Purple Haze 4

Purple Haze

By: Aurora Collins

Disclaimers: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters associated with it. I'm only borrowing the characters to amuse myself and hopefully others. ^__^


Ch. 4 Sub Zero



Souta was at his desk typing at his computer when he felt a presence behind him. He turned around to see Doctor Wayland.

"Hello Doctor, may I help you?" Souta asked, ceasing his work for the moment.

"I'm just showing Lord Sesshomaru around the lab so that he can see the progress we're making. He is the main benefactor and contributor to this project,"

Doctor Wayland said as he introduced the demon. The imposing demon had long silver white hair, magenta markings on his cheeks and a purple crescent moon on his forehead. Sesshomaru wore a suit and he didn't bother to hide his image now that demons were slowly starting to show themselves to those who were involved in the project. Souta was still getting used to seeing demons again since Inuyasha came through the well.

Speaking of Inuyasha, Sesshomaru reminded Souta of him. Sesshomaru examined the young man's desk and saw a picture of someone that seemed awfully familiar to him. She was in a school uniform waving to whoever took the picture.

"Excuse me Lord Sesshomaru, but are you related to Inuyasha?" Souta just had to ask.

Sesshomaru cocked an eyebrow, "How do you know of Inuyasha?"

"My sister knew him from the feudal era. I know this seems hard to believe but we have a well that used to be connected to the past, and she traveled through it. She is the reincarnation of an old priestess named Kikyo," Souta explained to the lord.

Sesshomaru immediately made the connection with the woman in the picture and surmised that what this young man said was true. "Your sister's name is Kagome, correct?" Sesshomaru declared.

Souta nodded, "Yes, but how do you know?"

"Hnn, your sister traveled with my half-brother, Inuyasha. Now it all makes sense with the way she dressed and acted," Sesshomaru concluded.

Souta's eyes went wide, "So Inuyasha is related to you. I thought so because you two hold a close resemblance with your hair and eyes."

"Don't compare me to that whelp young man," the great lord warned. Souta could feel the anger radiating from his boss and he closed his mouth. "I would like to meet with your younger sister soon," Sesshomaru told Souta.

Souta chuckled, "She isn't my younger sister. She is six years my senior. She has been through college and will soon be twenty-three."

"Either way, bring her to me tomorrow. I'll make an opening in my appointments to speak with her. Bring her to my office around noon," Sesshomaru decalred. Without another word he was gone with Doctor Wayland following close behind.

Souta couldn't believe how pompous that demon was, but it was something to tell his sister. He knew that Kagome would be excited to meet Sesshomaru and maybe the great lord would know where Inuyasha was. It was just too exciting to keep to himself for very long. He would have to call his sister before he went back to work. Just when Souta was about to make a phone call to the house he heard his cell phone buzz in his pocket. He looked at the screen and it was his sister. She must have sensed something to call him at work like this, but it worked out. Souta answered the phone and he didn't even get a chance to say hello before he heard Kagome breathing hard.  

"Souta… I have it. I have PHV. Please Souta, I need you," Kagome said through belated breathes.

Souta felt his heart race, "Are you sure Kagome?" The phone was silent.

"Come get me Souta…" she uttered and then hung up the phone.

Souta heard the beep, "Kagome! KAGOME!" Souta dropped the phone and ran from his office, bumping right into Sesshomaru. Apparently he was just one cubicle down to talk to another associate. Sesshomaru caught Souta and steadied him.

Souta wrenched himself out of the demon's grasp and said, "Sesshomaru, please, it's my sister."

"What's wrong with her?" Sesshomaru asked.

"She just called me and she has the virus. I have to go and get her. Is there any way…"

Sesshomaru cut Souta off. "Bring her here right away and we will have a pod waiting for her. I hope it's not too late for her." Souta just nodded and ran past Sesshomaru to go get the only person that was family to him.
      
      Souta made it home and found his sister sitting on the porch, waiting for her brother to come and get her. Kagome immediately stood up upon seeing him. When Souta saw his sister's eyes he knew that she did have PHV. "C'mon Kagome, we have a pod ready for you," Souta said as he ushered her to the car.

Kagome jerked from her brother's grasp, "You mean frozen until you all find a cure? How long will that be?"

"Kagome just get into the damn car and we can talk about it on the way to the lab," Souta said as he literally forced his sister into the car. They began to drive down the road when Kagome finally looked at him.

      "I don't know how long it will be. It could be a couple years, a couple decades or even a hundred years. All that matters is that you'll be safe," Souta remarked.
Kagome huffed out, "What if you get it? What will happen to our things and the shrine?"

Souta honked his horn as he swerved through traffic, "I'll get it all taken care of today after I take care of you. I promise I won't let anything happen to our family home. I'll talk to Sesshomaru about…."

"Sesshomaru!" Kagome yelled. Souta was surprised by her outburst and missed hitting someone's bumper. "You met Sesshomaru?" Kagome said, not believing it.

"Yeah, he's my boss. You never told me Inuyasha had a brother, just like Sesshomaru never knew that you came from the future," Souta said, glancing at his sister every once in a while.  

      "So that could mean that Inuyasha is around somewhere, and maybe even Shippo," Kagome was beginning to get excited.

"Kagome, we're not going to go to the lab so you can continue on your search. We're going to freeze you," Souta said, trying to remind his sister about their purpose. "Sesshomaru actually wanted to see you tomorrow for a meeting to discuss something," Souta admitted.

Kagome's eyes widened, "Really? He wanted to talk to me?"

"Yeah he seemed very adamant about it. He even scheduled you around his lunch hour so that he could meet up with you," he uttered.

"This is amazing, but why did this have to happen now?" Kagome nearly whined.

      Souta just smirked, "You don't seem so worried about going into cryogenic sleep anymore."

"Don't get me wrong, I'm worried about it; but this is just exciting to meet with someone from my past all over again. You know he did try to kill me once or twice," Kagome said in a thoughtful tone.

Souta's face paled, "What?"

"That was in the past when people were more savage. I wouldn't worry about it," Kagome waved her hand to her brother, trying to make him forget about it.

"If you say so sis, but I don't like the idea of someone trying to kill you," Souta said. If only her brother knew that Inuyasha tried to kill her once too. Kagome decided to keep her mouth shut on that one.
      

      They finally got to the lab and Souta got her into the preparation room where she would be prepared for the cryopreservation sleep.

"Kagome, the doctor is going to examine you to make sure that you're not," Souta gulped down, "Not too far along with the virus."

"What do you mean?" Kagome questioned.

"If you're too far along then your tissues will be so damaged that even with a cure you wouldn't make it," Souta expressed as he saw Kagome start to hyperventilate. Souta immediately grabbed Kagome's hand and said, "You'll be fine. I promise. You haven't even bled from pressure yet, so I highly doubt that you have any tumors in your brain."  

"Souta, you're not really helping right now," Kagome admitted as she took her hand back.

"Sorry sis," Souta said apologetically.

      Before the conversation could continue the door opened to the preparation room. Kagome expected to see the doctor, but instead saw Sesshomaru. Her eyes widened as he stepped up to her.

"Kagome," Sesshomaru said curtly.   

Kagome smiled, "Sesshomaru, it's nice to see you,"

"Hnn, really?" he asked sarcastically.

"You might not believe me Sesshomaru, but it really is. You have changed since I last saw you," Kagome declared.

Sesshomaru cast off a shallow grin, "Five hundred years can do that to a demon."

"I didn't mean it like that Sesshomaru. It's just that your mannerisms and the way you handle humans now," Kagome couldn't help but speed up as she talked to him. She was just so excited.

      "Rin has taught me a great deal about humans and how to talk and treat them. She was a good daughter. I know that you have several questions, as do I; but the matter of your health should come first. I will speak with you when you awaken once more," Sesshomaru said as a finality on the conversation.

Kagome bobbed her head, "I agree with you Sesshomaru. There is but one more question I wish to ask you." Sesshomaru remained silent as she spoke. "What about Inuyasha?" Kagome really wanted to know. It wasn't because she was still in love with him, but because they held such an intricate past. At least she thought so. She had her heart broken once, and she wasn't sure if she could handle it a second time.

      "I rarely see Inuyasha to this day, but he is a strong shareholder in our company. He finally grew up and took responsibility and realized that I was the head of the family. I share no love for my half- brother, but he has his uses," Sesshomaru explained.

Kagome let out a sigh, "So he's alive. I'm glad to hear that."

"I don't see why human," Sesshomaru said out loud.

Kagome looked down, "He was a big part of my life and I just wanted to make sure that he was healthy and safe."

"Hnn…" Sesshomaru grunted out as he made his way to the door.

Kagome came out of her reverie and ran up to the great lord. "Thank you Sesshomaru," Kagome said as she faced Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru was about to respond when Kagome just gave him a huge hug.

       Kagome knew that this could mean her life, but she just wanted to show him how much she did thank him. Kagome released him and could have sworn she saw a blush streak his face. He abruptly straightened his back and said nothing as he left the room. "Still the same old Sesshomaru in a lot of ways," Kagome mentioned.

"That is how you act with him when he tried to kill you?" Souta asked.

Kagome just shrugged her shoulders, "We both changed over the years. I don't think it's a big deal."

"I've never seen you act like that before Kagome. Do you like him or something?" Souta accused his sister.

Kagome felt her cheeks turn a pink tint, "I think you're looking too deep into this. It was just a friendly meeting. Now get out so that the doctor can check on me." Souta put up his arms in surrender as he left the room.
      

      
      After the examinations Kagome was set to be put into the freezing pods. As Souta surmised, she wasn't too far along with PHV.

"Souta, I don't know when I'll see you again, but I'll miss you," Kagome said as she gave her brother one final hug.  

"It'll be faster than you think Kagome. Just be brave and I'll see you soon," Souta embraced her back before they said their final farewells.

      Once her brother left the doctors took her to an isolated room. "Ms. Higurashi, you will need to strip down and get into the pod," the doctor explained.

"Excuse me?" Kagome hesitated.

"Your clothes will inhibit the machine. When you get inside the lid will be air tight and it will be filled with a gel compound. You will need to breathe in this compound and it will seem like you're drowning, but you have to allow your body to relax. We can relax your body with an anesthesia before we begin so that you don't panic," the doctor mentioned as he ushered her towards the pod.

Kagome gulped down, "All right I can do this."

      The doctor injected her with the proper anesthesia and had her undress to be cryogenically frozen. Kagome lay down in the pod, which was cushioned on all sides. Tubes were connected to her body to allow the gel to enter her bloodstream so that when the freezing process began it would be safe. The hatch locked on her and she could feel her body begin to relax. The doctor began putting in the commands on his computer and Kagome could hear the muffled beeping of the machine. The pod began to fill up with the gel as the doctor warned her. At first she held her breath until the pod filled up, but when she couldn't anymore she gasped in the substance. It didn't hurt but it was an odd feeling encompassing her. She only wondered what would happen to her now that her life took another turn.
      

      
      "So it's done?" Souta finally asked.

Doctor Wayland nodded, "Yes I talked to the other doctors and she has been put away with the other patients. She'll be transported into space when the station is completed. Now you have nothing to worry about."

Souta thought for a moment and said, "I still have to worry about some things. Where did Lord Sesshomaru go?"

"Lord Sesshomaru had to go back to his office. Did you want me to call him?" Doctor Wayland offered.

Souta just shook his head, "No, I'll go see him right now. I have to discuss something with him."  Before Doctor Wayland could respond Souta was on his way to see the dog demon.

      
      "Lord Sesshomaru, a Souta is here to see you," Sesshomaru's secretary beeped on his intercom.

"Send him in," Sesshomaru responded as he looked over some paperwork on his desk. Souta entered the office and saw how big and grand it was on the 57th floor. "What do you need Souta?" Sesshomaru asked in his bored tone.

Souta cleared his throat, "I wanted to thank you for what you did for Kagome and me."

"You don't have to thank me. You're working for me and I take care of my employees," Sesshomaru said.

"You wouldn't have helped her for any other reason? You two did have a history if I'm correct to assume, and you did try to kill her once or twice… right?" Souta conveyed.

      "Hnn, so you two have talked. What is your point?" Sesshomaru now looked at Souta as he spoke.

"I was hoping that you would say that you owed my sister one or something like that. She did after all help save the world from Naraku," Souta made his point.

Sesshomaru smirked, "Kagome would have been taken care of even if you weren't my employee." Sesshomaru knew what Souta was playing at. Souta was now satisfied, but now there was something even more important to discuss.

"Is that all you wanted to talk to me about?" the dog demon questioned.

Souta shook his head, "No of course not. I wanted to talk to you about the Higurashi shrine."

"What about your shrine?"

"If I happen to die or get the virus then I have no one to leave the shrine to."

"You don't have any other family?"

"No, and I don't have any close friends. I want to keep the shrine in the family."

"So you want me to be the benefactor of your shrine until Kagome wakes up?

"I was leaning towards that. I know you're powerful and I know that you don't go back on your word either."

"You can be rest assured that your shrine will be safe with me. I'll call my lawyers tomorrow to draw up the papers for you to sign to make it legal."

"Thank you Sesshomaru. You really are a kind person."

"Watch your mouth."

Souta just smiled because he knew that Sesshomaru was a kind person, but heaven forbid if anyone knew about it.

"Now if you don't mind Souta, please go back to work," Sesshomaru ordered out.

"All right, I'll see you tomorrow," Souta said as he headed towards the door.

"One last thing Souta; don't come back to my office unless you have an appointment. Just because I know your sister doesn't mean I know you," Sesshomaru gave his last order before Souta left.