Disclaimer: Inuyasha is sooo not mine.
Chapter 4
Kagome's fever finally broke late Saturday afternoon. But by then, Hiro had already called Sesshoumaru, who dropped everything to see how the young woman was faring. The doctor was also called and sagely pronounced that the young lady should remain in bed and have plenty of fluids.
Hiro merely rolled his eyes. 'Well, duh,' he thought, shaking his head. But he dared not say anything aloud concerning the kindly, if somewhat elderly, doctor for fear that Sesshoumaru would take it personally and become angered.
After the good doctor left, Sesshoumaru asked once again to be left alone with Kagome, who was now wide awake and fretful. Hiro bowed and retreated wordlessly from her room, shutting the door behind him. He went downstairs to the kitchen to make a grocery list. As soon as Sesshoumaru left, he would be able to leave. If the business man had his way, Hiro would almost never be able to leave the house.
Sesshoumaru had set Kagome up with a special delivery service so that all she would have to do was go online and choose whatever she needed and it would be delivered right to her home. She'd had it now for quite awhile and she used it often, but sometimes she preferred to go shopping on her own. Kagome had told Hiro that she liked getting out of the house once in awhile, but if she had been feeling ill, she would have to sneak out sometimes, for Sesshoumaru had spies everywhere and would report back to him.
Unfortunately, since Sesshoumaru had set this up for her, he was also made aware of every little thing she ordered. Kagome did not seem to mind the intrusion into her life, though. She almost seemed to welcome it. After all the turbulence in her life, having someone in her life that actually gave a damn was a very nice change.
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This time, Sesshoumaru remained in Kagome's room for just over an hour before he emerged and came down the stairs, straightening his clothes and long hair. Again Hiro wondered just what the older man was doing up there with Kagome. Every time he was left alone with her during her illness, he'd come down while fixing his clothes. Very suspicious.
After Sesshoumaru thanked him again for taking care of Kagome and left, Hiro sighed. He was sure that nothing really major went on up there, but he still wondered.
A man like Sesshoumaru would be extremely discreet. After all, he had already admitted to loving her and Hiro knew without a doubt that Sesshoumaru treated her with the utmost kindness. There was nothing he would not do for Kagome, but to go so far as to have an affair with her? Surely not. Sesshoumaru would not take advantage of Kagome during her illnesses or at any other time. If there was one person who would always be completely safe from Sesshoumaru's wrath no matter what, it was Kagome.
All the same, Hiro was dying to know. Asking Kagome to let him in on what went on up there was no good. He'd already asked several times, but each time Kagome said not a word. She had merely shaken her head, blushed furiously and looked away from his steady gaze.
Well, no matter. He would ask her again and again until she told him. If there was one thing he regretted, besides being Yuki's brother, was sharing Yuki's insatiable curiousity. He had actually thought about installing a camera in her room so he would know for certain. Sesshoumaru sure as hell would never say a word and it was highly doubtful that Kagome would betray Sesshoumaru if he did not wish her to speak on the matter.
Hiro locked the front door and went upstairs to Kagome's room. She lay on her side, facing away from him. The covers were pulled up just past her shoulders. She slept, shivering a little.
He went around the bed and after staring at her for a minute, he lay down by her, facing her. One of his arms slid beneath her and with the other, he pulled her close. Instinctively, Kagome snuggled against him and sighed. Her lips parted in her sleep and one word came out in a breathy, almost happy whisper.
"Sesshoumaru."
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"This is Higurashi Kagome. I cannot come to the phone right now, but if you leave your name, number and a brief message, I'll--"
Inuyasha snapped his cell phone shut. Damn it all! Why the hell wasn't she answering? He knew she was home, for as he pulled up a short ways from the drive, he had seen Sesshoumaru leave the house. The bastard looked distracted as he walked to his car. What in kami's name had Sesshoumaru been doing? Well, at least he knew that Kagome was at home.
But more importantly, Inuyasha wanted to know why the hell she went out last night and didn't bother to tell him. Spotting her entering Netsu last night had been quite a shock. She had been clinging on to that fool Hiro as if he were a lifeline. He'd gotten in as fast as he could and searched every where for her and her brainless sidekick, but to no avail. They had completely disappeared.
Oh, boy, the next time he saw that asshole, it would be on. But for now, he would bide his time. Hiro, as diligent a caretaker as he was, would have to leave the house sometime to go to the grocery store for food or to run errands. Kagome would, at some point, be left home alone.
Like right now.
From where he'd parked his car, Inuyasha could see Hiro exit the house and lock it securely. He slid down a little in his seat as Hiro walked to his car, backed out of the driveway and then drove away down the street. He waited a few minutes before getting out of car, locking it and jogging across the street to Kagome's house. With a satisfied grin, he reached in his front trouser pocket and produced a set of keys that he'd pilfered from Sesshoumaru's home office earlier that day.
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It had been a spur of the moment thing. He hadn't planned on beginning his anti-Kagome campaign until next week, although he knew that if he wanted to put her in her place, he knew he should do it as soon as possible. After last night, he had begun to think about her more and after hearing her sad story... he felt something he hadn't felt in years.
Compassion...
...and he hated her for it.
But as he sat there in his car, watching first a strange silver-white Jaguar back out and drive away, then his brother's car do the same a few minutes later, Yuki's mind turned over to her again. What a damned nuisance she was turning out to be.
As he reached for his door handle, Yuki saw movement off to his left. A tall, white haired guy got out of a sleek silver Ferrari and headed for Kagome's house. The look on his face unsettled Yuki for some reason. The guy looked just a bit too happy and smug for his own good. Yuki had seen that look before. It was a look of a man about to get some.
Yuki waited a moment or two before getting out of his car, locking it of course, and making his way to the house. From behind a handy tree, he watched as the man quietly let himself into the nearly-darkened house.
This did not bode well. The strange man had something planned for Hiro's little friend.
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Inuyasha let himself in quietly. He didn't want to frighten Kagome with his sudden appearance. Once he realized that she was not in the living room or the kitchen, his eyes looked around cautiously before ending up at the staircase. With a grin, he bounded up, his heart light. Unerringly, he made his way to her bedroom and once at the door, knocked softly.
There was no response and he opened the door gently. Kagome lay in her bed on her back, sleeping peacefully. He tiptoed in and sat down beside her. The mattress sank a bit beneath his weight and her body shifted, turning towards the dip he created.
Kagome was so beautiful, he thought, lifting a hand to brush her hair away from her pale face. Her jet black hair was spilled out over her pillow, a few stray locks lay against the pale alabaster flesh of her cheeks and throat. A tiny pulse in her neck beat rhythmically just beneath the white skin. For a minute, Inuyasha watched her sleep.
Then, sliding carefully off the bed and kneeling beside her, Inuyasha leaned over and with as much tenderness as he could muster, lightly kissed her pale, perfectly shaped lips. His little sleeping beauty frowned in her sleep, then her eyes fluttered open, revealing those soft brown irises that drove him wild.
"Hey, beautiful," he whispered, bending down to kiss her forehead. "How're you feelin'?
"Inuyasha? What are you doing here? Where's...Hiro?" she asked, looking rather alarmed. She tried to move away from Inuyasha, but the placement of his arm prevented her from moving at all.
He smiled guilelessly down at her. "He's out." Golden eyes carefully, hungrily, studied her face. "I've missed you so much, Kagome. I hope you haven't been intentionally avoiding me." Bending over again, he buried his face against her warm neck and kissed that tiny pulse he'd seen earlier. "I've come to ask you to go out with me. You still owe me a date, you know."
Kagome did not panic, at least, not yet. She lay there, pinned beneath him, uncertain of what to do. But she knew absolutely that she could not back out of going on a date with Inuyasha. She had promised him she would. "Yes, I know I do and I'm sorry for letting you think that I was avoiding you. I...really wasn't. It's just...it's just that I haven't been feeling well lately." She shuddered, feeling his lips again brush lightly against her neck. "No... Inuyasha, please don't. You musn't."
Inuyasha lifted his head and stared hotly into her eyes. "Why not? You know I love you, right? You know I want you." His hand slipped down beneath her blankets and her flimsy nightgown to touch one smooth, silky thigh. "I'm going to take you out next week, okay? And you'd better not back out, or else I'll..." He trailed off as he let his fingers do some exploring. His eyes narrowed and his breathing grew heavy.
Her eyes widened at the unwanted contact and she cried out, her hands grabbing his hand to try to push it away. "No! Inuyasha, please don't!" she cried weakly. "Stop!"
Neither of them saw the elegantly dressed, albeit shadowy figure pause in the doorway. It stiffened as Kagome struggled to push her ardent visitor's hand away. The figure put out a hand and turned on the bedroom light. "I believe the lady told you to stop," the figure murmured quietly around the cigarette just protruding from his mouth.
Both Inuyasha and Kagome jumped at the sound of the deep voice and when the light came on overhead, their blinking eyes jerked towards the open bedroom door.
Lounging against the doorframe was Yuki, looking as cool and smooth as always. His slim, powerful body was clad in a dark brown Armani suit, the suit jacket hanging open. His cream colored silk shirt was open at the collar, a satiny tie of matching color was knotted loosely about his neck. This time his shining locks were slicked back, the color a dark, rich gold. Cigarette smoke wafted around him like a hazy aura.
After getting over her initial shock of seeing Hiro's brother standing in her doorway like some romantic figure in a sexy drama, Kagome's eyes instantly went to his large, well-shaped, bare feet. He had actually removed his shoes? Wow. The man must not be feeling well today. Yuki never removed his shoes.
Her eyes travelled up to his face again and she felt her heart give a jolt. She couldn't help herself. Yuki was obscenely beautiful.
Inuyasha rose to his feet and turned angrily on the newcomer. "Who the fuck are you and how the hell did you get into this house?" he demanded, putting his body between Kagome and the haughty stranger's gaze.
Yuki's lips turned up slightly at the corners. "The name is Yuki and um... you left the front door unlocked when you snuck in." He lifted a hand and sucked on the cigarette that burned slowly between his fingers. His green-eyed gaze fell on the diminutive female who'd managed to scramble away from the over-amorous young man with the long white hair. She sat hunched on the other side of the bed, her back up against the headboard, her slim legs pulled up tight against her chest. "Are you alright, Kagome?" So, this insolent young pup was the infamous Inuyasha. Interesting.
Kagome started at the sound of her name. "Hiro said that you aren't supposed to be here," she said hoarsely. She eyed both men with suspicious and terrified eyes. "Neither of you. Please go."
"Now wait just a minute," said Inuyasha testily, whirling around to face Kagome. "I'm not going anywhere until you agree to go out with me like you promised me you would." He reached into his back pocket and pulled out the sheet of paper that held her signature, stating that she would indeed go out with him. "Remember this?" he asked, waving the paper in front of her.
Her face paled even more and she licked her lips nervously. "Yes, Inuyasha, I remember." Her sigh was heavy with defeat. "Alright, a promise is a promise. When do you wish to go out?"
Smugly satisfied, Inuyasha folded the paper and stuck back in his pocket. "Hmm, let's see. Next Wednesday."
"No! I mean, I can't. Not on that day. I have... an appointment." Her eyes shifted away and she bowed her head. "Any day but Wednesday."
Eyeing her suspiciously but not pursuing the matter, Inuyasha snorted. "Fine. Next Friday then, and wear something silky. Okay?"
She nodded and turned her face away. "Yes. Something silky."
"Damn straight." Inuyasha turned to look at Yuki, who was watching the proceedings with silent amusement. "What the fuck are you looking at?" he growled irritably, once more stepping in front of Yuki to shield Kagome.
Yuki smiled disarmingly at Inuyasha before blowing a mouthful of smoke into his face. "I was looking at Kagome, if you must know. I'd rather stare at a female than at another male. Out of the way, son." He put out an elegant hand and lightly swatted at Inuyasha's shoulder, shooing him away.
"Oi!" cried Inuyasha and swung at Yuki. Kagome screamed. Yuki ducked the blow easily and raised his hand, ready to strike back, but something grabbed his wrist and held him fast. He turned to find a very angry Hiro behind him.
"What the fuck are you idiots doing here?" he demanded, grabbing both men by the collars and leading them out of Kagome's room. "How the hell did you both get in? I know I locked the fucking door." Giving them both a good shove toward the stairs, he shut Kagome's door behind him and followed them both downstairs.
"He left the front door unlocked," Yuki pointed out reasonably, reaching for the ashtray Kagome had purchased just for him as it sat on the coffee table in the living room. He stubbed the butt out and lit another. "So I just walked in. I wanted to talk to Kagome."
"Yes, I bet you did," Hiro remarked sarcastically. "Well, you know that you both have been banned from this house, so I suggest you leave at once." He turned a cool eye on Inuyasha, but Hiro was anything but cool. Inuyasha knew about Sesshoumaru's request that Hiro not leave Kagome alone for a minute and Inuyasha had caught Hiro being away from home. Unless Inuyasha forgot about it, this would be a bit tricky. "I have Sesshoumaru's number on speed-dial. Shall I give him a call, Inuyasha?" He hoped this bluff would work. Inuyasha would do anything to avoid a messy encounter with his brother.
Inuyasha glared hatefully at the younger man for a moment, then his face cleared and he smiled triumphantly. "Oh, do whatever you want. I got what I came here for. We can talk about this tomorrow, okay? I'm sure you'll be more than eager to help me out." With a knowing wink at the startled man, Inuyasha turned on his heel and left out of the house.
Hiro stared after Inuyasha with concern. Apparently, Inuyasha hadn't forgotten about Sesshoumaru's request. With a sigh, Hiro turned to Yuki, who had already made himself at home and situated himself on the couch, glass ashtray in one hand and his cigarette in the other. Hiro had been upset with Kagome for purchasing the ashtray. He hadn't wanted to encourage Yuki to stay if he just so happened to drop by, but being the thoughtful soul that she is, Kagome insisted on having it on hand for Yuki.
Crossing his long legs at the knees, Yuki leaned back and stared up at his brother with a small smile. "So, how have you been since last night, little brother?" he asked quietly. He took a drag from his cigarette. "I've missed you. What have you been up to?"
Snatching Yuki's cigarette from his hand, Hiro took a hit. "Avoiding you, what else?" He handed it back, exhaling viciously.
Yuki clicked his tongue and shook his head. "You shouldn't do that, Hiro, or smoke either. Both can be bad for your health, you know."
"Is that a threat, Yuki?" asked Hiro in a low, steady voice.
Rich, silky laughter filled the room. "None of that, now. You know I'd never hurt you, Hiro! But since the subject has been brought up--"
"Yeah, by you!"
The blonde waved a dismissive hand in the air. "---I have a proposition for you," Yuki finished, peering up at his brother through the cigarette smoke. Instead of waiting for Hiro to answer, he went on, "Allow me to take Kagome out on a date and I shall forget that you have not been doing your brotherly duty by me and hiding yourself away. Is it a deal?" Yuki's smile was broad and the look in his eyes was confident.
"I wasn't hiding. I was avoiding you. There is a difference, you know. If you have forgotten already, you reduced Kagome to tears the last time you came for a visit." His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Now wait just a bloody minute here. You want to take Kagome out on a date?"
Yuki nodded, the smile still plastered onto his face.
"Oh no. No way in hell." Hiro shook his head vehemently. "There's no way I'd ever consider allowing you to be alone with her for any amount of time and there's absolutely no way that--" He stopped and frowned, shaking his head. "No, I'm sorry, Yuki. I don't trust you with her. You'll only hurt her. This has got to be some game you're playing...or a bet you made with that fool Kouga and his buddies. Which is it?"
A small frown appeared between Yuki's smooth golden eyebrows. "I'll have you know that that pathetic pup had asked her out moments before your arrival. What have you to say about that?"
"Pathetic--? Oh, you mean Inuyasha. As to that, in comparison to you, that pathetic pup is the lesser of two evils."
The frown deepened. "What do you mean by that? I'm physically perfect, extremely wealthy... What woman wouldn't want me?" The angel looked genuinely distressed.
Hiro looked askance at his brother. "Hmph. I'm sure there are plenty of women who find you unattractive merely based on your planet-sized ego alone. Kagome just so happens to be one of them."
Yuki blinked. Confusion clouded his clear eyes. "But how would she know? She's never given me a chance."
"Which is good because she never will. I'll make sure you won't get anywhere near her if you try to see her alone." Hiro pointed to the front door. "So, goodbye, Yuki. Its time for you to leave now."
"I'm not leaving until I'm well and truly ready to leave. You can't make me." Yuki settled back even more comfortably against the cushions. "We need to talk."
Groaning aloud, Hiro dropped heavily into a nearby chair. "You are the most stubborn, insufferable..." He ran a hand through his already unruly hair. "So go on, talk. What must you talk about that I could possibly give a damn about?"
Stubbing out his cigarette, Yuki smiled sweetly. "Kagome, of course."
Dark brown eyes glowered over at the golden creature. "Haven't you been listening? I said, NO WAY! What part of that did you not understand?"
Emerald green eyes hardened beneath fair eyebrows. "I have decided that I wish to pursue the young woman and you, my dear brother, will assist me."
"Are you insane?" Hiro's body stiffened with outrage. He jumped to his feet, dark eyes blazing. "Haven't you been listening?! I told you no!"
Yuki's brilliant white teeth appeared. "But she hasn't." While Hiro stood there in front of him, mouth working angrily but no sound emanating from his mouth. "Hiro, Hiro, come now. Be reasonable. Even if you try to turn her against me--"
"You don't need my help to do that!"
"--I will win in the end, you know. I always do and you know this, so I suggest that you don't fight me. It'll be easier on everyone involved if you just let me have my way, Hiro." Setting down the ashtray and getting to his feet, Yuki eyed Hiro steadily, his smile fading. "No one gets in my way, Hiroshi. No one. Do you understand? You are my brother and I love you, but you shall not keep me from getting what I want."
Hiro took a step forward, so he was right in his brother's face. Yuki was a little bit taller than him, but he stood up to him nonetheless. "And I will do everything in my power to keep her from your clutches, Yuki. I know how you treat the women you're with. How many have hearts have you crushed with your juggernaut mentality? How many of them became depressed and ended up on medication? For kami's sake, threeof them overdosed on their medications because of you! You are a menace to women everywhere, Yuki!"
"Oh, come on! You don't seriously blame me for their lack of self-control, do you? That was nothing to do with me."
"It was everything to do with you! You played with them, used them until you got tired of them and then sent them packing, all the while ripping their hearts to shreds." Hiro lowered his voice dangerously. "I won't have you doing the same to Kagome."
Yuki reached out and touched his livid brother's face tenderly. "You can't stop me, Hiro. She's what I want and she is what I'll get."
"No."
"You know I'll have her in the end."
"No!"
"Hiro?"
Both men whirled around. Kagome was standing at the foot of the stairs, wrapped in a chocolate brown vellux blanket. Her eyes were wide and dark in her pale face and her bottom lip trembled. "Are you fighting... because of me?"
Hiro was beside her in an instant. "Kagome? Sweetheart, what are you doing out of bed?"
She turned her white face up to his. "You musn't fight with your brother, Hiro. Not over me. Not...worth it..." she whispered, tears falling. Kagome bowed her head to hide her face.
Without a word, Hiro wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "Baby girl, you are worth it. You are. Now no more of this talk, okay?" He held her for a moment longer before turning to speak to Yuki.
But he was gone.
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Yuki sped home in a furious state. Furious but also terribly confused. He did not like the way this was going. She had to pay, yes, but this was not going the way he planned. Of course he knew that Hiro would put up a fight, but damn. He'd underestimated the boy's devotion to Kagome, which had been unwise. There would be clash of wills, there was no doubt.
But that face! That small, homely little face! For some reason, Yuki did not like seeing tears flowing down those thin, pale cheeks. Kami, she was so tiny, so frail. Somehow, it was difficult to want to take revenge on her, seeing how fragile she was.
What was worse, was when he saw that idiot Inuyasha taking advantage of her. Just to get a date! How pathetic was that? And of course, when he saw Inuyasha feeling her up, that completely sickened Yuki. Not even he would stoop so low.
By the time he'd reached his penthouse, his resolve to crush her insignificant little life had waned considerably. The more he thought about Inuyasha putting his dirty, perverted hands on her, the more it upset him. Whatever the girl was, she was not a whore. He'd bet the Netsu she'd never even been with a man.
As he poured himself a generous helping of his expensive, imported whiskey, the thought of pursuing her intensified. The short female was a virgin and in this day and age, virgins were incredibly hard to find. He wasn't about to let one slip through his fingers without getting a taste first.
Yuki knew he couldn't let the pup have her.
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