InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Gods' Opinion ❯ Confrontation ( Chapter 11 )

The Gods' Opinion

 

Disclaimer: Almost all characters belong to Takahashi Rumiko.

 

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.

 

xxxxx-----xxx-----xxxxx

 

Chapter Eleven Confrontation

 

Kagome flung open the glass doors adorning the entrance to the RE wing of the Izayoi Family Clinic. Some of the women sitting patiently in the cushy chairs of the waiting area batted an eye or two at her before turning back to their magazines, not interested in this woman that had so abruptly introduced her arrival. Kagome took in a deep breath through her flared nostrils and forcefully released it. Her feet stomped against the soft floor, actually making a dull thumping sound against the padding. She plopped her purse on Saori's reception counter with an echoing thud.

 

Saori jumped in her chair, dropping the telephone from its perch between her shoulder and ear. Wide, frightened eyes glanced up at an image of someone who looked like Kagome with the grin of the Cheshire Cat superimposed on her face. “Ah, you . . . you startled me,”Saori chuckled as she scrambled to pick up the phone, quickly whispering her goodbyes to the person at the other end before hanging it up. “What can I do for you?”

 

“Is Dr. Takahashi available?”

Saori cringed at her overly sweet tone which was obviously invented for purposes unknown, as Kagome worked on trying to hide her real feelings. “Let me look.” She swiveled around in her chair turning to the computer and brought up Inuyasha's schedule for the afternoon. “It looks like he's free until four o'clock.”

 

“Thank you,” she chimed out too bright. Saori watched dumbfounded as Kagome plucked up her purse and strolled down the office with the confidence of a boxer entering the ring for the big fight. She would have to corner Inuyasha later on to get the scoop.

 

xxxxx-----xxx-----xxxxx

 

 

Inuyasha scanned his liquid gold eyes over a file while sitting comfortably in his leather chair at his desk, his foot tapping the air to some fast-paced tune in his head. Frowning, he pushed himself away from the desk, the wheels rolling smoothly, quietly along the carpet, and stood up, walking over to the massive bookshelf, He began a search for a book that would hopefully contain the answer to his question about a couple who had been trying for too many years to conceive. It was rare that he would have to use what they called high tech therapies. He tried to avoid them as they were dangerous for both the mother and the offspring.

 

At hearing his door being slammed open, Inuyasha glanced up from his book to see Kagome standing there, her eyes colored dark steel. He snapped the book closed and slid it back into its slot. That problem could wait for now.

 

“This is unexpected,” he greeted her with a lopsided, but toothy grin, his golden eyes shining excitedly at her presence. Seeing her here, in his office, without an appointment was a surprise. Saori still wouldn't tell him what time her injections were, and she had convinced everyone else not to tell him either, so he wasn't able to accidentally bump into her in the hallway. And he had so many excuses he could use.

 

Kagome narrowed her eyes at him, no smile for his. She roughly took a hold of the door knob and threw the heavy door shut, causing the doctor's ears to hit the deck from the loud smack. He raised one up, the frightened appendage swiveling about to see if the coast was clear. When he didn't hear anything else that would cause damage, he raised the other one up, directing both of them at her.

 

“Uh, something wrong?” he cautiously asked. Just because he didn't deal with his patients emotional sides very often didn't mean he was completely ignorant of emotions. At least he could tell that there was something wrong instead of trying to suck up to her.

 

“Yes actually there is,” she snapped at him, pointing her finger in his direction, her other hand on her hip, shoulders back as she stood there defiantly. He didn't miss the way her chest jutted out either. “You are a coward.”

 

Inuyasha could only stare at her, as the impact of the word that left her lips hadn't hit him yet. Her face, neck, the upper part of her chest which he could see from the cut of her blouse, all were flushed red with anger. Anger? Why was she angry? His eyes met hers, her steel hammering at his gold, and he saw that she was angry at him.

 

Wait, she called me a coward?

 

“What's that supposed to mean?” he shot back, ready to defend himself. No one was allowed to just barge into his office and call him names.

 

“It means what it means. You,” she jabbed her finger out at him again in his direction, “are a coward . . . a yellowbelly, spineless, sissy-boy, scaredy-cat -“

 

“Yes,” he interjected forcefully, rising up a clawed hand, cutting her diatribe off. “Thank you, but I do know what the word means. But why are you calling me that? What did I do to you Kagome?”

 

Her body stiffened at the sound of her given name coming out of his mouth. Any other time, she relished it, tried to memorize it so that her fantasizes had more depth to them when his silky voice whispered it faintly into her ears. Not this time. “It's Miss Higurashi to you, Dr. Takahashi.” The way she said her name sounded more like snake hiss than her usual pleasant voice.

 

It was Inuyasha's turn to stiffen. Her voice was too sharp. And she took away his privilege to call her by her given name. As much as he didn't want to refer to her as Miss Higurashi, at least it wasn't Mrs. Akitoki.

 

“Fine. Miss Higurashi. You mind explaining why you've come busting into my office calling me names.”

 

“I am so glad you asked Dr. Takahashi.” Kagome reached into her purse and pulled out a folded piece of paper. With a quick shake of her wrist, the paper snapped open with a crisp crackle. Kagome cleared her throat as her eyes turned to the paper.

 

“Dear Mr. Akitoki and Miss Higurashi . . . “Kagome took a quick glimpse up at Inuyasha, making sure he was still paying attention. “We here at the Izayoi Family Clinic are delighted that you have chosen us to help you through this dark time. We understand the pain and frustrations you are experiencing as you face conception difficulties. The staff at the Izayoi Family Clinic is determined to help you weather this storm and we guarantee that our staff will do everything in their power to see you through it.”

 

Kagome took a deep breath, her entire body shivering as her defenses started to crumble from the strain it took to be brave in front of everyone. Her body visibly shuddered as she let out the air.

 

“However . . . “her voice cracking as her stone wall lay in ruins at her feet. “However, due to your marital status, we are unable to proceed with any treatments at this time. If, in the future, your and Miss Higurashi's marital status does change, we promise to welcome you back with open arms and to continue to help with your dreams of a family.”

 

Kagome stared hard at the letter she had read and reread over and over again last night. When she first opened it and glanced at the words, she thought it was a mistake. It had to be. But it wasn't. Hojo had told her that Dr. Takahashi had dropped it off for her, even though the letter was addressed to the both of them.

 

She had dragged herself out onto the balcony, wrapped up in a blanket she picked up from the chair inside and watched the city light's blink and then blur as she quietly shed tears. The whole night was devoted to deciphering the letter, and searching for the determination to confront Inuyasha on the matter.

 

And all she could think was, why me?

 

“Why couldn't you just tell me in person?” Kagome yelled at him. Looking back down at the letter, she didn't want it anymore. Crumbling the cursed paper into a ball, she lobbed it at the frozen hanyou. “Why schedule me for injections? Why give me this hope, only to . . . to rip it away from me?”

 

The tears flowed, but she ignored them, even as they blurred her vision. She blinked rapidly to rid her eyes of the salty liquid as she waited for him to answer. And she wasn't leaving until she heard the answer from his mouth. No letters. No phone calls.

 

Inuyasha hardly felt the paper ball bounce off of his chest. Peering down, he saw it resting at his feet. He bent down to pick it up, never taking his eyes off of Kagome. He was surprised at how quickly her emotions had filled the room, clogging his senses. It wasn't anger anymore that he felt.

 

Carefully unpeeling the paper open from its spherical shape, his darkened eyes scanned the words, reading what she had just read to him, except the end. Gracing the bottom of the letter, copies, but legitimate signatures, were the names of the members of the board of directors.

 

Inuyasha looked up at Kagome. Her body was shaking from the overload of emotions she had yet to shed. He sighed as he set the letter down on the bookshelf. He had a bit of explaining to do.

 

“Look, Kagome . . . “

 

“Miss Higurashi,” she reminded him.

 

“Fine. Whatever. Okay. Why don't you have a seat?”

 

“I'm fine,” the words snarled out.

 

“Sit down,” he commanded her with a tone he'd never used with a patient before.

 

Kagome's body fell into a nearby chair on its own, her eyes glued on the hanyou. Never had anyone been so forceful with her.

 

“I . . . I didn't do this.”

 

“You knew?”

 

Shit, now he was really going to be in trouble.

“Yes and no.”

 

Kagome was no longer looking at him. Her eyes had melted and what was left with a pool of dull, dreary grey mix that had been defeated. Her shoulders slumped down and her head gently rocked back and forth. Inuyasha couldn't quite make it out.

 

“I . . . “the word barely escaped her lips. Kagome couldn't think, couldn't find the words to express her feelings, to say what she was thinking. There was so much there, but she couldn't get a solid grip on anything. And she was trying. She had to find the right words, the ones that would convince him, all of them that she wanted to have a baby.

 

“I'm a failure.” The words just flew out. Not the ones she wanted. But they were the words that summed up everything. She had a horrible sex life, well, not really, she just didn't have one, and that was just as bad. She wasn't married. And she couldn't get pregnant.

 

She tried sex, but it was a failure. It gave her no pleasure at all, reminding her that it was more of a chore than an expression of love, or even lust. She wanted to be married, but that didn't work out either. The gods taking her grandfather away. And now, she was failing at the only chance she had left to get pregnant. What good was she as a woman? What was her worth? To cook and clean? Hojo could hire a maid to do those things. A friend, a lover, a wife and a mother; those were the roles that she wanted to fulfill. One out of four was horrible.

 

Now he recognized it. That look. He'd seen it on only a few of his patients. Those, that no matter what he did for them, they were unable to conceive, and came to the point where they choose to give up. He was watching Kagome give up. That he couldn't let her do.

 

“Look,” Inuyasha glided over to the front of his desk, leaning up against it, still maintaining some space between himself and Kagome, “the board is just concerned that a problem may arise due to the fact that you and Hojo are not legally married.”

 

Problem? Yeah, she had a problem. She couldn't conceive a child. Did they not consider that the main problem? Did this place just give up on the utterly hopeless, the lost causes over a simple matter as not married? A lot of non-married couples had children. Even those that couldn't get married legally, the gay and lesbian couples, they were even granted with life. But not her. No.

 

“No, I get it.” Kagome stood up on her shaky legs, waving her hands around at her hips to keep her balance. She reached down to grab her purse so she could just leave. It was too much to have the supposed best clinic turn her away. “I get it all too clearly.”

 

He heard her faint words. “No, Kagome, you don't.” He didn't give a damn about which name she wanted him to use.

 

“Yes, I do. I . . . “Kagome shook her head. He was just dragging this out. It was too much, it overwhelmed her. She was finding it painful to simply breathe. Placing her hand on her chest, she grabbed at her avocado-colored blouse, her lungs screaming from the lack of air. Where was the air? She needed out of this office. Out of this clinic. There was air outside, lots of it. Enough for her. Enough to slow her heart down fill up her lungs and to stop the ache.

 

She turned to face the door. It was close, but felt so far away. Dragging her feet across the carpet, she brought herself closer to the escape, but walking further away from her dream. There had to be a sacrifice. Wasn't that what Ayame said? Did this have to be the thing she gave up, her own definition of what it meant to be a woman? Would she never be fulfilled?

 

She just needed to breathe first, to stop this burning ache that was consuming her insides, burning her down to a pile of ashes.

 

Inuyasha wasn't about to let her go. Rushing after her, he took a hold of her arm, his fingers wrapped around her soft skin, holding her back. He held onto her tightly, but not enough to hurt her. Inuyasha didn't want to see her go.

 

“You need to listen to me.”

 

“No.” Kagome yanked her arm out of his grasp. She backed away from him, cautious of him, afraid to hear what else he thought he needed to say to somehow make this all better. What could be said to make this work? She hugged her purse tightly against her chest, believing it could be a shield to protect her from the hurt and pain that was welling up. “I don't want to.”

 

“Dammit, you have to.” He took a few steps toward her and she matched each of her steps backwards until she hit the wall and only a few steps separated them.

 

“This is only about the clinic covering its own ass. They're afraid that if you and Hojo were to separate, that the costs of the treatment wouldn't be covered. It's only about money.” He wanted her to look at him, not the floor. “Kagome, you've only been here for a month, which is definitely not enough time to determine whether or not you can get pregnant.”

 

Kagome shook her head, eyes squeezed tightly. It couldn't be about money. That was too simple. No, that was . . . it was just an excuse, to let her down easy, so she didn't get all emotional. Or to make sure she couldn't sue. If his excuse was money, then this place was really nothing more than a business, profiting on broken women.

 

“I'm a liability?” she asked herself, but it was voiced loud enough for Inuyasha to hear it. Liability was just fancy lawyer-speak for potential problem, a handicap. She was the type of problem that lawyers did everything they could to avoid. And she was handicap in the fact that wasn't a normal woman. Normal women had a decent sex life, were married with a couple of children running around. She had none of that. She had nothing.

 

I'm a problem. Kagome gasped, her eyes widening, looking up and locking in Inuyasha's concerned gaze. That woman caught me in his arms. I'm his liability. That woman, his woman . . . Kagome had crossed a line she didn't even know existed. Just a simple hug was all it took to have it all tumble down. Was he using money as his excuse?

 

Should she apologize? Should she just leave? Should she defend herself? Or try to reason with him? She didn't know what to do to convince him to let her stay with the clinic, to continue with the treatments. Need - the need to have this child, that was what kept her mind thinking straight. She wanted this child so badly. What could she do? Only one thing came to mind.

 

Dropping her purse from her tight grasp, she flung herself at him, tears failing to keep up with her. Gripping tightly onto his clean white lab coat, she buried her face into his hard chest, sobbing, shaking and scared. Kagome had never felt so lost since she lost her brother and grandfather.

 

Inuyasha hesitantly wrapped his arms around her, keeping quiet for the moment. He really just wanted to hold her. It was selfish of him to take some advantage of the situation, using it as a chance to be this close to her. He did want to let her know that he wasn't about to let her down either.

 

He let her scent wash over him, taking it in with deep breaths. Another lab coat that he wouldn't wash for days.

 

“Please,” she hiccupped out between sobs. “Please.”

 

Coiling his arm around her shoulders, he slowly escorted her to the couch, and motioned for her to sit down. Once seated, he reached over for the box of tissues and handed it to her. She grabbed a few, taking her time to wipe her tears away, to blow her nose, and to calm down.

 

“Just tell me what to do.” Her eyes met his, challenging his solid gold with her steely blue. “Anything.”

 

Well, that was a tempting plea, one that he could easily manipulate. But, he couldn't. And, of course, he wouldn't. And not with her. If she were any other woman, she would be on her knees now, unbuttoning his trousers. He already knew that Kagome wasn't that type of woman, a thought that pleased him. He didn't need her sucking him off so she could continue with treatments.

 

“Two things.”

 

He saw her eyes light up. Hope. He saw hope in those clear orbs of hers. It warmed him up.

 

“One, sign a contract. Both of you. Saying that in any event of a separation, the fees will be paid, split down the middle or something, without dragging the clinic into court.”

 

Kagome nodded. It sounded simple enough. It was what she intended to do anyway. They both had medical insurance, and then the money in their savings. Both had discussed the costs of this and were prepared to pay it all, not too concerned with the final price tag.

 

“Two. Hojo told me, Sango, as well as you, about a blessing by your grandfather. A copy of that recording would help out considerably.”

 

The smile that started to grace her lips quickly fell out. Her eyes turned away from him. He leaned forward to get a look at her face again, to see what she was trying to hide from him. Reaching up with is hand, he was going to take a hold of her chin, turn her beautiful face back towards him, but decided that it would be too much, too much of an invasion of her comfort zone.

 

For Kagome, signing that contract was easy enough. Just her signature. But a record of her grandfather's blessing? That wasn't as easy as it required much more than just a simple signing.

 

“Can you do that?”

 

Kagome whipped her head up, a fake looking smile cheaply plastered on her paled face. “Yes. Uh . . . Monday?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“The contract. Monday. I'll sign it on Monday. Just . . . please . . . please let me continue with the injections.”

 

“Keh. I wasn't planning on stopping them.”

 

“Oh, thank you,” Kagome laughed out, the pain in her heart, her lungs dissipating.

 

“Kagome . . . I . . . I didn't know, that letter. I didn't know what was written, okay. You're right. It was cowardly to tell it to you like that.”

 

Kagome's smile died when she realized what she had done. “Oh, I thought . . . I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry. I . . . I sorta jumped to conclusions. I made such a fool of myself . . . I'm . . . “

 

“Nah. It's fine. Really.” He smiled at her hoping she would relax and smile back. He'd so much rather see her smile than cry.

 

“Are you sure?”

 

“Keh, I'll take care of those assholes.”

 

“Eh? That's no way to talk about them. I . . . I met one of them, Kaede. She was kind to me.”

 

“Bah. Old hag was just curious. What she really needs to do is mind her own damn business.”

 

“That's mean.”

 

“Well, it's the truth.”

 

There, she smirked. “If you say so.” Still, she felt really bad about the way she treated him and she still felt that there was more to all of this than he was letting on. Or was it her own imagination? It was coming to the point where she was unsure about so much in her life.

 

“Oi.” She glanced up at him and that look alone made him forget about what he was going to say. “Uh . . . will you be okay?”

 

The sincerity in his voice was enough to make her heart jump for joy. It wasn't a reaction she'd expected. Relief, that was the best she could hope for, yet, she felt so much more. It felt like he really did care for her. Why did it feel like she never felt exactly like this before in her life?

 

“I think so. I'll have to go home, well, to my mother's. But . . . I can't, not with the injections.”

 

“Keh, easily fixed.”

 

“But you said . . . “

 

“Whatever. Is there a clinic nearby your mom's place?”

 

“Yes. Our family physician, Dr. Yamaguchi.”

 

“We'll give them a call. Then you can go there for them over the weekend.”

 

“You . . . you would do that . . . for me?”

 

“It's not that big of a deal.” A lie, of course, but she wouldn't know. He'd do whatever it took to make sure she got those injections so that she could still come to the clinic and visit him.

 

Kagome looked up at him, using the moment to really look at him, into him. His adorable dog ears were directed only at her, though one would flick around at other sounds, ones she couldn't hear. It wasn't until now that she noticed his arm wrapped around her shoulders, holding her close to his body, comforting her with his words and his warmth. Those golden eyes, the ones that shone brightly in her fantasies, were sparkling, and she could see how honest he was. He really wanted to help her. Then there was his nose, those lips . . . she'd watched them move when he spoke.

 

“It is to me,” she whispered as she tried to swallow down an uncertain confusion that was springing up inside of her. Perhaps it was just the sublimation of feelings, from deep anger and frustration right to relief and happiness.

 

Inuyasha's eyes scanned her face, the pink from her anger and tears still tinted her cheeks, giving life to her skin. His mouth parted at the sight of hers, his teeth nibbling on his tongue in anticipation of something that could never be. He had to look to away. There was her long, swan neck dripping gently down to the swell of her cleavage.

 

He really had to look away from her altogether. For that moment, he would've reached out and tasted her. The longing to do just that was there . . . and the situation was ripe for it. But he was already in enough trouble without taking any more advantage of the situation and the girl.

 

He cleared his throat as he abruptly jumped off the couch. Peering down at his pants, he now wished he had remained sitting. “You said Yamaguchi, right?” He quickly blurted out as he dashed to his desk to write down the information. It looked like a logical escape from a dangerous situation.

 

“Right. Yes. Dr. Yamaguchi Ryouta. He runs a small general health clinic. I'm afraid that I don't have the address.”

 

“I can get it. Or, actually, Saori can. That's what I pay her to do.”

 

Kagome chuckled. “But she works so hard already.”

 

“Not really. She spends too much time on idle shit.”

 

“That's part of her job.” Kagome glanced up at the clock in Inuyasha's office as she heard the soft, mellow chime cry out. “Oh no. It's three. I'm late.”

 

“Late?”

 

“Yes. Late. I have my appointment with Sango.”

 

“Cancel it.”

 

“What?”

 

“Cancel it.”

 

“But. . . “

 

“Go home. Go to your mother's. I think that after what happened today, you could use a break, a break from this place.”

 

“Are you sure?”

 

“Doctor's orders.” Inuyasha walked up to her. He glanced down at her, she glancing back up at him. They remained like this for a moment that lasted longer in their minds. The same blush adorned both their cheeks. He tore himself aware, clearing his throat to break whatever hold she had over him. “I'll walk ya out.”

 

Nodding, she stood up and followed him out. She felt like she was doing something bad by skipping her appointment with Sango, but Inuyasha was right, after that letter, she just needed to get some time to herself. Going to her mother's would be good for that. And besides, she hadn't been there for a while.

 

He escorted her out into the reception area, ignoring the look he knew Saori was giving him. Like he had to explain anything to her. She'd ask, no doubt. There wasn't going to be an answer. Inuyasha then opened the glass doors out to the elevators and followed her to them, even pressing the button for her.

 

“I'm sorry, again, and I'm thankful,” her softened voice spoke as she glanced down at the floor, hiding the blush she didn't want him to see.

 

“It doesn't matter now.” To his dismay, the elevator doors opened up to their floor quicker than he thought, cutting their goodbye short.

 

“Have a nice weekend, Dr. Takahashi.” She grinned at him as she took her place inside the deserted contraption.

 

“Yeah. You too.” He smirked at her, smiling until the doors closed on him, cutting her presence away from him. Scowling, he turned back toward the doors, going back to the last couple of hours of work left until the weekend.

 

“Dr. Takahashi,” Saori sung out with a knowing grin on her face. One of those grins she used when she thought she knew what was going on. Oh, she might have a slight idea. And that was all he was going to leave her with.

 

Ignoring Saori, he turned into his office, shutting and locking the door to prevent any interruptions, especially those of the perverted nature. There were no appointments scheduled, for a while, but he had work to do. And first things came first.

 

“Dr. Taijiya speaking.”

 

Inuyasha leaned back into his chair as he had the psychologist on speaker phone. “Busy?”

 

“Yes, actually. I'm expecting a patient any moment now.”

 

“She ain't coming.”

 

“What? How do you know that? Did something happen to Kagome?”

 

“Hungry?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“I asked if you are hungry. Are you?”

 

“I suppose so. Why?”

 

“Meet me in the cafeteria.”

 

“Okay. Hey, if Miroku's free . . . “

 

“Keh. Stupid lecher . . . I guess. As long as he minds his own damn business and doesn't pollute my meal with his perversion.”

 

Sango chuckled. “Can't make you any promises. See you in, oh, say, ten minutes.”

 

Once Sango had hung up, Inuyasha still had one more call to make.

 

“Yes, Dr. Takahashi.”

 

He growled at the insinuating tone in her voice, and the way she said his name like it had twenty syllables in it. She couldn't blackmail him like that. “Connect me to a Dr. Yamaguchi Ryouta. A family physician.”

 

“Okay. Are you . . . “

 

“No.” He picked up and slammed down the receiver disconnecting her from the conversation she wanted to start. There was no way he was going to let her draw him into that drama-shit he wanted to avoid. Besides, there wasn't anything to say.

 

xxxxx-----xxx-----xxxxx

 

Carrying two bottles of water, three bowls of soup and a bowl of rice, Inuyasha sat down at the empty table furthest away from the crowded ones. Most of the people he recognized as those that worked at the clinic, many he had met and briefly shared `Hi's' and `Hello's' to in the hallway, but that was were the social party ended. He just wasn't that type of guy.

 

“Good afternoon Inuyasha.”

 

Inuyasha didn't even look up at the man who spoke to him. Just his luck that he would show up first. Now was not the time to fool around with is perverted antics. Instead, he slurped his soup down.

 

“There you are. Oh, you found him. Good. Now we can get to the bottom of this.”

 

Inuyasha barely gave Sango a glance as she sat down, her company sitting down with them.

 

“I hope you don't mind that I invited Miroku. He did volunteer to be the OB-GYN on Kagome's case and I figured his presence would be beneficial, though I am wary of his intentions.”

 

Miroku just chuckled off her accusations. “As always, Sango dear, I only wish to help all women attain their wishes. For our young, sweet Kagome, her desire is to have a child.”

 

“I think you forgot to insert beautiful in front of the word women.”

 

“Are you two done with this sickly display of foreplay? I am trying to eat.”

 

Both Miroku and Sango blushed. Perhaps their little fights, their numerous arguments were just that: foreplay. Miroku didn't mind.

 

“So, why am I not in a session with Kagome?”

 

Inuyasha reached into the right side pocket of his white lab coat and tossed the crumbled ball of paper at her. He ignored her scowl and instead finished eating his snack. Maybe Sango was right, the food here needed some help.

 

Sango carefully unwrapped the paper and scrupulously read the letter Kagome had hurled at Inuyasha. Miroku leaned over to see what the fuss was about.

 

Oh, Sango is wearing a buttoned blouse with the top button loose.

 

“Did they . . . ?” Sango started to ask, her hand slapping over her mouth as she finished the rest of the letter.

 

“Nope.”

 

“How did she react?”

 

Inuyasha sighed as he dropped his chopsticks down onto the tray. “She was pissed. And it was directed at me since I dropped the letter off at her apartment without knowing what the letter said.”

 

“Poor Kagome,” Miroku sighed as he sat back up, the longing sigh for the removal of his sight from Sango's delectable cleavage.

 

“Poor Kagome? Poor me. She took it out on me.”

 

“Is everything okay now?” Sango tried to fold the letter back up, but it was too crinkled and fought at any attempts to be smoothed out flat.

 

“Yeah. I told her what she had to do and sent her on her way.”

 

“Proof of her grandfather's blessing.” Inuyasha nodded at Sango's correct guess. “Still, this was no reason for her to cancel our session. In fact, this is more than enough of a reason for her to keep it.”

 

“I canceled it.”

 

“You? Why?”

 

“Because, as far as I was concerned, the matter was taken care of for the time being. And, instead of having her cry over it for another hour, she's going to go and fix it.”

 

“That's, uh, very noble of you Inuyasha.” Sango was a bit surprised at the hanyou. Normally, he didn't give a rat demon's ass about feelings.

 

“Nothing to do with nobility,” he blurted out.

 

“So, she cried,” Miroku calmly stated, looking holier-than-art-thou at his cup of tea.

 

“Keh,” Inuyasha blushed. Damn Miroku for actually knowing about him. “It wasn't like that. Okay. So yeah, she cried. Big deal. Women cry in my office all of the fuckin' time. It just wasn't fair for the board to do this behind my back.”

 

“When is the next board meeting?”

 

Inuyasha looked up at Sango and sighed. “Monday, I think.”

 

“Is she continuing with the injections?”

 

“Yeah,” was his reply to Miroku. “No reason to stop until I hear it from the asshole's mouth.”

 

Miroku took a sip of his tea. “And we're still on the two-week schedule?”

 

“Didn't I just say until I hear otherwise?”

 

“Sorry. I was just making sure.”

 

“So, what's Kagome doing?”

 

“Home. No, her mom's, the Shrine.”

 

“I guess I'll have to wait until next week then.” Sango pulled out her cell phone and made a note of things. “I am surprised by this.”

 

“How so?”

 

Sango glanced over at Miroku. “Well, somehow the duty of telling them that they needed proof fell in my lap. I avoided the topic with Kagome because she is still suffering from her grandfather's death. I mentioned it to Hojo though. Kagome didn't need to really know about it. And Hojo's feelings about her grandfather's death aren't deep at all. I guess I didn't convey the seriousness of this proof as I thought I had.”

 

“Sango, are you saying that Hojo deliberately refused to bring forth this proof?”

 

Sango shook her head back at the black-haired doctor. “No, I'm just saying that perhaps he didn't understand the urgency. Also, I'm discovering how busy he really is and that it could have just slipped his mind. I don't know.”

 

Inuyasha snorted. “Everything here is serious. And those that don't know that by now shouldn't be here.”

 

“And just seconds ago, you said you weren't going to stop until you were told to.” Miroku smiled lightly at the hanyou. He sensed that there was more to the situation regarding Inuyasha's patient, but decided to leave it alone, for now.

 

“I'm just saying.” He turned back to his last bowl of soup and worked on finishing it up. Suddenly, he found that he really didn't know what he was saying, confusing him as much as those he talked to. Normally, he just said the first thing that popped into his head because that was what he was thinking at that very moment. But as he found himself going over what he had already said, he began to wonder which parts were true.

 

He wanted to help Kagome. Oh gods, did he want to help her, but not Hojo. Yet, helping Kagome meant helping Hojo and vice versa. Couples were a packaged deal. He helped the couple, not the individuals. He saw only Kagome and tried his darnedest to ignore Hojo. When was the last time he saw that guy anyways?

 

“Oi, Sango, did you meet with Hojo?” Inuyasha inquired as he was now thinking about the dumbass.

 

“No. Not this week. Next week. He's set up for bi-weekly meetings. Why? Something you needed to know?”

 

“Not really. It's just that he missed their joint appointment this week.”

 

Miroku and Sango shared worried looks; something Inuyasha missed having his head in his bowl.

 

“This being the appointment where you changed their fertility treatments?”

 

“Yup.”

 

Miroku leaned back in his chair. “And Hojo is aware of these changes?”

 

“Yup.” Inuyasha glanced up and immediately took notice of the uneasy look on Miroku's face. “At least I think so.” He set his chopsticks down. “I might have mentioned something when I saw him. I don't remember.”

 

“Inuyasha, will it be possible for all of us to get together before we do an egg extraction?”

 

“You can make the appointment. Works for me.”

 

“Great. I guess I'll take care of that then. Sango dear, I wish for you to be there as well.”

 

“Sure. It'll be like the dinner, but without the food,” she joked as she sensed another disaster looming for the appointment, just as it happened at the dinner.

 

Inuyasha stood up, tray in hand. “If there's nothing else then, I'm heading back.” His guests just nodded their heads. He carried his tray and dropped it off onto the conveyor belt. He headed back up to his office for the time remaining of this Friday's work day.

 

xxxxx-----xxx-----xxxxx

 

 

“Mama!”

 

“Kagome, you made it.”

 

Mama Higurashi came strolling out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish rag, a common sign that she was cooking a meal. Kagome pulled her bags in through the door after carrying them up that horrendous flight of stairs. She was glad she still exercised or else those things would have killed her by now.

 

“Hey mama. You, you sure you don't mind.”

 

As soon as she left Dr. Takahashi's office, she got onto the bus and headed back home to pack. It was only after she was done packing and on a different bus already en route to her mother's did she call to warn her mother about her impending arrival.

 

“Of course not. Even if you don't live here, this is still your home and you're welcome at any time.” Mama Higurashi grabbed a bag of Kagome's and carried it over by the stairs for now. “Dinner is almost ready if you're hungry.”

 

“Absolutely. I'm famished.” Kagome dropped her bag and purse near the door and trotted behind her mother into the kitchen. The first thing she did was stop in the entrance, eyes closed, arms hanging languidly along her sides and took a deep breath through her nose before releasing it with an audible ahhh.

 

“Smells good. Smells really good.” Kagome slid into one of the wooden chairs around the dining room table. Thoughts about her mother sitting at this table alone night after night quickly painted a frown on her face. It was unfair for her mother to suffer from so much loneliness after the loss of the men in their family. Kagome had Hojo and her friends to keep her company. She could only remember her mother spending her time taking care of her brother and grandfather and really didn't know if she had any other friends outside of the family.

 

“Kagome?”

 

Kagome looked up at her mother and realized she had been caught spacing off. “Sorry mama. I guess I kinda got lost in my thoughts.”

 

Her mother only smiled as she set the table with bowls, spoons, chopsticks and cups. Humming softly to herself, Mama Higurashi went about her business as she had always done. Kagome could only watch quietly, but completely in awe of her mother.

 

“I hope you don't mind oyaku-donburi for dinner. I haven't had it in a while and figured I would try making it.”

 

“No, actually it sounds great. I haven't eaten it for some time either. Though, that does remind me . . . “

 

“What dear?”

 

“I brought my portfolio home, the one for school. I was hoping you'd look over it for me. Maybe offer any suggestions if you had any.”

 

“Me? Oh, I'm not trained to do that.”

 

“Yes you are mama. I mean . . . you're my main source of inspiration for my cooking. Sitting right here, doing homework, watching, smelling and then eating your cooking . . . I wanted to inspire others to drool over delicious, yet inexpensive food.”

 

Mama Higurashi blushed as she set the pot with rice, egg, chicken, onions and peas down onto the table. “That's a bit much, isn't it?”

 

“No, it's the truth. My friends always wanted to come over here for dinner and when they did, they were always smiling. I want that.”

 

“That's a nice dream Kagome. Once I know you'll make true someday.”

 

Now it was Kagome's turn to blush. “Mama,” she gushed as she dished out a hearty helping of the dinner for herself. The blush quickly turned white as Kagome dwelled on the thought.

 

No, it would remain just that, a dream . . .

 

“So, what was the rush to come over? I know you didn't miss your mother that much.”

 

“Of course I missed you. But I did have another reason for coming over.”

 

“Other than for me to look at your portfolio?”

 

“Yes, something other than that. So, I told you about this new doctor and the fertility treatments he's got me on.” Her mother just nodded. “Well, for monetary reasons, they, uh, need some kind of proof of grandpa's blessing of Hojo and me.”

 

Mama Higurashi froze. It was a strange thing to hear about. She kept silent as she continued to eat, sensing that her daughter had more to say on the matter. Perhaps an explanation of those monetary reasons she briefly mentioned.

 

“I guess from what little I was told about, because Hojo and I aren't married, they . . . the clinic, well, they assume that we won't pay. Or something like that.”

 

“If you and Hojo were to ever separate?”

 

“Like that's going to happen. But yes. They think we'll draw them into some kind of lawsuit, stuff I don't quite understand.” Kagome slammed her chopsticks down onto the table. “Like I'm the type of person who wouldn't pay. I mean, I feel guilty enough when the check-out girl at the grocery store gives me too much change and I don't realize it until I get home. And by then it's too late for me to go back.”

 

“How is proof of your grandfather's blessing going to prove to them of your commitment to cover all fees?”

 

“I don't know. I told him I would sign a contract and he said that could be done.”

 

“Well, we'll look for it tomorrow. Let's enjoy dinner and make it a restful evening, okay?”

 

“Sounds good to me.” Kagome picked up her chopsticks, her mind still fuming over the matter. “Still . . . “

 

“Yes dear?”

 

“Never mind. It'll spoil dinner. We can talk about it later.” Kagome slapped her hands together; eyes closed and sang out, “Itadakimasu.”

 

xxxxx-----xxx-----xxxxx

roshully's note:

There, the contents of the letter.

I don't think I have too much to explain this chapter. Oyako-donburi is a bowl dish in Japan. White rice, in this case, is covered with a chicken and egg mix. Oyako means parent-child, where the chicken is the parent and the egg is the child. I've eaten it with onions and peas mixed in, but you find it made with other veggies like mushrooms and julienne snow peas as well. Carrots would be good too.

 

Response to reviews:
Haily - I'm glad you still like it.

 

Autumn the Reviewer - Eh, sorry about the cliffie. I don't normally try to end like that, but in this case, that's how it worked out. And yeah, it does make someone anxious for the next chapter. It's how authors get readers to flip to the next page.

 

Eartha - Here ya go. The letter chapter. Hope you enjoyed it.

 

Seiteki Tenshi - Yeah, I don't know why I had put it in initially, the whole dom/sub thing. But it fit. One, a lot of people consider it a fetish, but its so well-known and common now that some don't consider it a fetish anymore. But it does work with the story. Hojo is just being Hojo and I think that as we, the readers' see him from a perspective that is not Kagome's, we can see what he is actually doing to her and that's probably why we hate him. Yeah, he's a nice guy and he's just doing his job, but he can't see how it's really affecting Kagome.

 

Inuyasha Baby bre - Yeah, pretty much. Hojo is somewhat of a workaholic. It's not bad, but it's not good either. Any other time, we as the readers wouldn't have a problem with it. It just so happens that his longer hours coincide with Kagome trying to have his child. Not cool

 

gillster - You don't think they'll get together. What makes you think that?

 

@___@ - Is it lemonade season yet?

 

rainydays - Yeah, after I wrote the dinner scene, I was reminded of Sex and the City, though I will admit I have only seen a few episodes. However, when I get together with my friends, we sometimes do the same thing, gossip about our own lives. I think Sex and the City just mimicked what a lot of women do when they get together. I had so much fun with Kouga at the bar with Kagome. He's not a bad guy at all and he really could be a good friend to Kagome. So, that's what I did.

 

cwillia - Sorry about the abrupt ending. But it worked, I think it did anyway. It was briefly mentioned and then forgotten and then bam! Kagome has some stuff to work out. She still believes in Hojo and that she is in love with Hojo. If she were to just go with Inuyasha right now, Kagome is the type who would still question her actions, her lingering feelings. So if I am to put these two characters together, I don't want to do that to Kagome. And it would be hard on Inuyasha. Plus, Inuyasha can't do squat right now because he has to abide by the unwritten rule of his clinic that employees don't get with the patients. Still a lot of crap to address before we get anywhere with Inu/Kags. Please bear with me. Eh, in a few chapters, we'll have Hojo figured out.

 

axel720 - I guess it is easy to dislike Kouga, but if you really think about it, he isn't that bad of a guy to begin with. In the anime/manga, he was a protagonist to Inuyasha's flurry of confusion when it came to Kagome. But, other than that, Kouga and Inuyasha can fight alongside each other. In this story, I took care of the whole love triangle involving those three by having him mated to Ayame right away. Kouga did once have the hots for Kagome, but, he was betrothed to Ayame and the rest is history. But like I said to another reviewer, he was fun to write. It's easy to make him out to be the bad guy, the love rival, but, that's not my Kouga. Yeah, we'll just say Hojo is working. We'll see some more of him later on as Kagome continues with the treatments. She'll be doing in-vitro soon and we'll see how Hojo fits into all of this.

 

lese majeste - Inuyasha, the way I picture him, is a hanyou that has morals and he is bound by those morals. He respects Kagome and he respects the relationship she has with Hojo, so he isn't just going to jump her bones right there. He's struggling with his attraction, which a lot of guys do. Guys like Inuyasha don't openly seduce a woman. Plus, I've made it so that Inuyasha has had the bad lucks with women, so when it comes to them, he's shy, a bit awkward, more like a teenager. He's sure of himself and has confidence, but, like any guy when he's around a girl he likes, bravery and courage disappear. Also, there's a rule at the clinic that says he can't bang her. If he does that, there'll be too many problems. Also, this isn't completely about orgasming. Kagome can orgasm through masturbation, but is sort of convincing herself that she needs to have one with her partner. In reality, a lot of women can't orgasm through sex alone. I don't want this story to be some kind of `wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am' fic. I like to explore emotions and feelings. Sorry, but I do. Please put up with me. Also, how is it obvious that Hojo is having an affair with Kikyou?

 

As always, thanks for reading and the reviews are awesome. Hearing your comments and stuff really keeps me motivated.

 

I'm still going through and editing this story as much as I can.

 

roshully