ONCE AND AGAIN
By Jodie-chan
Chapter 8 Bull's Eye
Inside Inuyasha's car, on their way to Miroku's condo, the lecher was holding for his dear life because of his friend's insane habits on the wheels.
"For God's sake Inuyasha, slow down!" Miroku said clutching his heart.
"Keh!" He only smirked.
"Red light!" Miroku screamed when the traffic lights changed.
Inuyasha stepped on the break. The car stopped with a loud screech.
"Keh! You're pathetic Miroku!"
"What! You're the insane one here!" Miroku shouted on his face.
"Shut up! I drive like this all the time." He growled.
"You're worse today. You're still thinking about Kikyou aren't you? He looked at Inuyasha who has changed his expression into madness.
"I'm not thinking about that bitch! She already gave too much fucking headache!" he said irritated.
"Hmmmnnn, maybe you're just missing her." Miroku teased.
"Cut it out! I don't miss her!" Inuyasha snapped.
"Maybe you don't miss her… but how about the back rubs she used to give you." Miroku said with a perverted grin.
"One more perverted comment and I'm going to throw you out the window!" He threatened Miroku.
"Ok, I'll shut up. Look it's green." Miroku said pointing on the traffic light.
Inuyasha stepped on the gas and sped off like a madman.
"Slow down will you!" Miroku complained.
Inuyasha complied but still scowling.
"Hey, I remembered something. Did you notice how Sess looked at Kagome?" He said with a hint of accusation.
"Yeah. What about it?" He lifted a brow.
"It just bothered me a little, I mean I know your brother too, he's not like that around people especially to those he barely know." Curiosity was written all over his face.
"Keh! She said they haven't met before. Maybe Sesshoumaru only noticed that she looks like Kikyou. The same thing that happened to me before." He kept his eyes on the road.
"Maybe, but what if they used to date then, or maybe she had been his girlfriend." Miroku said lifting a brow.
"That's impossible, Sesshoumaru only dated one girl. And that's Rin, no more." He calmly said without darting his attention from the road.
"How can you be so sure of that?" Miroku looked doubtful.
"I just do, so stop asking questions. It's too annoying." He said irritated.
"Hey! I'm letting you to sleep over my place, remember that!" He glared at Inuyasha.
"Keh! And I'm giving you a ride. Want me to remind you?" He sped up more and the car swerved sideways.
"Jesus Christ!" Miroku held on to anything he reached.
"Want some more?" Inuyasha said with a grin and laughed like a maniac.
Miroku rolled his eyes. They are best friends.
It's already late in the evening but Kagome was still up. She's been trying to finish the ad concept that once rejected. Her son was fast asleep on their bed. He still sleeps with his mother.
Kagome stopped from her work and walked over to her sleeping angel. She sat beside his form and kissed his forehead.
"My son… I'm so sorry; I know I couldn't spend more time with you lately. Mama needs to work but I know you understand because you're a smart boy." She said quietly while stroking his face with her fingers.
The boy shifted on his sleep and she smiled faintly.
Kagome got back to her work. She has to finish everything; she doesn't want to repeat what happened that day.
FLASHBACK
"What! The ad concept hasn't finished yet!" Inuyasha was furious towards his Junior Creative Director.
"Mr. Takagi, I told you it's not that easy…" He cut her off.
"That's not an excuse Ms. Higurashi!" He looked at her like he was measuring her capabilities.
"If we could just use the previous concept and revise it a little then I can…" She was cut off again.
"What I told you is what I want you to do. Change everything and come out with a new idea!" His brows were furrowed.
"But…" She looked down in near tears.
"Can you do it or not? Because if you can't, I could hire someone who can do it better than you can…" He trailed off noticing how scared the woman in front of him.
"I…I'll do it, Sir." She turned her back and left the office. She's infuriating inside.
END OF FLASHBACK
Kagome's rage came back when she remembered that incident.
"What a jerk. What big, big jerk!" She muttered to herself.
Kagome came early in the office, too early compared to the other employees. She doesn't want to personally hands down the ad concept she came out with, to her annoying, rough, rude, stubborn, jerk boss.
She left the folder on top of his desk, hoping and praying that no more complaints and rejections arise.
She just stayed inside her office and continued her other works that has been neglected a few days because of a certain 'demanding and perfectionist boss'.
Sango knocked and entered her office. Eyeing her curiously.
"Kagome-chan, is it finished?" Kagome looked at her friend without her usual enthusiastic smile. She never had a descent sleep last night just to finish her work.
"Yeah, I left it in his office. Is the jerk here yet?" Sango looked at her and shook her head.
"Nope. I don't think so. I passed by Nanami on the lobby, she still looks sane, so probably he's not here yet."
Kagome sighed.
"Let's just hope and pray he'll be reasonable today." She smiled to Sango trying to bring her lost energy, when the phone rang. She picked it up and answered.
"Hello? ok… I'll be there in a minute. Thanks Kaoru." She put down the phone and sighed. She has a gloomy look.
"What's the matter?" Sango asked in concern.
"I have a foreboding feeling about this Sango-chan." She said calmly and left. Sango just looked on as Kagome left her own office, hoping that her friend would not lose her temper if something bad might happen.
Inuyasha sat furiously, flipping the pages of the folder on his desk. His brows were twitching with annoyance while he kept on scribbling down on its pages.
He's in a very grouchy mood today, with lack of sleep because of Miroku's loud snoring. He slept on Miroku's couch in his condo, but his friend's snoring kept him awake for almost the whole night. He doesn't want to come home in their mansion because his father kept on bugging him. He's not even divorce yet with her previous wife but his Dad's dragging him already to go out with some spoiled brat daughter of one of his business partners, which annoyed him so much.
Only his mother can fully understand him.
Miroku just looked on towards his friend. He doesn't want the looks from his face.
They heard a knock. Miroku stood and walked over to Inuyasha.
"Don't be too harsh on her, Inuyasha." Miroku nudged him.
Inuyasha gave him a death glare.
Miroku opened the door and smiled to Kagome. She smiled back.
"Good luck." He whispered to her.
Kagome's heart begun to pound wildly in her chest while she shakily approached her boss.
"Mr. Takagi…" She hasn't finished her statement yet when he barged in.
"What is this Ms. Higurashi?" He stood while holding the folder. His voice was menacing, it's cold and it brought shivers down her spine.
"It's… it's the ad concept, the new… new idea I came out with." She stuttered.
"You called this an idea!" He slammed the folder on the table.
Kagome flinched.
"Sir, are there any problems with my ideas?" She asked nervously.
"Idea? This is a lousy idea! How could you possibly sell a damned shampoo with this kind of idea! Ms. Higurashi, we're running out of time here, this is all company's expense. The client is expecting the best concept we can give. And all you have is this!" He said mockingly while pointing a hand over the folder on the table.
"But Mr. Takagi, what I did is what I believe the best possible and effective way to promote the product." She reasoned out.
"Don't lecture me Ms. Higurashi, I never handle an Ad Agency before but I had already ran companies bigger than this. I know what is and what is not effective in selling a God damned product." He looked directly in her eyes. He could sense that she's restraining her anger.
"Sir, advertising is not just to sell the product, it's a way to promote an image…" Before she could finish, she cut her off again.
"To hell with that image! What we need is something that will make an impact!" He said in a raised voice.
"But Sir, it would take much time again if I revise it and I really worked hard on this one. Can you please take a look and read again, just to reconsider." She said in a pleading voice, swallowing her whole pride.
"You know Ms. Higurashi, if you can't do your job, just tell me. I can hire a hundred to replace you. This company doesn't need a complaining and unprofessional employee like you!"
Kagome's lips quivered. She wanted to speak, to defend herself but her voice seemed to abandon her. She opened and closed her mouth, but no words came out.
"What are you standing up there? Take this crap and do your job." He said while sitting on the swivel chair. "Besides… just looking at you make me sick." He added coldly not realizing what the impact of his word did to her. He couldn't take it back.
Kagome snapped. She couldn't believe what he said. She blinked her eyes to prevent the tears from falling but it failed. Hot tears trickled down her face. It's clear to her now; he hated her more than her work.
Without thinking twice, she took the folder and left. This time she didn't walk away, she ran away and slammed the door.
Inuyasha saw the tears he caused. He just stared at the shut door where Kagome flight. 'What have I done,' he felt a fang of guilt bit his head off.
Kagome ran out of Inuyasha's office while tears streaming down her pale face. She bumped on to Miroku and Sango walking along the hallway. Miroku gasped. Sango was stunned but she followed her friend to where she ran.
Kagome locked herself into one of the cubicles of the comfort room. The building's CR can be considered elegant because of its nice interiors and expensive looking tiles and designs. She sat on the toilet cover and cried harder.
Sango entered the Comfort Room and knocked on the door where she heard some sobbing and sniffing. There were no other people inside.
"Kagome-chan? Are you all right? Please come out, talk to me, please…" She called out to her.
Kagome unlocked the door and let her friend comfort her. Her face was pale; her eyes were red and puffy.
"Sango-chan, what is wrong with him! Why does he keep on insulting me!
Sango kneeled in front of her and touched her hand.
"I didn't do anything wrong! Why does he seem to hate me! He said I'm a complaining and unprofessional employee with, with lousy and, and crap ideas! How much more does he have to humiliate me!" Kagome said emotionally in between sobs.
"I don't know Kagome-chan, but you can't give up now. Show him what you got. Don't let him turn you down." Sango looked at her friend with sympathy and support from her eyes.
"But what if he mock me again?" She calmed a little but still sniffing.
""Kick his butt?" Sango joked to cheer her up.
"I wish I could… I might lose this job." She sadly said.
"You are strong Kagome-chan. I know you are. You love this job; don't let these things put you down. This is nothing compared to what you had experience before, right?" She smiled and hugged her friend. She's always there to support her.
"Yeah… I guess you're right." She said smiling. Her tears stopped eventually as her best friend comforted her.
"See, I told you!" Sango said smiling, she stood and held her hand to her friend helping her to stand from her sitting position.
"Gotta go back to work, Sango-chan."
"Yeah and kick some jerk's ass?" Sango teased and they both laugh exiting the Comfort Room. It is indeed a 'comfort room'.
Miroku entered Inuyasha's office and shot him an accusing glare.
"You did a great job Inuyasha, you're very good at snapping at women." He said coldly.
"What!" Inuyasha glared at him back.
"You're being unfair to her Inuyasha. It's not her fault that she looks like Kikyou. She doesn't even know your wife but you keep on torturing her. Don't take your anger on her, she doesn't know anything about your personal life!" Miroku snapped.
"I'm not being unfair to her! This has nothing to do with her looks! This is pure business!" He snapped back.
"Yeah right! Tell that to the marines! If it's not about it then why do you hate her so much? I don't remember anything she did to you that would make you hate her. Your first meeting was just complete confusion." Miroku explained while waving his hands.
"I don't hate her. It's just the company that concerns me!" He said annoyingly.
"But you made her cry! Stupid!" Miroku shouted on his face.
That statement from Miroku silenced Inuyasha. He slumped on the swivel chair and closed his eyes. Miroku knew he hit the spot…bull's eye.
"Miroku, tell Ms. Higurashi to finish the layout and copy of the last ad concept she made. We're going to settle with it and present it to the client on Monday." He said calmly, eyes still closed.
"Guilty?" Miroku lifted a brow and eyed him curiously.
"Just do what I say before I change my mind." He opened his eyes and threatened his friend.
"Whatever." Miroku said throwing his hands on the air and exiting his office.
Inuyasha stared on the ceiling. He's having a mental argument with himself. 'I really hate it when women cries… but … why do I feel so guilty… I insulted her and made her cry… but those tears I saw… this guilt inside me, like it's been here for a long time… it's more… it's different…
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry for the long delay I've had computer problems that wont let me update, because of that I have to use other computer to update, I'll try to fix things up again. It's really hard when your own PC crashed on you...Thanks for those who read and reviewed! Good luck minna!