October 14, 2005

The morning dew glistened on the wet green grass as the sun spread it's warmth across the busy city of Tokyo. Fluffy cumulus clouds floated lazily across the crystal sky and ominous puffs of smoke billowed up from factories, ruining the perfect blue canvas. To anybody who didn't watch the news, read the newspapers, or was completely deprived, today would seem like a normal day…other than the odd weather. For an early morning in October, it was really quite warm. Pedestrians strolled about busily; some keeping their backs hunched and heads down as to not attract any unwanted attention while other simply strutted, their chins tilted up and their posture straight in importance.

Inuyasha Takahashi sat calmly in his extravagant mansion, his lean, muscular form spread lazily out on a sofa and a glass of red wine resting lightly in his hand. His dark bangs hung casually over his piercing lavender eyes as he gazed intently at the figure across from him. The room was dark, but even in the little light that could be salvaged from the closed blinds, his handsome features and dark mood could be easily determined.

The man who held his attention fidgeted nervously. He was an odd looking man, tall and spindly, with long, crooked fingers, and a hawk-like nose. Dark, bushy eyebrows drooped over his beady black eyes as he glanced anxiously at the obviously superior man before him. "Mr. Takahashi," he began hoarsely. "The matter we are to discuss is – "

"Would you like some water?" Inuyasha interrupted coolly, raising a perfect eyebrow.

The man cleared his throat immediately, and when he spoke again, the scratchy voice was gone. "No, no I'm fine." After a moment he hastily added, "thank you," and returned his gaze to the carpet upon which his chair was resting.

"Please continue, Mr..." Inuyasha trailed off, indicating that he wanted the man to finish for him.

"Tsuabisu," the man said quickly. "But you may call me Onigumo."

"I was informed by my secretary that you are here on business matters," Inuyasha stated.

"Yes," Onigumo confirmed.

"I believe then, Mr. Tsuabisu, it would be more appropriate if I addressed you by your surname. Surely you would concur we are not quite on friendly terms yet?" Inuyasha's voice was quiet, but had a certain force to it that Onigumo did not dare try to counter.

"Yes, yes, of course," he agreed. The scratchiness had returned in his voice and he cleared his throat uneasily.

"Good," Inuyasha said briskly. "Now, Mr. Tsuabisu, what are you here for?"

'Well, he certainly doesn't beat around the bush,' Onigumo thought dryly to himself. "It's about your grandfather death," he said in a nearly sympathetic voice. Although, he certainly didn't think anyone who was a hand stretch away from acquiring 2.6 billion dollars was in need of any sympathy.

Inuyasha seemed to think likewise for the corner of his mouth twitched slightly in amusement, but he sobered immediately. "That's quite a delicate matter, Mr. Tsuabisu," he said in that same, powerful voice. "I do hope it is at least important; I have a busy schedule today." As if to accentuate his point, he glanced casually down at his Rolex and set his glass of wine down on a coffee table in front of him.

"Um, yes, actually, it is rather important." A bead of sweat ran down Onigumo's clammy forehead as he spoke and he dabbed it away hastily with an old-fashioned handkerchief (Inuyasha resisted the urge to laugh when he saw it). "I'm afraid you won't be very happy with what I have to tell you."

"Does it have anything to do with my grandfather's will?" Inuyasha queried, sitting up slightly straighter.

Onigumo nodded solemnly. "Mr. Takahashi, you are aware, I'm sure, that the late Mr. Takahashi, or shall I say, you're grandfather, left behind an enormous sum of money for you."

"Of course."

"Are you also aware of the will's conditions?"

"I don't remember seeing any, Mr. Tsuabisu," Inuyasha stated, his eyes dark.

"Tell me, Mr. Takahashi," Onigumo began, his voice suddenly mellow and calm. He was all business now. "When was the first time you saw your grandfather's will?"

"When I was 17," Inuyasha responded stiffly.

"And did you examine your grandfather's will at any time after his death?"

"There was no need to. I already knew what it said."

"Unfortunately, Mr. Takahashi, I'm here to inform you that the will has had some slight…" Onigumo trailed off here, his lips twisting into a smile as he searched for the right words, "alterations, shall we say, since the last time you saw it."

Inuyasha resisted the urge to glare at him. "Get to the point, Mr. Tsuabisu. I don't have time for your games."

"This is no game, Mr. Takashi. It is rather serious. You see, your grandfather seems to have added a condition to his will."

"Tell. Me. What. It. Is." Inuyasha managed through gritted teeth.

"You must be wed in a little over two months, for us that is on Christmas Day, to receive the money," Onigumo declared, giving a mock smile. "I'm sure it will make a lovely present."

For a minute, a deadly silence reigned in the room. Then, as Inuyasha attempted to regain his composure and control his raging temper, he spoke up. "Who are you exactly, Mr. Tsuabisu?"

"I'm your grandfather's lawyer," Naraku answered. The apprehensive air about him was gone and replaced with a mask that screamed, 'Pure business.' Inuyasha would be lying if he said he was not at least slightly impressed by the sudden change. Although, the whole split personality thing was really quite unnerving.

"I'd like to see the will for myself," Inuyasha finally said.

"Of course." The lawyer reached casually into his briefcase and pulled out a pack of papers. He handed Inuyasha the entire package and stood up. "Shall I give you time to look it over?"

Inuyasha skimmed through it, his eyes moving faster than he could turn the pages. When he got to the portion with the condition, a dark scowl crossed his face. "No need," he growled.

"I believe that is all then," Onigumo said, glancing unsurely at the temperamental man he was dealing with. Now that the business was done, he had returned to his usual fidgety self. "Are you planning to get your ex to help?" he asked suddenly, almost eager for the information.

Inuyasha's head jerked up in surprise, his eyes narrowed in suspicious slits. "How do you know about her?"

"The rest of the world does, too," Onigumo pointed out. "Or have you forgotten, Mr. Takahashi, that you are currently the most eligible bachelor in the entire country of Japan? Your ex must really quite regret - "

"Of course I haven't forgotten!" Inuyasha snapped impatiently, his voice dripping with venom at the painful mention of his ex. "No one remembers her anyways! She's nobody without me." What was with this guy anyways? Looking like a deer caught in headlights one moment and acting absolutely relaxed the next.

Onigumo shrugged nonchalantly. "Then you do agree that it's not strange that I would know about your ex?"

"Yes, but not about the..."

"The what?" Onigumo pressed keenly.

"Forget it," he grumbled.

"How old are you anyways, Mr. Takahashi?"

"Why so nosey, Mr. Tsuabisu?"

"Just curious."

"How old are you?" he countered.

"32," Onigumo replied at ease. There was a slightly pause as the two men studied each other. Finally, Inuyasha broke it.

"Have I met you before?"

"N-No, I don't believe so," Onigumo answered, suddenly nervous again. He wrung his hands together for a few minutes as an awkward silence took over the room once more. "I should get going," he finally said.

"There's no hurry."

"Actually, I need to be somewhere."

"Didn't you want to know my age?"

"No need," Onigumo responded quickly before hastening towards the door.

"I'll show you out," Inuyasha stood, stretching slightly.

"That's quite alright," Onigumo insisted. "I know where the door is."

"It's a big place."

"I have a good memory."

"Good luck."

xXx

Inuyasha walked casually through the busy streets of Tokyo, disguised so that no one would stop him for an autograph or picture. He was adorned in dark, baggy jeans and a black shirt with a gray skull pasted across the front. Sunglasses covered his dazzling, and rather prominent, lavender eyes and his silky black hair was stuffed carelessly under a navy blue hat, much like the color of his jeans.

A shiny red Ferrari slid to a stop near him, but he ignored it and kept walking. Until, that is, the car continued to glide along by his side.

"Hey sexy!" one of the passengers called in a squeaky, high-pitched voice.

Inuyasha turned, expecting to find a hot chick, but encountering instead…what the f - ! He gaped, eyes wide and mouth hanging open, at the scraggly, black-haired guy (who turned out to be the driver) that had whistled at him. He surprised him even more by grinning crookedly and saying in what he guessed was supposed to be an alluring (although no longer high and squeaky) voice, "Wanna go for a ride?"

Inuyasha stumbled back a few steps and wordlessly shook his head, a nervous look on his face. The actual passengers, a girl with spiky purple hair and two other guys, a brunette and a blonde (who, he immediately noticed, were holding hands) snickered at him. Actually, just the two guys did; the girl was muttering obscenities under her breath. The black-haired guy who had called to him turned his head to look at them nonchalantly before cocking his head in Inuyasha's direction. The other two immediately nodded, sly grins spreading across their face, but the girl rolled her eyes and hopped out of the car.

She jogged up to him and stuck out a hand. "I'm Okeshi, but everyone calls me Kesh."

"In – " he caught himself, wracking his brain for a name. "Ryokai."

"You're homophobic, aren't you?" Kesh asked bluntly.

"I guess you can say that."

"Sorry 'bout my friends. They're just joking around. Well, the one who hit on you is anyways," she sighed in exasperation. "I always fall for the idiots."

Inuyasha laughed good-naturedly and gave a sigh of relief. "Thanks for lettin' me know. And good luck with him."

Kesh grinned at him and nodded. "No prob." With that, she jogged back to the Ferrari and hopped in the back seat, her spiky purple air swaying dangerously in her companions' direction. Inuyasha suppressed a laugh as they recoiled and then settled slowly back in their original positions as Kesh's hair stopped moving.

The guy who whistled at him before gave him a wave (and a wink, which he didn't appreciate…at all. Kesh didn't seem to either because she picked up a striped tissue box from the floor and whacked him over the head with it) before the car sped off.

A smile stayed on his face as Inuyasha turned and began walking in the opposite direction. His eyes scanned the crowds of people and bustling cars before he froze.

Was it? Could it be?

He couldn't think as his eyes trailed over the woman who had captured his attention. Long, wavy black hair, slim figure, about 5'5" height, sharp, tall nose, full lips. And she was wearing a business suit again! It had to be her! Had she changed again? Now he just had to see if her eyes were brown. He took a few steps towards her and watched, helplessly, as the crowd swallowed her from his sight.

'No!' his mind screamed. 'Gotta get to her!'

"Kikyo!" Inuyasha yelled. "Kikyo, wait!" He stumbled in his haste to reach her and jostled a couple of people, but only ended up getting shoved back.

"Watch where your going!" a middle aged man snarled at him.

"S-Sorry," he apologized before glancing around desperately for her. The seconds crawled by like years as his eyes searched the crowds for her familiar features.

There she was!

Not caring about anything else, he pushed his way through the crowd. When he finally got to her, he had acquired a few cuts and bruises from all the pushing and shoving, but he barely even noticed. He placed a hand on her shoulder and whirled her around. "Kikyo, I know this might be weird, but –"

"Do I know you?"

Light blue. Her eyes were light blue.

A close look at her features proved that she looked nothing like Kikyo at all. Hell, she wasn't even the right height and she was nowhere near as pretty. Or maybe the right one had gotten away? Inuyasha swore under his breath and then raised his voice. "I'm sorry, I thought you were – "

"Inuyasha?" the girl asked incredulously.

"Wha – ? How did you – " he looked down at her in disbelief before realizing that the world had gotten much lighter and that there was an absence of weight on the bridge of his nose. His shades were gone and his hat had fallen off.

"Oh my God, it's really you!" the girl squealed excitedly. "My name's Nikki! I – "

"Look," he cut her off, his eyes catching a figure in the distance. The real Kikyo, maybe? "I really have to find someone, so – "

But the girl had already attached herself to him. "You're not going anywhere!" she shrieked happily. "Can I have a kiss? Oh my Gosh, I forgot my camera today and – " The silhouette he had spotted earlier was beginning to disappear into the crowd again.

"I really need to – "

"Oh my Gosh, is that Inuyasha!" another voice screeched. More voices joined in and the crowd around him grew bigger.

"Marry me!"

"No, she's a slut!"

"What did you call me? You stupid b----!"

"Inuyasha, please excuse my friends. They're – "

"Oh my God, it's really you!"

"Will you sign my forehead?"

"Yes! I found my camera!"

Bright white lights flashed before his eyes and he grew dizzy. Then, as quickly as it began, silence spread like a wave through the crowd and the flashing stopped. At least a hundred pairs of eyes were trained on his face, each one of them hopeful and expectant. "Okay," Inuyasha sighed. "Who's first?"

And just like that, the screaming began all over again.