Pride and Prejudice by White Dire Wolf
Chapter 1
A/N: Property of Rumiko, blah blah blah. And changed the five daughters to fit better with the manga. So four daughters, one Souta. Also changed a few names here and changed Yasha's personality to better suit him. Mr. Bingley is a bit of a tool
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A chimed ring startled Kagome Higurashi from a comfortable sleep. Lifting her head, sh e glimpsed the time at 7am before letting her head fall back to her warm pillow. Whoever was calling at this time on a Saturday morning was looking at a world of hurt. The ring echoed repeatedly over the bedroom loft before being cut off by a feminine sleep hazed voice across from her.
“Hello? No, it’s not a bad time to call. Yes, I was up. I was about to shower and… sorry? No, no she’s right here but… I see. Okay, hold on.”
A soft padding of feet was all the warning Kagome had before she felt a nudge of the hard plastic phone on her back. She blearily opened her eyes to gaze upward at her twin sister.
“It’s Mom.” Kikyo murmured.
Kagome let a plaintive moan escape her lips before pushing the speaker button so they both could hear the no doubt dire news their mother had to say. Moira Higurashi was a renowned gossip, often in the know with the latest news as well as the proud bearer of the recent rumours. Normally the older woman would be coy with whatever information she had accumulated to entice the influence of their subdued father, whose power in the business and media world would no doubt add to her growing meddling, but when the old man could not be manipulated, she would then call on her five children to help intervene. And at seven in the morning, what news she had could only mean one thing.
It was about a man.
In Mrs. Higurashi’s mind, when a bachelor with wealth had entered into her society, it could only reasonably be concluded that he was in need of a wife. Whatever his business of moving into the neighbourhood was, it was radically altered when he became the unwitting property of any eligible woman in need of a wealthy husband. And Moira was determined to marry off her daughters at any cost - much to the chagrin of the two eldest who stared at the phone with mixed expressions.
Kagome sighed. “Morning, Mom.”
“Kagome! I didn’t wake you, dear, did I?” Her mother’s shrill voice pierced over the speaker.
Kagome gave Kikyo a knowing glance as her sister returned to her bed on the opposite side of the loft to brush out her knotted hair. “No, Mom, I always run on four hours sleep.”
“Four hours, what were you doing up at such an ungodly hour?”
“I had a deadline, Ma. My editor wanted my latest manuscript by this morning and –“
“Fine, yes. Did you read the Spotlight section of the newspaper this morning?”
Slowly shutting her eyes, Kagome counted to ten, knowing exactly where this was going.
Kikyo quickly intervened. “No, Mother. What did it say?”
“Western Estates has been rented out!”
“Well… that’s interesting news. That large manor hasn’t had a tenant in years.”
“Don’t you want to know who rented it?” Moira’s excitement was barely contained behind the exasperated annoyance of having to ask.
“Like we can object to hearing it.” Kagome rolled her eyes before her sister shushed her.
“Who?” Kikyo replied, ignoring Kagome’s pleading mouthing of “Don’t feed it!”
“Why, by none other than Mr. Yasha Takahashi! Mrs. Wong, who you know lives just at the apex of the property, had seen a procession of town cars arrive just last month and stated she had seen Mr. Takahashi walk over the acreage. Now, you know Mrs. Wong is a terrible gossip and could barely be trusted with such radical news, so I naturally asked your father, who absolutely refused to confirm or deny the claim at all! I would think he would have been more lenient with such news as Mr. Takahashi is his employer, though very high up. One would think it would be big news transferring from New York to Connecticut. Thank goodness for me that I happened upon a small blurb about the local rental which gave me the incentive to call you right away.”
“How fortuitous for us.” Kagome gave the clock on the bedside table a dour look.
“And so it is!” Moira continued. “He is a very successful software architect, according to your father, and is estimated to make over ten million a year! A lucky catch of either of you girls.”
“Mom!” Kagome nearly burst in a furious tirade.
“Mother, Kagome and I are quite happy as we are.” Kikyo stated humbly.
“I know, I know.” Kagome could sense the wave of her mother’s hand. “But even working girls need a man to take care of them, especially when the children come.”
Kagome’s hand shot out to hit the end call button before it was caught in Kikyo’s firm grip. She scowled bitterly at her sister’s quiet demeanour. How Kikyo was able to talk to their mother without sarcasm or lack of patience was beyond her. She knew Kikyo shared her distaste of their mother’s blatant disregard for tact, but her elder twin had the serenity and mild temper that she did not. Though their appearances were similar such as their dark hair and fair skin, they were opposites in attitude. Where Kikyo was quiet, reserved and thoughtful, she was opinionated, independent and carefree. And also not one appreciative to being pawned off to whatever fancies her mother had at the time.
“It isn’t right for the two of you to not have someone in your life at your age.” Moira continued, as if reading her thoughts. “You’re nearly thirty. It’s unnatural.”
Kikyo let out a small sigh. “We’ve been very busy. With my new psychiatry practice and Kagome’s new book… dating just isn’t much of a priority.”
“Of course, dears, and I understand that perfectly. Which is all the more reason to have called.”
Kagome shut her eyes as she let her body go limp in her bed to the inevitable plan they were now thrust into.
“Mr. Takahashi is having a welcome party next Friday evening and as your father is an associate to his company, our family will be cordially invited. All of us.” Kagome could hear the firm demand. “And I expect you two to arrive early. I will not have Mrs. Willis fawning that Olivia of hers on him.”
“We'll be there on time.” Kikyo caught Kagome's heated glare. “We’ll call you later in the week.”
“Very good, my loves, I’m going to get your sisters and brother up and head over to the shops. This is just so exciting!” Moira’s shrill voice hung in the air long after she hung up.
“This is an absolute nightmare.” Kagome buried her face deep into her pillow.
“I know.” She could feel her sister sit on the side of her bed. “But this isn’t about her. It’s about being there for dad. He would never hear the end of it if we weren’t there to intervene. Besides, it sounds kind of fun.”
Kagome lifted her head to meet soft brown eyes that looked rather wistful. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she giggled incredulously. “What fun can be had with a bunch of computer techs in the middle of nowhere Connecticut?”
Kikyo shrugged. “To me it’s a night out. When was the last time we went anywhere?”
Kagome studied her sister a few moments before grinning. “Fine, but you’ll have to be the one that has to charm Mr. Takahashi.”
Sly dark eyes shifted over to her. “But at least I know whom I have to charm.”
Kagome’s grin fell with cold realization. “Crap,” she rolled over and stared up at the wooden beams of the ceiling. “No doubt I’ll be set up with a pointy eared Spock with no emotion and says ‘indeed’ all the time.”
“And that’s if you’re lucky.” Kikyo hummed.