A/N: Okay I'm really liking this story so far, and I hope you all like it as well. Here's the next chapter :): Oh and don't blame me if I always use Onigumo as the boss.

Disclaimer: Inuyasha does not belong to me.

Like Moths To A Flame

Chapter 3: The Familiar Stranger

Tuesday

Kikyo went to work the next morning dreading when she'll have to face Suikotsu. But when she arrived at the office, unsuspecting news surprised her.

"Suikotsu quit?"

"Yes, Kikyo. That's right. Word has it that he called boss last night and said he wanted to quit. No one knows why." Ayame said.

"I'm not one to gossip, so you should ask the boss himself." Sango advised.

"I should ask Onigumo. Maybe he knows why Suikotsu quit." Kikyo started walking towards Onigumo's room, but was stopped by her friend, Kagura.

"I bet I know why he quit. What did you say to him last night?"

"Nothing." Kikyo lied, thinking back when Suikotsu had yelled at her. "Fine, maybe I got him a little upset."

Kagura nodded and said, "Maybe that's why."

"Maybe he didn't quit. Maybe he just went away for a while."

"No I'm pretty sure he quit. Listen, why don't you find out from the boss first. You know, to make sure we have all the right information."

"I was just going." Kikyo said.

"Suikotsu quit! How come I don't know about this? Why did no one tell me!" Onigumo said annoyingly.

"You mean you didn't know? But everyone is saying he called you last night to- "

"Called me last night? He didn't call me! He should've called me! I'm the boss!" Onigumo screamed.

Kikyo winced at the noise. "If you said he didn't call you to quit, then maybe he got sick and is taking the day off. He could be coming back tomorrow."

"Yes. Yes. He could be coming back tomorrow. If he calls in sick today, then bring the call immediatly to me." Her boss instructed. "You can go back to work now." He told Kikyo. She walked out the door confused. If he didn't call Onigumo to say he was quitting, than what was he doing. Was he trying to avoid Kikyo until he could forget their relationship ever happened?

"So, what happened?" Kagura asked as soon as Kikyo stepped out the door.

"Onigumo said Suikotsu didn't call in to quit. Infact, he never called at all. Who got the idea that he quit?" Kikyo asked. By then, everyone who worked in the office had crowded around the two women, wanting to know the full details.

"Well, I heard from Miroku. He said Suikotsu had been planning this for a long time." Sango said, staring at Miroku.

"Don't look at me. Juromaru told me Suikotsu didn't like this job, so I assumed." Miroku defended.

"I only told Miroku what I heard from Muso."

"Hey I didn't say anything. Ayame told me Suikotsu called her last night to say he was quitting."

"I didn't say he called me. I said he called Koga." Ayame said. All heads turn to Koga.

"He...um...Suikotsu said...last night. Okay he did call me. He didn't say he wanted to quit. He only said he no longer had a place in this office. The life of a salesman wasn't meant for him or something like that." Koga said truthfully

"Why is it always you, Koga?" Kagura said annoyingly.

"Kik, are you still going shopping with us?" Kagura asked when they were outside the main entrance to the building. Sango, Ayame, Kagura and Kikyo had been planning to go shopping ever since that new store opened in the mall. And since they only had to work half day today, it was all perfect.

"I don't have enough money with me now." Kikyo said, planning to buy a few things for herself. "I'll have to stop by the bank first."

"Sure. We'll wait." Sango said. "Are you going to this one?" She asked, pointing to the bank next door.

"Yeah. Hold on. It'll be quick." Kikyo said as she went through the automatic glass doors. She quickly scanned the bank for a self help machine, but the only ones she found were either broken or had long lines of people waiting. She looked over to the counters, where there were bankers waiting behind the glass for their next customer.

There was, surprisingly, no line. She scanned the 10 counters, and the number 8 was flashing yellow, meaning it was free. Kikyo followed the glow, and when she reached the desk, she quickly pulled out her bank I.D card and said, "I'd like to take out money, in cash, please." But what she saw when she handed to card to the man behind the glass, made every cell in her body freeze.

Turn it inside out so I can see The part of you that's drifting over me

And when I wake you're never there But when I sleep you're everywhere

You're everywhere

Kikyo blinked a few times to free her body from the freeze, and she slowly extended her hand, sliding the card throught the little slot under the glass.

"How much would you like to take out?" The male said.

"..." was all Kikyo could muster. Maybe she hadn't completly gotten over the frozen period.

"Miss?" The voice said.

"Huh? Oh sorry. 10,000 yen please." She said, now completly energized by his deep voice.

"Just a minute, miss." He said. He turned to the computer next to him and starting typing and clicking on the mouse. She stared into his eyes shifting all over the computer screen. Eyes the color of fresh blood. "H-have I seen you before?" She asked.

"It's a small world. You never know." He told her, and turned back to his computer.

"Would ten 1,000's be all right?" He asked.

"Um..oh. Sure." She said. He slid ten paper bills through the slot. Kikyo stared at it, not knowing what to do with it. The blue bill of the 1000 yen stared back at her, mocking her. "Miss?" He said again, noting the money.

"Oh, thank you." She took the stack of money and put it in her wallet. "Thank you..." Kikyo looked at the white name tag pinned right above his heart, "Naraku." She said, finishing the sentence."You're welcome." He said in a voice that, once again, froze every cell in Kikyo's body. Maybe it was the way he said it, or the way he looked at her, but either way something about this guy made her umcomfortable.

Just tell me how I got this far Just tell me why you're here and who you are

'Cause every time I look You're never there

And every time I sleep You're always there

Wednesday

Today wasn't Kikyo's lucky day. She had gotten home last night really late, blame it on her friends if she could, and so she didn't get much sleep. Only 4 hours of rest resulted in her waking up late. She had gotten ready in record time, but now her car was touching bumper to bumper with other cars who had suffered the same fate as her. The 8 'o' clock traffic.

Kikyo stared out her window, wishing the cars would move just a litte. Even an inch would help. Anything. There were other drivers who were less impatient than her. A chorus of car horns and cursing filled the highway. Kikyo tapped her foot on the floor impatiently. She was suppose to be at work by now, and by the looks of this, so was everyone else.

She sighed intolerently. At this rate, she would be at work by lunch time. A loud horn made Kikyo jump in her chair. On instinct, she turned to her right to find the cause of the sound. Could this day get any worse?

One hand on wheel was the banker from yesturday, face twisted in irritation and getting ready to sound the horn again. Kikyo's eyes widened slightly, and she quickly turned her head around to look straight. The same edgy presence enveloped Kikyo again. There was just something about him that made her want to stay as far away from him as possible.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him yelling at the driver behind him, who had accidently bumped into his car. But that wasn't what interested her. What had caught her eye was what was draped over the headboard of the empty chair next to him. A black jean jacket.

'Cause you're everywhere to me And when I close my eyes it's you I see

You're everything I know That makes me believe

I'm not alone I'm not alone

Her prediction had come true. She arrived at the office 15 minutes to lunch. Onigumo forgave her for being late, since he counted on her for most of the sales. Suikotsu still hadn't come to work. She had just enough time to hang her coat when her friends came into her office without knocking.

"Hi, Kagura, Ayame." Kikyo said. "Need something?"

"It's lunch time. Aren't you treating us to lunch today?" Kagura reminded her.

"Don't I always treat you to lunch?" Kikyo said suspiciously.

"Fine! I'll treat you guys to lunch." Ayame offered.

"That's better." Kikyo said.

The four friends had gotten a table in Pizza Hut. Ayame had chosen it since she was the one treating. They had ordered their meals when Sango spotted Miroku with his friends.

"No matter where we go, we always end up finding them somewhere near us. Is there no escaping their deadly grasps?" Ayame joked as she waved to Koga boredly. Miroku had come over to talk to Sango. Kagura smiled at Kikyo who smiled at Ayame.

They knew their friend liked Miroku, even though Sango always acted annoyedwhen Miroku was near her. It was just an act she put up. But this was truly a sweet moment as Miroku flirted with Sango who blushd in return.

Kikyo smiled happily at her friend when wavy black hair appeared from the corner of her eye. She sneaked a peek at where the hair came from, and spotted the banker sitting alone behind the salad bar, eating an individual supreme pan pizza. His head was down, looking at somethng on his lap. Maybe his work or a newspaper.

She was so absorbed in watching him, maybe it was the way he ate or sat, but there was something interesting about him. She stared for a second too long when he looked up from his lap to take a drink from his soda.

Kikyo was just about to turn back around before hecouldrealize she was staring at him when he made eye contact with her. Her eyes widened as the blood colored orbs froze her once again. He smiled kindly at her and went back to his reading. She was motionless even after his eyes hadleft her.

I recognize the way you make me feel It's hard to think that you might not be real

I sense it now, the water's getting deep I try to wash the pain away from me

Away from me

'Cause you're everywhere to me And when I close my eyes it's you I see

You're everything I know That makes me believe

I'm not alone I'm not alone

"Hey Kik, did you spot a hottie?" Someone said. Kikyo turned around to find Kagura looking in the direction where Naraku was sitting. Kagura frowned as she said, "He's not thaaat good-looking. Not my type, you can have him." Kagura went back to the conversation she was having with Miroku and Ayame.

Kikyo looked back at Naraku, who was engrossed in whatever he was doing. She frowned as she tried to remember where she had seen him before. She was sure she had seen him somewhere before the bank. Her memory was scattered, but what was it about those eyes.

Suddenly, she remembered why those eyes were so familiar. They were the same color as her best friend, Kagura's. She smiled proudly, having figured why the mysterious banker reminded her of someone. Now that the question was answered, she turned back to her friends to find out what she had missed.

Behind the salad bar, the man looked up from his book to catch a glimpse of the black haired maiden. She was conversationing with her friends and laughing. He could tell the laughing was real, but it wasn't pure. It showed in her eyes, but there was still a part of her that wasn't laughing.

For a second, he thought he felt guilt, but pushed it away. He turned around to look out the window, smiling at the darkening clouds in the sky.

"You sure you don't want my umbrella?" Miroku offered, holding out a black and violet umbrella to Kikyo. "I'd look better with a girl on both sides." He grinned.

"No it's okay. Just take Sango home before it rains even harder." Kikyo said.

"Sorry, Kik. I would offer you my umbrella, but I don't have one, either." Kagura said.

"Hey Kik, Kagura. I'll take one of you home." Ayame said. She was holding an umbrella that looked like it could barely cover her.

"You go with her, Kagura." Kikyo said. "You sure?" Her friend asked. She looked worried, but Kikyo knew she desperatly wanted this umbrella. "I'm okay. My car isn't parked that far from here. Just take this offer and be glad. I might not be so nice the next time." Kikyo teased.

"Thanks, Kik. I'm going to feel so guilty for leaving you all alone, but yeah I should take this once in a life time offer. See you tomorrow and thanks again." Kagura and Ayame walked out the door. Miroku and Sango had already left, and Kikyo was here all alone except for the janitor who was in the bathrooms cleaning up. Kikyo looked at the weather through one of the glass windows.

The fog was covering the tops of the tallest buildings and the gray clouds offered heavy rain for the rest of the evening. She grabbed her coat, her only shelter from the pour, and hurried out the building before the sky could get any bleaker.

Kikyo couldn't imagine the rain getting any heavier, but it looked possible as she went through the revolving glass doors.

She waited under the giant stone canopy in front of the building and watched as one by one, people were either picked up or had someone offer them an umbrella. Looking around, she and this other woman were the only two left.

Kikyo looked up at the sky, knowing very well she will have to go out there any minute. Cautiously, she put one foot out , and then the other. Within a second of standing out there, she was soaked until her clothes stuck to her skin like damp sponges. Her hair was sticking to her head in a clammy fashion and it wasn't comfortable.

She took one step forward when a coldhand grabbed her wrist tightly and pulled her back. Her heart beat faster for a second, but something had changed. Rainwater was no longer attacking her. She looked behind her to find the banker smiling compassionately and covering her with an umbrella.

And when I touch your hand It's then I understand

The beauty that's within It's now that we begin

You always light my way I hope there never comes a day

No matter where I go I always feel you so

"How about you?" Kikyo asked, noting his long hair dripping wet and matted to his face, clothes as soaked as her own. "I'm okay." He said. "You take it."

"Where did you park your car?" She asked, thinking of something.

"Two blocks this way," He pointed north. "Why?"

"Because I parked there, too. We can both use the umbrella." She grabbed his hand, dragging him under the umbrella with her.

Kikyo didn't even notice how close they were standing together, since the umbrella was just a little bigger than Ayame's. She was just glad to have shelter. They started walking in the direction of their cars. Kikyo turned to look up into Naraku's face. "Now I'm sure I've seen you before. Naraku right?" She asked.

"Yeah. And you are...?"

"Kikyo." She held out her hand. He shook it.

"Good to meet you, Kikyo." He said, practicing the new name.

"Same here, Naraku." She said, doing the same.

'Cause you're everywhere to me And when I close my eyes it's you I see

You're everything I know That makes me believe

I'm not alone

'Cause you're everywhere to me And when I catch my breath

It's you I breathe You're everything I know

That makes me believe I'm not alone

By the time they reached their cars, they had grown accustomed to each other's name. Naraku walked Kikyo to her car first so she would be covered by the rain all the way before he went back to his car. Waiting under the red light, Kikyo had rolled her windows down to thank Naraku in the car right next to hers.

"Thanks again. Sorry I had to get you wet." She yelled through the pounding rain.

"No problem." He yelled back. "See you tomorrow." He said as the light changed color.

The two cars drove forward, but Naraku's car had went ahead of hers. Kikyo smiled to herself, thinking. Maybe his presence isn't so uncomfortable after all.

You're in everyone I see

So tell me

Do you see me?

And maybe she'll openher heart for another friend. Just this once.

A/N: Todays song was, "Everywhere" by Michelle Branch

Isn't Naraku such a gentleman in this chapter? I wish I had a guy like that :):

R & R please & thank you.