Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha series…But I want to. ^_^
"Speaking"
(Thinking)
*Sound Effects*
What happened in chapter 12:
Inutaisho looked at his enraged son and sighed. "Really Sesshomaru, I'm disappointed. From all the girls in the world you had to pick someone who wasn't in our standard. Who was that other girl you were with before…? Oh yes, Sara Lewis, at least she had
something to look forward to" Inutaisho mocked.
"So…A while ago…Both of you...Were just acting?"
"That's right. Your father and I are very good actors, I was just surprised that Kagura was gullible enough to even believe every little word we said"
"Sesshomaru, I advice you to leave her, you're too good to be with someone like her"
"Both of you shut up…"
"I beg your pardon?"
"I SAID BOTH OF YOU SHUT UP" He roared. "How dare you talk to her that way, you don't even know the real Kagura Brooks. All the things you've told me are all lies, all the information you have gathered are fake. I AM ASHAMED TO CALL YOU MY PARENTS"
"SESSHOMARU" His mother roared.
"Shut up you old hag, I'm fed up with this life. Perfection is what you have always been seeking, but the imperfections in this world is what is truly worth living for" He answered.
"Don't you dare talk back to us" Inutaisho commanded.
"Oh yes I dare! Kagura gathered up all her courage to be presentable to the both of you and this is how you treat her?" Sesshomaru glared at his parents for a few seconds and marched out of the living room.
"Sesshomaru we are not done here" Saori exclaimed.
But Sesshomaru ignored her.
"Sesshomaru, don't turn your back on us, if you get out of this room you will face a number of consequences"
Sesshomaru stopped and looked at his father. "BRING IT ON" He dared. He then turned around and slammed the door behind him.
Chapter 13: Minor Changes
Sesshomaru marched upstairs and barged into the room he was staying in. Kagura jolted when she heard Sesshomaru angrily entering their room.
"Oh, it's you Sesshomaru. You scared me. I thought that you were –"
"Kagura, pack your bags and change! We're leaving" Sesshomaru blurted.
"Leaving! I thought that we were going to tour around Milan with your parents?" She pointed out.
"Trust me Kagura, you don't want to spend time with my parents" He exclaimed. "Heck they don't even want to see you right now" He quietly grumbled to himself.
"Why? Is there something wrong?" She asked.
Sesshomaru ignored her question, and continued to pack his belongings. He is flustered on how his parents think about Kagura.
(Why can't they see her the way I do? Tch, pretending to be nice so that the guests won't suspect your true intentions… That's a new low for them) He angrily thought.
"Sesshomaru?" She hollered.
Sesshomaru ignored her once more. She couldn't take the silence and grabbed his hands to get his attention.
"Kagura, I told you to –" When Sesshomaru grabbed her hands, he noticed that they were trembling. He looked at her face, and knew that she was on the verge of crying.
"Tell me Sesshomaru…Is everything my fault?" She whispered.
Sesshomaru was surprised when he heard Kagura blaming herself. He lets go of her hands and caressed her cheek.
"Don't beat yourself up" He chuckled. "You didn't do anything wrong"
Kagura wiped her tears and let out a minute laugh. "I'm sorry, I just thought I could do something to help you know…*sighs* I guess I can't fix everything in this world"
"Well, I know that you fixed one thing…" Sesshomaru mentioned.
"Oh really?" She smirked. "Then tell me, what did this failure fix?" She questioned.
"…My heart" He smiled.
Silence filled the room. Kagura looked at Sesshomaru with her eyes widened.
"…That…Was BAD" She retorted.
"But, you don't feel BAD now don't you?" He added.
Kagura couldn't take his corny jokes any longer. She quickly grabbed a pillow and flung it towards his face.
"STOP IT WITH THE DAMN JOKES ALREADY" She begged.
Sesshomaru invaded her shot and tackled her towards the bed. Her back was on the bed's soft covers and he lied on top of her delicate frame. He held her arms above her head. He softly kissed her tender cherry lips and smiled.
"Say it…"
"Say what?" She asked.
"Come on, I made you laugh didn't I?" He questioned.
"No you did not! You just started saying those jokes to irritate me and –"
Sesshomaru started kissing her sensitive neck. Kagura's skin tingled when his warm breath touched her bear neck.
"Okay okay *gasps* you win, you made me laugh" She giggled.
Sesshomaru stopped kissing her neck and stood up. "Come on, let's get going"
Kagura sat up and stretched her arms. "Yes, yes I'll pack my stuff" (Oh man, I didn't even get to tour Milan) She thought.
A few minutes after they packed their belongings, Inutaisho barged into the room.
"SESSHOMARU" He barked.
"Father!"
"I told you not to –"
"Uhm, excuse me Mr. King…?" Kagura interrupted.
Inutaisho turned silent and glared at Kagura. His cold stare sent chills down to her spine, but she didn't want to leave Sesshomaru's parents with a bad impression of her.
"*Gulps* I'm sorry that we're leaving in such a sort notice, but. I want you to have something"
"K-Kagura…?" Sesshomaru whispered.
Kagura walked towards her bag and unzips it. She took out a small box which was finely wrapped in brown paper and is adorned with a stripped ribbon. She walked towards Inutaisho and presented her simple gift.
"I know it's rude not to give a present to the host of party…So here" She shyly showed her present to Inutaisho.
Inutaisho looked at her gift and grabbed it from her hand. He untied the knot, cleanly tore the brown paper and opened the box.
"It might not be much, and I guess you have dozens of these somewhere" She blurted.
(Speaking like that to me –)
"But…It's not nice to come empty handed, isn't it?" She shyly said. "You of all people should know this"
Inutaisho was amazed by Kagura's bluntness. (This woman…Has the courage to say that to my face!) He then looked at Sesshomaru and smiled. (My son has truly found a diamond in the rough) He thought.
"Sesshomaru" She hollered.
"Y-yes Kagura…?"
"I'll be waiting for you downstairs" She announced. "And please…DON'T forget the bags" She smiled.
"Y-yeah…" (What's gotten into her?)
Kagura smiled at Inutaisho and walked away. Her smile was quite different. Inutaisho was enticed by the distinctiveness of her smile, and eyed her until she left the room.
Sesshomaru sighed and grabbed their bags.
"Shesshomaru…" Inutaisho blurted.
Sesshomaru stopped and looked at his father. "What is it…Father?"
"Aren't you perturbed?" He asked.
"What do you mean?" Sesshomaru lied.
"Don't lie with me" He ordered. "I can see it in your face…Ever since we discouraged you to take music you've become silent. You would talk to us less and hardly show us any emotion"
"Are you done?" Sesshomaru grunted. "Now, excuse me –"
"But I still wonder why you called us mother? Not only for today, but. When we gave you a call?" Inutaisho wondered.
"You didn't seem to mind" Sesshomaru shrugged.
"We got used to you calling us by our first names or sometimes call us snakes and monsters" Inutaisho reminded. "So we were surprised that you suddenly started respecting us again. Did that woman by any chance…Make you soft?" Inutaisho mocked.
"Shut your mouth Inutaisho" Sesshomaru growled. "I'm only doing this for her"
"Oh, so you did grow soft? That's something I didn't expect from you" Inutaisho sneered.
"Humph, what is it to you?" Sesshomaru questioned. "Besides…It feels great to genuinely smile again, after a long while" He smiled.
(Sesshomaru's…Smiling? What kind of spell did that woman put him in?) Inutaisho thought.
"Now, will you excuse me? My girlfriend is waiting for me downstairs" Sesshomaru grabbed the bags and walked passed Inutaisho.
"Sesshomaru…One more thing" Inutaisho blurted. "Tell her thank you for the present. Even though I own dozens of these" He smirked.
(Pompous bastard) Sesshomaru thought as he left the room.
"Leaving so soon Mr. King?" Geoffrey asked.
"Yeah, there are some important things I have to do back home" Sesshomaru lied.
"I understand Mr. King"
Sesshomaru opened the trunk and threw the luggage in the car. Kagura was waiting for him in the passenger's seat. He closed the trunk, got in his car, and started the engine.
"Well, it was nice of you to visit us again Mr. King" Geoffrey mentioned.
"It was nice see you too Geoffrey" Sesshomaru sighed.
With no more words to say, Sesshomaru drove off and headed back home.
"Jeez, this sucks. It has only been three days and she's coming back home" Kagome growled. "And I thought I'll be staying in this place a little bit longer…" She sighed.
*Kriiing* *Kriiiing* The doorbell roared.
"That must be her" Kagome got off the couch and stretched her arms.
*Kriiing* Kriing*
"I'm coming, I'm coming" (Jeez why is she in a hurry coming back home anyway?)
Kagome opened the door and saw an unexpected visitor.
"Oh, Chef Mando" She exclaimed. "I thought you were someone else I'm sorry –"
"It's alright Kagome, I'm just here to say goodbye…" He sighed.
"Goodbye! What for?" Kagome questioned.
"Well…You see…I sold the Le petite café to someone…" He confessed.
"WHAT! HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?" She growled.
"I sold the café about two days ago…I'm sorry Kagome but, business has been lagging"
"Lagging? But the café has always been jam packed with people" She pointed out.
"It's complicated Kagome…Besides I needed the money to pay the hospital bills"
(That's right…I almost forgot. Chef Mando's wife has a weak immune system. And she's been getting sick lately…) "How's she holding up?" She asked.
"She's doing fine, thanks for asking…" Mando said with a forced smile. "But don't worry Kagome, this doesn't mean that you're fired"
"Really?"
"Yeah, you're just…Under new management, that's all"
"Uhmm, Chef Mando?"
"What is it Kagome?"
"Could you at least tell me who bought the café? You know, so that I could quickly get acquainted with the new owner?" She asked.
"Ah, yes" Chef Mando searched his pockets and gave her a business card. "Her name is on that card" He pointed out. "Kagome, I entrust that you relay the message to Kagura as well…" He reminded.
"Don't worry Chef, I got it" She whispered.
"You know…Kagome. You don't have to call me Chef, you don't work for me" He mentioned.
"No can do Chef. Working for you for the past three years has been the best years of my life. And not being able to call you Chef…Makes me feel…" Kagome quickly wiped her eyes to fend off the tears.
Chef Mando smiled and chuckled. "Oh Kagome…Strong yet fragile"
"It's been an honor to work for you Chef Mando" Kagome blurted.
"Yes, it has been an honor to work with you guys as well" He smiled. He then waved at Kagome and left.
Kagome closed the door and dropped herself in the couch. She hugged the throw pillow that cover her face and sighed.
(How will Kagura handle the news?) She thought. She then remembered that she was still holding the business card Chef Mando gave her. She sat up and read the card. "I- It can't be…" She uttered to herself.
A few hours later our couple has arrived in the apartment complex. Even though that their journey was a tough one, they came back home smiling and refreshed.
"Well, that was something" Kagura said.
"Yeah, I didn't know that it would turn out like this" Sesshomaru confessed.
"But you know, I felt like we've accomplished something" She mentioned.
"Yeah, you finally met my parents"
"We kind of resolved your relationship with your parents"
"And you got to see Milan…Well, some parts of it anyway" Sesshomaru added.
"To me, that is a job a well done. If I do say so myself" Kagura gleamed.
Sesshomaru looked at Kagura and placed his arm around her shoulder. He then brought her closer and kissed the top of her head.
"You know, even though I got kicked out like that…I'm happy that it was with you" He joked.
"Is that supposed to be funny?"
"Nope that's the truth"
*Ding* The elevator echoed as the doors swung open.
"Well, here we are" She pointed out.
They got out of the elevator and walked through the hallway. When they neared their residences they gave each other a kiss and turned in for the night.
"KAGOME I'M HOME" Kagura hollered. "Sorry for not ringing the doorbell. It just didn't occur to me that I had my house keys and –"
"KAGURA THANK GOODNESS THAT YOU'RE HERE" Kagome boomed. She ran across the room and glomped on Kagura.
"What's gotten into you?" Kagura asked.
"Something terrible has happened….TERRIBLE" She roared.
"What is it? Did you get hurt?"
"NO"
"Did you break any of my stuff?"
"NO"
"Did Inuyasha break up with you?" Kagura joked.
"Of course not, and why would he we've been going out for a few –"
"Gotcha" Kagura chuckled.
"I'm being serious here Kagura…Something happened to the café"
(The café?) "What happened? What happened to the café?"
"…Chef Mando sold it…To Sara" Kagome shared.
"S-Sara? As in…"
"Sara Lewis" Kagome reached into her pocket and revealed the business card to Kagura. "Chef Mando needed money to pay for the hospital bills"
"His wife is in the hospital again…? How is she?"
"She's doing great, I called him a while ago and he told me that she's getting treated"
"That's a relief" Kagura sighed.
"So…What are you going to do now?"
"ME! Why me?"
"Don't you have issues with this Lewis girl?" Kagome asked.
"I do but, I have to live with it…She's our new boss now. Besides, I'm sure she'll keep it professional when it comes to working with her"
"I hope you're right" Kagome assumed.
The next day Kagura went to work all pumped up. She didn't care if her boss was Sesshomaru's ex – fiancée, as long as she knew that they will keep their relationship professional, nothing can go wrong…Or so she thought.
"GOOD MORNING KAGOME –" Kagura beamed.
"You're late" Sara snarled.
"I-I'm sorry Ms. Lewis, I usually arrive work at this hour and –"
"Ugh, now you're giving me an excuse" Sara scoffed. "Great now my PERFECT day has been ruined…Naraku come with me to the kitchen" She ordered.
While Naraku followed his boss to the kitchen, Kagura crept closer to a discomforted Kagome.
"Psst, what's gotten into her?" Kagura whispered.
"I don't know" Kagome answered. "But, I'll tell ya she woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning"
"So how was your introduction?" Kagura asked.
"Well…IT'S FAR BETTER THAN YOURS" She sarcastically gleamed.
"…That bad huh?"
"She made me forcefully open the door with my bare hands" She angrily shared. "She forgot the front door key in her office, and since she has just gotten her nails done I had to pry them open"
"What! Let me see your hands"
"N-no don't –"
Kagura broke Kagome's clasps and grabbed her hands. She was shocked to see them swollen, bruised, and bleeding.
"How did you manage to open the door?"
"I…Punched through the glass…And the broken glass is also coming out of my pay check" She grunted.
"What!" (I can't let her do this…ESPECIALLY TO KAGOME)
"Ah I see that you two have gotten to know each other –"
"Uhm, excuse me Ms. Lewis, but I want to talk to you about something" Kagura brought up.
(Tch, this woman is interrupting ME!) Sara glared.
"I'm sorry Ms. Lewis but the way you treated my friend here is –"
"ME!" She scoffed. "Why are you blaming me? She was the one who wanted to show off her brute strength" Sara argued.
"Excuse me?" Kagura questioned. "But she told me that you had forgotten your key in the office and asked her to –"
"Forgotten?" Sara chuckled. "My dear my copy has been in my purse the whole time" Sara scavenged in her purse and showed them the evidence. "See" The key chimed as Sara dangled it in front of their eyes.
(S-she had it…All along?) Kagome thought.
Kagura was enraged at Sara's egoistic personality and couldn't take it any longer. "Why you –"
Kagome grabbed Kagura's arm and shook her head. "I'm sorry Ms. Lewis for acting so foolishly…It won't happen again" Kagome meekly said.
"Humph, at least now you know your place" Sara snorted. "Anyway let's cut to the chase…Since Chef Mando left me in charge I personally hired a professional chef and pastry chef to do the job"
"Ah, will they need any of our help in the kitchen?" Kagura brought up. "Because I can –"
"No they don't" Sara blurted. "They are professionals, not trained waitresses" She mocked.
(That girl…) Kagome grunted in her mind.
"So, no one will bother them in the kitchen. Did you get that?"
"Yes Ms. Lewis" They answered.
"Good, now let the café open" She declared. "Oh and, Ms. Brooks?"
"Yes Ms. Lewis?"
"Since Ms. Higurashi is handicapped at the moment, you have to work double duty"
"Yes Ms. Lewis" She answered.
"Good, this is how you say… payback? I understand that you left Kagome in the same situation while you were having fun in Milan" She evilly grunted.
"Tch that bitch" Kagome whispered under her nose.
"EXCUSE ME?"
Kagura quickly covered Kagome's mouth and gave Sara an uneasy smile. "Oh nothing, nothing"
"Tch I thought so… Naraku open the doors." She ordered. "Let the fresh life of Le Petite Café begin" She gleamed.
A few minutes later an array of customers flushed in the café. They were curious because they knew that the new manager was the daughter of the business mogul Andréé Lewis. Sara wanted a 360 degree change for the café. She changed some of the
staff, changed the interior, and changed the menu in a short span of three days. Everything was new for Kagura and Kagome. So it took extra effort to recognize the new scheme, especially for Kagura.
"Kagura table number twelve's order is on the counter" Chef Augustus barked.
"Yes, chef right away" Kagura took the order from the counter and gave to the customers on table twelve.
"Kagome, I think you can handle this. It's a slice of cherry pie for table one" Pastry Chef Noel barked.
"Coming Chef" Kagome scurried towards the counter and grabbed the order. "Here you go sir, one slice of cherry pie"
"Thank you Miss" The customer smiled. "Mind if I ask…What happened to your hand?"
Kagome clasped her bandaged hand and let out a fake laugh. "Oh I just slipped and fell, that's all" She proclaimed. "Will there be anything else sir?"
"No it's fine, thank you"
Kagome bowed in front of the customer and walked next to Kagura.
"How are you feeling?" Kagura asked.
"Better, but if I strain my hand too much it might get worse" She sighed.
"Maybe you should take a rest, I'll handle all the dishes from here" Kagura suggested.
"I'm fine Kagura really I'll help you –"
"Oh Ms. Higurashi" Sara rang. "Could you carry these boxes of new dishes for me? It seems that it's too heavy for me to carry" She sarcastically said. "Could you use your brute strength to carry them in the kitchen?" She asked.
Kagome held her hand and uneasily smiled. "S-sure…I'll do it Ms. Lewis"
"Ah, Ms. Lewis I think I should handle that" Kagura suggested. "Her hand isn't fully healed yet and –"
"Are you telling me how to do my job Ms. Brooks?" Sara snarled. "I'm the boss around here, so whatever I say goes, get it?"
"Y-yes Ms. Lewis…." Kagura sighed.
"But, if you think you can do it better than Ms. Higurashi, then I'm allowing you"
"Thank you Ms. Lewis –"
"If I see one crack on any of those new plates you're going to get in trouble"
Kagura nodded and walked towards the boxes. The boxes didn't seem too heavy for her to carry. She lifted the boxes with ease and gradually walked to the kitchen.
(Slowly…that's it…You wouldn't want her to get mad at you again) Kagura thought.
(Ohhh, this girl is trying to be the hero right now eh?) Sara thought. (I can fix that…)
(Okay just a little –)
Sara walked towards Kagura and purposely made her trip, causing the plates to fall.
*CRASH!*
Kagura stared at the shattered pieces in awe.
"Kagura are you okay?" Kagome hollered.
"Ohh, Ms. Brooks this certainly won't do" Sara scoffed. "I have specifically mentioned that if I see a single scratch on one plate you're going to get in trouble" She reminded. "But I don't see a scratch…Tell me Ms. Brooks, what do I see?"
"…Pieces of the plates…" Kagura sighed.
"That's correct" Sara sarcastically praised. "So, you are more than in trouble Ms. Brooks…You're fired" She whispered to her ear.
"Fired!" Kagome boomed. "But Ms. Lewis she –"
Kagura patted Kagome's hand, and shook her head. "It's all right Kagome…" She then glared at Sara. "I was planning to leave anyway"
She marched towards the front door and left the café.
"Fufufu…Just as I thought…She's not going to touch me" Sara sneered.
Back in the apartment complex Sesshomaru was happily creating music until he heard Kagura's footsteps tapping in the hallway.
Sesshomaru stopped writing on his composition sheet and looked at his front door. (What is she doing back home this early?)
Sesshomaru stood up and opened his front door.
"Kagura, why are you home so…"
When he saw Kagura, tears started to flow from her eyes. Sesshomaru didn't know the reason why she was crying, but he hugged her so tight that he didn't want to let go.
"Shhh, everything is going to be okay" He lulled. "Everything is going to be okay…I'm here"
End of Chapter 13
To be continued…
To my very dear readers,
I'm sorry if I submitted this a bit late… (Not even a bit…) I'm in the graduating class in my school, so… I've been pretty busy…SO the next time I'll write will be around March…. Coz I have more free time then hehe, hope you're ready for Chapter 14
though…I know I am hehe ~CIAO ^_^