![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Revelation (Prompt #16) | Inuyasha
Collection Title: Fleeting
Genre: Drama/Romance
Rating: Y
Summary: A collection of oneshots & drabbles centered around the fleeting moments in Sesshoumaru's and Kagome's relationship as they fumble towards one another. AU; Serial.
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
un_love_you Prompt Table here. Prompt for this piece is: #16: “I want to break you.”
Title: Revelation
Universe: Alternate (modern era)
Rating: T
Word Count: 1192
Pairing: Sesshoumaru/Kagome
Summary: Sesshoumaru’s father continues to goad him, while Inuyasha digs further into Kagome’s past.
Author’s Note: #11 in a series. Part 1 | Parts 2-10
Many thanks to everyone who responded to my research post! :) You guys have definitely helped me hammer out the timeline.
Disclaimer: The Inuyasha concept, story, and characters are copyright Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Media.
~*~
FROM: The King <i.taisho@taishoenterprises.com>
TO: The Heir <s.taisho@taishoenterprises.com>
CC: The Spare <i.malliard@taishoenterprises.com>
SUBJECT: [SECURE] Memo
S. –
Good show!
– D.
FROM: The Heir <s.taisho@taishoenterprises.com>
TO: The King <i.taisho@taishoenterprises.com>
CC: The Spare <i.malliard@taishoenterprises.com>
SUBJECT: Re: [SECURE] Memo
Mind calling off your dogs, then, your majesty?
FROM: The King <i.taisho@taishoenterprises.com>
TO: The Heir <s.taisho@taishoenterprises.com>
SUBJECT: Re: [SECURE] Memo
S. –
Oh, surely you jest!
Your greatest weakness is your follow through. You’d do well to take a lesson from the mongrel in these matters – move fast, strike first.
Show me you can deliver SHK on your own, and then we’ll talk.
– D.
~*~
“Sometimes I really hate this,” Inuyasha sighed, settling against the back of the booth in the small, quiet shop. He glanced morosely at Kagome. “Who knew business could be so shady?”
She gave him a sympathetic smile before taking a bite of her sandwich. “It’s a high stakes enterprise,” she said wryly. “People play to win.”
Inuyasha wrinkled his brow as he studied his uneaten lunch. “That may be so, but my dad uses some pretty shameless tactics.”
Kagome shrugged. “Well, he’s new to it all, right? Sometimes you have gamble high and risk it all. Power means everything to these people; the rest of it is just an intellectual exercise.”
“I guess…” he murmured. Kagome’s heart went out to her friend as she studied him; he was growing increasingly uncomfortable with each passing moment. As she struggled to come up with some other reassurance, he spoke first. “He’s pretty ruthless. It’s a bit eye-opening.”
Kagome reached for Inuyasha’s hand. “Yeah, your illusions about what a great and humble man your father must be to lead such a successful company are shattered pretty quickly, when you learn what he really does for a living.” She squeezed his hand. “I wish I could say it gets easier to tolerate, but…”
“But what?” he prompted.
“Well, I’d never know,” she replied in a low voice. “My father decided he couldn’t take it anymore after a business deal went wrong and he lost funding for the shrine.” She dropped her sandwich on her plate, her appetite disappearing rapidly with this new turn in conversation.
“I’m sorry,” Inuyasha said quietly.
Kagome nodded, biting her lip in a vain attempt to calm herself. Her father’s death was still very hard for her to think about, even though five years had passed since the horrible incident. Flashes of memory rose unbidden to the forefront of her mind – her mother’s cry of anguish in discovering the body – the ambulance arriving to take him away – the somber state of affairs at the funeral, which her grandfather refused to attend – the split down family lines when his will was uncovered and disseminated…
Inuyasha, noticing her suddenly somber state, left his side of the table and slid into the booth next to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
“Know what the worst part about the whole thing was?” she asked, her voice gravelly with unshed tears. She didn’t wait for him to respond. “The way my family’s company was handled after his death was absolutely despicable.”
Inuyasha’s eyebrows shot up as he caught her eye.
She wasn’t surprised at his reaction, given the sheer, strident bitterness of her tone. “My father’s business partners scrambled like ants to pick up what was left of the company, fighting amongst themselves for the biggest shares of stock and most votes on the board of directors. A couple of them even courted my mother – !” She clamped her mouth shut, unconsciously balling her hands into fists as the wave of disgust overwhelmed her. “My father hadn’t been dead for six months, but they didn’t care. They didn’t even bother to hide their ulterior motives when they went after her.”
Inuyasha swallowed convulsively. “Wow, that sucks.”
Kagome nodded. “At least we had Jii-chan, who demanded she observe the ‘proper’ mourning time in accordance with family tradition.” She paused. “He probably saved her life, compelling her to comply with his wishes like that.”
She glanced up at Inuyasha, her lips drawn in a thin line. “So you see? I know what lengths some men will go to for their own selfish desires. My mother regained her sanity, thank God, and moved all of our interests into a trust, so we wouldn’t find ourselves that vulnerable ever again.”
“But you all still have a vote, right?” Inuyasha asked, puzzled.
Kagome snorted in response. “Who gives a ten-year-old a seat on the board of directors? Like my little brother is mature enough to understand these things!” She shook her head as she pulled away from him, turning her gaze to the empty space beside her. “Let’s just change the subject, okay?”
There was a moment of silence before he replied. “All right.”
He reluctantly left her side, taking up opposite her once again and picking up his sandwich. “So, have any big plans for the weekend?”
Kagome took a deep breath, relieved to be moving on to lighter, happier subjects. “I hope so!” she replied, unable to suppress the smile that bubbled up to her lips.
“You mean this mysterious boyfriend of yours hasn’t informed you of any elaborate plans for Valentine’s Day yet?” Inuyasha teased. “What’s he waiting for?”
“Hey! Maybe I like surprises!” she protested.
Inuyasha eyed her skeptically. “You, Miss Can’t-Keep-a-Secret?”
She blushed ruefully. “Okay, maybe that’s why Sesshoumaru hasn’t told me yet,” she admitted.
Her eyes widened when she realized she’d slipped up. She had purposefully kept Inuyasha in the dark about the identity of her boyfriend, not wanting him to realize that he never truly had a chance with her – not like he’d wanted, at Christmas. He’d become a wonderful friend over the course of the last few months, and she valued that a great deal. Boyfriends, she’d had. Flings, she’d had. Great friends? Those she could count on one hand.
“Sesshoumaru, eh?” Inuyasha mused, as if weighing the word – and finding it lacking.
“Yeah,” she breathed. The very idea of calling Sesshoumaru her boyfriend still sent shivers of excitement down her spine. Never before had a new year’s resolution produced such gains so quickly! Sure, they were taking it slow – much slower than she’d anticipated – but progress was steady. She could only hope her patience paid off very, very soon – like, say, on the supposedly “most romantic day of the year” soon.
She snapped back to the present. “You’re not mad that I didn’t tell you, are you?” she asked, eying her companion carefully.
Inuyasha shrugged. “It’s your business, not mine.”
Kagome nodded, relieved, if also a bit surprised that he was taking the news so well.
“Of course,” he continued, “if he hurts you, then it becomes my business.” He shrugged at her surprised glance. “Hey, rules of the road – that’s why most guys never want their girlfriends to have other guy friends. We’re a protective lot.”
Kagome smiled wryly at his surly expression, flattered by the idea of being protected as jealously as he hinted. “I think Sesshoumaru can handle himself just fine.”
“As long as he gives you that same respect,” Inuyasha said firmly, “then I’ve got no beef with him.”
Genre: Drama/Romance
Rating: Y
Summary: A collection of oneshots & drabbles centered around the fleeting moments in Sesshoumaru's and Kagome's relationship as they fumble towards one another. AU; Serial.
un_love_you Prompt Table here. Prompt for this piece is: #16: “I want to break you.”Title: Revelation
Universe: Alternate (modern era)
Rating: T
Word Count: 1192
Pairing: Sesshoumaru/Kagome
Summary: Sesshoumaru’s father continues to goad him, while Inuyasha digs further into Kagome’s past.
Author’s Note: #11 in a series. Part 1 | Parts 2-10
Many thanks to everyone who responded to my research post! :) You guys have definitely helped me hammer out the timeline.
Disclaimer: The Inuyasha concept, story, and characters are copyright Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Media.
FROM: The King <i.taisho@taishoenterprises.com>
TO: The Heir <s.taisho@taishoenterprises.com>
CC: The Spare <i.malliard@taishoenterprises.com>
SUBJECT: [SECURE] Memo
S. –
Good show!
– D.
FROM: The Heir <s.taisho@taishoenterprises.com>
TO: The King <i.taisho@taishoenterprises.com>
SUBJECT: Re: [SECURE] Memo
Mind calling off your dogs, then, your majesty?
FROM: The King <i.taisho@taishoenterprises.com>
TO: The Heir <s.taisho@taishoenterprises.com>
SUBJECT: Re: [SECURE] Memo
S. –
Oh, surely you jest!
Your greatest weakness is your follow through. You’d do well to take a lesson from the mongrel in these matters – move fast, strike first.
Show me you can deliver SHK on your own, and then we’ll talk.
– D.
“Sometimes I really hate this,” Inuyasha sighed, settling against the back of the booth in the small, quiet shop. He glanced morosely at Kagome. “Who knew business could be so shady?”
She gave him a sympathetic smile before taking a bite of her sandwich. “It’s a high stakes enterprise,” she said wryly. “People play to win.”
Inuyasha wrinkled his brow as he studied his uneaten lunch. “That may be so, but my dad uses some pretty shameless tactics.”
Kagome shrugged. “Well, he’s new to it all, right? Sometimes you have gamble high and risk it all. Power means everything to these people; the rest of it is just an intellectual exercise.”
“I guess…” he murmured. Kagome’s heart went out to her friend as she studied him; he was growing increasingly uncomfortable with each passing moment. As she struggled to come up with some other reassurance, he spoke first. “He’s pretty ruthless. It’s a bit eye-opening.”
Kagome reached for Inuyasha’s hand. “Yeah, your illusions about what a great and humble man your father must be to lead such a successful company are shattered pretty quickly, when you learn what he really does for a living.” She squeezed his hand. “I wish I could say it gets easier to tolerate, but…”
“But what?” he prompted.
“Well, I’d never know,” she replied in a low voice. “My father decided he couldn’t take it anymore after a business deal went wrong and he lost funding for the shrine.” She dropped her sandwich on her plate, her appetite disappearing rapidly with this new turn in conversation.
“I’m sorry,” Inuyasha said quietly.
Kagome nodded, biting her lip in a vain attempt to calm herself. Her father’s death was still very hard for her to think about, even though five years had passed since the horrible incident. Flashes of memory rose unbidden to the forefront of her mind – her mother’s cry of anguish in discovering the body – the ambulance arriving to take him away – the somber state of affairs at the funeral, which her grandfather refused to attend – the split down family lines when his will was uncovered and disseminated…
Inuyasha, noticing her suddenly somber state, left his side of the table and slid into the booth next to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
“Know what the worst part about the whole thing was?” she asked, her voice gravelly with unshed tears. She didn’t wait for him to respond. “The way my family’s company was handled after his death was absolutely despicable.”
Inuyasha’s eyebrows shot up as he caught her eye.
She wasn’t surprised at his reaction, given the sheer, strident bitterness of her tone. “My father’s business partners scrambled like ants to pick up what was left of the company, fighting amongst themselves for the biggest shares of stock and most votes on the board of directors. A couple of them even courted my mother – !” She clamped her mouth shut, unconsciously balling her hands into fists as the wave of disgust overwhelmed her. “My father hadn’t been dead for six months, but they didn’t care. They didn’t even bother to hide their ulterior motives when they went after her.”
Inuyasha swallowed convulsively. “Wow, that sucks.”
Kagome nodded. “At least we had Jii-chan, who demanded she observe the ‘proper’ mourning time in accordance with family tradition.” She paused. “He probably saved her life, compelling her to comply with his wishes like that.”
She glanced up at Inuyasha, her lips drawn in a thin line. “So you see? I know what lengths some men will go to for their own selfish desires. My mother regained her sanity, thank God, and moved all of our interests into a trust, so we wouldn’t find ourselves that vulnerable ever again.”
“But you all still have a vote, right?” Inuyasha asked, puzzled.
Kagome snorted in response. “Who gives a ten-year-old a seat on the board of directors? Like my little brother is mature enough to understand these things!” She shook her head as she pulled away from him, turning her gaze to the empty space beside her. “Let’s just change the subject, okay?”
There was a moment of silence before he replied. “All right.”
He reluctantly left her side, taking up opposite her once again and picking up his sandwich. “So, have any big plans for the weekend?”
Kagome took a deep breath, relieved to be moving on to lighter, happier subjects. “I hope so!” she replied, unable to suppress the smile that bubbled up to her lips.
“You mean this mysterious boyfriend of yours hasn’t informed you of any elaborate plans for Valentine’s Day yet?” Inuyasha teased. “What’s he waiting for?”
“Hey! Maybe I like surprises!” she protested.
Inuyasha eyed her skeptically. “You, Miss Can’t-Keep-a-Secret?”
She blushed ruefully. “Okay, maybe that’s why Sesshoumaru hasn’t told me yet,” she admitted.
Her eyes widened when she realized she’d slipped up. She had purposefully kept Inuyasha in the dark about the identity of her boyfriend, not wanting him to realize that he never truly had a chance with her – not like he’d wanted, at Christmas. He’d become a wonderful friend over the course of the last few months, and she valued that a great deal. Boyfriends, she’d had. Flings, she’d had. Great friends? Those she could count on one hand.
“Sesshoumaru, eh?” Inuyasha mused, as if weighing the word – and finding it lacking.
“Yeah,” she breathed. The very idea of calling Sesshoumaru her boyfriend still sent shivers of excitement down her spine. Never before had a new year’s resolution produced such gains so quickly! Sure, they were taking it slow – much slower than she’d anticipated – but progress was steady. She could only hope her patience paid off very, very soon – like, say, on the supposedly “most romantic day of the year” soon.
She snapped back to the present. “You’re not mad that I didn’t tell you, are you?” she asked, eying her companion carefully.
Inuyasha shrugged. “It’s your business, not mine.”
Kagome nodded, relieved, if also a bit surprised that he was taking the news so well.
“Of course,” he continued, “if he hurts you, then it becomes my business.” He shrugged at her surprised glance. “Hey, rules of the road – that’s why most guys never want their girlfriends to have other guy friends. We’re a protective lot.”
Kagome smiled wryly at his surly expression, flattered by the idea of being protected as jealously as he hinted. “I think Sesshoumaru can handle himself just fine.”
“As long as he gives you that same respect,” Inuyasha said firmly, “then I’ve got no beef with him.”
no subject
InuPapa's sense of humor is very British, what can I say? :P
*anxious* I'm watching how you write InuYasha soooo carefully in this (as that's my biggest beef with Sess/Kag fics... I love how you write Sess so you've got me hooked there) and I have to admit this little episode has me incredibly intrigued, both with what's going on in his head
Well, I hope I'm also writing Inuyasha to your liking! I've contemplated writing from his POV as well as Sesshoumaru's and Kagome's, but I want him and his motives to remain mysterious (yeah, I'm mean like that). It was really hard to keep him from being too mushy here - both at the beginning of his scene when he was the vulnerable one, and at the end when he was being all jealous.
Ooooh geez, this could be BAD
If I do my job right, it'll be good...this has all gotten far too complicated for its own good, LOL.
(Random typo: "if he hurts you, then it becomes *my* business")
LOL, thanks! Proof positive that we are immune to our own mistakes (usually reading it out loud helps me catch mine). *goes to correct*
no subject
GAWDS I <3 me some good British humor - it was a really nice touch.
Well, I hope I'm also writing Inuyasha to your liking!
You really are!! I was totally about 5 seconds from editing that original comment, since I was re-reading and was like *facepalm* "That sounds totally not how I meant it" but you beat me to it by responding - so yeah, I didn't mean it nearly as bitchy as it sounded! I'm actually very impressed with how well you're keeping everybody in character... especially InuYasha in this one, with his reaction to Kagome's discussion about her family history and most especially his reaction at the end of the piece.
this has all gotten far too complicated for its own good, LOL
LOL! That happens sometimes... spiraling out of control!
Proof positive that we are immune to our own mistakes
*nodsnods* I have that problem - the mind knows what it's supposed to say and so kinda skims over it ^_^
no subject
I have to admit, I'm really enjoying writing InuPapa here. He's so shameless, but so much fun!
You really are!! I was totally about 5 seconds from editing that original comment, since I was re-reading and was like *facepalm* "That sounds totally not how I meant it" but you beat me to it by responding - so yeah, I didn't mean it nearly as bitchy as it sounded! I'm actually very impressed with how well you're keeping everybody in character... especially InuYasha in this one, with his reaction to Kagome's discussion about her family history and most especially his reaction at the end of the piece.
LOL, I didn't think it was bitchy ;) I was in fact really flattered when you said you were reading it so closely to see if I kept everybody in character! I relish the challenge, and am glad that I've managed to convert a few of you hardcore Inu/Kag fans to my side with this piece ;) I thought you'd especially enjoy their moment here, which is why I let him go ahead and hug her during her little scene.
And, well, I couldn't resist letting a little of his natural antagonism show through there at the end. He's not a sensitive listener by nature, no matter how refined and European I'm trying to make him here :P
LOL! That happens sometimes... spiraling out of control!
It's so much fun, though, I have to admit...reader response has had a lot to do with that, though. I love trying to keep you guys on your toes, and it really forces me to get creative. That email exchange, for instance - I'm looking forward to see if anybody outside LJ leaves me a review, because I'm not sure how many people would *get it* if they just clicked on this chapter and started reading...
*nodsnods* I have that problem - the mind knows what it's supposed to say and so kinda skims over it ^_^
Well *puts on science nerd hat* we just discussed in neuro/cognitive this week about eye movements in visual word recognition, and how our eyes don't actually read every word on the page, but skip a grand majority of them due to our ability to predict what's coming up with great regularity. Very interesting, when you start looking at the ways our mind shortcuts when we read/write in a fluent language.
no subject
Oh good! *wipes brow* I'm glad you read it in the spirit it was intended! Silly internet and lack of tone *grumbles*
I thought you'd especially enjoy their moment here, which is why I let him go ahead and hug her during her little scene.
Oh there was definitely a fan-girl squee. Or two ^_^
am glad that I've managed to convert a few of you hardcore Inu/Kag fans to my side with this piece
I can honestly say this is the only Sess/Kag fic I not only willingly read, but actually wait with anticipation for more. And I mean that as the greatest compliment it can be, because I am stubborn as a mule and very set in my ways.
*puts on science nerd hat*
Science RULEZ and Bill Nye the Science Guy is a demi-god in my eyes *nodsnods*
no subject
Of course! :) And even if it was a criticism, I'd try not to take it very hard, since I know you have the best of intentions anyway (or at least, I hope you do...you've been nothing but nice to me so far!).
Oh there was definitely a fan-girl squee. Or two ^_^
Teehee. I've got to have something to keep you guys coming back ;)
I can honestly say this is the only Sess/Kag fic I not only willingly read, but actually wait with anticipation for more. And I mean that as the greatest compliment it can be, because I am stubborn as a mule and very set in my ways.
I know some people get butthurt when others tell them this ("hey I don't like your pairing but I'm reading this anyway!") but I really do take it as a compliment. I know how set in my ways I am with my preferences, so to me, 'converting' someone is very high praise indeed!
Sometimes I don't like labeling the ship on a fic because I feel like doing that drives away potential readers. Plus, well, people can be very narrow-minded when it comes to ships anyway: more than a few of my non-LJ reviews have asked me if this is really a Sess/Kag fic cause I have so much Inu/Kag interaction. Let's me open-minded, shall we? Where's the fun in it if the main pairing doesn't have any conflict?
Plus, as much fun as I'm having, I still don't really feel like a part of any ship or group in fandom, so its nice when people are willing to come over and play with me. Yay adventurers!
Science RULEZ and Bill Nye the Science Guy is a demi-god in my eyes *nodsnods*
If you tell me you learned about saccades on Bill Nye I'm gonna cry - not only because I didn't learn about them til freakin NOW, but because I <3 Bill Nye so hard and watched him religiously and would be upset if I managed to miss something so cool when he presented it!
no subject
*crosses heart* I always only have the best of intentions, especially with you cuz you're awesome! ^_^
If you tell me you learned about saccades on Bill Nye I'm gonna cry - not only because I didn't learn about them til freakin NOW, but because I <3 Bill Nye so hard and watched him religiously and would be upset if I managed to miss something so cool when he presented it!
If I remember correctly, he mentions it in both the communication episode and the one on the brain... not really in-depth, but enough that it got me thinking about it and researching it elsewhere.
I totally met Bill Nye in person and it's one of my greatest memories EVER.