Chapter 4

The next few weeks slid by in a blur, and before Kagome knew it, it was going on the third month of her working for Taisho Inc. She felt the work growing easier as she got used to such a heavy workload, and she was finally able to finish it all without having to ask Sesshomaru for help.

It was somewhere around the third week of work, and after much persuasion she was finally able to convince Rin to go back to pre-K. It took a lot of candy, a promise of a hot dog, and tears on both of their parts, but it was finally done. The first day Kagome walked into the office without Rin in tow, the little green man that Kagome came to know as Jakon, stood up from his post and smiled down at her.

"Where's the runt?"

That day, Kagome took a "write up" from Sesshomaru with pride, for flicking Jakon off. It wasn't actually a write up because he told her it was her one freebie and that next time there would be no warning.

"Rin sweetie, we're going to be late." Kagome called as she slipped her black ballerina flats on her feet. She stood up straight to stare at herself in the mirror and smiled, checking her teeth for stains of lipstick. Just the other day in a rush, she'd gotten fuscia lipstick all over the front of her teeth, and the only one to point this out was of course Inuyasha.

Ugh, it just had to be him, she thought as she remembered the look on his face when he'd pointed it out. She swore sometime he was really a nine year old trapped in a twenty three year old body. He was constantly irritating her, and he never seemed to be doing actual work. Come to think of it, Kagome didn't even know what he was supposed to be doing…

Unless his job was standing around looking pretty; then he was pretty damn good at it.

Kagome smiled to herself as she grabbed her purse from the nightstand and walked out of her room, shutting the door behind her.

Rin was still sitting at the table, eating a bowl of some overly sugary cereal she'd begged Kagome to buy. She smiled widely up at Kagome, showing off blue teeth, with milk dripping down her face.

"I'm almost done." Rin said, wiping her arm across her mouth. "I just got to drink the milk."

Kagome smiled lovingly down at her sister, glad she seemed to have forgotten her sadness and was acting like her usual cheerful self. Kagome patted her sisters arm, before making her way into the kitchen and grabbing a cereal bar.

"I'm done!" Rin yelled as she jumped down from her set and raced into the kitchen. Kagome couldn't help but laugh as she watched the younger Higurashi rushing around their tiny apartment, first dumping her bowl into the sink, then trying to slip her shoes on.

Kagome helped her slip on her school jacket, before grabbing her hand and them making their way from the apartment. They walked hand in hand down the street, enjoying the gentle breeze that brushed through their hair and the sun that shone down warmly on their backs.

When they finally got to the school, Kagome squatted down on her knees to be eye level with her sister. They stared wordlessly at each other a moment, before Rin broke into a grin.

"You don't have to be worried for me no more." Rin said as she touched Kagome's cheek. "All the bad things have gone away for a while."

Kagome nodded, and grabbed her sister's hand. "That's good. I'll try not to worry anymore."

Rin leaned forward and kissed Kagome's cheek, feeling her with so much warmth; she couldn't help but throw her arms around her tiny frame and squeeze her until Rin protested.

"You're going to make me late." Rin muttered against her sister's ear.

Kagome sighed, and let her sister go. "Okay fine, I'll go to work then." She stood up and brushed her knees off, giving Rin's hand one more squeeze. Just as she was turning to leave, she heard her name being called. She turned around to see Sango, Rin's teacher running towards her.

"Kagome!"" Sango said as she finally caught up to them. Kagome smiled at the dark hair plastered on her head and they way her dark eyes blazed in excitement. "I believe I forgot to remind you today is a half day for Rin."

Kagome nodded, trying to remember to write it down when she got in the office, so she wouldn't forget. She watched her sister as she ran off to chase after some of the children on the park in front of the classroom. Sango touched her arm lightly and smiled.

"Rin told me you got a new job. Congratulations."

Kagome smiled widely. "Thank you Sango, I'm actually heading that way now. I'll see you later, I'm going to go before I'm late."

"Understanble." Sango said with a nod. "You should call me some time so we can hang out. I'll bring Shippou."

Kagome shrugged, thinking off all the play dates she'd blown off with Sango and feeling slightly guilty. It was hard to have other kids around Rin when her moods were so unpredictable. To be honest, Kagome didn't like to keep friends around, because they also commonly thought Rin was weird and needed more help than what Kagome was doing for her. "Yeah, I'll do that."

"Okay, just don't forget about Rin this evening." Sango said with a tiny wave as she turned away to attend to another parent dropping of his child. Kagome made another mental note, before scurrying in the way of the subway to catch her train before she was late for work.

When she stepped into the building, Jakon snorted, but said nothing. Kagome ignored him, much like she did any other day because she knew he was simply teasing her as she made her way to the elevator. He watched her as the doors closed, and right as the door was about to slid shut, she stuck her tongue out at him.

As Kagome made her way to her desk, much like she did ever day so far, she noticed how the office seemed to be quieter than it usually was. Everyone was usually talking over their cubicles, rushing around trying to get coffee, or faxes from their respected machines. Every once in a while someone would pester her to try and figure out who she was, until they learned she worked for Sesshomaru directly and left her alone. There seemed to be something about her position that set people on edge, and as a result most people ignored her.

It didn't bother her either way.

When she finally made her way to her desk, she sat and turned on her computer. Kagome drummed her fingers absently on her desk, listening to the gentle buzz of the computer as it came to life and loaded her programs. She loaded into her private account, pulled up all of her email functions, and hesitated.

Well, might as well she thought hesitantly, before opening her top drawer.

Every day Inuyasha had begun to leave little things in her desk since their argument. One time it was a plastic snake that literally scared the piss out of her. Sometimes it was a box of chocolates, which she refused to eat for fear of being poisoned. One day it was a fluffy stuffed cat that she'd hidden in her mattresses at home so Rin wouldn't get a hold of it.

She wasn't sure why he was doing, but a tiny part of her liked it.

But only a tiny part…

Sesshomaru seemed to not like their fraternizing, but his only attempt at expressing this would be a frown in her direction when he saw her peering into the tiny beady eyes of the stuffed kitten she'd secretly named Ayui. Kagome didn't care either way, as long as she didn't lose her job.

She couldn't help but enjoy the attention from someone as handsome as Inuyasha.

As Kagome peered into the drawer, she saw to her dismay that it held nothing for her. With a sad sigh, she pushed the drawer back shut and decided to stop messing around and begin her work. Kagome clicked through the shared folder Sesshomaru would put her daily work, and noticed it completely bare. Slightly confused, she clicked through a few more folders before getting frustrated. She would hate to bother Sesshomaru over an error that she certainly didn't want to blame him for causing.

'He's going to think I broke something!' She thought as she contemplated going to his office.

Just as she was making up her mind to get up, she noticed his office door open and a woman step out. She turned in Kagome's direction and smiled widely, making her way over to the desk. "Hello dear!" She said with what seemed to Kagome as forced enthusiasm.

"Hello." Kagome said with a smile.

"Don't you remember me?" She said in mock hurt. "I'm the one that got you hired!"

Slowly Kagome took in the short haired beauty in front of her and remembered. "OH yes!" Kagome said with a tiny laugh. "I apologize, there's so much work here. Not that I mind! But I forget stuff so easy these day! And people too." Kagome trailed off in embarrassment. She was always saying too much, she was beyond mortified.

"I never introduced myself to you." She said, with a weird look at Kagome.

Probably thinking I'm missing a few skittles, Kagome thought with a mental slap.

"I'm Kagura, Sesshomaru's wife."

Lucky.

Kagome tried to smile, even though her insides wanted to run away and hid in a tiny corner. "I'm Kagome."

"Of course you are." Kagure said smugly. "You have a nice day, and thanks for all the hard work."

Kagura offered her another smile before she turned and made her way from the office. The moment the elevator closed behind her, the office was full of its usual buzz and excitement. One of the boys, who Kagome recognized as Hojo, stood over his cubicle and began talking to another man who Kagome wasn't sure of. The fax and copy machine began buzzing along with the excitement and the smell of coffee shortly after reached Kagome's nostrils. Deciding she was done just sitting on her butt, she went back to Mr. Taisho's door and tapped lightly. When she didn't hear a reply she tapped again and waited for him to answer, before going into his office and shutting the door behind her.

"There isn't any work in my folder." She said, not bothering to wait for him to address her. When she finally turned around from the door, she saw Sesshomaru peering down ,his lids half closed and his mouth in a thin line. "I'm sorry, I don't know if this is a bad time. I just wanted to make you aware that I don't have any work for today."

After what seemed like several eternities of uncomfortable silence, Sesshomaru looked up at Kagome, catching her completely off guard with his blood shot red eyes, disheveled hair and sweeping sadness. Kagome almost turned and ran from the room, the complete terror she felt seeing someone so strong look so broken. She stared back at him, never breaking her gaze from his overpowering one. Something inside her stirred and shook. It threatened to over take her body, and her ever present flight mechanisms threatened to kick in.

Finally the gaze was broken when he blinked and looked away.

"Ms. Higurashi, today you will be helping Inuyasha."

Kagome stood there, knowing he was dismissing her when he looked back down, but unable to move. Maybe it was the nurturing side of her that was screaming to comfort him. Perhaps she was so used to taking care of Rin, that seeing someone look so lost caused her protecting instinct to kick in. She felt the need to go give him a hug and sooth his hair from his face. She wanted to press a kiss to his pale forehead and press his face against her…

She blushed slightly at the thought, shaking her head to rid it of such a thought.

"Mr. Taisho, is everything alright?"

Sesshomaru didn't answer, and as the clock ticked away Kagome felt more and more uncomfortable. He didn't seem to care if she were in the room, but he certainly wasn't going to acknowledge her again. Slowly she left the room and shut the door behind her. She went and sat back at her desk, waiting for someone to come explain something to her.

"Heya Kagome!" Inuyasha basically yelled as he strolled into the office.

Kagome didn't bother to correct the way he said her name, which for some reason he insisted on breaking every syllable up. He was the only one who did that, and even thought it irked the hell out of her, there was no reason to bother to keep correcting him.

"What's eating you?"

Kagome shrugged, her shoulders sagging against her desk.

"Where's the runt?"

Kagome narrowed her eyes, but didn't reply.

"Don't tell me you lost her?" He crackled with a laugh. "Is that why you're acting like that?"

Kagome looked up at Inuyasha, his glistening golden eyes and sparkling white teeth and decided he was a waste of beauty; Way to good looking for his own good.

"Come on Kagome, stop acting all down in the dumps and entertain me."

"Inuyasha", Kagome finally said. "Can you please just shut up."

Inuyasha smiled, feeling accomplished for finally getting her to speak, before going into his brothers office. Kagome noticed he was in there for a while, but as much as she strained her ears, she couldn't hear a word they said.

When Inuyasha finally came back out of the office, he was no longer smiling. He looked in Kagome's direction and motioned for her to follow him. With a sigh, she locked her computer, grabbed her purse, and dashed to keep up with Inuyasha.

He held the elevator opened for her, and after she stepped in, he pressed the button for the lobby.

"Where are we going?"

Inuyasha looked at her with a smile. "Well Sesshomaru seems to be having his period, so he said you're mine for the day. We're going to go get some "stuff done".

The elevators opened and Inuyasha rushed from the elevator, pulling a pair of sunglasses from his pocket and sticking them on his face.

"What kind of stuff?" Kagome asked as she shuffled trying to keep up with his long strides.

"Just stuff. Calm down, you'll have fun."

Instead of replying, Kagome simply followed him to a sleek black car he had waiting in the front for them. They both slid in, and after Inuyasha rattled some details off to the driver, they began making their way to the inner part of the city. The car ride was silent, and several times Kagome wished Inuyasha would turn on the radio, but didn't bother to ask.

"So?" Kagome asked finally. "My desk was empty today."

Inuyasha stopped his street watching and turned to look at her with a goofy grin on his face. "Oh yeah. I was running way late today. When I came in before we left was actually the first time I came in today."

"Hmm." Kagome muttered, turning to watch the cars streak by them on the highway.

"Why? Were you disappointed?" He asked with what resembled a laugh. "I can make it up to you."

"Hmm." Kagome said in disinterest, hoping he couldn't see her smiling reflection in the mirror.

The ride was silent and slowly Kagome began to drift to sleep. She snapped abruptly from her tiny nap when Inuyasha's voice pierced through her veil of serenity.

"Have you ever been here?" Inuyasha asked as they finally reached their destination and the car came to a stop.

Kagome looked out the window to see the aquarium. "Yes, Rin loves this place."

Inuyasha smiled as he reached for Kagome's hand and pulled her from the car. "So do I."

"Figures." She retorted as she gave him a mocking smile. She allowed him to drag her to the ticket booth, and after trying unsuccessfully for five minutes to haggle a price from the ticket man, he paid for their tickets and dragged her through the double doors into the dimly lit building.

"Why were you trying to talk him down?" asked Kagome as Inuyasha pulled her to the first exhibit. She knew technically he had enough money to buy the place if he wanted to, so why bother making a big deal out of five dollars.

"I come here all the time." He replied absently as he brushed his thin fingers against the plaque that held the information on the sea turtle in front of them. "I like to give him a hard time."

Kagome shook her head at his silliness, but said nothing more.

He pulled her to each of the different exhibits, ohhing and awing, as though he was a child himself. Kagome felt his enthusiasm to be contagious, and soon forgot how old she was as she awed as well. Slowly the day crept by them. They had lunch in the aquarium cafeteria, and though it wasn't the best and Inuyasha complained about the bland taste, Kagome had fun watching him stuffing pudding into his mouth.

"Why are you smiling so much?" He asked at one point, as they watched the sharks as they began their feeding.

Kagome shrugged, as she watched the shark nearly jump out of the tank trying to grab the meat chunk the employee was throwing to it. "I haven't had this much fun with someone besides Rin in a long time."

Inuyasha poked her shoulder, and when she turned to look at him, he smiled. "Well, I'm glad you're having fun."

Kagome poked him back, smiling wider. "Yeah.."

Before she could think of a coherent thing to say, he leaned over and pressed his lips against hers.