Disclaimer: Characters do not belong to me but Rumiko Takahashi. Worship her. I'm not making any money by writing this, nor am I violating Takahashi's characters (much...)
Chapter title from the song by Alanis Morissette (oh, I hope I spelled that right.. o.O;) and it has SO great lyrics... :D
Chapter nine - Ironic
"Ayame speaking."
"Hey mom!"
"Ka-chan! How are you?"
"I'm just fine, settled back at here and back in work as well," Kayade replied with a smile.
"That's good to hear."
"I've got something delicious to tell you, mom!"
"Oh? What has happened now?"
"The mighty have fallen."
"What do you mean by that, Ka-chan?"
"By that I mean that Hisakata-sama has mated a human!"
"No way!"
"Yes way! Mom, honestly, I know it sounds unbelievable, but Kagome-chan told about it to me herself and –"
"Kagome, you say?"
"Yeah, Kagome-chan and –"
"How do you know Kagome?"
"Mom, we've been working at the same place for an year and half now!"
"You have? Huh, talk about coincidence..." Ayame's voice trailed off.
Kayade rolled her eyes.
"... Wait a second... Did you just tell me that Kagome and Sesshoumaru...?"
"Yes, mom, that's how it went."
"But... Why? How? How did this happen? There's NO way that.."
"Are you okay, mom," Kayade asked feeling a bit worried.
"I think so. Well, as okay as I can be after hearing Kagome has mated with.. with... What about Hojo?"
"It appears her feelings aren't so strong for him anymore. Better this way, honestly."
"Better? How can it be better!"
"Don't you think they'd make a cute couple?"
"Well, Sesshoumaru is a little too much... well, Sesshoumaru."
"Ahhh, but that's the point, mom! What if Kagome-chan will be able to break through Hisakata-sama's barrier of ice?"
"Hmm... I think see where you are getting at, Ka-chan.."
"Exactly. What would happen if Hisakata-sama finally got himself a mate? I bet he'd change – a lot."
"And we all could stop worrying about our lives. Yes. It could be good..."
"Yup!"
"But if he just dares to hurt her, I will surely...!"
Kayade laughed.
"I know, mom, I know... But okay, I gotta go now.. bye!"
"Bye sweetie! Greet Kagome for me."
"I will... bye."
Hitachi hung up.
"Wow," he said shaking his head.
"What now?" Rin asked.
"Better prepare yourself, dearest. The end is coming."
"What are you taking about?" Rin asked her eyebrow raised.
"Sesshoumaru-sama. I'm talking about Sesshoumaru-sama."
"For kami's sake, Hitachi! Spill it out already!"
"Sesshoumaru mated the miko last weekend."
"He DID?!"
Hitachi had to cover his delicate ears for Rin's happy squeal was too high and too loud to his liking.
"Oh this is great! Great!"
"Whoah, stay put, will ya?"
"This is wonderful! That explains why he hasn't showed his face in the office lately. My oh my..."
Rin danced happily around.
"You've lost it, dearest," Hitachi said in a regretful tone as he watched his mate dancing around, shaking his head.
Then Rin suddenly froze.
"Rin?"
She turned her head so until she was facing him. Hitachi gulped and took a step back as he saw the expression in Rin's eyes.
"R-Rin? Hun?"
"ARGH! That damn sulky inuyoukai! I'm so not talking to him!" Rin declared, crossing her arms over her chest.
Hitachi blinked.
"Who told you?" she snapped.
"Kouga did."
"Kouga? Now I'm really mad at him! He should have told me!"
"Huh? Kouga you mean?"
"No, not Kouga-kun! I'm talking about Sesshoumaru-sama! He should have told me!"
"Now now, dear..."
Her cell phone rang then.
"Miyame Rin."
"Miyame-san, where is he?"
"Oh, it's you again, Takane-san."
"He hasn't been at work for three days, damn it! Where is he?"
"Uh, Sesshoumaru-sama decided to take a little break..."
"What! He runs a company, damn it! He can't just 'decide to take a break' and disappear! Without telling me even!"
"I know, Takane-san, and I'm sorry... But it's just something he can very well do, I mean, you know what he's like.."
"Argh, that stubborn bastard... Well, anyway, I'm sorry to bother you, Miyame-san, after all it's not your fault that our boss is so irresponsible. Well, I have to go now, my work has doubled up since he's gone. I hope I'll have time to eat dinner..."
Takane-san hung up before Rin had a chance to say bye.
She huffed and glared at her cell phone.
"What now, dear?" Hitachi asked.
"That was Takane-san, the vice-president of Sesshoumaru-sama's company. You know, he's been breathing on my neck all the time, asking where Sesshoumaru-sama is and when will he coming back." Rin rolled her eyes.
"Well, it's understandable, after all Sesshoumaru-sama..."
"I'm so not talking to him!"
It took exactly one week before Rin's worry overtook her anger.
"Where are you going now, dear?"
"I'm going to see Sesshoumaru-sama. Right now."
"I thought you were so not talking to him."
"Oh shush! He's been away for ten days! Something could have happened! I have to check up on him."
She closed the door after her.
"Sesshoumaru-sama!" Rin shrieked at the sight of him.
Sesshoumaru startled at the loud voice.
"Rin."
"You look terrible!"
And so he did. Rin had known him for over 500 years, and never had she seen him like this.
His long silvery white hair was messy, his thin face was even paler than usual, his clothes were wrinkled and in disorder, his pose was stooped and there was a somewhat pained expression on his usually blank face.
Rin hurried over to him.
"I was so worried! What is it?"
Sesshoumaru turned to look at her. He did not reply.
"What have you been doing?"
"I have been here. Thinking."
"Have you spent TEN days just here, on that sofa?"
"On this very spot."
"Have you been drinking or something," Rin asked, her eyebrow raised
Sesshoumaru growled.
"NO! That was the cause to this in the first place."
"Please don't say you mated with Kagome-nee-chan just because you were drunk."
"How do you know about that?" Sesshoumaru demanded to know, noticing the sudden disappointment in her voice.
"Hitachi heard from Kouga a week ago."
Kouga. So word had travelled again. Everybody knows of my shame and downfall. Maybe... If I commit Seppuku now, I can regain my lost honour... Maybe... Yes.
"But honestly, you shouldn't just sit here sulking when – "
"This Sesshoumaru does not sulk!"
Rin went on, ignoring his statement.
"- Takane-san has to do all your work too, and keeps yelling at me because you're gone and - "
"Maybe he should get used to doing my work."
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"I might not return to work."
"What? Are you resigning? It's your company, damnit, you can't - "
"I'll commit a Seppuku," Sesshoumaru declared.
Silence fell into the room as Rin gawked at the inutaiyoukai, who now looked determined.
Then the little black-haired woman let all of her frustration show in just one, swift move of her hand.
His hand flew up to cover his burning cheek. He didn't even growl for he was so surprised. Rin's dark eyes were flaming.
"You jerk!" she shouted so that Sesshoumaru had to wince at her voice being too shrill and loud.
"You won't be killing yourself for such a pitiful reason!"
"Pitiful? Have you got no idea how shameful deed it was to do?" Sesshoumaru roared back.
"So what!" Rin yelled, making Sesshoumaru startle again. From where had she picked up such an attitude? The damn cat demon had spoiled his little girl...
No, Hitachi is not to blame of this change. She has grown up. Now he finally saw it and finally admitted it to himself. Rin had grown, she had become a determined woman with a temper. He felt a sting of loss inside him.
"Now you sit there and listen," she huffed, shaking her finger at him. If she had not been so furious at him, she would have been laughing her head off at how the tables had turned.
Sesshoumaru was just too shocked at his sudden realisation to react.
"So you went and got drunk and made a mistake... So what? Everybody makes mistakes they regret."
Silence fell. Rin's anger fade away. She sighed and sat down on the sofa next to him.
"Want to talk about it?"
Silence fell once more.
"It's just not that simple," he said finally.
"Tell me," Rin pleaded.
And so he did.
The next morning Sesshoumaru walked into his office, as if nothing had happened, wearing impeccable clothes, his hair in perfect order, his face wearing no expression at all and well, just being his perfect self. Takane-san nearly spilled tears of joy as he saw him, and Rin was happy to finally get peace from the over-reactive vice-president's constant inquiry. Sesshoumaru had sat down behind his desk and continued his work like there had been no pause at all, not bothering to explain his sudden disappearing to anyone.
"Good afternoon, Rin-san."
"Oh no, not you," she moaned aloud.
Kagura was as if she had not heard her.
"Let me guess, you're here to see Sesshoumaru-sama?"
"Exactly. Would you inform him, it's urgent."
"I doubt he wants to see you," Rin warned.
"Please. It's important."
Please? Rin blinked.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, there's a guest for you," Rin said into the speaker.
"Who is it?"
"Kagura-san."
"I'm busy now."
"She told me it's urgent and important."
"I don't care."
"She said please."
"..."
Rin waited for his answer.
"Fine, she may come in."
"He will see you now," Rin said to Kagura.
Kagura smiled at her and stepped in.
"I'm glad of this honour, Sesshoumaru-sama," Kagura said bowing down.
Sesshoumaru quirked his eyebrow. Who was this woman in front of him? Surely not the Kagura he knew.
"What is it now, Kagura?"
"I've been deceiving myself for too long. I'm sorry for all the trouble I have caused to you. I came today to say goodbye. I know that I will not have you, no matter how much I would want it. I can't get through the barrier around your heart, unlike your chosen and therefore I admit my loss."
Huh? What is she talking about? 'My chosen'..?
"So I say goodbye to you. I hope you'll be happy. Treat her well."
"What are you talking about?" Sesshoumaru barked out coldly.
Kagura turned back to look at him, her hand lying on a doorknob.
"I'm telling you to treat well your chosen mate, the miko. She's so lucky to have you. I sincerely wish that you will be happy together."
With that she walked out.
Sesshoumaru just stared at the closed door. And then he recovered.
Wait, even Kagura knew? Well, something good happened because of that mistake.. She gave up on me... Finally.
His door opened again and Rin peeked in.
"Seshoumaru-sama? Tell me all!"
"Kagura came to inform me that she has given up on me. Then she said goodbye. And finally she wished me to be happy with the miko, my chosen mate."
"Aaawww," Rin squealed. "But will you?"
"Will I what?"
"Will you be happy with the miko, your chosen mate?"
Sesshoumary snarled.
"Get out, now!"
Rin glared him and then slowly, reluctantly, walked out of his office, wearing a sulky expression.
"Really?"
"Yes... As you have seen, we have got more customers lately. So, I guess we'll need to increase our staff. That would also mean a little shorter days for you two. And maybe you could get Saturday free of work too, occasionally."
"That would be great!" Kagome smiled.
Share-san nodded.
"Well, that's the plan."
"All right," Kayade replied.
"Good. Then girls, back to work. I can survive in the kitchen by myself, but there are so many customers that both of you are needed in the restaurant. Go on now."
"Hai, Shaere-san!" they replied.
As they were walking back, Kagome nearly fell. Luckily, Kayade caught her in time.
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, thanks."
"What was that?"
"I just.. for a moment I felt a bit dizzy. I don't know, I'm coming down with something. I felt a bit sick in the morning too."
Kayade sniffed. Nope, nothing was wrong with Kagome's health, she could tell that by her scent. But there was something that did not belong there. Kayade bent closer to take Kagome's scent in better.
"What are you doing, Kayade-chan?"
"Huh? Oh sorry..." Kayade let Kagome free of her grasp.
"How are you feeling? You seem a bit pale."
"I'm just fine," Kayade said, forcing a smile.
Yes, she was fine, but just horror-struck. There was a certain tint in Kagome's smell, the same she had once smelled on her mother.
She was pregnant.
This is not going to be good, Kayade gulped. Hisakata-sama wouldn't like to hear this... And what about Kagome-chan? How will she take the news?
Kayade shook her head.
Poor Kagome-chan. What a mess you are in now..
He heard the yelling and growling from a distance. Mildly curious - and since he really had nothing to do anyway - he walked where his ears led him.
She was sitting on a riverbank, staring into the depths of the streaming water and he sensed clearly the pain that hung in the air around her like a veil. The place reeked of his half-brother. Clearly, they had had a disagreement of some kind. Well, that did not surprise him, his imbecile half-brother never tend to agree with anyone. Not even with those humans that were his 'friends'. Not even with that young miko who had freed him of his seal.
"Why do you linger here alone?" He asked keeping his voice calm and emotionless.
She turned alone and her brown eyes widened as she saw him.
"Sesshoumaru!"
He took a step closer and watched the miko, remaining as cold as ever.
"What do you do here?" The miko asked.
"My doing is not for you to know."
"You're after Tetsusaiga, again! INU - "
She was not able to see him move, but in an instant he had grabbed her throat into a steel-like grip. Kagome gasped, trying desperately to breathe. He was strangling her, her feet were uselessly kicking in the air.
"Scream now and you will die."
"You will kill me anyway," she hissed between her teeth.
"You have a point there, wench," he said coldly, tightening his grip even more.
He saw her close her eyes. There was a slight change in her scent and then he let suddenly go of her, growling a curse.
She had used her purifying power.
"You're lucky I don't have my bow with me."
He gave her his death-glare. She didn't even startle, instead she stared back at him, looking defiant. He couldn't smell any fear from her.
And then the look in her eyes softened. A small smile appeared onto her lips. She walked over to him and placed her hands on his shoulders.
Sesshoumaru tried to sweep them away, he didn't want the wench to touch him, but it was no use. He no longer could control himself. The dream wasn't a memory anymore.
She raised her head and pressed a soft kiss on his lips. He wrapped his arms around her and answered the kiss, deepening it.
No! Sesshoumaru roared in his mind. No, this is not what I want!
Why do you not want this?
Oh no, not you here too.
I'm wherever you are. After all, I am you.
Sessoumaru didn't bother to reply to his demon self.
But just stop and think about it. Does it really feel that disgusting? Is it really that awful? To hold someone like this, someone that could love you like this, without asking anything back? Why do you fight against it?
You know nothing!
I know more than you think. I know how you feel deep down inside. You need a mate, no matter what you insist on saying. A mate like her.
They stood there on the riverbank, in one another's arms, their lips locked and eyes closed. It was a precious moment, and Kagome wished that the time could stop for them.
"Here?" Sesshoumaru eyed at the tall building. It was a famous recording company.
"Yes! I've been thinking and then I got this idea. This job is a perfect for you!"
"What would be my position?"
"You'll be taking the microphone."
"What?"
"I know you have a lovely voice! Why bother to hide it?"
"Rin..."
"Now, come on, let's go in!" the little woman dragged her boss inside the building.
Sesshoumaru sighed. He knew he was going to regret this.