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Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of its characters.

Chapter Four

Kagome sat down at her vanity to finish up her makeup. It was Saturday night and she, Sango, Ayame, and Rin had decided to meet for a girls' night out. Kagome was rather excited. She had dressed in a simple knee length blue dress with narrow straps, medium heels, and a silver necklace. She had curled her hair and applied some light eye makeup and lipstick. She glanced at the clock: 6:45. She decided she'd better get going, grabbed her purse, and walked out her door. She locked it then walked down two flights to the second floor to her friend Sango's apartment. Sango was driving.

Kagome knocked on Sango's door and heard a yell of 'just a sec'. In a little more than a second Sango opened the door. She had put on black dress pants, a black and pink shirt with no back, and black heels.

"You look great, you ready to go?"

"Thanks and you too, just let me grab my keys."

Sango locked up her own apartment then they went to pick up Ayame at her apartment about ten minutes away and Rin who lived on campus, being a sophomore. Ayame wore a blue skirt with a lacy white shirt with wide straps and white boots. Rin had put on a pretty orange patterned dress with cap sleeves and a flowing skirt with low white shoes. Ayame had put her hair in pigtails while Rin had tamed half her short hair into an off center ponytail.

The girls piled into Sango's car and rove to the club. They were all prepared for a fun girl's night out.

Sesshomaru sat reading in a chair when the phone rang. He glanced at the clock before answering it: 9:32.

"Yes?"

"Hello Sesshomaru"

Sesshomaru's heart tightened subconsciously upon hearing the voice on the phone, Kagura.

"What do you want?"

"I wanted to speak with you. Will you meet me at Club Tama?"

Sesshomaru thought for a moment before answering.

"Very well."

"Good. I'll see you in half an hour."

They hung up without another word. Sesshomaru stared at the phone for a moment before putting it down. He was going to meet with Kagura. Why? They had broken up. She had cheated on him, broken their engagement. Yet, he had agreed to meet her. He must be crazy. Sesshomaru changed into black slacks and a white dress shirt. As he grabbed his keys and wallet, an unexpected face popped into his mind as he thought of how he was meeting his ex. A face with long black hair and blue eyes. Kagome. Sesshomaru frowned. Why had he thought of her? He pushed that thought and any thoughts concerning her out of his mind as he headed out to his car.

Kagome, Sango, Ayame, and Rin sat around the table laughing and talking. None were big drinkers but didn't mind ordering some beverages. Sango opted to nurse a beer being obligated to drive later. They were talking about nothing in particular when a boy with spiky brown hair and wearing a green shirt approached the table.

"Kohaku!" Sango exclaimed, catching sight of her younger brother.

"Oh, hey Sango." He turned to Rin. "Excuse me; I was just wondering if you would care to dance."

Rin smiled and took Kohaku's hand. "Sure."

Sango, Kagome, and Ayame all watched the two walk onto the dance floor.

"They look cute together, don't they?" Kagome said.

"Yup," agreed Ayame slightly dreamily.

"I just hope my brother has enough brains to realize what a great girl Rin is."

"Let's hope."

Rin danced with Kohaku for a couple songs before making her way back to her friends. However, before leaving his side, Kagome, Sango, and Ayame all saw Rin take a pen and write something on Kohaku's hand before reaching up and giving him a peck on the cheek. Rin blushed then made her way back to her friends leaving a rather flushed Kohaku holding a hand to his cheek.

"So," Ayame said with a smile as Rin sat down. "Have fun?"

Rin blushed even more "Um…yes."

"What did you write on his hand?" Sango asked curiously.

"Oh…my-my number." She looked at her hands. "He wants to go out on a night that I'm not busy. He didn't want to leave you guys hanging."

"Did he?" Kagome asked. "That was sweet of him." She shot Sango a look whom then looked at Ayame and the three of them promptly fell into a fit of giggles.

"What?" Rin exclaimed.

"Nothing," Ayame said wiping tears of mirth from her eyes. "We just can't decide who has fallen harder. You or him."

Rin opened her mouth, gaped at Ayame for a moment, and then shut it. "Him?"

"I thought he was going to melt into the floor," Kagome teased.

"You're exaggerating," Rin protested

"No," Sango disagreed. "I know my brother and I do believe you've bewitched him."

Rin said no more but her three friends could see the happy little smile on her face.

Sesshomaru drummed his fingers on the table he was at. Kagura was already ten minutes late and Sesshomaru was seriously considering leaving. He saw no reason to be here and he certainly didn't want to be here.

However, at that moment Sesshomaru saw the familiar form of Kagura weaving her way toward him, coolly aloof to her surroundings. Sesshomaru looked at her stoically from his seat as she sat down.

"Hello," Kagura said.

Sesshomaru simply looked at her.

"How are you?"

"What do you want, Kagura," he said more as a statement than a question.

"I was wondering how you were doing. How school and work were going for you."

"You were concerned with no such thing."

"Very well," Kagura said her tone growing a trifle colder. "If you must resist all my attempts at small talk, I have been sent here with a very appealing proposition. Naraku is now in control of billions in the electronics industry, primarily computers. He had acquired many of the smaller branches and merged them into his own company. In fact, he has recently made an offer to my own father and I think he may accept."

"I now see why you left me. Another man with a larger wallet."

Kagura continued as if she hadn't heard him. "And Naraku, realizing that you are not the type to sell out, wants to offer you the opportunity to become partners."

Sesshomaru rose, glaring at Kagura. "No."

Kagura also rose not looking at all abashed or surprised. "I knew you would respond in this way. Goodbye Sesshomaru."

Sesshomaru watched her leave through narrowed eyes.

'Damn woman! Who the hell do she and this Naraku think they are!'

Sesshomaru stalked up to the bar, needing a drink badly and not caring that he was indulging in weakness. Sesshomaru out of the corner of his eye saw the woman next to him turn and stare at him.

'Just what I need,' Sesshomaru thought sourly. 'Some drunken dimwit hitting on me.'

He turned to head off the woman's advances and then felt the words die on his lips. For the woman appeared to neither be drunk nor attempting to be seductive. But appeared concerned and surprised. And the woman was not a stranger. It was that girl, Kagome.

Kagome made her way over to the bar, having been elected to go get more drinks. The barman was swamped at the other end of the bar taking care of a horde of particularly voracious customers. He gave Kagome a smile and raised his index finger in a 'just a minute' gesture. Kagome nodded and sat down on a stool. She was staring idly at the various brightly colored bottles when out of the corner of her eye she saw someone practically throw himself into the chair next to her. Kagome looked over at him in curiosity. She started in surprise. It was that guy from her class, Sesshomaru! She felt a mixture of curiosity, surprise, and sympathy. He looked very upset and he didn't seem the type to get upset easily. Kagome was still looking at Sesshomaru when he suddenly turned to face her. Kagome watched as the initial irritation slid off Sesshomaru's face to be replaced by surprise.

"Hey," Kagome said with a smile.

Sesshomaru looked away without answering. Though Kagome noticed with some appreciation that he at least neither grunted, smirked, nor 'hmphed' at her.

"Are you okay?" Kagome questioned.

"Yes," Sesshomaru said still without looking at her.

"Uh, it's just because you look…upset."

Sesshomaru realized he must be showing a great deal of emotion, a fact which grated on him so he attempted to school his features into their usual indifference. However, the anger, indignity, and frustration still filling him were far too great for him to completely get rid of.

Kagome watched with mild shock as the ugliest looks crossed Sesshomaru's face. He looked as though some kind of struggle was going on within his mind.

"Um," Kagome said timidly. "So you're sure your okay? Is anything wrong?"

"I had a meeting with my ex fiancée."

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine."

Kagome felt uncomfortable and sympathetic.

"Tell you what. I'll buy you a drink."

Sesshomaru finally looked at her. He was surprised.

"Don't worry about it."

"No. I'd like to. What'll you have?"

"Vodka."

So Kagome ordered vodka on the rocks, three beers, and a Bloody Mary.

"Thank you." Sesshomaru said.

"No problem." Kagome tucked the three beers in the crook of her left arm and gripped the Bloody Mary in her right hand.

She turned to face Sesshomaru as she began to walk away. "Ex's suck but don't let them get you down." And she returned to her table. Sesshomaru watched her for a few minutes before turning to face the bar. He was feeling better though he had a feeling it wasn't the alcohol. He went to find somewhere to sit. He sat and watched those around him, though his eyes continued to stray to Kagome's table.

The evening went on with the girls talking, laughing, and getting up to dance when invited. Around midnight, Kagome found herself excusing herself to go to the restroom. She was weaving her way back to her table when she felt a coarse hand grab her on the wrist. The owner of the hand spun Kagome around. He was tall and muscular with bright blue eyes, wore a brown t-shirt with a picture of a wolf, and had long black hair pulled back into a ponytail. And Kagome could immediately smell the scent of alcohol. Did the guy bathe in it? Her thoughts were cut off by the sudden alarm that filled her as the guy pulled her flush against him. Kagome immediately began to struggle, alarm making her desperate. The guy seemed not to notice her desperation as he pulled her even closer, wrapping one arm around her waist.

"Ur my woman," the guy slurred with a large grin on his face as he squinted his eyes in an attempt to focus on her face.

"No I'm not! Let me go!" Kagome cried pushing on him with her hand, her other arm was trapped between their bodies. He ran his hand heavily up her side, his hot hand feeling as though it was scorching her skin.

"Let go of me!" Kagome cried.

He just grinned, obviously beyond drunk but still strong. He began to lower his face towards Kagome and she tasted the beer on his breathe. She turned her head away and put her weight behind trying to push away from him. He grasped the back of her head in his hand and forced her to face him. His lips were inches from her own when suddenly he released her head as a long arm in a white dress shirt sleeve wrapped across her shoulder from the front disentangling her from her assailant. The other white clad arm then punched her assailant in the face. There was a snap as the guy's nose broke. Then, as though everything was moving in slow motion, the guy's mouth opened in a yell, his eyes screwed shut, as he flew back ten feet from the force of the punch that had been applied to his face. He landed, hard, on the floor and lay there prone for a moment before struggling into a sitting position. He continued to sit there clutching his nose. Kagome could read fear in his eyes and Kagome could see that his partial butt whooping had been sufficient to sober him enough to realize what was going on.

"I'm sorry," he stuttered. "I didn't mean…" he trailed off, at a loss for words.

Kagome craned her neck backwards to, finally, look at her rescuer, who still held her securely against his chest with his arm across the front of her shoulders. It was Sesshomaru! However, he didn't see the petite girl who barely came up to his shoulders looking at him for he was occupied in glaring at the guy who still sat on the floor.

"Um," Kagome said after a few minutes.

Sesshomaru looked down at her. His eyes traveled down to his arm which was still wrapped around her small frame and quickly removed it. Kagome wrinkled her nose slightly in concentration. Was that…pink on his face? Was he…impossible as it seemed…blushing? Could he even?

"Thank you," Kagome said quietly. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come."

"You're welcome."

"Kagome!"

Kagome turned her head towards the sound of her friend's voice.

"Ayame!" Kagome said waving her down. She also spotted Sango and Rin making their way through the crowd that had gathered.

"What happened?" Ayame demanded. Then her eyes fell on the guy with a bloody nose. "Kouga!"

"You know him?" Sesshomaru asked coldly.

Ayame ignored Sesshomaru and walked up to the said Kouga.

"What the hell do you think you were doing!" Ayame yelled.

"Nothing," Kouga mumbled. He seemed more fearful of this slender girl than the powerful man who stood a head taller than him.

"Have you been drinking!" Ayame demanded and without further ado she grabbed Kouga by the back of the shirt and dragged him away yelling to her friends that she would be right back.

"Thanks again," Kagome said turning her attention back to Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru nodded and walked away, planning to return home. Kagome, Sango, and Rin decided they had had enough for one evening and left the club to search for Ayame before she could murder Kouga (who turned out to be a kind of on again off again boyfriend of unusual type) and go home. Kagome was exhausted but couldn't stop thinking about how Sesshomaru had held her protectively but gently and how nice it felt. Kagome blushed and tried to distract herself.

Sesshomaru arrived home at a quarter past one. He took a quick shower and slid into bed. As he waited for sleep to claim him he found his thoughts dwelling upon Kagome. On the one hand he felt disconcerted. On the other he felt rather reminiscent. He felt disconcerted by his own actions. Why had he acted so? What had cased him to act so swiftly and rashly? Not only had he acted so but his internal reactions to Kouga's manhandling of Kagome had been violent and unexpected even to him. He had felt angry, upset, worried, and even…jealous. Why? He didn't know her and yet he had defended her like she was his to do so. Despite his misgivings over his actions and thoughts, the thoughts were not entirely bad. He couldn't help but reflect with appreciation over the way Kagome had fit in his arm, the way she had looked up at him, the kindness and understanding she'd shown at the bar, and the satisfaction he had felt in effectively protecting her. Sesshomaru allowed his lips to draw upwards ever so slightly as he dropped off to sleep.

Okay, that's it for chapter four. I hope everyone liked it. Please please R&R! I need motivation and encouragement! Thanks a bunch.