Beautiful Souls

Inuyasha looked around as he was pulled into the space between his world and Kagome’s. Surprisingly, everyone was with him. Suddenly relieved that he was not alone, he braced himself for impact, just as the ground on the other side of the well rose to meet them.

Miroku turned to Inuyasha in wonder, “Did we make it?” He looked a little paler then before.

Inuyasha nodded, slinging Kagome over his shoulder to climb the ladder. “Let me go first. I’m not sure if I can carry her and get up here.” Pulling himself upward, he struggled to maintain his balance until he could set Kagome down outside the well.

Throwing himself over, he looked down at the others. Sango was already beginning to climb. Inuyasha waited impatiently as Kohaku and Miroku, with Shippou now on his shoulder, followed. Running hurriedly, the group approached the main house.

Without knocking, Inuyasha opened the front door, and entered the living room, “Mrs. Higurashi!”

Kagome’s mother appeared, wiping her hands on a towel, a look of surprise on her face. “Inuyasha! What’s....” She trailed off as her gaze fell on her daughter. Without a word she pointed at the couch. Kneeling beside Kagome, she looked placidly at Inuyasha. “Tell me.”

Inuyasha shook his head, “Later. She needs help. It’s... a kind of poison. I remember... Kagome told me once about a place people go where they make you better.... She need help.”

The look in the hanyou’s eyes created an urgency in the woman. Getting to her feet, she headed towards the phone, speaking quickly, “Inuyasha, go get dressed. I’ll call an ambulance.”

With a look to the others to make sure they’d watched over Kagome, Inuyasha ran up the stairs to Kagome’s room, where his cloths for this time were kept. Changing quickly, Inuyasha couldn’t keep himself from glancing around the bedroom. Kagome’s smell was everywhere here and his chest grew tight at the thought that....

“No.” Forcing the thought out of his mind, he pulled a cap onto his head. With a dry smile, he realized for once that he didn’t need the thing and tossed it aside.

Returning back downstairs, he saw that Souta and Ji-Chan were now there. As Kagome’s mother re-entered the room, Inuyasha was surprised to see that her eyes held no fear in them.

Turning to Inuyasha, Mrs. Higurashi nodded, “We have a few minutes until they arrive; please tell me what’s happened?”

Inuyasha nodded and began from the beginning, telling the story of their battle for the second time that night. As he spoke, he studied the woman’s face. ‘She’s strong... maybe not as strong as Kagome... but she’s a fighter,’ Inuyasha held nothing back.

When he’d finished, Mrs. Higurashi turned and placed a hand on her daughter. A small shake in her voice belied her emotion, though she remained calm, “Thank you, Inuyasha. For bringing her here. I’ve always believed that you’d protect her, and you have.” Looking at him, she noticed the look of sorrow on his face.

Hugging him, she spoke confidently, “Kagome is strong. She’ll get through this.” Pulling out of the embrace, she met his eyes. “All of us will.”

Inuyasha nodded as a knock sounded at the door. Souta went to answer it.

Mrs. Higurashi nodded, “They’re here. They’ll have had to carry up a stretcher since there’s no direct rode. Inuyasha, you’ll ride with them in the ambulance?” Turning to the others, she smiled distractedly, “You must be Sango, Miroku, Shippou and Kohaku. Thank you for coming; please make yourselves at home. You’ll need to change now, though. Sango, you should look through Kagome’s closet and Miroku can borrow some of Inuyasha’s things. Shippou, we’ll have to do something about that tail... I think I still have some of Souta’s clothes from when he was your size. Let’s go see. We’ll follow in the car as soon as we’re ready.”

The emergency workers came in and, after assessing the patient, lifted Kagome onto the stretcher. Telling Mrs. Higurashi where they were taking her and motioning for Inuyasha to follow them, they headed to the door.

Kagome’s mother stopped Inuyasha one last time before he left. “Inuyasha... these people may do some things that will upset you. Remember that they know what they’re doing and remain calm. I’ll be there as soon as possible. I told them that she just collapsed and we don’t know why. I don’t know any type of poison we can say she was exposed to so....” Kissing his cheek, she reminded him to look after Kagome, though she knew she didn’t have to.

The ambulance was parked at the bottom of the hill that led up to the shrine. Climbing in back with one of the technicians, he sat on a low bench and reached for Kagome’s hand. The man with him began looking Kagome over more throughly as the other guy started the vehicle.

Inuyasha watched as the technician put something he didn’t recognize over Kagome’s head. It was thin, clear and hollow, with two protrusions the man inserted into her nose.

Seeing Inuyasha’s confusion, the man smiled reassuringly, “The tube had air in it... it’s helping her breathe.”

Inuyasha nodded as the man reached over and grabbed what looked like a needle attached to another tube and ending in a clear bag filled with some sort of liquid.

Holding up the needle, the man, again, explained, “ I’m going to put this in her hand. It’ll allow me to give her fluids and medication without her having to swallow anything, okay?”

Restraining himself as the needle was inserted, Inuyasha looked away.

Talking as he worked, the man questioned his passenger, “Her mother said she fainted. Do you know what might’ve caused it?”

Inuyasha shook his head, afraid to speak as he watched Kagome grow paler. The remainder of the ride was quite. The technician kept feeling Kagome’s wrist and looking at what Kagome had told him was a watch... a time keeper.

Just when Inuyasha was ready to hurt someone, they stopped moving. The back doors opened and Kagome was pulled out of the ambulance. Inuyasha followed as some people wheeled Kagome down a long hallway and into a very tiny room. Getting in with them, Inuyasha was startled when the room started moving. Before he could panic, he realized that nobody else seemed surprised.

The doors opened again and Kagome was rushed out. Pushing her into a room, the people blocked his view of the girl as others crowded around her. A machine in the corner started beeping slowly. A man walked away from the table with a vial that had a needle attached to it. The vial was filled with Kagome’s blood.

Inuyasha stood back, out of the way. He’d never felt more useless in his life. Unable to even see Kagome, the only thing that prevented Inuyasha from exploding were the words Mrs. Higurashi had spoken to him before he’d left the house. ‘They’ll make her better....’ he reminded himself, ‘This is five hundred years after your time... they can heal her.’

Slowly, the people surrounding Kagome disappeared. At last, only two stood beside her bed. Approaching quietly, Inuyasha looked to see what had been done to her. She still had the tube across her face and the needle in her hand. Her clothing had been exchanged for a simple gown that reached about mid-thigh. From below the gown, another tube emerged and attached to a plastic bag that hung from the stand that the needle in her hand was attached to as well. A thin, yellow liquid began to enter the bag and Inuyasha realized it was urine.

A clip of some kind had been attached to her finger, making it glow with a small, red light. Small wires appeared through the top of her gown, and these seemed to be attached to the beeping box. The box looked like the TV at Kagome’s house, only this one had a black screen, and several green lines and numbers were displayed on it.

He realized that the two people, a man and a woman, were watching him. The woman smiled and indicated towards Kagome, “Are you her boyfriend?”

Inuyasha nodded, remembering the word her friends had used to describe him.

The male smiled, compassionately, “She’s going to be alright. The doctor is being called right now.”

The door opened and a large man entered. He smiled to the two workers in the room, telling them that he would be in charge of Ms. Higurashi’s case. When they left, he turned to face Inuyasha. His black hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and he had the most unusually large blue eyes that the hanyou had ever seen.

Approaching Kagome, the man watched the beeping box beside her bed before turning to address her companion, “Why don’t you tell me what really happened, Inuyasha.”

Inuyasha’s jaw dropped, “Do I know you?” he asked, incredulously.

The doctor’s smile widened, “Of course. I’m sorry, I’m so used to it I’d forgotten you wouldn’t know. Allow me to present myself in a more familiar form.”

Before Inuyasha’s eyes, the man transformed into an even larger being. Huge and hulking, his face elongated and his eyes grew bigger and rounder, losing the black and white colors entirely. Suddenly, Inuyasha realized who it was, “Jinenji?”(1)

The large hanyou looked pleased, “So you do remember. I’d hoped you would.” Transforming back into his more human appearance, he smiled, “I recognized Kagome’s name on the register. I’m head of the hospital here, so I personally took over her case.”

Inuyasha stared, “But... how the fuck did you get here? You don’t even seem surprised to see us! What the hell is going on?” Inuyasha hated being confused and this was the worst he’d ever been.

Jinenji nodded, “I’m not surprised to see you, actually. I’m here because I’ve lived another five hundred years since you last saw me.” Recognizing the barrage of questions mounting in Inuyasha’s eyes, Jinenji held up his hands, “I promise, I’ll answer your questions, as best I’m able, at a later time. First though, I need to know what’s happened to Kagome.”

Nodding, Inuyasha pushed aside his puzzlement, and again told the story of Naraku’s defeat.

Jinenji stared at Kagome, wonder filling his eyes, “I’d never heard of this Naraku you speak of, but I was aware of a dark force at that time, and I remember when it went away.” Turning back to Inuyasha, he seemed serious, “This Naraku... I assume he was very toxic?” In response to Inuyasha’s nod, he continued, “I believe I can help her. There are other youkai employees on my staff. I’ll make sure that all workers assigned to her are one of us. Don’t worry,” he assured Inuyasha as the though of youkai attending the girl brought a scowl to his face, “these days, most youkai are harmless and simply want to live in peace.”

Excusing himself, Jinenji left to make the arrangements for Kagome’s care. Before the door could close behind him, Mrs. Higurashi entered, followed by Sango, Miroku, Kohaku, Shippou, Souta and Ji-Chan.

“Was that Kagome’s doctor?” Mrs. Higurashi asked, giving Inuyasha a quick hug before going to her daughters bedside.

Inuyasha nodded, still in shock, “He’s actually an old friend of ours. He’s a half-youkai, like me.” Explaining the situation to the group, he noticed the look of amazement grow on his friends faces.

“Jinenji..... So youkai are able to interact peacefully with humans? This future is a marvelous place if such a thing is so.” Miroku smiled. The monk was dressed in a pair of jeans and a blue t-shirt and looked quite comfortable in them. “Not all youkai are as kind and gentle as our Inuyasha here.”

Mrs. Higurashi turned to Inuyasha, ignoring the scowl he was giving Miroku, “This is a good thing, right? If he’s like you... he’ll be able to understand the situation and do what’s necessary, don’t you think?”

“Jinenji says he can help. Right now he’s assigning Kagome an all youkai staff.” Inuyasha looked up as Jinenji came back in.

Introducing himself to everyone, he looked to Inuyasha to see if it was alright to speak freely. At Inuyasha’s nod, Jinenji began explaining. “Kagome’s problem is different, but not something we don’t have the means to deal with. It’s both a physical and mystical problem, and so requires treatment on both planes.” Approaching Kagome’s bed, Jinenji reached into his pockets, taking out a pair of dark gloves.

“I wouldn’t touch her. She purified me...” Inuyasha warned as Jinenji donned the gloves.

Jinenji held up his hands, “These gloves are dragon skin. I realized when I saw you what must have happened. Luckily, I saved these from when ma died.” Jinenji continued talking as he looked Kagome over, “The poison appears to have infected her blood. She’s probably purifying it as best she can, but from what you described to me, she’s weak, and will need some help. We’ll start by giving her a blood transfusion.”

“A what?” Sango looked puzzled.

“Normally, a blood transfusion would involve a donor giving blood to be placed in the patients body. In Kagome’s case, because of the situation and the power her own blood provides her, I’ll be using a process known as hemapheresis, which will allow us to remove Kagome’s blood, clean it, hopefully removing Naraku’s poison, then return the purified blood to her body. The process should take a few hours and we’ll monitor her to make sure the procedure has worked. After that, if all goes well, we’ll have to keep her for two weeks to make sure she doesn’t have any adverse reactions.”

Mrs. Higurashi exhaled loudly, relief filling her eyes, “Thank you, Doctor....”

Jinenji blushed. “Around here, I’m known as Doctor Migotouma(2), but I’d be pleased if you’d call me Jinenji.” He smiled at Kagome’s mother, “Your daughter saved my life... in more ways than one. She was the first person, besides my ma, who treated me with kindness. I owe her a great deal.”

******************

The group was offered the use of Dr. Migotouma’s office while the blood transfusion was in progress. Ji-Chan had taken Souta home, leaving Mrs. Higurashi to sit with the others. While they waited, Mrs. Higurashi patiently tried to answer the visitor’s questions about her time.

Miroku in particular, was fascinated with everything he had seen since arriving, and kept up a steady flow of conversation with Kagome’s mother, asking about everything from cars to architecture.

Finally, Inuyasha decided that Mrs. Higurashi had probably answered enough questions for the monk just now, and walked over to the television set that rested on a corner shelf. Turning it on the way Kagome had taught him (to keep himself entertained so that she could study), Inuyasha picked up the remote control, expertly flipping through channels, to the amazement of his friends.

Sango walked up and touched the screen. A group of women appeared, all wearing very revealing outfits. One woman in particular seemed to have been sewn into the dress she was wearing. Looking down at her own clothes, Sango frowned. After going through Kagome’s closet, she’d finally settled on a pair of jeans and a coral colored blouse. The outfit was comfortable to the girl who’d spent so many years of her life wearing armour, and she hadn’t been brave enough to try one of Kagome’s skirts, which seemed much to tiny to be decent. Catching the look on Miroku’s face as he stared at the women on the television, Sango wondered if she ought to have been more bold.

Inuyasha changed the channel again and bright colors popped onto the screen.

Shippou’s eyes grew wide as he watched with obvious delight. “What is this? They’re not real are they?”

Mrs. Higurashi smiled at the precocious kitsune, “No. This is a cartoon, or anime actually. It’s a series of drawings strung together to make the figures move. This show is called Ranma ½... Souta loves it.”

Inuyasha left the show on, realizing that everyone seemed to be interested in it. Kohaku even went to sit on the floor next to Shippou, closer to the television.

“Tell me how you all met Jinenji,” Mrs. Higurashi asked Inuyasha.

Inuyasha thought back, “It was just after a fight with Naraku. Kirara had gotten poisoned when she’d bitten him and Kagome and I were looking for some herbs to make her well again. We were on our way to this village when some people came by, saying that this demon was eating the villagers. They were sure it was Jinenji, so we went to the place where he and his mom lived, growing herbs. When I threatened him, he started bawling, and his ma clubbed me. Kagome made friends and we figured out pretty quick that it wasn’t Jinenji who was doing the killing.

“Kagome stayed with them while I went hunting for the real killer. That night, the villagers attacked Jinenji’s place, just as I figured out that the actual attacker had some hatchlings she’d be training. I raced back to find Jinenji had punched through the mouth of the other demon that had gone after Kagome. Kagome begged me to help him but his ma told me to let him learn, so I did. The villagers were pretty thankful to him after that. We visited him every once in a while during our travels.”

The door opened and Jinenji stepped inside. “Well, the transfusion is completed. We’re monitoring her now to see how she does.” Smiling at the images on the TV, Jinenji sat behind his desk and turned to face Inuyasha. “Since we have some time till you’ll be able to see her, I thought that now would be a good time to answer some of those questions you have.”

Turning down the volume on the TV, earning a glare from the kids, Inuyasha focused his attention on the doctor, trying to decide what to ask. “Why didn’t I recognize you at first?”

Jinenji grinned, “Over the years, humans have become less superstitious - less apt to believe in what they refer to as ‘mystical creatures’. Those who do believe, usually relegate such beings to religion and folklore, seeing them as things that could not exist in the modern world. In the Sengoku Jidai, your era that is, youkai and the like, walked freely upon the earth. In time, we realized that in order to survive, we needed to... blend in better.

“We began to develop the ability to mask our true forms, hiding behind figures that were much more... appropriate, to our survival. Humans would call it ‘evolution’, but the reality is much simpler than that. Being youkai, we changed because we wanted to. Those who fought against hiding their true nature, were wiped out,” Jinenji concluded, giving Inuyasha, Miroku and Sango an odd look that he quickly managed to cover with his now familiar grin. “Besides, very few of the old ones notice anymore. After an initial period of confusion, we began to be able to see through the human forms, to the youkai within. Between each other, we can’t see the human form unless we look for it. When I look at another youkai, I do not see the human shell, only the youkai beneath.”

Sango frowned, “Are there many youkai living in this time? How do they keep from being discovered as time passes and they don’t age or die like humans do?”

Jinenji nodded, “It’s easier than you think. Yes, there are many of us, and our numbers are growing. Many of us simply change our appearances as time goes on, slipping from one life into another before people become curious. There are a few high-placed youkai in the government here, and we are well cared for. Any documents needed to make a transition are easily acquired. There are others who live a more secluded life, and are able to keep their secrets in their own way.”

Inuyasha snorted, “I can’t believe that so many youkai would just disappear among humans!”

“Many refused. Some of them retreated to the most remote regions of the earth, to live in peace. Every once in a while, rumors are heard of them, but these are dismissed as nothing more than pranks or hysteria. Others became violent, attempting to wrest control from the humans, but they were quickly destroyed. At last, the majority realized that, were we to continue as we wanted, we needed to adapt. If some youkai begins to cause trouble, we have our own ways of taking care of the matter, without involving the human lawmakers.”

A sudden question arose in Inuyasha’s eyes. Jinenji caught it, and shook his head. “The question you wish to ask me is the one I cannot answer, my friend. Some things are better left unknown until such a time as nature can answer them herself.”

Rising from his chair, Jinenji smiled at the group. “I believe it’s time for us to visit Kagome.”

Inuyasha grinned as he headed for the door, “You’ve sure changed, Jinenji. You used to be quiet and meek. Now, you’re a completely different hanyou!”

At this, Jinenji laughed loudly, “I’ve had many years to change, Inuyasha. After ma died, I was on my own. I stayed in the village for many years, at peace with the villagers, thanks to you and Kagome. As time went on, I grew tired of my solitude, and set off on my own. I’ve lived a long life, and I’ve learned many things. However, I still own my fathers land... and I still grow herbs there in the spring.”

********************

Two days had passed. Kagome’s condition was stable, but she still hadn’t woken up. The others came and went, but Inuyasha refused to leave the hospital. Jinenji allowed him to remain at Kagome’s side, despite hospital policy to the contrary. The pink aura around her had finally faded completely. Inuyasha had eventually returned to his regular form, and could even touch her now without worry.

As night fell once more, Inuyasha climbed onto Kagome’s hospital bed, carefully avoiding the wires that were still in place. Lying beside her, he gently ran his claws through her hair, smoothing it neatly against the pillow.

Inuyasha looked as the door opened. Mrs. Higurashi smiled at him, entering alone.

“I thought you might be hungry, so I snuck some food in.” Producing three cups of Ramen and a thermos of hot water, Inuyasha’s ears twitched as he climbed down and joined Kagome’s mother at the little table in the corner of the room. “Any change?” the woman asked, pouring water.

“Not yet.” Inuyasha tried not to look worried, “Jinenji says that she could wake up any day now. She hasn’t reacted badly to the transfusion thing, so all we’re doing is waiting, I guess.”

Staring at him kindly, Mrs. Higurashi took his hand, “You do love her, don’t you.” It wasn’t a question.

Putting aside his chopsticks, Inuyasha turned from her gaze, unsure how to answer. “ Kagome... she said she’d be my mate. I asked her and she said she would.” Meeting Mrs. Higurashi’s gaze, he was surprised to see tears.

Waving away the look of concern he gave her, Mrs. Higurashi laughed, “I’m fine, Inuyasha. It’s just that... I knew that Kagome loved you, even before she did. And despite all that’s happened in the last three years, I knew you loved her, too. I’m just glad that you both finally realized it.”

Inuyasha looked wary, “So you’re not... mad, or worried, or... anything like that?”

Chuckling the woman shook her head, “My daughter’s destiny has been tied up with yours for years now. I’ve never questioned her about what goes on when she’s with you, because I knew you’d protect her as best you could, and you’ve never failed me in that. I also know my daughter. She’s strong, and she has a pure heart. She’d do whatever she thought was right, and I’ve never doubted that. If I’d let all the details worry me, I would have tried to stop her from going through the well long ago. Kagome’s special. Her life is special and I would never hold her back from what the future had in store for her because whatever it is, she’ll deserve it.”

Inuyasha stared, then grinned, slowly, “You’re a strange woman, you know that?”

Kagome’s mother giggled, “Does that surprise you?”

Thinking about her daughter, Inuyasha’s grin widened, “Actually, no.”

****************

The sun rose the next day, and Inuyasha found himself surrounded by people. After the night nurse had left, warning him not to climb up next to the patient, Inuyasha had waited a discreet amount of time before disobeying. Opening his eyes, squinting from the sun’s glare through the window, Inuyasha groaned as Miroku’s face stared down at him.

“What the fuck do you want?” He mumbled, covering his eyes with his arm.

Miroku smirked, “Now, Inuyasha! I distinctly remember the nurse yelling at you yesterday for this very thing! Do you want me to run and get her to remind you not to sleep next to Kagome?”

Inuyasha punched him, weakly, propping himself up on one arm to look around the room. Shippou’s nose was buried in one of Souta’s hand held video games. The kitsune was entranced by the device and had throughly irritated Inuyasha with the little sounds that emitted from it.

Acknowledging the warning growl from the hanyou, Shippou turned off the game and instantly tried to divert attention from himself, “Don’t mind Miroku, he’s just cranky because Sango yelled at him this morning for walking in on her while she was showering.”

Miroku frowned at Shippou, before turning to Inuyasha with an innocent smile, “I was merely trying to assist her. That ‘bathtub’ is quite slippery and I thought I’d heard her fall.”

“I dropped the soap!” Sango was scowling, but a slight blush had crept over her face, “And anyway, you didn’t have to throw open the curtain, you could have just asked if I was okay.”

A dreamy look came over Miroku’s face, “Ah, but then I would have missed the sweet sight of your backside as you bent to retrieve your soap.”

Inuyasha groaned as Sango’s blush deepened, “Don’t tell me... he groped you?”

“He groped her,” Kohaku confirmed.

Miroku touched his head, “In all fairness, I did pay for it. I have the lump to prove it. It’s punishment enough without having to dredge up the memory for Inuyasha.”

Looking at Sango, Inuyasha asked, “What’d ya hit ‘im with?”

Sango smiled, “My fist.”

Miroku grimaced, “Did I ever tell you she’s strong?”

Inuyasha shook his head, “Keep this up houshi, and Sango’ll think twice about marrying you.”

Sango glared at Miroku, “She already is,” but she didn’t sound convinced.

Miroku took her hand, “Sango my love, you know that I hold you in the highest esteem. It’s not just your backside that I adore.”

Sango rolled her eyes, but smiled.

Shippou had crept up to stand on Inuyasha’s side. Staring down at him curled against Kagome, Shippou frowned, “That’s my spot.”

Inuyasha wrapped an arm around the kitsune’s neck, crushing him against his body, “We’re sharing.”

A nurse walked in and frowned, staring as Inuyasha quickly hopped up out of the bed, “Listen buster,” she said threateningly, “If you harm my patient, I’m gonna have to get seriously angry with you.”

Inuyasha looked indignant, “I wouldn’t hurt Kagome!”

The nurse didn’t seem convinced, “If I have to get angry with you, it’ll seriously ruin my day, and you do not want to ruin my day!” With a final scowl, the nurse left.

Miroku grinned, “That nurse...her name’s Rini(3), right? What kind of youkai is she?”

Inuyasha frowned, “Rabbit,” he mumbled.

Miroku roared with laughter, “You got threatened... by a rabbit youkai?” Collapsing into a chair, he continued to giggle, throughly amused.

Inuyasha scowled and mumbled something about not being scared of little bunnies.

“Inu-yasha?”

Everyone turned to stare as Kagome’s eyelids fluttered, but didn’t open.

Rushing to her bedside, Inuyasha took her hand in his, “Kagome? Are you awake?”

The girls eyes blinked again, then slowly opened, “Where am I?”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as Kagome looked around the room.

“The hospital, we brought you... all of us. You’re gonna be okay now.” Inuyasha had never looked less surly.

Kagome frowned, “There’s something....”

Sango leaned closer, “What is it Kagome?”

“Something I’m supposed to do....”

Inuyasha shook his head, worried, “You’re fine, Kagome. Naraku’s gone. There’s nothing you need to do.”

Kagome’s frown deepened and she shook her head, “No... something.... Oh... I remember.”

Taking Inuyasha’s hand in one of hers, and Sango’s on the other side, Kagome closed her eyes.

Before Inuyasha could react, Kagome’s pink aura surrounded all of them, and he felt himself being pulled forward.

When nurse Rini looked in the room a moment later, Kagome was still asleep... and the room was empty.

******************************************************************************
Chapter Glossary:

1. Jinenji - I explain the story later in the chapter, but Jinenji is the horse youkai shown several times in the anime.

2. Migotouma - Japanese surname of my own creation, meaning ‘beautiful horse’. I wanted a sweet name for the guy! Pronounced ‘Mi-go-toe-ooh-ma.’

3. Rini - Japanese name meaning ‘little bunny.’ Kawaii! (cute!)

A/N: Almost all the characters in this story are brought to you by the genius of Rumiko Takahashi, and the letters G, O, and K. I do not own the characters, they own me.

I did create Rini, though!

Ah, my friends and fans... I love you all! Thanks for the lovely words after the last chapter. This chapter was difficult too, because I had to describe most of it from Inuyasha’s point of view. Not easy in the modern world! The transfusion procedure I describe in this chapter is a real procedure. (Yeah research!)

Special thanks to my best friend Bryen for confirming my usage of the ‘patient in transit’ procedures in this chapter. I didn’t want to piss off any paramedics if I screwed it up!

Stuey - it almost was a plot hole! I caught it by the time he returned to the hut, so I just put it in there. I also almost forgot to have Sesshoumaru leave! I had to go back and account for his disappearance after I’d finished. So many characters to keep track of! Thanks for the well-wishes and the referrals! I’m so honored. You’re confusing me with cannon? You have no idea how that makes me feel! Till next time!

PJ - As you know, the manga definitely makes it seem like it’s heading towards Kikyou or Kagome. I wanted Kikyou out of the way, so I came up with this! I’m glad you approve! I love Sesshy too, and I’m glad I could fit him in here. He actually appears a couple more times in upcoming chapters! He is sooo very fun to write for. I promise, Inuyasha will NOT remain human... it would defeat the whole purpose! It would cause so much more angst, and I’m on to the good mushy stuff now. Don’t worry, Kouga will get a VERY clear picture... you just have to wait a bit for it.... I love the babbling! Keep babbling!

Anon - Happy, happy, happy! I know it’s another cliffie, but next chapter is very cool, and needed one!

Flrsblue - Thanks for enjoying it! I’m so glad you do! Don’t worry, I’m already about to finish ch. 17, and I won’t stop till it’s done!

Vikki - I’m so glad to see you post; I get worried! Le Miz, huh? That’s awsome! I hereby do solemnly swear to you, my loyal fan, that Kagome will NOT DIE! I’m thrilled that you approve of the battle. I’ve read some good ones and bad ones, but I wanted mine to be special. Sorry for the cliffies, but sometimes, they’re necessary! Till next time!


Sarah - Inuyasha definitely stays a half-demon, so no tears! I know how you feel about Kikyou. I was really torn, but I needed her to be ‘nice’ for what I had in mind. It gets explained in the next chapter. If you do write your own, let me know. I could use a good dose of Kikyou bashing from time to time. At least she’s gone though... you can’t beat that! Stay tuned for more Sesshy action!

Juice - Just wait till we get to the REAL lemons.... Thanks for reviewing! Hope to see you again!

TO EVERYONE - Thanks again! The next chapter will be posted on Tuesday night! See you then!