InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Aftermath's Destruction ❯ Hurtful ( Chapter 10 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: Fay-of-Faerie 
Inuyasha and Kagome's reaction to an interesting article published about them and Kagome hangs out with Ayame.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Drama / Romance | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 08.19.2007 | Updated On: 08.22.2007 | Pages: 5 | Words: 4.4K | Visits: 396 | Status: Work In Progress
Inuyasha and Kagome's reaction to an interesting article published about them and Kagome hangs out with Ayame.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Drama / Romance | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 08.19.2007 | Updated On: 08.22.2007 | Pages: 5 | Words: 4.4K | Visits: 396 | Status: Work In Progress
A/N: Ok, I'm going to work hard on getting this story up to day. You guys are many chapters behind at the moment. Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
Aftermath's Destruction
Chapter Ten: Hurtful
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“Good morning,” Inuyasha announced unusually quietly as he entered his kitchen to find Kagome and Kagura sitting at the table already. With Kagome not being a morning person he wondered why she was always there before him...
Soon his thoughts took a different turn: it was Friday, hence the being quiet. Kagome wouldn't be very friendly on the one-week anniversary of her boys' disappearance.
Inuyasha reminded himself strongly that he needed to be on his best behavior...or have to face the wrath of Kagome's mood swings.
The woman was able to switch from depressingly sad to dangerously angry too quickly for him to keep his defenses up.
“G'Morning,” Kagura mumbled while nibbling at her bagel. She didn't have much of an appetite and most of her attention was directed to watching Kagome from the corner of her eye.
“Uh...Good morning?” Inuyasha repeated again for Kagome's benefit, her mind didn't seem to be working that quickly that day.
“Hm,” Kagome hummed. Whether in agreement or not, Inu wasn't sure. He didn't feel like bothering her to find out either.
Inuyasha slumped at the table and glared at everything except the two women.
Now what would be a safe topic? He had no clue...
“...Anyone seen the weather? If we get any more damn snow I'm moving to Maui...” he grumbled.
Kagome was the one to respond. She shrugged loosely at continued to stare at her tea as she mumbled, “I couldn't find the paper this morning to look at the weather. We'll have to find one at work.”
“Crap,” Inuyasha growled. “I don't feel like waiting that long...”
“Then why don't you just go and turn on the TV to watch the morning news?” Kagura comment dryly, glaring lazily at the man.
“...Because that would actually require work and movement,” Sesshoumaru explained as he entered the kitchen to sit silently next to Kagura; the other two seats were filled by his brother and his employee.
Kagura gave him a nasty glare, still miffed about the incident with her walking in on him changing, but the male didn't seem to notice.
`Moron,' Kagura scoffed, turning hastily away to continue to nibble at her bagel.
Inuyasha tipped his chair back and balanced on the back legs out of sheer boredom. After the others continued to eat in silence he finally snapped. “That's it! I am not sitting in this fucking kitchen another minute...I'm heading into work early.”
“Can't handle peace and quiet?” Kagome taunted lamely but stood up anyway. “I'm coming too, I'm not hungry and I'd like to see a newspaper.”
`Oh joy, a ride in the car with Miss Happiness,' Inuyasha grumbled as he set about locating his coat and the car keys.
Kagome followed numbly behind, deep in thought.
As they pushed their way through the snow to get to the car she couldn't help the nagging feeling that something bad was going to happen...
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---
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Kagome felt very self-conscious as she and Inuyasha clambered off of the elevator and into his office.
Ever since they had gotten to work, everyone had been casting weird glances at them. Kagome didn't feel very social at the moment so she kept her head down and did her best to ignore the rude stares. Inuyasha, on the other hand, snarled openly at them and demanded what their problem was.
Most, in fear of losing their jobs, had scurried away without answering; what was left of the employees snickered and walked off casually.
“Do you know what...that was?” Kagome questioned as she slumped into his chair behind his desk. Apparently Inuyasha didn't mind her sitting in his chair...just Sesshoumaru judging by the fact that he hadn't become outraged as soon as her business skirt clad rear end had landed in the swivel chair.
“Fuck no, but I'm about to find out,” He ground out. It didn't feel right. It was like the workers all knew something, something secret, that they had no right to know.
Kagome sighed and glowered up at him, her quiet mood beginning to rub off as the day brought things for her to think about. “Don't go scaring your workers. If we get sued, it's your fault and I'm not bailing you out.”
“Keh. Like hell you ever bail me out.”
“...” Kagome decided it best not to answer that question. The problem was: what was going on?
While Kag continued to daydream and Inuyasha resorted to a video game that came seemingly out of nowhere, the elevator `dinged' and Ayame stepped out.
Kagome looked at her friend and motioned her to come in before Ayame could knock. “Hey, what up?”
The redhead blinked back at her female boss before turning an accusing glare on Inuyasha. “She doesn't know? You're probably hiding the paper from her so she can't read it!” Ayame shouted outraged as she advanced on the confused man. “I bet it's all a lie that you fed to some reporter for Kami knows why!”
Inuyasha blinked blankly back at the woman before he returned her glare. “I don't know what the hell you're talking about, bitch, but talking that way to me can get you fired.”
“And calling me bitch can make me sue!” Ayame growled back, not easily scared off.
Kagome coughed something that sounded similar to `I told you so' behind Inuyasha's back, but he waved it off. “What the fuck are you talking about?!”
Ayame's glare became even more heated as she stalked forward. She threw a section of the daily newspaper at her boss' head and snarled, “That's what I'm talking about.”
Inuyasha read the title.
When he growled low in his throat Kagome tried to grab the paper away but he lifted it out of her reach. He then turned startled eyes on the crimson- haired woman. “Ayame,” he asked gruffly, “Do you know where this came from? I have no idea what the hell this guy is talking about.”
Ayame's heated gaze stayed simmering, “Sure you don't,” she bit back sarcastically. “Come off it Inuyasha, you have to.”
“I don't,” Inu told her bluntly.
Kagome's morning depression was gone as she stared at her two coworkers angrily. “What are you two talking about? I demand to know!”
Ayame finally turned to the ebony haired beauty. “Kagome...there's an article in the newspaper about you...”
“Again?” Kagome asked blankly. “Are you sure it's not the same one about the new detective or something?”
“I'm sure,” Ayame stated slowly. “Kagome-chan, it came out today and it even has a picture of you.”
Kagome was still not getting it and turned her confused stormy gaze on Inuyasha. “Give me the paper,” she commanded, her voice leaving no room for argument.
Inuyasha dropped the paper reluctantly into her hands. “Keh.”
Kagome unfolded the mutilated tree and peered at one of the front articles on the newspaper section.
The article boldly stated that Kagome was taking comfort in her boss' bed while her boys were still out there missing and possibly dead.
Kagome skimmed over the article again. Apparently she was secretly seeing Inuyasha and living at his house without anyone knowing. A large photograph beside the paragraphs showed her walking up Inuyasha's driveway and picking up a soggy newspaper.
While Kagome read further into the story, Inuyasha was torn between being amused and beyond pissed off. It stated what he wanted--- to be seeing Kagome for more then friendly outings and business meetings. Of course at the same time it posted lies and fake information that clearly was going to upset Kagome.
Judging by the look on the young woman's face, he was right. First she looked shocked, then disgusted, and finally angry.
So this was why everyone in the building was avoiding them?
`Keh,' Inuyasha scowled, `This damn business building is worse than Jr. High and it's rumors.'
Ayame sat quietly on the sidelines, waiting for Kagome to finish reading the news.
Kagome's expression cycled through again:
Shocked
Disgusted
Angry
...
And then she burst out laughing.
Ayame was so startled that she took a few steps backward and had to try not to stumble over her own feet. Inuyasha, while it more than surprised him, also confirmed his suspicions:
Kagome was having mood swings again.
Oh the joy of life and how she dealt with her problems. Cover up the hurt and fear to make sure everyone else was all right.
“Kagome,” Inuyasha looked at her warily.
Kagome smothered her giggles and looked at him. “They said you and I were together! Wow, of course we're going to be hanging out together and you're going to offer me a place to stay...any moron could have told them that we're friends.”
Those simple statements from Kagome made him both relieved and sad. Kagome wasn't taking the article seriously and was letting it roll right off her back. That was good, she wasn't letting idiots and their lies get to her at her time of `weakness'. The bad thing? She seemed to find the idea of being with him funny and farfetched.
“Ayame, would you mind...I don't know...leaving?” Inuyasha snapped, catching both girls by surprise.
Ayame's bottle green eyes narrowed before she stalked out of his office. Pressing the down button, she turned back to Kagome as the elevator doors opened behind her. “Hey, Kag? Wanna have some lunch together?”
“Yeah, sure,” Kagome answered distractedly while looking at Inuyasha strangely. Wasn't he taking this a little too seriously? They could just call the newspaper, chew them out, then pull some strings and get some people fired.
Or was that a little too much...?
“That sounds good. While I'm downstairs, if anyone says anything about the article, I'll set them straight,” Ayame's green eyes glinted with an underlying malice.
Kagome caught it. “Ayame...don't hurt them. I'd rather not be sued.”
Ayame grinned a perfectly innocent smile before backing into the elevator. “Don't worry about it, Kagome-chan.” She waved through the shutting doors.
“Somehow I don't feel very convinced...” Kagome continued to stare even after her coworker had left.
“Hey,” Inu's voice dragged her out of her unblinking watch. “What are we going to do about that damn article. Can I strangle the writer? I mean, how many people are going to notice a measly reporter missing?”
“Ha, ha,” Kagome glared. “No strangling. We can, however, hunt him down and throw him off a bridge. If they can't find the body, we can't be blamed, right?”
That got Inuyasha back to smirking. Ah, the wonders of drowning men in rivers... “That sounds good. But...first we have to get through the day. We've been here how long? One fucking hour...” He continued to growl and grumble as Kagome shook her head sadly.
“Whatever. I'm going to go down to my office and look through the new accounts. I need to start to working on Bankotsu's clothing line. It's top priority, right? Hmm...do you think Hojo or Ayame might mind if I dumped some of my current projects on them?”
“If they say anything, just tell them I ordered it,” Inuyasha flashed her a toothy, slightly evil grin.
She narrowed her ocean eyes. “Uh huh...Don't you think you're overusing your power as the owner of this company?”
He seriously seemed to give it some thought before shrugging and pushing Kagome out of his chair. Collapsing in it, he shut his purple orbs and leaned back. “I'm going to take a nap.”
Kagome hit him over the head with a random pen on his desk before stalking out. “Jerk...”
“I heard that!” He snapped without opening his eyes.
“I know!”
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---
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“So...how many people did you hit this morning?” Kagome asked casually as she slurped up her cola through one of those handy plastic straws.
Ayame shifted a little and tried to smother her smirk. “...Six.”
Kagome snorted. “You know what?”
“What?”
“If anyone tells us that we're not lady-like just because we hit people and love cars,” Kagome smiled sweetly, “We'll give them a bikini wax and see if they're woman enough to take it.”
Ayame snickered. “We'll put them in a dress that ties in the back and see it they can get out of it without help.”
“We'll pluck their eyebrows and give them some 20 pound platform shoes,” Kagome nodded enthusiastically as she started to attack her dessert viscously. Mmm, Death by Chocolate Cheesecake...
“Oh, I know...” Ayame smirked, “We'll make `em wear panty-hose!”
A few other customers in the small café looked startled at the maniacally cackling women.
“Perfect!” Kagome crowed. “I wanna test it out.”
“Well, we'll just have to pick a spot and get elbow deep in oil while checking under the hood of a car...then punch anyone who says anything about it.”
“Not just someone saying anything, a man offering to help because we're `pathetic' women,” Kagome scowled as she remembered Inuyasha insulting her, saying she was weak just because she was female.
Ayame scooped some ice cream and lifted it to her mouth. Some man walked in at the moment and gave a charming smile before asking her innocently, “Isn't it a little cold outside to be eating ice cream?”
He was rewarded with twin glares. “It is never too cold for ice cream!” Ayame hissed, flipping her fiery hair over a shoulder with a haughty gesture.
Kagome rolled her eyes and pouted at the man, “Why don't you guys understand that ice cream is everyday kinda food?”
The man made a few hasty apologies before scrambling to the counter to order his food...to go.
The emerald-orbed girl gave her blue-eyed counterpart a sympathetic look. “Poor you, living with someone like Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru...”
“Yeah,” Kagome snorted, “Just last night they were saying that it was too cold for ice cream!”
“Those creeps!”
“Ugh,” Kagome groaned as she glanced at her watch. “Our lunch break is over in about five minutes.”
“Seriously?” Ayame looked a little put out. “I mean, you're the Vice President, right? Couldn't you just get the bosses to, uh, overlook it if we came in a little late?”
Kagome laughed a little. “Normally, I'd do it in a heartbeat, but today I want to get some work done on the new project.”
“How's that going anyway?” Ayame questioned as she signaled to the waiter to bring them the check. Kagome and her evenly split it down the middle and paid.
As they stood up and grabbed their coats, Kagome shrugged. “I just met him yesterday. He's pretty nice, he has more manners than some I could mention,” she frowned as she pictured Inuyasha's face.
“Hm,” Ayame hummed in agreement and opened the door so they could go out on the street to start walking back. They were hit with a cold blast of chilly air that forced them to tie their scarves tighter. “Oh, by the way, thanks for giving me all those assignments,” the crimson haired girl drawled dryly as they started back.
Kagome winced before swallowing. “Sorry about that. Sesshoumaru seems to really want to take this account seriously. I wanted to get my other jobs out of the way so I could give it more thought. If you want, I can take some of them away and give them to Nobunaga or someone else.”
“Nah, that's okay. I'm just arguing for the sake of arguing,” Ayame grumbled.
“Hah! Now you sound like Inuyasha. Ugh, just what I need, another one of him. You know, it's really hard to be optimistic with someone like him there all the time,” Kagome frowned. Damn pessimistic people...
Ayame laughed. “Don't worry. You don't have to be optimistic all the time! Just try to look on the bright side and act like whatever the hell you want to,” she advised.
Kagome grinned. “That would be just great if I knew how I wanted to act. It's kind of hard to look on the bright side if the two best men in your life are missing...” she said somberly.
Ayame patted her friend on the back. “Don't worry about it. You're just unsure right now. You don't want to be happy without the boys but being sad and angry is against your nature. You'll figure it out.”
“Thanks,” Kagome murmured as she lifted the collar of her coat against the bitter cold. They were pretty close to work.
“No prob,” Ayame nodded. “And if anyone gives you any crap,” here she coughed and it sounded vaguely like `Inuyasha', “Just call me and I'll be glad to hit him, uh, them. Not that I know it'll be a him...or anything...uh...”
“You and your hitting,” Kagome scoffed, “You really should try kicking once in awhile.”
The two girls got back to work on a lighter note and entered the building laughing at Kagome's corny joke.
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---
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“Kagome?” Inuyasha taped on the outside of her office door before letting himself in. She barely glanced up from her work at him. Collapsing into his chair, he glared at the top of her head.
`She wore her hair down today...' He lazily thought. `I like it when she wears her hair down.'
“You know it's seven thirty, right?” He grumbled. “The last time I made you stay after seven you slugged me in the jaw...don't tell anyone, but that hurt!”
“I was having a stressful day,” Kagome defended herself. “Besides, that was over two months ago.”
“Stressful day, my ass,” Inuyasha rolled his lavender eyes and then kept them trained on the ceiling. “That was the day I gave you your new office. Not just any office, but an entire floor!”
“Hey, you and Sesshoumaru-sama get a floor to yourselves,” she sulked, feeling bad for the tantrum she'd thrown back then when Inuyasha had told her she only got half a floor to herself.
“Whatever. Why does Fluffy get a title? `Sesshoumaru-sama' this, `Lord Sesshoumaru' that,” he brooded.
“I'm sorry,” Kagome looked up at him before leaning across her desk. “Fine then, Inu-chan,” she pecked him on the nose before leaning back to her files; a curtain of her ebony locks hid her flaming cheeks from view.
Inuyasha blinked back at her. `Inu-chan...' Oh yeah, that made him feel manly...
“Anyway,” he finally shook his head. “I came in here to see if you wanted to grab a bite to eat with me before heading back home.”
“Hn,” Kagome grunted. “You sure about that? Anyone who read that article today would just start rumors if they saw us eating together...”
“Keh,” Inuyasha crossed his arms. “They do and I'll break their nose.”
“Inuyasha!” Kagome snapped.
“Hey,” he growled, “I could break a lot worse. You should be proud I'd only break their nose.”
“Whatever.” Kagome finally shuffled all her papers into the file on her desk. She stuffed it into one of her drawers and stood up for the first time in hours. Stretching her arms over her head, she arched her back and yawned. Smiling when she heard her back crack, she stepped out from behind her desk and smiled up at Inuyasha...who'd stood up while she was taking her time getting up. “Ready?”
“Keh.”
“I'll take that as a yes. Where to?”
“Uh...some place with ramen,” Inuyasha smiled in a dazed way at the mention of his favorite meal.
Kagome wrinkled her nose. “No way. Why don't we grab something at a fast food restaurant?”
“Oh yeah, greasy barely-edible meat products are way better then noodles,” he rolled his eyes and scowled at her.
“So? I like meat products...” Kagome defended herself half-heartedly; there was no way she was going to have ramen for dinner again.
“Feh.”
“Why are you so eager to leave early?” Kagome finally asked as they waited for the elevator to lower itself all the way down to ground level. “You're normally stuck here till eight or nine...and happily at that, I might add.”
“I'm allowed to leave early once in awhile,” Inu snapped. Kagome let his tone roll right off of her.
“'kay,” she muttered. A few seconds later the doors swung open and the couple stepped out. Kagome waved cheerfully to the few people still hanging around the lobby before heading home.
Inuyasha pulled one night guard aside and informed him to make sure to lock up after everyone was gone. They didn't use to have guards, just a few major locks, but after Naraku broke in and got Kagome to come in too, Inuyasha assigned a few `bodyguards'.
“You driving?” Kagome asked as they made their way towards the large parking garage next door to the Inutaisho Company building.
“It's my car,” Inuyasha said gruffly. Of course...Kagome did have the big blue eyes. And wasn't he supposed to be the one with the puppy eyes? “Keh.”
Kagome caught the keys happily when he tossed them at her.
Locating the car with the handy press-a-button-and-the-car-beeps-and-lights- up attachment, the two clambered into the car; one a cheerful driver, and one an unhappy back-seat driver.
“Slow down. No, right...not left! It'll be quicker-.”
“Would you shut up?” Kagome snapped, “Sheesh, I can drive ya know!”
“Keh. I was just helping.”
“No, you weren't. That's why I'm snapping! Helping would mean helping...” Kagome glared at the road and the back of the car in front of her.
“Uh huh...” he seemed to struggle over something in his mind before rounding on her. “I have a question.”
“Good for you,” Kagome mumbled.
“Why did you laugh this morning when you read that article? Would it be that bad dating me?” he barked.
Kagome shifted in her seat before pulling to a stop in front of a long red light. “I didn't mean it like that.”
“Oh you didn't, did you?”
“No.” she said quietly, keeping her eyes trained on the fading light in the distance as the very last rays from the sun was swallowed up by the night.
“...” Inuyasha scowled heavily as he glared ahead of him. Maybe it wasn't right to ask her, especially when she was driving. It would have been better to wait until they were somewhere where he could walk away when she said something he didn't really want to hear. He wasn't a coward, he just didn't feel up to the whole `yeah I couldn't possibly imagine being connected to you in any-.'
What was that?
Inuyasha shook himself from his thoughts to look down at the weight that had appeared in his lap. He was presented with the head of Kagome as she hugged him around the middle, burying her face into his side.
“I'm sorry,” her muffled voice floated up, “I really didn't mean it like that.”
Inuyasha patted her awkwardly on the top of her hair before ruffling it. He stealthily stuck his hand out the window to flip off the honking cars behind him since the light had turned green.
“What did you mean then?” He tried to ask lightly and act nice as he stroked her bangs back. Damn, why'd they'd have to have a `special' moment while driving home, couldn't they have had it in a stationary place...
...He really didn't mean it like the way that sounded...maybe his mind was being tainted by Miroku.
“Uh, I don't know, I just didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry,” She told him hesitantly before hugging him a little tighter and letting go. She flipped the car in gear and pressed down on the gas.
Inuyasha just watched her from the passenger seat as she kept her face forward, her eyes looking a little more troubled the normal.
Kagome tried to ignore the feeling that Inuyasha was watching her.
She was a little preoccupied.
How could she tell him that she was really laughing at the irony, that the newspaper article was about what she was trying to prevent: being with him? And how was she supposed to explain that when she read it...
...She felt like she wanted it more then she wanted to admit?
Aftermath's Destruction
Chapter Ten: Hurtful
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“Good morning,” Inuyasha announced unusually quietly as he entered his kitchen to find Kagome and Kagura sitting at the table already. With Kagome not being a morning person he wondered why she was always there before him...
Soon his thoughts took a different turn: it was Friday, hence the being quiet. Kagome wouldn't be very friendly on the one-week anniversary of her boys' disappearance.
Inuyasha reminded himself strongly that he needed to be on his best behavior...or have to face the wrath of Kagome's mood swings.
The woman was able to switch from depressingly sad to dangerously angry too quickly for him to keep his defenses up.
“G'Morning,” Kagura mumbled while nibbling at her bagel. She didn't have much of an appetite and most of her attention was directed to watching Kagome from the corner of her eye.
“Uh...Good morning?” Inuyasha repeated again for Kagome's benefit, her mind didn't seem to be working that quickly that day.
“Hm,” Kagome hummed. Whether in agreement or not, Inu wasn't sure. He didn't feel like bothering her to find out either.
Inuyasha slumped at the table and glared at everything except the two women.
Now what would be a safe topic? He had no clue...
“...Anyone seen the weather? If we get any more damn snow I'm moving to Maui...” he grumbled.
Kagome was the one to respond. She shrugged loosely at continued to stare at her tea as she mumbled, “I couldn't find the paper this morning to look at the weather. We'll have to find one at work.”
“Crap,” Inuyasha growled. “I don't feel like waiting that long...”
“Then why don't you just go and turn on the TV to watch the morning news?” Kagura comment dryly, glaring lazily at the man.
“...Because that would actually require work and movement,” Sesshoumaru explained as he entered the kitchen to sit silently next to Kagura; the other two seats were filled by his brother and his employee.
Kagura gave him a nasty glare, still miffed about the incident with her walking in on him changing, but the male didn't seem to notice.
`Moron,' Kagura scoffed, turning hastily away to continue to nibble at her bagel.
Inuyasha tipped his chair back and balanced on the back legs out of sheer boredom. After the others continued to eat in silence he finally snapped. “That's it! I am not sitting in this fucking kitchen another minute...I'm heading into work early.”
“Can't handle peace and quiet?” Kagome taunted lamely but stood up anyway. “I'm coming too, I'm not hungry and I'd like to see a newspaper.”
`Oh joy, a ride in the car with Miss Happiness,' Inuyasha grumbled as he set about locating his coat and the car keys.
Kagome followed numbly behind, deep in thought.
As they pushed their way through the snow to get to the car she couldn't help the nagging feeling that something bad was going to happen...
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---
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Kagome felt very self-conscious as she and Inuyasha clambered off of the elevator and into his office.
Ever since they had gotten to work, everyone had been casting weird glances at them. Kagome didn't feel very social at the moment so she kept her head down and did her best to ignore the rude stares. Inuyasha, on the other hand, snarled openly at them and demanded what their problem was.
Most, in fear of losing their jobs, had scurried away without answering; what was left of the employees snickered and walked off casually.
“Do you know what...that was?” Kagome questioned as she slumped into his chair behind his desk. Apparently Inuyasha didn't mind her sitting in his chair...just Sesshoumaru judging by the fact that he hadn't become outraged as soon as her business skirt clad rear end had landed in the swivel chair.
“Fuck no, but I'm about to find out,” He ground out. It didn't feel right. It was like the workers all knew something, something secret, that they had no right to know.
Kagome sighed and glowered up at him, her quiet mood beginning to rub off as the day brought things for her to think about. “Don't go scaring your workers. If we get sued, it's your fault and I'm not bailing you out.”
“Keh. Like hell you ever bail me out.”
“...” Kagome decided it best not to answer that question. The problem was: what was going on?
While Kag continued to daydream and Inuyasha resorted to a video game that came seemingly out of nowhere, the elevator `dinged' and Ayame stepped out.
Kagome looked at her friend and motioned her to come in before Ayame could knock. “Hey, what up?”
The redhead blinked back at her female boss before turning an accusing glare on Inuyasha. “She doesn't know? You're probably hiding the paper from her so she can't read it!” Ayame shouted outraged as she advanced on the confused man. “I bet it's all a lie that you fed to some reporter for Kami knows why!”
Inuyasha blinked blankly back at the woman before he returned her glare. “I don't know what the hell you're talking about, bitch, but talking that way to me can get you fired.”
“And calling me bitch can make me sue!” Ayame growled back, not easily scared off.
Kagome coughed something that sounded similar to `I told you so' behind Inuyasha's back, but he waved it off. “What the fuck are you talking about?!”
Ayame's glare became even more heated as she stalked forward. She threw a section of the daily newspaper at her boss' head and snarled, “That's what I'm talking about.”
Inuyasha read the title.
When he growled low in his throat Kagome tried to grab the paper away but he lifted it out of her reach. He then turned startled eyes on the crimson- haired woman. “Ayame,” he asked gruffly, “Do you know where this came from? I have no idea what the hell this guy is talking about.”
Ayame's heated gaze stayed simmering, “Sure you don't,” she bit back sarcastically. “Come off it Inuyasha, you have to.”
“I don't,” Inu told her bluntly.
Kagome's morning depression was gone as she stared at her two coworkers angrily. “What are you two talking about? I demand to know!”
Ayame finally turned to the ebony haired beauty. “Kagome...there's an article in the newspaper about you...”
“Again?” Kagome asked blankly. “Are you sure it's not the same one about the new detective or something?”
“I'm sure,” Ayame stated slowly. “Kagome-chan, it came out today and it even has a picture of you.”
Kagome was still not getting it and turned her confused stormy gaze on Inuyasha. “Give me the paper,” she commanded, her voice leaving no room for argument.
Inuyasha dropped the paper reluctantly into her hands. “Keh.”
Kagome unfolded the mutilated tree and peered at one of the front articles on the newspaper section.
The article boldly stated that Kagome was taking comfort in her boss' bed while her boys were still out there missing and possibly dead.
Kagome skimmed over the article again. Apparently she was secretly seeing Inuyasha and living at his house without anyone knowing. A large photograph beside the paragraphs showed her walking up Inuyasha's driveway and picking up a soggy newspaper.
While Kagome read further into the story, Inuyasha was torn between being amused and beyond pissed off. It stated what he wanted--- to be seeing Kagome for more then friendly outings and business meetings. Of course at the same time it posted lies and fake information that clearly was going to upset Kagome.
Judging by the look on the young woman's face, he was right. First she looked shocked, then disgusted, and finally angry.
So this was why everyone in the building was avoiding them?
`Keh,' Inuyasha scowled, `This damn business building is worse than Jr. High and it's rumors.'
Ayame sat quietly on the sidelines, waiting for Kagome to finish reading the news.
Kagome's expression cycled through again:
Shocked
Disgusted
Angry
...
And then she burst out laughing.
Ayame was so startled that she took a few steps backward and had to try not to stumble over her own feet. Inuyasha, while it more than surprised him, also confirmed his suspicions:
Kagome was having mood swings again.
Oh the joy of life and how she dealt with her problems. Cover up the hurt and fear to make sure everyone else was all right.
“Kagome,” Inuyasha looked at her warily.
Kagome smothered her giggles and looked at him. “They said you and I were together! Wow, of course we're going to be hanging out together and you're going to offer me a place to stay...any moron could have told them that we're friends.”
Those simple statements from Kagome made him both relieved and sad. Kagome wasn't taking the article seriously and was letting it roll right off her back. That was good, she wasn't letting idiots and their lies get to her at her time of `weakness'. The bad thing? She seemed to find the idea of being with him funny and farfetched.
“Ayame, would you mind...I don't know...leaving?” Inuyasha snapped, catching both girls by surprise.
Ayame's bottle green eyes narrowed before she stalked out of his office. Pressing the down button, she turned back to Kagome as the elevator doors opened behind her. “Hey, Kag? Wanna have some lunch together?”
“Yeah, sure,” Kagome answered distractedly while looking at Inuyasha strangely. Wasn't he taking this a little too seriously? They could just call the newspaper, chew them out, then pull some strings and get some people fired.
Or was that a little too much...?
“That sounds good. While I'm downstairs, if anyone says anything about the article, I'll set them straight,” Ayame's green eyes glinted with an underlying malice.
Kagome caught it. “Ayame...don't hurt them. I'd rather not be sued.”
Ayame grinned a perfectly innocent smile before backing into the elevator. “Don't worry about it, Kagome-chan.” She waved through the shutting doors.
“Somehow I don't feel very convinced...” Kagome continued to stare even after her coworker had left.
“Hey,” Inu's voice dragged her out of her unblinking watch. “What are we going to do about that damn article. Can I strangle the writer? I mean, how many people are going to notice a measly reporter missing?”
“Ha, ha,” Kagome glared. “No strangling. We can, however, hunt him down and throw him off a bridge. If they can't find the body, we can't be blamed, right?”
That got Inuyasha back to smirking. Ah, the wonders of drowning men in rivers... “That sounds good. But...first we have to get through the day. We've been here how long? One fucking hour...” He continued to growl and grumble as Kagome shook her head sadly.
“Whatever. I'm going to go down to my office and look through the new accounts. I need to start to working on Bankotsu's clothing line. It's top priority, right? Hmm...do you think Hojo or Ayame might mind if I dumped some of my current projects on them?”
“If they say anything, just tell them I ordered it,” Inuyasha flashed her a toothy, slightly evil grin.
She narrowed her ocean eyes. “Uh huh...Don't you think you're overusing your power as the owner of this company?”
He seriously seemed to give it some thought before shrugging and pushing Kagome out of his chair. Collapsing in it, he shut his purple orbs and leaned back. “I'm going to take a nap.”
Kagome hit him over the head with a random pen on his desk before stalking out. “Jerk...”
“I heard that!” He snapped without opening his eyes.
“I know!”
.
---
.
“So...how many people did you hit this morning?” Kagome asked casually as she slurped up her cola through one of those handy plastic straws.
Ayame shifted a little and tried to smother her smirk. “...Six.”
Kagome snorted. “You know what?”
“What?”
“If anyone tells us that we're not lady-like just because we hit people and love cars,” Kagome smiled sweetly, “We'll give them a bikini wax and see if they're woman enough to take it.”
Ayame snickered. “We'll put them in a dress that ties in the back and see it they can get out of it without help.”
“We'll pluck their eyebrows and give them some 20 pound platform shoes,” Kagome nodded enthusiastically as she started to attack her dessert viscously. Mmm, Death by Chocolate Cheesecake...
“Oh, I know...” Ayame smirked, “We'll make `em wear panty-hose!”
A few other customers in the small café looked startled at the maniacally cackling women.
“Perfect!” Kagome crowed. “I wanna test it out.”
“Well, we'll just have to pick a spot and get elbow deep in oil while checking under the hood of a car...then punch anyone who says anything about it.”
“Not just someone saying anything, a man offering to help because we're `pathetic' women,” Kagome scowled as she remembered Inuyasha insulting her, saying she was weak just because she was female.
Ayame scooped some ice cream and lifted it to her mouth. Some man walked in at the moment and gave a charming smile before asking her innocently, “Isn't it a little cold outside to be eating ice cream?”
He was rewarded with twin glares. “It is never too cold for ice cream!” Ayame hissed, flipping her fiery hair over a shoulder with a haughty gesture.
Kagome rolled her eyes and pouted at the man, “Why don't you guys understand that ice cream is everyday kinda food?”
The man made a few hasty apologies before scrambling to the counter to order his food...to go.
The emerald-orbed girl gave her blue-eyed counterpart a sympathetic look. “Poor you, living with someone like Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru...”
“Yeah,” Kagome snorted, “Just last night they were saying that it was too cold for ice cream!”
“Those creeps!”
“Ugh,” Kagome groaned as she glanced at her watch. “Our lunch break is over in about five minutes.”
“Seriously?” Ayame looked a little put out. “I mean, you're the Vice President, right? Couldn't you just get the bosses to, uh, overlook it if we came in a little late?”
Kagome laughed a little. “Normally, I'd do it in a heartbeat, but today I want to get some work done on the new project.”
“How's that going anyway?” Ayame questioned as she signaled to the waiter to bring them the check. Kagome and her evenly split it down the middle and paid.
As they stood up and grabbed their coats, Kagome shrugged. “I just met him yesterday. He's pretty nice, he has more manners than some I could mention,” she frowned as she pictured Inuyasha's face.
“Hm,” Ayame hummed in agreement and opened the door so they could go out on the street to start walking back. They were hit with a cold blast of chilly air that forced them to tie their scarves tighter. “Oh, by the way, thanks for giving me all those assignments,” the crimson haired girl drawled dryly as they started back.
Kagome winced before swallowing. “Sorry about that. Sesshoumaru seems to really want to take this account seriously. I wanted to get my other jobs out of the way so I could give it more thought. If you want, I can take some of them away and give them to Nobunaga or someone else.”
“Nah, that's okay. I'm just arguing for the sake of arguing,” Ayame grumbled.
“Hah! Now you sound like Inuyasha. Ugh, just what I need, another one of him. You know, it's really hard to be optimistic with someone like him there all the time,” Kagome frowned. Damn pessimistic people...
Ayame laughed. “Don't worry. You don't have to be optimistic all the time! Just try to look on the bright side and act like whatever the hell you want to,” she advised.
Kagome grinned. “That would be just great if I knew how I wanted to act. It's kind of hard to look on the bright side if the two best men in your life are missing...” she said somberly.
Ayame patted her friend on the back. “Don't worry about it. You're just unsure right now. You don't want to be happy without the boys but being sad and angry is against your nature. You'll figure it out.”
“Thanks,” Kagome murmured as she lifted the collar of her coat against the bitter cold. They were pretty close to work.
“No prob,” Ayame nodded. “And if anyone gives you any crap,” here she coughed and it sounded vaguely like `Inuyasha', “Just call me and I'll be glad to hit him, uh, them. Not that I know it'll be a him...or anything...uh...”
“You and your hitting,” Kagome scoffed, “You really should try kicking once in awhile.”
The two girls got back to work on a lighter note and entered the building laughing at Kagome's corny joke.
.
---
.
“Kagome?” Inuyasha taped on the outside of her office door before letting himself in. She barely glanced up from her work at him. Collapsing into his chair, he glared at the top of her head.
`She wore her hair down today...' He lazily thought. `I like it when she wears her hair down.'
“You know it's seven thirty, right?” He grumbled. “The last time I made you stay after seven you slugged me in the jaw...don't tell anyone, but that hurt!”
“I was having a stressful day,” Kagome defended herself. “Besides, that was over two months ago.”
“Stressful day, my ass,” Inuyasha rolled his lavender eyes and then kept them trained on the ceiling. “That was the day I gave you your new office. Not just any office, but an entire floor!”
“Hey, you and Sesshoumaru-sama get a floor to yourselves,” she sulked, feeling bad for the tantrum she'd thrown back then when Inuyasha had told her she only got half a floor to herself.
“Whatever. Why does Fluffy get a title? `Sesshoumaru-sama' this, `Lord Sesshoumaru' that,” he brooded.
“I'm sorry,” Kagome looked up at him before leaning across her desk. “Fine then, Inu-chan,” she pecked him on the nose before leaning back to her files; a curtain of her ebony locks hid her flaming cheeks from view.
Inuyasha blinked back at her. `Inu-chan...' Oh yeah, that made him feel manly...
“Anyway,” he finally shook his head. “I came in here to see if you wanted to grab a bite to eat with me before heading back home.”
“Hn,” Kagome grunted. “You sure about that? Anyone who read that article today would just start rumors if they saw us eating together...”
“Keh,” Inuyasha crossed his arms. “They do and I'll break their nose.”
“Inuyasha!” Kagome snapped.
“Hey,” he growled, “I could break a lot worse. You should be proud I'd only break their nose.”
“Whatever.” Kagome finally shuffled all her papers into the file on her desk. She stuffed it into one of her drawers and stood up for the first time in hours. Stretching her arms over her head, she arched her back and yawned. Smiling when she heard her back crack, she stepped out from behind her desk and smiled up at Inuyasha...who'd stood up while she was taking her time getting up. “Ready?”
“Keh.”
“I'll take that as a yes. Where to?”
“Uh...some place with ramen,” Inuyasha smiled in a dazed way at the mention of his favorite meal.
Kagome wrinkled her nose. “No way. Why don't we grab something at a fast food restaurant?”
“Oh yeah, greasy barely-edible meat products are way better then noodles,” he rolled his eyes and scowled at her.
“So? I like meat products...” Kagome defended herself half-heartedly; there was no way she was going to have ramen for dinner again.
“Feh.”
“Why are you so eager to leave early?” Kagome finally asked as they waited for the elevator to lower itself all the way down to ground level. “You're normally stuck here till eight or nine...and happily at that, I might add.”
“I'm allowed to leave early once in awhile,” Inu snapped. Kagome let his tone roll right off of her.
“'kay,” she muttered. A few seconds later the doors swung open and the couple stepped out. Kagome waved cheerfully to the few people still hanging around the lobby before heading home.
Inuyasha pulled one night guard aside and informed him to make sure to lock up after everyone was gone. They didn't use to have guards, just a few major locks, but after Naraku broke in and got Kagome to come in too, Inuyasha assigned a few `bodyguards'.
“You driving?” Kagome asked as they made their way towards the large parking garage next door to the Inutaisho Company building.
“It's my car,” Inuyasha said gruffly. Of course...Kagome did have the big blue eyes. And wasn't he supposed to be the one with the puppy eyes? “Keh.”
Kagome caught the keys happily when he tossed them at her.
Locating the car with the handy press-a-button-and-the-car-beeps-and-lights- up attachment, the two clambered into the car; one a cheerful driver, and one an unhappy back-seat driver.
“Slow down. No, right...not left! It'll be quicker-.”
“Would you shut up?” Kagome snapped, “Sheesh, I can drive ya know!”
“Keh. I was just helping.”
“No, you weren't. That's why I'm snapping! Helping would mean helping...” Kagome glared at the road and the back of the car in front of her.
“Uh huh...” he seemed to struggle over something in his mind before rounding on her. “I have a question.”
“Good for you,” Kagome mumbled.
“Why did you laugh this morning when you read that article? Would it be that bad dating me?” he barked.
Kagome shifted in her seat before pulling to a stop in front of a long red light. “I didn't mean it like that.”
“Oh you didn't, did you?”
“No.” she said quietly, keeping her eyes trained on the fading light in the distance as the very last rays from the sun was swallowed up by the night.
“...” Inuyasha scowled heavily as he glared ahead of him. Maybe it wasn't right to ask her, especially when she was driving. It would have been better to wait until they were somewhere where he could walk away when she said something he didn't really want to hear. He wasn't a coward, he just didn't feel up to the whole `yeah I couldn't possibly imagine being connected to you in any-.'
What was that?
Inuyasha shook himself from his thoughts to look down at the weight that had appeared in his lap. He was presented with the head of Kagome as she hugged him around the middle, burying her face into his side.
“I'm sorry,” her muffled voice floated up, “I really didn't mean it like that.”
Inuyasha patted her awkwardly on the top of her hair before ruffling it. He stealthily stuck his hand out the window to flip off the honking cars behind him since the light had turned green.
“What did you mean then?” He tried to ask lightly and act nice as he stroked her bangs back. Damn, why'd they'd have to have a `special' moment while driving home, couldn't they have had it in a stationary place...
...He really didn't mean it like the way that sounded...maybe his mind was being tainted by Miroku.
“Uh, I don't know, I just didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry,” She told him hesitantly before hugging him a little tighter and letting go. She flipped the car in gear and pressed down on the gas.
Inuyasha just watched her from the passenger seat as she kept her face forward, her eyes looking a little more troubled the normal.
Kagome tried to ignore the feeling that Inuyasha was watching her.
She was a little preoccupied.
How could she tell him that she was really laughing at the irony, that the newspaper article was about what she was trying to prevent: being with him? And how was she supposed to explain that when she read it...
...She felt like she wanted it more then she wanted to admit?