InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dashed Hopes ❯ The Youkai Brothers ( Chapter 5 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Inuyasha is a bit confused on how to act around Kagome and Sesshoumaru isn't a bad guy in this. Those are my excuses for any OCC'ness. I'm trying. Enjoy and review, please!

.

.

.

.

.

.

Disclaimer: I do not own the wonderful anime and manga known as Inuyasha. But I really do support the creator.

.

.

.

Dashed Hopes

.

.

.

--- Last Chapter ---

Sighing, Kagome Shashu prepared herself for the first day of her new life.

--- End of Last Chapter ---

.

.

.

Chapter 5: The Youkai Brothers

.

.

.

‘I will not kill Inuyasha, I will not kill Inuyasha, I will not kill Inuyasha,’ Kagome chanted to herself like some kind of mantra as she rode the elevator to the top floor to meet with her new boss.

Hopefully they had just had a bad first, and second, impression of each other and Inuyasha was really a good person. Everyone has a bad day, right?

“At least you’re not late!” he ground out from his spot behind his desk. The entire back wall of his office was a window and Inuyasha sat with his back to the orange sky.

“I better not be late! It’s still not blue out!” Kagome grumbled to herself.

Inuyasha raised one eyebrow at her downcast face. “The carpet more interesting than your new boss, Miss Shashu?” He asked smugly.

Kagome bit back a smirk. He had no idea...

“You will be a personal assistant and secretary of sorts to both myself and Sesshoumaru,” Inuyasha explained after going back to reading a paper that had been left on his cluttered desk.

“Sesshoumaru?” Kagome questioned.

Inuyasha looked up, “My brother. Half brother, really. We are equal partners in the Inutaisho Company. He works on the next level down, why don’t you go introduce yourself?”

Kagome simply nodded. Maybe the second Youkai brother would be more acceptable, right?

“Goodbye Mr. Youkai,” She called softly over her shoulder as she left Inuyasha’s office.

“Call me Inuyasha when it’s just us,” Inuyasha ground out. Being called Mr. Youkai seemed to rub him the wrong way for some reason.

“’Kay,” Kagome yelled back as she pressed the button for the next floor down in the elevator. Arriving to her destination, Kagome stepped out into the welcoming room of this level. There were a few leather couches and glass tables like the floor above. Also, no one occupied the large desk in the center. ‘I guess I get two desks,’ She thought cheerfully.

Striding to the closed doors of the large office, she tapped lightly.

“Come in,” called a cool voice through the wood.

Sliding the door open, Kagome squeezed through. Staying just in front of the door, she waited to be recognized by the powerful man in front of her. He was a lot taller than Inuyasha, she noticed. He had silver blue hair that looked to reach passed his waist if he stood. When he looked up, Kagome noted the startling golden eyes. He was not a man to double cross.

“You are?” It sounded more like an order than a question coming from his cold voice.

“Kagome Shashu, your new secretary and personal assistant,” she said, voice unwavering. She dared to meet his eyes, and he mentally noted she wasn’t one to become instantly afraid of a person. ‘Spunk,’ he thought. Spunk was not always a good thing. Standing up he strode to stand before the petite woman with a grace that ballerinas would envy.

“Ms. Shashu, our company does many things, one is advertising.” He got right to the point. He handed her a small file on an item and several ideas for how to advertise it. He wanted to see if she really was qualified for the job. Kagome took it realizing what he wanted.

On the outside Kagome’s cool mask never moved and her mouth stayed in its determined straight line. On the inside, however, she was doing a small victory dance and cheering. Something she could do! She had worked at an advertising before this whole mess with Naraku started, and had been told she was really good at her job. Opening the file, she glanced quickly over the suggestions. One struck immediately out at her, “The second one,” she noted to her second boss.

Sesshoumaru took the file back and read the one she chose. He walked and again sat behind his desk. Bending his head back over his work he said in his emotionless drawl, “That will do Ms. Shashu.”

Kagome took that as an, ‘I agree and you passed my test’. Bowing her head in respect she left the office to find her next assignment.

.

---

.
The day went by quickly with not too many mishaps. Inuyasha wanted to try and push her over the edge by having her go out and do silly tasks like getting him coffee and such. Sesshoumaru on the other hand, gave her meaningful small jobs. An understanding was reached between him and she often looked over advertising projects throughout the day and gave him her two cents.

Running around the large, 40-story office building Kagome met many people.

On the third floor was a nice young man in his late teens named Nobunaga. Kagome and him became quick friends and she noted with interest his habit of being really clumsy. Several times in her first day she had seen him drop things, trip, and fall down the stairs. Poor guy. On the thirty-forth floor was an extremely cute guy in his mid-twenties. He was tall with light brown hair and his name was Hojo. Unfortunately, Kagome got the vibe he was too sweet for his own good, and probably had his dense moments. She also met a nice girl around her age on the twenty-third floor named Ayame. She had fiery red hair, and the two young women got along rather well.

Of course, there were also those irritating coworkers. One she happened to meet in Sesshoumaru’s office around noon.

.

Earlier That Day
.

“Mr. Youkai, I got that file on the American project you wanted,” Kagome called as she stepped into the office.

Inside however she saw an extremely ugly man. He was very short and had a green tint to his skin. Eyes popped out of his face. ‘A toad,’ Kagome realized what he reminded her of.

He stood in front of Sesshoumaru’s desk talking to the powerful man. “And Lord Sesshoumaru you are all too smart and witty and handsome,” the ugly man carried on.

Mr. Youkai was currently glaring at him, not caring for the compliments. “Jaken...” he warned, his voice low and collected.

The toad man carried on, unhearing.

Kagome stifled a giggle. Sesshoumaru Youkai may have an emotionless mask and unfeeling outside, but if you looked really hard you could see emotion. Buried behind his deep golden eyes it was hidden. It would probably take someone many years of acquaintance with the guy to read it, but Kagome could already. She just had to concentrate hard to do it.

And right now she saw anger and discomfort in the presence of this ‘Jaken’ person.

“Excuse me,” Kagome called out as she walked up to Jaken.

“What do you want lowly secretary,” Jaken spat as he turned his attention to her. Sesshoumaru also looked up to try and figure out what she was up to. Interest now sparked his eyes, but again you couldn’t tell if you just looked at him.

Kagome let the tone pass and put on a brilliant smile, “I was talking to some of the other workers and they were trying to find a really reliable person to transport some information. Quite a few of them suggested your name so I popped up here to see if you were interested,” she lied easily.

Jaken’s yellow eyes took on a look of pride. “Of course they would recommend me! I better go and find them to take over the duty before any incompetent fools ruin it. Excuse me Lord Sesshoumaru, but pressing matters call,” and with that the toad, -er-, man marched out of the office.

As soon as Kagome was sure Jaken was out of earshot she bust out laughing. “That was almost too easy!” she giggled lightly.

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at his secretary before tuning back to his work.

He didn’t say anything, but Kagome could feel the silence was a good one. She thought of it as his way of a thank you.

Placing the folder on top of all the other piles of paperwork, Kagome walked out of the office without another word.

.

Presant Time

.
As night fell, Kagome knocked again on Sesshoumaru’s office door before poking her head in. “I’ll be leaving soon, Mr. Youkai, is there anything I can do for you before I leave?” she asked.

“No, Ms. Shashu. Good evening,” he said without looking up. He heard the door snap shut and went back to reading the assignment in front of him.

Back on Inuyasha’s floor she walked into his office.

“Can I go now?” Kagome questioned. She almost didn’t bother to listen to the answer, expecting him to say yes.

“Of course not,” Inuyasha ground out.

“What?!” Kagome almost screeched, looking at him incredulously.

Inuyasha looked up and glared at the young woman. “I’m not done here and it is your duty to be at my beck and call whenever I need you,” he growled.

“I am not some dog, Inuyasha, and I need to get back home to my family. It’s already dark and the building is deserted except for us and your brother,” she pointed out.

Inuyasha growled and stood up. He had noticed that Sesshoumaru had accepted Kagome. It hurt him to think his half brother would do that to a complete stranger and not to his own blood. Walking up he stood right in front of Kagome. “You’re staying here and that’s final!” he started to walk forward and Kagome was forced to back up, eventually reaching the sidewall of the office.

With her back pressed up the wall she gulped before saying, “Too bad! I’m leaving.”

Inuyasha pressed in closer and leaned forward so their noses were just inches apart. He glared at her before grounding out, “You leave and you’re fired. You need me and this job, Ms. Shashu.”

Anger overtook Kagome’s features. She told him coldly, “Correction, Mr. Youkai, I need this job. Not you.”

Inuyasha took a step back to think about this comment. He noticed a lock of hair falling into Kagome’s eyes and he sub-consciously raised his hand to remove it.

Kagome watched with wide eyes as he moved his hand up.

Inuyasha watched as the woman in front of him winced and screwed her eyes shut, waiting for a blow, at his small movement. His anger instantly died. ‘Damn! What did you do to her, Naraku?’ Slowly he reached forward and tucked the loose piece of hair behind her ear. Inuyasha stroked the side of her face gently. “I’d never hit you Kagome,” he muttered before letting his hand drop. Stepping several feet back he allowed her freedom.

Kagome glanced at him quickly before practically running from his office. Outside she sat in her chair and crossed her arms over her desk. She laid her cheek against the top of her hands and closed her eyes to collect herself.

She had almost lost it back there. The situation was so familiar. A man having her pinned to a wall and raising a threatening hand to her. Kagome had expected to be hit back there. She had expected a beating since she had dared to defy Inuyasha, just as she had dared to defy Naraku.

That argument had taken a lot out of her.

Sesshoumaru strode into the office and found her like that. “Not sleeping on the job are we, Ms. Shashu?” he asked her.

Kagome could almost hear humor and sarcasm in his voice. ‘I must be going crazy,’ she told herself. “No,” she huffed.

Sesshoumaru continued on to talk with his younger brother. Inuyasha was pacing with a thoughtful expression on. He looked like a kicked puppy, Sesshoumaru mentally noted. “Fire her?” Sesshoumaru asked. He certainly had the habit of being able to say what he meant in as little of words as possible.

Inuyasha glared at him. “No,” he huffed.

Whoa, de-ja vu.

“Do me a favor, fuck off and die!” Inuyasha went on.

Sesshoumaru shrugged indifferently. ‘Why should I care?’

Sesshoumaru ignored his brother and carried on talking about another project that their company had taken on.

.

---

.
Kagome walked out into the night and found Sango’s car in the large empty parking lot. Sliding in, she drove to the only other place she knew around there, the ice cream parlor. Picking up some ice cream for the three boys and Sango, she left to get back into the car.

Kagome never noticed the interested look she got from another customer. She also never noticed the woman getting into a car behind her and following.

Near the edge of the city Kagome checked the back of her review mirror to finally see the blood red car keeping a close tab on her.

Worry clenched her heart before she realized that the car hadn’t been there when she had left the Inutaisho Company. That gladdened her, to know that the person didn’t know where she had been.

Using a trick she had learned from a movie once, Kagome drove around until she found what she was looking for. She pulled into the parking lot of the police station, right in front of a group of cops chatting out front.

Kagome smiled when she saw the car grudgingly move on. Waiting a good ten minutes she finally continued on her way home.

Fortunately, no one followed her this time.

.

---

.

“What?!” was Sango’s outcry when Kagome told her of the little adventure she had had.

“No one saw me leave work or come here,” Kagome reassured her friend. “I’m safe...for now.”

Sango looked skeptical but finally caved in. “Fine! But we need to tell Miroku that someone probably working for Naraku has located you.”

Kagome nodded. “Yeah, that sounds right.” She agreed.

Sango nodded and led them up the stairs. They said a quick goodnight before finding their own rooms.

Sango was still worried.

Kagome didn’t sleep too well that night.

.

---

.

“Look Kagome. I’m sorry about yesterday, okay? Jeez, you didn’t have to loose sleep over it,” Inuyasha stated surprised when the usually perky Kagome dragged her feet into his office that morning.

She had dark circles under her eyes and kept jumping at every little sound. Kagome had worn all black that day, from her pants to her blouse, and even her bright stormy eyes seemed darker.

“Not everything is about you, Mr. Youkai!” Kagome snapped.

Inuyasha looked a little taken aback. “Okay, okay,” he muttered, eyes down cast.

Kagome sighed. “I had a rough evening, okay?” she murmured meekly.

Inuyasha snapped his gaze up. ‘What was that supposed to mean,’ he wondered. Kagome turned around to head back out to her desk when his voice stopped her. “You know you can tell me anything, right Kagome?” he asked, his voice soft.

Inuyasha was definitely confusing the poor girl. First he was a jerk, then he was cocky, then he was mean, then he was gentle, then he was cocky again, and now he was being nice. ‘What’s with this guy?’ she asked herself. Kagome turned around and gave him a small smile. She was a forgiving person by nature. “Maybe later, Inuyasha.”

‘At least she’s back to calling me by my first name,’ he thought as the door closed.

To tell the truth he was confusing himself. Kagome seemed to bring out the worst, and best, in him.

Kagome was also confusing. More confusing than any woman he had met before.

And that was not a good thing.

Running his hand through his hair he went back to his paperwork.

Inuyasha was a naturally a cocky guy, and a bit of a jerk. But when it came to friends, real friends, he was protective and semi-nice. If he had to try to be more gentle and nice to earn Kagome’s trust, then he’d do it.

She had obviously been hurt, and she didn’t need that again.

It bothered him he’d have to alter his personality slightly to keep Kagome as a friend. This startled him, ‘When did I start to think of Kagome as a friend?’ he asked himself.

‘Since you couldn’t help it.’ A voice answered.

‘Who the hell are you?’

‘The voice inside your head.’ It replied ominously.

‘Well, get the fuck out!’

‘Temper, temper. Don’t beat your self up about being nice to Kagome, most people would be too.’ It changed the subject.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Kagome is one of those people that can’t help but draw people into friendships,’ it explained.

‘Right,’ Inuyasha thought.

‘Don’t strain yourself there, big guy! Just accept it and think about it later,’ the voice warned.

Inuyasha grunted out loud before starting on the mountain of paperwork in front of him.

.

---

.
“She’s in Tokyo,” a feminine voice stated simply on one side of the phone line as soon as a person picked up.

“What ever happened to a simple ‘hello’, Kagura?” a cold voice questioned cooly on the other side.

“Shut up Naraku,” Kagura snapped.

“Now, now, Kagura. Where are your manners?” Naraku chuckled darkly.

“I must have left them in Kyoto,” Kagura answered dryly.

“Well find them before you talk to me again,” Naraku growled.

Kagura hung up and concentrated on the bright road ahead of her. She’d have to get some back up if she wanted to find and keep tabs on Kagome Higurashi.

.

.

.

A/N: My chapters are getting longer!

Anyway, Naraku’s finally in the story and so is Kagura. I thought there was a lot more excitement in this one, what did you think?