A/N:
Yay! Long awaited Chapter 9!
Sorry it has been so long. Still having some medical procedures done!
Anywho, this Chapter is dedicated to the wonderful people, or person, who nominated this story for the 3rd Quarter Awards for Best Alternate Universe/Reality on Dokuga!
Thank you so much!
Enjoy and Review!
~Smo
Disclaimer: I do not own, or claim any ownership of, any of the characters associated with the InuYasha manga or anime.
Chapter 9
Daitaro grunted, a bit annoyed that his mate and son were now rebelling against him. "We both want to know what you are doing," his mate argued, giving him a narrow stare that was supposed to scare him. Fortunately, he had grown an immunity to the look. He remembered earlier in the relationship that the look had scared him, turned him into putty.
"Sesshoumaru, how are the plans with the wedding coming along?" Daitaro wondered, moving his golden gaze over to his oldest son. He was quite shocked when Sesshoumaru joined Izayoi's side. They had welcomed themselves into his office and were demanding to know what he was doing with Kagome's mother.
Daitaro should have had an answer, but he didn't. Ever since Sesshoumaru had made the big announcement to go ahead and make the alliance with Kagura and her powerful family, Daitaro had been at odds. Paternal instincts told him that it was a good thing. He wanted the best path for his son, and that was with Kagura. She was a pure and strong demoness. Her family came with power and wealth. They would easily rule the demon realm with no questions asked.
Unfortunately, it would mean that they would have to choose. Neither one could hold onto Kagome when making such a decision. Sesshoumaru could no longer look to her for advice or a place to escape from the demon realm. Daitaro could no longer treat her as if she were part of the family when she would hold such a grudge. He knew that Kagome would be hurt either way, but distancing her from the rest of them was the right solution.
Daitaro was anxious in both a good and bad way to see Kagome climb to the top. He knew that he had to push her away. She could never climb to the top if she still felt like she was part of their family. She would never be able to make the final step, the one Daitaro knew so well about. That was the same step he'd almost fallen at – picking between his family and Izayoi. Now, Kagome would see that.
A small part of him was rooting for her to succeed, to reach the top and claim her own place. She had always been so submissive and passive to their treatment. When she had entered their family, she was the one who never wanted to cause trouble, the one who would simply take the blame so no one else would have to be yelled at. Kagome was kind and selfless, which was exactly why he wanted to open her arm, to have her show the ruthlessness she had exposed at her debut.
Maybe, if she made her own spot, Sesshoumaru could look to her instead of Kagura. Daitaro tried to hold the snort back at the thought. No, Kagome would probably decline even seeing him. This was purely out of vengeance and wanted her dignity back.
"The plans are moving along slowly." Sesshoumaru's voice pulled Daitaro out of his thoughts. He nodded his head for his son to continue. "Father, I have reached an obstacle."
Daitaro's silvery eyebrow rose at his son's formal tone. "What is it?" He asked, still trying to ignore the glare Izayoi was giving him. The seething orbs were begging him to turn his attention back o the question he had so easily avoided.
"Kagura is scared of children," Sesshoumaru sighed. "It will threaten the agreement if she cannot bare heirs simply because she is afraid."
Izayoi hummed, cocking her head to the side as she contemplated the notion. "Are you sure it isn't nerves? I was so scared to have our first child!" She added, a nostalgic gaze overtaking her chocolate eyes. Sesshoumaru could already see the woman walking down memory lane with newborn Inuyasha.
"I am quite sure. A young girl was in our apartment, and she had locked herself in the washroom," Sesshoumaru explained. Daitaro saw the fraction of a cringe filter through his son's usually stoic face. His own heart pulsated at the mention of a younger girl.
"Explain," Daitaro ordered, leaning back in the leather chair. His son's mouth opened, but an interruption came through on the telephone. His receptionist, Myouga, cleared his throat before talking.
"Mr. Taisho, you have an urgent call on line two," he stated. His raspy tone reminding Daitaro of sandpaper. "I apologize, the phone call is for Sesshoumaru, from a …" Myouga's voice trailed off and Daitaro could have sworn he heard the employee curse.
"What is it?" Sesshoumaru inquired, leaning over the desk.
"K-Kagome Higurashi, sir," Myouga squeaked out before hanging up. The sudden silence made the three in the office look briefly at each other. Then, Sesshoumaru inched his chair closer to the desk and picked up the phone.
"Sesshoumaru," he greeted firmly, hoping this wasn't some sort of rouse.
"I could have sworn you had a cell phone," Kagome grumbled into his ear, sounding extremely agitated and tired. Sesshoumaru quickly reached into his pocket, realizing that his phone had been left on silent and that he had missed numerous phone calls.
"My phone was on silent," he excused. "What is the meaning of this?" He asked, hating how he sounded so cold to her. Momentarily, he tried to figure out why he was speaking to her in such an unfriendly manner. Was it some sort of front or guard?
"So, we're back to being icicles," Kagome groaned, he could almost see her rolling her sapphire orbs at him. "Listen, I need to cancel the plans," Kagome added.
It took a few seconds for him to realize what plans she was even talking about. Then he remembered the dinner he had forced upon her with Rin's papers. From the corner of his eyes, he could see Daitaro give him a skeptical glance. Obviously, the demon could hear his conversation.
"Why?" Sesshoumaru pressed on. It wasn't as if the plans were pointless. Rin was an undocumented hanyou right now. Not to mention, Kagome needed to have some sort of certificate of guardianship, even if it was temporary.
Kagome released a sigh, as if tired of saying it. "If you had listened to the voicemail I had sent you, you would know," she chirped out. He could hear the sound of the television in the back, singing whistling through the speakers. "Rin, turn that down!" Kagome called out. "I have a meeting and can't make it to the city in time."
"With who?" The question seemed stupid the moment after he let it out. Of course Kagome wouldn't tell him who she was meeting. It was none of his business, yet he couldn't help but be suspicious. He had been quite surprised when he saw their event planner at the research facility.
"It is of no importance to you," she returned. Her tone light and teasing, as if she were mocking him. Sesshoumaru sighed, shaking his head at her through the phone. The line went dead, and he set the phone back on the receiver.
"What is going on, Sesshoumaru?" Izayoi asked. His father nodded his head, wanting to know the answer.
"A few nights ago, a young hanyou was in my apartment. Kagura had granted access to the elevator thinking it was the doorman delivering the packages from that day. I needed someone who understood both the human and demon realm and could handle a hanyou child. Yesterday, I dropped her off with Kagome." Sesshoumaru released a breath after the explanation as he weighed Izayoi's reaction and his father's.
Izayoi seemed almost swooned. His father was skeptical. "A young hanyou?" He asked. "Why did you not tell me? Are you looking into it?" He ranted. Sesshoumaru could tell that his father was instantly going over ideas and ways to figure out information.
"Father, it has been taken care of," he grumbled. He hated when his father refused to accept that he had done something. Usually, Daitaro looked over everything Sesshoumaru did, and the dog demon found it irritating.
"I hear that she has sided with the Europe Daiyoukai." This time, Izayoi spoke. The mere statement caused both dog demons to face her with wide, golden eyes. The European Daiyoukai usually stayed away from the Asia continents to avoid any arguments over territory and demon migration. Most demons had fled to Europe during the Meiji era and Daitaro had a hard time trying to keep track of the demons. He and the daiyoukai had agreed to keep the regions separated and under strict watch, although if traveling was needed it was given through the right papers.
"Where on Earth did you get that information?" Daitaro asked, standing up and shoving the chair behind him. If Kagome really had sought out aid from that man, it meant that either she was foolish or extremely confident in her research. Either way, there was no way she could face that man without making some sort of bargain. "She has no idea what she is getting into! Izayoi, who gave you that information?" Daitaro asked again.
Izayoi, suddenly startled and worried, cleared her throat as if she were in trouble. "I-I just heard it through the grape vine. Kagome is quite the topic since the last banquet. Everyone is making bets on how deep she'll get in the demon realm. The stakes rose drastically with this rumor."
Sesshoumaru stayed quiet, his thoughts roaming to the new information. He had assumed that she had been using Koga's connections through his clan. Although they were not as powerful as the dogs, they still had enough power to stir up a bit of trouble. "Father, I will excuse myself to look deeper into this."
Daitaro nodded his head, to busy thinking of who he should contact first. "I am going to call a few of my sources to confirm this." His father stated, already beginning to punch the dial pad on his office phone. Sesshoumaru did not wait for the call to patch through. He would rather get his information directly.
Izayoi followed him out, having to jog to catch up to him. He flawlessly pushed his foot out to hold the elevator doors opened for her. "I want to go with you," she proclaimed, poking the parking button and giving Sesshoumaru a pleading look. "I know you are going to talk to her again! I still feel horrible for what happened! I have no idea what has gotten into your father, but I want to apologize to her in person."
Sesshoumaru sighed. He wanted to argue with her. Yet, he wasn't quite sure he wanted to face Kagome alone. Izayoi would be there with him, helping him stay on the topic. Already, he could feel himself aching to find out why she was taking such drastic measures, even though he knew the answer.
~Time Floats On~
Kagome was exhausted. That was the only excuse she felt she needed. Unfortunately, no one else seemed to care, especially the powerful demon in front of her. She watched as he snapped the crab leg in half and began to dig out the delicious meat. "Koga says you have been busy," he began, the first real sentence since they had greeted each other. Since then, it had been ordering drinks and foods and shifting uncomfortably.
Kagome didn't really know the demon manners, only the ones Daitaro had taught her. Most of those were only needed around family or friends, not a formal business partner. "Yes, we have discovered the unique enzyme that actually causes the transformation," Kagome explained, still in awe over what they had discovered.
Christopher nodded his head once more, taking a sip of his water and digging back into his food. Kagome shifted in her seat once more, focusing on the smoked, rare fish that seemed to tease her on the plate. "I-Is there anything else?" She asked shyly.
Christopher looked up at her, meeting her sapphire eyes. A laugh escaped him and he waved his hand at her to dismiss her formal attitude. "Kagome, enough with the formality. I can tell that you are nervous!" He exclaimed.
Kagome shrugged, not quite sure how she would be able to relax. "I was worried. Your secretary made it sound extremely important and it was all scheduled last night, which is quite last minute," she explained, trying to fish out some information.
"At least enjoy your food before we talk about business," Christopher returned, the laughter dying down. "Please, I hate discussing business manners while eating, it messes with my appetite."
Kagome sighed, knowing a pointless argument when she saw one. She could try her hardest to fish out the information, but he would never give. She prodded the fish, dipping it into the ginger sauce and trying to swallow it without thinking about the conversation. She felt as if she were awaiting a lecture. Did she do something wrong?
The last crab leg fell to his plate. He cleared his throat after taking a sip of water, dabbed his mouth with a black, cloth napkin, and sighed as he leaned back into his chair. "Koga told me you took in a child."
Instantly, Kagome tried to figure out how that was a big deal. She knew that a child was a commitment, but Rin was only temporary until she could figure out where to take her. She understood Sesshoumaru not wishing to have kids around, especially mixed bloods. However, already she was feeling the absolute exhaustion that having a kid brought on. Rin had come into her room last night, unable to sleep on the air mattress Kagome had set up for her. Then, after being in her bed for a whole two minutes, Rin decided that a memory-foam mattress was not as fun as a spring mattress and disappeared to make a bunch of noise in the living room and kitchen. Kagome had finally woken up to discover her very own military base with a fully equipped fort that took up her dining room.
"That has nothing to do with my research," Kagome spoke slowly, trying to watch his reaction. She wanted to figure out exactly where he was getting at with Koga's confession.
Christopher scoffed, obviously disagreeing with her. "It may not get in the way of your job, but it will get in the way of your goal. Having a child is going to limit your time management. You will no longer be able to go to meetings, charities, even last-minute gatherings. Not to mention, you accepted this girl from the very demon you want to destroy! Did you ever think that this was his way of trying to slow you down?" Christopher lectured, his dark eyes stern with a reprimanding look. Kagome felt like hiding under the table.
Still, she forced her confidence to appear, lifting her chin and returning the firm stare. "I assure you that I made that decision with my goal in mind. On her night, I will be able to observe her and better come up with an understanding of the transformation. Also, I am seeking your help because I need connections into the demon world not a helping aid into how to made personal decisions."
Christopher's eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. Kagome found herself leaning back to get away from the warning lights spinning in her head. His claws dug into the tablecloth. "By becoming your connection, I have put my own credibility on the line!" He whispered harshly. "Do not get so cocky to think that I cannot cancel our agreement."
Kagome bit her tongue to keep from replying right away. She needed to think of an answer that would make her in control of the conversation again. "I understand, Christopher, but please be aware that I will not let this interfere with our goal. I believe that having Rin will enhance the quality of my research. Also, by taking Rin from Sesshoumaru I have created a favor that I can use." It was a small lie. Kagome knew that Sesshoumaru had helped her land the important event planner, but Christopher did not need to know that. Plus, Kagome was quite sure that she could squeeze another favor out of the dog if she mentioned Rin.
Christopher growled lowly, pushing his plate along the table. He raised his hand, signaling for a waiter to bring the check. "Don't get me wrong, Kagome. I would like to see you succeed. However, I cannot risk you being distracted. I have gathered several well-known families who would be more than happy to take the half-bree-."
"Rin," Kagome corrected through clenched teeth. She didn't know what sparked the sudden protective feeling she felt. Maybe it was her maternal instinct over having a child in her home. All she knew, was that having this demon refer to Rin as an unnamed species made her blood curdle. She had worked in a children's hospital, seen the faces of kids who knew they were unloved, unwanted. She would be damned if she saw Rin with the same face. "While I appreciate your suggestion, I am the temporary guardian of the girl and therefore will make any decisions regarding her for the time being."
"I will have the list faxed to your office," Christopher pressed on.
"Don't bother," Kagome returned hotly, not daring to grace the demon with a look as she gathered her purse and stood up. Quickly, she began to walk past him, hoping to leave without causing an electrical power surge from the anger she were feeling. Rin was a living being, not some risk or distraction.
Claws dug into her forearm, pulling her back to the table. Christopher clung to her, yet his face was void of any emotion. He almost looked bored. "Kagome, do not make me regret this deal. If I see you begin to drop in the demon realm, I will cut all ties with you."
Kagome eyed him carefully, but knew a threat and promise when she heard one. She smiled gently at him, giving him a soft look. "Christopher, I am keeping the promise you made with me. Rin will keep me from becoming a ruthless tycoon," Kagome explained, adding tightly, "I can see that you never made such a promise."
"Don't presume to know anything about me," Christopher returned simply, releasing Kagome to straighten out his tie. "Please, Kagome, I do not wish to turn this into a tense battle. When you feel like you are being consumed, know that there are ways to take care of it."
Kagome turned away from him once more. Retreating through the front door and walking to her car, Kagome didn't dare look over her shoulder at the demon. She plunged the key into the ignition and fled from the restaurant in the city, hoping to reach Rin as quickly as possible. She suddenly wanted to make sure the young kid in her possession was safe.
Christopher watched her leave with a gleam of interest in his charcoal eyes. He had been quite upset when Koga had called with the confession that him and the priestess had gotten intimate. At first, Christopher was envious. It was a myth amongst demons that miko's were a treasure to take to bed. He guessed it was because of the way demons took great pleasure in tarnishing pure objects. Still, he had instantly done some thinking and figured that it was not that big of a deal if Koga and Kagome had decided it was a one time thing. Which Koga assured Christopher that It was.
Unfortunately, he had then received a call from Koga about the half-breed that Kagome had taken under her wing. While he saw the kind gesture as another example of her innocence and selflessness, he was worried that demons would begin to talk. Taking in a hanyou was like a president adopting a homosexual child addicted to heroin. While some of the masses would want to see it strive for success and overcome it's weaknesses, others would see it as disgusting or wrong. Simply put, a hanyou in the demon realm was a controversial issue.
Still, he signed the bill and leaned back in his chair. Taking a small sip of the red whine, Christopher allowed a smile to cross his lips. Intrigue lit his eyes. Kagome was definitely a woman who would do things her way, even if it was risky. While it was a sticky situation he would rather not be in, his curiosity drove him to continue his support. Kagome would be an interesting show. Christopher was sure of it.
He reached into his inner, jacket pocket and pulled a sleek touchscreen phone out. Sliding it to his ear, he pushed himself out of the chair and began to make his way out of the restaurant while listening to the ringing through the ear-piece. With the other hand, he reached for his cigarettes and let one hang at the corner of his mouth. He snapped his fingers, a small flame igniting as he lit the end of the toxic stick.
Hopefully, Kagome would be fiery and ready to prove him wrong by the date of the next event. Surely, tonight she would go home solely to collect more research to further her proof that Rin would not hinder her overall goal. Christopher chuckled as a smirk grew along his face. His plans always seemed to work.
His chuckle died instantly when a meek, older demon answered the phone. Hopefully, his next plan would go smoothly. He had been spreading rumors all week in hopes to gain some attention regarding the miko. "I believe your master is looking for me," he all but purred into the phone.
The demon on the other side cleared his throat. "May I ask who is calling?" He chirped out. Christopher instantly figured the poor demon was small in terms of ego by the tremble of his voice. Maybe the pathetic excuse of demonic energy was scared of the mere thought of danger.
"The European Daiyoukai," he greeted with a grin. "This call is in regards to a young girl, black locks, blue eyes, has a few priestess powers. I am sure your master's son knows of her."
"Hold please!" He exclaimed just before the sound of cellos and piano came over the phone call. He had been put on hold. Christopher laughed to himself as he began to pace outside the restaurant. He saw the sleek, navy car come around the corner. The driver door opened to reveal the hired employee, who instantly opened the back door wide for Christopher to get in.
He slid into the beige, leather seats. He clasped the smoke between two fingers and held it out the window, letting the smoke bounce around his mouth before it came out in a single sigh. Finally, the music shut off.
"Christopher Basille!" The roar would have been intimidating if they had been face to face. Unfortunately, the speaker crackled from the volume, causing Christopher to release a dry laugh.
"Now, now, Daitaro, is that any way to talk to a long-time friend?" He cooed, his fangs elongating over his bottom lip as his smirk widened. It felt so good to catch the stoic Asian Daiyoukai off guard. "I heard that you were looking for me?"
The dog demon growled. Christopher relished in it. For as long as he could remember, he could hear his father warning him not to mess with the Asian Demon Empire. They were too powerful, too strong. While Christopher didn't want to start a war, he did want to rile some sort of event up. Especially since the dogs seemed to have a weak spot for humans.
"Are they true?" Daitaro wondered, trying to regain some shred of control.
"I am in the city," Christopher stated, avoiding the question with a devious smirk and a playful gleam in his eyes. "Why don't we meet for some games? I am sure we can catch up over a nice show in the demon realm."
"Come to my office if you want to reach me," the dog demon returned coldly. His voice had gone back to the firm, icy tone Christopher remembered so well. He pouted, hoping he could catch the dog off guard once more.
"Why are you being so mean to her? I heard about your lunch," he let out a heavy breath, smoke sweeping out the window right now. "At first, I thought it was a genius plan! Separate Kagome from the family so you no longer thought of her as a daughter but as a potential mate for your son! Then, I found out that the Onigumo's have their claws skin deep in the poor boy. So, I guess you're not a genius."
"Enough!" Daitaro warned. "You are in my lands, Christopher."
"Ah, but for the right reasons. You see, I am hosting a wonderful event in a week for that gorgeous priestess." He heard another warning growl and rolled his eyes, "Don't worry, dog, she's a bit too human for me. I am at a loss though. While I know you and Izayoi had some rough …. patches... I am quite surprised at how grand a job your son has done with screwing up the poor girl. She really is out for blood."
"You should not be meddling in fam-."
"But it's not family affairs, if you are no longer looking at her through a father's eyes! Isn't it?" Christopher shouted, startling the driver in front of him. His eyes flashed pure black, his claws flexing around the phone as a dark shadow began to envelope the car. "Or are you that indecisive? I guess that is a family curse – indecisiveness."
"What do you want? We can negotiate something," Daitaro whispered, almost as if he were already admitting defeat. Christopher's grin widened. Was Kagome this important to the dog? If so, why were they treating her with such malice?
"Daitaro!" Christopher laughed. "I am not ransoming her! I am helpingher. In fact, you might as well call me her loyal servant for the time being," he explained, bringing his hand up to examine his nails after he flicked what was left of the cigarette out the window.
"Forgive me for not trusting you," Daitaro returned sarcastically. "Knowing our pasts, I figured you may have ulterior motives," the dog added.
The mere mention of those times made Christopher want to kill something. He remembered feeling the shame, seeing the disappointment in his father's eyes. Ever since that time, he hated those dogs. "I assure you, Kagome sought me out through her connections. I listened to her proposal and agreed to aid her with money and resources."
"How generous of you," Daitaro muttered. "What did she promise you in return?" The question was quiet, and Christopher struggled to hear it through the phone. He smirked.
"I am in this merely to observe. I have nothing to gain personally," he added, remembering the way Kagome had looked during their first meeting. When she talked about Daitaro and Sesshoumaru, there was a light in her sapphire eyes that made them burn like dry ice. It was a cold feeling that ran through him, yet her power burned him at the same time.
"How noble," Daitaro growled. "You will not back off, will you?" He asked, as if confirming it more than hoping for it.
"Not a chance in hell," Christopher answered. "I guess we will be seeing more of each other. Goodbye, Daitaro." He then added, "Bye the way, your family should be receiving invitations shortly, please grace us with your presence."
He clicked the phone off before Daitaro could respond. Releasing another sigh, he allowed the victorious smile to play over his lips as he leaned back in his chair. His eyes looked out the sunroof at the starry sky. "Take me to a club," he instructed to his driver. "I am feeling quite lucky tonight."
~TimeFloatsOn~
Kagome's mouth twitched from side to side as she tried to figure out some sort of explanation. Not that she felt she actually needed one. Being the guardian meant that she made the rules, didn't it? Still, why did two golden orbs still cause her to doubt herself when they were narrowed into stern slits?
"Why are you here?" Kagome grumbled, shoving her key into the lock and pushing her door open. She tried not to look at Izayoi, knowing that it was impossible to treat the woman who cared for her with rudeness. "I remember you distinctly saying that your family would no longer bother me. What a fool I was to think you kept your promises. If history shows anything promises are messes to you. You make one and then throw it away later."
She turned around to stop her rant, seeing that Sesshoumaru was a mere inch away from her. She could feel the material of his blazer as he pushed past her into the room. "You left her alone?" He grumbled, referring to the messy house Kagome would soon be cleaning up.
Tiredly, Kagome ran a hand over her eyes and closed the door behind Izayoi. "No, Koga watched her until she fell asleep. Then, he went to his place to get his rest," Kagome returned. Defensively, she set her hands on her hips. "Not like I should be answering to you. I am the guardian of Rin, you are merely the demon who dropped her on my doorstep."
"Can we talk civilly for a few minutes?" Izayoi shouted, gaining the spotlight. Two pairs of wide eyes stared at the angered woman. Kagome bowed her head in apology, a mere habit from all the years she spent living with them. Then, she straightened back up and gave an apologetic smile.
"Sorry, Izayoi. Let's go into the kitchen for some tea," Kagome suggest, leading the way into the small room and pulling two chairs out. She saw a dirtied pan with what looked to be the remains of sukiyaki chicken inside. Idly, she shoved a lid over it as if it would make the mess disappear. She had asked Koga to cook for the girl, she did no specify him actually cleaning it up afterward. In a way, she expected too much from the male.
She flipped on the electric kettle and reached into a cupboard to reach for a few peach tea pouches. "Have a seat," she ordered over her shoulder when she realized both members of the dog family were standing in her small kitchen.
Izayoi ushered Sesshoumaru over to the tiny table. There was only room for four, much different than the fancy dining table at home. Even Sesshoumaru had a long table at his apartment. Izayoi sighed, Kagome had always wanted to be independent. She always thought Daitaro respected the girl for the trait. Unfortunately, it seemed to be her downfall. Izayoi found herself wondering what would have happened if Kagome had taken all of Daitaro's handouts. Would she be coming to dinner at their house every night? Working in an office next to Sesshoumaru's? Maybe, Kagura would be completely out of the picture.
The sound of the kettle being set on the table and the clicking of porcelain cups caused her thoughts to diminish. She mumbled a thanks to Kagome as she reached for the full cup of tea. "I am running low on milk, and I haven't gotten any sugar or honey yet," Kagome mumbled.
"It is quite alright, dear," Izayoi returned.
The silence that followed was what anyone else would call awkward. Kagome wanted to know why they were here, but didn't want to be rude to Izayoi by asking. Thankfully, a few moments later, Izayoi set her tea down and cleared her throat. "Kagome, I recently came across a rumor that you had certain connections, one by the name of Christopher Basille. Are these true?"
Kagome blinked, wondering how these rumors would have spread. Then again, the event organizer was probably sending out invitations. It's not like Christopher would be hidden in the background. Kagome was more than happy to give him some credit for allowing her to use his resources for her research.
"I just got back from dinner with him," Kagome added. She was about to wince upon remembering that she had canceled her plans with the dog demon next to her to go on such a dinner. The awkward silence loomed near once more.
Fortunately, Izayoi deflected it. "I see. Has he asked anything of you? Is he blackmailing you? How did you meet him?" The sudden barrage of questions caused Kagome to lean back in her chair to gain some room.
Izayoi sounded as if he were some sort of criminal. She remembered Christopher at their first meeting. He had told her it was a hard goal, but had helped her nonetheless without asking anything in return. Even at the end of the meeting, he had made her promise to never give up or be left behind, but also worried about her losing herself in the quick pace he had set for her. He had seemed to be caring.
Tonight, however, he seemed almost ruthless. It was as if he had his own agenda to complete and was using her. Kagome felt the sirens being to echo around in her head as the warning flags rose to the surface. She'd definitely want to gather more information about this demon before continuing any work. Although she trusted Koga to find her connections, she felt obligated to figure it out on her own.
"He has been nothing short of generous to me," Kagome answered honestly. Even if he were harsh tonight, he was worried that she would become overworked. "You sound as if he is some sort of felon."
"His father and I have a past," Sesshoumaru soothed out, suddenly speaking since Izayoi started to talk.
"I figured that much, but I did not press on for answers," Kagome explained, nodding her head. If that was what they were worried about, Kagome wanted to laugh. There was no way she would ever get a connection unless they had a feud with the dog family. "I went to Jinenji, but you saw how that went," she grumbled. "Why are you here?" She asked.
The question was for both of them, but she directed it at Sesshoumaru. "Don't tell me you are worried," Kagome teased with a smirk. "Sesshoumaru, while it is a kind gesture, I assure you that such feelings are useless," she got out around gritted teeth. It was as if Sesshoumaru still refused to take her seriously.
"You refuse to see me as a threat," Kagome grumbled. "Still, after all I've done in the last few months, you won't recognize me as anything more than the woman you hid away like a bird in a cage!"
"Kagome!" Izayoi shouted, causing the priestess to jump. Kagome's powers flared for a moment causing the appliances in the house to crackle to life. The television blared, oven and microwave beeped. The toaster hummed and the computer restarted itself. Quickly, Kagome ran to the television and slammed it off. Unfortunately, she heard the small patter of feet.
A door clicked open. Rin shuffled along the hall. Her fist closed as she rubbed her eye. "Sesshoumaru?" She called out to the dog demon that sat at the kitchen table. "I thought you and Kagome didn't get along," she added in confusion, turning to look at the miko.
Kagome thought quickly. A inner smirk rising to the surface. "It was a surprise for you, Rin! He wanted to see how you were doing!" Kagome exclaimed, clapping her hands together.
Rin's mouth twitched as she tried to decipher if what Kagome said was true or not. She looked back to the dog demon, glancing at her with golden eyes. He didn't look very happy to see her, nor did he look sad. Rin decided that he could wait. "Rin is going back to bed. You guys are up too late."
With that, the young girl turned on her heels and began to make her way back to bed. Kagome released a sigh and retreated back to the table, slouching in the chair. "Now," Izayoi breathed out. "I understand that you and Sesshoumaru had some disagreements, but surely you can see that your solution to those problems is a bit dramatic, Kagome."
Kagome fought the chuckle that wanted to rise out of her. Sure, Izayoi would see it that way. The woman was as passive as Cinderella, maybe even borderline Snow White. "What would you have me do, Izayoi? Should I have continued being Sesshoumaru's mistress while he was mated to Kagura? Maybe, I could even be the mother of the actual heir, although it would be a hanyou. What if I had just gone along with it after breaking it off? I could evenbeintheweddingparty."
Izayoi seemed to pause as she leaned into the chair. Kagome tried not to shake her head. Izayoi, while she was a wonderful mother, never accelerated in problem solving. The woman was straight out the feudal era. She was an arm ornament for her mate. She made children and raised them. "Izayoi, Sesshoumaru would have never mated me. Daitaro wouldn't have allowed him. Also, I am human, and Sesshoumaru would never allow a hanyou to succeed him, and I would never allow him to have a child with another woman if we were mated. Which means that, from the beginning, this was a union never meant to be."
She could see the sadness in the woman's eyes. Kagome leaped for help. "Sesshoumaru, tell her that it wouldn't have worked out," Kagome forced through her lips. A part of her heart was hoping he would say it would have, resurrecting the part of her heart that had died for him. Unfortunately, it would not be granted such things.
"Izayoi, Kagome and I were never fit to be mated at that time," Sesshoumaru answered, his own pain filtering through his golden eyes. He had told himself that she was to fragile. She didn't want to destroy her by tossing her to the demons in the demonic realm. Yet, he had made the decisions all by himself. Not once, had he trusted her enough to actually gather her opinion on the matter.
"What do you mean 'at that time'?" Izayoi wondered. Kagome found herself thinking the same thing, but she didn't want to hear it. She couldn't allow herself to hope when her goal was to rise above him.
"Izayoi," Sesshomaru began. "At the time, I did not think Kagome would be-."
"Stop," Kagome choked out, pushing herself from the chair. "I assume that you have gotten your answers for the questions you need to ask. I met Christopher through Koga. I don't know his past concerning your father, and I don't care to know it. Itishistory."
Sesshoumaru saw the plead in the sapphire eyes. He wanted to tell her though. He wanted to admit that he was intellectually-challenged for not seeing the potential within her. Still, he saw the water begin to form over the bottom of her eyes and knew he would not be able to stand her crying. "Izayoi, let us go for tonight," he ordered firmly. The woman stood up and nodded, seeing that something silent had been transferred between them. She would quiz Sesshoumaru in the car.
"I want lunch," Sesshoumaru growled, almost daring her to deny it.
Kagome nodded, knowing it was his way of wanting repayment for not finishing his sentence. "Alright. Call me with the details," she answered, walking them to the door.
Sesshoumaru pulled it open and tossed one last look over his shoulder. "At my place," he told her, causing a spark of anxiety to show in her eyes. She hadn't been to his apartment since the doomed Christmas party. "Bring Rin."
"Won't Kagura argue with that!" Kagome shouted as Sesshoumaru began to descend the condo stairs towards the parking lot.
"She will be gone."
Somehow, that made Kagome even angrier. "I won't accept those terms. I will not sneak around Kagura's back! She will be there, or we will go somewhere else! Sesshoumaru, I will call her myself if I need too!" Kagome yelled after him.
She saw the slight falter in her steps and let a grin slide to the surface. Serves him right for trying to sneak her around again. Didn't the bastard learn that he couldn't play with her anymore? "Kagura will be there." His eerie reply was quiet, but even at the far distance between them, she heard it perfectly.
Kagome closed the door, locking it firmly and going back to her room. She grabbed a notepad from the nightstand and tried to think of things she would need to do after tonight. First, she needed to find a place Rin could play without concealing herself. She wrote that down. Second, she needed to ask Koga about Christopher. She jostled that down as well.
Finally, she had to confront both Sesshoumaru and Kagura. She did not write that down. It was something she couldn't dream of forgetting.