Disclaimers: I do not own Inu-Yasha . . . but you can't stop me from saying I own Hiro! XD
Chapter Two: Oh, Those Crazy Workdays
Inu-Yasha's head whipped in the direction of the call. His face going from shocked to happy and finally to loving.
"Hiro!" Inu-Yasha called out before running towards the small child. The boy's face had a wide smile spread across it before running forward.
"Daddy! Daddy!" He shouted over and over before jumping into Inu-Yasha's outstretched arms. Inu-Yasha caught him smoothly before throwing him into the air; only to catch him again.
"Hiro! How I've missed you my boy!" Inu-Yasha exclaimed in a happy tone before pulling the boy away at arms length to get a better look.
The boy seemed to be average height for his age of two, with a short-sleeved Yu-Gi-Oh! shirt and short denim jeans. Shoulder length, onyx black hair ran smoothly, with two protruding, black triangular dog-ears; just like Inu-Yasha's white ones. Small, tiny, fangs graced his smile . . . which made it appear more endearing. Lastly, he had joy-filled, bright golden eyes.
"You're Hiro's father?" Kagome screeched, her voice breaking the small exchange between father and son.
"Yeah, so what if I am?" Inu-Yasha questioned, giving her a defiant look while placing Hiro gently on his feet. "Who are you?"
"I'm his mother!" She shouted, marching over to stand directly in front of the tall hanyou. Her try to look intimidating failed as she had to pull her head back and look upward into amused golden eyes.
Inu-Yasha staggered a little with her outburst, before looking her up and down; causing Kagome to blush. A sense of familiarity entered but left just as he took a big whiff of the air in front of him. He turned incredulous eyes on her as he snorted in disbelief.
"You aren't Hiro's mother," he stated simply.
". . ." Kagome's tirade faltered somewhat, before she placed on a determined look. "Of course I'm not . . ." She started to explain.
"Right," Inu-Yasha gave a curt nod, interrupting her. "'Cause she was much more beautiful, not a cow. That and you smell."
"Why I never . . ." Kagome bristledwith a shocked look.
"You never what?" Inu-Yasha sneered, eyeing her through narrow slits. "Been told the truth before."
"I've never before met such a . . . such a . . ." The words Kagome wanting to yell not being able to come out as she threw nervous glances towards the curious Hiro.
"Such a what? Charming . . . handsome . . . pleasurable . . ."
"Selfish pig," Kagome spat out like venom.
Inu-Yasha gave her a look of shock, as Sango and Sesshomaru exchanged quick glances; Sango's amused while Sesshomaru still remained expressionless. Hiro stared wide-eyed, as his golden orbs went from his daddy to his mommy like he was watching a tennis match.
"Oh!" Hiro exclaimed suddenly. "You are so busted mommy! You just said mean things!"
". . ." Kagome stared speechlessly at her son as his words were digested.
"Auntie Sango! Auntie Sango! Did you hear that?" Hiro asked in his little child voice. "Mommy was mean!"
"I heard Hiro," Sango managed to say through stifled laughter.
"How about you and Auntie Sango go across the street to the ice cream store," Kagome suggested as she tried to calm herself down and make the red leave her face, not liking the fact that she had to subject her son to the business transposing in the store.
"O-tay!" Hiro nodded excitedly. "But can Daddy come too?"
"No, maybe next time baby," Kagome answered, pushing his bangs out of his eyes.
"But . . . but . . . I want Daddy to come!" Hiro wailed, tears welling in his eyes; threatening to fall.
"Hiro!" Inu-Yasha's voice growled very deep and low. Kagome looked up at him, a startled look on her face. Hiro, though, stopped his tears immediately and looked towards Inu-Yasha's stern face. "Big boys don't cry Hiro. Now, you listen to what she said. I'll hang out with you another day," Inu-Yasha ended in a gentler tone, his eyes softening with love as Hiro's face had a smile spread across it.
"O-tay Daddy!" Hiro exclaimed before running back next to Sango at the door. "Come on Auntie Sango," Hiro urged while taking possession of her hand, "Mommy said we can go get ice crweem!"
"Okay Hiro," Sango laughed, while sending Kagome a 'you-owe-me' look. Kagome nodded in acknowledgement, letting a small smile tug at her lips, watching her son and best friend walk out and across the street.
"Now," Kagome announced in a business voice, "let's get back to business here people."
Inu-Yasha and Sesshomaru exchanged small glances, a silent message being passed.
"Glad you feel that way Miss Higurashi," Sesshomaru spoke in a cool tone that made Kagome feel inferior to him. "Now, which matter would you like to deal with first? Hiro or Inu-Yasha's employment."
"What is there to discuss?" Kagome snapped. "I've told you, my son stays with me and I'll have no convict working here."
"You listen here lady!" Inu-Yasha growled, trying to stop the urge to grab the wench by the shoulders and shake sense into her.
"Inu-Yasha!" Sesshomaru's voice grew to the same low intensity as Inu-Yasha's was when he shouted Hiro's name. Inu-Yasha stopped all movements and the low growl that was emanating had ceased.
'I'm so going to have to ask how they do that.' Kagome thought with a bewildered expression.
"I've told you Miss Higurashi, there is not a chance that you will win. The Hazuki familynever goes into a battle which they know they will lose," Sesshomaru spoke in a cool tone.
"Yeah, you just send innocent people to fight for you instead," Kagome sneered while crossing her arms.
"Listen wench," Inu-Yasha rebutted.
"Why you-" Kagome bristled indignantly.
"Nope," Inu-Yasha interrupted, holding up a hand to silence her. "I'm going to tell you this and you better listen. Hiro is my son. You hear me, he is mine. The DNA in him can prove it."
"It'll just prove what I've known all along. That his father is a jackass!" Kagome replied.
"Go ahead and think that, but just know that he's going home with me!"
"His home is with me!"
"I'm his father!"
"I'm his mom!"
Sesshomaru repressed the strong urge to roll his eyes as the two continued to bicker. He looked at the clock and gave them a couple of more minutes before deciding to stop them. As much as he would've loved the bloodshed, he knew Rin would make him pay should Inu-Yasha die before she saw him.
"Silence!" Sesshomaru ordered, making both freeze mid-word. "The Hiro issue is getting us no where," he stated, ignoring both's protest that Hiro was not an issue. "We shall just have to discuss that another time. But on to more pressing manners . . . Inu-Yasha's employment hours . . ."
"I told you, he is not working here!" Kagome cut him off.
"Miss Higurashi, you signed an agreement," Sesshomaru spoke coolly, eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "I do not care if you wish to take the problem with Hiro to court." Again he ignored the parent's rebuts. "But I can shut you down here and now if you do not wish to co-operate."
"You and what army?" Kagome questioned defiantly, quirking an eyebrow up in interest.
"Miss Higurashi, if you've forgotten, I control the army. But if you need convincing then read this agreement you signed." Sesshomaru commented, brandishing some important looking documents.
Kagome snatched the papers out of his grasp before skimming through them. The color leaving her skin as her eyes went from left to right.
"I don't want a convict," Kagome spoke in a voice that sounded like she was whining.
"I told you I didn't belong there!" Inu-Yasha shouted, sounding like Hiro when he was begging for Inu-Yasha to go to the ice cream store.
"And I remember telling you that that's what they all say!" Kagome retorted.
Again, Sesshomaru repressed the need to roll his eyes as the two continued to fight.
'With the way they're acting, we won't get things done until probably after thewoman has died. Then again . . . I'll have to go through the same things with someone else.'
x.x
"Inu-Yasha, take these books to the back," Kagome commanded, while trying desperately to keep her grasp on the heavy box in her arms.
"Dammit! One thing at a time wench!" Kagome heard Inu-Yasha holler from somewhere within the store.
'I should dock his pay with the way he's treating me!' Kagome fumed, pushing the box up a little to get a better hold. She puffed her cheeks out with the effort, only to have them deflate as laughter surrounded her. Her head snapped up to come upon Inu-Yasha leaning against one of the bookshelves with crossed arms and his head tilting back in laughter.
"Shut-up you ignoramus!" Kagome yelled, only to lose her grip. She struggled to keep the box up and breathed a sigh of relief as Inu-Yasha was by her side in seconds taking hold of the box with ease.
"I told you not to try to carry things twice your weight, weakling," Inu-Yasha commented in a light tone as he started to move through the shelves.
Kagome puffed her chest out with hurt pride before taking the childish route and sticking her tongue out at Inu-Yasha's receding back.
'Stupid jerk!' She thought angrily. 'Hasn't been here more than two weeks and thinks he knows everything. Well, I've been doing fine on my own for years!'
Kagome shook her head with light amusement as she remembered Inu-Yasha's earlier days of employment. She was still upset that she was tricked into this arrangement.
x.x
"Listen!" Kagome commanded as soon as Inu-Yasha entered the store. "I don't give a damn if you're second in command of Japan or the Emperor of China or President of the United States or even the bloody Queen of England!" Kagome waved off his protest of not being female. "When I say work begins at 8 o'clock, than that means I want you through that door at 8 o'clock! Not three hours later!" Kagome yelled.
"I don't give a rat's ass what you want!" Inu-Yasha retorted, plopping down into a nearby chair, lazily throwing his feet upon a tabletop.
"Oh, you'll start caring; you'll care once I report you to Sesshomaru." Kagome's face held a smirk as she walked away, relishing the way he looked like he just ate week old gym socks.
"Y-you wouldn't!" Inu-Yasha yelled, his voice cracking somewhat.
x.x
"Thanks Tokuyu!" Kagome called to the receding delivery truck. "Inu-Yasha!" Kagome shouted as she walked back into the store. "Inu-Yasha! . . .Inu-Yasha! Where is that lazy bum?"
"Boo!" Suddenly, Kagome's vision was flooded by the sight of an upside down, floating Inu-Yasha head.
"Ah!" Kagome screamed, swinging forward her arm to land a good slap on Inu-Yasha.
"That hurt wench!" Inu-Yasha yelled, cradling his wounded cheek in his hand, while dropping from his position on the ceiling. "At least now I know what you think of me."
"Whatever," Kagome snapped, losing all guilt of the slap with him calling her a wench. "Just take those boxes to the back," Kagome commanded, waving her hand to the boxes piled next to the door.
"Don't think so," Inu-Yasha said simply, taking a seat behind the counter.
"What do you mean 'don't think so'?" Kagome snapped, whirling around so fast that Inu-Yasha thought he was going to get whiplash.
"It means exactly as it sounds. If you want those stupid books moved, do it yourself."
"Books aren't stupid," Kagome defended. "They can save lives."
"I'll believe it when I see it."
"Lazy bum," Kagome muttered, before making her way over to the boxes.
"So, now you're listening to me?" Inu-Yasha questioned with a cocky tone as he watched her with curious eyes. "I thought it was supposed to work the other way around boss."
"I just don't want parents to sue me because their kids hurt themselves on my boxes," Kagome heaved, as she struggled to lift the heavy object up. But with the luck she was having the past few days, she wasn't even able to budge it a few centimeters.
"Feh, stupid wench," Inu-Yasha said in his gruff tone. Before Kagome could blink, Inu-Yasha was next to her, taking hold of the box. Kagome's jaw dropped in awe as he lifted it up as if it were a tooth pick. "God woman, what's in here?"
"Why, is it too heavy?" Kagome teased with a taunting tone.
"No . . . feels as like a feather, just wondering why your macho-ness couldn't pick it up," Inu-Yasha stated simply in a condescending way.
"Jerk," Kagome muttered in defeat before speaking again. "Three hundred copies of the fifth Harry Potter book."
"No wonder you couldn't lift the damn box up," Inu-Yasha mumbled softly under his breath. "From now on, don't try lifting boxes that weigh more than you. I don't want Hiro to be mad at me when his 'mommy' throws out her back for being a stupid wench. That also means not to try and show me up by attempting to lift that box."
Kagome's cheeks reddened a little as she backed away from the pile. All the while turning a pointed glare at Inu-Yasha's back.
x.x
"What's this?" Inu-Yasha questioned, taking hold of a small envelope.
"Open it and see," Kagome replied with a light smile; before going back to placing books on shelves.
Inu-Yasha gave her a quizzical look before ripping the top of the envelope off. His fingers slid into the rough textured paper to pull out a smooth, rectangular piece of paper. He quickly scanned the paper, only to have his honey-gold eyes widen in shock.
"This is a check . . . for a hundred and fifty dollars?"
"Yeah, you see, working people like to call these things a paycheck. Mind you, it would be more, but your lack of work the first few days meant reduction in pay . . ."
"So you mean this is mine?" Inu-Yasha interrupted herwith a voice sounding like a kid on Christmas.
"All yours," Kagome replied with a bright smile gracing her face.
"This isn't illegal? You're giving it to me?"
"As much as it pains me to give you money, you earned it Inu-Yasha."
'Okay, another possible on why Inu-Yasha went to jail, he was a burglar and got caught.' Kagome thought, putting another 'maybe' on her mental list.
"So it's mine? Really mine!" Inu-Yasha's eyes were as wide as a kid who got candy.
"So it is," Kagome laughed, joining Inu-Yasha's contagious mood. But once the laughter calmed down, Kagome took on a more serious attitude. "But I do want you to realize that the paycheck would be higher if you worked more."
"More money!"
x.x
"Amazing how just a couple of words got him to start working so hard," Kagome muttered to herself as she put books onto some shelves. "If I'd known that would've been the outcome, I would've told him that the first day."
"Hey wench, you want these in the back too?" Inu-Yasha questioned, holding up three boxes.
Kagome just shot him a dirty look before nodding her approval. 'Now if only he'd call me by something other than wench.' She rolled her eyes in annoyance as she heard him call her a bitch while asking when Hiro was coming.
"Soon Inu-Yasha," Kagome replied, taking a quick glance at the clock. "I think about five more minutes!"
'At least he's being good to Hiro.'
x.x
"You're 25 and still not married?" Inu-Yasha's loud voice boomed with amazement. "So, you want to be an old maid when you grow up?"
"No, I don't want to be an old maid. Besides, you're one to talk. 28 and still not married," Kagome countered, pointedly gesturing to his ringless left hand. It was the same old, same old. Every time they had a discussion on who would get custody of Hiro, it would always turn into a huge fight.
"I could've gotten a divorce," Inu-Yasha retorted.
"Yeah, right!" Kagome gave a very un-lady like snort. "So I could've too!"
"I don't believe it. Besides, I probably didn't marry for protection."
"That's what you needed the night Hiro was conceived!" Kagome snapped, immediately regretting the words as they left her mouth.
If possible, Inu-Yasha's eyes narrowed even more into thin slips, his eyes now a deep amber. He rushed forward and backed Kagome against a nearby wall.
"Want to say that again?" He growled.
"N-no," Kagome managed to stutter out.
"Come on, I dare ya," Inu-Yasha said in a mischievous tone,but Kagome could sense the danger underlying it. Before Kagome could say anything, the two were interrupted by a child's call.
"Daddy!" Hiro shouted happily, running into the store.
"There's my boy!" Inu-Yasha exclaimed, seeming like a completely different person, wearing a bright smile and eyes bright honey yellow with happiness shining in them. But Inu-Yasha's smile disappeared as he neared Hiro. "Where's your backpack?"
Kagome, who was frowning when Hiro came in the store shouting for Inu-Yasha, had a confused look on her face before examining the situation more closely. Hiro was indeed missing his new Yu-Gi-Oh! backpack . . . boy was he obsessed with that show.
"Um . . . I weft it at daycare," Hiro replied nervously. Inu-Yasha just gave him an incredulous look before speaking.
"Hiro, don't lie to me. Where is your backpack . . . and tell me the truth this time," Inu-Yasha added as an afterthought.
". . ." That's all Kagome heard, but apparently Hiro had said something, the way Inu-Yasha was growling suddenly, baring his fangs. He took a quick whiff of Hiro's scent before running out of the store giving Kagome a short 'I'm taking the day off!'
Two hours later, a fuming Kagome looked up with the ringing of bells to see a roughed up Inu-Yasha sporting a black eye and face plastered with a goofy grin. He answered Kagome's silent question by holding up a Yu-Gi-Oh! backpack.
x.x
Kagome was broken out of her reverie by the familiar jingling of bells.
'That must be Hiro.' Kagome thought happily, looking over towards the door. Her eyes grew wide as she found that she was strongly mistaken. In front of her stood five grown men dressed in dark baggy clothes, with ski masks on, and the one who appeared to be the leader held a gun up towards her.
"Give us your money lady," the one with the gun commanded.
"I . . . uh . . ." Kagome was speechless, her mouth drying up and her tongue seemed to be twice its size.
"Don't just stand there! Give us your damn money!" He shouted again. Kagome was about to comply but all action froze as a voice cut through the air.
"What's going on here?" A low voice questioned. Everyone looked towards the source to find a slightly amused Inu-Yasha.
'What's he so happy about! We're being robbed!' Kagome screamed in her mind.
"Wh-what are you doing here?" Robber three asked.
"Hm . . . beginners I see," Inu-Yasha mused, rubbing his chin in thought. "Of course you are. If you were better, you would've researched and found that I was a new employee. Also, those clothes . . . where did you get the idea from? The Power-puff Girls? Don't get me started on your choice of weapon; you should know that guns are old-fashioned. Also, what kind of lame brains attempt to rob a store in broad daylight?" Inu-Yasha continued to name off their faults of the whole out-take on the situation.
'Okay, burglar has now moved to number one possible reason as to why Inu-Yasha went to jail.' Kagome thought with awe as Inu-Yasha's list grew longer.
"Enough!" The boss shouted, pointing the gun now towards Inu-Yasha. Before anyone realized what was happening, a gun shot rippled through the air, silencing everyone.
"Inu-Yasha!" Kagome screamed with worry, but as she looked closer, she saw that Inu-Yasha was gone; as if he disappeared into thin air.
"Stupid human," Inu-Yasha commented as he suddenly appeared in front of the leader, giving him a solid punch in the gut. He looked with disgust as the leader fell to the ground. "Anyone else- . . . I'll take that as a yes," Inu-Yasha muttered as the rest charged forward.
Everything became a blur for Kagome as the fight ensued. In her eyes it seemed like Inu-Yasha as winning among the many switchblades and razors. As one man was thrown against the counter, Kagome decided to even the odds a little so shegrabbed a book from the shelf behind her and slammed it upon his head. She gave a satisfactory grin as the male gave a grunt of pain and slid to the floor.
"Look out!" Kagome's head shot up at the warning to look into the recovered leader and the barrel of his gun.
"Bye-bye girlie," the leader sneered before pulling the trigger.
"No!"
x.x
"No!" Inu-Yasha's world seemed to have been put on slow motion. From the moment the gun was fired to the moment Kagome fell to the ground. 'Hiro is going to be upset.'
"Now that I took her out," the guy said with a quivering tone; making Inu-Yasha realize that he had never killed before. "Time for . . ." He never got a chance to finish as Inu-Yasha let loose a predatory growl, launching himself forward. The man was unconscious on the floor within seconds. He gave the man an extra kick for good measure, before leaping through the air and over the counter.
"Are you okay wench?" Inu-Yasha asked, moving a tentative hand towards her. He didn't like the fact that she wasn't moving, but he couldn't be sure unless he looked at her face. "Kagome . . ." He said softly, brushing some hair out of her face.
That's when things became confusing for Inu-Yasha. First, if Kagome was shot, where was the blood? Second, why was she breathing normally? Lastly . . . why on earth is she moving under his touch?
"Inu-Yasha?" Kagome whispered softly, her eyes slowly opening, getting adjusted to the new light.
"Kagome? Are you okay?" He questioned immediately, more for assurance if nothing else, as he helped her to a sitting position.
"I'm fine," she replied in a groggy tone, placing a hand up to her aching head. ". . . Wait; did you just say my name?" Inu-Yasha just gave her his complimentary reply.
"Feh."
"You did! You didn't call me wench, or bitch, or any other rude name!" Kagome exclaimed, a bright smile spreading. "Does this mean we're friends?"
"Sure, because I love becoming friends with worthless humans after saving their lives and having a slip of the tongue," Inu-Yasha muttered sarcastically.
"Humph." Kagome crossed her arms over her chest after giving him a disdainful glare. "A simple yes would've done."
"Wha . . ." Inu-Yasha started, but cut him-self short, deciding it would be best to not further irritate his boss. "By the way . . . how are you still alive?'
"Huh?" Kagome looked at him, very confused by the question.
"You . . . you're alive, but how? I saw the bullet hit you," he explained more thoroughly.
"Oh . . . well . . . um . . . technically it didn't," Kagome replied with a shy look, a small laugh leaving her.
"What do you mean 'technically' didn't?" Inu-Yasha growled, giving her a dangerous look.
"See," Kagome spoke like a little child in trouble, holding up her book to show Inu-Yasha the bullet imbedded in the center. "And you said books couldn't save your life."
Inu-Yasha gave her a dumbfounded look before a smile cracked his stone face, and he let out a genuine laugh.
'It's the one with Hiro.' Kagome thought happily before joining in.
x.x
'Well yesterday went well.' Inu-Yasha thought as he walked into the book shop. 'Maybe we can actually be civilized . . . or friends as she put it. We can work out who gets Hiro calmly.'
"Hey Kagome!" Inu-Yasha called out as he walked into Kagome's small, cramped office. Doing a double take once he entered. One, Kagome wasn't alone, and two the woman she was with seemed important; dressed all prim and proper in a pinstriped suit.
"Miss Satsuki, this is Inu-Yasha," Kagome explained to the woman, gesturing to Inu-Yasha's confused form. "Inu-Yasha this is . . ."
"Satsuki Kimiachi," the woman said, rising to her feet and offering her hand. "Miss Higurashi's lawyer in the case of custody for a Hiro Hazuki."
A/N: That's all for now. I would like to tell you guys my thanks for reading the story, and especially to those of you who took the time to review. I'm think the next story I update will be Nightingale's Voice, but not quite sure so don't get your hopes up. See you with the next chapter!