InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Business Blues ❯ Working Hard for the Money ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: None of her work belongs to me

A/N: Ahahaha. Yea. Everyone thought I was dead

No one will believe my excuses and lies anyways, so I come bearing new chapters of Prisoner and Business Blues in exchange. And some edits in Mine which I’m sure you’re all thrilled to hear I finally fixed the word “burlp”


Chapter 3
Working Hard for the Money

“I swear if I had to wear any of that I’d just die. Just, like, having it in the magazine made me sick” The red head twirled her hair around her finger “I couldn’t imagine having to wear that ugly puke green sheet for a runaway much less a magazine. Now, its like, forever imprinted in my brain…wow--And in the book. Poor girl…You wouldn’t ever wear it, would you?”

“Uhhh..”

Ayame frowned, un-twirling her hair “You would?”

“I–wait. What?”

“Oh my freakin’ God. You didn’t even read the article did you?”

“Fuck no, Ayame. I wouldn’t be caught dead reading that brain retarded shit”

“Brain retarded shit?” Her voice rose an octave “So now you’re calling me brain dead?!”

“No. But your magazines sure as fuck are…”

“Says the man with a box of Playboy in his closet. I’m sure those fill you up with something that isn’t knowledge…” Ayame leaned back in her chair, examining her nails “Ya know Renkotsu, you should have really read that article”

“Why…?”

“Cause then you would have known what’s in and what’s out this season” She smirked, reaching for the disconnect “I’ll give you a clue…you were next to the girl in the green dress”

“Ayam–“

Click.

Fo r some reason she had a feeling he would have said yes to the green dress anyways…that big ol’ porn box had more than a few clues of what interested him. She should have figured the shaved head and tattoos were a sign that he was playing for both sides…

Ah well. It was fun playing with fire while it lasted.

The phone rang for what had to have been like the freakin’ millionth time that day. She rolled her eyes, opening up her magazine. Didn’t anyone have anything better to do than call this place?

“Fort Inc Island. This is Ayame speaking”

“Jeez, don’t sound too happy”

“Well, how happy can I be when the new color this month is red?” she exclaimed, browsing through the page “Do you know how hard it is to get that to match my hair?”

“To spare myself from the details I’ll go with yes”

Ayame shook her head with a sigh “Being fashionable challenged, you could never understand my pain…”

“Never want to either” Sango mumbled “Buzz me?”

“Surely”

The door swung open and Sango hurried in “My eyes sight must finally be going. That can’t possibly be Ayame doing her job”

“Oh. Don’t worry” The red head raised an issue of Cosmopolitan

“I was…for a second” Sango shook her head, leaning against the counter “Being paid to read magazines must be nice…”

“It was”

“Was?”

“Until they became wise. Apparently my phone bill was off the wall this month” Ayame sighed, flipping a page “I can’t help it if I’m a very sociable person”

“With people who don’t want to socialize?” Sango smiled “Maybe if you stopped talking to people calling for an extension transfer they’d like you a bit better…course, I’m sure they adore you for scaring away those telemarketers”

“They say no one is better for the job”

“Agreed. So what’s this past tense? They’re making you work now…?”

“They’re tracking me–or having me track myself” She lifted a piece of paper off the counter, waving it in the air “Seeing my work on paper reminds me of just how boring this job actually is”

“How dare they kill your fantasies” She took the paper looking over the neat cursive handwriting

12:00

Some delivery guy came in wearing the most horrific brown uniform I had ever seen. Yeesh. Someone really needs to tell that man brown was so last season.

He wanted me to sign something…and I did. I think…it was a few minutes ago…I can’t remember.

Oh. Then Kagome, Mr. Fort’s personal assistant came by. She was on her way to that burger joint I’ll be dragged to later

Sango raised an eyebrow “Ayame…this sounds like a diary, not a report”

She waved it off

12:15

Mr. Fort went running out of the office in such a hurry that my hair was messed up.

I took a half an hour break to fix it.

“Half an hour…?” Sango asked dryly

“Yea, but it was only touch ups…”

She rolled her eyes “Oh. Okay then”

Her eyes skimmed down the paper, looking over the “report” Ayame had put together. It mostly consisted of what was in this season, how shiny her hair was thanks to her new shampoo, and the meaning behind manicures.

It wasn’t until the last slot Sango found something about someone else.

5:00

Mr. Fort came back in. I thought he was gone for the day but whatever.

God, he looked so awful in his clothes. And form the way his hair was all messed up, it was like he tripped and fell into the sales department.

He wanted to know where his assistant escaped to.

Sango looked back up “You told him, then?”

“No” she flipped a page casually

“That’s hard to believe…”

“Well–I didn’t tell him exactly”

“So what did you say?”

“That we could ride their together”

Sango blinked “What?”

“Yea, limo’s outside” Ayame smiled mischievously, lifting her magazines from the desk “I’m sure she’ll be happy to see him outside of the office….for once…”

+++

Reflections never did anyone justice. She swore that mirrors were hell sent and made only to confuse the weak and make the strong suffer. No one ever saw themselves the same way one moment, so unless ever other person in the world was a subtly schizophrenic, the damned thing had to be cursed.

For one, she hadn’t remembered her butt ever looking this big in he life. With a slight grumble she hit her backside, making the dress deflate before popping right back up.

The uniform was absolutely shameful. She was embarrassed just looking at it as Koga had handed them out to the staff. How she felt actually wearing the dress she was sure was bought from the local bordello was simply indescribably.

Far from the good kind.

“I think they’re kinda cute”

“I think they’re stylish–the ruffles are a nice touch”

“And I think the two of you are getting high off the fumes” Kagome split past Eri and Yuka to lean against the counter “We’re bar wrenches–“

“Piradettes”

Kagome made a face “Whatever. We’re dressed in clothes that look like something donated from the closest whore house and we aren’t even doing anything”

“Not true. We opened up, set up, then–“

“Stood behind the counter as an accessory?”

“Oh Kagome stop it” Eri shook her head “You know, that’s the kind of attitude that drives Hojo away”

Kagome opened her mouth

“Eri’s right” Yuka stepped in “Hojo is so adorable and has a total thing for you”

She tried opening her mouth again

“We’re only telling you this once more, Kagome”

“Take him now” Yuka chimed

“Or it’ll be too late” Eri added

“And you will regret it” Yuka finished.

“Whoa” Kagome rubbed her temple “That was kinda scary….do you guys rehearse that..?”

“Kagome” They both whined

The girl only smiled weakly.

Oh how she loathed this topic. It would be just too easy to tell them about Inuyasha now, wouldn’t it? But darn him and his weird need to keep them in the very back of the reality closet–made her life something stressful when the topic of her “boyfriend-less” status was brought up.

“Come on you guys” Ayumi appeared from the backroom with a soft smile and a tray of drinks “Maybe she already has her sights on someone”

Ayumi. There was nothing she loved more than the wonderful friend who could step in and break it up without causing a scene. Now that was amazing.

“Who?!” Eri and Yuka came closer with smiles as Kagome squeaked, backing up “You have to tell us!”

“Umm…”

“Piradettes! Refill!”

“Oh! I’ll get that!” Kagome quickly ripped Ayumi’s tray from her hands “Can’t keep them waiting!”

Eri cupped her hands over her mouth “You can’t run forever Kagome!”

Kagome threw them a smile “But when I can, I will!”

She really needed to have a talk with Inuyasha. Maybe have him deal with the two Hojo Shippers and see how he likes it. She wrinkled her nose. Or not. She had a feeling he wouldn’t have a trifle with dealing with Hojo, just not in a verbal way…

The guy had already scored badly in the first impressions area. Apparently it was a mortal sin to call her during work to see if she had their math assignment. How he had known she had been talking to him in the first place? Who knows.

If her phone lines were being tapped she just hoped he hadn’t picked up on Sango’s obsession with his ass.

That’d be a little awkward.

“Kagome!”

“Speak of the devil” she murmured with a giggle.

Sliding the tray of beers on the table of needy alcoholics, Kagome made a beeline for the two girls up front. Her arms opened wide as the three of them met in an embrace of smiles.

“Salvation!” Kagome sighed, squeezing them before pulling back “What took you so long?”

“Well, not a what–more of a who”

Kagome made a face, pulling back “Sango, you let her pick up another random guy from the street?”

“Okay, that guy was not random”

“Pfft. You didn’t even know his name”

“I did” She put a finger to her chin “It was George….er–something…”

“Point proven” Sango shook her head “But it wasn’t a random strangler destined to become Ayame’s new flavor of the week”

Kagome cocked her head with a smile “Who was it then?”

“Okay, well, let’s put it this way. We have good news, and bad news” Ayame smiled “Which do you want first?”

“Good. Then, I’ll be a bit happier when the bad news comes…”

“Red is the new color this season”

“Awesome. Does this mean you’ll let me wear my red poke-a-dotted dress?”

“Not with me you’re not” She eyed Kagome’s dress “That’s kind cute, though…In a butt-zilla type way…”

“You want to wear it, be my guest”

Both girls shook their heads. Guess it wasn’t that cute…

“So what’s the bad news?”

“First clue: Phone”

“Oh fun. Guessing games…” Kagome reached into her apron “Phone and bad…Inuyasha?”

“Ding! Ding! Ding!”

“How many times do you think he called?” She pulled the phone out “Winner gets a free drink”

Ayame shouted “50” the same time Sango called out “15”

“50?” Sango looked at Ayame “That’s way too–“

“45” Kagome confirmed as Sango looked disturbed

“How can he call that many times…?!”

“One of his many talents…”

“I wasn’t aware he had talents outside of complaining”

“Oh no. He has other things he’s good at” Ayame mused with a giant grin “Right Kagome”

She flushed

“Higurashi!”

She didn’t really need to turn around to recognize the voice of her new manager. After his more than enthralling meeting she had gotten her fair share of the cocky little tone he was identified to. Like an Inuyasha, but…not.

“Yes Mr. Beo?”

He waved her over “My Office. Now”

Ah crap. That didn’t sound promising. Too early for a raise and too late for a chance there would be a call-in for a uniform change.

“Alright”

She gave her friends a tiny shrug and a confused look before walking off.

The place had undergone a whole little re-modeling thing. In the hindsight, it was kind of creepy. The whole top floor had been turned into an apartment, for the great manager himself no doubt, and now the former basement of Natalie’s was the new restaurant area.

It was dark and weird, and there was absolutely no air circulation but she hadn’t expected any less. The situation of the island was becoming unbalanced obviously. Never before had a demon stepped into this place and now it was reversed.

The only humans were those who worked and Sango had been the first mortal visitor since they opened.

Power was decreasing on Inuyasha’s side.

She frowned. He wouldn’t look too kindly on this place.

As they walked down she noticed that the halls were still covered in boxes at the edge, while half-finished in renovation itself. Without a demon nose she could smell the mold. Was this guy dense or used to mold…? She hoped more towards the first…

“Here we go”

He pushed open a door that shook on its hinges before the top part came off and nearly smacked Mr. Beo right in the face. He was quick though. Reflexes that would match Inuyasha’s in fact.

He hit the door away before it touched him then pulled it from the wall, pushed past her and threw it down the hall.

“I’m sure a nice time-out would have been fine…”

“It was going to fall off anyways” He shrugged, walking into a tiny room “Take a seat. I need to talk to you”

Kagome stepped in the place. Yeah. The renovation team seemed to have forgotten a few things. Like a roof and maybe walls would have been a nice thought.

Seeing pink insulation just didn’t scream professional as it should.

With a raised eyebrow, she eyed the area as he plopped down in a worn down chair “Where…?”

He waved to a bucket of paint “There’s fine”

She mentally sighed but did as she was told. Sitting on a bucket of paint was troubling, but what concerned her more was the puddle of liquid near her feet. She hoped that was just water…

As if on cue, a drop of water hit her on the head causing her to look up.

“I think there’s a hole in your…ummm….plastic ceiling”

“Probably” He thrust a thumb behind him to a window “It’s been like that since it started pouring” Oh, how she loved how he didn’t even glance over at her “Now, it says here that you’ve worked the longest….”

She shifted from the leak “Yeah…of the staff you kept…”

“So why haven’t you made it to manager?”

“Paul seemed to think that I had to be actually here to manager…crazy isn’t it?”

He looked up from his papers “You only work two days?”

“Three”

He paused, running through his documents again. He really didn’t look like he knew what he was doing. The Kit Kat wrapper wedged inside the pile said this much.

She bit back a groan. This was going to be a fun time.

Behind the demon she watched half-heartedly as the lightening flashed, illuminating the building across the street. She also saw another shadow that didn’t look very building like…a person maybe…?

His office was facing the street for one reason or another, right at the entrance of the restaurant too. Guess he wasn’t opposed to having everyone watch what he was doing…

Another flash of lightening and the form came closer.

At this point she squinted, waiting for the next flash of lightening.

As long as it wasn’t a serial killer it was fine. Probably someone entering the restaurant.

Lightening flashed and immediately she saw golden eyes staring back at her.

A hand quickly flew to her mouth, trying to cover the gasp. But a quick glance to Koga and she realized he didn’t have his mind on her…he was busy swearing avidly at the papers.

This was not good.

Her eyes met his as she mouthed “What the hell are you doing…?!”

“Me?!” He pointed to himself before thrusting a finger at Koga “I should be asking you that! Who the fuck is he?!”

“My boyfriend remember?”

His face broke into a menacing snarl and the random shots of lightening and the rain water soaking him was not softening the picture any.

“You’re what?!”

“Remember? Yesterday? Kareshi he–ahh–Never mind!”

She doubted he got any of that so she shook her head to make sure he did.

“Get out here”

She made a face “Inuyasha–“

“Fuck this!” Kagome jumped with a flush of embarrassment as papers flew across Mr. Beo’s desk “Just tell me what days you work”

Her eyes flickered towards Inuyasha “Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday”

“So you’re availability is the problem?”

“Ummm….Yes?”

What were they talking about again? Arg. It was hard to concentrate when Inuyasha was glaring like that…If he stepped foot into the restaurant--

Mr. Beo got up and went over to a file cabinet in the corner. He eyed it briefly for a moment. Obviously he was confused as to what it was…

She took the time to look back at Inuyasha “Go!” She waved her hands “Shoo!”

“What’s wrong with you…?”

She flinched, her hands remaining in mid-motion of her “shooing” wave

“Ummm…oh. It’s–it’s hot in here” She began fanning herself with a nervous grin “Isn’t it..?”

“I guess” He pounded a fist on the cabinet as one of the drawers popped open before pulling something out

Her eyes glanced back to Inuyasha who had put her shooing to shame. He stood there, arms crossed, face hard with one simple word “No”

“Stupid!”

“The time sheet says you’re in for…not a lot of hours. You have another job and--” He came back over to the desk and plopped down with a wrinkled nose “What’s that smell?”

Demon senses! Demon senses!

“Probably the mold” she said a little too quickly “You know, with the rain and all it’s, like, intense…”

Like intense…? She wanted to slap herself.

“It smells like wet dog” He snorted “Probably a fuckin’ stray”

Kagome buried her face in her hands. Could demons pick up things through walls….erm insulation….? She really hoped the rain was drowning it out…

“I say fuck it” He tossed the schedule on his desk too “I want you to be my manager”

Her head snapped up “What?”

“You know this place this best”

“I knew Natalie’s the best” she said coolly “I don’t know anything about this place other than this dress makes me look like a whore”

It was weird. Something changed in his eyes right then. For the first time he was actually looking at her and it was a bit unnerving. Maybe…maybe she shouldn’t have put down his uniform….?

Koga smirked "And that's why I need you. I don't know shit about this place"

"And yet you still bought it. Kudos to you on a wise decision, Mr. Beo"

“Just Koga”

He stood up and walked around his desk to sit against the edge. His gaze felt more intense when less distance was between them...was it getting a bit hot in here…?

Maybe she should start fanning herself off again…

"You could help me" he said smoothly

She really hoped he only meant that in one way…

Management did receive an increase in wages and Kami did her and Sango need it. Working side by side with Koga though…

Just how safe would that be...?

As safe as working with Inuyasha?

Kagome flushed. Okay, not exactly...

"Will I be able to change our outfits?"

"Why not?"

“How about allowing natural light in…?”

He shrugged “If you want…”

"How about the name?"

He raised an eyebrow "Don't push it"

If it would get her out of the prostitute on ice costume, she was game. She put up with guys all day at work…plus, this demon had nothing on Inuyasha’s ability to make her squirm.

A dirty thought came to her mind. Not the time, Kagome.

"And my availability issue?"

He shrugged "We'll work it out. Just give me your number and I'll--"

"Use it for unprofessional purposes?" She cut in without missing a beat

He grinned "Depends what you consider unprofessional"

"Anything not having to do with our profession" Guys needed to learn to stop when they were ahead "You have my work number, use that to get in touch with me"

“I do…?”

“I would assume, since you called me about the meeting…”

“Oh. Right. That was Ginta”

One of the men standing on either side of him during the meeting. The token yes men of any business, big or little.

“I was wondering why your voice sounded different…”

Another strange look came about him that made her heart skip a beat. She wasn’t quite sure if the feeling was bad or not…

But the moment he stood, she leaned towards bad. He took a step closer and held out his hand to her. Nice gesture, right? Sweet to offer a lady your hand…

Not when he’s looking at you like a piece of finely carved meat!

She smiled weakly, accepting his help as she was pulled to her feet.

“Kagome…? That’s your first name, isn’t it?”

She flushed at his look. Not good “Yea”

“You have a pretty face…do you know that?”

“Yes, but if I say it I might come off as conceited”

He chuckled deeply, making his body buzz from the vibration. It was then she realized they were still holding hands, that he was really close and not respecting that whole personal bubble rule at all, and that a hanyou was still outside the window…

Her eyes quickly went to the window in time to see strands of silver floating away in the rain.

Shit.

“Well–I better go out there” She pulled her hand away “Wouldn’t want to set a bad example as the new manager and all….it would be awfully embarrassing …bad…hypocritical even…haha…yea…”

Before he had time to do anything else other than raise an eyebrow, she shot out of there, back down the box filled unfinished hallways. The damned whore dress was long and she had to pick it up in order to run. Heels never were good for this kind of thing…

The restaurant had gotten a bit more crowded, but she barely took this to mind other than people were in her way. She had to get to Inuyasha before he came in here to do something stupid!

“Kagome” Someone pulled on her wrist, causing her to stop “What’s the rush?”

“Just caught sight to the bad news” She made to turn, but caught sight to the umbrella on Sango’s arm “Can I borrow this? Thanks”

“Hey--!”

“Be right back!”

Maybe he wasn’t going to come in. He couldn’t…he wouldn’t….right?

“Kagome!”

Anothe r distraction!

“Hold the thought, I’ll be right back”

“Wait! I need to ask you something!” Ayame said, pulling on her sleeve “It’s really important!”

“Hmmm?”

“What’s that guy’s name you were with?

“Oh” She reached for the handle to the restaurant, popping open the umbrella “The owner? Just now? That was Koga”

She smiled “Thanks....”

Kagome didn’t turn to see where she had gone off with. Possibly hunting Koga down for her new guy for all she cared.

The rain was hard and cold. And the wind was not making her walk any easier. On the curb, she briefly glanced towards a familiar limo before starting towards where she thought Koga’s office was around

She peered through the rain “Inuyasha….?” She hissed “Inuyash-hey!”

A hand wrapped around her waist, forcing her back into an alleyway between one of the buildings sides. The other hand was pressed against her mouth cutting off her voice before she could cry.

Completely freaked, she squirmed and made a quick move, kicking back right into the capture’s jewels. The part where she should be making her get away came, and she did turn to run, but stopped with a gasp.

“Inuyasha!” She bent down, covering the both of them with her umbrella “…Ooops”

“Oopps?!” He groaned, holding onto his private parts “You fuckin’ kicked me in the balls and all you have to say is Oops?!”

She made a face “I don’t make a habit of starting a conversation with men who drag women into alleys…”

“Keh” He started to stand as she helped him up “You sure as hell don’t have any miffs with possible molesters”

“Molesters? No. Rapists? Yes. Call me prejudice…”

He growled. Obviously this was not a time for her sarcasm…

He grabbed her wrist and brought them father back into the alley before starting up on the conversation she knew was coming.

“Just who the fuck was that?”

“Koga. He’s my manager” she answered easily.

Yay for rain and its ability to cover her blush.

His face became guarded suddenly. She was sure he was about to yell for some odd Inuyasha reason of his….instead, he stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her as his face buried into her shoulder.

She relaxed with a soft smile “Inuyasha…?”

“You didn’t tell me you were working on his side”

She sighed, wrapping her arms around him in turn “It didn’t used to be….I should have figured that with a new demon manager meant new demon rule…” She swallowed back a lump, squeezing him tighter “Is–is it safe…?”

“No” His head raised only to fix her head beneath his chin “You’re going to have to quit…”

She looked off to the endless rain “I see”

“And move…”

“What?” She pulled back

“It’s not safe there anymore…the border is so fucked up and–“

“And just where the hell do you expect me to go?” She snapped “If we could have moved, I would have done it already! We still have to pay off from what our father was in debt for!”

“You know I can pay it off” he hissed

“And I know that you’ll give me the money in cash, right?” He glared at her “Right?! Inuyasha, don’t you think they it’s a little odd that all of a sudden I’m handing them a big wad of cash when we can’t even make our payments on time?”

“I thought you said you were fine!?”

“We are” she replied “Just not–good, fine…”

A moment of silence passed between them. Kagome suddenly realized that standing in the rain with a long dress wasn’t good. The water was seeping up and with all these damned layers and frills it was soaking up fast…

Her hair wasn’t feeling too promising either…

“Why didn’t you fuckin’ tell me about the payments?” He growled, pulling her closer so their foreheads nearly touched “You know I’d even it out for you!”

“….we’re not doing bad…horrible. Just not…we’re fine really…”

Coherent sentences got hard to pass off when amber eyes were piercing you with a stare so filled with emotion and strength. Almost like it was forcing her to submit to his eyes.

She shivered. And not from the wind.

He sighed, not very kindly “Never mind. We’ll continue making payments on the place but you’re going somewhere else”

“Why do I--?”

“Borders” he said sharply “You’re too close now…”

He was hiding something. His eyes, they shifted.

“There’s something else…”

His eyes shimmered, dancing even, in the fading streetlights. His mouth had grown into a deep line and it looked like his jaw was clenched rather tightly.

She frowned, lifting a hand to the tense jaw “Inuyasha…?”

With that lightening fast reflex that caught her off guard each time, he had brought a hand behind her head and forced their lips together. As they met, she noticed that the cold rain water was still across his face making the contrast from their hot mouths to the cool water something else.

Her mouth opened in a gasp as his tongue slid past her lips. Each kiss was feverish, quick, yet completely deep. Every time his tongue met hers a rush of pleasure and desire shot through her body.

The hand that wasn’t pushing her head forward, wrapped around her waist completely, only to allow his hand to open and grab her right breast. She whimpered against him as he applied more pressure to the sensitive part.

With all this, she found it hard not to press up more against him. He was too good for his own good…

Unfortunately, he pulled back. Just enough to rest his forehead against hers, but too much considering where she preferred his lips.

“Kagome” His eyes closed tightly and she felt her heart twist at the emotion that ran across his tight features.

So much…so much…what?

“Yes…?” She whispered softly

“I won’t have you be caught in the middle of this shit…”

His eyes opened slowly, giving her sight to the deepest look he had handed to this date.

“Come on. I’m taking you home”

She bit her lip with a quick nod as he released her. In silence the two walked out of the alley. Hand in hand, for the first time in public, to the limo.