InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Guarding for a Life ❯ Back to Business ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter 3: Back to Business

 

`Shit, who is this guy?' Kagome started to panic at the way the man looked at her, examining her like Mitsurugi had done. Just with less intensity though - unlike Mitsurugi he seemed a little more laid back. `But hell, anyone can look more at ease than him. That guy acts like he owns half the world.'

 

“Is Sesshoumaru here?” The brunette asked.

 

Kagome shook her head: no. “He'll be back in less than a half an hour.”

 

The brunette nodded, “I'm Kouga. Ayame's would-be boyfriend. Who are you? Normally no one without a death wish goes anywhere near his office.” Kouga flashed a smile - `playboy,' she panicked - and upon closer inspection, Kagome noticed that his grin appeared wolfish.

 

Wavering, she smiled back. “… Kagome. Sesshoumaru's new b—… sec…ra…tery? Yes - secretary. My old boss recommended me to him. So…” She needed a distraction badly. “Why would you be a would-be boyfriend?” Something about this guy made her a little on the edge. Just to be on the safe side, she reassuringly slid her hand down the side of her leg to confirm to herself that her handgun was still there.

 

`Oh yeah - real smooth Kagome. Just what you need: someone already suspecting there's something weird about you … I need practice. And less time to daydream.'

 

Kouga smiled at her again - he seemed like the type to smile a lot. “She still won't let me have sex with her, so… yeah, I consider myself only a would-be boyfriend.”

 

Kagome shook her head, smiling slightly - and grinning insanely inside - at how naïve Kouga was being.

 

She ran her finger down the wood of Sesshoumaru's desk, “Kouga-kun, what you don't get is that women like to play hard to get. Besides she just wants to make sure that you won't leave her after you guys.... you know...” She trailed off expectantly.

Kouga seemed to be thinking hard and nodded. “Oh, you are good.”

 

The door opened slid open to reveal Sesshoumaru talking on a cell phone. “No, I'm not talking to Naraku now.” Pause. “No. No.”

'Negative man, isn't he?'

 

“Tell him to sign the deal like I told him to do. Okay, alright. Goodbye.” Sesshoumaru snapped the flip-phone closed and harshly shoved it into his pocket, grumbling something about stupid people not knowing when to quit.

 

Sesshoumaru looked up at the two people idly loitering in his office and sighed. “Kouga whatever it is, have Miroku help you. I'm a little bit busy.” Sesshoumaru turned to Kagome as Kouga waved offhandedly to her and wandered off find Miroku. “You. We're going to a meeting. Yes, you're coming,” he added when she opened her mouth to say something, “Pretend you're an intern or something.” The worse piece of advice ever…

 

`I wonder if other people at the meeting know I am a bodyguard. Or actually, who knows about this? Was it a bad thing to tell Kouga I am trying out for a job as Sesshoumaru's new secretary? What if Sesshoumaru has a secretary, who Kouga is talking to now and is going to kill me?!'

 

Kagome nodded and Sesshoumaru handed her a pad a paper. “Interns seem to have a thing with taking notes.” Sesshoumaru said as he turned to leave. “Get a pen and let's go.”

 

Kagome turned and grabbed a pen that had Mitsurugi Technology written in black over it and turned to run after Sesshoumaru. Her eyes flickered upwards and in one of the mirrors behind Sesshoumaru's desk, she caught him staring intently at her. Quickly, Kagome turned around but Sesshoumaru was already walking down the hallway.

 

When she got out in the hallway Kagome made a mental note to watch out for psycho secretaries coming after her.

 

oOo

 

Sesshoumaru was sitting in a chair next to a few other important looking people, looking as if he already knew everything being said to him. Kagome sat off to the left and took notes. Granted that she wasn't taking notes on the speeches that were being given, she was taking notes, good little intern she was. And if it was observations about the people sitting around her… `I should learn more about the people in this organization. A good bodyguard can never run into a battle unarmed. Without knowledge, that is!' she reasoned.

 

In the hallway, Kagome remembered Sesshoumaru saying something about how he and his father believed it was an inside job that was threatening his life. She had been surprised that he hadn't told her about the threats before, then annoyed that she wasn't being fully trusted to keep his life safe. `I wonder what else he hasn't told me…'

 

Kagome brushed it off as the male ego and his nasty demeanour. He must have thought that he was `all that' with his cold attitude and his little toy swords. `Life isn't all about swords, or being the best. Sadly it seems that you don't realize that. You're going down the road of Lonely Sad Man if you keep it up.'

 

Kagome turned her attention back towards the people surrounding her and Mitsurugi. One man, Miroku, seemed harmless enough but he was glancing casually at her with a certain shine in his eyes. Kagome narrowed hers and glared intently back at him, forgetting that she was currently playing an intern.

 

She leaned over towards her employer and whispered, “Who is that guy? The one with the short hair, little ponytail, black hair. Um…weirdo? Is that… Miroku?”

 

Sesshoumaru leaned towards her and whispered back. “Him; he's basically harmless, but… a pervert. You were wondering why he was looking at you, I suppose?” Kagome nodded. “It's likely he'll ask you to bear his child. At the end of the meeting that is.”

 

“How would you know?”

 

“He asked me once.”

 

“That's creepy.” So her employer looked like a female - she'd mistaken him for one before.

 

“You don't have to tell me that.”

 

oOo

At the end of the (`long boring and unnecessary') meeting, Miroku sidled up to the two remaining people in the room: Sesshomaru and Kagome. “Hey you guys! How's it going? And who's the babe?”

 

She wasn't sure to be offended, insulted or bashful for the compliment. From the look of annoyance on her face, Sesshomaru answered for her, looking at Miroku sideways, “A babe who can kick your ass.”

 

`Don't argue with him.' Slightly thankful her dignity was saved (although not by her and that was annoying, she could fend for herself) Kagome glared at the stranger, “Don't call me that. And what was with all those looks? Are you a stalker or something?”

 

Miroku looked surprised as he held up his hands in mock defence and took a step closer, “My dear, I would never try harm you in any way, with name calling or looking. Please… forgive me.” And a hand decided to explore-

 

A murderous look etched itself on Kagome's face and Sesshoumaru let out a tired sigh. She said through gritted clenched teeth, “I would forgive you if you would kindly remove your hand.” She felt like she was about to burst a vein. `I don't know if it's me but I think the temperature just went up.'

 

“But you had some dirt there,” he said innocently, gesturing to her molested body part, “I was trying to-” Miroku was cut off with a slap to the face.

 

Sesshoumaru looked bored with the whole conversation, “Miroku, is there a reason you're talking to me? And you monitor stock? Why were you even here?”

 

Miroku dusted himself off lightly, ignoring the newly received red handprint on his face. “Well… I needed to catch you before you went back into your little cave to invite you to a rave.”

 

Sesshoumaru glared at him for the `little cave' remark - he went to much better places - but said nothing.

 

The other continued, “… and Kouga told us all about your new secretary and everyone wanted to meet her. We also need to get you away from work - you'll thank me later and you know it.”

 

Sesshoumaru glanced at him warily, “… are you dragging me along to another club where the male population decided that it was a new goal in their life to pick me up?” He turned away and raised an eyebrow expertly at Kagome, as if asking, “Secretary?” Kagome had the decency to look borderline guilty.

 

Miroku laughed, “The point of this rave is not to get as drunk as you possibly can. Besides I don't even think those guys were drunk.”

 

Sesshoumaru mumbled and swore under his breath. “Why do I have to go?”

 

“Are you going to live in your office?”

 

”Why would you care?”

 

“I'm your friend.”

 

“If you're my friend, stop torturing me.”

 

“Come on, get outside for once. Go to the rave; buy a few drinks and dance with your secretary. Hell, if she likes you she might give you a lap dance.”

 

Kagome flushed at least ten shades of red and clenched her hands together, ignoring the bite of pain in her palms. “No. Bloody hell, no.” The thought of giving anyone a lap dance made her head swim. But Mitsurugi? No, now that was plain wrong, for someone to think about giving their boss a lap dance.

 

Miroku waved his hand dismissively at Kagome, “So scratch the lap dance part and just come.”

 

Sesshoumaru sighed, “Fine. You, my friend, are going to be the death of me...” He ran a hand through his hair, as if stressed and Kagome found the urge to laugh overwhelming: he didn't seem like the person to have a bad hair day, what with his perfectionist standards about himself.

 

Miroku flashed a grinned, a rather perverted one (in Kagome's opinion), “We'll pick you up at nine. Don't be late. And oh: you coming?” he nodded in her direction and added afterwards, “You're coming anyway. You can't miss this for the world.”

oOo

 

Sesshoumaru ran a slender hand through his hair again - `He's going to tear it out at this rate,' Kagome thought impishly to herself - and glanced at the clock. Poor stressed man seemed to be doing that a lot lately. There was still a half an hour to go before work ended and it seemed like forever.

 

Sesshoumaru stood up, “Come on. You're staying at my place for the time you are under my employment.” Like an obedient puppy, Kagome followed.

 

`Such a quiet girl; most women would be staring by now. A sane one at least. Another reason she's a better employee.' Sesshoumaru shook his head and walked a little quicker, forcing Kagome to take two steps to match his one.

 

Sesshoumaru opted for the stairs, silently gliding down them and barely hearing the muffled hurried footsteps of his companion. He walked over to a silver Sequoia and climbed into the driving side.

 

If only to make sure Sesshoumaru didn't drive away without her and left her stranded, Kagome quickly climbed up into the truck, jumping into the passenger seat as he started up the car. There was no apology for leaving her behind - as there was usually nothing to be said by Sesshomaru.

 

Kagome looked out at the street as lights flashed before her eyes in a dizzy array, `Who cares what rich people say. Not everything needs to have a famous brand name,' she thought, with an idle smile on her lips.

 

Suddenly Sesshoumaru spoke up, as if trying to contribute to the silence, startling Kagome from her thoughts. “It's beautiful - the lights, that is. I enjoy things that aren't set.”

 

`And he's alive!' Grateful for the companionship, Kagome let herself grin with restraint. “They look free,” she added.

 

After picking up Kagome's luggage, they left off towards Sesshoumaru's house. An impressive palace-sized, in her opinion, home with three stories, it looked like mansion one of those homes from a perfect fairytale. Kagome stepped out of the truck and gawked at the sheer size of it. “Are you the only one that lives here?” Kagome questioned, still staring as he walked past her.

 

Sesshoumaru started up the front steps, “No. There are a few live-in employees. And the servants. And my daughter.”

 

Kagome froze. `A daughter? Is he married? She could be a hostage or target and damn, why didn't he tell me this?!'

 

“Are you married?” Being married didn't mean a lot to her. Sure, it made the job slightly harder, but something in her reacted to the sheer thought of him enduring the company of another.

 

Kagome held her breath, waiting as Sesshoumaru hunted for his keys. “Adopted,” was the simple reply.

 

Kagome was briefly confused, `Why would a guy like him want to adopt a child, a daughter no less?' but shrugged it off and wandered cautiously inside. He didn't seem like the child-loving type. It still made the job harder though; what she didn't need was a kid being roped up as a hostage.

 

It took her one glance inside to realise she wouldn't be wandering around soon. `Lost in a matter of five seconds. Oh dear God…' The front hall was huge and had ten doors leading off from the hallway and a huge grand staircase towered in the middle. `Fairytale indeed.' Off to the left, Sesshoumaru was speaking with a short, almost green-skinned man. She saw him make a brief gesture and almost instantly, the little man ran out the front door.

 

“He's getting your bags. Someone will direct you to your room later.” Sesshoumaru stretched out his arms, showing that even he could be tired. “Let's have dinner.”

 

Ever the quiet one, she followed him obediently, not wanting to be alone in a house she could lose herself in, “But don't we have to get dressed… or are you going to the rave in a suit?”

The thought of Sesshomaru in a rave, dancing - `the robot, definitely…' -in a suit was laughable. `Creepy, but funny. No, very creepy. But very funny.'

 

Sesshoumaru sighed, “I was hoping I could say I forgot to get dressed so I wouldn't have to go.”

 

“Sorry I ruined your plans.” Kagome laughed, “So. Where's your daughter?”

 

“Sleeping. Gets to bed at eight, she's just six.”

 

“Wow… I had no clue she was so… young.” `Easier to kidnap too.'

 

“Most people never see her; all they know about her is that I adopted her. Most people I know don't have children. She does play with the little boy down the street though and yes, he is absolutely safe.” He paused, “She doesn't talk that much really and especially not to strangers. But she might talk to you if I ask… and she talks to Jaken and that boy…”

 

“Oh.” Kagome glanced backwards, where the staircase loomed, leading to God-knows-where, wishing that she could meet the younger girl. `She might not even talk to me though. But I could still try to meet her.'

 

oOo

Kagome started pawing through the closet searching for an outfit to wear to the rave. Her hand brushed against a piece of denim and she let out a squeal of triumph. Re-emerging from the closet with a black tank top and red shorts in hand, she was certain she had just struck gold. She slipped the clothing over and skipped over to the dresser, pulling out a pair of knee-length stockings and grabbing a pair of platform sandals in quick decision. It would catch Miroku's attention but she was never a bad dresser.

 

And for non-attention-catching back-up, her best friends. She slipped an unnoticeable belt on and attached a small handgun to it. A dagger slid securely into the side of her sandal. And after a quick glance to the clock, she applied so liquid eyeliner and some cherry lip-gloss.

 

She had time to kill; Kagome bounced down onto the bed and sat down cross-legged. Relaxing her body and mind and readying herself for her routine for meditation, she reminded herself that she had a job guarding Sesshomaru and that in the shadows of a public nightclub, anything could happen.

 

oOo

With one last thought, Kagome grabbed a jacket and dashed down the stairs where Sesshoumaru was waiting with their dinner.

 

When Kagome got downstairs, he was sitting on the counter with a bowl of ramen.

 

`To think a guy like him would eat ramen. He seemed more like a sushi person. What a weird thought.' Wordlessly, he slid another bowl towards her, which she grabbed with a nod of thanks and leaned back against the counter to eat.

Between bites, she glanced over at Sesshoumaru to see him in a tight black tank top with black pants - `bondage freak!' - with straps hanging off the front to wrap around his rear to create an `x'. Around his neck was a collar with a tag hanging off it reading `Fluffy'.

 

Sesshoumaru caught Kagome looking. “A joke with my friends,” he replied.

 

Kagome dimly nodded, mentally laughing at the weirdness of it all. He didn't seem like… a fluffy person to be around. Sesshoumaru turned, distracted by something else, revealing a long braid tied down, reaching to the middle of his back.

 

Half-tempted to touch it, she reached a hand forward to touch the glimmering strands, but whatever he had been distracted by was obviously a passing fancy, as he turned around. She tugged her hand back quickly. `What was I just thinking?! … but that was pretty hair, I sw—focus, girl, focus.'

 

The shrill ring of a phone rang out. Sesshoumaru slid down from his perch on the counter and rearranged his shirt that had begun to creep up his stomach.

 

Kagome went back to ingesting her ramen. `It will hard to keep track of the principle in a nightclub.' And when did she start calling an employer like Sesshoumaru `the principle'?

 

According to Sensei Ishibashi, she shouldn't be called the employer anything besides `principle'. Anything else might cause a relationship, which spelled catastrophe for her job.

 

A relationship between the principle and the protector was the worst thing that could ever happen. A relationship could cloud the protector's judgment, causing a fatal mistake.

 

Sensei Ishibashi was never wrong when it came to advice and commands like this. She had played the game before Kagome was even born and he witnessed things throughout the years. Or so she said anyway…

 

A sudden rustling to her left caused Kagome's head to snap up, startling her out of her musing of her Sensei Ishibashi's teaching. Sesshoumaru sighed - he seemed to be doing that a lot lately, mostly in her presence.

 

“Miroku can't pick us up; his car is full. Unless you want sit on his lap, as he suggested?” Kagome made a face and shuddered at the thought of Miroku.

 

“I didn't think so. Alright, I'm driving there then.”

 

Next to the mansion was a garage - a huge shed that could have been a two-story apartment - for Sesshoumaru's cars. Expensive cars were parked in their rightful spots, not one out of place, except for empty spaces - one for the silver Sequoia had not been filled. Sesshoumaru started walking, quickly again and leaving Kagome behind, who was forced to jog to catch up to him. `Man this guy walks fast…'

 

She looked around at his collection - most of them were foreign cars, in shades of white, black and grey. A few were red.

 

`What a bleak guy.' Kagome shook her head, annoyed at her wandering thoughts. `I wonder if I am getting rusty…' she thought silently and then, `no.' It was most likely the type of person she was guarding.

 

`I wonder if he realizes how dark it is in here… and it's pretty cold too. If I had to defend him in here… and besides, there's always a murder in a place like this. And in a car as fancy as that.' Kagome shivered. `Wait a second. I'm the bodyguard. I'm not supposed to be afraid of things like this!' He would fire her on the spot if he knew what she was thinking. What she needed to do was to stay focused right now.

 

Kagome stopped short when Sesshoumaru paused at the empty parking spot. She almost forgot that he was there, with no sound indicating his presence.

 

Sesshoumaru commented, without looking over his shoulder at her, “I hope you like motorcycles.”

 

`Motorcycles. Shit. Motorcycles.' Kagome nodded numbly, “Sure. Motorcycle. Yeah, I'm fine with them.” Even to herself, she knew she didn't sound convincing.

 

Sesshoumaru took a moment to look back at her, realizing that she sounded so distant, despite standing right behind him.

 

oOo

They sped down the highway, Kagome half-stunned as she gripped hard at the driver's upper torso. There was the slight realization about the motorcycle: black and white, Honda, manufactured in Japan and somehow, everything about it was expected, especially the colours of it. Sesshomaru leaned down on the gas harder.

 

The sharp wind whipped at her face causing her eyes to tear, but luckily her mascara was undamaged. The tip of her nose started to turn pink and her cheeks were flushed. Without a second thought, Kagome yanked the visor down from the helmet. She let out a sigh as her face was protected from the elements.

 

Forgotten in her excitement was her fear of motorcycles, as Kagome turned her face up to the wind, embracing it in joy. Sesshoumaru almost deliberately ruined the moment with a sharp turn that left Kagome almost falling over the motorbike. Her fingers clenched down on reflex as she buried her face into his shoulder.

 

The only thing that could annoy her now was Sesshoumaru's hair whipping around her face.

 

oOo

Kagome numbly stood up, feeling like an iceberg. The cold had slipped in between her bones, and God, it was uncomfortable.

 

She shook her arms, rubbing her hands frantically over them and took off her helmet. Sesshoumaru silently took it from her and put them away.

 

Kagome's eyes shot around to take in her surroundings: Miroku or Ayame weren't there, this was a place she hadn't been to and the sound of a pounding beat was damnably loud. Humming and ignoring it, she followed as Sesshomaru walked by and headed towards a building with `Dead Rave', the name emblazoned in shining neon lights.

`Oh, very inviting.'

 

From the way Sesshoumaru walked right now - a slide of his hips and his arms crossed - toward the building made him look like he truly belonged to the wild style of living instead of the pampered way of life he really led. The slow saunter was incredibly sexy and cold at the same time. It was his own way of saying: `don't touch, I bite.'

 

`Pretty things always have thorns. I guess Sesshoumaru is no exception to that rule.'

 

A figure suddenly ran out towards him and in response, he simply stuck his foot out, tripping him? Her? It? Kagome peered out of the side of her eyes, wondering if she had just failed her job and sighed in relief.

 

Only Miroku. `Tripped in the middle of the street by Sesshomaru, with a whole bunch of streetlights here to. Why he couldn't see that coming, I will never know...' Some people were just that way.

 

Miroku lifted his face off the floor. “Ow! Now Sesshou… is that anyway to greet one of your bestest, greatest, most awesome friends?” Miroku asked in a singsong voice.

 

Sesshoumaru lifted a perfect eyebrow and smirked, “Bestest friends? I think not Miroku. Barely any of your words exist either.”

 

Miroku looked unfazed, “You know as well as I do that Miss Zed hated my guts. I think she didn't like the fact that I always got such perfect grades.” Something told Kagome that Miroku was the student that got perfect grades.

 

Sesshoumaru shook his head and started off again. “Perfect scores? For some reason, I remembered it a different way. Maybe she hated you because you never brought in your homework and whenever you took test you wrote `Sango, Sango' all over it.” He gracefully stepped onto the curb and looked thoughtfully ahead of himself.

 

Miroku furrowed his eyebrows together and looked hard in front of him, as if squinting suspiciously at him, “For some reason, I don't remember that.” He turned and diverted his attention elsewhere, to Kagome and grinned, running forward to clasp her hands. “Ah yes Kagome. Just the woman I wanted to see!”

 

Sesshoumaru gritted his teeth together and turned away from the two.

 

“Yes, Kagome, do you know your eyes are the loveliest shade of mahogany, reflecting the moonlight in the dark night. And your hair is a sea of ebony, framing your glowing pale face.” Miroku continued on and slowly fell into step with Kagome, inching an army around her waist.

 

Sesshoumaru stopped and turned around to glare at his `bestest friend'. “Stop harassing my bodyguard. She doesn't need you as a distraction.” With that he disappeared into a crowd of people, mingling in and leaving Kagome behind - again - no doubt without any more help to ward off Miroku.

 

`This was not good…' she decided.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ok… Fearless_Dranzer is a really good writer, right? Everybody agree? Yes… Reviews keep me alive and happy!!! Credit to LoneGothic who so um… helpfully beta this chapter for me. (She is so hating me now…)

Edited: 23/8/2006

Ishibashi - (e-she-bah-she) Stone Bridge

Sushi - (sue-she) Any sushi made with vinegared rice

Ramen - (rah-men) Chinese noodles, often instant ramen

 

daydreamer99: You are soon becoming my most often reviewer!!! Thank you soooo much, because I saw this review, I posted this chapter is just for you. Not meaning anything unfair to other reviewers, but the chapter is up… and, I love your new story title… chapter 14 already!!! *hangs head in shame* I seriously need to write more, but I am slacking off… =) Smile!

 

xXx

 

Raven: *slaps forehead* that is the second time… don't you know that it is not good to cause major bodily harm? *ambulance noise in the background*

 

Sess: I don't really care, really…

 

Raven: I am not talking about you, you ass. *throws hands up in frustration* I am talking about the poor defenceless assistant wardrobe manager. Not only will I have to pay the hospital fees, I am so going to need another assistant wardrobe manager! Do you know how difficult they are to find these days? Geez…

 

Sess: It is still none of my concern…

 

Raven: This was not even on script, for god sake!

 

Sess: *thrusts script into raven's face and points* the collar and `fluffy' on it was. *growls* what do you have to say before I end your pathetic mortal life?

 

Raven: *scoffs* all I have to say is that I need to finish this fic before I die ok?

 

Sess: *growls* not good enough

 

Raven: *shouts* what is with you and a stick so far up your ass that it can never see daylight again? For the love of whoever, I am trying so very hard to get you and Kagome to fall in love in one month!!! Do you realise how difficult it is?

 

Sess: no… *pulls Kagome over and starts kissing her*

 

Raven: … *sweat drops* do you even realise that you are kissing a HUMAN girl? Or have you finally lost your sanity?

 

Sess: … *too busy making out*

 

Raven: *God is punishing me…* for everyone's sake, get a room! *walks off stage*

 

Sess: *sees raven disappeared, stops kissing Kagome* finally got rid of that annoying wench! *smirked wickedly*

 

Kag: … *feeling quite cheated, whacks fluffy-sama over the head and stomps off *

 

Sess: *growls* I really need to kill something…

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha and company, as simple as that. … This story has also been taken over from Fearless_Dranzer by me. She has kindly allowed me to take over this great story and I hope I don't fail her. =) I don't own this story nor the idea, it belongs to Fearless_Dranzer please respect her for that.