The Corporate Catch
By: Sandreline
Hello everyone! I am so so so very sorry for the delay with chapter 21! However, between my increased work load, house hunting with my fiancé-very-soon-to-be-hubby, and life, I have been very busy. I promise that this story is only about halfway done, so there is still plenty of goodness that I am going to be getting back to regularly scheduled updates soon!
Thank you all so very much for your patience, and your wonderful reviews! Thank you!
Chapter 21: In Which the Cat is out of the Bag
"Kagome!" Cried out the voice of her apparently angry best friend. The ebony haired woman let out a sigh. She literally had barely set one heeled foot in the elevator and already all the stress she got rid of in England had returned.
"Yes, InuYasha?" She asked calmly.
The silver haired half demon came stomping up to her, his red button up shirt matching the red tint that covered his face. "Are you alright? I'll kill that bastard half-brother of mine for pulling that stunt!"
Kagome rolled her eyes as her shouting best friend stormed passed the other employees in the lobby to get to her. "I am fine, InuYasha." She told him. "I actually had a wonderful time! London was everything I dreamed it would be."
When InuYasha was an arm's length away from her, he stopped. All emotions drained from his face and he stared at her. His nose twitched, and Kagome felt the beginning pelt of fear rise in her chest. There should be no way that he could smell Sesshomaru on her still, could he? She made sure to shower extra long and hard both last night before bed and again this morning. "InuYasha…" She began warily.
Suddenly clawed hands gripped her arms, and in a dangerous and overly protective tone, InuYasha spoke. "Kagome, did that bastard force you?"
Kagome wasted no time in pulled the half demon into the empty elevator, watching as the doors closed instantly with a ding. InuYasha stood stock still, his aura growing rapidly as her priestess powers hummed in response to the oppression of his anger. "InuYasha, before you go-"
"Kill him?" The silver-haired male was speaking in a strangely calm voice, which actually only make Kagome's fear spike to dangerous levels. Her best friend was never calm.
"InuYasha, listen to me please." Kagome began, her blue eyes pleading and wide. "What happened between Sesshomaru and I was a mutual decision-"
"Mutual decision?" InuYasha roared. "Kagome, he fucking kidnapped you to England! You hated his guts! There's no way that I'm buying that you willing gave yourself to that Icicle!"
Kagome blushed. "I got to know him. I am not denying that your brother-"
"Half-brother!"
"-can be a jackasss, but he is also very sweet. He took me to dinner, acted as my personal tour guide in London, and we have a lot in common." Kagome tried to convince him.
"He has a lot of nerve," He growled, wanting desperately to punch and destroy everything around him. "That must have been his plan all along! I just know it was!"
"InuYasha!" Kagome cried out. "Are you insane? No one would do that, least of all your brother! Sesshomaru concocting a fake embezzlement plan in another country just to sleep with me? That has to be the most ludicrous thing I have ever heard!"
"Oh really?" The half demon snapped back, his fangs flashing. "Why's that?"
"Because your brother has honor!" Kagome heatedly replied. "He would never do that! Besides, it is not like he would have to – women are constantly throwing themselves at him!"
"And now so are you!" Her best friend replied, his eyes flashing red. "He used you, Kagome!"
The priestess snapped. "If that was the case, he would have just slept with me and ended it! He would not have asked my permission to Court me!"
InuYasha felt as if he was dunked in ice water. "What'd you say?"
Kagome's anger fled her at the look of betrayal in her best friend's eyes. "InuYasha, I know that you and your brother have a very estranged relationship… but I think I may be falling in love with him…"
InuYasha erupted. "Kagome, are you crazy? He is using you for something! Sesshomaru would never do something like this unless he wanted something!"
"Obviously he wants me InuYasha!" Kagome snapped, not having realized that the elevator doors had opened up to expose their conversation to the entirety of the executive floor. "I understand that you are concerned, and I appreciate it, I really do! However, it is not your concern whom I choose to accept to Court me!"
"Eh hem."
The priestess and the half demon turned to look at the very amused face of Lord Toga, and the very shocked faces of the rest of the floor. "Do you mind if I join you in there, or is that temporarily your private conference room?"
Both Kagome and InuYasha turned bright red, and the irate ebony haired woman brushed passed Toga and down the hall. She needed to see Sango right away.
"Dad, you're never-" InuYasha began.
The Dog General held up a clawed hand. "No need, InuYasha; your brother sent me a short, and disappointingly lacking-in-detail, email this morning notifying me that he is Courting our little Kagome."
"You can't let him do this!"
"And why not?" The older silver-haired male raised an eyebrow. "Despite your biased belief, InuYasha, your older brother truly cares for her in his own way. Besides, I want grandpuppies." The Dog General entered the elevator and promptly removed his youngest child from it. "I am off to a meeting, see you later!" The former Lord of the West cheered as the elevator doors closed. InuYasha was left gapping for several moments. When he turned around, the startled employees that had been watching with rapt interest instantly made themselves busy, all of them pretending that they had not witnessed the spectacle that occurred before their cubicles.
Of course, as with all corporations and in addition to the wonders of email, everyone in the building would know about the most recent gossip within the next ten minutes.
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Here is a little teaser – I will be posting another chapter tonight! I just wanted to get this out to you as a thank you for your patience and continue support! Thank you everyone!
~Sandreline