A.N. Oh snap! I'm on fire, 3 chapters in two nights! And you can expect the next chapter either tomorrow or the day after because I'm on a roll. So please read and review! P.S. For those of you who cannot discern the obvious, the conversation in '…' occurs in Sesshoumaru's mind between himself and his inner beast.

Disclaimer: Does anyone really read this? It says the same thing every time. InuYasha is not mine!

Interesting Conversation

Kagome stepped out of the limo and was immediately blinded by the flashes of cameras. She forced a smile as she held on to Shippo's arm and followed him into the building. Once inside the small group shed their shawls, purses and outer coats in the cloakroom before entering the main hall.

"See that wasn't so bad." Shippo laughed noting the apprehensive look on their faces.

"But it can only get worse." Kagome mumbled tucking a curl behind her ear. The entire room, and it was a large room, was filled with important people from both human and youkai society, even the mayor was in attendance!

Shippo chuckled having heard the statement. "Come along, I'll introduce you all to Mr. Takahashi."

Kanna and Kouga followed Shippo with Kagome trailing not to far behind. She joined them before Sesshoumaru just as Shippo finished introducing the other two. "And this lovely being is Kagome Higurashi." Kagome forced a smile and reached out to shake his hand. His hand engulfed hers briefly before he pulled away.

"We've met." Sesshoumaru stated coolly.

"Oh really?" Shippo asked surprised.

"Yes, unfortunately." Kagome quipped.

"Wench." Sesshoumaru growled. "Do not think that due to our previous, yet regrettable encounters that you may disrespect this Sesshoumaru in any way."

Kagome cocked her head to the side and made a face of feigned innocence, though her voice held a tone of mockery as she emphasized his title. "I wouldn't dream of it Mr. Takahashi." She watched the tic in his jaw in amusement.

"Encounters?" Kouga asked curiously.

Before anyone could answer him a wind demoness sidled up to Sesshoumaru. "Sessho-kun? Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?"

Sesshoumaru glared down at the demoness, annoyance plainly displayed on his perfect features. "No."

"Well fine," she turned to the group. "I am Kagura Mori, heiress to Tech Unlimited."

Kagome knew that store; it was a major electronic chain. They always had the latest technology first. Kagura shook Kanna and Kouga's hand as they introduced themselves but when she came to Kagome she merely stared at her outstretched hand in disgust.

"Oh a human, you poor thing." With that she returned her attention back to Sesshoumaru, who turned and walked away without a word, Kagura close on his heels.

"It's a wonder he hasn't killed her yet." Shippo mused.

"Why is that?" Kanna asked.

"Well her family has been trying to marry her off to Sesshoumaru ever since his father retired and he inherited the family business. Problem is he can't stand her. It's really quite funny actually. She wouldn't be so bad if she would shut her mouth and just stand there quietly. I apologize for her rudeness, Kagome."

"You shouldn't apologize for the lack of manners of others. It's not your fault the girl obviously has no class." Kagome stated, smoothing imaginary wrinkles in her dress. She calmly excused herself and wandered the hall. Retrieving glass of water from a passing server and busied herself with examining the artwork lining the walls. Kagome soon learned that all the pieces had been done by many talented painters who had donated their artwork for the silent auction that was simultaneously occurring during the party.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Sesshoumaru watched the miko as she looked at each piece of art appreciatively. He grudgingly admitted that she cleaned up nicely, for a human.

'Don't be an ass, she looks delicious, period. Why I'd like to run my claws down that-'. The sudden escape of his youkai from its mental prison startled Sesshoumaru and he interrupted it before it continued its perverted rant.

'Silence!'

'Why, master? I was merely saying what you know is true.'

'That's what you think, not the thoughts of this Sesshoumaru.'

'And I am part of you, so that is what we think.' His youkai said triumphantly. Somehow during this inner battle Sesshoumaru had walked closer to the miko and was now standing a few feet behind her. Kagome bent forward a little giving him a full view of her backside, as she attempted to read the artist's signature on a painting.

'Lovely view, don't you agree?' his youkai cooed before Sesshoumaru returned him to the cage of his mind.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Kagome sighed in defeat; she just could not seem to discern the tiny, smeared initials in the bottom corner of the painting. The image was absolutely lovely; it was a forest scene at night. The full moon glistened off the fresh snow realistically and in such a way Kagome felt that if she touched the painting it would feel cold. And in the back of her mind the scene felt oddly familiar.

"S.T." a deep smooth voice said behind her, just as cold as the painting itself.

She straightened and turned to find Sesshoumaru standing behind her. "Excuse me?"

"You were trying to decipher the initials were you not?"

Kagome nodded. "It seemed the artist did not care to be recognized for their work."

"Or maybe I just didn't care to be bothered by those wishing to question the piece."

"You?" Kagome pondered. "'S.T. ….S.T….Sesshoumaru Takahashi!"

Sesshoumaru let out an exasperated sigh. "You are slower than I thought, wench."

"Stop calling me wench." Kagome snapped, turning back to the painting. "Where have I seen this place before?" She mumbled to herself.

Sesshoumaru gestured to a particular hill in the landscape of the portrait. "You should recognize this knoll, for it's the very one you stood atop when you tried to kill me." Sesshoumaru smelled Kagura approaching and began to move in the opposite direction.

"I told you already I thought you were someone else." Kagome hissed as she followed him. Sesshoumaru's direction of choice landed them smack dab in the middle of the dance floor. Sensing his dilemma and knowing Kagura was close behind, he abruptly turned causing Kagome to bump into his broad chest. He grasped her, and momentarily he saw fear flash in the cerulean depths before she forced herself to relax.

'She fears us.' His youkai stated. Sesshoumaru ignored it wondering why it was being so boisterous this evening. He placed one hand in the small of her back and held her petite hand in his other as she tentatively placed her other hand on his shoulder.

"And who could you have possibly mistaken this Sesshoumaru for?"

"None of your business." She snapped. Once again he felt her anger rise and warned her to calm herself, as he led her in the dance.

'Someone harmed the miko and she looks for revenge.' His youkai said.

'Since when do you speak so much?' Sesshoumaru asked it.

'Since we discovered an interesting subject to discuss.' It quipped in response. 'Don't you love the way her skin feels beneath our claws, smooth as silk.'

'You are perverse.'

'Only as perverse as you try not to be.' His youkai laughed.

Kagura's attempt to interrupt their dance pulled his attention away from his battle with his inner beast. "Sessho-kun," she pouted, "you wish to dirty your hands with this filthy human rather than spend time with a lovely demoness such as myself?"

"If you were as lovely as you think you are maybe." Was all he said, leaving a shocked Kagura behind as he waltzed away from her. Kagome stifled a laugh as she continued to dance with the cold businessman.

"That was mean." She said with amusement.

"This from a miko that tried to assassinate this Sesshoumaru." He snorted.

"You are never going to let me live that down are you?"

Sesshoumaru shook his head, his gleaming locks catching the light.

'You like her.' His youkai said.

Sesshoumaru scoffed at this. 'Hardly, this Sesshoumaru finds it mildly amusing to annoy her is all.'

The waltz ended and Sesshoumaru pulled away from Kagome, his youkai protesting as he did so.

"That was…interesting." Kagome said.

"If you say so, wench." Sesshoumaru turned and began to walk away an arrogant swagger in his step.

"Fine, see if I help you next time you want to run from your little girlfriend." Kagome glared daggers at his back wanting to reach out and yank those silver locks of his that swung down his back.

"This Sesshoumaru never runs from anything, wench, and it will do you good to remember that." He called over his shoulder.

"You are incorrigible, Sesshoumaru Takahashi." Kagome snapped a cold blaze in her sapphire eyes.

'She's right you know.' His youkai agreed.

Sesshoumaru closed eyes and rubbed his temple at his impending headache. 'Shut up.'