InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Rivers of the Heart ❯ Separation ( Chapter 6 )

Rivers of the Heart

Chapter Six: Separation

Inuyasha stepped inside the planning room where he knew he would find Kagome at this time of day. He entered quietly but still managed to capture the attention of its four occupants. Licking his lips he gave them all including his friend a sheepish smirk, momentarily forgetting why he was interrupting.

"Kagome," he said, moving to stand at the far end of the table, his hands gripped both edges, "the world is coming to an end."

The female directly opposite of him, corked an eyebrow, "What would make you say that, Inuyasha?"

His eyes scanned over the other women in the room. Kagome sat at the head of the rectangular table; two graphic design staff sat on either side of her while the flirtatious new intern, he remembered encountering the day before, sat in the second seat to Kagome's left. He vaguely recalled that the small group was working on a client's advertising strategies.

He opened his mouth to speak but the words would not come out. It was just too shocking, too scary to even entertain the notion but he had to tell her. She would never believe it.

"Sesshoumaru had a hair out of place," he announced in a voice that clearly suggested that the earth was doomed.

Chuckles and giggles emerged from three of the four females. Damn it, he was serious.

Kagome stared at him wondering if he fell down the emergency stairs again, "Oh Inuyasha, you must be exaggerating. I am sure the pits of hell would have frozen over first," she retorted in a blunt, sarcastic tone.

Inuyasha gave her a large smirk, "Oh…they have," his face took on a more serious expression, "I think something is going on, he is being moody and he is a hell razor when he is moody. His secretary hasn't seen his assistant Jaken in days and she is being to believe Sesshoumaru killed him. And then there is Rin who has been walking around this place doing a perfect imitation of my brother's cold exterior…"

Kagome watched as the other women perked up at the mention of Sesshoumaru and Rin. They had gone back to work pretending not to be listening but they were, "I believe now is not the time to discuss such matters."

A long heavy sigh escaped his lips, "I know…Hey! I wanted to ask you which client Rin is going to have lunch with today?"

Kagome set her pen down and leaned back in her chair, folding her arms across her chest, "I believe Totosai, why?"

Inuyasha shook his head and scratched the back of his neck, "If my suspicions are correct, the old coot will have a war on his hands."

Kagome furrowed her eyebrows together not understanding what he was talking about but she quickly gave up when he moved to leave.

"I, um…" she started to stutter when he reached the door, "I talked to Sango this morning. They will be landing tomorrow afternoon. I told her that you and I have a conference most of the day and to go ahead to my apartment if we don't meet them at the airport. She said she still has the key I sent her so they don't have to wait outside."

He had opened the door during her small speech but immediately closed it and allowed his forehead to hit firmly against, "Damn it, I forgot about the conference. Shit, all right. I will have to work something out," he muttered to himself turning to bid Kagome farewell.

She gave him a confused and worried look. For second Inuyasha got lost in her sparkling depths, "I'll tell you later, but for now lets just say I am in deep shit with my wife," he paused giving her weary smile, "but what else is new."

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The restaurant bustled with clanks of silverware and a soft rumble of voices. A soft melody flowed from the small speakers in the ceiling. The midday sunlight spilled into the room making the dining area almost painfully bright.

Rin stared blankly at the man sitting across from her at the round table. He was speaking, it was only polite to look at someone when they spoke but she glared at him willing the bastard to burst into flames. She was pissed; no more than pissed, she was enraged. But her anger was not completely directed at the silver haired man in front of her but at the deranged old man who had failed to inform her that Sesshoumaru would also be present at their lunch meeting. She silently wondered if hit men were located in the yellow pages.

Despite her foul mood, she was still able to uphold the proper business etiquette pushing all her personal bias and problems aside so that she could do her job. She kept civil for the last hour as the trio discussed possible plans for Totosai's company. But over the course of their dinning, she continuously caught Sesshoumaru's eyes locked with hers. It was during those instances that her anger faded and her heart started filling her brain with hopes that he had not meant what he had said to her. That he wanted more than just her body, that he loved her. However, she knew…Sesshoumaru does not make mistakes, nor does he lie.

The thing that ate at her the most was the simple fact that she still loved him, regardless of what he done to her. Four days had passed since that night, the night she thought she had conquered the world only to discover that the fates enjoyed seeing her cry.

The pain was excruciating, his words had hurt so much. Now she felt numb, dull and foolish to believe that somebody would actually love her. Every man in her life had hurt her in one way or another. Her father died, her foster father abused her, her boyfriends beat and used her, Hiten was intent on breaking her, and Sesshoumaru…he had been a dream come true, proof that there were good men in the world, a hope that maybe she was worthy of love…she had been sorely wrong, and pathetically stupid.

However, life goes on. She still had her job, and so she buried herself in work to keep her mind off him, and off the reality of their relationship. Their gazes locked again for the hundredth time. His beautiful, dynamic eyes seemed as though they were hiding something from her, but she bitterly reminded herself…it was only her fucking imagination.

"I have decided…" Totosai broke into her thoughts with his hoarse, shaky voice, "that Tessaiga and Tenseiga's combined skills will do for the advertisements of my clubs. Also, I want the both of you to head my account."

Rin opened her mouth to object the proposal but Sesshoumaru beat her to it, "With your company's interest in mind, I do not believe that Rin and I working together on this project will be profitable to you. Perhaps you would settle for representatives from each of our companies to take charge of your account."

Rin watched him out of the corner of her eye as she waited for Totosai to answer. She did not want to spend more time with Sesshoumaru than she was forced to do so. Her head was beginning to ache from the sheer force of her emotions raging inside her; she did not want to imagine what her body would have to endure if they had another joint project.

"No. It is the two of you or no deal," Totosai finally decided shaking his finger at the pair he sat between.

She clenched her fist tightly together in her lap. If this old fart didn't have so much, goddamn money, she would get up and walk out right now.

"Would you settle for just Sesshoumaru or I and a representative instead? You see Totosai, Sesshoumaru and I are currently undergoing a conflict of opinions and I honestly believe it would be best that we do not work together until the problem is resolved."

"I agree."

Rin tried to keep from rolling her eyes…bastard.

"Then I suggest you to settle your differences. I will not accept anybody but you." Totosai said, standing firm to his decision and desire to have the pair work on his case.

Sesshoumaru and Rin gazed at each other, amber waves locking with cinnamon sugar. Ice met fire and a catalyst began, Sesshoumaru felt his frozen exterior melt away from the heat that radiated off her. To him she was nothing but a thief, a very sly, cunning, beautiful thief that had destroyed his protective barriers, reached for his heart, and took it without his permission. He could see the pain hidden just beneath the surface in her eyes, and he made it a point to keep his emotions under control so she would not see the regret he had for hurting her. She always had a knack for being able to read him like a book, something he thought nobody could do.

He reached for his water glass and brought it to his lips before breaking eye contact with Rin. The liquid did little to lubricate his dry throat; he could not find a valid explanation to change the older man's mind. His thoughts drifted to his assistant. He had sent Jaken to investigate about Hiten, in hopes of discovering what the ass held over his Rin.

"Very well, I will accept the commission," he coldly announced and after a second of biting her bottom lip until it swelled Rin agreed as well.

Sesshoumaru set his water glass back on the table. The death motive from one of his favorite operas broke the silence that had fallen upon the table after Rin spoke. After asking Totosai and Rin to excuse the interruption, Sesshoumaru reached inside his jacket and retrieved his cell phone from one the inner pockets.

He glanced at the caller identification then at the two people engaging in low conversation before he got up from the table, he flipped his phone open and pressed a button to answer the call, "I did not expect you to call to soon."

"Well I did not expect to have decided so quickly," a female voice cooed into his ear.

"So have you choose the tour of Europe or the cruise to the Caribbean?"

"The Caribbean. I have been to Europe so many times, darling."

"It is of no matter to me. As long as you are happy, it is your honeymoon," he responded. From his spot across the restaurant, Sesshoumaru watched Rin shake the old man's hand before she left.

"Yours too!" the female snapped back.

"Indeed, you mentioned yesterday that your shoot might be finished early. When do you estimate to be home?"

"Early next week, probably Monday. We've had some good weather so all my modeling was able to completed early."

"Then I shall await your return. But I must return to work."

"Okay, I will talk to you in a day or so, bye" Kagura pouted.

"Very well, good bye."

Sesshoumaru walked, weaving between the labyrinths of tables, back over to where Totosai sat alone. He wondered if Kagura knew anything about Hiten, after all he was her cousin. His curiosity started to kick in; could she possibly know what the connection was between her cousin and Rin? He decided, as he dodged a group of people following the hostess, he would inquire about Rin when his fiancée returned.

"It seems I scared the sweet lady off," Totosai spoke sulkily, rising when Sesshoumaru returned, "She is a rare catch - intelligent, a beauty like none I have seen before, and a good, courageous heart. If only I were thirty years youn…" he stopped when he heard the gentleman beside him almost growl a remark..

"Oh, want her for yourself aye?" Totosai almost smirked, "But are you not engaged? Wait, I see…could that be the conflict Miss Rin mentioned earlier?"

Sesshoumaru fought off the sudden urge to strangle the life out the old man before him, "I detest your inability to ask a single question at a time and your infuriating need to ask them.. If you have nothing further to discuss with me, then I shall take my leave."

"I request that you attend the grand opening my newest club downtown tonight."

"I do not have the time or the patience to do such a thing." Sesshoumaru remarked, grabbing his coat that had been hanging over his chair.

"I request that you attend, Miss Rin has already agreed and I will not expect anything less of you."

Sesshoumaru frowned not particularly liking the way Totosai attempted to challenge him, however, spending the evening with Rin still angry at him might make for an amusing night, "Then you will not be disappointed."

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Inuyasha arrived home early in the evening with a plan. The ultimate goal being, to keep Kikyou from getting mad when he told her about his conference on Saturday and that he could not attend the hospital's annual picnic with her. Mentally preparing himself for the fight that was sure to come, Inuyasha unlocked the door to his apartment and cautiously stepped inside. Immediately he was greeted with the slamming of pots and pans in the kitchen, he winced at realization that his plan was going to miserably fail. His fingers ran through his long tresses as he dropped his brief case on the couch and then headed into the kitchen.

He squinted his eyes when the bright light of the room bolted into his pupils, "Hey, Kikyou."

She stood at the sink, her hands were lost in the deep depths of soap water, `he just had to come home, didn't he?' she thought, pulling another pot from the sink and practically throwing it into the dishwasher.

Inuyasha took another step closer, realizing something was seriously wrong. Kikyou had never washed dishes in her life.

She was angry and confused. Her mind threatened to shut down and let go of what little sanity it still possessed. She had been somewhat hopeful early this morning when she left home since today would be the day she started seeing her therapist. But all that hope was quickly destroyed, and pain flooded in to fill its place. When she got to work, not only was she asked to assist the neonatology nurses but she had run into Naraku as well.

It killed her to be around the infants for most of the day, watching helplessly as they fought for their lives. Despair worked its way into her heart; her child had not even been given the chance to fight before it had been killed. Then Naraku came along, filling her mind with thoughts of another life, a better life, away from the pain and sadness. She wanted an escape; she wanted it so desperately she almost left with him. But thoughts of Inuyasha made her stay. She loved him but after thinking all afternoon, she had decided that maybe some time apart would do them some good.

"What's wrong?" she heard his stricken voice call out to her.

`Couldn't he have left me alone for a little longer?!' her mind screamed, irritation sinking into her.

"Kikyou…?"

"What the fuck do you want?" she screamed at him, spinning around, her eyes blazed like the fire of hells. She was sick of him always asking her what was wrong, she hated the way he tried to comfort her, and she loathed the fact that he had to know every damn thing. She needed space, and time to work things out on her own. The therapist and him be damned.

He looked frustrated and tired. The exasperation on his face told her, he had not expected her outburst.

"You want to know what I want?" he asked, stalking up to her, grabbing her shoulders, and pulling her body against him, "I want you to be happy again. I want to see you smile and laugh like you used to. And I want to know what you need me to do so that you can fix whatever is bothering you."

Kikyou almost lost it there, the pain in his voice, the way he held her so close to his body, it was almost enough to break down her barriers. But her heart quickly recovered, her eyes froze over and her mind set in determination.

"I want a separation," she spoke and pulled away from his embrace.

She did not flinch when his eyes clouded over with so many emotions she could not name them all. She watched as he stared at her in complete disbelief.

"Wha…what did you say?" he asked, taking a step back.

"You heard me! I need to be away from here, away from you! I need time to figure out if I want to stay married to you or if I want a divorce," she snapped angrily at him.

"What the fuck? Where hell did all this come from? What the fuck did I do to make you hate me? What, damn it?!"

His head swam in confusion, pain, and anger, his body twisted in nausea and his heart felt betrayed.

"You care too much that is what you did, instead of letting me work things out after my accident. I don't hate you, but I don't know if I love you that way anymore."

Inuyasha felt his throat constrict, closing off his oxygen supply. He did not know what to think or how to feel. Never in a million years had he expected Kikyou to ask for a separation.

"I am leaving to visit my sister after the hospital's event tomorrow. I ask that you leave the house until my departure and that you do not attend the picnic either. When I get back in about a week or so, I will start moving out."

"Kikyou…?"

"No," her heart quivered from his pitiful sight. Her resistance was wearing thin, and if he stayed any longer, she would wind up taking back her decision. She needed time alone for her, to get her emotions and feelings in check. He would make it without her, he had never needed her anyways.

"Please just go…Get Out!" she screamed when tears started to prick at her eyes.

Inuyasha's eyes grew hard; his normal bright amber depths were a dark sandy color. Without a single word, he walked out of the kitchen, and a few seconds later, the front door slam shut.

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He had been walking for hours, thinking about his wife, her decision. The rain had long since soaked into his bones; his hair clung to his face and jacket. His feet ached from his strenuous pace. It was a gloomy, dark wet night and the streetlights caused a yellow glow to light his path. Thunder cracked in the distance but he stared blankly at the sidewalk unaffected.

He passed a tan limo just as a female stepped out bidding her lover farewell. He continued his route not registering his surroundings and lost in his thoughts. His mind ignored the gasp and fast taps of high heel shoes behind him.

"Inuyasha?" A familiar voice filled his ears causing in him to stop but not turn around.

A small hand grabbed his shoulder, "Look at me!"

Slowly he turned, confused. Had he walked that far? His answer was at hand when Kagome's pale, worried eyes met his. She stood holding an umbrella over the both of them as if it would make a difference for him since he was already soaked.

"Kagome?" he shook his head, looking up at the apartment building on his left side. It was the building Kagome lived in; hence he had traveled a good distance since he lived on the other side of the city.

"What's wrong, you look pale?" she asked, placing her warm hand on his forehead, then his cheek.

He didn't look at her, only stared hopelessly at the piece of lint on her shoulder. The rain drummed against the forest green umbrella echoing into his mind.

Kagome let out a heavy sigh, "C'mon, we'll talk inside." She said as she looped her arms with his and walked towards her home.

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Sorry so short…it was a filler chapter, somewhat.

Next chapter will start where this one left off…

Rin and Sess at the club: ^___~

Inu and Kag "talk": double ^___~

San and Mir arrive: ^__^

But nothing too much with san and miro until chapter 8, sorry guys.

Please REVIEW!

Until Next Time…