Dinner passes without any complications. Kagome graciously answers any and all questions directed her way, many relating to her career with a few directed towards her family. Only one demon present is brave enough to inquire about our personal lives, seated at the other end of the table.
"Tell me, Kagome," my mother purrs as she sips her wine. "How long have you been in contact with my son?" Kagome blushes at her inquiry but smiles at the demoness kindly.
"Just over a month, but we went to school together awhile back. Kind of traveled in different crowds though," she explains. Unlike my own answers, she is freer with the details, but just as capable of skirting the truth.
"Things appear to be going well, is it safe to assume more permanent plans will be made soon?" My eyes narrow on their own accord as my temper spikes briefly. Kagome quickly rests a hand on my knee and holds my mother's gaze across the table.
"Actually, we're taking things at a slightly more human pace," she explains, "I've been going through some things lately and dealing with a lot of stress. Your son has been more than understanding about everything. We're not in any rush," she informs everyone, a shy smile dancing across her lips. I watch my mother's face fall slightly, as though upset she had failed in getting a rise out of either of us.
"Even though you are human?" The other demons at the table look shocked she had had the nerve to ask such a question, but their own curiosity is clearly felt in the room. Kagome just laughs and takes a sip of her water.
"I still have a fair amount of youth left. My other demon friends have assured me it wouldn't be an issue." It is clear she is referring to the hanyou and my mother tenses again. It must have come up when they were younger and in love, I had not realised she had felt so strongly for the half-breed.
"Well," the snake demon's wife interrupts, "you are by far the best-looking human I've seen in ages, and so sweet." Kagome blushes at the praise, averting her eyes to her plate. Zhang leans over from my left.
"I meant what I said earlier about wanting to work with you, Taisho," his voice is soft against the chatter among the others at the table. "I would just feel better if I had a place where I could check-in, keep an eye on things here as well. I've already found an area that would be perfect," he explains, growing louder as he becomes more excited with his idea, soon drawing the others' attention. "The fifth block in downtown Kanto region. Good location, I could easily rebuild there and help in relocating the current residents, it's far enough out of your way that we wouldn't get in each other's way, it's perfect!" It is certainly thought out, I take a bite of steak, pondering his words. Having no real assets in that region, there is no real reason to disapprove his proposal, the move would be advantageous for both our companies. I am about to accept when Kagome's scent turns bitter, drawing everyone's attention. I glance over to find her scowling at her dinner, gnawing at her bottom lip.
"Is everything alright, Miss Higurashi?" Zhang asks, concerned. Kagome glances up, clearly startled from her thoughts, and smiles in confusion.
"Yes, of course! I didn't…" She glances around, finding all eyes on her, and sighs. "Demons. Right," she mumbles under her breath. "It's nothing, really." She tries to wave off everyone's concern, but Zhang folds his hands and leans over the table a bit. His expression is one of interest and curiosity.
"Please, if you have any thoughts, I would be most pleased to hear them!" Biting her lip, Kagome looks up at me from the corner of her eye. Seeing no way around the situation, I nod my head, urging her to share her opinion. She takes a deep breath, fiddling with her napkin under the table.
"Forgive me for saying so, Zhang-sama, but…" she pauses, considering her next words. "It seems that not only would you be forcing people from their homes, but you would be throwing your own money away in the process." The short man's eyes widen considerably.
"How do you figure?" Kagome looks around, clearly uncomfortable under everyone's stares, much to my own mother's pleasure. She shakes her head slightly and meets Zhang's gaze, keeping her eyes on him only.
"The area you're talking about used to be a huge tourist area, the buildings were constructed with the intent to be physically appealing enough to draw people in. They're still in great shape considering the time that's passed since the recession. The cost of any necessary renovations would be significantly less than bulldozing the whole block just to rebuild it." Zhang nods his head, following her logic, seemingly swept up in her sudden confidence. I, too, am impressed by her quick analysis of the situation, and notice I do not appear to be the only one. "Not to mention the lack of ethics in removing people from their homes. Most of those families have been there for generations, they wouldn't go quietly just because you offer them a substantial buyout."
"And how else would you recommend Mr. Zhang remove them?" My mother asks, coldly. Kagome looks at her in shock before quickly schooling her features.
"I wouldn't," she states firmly, clearly disgusted by the idea, before meeting Zhang's eyes again. "Most of them are tradesmen, if you could employ even some of them, whether for the renovations or to work in your building permanently, they would be significantly less likely to fight you for the area than if you took your current course of action, if anyone said anything at all." Zhang's eyes narrow again as he mentally runs the numbers in his head, finding that she is in fact correct. Kagome smiles, knowing she's had an effect on the short man. "If you think about it, a company like your's setting up shop in their area would be of huge interest, drawing in new business they haven't seen in years. You'd be a hero to them, which would be great PR for your company. There's no need to rehome anyone," she reiterates, glancing at my mother briefly. "Just give them a chance. The building on the right corner should be properly suited to your needs and easily fixed up." Zhang smiles at her proposal, understandably pleased with the idea of spending less money. He glances over at me, smile still in place.
"Taisho-sama, would you agree to such an arrangement? It is still your land after all." Kagome's eyes widen as her mouth drops open in surprise, no doubt realising she had just been debating about my lands. She bites her lip and averts her gaze to her lap, once again uncomfortable.
"I see no problem with Miss Higurashi's proposal," I admit. Her head snaps up, staring at me in blatant shock. "I will send one of my advisors with you to survey the area on Monday so that you may choose a building for your purposes, after which we will reconvene in my office to draw up the paperwork." Kagome breathes a heavy sigh of relief, smiling to herself. She ain't made for that kinda world, InuYasha's voice echoes once more in my head as I glance at the slightly embarrassed human next to me. Perhaps she is better fitted than either of us could have thought. The rest of the evening is fairly uneventful in comparison to how it started. Kagome excuses herself to bid her farewells to the rest of the party before we go and my mother saunters over in her absence. After several moments of silence, she sighs heavily.
"Alright, I'm impressed," she admits, watching Kagome make her rounds. "I must admit, I did not see that coming. Did you know about Zhang's offer before you arrived? Coach her perhaps?" I shake my head. "She feels very strongly about that block then."
"No, it is not the block," I state, a small smile pulling at my lips. "She feels very strongly about other people. Doing the right thing."
"Then, you have not discussed sharing lands if you were to mate?" I quirk an eyebrow at her. "Just asking," she raises a hand in surrender. "She was awfully quick to save it, not knowing it belonged to you."
"I told you, mother," I begin, retrieving our coats as Kagome approaches. "She is a good person." Kagome smiles brightly at both of us. "Are you ready to go?" She nods her head.
"Whenever you are! Cassandra's promised to stop by the studio with her husband the next time they're in Japan," she informs me, positively beaming. I smile down at her, once again helping her into her coat. "Kimi, it was so nice to meet you. I hope you'll excuse my, um, outburst," she asks, spinning the ring on her right hand again. My mother merely smiles, surprising both of us when she hugs the small girl.
"You are human, after all, one cannot expect you to be anything less." She directs her attention to me, once again kissing the air by my cheek. "Bring her back some time," she whispers before pulling away. "I hope we meet again soon," she smiles down at Kagome. I rest my hand on the small of her back, nod to my mother, and guide Kagome from the room. Once outside the building, she releases a rather large breath I hadn't been aware she had been holding.
"I am so sorry, Sesshomaru, I never should have said anything, I had no idea you owned the Kanto region and I shouldn't be talking about things I know absolutely nothing about and I probably ruined everything for you and I am just so so sorry! I'll do anything to make up for it, I promise, just you name it, I can't believe I embarrassed you like that! I knew I would do something, but that was just awful! And to put you in a position like that, I just -" I quickly pull her into my chest, cutting off her rant, and wrap my arms around her waist.
"You did not embarrass this one in the slightest." I can feel her surprise as her breath catches in her throat. "Nor did you ruin anything. You actually saved both of us quite a bit," I explain, allowing her to pull away just enough to see her confused expression.
"I did?" She inquires, softly.
"Hn, Zhang was saved millions while he will now only be occupying one building on my land, rather than the whole block. Before we left, he told me that he would be solely trading through my company, do you know why?" She shakes her head gently, eyes wide. "He said if my employees were half as thoughtful, impassioned, and intelligent as you, he has no need to seek business anywhere else." Her cheeks flush at the compliment. "This one was also quite impressed by your actions throughout the entire evening." A smile pulls at her lips as she glances up at me again.
"You were?" I nod my head once, smirking at her reaction.
"I must ask, how did you know the hanyou would be sufficient blackmail?" She giggles a little, cheeks turning a brighter red.
"It sounds awful when you put it like that," she averts her gaze to the ground, shrugging. "I grew up listening to InuYasha talking about how the business world worked, how the other demons treated him, and how embarrassed most of your family is over him, your mom in particular, who terrifies me by the way." I chuckle, recalling how tense she had been at the idea of meeting her. "I figured, if she knew I was open to talking about my best friend, the things I'm sure he's seen in your house growing up, she'd be less likely to go for my throat," she explains, embarrassment once more coating her scent.
"You were correct in your assumption. In doing so, you also managed to gain her respect." Shock takes over her features once again. "As well as the respect of everyone in that room."
"So," she draws out the word, looking anywhere but at me. "I didn't embarrass you?" I chuckle again, smiling a bit at her slight insecurity. The woman can challenge demons but needs affirmation on this? I tilt her chin up to meet her gaze, pulling her slightly more into me.
"I told you, you could never."