Picking Locks

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and any of the characters of the manga….

Kagome woke up early. She was in excellent spirits as she had a quick cup of coffee and croissant for breakfast before she went to work. At precisely eight thirty she was walking though the bank's door dressed in a plain dark suite. She walked to her office and met her secretary at the door.

"Good morning Kagome" said her secretary with a friendly smile. "Mr Barker would like to see you in his office this morning"

"Thank you" replied Kagome as she sat at her desk and switched on her computer.

Later that day she sat once more at her desk after her meeting with Mr Barker, the general manager. She smiled thinking how perfect her life was at the moment.

Mr Barker had offered her his congratulations on her upcoming nuptials with Kouga Mc Neil president of Mc Neil Enterprise a family run business and most prestigious customers of the bank were Kagome worked. Mr Barker asked Kagome whether she intended to stop working after the wedding and was very relieved to hear the she intended to keep on working. He said he was very happy with her performance over the last four years and wanted to give her a managerial position and substantial rise in her salary when she got back from her honeymoon.

Kagome looked at her watch and realized her lunch hour was coming up. She had an appointment with her hairdresser. Not that she was in a need for a cut but she wanted to look her best tonight when meeting Kouga's parents. She wanted to make a good impression on them. She had a bad feeling that they wouldn't approve of her thinking that their son was marrying beneath him… after all they had already selected another spouse for him.

Kagome had met Kouga six months ago at a banking conference. Kouga came from a very rich family and he was currently president of the family great and successful business. He had been a speaker at the conference and had made his speech airily and with great pride spoke his views and beliefs. She had talked to him after the conference to point out to him a few points she had disagreed with him and they had had a very heated argument which had continued during dinner.

Over dessert they finally realized they weren't going to get to an agreement and both laughed heartily over their convictions and turned their conversations to simpler things. They talked for hours about themselves, their likes and dislikes, and found they had a lot in common. He had escorted her to her apartment late that evening and the day after she got a delivery of beautiful roses with an invitation to dinner. They got on very well and Kagome was overjoyed when a little over five months after they met Kouga had proposed.

True she was happy, still she was a little worried at what his parent's reaction would be… as far as she knew, the didn't even no their son was seeing her, let alone getting engaged. When she asked him about it he had dismissed it with a laugh saying he'd take her to meet them for the Christmas holidays and that he was sure they'd like her.

So tonight's the night, she thought. When she got home from work she rushed to get ready and found herself panicking on what to wear. She was worried that if she dressed plainly they'd think nothing of her and if she dressed too expensive and designer wear they'd think she was after their money. Finally she sat down exasperated on her bed with clothes all over the place and decided to wear a simple yet elegant black dress which fitted her perfectly showing all her gracious curves, thin waist and long legs. She fixed her make up and hair and ran downstairs as her taxi arrived.

She arrived at the enormous mansion moments later and was greeted at the door by a butler who took her dripping coat and showed her to the library where Kouga's parents were waiting for her. Seeing all the finery in the house she felt ridiculously underdressed and plain. She entered the library and saw Mr and Mrs Mc Neil standing by the fireplace a glass of champagne in their hands. Mr Mc Neil was incredibly tall and was defiantly and older version of Kouga, whilst Mrs Mc Neil was a small woman with a beautiful face and figure who had an aura of class around her. She looked around but there was no sign of Kouga.

Mr Mc Neil stepped forward and took Kagome's hand graciously to lead her in. "You must be Kagome" he said forcing a smile "Kouga's told a lot about you" he said.

Kagome shook both their hands and smiled at them seeing very clearly in both their faces that they thought very little of her.

"So Kagome… I hope you don't mind that we asked Kouga to give us a few moments alone with you my dear." Said Kouga's mother as she stared at her with her piercing blue eyes.

"Not at all" said Kagome trying her best to keep up with her smiling.

"Tell us a little about yourself" said Kouga's father.

"Oh George, Kouga's already said all that there was to be said" said Mrs Mc Neil sharply as she turned back to Kagome clearly showing her that she was on to go straight to the point.

"Now Kagome…I'm sure you understand that this whole wedding came as a shock to us. After all you haven't known each other that long…"

"Long enough to know that we both love each other Mrs Mc Neil and that we want to spend the rest of our lives together" stated Kagome firmly making her point.

Mrs Mc Neil strained a short smile "I understand Miss Higurashi but you see Kouga's already betrothed to Ayame as I'm sure he as already told you."

At that moment Kouga entered and saved Kagome from having to answer. "Hello mother" he said as he walked in gracefully "I believe that we've already been through this and we've all agreed that I have the right to choose whom I please to share my life with" he said with finality as wrapped his arms around Kagome's shoulder and gave her a kiss on her forehead. "I hope they haven't been giving you a hard time" he said to Kagome giving a hard stare to both his parents.

"No, your parents are very nice" replied Kagome grateful for the support.

Dinner had been a very strained affair. Kouga's parents had shown clearly that they didn't agree with the wedding and only went along with the idea through their son's insistence. They had disagreed on almost anything they had discussed. Kouga and Kagome had agreed on a small wedding but his parents would hear none of it. Their family always did things in great affairs.

All in all it had been a long night and was grateful when Kouga had accompanied her to her apartment that it was all over.

"Are you staying over?" she asked hugging him tightly.

"Sorry I can't darling… I have an early morning tomorrow." He replied as he kissed her and waved her good bye. She shut the door when she heard her telephone.

"Hello… Is that Kagome Higurashi?" came an unknown voice.

"Yes, who is this?" asked Kagome.

"This inspector Nagasaki, Tokyo Police" said the voice. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this Miss Higurashi but you were the only person I could contact… I'm afraid your mother is dead."

Kagome blanked…it couldn't be….her mother… she had spoken to her only last evening…

"Hello… hello… Miss Higuarshi are you still there?"

His voice jerked her back to a sad reality "I…I'll be on the first plane" she whispered and hung up.

Please review and tell me what you think and I'll try to get more chaters up soon. Tnx