InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Quicksand ❯ Critical Thinking ( Chapter 1 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: AngelsRebellion 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Comedy / Romance / Hentai | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 04.03.2006 | Pages: 3 | Words: 2.4K | Visits: 490 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Comedy / Romance / Hentai | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 04.03.2006 | Pages: 3 | Words: 2.4K | Visits: 490 | Status: Work In Progress
Chapter One: Critical Thinking
Rin walked into the kitchen of the Western Lands Café and poked her head into one of the pantries. Looking over the contents with a satisfied grin she ticked off the ingredients she’d need in her mind. She headed to the huge refrigerator and opened the door, shivering slightly when a blast of cold air hit her in the face.
“Rin, what are you doing here?”
Rin jumped and turned around. Her friend and head waitress Hailey was standing behind her, hands on hips and an accusing smile on her lips. Rin held her hands up innocently and sidled away from the refrigerator.
“What do you mean? I own the place. I’m not allowed to come by once in awhile?”
“No. It’s just, I thought you had a date tonight.”
“Mmhmm, I do. I’m cooking dinner for him tonight, and I wanted to make sure the kitchen has everything I need.” Hailey narrowed her eyes and tilted her head.
“Wait. You’re cooking dinner for him here? At the café?”
“Well yeah. Why not?”
“I…Never mind.”
“Oh. Do you think you could look after the little bit for me tonight?”
“Sure. Where is Shippou anyway?”
Rin leaned her hip against the counter’s edge and nodded her head towards the kitchen exit, which led to the main dining room. “Out front eating a Sunday.”
“How’s he handling everything?” Rin shook her head and frowned.
“I don’t know. He still doesn’t talk much. I can barely get full sentences out of him. But it’s still too soon I think. The accident was only a month ago after all.”
Hailey walked over and slid next to Rin, leaning against the counter in the same fashion. She placed a hand on Rin’s shoulder and gave a sympathetic squeeze.
“And you? How are you holding up?” Rin frowned and bit her lip.
“It’s…hard. Taro was my only brother, and Hana was like a sister. Now Shippo’s the only family I have left.”
“Things will get better Rin.” She nodded and pushed away from the counter. Grabbing a tray of clean dishes and a stack of menus, she smiled at Hailey thankfully.
“I know. Come on, I’ll help you set up for lunch.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sesshoumaru glared at the wall as he listened to Naraku on the other end of his cell phone. He gritted his teeth and tried to suppress an annoyed growl.
“So far, you have yet to impress me Naraku. I pay you an obscene amount of money to do your job, and I expect results.”
“I know that Sesshoumaru. You must have patience and allow me to do my job. I promise, I will not fail you.”
“You had better not. I will not see my father’s company turned over to the likes of Sanders and those other cretins. Do your job and do it fast, or be prepared to lose your most valuable client.”
“Of course, Sesshoumaru.”
Sesshoumaru snapped his phone closed and tossed it on the couch. Needless to say, his conversation with Naraku had not gone well. Mitchell Sanders and the other members of the board of trustees of Taisho Corp. were still maintaining their stand that Sesshoumaru was not legally entitled to full power over the company. His father had died some years ago, stipulating in his will that both of is sons would inherit the entirety of Taisho Corp. was to be shared between his only sons, Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha. But Inuyasha grew tired of the corporate life and a few years ago he left, leaving Sesshoumaru in charge.
But what I don’t understand is, why now? Inuyasha left four years ago. Why didn’t they try to pull this then?
Maybe they didn’t have the right kind of motivation to take you on then.
So what’s got them all fired up for a hostile take over now?
What…Or who…?
Someone other than Sanders and his circle of back stabbers?
It’s very possible. And it makes sense.
Hmm. “I need to talk to the baka.”
“I’m assuming you mean Inuyasha. He won’t be home for a few more hours though.”
Sesshoumaru turned around at the familiar voice and frowned slightly. Kagome Higurashi stood just inside his doorway with a nervous, but friendly smile on her face. Sesshoumaru returned the smile and motioned her into the living room.
“Kagome. I didn’t hear you come in.”
“I wouldn’t think so. You looked like you were in a world all your own just now.”
“Something like that. So, why is Inuyasha not with you?”
“Oh. I wasn’t feeling too hot, so Inuyasha sent me home. He’s still at the day care.”
“I see. And are you still feeling ill?”
“Actually, I’m not. It’s funny. I got home and my stomach just suddenly settled. I thought about heading back to the day care, but I think Inuyasha would just send me home again.”
“He is very protective of you.”
Kagome blushed and nodded. She lowered her eyes and linked her fingers together, waiting for Sesshoumaru to say something more. When he didn’t, she looked up and found him staring vaguely at the empty water bottle sitting on the coffee table.
“You look so lonely.” She spoke so softly that she wondered if she’d only said it in her mind, but Sesshoumaru shot her a surprised look and Kagome blushed again, knowing he had heard it.
“I’ve just noticed that you’ve always got this sad look in your eyes. Like, you’re waiting for something that you know will never come. I’m sorry, that sounds so stupid. I should go…I’ll tell Inuyasha that you want to talk to him when he gets home.”
Sesshoumaru stood with his hands shoved in his jeans pockets and watched Kagome hurry out of the apartment. She’d been so sincere when she spoke.
She’s a perceptive little ninjen.
Perhaps a bit too perceptive.
She didn’t tell you anything that you don’t already know yourself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Shippou, Hailey is here. She’s really nice. You two will have a great time tonight.”
The little kitsune demon didn’t even look up from the book he was reading on the living room couch. The only indication that he had even heard her was the soft little grumble he sent her.
“Mmhmm.” Rin smiled warmly and kneeled down in front of him. She reached a hand out and lowered the book so he had to look her in the eyes.
“I’ll be home in a few hours okay? I know you’ll already be in bed when I get home, so can I have a goodnight kiss before I go?”
Shippou looked at her, his green eyes blank. Rin thought she saw something underneath the mask, something that flickered faintly. She reached out to stroke his hair, but Shippo drew back, hiding his face behind the book once more. Rin sighed and nodded before standing up.
“Okay sweetie. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Shippou didn’t utter a sound and Rin walked over to the door where Hailey was waiting with a sand smile on her lips.
“Don’t worry Rin. I’ll take good care of him. Have a good time okay? You deserve it.”
“Thanks Hailey. I really appreciate this.”
“No problem. Now go. Have fun. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Rin laughed and swatted Hailey on the arm. She grabbed her purse and checked to make sure she had her cell. She waved goodbye to Shippou and blew him a kiss. She wasn’t surprised when he didn’t respond, even though her heart squeezed.
Poor kid. No one his age should have to lose their parents the way he did.
He’ll be okay. Just give him a little time. You’ll both be okay.
I hope so. For his sake more than mine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Oi bastard. Kagome said you wanted to talk to me about something.”
Sesshoumaru looked up as Inuyasha walked through the door. He spared his brother a slight smile before bending over once more to finish tying his black loafers. Standing up, he dusted the invisible dust from his gray slacks and straightened his tie.
“Good evening to you too Inuyasha. I was just about to leave.”
Inuyasha leaned against the kitchen and living room’s dividing wall, arms and ankles crossed over his faded jeans and black T-shirt.
“Oh yeah. I almost forgot about that date of yours.”
“It isn’t a date baka. It’s only dinner.”
“Whatever you say Fluffy. So, what’d you wanna talk to me about?”
Sesshoumaru grimaced at the nickname. He couldn’t remember when Inuyasha had first started calling him ‘Fluffy’, or why exactly, but he’d always hated the moniker, and Inuyasha took perverse pleasure in the fact. Still, Sesshoumaru needed his baka brother’s advice, and pounding him into the earth would not be the proper way of asking.
“I’ve been thinking about this situation with Sanders and the other gits. It occurred to me that…They may have had some help coming to the conclusion that I am not entitled to my place in Taisho Corp.”
Inuyasha stiffened and pushed away from the wall, walking towards his brother. Sesshoumaru didn’t miss the flicker in his eyes as they narrowed in on him.
“Have you run this by Naraku?” Sesshoumaru shook his head.
“Not yet. I was hoping to get your opinion before I tell Naraku anything.” Inuyasha nodded, his face set in the lines Sesshoumaru remembered from years past.
“Hmm. So he’s a suspect I take it?”
“Are you surprised?” Inuyasha shook his head and smirked.
“Not at all. If it were me, he’d be at the very top of my list. I’ve been telling you for years that slimy snake is no good.”
“So you have. So what do you think? I have no actual proof that Naraku is behind anything.”
Inuyasha perched on the edge of the couch and crossed his arms over his chest. He bowed his head, one thumb flicking absently against his fang. His ears twitched back and forth, his brow frinkled in concentration. Everything that Sesshoumaru remembered about the business partner his brother had once been. After almost ten minutes of silence, Inuyasha lifted his head with a thoughtful smile.
“Do you remember the Morrison Deal? We suspected old Morrison of dirty dealings, so I hired that undercover P.I.?”
“Mmm. And it turned that Morrison was indeed in bed with a rival corporation. That idea of yours saved Taisho Corp. millions. And it wasn’t even one of your better works.”
“Yeah…”
Inuyasha’s smile faltered. For a few moments, Sesshoumaru had seen the old Iuyasha. The Inuyasha who lived for his work and was damn good at it.
“Inuyasha…” Inuyasha shook his head, holding up a hand to stop him.
“No Sessh.”
“Alright. Alright. But that P.I. idea is good. It’s very good. I think I’ll make a few calls tomorrow; see if I can get hold of anyone…”
“I’ll see ya later Sessh. Nice suit by the way. I’m sure Rin will enjoy the hell out of it.”
“Pfft. Go take care of your ninjen little brother.”
“Oh, I plan to.” Inuyasha smirked and wagged his eyebrows, making Sesshoumaru shake his head with a grin.
“You’re depraved.”
“I know.”
Sesshoumaru chuckled as Inuyasha closed the door behind him. That little ninjen had his brother wrapped around her little finger and Inuyasha was loving every minute of it. Sesshoumaru looked at his watch and winced. If he didn’t leave soon, he was going to be late for his date with Rin.
You just said ‘date’.
No I didn’t.
You can’t lie to me you know.
Alright. But I meant ‘dinner’.
No you didn’t. You said ‘date’ and you meant ‘date’. There’s nothing wrong with having a date with a pretty woman.
Beautiful.
What?
Nothing.
Sesshoumaru shook his head and grabbed his suit coat. It was only dinner. He picked his car keys off the kitchen table and headed for the door. It was only dinner. Right?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: I know this chap was mainly Sessh pov, but I promise more Rinness in the next one. Oh, and check out my oneshot called My Koishii. Tell me what ya’ll think okay? ^.^ Later Bunnehs
Rin walked into the kitchen of the Western Lands Café and poked her head into one of the pantries. Looking over the contents with a satisfied grin she ticked off the ingredients she’d need in her mind. She headed to the huge refrigerator and opened the door, shivering slightly when a blast of cold air hit her in the face.
“Rin, what are you doing here?”
Rin jumped and turned around. Her friend and head waitress Hailey was standing behind her, hands on hips and an accusing smile on her lips. Rin held her hands up innocently and sidled away from the refrigerator.
“What do you mean? I own the place. I’m not allowed to come by once in awhile?”
“No. It’s just, I thought you had a date tonight.”
“Mmhmm, I do. I’m cooking dinner for him tonight, and I wanted to make sure the kitchen has everything I need.” Hailey narrowed her eyes and tilted her head.
“Wait. You’re cooking dinner for him here? At the café?”
“Well yeah. Why not?”
“I…Never mind.”
“Oh. Do you think you could look after the little bit for me tonight?”
“Sure. Where is Shippou anyway?”
Rin leaned her hip against the counter’s edge and nodded her head towards the kitchen exit, which led to the main dining room. “Out front eating a Sunday.”
“How’s he handling everything?” Rin shook her head and frowned.
“I don’t know. He still doesn’t talk much. I can barely get full sentences out of him. But it’s still too soon I think. The accident was only a month ago after all.”
Hailey walked over and slid next to Rin, leaning against the counter in the same fashion. She placed a hand on Rin’s shoulder and gave a sympathetic squeeze.
“And you? How are you holding up?” Rin frowned and bit her lip.
“It’s…hard. Taro was my only brother, and Hana was like a sister. Now Shippo’s the only family I have left.”
“Things will get better Rin.” She nodded and pushed away from the counter. Grabbing a tray of clean dishes and a stack of menus, she smiled at Hailey thankfully.
“I know. Come on, I’ll help you set up for lunch.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sesshoumaru glared at the wall as he listened to Naraku on the other end of his cell phone. He gritted his teeth and tried to suppress an annoyed growl.
“So far, you have yet to impress me Naraku. I pay you an obscene amount of money to do your job, and I expect results.”
“I know that Sesshoumaru. You must have patience and allow me to do my job. I promise, I will not fail you.”
“You had better not. I will not see my father’s company turned over to the likes of Sanders and those other cretins. Do your job and do it fast, or be prepared to lose your most valuable client.”
“Of course, Sesshoumaru.”
Sesshoumaru snapped his phone closed and tossed it on the couch. Needless to say, his conversation with Naraku had not gone well. Mitchell Sanders and the other members of the board of trustees of Taisho Corp. were still maintaining their stand that Sesshoumaru was not legally entitled to full power over the company. His father had died some years ago, stipulating in his will that both of is sons would inherit the entirety of Taisho Corp. was to be shared between his only sons, Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha. But Inuyasha grew tired of the corporate life and a few years ago he left, leaving Sesshoumaru in charge.
But what I don’t understand is, why now? Inuyasha left four years ago. Why didn’t they try to pull this then?
Maybe they didn’t have the right kind of motivation to take you on then.
So what’s got them all fired up for a hostile take over now?
What…Or who…?
Someone other than Sanders and his circle of back stabbers?
It’s very possible. And it makes sense.
Hmm. “I need to talk to the baka.”
“I’m assuming you mean Inuyasha. He won’t be home for a few more hours though.”
Sesshoumaru turned around at the familiar voice and frowned slightly. Kagome Higurashi stood just inside his doorway with a nervous, but friendly smile on her face. Sesshoumaru returned the smile and motioned her into the living room.
“Kagome. I didn’t hear you come in.”
“I wouldn’t think so. You looked like you were in a world all your own just now.”
“Something like that. So, why is Inuyasha not with you?”
“Oh. I wasn’t feeling too hot, so Inuyasha sent me home. He’s still at the day care.”
“I see. And are you still feeling ill?”
“Actually, I’m not. It’s funny. I got home and my stomach just suddenly settled. I thought about heading back to the day care, but I think Inuyasha would just send me home again.”
“He is very protective of you.”
Kagome blushed and nodded. She lowered her eyes and linked her fingers together, waiting for Sesshoumaru to say something more. When he didn’t, she looked up and found him staring vaguely at the empty water bottle sitting on the coffee table.
“You look so lonely.” She spoke so softly that she wondered if she’d only said it in her mind, but Sesshoumaru shot her a surprised look and Kagome blushed again, knowing he had heard it.
“I’ve just noticed that you’ve always got this sad look in your eyes. Like, you’re waiting for something that you know will never come. I’m sorry, that sounds so stupid. I should go…I’ll tell Inuyasha that you want to talk to him when he gets home.”
Sesshoumaru stood with his hands shoved in his jeans pockets and watched Kagome hurry out of the apartment. She’d been so sincere when she spoke.
She’s a perceptive little ninjen.
Perhaps a bit too perceptive.
She didn’t tell you anything that you don’t already know yourself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Shippou, Hailey is here. She’s really nice. You two will have a great time tonight.”
The little kitsune demon didn’t even look up from the book he was reading on the living room couch. The only indication that he had even heard her was the soft little grumble he sent her.
“Mmhmm.” Rin smiled warmly and kneeled down in front of him. She reached a hand out and lowered the book so he had to look her in the eyes.
“I’ll be home in a few hours okay? I know you’ll already be in bed when I get home, so can I have a goodnight kiss before I go?”
Shippou looked at her, his green eyes blank. Rin thought she saw something underneath the mask, something that flickered faintly. She reached out to stroke his hair, but Shippo drew back, hiding his face behind the book once more. Rin sighed and nodded before standing up.
“Okay sweetie. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Shippou didn’t utter a sound and Rin walked over to the door where Hailey was waiting with a sand smile on her lips.
“Don’t worry Rin. I’ll take good care of him. Have a good time okay? You deserve it.”
“Thanks Hailey. I really appreciate this.”
“No problem. Now go. Have fun. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Rin laughed and swatted Hailey on the arm. She grabbed her purse and checked to make sure she had her cell. She waved goodbye to Shippou and blew him a kiss. She wasn’t surprised when he didn’t respond, even though her heart squeezed.
Poor kid. No one his age should have to lose their parents the way he did.
He’ll be okay. Just give him a little time. You’ll both be okay.
I hope so. For his sake more than mine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Oi bastard. Kagome said you wanted to talk to me about something.”
Sesshoumaru looked up as Inuyasha walked through the door. He spared his brother a slight smile before bending over once more to finish tying his black loafers. Standing up, he dusted the invisible dust from his gray slacks and straightened his tie.
“Good evening to you too Inuyasha. I was just about to leave.”
Inuyasha leaned against the kitchen and living room’s dividing wall, arms and ankles crossed over his faded jeans and black T-shirt.
“Oh yeah. I almost forgot about that date of yours.”
“It isn’t a date baka. It’s only dinner.”
“Whatever you say Fluffy. So, what’d you wanna talk to me about?”
Sesshoumaru grimaced at the nickname. He couldn’t remember when Inuyasha had first started calling him ‘Fluffy’, or why exactly, but he’d always hated the moniker, and Inuyasha took perverse pleasure in the fact. Still, Sesshoumaru needed his baka brother’s advice, and pounding him into the earth would not be the proper way of asking.
“I’ve been thinking about this situation with Sanders and the other gits. It occurred to me that…They may have had some help coming to the conclusion that I am not entitled to my place in Taisho Corp.”
Inuyasha stiffened and pushed away from the wall, walking towards his brother. Sesshoumaru didn’t miss the flicker in his eyes as they narrowed in on him.
“Have you run this by Naraku?” Sesshoumaru shook his head.
“Not yet. I was hoping to get your opinion before I tell Naraku anything.” Inuyasha nodded, his face set in the lines Sesshoumaru remembered from years past.
“Hmm. So he’s a suspect I take it?”
“Are you surprised?” Inuyasha shook his head and smirked.
“Not at all. If it were me, he’d be at the very top of my list. I’ve been telling you for years that slimy snake is no good.”
“So you have. So what do you think? I have no actual proof that Naraku is behind anything.”
Inuyasha perched on the edge of the couch and crossed his arms over his chest. He bowed his head, one thumb flicking absently against his fang. His ears twitched back and forth, his brow frinkled in concentration. Everything that Sesshoumaru remembered about the business partner his brother had once been. After almost ten minutes of silence, Inuyasha lifted his head with a thoughtful smile.
“Do you remember the Morrison Deal? We suspected old Morrison of dirty dealings, so I hired that undercover P.I.?”
“Mmm. And it turned that Morrison was indeed in bed with a rival corporation. That idea of yours saved Taisho Corp. millions. And it wasn’t even one of your better works.”
“Yeah…”
Inuyasha’s smile faltered. For a few moments, Sesshoumaru had seen the old Iuyasha. The Inuyasha who lived for his work and was damn good at it.
“Inuyasha…” Inuyasha shook his head, holding up a hand to stop him.
“No Sessh.”
“Alright. Alright. But that P.I. idea is good. It’s very good. I think I’ll make a few calls tomorrow; see if I can get hold of anyone…”
“I’ll see ya later Sessh. Nice suit by the way. I’m sure Rin will enjoy the hell out of it.”
“Pfft. Go take care of your ninjen little brother.”
“Oh, I plan to.” Inuyasha smirked and wagged his eyebrows, making Sesshoumaru shake his head with a grin.
“You’re depraved.”
“I know.”
Sesshoumaru chuckled as Inuyasha closed the door behind him. That little ninjen had his brother wrapped around her little finger and Inuyasha was loving every minute of it. Sesshoumaru looked at his watch and winced. If he didn’t leave soon, he was going to be late for his date with Rin.
You just said ‘date’.
No I didn’t.
You can’t lie to me you know.
Alright. But I meant ‘dinner’.
No you didn’t. You said ‘date’ and you meant ‘date’. There’s nothing wrong with having a date with a pretty woman.
Beautiful.
What?
Nothing.
Sesshoumaru shook his head and grabbed his suit coat. It was only dinner. He picked his car keys off the kitchen table and headed for the door. It was only dinner. Right?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: I know this chap was mainly Sessh pov, but I promise more Rinness in the next one. Oh, and check out my oneshot called My Koishii. Tell me what ya’ll think okay? ^.^ Later Bunnehs