Author's Note: Ohlo pplzzz! I hope you like this chappy, I sure do. The romance is imminent! Deeeeee(: I so happy. I've figured out how I'm going to have the story progress. Hopefully I can update a little more often now. But maybe not cuz i still have school. :D

Disclaimer: I do not own inuyasha

My Darkest Hour

Chapter 13

Two weeks go by, and at this time Kagome has $1,200 dollars toward the apartment she was looking at. She was almost there. Also by that time, she had become pretty good friends with her boss.

It was Tuesday afternoon at work and Kagome headed into InuYasha's office with some reports.

"Mr. Takahashi, these are the reports of the architects working on the Osaka branch. Their bank account may need to be refilled soon, apparently"

InuYasha turned away from his computer to face his gorgeous secretary. "Alright Kagome, thank you very much. Could you just set those down on my desk there, and then have a seat, please?"

Kagome looked confused, but complied. When she sat down, she asked, "What's this about, sir?"

InuYasha smiled; Kagome relaxed. "Nothing bad; I just want to let you know that you're doing a great job. I also think that as my secretary I should get to know you a little better. This is what I did with Hana, and things were a little easier from the point when we actually became friends. Do you mind?"

Kagome returned her boss's handsome smile. "Of course not, sir; I think that'd be great!"

"Great. Well… How 'bout we start with you know longer calling me 'Mr. Takahashi' all the time? Just call me 'InuYasha'," the hanyou said with a smile.

Kagome seemed slightly taken aback, but definitely happy. "Oh that'd be great, sir. And would you, InuYasha, please call me 'Kagome'?"

InuYasha's smile widened. "Of course. So tell me a few things about yourself. Have you lived in Tokyo all your life?"

"Yes sir," Kagome answered.

"Alright, so have I. Let's see… Are you currently in a relationship?" InuYasha innocently inquired.

Kagome looked down briefly, before meeting his golden orbs again. "Yes sir, I am," she answered somberly.

InuYasha looked puzzled by her sudden mood change. "Um… Kagome if it's alright, I'd like to ask you if you have any health issues."

Kagome's eyebrow rose. "No sir… Why though?"

InuYasha looked at her oddly, but not in a rude way—a curious way. "It's just that… sometimes I can smell blood on you more prominently than I usually smell blood on others. But, it's only in certain areas on your body… Like bruises, but I never see any… I was just curious about that."

Kagome's eyes widened for a moment. "You can tell things like that?"

InuYasha nodded, a concerned look on his face.

"Well… I don't have any health problems, InuYasha. But… you're right about the bruises." Kagome said quietly with her head down.

"Well then how come…?" InuYasha asked.

Kagome kept her head down. She didn't answer.

InuYasha stared at her for a moment, before letting it go so as not to upset her.

"Well then how about family, Kagome? Do you live with your parents still?"

Kagome looked up, a dreary expression fixed on her face. "No, actually I don't. My father passed several years back. I used to live with my mother, brother, and grandfather, but after college I moved out to live with my boyfriend. My mother and I had a few fights before I left… so we currently aren't speaking. I haven't spoken to my mother or anyone else from my family in a few years…"

"Oh wow, I'm sorry to hear that, Kagome. I lost my mother some time ago. It's just me, my father, and my older half-brother." InuYasha responded.

"Oh Sesshoumaru, right? That's your brother?"

"Yeah, that ass is my brother." InuYasha murmured.

Kagome giggled. "Well then it's my turn to ask some questions."

InuYasha waved his hand. "Shoot."

"Well… How long have you and Kikyo been together?"

"For about two years."

"Do you love her—if you don't mind me asking?" Kagome felt a little nervous after her last question. Maybe she was overstepping her boundaries.

"No that's fine. Um… Do I love her…? Do I love Kikyo? I don't think so, Kagome. She's beautiful and funny, and I do like her a lot, but it's nowhere near love. That woman has some serious issues… I don't think that's the kind of person I'd love."

Kagome nodded. "Understood."

"Well what about you?" InuYasha began. "Do you love your boyfriend?"

Kagome looked down at the folded hands that sat in her lap. "I… used to. Definitely used to… But I don't think I'll ever be able to love that man again."

InuYasha's concern returned. "Oh… You two are having issues?"

Kagome scoffed. "If only you could put it so lightly," she said bitterly.

InuYasha was silent for a moment before asking another question. "So if you don't talk to your family anymore, and you and your man are having troubles, then who else do you spend time with to keep you grounded?"

'I wish it could be you that kept me grounded…' Kagome's inner desires spoke in her mind. 'Whoa, wait! That may actually be true, but I'm pretty sure that's less than appropriate. Let's just stick to paying attention to the conversation, and figuring out how to lighten things up again.'

"Oh, I have a few friends in the area from college that I worked with before I applied here. We're really close…"

InuYasha smiled. "Oh that's nice."

"Yeah…" Kagome said as she returned the expression.

InuYasha stood up from his desk. "Well Ms. Kagome, I'm glad we've had this chance to speak with each other. We should become great friends soon, or at least I hope so. And since we're making an effort to become close with each other, feel free to drop in here at any time and speak with me about anything. Especially do so when Kikyo's here. Sometimes I need a break from all her madness."

InuYasha winked, a gorgeous grin on his face.

Kagome giggled once again and stood up, too. "Alright sir, thank you very much. Feel free to do the same with me. I'm really looking forward to how spending time and working with you will be down the road."

InuYasha's smile broadened. "Alright Kagome. Come give me a hug, then let's get back to work."

Kagome looked shocked for a moment, before she snapped out of it and met her boss for a hug.

The two of them shared a friendly laugh before Kagome left to go back to her desk outside.

Author's Note: Please R&R