InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Special delivery ❯ Hard day's work ( Chapter 43 )

Chapter 43: Hard day's work

 

 

A/N: After their impromptu meeting, let's see how our favorite demons are doing on the professional side of their lives.

 

Thank you to my fantastic reviewers:

 

Sychotic

Soojinyeh

Kiari 13

Sesshkagufan13

BlackMagicWhiteMagic

Killersupergirl (Glad to have you back!)

 

Kaguxsessfan (Always great to get new reviewers. I'm so glad you found the chapter realistic. I'll definitely keep writing and try to update weekly.)

 

Once again thank you to Dogsfang for the PM.

 

 

On MediaMiner.org

 

Zetsuii (More angst? Ha you better not complain when I make the story drag longer lol..)

 

Auna17 (Thanks. I'm glad you appreciate the slowness of the story. It's true that my fics tend to drag, but it's for the greater good.)

 

Disclaimer: If I owned Inuyasha, Sesshy and Kagura would be happily mated and working on silver haired baby number three by now…

 

 

“Talking”

`Thoughts'

 

 

“Kagura!” A shrill voice called loudly.

 

“What is it now Jakotsu?!” The wind sorceress asked as she walked from the hallway where she had been busy organizing magazines to go towards her boss. The thin human was in the room that was known as his classroom, staring at his reflection in a mirror hung on the wall.

 

“I need to step out, and I'd like you to take care of my 9:30 class for me.” The young man explained just as he turned to the side to observe his profile in the mirror. A slight frown on his brow, he wiped smudges of dark red lipstick at the corner of his lips. `Bankotsu and his surprise kisses always wreak havoc on my make up.' Only thinking about it made him flush in pleasure.

 

“It's the one about feeding, right?” She asked excited at the prospect of it. Ever since she had started working at the young mother center, she had yet to conduct a class by herself. She had assisted both Bankotsu and Jakotsu, had helped their pretty receptionist Akemi file and fill out forms and files, but mostly she had looked after children of mothers while they were attending classes or information sessions.

 

“Yeah. You can handle it right?” He asked eyeing Kagura suspiciously.

 

“Of course. I do have a daughter…” She teased him as she rolled her eyes. “It's not in your habit to cancel a class… so what's up?”

 

“None of your business.” He snapped despite the small secretive smile on his lips. Kagura could tell that he actually wanted to speak about his little secret, but only wanted to be probed a little more.

 

“Ah come on, you can confide in me you know.” She chuckled as she walked towards her employer, and stopped next to him. For the few weeks she had worked at the center, Kagura had become quite close to Jakotsu, despite his professed hatred of women. `To think that when I took classes and sought help here, I didn't really like him, but rather got along with Bankotsu…'

 

“Fine fine. I know you won't leave me alone until I tell you.” He feigned exasperation and put a lid on his excitement. My dear Bankotsu's birthday is coming up, so I have to go pick a special gift for him.” Jakotsu tried masking his excitation. He loved his man, and getting him something he'd like as proof of his affection pleased him in return.

 

“Oh I see. Well good luck with your search; I always have so much trouble finding fitting presents for people…” Kagura remarked thoughtfully. `Not that I have had many people to give gifts to…I guess I was lucky Sesshoumaru isn't that hard to please.' The wind sorceress suddenly winced, shocked to where her thoughts were leading her once again. Only thinking about the dog demon hurt her immensely. `I hope he liked the pie. Despite how he claims not to like sugar, he does like my desserts.' She killed her train of thoughts with a groan. No matter how much she tried, her thoughts always brought her back to the dog demon.

 

“Ugh don't I know it? Plus Banks is so hard to shop for…” He sighed exasperatedly.

 

“My my you have such a good heart. I don't know why you wish to keep that hating façade up.” Kagura chuckled as she started setting up for the classroom she would conduct. Knowing that her daughter was well taken care of, she at least had peace of mind on that end.

 

`When I'm unable to, it's great to have Akemi look after Kanna. At least now I can work freely.' The wind sorceress thought as she placed pamphlets about feeding regimes of infants on each chair. She hoped that many mothers would show up at her first class since the number of women seeking help at the center tended to fluctuate greatly.

 

“I do hate women.” Jakotsu commented, his eyes heavy with eye shadow, followed her movements silently approving of Kagura's actions. `It seems she will be able to take over just fine after all.'

 

“Then why would you open and run a mother center?” Kagura asked. The question had been weighing on her mind for some time; even, when she had been one of the clueless and desperate women seeking help and support.

 

“That's quite a simple answer. For Bankotsu… He loves kids, and since last time I checked I couldn't give him any…” Jakotsu murmured one of his deepest and most hurtful secrets.

 

“Then why wouldn't you open a nursery or preschool or whatever?” Kagura asked gently. She stopped prepping up for her class to look at her employer who had quickly become a friend. She could easily discern the cloudy look of hurt in his dark eyes, felt closer to him, as she knew the feeling all too well.

 

“We tried, but not everyone is as open minded as you are. Many people were uncomfortable with leaving their kids in the care of two gay men. Besides you may not know it, but both Bankotsu and I did a lot of… crappy things in our youth. Giving back to people and helping for a change, well it feels kind of good you know…” He decided to remain vague. After all he did not want Kagura to know about the short time in their adolescence he, his lover and their friends he called `brothers,' had spent in jail, or on the run, nor did he want to tell her how he and Bankotsu had gathered up the money to start their center…

 

“Wow! You do have a golden heart. I don't know if you realize it, but your center does help and bring so much to people. Three years ago I was just like these women outside. Lost and scared, but you guys helped me through one of the hardest times of my life.”

 

“Oh please don't get all mushy and emotional on me; it's disgusting. This is why I hate women! They're so overly emotional… Though if I was under torture, and forced to talk, I could maybe admit that you're a good asset to the place.” Jakotsu scoffed.

 

“Now now who's getting mushy and emotional here?” Kagura grinned mirth in her eyes.

 

“Ugh let's get off this topic. I have to go, but here before I forget.” The young man fished inside his purse for a stack of flyers. “Be sure to hand them around.”

 

Kagura took the papers and decided to read them to satisfy her curiosity. She arched an eyebrow when she noticed that it was a notice for the possibility of a scholarship.

 

“What is this?” The wind sorceress asked her employer.

 

“Hum my brother… I mean… good friend” He corrected himself. Jakotsu had stopped referring to his close friends as such ever since they had put their shady past as the band of seven to rest. “Suikotsu needs to wash his conscience. He benefited from a scholarship to pay for his long medical studies, and since now he has a lucrative private clinic, he decided to do like Banks and me and start giving back to people…”

 

“By creating scholarships in return?” Kagura questioned. She was so interested by the prospect of having a new opportunity, that she did not ponder on the fact that the name Suikotsu seemed familiar to her.

 

“Yep for single mothers who want to go to college... Hum could it be that you are interested?” Jakotsu asked, suppressing a grin at seeing a twinkle in Kagura's crimson eyes.

 

“I've always wanted to further my education, but couldn't afford it.” She admitted crimson eye once more resting on the stack of flyers.

 

“Then go ahead and send an application. Suikotsu is going to make his pick in less than a week though…” At the glare Kagura sent him, he added “I was supposed to give out these flyers a month ago, but I kind of forgot. Oh well gotta run!”

 

Without another word, Jakotsu left the classroom, his heeled boots making a sharp and loud clicking sound.

 

“A possible ticket to a college education…” Kagura's crimson eyes glowed when she thought about it. Her dream of independence was now so close that she could almost taste it.

 

 

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000

 

 

Sesshoumaru settled down, his golden eyes roaming around him. The dog demon was seated in the large conference room situated in the building of his agency. Inuyasha was seated next to him, on his right, the occasional twitch of his hanyou ears betraying his nervousness. A kick under the table to the half demon's leg, courtesy of his half brother remedied to the problem. Inuyasha sent Sesshoumaru a nasty glare, but his nervousness was elevated.

 

On the other hand, Miroku was seated comfortably at Sesshoumaru's left, a silly grin plastered on his lips. The human was looking forward to this board meeting, more than he had in a long time.

 

“Why have you invited me here? I really do not see the reason for my presence.” None other than Mrs. Yamashita said haughtily, her gaze dropping on Sesshoumaru's seated form across from her.

 

`Well maybe he aims to show me the importance my company has for him. What other reason could he have to allow me to participate in his agency's board meeting?' The `b-bags' representative thought to herself, a proud triumphant smile on her lips.

 

“Here you go.” Kagome smiled warmly as she finished serving coffee to the many people around the table. She smirked when both Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru declined. The blatant, yet denied by both brothers, similarities between the two always amused her to no end. After one last wink to her fiancé, Kagome left the meeting room.

 

“Well Mr. Takahashi. Getting rid of this awful secretary you used to have is quite a good improvement.” Mrs. Yamashita commented just before taking a sip of her coffee. “True talent cannot be made up by physical attributes.” She snorted under her breath. Despite how low she had spoken, her last words were not lost on Sesshoumaru's sensitive ears.

 

“What did you say?” The dog demon asked, his golden gaze narrowing.

 

“I was merely referring to the fact that some young women think that having… an attractive body can make up for a lack of intellect.” She thought about the wind sorceress.

 

“Mrs. Yamashita, one cannot be blamed if your husband enjoys the female flesh a little too much.” Sesshoumaru paid great attention to keep his words as cryptic as possible. It would not do if anyone other than the `b-bags' representative was to understand he was talking of Kagura, and her past.

 

Inuyasha shot his brother a surprised look, but did not comment on his words. Miroku on the other hand knew what Sesshoumaru was referring to, and sunk slightly in his chair, as he did not want to draw any attention to him. After all he had not forgotten the punch Sesshoumaru had laid on his jaw. Despite Sango's gentle nursing his jaw and cheek had remained sore for a very long time.

 

“I demand an apology Sesshoumaru!” The older woman said stopping the pretense of respect, as she took to her feet.

 

“I think one is not warranted.” He retorted, ignoring the looks of shock the other share holders of his company were sending him. He even grinned when he noticed one of his father's collaborator, an aging fellow dog demon had grown crimson in shock, and seemed close to fainting.

 

“In that case I shall leave, and the Takahashi agency can forget any dealings with the `b-bags' company.” Yamashita threatened. She was sure that Sesshoumaru would be afraid of losing an important client, and would therefore not think twice before apologizing profusely to her in public.

 

“Be my guest. I trust you can show yourself to the door. Please do it in a prompt manner, we here have much business to conduct.” Sesshoumaru retorted as he leaned back inside his comfortable leather bound chair. He hid his amusement at seeing the revolted look of hatred and anger on the older woman's face.

 

“Sesshoumaru! You will apologize!” Kichiro Kanzaki the older dog demon who used to work with his father roared angrily as he stood up. He had been a great friend of Mrs. Yamashita for many years, and could not stand to hear Sesshoumaru, who he considered to be a mere child, disrespect her in such a way. Nor did Kichiro want to lose the contract with `b-bags,' on which he had worked on for a long time.

 

“I will do no such thing. If you wish to do so, Kichiro you may escort Mrs. Yamashita to the door...” Sesshoumaru at his father's former collaborator with insolence, defying him, just as he had wanted to for a long time.

 

`I may not have wanted to take over the agency, but now that I have, I will make it my own. It is indeed time to make my own path, the same way Kagura is making hers…' Sesshoumaru thought to himself. He had thought about his plan for a long time, and now that he was implementing it, he felt glad and empowered like never before.

 

“No need. You will never see me here again even when you realize how grave of a mistake you have just made.” With these last words, and ignoring Kichiro's pleading eyes, Mrs. Yamashita exited the meeting room.

 

“What has gotten into you boy?!” The old dog demon asked, his words mirroring the sentiments of the other major share holders of the Takahashi agency present in the room.

 

“This Sesshoumaru is simply taking my independence. “ He stated matter-of-factly, deciding this time to ignore the older demon referring to him as `boy.'

 

`In any case pretty soon he will not dare disrespect me in such a way.' Sesshoumaru thought happily.

 

“What is the meaning of this?!” Kichiro growled, his golden eyes bearing down on Sesshoumaru. “Anyway whatever you want to do will have to go through this board.” His last words were met by a rumble of assent by the other men and women seated at the table. They were comforted by the fact that Sesshoumaru would not be able to make any important decision for the agency as long as the members of the board were against it. Due to that, the dog demon often times cursed the day he had agreed to sell shares of his agency to finance its growth.

 

Sesshoumaru chuckled before answering. “Hum you are wrong there. This Sesshoumaru has acquired enough shares to actually rule MY agency as I see fit.”

 

“You lie!” A hedgehog demon exclaimed his own anger. “According to our agreement it is impossible. The older demon ran a finger over his gray moustache. He was referring to the fact that when Sesshoumaru was selling shares of his company, he had agreed for his brother and him not to own over 45 percent of the company. It was a sure way to contain the power he could have over the Takahashi agency. It also forced him to have to consult the other share holders on major decisions, or in even in the choice of their clients.

 

“Ever since my father's death, I let you old buffoons dictate too much of the going-ons in this company, but from now on I am in charge. I have acknowledged our agreement. I still only own the 25 percent of the agency, I have inherited from father, and Inuyasha his 20. Adding the 15% Miroku has just acquired, it gives the three of us enough power over any other share holders.” Finally speaking the words made Sesshoumaru feel elated.

 

“Ridiculous. Where did he get the money to make such a purchase?” Kichiro growled angry at seeing he was over powered, and that there was probably nothing he could do about it. The three friends now owned 60% of the agency, which made them the major share holders, and enabled them to rule the company as they wished without having to care about the opinion of the other share holders.

 

“He he believe it or not, but my old drunkard uncle gave me an early inheritance…” Miroku chuckled rubbing the back of his head with his hand. He of course had just lied, as Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha had been the one to give him the money, as none of them were able to actually buy more shares than they possessed.

 

`This Sesshoumaru is now not a frightened young man, and I am more than able to conduct the company as I see fit.' He thought before speaking “Miroku was able to buy out some of the company's very minor shareholders at an appealing price.” He blatantly lied, to his surprise, he had had to spend much more money than he had anticipated.

 

`But it was worth every single penny.' He thought to himself as his cold amber gaze travelled to the face of each member of the board. Some were resigned, shocked, others impassive, but the looks of seething anger and hatred in the eyes of Kichiro Kanzaki made Sesshoumaru's heart soar in pure joy.

 

“Now that you are merely minor share holders, your presence at this board meeting is not needed.” Sesshoumaru stated just as he walked over to the door, opening it wide. The meaning of his action was not lost on the former board members, and with sour expressions on their faces, they all marched out.

 

“You will come to regret this decision little boy.” Kichiro Kanzaki snorted when he walked past Sesshoumaru.

 

“Feh! That went well.” Inuyasha commented as he too stood up to approach his brother. “So how does it feel to sit on the throne?” The younger brother asked him with a smirk.

 

“As if everything finally is as it should be.” Sesshoumaru grinned back, golden eyes roaming over the empty board room. “Our first order of business will be to start focusing on more lucrative companies, the ones dealing with common goods.”

 

“You mean companies that deal in consumer products? But `b-bags' would fall under this category.” Miroku could not help but remark.

 

“To be more specific, we will only deal with companies whose heads or representatives are not unbearably annoying.” Sesshoumaru replied. His remark made both Inuyasha and Miroku laugh; both men could not stand Mrs. Yamashita, and understood quite well Sesshoumaru's distaste.

 

“In my opinion, you should rather be working on getting a new secretary. A pretty one too.” Miroku said winking at his boss.

 

The dog demon did his best to hide his anger when he answered. “Jaken has contacted employment agencies. I should have a... replacement for Kagura's vacant position soon.” He wished that mending his romantic life could be as easy as hiring a new employee.

 

`I said I would be patient before trying to get Kagura back, but waiting is becoming increasingly difficult. Her visit did not help either…' Sesshoumaru repressed the urge to let out a sigh.

 

“Hum Sesshoumaru? Are you lost in your thoughts again?” Miroku asked tilting his head to the side to observe his boss and friend. As of late he had remarked that the ever focused dog demon seemed to let his mind drift away more and more often.

 

“Now that the agency is under our complete control, we have much more work, so what are you still doing here? Get back to work!” Sesshoumaru growled, and Miroku and Inuyasha quickly complied.

 

 

To be continued…

 

A/N: Both Kagura and Sesshoumaru are on their way to independence… will they succeed? The next chapter will be named Encounters.

 

I am so sorry to say that there won't be any update next week. I started a new semester at school, and justa started a new job as well. I am still trying to find enough time to balance school, work and writing. Unfortunately I haven't figured out a time to write yet, but I will soon (even if I have to sacrifice precious sleep lol).

 

See you all in two weeks!! I promise the next chapter is going to be a very interesting one.