Inuyasha was driving his car, a small smile on his lips. He sighed happily for the hundredth time since the morning. He had her back. The idea seemed to become more pleasant each time he thought about it again. Kagome had not died that night, she had lived and now she was his. His smile suddenly faltered when he recalled how she closed her eyes when they were together. His heart clenched in his chest. She didn't love him, she didn't feel any kind of emotion towards him but he would make her love him again. If she loved him once, then she will love him twice. Hs thoughts were interrupted when his cell phone rang. He casted a quick glance at the number before answering.
"Mr. Taisho?" his secretary's voice reached him.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you that I will not be working today." He immediately cut her. He didn't want to anger his doctor. The last thing he wanted was his family being aware of his condition. "Make someone else fill my place, Pamela."
The woman sighed.
"I am really sorry to disturb you Mr. Taisho but we need you for a very important meeting. Mr. Sesshumaru didn't show up, and he's not answering his phone either. Ms Rin is also not here."
Inuyasha took a deep breath. He was really tired and didn't feel like working at all.
"And what is this meeting that is suddenly so important? I was not aware of it I guess."
"Mr. Taisho. This meeting is with the head of the Takashi companies. He informed us today that he will be personally attending. Your father told me that your presence will be crucial. Their company is offering a chance of partnership."
"Takashi is personally coming?" Inuyasha asked, puzzled. Never a head of a company would personally come during early negotiations. Now he understood why his presence was needed. It would not hurt if he worked for a few hours.
"I am coming." He responded, ending the phone call and taking another turn towards his company. He wanted so badly to spend the morning with Kagome. He simply shrugged. He will have plenty of mornings to spend with her. The smile instantly returned to his face.
Mercedes paced the apartment, getting more familiar with each room. She had to admit that Taisho had a good taste. Everything was in its right place, well arranged and ready for use. She returned to his room and opened his closet. She smiled as his manly scent assaulted her nose. She took a deep breath, her smile widening. Everything in his apartment cried his name. She took one of his shirts, a baby blue one and inhaled it before slipping it over her head. She giggled when it reached her mid thighs.
"He's tall." She noted while her hands continued searching inside the closet. She got on her tiptoes and saw a white box deep inside on the upper shelf. She carefully extended her hands and took it then made her way towards the bed.
"I wonder what's in there." She murmured, shaking it a little before collapsing on the bed, the box still in her hands. She tried to open it but found out that it was safely locked. Her eyes stared at it, curiosity eating her.
"What's in there?" She repeated, eying it with suspicion.
Suddenly, the door bell rang making her squeak in surprise. It took her a few seconds to calm her raging heart before she put the box under the bed and made her way to the door. She didn't know if she should open it or not. The bell rang again, making her bite her lower lip. Why would she not open it? She was not a criminal hiding from the police! If Taisho didn't want to make her presence known, she certainly wanted to.
Taking her decision, she opened the door slowly, coming face to face with Karla.
Inuyasha quickly made his way towards the meeting room. His secretary spotted him and quickly rushed to his side, laying a bunch of documents in his hands.
"They are waiting for you."
He simply nodded and entered the large room. Immediately, the two men sitting on the table rose and turned towards him. He hurried towards them, extending his right hand.
"Pleasure to meet you." He stated, shaking their hands respectively. "I am Inuyasha Taisho, I believe you want to talk with me."
One of the two men smiled at him. He was nearly twenty sever years old.
"The pleasure is ours, Mr. Taisho. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Hojo Takashi, head of the Takashi Company, and this is my assistant."
Inuyasha nodded and took the chair in front of them.
"Would you like to drink anything?" he asked. The two men politely declined. After exchanging a few words, Hojo took a more serious tone.
"Mr. Taisho. The Takashi Company has always remained neutral. However, we heard of the news about Naraku and the recovering of your shares. We wish not to be your enemies so we decided that it would be better if our two companies became partners. With mutual understanding, our income will increase and we would be able to face challenges in the market."
Inuyasha smiled, leaning back into his chair.
"My company will be honored to have a partnership with yours. The Takashi Company is neutral but powerful and I guarantee that with our aid, you will grow even stronger. However, I must say that I don't want any merger."
Hojo nodded, smiling slightly.
"Of course. Two independent but friendly companies. These days, it is better to be your friend than your enemy Mr. Taisho." He joked.
Inuyasha smiled back, but his eyes were still deadly serious.
"I must confess that I am shocked that you accepted my offer rather quickly Mr. Takashi. One year ago, you didn't even bother to personally answer me."
The atmosphere suddenly tensed, Inuyasha's eyes slowly and carefully studying those of Hojo. The latter was the first one to break the uncomfortable silence.
"Things change."
"In what way?" Taisho insisted, his eyes never leaving those of the man sitting in front of him.
Hojo smiled again, casting a quick look over his assistant before replying.
"One year ago, you were not as powerful as you are now. One year ago, Naraku was still a danger on our company. Now, we are free to associate with you and remain neutral as we always were."
Inuyasha nodded, apparenty satisfied with the answer.
"Well Mr. Takashi, I guess that we have reached a common ground." Inuyasha started, getting up. "Of course, we must discuss everything furthermore."
The two men got up as well, shaking hand with him.
"I agree." Hojo replied. "If you want, we can discuss it over dinner. I know a great restaurant where we can talk business."
Inuyasha nodded.
"Why not? I will arrange it for tonight."
As soon as Hojo left the company's building along with his assistant, they separated. He then got in his car and dialed a number. He patiently waited until a feminine voice came from the other line.
"Hello?"
"He took the bait." The young man simply said, a smirk coming from his lips.
"Are you sure?" The woman's voice came from the other line. "Did he suspect anything?"
Hojo laughed, his head resting on the seat behind him.
"Well, at first he asked me why. But now, I am sure that he suspects nothing. He will never know until it is too late. We're even going to discuss everything during dinner."
The young woman chuckled, clearly amused.
"He thinks that he outsmarted us doesn't he?" She continued. "He's so naïve. But that doesn't mean that we should underestimate him."
"Of course we won't." Hojo replied while he started his engine. "We will be very careful."
The woman sighed.
"I was really worried that he will recognize you."
"Well, I guess Kagome never told him who I really was. That makes things easier. He just thinks of me as the heir of the Takashi, a great source of money."
The woman approved.
"Hojo, do you have any idea how much Naraku will be satisfied by what we're going to do? I bet that he will give you a reward and we will have our revenge in the same time. Think about it: destroying Taisho and getting on Naraku's good side."
The young man nodded in the phone.
"I will have my company back and I will avenge her death. The perfect plot."
"What are you doing here?" Karla asked as she stormed in the apartment. Once inside, she turned so that she could come face to face with Mercedes.
"As you see." Kagome answered nonchalantly. Karla's eyes traveled the shirt that Mercedes was wearing.
"Why are you wearing Inuyasha's shirt?"
Mercedes smirked, playing with the collar, her eyes never leaving those of the beautiful model.
"I couldn't find anything else to wear after last night."
Karla's eyes widened, her cheeks flushing with anger.
Kagome fought her smile that threatened to spread across her face. She was loving this.
"Last night?" The model yelled loudly. "I thought that you were just his assistant."
"Well I am his assistant. But not only in work."
Karla's breathing became heavy as she stared down at the girl in front of her.
"You bitch! He left me because of you! You, you… Inuyasha is mine! Stay away from him! I cannot believe he chose you over me! I am way more beautiful than you!"
Kagome's blood suddenly began to boil in her veins.
"Well, he did choose me over you. And I am sorry but I never saw your name on him, signaling that he's your property."
Karla suppressed her anger and smirked.
"I know what's going on. You're just a one night stand. He cannot be serious about you. He must be using you for a while. He will soon see that you are not worthy of his time. You'll bore him."
Mercedes bit her lip, uncertainty washing her heart. What if it was true? What if he was just using her? He will get bored of her one day and he will leave her behind. Her heart started beating loudly in her chest.
"You're just jealous." She finally countered. The model laughed.
"Why would I be jealous? Let me tell you something. If you were someone else, I would have been jealous. But seeing you now, I know that you are not Inuyasha's type. You don't fit into the descriptions. You are way too normal, too average."
Kagome felt tears starting to gather in her eyes but she blinked them away. Why would she care? He was the one keeping her against her will. Why would she cry if she thought he will not keep her? She should be happy if he left her. He will set her free. The idea made her tears double but she kept them under control. Quickly, she made her way towards the bedroom and a few seconds later she reappeared, holding the black box he had given to her the previous night.
"What's that?" The model asked, pointing at the box. Kagome smiled, a new confidence rushing in her as she opened the box, revealing a beautiful solitaire diamond ring to Karla's eyes.
"If what you say is true, why did he give me this?" she asked, slipping the ring in her finger. Silence stretched between the two women until the sound of Inuyasha who was standing in the door startled them.
"Karla?" he asked, making his way inside the apartment. His eyes traveled between the two women staring at him. He was surprised when the supermodel ran outside without saying a word. He looked at Mercedes.
"What did you do to her?" he angrily asked before following Karla. Kagome was startled as she saw him follow his ex girlfriend after yelling at her. The tears she was holding back rushed down her cheeks. Why would he blame her? Karla was the one who attacked her with all names! She was just defending herself! She rushed to the bedroom, locked the door and collapsed on the bed, crying while her face was buried in the pillow. For a moment, she thought that he really loved her, that he would take her side. Apparently, she was very wrong.
"Karla! Please wait!" he yelled, running after her in the street. He finally caught up with her and tried to grab her by the arm but she immediately broke free, not even looking at him.
"Karla, please!" He exclaimed, standing in her way. She finally stopped but refused to look at him. "Why are you crying?"
He grabbed her by the chin and forced her to look into his eyes. He sighed when he saw the tears running down her cheeks.
"What did she say to you?" he asked. Karla wiped her tears with her hand and looked away.
"Did you spend the night with her?" he finally questioned.
"I already told you that I can only see you as a friend Karla."
"Did you spend the night with her?" She insisted, this time looking at him in the eyes. He quietly nodded. The model shook her head, trying to stop the tears.
"Were you the one who gave her that ring? Are you engaged to her?"
Her voice was bitter and he felt really sad for her. It was his fault she was crying.
"She showed you the ring?" He asked.
She nodded.
"She showed me the ring and she said that I had to back off from you. She said that I was a bitch. She insulted me then told me that it was really naïve of me to actually think that I could stand a chance with you. She told me that I was just a toy to you. She told me that you fooled around with me. I just asked where you were and she gave me the worst insults. Why would she do that? What did I ever do to her?"
Her sobs increased as Inuyasha looked at her, his brows furrowing with anger.
"Karla, I want you to go home okay? I will deal with Mercedes. Just forget what she told you. She has a cruel vocabulary. I'll talk to you later okay?"
She nodded and watched him storm off to his apartment. Once she was sure he could not see her, she smiled and wiped her tears. She had to confess that her acting skills had improved since she began filming publicity. Tears were so easy to fake, emotions like sadness so easy to summon. Her smile soon turned into a smirk.
"Everything is fair in love and war."
He was beyond mad. He never felt so angry before, like as if his blood was burning his path through his veins. He stormed inside his apartment, his golden eyes searching for her. It was Naraku's fault. That monster had transformed the tender and sweet Kagome to the mischievous and vile Mercedes, a replica of himself. He could barely contain the tremble in his fingers.
He did not want to think that she will never return to what she used to be because it hurt him, it hurt him so badly to see her behave like that. He spotted his bedroom's door closed and went to it. He tried to open it and found out she had locked it. He cursed under his breath.
"Open this door Mercedes!" he commanded.
"Go away." Her weak answer came from the other side. He banged on the door angrily, forcefully. He was frustrated; frustrated that she didn't love him back, frustrated of the idea that Naraku had her all these years, frustrated of the idea that she was so playful.
"Open this door at once!" he growled.
"Why? Just go to your model." She responded angrily.
"Why would you even care?" He spat. "I fear that you have forgotten that you are here because you chose to be under my command. I want you to open that door!"
"Go to hell!" she cried before sinking on the floor next to the door. Why did he take Karla's side? He didn't even ask her about what happened. He simply decided that it was all her fault. Her heart clenched in her chest. He hated her, he hated her. Maybe last night, when he said he loved her, he thought she was someone else. Tears washed down her flushed cheeks. She heard him bang on the door making her flinch.
"I swear Mercedes, if you don't open this door, I will make a scene in the whole building. I swear to God."
He heard light footsteps coming towards the door before he heard her unlock it. He didn't wait anymore. He opened the door and went inside, his eyes burning with rage. He spotted her, her back turned towards him.
"What did you say to Karla? She was crying."
Mercedes didn't respond, ignoring him.
"Answer me!" he ordered.
"I didn't say anything offensive. I was just defending myself. She came on me."
"That's not what she said!" He exclaimed. He made his way towards her and spun her to look at him. He was stunned to see tears running down her face.
"Well, why do I have to tell you anything while you already decided that it was my fault. You're so stupid Taisho!"
His anger returned to full force. He hated it when she called him with his family name. It seemed to create a barrier between them, a cold distance.
"You will not call me stupid!" He yelled, shaking her a little.
"Stupid!" She yelled her voice breaking. Why was he so cruel to her? Why did he look at her as if he was disappointed? Sometimes, she could feel his rage against her. Her heart ached. He was the source of her sadness. Before him she was perfectly content with her life.
"You have become a monster!" he countered, his eyes darkening. "You are a monster just like Naraku!"
She froze, feeling her heart shattering. Her eyes widened and all her struggles ceased. He noticed the change in her and immediately regretted his words.
"Mercedes, forgive me." He breathed out, suddenly afraid of losing her. She shoved him away, her blue eyes staring back at his.
"I am not a monster." She choked out, her voice shattering as soon as the words left her. "But if you think that I am one, I will leave this instant."
She walked towards the door when he grabbed her by her arms, his eyes pleading.
"Please stay with me Mercedes. I am sorry."
She shoved him again, this time more forcefully.
"No! I don't care anymore! You're destroying me! I won't stay. I am leaving. I will start my life again, without you!"
Her words brought him into desperation. He grabbed her again by her arms, his grip tightening. She winced slightly but he only brought her closer to him.
"I am sorry. Please stay. You cannot leave me. You cannot."
She struggled, trying to free herself from his hold but he just held her tighter.
"Let me go!" she exclaimed.
"Mercedes, no!" He murmured, burying his face in her hair. She froze, his closeness making her suddenly dizzy. He fell to his knees, making her fall with him, still holding her. She shuddered against him, her heart thundering in her chest.
"What have you done to me Inuyasha?" she breathed out.
"You will never leave me." He murmured in her ear. "Never!"
He looked at her, his eyes pinning her with their intensity.
"You're crazy." She whispered before he crushed his lips to hers. She felt him take her in his arms as he got up and laid them both on the bed, never breaking the kiss. She closed her eyes and brought him closer. He was the first one to break it, his lips traveling to her neck, planting hot kisses on her skin.
"Say you're mine." He commanded, his hands working on the buttons of his shirt she was wearing. She shuddered again, his touch affecting her more than anything she had ever known.
"I am not yours." She murmured, fisting her hands in his hair as he revealed her under his gaze. His lips returned to her skin while his hands messaged her stomach, sending chills down her spine.
"You're trembling." He remarked, slowly kissing down her shoulders. His hands went up her stomach and rested on her chest. Electricity jolted in her body. She knew that she should not succumb to him so easily but when his lips joined his hands she lost all coherent thought as she cried his name.
Sesshumaru was having the worst headache. Early in the morning he had waken, finding himself in his brother's apartment. He immediately tried to leave but found that the door was locked. He patiently waited until Inuyasha made his appearance from his room. His brother looked strangely happy and content but he didn't comment on it. He forced him to open the door and left. And there he was, on his bed, in his room, all alone. He reached for his cell phone. What if he called her, what would happen? Would she answer him? Would she yell at him?
On the other hand, his dignity would never allow him to talk to her. She was the one who initiated the hostilities. She was the one who left him, not the other way around.
He sighed deeply. He loved her but she left him no choice. He would wait until she calls. Yes, he was sure that she will call. He was deep in his thoughts when his cell phone rang in his hand. He smiled, spotting his wife's number. He knew that she would not stay away from him. He loved her so much and now, she had proven she loved him.
However, his happiness dissipated when Chris' voice came from the other line.
"Sesshumaru, my old friend. Please tell me that I am not disturbing you with my call."
"What do you want Chris? I am not in the mood right now."
"Fine. I'll be brief. I just want to tell you that my sister has decided to divorce you. I will be her lawyer. In a couple of days, you will receive the papers. Anyway, have a nice day."
And then he hung up. Sesshumaru stayed frozen for a couple of minutes, his eyes traveling the ceiling, trying to comprehend what just happened.
Did Rin really hate him? Did she ever love him or was he just a crush for her? A crush she was over now? He closed his eyes. He would talk to her. He will not allow her to toy with him.