First of all I do not own the anime Inu Yasha or its characters. Thank you all for your reviews, they made me smile a lot.


The next morning Kagome found herself running down the street toward her new job. Staying out so late with Sesshoumaru had caused her to sleep in, she wasn't even sure how late she was because all her clocks were blinking twelve AM because the power had gone out sometime while she was sleeping. She ran into the building and threw the check-in clerk a hasty wave. Kagome started pushing the button frantically as she straightened her clothes while the clerk stared at her as though she had grown a couple extra heads. Kagome quickly changed her shoes in the elevator and shoved her tennis shoes into her purse and pulled a hair brush through her hair. When the elevator stopped she ran for the door and burst into the office to see a wide eyed human looking Sesshoumaru standing frozen with a cup of coffee half way to his mouth.

"I'm sorry I'm late lord Sesshoumaru!" Kagome bowed and waited for him to say something as she desperately hoped he wouldn't fire her. She heard him sip his coffee for a moment feeling as though she was waiting to be executed.

"You do realize you're thirty minutes early right?" Kagome sweat dropped and felt her eye twitching. "Either way it's good to know that even when you're early you feel late. Well Miko, since you have arrived so early you can begin by sorting the mail. Anything business related needs to be brought to me and anything pertaining to social events and charities needs to be scheduled on the events calendar which you will find easily on your computer screen. If another event is scheduled for that date or time such as a business meeting you are to call the client with my regrets at not being able to attend. Business always comes before social. If there is another social event scheduled you will bring it to my attention and I will delegate which event is most important to attend. Eventually you will learn which events and clients are most important and you will no longer need to ask me. Phone calls work the same way. When one of our clients wish to make an appointment to meet with myself or one of our offices down stairs you will check the business calendar and click on that parson's calendar to schedule meetings during office hours. If something is already scheduled at their requested time you will politely tell them that time is taken and offer the next closest time slot on that day. Each morning you will find the papers that have been filled for each client that had a meeting the day before on the corner of your desk. It is your job to file these papers into the proper client's folder which you will find in the file cabinets behind your desk. You may have personal items on your desk as long as they are tasteful. You get an hour for lunch. The ladies room is down the hall when you need to use it you are to press this button on the phone. This will play a message for the client on hold telling them their call will be answered promptly." Kagome listened carefully to every word Sesshoumaru said. This was her first job and she intended to give it 110% since it would be her only way to pay for the things she deeply needed. "I think I have explained everything important. Anything else you'll learn on the job. Any questions?" Kagome shook her head and smiled up at him.

"Nope I understand completely." Sesshoumaru gave her an approving smile before he turned away and moved toward his own desk.

"Very well, get to work Ms. Higarashi." Kagome set to work, following Sesshoumaru's instructions without any problems while several clients came in to meet with him.

"Come Miko, it is your lunch break." Kagome jumped and looked up at the clock to see that it was indeed noon. She had been so busy she hadn't had a chance to look at the clock all morning.

"I just have to file this first." She hadn't realized how hungry she was until he spoke. She bent over to place the paper in its proper file and then turned as she straightened. Sesshoumaru stood by the door holding it open and when Kagome turned she swore she saw his head snap up. Was he just… looking at my butt?

"Are you coming or not woman?" Kagome jumped and snatched her purse before quickly walking through the open door. Who are you kidding Kags? The man border-line hates you of course he wasn't looking at you.

"Where are the best places to eat around here," she asked as they waited for the elevator.

"About a block down there's a street lined with different food options. If you would prefer it, you can join me since you do not know the area." Kagome nodded as they entered the elevator. Kagome pulled off her heels so she could change into sneakers. Sesshoumaru was watching her with a curious expression and as soon as she pulled out the sneakers he laughed at her. "Most of the women who have taken this job aren't smart enough to do that sort of thing."

"Well I'm not most girls, am I? Being practical is an essential skill when you're running around in the feudal era and that skill has stayed with me."

"Very true." Kagome followed Sesshoumaru out onto the street when the elevator finally opened. When Kagome glanced back the clerk grinned and snuck her a thumbs up just before the door closed. Kagome couldn't stop the laughter that bubbled out of her throat when she realized the woman thought she and Sesshoumaru were an item. "What's so funny?"

"I think the check in girl thinks we're together." Sesshoumaru looked completely confused.

"Kagome we are standing beside one another and going to the same location, I fail to see how that is funny." Kagome slapped her hand against her forehead.

"As in 'we're dating' not as in 'standing beside one another'."

"Oh." He stopped in front of a Subway and held the door open for her.

"I have to tell you Sesshoumaru, I never would have pegged you as a sandwich guy."

"It's not something I prefer but I refuse to eat the stuff they call food at the other fast food places around here." The two of them ordered their food and watched as they made their sandwiches behind the glass. Sesshoumaru's finished first so he paid for the food and then walked away. Kagome pulled her wallet out of her purse so that she could pay as the woman wrapped and bagged her food.

"The man already paid for you food ma'am." Kagome's jaw dropped and she spun around angrily prepared to yell at Sesshoumaru only to realize he was no longer in the store. Kagome grabbed her food and thanked the cashier before running out the door to catch up to Sesshoumaru. By the time she reached the office she had calmed down quite a bit. She opened the door to find him typing with one hand while the other held his sandwich.

"Why did you do that? I'm quite capable of paying for my own food." Sesshoumaru swallowed the bite of food in his mouth and look thoughtful for a moment.

"I did it because I could." Kagome snorted and took her seat at her desk. A little while after Kagome had started working again she found Sesshoumaru staring at her pointedly.

"What are you looking at?"

"You forgot to change your shoes." Kagome immediately ripped off her tennis shoes as Sesshoumaru laughed at her.

By the time the work day was over Kagome's whole body was sore. She was pretty sure she had a couple blisters from the dreadful heels she had worn all day. She was not looking forward to the long walk home. She didn't even care that Sesshoumaru was in the elevator when she yanked the heels off her sore feet. She rubbed one foot whimpering at the pain as she tried to rub out the knots.

"It is rather late do you have a ride home?" Kagome shook her head and winced as she rubbed across on of her blisters which immediately broke open. "How about I give you a ride? Those heels appear to have torn your feet to shreds."

"Yeah I'll never understand why they make women wear such awful things."

"You should wear sandal heels tomorrow if you have any and just slip them off whenever clients aren't in. I already know you have the medical supplies to take care of ten people so be sure to clean up the ones that bust open." Kagome nodded as she stared limping out of the elevator. She stopped when she realized she was standing in a parking garage.

"I didn't know we had parking."

"That is what the 'P' stands for on the bottom button in the elevator. Now come here."

"Whaaaa…?" Kagome's question turned into a scream as her feet suddenly left the ground. Sesshoumaru had picked her up and used demon speed to get her to the car. "Why did you do that!" she screeched when he was seated beside her.

"Mostly so I didn't have to wait for you to limp all the way to my car. Partly because I knew it would piss you off."

"You get off on making me mad don't you?" Kagome grumbled under her breath as she crossed her arms.

"What?" Kagome shook her head when Sesshoumaru looked completely confused.

"Modern saying Sesshoumaru, don't worry about it."

"Oh, would you like to go out to the park tonight?" Before Kagome could answer another voice interrupted her.

"Kagome!" The two of them turned to see Shippo running down the stairs toward them. Kagome found herself frowning deeply at the young fox demon. Part of her was still upset that he and the girls had allowed her to get lost. "Can I talk to you?"

"Yeah, go ahead toward the house and I'll join you shortly." Kagome watched him until he was past the stairs and out of sight. She jumped when Sesshoumaru appeared in front of her to open the door. When he offered his hand to help her stand Kagome found herself grinning. "What do you know chivalry isn't dead after all."

"Whatever you say Miko." Kagome stepped out of the car and allowed Sesshoumaru to pull her up but as soon as she put pressure on her injured foot she yelped and started to fall. Sesshoumaru quickly used the hand he was holding to spin her so that she fell with her back against his chest.

"Shippo!" Shippo appeared at the top of the stairs as soon as Sesshoumaru's voice reached him.

"Yeah?"

"The Miko is injured you will escort her inside." Shippo ran down the stairs to join them. As soon as Shippo was close Sesshoumaru shoved the girl away from him. Shippo caught her and glared at the older demon.

"Hey, don't treat Kagome that way." Sesshoumaru completely ignored him and returned to his car without another word. Shippo was scooping Kagome into his arms to hold her bridal style when Sesshoumaru threw one last comment over his shoulder.

"She is only a weak human." Kagome felt Shippo's anger flare as they watched the car drive away.

"I swear he's such a jerk." Kagome got the feeling that Sesshoumaru's sudden change in attitude was caused by Shippo's presence. Shippo carried her up to the house and used his foot to tap on the door. When Kagome's mother answered the door she looked surprised.

"Kagome?"

"Hey mom. I got blisters on my feet and some broke open so Shippo is carrying me so I don't have to walk."

"Well come in, isn't Shippo the name of that little boy with the tail in your pictures?" Kagome's mother held open the door for Shippo to carry her inside.

"Yeah and if you'll point me to a place where I can set down Kagome I'll take off this jacket around my waist and show it to you."

"Really? How is it that you've grown so fast? Better yet how did you get through the well? Kagome dear didn't you say the well had closed up? Come with me." Kagome's mother motioned for Shippo to follow her as she moved toward Kagome's room.

"It is mom. Shippo is a demon like inuyasha he's just five hundred years older now."

"My you must have some interesting stories to have lived so long." Shippo placed Kagome on the bed and untied the jacket from his waist and Kagome couldn't believe how long and fluffy it was, considering a large jacket around the waist was enough to cover it. "Wow it reminds me of the first time we saw Inuyasha's ears." Shippo swished it expertly before he sat on the bed beside Kagome. Her mother left just long enough to get the first aide kit before she came back and started to bandage Kagome's foot. While Shippo and her mom talked Kagome stayed quiet. Shippo and her mother talking just reminded her exactly how much things had changed. When her mother finished bandaging her foot and left Kagome turned to Shippo expectantly. She just wanted to get it over with so she could crawl into her bed.

"Alright what was it you wanted to talk about?"

"Well mostly I just wanted to apologize for what happened the other night. I shouldn't have left you like that when it was your first time drinking." The way he said it reminded her of the days when he had been shorter than her knee. Kagome wanted nothing more than to cry and see a more familiar face looking at her. Inside her head she couldn't help but laugh at herself, she never thought she would see the day when she wanted to see Sesshoumaru more than she wanted to see Shippo.

"Well I guess I forgive you." Shippo threw his arms around her happily before quickly letting go and standing to tie his jacket around his waist again.

"I was going to see if you wanted to go get some ice cream with me but seeing as how you're hurt how about a rain check?" Kagome had to fight not to cringe when he asked her. The question was innocent enough but it sounded an awful lot like a date to her. Ever since she had realized that she loved Inuyasha more as family than as a boyfriend she really hadn't met a guy that she cared enough to try to date. Shippo was definitely not going to be the person to change that. She decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and hoped he was thinking of friendship more than courtship.

"Yeah sounds fun."

"Great! Thanks Kagome!" Shippo hesitated for a moment before he leaned down and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. Before Kagome could say anything he was gone. Something tells me I'm going to regret that rain check.