Inspired by the song Skin (Sarabeth) by Rascal Flats.
Dedication: My heart goes out to any who have suffered from cancer, have loved ones that have, or even a friend who has gone threw it. I dedicate this story to all of you.
Hands clasped in her lap, a young woman with bright blue eyes would bow her head in agony. Tears clung tightly to her long thick eyelashes, her entire body shook with fear. Eyes darting back and forth she would watch as several paitents were rushed in an out of rooms. Looking to the bruises that covered her legs and arms. Kagome felt nauscous , her teeth gnawing on her bottom lip worriedly.
“Miss Higurashi?” a kindly old nurse would call, a smile curling her thinned lips “Hi sweetie…I’m Nurse Keade…will you please follow me? The doctor will see you now”
Nodding obediently, Kagome would stand to her feet following the older woman. Heart hammering loudly in her chest she would be followed by her mom, brother and elderly grandfather. Who was having a grand ‘ol time hitting on the young nurses and wreaking all sorts of havoc by asking for their numbers or tricking them into bending over.
Keade would observe the girl walking behind her, the poor thing was scared stiff, she couldn’t blame the child afterall. The results had come in, and to see this in one so young was heart wrenching to say the least.
Ushering the girl into the examination room, she smiles “Doctor Suikotsu will be with you soon” she would say gently closing the door behind her. Leaving the family to themselves until the doctor got there.
“Don’t worry sis” the youngest Higurashi would say with a smile “I’m sure its nothing to bad…I mean…even if it is, you can get threw it”
“Yes Kagome, whatever it could be…we’ll help you threw it” mama would say patting her daughter’s hand, smoothing the raven strands of hair from her baby girl’s hair.
“Kagome! Generations of Higurashi always had a fighting chance against-“ the old man’s ramblings would be cut short as the doctor walks in.
He was handsome, and had slicked back hair and wore a kind smile on his face “Hello Kagome..I’m Doctor Suikotsu and I’ll be the one taking care of you..” he would be holding a manilla colored folder in his arm and would nod “now…the last time you were here…we took a blood sample to see what the matter was, correct?” he asks flipping threw the file “well, I have your results right here…”
Kagome swallows nervously, her ocean colored eyes would shine with worry and fear “O-Okay…w-well what’s wrong?” she asks trying to find her voice surprised at how timid she sounded.
“Do you wish for the bad news…or the good news first?” the man would ask tone serious but within that tone he had a bit of hope shining threw.
“bad first…” the young woman whispers softly.
A soft sigh escapes the young physician and his eyes close for a mere moment before reopening to look the girl. Reaching a hand out he rests it over her’s giving it a light squeeze “Its as we feared…you have a type of cancer called Sarcoma..” he withdraws his hand.
A collective gasps envelop the Higurashi clan as Kagome breaks down and begins to cry all over again. Ignoring the throbbing pain in her side “A-and the good news?” she whispers, almost hesitant to hear his answer.
“well..the good news is, we seemed to have caught it in time..” he would pat her knee gently and clears his throat “We even have a new treatment..the chances of it coming back are very slim..there are some side effects to it however”
“Like?” Kagome asks trying to wipe the tears from her face.
“Well…your immune system is going to take a hit, your nails will become brittle, no doubt you’ll be very sick often, and there is a chance of hair loss” he would smile again “But it’s the strongest thing, and could even get rid of the cells that a surgery could miss”
As she sat there thinking over her options she would shift; nervously wringing her hands in her lap. Her teeth had a gentle hold on her bottom lip “W-Well..if It can get rid of the cancer…th..then I’m willing to give it a try” she would answer the doctor, finding her confidence again a small smile gracing her gorgeous features.
Suikotsu chuckled softly “Your very brave Kagome…okay…we’ll start the treatment immedietly” he looks to Kagome’s family “any questions?”
Shaking their heads collectively, the family would remain silent. But they were proud of Kagome, they had left this decision to her and they felt that while it could make her sick, she had made the right one.
--3 days Later—
Yawning widely, Kagome would greet the day with strange new vigor. Just like the doctor had said, she would sometimes have some nausia and would even throw up. Her nails were incredibly brittal and had to get some extra kargin in her system to try and restrengthen them to better battle the affects that chemotherapy was having on her young body.
Reaching a hand up, the teenage girl of 17 would run her fingers threw her soft raven colored hair to detangle it. And much to her surprise, dismay and horror a good chunk of her hair would be painlessly removed.
Looking at the palm of her hand which held the now disconnected black strands. The teen would turn her head to look at her pillow stifling a loud sob the wrenches itself from her throat. For staring up at her were more helpless strands of hair that had fallen out during the night.
Chest heaving quickly, tears renewed, Kagome did the only thing that any teenage girl cursed with cancer woul do upon finding a good amount of hair in her hand and pillow “MAMA!” she screams beginning to cry “MAAMA!”
Faster then lightning, the Higurash matriarch would rush into the room. Souta and grandpa Higurashi were right behind her, all had worry etched into their faces.
“Kagome? Kagome baby, what’s wrong?” the elder woman would ask enveloping her only daughter in her arms and would hold the sobbing girl rocking slightly “Honey?” she asks timidly only to see the hair that Kagome had gathered into her hands and she gasps “Oh…Oh Kagome..baby..oh no..shh its okay” she whispers “shh…its okay”
“No its not Mama!” Kagome would wail loudly pulling back from her mother “mama its not okay! The prom is in less then a month! Who’s going to take a bald girl to the prom huh!?” she would shout breaking down into tears all over again hiding her face with her pillow sobs renewed curling into a tiny ball the teenage girl could only hear the taunts, the teasings and the laughter of her schoolmates when she went back to school, bald!
--At School—
Amber colored eyes watched in disgust as the girl known as, Kagome, was mercilessly teased and picked on. And for what? Her hair, or well, lack there of. So what if she was bald? Well normally that would bother him, but the reasons behind it were well accented. He could clearly smell the medication she was taking aswell as the illness she suffered from, it was a brutal thing. Looking to the girl again he shakes his head about to walk away when he would be stopped by his the jeering voices.
“Wow Kagome, lookit you” a group of girls that he had seen her hang out with, would approach her. Watching with mild interest, the teenage dog demon chooses to listen in.
“You look like a total freak!” one of the girls jeers loudly grabbing at the rather cute pink cap that Kagome was wearing. Pulling it clean off her head, she would wrinkle her nose “EEEW” she and the other girls squeal with laughter tossing the cap out of Kagome’s reach “not so high and mighty now, are we Higurashi?”
“B-But…” the girl stammers trying to hide her shame with her books, running and grabbing her cap she pulls it back over her head “But…Kikyo..Its…its not my fault..” she would sniffle “you guys act as if I want to look like this”
“You probably are just doing it for attention” another girl, Ayame, taunts viciously shoving Kagome backwards and into the lockers “I mean…who would ever believe that a PREISTESS of all people could get cancer? I mean, its utterly rediculous” she snickers
“P-Priestess I may be, b-but I’m still human” the sick girl would defend herself picking up her books that had been scattered all over the floor “and can get things like that” she mumbles.
“Yeah well..” Kikyo laughs “I heard from Inuyasha that there is no way in all of hell that he’s going to take YOU to prom now..he’d rather settle for a woman whose hair he can brush his fingers threw, you know how it is..dear” she says venomously “I mean, your nothing now without it…it was a pretty shade, look and all but now that you’ve lost it..probably when you were shaving it off” she smirks “Anyone who’d take you to the prom would surely see their mistake”
Shoulders drooping, Kagome was just about to admit how correct Kikyo was. Sniffling again she would’ve argued what Kikyo had said about Inuyasha was true, but how could she? She knew it to be true and her heart was breaking.
Crimson colored eyes watched the spectacle, and a young woman with black hair up in a feather clip would shake her head “Humans are just awful to others that are weaker then them, arent they?” she would muse to her silent, silver haired companion. Looking up at him, Kagura would smile just slightly “Why don’t you ask her to the Prom, Sessh. I mean, I know we were supposed to go, but I don’t mind going with someone else..”
Surprise would overtake the dog demon, and his eyes widen a bit “Kagura” he would say almost in awe “You don’t mind..!?” he would eye the wind witch suspiciously.
“oh come off it, I know you want her” she shrugs “and I cannot hope to compete with one with as large a heart as her..besides” she chuckles “Hiten asked me and I don’t mind going with him…but only if you take Kagome..” leaving the stunned lord in training behind the wind witch stalks over to the toremented girl and places herself between the one being harmed, and the oens doing the harming “For shame Kikyo…for shame Ayame” the bitch of Takara High, would say pressing her hands to her hips “What would your grandfather say, Ayame, if he heard of your betrayal of the girl who saved your sorry ass from being Mukotsu’s latest victim, and YOU Kikyo what’s your excuse to attack the girl who helped oyu with your failing algebra grade?”
Grabbing her arm, Kagura would drag Kagome away from her source of torment immedietly “don’t you listen to them Kagome” she mumbles “I know plenty of guys who’d give their manhood away just to escort you to the prom…they’re just vindictive little bitches who cant get a guy without spreading their legs”
“T-Thanks for the…words of encouragement..but…” she sighs “they’re right, it’d be a mistake for any guy to take a girl to prom who cant even look her best”
As if taking his cue, Sesshoumaru would muster up his courage and approaches the two “Kagura…could you leave Kagome and this Sesshoumaru alone for a moment? This Sesshoumaru wishes to speak with her” his eyes would never leave the startled priestess before him who was picking at an invisible stain on the hem of her shirt.
A secret smile curls Kagura’s plump red lips and sh enods “of course…of course” she would hug the ill priestess warmly and would walk away planning on giving Hiten her answer right away. While it was true that she and Sesshoumaru had been seeing eachother, it was nothing that couldn’t be broken off without ease, t hey had cared for eachother but as of late only saw one another as a friend, he was afterall, her best friend.
Ocean blue eyes would peek up threw her lashes nervously as she picks at that invisible stain somemore “S-So…uhm..S-Sesshoumaru…what did you want to speak to me about?” she asks softly.
“This…Sesshoumaru wishes to ask a very difficult question” he answers her, feet shuffling almost shyly “It is only difficult because this Sesshoumaru finds himself tongue tied and breathless whenever he sees you..”
Feeling her heart plummet into her stomach, Kagome closes her eyes tightly “Oh…I see…its probably because of my appearance” she laughs bitterly “if that werent it, then I’d be all giggly and feel as if you had just said the most romantic thing every to me” tears begin to fall from her eyes, trying to hide them with her bangs. Much to her surprise he’d brush them gently away and lifts her chin “No…that is not the reason..” he frowns “don’t even think that”
“Oh, sorry…so..what did you wish to ask me Sesshoumaru?” she would wipe her eyes a brilliant smile splitting her face in half. A smile that’d make his heart flutter in his chest.
“W-Well…” he stammers and clears his throat “Kagome Higurashi…would you give this Sesshoumaru the honor of..” he fades off glancing at Kikyo and her little bitches who were watching with wide eyes “..of…of escorting you to the prom?” he would finish his voice pitching upwards nervously gold eyes darting back to her face, he’d find her to be speechless for once. Mouth agape, he chuckles and closes her mouth with a finger “You’re letting the flies in”
“Y-You gotta be joking!” Kagome would shout in disbeleif “Y-You want to be my…MY date to the prom!?”
“…yes..so..?”
“W-Well of course I’ll go…but…” her shoulders droop “I-“
“your beautiful, with or without your hair” he smiles gently pulling her into his arms, he holds her close “You’re braver then most humans, strong for surviving the disease, and smart to pick the choice that’d save your life even with the consequences” his smile widens “besides, I have come to be very fond of those caps you wear”
A heart warming laugh escapes her as she hugs him, crying again, but this time from joy instead of sorrow.
--The Night of the Prom—
“Kagome Sarabeth Higurashi!” mama would scold playfully “STOP fidgeting, I’m trying to do your eye liner”
“Sorry mama..I’m just..nervous what if he balks out? What if he sees tha tKikyo is right and..and he stands me up”
Mama Higurashi smiles brightly “I know he wont, Sesshoumaru is such a nice boy, so polite..even if a bit cold” she tilts her head adjusting the white cap with a dark blue ribbon around it, and places it upon her daughter’s head gently. It went very nicely with the navy blue halter gown that Kagome was wearing, her make-up done lightly to accent her blue eyes.
Knock, Knock
“I’LL GET IT!” Souta shouts running to the door excitedly and would pull the door open beaming up at Sesshoumaru, his eyes going wide at the item that the demon wore. Pressing his finger to his lips, the dog prince smirks “shh”
“Okay!” the boy laughs and shouts up the stairs “KAGOOOME! Your BOYFRIEND is here!”
“Souta, shut up you little pest!” Kagome would growl, illiciting another laugh from her pesky younger sibling who beams at her “woow sis you clean up good…doesn’t she Sesshoumaru?” he asks.
“Mm…This Sesshoumaru approves, you look very fetching” in short he was breathless all over again, feeling much like a puppy with a new squeaky chew toy. He offers his hand as she comes down the stairs and smiles when she gave him a questioning look.
“Sesshoumaru…? Why are you wearing that baseball cap?” the teenage girl would ask tentatively running her fingers over the bill of the hat.
“Why don’t you see?” he asks tilting his head just a bit, his smile widening when she removed his hat. Her ocean colored eyes would get impossibly wide and her mother would gasp.
Gone were the luxurious strands of silver hair that he had on his head no more then a few hours ago. All of it was shaved, he was bald, jus tlike his date “Oh! Sesshoumaru!” Kagome would cry touching the top of his head laughing softly “what did you do?”
Sesshoumaru chuckles running a hadn over the top of his head “Well..since you believe yourself to look rediculous without your hair…this Sesshoumaru figures that you shouldn’t be so lonely…and so decided to shave his head for this occasion”
“But..but I LIKED your hair” she whines “it was so silky”
“Don’t worry, it’ll regrow, just as yours will…only stronger..just as you have become” he would chuckle again “we make a pretty handsome bald pair, don’t you agree?” he asks her family.
They’d all begin to laugh.
---Prom—
When Sesshoumaru and Kagome arrived at the prom, everyone was in an uproar at Sesshoumaru’s bald state. But the couple ignored them and joined their group, only to find that Kouga, Hiten, Manten, and the Otsu brothers had all shaved their heads, and that the girls were hiding their hair under the very caps that Kagome wore all the time, why even Ayame was wearing a light pink one and would’ve apologized profusely to the other girl the two would make up with hugs, laughter and playful comments.
The priestess was humbled by their love and devotion to her. And spent the night dancing with her friends, taking pictures, laughing as she and the girls took a picture together and as the boys took one together, all sporting their matching hair-less dos and caps.
-----
End
Hmm Idk if I like how this was written quite yet, but I thought that it was sweet. DON’T HATE ME that I chopped Sesshy’s hair all off, but I thought it’d be a nice change of pace..though I doubt the next fic I wrote will have a hairless Sesshoumaru X3.