I scowl at the short demon rambling at the front of the room as he continues droning on about the numbers from this last quarter and his ideas on how to improve them further. It is bad enough this meeting had to be rescheduled at all, forcing me to miss our training session before the hanyou's wedding practice, but for him to go on for his second hour, acting as though he knows better than I how to further my company's prospects is far too much even for this Sesshomaru to handle. He notices my eyes narrow and abruptly cuts his speech short.
"Are you quite finished then, Yamada?" The tone of my voice leaves no room for further discussion and the impish man nods his head. "You are lucky I am in a hurry," I inform him as I gather my things. "Were I not, you would be on the streets short of a job and, given my current mood, a limb." I pause at the doorway noting, with no small amount of satisfaction, the way his eyes widen and scent grow bitter in fear. "Do not question my methods again. Am I clear?" He nods, shakily, and I quickly exit the building, hurrying over to Kagome's studio. I text her to inform her of my imminent arrival, only slightly concerned at the lack of response over the drive. The half-breed and his friends are more than likely there already, they would keep her occupied enough to keep her from her phone.
Pulling into her parking lot, however, I find the group in its entirety outside of the building, standing across from a tall man with long dark hair and a rather ominous aura. The scent of Kagome's distress, mixed in with the anger of everyone else, is enough to draw my own anger to the surface. I quickly park my car and make my way to the group, noticing Kagome's shaking form and the smell of salt in the air. My eyes narrow once more, zeroing in on the fool who dared to make her cry. His red gaze meets mine, briefly, over InuYasha's head, a cruel smirk in place. Naraku.
"I told you he would pull a stunt like this!" InuYasha's voice echoes off the buildings in the area. "The second I heard you signed with this asshole, I told you he'd screw you just like he did Kikyou and me! He's no good, low life scum -"
"InuYasha!" Kagome yells, effectively silencing his rant. "Stop talking," she orders, voice firm, though her words are clipped. She tenses, sensing my presence, and turns to face me for just a moment. Embarrassment, fear, and anguish are written in her features, her blue eyes gleam with unshed tears, her lower lip swollen from biting it in an attempt to keep control. In that second, I could murder the man in front of us.
"What's happened?" I ask her quietly, though not quietly enough that the hanyou does not hear. He turns around, eyes tinged red with blue creeping into his golden irises as Kikyou tries to calm him.
"Her dick of a landlord decided to raise her rent by twenty-five percent, that's what!" He snarls. Naraku chuckles behind him, only drawing the boy's fury again. "Is this true?" I ask, draping my youki around her like a blanket. Her tremors stop in reaction as she nods her head. I lower myself until my lips are next to her ear and whisper, "Can you afford it?" She takes a shuddering breath and shakes her head. I gently rub my hand across her lower back as I walk by her to face the sleazy landlord. "Do you have a valid reason for increasing the rent so drastically?" Naraku chuckles again, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Taisho, we are both businessmen. Are you telling me you have never made decisions that made others suffer for your own profit?" Several decisions matching such a decision cross my mind. "It's nothing personal, Ms. Higurashi," he drawls, "just business." Saltwater fills the air around us and I know Kagome has lost the battle to contain her emotion. The hair on the back of my neck bristles in anger.
"I understand where you are coming from," I inform him, much to the shock of the others. I can smell their anger and betrayal so clearly, I can almost taste it. Only Kagome seems to have any semblance of trust in me, though panic still coats her normally sweet, soothing scent. "I assume there was a clause for such an action in your original lease." I suppress a smirk as his own smile fades, eyes narrowing in disdain. "As we both know, as businessmen, Japan does not allow the increase of rent in cases involving a lease," I remind him, "even if they are under a month-to-month agreement. The only way around this would be to explicitly state the possibility for such an action in the original lease, giving Ms. Higurashi ample time to decide whether this would be a term she would agree to and prepare herself for such a possibility." His cold red eyes stare into my own, hatred seeping through his every pore. While I imagine such a look to be quite intimidating to a human, or perhaps even a mid-level youkai, it has less than no effect on this one, and so I meet his gaze evenly, daring him to challenge me. It has been a while since I have had a good fight, I think with little amusement. I watch as he sizes me up, body tense, before he smiles, relaxing his posture.
"It would appear I will have to reevaluate the terms of my lease before taking further action," he concedes. Kagome's relief rushes over me in a wave of hydrangea. "I was unaware Ms. Higurashi kept such high company." I raise my chin, one eyebrow raised. "She is lucky you were here, Taisho. I don't believe we were introduced." He reaches out his hand. I stick my own into my pockets.
"I know who you are," I inform him. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we have a lesson to attend." I turn around, wrap my arm around Kagome's waist, and lead her inside. I feel his gaze on our backs the entire time. I help her into one of the seats near the door and step back outside, just as InuYasha looks ready to continue his tirade from earlier. "InuYasha." He turns at the sound of his name and, upon seeing my expression, he huffs, but gives one last glare in Naraku's direction before walking into the studio. Inside, Sango is sitting next to Kagome, rubbing circles on her back and whispering assuring words to her. When I let myself back in, Kagome's head shoots up to look at me, wide eyes shining with gratitude.
"Thank you," she whispers, voice hoarse from repressed emotion. I nod my head and lean against the wall closest to the glass door. I watch as Naraku gets into an unmarked, black car and exits the parking lot.
"How did you know all that stuff?" Sango asks, looking just as surprised as she sounds. "I thought your company dealt in trade, not real estate?"
"It is in my best interest to be knowledgeable in all manner of business, not just my own." Kagome takes a deep breath and stands, an embarrassed expression taking hold of her features.
"Sorry for all the drama," she apologises, rubbing the back of her head. "I'll get the music set up and we'll salvage what we can of this class." She quickly crosses the room to set up her sound system, her breaths deeper than usual as she tries to calm herself and regain control of herself. She does so with impressive speed, all things considered, and the rest of the lesson goes on without complication. While Kagome promises she doesn't mind staying late to make up for the late start, Kikyou assures her it is no trouble at all and makes her promise to have an early night. InuYasha pauses in his exit, standing next to me for several silent seconds.
"Thanks," he mutters, looking solely at the door. "For helping her. This place means a lot to her." I nod my head, knowing his pride is already wounded at not having been able to help his friend and not needing to rub it in. For Kagome's sake, I assure myself. After the others leave, I linger in the middle of the room, watching as she gets her laptop out.
"It was agreed upon that, due to my scheduling dilemma earlier, we would practice now," I begin, walking over to stand behind her. Her gaze meets mine in the glass mirror on the wall, startled out of her actions. "However, given the circumstances, perhaps it would be best to reschedule." She stands up suddenly, nearly bumping into me in the process.
"No! We can't, we only have eight weeks until the competition and we still have to learn the choreography for three dances and fine-tune the others, we don't have time for missing practices!" I grab her shoulders, forcing her to look at me.
"I am not suggesting we miss anything," I explain, pushing a piece of hair behind her ear. Her cheeks tinge pink as my claws graze her soft skin. "I am merely suggesting you take the evening off the rest. You have had a very stressful day. Humans are fragile and require occasional recalibration through mindless activities, or self-care, or whatever phrase you have decided to use now." My heart warms slightly as she breathes out a laugh, the smallest of smiles taking over her lips.
"I'm a lot sturdier than you think, you know," she assures me, even as her exhaustion is evident in her voice and posture. Her eyes are still puffy from her earlier tears. Looking at them, I am reminded of the numerous times she tried to rub them during practice without drawing the other's attention. If they noticed as well, they did not say anything.
"Of that, I have no doubt. However, even the mightiest demons require rest at times." She glances up at me from under her lashes, a teasing glint in her eyes.
"I never see you rest." I feel myself smirk.
"Very few have the privilege to do so." She giggles slightly and rolls her eyes. "Though, I must point out that you have, indeed, seen this one rest." Her eyebrows furrow in confusion. "While you were staying with us," I remind her, "this one watched movies on the couch, cooked -"
"Cooking is not resting," she counters.
"I find it relaxing," I admit. "Especially when there is such talkative company." She blushes and looks at the floor between us. "So, what is it that you do to rest?" She shrugs, looking slightly embarrassed again.
"I haven't really had much time to in a while, I don't really remember." I raise an eyebrow, smelling her deceit.
"You and I are both well aware that that is not true." She winces slightly, keeping her gaze on the floor. "Try again." Her shoulders slump as she sighs.
"You'll laugh."
"This one does not laugh." She looks up at me, an incredulous look on her face, before she realises I am joking, more or less. She scoffs, rolling her eyes. "You have my word that I will not." She nibbles on her lower lip, deep in thought.
"Honestly?" I nod my head, waiting for her answer. Her cheeks burn a brighter shade of red. "Watch you cook and hang out with you." Her tone takes on the air of a sinful confession rather than a simple answer. I am unable to ignore the joy that blossoms in my chest at her admission and allow a small smile to grace my features as I tilt her chin up to meet her eyes.
"It would appear that we can help each other, then." Her eyebrows lower once again in confusion. "I will make you dinner at your apartment, we will find something enjoyable to watch, and both leave the better for it." I turn around to grab her coat and other belongings.
"Sesshomaru, you really don't have to do that, I promise, I'm okay!"
"You're body betrays you, Kagome." She blushes and, seeing how she could misinterpret my sentence, I quickly elaborate. "I can still smell your distress. You are clearly overworked, underpaid, and extremely stressed. Now, I have already admitted to enjoying cooking, our time together, therefore it is of no disservice to myself to do either this evening, and you are left with no reason not to accept."
"What about Rin?" She challenges, clearly still believing she is putting me out.
"I will have Jaken prepare dinner, as he has while I have spent many late nights at the office, and put her to bed." I hold out her coat, smiling as she lets me help her into it, almost in a daze. "Any other excuses?" After a moment, she shakes her head. "Very well then. Is there anything, in particular, you would like this evening?" She shakes her head again as I hold open the door, locking it behind us. "Very well." I help her into the front seat of my car and place her bag in the back seat before getting myself settled. "Do you have food in the apartment?" Her cheeks flush again as I back out of my spot and pull out onto the road.
"We should probably make a stop at the grocery store," she admits, rubbing the back of her neck. I smirk and nod my head, turning in the direction of the nearest store.