Chapter 19: Support
The soft chime of Kagome's alarm barely stirred her from a restless slumber. Her head throbbed as she reached to silence it, her tablet still open beside her with notes she'd been reviewing into the early hours of the morning. Her bracelet was still nowhere to be found, and the report she'd submitted to the hospital lingered heavily on her mind. She rubbed her temples, willing herself to focus. Today was too important for distractions.
Naraku was already up, impeccably dressed, and sipping his morning coffee in the dining room when Kagome joined him, a loose bun barely holding her hair together, her blazer slung over her shoulder.
"You're late," he remarked without looking up, his voice carrying its usual calm authority.
"I know," Kagome muttered, setting her tablet down and running her fingers through her hair. "I stayed up finishing notes and double-checking figures. The hospital—" She caught herself, shaking her head. "It doesn't matter. I'm ready."
Naraku's eyes flicked up, his expression unreadable. "Is there something you are not telling me Kagome," he said, his voice quieter than before. "You know I can help."
Kagome smiled, pushing back her emotions. "It's nothing father…everything is ready for today."
Naraku set his tablet aside, studying her for a moment. "You look tired. If you're not at your best—"
"I'll be fine," she interrupted firmly. "I know how important this is Father."
He leaned back slightly, his sharp gaze softening just a fraction. "Good. Then let's make sure today's efforts aren't wasted."
Kagome pulled up the agenda on her tablet, her mind already running through the details. "By the way," she said, her tone distracted as she scrolled through her notes, "who are we meeting with again? I don't think you mentioned it."
Naraku's phone rang, cutting him off. He rose from his chair smoothly, his expression unreadable. "They were at the gala last night... the Ta-" His words were interrupted by the phone's persistent ringing, and he answered it with a quick swipe. "I'll need to take this, Kagome," he said, his voice a touch firmer. "We leave in fifteen minutes. Don't keep me waiting."
He moved toward the door, the phone already pressed to his ear. Kagome paused for a moment, staring at the screen of her tablet. With a quiet exhale, she shook her head, shifting her focus back to the task ahead. She'd have to wait for the details—just another moment in the ever-predictable routine of her father's leadership.
It wasn't until they pulled up to the towering headquarters of the Taisho Corporation that Kagome's sleep-deprived brain made the connection.
Miroku leaned back in his chair, his phone resting casually in his hand as he processed the news that Kagome would be attending the Taisho Corporation meeting. His mind began to work, a mischievous glint appearing in his eyes.
"Well, well," Miroku murmured to himself, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Looks like the universe is giving me another opportunity." He quickly texted Kohaku.
Miroku: Hey, Kohaku, think you could arrange something for me at Taisho Corp?
He chuckled to himself, knowing Kohaku would understand exactly what he meant. Then he switched gears, sending a message to Sango next.
With a satisfied grin, Miroku leaned back in his chair and cast a quick glance at Sesshoumaru, who was still absorbed in his notes, his expression as icy and unreadable as ever. Miroku stretched lazily, then spoke in a voice that was just low enough for Sesshoumaru to hear, though it still carried a teasing edge.
"You know, Sesshoumaru," Miroku said, pretending to casually glance at his phone, "this is the perfect opportunity to give Kagome her bracelet back. Then you can accidentally ask for her number. You know… the one you already have in your phone."
Sesshoumaru didn't even look up from his notes. "You should take some of that responsibility yourself, Miroku, since you're the one who put her number in my phone."
Miroku let out a low chuckle, his tone light and teasing. "You know, I've got to hand it to you—it's impressive how you've mastered the art of tuning out everything around you. But Kagome? Man, she's like the universe's favorite plot twist. She's everywhere. The café, the street, the park, the hospital, the gala—and now here. Honestly, it's starting to feel less like coincidence and more like a rom-com script. Face it, my friend. Fate's already signed the paperwork."
Sesshoumaru didn't even glance up, his voice cutting through Miroku's teasing with cold precision. "If you're trying to bait me, Miroku, it's not working."
Miroku leaned in, undeterred. "I'm just saying, you're not exactly subtle. And you know, secrets don't stay secret forever."
As if on cue, Miroku's eyes flicked toward the hall, and he let out a low whistle. "Speaking of which—your blue-eyed beauty is looking good today. That hair—kind of a messy chic vibe. Honestly, it works for her. Ten out of ten."
Sesshoumaru finally glanced up, his eyes tracking Kagome as she stood outside with her father, engrossed in conversation. His gaze lingered just a moment, catching the tired lines on her face, the way her fingers kept brushing her wrist, searching for something absent. Her bracelet, he realized, a faint sigh escaping him. 'She's worn out, I can't blame her-with that report and her responsibilities.'
Then, as if nothing had happened, Sesshoumaru returned to his notes, his voice calm and razor-sharp. "Don't objectify her."
Miroku smirked, sitting back with a mock gasp. "Protective and possessive? I rest my case."
Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed sharply, his gaze locking onto Miroku. "You should be careful, Miroku. Remember the bruise you received last night from your antics?"
Miroku froze for a moment, the grin faltering, but he quickly recovered, laughing nervously. "Oh, that? A minor mishap—just a reminder that I should stick to proper footwear." He flashed a charming smile, but the underlying tension was evident.
Sesshoumaru's gaze didn't waver, his tone cool. "Next time you try things like this, I won't be as merciful."
Miroku raised both hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, I get it!" he said, holding his hands up. "But I'll still keep trying. Someone has to keep you entertained." He smirked. "Can't have you being all stoic and serious all the time."
Sesshoumaru didn't respond, his expression unreadable as he returned to his notes. Miroku, still grinning, leaned back in his chair with a twinkle in his eyes.
The Taisho Corporation's conference room was nothing short of imposing, with its sweeping views of Tokyo's skyline and a sleek, minimalist design that spoke of power and precision. Kagome followed Naraku into the room, her tablet in one hand while her other absentmindedly traced her wrist.
Inside, Tōga Taisho stood at the head of the table, his commanding presence amplified by the confident smile spread across his face. "Naraku, Kagome," he greeted warmly, though the sharpness in his eyes suggested he missed nothing. "A pleasure, to have you both here. No hospital work today?"
Kagome dipped into a polite bow. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Taisho. I will be attending my rounds at the hospital this evening."
"Likewise, Kagome," Tōga said, his tone softening slightly as his gaze rested on her. He gestured toward the long, polished table. "You remember my son, Sesshoumaru, and my nephew; Miroku, of course. Let me also introduce Jaken, my assistant, and Totosai, our chief engineer."
"Pleasure to meet you," Kagome said politely to the two older men, both of whom nodded in return. Her gaze inevitably drifted to Sesshōmaru and Miroku.
"I trust you remember," she began, directing her attention to Miroku, "we have a follow-up scheduled this week, Mr. Sato. I've explained to Sesshoumaru how to handle things should something similar occur again."
Sesshoumaru, who had remained silent, glanced at Miroku and delivered his assessment flatly: "He will survive. He seems unnaturally adept at defying statistical odds."
Miroku, lounging with one arm draped over the back of his chair, sat up straighter, his expression a mockery of outrage. "Unnaturally adept? Sesshoumaru, I'll have you know I am a master of evading death with style and grace!"
Sesshoumaru's golden eyes narrowed, unimpressed. "Your 'style' involves fainting at critical moments and landing where medical professionals happen to be standing."
Miroku clutched his chest theatrically, leaning toward Kagome. "You see how I suffer? My remarkable talent for survival is reduced to dumb luck by this man. Clearly, no one appreciates my artistry."
Kagome arched an eyebrow, suppressing a smile. "An... interesting way to describe it."
Miroku winked, "Oh you know Kagome I was meaning to ask about your brac-"
Sesshoumaru's response was swift and calculated—a sharp kick under the table.
"Yow!" Miroku yelped, jerking upright.
"What was that?" Totosai squinted, his gaze darting around as the rest of the room turned to locate the source of the noise.
"Oh, nothing... just a bird," Miroku wheezed, trying to maintain his dignity.
"A bird?" Jaken squawked incredulously. "We're 40 floors up!"
Sesshoumaru remained stoic, though the faintest glimmer of satisfaction danced in his golden eyes.
Naraku, ever composed, ignored the chaos and turned to Tōga. "Shall we get started?"
Tōga nodded, fighting back a grin. "By all means."
Kagome stepped forward, connecting her tablet to the room's display. The massive screen blinked to life, revealing a meticulously polished presentation filled with sleek graphs, data points, and projections.
"Thank you all for taking the time to meet with us," Kagome began, her tone professional but brimming with enthusiasm. "Today, I'll outline how a partnership between Higurashi Pharmaceuticals and the Taisho Corporation could revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry through cutting-edge technology."
As she launched into her presentation, her passion lit up the room. She explained AI-driven drug discovery with a sparkle in her eyes, detailing how machine learning could identify viable compounds faster than traditional methods. She seamlessly pivoted to automated manufacturing, citing case studies and referencing papers she'd devoured at 2 a.m. while fueled by an unholy amount of caffeine.
"For example," Kagome said, gesturing at a particularly complicated graph, "this model, developed in collaboration with Dr. Kobayashi's lab at Tokyo Tech, predicts a 30% reduction in lead compound development time. Just imagine the impact on patients waiting for life-saving treatments!"
The room was silent, except for the faint sound of Jaken's pen dropping in awe.
Miroku smirked and leaned toward Sesshoumaru, whispering, "Your dream woman—brains, ambition, and she probably carries a first aid kit for emergencies. Imagine the possibilities."
Sesshoumaru didn't even glance his way. Too busy entranced by Kagome.
Even Totosai, who had been doodling what looked suspiciously like a fire-breathing dragon, blinked and sat up straight. Jaken, wide-eyed, muttered under his breath, "We'll be out of a job if she keeps this up."
When Kagome finally finished, she straightened and glanced around the room. "I've prepared additional data if there are any specific questions."
For a moment, no one spoke. Then Tōga leaned back in his chair, his booming laughter filling the room. "Impressive, Kagome. Truly impressive."
Naraku nodded approvingly, his usual stern demeanor cracking ever so slightly.
Miroku clapped softly, grinning. "I think we just witnessed a TED Talk."
Sesshoumaru, who hadn't taken his eyes off the presentation, "You did this all this last night?"
Kagome turned to Sesshoumaru, her cheeks flushing slightly at the unexpected question. His golden eyes were steady on hers.
"Well," she began, adjusting her posture slightly, "most of it was done earlier in the week, but I refined the projections and added the AI integration models last night." She gave him a small, self-deprecating smile. "Sometimes, inspiration hits after midnight, and coffee does the rest."
Sesshoumaru arched a brow in her direction, his expression calm, though his silence spoke volumes. The unspoken words hung in the air between them, heavy with meaning from what he had discovered last night. A vulnerability that she had shared with him.
His words from the night before echoed in her mind, soft yet resolute: "Then you won't do this alone—I'll help you."
For a moment, the room seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them. Kagome's fingers tightened slightly on her tablet as she met his gaze, her heart fluttering against her will. There was no reprimand in his expression, only quiet concern.
Totosai chuckled. "Ah, youth! Burning the midnight oil and still looking like they've had eight hours of sleep. If I tried that, I'd be out cold by slide two."
Jaken nodded solemnly, as if personally offended by the concept of overachieving. "I hope she didn't neglect her health. It's unwise to sacrifice rest for work!"
Kagome bit back a laugh. "I'll take that as advice." There was no possible way she could give herself a break with her schedule.
Naraku cleared his throat, bringing the room back to order. "In any case, her dedication is why we're here today. I trust everyone now sees the potential in this partnership?"
Tōga leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "More than that, Naraku. I'd say it's a necessity. Kagome's vision aligns perfectly with where we want to take the Taisho Corporation."
Kagome blinked, pleasantly surprised by the direct praise. "Thank you, Mr. Taisho. That means a lot coming from you."
Sesshoumaru's voice, calm and composed, cut through the room. "And the implementation timeline? You've accounted for all possible delays?"
Kagome smiled confidently, holding his gaze. "Of course. I've included buffer periods to account for regulatory approvals and unforeseen challenges. The detailed breakdown is in the supplementary documents, if you'd like to review them."
The meeting finally wound down, the air lightening as the formalities of the session came to an end. Naraku checked his watch, his usual composed demeanor returning. He stood, offering a nod to Tōga. "I'll be heading home now. Thank you for having us here," he said smoothly, his gaze briefly flickering toward Kagome before he turned to leave.
Kagome, still focused on her phone, looked up as she heard her name. She tucked her phone into her bag with a polite smile. "I'll be heading out soon too," she said, giving a slight nod toward Naraku. "Looks like I'll be taking a detour, Father—Sango had something urgent come up."
Miroku, who had been pretending to scroll through his tablet while listening to the conversation, suddenly looked up with a mischievous gleam in his eyes. He leaned toward Sesshoumaru, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You know, Sesshoumaru," Miroku said, his grin widening, "I think now's your chance. You should give Kagome back her bracelet."
Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression unreadable, though the faintest flicker of hesitation crossed his face as Miroku patted him on the shoulder, urging him on.
Kagome, completely unaware of the whispered exchange, was still absorbed in checking her messages.
The room slowly emptied as Naraku and the others made their way out, leaving only Kagome still preparing to leave. As she turned toward the door, Miroku, with his signature mischievous grin, waved dramatically. "See you later, Kagome!" he called, his voice overly cheery as he zoomed out of the conference room at the speed of light, his footsteps quick and almost cartoonish.
Kagome blinked, momentarily baffled as Miroku disappeared down the hall, his energy already shifting. She raised an eyebrow in confusion, wondering what had just happened.
But before she could ask, she found herself face-to-face with Sesshoumaru, who had stepped closer without her noticing. He held out her silver charm bracelet.
"I found this last night," he said simply, his voice low and steady.
Kagome blinked, her lips parting in surprise as her eyes fell to the bracelet. "Oh!" she breathed, her cheeks flushing faintly. "I've been looking everywhere for this. Where did you find it?"
He watched her intently, his gaze steady but unassuming. "I found it on my sleeve," he said, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
Kagome's blush deepened, a nervous laugh escaping her. "Oh… it does have a way of catching on things. I'm so sorry if it caused you any trouble."
Sesshoumaru inclined his head slightly, his expression as composed as ever. "It was no trouble," he replied, though there was a subtle softness to his tone, as if the words carried more weight than they seemed.
She smiled, her fingers brushing lightly against his as she took the bracelet. The brief contact sent a strange warmth through her, and she quickly slipped the bracelet back onto her wrist, her movements careful. "Thank you," she said again, quieter this time, her gratitude sincere.
Sesshoumaru's golden eyes lingered on her for a moment longer as he turned toward the elevator, motioning for Kagome to join him. They both stepped inside, the doors closing softly behind them. The elevator hummed to life, and for a few seconds, there was only the sound of the soft ding of the floors passing.
But just as the doors were about to open on the next floor, the elevator came to an unexpected halt with a jolt, and a quiet click echoed through the car. The lights flickered, then steadied.
Kagome blinked, startled. "What just happened?"
Sesshoumaru, who had remained eerily calm, pressed the emergency button with a steady hand. "It seems we're stuck," he said, his voice cool as always, though there was a faint edge of irritation in his tone.
Kagome sighed, her shoulders slumping as she leaned against the elevator wall. "Of course, this would happen now," she said with a small laugh, trying to ease the tension in the confined space. "What a way to end a meeting."
Sesshoumaru glanced at her, his expression unreadable, but there was a slight hint of amusement in his eyes. "I suppose we'll just have to wait."
Meanwhile, a few floors up, Miroku was sitting with a guard in the security room, watching the entire building through a series of monitors. Miroku was grinning like a cat that had just caught a mouse. Kohaku, on the other hand, was looking at him through his phone, hunched over his laptop, his fingers flying across the keyboard.
"So, you've actually hacked into the building's systems?" Miroku asked, unable to hide the admiration in his voice. "I didn't know you were this skilled, Kohaku. You could actually get a pretty decent job at Taisho Corp."
Kohaku didn't look up from his screen, his fingers still flying across the keyboard. "I don't want a job right now—this is way more fun. Besides, you're just lucky my school has an extended lunch period. Otherwise, I wouldn't even have time to pull this off."
Miroku leaned forward, intrigued. "So, you've got the elevator system under control?"
"Yep," Kohaku replied, tapping a few final commands. "I've just isolated their elevator. It should stop after the next floor. A little... detour for Sesshoumaru and Kagome."
Miroku's eyes sparkled with mischief. "You're a genius, Kohaku. A true mastermind. Now, it's just a matter of letting them stew in a little forced quality time."
Kohaku rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. "I'm just helping you out. You wanted them alone, right? I'm making it happen. No need to go overboard."
Miroku chuckled. "Oh, I'm not going overboard. I'm just giving the universe a little nudge in the right direction. Trust me, this is perfect for them."
Kohaku smirked but didn't say anything more. Instead, he turned his attention back to the laptop. "Alright," he said with a touch of finality. "I've triggered the system. Now let's add the finishing touch."
Miroku raised an eyebrow. "The finishing touch?" Kohaku grinned mischievously. "You know... a little background music to set the mood. I'm sending a little romantic ambiance through the system."
Miroku's eyes widened. "Romantic music?" He leaned closer to the screen, clearly impressed. "You're going all in. I like it."
Kohaku smirked, tapping a few more keys. "Hey, if we're going to make this happen, it's got to be perfect, right? What's a romantic elevator ride without a little music?" And with that, Miroku and Kohaku sat back, watching the screen.
Kagome sighed, leaning back against the wall of the elevator.
Sesshoumaru's sharp eyes immediately noticed the subtle slump of her shoulders. "You're tired," he said quietly, his gaze scanning her with a touch of concern beneath his usual cool demeanor.
Kagome shook her head quickly, forcing a small smile. "I'm fine, really. I can handle it. I've had long days before," she said, trying to brush it off, but the slight tremor in her voice betrayed her.
Sesshoumaru's gaze softened. "You haven't slept, have you?"
Kagome hesitated, looking away, not wanting to admit how exhausted she truly was. "No... not much. I... I was worried last night," she finally confessed, her voice quieter now, almost as if saying it out loud made it more real. "There was just too much on my mind."
Sesshoumaru didn't say anything at first, but his eyes seemed to soften ever so slightly as he took in her words. "You should have said you needed rest," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, but it carried a sincerity that Kagome hadn't expected.
Kagome looked up at him, meeting his gaze for the first time in a while, her heart suddenly racing. "I didn't want to bother anyone," she said, her tone faltering slightly.
Sesshoumaru's voice remained steady but carried an unmistakable warmth. "You're not a bother," he said simply, his words so sincere that it made her heart skip a beat. "But you do need rest."
For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence between them filled with quiet understanding.
Kagome opened her mouth to say something, the elevator gave a loud ding, and the soft strains of romantic music began to play from the speakers overhead. It was the kind of overly dramatic music one might expect during a slow dance, complete with violins and sweeping piano melodies.
Kagome blinked, her mind completely thrown off by the sudden change. She glanced at Sesshōmaru, who looked just as confused as she felt. "Is this... is this a normal thing for Taisho Corp?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Sesshoumaru furrowed his brow, clearly not understanding either. "No," he replied flatly, his eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to figure out why it was playing. "I don't believe it is."
Kagome let out a small laugh, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten as she shook her head in amusement. "How odd…"
Sesshoumaru nodded in agreement, his eyes still resting on her, a subtle shift in his expression. "You said yesterday it needed to be done last night," he said, his voice lowering slightly, an unreadable emotion in his gaze.
Kagome sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Yes, I submitted it last night. I have no idea what will happen now." She let out a small, exhausted laugh, her words heavy with the uncertainty she was feeling. The anxiety over how it would be received weighed on her.
Sesshoumaru's gaze softened, and he took a step closer to her. "I meant what I said last night," he said, his voice steady but laced with sincerity.
Kagome turned to look at him, her heart unexpectedly pounding as he closed the small distance between them. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, the elevator suddenly lurched, beginning to move again—only to jerk downward with another small thud sending Kagome off balance.
Before she could catch herself, she stumbled forward, her body pitching toward Sesshoumaru. In the split second it took her to react, her head collided with the wall—hard—and then, with a soft thud, she went limp, fainting right into his arms.
Sesshoumaru, instinctively caught her before she could hit the floor. His arms wrapped around her, steadying her. For a moment, he stood frozen, staring down at her unconscious form in his arms.
Kagome's head rested against his chest, her hair softly brushing against his shirt as the romantic music in the background continued to swell dramatically, utterly out of place. Sesshoumaru glanced up, his brow furrowing as the music played on, now completely out of sync with the situation.
A sigh left him, one that almost sounded like a mixture of disbelief and exasperation. "This is ridiculous," he muttered to himself. His fingers gently brushed her hair away from her face as he looked down at her, his face unreadable. "Kagome?"
There was no response—just the soft, steady rise and fall of her chest as she slept soundly against him. Sesshoumaru, still holding her carefully adjusted his hold -his fingers coming into contact with something warm-blood.
Meanwhile, back in the security room, Miroku, Kohaku through his facetime via the cellphone, and the security guard were all glued to the monitors, watching the drama unfold with varying degrees of interest. Miroku, with a broad grin plastered on his face, couldn't help but revel in the chaos of it all. This was perfect—just the kind of situation he'd dreamed of. Sesshoumaru, standing there with Kagome in his arms, seemed like the setup for an epic romantic moment.
But Kohaku, on the other hand, was growing increasingly uncomfortable, his fingers hovering over his laptop as if he could un-hack the situation. He squinted at the screen. "Is she... is she unconscious?" Kohaku asked, eyes wide with disbelief. "Miroku, she just fainted into his arms!"
Miroku paused, his grin faltering slightly as he realized the gravity of the situation. "Oh no… She really hit her head hard on that wall." He squinted at the screen, his hand coming up to rub his chin in a rare moment of concern. "Maybe this was a bit much."
Kohaku's expression softened before his jaw dropped. "Maybe just a little-oh god she's bleeding!"
Miroku gasped, "I didn't realize the real-life consequences to this…. another opportunity to bring them together down the drain."
The security guard, who had been watching the whole fiasco unfold in stunned silence, finally spoke, his voice dripping with disbelief. "You two are crazy... and this isn't even the first time you've done this, is it?" He glanced at the monitors again, then laughed softly. "Sesshoumaru scares me. Let's just hope he doesn't figure out what's going on."
Miroku, eyes still locked on the screen, gave a casual wave of his hand. "Nah, don't worry about him. He looks too panicked to even think about the music, even I am worried actually, I hope she's okay."
The security guard blinked, utterly astonished. "Panicked? Sesshoumaru? The guy whose face doesn't move?"
Miroku nodded with absolute certainty, his grin returning, albeit a little smaller now. "Trust me, I know my cousin. His face may not show it, but he's definitely panicking. The music is the last thing on his mind."
Shippo traced circles in the sand with all the focus of an artist creating a masterpiece, his brow furrowed in intense concentration. Beside him, Kanna swung her legs lazily, humming a soft tune like she didn't have a care in the world.
"Tell your brother to stay away from my sister," Shippo muttered, jabbing his stick into the ground like a knight preparing for battle.
Kanna tilted her head, her serene gaze landing on him with quiet amusement. "He doesn't listen to anyone but himself," she replied, her tone so calm it was almost as if she found the whole idea of Sesshoumaru taking orders funny.
Shippo let out a dramatic huff, his fists balling up as his stick became a makeshift sword. "Well, he's gonna have to listen to me. Kagome's got a protector now, and that's me! I'll keep her safe from that crazy guy at the hospital, your brother, and anyone else who thinks they can mess with her!"
Kanna shrugged, her small shoulders rising and falling like she had no intention of getting involved in this impending showdown. She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I think they were hiding something."
Shippo froze, his stick hovering mid-air. "You said that last night, but I didn't see anything," he replied, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
Kanna's expression remained impassive, but her words carried a quiet gravity. "Sesshoumaru never holds a girl's hand," she said, her tone as steady as ever.
Shippo's eyes widened, his mouth opening and closing like a goldfish gasping for air. Then it hit him. "HE HELD HER HAND?!" he screeched, jumping to his feet so fast he nearly tripped over himself. "That's it! This means war! How dare he—what—ugh!" He stomped in furious little circles, flailing his arms like a windmill. "I'll fight him! I'll fight your whole family if I have to!"
Kanna blinked up at him, her tone utterly unbothered. "You'd lose."
"Doesn't matter!" Shippo shot back, stick raised dramatically. "Kagome's honor is at stake!"
Kanna, sitting calmly beside him, hummed her soft tune for a moment longer before finally speaking. "Shippo."
"What?!" he snapped, his righteous fury still blazing.
"You're supposed to help me practice," Kanna said, her voice as even as ever, though she swung her legs a little to show she wasn't completely immune to his dramatics.
"Practice? Practice what?" Shippo asked, pausing mid-stomp.
Kanna blinked at him like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You said you'd teach me how to ask for more crayons tomorrow without whispering. Remember?"
Shippo's stick dropped slightly. "Oh… right. That's kind of important."
"And I'm helping you remember," Kanna added, watching him closely. "You want to be as smart as kagome right?"
Shippo groaned, plopping onto the sand with a dramatic thud. "Okay, okay, fine.
Kanna handed him a crayon and paper from her little bag. "Start by pretending I'm Mrs. Takeda."
Shippo sighed, clutching the crayon. "Why do I feel like you're the boss of me?"
Kanna gave a tiny smile, her voice quiet but firm. "Because I am."
Inuyasha paced around his messy room, his phone pressed to his ear. Soccer tournament plans were buzzing in his head, and he was in full preparation mode. The clock was ticking—his mother was busy with some legal case in her office, his father was at Taisho Corp, and the maids were scheduled to come clean soon. Everything had to be in order before then.
"Alright, I'm heading out soon," Inuyasha said into the phone, glancing at the pile of clothes on his chair and the soccer ball he hadn't bothered to pick up. "The maids are coming, so it's not like they'll go through my stuff."
Koga's voice came through the phone, skeptical. "Just make sure no one sees you heading to the tournament."
"Don't worry, I got it covered," Inuyasha replied confidently, though his eyes darted to the door. He'd be fine, anyways for the most part his parents believed he was busy helping Kanna around the gardens.
Sota joined in, still sounding unsure. "But are you sure you've got everything in place? What if they find something weird?"
Inuyasha waved it off, already gathering his things to leave. "Yeah, I'll be fine. It's not like I've got anything weird lying around." His room was typically messy—papers everywhere, clothes strewn about, and books scattered across the floor—but he didn't think much of it. "Besides, the maids come and do their thing, and they'll never notice me gone."
Koga wasn't so sure. "Alright, but just be careful. You can't let your parents find out about the tournament. Especially with that stack of papers you've been leaving around."
Inuyasha froze mid-step, a sinking feeling in his stomach. "What papers?"
Koga sighed through the phone. "The soccer league applications? You've left them on your desk for days. You didn't even hide them."
Inuyasha's heart raced as his eyes darted to his messy desk, where the stack of soccer league papers still sat—completely visible in the middle of his clutter. He groaned. "Crap. I forgot about those! I was too busy planning the tournament stuff."
Sota's voice, now full of panic, piped in. "Inuyasha, those are a huge deal! You can't leave them lying around! If your parents-especially your dad finds them, he will flip."
"I'll deal with it later," Inuyasha said quickly, grabbing the papers and shoving them into a drawer, trying to hide them as best as he could. "I don't have time to stress about this. I'll just blame the maids for moving things around."
Koga's voice grew more serious. "Just don't forget, okay?"
Inuyasha shot a quick glance at his messy room. "Yeah, yeah. I got it." He shut the drawer, stood up, and grabbed his bag. "Anyway, I've got to go. The tournament's waiting."
"Good luck, man," Sota said. "And don't screw this up."
"Yeah, I got it. Catch you later." Inuyasha hung up, then rushed out of his room, the nagging feeling about the papers still in the back of his mind.
Inukimi stood in the quiet of Inuyasha's room, tidying up as she often did, but today, her movements were slower, more deliberate. One of the maids had been scheduled to clean the room, but just as she began, the maid hurriedly explained there was an emergency at home and she needed to leave. Inukimi had waved her off with a nod, telling her it was fine—she could handle it herself. She didn't mind the work; it was an unusual kind of quiet solace.
As she moved around the room, she noticed something odd tucked into Inuyasha's drawer: a stack of papers. Curious, she picked them up and saw that they were soccer league applications—dozens of them, all filled out and ready to send. Her eyes softened as she looked over the documents, taking in the determination and effort Inuyasha had put into this. His dream was clear, though not one that aligned with what Toga, had planned for him.
Inukimi folded the papers and gently placed them back where she had found them. The discovery tugged at her heart. She knew that Inuyasha had been studying hard for his schoolwork, but this was different. This wasn't a fleeting interest—it was a dream he was actively working toward, even though it went against everything Toga believed in.
She sighed deeply, standing still for a moment, her thoughts drifting. A memory from her own past surfaced—of a time when she had dreamed of studying law. She had been determined to carve her own path, to make something of herself, but her mother had been adamant. "Your place is with your family, Inukimi. A woman's duty is to support her husband," she had said, pushing her toward the traditional expectations of marriage and society. Her mother's words had been a heavy burden, one she was very lucky she had been able to escape.
Inukimi's fingers lightly brushed the papers on the desk. She could understand exactly what Inuyasha was feeling. The quiet, unspoken frustration of wanting something different, something more, but being tethered by the expectations of those around him. She understood the weight of having a dream dismissed, of being told that what you wanted wasn't realistic. She felt guilty.
She took a slow breath, her resolve solidifying. "Maybe it's time," Inukimi murmured to herself, "to stand up for his dreams. Someone should, even if it means going against what Toga wants."
As she finished tidying up, a thought lingered in her mind. She had the power to help him, to give him the support he needed to follow his heart, even if it meant going against the grain. It was time for Inuyasha to chase his dreams, no matter how far they took him from the path that was expected.
And this time, someone would stand beside him.
Going forward I think the chapters will hopefully have a good flow between each character; let me know if there's something to improve upon -there's definitely alot of details involved with different character's story lines.
-Toast32
