AN: Wow, it's great to know that people still love me after being gone for so long

Now, onward ho! BTW, sorry this took so long. I moved to NY, had college orientation, went on vacation to Mauii, went on a Tactics, X, Mirage of Blade, Trinity Blood, and Kyou Kara Maou watching spree, got obsessed with Tokyo Babylon's Subaru, and there you have it. I know, best excuses in the world, aren't they! I think so.

"I'm mad, you're mad, we're all mad here."

Cheshire Cat, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

it'S NoT SanE

CHapTer 7

It only took one word to ruin my day.

"Higurashi!"

Funny that the said word was my own name. It's probably not a good thing when your name spells out IMMINENT DOOM in nice, two-tone letters. Mama used to always say that, "it's not what you say, but how you say it." Boy, is that true. See, people like Mama and my friends can say my name and have it sound perfectly normal or even make it have a nice little chime to it, but people like Taisho can make it sound like a made-to-order personalized death knell.

I peaked around the corner, only letting the top half of my head show, squeaked out a pitiful "Yes?", realized how pathetic I was, and walked as gracefully into his office as possible, until I tripped on a gigantic platinum stapler lying a foot or so away from the small waste bin. Piece of info: 'trash can' is the phrase used more often for the bigger, clunkier, uglier things that one puts rotten yard clippings in while 'waste bin' is the phrase used by stuck-ups for the smaller, more high class things that they throw their Chanel bags into. Helpful hint, 'waste bin' or 'trash can', a toe is impartial when it comes into heavy contact with one; they both hurt like hell.

Question number one. "Why the hell is your waste basket so heavy?"

"It's made of stainless steel and platinum."

Ah. Of course. Question two. "Why is there a stapler lying on the floor?"

"…"

Question three. "Why is there a stainless steel and platinum waste basket with a platinum stapler lying right next to it in the middle, not the edge of or even the semi-brink, but the very middle, of your office floor?"

"I wanted to see how loud of a sound the stapler would make when hitting the bin from this far away. I was hoping it would make a sort of satisfying crunching sound. Alas, it didn't, but your bones will if you don't sit down in that chair within the period of two seconds," he said pointing to a seat before his desk.

Amazingly enough, I was still far too captivated by the whole waste bin episode to notice the foul look on his face for at least thirty seconds. Then-bam!-my brain went into overdrive to make up the lost time.

"Oh shit! I swear it wasn't me! That Sha-whatever woman said that she'd always wanted a non-disposable coffee filter! I swear! And I only took some of the sugar packets to finish a recipe! I promise I'll replace them, I just-"

"Even if that does explain why my coffee has been so distasteful as of late… Higurashi, what the hell are you blabbering on about?"

I blinked once and realized I was retarded.

"Right. Well." Tad embarrassing. "What was it you needed?"

"Besides reparations for a coffee filter?" His raised his eyebrows calmly, in feint surprise, "To warn you."

"I sincerely doubt you mean about the hazards of caffeine?"

"The gala that is coming up. You remember that you are accompanying me?"

"I remember that I was volunteered against my will for a nice little slice-off-hell evening. Can't seem to get away from the fact. "

Taisho brushed aside my little comment, meaning this was an important topic and I had best listen. Which made me automatically bored.

"The man that owns the company, Onigumo-"

"Right, the oily-voiced-but-not-bad-looking-except-for-the-evil-eyes man. I think I met him before, and I remember patching through his calls."

"Right, we'll talk about that call-patching later. Onigumo seems to have taken a bit of a liking to you. He's being inquisitive and in Onigumo's terms, that means trouble."

"Wow, a guy who is the head of a major company is inquisitive about me?" I perked up. Mom, maybe I can get you that new washer and dryer after all. What? You bought that new Corvette just for me? You shouldn't have, no really! I already liked the blue one so much! Then I remembered the scumbag feeling that trailed the man.

"He is a notorious womanizer. He finds pleasure in picking women up as fast as he throws them away."

My eyes lit up with my devilish ideas.

"Oh, Taisho!" I held up a hand in front of my face and made a look of surprise. "Are you worried about my well being? Is that concern for my welfare I hear. Please tell me it's true!" I put my hand to my head and clutched my chest, batting my eyes.

"Don't go on, Higurashi. What I meant was, he has been known to coax people into doing what he pleases. He may see that you are a newly-hired and attempt to use you to 'infiltrate'-of-sorts, my company. I can not have that."

Somehow, this made me feel a little let down, even though I had just been joking about it. But mostly it just made me feel totally pissed. There were two ways to assess this situation.

1.)The jerk was so egotistical that when a competitor tried to pick up on an employee, he thought the only reasonable explanation was that the said competitor was trying to infiltrate the company! Freud! Oh, Freud! I found Super Ego! He was hiding behind Mr. Taisho's desk again!

2.)Either that, or he found me so ugly and detestable and sexiness-less that he thought there was no other reason for another man to hit on me.

Conclusion: Taisho was probably the epitome of Super Ego and he found me completely sexiness-less, which only furthered his Super Ego-ness because the only reason he probably found me sexiness-less was because the only person he could truly find sexy was himself, whom he probably stared at wistfully in the bathroom mirror for twenty minutes everyday before leaving for work. I know it's too kind, but I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Not that he isn't hot and extremely sexy in that firm, tall, handsome way, but really!

"What! Are you saying that my well-being means less than 'infiltration of your company'! Oh, yeah, who cares if Higurashi is picked up and dropped like a Hot Pocket if Taisho Inc. maintains its standing! She's just a lowly secretary! Just another 'employed' on the company pay roll. I think I'll start a union! Oh, wait, I'm just a worker! It's us workers who keep places like this running! Hah! You are the lowest-"

"Higurashi, if you please…" he rubbed the ridge of his nose and dropped his head forward, looking quite annoyed or worn out. "It was a mere joke. A hyperbole. You of all people should understand that. As much as I would love to bicker and argue about this topic, I really do not have the spare time nor energy to do so. Just find something decent to wear. I will pick you up that night. Now go back to work and try not to disturb every particle in the atmosphere while you do so."

Oh.

I merely snorted, huffing my shoulders and I turned to walk out.

"Oh, Higurashi."

I turned slightly in the doorway. Just wishing he would say something very inexcusable so that I could have a good reason to hurl that shiny platinum stapler at his face.

"Have you ever been acquainted with Inuyasha before your meeting him here?"

That would do, except he didn't know it was inexcusable. Damn.

Part of me was wondering how fast I could reach the stapler, hurl it, and bail out of there. The more logical part took over though, and I turned part of my face back to look at him.

I didn't trust myself to pull off a whole poker face. My heart beat tripled and decided to have a trampoline contest with my lungs. I did my best to plaster on an annoyed grimace.

"I don't know. If I had, I'm sure I would have remembered him. There's only a few circumstances where I wouldn't, and those would include nice big doses of hard alcohol, and I may be wrong, but your brother strikes me as more of a beer type," Taisho's eyebrows raised just a millimeter in surprise or humor, "Why?"

"No reason. Go schedule my Saya appointment."

"Right." I felt so relieved that he didn't ask more, that I left without a single protest.

"Hello?"

"Ah! Kagome! I'm glad I caught you!"

"Hi Miroku, what's up? And no, I will not go out with you."

"…Oh, Kagome, you're so judgmental. What about just a coffee?"

"No way, we tried that once before, remember? I left mad and you left with my fingerprints engraved in your cheek."

"Of course, how could I forget? Your right thumb has a marvelous spiral to the left. Splendid evening. But, that's not the reason I called. How's work going?"

"I remember to think at least once a day that you are the one responsible for my torture and agony."

"But the pay is great, isn't it?"

"Well…"

" See? Did your friend help you, or didn't he? How's Sesshoumaru been? No weird situations or anything, right? Nothing strange? Secretarial position sometimes get the weirdest stuff. But that's why I looked you up, I knew you'd handle things well.

"Yeah, thanks. And no, everything's been fine, I guess. The insults still fly, but it wouldn't be the same job without them."

Well it's better than a kick in the head, right.?"

"Actually…"

"…OK, forget that. Actually, I did call to see if you wanted to go get a cup of coffee. I'm near that little shop you love. I just got off work and I could use the stimulation after taking public relation and customer service calls all day. You'd be amazed at problems people get themselves into with our products. Hmm…come to think of it, I didn't think you could squeeze the T349 Super into a spot like-"

"Right! That's plenty, thanks!"

"Just as friends then?"

"I'd love to, but I was going to go shopping for a dress to wear to Onigumo's company gala. Sorry."

"Oh, I didn't know you were going to the gala. That's wonderful! I am going also. If I'd known, I would have asked you to accompany me right away. Who's the completely unfairly lucky man escorting you?"

"None other than the slave-driver himself."

"……."

"I know. He basically volunteered me for it a long time ago. Didn't even ask me, just told me I was going with him just because he doesn't want Onigumo to lay a hand on his employees. Possessive little…"

"Ahem."

"Sorry."

" Anyways, shopping sounds splendid. I could help you out! Give you a male perspective on each little black dress that-"

"Yeah, you'd like to get a certain perspective on my dress, wouldn't you. Sorry Miroku, this is a woman-only shopping spree. Go flip through your little black book and call me again later."

"Alright. If you say so, Kagome, but just to let you know, the offer still stands and my cell phone will most definitely be on should you change your mind."

"Right, should I change my mind. Thanks, Miroku. Bye."

I hung up the phone and headed out the door.

I must admit, I splurged a little. Just a tad though. It'd been so long since I had owned something nice to clothe myself in. The only little black dress in my house was on a Nightclub Malibu Barbie that was in my closet, never to be opened or even found again. I just wasn't that type of girl.

Don't get me wrong, I love dressing up fancily, hell, I just love dressing up. However, I was never a really girly girl. I love dressing up, but I love dressing up to dress up, not to look nice. Quite frankly, I love costumes. I'm sure a shrink could examine that, but he'd have much better things to speculate on about me. Like my 'even fetish'. For instance, if I tickle my left arm, I have to tickle my right also, or I feel 'unbalanced'. Weird, I know. But most definitely not the weirdest.

But anyways, as I was saying, I splurged on the outfit a bit. Well-fitting yet elegant black dress: $285-but it's a very expensive brand and I practically stole it, not to mention, it brings out my lacking curves. $100 black stilettos: OK, normally I would be caught it those types of shoes considering my balance is less than desirable, but I could actually walk in these things and they'd look good with half my work wardrobe. $89 purse-what woman can be without a purse? A dead one, that's what. And earings. Pretty ones. Very pretty ones. And pretty expensive ones. I splurged. But boy, did I have fun shopping.

"Hmm…no, not that one. Too bulgy on your frame."

"I agree, she needs something more fitted."

"But I like the ways this one hangs on her shoulders."

"Yeah, but see, the butt looks baggy."

"Yeah, I see that now."

Then, simultaneously, three voices shouted, "Next one!"

Somehow, Kagome had managed to get three of the female store clerks as Dress Judges. Though a bit embarrassing, it was very helpful, especially when (after trying on about twenty-five different ones), they helped her find the perfect dress.

"Oh, definitely! Not too long, not too short."

"Yes, definitely this one! Makes her curves stand out nicely."

"It's perfect on her! Adds a wonderful touch of elegance!"

Then, simultaneously again, "We must find her shoes!"

That was how it had happened. But I was glad, her three helpers had most definitely found her a wonderful ensemble, and I actually felt like I looked good for once. A great outfit can do that to a girl. I made a note to balance my expenses differently, definitely more money for shopping, definitely.

When I got home, I hung the dress up carefully and didn't dare take the shoes out of their box. Somehow, I felt a lot lighter. I realized that I'd been way too stressed lately, understand why. Normally, my natural response would be: that jerk Taisho, but I'd never actually had problems handling him. Sure, he got on my nerves a lot, and I mean a lot, but usually it didn't affect my life outside of the workday.

I stretch out a bit and decided to go on a jog. As much as I found getting out to exercise a pain, I always felt better afterwards. Plus, I'd been putting on the pounds since I'd been working at Taisho Inc. Probably the overtime.

I put on my grunge clothes-an old tank top and exercise shorts, grabbed my keys, and headed out. I decided to run to the nearby park. Even though I didn't like running in the street on the way there, once I got to the park, it was the perfect place to jog by myself. I liked to run by the pond and through the trees where it was shady and green.

I ran down my street and two others, into the 'shopping district' (the street with the grocery, book, and clothes stores), I jogged slowly past mothers pulling their ice cream-slurping children and fathers on their way home or to pick up their children. I rounded a corner to the intersection of Sumeragi Avenue and Sakurazukamori Way, making sure to gaze at the beautiful cherry blossoms that lined the streets. They were always amazing when they bloomed. My attention shifted to some younger children who were walking down the street, singing some new pop song at the top of their lungs. I rounded another corner, smiling to myself, that is, until I had a heart attack.

"Kagome! Kagome! I mean, ahem, Miss Higurashi!" I could hear the sarcasm in the voice, and squirmed, but turned to greet a beaming Inuyasha.

"Hello, Inuyasha. What are you doing here?"

"Just thought I'd try shopping in some of these more local stores."

"I see. Your designer suits boring you?"

"Not at all, just wanted a change of scenery. How 'bout you?"

"I'm jogging."

"I could see that."

"Then…I better be going. I got my heart rate up and I don't want it to slow down, you know."

"Right. I didn't know I could still get your heart rate up."

I turned and started to jog away.

"Inuyasha, you can't get anything up anymore." I yelled back over my shoulder.

"Hey, Kagome! Kagome!"

I ignored him, continuing to my close goal of the park. I jogged a bit faster. I couldn't hear Inuyasha's voice anymore.

"Hey….huff….Kagome…huff…"

"Yaaaghhh!" is what I screamed before skidding to a stop.

"Ah…thank God…I didn't…huff…think…you'd…stop…huff…" Inuyasha crumbled to a stop and said in panting breaths, doubled over in his tailored suit. It was actually kind of reassuring and funny to see him like that. "So, what do you say, since I killed myself trying to catch up to you, that we go get a cup of tea or a juice or something?"

I looked at him incredulously. Apparently he saw my questioning look.

"Just a drink between old friends. Nothing meant by it. Just want to talk."

I looked at him, even more incredulously than before, but he looked up at me, hands on his knees, sucking in air, his eyes clear and warm, a smile on his face. I couldn't help it. I saw him sitting next to me in a restaurant, laughing at some stupid joke a friend told him, smiling as he held me up and my skis slid out from beneath me, chuckling as I threw a pillow at him, and I wanted that. I wanted it to be how it had been before. But I knew better. I knew it was stupid and bad for both of us, for me to think that. I cleared my head. I looked at him.

"Be careful, you don't want to ruin a perfectly good suit by running in it."

"Don't worry, I've had this thing tailored so well that it's like a second skin," he smiled at me and stood up. "Great. I know this place that sells the best tea drinks."

It was very warm out and a free drink didn't sound so bad. I let him take me.

...I had a headache again. It wasn't that late, there will still a few other straggling employees in the office, but I gathered my briefcase and coat, deciding to go home a bit early. After all, I was the owner of the company, I could do as I pleased and not have to report to anyone. In fact, I could have technically never come to work, but I refused to let the company run without my attention and guidance. After all, I had learned over a period of time, that the best way to have something done the right way was to do it yourself. But today, I decided to retire early, and popped a few aspirin before heading out of the building.

I passed the lobby secretary who bowed goodbye to me, a confused and slightly nervous look on her face, and I thought about Higurashi's response to my questioning earlier that day. She had stopped dead when I had asked about Inuyasha and refused to face me completely. Either she was so puzzled, she didn't know how to react, or she was hiding something. Not that it truly mattered. If she knew my brother before hand, it really had no impact on anything. Not the company, and as long as her work remained of high quality, it mattered not who she knew. Yet, I wondered, if she had known Inuyasha, why hadn't she said anything of him? Did they dislike each other? Were they friends who had a falling-out? Yes, those would seem the most logical explanations.

Or could it be the exact opposite? Was she hiding something bigger from me? People often as if they had aversions for each other when in fact, they were in love or obsessed. It was a game I had seen boys and girls play since grade school. Now that I thought about it, they seemed to have an underlying connection between them and Higurashi was always uncomfortable in his presence. Maybe Inuyasha had hit on her and she had refused? Or maybe he had asked her out and she had accepted.

I walked out of the office and toward the nearby parking garage , keys in hand, ready to go home an attempt to have a good night's sleep, though I knew it wouldn't happen. I looked up. The cherry blossoms were in bloom. Hadn't it just been winter? I turned to enter the garage then decided perhaps a drink at the bar a few blocks over would help my nerves. I turned and continued down the street, only to have the breath pounded from my lungs as someone rammed into my chest. My keys went flying and something was painfully searing the whole front of my chest.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! I wasn't paying attention and-" it was a woman and she was staring at my chest and I realized that the reason it was burning was because when she had knocked into me, a cup of hot tea she was carrying has dumped its entire contents down my front. She had pulled out a handkerchief and was moving to dab the tea from my shirt.

"It's fine," I grumbled, my headache intensified.

"I'm so sorry-it's just-I-"

"I said it's fine!" I grabbed her hand before she could start to soak up the tea.

"Oh," she said, pulling her hand back. "Look, I'm sorry, if I can make it up, I--TAISHO!"

I cringed, my head pounding. It was like having a hangover on top of a hangover with her around. It was Higurashi. Of course. What other human being on the planet of Earth could possible want to disrupt my life?

"Higurashi, if you're quite done dumping hot liquid concoctions onto your boss, he'll be going now."

"Hey, I'm sorry-I just."

"I said forget it, Higurashi. Shit."

"What's wrong?"

"My keys. They fell out of my hands when you crashed into me," I said, gingerly touching my searing chest.

Higurashi scowled, then did something I didn't expect. She bent down to the ground, scanning it.

"Look, I'll help you find your keys, then you're coming to my apartment and I'll give you something for the burns."

"The last thing I want right now is-"

"Don't be stubborn, Taisho. For once in your life, let someone else do something for you, of their own free will. I only live a few blocks over. Now, let's find those keys of yours. Wouldn't want your Mercedes to be stranded."

"It's a Porsche, I'll have you know."

Then she smiled up at me. She actually let out a small laugh, though it may have been a critical one, she laughed. And I realized that her eyes showed everything about her. The dark blue, scornful hue, and the light, blue of caring mixed with a disturbing pale gray of unease clashed together and shown. Not astounding, not especially gorgeous, just truthful and willing. I sighed and relinquished.

"Very well, but you will be reprimanded for this more once I get rid of this foul headache."

"I wouldn't expect less from you, Mr. Taisho," she sighed and continued to scour the nearby bushes. "You know, I've always wanted a classic Porsche. A friend of the family used to own one and I adored it. It was beautiful, but I never did get to ride in it…" she rambled on like so until we found the keys, five minutes later, under an especially prickly bush. I pocketed them.

"Right, we've retrieved the keys, now come on. I'll get you some antiseptic cream and bandages," and, without even realizing, I was being led by the arm towards the supposed direction of Higurashi's residence.

How was it that this woman could make my everyday life such an uncertain hell, then jump in and expect to be the angel?

...AN:Well, that took For. Freaking. Ever. But you know my excuses. Gomen nasai! Shitsure shimasu! Anyways, this chapter, for how long it took, wasn't actually that great, though it was a bit longer than the others. But that's ok. Next chapter, I have some exciting things planned out. By the way, did any of you catch the references to another manga? If not, you might next chapter, when I borrow some more from it.

Well, please review. Constructive criticism is always loved. Tchao 'till next chapter (which will be sooner!). BTW, you can contact me whenever you wish. I now have a live journal. http: Feel free contact me!