Chapter 27
Koga sits on the sofa across from his dad. "Are you going to tell me what happened to you and Mr. Higurashi?" He asks impatiently. His dad on the other hand isn't really sure on how to answer this. "It's best we discuss this with Mr. Higurashi himself." He finally spoke. Koga isn't too happy about it. "I'm not going." Koga crossed his arms, decided not to go. Hirako stood up. "You don't have a choice in this one. Besides this is the only to resolve this issue." He gestures him to come out the garage and ride in his car. "You do know where the Higurashi Family live?" Koga asks instead of stating the sentence. "Well of course I know where they live." Hirako raises his one eyebrow to show his son that he knows exactly the location. "Let's get this over with." He sighs as they leave the house.
Back at the Higurashi house, Kagome is losing her patience, seeing her dad is reluctant about telling her the story behind the business card that Inuyasha found. All of a sudden, a car pull up to their driveway. They turn to see the car's headlights turn off as the car is turn off. That's when Koga and his dad come out of the car. "Hige." Hirako greets him casually. "Hirako? What are you doing here?" Hige asks him. Judging by the tone of voice, Kagome nudges his arm. "Dad, stop being rude." She gently scolds him. "Hello, Kagome." Koga greets her. Kagome on the other hand isn't too thrilled about seeing her ex-husband visiting her. "What brings you two here?" She asks him. Before Koga could answer Hirako raises his hand midway to stop him. "He told me about the card that you found in a warehouse." He tells her.
"Ok, so what's with the card?" Kagome asks him. "Like I said, me and your father were going to be in a partner managers for the business, but then something happened…"
Flashback 20 years
Hige and Hirako are reviews the contract that was presented to them. "Are you sure we should do this?" Hige asks him in concern. Hirako reads the contract yet again. "To be honest, I'm no sure. It's rare for something like this to work. Normally there's just the manager and then the assistant manager. But never two who have the same amount of knowledge of running the company." Hirako replies as he sits into his office chair. "We have until this weekend to give our final decision." Hige reminds him. Hirako nods. "Yeah. I'm just not ready to do this. But I want to make sure if you're ready to do this?" He looks back to Hige. "I'm in the same position. So you're not the only one." He honestly speaks back.
For what they are given is the newest position that has never happened before. Two Managers working together in equal terms. "We should take a break from this." Hige tells him. Hirako nods. "Yeah. Maybe tomorrow when we more feel confident about this." He agrees. They leave the building. They head to Hirako's house. Thursday night is Poker night. And since Hirako is a single father, he usually has his friends over. "How's Koga doing?" Hige asks him. "He's good. He should be the spokesperson during the graduation ceremony." Hirako smiles for how good his son has managed to be the top student. "That's good to hear. Kagome is just as good as him." Hige smiles back. Soon enough two more of Hirako's friends arrive at the house.
About two hours later, a few beer bottles are discarded around the table. "So Hige, do you think you can be me." Hirako hiccups to him. Hige raised his one brow. "Oh, I might not be the winner for tonight's game." He replies in the same manner. It's typical for them to drink beer and play poker. "If I win, Koga is to marry your daughter after high school." Hirako tells Hige. "Oh, come Hirako, they're too young to be married." Hige disagrees. "Can't you see how much those two love each other?" Hirako tries to convince his friend. "I know, but they don't have the maturity that is needed to proof that." Hige is still unsure to let this kind of gambling get out of line. "Think about it. If they get married, have a family and then they can inherit the business." And the conversation went on and on. And at the end of the day was the fate of Kagome, and Koga.
End of Flashback
At the end of the story, Kagome is dumbfounded. "Really dad?" She murmured. Hige can see how much the story is affecting her. "Excuse me." She runs off. Koga is about to go after her until Hige takes his shoulder. "Let her go. You may be over for what you went through. But not her." He tells him seriously. Koga just nods his head and sits on one of the chairs not knowing on what he can do at this point. As Kagome walks aimlessly on the sidewalk of her old neighborhood. She fiddles with fingers that have been tucked in her coat's pockets. At the block of the street she sees the playground across the street. She can clearly see it's empty. Especially at the hours of night.
She can remember that the playground was completely different when she and Koga were kids. Instead of metal and plastic parts for kids to adventure into, it was entirely built out of wood. However, as time went by the wood began to weaken and as such the playground had to be replaces with different items. She then walks onto the playground's floors so that the children wouldn't get hurt if they fell down. She just sits in an empty swing. As she swings her legs. She's at a standstill. Then the lights from a car approaches the area. Kagome looks up but is blinded by the glare of the car beams. Soon the lights turn off to let Kagome recover her vision. "Kagome?" The voice calls out to her. Kagome is shocked to see who it was that called out to her.