Disclaimer: All Inuyasha goodness belongs to the amazing Takahashi-san!

Behind the Curtain

By MissKatt

The Key

Kagome swept her eyes along his office, running her fingers through her hair to rid it of the tangles from their desk sex. She frowned as she looked at the empty-looking wall on the right. "Where is your New Moon?" She asked.

He flipped down his collar over his tie and pulled on the knot to tighten it. Amber pools slid to the bare wall of his office, easily remembering when he had shattered the frame. "It broke."

"Broke?!" She asked incredulously. "What happened?"

"I threw my desk at it." Came his monotone answer.

She gaped at his cool demeanor, as if throwing his desk at a very expensive painting was an everyday occurrence. "When? Why?"

"It happened when you quit and left," He replied calmly. "It has been missing since then; it is off being repaired."

She frowned at him, pursing her lips as she looked between the wall and him. "Weird I hadn't noticed it since then." She then gave him a playful smile. "No more throwing desks."

"No more leaving." He countered as he walked to the door of his office, following her as the exited it.

She stuck her tongue out at him. "Don't give me a reason to."

"Watch your tongue, Tama, before I make you do something with it." He growled softly so that only her ears could hear.

The appendage quickly disappeared back into her mouth. "Dirty dog," She mumbled as she made her way to her desk. When someone stood up from her chair, she blinked at the familiar face. His black hair was still tied back in a small ponytail, indigo eyes gleaming with merriment. "M-Miroku-san!?"

The ex-DJ grinned at her. "Kagome-san! Good afternoon! Sango told me all about your p-"

"Shh!" She quickly cut him off, her hand flying to his mouth. She looked around the office, looking around for any snooping employees. When she was satisfied no one was ease dropping, she pulled her hand back and gave him an apologetic smile. "Sorry, but we aren't ready for everyone to know yet."

"Ah, got it. No worries, boss lady, you have my word that I will remain quiet." He said with a smile and a wink before turning to his new boss. "What would you like me to do, Taisho-san?"

"For now, go through the emails and sort what is relevant." Sesshoumaru responded before looking down at his intended as she looked between them.

"What is going on?" She asked as put her hands on her hips and turned towards her taiyoukai. "Do not tell me this is what I think it is, Sesshoumaru."

He met her fiery stare. "Shinsei Miroku is my new secretary."

She glared hard at him. "I don't need to be replaced, Sessh. I'm fine! I like working."

The vice-president of Taisho Corp shook put his hand on the small of her back and steered her away from the main floor until they were in the hall that led to his and his father's offices. "You need not work, Kagome. I would rather you just relax at home."

She crossed her arms across her chest. "Is this because your mother's still here?"

"That is part of it," He agreed before his hand cupped her cheek. "But I honestly wish for you take it easy while pupped. Anything to make it easier, the better."

"I can't just stay home, babe; I'll go crazy." She protested, turning her head away from his palm. "If I don't work with you, then I will go back to The Arrow and try to get my job back."

"You have worked since you were fifteen, Kagome; think of it as a well-deserved break. Catch up on your schooling, go out with your friend," Sesshoumaru encouraged. "You can even take this time to decorate the nursery."

Her pursed her lips together at that. She did want to decorate their baby's room. "I can't decorate it without knowing the gender." She replied stubbornly, her resolve weakening.

A small smirk quirked up the corner of his lips. He had won this argument. "It is a boy."

She sighed dramatically. "You are so sure."

"I am."

"You know, you're going to feel really silly when we have a girl. I will tell her that her father thought she was a boy." She teased with a small smile.

"You will not because it is a boy." He reaffirmed.

She rolled her eyes as her smile grew. "Fine, you win." She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist. "You're lucky I love you."

Sesshoumaru ignored the employees that walked by the hall to glance at them and wrapped his arms around her. "I am." He agreed.

"Oi, Kags!" Inuyasha called as he walked down the hall towards them. "I got your text. What's up?"

She broke the hug with her intended, but kept her arm around his waist as she looked at her best friend. "Can Sesshoumaru and I use your truck tonight? I'll let you drive Blue in replacement."

"Uh, yeah, that's fine. What for though?" He asked, lifting his brow at her.

Sesshoumaru also looked down at her in question. "What do you need a truck for?"

"To get all my stuff out of the storage," She replied, smiling up at him. "I at least need my clothes. I don't know what he all kept, but I did own a few valuable and personal items that I want back."

Understanding instantly smoothed his brow back down. "We will go when I get off work."

"When we get off work," She corrected and laughed when he frowned down at her. "Allow me to finish this day out. I'll train Miroku and make him as good as me, okay? Please?" She begged, popping her bottom lip out in a pout.

He gave a soft sigh before patting her head. "Just today."

*~~~BTC~~~*

Kagome fidgeted nervously in the passenger seat as they pulled up to the achingly familiar house. Her hands gripped the seatbelt as she stared out the passenger window, looking at the seemingly-innocent looking house. She bit down on her bottom lip as Sesshoumaru cut the engine, the doors unlocking with a pop as he opened his door. She hadn't even realized he had gotten out of the car until he was opening her door.

Seeing her startled look, he frowned down at her. "You do not have to do this, Kagome. Officer Ryura and I will go in a grab it." He stated softly.

Anxious blue pools looked over his shoulder as they saw the officer heading towards them from his squad car. "N-no, I'm fine," She said, trying to push confidence in her voice. She forced her hands to pry open and released the seatbelt. She then slid out of Inuyasha's truck, accepting Sesshoumaru hand for support. She gave the dragon youkai a small smile when he approached them. "Officer Ryura."

"Higurashi-san, Taisho-san," He greeted with a dip of his head. "We found out about Kumo Byakuya; this is what he looks like."

Sesshoumaru accepted the glossy paper from the dragon, holding it so both he and Kagome could see who was after them. Byakuya had pale skin and purple eyes, black hair pulled back into a high ponytail. He glanced at Kagome and saw her eyes raking over the image, committing it to memory. When he went to hand it back to the dragon, he held up his hand.

"Keep it; show it to the rest of your pack so that they can be on the lookout as well." He replied and waited for Sesshoumaru to put it the truck before looking at the house. "Shall we?"

"Y-yeah." She murmured as she quickly found Sesshoumaru's hand and held it tight after lacing her fingers with his.

He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and followed the officer into the house, Kagome trailing behind him. A low growl rumbled in his throat when he walked into the building. Naraku's scent was pungently strong, Kanna's nearly as much. He looked down at Kagome as she clutched his hand tighter.

As soon as she saw the kitchen, the memory of the pain inflicted upon her made her eye twitch as if the bruise still adorned her face. She gingerly touched the area, her finger tips gliding over where the bruise had been. Then, unwillingly, the memory of him forcing her to give him a blowjob hit her. She paled as she felt her stomach churn at memory, her lips suddenly feeling disgusting and diseased.

"Where is his office?" Sesshoumaru asked, not liking how she retreated into herself nor how the color had drained from her face. "The sooner we find the key, the sooner we can leave."

She blinked out of her thoughts at the sound of her hero's voice. "Ah, this way." She led them down a hall on the right and opened the second door on the left. She blinked a few times as she recalled the times where she unwillingly massaged Naraku's shoulders as he sat in the leather chair behind the desk. He would then pull her into his lap, hands running along her exposed flesh and groping her. She felt her legs tense as she remembered his claws digging into her flesh when she fought against him, holding her in place as his tongue molested her ear.

She shuddered and released Sesshoumaru's hand so she could rub her arms. She gave him a small, forced smile when he shot her a questioning look. "I'm fine. Just a little cold."

He nodded once and walked over to the desk with Ryura. He looked at the chicken scratch writing on the notepad and lifted a brow. "Which drawer is it?" He asked, trying to read the writing.

Ryura frowned as he tried to read his own writing. "I don't remember," He replied with a sheepish grin. "Guess we have to go through all of them."

With a sigh, Sesshoumaru took the left side of the desk while Ryura took the right, both carefully going through each cluttered mess in search for the key. When Sesshoumaru finally found it in the bottom drawer, he looked up to tell Kagome, only to find her gone. He tossed the key at Ryura before running out of the room, nerves on end from the possibilities of her disappearance.

"Kagome!" He called as he followed her scent up the stairs, his muscles tight with the anticipation of a fight. If Byakuya was there in the house, he would kill him, laws be damned. He dared the dragon following him to stop him.

Her scent continued to lead him down the hall until he reached a closed door. He pressed his pointed ear to the wood, trying to listen for any sign of struggle. When he didn't hear anything, or smell any new scent, he carefully opened the door and looked around the darkly furnished room. His eyes narrowed a fraction when he didn't immediately see her. However, a sharp inhale quickly drew his attention to the broken closet door.

He eyed the several pieces of broken glass covered in what he presumed was old, dried blood before sliding open the door. His eyes instantly widened upon seeing his secretary curled up into a little ball, gasps and sharp inhales escaping her lips as she tried to breathe. He kneeled down in front of her and reached out to touch her face. His heart clenched when she reared back from him, pressing her back firmly against the wall as she shook her head, tears streaming down her pale face.

"Higurashi-san…" Ryura called softly, concern filling him when he heard her shallow, heavy breathing.

Sesshoumaru quickly turned towards him and snarled, "Get out!" Once the officer disappeared he attempted to reach for his intended once again, but received a shock of reiki in defense.

"N-no!" Kagome gasped, chest heaving as she struggled to breathe normally. No! No, no, no! He wouldn't touch her again! She didn't want him to hurt her anymore. She didn't want her back to be constantly sore from being pinned against walls, didn't want her skin to be marred with bruises when she struggled and fought against him. She didn't want his ice cold fingers to travel to the apex of her thighs, to wiggle their way into her core. "I hate you!"

It was then he realized she was reliving her entrapment. "Kagome," He called, his tone loud enough to be heard over her hyperventilating. When she showed no signs of calming down or recognition, he reached out once again and took her face in his hands. Ignoring the angry, defending reiki, he pressed his forehead against hers. "You are safe now, my queen. Naraku is gone; I killed him so he would hurt you no longer."

The terrifying memories that were flashing before her eyes like a movie on fast-forward came to a pause when she heard those words. She stiffened as she tried to separate reality from her past. It sounded like Sesshoumaru, but he hated her. Her nightmare told her as such. She had used him and stomped on his feelings, so why would her save her? Why would he-

"It is over, Kagome," Sesshoumaru told her gently, but firmly. "You are safe and I will protect both you and our pup."

Pup? What- Her mind was sent reeling as her present day memories pushed through to the surface of her nightmares, bringing her to the surface of reality. Yes, that was right! She was with Sesshoumaru once again and had been for nearly two weeks. They were in love and were going to be mated soon! And, they were expecting a child! How could she have possibly forgotten any of that?

Her eyes snapped open and she was met with worried honey pools. Blue orbs instantly filled with tears as she stared into the familiar warm depths. "S-Sess-" She breathed and suddenly realized her body was acting on its own again. Her eyes shut again and brought her hands to cup her mouth like Touga had done.

Relief flooded through him when she seemed to snap out of her nightmare. Keeping his forehead against hers, he traveled his hands down to her neck, his pointer fingers touching the pulse points on her neck. "Shh, it's okay; just breathe." He told her softly.

After a few long minutes, she removed her hands from her mouth and wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him tightly. "You saved me," She murmured, burying her face in his shoulder. "Thank you."

One of his hands cradled the back of her head while the other arm looped around her waist. "I will always save you," He replied firmly. "From yourself and others."

She nodded in agreement. "I love you so much, Sesshoumaru."

"I love you, too." He pulled back slightly to press a kiss to her forehead. He then met her eyes seriously. "What happened?"

She tucked her hair behind her ear as she furrowed her brow. "I don't know. I think all the memories just got the better of me," She glanced behind him and into the empty room. She clutched Sesshoumaru's work sleeve and quietly informed him, "This is Naraku's room."

His face deadpanned. "Then let us leave." He stood and stepped out of the closet before helping her do the same. Keeping their hands laced, he led her down the hall, glancing at a door when she informed him that it was hers. "No, it's not. Your room is at our house."

She blinked before smiling at his correction. He was right. She had no ties to this house anymore and had no reason to ever call any of it hers. Following him down the stairs and out the door, they were greeted by a concerned officer. "Ah, sorry, Officer Ryura." She apologized meekly.

He shook his head. "I should have gone in and gotten the key by myself. For that, I apologize."

"No, no! It's okay. I insisted that I went in." She said, tightening her hold on Sesshoumaru's hand. "Did you guys find it?"

"Yes," He tossed the key back at the taiyoukai, who easily caught it in his free hand. "Tokyo Storage, number 1638. Got it?"

"Yes," Sesshoumaru replied, giving him a curt nod as he opened the truck door for his intended. Glancing back at the officer he asked, "When should I expect a squad car?"

"First thing tonight." He replied with a small smirk. "We will catch this guy before he tries anything."

Nodding, he got into the driver's seat and turned on the ignition, letting the beast roar to life. He backed out of the driveway and began the forty-five minute drive back to Tokyo. "Are you sure you wish to still go? We can go a different day."

She shook her head and smiled at him. "No, I would rather get this over with. Plus, I really need more clothes. I mean, I can at least fit into some before I start gaining too much weight."

He shook his head, but a small smile graced his lips. "You will have to go shopping soon to replace them anyways."

She stared at him with a scowl. "Are you saying I'm getting fat?"

He cocked a brow at her. "Yes." He let out short laugh as he looked back at the road. His eyes widened for a second as he slammed on the breaks, stopping the truck from going through the green light and into the intersection as he watched a black BMW get hit by a white sedan, the car rolling and flipping uncontrollably. Registering that Kagome had screamed, he quickly snapped his head towards her to see his hand grabbing her shoulder tightly.

"S-Sesshoumaru…?" Kagome asked hesitantly as she stared at him in worry. She ignored the people behind them as they honked and went around them, cursing at them and telling them to learn how to fucking drive. "What's wrong?"

Hearing the honking made him snap back to reality. He glanced back at the intersection and found no trace of the car accident. He blinked before looking back at Kagome, his eyes scanning over her form. "Are you alright?" He asked hesitantly.

Her brows furrowed in worry. "I'm fine, Sessh, you just scared the shit out of me," When he eased his grip on her shoulder, she put her hand on his. "What's wrong? Did something run in front of the truck? Is that why you stopped?"

Golden pools went from her concerned face to the road once again, looking left and right for any sign of the demolished car he had seen. Shaking his head firmly to clear the image, he focused on the now-red light and nodded once. "Yes, a squirrel." He lied, removing his hand from hers to place it back on the steering wheel.

"Oh, well, those pesky squirrels are always getting in the way." She commented softly, eyes watching as he clenched the steering wheel tightly.

A/N: :D It was BTC's 3rd birthday yesterday! –throws confetti- Happy Birthday, my overstuffed fic of glorious angst! Mommy loves you! –whispers- sometimes…