Hello all. Here's the next chapter!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA! THIS STORY IS FOR MATURE ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY!


Kagome spent Sunday going from one extreme to the next. She allowed herself to cry and wallow in her self-pity for a few hours in the morning before getting to work on her business plan. After a few hours, she felt darkness starting to eat at her heart again. She turned her computer off and settled into the couch to watch T.V. and ended up crying again when the titanic came on. An hour in to the movie, she realized that she still didn't have a cell phone. Getting off the couch, she grabbed her home phone and dialed Inuyasha's number. He picked up after the second ring.

"Kags? Is this your home number? You almost never use this number."

Kagome's heart warmed a fraction of a degree at the sound of her best friend's voice.

"Yeah it's me. Are you busy today? I have to get a new phone and thought you'd maybe want to go with me."

She heard him chuckle, "I was wondering why you hadn't texted me back, I'd totally forgotten about your demolished phone. Yeah sure, pick you up in an hour?"

"Sounds good. Bye Yasha!"

Hanging up the phone, she ran to the bathroom and took a shower. Just as she was finished getting dressed, there was a knock on her door. As she raced to grab her broken phone and purse, the knocking turned into banging.

"Hurry up wench, we aint got all day!"

She cracked a small grin at Inuyasha's impatience. He was always this way. Pulling the door open, she yelped as he fell through the doorway and landed on top of her.

"Damn woman, warn a man!"

She chuckled as he pulled her off the ground. She herded him out of the apartment and turned to lock her door. They walked down to his car and when they climbed into the car, his death metal turned on at ear piercing volume. She yelped and threw her hand to the dash to turn it down. Her ears were still ringing as he started the car and pulled out, chuckling the entire time.

She scowled at him, "How do you listen to that stuff up so loud? Isn't your hearing super sensitive?"

He cracked a smile at her, "Of course it is, but I have little flaps in my ears that can protect them from loud sounds if I know they're coming."

She cocked her head sideways at him and he chuckled at her. They made their way through traffic going well over the speed limit until they pulled into the mall parking lot.

She frowned at him, "You drive like a car thief."

He grinned at her as he got out and opened her door. The two went into the mall and an hour later they came out and Kagome was armed with a new phone. She had switched her contacts and noticed a handful of texts from Inuyasha that made her laugh. He had truly forgotten about her maimed phone.

As they headed back to the car, Kagome's stomach growled angrily. She looked up to Inuyasha sheepishly.

"Food?"

He nodded, "I'll pay, but only if we get ramen. You know I love ramen."

She nodded and chuckled as they sped off toward Inuyasha's favorite ramen spot.


Monday came too soon for Kagome, and anxiety filled her as she got dressed for work. She'd spent the rest of the day working on her business plan while Inuyasha had sat on her couch eating her ice cream. He'd asked her a few times if she wanted to talk about Sesshomaru, but she'd just shook her head and went back to working on her presentation. Now that she was going to present her business plan to some of Taisho's partners, she was nearly consumed by her nerves. She knew that she had a solid business layout and that her ideas would fit in seamlessly with how Toga ran his company, but that didn't save her from the anxiety over presenting in front of high profile billionaires.

Kagome's mind hadn't even touched Sesshomaru since she'd woken up, she had bigger fish to fry this morning. As she made her coffee and went over the portfolios she'd printed for the meeting, she heard her phone ding. She picked it up and saw that Inuyasha had texted her. The first real smile she'd had in days lit up her face.

I: You've got this. Kaggy. Go kick some ass.

K: Thank you so much Inu! I needed that. It's like six in the morning, why are you awake?

I: Couldn't forget to tell my best friend good luck, now could I?

K: You're still drunk from last night aren't you?

I: HOW DID YOU KNOW?

She chuckled at her phone. Inuyasha always had the bad habit of frequenting bars on Sunday nights because they sold discounted alcohol. Apparently he'd been stood up on a date and had drank his sorrows away at the bar. She felt bad for him and would have met him at the bar and joined him in the pity party, but she knew she had her meeting today, a meeting that she absolutely could not afford to screw up.

She gathered up her materials and made sure to double check that she had everything. Once she was ready, she strode from her apartment and to her car with determination. She drove the few minutes to Taisho Inc. and parked in her usual spot. She rode the elevator up to Toga's floor and went into the empty conference room. After setting up her things, she went to Toga's office to chat with him before the meeting. She was surprised to find that his things were there, but he was not. She tilted her head in confusion before deciding she'd just wait to talk to him until after the meeting.

She pulled out her phone to see that the meeting was due to start in five minutes. She made her way back to the conference room and as she was about to go in, her phone started beeping repeatedly. She pulled it out to silence it and saw that Inuyasha had sent her a long text. She opened it to skim it over but her heart stopped as soon as she read the first few lines.

I: MAYDAY, MAYDAY! Sesshomaru's going to be in your meeting this morning! JUST found out from pops. SQUARE YOUR SHOULDERS and kick this meeting in the ass Kags! You just….

Kagome stopped reading after that and took a moment to calm her heart rate and steady her breathing. Once she had her body under control, she straightened her spine and looked ahead with the most professional expression she could muster. She'd just pretend he wasn't there and speak to all the other partners. With that, she walked straight into the conference room with as much confidence as she could conjure.


The day was proving to be hellish and it was only six in the morning. He'd planned on going in to work at seven thirty, as usual, but was woken up to the annoying sound of his phone going off. He growled at it and checked to see who it was. It was his father, notifying him that there was an emergent partners meeting at seven and he was to be present or there would be hell to pay. He groaned and responded that he'd be there without delay. Within fifteen minutes he was showered and dressed and heading to his car. He was at work by six thirty and had just sat down behind his desk when his father had barged in. Sesshomaru fought the urge to groan in agitation. He leveled his father with a bored gaze and Toga snarled at him.

"What did you do?"

"I do not know what you're referring to, father."

Toga growled at him and pinned him with a glare, "You know damn well that I'm talking about Kagome."

Despite his efforts, a small whine escaped his throat at her name. Toga heard it immediately and Sesshomaru could smell the pride rolling off him.

"I knew it. I knew it! You love her. Why must you both torture yourselves and be so stubborn?"

Sesshomaru's gaze narrowed, "I did not say that I loved her. You have been insinuating it for years."

Toga's agitation grew and it was pressing down on Sesshomaru uncomfortably.

"Don't you lie to me, pup. She has been crying for days. And I heard the whine! You're just as miserable as she is!"

Sesshomaru averted his gaze and scowled, refusing to justify his nonsense with any sort of response. Toga's growl became deeper and more menacing and Sesshomaru felt the hairs on the nape of his neck stand up at the sound of his angry alpha. His gaze flitted to see his father glaring at him with red tinged eyes.

"We are going to that meeting. And you will keep your mouth shut and show her the respect she deserves."

Sesshomaru tilted his head at his father in confusion until his meaning kicked him in the teeth. Sesshomaru tried to sound bored but his words came out as a hiss.

"She will be in this meeting?"

A wry grin covered Toga's face, "Yes, she's what this partner meeting is all about. You missed the email since you left early Friday. She's presenting her business plan to the partners and they'll decide whether or not they want to endorse her. I've already agreed and told her I would cover everything but she thought that would be nepotism. Since you're a partner in this company you will be attending and as my son you will show Kagome the respect she deserves."

Sesshomaru pushed down the pain coming from his sudden throbbing heart. He sent a manufactured scowl at his father.

"I will be fine. This is a trivial matter and will not take much energy on my part."

Toga scoffed at his son before walking out of his office with Sesshomaru following close behind. As they neared the conference room, Sesshomaru stiffened when Kagome's scent wafted into his nose. He fought down the whimper that was trying to escape his lips. He grit his teeth and followed his father through the door only to find that this room was permeated in her scent. He rubbed the bridge of his nose. The next hour was going to be complete agony.

He'd just sat down and taken notice of the portfolio on the desk when he heard the doors open. He closed his eyes and inhaled slowly. Her scent, fresh and clean, wafted into his nose. He nearly groaned as it intoxicated him and pain lanced through his chest. He kept it together, barely, and raised his head to find her standing at the head of the room looking like she as the one who owned this company and not his father. He raised a brow at her and noticed that she hadn't even noticed him. She was greeting the partners one by one and as she approached him, he waited to see her reaction on baited breath.

"Sesshomaru Sama, a pleasure to see you again."

And that was it. She moved on to his father with a huge smile directed at him and then continued to the end of the table. Sesshomaru was fighting every one of his muscles that were telling him to throttle her. She'd just brushed passed him like he was anyone else. He wanted to stare at her with his mouth gaping, but he resisted. The pain in his chest was growing the more she ignored him.

The next hour would have been complete torture if not for the fact that Kagome was a complete genius and had worked the room like a professional. She had laid out her ingenious plan and executed her presentation with exact precision. Sesshomaru sat in his chair in complete awe of her.

Where the hell has she been hiding this all these years?

She hasn't been hiding it, you were too dense to notice.

He scowled slightly at his beast and his father elbowed him in the ribs, thinking that he was scowling at Kagome. After she was finished with her presentation, she left the room to allow them time to discuss their decision. The other partners began speaking to each other and Toga turned to Sesshomaru with a scowl on his face.

"I was not scowling at her. My beast wouldn't get out of my head", Sesshomaru said in hushed tones before he realized how pathetic it sounded.

Toga raised a brow at him and then turned to the other partners, seemingly satisfied with his explanation. Toga cleared his throat and the others turned to him and the room fell silent

"I think you all see what a benefit Ms. Higurashi would be to this company. I'm advising that you all accept her proposal before she goes to another competitor and they start stealing our clients out from underneath us."

The board members were all nodding and Toga turned to his son.

"What do you think, Sesshomaru?"

Sesshomaru fought the urge to raise a brow and spoke in a deadpan voice, "I agree. She will be an asset to this company."

All of the board members stared at him with wide eyes and his father had a knowing grin on his face. Sesshomaru almost never agreed with his father and even when he did, he rarely spoke out in these meetings, deeming them not worth his time. They called Kagome back in and told her they were willing to accept her offer and Toga offered to help her personally with ironing out the kinks. Sesshomaru watched as she withheld a squeal of excitement, but as she looked over at him, the happiness in her eyes died and it was replaced with agony. He glanced away immediately. That one glance had sent waves of excruciating pain through him.

As Kagome exited the room, one of the younger partners caught up to her and engaged her in conversation. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at the man as he placed his hand on Kagome's back. It wasn't placed low enough to be deemed inappropriate but the idea of anyone touching her sent fury through his body.

Toga, sensing his son's barely concealed fury, watched on with glee. Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed and a growl was threatening to tear from his throat. He pushed it down, she was not his any longer. Despite the knowledge that she had left him, he still felt the stab of jealousy in his heart. His eyes widened as he realized the emotion. He hadn't felt jealousy in nearly seven years. The last time he had, a wolf boy had been pestering Kagome into going on a date with him, and she'd nearly said yes. The memory tore through his heart, sending shockwaves of pain and anger through him.

Sesshomaru was torn out of his thoughts as his father placed his hand on his shoulder.

"Go talk to her."

"Absolutely not."

Sesshomaru looked around the room, stunned when he realized the room had been empty for some time.

Toga sighed heavily and sat down again, "You realize that she'll get over it eventually and she'll start going on dates. Sooner or later, someone's going to catch her eye and someone else will have their hands on her. She'll fall in love and get married and-", he broke off as Sesshomaru let out a feral growl.

"Enough!"

With that, he rose from his chair and stalked out of the conference room. He prowled to the elevator, eyes cast downward in frustration. All the while, not noticing the pair of oceanic orbs that followed his every movement.

He rode down in silence, stewing in his frustration. When he reached his floor, the cubicles filled with his employees all fell silent as his frigid yoki settled over them. He was in a foul mood today, and they knew immediately they'd be avoiding him as much as possible. He stalked to his office and slammed the door before collapsing into his chair and dropping his head into his hands.

He heard stomping outside of his door, heading in his direction. He sat up straight and leveled a glare at the door as Inuyasha burst into the room. The smell of alcohol assaulted his superior senses and he fought back the urge to retch. The hanyou was pickled drunk and smelt like he'd bathed in sake.

Sesshomaru quirked and eyebrow at the belligerent hanyou and was surprised when he didn't stop, but he walked around to his side of the desk and grabbed him by the collar. Inuyasha brought his face down to Sesshomaru's, mere inches apart.

"Don't even consider going near her. You haven't seen what a mess she's been these past few days. I don't give a flying fuck if pop wants you two together. Stay away from her. She's been hurt enough."

Being released from his momentary surprise, Sesshomaru reached out and snatched Inuyasha's wrist, effectively releasing himself from the hanyou's grasp. He wound the arm behind Inuyasha's back and held him hostage there.

"While you and I have certainly grown closer these past few years, and while I do, on occasion, enjoy your company, do not for a single moment assume that those facts mean I will not separate your head from your shoulders. Do not touch me, and do not presume to tell me what I can and cannot do."

With that, he released Inuyasha and sat back in his chair. Before Inuyasha could respond, a cool yoki flowed over them from the doorway. Sesshomaru groaned as he recognized it. Inuyasha's face grew soft as he smiled toward the doorway.

"Now really, I leave you two alone for a few weeks and you're already at each other's throats?"

Inuyasha sent the man a huge grin before approaching and giving him a pat on the back.

"Kurama, you slick bastard, how did you get in here? And why are you in your fox form?"

Kurama notched a brow at him and turned to Sesshomaru, "I can always get in. Your father has left standing orders to allow me in. I am in this form because this is a building filled to the brim with youkai and I will present myself accordingly."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes at the man while Sesshomaru sat in silence, glaring daggers at Kurama.

"Inuyasha, we'll catch up later, for now, I've got business to attend to."

Inuyasha nodded and patted him on the back before sending Sesshomaru a glare and walking out. Sesshomaru knew why he was here. He wanted to check on him, talk to him about her.

Sesshomaru leveled a full on glare at Kurama, "I do not wish to speak on the matter."

Kurama, being a fox youkai, was wise and cunning. He knew what had transpired, though Sesshomaru wasn't sure how he'd found out. The demon was Sesshomaru's oldest and best friend, and he understood him far better than anyone else did. Sesshomaru didn't like it. Kurama could read him like a book.

Sesshomaru surveyed him with an assessing glance. He was in his youkai form. He was tall and his skin was alabaster and he had golden eyes similar to Sesshomaru's. He had little silver triangle ears poking out through his long silver hair. He wore a perfectly tailored suit and stood with an air of confidence and his yoki roamed freely through the room. Had Sesshomaru not been a daiyoukai, he was sure the aura would be stifling.

"I see you are well."

Kurama nodded before moving to take the seat across from Sesshomaru, "Yes, my vacation was lovely, but that is not why I'm here, so let us skip the pleasantries. Your father has recommended my services to her. I am supposed to meet with her today and see if I can be of any help to her growing company. Obviously, I don't want to infringe upon your territory or step on any toes."

Sesshomaru's gaze turned to steel and his yoki spread through the room and the temperature of his office dropped a few degrees. He would not put it past his friend to try and poach Kagome, especially now that Sesshomaru no longer had claim over her.

"Do as you wish. I hold no opinions over her any longer."

Kurama cocked a brow and chuckled darkly, "Your father was right. Well, then I will be heading off to my meeting. If you change your mind about wanting to talk about it, you know how to get a hold of me."

Sesshomaru scowled and waved his hand toward his friend, indicating his dismissal. Kurama let his yoki approach Sesshomaru's aggressively before grinning and leaving the office without a word. Kurama never let Sesshomaru talk to him like a subordinate. He always knew when to push back and make it apparent that they were nearly equal in power, though, technically Kurama had hundreds of years of life over the daiyoukai.

Sesshomaru settled back into his chair and tried to focus on his work, but his mind kept wandering to Kagome and Kurama's meeting. His eyes narrowed as he imagined her explaining everything to the youkai with her bubbly nature and big smile. He'd then flirt with her and she'd blush from head to toe. Drowning in the mental images, he growled in agony.

What are you going to do about this?

We have to do something, anything to make this better. Before I lose my sanity.


Hey everyone! As always, I hope you enjoyed. I'll be working on the next chapter of Heated Betrayal for the rest of the night.

Thank you for reading, feel free to comment or review.

-Love KJ