A.N. This is a fun chapter. You get to meet a few Taishos. Enjoy the read and as always… Thank you all for reviewing!!
IMPORTANT: End of Ransoming. Due to goingarmy's review I decided to dish this out a little earlier than expected (I don't even think my conscience could allow me to ransom after such a request). I wish you the best of luck in your military endeavors. I can not promise as to when SB will end but I have the story mapped out in timeline format and a lot of typed stuff that needs to be fitted into chapters. So lastly, I dedicate this chapter to you, goingarmy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and have not claimed ownership at any point during the course of this story (I realize only now that in my rush to post, I forgot my disclaimers lol).
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Simply Business
(Tsuki)
Chapter Twenty-Three
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(Tsuki)
Sunday was an uninteresting day. Sesshoumaru had asked her to stop by so that she could pick up Gome early that morning so that dander removing preparations could occur.
Kagome had been given Saturday off, and once the puppy and her things were in her car, Sesshoumaru had said that she would be free to leave that day as well.
After all since Sesshoumaru rarely needed to be in his office to get work done for his corporation, on weekends at least, Kagome was not needed for much then. So that meant she had no excuse not to spend her day studying and packing for heading home the weekend after. Though she paused to call home and take Gome to the park, nothing really happened all weekend.
Neither Mirouku nor Kouga visited, either. They were trying to refrain from being a distraction while the girls were testing Monday and Tuesday.
So for a second Monday in a row, Kagome looked forward to being able to get out of class and head over to Sesshoumaru's. Though she had a loaded backpack full of books and study aids, none of it could damper her mood at the prospect of some excitement.
She stepped into the foyer and slipped off her boots, as it had rained the night before and she did not want to track mud on Sesshoumaru's carpets. Especially since everything had been completely cleaned. The house looked amazing, in fact. Or at least, that was only if the living room and foyer were any indication of the appearance of the rest of the house. While she tried now and then to help with the housework Sesshoumaru so clearly neglected, she herself was not the cleaning type really. She left that up to Sango usually.
Kagome smirked, "Makes me wonder what company that guy hired…I doubt he did all of this himself," she snorted in remembrance of how she first found the house. "If I didn't know it must have cost a mini-fortune, I would joke about getting the same cleaning service for our room." With a soft giggle, the girl moved with sock clad feet into the kitchen.
As Kagome worked on a simple lunch and placed the core of that night's dinner in the oven, she tried to keep her mind on reviewing her notes. She had even brought her flashcards in with her so that she could run through them while she worked. She had one two and a half hour exam on World History and she was finished.
'If asked about the Russian Revolution of 1917 the proper response would be to list the occurrences of both…' Her mental reiteration trailed off as flashbacks from Friday came to mind.
"I wonder what he would say…" She slowly murmured before she shook her head and continued in a firm tone. "Would be to list both the February exit of the Romanovs Dynasty and the March Bolshevik Revolution." Her hand reached for the salt holder.
"Why am I so hell bent on thinking about what Sesshoumaru would think? It's none of his business anyway."
And she doubted that he would try and make it any of his concern anytime soon.
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(Tsuki)
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The only good thing about her crazy hours now, was that she could grab lunch with Kouga and Mirouku for awhile. Sango smiled a bit at the thought.
Before, since she came directly from school or her dorm if she had practice, she never felt hungry enough to eat anything until she came back to the dorm at night.
Now though, her training was occurring in her practice slots, due to the hiatus of sports during preliminary testing.
So as she sat with the two men in a bistro across from their office, the three nibbled on sandwiches and sipped their respective refreshments.
"So how was your French exam, Sango," Kouga inquired after he washed down a bite of his lamb sandwich with a gulp of milk saturated coffee.
Sango smiled, "Cake—which was shocking, since all these rumors were flying about that absolutely had us scared out of our wits."
Mirouku propped his head onto his elbow as he sipped on his soda. He pouted a bit, "How come you never speak to me in French, Sango? I would feel so at home if you did."
Sango blushed, "Maybe later…"
"Yeah," Kouga snorted, "I already feel like a third wheel, so keep the language strictly Japanese at least while I'm here."
Sango laughed, "Alright Kouga."
Mirouku took a bite, rather despondently from his roast beef sandwich, "Well if you knew you were going to feel like the third wheel, why invite yourself, Aotama…?"
Sango lightly smacked him. "Because I enjoy his company—that's why he invites himself. And you do too, so stop being rude!"
"Love, all I'm saying is that after Wednesday, we won't be able to have these lunches together anymore. So why don't we just enjoy them together? Just the two of us," he added with a bitter look at Kouga.
Kouga returned the look and sniffed, "If you keep hording her to yourself, she'll get sick of you." Before he could receive and comment he continued smugly, "Besides, I knew Sango first!"
Mirouku looked as if Kouga had delivered a slap to the face.
Sango deadpanned, "Are we really going to start arguing? It's so childish…" Maybe next time she would just eat with Jakotsu… He had lost his job at Burger King and he had been itching to tell her the story, anyway.
The midnight eyed man ignored Sango's previous remark to exclaim, "See that's where you're wrong! I knew Sango first." Sango mused that over in her head as she polished off a half of her turkey sandwich.
"Shut up! You met her like yesterday!" Sango almost sided with Mirouku's statement against Kouga, but she decided not to get into the matter as the dark haired man said haughtily. "We on the other hand actually know stuff about each other!"
Mirouku's eyes narrowed at the challenge. "Oh? What's her favorite color?"
"…Pink?"
"That was just a lucky guess! Does she have a pet?"
"She has a cat! She keeps a picture of her in her office! What about you, you prick, is she an only child?"
Sango raised a brow. Part of her was flattered that both males actually knew so much about her. Most male acquaintance knew only the basics…name…gender…cup size. Everything after that was pretty much a stretch.
But they kept racking off their knowledge. Her birthday, parents' names, hometown, major, favorite class, least favorite class, favorite foods, sport… It was actually somewhat frightening.
"Now I know that if I ever need someone to write my biography, you two would be the best people to go to." After a moment Sango had to wonder, "But just how much do you know about Kagome, Kouga-kun?"
Suddenly the semi-serious bantering ceased and Kouga looked at Sango. He gave an edgy chuckle, "What?"
Sango shrugged, "I'm just curious. I mean I know we've known each other for awhile, but I was never your love interest. So you must know tons about Kagome, right?"
Kouga scratched the back of his head. He gave another humorless laugh, "Now that you mention it, I feel like I don't really know a thing…"
The joking air in the conversation died with the utterance of that sentence.
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(Tsuki)
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"Tomorrow and Wednesday I will be picking up Rin and Shippou from supplementary lessons. You do not need to arrive as early as usual."
Kagome jumped as Sesshoumaru unexpectedly entered the dinning room with that announcement. She was in the middle of setting the table. 'Where did that guy come from?'
He had come home an hour ago and disappeared upstairs. But now, from the look of his hair, he had just showered.
The girl had been about to reprimand him on his habit of not drying his hair, until something struck her as off. After reprocessing what he had just said, she paused and blinked, "Supplementary lessons? Are they failing a class? I thought they both were doing well."
Sesshoumaru seemed insulted that Kagome could think that any child under his care could fail anything. "They will be out of the country for a cumulative week of school. I want them caught up with all material, hence the need to the classes." Kagome mouthed an 'oh' and placed down a fork as he continued, "They end around seven, so we will be home around that time."
"Seven?!" Kagome frowned, trying not to give an exclaim of, 'that sucks!' Instead she settled with a solicitous, "Should I make them some sort of snack to tide them over? That's usually dinnertime for them, so they'll be hungry."
Sesshoumaru mused over the idea, "They would enjoy that. Thank you."
Kagome smiled as she finished laying down the last utensil, "No problem."
Sesshoumaru raised a brow, "Will you not being joining us tonight?" He nodded towards the three set spots.
Kagome shook her head ruefully, "I can't. I need to study for my last preliminary exam. It's one of my required courses if I want to get a job overseas, so I need to ace it. Besides, I still have homework in classes that I'm done testing in."
He nodded, inwardly grateful that he was done with college life, "Then you are free to go."
Kagome gave a small wave and exited to room with a murmured, 'Goodnight,' before she said her good byes to Rin and Shippou.
If she had known that the new, though temporary schedule would have result in the loss of real communication with Sesshoumaru she probably would have drawn out that final conversation a bit longer.
"Hey! Welcome home. The table's set, so I'll bring out dinner…Shippou, Rin, make sure to wash up."
"Will you be joining us tonight?"
"I wish I could, but I have to go. I have to prepare for a presentation I need to give Thursday."
"Hn."
"Ah! Here are Rin and Ship-chan's lunches. See you tomorrow…"
"Goodnight."
…
And conversations would continue like that until Thursday.
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(Tsuki)
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Kagome slipped into the Taisho house quickly, a clear grocery bag in hand. She was running a few ten minutes late, so she had not the time to change from her school clothes. She had had to dress up a bit more because she had given a presentation.
So now, she still donned a pinned on beret and a pair of gray suede wedge boots that were decorated with similarly colored buckles and ended pre-calf on her legs. A gray tiered skirt and a pair of thigh length leggings accompanied the boots and she had finished off the look with a gray and white striped off the shoulder tunic.
She had been forced to walk Gome before heading off here, which was the main reason behind her tardy.
The girl sighed as she took off her shoes and combed her fingers through her bangs since a few stray strands had started sticking up.
"Now I need some food ideas." She planned to surprise Rin and Shippou with chocolate and strawberry crepes so she had bought those ingredients, but she hadn't really been thinking about substantial food.
She rushed over to the fridge, quickly scanned it for any messages and seeing none, she threw open the door and looked around.
Sesshoumaru really was getting better at the shopping thing. She was somewhat proud of him. Maybe it helped that she slipped notes of her own into his briefcase every now and then.
Though she would have been fine with shopping for them, Sesshoumaru had to learn how to do so on his own. He was a grown man after all.
But little by little she was seeing the family grow a bit.
Before Kagome had taken impermanent custody, Rin had slowly gotten into the habit of letting Gome escape into their backyard before eating. And from the fact that Sesshoumaru never complained about any surprises, the girl knew that Gome was being walked, or at least taken outside every morning as well.
There were no more suspicious looking burnt pans in the sink anymore and she was hoping that their breakfasts had gotten better in result.
Shippou was even getting a bit more mature and a bit less crude.
It was nice to see.
It made her wonder how the little family would be when she finally said good bye.
'Hopefully', she thought with a bittersweet smile as her hands reached for ingredients in the fridge, 'by that time, they won't need me anymore…'
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(Tsuki)
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Kagome decided on something healthy for that lunch. She had wanted to set out small bowls with Caesar salad with croutons. However, deciding, that a salad was perhaps a bit over the top for children, she had gone with bowls of green and red grapes, sided with grilled cheese sandwiches. Both had been diagonally cut in half and two of them left in the oven to stay warm. She made a third one and left it out for her to snack on while she cooked.
She poured whatever juice that Sesshoumaru had in the fridge into three cups and took one for her self as she decided on dinner.
She was in a mood for using mushrooms so she scoured for items that would go along with it.
Kagome settled on rice and the leftover shrimp as the two main accompanying components. She finished half of her sandwich before she poured cups of rice into a pot.
It was then that she heard a deafeningly loud rev of an engine and the screeching of tires. Kagome blinked. 'The sound of a car in this quiet neighborhood? I never thought that possible…'
She decided to ignore the sound, since she had already started cooking.
But five minutes later, what she couldn't ignore was the sound of a creaking door that she knew belonged to the garage-kitchen entry.
The girl started and dropped the knife she was cutting with in surprise. "Sesshoumaru?" She left her heart begin to speed up. Would he even be home at such an hour?
"Oh, my….now who would you be?" Kagome was suddenly brought face to face with a mystified elderly man who looked oddly familiar to a certain platinum blond with a bad attitude who apparently forgot to tell her things.
The man looked to be in his late forties, early fifties. He had sharp amber eyes that had a playful tint to them and an enviable build for his age. He was dressed in a crisp and neatly tailored gray pinstripe suit with a vibrant gold tie that highlighted his irises. He towered over the girl and Kagome had a feeling that he was probably taller than Sesshoumaru—which was quite the feat.
Kagome slowly stooped to pick up the knife and she dropped it in the sink. She lowered the fire under what she was cooking and wiped her hands on a paper towel as she answered. "Kagome Higurashi… Would you happen to be Sesshoumaru's father?"
She could tell that his eyes were examining her. It unnerved her to say the least. But she kept her composure as he answered, "Yes I would." Suddenly the man smiled and extended a hand. "Pleased to meet you! I am Inu Taisho."
Kagome firmly shook his hand, "It's nice to meet you too, sir. Are you hungry? Can I offer you something to drink?" She started moving towards the fridge but the man waved a dismissing hand.
"No, no. I am just peeking in to see how my son has been fairing and if his home was still an utter pigsty." He looked around with an air of approval, "I am glad to see it isn't."
Kagome giggled a bit, "I suppose there has been a bit of a transition."
Inu Taisho scoffed as he looked around, "More than a bit, child." He suddenly glanced at the door to the garage. "Finally Inuyasha… I was wondering when you would decide to get out of the car."
A younger man who was probably no more than a year or two older than her stepped into the house looking pale. If anything, Kagome had to guess, he was Sesshoumaru's half brother. He was dressed far more casually than Inu Taisho with a pair of deliberately torn blue jeans and an airbrush designed red hoodie. It was that hoodie, with the name 'Inuyasha' sprayed artistically on it, that left no guessing as to what his name was.
Kagome murmured, "Is he alright?"
Inu Taisho gave an amused nod, "He's just being dramatic."
Inuyasha's brow suddenly started to twitch, "Just because a car can go three hundred an hour, it doesn't mean you should fucking drive it that fast! Who rents an F430 anyway you damn old man! This isn't California!"
Inu Taisho patted the young man heartily on the back, "You only live once! Why not enjoy it, Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha scowled, "Well I won't live very long if I keep driving with you."
He finally took note of Kagome who was torn between wanting to laugh and utter confusion. Inuyasha composed himself and gruffly asked, "Who's Martha Stewart over there? Did Sesshoumaru finally get hitched and not tell us?"
Kagome flushed and any sputtering denial was interrupted by Inu Taisho's conspiring murmur of, "I was wondering the same thing." In a louder voice he asked, "Tell me Kagome, what exactly is your relationship with my son?"
Kagome blushed even redder. She held up her hands defensively, "There is no relationship." She shrugged, "I'm here more for Rin and Shippou's benefit than his."
The doorbell rang then and Kagome excused herself. Her tone held a slight twinge of relief as she excused herself. "That's probably them."
Kagome hurried to answer the door and Inuyasha plopped onto the chair. "This might actually be a little fun this time."
Inu Taisho grinned in agreement. "It will be an interesting few days to say the least. Shall we get the luggage now or wait until Sesshoumaru comes home?"
Without waiting for an answer, Inu Taisho looked into the simmering saucer on the stove, "Very decent cook. I'm impressed."
Inuyasha stretched his arms, "Personally, I don't want to see that car again as long as I live. So I'll leave the decision up to you."
"We can wait until after Sesshoumaru gets home." Inu Taisho answered for himself with a chuckle, "Hopefully he won't figure out right away that we're not staying at a hotel. He'll be a bit angry that I changed my mind again."
"Angry? Please…that guy is going to flip a shit." Inuyasha leaned back on the chair and the two abruptly could hear excited exclaims coming from the front foyer. He joked, "Daughter-in-law material, perhaps?"
Inu Taisho shrugged, "Perhaps."
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(Tsuki)
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"Uncle Inuyasha!" "Jii-chan!"
Kagome giggled as the two children excitedly came into the kitchen after putting their school things away and getting ready for lunch.
Soon Rin and Shippou were seated in between Inu Taisho and Inuyasha at the circular table there.
Kagome turned off the oven and took out their sandwiches, "Eat up, you two, then we can make the crepes."
Inuyasha suddenly shot up from his chair, "You're making crepes?!"
Kagome took a step back, "Y-yeah. Why?"
Inuyasha took her hands in his and gave her a pleading look that was even on par with Shippou's, "Can I help?"
Kagome burst into a fit of giggles, "Yeah, sure. I brought a lot of fruit and Sesshoumaru has tons of flour and stuff, so we can make plenty."
He suddenly looked serious, as he asked in a grave tone. "Is there Nutella?" Kagome laughed so hard that all she would manage was a nod.
Inu Taisho sighed. "Sweets certainly are your Kryptonite, aren't they?"
Inuyasha stuck out his tongue, "Leave me alone, old man!"
And suddenly it was very obvious where Shippou picked up his mannerisms from.
Inu Taisho seemed inflamed at the comment, "Damnit, stop calling me old! I'm only fifty! I don't have any gray hair—"
A scoff interrupted the elder man, "How the fuck would you even see it anyway?! That's not even an excuse!"
Kagome poked Inuyasha gently with the handle of the wooden spoon she was using to stir the mix of shrimp, mushrooms and spices. "Hey, hey! Watch your language in front of the kids or no crepes."
Inuyasha docilely sat down and grumbled. "Fine…"
Rin smiled up at Inuyasha, "Uncle-Inu, how's Auntie Kikyou? Does she still wear those pretty dresses like last time?"
Inuyasha ruffled her hair, "Kikyou's fine." With a proud tone he confirmed, "She does still model. She wanted to come up here this trip but she had to take care of things at home." He ended with a slightly dejected pout. "It's going to be a long two weeks."
Inu Taisho crossed his arms, "I still think that girl should end her career and start giving me grandchildren. I'm a sad and lonely man with no children to play with."
Inuyasha rolled his eyes, "Oh stop complaining! It's your fault, anyway. Why live near your childless son? Why not move back here and bother Sesshoumaru."
Rin's eyes lit up and she beamed, "Rin would be so excited to see Jii-chan everyday!" She started humming a cheerful tune.
Inu Taisho smiled at her and huffed, "Maybe you're right. I should live near the people who actually want me here, rather than an ill-tempered, unfertile, ingrate."
Shippou suddenly stomped chomping on his sandwich. "Hey Jii-chan…If Sesshoumaru's old, how come you're not dead?"
Inuyasha erupted in thunderous laughter. Kagome suddenly became highly focused in her cooking as she tried not to laugh and Rin obliviously continued to hum as she started munching on her grapes.
Inu Taisho narrowed his eyes, "I think I shall excuse myself for now and go see the state of the rest of the house."
Inuyasha wiped a tear from his eye, "You were always my favorite little munchkin, Shippou."
Rin gasped, "Uncle-Inu!"
Inuyasha tapped her nose, "You're my favorite little lady, Rin; you know that. You haven't been a munchkin since you shed the diapers."
Kagome had to look up at the statement. She gave Inuyasha a questioning look, but he did not notice it.
Diapers?
Just how long how they known Rin?
She was starting to get a bit curious as to the story behind Sesshoumaru's guardianship of the girl.
Sometimes it was just so easy to overlook…
Kagome had to wonder if Sesshoumaru would even answer the question if she asked him about her. She let out a sigh as she finished with the shrimp and mushroom stir-fry. She suddenly felt as if she was an outsider looking in.
It was easy to forget that there was so much about these people that she didn't know.
And she couldn't help but wonder if she ever could become privy to that knowledge.
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(Tsuki)
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"Welcome home, son!"
The look of horror on Sesshoumaru's face was fairly controlled, but evident nonetheless. He had stepped in through the front door, having been unable to find his garage side key to find this? He inwardly cringed, a tightly smile adorning his face, "And what do I owe this pleasure, father? Could you not wait to see me tomorrow?"
Inu Taisho took his son's briefcase, "Of course I could not wait! An entire day, son? I'd have never managed…When our flight came in, you were the first thought on my mind, so I decided that we would just pop in."
Sesshoumaru suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
Something was amiss.
That man was never spontaneous. He had everything planned out to the minutest detail, months and sometimes even years in advance.
Even Inuyasha was a planned occurrence, though Sesshoumaru sometimes believed otherwise.
So if he was here…then.
No…
"Father…How is the state of your hotel," he asked suspiciously. "Is it to your liking? I must admit, you were quite vague when I asked about your plans last week. It makes me wonder how one so obsessed with planning would not have their mind made up."
"My cover is blown, isn't it?" Inu Taisho's smile broadened, "You were always a sharp young man." Sesshoumaru's father admitted, "Contrary to my email, I decided not to stay at a hotel this time, Sesshoumaru. I feel like I never see you enough anymore."
Inuyasha poked his head out of the kitchen, "Oi, Sesshoumaru, long time no see, big bro!" He was folding a powered sugar covered half-eaten dessert. He pointed enthusiastically at it and mouthed, "She makes crepes!"
Sesshoumaru's brow twitched.
No…
Today was the 12th. Their flight was the 18th at six o'clock. And then he had to see them everyday until the he was on a plane back to Tokyo on the 28th…
Just how the hell was he going to get through this?
Perhaps he should bring back Gome. At least then he would have his house to himself for until his flight. Sure, that would possibly be considered a murder attempt, but dire situations called for dire attacks, correct?
After all wasn't high reward only yielded by high risk…?
With a disgusted sigh Sesshoumaru took off his jacket and not-so-gently flung it onto the back of the couch before striding into the kitchen. Rin paused in the middle of her math homework to let out an excited greeting, and Sesshoumaru gave her a quick wave. Shippou seemed content to ignore the businessman as he savored his dessert.
Sesshoumaru made a beeline straight for Kagome. For some reason, all his troubles could be sourced back to her. That girl undoubtedly had some hand in this. She had fed them, after all. She fidgeted a bit as he started down at her. With a calm exterior, betrayed only by the bite to his tone, he asked, "Why did you let them into my house?"
She was in the middle of shaking powered sugar onto a crepe, and she could not help but shiver at the icy tone, "Hey, hey, hey! Don't pin that on me! Your father had a key! Thanks for telling me by the way that they would be coming here! I almost had a heart attack…"
Sesshoumaru rubbed his temples, "Nearly a week of them in my home," he murmured and Kagome had to wonder if he was in shock. Kagome gently took his face in her hands and he stiffened at the contact, but she firmly stared into his eyes.
"Look. Suck it up. I doubt you'll see them every second of the day." She abruptly stuck the crepe in his face, "Now eat it and be merry."
Sesshoumaru had no choice but to take the coned dessert and with a glare he took a bite.
"I suppose it's possible that both the Taisho sons could have been cursed with a sweet tooth…"
Kagome turned to see Inu Taisho at the doorway with a playful glint in his eyes. She laughed and patted a discontented Sesshoumaru on the back, "Now take a seat and help Rin with her math homework like a good father. Eat dinner at six, and try not to commit a homicide," she returned his icy look with an equal amount of chill.
Inuyasha gasped, "You're done making crepes?"
Kagome nodded as she checked the time, "I think I'm long past due for heading home, now. I have a paper to write."
Inu Taisho raised a brow in interest and Kagome had a sneaking suspicious that Sesshoumaru took very much after his father. "Are you still in school, Kagome-san?"
The girl nodded, "And please, just call me Kagome." She gave a hug to Rin and Shippou and waved, "See you tomorrow."
Inuyasha wagged his brows as soon as she left, "So you bagged yourself a high school student—I'm jealous! "
Sesshoumaru scowled and said coolly, "I didn't 'bag' anything, and I'm sure that girl would be insulted considering that she's in her last year of college."
Inuyasha looked shocked, "No kidding…She's my age? Learn somethin' new everyday I guess."
Inu Taisho smiled and clasped his hands together, "Well you heard Kagome, dinner's at six. So Inuyasha, shall we get our luggage and start unpacking?"
Inuyasha nodded, "Oh yeah…Sure. Where'd you put the keys to the F430?"
Sesshoumaru felt the onsets of a migraine.
His father had rented a conspicuous Ferrari… one with a V8 engine and speeds capable of three hundred kilometers an hour.
He could already envision the stack of speeding tickets.
He took another bite of his crepe.
No homicide? The silver haired man mentally scoffed. He would make no promises.
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(Tsuki)
A.N. Glimpse number one of Inuyasha and Inu Taisho. Be sure to give some feedback. There are definitely sure to be many more scenes with them in the future.
After all, there will be around Sesshoumaru for awhile.