InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Enlightenment ❯ Chapter 9 ( Chapter 9 )

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

Chapter Nine

Kagome hugged her covers tightly against her body. She felt so comfortable and warm in her bed that she almost cried out in joy because it was Saturday. Shit. She inwardly groaned as she remembered that she had taken the day off for Tai's birthday and she had to come into work today. She almost whined out loud at the thought of leaving her warm bed and going to work. What time was it anyway? Kagome pushed herself up on her elbows to look over at her alarm clock but was utterly surprised as she felt herself being pulled back down.

“What the…?”

Nuzzle.

“Eeep!” something was nuzzling her shoulder! It felt oddly familiar…

Another nuzzle.

This time Kagome tried her hardest to keep very still. She realized that there was an arm wrapped securely around her waist and something was resting on her shoulder. She thought nothing of it when she felt her bed shift while she slept. She suspected that it was Tai having a nightmare or something. But the arm proved that it was obviously not Tai. Inuyasha? Could it be him? Why would he be lying beside her and on her bed nonetheless?

“Inuyasha?”

She was replied with another nuzzle on the shoulder.

“Inuyasha?” she asked again.

“Damn it… go back to sleep Kagome. It's too early…” he mumbled nuzzling her neck this time.

This made Kagome quickly turn around and face him. Too quickly… She hadn't realized how close he really was.

“Go back to sleep…” he yawned.

“Inuyasha what are you doing here?” she asked.

“Huh?” he looked slightly confused until his eyes widened at his last coherent thought the night before. He remembered how the bed was just so inviting and he lay down for a moment… well more like for the night judging by the bewildered look on Kagome's face. He began to scratch his head sheepishly as he wracked his brain for a good enough explanation. “Well you see…” He was cut off by Kagome's sudden gasp as he saw her looking past him.

“I'm going to be late!” she shrieked and bounded out of bed.

“What are you worrying about? It's Saturday remember?” he asked watching her dig through her closet and drawers.

“I'm supposed to come into work today since I had my day-off yesterday,” she replied hurriedly.

“Hmph,” said Inuyasha resting on the headboard of the bed and crossing his arms.

Without another word Kagome rushed out of the room with an armful of clothes and went straight for the bathroom. She had no time to waste. She needed to get to the office in less than an hour. Once inside the bathroom she laid the pile of clothing careful not to wrinkle any of them, on the counter before stripping out of her clothes. She was still slightly puzzled as to why Inuyasha was in bed with her. Was he there the whole night? Their whole predicament was just getting stranger and stranger.

Kagome stepped inside the shower and adjusted the knobs to her liking. She didn't have time for her mind to keep wandering back to Inuyasha. She was wasting time and she could always question him later. And to top all that off, she had a nagging feeling at the back of her head that she was forgetting something… She gasped. Could she have forgotten to call in for the drapes? Order the blinds? Paint? She shook her head. She remembered calling in herself for those orders. So what was she forgetting?

Once she finished her quick shower, she blow dried her hair and brushed her teeth at the same time. She was really amazed that she could do that. But she had to hurry fast. Kagome stepped out of the bathroom fully clothed and hair dried with a half-hour left. She dumped her clothes in the hamper and ran into her room. Darn it. She still had to fix her hair, which wasn't cooperating with her, and do her makeup.

Kagome almost crashed into her vanity mirror and managed to knock down a couple things off if it. She growled and decided that she would pick after herself later. Her brush… oh kami where was her brush! There! She grabbed it and began to quickly run it through her hair. She frowned at her reflection seeing as to how her hair was still not willing to cooperate with her. Situations like these called for a bun. When that was done, she made a grab for some eyeliner and mascara.

A chuckle sounded behind her.

What was that? She looked up and saw Inuyasha's reflection. He was still on her bed the way she had left him and now he was smirking at her! He thinks this is funny! “Inuyasha! What are you still doing here?” she screamed while she lined her right eye.

She watched him shrug as he continued to stare at her. She really had no time for his childishness. She moved onto her left eye, but then noticed that he was still, unfortunately smirking at her! “What are you smirking at!”

“You.”

“You know… you still haven't told me what you're doing in my bed,” she said while applying some mascara.

“Keh! I brought your ass all the way up here and that's the thanks I get!” he pouted.

“Well thank you but you could've made your way back to your room,” she said as she continued applying her makeup.

“Keh! Well I fell asleep okay! You weren't the only one exhausted from yesterday. Not to mention you weren't the one that had to make two trips upstairs to carry two very sleepy people to their beds.” Not that he was complaining that is. He couldn't admit to her that he hadn't minded at all carrying her back to bed. He just didn't want her to show him up is all.

“Still doesn't explain why you spent the whole night in my room…”

“I'm no pervert!”

“Oh I can say otherwise if I remember correctly,” she said dryly.

Inuyasha blushed. She has never mentioned anything about their relationship in their marriage. This was certainly the first time she's referred to their past after the divorce.

“Okay I'll be back by dinner,” she said walking beside the bed to gather some papers on her nightstand. “Make sure Tai doesn't eat too much sweets, for your sake and his, and for heaven's sake, remember to turn off the faucet!”

“Keh!”

“And please… behave?”

“Shouldn't you be telling Tai that?” he asked getting on his knees and crawled towards the edge of the bed.

“No. No eating up my supply of ramen and don't be so rude to the neighbors,” she said resting one hand on her hip.

“Keh. Just be in time for dinner or else you're going to find either me or Tai eating the other,” he said leaning over and placing a kiss on her cheek.

Kagome stood rigid as her arm dropped beside her. Did he just kiss her on the cheek? He hadn't done that… since… since… well since they were happily married. Why did he do that? Kagome unconsciously brought a hand up to the cheek that he had kissed.

“Better get going before you're late,” he smirked.

Kagome's mouth still hung slightly open as she nodded her head in agreement. She was feeling light-headed all from a stupid kiss. Darn him. He was still smirking at her expression… She blushed. She must look like an idiot with her mouth hanging open. What was up with him this morning anyway? Why was he acting so affectionate? Without realizing it, she was reaching for the knob on the front door. Too much thinking for a Saturday morning on her part…

“Mommy!” squealed Tai who was currently latched on her legs.

She laughed and picked him up to kiss him. “What are you doing up so early on a Saturday?”

“I wanted to give you this!” he said holding up a large paper bag.

“What's in it?” she asked daring a peek into the brown bag.

“No you can't look yet!” he said pulling the bag away from her.

“Okay I won't look yet,” she smiled. “Kiss mommy goodbye.”

Tai kissed her on the cheek and gave her big hug. “You have to open it when you get to work okay mommy? Me and teddy worked hard on it so no peeking!”

“Okay, okay! I won't peek until I get to work. Now look after your daddy while I'm gone okay? I'll be home for dinner,” she said giving him one last kiss before heading out the front door.

“Mommy is going to be so happy wouldn't she, Teddy?” he sighed happily as he picked the bear up from the floor. “Yes… I made sure to tell her you helped…”

“Morning squirt,” yawned Inuyasha descending down the stairs.

“Daddy, daddy, daddy!” screamed Tai running to him.

“Whoa!” Tai had nearly knocked him down in mid-step. “Why are you so hyper? Did you eat anymore chocolates again?”

“Daddy guess what!”

“What?” he asked rolling his eyes.

Before Tai could open his mouth to speak, the ringing of the phone beat him to it. Inuyasha scrunched his nose. Who would be calling this early on a Saturday morning? He decided he would let the answering machine pick it up, while he carried Tai to the kitchen for some breakfast.

“Hi! You have reached Kagome Higurashi's… Tai! Don't touch that!” Inuyasha smirked while he rummaged through the cabinets. “Mommy I wanna press the button!”

“I helped,” said Tai proudly.

“Leave your message after the beep,” sighed Kagome's voice.

“Cute… Morning Kagome! Happy birthday! I know you don't want to be reminded that you have one more year to go before you reach thirty but I just couldn't help it! Anyway you should drop by this weekend or something. We haven't done anything in so long so just give me a call as soon as you get this!”

Inuyasha didn't have to look at the caller display to know it was Sango. Sango now thought of him lower than a low life. She even forbid Miroku from seeing him. He growled. Sango had threatened Miroku of `not getting any' if she caught them together. And … It was her birthday! How had he forgotten? He'd only celebrated it with her for the last… eleven years. Obviously not including the year before…

“How could I forget!” he screamed. Wait a minute… it's not like she said anything about it before she left for work.

“Daddy!' cried Tai tugging at his pant to get his attention.

“What?”

“I said me and Teddy made mommy something for her birthday!” he cried happily.

“You knew?” Great. Even a three-year old had thought of it ahead of him. Of course Tai and Kagome's birthdays were right after each other. He felt like such a dick. Here she was giving him a roof over his head and the least he could do was show his appreciation. Okay so he was more grateful than he cared to admit.

“Because I remember that grandma and uncle Souta stayed with me and mommy for my birthday last year because they said it was mommy's turn to have a party the next day,” he said in one breath.

Inuyasha muffled a growl. Wasn't it bad enough that he missed her birthday last year?

“Me and Teddy made mommy something for her birthday and… Daddy? Are you listening?”

Why couldn't she just come out and say it like normal people! He usually always had something planned for her birthday… But now he'd completely forgotten that hers was right after Tai's! He smacked himself on the forehead. He needed to come up with something fast.

“Ms. Higurashi you're finally here!” greeted the new receptionist. Kagome just kept walking, unknown that the girl was addressing her. “Ms. Higurashi!”

Kagome stopped abruptly remembering that she was `Ms. Higurashi.' She'd been used to being called `Mrs. Takahashi' for three years since she had just recently changed her last name to her maiden name. She apologized as two men carrying various arrangements of flowers passed her. “I'm sorry! I've just been out of it. Being Saturday and all…” she apologized to the new receptionist.

“Oh that's quite alright… I didn't get a very good start to my day as well… But anyway… There's a delivery for you, the deliverymen didn't say whom they were from but we showed them to your office. Hope you don't mind,” she said sheepishly.

“Of course. Thank you,” she courtly replied.

Was it the blinds? Or maybe the carpet samples? Oh how she wished they were the carpet samples… That would completely save her extra work with getting it from the company. Okay now she was getting curious. She never really did get over her childish behavior of curiosity. She quickened her pace to her office as she waved and greeted some of the employees she passed.

“Happy birthday Kagome!”

Kagome waved to the employee with a confused look on her face. Then her eyes widened in realization that it was her birthday! How could she forget her own birthday!

“Happy birthday Ms. Higurashi!” greeted another employee.

She gave them a smile and continued to curse herself for her own stupidity. How could she forget that her birthday was right after Tai's! She had forgotten due to the fact that she's had more work than she could ever imagine doing in the last four years not to mention that whole divorce thing with Inuyasha. Kagome's eyes saddened. Inuyasha always had something special planned for her birthday. Even before when they were married he'd take her out to dinner and have some kind of surprise for her by the end of the evening. Then when they had Tai, all three of them would celebrate hers and Tai's birthday for two days straight. But of course everything was different now.

Kagome reached the open doorway of her office and was completely breathless by what was covering every possible surface of furniture and some parts of the floor. Flowers… By the dozen… Flowers galore! In every colour, size, shape… But who…? She walked into the room speechless. A card. There must be a card somewhere… Kagome began to search every flower arrangement for a card but seemed to have no luck. Finally she came to a large arrangement of white lilies on her desk. And sure enough… that was the one with the card.

“Could it be from Inuyasha? Maybe he did remember?” she said to herself. But if he did, why hadn't he mentioned anything this morning? Maybe he really was trying to surprise her. Only one way to find out. Kagome carefully tore open the envelope and slipped the card out.

“What do you say we go and visit mommy for lunch?” asked Inuyasha. It was the best idea he's had all morning. He didn't like any of his other ideas for Kagome's birthday and this seemed like something that she'd like, especially since she wasn't home to celebrate today with them.

“Okay,” chirped Tai.

“Okay then go and take a bath. You can do that by yourself can't you?” asked Inuyasha.

“Mommy says I can't until I'm this big,” he said holding an arm above his head. Inuyasha rolled his eyes at Tai and carried him up the stairs.

“Kouga?”

“Hi. Do you like them?” Kouga asked from the other end of the line.

“They're beautiful! But how did you know?” Kagome asked fingering a lily petal.

“I have me sources…” he said slyly.

“I'm sure you do…” she said dryly. “Thank you. I forgot it was my birthday until some of the employees here at work started greeting me.”

“You've been working too hard.”

“Among other things… I've just been busy with work and home…” sighed Kagome.

“Have lunch with me.”

“What?” she was certainly caught off guard.

“I said have lunch with me today,” he chuckled warmly.

“Well I don't know… What if something comes up? I might have to meet with a client during lunch today,” she said making an excuse. She liked Kouga. Well she didn't like him that way but he was a nice enough guy to say the least. But she wasn't sure if she's ready for a relationship, not to mention start seeing someone again. It was all too soon for her. And there was Tai's reaction to her dating. Good thing he was too young to understand things like that…

“I'll talk to your boss…” offered Kouga.

“Really Kouga, you don't have to…” she pleaded.

“I refuse to take no for an answer. I'll make sure you won't have any appointments during lunch. I'll be by to pick you up later,” he said before she could get a word in.

“Why does he always have to be that way? Can't he take a hint?” she whined. Her eyes drifted to the flowers in her office and smiled softly. Well maybe just this once she'd give into him. Today was going to be a long day…

Deciding to get started on some paper works, she reached for a pile on her desk and remembered about the paper bag Tai had given her before she left home. She smiled remembering how big his grin was when he had handed the paper bag to her. Kagome opened it and reached inside to pull out what looked like a sculpture made of play dough. She looked and turned it to any angle possible, but she just couldn't tell what it was supposed to be. But either way… Tai had remembered it was her birthday. She smiled as she set down the play dough sculpture on her desk.

“Daddy! Can you comb my hair for me!” whined Tai who was close to tears. Both had been struggling with combing their long silver tresses after their bath. Apparently either had luck with successfully riding themselves of the tangles and knots. And of course… both were starting to lose patience and Tai was close to tears out of frustration.

Inuaysha shifted so he was behind Tai to get better access to his hair. How did Kagome do this all the time and still manage to enjoy untangling their thick, long strand of hair? How did she do it and still be gently at the same time? “Keh! Women.”

“Ow!” whined Tai as Inuyasha tried his best to run the brush down Tai's hair.

“Quit complaining. My hair is as much tangled as your,” he said frustrated with the fact that combing their hair was taking longer than usual.

“Mommy could do it better than you,” huffed Tai.

“Keh! Well if your mother was here she'd be combing my hair too.”

“Do we have to comb our hair?” said Tai crossing his arms.

“You know what your mother's rule is. If you can't maintain your hair then she'll take you to get a hair cut,” Inuyasha answered while trying to bring the brush down.

Fifteen minutes later and after much grunting and agonizing brushing, Inuyasha had managed to brush out all of Tai's tangles… and a few or more strands off his silver head. It was the best he could do and he was so glad that he was done because he was getting tired of hearing Tai mewling over pulling too hard. But now he was worried over the fact that Tai might need to start wearing a toupee.

“Daddy… my head hurts…” whined Tai rubbing the top of his head.

“Don't do that! You'll mess up your hair!” cried Inuyasha. He brought Tai's claws off of his head and gently flattened the strands he messed up. “Now go get those overalls that your mommy loves to see you in,” he said giving Tai a pat on the butt, which sent him scampering off the bed. Now… for his hair…

Half an hour later, Inuyasha rubbed his head and wondered just how much hair he had lost. He had finally finished combing his own hair while telling Tai not to run around and mess up his hair again. He knew he sounded like one of those stuck up moms but he couldn't help it! It was hard work trying to comb their hair. How had he done it without Kagome's help? Simple. He'd go to get a 1cm trim at a barbershop that's how. They'd of course comb his hair for him and the amount cut off would grow back the next day.

“Daddy! Can I get dressed now? I'm getting cold,” cried Tai who was still only dressed in a towel.

“Alright! I really need to teach you how to get dressed on your own…” grumbled Inuyasha reaching for Tai's white shirt on the bed. Tai smiled at him and lifted his arms above his head so Inuyasha could slide the shirt down. “At least you know how to help. Now put on some underwear and I'll help you with your overalls and socks. I have to get dressed too you know.”

Kagome dragged herself to the lobby to wait for Kouga. She didn't really feel like going out to lunch, especially with him. But it was too late to cancel, not to mention it might make a bad impression on the company. Kouga was after all one of the company's best investors and he did give here her first major project. She sighed. There was no going around this.

“Kagome!”

Speak of the devil. Kagome put on her best smile and waved at him.

“Ready to go?” he asked offering his arm to her.

“You bet…” she said putting on a fake smile as best she could muster.

“Come on Tai. Don't squeeze it like that. You have to be gentle so it'll look nice when we give it to mommy,” said Inuyasha grabbing Tai's hand.

The two had arrived in front of Kagome's work and wanted to surprise her. They had walked to the florist to pick up a nice bouquet of roses, which Tai was holding. Inuyasha glanced down at his watch and noticed that they were a bit late for Kagome's lunch break but it was okay.

“Daddy… My pants itch…” growled Tai.

“Be a good boy for your mommy Tai. Imagine how happy she'll be when she sees you wearing your cute little overalls,” he teased. He had made a few phone calls to get Kagome's work address.

“Keh!”

Inuyasha snickered. Some kid his son was. Talk about an apple not falling too far from the tree. He looked down at Tai who was scratching his leg as he held the rose in his other hand. Inuyasha grinned down at his son and swiftly hoisted him to sit up on his shoulders.

“Daddy?”

“What?”

“You should've seen the present I gave mommy,” Tai smirked.

“Oh really?” asked Inuyasha cocking up an eyebrow as he turned his head slightly towards his son.

“I made her a sculp- sculp… something made out of my play dough!” he said not finding the right word.

“You mean sculpture?” Inuyasha asked.

“Yeah!”

“Where'd you learn that word?” he asked curiously. For a three-year-old Tai was speaking in full sentences and never stuttered.

“From mommy. Me and mommy read a lot of story books together,” he smiled.

“So what were you saying about your sculpture?”

“Oh yeah. I made me, you, and mommy. Do you think she liked it?” he asked pulling on his dad's ears.

“I'm sure she'd like anything you give her,” smiled Inuyasha.

The doors slid open for them as they walked through to the lobby. Inuyasha, still carrying Tai on his shoulder made sure to tell him to duck around doorways because he didn't want to pay for any damages done on the building. There, Inuyasha spotted the receptionist and walked towards the front desk.

“Look cute so they'll let us in,” whispered Inuyasha.

“Keh! I am cute,” said Tai pouting.

“Hello there. What a cute little boy!” said the young receptionist smiling brightly at Tai. “How may I help you sir?”

“We're here to see Kagome Takahashi,” answered Inuyasha.

“Kagome Takahashi? I'm sorry sir we don't have anyone with the last name Takahashi. Did you mean Kagome Higurashi?” said the young girl looking confused.

“Oh yeah I meant Kagome Higurashi,” he said gruffly. He forgot that Kagome changed her name and to be honest, it was a bit strange calling her by her maiden name. The last time he had called her that was when they were reciting their vows on their wedding day.

“I'm sorry but you just missed her,” she smiled.

“Missed her? Where did she go?” asked Inuyasha.

“Oh she went to go eat lunch with her husband,” she shrugged. “He came and picked her up five minutes ago for lunch. I'm guessing he was taking her out for her birthday. I wish my boyfriend would do that…” she sighed dreamily.

Inuyasha was fuming. He was holding back his curses due to the fact that he will get kicked out by security, and be in huge trouble from Kagome for swearing in front of Tai again.

“Oh Mr. Takahashi! What a pleasant surprise!” cried a man who Inuyasha recognized, but didn't remember his name. The man noticed that Mr. Takahashi wasn't looking his normal colour. He was looking like a giant tomato. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

“I came to see Kagome,” he gritted.

“Oi. Did you tell him that Ms. Higurashi was out?” asked the man giving the girl a slight nudge.

“I told him that she went out for lunch with her husband,” answered the girl.

“Fool! THIS is her husband!” he hissed. And what was even worse was when the man tried to correct himself and had to explain the whole divorce. Right in front of him though as quietly as he could.

All the while Inuyasha was starting to get really fed up. Those idiots. Did he think that he couldn't hear them? He glanced up at Tai who was just sitting quietly and taking in the surroundings. He was getting really impatient not to mention a bit awkward with them talking about his personal life and all.

“But what about the other man?” whispered the girl.

“This man right here is her ex-husband and the little boy who looks like him is her son. Do you get what I'm saying?”

Inuyasha cleared his throat loudly. The two arguing individuals turned to him and smiled sheepishly. Inuyasha continued to tap his foot impatiently, fearing that he would splatter blood on Tai's clean white shirt today. Neither was he allowed to swear because Tai had already learned a few things from him that Kagome knows about. “Well…? I don't have all day.”

“Oh I'm sorry Mr. Takahashi. Forgive me. She's just an intern. Ms. Higurashi has left the building and won't be returning until her lunch break is over I suppose. Her secretary is the only one who knows her schedule,” said the man.

Inuyasha stood there for a minute staring at the two employees who were also staring at him with nervous glances. He was getting fed up with their incompetence. The man and the young girl were giving each other nervous glances as they both noticed Inuyasha's scowl.

“Can we see mommy now?” asked Tai in bored tone as he tugged on his father's ear.

“Your mommy isn't here right now… damn wench…” he growled under his breath.

“What an adorable little boy!” piped the man.

“Will you just take us to her office?” asked a very irritated Inuyasha.

“Oh yes, of course sir. Silly me…”

Inuyasha wanted to rip his hair out as he followed the man to the nearest elevator. Tai remained on his shoulders the entire way, ducking every once in a while whenever they were around doorways. Kagome's office was around once of the middle floors of the building, which only made the elevator ride more excruciating for Inuyasha. Tai could have cared less because he wanted to press the buttons. And of course, that only prolonged their elevator ride.

“It was nice seeing you again,” waved the man pleasantly from inside the elevator.

“KEH!”

“Daddy I want to get down,” said Tai excitedly.

Inuyasha lowered him off his shoulders and Tai went scampering through a door. “Tai!”

“Wait! You can't go in there!” cried another woman sitting at a desk beside the doorway.

Inuaysha realized that he was standing outside Kagome's office when he read the plaque on the door. What was with the female assistants around here anyway! But hell… who was he to complain. He noted that Kagome didn't have a male assistant… which is more than he could say for himself…

“Sir? Can I help you with something?” the woman asked.

“Oh… ugh… we're here to see Kagome Ta- Higurashi,” he answered.

“Well she went out for lunch to meet with a client. But you're welcome to leave your name and a message and I'll give it to her as soon as she gets back,” she smiled.

“I was hoping that we could just wait here until she gets back?” The secretary looked at him disapprovingly and began to shake her head no. “Erm… I'm her…” he was really struggling with whether to say he was her ex-husband, which he isn't willing to admit, and saying that he's her husband because it's technically not true.

“Daddy! Come look!” cried Tai from inside Kagome's office.

“That's our son Tai… we were hoping to catch her for lunch… but it seems-”

“Daddy!”

“Okay I'm coming!” Inuyasha gave the woman an apologetic shrug of his shoulders before walking off to Kagome's office. From the open doorway he could see a bright light coming. Obviously Kagome would have a huge window overlooking the city. She always liked having a full open view.

“Daddy hurry!”

“Keep your pants-”

“Look daddy!” Tai gasped as he ran around the room. “It's like the park! Except I'm allowed to touch the flowers!”

Inuyasha stood astounded at the sight that was before him. Kagome's office was covered in flowers. Everywhere he looked a flower, a stem, a petal, a leaf… they were everywhere! They looked fresh too, so she probably just got them today. Wow. Her employees must love her if all of them sent her flowers.

“Daddy look! See! She did like my statue!” grinned Tai who was standing on Kagome's leather chair.

“Tai! Get down from there,” he said rushing to stand beside Tai. And sure enough there was Tai's play dough masterpiece sitting atop Kagome's neatly organized desk. He really couldn't tell what is was… His eyes drifted to a card on the right of it. He knew he shouldn't be snooping but he just had a feeling that he should read it.

“Daddy?”

Kouga? He was the one who sent her all these flowers? He thought that Kagome didn't like him. She mentioned a couple of times that he was just a nice man and good company, but nothing else. And how did that wolf know that it was her birthday today?

“Daddy?”

He felt like mutilating all the flowers and throwing them out the window. He couldn't quite explain why. Gosh he hated lovesick, romantic types. Okay so maybe he was one when he was younger, or at least tried to be. But a whole room full of bouquets? The stupid wolf practically turned a perfectly good room into a jungle. He scoffed as he flicked a random flower closest to him.

“DADDY!” Tai screamed loudly into his left ear.

“WHAT!”

“Where should I put this?” Tai asked holding up the bouquet of roses.

Inuyasha's ears drooped. Damn that Kouga… He was outdone. It just reminded him that he had forgotten her birthday after all the years he'd known her and it was the second consecutive year it has happened. She cooks him dinner, let him stay at her house… put up with him. And he couldn't even appreciate her of all days! Some husband he turned out to be. Then he had a thought… He wasn't going to let Kouga win…

“We'll give it to her later okay?”

“But they're dying,” said Tai holding it up to Inuyasha's face.

“Don't worry. We can always get her another one and don't you want to help me with mommy's present for tonight?” he asked with a sinister grin.