InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Beautiful Miscommunications ❯ Old Clippings ( Chapter 9 )

Chapter 9: Old Clippings

Kagome had one hand on either side of his head as she tried to hold herself up. The look of surprise on her face wasn't due to the fact that he knocked her to the ground, but that with a single piercing look, he had flushed out every thought of ethical reporting from her head. She forgot the detail of not getting involved with her story. It was wrong. It would make her lose her credibility, her focus, her…damn his lips looked so delicious. Kagome's heart began to beat faster as his hands locked on her waist. He smirked.

Before she could react, he had her pinned below him. “Gotcha!” Kagome's look of surprised turned to one of confusion. “Did you really think I wouldn't land a single blow?” He asked with a raised eyebrow as he stood up and walked away. Her eyebrow twitched as she jumped to her feet. This was the second time he did this to her. His ears moved when they registered her movement. He sniffed. Her scent was spicier than usual…He decided he liked it. He would have to annoy her more often. He heard her start to run towards him. He prepared for her attack, but was surprise to find her jump on his back. Instinctively he linked his arms around her knees to keep her from falling. He immediately regretted it when she used her weight throw them backwards. Granted, she took the bulk of the fall. “Oh, you want to play!” He smirked. This would be fun. He hardly had the chance to spar these days, and now that he knew she could play rough…

He growled lightly as he rolled over. He was too quick for Kagome to hold on to, so she took the opportunity to move to her feet. He was on all fours looking at her with spots of red in his eyes. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were dilated with anger and indignation. He pounced, quick and fast, throwing them back on the floor. “What's your obsession with having me on my back?” She asked as she maneuvered her legs to roll them over.

“I should ask you the same thing.” He growled grabbing her legs and pulling her forward until she was forced to either lean back or flash him. The conservative reporter reacted like he expected. He easily threw her off balance. Grabbing one of her legs, he pinned it to his waist as he leaned over her. “I think I like you like this.” He teased as he looked down at the flushed girl. Her scent spiked, and he growled appreciatively. His youki stirred causing his golden eyes to glow orange. His mouth watered as he realized what that scent was. Kagome looked at him in confusion. He wasn't going to… Not after turning her down earlier…was he? He leaned down and growled, “You smell good.”

The room became silent as his demonic eyes met her angel blue. He smirked, leaning down before the silence of the room was broken by an annoying ring. “That's my work phone!” Kagome realized before knocking the hanyou off her. He growled slightly annoyed before taking after her. She already had the phone to her ear when he knocked her to the ground and growled lightly. “Inu Yasha, this is work. It's important.” She warned as she sat up, ignoring his crimson eyes. She mindlessly rubbed his ear as she talked on the phone. The poor dog was lost. Her caress was sweet and gentle, but her nails were rough and playful, just like he like it.

“This Wednesday? That won't work….I would like something sooner… I see…no, I don't want to wait until he gets back…Fine, I'll move some things around and I will see him after the taping. How does eleven thirty sound? Ok, bye.” She turned her phone off and turned towards Inu Yasha. “I'm sorry, but duty called. Where were we? Oh, dinner!” She abandoned his ear in favor of checking the stir fry cooking in the kitchen. Inu Yasha opened his golden eyes after sighing. That had felt good…but he had almost lost himself. That was not good. He looked at the young reporter adding salt to his food…Why did he want to taste her so badly? Why had his youkai demanded he make her submit after she turned down a kiss? And, how the hell did she know how to handle him? Was she that stupid not to sense danger, or that smart to know how to avoid it?

She looked up and smiled, still flushed from their earlier activities. Let him deal with the confusion. That was two kisses he left her hanging for; like hell, she wasn't going to pay him back! “Dinner's ready.”

“Keh.” He growled as he took his overflowing plate from her and moved to sit down in the living room floor. He really needed to get furniture in there. She grabbed her plate and followed him. Deciding he looked too adorable when he was grouchy, she continued to taunt him,

“Now, that we have dealt with my anger management issues, let's talk about yours.”

“I don't have any!” He growled.

“Now, now…that doesn't sound the voice of a non-angered person.” He growled lightly as she smiled at him. She may be annoying, but she smelled delicious. He took a bite of the food she had graciously prepared for them. He paused and looked at it in amazement. It was good…really good…so good, it was almost better than Ramen. Almost. He wasted no time in inhaling his food. “There's more in the pot.” She informed him as she took the first few bites of her meal. He grabbed the pot and returned to his seat. He began to devour the food forgetting about plates or her wanting seconds. At least he liked her cooking. She shrugged as the dog made a pig of himself.

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Most people hated Mondays but not Kagura. She had good reasons to enjoy the first working day of the week. For starters, it meant she no longer had to baby sit her brother Also, she was allowed to be away from Kanna's mirrors. It was good to have some distance from Naraku's ever watching eye. But, most importantly, everyone was dead on Mondays, which meant both her father and Sesshomaru would leave her alone until Tuesday. This would make everything a bit less complicated. If she avoided him this week, she would never have to talk to him about the elevator incident, not with the financial quarter reports coming out this Friday. No, he would be too busy checking profit margins to care.

She strategically planned to be in ten minutes late to work to avoid bumping into him in the elevator. She wasn't sure she could ever take the elevator with him again. She turned on a few lights as she walked to her office. The hall clock read 7:40 am. Her father wouldn't show for another three hours. Kanna and Akago would probably arrive with him, if he didn't send them ahead. She walked into her small office. It had just enough room for her desk a few chairs some shelves and cabinets, but it had a huge window behind her desk. It was all she needed to remain calm. She took off her black trench coat revealing her conservative charcoal skirt and red silk blouse. She turned to her desk as her chair turned to face her.

He sat in her chair perfectly groomed, with his hair pulled into a low braid, his eyes holding her in place, and his lips in a tight frown. “You're late.”

His soft eloquent voice broke the spell.

“And you are in the wrong office! Do you mind getting out of my chair?”

He obliged, standing up, moving towards her, but not letting her move past him. “We need to talk.”

“There's nothing to talk about.” Hadn't they had this conversation before? No, wait…that had been a dream. His clawed hand caressed the cheek her father had bruised, though the hanyou's mark had faded.

“I beg to differ.” She looked into his golden eyes and was lost. His face remained as stoic as ever, but there was a tempest of emotions running through his eyes. The only clear one was possessiveness. Both Naraku and Akago had looked at her that way, and she wasn't going to allow another man to get away with it. She smacked his hand away and looked at him defiantly in the eye.

“The lights went out in the elevator that's all. My private affairs are none of your concern.” She walked past him and sat on her chair. “You changed my screensaver?” She asked indignantly.

“I got tired of looking at tropical beaches for twenty minutes.”

“You know I don't get in here until 7:30.”

“But, since you were avoiding me, I wanted to catch you if you came earlier to grab your laptop and work from a remote location.”

“I haven't been avoiding you.”

“No, then how come I haven't signed a paper since last Monday?”

“I've been out of the office.”

“You were in on Saturday.”

“I was busy doing other work…Why did you put a password on my screen saver?” She demanded, frustrated that she couldn't change it.

“So you would have to talk to me.” He answered flatly. She groaned as the maze popped up again.

“Out of all the options, you had to pick the most annoying one! What are the time settings on this? Ten seconds?”

“Fifteen.” He corrected. She turned to him, eyes burning with annoyance.

“What do you want?”

“Lunch.”

“Why?”

“I get hungry around twelve.” He answered as he walked out of her office, but stopped and turned around, “Wasn't your office supposed to be bigger?”

“Naraku decided that Akago needed more space.”

“For what?” Sesshomaru demanded.

“For his ego…is there a point to all of this?”

“I just don't see it proper that a Vice President has a smaller office than the Chief of Maintenance. Why didn't you complain?”

“The only other office had no windows. That's worse than the poor storage space. Are you going to give me the password?” She demanded.

“Not until after lunch. Oh, and I also changed the password on your laptop. I will see you at twelve.”

“If you want to talk, talk to me now.” She protested. There was no way se could survive all morning with that maze popping up. Besides making her dizzy, it reminded her how trapped she really was. He closed the door behind him.

“Who hit you?”

“No one hit me. I walked into a wall.” She answered sarcastically.

“Who helped you?” He rephrased his question, slightly annoyed.

“Why do you care?”

“You are my Vice President.” He insisted.

“I've been walking into walls my entire life, and it has never affected my work.” She answered courtly. He growled lightly. He knew it had been a mistake to come to her, to offer her his protection. She was that bastard's child; though, even covered by her father's scent, he could make out her delicious woodsy aroma. “The password?”

He looked at her, trying to find the answers to the questions he had not formed yet. “I can knock down those walls.”

“No you can't, and it's better you don't try. I might start walking into coffins instead.” She hated being so open with him, but he needed to understand that his playing hero could only end in her demise. He nodded before taking the keyboard from her and typing in a few keys.

“My offer still stands.” He finished before walking out of her office.

“And I wish I could take it.” She whispered, not knowing that he had heard her.

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Sango walked towards her office half-asleep. Coffee wasn't going to do it for her today. She had relaxed all of Sunday, but having to work Saturday had thrown her off schedule. Sometimes, being the head of security for a large company such as Full Moon Enterprises had its drawbacks. “Good Morning, Miss Kizu!” Her bright and cheery secretary greeted her with a cup of freshly brewed coffee. Then, there were the other times…

“You have the US ambassador, some military guy and a really hot hunk in your office.”

“You need to learn to tell jokes better.” Sango waved away as she moved into her office, sipping coffee. She nearly choked when three men stood to attention the minute she opened her door. The first man was short with salt and pepper hair. He had on a black suit and was definitely not Asian. The middle man dressed in army uniform she knew by reputation mostly. General Morimoto was the head of National Security. The third man she knew better than she wanted. Miroku Higurashi had a rare solemn face as he was dressed in black jeans, mauve sweater and a black leather jacket. It looked good on him. She noticed he still had his rosary beads on.

“Gentleman.” She greeted as she walked over to her desk. “Who are you, and why are you in my office?” She asked with the politest voice she could muster.

“First, let's make this conversation completely private.” The middle man spoke up. She turned to her computer and deactivated security in her office. The man turned to Miroku who shook his head. “Completely private.” Sango raised a questioning eyebrow as Miroku pointed to her broach. The Full Moon Emblem pin that she wore as part of her uniform was promptly removed. By this stage of the game, she wasn't surprised he had figured out it was a wireless camera.

“I am General Morimoto; this,” he pointed to the short man, “is US ambassador, Joseph Mason, and I believe you are already acquainted with Mr. Higurashi.”

She nodded. “And why on Earth do I have the head of National Security, a US ambassador and a taxi driver in my office, all before 8 am.”

“Straight to the point, just like your father.” The General observed. “You had background checks done on Mr. Higurashi and his biological father, why?” Sango looked at her watch. That had been quick.

“Because, according to my research he doesn't exist.” She answered honestly.

“Why are you researching him?” The ambassador asked.

“He is part of an on-going investigation. Both, Tokyo Police and Full Moon Enterprises have unanswered questions.”

“Then, I recommend that both parties forget that you ever heard of him.” The General ordered

“Why? Why so much secrecy?” Sango demanded. Like hell were they going to storm into her office and tell her what to do!

“It is vital to national security.” The General informed.

“The identity of a cab driver is vital to national security?” Sango raised an eyebrow. She wanted answers not a run around.

“You should just tell her.” Miroku spoke up. He was watching them quietly from his seat, studying Sango's reactions carefully. “She's good at what she does. You know she will keep digging until she's satisfied with her answers.” He added when the older men looked incredulous at him.

“Fine,” Mason spoke up. “Miroku's father was a New York cop who stumbled into a terrorist smuggling ring. He had gone in to investigate drug trafficking, and found nerve gas instead. The information he gathered was enough to eliminate the New York cell; unfortunately, we were unable to get to their leader. We gave Miroku and his father a new identity, and after his father's death, we placed him with an appropriate foster family. These people never forget. If they find out Miroku is still alive, they will come after him, even though his father is dead.”

“What's worse,” Miroku interrupted, “they would hurt my sister to get to me.” Sango worried her lower lip as she processed the information.

“We keep a close watch on him out of respect for what his father did for us.” Morimoto added.

“So, you give him a government vehicle to drive around the city?”

“If he were to get into an accident, we would be notified immediately.” She nodded.

“Knowing this, I cannot in good conscience continue my investigation into Miroku's past. I would hate to alert someone that he is alive and well.” She stood up and bowed as the older men left her office satisfied with her response. Miroku stayed behind as she pulled out a folder labeled “Higurashi-Takahashi Incident Report.”

“I didn't think you would be swayed so easily.” Miroku spoke quietly, his wise man façade never falling.

“Knowing the facts, I can make a responsible decision. I would never put an innocent person at risk to satisfy my curiosity.” She spoke as she picked up a black marker and began to cross out lines out of her report.

“What are you doing?”

“Erasing you…as far as I'm concern, you don't exist, and I never met you.” He moved around her desk and watched her cross out his name and any information he had provided from the report. Considering his role in Kagome's escape, a few pages were almost completely blacked out.

“You would think I'd be used to this.”

“To what?”

“Not existing…I've spent the last twelve years of my life being a shadow…a ghost, unable to form any meaningful relationships or connections with the people around me. If it wasn't for my sister, I would be convinced that I'm just a figment of someone's imagination.” Sango looked at him in awe. His deep violet eyes were filled with sorrow and loneliness. Her heart was suddenly filled with a strange ache and compassion for this man. Had she not suffered a similar fate by working for Sesshomaru? Her work required so much of her time, she was barely home, and, if it wasn't for her cat, no one would know that she didn't sleep in her office every night. Looking at him with warm eyes, she stood up. Why she wanted to comfort him…she wasn't sure, but she did.

“Miroku,” her voice was soft, “I'm sure it's not all that bad.”

“Sometimes, I get a hint of normality, like when a beautiful woman agrees to have dinner with me…How about tonight at seven?” Sango slapped him hard. “It wasn't that improper of a dinner invitation.” He protested rubbing his cheek.

“No, but the hand you still haven't removed from my ass was!” She growled as her eyebrow twitched in annoyance. He prolonged his caress in order to say farewell properly to the beloved body part. “Hentai!” She screamed as she grabbed a heavy paper weight from her desk and broke it over his head.

Miroku sighed before he moved his hand. “It's a curse…A thousand pardons my lady…would eight work better?” Sango's anger exploded.

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General Morimoto smiled as he heard the woman screaming behind closed doors. “Do you think it's wise that he be allowed to aggravate her like that?” Mason questioned worriedly as they waited for the elevator.

“It means that he doesn't view her as a threat.”

“I'm not sure; she might be more than tempted to keep digging, just to get back at him.” Mason warned as they entered the elevator.

“Not a Kizu. They are loyal and honor bound. She will keep her word.” Morimoto assured

“She is also a woman, and to quote the old saying, `hell knows no furry like a woman's scorn.' Old Miko's identity may be compromised, and that is more important than protecting young Don Juan's identity.”

“Trust me; if she is a true Kizu, then she won't allow anyone the pleasure of killing the man that `scorned' her. Besides, I plan to have this situation completely taken care of by the end of the month?”

“Oh?” Mason questioned as they left the elevator.

“There is only one way to keep a Kizu quiet.” The General spoke quietly as they exited the lobby. Outside, the day was getting darker as storm clouds could be seen in the horizon.

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It looked like rain when Inu Yasha pulled into the indoor garage. It was strange to be in this place voluntarily. It usually took four armed men to drag him in, but the poor hanyou was confused. He needed answers: a real man to man talk. Unfortunately, his father was dead, and he could not go to him for sage advice. Sango seemed more than angry about something else. She kept mumbling something about letting the terrorist get him. Who he was, Inu Yasha could only guess. Threats like that were usually directed to Naraku or his offspring. Though, Kagome's brother had recently earned her anger.

Inu Yasha sighed as he entered the dark building. Inside, the bustle of morning coffee and answering the never ending calls made Inu Yasha's ears hurt. He would have much rather gone to his brother, but, they weren't close enough to have this conversation. That only left his tutor. As Inu Yasha walked towards Captain Myoga's office, he shook off the feeling that every cop in the building was looking at him suspiciously. He buried his hands in his Hell Raiser's jacket and walked inside.

"Inu Yasha!" The flea hopped up surprised. He had been caught watching a thirteen inch television; though, it was work related, or so he said. "What do I owe this surprise?"

"Keh!" Inu Yasha sat down in front of the flea before placing his boots on the Captain's desk. The flea sighed. He would never learn. Inu Yasha turned towards the television at the sound of a familiar voice.

"She's very pretty and talented." Myoga observed as Kagome stood in front of a stove wearing a promotional apron. They listened as she spoke,

"I was out with a guy friend last night, when I realized there are too many men that do not know how to cook. And, gentlemen, Ramen doesn't count. So this morning, I thought I would teach you a few easy recipes. They are healthy, delicious and guaranteed to impress any girl you invite to dinner."

"Keh."

"So, it's about her." Myoga observed lightly. Inu Yasha chose his words as carefully as he knew how. Myoga may not have been the brightest or quickest member of the police force, but he had a keen eye for people.

"My youki stirred around her." Myoga raised a worried brow to the hanyou's confession. Inu Yasha knew from experience that was not a good sign.

"Tell me, from the very beginning, everything that happened. Every detail is crucial. We don't need you becoming a danger to her."

Inu Yasha did his best to recap his story, knowing the flea was scrutinizing him. After he was done, the flea sat, tapping his fingers over his knee. "What is it, old man?" Inu Yasha growled impatiently.

"You made her do hard labor?"

"Keh, you make it sound like a bad thing?"

"You dressed her in your clothes, or should I say scent, before having her help you build your home…your nest." Myoga began picking up momentum. The boy was dense. There wasn't much more to it. "Then she offers to buy you food, and will only permit the best to enter the cart. She proves herself cooking before you spar, showing you she is a vital and strong female; then, rejects your offer as a dominant male, and you wonder why your youkai is stirring?"

"What are you rambling about?"

"Whether you meant it or not, last night was an example of youkai courting habits! And, by the response of the youkai inside of you, she passed the test!" Myoga replied in frustration. Did Inu Yasha need him to connect the dots and color the picture for him as well?

"Keh, that's impossible?"

"Really? What were you planning to do when you caught her?"

"Make her submit!" Wasn't it obvious?

"How?"

"By making..." Inu Yasha stopped himself, but Myoga finished what he wouldn't say,

"By making her your bitch!"

"Keh." Inu Yasha answered. Myoga knew this was as close as an admission of guilt he was going to get.

"You said you had an argument outside the supermarket. About what?"

"She thought it was funny the cashier believed we were a couple."

"And in the argument, you tricked her into accepting you as a suitor." The flea answered wisely. At the unusual silence from his ward, Myoga explained. "That was how your father began to court Sesshomaru's mother. Though he was the son of the Lord of the Western Lands, he was only second born, and she was first born child to a prominent family. It was expected that she married a first born. It was a surprise when your father swept her off her feet, but a year after their marriage, his elder brother died from the same rare ailment that would later claim the Lady's life. You are so much like him. Sometime I think you are his reincarnation." Myoga's voice was soft and filled with nostalgia. It warmed Inu Yasha's heart enough to keep him from harming the flea or Kehing at his story.

"Now, you are all grown up, and have found your mate." A single tear escape the old flea, "Now, if we can only get her to accept you." Inu Yasha squashed the police captain before storming out of his office. So what if his youkai had courted her? It was obviously unintentional? Besides, he didn't want her. She looked like fun in the sack, but too much talk afterward. And, of course she would be attracted to him. He was a 'bad, motorcycle riding rebel.' Her type of educated women always fell for him: Someone they could help. He snorted. In reality, they wanted the passion in the bedroom. They hadn't complained yet, not that he wanted to show her, but if the occasion should arise, he wouldn't disappoint her, either.

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Miroku drove quietly as the rain hit his windshield harshly. It had looked like a promising day…just like his life. He sighed, reminiscing of old times. Sango did that to him. He hadn't been so taken by a woman in a long time…not since her.

Miroku fisted his cursed hand and swore angrily. He had thought it a blessing at first: His excuse not to form any meaningful relationship with a woman. What teenage boy would complain? From a young age, he had held a dual personality, impressing the younger girls with his wise man maturity, and amusing the older ones with his playful side. That had all been fun until he had met her. She had been beautiful: soft brown eyes long wavy black hair and ivory skin touched by the Californian sun. She was thick, but held a well defined body, and had she not been his sister's first year roommate, Miroku would have made his move.

It had been a blessing in disguise, as he soon learned. She had been in all female institutions since she was very small, and knew very little of men. Her innocence drew him like a moth to a flame. Her overly developed confidence was an aphrodisiac to him. He soon forgot the rule, and believed he could be happy. He had been such a fool. He should know that he could never escape his past. His father hadn't, and neither had Taro.

He had been ready to ask her to marry him, and not because he hadn't slept with her. He could have taken advantage of her in many occasions, but he would not blemish her honor. He loved her too much. He should have listened to his sister when she warned him, but he bought the ring and placed it on his love's finger, where it still was to this day. He should have heard the warnings of the wind as they changed course that cool March day, but he was twenty and in love: the best combination to make a man stupid.

She had looked so beautiful the last time he had seen her, in her white dress surrounded by flowers and love ones. Her face never stopped glowing, nor did she stop smiling, even after they closed the lid of her coffin. He banged his cursed hand against the steering wheel. They had said it had been a wild animal…the way she had been torn to pieces, but he knew better. They hadn't touched her face. They wanted him to recognize her.

Miroku sighed as he stopped his cab for a blonde with an extremely short skirt. Who would have known that perverseness made a good wall to hide behind, and the meaningless sex fogged the reality of his loneliness. He shouldn't be playing with Sango. She was too much like the other one.

Smiling, he listened to where his fare wanted to go. He knew what would happen. It had already happen so many times before, and would continue to happen until the constant reminder of his pain was removed. He was very tempted to cut the offending hand off, but he knew that curse would just move to his other hand. He flirted lightly with the blonde. She wanted to go back to her place. Miroku knew she would invite him upstairs, and they would have a meaningless encounter between white sheets as they both tried to forget their troubles. The only difference would be that this time, Miroku would be thinking of a certain brown eyed beauty that had a mean right hook.

 

 

 

 

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Reference: Don Juan, a Spanish character famous for being womanizer, who met a terrible fate for his sins. It is also now used to refer to a lady's man or a womanizer.