Chapter 4
Harsh Monday
Sesshoumaru rubbed his temples. Mondays always killed his head. But it was not because he was tired; no that was not it at all. It was everyone else. They were either trying their hardest to be cheerful, or not trying at all. And both irked him.
His thoughts often wandered back to his brother.
Was InuYasha happy? Living the way he was?
Why did he himself feel the need to mettle?
Was he really that bored?
The Pest Naraku came to his door. Sesshoumaru stared at the other man and thought, If looks could kill!
What was wrong with The Pest? He had definetly gotten up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.
"Fujishima. Tough morning?"
"Why didn't the Kanno book get published, Tokunawa?"
"Kanno. . . that god-awful book? I didn't have the heart to waste such good space in Japan's libraries." "We agreed it would be published, you son of a-"
"Please, Fujishima! It's Monday. Save your name calling for the weekend. You could be fired on a Monday."
That was a threat.
Naraku quickly thought twice about his choice of words. "Next time, Tokunawa-san, please let me know before you make any final decisions."
"Of course, Fujishima-san. Next time."
Sesshoumaru smirked at the Pest's back. The miserable son-of-bitch deserved any and every blow he got.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Sesshoumaru-san!"
He closed his eyes. Not this woman. Not today.
"Sesshoumaru-san!" the voice repeated, slightly agitated.
"Kikyou. Do come in, " he mumbled.
She closed the door behind her. "What is the matter with you today, Tokunawa? You should be happy! Orchids has been published! There having a benefit event next Wednesday to promote it! You are going, aren't you?"
He looked up at her beautiful face and replied, "Perhaps."
Why did she pretend like nothing had happened? Did it slip her mind that he was cold because she had cheated on him with the Pest? Did it even register with her that the chances of having any remote friendship existing between the two were obsolete? Did she fail to realize that he was angry at the wench for even maintaining a relationship with the Pest even after they had ended?
"Oh, Tokunawa-san, " she cooed, "you can't still be angry at me for the little incident with Naraku-chan? Oh, Sesshie, sometimes things don't always go the way we planned- "
He held up his hand. "I don't want to hear your bullshit today, Kikyou."
"Well," she yelled, "at least tell me if you're going to the benefit!"
"Kikyou, incase you've forgotten, a date is required at a benefit," His voice grew louder with every word, " and I have no date, wench! Leave me be!"
He wondered if she felt as guilty as she looked.
She stared at her shoes and almost whispered, "You know why I left you, Sesshoumaru. I know everything's my fault. But can't we just try-"
"No."
"But please!"
"Get out! Get out of my office!" His voice was deep and mature with hurt.
She walked out, slamming the door behind her.
Kikyou. . . was the only person that could provoke his temper.
Kikyou was the only woman that could make him lose control.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
He knocked on InuYasha's door later that day around 3:00, again asking himself, Why am I wasting my time here? His brother answered the door, shirtless, a look of contentment on his face. But contentment quickly switched to resentment as he realized who was at his door. "What the hell do you want?!"
Sesshoumaru smirked and stepped inside, uninvited. "I just wanted to see how my little brother is doing. Can't I keep up with family?" He asked cooly.
"Not this family, " InuYasha spat at him, completely outraged at even the nerve of his older brother. . .
"You have something I want, Inu-"
"InuYasha, " said a slightly familiar voice said, "who is here?"
The girl he recognized as Higurashi stopped short when she laid eyes on him, as she entered the room in nothing but her robe. Yes, he had definitely interrupted something. . .
"You!" she squeaked.
"What?" InuYasha asked her, suddenly very confused. "You know him?!"
"We've met," she replied with fake politeness, closing up the neck of her robe with her fist.
"How?!"
Kagome gritted her teeth, "I'll tell you later. . . "
"Yes, " Sesshoumaru replied, "Higurashi, isn't it? I'm sorry, you're first name seems to have slipped my mind. . . but I do recall very well our late- night meeting. . . "
His younger brother filled with rage. "Wait a minute!"
He enjoyed driving InuYasha crazy.
"What the hell is going on, here?!"
Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru in disbelief at how he had twisted the situation.
"Kagome?! What the hell is he talking about?!"
"Do you remember-"
"Wait, " InuYasha interrupted her and glared at Sesshoumaru, "I want you OUT!" He screamed, taking his older brother a bit my surprise.
Sesshoumaru just smiled calmly. "Alright. I'll leave, so she can explain. See you around, little brother. We're not finished with this."
"We never are," InuYasha growled.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kagome had never seen InuYasha so angry. She had never heard him scream the way he did.
When Sesshoumaru left, he turned angrily towards Kagome. "Explain."
She didn't like that way he was treating her. "There was a package you forgot to deliver your first day at work. So, Kaede-san asked me to deliver it on my way home. The address for the basket was your brother's work. He was the only person that I could find to leave the delivery with. We exchanged a few words, and I ended up mentioning your name. He let me know exactly what he thought of you right then and there, and I turned on my heel and walked out of his office. He'd been so rude. And I haven't thought of it since. Not until now, of course."
InuYasha was quiet. "He tries to ruin me, Kagome. He made it sound like you. . . " he pulled Kagome close to him ,"I knew you hadn't. I knew you wouldn't ever. . . "
She knew what he was implying.
Sesshoumaru. How sick. . .
But something told her not to finish that thought. For some reason something reminded her that she did not know the complete reasons behind his actions. . .
She had a feeling she would see the man again.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sesshoumaru thought to himself, You cannot look at the girl and not notice how much she looks like her. . . like Kikyou. . .
Now he was annoyed at his own sudden interest in this. . . Kagome.
He questioned his own motives, again. No matter what he did, InuYasha was never going to give him that money. Well then, if he failed at getting the money, then maybe. . .
He quickly decided that he wanted to see Kagome again.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
If only. . .
InuYasha thought to himself when he let go of Kagome.
If only he hadn't ignored that delivery. Kagome would never have had to run into Sesshoumaru for the first time alone.
He didn't know if he should tell her he hadn't made that delivery on purpose. He'd acted like a coward, avoiding any precarious situation that had to do with his brother. Who even said he would have seen him there? InuYasha supposed he just hadn't been in the mood that day. But now he regretted it. He would rather Kagome didn't know his brother even existed.
But then, he remembered something.
"Kagome, " he said as they sat down at the kitchen table, "how did you know he was my brother when you met him?"
She didn't hesitate in answering him, "Sango told us about him. She said you two greatly resembled one another. You know, your hair and eyes. That, and 'Tokunawa' is on his office door."
Of course.
InuYasha sighed. "Did Sango also mention how much we hate each other?"
Kagome nodded. "Un. She said, and I quote, 'They hate each other with a passion.'"
"Feh," InuYasha grumbled, "that's us in a nutshell."
The next question to be asked hung around in the air before taking it's turn through Kagome's lips:
"Why do you hate each other so much?"
InuYasha leaned back in his chair. "Because I have something he wants."
"What would that be?"
"Money, what else?" InuYasha said with a little sarcasm. "My father left me a. . . rather large sum of money. He left it because he took pity on me when he realized I wouldn't get to go to college. But he's not dead yet, so I can't touch it. And Sesshoumaru feels he deserves the money more than I do."
"Does he?" "Yeah."
"Are you going to give it to him?"
"Hell, no!" InuYasha scoffed. "Having something that should be his is way too much fun. Kagome, we hated each other before the money. Besides, Dad left it to me, anyway. It's my money."
"What makes him think he should get the money?"
"Well, all my life, I've been a lot more fortunate than he has. Sesshoumaru is Dad's son from his first marriage. He left his mom for my mom when Sesshoumaru was two, and I grew up spoiled, and with the family Sesshoumaru never had. We would see each other on holidays, and the rivalry was always there. Even as a kid he knew that my Dad left his mom with nothing, and that I was the outcome of everything that had happened. So, he hated me, and my mom, and has always felt a little resentment for Dad. "So yes, I would definitely say he deserves the money. But I'm not gonna give it to him. You see, the reason I couldn't go to college was because I sincerely didn't want to. I just wanted to get out into the world and live for myself after highschool. Dad fully supported my decision, and was actually pretty proud of me for being so bold when it came to living on my own. But he still worried, and so he left the money. Truthfully, I don't even want the money. I'm not really into material things. I'm happy with having just enough to get by. Kagome. . . I hope I don't sound terrible to you, now. I'm not, really. This thing just goes a lot deeper than it shows."
Kagome remained quiet. She felt so sorry for Sesshoumaru now that she knew the truth. He didn't seem like someone who had grown up with little. But, then again. . . sometimes those fronts were not always true. And InuYasha had grown up with it all. Now that didn't seem true, either. He didn't want or need much. But he was obviously telling the truth. What could she say?
"Kagome? Your don't feel weird about us or anything, now. . . do you?"
"Of course not." she lied. She did feel weird, now. Like none of this was any of her business. It wasn't.
"So, "she asked, "he just, comes over and asks you for the money?"
"No, he tries to bargain for it. But I won't give it to him. I'd say he was doin' pretty well on his own, anyway. Did you check out his shoes? Expensive. Always polished. Of course he doesn't need the money."
"Well, InuYasha, maybe it's not the money itself." Kagome said. "Perhaps it's the fact that his father owes him something for taking away from him something as precious as a happy, healthy family. Perhaps he doesn't feel you deserve the money because you've always had everything."
InuYasha sighed. "I won't disagree with you on that."
"Don't you feel guilty?"
"A little. But I have my reasons for not giving him that money. He's done a lot of things to me in the past that I'll never forget. Including two bloody noses. He's always tried to ruin me. But he's always had Dad's respect. And Dad has always been proud of him. I don't know what more he could want."
Kagome decided to let the subject drop. "Hey, I'm still hungry!" she exclaimed brightly, "What should we have?"
InuYasha smiled. At least she didn't hate him. "I bought doughnuts."
Sesshoumaru rubbed his temples. Mondays always killed his head. But it was not because he was tired; no that was not it at all. It was everyone else. They were either trying their hardest to be cheerful, or not trying at all. And both irked him.
His thoughts often wandered back to his brother.
Was InuYasha happy? Living the way he was?
Why did he himself feel the need to mettle?
Was he really that bored?
The Pest Naraku came to his door. Sesshoumaru stared at the other man and thought, If looks could kill!
What was wrong with The Pest? He had definetly gotten up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.
"Fujishima. Tough morning?"
"Why didn't the Kanno book get published, Tokunawa?"
"Kanno. . . that god-awful book? I didn't have the heart to waste such good space in Japan's libraries." "We agreed it would be published, you son of a-"
"Please, Fujishima! It's Monday. Save your name calling for the weekend. You could be fired on a Monday."
That was a threat.
Naraku quickly thought twice about his choice of words. "Next time, Tokunawa-san, please let me know before you make any final decisions."
"Of course, Fujishima-san. Next time."
Sesshoumaru smirked at the Pest's back. The miserable son-of-bitch deserved any and every blow he got.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Sesshoumaru-san!"
He closed his eyes. Not this woman. Not today.
"Sesshoumaru-san!" the voice repeated, slightly agitated.
"Kikyou. Do come in, " he mumbled.
She closed the door behind her. "What is the matter with you today, Tokunawa? You should be happy! Orchids has been published! There having a benefit event next Wednesday to promote it! You are going, aren't you?"
He looked up at her beautiful face and replied, "Perhaps."
Why did she pretend like nothing had happened? Did it slip her mind that he was cold because she had cheated on him with the Pest? Did it even register with her that the chances of having any remote friendship existing between the two were obsolete? Did she fail to realize that he was angry at the wench for even maintaining a relationship with the Pest even after they had ended?
"Oh, Tokunawa-san, " she cooed, "you can't still be angry at me for the little incident with Naraku-chan? Oh, Sesshie, sometimes things don't always go the way we planned- "
He held up his hand. "I don't want to hear your bullshit today, Kikyou."
"Well," she yelled, "at least tell me if you're going to the benefit!"
"Kikyou, incase you've forgotten, a date is required at a benefit," His voice grew louder with every word, " and I have no date, wench! Leave me be!"
He wondered if she felt as guilty as she looked.
She stared at her shoes and almost whispered, "You know why I left you, Sesshoumaru. I know everything's my fault. But can't we just try-"
"No."
"But please!"
"Get out! Get out of my office!" His voice was deep and mature with hurt.
She walked out, slamming the door behind her.
Kikyou. . . was the only person that could provoke his temper.
Kikyou was the only woman that could make him lose control.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
He knocked on InuYasha's door later that day around 3:00, again asking himself, Why am I wasting my time here? His brother answered the door, shirtless, a look of contentment on his face. But contentment quickly switched to resentment as he realized who was at his door. "What the hell do you want?!"
Sesshoumaru smirked and stepped inside, uninvited. "I just wanted to see how my little brother is doing. Can't I keep up with family?" He asked cooly.
"Not this family, " InuYasha spat at him, completely outraged at even the nerve of his older brother. . .
"You have something I want, Inu-"
"InuYasha, " said a slightly familiar voice said, "who is here?"
The girl he recognized as Higurashi stopped short when she laid eyes on him, as she entered the room in nothing but her robe. Yes, he had definitely interrupted something. . .
"You!" she squeaked.
"What?" InuYasha asked her, suddenly very confused. "You know him?!"
"We've met," she replied with fake politeness, closing up the neck of her robe with her fist.
"How?!"
Kagome gritted her teeth, "I'll tell you later. . . "
"Yes, " Sesshoumaru replied, "Higurashi, isn't it? I'm sorry, you're first name seems to have slipped my mind. . . but I do recall very well our late- night meeting. . . "
His younger brother filled with rage. "Wait a minute!"
He enjoyed driving InuYasha crazy.
"What the hell is going on, here?!"
Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru in disbelief at how he had twisted the situation.
"Kagome?! What the hell is he talking about?!"
"Do you remember-"
"Wait, " InuYasha interrupted her and glared at Sesshoumaru, "I want you OUT!" He screamed, taking his older brother a bit my surprise.
Sesshoumaru just smiled calmly. "Alright. I'll leave, so she can explain. See you around, little brother. We're not finished with this."
"We never are," InuYasha growled.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kagome had never seen InuYasha so angry. She had never heard him scream the way he did.
When Sesshoumaru left, he turned angrily towards Kagome. "Explain."
She didn't like that way he was treating her. "There was a package you forgot to deliver your first day at work. So, Kaede-san asked me to deliver it on my way home. The address for the basket was your brother's work. He was the only person that I could find to leave the delivery with. We exchanged a few words, and I ended up mentioning your name. He let me know exactly what he thought of you right then and there, and I turned on my heel and walked out of his office. He'd been so rude. And I haven't thought of it since. Not until now, of course."
InuYasha was quiet. "He tries to ruin me, Kagome. He made it sound like you. . . " he pulled Kagome close to him ,"I knew you hadn't. I knew you wouldn't ever. . . "
She knew what he was implying.
Sesshoumaru. How sick. . .
But something told her not to finish that thought. For some reason something reminded her that she did not know the complete reasons behind his actions. . .
She had a feeling she would see the man again.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sesshoumaru thought to himself, You cannot look at the girl and not notice how much she looks like her. . . like Kikyou. . .
Now he was annoyed at his own sudden interest in this. . . Kagome.
He questioned his own motives, again. No matter what he did, InuYasha was never going to give him that money. Well then, if he failed at getting the money, then maybe. . .
He quickly decided that he wanted to see Kagome again.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
If only. . .
InuYasha thought to himself when he let go of Kagome.
If only he hadn't ignored that delivery. Kagome would never have had to run into Sesshoumaru for the first time alone.
He didn't know if he should tell her he hadn't made that delivery on purpose. He'd acted like a coward, avoiding any precarious situation that had to do with his brother. Who even said he would have seen him there? InuYasha supposed he just hadn't been in the mood that day. But now he regretted it. He would rather Kagome didn't know his brother even existed.
But then, he remembered something.
"Kagome, " he said as they sat down at the kitchen table, "how did you know he was my brother when you met him?"
She didn't hesitate in answering him, "Sango told us about him. She said you two greatly resembled one another. You know, your hair and eyes. That, and 'Tokunawa' is on his office door."
Of course.
InuYasha sighed. "Did Sango also mention how much we hate each other?"
Kagome nodded. "Un. She said, and I quote, 'They hate each other with a passion.'"
"Feh," InuYasha grumbled, "that's us in a nutshell."
The next question to be asked hung around in the air before taking it's turn through Kagome's lips:
"Why do you hate each other so much?"
InuYasha leaned back in his chair. "Because I have something he wants."
"What would that be?"
"Money, what else?" InuYasha said with a little sarcasm. "My father left me a. . . rather large sum of money. He left it because he took pity on me when he realized I wouldn't get to go to college. But he's not dead yet, so I can't touch it. And Sesshoumaru feels he deserves the money more than I do."
"Does he?" "Yeah."
"Are you going to give it to him?"
"Hell, no!" InuYasha scoffed. "Having something that should be his is way too much fun. Kagome, we hated each other before the money. Besides, Dad left it to me, anyway. It's my money."
"What makes him think he should get the money?"
"Well, all my life, I've been a lot more fortunate than he has. Sesshoumaru is Dad's son from his first marriage. He left his mom for my mom when Sesshoumaru was two, and I grew up spoiled, and with the family Sesshoumaru never had. We would see each other on holidays, and the rivalry was always there. Even as a kid he knew that my Dad left his mom with nothing, and that I was the outcome of everything that had happened. So, he hated me, and my mom, and has always felt a little resentment for Dad. "So yes, I would definitely say he deserves the money. But I'm not gonna give it to him. You see, the reason I couldn't go to college was because I sincerely didn't want to. I just wanted to get out into the world and live for myself after highschool. Dad fully supported my decision, and was actually pretty proud of me for being so bold when it came to living on my own. But he still worried, and so he left the money. Truthfully, I don't even want the money. I'm not really into material things. I'm happy with having just enough to get by. Kagome. . . I hope I don't sound terrible to you, now. I'm not, really. This thing just goes a lot deeper than it shows."
Kagome remained quiet. She felt so sorry for Sesshoumaru now that she knew the truth. He didn't seem like someone who had grown up with little. But, then again. . . sometimes those fronts were not always true. And InuYasha had grown up with it all. Now that didn't seem true, either. He didn't want or need much. But he was obviously telling the truth. What could she say?
"Kagome? Your don't feel weird about us or anything, now. . . do you?"
"Of course not." she lied. She did feel weird, now. Like none of this was any of her business. It wasn't.
"So, "she asked, "he just, comes over and asks you for the money?"
"No, he tries to bargain for it. But I won't give it to him. I'd say he was doin' pretty well on his own, anyway. Did you check out his shoes? Expensive. Always polished. Of course he doesn't need the money."
"Well, InuYasha, maybe it's not the money itself." Kagome said. "Perhaps it's the fact that his father owes him something for taking away from him something as precious as a happy, healthy family. Perhaps he doesn't feel you deserve the money because you've always had everything."
InuYasha sighed. "I won't disagree with you on that."
"Don't you feel guilty?"
"A little. But I have my reasons for not giving him that money. He's done a lot of things to me in the past that I'll never forget. Including two bloody noses. He's always tried to ruin me. But he's always had Dad's respect. And Dad has always been proud of him. I don't know what more he could want."
Kagome decided to let the subject drop. "Hey, I'm still hungry!" she exclaimed brightly, "What should we have?"
InuYasha smiled. At least she didn't hate him. "I bought doughnuts."