Maybe a Beta could help motivate me? I have a short outline… but I could make it drawn out and make it a really great fic or just wrap it up and wipe my hands clean of it. You guys tell me.

Vanitati (Frustration)

...One Week Later...

Kagome woke to the shrilling sound of her cell phone alarm. She groaned in agitation while fishing frantically in her bed sheets to bring the frustrating sound to a halt. She dropped the phone carelessly back in the bed after she glanced at the time through crust infested eyes. '5:50 AM'

"I should call in today" She thought aloud resting an arm haphazardly across her forehead.

'Riiiiing! Riiiiing! Riiiiiiiing!'

"UUUUUGGGHHHHH!" Kagome groaned as she snatched white cordless phone from the charger.

"Higurashi here." She mumbled into the receiver.

"Well good morning Kagome!" Came her father's chipper reply. "I hope I didn't wake you-" Kagome rolled her eyes in response as he continued, "but first let me say congratulations on yesterday. Mr. Jefferson stopped by my office and informed me he was extremely pleased with the agreement that was reached."

"Thanks Dad." She responded with a raspy voice as she sat at the edge of her bed pushing her bangs back.

"Next, I wanted to remind you of our staff meeting today. Be sure to clear your schedule because I wanted to speak with you beforehand about a few things. I value your opinion more than you may know."

"What time are we meeting?" Kagome asked as she headed toward the bathroom that was connected to her bedroom.

"Well we meet with everyone at 8, so if you can stop by my office around 7 that would be great."

Kagome plopped down on the toilet and looked up at the clock across from her that read 6:05.

Yawning she responed, "I'll be there."

"See you then my love." She was greeted with the dial tone soon after.

Flushing the toilet, she tested the water in the shower before jumping in, hitting the hot spots and jumping out. She quickly ran through her morning ritual and made it out the house in 20 min.

During the taxi ride Kagome applied her mascara and lipstick careful not to smudge any when the taxi made sudden movements.

"Here we are ma'am." The cab driver spoke.

She fished through her hand bag and paid the man before exiting the vehical. "Thank you!" She called back before slamming the door shut.

She entered her work place with a deep sigh. Flashes of last night persistently appeared before her mind's eye. Caught up in her thoughts she failed to greet Goten as she made her way to the elevator.

Upon reaching the 13th floor she headed straight to her father's office, nodded to his secretary and knocked on the large glass double doors that led to his chamber.

"Ah, Kagome! Glad you made it! Have a seat." Nagate said in a cheerful manner.

"I'm not sure if you're aware but the bulk of today's meeting will be to discuss progress of each of our cases and do the quarterly review for decisions regarding partner."

Upon hearing this, Kagome perked up. "Well, what would you like to talk to me about?"

"The guys and I were talking last night and they kept bringing up Sesshoumaru. He's only been with us for about 3 months, but they seemed fairly impressed with his progress on the Jefferson/Malone case as well as the several other cases he's working on."

Kagome rolled her eyes at this revelation but remained silent and continued to listen.

"Since you have had the chance to work with him on a first hand basis, I wanted to know your impression of him."

Kagome didn't know how to respond. On one hand she knew that if she were too positive she may get passed up yet again for the promotion she's been vying for. On the other hand, she knew it was her sworn oath as a lawyer to be objective, have integrity and to be honest.

Sighing she spoke, "I'm not sure if I'm the best person to ask. If we are being honest with one another, I see him as a rival and any answer I give wouldn't benefit me in the least."

Nagate frowned, "What do you mean?"

"I mean that I've been working my ass off with hopes of you and your buddies taking notice, but instead you call me to your office to discuss another prospect who is still wet behind the ears at the firm. I don't know if you're trying to save face with 'boys' by attempting to avoid nepotism but, I'm getting tired of being overlooked because of my sex and my relation to you!" Kagome said harshly.

Taken aback, Nagate answered "I didn't know you felt that way… I guess I never considered you were interested in making partner. Your name… my name is already listed on the door so I just assumed-"

"See! That's the problem. I'll never be recognized as the asset I am to this firm so long as I'm YOUR daughter working at YOUR law firm; and I don't mean that in a negative way. Look at my track record Dad! In the three years I've been here I've never lost a case. I put in long hours and I deal with a lot of shit from the guys who work here! Yes, Sesshoumaru has a great resume, yes he has the makings of a great lawyer, but to completely bypass me and then to ASK me MY opinion of him? Well frankly that's a slap in the face." Kagome finished after a long exhale. She stood from her sitting position and made her way to the door.

"I'll see you at the meeting."

Nagate leaned back in his desk chair with a bewildered expression plastered on his face. He honestly had no idea that his daughter felt the way she felt.

…

The lawyers at the firm piled in the conference room one by one. Nagate took his position at the head of the table as Smith and Walden each took a seat to his left and right.

"We will start with James. You've been working on the case with The Center for Biological Diversity. How's that been going?" Nagate spoke.

"Ye- yes sir!" James began, "Well as you know, the CBD decided to sue California regulators for supporting a so-called "aquifer exemption" plan to turn underground water in the Price Canyon area of San Luis Obispo County into a permanent disposal site for oil wastewater and other fluids. So far we haven't been able to make contact with the government officials via email or phone so we decided to serve them papers. We should be making progress within the next week."

"Thankya Jamie." Smith said.

The meeting progressed rather slowly as everyone gave their updates on the cases they'd been working on as well as the ones they'd recently closed.

"Thank you for your time everyone. We will see you all in this same room at the same time next month" Nagate announced as he remained seated with Henry and Jack.

…

Sesshoumaru caught up to Kagome and stopped her just before she could turn the corner to her office.

"Kagome. Are you busy this afternoon?" Sesshoumaru asked.

"Why?" She responed. He could hear the agitation in her voice.

"I am unaware if I have done anything to offend your person onna."

Kagome sighed and motioned for him to follow her to her office. She passed Sango's desk and nervously smiled in her direction.

Sango greeted her as she normally did and Kagome felt her tension ease.

Kagome entered her office, held the door open for Sesshoumaru, then closed it behind him.

"It's nothing you did. It's what the people around you are trying to do. This stays between you and me, but after Kagura Onigumo left the other day, I found her card on my desk with a note requesting I send my CV."

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened in curiosity. "Are you going to do it?"

"You know, at first I was going to throw it in the trash, but after today's conversation I had with your boss, I'm more inclined to take them up on their offer." Kagome said.

"What pre-tell brought about this sudden change of heart?" Sesshoumaru questioned.

Kagome eyed him for a long moment before saying, "I'm underappreciated and taken advantage of at this firm. At first I thought I wasn't working hard enough, but listening to those idiots prattle on about the lack of progress they've made over the last month on top of my father actually thinking it was okay to discuss partner selections with me…. I just.."

Kagome sighed placing her head in her hands.

Sesshoumaru glanced at his watch and said, "Let us go eat and take your mind off this for now."

Kagome nodded in agreement, grabbed her purse and followed Sesshoumaru out the office.

"Sango." Kagome called.

"Yes ma'am?" She responded pleasantly.

"If anyone calls, take a message and tell them I'll get back with them tomorrow."

"Can do!" Sango agreed.

….

Sesshoumaru sat across from Kagome in the bustling café. "Do you come here often?" She asked.

"I've been here on two other occasions with James. Though I do find my present company much more appealing." Sesshoumaru said through a smirk.

"Oh really?" Kagome retorted.

The waitress came and they placed their orders, "Just give me whatever he's getting." Kagome told the waitress.

"You sure about that?" Sesshoumaru grinned as he spoke.

"Yea try me."

As the time passed they chatted idly. Every moment or so Kagome would find herself laughing and Sesshoumaru would sit with an amused expression on his face. Before they knew it two hours had passed.

The check came and Kagome tried to call to the waitress, "It was sep-"

"Don't worry over it. You'll treat me next time." Sesshoumaru decided as he checked his watch. He had a conference call within the hour.

"Next time huh?" Kagome quirked an eyebrow.

"Do you not enjoy my company onna?"

"I guess you're alright when you want to be." She laughed.

….

A/N: I thought I'd build on Kagome and Sesshoumaru's friendship a little. I'll have to figure out how I'm going to address the potential love triangle hole that I've written myself into…. I feel like I can add more layers to the fic if I have Kagome leave the firm. Run into some bad guys at the competitor's firm… allow for a change in scenery… IDK? Review please