who was currently writing fiercely on his notepad while the recorder went on as well. He finally glanced up at her and smiled back.

 

“And can you tell me how you felt when you read the article, Miss Higurashi?”

 

“I felt extremely sad, and almost nostalgic, because most of my young life people, including my own parents, would compare me to my cousin, who is obviously very like me in appearance. It hurt to realize that people still see us as the same person, rather then two separate individuals with our own personalities, likes, and dislikes.”

 

“And yet, both of you fell in love with the same man, how would you explain that?”

 

Kagome knew he meant no offence by the question, and so just smiled as she replied, squeezing Inuyasha's hand as she did so. “I guess it just proves that love makes no sense. Never in a million years did I expect to love someone that Kikyou would love, because we are so different. And even when I first met Inuyasha, I never expected things to come this far. It just happened so gradually that none of us noticed.”

 

Inuyasha chuckled, and everyone looked at him. Kagome raised an eyebrow. “What?”

 

He shook his head. “It's just that I'm thinking about the first time we met, and how I couldn't stand the sight of you.”

 

“Oh really?” Kagome laughed as well, smacking his arm playfully. “Well just in case you were wondering, you annoyed me tremendously, and I hated the fact that I was ever attracted to you in the beginning.”

 

“But you were attracted to me?”

 

“Not really…”

 

“You said you were.”

 

“I thought you were cute, on a physical level only…”

 

“But that means you were attracted to me.”

 

“Whatever,” she smacked him again, this time harder, and blushed furiously, causing Inuyasha to laugh out loud, without restraint. He always loved it when she blushed, because she looked so innocent, and it meant he had unsettled her and won the argument.

 

The reporter laughed as well, writing something else down, and from that moment on things went smoothly, the conversation remained light, and it seemed like Inuyasha and Kikyou were truly at peace with one another. Nothing could have made Kagome happier then that.