***Hey guys I just wanted to say thank you for the reviews. I don't think I ever laughed so hard as I did when I read them. You guys really are the best! I really do enjoy reading your reviews and seeing how you are getting into this story. ***
Chapter 9
2 weeks before
Inuyasha had run out of options. His brother wouldn't answer his calls, e mails, texts, or even admit him entrance onto his estate. Sesshomaru had effectively froze him out. How was he supposed to fix things when he could only get in touch with his assistant or secretary? Inuyasha did not even have Kagome's new number to reach her and he wouldn't just show up unannounced at her home. That clearly had not worked well for Kikyo.
With all options exhausted he went to the one man he knew could help him. His father. Inuyasha parked his car in his fathers drive and prepared to go beg for mercy. Inuyasha wasn't stupid, his father loved Kagome like a daughter and Inuyasha had hurt her. His father was less than pleased with him already. If he found out everything he had said last weekend at the charity fundraiser his father would be furious.
Walking determinedly to his fathers office he stopped before the mahogany door and knocked firmly. A few seconds later his father called out for him to enter. He went into his fathers lair and sat in one of the over stuffed chairs before his fathers massive wooden desk. Even though his father was retired Inuyasha knew he monitored the company closely to make sure no errors occurred.
"So Inuyasha, what brings you to me today?" His father eyed him carefully, he no doubt knew this was coming. The man knew everything that happened with his family and company. And this situation involved a little of both.
"As you have probably heard I was an ass to Kagome and Sesshomaru at the charity fundraiser. I was pissed off to see them together and said some stuff I shouldn't have. Sesshomaru refuses to talk to me and I don't have anyway to get in touch with Kagome to try to set things right. I need your help." It hurt to ask but better to ask then deal with the guilt that was already heavy on his shoulders.
Inutashio studied his son for a moment saying nothing. He could practically see the guilt wrapped around Inuyasha choking him. "Inuyasha you put this on yourself boy. Because you handled things so poorly you lost your best friend and then you go and do it again a later. What did you expect to happen?"
Slumping in his chair Inuyasha shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't think, that's the problem. I figured I could give Kagome time to cool off and hate me for a while. Then maybe eventually I could apologize and make things right between us. Instead I find her coming to that part with Sesshomaru and I just kind of snapped. I know I was a jerk and let my anger get out of control but I am sorry I hurt her dad. I hate knowing there is some black nasty cloud hanging between us."
"And what about your brother? Are you going to straighten things out with him?"
Inuyasha nodded. "Yeah I need to apologize to Sesshomaru as well. I know he was not trying to get back at me with Kagome or trying to use her. So I can suck it up and move on if he can."
Folding his hands on top of his desk Inutashio leaned forward toward his son. "Give me a week or two and I will arrange for you to talk to them here. I will not tolerate anyone acting a fool in my home and you will apologize and clear the air. Understood?"
"Yes father, I understand."
Present time at the Taisho estate.
Holding hands and presenting a united front Sesshomaru and Kagome strolled into the family room of his fathers mansion. Inutashio and Izayoi set on the loveseat together and Inuyasha sat in the chair next to them, leaving the couch across from his parents open. They sat down and prepared for whatever was about to happen.
Inutashio looked at them all before speaking, "I have gathered you three here today to clear things up. Things cannot continue to go on as they are. Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, you both need to communicate with each other. I will not have Taisho Industries suffer because of personal drama. Are we clear?" He waited for the nods of assent. "Good. Now I believe Inuyasha had something he wanted to say to the two of you."
Clutching his hands together between his legs, Inuyasha leaned forward and looked at Kagome. "I want to start off by apologizing to you Kagome. I hurt you with my selfishness and I am sorry for that. I shouldn't have cheated on you with Kikyo. I Know I handled things wrong and that I should have went to you and told you I was not happy anymore. Also the way I reacted to you and Sesshomaru being together was childish. I let my anger get the best of me and said things I didn't mean. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness but I miss you as a friend. I hate not being able to hangout with you any longer. Maybe one day you will be able to forgive me."
Staring Inuyasha straight in the eye Kagome made her decision. "I accept your apology Inuyasha. I unfortunately cannot forgive you at this time. You have destroyed my trust in you and if I can't trust you then how am I supposed to be friends with you? I am not trying to hurt you but right now I have to think about me and what is going to make me happy."
It stung but Inuyasha knew he deserved it. "I respect your decision and I promise to be polite and not to bother you."
"Now", Inutashio said, "Sesshomaru, you and Inuyasha need to come to terms with each other. As brothers and co-workers you can't keep avoiding each other."
Sesshomaru kept his face emotionless and answered in a flat voice, "I do not have anything to apologize for. I defended the honor of my date. I have not been avoiding Inuyasha because he has upset me, but for his own personal safety."
Inutashio felt the urge to sigh. Only Sesshomaru could say something like that and mean it. "Sesshomaru you physically harmed your brother and threatened him. I realize that you did it in response to what was said against Kagome but you can't let it affect your work."
"I was unaware that my work has been less than satisfactory. Anything business related that Inuyasha has needed from my office has been provided. I would not allow the company to suffer because of my personal discord with Inuyasha. I have not found it necessary to communicate with him personally as of yet." Sesshomaru kept his irritation in check. He would not let it show. Inutashio had no such problems letting his show.
Inutashio wanted to beat Sesshomaru. Why did the boy need to be so damn stubborn? Probably because he took after him, he thought dryly. "Sesshomaru, your work as always is satisfactory. I did not mean to suggest that it was anything other. Still you do not communicate as openly with your brother as you should." When Sesshomaru said nothing he turned toward Inuyasha. "Inuyasha is there anything you would like to say?" Inutashio prayed he wouldn't say anything stupid.
Clearing his throat, Inuyasha nodded. "Sesshomaru I am sorry that I implied that you would be anything less than honorable with Kagome."
"Apology accepted." Everyone waited a beat to see if he would say more but he didn't.
"Are you serious", Inuyasha shouted hopping up from his seat. "You pin me to the damn wall and threaten me and you can't even apologize?"
Sesshomaru looked at his half-brother coldly. "I warned you yet you persisted. I acted according to you, so therefore I feel no reason to apologize."
"You are an ass Sesshomaru. I don't know how Kagome puts up with you!" Sesshomaru growled at that wanting to rip his brother's head off.
Izayoi had enough. "Shut up the both of you! You are family and in this house you will act like it!" Glaring at both boys, she pinned them with a hard stare. "You do not have to like each other but you will respect each other and act civil toward one another." Both men nodded on agreement not wanting to feel the full brunt of her ire.
"Good now I will go get the children from upstairs and we will have a nice family meal or so help me I will make your lives miserable!" And that said she sailed out the door.
"Well now you boys have gone and done it. That is one cage you didn't want to raddle." Inutashio left the room laughing at the misfortune of his children. If mama wasn't happy no one was happy. "Inuyasha, Sesshomaru I want both of you to meet me at the dojo after work tomorrow. I think its time we settle this a different way." He would let them pound on each other for a while and hope they got all their aggression out.
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In a dark apartment across town Naraku was coming closer to finding his own way to settling things. According to Kagura, Kagome was now spending a lot of time at Sesshomaru's leaving her house unattended. Her security system was your standard run of the mill system. He was fairly sure he could undermine it in a matter of seconds.
That left only the matter of getting her alone. So far the only times she had been alone were when Sesshomaru or someone else had her kid. The key would be to find out when she was planning on being alone. The only other option was to follow her until he found the opportune moment but who knew how long that could take. He just needed to get her when her defenses were down in the safety of her own home.
He had debated on trying to lure her out somewhere but had discarded it. She wasn't dumb enough to go to a dark secluded place alone. Of course he could hack her friends e-mail account and ask her to meet him that way but then what if she called the friend to confirm. Perhaps he could get Kagura to swipe her friends phone to text her with? So many options.
Thinking about the phone idea, he had to admit it intrigued him. If Kagura could swipe Kagome's best friends phone they would have an access point. They could fabricate a lie that would require Kagome to be in her home alone. She would send her son off to her lover and she would be ripe for the taking. This could possibly work, he thought as he mulled it over.
Once he had the girl Sesshomaru would be so distraught he wouldn't be thinking straight. He would be willing to do anything to get Kagome back safe and alive. Kagome was going to be Sesshomaru's downfall and she didn't even realize it.
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*** Hey guys I will be out of town for Fourth of July so it will be a few days before I update again! I might take my laptop with me and fit in a chapter while I am gone it just depends on how busy I stay while visiting my family. ***