Prompt: Nemesis
Word Count:1,377
Genre: Humor
Rating: T
Date Posted: 8/26/10
A/N: 'Sitting in the cat bird seat' means one is in an advantageous position.

The phone in his pocket vibrated insistently. Inuyasha pulled it out and glanced at the caller ID before answering. Amusement covered his features as he pressed a button and said, "Hello, Sesshoumaru."

"This is not the esteemed Lord of the West; this is his retainer, Jaken," said a self-important voice. "My lord would speak to you. One moment…"

*Click.*

Oh, hell no. No way does he have his servant call me, then tell me to hold! Inuyasha closed the phone with a snap, still grinning. Let him call me himself.

A few minutes later, his phone vibrated again. Probably just his imagination, but it seemed almost… angry. Inuyasha let it 'ring' a few more times before answering.

"Hello?" he asked innocently.

Was that the sound of teeth grinding on the other end?

"Inu. Yasha."

The hanyou almost howled out of unrestrained joy. Nothing said 'pissed off' quite like the clipped way Sesshoumaru said that name.

"Sesshy! What a pleasure to hear from you! To what do I owe the honor?"

The daiyoukai's legendary emotional control was evident in his careful, measured response. "There appears to be a human female living in your house. Would you care to explain?"

"Not really, no."

Now that noise sounded suspiciously like a growl… Inuyasha was having great fun at the expense of his half-brother, but it wouldn't do to push too hard-not at this stage of the game, anyway.

"Ok, ok… simmer down. Yes I'm letting Ka-go-me move in there. What's the big deal? It's my house, and if I want to let a friend use it, I can."

"Her presence in this neighborhood is intolerable, unacceptable and disrespectful. You will rescind your offer immediately."

I don't think so, buddy.

Years of enduring humiliating verbal, emotional and even physical abuse from his sibling were about to be repaid tenfold. Inuyasha enjoyed having all cards stacked in his favor, for a change.

"Sesshoumaru, when our father charged you with looking after my interests until I came of age, you took it upon yourself to purchase that house in my name to provide a place for me to live, pointedly separate from you. You didn't bother to ask what I wanted… probably figuring you knew better than I what was appropriate to my 'station'. I suspect you also wanted to keep an eye on me. Well, I didn't want or need it-then or now! I take care of myself just fine and your pretentious youkai neighborhood will never be home to me. Now that I am of age, I can do what I please with that property, with or without your approval. Kagome is a good friend who needs somewhere safe to live. Until she can afford a place of her own, I say she can stay! As for being disrespectful, Father would've approved."

The line was deadly quiet.

"Are you so certain it is safe for her here?" Implied threat heavily laced Sesshoumaru's deceptively soft tone.

Inuyasha struggled to keep his response neutral. Though he didn't wish it on her, he'd pay good money to see that confrontation.

Kagome's far safer in an upscale demon neighborhood than some low-rent human ghetto. Any youkai who tries to push her around is in for an unpleasant surprise.

"I have no doubt of it, or I wouldn't have offered it to her. Sesshoumaru, why don't you get to know her before you decide you hate her? Besides having a kind nature, she's smart and funny. Plus you've already got a leg up! She loves animals."

Sensitive hanyou ears caught the barely suppressed snarl issued from the other end. It was time to get while the getting was good.

"Listen Sesshoumaru, I've gotta go. Thanks for calling, it was nice talking to you!"

Still listening to the unintelligible noises coming from the other end, Inuyasha slowly closed his phone and proceeded to let out peals of laughter until he was gasping for air. Oh, his ribs were gonna ache tomorrow, but it was so worth it.

This developing soap opera was too good to keep private. He knew of one other person who would enjoy this brewing situation, having witnessed first hand-and occasionally been caught up in-the animosity between the brothers over the years. He might even want to help. Inuyasha flipped open his phone and punched out Miroku's number.

OoOoO

Having successfully completed a grueling first day of work, Kagome didn't feel like going directly home. Instead, she drove miles out of her way to her family's shrine. Homemade dinner and friendly banter was just the salve she needed while negotiating the unsettling transitions happening in her life. It was so nice to chat with her mother while washing dishes in a sink of warm sudsy water.

"Oh Mama, please don't think I'm complaining. Inuyasha's house is wonderful! I know I'm fortunate to have it, but it's so big, quiet and… empty. I feel like a lone pea rolling around a huge tin can."

Mama nodded, understanding all too well. "I underwent something similar when I discovered I was to become a mother so soon after becoming a bride. I was young, often alone, and expected to run the house efficiently-with a new infant due! I knew practically nothing about managing a household and less than that about babies."

She laughed, remembering those early days. Kagome smiled. She had heard this story many times before.

Mama continued to reminisce. "We didn't live here at the shrine then. Your father and I had a nice little place in a modest neighborhood. My parents had passed away some years earlier and your father's job required a great deal of travel. Luckily I had kind neighbors I could rely on for help if I needed it. If it hadn't been for them, I would have had to ask your grandfather for his assistance. He would have tried his best, but somehow I don't think secret-family-recipe pickles are going to fix a leaky roof or heal diaper rash!"

They dissolved into giggles.

Mama pulled a can from a cupboard and ran it under the opener. Buyo magically appeared, popping into the kitchen through the cat door and twining around her feet, 'talking' and purring loudly.

"You'll be fine, dear. You are always welcome here, but try to get to know your neighbors at your new place. Perhaps then you won't feel so much like a lone pea."

She scraped the contents of the can into a dish and set it before the clamoring feline. Buyo demanded petting from her—and received it- before deigning to sniff the contents of the dish. He strolled over to Kagome and made her pet him too before leaving the kitchen, tail high, without eating a bite.

Mama washed and dried her hands. "I don't know what to do with that poor cat. He's simply starved for attention. Between school, sports and friends, Souta isn't home much. Grandpa merely tolerates him as a mouse-catcher and my allergies prevent too much interaction, so he's outside more often than not. The situation really isn't fair to him, but what can be done?"

"I could take him!"

"What?"

"I'd like to bring him home with me. I'm sure Inuyasha won't mind! Buyo can hang around the house while I'm at work and we'll be great company for each other when I get home! It's the perfect solution!"

"I don't know Kagome… This has been his home for so long, I'm not sure how he'd react to a new one. You might be better off getting a kitten."

Kagome shook her head. "It wouldn't be very nice to leave a little kitten by itself for so many hours during the day. Buyo is already used to being alone for long periods of time, and I'll be home in the evening to heap love and attention on him! He can even sleep on my bed at night! Oh Mama, please say yes!"

Her mother didn't look quite convinced yet so Kagome added, "If it doesn't work out, I can always bring him back, right?"

Mama sighed. Buyo certainly deserved better, and Kagome was a good daughter who rarely asked for anything. She simply couldn't refuse. "Ok, he can go. Come help me pack up his things."

A/N: This came in second! YAY! Thanks for reading!:)