Author's Notes: I'm beginning to really like this story, if I do say so myself. What does that mean? More updates for the rest of you! =) Enjoy, my lovelies!
P.S. I was surprised that only one of you mentioned Sesshomaru's lower rank in the company in terms of comparison to Inuyasha. Don't worry, this was totally intentional. Your questions will be answered in future chapters, though not immediately. Please be patient with me, my dears! Also, I would like to thank Kara Nightingale for pointing out some inconsistencies (such as Rin's meeting with Sango's fiance and her age difference with Sesshomaru) with this story! It really helps me since I know now what to focus my attention on. I'll work harder to bring you guys better chapters and better stories with less inconsistencies! Thank you!
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha. Sadly.
Office Romance
Section IV
Tuesday, August 05 – 8:31AM
Sango made her way to her office, which was arranged right next to Miroku's. Rolling her eyes, she remembered the day that he actually had one of those sluts in his office and she sounded like a foghorn. Didn't the man have any self control? Couldn't he wait until he was at least out of the office, or until she had left? Ignoring that heavy feeling in her heart, Sango swung open the door and couldn't wait to bask in the solitude of her office. However, she wasn't alone.
"Kobayashi?" Her eyes widened with surprise. He was sitting on the couch against the wall, enjoying what Sango presumed to be his signature black coffee with two creams and a teaspoon of sugar.
"Good morning, Sango. What a lovely morning this is, isn't it?" Confused, she decided to ignore him as she walked to her desk and smoothed out her skirt before sitting down. "Are you still upset with me for what happened last week?" When she didn't say anything, he sighed. "I wasn't with some hooch, if that's what you're worried about."
"I'm not worried about that. I'm not worried about you either; don't get the wrong idea. I merely wanted my documents back, and you were irresponsibly late. I can't sit around here waiting for you all the time, Kobayashi. I have things to do too; I have a life." Suddenly, Sango wasn't sure if she was talking about waiting for him at the office, or if she was talking about waiting for him to acknowledge her feelings. Was she tired of waiting for him? Of course she was! Everyone in the entire office―including Kagome, now―knew that she was hopelessly in love, and she didn't want to believe that Miroku didn't feel the same. But then why was he still going around and sleeping with random women? A deep part of Sango feared that Miroku would never come to her side and perhaps this was an unrequited love after all.
"Sango, you have to understand that I have other things to do as well. This office isn't my entire life either." He set his coffee cup down onto the table with a soft clank, getting up and making his way to her side. Leaning against her desk, he crossed his arms and glanced at her. Sango did everything she could not to make eye contact, instead focussed her sight on her computer screen and her fingers on the keyboard. "Sango―"
"Look. I have work to do. Kindly leave my office, Kobayashi."
"You're not kicking me out because you're busy; you're kicking me out because you're upset."
"Then leave me alone!"
"You've got to stop being so stubborn―"
"Stubborn? Stubborn! God, Kobayashi, you are the most selfish man I've ever met!" Sango finally tore her eyes from her computer and faced him. Practically ripping her glasses off her face, she pushed her chair away from her desk and got up to jab him in the chest with her forefinger. "I can't believe you have the nerve to call me that. I cannot believe you!" She couldn't help the trembling of her voice, the welling of tears in her eyes, the whisper of a sob that escaped her lips. "I gave up everything for you, you coward! Everything! And what do I have to show for it? Nothing. I've got fucking nothing!"
She hated the way he just stood there, staring at her with those violet eyes she loved so much. She could see herself reflected in them, but she knew that he would never see just her. There would be other women; being with him would only break her heart―but being without him hurt just the same.
"Get out of my office, Kobayashi. Just get out," she turned before he could see her tears fall. She felt so pathetic; all her life she thought that she was a professional, able to keep her emotions to herself. A single man decided that it would be a good idea to force her to become someone she wasn't familiar with. Fukazawa Sango was not the type of woman to throw everything away for a man―but she had. She gave up Kuranosuke, a man who loved her and gave her everything she could ever ask for; she gave up plenty of opportunities to move up the corporate ladder, but rejected them all because she wanted to stay by someone who didn't appreciate her nearly as much as he should have.
The feminist inside her wept.
Instead of what she hoped would happen (she hoped that he would embrace her and tell her that he was sorry, that he loved her, that he would never hurt her again), she heard Miroku's footsteps moving further and further away from her. The door opened and shut without another word. Turning around to make sure she was actually alone this time, Sango fell to her knees and let her sorrows and insecurities consume her.
X x X x X x
X x X x X x
From: Taisho Inuyasha [ inuyasha (at) taisho . com ]
To: Taisho Sesshomaru [ sesshomaru (at) taisho . com ]
Subject: This Weekend
Mom and Dad want us to go over for dinner. Kikyou will be joining us. Mom says to bring a date because she wants grandkids or some shit like that. Oh, and I don't even want to know what's going on between you and Nakamura, but I don't want to see her at the dinner. Bring anyone but her. Fuck, bring Kagura for all I care, but Nakamura stays out of the Taisho home. Understand?
Inuyasha
X x X x X x
X x X x X x
From: Taisho Sesshomaru [ sesshomaru (at) taisho . com ]
To: Taisho Inuyasha [ inuyasha (at) taisho . com ]
Subject: RE: This Weekend
Little Brother,
You foolish infidel. You insignificant fool. I was not aware that I was to be taking personal orders from you. There may not be anything going on between Nakamura and I, but I can bring whomever I please to this dinner. And you are an asshole if you think that I would bring Kagura. She would give Mom a heart attack, and not in a good way. Besides, after she was fired may I remind you, she moved away to England. We won't be seeing her again.
And what's wrong with Nakamura? In fact, maybe I will bring her.
Your older, competent brother,
Sesshomaru
P.S. You shouldn't be the one to talk. I hear that you and Kikyou are having some trouble in paradise.
X x X x X x
X x X x X x
From: Taisho Inuyasha [ inuyasha (at) taisho . com ]
To: Taisho Sesshomaru [ sesshomaru (at) taisho . com ]
Subject: Fuck you!
You bastard, Kikyou and I are just fine. Besides, it's none of your god damn concern! And I hear that the hentai Miroku hired a new secretary. How come I was not aware of this?
Go fuck yourself,
Inuyasha
X x X x X x
X x X x X x
From: Taisho Sesshomaru [ sesshomaru (at) taisho . com ]
To: Taisho Inuyasha [ inuyasha (at) taisho . com ]
Subject: Watch your language
So what if Miroku hired a new secretary? Not every single new hire must be approved by you. You'll never even have to interact with her anyway. Besides, I hear she does her job well. I hear she has quite a temper too, even Miroku won't dare to anger her. Kikyou's met her before, she hasn't told you? The girl's name is Kagome, supposedly. Friendly, Kikyou says.
Kikyou also says that you haven't been seeing each other much.
Before you say 'I hate you' or 'fuck you', let me say this: you know you love me.
Your brother,
Sesshomaru
X x X x X x
X x X x X x
From: Taisho Inuyasha [ inuyasha (at) taisho . com ]
To: Inoue Kikyou [ kinoue (at) taisho . com ]
Subject: None
Kikyou,
I have just been informed that you've been speaking to my brother about our personal lives. Please cease such unacceptable behaviour.
Much thanks,
Inuyasha
X x X x X x
X x X x X x
A few minutes after Inuyasha sent that last email, he angrily closed his laptop. How dare Kikyou embarrass him like that in front of Sesshomaru―wait. Why was she confiding in him all of a sudden? There were rumours going around that Sesshomaru had been seeing someone in the office. They were seen together in the break room one night after everyone had clocked out and Inuyasha assumed it was Nakamura, since Kagura had caught them together before.
It was true that Kikyou had been seeing less and less of him lately; perhaps she had run into the arms of Sesshomaru because of it? No. No way. Kikyou may not have been the greatest girlfriend but she was still a decent person―of course, decent was a rather large understatement.
The shrill ringing of his desk phone caused him to jump slightly. Clearing his throat and trying to recollect himself, he loosened his tie and picked up the phone. (Sidetrack: can you just imagine Inuyasha in a nice suit? Oh, what a sight! Oh, the thrills! I'm sorry, I'm done now.)
"Hello?"
"Inuyasha," an unimpressed voice came from the other end. "I'm your girlfriend, not the Queen of England; it sounded like you were trying to use some old English or something with me in that email of yours." Inuyasha fought the urge to roll his eyes. "And listen, why does it matter that I talk to Sesshomaru? We're friends, that's what friends do. We listen to each other. I don't assume you know how that works. Whenever Miroku speaks to you, it's just fuck this and fuck that. You need to stop swearing so much."
"I'll swear whenever the fuck I want, woman."
"I don't know how you do business with a mouth like that," Kikyou had sighed but moved away from the phone to do so, hoping he wouldn't hear her. She had forgotten he was a half demon.
"I do business fine, thank you very much."
"You're infuriating."
"And so are you!" He snapped, but was greeted with a mysterious silence. Then he could hear Kikyou sighing again.
"Inuyasha, what happened to us?" The question threw him off guard. He thought that she was having as much trouble with this relationship as he was. Hell, he even thought of taking a break to see how things went. Now that he thought about it, there was a time when he couldn't imagine being without Kikyou. She was his everything and he had done countless things to win her heart―things he would never consider doing now. "We used to be so nice to each other, and now all we do is fight and fight and fight."
Inuyasha wasn't good at talking; he didn't know what to say. She sighed for the third time before saying her goodbyes, making up some sort of excuse that she had work to do. Hanging up the phone, Kikyou buried her face in her hands and wondered if she and Inuyasha would be able to continue the way they were. Instead of lovers, they argued like enemies. This wasn't how they used to be. She remembered when they first met, and although Inuyasha was coarse on the outside, he was always gentle and kind towards her. What had changed? Inuyasha was still the same hot-tempered but well-meaning man she fell in love with. Perhaps it was her that changed? Perhaps Inuyasha had fallen out of love with her because of something she did, something she didn't do? Kikyou continued with her torment until she could no longer take it anymore and decided to clock out early.
Meanwhile, the silver-haired man softened after hanging up; she sounded so lost and tired. What had happened to them? Surely there was still something left between them, wasn't there? Feelings didn't go away that quickly. Inuyasha shook his head, he was sure that he still loved Kikyou. At least, he hoped he was.
Opening up his laptop once more, he typed up an email and decided to ask Kikyou out to dinner―just the two of them. They hadn't gone out on a date in a while. Maybe that was the problem: they didn't spend enough quality time together anymore. Heck, they didn't even have sex anymore. His sharpener was probably getting more action than he was. Quickly setting a date and time for them to meet, he click in the "To" box and typed the first letter of Kikyou's name. There were only two people in the entire company with a surname that started with the letter 'K'―Kikyou and Kouga. In alphabetical order, his girlfriend's name would appear first in the dropdown list.
He forgot about the newest addition to the company.
Not even bothering to read the name, he selected the first option and clicked send. Satisfied with his attempt to reconcile with Kikyou, Inuyasha packed up his things and headed home. Perhaps he would pick up some tiramisu for his mother and father. Yes, they would like that.
In the meantime, somewhere on the fifth floor, Kagome sat at her desk in front of Miroku's office and gasped when she found an email from the executive himself.
X x X x X x
X x X x X x
From: Taisho Inuyasha [ inuyasha (at) taisho . com ]
To: Higurashi Kagome [ khigurashi (at) taisho . com ]
Subject: Tomorrow
Kikyou,
You're right. You're my girlfriend and I should treat you better. I don't know what happened between us, and I don't know why we're always fighting, but I want to make it up to you. You're probably still mad at me, but what do you want me to do? Let's go out for dinner, just the two of us. We haven't done that in a while.
Meet me at the Shikon Bistro tomorrow night at 8. I'll be waiting for you.
Inuyasha
X x X x X x
X x X x X x
Kagome's mouth fell open. If she told anyone about this email, the rumour would spread faster than wildfire and she would surely be in big trouble. After all, who wouldn't jump on the chance to finally gossip about the Taisho Inuyasha? And Kikyou... wasn't she that amazingly beautiful woman whom Kagome had met a few weeks ago? She was Sesshomaru's receptionist, if she remembered properly. Of course she would be dating the CEO. She expected no less of the supermodel-esque Inoue Kikyou.
The newbie decided it would be best to delete the email. Yes, that would be best. After all, if she was caught as the one who started the spreading of Inuyasha's personal life, her job here at Taisho would be gone as fast as Miroku switches partners. Nodding her head triumphantly at her maturity, Kagome manoeuvred the mouse to the delete button. Lifting her forefinger to deliver the final click, her hand slipped and pressed "Forward" instead.
Unfamiliar with the system, she could not seem to spot the "back" button. Panicking now, she clicked a few more buttons only to have the screen reload and up popped a page that determined her fate: she was ultimately doomed.
"Your message has been sent to the following: ..." and it proceeded to list every single employee at Taisho Inc.
"No," she grabbed at her computer. "No! No! No! Nooooooo!"
Yep, say goodbye to Higurashi Kagome. Her life was officially over.