Chris entered the huge office. The Takashi Company had called him earlier in the morning, insisting that his presence would be requested. Once inside, he came face to face with the head of the company, sitting on the large chair, smiling at him.
"Chris, I am glad you made it."
The young lawyer smiled, talking the seat offered to him.
"Hojo Takashi, long times no see." Chris joked, looking at the man with serious eyes. "What can I do for you Takashi?"
Hojo laughed, never detaching his eyes from Chris'.
"The question is, what I can do for you Chris? I heard that Naraku is in a very bad shape right now so I decided that I could intervene. "
Chris stared at him intently.
"Naraku doesn't need your help Takashi. Anyway, you shall always remember that your company still lives thanks to Naraku who possesses a great part of the shares."
Hojo frowned by the hostile tone Chris was giving him.
"I can help you destroy Taisho. I am sure that our boss will be very satisfied by the income. I can succeed because no one has any idea about the real state of my company. No one knows that Naraku possesses the greatest shares."
Chris relaxed in his seat. He had to admit that Takashi's help would be useful.
"What do you plan to do? Don't you underestimate Taisho! He can sense it if you're trying to over cross him."
Hojo nodded.
"Don't worry. If my plan doesn't work, I have a backup plan. I can assure you of one thing. Before Naraku wakes up, Taisho will be under his feet."
Chris took a deep breath, getting up from his seat and heading towards the door.
"Fine. I'll give you my permission."
He suddenly stopped and turned around, staring at Hojo.
"I can only give you one warning."
"What is it?" Takashi asked, seeing how Chris was serious.
"There is a girl with Taisho. Her name is Mercedes. She's with us so do not harm her. Our boss has a weak spot for her. If you anger her than you anger Naraku, and you do not want that to happen, now do you?"
Hojo smiled icily.
"I'll take your warning into consideration. Thank you for your trust."
Chris looked at him one last time before getting out of the office. Hojo took a deep breath. Inuyasha Taisho will suffer for what he had done to Kagome. He grabbed his cell phone, dialed a number and patiently waited. The same feminine voice answered him.
"Naraku gives us his permission. I just talked to Chris." He quickly affirmed.
"Good." The woman answered, her voice betraying her satisfaction. "If in any case, our plan fails, we will have to go to the other one. Are you sure you're up to it Hojo?"
The man nodded, playing with his pen.
"I am more than ready to do it. That man has no heart, so we will treat him without any emotion or pity. He's going down."
The woman laughed.
"I am so proud of you Hojo." She stated before hanging up.
The young man smiled before hanging his phone as well. Inuyasha Taisho will never know what happened to him.
"The Takashi Company?" Mercedes asked in a frown. Inuyasha nodded while snuggling more into her. She encircled his waist by her arms, allowing him to bury his face into her neck.
"Yes, Hojo Takashi came this morning to my company. He said that he wanted a friendship between our companies."
Mercedes' frown deepened. She rolled over, earning a whine from the man next to her.
"Mercedes, come back here." He said, patting his side of the bed. She ignored him.
"Why would Hojo Takashi, head of the Takashi Company, ask for a friendship with your company, while he has Naraku's protection?"
Inuyasha's eyes widened as he sat up in his bed, totally awake. He stared at Mercedes suspiciously.
"Takashi's company is neutral." He countered, still starting at her. Kagome shook her head negatively.
"Neutral?! Naraku owns it. The Takashi lost it one year ago. I remember it perfectly because back then, Naraku was with me when he received the call that the company had finally succumbed."
Silence stretched between the 2 until Mercedes spoke.
"Oh my God!" She said, hiding her face between her hands. "Naraku will kill me. I just ruined their plan."
Inuyasha chuckled, looking at her.
"Naraku's condition is stable but he has not awoken yet, meaning that Takashi is acting on his own accord. He wants to destroy me."
Kagome buried her face deeper in her hands.
"Oh my God!" She repeated. Inuyasha scooted closer to her and hugged her from behind. He slowly kissed her neck.
"Thank you Mercedes." He whispered and laughed when she shoved him away.
"Shut up! I can't believe what I just did!" She whined, looking at him. "You're enjoying this aren't you?"
The young man smiled.
"Oh no. I would enjoy it way better when I destroy what remains of the Takashi Company. I'll crush Hojo Takashi."
Mercedes stared at him in horror.
"Taisho!" she exclaimed. "You cannot do that! This is unfair. Just tell him that you're not interested."
Inuyasha continued laughing.
"But I am interested." He finally managed to say. "I am very interested."
He fell back on the bed, looking at the ceiling. His smile suddenly disappeared.
"I am beginning to lose my trust in everyone. You know Mercedes; it's like as if everyone is drawing a trap for me to fall in."
Feeling a sudden ache for seeing him so broken, she went to him, her face inches away from his. Slowly, her fingers crept to his face, caressing his cheeks, then his nose. Inuyasha closed his eyes, enjoying her touch.
"Don't say that." She whispered. "You're a very powerful businessman and they want you down. Believe me, if Naraku wants you down, it means that you are way better than the others. In his eyes, you are somehow special. He finds the competition with you amusing, exciting."
The young man opened his golden eyes.
"Is this what you think of me Mercedes?" He whispered back, his voice making her shiver. "Am I a business project for you?"
"No, you're not just that." She affirmed, her hands stopping on his cheeks, cupping his face. His hands went to hers, holding them at place.
"Then what am I for you?" He insisted, his eyes searching hers for the truth. She took a deep breath and bit her bottom lip, a sudden blush showing on her cheeks.
"Can I refrain from answering?" she asked. Hurt crossed his eyes but he dismissed the dark feeling and focused on her overwhelming presence. He suddenly rolled them over and kissed her. Her hands found their way out from his hold and snuggled in his silver mane, bringing him closer to her. He soon broke the kiss and looked at her.
"I must get ready for the dinner."
She nodded and watched him as he got up and made his way towards the bathroom. When he arrived to the door, he removed the necklace, placed it on the nearest shelf and disappeared in the door. Kagome waited patiently until she heard the sound of water. She quickly went to the necklace, took it in her hands, her eyes searching the expensive piece.
Why would he wear it all the time, even when they were together? Her hold on it tightened. She wanted him to be hers, only hers and she couldn't help but think that he was maybe imagining the other woman while he was with hers. She clutched it tighter but was surprised when she heard a soft click coming from the object she was squeezing. Afraid that she broke the necklace, she eyed it worriedly. Her blue eyes widened when she found out that the half heart had opened, showing a little hidden key.
She bit her bottom lip again, her hand inching towards the little key. She felt as if she was betraying Inuyasha by taking what belonged to him. But she needed answers and she needed them now. Her decision taken, she gripped it, closed the little heart and put it back in place. She had a good idea where this little key would fit, she thought, making her way towards the bed, kneeling where she left the little box she just found.
A rough masculine voice made her jump in surprise. She placed her hand over her heart, watching Inuyasha in front of her, his whole body dipping with water. He looked stunning and she couldn't help but blush.
"What were you doing, kneeling there?" He curiously asked.
"My ring slipped." She immediately lied, motioning to the diamond ring resting on her finger. "So I went to retrieve it. As you see, I found it."
Inuyasha nodded.
"Your turn. Go prepare yourself." He replied, sitting on the bed's edge.
"Me? What do you mean? I am not going anywhere!"
He smiled, his golden eyes shining.
"What? Did you really think that I would go to this dinner alone?"
Rin was sitting in Chris' apartment. She was bored to death. After meeting Inuyasha earlier in the morning, she discussed her divorce with her brother. She could not believe that things had arrived so far but she had to confess that her feelings for Sesshumaru lessened with time. Maybe she never loved him; maybe he was just a crush for her, a difficult target. She chewed her lip, her mind traveling to dark territories. A life without Sesshumaru is a life of freedom, she will be happy again; she will be able to do whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted.
The door bell rang, making her flinch. She got up and went to the door, opening it. She was immediately faced by a handsome young man who was smiling and holding a red flower. She looked at him, seeing surprise in his blue eyes.
"Excusez-moi, je cherche Mercedes." He said, looking at her. Rin was at a loss of word. She hadn't any idea who was that handsome man standing in front of her. The only word she understood was the word Mercedes. Was he meaning the car or the woman?"
"I don't speak French." She replied, smiling. "Come in."
He nodded and offered her to beautiful rose.
"I was searching for Mercedes. I guess she's not here. In this case, this rose belongs to you young lady."
Rin felt her cheeks burning under his beautiful gaze. The romance between her and Sesshumaru had died years ago. Her husband was a strict man. They never did anything different, they never went out, and they never spoke about their feelings.
"Um, Chris told me that Mercedes went on an urgent trip. He doesn't know when she will return." She answered, taking the rose and smelling it.
"I guess I should go then." He replied, his French accent showing in the conversation. She assumed that Mercedes brought him with her from France.
Rin gulped, her cheeks burning more. The man was very handsome, a gentleman.
"Come in for a while. You must be tired."
"Thank you."
They sat in silence in the living room.
"My name is Michel." He said, looking at her. Rin nodded.
"I am Rin. Nice to meet you."
He smiled again and she had to refrain from blushing more. He was very handsome and she felt so lonely. If Mercedes was absent, they could become friends.
"Since I arrived here, I've been bored to death." Michel said, leaning towards her. "Aren't there anything to do in your country other than sitting in the hotel? Vraiment!"
Rin got up, a smile crossing her features.
"Of course there are funny things to do here."
Sesshumaru usually never went to have fun, although she always felt like going to clubs, dancing, having fun and enjoying life.
"Allow me to be your tourist guide. I assume that you're not from here are you?"
"I am from France. But I really don't wish to impose my presence." He said, getting up as well.
"It will be fun." She quickly replied when her cell phone rang. She went to her purse lying on the couch, took it and flipped it open. The number was unknown for her.
"Hello?"
"Where are you?" came Sesshumaru's angry voice. Rin frowned.
"Why would you care? And why aren't you using your cell phone?"
Her husband took a deep breath.
"First of all, I do care because I am your husband, even if you were coward enough to make your brother call me and tell me that you wish to divorce me. You didn't have the decency to speak with me yourself. Second of all, I am not using my cell phone because I have been calling you since the morning and you haven't replied. So I thought that maybe if you didn't know it was me, you would answer. Now again, where are you?"
"None of your business." She replied. "You know that I want the divorce. Why don't you leave me alone? I have had enough of you."
"Really? Since when? I thought you loved me. Was it all an act? Did you ever love me?"
Rin rolled her eyes.
"Please don't make it dramatic. Couples divorce. We think so differently Sesshumaru. I can't stay with you. It's over. Just accept it and stop calling me."
"Is it another man?" He dangerously asked his voice cold enough to make her shiver. At the same instant, Michel came closer.
"Something wrong?" He asked, worried about her pale face.
"I thought so." Sesshumaru said.
"Sessh, no, Sess…." She tried but he had already hung up. She felt an ache in her heart. She didn't want him to think of her as a traitor. She was brought back to reality when she saw Michel staring at her. She shrugged.
"Problems with your ex?" He asked, a small smile coming to his lips.
"My soon to be ex." She corrected, laughing through her tears. The young man sat down.
"Tell me about it. Last year, my fiancée cheated on me with my best friend. We broke up. Did your husband cheat on you too?"
She looked guiltily at him.
"No he didn't. He just doesn't care about me. He ignores me, spends his time working. He never cares about me. I guess he cheats on me with his work."
Michel laughed, his eyes shining.
"You're funny. What do you think if we become friends while waiting until Mercedes returns from her trip? We would entertain each other."
Rin nodded, whipping away her tears.
"Sounds great."
"Très bien."
Hojo was sitting in the restaurant, slowly sipping his wine. He has talked to Taisho and arranged the dinner. He came earlier to make sure to leave a good impression. He smiled in his drink, knowing that the trap was impeccable. Except from the closest people to Naraku, no one knew that the Takashi Company had succumbed to the businessman.
He was brought back from his thoughts when he heard Taisho's voice behind him.
"Good evening."
Hojo quickly got up and looked at Inuyasha who simply shook his hand. He noticed that he was wearing casual clothes and frowned. Was he insulting him by wearing this kind of clothes in a business meeting?
"I am sorry for being late." Inuyasha said before moving away, revealing a beautiful girl with blond curly hair that barely reached her neck, big, blue eyes and a wonderful yellow dress. Taisho kissed her hand before looking at Hojo.
"I present you my girlfriend and soon to be fiancée Mercedes. Mercedes, darling, this is Hojo Takashi."
Kagome looked at the man before her, her eyes widening slightly. Where on earth had she seen that face before? Why was he so familiar to her, like the first time she saw Inuyasha in the airport?
Hojo stared at her, his eyes going wild. Was he imagining things or was that girl standing in front of him Kagome? The same eyes, the same face. She had indeed grown more beautiful, her face took a more mature characteristics but it was her. He knew her for years and this was her.
His eyes looked at Inuyasha who was staring at him, surprise in his golden orbs. Was this a coincidence, a resemblance that this girl has with his ex fiancée or was it her? He looked at her again and she seemed as surprised as he was. That was her, that was her and there was no way around it.
"Takashi?" He heard Inuyasha call him. He looked at him again and this time, he noticed that the businessman had his golden eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What's the matter?"
Hojo looked at her again and he could not force the words away from his tongue.
"Shit, Kagome?" He asked, his eyes locking with hers. "Is that really you Kagome?"
Karla paced her apartment, a drink in her hand.
"I cannot believe he did this to me! I mean, she's so average and I am a supermodel. A supermodel for God's sake!" she shouted, looking at the man in front of her."
Rubin shrugged, changing the channel.
"Get over it will you? Taisho is a playboy. He just got bored Karla. Will you please drop the subject? And the girl is not average. She's very beautiful. I even think that she would be very convenient for my video clip."
"No!" Karla shouted at him. "You cannot think like that! What is she? A witch? Can't you see how average she is? That bitch! She's sleeping with him! Urgh!"
She finally collapsed on the couch next to Rubin.
"I hate her so much." She whispered, looking at the man beside her. "I wish she's dead."
Rubin took a deep breath.
"Why don't you seduce the man? Mean you're beautiful; you can have any man you want. Just seduce him and she will dump him. The oldest trick in the book."
Karla's eyes widened.
"Oh my God! You're a genius. I seduce him, she sees us together and she dumps him!"
"Bingo!" Rubin replied, never detaching his eyes from the screen. "Inuyasha Taisho is a very sneaky man. He will immediately fall for it. And then Mercedes will see you with him in a very compromising position and she will never forgive him. Believe me Karla, when my ex girlfriend saw me in bed with one of my fans, she totally freaked out."
Karla laughed, playfully punching him on the shoulder.
"Shut up! You're such a liar!"
Rubin chuckled and looked at her.
"I swear she hit me with a vase."
The model laughed harder.
"Oh my God! Where did she hit you?"
"I dodged it at the last second."
"Liar!" she insisted. "But you're right. The idea is worth trying. I mean, I have been with Inuyasha for so long, I am not just going to hand him for her on a silver plate now am I?"
Rubin smiled.
"Just leave the girl one piece. I want her for my video clip."
Karla chuckled.
"You know what, if I haven't been in love with Inuyasha, I would have been in love with you."
He smiled at her and watched her as he went to the kitchen. When he knew she was out of his eye sight his smile fell. Each time he liked a girl, Inuyasha Taisho came in the way: first Kagome, and then Karla.