InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Gods' Opinion ❯ Awkward ( Chapter 4 )

The Gods' Opinion

 

Disclaimer: Almost all characters belong to Takahashi Rumiko. Sadly, I am a penniless writer.

 

Warning: This is a mature story and I mean that in more than this story only containing sexual situations and bad language. It contains adult themes.

 

Summary: Kagome is trying hard to have a baby. But when things don't work out, she visits the best fertility doctor in the world. She finds her feelings and beliefs challenged as she struggles to hold onto her dreams.

 

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Chapter Four Awkward

 

“While celery, carrots and onions are the basic vegetables utilized, always remind yourself of how you are going to use the stock. Soup, gravy. The reason is because adding different vegetables, seasonings, can enhance the flavors of the meals you will use the stock for.”

 

Kagome scribbled out the advice her instructor gave to all the students sitting in the evening Cooking Staples class. On the projector screen in front of them was a clear picture of a model mixing cut chunks of onions, carrots and celery into a large metal mixing bowl. With a tap of the button, the picture changed to the next phase of preparing the basic soup stock.

 

“Chicken, beef, turkey, fish, all of these can be used for meat stocks. Omission of the meat creates a vegetable stock. But, any stock can be enhanced to your own tastes and uses.”

 

The instructor glanced at the clock, frowning at the few minutes left for class. Turning back to the computer, he shut down the slide show presentation, which caused the projector screen to shut off and the fluorescent lights to flicker on, eliciting groans from the students.

 

“Your homework is to make two stocks. Once using the basic formula I presented in class, and another one of your own creation. Plus, you need to explain why you added what you did and explain its use in a meal. This will be typed, no less than two pages, but no more than five, doubled-space, size 12 sans-serif font. The assignment is posted on the class website. See you all again Wednesday night.”

 

Kagome quickly closed her notebook up and stuffed it into her backpack, zippering it up closed once everything was inside. She had to hurry if she wanted to catch the bus. If she missed it, it was an extra fifteen to twenty minute wait for the next one. Slinging the book-filled pack onto her back, she slipped out of her seat and hurried towards the exit.

 

“Miss Higurashi,” her instructor's voice rang out. Kagome stopped, sighed and turned to walk back towards her teacher with a smile on her face. “Do you have a moment?”

 

“Yes. What can I do for you Chef Sakai?” Kagome asked as her eyes diverted down to the floor as a sign of respect for the master chef.

 

“I'm curious . . . how many classes do you have left until you graduate?”

 

“Um, let's see.” Kagome was slightly taken back by his question. “What I'm taking now, cooking staples as an elective, uh, current cuisine and then my capstone class.”

 

“And the externship?”

 

“My teaching here fulfills that course,” Kagome explained. The other students in the externship course were hired out to restaurants or bakeries, working hours at those locations that turned into school credits.

 

“What courses do you teach?”

 

“I teach Garde Manger and Asian Cuisine.” The Garde Manger course taught students the basics of food preparations. The Asian Cuisine class focused not only on Japanese, but Chinese, Korean, Southeast, Pan Asian and East Indian foods as well.

 

“I look forward to your Capstone portfolio Miss Higurashi.”

 

Kagome gulped. She bowed to her teacher, turned and quickly hurried out of the classroom. Chef Sakai was a master chef with a reputation that was known to more than just other chefs worldwide. He had books and a successful television show that gained him popularity outside the culinary world. He was a superstar. Kagome was terrified of him.

 

She didn't think about why he was interested in seeing her portfolio as she had to hurry if she was to catch the bus. There was some time. Running as fast as she could, she made it to the bus stop just in time to see the bus drive off down the street, leaving a fuming Kagome sitting on the bench to wait for the next one.

 

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Forty-five minutes later, Kagome dragged herself and her backpack into the apartment she shared with Hojo. Slipping her shoes off, Kagome made her way into the kitchen starving. Working with food all day, having classes about them, it only made her extremely ravenous at night.

 

Flipping the light on in the kitchen, she found it clean, meaning Hojo hadn't cooked dinner for either of them. She opened the fridge only to find nothing easy to prepare that would satisfy her taste buds. Now she would have to cook for herself.

 

“Kagome, you're home.”

 

Kagome poked her head out from behind the fridge door to see Hojo standing there in a simple white t-shirt and his light-blue cotton pajama bottoms. She stood up as she closed the door to the fridge.

 

“Yeah, I missed the bus,” she explained her tardiness. A grumble from her stomach caused her to glance back into the kitchen. “You didn't cook?”

 

Hojo chuckled at her small obsession with food. “Yeah, sorry about that. I was invited to an informal dinner with the director of the lab.”

 

Kagome looked back over at Hojo and smiled. “Oh, how did that go?”

 

Grinning back at her, he replied, “I think it went well. Just having him invite me was enough.” He walked up to her, placing his hands on her hips and a quick peck on her cheek. “You have an appointment tomorrow, right?”

 

“Yeah, I do.” Remembering her appointment brought a blush to Kagome's cheeks. “I told you about it last night.”

 

It was Hojo's turn to blush as he remembered that conversation. Glancing down at his foot as he twisted it against the wooden floor of the kitchen, he tried to gain his bearings and straighten them up the best he could. “Do you . . . “he swallowed the lump he found in his throat. “Now?”

 

Kagome looked up at Hojo then quickly turned away sure that she couldn't blush anymore than she had been in the last minute. “Is . . . is now, is it good for you?”

 

“Yeah. Yeah. Or is nor a bad time for you? I mean, you just got home. You haven't eaten yet.”

 

“Right. Well, I'm . . . I can wait. You have to get up early for work and all.”

 

“No. It's okay. This . . . this is what matters the most right now.”

 

“Okay. Well . . . How about I meet you in the bedroom while I freshen up in the bathroom?”

 

“Sure. Sounds good.” Hojo turned and headed through the living room back to the bedroom.

 

Kagome was behind him, but turned into the bathroom. She stripped off her clothes and tossed them into the hamper. Slipping on a night shirt, she grabbed the washcloth and wiped her face clean. She sighed as she glanced at the reflection of herself in the mirror and decided that it wouldn't matter what she looked like anyway. Tossing the wet cloth into the sink, she left for the bedroom.

 

Hojo sat up in the bed. His shirt was off and she figured the rest of his clothes were as well. Kagome crawled into the bed, on her side. Once the blankets were covering her, she turned to her side, reached up and clicked off the light. Only, once it was dark, did Kagome pull off her nightshirt and slip her underwear off.

 

Scooting down the bed so that she was lying on her back, she waited for Hojo to make his move. The mattress moved and Kagome sucked in a large amount of air as Hojo's heavy frame rested on top of hers.

 

Closing her eyes and turning her head to the side, she stiffened when she felt Hojo quickly enter her. Snapping her eyes shut, she blocked out the small tinge of pain that normally accompanied this beginning part of the sexual experience. She wrapped her arms loosely around his back as he moved slowly in and out of her. The only sounds made were of Hojo's heavy, labored panting. Kagome alone had trouble breathing because of his full body weight lying on top of her.

 

She didn't know how long it was, a minute, three? But he grunted and then collapsed on top of her. His spent body sagging on top of and then out of her body.

 

He was covered in sweat and as he rolled off and out of her, Kagome could hear the sound of his skin peeling away from hers. She continued to lie there quietly, feeling the thick liquid dribble out of her, down her legs.

 

“I'm going to shower, then sleep,” he quietly said as he slipped on some clothing in the dark while remaining in the bed.

 

“Okay,” she replied meekly. The liquid continued to run down along her skin, soaking up in the sheets and she hoped that it wouldn't affect tomorrow's test. “I'm going to cook something to eat and then I'll sleep.”

 

“Sounds good.” He crawled out of the bed. Kagome could hear his feet pad quietly against the wooden floor. Once he was gone, she turned on the lamp that sat on the nightstand next to her bed. Grabbing the nightshirt, she slipped it on before getting out of the bed and heading to the kitchen to make a quick meal.

 

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Deep breaths, he told himself as his bright gold orbs surveyed the cityscape below. Slow, deep breaths. He had to calm himself down. It was nearing that time. He wanted to believe, he needed to believe that his attraction to her was some fluke. His body was reacting to her only because of a physical need. For him, sex wasn't based on the premise that the female was just good looking. There were instincts and laws to follow.

 

The phone rang. It was Saori. His appointment was here. He picked up the phone and listened as Saori explained that Kagome had arrived and was walking down to his office this very moment. Inuyasha asked that she send a female nurse to his office in ten minutes.

 

As he put the phone back down on the receiver, there was a knock at the door. It was her. He could smell her sweet scent. That wasn't going to help him stay calm. The door slowly opened, filling the room up with her scent and her aura. Shit, he thought. He lost any control he thought he had.

 

“Uh, Dr. Takahashi . . . “Kagome spoke out timidly, unsure if she was entirely welcomed. She didn't want to interrupt him.

 

“Kagome, come in.”

 

He intently watched her as her body entered the room. She closed the door and walked over to the chairs in front of his desk. He carefully eyed her, taking in not only what she was dressed in, but her form. Not that he was saying she wasn't dressed nicely. Now that he looked at her clothing more carefully, he realized that this woman knew how to dress in a manner that only accentuated her body.

 

The first thing he noticed was the black leather jacket that she wore, something he'd never expected to see on her. It was such a rebellious article of clothing and Kagome didn't seem to be one to rebel, well to anyone other than him. It had a stand up collar that made her neck longer looking. It was open to reveal what she wore underneath, a simple black cotton scoop neck tee. And for pants, pink colored slacks, with black leather heels peeking out from underneath the hem. It did everything right for her body, for her body was ideal; smooth curves, a mature hour-glass shape, toned muscles.

 

“Good morning,” she said with a warming smile. He liked seeing her hair down, and tussled. Sitting down in the chair directly across from him, she set down a tall, metallic, cylindrical shaped object on his desk. He eyed it suspiciously before looking at her, waiting for an explanation.

 

“I wanted to apologize for my not trusting you at our last appointment,” Kagome began. Her eyes rested down on her lap, her fingers finding a piece of stray thread to fiddle with. “I have no reason to question you and your methods. You only want to help me.”

 

This was a surprising shock. He remembered her banter, their near-Superman argument. But, she was apologizing about it. Most didn't. There was no reason in the world to apologize to a hanyou, despite his position and status. Inuyasha was a hanyou first, doctor second.

 

But her apology still didn't explain the strange object on his desk.

 

“I hope you like ramen,” she quietly said. “I had some soup stock left over and well, I figured that maybe, perhaps, you'd like some. It's okay if you don't. Or if it tastes bad. Someone else around here might like it and you could pass it off to them.”

 

Kagome just rambled out the words. She didn't know why she was so nervous. He was her doctor. She wasn't even in the examination room yet and the butterflies in her stomach were flapping around as if they were trying to avoid an oncoming storm.

 

“Uh, thanks. But, there really isn't a need to apologize,” he said, trying to calm down her frazzled nerves. She wasn't afraid of him, but she was fearful about something. “And I like ramen,” he quickly added.

 

Kagome grinned. “Oh good. Could you . . . when you do eat it, could you tell me how it tastes? I would like to have your opinion on it.”

 

“Sure,” he softly replied.

 

“Um, whenever you're ready,” Kagome said, wanting to get the examination done as quickly as she could. However, it wasn't until now that she got a good look at what he was wearing and what it did to his looks. Underneath the white lab coat she hadn't seen him without was a deep, red colored buttoned shirt and a silky charcoal colored tied around his neck. The red made his eyes more vibrant, like two sparkling gold pendants. She licked her lips and darted her eyes away. She didn't want to be caught drooling.

 

“The nurse should be here soon.”

 

“Wha . . . oh.”

 

Did she sound . . . disappointed? No, he wasn't going to analyze it. “I have another appointment. I had you come here to give you the chance to ask any questions you might have.”

 

Of course he had other appointments. Like she was his only patient. Kagome sat there silently, searching her gray matter for any questions or concerns she might have. There was one.

 

“I'm curious,” she began, looking for the proper, mature way to ask the question without giggling or blushing too much. If she reacted in any other manner, he might find out. “It's obvious as to why a man having an, an orgasm is important to . . . to conception, but what about a woman?”

 

Inuyasha leaned back into his chair, lifting his right leg up so that it rested on his left. “Very.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Well, simply put, when a female orgasms, the cervix, uh, the mouth of the uterus contracts. This causes the uterus to dip into the vagina. If the male has already ejaculated then there is a pool of sperm in the vagina that the uterus dips into. This contraction will draw semen into the cervix and uterus aiding the semen in its swim to the egg.”

 

Kagome nodded as she listened to Inuyasha's explanation. It made sense. Maybe her inability to get pregnant was because she couldn't orgasm with Hojo. She had orgasms before, mainly . . . no, always through masturbation. A little something Hojo, or anyone else for that matter, didn't know about.

 

“And if the woman has multiple orgasms?”

 

Kagome had heard from Yuka about her multiple experiences. From the way she described it, it was intense and magical. Kagome would never admit that she may have been slightly jealous of her friends' abilities to get that much more from sex.

 

No one ever questioned her sex life. They all felt that Kagome and Hojo were the couple of couples, like something from a fairy tale. And because of that, they all believed that life in the bedroom was just as magical. But Kagome had no happily ever after when it came to sex. In fact, there wasn't much of anything to get all dreamy about.

 

Inuyasha smirked. “Icing on the cake. The more dipping, more semen that is drawn in, thus increasing the chances of pregnancy. But once is more than enough.”

 

Kagome's only response was to nod until she could find her voice once again. “Uh, okay then. I was just curious.”

 

“You already said that.”

 

“Right. Well, thanks for explaining it to me. I think I understand.”

 

“Any other questions?”

 

“No. No. Not now. I, uh . . . I can wait until all the results are in.”

 

Before Inuyasha could say anymore, the door opened and Shiroi walked in, smiling at the patient and her boss. “Ready?” She asked as her eyes met with Kagome's.

 

Kagome nodded and stood up. She turned to Inuyasha and smiled.

 

He stood up, looking down at her. “Before you leave, talk to Saori about scheduling an appointment for both you and Hojo to attend. I'll have all of the tests results complied and we'll start on a course of treatments.”

 

“Sure.” Kagome turned and followed Shiroi out of his office to get her examination done.

 

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It wasn't more than ten minutes later and Kagome found herself walking out of the Izayoi Fertility Clinic dazed and depressed. She dragged her feet along the cement, hardly aware of the bustle of people rushing past her. The sounds of traffic, people talking, shouting, and business were fuzzy, almost inaudible.

 

What . . . what was wrong with her? Why could she not orgasm with Hojo? He was the man she loved. The man she was planning on spending the rest of her life with. The man who would be the father of the child they so desperately wanted. They both worked, had shelter, food. So what was keeping her from getting pregnant?

 

She was a young and healthy woman in a stable, loving relationship. She had friends, family and a job. And she figured herself to be a decent human being. She recycled, didn't drive, voted, volunteered and heck, she even served as a shrine priestess when she was younger.

 

Sure she could do more, but how much more? What did the gods require from her in order for her to be granted with a life growing in her womb? All she wanted was for them to tell her what about her life she needed to change. What sacrifice did they require?

 

Kagome knew that having a child wouldn't make her any more or any less of a woman. She had friends, female friends that swore off childhood and embraced their femininity by using their ability to make their own decisions about their lives. And then she had friends who always seemed to be in a perpetual state of pregnancy.

 

And where did she fit into her group of friends?

 

She wasn't married. She wasn't pregnant. The plans she had made in her life weren't happening to her at all. Was she going to end up as some loser? Compared to her friends, she already felt like one. Nothing in her life was going in a good direction. But, what really scared her was that she really didn't know which direction it was headed.

 

Kagome made it home and went straight to the oversized armchair that the phone sat next to. She placed her hand on it, taking a deep breath before picking it up. Quickly, her fingers dialed the number on their own.

 

“Hi, you've reached the Higurashi Shrine. No one is here at the moment to answer your call. Please leave your name, a call back number, and if you wish, a short message. We at the shrine wish you a pleasant day.”

 

Once Kagome heard the beep of the machine, she began her message. “Hi mom, it's me. I, uh, I was wondering if you're free this weekend. I . . . I have a new soup for you to try. I think you'll like it. Anyway. Uh, call me back when you get this. I love you. Bye.”

 

Kagome put the phone back. She noticed how eerily quiet it was in the apartment. Grabbing the blanket off the back, she wrapped herself in it. Curling her body up into a tight ball, she laid her head down against the back of the chair closing her eyes. Nothing could stop the flow of tears that erupted from her weary eyes.

 

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“Kagome!”

 

“In the kitchen,” she hollered back when hearing Hojo's voice calling. He had just gotten home from work.

 

“Hey, smells good.” He planted a quick peck on her cheek as she stirred whatever concoction she was making. He went to the fridge to find something to drink while he waited for dinner. “How did it go today?”

 

“Oh, it was nothing. Just another physical test.” Kagome moved away from the stove and went over to Hojo. “They want us to both attend the next appointment. All the results will be shared, as well as the first treatment plan.”

 

Hojo reached into the back pocket of his slacks and pulled out his Blackberry. “Did they say when all the results would be ready?”

 

“Friday, but . . . “

 

“Friday's good. After my meeting with the psychologist.”

 

“Yeah, but . . . “

 

“But what?”

 

“I was thinking we should wait until next week.”

 

“Why?” He didn't wait for her to answer. He walked up to her, embracing her tiny form. “Wouldn't you rather be starting treatments next week instead of waiting for results?”

 

“Of course,” she blurted out, afraid to look at him. Afraid that he'd see the truth in her eyes. “I guess I'm just nervous.”

 

“I know. So am I.” He pushed her away so he could see her. He smiled back at her. “So, Chef Higurashi, what are you making tonight for dinner?”

 

Kagome sighed as Hojo brushed past her to the stove to check out the soup she made for both dinner and her homework assignment. There was just no arguing with Hojo. He was right. Why wait? Right? They both wanted this.

 

Putting on the best smile she could muster, Kagome walked up to the stove to explain her assignment to him. She normally got carried away when talking about her recipes, but this time, she didn't. Her explanation was quick and to the point, sounding more technical than anything. Cooking wasn't something technical, but a combination of technique and emotions.

 

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“Ah, Dr. Takahashi, nice of you to show up almost on time,” an elderly man spoke cheerfully, trying to poke fun at the inu-hanyou.

 

“Keh,” was his response as he took his normal seat in the room with the board of directors.

 

On Mondays, he would give the board of directors a copy of all active files for them to go through in preparation for the week's meetings. He wasn't the only one that was monitored by the board, other scientists and researchers, as well as accountants, public relations and other departments had files to be reviewed.

 

Because of this, there was a possibility that Kagome's file may have been overlooked. However, a small part of him hoped that they found it and denied it. It was the only way for him to find a reason not to see her anymore. It was cruel for her, but it was better than for him to suffer for the next couple of years she could seek treatment from him.

 

The board started with the other departments of the clinic. Hearing good news about progress made on research, an increase in profits and success with advertising, things moving very smoothly. It finally came time to current cases; it was Inuyasha's turn.

 

“I think we'll conclude here for today,” the head of the directors coolly spoke. But his eyes were glued on Inuyasha.

 

Fuck, Inuyasha thought. He remained sitting still as the others filed out of the conference room. Leaning back in his chair, he now wished he had initially turned down the couple. And his excuse for helping them would surely get him suspended.

 

Once the doors closed, Inuyasha sat up to face his lynch mob: the board of directors. There were five of them, two scientists, an OB/GYN, a RE and a lawyer. They managed the clinic and kept it running smoothly. They were the last and final word on all matters.

 

“Dr. Takahashi.” The elderly man who joked with him earlier spoke first. “We received your current, active cases. And you know what we found?” He lifted up a folder. “A backslash.”

 

Inuyasha's darkened orbs glared at the elderly man. He decided not to say anything until they asked him a direct question. But he knew what the old man was talking about.

 

None of his files had a backslash. All files had one name on them, the last name, the family name, followed by a distinct case number. It was the filing system they had used when Inuyasha initially opened the clinic. It was clear, organized and it worked.

 

In one case, there was a backslash, a tiny single symbol that differentiated it from all others. Higurashi/Akitoki-60221023. It should only be Akitoki - 60221023. But, they weren't married. Her name wasn't legally his. So, Saori settled on writing out their file in this manner.

 

The lawyer plucked the file from the old man's hand and set it down in front of him. He folded his long, slender, well manicured fingers on top of the file. The lawyer took a long deep sigh that signaled his disappointment on the matter.

 

“You will discontinue any further treatment with this couple,” he spoke calmly, yet cruelly.

 

“Now wait a fuckin' minute,” his voice bellowed against the walls and windows. Jumping out of his seat, he leaned his clawed hands down on the table. His aura flared, but only those in the room could sense it.

 

“Sit down Inuyasha,” an elderly woman spoke, her crackly voice was still firm in her old age. She was the OB/GYN, an expert in the field as well as a pioneer in understanding the similarities and differences in the females: human, youkai and hanyou.

 

Inuyasha quietly sat back down in his chair, keeping his keen glare on the lawyer. He had too much respect for the old woman. She believed in him when no one else did.

 

“This,” she said, pulling the file away from the lawyer and holding it up, “it's a potential problem that we'd rather avoid now, rather than later, and in the courts.”

 

The lawyer nodded as he agreed with the elder woman's assessment. Just because he was a lawyer, that didn't necessarily mean he would prefer to be in court, arguing. He got paid to avoid court, to protect the clinic and its employees.

 

“Fine,” Inuyasha grumbled. “But, other than them not being married, are there any other problems?”

 

“Of course not,” the lawyer answered quickly.

 

“I don't like telling them no,” he said back, his voice softer, his aura subdued.

 

“We know that. However, this isn't always about them. There was a time when we'd be comfortable with your decision. But for reasons you are aware of, we can't.”

 

“He works for Bio-Guchi,” Inuyasha blurted it out as quickly as he could. He was in a panic. They told him no, but now he was fishing for any excuse to keep the case. Damnit, she wasn't even here and she was still causing him problems.

 

This silenced the board members. Leaning back in their chairs, they turned to one another, sharing whispers of words that Inuyasha couldn't make out because of the magic of the room.

 

He knew he had their attention. Hojo had his attention when he first said it to him. The board of directors was to hold the unbiased interests of the clinic. Hojo was a ticket to getting into a lucrative partnership with a premier drug company.

 

The old woman glanced over at Inuyasha. “What does Dr. Taijiya say about this?”

 

“She plans to talk to them about the marriage issue in depth. They may feel married because of the blessing of a Shinto priest.”

 

Sango had sent her analysis of her first session with Kagome that night. It was what he did Saturday night and part of Sunday. So much for using the weekend to treat Kagome as just another patient and get her out of his head. Instead, he memorized the transcript, Sango's report and watched the video of the session. All of this was sort of a no-no, but in this case, he ignored that particular rule.

 

The old woman whispered something to the lawyer and he nodded. He looked to Inuyasha. “Is there proof of this?”

 

“How the hell should I know?” Inuyasha shot out, crossing his arms across the red fabric covering his chest.

 

“Blessings are normally recorded,” the old woman said, recalling her knowledge of being a shrine priestess in her younger days, a role that lead her to helping women.

 

“Even if the one who blessed her is dead?” It pained him to watch her talk about that particular part of her life to Sango. It was difficult to lose family, no matter what kind of heritage one had.

 

“As long as the shrine stands.”

 

“So, what do I do?”

 

“Obtains records of the blessing,” the lawyer said. “We'll also write up a contract that protects us from any liability that they will be required to sign.”

 

“Fine.” Inuyasha stood up. “Anything else?”

 

“No, but we will watch this case carefully,” the lawyer warned the doctor.

 

Inuyasha stormed out, saving his response. He really hated that lawyer. And if he started in with him, he was sure a physical altercation would follow. It was mature of him to just walk away.

 

Even if he could never be with Kagome in any way other than professional, at least, in that capacity, he could give her something Hojo couldn't on his own.

 

 

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