STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY: Inuyasha and all its characters do not belong to me. They belong to their rightful owner, Rumiko Takahashi. This is for entertainment purposes only. No copyright infringement intended.

Title: In Pursuit of Happiness
Author: Gladiel
Series: Inuyasha
Genre: Romance, Humor
Pairing: Sesshoumaru x Kagome
Rating: PG-13
Chapter Summary: Seize the day. Sometimes, it takes more than a kiss to prove you're a woman of the world.


IN PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
chapter six
a night with chance
"Souta, are you sure you're going to be alright?" Kagome glanced at her brother worriedly. It had just been a little over twenty-four hours since Kagome failed to wake up from a dream called 'marriage'. Sesshoumaru said she had to move in with him since that was what they were – a married couple. 'Married strangers' was more like it, but Kagome wasn't in the mood to argue anymore.

"I'm okay. I'll be fine. I know how to cook, don't I?" Souta reassured his sister who was acting more like a mother at the moment. One would think it was he who was going away, but even though their roles were unnatural, his sister was still acting like the mother left home whose son was going away to live on his own in this big, wide world.

Kagome rolled her eyes. "I forgot."

Souta shook his head. If anything, it was his Kagome-nee-chan he had to worry about. He knew he was going to be perfectly fine living his adult years alone but his Kagome-nee…his Kagome-nee needed a little watchful eye from time to time. From all the things his sister did since she started getting herself into trouble in high school, getting married in an inebriated state was the one and only thing Souta never imagined to happen. And if his sister could actually do great feats like that, then there were no scrapes she wouldn't get herself into.

Kagome sighed. Who was she kidding? Leaving Souta alone wouldn't make much difference to the boy whom she still saw as the four-year-old kid who followed her like a duckling. It had been years and years since she knew he was capable of being independent – from the world and from her. Maybe it was she who tied him down. But her little brother understood her too much that he didn't even bother trying to change her accustomed lifestyle. They've been together for all those years that Kagome could hardly imagine living someplace else without him.

Souta spotted something lying on the floor, away from the field of World War III that was her room. No, sometimes, his sister was worse than a teenager.

"Kagome-nee, underwear on the floor."


 -----------------------------------------


"This is it," Kagome told herself. "Time to say goodbye to the Kagome of before – the single Kagome, the working Kagome, the sister, the daughter."

Kagome didn't fully understand yet why she agreed to the crazy proposal. She just knew that for some unknown reason, she agreed to tie herself to this man who cared for her like an important asset to his business and without a definite time limit. For all she knew, it'd take twenty more years until his good 'ol father dies and their contract was finalized in completion, but she said yes anyway.

Maybe there was something wrong about her sanity, after all.

She was like the Japan of the past, she who closed herself from the world and from foreign nations. She limited herself into being a capable office woman, a dependable sister, and the good daughter. She didn't really try to open other opportunities for herself. What kind of future did she want to achieve when she was that struggling high school girl whose problems were of the norm? It was simple – something that would be sufficient enough to provide for her brother and her family. She had no big dreams. She didn't aspire to be an international star, a ballerina dancer, a world-famous author, or a renowned pianist. She just wanted to be a woman in the background, a trustworthy friend, and to continue her everyday roles with efficiency.

But who was the woman who stood in front of an heir's door? She did not know the sort of future that awaited her behind the white-painted wood. She was a woman who already took a step forward to the abyss of unpredictability with the only security offered was a big hoard of money. Kagome was resolved to tuck away that girl who had been afraid of the world all the while. She was going to reform herself into a woman who takes chances, who takes big leaps, who lives her life by the words, "Carpe Diem."

And so with newfound courage, Kagome waited for the door to be opened. After all, Sesshoumaru was already informed beforehand (at the lobby floors below) that a certain Higurashi was there to meet his presence.

Soon enough, the door opened. A man, silver hair tied back with a few fringes covering a side of his face; immaculate and seraphic, it seemed as if he was opening the gates to Eden. "You're late."

Alright. The man opens the door and the first thing he says is, "You're late." Scratch the seraphic part. He's most definitely Hades in disguise, welcoming her to a banquet in hell.

"Well, unlike some supernatural seraphic beings, humans actually do take public transportation, a.k.a. the bus," she retorted.

Sesshoumaru was unaffected. "Still not over the seraph issue?"

"I don't have seraph issues."

He arched an eyebrow. "I see."

"Now would you please let your wife in?"

He harrumphed before letting the doors of his flat wide open. She left her shoes at the shoe rack by the entrance (which was made of some smooth reddish wood, she noticed) and pulled her bags inside.

She caught him looking at her expectedly, as if waiting for something.

"What?"

He eyed her luggage. "Is that all?"

She shrugged. "I left some at home, but these are most of what I'll be needing. I have a couple of books and prized possessions resting atop my desk but would you expect a person to move into your flat in one go via a bus?"

"It's an interesting prospect."

"Then I'd appreciate it if you perform the experimentation on yourself and not on innocent people like me."

He nearly smirked. Kagome swore she saw those lips twitch. "Innocent? A fine description of a woman who, ahem, married herself to a stranger two nights ago."

Kagome ignored him, took her bags and, eager to stay as far from the maddening man as possible, marched straight to her left.

"Where are you going?" Sesshoumaru asked, amusement growing.

"To my room," she replied indifferently.

"To your right, Higurashi. Or do you want to sleep in my room again that badly?"


-----------------------------------------

Kagome stared at the black evening dress that greeted her upon entering her walk-in closet. She reached out to touch it and let her hands drift downwards against the dress, feeling the wisps of silky chiffon between her fingers. It had a halter neckline and its darkness was beaded with evening stars.

"It's beautiful…" she whispered.

Below it, dark-toned silver shoes waited patiently for a wearer.

"Wear that. We're going to a play sponsored by one of the company's affiliates, Daito Corp. There's this new actress they've been bragging about and attendance is mandatory."

Sesshoumaru's voice snapped her out of her reverie. Kagome turned around and saw him leaning against the closet doors.

"Oh."

"Someone will come for your hair and make-up later."

"Oh…How'd you know my size?" She hadn't tried the dress yet but she was almost sure it would fit her nicely, if not perfectly.

He shrugged. "I assumed."

"That was…very," Kagome furrowed her eyebrows, thinking of the right word to say, "talented of you," she said finally.

"I wouldn't be in this position if I weren't talented," he said dryly.

"I was complimenting you. The least you could do is say 'thanks'."


 -----------------------------------------

"Why are we here again?" Kagome furiously whispered under her breath. The moment she stepped inside the gods-forsaken theater, eyes were quickly drawn towards her. Well, she really shouldn't expect any less standing beside Sesshoumaru. He was a god and she was…she was a mere worthless mortal who did not have any right to tread upon the ground he walked on – or at least most of the women around her thought.

"Social duty," he said curtly, before accepting another friendly greeting from an associate.

"Sesshoumaru! How good to see you here tonight!" said the man. He was wearing an evening tuxedo, his brown hair combed neatly backwards, and every little detail on his person neatly in place. Apparently, everyone in that place shared her husband's super powers of appearing neatly flawless, especially in social gatherings.

Sesshoumaru nodded and graciously offered a greeting. "Of course I wouldn't miss the play. Your new actress was superb, Sanaka. She has the potential to make it abroad."

The man nodded. "Yes, yes, I know. I wouldn't have let her join the company if so. I'm particularly fond of the group. The never failed to entertain me with their plays," he laughed, "that's why I've never been tired funding this theater group." Sanaka's attention drifted to the woman beside Sesshoumaru. "And who's this?"

Sesshoumaru smiled, a twitch of the lips that nearly raised Kagome's hair. "Let me introduce to you, Yokoba Kagome, my wife."

Kagome bowed, scowling inwardly at the man's reaction upon the sudden announcement of the news. Sanaka's jaws remained suspended on air for a full ten seconds before Kagome faked a cough and snapped the poor man from his untimely daze.

"W—wife? M—married?" his eyes moved swiftly from Kagome and back to Sesshoumaru. "B—but I haven't heard of any w—wedding. I—I should've sent something. Sesshoumaru, why didn't you say anything?" he stammered, afraid that he might have made a social error concerning marital social etiquette.

"It was of no consequence," Sesshoumaru brushed the issue indifferently. "My lovely wife here merely wanted it to be a surprise to father and she insisted going about the ceremony in a private fashion."

Mentally, Kagome barfed. Lovely wife? Since when did the man beside her call his wife 'lovely'? Instead, she laughed politely, "Unfortunately, I sometimes tend to act rather carelessly, and Sesshoumaru was kind enough to give me the liberties to plan our small private wedding."

"Then I must offer my congratulations!"

Soon, acquaintances, business partners, and even strangers started to approach the couple to offer words of congratulations, to ask questions, or to merely see what was the commotion.

"Who is this woman, Sesshoumaru?"

"Yokoba Kagome? That lovely dress suits you, mademoiselle." A kiss on the hand.

"Whose daughter?"

"When?"

"Was there a wedding?"

"You're quite the villain, Sesshoumaru. You just crushed my daughter's poor heart."

"I'm afraid I, too, apparently have the tendency to act based on my impulse," came Sesshoumaru's unruffled reply.

"I never thought you'd even get into the marriage business!"

"Where did you pick the lovely woman from?"

"I have never heard of her before."

Kagome realized that keeping up a cheerful smile was more tedious than reorganizing her bedroom. "Um, thanks. It really was sudden. Even I couldn't believe it!" Kagome bowed for the eighteenth time when suddenly someone shoved her forward and she jumped at an unexpected splash of cool liquid on her back. "Oh fu—what the—" Before she collided with Toshiba's President, however, Sesshoumaru managed to stretch out his arm and pull her back on her feet.

"Sorry," Kagome muttered. "Someone accidentally…" her voice trailed away as her eyes met a pair of uncomfortably dark ones. The woman, whose features were strikingly beautiful – her black tresses curled and flowing neatly at her back – and whose dress hugged her figures only a little too tightly, rolled her eyes and paused right across her. "Congratulations," the woman said, voice dipped with much malice and abhorrence that Kagome took a step back. Her eyes never left Kagome's while her blood-red lips thinned into a displeased line. The woman, satisfied at the effect she had on Kagome, marched with poise towards one of the tables.

"Your dress." Sesshoumaru's voice brought Kagome's attention back to him. She twisted to the right and saw a dark stain that was invariably obvious under the bright golden light. She winced. "It wasn't my fault! Someone pushed me!" Her livid retort started to drive away the uncomfortable atmosphere Kagome previously felt at the presence of the cold woman whose eyes would pass well enough for a basilisk's.

Sanaka, still standing next to Sesshoumaru, smiled good-naturedly. "It's alright. Sesshoumaru, feel free to bring your wife home. If I just knew you were married recently, I never would've invited you here! Shouldn't you be in your honeymoon, though?"

Sesshoumaru regarded the topic with apathy. "I have quite a lot if issues to settle. The company's evaluating this year's performance and there are a number of meetings I have to attend, most of which are too important to postpone or miss. Perhaps some other time, we will tour France or Germany."

"Europe! Ah, yes, a most excellent choice!"

"Sanaka, if you don't mind," Sesshoumaru bowed.

"Don't worry," the good man reassured. "It would probably best for you to be absent for now. I'm sure the lot of us will be flocking to you and your lovely wife," he turned towards her. "Well, Mrs Yokoba, it seems to me you are a most extraordinary woman. And very beautiful as well."

Flattered, Kagome blushed. "I really don't think so, Mr. Sanaka." She shifted her gaze to Sesshoumaru and flinched under the heat of his gaze. Sesshoumaru was glowering behind Sanaka's back.

The man laughed. "Charming too. Well, Sesshoumaru, I shall be going," he winked at him. "Take care of your wife!"

Kagome almost wished he didn't leave. Now she's in for it.


 -----------------------------------------

"You ruined the dress," Sesshoumaru remarked noncommittally.

"The dry cleaners can fix them," Kagome said, unsure. "That's what they do, right?"

Sesshoumaru stared at the road, silent. They were both sitting inside the limousine, Sesshoumaru at the right and Kagome at the left.

"It wasn't my fault," she muttered. "I swear those people hated the fact that I was married to you. I'm sure they're driving pins into a voodoo doll that looks exactly like me this very second."

"I am perfectly convinced that it is impossible for any normal human being to produce a voodoo doll at exactly," he glanced at his watch, "ten minutes." He eyed her before saying, "Everyone congratulated you, did they not?"

Kagome laughed, bitter and hard. "The men, yes. But the women…gods, do you know how much you're lusted after?"

He shrugged. "Of course. That's precisely the reason why you're here. It's part of your role as a wife to keep them at bay."

"That's part of my job description?"

"Naturally, yes. Do you need to ask?"

"Sesshoumaru, if you saw the look of that woman, it would take more than an army to keep her at bay."

"I'm certain you can manage. You've been handling this issue good enough, to say the least."

"Is that a compliment?"

He arched an eyebrow before saying, "That Sanaka was flirting." He said it in an offhanded manner, as if it didn't matter if it was his business partner or an old sickly man who flirted with her.

"He was just being friendly," Kagome defended.

Sesshoumaru scowled. "No, he wasn't. He was looking at your breasts while calling you 'extraordinary'."

"He was merely complimenting me."

"And you blushed?" Sesshoumaru asked, displeased by her reaction.

"Well, I'm not used to it! And it's impossible! He's such a poor stuttering man when you suddenly announced the news of our marriage."

"He's a disgusting creature."

"How can you be so mean?" Kagome glared in indignation.

"Woman, you are too naïve."

"I'm not!"

"Prove it then," he challenged.

Kagome narrowed her eyes. Prove she wasn't naïve? How does one go about that?

"Well?"

"I'm twenty-seven."

"Your point being?"

"I'm at the age where a woman's supposed to know everything."

Sesshoumaru was not defeated. "There are a some women who have sex for the first time without even knowing that was it. And they're not high school students. Nor are they college students."

Kagome looked at him with disbelief. "Are you serious? Is that even possible?"

"Humph. Talking from experience, yes. I knew someone. She just realized it the moment her doctor told her she was pregnant."

Kagome furrowed her eyebrows. She still couldn't believe it but, yes, it may happen to extremely sheltered people, she supposed.

"I've seen...I've seen R-18 movies!"

He was unimpressed. "That doesn't say much."

"I can kiss," Kagome finally challenged.

He raised an eyebrow. "Everyone can do that, Higurashi. Even children can achieve that great feat you're bragging about."

"But I can kiss really well." Actually, Kagome was not sure about that. Her first kiss was from a dog's, her second kiss was accidental - and it wasn't from the opposite sex - and the kisses after that were quite awkward in between. But it was too late to retract the words she carelessly said. No, her pride as a woman of the world rested on it.

Sesshoumaru wasn't saying anything but Kagome knew what he was thinking. "You don't believe me, do you?"

"Of course not. Despite the fact that Japanese culture had changed magnanimously throughout the past fifty years, I do not think you are the sort of woman who goes around sleeping with men for a night. You believe in marriage before sex," he said as a matter-of-factly.

She could see triumph glimmering beneath perfectly gorgeous eyelashes. He felt triumphant. It irked her endlessly. Just because she was affected by Mr. Sanaka's compliments doesn't mean anything about her innocence. Breathing in deeply, Kagome leaned forward to do the one thing she could only think of.

She brushed her lips against his peach-colored once, pulled away, and then leaned back forward. Her weight pushed him backwards against soft leather. Sesshoumaru was taken aback. It was the last thing he expected the woman would do. He felt her tongue urging him to deepen the kiss, taunting him in an almost wanton-like manner. His hand moved toward the back of her dress, caressing the smooth whiteness of her skin. It seemed as if a divine connection existed between them and the childlike woman he married a day ago suddenly transformed into a temptress…

He pulled away abruptly, his composed mien ruffled by her rash actions.

"Enough."

Kagome, blushing like ripe red apples, turned away and stared outside the window. The scenery behind the glass passed her like a blur; a series of unidentifiable rows of buildings and masses of people.

"Did I piss you off?"

Sesshoumaru wanted to strangle her. Piss him off? She obviously did not kiss men often. Silently furious - at himself or at her, Sesshoumaru could not decide - he refused to answer her inquiry.

An uncomfortable gravity settled between them and in wordless silence, they headed home.

to be continued…



AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry for the extremely late update. Finals ended a week ago but I've been busy with dance auditions and some important activities lately, aside from a writer's block that refused to go away.

Anyway, I hope this chapter left you satisfied at least. : )

I want to say a big THANK YOU for all those who have reviewed so far. I really appreciate those comments and encouragements. : D Thank you, thank you, thank you! And to whoever nominated this for A Single Spark's Annual Fanfic Awards, THANK YOU! This is really a blissful feeling - to know that someone deemed this fic worthy enough to be nominated. : )


By the way, if you think the story is unrealistic, in a sense that it's impossible to marry yourself to a stranger, then how about Imelda Marcos' first love as an example?

"The couple wanted to marry, but had an impediment. Ariston had married a complete stranger while dazed with alcohol, and was trying to get an annulment at the time he courted Imelda." -- The Rise and Fall of Imelda Marcos (1987); p.71

Well, that says much about being heavily inebriated. : P

Last edited: April 16, 2007