InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Heart's Landfill ❯ Forces of Nature ( Chapter 14 )

A/N: As always all characters will be walking that fine line called OOCness. I don't have much to say about anything, really. So enjoy, and thanks to those of you that actually reviewed the last chapter, to everyone else, thanks for reading. Oh, and thanks to my wonderful beta, Neko Lady. As always, you did an outstanding job!!

 

Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership to anyone with the exception of Nya, and Dr. Aikio.

 

Chapter 14:

 

Forces of Nature

 

Rain splattered in thick drops against the windowpane, causing Kagome's already sullen mood to grow darker as the minutes rolled by.

 

She'd been up since seven that morning trying to busy herself with humdrum activities that really didn't need to be done since her home was always immaculate.

 

She'd cleaned both bathrooms twice and washed all of the linens and bed sheets. She'd swept and mopped the tile floors, dusted every nook and cranny, and even repositioned the living room furniture. All in an attempt to keep her mind off of…him.

 

As soon as she'd gotten home the night before, she'd taken a shower, partially dried off and jumped into bed, hoping to sleep away the remainder of the night and most of the next day. That only resulted in her tossing and turning for hours with the sound of his masculine, all too seductive voice, humming through her mind while images of him molded into the blackness behind her closed eyelids.

 

She knew at some point she must have dosed off because the next thing she remembered she was rolling over and staring out her window at a bleak sky. She tried to pull the covers up over her head in hopes of sleeping a little longer, but after about an hour of staring into nothingness, she gave up and dragged her naked body out of bed.

 

Holding a dusting cloth in her hand, Kagome stared around her living room, where she'd just finish re-dusting a few of her legal books, which she'd dusted an hour before.

 

`What else needs to be done?' she asked herself, looking for something…anything that would keep her mind off of `his' narcissistic ass.

 

Eyeing the kitchen, she smiled approvingly to herself. `The oven, I can clean the oven. I never did trust that damn self cleaning shit.'

 

Just then the phone rang, interrupting her fervent stride. Glancing at the clock, she noticed absently that it was just going on 11 o'clock.

 

Clearing her throat, Kagome answered with a forced, chipper, “Hello,” just glad to have someone or something interrupt her frenzied movements.

 

“Kagome?”

 

Frowning slightly since she recognized the voice almost immediately, she replied, her voice loosing all signs of happiness, “Who else would it be?”

 

“My, aren't we bitchy,” Sango observed, then finished, “So, I'm guessing you didn't screw him?”

 

Dropping her cleaning cloth on the counter, Kagome turned so her back was resting against the edge. Crossing her legs at her ankles, she stated, “Please, by the time I came out the bathroom that asshole was gone.”

 

“Stop messing with me! He wasn't,” Sango exclaimed.

 

Sighing heavily, Kagome quipped, her tone bored, “Do I sound like I'm messing with you?”

 

“What happened?”

 

Running her hand down her face exasperatedly, Kagome replied, “Your guess is as good as mine. I went to the bathroom to call you and when I came back he was gone. The maitre' de said he said something about having a family emergency or some shit, I don't know. And, in all honesty, I don't really care.”

 

Sango was quiet for a moment as if she was contemplating something.

 

“Are you there?” Kagome inquired, noticing she wasn't getting a response. Hoping to change the subject, she asked, “Anyway, what's up with you?”

 

“Same shit, you know.”

 

“Where's the lech?”

 

“He had to go in to the hospital.”

 

“So that's why you sound so bored,” Kagome teased.

 

“Nah, tired is more like it.”

 

“What does he do again?” Kagome asked, trying to create small talk in order to keep her friend on the phone, yet away from the drama that happened after her real date went to hell in a flaming hand basket.

 

“He's a resident gynecologist at Memorial. Why, you need one?” Sango joked.

 

Laughing softly, Kagome replied, “I will not have your fiancé knowing what color my carpet is, thank you very much!”

 

Sango laughed softly, and then her voice turned serious, “I'm sorry, Kagome.”

 

Taking the phone from her ear, Kagome scowled at it as if Sango would be able to see her, and then queried, “For what?”

 

“I thought by making this bet with you, I'd be able to introduce you to some nice guys, but it seems like all I'm doing is helping you prove your point. I guess I really did get the last good one, eh? I just can't believe that both of your dates turned out the same way in the end.”

 

Hearing the depressing way her friend sounded, Kagome stated half-heartedly, “This last date really wasn't that bad.”

 

Sango laughed dryly. “Maybe not, but it wasn't good either. If you want to back out of the rest of our wager, I'll understand and I won't hold it against you.”

 

“I never thought you'd be such a quitter,” Kagome teased. “Please, if you think you're going to go back to coming in late, you better keep thinking, my friend. We made a bet, and I damn sure plan on holding you to it. Besides, you only have one more date to set me up on.” Finding it hard to believe that she was saying these things, she finished, “You know what they say, `third time's the charm.'”

 

“Yeah, well they also say, `three strikes and you're out,'” Sango retorted. Sighing heavily, she added, “I'm not a quitter, but I don't want to ruin our friendship because I keep setting you up with a bunch of losers.”

 

Kagome outright laughed as she made her way to her couch to sit down. “Girl please, it doesn't have anything to do with `who' you set me up with! I'm just a beacon for assholes.”

 

“No you're not, I just…”

 

“Please, even after Akitoki walked out on me, I was accosted by the king of assholes and that had absolutely nothing to do with you, did it?” She hadn't meant to say that, but for some reason she just couldn't stand the thought of a woman that was rapidly becoming one of her best friends being upset about something like this.

 

“Really? Was he cute?”

 

Kagome groaned, “Does it even matter?”

 

“Well it might. Sometimes, if a man is cute enough, you can overlook some things. How do you think I've overlooked Miroku's lechery all these years?” Sango replied, and then finished, “So was he?”

 

Kagome didn't respond. She didn't want to have this conversation with Sango and especially not about `him', the devil in disguise. `Yes… Hell yes, he was cute, but he was the epitome of an ass!' she thought and wanted to scream, but she knew if she did then Sango would read more into it and demand answers to things she had no desire in discussing.

 

So what, if even after their dreadful meeting, she still couldn't stop thinking about him! So what, if she found herself craving him even more than she did the day before! So what, if she couldn't blink without seeing his face! So what, if she was continuously mentally kicking herself for letting her anger get the best of her!

 

“Hello, earth to Kagome!”

 

Shaking her head, the confused young woman blurted, “Gods, you're nosey!”

 

“Don't try to change the subject,” Sango snapped, and then exclaimed, “You liked him, didn't you? That's why you're being so goddamn evasive!” Acting as if she was a teenager hyped up on caffeine, she rattled off, “Was he a cutie? Why was he such an ass? Did you get his number? What's his name?”

 

Hearing her phone beep twice in her ear, Kagome stated quickly, “Hold on a minute, I have another call coming in.”

 

Without even checking the caller id, she clicked the flash button and stated, “Hello.”

 

A soft voice replied, “Good morning, may I please speak with Higurashi Kagome?”

 

Kagome frowned in thought, unable to place the voice, but knowing it was familiar. “This is she,” she replied apprehensively.

 

“Good, Kagome, this is Takahashi Rin. How are you?”

 

`Rin? Why is she calling me? Gods, I hope I didn't screw up one of her cases,' she thought as she sat up straighter. “Rin, hi, how are you?”

 

“I'm fine, just bored and swollen,” Rin half joked. “You're not busy are you?”

 

Glancing around her living room, the still baffled young woman countered, “No, not at all, I was just relaxing and talking to a friend.”

 

“I…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt, but I have a situation that I was hoping you could help me with.”

 

Kagome could hear the urgency in the young woman's voice, which caused her to stand up and take notice. “What is it?”

 

“Well it deals with work.”

 

“I didn't mess up one of your files, did I?” the nearly frantic woman queried anxiously.

 

“No, of course not, that's actually why I chose to call you.”

 

Kagome's line beeped, glancing down at it she stated, “Hold on just a minute, Rin.”

 

“Sure.”

 

Clicking the flash button, she stated, “I'm so sorry about that.”

 

“No you're not! You did that on purpose because you don't want to tell me about this guy, but I'm not going to let you off that easy!”

 

“Seriously, it's Rin; she needs to talk to me about something dealing with work. It sounds kind of urgent.”

 

“Oh, well go ahead and talk to her, just call me back when you get off the phone, and if you don't, I'll be at your door. Believe it.”

 

“Sure, whatever,” Kagome replied quickly then clicked the flash button to hang up on Sango and pick Rin's call back up. “Sorry about that.”

 

“Don't worry about it. After all, I am the one interloping on your private time.”

 

Kagome giggled uncomfortably. “Don't sweat it. What do you need?”

 

“Well… I hate to ask you this, but I really need you to sit in on an emergency conference call at my husband's company. Normally, I handle all of his and his partners' accounts, but in my current condition, I can barely get around.”

 

“Today?” Kagome queried, trying to keep the shock out of her voice.

 

“Unfortunately, yes. It's supposed to be a merger between two pharmaceutical companies, one located in Seattle, Washington, and the other in India. The clients in India are having a problem with the contract that I've drawn up.”

 

“I see,” Kagome murmured. “You know mergers aren't my primary focus, right?”

 

“Yes, of course, but contracts are. I just need you to go in there and explain the questionable areas to them.” Rin sighed as she continued, “Sesshomaru has been trying to explain it to them, but they won't listen to him. Their attorneys are asking questions that neither he nor his partner know the answer to. They also want to make changes that only an attorney can accept, and since you're the only one that I'd trust with my files…I thought about you. Besides, that contract is so straightforward that once someone like you has skimmed it, you'll know all the ins and outs of the deal.”

 

Kagome had to admit that she was actually flattered by Rin's words of confidence. `Well it's not like I had anything else to do today', she thought as she made her way towards her bedroom. `Besides, this will be the distraction I need.'

 

“And your husband doesn't have a problem with me doing this?” Kagome asked skeptically, thinking about her last meeting with him.

 

“I actually haven't told him that you'll be the attorney coming, but I will and I'm sure that he'll be fine with it. Besides, if you don't go, he'll lose a huge deal.”

 

“If you're sure,” Kagome replied doubtfully. “Where can I get a copy of the contract?”

 

“Well, since I was going on faith that you would do this for me, I went ahead and had a copy couriered over to you. It's my personal copy with the questionable areas already highlighted.”

 

“Okay Rin, call your husband and let him know I'll be there in an hour or so. Oh, what's the address?”

 

The courier will give you that as well. Oh, and Kagome?”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“Thank you so much for doing this for me. I promise you, once I drop these two loads I'm carrying, I'm going to dance at your wedding.”

 

Grinning since she could hear the relief in the pregnant woman's voice, she retorted, “I'll dance with you, if that ever happens. Now go get some rest, I'll call you once I've reviewed the contract.”

 

Clicking the phone off, Kagome tossed it onto the couch as she pulled her tank top up over her head. `Well, at least I won't have to think about that jerk for a few hours.'

 

In her mind, Rin couldn't have called at a better time. She was able to avoid Sango's line of questioning, and avert her thoughts. `Life doesn't get any better than this, does it?' she thought as she turned the shower to hot and stepped in.

 

Simonkal of Inuy

 

An hour and ten minutes later, Kagome found herself pulling into the parking garage of 301 Western Complex, which was the 2nd largest office building in Tokyo.

 

After the courier dropped off the contract, she allotted herself thirty minutes to review the seventy-five-page document, which she had to admit was rather simple and straight to the point as Rin had stated earlier.

 

`Those American attorney's must be a bunch of idiots,' she thought, forgetting that it wasn't the American client's with the problem; it was the clients in India.

 

Stepping onto the elevator, she hit the button for the 40th floor and pulled out the contract once more to do a brief review.

 

`I can't go in there half stepping. After the way I gawked at Takahashi Sesshomaru the last time I saw him, I have to show him that I'm just as refined and professional as his wife, if not more.'

 

The elevator slowed to a crawl then stopped but it wasn't on her floor, it was the 15th floor. An older balding gentleman carrying what looked like a stack of files stepped in and hit the button for the 30th floor.

 

“Hello,” he stated politely.

 

Glancing at him quickly, Kagome replied with a quick, “Hi,” then turned her attention back to the task of reviewing the contract.

 

“I'm Setsuna Myoga, how are you?” he offered cordially.

 

She knew she should have replied to him, but instead she just smiled briefly over at him then went back to the document at hand.

 

“So, I see I'm not the only one working on this gloomy Saturday,” Myoga stated trying to create small talk. Glancing up at the numbers lit at the top of the elevator, he continued with a smile, “Ah, I see you're going up to the Takahashi floor.”

 

“Just filling in for someone else,” Kagome answered quickly as she slipped the contract back into her leather satchel. `Why do people always assume that they have to talk to you just because they're in the elevator with you?' she questioned.

 

“Have you worked much with the brothers?” he inquired evenly.

 

Smoothing out the pleats on her tan slacks, Kagome glanced up and replied, not really paying attention to the man, “No, not at all. I'm just filling in for a friend.” Glancing up at the numbers again, she thought, `Why the hell is this elevator so slow?'

 

Noticing the woman's agitation, the old man stated, “This elevator always runs slower than the other's especially on the weekend. You should've used the ones in the front lobby.”

 

Kagome tried to smile politely, but she knew she was falling short. `How the hell was I supposed to know that? Didn't I just tell him I'm filling in for someone?'

 

“Of course, you didn't know that did you?”

 

Clearing her throat, Kagome stated, “Thanks for the advice, I'll try to remember that if there's ever a next time.”

 

The elevator dinged and Kagome sighed in relief as she watched the man exit the elevator, which meant she only had ten floors to go, thankfully.

 

“Oh,” the man said, sticking his hand in the door which caused the elevator doors to open again, “Please tell Takahashi Inuyasha thanks for the baseball league season passes. My adopted grandson, Shippo, loves going to the games.”

 

Kagome's eyes grew to the size of large saucers as she stepped back away from the man. “Inu…Inuyasha?”

 

“Are you alright, Young Lady?” he asked concernedly.

 

Kagome swallowed hard, fighting down the bile that threatened to rise into her throat. She hadn't just heard his name. She wasn't…she wasn't on the way to a meeting the he was a part of. No, this…this wasn't fucking possible!

 

Swallowing hard, she stepped towards Myoga, her hand now keeping the elevator from closing. “Inu…yasha?”

 

“Yes, Inuyasha. He and his older brother, Takahashi Sesshomaru, own Takahashi Mergers and Investments, not to mention this entire building.” The man smiled. “Their father, Inutaisho, actually left it to them, but the brother's built their company on their own from the ground up. I tell you, with everything that those two boys have been through, they have earned the respect of all that have come in contact with them.” Noticing the shock on her face, he stated with a soft smile, “Don't tell me, you don't know whom you're going to see.”

 

Kagome cleared her throat loudly. This couldn't be happening! He couldn't be talking about the same half demon… `No, this means… Oh dear god! He's…Rin's… They're… Holy hell, no, this can't be fucking happening,' she thought frantically as she felt her stomach drop into the balls of her feet.”

 

“Ma'am, do you want to sit down? You look a little under the weather,” Myoga observed as he reached out and pulled the stop button on the elevator in order to make sure it wouldn't move, should she pass out.

 

“I…I'm fine,” she lied.

 

“Well, I'm sure if you start to feel sick again Inuyasha will be sure to take care of you. He's just that kind of person, though if he heard me say that he'd probably curse me to the bowels of the seven hells,” Myoga avowed with a chuckle, oblivious to the way the woman inwardly flinched.

 

`He can't be talking about the same foul mouthed,obnoxious man I met last night.'

 

“Well, it was nice meeting you,” he stated as he pushed the stop button in again and stepped back away from the doors.

 

Gathering what was left of her mental faculties, Kagome inquired quickly, “I haven't met them, could you tell me how they look?” She knew that was a stupid question, but somewhere deep down she wanted him to tell her that the Inuyasha she knew and the one waiting upstairs were not one and the same.

 

Myoga grinned as he shifted the files he was carrying. “Well, if you've seen one, you've definitely seen both, I can tell you that.”

 

Kagome groaned, hating where this was going.

 

“They both have long, white hair…or is it silver? They have the most uncanny yellow-gold eyes and unnaturally tanned skin.” Fanning his hand, he continued, “They look like their father.” Smiling up at nothing and everything, he finished, “I always told Inutaisho that even if he wanted to deny their parentage, he couldn't have. I'd swear in the courts in heaven that he spit those two boys out himself without the help of either of his wives.”

 

Feeling her heart begin to plummet, Kagome stated quickly, “Thank you so much, sorry to take up so much of your time,” as she quickly hit the button for the elevator to close and the button for the ground floor.

 

`This can't be happening! This can't be happening! This can't be happening!' she chanted as she stepped back so that she was pressed up against the wall of the elevator. `I can't go up there! I can't…I refuse to be in the same room with him! After last night… Holy Buddha!' she thought anxiously as she felt the first signs of a panic attack coming on.

 

Her heart was racing, her breathing heavy and frantic, her entire were body felt like it was on fire, and her mind was running a mile a minute.

 

`Not now, not now. I don't need this shit!'

 

Fidgeting with her collar, she closed her eyes and tried to slow her heartbeat by taking in slow, even breaths.

 

`They're brothers! My God they're brothers! He's… Inuyasha is Rin's brother-in-law! How the hell could I `not' have noticed this? They have the same last name for heaven's sake!'

 

Allowing her hand to roam down to the top button of her peach button down shirt, Kagome began to slowly unbutton the top two buttons in hopes of allowing herself a little more breathing room.

 

`This can't be happening', she thought as the elevator dinged twice and the doors opened.

 

She could've sworn that her heart had stopped. Looking up frantically, she noticed that even though she'd punched the button for the garage, the elevator had taken her up to the 40th floor since that's what she'd requested first.

 

`I can punch the button and get out of here before they notice I'm here,' she thought hastily.

 

“Higurashi Kagome,” a manly voice stated.

 

Knowing that she looked like a complete and total moron, Kagome closed her eyes tight in hopes that she'd wake up and this would have all been some kind of dream. And, if it weren't, maybe the Gods would lend her the power of invisibility.

 

`Dear Gods, please make me disappear.'

 

“My wife advised me that you'd be lending us a hand with this conference call. Please, follow me so that I may fill you in on what we've discussed thus far,” Sesshomaru stated while staring inquisitively at the frozen young woman, who was now squinting at him out the corner of her eye. `Unforgettable indeed,' he thought with a nonexistent snort.

 

Kagome tried to move, but she couldn't. `Must I always embarrass myself in front of him?' she questioned herself as she sighed heavily.

 

Knowing that she had no way out of this situation, she stepped slowly off the elevator and followed him reluctantly down the hall, all the while screaming silently, `Buddha, why have you forsaken me? Why have you forsaken me? Just kill me now! Strike me down where I stand, please if you love me, strike me down now!'

 

Stopping, Sesshomaru turned on her. Staring down at her as she slowly walked towards him, he noticed for the first time that she was petrified, for lack of a better word. “Higurashi, I'm well aware that this is a last minute meeting and that you're doing myself and my brother a favor by being here, but I must request that you cover yourself. I will not be held responsible for the things that Inuyasha might say and/or do, should you walk into the office looking like that.”

 

Sesshomaru hadn't a clue as to what had occurred between the two, but he knew men and he definitely knew his brother.

 

Kagome scowled at him, then slowly looked down at her clothing. Staring down at her black-laced bra and her abundant cleavage that appeared to be on display for all to see, she squealed, “Holy shit,” as she quickly pulled her shirt closed. “I'm sorry! I must have… I'm sorry, where's the restroom?”

 

Sesshomaru pointed in the opposite direction. “It's down the hall. Please hurry, we're expecting a call from them at any moment.” Watching her run off, he whispered, “There's never a dull moment with that one, I see.”

 

`I must have undone one too many buttons,' she thought as she hightailed it towards the bathroom. Pushing the door open, she forced it quickly closed and relaxed back against it. Resting her head back against the door, she began to slowly refasten the buttons as she mumbled, pleaded, “Please, if you're up there, any of you, strike me down now.”

 

Until Next Time…(As always, you .02 cents is greatly appreciated.)

 

Next Chapter: Un-Deniable You

 

Acknowledgements

 

Silverwolf halfbeast ~ lemon lover ~ cwillia ~ sunrisegoodbyes ~ Hatchii ~ lostgirll ~ Caribmiko03 ~ InuGoddess715 ~ angel-up-above-heaven ~ serenity101 ~ ScifiAmy ~ KawaiiKe-Ke-chan NLI