Author's Note: Yay, I'm back! Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and hope that everyone will have a happy new year!
Disclaimer: I still don't own anything…get it? Got it? Good.
Warning: Language
Chapter Seven
"Bye, Eri!" Kagome called as she rushed off to work, early this time.
"Kags, wait," Eri said.
Kagome stopped and looked at her friend. "Something wrong?" she asked.
"You should call in sick today," Eri said.
"Why?" Kagome asked.
"You're still recovering after last night aren't you?" Eri asked.
Kagome waved it off. "I'm fine," she assured, giving her friend a smile. "Besides, I wouldn't want the pompous jerk to come into my office and berate me for being slow, would I?"
Eri threw her friend a skeptical look but shrugged her shoulders. "Don't be late tonight," she said.
"I know," Kagome said, heading out the door.
Eri sighed as she watch her friend drive off. "Hope you're really alright, Kags," she said. Then she grabbed her purse and headed off to her own workplace.
Kagome sat at her desk, still going over the blueprints. She was done with the north wing of the building, making sure every measurement was precise to the tenth of an inch. She would not be blamed for faulty construction because of a silly miscalculation. Picking up her pencil, Kagome began to twirl it as she thought. It was a habit she developed years ago, in elementary school.
"Now let's see…since the whole north wing was tilted 5.6 degrees to the left, this makes the east wing tilted 5.7 degrees too far to the right, with zero point one degrees left for a margin of error…" Kagome spoke aloud.
She was suddenly interrupted by the ringing of her office phone.
"Kagome Higurashi," she said authoritatively.
"Higurashi-san, there is a Mr. Inuyasha Takashi on line one for you," the secretary said.
"Arigatou, Yumi," Kagome said.
She pushed the blinking button and Inuyasha's voice filled the receiver.
"Took ya long enough," he said.
"What did?" Kagome asked.
"Damn, service at your company is crap," Inuyasha said. "Who'd ever put a president of a company on hold?"
"Gomen, our company filters all calls," Kagome said.
"Yeah, whatever. Hey, you coming or not?" Inuyasha asked.
"Excuse me?" Kagome asked back.
"You said you were meeting me at my office didn't you?" Inuyasha said.
"When did I-oh," Kagome said, remembering the meeting yesterday.
"You're such an airhead," Inuyasha said.
"Inuyasha-san," Kagome said, trying so hard not to let the vulgar words spill forth.
"Inuyasha. Damn how many times do I have to fucking remind you," Inuyasha said, his voice obviously irritated.
"Watch your language," Kagome scolded.
"Feh," Inuyasha replied. "So you coming or am I gonna have to drop by your office?"
"I'll be there in half an hour," Kagome said.
"You know, I'm different than many other presidents," Inuyasha said.
I noticed. Kagome thought bitterly. "How so, Inuyasha?" she asked, deciding to humor him a little.
"I tolerate," he said simply.
" 'Tolerate?'" Kagome echoed.
"See, normally presidents wouldn't go out of their way to make sure their appointments are going to show up. But, I made the exception with you," Inuyasha said. "They also don't allow people who are beneath them to walk all over them. Again, you're an exception."
"And to what do I owe this honor?" Kagome said sarcastically.
"I was told you were the best in the field," Inuyasha said, serious for once.
"Arigatou for your opinion," Kagome said.
"So what do I get for that kiss up?" Inuyasha said, back to his old tricks. "How about a date?"
"Good-bye, Inuyasha, see you in half an hour," Kagome said.
Before Inuyasha could say anything else, Kagome hung up, knowing it was daring on her part. Great, Kagome groaned mentally. Another reason for him to brag that he's such a nice guy because he allowed me to hang up on him. Shaking her head, Kagome began to roll up the blueprints when something struck her. She didn't know where his office was. Kagome almost cried when she thought about calling up the pretentious…okay, she would just have to suck it up and do it. Calling the front desk, Kagome asked for the number that had called her. Upon receiving the number, Kagome took a deep breath to compose herself and dialed.
"Hanyou Corp," a female voice said.
"Umm, yes, I need to speak with Takashi Inuyasha," Kagome said.
"Your name," the voice said.
"Higurashi Kagome," Kagome supplied.
"One moment please," the voice said.
Kagome waited on the phone, clenching her teeth through the corny elevator music that was supplied to her "for her enjoyment."
"Takashi here," Inuyasha voice said.
"Inuyasha, it's Higurashi Kagome," Kagome said.
"Kagome, darling," Inuyasha voice said cheerfully. "It was fucking rude of you to hang up on me."
"Gomen," Kagome said hastily.
"Kidding," Inuyasha joked. "So what can I help with?"
"I need directions to your company," Kagome said.
"Oh shit, I didn't give them to you," Inuyasha said.
Kagome could hear an odd sound in the background that faintly sounded like a slap. "I would appreciate it if you gave them to me," Kagome said.
"Yeah, okay," Inuyasha said.
Kagome got out pencil and paper and began to jot down the directions that Inuyasha dished out.
"Arigatou," Kagome said.
"Eh," Inuyasha said. "Just make sure you don't get lost."
Kagome felt her eye twitch at that comment. Her sense of direction was just fine!
"I wont," she said through clenched teeth.
"Come here soon, Kagome darling," Inuyasha said.
Sighing, Kagome set down the phone and walked out of her office with blueprints tucked under her arm. On her way out, she saw Kaede.
"Kaede-san," Kagome called.
"Where ye going, Higurashi?" Kaede asked.
"I have to go meet with Inuyasha," Kagome answered.
"So ye forgave him for being…what did ye call him? Pompous old windbag?" Kaede said.
"I suppose I have," Kagome said.
Kaede nodded. "Now be off with ye," she said.
Kagome nodded and headed towards her car. Pulling out of her parking space, Kagome made her way to Hanyou Corp's office. Walking up to the front desk, Kagome took a glance around. Inside, it seemed that Inuyasha spared no expense in renting the space. Painting hung on every cream colored wall. Soft lighting gave the place a relaxed and comfortable feel although Kagome doubted the secretaries that worked here were able to "relax".
"Can I help you?" the woman said.
Kagome stared at the front desk secretary. Not with that attitude. She thought. "I'm here for a meeting with Takashi Inuyasha," she said.
"Oh you're the architect design specialist that called before right?" the woman said.
Kagome nodded. "I am," she said.
"Thirtieth floor," the woman said.
"Arigatou," Kagome said stiffly.
The woman didn't even look at her. Stepping into the elevator beside the front desk, Kagome pushed the button for the thirtieth floor. "Are all his employees like him?" she wondered as the elevator took her up.
Ding. The elevator doors opened revealing an opulent hallway with double doors at the end. Stepping on the lush red carpet, Kagome took her time in admiring the décor. It was red everywhere. Guess I found out what his favorite color is. Kagome thought.
Reaching the double doors, Kagome hesitated before rapping her knuckles on the solid wood surface.
"Enter," came the gruff command.
Kagome turned the door handle, half expecting the office to be red too. Instead she found a rather bleak office. There was no color in it. Black chairs with a black desk, even a black computer adorned the room. No paintings or anything decorous was in the room.
"Inuyasha," Kagome said.
"You made it," Inuyasha said. "So your sense of direction isn't all that bad."
"No, I made it here," Kagome said. "Even with the bad directions you gave me."
"Huh?" Inuyasha asked.
"Noriyuki Avenue is a one way street. There is no possible way you could turn left," Kagome said. "Ichigo Boulevard happens to end in a dead end. There couldn't be a 'road that Ichigo turns on when you reach the end of it.'"
(A/N: I don't know any streets in Tokyo…)
Inuyasha just flashed her a smile. "But you're here," he said.
"No thanks to you," Kagome said.
Inuyasha waved her off. "Let's get started shall we?" he asked.
"What did you call me here for?" Kagome asked.
"Your blueprints of course," Inuyasha said. "You said you wanted to go over them right?"
"I thought you said they were 'perfect,'"
"They are. I just wanna change some things,"
"Then that means they aren't perfect," Kagome said, secretly gloating in her victory over the arrogant man.
"Feh," was all he replied.
Kagome strode over to his desk and handed him the somewhat-revised blueprints.
"These corrections are necessary," Kagome said, pointing to the changes in the measurements.
Inuyasha stared at the numbers. "So you found that the tilt of the north wall of the north wing was too far. Changing the angle of the wall just the slightest bit can mean either a sturdier building or a piece of crap," Inuyasha said,
Kagome stared at him, shocked. She never expected him to know that much about architecture.
"How did you…" she started.
"Uhh…I've seen many buildings and met many famous architects," Inuyasha answered.
Kagome nodded. It made sense that Inuyasha would have traveled a lot since he was wealthy.
"So when I changed this part of the building, that caused the east wing to become tilted too far to the right," Kagome said.
Inuyasha agreed and the both of them discussed how to fix this error. It was several hours before the rumbling in Kagome's stomach told them they should stop and take a break.
"Looks like you need lunch," Inuyasha stated.
"Thank you for stating the obvious," Kagome said.
"Hey, that's what I do," Inuyasha said.
Kagome forced herself not to roll her eyes. "Don't you have meetings to attend to?" she asked. "It wouldn't be good if I took up all your time."
"Are you concerned for me?" Inuyasha said. "I knew I'd warm up to you."
"I'm concerned that your laziness will cause your company trouble," Kagome said.
"Laziness!" Inuyasha exclaimed.
"Yes," Kagome said.
"I'll tell you that I've been working on this fucking blueprint with you for four fucking hours!" Inuyasha howled.
Kagome let out a chuckle.
"What's so funny," Inuyasha said darkly.
"You are. What's the matter Inuyasha, can't take a joke anymore?" Kagome said, trying to contain her mirth.
"You were joking?" Inuyasha asked.
"Duh," Kagome said.
"Feh, so are you proud of yourself?" Inuyasha asked.
"No," Kagome said. "It was a little payback for what you did to me."
"I'm the president of Hanyou Corp," Inuyasha said. "I'm supposed to pick on people who are beneath me."
"Very well then," Kagome said, all of her merriment flying out the window. She was back on her serious track. "I think I should look over the sections we missed and fax the results to you."
"You're leaving?" Inuyasha asked.
"I must, I am expected back at my company," Kagome lied. She would try anything to get out of his office. It was going so well too. His pig-headedness just had to step in didn't it? She thought.
"What about lunch?" Inuyasha asked.
"I'll pick it up on my way back," Kagome said. "I will fax you whenever I have complete the changes."
Gathering up her blueprints, Kagome made a hasty retreat to her car. Inuyasha looked out his window.
"Interesting woman," he thought.
Back at her office, Kagome nearly threw the blueprints onto her desk. Only a forced composure allowed her to civilly place the drawings onto her desk.
"Inuyasha no baka," she said. "Thinks he's better than me just because he's the stupid president of some stupid company. Argh!"
As much as she wanted to trash her hard work, Kagome unrolled the sheets of paper and continued to work at a feverish pace. All her anger was being channeled into her work and she found that she had completed a whole section of the building. Stretching her screaming muscles and looked at her watch. It was 8:00!
"Oh man," Kagome said. "Eri's gonna kill me! She told me not to be late!"
Kagome jumped out of her chair and grabbed her purse and coat. She looked disdainfully at the blueprints but decided to take them home. She tapped her foot impatiently, waiting for the elevator to arrive. Once the elevator took her down to the main lobby, Kagome rushed to her cars and fumbled for her keys. She didn't notice the three guys that came up behind her.
"Hey," one of them called out.
Kagome froze and turned around. "Do I know you?" she asked, getting a bit afraid.
"You should," the same guy said. "Remember the club?"
Kagome thought back but still no answer. "No," she said.
"Akiyo Matomori," the man said.
Kagome gasped as the vision of him wanting to dance with her came into her mind. "You!" she said.
"So you do remember," Akiyo said.
"What do you want?" Kagome demanded.
"Nothing much," Akiyo said, stepping closer.
The two other guys stepped closer with him. Akiyo reached out and clamped his hand to her wrist.
"Let go!" Kagome screamed.
"No until I get what I want," Akiyo said. "Men!"
The two men cam around each side of Kagome and held her. The blueprints she was carrying were long forgotten on the ground.
"Let go!" Kagome screamed again.
She desperately tired to break free of the grip the two men had on her, but she was one female against two males. (A/N: Not saying that females are weak, just the two guys are really buff.) Akiyo cupped her chin with his hand and raised her face towards his.
"You're feisty," he said. "I like that in a girl."
"Shut up," Kagome said.
"Now, now, that's no way to talk," Akiyo said.
His face inched closer to hers; she could smell the alcohol on his breath. Kagome squeezed her eyes closed as his mouth neared hers. But suddenly, she didn't smell his alcohol breath on her face anymore. Opening her eyes, all Kagome saw was a flash of silver.
The two men beside her loosened their grip to go help their boss.
"Ingrates!" Akiyo yelled. "Don't let her get away!"
Kagome took a step back as the two guys refocused their attention on her. Slipping, Kagome fell hard onto the ground and her head fell against the hard concrete. Trying to ignore the shooting pain in her skull, Kagome searched for the flash of silver again. This time, it stood between her and Akiyo's men.
"I suggest you leave now, if you value your pathetic lives,"
Kagome gasped. "Sesshoumaru?" she called out weakly.
"Hey, she's boss' girl," one of the idiots ventured to say.
"She does not belong to a pathetic mortal," Sesshoumaru said.
"Think you're so tough, eh pretty-boy?" the other goon said.
The two hired hands charged Sesshoumaru who calmly waited for the attack. Kagome was getting more and more dizzy. Great, must've gotten a concussion. Kagome thought. Spots were swimming in her vision and the last thing she saw before darkness, was Sesshoumaru knocking the two men onto the floor and walking over to where she was.
Author's Note: Okay, so how was that chapter? Did Inu-kun seem OOC to you? Please let me know!
Read and Review. Arigatou!