InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ When Lights Go Down ❯ Chapter 2

Six months before . . .

 

“My name's Izayoi,” the young girl smiled. “What's yours?”

 

She couldn't have been more than twenty years old. He could tell that just by looking at her. Yet, she looked pinched, half-starved. If he hadn't had as much sake as he had -- he'd lost track after the tenth or twelfth glass -- he'd have been able to detect that she had more in her system than just alcohol. In fact, his nose screamed warnings at him but he ignored it. The sake had given him a slightly happy/goofy feeling and he wanted to enjoy it.

 

“Tai,” he replied. Though he was drunk and ignoring what his sense of smell was telling him, he wasn't so far gone as to give out his full name to just anyone, especially to some strange girl who smiled so prettily at him.

 

“Tai,” she rolled his name around on her tongue then smiled even more. “Nice name. Can I sit here or is it just a party for one?”

 

“By all means,” InuTaisho chuckled. “Have a seat. Wouldn't mind some company for a change.”

 

As she sat next to him, he couldn't help but notice just how pale and thin Izayoi appeared to be. Her ribs almost jutted out of her skin. “Can I get you something to eat, Izayoi?”

 

“No thank you,” she shook her head. “I'm not hungry.”

 

“Oh . . . You don't mind if I get something though?”

 

“Not at all,” Izayoi smiled warmly. “By all means.”

 

He flagged down one of the waitresses and placed a rather large order, hoping he could entice the girl to eat. His plan worked . . . to an extent. Izayoi drank more than she ate. He couldn't help but notice that she seemed troubled by something, but, when he'd asked her if there was anything wrong, she just shook her head and brushed off his concern, saying it was nothing. For the rest of the night, they made small talk and continued to sip on sake and margaritas. Somehow, as they'd left the bar together, he ended up kissing her. The sake had gone completely to his head as did long pent-up desires. He woke up the next morning, hung over, naked, and alone with only a vague recollection of taking the human girl to his bed . . .

 

* * *

 

InuTaisho let out a sigh as he flipped the lights on to his apartment. It had been a long day and all he wanted to do at that moment was run a hot bath and relax. He slipped out of his shoes, placing his keys in their usual spot by the door. As he made his way towards the bathroom, InuTaisho saw that the light to his answering machine flashing. He frowned.

 

'Who would call me during the day while I'm at work?' He almost ruled Yashira out, figuring if it had been an emergency, she'd have contacted him at the office. 'Unless there's been a change in visitation.'

 

InuTaisho pressed the button and leaned on the counter as he waited for the message to play.

 

“Shimizu-san, this is Dr. Sugara at Tokyo Hospital . . .”

 

His blood ran cold at hearing the words “Tokyo Hospital” and almost ran out the door. Then he shook his head and forced himself to listen, trying to reassure him that if something had happened to Sesshomaru, Yashira would have called him.

 

“I'm calling to inform you that Hukara Izayoi has given birth to a child, a son, in the mid morning hours . . .”

 

`Hukara Izayoi?' he frowned. `Who the hell is that? I don't know anyone by that name . . . though the name is Izayoi is familiar . . .'

 

“I'm sure that you are wondering why I am calling you about this matter. It is really quite simple. Hukara-san was unable to tell us who the father to her child is so we decided to run some tests. Given the child's hanyou appearance, it was rather easy to narrow the field down. And blood tests have confirmed that the child is yours. I ask that you come right away. Hukara-san has left the hospital, without even a glance at the child. It is imperative that you come as soon as you can, Shimizu-san. The child might not make it through the night . . .”

 

Numb to his core, InuTaisho dashed for the door, not even bothering to listen to the rest of the message. At that moment, the only thing that mattered was that he get to the hospital. Not the infant's mother, not his office, not even Yashira and Sesshomaru. He had to go, he had to see if it was true.

 

'Kami, why did this have to happen? Why like this?'

 

He called for his driver as he waited for the elevator. It felt like a dream . . . a very bad dream. One of which he had no escape for.