I was about to add this scene in the last chapter, but then I realized it would make it much longer, so I changed my mind. My wonderful beta and I have both started school and I don't know how much this will affect updating speed, but don't worry, I will try to update as soon as I can when my hands are free.
Disclaimer: I'm still waiting for Rumiko Takashi to call me back if she wants to sell Inuyasha to me. So until the time comes, Inuyasha is not mine. :p
The Wrong Soul Mate
Chapter 6: Rendezvous
The sunlight shined through the corridor from the windows as a young woman was searching around the pot of plants along the quiet hallway. The corridor was empty. Almost everyone has gone to lunch, except her. It was not like Kagome to miss lunch, but currently at the moment, she has a mission to accomplish: finding those two little kids.
"Saku, Takeo, where are you?" Kagome whispered to an empty hallway as she moved a leaf. "I know you in here... somewhere."
"Over here, Kagome." She let go of the leaf when a female voice startled her from behind.
"I'm over here." She turned to the source of the sound to see Takeo standing behind that pot of plants. In his mouth was the leaf she was holding earlier before letting it go. He spitted it out. "Next time Saku, make sure Kagome doesn't have anything in her hand before startling her like that."
"Heh, heh. Sorry about that." Saku scratched her head before standing next to him. "So what's the problem, Kagome?"
She sighed before answering. "Well, I need your help—"
"Why do you think we are here for?" Takeo interrupted her.
Kagome was looking at him with a face that say shut-up-and-listen. It was a look that plainly said do not interrupted me when I'm talking or else. "Before Takeo interrupted me, (Takeo: "Heh, heh") I was about to say, I need your help with this plan I just formed a minute ago."
"Okay..." Saku slowly answered while thinking what kind of 'plan' Kagome was making.
"Okay, here's the plan." They leaned forward to hear Kagome whispered the plan to them. To an outside observer, they would think she was talking to that plant.
After a few minutes passed by, Takeo straighten his back as he looked at Kagome. "Are you sure it will work? What if they found out the truth? It will backfire!"
"Not if they are caught in the moment of their affection for each other in the restaurant." She replied before pulling the little boy back in the huddle as the little ones listened carefully to Kagome's plan.
"Miroku, did you see Rin? I didn't see her." Sango looked around at the office cafeteria place.
"No. Last I checked she was with Inuyasha." Miroku replied before edging closer to Sango.
"It's not like her to miss lunch like that."
Miroku opened his mouth to answer, but someone beat him to it. "For a small girl, she sure has a big appetite."
They both turned around.
"Inuyasha!" Sango exclaimed. Her eyes brow lined together when she didn't see Rin with him. "Where is Rin?"
He shrugged. "Why you asked me? The last time I saw her, she said she had to do something earlier."
"You left—" Sango stopped talking when she felt a hand groping her from the bottom. She quickly turned around and smacked him on the head. "You know Miroku, right now Rin is missing and all you can think of is—"
"Who's missing?" Kagome appeared next to Inuyasha.
"Rin." Inuyasha answered, not looking sideways at her.
Sango, Miroku, and Inuyasha swiftly turned to her when they realized whose voice it was. "Rin!" They all shouted in unison.
"Where were you? Sango, over here, was worried about you." Miroku asked as Sango slightly blushed.
"Heh, heh. Sorry about that. I was, umm... doing some, uh... calling to my auntie in Osaka. Yeah that's it." She silently congratulated herself for her quick-thinking. "Yeah, you know, to tell her that I'm okay in Tokyo right now."
Inuyasha gazed at her, suspiciously.
"Aww, that was so sweet of you, Rin." Miroku put his arm around Kagome's shoulder causing her to look at it suspiciously.
"Miroku, Miroku," Inuyasha shook his head while pushing his friend's arm off of Kagome. "Let's go. I'm hungry."
"Me, too!" Kagome smiled at the mention of food. "Let's go!" She quickly grabbed Inuyasha's arm and dragged him inside.
"Wait!"
"Kagome says mortal's food is delicious. Do you think so?" asked Saku while they walked around the building. Luckily, they are invincible at the moment or else a worker would stop them to know why two kids are walking around on this floor.
Takeo shrugged. "I don't know. I've never try it before."
"We should try it someday." She added.
They both stopped together when they saw a couple talking to each other. One was a young brunette woman who has a nice thin body while the other person was a young man with spike hair with a bit of brown highlight on it.
"You know, it's obvious that she has a thing for him." She pointed out.
"So Annallee, are you busy tonight?" The man gave the woman a genuine smile.
"I don't know. Why?" She smiled back at him.
Saku sighed as she shook her head sideway. "Is this how grownups always act when they are facing the opposite sex?"
"No, I don't think so. Inuyasha didn't act like that when he saw Kagome." Takeo replied as he gazed at the woman named Annallee. "But you know, if I was in his shoe," He pointed to that man. "I would do the same thing, too. She is, after all, beautiful." He admitted as they watched them flirted with each other.
"Boys." She rolled her eyes.
"Well, I was thinking of taking you to this new restaurant that was open on Main Street. The critics say the scenery and designs was romantic while the food was delicious. It was rated four out of five stars. So well, what do you think?" The man asked.
Annallee smiled. "Well, I was thinking of staying home and eat cup noodles while watching my TV. It was tempting to do that instead, but I take on your offer, Tetsuo."
The man broadly smiled. "Okay then, I'll pick you up at seven. Well for the mean time, would the fair lady accompany me to lunch also?" He holds his arm out for her to take it.
"Of course, but I have to take this document to Mr. Sakamoto first."
"Our boss never rests, does he?" Tetsuo asked as he watched her slowly walked backwards to Sesshoumaru's office.
"Well he does... sometimes." She smiled at him before opening the door and entered.
Takeo started to follow her.
"What are you doing?" Saku asked as she, too, followed the brunette.
"I always wonder what does Inuyasha's older brother look like." They both went inside and see a handsome mature version of Inuyasha.
Saku gaped as she stared at the beautiful man in front of her. Well, the word beautiful was not the best way to describe male species, but this one fit the descriptions of both beautiful and handsome combined.
'You know, you're drooling.' Takeo replied.
'He's... cute.' She responded as she watched Annallee approached him.
'I don't know what's the big deal is. He looks too feminine to me.' Takeo examined the 'cute' man.
'You don't appreciate the beauty of it.' She angrily gazed at him, and then softens when her eyes went back to Sesshoumaru.
Takeo rolled his eyes. 'Women.'
"Mr. Sakamoto, here's the document you wanted." Annallee responded as she handed her boss the folder.
"Thank you, Annallee." The taiyoukai replied as he took the folder and read it.
It's strange though. In the past years, demons despised humans. One of the things that occupied their mind in the past was killing them for their weakness, but yet, humans still stand today. It was ironic though, right now in the present time, demons and humans are working side by side without resulting to violence and killing each other. Well except a few whose mind was still stuck in the past. Takeo thought.
"And here is Rin's home phone number in Osaka."
Takeo was jerked back to reality when Annallee's voice interrupted his thoughts.
'Why does Inuyasha's brother want Rin's home phone number?' Saku asked as she watched Sesshoumaru took the small memo paper.
'I don't know.' Takeo tried to figure out what the taiyoukai wanted with the numbers.
"Is that all, sir?" Annallee asked.
"Yes, that would be all." He said.
Takeo's eyes widened when he realized something. 'Saku!'
'What?' The girl turned to her comrade.
'Inuyasha's brother is suspicious of Kagome, thinking she's not the real Rin!'
'And so he wanted Rin's home phone number so he could call over to Osaka to check if Rin is there.' She stated. 'And if the real Rin talk to Inuyasha's brother, then Kagome's plan will all be for nothing!'
'Let's go!' The boy urged as they both rushed out of the door before Annallee could close it.
Sesshoumaru looked up when he heard two pairs of soft footsteps exited his office. 'Strange. There's no one there.' He shook the thoughts off. He must be hearing things, but when did the great Sesshoumaru hears things that are not there?
He soon dismissed it from his mind when he read the seven numbers in the small piece of paper. When he first saw her, he knew for sure that wasn't Rin. The last time he saw Rin was two years ago when the little girl was only six. Right now, she will be eight, not a tall teenage girl who was at the verge of being a woman.
The other thing that was still unsettled in his mind was how Sango could forget how old her cousin was at the moment. 'Human. They forget easily.' He thought as he picked up the phone and started to push in the number from the paper.
He needed proof that the Rin right here is the not the real Rin after all. He would go under extreme measure to find out the truth, meaning he can missed a few more minutes of lunch today. Even the great demon needed food to replenish his energy, too.
Meanwhile, Takeo and Saku are standing a few feet away from Sesshoumaru's office, trying to figure out how to help save Kagome's cover.
"Where is she when we needed her?"
Takeo didn't say anything as he walked back and forth, pondering. Suddenly, he stopped and shouted. "I got it!"
"What's the plan?" Saku eagerly asked.
"At this minute, Inuyasha's brother is calling the real Rin, so..." He went over to the wall outside of Sesshoumaru's office and roamed his hand around, trying to find something.
"So... what?" She watched him as his hand stopped at a certain point on the wall.
"I found the circuit of the electricity, so when he's dialing the number—"
"It won't go to Osaka, but it goes through you!" She exclaimed.
"You're catching on." He grinned. "We don't have time, so link my hand quickly."
"Okay." Her left pinky entwined with his' as her right hand bended her middle and index fingers together, leaving the thumb and pinky stretched out to mimic a phone. She quickly put it closer to her ears before clearing her throat. "Hello?" Her voice was changed to an older woman.
"Hello. Is this Yoshino?" Sesshoumaru's voice was heard through her ear.
"Yes, and who is this?" Saku congratulated herself for having the ability to mimic her voice.
"This is Sesshoumaru Sakamoto, Sango's boss. I think you remember me from the spring festival two years ago in Osaka?"
"Oh, yes I remember now." Saku winked at Takeo, who grinned back at her.
"I was wondering now, how is Rin?"
He does like to get to the point. "Oh, she's been fine. She went to Tokyo the other day. Didn't she arrive there, safely?"
'Great. A worry aunt.' Sesshoumaru made a reassuring voice. "Don't worry, I think Rin arrived here already, but I haven't met her yet. I guess she's with Sango right now."
"Oh that's good. For a minute there, I thought something happen to Rin."
'Something did happen. The real Rin is missing in a big city called Tokyo.' Sesshoumaru thought. "Well, it was nice talking to you, Yoshino. I have to go."
"It was a pleasure, too. Goodbye."
"Goodbye." The line was off.
Takeo released his hand on the wall while Saku jumped in delight. "He fell for it!"
"We just fooled the great demon from the west!" They both slapped their hands together. "We make a great team, Saku."
"Yep, yep, but we have to warn Kagome about Inuyasha's brother about this."
Takeo nodded before they each disappeared in thin air.
As for Sesshoumaru, he was pondering after he hung up the line. The real question was where is Rin? The real Rin. 'Somewhere in Tokyo.' He just hoped she was alright.
Just then, an idea just formed in his head. Well, it wasn't the best thing to do, but if it meant he could keep an eye on her, then so be it.
It had taken him everything not to let his mouth form a smirk when he heard his brother's voice across the elevator hallway. He has to keep his cool as always or else Inuyasha will be suspicious of his motive. He admitted there are times Inuyasha would do stupid things, but he was no idiot.
He replayed that brilliant plan in his head, checking the cons and pros of it. If all goes well, he will soon find Rin.
The three stooges: Sango, Miroku, and that girl who was suppose to be 'Rin' walked out from the elevator laughing while a pissed look Inuyasha followed them from behind.
They must have made a joke about him which explained the look on his face.
He watched them for a bit before making his move towards them. "How's lunch, my dear brother." Sesshoumaru responded in his stoic voice.
"It's fine." Inuyasha slowly answered as he watched his older brother carefully. When did Sesshoumaru ever have time to come to him and asked how's lunch? Never. His eyes narrowed, guessing his older brother must have something under his sleeve. He has a feeling it was not a good thing. "What do you want, Sesshoumaru?"
"You always get to the point, Inuyasha."
"Keh. I learned that from you." He folded his arms together.
"Well, earlier when you said how Rin actually helped the show yesterday, I came to a conclusion to take your word Inuyasha." He turned his head to Kagome. "You hire."
[AN: Thought I was going to say 'You're fire' like Trump, right?]
"What?!" They all shouted in unison.
Sesshoumaru resisted the urged to roll his eyes. "You are hiring to be Hojo's assistant to take care of the sea animals. You will be paid a nice amount if you do well on that job."
Kagome's face brightened. 'My day couldn't get any better than this! If this continues, my mission would be complete in no time!'
She opened her mouth to answer, but Inuyasha interrupted before she could say anything. "Hold on. I only complimented her, and you want to hire her for my word?! You're got to be kidding! She's only a little kid!"
"Hey!" Kagome shouted, offended with his choice of words.
"How old are you?" Sesshoumaru asked her.
"Eighteen." She answered.
He gazed at her sapphire eyes, searching for any sign of deception but find nothing. "She's old enough to work, Inuyasha. Anything else that I should know of?"
Inuyasha managed a "But—", but was cut off again by Sesshoumaru.
"Will you accept it?" He asked her.
"Yes!" Kagome exclaimed. 'For a minute there, I thought he knew about my real identity.'
"Are you okay with this Sango?" Sesshoumaru turned to her.
Sango nodded. "Of course. I cannot refuse my cousin for helping us out." She gently squeezed both Kagome's arms. "Rin will be a great helper!"
"Sango!" Inuyasha shouted. "Did you just realize what you just said?!"
"Two beautiful ladies working with—" Miroku stopped when Inuyasha and Sango glared at him.
"You will start working with us tomorrow, so don't be late... like someone I know." He quickly glanced at Inuyasha, and then at Kagome before walking back toward his office.
"Living with you is enough, but working with you too!" Inuyasha shook his head as he walked towards his office, leaving behind an angry Kagome. It will take a miracle to change his brother's mind about hiring her.
"Don't worry about him, Rin." Miroku gently put his arm around her shoulder as Kagome eyed it suspiciously again. "Deep down, he's really happy to have you working with him."
"In spite of him being rude, he has a good heart. He's actually nice and gentle deep down." Sango added as she removed Miroku's hands off of her cousin's shoulder.
Kagome raised one brow. "Just hope he falls for Kikyou. The sooner the better." She mumbled, not realizing what she just said.
"What?" Miroku looked at her, bewildered.
"Oh it's nothing." She faked a smile at him. "So do we have an after-lunch snack to celebrate my new job for tomorrow?" She changed the subject as she dragged both Sango and Miroku towards their office.
She almost blew her cover again. If only she learned how to think before saying things on impulse.
Kagome sat on the soft cushion of the sofa as she watched the flat screen 'TV.' on the wall. The screen was showing a mass murder pursuing a group of teenage kids in some town. Apparently, the teenagers did something last summer to anger the murder which she may add, didn't have a nice choice of clothing. Out of all the clothing the man could pick, he chooses to wear a black fishermen trench coat. If she was him, she would have chosen those cool black assassin clothes that she had seen in those James Bond's movie. If he's going to kill someone, at least dress nice.
She shook her head when the blonde in the movie was walking alone in a shop with huge white dolls standing while the light was turned off. 'It's obvious that the killer is somewhere in there.' She turned sideway when she heard Inuyasha coming down the stair, distracting her from watching the movie.
"So Inuyasha, this 'restaurant' that you're going, do they—"
"If you're thinking of me ordering you a to-go food, then the answer is a no." He replied, knowing what she wanted. 'Can she think of anything else beside food?' He thought as he put on his jacket. 'Of course. Annoying the crap out of me.'
She pouted at him before giving her attention back to the TV screen.
Miroku walked out from the kitchen, noticing Inuyasha putting on his shoes. "So in this dinner, will the graceful, yet quiet, Kikyou be there?"
"You forgot to add how vicious she is." He added.
"Yeah." Miroku said as he sat down a seat away from Kagome. "And have fun with your date. Tell me all about it when you come back."
"It's not a date! It's a dinner that included me, Sesshoumaru, Marcus, and that wench!" Inuyasha snapped.
"Aww look at that, he even has a nickname for her." Miroku turned to Kagome. "Isn't that cute!"
Inuyasha looked around, searching for a mallet or something to hit Miroku with. His fist sure looked nice at the moment.
"But doesn't he call Rin that, too?" Sango asked as she walked in, holding a bowl of popcorns.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes before walking towards the door. "I do need to find new roommates." He muttered.
"You won't find any roommates that are better than us, Inuyasha." Sango replied, falling gently between Kagome and Miroku on the couch.
"Come home before midnight, Inuyasha! Don't be late!" Miroku shouted before Inuyasha closed the door. "I can't believe he's growing up, already." He wiped a mirthful tear from the corner of his eye.
Kagome and Sango gently patted him on the shoulder, playing along with him. "There, there. He needs to spread his wings too, Miroku. It's time to let go."
He nodded before exclaiming when he saw the blonde girl earlier was running across an alley. "Ah what a babe!"
Sango rolled her eyes. "Men."
Inuyasha opened the door of Emeril's and was greeted by a young male worker behind a mini desk.
"Good evening sir. May I help you?"
"Yeah, I have a reservation under the last name Kuruma." He heard a chiming bell behind him, but wasn't bothered to look who came in.
The chestnut-hair boy checked a black folder. "Yes, we have a reservation under four."
"I'm also included in that group." A female voice spoke behind Inuyasha.
Inuyasha turned around to see the familiar face of Kikyou. He was tempted to say 'Yeah that wench, too,' but he bit his bottom lip to say anything. He was not going to let this woman ruin his dinner.
The boy looked at her. "Oh, you must be Ms. Miyasaki, and—"
Inuyasha interrupted him. "Inuyasha. Inuyasha Sakamoto."
The boy smiled. "Well, Mr. Kuruma and his other guest haven't arrived yet, but I will take you two to your table to wait for them."
"That would great." Inuyasha replied. It was rather better than standing in the entrance with Kikyou. Then realization hit him, he will be seating with Kikyou alone in a table no less. Maybe chatting with the boy in the entrance door was better than sitting with her with nothing to talk about. Talk about awkward silence.
Inuyasha examined the surrounding as they followed the host to a table in the middle of the room. The atmosphere was set as they were actually in Rome, Italy while a nice classic music was played from the background to set a peaceful mood in the restaurant. Above, a crystal chandelier was hovered below the ivory ceiling that was filled with designs of cherubs, stars, and clouds, which added a romantic feeling in the air. As for the carpet, it was colored in a lush olive green as the ornate wall was painted in a rich deep yellow hue, adding a feeling that you are in a golden palace.
The host guided Inuyasha and Kikyou between many booths until they reached an empty table near a row of large tropical plants a few feet away. The host, being the gentlemen as he was, pulled the chair out for Kikyou to sit.
"Thank you." She responded quietly before sitting down as Inuyasha sat across from her.
The host waited for her to sit down comfortably before leaving them, quietly. At the same time, a waiter appears beside them.
"Good evening. My name is Calvin. I'll be your waiter today. Any drinks you want to order as you waited for your other guests?"
"Mineral water." Kikyou answered.
"Make it two." Inuyasha added as the waiter scribbled it down on his notepad. He doesn't want to end up drunk in a ditch somewhere in Tokyo tonight. Driving and drinking doesn't mix at all, especially when you're driving alone.
"That would be all?" The waiter asked.
Kikyou nodded. "Yes."
The man smiled at her before leaving them alone. It was not exactly what Inuyasha wanted. Where is Sesshoumaru where he needed him? He was not afraid of her or anything, but after what happens the other day, he didn't think Kikyou and he would be enjoying each other company that much.
He didn't come here that early or later either, well, maybe a couple of minutes late, but when he arrived, he thought Sesshoumaru and Marcus would be here first. However, it was the other way around instead. When did his brother ever come late? He doesn't remember.
'Speaking of Sesshoumaru. Where is he?'
Kagome stood up from the couch as she made her way up the stair. She stopped when Miroku asked her, "Where are you going?"
"Um, I need to go." She crossed her leg to make her point.
"Okay, but hurry. You're going to miss the good part here." He turned back to the TV screen.
When she sees Miroku and Sango busily watching the TV, she rushed up stair and disappeared in thin air in the hallway.
'Wait, don't we have a restroom down stair, too?' Miroku's brow lined up together, but was distracted later when the pretty brunette girl in the movie started running.
Sesshoumaru drove in his silver Porsche car in the silent street when suddenly his car came to a slow stop. His brow creased together as he pressed the accelerator again and again, but the car didn't move. He remembered Jaken told him earlier that the car was checked last week already, then why didn't it moved?
He got out of the car and was about to check the engine of it when suddenly, he saw the left tire was flat. He frowned as he lowered himself to examine it. There was a fairly medium size hole at the bottom side of the tire. He must have driven on a large rock or nail on the road. But what kind of rock or nail that could damage his endurable tire? His frown deepens. Unless someone stabbed it with a sharp pole or something else that was sharp.
Out of the entire place the car's tires have to be flat, it has to be here. He sighed as he got up and walked toward the back of his trunk. At least he has a spare tire. At this rate, he would be late for a couple of minutes. Inuyasha's habit must be rubbing it on him.
He stopped immediately when he noticed another tire was flat. It was the left tire in the back. He swiftly ran to the other side to check if the other tire was flat too. Luckily, it wasn't, but unfortunately for him, he only has one spare tire in the trunk.
'What did I do to deserve this?' He thought as he pulled out his cell phone.
"Jaken?"
Unknown to Sesshoumaru, a small figure stood in the shadow in the tree beside the road.
"Silver Dog is down." Takeo whispered to a beautiful crimson shell. It was not a normal shell that people see in the beach, but instead this shell has power to communicate to other magical shells. It was like a communicator used by immortals that was similar to the walkie-talkie.
Takeo leaned against the tree as he turned his head to spy on the taiyoukai. He smirked as he holds a pole with a sharp end against his shoulder.
"Brown Squirrel is also down." Saku spied the brunette man through the small gap between the bushes. She holds the pole similar to Takeo's on the ground as Marcus called his cell phone.
Kagome popped in a very clean, yet sophisticated restroom she ever seen. Luckily, no one was using the restroom at the moment. She smoothed her shirt before opening the door. She smiled when a red-head woman walked in.
Kagome was surprised how beautiful this restaurant was as she scanned the fairly large room. She smiled when her eyes landed on a table with a woman with black hair and a man with silver hair. 'Plan B.'
She crouched down as she made her way towards the row of large tropical plants a few feet away from them. She moved some of the plants a bit to make a nice small opening for her to see them easily.
A music she was not familiar with ringed from that table. She watched as Inuyasha pulled out his cell phone and looked at the id.
"Sesshoumaru." She heard him say as she continued to watch them in silent.
"Sesshoumaru, where are you?" Inuyasha asked after he flipped the phone and put it against his ear while a bored Kikyou watched the scenery from the windows.
"My car's tires are flat at the moment. I'm on the side of the street, waiting for Jaken to pick me up."
"What? You don't know how to put in the spare tire? You know Brother I thought you were smarter than that. Calling Jaken to come and solve your problem. Typical Sesshou—"
"I had two tires that were flat, Inuyasha. If you know, I only have one spare tire left in the trunk." His brother interrupted. "I don't think driving along the road with a flat tire is fun.'
"How big was the needle for you to miss it?" Inuyasha wanted so much to laugh at his older brother for missing such a thing on the road.
"For you information, I think someone did it when I'm not around."
He frowned. "Who?" Who would actually dare do that, especially to Sesshoumaru? Sesshoumaru doesn't have many enemies that he recalled of. Maybe it was some jealous C.E.O. out there.
"I don't know." Sesshoumaru answered. "Oh look, Jaken is coming. I have to go. Tell Mr. Kuruma and Kikyou that something serious matter has come up, so I won't be attending the dinner tonight. Okay bye."
"What?!" Too late, the line to Sesshoumaru ended. "Sesshoumaru? Sesshoumaru?" Inuyasha shouted through his cell phone.
Kikyou turned her head and looked at him. "You know, you don't have to shout. People are looking and thinking who this crazy man is."
His patience was wearing thin as he snared at her. His brother, out of all the people in Japan, decided not come to dinner, leaving him, the Kuruma guy, and this wench.
Suddenly, music different from Inuyasha's, sounded across the table. Kikyou picked up her cell phone from her purse and looked at the screen.
"Remember a lady never yells." Inuyasha reminded her.
"Don't worry; I'm not like someone across from me." She replied back as she flipped her cell phone. "Hello."
After a few nodded, her face darkened for awhile before transforming back to the usual shade on her face.
"Okay. Good bye." She sighed as she flipped her cell phone back and putted it back in her purse. "Mr. Kuruma will not be attending tonight dinner with us. He said he have to do something important at the moment. So that leaves us three."
'Then that leave us two... alone.' He could see God laughing at him now. "Wrong. Sesshoumaru also called and said something has come up, too." He waved to the waiter Calvin at the corner to come to them.
She stared at him. "Don't tell me, car trouble?"
He lifted one eyebrow up. "Yeah. Kuruma too?"
She nodded as Calvin came to them.
"The other two guests won't be coming tonight, so I would want the menu now." said Inuyasha.
"Aww, that's too bad. They would miss the delicious food they won't get to eat tonight." The young man responded.
"Yeah well, that's their lost."
The waiter handled out the menus to them. "Well, here's the menu. We have a special today. It's the bisque."
"Uh huh." Inuyasha scanned the meals in the menu, half listening to what the man saying.
"It's soupe du jour."
"What?" Inuyasha looked up at the waiter with a confuse expression on his face.
"It's French." Kikyou stated not looking up from her menu. "It means soup of the day."
"But isn't this an Italian restaurant?"
The waiter chuckled. "Yeah it is, but the chef told us to say soup of the day in French today." He shook his head. "I don't know why."
"So bisque is the soup of the day." The waiter nodded. "And bisque is..."
"It's a cream soup with seafood, Inuyasha. Didn't you learn French?" Kikyou finally looked up from her menu and gazed at him.
"Unlike Sesshoumaru, I didn't bother to learn some foreign language in Europe. I didn't think I will need it for my career." The hanyou retorted.
"I see." Her gaze on him only last for a second before looking up at the waiter. "I would like the Chicken Paradise."
"Excellent choice, Miss. The grilled breast chicken with mash potatoes on the side." The waiter jotted it down on his notepad. "And you, sir?"
"I prefer the fettuccini with the sliced chicken." Inuyasha added.
"Also good choice. Your meals will be done in a few minutes." He smiled again before leaving them.
Kagome nearly drool when she heard those two ordered their meal. 'When this mission finish, I will try coming here and taste it for myself!'
"Hey Kagome!"
She turned sideway to see Saku and Takeo. Somehow, she was now immune to their popping out of nowhere to scare her.
"Everything alright, right?" She asked before looking at the couple through the opening.
"Yeah," said Saku. "But we have to tell you something about Inuyasha's older brother."
"What is it?" Kagome was still looking at Inuyasha and Kikyou.
Takeo took a deep breath before revealing what they heard earlier this afternoon.
"What?!" Kagome turned around and stared at him.
Saku nodded. "It's true. But luckily, we were there to stop the line from reaching Osaka. We used our talent to save you. You should be glad."
"So that's why Sesshoumaru hired me to work for him," She gently tapped her chin. "To work under Hojo, so he could keep an eye on me."
"So that's his name. Even his name sounds cool." Saku commented.
"That cute guy you mention wanted to bring down Kagome, Saku. Remember that." Takeo advised.
"Don't tell me you're jealous Takeo!" She leaned forward to see a small crimson color tainted across his check.
He averted his gaze towards the plants, finding it to be interesting. "Don't be silly, Saku."
"Thanks for the warning guys. From this point on, I'll be careful around him." Kagome turned her attention back to the hanyou and Kikyou. "It's another object that stands in my path to fulfill my mission. All I have to do is walk around it and voila!"
"Miss?"
"Maybe I should make Inuyasha has something on his mouth, so Kikyou could wipe it off for him. I saw it happen in a movie I saw yesterday." Kagome continued to rant on, not looking who was calling her from behind.
"Miss?" The male voice asked her again.
"Takeo, I'm trying to think here." A soft tap across her shoulder made her turned sideway. "Takeo!"
'Umm, that was not me.' He pointed to something behind her.
Kagome slowly turned around and faced one of the waiters of the restaurant. "Oh, hello. Didn't see you there." She faked a smile at him who in return, smiled back.
"Miss, do you need anything?" The man asked as he tried to figure out what she was looking for.
"Oh, um, I… ah… I was…" She tried to think of a reasonable answer for him to believe. 'Think Kagome. Think!'
'If you keep on doing that, that man will be suspicious.' Takeo pointed out.
"Will you be quiet for a minute?!" Kagome shouted to the little boy.
"Excuse me, Miss?" The man stared at her, bewildered by her action.
"Oh, not you. I was talking to him." She jerked her thumb to the side.
"Who?" He stared at the empty space beside her.
Kagome realized those two are being invincible at the moment. Out of all the places they cannot be seen, it has to be this one. She shook her head a bit. 'He thinks I'm a lunatic now.'
'Now, he thinks you're crazy talking to yourself.' Saku added.
'Is this how Inuyasha feels when I'm annoying him?' She thought when suddenly out of the blue, an idea hit her. She jumped in excitement for coming up with a brilliant plan, startling the waiter, but soon realized if she jumped again, Inuyasha might see her, so she went back to crouching. Inuyasha might not like this, but it was the best answer she could think of. "You see that man," She jerked her thumb behind her. "With the silver hair?"
The waiter nodded.
"Well you see, he's my," She paused. 'Sister doesn't sound that convincing.' She thought before continuing. "friend. I'm helping him wooing that lady over there."
"Oh."
"He's not a very good talker with the ladies, so if he says something wrong, I'll throw something at his head to let him know that was not a right thing to say to a woman." She lied. 'Inuyasha won't like this if he found out.' She crossed her fingers. 'Just hope he doesn't.'
"That is sweet of you to do that." The man replied.
Saku and Takeo laughed. 'I can't believe he fell for that!' Takeo chuckled.
Kagome resisted the urge to narrow her eyes at them.
"I wish someone had done that to me when I was in high school. I admit I wasn't a lady's man back then."
"That's okay." She gently patted his hand. "Would you do me a favor though? If by any chance, do you have those people who play the violin to a table? You know like in the movies? I want to make their table to be romantic."
"Of course we do. Emeril's has everything! But I'm not their waiter, though. Don't worry, I will tell Calvin, their waiter, about this." He winked at her.
"Thanks!" She exclaimed.
"Well, I'll be off then. I have to get back to work." The man walked off.
Kagome smiled before turning back to the scene behind her. "You see, if you be nice and honest, people will be more likely to help you."
Takeo snorted. 'Honest my butt.'
Kagome only rolled her eyes.
Meanwhile, both Inuyasha and Kikyou felt uncomfortable seating in front of each other as they avoided each other gazes. They both remember what Kagome had told them.
Kikyou took interested in the fewer people walking outside the windows as she remembered what Rin told her earlier. "If you don't believe me, you should wait by tonight." She quickly gazed at him from the corner of her eyes, annoyed by his tapping on the table. 'Well, I don't see him doing anything at the moment.'
Inuyasha continued to tap on the table in a rhythm movement as he stared at the rows of tropical plants, pretending to be interested of it. For a minute there, he thought he saw a familiar black hair among the leaves, but it vanished. His hunger might be playing jokes on him.
Kagome quickly crouched down even farther when she saw Inuyasha's eyes looking straight at the places she was hiding a minute ago. 'Did he see me?' She peaked through another small gap to see Inuyasha averted his gaze towards the ceiling, finding the images to be interesting. 'That was close.'
He was thinking of what Rin had told him earlier. "If you don't believe me, just wait by tonight at dinner, and you'll see..." See what? He didn't see anything, but this silence was starting to kill him. He admitted there are times, he and Sesshoumaru sometimes have this moment not talking to each other in the beginning, but it wasn't weird like this one.
It was silence. Awkward silence.
"It's a nice restaurant." He managed to say. 'Great. Next thing I know, I'll be talking about how great the weather is.'
"I think it's nice." She quickly gazed at him before looking back at the windows. "It has this nice European's feelings."
He only nodded.
It was back to silence... again.
Kagome gently slapped her forehead. "What kind of conversation was that? Was that all you can do Inuyasha?"
"I know you don't want this project to fail just because you two don't like each other from the beginning. And plus, you don't want Sesshoumaru to blame you for everything, right?" She smiled at him as she got up. That scene was replaying again and again through Inuyasha's head. It was not him to agree with her, but for one thing, she was right about it. 'This project is important to the Sakamoto's business. Remember Inuyasha.' He told himself. It was not like he was going to apologize to her first. He didn't even consider that option at all. Maybe a nice conversation without bickering at each other was a nice way to start fresh.
"Would you stop all that tapping? It's quite annoying." Kikyou responded.
He stopped and was about to throw a nice comeback at her when he suddenly remembered Kagome's words. 'Damn that brat.' He mentally cursed her.
He exhaled before opening his mouth to speak. "Look, I think we got off on the wrong foot."
She looked at him while a jubilant Kagome was trying to suppress her cheer from the sideline. 'Is he starting to apologize?' "I think we did, too. But I appreciate your apology."
"Apology? Who said anything about an apology?" He retorted. "It's you who suppose to apologize!"
Kagome paled as she watched the scene unfolded in front of her. "Uh, oh."
"That does not look good at all." Saku responded as Takeo nodded his head, agreeing with her.
"But wasn't there a phrase that say 'love can sprout from your only hate?'" Takeo pointed out. Saku only shrugged.
"Me? Apologize?!" Kikyou glared at him. "Why should I apologize to you? It was supposed to be the other way around like she said."
Inuyasha stared at her, ignoring some of the people staring at them from the other table. "I was just saying—"
"Please, don't talk anymore, ok? It's only going to upset me more." She was frustrated by his action. 'How could I be naive to believe that girl's words? Maybe she was saying the truth, but Inuyasha might be stubborn to say it out loud. What am I saying? I'm getting soft.'
"Fine. I'll be quiet." He barked. "I'll be quiet if you will." He added.
"Alright, I'll be quiet." She snapped back.
"Fine."
"Fine."
"Fine." He argued. "Wait. She?" He realized what she said earlier.
"What, are you talking about now?!" She took a deep breath to ease the anger out when Inuyasha gave her a look. "She what?"
"You mention earlier that 'It was supposed to be the other way around like she said.' She who?"
Kagome's face became even paler.
"There was this girl I met today in the restroom, saying how sad and guilty you were, and that you decided to apologize to me tonight at dinner." Kikyou answered.
His eyes narrowed. It sounded familiar. "By any chance was her name's Rin?"
She nodded. "Why?"
"That was a lie! She said the exact same thing to me today in my office!"
"What?!" She shouted, but then lowered her voice when more people started staring at them. "What?" She repeated, in a lower voice, closer to a hiss.
"I can't believe this. I'm a fool for believing her that you would beg for my forgiveness." Well, that was not exactly what Rin said, but he was too angry to change it.
"Beg?! I would never bow down to you and beg for your forgiveness!"
Inuyasha wanted to shout back at her, but their waiter came with their food while another man came and played a nice romantic piece on his violin near them. He was starting to think everything was a setup.
Calvin winked at him after saying, "Good luck!"
"Hold on." Inuyasha pulled out his wallet and handed him forty bucks. "Keep the change."
Kagome sweat dropped as she slowly backed up towards the restroom. "Time to go!" She scratched her head before waving good bye to Saku and Takeo.
The two kids watched her disappear through the door of the restroom before looking back at the scene. Saku sighed as Kagome's plan backfired. "Shall we?"
Takeo nodded as they both disappeared in thin air.
"But sir, where are you going? You haven't even tasted—"
"Look, I just lost my appetite because of two bitches today. Don't start with me." Inuyasha stood up and left, but not hearing Kikyou doing the same as she handed the waiter her money.
The only thing that occupied his mind right now was how much he was going to kill her when he got back home. He narrowed his eyes, blaming part of him for not seeing through her trickery. Oh she was going to pay, alright. For all the mess she just did today.
AN: Twenty pages long!! That was the longest chapter I ever wrote! Wow. However, sorry for the delay. In the middle of the chapter, I got my nail broke, and I couldn't type well because of it. Wearing a bandage around your left index finger is not what I called comfortable. . BTW, was Kagome's eyes color blue or was it brown? I don't remember. I should have paid attention to her eyes in the anime. I have this feeling that it's brown, but my friends say it's blue. . Confusing…