Chapter 10

...

Kagura slid him a large yellow envelope across his desk. "Here."

He picked it up and waved her off. "That will be all."

He opened the envelope and pulled out the photos inside. There were photos of Kagome in all different places around town that he reconized and that mutt Inuyasha was with her in next few though were taken at a beach house. Two extra people were with Kagome and the mutt. To his utter amazement there was a picture of Sesshoumaru Taisho with a small child with the group. He had thought that the Inu and the mutt had a great hate for one another and weren't on speaking terms. In the next picture he couls see the two argueing while Kagome rolled her eyes.

What could have brought them together in the same place?

A fierce snarl appeared on his face as he saw a picture of the Inu kissing what was rightfully his. Obvisouly she was stronger than he had thought. He had tried to keep Kagome scared and frightened enough to stay away from men and start to ccrack. But from the evidence in his hand he would have to step it up. For this action though he would punish her.

The second time he went through the beach pictures he stopped and studied one with Kagome, Sesshoumaru, and that little girl. From a normal perspective they looked like a family.

But he saw a weakness.

He smirked. This new development gave him a plan.

"I'll just have to wait a little longer to make you mine Kagome."

...

Kagome heard the chimes on the flower shop's door jingled as someone entered.

"I'll be right with you!" she called from the nursery in the back. She set down her clippers and took off her gloves before going to the front of the building.

"Welcome to Blooms a Dozen! Can I help you with anything?" She asked while coming out of the backroom. Hardly anyone had been by the shop so she had decided to do something productive.

"Yes."

She looked in the direction of the voice and found Sesshomaru standing there some feet away from her by the orchids in the front window. She walked towards him with caution. Rin popped out from behind Sesshoumaru to smile at Kagome.

"Hi Kagome! Wow! It smells really nice in here." She took a deep sniff of the air and then wandered away from Sesshoumaru to investigate whatever had caught her eye.

"Do not touch or damage anything," Sesshoumaru ordered.

"I won't!" Rin promised as she walked off to the other side of the store.

"So what can I help you with?" Kagome asked again.

"Your presence is requested this Saturday at the fair."

"Do you always make everything sound like a buissness proposal?"

He only smirked.

She swore he got more cheeky and cockier evertime she saw him. Then she actually thought about his words rather than his tone and her mouth opened in an almost gape.

"Are you asking me out on a date?"

"A group outing. Rin will be with us."

Kagome didn't think about the disappointment she felt. "Well I can't. Saturday I have to work," she explained.

Besides she couldn't be around him. Her heart was beating a little faster just being at a normal distance from him. Kagome had already convinced herself since Ocean Day that there was nothing between them but possible friendship and it would stay that way. The scene from that day replayed in her head and she turned away and walked to some flowers to busy herself from looking at him. He made her nervous and she didn't like it.

She cursed herself for jumping a little as Sesshoumaru's chest came in contact with her upper arm as he leaned down slightly to look at her.

"Do not tell me you are afraid of this Sesshoumaru, Kagome." She could hear the amusement in his voice and he was so close that his breath tickled her ear and neck.

Kagome turned towards him, inches from his face. "That's an absurd assumption," she stated.

"Then you will come," he challenged.

"I told you I have to work that day."

"Take the day off."

"No."

"Then you leave me no choice. Rin," he called over his shoulder and separated slightly from Kagome. Rin came skipping towards them a few seconds later. "Wasn't there something you wanted to ask?" He winked at Rin and Kagome got a bad feeling when Rin giggled and winked back.

"Kagome-san," she began.

Uh-oh.

"Would you please come with us to the fair? Pretty please with whip cream, rainbow sprinkles, and a cherry on top?" Rin looked up at Kagome with big round optimistic eyes.

Don't look directly in her eyes! She commanded herself.

"Rin I can't. I have to work this Saturday…"

Rin's eyes showed the rejection. "But that's Sesshoumaru's day off! And, and, it's the fairs last weekend."

"I'm sorry Rin." Kagome tried to sound as apologetic as possible.

The little girl's bottom lip started to tremble. "You don't want to spend time with me and Sesshoumaru then? I was going to show you the new dress he bought me…" She brought her hand up and rubbed her eye. "But if you can't go I guess that's ok…"

By her tone of voice and the way she looked down it obviously wasn't ok.

"Here," she held out a piece of paper. "It's a drawing of us playing Candyland I drew. I wanted you to have it."

Kagome took it and felt her control slipping as she looked between the drawing and the depressed girl. Making a mistake at looking at her semi-watering eyes.

You are a terrible person, her conscious told her. I hope you can't sleep after this.

Whose side are you own anyways?! Kagome yelled back.

Then she sighed loudly. "I guess I can get the day off…," she muttered in defeat.

"Yay!" Rin jumped up and down looking instantly like her regular hyper, happy, self. "She's coming with us Sesshoumaru! Can we go get ice cream now?"

Sesshoumaru nodded at Rin. "Yes. Go wait in the car."

"Okay!" The little girl hugged Kagome before saying good-bye and skipping out the door.

"That, was beyoooond dirty!" Kagome poked Sesshoumaru in the chest. "It was straight up evil! I can't believe you put her up to that!"

He smirked. "A good business man always has alternative plans. Not to mention Rin was the one who wanted you to join us. I simply agreed. Besides, who was the one who taught her how to use those eyes to her advantage?"

Kagome gasped at him. "That wasn't…You…," she poked him again. "Argh!"

He snickered knowing what he said was right.

She slitted her eyes. "Fine, but you have to buy the most expensive thing in my store since I'll be closing up the shop Saturday to go to the fair."

He frowned. "What about the half-breed? Do you not have any other employees?"

She felt like he was scrutinizing her. "My only employees are Inuyasha and my little brother Souta, Mr. Big Shot. Saturday is there day off."

His frown only grew when she said that and something in his pocket buzzed. Sesshoumaru pulled a check book out of his pocket, wrote on it, and ripped it off handing it to Kagome.

"Bill me. I have to leave." He leaned down and slyly gave her a quick kiss. "Good-bye," he smirked making eye contact and walked out the door.

Kagome knew without looking in a mirror her face was red. She hated the fact he did this to her. The worst part is that he knew and thought it was funny. She stared at the door for a moment.

"A blank check huh?" Kagome thought out loud. A wicked smile spread across her face.

Paybacks a bitch.

...

AN: R&R :)