Forever an Illusion

Chapter 11: Sneaky Business

Six months later…

"--There never was a story of greater woe than that of Miroku and his Sango. The-End-!"

"Inuyasha, if you must insist on reading the story, at least read it the way I've wrote it!" Miroku's deep violet eyes flashed with an inkling of annoyance.

Inuyasha shifted uncomfortably in his bed, flashing Miroku a nervous grin. He closed the book and slowly placed it on the nightstand beside them. The hanyou studied his roommate, as Miroku continued to take long strides, back and forth across the floor, finally stopping at the bedroom window for a breather.

"You wrote this pretty fast, and it's good!" Inuyasha spoke lowly, "Now we just have to get it to a publisher-"

Miroku starred out at the dark indigo sky, glaring at his melancholy reflection, mirrored in the glass. "I don't want it published…"

Inuyasha blinked. "What do you mean? Wasn't that the plan? Meet a girl, pretend to fall in love; write a book?"

The author made a sharp turn and met golden eyes with his. "That's just it… I'm not pretending."

"You-you're not serious?" Inuyasha responded shakily.

But Miroku's face was quick to answer the unspoken answer.

"We're not publishing this one."

His friend sighed, "All right, we'll think of another novel, a #1 best seller. Now get some sleep, Miroku. You look tired."

He nodded, traveling over to his bed, and with a trembling hand, pulled down the covers.

……….

"You have failed me, Jaken." Sesshomaru boldly stated, not even bothering to look at him.

"No, mi lord! I have not, I still have a plan!" Jaken pleaded at his feet, kneeling down on his knees and

grasping his head with tiny, green hands.

"Oh please, have mercy on me, sir. I've been watching the author for the past six months! It's all I've managed to do." Jaken's eyes brimmed with on coming tears.

Sesshomaru sounded amused by this comment. "That's all you've been doing? Why Jaken, you've become a stalker."

The imp shot up, panicked and embarrassed. "No, no! That's not what I meant at all! I've been observing him, my lord. I happen to know that his novel is complete, but the young lad refuses to publish it."

Jaken felt a surge of genius coming on, as he pumped his fist outward with delighted emotion. Even Sesshomaru seemed fairly interested by this lead.

"Go on," he informed.

"Well, the boy has classes today. He'll then be spending the night with Lady Sango. Inuyasha, from what I heard vacationing the campus, is going to the movies with some girl named Kikyo. This leaves their apartment empty until further notice. That gives us perfect time to sneak into the place, find the book, and rush it to his publisher before the two return."

"But I'm not Miroku, won't they see that?"

Jaken's smile widened "Priest disguised his name to fool Sango into thinking he was someone else. I believed he called himself Sherbert, an odd name mi lord, but a name nonetheless. You could go to the publishers, and explain that you are a newcomer to the world of creative writing. We'll change the author's name, tell the publisher's that you are Miroku Sherbert, and we have success, Lord Sesshomaru!"

"And what if the story is no good? What if they are not interested? What happens then?" Sesshomaru asked.

"We'll use the money from your latest movie profit to publish it ourselves. Last summer's movie was a blockbuster hit! We made millions!"

"Very GOOD, Jaken!" said his master, smiling with how proud he was. "Now get in the car, we have an apartment to go to."

So Sesshomaru and Jaken rode down the streets of Tokyo with a well thought out plan to put underway. Carefully, the actor parked his vehicle safely behind the building, unnoticeable by first glance. He buried his hand within his jean pocket, sun glasses on, and arrived at the scene without a care in the world. In fact, it was safe to say, that the dog youkai appeared to look like something that belonged in the matrix.

"Jaken, the door."

He nodded, using all the strength his little body possessed to force the door open.

Ayame shut the door to her apartment and turned around when she felt another presence in the hallway with her. She gasped, hardly believing the sight. Sesshomaru Taisho! Here, in this ordinary living space. It was reason enough for her to swoon. Trembling, Ayame walked over to him, feeling foolish in asking for an autograph. He'd probably think she was just some crazy fan. Secretly, Sesshomaru deeply wished she was. He gave her a small smile and turned on his charm, making Ayame blush at his kindness, or rather, him just acting kind.

"Can I help you, Mister Taisho?" She giggled.

"Yes actually. Would you be so kind, as to telling me where Mr. Miroku Priest's room is?" He cooed, removing his hand from the pocket, and slowly tracing a claw over Ayame's left cheek, making her shiver.

"It's on the third floor, Mr. Taisho." Ayame breathed breathlessly.

"Please, call me Sesshomaru."

"Sesshomaru…" It just didn't roll off her tongue. The name escaped her mouth slowly, as though the girl was only an infant trying to learn her first word. "Would you like me to show you anything?"

"Well, I'm afraid my brother has left something at my house when he last came to visit. I was hoping I could drop it off with Mr. Priest, but I'm afraid the man has locked his door. It would be impossible for me to get in." Sesshomaru bent down to whisper something in Ayame's ear, "that is…unless you helped me."

"Sir-Sir, I don't think I can-"

"Oh, it would mean the world to me if you did." He said, wrapping an arm around her waist.

It was working, no one could resist him! Hence, that is why he had so many fan girls. Had. Reluctantly, Ayame released herself from Sesshomaru's hold and told him to wait a moment. Seconds later she returned with a small, golden key, a spare that Miroku had given to her in case of a sudden emergency. The metal was cold against his warm palm. Sesshomaru twined his fingers around it with a smile that couldn't help but grace his face.

"Thank you, Ms. Ayame. I highly appreciate it." Sesshomaru nodded, walking to the foot of the staircase. He then turned his head to Ayame. "For your own benefit, tell no one I was here. The apartment will become over heated, as well as crowded, with the mass of bodies that will wait pointlessly for me to visit again. Their screams of excitement might be found annoying to the residents of this place." The clip pity clop pity of shoes against stairs was clearly audible as the two made their way up to the third floor. Room 204, just what they were looking for. The duplicate key fit perfectly into the lock as Sesshomaru heard a little click sound. He grasped the brass knob and turned it until the door was ajar. Jaken entered first, crazy with triumph, that he had forgotten to let Sesshomaru in first. Lastly, the door closed shut, silent as it could possibly be.

Sesshomaru put Jaken in charge of the key. He began searching for the completed book, getting sidetracked along the way by a movie Sango and Miroku had rented the night of their fist date. He sneered. Apparently they had rented it more than once. It didn't matter; he knew he was the better actor, no matter what the fans thought.

"Mi lord, it's in here!" Jaken pointed to the novel on the night stand and took it into his arms.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Miroku…Sherbert?" replied a man sitting at a long, conference table placed in the middle of a room. "Isn't that a bit…peculiar of a name?"

"Beats me," said another, scratching the side of his face. "I happen to like this book; I think we should publish it. Anyone for a vote?"

"Hai." Echoed the staff.

"I believe this novel is romantic. Girls all over the city will want this to happen to them. They'll spend good money. I'm envious! Rather than saying 'yes' or 'no' simply raise your hand if you want this to go out into the public, it will go faster… okay… I see…yes… well, some editing, and we have ourselves a best-seller! Ms. Rin, please get Mr. Sherbert on the phone."

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Really? It's going to be published? Thank you, I thank you grately." Sesshomaru grinned into the phone receiver.

TBC

…………

Wow, I can't believe I actually had inspiration. I'm thinking another three, four chapters of this story. I have to say, I honestly don't know how a book gets published, so if I'm wrong, forgive me