Chapter 36: Ryou

Kikyo

I watched her angrily tuck the boxes under her arms, before glaring at me.

"Good luck with that. I am going to enjoy leaving you with nothing. It would be best if you had left me alone while I was still being nice, " she said angrily, pushing past me.

I was livid but excited all at the same time. She was finally playing my game. No more of that holier than thou act. She was showing those true colors I knew she had, which was fine with me. It wouldn't stop what I had in store for her. All I wanted was to make her hurt. I wanted her to feel what I had felt. How is it that she had all this happiness, and I had nothing? That was going to have to change. No matter how hard I tried none of it was enough. It didn't fill the void in my chest. I took a deep breath trying to stop myself from shaking. I needed to get a grip. I needed to make her pay and I couldn't do that if I didn't get my feelings under control. I took a deep breath and pushed it to the back of my mind. I spun around on my heel and headed for my office. On my walk back I wrecked my brain for ideas on how to tear her down. She was right. She and Sesshomaru were airtight. There was no pulling those two apart. I needed another in.

Inuyasha doesn't speak about her anymore. I don't know what happened to keep him away from her, but the moment that happened. He stopped being useful. I wouldn't dare go near his parents. That would be a dangerous and desperate move. His father would see me coming from a mile away. There would be no telling how that would go. I had to start from scratch. I pushed open my door and sat at my desk. Kouga hasn't given me anything useful yet, and sending our mother in her direction; had not done enough. I looked at my phone on my desk. I still had one ace in the hole. However, using it could put me in harm's way too. I tapped my finger on the desk mulling it over. I weigh the pros and cons of calling that person. I opened my phone and stared at the number. I pressed the dial button and put it next to my ear. I listened to it ring. Part of me expected them not to answer, but then it did.

"Hello, may I ask who's speaking?"

Surprisingly polite.

"Hello. I have a proposition for you. I need you to meet me at 114 Shinagawa. The name of the building is S Publishing. When you arrive, be sure to ask for Kikyo, and you will be sent up. Show up and I will make it worth your while. Make sure to be here as soon as possible."

I hung up giving him no chance to say anything. I placed my phone down. He had not called back, meaning he was interested in what I had to say. I spun around and looked out the window.

I took a deep breath. "Now, we wait."

I had waited patiently, and forty minutes had passed. I would give him ten more minutes before resending my offer. Suddenly my office phone rang.

"Hello, Kikyo speaking."

"Good morning ma'am. A man named Ryou is here to see you. He says that he is expecting you."

I smiled. "Yes, I am. Please send him up to my office," I said hanging up.

Five minutes passed before I heard my office door open. I turned my chair around and looked him straight in the eyes. He made his way over to me and sat down. He didn't take his eyes off me once. He was so different from I remember. His five o'clock shadow I was used to seeing, was now neatly kept and shaven. I didn't know what his face looked like without dark circles; until now. Most of all, I couldn't smell an ounce of liquor on him. He was never one to care about his appearance. He'd wear dingy clothes and ratty shoes, but the person in front of me... was a completely different man.

"Hello, Ryou."

He gave me a small smile. I hadn't expected that. No sneer, no snappy comeback; nothing. Only a smile. I would have preferred the snappy comeback.

"Would it be too much to ask you to call me father, like you used to?"

"Yes," I said curtly.

"I didn't know you kept my number all this time," he said.

"I didn't. It's still the same. You've never changed it."

He smiled. "I can't help but feel happy that you still remember it."

I flipped my hair over my shoulder. "Don't read too much into it. It's nothing."

"You look so much more like me than ever. More than your brother ever did."

Yet a son was the only thing you ever really wanted. Still, even he wasn't enough to make you stay.

"How is your brother? Is he still sick-"

"Do not ask about him. You lost that right a long time ago. I didn't call you here for idle chit-chat Ryou. We are not here to have a father-daughter reunion. This meeting is strictly business."

He nodded. "I assumed as much. I was surprised to hear from you. Especially after not hearing from you for more than ten years," he said.

"I surprised myself by calling you. I thought you could help me with something, but seeing you now. I now see that I was wrong."

I needed an angry drunk I could send into Kagome's life. Not whatever rehab had regurgitated this temporary farce up.

"I do not understand."

I sighed. I pulled a checkbook from my desk drawer."How much should I pay you for coming down here? I wasted both our time. I am a generous woman."

"Kikyo-"

"Would 700,000 yen be enough? A hefty payday for a train ride I'd say." I said writing the check.

I tore it off and slid it in front of him.

"Kikyo I do not want your money."

I raised a brow. "Oh? Then why are you here Ryou?"

He sighed when I called him by his first name again.

"That is not why I came here. I wanted to see you. I wanted to speak to you."

I laughed. "Am I supposed to believe you want to make amends? After you ruined my childhood?"

"Would that be so hard to believe?"

No, there was something more. I know a long con when I see one. He is where I get my conniving nature from. He was still a snake after all. He'd just shed his old skin. He was going to be of use after all. It is my lucky day. I'll find out what he is really after. I just won't be the daughter to experience it.

I pulled open my bottom drawer and threw an old newspaper down on the desk.

"It's too late for you and I Ryou. I already know the real you. Your other daughter, however? She might forgive you. If you show up in front of her like this. Sober, prim, and proper. You might have a shot at being a part of her life."

I watched him closely as he picked up the paper.

I needed to goad him.

"She is doing great. Rich fiance, great job, Ivy League college education, wonderful friends. She has persevered through everything, and she did it all on her own. She even has our mom. I'm sure could use a father too. I'm sure that is all she is missing to complete her happy life."

He looked up at me and smiled. There it was, that sick twisted smile. The one I had grown up seeing. He exhaled and leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other.

"You know, you always did have a good eye. You could see when anyone was full of shit. You got that from me. You caught me in more lies than your mother did."

"Years of practice," I said.

I grinned. "Can't say I never gave you anything.

Oh, you gave me a lot alright. Specifically, the trauma that I can't face.

He looked at the cover of the newspaper.

"I'm about to have Sesshomaru Taisho as a son-in-law." he grinned. "It turns out this girl was good for something after all."

Yes, go and ruin her life, just like you did mine.

He snatched the check and stuffed it into his jacket pocket. "It looks like you're doing good for yourself too Kitten."

I hated it when he called me that. He waved the paper around ."Thanks for this, but I've got to say. You pawning me off on your younger sister like this. You must really hate the girl." he laughed, heading for the door.

He stopped and took a final look over his shoulder.

"Careful Kikyo, me in you is showing," he said walking out.

Out of everything that's the worst thing he's ever said to me.