Insatiable

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. Rumiko Takahashi does.

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CHAPTER 09: PROFESSIONALLY FIERCE
 
 
“Kagome… relax,” Shiro told her. The presentation day had finally arrived and to her utter displeasure, Shiro had made a last minute change of plans and had given her the task of presenting the design in front of the Takahashi executives.
 
“I am relaxed. See?” she uttered giving him a very uneasy smile. She was an architect, not a speaker.

Sighing, Shiro concentrated on driving. He still had a frown on his face because of their sitting arrangement. He was driving while Shirako and Kagome were at the backseat. He had protested immediately, commenting something about him not their fucking chauffeur. The two younger architects only ignored him. Kagome had been too anxious to even bother listening to Shiro's complaints. As for Shirako, he was too much of a younger brother to even twitch at his older brother's bickering. Besides, he was busy consoling Kagome’s anxiety.

He chuckled massaging Kagome’s shoulders. “Geez, Gome. You are so tense! Loosen up. Don't worry. You've got this one on the bag. You know every corner of the building design by heart since you have designed it yourself. Plus, I’ve heard you speak. You’re quite good. So stop worrying `coz you'll do great and the Takahashis will definitely think so, too.”

Shirako gave her the biggest reassuring smile she had ever seen in her entire life. However, instead of calming her, what he said further unnerved her. That was the thing see. She had been too preoccupied with finishing the design, too pleased she had finished it on time, too bothered by her tangle with a certain Takahashi, and too busy becoming dense that she had not thought that the Takahashi that was their client and Inuyasha Takahashi were the same man.

She sighed. It had been three days since they had that talk in the park. After that, she had made sure to spend most of her free time together with Shun and have a talk with him on the phone. Something Shun took rather surprisingly, yet, gladly as he was going to London for two weeks in a business trip, and he wanted to make up for the lost time in advance. For Kagome, it reassured her and brought back her ‘control’ over the events in her life. The past week had gone too fast even for someone like her who took risks more often than not. What happened with Inuyasha had overtaken her completely, making her lose her bearings. But she was making up for that right now. She had made sure of that.
 
The question now was how they would both interact with one another after all that happened. Should they acknowledge each other at all? Did they have to? Did they have to treat each other as friends? Acquaintances? Would they want to? Better yet, would he want to?
 
Sure, they had played under the rain like children after their awkward confrontation but back then, they had not thought about how they would act around each other in the future, nor they had agreed to be friends and acquaintances. They never did affirm any of that. It was left hanging and unanswered. That was why she was jittery, not so much because of the presentation, but because of the predicament on how she should act in front of Inuyasha. Uncertainties never did calm one's nerves.
 
“Oh, have I told you that the elder brother Takahashi will be there too, Kagome?” Shiro asked stopping at a red light.
 
“Yeah,” she absently answered. There was that thing, too. The thought of facing two Inuyashas made her even more nervous.
 
“Tell me again, brother. Why had the Takahashis moved the presentation to a Wednesday from the original Monday?” Shirako asked. He had stopped massaging Kagome's shoulders because she had scolded him that he was ruining her suit. Now he held a folder in his hands while he scanned its contents.
 
“I've told all of you that the Noburi Group has raised an appeal for the Takahashis to reconsider their bid for the project after knowing that we, a very young company, has gotten it,” Shiro replied as the light turned green.
 
“So, what happened with their appeal?” his younger brother asked and Shiro froze for a moment.
 
“Nothing,” he replied.
 
“Oh… That's good then,” Shirako answered.

Shiro sighed shaking his head. “Honestly, nobody ever listens to what I say during our meetings. Shirako, nothing has happened with their appeal because the Noburi Group will be present during the presentation to counter our proposal,” Shiro explained calmly.
 
“What!” Kagome yelled from the back. “And I didn't know this because?”
 
“You weren't listening. Perhaps, you went temporarily deaf last Monday, Kagome, when I told you about it and gave you the task of presenting the design,” Shiro answered her rather playfully.
 
He was not as worried as the two because before he had joined Design Specifics (DS), he had worked for the Noburi Group and their designs were not as thoroughly done, original and innovative as DS. He was sure they would get the bid. Moreover, Kagome was an excellent speaker as what her co-workers and batch mates from the University had revealed to him so he trusted she would do well. She just needed the right amount of boost – the right way of persuassion. And he knew what could calm Kagome's jittery nerves; he knew their feisty baby girl's palette.
 
“Don't worry, Gome. We'll buy ice cream after this, my treat!” Shiro told her.

She glared at him. “I am not a kid!” Kagome yelled making Shirako chuckle beside her. “But… chocolate brownie overload will be fine,” she finished meekly, opening a file as the brothers burst in laughter.


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“Would you mind telling me why I agreed to let you drive instead of Totosai?” Sesshomaru asked as Inuyasha swerved to the left overtaking a mini-van. He gripped the handle bar and sighed. He was going to die young and sexy with his brother's driving.
 
“Because you don't want to admit that you're a chicken and can't handle my exceptional driving.” That was a clear taunt eventhough Inuyasha appeared disinterested while he kept his eyes on the road.

“Exceptional my ass… suicidal you mean!” Sesshomaru retorted while Inuyasha snorted.
 
“I love my life too much to actually die together with you, Sess. And suicidal is no way to describe my driving. My driving is exceptionally and recklessly safe,” Inuyasha said speeding away at a yellow light, beating the red. He smirked at Sesshomaru.
 
“And you actually want me to commend you for your `awesome' driving when you run a hundred on a yellow light? Inuyasha, yellow in traffic rules means slow down not rev it up, baka,” Sesshomaru reasoned when Inuyasha gave him a card.
 
“What's this?”
 
“Read it,” Inuyasha replied.
 
“If you have a fucking problem about my driving, please call 038-YUR-BAKA, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.” Sesshomaru did not know whether to laugh, or hit his brother in the head. “You actually give this to your passengers?”
 
Inuyasha smirked and said, “Totosai said it was a good idea. I thought so too, so we printed some.”
 
Sesshomaru gaped at him and exclaimed, “Unbelievable! Just fucking unbelievable!”
 
Inuyasha chuckled.
 
“Just don't drive like this with Rin, do you understand me?” Sesshomaru sighed.
 
“Sure, whatever you say Sess,” Inuyasha replied. “So little Rin is really coming home to Japan to study here for good?” he asked seeing the tall building of the Corporation.
 
“Yeah, she'll be arriving this weekend. I've already arranged her admission to the Academy,” Sesshomaru said as Inuyasha stopped the car, got off and locked it. Sesshomaru had already started towards the main entrance when his younger brother had caught up with him.
 
“What did Mom and Dad say? Surely, they're going to miss her if she does come to Japan to study.”
 
“Mom has agreed for her to study here, since it is closer to Hongkong, so I can visit her anytime I want to. As for Dad, he has said that it is good for Rin to finally experience her culture, and that he is confident you'll take good care of your niece. I, on the other hand, am doubtful you'll be a good influence on her. You’ve been wild as a child, Inuyasha,” Sesshomaru replied as the employees said their good mornings to both of them.
 
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. “And you weren't? You were far from an angel when we were growing up, Sess.”

They went inside the elevator. “That's beside the point, Inu. I'm glad Nana Kaede's coming along with her. She has handled both of us well when we're kids and I'm sure, she'll care for Rin perfectly.” Sesshomaru watched the numbers as they moved up. “And Rin has told me, she's bringing along Dash and Chase with her,” he added causing Inuyasha to grin delightedly.
 
“Really! Sweet!” Inuyasha exclaimed excitedly. Dash and Chase were his 2-year-old Siberian Huskies. He just loved the breed, not only because of their appearance but because they were exuberant and utterly loyal.
 
“Myouga's going to get a handful though. Just imagine… 3 dogs in one house… 2 four-legged canines while the other, a 2-legged baka. Now that's a rumble.
Sesshomaru smirked taunting his younger brother.
 
“Haha… Very funny, ass!” Inuyasha replied sarcastically as the elevator opened at the 47th floor. They walked towards Inuyasha's office with Inuyasha leading the way and Sesshomaru following just half a step behind him. However, the older Takahashi brother would soon find out that walking behind Inuyasha was a very bad idea when he roughly crashed into his back. Inuyasha had unexpectedly stopped walking.
 
“Watch where you're going, Inuyasha,” Sesshomaru complained turning to glare at his brother. Inuyasha, however, was not paying attention to him as he was gaping at somebody who was currently talking to his secretary.
 
“Hey, baka, what the fuck is wrong with you?” Sesshomaru was slowly losing his patience.

“What's she doing here?” Inuyasha whispered to himself, ignoring a puzzled Sesshomaru beside him as they continued to walk.
 
“Who?” his older brother asked.
 
“Kagome.”
 
“What?” Sesshomaru exclaimed and looked around. “Where? I don't see anybody. Why is she here?”
 
“That's what I'm asking too, Sess,” Inuyasha replied as he went inside his office with Sesshomaru following closely behind. The door opened once again when Mako, his secretary, walked in carrying a foot tall of files.

She bowed at them. “Good morning, Takahashi-san, Takahashi-san.”
 
“Good morning, Mako-san,” the brothers both greeted warmly.
 
“Mr. Shiro Matsuda, Shirako Matsuda and Kagome Higurashi from Design Specifics are already here, so are the people from the Noburi Group, sir. They are already inside the conference room. This is the itinerary for this morning's presentation including the names of the representatives from the two construction companies. And as requested, both of your afternoons for today are free.” She gave each of them a folder before excusing herself from the room.
 
“Thank you, Mako-san,” Inuyasha replied reading their itinerary for the morning, and confirmed what he had just seen from the hallway. It was indeed Kagome that he saw. 

“Inuyasha, do you know that Kagome Higurashi is the head architect for this project?” Sesshomaru had that grin on his face – the grin that always made Inuyasha cringe. He continued to read the schedule, all the while stealing glimpses at Inuyasha sitting with his hands on top of his desk. Inuyasha's face was scrunched as he stared calculatingly at the folder and then at Sesshomaru.
 
I guess that is a no. Sesshomaru thought.
 
5 minutes later…
 
“Will you stop pacing? You're making me dizzy, Inuyasha,” Sesshomaru laughingly told his younger brother who was pacing back and forth inside his office. He considered it bizarre and so much amusing to see Inuyasha in this state of bewilderment.
 
“Your carpet's ruined,” he added jokingly and Inuyasha glared at him.
 
“I'm stupid,” Inuyasha said.
 
“Oh… you mean you've just realized that now? You personally handpick the design for the project last week, yet you haven't bothered knowing who made it.” Sesshomaru chuckled playfully, which further ticked off Inuyasha as he paced some more.
 
“Feh!” he scoffed.
 
Sesshomaru was laughing now as he shook his head. “If the boys are here, you're toast. Just look at you. You're a nervous wreck. You have just realized that the woman of your dreams, unluckily someone who is off limits and who happens to be Shun's fiancée is the architect of your first high-rise project as the new CEO of this Corporation… and you’re completely losing it.”
 
“That’s not final yet, Sess,” Inuyasha uttered. He did not expect this complication. He had been confident that he was on his way to forgetting about the tempting Kagome because he would not be dealing with her every day. But this happening changed everthing.
 
“I know,” Sesshomaru answered. Then with a confident look, he uttered, “But she will be, since from my professional opinion, the Noburi Group's proposal is inapt. I really have no idea why they bother to make an appeal for the bid.”
 
“Euda,” Inuyasha simply answered, finally sitting down.
 
“Oh… you mean the man-shrew who happens to be the CEO of this corporation before you have arrived? And who happen to have resigned on the spot of your appointment?”
 
“Yeah… The same old-weasel who happens to have some nasty crap shoved up his fucking ass. Mako has told me his son is an architect for the Noburi. He is pulling all the works for them to get the project, including questioning my decision and professional opinion when I have chosen Kagome's design. I swear the damn man is so full of himself. We have agreed for them to make the appeal as courtesy of him being a former CEO.”
 
“I bet he'll make a big fuss in the presentation today. I dread for your dream girl though,” Sesshomaru stressed.
 
“I dare him to try or I’ll – “
 
“Or you'll do what, Inuyasha?” Sesshomaru asked raising an amused brow. His younger brother was being protective. “Don't make a fool of yourself in the presentation okay, or else Euda is going to have a field-day for riling you up. And besides, you don't want to raise speculations that you have been partial while choosing Kagome's design, do you?” he added standing up and walking out of Inuyasha's office after reading the time.
 
The oak doors of the conference room burst open as Inuyasha and Sesshomaru went inside, catching the attention of the executive board and the representatives from the two construction companies, who stood up to greet the two brothers. Kagome watched the brothers walked in exuding with confidence, commanding respect from the people around them. She had always seen Inuyasha as an esteemed person, but she had never seen this level of authoritative aura coming from him. It somehow intimidated her. And it somehow stirred the woman inside her. She glared daggers at the middle-aged woman sitting across her as she was fanning herself as she ogled Inuyasha. She caught herself. God, what was she doing and why was she feeling possessive over him? He was nothing to her. But God, did he look hot. They were both really hot.

She heard him clear his throat.
 
“Good morning, everyone. First, let me welcome the representatives from Design Specifics and the Noburi Group. Thank you all for coming,” Inuyasha began glancing at Kagome before turning his gaze to the other occupants in the room.
 
“As you all know, the presentation this morning will be crucial to the new project this corporation has planned to have as we will be finally deciding which company will get the bid. Moreover, Sesshomaru Takahashi has been kind enough to leave our Hongkong branch temporarily to assist us with our decision-making. Well then… we have a long morning ahead of us. So let's begin,” he finished impassively, sitting down as he opened the file before him. Beside him, Sesshomaru put his stoic and strict appearance making Kagome even more anxious.
 
“Miss Higurashi?” Inuyasha called, instantly startling Kagome.
 
She stared at him.
 
“May we have the presentation of your company's building design?” he asked with that same impassive tone, but his amber eyes smiled warmly at her.
 
“Yes,” Kagome drawled out her response and grew a bit more confident when she saw his lips slightly curled up to smile. She returned it and smiled as well as she stood in front. The interaction went unnoticed by the people inside the conference room except for one, Sesshomaru, who inwardly smiled as he took one brief look at Inuyasha.
 
Kagome looked at Shiro who was smiling reassuringly at her and Shirako who was giving her a thumbs-up. She took a deep breath. “Good morning everyone, this is what we in Design Specifics have envisioned for `Masayume.'” She started clicking the LCD remote for the slideshow, and the computer generated image of their building appeared on screen.
 
Masayume meant `dream that comes true.' This project was originally Izayoi's idea before she and Inutaisho went to Chicago. Before she became Mrs. Takahashi, Izayoi was a child psychologist and had worked and volunteered for various charity works all throughout Asia and Africa. Her vision was to have a building complex that was inclined to educating and entertaining the youth. Of course, her idea had been vague before but Inuyasha had been very interested with it from the very beginning and had gotten the go signal from his father to pursue such a project. However, they had to make some changes with it. They could not just build a complex that would only cater to the youth. They needed a project that they could profit from and would simultaneously achieve his mother's dream.
 
Design Specifics, Kagome's company proposed a multifunctional complex with a mall complete with an ice skating rink, bowling and other sports' corners, space and art museums. It included a 25-storey hotel space, 15 storeys of office spaces, and finally an indoor park. On the other hand, the Noburi Group proposed less with a notably extravagant expense cost, which was why Inuyasha frowned upon it. However, the sneaky Euda bastard pulled some ropes and got an appeal for his son's company. Inuyasha gripped his pen when the thought drifted in his thoughts. He was sure the old vindictive fool would make a scene, and he swore to burn his ass if he ever make one while Kagome’s presenting.

Kagome was already in the middle of her presentation when she heard someone snort. Turning her head, she caught a bald old man smirking at her with a raised brow as the person beside him controlled his laughter. She took a deep breath to compose herself. She could not afford to lose her concentration now. She continued to discuss the details of the design when she heard a snort again. She stopped a bit to glare at the two culprits.
 
“Mr. Euda, do you have anything to say?” Inuyasha asked sternly, giving the old man a hard look. “If you have something to say, please say it now. You're literally a howling monkey in this room with your snorting and you're disturbing Miss Higurashi.”
 
Kagome gave him a thankful nod even though Inuyasha did not dare look at her.
 
Kato Euda returned Inuyasha's hard look with his own. He had been the CEO of the corporation after Mr. Koshino retired 2 years ago. Mr. Koshino succeeded Inutaisho Takahashi when he had gone to Chicago to expand the business. He had pulled all the strings for him to get the top job only to be replaced with a young, pompous, know-it-all newbie who only had less than 5 years of corporate experience and who only depended on his father's influence to get the position. He could not stand being a subordinate of a twenty six year-old, so he resigned right away. This was what Euda think of the Takahashi sons - spoiled rich brats. However, he had thought Sesshomaru was less of a brat than the other brother, since he had never overtaken him in some important positions. Inuyasha, on the other hand, was a totally different story. He despised the younger Takahashi.
 
“Yes, I have something to say!” Euda said challenging Inuyasha's glare.
 
“Why should I listen to this ludicrous presentation?” he started waving his hand towards Kagome. “She is a girl for crying out loud! I will not listen to a girl talk about building designs and as such with engineering. It is not a woman's field!”
 
“Mr. Euda, please refrain from uttering sexist comments,” Inuyasha reprimanded him.

Nevertheless, he ranted on. “I`ve been the CEO of this corporation before you have arrived. My word is important. If I am still the CEO today, I will have chosen the Noburi Group since we have had a working relationship with them before! I am appalled that you have chosen a very young company who has only handled renovations and low-rise building designs. They are not even experienced, and their designs are mediocre compared to the Noburi Group.” He was now standing up. His son who sat beside him leered at Kagome. She glared at him. She knew the cocky bastard. He was Kiyuta Euda, her sempai in the University who happened to have cheated his way to graduation.
 
“Mr. Euda, you have to calm down,” Inuyasha said firmly. He was controlling himself not to jump and just clobber the shit out of the old man because that would be stooping to his level. Sesshomaru, on the other hand, had lost his stoic expression and now looked stern.
 
“I don't need to calm down, boy! And I don't need to listen to what you have to say,” Euda yelled at Inuyasha, pointing a rude finger at him. “And neither do I have to listen to this girl talk! How can you choose a profit-wise project when this girl has designed a building with an indoor park? That is absurd! What does an indoor park have to do with profit! Clearly it says so much of how ignorant this girl is in the field she is in!” he shouted, still glaring at Inuyasha who had stood up.

Euda was about to continue when Kagome banged the LCD remote over the tabletop. She was livid.
 
“I dare you to say that again, Sir,” Kagome hissed giving him a hard look. This old man needed discipline. As old as he was, he just needed to be.
 
“I suggest you sit down, Higurashi,” Kiyuta spat at her acting as if he owned the building.
 
“Shut the hell up, Euda before I get a hold on a pencil and finish what I have started years ago. Now you don't want that, do you?” The threat was evident and Kiyuta cringed, sitting down while the others obliviously listened to her.
 
“Fuck you! You insolent little girl,” Mr. Euda cursed once he had recovered from the shock of being reprimanded by some woman. “I would –”
 
“I suggest you shut up, sir. Your ramblings and insults are mere nuisance to this meeting. Now… sit down and listen. You are pompous, rude, a sexist weasel and dare I say the most unattractive and rotten man I have unluckily met. Do not expect me to be intimidated by the likes of you because you don't. Rather, you infuriate me. I refuse to just stand here, and listen to you belittle my work just because I’m a woman. If you utter another sexist comment again, I will not hesitate to show you what A GIRL is capable of doing to someone who has rotten balls like you. Just ask your son what it's like; I assure you he can give you a blow by blow account.” She was livid bit she appeared calm on the outside. If people had not paid attention, they would have missed the warning she had issued. Needless to say, everyone got her message and each reacted very differently to it.
 
Shirako and Shiro beamed at her, their hearts swelling with pride for their baby girl. The woman who had ogled Inuyasha a while ago grinned triumphantly; she had always hated Euda's all high and mighty ego. It was a treat to watch his ego crash and burn. The Euda father and son were downright furious, while it was shock and awe for the other occupants in the room.
 
Sesshomaru was utterly impressed, and by now, he had an idea why Inuyasha was so attracted to Kagome. She was undeniably beautiful, well accomplished and wickedly brilliant; and she was well aware of it with such sexy feistiness, it was delightfully alluring to see. She had taken breaths away with a mere witty and angry display. How much more with her touch or her love? He turned to look at his brother.
 
Like a rabid baka on spring. Sesshomaru thought chuckling to himself. Inuyasha had this really hungry look; a look he had only seen on Wildlife TV when the hunter met the hunted. However, this one was a totally different craving of the flesh – this one was carnal.
 
“Moreover, if you have objections to our design, say so after I've finished with the presentation. You may have the floor all to yourself and I assure you, we will listen to your gibberish talk. Will that be all right, Takahashi-san?” Kagome said and shifted her gaze to meet Inuyasha's, who immediately masked his expression with an impassive, yet angry look.
 
“Yes that will be fine, Ms. Higurashi. Although, as much as this corporation values equality and transparency, we equally discourage discriminating and terrorizing our employees within work premises,” Inuyasha uttered firmly as he met her unwavering gaze.
 
“Then that's too bad sir, since I am not your employee as is Mr. Euda.” Was that a smirk on her face? “And I am not terrorizing anyone. I am merely informing Mr. Euda of my other capabilities, Takahashi-san.”
 
Their gazes continued to challenge each other, melting their surroundings until only they were the only ones remaining inside the room. He loved challenging her, as she did him and it thrilled them both that they both shivered.
 
“Shall we proceed?” Sesshomaru interrupted their staring contest. Of course, he had felt the tension between the two. It was electric – ionizing the air around them. “As you were saying Miss Higurashi, before you were rudely interrupted the first time.”
 
It went like a breeze after that, as Kagome proceeded to conclude her presentation. Eventually, the Euda father and son had the chance to speak; but just what Kagome had previously said, it was mostly gibberish talk. And the experience further annoyed Inuyasha and Sesshomaru to no end.
 
“Nice catch Yash,” Sesshomaru said. He was checking Kagome out as he grinned deviously. Kagome was busy talking with Shiro and Shirako at the opposite side of the room. They had already wrapped up and were just cleaning up their files.
 
“Hmmmm,” Sesshomaru hummed approvingly.
 
“What do you mean `nice catch'? I have told you, I'm staying clear of her,” Inuyasha told him.
 
“Yeah right. Like I'd believe that when all you did almost all morning was eye-fuck her,” Sesshomaru retorted.
 
“Well you believed wrong Sess, and you might have to call your shrink because you were seeing things,” Inuyasha spat back but he kept stealing glances at Kagome. Damn, she had looked so hot a while ago with her feisty self.
 
“I will not dare argue with you on this one, Inu, because I know I’ve already won. And just like I've said before… Nice catch,” Sesshomaru said smugly as he continued checking Kagome out. One thing Inuyasha did not overlook.
 
“I caught nothing, Sess! And would you stop checking her out!” Inuyasha scolded; his voice a whispered hiss.
 
Sesshomaru smirked meeting Inuyasha’s glare. “Already so jealous? Tsk… Tsk… You've got it bad little brother.”
 
“I've told you I'm staying clear of her. She is off limits. She's Shun's fiancée,” Inuyasha replied disdainfully, saying all those words tasted bitter in his mouth.
 
“No she's not.” Sesshomaru had that know-it-all tone in his voice.
 
“Have you lost your scruples? Of course, she is. Haven't you seen the ring on her finger?” Inuyasha whispered incredulously.
 
“No, Inuyasha, I have not lost my `scruples' at all. And yes, I do see the ring on her finger. But no, I am not convinced she's Shun's woman,” Sesshomaru uttered calmly.
 
Inuyasha frowned at him. He was about to retort but Sesshomaru smugly interrupted him. “If you want to ask if I'm positive, yes I am,” Sesshomaru told him. Inuyasha made a move to reply but was denied. “And if you are about to say that I'm crazy… Don't, because I’m not.”
 
This fully annoyed Inuyasha and he growled at his brother's display of inquisitiveness. Was he that transparent when it came to Kagome that Sesshomaru could read him like an open book?
 
“How would I know?” Sesshomaru continued knowingly. “You mean, you hadn't noticed?”
 
Inuyasha released a frustrated breath. Sesshomaru's mind games were a thing of the devil. What had he not noticed anyway? He waited for his older brother to speak but Sesshomaru only stared at him and waited for his reply.
 
“Oh… So now, you want me to say something. Honestly Sess! You sadistic bastard who loves torturing me with your mind games!” Inuyasha murmured angrily making Sesshomaru chuckle.
 
“I'll accept that as compliment. And just to prove to you I am no sadistic bastard, I'm giving you a treat,” he said warmly as Inuyasha stared at him skeptically.
 
Pivoting his foot, Sesshomaru briskly walked towards Kagome and asked her for…
 
“Lunch?”
 
“Yes.” Sesshomaru smiled charmingly at her. He turned to look at Shiro and Shirako. “Your friends can come, too.”
 
“It is a great pleasure, Takahashi-san, but Shirako and I have an urgent appointment with another client early this afternoon. It is a 2-hour drive so we cannot spare even a minute. But thank you for the invitation though… maybe next time,” Shiro politely declined the offer.
 
“But Kagome's free though. She has made sure of that when she has gotten the task of presenting the design this morning,” Shirako added.
 
Sesshomaru beamed. “Well, Miss Higurashi, I insist then,” he said as the Matsuda brothers exited the conference room.
 
She simply nodded. It would be rude to decline his invitation. Secondly, she was famished. She glanced at Inuyasha who was staring at their direction and immediately turned her face away when his gaze met hers accidentally.
 
Maybe this was a bad idea. She thought.
 
Inuyasha wondered what his brother was up to when he had approached Kagome. Sesshomaru was the kind of person who calculated his actions. He would not do a thing if he had not thought about the consequences resulting from that act. He was a strategist and he worked in carefully laid moves, thus making him a force that could not be trifled with whether in business or just crap – especially craps involving Inuyasha. This was where Sesshomaru's devious side would surface. Ever since they were kids, Sesshomaru had the knack of twisting just a bit of Inuyasha's psyche just for the fun and thrill of it.
 
According to Sesshomaru, Inuyasha's psyche was too amusing and too unpredictable; it was equally challenging and entertaining to see. It seemed that his older brother had called him crazy back then. Nevertheless, he had to agree with Sesshomaru because sometimes he could not fathom some of his actions. Furthermore, to Inuyasha's utter annoyance, he still was not immune to this undoubtedly bizarre but exasperating hobby of his older brother.
 
And he called himself not a sadistic bastard. He thought snorting as he watched the Matsuda brothers exit the conference room. He turned to watch his brother with Kagome and immediately felt something stir in the pit of his stomach. He groaned. He was jealous. Why the hell was he jealous? He shifted his gaze to stare at her and their gazes accidentally met. She quickly turned her head away. But before she excited the room, she smiled at him. Inuyasha nodded at her and watched her leave.
 
“What did you tell her?” Inuyasha demandingly asked as soon as his brother stood before him.
 
Chuckling, Sesshomaru replied, “Just shut up and thank me.” He clutched the doorknob.
 
“Thank you for what? You have not done anything except drown me with your mind games. And you haven't even answered why you think she's not Shun's fiancée when it is obvious she is,” Inuyasha said.
 
“Because she isn't. Because she's too much for him.” Sesshomaru paused for a while as he watched his younger brother's reaction. What he saw made him smirk knowingly at Inuyasha. “You have hoped, haven't you? Just looking at you right now… I know you have perceived that fact already.”
 
“That's totally debatable Sess,” Inuyasha evaded.
 
“Suit yourself, Inu. And you have much time to think about it later, because I've just invited your dream girl for lunch,” Sesshomaru told him. Inuyasha just grunted and walked passed him through the slightly opened conference doors. Shaking his head, Sesshomaru followed him.
 
 
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Amor, si me llamas amore,
si me dejas amarte mi piel
yo te voy a adorar.
 
The restaurant's Mariachi ensemble sang, their voices blending with each other as they crooned the words of the Mariachi Serenade. Inuyasha groaned in his seat, as the woman sitting across him drank her glass of water and meekly smiled at him. They had decided to eat at a Mexican restaurant. Coincidentally, they were the 1000th “couple” who had come to dine in so they were given a special treat, which was being serenaded all throughout their meal.
 
How they were thought of as a couple when there were supposed to be three of them over lunch was easy to answer. Sesshomaru… uhmm, scratch that… the sadistic bastard who had invited Kagome for lunch decided not to come at all.
 
“Thank you so much for lunch,” Kagome said as Inuyasha led her out to the door.
 
Inuyasha smiled at her. “You really mean that do you?”
 
“Of course! The place is great, and the food is delicious. I haven't had Mexican food in a while. Moreover, the music is… is enchanting. Do not worry about Sesshomaru's trouble. I am sure he has a valid reason why he has not come even if it's his idea to have lunch. I have had a great time and it is good to know that I finally have used the Spanish course I've had. It's reassuring that I haven't taken Spanish just to prove to my younger brother Souta that my brain can take in the language and that I can actually speak and understand it.”
 
Okay, why was she ranting on unnecessary things like that? He had only asked whether she had a great time and she had responded like a sugar-frenzied toddler.
 
Inuyasha chuckled as they approached the parking lot when an ice cream truck passed by, stopping at the playground just across them. The children rushed to the truck immediately and bought their favorite flavors. Both of them watched as the kids happily ate their ice creams.
 
“Kagome?”
 
“Yeah...”
 
“Have you had enough dessert?” he said glancing at her.
 
“No.” She beamed shaking her head as she followed him to the playground where they bought their ice creams. She had chocolate brownie overload while he had plain chocolate. They settled themselves on the swings under the shade of an enormous maple tree eating their respective share.
 
“Sorry about what happened during the presentation,” Inuyasha said swinging back and forth.
 
“Don't worry about that.” She sighed. “This morning's experience has been gleefully chaotic and surprisingly refreshing for me. Besides, it has been long since I have engaged myself in a spontaneous debate anyway. But you've got to admit it, the grumpy old man needs some serious lashing and his son is a dumb, spoiled and cocky dick that needs to be castrated to his place.” She giggled making Inuyasha turn his head to look at her. He stopped swinging.
 
“What's so funny?” Inuyasha asked with a quizzical smile. Did it have something to do with the comment she had made during the morning's presentation that had Kiyuta Euda cringing in his seat?
 
“Hmmm. Nothing really.”
 
“Oh, come on. No fair!” he exclaimed gobbling his chocolate ice cream, his curiosity spiraling.
 
“What is so unfair about not telling you?” she challengingly told him, facing him with a devious smirk.
 
“I treated you… Chocolate brownie overload!” Grasping her hand, he waved her ice cream in front of her face. She had slightly jolted when their hands had touched, yet, she ignored the feeling and smirked some more.
 
“Okay… another spoiled brat who doesn't want `no' for an answer.” Kagome relented taking another lick of her ice cream. “I dated Kiyuta once during University,” she said.
 
Inuyasha gawked at her, but after the initial shock was over, he frowned disapprovingly – then angrily.
 
“What?” She raised a brow at his frown.
 
“You dated him!” Inuyasha shouted.
 
“What's wrong with that?” she asked.
 
“He's a JERK!” he shouted glaring at her; but she ignored his outburst.
 
“Duh. Like I don't know that!” She was sarcastic.
 
He ignored the sarcasm and continued to stare at her. “Tell me.”

Knowing he would not take no for an answer, Kagome gave in. “I went out on a date with him once during freshman year. He tried slipping sleeping pills in my drink in an attempt to sleep with me. But he did not know that it usually took 2-3 pills to knock me out. So before he got to the gross part I chucked a pencil straight to his balls and made instant shish kebab out of it.” Now that was some jaw-dropping statement and Inuyasha's jaw did drop.
 
“So basically, he is terrified of me and he is super sensitive about his manliness, since he is one ball less,” she drawled out the last three words, slowly finishing her cone of chocolate brownie overload, all the while watching the gawked expression of Inuyasha.
 
“Scared you, didn't I?” Kagome smirked.
 
“You were joking!” Inuyasha hollered.
 
“No, I wasn't. I did stab his gonads. We even went to the disciplinary board but I got witnesses that he almost raped me so I got off the hook for self-defense. They had advised me to take counseling. I took it, but mostly because our counselor had this really amazing chair. I suggested that Kiyuta should take the counseling though, since he got more issues than I did. And he had gotten some new problems with his self-esteem because of his new condition… thanks to me,” she said flatly.

Inuyasha did not know if he would beam at her with pride or hug her.
 
“Great girl,” he uttered while their gazes locked. Something flashed in his eyes and he quickly stood up.
 
“Inuyasha?”

God, he was shaking. What the fuck was wrong with him?

“Hey, what’s wrong?” He heard her say.

“You have me scared shitless for you. God, Kagome, I am torn between taking off, hunt Kiyuta and murder him. Or maybe chuck another pencil to his remaining nut for what he has almost done to you.” His heart was pounding in his chest in fear of what could have happened to her had she not realized what Kiyuta had planned doing to her. If Kiyuta was less stupid to have put three pills into her drink, would she be the same Kagome smiling at him right now?

“It’s in the past, Inuyasha,” she reassured him.

He knew what she was saying was true because he could not see even a shadow of the horrible incident in her eyes. Instead, what was before him was a strong and spirited woman.

He did not know what made him do it, but he hugged her. “I wasn’t there to stop him from doing that to you.” Her words had not reassured him, but this did. Feeling her in his arms did. “But you’re here with me, and you’re okay, right?”

She nodded in his embrace.

And she was here smiling at him.

Kagome kept silent, as she let him hug her. Why was it that there were butterflies in her stomach? She had not expected their meeting to be like this. She had anticipated that it would be more awkward. Nevertheless, she was very thankful that it wasn't; that they had spent their time as friends. Maybe that was what she had pictured them both from the very beginning. Before he had arrived from overseas, his friends had only fun and good things to say about him. All of them had been so ecstatic that he was coming home to Japan and somehow she had waited for his arrival as well. She had been intrigued what he was like. Now that she had the chance to know him and made friends with him, she was glad.
 
What she did not know was that deep down in her subconscious-self, she still felt that friendship wasn't enough, that she needed more, and that Inuyasha was thinking of the exact same thing.


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R & R!