Whew! Finally figured out how to get to the end of this chapter the way I wanted it to.

Yeesh! What a mess.

No I don't own anything Inuyasha and unfortunately I probably never will.

The meeting had been fascinating. That was Inutaishou's one thought as he led his "guest" from his office. Not that Onigumo had provided them with any information that they didn't already have, but that he would come to his greatest competitor…

Surely the man didn't think that the Kiba family was so dull witted as to accept his "concerns" at face value. There was something in it for him, something he could gain from their investigations besides information…

Seeing Kagome standing slightly in front of Sesshoumaru's rapidly hyperventilating toady derailed his train of thought. A discreet check showed him that it was indeed time for lunch, and although neither he nor Sesshoumaru truly needed to eat, there was a very definite need to maintain the pretense of human-ness that kept the press from discovering their secret…well other than that one horrid tabloid. He still didn't know if that article had been the best investigative reporting that he had ever run across, or if the man had just made up shockingly accurate lies. Thankfully the article "Kiba Wife Delivers Half Demon Baby" didn't gain as much attention as it could have.

Kagome's eyes widened in shock, he could almost call it fear, as she turned to the three of them standing in his doorway.

But she gathered herself quickly and tore her frightened look away from Kaitou and fastened it onto Sesshoumaru.

"Sesshoumaru-san" She began with a polite bow and a breathless voice. "Sango asked me to bring some files up for you to go over. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but she specifically said to give them to you."

She sent furtive glances at the president of Spider Tech throughout the entire speech, as if she wanted to say more, but didn't think it was wise.

Nevertheless, she proved to be as intelligent in her word-choice as she was circumspect. The fact that the head of security had told her to hand specific files over directly to Sesshoumaru could only mean that they were about one thing. And Sesshoumaru was old enough and well enough versed in subtlety to figure that out on his own. Inutaishou was not as certain that Inuyasha could have, but then he was young yet.

"Yes, of course, Kagome-san. Jyaken, enough." Sesshoumaru crossed to them with a slight glare at the unsightly behavior his unneeded aide had been displaying in front of an acknowledged enemy…or at least a family opponent.

Inutaishou privately wondered how his oldest could be so fixated on appearances, and his youngest so carefree about them. Even as he turned to begin escorting Kaitou to the elevators he watched as Sesshoumaru held out a hand for the files, forcing Kagome to shift the stack and hoist them up to shoulder level. It probably never even occurred to the boy to bend slightly and help the beleaguered girl.

Again his thoughts were hijacked. This time by Kaitou, who instead of walking politely to the elevators; crossed the hall to Kagome.

Inutaishou's eyes narrowed as his hand dropped to rest on his hip near his sword hilt. Onigumo now blocked his view of Kagome, and with his back turned Inutaisho couldn't read his facial features either, so instead he settled for watching Sesshoumaru's. His eldest son may have no great love for the human race, but he did believe in family honor, and the Higurashi's had officially been taken into the protection of the Kiba family. If there was need, then he trusted Sesshoumaru to signal him.

"You are one of the young ladies that are soon to join the Kiba family, are you not, child?" Onigumo's smooth voice poured into the room like ice water. Kagome must have made an affirmative gesture because after a pause Kaitou continued. "Not even a full member of the family, and yet they already have you doing menial jobs for them? That's not well done of you, Inutaishou-san, not at all."

"I actually work in the daycare, Kaitou-san, but I'm willing to help out where and when I can." Inutaishou detected a slight tremor in Kagome's normally strident tones, but she sounded resolute despite it. Still, he shifted a bit, tucking the side of his suit jacked behind his sword and resting his hand directly on the hilt.

Inutaishou tensed in response to Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowing when Onigumo reached forward. "Come now child. You should look at the person speaking to you. Otherwise one might begin to think you were afraid."

The next few moments were entirely instinctive for a man who had protective paternal instincts. Kagome gasped slightly and jerked back against the doorframe and a microsecond later all of the lights on the floor sparked then went dark just as Inutaishou's sword passed through the space that should have held Onigumo Kaitou.

Demon eyes adjusted to the dark quickly, and saw no sign of their unwanted visitor, more importantly he didn't smell him anymore either. Kagome leaned against the door jam shivering convulsively and glancing blindly around the dark room. Sesshoumaru stood near enough to her that he could protect her should there be need, holding the files in one hand and a sword, that glowed red to demon sight, in the other. Jyaken, for his part, had, as the humans put it, "hit the deck," and lay full-length on the floor with his arms covering his head and his eyes squeezed tightly shut.

Inutaishou met his son's cool gaze as they re-sheathed their swords. Sesshoumaru arched one eyebrow as he raised his head minutely to study the blown lighting.

Interesting. Inutaishou translated silently to himself. Yes it was definitely that. Despite all their research into Onigumo Kaitou since his appearance as a business rival they had never come up with anything to suggest he wasn't human. And his propensity for heavy colognes with a peculiar musky odor left their noses unreliable. But this…this was Kagome's doing, and her abilities had never responded to anything other than a direct threat from a demon. Yes, interesting indeed.

"Jyaken, go see how many floors are affected by the power outage." Sesshoumaru's voice cut in from Kagome's right.

Jyaken's reply was high and sharp, like all the air was being squished out of him. It sounded; Kagome mused blearily as she pushed herself into more independent position, where she wasn't holding up a wall, almost as if he had been stepped on.

"Sesshoumaru." Inutaishou commanded as he wrapped her up in what she assumed was his jacket, "Take Kagome home."

"No!" she cried grabbing onto his hands where they still held the lapels. "I'm fine now that he's gone. It's just…He's just…" She proved unable to finish as another heavy shudder racked her form.

"Are you sure?" He asked kindly enough that tears formed in her eyes.

Not trusting her voice she just nodded quickly.

"Alright then. Sesshoumaru I'm afraid you're still going to have to work from the home office for today. I think it's likely that every surge protector on this floor, at least, needs replaced. And I want someone to go over the wiring in the walls before we try to plug anything in. I don't smell anything smoldering so I should be able to get an electrician out today. Kagome, please tell your mother and Inuyasha that I'll be skipping lunch."

Kagome winced. She knew how much he and her mother enjoyed spending that hour together. "I'm sorry, Kaede and I thought I had enough control for public."

"No, don't apologize. There has always been something off about him. It's nice to have my suspicions confirmed. And the damage is minimal…In fact you may have just made Inuyasha's day. Nobody's going to be able to get any work done up here until we get the power restored."

DING!

The sudden noise followed by a rasping laugh had Kagome's heart trying to climb out her throat.

There was a sudden soft illumination of flickering light followed by the cheerful sound of clicking.

Inutaishou turned to the old man seated at the central station. There was a lit oil lamp on the corner of the desk and he was grinning broadly as he quickly pecked away at the typewriter set in front of him.

"I stand corrected." Inutaishou stated after listening to the keys echo through the darkened room for a minute.

Hey, two updates in less than six months...Maybe I can keep this pace up.

but I wouldn't count on it.

Goes to hide in a dark cave...