InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Untitled ❯ Chp 5 ( Chapter 5 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: misfitstep 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 09.18.2008 | Pages: 4 | Words: 4.2K | Visits: 313 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 09.18.2008 | Pages: 4 | Words: 4.2K | Visits: 313 | Status: Work In Progress
I know its been a while since I’ve last posted but I have been working on this chapter for about 2 or 3 weeks now even at my internship, which is a no-no. The things I do for fiction. Anyway, I hope you like it and hope you’ll leave some love. I’ll try to get the next chapter up as soon as possible.
Kagome had not been having a great week after Inuyasha had let her have those two days off. Surprisingly, neither one had any plans about getting the other back with one of their games but it wasn’t as if they had the time to. Inuyasha had been called away to Kyoto with his father and older brother to attend business conferences which left her to fend for herself.
The half-demon had been running around packing his things for the first two days of her return. He was so unorganized. Before he had left he did tell her that he would be back until Tuesday which was tomorrow. Kagome hoped that he would still call her by her name and that he wouldn’t go back to treating her like he had before when she started working for him. The office itself seemed to miss being abused by his pens, books, or whatever else he had felt like throwing at it at the time.
Kagome glanced up when the elevator sounded someone’s arrival. She hadn’t expected to have company seeing as how Inuyasha wasn’t there and that she wasn’t of that much importance.
“Oh hi, Kagome. Working hard?” Izayoi asked.
“Trying to. It’s a lot of work.”
Izayoi didn’t miss the lack of vibrance or air of confidence that usually exuded from the girl. Sitting down in front of her in one of the chairs, she studied her for a moment to deduce that she was indeed looking a little worse for wear.
“Do you miss Inuyasha?” She asked cheerily.
“What? No!” Kagome blushed scarlet. “Its nothing like that.”
“Well, something seems different about you. I was assuming that you were missing his company.” Izayoi grinned slyly.
“We really don’t talk that much. When I first started he didn’t have the time of day for me and since last week he’s been too busy to talk.”
“Ah, yes. He went out of town on that conference thing. I think they are a total waste of time but it will give Inuyasha and Sesshomaru a chance to sharpen their skills. Some sort of mock interviews and things such as that is what I think Taisho said. So much business bores me.” She giggled sheepishly.
“If you don’t mind my asking?” Kagome looked down at the desk to avoid Izayoi’s questioning gaze.
“Yes?”
“Sesshomaru. He isn’t your son, is he?”
“No. Not biologically anyway. I treat him as though he were one of my own. His mother died during childbirth and Taisho raised him for four years by himself until he met me. Have you met him yet?”
“No. I’ve heard about him though from different people.”
“Well, what other people tell you isn’t always the truth. He may seem like the cold, hard type of businessman, but underneath, once you get to know him, he isn’t all that bad. Since he’s a full-demon he tells everyone he despises humans but what they don’t know, and I hope you won’t tell anyone, is that Sesshomaru actually has one of the neighbor’s children come over to play with him. She brings over her little typewriter and pretends to help him with his paperwork. It’s so adorable. If he finds out that I told you this he would kill me.”
Kagome and Izayoi both giggled at the mental image of such a strong man being manipulated by a small child.
“Your secret is safe with me.”
Izayoi reached her hand across the table and shook it with Kagome’s.
**********
Kagome resumed her work right after Izayoi had left. It was hard to believe what she said about Sesshomaru. She still hadn’t met him yet but from what she had been hearing from other people she was able to piece together his personality somewhat.
Looking to the clock she guessed it would be close to her lunch break. 12:36. Yep. Just another few minutes and she would duck into the small break room on the floor to eat the simple meal she had brought with her.
Perhaps since Inuyasha was gone she might eat at her desk. Glancing at all the files surrounding her had Kagome rethinking her plan. There would be hell to pay if she accidentally spilled soda or food all over them. She would never hear the end of Inuyasha’s mouth if she messed up any of the paperwork.
Again the elevator sounded for the second time that day and again, Izayoi stepped out of it.
“Kagome? Would you like to accompany me to lunch? I won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.” She chirped happily.
The young woman nodded sheepishly from being asked out to lunch by such an important woman and because she was already low on cash. Kagome was trying to save what little she could just incase of emergencies. She had paid a little on her rent that was past due and she had paid the utilities for last month.
Collecting her purse she hurriedly walked to Izayoi, who was waiting by the elevator, and the two left the building and entered the awaiting limousine.
Once they reached their destination Kagome visibly paled. She watched transfixed as Izayoi walked casually into the five star restaurant as though she had done this all her life. She probably had. Tears wanted to pour from the raven-haired girl’s eyes when she realized she wouldn’t be able to afford anything the restaurant had to offer.
Dejectedly she sat at the secluded table the host picked and, for respect and not to draw any attention that wandered their way, picked up the menu. Food names, descriptions, and extreme prices blurred together. Never mind that she didn’t have the money to pay for any of this but she had never heard of half the dishes listed.
“Get whatever you want, Kagome. Its on me.” Izayoi smiled from the other side of her menu.
The older woman hadn’t skipped a beat when she noticed that Kagome’s eyes began to water and that she had visibly begun to shake.
“But I…”
The businesswoman waved her hand dismissively. “I couldn’t expect my guest to pay for her lunch. It was I who suggested we come here in the first place so please, get what you wish.”
Kagome was aware that after the drinks were brought and their order placed that Izayoi was staring at her. Nervously, she glanced up with a questioning look adorning her face.
“I don’t mean to pry but is there anything wrong? I noticed this morning that you weren’t acting yourself.” Apparent concern was evident in her voice.
“Everything is fine. I wouldn’t want to trouble you with my problems.” Kagome replied as she mechanically swirled her soda with the straw.
“I would like for you to be able to tell me, Kagome. Its upsetting for me to see someone under distress.”
Tears leaked from the corners of Kagome’s chocolate eyes as she stared down at the crisp linen cloth of the table.
“I haven’t been able to sleep decently in days because of my neighbors. My apartment is falling apart because the landlord is too lazy and cheap to fix anything and, what’s worse, is that he went up on the rent to where I can barely afford it again. I’m halfway caught up on what I already owed him and now I’m going to be behind again.” Kagome sniffed.
Worriedly, Izayoi prompted her. “What about another complex or getting rid of a couple things like your internet or cell phone?”
“That’s the cheapest one I could find. Its still the cheapest even though he raised the rent. As for the internet or cell phone, I don‘t have either. I can barely afford my regular phone.”
Kagome dabbed at her eyes as the waiter sat their food down. Quietly she picked at her food as did Izayoi.
“I have an idea.” Izayoi chirped.
“What is it?”
“You could come stay with me. I’m sure Taisho wouldn’t mind and there’s plenty of rooms to go around.”
Kagome sat up alarmed. “I couldn’t possibly do that. That‘s asking too much.”
“Of course you could. It will be sort of a transition stage for you, if you will. Just until you save up some money and get back on your feet. Its perfect.”
Kagome sat quietly as Izayoi went about arrangements. Her brain was thinking a mile a minute as she tried to process what it would be like to live among the Takahashi family. What would it be like to live with servants coming to your beck and call? What would it be like to live alongside Izayoi and Taisho of all people? Inuyasha?
Surely the half-demon would protest to her living in the same house as him. They were only just beginning to communicate civilly to one another. With the way things were sounding, Izayoi was going to have her in the house in the next two days.
As Izayoi prattled on, Kagome ate her lunch in relative silence as she tried to pay attention to the different things she was being told about.
**********
Inuyasha sighed dramatically for the umpteenth time. Business wasn’t his strong suit. If it were up to him he would leave his family’s business in the capable hands of his brother but it would be a strong disappointment to his father. He didn’t know what he wanted to do for a living but he did know that he wanted to be in the country where people were a rarity so he could do his own thing without others bothering him every second.
Surprisingly, he wanted to be in the confines of his office. Knowing Kagome was on the other side of the door working away put his mind at ease. If he listened closely he could hear her soft voice answering the phone or quietly humming to herself.
Ever since he had spotted her outside gazing at Onigumo Enterprises and Takahashi Corporation he had developed strange feelings for the girl. Right now it was impossible to put a name to those feelings since he never felt them before. Kagome was definitely different from the other girls that had thrown themselves at him. Maybe it was because she never actually tried throwing herself at him.
Kagome hadn’t even tried hitting on him once. Usually she talked or looked at him with indifference, something that he definitely wasn’t accustomed to. The girls he was used to usually caked make-up on their faces, talked with shrill voices, didn’t wear enough clothes, and acted fake.
His new secretary was definitely a breath of fresh air to his usual routine. He couldn’t wait to get back to Tokyo where his bed and his office were. Especially if Kagome was working. He couldn’t let her know that he was starting to like her company though. Inuyasha doubted she felt the same anyway.
Walking down the hall of the hotel where he was currently residing for the week, he spotted his father and Sesshomaru just outside his door talking.
“What brings you two here?” He asked. “Let’s go home.”
“We are going to be here for a few more days.” Taisho chimed in when Inuyasha went to unlock his door.
Inuyasha spun on his heel. “What the hell for?”
“Watch your language.” Taisho said gruffly. “I had a call earlier from a man I went to school with. It seems he needs a little financial assistance for his company he is trying to keep up. He’s only started owning his own business a couple months ago.”
“They’re so unorganized. Ridiculous.”
“Sesshomaru.” Taisho chided. “He hasn’t been able to come up with a proposition yet. We are going to stay here and help him get the feel of what it should say before we agree to help him financially.”
“How about you stay and help while I go home?”
“It will look better if you were there Inuyasha. Consider it training.”
Inuyasha growled low in his throat as he watched his brother and father go into their respective rooms. Sesshomaru last as he threw a sinister grin in his younger brother’s direction. Walking into his own room, Inuyasha flopped down on the bed, without bothering to change, and drifted off for a nap.
**********
Kagome stared slack-jawed at her new surroundings. Peaches and soft golds covered every inch of the room with a touch of pale coral. The bed was covered with coral satin sheets and a bedspread with a dozen pillows resting against the headboard. The curtains were a pale peach that draped from ceiling to floor. They were thin enough to let in a few rays of the afternoon sun but thick enough for privacy.
"I hope you like it here. I personally designed the room myself." Izayoi boasted.
"I love it. You have exquisite tastes." Kagome complimented.
"Thank you dear. There's a walk-in closet just off the bathroom at your disposal. You can choose to bathe in the tub or in the separate shower." Walking over to a small desk she ran her hand over the back of the chair that was positioned in front of it. "You can do any extra work here if you wish. There's also a chaise over there for you." Pointing towards the French double doors that led onto the balcony was indeed a white chaise with a rolled pillow that matched the curtains.
"Use this room as you would your own. We'll be eating by ourselves tonight. The boys won't be back before the day after tomorrow. Some other arrangement came up. Anyway, I'll see you around seven."
Izayoi left the room and the door clicked softly behind her. Kagome looked once around the room where he gaze finally settled on her suitcases. Heaving a deep sigh she trudged to the closet, bags dragging behind her.
Izayoi had her go home early to pack her bags yesterday. Around six thirty some of her friends from her husband's company had came and took the boxes Kagome had packed to go to storage. Kagome only brought the necessary essentials with her such as toiletry items, clothes, jewelry, and a few personal items that she held dear to her such as pictures and a couple of figurines.
Making it to the closet she couldn’t help but stare at every detail as she twirled around. It was almost as big as her room. Every wall had hanging shelves for her clothes with smaller shelves underneath to hold her shoes. There was also three floor to ceiling mirrors and a small ottoman. Becoming depressed, Kagome realized that her clothes wouldn’t even fill up even one wall of the huge closet. Drawing in a ragged breath, she settled herself on the floor and began to pull out her small wardrobe.
**********
Dinner with Izayoi had gone off without a hitch. Kagome was soon relaxed in the older woman’s presence as soon as dinner had started. Surprisingly, the chefs had fixed oden which happened to be her favorite. Soon after, Izayoi had excused herself to take care of some personal matters. That hadn’t bothered Kagome in the slightest. She was itching to try out her new bed. It would be a huge change of pace to sleep in a room with no noisy neighbors overhead. Hopefully, her work performance would pick up since she was going to be getting rest from now on.
After quickly showering and changing into her pajamas, the raven-haired girl launched herself onto her bed, and in forgetting that it was satin she was launching herself onto, quickly found herself on the other side of the bed on the floor. Glancing around quickly hoping that no one heard, Kagome bursted out laughing and righted herself. Climbing on the bed, with a little more caution, she pulled back the blankets and crawled in. Soon she drifted off into a peaceful slumber that wasn’t plagued with nightmares of not being able to pay her bills. Izayoi was kind enough to pay off the rest of her utilities and rent for her until she could save up some money. Her storage compartment was even being paid by Izayoi until they could clear out some things in one of the outside sheds that they personally used just incase Kagome had some things that she wanted or needed to pull out.
**********
The next two days went fast for Inuyasha but not fast enough as he watched from his window as the airplane landed. Seeing as how it was already past five, the half-demon decided to go on home and crash in his room.
Inuyasha figured Kagome had already gone home for the day herself so he would see her tomorrow before the weekend.
As the limousine carrying him, his brother, and father rolled up the driveway, Inuyasha was dying to get out of the restricting clothes he was wearing. Already he had tossed his jacket and tie, leaving the top two buttons of his white dress shirt undone.
Before the car could come to a complete stop, the young man was out of it and to the doors of his home. Throwing the doors open before the butler could even get to them Inuyasha came face-to-face with his mother.
“I’m guessing you’re happy to be home.” Izayoi greeted.
“Do I have to run our business? I’m not fitted for this.” Inuyasha complained.
“I know its not you but your father, and even Sessh, are counting on you.”
“What about what I want?” Inuyasha demanded.
Izayoi sighed as she couldn’t come up with a response. Taisho had great hopes that his two sons would work together to run the family business successfully when he no longer could not. Sesshomaru had no qualms with taking over but Inuyasha wanted to do his own thing. Izayoi couldn’t blame him. Ever since he was little he had been very independent. Always counting on himself instead of others.
Izayoi watched as soon as Taisho and Sesshomaru approached that Inuyasha left.
“What’s his problem?” Taisho asked.
Izayoi shrugged. “He’s growing up.”
“He’s twenty-six. He should already be grown up.” Taisho replied over his shoulder on the way up to his room after kissing his wife on the cheek.
Izayoi sighed again. Men were hopeless cases.
**********
Before Inuyasha could put his hand on the door knob, soft music from the room directly next to his caught his attention. No one had used that room since he turned twenty and the maid never cleaned on Thursdays. No one should even be in that room.
Creeping cautiously to the door he pressed his ear up against it. No other sound could be heard except for the radio. Not being one that had manners on certain occasions, and thinking that a servant had the gall to slack off, Inuyasha latched onto the door handle, turning it slowly.
Without warning that door was snatched from his grip and thrown open. Before him stood the last person he expected to be in his home.
“Kagome?”
“Hey, Inuyasha. Welcome back.”
“What the hell are you doing in my house?” Inuyasha growled.
“Your mother is letting me stay here.” Kagome replied, panicking.
“My mother? Why?”
Kagome didn’t want to tell him the real reason she was going to be staying here but she soon realized that with his demonic abilities that he would be able to tell if she was lying. She was never good with keeping secrets.
“Because I can’t afford my place.”
Instead of being happy that a towel-clad Kagome was in his house, Inuyasha was upset that such an event as this had happened without his knowing or his output. She was his secretary for crying out loud. He was sure that if his father’s employees found out about this that he would never hear the end of it and Kagome would be up for all sorts of harassment.
“Go find another place.” He barked.
“That’s the cheapest place I could afford.” She replied sheepishly, an embarrassed blush dusting the bridge of her nose.
Inuyasha growled low in his throat. “Fine. Whatever.”
Kagome watched as Inuyasha sulkily walked into his room. She had expected a reaction from him but anger wasn’t it. Remembering her state of dress she hurriedly shut her door and went about finding something suitable to wear for dinner.
**********
“Honestly Inuyasha. Quit acting like a spoiled baby. Kagome is going through a difficult time right now.”
Inuyasha said nothing as he picked at his food.
“Taisho. Let him be. He’s obviously tired.” Izayoi scolded gently.
Taisho grumbled under his breath.
Kagome watched the exchange with keen interest then drew her attention to the little girl who was happily chattering away to Sesshomaru. Pretending not to hear the small six year old, the full-demon son prompted his father on some political issues that were present during that time.
Their interactions together as a family weren’t what she had pictured in her mind. She had expected silence at the table with serious tension stifling the air. Kagome’s stereotype of rich people that she and others had painted for her was starting to change before her very eyes.
Soon after dinner, Kagome excused herself to go to her room to get some much needed rest. Even after the great night’s sleep she had last night she was still exhausted. After soaking in a hot bath, she changed into the silk pajama set that Izayoi had given to her. The older woman explained that it was a present from one of her friends that had gotten the wrong size. Seeing as how Kagome was smaller than her, she figured that it would be better suited for her. Izayoi was right.
Snuggling down under the blankets and turning off the lights, Kagome was just about to succumb to sleep when the most God-awful music from Inuyasha’s room started to blare. Staring at the canopy of her bed, Kagome soon realized that it would probably be better off to have stayed in her apartment with her neighbors above her. They were a whole lot quieter than Inuyasha’s music. Knowing she would be overstepping her boundaries, the raven-haired girl just sighed instead of going over to his room to ask him to turn it down. Knowing him, he would probably just turn it up some more just to spite her.
Taking one of the many pillows at her feet, Kagome put it over her head hoping to drown out some of music. It helped to ease some of the noise but it also helped her to cease being able to breathe. Grumbling to herself, the raven-haired girl tried desperately to make it background noise. It was going to be a long night.
Kagome had not been having a great week after Inuyasha had let her have those two days off. Surprisingly, neither one had any plans about getting the other back with one of their games but it wasn’t as if they had the time to. Inuyasha had been called away to Kyoto with his father and older brother to attend business conferences which left her to fend for herself.
The half-demon had been running around packing his things for the first two days of her return. He was so unorganized. Before he had left he did tell her that he would be back until Tuesday which was tomorrow. Kagome hoped that he would still call her by her name and that he wouldn’t go back to treating her like he had before when she started working for him. The office itself seemed to miss being abused by his pens, books, or whatever else he had felt like throwing at it at the time.
Kagome glanced up when the elevator sounded someone’s arrival. She hadn’t expected to have company seeing as how Inuyasha wasn’t there and that she wasn’t of that much importance.
“Oh hi, Kagome. Working hard?” Izayoi asked.
“Trying to. It’s a lot of work.”
Izayoi didn’t miss the lack of vibrance or air of confidence that usually exuded from the girl. Sitting down in front of her in one of the chairs, she studied her for a moment to deduce that she was indeed looking a little worse for wear.
“Do you miss Inuyasha?” She asked cheerily.
“What? No!” Kagome blushed scarlet. “Its nothing like that.”
“Well, something seems different about you. I was assuming that you were missing his company.” Izayoi grinned slyly.
“We really don’t talk that much. When I first started he didn’t have the time of day for me and since last week he’s been too busy to talk.”
“Ah, yes. He went out of town on that conference thing. I think they are a total waste of time but it will give Inuyasha and Sesshomaru a chance to sharpen their skills. Some sort of mock interviews and things such as that is what I think Taisho said. So much business bores me.” She giggled sheepishly.
“If you don’t mind my asking?” Kagome looked down at the desk to avoid Izayoi’s questioning gaze.
“Yes?”
“Sesshomaru. He isn’t your son, is he?”
“No. Not biologically anyway. I treat him as though he were one of my own. His mother died during childbirth and Taisho raised him for four years by himself until he met me. Have you met him yet?”
“No. I’ve heard about him though from different people.”
“Well, what other people tell you isn’t always the truth. He may seem like the cold, hard type of businessman, but underneath, once you get to know him, he isn’t all that bad. Since he’s a full-demon he tells everyone he despises humans but what they don’t know, and I hope you won’t tell anyone, is that Sesshomaru actually has one of the neighbor’s children come over to play with him. She brings over her little typewriter and pretends to help him with his paperwork. It’s so adorable. If he finds out that I told you this he would kill me.”
Kagome and Izayoi both giggled at the mental image of such a strong man being manipulated by a small child.
“Your secret is safe with me.”
Izayoi reached her hand across the table and shook it with Kagome’s.
**********
Kagome resumed her work right after Izayoi had left. It was hard to believe what she said about Sesshomaru. She still hadn’t met him yet but from what she had been hearing from other people she was able to piece together his personality somewhat.
Looking to the clock she guessed it would be close to her lunch break. 12:36. Yep. Just another few minutes and she would duck into the small break room on the floor to eat the simple meal she had brought with her.
Perhaps since Inuyasha was gone she might eat at her desk. Glancing at all the files surrounding her had Kagome rethinking her plan. There would be hell to pay if she accidentally spilled soda or food all over them. She would never hear the end of Inuyasha’s mouth if she messed up any of the paperwork.
Again the elevator sounded for the second time that day and again, Izayoi stepped out of it.
“Kagome? Would you like to accompany me to lunch? I won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.” She chirped happily.
The young woman nodded sheepishly from being asked out to lunch by such an important woman and because she was already low on cash. Kagome was trying to save what little she could just incase of emergencies. She had paid a little on her rent that was past due and she had paid the utilities for last month.
Collecting her purse she hurriedly walked to Izayoi, who was waiting by the elevator, and the two left the building and entered the awaiting limousine.
Once they reached their destination Kagome visibly paled. She watched transfixed as Izayoi walked casually into the five star restaurant as though she had done this all her life. She probably had. Tears wanted to pour from the raven-haired girl’s eyes when she realized she wouldn’t be able to afford anything the restaurant had to offer.
Dejectedly she sat at the secluded table the host picked and, for respect and not to draw any attention that wandered their way, picked up the menu. Food names, descriptions, and extreme prices blurred together. Never mind that she didn’t have the money to pay for any of this but she had never heard of half the dishes listed.
“Get whatever you want, Kagome. Its on me.” Izayoi smiled from the other side of her menu.
The older woman hadn’t skipped a beat when she noticed that Kagome’s eyes began to water and that she had visibly begun to shake.
“But I…”
The businesswoman waved her hand dismissively. “I couldn’t expect my guest to pay for her lunch. It was I who suggested we come here in the first place so please, get what you wish.”
Kagome was aware that after the drinks were brought and their order placed that Izayoi was staring at her. Nervously, she glanced up with a questioning look adorning her face.
“I don’t mean to pry but is there anything wrong? I noticed this morning that you weren’t acting yourself.” Apparent concern was evident in her voice.
“Everything is fine. I wouldn’t want to trouble you with my problems.” Kagome replied as she mechanically swirled her soda with the straw.
“I would like for you to be able to tell me, Kagome. Its upsetting for me to see someone under distress.”
Tears leaked from the corners of Kagome’s chocolate eyes as she stared down at the crisp linen cloth of the table.
“I haven’t been able to sleep decently in days because of my neighbors. My apartment is falling apart because the landlord is too lazy and cheap to fix anything and, what’s worse, is that he went up on the rent to where I can barely afford it again. I’m halfway caught up on what I already owed him and now I’m going to be behind again.” Kagome sniffed.
Worriedly, Izayoi prompted her. “What about another complex or getting rid of a couple things like your internet or cell phone?”
“That’s the cheapest one I could find. Its still the cheapest even though he raised the rent. As for the internet or cell phone, I don‘t have either. I can barely afford my regular phone.”
Kagome dabbed at her eyes as the waiter sat their food down. Quietly she picked at her food as did Izayoi.
“I have an idea.” Izayoi chirped.
“What is it?”
“You could come stay with me. I’m sure Taisho wouldn’t mind and there’s plenty of rooms to go around.”
Kagome sat up alarmed. “I couldn’t possibly do that. That‘s asking too much.”
“Of course you could. It will be sort of a transition stage for you, if you will. Just until you save up some money and get back on your feet. Its perfect.”
Kagome sat quietly as Izayoi went about arrangements. Her brain was thinking a mile a minute as she tried to process what it would be like to live among the Takahashi family. What would it be like to live with servants coming to your beck and call? What would it be like to live alongside Izayoi and Taisho of all people? Inuyasha?
Surely the half-demon would protest to her living in the same house as him. They were only just beginning to communicate civilly to one another. With the way things were sounding, Izayoi was going to have her in the house in the next two days.
As Izayoi prattled on, Kagome ate her lunch in relative silence as she tried to pay attention to the different things she was being told about.
**********
Inuyasha sighed dramatically for the umpteenth time. Business wasn’t his strong suit. If it were up to him he would leave his family’s business in the capable hands of his brother but it would be a strong disappointment to his father. He didn’t know what he wanted to do for a living but he did know that he wanted to be in the country where people were a rarity so he could do his own thing without others bothering him every second.
Surprisingly, he wanted to be in the confines of his office. Knowing Kagome was on the other side of the door working away put his mind at ease. If he listened closely he could hear her soft voice answering the phone or quietly humming to herself.
Ever since he had spotted her outside gazing at Onigumo Enterprises and Takahashi Corporation he had developed strange feelings for the girl. Right now it was impossible to put a name to those feelings since he never felt them before. Kagome was definitely different from the other girls that had thrown themselves at him. Maybe it was because she never actually tried throwing herself at him.
Kagome hadn’t even tried hitting on him once. Usually she talked or looked at him with indifference, something that he definitely wasn’t accustomed to. The girls he was used to usually caked make-up on their faces, talked with shrill voices, didn’t wear enough clothes, and acted fake.
His new secretary was definitely a breath of fresh air to his usual routine. He couldn’t wait to get back to Tokyo where his bed and his office were. Especially if Kagome was working. He couldn’t let her know that he was starting to like her company though. Inuyasha doubted she felt the same anyway.
Walking down the hall of the hotel where he was currently residing for the week, he spotted his father and Sesshomaru just outside his door talking.
“What brings you two here?” He asked. “Let’s go home.”
“We are going to be here for a few more days.” Taisho chimed in when Inuyasha went to unlock his door.
Inuyasha spun on his heel. “What the hell for?”
“Watch your language.” Taisho said gruffly. “I had a call earlier from a man I went to school with. It seems he needs a little financial assistance for his company he is trying to keep up. He’s only started owning his own business a couple months ago.”
“They’re so unorganized. Ridiculous.”
“Sesshomaru.” Taisho chided. “He hasn’t been able to come up with a proposition yet. We are going to stay here and help him get the feel of what it should say before we agree to help him financially.”
“How about you stay and help while I go home?”
“It will look better if you were there Inuyasha. Consider it training.”
Inuyasha growled low in his throat as he watched his brother and father go into their respective rooms. Sesshomaru last as he threw a sinister grin in his younger brother’s direction. Walking into his own room, Inuyasha flopped down on the bed, without bothering to change, and drifted off for a nap.
**********
Kagome stared slack-jawed at her new surroundings. Peaches and soft golds covered every inch of the room with a touch of pale coral. The bed was covered with coral satin sheets and a bedspread with a dozen pillows resting against the headboard. The curtains were a pale peach that draped from ceiling to floor. They were thin enough to let in a few rays of the afternoon sun but thick enough for privacy.
"I hope you like it here. I personally designed the room myself." Izayoi boasted.
"I love it. You have exquisite tastes." Kagome complimented.
"Thank you dear. There's a walk-in closet just off the bathroom at your disposal. You can choose to bathe in the tub or in the separate shower." Walking over to a small desk she ran her hand over the back of the chair that was positioned in front of it. "You can do any extra work here if you wish. There's also a chaise over there for you." Pointing towards the French double doors that led onto the balcony was indeed a white chaise with a rolled pillow that matched the curtains.
"Use this room as you would your own. We'll be eating by ourselves tonight. The boys won't be back before the day after tomorrow. Some other arrangement came up. Anyway, I'll see you around seven."
Izayoi left the room and the door clicked softly behind her. Kagome looked once around the room where he gaze finally settled on her suitcases. Heaving a deep sigh she trudged to the closet, bags dragging behind her.
Izayoi had her go home early to pack her bags yesterday. Around six thirty some of her friends from her husband's company had came and took the boxes Kagome had packed to go to storage. Kagome only brought the necessary essentials with her such as toiletry items, clothes, jewelry, and a few personal items that she held dear to her such as pictures and a couple of figurines.
Making it to the closet she couldn’t help but stare at every detail as she twirled around. It was almost as big as her room. Every wall had hanging shelves for her clothes with smaller shelves underneath to hold her shoes. There was also three floor to ceiling mirrors and a small ottoman. Becoming depressed, Kagome realized that her clothes wouldn’t even fill up even one wall of the huge closet. Drawing in a ragged breath, she settled herself on the floor and began to pull out her small wardrobe.
**********
Dinner with Izayoi had gone off without a hitch. Kagome was soon relaxed in the older woman’s presence as soon as dinner had started. Surprisingly, the chefs had fixed oden which happened to be her favorite. Soon after, Izayoi had excused herself to take care of some personal matters. That hadn’t bothered Kagome in the slightest. She was itching to try out her new bed. It would be a huge change of pace to sleep in a room with no noisy neighbors overhead. Hopefully, her work performance would pick up since she was going to be getting rest from now on.
After quickly showering and changing into her pajamas, the raven-haired girl launched herself onto her bed, and in forgetting that it was satin she was launching herself onto, quickly found herself on the other side of the bed on the floor. Glancing around quickly hoping that no one heard, Kagome bursted out laughing and righted herself. Climbing on the bed, with a little more caution, she pulled back the blankets and crawled in. Soon she drifted off into a peaceful slumber that wasn’t plagued with nightmares of not being able to pay her bills. Izayoi was kind enough to pay off the rest of her utilities and rent for her until she could save up some money. Her storage compartment was even being paid by Izayoi until they could clear out some things in one of the outside sheds that they personally used just incase Kagome had some things that she wanted or needed to pull out.
**********
The next two days went fast for Inuyasha but not fast enough as he watched from his window as the airplane landed. Seeing as how it was already past five, the half-demon decided to go on home and crash in his room.
Inuyasha figured Kagome had already gone home for the day herself so he would see her tomorrow before the weekend.
As the limousine carrying him, his brother, and father rolled up the driveway, Inuyasha was dying to get out of the restricting clothes he was wearing. Already he had tossed his jacket and tie, leaving the top two buttons of his white dress shirt undone.
Before the car could come to a complete stop, the young man was out of it and to the doors of his home. Throwing the doors open before the butler could even get to them Inuyasha came face-to-face with his mother.
“I’m guessing you’re happy to be home.” Izayoi greeted.
“Do I have to run our business? I’m not fitted for this.” Inuyasha complained.
“I know its not you but your father, and even Sessh, are counting on you.”
“What about what I want?” Inuyasha demanded.
Izayoi sighed as she couldn’t come up with a response. Taisho had great hopes that his two sons would work together to run the family business successfully when he no longer could not. Sesshomaru had no qualms with taking over but Inuyasha wanted to do his own thing. Izayoi couldn’t blame him. Ever since he was little he had been very independent. Always counting on himself instead of others.
Izayoi watched as soon as Taisho and Sesshomaru approached that Inuyasha left.
“What’s his problem?” Taisho asked.
Izayoi shrugged. “He’s growing up.”
“He’s twenty-six. He should already be grown up.” Taisho replied over his shoulder on the way up to his room after kissing his wife on the cheek.
Izayoi sighed again. Men were hopeless cases.
**********
Before Inuyasha could put his hand on the door knob, soft music from the room directly next to his caught his attention. No one had used that room since he turned twenty and the maid never cleaned on Thursdays. No one should even be in that room.
Creeping cautiously to the door he pressed his ear up against it. No other sound could be heard except for the radio. Not being one that had manners on certain occasions, and thinking that a servant had the gall to slack off, Inuyasha latched onto the door handle, turning it slowly.
Without warning that door was snatched from his grip and thrown open. Before him stood the last person he expected to be in his home.
“Kagome?”
“Hey, Inuyasha. Welcome back.”
“What the hell are you doing in my house?” Inuyasha growled.
“Your mother is letting me stay here.” Kagome replied, panicking.
“My mother? Why?”
Kagome didn’t want to tell him the real reason she was going to be staying here but she soon realized that with his demonic abilities that he would be able to tell if she was lying. She was never good with keeping secrets.
“Because I can’t afford my place.”
Instead of being happy that a towel-clad Kagome was in his house, Inuyasha was upset that such an event as this had happened without his knowing or his output. She was his secretary for crying out loud. He was sure that if his father’s employees found out about this that he would never hear the end of it and Kagome would be up for all sorts of harassment.
“Go find another place.” He barked.
“That’s the cheapest place I could afford.” She replied sheepishly, an embarrassed blush dusting the bridge of her nose.
Inuyasha growled low in his throat. “Fine. Whatever.”
Kagome watched as Inuyasha sulkily walked into his room. She had expected a reaction from him but anger wasn’t it. Remembering her state of dress she hurriedly shut her door and went about finding something suitable to wear for dinner.
**********
“Honestly Inuyasha. Quit acting like a spoiled baby. Kagome is going through a difficult time right now.”
Inuyasha said nothing as he picked at his food.
“Taisho. Let him be. He’s obviously tired.” Izayoi scolded gently.
Taisho grumbled under his breath.
Kagome watched the exchange with keen interest then drew her attention to the little girl who was happily chattering away to Sesshomaru. Pretending not to hear the small six year old, the full-demon son prompted his father on some political issues that were present during that time.
Their interactions together as a family weren’t what she had pictured in her mind. She had expected silence at the table with serious tension stifling the air. Kagome’s stereotype of rich people that she and others had painted for her was starting to change before her very eyes.
Soon after dinner, Kagome excused herself to go to her room to get some much needed rest. Even after the great night’s sleep she had last night she was still exhausted. After soaking in a hot bath, she changed into the silk pajama set that Izayoi had given to her. The older woman explained that it was a present from one of her friends that had gotten the wrong size. Seeing as how Kagome was smaller than her, she figured that it would be better suited for her. Izayoi was right.
Snuggling down under the blankets and turning off the lights, Kagome was just about to succumb to sleep when the most God-awful music from Inuyasha’s room started to blare. Staring at the canopy of her bed, Kagome soon realized that it would probably be better off to have stayed in her apartment with her neighbors above her. They were a whole lot quieter than Inuyasha’s music. Knowing she would be overstepping her boundaries, the raven-haired girl just sighed instead of going over to his room to ask him to turn it down. Knowing him, he would probably just turn it up some more just to spite her.
Taking one of the many pillows at her feet, Kagome put it over her head hoping to drown out some of music. It helped to ease some of the noise but it also helped her to cease being able to breathe. Grumbling to herself, the raven-haired girl tried desperately to make it background noise. It was going to be a long night.