A/N: You guys, I can't tell you how happy I am with all the suggestions you give! *sending virtual hugs and chocolates* I absolutely love all of them! And as I've mentioned in my author note earlier before, I openly accept any kind of suggestion and criticism. After all, critics make stories better, and that way I know that you're really into it. Obviously, I can't really please everyone with the road I'm going. But there are still so many things that haven't been uncovered, and the story hasn't reach that certain ultimate twist yet. (there, just give you a big bad spoiler :[ )
Alright! Sorry for my rambling, and hope you guys enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 11. The Deal and the Unexpected
…
"Let me pour some wine for you tonight, Naraku." The usually stoic-businessman said.
"And to what do I owe this honor, Sesshoumaru?" Naraku asked, raising one of his eyebrows at the man before him as he moved his glass closer to him.
Sesshoumaru poured the wine to the glass. "Just wanted to treat a good friend of mine. Is that so wrong?"
"I know you've been meaning to tell me something, my friend," answered Naraku with a smile, "How long do you think I've known you?"
Sesshoumaru chuckled lightly. "Ah, I give up. You always read me so well, Naraku."
Naraku grinned. "I knew it. So, what is it, Sesshomaru?"
Taking a deep breath, Sesshoumaru began to speak. "This isn't an easy thing for me to say… But I wish to tell this to you as soon as I can, Naraku. I'm leaving Japan for a really important family matter, so I will resign from my company soon and let my brother take over it."
Naraku's eyes widened in surprise, but he soon regained his composure and replied in a calm tone, "I'm not really sure why are you suddenly making this decision. But I believe that you're a man who knows the best in everything you do. As a friend, I want to let you know that I will always support your decision."
Sesshoumaru nodded. "Thank you, Naraku. I deeply appreciate that."
Naraku cleared his throat. "Then, is there anything else you want me to know? Something I can help with, perhaps?"
"There is, Naraku," Sesshoumaru inhaled deeply, "And I will be very honored if you grant my request for you tonight."
"And what might that be?" Naraku asked.
"I want us to have a merger," Sesshoumaru declared in a firm tone, "Upon my absence, I want you to work together with my brother. You are the only person I can trust in this world for this."
Naraku fell in silence. Merging with Takahashi Diamond Company would be the wish of every sane business owner in Japan. But why did he feel this tight knot of guilt in his heart?
He immediately remembered his earlier deal with a certain woman, and began to question his morality. Could he really play a part in deceiving the brother of the man whom he had thought as his own family?
But then there's his real, blood related family whom he couldn't abandon as well.
'I can't risk my family's happiness too… Especially not now of all times. Kanna and Kagura need me.' He thought solemnly.
Just as the thought passed his mind, he finally knew what he needed to do.
"I understand, Sesshoumaru," he said calmly, "I will carry out as you wish."
.
.
.
"Alright Mr. Takahashi, the procedure is done. We're sending your sample to our lab tomorrow morning to get it tested. Allow about three to five business days for your result to come out."
Inuyasha nodded and bowed. "Thank you, Doctor Suikotsu."
Doctor Suikotsu smiled and bowed back to him. "The pleasure is all mine. Have a good night, Mr. Takahashi, and Ms. Osawa."
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"I am surprised you still come for today, Inuyasha." Kikyo said as they walked out of the hospital to the parking garage.
Inuyasha scoffed. "I've told you I'm coming with you tonight to get my sample taken. What makes you think I wouldn't come?"
"Well, I thought you'd be spending your whole day with Kagome today. It's weekend after all."
"I need to get this thing over with soon, Kikyo," answered Inuyasha, "so that you and I can move on with both of our lives."
"But Inuyasha," Kikyo raised an eyebrow at him, "you make it seems as if the result would surely come out negative. What will you do if Naoki is indeed your child?"
Inuyasha stopped in his track. What will he do if that little boy was really his son with Kikyo? Or maybe the better question was; how would he explain it to Kagome?
'She told me she would try to forgive me if I ever let her down,' he thought to himself, 'but… a child… it's not a simple matter…'
"To be honest, I haven't really think about that, Kikyo," admitted Inuyasha, "but one thing I'm sure, though. If Naoki is really my kid, I will not be a bastard and abandon him. I am going to be that father figure he needs."
Kikyo nodded to herself. "I see. If that so, all we need to do now is to just sit down patiently and wait."
"What about yourself, Kikyo?" asked Inuyasha, "what if the result is negative? Aren't you going to find Naoki's real father?"
Kikyo rolled her eyes and turned away her gaze from him, staring at the ground as she continued to walk.
Seeing that Kikyo didn't answer his question, Inuyasha sighed. "Kikyo, if I'm really not his father, I want you to leave me and Kagome alone. You know there's really nothing between us anymore."
"Can I ask you something, then, Inuyasha?" Kikyo asked suddenly.
"What?"
"If you didn't meet Kagome- if you never crossed path with her, would you be willing to start over everything with me?"
Inuyasha's eyes widened. "What kind of question is that, Kikyo?"
"Just answer me, Inuyasha," Kikyo replied casually, "it's only a 'what if' question. No harm will be done in answering that, right?"
"Fine, you really want to know, hmm?" Inuyasha couldn't help but to throw her a small glare, "okay, I'll tell you. If Naoki is truly my child, I MIGHT consider about that. But just for the sake of him. Nothing more than that. And if he isn't, I want you to leave me and Kagome alone. "
Kikyo chuckled. "That's a fascinating answer, Inuyasha."
"Whatever, Kikyo," He finally arrived at his car. Kikyo's car was right beside his.
Both of them went inside their own car. Just after he turned on his car engine, Kikyo honked her car to him, and he opened his car's window.
"Inuyasha," she said, "you might not believe me. But I still care about you. Don't forget that."
Inuyasha only rolled his eyes at her and closed his window back.
'I didn't ask.' He thought to himself as he began to drive his car.
.
As Inuyasha parked his car inside his house's gigantic garage, he noticed that there was an unfamiliar white Aston-Martin parked beside his mother's Bentley. He frowned. It was almost eleven at night. Who could've visited them this late?
He went straight to the living room and spotted his mother sitting on the sofa, and a long-haired man sitting across her.
Izayoi noticed her son's arrival and smiled. "Oh, here he is, Mr. Onigumo."
Inuyasha furrowed his eyebrows. Onigumo? That name sounded too familiar. Wait, wasn't he the owner of Gokana modeling company?
Naraku glanced at him and he quickly stood up. "Mr. Takahashi," he bowed, "it's a pleasure to meet you."
Inuyasha bowed back to him and went to shake his hand. He then sat beside his mother, still with a confused look on his face.
Naraku smiled at him. "Mr. Takahashi, how's working with Kikyo so far? I hope working with one of my models didn't give you a hard time."
'Uhh… it's kinda hard to say…' Inuyasha thought to himself.
He cleared his throat and began to speak, "I admit that I do not have any experience in that kind of field, Mr. Onigumo, but Kikyo is a brilliant actress. If everything goes well, the shooting should be done by this week."
Naraku chuckled lightly. "I'm glad to hear that. Sesshoumaru is a very good friend of mine and the last thing I want to do is to give trouble to his brother."
"Well then," Izayoi smiled warmly to her son and her visitor, "I believe it is now the time for me to leave you two to have a nice talk."
Naraku nodded. "Good night, Mrs. Takahashi."
"Just call me if you need anything." answered Izayoi with a bow, before she left to her room.
"So, Mr. Takahashi," Naraku started as he cleared his throat.
Inuyasha shook his head. "Please don't call me that. It makes me feel old… Not to mention, it feels kinda weird since my brother is a 'Mr. Takahashi' as well, am I right, Mr. Onigumo?"
Naraku nodded wistfully. "I see. Alright, Inuyasha, then," he cleared his throat again, "Inuyasha, I do not intend to bother you in such time, so I'll just go straight and talk to you… regarding to the reason of my visitation today," He paused a bit, "but before I go on, not to be rude or trying to invade your private life. I must tell you… that I'm aware of the past relationship between you and my model, Kikyo Osawa."
Inuyasha frowned a bit. 'As I thought, it doesn't make sense if he just merely come to say hello to me.'
"Please," he urged him to continue.
"Inuyasha," Naraku sighed, "I truly do not wish that our first formal meeting turns out to be in this kind of situation. But I must clear this before it's too late for me to do anything. I know what Kikyo has told you about her... child."
Inuyasha's eyes widened. Why would Kikyo go around telling other people about it? To Naraku Onigumo? Wait... and what did he even have to do with this?
"To put it bluntly," Naraku breathed deeply, "Inuyasha... Naoki isn't your child. And I can give you my assurance for that."
"What do you mean?" He asked him with a deep frown, as if he didn't believe what he had just heard.
"I am the man whom she had been seeing four years ago," Naraku revealed in a firm tone, "and Naoki is the result of our relationship."
Inuyasha's mouth went dry as he felt like his world stopped for a moment.
No, it was too much of a coincidence, wasn't it? Someone was probably trying to play more twisted tricks on him.
"Everything was a mistake," Naraku closed his eyes, "my meeting with that woman was a mistake. Before I knew it, she had become a big part in my life, and I couldn't help it. She was there for me when I was at the edge of my marriage with my wife."
Inuyasha felt like he was being slapped repeatedly when it finally kicked him. This was the man that Kikyo had betrayed him with. The father of the boy that Kikyo had insisted was his.
He couldn't think straight. Part of him just wanted to jump in relief, but a few questions began to bother his mind. Why was he telling him this? What was it, that he was really trying to tell him?
"Why… are you telling me this now…?" He asked carefully.
"Inuyasha," Naraku inhaled deeply, "I'm putting my own family at stake by telling you about this. But I must warn you. Be careful of that woman. She's planning to deceit you. She asked me to switch your sample with mine in the hospital."
Inuyasha growled. So Kikyo had been planning this from the start?
"I could act ignorant, but it wouldn't be fair for you. You are the brother of a man whom I have considered as my own family. You don't deserve any of this. But…one thing…" Naraku trailed off, "I know, I'm such a coward, but I can't really do as I please and refuse her request. For years I've been trying to mend my marriage life, and now that my family is finally at harmony, I can't risk that woman ruining it."
"So what are you gonna do?" Inuyasha asked. Now that the truth came clear to him, he just knew that he must do something.
"Kikyo would know if I do not switch the test sample. So I will still have to do as she asked, but," he looked at him in a serious expression, "we still have time until the result comes out. During that time, you know what you must do. I believe that you are a wise man, just like your brother. Surely you can come up with the reasons of why are you bringing your own result."
Inuyasha stared at the man in front of him. On one hand, he was disappointed because he was hoping that Naraku could somehow avoid to do it. But he also knew how hard it must have been for him. He had been keeping that secret to keep his family whole for years. Hell, if he was in his shoes, he couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't do the same thing. But the question was…. could he really trust him?
"It's getting late, I think I need to leave now," Naraku sighed, "I'm telling you this much already, it is up to you how you're going to handle this matter. But can you promise me something?"
"If it is still in my power, I will try." Inuyasha answered.
"Please," Naraku stood up and bowed to him, "whatever you do, do not let Kikyo know any about this. I trusted you, just like I trusted your brother, Inuyasha."
Looking at the man before him carefully, Inuyasha sighed. "... I understand. I promise Kikyo won't know a thing about this. And… thank you for telling me, Mr. Onigumo. I appreciate your honesty."
Naraku nodded. "You are most welcome."
.
.
.
"Wow, Mr. Takahashi. I must say, you're doing really well today. Finally got the kick, eh?" The director praised, looking satisfied.
Inuyasha grinned cockily. "Nah. Maybe you're just too late in realizing how good I am actually."
The glasses man rolled his eyes. 'I just praised this guys once, and his ego inflates like a balloon.' He thought.
"Okay, the job for today is done. If you keep doing well like today, I imagine we can finally take the official filming in a few more days." He said.
Inuyasha's eyes brightened. "Really?"
"Yeah," the director nodded, "Well then, you may leave the studio. Since everything goes well, we will have two days break, so come again in Wednesday."
Inuyasha smirked. It's about damn time.
Kikyo tapped her chin. "Hmm. He's right… Somehow…. you're kinda different today, Inuyasha."
Inuyasha looked at her and felt the urge to roll his eyes.
'You have no idea, Kikyo….' He thought.
"Maybe I'm just in a really good mood." He answered with a shrug. He had promised to Naraku that he wouldn't do anything that could make Kikyo grow suspicious. He needed to be careful in choosing his own words.
"I see," Kikyo nodded, "Well, I need to leave for another filming now. See you tomorrow, Inuyasha," she grinned to him, "enjoy your day."
How Inuyasha wished he could wipe of that smug grin on her face right now. It took him all he got not to yell in her face saying, 'I know your tricks, bitch.' and then walked away from her with a big smile on his face.
'No,' he reminded himself, 'be patient man. All in time.'
He just couldn't wait to see the look in Kikyo's face when that time come.
.
.
.
"So tell me, Totosai, how fast can you get my DNA sample tested?"
The old man sighed, "I told you, Inuyasha, the fastest I can get it done is three days from now."
Inuyasha growled. "Can't you make it any quicker than that? I need the result soon, damn it!"
Totosai rolled his eyes. 'What a stubborn young fellow, just like his father.'
"I'll try my best to get it done by the next two days and immediately send the result to you. But I can't promise that. Are you happy now?" He said.
Inuyasha grinned in satisfaction. "It's perfect."
"Alright, if there's nothing else that you need, I'll be leaving now. Send my greetings to your mother." Totosai stood up.
"Yeah, sure." Inuyasha nodded.
Totosai suddenly stopped in front of his door. "And, Inuyasha…?"
"Huh?"
"I'm not sure why do you suddenly need your DNA to be tested, much less what are you gonna do with it," He sighed, "but I'm telling you one thing, whatever is it in your mind, or whatever is it that you might be planning, you better be careful, son."
Inuyasha smirked. "You don't have to tell me that."
His plan was to get the result of his DNA test first, then bring it to Kikyo to compare with Naoki's. Considering that Kikyo had sent Naoki's sample a day before he went with her to the hospital to get his DNA tested, the boy's result should come earlier than his.
Then, he would tell Kikyo that he got his DNA tested by his family's trusted and dependable doctor, Totosai Honda. Since Totosai had been serving his family for years, of course he would be able to do the test in the most efficient way, and thus make the result come quicker.
He smirked. Why didn't he even think about that earlier?
'Maybe because I had no idea that she was planning to do such thing…' He thought to himself.
Inuyasha frowned. He never imagined that Kikyo would do such a cruel act. Kikyo has always been an astute and shrewd woman, but Naoki was her own flesh and blood for God's sake! Was she really that heartless?
'No...' He tried to reason back in his mind, 'but the Kikyo I knew wasn't that kind of woman.'
Inuyasha might be a dense guy. But he was not that ignorant. He had known Kikyo for years. And he knew that despite of her proud, and sometimes haughty attitude, she was not a ruthless woman who was capable of doing such inhuman act.
Did something actually happen to her that changed her that much?
He sighed. All the thoughts about Kikyo and the boy were starting to drive him crazy.
'I think I need to give myself a break and forget about that for a while….'
Inuyasha glanced at his watch. 12 pm. Kagome should be on her lunch break soon.
He began to grin like an idiot. At least he knew that nothing stood in the way of his relationship with her right now….
.
.
"Kagome, you don't need to finish that file now, you know. It's almost break time already." Koga said.
"Yeah, but I want to get this finished as soon as possible, Koga," Kagome answered with a smile, "I hate procrastinating work."
Koga chuckled. "You really don't change a bit from when you're in high school, do you? Still that same old hardworking, zealous and energetic Kagome," he smirked, "I like that in you."
"And you're still the same pretty-mouthed guy as ever, Koga." Kagome laughed.
"I guess I am, hey, you're going anywhere for lunch?" He asked suddenly.
"Hmmm… I don't know…. Maybe-" Just in time, her cellphone vibrated. She sent her boss a quick apologetic look before she picked up the call.
"Hello?"
"Good afternoon, am I speaking with Mrs. Takahashi?"
Kagome rolled her eyes. Without even looking at the caller ID, she could instantly recognized her caller and decided to play along.
"I believe you have the wrong number, sir."
"Nonsense, madam. I am certain that I've reached the correct number."
"Well, I can give you the Takahashi's residence number if you want me to. It's 0458112-"
"Woman, I know my own house number."
Kagome giggled. It was so easy to make him drop his own little cute act, but it just made him even cuter.
"Okay, Mr. Inuyasha Takahashi. What's up?"
"Are you on your lunch break yet?"
"Well, almost," answered Kagome, "are you gonna take me to lunch?"
A chuckle could be heard from the other end of the line. "You're so confident, M'lady. But yes, I am. Pick you up in about fifteen minutes?"
"Fifteen minutes sounds great," Kagome replied, "I'll see you soon then!"
She hung up the phone and hummed to herself happily, totally forgot that her boss was still in the same room with her.
"Is he taking you out for lunch?"
She gasped. "Oh, sorry, Koga! Oh my god. I can't believe I totally ignored you!"
Koga chuckled. "It's okay, no problem," he sighed, "I was thinking of taking you out for a lunch treat today. Well, I usually treat all my new employers. But if you have plans with him, I guess it can't be helped."
"Sorry, Koga," Kagome said in an apologetic tone, "um, how about tomorrow, then?"
"Hm…." He frowned, "I can't. I need to pick up my niece from her pre-school."
"Oh! Ginta's daughter?" Kagome asked excitedly. She remembered that Koga had two older brothers… Ginta, and she forgot the name of the other one.
Koga shook his head. "Nope. It's Hakkaku's."
Kagome made an 'o' shape with her mouth. "I see, so he's married already, eh?"
"Yeah, I never thought I would live to see the day that guy changing his daughter's diaper," He snickered, "time passes crazily fast, huh."
"Couldn't agree more." Kagome grinned.
.
.
"Inuyasha, pay attention to your own food. I can't eat properly if you look at me like you're about to eat me, you know."
Inuyasha had been peering at her with the expression of a hungry seven year old for a while now, and he didn't even touch his own food.
He smirked. "I just wish that I am eating you right now."
Kagome dropped her fork and nearly choked her food. "Inuyasha!" she scolded angrily, "we're eating!"
"Oops, my bad. Sorry, M'lady." Inuyasha chuckled.
"Seriously, what are you thinking?" She asked him with a glare.
"If you must know, I'm thinking about the unworldly gorgeous woman sitting across from me, and how breathtakingly beautiful she would look when she walks down the aisle with in her white dress."
Kagome rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah?"
"Yup," Inuyasha grinned, "then with that pretty little smile on her face, she would let me hold her hand, and when the time comes, she would tell me, 'I do.' And I would be the happiest man alive."
"Is that the dream of your life?" Kagome asked with a giggle.
"It isn't a dream, Kagome. 'Cause that woman is about to make it come true for me." Inuyasha answered with a smirk.
"But Inuyasha," Kagome faked a sigh, "what if that woman is suddenly having second thought? You know, there are so many other men in this world."
Inuyasha pouted playfully, "Then I guess I'll be a sad, lonely and miserable dude for the rest of my life. Or perhaps my heart can't take it and like Romeo, I shall die in heartbreak and grief."
Kagome almost couldn't control her laugh. "A real dramatic killer line you have there, Lothario."
"I said nothing but the truth, really."
"Reaaaaally," Kagome said, suddenly felt like teasing him, "then what if she suddenly decide that you're not worth it?"
Inuyasha snorted. "Then I would go my way to hell and back just to regain her affection back to me."
Kagome giggled to herself. 'If that ever happens, I'm counting on you for your own words, Inuyasha.'
.
.
.
The next day
"Hey, Totosai, is the result ready yet?"
"For god's sake, Inuyasha, I told you I'm trying my best to get it done by TOMORROW! How many times have you call me this morning, just to get the same answer?"
"Okay, okay, just wanna make sure you don't get all relaxed on me and forget about it, old man. Geez, no need to be so grouchy."
"Humph. Call me again and I swear I will never pick up a call from you, young man."
"Whatever, just-" Beeep. Totosai hung up the phone.
"What the hell?" He couldn't believe that old man really had the guts to hang up on him.
Looking at the screen of his cellphone, he noticed that he had a message.
From: Kikyo Osawa
Hey, Inuyasha, can you pick up Naoki from his school today? Asuka is going to be the bridesmaid for her sister's wedding today. So she can't come for the whole day. I need to go for a filming out of the area today, and I don't think I can ask a permission to leave. Even if I can, the drive from the place I will be at to Naoki's pre-school would take hours.
Inuyasha sighed. As much as he wanted to tell her to 'stop the show', he knew it would only make her upset and suspicious that something was going on. So he better played along for now. Beside, he didn't really have the heart if the little boy would have to wait hours just for Kikyo to pick him up.
To: Kikyo Osawa
Alright. 12pm, isn't it?
A few seconds later, his cellphone vibrated.
From: Kikyo Osawa
Yes. And thank you. I know I can depend on you.
.
.
"Be careful on your way, Koga."
The pony-tailed man grinned. "You're sure you don't want to come along? Hikari is a sweet girl, and she would be happy to meet you."
Kagome chuckled lightly. "I would love to meet her too, but I still have works to do, you know."
Koga sighed. "As expected from the serious Kagome Higurashi. Alright, I'll be on my way now."
Kagome nodded. "See you later!"
.
.
"Hikari! I'm here!"
The four year old giggled happily, "Uncle Koga!" She then ran towards him.
"Ooff," Koga picked her up in his arms, "how's my baby niece doing today?"
Hikari grinned proudly, "I make a make new friend today."
"Really?" Koga raised an eyebrow to the girl.
"Yup!" she smiled, "His name is Naoki. He is very nice! His nanny usually pick him up from school, but he said that his Papa is going to pick him up today."
"I see," Koga nodded, "Well, let us go home now, are you hungry, Hikari?"
"I am starrrviingg, Uncle Koga," she whined cutely, "I want ice cream and fries."
Koga chuckled. "Okay, anything for the little princess."
Hikari squealed happily, but then she suddenly saw her new friend running out from the school gate.
"Oh, there he is! The boy I told you!" She said excitedly as he pointed at him.
Koga glanced at the direction she was pointing at, and he saw a black haired boy running happily towards an equally black haired man.
He frowned as he looked at the man he was running to. He seemed so damn familiar…
Koga's eyes widened in realization. "Inuyasha Takahashi?"
But what made he froze and his mouth dropped open was the word coming from the little boy's lips,
"Papa!"
The... hell?
"Uncle Koga?"
He didn't even realize that his niece was calling him as his mind tried to register some things.
Inuyasha Takahashi was with a four year old boy who called him papa. Kagome told him that she had only met him for no more than two months, so there was no way in hell it was their kid.
Staring at him and the kid, Koga could only muttered in a voice full of disbelief, "What the fuck…?"
...
A/N: There you go! Sorry for the crappy cliffhanger, but it's getting kinda long and I don't want to make you guys feel overwhelmed when reading it T_T but I'm going to update soon. Now I gotta make a stupid essay and submit it to my teacher before she gets upset… Argh. Why do we even need school?