Under Pressure by Newborn Lamb

Prologue

The Prologue

"Welcome to Higurashi Diner. Can I help you?"

Sesshomaru raised his head to stare into wide brown eyes. She looked, in a way, curious but also very shy. She held a notebook readily in one hand and in the other she held a pen. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun and her nametag read 'Kagome'.

"I'm fine." Sesshomaru said waving the young girl off.

She frowned and studied him a moment. Sesshomaru only looked away as she examined him. Finally, when he realized that she wasn't moving he knocked her from her stupor by saying, "I believe, Miss, that you have other customers to tend to."

He amusedly watched her turn a deep shade of pink. "I'm sorry." She muttered, "Are you sure you don't want anything? Coffee?"

"I can assure you, I am fine." Sesshomaru said a bit annoyed. Persistent now wasn't she? He was used to curious little girls. Their pitiful obsessions inconvenienced him to no end. Never had he paid any mind to them, however. If he were to do that, he would only be encouraging them. God forbid Sesshomaru walk past the high school. He would be playing follow the leader with ten of the school girls. Each one giggling annoyingly and asking ridiculous questions.

"Are you gay?" one would ask.

They would all assume the answer before he could give it. (Not that he would)

"Oh man!" Another would pout, "Why are all the good looking guys gay?"

"I'll bet you're rich, Mister!" One girl would holler, "Are you rich?"

"What's your name?" Another girl.

"How old are you?"

"Do you think I'm pretty?"

Their voices would mix and become one giant headache. Sesshomaru was quite envied by his younger brother's friend, Miroku. Miroku would ask his secret and he would simply say. 'I ignore them and they flock around me like your typical pigeons.'

Now this girl... she was a bit different from the others. This girl wasn't as forward, but almost modest.

"If you're sure you don't want anything..." Sesshomaru heard her say, but her voice trailed off and she finally left him in peace. Alone at last to ponder over the past events.

What had been bothering Sesshomaru the past month was that damned Naraku. The sly bastard had been troubling Sesshomaru for most his life, but this particular month especially. Sesshomaru was the proud owner of Taisho Corp. He had taken over after his father. Naraku's father had been good friends with Inu Taisho while Sesshomaru was growing up. Unfortunately, Sesshomaru and Naraku didn't share the same relationship as their fathers.

Some would call it a childhood rivalry. Sesshomaru just referred to the situation as a pain in the ass. Naraku would scheme up ways to manipulate Sesshomaru into doing whatever he wished, even as children. Now that Naraku and Sesshomaru were adults, Sesshomaru wouldn't fall into those tricks so easily anymore. No. He would not humor Naraku.

Naraku had been begging Sesshomaru for employment in his company. Sesshomaru knew better than to give in. His company would have nothing to do with Naraku or his deceiving ways. Inu Taisho however had also been nagging the hell out of Sesshomaru to submit. He felt that Sesshomaru and Naraku should be as good friends as he and Naraku's father.

Sesshomaru's thoughts were interrupted when a steaming mug was placed before him. Sesshomaru recognized the liquid to be coffee. He glared at the girl who had placed it there.

"You look tired." Kagome said with a weak smile, "You don't have to drink it if you don't want to... I... I just couldn't let you sit here with nothing. Don't worry. It's on the house." Sesshomaru watched indifferently as the girl smiled, winked and walked away.

"Stupid woman." Sesshomaru muttered loud enough for her to hear. She paused a moment and turned to glare at him over her shoulder but eventually left him once again.

Sesshomaru waited until she disappeared into the kitchen before he took a sip.

~

"Sesshomaru, where the hell have you been?" Inuyasha asked in a gruff tone.

"I stopped at a small diner to clear my mind." Sesshomaru's cold tone responded over the other line, "Meet me here in twenty minutes. I wish to discuss something with you."

"Damn it all!" Inuyasha groaned, but grabbed a pad, ready to jot down, "Where is it?"

"It's The Higurashi Diner on the same street as Taisho Corp."

"Fine." Inuyasha sighed, "Mind if I bring Miroku?"

"Very much so." Sesshomaru bit out.

"Good." Inuyasha retorted, "We'll be there in a few."

Inuyasha's answer was the dial tone. He sighed and put his cell phone away. "Miroku, let's go."

Miroku, who had been sleeping soundlessly, sprawled over Inuyasha's sofa stirred. "What?" he asked, his words were slurred and indecipherable, "S-Sango... Is that you, love?"

"Wipe the drool from your chin." Inuyasha teased, tossing the car keys at his confused friend, "You're driving."

~

"So, you drank your coffee after all?" Kagome asked with a smug grin, "Even after all the crap I had to put up with?"

"I told you I didn't want it." Sesshomaru said coldly.

"True." Kagome remarked, picking up the empty mug and placing it on the tray, along with all the other dirty dishes from her previous customers, "But your actions speak louder than your words."

Sesshomaru's fist tightened for a moment before he caught himself. Why would he let this woman irritate him? She would just leave him alone if he ignored her. Besides there was no point in arguing over something so ridiculous... Though, she did have a point, and she presented a good challenge.

"So what were trying to say when you gave me the coffee?" Sesshomaru asked her retreating form. He watched her stiffen. She turned to glare back at him with a scowl. Her cheeks burned a pretty crimson as she searched for a come back.

"I was just being a good hostess." She spat out.

"Do you treat all of your customers with such hospitality?" Sesshomaru queried, his eyes burning into hers.

She spun around, the red shade of her cheeks burning deeper with each passing moment. Unfortunately, she didn't see the puddle. Sesshomaru watched as Kagome fell back. In her panic, she accidentally tossed the trey of dishes. Sesshomaru wouldn't make any moves to help her... Unfortunately the man behind her did.

Kagome landed safely into the arms of a handsome, dark haired man. He smiled charmingly at her. "Are you alright ma'am?"

Kagome's answer was interrupted by the crashing of dishes as they hit the ground.

"Oh no!" she murmured, "Gramps is going to kill me!" Sesshomaru watched Kagome wrestle her way out of Miroku's grasp so that she could stare heatedly in his direction. With an accusing finger pointed directly at Sesshomaru she shouted, "This is all your fault!"

Sesshomaru quirked a single eyebrow. Before he could say anything in his own defense a raspy voice called from the doorway of the kitchen. "Kagome Higurashi!" An elderly man shouted bringing all of the customers' attention to him, "What has happened here?"

Kagome winced. "Well, you see, Gramps..."

"The lovely lady simply lost her balance." Miroku cut in, "I can assure you it was an accident. As a matter of fact, sir, it was my fault. I accidentally ran into her." Kagome gawked at Miroku with flushed cheeks and parted lips.

"What are you saying?" she asked under her breath.

"Just play along." Miroku whispered back with a wink.

Sesshomaru sighed. If he had wanted to spend his morning watching Miroku hit on underage women he would have driven by the high school again. Getting up he headed for the door. He could only guess that Inuyasha was waiting in the car. He would discuss his business there and wait for Miroku to clear this mess up.

Inuyasha, as assumed, had been waiting in the passenger's seat of the car. Sesshomaru opened the door to the driver's seat and entered. "What's up, Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha asked, impatiently, "This better be good. Dad's been in a bad mood lately. You owe me big."

"Did he call?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Yeah, he wanted to know if you were in the office."

"And what did you say?" Sesshomaru asked.

"I told him you were there, but you were in the middle of an important call." Inuyasha explained, "Damn it, Sesshomaru! I can't keep covering your ass! You're only avoiding the office because you don't want to have to deal with Naraku."

Sesshomaru let out a sigh and looked the other way as if to end the conversation.

"I can't exactly blame you." Inuyasha growled, "That pain in the ass has been showing up everyday. You can't just leave me to deal with him, you know. Just tell him we don't have any open positions!"

"It's not that simple." Sesshomaru snapped, "If I deny Naraku a job, father will surely resent me for it. I need father's support... financially."

"What do you mean!?" Inuyasha asked with rounded eyes, "Isn't the company paying...?"

"Not nearly enough." Sesshomaru answered indifferently, "Not as it used to. Nowadays there aren't many lawyers who are willing to work for such a low salary, and we simply do not have the money to pay them efficiently."

"What do you mean?" Inuyasha asked, "I thought we had enough employees."

"Many of them quit when I lowered their wages." Sesshomaru admitted. He looked forward and massaged his temples with long slender fingers, "I know that our company is screwed as long as Naraku is employed."

"That's without a doubt." Inuyasha agreed. Inuyasha's pager suddenly went off and he checked it quickly. "Damn," he muttered, "its dad. Where the hell is Miroku? We need to get to the office now!"

Sesshomaru suddenly smirked. "I think he's going to be occupied for some time." Sesshomaru explained, "We mind as well be off."

Inuyasha shrugged, "I have no time to wait around."

With that, Sesshomaru backed out of the parking lot and drove off.

Author's Note

Okay. I've done my research. I've read fanfiction. I've got my beta reader (thanks Amy!) I think I'm ready for this. I may even, dare I say, add a lemon or two to the story. Just to spice it up a bit and to reel in some more readers. The story will get a lot better. It's really quick, (I know) Please review. Thanks!! ^^

Emica