"You're doing what?!" Sesshomaru shouted.
"Merging the company." InuTaisho repeated stoically.
"So, what? I'm expected to compete with my worst enemy for a position that is rightfully mine?!"
InuTaisho exhaled sharply. "Calm down, there will be no competition, the two of you are meant to share the title."
Sesshomaru's jaw clenched. "If you think I'm going to stand by and let this happen, you've got another thing coming." He threatened.
InuTaisho looked unphased. "It's already done. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting to attend." He said as he stood to leave.
"This isn't over." Sesshomaru warned.
InuTaisho laughed. "Oh, but it is." And with that, his father left.
"Permission to enter sir?" Sesshomaru's right-hand man Jake asked from the doorway of his office. The impish/toad-looking man's eager, bulging eyes shone bright with anticipation.
"Fine" came the cold response as Jake wobbled into the room and took a seat beside his beloved boss.
"What did he say?" he asked invasively.
"The board has decided to merge the company with KumoTech." He said bitterly.
Jake gasped. "Say it isn't so! What an insult to you and all of your hard work! To think that this is how they repay you after everything you've done for them! It boils my blood! How dare they disrespect you so blatantly sir?! It's unacceptable! It's an outrage! It's-"
"Jake." Sesshomaru said firmly, bringing his relentless tirade to a halt. "There's no point in getting all worked up about it, I anticipated this very situation."
"But sir, you can't possibly be considering sharing your role with Kumo!" Jake protested.
Sesshomaru frowned. "Of course not."
Jake grinned sinisterly. "Excellent sir, I knew you'd have a plan."
"Oh yes" Sesshomaru nodded. "I have a plan alright...and it's perfect."
Jake looked up and him expectantly. "Well? Don't leave me in the dark." He begged meekly.
Sesshomaru gave him a disgusted look then shook his head. "I'm going to deface Kumo in front of the entire board at the annual reform galla. Once he's revealed to be a lying and conniving little twerp, they'll dismiss him and have no choice but to give the job to me."
"Magnificent plan sir! Magnificent!" Jake praised him gleefully. "How can I help your vision come to fruition?" He asked hungrily.
Sesshomaru smirked. "Call Kumo and invite him to dinner."
"Ooo, good sir, very good." Jake said, whipping out a notepad and a pencil. "That old geezer will never see it coming!" He cackled.
Sesshomaru glared at him. "Not the old man you imbecile." He snapped.
Jake recoiled. "Uh, which one then, sir?" He asked feebly.
Sesshomaru's lip curled as he spoke the name. "Naraku."
meanwhile…
"So I'm driving and I can't stop smelling my fingers and I know he's looking at me wondering what the eff is going on, but he never says anything, he just sits there confused. So, finally I go: "do your fingers ever just smell like mustard for no apparent reason?" and he goes: "why are you like this?" It was so funny, I almost drove into oncoming traffic!" Rose exclaimed, recounting a funny story to Rin as they sat in T.G.I. Friday's.
"Hahaha! Aw, poor Kai." Rin said, wiping tears from her eyes. "He was trying to not judge you."
Rose scoffed. "Yeah right."
"Really." Rin insisted, taking a sip of her margarita. "You know he's been in love with you since second grade."
Rose rolled her eyes. "We are friends, period."
Rin shook her head, still smiling. "I don't know, I think you'll eventually succumb to his charm." She teased.
"Puh-lease, first of all, what charm? He's so painfully awkward and dorky that you're conned into thinking he's adorable, when in reality you just feel sorry for him. Second, he can confess his love for me until he's blue in the face, I will never date him."
Rin frowned. "Do black people even turn blue?"
Rose gave her an unamused look. "Yes. We do, sometimes...I think. Anyway, you're one to talk, gettin' all up in my business. Let's discuss you and Sesshy-kins, Val's day is coming up, are you finally going to renounce your vow of chastity?" She asked, wiggling her eyebrows seductively.
Rin blushed. "...Maybe." She said shyly.
Rose squealed gleefully. "Tell me everything! What will you wear? Are you going to lay out me petals? *in a sultry voice*Chocolates?"
Rin bit her lip. "I don't know, maybe." She said embarrassed.
"Oh, come on Rin. There's nothing to be ashamed of, you two love each other, and you've been dating a year. Honestly, it's time."
"I know but before we got together I was his adoptive daughter. It's still a bit awkward for him. I've loved him for so long but he's only just now seeing me as a woman and not his child. I don't want to move too fast."
"Rin, the man practically groomed you and I guarantee you he's relieved you made the first move so he wouldn't have a lawsuit on his hands. So, trust me when I say: you are not moving too fast."
She pouted. "You make him sound like a pedophile."
Rose shrugged. "It is what it is, but you're a happy, well-adjusted, consenting adult who loves the man she's with and that's what matters."
"Alright, I'll give you that, but stop saying he groomed me. It's creepy." Just then, her phone rang. "Great, we spoke him up." She said, pretending to be annoyed as she put the phone to her ear. "Hi honey, how's your day going so f-...yes, she's here. Do you want me to hand her the ph-...it's for you." She said, confused.
"Hello?" Rose asked, taking the phone. "...Um, nothing, why? ...I don't own anything drop-dead gorgeous...well that's generous of you, thank you...I am? ...I look forward to seeing you too. Do you want to talk back to-...hello? Hello? He hung up." She said, handing Rin back her phone.
"What was that about?" Rin asked.
Rose shrugged. "Apparently I'm having dinner with you guys this Saturday and you're supposed to use his black card to buy me a dress."
Rin frowned. "That's not weird at all." She said sarcastically.
"Look, a free meal and a free dress? I'm down, but if he suggests a ménage à trois, I'm out. I don't do that nasty shit."
Rin shook her head. "I highly doubt he's going to ask you to bed with us, he hasn't even asked me yet. And for crying out loud, he's not that kind of man" She said defensively.
Rose put her hands up in a calm manner. "I'll take your word for it."
Rin sighed. "Let's just get the check so we can get out of here."
"Yeah, and go get me a hot dress!"
meanwhile…
"Well?" Onigumo asked anticipatorily.
"Everything is in place, he'll make the announcement three days after the reform gala, all we have to do is wait." Naraku assured his father.
"Excellent, soon I'll have the entire world falling to its knees." The old man said. "As long as you don't screw it up, that is."
"I won't fail you." Naraku assured him. "There is nothing on this earth that could deter me. Our plan will succeed."
"My plan." Oni corrected.
Naraku cleared his throat. "Your plan, right.
"Just get it done" came the response as his father hung up the phone.
Naraku sighed. "I don't want to do this, but what choice do I have? I can't let him down." He thought as he sat in his office. "Then again, I don't think I can go through with it. People will die...then again, people die everyday." He stared out the window, watching the people below. "To make matters worse, Sesshomaru appears to want to reconcile. How can I tell him I want to mend our broken friendship while simultaneously stabbing him in the back, again? Though this time, intentionally." After a moment, he squared his shoulders and made a decision. "No. I have to finish what I started no matter who I hurt. As long as I stay focused, nothing will go wrong."
Chapter 2"I could have sworn he said six, why isn't he here yet?" Naraku thought as he checked his watch. "Am I at the wrong Bella-Mia's?"
"Hi, Takinashi party of three." Rose said to the hostess as she entered the restaurant.
"What did she just say? Maybe it's a different Takinashi." Naraku thought.
"Oh, actually it's a party of two and since you're both here, we're ready to seat you. Mr. Kumo, your table is ready now."
"Who the fuck is that?" Rose asked herself as Naraku stood from his seat.
"What is going on here?" Naraku wondered as he followed the women upstairs to a private area. As the hostess took their coats, he couldn't help but stare at Rose's voluptuous body, and he thought to himself: "if only I weren't here on business."
"When you're ready to order, just select your options from our virtual menu and a member of the kitchen staff will bring it to you. Enjoy your meal and don't hesitate to let us know if you need anything." And with that she smiled and headed back to her post.
"Alright, what the hell is going on here, is this some kind of joke?" Naraku thought.
"Alright, what the hell is going on here, is this some kind of joke?!" Rose whisper-yelled into the receiver of her phone. "...What do you mean what do I mean? I'm sitting here at the restaurant across from a guy who looks like the villain from The Crow—no offense." She said to Naraku, who frowned at the comment. "Where are you guys? ...I'm at Bella-Mia's, Sesshomaru said to come here. ...What?! ...So you're not coming? ...Well that's just fucking great. ...That doesn't rectify the situation. ...You tell that mother fucker I'm going to stick my foot so far up his ass-hello? ...Hello? Fuckin-shit!" She exclaimed angrily as she slammed the phone down and began flipping through the menu—all the while mumbling obscenities. "Well, they're not coming." Rose said, clearing her throat. "But you knew that. However, Rin said that whatever we get is on Sesshomaru, so I'm going to order two of everything, what would you like?" She asked sweetly, trying her best to contain her anger.
"Hmm, she's kind of cute." Naraku thought as he chuckled derisively. "Thank you, but I think I'm going to head home, you have a good evening though." He said as he stood to leave.
"Hold on a sec, how do you know Rin and Sesshomaru anyway?" Rose asked.
Naraku shook his head. "I don't know Rin. Sesshomaru and I were once friends and now we're going to be business partners." He explained.
Rose frowned. "Well, that's not going to happen." She thought. "How are you going to be business partners?"
"Cute, but nosey." "Our fathers are merging their companies and he and I are going to run the new company together." He explained matter-of-factly.
"Oh bless his heart, I knew he had to be dumb, he's too pretty." Rose shook her head. "You're stupid if you think that's actually going to happen."
Naraku raised an eyebrow at her. "That's the second time she's insulted me, her cuteness is wearing off." "And why is that?"
"Sesshy doesn't share."
"Well, he doesn't have a choice."
"Oh you pretty idiot." Rose shrugged. "If you say so, but if you ask me the fact that he invited us both here and didn't even bother to show up is highly suspect. I mean, considering that you said you used to be friends, I'd bet that you had a falling out and you thought you'd be coming here today to bury whatever hatchet the two of you dug up, right?" She asked, Naraku nodded. "And instead of him coming and talking it out as a sign of good faith, he invited me, a stranger who has no connection to you whatsoever. That's odd, wouldn't you agree?"
"How the hell did she put all of that together in a matter of minutes? Regardless, she has a point. Why did he invite us both here if he knew he had no intention of coming? Is he planning something?" Naraku wondered. "Who are you anyway?" He finally asked.
"Oh great, he thinks I'm in on it." Rose thought as she smiled. "My name is Rose."
"She might be in on it." Naraku thought."What's your full name, Rose?" He asked suspiciously.
"Fantastic, now he's going to think we're related." "Rosealie Jade Takanashi."
"They're related?!" Naraku frowned. "Takinashi?" He questioned apprehensively.
"You just couldn't be satisfied with a first name, now I gotta do damage control." "Not like that, though they're close. He's got the I and I've got the A, but trust me, we're not related." She assured him.
"That doesn't make me feel any better."
Rose frowned. "What makes you think I care about your feelings? I don't even know you."
He nodded. "Exactly, we don't know each other so why not just leave it at that and go our separate ways?"
She shrugged. "Fine."
"Fine." He said, turning to leave.
"Or!" She shouted after him.
He turned back to face her. "Or?"
She stood from the booth and walked over to him. "We could go bursting into his office right now and demand answers." She suggested.
"She can't be serious." "I don't know if that's such a good idea." He said wearily.
"Aw c'mon! It'll be a lot of fun, plus just think of the look on his face: cheeks red, lips slightly parted in surprise, eyes wide and full of anxiety! Oh! What I wouldn't give!" She exclaimed excitedly.
"She is serious, and she has a crazy look in her eyes. I feel like I should run far away from her." Naraku sighed. "I don't know."
"Aw come on, live a little. When's the last time you did something reckless?" She asked.
"I…" Naraku trailed off, unable to recall a single memory.
"See what I mean? You're lucky we crossed paths, let me show you how to seize the day!"
Naraku shook his head. "I can't just agree to something like that, I don't know anything about you."
"That is true, I shouldn't be so eager to leave with him, he could be a murderer. I mean, he looks like one, albeit a good-looking one." She pursued her lips. "Okay, fine. How about this, we sit down and have the dinner that was intended for us, over it we get to know each other a bit better, and by the end of it we're best buds. Whaddya say?"
"...I don't know." He said hesitantly.
"Aw c'mon, please?" She begged innocently, batting her lashes.
"Damn, I can't say no to that face." "Okay, fine. I suppose having dinner with you won't be the worst thing in the world...I hope." He relented. Without warning, Rose let out an ear piercing squeal of joy. "Jesus Christ! Is it too late to back out?" Naraku thought fearfully.
"This is so exciting! It's so hard for me to make friends, especially guy friends cuz they're always trying to sleep with me, but you seem cool, I think this'll work out great! Then again, we'll have to thank Sesshomaru for setting us up, which I am not doing, so let's aim to be mediocre friends, you know, no helping each other move, but if one of us dies the other one should get an invite to the funeral. I mean, that's just common courtesy…"
"Listen to her go." Naraku thought as Rose took him by the hand and dragged him back to the table. "I haven't the slightest clue what she's talking about and yet she has me hanging on her every word...unbelievable."
Chapter 3a few weeks later…
"So once again, thank you all for coming, eat plenty of food and try not to get too drunk." InuTaisho said, eliciting a roar if laughter from the crowd.
"Excellent speech father." Sesshomaru praised him as he exited the stage.
"Ah, my firstborn, always looking to secure his future." Tōga remarked, seeing right through his compliment.
Sesshomaru smiled. "Well someone has to."
Tōga shook his head. "Good luck with that son." He said, patting him on the back. "Mr. Prime minister, a word?" And with that, his father went on his way, greeting guests like a proper host.
"I'm so excited for tonight, we'll finally get to meet Rose's new boyfriend!" Rin exclaimed with glee as she flitted to Sesshomaru's side.
"Yes, how exciting." He said monotonously. "My plan is coming together, won't be long now."
"Ah! They're here!" Rin shouted as Rose and Naraku entered the ballroom arm in arm.
"Okay, one more time, who am I allowed to talk to?" Rose asked nervously.
Naraku chuckled. "I told you, you can talk to anyone, just stay away from my father. He's...unpleasant." He said distastefully.
Rose nodded. "Right, I remember now, you were telling me about his plan for world domination."
"Shh, not so loud." He cautioned.
She rolled her eyes. "Naraku, I've told you before and I'll tell you again: the man is senile, you need to get him some help."
Naraku shook his head. "I don't know, he'd never forgive me for sending him away, nor would I forgive myself." He said sadly.
Rose sighed. "Great, the lines are back." She said, gesturing to Naraku's knit eyebrows. "Every time I chase them away, more appear." She said, placing a kiss on his forehead.
He smiled slightly. "Why is she so good to me? I don't deserve it." "What did I do before you came along?" He asked.
She beamed. "You sulked."
"Oh, right." He said as they both laughed.
"Well, it looks like I found the real party." Rin said as she approached the couple.
"Rin! Oh, it's been ages!" Rose said as the two of them greeted each other with a warm hug.
"Soooo." Rin said suggestively, hinting at Naraku who was quietly observing the girls' exchange.
Rose smiled. "Rin Ōkami, Naraku Kumo." She said, introducing them.
Rin's eyes widened in shock. "You mean you're Naraku?" She asked, Naraku nodded. "Oh, I have heard awful things about you and I can only hope they're not true. I mean, you're so handsome, how can someone so handsome be such a...degenerate?"
"One can only wonder." Sesshomaru said, flanking to Rin's side. Upon seeing him, Naraku's frown returned and Rose's confused expression turned to one of contempt.
"Oh, Mr. Takinashi, what a surprise? I didn't think you'd show up, you know, since you like not showing up to events you plan." Rose remarked snidefully.
Sesshomaru forced a smile. "Well, I came because I knew you'd be here, we all know how much you like to gorge yourself on free food. After all, you managed a tab of $20,000 all by yourself."
Rose lunged for him but Naraku held her back. "I'll have you know that I fed about three homeless shelters that night! You asshole!" She yelled.
Sesshomaru rolled his eyes. "Naraku, when you're finished restraining your pet, see me outside." He ordered before waking away.
"I am so sorry, I don't know what's gotten into him, he's never said anything like that before. I can't believe my ears." Rin said, shaking her head.
"Yeah, well that's cuz he's an ass." Rose said angrily, fighting back tears.
"Rin, could you take her somewhere so she can compose herself?" Naraku asked as he summoned a waiter who handed Rose a napkin.
"Don't tell me you're going to follow him." Rose said.
"Of course." Naraku replied. "Nobody talks to my baby like that."
...
"I would advise you to listen to what I have to say before you speak." Sesshomaru cautioned as Naraku stepped out onto the terrace. "As you know, the board meeting is in three days. A decision will be made that one of us will not like. Care to take a guess at who it will be?"
"Why don't you cut the crap and just tell me what your master plan is." Naraku said disdainfully.
Sesshomaru smirked. "Tonight you will announce that you are officially withdrawing your name for consideration and that you would rather I take full control over the new company as the sole CEO."
"And if I don't?" Naraku asked, unamused.
"I'll ruin your life."
Naraku frowned. "I'm guessing you have some dirt on me, right?"
"Oh yes." Sesshomaru nodded.
"Well? I'm waiting."
"Does the board know you're dating an employee?" He asked. "Or better question: does your pretty side-piece know you're married?" He asked.
Naraku's eyes widened in shock, briefly, before a grin appeared on his face and he erupted with laughter. "Is that all?" He asked, wiping away tears. "Oh dear, you really had me going for a minute. Anyway, is it my turn now?"
Sesshomaru frowned in confusion. "Your turn?"
Naraku cleared his throat. "Do you recall what happened on the night of January 11th 1992?"
Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed. "...Why?"
"That was the night Maria Ōkami died. You should remember it vividly, considering the fact that you adopted her daughter because you felt guilty about the hand you played in her untimely demise."
Sesshomaru looked shocked. "How do you know about that?"
"I was there. After you left the bar that night, I followed you, I saw you ignore that poor woman's pleas for help. I kept it a secret all these years and I'm glad I did, let's see you blackmail me now." Naraku said smugly.
"How dare you?!" Sesshomaru shouted. "You speak as if though I killed her with my own hands!"
"You may as well have! You left her to die!" Naraku fired back.
Sesshomaru glared at him. "And what's your excuse?! Why didn't you help her?!
"I did! Hell, who do you think called it in?! When someone is begging you for help, you help them. End of story."
Sesshomaru stood there for a moment, still reeling. "There's nothing that can be done to change what happened." He said after a while.
Naraku nodded. "You're right. So, why don't we let bygones be bygones and agree to be partners?" He said, extending his hand to Sesshomaru.
"No. You've taken enough from me over the years. You can't have this too, I won't allow it."
Naraku chuckled humorlessly. "So we've reached an impasse."
"So we have." Sesshomaru said, removing his dinner jacket.
Naraku shook his head as he secured his hair. "Before I forget, when I'm done kicking your ass, you're going to give Rose a heartfelt apology."
Sesshomaru chuckled and rolled up his sleeves. "I'll do you one better: you land one punch, I'll make it public."
"Humph, deal."
three days later…
"The board has voted, and a decision has been made." InuTaisho said to Naraku and Sesshomaru as the three of them sat in the conference room. "Before I read the results, is there anything either of you would like to say?" They both remained silent. "Alright then, a unanimous verdict was reached: the merger will proceed as planned; however, neither of you were chosen to take over the new company and they want you off the property by 2pm."
Sesshomaru leapt up from his seat. "You can't be serious! This is an outrage! It's completely unacceptable! I did nothing wrong!" He shouted.
"You did nothing wrong!? Embarrassing me like that at the reform gala, behaving like a hooligan! Not to mention trying to deface a man's character, and blackmail him! You're lucky you're not going to jail! Hell, they should give you a life sentence for what you did all those years ago, but unfortunately, inadvertently taking someone's life isn't a punishable offense. Now have. a. seat." Tōga snapped. Sesshomaru's jaw clenched but he obeyed his father and sat back down. "Now then, due to my recommendation that the both of you operate the corporation as joint CEO's, the board believes my judgement is impaired, so as of today, whatever happens next is completely out of my hands." Just then, Rose walked into the room.
"What is she doing here?" Naraku and Sesshomaru thought.
"Good morning gentlemen, I have other things to do so I'll get right to the point: I've chosen Inuyasha as the new CEO. He has the education, and the pedigree, but most importantly, he has compassion for others." She said, giving Sesshomaru a dirty look. "Naraku, I know that this decision isn't entirely fair to you considering that you actually didn't do anything wrong, but your father wanting to use the company's resources to enslave the human race is at the very least troubling, so you understand why we simply couldn't put you in such a powerful position. Your desperation to please him would have resulted in numerous casualties, but on the bright side, Inuyasha is prepared to offer you the role of advisor under the condition that you have your father committed, for his own safety, of course. Do you accept these terms?" Naraku sat there, still stunned. "Mr. Kumo, I'm going to need a verbal response."
"Yes." He answered.
"Good. Now you," she began, turning her attention to Sesshomaru. "Your brother would like for you to advise him as well, but seeing as your pride and ego would never allow such a thing, Inuyasha is prepared to negotiate a counteroffer."
Sesshomaru smiled. "Good, you tell that ugly little mongrel that I-"
"No, no." Rose said, cutting him off. "I apologize, I should have informed you that the stipulations of the counteroffer require a face to face discussion with your brother."
Sesshomaru's jaw clenched. "As if I would ever grace him with my presence. That abomination has got another thing coming if he thinks-"
"Blah blah, *blows raspberry* I don't care. You got an issue? Shove it up your butt, meeting adjourned." She said as she stood to leave.
"Wait!" Naraku called after her as she exited the room. "Hold on!" He shouted, chasing her.
She sighed as she stopped in the hallway and turned to face him. "What?" She asked dryly.
"You won't return my calls, when I come by you pretend you're not home. Will you please talk to me? Just let me explain myself, please?" He begged.
She rolled her eyes. "Stop calling me and stop coming by my house, if you do it again, I'm pressing charges and getting a restraining order." She threatened as she turned to walk away.
"Rose, please." He said, grabbing her arm.
"Naraku, let me go." She ordered.
"Not until you listen. Rose, I love you and I don't want to live without you, please take me back."
She yanked her arm away. "Oh bullshit, Naraku you're a married man for crying out loud! You don't love me, I'm just the new flavor of the week."
"You're wrong!" He shouted. "Kagura and I are separated, have been for years. I never wanted to marry her, but I didn't have a choice. Rose, please. I didn't lie to you, yes I should have told you, and I was going to, I just couldn't find the right time."
"That's your excuse?! You couldn't find the right time?!" She questioned.
"Yes." He said seriously. "I knew once I told you, what we had would end and I didn't want that...I still don't."
She scoffed. "So you just withhold detrimental information because you were hooked on a feeling? Well, come to think of it, I'm not that surprised, considering the secret you kept for Sesshomaru."
"I didn't keep it for him, I kept it because I felt responsible. The only reason he did what he did is because of me."
"So what, you stole his college sweetheart? That doesn't justify what he did. If someone is literally begging you for help, you help them. End of story."
Naraku sighed. "You're right, I know. I'm sorry, but can you please, please at least just consider taking me back? I really do love you, please don't make me spend the rest of my life without you in it."
Rose mentally weighed her options for a long while before she sighed and made up her mind. "Okay, I'll give you another shot."
Relief washed over Naraku. "Thank you, thank you so much, you will not regret this."
"Just don't screw it up, if you have children or a second wife, now is the time to disclose that."
He laughed. "No, I can assure you, I have no more secrets. I do have a lot of questions though."
She raised an eyebrow at him. "Like?"
"Well, at the gala Sesshomaru said you were an employee at my company, how is that possible when you apparently work here?"
Rose smiled sheepishly. "Right, sorry about all the confusion. You see, my father helped open this company with Sesshomaru's father but when they had a falling out, Tōga gave up his shares thus making my dad the sole owner. They reconciled, and per his request, InuTaisho became CEO. Dad died, leaving the company to me and I asked InuTaisho to continue to oversee things so I wouldn't put us out of business. He informed me early on that he wanted to retire soon so, we agreed that Sesshomaru would be trained as his replacement. Then, when your father came to us suggesting a merger, the board was more than happy to accept his proposal, but they were wary of your father. They needed someone to run surveillance on him, someone he didn't know, so I applied for an entry level position at your company and spied on your dad for a few weeks. Now you know the whole story."
Naraku frowned. "You knew about me before we met at Bella-Mia's?"
"Not exactly, to be honest it wasn't until after our dinner that I realized who you were."
"So, you were just using me to gain intel on my dad?" He assumed.
She shook her head. "Of course not, I finished surveillance on him weeks before I met you. He really does need help, I mean I watched the man put his watch in a paper shredder."
Naraku scratched his head. "Yeah, that's concerning."
Rose stifled a laugh. "After he did it though, he sat back in his chair triumphantly, like he had really done something to be proud of."
Naraku laughed with her. "That's the funniest, saddest thing I've ever heard."
Rose wrapped her arms around him and placed a tender kiss on his lips. "I know baby, I know."
Chapter 4a year later…
"Hi, Takanashi party of two." Rin said to the hostess as she entered the restaurant.
"Actually, it's a party of three now. Your companions are waiting for you upstairs, come with me and I'll seat you."
"Oh, I guess Naraku decided to come." Rin thought as she followed the woman. "...You've got to be kidding." "What is he doing here?" She asked Naraku when she saw Sesshomaru sitting at the table.
"Rin, please. It's time the two of you sort this whole thing out." Naraku said.
"There is nothing to sort out." She insisted.
"Rin, we have to have this discussion. Will you at least just hear me out?"
"Hear you out?! You killed my mother! I have nothing to say to you." She snapped.
The room fell silent and after a moment the hostess cleared her throat. "Well, I usually tell guests to enjoy their meal, but I think I can make an exception this time: please try not to break anything." She said with a smile before scurrying back to her post.
"Rin, please just hear him out, I know you miss him." Rose said, her voice echoed from the phone sitting in the middle of the table. "The other day we were in Hollywood Beauty and she started sobbing when she saw a white wig they had on display."
Rin's cheeks flushed. "That is not true, I told you the lady who threaded my eyebrows accidentally got one in my eye."
Naraku sighed. "Can we please just get this over with?" He asked. "I have a recovering wife and a newborn baby at home that I would like to get back to."
"Oh, hush." Rose scolded through the speaker. "This is the one task I asked you to do today, can at least pretend to enjoy it?"
Naraku rolled his eyes. "Yes dear."
"Why are you here anyway?" Rin asked.
"To provide context." He said, forcing a smile.
"Rin, it's important that you hear the full story." Rose insisted.
Rin sighed and reluctantly took a seat at the table. "Fine, tell me."
Naraku cleared his throat. "As you know, Sesshomaru and I were roommates in college, we were also good friends up until graduation. He and I, and a few of our other friends were celebrating at a local bar when I decided to announce that I was getting married. My father was good buddies with some guy who wanted his daughter to be well off, so I didn't have a choice about tying the knot. What I didn't know was that Sesshomaru was, at the time, in love with my betrothed. He was so upset that he tried to drink himself into a coma and when I attempted to stop him we ended up getting into a huge argument. He threatened to kill me, I told him to sleep it off and he left the bar." Naraku said, pausing to take a sip of water. "Concerned, I followed him to see if he would call for a ride home or risk driving. He was walking to his car when out of nowhere this woman came running toward him. She was screaming for help, but he just got in his car and drove away like he didn't even hear her. I ran over to help, but by the time I got to her she was gone." Naraku finished.
Run nodded. "Well, thank you, I already knew all that. Can I go now?" She asked, choking back tears.
"Hold on a minute, there's more." Rose said. "C'mon fluffy, this is your moment."
Sesshomaru took a deep breath. "I...I'm allergic to potatoes...and wheat...and anything that has gluten in it."
Rin frowned. "What does that have to do with my mother's death?" She asked, confused.
He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "When I'm exposed to those foods, it causes a peculiar reaction: I break out in hives, my throat swells up, and my vision begins to blur. In severe cases I lose hearing completely and can sometimes pass out. That night I drank alarming amounts of vodka which resulted in me having an intense allergic reaction. I keep an Epi-pen in my car so I was able to make it home okay, but the night was a blur and I didn't recall anything that had happened until the next day when I saw the news...I remembered hearing this muffled voice calling out, but I was too out of it to fully register where it was coming from or if it was even real-"
"You didn't hear her." Rin said softly.
Sesshomaru shook his head shamefully. "No."
"Why didn't you tell me this at the gala? Or before when I used to ask about her? Why now?"
"I wanted you to know the full story, but it doesn't change anything. The fact remains: I let her die." He persisted.
"...No." Rin said after a moment. "If what Naraku said is true, she would have died regardless."
Sesshomaru gave her a sympathetic look. "Rin, you don't have to be so understanding."
"And you don't have to be so self-loathing." She said, taking his hand.
"Can you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?" He asked.
She smiled. "There's nothing to forgive."
"Awww, see? I told ya they'd kiss and make up!" Rose exclaimed, re-establishing her presence.
"They didn't kiss, but whatever, can I come home now?" Naraku asked wearily.
"You may," came her response.
"Finally, congratulations on your rekindled romance, I'll see you at Christmas." Naraku said as he stood to leave. "Oh, before I forget," without warning, he landed a bone-crushing blow straight into Sesshomaru's face.
"What the hell?!" Rin shouted.
"We agreed on a public apology, right?" He asked, ignoring Rin's outburst.
Sesshomaru nodded while holding his jaw, a mixture of anger and shock was plastered on his face.
"You know, I'm feeling generous today. I think a simple, sincere "I'm sorry" will do. What do you think?"
Sesshomaru glared at him. "Fine."
Naraku smiled. "Sweetheart, Sesshomaru has something to say to you, are you ready to hear it?"
"Ready as I'll ever be." Rose answered.
"Rose, I'm sorry."
"For?" Naraku prodded.
Sesshomaru sighed. "For what I said to you at the reform gala."
"There, was that so hard?" Naraku teased. "Rose, what do you think, my love?" Naraku asked.
Rose laughed. "It'll do."