The Doll

By Final Serenity

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

Chapter Twenty Four

Plans For The Future

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Today.

Today was a perfect day.

Why you must wonder, because…she was going to become a very rich woman.

It had started off a simple ruse, a trick to get Kagome's help, more along the lines of getting Kagome to introduce her to Inuyasha. Have him get her a nice descent high paying job, and she'd be set for life, no more worrying about the future. Her plans would pull through wonderfully.

She couldn't have imagined what would happen, when she said yes to Miroku for drinks. It hadn't even occurred to her that the hanyou had a bigger secret, no, thee biggest secret. That could not only ruin his 'chances' with her sister, but destroy him in the eyes of the public. Who would have imagined that when they walked down the cobblestone sidewalk of their small town; that summer they got to choose whatever they wanted to buy for a gift.

That the doll sitting in the back row; on the top shelf had harbored Inuyasha's soul.

Her lips formed into a smile, a smile from sheer happiness, she couldn't have asked for something more. To find out what the hanyou had been like, to find out that he was the doll her sister carried around for a year treating it like a real person. That the doll had really been a person trapped within its ragged seams, between the materials that made the ugly creation of what the doll was.

It nearly made her laugh with excitement just thinking about the damage she could wreck if he were to deny her anything she asked. According to the drunken monk, Inuyasha loved her sister and that was all good and fine she could care less about what he wanted with her sister. However, if he were to say no to her requests that she's so carefully designed out…things in the media would get far worse for him.

For who would have thought that media mogul Inuyasha, had been a monster whose killed women without mercy before his incapacitation by a priestess. He was cursed by one of the very women he betrayed and wanted to watch wither away without love, and without hope, and without him. It was a complete burn on the hanyou, his entire life that a complete secret a mystery among the ages, would make him fall so far…in the eyes of humans.

For the first time in her life, Kikyo was as giddy as a school girl.

Her heels clicked along the solid pavement as she walked down the busiest street in the city. The sun was high and shining, the air crisp and fresh, and people…they just didn't seem as annoying as usual.

I'm going to be rich, free from mother's house, free from incompetent employment and free…of Kagome. Her mouth returned to its bitter line; what a fool her sister was. Didn't Kagome learn over the years that she shouldn't trust anyone, not even her own sister? Hadn't Kikyo shown her time after time what comes of being, kind and nice to others? Lies, the doll she loved so much had actually had a soul, and here he is lying to her. Miroku filled her in on everything that Inuyasha was doing or planning to do for Kagome.

How he loved her, how he would do anything for her.

Ridiculous, Inuyasha didn't need a weak woman like Kagome by his side, if anything he should want someone like…herself.

She hated the fact that she was still…envious towards her younger twin. What a abhorrent thing to be in the shadows of her counterpart whom was everything she wasn't; Kikyo didn't mind the fact Kagome could be sweet and caring…it's when she got things, that Kikyo deserved. A prosperous life with a wealthy man; a booming business with her intelligence behind it all, however it seemed that she was stuck in a rut while Kagome was swiftly catching up.

Out of her own curiosity, she'd looked in with her old professors from college and intricately asked how her 'darling younger sister' happened to be doing. She'd out matched her in several areas though, had no direction to where her life would head. Kagome was a slacker when it came to the future; she had no idea as to what she was going to do for a living and perhaps its gotten even worse, since Inuyasha came into the picture.

Kikyo was neither soulless, nor heartless when it came to her family…however when it came to Kagome it was different story…

She was something Kikyo just could not understand.

Why didn't Kagome get stuck into the system, the world that works around them, that feeds off of all of them? Why did it just pass her by, where did the barrier that protects her come from…and how can she get one? Kikyo was bitter because she hated everything and everyone that had things she wanted, but never seemed to be able to get.

That was going to change though.

Today, it would all change.

She let out a grunt before biting her tongue, how dare she go back into that feeble ranting of a jealous woman. This was not about Kagome it was about her and the newfound information that would give her the life she's always desired.

Stopping in front of a building she paused before gripping the handle and pulling the glass door open. Taking a few steps into the sterile building she frowned, this place was a grey infested prison if it could be called anything. Her hips swayed as usual walking across the floor and over to the base front desk, where a woman with incredibly thin cheeks sat looking at a small compact mirror. Her dull black hair pulled back into a tight bun, her makeup heavy and think, grotesque was the only word Kikyo could think for it.

"Well, well didn't think you'd be back so soon," the receptionist taunted.

Never one for such acts Kikyo merely narrowed her eyes. "Is he in?" was her question, though they both knew it was more a polite formality.

"I'll check for you," her voice was squeaky and unbearable. "Sir, Kikyo…"

He must have cut her off quickly, her face removed of the sneer and replaced with something that looked like fear, though it was not a shock he often did do that to people. It was his trademark, he was a tyrannical man…demon. Kikyo smirked, actually not many knew, some demons even had a hard time sensing that he was a half-demon…funny really how he tried so hard to keep it a secret.

"You can go up." She bit out sharply.

Kikyo nearly put effort into rolling her eyes but simply ignored her and swept passed the desk heading to the elevator.

Positively beautiful what she was getting out of the deal, well out of the whole deal, she planned it out perfectly. There wasn't a hitch in her manipulated course of action she intended to take to become possibly as wealthy as Lord Sesshomaru himself…that was a long shot considering he's been in business for several hundred years. And she was going to make a pretty penny with just a few convincing words.

The ding of the elevator signaled her stop on the top floor, the corporate office of the CEO of the firm she used to work for. Metal doors slid open and revealed a long hallway with two double doors being the only entrance, and a pair of cameras on each side. He liked his privacy and to make sure that nothing of his…lower businesses came up to light, the corridor was dimly lit, and grey just like the office below. He hated colors and bright cheery atmospheres…probably why they got along so well.

She stood in front of the door and waited, not bothering to knock, she knew he was sitting and watching the cameras as usual so she didn't feel the need for wasting effort.

With a buzz three locks on the door opened and she pulled the heavy metal slab of a door open. The office wasn't what you'd expect a corporate man to have; at least not like Inuyasha's which was actually lively and didn't have black everywhere. The windows were covered with thick black material on every corner not letting the fresh light of the sun peak through; the carpet was hard and almost felt like hard concrete. Painted black walls with ancient candle holders holding them up that gave no light what so ever, it really was a drag even Kikyo must admit that he could put a little effort into it.

In the center of the room was the most light; an oval table with six chairs evenly placed around it, and beyond that a large entertainment desk that looked more like a wall. That was where he did all of the business, he had screens for his cameras and could switch between as he pleased. Computers were set up along with three phone lines to do legal transactions, and…underground mischief as well.

He was a man of many…trades.

"…Kikyo," his voice was a dark and forbidding, though…enticing as well. "What a pleasure to see you, so soon?"

She didn't need this, he couldn't manipulate her anymore. "I'm not here to reminisce I have…information that you might want."

You see it was a perfect plan, first she offers up Inuyasha's past history to the highest competitor business that would be willing to pay a beautiful amount of money for it. And as destroying the information was, it would cost a great deal to get off of her, who better to give the information to the man who gave her the idea in the first place. Of course if he wasn't going to pay a large sum of money she'd go to the next highest bidder. But it doesn't end there, oh no…

Next she'll be heading to Inuyasha's office to collect on whatever he'll give her, to keep her mouth shut. She'll keep her word and not speak of it ever again. For you see it won't be her exposing Inuyasha, it will be someone else, and the best part about it that he'll go down in flames and she'll rise up from the ashes, and all in the world will be hers.

Today was a good day.

"Oh, and what information could you offer me," he stopped speaking and stepped from the side of the room shadows where he had been standing, his dark eyes glinted with malice…she was nothing more then a nuisance. "I have no more use for you."

She smirked, for the first time in front of him, she nearly laughed. "Oh no? You're drowning in Inuyasha's wake, and soon you'll be left in the dust with nothing more to show than an empty building with years work down the drain." And it was true, his company wasn't prominent, or getting business at all.

His mouth tightened and his eyes narrowed. "Watch your tongue or I'll rip it out." They weren't on the best terms anymore; she had been his lawyer, a real find considering the work she'd done. Then she simply up and quit, saying she had a better offer…she left his office, and his bed.

This time she did let out a laugh. "You're an idiot to pass this up, what I've got on Inuyasha…" she couldn't even finish, just thinking about what she has in her arsenal was just too funny. "Would destroy him, and then some."

The man stopped in his tracks his hands deep in his pockets; he pulled them out and folded his arms. "I'm listening."

"Tsk, tsk," she stated while waving a finger. "No information without talking money first."

He scoffed. "What makes you think that I believe you, this could be a bogus trick, you're source might be a complete idiot."

"Ah, yes," she smirked while leaning on one side. "He is a complete idiot, but he's the idiot that is best friends with Inuyasha."

That perked his interest. "Houji."

"Yes, Miroku Houji himself told me everything about Inuyasha…everything."

His lips quirked into a devious smile, "By all means," he waved to the chairs around the table. "Let's do business Ms. Higurashi; I'm sure we'll come to an understandable settlement."

"Good," her response.

Today…

Was going to be a good day.