Temper

She flinched and did not deny or accept the coarsely flung insult. Instead, she leaned back as well and pushed away from the table to stand. "I came because Rin-chan-

"You will not speak her name!" he snarled, standing as well and taking a menacing step towards her.

"—because Rin-chan," she continued breathlessly, instinctively summoning her purity for protection, "could talk of nothing but the 'father' that saved her, who was kind and strong and would always protect her. She always spoke of the man who didn't have to be a father but was. I came because I thought you had a right to know!"

He moved to speak, to yell at her again but she didn't give him the chance.

"What I did not come here to do was fling insults around like weapons!" By now, most of the other patrons of the café were staring at them in stunned silence. A few of them recognized the Daiyoukai and were amazed the small woman before him had the guts to yell at him. "I don't have to put up with you or your comments!" Close to losing her own temper now, her courage balancing precariously on a tight rope, Kagome yanked a small envelope out of her purse and shoved it, as well as Kikyo's cell phone, at him. "I'm not expecting kind words or warm greetings Tashio-san, I can assure you of that! However, I do deserve a little bit of civility. If or when you think you can manage that, I'm sure you can find me."

Without waiting for him to say anything, she shouldered past him, sparks of purity floating about her erratically. She stopped at the door to gather her still soaking coat and turned one last heated look to Sesshoumaru. "If you decide you can't be civil or don't want to, I assure you the last thing I need is helps from the likes of you!"

Taking her coat with a gracious, distracted smile at Jean Claude, she hurried out into the rain, leaving a silent restaurant and a stunned Daiyoukai. Inside, she seethed and ached. Her eyes watered and she wanted so badly to let the tears fall. Instead, she focused on the anger and let the skies cry for her as she made her way home.

o.O.o

Word Count: 383