A/N: Sorry it took so long. Thank you so very much for all the reviews. If I was car then your reviews would be my gasoline (lol that's corny!)
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
Chapter 7: Sticky Situations and Defending Another's Honor
"Who is the redhead," Kagome said giggling.
"Her name is Miranda and that's Kagura, of course," Kikyo stated in matter-of-fact way. Kagome seemed to constantly make friends since she joined Sesshomaru's label. First there was Kikyo, then there was the Inu-tachi(Inuyasha, Miroku, and Koga). And now she was sitting across from Kagura, having the time of her life.
Kikyo and Kagome decided to make their lunch date a double date and bring someone the other didn't know. Kikyo brought Kagura and Kagome brought Sango. The four girls hit it off so well that they declared themselves Japan's version of the woman from 'Sex and the City'. Kikyo, deeming herself the 'Sex and the City' expert, chose which characters were Kagome, Sango, and Kagura.
"Why do I have to be Miranda. She's bitter and lonely," Kagura pouted.
"She isn't bitter. She's a cynic just like you and last time I recalled, you don't have a man either!" Kikyo said with a smirk. Sango and Kagome roared with laughter while Kagura continued to pout.
Kagome wiped a tear from her eye, "Ok ok guys, We need to get this together. I have to return to the recording studio in fifteen minutes."
"Alright Sango, you're Samantha because you were bold enough to leopard print leggings and actually pull it off," Sango giggled, "and I declare myself Carrie because I sit in front of laptop all day." All the girls laughed again.
"Wait! Who am I?" Kagome asked worried she wouldn't get a character. Aside from billboards of the movie, she had never seen the show or the movie like her cohorts, so she didn't know any of the characters.
"Hmm, you're unimaginably sweet," Kagura declared.
"You're kind of naive," Sango said.
"You're a quite modest," Kikyo stated.
The three women said in unison, "CHARLOTTE!"
Later...
Kagome stood in the soundproof room of the recording studio staring at an unpleasant surprise. Naraku was standing next her producer at the soundboard. The man gave her the creeps. His red eyes had 'backstabber' written in them. Kagome knew he wasn't to be trusted.
"Is there a reason why you are here, Naraku," Kagome said defensively.
"Hmm, Kagome, I love the way you say my name. I can't remember the word to describe it," Naraku said with a nauseating smile. Kagome cringed at Naraku's words.'I know the word: disdain,' she thought.
"Is there a problem or not, Naraku!" Kagome exclaimed as she was losing her patience.
"Bankotsu say you haven't been hitting the notes right lately," Naraku sneered.
Kagome dropped her head. It was true. Kagome had not been singing at her best for the past two weeks. Her mind was always thinking about Sesshomaru and the kiss they shared. She couldn't sleep without being thrown into a dream of Sesshomaru kissing not only her lips but her entire body. A small shiver of desire ran up Kagome's spine from merely reminiscing about her dream.
"I been distracted lately, and I promise it won't happen again," Kagome said determined to get Sesshomaru out of her head.
"I believe you, Kagome," Kagome sighed in relief, "but I gonna watch you to make sure." Kagome's relief disintegrated.
Two Weeks Later...
Now you can wait your w-cough-cough...
"Dammit, Kagome! When are you going get it right!" Naraku screamed as he slammed his fist on the soundboard.
Kagome has been working with Naraku for the last two weeks on one song. The only improvement was that she got Sesshomaru out of her head. She replaced his image with the perfect picture of her wringing Naraku's neck. The man was so ass backwards. He would always change his mind. One minute, he would tell Kagome to sing on a high key then tell her to sing on a low key. The man knew absolutely nothing about music and when Bankotsu, the actual producer, tried to help him, Naraku would scream even more.
"First you are not singing on key and now what's up with this fucking coughing," Naraku shouted.
"Naraku! I was singing on the key you told me to sing on. The song might sound better if you'll listen to me and slow it down," Kagome said frustrated.
"Lair! Your not listening to me and there is nothing wrong the song, it's something wrong with the dumb bitch whose singing it," He snarled looking at Kagome through narrow eyes.
"I not lying! And I'm coughing because my throat is getting hoarse. I need some tea with lemon!"
Naraku flew out of his chair. "YOU'RE NOT GETTING A FUCKING THING UNTIL YOU GET THIS SONG RIGHT!" he yelled. Kagome took a deep breath; she was getting a migraine from Naraku's screaming.
Bankotsu had just finished listening to the playback of Take sixty-nine. "Sir, you should listen to Take sixty-nine. It's not that bad," Bankotsu said meekly.
"Don't tell me what to do!" Naraku shouted.
"Whose telling you what to do," said a cold voice.
Kagome, Naraku and Bankotsu turned to see Sesshomaru standing at the entrance of the recording studio. Kagome had a huge smile on her face while Naraku and Bankotsu used all their willpower to keep from cowering in fear.
"Why are you shouting Naraku?" Sesshomaru asked calmly.
"I heard Kagome was having difficult time getting a song finished so I decided to take time out of my busy schedule to help our soon-to-be star; but ,Sesshomaru, I can't work with her. She doesn't listen to none of my advice and she always want these errant breaks."
Kagome's mouth fell open. She was appalled by what he said. She threw off her headphones and burst into the producer's area of the studio. "I'm difficult! I'm difficult!" Kagome said exasperated, "I'm not a lying snitch like a certain V.P. but the truth is Naraku is constantly confusing me. He doesn't know what key he wants me to sing. I'm been getting screamed and cursed at for the last two weeks. And those 'errant' breaks I ask for is because my voice is getting hoarse. Naraku won't let me get some hot tea or even a drink of water! I've been in this studio since 6:00 am"
Sesshomaru looked at his watch, it was 10:30 pm. He looked at Kagome and saw she was on the verge of tears. He could tell by the distress on her face and the suffrage prevalent in her scent was telling the truth.
Sesshomaru sighed and pulled a small tangle from his hair. "Naraku, I hired you because you have eye for new talent," Naraku smirked, "but I never hired you to be a producer. You had no right to be in this studio or harassing one of my company's artist whether you were trying to help or not," Sesshomaru said irritably. Naraku began to frown; it was Kagome's turn to smile.
Sesshomaru grabbed Kagome's elbow signaling for her to come with him. "We will be right back," Sesshomaru said. He took Kagome out of the studio and into the hallway.
"Are you ok?" he asked.
"I am now that I know he's not going to around me anymore"
"How did he harass you?"
Kagome looked at the ground. She knew what Sesshomaru was really asking: Do Naraku sexually harass her. Sesshomaru put two fingers under Kagome's chin and lifted her face to look at his.
"It's ok. You can tell me,"very gently said Sesshomaru. It seem these days that he was consistently surprising himself. Sesshomaru had never talked that gentle to anyone aside from Rin.
"He just looks at me weird; like his eyes follow me. I always saw him looking at my breasts or my butt and he was a little too touchy feely," Kagome looked to see a heated glare in Sesshomaru's eyes that was directed to Naraku, "but other than that he just always yelled and screamed at me.." 'It was like he was trying to break me,' Kagome finished in her head.
Sesshomaru stopped glaring at Naraku through the studio's window and looked at Kagome. He never could have imagined a day when Kagome had a defeated look on her face; Naraku really wore her out. Seeing Kagome's face made Sesshomaru even more angry; but however, Sesshomaru tried not to show it.
"Kagome go wait for me in the lobby. I'll be down in short while," said Sesshomaru as he enter the studio again.
"Sesshomaru-sama, I'm truly sorry for getting in the way of Kagome's career. I thought I was helping," Naraku said after Sesshomaru reentered.
"Leave us," Sesshomaru said to Bankotsu. Bankotsu practically ran out of the room. "Naraku, it seems I will have to keep better watch over your affairs."
"N-No ,sir, that's quite alright. I learned my lesson," Naraku stammered.
"Obviously, you haven't. This the second time you have stepped out of your place. So you will have a guardian angel over your back until I deem it unnecessary," Sesshomaru said.
"Yes sir."
"Also, stop making her feel uncomfortable"
"What do you mean," Naraku feigned innocence.
Sesshomaru growled. Naraku knew exactly what he meant. "Do not look at her in a suggestive manner."
"You've known me longer than you've known Kagome. Honestly, are you going to believe everything she tells you? I don't know how I look at her suggestively. The little nympho probably thinks every man wants her."
Sesshomaru wanted to beat Naraku to a bloody pulp. 'How dare he call my Kagome a nymphomaniac!' Sesshomaru thought. "Either way, be careful of what you say, look, or do around her."
Sesshomaru turn around and started to leave when Naraku said, "Fine but whatever happened to 'bros before hos'" In the blink of an eye, Sesshomaru had thrown Naraku into the wall, and held him by his neck. Sesshomaru had red-tinted eyes. "Watch what you say about her in front of me too. I will not hesitate to ripped your head from your shoulders."
"Yes, Sesshomaru-sama," a craven Naraku croaked. Sesshomaru let Naraku fall from his high grip. There was dent where Naraku's body was against the wall. Naraku grabbed his injured neck as he began coughing.
"Get the wall fixed," Sesshomaru unaffectionately said as he finally left the recording studio.
As the elevator went down to the lobby, He clenched and unclenched his fists. His eyes had a small red-tint to them. He didn't calm down until he saw Kagome. She was sitting down in a black leather chair waiting for him like he wanted her to do. Kagome's bright smile returned when she saw him.
"Hey, is everything alright?" She asked.
"Yes, it is now.." 'that I'm with you' he finished in his mind. "You will have new producer starting Monday and you don't have worry about Naraku harming you any more."
"Wow! Thank you," Kagome said humbly.
"Are you hungry?" Sesshomaru asked hoping to have a repeat of their night two weeks ago.
"Yes, but I really would love a home-cooked meal though," she said knowing what Sesshomaru was insinuating.
"Fine but let me take you home after all you have had a hard couple weeks." Kagome nodded her head "yes" though she had been trying to avoid him since the kiss. She didn't how to act around him or feel about him anymore; and it would prove to be a challenge sitting in a car next to him.
Sesshomaru pulled out his BlackBerry and called someone. Five minutes later, his limo pulled up in front of the building. Suddenly, a wonderful idea sparked in Kagome's mind.
"Do you mind if I sit in the front with the driver. I've always wondered what it was like to sit in the front of the limo." Kagome knew what she had said was complete lunacy but she had to stay away from Sesshomaru somehow.
Sesshomaru saw through Kagome's request. He knew she didn't want to be around him yet he was still befuddled because he felt that they had such a good time weeks ago. He simply nodded saying he approve of her request.
That night when Kagome was dropped without being walked to her door or being said goodbye to; and a heartbroken Sesshomaru watched the woman he might be falling in love with walk away.
A/N: Thank you for reading and please review!!
