The It Couple
Chapter Two
"Welcome back to Morning News 5, everyone. I'm Anne Varren, and I'm sitting here with the one, the only, Kikyou Higurashi!"
There were cheers and applause. Kikyou gave her cute little wave and wink combo that always got the job done. "Thank you for having me, Anne!" she said.
From her little stool offstage, Kagome sat legs crossed, reading another trashy paperback novel about dukes and long-lost princesses and the like. She yawned. Coulda used another two hours of sleep, she thought as she turned the page.
"So Kikyou, big year for you!" The morning news reporter leaned forward in her chair, red-nailed fingers clasped together gleefully.
"It was, wasn't it?" Kikyou's smile slipped a little, but probably only Kagome caught it.
"How's life at home?"
"Oh, you know, very busy," Kikyou said, "I feel like I'm always filming, so it's been nice to take a few months off and get myself a little more centered."
"And now you're back with your new film, 'The Red Robe,' in theatres this Christmas, just in time for Oscar season. Do you think this year will be your comeback, Kikyou?"
Kagome winced, holding up her book to hide her expression.
Kikyou gingerly flipped her long black hair and gave her winning smile. "Oh, Anne, I dislike the word 'comeback.' I never left! I just needed some time off. I'm sure you can understand that!"
"Of course I can," Anne replied, returning the smile, "Of course, this is also a killer role for your co-star and former fiance, Inuyasha. Have you spoken to him recently?"
"Here we go," Kagome said, clapping the open book over her face.
Kikyou looked genuinely shocked for half a second but recovered impeccably. "I actually, er, still talk to him all the time. We remain the closest of friends. I'm sure whatever comes this awards season will be well-deserved!"
Kagome fought the pang in her chest and momentarily glanced toward the phone in her jacket pocket.
Anne looked positively delighted by the news. "That's wonderful to hear!" she exclaimed, "You heard it here first, folks, Inuyasha and Kikyou are still friends even after all that's happened!"
The audience cheered. Kikyou smiled, eating it all up. Kagome sank down further in her seat and felt like she needed another shower.
Her phone buzzed, and she sprang to pick it up, even though she knew it wouldn't be who she wanted it to be.
"Hello?"
"Kagome Higurashi, please."
"Speaking."
"Good morning, Kagome. I hope I haven't caught you too early."
"Oh, no," Kagome said, tossing her paperback book in her purse and walking toward the rear of the studio, "Morning show circuit has us all up at dawn these days. Who is this, please?"
"Kagome, my name is Sango Ryoshi. I'm the new lead press agent for Sunrise Studios."
What the hell happened to Miroku? Kagome wondered.
Sango continued. "Since we're at the end of September, I think we need to talk about the rollout for 'Red Robe' and all that will come with that."
"That's fine," Kagome said, all business, "Should I schedule a lunch for all of us to meet? You, me, Kikyou, to go over all the junket dates and premieres?"
"I was actually wondering if you two are free this afternoon."
"Well, we're heading to the Bev Hills house today after we finish up here. Do you have the address?"
There was a sound of scrambling on the other line, the sound of desk drawers being opened and shut. "...I don't, I'm sorry. I think my predecessor...took all of the personal contact info with him." Sango seemed to be bracing for an earful from her.
Kagome smirked. She wasn't that kind of assistant. "I'll text it to this number for you. Shall we say 3 pm? Oh, also, Kikyou's gluten-free and dairy-free, so unless you like eating nothing but raw kale, I'll get the chef to make something different for us. Do you like swordfish?"
"God, she is unbelievable," Inuyasha muttered, scrolling through his news app, cup of black coffee in hand.
Miroku only groaned, shaking a packet of headache powder into a glass of water. "Stop looking her up, then."
"You of all people should know that I don't have to look her up for her to be fucking everywhere," Inuyasha snapped.
They were sitting at the breakfast nook in Inuyasha's luxe Beverly Hills mansion, Miroku nursing the hangover to end all hangovers and Inuyasha feeling only slightly sluggish. Drinking was easier when it was all you did lately.
Nazuna, a cute girl in her mid-twenties, was throwing together what Inuyasha called the "Hangover Special" - a bagel sandwich with thick-cut ham and bacon, cheese, and egg. She placed the plates gingerly in front of the two men.
"Thanks, Nazuna." Inuyasha flashed his million-dollar grin, and the maid blushed and smiled back before exiting the kitchen.
Inuyasha took a huge bite of his sandwich. Nazuna was a hell of a cook, but this wasn't the way he remembered this tasting. It was Kagome who used to make them for him, back when all of them had lived together…
He wondered how she was. He hadn't heard from her since the night he and Kikyou finally ended it all, and probably with good reason. Kikyou was her sister, after all, and all friendships were out the window when it came to siding with family.
"Inuyasha?" Miroku had been talking to him and was staring at him with a puzzled look.
"Hm?"
"I just got a text from Sango, asking me to call her."
"And who the hell is Sango."
"My intern, the one who got my job when I got canned? Maybe Warner's seen the light and wants to welcome me back with open arms."
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow. "You really think so?"
"Not at all. Hold on, I better take this."
"Mr. Houshi?"
"Sango, we've been over this. You can call me Miroku. How can I help you so soon? Having trouble adjusting to the new job?"
The tone of the voice on the other end was flat and clipped. "No. You took the company phone with you when you left. The one with all the contact info."
Miroku's hand slipped into his jacket pocket and closed around another phone. "...oh."
"If you could meet me somewhere near Bev Hills and return it to me as soon as possible, please." Her voice was all business; he hadn't remembered Sango ever sounding this sure of herself. It was kind of hot.
"Why don't we meet for dinner somewhere? I know a great little sushi place on-"
"That won't be necessary. I'm having a late lunch with Kikyou Higurashi and her sister today."
"Wow, you work fast. The awards season rollout isn't for another month and you're already going over game plans?"
"I like to be prepared ahead of time, as you may remember." She sounded eager to get the conversation over with.
"Well then, you're just the woman I need to speak to," Miroku said, putting a suave edge to his voice, "You're talking to Inuyasha Takahashi's new publicist."
There was silence over the other end, then a flat "What."
"Yeah, he and I are old friends, Sango. I'm sure that was mentioned to you at some point. Guess that means you and I are gonna be spending a lot of time together this season. We have a whole Oscar campaign to plan. Better get comfortable."
"Weren't unemployed long, were you?"
Miroku smirked. "Sweetheart, I'm the best. There was bound to be someone begging for my services."
"Anyway, the phone?" she said, annoyance creeping through the other line, "Can you meet me sometime early this afternoon? The corner of-"
"You know, Sango," he said, stretching and yawning, "I actually can't today. Why don't you call me again tomorrow and I'll get it to you then. From the sound of things, we'll need to be arranging a meeting between you and my client as well. Gotta ensure the press coverage gets equal share between them, you know. Otherwise, how am I going to keep him obscenely rich and well-paid?"
"Mr. Houshi-"
"Sorry, I don't answer to that anymore, Sango. Gotta go. See you soon!"
Click. Miroku tried not to feel too proud of himself.
"God, you are a bastard, aren't you," Inuyasha muttered through a mouthful of sandwich.
Kagome always relished getting to come home. Seemed like when a movie needed to be promoted they were always on the road, so these few days where she got to sleep in her own bed were pretty much holy days in her mind. As they walked through the front door, Kagome carrying about five bags of luggage while Kikyou carried the dog leash of the pomeranian, she fought the urge to just fling the bags of expensive clothes and shoes on the nearest imported French furniture and kick her feet up. An assistant's job was never done, after all; Kikyou was not about to unpack herself.
Kikyou let the leash drop and the dog tottered off to the doggy door immediately. "Naraku!" she called, "We're home!"
There was a sound from the home gym area of weights clinking, and Naraku appeared, sweaty as usual, a towel draped around his shoulders.
"There's my little minx," he said, wiggling his eyebrows as he scooped Kikyou up in a bridal carry. Kikyou giggled and threw her arms around his neck.
"Oh, honey, I missed you," Kikyou murmured, kissing him on the cheek.
"I saw you on TV this morning," Naraku said, "You looked gorgeous."
Kikyou squeezed him tighter. "If only they'd stop asking me about him."
Naraku then bent Kikyou over and gave her a hell of a kiss, so much so that Kagome felt her own cheeks burning.
"Babe," Naraku said huskily, "Don't even worry about him. I'm here to protect you in case he tries to attack you again."
Attack? Kagome busied herself with dragging the luggage to the bedroom door. Since when does catching your fiancee redhanded smooching someone else in a club, and confronting her verbally, constitute an attack?
Her phone buzzed. It was Miroku Houshi. She hadn't talked to him in-god, six months? Not since…
She'd call him back.
"Kikyou," she called. Kikyou didn't answer. Too busy pawing all over her beefcake boyfriend.
"Kikyou," she tried again.
"What?" Kikyou whined, releasing Naraku and turning around. Naraku didn't even acknowledge Kagome.
"We have a late lunch with Sango Ryoshi today. She's the new press agent for Sunrise. She'll be here at-"
"Gawwwwd," Kikyou said, "Do I have to?"
Whenever she pulled that tone, Kagome would have traumatic flashbacks to every school function, every after-school hobby, every boyfriend in high school that Kikyou wanted to break up with. It had always meant that their mother would turn to Kagome and expect her to take care of it for her perfect older sister. And Kagome always had. Ever the faithful assistant.
"Yeah, you kinda do. She's the one who's designing our whole Oscar season campaign, after all. You'll need to talk to her to get on the same page."
"Did they say anything about Supporting Actor campaigns?" Naraku interrupted.
Well, hey there, Naraku, nice to acknowledge your existence too. "Not that I know of, but feel free to ask her about it." Kagome put on her most polite smile.
Kikyou folded her arms, looking every inch the movie goddess she was. "What time is she coming over?"
"3 pm. I'll talk to Kaede and get something delicious planned. We need to make a good impression, after all, since we've never met her."
"Fine. You take care of it." And with that, Kikyou's attention was back to Naraku, and Kagome gave a half-hearted little nod and continued dragging her sister's immense bags to the master bedroom.
"Kagome, do that later. I'll be needing some privacy." Kikyou swished past her, hand in hand with Naraku.
She held up her hands in defeat and retreated to her own bedroom.
Naraku, for all his quirks, was certainly good for one thing - a few hours' break for Kagome.
There it is, folks. Chapter 2 completed. I promise some pretty awesome drama coming up, as well as some great reunions between characters who may or may not want to be reunited! Please review if you can. Thanks! -meggz0rz