(Author's note: I'd like to thank the folks who were kind enough to read my story and send their reviews. I appreciate it very much. By the way, Kagura is OOC in this story.)
CHAPTER 10
Disclaimer: Inuyasha and its characters are the property of Rumiko Takahashi
Sesshomaru's parties always drew the in crowd. CEOs, the Hollywood glitterati and the art crowd chatted amongst themselves, nibbled on canapes and preened for attention. And like vultures stalking the dying, a group of reporters were also in attendance.
In the past, he enjoyed being the center of attention at these gatherings. He loved to see awe and even fear flicker in his guests' eyes as he strode among them or deigned to chat with them. But now he felt strangely empty.
He and Onigumo announced their new deal earlier. Only the business reporters perked up at the news. The rest of the media horde were disappointed. They came because of a tip that Sesshomaru Taiko was announcing his engagement to Kagura, the actress. Of course the tip came from the actress' own publicist so the reporters believed it.
Sesshomaru scanned the crowd again for any sign of Kagome. He was sure she got an invitation. Even Jaken wasn't that incompetent. He was so intent on looking for her that he failed to notice Kagura slink her way toward him. By the time he did, it was too late.
To his disgust, Kagura clung to his arm and put her head on his shoulder. The press went wild, snapping photos of them and bombarding them with questions about their "engagement".
Kagome heard the commotion across the room and wanted to know what it was all about. She walked closer and saw Sesshomaru with a woman clinging to his side. She recognized the woman as one of those so-called up and coming actresses. What was her name again? She remembered it now. Kagura.
Sesshomaru's face was as impassive as always while Kagura was all smiles for the camera. Kagome poked one of her colleagues to get her attention.
"Sango, is that his girlfriend?,'' she asked.
''Kagome! Are you here to cover this event too? I thought you're Miss Crime and Punishment? Isn't this sort of thing beneath you?''
"I'm not working tonight. I got invited here by a ... a friend. So what's the story between Mr. Taiko and Kagura?''
''Kagura's people let the cat out of the bag tonight. They said the reason for the party was to announce Kagura's engagement to Mr. Taiko. Don't they make a cute couple? I'm sure Kagura would want a famous designer to create her wedding dress. Maybe Vera Wang .... EEEP!''
Sango was startled by a hand that cupped her ass. She turned to confront the offender and found herself looking into the face of her boyfriend and fellow reporter, Miroku.
"This is not the time! How dare you!'' Sango slapped Miroku.
"Aaaaw Sango. I couldn't resist. You draw me like a moth to a flame,'' Miroku said as he gingerly rubbed his reddened cheek.
"Hentai! We're supposed to be working here. Go make yourself useful and find Shippo.''
"But Shippo's right there with the other photographers. Why can't I stay here with you?''
''Because you distract me. Now go before I slap you again.''
"Sango my love. I hear and obey.''
Oblivious to the little drama next to her, Kagome couldn't take her eyes away from the businessman and the actress. And when Kagura kissed Sesshomaru, her heart sank. Why does this bother her? She was Inuyasha's girl. She should be happy for Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru saw Kagome as she started to walk away. He wanted to fling Kagura off him and follow Kagome. But he had never made a scene in public and wasn't about to start now. That was more Inuyasha's style.
"You and I need to talk. Now,'' he whispered in Kagura's ear.
Kagura shivered at his tone. She knew she was in trouble now. He gripped her arm, steered her away from the press and into the privacy of his study. He flung her away from him, not caring if she fell or not. She ended up sprawled on the floor. He locked the door then turned to face her.
"Why so rough Sessho-kun? You don't get to manhandle me until the wedding night,'' Kagura said and pouted.
"Drop the act. There are no cameras here.''
Kagura's eyes hardened.
"Fine. Have it your way.''
"Is this some publicity stunt to boost your career? If I remember right, the last time I saw you, I told you never to darken my doorstep again. Get this through your head, we are through. There's no engagement, there will be no wedding.''
Kagura slowly stood up and glared at Sesshomaru.
"There's someone else, isn't there? Who is she? Tell me!''
"That's none of your business. Get out of my house woman. The sight of you sickens me.''
Kagura ran to Sesshomaru and hugged him.
"I won't let you go. You belong to me!"
He freed himself from her embrace and looked coldly at her.
"I do not want to ever see you again.'' And with that, Sesshomaru unlocked the door and strode out of the room.
That's what you think, a furious Kagura thought. She adjusted her clothing, fixed her makeup and went back to the party.
Onigumo watched as Sesshomaru then Kagura walked out of the study. He was adept at reading body language and could tell Sesshomaru was furious. He wondered if the engagement was bogus. He wouldn't put it past Kagura. It was well known in the Hollywood community that Kagura would do anything to get to the top. Anything.
He was surprised as everyone about the engagement. Last he heard, Sesshomaru and Kagura were yesterday's news. The two dated last year then suddenly Kagura was seen in the company of a 60-year-old movie producer. The geezer probably outlived his usefulness, Onigumo thought.
Onigumo knew Sesshomaru dropped by Kagome's apartment the day he sent her those flowers. He couldn't make his move with Sesshomaru watching her apartment like a guard dog that night. But with Kagura in the picture, things could turn in his favor. He went in search of the actress.
.
CHAPTER 10
Disclaimer: Inuyasha and its characters are the property of Rumiko Takahashi
Sesshomaru's parties always drew the in crowd. CEOs, the Hollywood glitterati and the art crowd chatted amongst themselves, nibbled on canapes and preened for attention. And like vultures stalking the dying, a group of reporters were also in attendance.
In the past, he enjoyed being the center of attention at these gatherings. He loved to see awe and even fear flicker in his guests' eyes as he strode among them or deigned to chat with them. But now he felt strangely empty.
He and Onigumo announced their new deal earlier. Only the business reporters perked up at the news. The rest of the media horde were disappointed. They came because of a tip that Sesshomaru Taiko was announcing his engagement to Kagura, the actress. Of course the tip came from the actress' own publicist so the reporters believed it.
Sesshomaru scanned the crowd again for any sign of Kagome. He was sure she got an invitation. Even Jaken wasn't that incompetent. He was so intent on looking for her that he failed to notice Kagura slink her way toward him. By the time he did, it was too late.
To his disgust, Kagura clung to his arm and put her head on his shoulder. The press went wild, snapping photos of them and bombarding them with questions about their "engagement".
Kagome heard the commotion across the room and wanted to know what it was all about. She walked closer and saw Sesshomaru with a woman clinging to his side. She recognized the woman as one of those so-called up and coming actresses. What was her name again? She remembered it now. Kagura.
Sesshomaru's face was as impassive as always while Kagura was all smiles for the camera. Kagome poked one of her colleagues to get her attention.
"Sango, is that his girlfriend?,'' she asked.
''Kagome! Are you here to cover this event too? I thought you're Miss Crime and Punishment? Isn't this sort of thing beneath you?''
"I'm not working tonight. I got invited here by a ... a friend. So what's the story between Mr. Taiko and Kagura?''
''Kagura's people let the cat out of the bag tonight. They said the reason for the party was to announce Kagura's engagement to Mr. Taiko. Don't they make a cute couple? I'm sure Kagura would want a famous designer to create her wedding dress. Maybe Vera Wang .... EEEP!''
Sango was startled by a hand that cupped her ass. She turned to confront the offender and found herself looking into the face of her boyfriend and fellow reporter, Miroku.
"This is not the time! How dare you!'' Sango slapped Miroku.
"Aaaaw Sango. I couldn't resist. You draw me like a moth to a flame,'' Miroku said as he gingerly rubbed his reddened cheek.
"Hentai! We're supposed to be working here. Go make yourself useful and find Shippo.''
"But Shippo's right there with the other photographers. Why can't I stay here with you?''
''Because you distract me. Now go before I slap you again.''
"Sango my love. I hear and obey.''
Oblivious to the little drama next to her, Kagome couldn't take her eyes away from the businessman and the actress. And when Kagura kissed Sesshomaru, her heart sank. Why does this bother her? She was Inuyasha's girl. She should be happy for Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru saw Kagome as she started to walk away. He wanted to fling Kagura off him and follow Kagome. But he had never made a scene in public and wasn't about to start now. That was more Inuyasha's style.
"You and I need to talk. Now,'' he whispered in Kagura's ear.
Kagura shivered at his tone. She knew she was in trouble now. He gripped her arm, steered her away from the press and into the privacy of his study. He flung her away from him, not caring if she fell or not. She ended up sprawled on the floor. He locked the door then turned to face her.
"Why so rough Sessho-kun? You don't get to manhandle me until the wedding night,'' Kagura said and pouted.
"Drop the act. There are no cameras here.''
Kagura's eyes hardened.
"Fine. Have it your way.''
"Is this some publicity stunt to boost your career? If I remember right, the last time I saw you, I told you never to darken my doorstep again. Get this through your head, we are through. There's no engagement, there will be no wedding.''
Kagura slowly stood up and glared at Sesshomaru.
"There's someone else, isn't there? Who is she? Tell me!''
"That's none of your business. Get out of my house woman. The sight of you sickens me.''
Kagura ran to Sesshomaru and hugged him.
"I won't let you go. You belong to me!"
He freed himself from her embrace and looked coldly at her.
"I do not want to ever see you again.'' And with that, Sesshomaru unlocked the door and strode out of the room.
That's what you think, a furious Kagura thought. She adjusted her clothing, fixed her makeup and went back to the party.
Onigumo watched as Sesshomaru then Kagura walked out of the study. He was adept at reading body language and could tell Sesshomaru was furious. He wondered if the engagement was bogus. He wouldn't put it past Kagura. It was well known in the Hollywood community that Kagura would do anything to get to the top. Anything.
He was surprised as everyone about the engagement. Last he heard, Sesshomaru and Kagura were yesterday's news. The two dated last year then suddenly Kagura was seen in the company of a 60-year-old movie producer. The geezer probably outlived his usefulness, Onigumo thought.
Onigumo knew Sesshomaru dropped by Kagome's apartment the day he sent her those flowers. He couldn't make his move with Sesshomaru watching her apartment like a guard dog that night. But with Kagura in the picture, things could turn in his favor. He went in search of the actress.
.