InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Persistence ❯ Chapter 14 ( Chapter 14 )

I really have no notes to begin this chapter. I'll just say that I'm really excited about it because I wrote most of it during my 1 hour lunch break at work and then spent most of the evening typing it up, editing it, and watching hubby play GTA4. Enjoy!

 

Oh, and her dress: http: // i181.photobucket. com/ albums/ x128/ gradualwisd0m/ turq tea-dress. Jpg

There's an underscore between turq and tea.

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. Takeshi and Jirou are my own creations.

 

Chapter 14

 

Inuyasha sat on the edge of the desk in his office, arms crossed over his chest, staring down at a young boy about the age of 15. It was late in the afternoon and most of the other staff had gone home but not Inuyasha. He was running detention tonight.

 

“Kyle, if you like the girl, why do you beat up any guy that looks at her? Ask her out. Take into consideration her feelings because otherwise you're not giving her a choice and that's not right. And do it outside of school. I don't want another lunch room brawl. Now go home.” Kyle shot up from the chair he had been sitting in, mumbled a quick “Yes, Head Master Misaki”, and bowed quickly before scrambling out of the office. Inuyasha slumped down on the edge of his desk. I can't believe I used to do that kind of stuff to Kagome. I was such an inconsiderate jerk to her at times. A high pitched chirping noise resounded from his jacket pocket. He reached in and pulled out his cell phone. Frowning slightly at a number he didn't recognize, he flipped open his phone.

 

“Inuyasha here,” he said.

 

“Hey Inuyasha, it's Kagome.”

 

“Hey Kagome! How are you?” And how did you get my number?

 

“I'm good, Inuyasha, but I have some questions that I hope you can answer.”

 

“Uh, sure, ask away.”

 

“Well, I had dinner with Sesshomaru last night and-“

“Oh?” he said with surprise in his voice. Already putting the moves on her, huh Sessh?

 

“Yeah,” she drawled apprehensively. “Is.. is it possible he's courting me?”

 

Inuyasha chuckled. No one had used that phrase in a long while. “I don't know. Has he given you a gift?”

 

“Well, no. All he's given me is you and Shippo's phone numbers.”

 

“He did? I guess in a way that could be viewed as a gift” he said. Sneaky bastard.

 

“Yeah, maybe, but he said you and Shippo told him to give them to me,” she said, her voice overflowing with confusion.

 

“No, we didn't, Kagome. He knew it would make you happy to be able to talk to us so he gifted you with our contact information.”

 

Kagome sighed. This was getting confusing. “So he IS courting me then.”

 

“I guess so,” he replied, noting the silence on her end. “How do you feel about that, Kagome?”

 

“I guess I don't mind. I mean, he's quite different than I remember. He's been nothing but kind, funny, conversational, and… *pause* was he abducted by aliens?”

 

Inuyasha chuckled. “Some days I do wonder but it's been about 500 years since you both last saw each other, Kagome. Even demons are bound to change over time. For instance, I'm sure I'm different than how you remember me. I just got done being the detention overlord to a 15 year old kid who beat up any guy that looked at or talked to the girl he likes because he doesn't have the cahones to tell her how she feels. When you've had centuries to reflect on your life and how you live it changes you.”

 

“So… it doesn't bother you that your brother is pretty much dating me,” she asked hesitantly. Kagome became nervous when Inuyasha was quiet on the other end but when he did speak, his smile was apparent in his voice.

 

“No. He'll be good to you. He always promised he would.”

 

Kagome was silent; absorbing what Inuyasha had said she almost missed his goodbye. She mumbled goodbye and her hand holding the phone fell into her lap. She stared out her window, deep in thought. `He always promised he would.'

 

 

---000---

 

 

Sesshomaru lay on the couch in his apartment. His tall frame stretched across it, his sock-clad feet resting on the arm on the far end. He had just spent the last hour contemplating what next step to take with Kagome. Giving up, he decided to call the one person who would be able to tell him what to do next. With his left arm folded behind his head, he reached over to the coffee table with his right, picked up his cell phone and dialed.

 

“Take her out again,” Saiko said over the phone. “I don't see how that's such a hard thing to know to do, Sesshomaru. BUT this time let her know in advance so she can plan and make it somewhere nice.”

 

“Hnnn…” was all he managed while mulling it over in his mind. “Maybe the next step would be a good idea. Thank you, Saiko.”

 

“No problem,” she said before hanging up.

 

Before Sesshomaru was able to set his phone down it rang. He looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Inuyasha. Perhaps I should run this by him, as well, to see what he thinks.

 

“Hello little brother,” he said into the phone, lying back once again on his couch.

 

“Hey Sesshomaru. I have a question,” Inuyasha said.

 

“Regarding?”

 

“Well, Kagome called me about an hour ago and told me about the date that wasn't a date but really was a date.” Sesshomaru swore he could hear Inuyasha's eyes spinning in his head after working that one out.

 

“So she figured it out?” he asked, sighing gently with a slight smile.

 

“Did you think she wouldn't? You'd be stupid to think it would take her longer than this to catch on. She's smarter than you realize sometimes, Sessh.”

 

“I knew she'd catch on but didn't expect it to be this soon. I was just talking to Saiko and she thinks I should take Kagome out on an official date. You know, somewhere nice.”

 

“I think she'd like that. She actually seemed rather happy to be `dating' you,” Inuyasha said. Sesshomaru's insides began to do cartwheels again, this time with ribbons flailing about.

 

 

---000---

 

 

Two weeks later Sesshomaru called Kagome again to ask her to go to dinner with him. However, this time he asked 3 days in advance and let her know where they would be going. He had chosen a nice restaurant that wouldn't be too intimidating to either of their tastes. He promised to pick her up at 4:30pm at the shrine. Kagome waited at the bottom, wearing a beautiful turquoise tea dress. Her black shoes had clicked as she made her way down to the bottom. As promised, Sesshomaru arrived on time. Kagome opened the door, got in, and closed the door. She was once again speechless at his handsome form. He was again wearing a suit but this time the fibers appeared more expensive and better fitted. Sesshomaru, too, inwardly drooled for Kagome. The dress she was wearing made her skin look soft and delectable. It was flawless and vibrant ivory against the lively color of the dress's fabric. Her hair reflected the bluish hue, causing him to feel like he was staring into a starless sky.

 

The restaurant they went to had beautiful music played by a small quartet of stringed instruments. They had been seated at a nice little table on the edge of the room. Sesshomaru's head began to ache a little from the heavy perfume a woman behind them was wearing. He focused his eyes and shook his head a little to clear it of the stench that lingered in the air. Oh well, I'll have to deal with it. Unlike their last date, the waiter did not hit on Sesshomaru and they both ordered entrees. Kagome had ordered chicken fettuccini and Sesshomaru opted for a small steak with risotto and asparagus on the side. The food was good and the company was even better. They mostly joked, not treading upon the topic of dating or his upcoming mating and heir-conceiving deadline.

 

When they left the restaurant it was still early in the evening and Kagome asked Sesshomaru if they could walk along the art district to see the modern street art. Sesshomaru wasn't able to say no to her, even though he had previously seen the art with Fuyumi. As they slowly walked along, admiring the artwork and cracking jokes of “that kind of looks like…” Sesshomaru reached over and took Kagome's hand in his, twining his fingers with hers. She smiled up at him and gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

 

“That one looks like, well, feces,” she said, holding in a girlish giggle. Sesshomaru hiccupped with laughter at her frankness.

 

“That one looks like a sea otter,” he commented, pointing.

 

“That one looks ugly,” she said, a slight unpleasant note in her voice, “horribly ugly.” She took her hand out of his and for a moment he thought she was going to clutch her stomach in laughter. Instead, he heard her making retching noises.

 

“I don't think it's THAT horrible, Kagome. … Kagome?” He turned to see her bent over, her arms clutching her abdomen as she threw up on the sidewalk. Oh no. He put his arm around her to steady her.

 

“Let's get you home so you can rest,” he said, concern coloring his voice. Sesshomaru looked up to get his bearing and he realized they were at least a 30 minute drive from the shrine. Kagome continued to convulse in his arms and he realized the best option would be to take her to the castle which was a 7 minute drive away. Perhaps Yuui can help me take care of her.

 

Sesshomaru guided Kagome back to his car and hurriedly drove them to the castle. He pulled right up to the front door and jumped out, running around the car and gently helping Kagome out of the car. He carried her to a guest room in the West wing of the castle and called for Yuui to tend to her and help him figure out what was wrong. Sesshomaru went to his study down the hall from the guest room while Yuui tended to Kagome. He poured himself a small amount of bourbon in a tumbler and waited. He felt horrible that Kagome had gotten sick. He hoped that she would be okay.

 

Yuui knocked on the study door before walking in, assuming her entry would already be granted given the aura of worry that permeated the air. He looked up from his desk, drink clutched in his hand. “Well?”

 

“Food poisoning. I gave her some herbal tea and medicine. She should be fine by morning. Where did you take her that they would serve her uncooked food?” Yuui asked gently.

 

Uncooked food. If there had been uncooked food I would have noticed.. it… Sesshomaru sighed loudly. “There was a woman sitting near us with an ungodly amount of perfume on her body. It was all I could smell until we left the building. It must have prevented me from sensing what may not have been cooked right.” Sesshomaru turned his head to the side and rested it on the desktop.

 

“I put her in some pajamas and she's in bed. Her color is looking better. She'll be okay, Sesshomaru-sama.”

 

“Thank you, Yuui. I appreciate all you do,” he said, sighing and fluttering some papers on his desk with the gentle puff of air. It was still early but he felt like it was past midnight. He had been so concerned about Kagome's well being that he used much of his energy keeping a tight reign on his own emotions. He had feared, for a split second, that she was deathly ill by the way she was retching. If she would have died or been hurt while being on a date with me… I don't think I could forgive myself. Ever. Sesshomaru went to bed shortly after Yuui left his study. He stopped by the room Kagome was in and poked his head in. He could hear her soft breathing and saw that her color had indeed returned back to a healthy tone instead of the grey, ill color it had been in the car. He closed the door and went to his own room, turning in for the night and praying to whatever gods were listening that Kagome make a full recovery and forgive him for his irresponsibility.

 

 

---000---

 

The sound of birds reached his ears as he returned to consciousness. Fluttering his eyes opened, he noted that it was shortly after sunrise and Yuui had drawn the shades of his windows open. He sat up in bed, the sheets pooling about his waist. He scratched his side through his t-shirt and yawned. His eyes grew wide as he remembered the previous night and Kagome falling ill. He threw the sheets off of his body and rushed out of his room and down the hall to the guest room he had seen her in last night. He knocked lightly on the door incase she was still sleeping. He received no answer. Turning the handle, he pushed the door open slowly, a short mantra of please don't be naked, please don't be naked played in his head while a lusty voice somewhere else in his mind said please be naked, oh gods, PLEASE be naked!!! He looked into the room with one eye and saw… nothing. The bed was empty except for rumpled sheets. He didn't hear her breathing either and he also realized it didn't smell like she was there.

 

“Maybe she went down to breakfast or something,” he muttered. Hmmm. Breakfast. That sounds like a good idea, he thought, shuffling down the hall.

 

 

---000---

 

“Good morning Kagome-san,” Takeshi purred when he entered the dining area. He was surprised to find her sitting at the low table, sipping delicately on a cup of tea. She looked up at him and appeared to be just as surprised.

 

“Oh, good morning Takeshi-san. I didn't know you would be at the castle,” she said, raising the cup to her lips. Takeshi's eyes followed the cup to her lips as she took another sip.

 

“Yes, Kagome-san. My father and I are staying at the castle until one of two end results of the Writ of Taishou is fulfilled.”

 

“Hmmm, yes, that's right,” she said, concentrating on the calming feeling the tea was having on her stomach. She woke in a strange bed this morning in pajamas that weren't hers. She slid out of bed and walked on wobbly legs out to the hallway. Yuui appeared out of nowhere and asked her if she would like some tea. Kagome said yes but refused to take the tea in her room because she really wanted to go down to the dining area to look out the windows at the gardens. Yuui had shrugged and lead her down to the dining area where she now sat.

 

When Takeshi showed up she was rather surprised and embarrassed. Here she was, sipping tea in her pajamas and a demon she hardly knew came into the room and was ogling her. Not to mention her face was slightly puffy around her eyes from her stomach acrobatics the previous night.

 

“Kagome-san, I was wondering. If you're not busy later this afternoon would attend a movie with me,” Takeshi asked politely, watching her delicate hands on the tea cup. Kagome felt his eyes on her and adjusted her pajamas, squirming slightly under his stare.

 

“I do apologize, Takeshi-san, but I don't feel that I know you very well so I would not be comfortable going to a movie with you,” she politely stated. Sure, he was attractive but the way he leered at her made her very uncomfortable.

 

Takeshi frowned, squinting his eyes a small bit. “That seems odd since you are courting Sesshomaru, a demon who has tried multiple times to kill you and your friends. Yet, you trust him.”

 

Kagome set her cup down as gently as she could with the anger that was burning inside of her. How dare he say such a thing. He knows nothing. She looked up and met Takeshi's stare with a hard gaze. “I trust Sesshomaru because I know that he would never hurt me. He said it 550 years ago and I trust him. He has been nothing but kind to me.”

 

Jirou snorted from the other end of the table. Kagome's eyes snapped over to him, noticing his presence just now. “He's being kind to you so you'll mate with him and give him a strong heir. He's doing it to keep his title, that's all. You're such a foolish girl if you think he actually cares for you.”

 

Kagome scowled and stood, her hands planted firmly on the swell of her hips. “You're wrong,” she said, giving both demons hard looks. “Sesshomaru would never do that. Not to me.” She turned on her heel and left the dining area. Behind her she heard Jirou grumble that she was a naïve girl who deserved what she was going to get. Kagome stormed up the stairs and down the hall to the room she woke up in. She stomped over and sat on the chair sitting in front of the stout bureau. She scowled at her reflection in the mirror hanging above it.

 

“The audacity of those two! Sesshomaru would never be nice to me for the sake of getting what he wanted just so he could retain his title... Would he?” Kagome began to chew on the inside of her lip, suddenly paranoid that Jirou and Takeshi were right.

 

 

 

Across the hall and down a few doors, Sesshomaru had heard Kagome's last few statements. His eyes went wide, realizing that Jirou and Takeshi were still in the castle. She must have had a run in with them. I'm sure they're trying to taint her mind with lies. I need to make sure this goes no further. Sesshomaru pulled on a pair of grey slacks and a white button up shirt. He rifled through his jeans from the previous night that were crumpled on the floor and pulled out his cell phone. Pressing speed dial 3, he waited impatiently while the line connected and rang what felt like forever.

 

“Why are you calling so early on a Sunday, Sesshomaru?” a groggy, muffled voice declared when the line was picked up.

 

“Shippo, Takeshi is weaving lies and Kagome is walking into them,” Sesshomaru hissed. The fear was evident in his voice, causing Shippo to sit up in bed as Shiori snuggled against him.

 

“Okay, wait. What? What lies is he telling her?”

 

“I believe they were in the dining area while she was having breakfast this morning. It sounded like they told her I was only being nice to her to get what I wanted to get my title back. Then I overheard her talking to herself in the guest room. She sounded as if she was questioning my motives.”

 

“Mmmph. Why is Kagome at the castle, Sesshomaru?” he asked, mischief blatant in his voice.

 

“We had gone out last night and she fell ill from food poisoning. I took her to the castle because it was closer than bringing her home,” Sesshomaru explained without acknowledging Shippo's taunting tone.

 

“Okay, um. I'll give her a call at the end of the week when I've thought of something. I promise I'll think of something, all right?”

 

“Hnn. All right. Thanks Shippo. Take an extra week vacation for this one, okay?”

 

“Hey! No problem!” Shippo replied. He disconnected from the call, threw his phone on the floor and snuggled against Shiori.

 

“What now?” she yawned into his hair, running fingers through it as well.

 

“Sesshomaru is scared Kagome doesn't believe he's acting legit. We need to think of something that will show Kagome that he's not just being nice to her to retain his title,” he murmured, nuzzling against her breasts.

 

Shiori sighed, kissing the top of Shippo's head. He finally found her and now she doesn't believe he's genuine. Of all the times for some jerk to challenge Sesshomaru's title. This is going to take some work.

 

 

-----00000000000000000000000000000000000-----

 

Thanks so much for the reviews! I really enjoyed this chapter.

Oh, I can't wait to write the next chapter! I think I'll start it tomorrow since I get to go in late to work. Tell me what you think - bet you can't guess what Shippo will suggest!!