Caught Up

Chapter 5. Morning After


When Sango followed her routine visits to Kagome in the morning with a bag of bagels in her hands, it was to find her at the dining table, eating a plate of eggs and bacons enthusiastically while none other than Sesshoumaru watched her. Sango was sure her jaw must have hit the floor. She was too stunned to speak for several moments, and when she did, she sputtered.

“Kagome-chan, I, huh? Since when? I mean, you, wait, Sesshoumaru-sama? Huh? Oh, Ohayo! But, I thought, huh?”
”Ohayo Sango! Come sit down” Kagome patted the seat next to her. Sango put down her bagels weakly and stared at Kagome with her eyes as big as the bread.
”I guess you’re feeling better?” she pushed her paper bag towards her
”Yup. Thanks for everything, Sango-chan” she expressed her gratitude as she dove for the bag and pulled out a toasted raison one and a little package of cream cheese. “Want a plate?”
”I- I already ate”
”Fine. Would you like one, Sesshoumaru?” Kagome waved the bag at him
Sesshoumaru wrinkled his nose “I do not eat human food” (Oh, the all time famous line!)
”Really? What do you eat?”
He smirked “You don’t want to know”
”Try me”
”Raw meat”
”Ew, gross!”
”Yes, I especially like it when it is fresh, and the juicy blood is running down my chin and I can savor its-”
”I get it!” Kagome shuddered and faced the opening of the bagel bag towards him. “I think I prefer cooked food. Come on, try one” she said as she waved her hand so the smell of the fresh bread would whiff towards his sensitive nose.

Sesshoumaru completely ignored it and turned to Sango, who had been staring between him and Kagome for the past minute.
”Where were you last night, Sango Taiji?”
She jerked back to reality and looked down at her knees in apology as Kagome happily spread the cream cheese. “I’m sorry, Sesshoumaru-sama, it was my brother again. He…”
”What’s the matter?” Kagome said worriedly “Is he sick?”
Sango smiled “I guess you can say that. Sir, Naraku-“
”We will talk of this later” Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes in warning

Kagome looked between the two, confused, as Sesshoumaru said “Come see me in my office”
Sango nodded “Enjoy the rest of your breakfast, Kagome”
She beamed and waved cheerfully at his retreating back. “Thanks again, Sesshoumaru!”
He turned around “Don’t stuff yourself like a pig, you’ll get sick”
”Hehe, well I actually already kind of did last night…”
”I know”
”Nani? How?”
”The stench coming from your bathroom is… intoxicating”
Kagome blushed a deep red but didn’t have time to think of what to say, as he left the room in long, easy strides. ‘I really hope he’s just joking…’

When the door closed behind Sesshoumaru Sango looked back at her friend and immediately saw the change in her features. Her face fell in to a blank, pained sort of a look; her eyes lost their usual twinkling glow, making it look like dark caverns; the corners of her lip sagged down; her hands slightly shook; and when she tried to smile it looked awkward and an eye twitched.

Kagome got up to tidy up the kitchen, and Sango volunteered to help. Moments later, when they were doing dishes together, she carefully glanced at the younger girl next to her. She looked deep in thought.
”Kagome, if you don’t mind me asking, how to you know Sesshoumaru-sama?”
She looked curious. “When I first came, he brought me here and said this was where he lived. I assumed it was an apartment at first, but may be he works here too. Or I thought he was just rich or something. Why do you keep calling him –sama?”

Sango looked at her incredulously “Mou, Kagome-chan! Haven’t you stepped out of this room? You mean you don’t know?”
”Know what?”
”Mr. Sesshoumaru Tashio is the owner of Tashio Corportation himself! Not to mention co-founder, director, president, CEO…”
”WHAT? Sesshoumaru Tashio? The Tashio? Sango, you mean I’m in the company? Oh, why didn’t you tell me sooner? I must have looked like an idiot!”
”Jeez, Kagome. How many other Sesshoumaru is there?”
Kagome turned red and covered her cheeks with her hands. She was beginning to sweat. ”Well, I guess I never really realized he’d be a youkai, and he looks so young! I mean, he looks no more than 27 or something… Oh no! How am I going to face him again?”

By this time Sango was laughing her head off at how embarrassed Kagome looked.

Several Hours Later

“Miss Taiji, I asked you to be on alert for a call from Kagome last night, as I knew she would try to reach you”
”Sir? Excuse me, but why, all of a sudden…”
”That is none of your concern. Where were you?”
Sango sighed “Naraku tried to use Kohaku again. I heard it from Miroku, and we left to go see if we could find either of them”
”Did you?”
”No, but Sesshoumaru-sama, he’s my brother! I can’t just let him continue be controlled by our enemy like that
“Sesshoumaru-sama, he forced him again to-”
”I know exactly what happened. He forced him to rob another bank”
”He’s using the secret ways of Taijiya against us! Ever since ancient Japan we’ve used our techniques for good, but now…” Sango said angrily.

They were silent for a moment

“Sir, may I ask something?”
”……”
”Does that girl, Kagome… does she know anything about Naraku? I got the impression that she was hurt when you brought her here”
”So?”
”No offense, but you’re not known to do that kind of stuff for anyone”
”Leave”

Sango got up, bowed, and left. Sesshoumaru whirled around on his leather chair to look out the windows behind him. Sighing, he closed his eyes and leaned back. ‘What have I gotten myself into?’

Never before had any girl, a human no less, been able to make him feel so… caught up.