The Missing Link

By:

Summary: Kagome is an archaeologist who's teams digging around Japan. In her search, she comes across the only known existing demon, frozen and preserved in the mountains. Once he's thawed up, it is up to her to attend to him, teach him the ways of the new world, and comfort his aching heart.

'Blah' –Sesshomaru's strange language

'Blah' -Thoughts

'Blah'- Sesshomaru's beast

Chapter 10

Xxx

"I am a lotus. I-i-I am a lotus. Hmmmm. I am a lotus. I am a lo-o-otus. Hmmm. I am a locust. I am a-a-a locust." The black screen that she saw before her was a result of her lowered eyelids. Sesshomaru had awakened her up hours before the crack of dawn, set her outside on a thin blanket over the cold and dewy lawn, and commanded that she closed her eyes. Each time she cracked them to see around her, he punished her with a swift whack on the wrist with a bamboo reed and threatened to get a blindfold. "I am the locust."

"You are a LOTUS, miko." Sesshomaru's deep voice crept to her ears, causing her to open her eyes. Without opening his own, he struck her wrist again.

"Ow!" She whimpered, closing her eyes again. "Sorry."

Sesshomaru sighed through his nose. Humans and their dependence on their sight, he mused. "You are a lotus," he said again. "A lotus flower is life, beauty, grace, peace. A locust," he uttered the word with disgust, "is a clumsy, hideous insect. Which would you rather be?"

Kagome groaned. "So-rry. I got tongue-tied, and everything just changed. Besides, what does sitting here, telling myself that I'm a lotus, have to do with my training to be a proper miko."

"A good student does not question her master."

"Fine…so you gonna tell me?"

"No. Now, stand." In one majestic motion, he had risen to his feet, waiting for his gracefully challenged friend to stand. "Have you ever done yoga?"

Kagome furrowed her brows. "For some reason, I'm strongly opposed to anything Buddhist. I think it has to do with my parents' obsession with it all through my childhood at the shrine."

Sesshomaru's right brow lifted at this, and he considered a different approach. "Have you ever done Tai Chi, Tae Kwon Do, or Karate?"

"I find it strange how you know about all of those."

"They existed in my own time, simply be different names. I have seen movies and recognized the strikes. Karate, however, was established long before my times."

"Oh, well, I'm a black belt 6th dan as far as Karate goes."

Sesshomaru's brows furrowed. "Your color of belt is relevant how?"

Kagome smiled and shook her head. "I don't know why I assumed you'd know. You know everything else. You see, now, we use colors to represent how far we've reached. What did you use?"

"Combat. Colors did not speak for us. We battled. He who won had a higher title."

"Makes sense. Anyway, the highest can either be black 10th dan or red/white in some styles."

Sesshomaru nodded. "So you are 4 dan from your goal?"

Kagome frowned deeply. "Yeah. Had to stop karate when I got married to Hojo. He said he hated seeing me in 'danger' when I had competitions." Looking from him to the brightening sky, she muttered, "What does Karate have to do with anything?"

"I will command a stance, and you will do it, pausing when I order such. Understood?" At Kagome's nod, he said, "Follow my motions. I will show your six stances. Each time I say a number, you will do the corresponding stance." After a short demonstration, he ordered, "Kamaite. (get into position)"

Mind snapping back to her younger days, Kagome immediately adjusted into the natural position.

"1."

Kagome obeyed, spreading her legs. She twist her upper body to the left, one hand pointing in that directions, palm out, and the other resting at her stomach, pointing in the same direction, palm out.

"Pause." Sesshomaru commanded, approaching. Her stance was a little off center. He lifted her chin, pressed her shoulders down, and turned the angle of her left foot a few degrees. "Kamaite. 2."

She kicked up into the air with her left leg with a, "Kah!"

"Higher." He had tested the height of her kick as opposed to his own height.

Lowering her leg, Kagome kicked again, this time high enough to rest her heel on Sesshomaru's shoulder. She blushed prettily when he grabbed her ankle and did just that.

"Straighten your leg." He coached, one hand on her under-thigh, the other on her knee. With a stiff nod, he stepped back from her. "Kamaite. 3."

Kagome stuck out her arm, bent slightly at the elbow. Her leg lifted, bent at the knee. She wavered slightly, then stilled. Sesshomaru came up behind her, placing one hand on her stomach, and the other on her lifted knee. She jumped at the touch, "Oh."

Sesshomaru smirked a moment, then began to speak, "Your heel should be pointed more toward your opposite knee. And your back could be a little straighter. Very good, miko."

They held still in that position for a moment, before Kagome flinched from him, unable to take the heat of his body against hers any longer. "U-um, 4?"

"Hai. Four." Sesshomaru resisted the urge to smile. Humans were too easy to harass. "After six, we shall have a quick spar."

XXX

Kagome glared at Sesshomaru's back as he tightened his tie in the mirror. She stuck her tongue out at his back, eyes wide when he threatened to rip the appendage from her mouth. "It's your fault for working me so hard! My muscles hurt! My favorite shorts have a grass stain spread over the butt! MY FAVORITE SHORTS, SESSHOMARU!"

"You can buy more. You agreed to my training, no complaining. You will be honorable and keep your word, won't you, little one?" He asked smugly as he turned to face her.

"B-but it's not fair! You kept knocking me over because you're so big! Can't you youkai shrink or something to your will? You're all magical and crap. Can't you youkai even the score?"

"Some can, yes." Sesshomaru grabbed his leather briefcase, smiling slightly at her. "I shall return by 6:00, miko."

Kagome hurried after him as he headed toward the door. "I won't be lonely without you." She lied, as though to persuade him to stay. "I won't miss you either." Reverse psychology, she told herself.

"Of course not." He smirked deeper.

"I'll be busy, so don't call to check on me."

"I will not."

She scowled as he left the house, shouting after him, "And I won't have dinner waiting on the table for you, or a hot bath! Don't even think you'll come home to your favorite cake, either! I won't slave away cooking all day for you!" Her face fell as he rounded the street corner. "I won't cry because you've adapted and left me."

XXX

Sesshomaru paced back and forth in the space of his own office. He hadn't expected such an arrangement, thinking he would be in one of the small cubicles on the first floor. But no, he had been blessed with a large, wide office, with a lovely view of Tokyo. He had a bathroom, complete with separate shower and tub. A large television screen hung on the wall opposite his desk. Oh, and his desk with its deep Cherry wood and finished handles. Inhaling the scent of fresh leather, he sat in his chair. 'Wheels,' he thought in fascination, though he didn't quite understand the purpose. Who would wish to roll in a chair?

The phone rang, and for a moment, his heart jumped. 'Kagome?' But Kagome didn't have the number, he realized. On the third ring, he answered, "Hiroshi co. of Computers and Electronics."

"Takeshi-san," The guttural voice of his boss, the infamously one-named Takuchi, wafted through the receiver, "I need you to do something. Are you at the computer?"

"Yes, Takuchi-sama." The very thought of calling anyone his superior irked Sesshomaru in ways unimaginable.

"Great. Pull up a new Excel spreadsheet*…Got it?"

"Yes."

Takuchi nodded, glancing at the thick stack of papers before him. "I'm going to fax a list to you. I want you to fill these in the way they are written and make copies. I need this by the end of the day. Understood?"

"Yes."

"Good, my boy. You know, a part of me fears you. You're so good at doing your job, I worry for the day you will take my job. Anyway, it is time for your break. By the time you return, the papers will have all been faxed. Good eating."

Sesshomaru rested the phone back in its cradle and sighed. He had no reason to leave and eat, so, as he heard the beginning of faxing, he decided that he would get a head start on that. Upon reaching the third sheet, he paused at the commotion heard outside his door. He had been determined to leave it be, but, after a few insatiably curious moments, he rose. Upon exiting his office, he realized what had caused the upheaval, and decided immediately that he didn't like it.

XXX

"And who be ye?" The elderly woman behind the desk questioned as she suckled a peppermint.

"Oh, my name is Kagome Higurashi. I'm looking for a Takeshi Masaru." Kagome deliberately remembered the name Sesshomaru had told her he would go by from that morning on. "I'm a friend of his."

After regarding her, the woman turned away. "I be Miyoko Kaede, but everyone here simply knows me as Kaede. Your friend in on the 9th floor. Aye, but be careful while ye be there." She handed Kagome a pass.

Eyeing the paper curiously, Kagome asked, "What's wrong with the 9th floor?"

"Oh, ye will see. Run along, now. Lunch will be over in 15 minutes." She nodded at the small lunchboxes Kagome held.

"Oh, thank you, Kaede! I will see you later!" She hurried toward the elevator, riding up nervously to the 9th floor. She hoped Sesshomaru would be pleasantly surprised and not upset with her. With so little to do, she'd found herself unable to sit still and not worry over him. Then she remembered that she had forgotten, in her anger and muscle pain, to prepare him a lunch, so she'd made him one. Then, she'd realized that she couldn't go to his job at HIROSHI CO. on his first day, looking like she'd stepped out of a trailer. After an hour of primping and dressing, she had finally left the house. The DING of the elevator caught her by surprise, but she recovered quickly, stepping off.

As she walked through down the aisles of cubicles, she tried to see if she could spot Sesshomaru, while trying to avoid and ignore the blatant stares and whistles of the men. When she came to the end, she frowned. 'Is he even here?'

"HURT ME! HURT ME!*" A sudden voice cried from behind her, and she whirled to face it, locking sapphire eyes with murky brown ones. The man's long black hair was brushed behind his ears. He smiled charmingly, causing his eyes to raise, and the mole just below them to raise as well. "Would you look what we have here, my angel! Where have you been all my life?"

Kagome blushed at his forwardness. "H-hi."

He licked his lips. "Hi to you too, cutie. The name's Kai Muso, just call me Muso."

"W-well, Kai-san, I was wondering-"

"Trying to hog her to yourself, are you?!" A man approached, looking oddly like Hojo. "I'm Usui Akitoki. I don't believe we've had the pleasure of meeting. May I asked this pretty lady's name?"

She colored further. "H-Higurashi."

He inhaled, as though able to smell her words. "What a tantalizing voice you have!"

"And such feminine style." Another voice crooned, this one belonging to a male with short black hair. "Dearest, you may call me Gyuou Izumo.*"

"Yes, um, Gyuou-san, I was hoping to-"

"Go on a date with me?" Muso finished with a confident smirk.

Akitoki scowled, nudging him. "Let her speak. Now, Higurashi-san, what were you asking?"

Kagome smiled gratefully at him. "I'm looking for Takeshi Masaru."

The three faces around her immediately fell. Akitoki asked, "Oh, you must be his wife. I see the meal in your hand."

"I knew that guy was too handsome. We need to get him out of here." Izumo muttered thoughtfully.

"No. Masaru's not my husband."

Muso's eyes began to glow with hope. "Boyfriend?" He could take her from a boyfriend, but a husband was too much of a hassle for a few nights with a beauty.

Kagome touched her warm cheek, shaking her head. "My, no. M-masaru's just my roommate, a good friend. He forgot his lunch so I brought him something. I hope I wasn't wrong in that."

"No, we love having you here. Let me take that. Don't want to strain those dainty hands." Akitoki took the lunch from her, beaming at her flattered giggle.

"Right, and such exquisite hands, they are." Izumo grasped her hands gently in his own, massaging. "So, how did you and Masaru meet?"

The other men, seeing that the woman was free and an open target, began to crowd around her, shouting questions and words of praise.

Sesshomaru placed his hands on his narrow hips squarely. Obviously, the group was around a woman, the second one today. "Have we not work to do, gentlemen?" All eyes shot to Sesshomaru before the group dispersed leaving the three initial suitors and Kagome. His eyes widened. "Kagome."

She beamed. "S-Masaru," looking around, she frowned, "I misplaced your lunch."

"It is right here, beautiful." Muso smirked as he handed it to her.

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed, and he tore his glare from the male to look at Kagome. "Thank you. I had not realized that I had forgotten this." He hadn't planned on eating at all, but now that she was here…

"I know, so I brought you one."

And as grateful as he was, the disgusting looks that were directed at her made him wish she hadn't been so kind. "Did you eat?"

Her cheeks colored lightly. "Actually, I forgot to."

"That simply will not do. Shall we share your meal, Kagome?" When she nodded, he placed a hand on her lower back. "My office is two doors down, the door is open. I'll be with you in a moment." Once she was in his office, he turned to face his coworkers. "Higurashi-san is 100% off limit, understood?"

"Takeshi-san-"

"I want all of you to stay from her. Should you disobey, I will not be responsible for my actions." He threatened, turning on his heels to his office. He closed the door, nearly smiling when he turned to fine Kagome nearly swallowed in his large chair, the meal laid out on his desk before her. She was already munching happily on a small pickle. Sitting in the not-nearly-as-comfortable chair, he took the chopsticks from her hand and dipped into the eggs. He chuckled at her stunned face before swallowing them.

Kagome pouted, "You could have asked."

He smiled fondly at her. "But I did not." Cheekily, he pinched more eggs, emptying them into his mouth again.

Giving him a false frown, she muttered loudly, "If you weren't so cute…"

"You wouldn't allow me in your home?"

"Exactly."

"Then I am very lucky that I am 'so cute,' am I not?"

Kagome grinned broadly, "You're in a good mood. You've never joked with me for this long. Is it the job? Meet a woman?" She decided to ignore the twang in her heart for the time being.

Sesshomaru chewed the last of his rice before replying, "I do not know. This Sesshomaru woke up in a calmer, warmer mood."

"Finally found the right side of the bed, huh?" Seeing his confusion, she tried to explain, "See, people say that a grouchy person got on the wrong side of the bed."

"Why? No matter which side of the bed, or couch, you rest upon, you awaken cheerful."

"It's a saying." She shrugged. "What can you do to change it?"

He arched a brow. "You would think these people who come up with these strange 'sayings' at least attempts to make them true. And how can you say them, without fully understanding them?"

"You use a computer and watch television without knowing how those work."

"As do you." He pointed out haughtily.

"Yeah, well, I know more than you. So the-" Her sentence was cut off by a small burp, and she blushed, covering her mouth. "Excuse me."

Sesshomaru looked bemused. "You are embarrassed by that which is natural."

Kagome shook her head. "That's sort of unacceptable of women today. It's disgusting, and shows that the woman has no class."

"If my memory serves me correctly, the women I knew of could release gas without worrying over such. Strange, your time." He mumbled thoughtfully. When his phone rang, he asked Kagome to excuse him and answered the same way he had before.

"Takeshi, have you started with the spreadsheet, yet?"

"Yes."

"Good. It turns out, I'm gonna need that in twenty minutes. Think you can handle it?"

"Yes, Takuchi-sama." Hanging up the phone, he sighed. That would only happen when he was relishing in Kagome's presence. "I am sorry, Kagome, and very grateful for lunch…However, I must finish an assignment earlier than expected."

Standing, she flashed an assuring smile, knowing he saw what he was doing as an insult, "It's fine. Do your work, and enjoy the meal."

Sesshomaru led her to the door, his palm touching the small of her back lightly. "I would like it if you call next time, so that I may retrieve you from downstairs. Also, stay far from these males."

"I think they're sweet and flattering."

He scoffed. "They are pathetic and in need of a rut." He cracked his door. "Promise you will stay away, miko." He knew her word was her bond…in most cases.

"Um, sure." She shrugged. "I won't flock to them. Thanks for being so caring, albeit overprotective. Have a nice day." On her tiptoes, she stretched up to kiss his cheek. "Later, Masaru."

Sesshomaru watched her leave with a smirk. He'd never paid much attention to how short she truly was. Even as he called her 'little one' or 'little miko', it had only been in the case of an endearment for a younger person, but she was like a dwarf, or a midget in comparison. But she fit well, he had to admit.

XXX

A/N: Let's hope I can crank these bad boys out quicker. Stupid wall outlet is dying on me. We should probably the rewire the entire stinkin' house. Anyway, if you're one of those people who review, tell me what you think of my picture(Profile pic (also on dokuga)). If you aren't a reviewer, then shame on you, reading stories without reviewing. It's like seeing a movie without paying. But then, I'm a hypocrite, because I don't review every story I read. My hand's cramp. I'm starting to wonder if I have carpal tunnel. As I close this rant, I wish you a Merii Kurisumasu (Merry Christmas), happy Kwanza, and Happy Hanukkah, and any other holiday I missed.

*I don't own Microsoft word in anyway. I wish I did. That's gotta be a boatload of money.

* From the FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR (Will saw a girl and shouted, "HURT ME! HURT ME!" I just thought it was appropriate, so…yeah…okay…bye*

*Izumo is the half demon who claimed to be human and turned demon at night on the 2-part episode THE SACRED JEWEL MAKERS. Gyuou was his demon counterpart.

* I do not own "So…yeah…okay…bye." Neither does the place I'm referencing it from, though. It's a car insurance commercial, I think. Car hits a pothole, and the pothole starts talking and…DON"T LOOK AT ME THAT WAY, I TALK WHEN I'M SLEEPY BUT I'M NOT!