The Laws of Two Women and a Man

Chapter One: Cat and Mouse Game

The maid moved forward with the teapot, only to be stopped. Immaculately dressed, Kobayashi-san and his wife gestured for coffee instead. The couple was silent, sure of what they wanted to voice out, yet reluctant to allow anger to rein their good manners. The air was tensed as Kobayashi-san removed his cufflinks and placed them on the traditionally low cherry wood table; an antique no less.

"Taisho." Kobayashi-san, a man of great stature, was Kikyou's father and it is imperative to mention that he was also Kagome's uncle twice removed. He paused as the maid returned with a French tea set and set two saucers on the table.

Both the Taisho and Kobayashi clans were influential. The Taishos were descendants of the powerful warlord that ruled over the western parts of feudal Japan; the same western lands that was famous for its lush forest supplies and riches in trade. Though presently the influence of the Taisho clan had seemingly faded, it was nonetheless there, subtly working its way around society. Present day Japan had gotten rid of the cast system, however, the people still highly respected those of aristocratic roots and their riches are still the mainstream power that drives the economy; nobody can doubt that.

Now, the Taisho clan fully monopolized 85 percent of the biomedical industry in Japan alone. Under their name, eight hospitals were opened, three of which were dedicated to and specialized in the pediatric sector and two in advanced therapeutic treatment. Five of these medical establishments were rated top ten in Asia for their highly advancement in hospitality and medical treatment and all eight were sanctioned by the government to run themselves independently.

The Kobayashis on the other hand, dealt mainly with trade. Their ancestors were not upper-class men. Instead, they were men who made their own wealth; merchants. They grew their business from a small shipping trade to a large port exportation and importation multinational company. Not as rich as the four major clans but still wealthy enough to impact the economy with their trade.

Both clans were influential, rich and respected, yet both clans were very much different. The Taishos were fusion believers, strongly believing in merging both the traditions of the past and comforts of future together. Taisho-san and his wife had modeled their homes after palaces of the olden days; completed with shoji doors, dark wooden floors, oil painted tapestry and even miniature man-made hot springs for their bath.

The Kobayashis on the other hand, were very modern people. They adapted, and modeled their lifestyles to the ever changing fashion of industry. Sitting in the homes of the Taishos, made them look out of place; coffee cups and pristine suits as opposed to the shino yunomi filled with ocha and the summer yukata that Taisho-san and his wife Izayoi donned.

"Common now Genji. Are we that unfamiliar that you have to refer to me by my last name? I thought we were past that formality." Inu Taisho arced his eyebrow as he drank from his yunomi.

Genji Kobayashi stiffened, his ramrod posture dramatically different from Inu Taisho's lax one.

"You know why I am here Taisho."

"I do?" Inu Taisho answered, his eyes twinkling.

"You do!" Kobayashi growled.

Izayoi glared at her husband's inapt behavior and the man simply ignored her glare.

"It would seem like I do."

Kobayashi knew that the man was toying with him, playing the cat and mouse game that both their clans had played for far too long.

"The game stops now Taisho."

Inu Taisho was about to retort 'what game?' when his wife interrupted. "I'm sorry Genji, Genji-san." She added hastily, earning glares from both Kobayashi and his wife for speaking up. Apparently they thought that women should be seen and not heard. Ironic considering the fact that the Taishos were supposedly more traditional in all aspects.

"I understand the upset that you are going through right now. But I feel that we should leave the decision to our children."

Inu Taisho smiled at his wife and took another sip of his green tea, only to be ignored in the same manner as he had done previously.

"Leave it up to them?" Kobayashi's wife, Aoi Kobayashi, spoke for the first time. She looked up, her eyes hardened and glistening with unshed tears. "You mean leave it up to your son to hurt my daughter again!"

Izayoi jerked backward, shocked as Inu Taisho lost all jovialness at the verbal attack to his wife. His eyes hardened and his lips thinned.

"Kobayashi."

"I though we were past that formality." Genji Kobayashi sneered.

"Apparently not." Inu Taisho smarted, his voice steely. "My wife intended for the children to settle this themselves, seeing that it is their emotions on the line. We're playing no games here Kobayashi, you best remember that."

The other man snorted. "Than what do you propose this strife between us is Taisho? Not a game but a hunt? Our clans have far too long left this unsettled! You should be wise than to presume otherwise!"

"I haven't presumed otherwise." Taisho took another sip of his tea, "I am a man of pragmatics Kobayashi. I believe in seeing what there is, and making off what there is. There is nothing I can say to apologize enough for your daughter, but it is not my son's fault."

Genji Kobayashi tightened his grip on his coffee cup as Taisho took another leisurely sip from his yunomi.

"It is time we bury our past Genji." Taisho glanced at his cup and lifted his gaze to the other man. He sat his cup further than his reach, till Kobayashi could see the remnants of the tea leaves at the bottom of the cup. "You do not put old tea leaves back with the fresh ones ne? Just like wine."

Genji and his wife stared at their unfinished coffee and at the tea shatters at the bottom of the yunomi.

"Just like you don't mix the troubles of the past with the future. That my friend would be wise for you to know."

Inu Taisho and his wife stood, bowed slightly as the other couple scrambled ungraciously to stand.

"I apologize. It has been a long day and my wife and I would love for a rest. Don't you Izayoi? I'll get Jaken to see you out if you don't mind."

Before the Kobayashis departed, Inu Taisho smirked. "You don't suppose coffee tastes nicer with ocha, do you?"

Inuyasha let himself into the hospital room. No one else was present and he was glad. Quietly, he made his way towards Kikyou. He heard that she had wakened three days ago, but was too cowardly to face her or rather, her mother. Still making no sound, the man retrieved a tall vase and replenished the wilting flowers with a fresh bunch of Regales, Kagome's favourite. He had never known what flowers Kikyou liked; red roses had never gone wrong with her before. But Kagome was different. She had made it exceptionally clear that roses did not impress her by chucking the elaborate bouquet into the rubbish bin and expressed her adoration for lilies on their first Valentines together.

Inuyasha set the vase on the side table, not too lightly at all and winced at the loud thump. To his relief, Kikyou had not awakened. He was still unsure, yet he was too so very sure. Kikyou's suicide attempt had changed a lot of things, complicated and tied his, Kagome's and her own life into one tight Gordian knot.

"Kikyou." He voice was a half whisper. Kikyou did not stir.

There was so many things he wanted to say, so many things he wanted her to know.

"I'm sorry." Like a water lodge, the words that wanted to flow were vehemently clogged in his chest. He wanted to tell his friend that he was happy, that he had found a woman to love, that he had bought a house by the western coast and he wanted her to be happy for him. But the so many things he longed to tell her, he could not bring himself to say for he knew it was selfish.

Inuyasha gazed at Kikyou's face. It had been fuller since he first saw her and he was glad that she was eating well, however, her countenance seemed to have been on the washboard for too long, the strength and confidence usually on her face was gone.

"Kikyou." It had never been so hard to speak to her. "Why were you so silly?"

Inuyasha clenched his jaws, his hands remaining on his lap.

She wanted to cry, she really did. However, she did not want Inuyasha to see her this way. All he told her was how sorry he was. All he told her was how silly she was. He had not mentioned that he loved her. She could hear his guilt, his remorse in his voice. Resonating as it broke and became hoarse. But that was all it was. That was all what Kikyou Kobayashi was to Inuyasha Taisho; guilt and remorse. Regret even perhaps.

He had sat there for twenty minutes or so and Kikyou had laid motionlessly awake for the same amount of time. She was awake before he came, lamenting her cheat of death, lamenting her lack of peace. She knew that Inuyasha had viewed her strong, but she wanted more than anything to be weak, to crumble into his arms and relish the strength of his embrace. But not once did he touch her when he was in the room.

Did seeing her this defeated not make him want to comfort her? Kikyou felt the tears finally flow at that thought. Even at the bed of her downfall, not once did he stroke her cheek, tuck the fallen strand of her hair behind her ear. Inuyasha had came, had sat beside her and had left. It was like their marriage; he had agreed, exchanged vows, and finally left.

Was she not beautiful enough? For she knew it was not true. She had seen herself in the mirror and many times thanked Kami for it grace. She had known she had many suitors and thanked Inuyasha for keeping them at bay. But one thing she desired she could not have. She did not have Inuyasha's heart the way her cousin had. And that, she resented.

Kikyou tried not to be bitter, tried to feel indifferent, but it pains her to know he was happier with another woman. No doubt he was happy with her, they talked, the confided, but ultimately, he was happier with another.

Stone cold, left to freeze. Kikyou did not even register the hands that wiped her tears and the soft coaxing of her mother's voice. Everything felt cold and hardened. She thought living as a lawyer was a bitter life; it was nothing compared to the ice acridness that grabbed her heart now. Maybe even her soul.

A/N: Ok! I know i am LATE in my update.. Sorry. Really am.. I'M GOING TO SEE THIS TO COMPLETION! I promise kay? Sigh.. tell me what you think ya? Please do review... Kinda depressing to see none ;) Awww.. I;m playing for sympathy.. haha!

Anyways.. Let me know how this chapter was ya? QUICK! REVIEWWWWWWWWWWWW ;)