Caught Up

Chapter 10- Birthday

“Ok, so everyone clear on the plan? Know what to do?” Sango asked the huddled group. Everyone nodded. “Good. Quick, here she comes.”

“Hi, guys. What’s going on?” Kagome had just walked into the room with Sesshoumaru.

“Hey Kagome,” they chorused. She and Sesshoumaru sat down.

“Are you guys doing anything this weekend?” asked Kagome.

“Inu Yasha and I are going up to my parent’s house for the weekend,” answered Kikyo.

“My dojo is holding a big tournament,” said Sango.

“I’m planning on paying a visit to my grandfather,” replied Ayame.

Kagome’s face fell slightly. “Oh, I see… What about you, Miroku?”

Miroku shrugged casually. “I think Koga and I are going to hit up some bars and get laid. Want to join us, Sesshoumaru?”

Sesshoumaru growled as Sango and Ayame whacked Miroku and Koga on the head, respectively. He looked down at Kagome sitting next to him, who was smiling brightly.

“I’ll take that as a ‘no’. Why do you ask, Kagome?” inquired Miroku, massaging his head.

“Nothing! I just wanted to see if you guys wanted to hang out. It’s no big deal. I’ll see you all later!” she left.

“You think she suspects?” Sango whispered.

Inu Yasha snorted. “Keh. She’s so air-headed and bubbly, I wouldn’t be surprised if she forgot her own birthday.”

“I told you to be careful," Sesshoumaru growled.

“That reminds me,” blurted Sango. “Sesshoumaru, will it be alright if we borrow your castle of a house for the party?”

He nodded.

“Great! ‘Operation: Kagome’s Surprise Party’ is a go!” They high-fived. Sesshoumaru resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

He was the only one who knew it wasn’t Kagome’s real birthday. Sango had sneaked a look at Kagome’s license, but according to her original birth certificate it was in late January, not October.

Kagome sure was popular. Her circle of friends only used her fake name in public, since she’d already introduced herself as Kagome. All of them knew Kagome was hiding something, a few knew she’d been hurt, others knew she’d been saved by Sesshoumaru, but only he knew the complete truth. He respected Kagome’s right to tell, when she was ready.

But still, he reflected, it wasn’t as if he wasn’t hiding anything either. Kagome didn’t know the true reasons behind Koga’s frequent “business” trips, Ayame’s visits to her sick grandfather she no longer had, his own and others’ midnight missions, or what the basement and underground floors were used for. ‘It’s for her own good,’ Sesshoumaru thought. Somehow it felt more like an excuse than a reason.

The first part of Operation: KSP went smoothly. The girls came over on Saturday morning to decorate Sesshoumaru’s home, Miroku and Inu Yasha handled the food and drinks, and Koga took care of the music. It was a good thing they already knew where his secluded mansion was; Sesshoumaru would not have let them known if they didn’t, even for Kagome’s birthday party.

The party itself would mostly take place in the entertainment or game room, where there were a variety of equipment for enjoyment including 2 pool tables, foosball, several arcade games, a mini-bar, and a door connecting to the small indoor pool, and another that led to a screen room for viewing movies, all covered in cobwebs and in need of dusting.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Everything was ready, and the only thing left to do was Sesshomaru’s part. So, on the night of the special day, he called an unhappy Kagome into work. She had been moping around like she did every Saturday, even more depressed that her friends couldn’t care to wish her a “happy fake birthday!” ‘Especially Sesshoumaru!’ she thought sulkily. ‘At least HE should know. Sango and others haven't known me that long, but can’t the man at least pat me on the head, or something?’ She sighed and settled for giving herself a very luxurious bath -with candles, bubbles, lavender oil, and mineral salts- when Sesshoumaru called her on the cell phone he gave her and told her to see him in his office. She gave a “I’ll be right there,” and hung up. Looking at the full bath tub, just begging to be sunk into, Kagome figured she could at lease get a quick dip and stepped in.

“Where is she?” Sesshoumaru half growled, half hissed to himself. The others were expecting him and the slow poke at 7pm. It was 6:30. Running his hand through his hair in frustration, Sesshoumaru grabbed his coat and headed towards the elevator.

Kagome, in the meantime, had been thoroughly enjoying her bath. Not caring if the water spilled or if the bubbles got on the walls, she washed her hair, scrubbed her body, and was just about to relax a bit more when she heard an impatient knock on her bedroom door.

“Kagome! What are you doing? I asked you to come down half an hour ago.”

‘Sesshoumaru!’ she thought in panic. ‘Oh no! He can’t see me like this.’ Kagome quickly got out and wrapped a towel around herself.

“Kagome, are you in here?” Sesshoumaru pounded on the door.

Kagome gasped and quickly moved around, looking for her robe. Her soapy feet, mixed with bubbles on the tiled floor, sent her feet flying out from under her. “A-a-aaaah” She managed out a squeak and a short grunt before hitting the floor very hard, her towel slipping down and floating away at the same time.

Outside, an impatient inuyoukai opened the bedroom door and stepped inside. “Kagome?” He thought he heard something heavy fall. He walked to the bathroom door and knocked, pressing his ear lightly to the door. “Are you in there?”

Kagome’s previously dazed eyes snapped open. ‘Oh no! No no no no! Noooo….’ She tried to speak and get up, but couldn’t. The ceiling spun and her body was in intense pain, especially her neck and head. “Uh… ugh…”

Sesshoumaru heard something like strange whimpering or moaning from inside. It sounded like a pained groan. “Are you alright?”
No answer.
“I’m coming in.”

Kagome’s eyes grew as wide as saucers. 'No no no no no!' She shut her eyes as the door burst open.

“Kag-”
Sesshoumaru’s eyes widened a fraction of an inch. He at first looked to see where she’d gone, when he spotted her sprawled out on the wet floor, as naked as she was the day she was born and just as vulnerable and revealing... A wounded animal’s noise was coming from her. He backed away and quickly shut the door. He shook his head. ‘Damn.’

Kagome blinked, feeling numb. ‘My life... Is over.’'

Sesshoumaru, thinking fast, tore the cover sheet off Kagome’s bed and stood by the door. “I’m turning the lights off,” he called through the door. Naked and humiliated or not she was obviously hurt, and it wouldn’t hurt more for her to not know that he didn’t have any trouble seeing in darkness. Taking a deep breath, he kicked the door open, turned the lights off, and went to her limp form on the ground with the bed throw held in front of him.

Five minutes later, Sesshoumaru emerged with Kagome in his arms, the blue and white blanket tucked snugly around her. She was silently crying. He laid her gently on the bed, and wiped her wet hair, water, sweat, and tears from her face.

“Can you hear me? Where does it hurt? Say something, Kagome.”

Kagome stared resentfully at him. Scowling, he shoved her to make room for him on the mattress and rolled her caterpillar-like form over onto her stomach. As she lay there Sesshoumaru brought a fresh towel from the bathroom and sat on the bed. He wrapped her hair up expertly and piled it on top of her head. She felt him lightly pull the bed sheet down and massage her back.

‘Ooooh, aaaaaah. That feels good.’ She relaxed.

“Foolish girl,” Sesshoumaru muttered. He didn’t have to be a genius to know what happened. He gently but firmly worked out all the kinks, tension, and soreness from her neck and back. He moved to her back muscles and shoulder blades, giving extra attention to her neck and spine. When he was finally done he toweled her hair dry, not realizing what he was doing until Kagome made an irritated noise.

He cleared his throat and spoke her name.

Kagome groaned and looked up, glaring accusingly.
For the first time in his life Sesshoumaru wasn’t sure what to say. “Are you feeling well?”
Her eyes got teary. He gulped.
”……”
“If,” he cleared his throat again. “If you can get up and put some clothes on, I will drive you to the hospital.”

Kagome continued to glare at him. He slowly stood up and left the room with as much dignity as possible.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An hour later, Kagome and Sesshoumaru were finally headed to his home in his black limousine. She had a neck brace on, and since she was hurt he couldn’t bring himself to coax her into a decent outfit like he had been supposed to. She was wearing matching sweatpants and sweatshirt, and his trench coat. The ride was silent for the most part.

He felt rather uncomfortable. Before he could say a word, she confronted him on something even worse.

"You saw, didn't you?!" she all but snapped at him.

"Hn..."

"You saw me, didn't you?"

He didn’t want to answer, but she was glaring at him. He cleared his throat.

"Well, yes, if you must know."

"Waaaaaaah!" She shoved her face in her hands and wailed.

Sesshoumaru blinked. “Isn’t it obvious that I would have seen every-“

"You're supposed to say you didn't, even if you did!"

Being cornered and accused nonstop was really beginning to get on his nerves. "Is that so? Alright, I didn't then."

She glared. “What’s the use of saying that now, after you already admitted you looked!”

“I did not look. It is difficult to save you from a serious concussion without using one’s eyes, Kagome.”

“But still!”

“I did not see anything. Are you quite satisfied?”

“No, not really-“

He sighed.

”Hmph. Can’t you be just a little sensitive about how embarrassed I must be and lie for my sake?”

He narrowed his eyes. “This Sesshoumaru, unlike you, does not lie easily to cover up embarrassment.”

“Oh ho, are you saying you never lied or bluffed in your entire life before?”

“Never.”

“As if. Wasn’t it a bluff that-?”

“Kagome.”

She huffed, crossed her arms, and looked away. A red blush slowly crept across her cheeks. When she looked at him after a few minutes at his silence, he was sitting right next to her with an arm behind but not on her shoulders with a serious look on his face. She faltered.

“What?”

“I apologize.”

“F-for what?”

“I never realized, but now, I am able to see you from a different view… as a mature woman.”

“What-“

He continued a little recklessly, “you are right, Kagome. I’m seeing you with new eyes now that…” His eyes trailed over her body.

She blushed furiously. One part of her brain wanted to reach out and slap him, and push away his towering form. The other, more maidenly part of her brain wanted to remain shy and let him continue with the compli-

“It is a joke,” he said coolly, pulling away, “Is it convincing enough?”

Kagome’s jaw dropped. “You… you…”

The car pulled to a stop, and within few seconds the driver opened the door for them.

To rub it in, he threw more harsh words over his shoulder as he exited the limo. “Really, it wasn’t that great of a view.” He smirked. “Nothing special from what I’ve seen. It is not as if there is anything to see.”

She opened her mouth angrily.

“Ah, that’s right,” he purposely interrupted as he straightened his jacket. “We’re pretending I didn’t see anything.”

“…..!”

“Are you not coming?”

She wailed loudly and ran past him in her cow-head indoor slippers (she hadn’t had an opportunity to put on proper shoes, and Sesshoumaru refused to turn around to get some while on their way to the emergency room).
”Be careful!” he called after her, “or you will slip and injure your head again!”

She could hear the taunting tone in his voice. It only infuriated her further. “With a head as inflated as yours with all that ego, I’d be more worried about not banging it on the door frame when you walk through it!”

When Kagome turned around with a smug look on her face to see how he would react, she saw, to her horror, a pissed off Sesshoumaru charge at her with all his might. She squealed and ran as fast as she could away from. She was too freaked out by being chased by someone as scary as her boss to notice the majesty of the mansion, and the court and the garden. As it was winter there weren’t many plants in sight but the moonbeam bounced off the still fountains and smooth marble driveway, making everything celestial looking and beautiful. Kagome didn’t have time to see all these things, but she did notice how big the ‘house’ was. The front doors alone were as tall as a two-story house and just as wide as one.

She slowed down. “Wow, that’s big! But still, not big enough; don’t bump your head, Sesshoumaru! You’d better duck!”
She heard him growl. When had he gotten so close!

She gasped and jumped a few stairs. Kagome pulled on the handle, but it was locked and wouldn’t budge. Now almost mad with panic, she pleaded at the top of her lungs as she banged and pushed at the same time. Her heart was pounding.

“Oh please open up! Let me in! Let me in!” she sobbed.

The door creaked open, and she fell through it. She quickly got up and pushed it close, but it was so heavy! She screamed and sobbed; she could see Sesshoumaru getting closer! With a mighty heave she moved the door, but a clawed, striped hand grabbed a hold before she could close it completely. She could hear very, very evil and amused chuckling on the other side.

She felt like Belle being chased by the wild-tempered beast. The castle definitely wasn’t out of scene. She shrieked and ran towards the first door she saw, now crying her eyes out and barely able to see where she was going.

“Please…” She lost one of her cow slippers in the dark.

“Help me, help me-“

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”

Lights flickered on all at once and blinded her.

“-He’s going to eat me!” She broke down in terrified sobs and fell to her knees.

Silence.

“Jeez,” commented Inuyasha, stepping up from a couch he’d been hiding behind. “I didn’t think you’d be that touched. Who’s going to eat you?”

Kagome hiccupped and wailed loudly. She was quite a sight to see; her face was covered in snot and tears, her hair was still damp, and she still had the neck brace on. Sesshoumaru’s coat was hanging off her shoulders; the sleeves were too long by at least a foot, so when she brought her hands up to cover her face she looked like a little girl caught in the act of trying on her big daddy’s clothes.

Inuyasha crouched before her. “Er, are you alright?”

Something poked her unexpectedly in the middle of her back. She screamed wildly and floored Inuyasha as she shot out of her skin to the other side of the room.

Inuyasha swore loudly and looked up. Sesshoumaru was standing there with a very arrogant look on his face, his shoe still in the air from nudging poor Kagome.

He smirked.

“Wipe the booger off your nose, Kagome. You will get it on my- I did not say wipe it on MY coat woman!”