"The Other Wife"

by: E. Marie E-mail: Emw712@aol.com

Author's Note: June 5, 2003: If enthusiasm is a felony, then I am doomed to serve several life sentences. I turn back flips when new, translated episodes of the Inuyasha manga are posted. Waiters and waitresses alike have laughed at my zeal for ordering chocolate covered cheesecake. You should see me when I get reviews for "The Other Wife". Even before I open the review to see what it says, absolute, crazy-happy delirium does an en pointe ballet across my face...see how happy I am? Isn't it great when you can make someone happy, just by expressing your opinion? Use your freedom of speech. Keep on reading; keep on reviewing! Keep me happy!!!

Author's Apology: I am deeply sorry; I am a new member of fanfiction.net. I didn't realize that anonymous reviews of my fanfic were not being accepted (thanks for pointing it out!!!) The problem is fixed; anonymous reviews, hate mail, positive, negative- I don't discriminate! All reviews are now, officially, welcome!

DISCLAIMER: Guess what? I don't own Inuyasha! But, odds are, you already knew this...

Chapter Six: The Vistas of Monte Carlo Revisited
Somehow, a chair materialized in front of me. In retrospect, that waiter must have pulled one over from another table, but at the time, I was so stunned by the sudden appearance of Inuyasha, I thought the chair had just appeared, called forth by the man with the glass tilted toward me. It was a concentrated effort, but I regained control of my body long enough to raise my dropped jaw and have a seat...but I couldn't bring myself to take my eyes from Inuyasha. Why was he being so nice to me? How could he have forgotten my ignorance?
Downing the contents of his glass in a single swig, Inuyasha slammed the cup on the table and narrowed his eyes at me. He grinned.
"You look terrible, Kagome. Where were you yesterday? Feh, probably avoiding me, ne?"
I bristled at his insult...and his insinuation that I was somehow afraid of him. Who did he think he was, insulting me like that? Lady Yura? I opened my mouth to make an equal biting remark but found I had nothing to say. An image flashed in my mind of me from just a few hours before, lying on my bed, sobbing at the thought of never seeing Inuyasha again, at least to make my apologies. My fingers traced the circles under my eyes. 'I'm more tired than I thought...'
Reaching across the small table, he caught my other hand tightly and refused to loosen his grip until I looked at him again.
"Feh, I was just playing with you. I heard that wretched "companion" of yours was sick...I mean, actually sick...has she abused you so much you can't even make me pay for that little joke?"
I wrenched my hand from him and turned my eyes to my lap, so he wouldn't see my tears...my look of hurt....I heard him shift in his chair, and thinking he was about to leave me again, this time, perhaps, for good, I cleared my throat and found the words:
"After the other day, what I said, the way you acted, I thought you didn't care to see me again...I'm sorry, I'm not much company at the moment...."
"Of course not!" he exclaimed, shoving something toward me from across the table. I looked up...a menu...."You haven't even had breakfast yet, you stupid girl! Now, let me help you order! If your French is as bad as your aim, who knows what you may order?"
With trembling hands, I opened the menu, but I couldn't tear my eyes from Inuyasha, the smile that lurked behind his eyes. 'Is it really so easy to just forget?'
Those eyes were suddenly inches away from mine, as he leaned across the table to capture my full attention. A chill shot up my spine; he was so very close to me....
"Hurry up and order! If you take much longer, we'll be stuck here for lunch, too, and we have a full day ahead of us!"
While he turned away to signal for another waiter, I held a hand to my chest, in an attempt to calm my pounding heart. While my spirits ran high, my mind began to chip away at my happiness.
'Why is this wealthy, handsome man giving me another day with him? I'm little better than a servant...and...his heart is still an open wound from the death of his wife, and all I seem to do is pour salt into it...'

"Uh-", I groaned as I dug through my baggage, trying to find something worthy to wear for my second try at a day with Inuyasha. Letting him order had certainly been a good decision; delicate pastries, hearty breakfast meats, buttered bread, rich coffee....Letting him bully me into eating so fast...now that was a mistake....
"He certainly seemed anxious to get me out of the hotel again", I said aloud, stifling a chuckle. At breakfast, he was like a little boy, fidgeting in his seat, impatient to begin a new adventure...who knew a member of the elite could be so immature?
I stopped in my struggle with my wardrobe...a member of the elite...and me, an underling of one of his compatriots in wealth and leisure...how could I be worthy of him? Pulling my finest day dress out from the bottom of the chest, I remembered how excited I was at the concept of having a store bought dress...and how Lady Yura ridiculed the cotton fabric, the "bourgeois lines"....
An impatient, rapid series of knocks on my door broke my stream of thought.
"Hey!" bellowed Inuyasha from behind my bedroom door. "You wanted to change into something not covered in orange juice, but I'm about to make you leave in what you have on, sticky or not! Hurry up! And don't forget a hat! The sun is out, and that lady of yours is very critical of bright, red skin!"
With a sigh, I discarded my black dress, ruined by that mornings mishap, and slid into the day dress. The hem came a few inches above my knee; a large red bow decorated the neckline. Catching a glimpse of my reflection in the looking glass, I thought I looked like little more than an inexperienced schoolgirl. Another round of raps on my door reminded me of that man, the handsome widower waiting for me....
Fighting back my feelings of inadequacy, I straightened my hair and hurried out to meet my sophisticate...
"HEY!!! WHERE'S THE HAT?"

Once more, he drove that exquisite car at a breakneck speed along the road by the sea. This time, my hair was free from the abuse of the wind, captured under my horrid sun hat. The air smelled of salt water and lavender, and the birth of the summer coastal winds threatened to rid me of that loathsome hat. With a sigh, I kept one hand firmly on the brim, in an effort to preserve my dignity and save my skin from the silent brutality of the sun. Inuyasha's eyes never turned from the road ahead, which I was dually thankful for, because at the moment, I looked ridiculous, and any distractions to the driver while travelling at that speed would have been certain disaster. The many seaside vistas were swept into the passing scenery, a blur of beautiful landscapes and views of the sea. I had expected we would visit yet another of this tourist hot spots, but Inuyasha showed no signs of even slowing the vehicle to catch a passing glance. When the vista from our first ill-fated excursion was a few kilometers behind us, a fork appeared in the road ahead. Accelerating constantly, he chose the branch that led away from the sea and further into the rural backdrop that ran behind the glittering casinos and resorts of Monte Carlo. Finally satisfied that we were far enough away from the corruption of the sea, he slowed the car to a roll, bringing us to a stop in a secluded meadow.
Glad for the reprieve from the wind, I removed the hat and let my ruffled hair fall about my shoulders, as Inuyasha stepped from the car, removed his jacket and stretched his lean, muscular arms.
"Welcome to the best Monte Carlo has to offer, mademoiselle! I thought we could both use a break from the marble and the gold and the loud, obnoxious socialites...."
Watching him walk around the car to open my door, the doubt returned once more to plague my mind. Taking me by the hand, helping me out of his car, the temptation was too great. I could not stop myself from asking the dreaded question...
"Inuyasha! Why are you here, with me? I'm just some poor, dull paid companion, and you are...well beyond my class and worth...."
Grabbing me roughly by the shoulders, his eyes flared with the bright temper that I had long sensed lurked within him.
"Kagome", he growled my name, fighting to control his temper. "If I ever hear you...suggest that again, I really will never speak to you again. Why I spend time with you is between you and I; don't dirty our time together with that poison that bitch Yura pours into your ears...do you understand?"
Biting my lips, I managed a faint nod. With this, he released me, nearly pushing me away from him. He turned from me and pulled a large woven basket from the back of the vehicle, before beginning down a nearby path into the surrounding forest. No longer able to hold back, tears of shame, embarrassment.relief poured down my face.
"K-Kagome?" He turned, looking so stricken to see me crying. Inuyasha's distress was evident as he rushed back to my side. With his free hand, he stopped a large, wet tear from sliding off my face.
"Oh, come on, don't cry! I hate it when girls cry!" Taking my hand once more, he pulled me gently behind him, the basket hitting both our legs in his zeal to distract me from what brought me to tears. Turning to me, he grinned widely and said:
"Just a bit further, then.I have something to give you!"