There were times when Kikyo didn't know if she should have been relieved or bitter. To the world, Kikyo Hayashi had it all. She was one of the youngest and most powerful CEOs in the business world. Women envied her and men regarded her with awe. What none of them realized was how alone she truly was. Behind the shell of a beautiful and brilliant woman, lay a lonely soul.
Training had started early. When her father realized he would not be blessed with sons, he took his eldest daughter under his wing. Every waking moment of Kikyo's life was absorbed in learning business. She had no friends, no free time. Her entire life was the Hayashi Corporation.
Kikyo learned early that emotions were for the weak. Her father beat the laughter and joy out of her. Sometimes, though, she couldn't help but feel the pain of being referred to as "The Dragon Lady" or the whispers she heard of "cold-hearted bitch" as she passed by in the hallways of the company. She hid the pain behind her mask, refusing to let the tears fall. No one truly understood what Kikyo had gone through to stand where she was today.
Sometimes, Kikyo wished she could take off the suit and heels, let her hair down and be free. Instead, duty and obligation took her to work every morning then home to her lonely apartment. Unless there was a business dinner, she usually nuked something then fell sleep watching the business news. Kikyo knew her life held no meaning. It was just an empty shell of existence.
Maybe that's why she was so surprised when she met him. A big meeting was planned with several other companies. Kikyo was used to being shunned at the meetings. Not expecting any one to sit near her, Kikyo was taken aback when Inuyasha sat next to her and started a conversation. At first Kikyo listened more than talk, but by the end of the day, she startled herself by agreeing to dinner.
Kikyo found herself taken in by the attention and flattery of the handsome man. He had shining silver and the most beautiful golden eyes she'd ever seen. He was respectful of her, simply satisfied with conversation. Kikyo knew of his family background. The Tashio family was a powerful and well-respected family in Tokyo. Inuyasha was the son of the father's mistress. While the father readily accepted his son, the older brother, Sesshomaru, wasted little time letting the world know as far as he was concerned, Inuyasha was a bastard and not a legitimate heir to the Tashio name. Inuyasha's father, however, denounced Sesshomaru, and started training Inuyasha in the family business.
Kikyo could understand the pain of not having acceptance. Many felt she was too high and mighty to possibly just be ordinary. So many regarded her with something akin to worship. With Inuyasha, she suddenly discovered the ordinary woman buried behind the façade. The day at Udon Park on the boats sealed the deal for Kikyo. Leaving the boat at the dock, Kikyo felt herself stumble and would have fallen into the pond if Inuyasha hadn't caught her. At that perfect moment, he kissed her. It was her first kiss and Kikyo allowed herself to dream. 'Maybe, just maybe…'
Should it have even come as a surprise that Inuyasha betrayed her? Kikyo felt her heart break but she hid it as she faced him and other members of the Tashio Corporation, along with her father and members of the Tokyo Stock Exchange Regulation Board. The idea that they would try to use HER in order to gain insider-trading information was beyond belief. At that precise moment, Kikyo realized that girls like her aren't allowed to dream. Kikyo knew the only person who could see her pain was Inuyasha. Even as he persistently denied any involvement and tried to beg Kikyo to hear him out, Kikyo felt her heart turn hard as stone. No longer would she be fooled by sweet kisses and foolish promises. She had a new goal in life. She would bury the Tashio Corporation, if it were the last thing she'd do.