Once again, I do not own Inuyasha, or anything related to the show, or the creator.

Bijou

Chapter 4: Stranger things have happened.

Kagome awoke the next morning, the pain in her head all but gone. She stretched and crawled out of bed, walking to a nearby window she looked out at the grass, still covered in the dew of the early morning. She smiled at the sight of a small rabbit scampering across the lawn. She walked over and picked out the jogging suit she had tried on the night before, and made her way to the bathroom. After a quick shower she dried off and slipped into her new clothing. She tied the hoodie around her waist and walked from the room, and down the hall. The house was quiet; she didn't think anyone else was awake. She walked down the stairs into the entryway and slipped silently out the door. She stretched on the steps in front of the house before setting off around the house at an easy jog. She jogged around the house and through the back yard, into some nearby woods. She jogged for about an hour before she had circled back to the house. Feeling rejuvenated, she walked beck up the front steps, doing a quick cool-down stretch before entering the house in search of breakfast.

Sesshomaru watched his house-guest jog off into the woods, and smirked. So she was athletic. And she has good muscle tone he thought to himself. Growling at his wandering mind he banished the thought and headed for the shower. He quickly showered and dressed, he had a company to run after all and even if he didn't yet know whom she was, he still had to go into work, at least for part of the day. Adjusting the red tie he wore with the black pinstripe suit he walked down the stairs. He heard some racket coming from the kitchen and decided he would check, seeing as how he would need a cup of coffee anyway. Walking into the kitchen he had to stifle a laugh before it left his lips. Kali, or so he would call her for now, was trying to pry a frying pan out of the hands of Jaken. There were pancakes and syrup as well as sausage, and coffee sitting on the table, which had been set for two.

"Would you just give it to me already!" Kagome grumbled, trying to pull the frying pan from Jaken's grip.

"You should not be acting as if you are a part of this household, just because Lord Sesshomaru took pity on you foolish girl!" Jaken cried, holding on to the pan with all his might.

"I was only trying to help out and do my share." Kagome countered, finally pulling the pan from her enemy's grasp.

"If you want some food, all you had to do is say something." Kagome gloated placing the pan on the stove and heating it up.

"That is entirely not the point!" Jaken protested, sulking a bit.

Kagome cracked eggs into the pan, Sesshomaru watched as she flipped them into a perfect omelet, placing it on a nearby plate. She obviously hadn't noticed his presence. Sesshomaru smirked and sat down at the table silently, figuring on startling the girl when she turned to place the food on the table. Kagome finished another flawless omelet and placed it next to the other on the plate. Turning she began to walk towards the table when she say him sitting there. She jumped slightly, but composed herself almost at one. She placed the food on the table and poured him a cup of coffee. She sent him a small smile as she sat down. Jaken stood gawking at his master's composure, afraid to say anything.

"I hope you're hungry." Kagome said simply loading a plate for her host.

"It does smell good, but I have to ask, why are you cooking, I have people I pay to do this for me." Sesshomaru asked, his voice still cold, hiding his humor.

"I just thought it would be nice for me to try to help out, after all you've done for me." Kagome replied simply, taking her seat across from Sesshomaru at the table.

Sesshomaru only nodded, looking at the large pile of food in front of him, he had suddenly realized, he was hungry after all. They ate in silence; Jaken had wandered off after seeing that his Lord wasn't going to give this girl a stern reprimanding. When he had finished his food he turned his gaze once again to this guest. She was still eating, her hair swaying softly when her jaws moved. He sat transfixed for a moment before blinking and regaining his composure. He got to his feet, and actually placed his dishes in the sink to soak, something he rarely did on any other day. After running the water over his dishes and pouring himself another cup of coffee he looked down at his guest.

"You should be ready, dressed formally, by 7 tonight, we will be attending my company dinner." He said, sounding more akin a command than a request.

Kagome blinked up at him, her face turning red. "I'll be ready." She said coldly, getting up from her chair and placing her own dishes in the sink before walking out of the room without another word. Sesshomaru blinked after her, she had sounded upset, but what did he care, he had places to be, and he wanted to make sure she would be ready that's all. After finishing his coffee quickly he waited for Jaken to bring his car around, then climbed inside. They departed towards the business district of the city; he had a strange feeling that this day was going to be a very strange day indeed.

Kagome stormed down the hall to her room and flung open the door. Kaede was making the bed and nearly jumped out the window, shocked by the sudden entrance. Quickly finishing her task she looked over at the girl pacing around the room like a caged tiger.

"Is something the matter child?" She asked carefully, she had worked for Sesshomaru long enough to know when to be careful, and this was definitely one of those times.

"Is he always that rude and demanding?" Kagome nearly shouted, her temper boiling.

Kaede couldn't help but chuckle as she nodded, "Aye, he is a stern one, but I have reason to believe that somewhere within the ice, he has a good heart." Kaede told her, walking closer to the girl.

Kagome took a deep breath and smirked. "I suppose you're right, but he all but demanded I be ready for some dinner tonight, and I have no idea what it is or why I'm going." Kagome explained, sitting on the edge of the freshly made bed.

"It's the dinner he holds every year for his employees and stock holders dear, it's an honor to be invited." Kaede told her, sitting at her side.

"But why am I going, I'm not an employee, and I don't think I'm a stock holder, I'm just some woman he found in an alley." Kagome replied, looking at the floor.

"Perhaps he is thinking in a crowd that big someone is bound to recognize you." Kaede suggested with a smile.

Kagome looked at the woman and nodded as she began to see the truth in her statement. "But shouldn't he be taking his girlfriend, or wife, or something?" Kagome asked, looking Kaede in the eye.

Kaede stifled a laugh. "Sesshomaru-sama doesn't have either dear, he is a working man with little time for a woman's company. He's too busy running his company and making sure he is on top of things in the business world." Kaede told her.

"Oh." Kagome said blushing slightly. 'It must be a hard life to live, being alone all the time.' She thought to herself, standing once again.

"Well Kaede, would you care to help me pick out something to wear tonight then, I'm not sure what he'd want me to wear." Kagome asked smiling at the woman. There was something about Kaede she liked, but she couldn't place her finger on it.

Kagome and Kaede picked out the evening gown Kagome would wear, as well as going over make-up and hairstyles. Kagome wanted to look elegant and classy if she was going to be on the arm of one of the biggest businessmen in all of Japan. Kaede showed her around the house, and Kagome thought she might actually have a handle on how to get around, provided she didn't take a wrong turn. After fixing a quick lunch, Kagome wiled away her afternoon hours sorting through her clothes and wondering what the evening would have in store for her. Perhaps someone really would know her, and maybe, she would remember once she heard her name. It was all she could hope for as she mentally prepared for the dinner. As evening fell Kaede surprised Kagome with a bag of make-up from a nearby store, and some Lilac scented bath products for her bath. Kagome bathed quickly and was nearly done with her hair and Make-up when Kaede returned to check up on her. Kaede helped her put a pair of jewel studded chopsticks in her hair, and slip into her backless black satin evening dress. Slipping on a pair of strappy black 5-inch heels Kagome then made her way down to the den to await her escort for the evening.

Sesshomaru sighed as they made the brief trip home, he just knew the woman wouldn't be ready; women always took forever to get ready for anything. Glaring hard out the window of the car he decided he would leave her flat if she wasn't ready to go when he was, after all he couldn't be late to his own gathering. Quickly he got from the car once it stopped and made his way up to his room, there had been no one to get in his way, and he was in a hurry to get ready. After a quick shower he dressed in a Black tailored suit with a purple shirt and black tie. He had slipped on his shoes and walked downstairs when he saw the girl standing at the bottom. His breath caught in his throat, making the room spin. She looked simply perfect. There were no words to describe the way the dress hugged her curves, then flowed down to the floor, it was as if it had been made to be worn by her and her alone. Gathering himself he walked down the stairs and placed his hand on the small of her back, making her jump slightly in surprise.

"Shall we go then?" He asked, he had wanted to tell her how beautiful she looked, but he stopped himself.

"Alright." Kagome replied, smiling up at him.

She followed him from the house and into the black limo that awaited them in the drive. They rode in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, Kagome was thinking about who she could meet there, and who would know her, while Sesshomaru couldn't take his mind off the sight of her in that dress, waiting for him. The trip was a short one, perhaps 15 minutes or so. They pulled up to a large hotel, and were greeted by two men at the door. Showing them his credentials needlessly they allowed Sesshomaru to pass, as well as the woman on his arm. They made their way into a large ballroom, Kagome gasped when she saw the beautiful lighting and heard the soft music playing. This was going to be a night she would remember she thought. She knew it just would.