Wish I Were You
Sakura's Note: Seeing how you and I both hated the fact I took three weeks to update last chapter, my mind has been working overtime trying to map out this one. But, cut off the uploading for a few days, and then when I tried again, my computer was timing out before I could upload. The next chapter is already in the works, and I'll have it out by next week. Otaku's honor.
I don't know how many chapters this story will be, but I do know it'll be pretty long because the 90 days are going to be filled to the brim with events.
On another note, I'm really glad at how this story is turning out. Compared to my other works, I think this is my best and favorite. Thank you to everyone who takes the time to review, I read each and every one of them with a big, cheesy grin on my face... And sometimes, when I've just come from a school day full of physics and geometry...your reviews brighten my day.
I haven't responded to reviews for a while, so here we go.
Emerald ash: I know! I am extremely sorry! Life has been incredibly hectic and I was trying to spend at least half an hour a day on it, but even that routine wasn't routine all the time. Now things have calmed down now that the first marking period is over and there are a few weeks until tests resurface. P.S. I love Inu's smile too. Thank you for reviewing!
Sapphire pink: Thanks for the review! I was thinking that there might be a vague mention of what transpired while Naraku was on the phone, but I'm not sure. I'm still playing around with the idea.
TaintedInuShemeeko: As always, I love seeing a review come from you. I'm glad you liked last chapter, it means a lot to me.
Jamie: Thanks, personally I think the uploaded version came out grainy compared to how it was in Adobe... I'm always disappointed when that happens. I don't know how everyone else does it. I guess airbrushing needs to be sharpened up, ne? The bold paragraph was a forgotten edit of mine. My extremely cool mother (and my beta) is an Inu-fan too, and she was editing my work. Thanks for pointing it out!
Animemistress419: I love to hear that! Thanks for the review, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
dragonSpired48: Wow...your review is oh-so-wonderfully flattering! beams I was giggling the whole time I read your reviews. I'm falling in love with my Dawson family too, and their characters aren't even fully unleashed yet...and in order to keep Inuyasha in character, I find myself thinking like him. (I can be a little insane sometimes) Originality is what I strive for, that's why sometimes it takes a while to write. This chapter is dedicated to you! Enjoy it and R&R!
Shantheham: Thanks, hope you like this chapter even more. Inuyasha vs. seafood and his family...wow, it's gonna get ugly.
Liarra: This chapter is about twelve or so pages, hope this will sate you until next update! Thanks for the review, and please R&R!
Inashosetai: Love your name, does it have a meaning? Love your enthusiasm too, I'll try my best to update sooner, Inu-fan's honor.
Midoriko-chan: I'm a big fan of Midoriko, she's such an interesting character but is barely in any story. I have yet to see her in any AU. Since I splurged on Inuyasha Season 1 (w/ necklace, I might ass XD) and saw how much prettier she is portrayed in the manga, I just couldn't leave her out! Thanks for the review, and R&R!
.-..-.
Chapter 6: Eating Out
.-..-.
The halls had been repainted to match the autumn leaves the week before. It was a tradition; one that the heiress to the multimillion dollar corporation hated. She'd never understood the purpose of repainting the main hallways for the different seasons.
Seeing how her father was as cold as they come, she didn't really see his fascination with it all. What the countless women that she caught sneaking out of Onigumo's room in the early morning saw in him, she couldn't fathom. Money was probably the answer, as sickeningly pathetic that was.
"Kikyo!"
"Oh, Musou..." Kikyo gave a polite smile, watching for the nearest security camera. There was one coming up...above the elevators. Good, good...
"I was hoping that you would do me a favor; answer some questions for the magazine?" Musou pulled out a tape recorder before she could answer.
Kikyo tucked a strand of midnight hair behind her ear, "I'm extremely busy right now, maybe some other time..." She quickened her pace, trying to gain some distance between her and the obsessed reporter.
"Really? Where are you off to?" His eyes darkened a shade. Musou pursued her, watching as she pushed the down button.
"You really think I would tell a reporter such as you?" Kikyo gave a quick laugh, "Musou...after all the years we've known one another, what makes you think I'll share anything with you again?" When he didn't reply, Kikyo took it as a victory. She watched the numbers light up as the elevator rose from the ground floor.
Kikyo looked up at the security camera, cleverly hidden behind a painting. Giving a clear distress signal, she waited patiently for the elevator to rise or the security guards to arrive. Either way, it was a win-win.
The reporter cleared his throat, "Maybe I've turned over a new leaf since then." He supplied, pushing the stop button on his recorder.
Two men, clearly security personnel, charged down the hallway. "Hey you! What did we tell you about sneaking in here?"
Musou turned lazily, "Who said I had to sneak in? If Kikyo hadn't signaled you, would you have even noticed I was here?" Knowing he'd struck a nerve, Musou turned back to Kikyo. "Very nicely played, Kikyo." With a wink, he raised her hand to his lips and placed a light kiss. "I'll see you soon."
She wiped her hand on her shirt, muttering something along the lines of, "Cheeky fool." The heiress turned back to the elevator just as it dinged and the doors slid open. As an afterthought, Kikyo pressed down on the hold button and looked out at the guards. "By the way; you're fired." Releasing the button, the doors closed, leaving the icy heiress alone with her thoughts.
A normal life...interesting...
She waited a moment before pulling out her cell. It only had to ring once. "Maybe we could have a little trade...information for information..."
.-..-.
"Here you go." Kevin winked at the stormy-eyed heiress once more before disappearing back into the kitchens, leaving a heaping plates of seafood behind.
Kagome's eyes gleamed. "Mmm... Dig in, Inuyasha!"
"Are you deaf?" Inuyasha pointed to the food angrily, "I said I wasn't gonna eat it, and I meant every word!"
"What makes you hate seafood so much, anyway, Inuyasha? Are you allergic or something?"
"Why don't you just drop it?" the angry teen suggested.
"You know...I really don't like when people answer a question with a question." Kagome swirled a french-fry in the ceramic ketchup cup, then popped it into her mouth.
Inuyasha's head slowly turned to look at her, "Ever thought about not asking questions, then?"
Completely ignoring his subtle hint of annoyance, she picked up a shrimp and dangled it in front of his face. "Come on, you know you want to try one."
The little piece of breaded seafood was floating dangerously close to Inuyasha's nose. "You better get that out of my face before I bite your hand off." He watched her consider this out of the corner of his eye.
"Well, if it'd get you to eat the shrimp. I think I could live without a hand."
Sesshoumaru stabbed a piece of lobster with his fork, watching the two with a hint of amusement.
"You better forget what you're thinking before you have to live without an arm, Sesshoumaru." Inuyasha growled. "And since when have I been the center of attention, huh? Ain't this whole thing for little-miss-heiress over here, anyway?"
Kohaku rolled his eyes, "Inuyasha, you suck at making people feel welcome." Rin huffed, obviously agreeing with him.
"Oh, who asked you?" The sixteen-year-old snapped.
"Don't worry about me... I'm tougher than that." Kagome chuckled nervously before putting most of her effort into the platter. After a few moments, "Mmm...this is soooo good!"
If Inuyasha had dog ears, they would have been flattened against his skull at that moment. Inuyasha sucked his soda in through the straw with a bored expression, trying to ignore the exasperating girl sitting next to him. She can't be all bad...she did compliment me...or she could just be a sneaky wench who wants to get on my good side.
With the thought fresh in his mind, Inuyasha pinned Kagome with a glare.
The girl, complete with shrimp in mouth, noticed and turned with her head cocked to the side. For a moment they just stared at one another, not having a clue what the other was looking at them for. Finally, Kagome swallowed, "Want some fries at least?" She giggled, "I swear, I didn't do anything to them."
Hesitantly, like a child being dared to touch the fire, Inuyasha reached over to the plate and took a fry.
"So you never answered my question." Kagome rested her cheek on her fist. "Are you allergic?"
Inuyasha scoffed, "Allergic? Me? Hah! I'm not allergic to anything!"
Kagome scrunched up her nose. Leaning towards him, she whispered, "Are you scared?"
Bingo. "NO!"
With a new understanding, the heiress picked up a shrimp and handed it to him. "Come on, it's good."
"What is your fascination with me eating some damn seafood?" Inuyasha yanked the food away from her and growled, "I don't eat seafood for a reason and if you think I'm gonna tell you then you can just forget it."
Sesshoumaru sighed, "Before you two make any more of a scene...Inuyasha was attacked by lobsters when he was five years old. The first time we went to Red Lobster he even screamed."
Both girls blinked. Lobsters...?
"If it wasn't for you, Sesshoumaru, then it would never have happened. You're the one who found it funny to push me in!"
"Don't blame me for your bad balance." Sesshoumaru looked over at Kagome, "You'll learn quickly that convincing Inuyasha to do anything is near futile, Kagome. Don't waste too much energy on trying to sway him."
"Keh!" Inuyasha swiped a shrimp off the heiress' plate with a determined look. "Shows how much you know me..."
Although Kagome could see the inner turmoil, Inuyasha's face was stubbornly set in a tough-guy glare. He opened his mouth and popped in his first ever piece of seafood.
...Too bad he swallowed the tail.
.-..-.
Sango continued down the hall, towards the elevator. The main floor was a fairly quiet place at nine thirty at night. The only occupants were the security guards who had taken the secretary's place after she left to go upstairs for the night. Sango had discovered that many of the Arashi employees lived inside the building.
I suppose they could be needed at anytime in a place like this...
Sango looked over at the fountain in the lobby with a yawn. Fatigue had overtaken her. Further exploration would have to wait until tomorrow. Turning back around, she waved to the security guards before heading up to her room. She passed back around behind the main lobby to the upper-floor elevators. Kaede had given her a swipe card for all the more private family-oriented areas of the building. The areas that the press barely, if ever, saw.
She jumped when she noticed someone else was there.
"Ah, Sango." Naraku pushed off from the wall he'd been leaning on. His movements were always so smooth...so calculated. It made her jumpy. "What are you doing down here so late?"
Sango furrowed her eyebrows, "It's nine thirty."
"You should get your sleep anyway, you have a busy day tomorrow." The elevator dinged, and against Sango's better judgment, she followed the businessman inside. They were surrounded by mirrors, making it look like there were a hundred creepy Naraku's instead of only one. Sango gave a quiet gulp.
"Busy day?"
"No one seems to be doing their job around here..." Naraku sighed, crossing his arms and leaning back on the wall. "You mean Kaede didn't tell you?"
"No."
"Midoriko?"
"No."
"You're going clothes shopping tomorrow morning, and during the afternoon you'll be trained for the press further by Midoriko." Naraku looked down at her, "Believe me, that will take all day. You'll be lucky if you get lunch."
Sango stared back up at him, "I doubt that."
Naraku chuckled darkly, "You can prove me wrong tomorrow." The elevator dinged and slid open. "Until then...Sango." He swiped his card on the lock outside the door, and pushed it open. Sango almost gasped at the size of it. What was a businessman like Naraku doing with a room almost as big as Kagome's?
.-..-.
"Hey, it wasn't my fault. You said we could share! What? Now you're taking your words back to make me look like some kind of greedy animal?" Inuyasha slammed the door behind him. "Besides, if you were so hungry, why didn't you order another one? It's ALL YOU CAN EAT, heiress, all-you-can-eat."
Kagome shrugged off her jacket and stopped to hang it in the hallway. "They started looking at us weird after the third time! I'm not going to embarrass myself by ordering a fifth time because you found a new best friend in seafood."
"Might as well get our money's worth!" Inuyasha retorted. "Oh, that's right, you haven't ever had to worry about money up until now."
Kagome's eyes blazed with a new incentive. "Are you saying I'm a spendthrift?"
"Yes, that is what I'm saying, got a problem with that? Hey! I'm talkin' to you!" He stomped up the stairs after the stormy-eyed girl. She can't just walk away!
Kagome stopped at the door to her room and turned. With a glare, she hissed, "You have no idea what my life is like, yet you go around judging me like you do."
"You've been living in the spotlight since you were born, I know more about you than you know about me." Inuyasha glared at her scoff. "It's true."
The hallway was silent for a moment, save for the low hum of heat being blown out of the vents. Kagome stared at him with an emotion he refused to believe was there, then whispered, "If you believe what you read...then you'll never know me. Goodnight, Inuyasha." The door closed before he could make a retort.
"You need to learn some hospitality, Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru passed his brother, heading for his own room. "The girl is a guest in our home, and you are making us look bad. Hopefully, Sango is not being treated the same way." Without saying goodnight to the younger Dawson, Sesshoumaru entered his room. The door closed with a quiet click, and the house was quiet once again.
.-..-.
Eri downed some more of her raw egg smoothie, much to the disgust of the man standing next to her. He didn't show it, but she knew. And she took pleasure in it. "Eat breakfast yet?"
Naraku looked over at her with blatant revulsion. "No."
"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Gives you enough energy to skip lunch and plow right on through to dinner." Eri gulped down some more, "Want some of mine?" She forced back a smile when Naraku leaned away from her.
"No."
Eri shrugged, "Your loss."
"I hardly think so." Naraku looked back over at the health nut and sneered. "Must you drink that in the elevator?"
"Didn't know there was a rule against it."
"There is."
"Wow..." Eri took a final swig and handed her borrowed cup over to Naraku. "Be a doll and see this gets back to the kitchen. Between the two of us, you need a workout more than me."
The elevator doors slid open, revealing a very sleepy Sango.
"Morning sleepyhead!" Eri grinned, yanking the girl into the lift by her arm. "I've been wanting to meet you for a while!"
With a vicious yawn, Sango eyed the girl with as much curiosity as she could muster so early in the morning. "...Who are you?"
"The most fit woman who isn't freakishly muscular that you'll ever meet." Eri replied seriously. "And I'm your personal trainer for the next three months. Two hours of cardiovascular activity like you've never seen, Sango. We start today."
Sango's jaw dropped.
Eri smirked before she busting out in laughter. "Calm down, I'm not serious." The short-haired twenty three year old shot out her hand like a bullet out of a gun, "Name's Eri. You don't need to know my last name because, well, it isn't that great."
"Nice to meet you." Sango shook her hand, and noticed the attire of the two Arashi employees. "Um...am I late for breakfast?"
Eri looked down at her athletic attire, and Naraku's formal business suit, and then back to Sango's pajamas. With an amused smile, she shook her head. "On the contrary. Naraku and I are both early birds. Half of Arashi isn't even up yet. It is a Sunday, after all. I'm surprised you're up as early as you are."
"What is there this morning?" Sango looked over at the glass in Naraku's hand. "And why's that glass covered in slime?"
Naraku rolled his eyes, "This isn't mine."
"Okay..."
"It's eggs."
Sango looked over at Eri, repulsed. "Eggs? In a glass?"
"Hey, don't knock it until you've tried it. Eggs are nutritious, and they give you tons of energy." Eri's peppy attitude was proof enough for that.
"But what about Salmonella? Aren't you worried you'll get it?"
Eri scoffed, "I'm tougher than that. Besides, no pain, no gain, right?"
What would Eri gain if she died, Sango didn't know. "That's not what we're having for breakfast, is it?" Sango spared another glance over at the slimy glass. Perhaps that was how so many famous stars kept in shape... Very raw breakfast foods.
"Pancakes, French Toast, or Eggs Benedict this morning." Naraku stabbed at his palm pilot with the attached metal pin.
"I think Naraku might die if someone made him drink eggs..." Eri sighed wistfully, "I'd love to see that."
.-..-.
Kagome yawned with a smile, rolling over under the sheets. The sun met her face, making her squint when she opened her eyes. "Mhfm..."
She jerked, but quickly calmed. I'm supposed to be here...this is my room for the next three months... Her initial shock wore off, allowing her to realize something else that was amiss. Kagome couldn't quite place it, but she felt like someone was watching her.
Come on, Kagome...you're being paranoid. There's nothing here... Just get out of here, and the creepy feeling will go away.
With a sigh and an embarrassed smile, Kagome pulled back the covers.
.-..-.
"Yo, squirt, pass the orange juice, will ya? And get your nose out of that paper before you spill something."
Without heeding his older brother's warning, Kohaku handed over the carton. "It's interesting."
"Keh, interesting? It's all politics, interviews...car crashes, muggings, and...hand me a section."
"Hey, where's Kagome?" Kohaku leaned his chair dangerously back and looked into the living room.
"Gettin' her much needed beauty sleep probably." Inuyasha folded the Metro section and opened up the orange juice carton.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Inuyasha's hand jerked, sending orange droplets flying all over the table. Kohaku fell back onto the floor.
The screaming above them continued.
Mess forgotten, Inuyasha jumped up and raced up the stairs. What's that girl screaming for?
In the corner of the room stood a very terrified Kagome. In her bed was Killer.
"Inuyasha! Get him out! I woke up and he was...he was..." Kagome whimpered and sunk to the floor. She knew she'd never live this down; Inuyasha wouldn't let her, but at the moment she didn't care.
"What is it with you and screaming?" Inuyasha asked, walking over to the bed. "Like I said before, Killer's never hurt anyone before."
"Then how come he's so big?" Kagome's voice quivered.
With an almost inaudible grunt, Inuyasha heaved the python up off the bed. He draped him across his shoulders, "Calm down, will ya? He didn't hurt you, so there's nothing to be scared of anymore." The teen left the room towards his own.
A moment later Kagome heard the tank sliding closed and Inuyasha's footsteps approaching her room.
He paused at her door. With a sigh, he leaned in the doorway. "Come on, we're having pancakes."
"I'll be down in a minute." Kagome took a deep calming breath and rose shakily to her feet. "It's just aftershock, that's all."
"Killer won't get back out, it was my fault he got out anyway," Inuyasha watched the heiress carefully. At least she didn't seem to be crying...
"No, it was mine. I shouldn't have opened your door... He would have just crawled around your room if I hadn't." Kagome sighed, puffing up her pillow. She held it against her chest for a second.
"Damn straight." The heiress ducked her head, not even bothering to fight back. "But...that can't be helped now, can it? Now stop your sniffling and come eat some pancakes before you die of starvation. I ain't gonna be the one responsible; I don't have enough to pay when your dad sues us."
Kagome gave a half-hearted glare before breaking into a smile. "I know."
He did a double take, making her laugh even more.
.-..-.
"So..."
Inuyasha groaned; he knew what was coming.
"What's she like?"
Miroku was pinned by an angry glare. "Whoa, whoa, whoa...you seem to have the wrong kind of enthusiasm about this. Shouldn't you be...happy...not...murderous?"
"She drives me crazy, Miroku!"
"Like in that teen movie...with the girl from Sabrina in it? What was it called?"
Inuyasha's look went dry. "Drive Me Crazy?"
His best friend snapped his fingers, "That's the one!"
"No! She drives me crazy, like fly-buzzing-around-your-soda crazy." Inuyasha heaved a sigh, resting on the fence post between the two yards. "You'd think after fifteen years living with Sango I'd be used to insane girls running around."
"She's that bad?" Miroku seemed surprised.
"Worse. This morning she was screaming, made me spill orange juice all over the place."
Miroku looked up from his Saab's hood and wiped his brow with a grease-covered hand. "Screaming? I thought I heard something... I just thought it was Mrs. Flo across the--"
"It was her," Inuyasha jerked a thumb back behind him.
"Why was she screaming?" A sparkle came to Miroku's eye, "Were you...caught being a peeping tom?"
Inuyasha growled, "Stop being a pervert, Miroku, and get back to your 'Make-out Mobile'." There was a pause, then, "Killer was in her bed."
"OW!" Miroku tenderly rubbed his noggin, eyeing the hood of the car menacingly. "What?"
"Killer escaped yesterday, and when we came back from the restaurant, I didn't look for him..."
"You sound kind of guilty about it...Don't scoff, I'm just calling them as I see 'em." Miroku tightened something deep under the engine and sighed. "I'll come by and meet her today."
"Yeah, she should know the school's biggest playboy before she gets there." Inuyasha rolled his eyes and looked back at his house. Kohaku was practicing his blocking with Rin. More than once the ball came dangerously close to hitting Inuyasha in the head.
"Where is she now?"
"Like I know."
"Inuyasha..."
"What?"
Miroku wiped his hands off and closed the hood. "She's all alone here, and she's probably homesick. If Sango was treated that way, how would you feel?"
"I'd kick all their-"
"Exactly." He ignored his friend's murderous glares; most of the time he looked like that when he learned someone else was right. "I've got to pick something up for Mushin, but I'll be back around four."
Inuyasha nodded distractedly. "Alright. See ya, Miroku."
Miroku gave him a quick salute before sliding into the drivers seat. A moment later he pulled out onto the road and disappeared.
Up at her window, Kagome drew the curtains and went back to unpacking her stuff.
.-..-.
Sango looked out the window overlooking the city. Only a few buildings stood taller than the Arashi building, and only one of them tied. "Who's building is that?"
Midoriko looked up from her cellular and frowned. "Onigumo's. That building belongs to the Miasma corporation. They're our largest competitor."
"Oh..."
"You've probably grown up hearing about the comparisons between Kagome and Onigumo's daughter...neither company started it, despite what you may hear on E!. Due to their drastic similarities, the press ate up everything they could about the two girls. Had Kagome and Kikyo both been in dancing classes, someone would have said that they were trying to outdo one another. But, since no one in media circles has ever tried to get to know the girls well, they don't know how truly different the girls are." Midoriko snapped her cell closed. "Actually...there was one reporter...but--Spears."
Sango sighed. This had been happening all morning.
"No, Naraku, you--we're leaving now." Without a word of goodbye, Midoriko snapped her cell shut again. She gave a strained smile and put a hand on Sango's shoulder. "Come on, you need some clothes."
"I brought tons..."
Midoriko stopped at the elevator, her hand poised with her swipe card in midair. "I've never met a girl who thought she had enough clothes before, unless I count myself." The older woman smirked, "For now, though, we have Mr. Higurashi's personal platinum card and my car."
The two filed into the elevator and Sango smiled. She was going to like it here, as long as she spent more time with Midoriko and less time with Naraku.