Dear All, this is my holiday story for r0o's holiday challenge.
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The soft jingling of bells filled the atmosphere as the holiday shoppers bustled to and from the shopping area with their Christmas lists. Kagome was among them, dressed in a most peculiar outfit. Red and white stockings traveled up her legs to disappear underneath a soft green dress that was trimmed with white. It flowed about her lower thighs over a soft white petticoat. The top of the dress was cinched tight against her body by a black belt and a red vest. Her long black hair was pulled back into a low pony. Her outfit was completed by a green and white hat and red elf shoes.
She raced around the throngs of people, giving cheery smiles and boughs of laughter at the holiday related comments thrown her way. As she approached the center of the shopping mall, she sighed at the massive line. Kagome had decided to get a second job at the shopping center during the holidays to help cover some rising bills she was faced with. She enjoyed her job, as it dealt with children, but she sincerely hoped the line was filled with happy, carefree children versus the bratty 'I am about to prove Santa isn’t real' children. At least this year they got a Santa with a real beard. There had been a disaster last year when the beard had come off.
“Kagome!” A soft shout of her name drew her attention, and she cast a look to her friend and coworker, Ayame. The red head was waving at her enthusiastically. Kagome tipped and twirled around the waiting children, winking as they pointed at “Santa’s helper”.
“Hi Ayame, quite the group we have today.” Kagome said as she placed her belongings in her designated present box. As they did not have lockers, the girls had gotten creative over where they would place their things.
“This isn’t all! Didn’t you hear? We are going on a road trip today. We got voted as the most realistic Santa and the shopping center hired us out to the Romaji Pediatric Hospital for Oncology.” Kagome felt the ghost of a smile spread across her lips. A moment of sadness clung to her, but her exuberant coworker did not notice.
“Ladies, the children are getting antsy!” A haughty voice snapped, and they turned to their punctuality obsessed boss. With a quick apology they shot to their spots. The belt for the line was lifted, and Kagome greeted the first child.
“You’re not a real elf. My mommy just said they picked you to make the daddies want to bring their children.” The young boy said with a slightly arrogant tone. His mother was at least attempting to look abashed as she stared at anyone other than Kagome. Kagome smiled cautiously. This was going to be a LONG day.
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Kagome collapsed across the chair in the food court, her face planted in her hands.
“He had been right! That little brat had been completely right!” She bemoaned, her tone muffled from behind her arms. Ayame snickered and bopped her on the head.
“Oh come on Kagome! You never wondered why all of us are pretty and thin? Moms are much more apt to bring their children, but dads? Nope, they need a bit of convincing. I am surprised you didn’t notice that before. Besides, it’s not such a big deal; you’re getting all worked up over nothing.”
Kagome’s face shot up to Ayame, her eyes sparkling with annoyance. “You mean it doesn’t bother you that we are hooker elves?” Ayame choked on her soda, sputtering at Kagome’s choice of words.
“What the hell is a hooker elf?” She laughed. Kagome blushed and tilted her head to the side.
“We are! Hooking in the dads to spend twenty eight bucks for a photo with a man dressed as Santa!”
“Can’t you just call us lures? I mean I get the fishing reference, but really… don’t say hooker!” Kagome had to laugh with her friend, giving her a sheepish smile. Ok perhaps hooker elves wasn’t the best term, but that’s what she felt like.
“Besides Kaggy, cheer up! We get to go to the hospital after our break. You know how happy they will be.” Ayame’s voice turned soft, and she had a pleasant smile on her face. Kagome nodded in agreement, knowing how much her friend loved children. Kagome felt a bit of unease swell within her. She was not exactly looking forward to this encounter, for she had wished to keep her second job a secret.
“Hey what’s got you down?” Ayame interrupted, noticing the somewhat fallen expression on Kagome. The girl immediately brightened, and waved off the concerned look of the red head.
“Oh nothing, just thinking about how much holiday shopping I still have left to do!” Kagome covered. Ayame seemed to believe her as she sported a quick horrified look.
“Oh me too! I totally forgot! Ah I still need to get Kouga something!” Ayame continued on about what she was thinking on getting her crush in hopes that he would finally understand her.
“Hey Santa’s Helpers!” The voice of their boss infiltrated their talk, and Ayame quickly jumped up, shooting him a sheepish look.
“We are coming! Don’t get your panties in a twist.” She mumbled the last part to Kagome as they quickly scoffed down the rest of their lunch before heading to the bus.
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The bus drove for forty five minutes out of the city and into the grassy countryside. Kagome felt her unease deepen with each passing tree. She had not even arrived at the hospital and she could already feel the embarrassment swelling. She had been correct, today was going to be an exceptionally long day.
The building was tall and beautiful, an old historic fortress had been converted to this astounding hospital. Romaji Pediatric Hospital of Oncology was one of the leading pediatric hospitals across the world, believed to be on equal terms with even the renowned Children’s Hospital of Boston in the United States. No expense had been spared when preparing this hospital for its future residents. Most of the patients lived within the walls of the beautiful fortress, their conditions too sporadic to be converted to at home care. A great majority of the patients were diagnosed with terminal illnesses that greatly impacted their life. The staff at Romaji were hand selected by the board to offer the best care and support to the patients and their families.
As they stepped through the doors of Romaji, they were greeted by kind smiles and warm welcomes. When their eyes fell to Kagome, their expressions grew curious, then slipped into a look of kind pity.
“Welcome back, Miss Higurashi.” They said softly, their eyes taking in her obvious uniform. Her face flushed lightly, and she looked to her feet. Ayame cast her a curious look, but decided to save her friend from having to endure even more curious stares than she was already receiving.
“Excuse us, but which wing will we be heading to?” The nurse took her gaze off of Kagome and sent a smile to Ayame.
“You will be in the Western wing. It is where our residential children stay. I will send for…”
“It is this way. Thanks Mara.” Kagome interrupted. The nurse named Mara only nodded and smiled.
“Thank you, Miss Higurashi.” Kagome nodded briefly in her direction as she strode down the hallway, leaving the others to follow behind.
“Kagome…” Ayame began tentatively. Kagome sighed softly, her eyes going distant.
“I am pretty familiar with this hospital.” She began, casting her look back at her coworkers. Hijoro, the elderly man that made a truly spectacular Santa placed his hand upon her shoulder.
“Well, we are thankful for a knowledgeable guide then. Do you know much of this hospital, Kagome-san?” Hijoro was ever the polite older man, with kind eyes and an understanding mind. Kagome felt her heart warm at his kindness.
“I know a little. Romaji was founded by a member of the Taisho family sixty seven years ago. The fortress belonged to them. One of their children became sick, and due to a hospital misdiagnosis she died. So, to correct that mistake the family vowed to create a safe place that put their utmost care into medicine. They spent a ton of money on rebuilding their fortress into this hospital. From what I understand, a few of the Taisho’s live on premises in the Southern wing of the fortress, but it isn’t accessible to the general public so I think it’s just a rumor.”
As they walked down the corridor, they noticed that there were colorful paintings on the wall, all with varying levels of skill. Kagome paused at one, her fingers reaching out to trace it lightly. “The murals on the walls were painted by the residential children. The staff here wanted to make sure that there was none of that “hospital feel” where the children stay. They wanted to surround the children with beauty.” Kagome moved forward, leaving behind the mural of a small red haired boy holding the hand of a black haired woman. Ayame noticed the way Kagome’s fingers lingered on the painting of the small boy almost fondly. Kagome must know one of the children here, or perhaps she had known one of them. She felt her stomach flutter.
They left the colorful hallway and found themselves in a room that practically defined Christmas. A giant tree sparkled with lights and ornaments stood in the corner of the room, its presence warming the environment tremendously. Beneath the tree were small presents crudely wrapped with messy children’s writing on them. Ornaments bearing pictures on the tree glistened like beacons. Ayame and the others noticed that there were two distinct types of ornaments; small round ones with the pictures in the center, or the body of an angel with the picture clasped in their hands. Ayame felt a lump form in her throat as she knew what each picture must mean. The angels were the ones that had lost their battle with their illness and had since moved on to the afterlife, where as the small globes must be the ones that were still patients. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a picture of a handsome little boy with red hair, and she felt a bit of relief to notice that it was not depicted in the angel ornament. She was not sure if that was the one that Kagome knew, but if it was she was glad to know he was still here.
“This is the main foyer. The children often gather here for story time, or different visitors. Sometimes they have puppet shows or musical shows to entertain them. Other times they cover the entire expanse of the floor with paper and let the children color all afternoon. Even the older children love to color.”
“Kagome!” The squeal of her name had her spinning around to greet a sudden gaggle of children. Ayame felt her heart tighten as the children came to view. Some looked normal, with heads of flowing hair, while others had little to no hair upon their bodies. Many were being pushed in wheelchairs by healthier children or nurses. Some were even hooked up to IV stands, their faces sunken in. Despite their appearances, all of them wore beautiful, charming smiles.
“Hello little bunnies!” Kagome called out as she dipped to her knees. The children gathered around her, reaching out to play with her hat or her funny clothes.
“You help Santa?” A younger one asked, his eyes shooting behind Kagome to lock with the large man in red.
“Wow! It really is Santa!” A little girl whispered, clutching her Rudolph stuffed animal tightly to her chest. Kagome laughed and stood, moving back towards Hijoro.
“Little bunnies, I want to introduce you to some really wonderful friends of mine. When I found out that Santa was in town, we absolutely had to make sure he came to visit his most avid believers!” She said with a grin. “So I asked and he graciously agreed to come meet all of you. Now he won’t be able to grant all your wishes, but he will do his best to keep those beautiful smiles on your faces.”
“Mom?” The soft exclamation drew the attention of everyone, even the nurses and doctors who had been looking on. A tiny boy, shorter than the other children of his age, stood in the entryway. In his hand, he held a small stuffed fox in his arms. His emerald green eyes seemed unsure and slightly confused.
“Shippou,” Kagome said softly as she knelt on the ground. He looked from her, to Santa, then back to her. A slow grin spread over his face. Kagome opened her arms and the small boy raced into them. Kagome felt the prick of tears as she felt his tiny form. It had been only a day since she had seen him, but if felt like years.
“Hello Shippou. How do you feel today?” He pulled away enough to smile at her.
“Really good. Why are you with Santa? Is it true? Is he going to bring us toys this year?” His voice was so hopeful, Kagome felt shame burn within her. She had always been able to provide for Shippou, but due to the high costs of his treatment she had never really been able to give him a good Christmas gift.
“We will see, Shippou. You have to ask him.” She said in a motherly tone. Ayame stepped forward, placing her hands on her knees.
“Hello kids, my name is Ayame and I am one of Santa’s assistants. I bet you are all eager to talk to Santa.” A loud chorus of “YES” sounded through the hall, bringing a few chuckles from the staff that had gathered to witness the display. “How about you all sit down and first, Santa can tell you guys all about the North Pole?” The children plopped to the floor, their eager eyes feasting on the man in red. Kagome sat amongst the children, a few of them cuddling up against her. Her son sat in her lap, his eyes wide as he listened to Hijoro talk about the beautiful North Pole and the magic he uses to travel the world.
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Shortly after their questions had been answered, and explanations made on whether Rudolph really had a shiny nose, the children lined up to tell Santa their wishes. He laughed with a few, listening to why they wanted the toys they did, and lent his support to the ones who wished for things he could not give. Kagome laughed as Shippou hopped atop Santa’s lap, his agility surprising for his size.
“And what can Santa bring you for Christmas Shippou?” Santa asked with a warm chuckle. Shippou beamed with glee, his green eyes sparkling mischievously.
“I want a magic stuff! See, we saw a magician the other day and I bet I could be better!” Santa let loose a deep chuckle.
“Oh a magician eh? I bet you would be a wonderful magician; you have the perfect trickster personality for it.” Shippou nodded before leaning in a little closer to whisper into Santa’s ear.
“Besides, if I was a magician, then maybe I can make money so my mom doesn’t have to work so hard.” Hijoro stayed silent for a moment, his eyes spotting said mother who was kneeling with the kids, listening to their exaggerated stories of time they had caught Santa. He felt a small wave of pity. He had always just assumed Kagome was another woman working her way through being a single mother. She had mentioned having a son a few times, but never a husband or significant other. She had most certainly never mentioned that her son was here of all places.
“Well Shippou, perhaps that can be arranged, but you have to be extra good!” He said to the red-haired, green-eyed boy. Shippou grinned and nodded enthusiastically. He leapt off of Santa’s lap and raced to his mother. She laughed warmly and urged him to go play with the other children. She stood and made her way towards Hijoro.
“What did he ask for?” She asked softly. Hijoro gave a soft snort.
“You have a trickster on your hands. He wants things for Magicians, it was all he asked for.” Kagome felt her cheeks tinge. It sounded expensive. Hijoro carefully left out the part about him wanting to be a magician so he could make money to help her.
“Well, it would seem all the children have made their wishes.” Ayame said as she came to stand with them. “We should probably head out now. You going to stay here Kaggy?” Kagome nodded.
“Yeah, I was going to come here after my shift anyways.” Hijoro clapped the two women on the shoulder before moving towards their boss who was scowling at them.
“We better head out before boss man gets in a tizzy.” He said as he walked away. Ayame lingered, her gaze on Kagome.
“Kaggy…” She began, but Kagome quickly interrupted.
“Telling people about Shippou’s illness defines him in other people’s mind as something to be pitied. I do not want that. I do not look at Shippou as an ill child; I look at him as a wonderful child. That is why I did not say anything. I am sorry.”
“I understand.” Ayame said softly. “I will see you tomorrow?” Ayame asked. Kagome nodded.
“I will be in at four. I am coming straight from work so I may be a little late. I don’t think anyone would believe I was Santa’s Helper if I showed up in my waitressing uniform.” Kagome smirked and Ayame giggled.
“Alright girl, see you then. For what it’s worth, I have never seen such a happy kid, Kagome.” Kagome smiled, feeling a bit of tension leave her shoulders. That was true, despite Shippou’s struggles he was still a wonderfully happy child. Even when his illness left him bedridden, he always wore a smile.
“Mom!” Shippou called out from one of the corridors. He was waving her over urgently.
“What is it sweetie?” She asked.
“Did Santa already leave?” Kagome nodded.
“Yes, he is a busy man you know. Christmas is only a two weeks away.” Shippou’s face fell and his cheeks turned red.
“Oh.” He mumbled dejectedly. Kagome frowned.
“What is it? Did you forget to tell him something?” He looked at the floor as he shuffled his feet.
“He forgot someone. I was supposed to take him to her, but I forgot. Now she won’t get to tell him what she wants.” Her heart blossomed at the tiny tear that gathered in his eyes. He was such a loving boy.
“Well Shippou, how about I talk to her? I am very close with Santa you know. I can just let him know.” His eyes widened and he latched onto her hand almost instantly.
“Come this way! She is new, Mickey brought her in this morning.” Mickey was Shippou’s favorite nurse. She always wore something with Mickey Mouse and had brightly colored nail polish on, always different on each finger. He took her down the hall, and Kagome noticed that they were in the quiet wing. Shippou had been here many times. The quiet wing was where the really sick children went. Though many would only stay here for short whiles until they rebounded, this was also the hall where the children who would not rebound stayed. Out of all the corridors, it was the most brilliantly painted and filled with happy things, yet even that could not combat the thick tension of sadness that lingered. Kagome swallowed the lump that suddenly formed in her throat.
Shippou led her to one of the rooms. He looked up expectantly at the nurse who was sitting behind the desk. She gave him a brief nod, and he grinned and opened the door. The room inside was bright and beautiful. It was filled with beautiful flower arrangements and smelled of spring. In the center of the room was a wide bed. In the center was a small girl. Kagome felt her heart weep at the sight. She was as small as Shippou, her breathing slightly labored. Atop her head was a small hat with flowers, and Kagome knew that if she were to take it off there would be no hair underneath.
“Are you awake?” Shippou whispered softly. The little girl turned her head, her beautiful brown eyes instantly brightening.
“Shippou!” She said cheerfully. Her gaze wandered to Kagome.
“I am sorry, but I forgot to grab Santa for you.” He said softly, “But this is my mom and she knows Santa!” The little girl giggled softly.
“Oh Shippou don’t be sad!”
“Hello, my name is Kagome, and I am Shippou’s mom.” The little girl sat up, with great difficulty that it nearly broke her heart. Shippou hopped up and helped her gently. Kagome fought back the tears. He placed an extra pillow behind her back, and the little girl blushed at him.
“Rin’s name is Rin.” The little girl said shyly. Kagome moved so that she was sitting on the bed.
“It is very nice to meet you Rin. How are you feeling today?” Rin pursed her lips for a moment.
“Rin feels fuzzy.” She said softly. She gingerly reached up and touched her hat as if to make sure it was still there. Rin then glanced at Kagome, her eyes lingering on the long flowing hair that could be seen from her ponytail. Kagome felt a moment of guilt. It was hard to come in here and have the children eye your hair with such longing.
“That is a beautiful hat you have Rin.” Kagome said, and Rin blushed.
“Rin’s daddy gave it to Rin.” She whispered with a smile, showing off the gap in her teeth where a tooth must have fallen out. It was an entirely endearing smile.
“That was very nice of him. He has good taste. Shippou, honey, why don’t you go look for Mickey and see if she will give you a lollipop.” He gave her a sullen look.
“But Mom, I wanted to stay here.” Kagome placed her hands on her hips and fixed him with one of her famous parental glares.
“Now Shippou, you got privacy when you made your wish. Now it's Rin’s turn.” She scolded lightly. Shippou nodded before turning towards the door.
“Don’t worry Rin, my mommy is the best and you will like her. She will make sure Santa gives you whatever you want!” Shippou declared before he headed out of the door. She heard a faint “Mickey” off in the distance and could not help but smile. Her son had an addiction to lollipops.
“Are you really friends with Santa?” Rin asked hopefully, eying Kagome’s clothes. Kagome grinned before standing and twirling.
“Can’t you tell? I am Santa’s helper!” She said, giving her a quick V for victory sign with her fingers. Rin giggled.
“Well, Rin was wondering if maybe you could take Rin to sit by the window. Rin likes to look at the flowers.” The little girl asked shyly, her face burning a slight pink. Kagome stood and carefully folded back the blankets. She noticed the little girls frame was thin, yet still relatively healthy. That was a good sign. She picked her up gently, smiling as Rin wrapped her arms around her neck. She moved to the window where there was a wide rocking chair. Sitting in it comfortably, Kagome situated the little girl in her lap. Slowly, she began to rock back and forth. Kagome smiled at the feeling, and she caught a glimpse of what life would be like if she had a daughter. Not that she didn’t love Shippou more than anything else in the world, but she would be lying if she said she didn’t want a daughter too.
“Now Rin, why don’t you tell me what you want for Christmas.” Kagome said in a soft tone. Rin looked up at her with her wide eyes.
“Are you sure you know Santa?” Kagome laughed.
“Of course I do.” Rin smiled and relaxed.
“Rin doesn’t want anything for Rin.” She declared after a moment of silence. Kagome let her gaze slip to the little girl, who was looking into her lap. “Rin has all Rin needs. What Rin really wants… is something for daddy.” Neither one heard the door open.
“For your daddy?” Kagome asked her. Rin nodded.
“Rin wants daddy to find another Rin.” The girl seemed torn over her own statement, and Kagome could feel the pain such a phrase would cause beginning to well within her.
“Rin, why would you say something like that?” She said softly.
“Because Rin is sick. Rin knows that someday she will go to the place where angels live, and daddy will be alone again.” Kagome closed her eyes, attempting to hide the tears gathering. Did Shippou think like this too?
“Rin, your daddy will never want to replace you. Your daddy loves you very much, and when you love someone so much, nothing in the world can take their place. If you go to live with the angels, having a friend will not make your Daddy miss you any less.”
“How come?” Kagome shifted the little girl so she was looking down into her gaze.
“Because, Rin, there is no love like that of a parent to their child. It is a love that cannot be taken away, or replaced. You are very, very special Rin, and there will never be another Rin like you.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I am a mommy. Mommies and daddies love their children with all of their hearts and souls. Your daddy loves you like I love Shippou. Even though Shippou is sick, just like you, I still love him with everything I have.”
“Does Daddy love me like that?”
“I do.” The masculine voice made the two jump in surprise. Kagome looked back, her eyes meeting the most vibrant shade of gold. Her lips parted slightly. He was breathtaking. His tall form was dressed in a cut and tailored suit and contrasted greatly with his light skin. He wore thin metal glasses that only accentuated his handsome face. His silvery white hair was pulled back into a low ponytail, and she briefly wondered how long it was.
“Daddy!” Rin called out. The man stood there for a moment, his gaze staring at Kagome, then Rin. It was somewhat unusual how alike the two women looked. He moved forward and knelt beside where Kagome and Rin sat so that he was eye level with his daughter.
“Rin.” He said quietly. Kagome noticed that his countenance was reserved and somewhat cold, yet his gaze was warm and kind as he looked upon his daughter. She felt the ghost of a smile light her lips.
“Why don’t you go visit with your daddy Rin, and I will talk to you about what you want to tell Santa another time?” Kagome said. Rin nodded excitedly as she reached for her father. His arms came around her, briefly bushing against Kagome. A spark of tingles erupted over her flesh. A light blush stained her cheeks as she stood. She quickly slipped out of the room. She shut the door behind her, letting out the breath she had not been aware she had been holding. A very soft giggle from the nurse caught her attention.
“Handsome isn’t he?” The nurse whispered quietly. Kagome smiled and fanned herself in an exaggerative manner.
“That goes way beyond handsome.” She clarified.
“Here are your things. One of your friends left them with Mara. Thought you might want to change into something a little more comfortable.” The nurse said. Kagome blushed brilliantly and nodded.
“Thanks.” She said quickly as she practically dove into the woman’s bathroom.
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When she exited in a fresh pair of yoga pants and a white T-Shirt with small, painted handprints on it, she looked much more relaxed. Her hair hung loosely around her back, curling at the tips.
“Mom!” Shippou called out as he rounded the corner. She took in the wheel chair and felt a bolt of worry. Mickey was pushing him and gave her a reassuring smile.
“He got a little tired from all his excitement. He just needs to quit being such a ball of energy!” She scolded. Mickey was a large woman, with short cropped hair and an eyebrow ring. She was a unique woman, and the children loved her for it. Still, Kagome worried her bottom lip between her teeth as she knelt down to inspect Shippou. A soft sound pulled her attention away, and she looked up to find those piercing amber eyes once more.
“Excuse me, may I have a word?” Kagome felt unease creep within her. Would he be upset at her discussion with his daughter?
“Um, sure. Shippou, why don’t you let Mickey take you to your room. I bet dinner is almost ready and I can stay tonight. I will meet you back there in say…. Ten minutes?” She pulled out her watch, and he did his.
“Promise! You have to sync it!” He said sternly. She giggled.
“Yup, mine says 5:47pm. Let’s start the timer at 5:50pm” She tapped him fondly on the nose.
“Ok, mine says 5:47pm too. So that means you need 13 minutes mom.” His tone was very matter-of-factly. Kagome laughed and kissed his forehead.
“So smart.” She said. “See you in 13 minutes.” Shippou turned back to Mickey, giving her a thumbs up.
“Alright little man, lets goooo!” Mickey tilted the chair back, earning a laugh from the child, and made racing noises as she drove him back to his room.
Kagome straightened and turned her gaze to Rin’s Father. He motioned for an empty room. Her unease grew to nervousness.
“You are no longer an Elf.” He said, as if to break the tension. Kagome gave a soft snort.
“My shift is over. I work part time at the Shopping Center at the Christmas Corner.” The man nodded. There was an awkward silence. Standing straight, Kagome held out her hand.
“I am Higurashi Kagome, Shippou’s mom and of course Santa’s esteemed helper.” The man eyed her hand for a moment, before taking it in his own.
“Taisho Sesshomaru.” Kagome’s eyes widened.
“Taisho? Like the Taisho's that own half the world?” Sesshomaru raised a brow at her clearly over exaggeration of his family’s wealth. Her gaze softened. “She is a wonderful girl.” A brief look of pain flashed over his features, and she was sure if she had been anyone else she would not have noticed. Yet Kagome had always been incredibly perceptive to other people’s emotions.
“The best. The conversation that I… interrupted,” He began.
“I am sorry if it offended you.” She blurted, her cheeks burning as his stare seemed to penetrate her.
“It is due to my own hindrance that she feels as such. I do believe your words assisted her.” Kagome tilted her head to the side. He was having a great amount of difficulty speaking to her. He seemed so cold and aloof, she was sure he probably was not used to speaking of such with others.
“I do not think so.” She whispered somewhat comfortingly. “Her feelings are only natural I suppose. I bet even Shippou feels that way. It is natural for her to want to soothe your hurt, just as it is for us to want to soothe theirs.”
“I have never seen Rin take to anyone besides myself.” He said suddenly, making Kagome squirm in the awkwardness of the conversation.
“Maybe it was the costume? Kids tend to be trusting if it involves Santa.”
“It is not the opinion of the Staff here. I have heard many times of the children’s most fervent visitor.”
“I feel kind of put on the spot. I am not really sure what or where this conversation is headed.” Kagome said finally, her fidgeting catching his attention.
“Forgive me, I understand I may have come off as slightly odd. Mrs. Higurashi…”
“Ms.” She corrected absently. He faltered for a moment, but nodded.
“Ms. Higurashi. My daughter is very ill, of that I am sure you are aware. I am not able to be with her as much as I would like, and I fear that she suffers because of it. I wished to express my,” He paused, his fists clenching and releasing in his discomfort. “I wished to express my gratitude for the things you said to her. I do not believe I could have worded the response as well as you did.” Kagome felt a small smile spread across her lips.
“Mr. Taisho,” She began as she stepped closer. “From one parent to another, you are doing a wonderful job. Rin is a sweet girl, I can tell. You don’t give yourself enough credit. It’s hard for people like us, who have to sit and wonder each day if their child is going to make it. It is all we can do to be strong for them, to give them all the years of happiness crammed into a smaller time slot than it should be. Rin only accepted my words because she already knew they were true. I may have vocalized it, but you taught her.” She placed her hand upon his arm and gave him a brilliant smile.
“Besides, my son has quite the attachment to your daughter. I don’t think you have to worry about her being lonely.” He gazed at her, and their eyes met. Sesshomaru wondered briefly about the enigma of the woman before him. She was so young; it was hard to believe she was a mother at all. It was the first time since Rin’s diagnosis that he met someone that truly understood the whirlwind of emotion that he hid. He did not know why, but he had a feeling that this woman was going to change everything, and he was not sure if that was a bad thing.
“Will you join Shippou and myself for dinner?”
“Rin is not fit to go to the cafeteria.” He said, but he felt her hand squeeze his shoulder.
“You are new here. Dinner goes where you are. Why don’t you ask Rin if she would like to come visit us in Shippou’s room.”
“I do not believe that is necessary. She spoke quite feverantly of him. I believe her answer would be a yes.”
“Great! Come.” She opened the door and motioned for him to exit.
“Hey Mickey, can I grab the Clydesdale for Rin?” Kagome said as she propped herself on the desk.
“Think you can handle it little lady?” Mickey teased. Kagome grinned and gave her a thumbs up. Mickey laughed and disappeared around the bend only to return a few moments later with a large cot. The cot was a hospital bed propped up and made to resemble a large horse.
“Thanks Mickey! Rin and Mr. Taisho are going to be taking dinner in Shippou’s room with us tonight.” She called to the nurse as she wheeled the bed away. Sesshomaru followed, feeling slightly out of place. This little slip of a woman was quite unusual. And the raised brow look the nurse Mickey was giving him was most peculiar.
“Perfect huh?” The second nurse, Laura, said as she stared after the two parents.
“Totally.” Mickey agreed, grinning at the curious look Mr. Taisho was shooting them. “Totally perfect.”
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Love,
Caleesci