Disclaimer: Don't own Inu-baby or his crowd.
Analyze Me
By: Shinsei Kokoro
Chapter 1
It all began five years ago. Her very own misery.
Five years ago, she had been loved. Five years ago, her family doted upon her like the brightest star in the sky. Five years ago, everything was so much simpler. There had been so much to look forward to. The future. Graduating. Working. Finding yourself in the real world. Finding your true root. Finding your real strengths and weaknesses. So many things.
But today? Today she wouldn't be surprised if her mother still went to sleep every night cursing her daughter to hell and back. Today was her melancholy. Because each night when Kagome Higurashi went to crawl under her covers, she would long for hearing laughter in her house. She would crave of being held against a warm body. She would dream like a silly girl. But in the end, mindless thoughts such as those would never become real.
What was real was the sky outside. The dawn that had broken through.
As each morning, Kagome sat in the depth of her comforter, sipping her coffee and insistently waiting for her alarm to ring.
The answering machine in the corner of the room sat blinking, but Kagome knew it would only be one of her close colleagues wishing her an early happy birthday.
Tossing over onto her side, she pushed away breakfast and stood staring at her reflection in the bathroom mirror.
Maybe it was the yellow light or maybe her sour mood, but as Kagome gazed deeply into her mirror, she quickly opened the taps and washed her face. She looked old. She had only just turned twenty six and she already looked like an old lady.
Smiling bitterly, Kagome snatched away a hand-towel as she flicked off the bathroom lights.
It was such a perfect way to start the first day as an unemployed woman.
"Kagome? You want one too?" Sango Mitsukake glanced back as she ordered lunch from across the counter. Her usual was always large fries, wedges, a muffin and iced tea on the side. How her stomach bode with that unusual appetite, Kagome didn't even want to know.
Idly, she shook her head as she went forward to save a table at the little oriental café. The day had looked pleasant, and sitting up trapped in her apartment had been starting to get murderous. Buyo wouldn't come out from under the bed after having experienced some expired milk. So naturally when her boisterous friend had called her for some lunch, she had taken the opportunity.
She had met Sango by luck really. They had been at the same market arguing over the price increase over the same pineapple. Incidentally, when Kagome had gone back to work the next day, she had found herself face to face with her new clients, Mr. and Mrs. Mitsukake. It was funny how small the world could be when you worked in an insurance agency.
"Snap out of it, will you?" Snapping her head to the seats, Kagome found herself looking blankly at the dazzling face of a broad man. "Happy birthday by the way."
"Miroku!" She laughed suddenly leaping to her feet. Leaning over the table as the pair hugged, Kagome tugged on his hair "When did you get back from Osaka?"
Miroku's eyes twinkled as he sat back, "The second I heard my wife was missing me." Being the director of his private company made Miroku a little busier than Sango expected him to be. Once every six months, he traveled to meet his Board at Osaka.
"Missing you?" came Sango's incredulous voice as she sat down with her tray, "Over my dead body." But even through her glare, she let her husband lean in for a quick kiss.
"Now now Sango," Kagome reached out for a fry, "Be nice. Can't believe you didn't tell me he was back."
"Hey! Don't go taking his side now." Sango threw her a playful frown, "You won't believe this guy. He calls up six thirty in the morning and asks me to come pick him up. Six-thirty!"
"Hmm," Kagome smiled slyly as she paused slightly, "No wonder you sounded a little cranky over the phone."
Rolling her eyes Sango glared back at her husband as he attempted on flinging an arm over her shoulders, "I had to get back to the shop at eight to file in some orders. And when I got back he's still there! His bags still unpacked!"
"Sango, cut him some slack will you?"
"Our friend speaks wise words, my dear," the dark haired man leaned down to nuzzle his wife, but she swiftly pushed him away.
"Don't you 'our friend' me. You're still gonna go home right after this and pack away your clothes from the floor."
"But Sango—," Miroku moaned a little as he pulled her closer, "You know me and laundry just never get along."
"I don't care." Sango's voice was tight-laced, "Those socks and shirts should be in the laundry when I get back home. End of discussion."
Kagome watched the couple with something akin to bliss. Over the years there were some people who had asked if she had ever felt weird and out of place hanging out with a married couple. If she had ever felt awkward being in the way of their kisses. But rather than having been their insurance agent for over a year, she had felt more like a marriage counselor. More than once Sango had locked the poor man out of their home for having eyed another girl. And during those times, Kagome's couch used to end up being his bed.
"Planning for a little party tonight Kag?" Miroku threw a fry at her to get her attention.
Snorting, Kagome threw one back, "Are you crazy? I'm supposed to meet my mother tonight. One sight of me drunk and she'll kick me out of the country," Helplessly, the woman laughed wryly at her joke.
"But it's your birthday! And the weekend! Meet up with her on Monday or something. Tell her you have work to do tonight." Miroku protested.
Silenced spread through Kagome at his words and she looked away in annoyance.
"Miroku." Sango said, "Kagome quit her job yesterday."
The explosion came right away. "She what!" Miroku's exclaim didn't last long before he turned to Kagome, "Is this true?"
"Miroku—," came Sango's warning voice but Kagome cut her off.
"It's okay Sango." She sighed to hold off her silence, then looked at the man opposite her, "As I said, I'm meeting up with mom tonight. She…she called a week ago."
"Really?" Miroku sounded almost skeptical, "And let me guess, you finally agreed to her. Because she said that Higurashi women should never stoop down to working in an insurance agency. Did you finally loose your brain cells and listen to her?"
Kagome stilled as she trained wary eyes on him "Yes." It was unmistaken to notice the flinch in his jaw, "She…I know it's been a long time since we've talked, but Miroku, she's still my mother. And last week…Miroku, you have no idea how I felt when she invited me over. I was so ha—"
"She cut you off from the will Kagome!" the man all but growled.
"She had valid reasons!" Kagome scowled back.
"Reasons like you breaking off your engagement and supposedly bringing this so called shame to your family? Is that the reason you're talking about?" Miroku's voice was sharp, and to Kagome's disappointment Sango didn't interfere this time.
"Yes," she replied softly, "And I don't hold it against her."
"For the love of God," Miroku breathed, "She threw you out of your own house. Your own mother! There's a limit to being nice Kagome. And it stops right here!"
"She's my mother Miroku. And I understand…I understand I disappointed her."
"Actually you know what?" Miroku interjected, his scowling face looking out the window momentarily before looking back at her, "The only person you'll ever disappoint if you go around this way playing nice, is yourself." And his eyes were set hard, "She'll twirl you around your fingers and you won't even realize it. The kinds of mother I know are ready and willing to take any disappointment if it ensures that their daughters are happy! But in your case, she doesn't care! She hasn't seen your face for over a month, and suddenly she calls. It's like…it's like you're leading yourself into disappointment."
"Miroku!" Sango slapped his arm tightly, but Kagome didn't look away. She didn't look away from his face or his glowering eyes. Because she knew he was right.
Five years ago, Kagome had been angry. So angry, she had promised to never to see her mother's face for as long as she was alive. But it was only a matter of few months. In a few months she had ended back at her doorstep. Desperate. So desperate to be back home. To have a proper breakfast with her brother and grandfather. To get back to her old life. To annoy her little brother. To run around the room screaming his girlfriend's name.
But she was a Higurashi. And her mother was a Higurashi. Her mother had been born into unbelievable riches and traditions. She took so much care to keep her social life so perfect and unblemished. She lived on what they wrote about her in papers. She lived on her image.
And one day…one day when she found out that her only daughter had broken her engagement on the day of the marriage. One day when she found out how people were laughing at the Higurashi behind her back. That day, Kagome found herself at the end of the ladder.
She had been twenty one. Just out of university. Marketing had been her passion. She hadn't wanted a husband. She hadn't wanted someone to tie her down. She hadn't wanted to wake up in bed every morning, seeing a stranger lying next to her. She had held it for so long…for so long she had pretended to be in love with this man…but it had fallen apart. It had fallen apart on the very morning of her supposed wedding. And it had been the moment when Kagome had first caught sight of her wedding dress.
Twenty one was too young.
She had her whole life ahead.
So many decisions.
But most importantly, how could she have married a man to whom she felt nothing for. The thought of arranged marriage had disgusted her.
So the day that was supposed to have been the happiest day of her life, had turned out memorable even in the end. The second she had gone crying to her mother. The second her mother had slapped her across the face. The second her mother had said how she had ever deserved a daughter like her. Everything had changed.
Kagome had been asked to leave her own home. Without anything but a bag. The only money she had was from her Trust account and some from her own bank. But she had needed more. She had been supposed to complete another degree to get her full qualifications, and in the end the money hadn't been enough.
There was money needed for apartment rent. Money for food and necessities. Money for petrol. Money for bills. In the end, there seemed to be none left for fees and books. And that day…that day five years back…had been the end.
The end of her childhood.
But one call from her mother was all it took. Just to listen to that voice that reduced her to tears. A year back Tsubaki Higurashi had called, announcing that her daughter drop the disgusting job that a Higurashi would rather die than do. An insurance agent. No Higurashi would turn to something as low as that. One year ago, she had hung up on her own mother, still crying. But after the many more frequent calls, Tsubaki Higurashi had managed to open the walls again.
Kagome had been aching for too long. She couldn't stand this…this hatred. She didn't want to see disgust in her mother's eyes. She didn't want her mother to hide away her brother every time she approached the house.
She wanted her mother back again. To love her again. If anything, Kagome wanted be a six year old again, crawling into her parent's bed due to a bad dream. Where they would hold her close in between them and joke around in hushed voice until she would fall asleep. Where she would dream of bunnies and Barbies.
Kagome didn't feel ashamed when she looked away from Miroku's probing eyes and into her lap. He was right offcourse.
Not one day had passed. Not one…when she regretted the day she had broken the engagement with her fiancé.
"Do you understand Inuyasha? It's our only choice if we want a merger." The voice murmured as ever hair on the back of his neck bristled.
"I said ok!" a fair-haired man exclaimed as he pushed back his chair with a little more force than needed, "Will you just quit bringing this up every time you see me? I'm getting a fucking headache by even—"
"Language Inuyasha." The man behind the desk snapped. "I don't want some woman thinking my son is as foul mouthed as it has been rumored."
"Frankly," Inuyasha gritted through a tight jaw, "I don't give a rat's ass about what this…this Higurashi will think of me. I just want to get this over and done with!"
"You wouldn't want to rush this marriage if I were you boy." Impatience is what you got from Iyazoi.
"And why is that?" Golden eyes glared, as the man on his feet snarled, "It's not as if you haven't already been deciding my fucking life!"
Taisho Yamagi leaned back in his armrest as he leveled his son with a blaze. Insolence unfortunately is a gift that came from me. "Why don't you come back when you're sure your temper won't be getting a rise out of me Inuyasha."
"Gladly!" That was all Inuyasha needed. Whirling around, he didn't look back once as he slammed his way out of the room.
Chuckling to fill in the waking silence, Taisho Yamagi leaned in to press the button to his secretary, "Mako? Put me on line 1 with Mrs. Higurashi will you?"
This boy had always been the clay his wife had left behind for him. While it had taken him years to mold the boy into a man, Taisho knew this would be the last crevice he would ever make on Inuyasha.
"You've got nothing to be worried about Sir," Myouga discreetly scratched his back as he swatted the office plant slightly out of his way.
"The heck I've got nothing to worry about!" Silver locks shifted, as Inuyasha reeled himself around to look out the wide window of his wide office, "This just happens to be my Dad's idea of another sick joke!"
"But Sir, Miss Higurashi is a fine young—,"
"I don't care what she's got on her!" Myouga squeaked in surprise as his master swiveled to meet him, "He's always doing this to me! Last year he got me stuck with some moronic contract! And now some bitch to keep for life!"
Squeaking for a second time as Inuyasha jumped on his feet, Myouga did the lowly servant act he had taught himself over the years, "But Sir, wha—what will you do then?" he bowed so low, he sure his head was touching the floor.
Snorting, Inuyasha pulled himself away from the desk, "What will I do? It's not like I have a choice in this, do I?"
Yes, he had been shown a photo of her. This Higurashi girl. Attractive. Tall. Sharp-looking. The business type.
Yes, he wanted a merger just as bad as the rest of the company. Not only would there be a rising profit, but he would finally get his own building, rather than have to be seeing his entire family flocking around to grate him just for the sake of it.
And who was he to deny anything asked by Taisho Yamagi? No one. Not even Sesshoumaru had received that recommendation yet.
She was nervous.
It would be a killing lie if she were to say so other wise. Kagome was taking the familiar route she had found herself taking many a time. But this time…this time she wouldn't just pass the mansion and its gates. This time she wouldn't just look at the far doors wistfully.
And before she knew it, she was getting out of the car and throwing her keys to the valet who grinned at her. "It's been a while Miss."
"Yes it has Kohaku," she ruffled the young boy's hair a little before pulling herself up the wide stairs of the Higurashi manor.
Twenty three years ago, Kagome could remember her father teaching her to walk these stairs. Fifteen years ago she could remember racing up and down them, chasing her brother. Ten years ago, stumbling down in her first cocktail heels. And now here she was, climbing up these same set of steps…but as a stranger.
Pleasantries had gone for about twenty minutes. Kagome uncrossed her ankles as she set down her second teacup, chewing the insides of her cheeks nervously while her own mother's eyes traveled to the ghastly colour she had painted on her toe nails.
Tsubaki Higurashi had always been the woman to hate murky brown, and Kagome smiled as she watched her try hide that disgust. In the end, the trim woman couldn't pull it off.
"What has been with you and that dreadful colour?"
"It's always been my favorite colour Mom." She managed to mumble through a clogged up throat.
"So it has." Tsubaki mumbled back before beckoning to the maid waiting at the door to clear off the trays.
Kagome watched with fascinated mechanism. If it would have been five years back, she would grabbed the tray back from Harumi the maid, and helped herself to the last of the biscuits before Harumi would have snatched them back.
"Kagome." Hesitation from her mother brought her looking up, eyes wide. It was that tone. That underlying tone that meant pleasantries were over. "It's…" Tsubaki started before shifting over to ease away the folds on her skirt, "It's been a while…since we've talked face to face."
Just like she had been ordered a million times before she had turned ten, Kagome gave the woman in front of her all her rapt attention.
"How…how have you been doing?" The question had thrown her off. Kagome couldn't deny that. But she didn't let herself show the surprise, or the sudden sting in her eyes.
"I've been…well." Kagome cleared her throat, before allowing herself a grim smile, "And as I told you yesterday, I quit my job."
"Good." came Tsubaki's voice almost immediately, "It was about time."
"About time for what?" Kagome could help but blurt, "Mom, I'm not going to beat around the bush. I want you to give me a better reason than those you've given me over the phone."
Tsubaki smirked readily, then laughed softly, "Other than the fact that it's a disgrace for a Higurashi to commune with the lowest working-class?"
"Yes Mom." Kagome sighed, "Other than that?" Offcourse she had known. Offcourse that's all she had been thinking about for most of the past year. Why would her mother, who had cut her out of the will, ever give a damn if she worked in a stuffed office that was slowly dying in debts no one knew about? There had to be something to do. Something that had her mother in such light moods around her.
"I have a preposition to make with you Kagome." Tsubaki paused to see her daughter's eyes narrow slightly, "But I wish to tell you what you'll benefit out of it first."
"Tell me then." Kagome prepared her ears.
"When was the last time you met Kikyo?"
It took a while for the words to register, but Kagome none the less blinked rapidly. Kikyo? The cousin who couldn't stand oysters? The cousin who made her skin crawl with all the hypocritic baloney that flew out of her mouth?
"Uh…" Kagome fingers flew to clasp her elbow, "A few years back. Three…or maybe four?"
"Yes well…I have wonderful news for you Kagome. Kikyo…is getting married."
Kagome couldn't ignore the hardening in her mother's eyes. "W-wonderful." She croaked, suddenly feeling a little hot under the collar. Was this all? Was this why her mother had actually called her for. Just to boast that her aunt's daughter was getting married. The girl who had inherited not only her father's company, but only the company that Kagome had her birth right on.
Squirming like she never had, Kagome quickly averted her gaze.
"Yes," Tsubaki murmured, "Offcourse it is wonderful. And that's where you come in."
"Me?" Kagome looked up confused.
"You see Kagome, we're doing a merger."
"A merger? With who?"
"The Yamagi Corp."
No words came to her as Kagome felt her insides still. The Yamagi? They were most likely Higurashi Limited's only competition.
"You mean…you mean she's marrying—,"
"Yes." Tsubaki leaned back, "She's marrying Inuyasha Yamagi. And he's a fine young man. Just the one like she deserves." Her eyes gleamed, and Kagome suddenly found it hard to look away.
"But through some complications…it has been notified, that although Kikyo holds her position over Higurashi Limited, your father made a rather ridiculous mistake when he wrote his will."
Pa? Goosebumps etched her arms, "What kind of mistake?" Kagome asked carefully.
"It seems that even though Kikyo leads Higurashi, we need a particular signature to sign away your father's share of the company." At the sight of Kagome's still confused face, Tsubaki rolled her eyes, "Your signature Kagome. Even though Higurashi Limited is legally Kikyo's, the signature for the merging papers can only be of yours."
As realization dawned on Kagome, she let out a shudder and limply fell against the couch, "So that means…"
Tsubaki's smile held fierce distaste, "I have a proposal Kagome." It had been a shock really. A shock that her own daughter had somehow had the nerve to embarrass the Higurashi name in public. But Tsubaki forced the memories to stray away. "You sign that, and I'll make sure you get a fine position in this merger company. I promise you that."
Kagome couldn't help it. She couldn't help the tears that rose in her eyes.
Miroku was right. In the end, no matter what…her mother would still end up wounding her around her fingers wouldn't she?
That day, Kagome went back home after her brother Souta had quickly rushed down the stairs to shove a brightly wrapped present into her hand before running back up.
In the end, her mother would always have something to hold against her.
Inuyasha felt like he could wait no longer. His legs were shaking with frustration. And he was ready to ball a fist into his brother's face if he were to look at him down his nose even one more time.
"You're not getting married today Inuyasha. Save your jitters for the occasion." Sesshoumaru smoothly said as he nonchalantly sifted through a few papers.
"Oh yeah. Like the ones you had when you—,"
"Guard that mouth Inuyasha."
"Or you'll do what?"
"I—,"
"Enough!" Taisho barked from the middle of the two men, rubbing his temples in irritation. "Not another word from you two until you're required to speak." His voice was hard and set rigid, so none of the two men dared breathe a word.
Grumbling under his annoyance, Inuyasha tried to find something interesting in the witnesses that sat in the conference room. Obviously he should have made Myouga bring him his coffee earlier that afternoon. Now he would have to wait here all day, waiting for the first few plans to the merger start.
Kagome fidgeted restlessly as she moved around in her seatbelt. She felt uncomfortable in her tan suit. She tried to ignore it. The flutters in her stomach. The stares that came darting from her mother who sat next to her. Unconsciously she started to fiddle with the little turquoise gleaming pendant around her neck from Souta.
It had been three days. Three days since she had been given the offer. Three days of no sleep. Three days of pure agitation. And today, today she was signing her decision. She was signing away the company her father had dreamed of her owning. The company that underneath her blindness could have been no one's if Kagome had decided to take any legal action.
But against her mother? Against her own family?
No. After hours of thinking and ignoring all calls, Kagome knew this was something she had to do. In order to claim back whatever respect she could get. In order to claim back whatever warmth she could get from her mother.
Kagome met her aunt, Kasumi Higurashi just by the desk, engaged in a deep conversation with her husband Hiro Higurashi. The same woman who forever had a face that never got stretch marks. And the same man who she had seen cry only once, and that when his brother had passed away. She watched the two women embrace. She watched as Hiro gave her a curt nod. Somehow in the end, she felt like a spectator. Someone who was watching this from afar.
She knew they were here only on behalf of her. Even though Kikyo would only be arriving from a business trip a week later, they were here. Looking so…proud.
Kagome didn't remember the elevator ride very well. She didn't remember taking in her surroundings. All she remembered were the quick words her mother and their lawyer fed her. What to do. What to say. How to act.
She was the last person from the four Higurashi's to exit the elevator, and the last Higurashi to enter the conference room.
Inuyasha didn't blink as they poured in. And he didn't dare look away as his eyes fell on the last woman with the business suit. She almost looked like a girl.
But it was her. Wasn't it? Kikyo Higurashi? The woman he would soon marry? It was that same hair. That same face.
He stood up as both the men beside him stood up.
Taisho was the first to speak. They were all but incoherent words that he had heard a thousand times. But what he couldn't help but focus on were the shifty dark eyes that were determined to look confident.
His future wife had not once looked him in the eye yet. But then again, it wasn't as if they had been introduced before either.
"And these are my sons. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha. I presume on leaving everything to them after the merger. Because what I need is a long break away from both of them." There was polite laughter, and the girl brought herself to extend a hand.
It took Inuyasha a while to realize that his father was introducing the brothers to this…woman-girl.
"Kagome Higurashi. Pleased to meet you." The words in his head froze the second his father and her shook hands.
K-Kagome? But wasn't…wasn't her name…Kikyo?
She didn't look at him once. Not until she finished shaking her hands with Sesshoumaru. And then she looked at him. Eyes frozen with force. And that smile stretched on her face.
Inuyasha didn't realize how it went by so quick. Her hands were firm in his, but they lacked confidence.
H-how can this be…Kagome…?
He was sure it had been her. Her face had been on the photo Myouga had given him.
"I'm sorry my cousin wasn't able to make it today Mr. Yamagi." She spoke with eyes trained on him, and that's when he realized that she was speaking to him.
"Offcourse." The words left his mouth automatically.
You idiot. Offcourse Kikyo would be her cousin. How could he have missed that? How could he have mistaken the straight-lace face of Kikyo Higurashi in this girl?
"You and your cousin hardly resemble different." Taisho grinned.
"So I've been told." Kagome pushed out a polite reply. A million times by her boyfriends actually.
When both parties sat, the lawyers stood in unison.
Inuyasha watched intently, but only for a few seconds was he distracted by the gaze that came his way from Kagome Higurashi.
Her collar had been getting rather hot. But Kagome didn't shift her eyes off the balding man that represented Yamagi.
Could she do it?
Could she just sign it away?
Her…her inheritance?
Should she have fought for it? Should she have put in a strong word to her mother?
No. No! Offcourse not.
The company wasn't hers legally. Maybe she could have played around with the law, but Kagome couldn't bring herself to defy.
Swallowing hard, she looked away from the man to her left to the man on the right. The Yamagi brothers. How would it be to start working under them? When she got that position, how would it be to work under her own cousin? In a company that rightfully belonged to her…not Kikyo. In a company that her mother tore away from her.
Kagome dug the heels of her shoes deep into the carpet, chewing restlessly on the inside of her cheek.
"Kagome?" a voice next to her prodded her lightly.
"Oh yes." Pinching herself hard, Kagome brought herself to stand up, and walk to the stack of papers the two lawyers had been setting out. She stood with palms pressed on the tinted glass table, and looked hard at the papers that laid there for her to sign.
She never realized they would come to this so soon. She never realized…it would all be too soon.
Picking the pen up, she ran her eyes down forcefully down the paper, and swallowed again. She was sweating.
Kagome bit her lips to look up. Taisho was watching her with an engrossed expression. Like…like as if he could see right through her.
"Kagome?" she could hear her mother's impatient voice from behind, and Kagome realized what she was doing. She was stalling for time. And her family behind her was getting agitated.
So she turned around to find her mother's face. And for a moment, Kagome found herself about to break under the unnerving gaze that she received. Turning around, she pulled the papers to her quickly.
Her fingers were trembling violently. No one but the Yamagis saw. Her eyes were stinging. And Kagome found she was loosing herself to an incoherent hum in her head.
But she didn't wait another second. Pressing the tip of her pen to the paper, she signed away callously. She didn't stop until every paper laid out for her was signed. And when she was done, Kagome dropped the pen and let it roll away.
The room was suddenly cleared with loud applause. But Kagome only straightened herself up and sat back in her seat, eyes fevering on the pile of papers that were getting stapled.
I'm sorry pa.
Kagome had almost tuned herself out of the merry conversation that was taking place around her. "Kagome." The young woman didn't fail to recognize Kasumi Higurashi's soft delicate voice behind her.
Kagome stood up from her chair to once again greet Taisho Yamagi who was with the Higurashi couple.
"It's been a pleasure meeting you Sir." Kagome smiled as they shook hands again. She noticed the slight wrinkles on his face all of a sudden.
"Then you'll surely see me again." He laughed, and Kagome uncertainly laughed with him, "Tomorrow in fact."
Her laughter immediately ceased, "T-tomorrow Sir?"
"Yes. I'm throwing a little something in honor of this merger. And I surely won't allow you to miss it."
Desperately, Kagome turned to Kasumi and Hiro, but they just smiled pleasantly, "Kagome wouldn't miss it." Kasumi's titter was so casual, that Kagome was desperately wishing her mother was with them. Tsubaki surely would have come up with a fine excuse.
"Naturally," Taisho went on unperturbed, "We'll be discussing the position you'll be getting." He paused as Kagome's brows shot up, "I've already discussed it with your mother, don't worry. It's much better than from where you just quit."
And naturally like he said, Kagome reddened at those words. The way he mentioned 'don't worry' was definitely going to make her worry even more.
"And there's a personal favor I want to ask of you Kagome." Taisho's smile grew a little small, "For my son that is."
Kagome pretended to look concerned, "Sure."
Taisho glanced at the two Yamagi boys not too far away, deep in a conversation with Tsubaki Higurashi, "Inuyasha…will need a little help from you."
Narrowing her eyes, Kagome shifted her eyes onto the shorter of the Yamagi brothers, "In concern of?" she prompted the older Yamagi.
Taisho's smile grew even wider, and he shared a scheming glance with Hiro and Kasumi, "Inuyasha's skills at making intimate acquaintances are a little rough. I want you to help him a little. You know Kikyo the best after her parents as Hiro himself tells me. I want you to help things get along a little smoother between them. Introduce them. Get them to meet. Every little detail counts. I don't want them to be complete strangers when they get married."
Kasumi nodded enthusiastically, "We can start off with you introducing him when you two go to pick Kikyo up at the airport. Take him to some of those parties she has. Places where we don't go."
Kagome's eyes were in a flutter, and something in her head rose. Maybe a migraine. "B-but I don't know him. And Kikyo. I haven't talked to her in three years—,"
"It'll still be better off with you helping them, rather than us old people." Hiro smiled at her with sharp eyes. Sharp eyes that she had never liked.
"Will you do it?" Taisho's old eyes held her face, and Kagome felt herself frozen at the headlights like a deer. Taisho Yamagi had always been someone like an idol to her. The best of the best. The deadliest of the deadliest. There wasn't a court case he hadn't won, and if this merger was anything to go by, surely this man had something great planned out in his mind. Surely he was taking the steps to achieve a goal.
Will I?
Should I? How hard can it be playing a matchmaker between a rock and a stick?
"I'll do it." Kagome found herself squeaking, eyes squaring up the rather attractive man by the window. She only smiled politely at the chatter.
Great. This is exactly what I don't need on my head right now.
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AN: Tell me what you guys thought about this first chappy!