Chapter Five
"I hope I'm not late," Kagome muttered to herself checking the time as she stepped out of her building. Unable to find a ride to work, she ended up calling a cab. Unfortunately the cab company wasn't known for it's punctuality. She was glancing at her watch again when a familiar car pulled up.
"Hey, Principal-san," Inuyasha called out the window. "Need a ride?"
Kagome walked up to the car trying and failing to hold back a smile. "What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Well, I heard you yesterday when you said you didn't have a ride to work. So, I thought I'd volunteer my services," he explained.
"Oh, well thanks, but I've already called a cab."
"Then call and cancel it." He leaned over and opened the door. "Get in, we can make our dinner plans on the way there."
"Well...Okay." Kagome got into the car and pulled out her cell to cancel the cab. "How did you even know what time to come?" Kagome asked after she'd hung up.
"I have my ways," Inuyasha replied with a mysterious smile. "So where should we go for dinner?"
"I don't care, surprise me," Kagome replied.
"Alright."
As he drove Inuyasha glanced at Kagome as often as he dared. Where should he take her? Kikyo liked to be wined and dined, but he didn't think Kagome cared much about the finer things. He wanted to take her somewhere casual and fun. His eyes strayed to Kagome again. How did she look so fresh this early in the morning? He nearly died when his mother told him what time Kagome started her day. A horn blared and he jerked his eyes back to the road. It wasn't long before his eyes moved to her again. She was chewing on her bottom lip and he wanted to chew on it for her. Unable to resist he reached over and pressed his thumb to her lip. "You'll ruin your pretty lips," he said.
"Oh," she breathed. Her breath was warm and moist against his thumb and he nearly shuddered He removed his thumb and she licked her lips nervously. "I was just...thinking."
"About what?" he asked. Before she could answer his cell phone rang. "Hold that thought." He picked up and answered without looking to see who was calling. "Hello?"
"Hey lover," Kikyo purred.
Surprised Inuyasha's hands jerked on the wheel. He quickly corrected the car and then, with a glance at Kagome, replied, "Hey."
"You're up early," Kikyo said. "I was hoping I'd wake you. You know how much I love your voice when you first wake up."
"Uh, yeah. I had some things to do this morning."
"Oh, well we didn't get to see each other for very long yesterday so I was calling to ask if you wanted to do lunch?"
"Lunch sounds great."
"And maybe afterward you could do me," she added wickedly.
"That sounds great too," Inuyasha said gulping. He realized he was about to miss the turn into the school and flicked on his signal light and turned abruptly. Several cars beeped their horns and a few drivers shouted out their windows. Inuyasha ignored them.
"You sound distracted," Kikyo said. He could hear the pout in her voice. Kikyo preferred his attention to be on her and only her.
"I'm driving," he said. "I'll call you back in a bit, okay?"
"Alright," she sighed. "Love you."
"Uh, you too, bye." He hung up as he pulled into a parking spot in front of Arisakawa's main office.
"Thanks for the ride," Kagome said unbuckling her seat belt.
"No problem," Inuyasha replied smiling. "Do you have someone to take you to the garage later?"
"Yeah, I'll see you tonight." She reached for the door handle.
"Wait." Inuyasha unbuckled his own seatbelt and with one hand on the steering wheel reached across the car for her. He curved his arm around Kagome's shoulders and pulled her close pressing his lips to hers. Kagome sighed and all but melted against him. He deepened the kiss, then reluctantly let her go.
"I was hoping you'd do that," Kagome said breathlessly.
"I could do it again," Inuyasha offered mouth already lowering. She put a finger against his mouth to stop him.
"I have to go," she said regret clear in her voice.
Inuyasha sighed and nipped her finger with his teeth. "Fine. I'll pick you up at six."
"Okay." she pressed a quick kiss to his cheek then got out of the car. "Bye."
"Bye," he replied grinning. He watched her walk into the building then pulled off. As he drove his grin faded. What had he gotten himself into, telling one woman he loved her while kissing another goodbye?
88
After driving around aimlessly trying to understand his attraction to Kagome and how that fit with his love for Kikyo Inuyasha headed for his family home. He let himself in and called for his mother. "I'm in the sun room," she called in answer. Inuyasha headed for the sun room where he found his mother caring for her beloved plants. "What a pleasant surprise," she said delighted as she hugged her son. "You should have told me you were coming by."
"It was a spur of the moment thing," Inuyasha replied. "When is dad coming home?"
"In a week or so, a few days, maybe even tomorrow," she answered unhelpfully. When Inuyasha let out an exasperated breath she took pity on him. "He was supposed to come home at the end of this week, but he decided I've been meddling where I shouldn't and said he'll be home as soon as possible."
"Meddling?" Inuyasha asked sitting down.
"How is dear Kagome?" Izayoi asked in return, side stepping his question. "It was so nice of you to drive her to work this morning."
"She had to get to work somehow," he muttered shrugging. "I need to talk to dad; do you have the number to his hotel room?"
Izayoi turned away from the flower she was carefully watering. "Why can't you just ask me?" she asked. "I can give you advice just as well as your father."
"It's a demon thing," Inuyasha said squirming in his seat.
"Stop fidgeting," she told him as she had many times when he was a child. "I'll give you his number, but if it's time sensitive you may want to go to Sesshomaru since you father said he'd be out of his room all day today."
"Well," Inuyasha debated whether or not he wanted to bare his soul to his holier-than-thou older brother. "Give me dad's number," he decided. "I'll go see Sesshomaru today and I'll call dad later." His mother reached into her pocket and handed Inuyasha her slim black cell phone. He added the number to his own phone then kissed his mother goodbye. "I'll go see Sesshomaru now," he told her.
"Alright, tell him it's been far too long since he's come to see me. I expect to see him at dinner tonight."
"Yes ma'am." He hurried out hoping that Sesshomaru would be able to shed some light on the situation.
88
It didn't take long to get to Takahashi Industries, the company that mostly his father and brother ran, with Inuyasha stepping in as needed. He mostly supervised the altruistic endeavors of the company from home. He had an office, of course, and some title that he could never remember but he rarely made an appearance at the office. Once inside Inuyasha made his way straight to his brother's corner office, mostly ignoring the bows and murmured "Takahashi-san" from the employees. When he got to his brother's office he demanded that Sesshomaru's personal assistant, a small toad-like demon named Jaken, let him in immediately. Jaken hemmed and hawed and then let Sesshomaru know that his worthless half brother was there. Sesshomaru kept him waiting until Inuyasha impatiently brushed past Jaken and burst into his brother's office. It was a familiar routine for all involved.
"May I help you, Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru asked without turning away from the view he was contemplating.
"You can get out the damn window before I give in to the urge to push you out of it," Inuyasha answered taking a seat in front of the desk. Looking around he shuddered. He didn't know how Sesshomaru spent so much of every day in this box. Granted it was a stylishly comfortable box, decorated in shades of white, gray, and black, but a box was a box.
Sesshomaru turned away from the window and sat down behind his desk. "What do you want, Inuyasha?" he asked. "Quickly please, some of us actually work for a living."
"I work," Inuyasha said defensively. "I, uh, I need some advice."
"And you came to me?" Sessomaru said arching one brow.
Inuyasha found himself fidgeting again and made himself stop. "It's about demon stuff, and dad's unavailable right now."
"What do you need advice about?" Sesshomaru leaned forward to place his folded arms on the desk and gave every appearance of listening attentively.
"Um," Inuyasha said suddenly regretting his decision to come to Sesshomaru. "It's about finding a mate. Youkai are supposed to know their mates right away right? Like they see them and boom they know."
"Supposedly," Sesshomaru agreed. "So, you've finally met your mate. And you came to me for advice on how to approach her?" There was a hint of amusement in his voice but Inuyasha ignored it. This was too important.
"That's just it, I don't know if it's her or not."
"If you don't know then it's not her."
"But the thing is it's like dad said. Her voice is...so amazing I can't even describe it, and her scent is intoxicating. I've never smelled anything like it. I can't figure out what it is about her. I mean, she's pretty, but no where near as beautiful as Ki—uh, other women I've been with," Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed slightly, at the stumble but he said nothing letting Inuyasha ramble on for a few minutes more. Finally he took pity on his brother and interrupted him.
"I don't believe I can help you, Inuyasha," he said.
"I know," Inuyasha replied miserably. "I'll just have to wait until I can talk to dad."
"I do not think Father can help you either," Sesshomaru said steepling his fingers. "Father and I, to a lesser extent since I haven't found a mate, know how Youkai react to meeting their mates. You are not Youkai."
"But...I'm half Youkai," Inuyasha said confused.
"Exactly, you are also half human. Hanyou are rare so there is not a lot of information on them. The process of finding a mate may be different for you. I recommend that you talk to father's retainer, Myoga. He has traveled the world and knows of many things."
"Okay, how do I get in touch with him?"
This time Sesshomaru raised both eyebrows. "Don't you know anything about this company, Inuyasha? He works here." Sesshomaru rolled his eyes. "I'll call his office to see if he's in." He picked up the phone and dialed Myoga's office. When Sesshomaru explained that Inuyasha was in need of his expert advice, Myoga said he'd be right over. Ten minutes later Sesshomaru looked down at his desk and said, "Hello, Myoga-san."
"Why are you talking to your desk?" Inuyasha demanded. "I knew you were off your rocker."
"Myoga-san is a flea demon," Sesshomaru said dryly. Inuyasha looked closer and sure enough there was a tiny flea demon standing on the desk.
"Greetings, Inuyasha-sama," he said. "I am Myoga, your father's most loyal and trusted retainer."
Inuyasha returned the greeting then whispered to Sesshomaru, "Tell me he doesn't have a normal sized office."
"His office is bigger than mine," Sesshomaru replied.
"I can hear you," Myoga announced. "You said, Inuyasha-sama is in need of my advice?" Sesshomaru explained Inuyasha's problem with considerably less rambling than Inuyasha. "Well," Myoga said thinking. "I do believe Sesshomaru-sama has the right of it. Because you are half human your demon instincts aren't as strong. Human and demon concepts of love are very different. The demon in you recognizes this woman as your mate but the human in you is slower to do so. I recommend that you take your time and get to know this woman and your heart will confirm what your instincts are telling you. Do you need anything else, Inuyasha-sama?" Inuyasha shook his head no, already pondering what to do about Kagome. "Well then, congratulations on finding your mate. I hope I'll be invited to the wedding." With that Myoga hopped off.
"I, too, offer my congratulations, brother. Good luck on your endeavors."
"Thanks," Inuyasha said absently as he rose to leave.
"May I offer you some advice, being as that is what you came here for?" Inuyasha nodded warily. "Do not try to thwart fate. Remember that this woman is the one you are meant for. Trying to change or ignore that will only cause you and all others involved unnecessary strife."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Inuyasha asked eyes narrowed.
"I believe you know," Sesshomaru replied. "Leave me, I have work to do." Without another word he went back to the window. Inuyasha left muttering about pompous assholes, pausing long enough to give Jaken Izayoi's message for Sesshomaru. When he got out of the building Inuyasha sat in his car for a while thinking and planning. As annoying as Sesshomaru was he was right about one thing, Kagome was his mate and in his world that meant that they would get married and start a family. He would do his duty and court Kagome, but he couldn't leave Kikyo. He loved her and he'd promised her he always would. He wouldn't tell Kikyo about Kagome just yet. It would be better to wait until his relationship with Kagome was too far along for Kikyo to talk him out of it. He glanced at his watch and winced remembering he was supposed to meet Kikyo for lunch. Pulling out his phone he called her.
"Hey babe, ready for lunch?" he said when she answered.
"It's a little past time for lunch," she said pointedly. "But okay," she softened. "I'm at the Gallery, we can grab something at the Gallery Café. I don't have time for the other though." He could hear her pout but he was strangely relieved. "That's alright. I'll be there in ten minutes."
88
At five thirty Kagome stood in a robe staring at her collection of clothing. She'd just realized that because she told Inuyasha to surprise her she had no idea what to wear. She was telling herself to just pick an outfit already when there was a knock on the door. She crossed the room to open the door and found Inuyasha on the other side.
"You shouldn't open your door without knowing who it is first," he said by way of greeting.
"Hello to you too, Inuyasha," Kagome said stepping back so he could come in. "You're early."
"I couldn't wait to see you," he said honestly. "You're not dressed yet," He said eyeing the deep v where her robe closed.
She crossed her arms over her chest. "I didn't know what to wear," she explained.
"Something casual, but warm. We'll be out side and it's still a bit chilly." Inuyasha crossed over to her entertainment center and examined her pictures again. "What's with you and this guy anyway?" he asked picking up the picture of Kagome and Hojo.
"Who?" she came over to see the picture. "Oh, Hojo-kun. Nothing, we're childhood friends, that's all. Where are we going?"
"It doesn't seem like nothing," Inuyasha muttered. "We're going to that new amusement park that just opened, I'll win you some stuffed animals." He grinned and Kagome felt her heart flutter.
"I'll hold you to that," she said. "I'll get dressed, it won't take me long."
"Take your time," was his reply.
Kagome quickly gathered some clothes and enclosed herself in the filmy curtain that surrounded her bed. The fact that the material was somewhat transparent had never mattered before, but now with Inuyasha in her apartment she felt positively wicked knowing he could see her silhouette as she dressed. She slipped into black leggings and an ankle length black skirt covered in tiny flowers and a close fitted dark green v-necked shirt. She pulled out the scrunchie that held her hair in a messy bun and finger combed it until it hung in soft waves just past her shoulders and took a deep breath. She hadn't been this nervous about a date since the boy she thought was the cutest in the school asked her out. She didn't know what but there was something about Inuyasha that drew her to him. Yes he was handsome and the rich part didn't hurt either but Kagome didn't really care about that. There was something more to what she was feeling. Something that felt right. Smiling Kagome stepped from behind the curtain. "I'm ready," she said. Inuyasha was sitting on the couch and the warm appreciation in his gaze made her smile grow wider.
"You look beautiful," he said.
"Thank you," she struggled not to blush. She walked to the door and slipped on black ballet flats and grabbed a dark blue jean jacket. In a moment Inuyasha was there helping her into the jacket then smoothing his hands over her shoulders. She turned to him intending to say they should go and got caught in his eyes. They gazed unblinking into each other's eyes until Kagome licked her lips nervously and his gaze flicked down to her mouth and then to the small cleavage her shirt revealed.
"We could always stay in," he said huskily.
"Uh," her voice cracked and this time she couldn't fight the blush that embarrassment caused. "I think we should go."
He ran a finger over her cheek and leaned closer. "You're so beautiful when you blush. I could just...eat you," he said the sensuality in his voice making her knees go weak. Then he sighed and stepped back. "Let's go now, if you really want to go." Unable to speak Kagome just nodded and fumbled the door open.