InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Business Blues ❯ Get it Faster ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

A/N: Just correcting a few ((dozen)) mistakes...

Oh, and a Xerox is just a regular copier and a Riso--well, it’s the mother of many machines. It can copy papers really fast and they just kinda fly out into a side tray like-- woah. Yeah. Just in case anyone didn’t know….


Chapter Two:
Get it Faster

“And so the never ending cycle of hell continues. Cab picks me up, cab drops me off, I get upstairs, pick up my new cell phone and find ten missed calls from him already” She tilted the phone more conformably against her shoulder, as she placed another paper onto the copier “Yesterday, I could have sworn he knew how to tell time but then again, it is harder than it seems to tell the difference between five in the morning and seven, huh?”

“Odd numbers are tricky” Sango said casually “They all look the same after awhile”

“Still--ten times before seven? That’s a little obsessive”

“Do I dare ask the meaning of these calls...?”

Kagome snorted, flipping another page to Xerox “From the voicemail I got the impression it had something to do with me not being at work--chains, papers, desk, computer--of course, his little outbursts are always up for interpretation”

“The joys of working for Inuyasha...ever think of writing a book? We could use the money”

“Idea is well noted but until I can find a flame thrower my chains bind me here....” The red light started flashing on the copier’s panel and she made a face kicking it “Though, don’t take my words the wrong way. I wouldn’t give this job up for anything”

Sango made a short laugh “Is that sarcasm or seriousness?”

Kagome kicked the machine again, but it only made another loud sound before more red lights started blinking “The not giving up the job part--total sarcasm. For anything...touches of seriousness. I always felt a nice flat screen TV would do wonders for our place”

“Or maybe a TV with more than three channels--two that we can actually understand?”

“Oh come on Senorita!” Kagome smiled, kicking the machine again “Tu habl-os e-spanish?

“What have I told you about watching the Spanish soap operas...?

“Something about deteriorating my mind....hard to tell when I was trying to watch Telemundo. How could you interrupt after that one black haired guy was saying something to that other guy that I once saw with the girl who was also seen with the cousin of the girl who betrayed him?!” Kagome sighed dramatically “It was heartbreaking to even see them speaking--”

“While not knowing a damned word they were saying” Sango made a sound “No more Spanish for you”

“There goes my weekend”

The lights were blinking everywhere on the panel now and she swore that if there wasn’t a roof above them it could have made one spectacular light show. The darn thing always broke down whenever Inuyasha needed last minute copies.

“Gah! I gotta go before my machine give me a seizure over here” She gave the device one final kick before piling up her documents in one hand, and adjusting the cell phone to her other ear “Just tell me you’ll come to Pirate Pete’s tonight. It’s my first night--new staff, new boss, new food--”

“And more reasons for people to bitch about the service. It’ll be like your first day at Natalie’s all over” she commented happily

“Alright, I promised not to bring up that guy who had a fetish with your feet...I thought we agreed that first day incident was filed in the Case Closed department”

“So I took a glance at the file” Sango said with amusement “It’s hard to push away the picture of you covered in spaghetti and meat sauce. Add a little bit of parmesan and they could have offered you as a dish”

“I knew that would turn into an innuendo someday...”

“Well, it’s over now so rest easy” Kagome shook her head with a small smile “And yes, me and Ayame will be there--brown paper bags for you to hyperventilate in and all. I wouldn’t dream of missing the chance to see my sister covered in pasta again”

“Thanks for the support--I’ll try not to disappoint you”

“That’s all I ask” Sango said merrily “Now go run along and play office. And remember, if one of the other kids pick on you, it’s alright to kick his nice little butt”

“And the topic of Inuyasha’s ass is once again brought to the table”

“’Course”

“Bah! Get off my phone”

Sango giggled “Already gone”

Now that she knew she had her friends behind her, Kagome was almost ready to go in there for her first day at Pirate Pete’s. Almost being the keyword. She had never thought she’d end up working in a burger place but when life gave you a big kick in the rear nothing is expected.

She had been the only one kept on staff along with Ayumi, Eri, and Yuka and though the outfits of the pirate maidens or whatever the hell they were, freaked her out like the spiders Inuyasha would have to kill for her around the office; she wasn’t about to give it up.

Her four point-o grade average didn’t need to sock her in the face to tell her when a job was needed.

With a great sigh, Kagome dropped the stack of papers on top of the Riso machine. The thing had a knack for injuring someone in one way or another so it was deemed the Cursed Box From Hell and moved to a far corner on her floor.

Dealing with Inuyasha gave her a good taste of hell so she could take it.

“Kaggie, what brings you out of your desk and amongst the freed masses?” Kagome didn’t even need to look over her shoulder to know that his face was captured with his usual boyish grin. “Has Inuyasha taken a step up in the technology department for your confinement and put a tracking device on you instead? The chains are kinky, yes, but--”

“And...you’re done. We both know where that’s going and one of us isn’t liking it”

“Not a kinky girl, are we?”

“I prefer ropes--nothing too flashy. But enough to get the job done”

Miroku came to her side and judging by the way his smile was able to grow from her look, it was obvious he could see her blush.

Kagome practically wore her expressions on her sleeve twenty-four/seven and despite that darned mouth that had ditched her mind and created its own, it was obvious anyone could tell that she was uncomfortable with talks having to do with anything sexual.

Of course, her fair skin flushed more just thinking about it.

Maybe it was time to do that cancer in a box thing to darken her skin tone a bit...

“Is Kagome blushing...?” He poked at her cheek playfully, to which she snorted brushing him away “If this is what a few words does I’d love to see you with your boyfriend. A dollar says that your face would match that tie Inuyasha always wears every time he kisses you”

“No takers, Miroku. First, I already rid that tie of the world. After Fort managed to staple it to his hair, it was a goner” She moved him aside a bit, reaching for the master copy she had just made “And second, there’s no boyfriend to test that on”

Yep. She could see the blood vessel on Inuyasha’s forehead breaking right about...now.

She wouldn’t have a problem with him telling Miroku that she had a boyfriend if any part of it was true. It was a bit cruel, but she wouldn’t let Inuyasha--and her--hide behind lies forever.

“Perfect. I can take his place”

“You’re a funny one Miroku, I’ll give you that” Kagome turned to him, shoving a pile of papers into his chest “And that’s why it still amazes me that you don’t have someone. How could anyone not find your state of mind charming...?”

“If anyone but you said that I might have been hurt but, since we’re so close, I’ll let it slid” he reassured her, as she shook her head with a smile “I’ll even still allow that kiss between us--only because we’re friends and I care for you that much”

“Hmm...you’re sweet”

With a quick three button press the machine started up. Nothing was blowing up and fire wasn’t raining upon with while little devils danced with pitchforks, so she figured she was in the clear with their hell sent Riso. God forbid she would not be able to make copies of a report Inuyasha was supposed to have finished a week ago.

She hoped it was her over active imagination, but it seemed that Inuyasha had gotten a bit on the lazy side since she came. Or just completely trusting that she could do anything. The second part sounded nicer but neither pleased her.

“Inuyasha is in his office, right?”

“After he called me numerous times this morning about being late it would only make too much sense that he’d be here but...” She shrugged, increasing the speed on the machine “The boss is nowhere to be found. His hair probably got stuck in the limo again...”

“And I thought he only had that problem with the elevator”

“His multi-talented” she mused, turning the speed up to medium “You ready for another upset with Naraku?”

“Yep. After watching my shows last night at irregularly high volumes I’m officially prepared for Inuyasha’s “comments” after the guy doesn’t show. Now, when he starts up I’ll just fight it off with the sounds that are blaring through my head from TV”

“Why do I have the feeling there’s going to be a mini porn running through your head--and not just when Inuyasha’s talking...?”

“Maybe because you’re a mind reader” he said seductively, raising his eyebrows and elbowing her “Like what you see in there...?”

“A flat screen playing porn and a full box of condoms” She placed a hand to her forehead and closed her eyes “Wait! Wait! No...that’s just your house”

She opened her eyes in time to see his face break into another boyish grin “Another low shot, Kaggie. I think I’m starting to rub off on you”

“Ehh...” She moved away from him as he took a step forward with a broad smile “No demonstration of that phrase thanks. That sexual harassment suit is still only a few signatures away...”

Miroku smiled, placing the stack of papers on a file cabinet to his side before leaning against it “You’re blushing again...”

Well of course she was....darned fair skin...

“And you’re annoying me again” she said casually “Why not go and try to fetch Inuyasha for me?”

“Fetch Inuyasha, you say?”

Odd. His voice sounded a bit more pissed than it had on the phone. She didn’t believe that her being in the office would actually make him angrier.

She gave him dry look as he stood between her and Miroku “I got your calls this morning. Funny how you call me when you just bought me the new phone. I would usually just roll my eyes at you but I can’t help but really wonder why this time”

“We’ll talk about that later” he snapped “Right now I need my reports”

“And now would be an inappropriate time because....”

“Because I have a meeting with Naraku in less than an hour and my damned copies aren’t finished--that’s why”

“Sorry for not making copies of a document that didn’t exist until five minuets ago any earlier” she said coolly “I guess I’ll have to stop reading Miroku’s mind for awhile and concentrate on yours”

“I don’t need your smart ass comments, Kagome”

Definitely not her overactive imagination’s trick again. Something was up. Inuyasha was snappy, but didn’t take things out so hard on her.

His eyes were a lot darker than usual, not to mention wider than the clock set on the wall behind him. His clothes looked disheveled and she swore he was sweating.

She bit her lip, her stomach flipping slightly “What’s wrong?”

He averted his gaze “I need to get to my meeting”

“We already established that part” She took a step towards him, straightening his tie that wasn’t even done right “I mean the state of you. Your hair wasn’t caught in the limo again was it?”

“No” He pushed her fingers away to fix the tie himself, while setting her with a punishing look “I just need to get to this meeting, alright?”

From that look it seems she had broken yet another rule. Inuyasha had told them they shouldn’t have direct contact in the office so that was just great. He was probably going to snap on that too. Like it was a terrible crime to fix her boss’s tie.

He was just so ridiculous with little things like that it was--well, it was starting to annoy her. And brushing her away wasn’t going to help. If he knew anything about her, she liked avoidance as much as she liked saying the word condom.

Which she didn’t...

“Alright then” She pounded the speed button, turning it to the highest mode “I’ll get you there faster, Mr. Fort. Please, if there is anything I can do to help, ask away. Is the sky not blue enough for you today? Perhaps I can ring up Mother Nature and see if we can change that for you. I’ll even build a time machine so you can have your copies before you write them, would that please you?”

Miroku choked back a laugh at her fake smile and words, to which Inuyasha bopped him on the head.

“Oh my this is not going fast enough, is it?” She pounded the speed to maximum “Well, how's--Eek!”

It had to be the strangest sight she had ever seen in her life. She didn’t remember seeing that the tray that caught the papers was broken, but she supposed she should have looked just a bit closer.

Papers were shooting everywhere now that the tray wasn’t catching them causing people to run about the place, shouting things about “Hell Boxes” as they were attacked with Inuyasha’s reports.

She quickly covered her face and tried to back away from the onslaught of papers but not feeling anything hit her after a handful had, she opened her eyes. Inuyasha stood in front of her blocking the machine’s attacks.

“Miroku! Push the damned Stop button!”

He was having his own problem, though. The stack that had rested on the file cabinet had come tumbling down and he was being drowned in them. Kagome peeked around Inuyasha’s shoulder seeing the man flailing his arms to fight away the things.

That was going to leave a lot of paper cuts...

“Just go for the plug!” She nudged Inuyasha, motioning to the outlet

And in that brief moment that he had reached out for that cord, she could have sworn it was all some weird dream. Inuyasha had wrapped his arm around her, pulling her into the chest she only knew during “allowed” times between them.

His other arm had reached for the outlet and yeah, he had instantly freed her as soon as the paper stopped but--but she wasn’t dreaming.

He had actually shown some type of attachment, some care in front of others, while in the office.

+++

“Ow, ow, and ow” Miroku rubbed his face with a sore look “I’ll never look at paper the same way again. After that I think I may even have Papernoia”

“Keh. It wasn’t so bad”

“After you’re buried in a pile of papers the height of the ceiling, it’s hard not to develop a phobia for them”

Inuyasha rolled his eyes, crumpling up a piece of scratch paper and throwing it at Miroku.

He evaded it with a grin “Though, I must say it was awfully cute how you protected Kagome from the evil papers...”

Inuyasha tensed “What the hell are you talking about? She was just standing behind me and--”

“Your arms just happened to wrap around her?” Inuyasha growled but Miroku was unfazed. He only smirked, tilting back in his chair to cross his legs on the desk “I figured it was only a matter of time for you to fall for her....You’ve always been on the slow side”

“Fuck you and your dirty mind” Inuyasha went back to scribbling things “It’s nothing like that. If I hadn’t held her up then she would have fell from me reaching past her”

“She doesn’t have a boyfriend anymore, ya know”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” he mumbled angrily

“She said she wasn’t seeing anyone anymore so now would be the perfect chance to make your move” If he was right, this last part would get the hanyou and that made Miroku smile wider “Or, if you don’t want her, I think I might ask her out”

Miroku watched with odd satisfaction as the pen in Inuyasha’s had snapped in two. His white teeth bared and the growl in his throat was predatory

“She isn’t something to be passed around you fuckin’ moron. If you don’t want her you say....? You make it sound like she’s a damned object. Well here’s news asshole. She’s my fuckin’ assistant and I’ll be damned if I see her thrown around like that”

Woah. Now, he was expecting a smart little comment, or maybe to be thrown out of the room again. But that. That little declaration of how women weren’t to be used...

The smile slid from Miroku’s face and he set his feet back on the ground “I didn’t know it was that serious...”

“I don’t have time for you words, you idea of humor, or your womanizing ways” Inuyasha slammed his suitcase shut, papers still coming out from the sides “Naraku isn’t coming now or ever. We’re finished”

“You’re giving up?”

“The whole fuckin’ city is divided Miroku” Inuyasha rose, as did Miroku “Without Naraku to willingly settle this shit, there’s no point. If he wanted to fix anything he would have came, but unless he’s invisible right now and sitting in that chair--to hell with it. It’s war and I won’t need a lawyer where I’m going”

“Things are going to get bad around here...”

“Its already bad” Inuyasha snapped “Naraku isn’t playing. He wants power and is willing to break any barriers left standing from my father’s rule to get it. Look in the paper. Murders, kidnapping, fuckin’ bombings and threats just to control this place”

“All for an island” Miroku shook his head as the two entered the elevator “His obsession will prove to be the end for many...”

He wasn’t looking but Miroku swore he heard Inuyasha’s jaw tense.

His face turned serious “You’ve had run ins with him before...”

“That goes without saying”

He nodded “Any link between this topic and this morning?”

“In a way”

The elevator doors slid open and the two men stepped out, heading towards the giant mahogany doors. As they walked, some employees would nod their heads or smile and though Miroku returned each gesture, Inuyasha wouldn’t even look in their direction.

Kagome wasn’t dipping the phrase in sarcasm when she said it was a wonder Inuyasha knew he had employees.

“It’s nice to see a man get along with his co-workers” Miroku commented mockingly

“There’s those damned words I’ll be happy to be rid of” he mumbled “Between you and Kagome, I--”

“Would have a three-some?”

“Fuck you”

Miroku chuckled, placing his own suitcase on Kagome’s empty desk “Speaking of our third party, where is she...?”

Inuyasha was facing his office door, his head slightly bowed. He didn’t move or say anything, but Miroku could hear that gritting of the jaw again. It merely looked like he was staring at the floor...Kind of odd.

“Inuyasha? You--?”

The hanyou turned abruptly, wearing a face he could easily token as pissed off. He caught a quick glance to a piece of paper before it was crushed into Inuyasha’s clawed hand.

“That stupid bitch!”

With confusion and, though he tried hiding it, a bit of amusement, Miroku watched as Inuyasha rushed past him and practically dove into the stairwell. With that speed and state of hurry he should have just flown out the window...

Miroku shook his head with a smile, looking upon the suitcase Inuyasha had dropped as papers flooded the floor.

A man came up beside him with a dry look “Ten dollars says it has something do with Kagome leaving early”

“Twenty says he comes back with her flung over his shoulder”

“You’re on”

+++

Kagome shivered, stopping from her walk to look behind her. She could have sworn she felt something....

Insanity isn’t a good face to be wearing on your first day she warned herself

“Right” She shook her head, reaching out for the handle of Pirate Pete’s. That over active imagination of hers really needed to take a vacation.