ALONE AT NIGHT

Chapter 14

"Kagome."

The raven-haired beauty was turned towards the window she'd been staring out of for the past 15 minutes in her office. The team had returned from the construction site and despite the fact that Kagome had a pile of paperwork to get through; all she could think about was Inuyasha.

"For a second it felt good to have him stick up for me in front of those baboons."

He'd looked nothing less than debonair in the fitted black suit and tie. His eyes conveyed a million emotions as he stood trying to speak to her.

"Phft," she thought bitterly, "good looks and a heart of stone. Is that how you get people to fall for your traps Inuyasha? What do you want to say to me after everything you've done?"

"Kagome? Earth to Kagome?"

She spun around in her chair to see Rin standing at her desk, leaning over and smiling as usual.

"Oh-uh, I'm sorry" she racked a hand through her hair.

"No problem, what's on your mind?" Rin asked taking a seat across from her.

"Nothing! I just had some stuff to do this weekend and my aunt called about this house she bought," Kagome started to ramble. "I'm sorry," she finally smiled and pulled her thoughts together, "I'm completely blabbering. Is there something you needed?"

Rin gave her a knowing look, but chose to drop the subject; for now.

"Actually, yes. I have a favor that I can only trust you with," Rin held up a bulk of files and dropped them on Kagome's desk.

"Oh this doesn't look good," Kagome thought.

"I'd like for you to go through these, photocopy all the contracts and then mail them out via express mail to this list of recipients. They are our contractors and funders for the project, so it's crucial that they have it."

"That doesn't sound too bad," she smiled at Rin.

"Sure I'll get on it right away."

"There's one little thing though," Rin sighed and smiled at the same time.

"I knew it sounded too easy," Kagome sighed.

"They all have to be out via express mail tonight."

"Tonight?" Kagome couldn't keep back her shock.

"Yes I know its short notice," Rin started to plead. "But the girl I assigned to get it done today didn't even touch them because of some family emergency. She ended up leaving without telling me and the paperwork just sat on her desk all day. I went into her office about 10 minutes ago and found it all as is. Kagome I know you have classes to think about, but please help me out? I'll pay over time of course, but you'll have to stay back late and then run over to the 24-hour Kinko's to ship it all out. I would've stayed back to do it myself, but we've all been asked to a dinner tonight with the EC team to go over more details of the project. Think you can do it?"

"What a loaded question," she groaned to herself, "Do I have a choice? And she needs my help so badly. It's not like she's doing it purposefully. And the biggest benefit is the over time! I could use some extra cash."

Kagome smiled back reassuringly, "Of course."

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He packed up his briefcase, shoving the paperwork angrily inside while glancing at his wrist watch.

"Shit, nearly 8 pm already. I'm gonna be late for dinner" he muttered while powering down his computer.

Inuyasha quickly grabbed his blazer and flipped open his cell phone as he walked out to the elevators of the executive suite.

"Hey Miroku, I'll be late. Just let the guys know alright?"

"…"

"Are you my wife?" he snapped back at his friend. "I'm late because I'm late. Gees."

"…"

He let out a small sigh at his friend's question, "No, I didn't get a chance to talk to her."

"…"

"What'd you mean I didn't try?" he shouted back, "She wouldn't even talk to me. Oh and by the way, the flowers were a terrible idea."

"…"

"Keh," he looked at the floor numbers on the elevator controls, "You know what, count me out for tonight. You fellas go ahead. I'm too damn exhausted."

"…"

"Yea, yea, mother. Talk to you later," he snapped the phone shut.

The cleaning crew and night support staff were walking around at this hour and he noticed certain floors were already off limits. One in particular one caught his interest and at some unknown feeling of instinct, he pushed the button for the fifth floor.

"Wonder if she threw out the flowers."

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"Damnit, damnit, damnit," she riffled through the paperwork.

As if being alone late at night in the office wasn't creepy enough, the stupid janitor kept looking at her up and down the entire time she was making the photo copies in the printer room.

It'd sent chills down her spine when he came up and introduced himself by taking her hand and kissing the back of it. She probably sanitized and re-sanitized it a hundred times to get the feel of his lips off of her skin.

"Creepy jerk," she settled into her chair to address dozens of letters, envelopes and attach them with the appropriate contracts. Then all the originals would have to be filed back with the corresponding folders.

She was intensely focused on the paperwork ahead of her and sifted through file after file; methodically keeping herself organized and productive.

"Shit its 8 and I'm still here," she wanted to scream but at the same time knew Rin was depending on her.

"Ack if that jerk comes in here again to ask how I'm doing for the fiftieth time, I'm going to scream-"

"Kagome?"

She nearly jumped out of her chair and inadvertently let out a small shriek. Kagome looked up; her heart racing, her mind swirling with a million different thoughts and saw someone familiar.

"You?" she looked at Inuyasha with surprise. "What're you doing here scaring me out of my skin?" she asked in anger.

"What am I doing here?" he looked back at her, entering the office and looking at his wrist watch again, "It's nearly 10 after 8 at night. What the hell are you doing?"

She tried to hold back a flood of curses directed towards him. First staying late, then all the work, then the creepy janitor that wouldn't leave her alone and now him.

"Argh, just leave," she went back to her work and tried to ignore him.

"Kagome you have to talk to me sometime-" he started and sat down across from her.

She promptly stood up and interrupted him, "Why? So you can tell me another bunch of bullshit lies? So you can trick me into loosing this job too? I told you before to stay the hell away."

He looked back at her, slightly amused by the fury in her eyes and the stern look on her face. She really could be very serious when she wanted to.

"Yea, and I didn't want to listen," he remained seated and calm, trying his best to break through her stubborn anger.

His demeanor had her completely on edge; all the emotions she'd been feeling towards him came crashing back and suddenly she wanted his neck between her hands.

"Go fuck yourself," she replied and sat down back to work. She was more than stuck; she was trapped. The work had to get done and she still needed to get to Kinko's to mail everything out. She couldn't let Rin down or tarnish her otherwise pristine record at the job so far.

"Okay," Inuyasha replied tentatively and proceeded with caution. "I just wanted to tell you something about…about what happened."

She ignored him and kept her eyes focused downward towards the paperwork. It was thorough annoying; his attitude. "I tell him to go fuck himself and he says OKAY? Argh…he is so infuriating!"

He continued, "I just wanted to say I was sorry. Sorry for tricking you, sorry for making you loose your job and sorry for-for kissing you."

She bit down on her lower lip at the sound of his words. That day's aggravation, humiliation and betrayal seemed fresh again.

"I know I can't take any of it back, but for what's it worth I feel like an enormous jerk for what I caused you to go through," he continued at her silence. It was almost maddening that she wouldn't look at him to acknowledge that she was even listening.

He let out a heavy breath, "Kagome, are you listening?"

She slammed both her hands on the desk in fury, "And so what do you expect from me huh?"

Her dark eyes were ferocious and for a second he felt 2 inches tall, "You want me to say 'I forgive you?' Well I don't! Because I can't! Not only did you lie to me, but you tricked me into kissing you, got me fired and now you have the audacity to ask for my forgiveness. Well Mr. Takashiro, you're most certainly not forgiven and here's one instance where you won't get your way. Stop sending me flowers, cards and any other crap your other friends are impressed by. Just stay out of my way and I'll stay out of yours. Unless you plan on getting me fired from this job too?"

Right about now a good 10 foot deep hole would've been a perfect spot for him to crawl into. Her words were beyond harsh and her tone unforgiving. His ego was thoroughly bruised and at the same time he was more determined than ever.

"I don't think I've ever had anyone speak to me like that besides the old man. Usually Sesshomaru even knows better. Well Kagome you're not going to make me give up that easily. I am Inuyasha Takashiro after all."

He stood from his seat "I just wanted to apologize and I have. Beyond that if you can't forgive me, well that's your choice. But if that's what you want-"

"YES, that's exactly what I want," she interrupted again snapping at him.

"Then I'll have to admit that I won't be leaving you alone much," he continued in his casual tone as she'd never interrupted him.

She stopped what she was doing and snapped up to look at him.

His warm amber eyes glittered back at her under the warm lights of the office lamps. A sly smile graced his handsome face as he stood in the doorway. She was speechless and wasn't sure if she'd heard correctly.

"Excuse me?" she asked; her brows crinkled.

"That's right. If you can't believe in and accept my apology to forgive me, we'll be seeing a lot more of each other. Because I do not accept defeat that easily," he continued to smile at her.

"Are you insane? I can have you arrested for harassment!" she snapped at him.

"Go ahead," he shrugged, "If that'll make you feel better. But you know as well as I do that in your heart of hearts you can forgive me."

She was baffled, speechless and highly confused.

His tone softened as he continued to smile at her, "And after I've proven myself, you will."

As she continued to look at him in shock and amazement, he merely smiled and walked out. She leaned back in her desk chair out of exhaustion and let out a heavy sigh.

"How did I get myself into this mess?" she asked no one in particular.

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"I can't believe him!"

Kagome sat slumped back on her couch, feet up on the coffee table, still dressed in her office attire. She was exhausted.

Sango sat beside her, literally jumping up and down with anger.

"What did you say to him?" she asked with fury in her eyes.

Kagome sighed, "Nothing. What could I say? I was beyond tired, I had a million things to do before leaving work and then he was just so, so…so…"

"So?" Sango asked curiously.

"So persistent," Kagome finished softly.

"Ah," Sango's tone softened at her friend's state of obvious weariness.

"Sango can I tell you something? Promise not to majorly flip out?" Kagome looked at her long time friend/confidant/sister.

"Of course Kags."

Kagome looked straight ahead, her eyes heavy with exhaustion, her mind swimming with far too many different worries to name and a lump in her throat. She stared at the blank television but only saw his face there.

"When he apologized to me tonight, for a split second I wanted bygones to be bygones and let it all go. I don't want to be furious and miserable like this. But…I don't think I can allow him to get back in."

Her tone was soft, more of a whisper than a strong declaration. The lump kept growing bigger and kept making it harder for her to speak. She continued regardless as Sango gave her full attention.

"Before everything-when he would come around, hang out with me, be really nice…I thought that-something-or that he and I-well that…I don't know," she sighed.

Sango put an encouraging hand on her friends shoulder. Kagome kept her gaze fixed on the television, well aware that her eyes were slowly filling to the brim with unshed tears.

She swallowed hard, "Maybe it was just my misunderstanding, but I thought that I was really beginning to like him. And now, to see him so often and remember those times, still have the memory of what he did burned into my head-I don't know if I can bear it. But I have to. I need to because I have no other choice. I can't forgive him for what he did Sango. I just can't let it go…and I let him get too close again."

Tears silently began to roll down her face at the memory of the pain.

Sango was silently digesting the revelations, "So you did like him," she asked softly without accusation.

She sniffled before replying and wiped at her tears, "I don't know. I guess so. But we'll never know will we? Maybe it's for the best. Maybe we're not meant to be. Everything happens for a reason right? Maybe I wasn't meant to find a guy but a better job."

"Don't cry Kags," Sango softly replied in efforts to sooth her friend's broken heart.

"I didn't realize it hurt you that much Kagome," she thought.

Kagome wiped the last of the tears from her face, "God, I'm an idiot but that's besides the point" she sighed in an effort to smile and lighten the mood. "It's so late Sango. Thanks again for picking me up from work."

"No worries girly," Sango smiled back.

"Why don't you crash here? I don't want you to drive all alone so late," Kagome offered.

"Nah," Sango stood stretching, "I'm good to go. I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"Yea class. Wuhoo," she replied in unexcited sarcasm.

"Night Kags. And no more crying!" Sango hugged her tightly.

Kagome hugged her back, "Thanks. For everything."

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Okay, so a bunch of you want for her to forgive him already. But what about making him a pay? LOLZ…

Well I guess that's why she's second guessing herself in this chap and he's bent on getting her to forgive him.

The drama only heightens and there's something special coming up for Rin/Sessh reader as well. And maybe Hojo get's into the mix? If you think this is going to get predictable…you're wrong! hehe…but you'll have to stick around to find out!

Thank you to you all for your reviews, support and ideas. Antica, Roshanta Redditt (hehe sorry about last time). Animangalover…you're reviews are hilarious and I look forward to more (so continue kissing my butt)! LMAO

Chao for now,

Dee