Collide
By animechick262003
Chapter Five
The Bumbling Apprentice / Part II
Her crutch was secured beneath her arm and music that sounded as if it had been lifted from a cheap porn movie filtered from the overhead speakers of the elevator as the elevator ascended to the 22and floor. Kagome sighed and rested her back against the wall behind her for more support. Leaning against her crutch gave her some support, but the downside was the supposedly cushioned armrest was far from comfortable, and left her underarm bruised and sore. But she was only into the second day of having to rely on the crutch for aid in moving around. According to the doctor, she would have to make use of the crutch for at least two weeks to her disappointment.
Kagome glanced down at her knee, which was covered in heavy white gauze. Her injury was feeling better than it had two days earlier, and the swelling had gone down substantially. Still, putting pressure on her knee was nearly impossible. If not for Mister Akira, she would have found herself in a bit of a predicament. As much as she hated to admit it, it seemed she owed Mister Akira a debt of gratitude. Maybe she'd treat her new boss to lunch to show her appreciation once the details were squared away as to just what she would be doing as his new intern. Kagome smiled and squeezed the strap of her portfolio. The design contained inside was sure to knock the socks off of Mister Akira, and make him recant every less than flattering remark he'd made about her work.
The elevator bell chimed as the elevator came to a stop and the doors opened to the office suite. Kagome took a quick breath and then stepped out into the lavished atmosphere. The place looked substantially different from the first time she'd visited. The environment had been a pretty quiet, and laid-back, but not today. Today the workers hustled about the office as if their lives depended on it. Not a single soul looked at ease. And spotting a familiar face just as he surfaced from his office gave her a pretty good idea why.
He hadn't noticed her. Good. The fact he wasn't aware of her standing there would give her a moment to well, collect her thoughts, and steal a quick glance of the handsome Kouga Akira as he paused at the cubicle where his male assistant sat typing away. Kagome again found herself completely taken with how handsome he was. Even with his face all scrunched up as he barked orders at the other man he was something impressive to look at. He was definitely lethal on the eyes, as well as other parts of her anatomy. But she hadn't come to ogle her new boss. The sooner they met, and he hired her, the sooner she could get back home, and off her knee.
Kagome started towards Kouga. It was as if someone had whispered something into his ears; because no sooner then she had ambled his way did those mesmerizing pale blue eyes of his settle on her. Kagome couldn't understand why, but this simple act made her heart race. Those eyes, that face, and that mouth, to heavens he was molten lava on a hot summers day, and her skin was feeling the heat.
"Miss Higurashi?" Kouga called out of her dragging her back to her senses. Thank goodness. Looking at him, Kagome instantly noticed how startled he looked to be seeing her, which told Kagome he'd completely forgotten about their appointment.
"Don't tell me you forgot about our meeting, Mister Akira," Kagome said, propping up against the cubicle wall. "Kagome silently thanked the heaven for the post she leaned up against. Who would have thought traveling that short distance would have left her so winded, or caused her knee to throb so badly. Kagome frowned, reached down and massaged the area just above the bandage.
""What were the doctors orders, woman?" Kouga barked as he walked around the cubicle and lowered in front of her taking a look at her bandaged leg. "Stupid, woman. Do you realize how much damage you could be causing by placing weight on your injured knee?"
"I had no choice. I have a meeting with you today, remember?"
"You could have called and I would have come to you." Kouga announced to her surprise. He would have come to her? That was a first, and definitely not something she would have ever imagined hearing from someone with a tongue as sharp as Kouga's. Was it possible he actually had a heart underneath that steal exterior.
"Well, I'm here now, so we can get started whenever you like."
Kouga didn't answer instead he seemed completely engrossed in examining her wound from the previous day. He grabbed her leg gently, and his fingers brushed the exposed skin of her inner thigh, causing Kagome to suck in her breath and hold it. Carefully he prodded the aea just above the bandage. His hands were nothing like what she'd expected for a man of means. Kagome had suspected they would be soft, much like InuYasha's, and most gentlemen of wealth and prestige. It wasn't unheard of since they were not known to manual labors, and were usually waited upon hand and foot by hired help. But Kouga's hands were nothing like that. They were not soft or foreign to use beyond signing a document here and there. Kouga's hands were rough against her skin like those of a man that had known hard labor, yet they were so gentle as he used them to examine her. Kouga's hands were heavenly. Kagome found herself wondering how those very hands would feel caressing other parts of her body? Would the sensation be as good?
"You don't look as if you've done any damage, but you really should have a seat." Kouga pulled his hands away from her leg, and Kagome released a soft whimper that only she and it seemed he could hear. Kouga eye locked with hers, and immediately all the blood in her body rushed to her cheeks making them as bright and as red as a Christmas ornament against his gaze. Kouga's lips curved into a wry smile and she knew he was on to her. Kagome quickly diverted her gaze to floor feeling the sting of embarrassment momentary lapse had brought on.
Kagome couldn't believe she'd actually been caught having improper thoughts about the man that she hope to someday call her boss. How humiliating and even worse he knew. He knew. It was obvious in his glare, and the smile that mounted onto that perfectly sinful mouth of his that he'd read her thoughts. How could she look at him now? How would she make it through the interview now? She had to get it together, to calm down, and regroup, and the only way to do this was to meet her little dilemma head on.
"I'm assuming your ready to meet with me, Mister Akira." Kagome abruptly announced struggling to recollect her sense and calm her body down.
Kouga passed his hands over the strands of his chestnut locks quickly and let out a goaded breathe. "I know what I said, but this is not a good time. You'll have to reschedule for another day. Sometime later in the week…maybe. I have a meeting with some very important people today. Let Hakkaku know what day is a good day for you to drop by and I'll take a look at what you've come up with then." Kouga finished and started to walk away.
"You've got to be kidding me. You said two days, Mister Akira. Today is the second day. I will not be put on hold." Kagome yelled after him, stopping him in his tracks. Kouga spun around sharply. His eyes were wide and he looked more irritated now than he had when she'd first arrived. He was annoyed, but she wouldn't back down. Not after having traveled all this way to prove him wrong.
"Reschedule," He demanded walking towards her.
"No."
"If you want to be seen by me, Miss Higurashi, I suggest you follow my orders."
"I will not reschedule. You promised me a fair review of my work today, not tomorrow or next week."
"I have urgent business that needs to be attended to. I don't have the spare time needed for critiquing your work properly. Now, reschedule."
"I won't."
Why in the hell was she pressing this? She could easily re-schedule for a better meeting date. Could it be the fact that she actually got a thrill out of watching him stand there completely annoyed by her stubborn display? Maybe. Or maybe she simply liked looking at him.
"This is ridiculous." He snarled cutting in on her thoughts. "I will be in this meeting for hours."
"And I will wait hours if necessary, but you will meet with me today."
"Go home!"
"No! I won't." With less than lithe movement Kagome leaned into her crutch and made her way over to the near by couch and took a seat. She rested her crutch against the wall and then turned to face Kouga who hadn't looked away from her once. He was just barely maintaining his cool, but he wouldn't press the issue further. She'd won the first round; Kagome cheerfully realized as he spun on his heals and walked away.
"You're in for a long wait, Miss Higurashi."
"I'm up for it." Kagome answered back as she watched after him. Kouga disappeared down the hall, and Kagome settled into the stiff cushions of the sofa. The mood had been intense. Mister Akira was definitely frustrated, but something in his eyes told her she was not the reason for his agitation, merely an additional obstacle to whatever was bothering him. Whatever the case, she had come for a final answer as to whether he would accept her as his assistant, and before the day was out, one way or another she would have her answer. She'd simply settle in for the wait.
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Damn that woman! Kouga silently growled as he strolled towards the meeting room. Why the hell was she being so stubborn about this? His request had been simple, re-schedule, but even on something as trivial as this she would give him no less than a fiery display of stubbornness. Despite his best effort, he couldn't help himself, and before he knew it he was smiling as he thought back to the hellion in his lobby. Chin tossed to the heavens, dark eyes narrowed, as she embarked on her one-woman rebellion. It was definitely amusing.
Kagome Higurashi huh? The name wasn't much, but the woman who possessed it had turned out to be something else altogether. She was smart, and pretty, and seemed to get one hell of a kick out of giving him a hard time. Just maybe Ginta was right. Maybe Kagome did possess a certain something he hadn't seen in a while. After all, he couldn't completely ignore the way he got all riled when she showed up. Not an angry riled either, just excited. His heart pumped like crazy in his chest and his blood ran hot, but it was welcomed in a way. Their confrontations were the few times he actually felt alive.
Kouga reached the boardroom and his blood ran cold. He could hear the muffled voices of the men who were just on the other side of the door. The loud playful banter that emanated told Kouga of the men's excitement. They were eager to see what he'd created. Imagine their surprise when he walked in and informed them that he had nothing to offer. That he'd fallen short of meeting his obligation. That Akira Designs was not a company that could be trusted to handle such important projects.
Kouga sighed and rested his forehead against the door. There had to be a way around this. Walking in to the boardroom with nothing to present was admitting defeat, and this knowledge just didn't sit well with him at all. Hell, he was no quitter. He'd climbed over far too many mountains to let an incomplete project undo him. This was one hell of a dilemma, but there had to be a way out of it. A way to save face, and make good on his promise to Mister Gakushi. There just had to be.
Kouga lifted his head off the door and straitened his shoulders. As it stood, Kouga hadn't a clue as to what he would or could do to avoid the disaster that awaited him once he ventured through the boardroom doors, but he'd left his clients waiting long enough. The show had to go on, even if its star wasn't prepared. His only option at this point was to wing his way through it all until he could find the opening he needed.
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It had only been twenty minutes since Kouga had disappeared down the hallway, but already Kagome was feeling the weights of anticipation bearing down on her. Her wait would be long, she knew that much because Kouga had said so. Whether he would purposely make her sit in the lobby for extended amounts of time to punish her for her insolence was another matter all together. It could be hours before he showed his face again, but she'd said she'd stick around, and by god she would.
Still, it wouldn't hurt to get an idea of just how long of a delay she was in for. Kagome glanced over to the spiky haired kid that sat behind the desk, and he quickly averted his gaze, pretending to be reading a magazine he had in his hands. But Kagome knew better. He'd been admiring her from behind his workstation the entire time. He wasn't at all bad looking. He actually had this punk rocker thing going for himself, with the Mohawk styled cut he sported. But he wasn't her kind off guy. Truthfully, no guy was her kind of guy. There was only one for her, and there would never be another. Ever. Still the fact the guy thought she was cute couldn't be ignored, and well it could be used to her advantage since she needed to get some info from him. All she'd need to do was flirt with the kid a little. She'd have him telling her his life story by the time she was done.
Kagome prepared to get to her feet, but quickly realized her knee hadn't been throbbing like crazy for nothing as she lost her balance and slammed rear-end first back down onto the couch.
"Are you okay, Miss Higurashi?" A panicked voice asked
Kagome looked up to see the kid had come from behind his workstation and was headed strait for her. It looked as if things were going to be a lot easier than she'd first imagined them being. Kagome promptly smiled as Hakkaku kneeled in front of her.
"Di..di..did you hurt yourself?" He stammered with the cutest coy expression. Working him over for information would be a peace of cake.
"No, I didn't I'm just a bit of a klutz." Kagome replied hoisting the navy blue skirt she wore up a little. Just as she expected it would, his face turned the color of bright red beets. "It doesn't look any worse than it had before, at least I don't think so. What do you think… what is your name again?"
"Hakkaku," He replied nervously rubbing his hand over his knee as he stared at her exposed thigh.
"Well, Hakkaku, do you think I did any damage?"
'I…it looks to be okay." he replied his blush deepening.
"That's good to hear. I'd hate to think I'm making things worse." Kagome said trailing her finger over her exposed skin just above the bandage. Hakkaku was definitely titillated by her little act from the way he watched her finger motion. Watching Sango little performances when they were out for nights on the town was actually paying off. "So, Hakkaku, do you think I can get something to drink? I'm rather thirsty, and my knee doesn't seem as if it's going to let me move from this spot anytime soon."
'Sure. What would you like? We have soda, and juice, some bottled water-"
"I'd like bottled water, please."
"Alright. I'll be right back." Hakkaku hurried from the lobby and returned a short time later with her selection. "Do you need anything else?"
"Company." Kagome smiled, showing a full spread of white teeth.
"Company?" he parroted. "Oh, I don't know Miss. Higurashi. Kouga will be pretty mad if he catches me goofing off when I'm supposed to be working."
"Don't tell me Mister Akira is a slave driver."
"No, that's not what I meant. Kouga's a really nice guy." Hakkaku defended.
"Nice?" Kagome chuckled "Nice is the last thing I'd associate with that jack ass."
'Don't say things like that about him. You don't know him!" Hakkaku snapped, quieting her. Kagome lifted her dark eyes, and stared at Hakkaku. He looked nothing like the innocent kid from earlier; in fact, he looked pretty peeved at her in that instance.
"Look, I-I'm sorry."
"You should be. You don't know Kouga at all. He's a decent guy. He's helped so many of us, I just wish-"
"You just wish?" Kagome prodded trying to get Hakkaku to finish what he was in the process of saying when he suddenly stopped.
"I should get back to work. If you need anything, just ask." Hakkaku turned and started for his desk.
Kagome grabbed her crutch and as fast as her bad knee would allow her, got to her feet. "Mister Akira was looking pretty upset earlier, Hakkaku." Kagome started towards Hakkaku.
"You shouldn't be moving around, Miss Higurashi."
"I'm fine, but I' don't think Mister Akira is, is he? Whom is he meeting with right now?"
"Gai Gakushi." Hakkaku gave a low reply as he rounded his desk, and sat down.
"Gai Gakushi of the Itachi Group? One of the largest accounting firms in all of Tokyo?"
"One and the same." Hakkaku answered with a sigh.
"Well, you don't sound very excited about it. It's a great opportunity for Mister Akira. If he does a good job, not even the sky will be the limit."
"And if he doesn't do a good job, Akira Designs reputation could be irreversibly tarnished."
"Why wouldn't he do a good job? Kouga Akira is one of the best engineers out today. There's no way he can fail."
"Can't he?"
"The only way he could fail is if he doesn't have the design ready-"Kagome's voice trailed off as she stared at Hakkaku. He was completely ashen, which told Kagome some of her statement held truth. "He doesn't have the design prepared for review?"
'Kou…Kouga will deal with it he's a capable guy. He'll find a way to work things out without incident. Look, Miss Higurashi, I don't mean to be rude, but I really need to get back to work."
Kagome watched as Hakkaku spun away from her and started to peck away at his keyboard. Everyone in the office had looked pretty agitated, especially Kouga, and now she understood why. True Akira Designs was definitely on the rise in architectural world as a firm to be recognized, but walking into a meeting with a man as renowned as Gai Gakushi un-prepared would definitely leave a stain on Akira Designs resume. A stain that could ruin their future prospects. Kagome couldn't imagine how Kouga was holding up at this point. Not that he was an incapable man. By no means did she think that he couldn't handle the situation, but he didn't come across as the sort of guy that took failure lightly.
If only there was something she could do to help him. No sooner did the thought cross her mind did her eyes land on her portfolio, which lay on the sofa where she'd rested it earlier. It was a long shot, but just maybe she could help. Sure she was nowhere near the genius of Kouga Akira, but she wasn't all that bad either. And besides, he really didn't have many options open to him. He was in a meeting with one of the most influential men in all of Tokyo un-prepared. Something was better than nothing at all. But how would she get inside the meeting? She could go and knock on the door, but realistically, he'd never allow her in, but if she could get him out-
"Hakkaku?"
Hakkaku looked up from his computer. "What is it, Miss Higurashi?"
"Is there a phone in the boardroom where Mister Akira is meeting with the Itachi reps?"
"Yes, why?"
"Can you call him on the boardroom phone, and tell him to come out here?"
"Why would I do that?"
"Because you want to help him, and I have an idea how to do just that." Kagome replied
Hakkaku shook his head from side to side. "There's no way he would come out of that boardroom now…not until he's finished the meeting. Besides, it's always been the rule that we're not to call him when he's with clients under any circumstance, unless the buildings on fire or-"
"Or?"
"Or his kid sister Rin calls. She's always in trouble- Oh man; I didn't mean to say that."
"It's okay." Kagome assured him. "Besides you just gave me a plan."
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Kagome took a deep breath and leaned against the wall just outside the boardroom. It had taken her a minute but she'd some how convinced Hakkaku that what they were about to do was in the best interest of Kouga and the company. Kagome just hoped she'd made it in time to prevent Kouga from telling Gai Gakushi the truth about the design. Kagome listened a moment. She could hardly hear a thing with door being closed, but she could decipher their tones, which were relatively calm.
Kouga hadn't told them yet; Kagome could only hope that Hakkaku would call before he did. Kagome leaned forward, and peered through the window. All the sneaking and hading was starting to make her feel as though she'd somehow wound up in a bad version of a spy novel. Why the hell was she going through so much trouble for this guy? He'd insulted her work, and refused to take her on as his assistant. It would have been easier to sit back and watch him fail. It wasn't as if he didn't deserve it for being the total jerk that he was for underestimating her and her ability as an artist.
But then again, he was her favorite designer, and it would be such a shame to see him not succeed, even if he was a complete jerk. And of course there was that little matter of the debt she owed him. She would just pay him back for helping her when he hurt her knee. Kagome scanned the room and quickly located Kouga. He paced back and forth slowly at the head of the room as spoke to the four men that sat gathered around the long oak table watching him attentively.
Kouga didn't look half as shaken as she would have imagined him being. Kagome could only wonder how he managed to look so calm when he was in such a tight spot. The phone in the boardroom rang suddenly. Kouga politely nodded to the group of men then ambled over to the phone answering it. After a few minutes he disconnected the call and started for the boardroom door. Kagome darted down the side hall way just as he emerged from the room and strolled down the corridor headed for the lobby.
God she couldn't believe she was actually going through with this, but she'd not only put herself out, she'd put poor Hakkaku out as well, and if for no other reason she would have to go into that board room and give it her best for Hakkaku's sake. Kagome took a deep breath, exhaled and hurried as fast as she could through the open door. She stopped inside the entrance long enough to close the boardroom door and locked it behind her. The chatter from the men in the room stopped the moment she locked the door. She was almost afraid to turn around because she knew their eyes were glued to her, but she somehow found the courage to face them.
"Be cool…be cool." She muttered the chant as she closed the blinds to the boardroom, then proceeded to the front of the room.
"Where is Mister Akira?" A tall regal male with silver streaked hair, and go-t asked as she placed her portfolio on the table.
Kagome expelled the breath she'd been holding and then replied. "Mister Gakushi, I am assuming?"
"Yes, and just who are you, young lady?" The man made his own inquiry watching her curiously.
"I am Mister Akira's new assistant Kagome Higurashi. Mister Akira has had some urgent matter come up and he has asked me to take care of you gentlemen in his absence."
"Mister Akira's assistant? He has never mentioned any assistant."
"It is only my first day on the job-"
"He would send a girl who has only worked a day in to speak with us? Outrageous. Get Mister Akira in here now. I will not talk to someone with not even a days worth of experience." The man snarled, and Kagome felt her breath hitch in her chest. This was not how she'd seen things play out in her head. No, in her head she walked in the boardroom, and wooed the men with her charm. They were so smitten with her that they fell in line and she made the sell. But no, she had to get stuck in the room with Oscar the grouch. Did someone in heaven have it out for her? She tries to be the good little helper and this happens. Why in the hell did the old guy have to get all-angry all of a sudden? Sure she was an assistant, well not really, but he didn't know that. She had to calm him down. By now Kouga was finding out he'd been had and well he wouldn't be too happy about at this instant. She'd take her chance with old angry guy.
Kagome calmed her nerves and cleared her throat as she settled into the chair at the head of the table. Men were simple enough. She just had to be persuasive.
"Why are you sitting down, miss? Did you hear one word I said?"
"I did Mister Gakushi, and I can honestly understand why my being in here would upset you, but I can assure you, I am a very capable person. Allow me to show you what Mister Akira has come up with, and if you find that what we have for you is to your liking or not to your liking, we will summon Mister Akira into the board room immediately for final decision or any revision you may want to make to the piece. What do you say?" Kagome crossed her legs, and her dress inched up her leg a little, and not unnoticed by the older man.
'I think that's fairly reasonable." The man replied his eyes lingering on her exposed hip.
"Good." Kagome smiled. "Shall we get started gentlemen?"
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"Where is she?" Kouga asked as he stopped in front of the cubicle where Hakkaku sat typing.
"Where is who, Kouga?"
Kouga frowned and let out a snort. "Rin! What do you mean, who? You said she was in the lobby, and needed to see me."
"I…I did"
"Yeah you did."
"I guess I was mistaken." Hakkaku timidly replied.
Kouga brow crinkled as he stared at Hakkaku. The kid looked nervous, very nervous. As if something was going on that he needed to know about. " Oi, what in the hells going on, Hakkaku?" Kouga barked his voice rose, and Hakkaku practically leapt from his seat.
"I didn't want to but she said that if I got you out here she would help you. You never leave meeting unless it's Rin. So I lied. I only wanted to help you. Miss Higurashi said she would help."
"Help me?"
Kouga stared blankly at Hakkaku as he soaked in the information. Miss Higurashi had Hakkaku lie so that she could help him? Help him how? Kouga's jaw lowered as the information Hakkaku gave him started to come together. That woman! Had she?
"Where is Miss Higurashi, Hakkaku?" Kouga spun around looking for signs of Kagome, and found she was no where in sight. "Where did she go?"
"The board room," Hakkaku whimpered like a small child as Kouga bounded from behind the desk.
"What do you mean the boardroom? What in the hell is that woman planning?"
"She said she was going to take the design for the new office building to Mister Gakushi."
"Take the design to Mister Gakushi? What design?"
"The one you had her do for re-submission."
"What? You've got to be kidding me. Is that woman insane?" Kouga growled, spinning on his heals and starting for the boardroom. What was she thinking? Did she think this was some sort of game? That a third year architectural engineer could actually come up with something that a man like Gai Gakushi would actually want? Kouga paused outside of the boardroom. The blinds were closed, preventing him from viewing into the boardroom and the door was locked he quickly learned as he attempted to turn the knob and gain entry.
"That little-"He muttered as he retraced his steps back to the lobby. "Get her on the phone now!" He barked taking up behind Hakkaku.
Hakkaku grabbed the phone from the receiver and hurriedly dialed the number to the boardroom. Kouga listened in on the speakerphone as the phone began to ring. It was taking everything in him not to lose it. Kouga was aware of the fact Kagome got a thrill out of pushing his buttons but she'd gone too far. Gai Gakushi was a very important man, and this was a serious matter. If she did anything with her childish antics to damage the reputation of Akira designs, he would maker her pay.
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Nearly fifteen minutes in, and already she had the four men eating out of her hand. They were like four kids in a candy store the way they excitedly analyzed the drawing she'd presented. Kagome couldn't help but gush inside. She couldn't believe she was actually in the presence of such a powerful man like Mister Gakushi, or that he was actually considering her design for his new office building. Of course, he had no idea it was hers since she'd given Kouga full credit, but her excitement was no less.
The phone suddenly rung, pulling Kagome from her bliss. She looked to the phone that sat in the center of the table. It didn't take any guessing for her to know who was on the other line. It was Kouga calling. He was probably furious with her by now, but it couldn't be helped. What she'd done was for Kouga as well as Akira Design's best interest.
"Are you going to answer that? It may be important." Mister Gakushi announced as the phone rang a third time.
"Yes, you're right. I should answer it." Kagome smiled, and got to her feet. "If you gentlemen will excuse me for a moment, I'll be back shortly."
Kagome gave a polite nod to the four men that watched her and then walked to the opposite end of the table. The phone was already on the fifth ring when she finally picked it up. "Boardroom."
"What in the hell do you think you're doing, woman? Come out of there now." Kouga blared with such intensity Kagome found herself snatching the receiver away from her ear. There was no need in wondering if he was angry with her anymore, she sighed returning the receiver to her ear.
"You know you could try to be a bit more gracious considering all the trouble I'm going through for you." Kagome whispered into the phone.
"Who asked you to?"
"No one asked me too."
"Precisely. Now come out of there before I come in there and get you."
"You wouldn't dare."
"Oh, princess, you have no idea what I would do. You have five minutes, Kagome to come out of that room."
The temptation to prod him on was great. To see just how far he would go, but it wasn't about her. It was about a man, although a complete prick, was an amazing designer whom she admired very much, and didn't want to see fail under any circumstance. Kagome took a deep breath counted to ten, and then said.
"If you come into this room, you will ruin everything."
"If you don't come out you'll ruin everything. My company's reputation is riding on this deal, and I will not sit back and allow you to make a mockery of everything I busted my ass for, little girl." Kouga returned.
"I am not making a mockery of you or Akira Designs. Why would I want to come and work for a company that I hold little regard for? That makes no sense. I'm only trying to help you, Mister Akira."
"I don't want your god damned help! What I want is for you to come out of that boardroom, and I want you to come out now, Kagome."
Kagome flinched in response to his course tone. He was beyond the point of angry. The way he yelled into the phone, Kagome was certain Kouga was seconds away from exploding, but there could be no turning back. She'd come this far and she would see this through.
"I really do admire your work, Mister Akira. And I understand how you're feeling at this moment, but I can't come out of this boardroom. I have to do this. I just hope that whatever happens, you can forgive me. Good bye."
To be continued...
I would like to thank those who have been kind enough in supporting this fiction. Kouga is not the most popular Bishie out for the InuYasha series, but he is a Bishie non-the-less and no less deserving of a staring roll. I promise that this story will pick up juts bear with me.