Author's Note: Sorry about the late update guys! I'm hoping to update at least once a week from now on, and things are really going to get interesting in the next chapter, so bare with me please! Enjoy chapter 4 and please review!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to or affiliated with Inuyasha, however this particular story is M-I-N-E! :)
Episode 4
"Sota! I'm borrowing your crayons and your dart board for a while!" I stormed into my little brother's room, my attention focused on my mission.
"Huh?" Sota looked up from his manga surprised at my sudden entrance. "What do you need those for?"
"Stress reliever!" I grumbled, digging through his mess of a closet.
"O-okay," he said nervously, returning his attention back to his manga. I finally dug out the crayons I was searching for and began scribbling a frustrated picture of my new employer with a few exaggerated features. I then proceeded to pinning it to the dart board on the wall and grabbing the darts.
"Forehead: 10 points. Nose: 30 points. Mouth: 50 points. Eyes: 100 points! Sota, help me keep score of what areas I hit!" I screamed, furiously throwing darts left and right towards the picture.
"Yes! I got the mouth!" I smirked deviously, aiming again for a different area.
"What in the world are you doing?" Kikyou came in, looking at me like I had gone crazy.
"Stress relief!" I closed an eye and threw the dart. "Damn! Just the forehead!"
"Is that supposed to be…Sesshomaru Taisho?!" She asked a bit horrified.
"Yes, and to hell with him!"
"Kagome! Watch your language in front of Sota! And why are you so worked up about Sesshomaru Taisho? You don't even know him!"
"Tch! I do now!"
"What?!"
"Umm, what are you two talking about?" Sota asked curiously.
"Sota, if you ever see a man with long white hair and a blue moon on his forehead, run for your life!" I grabbed his shoulders and looked at him with my most serious expression.
"Huh?"
"How do you know him?!"
"Ugh! He's my new employer, or maybe I should say he's my master and I'm his slave."
"W-w-what?!"
"Hey sis are you in trouble?" Sota looked at me with those cute concerned eyes of an eight year old boy and my maternal instinct forced me to reach out and squeeze him tightly.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine. I'll show that jerk I'm a tough nut to crack!"
"Wow! You're working for the Sesshomaru Taisho?! Ohhh, I'm soooo jealous! So what did you do, or what did he do to make you this upset?"
I told them what happened in as much detail as possible, and by the time I was finished, Sota was even more confused and Kikyou had turned as white as a sheet.
She plopped down on Sota's bed looking a bit weary, and yet again I felt guilty for putting my family in this position.
"Well, at least I'll be making up to $15 an hour! We can finally start looking for apartments, and maybe by the time we move out, we will have enough money to secure custody of Sota!"
Kikyou looked up hopefully, and Sota fiddled his thumbs. "…If only I was old enough to get a job. I hate how you two have to worry about me like this!"
"Sota…" Kikyou and I hugged our little brother with all the love we felt for each other. The three of us were all that was left of our small family, and now Kikyou and I had to become adults for the sake of our brother.
A sudden knock sounded on the door, and I turned to see a welcome face come through the door holding a box of pizza.
"Inuyasha! What are you doing here?!" I said with a happy smile.
"Well, you looked a little down yesterday, so I brought something to cheer you up! Don't worry, the bill's on me."
"Inuyasha!" Sota sprang up excitedly, clinging to the hanyou's leg.
"Hey there runt! You taking good care of these girls?"
"Of course! I'm the man of the house after all!"
"Hehe, right." Inuyasha tousled the boy's hair playfully, then squatted down on the floor where Kikyou and I had already positioned ourselves.
"Smells great! You're the best Inuyasha!"
"Yeah, yeah, just cheer up quick, ok?"
"I'm feeling better already!"
"Umm…how are you doing, K-Kikyou?" Inuyasha blushed a bit, turning his attention to my sister.
"I'm doing fine! I think I've finally found a job that I can do!"
"R-really?! That's great!"
"What?! Why didn't you tell me?!"
"I guess I just forgot, with all that's happened today."
"Well, what kind of job is it?!"
"I'm going to be working as a shrine maid at a temple!"
xxx
"Mr. Taisho…don't you think you're overdoing a little?" Kagura stared at the purposeful mess the vengeful man had made with a look of annoyance.
"You're overreacting. This looks perfectly normal to me! Isn't this what poor people have to put up with anyway?" I looked at my handiwork admiringly, and grinned at the sad picture of that stupid girl having to clean it up all be herself.
Kagura let out an exasperated sigh, which made me a bit irritated. "You obviously need a lesson on how "poor people" live. Just because someone isn't as fortunate as you doesn't mean they live in a pigsty either. I'm pretty sure Ms. Higurashi is someone who keeps her residence clean."
"Is that so? Well, no matter, I find this fun, so it will stay this way."
"…Anyone who comes in this office today is going to think you're a slob. Do you really want that kind of reputation, Mr. Organized and Sensible?"
"…Have a couple of my staff clean this up immediately, and make sure they never utter a word about my office's condition on pain of death."
"Of course, sir. I'll make a large stack of files the girl has to organize by date, time, and contractor, instead."
"Hmm, that would be acceptable. Just make sure to work her to the bone!"
"Yes, yes, I know. Now get out of here so your poor employees can clean!"
xxx
"For some reason, I just can't picture my sister working as a…priestess."
"Really? I think she would look cute in those clothes they wear."
"Hey! Stop daydreaming and watch the road!"
"Huh? Wha—" Inuyasha jerked out of his stupor and swerved back into the left lane just as another car was coming over the hill."
"Whew, that was a close one!" Inuyasha glanced at me apologetically.
"Idiot!" I grumbled and leaned back in the passenger seat. We were heading for the café, and I sincerely hoped the day would go by quickly so that I wouldn't have to stay too long with Sesshomaru Taisho.
"So what time do I need to pick you up again?"
"Umm, around 9:30 would be good."
"Why so late? I thought the café closed at seven?"
"Oh, well I thought the extra hours would be good for me, and there's other work that can be done like cleaning and sorting bills." To be honest, I didn't want to tell Inuyasha about my other job. Somehow, I had the feeling he would have a fit if he knew I was blackmailed into working for a sadistic employer.
"Well, just don't work yourself too hard, okay?"
"Geez, you're acting like Kaede!"
"Hey! I'm just looking out for ya!"
"Haha, I know. I feel a bit encouraged, somehow."
"Hmph, if you say so. Umm, you have Sunday off right?"
"Yeah, the one day I can pretty much relax!" And I don't have to put up with the dictator of Tokyo.
"Well, was thinkin we could all…uh…go see where Kikyou works, and wish her luck and stuff…"
A slight pain pierced through my chest, but I simply smiled and said, "I'd love to! We'll make it a family outing!"
"Great! I'll be back to pick you up at 9:30 then. See ya, Kagome!" Inuyasha called out as I shut the pick-ups door and he drove away. Yet again, I found myself in that unsettling predicament outside the Brown Cattle Café, debating whether I should take those last few steps to my doomed fate.
Other Author's Note: Be free to make a dart board of your own if you ever get mad! It really is a great stress reliever!
