Vices

Time to be at a standstill for Inuyasha, he already been at the hospital for a week now but it felt like he had been there for months. Exasperated from doing the same thing three to four times a day was now wearing on his nerves, and he did not know how much longer he could take it. The director’s words kept running through his thoughts, he even succumbed to them once but to his surprise Miroku made him remember the promise he made to Kagome. With an inward sigh, Inuyasha proceeded to the counselor for his individual therapy.



Pausing at the door Inuyasha knew exactly how this was going to go. The doctor would ask him about his urges to drink, how he was feeling, and how the group sessions were going. Inuyasha hated this, it was the same thing every time, but then he recalled how much better Miroku was handling this. ‘Damn if the pervert can do this so can I,’ Inuyasha thought pushing the door open, ‘Might as well get it over with.’



“Mr. Taisho please have a seat,” Dr. Daiki ordered, “I will be with you momentarily.

Inuyasha mumbled something about calling him Inuyasha before taking the overstuffed chair facing the doctor. He watched with growing impatience as Dr. Daiki rummaged through a stack of papers. He hated having to come to these pointless meetings and what made it worse was the fact that he had to wait until the doctor was ready to begin. Inuyasha could feel the tension move to his head causing his brows to furrow. He did not like headaches and would do whatever he could to make them go away; however, since he has been at the hospital he had been plagued with the excruciating migraines that would take complete hold over him. He gently rubbed at his temples to alleviate the pain. It seemed to be working. Closing his eyes he willed the headache away just in time, slowly he opened his eyes as the doctor finished looking for whatever it was and turned to give Inuyasha his undivided attention.



“Okay Mr. Taisho, sorry it took so long.”

Inuyasha nodded in understanding, but deep down he wanted to smack him for making him wait, “its okay Doc,” Inuyasha said instead.



Not to pussy foot around the good doctor jumped straight into his interrogation, “How are you doing Mr. Taish…”



“Inuyasha,” he interjected, “Call me Inuyasha.”



“Well okay then. Inuyasha, how are you doing?”



“Feh, I have definitely been better. These headaches are trying their damnedest to control me.” Inuyasha said placing his hands back to his temples.



“Well that is to be expected, your body is going through withdraws from the lack of alcohol. Those will take time to overcome. “



“Well they need to hurry; I don’t know how many more of these migraines I can take, before I reach for another bottle to relinquish them.”



“Inuyasha you are here to rid yourself of the control alcohol has had on you. Not to go back to drinking to erase the pain.”

Inuyasha lowered his head, he knew the doctor was right but there was no way in hell he could live with these damn headaches for the rest of his life.



“Trust me Inuyasha, they will not last forever,” said the doctor as if reading Inuyasha's thoughts.



“Are you sure? I have had them since I have been here, how long do you think it will take for them to go away?” Inuyasha asked raising his head up from his ever interesting lap.



“Each person is different Inuyasha and I can’t give you an answer for that, but if I did have to guess I would say by the time you finish the program you should be alcohol and headache free,” Dr. Daiki said flashing Inuyasha a warm and sincere smile, “So how are your meds working?”



Inuyasha thought for a moment. Since he was given the meds to suppress the urge to drink, he felt better. He no longer craved the evil liquid that was beginning to control him. “Honestly Doc if I didn’t have this damn headaches I would never want to drink again,” This time Inuyasha smiled. He had told Dr. Daiki the truth but he could see in the good doctor’s eyes that he said the wrong thing.



“Please Inuyasha, just bare with the headaches a while longer, and if they don’t get any better the nurses can give you some pain medication until they do, okay?”



“Alright,” Inuyasha agreed looking back at his lap.



Dr. Daiki looked at Inuyasha thoughtfully for a moment before proceeding, “Inuyasha, have you learned anything from the group sessions?”



Inuyasha flinched, it was like fucking clockwork and frankly, he was tired of answering this question. Searching his mind for the group sessions and what he learned, Inuyasha closed his eyes and found what he was looking for. “You know I have listened to all those men and women tell their stories of devastation from the alcohol and I did not relate to any of them. I have never harmed anyone because of my drinking, I have never driven drunk, and I sure as hell haven’t cheated on the one I love because of alcohol. So I think the answer is no Doc I haven’t learned anything except the fact that these people had it bad.”



Dr. Daiki gave Inuyasha a look of disappointment. He just knew Inuyasha would have learned something, but to his dismay, he had not. “Inuyasha I know you think you have never done those things but you have. You hurt Kagome tremendously maybe not physically but emotionally, though I don’t doubt you have never driven while under the influence you sure have let it drive you. Now we are to cheating,” With a weary sigh the doctor focused his blue eyes on the hard amber ones before him and continued, “You may have never sexually cheated on Kagome either, but you did cheat on her with alcohol. Inuyasha you may not have been as addicted to alcohol as the others, but your headaches tell me you were well on your way, whether you want to admit it or not.”



Inuyasha closed his eyes again, at this moment he regretted telling the doctor everything about Kagome and his life outside this hospital. However, at that time he did not know it would come to this, and for once, he was speechless. What the doctor had said hit home and there was no denying it, now all he had to do was get through the next eleven weeks and he would be home free.



“Inuyasha I want you to be truthful with me, okay?” Inuyasha nodded and the doctor continued, “Where do you see yourself in the future?”



Inuyasha's eyes narrowed in thought. He did not know where he would be, actually he never thought about that. His brain was reeling with flashes of his past and now the future. Gathering as much as he could from what he saw he answered the doctor solemnly, “I don’t know Doc I haven’t given it much thought, but I know where I want to be,”



“Okay then where do you want to be?”



“With Kagome, that’s the only place I have ever wanted to be. I want us to be happily married maybe with a few kids.” Inuyasha couldn’t believe he said that out loud, it was the epiphany he had been waiting for. Though he had never told Kagome what he wanted, hell it took all he had to admit it to himself. He had told her he loved her and meant every word of it, but he had never told her he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. With his declaration, he regained the hope he had when he first thought about getting help, “Okay Doc I am ready to do what I have to do.”



As Inuyasha realized what he wanted more than anything Dr. Daiki smiled broadly, ‘It’s about time he realized this,’ he thought standing up signaling the end of their session. “That’s great Inuyasha; with that kind of attitude the next eleven weeks will be a breeze. I will see you tomorrow same time same place?”



Inuyasha smiled and nodded, he could do this after all. With a quick handshake, Inuyasha was out the door and looking for Miroku.



*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*



Kagome had confided in Sango about everything, and over the week they had became more like sisters instead of just friends. Things were definitely getting better and Kagome learned to smile again, even though she missed her hanyou she had no doubt about going back to him when he finished his programs. Her trepidations were finally easing and she could focus on her new life, the new Kagome.



“Morning Sango,” Kagome chimed entering the kitchen. Just like every morning before Sango was slaving over the stove making breakfast, “You know Sango you could just sleep in every once in a while.” Kagome could not help but to smile, her friend has always taken care of every one in her life. Therefore, this just came naturally to her. Kagome on the other hand loved to sleep in when she could, she wasn’t a morning person by no means and if it wasn’t for school she would stay up all night and sleep late.



“I know Kagome but I love to cook and when I have someone in the house I feel I have to feed them,” Sango smiled there was no way she would let Kagome eat fast food every day, “besides it is no trouble at all.”

Kagome knew it was pointless to argue with a cooking woman so she changed the subject, “So have you heard from him?’ Kagome asked with a wicked grin.



“Heard from who?”



“You know who I am talking about Sango, so don’t try to play coy with me. Have you heard from Miroku?”

When Sango heard his name come off her friend’s lips, her hands dropped and her shoulders sagged. ‘How in the world did she know it was Miroku?’ Sango thought turning to face her friend with a weary expression.



“Oh, c’mon Sango did you actually think I wouldn’t figure it out. I seen the number that comes up on your caller I.D. and I only knew one other person that was at the hospital besides Inuyasha,” Kagome laughed. she couldn’t help picking on Sango it was just too easy, “I am not going to tell you who you should or shouldn’t date hell I think it would be a great thing, at least for him, but I am going to tell you to be careful. Miroku’s reputation precedes him and I don’t want you to get hurt. And just think if you two do become a serious couple we can double date,” Kagome giggled. She has always hoped Miroku would find someone to love him and Inuyasha could have a couple to hang out with. She knew that was selfish of her but she knew Miroku and Sango did not like being the third wheel when they went anywhere. She never understood why they did not invite them together it was always one or the other; however, she thought this would be better.



When Sango finished cooking breakfast Kagome briefed her on Miroku’s antics but told her not to get discouraged because he has never had anyone that loved him. From the look on Sango's face Kagome could tell she was deeply infatuated with the lech, she just hoped Sango would be the one who showed him what love was like.



*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*



Inuyasha found Miroku in the exercise room. He was shirtless and sweating from the rigorous work out he had done trying to show off in front two women nonetheless. Sometimes Inuyasha wondered how he became friends with the Lech, or at least how they stayed friends so long. Miroku noticed Inuyasha and smiled that debonair smile that could make anyone weak in the knees, ‘That smile,’ Inuyasha thought, ‘that smile is the reason we have been friends so long.’



“Inuyasha?” the voice on the phone sounded weak and alone. At first, he did not recognize it, but with much thought, his father’s face appeared.



“Dad? What’s going on? Its two-thirty in the morning.” Inuyasha asked with a yawn. He was a junior at Hiroshima University and was resting for his mid-terms. Miroku his roommate was sound asleep so he tried to as quiet as he could, but the hesitation on the other end of the phone was wearing his patience, “Dad what is wrong?”

His dad could not answer him all he could do was sob, a sob of despair. “Shit dad you have to tell me what is going on!” Inuyasha wailed on the phone, he couldn’t take it anymore and he did not care who he woke up. “Dad now you have to tell me! Please DAD!”



“Inuyasha?” Miroku asked face full of concern, “What’s wrong?”



“Ah… Miroku I don’t know…” Inuyasha turned away from Miroku and once again tried to persuade his dad into answering him, “Dad please tell me, I have already woke up my dorm mate. Please.” At first Inuyasha thought his pleas were falling on deaf ears until he heard a whisper from the phone.



“What did you just say?”



“Inuyasha your mom… she’s…she’s gone son.” Inuyasha's dad whispered into the phone again.



“NOOOO!” Inuyasha cried slumping to the floor. He couldn’t believe it, he wouldn’t believe. She was alive and well. Inuyasha tried his damnedest not to believe what he just heard. He soon realized that it was true and there was nothing he could do to make it all disappear, “What happened dad?”



“I’m sorry son there was nothing anyone could do to save her. They tried all they could.”

“Dad what happened?” Inuyasha asked again not trying to hide his anguish.



“She was in a wreck, Inuyasha. She was coming home from the store when a drunk driver swerved into her lane and hit her head on. The police say he was doing at least 80 M.P.H. when he struck her.” Inuyasha dropped the phone and slumped further into the floor. He placed his head in his hands and cried. His back was heaving wit powerful sobs.



“Inuyasha, c’mon we need to get you home. Your dad needs you,” Miroku whispered soothingly before picking up the phone, “Mr. Taisho this is Miroku, Inuyasha's roommate I am bringing him home sir. We will be there by six… No sir it’s not a problem at all… okay sir I will be careful.” Miroku hung up the phone and helped Inuyasha to his feet.



“Miroku you don’t have to do this. This is not your problem,” Inuyasha said pushing the hair out of his face.



“You’re right Inuyasha it is not my problem, but you are my friend and you need me so I am taking you home. No if, ands or buts about it,” Miroku declared flashing Inuyasha a sincere smile. It was from that moment the lech and the hanyou became best friends-practically brothers.



Miroku was by his side through it all. The funeral arrangements, the viewing and the funeral itself, Miroku proved to be his rock. Even then, Inuyasha knew he was lucky to have a friend like Miroku.



Inuyasha frowned slightly when he remembered how they became so close but he knew that if Miroku wasn’t there when he was there is no telling where Inuyasha would be now. “Oi perv, I can’t leave you alone for five minutes can I.” Inuyasha smirked; he knew Miroku was a good man he just thought with the wrong head.



“That is where you are wrong my friend, you see these pretty ladies here just showed up and I just finished what I was already doing,” Miroku retorted with his innocent eyes.



“Feh whatever. Let’s go Miroku?” Inuyasha smiled heading toward their respective rooms. Before Inuyasha walked into his room he gave Miroku a look of sheer determination. A look that stopped him in his tracks, “Miroku I don’t know about you but after talking to the Doc today I know where I want to be when I get out of here. You might want to think about that too, we need goals and I have already made mine.” Inuyasha stated before turning to enter his room.



“Yeah Inuyasha and where is it you want to be?” Miroku asked his curiosity getting the best of him.

Inuyasha thought for a moment and turned to stare into caring violet eyes, “With Kagome, I have decided I want to take her as my wife.”



“Your … wi…fe?” Miroku stammered it was a first for him. Inuyasha usually keeps things like that to himself, “well I guess I better get on it.” Miroku stated heading to his own room. After closing his door and sitting on the bed, Miroku started to think about his future and the first thing that popped into his mind was Sango. He finally realized that the beauty he had took home and almost had his way with was the one, the one he was intended to be with. He laid down as the images of Sango swam through his mind, and drifted off into a peaceful sleep.