Gambling Your Way to Freedom

Chapter 11: At the Hospital

For a moment, she had to cling to him for support. Her eyes closed as she fought to remain upright. However, as soon as she could stand straight, she bolted inside without a moment's glance back to see if he followed. He followed just in time to see her nearly slam into the information desk in her haste.

"Where is Sango Himura?!" she shouted, practically jumping with nervous energy as the elderly woman searched through the computer.

"Looks like she's been admitted for observation. Take the elevators up to the third floor. Her room should be just to the right of the doors." The words had barely finished leaving her mouth before Kagome was off again, darting to the bank of elevators at the end of the hall.

"Sorry for that," Sesshoumaru said when he reached the desk.

"Oh, don't worry about it!" The woman replied, waving him off. "I'd react the same way if I were in her shoes."

He nodded again and turned to see Kagome's form disappearing into an elevator. The woman's gaze followed his and she sighed. "Poor dear. I do hope the woman you're here to see is ok."

"Thank you," he said, nodding to her one final time before heading to the elevators himself.

When he exited on the third floor, he found Miroku waiting for him. The sight of blood on the monk's shirt made his blood boil and he couldn't stop the growl that ripped through him.

"I, uh, I was just coming to find you," Miroku said wearily.

"What. Happened." He said through clenched teeth, forcing himself to remain calm. The last thing they needed was for some stupid human to spot his red eyes and run screaming about demons.

"Near as I can tell, he decided Sango was to blame for Kagome not coming back. He told her in no uncertain terms it was her job to bring Kagome back. She refused and...he broke her. Literally. In addition to her prior injuries, she's got a broken arm, a broken ankle, two cracked ribs, and a concussion. They're keeping her overnight for observation."

"Does he know?"

"I don't think so. Not yet. No one has shown up yet at any rate. However, I don't think we should take any chances. I've told them I'm her brother so I can stay with her all night."

"Good. She's so far refused my help, but after this…"

"If she goes back, she'll die."

Sesshoumaru sighed, glancing in to where Kagome lay curled by her friend on the bed, both of them crying silently. "I need to go get my car."

At Miroku's confused expression he said, "I orbed us here."

"Ah,"

"Are you armed?"

"Of course." The monk opened his jacket to reveal a retractable bo staff, several sutras, and a spray bottle which Sesshoumaru knew to be full of a potent youkai repellent. He nodded in approval.

"Course," Miroku said, zipping his jacket back up. "I don't expect him to try anything here. It's too open. He strikes me as more of a cowardly, stick to the shadows git."

"Agreed," Sesshoumaru said, giving one last glance to where his mate lay, now stroking Sango's hair as she rested against her. "Even so, don't leave them alone."

"They're safe with me Sesshoumaru. You have my word."

He nodded, watching Miroku walk back into Sango's room before turning to head back down the elevators. Noting Inuyasha had called him as well, he punched his brother number in and impatiently waited for him to pick up.

"Hey," Inuyasha said, answering almost immediately.

"What have you found out?"

"Straight to business huh? Alright, I thought you'd like to know Akitoki Hojo Senior disowned his son shortly before is death five years ago."

"How is that possible? Kagome said he used his inheritance to get set up here in Atlanta."

"Looks like his father didn't get the chance to finish filing the paperwork."

"So, Hojo found out his father was preparing to disown him and had him killed before he could."

"That would be my guess. I'm going to dig around a bit mo—"

"No," Sesshoumaru said, cutting him off. "Something's happened. I need you here. Now."

Inuyasha didn't hesitate. "I'll be on the first flight out."

He disconnected and Sesshoumaru smirked. The whelp had certainly come a long way from the scrawny brat who'd been notorious for picking a fight with anyone who looked at him wrong. He hadn't even questioned why Sesshoumaru had asked him to come. There were few things Sesshoumaru valued more than his own honor and the hanyou's loyalty was definitely high on the list. Once they'd set aside their childish squabbling, and actually gotten to know one another, Inuyasha had fallen in line faster than he could blink and over the years, his brother had become a powerful asset. His years of surviving on his own giving him an uncanny ability to accomplish seemingly unfathomable odds with the barest of resources. There wasn't anything he couldn't uncover about a mark given enough time. Yes it was true he was still just as pig headed and stubborn as ever, but he was also unsurpassed in his ability to read people. And what's more, he had a knack for disappearing into crowds, no doubt a talent picked up from years avoiding predators as a child.

He'd originally thought the boy crazy for choosing to become a private detective, but there was no denying his skills in the matter. Plus, the flexibility of not having a set jurisdiction meant that when Sesshoumaru needed help or for someone to watch over the Western Lands for a few decades, the hanyou simply packed his bags and jumped the next flight to wherever Sesshoumaru told him to go.

And given how quickly Hojo seemed to be escalating in his attempts to get Kagome back, Sesshoumaru knew he'd sleep better knowing his brother would be there if he could not. And between them, the stupid human didn't stand a chance.

Kagome stretched slightly, pushing away the blanket that had been draped over her at some point and trying not to wake the woman next to her. Miroku say beside them in a chair, his eyes glued to the TV.

"How long was I out?" she mumbled, glancing around the room.

"Not long," Miroku replied. "I hope I didn't wake you."

She shook her head. "Where's Sesshoumaru?"

"Went to get the car," Miroku said, his face already turned back to whatever show he was watching. "Don't worry though, you're safe with me."

She nodded, trying to ignore the slight twinge of pain at the taiyoukai's absence. She absentmindedly ran her hand through Sango's hair, smoothing it back from her face, unable to keep her mind from agonizing about what might have happened if Miroku hadn't been there.

"I never should have left her there," she whimpered. "This is my fault."

"Hey now!" Miroku said, turning off the TV and turning to face her fully. "None of that! From what Sesshoumaru's told me, you did everything you could. But try as you might, you can't help someone until they're ready to get help. As hard as it is, all we can do is be there for her until she decides she's ready."

Her brain understood the logic his words conveyed, but she still couldn't stop her heart from aching with thoughts that she should have done more. Sango had done so much to help her and she'd literally just left her to the wolves.

"Come on, let her rest. Hopefully by the time Sesshoumaru gets back with the car, they'll be ready to release her and we can all go home."

When Sesshoumaru made it back to the hospital, he was pleased to find both his mate and Sango sleeping peacefully. Miroku spotted him almost immediately, rising from his seat to meet him.

"Any update?"

"Not much. They came by a little after you left and said they want to keep Sango here for a day or two for observation. I talked to the doctor and he confirmed that some of those injuries are old, and that they want to watch her for any type of emotional trauma. They've offered for her to speak to a counselor, but she refused."

"Any police involvement yet?"

"Yeah, she wouldn't tell them anything though. My guess is she's still trying to protect the other girls. She did assure them I had nothing to do with it, which I appreciated."

Sesshoumaru nodded, having known it was only a matter of time before Miroku would fall under suspicion as he'd been the one to bring her in.

"Oh, but you should know. He called her."

"What?" Sesshoumaru growled.

"Yeah, about an hour ago. I muted the call so neither she, nor Kagome, know and I blocked the number so he can't call again. But we probably should get her a new phone, just to be safe."

"I'll take care of it." Sesshoumaru said, mentally adding it to the list of things he needed to do. "Listen, go home. I'll stay with them."

The monk made to protest, but he cut him off. "You're no good to anyone if you're too tired to function. Besides, we need to get a room set up for Sango at the house. Kagome can help us figure out the details later, but for now it would be nice if the basics were mostly ready by the time she's released."

"Of course. Anything else?"

"Inuyasha will be arriving tomorrow if you want to pick him up from the airport."

"Calling in reinforcements huh?"

He shrugged. "With this new development, we need to up our schedule. Originally Inuyasha was going to learn everything he could of Hojo's dealings in Japan before he joined us here. However, now that Sango has been rescued as well, Hojo is bound to retaliate and we need to start figuring out how deep his connections run here in Atlanta. You and I have both been seen around the club too much. Inuyasha will be able to pose as a hopeful client and gain entry without suspicion."

"Makes sense. I'll shoot him a text when I get home. It's been too long since we all worked together. I'm going to enjoy this."

Miroku smirked and Sesshoumaru was reminded why he liked the monk. Inuyasha had been the one to originally come across the monk while they were tracking a youkai serial rapist in Japan who'd been targeting mikos in the hopes of starting another war. Miroku's sister had been one of the victims, and after learning what Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru planned on doing to the youkai once he was caught, he'd joined their cause without a moment's hesitation. His purification skills added an entire new layer to their power and Sesshoumaru had been pleased with the monk sense of honor and his thirst for knowledge. Miroku was the first to react if someone reached out to them for help. And, like himself, the monk understood there was power in pain, and took pride in exacting justice, not just for the victims, but their families as well.

"One last thing Miroku," he said. "Have they eaten?"

"No. Sango has been in and out thanks to the sedative and Kagome hasn't moved since we got here."

Sesshoumaru sighed. "Kagome hasn't eaten since lunch."

"I'll go by a drive through real quick and bring you something back. I was planning on stopping on my way home anyway."

"That will be fine. Thank you Miroku."

"No worries, be back soon."