BlueMoon Goddess: Hope the wait wasn't too long. But since it's the holiday weekend, I have time to update some chapters, including this one. Also I'm sure you guys already see the budding attraction between Inuyasha and Kagome, and it will only began to get stronger as the chapters go.
Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha, its characters or the story 'Rivals of Desire' which this fic is based on.
Summary: Kagome Higurashi and Inuyasha Takahashi have hated each other since childhood. Now thanks to their mothers, their forced to work within the same business and its making Kagome want to kill him even more. But for Inuyasha, he's starting to see that there's something within her he never noticed before, and it's about time he did something about it.
"Man, when they told us you and Kagome were going to be working here, everybody went crazy. Working for a well-known chef and a dancer, who would've thought?"
"Well, I had some time in between opening my new restaurant." Inuyasha said. "And Kagome had some time as well before gearing up for her new showcase, so our schedules just seemed to work out."
Inuyasha and Kagome laughed at Jerry Wilson, one of the night watchmen at the factory.
"We just hope we don't embarrass ourselves." Kagome told Jerry and the other guard, Thomas Gentry.
Thomas waved his hand. "Please! With your mother and Mrs. Takahashi backing you up, they'll help you out of any pinches you get into around here."
"Besides, everybody who works here loves to help out." Jerry assured them. "With you two, they'll be falling all over themselves to offer assistance."
Kagome laughed as she patted both men on the shoulder. "I don't know about all that, but you got me feeling a lot better."
"Anytime!" Jerry and Thomas replied in unison. They shook hands with Inuyasha and watched him follow Kagome to the elevators.
"Oh…my…" Kagome breathed, her eyes widening when she stepped past the double doors leading to the president's suite. "They've redecorated since I was here last. Look at this place!"
"I know." Inuyasha agreed, taking in the plush elegance of his mother and Kozakura's office.
The room was magnificent. It looked less like an office and more like a combination living room and dining room. In the far corner, there was a built-in bookshelf stocked with as many bestsellers as there were business manuals, newspapers and financial journals. Between the polished oak shelves was an impressive glass bar and a small white refrigerator, with a white-leather living room set sat before it. On the opposite side of the office were two glass desks that faced each other. On the wall next to them was a built-in black entertainment center trimmed in gold. A huge TV and stereo sat hefty stash of jazz and classical CDs on the other.
"Damn, when do they find time to work?" Inuyasha teased, inspecting the titles in the movie collection.
"I'll say." Kagome agreed, though both she and Inuyasha knew their mothers deserved the best.
Izayoi and Kozakura began H.T. Company right out of their homes. When their husbands left for work, the two of them spent hours designing everything from jewelry, clothing, and perfume. It was just a hobby, something to keep busy when they had free time on their hands. When a business fair came to the city one year, Izayoi and Kozakura took a chance and showed their ideas to a man seated at a bank booth. He thought the ideas were so great, he talked his bank into loaning them the cash to produce their products. Moreover, he educated them on the procedures for starting and running a successful business. The company flourished out of their homes, soon the need for even more space became necessary.
Kagome took a seat behind one of the desks and turned the dark, tanned swivel chair to the windows. "Inuyasha, remind me to thank Izayoi and my mom for my gorgeous new office."
Inuyasha, who was still kneeling in front of the movie case, looked up at her and frowned. "Your new office?"
"Mmhmm." She confirmed, enjoying the myriad city lights twinkling in the distance.
"I know you don't think all this is yours?" He queried, rising to his full height.
She was twisting her chair to and fro, basking in the success that surrounded her. The tone of his voice didn't affect her at all. "Until my mom and yours get back, it is."
"The hell it is!"
"What?" She replied, turning the chair around. She saw him standing behind the other desk, his fists braced on the glass top.
"There is no way you get to have all this, Kag." He coldly assured her.
Kagome's gaze widened. "You can't possibly want this office?
Inuyasha's long brows drew close. "Why the hell wouldn't I?" He barked, spreading his arms wide. "Look at this place."
"Yes, look at it." She prompted, standing behind the desk. "It's clearly a woman's office and since this isn't a permanent thing, there's no time for you to clutter it with your crap, especially your swords."
He closed his eyes as he struggled to control his temper. "That may be so, but I'm not about to give this place up to you."
She massaged her neck. "We'll just have to share it then."
"It worked for our mothers." Inuyasha retorted, taking a seat behind the opposite desk.
Heading to the bar, Kagome cast him a tired look over her shoulder. "Yea, but they are friends."
His deep chuckle rose and he leaned back to prop his legs on the desk. "Ah Kag, I'll hate it when you leave."
"Ah Inuyasha, I'm not going anywhere." She assured him, pouring herself a glass of wine.
"Let's get to work shall we?" He advised, rising and moving away from the desk to grab the folders off the coffee table.
Kagome took a seat on the long sofa. "I thought you'd never ask."
Finally, the two of them settled down to work. They spent close to two hours reading files. Afterwards, they tossed questions and ideas back and forth. Not once did it occur to them that they were getting along so splendidly. Soon, they were sharing the sofa.
Kagome began to sing softly as she scanned the last file on her list. She didn't notice Inuyasha watching her. He had set his papers aside and was sitting with his elbow propped along the back of the sofa.
"That sounds pretty good." He whispered, gaze soft.
She glanced up at him and smiled. "Thanks."
He turned his attention back to his papers. "Would you sing for me sometimes?"
"Ha!" She bellowed. "Yeah right!"
"What's wrong?" He said, a murderous frown beginning to cloud his face.
She pushed her hair away from her face and pinned him with an amused glare. "Do you remember the last time I sang in front of you?"
He shifted his body on the sofa, grimacing at the sound the leather made. "I don't remember that."
She set her papers aside. "In junior high? Your parent's had that big party before we entered our first year of high school?"
"Oh yeah…yeah I remember now." He whispered, nodding his head. "That was something else."
Kagome's smile was far from humorous. "Yea, it was something all right. I got up to sing and all I could hear was you giggling and talking in the back."
"I did that?" He asked, feigning shock. He pressed one hand against his chest and his slanting, deep-set stare was mockingly innocent.
"You know you did that." She told him, her stare narrowing. "You were so loud, I heard you say I sounded like a man."
His full, rumbling laughter burst forth. He fell face-first onto the sofa, pounding his fist against the leather cushions. Kagome began to kick him with her foot.
"I'm sorry Kag!" He cried, almost breathless from laughter. "I was just a kid!"
She punished him with another shove from her foot. "That's no excuse!"
Inuyasha held his hands over his head to ward off the blows. "I was too young to appreciate your singing then."
She couldn't help it and her contagious laughter soon filled the office. "Good try, but I'm not falling for it." She moved to leave the sofa, but Inuyasha's hand closed over Kagome's ankle and he stopped her.
"I'm sorry alright. Honest. If you give me another chance I promise to be a better listener next time around."
Kagome drew her dress above her knees and knelt on the sofa. "You promise?"
"I promise." He instantly replied, his gaze unwavering.
Again, their eyes mirrored an emotion that made them forget about all the misunderstandings. It was as though the rest of the world faded away, leaving them alone…together. Inuyasha's fingers slid across the space separating them to trail her bare knee. Her lashes fluttered as a rush of sensation coursed through her from the simple caress. When his hand curled around her thigh to pull her close, Kagome's lips parted in anticipation of kissing him.
Papers resting beneath her knee crinkled when she moved closer. The sound intruded on the moment, forcing them back to reality. Inuyasha cleared his throat and pulled his fingers away from her leg. She pressed her hand against the nerves twisting in her stomach and moved off the sofa.
"I better get home." Kagome said, reaching for the stylish, wedge-heels sitting beneath the coffee table.
Inuyasha nodded, but said nothing. After she slipped into her shoes, they tidied the office and left.
"I hope your bathroom is okay." Inuyasha told Kagome, watching as she unlocked her front door.
She walked inside and headed right for the stairway. "I do too!" She called, sprinting up the carpeted steps. Thankfully the bathroom was in pristine condition and Kagome hugged herself. "I'm going to take that bath I missed out on."
"You sure you got time?" Inuyasha asked when she walked back into the living room. "You should be trying to get all the rest you can."
Kagome sent him a knowing look as she walked over to him. "I appreciate your concern, but I'll be in top shape for our meeting. Don't worry." She added, pressing her palms against his chest. The solid, muscles forced a gasp past her lips. Sometimes, she forgot just how strong he was. "Good night Inuyasha." She whispered quickly, hoping to hide her embarrassment.
He didn't tease, but a knowing smile tugged at the curve of his lips. "I'll see you in the morning." He promised, heading toward the front of the condo.
Kagome followed him to the door. When he was gone, she let her head fall against the polished maple door. "I can't fall for him. Please don't let me." She felt more attracted to the hanyou in that moment than in all the years she had known him.
Still, aside from the fact that she felt desperately attracted to him, she steeled herself against letting things go further. It could never work. A fling was out of the question and anything more serious wouldn't be fruitful, literally.
Several years ago, she discovered she was unable to have children. Though she tried not to let it make her feel like less of a woman, it was still something she was ashamed of. She survived the anguish of that by reminding herself that she'd not be partly responsible for bringing a child into a world where things changed so rapidly.
Clearing her throat suddenly, she dismissed the upsetting thoughts on her situation and focused her thoughts elsewhere. Inuyasha had crafted a well-known, respected image. Part of that image had a lot to do with the way he felt about children. Kids who otherwise wouldn't stand a chance with society, could look to a man like him for advice and consideration. His work with less fortunate or at-risk youth and hanyou's had gained national and, in some cases, international attention. It wasn't for show, even she could admit that. Inuyasha truly dedicated himself to standing up for those who couldn't stand up for themselves.
A fool could see that he would want children of his own. He deserved to be with a woman who could give him that. She just knew that woman could never be her.
BlueMoon Goddess: Well another chapter done! And like I said the attraction is getting hotter by the minute. But of course there is someone who has to deny it and they have their reasons for it too. I hope to have the next chapter within a few weeks so, until then guys! ^_^