Time Floats On by Smortz

Moving On

A/N

Alrighty, this is another challenge fiction, written for TheLovelyMiko’s Quote Challenge... Now, don’t get too excited, the story will only be posted when the quotes/prompts are posted.

 >_>

ANYWAYS!

Here is Chapter 2!

Enjoy and review!

~SMO

Disclaimer: I do not know any characters associated with the manga/anime InuYasha. I just like to use them in my stories. >:3

Prompt: Lies

Quote: Sick of crying, tired of trying, yeah I'm smiling, but inside I'm dying

Chapter 2

Kagome tapped her fingers against her arm as she waited for the male to come out of the bathroom. All she wanted to do was go in there, check her make-up and hair, and then continue onto the appointment she had with Mr. Taisho. Unfortunately, the woman’s restroom had been shut down, and now she stood outside the men’s room, waiting for this man to finish answering nature’s call.  

After a few more moments, she gave up. Turning on her heel, she jogged into an open elevator and poked the top floor button. She ignored the stares that it earned from the workers beside her. Kagome never understood this life-style. These poor beings, both human and demon, had worked for the Taisho insurance corporation and only a hand few had actually met the being in charge.

Since meeting the Taisho family, Kagome had learned a lot of new things about life. In fact, she had sort of thought of it as field work for her psychology class. These high-class demons were almost shocking with their way of thinking and planning. Kagome sighed as she sank against the elevator wall, trying to think back on when she’d met them.

Her mother, a poor woman who had been deserted by her father, had been completely unprepared for raising two children. Additionally, when Kagome had begun causing electrical surges and burning innocent, demon bystanders her mother had almost gone insane. She had sought out psychiatrist after psychiatrist until she’d discovered Izayoi, the leading female of the Taisho family.

Izayoi had been taking her son to see the same psychiatrist when she’d overheard Kagome yelling at her mother. She had been shouting at her, telling her that nothing was wrong. An eight year old girl was supposed to have magical powers; Kagome remembered declaring at some point in the waiting room. Izayoi had pulled the two aside later and had told them about the other side of the world.

Kagome had embraced it, like any other eight year old learning of the fantasy world. She had embraced the promising tales of priestesses and demons. After Izayoi had convinced her mother, she had been welcomed into the Taisho family, training with them to control her powers.

It was in her teenage years that she developed her first crush with Inuyasha. Now that she was older and wiser, she knew that Inuyasha had reminded her of that troubled kid in the waiting room. She had wanted to fix him, like their family had fixed her. Unfortunately, he wasn’t ready to be fixed. He loved being trouble – embraced it.

The elevators opened. The loud beep startling her out of her thoughts. She glanced around the elevator, realizing that she was the only one left, and this was her floor. She stepped up and smiled to the secretary. The woman only snubbed at her, like the women who were usually associated with the Taisho family. Kagome only walked by, knocking on the glass door. She could clearly see the head of the Taisho family, napping soundly against the desk. She glimpsed at the plaque on the desk. Taisho Daitaro.

He sat up straight, drool flying off his bottom lip and slapping against his left cheek. Urgently, he swiped it off and rubbed it against his black slacks. “It-It’s already five?” He asked quietly, glancing over at the digital clock on the wall. Kagome only returned with a nod as she welcomed herself to the chair in front of him.

She wore a black, pencil skirt with a black top. An orange spaghetti strap was underneath with lace trim, followed by a pink sphere that dangled around her neck on a silver chain. The necklace had been a gift to conceal her abnormal amount of powers by the Taisho family. “It is unusual for you to call me to your offices,” Kagome mumbled worriedly. “Did something happen?” She asked.

He slowly cracked his neck. It was a sign that he was about to give her news that she didn’t want. Kagome tensed, bracing herself for the ambush. “I-I wanted Sesshoumaru to tell you this, but unfortunately my sons are terrified to face you after the disrespect they’ve both shown you.”

Kagome cleared her throat. If it had to do with his sons, she probably wasn’t going to like whatever he had to say. “Spit it out,” Kagome grumbled, shifting in the chair to cross one leg over the other.

“K-Kagura would like you to be the Maid of Honor for their wedding,” Taisho coughed up, as if it had simply been word vomit that had been fighting in his stomach. Kagome was frozen for a few moments; her mind began spinning as she thought of it. The woman hadn’t even invited her to the engagement party, and now she wanted her to be next to her the day of the wedding.

Taisho’s hand was suddenly on her shoulder, and she realized she had begun to zone out. Quickly, she stood up and cocked one of her neatly plucked eyebrows. “Is that all?” She asked, annoyed. She would be irked if that was the only reason she’d drove across town for.

“No, I was also wondering about your apartment. Has it sold yet?” Taisho asked. Kagome visibly stiffened. Then, laughter escaped her and she shook her head at him.

“You figure everything out, don’t you?” She asked. Her apartment was for sale. An internship up north was waiting for her in a prestigious, psychological research facility that focused in demon-child development. “It sold the night of the party,” Kagome added, referring to the engagement party she’d crashed with the help of Daitaro.

“Where are you staying!?” He almost shouted, causing the mean secretary to lean over her desk and glance into the office. Kagome was used to the shouting. Daitaro was always expressive with how he felt.

“I shipped everything up north already, I’m at a hotel until my final week of work is done,” Kagome explained. When she saw the gears suddenly turn in his head as an idea began to form, she knew she had to put a stop to it. “That’s where I’ll stay too,” Kagome warned.

Daitaro huffed, but made no more advances to change her mind. “Y-You’re really leaving then,” he trailed off, as if his daughter was getting married and leaving him forever. “I don’t want you to go and leave me with my two spawns. They’re idiots.”

Kagome couldn’t agree more. She’d been in love with both his sons, and both of them had turned her flat down for another woman. Maybe, she was cursed. She rolled her eyes. It was all over now anyways. Everything was coming to an end. “So, can I go?” She asked. “I need to get back and work on some papers.”

Taisho gave a sheepish smile. “Well, actually, Sesshoumaru and Kagura are waiting for you, for dinner,” he got out in cringing gasps as Kagome poked him in the shoulder. “I’m truly sorry. I tried to tell Sesshoumaru to knock this all off but he won’t listen to me. You know how he is!”

The last comment made her freeze. Kagome knew exactly how Sesshoumaru was with his father. She knew him more than that. She knew how Sesshoumaru tasted, touched, and thought far more than anyone else. Not anymore, she dully thought.

She grumbled as she snatched her purse off the floor, hanging it over her shoulder lazily. “Y-You have no idea what you’re starting,” Kagome whispered. Kagura had picked her only because she wanted to keep her close and busy. She thought that if Kagome was standing by she may just snatch Sesshoumaru from her. Kagome snorted at the notion. She had no intention of capturing Sesshoumaru. They may have shared one enchanting night. And others, Kagome mused, thinking of the other trysts they’d indulged in. However, that had come to a dead stop when she had decided to go to medical school. She had made the decision to move on from the Taisho sons.

“I think I have an idea,” Taisho grumbled as he entered the elevator and scanned the key. This way, the elevator would not stop on any other floor but the ground level. There, Kagome could assume that Sesshoumaru had his sleek, black car in front of the building, waiting for her to enter his fiancé’s trap. How alluring, Kagome added to her pessimistic thoughts.

The doors opened a few moments later. Kagome stared across the lobby at Kagura, her arms wrapped tightly around the waist of Sesshoumaru as they leaned against the silver Maserati. Why does she get a nice car? Kagome pouted. I was before her.

“So, where are they taking us? The docks to dump our bodies, maybe they’ll be fancy and actually roll us in a blanket beforehand,” Kagome whispered under her breath. Taisho gave her a disciplinary look, the same one he used to give her when she did something bad with her priestess powers, like turning the lights off and running during a lesson.

“Kagura, it’s good to see you,” Kagome greeted, nodding her head to the woman. She then turned to Sesshoumaru, making sure to leer at him for a moment. “Sesshoumaru, it was a wonderful engagement party. It made me wonder how many children in the mines were killed for the shiny, little stones,” Kagome added with a bright grin. “Oh,” she waved a hand dismissively, “I’m sure you have more things to worry about. Where’s dinner?”

Without further communication, Kagome began to dig into her purse for her keys. It was when Sesshoumaru cleared his throat that she looked up. “You will be riding with us,” he informed her. The tone was stern. Obviously, her previous comment had not bode well with him.

“I-I’m quite capable of driving myself,” Kagome forced out. There was no way she was allowing either one of them to drive with her in the car. They might crash or plot something against her. She knew she was on the top of Kagura’s hate list.

“Nonsense,” Kagura added, giving Kagome an innocent smile, “You have no idea where the place is, and you refuse to buy a GPS.” Kagome didn’t show her annoyance at the last comment. She refused to rely on an electronic device for directions. She was perfectly fine with learning street names and remembering numbers.

“Give me the address,” Kagome returned stubbornly. Sesshoumaru shot her another glare before his father stepped into the mix. He cleared his throat, gaining the attention.

“You’ll drive with them,” the fatherly tone shook Kagome out of her childishness. She was being too foolish. She needed to just deal with what she’d been given and figure out a different strategy.

Kagome watched Kagura step away from the car, and then grimaced when the coupe came into view. “There’s no backseat,” she mumbled. She then watched as a smirk appeared on Kagura’s face. She opened up the passenger door and pulled the chair forward, gesturing for Kagome to wiggle into the small area.

Kagome slid in, trying not to groan when her knees hit her chest and her neck cracked as she leaned her head down to escape the roof of the car. The engine roared to life and Kagome watched in horror as Daitaro turned to walk back into the building. “He’s not coming?” She asked, almost panicking. Their father was the only ally she had in the family now.

“Oh, silly Kagome!” Kagura patronized her like a child. “He’s got far too many important things to do than accompany you to dinner with us,” she explained as she shifted gears and barely made it through a yellow light. Kagome clawed at the seat belt securely wrapped around her waist out of fear.

“Kagura,” Sesshoumaru growled out in warning. Obviously, he found her just as rude as Kagome. Kagura shot him a sidelong glare before returning to turn right and pulling into a valet parking area. She got out, shutting the door and already beginning to walk inside. Sesshoumaru pulled the chair forward and held out his hand to Kagome. She ignored it, swaying out of the car and fixing her skirt.

This restaurant was known as one of the fanciest ones in this side of town. The five star food and elegant clientele made this place into a celebrity and politician hangout. Kagome gulped. There’s no way she could afford this, and she would rather die than have Kagura pay for her portion. Quietly, she snaked up to Sesshoumaru’s side, feeling under-dressed as a woman in an extravagant, wine colored ball gown stepped past her.

“I can’t afford this, Sesshoumaru,” Kagome murmured as the waiter began to lead the way. Menus were already adorning the cloth-covered tabletop. The wine was chilled beside the table. The man pulled out a chair for her, and then pushed it in when Kagome sat. She landed comfortably and instantly began looking at the number side of the menu.

“Do not worry over the expense,” Sesshoumaru added as he helped Kagura sit down. He then nodded to the same waiter, who began pouring wine into their glasses. “Kagura had news for you. I am sure my father gave you some sort of warning,” he relented.

Kagome wanted to snort, but she only nodded. “He did, but part of me thinks he’s joking,” Kagome replied honestly as she took a small sip of the white wine. The Riesling burned a bit and she had to close her eyes at the flavor. Red is definitely my type of wine, she murmured inwardly.

Kagura coughed, trying to gain the spotlight. “Kagome, I know you and Sesshoumaru have been close,” she paused on that word, as if she would gag. Slowly, she shook her head and continued, “Don’t worry; he’s assured me that the night in question was caused by you being rejected by Inuyasha. Obviously, it was a moment of weakness in your character.”

Kagome tried not to spit out whatever portion of wine she’d just put in her mouth. Rejected? Moment of weakness? Character? What the hell did you tell her Sesshoumaru? If I remember correctly, you had come on to me! Kagome ranted in her mind as she calmly listened to Kagura, thinking of her next attack. “I also know that you are extremely close to the Taisho family, sort of like a … orphaned child. I think this would be helpful in planning the wedding. You would know what they would like. I’ve thought a long time about this, and I want to make you my Maid of Honor.”

Her heart began to close around her words. This was why the Taisho sons were bad news. They blamed everyone else for their problems. They had everything and yet it seemed like it was never enough. Kagome glanced to Sesshoumaru, glaring at him. She wasn’t surprised when she saw a warning look, as if she would leak out information he didn’t want her to know. I can’t even stand up for myself.

Kagome sighed. She would make her decision. She would finish out her week with no more communication to the Taisho family. Well, maybe Daitaro. She couldn’t stay here and be blamed for every Taisho problem that went bad. Inuyasha had blamed her for his cheating. Sesshoumaru now blamed her for their, supposedly only one night tryst, and now Kagura would try to blame her for any wedding problem. She knew it was heading for catastrophe.

“Kagura, to be honest, I have no intention of being your Maid of Honor or going to the wedding. I went to the engagement party only because Daitaro, himself, invited me,” Kagome explained, carefully setting down the menu and wine glass. Slowly, she moved the chair back, trying not to show how hurt she was.

She hated being affected by this. She wanted to be just as cold as they were. Still, she felt her already broken heart begin to crack around all the lies this family had trapped her in. She cleared her throat, slinging her purse strap back over her shoulder. Giving one last, determined glance to Sesshoumaru, she spoke. “I want to warn you, Sesshoumaru. One of these days, all the lies you’ve told are going to come back and haunt you.”

“Are you threatening him!?” Kagura shrieked. People began to glance at the table, and Kagome scoffed. Of course, she would take it in that context.

“It’s a warning,” Kagome murmured, even as she turned on her heel and began to leave the five-star restaurant. Her fingers dug into the purse, and she glimpsed at the numbers on the screen as she reached the valet. “Get me a taxi,” she grumbled, handing the young boy a five dollar tip. He stared at the bill as if she’d been stingy and she cursed under her breath and handed him another one.

The boy quickly went to do her bidding, dialing a number on the telephone pad. Kagome swiped at a tear that had fallen. She was always the scapegoat. It would be logical to just get away from the family, cut her losses and leave. “I’ll start packing tonight,” she whispered quietly.  

“Where are you going?” The voice caused her to squeal in fright. She jumped and turned, then slapped her hand against her chest to calm her beating heart.

“Don’t do that!” She hissed out, taking deep breaths. “I don’t have heightened senses, Sesshoumaru!” She reprimanded.

One of the corners of his lips turned upwards. Her breath hitched in her throat, and she hated herself for the reaction to his lazy smile. She sighed in defeat. I can’t do this, she confessed. This was love.

Sesshoumaru had always treated her with respect. Respect that she had worked hard to earn. Then, when that night came and he touched her with such sensual caresses, she had been sure that it had felt like love – true love.

Unfortunately, she’d been wrong. Sesshoumaru had moved on as if nothing had ever happened. She had called him, wanted to talk to him and find out where they stood. All she got was one night stands after that. He would come to her place and be gone by morning, leaving her feeling cheap and used. Her love always left unrequited.

“I’m taking an internship up north,” Kagome explained, snapping herself out of her woes. She was a lost cause, staying here. She wasn’t moving on. The children’s hospital was slowly going out of business without the budget cuts and her department was shrinking. She needed a job that was secure, even if she had to start at the intern-level.

Sesshoumaru didn’t speak for a few moments. Kagome took that time to gather herself. She wouldn’t let him see her cry. This was over. “Is the taxi here yet?” She called to the boy. He held up a open hand, indicating that he needed five more minutes. She only gave a nod.

“How long?” Sesshoumaru asked shakily. Kagome met his eyes, almost annoyed that he had the gall to question her plans. Couldn’t he see that this was his doing?

“Indefinitely,” Kagome all but spat out. “I bought a condo up there, Sesshoumaru. I-I’m moving up there,” she added quietly under her breath. His eyes only widened a fraction. It wasn’t the reaction she wanted. She wanted him to remain stoic and cold.

“The wedding…” He murmured. “You’re really not going to be there,” he added. His heart was beginning to speed up. Kagome was his go-to woman. She gave him advice and helped him get through so many problems. Now, she was going to leave him before his big day with Kagura. “You can’t,” he ordered, declared.

“I can’t?!” Kagome retaliated in shock. “I can, Sesshoumaru,” she said, her body beginning to ache in exhaustion with all the tension her muscles had been through. “Yo-You lied to her,” she whispered. “I-I wasn’t rejected. I didn’t have a moment of weakness. Y-You kissed me,” she whispered in defeat.

The tears began to sting again and she instantly looked away from him. “Y-You’re just like Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru. Y-You made me out to be the bad one, the one to blame. I was hoping you’d be honorable,” she snorted the last comment, ignoring the sudden rage in his eyes. “You told her that it was only that one night! I-I actually believed…” Kagome instantly shut up. It was too late to confess, too late to try anything.

Sesshoumaru growled under his breath. “I’m nothing like him!” He returned harshly. Kagome could only give him a sympathetic look that angered him more. He watched with a disgruntled expression as she turned to the yellow cab that pulled alongside the curb. “Wait! Stop, yo-you don’t have to be the Maid of Honor,” he got out.

To be honest, he had no idea Kagura had such a plan. It had surprised him when she had announced it to her other bridesmaids. Most of them had been just as angry as he had. Kagura was simply keeping Kagome close out of spite of his relationship with her.

“I- Sesshoumaru! I can’t take your family anymore!” Kagome shouted, holding the taxi door open. She drew in a deep breath. “I’m sick of crying and tired of trying!”

Sesshoumaru blinked. She could tell he had been thrown into confusion. Quickly, she sank into the seat of the taxi, but before she could close it completely, Sesshoumaru gripped it in his powerful hold. “You’re always smiling! How am I supposed to make you feel better if you don’t tell me what’s going on!?” He whispered harshly.

Inside I’m dying, you can’t fix that. Kagome sighed in defeat and crossed her arms over her chest in the backseat of the cab. “I-I hope the wedding goes smoothly, Sesshoumaru. Tell your father I’ll be in touch,” she clearly dismissed him. The door shut after she heard him growl once more.

She watched him retreat into the restaurant. The tense shoulders were a sure sign that he was upset. Let him be. Kagome had wasted enough time and she wouldn’t be dragged into the wedding party and glared upon by the bride’s family. Nor would she stand by and listen to Sesshoumaru spout lies about their relationship. She hadn’t been the one to kiss him first. He had kissed her; touched her, used her, and continued doing so by coming to her place at all hours of the night. Kagome had just stood by, hoping that he would choose her without ever fighting for it. “Where to, Ms.?” The driver asked as he reset the meter. Kagome started out of her thoughts.

“Taisurance building, please,” Kagome instructed to the driver. She needed to get her car back. Hopefully, she wouldn’t run into Daitaro. She didn’t want to deal with the old man. Not with what she said to his son fresh on her mind.

“Sure, ma’am,” the driver retorted with a happy smile on his face. “Anything else?” He asked. Kagome shook her head slowly. Once she had her car, she would visit an old friend.