A/N: Guess what I just found out? I know sooo much more about love than my 20 yr old cousins do. My cousins are freaks, so I had to give them a lesson on the difference between real love, and a real crush. And guess what? I've never even had a boyfriend! Damn I'm cool, lol. Atleast, cooler than them... Oh and in case i haven't told anyone... Kikyo works in a jewelry store, the office is connected to the store and she designs the jewelry along with other people. Kikyo's last name ain't Jap..or atleast not that I know of. I hope it don't mean anything weird.
Disclaimer: I told you I don't owe Inuyasha, so why are you bugging me? Oh and you miiight recognize someone familiar in this story. I won't use his real name, but something that kinda represents him. I'll keep his identity unknown, cause he is from a different anime/manga, but if one of you recognize him, since I'm going to be dropping lots of hints, that's great. I just want you to know I don't own him, my friend wants to though. I just buy the posters for her. :):
Like Moths To A Flame
Chapter 4: Encounter of Strangers
Thursday started out like any other day. Only today at Kikyo's job, things were a little chaotic.
A new shipment of pendents had just come in this morning, and everyone was excited to have a new item to introduce to their fellow customers. They all crowded around Koga, the cardboard box marked, Tokyo Diamonds lying inches from his feet. In his hand was a pair of red scissors, ready to cut through the masking tape that bound the box messily.
Bringing the scissors down to the thick tape, the employees watched excitedly. Koga started cutting faster, scissors going through the tape as if it was cutting a feather. When the tape was done, pieces of it still clinging to the cardboard, Koga snipped the red string the tied the box like a present, and carefully lifted the flaps of the box.
Everyone held their breath, expecting a brilliant gold light to project from what lay inside the box. Instead of the gleam, all they saw were the white and green puffs of styrofoam, placed their to protect the fragile pendents inside. Koga dug into the styrofoam like a dog would in the dirt, making a mess of puffs on the floor.
Smiling, he brought out a shining jewel, a long shape with points on either end and flat surfaces angled to make more points. A tiny whole at the top allowed a string or a chain to be strung through so you can wear it as a necklace. Koga held it between his index and thumb for everyone to see, and like a happy crowd everyone clapped. The pink opal sheen glistened, and it was a satisfactory replacement to the brilliant gold light the people expected.
Just when they were about to unload the package, a voice stopped them from the action. Kikyo, who was standing in the back of the crowd and watching the whole scene, now walked up to Koga through the path the pack had paved for her.
"Can I see that?" She said politely, holding out her hand. Koga placed it in the middle of her palme without question. Take it with her other hand the same way Koga had held it, between her index finger and thumb, and brought it to the light. The color reminded her of her own jewel that was sitting on her bookshelf. But then again, this pendent was her design.
"Is there a paper, a certificate, anything in there?" She asked Koga, still staring at the pendent in her hands. Koga dug through the box , coming across more pendents as he went. Finally, he brought up a piece of white paper triumphantly. "It says...'Shards Of The Shikon no Tama. Design by Kikyo Namashibi'" Koga read. He handed the paper to Kikyo, who took it curiously.
Every person watched silently as her eyes scanned the paper. Her eyebrows drew together, confused. "Is anything the matter, Kikyo?" Kagura whispered in her ear. She had appeared when she sensed something was wrong. Kikyo didn't answer, just continued reading the paper, then staring back at the jewel. The paper looked official enough...but...
"It's a fake." Kikyo announced to the dazed crowd. Koga, who was sitting in a pool of styrofoam puffs, looked up at Kikyo, then at the jewel she held and back. He was speechless, but the crowd wasn't. Atleast, not for long. They started murmuring to each other, and got louder as people started coming up with solutions for Kikyo's unexpected words.
Hearing the commotion, Onigumo had come out of his office. It was the busy time of the month, so he hadn't come out to witness the box-opening ceremony and had stayed in his room to make calls and read papers. "What happened?" He asked, taking in the scene of his workers exchanging words, Kikyo staring at the jewel
perplexed, and green and white styrofoam lying all over the floor.
"Onigumo...I think this shipment are fakes. The Shards aren't made of real jewel, they're made of some fake material." She explained, holding the Shard close to his face. Onigumo, who'd had quite a lot of knowledge in jewelry, put on his reading glasses, took the jewel from her hands, and held it in front of him. He brought it to his face, so close it was touching the glass frames, then extended his arms to look at it from afar. He continued to do this for a whole minute until he started tapping at the Shard with his fingernail.
"It's a fake." He concluded. "This shipment of jewels are fakes. I don't want anyone touching the box or the pendents in it. Whoever made the order, come with me to my office. You too, Kikyo." Onigumo said authoritatively. "It's not like this hasn't happened to us before, so I don't want a big fuss. Koga, clean up the mess and everyone else, get back to work. The jewelry won't sell themselves." Onigumo commanded. Everybody shuffuled back to work, some back to the store, still mumbling among themselves of what had just happened.
Koga started sweeping the puffs with his hands and dumping them back in the box, grumbling to himself about how he wasn't a janitor. Kagura, who was still standing the same place she had been five minutes ago, thought about what Onigumo had said.
She had worked in this office ever since it opened, and didn't remember another time when a similiar situation had happened. Maybe Onigumo was just saying what he said to calm everyone down. He always knew how to keep everything under control. She just hoped he knew how to keep this problem under control.
"Miroku...Sango, you two made this order?" Onigumo asked, looking up at them from his leather chair behind his desk. Even though his tone wasn't threatening, the two suspects looked at each other from the corner of their eyes, each sensing fear from in each other.
"Y-yeah..." Miroku explained.
Sango sighed. If they acted like nervous cats, it'd just make them more suspicious, let alone get in more trouble as well. She looked over at Kikyo, who was sitting in one of the guest chairs in front of the boss's desk. She was too busy insepcting the jewel and looking through the order papers the secretary had just brought in.
"We made the order about a little over 3 weeks ago from the company we usually order from, KPJ Inc." She began. Onigumo nodded for them to go on, and Kikyo turned her attention to her two friends.
"We gave them everything they would have needed, the pictures of the designs, the pendent's profile, like color and size and stuff, and our office information. We talked with the manager about the order and things, and he said they would be finished with it in three weeks. Gave us the date and all. Since it was a small order of only 2,000 pendents, it was all reasonable." Miroku continued for her.
"And now, 3 weeks later as promised, the order arrived...as fakes." Sango finished.
"Um...Sango, Miroku." Kikyo said hesitantly. "How did the manager look like?" She asked. Although she didn't know how the answer was going to help, she had a feeling it could do something.
"Oh, really short. Around 5 foot, I don't 5 foot 2,3?" Miroku guessed.
"I remember he had red hair...like bright orange red. It was his natural color, I could tell. It was tied up in a bushy ponytail, and he had shaggy bangs. He had these violet eyes, kinda like Miroku's. I thought he was kind cute." Sango said
"Wait, me or the manager?" Miroku asked with a sly grin. He recieved glares from the three other people in the room.
"We'll have to investigate further. Kikyo, make a call to KPJ Inc. tonight if you get a chance. Miroku, Sango. I want you to pay a visit to the Lab. Then, do some background research on KPJ. Inc, the past orders they had filled before, and try not to get the police involved. The three nodded and walked out of the room, already trying to piece everything together.
When lunch time came, the mystery of the fake Jewel Shards was replaced by the mystery of what they should have for lunch. As always, Kikyo and her friends were going to go out to lunch at one of their usual restaurants.
"You guys go get a table first. I have some work to finish up before I go. Be there in 20 minutes or so." Kikyo waved to her friends and went into her room. She was the only person left in the office, and it was weird seeing the office all quiet and lonely.
She accessed the internet on her computer for the number of KPJ Inc. When she found it, she picked up the black phone from its carrier and dialed the number.
"KPJ Inc, how may I help you?" A male voice said kindly.
"Um...I'm looking for Mr.Sakabato..." Kikyo asked for the manager.
"He's speaking." The same voice said. "How may I assist you?"
"Hi, my name's Kikyo Namashibi, from Tokyo Diamonds. We made an order around 3 weeks ago, and I wanted to ask you some questions about the shipment." Kikyo's voice suddenly had an air of business to it, the voice she usually used at meetings.
"Oh, yes I remember..." There was a pause, as if the manager was trying to remember what design Tokyo Diamonds had sent him. "The Shikon no Tama shards, right?" He said skeptically.
"Yeah, that's the one. You see, we just got the order today and something's a little wrong." Kikyo said cagily.
"This one wants to hear about it." A curious voice urged Kikyo on with the story.
Kikyo started by telling him how it was truely a unique piece of art and how it probably took a lot of talent to make it so beautiful. Mr. Sakabato turned it around and said it was her with the true talent. After all she was the one who designed it.
"Did Sango and Miroku, the ones who ordered the Shards, happen to tell you what material was supposed to be used?" Kikyo asked, getting as much info before blaming KPJ Inc for the fake Shards.
"Hmm, you mean that tall girl and the man with the short pony tail? Yes they told me to use pearl in a color we hardly use, pink was it? But they told me the pearl had to have this transparent affect, but fogged up at the same time, not like that dull gleam of those add-a-pearl necklaces. Is something the matter? Are you not satisfied with the shipment? You can always send it back if something is truely wrong."
Kikyo knew it probably took them a long time to give the Shards the quality Tokyo Diamonds had insisted on. "I just wanted to know...did they happen to tell you to use...real pearl?" Kikyo asked.
"Why even if they didn't tell us, we would've still used the real thing. KPJ Inc. only makes jewelry with all new, pure raw matter." Mr. Sakabato explained. It sounded like he was doing a commercial. "Are you sure something isn't the matter." He asked again.
"Just wanted to make sure. Thanks for your time, though, Mr. Sakabato."
"Anytime. Good-bye."
"Bye." Kikyo hung up with a sigh. If KPJ Inc. had used fake pearl, then they didn't seem aware of it. The only she could do now was wait for the results Sango and Miroku got from the Lab the day after tomorrow. She got up to go to lunch.
The restaurant she was supposed to meet her friends was just 4 blocks away, so there was no need for a car. As she stepped out of the revolving doors, she looked up at the sky. It was a warm summer day, not scorchingly hot. The weather had recently took a turn for the better just last week, and Kikyo was feeling happy. Nothing could drag her down today.
She tied her hair up in loose pony tail at the nape of her neck and started walking.
"Kikyo!" A deep voice said from behind her. She turned around to find the banker taking long strides towards her and smiling in his trademark smile of benevolence.
"Hey, Naraku." She smiled happily. "Going to lunch?" She asked when he had caught up to her.
"Yeah, off to Bridge Water...you?" He asked with interest.
"Oh, me too! Wanna walk together?"
"Well either way we're going the same direction, so sure." He smiled. They started walking side by side towards Bridge Water.
"Thanks again for the umbrella yesturday. I would've caught a cold or something if I had been in that rain any longer."
"No problem, we were going the same way anyways. You just owe me a soda." He joked.
"We go the same way to a lot of places don't we?" She asked.
"Well, where do you work? I see you going in and out of World Towers a lot." He told her.
"Tokyo Diamonds, 16th floor." She answered.
"Jewelry..." He admired the word to himself, "Designer?"
"How'd you guess?" She said playfully, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.
"You seemed like the type." He replied while they rounded the corner of the second block. They walked in comfortable silence when Kikyo heard a familiar voice coming from someone in front.
"So then I asked him what he did with Jaken when they were alone in his office, and he gave me this glare that was like, 'Your head is coming off your shoulders' but Rin was right there so he couldn't show violence in front of a little girl. Atleast he knows some sort of respect." A voice said amusingly. A girl laughed.
"Something like that happened to me, too."
"Oh yeah? Tell me 'bout it."
Straight ahead, Kikyo saw something she hoped she wouldn't have to face for the rest of her life. At that very moment, it felt like her already shattered heart was breaking further, if possible. Her eyes grew wide with surprise and her fists clenched at her sides.
Because straight ahead was the man who had broken her heart 8 months ago, the man whom was now holding hands with a girl that looked as if she had just stepped out of a Limited Too catalog. The man now laughing with this girl, talking like Kikyo used to with him. The man named Inuyasha.
There were places we would go at midnight
There were secrets that nobody else would know
There's a reason but I don't know why, I don't know why, I don't know why
I thought they all belonged to me
A wave of anger washed over Kikyo as she saw the two laughing. Jealousy? She hated to admit it, but the two looked like they were in love, like real love. Not the love Kikyo had had for Inuyasha before they broke up.
Suddenly, feeling empty and mad at how Inuyasha had someone to love and she didn't, she did the one thing that came to mind. She hooked her arm to a very surprised Naraku's. She'd explain later, but for now she could only wish he would play along to what she called, her revenge.
Inuyasha hadn't seen Kikyo yet, but they were walking towards Kikyo and Naraku and pretty soon, before Kikyo could explain anything to her pretend boyfriend, Inuyasha had made eye contact with Kikyo.
He didn't know what to do. Should he smile? Glare? Say hi? He figured the last one was the safest.
As they neared, Inuyasha said a simple hello. Kikyo returned it. She felt his eyes looking her up and down, and she was doing the same. Then, she looked his new girlfriend up and down and he did the same to Naraku. But when he saw Naraku's face, his eyes widened in shock. He opened his mouth to say something, but all that came out was a soft intake of air.
"Is this your new girlfriend. Inuyasha." She spat the last word out in disgust. She hadn't said his name in almost a year, and now it sounded like something out of a dream, or in her case, a nightmare.
Who's that girl? Where's she from?
No she can't be the one That you want That has stolen my world
It's not real It's not right It's my day It's my night
By the way Who's that girl? Living my life
"Her name's Kagome." He answered in monotone. Kagome gave a small smile to Kikyo, and Kikyo being oh-so-polite did the same in return.
Kagome scanned Naraku from the tip of his black leather shoes to his tailored suit and his wavy black hair hanging over his shoulder. She sort of froze up when she met his blood shot gaze, the one that examined her miniskirt and tank top clad body with slight dislike.
"And...him. You're dating him?" Inuyasha said rather rudely.
"...Yes...his name's Naraku. He works at a bank." She sort of boasted.
"Kagome's a fashion designer. She has a clothing line in the making."
Kikyo was tounge-tied. After all, she had only met Naraku in less than a week ago. But she didn't want to seem like he got the better end of the deal, if you could put it that way. So only thing to do was to lie.
"He's an architect on the side." Was the only thing she could come up with.
Naraku, being the smart guy he was, figured out what was going on. So he decided to pitch in.
"Kik, how many times do I have to tell you. We've been dating for 4 months now and I still have to remind you! I'm not an architect! Well atleast not yet." He turned to face Kagome and Inuyasha. "I'm currently taking classes." He said without the slightest hint that he was lying.
"Kagome has a PhD in psychology. Don't know what she's going to do with it though." He looked down into her eyes lovingly.
"Well Naraku has a Master's Degree in Math." Kikyo shot back. She hated that look he gave Kagome.
Naraku could sense the hate transmitting from the arm she was using to hold his. So he did what he did next, so Kikyo could get a better revenge.
Seems like everything's the same around me
Then I look again and everything has changed
I'm not dreaming so I don't know why, I don't know why, I don't know why
She's everywhere I want to be
Naraku took his arm from hers and looped it lightly around her waist, resting it on her hip bone. This brought the two bodies a little closer, and Kikyo jumped a little from the sudden warmth on her left side, where Naraku was standing. His arm tightened around her to keep her still, and when she got used to it, she wrapped her arm around him and leaned into Naraku, head barely touching his shoulder.
"That's cool." Inuyasha said, since he couldn't think of anything else to say about his new girlfriend. He tried to avoid eye contact with Kikyo after he saw Naraku holding her so close.
"Are you two heading off to lunch?" Kikyo asked.
"Just finished. We were going to go down to the beach." He told her.
"I see." She answered, thinking about how romantic the beach must be for them For a second, she was lost in a quixotic daydream, but then loathed the idea that it wasn't her going with Inuyasha, but that cheerleader chick, Kagome.
Who's that girl? Where's she from?
No she can't be the one That you want That has stolen my world
It's not real It's not right It's my day It's my night
By the way Who's that girl? Living my life
"What have you been up to?" Inuyasha asked nonchalantly.
"Been here and there. Not much." She answered the same way.
"Me too..." He kept his head down.
Naraku looked over at Kikyo. Her eyes were looking past Inuyasha, deep in thought about some past memories. He shook her a little and she snapped out of her musing and turned to look at Naraku. He eyed his watch, telling her this was taking quite a long time.
"So, me and Naraku are heading off to lunch now." Kikyo started. "I guess I'll see you around?" She left the last part as a question. She didn't really want to see him around, but she didn't want to sound rude either, so she let the option linger in the air.
The four people looked at each other in silence, lacking the right words to say. The world wizzed by, but it was as if time had stopped for only them. Finally, Inuyasha opened his mouth and time worked again.
"Yeah, I'll see you around. You too, Naraku." He said rather hastily, especially the last part.
Kagome, who was silent during the whole play, opened her mouth at last to say, "It was nice meeting you, Kikyo, Naraku. I'll see you two around."
"Inuyasha. Kagome. I hope to meet you two again one day." Naraku said, keeping his hand around Kikyo's waist.
I'm the one who made you laugh
Who made you feel Who made you sad
I'm not sorry For what we did For who we were
I'm not sorry I'm not her
As the final good-bye's were made, Kagome didn't understand why farewells took so long, Kikyo couldn't help but give herself a tiny smile and a mental pat on the shoulders for a job well done. She turned around to see Inuyasha and Kagome's back, still holding hands.
As for her and Naraku, they were still holding each other the same way. Kikyo had rested her head on Naraku's shoulder, still smiling about what had just happened. When they were out of hearing distance from her ex, she suddely pulled away from Naraku and started laughing and clapping her hands.
"That was great! Did you see that look on Inuyasha's face when you put your arm around me? Oh my god that was priceless." She laughed some more.
Naraku couldn't help but smile at how happy Kikyo seemed. He too, laughed.
"Why are you laughing?" Kikyo asked, head cocked to one side in question.
"When you said I had a Master's Degree in Math." He offered. "I don't even like math. I failed math when I was in school."
Kikyo grinned. "I had to think of something."
"Revenge of the Ex?" Naraku teased. Kikyo laughed. They had started walking again and Bridge Water was coming into view at the end of the block.
"You just took 15 minutes out of my lunch time. Care to tell me the love story between the two of you?"
"It was only 15 minutes? Felt like an hour." Kikyo said, clearly avoiding the last question.
"I asked you a question, Kikyo." He reminded her.
Kikyo seemed lost in her own world again. "Huh? Hey look, we're here. Wow, seemed like that journey took forever." She replied childlishly.
"So are you going to tell me what went on between you two? Or are you going to keep avoiding it?" He asked thoughtfully. They stepped inside the air conditioned restaurant. It was a simple restaurant that had the theme of a forest.
Near the windows that overlooked the streets was a raised platform in which wooden picnic tables sat on the black floor carpeted with pebbles. The chairs were flat wooden planks hanging from the ceiling with a sturdy rope and the customers, mostly young college students or people around Kikyo's age, were swinging back and forth lightly.
There were red and brown plush chairs scattered around the restaurant with fake tree stumps for tables. Waiters and waitresses flew past Naraku and Kikyo, who was standing near the entrance. Kikyo was scanning the restaurant for her friends, and the pop music blaring from hidden speakers filled her ears. Naraku tapped her on the shoulders.
"Aren't those your friends?" He asked, pointing to a group of young women sitting in a corner under a fake tree placed there for added affect. Kagura, who was laughing with Ayame and Sango, saw Kikyo and waved. Kikyo smiled and started making her way to their table, but then she turned around to find Naraku still standing near the door, eyes scanning the room for someone.
"Looking for someone?" She asked.
"Yeah, a friend." He said, still looking around. "Maybe he's upstairs. You go eat, I'll catch up with you sometime." He waved her a goodbye and started for the stairs that lead to the second floor. Kikyo had a feeling she was going to see him sometime soon, and her growling stomach told her to go to her friends.
When she reached the table, Kagura pinned her with an unexpected comment,
"When I said you could have him, I didn't really expect you to go for him. You just broke up with Suikotsu, how's he going to feel about this?" Kaguraasked, thinking about that time when they were at Pizza Hut.
"Kagura, I met him yesturday. He offered me his umbrella. We just met again on the way here. Suikotsu hasn't come to work ever since, so he won't know about it." She told her best friend.
"Well as long as you don't dump in within the next month, then I'm fine with everything." She turned back to Sango and continued to laugh about Sango's brother, Kohaku, and his funny ways.
"Kagura! We're not dating!" Kikyo said defensively.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Just get something to eat. You have 15 minutes before we get back to work." Kagura instructed.
Kikyo ate in silence, thinking about Inuyasha all the way.
Who's that girl? Where's she from?
No she can't be the one That you want That has stolen my world
It's not real It's not right It's my day It's my night
By the way Who's that girl? Living my life
If Inuyasha could find someone to hold his heart, then she could surely find someone for hers.
A/N: Today's song was "Who's That Girl" by Hilary Duff
I was going to say something...but I forgot...
My friends would say to that comment, Typical, Typical.
See you next time and thanks to Cold Kikyo and Splurg...my only reviewers so far since my friends are all too busy (or lazy) to read. Thanks:):