InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The House of Mirth ❯ Preparations ( Chapter 3 )

The House of Mirth

By: RedHerring

 

Chapter 3: Preparations

 

A door slamming wakes me up. Who is up at this hour? I unstick my face from the textbook that I fell asleep on and glance at the clock. 3:37 A.M. I groan and roll onto my back.

 

My hearing has come back and all the sounds from outside my door can filter under. I can plainly hear The Bastard and his bitch going at it. Why can't they do that stuff somewhere else, like they usually do? The stench of their sex wafts across my nose, and I gag. They are so fucking disgusting.

 

Shippou stirs on the bed. His face is scrunched up against the smell, and he will wake unless I do something. Searching the room, I look for something I can drape over his face to block out the disturbing smell. Emerging from my closet, I'm holding a small green quilted blanket. Shippou's mother made it for me when she made Myoga, the stuffed flea, for Shippou, who was just an infant at the time.

 

Silently padding over to the kit, I drape the blanket over his face, and he quiets down again. I sigh in relief; it would not have been good if I had to explain what was happening.

 

I hear the door slam again. The Bastard's whore is gone and he's making his way down the hall. Quickly, I jump back into my position with my head lying on my history book for a pillow. I even out my breath and try to relax my muscles as he opens the door and I can practically hear his sneer.

 

He closes the door and goes to his room, but not after drenching the room with his disgusting scent. It's everywhere; and it clings to everything. Oh, God, I'll never get the stink out, and I doubt I'll fall asleep for the rest of the night. Should I study some more? No, I doubt I can stuff any more information on the American Revolution into my head.

 

I should get started on planning our escape. I think I can keep us in a small apartment for about a month before we run out of money, counting the deposit. It would have to be a crappy apartment, though. No furniture, either. I think I have all the necessary papers. I even have a set of Onigumo's documents -- his social security number, birth certificate, credit card, and drivers license. I even know how to forge his signature. I hope I do not have to use anything of his, though. I really don't want to rely on him any longer.

 

I have my own documents that Tsuyo helped me get; enough to get a job, and maybe a place to live. Now I'm glad that I paid all of that money to get my own license. Of course, I have never had much practice driving around. It was by an insane stroke of luck that my road test consisted of doing a three point turn, and passing through an intersection.

 

Oh, great. My thoughts are wandering. Focus! You have to figure out how to get away and keep The Bastard from finding you. The only reason he keeps us is because he gets a tax write off.

 

Maybe I can take a train, or a bus to New York, or some other place. Tomorrow I need to look into places far from here where it will be cheap to rent a place. Hopefully with no questions asked.

 

But I do not want to bring Shippou to places where those kinds of apartments are. Would it be better to avoid cities? Maybe I can find a nice, small town and hide out there. Some backwater place where I can finish my education, and then get some scholarships to go to college. After all, disappearing into the middle of nowhere is just as effective as disappearing into a crowd. I should move across the country. Maybe I should move across the country, or take Shippou to the ocean.

 

Plus, if I don't go to the city, it will be easier to get food. Wooded areas are bound to have game roaming around, and I can always learn to hunt. Farmland would always provide an ideal place for filching food. New Hampshire has forests. It also has no sales tax; but the high property tax might affect the price of an apartment. It would be possible to live in the woods for a while - uncomfortable, dirty, unhealthy, degrading and tiresome, but possible -- but I will have to find a real place before winter sets in.

 

AAAARGHHHH! Why can't I ever get a break? I glance at the clock and grunt in disgust. 4:00 A.M. Going to be a long night.

.o.

.o.

.o.

In the morning I keep a low profile as Onigumo gets ready for work. It's still early, and I had decided to finish the homework I had leftover from last night with the light from the rising sun.

 

Shippou had woken up a few times during the night, complaining of pain in his chest. I gave him an aspirin, and he went back to sleep. At 5:30 A.M. Shippou complained that he could not breathe very well and he had a bit of a fever. I can hear him now. His breathing is all congested, and his nose is a bright red. His cold has probably gotten worse. Youkai are usually healthy, but children and the elderly can get sick. Especially if they were just been beaten, and they were sick to begin with.

 

“Hey fucker!” I am jolted out of my thoughts as The Bastard slams open the door.

 

“Yes, sir?” I ask a blandly as I can.

 

“Vacuum before I get home. And I want food ready and waiting this time too!” he shouts, and does not wait for a response before he slams the door and leaves the apartment. I can relax only when the sound of his footsteps fade.

 

“Holy shit!” I yell, glancing at the clock. I have fifteen minutes to dress Shippou, schedule a doctor's appointment, drop him off at Tsuyo's, and get to homeroom.

 

“Shippou, Shippou! Wake up!” I nudge him awake as I use one hand to dial the phone and another to button up my jeans.

 

“Inuyasha? W'ahs goin' on?” he slurs sleepily, one hand rises to rub his eyes.

 

“You're going to Tsuyo's, get dressed,” I tell him. I dash out and toss a piece of bread in the toaster while the phone continues to ring.

 

“This is Dr.Arcidi's office, how may I help you?” a pleasant voice asks on the phone.

 

“Yes, this is Inuyasha Gize, calling to schedule an appointment for Shippou Gize,” I reply into the phone, while struggling to get socks on. I can hear Shippou moving around the room, apparently trying to find some fresh cloths.

 

“Inuyashaaaaaa,” Shippou moans. “I'm gonna throw uuuuup.”

 

“Shit,” I curse and grab a large mixing bowl for him and run back to the room.

 

“And what is your relationship to Shippou, sir?” the secretary asks. I am distracted by Shippou snatching the bowl out of my hands and emptying the contents of his stomach.

 

“Uh... s-step brother,” I stammer as the urge to vomit hits me along with the smell of bile. Shippou lays back in exhaustion after heaving a few more times.

 

“Can I have his guardian's name, Mr.Gize?” the secretary asks pleasantly.

 

“Onigumo Gize,” I reply. I take the bowl from Shippou and drop it off in the bathroom to deal with later.

 

“Mr.Gize, it is usually our policy at this clinic to have the guardian confirm the need for an appointment,” she informs me.

 

“I know, but Onigumo isn't available to schedule Shippou for an appointment. He's arranged with Dr.Arcidi permission for me to take care of Shippou's check ups,” I less-than-patiently explain.

 

“Very well. Now, all I need it the insurance policy number,” I hear on the other end of the phone.

 

“Oh, shit... hold on a second.” This had to be the fourth time I tell them this. Where do they lose this information that I always have to repeat?!

 

I finally find the card in my desk and I rattle off the number to the secretary.

 

“And this is registered under your name?” she asks.

 

“No, it's Onigumo's insurance policy,” I tell her shortly. Shippou has fallen back and kicked the covers off of him. He struggles to throw them off again when I recover him, but I'm having none of it.

 

“Well, your policy covers this check up, and whatever medication he'll need, to some extent, and that depends on the medication. Dr.Arcidi has openings today at 9:00, 12:30, 4:00, and 4:45,” the secretary says and waits for my response.

 

Looking at Shippou, I heave a tired sigh. He can't really sit up, he has a high fever, and to top it off, he just threw up. Looks like I will not be going to school today. But that's ok; I don't really have any tests that I'll miss.

 

“Um, we'll be there for the nine o'clock appointment. Will I need to sign anything?” I ask.

 

“No, everything seems to be in order. Just show up with Shippou, and Dr.Arcidi should be with you as soon as possible,” she says.

 

“Yeah, thanks,” I reply and hang up. I run my fingers through my long hair and grimace. I need a shower. Shippou is asleep again. I swear, that kit falls asleep so fast, I wonder if he has narcolepsy sometimes.

 

Glancing at the clock on my way to the bathroom, I see the time: 7:36. Good, I can probably take care of everything before I have to bring Shippou to the doctor. Before I head to the bathroom, I go to the kitchen and turn off the toaster. I probably won't be eating the toast.

 

I take a quick shower, only standing under the hot water for a few minutes with my ears pinned back so the water won't get in them. I hate water in my ears. When I get out, I dry off and dress up. My thoughts wander around aimlessly as I go through the motions of dressing, disposing of the mess Shippou made, fixing food, and cleaning up after I eat.

 

After checking in with the school, I call Tsuyo. It rings a few times, but she picks up, and in the background I can hear the voices of little children calling for her attention.

 

“Hey, Tsuyo. What's up?” I ask as she picks up.

 

“Inuyasha! Hello, how are you?” she asks concernedly. She knows a bit of ,y and Shippou's situation and has always been sympathetic.

 

“I'm fine, but Shippou is sick. Worse than yesterday, so I have to take him to the doctor in a while,” I say casually.

 

“Well, you should bring him by for a few minutes later. All of the children made him get well cards,” she says happily.

 

“Maybe,” I say noncommittally. “I'll probably be stopping by anyway... you know... to say goodbye.”

 

“So you're leaving?” she asks, her tone going from happy to concern instantly.

 

“Yeah, I'll tell you about it later, though. Shippou is waking up, and we have to leave in a little bit. Plus, I still want him to eat something before we leave,” I say in a hushed voice. Shippou is indeed waking up, and even though no one is listening in on the conversation, I whisper out of habit.

 

“Alright, I'll see you at closing time, then. Shippou can pick up his cards too,” she says, her voice once again turning bright and cheery.

 

“See you later, Tsuyo,” I say, and hang up the phone.

 

Shippou is looking at me through glazed eyes. “Who was that, Inuyasha?” he asks.

 

“That was Tsuyo,” I say. “She wants us to stop by for a while later. Some kids made you get well cards and she wants to give them to you.”

 

“Really?” he asks, cheering up immediately. He loves Tsuyo, and the kids there are his best friends. It hits me again that I will be taking him away from all of his friends; but I will also be taking him away from that bastard. He can always make some new friends and he's old enough to start kindergarten now....

 

“Yeah, squirt. But we can't go anywhere `till after we get you to the doctors,” I say as I pick him up and bring him to the bathroom to give him a bath. Maybe the cold water will help bring down the fever.

 

He makes a face. “I don't like the doctor. Her hands are cold, and she's mean,” he pouts. I sit him on the table top and strip him.

 

“Yeah, well deal with it squirt,” I say teasingly, “Not everyone is as nice as me.” The friendly banter is cheering him up a bit, but I can still see his exhaustion.

 

I go and turn on the tap in the tub and keep it at slightly cooler than room temperature.

 

“Nice? You? You have got to be kidding me,” he quips. I mock growl and gently toss him in the tub. He yelps at the cold temperature and starts shivering violently.

 

“W-what n-n-ic-c-e pers-s-son would p-put me thr-r-o-o-ugh this kind o-of t-t-ort-ture?” he chatters.

 

“A person who's trying to get your fever down, runt,” I retort as I soap up a wash cloth. He just `humph's and leans against my hand as I wash his back. He really is worn out by this fever. He almost falls asleep against the side of the tub when I go to wash his hair.

 

“Hey, squirt! No falling asleep in the tub. Do you want to drown?” I ask him, lightly shaking him awake.

 

“Leammie aloooone,” he whines. I lightly tap him on the nose and he quits his struggling.

 

“Come on, squirt. You can sleep on the way to the doctor,” I say, and this seems to pacify him.

 

After I finish rinsing him off, I help him dress in some little overalls. He can barely stand up, but he insists that he do most of the work himself.

 

He finishes and I grab a plastic bag of cheerios, hoping that he'll snack on some. I stick him in his little jacket, and put on my own while I slide into my sneakers. Picking him up and resting him against my shoulder, I find myself wondering if this is what a single parent feels like.

 

The thought lingers in my head as I turn to lock the door and start walking down the street to Dr.Arcidi's. Maybe that would be a good cover for me and Shippou when we leave. Because, technically, I am old enough to be his father.

 

AN: Another chapter done, another cute moment. Nothing to say, except I am sorry if the last chapter disturbed you, but you were warned.

Also, thank you HieiWannabe for editing my chapters! You do an awesome job!

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any related characters.