A/N
This is my story for TheLovelyMiko's Weekly Prompt and Quote Challenge. The challenge has started up again, although I am hosting it now, which means more work for me. =_= Yay!
I really feel so blessed with all the loyal readers that leave reviews for me. Seriously, you guys make me feel complete.
Enjoy and Review? Yes?
~Smo
Beta Note: Lovely, fabulous readers and peers of the Dokuga realm, I humbly beg for your forgiveness! It was all my fault! I went on vacation and couldn't beta this when she sent it to me, and then she posted it before it was finished. *sideways glance at Smo* Anyhow, she took it down because of me so we could do some very important (I promise it was important) editing. I'm sorry! ~Lillian
Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own any characters associated with InuYasha.
Prompt: Corruption
Quote: We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.
Chapter 13
His charcoal eyes sparkled with lust as he eyed the well-toned butt of a waitress happening to walk by his table. He cleared his throat, gaining her attention. Hazel eyes dilated, her arousal mixed with the air around the table. Obviously, she found him just as attractive as he found her. "Can I get you anything?" she asked, a slight hint of desire in her tone. The corner of her lip rose in a cute smirk.
Christopher Basille leaned back in the wooden chair, the white napkin splayed across his lap. The white blouse and black bow-tie the waitress wore made her breasts look bigger than they were. Chris could see a few buttons straining to stay in their place. "Check the lobby for a girl named Kagome. Send her to this table," he added, holding up a large bill.
The waitress sniffed, obviously wanting something different than money. "Yes, sir," she muttered under her breath, tucking the bill into her pocket. Chris watched her strut away, swinging her hips to the side as if to show him what he was missing.
He snickered, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the edge of the table. Pushing his fingers through his locks, he scanned the restaurant for any sign of the priestess. They had arrived in the glorious foreign city earlier in the day.
A laugh escaped him when he remembered the flight. Kagome had sat next to him in the first class seating section. It had been like watching a toddler play with new toys: she had reclined the seat numerous times and pressed almost every button on the screen in front of her. When the flight stewardess had arrived to give them alcoholic beverages Kagome had flipped, saying she had never been served champagne on an airplane before. The partners had toasted each other, wishing for a successful party.
When they had arrived at the hotel, Kagome had passed out on the sofa in his penthouse room. Christopher hadn't had the heart to wake her up and tell her it was his room (she was in a suite next to his), so he had brought in a dress for her to wear and left. Since then, he had called contacts about the party, made sure certain, high-value priorities were coming, and continued other business deals happening in his homeland. Now it was dinner time, and he had paid someone to fetch Kagome from his room, which meant she was bound to make her entrance sooner rather than later.
"Christopher?" The soft, gentle voice caused him to look up. Instantly, his breath hitched. The black tresses she usually captured in a ponytail to keep from getting in the way of her sight were hanging loosely in large curls around her face. The black dress rolled to her knees, its bodice tight with small rhinestones scattered along it. A chain hung around her neck, the silver glistening in the restaurant's lighting. A pink sphere shone at the end of the chain, nestled in the small valley between her breasts.
"You look magnificent. A treasure to be admired," Chris murmured. His eyes sparkled as she sat before him. "I took it upon myself to order dinner and wine. I hope you will forgive me if you do not enjoy the meal."
Kagome flushed at his compliments, but quickly shook her head. "I'm sure I will enjoy it," she replied, nodding her head in thanks as the waitress poured white wine into the glass in front of her. Chris noticed the waitress assess her, judging Kagome's own chances with him. Fortunately, Kagome remained oblivious.
"Did you get a good rest? The flight seemed to take its toll on you," Chris teased. Kagome snorted, covering her mouth with a hand to hide her laugh as her eyes twinkled with amusement. It brought Chris back to the conversation he had with Sesshomaru in his office. The demon had given in to her. He had confessed that he had made the mistake and wanted to support her happiness. Chris shifted in his seat, suddenly feeling like the villain for supporting her. He had gotten in the middle.
His memories came to the surface, reminding him why he was doing this. It wasn't for Kagome or Sesshomaru. It wasn't even for himself. This was for the woman he had lost in the West. "Flying is not my specialty," Kagome grumbled as the first appetizer was placed in front of them. Her voice jarred him from his thoughts. Forcing a suddenly tight smile, he leaned forward and grabbed his fork.
"Well, I hope you received enough rest. After this, we are going to a small gathering of a few potential donations," Chris stated, putting a wonderfully sauteed mushroom into his mouth. He watched as Kagome shot him a look of confusion.
"Potential donations?" she repeated curiously. "You mean the rich guests attending tomorrow's party? Why are there two parties?"
"Well, there is always a before and after party. It's the way everything goes," Chris returned, shrugging his shoulders as he pushed his now empty plate in front of him. Kagome huffed, shaking her head and rolling her eyes at the idea. "A lot to take in?" Chris returned with a smirk.
"Seems like a waste of money," Kagome murmured. Chris saw the sudden glance she cast around them. She cleared her throat. "Will there be a lot of people there?"
"I am expecting the daiyoukais and some human government officials," Chris answered simply, judging her reaction. Her eyes widened at the information. The way her mouth dropped into a nervous frown for a moment told him she was both nervous and scared. "It will be alright. I will be by your side."
The sudden words of comfort that slipped from him were both a surprise to him and Kagome. He cleared his throat as if to try to make himself appear tougher. The momentary emotional lapse making him want to smack himself. "I mean that they won't be able to pull any rabbits out of hats while I am there. I am much closer to the ruling daiyoukai than any of them."
"Oh," Kagome answered with a slight flush. "You have more leeway here," she teased, leaning back and enjoying the full feeling from dinner. She quietly cleared her throat and leaned forward, resiting her elbows on the table the way she probably wasn't supposed to. "I want to ask you a question, but I am unsure if it will cross a line."
"Only one way to find out," Christopher replied as he handed the waitress his pristine credit card. Kagome sighed heavily, taking a deep breath before unleashing her question.
"Why did you agree to help me? I mean, I understand that my goal wasn't the easiest and definitely risks you losing more than me if it goes south, considering you already have multiple sound investments. W-What did they do to you?" Kagome found herself asking. It had confused her since Izayoi and Sesshomaru had surprised her at the house after dinner with Christopher. They had brought up his past and warned her about it.
Even though Kagome was not too worried about such things, she found her curiousness hard to tamper down. It was almost relieving to have someone else in the same group as her - the ones who have been hurt by one of the dog demons. Kagome snorted inwardly. It looks like that list was longer than she thought at first.
The daiyoukai before her went cold at the question. The smirk she was used to seeing him wear seemed to slide off his face. His eyes turned serious and dark with memories of a long forgotten - or at least regrettable - past. "My business with Daitaro go back a few centuries. Surely you do not want to hear about it," he forced out between gritted teeth. Kagome felt as if she had reopened damaged wounds. "Let's just say that he caused me to lose everything and then some."
The way he said it with such a melancholy look in his eyes made Kagome question exactly what he had lost. However, she could easily see that Christopher didn't enjoy talking about it. Patiently, she waited until the he signed the check, standing up and putting her shawl back on.
"I suppose it's off to the after party?" Kagome teased, taking hold of Christopher's arm when he offered it. His smirk was her answer as he led her out of the fancy hotel restaurant. She was tempted to ask him how much this all cost, but stamped down the worry easily. She would pay him back by completing their goal.
"Find a seat in the lobby, and I will have my driver bring the car around," he instructed, pushing her towards the couches in the lobby by placing a gentle hand on the small of her exposed back. The dress she wore left the smooth skin bare to any one's eyes.
Kagome took a seat easily, her rear sinking into the sofa chairs. She allowed her sapphire eyes to close and took in a deep breath to push her nerves down. Being in such places and going to such parties not only drained her but also caused her to worry and stress over things she just couldn't control.
The phone in her purse began to release consistent thrills. Kagome reached into the bag and held it to her ear. "Hello?" she greeted, trying to sound as professional as she could. It was tiring to have to put up such a front.
"Kagome, I am so glad I reached you," Koga breathed out, obviously in relief. He sounded worried and troubled. "The results you wanted finally came in after taking the blood sample. I faxed it to Christopher earlier. Did you get them?" He wondered.
Christopher hadn't told her about the papers, so Kagome stored it for the near future use. "I will get them. Christopher and I are going to a party and I will approach him then." Her blue eyes spotted Christopher beckoning her towards a sleek black car.
"Sorry, Koga, but I have to go. Stay safe ,and thank you for all your help." The phone clicked shut, and she dropped it back into her purse. Jogging over to Christopher, he gave her a friendly smile and held the door open for her.
"All is well?" Christopher asked as the driver pulled from the curb. Kagome could sense that the worker was demon too, yet he looked frail for one, no different than a teenage boy.
"Koga just wanted to remind me to get the test results from you." Kagome commented, leaning back in the leather seats and running her fingers through her hair. It felt odd having it down: she usually held it back in a tail to keep it from getting in the way.
The car stopped ten minutes later in front of a large and modern building. It was tall and architecturally rich. Large white panels and blackened glass met her eyes. As Kagome and Christopher got out of the car, the door being held by a teenage boy, a large and elegant, granite fountain blocked their vision. It was large and definitely expensive, the multiple colors illuminating the water. She gawked at it, even as Christopher pulled her along. Kagome entered the lounge with Christopher's hand on the small of her back.
It was a comforting feeling. Kagome didn't feel alone with the small amount of contact, and it gave her confidence as she followed the pastel green carpet that led her to two black wooden doors. Christopher reached around her to grab the metal handle, turning to look at her with a worried expression she had never seen on him before. "Are you ready?" he whispered.
Kagome swallowed the lump of nerves in her throat and gave a jerky nod. "As ready as I will ever be," she promised.
The door opened. Noise suddenly flooded her ears as if the door had been protecting them from it. Smooth jazz was played by a live band. Drinks were being dealt by several waiters in addition to the bar on the opposite side of the room. Demons were chattering, but everything seemed to pause when she entered the room.
They paused to look at her as if she had gotten lost. Kagome felt frozen, but Christopher pushed her forward with his hand on her bare back. He guided her forward with an obvious destination. His hand left her back as he pulled the demon male they approached into a hug. They laughed and patted each other's backs. "Christopher," the demon laughed.
In Kagome's opinion, the demon looked like the stereotypical surfer boy. His sandy blond locks tickled his neck in tangled and loose curls. His tanned skin contrasted against the white shirt he wore, covered with a black blazer hanging on his shoulder. "You have put together quite a fun gathering in my town," he proclaimed genially. Blue eyes portrayed a different message, one of warning, to her.
Christopher laughed and bowed his head as if in a mocking way. "May I introduce the real cause behind this - Higurashi Kagome, or in your world, Kagome Higurashi."
Kagome held out her hand, and the demon shook it with a lazy grin. "I have heard quite a lot about you from Chris," he commented. Kagome cast a soft smile.
"I am flattered. It is wonderful to meet you," she claimed. His hand didn't let hers go when she attempted to pull it back. A tight smile appeared on his face that caused uneasiness in the pit of her stomach.
"I trust you won't stir up anything, priestess," he whispered lowly under his breath. His blue eyes flashed to transparent ice with the warning. Kagome felt her own defenses rise at the threat.
"You have nothing to worry about," she paused to give him an innocent smile, "unless one of your demons start it."
The demon released her hands and grabbed a drink off of a retreating tray. He handed her a glass of champagne, which Kagome took a sip of, needing liquid courage. "Is this the strongest thing they have?" Kagome whispered to Chris, causing the daiyoukai to chuckle loudly. He shook his head and cupped her shoulder, as if to tell her he would get her something much stronger later.
"Kagome." Her eyes almost fluttered close at the sound of her name. Inwardly, she was ashamed of her response. She knew the reaction was inappropriate, even counter-productive, but she missed her name on his tongue, enjoyed and relished in hearing it.
She turned to greet him. "Sesshomaru." She held out a hand for him to shake, and shivered when he brought it up to lay a chaste kiss on the back.
"A drink. I am sure I remember your tastes," Sesshomaru answered, offering her a familiar drink. She took the red wine from his grasp. She forced a nod and took it from him in thanks.
They sat in a strange, awkward silence. Neither knew what to say nor what to do. They had shared such intimate moments, and now she had labeled him as her enemy. What were they supposed to do in such a situation?
"You look love-."
"Stop it," Kagome hissed, interrupting Sesshomaru's compliment, although a flush spread across her cheeks. She hated her reaction. Butterflies flew from their cage and stirred in her stomach. Kagome felt flustered after his comment, and she couldn't allow that. "You have no right to say that anymore."
"It was merely an observation," Sesshomaru replied coldly, the stinging wound from her rejection still raw. "Would you rather I ignore you?"
"I want to speak with your father." She avoided the question, taking a sip of the drink he had given her and brushing past him the next moment. His father was already watching her with a serious gaze. Golden eyes looked old and wise, much more experienced than Sesshomaru's.
"You look lovely tonight," Daitaro commented with a well-rehearsed business smile. Kagome let out a small laugh at the compliment Sesshomaru had just tried to give her. She bowed her head in thanks, taking another sip of her wine.
Letting the alcohol feed her confidence, she allowed herself to speak. "Why did you come if you do not approve of what I am doing?" Kagome asked. She felt a familiar presence approach from behind her. It startled her, not that she showed it, when Christopher set his hand along her lower bare back. His fingers were warm against her cold skin, and she silently enjoyed the comfort of having someone with her.
"I will answer that, Kagome," Christopher got out with a grin, as if he couldn't wait to talk to Daitaro. "You see, Kagome, Daitaro and Sesshomaru are keeping an eye on you to make sure you don't pose a threat against their status as demons. After all, you were once part of their family, and as such probably know about their business strategies, secrets, and weaknesses. It's sort of like that phrase: keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer."
Kagome blinked as she absorbed it. She figured that's why they would come, so it was not astonishing to her. "It makes sense. That must be why he is mating Kagura too," Kagome replied with a sarcastic hint in her tone. It was more directed at Christopher than at the dogs, and Christopher barked out a twisted laugh, as if enjoying having the rude conversation about the dogs in front of the dogs. "I think that's taking it a bit far though," Kagome added, shaking her head in disapproval. "Takes sleeping with the enemy to a whole new level."
This time, she released a giggle at the glare that Sesshomaru gave her. It felt good to say these things, regardless of the glares the two dogs were giving her. Kagome practically glowed as Christopher guided her to the bar with a hand on the skin of her back. "I could never get away with that when I was younger. Daitaro protected Sesshomaru like he was the golden child."
The demon watching over her chortled. "You are not a child anymore, and he is no longer your guardian. You're a grown woman and have the power do to whatever you please." His words gave her confidence. Kagome felt as if she could do anything as she leaned against the bar. "You won't ever tell me, will you? About your past, I mean..." She trailed off, watching for any sign of emotional distress in his eyes.
He kept them completely blank and unreadable, much to her disappointment. "It is a boring story anyways," he murmured. Kagome saw the lie. His eyes were too blank, almost like Sesshomaru's. Christopher usually displayed some sort of emotion, even if it wasn't the one he was feeling. She would have had an easier time believing him if he had said it with a smirk.
"You're a horrible liar," Kagome grumbled, pushing her empty wineglass onto the granite counter top and turning just in time to greet her next obstacle.
The red eyes gave him away. His black hair was neatly trimmed and straightened to his neck. His suit was polished, professionally measured and made. Kagome had to remind herself that all demons were handsome and that just wasn't fair to the rest of the world. "Naraku," she greeted.
Christopher didn't turn from the bartender, but she saw the way he tensed. Obviously, no one liked this demon, which made Kagome even more cautious around him. "I am so glad you flew here to support my research." She gave a friendly smile. "Can I get you a drink?"
"Isn't that my line?" Naraku asked with a smile, moving to lean against the counter between her and Christopher. Kagome saw the way Christopher backed away, as if it was too disgusting to share the same space with the demon.
"I have already had my fill of alcohol," Kagome answered with a polite laugh. "Has Kagura flown down as well?" she wondered.
"Oh no," Naraku answered with a slight shake of his head. "She is busy with the wedding plans. Four months until the big day," he mockingly cheered with a fake toast with a glass of what appeared to be scotch.
Kagome tried to make sense of the information. That meant they had set a date for the wedding. The news both shocked and angered her. She thought back to the conversation with Sesshomaru. He had confessed he still wanted her. Had he lied? Was he going along with it simply because he said he would? The honor bound demon suddenly flared her anger to life. Her teeth clenched.
Without warning, her powers flared. The lights around the bar flickered before going out. The mates of some demons growled as if awaiting for battle. She could sense other demon powers flaring. It felt as if she were being drowned by the youkai as they all exploded with power. The rise of their energy made it impossible for her to calm down. Now she felt as if it were time to fight, and her powers would not relax in such a situation.
Her breathing became shallow as fear leaked into her body. Her body shivered, and she felt a rough grip on her arm before she was dragged from her place at the bar. She squealed in fright, causing another round of growls as if the mere sound was a declaration of war. To make matters worse, another hand pulled her up off the ground, startling her further. Her powers throbbed and pulsed, causing a few glasses to shatter.
Anger, frustration, utter failure, coursed through her. She slammed her eyes shut, unable to focus on anything other than the torrent of emotions inside of her. Her heart was pounding as adrenaline pumped through her blood. Memories of when this would happen flooded her mind. It was a defense mechanism according to Daitaro and Izayoi. When Inuyasha made fun of her, she would go into herself, seeking refuge and protection inside the warmth of her powers. Her anger or sadness had caused electrical power outages and several mirrors and windows to break.
The sudden feeling of a breeze caressing her skin made her gasp for air and open her eyes. "Let me down!" she ordered, still breathing heavily. Kicking and punching, she was disappointed when her attacks didn't meet any flesh.
"Stop it." The cold voice of Sesshomaru assaulted her ears. Kagome felt her feet hit the ground, and instantly she used them. Her heels clicked as they pattered along the pavement of what appeared to be an alley between the lounge and neighboring building. The lights flickered back on as the cold air caused her to shiver.
"You are going in the wrong direction," Sesshomaru grumbled from behind her. Kagome hated the sound of his voice at that moment. Naraku's words rang through her, and the affect of them made her hate herself. They shouldn't mean anything to her. She knew they were getting mated and married. It was only a matter of time before a date was set.
"He said he wanted me," Kagome thought. She shoved the false hope into the far recesses of her mind and waved a dismissive hand over her shoulder. "I don't care!" she shouted, hoping the answer would solve all of her problems. Why couldn't she be uncaring? Kagome wanted to be indifferent. She didn't want to care about him.
"Kagome!" She ignored his shout. Crossing her arms over her breasts and rubbing her hands along her skin to keep herself warm, she continued out of the alley and down the street. Cars passed her on the sidewalk. Men walked by her, casting strange glances and wondering why she was out at night in such attire.
For blocks she walked, and for blocks she knew he followed quietly behind her. Kagome knew she had no idea where she was going or even where she should be going. She just didn't want to face or even look at him. "Go away!" she shouted, startling an innocent couple who happened to be walking by. They scurried at a quicker pace, passing her. Kagome sighed, shaking her head at herself in embarrassment.
Turning around, she glared at the sight of Sesshomaru. He was about twenty feet behind her. His hands were deep in his pockets. A few strands had slipped from the ponytail he wore, coming to frame his face. His golden eyes seemed to glisten under the streetlight. His suit jacket was undone. The tie around his shirt collar was loosened and flapping with the breeze. Kagome wanted to hate him even more.
With that in mind, she stormed up to him. Kagome let her anger fly - literally. The back of her hand collided with his cheek. It didn't lessen any of her anger. His head turned, but he didn't move it back. A few strands covered the reddened cheek. "Why didn't you stop me?" Kagome wondered, knowing he could've stopped her at any moment.
"What happened?" he avoided her question. "Why did you lose control?" Sesshomaru added, staring to the glowing orb around her neck. He reached out to grasp it, ignoring the sizzling sound when the priestess's energy collided with his skin. It was raw power and pure, something he shouldn't tamper with.
"Is your hearing getting bad?" Kagome returned heatedly. "I asked you a question." The brush of his rough fingers against the valley of her breasts where the pink orb sat caused them both to shiver with an echo of things that belonged in the past. Kagome retreated a step.
"I must have deserved it," Sesshomaru answered. He shook his head then, correcting himself. "I did deserve it," he said with a nod. Kagome snorted, rolling her eyes. The high and mighty demon deserved a lot more than just a slap. "Now answer my question."
Kagome huffed, a flush coming to her face. Why had she grown so angry? Naraku's reminder came up in her head, and she felt way too humiliated to confess the answer. "I have to go," Kagome muttered, turning around and remembering she had no idea where she was.
"Stop," Sesshomaru demanded. "I will call for a car." Kagome bristled. She didn't want to spend any more time in his presence. Ignoring his order, she continued to walk along the pavement until she saw what looked to be a train or bus station. She saw a map behind a fiberglass display and jogged over to it, ignoring feet sore from walking in heels.
"What are you doing?" Sesshomaru came up behind her. She viewed the map, her mouth twitching from side to side as she found the hotel. Without answering, he watched as she turned away from him again and heard her heels click along the concrete as she walked to a pay station. "Kagome," he growled warningly. "A car will be much more comfortable than on a train with strangers in a foreign land, not to mention that what you're wearing is incredibly indecent for public transportation."
Kagome rolled her eyes, reaching into her purse and pulling out a few ones as she figured out what kind of ticket she would need and slipped the bill into the machine. It let out a ticket a few seconds later. "It's okay, Sesshomaru, I am sure the public transportation here is no different than the public transportation at home," she promised with a parenting voice as if he were a child.
He hated her stubbornness. He had offered her a safe passage home, and she still refused to take it. "You would rather risk injury than get into a car with me."
Kagome didn't respond to his words. She remained looking down the track, patiently waiting for the train to come into sight. "Look at me!" he shouted, causing her to jump. It wasn't too often she heard him yell.
Her sapphire eyes turned to take him in. He was a good foot taller than her, towering over her as if he were trying to intimidate her. "What caused it?" He growled. Naraku had said something and that worried him. He knew the bastard was planning something, and he needed to know what before it happened.
"You don't love her," Kagome whispered. "You don't care about her. You don't even w-want her." You wanted me. Her body shivered as the train whipped passed her, sending a strong wind along her body. It screeched to a stop along the tracks. "You're still mating her though. Sesshomaru, for once in your life do what you want! Stop listening to your father and thinking business is more important! It's your life, so stop being so scared!" Kagome screamed, stomping her foot as if to emphasize her point. "You wouldn't come out and confess you were fucking me, yet everyone knew! You didn't tell me about Kagura or give me a chance because you were scared! You let your dad make most of your choices throughout your entire life! Do what you want!" Her chest heaved with every breath, breasts rising with each intake.
Golden eyes were wide with an unreadable emotion. The doors of the train opened. Kagome waited for a few moments, hoping for some kind of response to her outburst. Another few moments passed, and Kagome was sure the doors would close. She turned her head away, fitting between the doors just as they began to close.
A hand grabbed her, pulling her out of the doors she had wanted to go through. In the blink of an eye, she was shoved up against the very ticket machine she'd inserted her money into. Sesshomaru's lips smashed against her own. One hand clutched her wrist as if she would try to pull away while the other gripped the side of her head, grabbing a fistful of hair and applying pressure to force her mouth closer to his.
Kagome groaned at the need behind his motives. His lips were forceful, desperate, passionate, and filled with pent up desire for something he no longer had the right to have. She pressed her hands against his chest, pushing with all her might and having no success in pushing him off.
"Sesshomaru," she murmured against his lips. The only response was his tongue thrusting between her lips. Closing her eyes, she tried not to think of how this went against every new rule she'd made after he had broken her. This was taboo to the new Kagome, but it felt so good, as if she had been going through withdrawals without knowing it. He was the drug and she needed the fix she'd been waiting too long for.
His hand was suddenly on her bare thigh under her dress, pushing it up until he gripped her buttocks. She gasped, rolled her head back, and exposed the neck to the predator before her. Sesshomaru took the invitation. He inhaled the scent and rested his head in the crook of her neck. It was always his favorite place to nestle in. It was like a security blanket. The main source of her smell that surrounded him with a better place. Open-mouthed kisses covered the soft skin, his teeth nipping at her to make red marks.
Her breathy moans were his reward. His other hand reached down to grip her bottom, lifting her off the ground and pushing her harder against the rough surface. "N-Not comfortable," Kagome got out, feeling the buttons of the machine push into her bare back.
Sesshomaru groaned, not wanting to stop but not wanting to cause her discomfort. He forced himself to let her down, leaning on her shoulder and closing his eyes to bask in her presence. It felt good to taste her again, to touch and kiss her.
She was right. He had never fought for what he wanted - what he believed in. His father had wished for him to take over, and Sesshomaru had done just that. He may have told his father he didn't want to, but he still gave in with the condition he would make the company better. When his father mentioned Kagome would not be a smart choice to mate in the demon realm and introduced him to Kagura, he had thrown in the towel and accepted his fate. He was a pushover, even though he appeared as cold and tough as can be. Sure, he could dish out orders to others below his status when it came to dealing with the company, but he had no clue where to begin in his personal life. He had screwed that all up.
Suddenly, the cause of his happiness was gone. While he was thinking, Kagome had slipped off her shoes and ran. He swiftly turned on his feet, reaching out as if he could grab her. She was already turning the corner, and he could smell the faint scent of her tears.
He growled, slamming his fist into the machine and listening with grim satisfaction as it broke and caved into his demonic strength. Something fell against his foot, and he looked to find the two heels she had been wearing. Kagome was so desperate to get away from him she had left her shoes behind. Was that how much she disliked him?
Picking up the shoes, he turned the corner Kagome he had last seen her at. It was still dark and dangerous for a scantily dressed girl with no shoes. Even though she wished to stay away from him, he would see to it she arrived at the hotel safe and sound.