Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters thereof.

My apologies! This chapter took longer than I thought. The next chapter is in the works though so I should be able to post it soon now that the holidays are here! YAY!

dwX :O)

".." speech

'..' thoughts

Chapter 21: Office Rumble

Shafts of piercing sunlight shot through a cascade of water pouring down from the long spout of a green plastic watering can. Beads of cool water fuse together around a half spherical plant embedded in layers of gritty white quarts and sand.

A thin but satisfied smile spreads across the face of the one watering the plant.

"Yosh! That should do it."

A soft giggle escapes her lips as she languidly puts down the watering can on top of a nearby cabinet.

'I do hope he likes it.' The woman thought.

The sound of smooth steps alerted her to the approach of someone about to enter the refined office she was currently in. Anxiously she picks up the watering can again in an act of nervousness.

'Keep calm, breathe and visualize your centre…' she chanted inwardly. A film of light enshrouds the woman unbeknownst to her. Particles from the sun's rays pulled towards her form magnifying to a saintly glow.

The plant below unexpectedly burst two blossoms in diminutive explosion of yellow and muted lilac. The woman gasps in astonishment even as the other entity makes its presence known.

The air stirs surreptitiously as the jaki of the Inu Lord crept along the walls of the expansive office. A new scent bombards his receptive nose making him more irritated than usual.

"Ningen, what are you doing?" asked the Taiyoukai in an exasperated tone.

The woman shakes her shirking the thoughts preoccupying her mind. She smiles cheerfully carefully stepping away from the onyx black marble desk to reveal the plant.

"Your office beats the arctic by 100 degrees below zero!" stated Kagome turning away to focus on the plant as she continued to water the plump succulent. "Ta-da! See now your room has some personality! What do you think? Its great huh?" she beamed proudly.

Sesshoumaru remained unresponsive standing stoically against the marble desk with a grave expression on his face. He eyes the plant critically and then in a faint gesture of displeasure turned his back on the plant and Kagome.

"Well?"

Still no movement.

Kagome slumped slightly; she tilts her head as a wistful sigh escapes her lips. "I bought this at the flower shop near St. Andrews Chapel … it reminded me of you and I thought that you and the cactus are alike in some ways so I bought it …."

"I see no thorns on my person." The young lord glared maliciously at the cactus, eyes narrowing dangerously.

Kagome snorted loudly. "Very funny! What I meant was that you're visually imposing but that inside… inside .. oh what is the right way to put this…" She paced to and fro, furrowing her brows in deep thought.

"Why you contemplated to bring forth such an inconsequential object is far beyond the understanding of this Sesshoumaru." He stated with a curt shake of the head.

"Stop interrupting my thought process!"

'Ye gods. Calamity surely will befall us all – the ningen's mind is at work.'

Sesshoumaru lips faintly slanted upwards. The amber hues of eyes warming to sunset orange, he felt something within stir, a subtle fluttering. He closed his eyes briefly massaging his head to dispel the thoughts clouding his mind.

"Squishy!"

"What nonsense do you speak of woman?"

Kagome's head snapped up her right eye twitching vigorously. "Squishy as in deep inside you do harbor some emotion… as hard to believe that is right now." She growled out.

Almost in an instant the air seemed to vibrate perceptively pulsing around the Taiyoukai gently lifting the silver wisps of hair in a flickering motion.

"This Sesshoumaru will act as if none of those words left your lips human." Remarked the young lord in a flat tone.

Kagome blinked in rapid succession.

"Why? What's wrong with feeling something ?"

"It is not proper." Drawled out Sesshoumaru smoothing the cuff of his left sleeve.

"WHAT??!!! Are you saying that you honestly don't care about anything?"

"What would it profit my person to care?" responded the Taiyoukai again focusing on the irate form of Kagome. He leaned in closely towards the woman to emphasize his point.

Kagome gasped loudly. "I am sooooo not hearing this." She cried capping her ears with her hands.

"To care implies a mismanagement of my person and a total waste of time and intellect, a transitory deterioration of sanity." Sesshoumaru elaborated. "There is no squishy facet in my being."

"What - about - Rin?" Kagome demanded.

"What about Rin?" Asked Taiyoukai sitting down his leather chair.

"You couldn't have kept her all these years if you didn't care! …" cried Kagome flailing her arms wildly about head. "Explain that!"

A man dressed in a navy blue suit enters quietly. He remained rooted on the spot watching the exchange between the Inu Lord and a human female with interest.

The Inu Lord clicked his tongue in impatience.

"There is nothing to explain. I am accountable for Rin just as I am responsible for running the Western Lands and its people. You insinuate that this Sesshoumaru cares purely on the supposition that I have kept her with me all these years however, you err greatly in that regard. There is a difference between caring and being held accountable for someone Kagome." The Inu Lord stated in an even tone. 'Why cannot this Sesshoumaru articulate the feelings I long to speak of?'

"I still fail to see the difference. You kept Rin because you cared for her."

"Enough of this irrelevant matter! I am as I should be! Not as a carer and most certainly not a thorny dessert vegetation!" drawled out Sesshoumaru his temper suddenly flaring unexpectedly.

"No! You would rather remain an unfeeling creature isolated and alone!"

"Uh I'm really sorry about this but did I come in at a bad time?" interjected Miroku apologetically.

Kagome turned her nose up at the Taiyoukai ignoring the man. "Mr. There is No Squishy Facet in my Being! Bah! I hope you prick your arrogant ass on the cactus get tetanus!" she cried as she spun around to head to the door.

Sesshoumaru gave her an apathetic stare. "Not very likely Ms. Higurashi, in any case bring me some tea if you are intending to go out."

"ARRRGGGHHH… I don't believe you!" raged Kagome placing both hands on her hips.

"Actually he is right Tetanus is contracted through a different means not by being pricked by a cactus." Informed the man holding up his right index finger.

"Butt out jerk who asked for your opinion!" Fumed Kagome pointing an accusing finger at the stranger.

"That is a rather undignified stance Ms. Higurashi and on the record, I believe you are still working for me." He added with a smug smirk.

"Grrrrr…"

BANG!

Kagome slams the door deafeningly behind her.

"As far as I know, when demons don't want to admit they care for someone they use the term accountability." Remarked Miroku as he strode towards the marble desk in an uneven gait.

"Speak your words with care monk when you are in my presence." Warned Sesshoumaru darkly.

Miroku laughed, it was obvious the Taiyoukai was in foul mood indeed.

"Well the lifestyle of a monk really doesn't suit me so … I decided to rethink my options three years ago and follow a different path… I'm a detective now." He grinned proudly flashing a brass badge from inside the blazer.

Sesshoumaru suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. Reaching across his left side he retrieved a thick brown folder and began reading through the top page even as Miroku continued to talk.

"By the way who was that hottie huh? ..Ruff … Ruff.. eh?" He wolf whistles loudly. "She's a feisty one."

"That was Kagome." Answered Sesshoumaru not bothering to lift his eyes even as he flips a page from the report he was reading.

Miroku's jaw drops.

"Refrain from acting like an imbecile Miroku state your business and be on your way. I have little time to waste on you."

Miroku scratches his head. "She didn't recognize me? I'm wounded! … Well, if that was Kagome I was actually going to talk to her." He twirled quickly around back towards the door when a cold growl ripped through the air.

Sesshoumaru fixes his feral eyes now glinting hard as steel on the monk turned police officer. "Indulge me in my moment of ignorance, regarding what matter pertains to Kagome."

"Heh? Ah sheesh, Sesshoumaru, couldn't you just say it plainly."

The Taiyoukai narrowed his eyes. Swirls of jaki encompassed the man applying firm pressure around him. Miroku gulped unable to put up any resistance to the overbearing power of the Taiyoukai.

"Ehehe, when you put it that way … *wheeze*… I just got a call of Sango this morning about weird presents Kagome's been receiving ...*cough*… could you lighten up the choke-hold a bit for old times sake? … Thanks.. anyway as I was saying Sango said there was an exploding spell and a bondage voodoo Kagome doll which I think maybe a hitodama although it is surprising that it was given to her instead of being nailed to a tree or buried to complete the curse…" (AN: hitodama is a figure of a person where a curse is usually attached)

[EXPLOSION] CRASH.

"Oh geez." Jumped Miroku.

A nearby glass cabinet imploded in itself, splinters of glass lay littered across one corner of the office with some fragments still suspended in mid-air. Miroku quivered nervously observing the twisted metal frames of the cabinet still protesting and shrieking quietly as the invisible energy that damaged it horrendously ebbed away in a sluggish pace.

"Leave."

"I beg your pardon?" Miroku asked trying to recollect himself.

Sesshoumaru looks fiercely at Miroku.

"Still a youkai of few words huh, you're pretty good at glaring though … See now I can certainly interpret that expression as saying something along the lines of … in how many pieces would you like your ass handed back to you? Am I right?... ah…oh .. right… I'll just go now then." Miroku walks over to the door. "I'll leave my card in her desk outside."

When the door shut close Sesshoumaru leaned back against the chair. It took a moment to recompose himself. Inwardly he admitted that it alarmed him how quickly he had reacted to the news that Kagome was receiving odd presents from someone.

Why had Kagome not told him? If one of the presents did prove to be a hitodama it poses as a grave risk to Kagome.

Sesshoumaru bowed his head in thought a dark undecipherable expression covered his face.