Newsroom

Disclaimer: I own nothing in this story except for the plot and any original character I decide to place in here (which I may or may not do). That is all. Please enjoy.

Chapter 2

Kagome trudged back into her office feeling hurt and embarrassed. She was surprised when she entered her office and found both Sango and Rin waiting for her.

"How did it go?" Rin asked eagerly. Kagome tossed her column at Rin.

"He said it was a bunch of shit," she answered sourly.

"No," Sango gasped. "Your columns are great!"

"Thanks, but he's right," Kagome sighed. "I've been feeling out of touch lately. I just don't understand all these love columns I've been getting. It's driving me crazy! What's so great about two love-sick people making goo-goo eyes at each other?" Sango and Rin stayed silent not knowing what to say. Kagome took a deep breath and glanced at her column.

"I'll talk to you guys later," she said. "I'd going to work on my column. Besides you two should get back to work too." Sango and Rin made faces at Kagome before leaving her to herself. Kagome sat down behind her desk and opened her laptop.

"What to write," she muttered. "Might as well start from scratch." She grabbed the red-marked column and put in the trash bin beside her desk. Grabbing a handful of letters that added to the clutter of her desk, she began start over.

"That was rather harsh," remarked Miroku cheerfully from his spot in the darkness. Inuyasha spun his chair towards the couch against the wall occupied by both his brother and best friend.

"No," he answered calmly. He put his arms across his chest in a defensive manner. "It was a bunch of shit."

"Couldn't you have been a little nicer to the girl? She did have a nice backside, now that I think of it." Miroku tapped his chin with his finger thoughtfully. "I wonder if she has plans for tonight."

"No boning the help!" Inuyasha snapped suddenly. He sat up straight and let out an almost inaudible growl that only his brother heard. Sesshomaru slightly raised an eyebrow at his brother.

"Jealous?" he asked coolly making sure not to put too much curiosity in his voice.

"Shove it up your ass!"

"I thought so." Sesshomaru leaned towards his brother. "Inuyasha, she's human. If you do get together, make sure you can trust her or make sure you keep those ears hidden in your hair."

"Feh," Inuyasha snorted. He leaned back in his chair. "Like I'd go after a Kikyo look-a-like." Sesshomaru looked at Inuyasha sharply.

"Why not?" he asked stoically. "You went after Kikyo." Miroku coughed and rubbed his hand over his mouth, trying vainly to hide his amusement.

"Sesshomaru's got a sense of humor," he snorted. He calmed down considerably when Sesshomaru turned toward him.

"At times," Sesshomaru stated calmly. Apparently even his own joke didn't faze him. "Let's get back to business. We've bought Naraku out. Now all we have to do is make sure all his businesses fail. We'll drive our companies harder than he drives his. Our spy will contact tomorrow at noon. Be here on time." He'd said the last part for Inuyasha who rolled his eyes.

"Fine," Inuyasha snapped.

"I'll be here," Miroku confirmed.

"Good," Sesshomaru said. "Send in Mr. Jurigoshi. I want a word with him."

"You wanted to see me sir?" Rin asked as she entered the main office. It was dark and she could just barely make out a man sitting at the desk in front of her. He had all the windows shut and no light on. She wondered how he could see anything when she could barely see the carpet in front of her. Sesshomaru glanced up at Rin in mild surprise.

"You're a woman," he said blandly.

"You sound a bit surprised."

"Mildly," he returned. He held up her column by the tips of his fingers as though it disgusted him. "Your column needs work. You have no factual evidence. Get more facts, write another column, and I'll see if I like it."

Rin stood rooted in her spot. The nerve of this long-haired hippie, she thought. There's nothing wrong with that column.

"You're dismissed." Sesshomaru looked back to his desk ignoring any protest Rin may have had.

"Feh," Inuyasha snorted from the couch against the wall. "And you thought I was rude," he said to Miroku. "He practically threw her out." Sesshomaru glanced at his brother indifferently.

"I was finished with her, half-breed."

Inuyasha growled threateningly and Miroku jumped between the two brothers. He knew that either one of them could've killed him easily with their strength, but he had to take that chance.

"Stop," he said quietly, though both brothers heard him. "Remember, we have a pact. We will get along as long as Naraku is still alive and happy. We owe him, remember? We are not each others enemy. We are united...for now." Sesshomaru nodded gracefully as Inuyasha jerked his head tersely.

Sango looked up from her picture developments at the knock on the door. Deciding the pictures were a lost cause anyway, she cut off the red light and turned on the normal light. She opened the door to find the young man who'd told Kagome she was wanted in the main office.

"Yeah?" she asked.

"Mr. M-Monk wants t-to see you in his office," he stuttered.

"Alright," she sighed. "I'm on my way."

"You wanted to see me Mr. Monk?" Sango asked timidly. She'd walked into the darkened room to see a man sitting behind the main desk. He was holding what she believed to be some of her recent pictures.

"Yes," he looked up from the pictures to Sango. She wasn't sure, but she could've sworn he started smiling. "Your pictures are great. However, they don't feel like you really wanted to photograph them."

"That's because I didn't." Sango leaned against the door and crossed her arms in a matter-of-fact way.

"Oh?" Miroku lifted an eyebrow. The girl was positively enchanting.

"Yes. I was told what to photograph. I didn't really feel that those pictures matched the mood. I usually pick my own pictures. Lately, though, I've been having to take orders on what to photograph." Miroku nodded slightly, listening intently to what was being said.

"Alright," he said.

"Alright, what?" Sango asked when it was apparent he was not about to elaborate.

"Pick what you want to photograph to go with the columns. We'll sit together tomorrow and pick the best."

"Uh, what time," Sango asked. She suddenly felt giddy.

"Four o'clock."

"Deal."

"Great. See you then."