Cognac: Chapter 6

Three weeks.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the energy project was a big success. As you can see, our profits have raised considerably therefore, twenty-five million has been invested into Nimble Autosupport Storage Services."

Sesshoumaru sat in the sumptuous boardroom in the main headquarters of Tashio and Sons Inc. and half listened as one of the board members droned on and on about profits and losses as well as research. Without warning his mind began to wander to the one topic he'd been - desperaterly - trying to forget.

Kagome.

He couldn't help himself; wondering what she was doing; what she'd been up to lately. He hadn't seen her since that incredible night that staved in his memory like a vivid illusion. He felt like such an idiot, and he couldn't seem to shake the affliction either. He did just about anything and everything possible to forget about her. He'd even tried a little wild sex, participating in a couple of threesomes. Whatever he could do to sate his sexual appetite. Nothing helped. It was ridiculous!

Yeah, this Sesshoumaru needs to have his head examined. He concluded to himself.

"So are there any questions from the board?" The man's voice woke him from his dazing.

"I think we got it, Ginko." He looked around the silent room and then added, "If there isn't any other business, I think it's time for a lunch break."

Thankful nods greeted his announcement and everyone in the boardroom stood quickly, gathering their briefcases and folders.

"I noticed you looked a little preoccupied during the meeting, dear brother." InuYasha announced a little amused, leaning on the mahogany wood table in a casual pose.

Was it that obvious? "I have a lot of things on my mind, half-breed." Sesshoumaru replied.

InuYasha didn't pay any attention to the derogatory term, he was too amused with his brother's predicament to care. "Those things wouldn't consist of a certain miko you haven't seen for few weeks, would it?" The hanyou queried with a smirk. Sesshoumaru pinched the bridge of his nose in hopes of relieving the headache that was building quickly.

Why in the world had he told his half-brother about his thoughts over Kagome? He must have been possessed that day. Ever since then, InuYasha wouldn't leave him alone.

"I was actually thinking about the upcoming energy crisis." Sesshoumaru lied. "Besides, don't you have some appointment or your little bitch calling your name somewhere today?" he asked, anxious and secretly hoping to get InuYasha out of his face.

"Nope, I'm completely free today. So, you wanna go grab lunch together? Maybe I can help you out with your little dilemma while we eat." InuYasha's eyes were full of mirth, and Sesshoumaru's palms itched. He wanted to swat the damn hanyou across the face. InuYasha was having too much fun at his expense.

I should smack that smug grin off your face...

.

They settled in their reserved table at the Sushi house famous for their Wagyu beef. The DaiYokai could see the flicker of muse in the hanyou's eyes; and he bowed to the inevitable inquisition. Before his seat was even warm, InuYasha began his nagging curiosity.

"Why don't you just go back and see her already?" His dog ears twitched with glee.

The waitress came by and deposited their drinks. Sesshoumaru swirled the coca-cola around, wishing he'd ordered a Scotch or Whiskey. What the fuck was I thinking? A soda...?

"For the millionth time. Drop it. I told you, it was nothing!" He bit out.

"Yeah right. 'Nothing' yet you can't seem to get your mind off her!"

Kami, I don't know what's wrong with me. I mean, she's marginally pretty. She's not even hot, but something about her that I cant' stop thinking about her.

"Well, she's rather...unique." Sesshoumaru confessed. "Never mind, I'll get over her. She's nothing special." But he wasn't sure if he was trying to convince InuYasha or himself.

"Why isn't she? Are you afraid that she might mean more to you than you're willing to admit?" There was a certain truth to InuYasha's voice that made the DaiYokai cringe.

He was afraid of just that. However, he wasn't going to admit to his brother no matter how 'concerned' he seemed to acting. He did have some pride left within himself, and his preoccupation with Kagome was becoming ridiculous. It didn't make any sense! She wasn't remotely 'beautiful' - she was average in looks but she was unfathomable everywhere else.

Especially in the bedroom, he thought.

"It is because she was the first bitch who didn't find you attractive and that piss you off isn't it?" InuYasha smirked.

"Hn. It was just a stupid bet and she's just another girl, alright? And I'll stop thinking about her soon enough." He uttered, though his statement this time, lacked conviction.

"If you say so," InuYasha answered. "But if I were you, I'd seek her out for a second try. Maybe even ask her out on a real date. Then again, I'm not you am I?" InuYasha sipped on his beer.

He was getting exasperated with InuYasha's constant badgering, his head was getting ready to burst. And he knew there was only one way to stop it. "If I go, will it shut you up?" Sesshoumaru barked.

"Absolutely." InuYasha nodded triumphantly.

Sesshoumaru knew he'd given in too easily. And a large part of him was very happy about it. He was going to see Kagome again after 3 weeks had passed.

InuYasha couldn't understand why his brother was being such a prick about the whole thing. The infatuation was obvious. And three weeks ago, he'd played dumb, ignoring the scent and miko glow surrounding his brother; who seemed oblivious by it. InuYasha chuckled to himself as he thought of his brother mating the human miko. After all the years of being picked on by the older full blooded Yokai, he had to laugh with glee at the thought of his sibling having a hanyou as a child. Perhaps even more than one!

Oh payback's a bitch Sesshoumaru! InuYasha was going to make sure to set Sesshoumaru up with Kagome without fail!

...

Flashback...(after their Karaoke dinner)

Kagome strode along side the DaiYokai along the pier. She was picking at her cotton candy as they walked silently looking at the glimmering lights and feeling the cold air of the evening. After her 'performance' at the 'restaurant' he was glad for some peace and quiet.

A hard wind rushed by and he noticed her shivering. Shedding himself of his jacket, he came up behind her and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"Oh. It's okay. I'm not cold." She lied, brushing the jacket off. She had on a sweater and he was just wearing a short sleeve polo without his jacket.

"Kagome, I can see you shivering." He pointed out.

She giggled awkwardly. "It was just…" she couldn't really think of what to say. She didn't want to come out and tell him she was worried he'd be cold. After all, she still thought he was a total manwhore. Then again, she couldn't help but be honest. "What about you?" She asked trying not to stare at his protruding biceps.

"I'm Yokai. This weather doesn't bother me." He replied.

She stared at his face for a minute. Then why the hell are you wearing a jacket? She wanted to spat at his arrogance. But she opted for a half eye-roll and took the jacket. Hell, if he wanted to freeze that was fine, but I'm not going to.

She found a ledge and propped herself up on it, dangling her legs as she picked at her cotton candy. None of the women he'd been with would even consider looking at such 'figure ruining' food. The sweet scent of it stirred his nose, and he watched as she carefully placed each fluffy bits into her mouth, licking her fingers. Sesshoumaru glanced away and swallowed hard, ignoring the twitch under his trousers.

"So if you're such a Yokai why did you even bother with the jacket in the first place?" There it was, that arrogant tone of voice from her! How did she ever manage to be like that? Why is it that she's not intimidated by him as many other women were? He was after all, a well known callous CEO that had acquired then demolished many companies since he took reign over the Tashio empire 10 years ago. His name was synonymous with annihilation, and demise in the wake of his presence. Yet here she was, not a care, not a concern as to who he was. Hell, he didn't think it would matter if God or Buddha themselves were in front of her! She'd be exactly the same! He found this trait of her a bit overbearing but at the same time alluring in such a thrilling way.

"Hn." He snickered a bit. "Perhaps because there are little mikos like you who don't dress appropriately for the weather." He retorted.

She stuck her tongue out at him. That had never happened to him before. It was cute, it was intriguing, it was different. It was arousing him in the most painful way. He thought of that same tongue sliding along the length of his shaft. Dammit!

"So what do you like to do for fun? Other than womanizing, I mean." She asked. He crooked a brow at her statement. He should be offended. As a matter of fact, he was offended.

"What do you mean?" He asked his tone harsh and clearly his feelings were hurt through the mask of his stoic voice.

"I mean, do you have any special hobby, you know, perhaps golfing or something." She answered ignoring his indignation completely.

"You presume a lot." He was short. Kagome merely shrugged.

"Sorry. I guess it's a bit of my curious nature."

"Curious nature?" She was curious? He found that hard to believe. She was being insulting was more like it!

"Well, I always wondered what someone with enough money to buy the world - like you - does in his spare time."

He chuckled. She made him chucked, when was the last time he laughed in amusement like this?

"I can hardly afford the world Kagome."

She ignored the way he skin crawled when he said her name and pretended to look at the glimmering lights in the distance, only to steal glances at the Yokai from the corner of her eyes. She felt her body wavered and her heart soothed. I guess he's not as big a jerk as people made him out to be.

"Yeah, but you're still not answering my question." She popped another fluffy sweet pinkness into her mouth and licked her finger slick clean.

Damn those lips! There was an unfamiliar ache in the confines of his trousers. He found it strange how she could change his demeanor from being upset to aroused in a mere minute.

"As a matter of fact, I hate golfing and I am NOT a womanizer." He scoffed. "On any given day I work 15 hours easily. There are thousands of people, directly and indirectly, depending on me for their livelihood. The paparazzi will always have some ridiculous topic to gossip about because of my family name and frankly I don't care what they write about me. So, you can't believe everything you read, Kagome." Oh Kami, how she loved the way he said her name, and she hated herself for it, but tried as she might, the miko could not help the way she felt.

"I suppose not." She replied then hopped off the wooden railing. "But why are you working so hard? I mean, don't you and your family have enough money to just relax and never work again?" She tossed the cone shaped paper into the garbage.

He laughed. Again, he was surprised at his relaxed attitude around her. "Can you really picture me sitting around doing nothing?"

As of yesterday she wouldn't have had a problem seeing that image of him – lying lazily about a pool surrounded by gorgeous models prancing around in a bikini - but the more time she spent with him, the more Kagome found it hard to imagine him as a flagrant play boy. Although the pictures she'd seen from different magazines, could contradict her opinion of him. Yet she'd only spent two days getting to know him personally...

"No, I guess not," she murmured. As she continued to walk ambient thoughts of him sitting behind a large oak desk, scattering his influence and power, filled her with endless fantasies. No, I won't let him get to me! Without thinking she added, "I guess you might be too dynamic to just sit on your ass all day."

"Why Kagome, I think that may be the first compliment you've ever given to me!"

Kagome winced, heat suffusing her face, "Pheh. Don't let it get to your head. I was merely speculating."

She's blushing...he noticed quietly."Hn. I never get too full of myself Kagome."

Sesshoumaru's comment, while on the surface flippant, underlined a deeper meaning she was finding harder and harder to resist. Pull yourself together! "I don't know about that ...I think you're already full of yourself!"

"Confidence, Kagome, it's only confidence." Sesshoumaru replied. Inside he was brimming with happiness. The night had finally taken a good turn for him and the luxury of being out 'relaxing' from the chaos of work was a blessing. And she was making him happy. He couldn't understand it but he loved every second of it.

Yeah right! She huffed silently. She glanced at her watch.

"So," She began and he flicked his head her way. "Do I get to say when this 'dinner' ends or you do?" She queried.

"It is up to you, although somehow I feel like I've been cheated." It was an honest confession for him. He was hoping he could spend more time with her. Their short time at the pier was too short for his satisfaction.

She laughed at his remark, remembering her 'performance'. She knew she couldn't carry a tune to save her soul. She knew his elfin ears were sensitive, but the satisfaction of the fact that he had requested that she sang made her gleefully happy on the inside. A part of her did feel bad for him - if she didn't think he was such an arrogant asshole in the first place. So she shrugged at his comment, ignoring that he was fishing for a second 'dinner'. She'd had enough of the playboy as it was. She knew she was treading on dangerous territory and it would be wise to turn around right now!

...

The night was calm and quiet so she fought against herself for a few more minutes with him, enjoying the time they spent together. He was a little different from the interviews, and articles the magazines had written about him. He wasn't a complete cruel, dirt bag, corporate entity. However, the fact that he was a true playboy was written all over his body. And his body wanted hers. She willed herself he wasn't getting any whatsoever! She scanned her eyes up at him and thought to have seen 'SEX' written up and down all over him.

She mused in her thoughts of him as a porno star. That would probably suit him best if his family ever went broke. She had to swallow yet another laugh.

"What are you musing about little miko?" He asked suddenly watching her shoulders tremble.

"Huh?" Kagome played dumb. Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at the strangely unique woman, knowing for a fact that she was plotting something devious towards him.

"Spill it." He commanded.

"Spill what?" She lured her voice to become surprised and innocent.

"Hn." Was all he said when she continued her game of flirting. Though, he wasn't sure if it was him who was flirting or it was her. Or both. He'd never flirt - until minutes ago. He'd become quite a strange person around her he realized. He felt patient. Amused and at ease. But his cock was crying out to him the more he watched the young miko.

"I think it's time I get some rest." She said suddenly.

"Very well." He masked his disappointment and led her toward his car.

...

"So, we're here," he said finally.

It wasn't her imagination as she realized that he was reluctant to end their association. Then she suddenly remembered about her car. She wanted to pay him back, yet at the same time she didn't want to have him in her apartment after dark. She thought it over weighing her decision. She did 'abuse' him quite a bit tonight after he'd gone out of his way to help her with her car - which she was truly grateful for. And she didn't want to be taking advantage of his 'kindness' even if she was sure it wasn't his original intention.

He reached behind him suddenly and she twitched, wrapping her arms around herself.

"Don't be so arrogant miko." He said while his hand fished the backseat. "Here." He offered a large but flat square-shaped gift.

"What is it?" She asked slightly curious.

"It's a record by Biba Binoche."

"Huh?" Kagome raised her fine eyebrow in confusion.

"You had liked the song from last night, it only comes in a form of a record. I figured since you're an appraiser for antiquities that you would at least have a record player." He explained.

His voice was soft and alluring. The explanation was thorough and extremely thoughtful. She had not anticipated this kind of 'thoughtfulness' from him as she stared at her little gift.

"Oh, thank you. Do you want to come in? There's something I need to give you too." She offered.

He looked at her with a strange light in his eyes. "Oh, stop thinking nasty thoughts." She said and it shocked him further. It amazed him how she would always just speak her mind, never beating around the bush and she seemed so at ease doing so. He wanted to ask her what she was giving him, but in his baffled state he'd sat there frozen while she was already rounding the corner to her front door. Without another second of hesitation, he unbuckled his seat belt and followed her.

Hope you enjoyed it! Review it if you do...or don't...either way...Thanks! ~Ts