InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fleeting ❯ Intervention ( Chapter 20 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

un_love_you prompt:  #11 – “Thought I needed this.”

Kagome gazed into her mirror with a critical eye, tugging at the neatly tailored tails of her dress shirt.  Its cream color brought out the slight natural blush of her skin and complemented the soft grey tones of her brand new suit.  She heaved an exasperated sigh when she was unable to settle the fabric just as she wanted, deciding instead to throw on the blazer and button it to conceal her perceived faults.

I look like hell, she mused, turning her attention to her face and pinching color into her cheeks.  But I guess that’s to be expected, considering I didn’t sleep for shit last night.  As far as she was concerned, it was way too early to be up and dressed for the day – but then, she had been far too excited to sleep.

It was the first day of her summer job.

She couldn’t stop the smile that tugged at her lips as she dusted a bit of powder over her cheeks.  She never thought she’d be so looking forward to going to work – a slave to the time clock and structured days that forced her to go to bed before midnight (oh, the horror!).  And the truth was, that wasn’t what had her so giddy and loopy at seven am.  No, it was the means of travel to said job, and the potential time for companionship that came with it.

These could be the most crucial fifteen to twenty minutes of her life, and she wanted to be ready for them.

With one last check of her mascara and lipstick, she hurriedly stuffed her uniform clothes in a bag and moved out into the hall, locking her door with a swift turn of the key.  The heels of her shoes clicked pleasingly as she threaded through the common room towards the kitchen, her heart pounding in cadence as she made her approach.  Anticipation rolled through her stomach as she spotted the glint of silver hair from the corner of her eye, and she took a deep breath, plastering on a radiant smile.

“Good morning!” she chirped as she entered the room, a bit louder than she intended, settling her bag in a chair at the table before making a beeline for the tea kettle.  She barely noticed that Sesshoumaru was standing with his back to her, rinsing dishes at the kitchen sink.  Making an entrance had taken more out of her than she’d realized – she was so not a morning person.

“Morning,” he returned absently, shutting off the water and reaching for a dish towel.  “I’ve saved you some tea; it’s in the thermos on the table.  We’d better leave now if we don’t want to be late.”

Kagome furrowed her brow as she turned to him.  “Late?  What do you mean, late?  We don’t have to be there until quarter past eight.”

Sesshoumaru finished stacking his now-clean dishes in his cabinet.  “Yes, but the bus to the metro leaves at seven-thirty.”  He glanced at her, stilling in a moment, his eyes traveling down the length of her and back.  She couldn’t help but feel a sense of feminine pride at his obviously appreciative gaze.

His eyes were sparkling as they latched back onto hers.  “You have to wear Prada to deliver the mail?” he queried, amused.

“No, but I appreciate travelling in style,” she returned with a smile.  “Speaking of which, why are we taking the bus?  I thought you were going to drive…?”

Sesshoumaru picked up the thermos and tossed it to her before shrugging into his own suit jacket.  “No, I merely offered you a lift if I ever decided to drive,” he corrected.  “My advice?  Pray for rain.”

Kagome gaped at his retreating back, only just having time to shut off the stove and grab her own bag before he left the apartment.  She trailed along beside him, heart still racing in her chest as she attempted to make sense of his cryptic statement.  “What are you saying?” she asked, tucking the thermos in with the rest of her belongings.  “You’ll only drive in the rain?  But that’s when everyone is taking public transportation!”

“Precisely,” he replied with a sage nod of his head.  “Look around – it’s hardly worth the effort to fight the weather when you have absolutely no chance of staying dry.”  He waved his arms, gesturing at the pristine state of the sidewalk – not a tree or protective covering in sight.  “I’d rather drive when the weather is terrible,” he contended, “and everyone else crowding on the metro, which would inevitably be delayed by the rain anyway, if it meant I had a fighting chance to get to work on time and in the same state as when I left home.”

“Your logic is impeccable,” Kagome groused sarcastically as they made it to the bus stop.  Here she was, daydreaming about how they’d arriving together in style, when instead they’d be packed into the train like a bunch of sardines.  She did not break out her best new outfit only to have it go to waste like this!

He shrugged.  “Might as well make use of public transportation while we still can,” he mused.  They braced themselves as the bus roared up, elbowing their way on board with the rest of their fellow commuters.  He grabbed her arm as the doors closed, pulling her close as a few last-minute stragglers forced their way on board.  “Like I said,” he murmured, electricity sparking between them for the split second he held her arm, “pray for rain.”

She stifled a laugh, only too happy to be pressed against him in the crush of humanity that occupied the bus.  Once at the train station, they managed to maneuver into one of the emptier cars at the front of the metro, but she stood as close as she dared anyway.  She could feel the lighthearted mirth of that morning drain away from him as they drew closer to their destination; by the time they hit their stop, he was so lost in his own thoughts that he stepped out of the car without a second look in her direction.

She pushed through the crowd, rather impressed that she was able to catch up with his purposeful strides while tottering on heels.  Closing one hand over the strap of her bag at her shoulder, she casually slipped the other into his, lacing her fingers through his and giving his hand a supportive squeeze.  They made it up the stairs to the street level, and she was just about to congratulate herself on her smooth move when he came to a complete halt, his arm extending along with hers as she continued to move forward.

She glanced back, opening her mouth to question him, but found her words stuck in her throat.  His eyes were intense on hers, searing into her, stealing the very breath from her lungs.  His expression was impassive, as usual, but she could sense the silent plea that lurked just below his surface.

“I thought you didn’t want to be late,” she said, striving to keep her tone patient as she closed the distance between them.

His eyes strayed to their joined hands.  “We can’t,” he said simply.

Her heart dropped to the lower reaches of her stomach, but when she tried to pull away, he held firm.  She bit her lip as her gaze joined his, utter confusion washing through her as his fingers curled even tighter around hers.  “I don’t understand,” she murmured.

“First impressions are tantamount,” he replied.  “I don’t want to walk into that building today and leave even a hint of the idea that I landed this job on anything other than my own merit.”  His eyes met hers, determination and resolve shining in their golden depths.  “I am still the enemy, and it’s crucial that they trust me and my sincerity.”

And I think you’re making too much out simple hand-holding, she thought petulantly.  “Believe me, no one will notice,” she muttered, a hint of bitterness in her voice.  After all, if my family can’t even be bothered to find out who I’m living with, why would they care that we’re also working together?

“Takeda will,” he said shrewdly, referring to the junior executive in charge of the finance department.  “I wish to tread very lightly around him, at least for the first couple of days.  He has the power to doom me to meaningless paperwork for the entirety of my internship, and that would defeat the entire point of my being here.”

She hesitated, drawing their hands together so that their palms touched, reluctant to let go so easily.  Even though she had been able to move past their explosive breakup, she’d never really gotten over him; she knew if they were to find their way back to each other, it would require patience, understanding, and quite a few baby steps.

Maybe baby steps towards baby steps, even.

“Kagome,” he tried again, capturing her attention once more.  “My family name is both a blessing and a curse.  This is something I have to do in order to move out from my father’s shadow.”

“Okay,” she agreed, letting go, bringing both hands to grasp the strap of her bag.  “It’s no big deal.”

He narrowed his eyes, studying her momentarily, before they continued walking the short distance to the main building housing SHK Corporation headquarters.  “Thanks for understanding,” he said under his breath as they pushed through the double glass doors at its entrance.

She gave him a small smile.  I love you, of course I’d understand.  “See you after work, okay?” she replied, turning down the corridor to the mail room before he could respond.

The hectic environment that greeted Kagome after she’d changed into her uniform was enough to make her forget any early-morning awkwardness.  The mail room turned out to be a cross between a post office and a factory, with people bustling about everywhere in between.  She met her fellow summer employees, and quickly jumped at the chance to claim the route that contained the finance department.  Her enthusiasm struck an amused chord with her supervisor, but it only appeared to puzzle the other interns.  She was assigned to shadow another clerk that day to learn the ropes of her job.  

Their schedule proved fairly simple:  in the morning, they delivered hand mail, including all letters, bills, confidential correspondence, and small packages.  After lunch, they tackled the larger packages.  She was surprised to learn that even the most unlikely of departments received large packaged mail on a fairly regular basis.

“We try to cut down on people having their eBay auctions and the like shipped here,” her intern-trainer told her blithely, “but I guess some people don’t want their spouses to know what they order online.  Why they prefer us to know, I have no idea – most of them see we mail clerks on a more regular basis than their wives!”

The day seemed to fly by, as she worked to get a handle on the mail cart and learn her rather complicated route, which covered three floors.  She only just caught a glimpse of her roommate along the way, happy to see him ensconced in a meeting with advisors and colleagues.  An even bigger surprise of the day was finding his office; perhaps unsurprisingly, it was the first landmark she memorized for her route.

By the time the day was done, her feet were killing her – even in her regulation walking shoes! – and she was all too happy to change back into her fashionable outfit and crawl out to the metro stop.  It had been a lot to take in, but she was confident that once she became familiar with the schedule and the route, it would be just as breezy a position as she originally thought.

Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Sesshoumaru sitting in the lobby, thumbing through a magazine when she waltzed into the space.  “Waiting for me?” she asked in a hushed voice as she drew closer, only to be rewarded with one of his rare smiles in response.

“Ah, good, so it appears our schedules do match up to some extent,” he said, tossing the magazine back on the table and standing, all in one fluid motion.  “Now I know, for future reference.”

She furrowed her brow as they walked out of the building.  “How do you mean?” she asked.  “Did you have to wait long?”

He shrugged, tugging his jacket over his shoulders before shooting her a coy glance.  “If it ever rains,” he clarified shrewdly, “I’ll only have to wait five minutes.”  

She couldn’t help but smile at that, her heart warming at the very idea.  It seemed whatever strain between them from that morning had dissipated, and for that, she was grateful.  It was something small, but it was also a difference in the way they interacted now.  She understood the need to be patient, to let him work, and speak, and reach out at his own pace.  She’d long ago realized that pushing would only lead to heartache, and she was determined not to make the same mistakes twice.

To love someone is to set them free, to make their own decisions, she reminded herself as they descended into the metro for the second time that day.  I just have to stick to my resolution, and hope that my patience is rewarded.

Their lives settled into something of a routine over the next few weeks.  They would travel to and from work together, often sharing a cup of tea for breakfast, and then one later in the evening, after dinner.  Kagome found herself physically exhausted after toiling behind a mail cart for the better part of eight hours, and ended her nights rather early, zonked out on the common room sofa in front of any variety of inane television programs.  It was a peaceful way to end to a hectic day; Sesshoumaru had fallen back into the habit of reading the evening paper in the same room, that familiar sense of companionable silence cocooning them as it had in their first days as roommates.

Kagome didn’t go out nearly as much as she had while classes were still in session, but found she didn’t really miss the party life.  She’d been out of the scene for so long – between dating Sesshoumaru and then trying to get over him – that it almost felt strange to even be invited to hang out with some of that same crowd.  She saw Sango and Miroku on occasion – and had even found herself in the presence of Inuyasha once or twice – but mostly passed her time by focusing on her job, and getting back into the rhythm of a structured life.

Of course, as much as she could, she also attempted to get closer to Sesshoumaru.  He was very busy with his work, having dived head-first into a merger negotiation deal during his first week on the job, so the few times she was able to see him during the day reduced her to a mass of giggling twelve-year-old schoolgirl.  She had taken to texting Sango with regular updates about “the hot guy at the office,” including such pertinent details as what he was wearing that day, or if he smiled when he saw her, or – the biggie – if they managed some little bit of conversation when she stopped by his department on her mail route.  She felt like a kid with a crush, all over again, but, all things considered, she’d take these burgeoning-on-embarrassing feelings over desolate depression any day of the week.

“Hmm,” Sesshoumaru mused, breaking Kagome from her amused reverie.  She glanced up at him from her position on the sofa, curled into her favorite blue blanket.  He was sitting next to her in an overstuffed chair, balancing his notebook computer in his lap, his legs propped up on their coffee table and his feet crossed at the ankles.  The lights from the TV screen flickered in the relative darkness of the room, catching the highlights in his silver hair.

She granted him a small, contented smile.  “What’s up?”

He looked up, as if surprised by her question.  She could almost see the gears of his mind turning as he debated whether or not to respond to her idle question, tapping one finger absently on his keyboard.  She met his gaze and held it, trying her best to appear encouraging, but not eager.  Baby steps, she reminded herself, stifling a yawn.

He looked back at the screen.  “It appears my access to the inner workings of Taisho’s system has been cut off,” he replied.  “I can’t even get into my email.”

Her brows shot up in amazement.  “Whoa,” she breathed.  “That’s harsh.”

“More like a clever rouse from my father, no doubt,” he mused.  “I was checking some of his files to see if he had any designs on the company we’re looking to acquire at SHK.”  He shot her an amused smile.  “I suppose he didn’t take too kindly to my snooping around.”

“Hmm,” Kagome murmured, burrowing deeper into the sofa, fighting to keep her eyes open.  “What are you going to do?”

“Fight fire with fire,” he replied determinedly, furrowing his brow as he focused on his computer once more.

She drifted off to the soft sounds of fingers tapping on keys and the strains of a silly game show in the background.  Sometime later, she awoke with a start, only to find herself in her own bed, the room shrouded in the inky blackness of night.  How did I – ? she wondered, struggling to connect her incoherent thoughts as she fumbled to check the time.

She exhaled sharply when she saw the note, propped up in the glow of her alarm clock:  Sweet dreams, it read, scrawled in oh-so-familiar handwriting.

“Do you want to grab something for dinner?” Kagome chirped a few days later, grateful to see the backside of yet another work week.  “I’m thinking something with vegetables, maybe?  Man can’t live on ramen and pitas alone.”

“Hmm,” grunted her companion, pushing through the double glass doors at the front of the SHK headquarters.

Kagome glanced at him, the now-familiar rush of giddy excitement washing over her.  He had been unusually quiet of late, as if something was weighing heavily on his mind.  Her heart skipped a beat as she studied him, wondering if he was thinking the same thing she was thinking – about the night he carried her to bed, or maybe even the first time he’d done that, all those months ago…

She felt her skin flush and tingle, only mournful she hadn’t been aware of it the second time around, when she would’ve been sober enough to enjoy it.

“Maybe we could try that new Thai place near the library?” she continued.

“Hmm,” grunted her companion, his eyes focused instead on the sidewalk in front of them.

She glanced around covertly, making sure the coast was clear before slipping her hand around his arm.  He didn’t react at all, signaling that he was completely caught up in whatever had hold of his thoughts.  Her cheerful smile grew wicked.  “Or maybe we should just skip dinner and go straight for dessert?” she suggested.

“Hmm,” grunted her companion, furrowing his brow as he traced his steps.

Her heart pumped furiously in her chest as she gathered her courage to continue her dangerous game.  “Or maybe you’d rather go straight home and fuck me senseless,” she proposed in her most seductive tone, tightening her grip on his arm.

He stopped abruptly, sending a sharp glance in her direction, but before he could respond, a voice caught their attention.  “Kagome!  There you are!”

Sango waved her arms, beckoning to her friend from her spot by the metro stairs.  “It’s been ages!” she declared as the pair finally drew within earshot.  “Come on, let’s go have a drink somewhere.”

“But – ” Kagome started, only to find herself interrupted for the second time in any many seconds.

“It’s okay,” Sesshoumaru cut in, pulling out of her grasp with relative ease.  “I have a stop to make myself.”  Before Kagome could protest, he was out of sight, lost in the crowd of people swarming the metro station stairs.

Damn, she thought, frowning as she lost sight of him.  I guess my mouth still gets the better of me sometimes.  

She didn’t have time to follow that particular train of thought, as Sango latched onto her forearm.  “Please tell me that isn’t McDreamy from the office,” she pleaded with wide eyes.  When all she received was a guilty blush in response, she took action, dragging Kagome down the stairs and onto the metro, uttering the words “not a moment too soon” to herself on more than one occasion.

The girls rode down a few stops, disembarking in a section of the city known for its numerous bars and sushi joints, haunted by university kids for the relative cheapness of both.  In spite of her growling stomach, Kagome allowed Sango to steer her into one of the bars and buy her a drink.  It was still early yet, and comparably quiet, but Kagome found herself suddenly wary of conversation.

The two sat at one of the turned down tables, nursing their cocktails in silence.  Kagome had sense enough to grab a basket of edamame as well, which she promptly laid into.  At least it’s a vegetable, she thought to herself, popping the green beans into her mouth.

“Listen, Kagome, I think we should talk about this,” Sango finally said, stirring her straw around her drink.

“About what?” Kagome inquired, knowing full well the avenue her friend was intent on pursuing.

Sango sighed.  “I was concerned enough with this constant barrage of texts and emails about this hot guy that worked in your office, who had totally captured you imagination,” she began.  “I mean, it sounded like you were rebounding off the deep end on this guy.  But then…to find out it’s your ex you’re going gaga over…?”

Kagome shrugged sheepishly.  “Well, you know I never really got over him…”

“Yeah, I know,” Sango agreed.  “And now I’m doubly concerned.”

“But why?” Kagome asked.  “At least I know what I’m getting myself into!”

“Do you?” Sango pressed.  “How can you fall for this guy again?  After what he did to you?”

“After what Inuyasha did to me, you mean?” Kagome corrected.

“No.”  Sango shook her head.  “Sesshoumaru’s the one who pushed you away in the first place, by keeping secrets from you.  He broke your heart, you told me that yourself!  How can you be so sure he won’t do it again?”

Kagome scowled as she drained the rest of her drink.  “What is this, an intervention?”

Sango snapped her jaw shut, clenching her hands into fists and taking a deep breath.  “Kagome, look, I’m just worried about you,” she finally said, her tone soothing, if concerned.  “I know how much of your heart this guy holds, and I don’t want to see you get hurt again.”

Kagome acknowledged the uneasiness in her friend’s tone with a grateful nod.  “Things are different this time,” she assured her.  “I’ve learned my lesson, and I’m willing to deal on his terms.”

Sango reached across the table, squeezing Kagome’s hands.  “How are things different?” she wanted to know.  “From what I can see, he’s blowing you off just like he always has.  You can’t give in to that – you deserve better.”

“Yeah, I don’t know what he deal was this afternoon,” Kagome admitted with a shrug.  “He was more spacey than I’ve seen him in a long time.”

Sango seized on this little bit of doubt. “See?  This is what I’m talking about!  You should have someone who’s absolutely devoted to you, and only you.  Not someone who makes it a habit to keep secrets from you.”

“He isn’t keeping secrets from me,” Kagome protested.  “He is sharing things with me…it’s just on his own timetable.”  She nipped Sango’s growing skepticism in the bud, adding, “Look, the last time around, he actively kept things from me.  I know this.  I admit this.  I accept this.  But this time, he’s being open, and that’s good enough for me.  I know better than to push.”

Sango signaled for another round of drinks.  “So he’s regained your trust, just like that, huh?”

“It’s been months,” Kagome reminded her, “so it was hardly ‘just like that.’  And I live with him, so I see him all the time.  The truth is in the details, and he’s doing all the little things right.”  Their refreshed drinks arrived then, and Kagome took a sip of hers before continuing.  “We have tea together, and discuss our days, and fight the traffic…”  

She sighed, allowing her eyes to drift out into the middle distance.  “You know that feeling you get, when Miroku’s in the room with you and you’re just reading or watching TV or whatever, and you don’t have the need to fill the silence to feel like you’re not alone?”

Sango nodded, picking at the edamame.

“That’s what it’s like between us now,” Kagome continued.  “It’s not awkward anymore, or tense.  I don’t feel insecure, or paranoid, or doubtful when I’m around him.  I’m learning to read his moods, without my hormones getting in the way, and just…getting to know him.  I still want him, and need him, as much as I always have – but this is about more than just my needs.  I want him to be happy, and I want to be a part of that happiness.”

Sango nodded, chewing her food thoughtfully as she absorbed Kagome’s impromptu speech.  “It’s funny,” she said after a beat.  “I thought you were the one who needed to hear my concerns, but maybe it was me who needed this.”

Kagome took another sip of her drink.  “So this was an intervention?” she contended wryly.

Sango shrugged.  “Sort of,” she admitted sheepishly.  “I’ve never seen you go all googly-eyed over a guy before, so it was a bit alarming to receive twenty texts a day, detailing the exact color of his socks.”

“Sorry about that,” Kagome apologized, a warm flush coating her cheeks.  “I don’t have many girl friends, so I suppose I kinda overload the ones I do have.”

Sango laughed.  “Look, it’s no problem,” she assured her.  “Let’s make a deal, okay?”

“What sort of deal?”

“The whole crew misses you,” Sango informed her.  “If I promise to overlook your constant gushing over this guy for the rest of the summer, you have to promise to come out with us.”  She held up her hands, silencing Kagome’s ready protest.  “At least once a week,” she proposed with a smile.  “Even you, Miss Full-Time Working Girl, can afford that.”

Kagome eyed her warily.  “Who’s ‘us’?”

“The people from New Year’s, mostly,” Sango replied.  “You know, Miroku, Inuyasha, a couple of others – not Kouga, or anybody from his circle.  He’s a total douchebag.”  She wrinkled her nose.  

Noting Kagome’s continued skepticism, she was fast to address the potentially touchy issue.  “You’re friends with Inuyasha, remember?  I’m not going to push you two together – but I’m not going to go out of my way to keep you apart, either.”  She patted Kagome’s hand.  “Besides, I’m sure if you told him what you just told me?  He’d understand.”  

I’m not so sure about that, Kagome thought, though she opted not to voice this concern, considering Sango’s seemingly ready defense.

Sango’s lips creased into a knowing smile.  “Give him a chance, Kagome.  Besides, you might not have to tell him anything.”  She shrugged, picking up her glass.  “Who do you think tipped me off to a possible identity for this crush of yours?”