The Corporate Catch

By: Sandreline

Hello everyone! Here is another chapter, the first of the New Year! I cannot thank you all enough for all of your continued support and wonderful words of praise. Thank you so very, very much! I hope that you all had a joyful holiday season filled with laughter and love – I hope 2013 is the best year so far!

Chapter 25: Third Twist of Fate

Souten and Shippo did their best to cover up the mistake of the fox demon opening his mouth, attempting to paint Sesshomaru in a romantic light. However, the priestess was not having it. In a strangely monotone voice, she simply told them thank you before she hung up the phone. Grabbing her purse, she immediately left to go to her car, and then to her apartment.

Her body was moving on auto pilot. She locked her door behind her, gave a single pat for Buyo on the head in acknowledgement, and walked into her room. It was not until her head hit the pillow that she curled up into a ball, and cried.

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For his part, Sesshomaru was irate. He could sense that his priestess was suddenly very depressed; however, he could not find her. Her scent was only in her office, where she was not. He had also discovered that her vehicle was not in its designated parking space, and the security guard for the garage informed him that the normally chipper priestess was rather somber as she left for the day.

His cell phone buzzed, alerting the demon to the fact that he had a message. Hoping it to be from his intended, the Western Lord looked at his phone. It was an email from Souten in London.

He was about to exit the notification, but the last three letters of the heading before it was cut off from space caught his attention. Reading the heading now in whole, it stated, "My idiot Mate opened his big mouth to Kagome." He opened it, and an unknown pressure rose in his chest.

Lord Sesshomaru,

I want to apologize deeply on behalf of my apparently suicidal Mate, who cannot for the life of him learn to keep his mouth shut even after two centuries. We had called Kagome to tell her congratulations and how happy we were to be working with each other when Shippo accidentally let it slip that your plan had worked. We did our best to explain your intentions in as flattering a light as possible, but I am afraid that she may have shut out our explanations.

Shippo is going into hiding – I mean, on vacation – for a little while. Lord Sesshomaru, we are both terribly sorry for this. Please let us know if there is anything that we can do to be of assistance. We left several lengthy messages on Kagome's machine with apologies and continued attempts to smooth the situation. We beg for forgiveness and hope that Kagome will understand your intentions.

Sincerely,

Souten and Shippo Kits

If the dog demon did not require his cell phone, he would have melted it in his hand with his poison acid. The fox demon was wise to run from him – if he was not at risk of losing the priestess, Sesshomaru would be using his demon orb to travel to London and hunt him down. However, his rage would have to wait. With eyes bleeding red and his marks growing slightly jagged he left to go to his car, his walk very much the predator on the hunt. He was not one to fail.

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"Go away, Sesshomaru." Kagome's voice called out to him through the door. It was an even tone, but even from outside her door he could smell the heavy scent of salt water.

"Open the door." He ordered. Surprisingly enough, there was no growl in his words.

"No."

"Kagome, open the door."

The priestess knew that he was not one to repeat himself, but at the moment she did not care. "No."

"Why will you not allow this Sesshomaru entry?"

"Because that Sesshomaru used this Kagome, and therefore this Kagome wants nothing to do with that Sesshomaru. Go away!"

He could hear her footsteps retreating back to her room. With a growl, he reached for the door handle, fully intent on forcing his way in now and replacing her door later. However, he was quickly refuted by purification. It would seem his priestess had placed a ward on the door. He had once again underestimated her.

"Kagome!" He growled out.

Her bedroom door slamming from inside her condo was his answer.

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"Poodles, you poor thing!" Jakotsu pouted as he used a handkerchief to dab at the corner of his eyes. "The fact that he manipulated you like that; it was so deceitful! It would be different if the hunk of beef did that to me, I would not mind being used to get in the sack. However, you are too innocent and pure to have had that done to you!"

Kagome stared wide eyed at Jak. A person could get whiplash from him sometimes. "Eh?"

Jak shook his head. "Never you fear, gorgeous! We are going to pamper you and get you feeling right as rain once again!" With a nod of his head, he looked her over as if appraising her. "Crying does no good, my dear. First, we will give you the spa treatment! I have a wonderful conditioner that will make your ebony locks glow! Then a mud mask to freshen up your skin…"

Kagome dropped her chin to her chest. (Damn you for not answering your phone, Sango!)

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Thankfully, Sango was able to return her best friend's call. Within the hour, Sango had forced the gender-confused demon out of Kagome's apartment and supplied Kagome with her favorite ice cream. The priestess could only sigh as she sank into her couch; this is what she needed.

"Now," Sango said as she wiped her hands together and joining Kagome on the couch. "Tell me everything that happened after Jak and I left your office."

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I know that this is incredibly short, but I wanted to get this out to you because I wrote it over a month ago. However, the reason it was not completed or posted is because I found myself violently sick- in fact, I still have a terrible cough at day 22 now. But I refused to not update for you all any longer! I am SO sorry for the delay, I hope that you will continue to enjoy this story. We are nearing the end!

~Sandreline