Chapter 15
Koga drummed the back of Sesshomaru's seat and danced his goofy dance to the music playing on the radio. He was rather perky this morning, very unlike him since he was not a morning person.
"Man, it's so quiet in here, do you guys ever talk?" Koga spat as wedged himself between their seats, turning his head and forth between them. He reached his hand out to lower the volume and sighed. "Hey, you know, maybe we should all go out after work, do something...we're young for shit's sake, let's do some young people things. We all just go to work and home, it's sad..." Koga said realizing he was speaking to himself. He rested his palm on both their shoulders. " There's this lounge not too far from the job, we can go after work."
Kagome and Sesshomaru's eyes widened in unison, unaware to each other's reactions.
"I have some business matters to take care of." Sesshomaru said as he slowed down behind the car in front of them.
"Me too." Kagome added. They turned to each other and wondered what the other had to do and then looked away.
"Man, you guys suck!" Koga sat back against his chair and crossed his arms. " No one wants to hang out. Hey, you know Sango's not talking to me now, right?"
"Really, why?" Kagome turned to look at him.
" Ah, she's mad because I knew about you guys and didn't tell her about it. Then we got into some argument last night."
"Shit..." Kagome mumbled.
"In some way, she does have a right to be mad, ya know?" Koga sighed.
Sesshomaru frowned over his shoulder at him.
" Well, hear me out, don't shoot me the death look." Koga waved his hands and covered his face. "Kagome used to tell her everything and in some way, she was lying to her, that part she has a right to be mad but I don't know what's her deal between you two, she just doesn't like the idea..." he shrugged.
Kagome bowed her head and snuck a look at Sesshomaru from her side. He kept his gaze straightforward and had such a poker face. She had no idea what he was thinking about. What was he going to say before in the kitchen?
Sesshomaru tightened his jaw in frustration as he felt Kagome stare at him. He knew what she was thinking, he was thinking it too.
They had almost gotten the ambiguity of their relationship clarified but instead, it was stalled and had gotten nowhere. How would the subject rise again? It was more of a spur of the moment. Where was she going after work anyway? Out of the time he has lived with her, she really didn't go out to do anything. Never hung out, never shopped. It was always work and home. Soon, it would be school, work and then home but until they confirmed whether or not they had a relationship, he really didn't have the right to ask her. Minutes later, traffic cleared enough for them to drive with no halt, they made it to work before nine.
"Yes, so we have time to get something to eat, right?"
" Yeah..."Kagome undid her seatbelt as Sesshomaru parked. " I'm kind of hungry too.."
"Mc'Griddles?" Koga smirked.
"Sure..." she chuckled and looked at Sesshomaru. " Coming with us?"
"No..." he said. " I'll meet you upstairs." he pulled the keys out of the ignition and turned over to reach for his folders.
" Ok..." Kagome muttered and turned to exit the car. She closed the door and she and Koga made their way across the street for breakfast.
" Hey, is somethin' wrong?" Koga grabbed Kagome's shoulder as they walked. " Did you guys get into a fight?"
"No, nothing like that..." Kagome half grinned. " We were kind of just talking about something..."
"Oh...sorry, my timing sucks." Koga twitched his lips as he held the door for her as they entered the castle of the golden arches.
Later in the day, after several meetings, Kagome stared at Sesshomaru, who was extremely quiet. The last meeting barely lasted five minutes. Everyone met in the meeting room, sat down, exchanged pleasantries and introductions. The CEO of Youkai entertainment was there along with his secretaries and a few employees from his company along with Sesshomaru's employees Shurran, Hiten, Naraku, Koura were among those who attended. This is exactly how the meeting went:
Sesshomaru enters room, room goes quiet, President of Youkai entertainment speaks.
"Sesshomaru, before we start, I'd like to thank you personally for attending our black and wh-"
Sesshomaru interrupts. "I apologize for wasting your time, but I won't be selling the company to you."
People murmur as Sesshomaru gets up and leaves. President of Youkai entertainment curses as he gets up and leaves afterward. Kagome and Koga are left being stared by everyone there with scowls as if they knew what was going on.
Kagome sighed as she kept staring at the clock from her desk. 3:58pm. She had to meet Inuyasha in four hours. Plenty of time, though she couldn't help feeling overwhelmed with anxiety. She looked over toward Sesshomaru's desk across from hers and saw Sesshomaru gazing at his computer screen in deep thought looking calm as ever. She took a deep breath and exhaled quietly as she closed her eyes. Calm down, she told herself. It's nothing. You're only meeting Inuyasha to get closure.
But what closure did she need? She had no feelings for Inuyasha, this she was sure. What she needed was clarification on what was happening between her and Sesshomaru. How did he feel about her?
Sesshomaru nonchalantly glanced at his watch and gazed back at his screen. He was to meet Kikyo at 7:30, though a place wasn't exactly confirmed. She said she would call him around six when she got off work. He glanced over at Kagome and noticed she kept looking at the clock. His gaze moved toward the clock and frowned as he gazed back toward her.
" Do you have somewhere else to be?" he questioned.
"Huh?" Kagome's heart raced. Did he know something? " N-n-o..I mean...y-yes but not n-now..." she cleared her throat. "Why?"
"You keep glancing at the clock." he said.
"Oh..." she tittered. " I-" she sat up straight. What to say to that? " Do you want some coffee, I'm going to go get some coffee." she pointed to the door as she walked out not even waiting for him to acknowledge.
"Oh god, oh god, oh god" she muttered down the hallway toward the coffee machine.
"I didn't know you were religious..." Koga rasped, startling her.
"Koga!" she whispered tersely. "Don't -scare me!"
"Sorry." he raised his hands as he followed her. " Boy, that meeting was awkward, wasn't it? Hey, why do you look all clammy, you ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." her hand shook as she poured the coffee.
Koga looked at her hands and scoffed. "Perhaps you should lay off the caffeine, you're holding the cup like an old lady with fragile bones."
" Koga, do you ever lie to Ayame?"
"All the time." he shrugged.
"Ok, wrong person to ask." Kagome shook her head.
"I'm kidding, I mean, not really. I lie but not about big things...more like, where I'm at, she's kind of jealous. Like, I don't really tell her I hang out with you."
"Really?" Kagome cocked a brow. " but we're just friends and it's not like we have any history together of being more than friends."
"Eh, some people are just jealous and easily intimidated."
" Ok, so how do you lie and not feel guilty? I mean, I know I don't like being lied to...so why would I do it to someone?"
" To prevent hurting them, of course..." Koga stroked his chin. " God damn, I'm smart..." he smirked. "besides, it's not lying when you say nothing at all."
Kagome couldn't help but smile and set her cup of coffee down. " Ok..." she took a deep breath. That somewhat made her feel better. She wasn't lying if she didn't say anything and she didn't say anything because she wasn't doing anything wrong. But she lied only to prevent hurting Sesshomaru or making him mad. Wait, that made no sense because Inuyasha had kept him and Kikyo's affair a secret, which was the same as lying, she remembered, and it was to prevent from hurting her, she was sure. This sucked!
She walked back to her desk and set her coffee cup beside her folders.
"Your phone was ringing, the vibration caused it to fall on the floor." Said Sesshomaru. "I placed it between the keyboard."
Kagome nodded as she sat down and picked up her phone from the desk. One missed call, it was from Inuyasha. Oh my god, did Sesshomaru see that, she thought. Ok, all anxiety was back. She looked toward him and saw he was scribbling on some documents with his usual expression. Maybe, he didn't. She then thought back to the kitchen earlier when they were talking and Koga had interrupted. What was he going to say. She was driving herself insane.
" Hey..."she said softly.
He acknowledged her by darting his eyes to the side without moving his head from the screen.
"earlier, in the kitchen, what were you going to say...?" she said as she fidgeted with her cellphone in hand.
He stopped scribbling on the paper and looked up in deep thought, like mentally debating if he should bring it up again. "Maybe we should wait until we are at a more appropriate place." he glanced at his watch.
"Alright, then we'll talk about it tonight, at home?" she smirked. She loved saying 'home'. They both lived together and shared a 'home. It was a wonderful feeling.
"Alright..." he acknowledged her smirk with a slight grin. He really had hoped all would have come out in the kitchen and they would be spared any more days of this torture. After tonight, it would be official. They'd be together with a title. This sort of freaked him out. Kagome would be his and he could finally be at ease knowing that he would be able to hold her at night, caress her body and make love to it, kiss her whenever he wanted, feel her soft hands on his face. A stray thought crossed his mind making him wonder who had called her. He was too distracted by a phone call to look and see who it was but he quickly dismissed it and went back to work.
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Hiten pulled Koura into the janitor's closet and shut the door.
"Hiten, are you nuts, what's going on?" Koura whispered tersely as she looked at her surroundings. "Why are we in the janitor's closet?"
"We have ourselves a big problem, Koura. I think we need to end this bet, right now. Give everyone's money back...I have this feeling it's going to end real bad."
"Yes..." she touched her lips softly with her index finger. "I share that same sentiment. How to go about it though? Everyone's devoured by their own greed that they will not listen. They'll have us at the stake before they cancel their bets. What brings you to this suggestion though, anything happen?"
Hiten remained quiet for a moment. For a second, he didn't know if he could trust Koura or not being that she was Shurran's friend.
"Ok, don't say anything yet...but, someone told me that Shurran and Naraku really have it out for Sesshomaru and Kagome. Mainly Sesshomaru."
"Ok, what's new?" Koura laughed.
"Naraku has been seen coming out of that club on Broadways, you know, owned by Naruto?"
Koura's eyes opened wide which allowed Hiten to see she was now listening meticulously.
"I have this friend who works at the bar there, he told me that Naraku is trying to put a hit out."
"Hiten, that is a serious accusation. Why would Naraku put a hit out on Sesshomaru? You need to stop believing these silly rumors."
"Well, the silly little rumor isn't about the hit on Sesshomaru. There is no hit on Sesshomaru."
"Then?" Koura cocked a brow.
"The hit is supposed to be on Kagome."
"Kagome?" Koura squeaked. "Why? She hasn't done anything. She is just a young innocent girl."
"I don't know, Koura, I have no idea what to do. A part of me feels like we should tell Sesshomaru. Naruto isn't someone to be taken lightly."
"I know, I've heard about him. There are some people in this office that owe him money. But it just doesn't make sense, why Kagome?"
"Honestly, I think Naraku planned it because Sesshomaru isn't an easy target, but everyone can see clearly how much Kagome means to him."
"Oh my god." Koura rubbed her temples. " What is happening?"
"Damn it, Koura, if anything happens to Kagome because of this, I'll never forgive myself."
"I know..." Koura said lowly, almost to herself.
"I mean, at first it was just a silly bet but it's going too far now. People are getting ridiculous over this. That guy in cubicle 6, you know he sold his car and put his house up to put in on the bet? His wife left him. Let's not forget how Sesshomaru will act if he finds out which I'm surprised he hasn't by now. Let us all just be thankful that he has been too wrapped up in Kagome to notice anything anymore."
" Gather everyone then. We will arrange a meeting tomorrow. We will give everyone's money back." she opened the janitor door, letting all the bright light from the hallway to hit them. Someone passed them and started giggling and whistling. Koura and Hiten looked at each other in confusion and then looked at the closet. Of course, how could they have forgotten, this was the closet some employees messed around in.
"Where and what time is the meeting?" Hiten asked loosening his tie.
"Tomorrow evening, after Sesshomaru and Kagome leaves." she muttered quickly as she sauntered down the hallway in search of Shurran. What the hell was happening to this place? Was Hiten and Koura's silly bet ruining everyone's life?
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6pm came around and Sesshomaru and Kagome left the office. They didn't get a chance to continue their conversation but discussed that they would when they both got home.
Kagome smiled as she drummed her steering wheel to a song on the radio. It was a weird song and she couldn't help dancing to it, still feeling the blissful state after she and Sesshomaru kissed before they parted ways.
"Miya-hee, Miya-hoo, Miya-ho, Miya-haha..." she sang to the song and laughed every time she tried to match the guy's pitch. "Numa Numa Numa aay" she continued. She lowered the song and cleared her throat as she turned down the block. She didn't want people seeing her sing and bopping her head, swinging her hair all over the place.
"That was the 'numa numa song' by O-zone, on Z-z-z-100..." the radio announcer shouted as Kagome turned it off completely. Ok, now to be serious. She couldn't contain herself though. She was so happy. The happiest she'd been in such a long time. Somehow, her completely shattered life was pasted back together again as if it had never broken. She had her apartment, she had a job, she was with someone she -she loved. She got out of her car and fixed her zipper noticing it was down. Her mind still in a daze as she thought about her kiss with Sesshomaru. Their kiss became passionate within a minute that they both almost didn't leave the house. Every time they had tried to stop, the other would pull them back into another long kiss, like they didn't want it to end. As if it was going to be their last kiss. No, it was going to be the first of many in their new relationship, she thought optimistically.
She made her way to the coffee shop to meet Inuyasha. He was standing out front peering through the crowds for her, it was apparent he was anxious.
"Hey..." he pulled her into a hug and she immediately pulled back, looking around to see if anyone noticed.
"Um...hi..." she cleared her throat and patted his back.
"Come on..." he said, he tried to grab her hand and she pulled away. "Sorry, bad habit."
"Where are we going?" she said, keeping her arms crossed.
Inuyasha smirked as they turned the corner and walked a few more blocks. He pointed and she followed his finger to a fancy restaurant called Mon ami's. At first, she blinked back confusion but then remembered when she looked at Inuyasha's face. It had looked younger, like when they were fourteen. She remembered when he had just formed the band and they were struggling to get noticed. 'When I'm famous and rich, Kagome...I'm going to take you here and pay with my own money.'
Mon'ami's was a five-star Japanese fusion restaurant where only celebrities or politicians were allowed in. Serving appetizers that cost two hundred and up, entree's that supposedly descended from heaven itself and their overly priced wine reputed for being preserved from the finest rare grapes of France, flattened by the foots of the chosen to be fermented for centuries in some cave on the island of Corsica.
"You do remember, don't you?" he said. His face lighting up and he almost looked like he did when they first met, boyish and innocent. So much had changed in the last five years.
"Inuyasha...I-" she said, not knowing what to say. His face brought back memories she forced herself to forget when he broke her heart. "We can't go in there..."
"Why not?" His face went long as he peered into her eyes. "Kagome, let me do something for once that I promised you." he said. His tone sounding very sincere. " This isn't a date, remember? You and I are just eating here, like I promised you we would."
Kagome bit her lip and faltered a nod. "Fine..." she said as she looked around. She felt like she was hiding some sort of affair. They both entered the restaurant and were taken to their table.
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Sesshomaru checked his phone again to see the address Kikyo had texted him and looked back up at the building. He parked his car and waited patiently for her. Kikyo came out in a leather skirt with matching boots that went up to her knees and a faux-fur jacket. She smirked through her blood red lips and tinted glasses as she walked toward his car. She looked like a whore, he thought. He sighed wanting to get this over with and unlocked the car door allowing her to enter.
"Hey..." she let in a cold draft as she got in. Her perfume was strong, he fought hard not to sneeze as the potent scent tickled his nose. He opened the window trying to air out his car.
"Why did I pick you up here?"
"I live here and, well, I don't have a car so…"
"Alright, let's get this out of the way then. What does Nar—"
" I'm kind of hungry..." she interrupted.
"Your hunger status doesn't concern me." he said and was about to repeat himself.
"Well, my hunger status concerns me. I can't think clearly." she spat. "God, give it a rest for one second, Sesshomaru. I just got in and already you are down my throat."
He sighed and bowed his head. " Listen, I agreed to meet you only with the interest of finding out more about what's going on. I don't know what you think this is but that's all I came for...none of this meaningless chit-chat you are trying to initiate..." he tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
Kikyo rolled her eyes and looked out the window. "Alright, let's just get some Italian at that place we used to go to and I'll tell you everything." she muttered. She began to explain her situation with Naruto as he drove. Sesshomaru complied and acknowledged her with more questions.
"You have gotten yourself into quite a mess." He said. "Why didn't you tell me when we were together?"
"Tell you what? So you can lecture me to death like you always did? Whatever, you don't care what happens to me."
Sesshomaru cast a sideways glance and shook his head. He couldn't explain why but he felt bad for her. Though he was never in love with her, he still cared for her well-being and seeing her in this state was causing him a guilt he didn't understand. Did he somehow push her into this lifestyle? "You realize that your decisions not only affect you but everyone around you?"
Kikyo took out a cigarette, lit it and took one long pull. After a long moment, she nodded.
"Yeah, I know."
"That means, were you to not follow his orders one day, he'd go after everyone else. Your mother, your brother, Inuyasha, me...Kagome." his heart ached at the thought of anything happening to Kagome and his chest ache. "He won't accept my money but perhaps if it comes from you, he'll spare you."
"I don't know. He doesn't really care about money."
Sesshomaru scoffed. "Everyone cares about money. So you moved out of the manor?"
"Yes, I moved out. I…didn't want to stay there anymore."
"and Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru asked.
" He's still there…" she took another puff of her cigarette and exhaled it out the window. He studied her from the side, how different she and Kagome were, like night and day.
She must have sensed his curiosity because she shifted in her seat to face him. "We're not together anymore..."
"Too bad. You're both so perfect for each other." He said, and he didn't have to look at her to see her curl her lip with disdain as she scoffed and faced away from him.
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Kagome giggled as she finished her wine and looked around the restaurant. There was a mini waterfall behind a large glass window beside them. Candlelight filled the room with an intimate warm glow and she could see a few familiar faces. To her left, she saw the actors that played in 'Death of an assassin'. On her right, was BOA sitting with, what Inuyasha said was, her agent.
"This is so neat..." she grinned and felt her feet tingle, numbness shot throughout her body and she looked at her empty glass of wine. Not good, she was getting drunk. She sat up straight, trying to sober herself up and looked at Inuyasha, who was staring at her. "So…the concert was a success, I take it?"
"Yeah, it was…people actually showed up and cheered, even the drag queens." he chuckled and she stifled a laugh.
"You caused a lot of traffic." She scoffed, reaching for her glass of water.
Inuyasha finished his old fashion, his glossy gaze observed her with lust. This was not a good idea, she cursed herself. What was she thinking?
"You should take it easy with your drunk, you're going to get drink" she said and they both started laughing.
"Looks like you are already." he smiled. "talking all backwards." he set his drink down and grabbed her hand.
"Inuyasha..." Kagome gasped as she snatched her hand back. "Don't...please."
"I'm sorry..."he pulled his hand back. " It's hard...because...I still feel like we..."
"We're not.." she said. " I agreed to come here just to talk."
"You're right. Sorry, let's talk." he sipped on the dregs of his glass and nodded for the waiter to get him another drink. "I want to know about your boyfriend."
"No! Ugh, that's weird."
"Aw, come on, why not, let me know…come on...is he bigger than me? better in bed?" he bit his lip and she shook her head.
"You're being very inappropriate and gross." She said, but she couldn't control her thoughts. Of course Sesshomaru was bigger and way better in bed.
"Ok, ok, sorry, I'm just kidding anyway, no but really?" he chortled.
"I am not talking about that." She flushed as she giggled. "Anyway…"
"Are you happy with him, Kagome?" his smile faded and he swallowed hard.
She paused for a short while, images of Sesshomaru caressing her face, smiling as he kissed her neck. The way he held her at night and never breaking his grasp until morning. "Yes, Inuyasha...I am.." she smiled. She really was. He was always the one for her.
"I'm jealous..." he tried to joke but his face went serious. Had he really lost her? Was that it for them? Would she ever give him a second chance? It didn't seem likely but he had to try. "Well, I'm happy for you and-what's his name?"
"I'm not telling you his name..." her eyes almost bulged out of their sockets.
"Why not?" he whined.
"because it's none of your business." She grinned. The waiter brought Inuyasha his drink and asked Kagome if she'd like another. She was about to decline but Inuyasha and even the waiter convinced her to have one more glass of wine.
"Fine, fuck it, we'll call him...Harry." Inuyasha raised his glass as the waiter poured Kagome another glass. "Here's to you and Harry."
"Fine...to me and Harry!" she raised her glass and blew raspberries as they fell into a hard laughter. "Harry…I can't even picture myself with a 'Harry'. Harry sounds too...Harry." they snickered and snorted receiving glares from other guests for being loud and obnoxious.
Taking another sip of her wine, Sesshomaru popped into her mind and she stopped laughing. What was she doing? She looked at her wine and looked at Inuyasha guzzling his drink down. No, no, no, this was supposed to be an elegant and respectful conversation. How was she laughing and having drinks with her ex! This wasn't right. She called the waiter over and handed him the glass.
"I'm sorry, I think I've had enough wine..." she said. "Could I please get an espresso with some cinnamon?"
"Aw, come on, Kagome...don't be a party pooper...have some more. I'll get my driver to drive you home. You can pick up your car tomorrow."
"No…" she said with finality.
"You suck..." Inuyasha sighed.
"I shouldn't have agreed to this dinner, Inuyasha." She buried her face into her palm. "I honestly thought I needed…closure but I already got closure a while ago."
"I just wanted to hang out with you again. I've missed you so much." he slurred.
"Inuyasha, you and I can't hang out like this. You are with Kikyo now and I'm with-someone..." she clutched her chest realizing she almost had said Sesshomaru's name.
"I'm not with Kikyo anymore, we broke up about a week ago..."
"Oh." She said. "I can't really say I'm sorry to hear that."
"I know." He said. "like I told you, I made a mistake. I thought…actually, I wasn't thinking to begin with."
Kagome pressed her lips together as she sprinkled cinnamon into her espresso. She stirred it a couple of times and downed it like a shot.
"Still strange to see you drinking espresso." He said. "Everything about you seems so different. Don't take this the wrong way but, you've matured a lot."
"A lot has changed." She said, and Sesshomaru was to thank for it.
"and cinnamon too? The only other person that I know that puts cinnamon in their espresso is Sesshomaru." He said, his brows knitting together as he looked up at her suspiciously.
"Oh?" Kagome tried to act nonchalant, but her mind went OMFG! She kept her cool, shooting him a carefree look. "It's not bad, you should try it sometime."
"Nah.." he shook his head and continued to stare at her. "Speaking of Sesshomaru, have you seen him lately? He hasn't been by the house in months."
"Yeah well...what do you expect?" she retorted.
"Listen, I know that he and I have our problems but he's still my brother and though no one would believe me, I care about him."
"Inuyasha, when you care for someone, you don't do harmful things to them." she said but then realized she was being a big hypocrite. She was doing something harmful right now to Sesshomaru because she was here with Inuyasha instead of him and she lied about it. If they were going to have a relationship, this wasn't a way to start it. She would tell him tonight about Inuyasha and never keep things from him again.
"I never meant to hurt either of you." Inuyasha rested his chin on his fist. "I just feel bad for my dad, you know? He really misses him and he told me their last encounter wasn't so good, but then, what can you expect from Sesshomaru."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Kagome spat defensively.
"Come on, you and I know Sesshomaru. He's selfish, he's cold and he doesn't care about anyone but himself."
"Funny, that description fits you more than him." Kagome gritted.
"What the hell is your problem, why are you defending him? He was never nice to you when you and I were going out."
"He was never mean to me." she said. "He just never said anything. Anyway, I think we should wrap this up. It's getting late."
"Yeah..." Inuyasha rolled his eyes as he called the waiter over and gestured for the bill. After Inuyasha paid, Kagome hurried out of the restaurant and hailed for a cab.
"Kagome, wait, let's not leave like this. I didn't mean to make you upset about my comments toward my brother. I mean," he laughed. "It's a little weird but I get it. It's what I always loved about you. Your compassion towards people."
"Inuyasha, look, whatever. You've said your sorrys' and I'll just lie and say I forgive you because you know I never will and we can go on about our merry way and enjoy life, ok? Tonight's dinner is the last dinner, I've come to tell you goodbye."
"No…" Inuyasha begged. "Kagome, please. Just hang out for a few minutes!"
"Inuyasha, I'm tired and I want to go home."
"but Kagome, you're drunk. Let's just walk for a bit and sober up a little? Then I swear, you go home and I won't bother you anymore."
She sighed. He was right. She needed to have a clear mind when she and Sesshomaru had their discussion. They passed the coffee shop and got another round of coffee as they strolled toward the park across the street. The temperature dropped and Kagome's knitted sweater was doing nothing for her. The coffee helped but not by much. Inuyasha took notice, removed his jacket, and placed it over her shoulders.
"What are you doing?" she tried to shrug the jacket off.
"Kagome, relax, it's a jacket?" he rolled his eyes and expelled a frustrated sigh.
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Shurran yawned as she got into her car and placed the shopping bags in the backseat. She sat down and shut the car door and searched for the ignition key. Her phone rang and she looked at the screen with annoyance.
"Koura, I'm rather busy right now, I...what? No, I can't meet up right now...what's the problem? Koura, is it really that important, I have a ton of paperwork to do, I-"
She stopped speaking when she noticed Kagome across the street walking into the park. At first, she thought Sesshomaru was walking beside her but then noticed it was his brother Inuyasha. He kept putting his arms around her and it looked like she was arguing with him. She had been so distracted as her gaze followed them until they disappeared that she hadn't realized Koura demanding her attention.
"Huh, sorry, I'm here...I just...I thought I saw something. Alright, damn it, listen, I'm heading over there now...bye" she hung up the phone and looked one last time at the park before heading to Koura's apartment.
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Kikyo and Sesshomaru had finished eating at the restaurant. Their entrees nearly took two hours but nonetheless, he kept dinner short. Sesshomaru wired her the money and he advised her to clean up her life before taking her back to her place. Once they got there, they were quiet and he was waiting for her to get out of his car but instead, she kept her gaze out the window. When she looked over at him, he was deep in thought.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked.
"Nothing..." he said and she sighed.
"For once, Sesshomaru, I wish you would tell me what's on your mind." She gnawed on her bottom lip, a few tears trickled down her cheek.
"What happened between you and Inuyasha?" he said.
Kikyo turned to him and smiled. He didn't want to give her the wrong impression as if he were interested.
"I am just asking." He clarified. "No reason behind it."
Kikyo sighed. "We…grew apart. What we had didn't mean anything. Besides, I could never stop comparing him to you."
Sesshomaru closed his eyes and peered out the window. That was enough for the night, he thought.
"Tell me what's gone on in the past few months, what are your plans for the future?" she asked, hoping to delay their departure.
"What does it matter to you if it doesn't involve you?" he breathed heavily and turned to her.
"It matters to me." she sniffed. "You matter to me. I know things got messed up and I swear I'll clean up my life but…maybe we can give it another chance and work things out."
"You and I never worked to begin with, Kikyo."
"That isn't true!" her voice broke. "when I was with you, I felt warm, I felt safe and I want that feeling back...please." she pleaded in a way where Sesshomaru couldn't remain impervious anymore.
"Kikyo…" he sighed. "I never loved you."
A strangled breath hitched in her throat and she blinked away the surge of tears threatening to pour out from the sting of those words.
"You want to know what I have been up to? Alright. I've been living downtown for the past few months. I've been seeing someone and I…am in love with her." He said, startled by the truth he allowed to slip out of his mouth. He never even allowed himself to think it but there it was, the unspoken truth. He was deeply and madly in love with Kagome.
"W-why are you telling me this?" she whimpered.
He reached his hand over and wiped the tears from her face. "Because the duration of our relationship, I never did that for you and I thought for once, you deserved to know what was on my mind."
Kikyo glowered." Is she better than me?"
"Yes."
" Could you at least lie to me?" she asked.
"No... I don't want to lie anymore." He said.
"She's going to be very lucky to have you." she opened her door and turned to step out. "But don't make the same mistake again, tell her everything. Even when you think it doesn't matter."
Sesshomaru nodded. "Keep me informed about Naruto. You should think about leaving town for a little while after you pay him."
Kikyo grinned and leaned toward him so fast, he had no time to react. She kissed him on the lips and hugged him.
"What are you doing?" he pulled away.
"Saying goodbye…and thank you. I wish I saw it then."
"Saw what?"
"How amazing you are. Take care of her and remember, those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it. Make sure you tell her how you feel all the time."
He grinned through the dark tinted windows as he watched her go into her building. " Goodbye, Kikyo…"
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"Okay, what was so important that I had to get a speeding ticket to get over here so quick?" Shurran spat as she threw the ticket into the air and scowled at Koura as she entered her apartment. Koura squinted her eyes at her as she closed her doors and tightened her robe.
"You goddamn know what this is all about, Shurran!" Koura yelled which startled Shurran.
"What? What are you talking about?"
"You think I don't know what you are up to? With you and Naraku?"
"I have no idea what you are talking about..." Shurran walked over to the mini bar display that Koura had against the wall and poured herself a glass of scotch.
"Shurran, what's gotten into you? When did you become a victim of greed, can't you see this is wrong? It was a silly bet to begin with and you and Naraku are using it to benefit your other plans. Bringing Naruto into this is a bad idea."
"What other plans?"
"Stop playing dumb, Shurran. Kagome is my friend and I can't let you do this to her."
"That twit? Don't make me laugh!" Shurran scoffed. " That bitch ruined my plans for the company before she came. First off, she is in no position to be with someone like Sesshomaru. He's too powerful for her, too elegant for her own goddamn good! She'll ruin him."
Koura scoffed. "You're so in love with him, you don't see the craziness."
"Craziness?"
"Yes, you're so jealous of her, you can't see straight. This was never about the bet. You want Sesshomaru."
"So what?" she finished her scotch and wiped her lips. "Is that so wrong?"
"Shurran…making deals with people like Naraku and Naruto, it's going to end badly. Please tell me the rumors aren't true, that there is a hit on Kagome?"
"Oh, is that what you heard?" Shurran smiled and poured herself another glass of scotch.
"Shurran, you could get into a lot of trouble if Sesshomaru finds out."
"How is he going to find out, Koura?" Shurran stepped closer to her, tilting her head with an intimidating glare.
"If something is going to happen to Kagome, I'll tell him." Koura wasn't going to back off. She stepped close to Shurran and raised her chin. "Please don't let it end like this Shurran, we are friends."
Shurran tightened her jaw and chucked the glass at the wall. " To end like what!" she shouted. "beneath some entry level piece of shit! I've worked too long for it to end like this and you, you are just like Sesshomaru. You're going to take Kagome's side in this? You're going to choose her over me!" Shurran came closer making Koura step back. " Things will be better when she's gone. Sesshomaru will give Naraku the company and Sesshomaru will have me! We all win!"
"At the expense of Kagome's life?" Koura cried. "Shurran, please, you are scaring me! You sound like you've lost it."
"You are damn right I've lost it! You will not interfere with our plans. You utter one word to anyone, I will have your head, Koura!" Shurran shoved her as she passed her and left.
Koura flinched when the door slammed, and she panted as she ran to the phone. She faltered dialing the authorities and just hung up the phone. She needed to think about how to handle this without causing too much attention.
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Kagome took a few more gulps of her coffee and felt sobriety return. Inuyasha, however, was getting worse. It seemed those old fashions were just now kicking in.
"Inuyasha, sit down..." she gestured toward the bench as she sat down. He chuckled, leaning close to her and sat beside her, his leg practically on her thigh.
"Ok, not so close..." she grunted as she pushed him away from her.
" Kagome, your boyfriend, "he cackled. "What's he do for a livin'?"
"He owns a company." she said. It wasn't a lie, she thought.
"Ah, a business guy." Inuyasha pursed his lips. "Think I can take him?"
Kagome snorted. "Inuyasha...quit talking about my boyfriend, ok?"
"Fine, fine!" he howled then placed his arm around her.
"Inuyasha!" she scolded.
"You're so sexy, Kagome. This mature look is making you so damn tempting. I just want to—" he slipped his hand under her hair and grabbed her neck.
"Come on, Inuyasha. Please stop touching me!"
"I'm sorry." He chuckled. "I just can't help it. I miss touching you, Kagome. I miss being intimate and touching your skin. Don't you miss me fu—"
"Stop it!" she glared at him. "You are being so inappropriate right now. I know you're drunk but get a hold of yourself now!"
But he wasn't listening. His gaze trailed up and down her body as he inched closer, thrusting his hand between her thighs. She jerked backward and slapped him.
"I'm leaving!"
"No!" he grabbed her hand and pulled her down. She lost her footing and fell onto his lap. " Don't go." he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck. It completely repulsed her and she writhed in his hold. She pushed him back into the bench, releasing his hold on her and she threw his jacket off of her onto the ground.
"You're disgusting!" she spat. "You have no respect. I told you I was in a relationship!"
Inuyasha cried. "You still love me, you have to! Why else would you meet me?" he reached for her hand, pulled her down to the bench and forced himself between her thighs.
"Oh my god, Inuyasha!" Kagome whimpered. "What are you doing, please get off me!"
He unclipped his belt and she could hear him pulling his zipper down as he slipped his hands under her skirt and tugged her underwear.
"Oh, you're so warm." He breathed. "I want to lick you all—"
Kagome screeched, slapping his face and digging her nails into his cheeks. Inuyasha cringed as he pushed her back and as he went to force himself into her, he saw the tears in her eyes combined with fear and repulsion.
"Oh my god.." he sat back up, buckling his belt back as he looked around the park. It was almost midnight. He blinked realizing what he just did and threw a palm over his mouth." Kagome…baby, I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me! I'm—" he grabbed her arm and she flinched.
"Don't touch me!" she cried, slapping his hand away.
"I'm sorry, Kagome. I swear, I don't know what happened to me, please forgive me, you know I'd never hurt you!"
"Of course, I know you would hurt me." she shouted. "You've hurt me before. God, I'm so stupid! I absolutely hate your guts."
"I seriously don't-"
"You are pitiful and disgusting! I don't know what I ever saw in you!"
"Kagome..." Inuyasha pleaded. "Please, I-I am so sorry. I didn't mean—" he tried saying but Kagome pivoted on her heel and jogged out of the park.
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Sesshomaru sat on the fire escape and exhaled a cloud of smoke into the air as he pulled on his cigarette, mentally debating on how he should tell Kagome how he felt about her. 'Kagome, you are now my girlfriend, deal with it' he humored himself. No, in all seriousness now, what was he to say? 'Kagome, the past few months, I've done so many new things with you and experienced great things and became a different person. I've never felt this way before and I will kill you if you hurt me.' Enough of the humor, he mentally scolded himself as he shook his head. He heard Kagome's keys at the door and his heart hammered against his chest. Oh my god, was he nervous? Oh please, he quickly dismissed it as he took another drag and flicked his cigarette away. After a few minutes, keys sounded at the door and it opened, revealing the beautiful face he had grown to love. Pulling down the sleeves of his white thermal sweater, he reached over the ledge and got into the living room. They were only apart for just a few hours and he found himself missing her greatly. He just wanted to kiss her first.
"Hey…" he said, making his way toward her. She could see the look of endearment in his eyes. He was going to kiss her but she needed to let him know what happened first.
"We need—"
It happened too fast. He wrapped his hand around her neck and pulled her into his kiss but the kiss lasted for three seconds before he pulled away and frowned. His nose twitched and his eyes went ablaze as he looked into her eyes. His hands gripped the sides of her arms and he started to shake.
"You…" he breathed heavily. His eyes becoming webbed with red veins as he pulled away, blinking from not wanting to believe it. "You reek of him!"
"Wait, please let me explain." She reached for his hand and he retracted it from her.
"You were with him tonight?" he asked, and she could hear a shift in his tone. Disappointment and pain, the sound of someone's voice who was either going to cry or shout.
"Please…I need to-"
"Don't!" he hissed. "Don't come near me! You perfidious trollop!"
"Sesshomaru!" she begged as he stormed toward his room and tried to close the door but she pushed through. He started to pace back and forth, raking a trembling hand through his hair as he blinked repeatedly in thought.
"You disgust me." his voice wavered. "I should have known you would do this; I should have known you would do this." He muttered to himself. Each time she stepped forward; he took a cautious step back. "Kagome, I am warning you, please stay away from me. I…" he stopped as he reasoned with himself. The anger that was taking over him was unlike anything he had ever felt.
"Sesshomaru, it's not what you think!" Kagome wailed, tears running rampant down her cheek. It hurt her to see him cringing at her touch.
"Oh? Not what I think? You smell of alcohol and that disgusting half breed!" he growled. "What am I supposed to think!" he swung his arm across his dresser, knocking glass bottles of cologne onto the ground, shards of glass exploded onto the floor.
"Nothing happened!" she yelled. "Please just listen to me, please. I went to—"
"Stop lying! Please, I'm begging you. Stop—"he panted and shook his head as the rage settled into him. "Why?" he turned toward her.
Kagome plodded toward him carefully and attempted to touch his chest when he gripped her neck with his hands and pushed her toward the wall beside his door. He peered down at her and she looked at him with misty eyes.
"What part of stay away from me do you not understand!" He struggled to keep composed but the devastation was overwhelming. "You said you weren't going to see him! You lied to me!"
"I know! But-he kept asking and I thought- please, nothing happened!" she cupped his cheeks and he bowed his head away from her grasp.
"Like hell it didn't." he spat. "Why would you go meet with him and have drinks! You still have feelings for him!"
"I don't!"
"Don't lie to me!" he punched the wall beside her ear causing her to scream. His eyes were turning a deeper shade of red. He smelled like cigarettes and cologne and all she wanted to do was kiss him, even though his anger frightened her. She'd never seen him like this, even when he caught Kikyo cheating. The veins in his neck throbbed as his chest continued to cave in and out from his labored breathing.
"I am not lying. I was going to tell you about seeing him." She said and he released his hands from her neck. "I had dinner with Inuyasha."
"Kagome...stop it." he pleaded. "I don't want to know. Just leave me please."
"At first, I thought I needed closure, to let him see that I was better off but I realized it wasn't necessary. He found out I had something to do with the pictures, but nothing happened. I said goodbye and I'll never see him again!"
"Some goodbye. Is that why his scent is all over your body!" he grabbed her and pushed her onto his bed. "One last fuck before you're off! You're just like your whore of a sister!"
"How dare you!" she gritted as she tried to hit him but he held both her hands behind her head. "You asshole! I didn't sleep with him!" She debated on telling him that Inuyasha tried to force himself on her but that wouldn't help any situation.
"Did you enjoy it, hm? Where exactly did he touch you?" his hands roamed over her thighs, across her torso, brushing over her breasts.
Kagome sobbed and he stopped to stare into her eyes. He felt like a rock was lodged in his throat as he clenched his teeth. He slid her sweater down and mounted off of her. He sat at the edge of the bed, his face buried into his palms while Kagome continued to sob.
"I apologize for my behavior." He said after a long moment before leaving the room. She heard the sound of his keys and she choked into another sob when he left the apartment.
"Nothing happened." she whimpered into his pillow. "I love you, I love you damn it!"
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Sesshomaru stormed out of the apartment and settled in the lobby for a moment, pacing back and forth, not trusting himself to be around anyone right now. He wanted to hurt something. A million emotions were running through his mind, some he's never even felt before. He shivered from being enraged at the thought of his brother touching Kagome. He faltered punching the wall and just slid against it and sat down with his head buried into his hands. He needed to calm down and rationalize. Calm down and rationalize, he told himself. He pinched the bridge of his nose and rubbed his forehead.
Rationalize, man. You've finished seeing Kikyo yourself. She had kissed you without you intending for it to happen. The same could have happened for Kagome. If Kagome were a demon, she'd have known that he was Kikyo. He was in no position to be accusing her of anything, he knew this but his emotions were causing him to act different. In truth, he was jealous beyond belief that Kagome went to see Inuyasha. The fact that he touched her. He wanted to believe nothing happened but the fact that she was drenched in his stench wouldn't allow him to think otherwise. What did this mean for them? Were they over?
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