April rain
"WHAT'S the best thing in the world?
June-rose, by May-dew impearled;
Sweet south-wind, that means no rain;
Truth, not cruel to a friend;
Pleasure, not in haste to end;
Beauty, not self-decked and curled
Till its pride is over-plain;
Love, when, so, you're loved again.
What's the best thing in the world?
--Something out of it, I think."
(Elizabeth Barrett Browning)
Chapter 2: Disater begins
Next morning ...
8:30AM...
It was Saturday, which meant no work, and she could sleep as much as she want. Unfortunately, fate was against her this time.
"Kagome?"
"Kagome, wake up, I have... Kagome, I said WAKE UP!"
"Mom, but it's Saturday."
"I know."
"So you know I don't have work today, don't you?"
"I'm aware of that, dear."
"So why..."
"Oh, wake up now. Since you don't have anything to do today, I have arranged for you to go out and, well, get to know your fiance' better before..." "WHHHHHHHAT? You just said ... WHAT?"
"Get to know your fiance', Kagome. Yes, I think you should know him better before get married."
"I will never do such thing! And I'd rather sleep all day than go out with ... that man. "
" Yes, you will. If you have anything to say, go tell your father. It's him who decided all this. And don't bother me with your childishness again. See you downstairs soon ."
"Ah, don't forget to dress yourself properly." With that, she left, mubling irritably " Can't believe you ... my daughter..."
SLAM
Kagome sat on her bed, staring at the closed door. She was still shocked at the news. After deciding that staying in bed was not a good idea then, she got out of the comfortable blanket and went to take a bath.
'God, now I have another reason to get out of this marriage, and as soon as possible . '
'If I don't have another choice, then I'll wear what I like. At least, I need to enjoy myself a little, right? ', Kagome smirked when searching through her wardrobe for something to wear. Ignoring what her mother might say, she picked up a plain black sleeveless top and a pair of tight jeans. Rather simple, but they did her fine. Anyway, she had no reason to wear too gorgeous to go out with him, especially when she had planned to make this date a disaster .
When Kagome went downstairs, her father was burying his face in a newspaper while listening to her mother talking. They stopped to greet her, helping Kagome to take out a chair to sit down on. Catching Yume's questioning look, Kagome decided to ask: "What's wrong, Mom?".
"You really want to wear those things?"
'Ah, that's very clear now.' Although Kagome had expected this, she still felt a little annoyed. "Yes, Mom. Do you have any problem with my clothes?"
"No, not really. But don't you have anything better? I mean, um, they're so simple."
"Oh, they're fine. I think I know how to dress myself properly. And I'll just go out to see my fiance , won't I?"Kagome said the last sentence sarcastically but tried to keep her voice down. 'Oh, yeah, my fiance, how sweet. What a bother. '
Yume looked as if she wanted to say something but then decided not to. She just gave quick glance at her daughter's clothes disgustingly and remained silent.
"He'll come and pick you up in twenty minutes," stated Mr. Higurashi, " do you want to have breakfast now?". He had put the newspaper down on the kidchen's table and gazed at his daughter.
"No, thanks. I think I'll eat later."Kagome answered, feeling uneasy.
"Well," he paused before continue in a businesslike voice, "your mother told me that you had something to tell me...".
Kagome bit her lip. She hadn't expect something like this. But she simply nodded and said in a monotonous voice. "Yes, father. I disapprove this marriage." Tanaka raised an eyebrow but nodded for her to continue. "I think I'm old enough to find a husband by myself. I don't need anyone to arrange my life for me... "
"But we only want to help you..." He didn't finish his sentence when Kagome cried "WHAT? Help me? I'm not a little girl anymore."
'Yes, you are', he chuckled, 'in the way you behave so childishly and stubbornly'. But he said nothing when his daughter continued irritably. "I can never believe you two can do such thing to me. Arrange my life! What if I already had a boyfriend? What do you think I would feel? How come you never think about my feelings before deciding what is good for me? Not to mention the fact that I don't even love that man. I can't marry one without love..." She stopped to look at her parents, tears in her eyes. To her suprise, Tanaka simply looked at his precious daughter, waiting for her to calm down, while his wife seemed a bit amazed at the little speech. "Well, we all know that you don't have a boyfriend", Yume stated deliberately, "and you just met Shesshoumaru once. How can you judge him? Give him a chance, and we'll let you suit yourself."
No one said a single word when ...
RING
"Oh, that must be Sesshoumaru-kun. I'M COMING. We'll talk about this later, okay?"
"Okay, Mom", Kagome mumbled when seeing Yume rush to the front door before going herself. ' I guess it's time to go, huh?'
"You're going? Good luck ! I bet you'll enjoy his company." Her father said casually with his eyes still on the newspaper.
He stood looking at the black wooden door, waiting boredly. He didn't want to come here. If it hadn't been for his father or their conversation last night... The deal was made. Now he had to do his part. Somehow, he felt he would regret it later.
It was Saturday, which meant he had lots of plans to do without wasting his time with a girl. He couldn't deny that when his father told him he had expected the girl to be someone beautiful, fashionable, ladylike and postural. But this girl, she was ... However, it wasn't a matter. He didn't need to care about her after all. He would fulfil his duty. But that was all, nothing more.
They got into his car and he drove away in silence.
Five minutes...
Ten minutes passed ...
"What do you plan to do? I'm hungry. " Kagome asked, breaking the silence.
"You had breakfast already, didn't you?"
"Um, no." She began to feel nervous.
"But it's over 9:00 AM? Alright, I guess Kagura can find you something when we arrive."
"Thank you!... Wait! Who is that Kagura? And what do you mean 'when we arrive'?", Kagome almost yelled in horror when her questions met with silence. " Where are we going? Would you please tell me? Why don't you ..." "Would you please shut up and let me answer your questions?" He said in a monotonous voice, feeling irritated. Maybe this girl was really a troublemaker.
His comment threw cold water on her. ' Doesn't he have the courtesy to be nice to a lady? No doubt he is only an arrogant bastard.' Kagome clenched her fist in anger but tried to keep her voice calm.
"OK! Now can you tell me or not?"
"To your first question, Kagurais my secretary."He paused before continued in a boring tone. " We'll arrive at my office to meet her."
"Your secretary? I see. But what does she do there?"
"Her work, what else?" Shesshoumaru simply stated, making the girl an idiot.
This only infuriated Kagome more. Despite her latest attempt to keep her temper, Kagome snapped at his face: "I'm aware of that. What I want to ask you is why we have to meet her ?"
"Because she'll take care of your need while I'm off for awhile . Do whatever you want then."
"You'll go ? Where? And you don't mean that you'll leave me alone with your secretary, do you?"
"You guess right."
"WHAT? Then do you mind telling me why ?"
"I am afraid it is none of your business, Miss. ".
His teasing voice had finally made Kagome lose her temper. Her face was now red with anger.
'So easy to lose your temper, right?', he chuckled while studying her face inwardly.
" Since I have to stay with a stranger while you're away , that makes it my business to know."
"Alright, if that's what you want, I have some personal problems to handle ." His face had changed into a serious and more business-like look. "We will have lunch at 11:45. I'll see you then to talk about the marriage. "
His last sentence seemed to have reminded Kagome of the exact reason why she was there with him, which she had somehow totally forgotten.
Sitting in front of her was a fairly beautiful woman in a black and red dress. She wore her long black hair in a high bun. Very attractive, yet elegant.
"Good morning Higurashi-san, I'm Kagura Munemiya. Nice to meet you."
"Me too. And just call me Kagome, Munemiya-san ."Kagome said when finding herself a seat.'Maybe this woman is nice, at least nicer than him.'
"Ok, but call me Kagura. Oh, you haven't had breakfast, have you? So do you want to go out for something?"
"Thank you. But..."
"It's ok. We have lots of time. Let's go."
Didn't wait for Kagome to answer, she dragged her out to a nearby cafeteria.
After finishing a cream cake with cherry, Kagome found herself drinking a capucino and talking about god-know-what to Kagura. Their conversation has moved to the unwanted marriage plan.
"So you're his fiance?" Kagura asked with unconcealed curiosity.
"You can say so. But I assure you there will be no marriage."
Kagura seemed to be confused by the answer. "What? Really? But aren't you supposed to get married?"
"Yes, in fact, we are. That's what I want to discuss with him at lunch. I don't want to marry him."
"I see. Do you have any reason that you don't like this marriage? Say,a boyfriend?"
"Oh, no. There's no such thing. I just... um, don't want to get married yet, at least not to some stranger."
"But you know, it's not a reason. Hm,you still don't want to marry him, right? What a pity, I had thought this would be interesting."
"Interesting?"
"Yeah. Think about it. Wow, Mr. Almighty who always wants to stay single gets married. It would be fun."
"Uh-huh." Kagome looked at the woman, didn't know what to say. 'Didn't I tell her that marriage will never exist?'