InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Breaking Point ❯ Take Me As I Am ( Chapter 13 )

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

Disclaimer: OK, here we go. The song(s) is as follows: ‘Uninvited’ by Alanis Morissette.



(I)


“I just don’t understand it,” Rin said to Sango as she hung up the phone. “I’ve tried her cell phone and her house phone, but I just can’t get her to pick up.”


“Well try again,” Sango suggested before sitting down at the small kitchen table. “She’s either in the shower or asleep. You know how Kagome gets when she’s asleep and she had good reason to sleep in.”


“Well, all right then.” Rin picked up the phone again and sighed when Kagome’s voice mail chirped in her ear.


“Hi, this is Kagome...(laugh) Well, I guess you knew that huh? Anyway, I’m away from my phone now so if you’d leave your name and a quick message, I’ll do my best to get back to you. Thanks!”


Beep!


“Hey Ka-zam, it’s Rin. Where are you? I’ve been trying to reach you all morning. Anyway, the reason I’m calling is to tell you that the Master of Ceremonies himself said for everyone to meet at his crib at 3:00 for a Sunday afternoon practice session. I don’t know why he wants to do it, but you know Sesshoumaru. Anyway, he said to tell you to be there or he’ll come to your house and drag you out of bed himself . . . actually, Sango and I said that. We’ll just bring him along for the ride. (Laugh) Oh well. Anyway, call me back ok?”


)(


‘A Sunday practice huh?’


He laughed as he listened to the message, his eyes twinkling merrily as he stood up and pulled himself off the couch.


‘Well she shouldn’t miss this should she?’ “Wake up,” he snapped as he kicked the lump lying on the pale kitchen floor. “Come on, get up. Don’t make me have to get you up.”


The lump groaned painfully and sat up, her back pressed firmly against the wall as she glared at him through her clumped and stringy tresses. “What is it now?” she croaked out and coughed when her throat closed in on itself. Marcus tisked and kneeled before her, his fingers lovingly tracing her jaw before backhanding her. She gasped and shied away from him, his laugher more painful than the bruises on her body as he jerked her up and dragged her down the hallway toward the bathroom.


“Get in there and take a shower,” he demanded crossly. “And hurry up. It’s almost three now and you’ve got to get to practice.”


He slammed the door and left her to herself, not caring if she showered or not as Kagome turned on the shower and quickly jumped in. She kept her eyes closed as she cleaned herself, assured that she wouldn’t want to see what he managed to do to her in such a short amount of time. She barely remembered half the night with her memory still foggy with screams and stabs of pain slicing through her senses. She turned off the water and quickly left the bathroom, water still dripping from her form as she hurried down the rest of the hallway to her room, quickly shut the door and locked it.


Kagome dried off quickly, once again avoiding looking at herself and her mirror as she pulled on her underwear and stood in her closet to look for clothes. She frowned as a sudden burning began on her upper cheek. She raised her hand and wiped free a thin trail of blood along with a tear that escaped her. ‘No, I can’t cry,’ she said to herself with a vicious shake of her head. ‘I can’t. I’ve got to find a way to get away from him.’ She glanced over at her night stand and pulled free a single blue folder. She opened it and read over its contents and wasn’t completely surprised when she felt her muscles loosening. ‘I’ll just take this with me today,’ she said to herself as she tossed it on the bed. ‘No sense in it staying here when I’m not going to.’ She quickly, but carefully, worked her way into a lumpy black sweater and a pair of loose cargo pants, then fished a pair of shades and a misshapen hat out of dresser drawer. She walked past Marcus to the front door, her head down and her face hidden by her hat and glasses.


Marcus watched her painful movements with indifference, grabbed his keys and walked out the door behind her.



II



“She’s late,” Inuyasha growled from behind the drum set. The others glanced up at him, then shrugged and continued to set up. “Did anyone hear me? I sai-“


“We heard what you said Inuyasha,” Miroku replied evenly. “You don’t have to repeat yourself.”


“Yeah, but what are we gonna do about it?”



“Kagome’ll be here soon,” Rin assured them with an uneasy smile. “She’d never miss-Oh, there she is!” She pointed out the window toward the driveway, her face relaxed in relief as Kagome’s dark form stepped out of Marcus’ car. “See, she’s here now.”


“It’s about time,” Kouga grumbled. He quieted when she stepped in the room, his eyebrow raised at her as she soundlessly came inside. She walked past him, her petite form lost inside her mammoth black sweater and wide cargo jeans. She pushed her shades a bit further up her face, set her hat on a nearby chair, and adjusted the large black case strapped to her back.


“What’s that?” he asked.


“You’ll see,” was her soft answer, her normally jovial voice strained and eerily quiet. Kouga shrugged and continued tuning, his attentions focused on his guitar while Kagome crossed the room. She shoved her shades further up her nose and stopped in front of Sesshoumaru, who was currently growling at Inuyasha.


“For the last time, nit wit, I will not have this conversation with you,” he snapped in aggravation.


“But Sesshoumaru, I need help man,” Inuyasha continued to whine. “You know Pop’ll freak when he finds out what I did. Couldn’t you just spare me a fe-“


“No, and that is my final answer.” Sesshoumaru mentally rolled his eyes at Inuyasha’s pout and found Kagome waiting patiently for him to finish when he turned around. “What is it?” he huffed testily. “There is much we must cover today, so be quick.”


“Oh, um . . . sure.” She held up a little blue folder, and it’s sides bulging from the papers within. “I was wondering if you minded doing something else for sound check.”


“Such as?”


“Well I came up with a little something. It’s not as good as what you come up with,” she hurriedly replied when he glared at her. “But, if you don’t mind, could we?”


Sesshoumaru frowned down at her, but accepted the folder and opened it. He flipped through the sheet music inside and, even though he found parts for instruments, he didn’t find a single lyrics page. “This is what you wish to do?”

Kagome nodded.


“Fine. Pass out the music immediately.”


She weakly smiled up at him in thanks, pulled out most of the paper and handed him the folder. “Um, would you mind playing cello? I mean, if you can. I just thought that, you know, since it’s sitting in that corner over there you’d-“


“I will.”


She nodded at his short answer and scurried away. He noticed a slight limp on her right side and shrugged, figuring that she still felt a few twinges from her fall. He leaned his guitar against the wall behind him and pulled the dusty cello case out of a nearby corner. Setting it up was like riding a bike to him and soon he was testing the bow against the strings. He glanced up, from the sheet music in front of him, to the others as Kagome passed out the music.


No one said anything about her unusually quiet behavior and no one seemed to notice as she handed first Kouga, then Inuyasha their parts in the song. They studied over them while she finished, similar looks of confusion darkening their features before they tested out their parts. Sesshoumaru listened to the train wreck that followed and frowned.


‘None of the parts sound like the other,’ he said and grimaced when Miroku added to the confusion. ‘This shall be most eventful. What on earth has she concocted?’


“Here you go Sango,” Kagome said and tapped her shoulder to get her taller friend’s attention. Sango turned around and winced when Miroku’s piano struck a chord that sounded queer to her ears.


“Man, what in the hell is that?” Rin asked and shook her head. “Whatever that is, it’s awful! What’s wrong with him-”


“Um, Kagome,” Sango interrupted Rin’s tirade. “What’s this?”


“It’s music. You can play my violin.”


“But-“ Sango stammered as Kagome slid the black case she brought in earlier toward her. “I haven’t played in a few years.”


“Well there’s no time like the present,” was Kagome’s answer as she opened the case and handed Sango the delicate instrument. Sango began tuning it immediately, her fingers reaching out for the bow to follow. Rin looked up expectantly and frowned in confusion when Kagome merely patted her shoulder.


“Hey, where’s my page?” she asked as Kagome walked toward the mike in the center of the room. Rin grasped Kagome’s shoulder to stop her, unaware of her slight hiss of pain before she turned around. “Where’s my-“


“Don’t worry about it,” Kagome whispered, then lowered her shades and gave her a sly wink. “You already know the song. You both do.” Rin and Sango exchanged confused glances as she walked away before Rin quieted so Sango could practice. Sango’s violin added to the confusion around them and Sesshoumaru shook his head to clear out his senses.


‘How horrid,’ he said to himself. He set down his bow, picked up the folder, and flipped through the cello sheets. To his surprise he found a conductor’s guide with all of the parts together. ‘It is so much more organized on paper,’ he thought in amazement. Each note was typed with clear intention, the music itself precise and more complicated than he first realized.


“Sesshoumaru?”


He looked up, golden orbs narrowed curiously as Kagome nodded to him over her shoulder. He nodded back and held up his hand. All eyes came to him and the noise in the room faded into silence. Sesshoumaru glanced over the conductor’s music one last time then glanced at the others before closing his hand to a loose fist.


A quick strike of the bass drum announced the beginning of the song, the deep rumbling fading while Miroku’s keyboard continued on. The few notes played were eerie and the strikes of bass drum rolled like thunder in the distance. Two measures passed in this strange fashion before Kagome’s mystery lyrics began.


“Like anyone would be I am flattered by your fascination with me.”

Rin and Sango exchanged glances, then excited smiles before they turned to grin at Kagome. ‘She finally wrote it!’ Rin smiled as she fought the urge to dance around. ‘It’s about time!’


“Like any hot-blooded woman I have simply wanted an object to crave.


“But you...


“You're not allowed...


“You're uninvited.


“An unfortuna-a-a-ate slight.”


‘I have to take it easy,’ Kagome whispered to herself, her wince of pain hidden from the others behind the silky onyx strands of her hair. Inhaling was beginning to become painful and she resisted the urge to grasp her right side, and the sudden pain that flared to life on that side. ‘I’ll do this, then a few other songs before I talk to Sango. Sango and Rin will help me find some excuse to leave early, then I’ll ask Sango to take me to a hotel so I can check myself in. I won’t involve them anymore than that.’


Kouga was next to enter the song, the light pickings of his guitar strings adding to the otherworldly feeling of the song. Another verse came next with Rin singing the background without a lyrics sheet in her hands. ‘How long has she had this?’ Sesshoumaru wondered and frowned thoughtfully at how familiar they were with this new piece. ‘I wonder why she never brought it to my attention before.’
“Must be strangely exciting to watch the stoic squirm. Must be somewhat heartening to watch shepherd need shepherd.

“But you,” Kagome continued by herself. “You're not allowed. You're uninvited. An unfortunate slight.”


Sesshoumaru and Sango’s parts were the last to come in and together, with everyone else on the same page and the same measure at the same time, the song that she’d had in her pocket for years surged to life around her. Kagome smiled and sighed, each stroke of the keyboard and thrum of the strings lifting her to a happiness that her pain couldn’t follow.

The lyrics came to her in a dream years ago, the words and emotions behind them so strong they woke her out of a heavy sleep to stumble blindly around her dark room for a pen and a sheet of paper. She, Rin and Sango had long since agreed that it would make a great song but it was only recently that Kagome found a way to write the music that went with it perfectly.
“Like any uncharted territory, I must seem greatly intriguing. You speak of my love like you have experienced love like mine before.

“But this is not allowed. You're uninvited...An unfortunate-“ Kagome winced, her quick inhale sending a blinding shot of pain straight through her side to spark behind her eyes. She bit back her gasp and continued on, her struggles to breathe unnoticed as surged and ebbed behind her.


“I don't think you unworthy,” she sang out carefully, her voice small and weak as the pain threatened to seize up her throat. “I need a moment to deliberate.” Breathing became a dreaded war with her ribs and somewhere in the back of her mind she became aware of how serious her situation was becoming.


‘No, not like this,’ she ground out as she fought to remain calm. ‘I wanted to tell Sango and Rin, then get them to help me move. Not like-‘ She hissed as another sharp pin stabbed through her side and bit her lip to keep quiet.


Sesshoumaru glanced around him as they played to the end of the song, the approving looks of the others in the band a sure sign of how much they enjoyed the piece. He found that he enjoyed it as well and wondered if Kagome had any others under her sleeve as the last note of the measure hung in the air.


“That was so cool!” Inuyasha crowed as he set his sticks down and jumped from his seat. “Man, it was dark and-“


“And foreboding-“ added Miroku.


“And ill!” Kouga vented next before clapping Sesshoumaru on the back. “Man, I knew you were twisted but I had no idea! That was perfect.”


“I did not write this,” Sesshoumaru countered with a shake of his head. “It was-“


“KAGOME!!!”

Th ey glanced forward, stunned silence freezing them to their places as Rin and Sango shot forward. Kagome sank to her knees, her hands grasping her side before she pitched toward the side and passed out. Rin cradled her head in her lap and started to cry, she and Sango whispering what sounded like gibberish to the unconscious young woman as the others finally rushed to help.


“What happened?” Kouga asked as Inuyasha and Miroku crowded around them.


“I don’t know!” Rin sobbed as she gently patted Kagome’s cheeks. “She was fine just a second ago!” She continued on in the gibberish from earlier, the others forgotten as she and Sango fretted over her sister.


“Move,” Sesshoumaru demanded, his hand settling heavily on Miroku’s shoulder. “You all should move so she can get some air. Now,” he growled when they looked to hesitate. They moved back reluctantly and watched as Sesshoumaru gently lifted Kagome’s head from Rin’s lap. He removed Kagome’s shades and frowned, Rin and Sango’s gasps of shock ignored, at the small cuts on her lower lip and underneath her eye. The collar of Kagome’s sweater fell open, revealing a large bruise with an imprint in the shape of a coiled dragon in the middle.


Sesshoumaru moved to sit her up and jerked in surprise when Kagome cried out. Tears rolled down her face as he lifted her off the cold concrete floor, and Sesshoumaru attempted in vain to adjust his grip so he wouldn’t hurt her.


“Sesshoumaru!” Sango called out when, without a word to the others, he turned on his heel and walked out of the practice room. “Sesshoumaru, where are you taking her?!”


“Isn’t it obvious?” was his cutting remark as he walked across his driveway to his car. “I’m taking her to the hospital.” He nodded in thanks when Miroku opened the Civic’s passenger side door and proceeded to buckle Kagome in while the others looked on.


“What’s wrong with her?” Inuyasha asked and shot Sesshoumaru the finger when Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes.


“I am not a doctor Inuyasha,” Sesshoumaru shot back before sitting down behind the wheel. “If I were then I would have no need to take her anywhere. Miroku, you are in charge until we return. Await my call.”


“Sure Sesshoumaru,” Miroku said and watched as Sesshoumaru pulled off and drove away. Miroku frowned thoughtfully, a strong sense of anticipation and guilt settling into his stomach like a heavy stone. He seriously hoped he was wrong...

(III)


Tap-tap-tap


The nurse behind the admitting counter looked up, her eyes narrowed slightly as she glanced around the waiting room.


Tap-tap-tap


She pinned the offender with a glare and scowled when he countered with frigid, indifferent golden eyes.


Tap-tap-tap


The staring contest continued for a few minutes, then the nurse sighed, shook her head and returned to her paperwork. Sesshoumaru inwardly smirked, his fingers finally falling still against the wooden armrests of his chair. He huffed in annoyance and said nothing, the perfect picture of serenity in his light wash denim jeans, white low-tops and his arms crossed over his forest green polo. Inside him quietly seethed, his anger growing by leaps and bounds as he glared at the waiting room clock again. Kagome’s admittance into the ER had been swift, with a nurse whisking her away while another promised to find him when she woke up. It had been nearly two hours since then, and still no word from either the nurses that stole her away or the doctor that was supposed to be seeing her.


Sesshoumaru growled, frustrated, before glancing up at the old TV above him. The deadpan voice of an announcer came from somewhere off camera, the man speaking of birdies, eagles or something of the nature before Sesshoumaru huffed and began tapping his seat again.


Tap-tap-tap


“Young man,” the admittance nurse said as she leaned over her desk. “Can you not do that please? I understand you’re frustrated but you’re going to have to wait a little longer. The doctor should be along with news of your girlfriend soon.”

“You said this an hour ago,” Sesshoumaru commented as he continued to tap. “And she is not my girlfriend,” he said next as an afterthought.


“Could’ve fooled me,” was the amused comment from the other side, and Sesshoumaru stood to ‘correct’ her fully when one of the doctor’s finally came from the back of the ER toward him.


“Excuse me,” the doctor, a short man with flushed skin and a small halo of hair going from ear to ear around the back of his otherwise bald head. “Are you Sesshoumaru Taishou?”


“I am.”


“Then come with me please.” The doctor hustled him down the hallway, the man’s shorter legs nearly sprinting while Sesshoumaru’s stride never changed. “The young lady is asking for you.”


“She is? Why?”


“She has authorized for you to be in the room when I give her test results. I thought it best to get you first before going to her.” The doctor stopped next to a patient’s room door, his pudgy hand paused on the doorknob before he turned back to Sesshoumaru. “Understand son, she told me I could tell you about her injuries and how she is to heal, not how she managed to obtain said injuries.”


“So you know what’s happened to her?” Sesshoumaru asked and said nothing when the doctor nodded. “An officer has already spoken to her, and with me as well. He left his card, which I’m going to give to you.” He passed Sesshoumaru a small cardboard card, which Sesshoumaru read over quickly before shoving it into his back pocket.


Sesshoumaru nodded and closed the door behind them, his cool gaze warming once he spotted his lead singer. She sat up straight on the small hospital cot, her turquoise eyes soft in relief at the sight of him before continuing her struggles to get dressed. She wore a wide, unshapely pale blue hospital gown, the generous folds hiding her slender figure underneath.


“Oh no you don’t,” the doctor said as he pulled the black sweater free of her grasp. “I told you before I left that you weren’t to do any unnecessary lifting.”

“But it’s just a sweater Dr. Michaels,” Kagome whined breathlessly as she reached for the sweater. Dr. Michaels held it just out of her reach, his lips a grim line as her blue painted fingertips barely grazed the sweater’s soft knit.


“I don’t care, now behave yourself.”


“Oh fine,” Kagome said and pouted when her doctor handed Sesshoumaru the sweater. “Be sure she doesn’t get this.”


“With pleasure,” Sesshoumaru replied and smirked when she stuck her tongue out at him.


“Alright now,” Dr. Michaels said as he reached underneath his arm for a folder he brought with him. “Young lady, you are seriously lucky-“


“Funny,” Kagome wheezed as she shifted to a less painful position. “I don’t feel so lucky.”


“The only cuts you have are underneath your right eye and along the right side of your lower lip,” the doctor said and reached for her face. “They’re only superficial wounds, so they should clear up just fine without any scarring-provided you don’t do anything foolish like pick at them. Remember to clean your wounds regularly.”


“I’m not going to pick at them-OW!” she cried out when he poked the tiny bandage underneath her eye. “Do I have to wear this by the way?” Kagome complained. “I look like a hockey player!”


“Yes my dear, you do,” Dr. Michaels nodded solemnly before releasing her. “I’ll help keep out infection.”


“I know that,” Sesshoumaru heard Kagome mutter while the doctor put a set of X-rays on display.


“These are your X-rays Kagome and, as you can see, your ribs aren’t broken. They are, however, bruised, he added at her sigh of relief. “You’re still going to need to be careful with them.”


“When you say careful,” Sesshoumaru interjected. “What do you mean? How so?”

“Well, taking her pain medication is a start,” Dr. Michaels began with a knowing look toward Kagome. “I really would like to keep her here for overnight observation but since you’ve refused Ms. Higurashi-“


“I sure have,” Kagome said as she made to slide off the bed. Sesshoumaru held out his hand so she could steady herself, and she smiled up at him gratefully. “Thanks Sesshoumaru.”


“Are you sure she shouldn’t stay?” Sesshoumaru asked the doctor instead. “Aren’t bruised ribs serious?”


“They are but, like with cracked ribs, there isn’t a lot we can do. We can give her a prescription for the pain-which I have so she should take them-and I’m recommending that her ribs be wrapped, but as for anything else we’ll just have to sit back and wait. Here’s her prescription by the way.” He handed Sesshoumaru the small rectangular sheet of gray paper and sighed.


“And here’s her doctor’s excuse,” he said and handed Sesshoumaru that as well. “She’s not to participate in any sport or strenuous exercise until she’s better. That includes singing unfortunately.”


“For how long?” Kagome asked and Dr. Michaels shrugged. “A week, maybe two. It all depends on what your family doctor says and you are to see him at the end of the week.”


“I will make the appointment immediately,” Sesshoumaru assured him before Kagome could protest.


“Good. Now what else . . . um . . . that’s it, I think. Mr. Taishou, may I speak with you outside, please? Kagome, you can get dressed while we’re gone. A nurse will be along shortly to help you.”


“Sure,” Kagome said as the pair walked out of the room. Sesshoumaru glanced at her through the small square window in the door, then stood in front of it to protect her privacy. “Is there something you need to discuss with me doctor?”


“Yes, there is,” Dr. Michaels began. “I’m sure you’ve noticed by now how headstrong she is.”


Sesshoumaru chuckled darkly. “I’ve been aware of such for quite some time now. Her attitude is not new to me.”


“I’m glad,” Dr. Michaels replied with a wan smile. “I’m hoping you can enforce all that I’ve told you, including one: she can’t be left alone. She’s far too weak to be allowed and I’m afraid a fall would only make things worse. Get her to understand that too if you can.”


“Why not?” Sesshoumaru asked. “I’m sure her boyfriend would-“


“Aren’t there friends that are willing to look after her?” Dr. Michaels interrupted, his gaze shifting to the door behind Sesshoumaru before glancing back.


“I’m sure she has a few,” Sesshoumaru mused silently. “I take it she can’t return to her previous address?”


Dr. Michaels sighed and, instead of answering his question, said,” Be sure to get her prescription filled Mr. Taishou. And don’t forget-“


“Yes, yes, I know,” Sesshoumaru said and frowned when his cell began to ring. “What is it now?” he grumbled as he turned and walked back to the waiting room. He fished the phone out of his pocket and answered it, Rin’s hysterical shrieking piercing his eardrum as she shrieked for her sister.


“Calm down,” he replied cooly as he picked a slight piece of lint from his sleeve. “Kagome is fine-“


“Fine!” came Inuyasha’s voice as he joined in on the conversation from the background. “Fine my perfect shiny ass! Sesshoumaru what the hell-“


“Refrain from such antics Inuyasha,” Sesshoumaru grumbled as the beginnings of a headache blossomed behind his closed eyes. “I take it you all are still at my house, correct?”


“Well yeah but-“


“Let me speak with Miroku.”


Inuyasha grumbled but handed over the phone, Miroku’s calmer tones a welcome relief to the chaos in his background.


“What’s going on Sesshoumaru?”


“Would you happen to know where Kagome could stay for the night?”


“Well, no, not exactly,” Miroku admitted. “She can’t go back to her mother’s because of her grandfather, and they recently sold her grandfather’s land. Sango’s is equally occupied.”


“I see,” Sesshoumaru replied wearily. “Well-“


“Her boyfriend did this to her, didn’t he?” Sesshoumaru’s sigh was his answer and Miroku groaned. “This is my fault,” Sesshoumaru heard him say from the other end. “I knew it would get to this and I never sai-“


“You knew of this situation?” Sesshoumaru interrupted, his tone frosty as thoughts of the worst began to form around his friend.


“No, not that he was beating her, no!” Miroku countered quickly. “But they’ve been having problems for a while and I had the feeling that it would escalate to this-“


“You cannot allow yourself to feel guilty,” Sesshoumaru quipped with a roll of his eyes. “Really Miroku. You and your ‘feelings’. Sometimes I am forced to wonder . . . ”


“Hey, at least I acknowledge mine,” Miroku replied, grateful to Sesshoumaru for the distraction and his encouragement. “I’ve got to get off. Rin’s chirping something about her minutes.”


“Of course,” Sesshoumaru replied. “I will call back if there’s anything else.” Sesshoumaru hung up and returned to Kagome’s room, where she was dressed and fighting with the doctor over her sweater . . . again.


“But I can’t leave like this!” Kagome said as she gestured to herself. She was wearing her pants from earlier, but now stood in a white tank top that grazed along her curves. Beneath the thin cotton Sesshoumaru could barely see the gauze that was tightly wrapped around her upper torso. He could tell she was breathing easier and made plans to stop by the first aid aisle of the drug store to acquire more. “I’ll freeze!”


“I will get my jacket out of the car if that will make you feel any better,” Sesshoumaru said before she could continue. “Even though, in this weather, I have serious doubts as to if you’ll need it.”


“Oh, well um . . . that’s ok then,” she replied. She signed the release papers in the nurse’s hand and, after assuring Dr. Michaels that she would do everything he suggested, allowed Sesshoumaru to lead her out of the hospital back to his car.


“Now let’s see . . . ” Sesshoumaru muttered as he glanced over the prescription. “I suggest we fill this first, don’t you?”


Kagome nodded and reached for the radio’s power button. She winced before she reached it, her fingers hovering in mid air as she struggled to do this on her own. “Dang it,” she grumbled in frustration, tears welling in her eyes as she mentally berated herself for not being able to do this one simple task.


“You had only to ask,” Sesshoumaru said as he reached over and pushed the button for her. “Though I doubt you’ll like what I listen to, you are welcome to it. Oh, here we are.” Sesshoumaru said nothing else as they pulled into the drive through lane of the pharmacy. He gave her prescription and insurance card to the pharmacist, who in turn gave them an estimated time for pick up. She assured him that his requested roll of gauze would be accompanying the order as well before Sesshoumaru pulled away.


They rode in silence, Kagome’s gaze far away as she stared out the passenger side window. She blinked and looked up when Sesshoumaru shifted in his seat and gave him a grateful smile when he handed her his coat as promised. He watched her from the corner of his eye as she put it on, the frown on his lips deepening with each labored breath as she struggled into the coat’s lengthy sleeves. The heavy material of the solid navy peacoat draped over her petite form like an oversized cape and he smiled when she closed her eyes and snuggled deeper inside it.


“So . . . ” he started as he stopped for a red light. “Are you hungry?”


“No, not really,” Kagome whispered softly. “I think whatever the hospital gave me killed my appetite.”


“Alright then, that’s understandable.” He made a right at the intersection and considered something else while Kagome hummed along with the radio. “What did the doctor say about you and singing?” he chastened, his eyes narrowed as he glared at her from the corner of his eye.


“He said singing, you nag, not humming. I can still hum, hopefully.”


“No you cannot.”


“Hey,” Kagome replied as she struggled to sit back up. “Who died and made you-“


“What about ice cream?”


Kagome blinked, her mind flashing a blank at his sudden change of subject. “Huh?”


“How does Charlie’s sound?”


“Um . . . ” Her brow wrinkled as she considered his suggestion. She glanced up at him and smiled, wincing slightly when she pulled on the cut on the side of her lip. “Sure that sounds gre-oh wait.” She patted her pockets and sighed. “I forgot my change purse. It’s back at your place. We’ll have to go get it.”


“We will not,” Sesshoumaru disagreed as he pulled into the ice cream parlor’s driveway. “I suggested this excursion so I will be the one who pays.”


‘But Sesshou-“


He shoved the gear into park and stopped the car, then popped open the glove compartment and fished out a black wallet. “What flavor?” he asked when he opened the door


“Um . . . French vanilla, if you don’t mind.”


“Anything else?”


Kagome stared at him, bottle green eyes regarding him curiously as he waited for her answer.


“Well?”


“Oh, um . . . ” She blinked rapidly to clear her thoughts, then glanced up and shook her head. “No, that’s it. Thanks Sesshoumaru.” He gave a noncommital ‘hn’ at her gratitude and disappeared inside the restaurant. Kagome sighed heavily and rubbed her eyes, then jumped when the car suddenly beeped. The car doors locked and Kagome flinched, then silently laughed at herself. ‘I’m being silly,’ she said to herself as her fingertips grazed against the locks. ‘I’m not going to turn into some fearful creature. I wasn’t this before him and I won’t be that way now.’


(III)


Sesshoumaru frowned down at his cell phone, then returned it to his pocket and picked up his order. His conversation with the detective handling Kagome’s case hadn’t been overly unpleasant one, but it wasn’t overly comforting either. He tossed a couple of spoons and some napkins into the bag, then left the shop and returned to his car.


Kagome tapped the armrest repeatedly, her eyes glazed over and bored as she waited for her companion. She perked up when he finally appeared and, after a few moments of watching him walk, collapsed into wheezing, painful laughter. The image of the obviously proud man walking down the sidewalk with the ice cream shop’s obscenely girly, obscenely BRIGHT PINK florescent bag kicked off her funny bone with a vengeance. She laughed in spite of the pain, her left hand tightly fisted in the shirt material on the right side of her shirt in an absent attempt to ward off the pain. She didn’t notice his arrival until the passenger door flew open and he kneeled beside her, his normally frigid eyes concerned as he waited for her to sit up.


“What happened?” he asked while she calmed down. “Is there something wrong?”


“No, it was you,” Kagome wheezed as she wiped the tears from her eyes. “You and that horrid pink bag!” She chuckled and wheezed again. “Gah, it was so funny!” His eyebrow suddenly raised, and Kagome had the feeling of being studied like a bug, before he shook his head and sat down on the curb beside her. “Hey,” she asked while he settled down and began searching through the bag. “Aren’t you getting back in the car?”


Sesshoumaru handed her a white styrofoam cup, then a spoon and napkin instead of answering her. Kagome huffed, but let it pass and pulled the lid off of her ice cream. She glanced at what he had and stifled the urge to laugh again, watching as his spoon swirled around a brownie sundae with vanilla ice cream, chocolate AND caramel sauce, nuts and whipped cream.


‘I forgot about his sweet tooth,’ Kagome mused as she watched him eat. ‘Man, that thing is monstrous if he can finish all that without being sick.’


“Kagome.”


Kagome blinked, the six-foot tall canine tooth that danced the hula around a brownie the six of an average McDonald’s building in her imagination’s eye banished as cool amber eyes stared up at her. “Yeah, what is it?” she asked as she finally swallowed a bit of her ice cream.


“The song from this morning,” he began. “When did you write it?”


“Oh, um . . . a long time ago,” Kagome answered with a bashful flush of her cheeks. “It’s really old. Sango and Rin knew the lyrics already. The instrumental is pretty recent though. I’m really sorry about springing it on you-“


“No apologies’ necessary,” Sesshoumaru replied. “Anyone is free to write what they wish and run it by the others. Speaking of the others, it looked as if they enjoyed it.”


“Yeah,” Kagome agreed with a careful eye on Sesshoumaru’s reaction. “They did seem to li-“


“Write another.”


“Huh?” was Kagome’s flabbergasted response. “What was that?”
“Write. Another,” Sesshoumaru replied slowly, his spoon out of his ice cream to point at her. “Unless you’re not feeling up to it.”


“It’s not that,” Kagome disagreed with a quick shake of her head. “I just wasn’t expecting you to like it, that’s all.”


“And why would I not like it?” He cocked a smug brow at her open-mouthed surprise and continued his wolflike consumption of his dessert.


“I...well, um . . . uh . . . ”


“One word at a time please.”


“Ok, that’s enough,” Kagome snapped, her teal eyes angry as she glared at him. “What’s the deal, Sesshoumaru? First you’re all nasty and Mr. Frosty to me, then you’re winning dogs and complimenting me. What’s the deal? You hate me, Sesshoumaru. Are you doing this to get a closer look at my suffering or something?” She knew she was wrong when he looked up at her, the stunned hurt flashing in his eyes for a brief moment before icing over into cold indifference.


“Sesshoumaru, I-“


“Save it.” Kagome inhaled sharply at the harshness in his tone and her eyes welled up in shame. “Are you finished?” he asked in a voice that was polite, but without the friendly nuances of earlier.


“Um, yeah. Here.” He accepted her cup from her, being careful not to touch her fingers, and dropped it and his empty cup back into the bag. “Thanks.” He stood up and said nothing, his back to her as he tossed the crumpled bag into a nearby trash can.


“I spoke to the detective handling your case,” Sesshoumaru told her when he turned around. “They’ve arrested you’re boyfriend-“


“EX-boyfriend,” Kagome corrected softly. Sesshoumaru nodded and continued on without comment. “He’s in custody and will probably remain there for the rest of the evening. I assume you would like to return home and gather you’re things?”


“Yeah, if you don’t mind,” Kagome nodded gratefully. She still felt the sting of her earlier words to him and she wondered what was wrong with her to react so nastily to his help.


“It’s nothing.” He stood up, brushed off the back of his jeans and waited for her to swing her legs back inside the car before closing the passenger door. They were pulling off minutes’ later, with the little blue Civic speeding down the highway toward the other side of town. The radio played in the silence and Kagome sneaked occasional glances at her silent companion. ‘Why did I do that? OMG, what is wrong with me? He’s actually trying to help me, and I snapped at him. I can’t believe-‘


“We’re here.”


Kagome blinked, her thoughts scattered as she looked up and around. “Huh?”


“We’re here.” Sesshoumaru gave her a quick glance-over and gestured toward her apartment building. “Can you collect everything you need?”


“Um, yeah, I can. I’ll just be a minute-“


“Hold on.,” he said and grasped her elbow to get her attention. “Are you sure you will not need any help?”


Kagome smiled back at him, her earlier guilt coming back ten fold as she shook her head and blinked the tears out of her eyes. “No, Sesshoumaru. I’ve got it.”


“Then be quick.” Sesshoumaru waited until she was out of the car and halfway down the stairs before he sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly under the sudden burden resting on his shoulders. He was positive Kagome was wondering about Marcus making bail and was secretly hoping she wouldn’t ask whether he would or not so she wouldn’t have to tell her the charges Marcus was being held on.


The detective, an Officer Morris of the Springfield P. D. , assured Sesshoumaru that Marcus was in fact behind bars, and had been for at least an hour or so. They found Kagome’s former boyfriend leaving Kagura’s house and was immediately arrested on charges of domestic violence and assault and battery. Once inside the officers found Kagura, beaten and barely alive, and rushed her to the ER for treatment. The judge was due to hear Marcus’ case on Tuesday and it was then he would decide bail but Sesshoumaru was assured that with the old charges, and the new charge of attempted murder, Marcus could be looking at a hefty bail if any bail at all. That was a relief to Sesshoumaru, as it was to Miroku when Sesshoumaru called him after his conversation with Officer Morris.


Again Sesshoumaru asked if Miroku knew of anyone Kagome could stay with and again Miroku answered him in the negative. He could hear Miroku’s worry over their lead singer and knew it was more than just friendly concern. Sometime between now and when Kagome first joined the group Miroku considered her a sister, someone that he was responsible for and the guilt from not being able to help her weighted heavily on Miroku’s conscious.


Now Sesshoumaru said in his car, wondering on where she should stay that would guarantee not only her physical well being and ensure that she would take her medicine, but also protect her mental stability and ward off any nightmares she would soon have. Not only that, but if Marcus somehow made bail then she would need to be surrounded by those she trusted and those that could protect her from harm if necessary.


‘But where can she go?’ Sesshoumaru asked himself as he stared absently at the open apartment door. ‘A hotel is out of the question because she’ll be by herself. She cannot go back to her mother’s, or her friend’s because they don’t have any room. I’m sure they would make some sort of provisions, but none that she would obey with being physically restrained. The only person who would have room, and a way for her to get better, would be....


‘Me.’ Sesshoumaru sighed at the realization and gently slapped his forehead with his hands. ‘Well isn’t that just peachy...’ He picked up his phone and made the proper preparations, all thoughts of his earlier reluctance stored in the back of his mind as he gave Miroku and his mother instructions on what to do. He ended the call with a sense of satisfaction, knowing that Miroku would be able to handle the confusion and his instructions without fail.


Sesshoumaru glanced up at a heavy thud, then growled in disbelief as he watched Kagome struggle to pick up a box. Her heart-shaped face was screwed up in pain and she leaned toward her right side as she fought to force her body to do as she wanted. Sesshoumaru shook his head, quit the car and climbed the stairs two at a time to reach her.


“Just what are you doing?” he asked when he finally reached her landing.


“I’m trying to (huff) lift this (puff) box,” Kagome wheezed up at him. “But I (wheeze) can’t seem to get it (cough) up.”


“Of course not,” Sesshoumaru replied. He reached down and picked up the box with one arm, the lightweight cardboard and it’s contents nestled underneath one arm as he glared down at her. “You are in no condition to pick up anything heavier than a stuffed bear. If you insist on being so stubborn then I will just have to stand over your shoulder and watch you pack.”


“What?” Kagome shrieked in outrage. “You don’t have to babysit me Sesshoumaru! I can still walk you know-“


“And that is only with my permission,” he countered simply, his eyebrow raised as he waited for her to challenge his authority. He softened when tears shimmered in her eyes, her deep blue-green hues magnified as she looked away from him. “Kagome,” he began and gently turned her chin to face him. “You will not heal if you continue on this path. It is not a shameful thing to need help.”


“Yeah but,” she sniffed as she tried to explain. “You shouldn’t have to help me after what I said to you earlier. I’m so sorry about that Sesshoumaru.”


“I see that,” Sesshoumaru assured her. “And all has already been forgiven. Dusk is approaching. You should hurry so you can rest.”


“Sure thing,” Kagome agreed, a wan smile on her pale lips as she wiped away her tears. “Hey, can I ask you something?” she asked as Sesshoumaru followed her inside.


“What is it now?”


“You wouldn’t happen to know of a hotel around here would you?” she began. “I would stay at the Lotus downtown, but my mother work-“


“You will not be staying at a hotel,” Sesshoumaru told her as he sat her box down on the couch and glanced at the rest of the apartment. “Where is your bedroo-“


“What do you mean by ‘I’m not staying in a hotel room’?!” Kagome demanded, her discontent from earlier evaporating as she glared at him. “I can’t exactly go home and I can’t sleep in the street either!!”


“Do not be ridiculous,” Sesshoumaru replied with an annoyed push at his ponytail. “Of course you can’t sleep in the street.”


“I thought so,” Kagome huffed triumphantly. “So where-“


“You will be staying with me.”


(End chapter)

SF: See! I didn’t forget about this story! I told you guys I was on it!


Inu-chan: yeah, well it took you long enough to get there.


SF: How ‘bout you hush huh? Before I get the Little Muse to hug you silly.


Snu-chan: (cowering) No, please don’t! I still can’t feel my ears from the last time.


SF: I thought so. Oh, but here’s the new chapter thankyouverymuch. Can’t you guys just imagine Kagome’s face?


Inu-chan: Yeah, I can! Is she going to punch him or what?


SF: I’m not telling. Anyway, I’m really sorry about how screwy the updates have been. I’m trying to get that thing under control. Oh, but if you’re ever wondering about what’s taking so long, check my bio page. I’ve started updating it again (yay!) so it’s jam packed with useful info. Here’s the summary to the next chapter:


Life at Sesshoumaru’s is confusing for Kagome, but she soon understands when a little of Sesshoumaru’s past comes to light. Miroku reveals the reasons behind his friendship with the stoic guitarist and reveals a softer side of his best friend. Kagome’s first doctor’s appointment ends with good news and Kagome’s curiosity grows with each passing day.

Next chapter-Chapter Fourteen: Meant to Live