To Go Onward by kaoruhana

Knowledge

Prompt: Kushimitama- Wisdom

* * * * *

     Kagome hummed to herself as she pushed the cart of food trays down the hospital corridor.  She was lost in her task, enjoying the silence and peace of the moment.  It was refreshing and it allowed her to think of things in peace.  Five years ago, she would have never thought she’d be working anywhere but the local convenience store.  Five years ago, she had all but given up on the modern world and had been prepared to live in the feudal era. She couldn’t help but think back on the period in her life that had changed her. 

     For five years of her life, she had run around feudal Japan, fighting demons and monsters- things that she only thought existed in her grandfather’s stories- and piecing together the sacred jewel.  When she had been sent back home after completing her task, she was lost and alone.  She had spent quite a bit of her life juggling school, her destiny, and emotions for a boy who would never return them.  For five years, she had persevered through the difficulties and had succeeded.  And at the end of it all, she suddenly didn’t know what to do when she was sent back to live in a world that would never understand what she had done to save it. 

     Her mother found her that day in the well, crying and a broken mess, not just physically but emotionally as well.  She had been brought back home and taken care of.  That was when she found help in an old friend- Hojo.  He had given up on his love for Kagome but still visited the shrine and had helped her find something to do.  Hojo had no idea of her feudal era exploits but he did understand that something had happened to put her in emotional trauma.  He had visited her, talked with her, and he had been the one help her find alternate career choices.  In essence, the boy who had loved her so in the past, had given her life a sense of purpose again. 

     Now, ten years to the day since she had been pulled into the Bone Eater’s well, she held a degree and had a job. It was only an associate’s degree from a technical school but it was a degree and a degree that allowed her to work as a nurse.  Healing was something that reminded her of the feudal era but grounded her; it was something that made her remember that she was needed, and that her continued existence would help someone with their’s.  And today, she was going to keep doing that and help others. 

     “Kagome-chan!”  Turning at the sound of her name, Kagome found Ami- one of her coworkers.  Ami was a lovely young woman whose caring attitude reminded Kagome of her mother.  She was heavily pregnant and Kagome stopped so that other nurse could reach her without exerting herself. 

     “Oh thank gods I found you!  Fujita-sempai is taking care of the schedule but I just wanted to say bye before I go.” 

     “Bye?”  Kagome asked wondering if Ami was referring to her maternity leave or a permanent leave from the hospital. 

     “Yes, I’m only a month away now- can’t stress myself or the baby too much right?  I’ll be back when it’s safe for the two of us to do so, until then, Fujita-senpai said he was going to alter everyone’s schedules.”

     Ami rubbed her protruding stomach absentmindedly and Kagome smiled at her.  Ami and her husband were excited about the baby because it was going to be their first child.  But they didn’t need to worry- both of them were such loving individuals and she knew that their children would never want for anything with them. 

     “It’s fine Ami-chan.  Does Hojo-san know you’re here?”  The young woman flushed at the mention of her husband and shook her head.  

     “I’m going to drop a bento off for him- lunch you know- and go home.  He says I have to rest the entire day now because today is the day I start my leave.” 

     Kagome couldn’t help but smile wider at that statement, because really, seeing Ami and Hojo together would make anyone happy.  Hojo had become a doctor- a pediatrician to be precise- and he’d fallen for Ami the day he’d begun his residency at the hospital.  It was heartwarming to see the two together and starting a family.  Sometimes, the scene reminded Kagome that she too could have had that, but she brushed those thoughts away.  Ami was his wife now and really, the two couldn’t have been more suited for each other with their caring personalities and warm hearts. 

     “Go then before he berates me for having you stand up too long.” Both women laughed- Hojo had become a tad more caring towards Ami during her pregnancy. It reminded Kagome of all the ailment cures she would receive from Hojo in high school. 

     “I will;  I just came to say bye.  Oh- before I leave- do you remember that patient I talked about with you- the one who’s losing his memories?” Kagome nodded and Ami continued.  “Well, I told Fujita- senpai that I had told you about him and he chose you to be the one to deliver him meals.  I hope you’re not mad about that.”  Kagome waved a hand, dismissing Ami’s statement.  She and the other nurses had known that they were slowly going to get one or two patients added to their lists when Ami left.  And none of them had really minded. 

     “It will be fine Ami-chan.  Now, why don’t you go drop the bento off?”  Ami nodded giving Kagome a quick one-armed hug before bidding her goodbye.  Left alone once again, Kagome pushed her cart to her original destination. 

     The nurse’s lounge and prep room was buzzing with activity when Kagome arrived.  Yamada- san, one of the more experienced nurses, took the cart away from her hands and shooed her to the other side of the room where their superior was giving everyone their new schedules.  Kagome approached him, waiting patiently to see what was going to happen to her.  She didn’t have a difficult job- she had to deliver breakfast and lunch to various patients in the hospital and after her delivery, make sure they took their medicine.  Adding one or two more patients to the list wouldn’t cause her much difficulty. 

     “Higurashi- is that you?”  Kagome nodded as Fujita senpai grabbed a clipboard and shoved it at her.  “Your new schedule.  If you noticed, your new patient will always be the last to be fed and the first to receive medicines.  He needs to be fed because otherwise we find that he ignores the food and does not get the proper nutrition.  Understand?” 

     “Yes Fujita-senpai.”  The man nodded and dismissed her with a wave of his hand leaving Kagome to look over her schedule by herself. 

     The last patient on her list was named Satomu Itou.  She wondered what he was like and how much of his memory he had forgotten.  Was it enough for her to be worried about taking care of him?  Deciding that her questions would be answered after she met the man, she made her way to where Yamada-san was.  The woman was plating trays along with a few other nurses and readying carts for people like Kagome who were waiting.  She waited for a moment before producing her clipboard to one of Yamada-san’s subordinates.  The younger nurse prepared Kagome’s trays and ten minutes later, Kagome was leaving the chaotic room to do her rounds. 

     The list of patients today was seven- a number extra than what she was used to.  Three of the patients were regulars- old man Watanabe, the child Nanami, and an older woman: Yoshida-san.  The other three were rotating patients who would leave in a week so she only had to be polite and courteous to them.  Even if she were to become friends, they wouldn’t remember her so it was pointless.  As she pushed her cart, she wondered about Satomu Itou.  Ami had told her that he had been here for a while indicating that he was a regular patient as well.  What was he here for?  And why was he treated differently from the others?  Shrugging her shoulders, she continued her trek. 

     Her first stop was at old man Watanabe’s door.  He reminded Kagome of her aging grandfather and was always a pleasant person to be around, often giving hospital residents tiny origami gifts to tide the day over with.  She entered the room after a knock on the door and smiled when she saw the elderly man greet her eagerly.  He held up a crane and Kagome smiled- Watanabe-san wanted to give Nanami-chan a thousand paper cranes and she couldn’t fault him for doing that.  He told her that while he couldn’t visit her, he hoped that the message went to her.  And it did; Nanami-chan now had a growing pile of cranes by her window. 

     “Grandpa Watanabe!”  She greeted taking the offered crane.  “And how was your morning?” 

     “Good good.  You’re a bit early aren’t you Kagome-chan?  I almost didn’t finish this crane in time.”

     “Well, there’s a reason for that.  Do you remember Ami-chan?”  At the old man’s nod she continued.  “She’s on maternity leave starting today and some of the nurses have new schedules.  Since I get one of her special patients I’ll be showing up a bit earlier than usual.”  As she talked, she began to prepare his meal- miso, warm rice which she opened the box to, pickled radish, and some fish. 

     “Special patient?”  Watanabe-san asked taking the tray when she handed it to him.  “I hope he doesn’t give you too much trouble now.”  Kagome waved a hand dismissively.  It was nice to see Watanabe san’s concern but she felt she didn’t need it.  And she didn’t need to be the one to spread rumors about patients. 

     “I’ll be fine Grandpa Watanabe!”  With a smile, she made sure that the meal was set and grabbed the handles of her cart again.  “I’ll be by later to help you with the medicine.  That tray better be clean when I get back.”  The elderly man laughed used to this casual banter.  It was something he looked forward to whenever Kagome came to visit. 

     “I can’t promise anything about the radishes!”  Kagome shook her head fighting off a laugh as she made her way out the door.  She knew that the tray of food would be polished clean when she came back to the room. With a wave to say goodbye she pushed her cart down another hallway- this one filled with patients who were children. 

     Most of these children were here for overnight stays but Nanami-chan was different.  The young girl had been born with a faulty heart and was waiting for a donor.  They had found one and she was going to get her surgery done in a few months when her body was ready for it.  Now however, she was dying to see the little girl’s reaction to the paper crane.  Nanami’s favorite color was pink- as she reiterated to Kagome multiple times- and she knew that Grandpa Watanabe purposefully made her as many pink cranes as possible.  Today’s was pink as well and she just knew Nanami would add it reverently to her pile.  She approached the little girl’s door and knocked on it softly.  Her mother opened it, greeting her with a smile. 

     “Higurashi-san,” her mother stated with a smile, “You’re early today.”  Kagome nodded wondering if all her regulars would comment on that as she pushed her cart inside. 

     “I have a new patient now, so I’ll be stopping by a bit early.”  She stated greeting Nanami with a smile.  Nanami was sitting on her bed and squealed when she noticed that Kagome had brought her a pink crane.  Kagome and Nanami’s mother laughed at her enthusiasm. 

     “It’s pink, it’s pink!”  The little girl exclaimed as Kagome handed it to her.  She had to admit that the little girl’s smiles were addictive and she found herself returning them.   

     “Yes, Watanabe-san made it just for you.”  Kagome answered prepping Nanami’s tray while her mother took the crane from her.  “So, what have you been up to this morning?” 

     “Mama and I watched a cartoon and then my doctor came.  He said I was going to get a new heart next month!”  Kagome smiled, understanding the child’s wording.  It meant Nanami was getting better and that soon she’d be out of the hospital and back to being in school.  She would be given the chance to be a normal child again. 

     “Well that’s good.”  A plate of fruit was added to the tray and Nanami leaned over on her bed to look at it.  “And yes, Nanami,” Kagome stated noticing her perusal, “you have to eat all your fruits today.”

     The little girl pouted and tried to plead her way out of it with Kagome.  Because Nanami was young and going into surgery, she required certain medicines.  Unfortunately, those medicines tended to dull her taste buds.  It was no wonder the little girl hated to eat fruit- she could only taste their bitterness not their rich tastes.  Kagome wished that she could do something but knew that Nanami’s mother would take care of it.  Until then, she would just do her job and try to keep a smile on both their faces. 

     “You have to go now?”  Nanami asked as Kagome rearranged her meal trays.  The young nurse reached out with a hand and smoothed some of Nanami’s hair back from her face. 

     “Yes, I’ll visit you later though all right?” 

     “Okay.”  Accepting the answer, Kagome turned with one last wave and exited the room heading down to the next few patients on her list. 

     The three rotating patients were easy to deal with.  Smiles, small talk, and a warning of eating the proper food was all that was needed.  These patients usually had family or friends over since their stay was generally a week or less.  Sometimes, some of her patients had friends or family who refused to let Kagome do anything.  They took the tray to the patient; they kicked her out of the room as soon as she did her job.  It irked her when she met people like that because really- she was only doing her job- she was only helping.  They had no right to treat her as if she wasn’t worthy of being in the room. 

     Today, the last of the three rotating patients had a wife who was like that- though her reaction was one of jealousy.  Kagome scoffed as she left the room.  She honestly could care less.  The man was married and she had a strict policy of never getting involved with the patients.  She had just never found the need to be with someone whom she was treating.  And well, most of her patients were either the elderly or young children.  The few times that she did have younger patients however, she had never been attracted to them, just like the man in the room.  Sighing, she pushed her cart to finally get to her last two patients: Yoshida-san and Satomu Itou. 

     Yoshida-san was leaving tomorrow since her condition had vastly improved.  Kagome would be sad to see the lady go- her kind words at the beginning of each day had been important to her.  The elderly lady had broken her hip and had remained in the hospital since her only relatives were in another city.  Now, her daughter had returned to stay and since she was now able to move, Yoshida-san was going home.  Plus, Yoshida-san was looking forward to going home- she had two grandchildren to spoil. 

     Kagome arrived in the hallway that housed Yoshida-san noting that her newest patient was in the room next to hers.  It made her job easier didn’t it?  Knocking on the door, she only entered when she didn’t hear a loud objection.  It was a system that the two women had set up when Kagome had accidentally stumbled in on her changing once.

     “Good afternoon.”  Kagome greeted when she entered.  “How are you today?” 

     “Good.  Ayame-chan took me on a physical therapy exercise a while ago.  All that walking made me hungry.” 

     Kagome shook her head at the elderly woman’s good natured comment.  Yoshida-san was a lot like Kaede, she thought.  She was energetic and refused to sit down unless she had to.  Of all the patients she knew in the hospital, Kagome had to admit that Yoshida-san was the most excited about starting her physical therapy program.  She parked the cart of food trays by the woman’s bedside and made small talk as she plated the tray. 

     “Are your grandchildren excited to see you?”  She asked dishing the same things she had dished to Watanabe-san.  Yoshida-san always talked about her grandchildren when Kagome came by. It was endearing to see her talk so much about them. 

     “They’re coming by this afternoon.  Maybe you’ll see them!”  Kagome smiled as she placed the tray on top of the cart. 

     “Maybe.”  She hesitated but spoke anyway.  “Yoshida-san do you know anything about the patient next door?”  The elderly lady narrowed her eyes as she sipped some of her soup. 

“Why do you ask?”  Kagome brushed a few stray bangs behind her ear as she answered. 

     “His old nurse is on maternity break and I’ve been given her job- you know feeding him and giving him his medication.”  Yoshida-san nodded her head as she took another sip of soup.  She didn’t say anything for a few moments but when she did she pinned Kagome with a stare that had the young woman feeling like she was being chastised. 

     “Higurashi-san, may I offer you a bit of wisdom?”  She didn’t wait for an answer and instead continued.  “My grandmother once told me that an unopened book holds many secrets.  Perhaps she was right hm?” 

     The words were vague and if Kagome hadn’t been used to the cryptic words from times bygone it would have been something she dismissed.  But they weren’t and she thought about their meaning as she looked down at the handle of the cart where her hands were.  A book should never be judged by it’s cover- ah so that was what the elderly lady was hinting at.  She smiled as she thought about it: Yoshida-san was right in a way- she shouldn’t judge her new patient before meeting him. 

     “Thank you.”  The older woman smiled kindly as she helped herself to her meal once again.  Her next were contradictory and if Kagome hadn’t known her like she did, she would have been confused by them. 

     “Now then, you should head out.  I’ve heard that Itou-san doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

     Kagome nodded and grabbed the handles of the cart again.  She murmured a hurried goodbye to the elderly lady knowing that she would be back soon enough to help with the medicine.  Once outside, she took the few steps towards Itou’s door and sighed.  Well, it was now or never- she just hoped he was a nice patient. 

     A quick knock and she opened the door to see the man that was to become her newest charge.  He had white hair that tumbled to his shoulders tied off in a small loose ponytail.  A t-shirt and sweats adorned him as he stared out the window.  He looked back at her when she opened the door and Kagome’s eyes widened as she took in his face.  It couldn’t be- it just couldn’t!  She gripped the cart she was pushing with both hands and didn’t move from her position at the entrance.  The man looked at her curiously but didn’t say anything obviously confused by her reaction.    

     Kagome brought a shaky hand up to her rapidly beating heart willing it to slow down and help calm her.  She knew the man on that hospital bed and it wasn’t Satomu Itou.  Time may have changed things but it hadn’t affected her ability to recognize the person she saw in front of her.  Once pristine hair that she had envied as a teenager was now dull, thin, and shorter than she remembered it.  His once muscular physique was gone replaced by a thinner man whose clothes fell from his frame.  His eyes were the same and so was his face.  But things had changed and she couldn’t deny that this man wasn’t Satomu Itou. 

     No- that man in the room was Sesshomaru- once a feudal lord and a powerful demon.  She continued to stare at him- at this man- no demon lord- and wondered how he had ended up here. 

     “You are not Hojo-san.” 

     The words broke the quiet in the hall and Kagome wondered what he meant.  Did he recognize her?  And if so, why was he referencing Ami?  She was sure that Ami would have told him that she was leaving on maternity leave.  She swallowed trying to figure out what to say in this situation.  Her grip tightened on the cart and she licked her dry lips.  Footsteps alerted her to another presence and she turned to see who would be present for her mental breakdown.  Because she was just sure that she was going to lose it in a few moments. 

     The footsteps were those of Dr. Matsunaga- what was he doing here?  She had never met him in person but she had heard a lot about him.  He was one of the youngest doctors in the hospital and quite a few hospital nurses had gushed about him.  And he had to be the one to walk towards her right now.  The grip on her cart tightened enough for her knuckles to turn white. 

     “Ah Higurashi!”  The doctor stated coming to a stop next to her.  “Fujita told me that you were reassigned now that Ami is on leave.  Have you met Itou yet?”  Kagome shook her head, still wrapping her head around the fact that Sesshomaru was in front of her- in a hospital.  And that Dr. Matsunaga was going to see her distress.  She had never been good at hiding her emotions. 

     “Higurashi?”  The doctor prodded.  “What’s wrong?  You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

     “I think I have.”  She answered looking down at the cart in front of her.  A ghost- was that what Sesshomaru was?  Maybe it was her mind playing tricks on her.  The doctor looked at her oddly for a moment before he walked inside and tapped her on the arm to indicate that he wanted her to follow him.  He led them both to the bed where he greeted Sesshomaru. 

     “Well Itou-san, how are you today?”  Kagome watched the interaction curiously wondering what the answer would be. 

     “The same.  I walked outside this morning and I gained no new memories.”  Kagome gasped- a sound that both the doctor and the patient ignored.  So that was why he hadn’t recognized her immediately.  But why had his memories disappeared?  She pushed her cart to the side and leaned on it a little- needing something to support her for a bit. 

     “Hm.  Any new body pains, headaches, anything of that sort?”  Sesshomaru shook his head negatively and the doctor continued with his check-up using tools to check his eyes and heart beat. 

     “Still sensitive to light and sound, good.”  Dr. Matsunaga moved away and pocketed his medical equipment.  “Well then, I think we’re done here.”  He turned to Kagome who had been ignored for the past few minutes.  “Oh that’s right!  Higurashi- this is Itou-san.  Itou-san this will be your new nurse Higurashi-san.” 

     Sesshomaru regarded Kagome with narrowed eyes that reminded Kagome too much of the past.  She waited patiently to see what he had to say and whether or not he would keep her as his nurse.  Was he still as intimidating as he was back then?  She supposed not, if he was being receptive to a human doctor.  However, his next few words surprised her because they weren’t what she was expecting to hear from him. 

     “Where is Nurse Hojo?”  It was odd to hear Ami referred to by her last name but she answered his question nonetheless. 

     “She’s on maternity leave.  I’m here to take her place until she returns.”  Sesshomaru looked to her and then glanced at the cart that she was leaning against. 

     “What is for lunch?”  Glad to see the tension finally dissipate Kagome plated a tray busying herself with the repetitive task that she habitually did. 

     “Miso, rice, pickled radish, and cod.” 

     Kagome unpacked the rice much as she had done for Watanabe-san and took the plastic coverings off the other dishes.  It reminded Kagome of airplane fare sometimes.  Hesitating, she placed a hand on the chopsticks as the doctor looked on.  Would she have to feed him?  The act made her feel pity- Sesshomaru- a demon lord having to be fed by her.  It was a sign that he was weak, that he had fallen from his pedestal and while the humility of the situation should have pleased her, it made her feel so sad.  Sad for the man who had tumbled down history to this state. 

     “Go ahead Higurashi.  Itou is right-handed but he has lost the strength in that arm.  He cannot hold anything for longer than ten minutes.” 

     Kagome blinked back tears- this was humiliating for the man to undergo this kind of treatment.   She didn’t want to do this.  Where was the demon lord who had threatened to kill her?  Where was the person who had helped her slay Naraku?   He wasn’t here obviously.  Shaking those thoughts away, she unpacked the chopsticks.  She was only doing her job she reminded herself as she took the tray and moved closer to Sesshomaru. 

     He was waiting and looking at her curiously as she approached him.  It was expected, he had no idea that Kagome recognized him, and as a result was perplexed by her reactions.  Dr. Matsunaga didn’t leave the room and instead stayed with her as she placed the tray on Sesshomaru’s attached bed tray.  Slowly she picked up a radish with her chopsticks, the vegetable nearly falling the first two times, and brought it up to Sesshomaru’s mouth.  He took the accepted bite eyes narrowing and trained on the tears flowing down her face but she ignored him as she fed him.  She hadn’t cried about the feudal era in nearly a year; why did he have to show up now? 

     A while later, she finished and placed the empty tray down on the cart before she reached for a water bottle.  Hesitating, she turned to the doctor and waited to see what his instructions were regarding water and medicines.  She didn’t know Sesshomaru- no Satomu’s- medicine schedule so she needed help. 

     “Well, now that you’re here I can explain things!”  Dr. Matsunaga stated pointing for a tiny shelf placed by the bed.  “The top shelf contains pain medicine and calcium supplements.  He has to take the supplements trice a day after every meal.  The omega bottles on the bottom shelf are labeled morning, afternoon, and evening and he has to take both the full body supplement and brain supplement.  As for the pain medicine and the bottom shelf of strength steroids, if he asks for them, only give the pain medicine.  Page me if you think he needs the steroids.” 

     “All right.”  Kagome stated taking note of the shelf.  Dr. Matsunaga was waiting for her patiently and she went about giving Sesshomaru his medicine as the doctor watched.  Once satisfied, he gave her a nod and with a goodbye to Sesshomaru, the two left. 

     “Higurashi,” the doctor stated when they both were out in the hallway looking at her critically, “you know Itou don’t you?” 

     Kagome nodded wondering if the doctor thought her improper for her behavior earlier in the room.  She wouldn’t blame him if that was the case.  It was highly unprofessional of her.  But maybe he’d be able to tell her what was wrong with Sesshomaru.   She nearly missed his next few words and snapped to attention to hear them. 

     “I see, what time do you get off?” 

     “Two in the afternoon.” 

     “Come by my office then.  I want to talk to you about Itou and his condition.  Does that sound reasonable?”

     “Of course Matsunaga-sensei.”  She watched as the doctor walked away and resigned herself to the rest of the day.  If her patients noticed how she was lost in her thoughts they didn’t comment on it. 

     At two fifteen, Kagome was found pacing outside the door of Matsunaga-sensei’s office.  Some of the other nurses who knew her looked at her curiously while others- other doctors- wondered if the nurse had done something that would result in her being fired.  Finally making up her resolve, Kagome knocked on the door and steeled herself.  She had behaved wrongly today and she was going to apologize for it.  And while she was at it, she’d ask Dr. Matsunaga to not reprimand her too much and maybe ask him what was wrong with Sesshomaru. 

     "Come in!”  The yell came through the door and Kagome opened it to step inside.  Dr. Matsunaga was seated at his desk and looked up at her when she came in.  “Ah Higurashi, sit down and close the door.”  Kagome did as instructed taking a seat in front of his desk slowly. 

     “Wonderful, now Higurashi-sama if you would please open a barrier.” 

     Kagome opened her mouth and sputtered suddenly feeling like she had come into an alternate dimension.  Barrier, Higurashi-sama, where was she?  She was scared about the sudden question- who was this doctor and how the hell did he know about her powers?  She had come here to be reprimanded, to find out about Sesshomaru.  Did Matsunaga-sensei know something that she didn’t? 

     “Matsunaga-sensei?”  She asked edging out of her seat slowly as she took in certain things. 

     The doctor, now that Kagome realized it, looked off.  A young doctor wasn’t rare but he looked a little too young- a trait that she knew for a fact youkai could pull off.  Feeling foolish, she realized that she should have noticed something earlier.  Had all these years in the modern era managed to dull her senses?  She narrowed her eyes wondering if the doctor was related to the condition Sesshomaru was in.  Had he been the one to put it there?  And now, that she knew, was he looking to finish her off?

     “I apologize Higurashi-sama, I just thought that after your reaction to seeing Lord Sesshomaru this morning-“  The doctor trailed off and sighed before reaching for his watch. 

     On instinct, Kagome watched his movements carefully.  She didn’t want to believe that this doctor was all bad but she was still on guard.  The doctor slipped off his watch and as Kagome watched, the man’s dark brown hair became a fiery red and his hazel eyes turned green.  Two furry ears- so much like Inuyasha’s- appeared on top of his head.  If Kagome hadn’t seen it all once before she was sure to have fainted then and there.  But now that wasn’t what was bothering her.  There was a hanyou in the room with her and he looked oh so much like someone she knew. 

     “Shippo?”  She asked the name leaving her lips unbidden. 

     “No.” The doctor replied a kind smile on his face.  “Shippo was my mentor of sorts; I am one of the orphans that he helped raise.” 

     Kagome sputtered, her eyes going wide and her mind a confused mess.  No, this couldn’t be happening now.  She had moved on, she had cried for five years about her friends and their whereabouts when they were under her nose the entire time.  Still, maybe they didn’t know she made it back?  Or they didn’t know when to approach her.  And really, if this man knew- then how many people knew who she was?  She held her head in her hands and stared at him attempting to understand what was going on.  First, proof and then she would seek her other answers.    

     “Prove it.”  She stated holding her hands out in front of her protectively.  “Prove that you aren’t lying to me.”  The doctor sighed before laying his hands down on the table- palms up- in a peace offering. 

     “He asked for you on his deathbed- he wanted your pocky and to see you one more time.  He told us of all the stories you two shared from the Thunder Brothers onwards.  And he- he gave me this.”  The doctor reached for a photo frame on his desk and handed it to her. 

     Kagome’s eyes teared as she stared at the tiny drawing in the frame.  She knew that picture; in fact, she had a replica sitting on her nightstand back at home.  It was of her and Shippo sitting by the Goshinboku in the breeze.  When Kagome knew her time in the feudal era was going to end one of two ways: her disappearance from one of her worlds, she had promised Shippo that she would always pray to the kami to watch over him.  And his gift to her was this picture- a drawing of the two of them. 

     “How?”  She asked referring to both his death and the way the drawing ended up in Matsunaga-sensei’s possession. 

     “Shippo oji-san devoted most of his life to raising and protecting orphans.  In the Meiji Era my mother heard of him and left me there as she escaped the Bakumatsu in Kyoto.  I’ve been with him ever since.” 

     Dr. Matsunaga sighed and pulled open a drawer from which he pulled out an article and showed it to her.  It was an obituary for Shin Matsunaga- a renowned doctor known for his pioneering research in SARS.  Last that she had heard he had died while researching the H1N1 bird flu outbreak in China.  Was this her Shippo?

     “As soon as western medicine became popular in Japan, Shippo oji-san set to work.  He remembered all the help your medicine did in the past and decided that he would study it.  I trained under him and wanted to be just like him.  When the H1N1 virus broke out, he was one of the few who set out to study it and work on developing a cure.  That was when he found something interesting. 

     “For years Higurashi-sama, Shippo oji-san has been a pioneer in bringing modern medicine to youkai.  When the H1N1 broke out, it quickly emerged that many youkai had a fatal reaction to the virus.  By the time oji-san started his research, it was still unclear how the disease struck.  I was working with him then and that was when we figured it out.  We met a patient to do some research- and while we both wore protective gear, we were in a youkai hospital so we didn’t bother hiding our jyaki.  A week later oji-san was infected but I was fine.” 

     “Infected?”  Kagome asked narrowing her eyes. 

     “Yes, oji-san figured out what was wrong when two other full youkai who interacted with the patient caught the disease.  He banned all full youkai from intervening with H1N1 patients and worked on his research.  You see, we figured out by the time of his death that the virus reacts to youki and grows.  But it needs some genetic component that is found in full demon DNA to fester and become an AIDS for youkai.  The virus has been contained since youkai have heard about it but anyone is susceptible to its symptoms as long as they are full youkai.” 

     Dr. Matsunaga stopped his speech and slipped his watch back on reverting back to his human physique.  An AIDS epidemic for youkai?  Was that even possible?  It did make sense, Kagome thought, knowing that diseases generally made no excuses for anyone.  But why was Matsunaga-sensei telling her all this now if Shippo was dead?  At that, Kagome felt tears flow down her face.  The doctor didn’t say anything as she cried and instead handed her a handkerchief to dry her eyes. 

     “Sesshomaru has it doesn’t he?  That’s why he’s here.  He’s too dangerous to be in a youkai hospital and he is dying.” 

     “Yes.  The virus eats away at the youkai brain much like Alzheimer’s does in humans but the difference is that it also eats away at the youkai strength capabilities.  It was why you had to feed him this morning.” 

     “And how long has the youkai world known about this?” 

     “Only a year- my father died three months ago and I was transferred to this hospital after his death.  A few weeks later, Sesshomaru-sama joined here, it was one of my hanyou sisters who joined him.” 

     “And he is really going to die?”  Kagome asked eyes misting over at the thought of the strong demon lord from her memories reduced to a weak demon who was going to rely on her. 

     “Yes- we can’t find a cure.” 

     The doctor cast his eyes downward in a gesture Kagome knew well.  This disease was killing off his people and he could do nothing but watch as people he knew and respected died before his eyes.  First Shippo, now Sesshomaru.  Kagome wiped her eyes again- really she had to stop crying- and asked the doctor the last few questions she needed to know.  She knew why Sesshomaru forgot her now but how long did he have?  How long could she talk with him? 

     “How long does a patient have?” 

     “Generally six months.  The first two months they lose strength slowly and feel a little addled because they forget things- for example memories from the past.  As the disease progresses, the patient gets weaker and he begins to forget memories until all he remembers are the people he feels closest to.” 

     Shippo had asked for her on his deathbed. He had remembered her even as he lay dying.  How she missed him so.  Now she had the chance to be with Sesshomaru and she was going to take it and be there for him. 

     “I want to stay on as Sesshomaru’s nurse until he doesn't need me anymore.”  She stated steeling herself.  “I want to be there for him.”  The doctor smiled kindly. 

     “I was going to ask you the same.”     

     A few minutes later when Kagome left the doctor's office she had a new aspect to her job.  But this one, was one that she wanted. 

* * * * *

A/N: So, yeah, I think my muse needs to go on a trip to happy land.  And um about the disease thing- I really didn't want to do this but it just kind of happened.  But um, there's chapter one- I have three more.  And it ends happy- kind of.  At least it looks happy in the plot diagram.  As for all the disease stuff- it's made up!  Yay for fiction!