InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Close Quarters ❯ Welcome Back ( Chapter 22 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

A/N: I want to thank the majority of you for being so patient. I only got one flame in my absence. I take it that this person doesn't realize that even we authors have lives to live. I've been so consumed by college that my friend called yesterday just to make sure that I was still alive.

And a big “thank you” to blackberry for her beta skills!

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“You know, I actually don't want to go back.” Sango could see her boyfriend grinning out of the corner of her eye. She was standing in front of the bathroom mirror brushing her hair. He liked to watch her do this because her hair was one of his favorite things about her. But it was more likely another fetish he had.

“Well I have always had this fantasy of you being my devoted housewife,” he said. Sango snorted at him and it only made him smile wider.

“Think about it. I could come home and you would be in lingerie waiting for me with dinner on the table and then we could go to the bedroom for dessert. I would love to have that everyday.”

“That is what you've had everyday since I've been out of work,” she said.

“I know; I don't want you to go back either.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

“Well unless we hit the lottery I have to go back.”

“If you insist on shattering my fantasies then you'll need to make it up to me.” He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Sango pretended to be entirely too busy fixing her hair in a bun.

“I'll make it up to you later. I need to go before I'm late.” She pulled away from him and was about to walk out of the bathroom when her boyfriend jumped in front of her. He drew himself up to his full height and width blocking the door. He looked down at her with a familiar spark in his eyes.

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It looked as if she was going to pass out any minute. He kept a firm grip on her shoulders to steady her and searched her eyes for any sign of recognition. It was like she had detached herself from the moment. Her eyes were unfocused which made it seem like she was looking straight through him, and they were filled with fear. She looked like a child that had been told the monster under the bed was real. He inwardly cursed himself for scaring her like this but he didn't know how else to react. He gave her a little shake to wake her up and watched as she tried to pull herself back.

“Kagome?” Something in her mind must have slid back into place because she was looking at him now. He could tell she was still scared but at least she didn't look like she was blanking out anymore.

“Kagome you have to go to the doctor, okay?” He spoke softly and slowly and felt a sense of relief when she nodded mutely.

“Okay, you put some clothes on and I'll make you breakfast this time.” He kissed her forehead and tried to smile encouragingly but it felt more like a wince. He wasn't too sure about leaving her alone even if it was only to get dressed. He let go of her and then walked out of the room, closing the door softly. He stayed on the other side for a minute to make sure she would be okay, at first he heard nothing and then there were soft footsteps over to where he knew her dresser was. He sighed heavily and walked down the hallway to his room to get dressed.

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Sango made it to work on time by the skin of her teeth and was disappointed to see that

Kagome wasn't there to greet her. It wasn't a huge surprise since her friend was late all the time, but she had hoped that Kagome would have been there to greet her on her first day back.

`Well, it's no big deal,' she thought with a shrug.

After putting her coat and purse down she decided to head over to the break room for coffee. The cheap coffee that was usually brewed in the break room would have to do, as she didn't have time make any at home because of her boyfriend's “delays”. On her way there other employees stopped to talk to her in the hall; asking her if she was okay now, or expressing how happy they were to see her again. The attention was flattering but also embarrassing because now everyone knew about her little problem and would be looking for her to crack.

They kept asking if she would remember to take it easy from now on and treating her like she had some awful illness. She hadn't really expected this reaction and all but ran back to her office. There was still no sign of Kagome but she didn't have time to ponder it because the office phone began to ring. Thinking it was Kagome, she hurried over to answer.

“Hello?” And then she nearly gagged on her coffee.

“Yes, sir, I'll be right there,” And she hurried out of the office to the elevator. Her boss wanted to see her in his office and she was dreading another long string of questions about her health and sanity. But when she arrived outside of the glass doors to the biggest office in the building, she knew she had other problems. She could see Kouga and a young girl sitting in the cushioned chairs in front her boss's desk. She opened the door warily and poked her head inside.

“You wanted to see me, sir?”

“Sango, of course; come in.” Sango walked into the room and stood and few steps behind the two occupied chairs.

“Sango, I hope you are fully recovered and ready to work,”

“Yes, I am.”

“Good, because we seem to have a small setback on our hands; Higurashi Kagome called in this morning and said she needed to go to the doctor because of a medical emergency.”

“Do you know what the emergency is, sir?” Sango asked.

“No, she wouldn't give me any details, but she doesn't sound well. I advised her to take the day off if necessary. This is an unfortunate dilemma because Satou-san is our newest client, she interned here and knows Higurashi personally and came in today in the hopes of brain storming with the two of you about advertisements for her father's business.”

The girl in the left chair stood up and turned to greet Sango; she gave a small bow and Sango gave a deeper bow back.

`There's something familiar about this girl…' Sango thought, as she bowed.

“But Hidaka has volunteered to fill for Higurashi until she returns,” he turned and gave a slight bow and a smile to the girl. “Of course, if this is okay with you Satou-san?”

“I have no problem working with Hidaka-san until Kagome-chan is feeling better,”

“Excellent!” her boss enthused. “Well you'd better get started,” he said with huge smile.

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He could tell that Kagome was deep in thought, but he wasn't able to ascertain how deep because he was trying to keep his eyes on the road. There was nothing but silence between them since she came out of her room a few hours ago. He actually welcomed the silence then because he had no idea what to say; he was worse then useless in situations like this. And now he could barely look at her; he would definitely make the situation worse if he caused them to wreck.

Tokyo traffic was the same as always: frustrating, tedious, and unyielding. He tried to quell the feeling of aggravation that was rising inside of him because Kagome looked stressed enough. He could hold his temper for her, but he knew that this traffic jam could last for hours. That's when he was struck with the sudden feeling of déjà vu, this traffic jam reminded him of the one he was just in yesterday. He also remembered the magazines; he doubted very much that Kagome would find them funny now. He wanted to do something to get her to smile again, but right now he had to focus on getting her to the doctor.

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“What are you doing here, Ayame?”

Sango was supposed to be leading Ayame to her office to get started on the project, but the moment they left her boss's office Kouga had started interrogating the girl.

“Didn't you hear your boss the first time, Kouga? I'm here to work on advertising my father's cars,” she said with a flip of her hair.

“I don't believe you; you're up to something.”

“That's enough, Kouga. Whether you believe her or not, she's a client and you'll treat her with respect,” Sango growled. If she didn't stop them right now it would escalate, and she wasn't in the mood to lose her job when she had just came back.

“I have a personal history with this girl, Sango. She crashed my date with Kagome and for all I know she could be here to do something else to ruin my chances with Kagome.” Kouga looked straight at Ayame as he talked, but to her credit, Ayame didn't flinch from him one bit.

“This is the girl that crashed your date? You're the one who called Kagome?” Sango asked, pointing at the young woman.

“You've been calling Kagome?” Kouga looked angry ad fearful at the same time, but Ayame didn't moved at all.

“It was a simple business call to make an appointment to see her today.” Ayame said, as if it were the most natural of things.

“It's true, Kouga, I was in the room when she called and Kagome didn't mention her saying anything about you or anything except business,” Sango said.

“She might not have said anything then, but she will sooner or later,” he said, glaring at Ayame.

“Kouga, listen to me when I say that I have no intention of trying anything. I'm not interested in marrying you anymore. I came here to work with Kagome on advertising my father's business. You wouldn't have even known I was here if she hadn't canceled. Now, if you feel you can't work with me without our personal history getting in the way then I'll ask for someone else to take your place.” Ayame said.

Sango felt she was completely out of place being in the middle of this argument. She could only imagine what Kagome must have felt like. But she was mildly interested in the outcome since it would affect her work; both she and Ayame were now waiting patiently for Kouga to make his decision.

“Well I'm glad to hear that you're done interfering with my life. I still don't trust you around Kagome though,” he said, looking more than a little cocky.

“Trust me, Kouga, Ayame shouldn't have any reason to think there's anything between you and Kagome,” Sango said as she walked away.

“I'll admit there's a little tension between us now, but Kagome and I will make up and get together real soon,” he said. Sango laughed without meaning to.

“Whatever you say, Kouga,” she said, still snickering to herself.

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A/N: Those of you who have constructive criticism to give, or if you want to express your thoughts on the story; go a head and review. But if you want to flame, be forewarned that I will ignore you. ^_^