Inuyasha

Inuyasha wasn't sure why most considered his brother to be the quieter one between them. Inuyasha figured no one he knew had to talk more than the lecturing snob; though he had to admit gotten pleasure from seeing Sesshomaru get visibly huffy when Inuyasha insisted on inviting himself to meet Kagome. Inuyasha had killed the brewing argument with "I don't see the problem with me nagging you, for once." and had quickly mad his way to the door. Seshomaru's flood of snide remarks and repetitive discourse about private matters had quite frankly gone in one ear and out the other. Inuyasha prided himself on how well he had trained himself to tune out the poor bastard.

The moment that unruly assistant.. Kagura, had announced who was waiting for his brother, it had all clicked for Inuyasha. Yes, Kagome had been the name his father had been on about. Inuyasha distinctly remembered a time with his father had argued with Sesshomaru about him neglecting some duties in lieu of being an over glorified chauffeur for a human girl. It was one of the only times Inuyasha could remember Sesshomaru refusing to bow to their father's orders. Inutashio would grow to care for Kagome over the years but would still occasionally grumble about pure heirs and legacies.

Inuyasha never paid much attention to the ordeal. Why should he care how the cold stone spent his time? Plus he had doubted anyone in Sesshomaru's little circle would appeal much to him. It was an already an irritant to deal with the public ridicule his hanyouness brought on, Inuyasha wouldn't subject himself to it by hanging with Sesshomaru. But to think he had been hiding away this Kagome.

He mulled the name around in his mind for a moment, trying to cement it to memory.

"Will you listen to me, you ignorant mutt," Sesshomaru hissed.

"You know I try not to but, every now and then, I catch a few words. Bad radio signal, I think."

Sesshomaru growled but Inuyasha just laughed a little at his own joke. "I have not introduced you before this for a reason, Inuyasha. Many reasons actually. Would you like me to list them all for you? Or should I just give you the highlights? One of them being your horrendous treatment of woman."

"Don't bother. I'm pretty confident I know all your one-liners by heart."

That started another yapping fit from Sesshomaru and Inuyasha returned to his previous thoughts. Kagome. The temptress in his dreams. He was determined to get a better look at her, this was too good an opportunity to pass away with. Maybe if he saw her again, it would get her out of his system. Like a verse you had stuck in your head that magically disappeared when you listened to the whole song. Yes, that was all he was doing. Getting the song out of his head. Inuyasha pushed all the thoughts that said otherwise of his intentions were pushed to the backend of his mind - right next to the ringing alarm bells that hadn't turned off since Kagome's name had been brought up.

They turned a corner, coming to a small hallway leading to Sesshomaru's office. The scent hit him there, knocking him out of the lead by two whole strides. It seemed to fill his senses all at once, his mind too blurry to try to place a name that described it. He felt the blood rushing under his skin - instantly energized and aware of the demon that lived in him. Sesshomaru looked back over his shoulder. "I'll ask again for you not to accompany me."

"Dully noted."

It was odd, Inuyasha decided, to see your dream come to life. Of course, he had seen her before. That is what had caused his imagination to turn on him after all. But still, it was odd. To see her, Kagome, here in a place that Inuyasha resided in so often mystified him. Without the crowd and stage, the haziness of the dank room. Just sitting there, wearing a plain well-worn dress and clutching a charming yellow satchel. Her hair threw him off a little. It seemed wrong to see it piled up in an intricate bun, it looked heavy, and strands were already pushing themselves out of place. Even as Inuyasha thought about what it would be like to pull the pins from her hair, her eyes met his.

If he were to drown in the deep pools of blue of them, Inuyasha felt it would be a blissful death. There was such innocence there, he couldn't believe she was the same seductive siren that called to him each night. Even to be the same gypsy he had seen on stage.

He heard Kagura rise but it didn't fully register until the willow figured woman was standing over Kagome. "Thanks for waiting, Ms. Higurashi. It looks like you're getting both the brothers for the price of one." She was the only one to laugh. Bowing to Sesshomaru when the two approached, she asked if they needed refreshments.

"Water," Sesshomaru snapped. Inuyasha grinned devilishly, knowing his presence was the cause of annoyance. The wind demon was gone in a blink. Inuyasha noticed Kagome's lush lips form a small o of surprise. Bare, Inuyasha noted offhandedly, just like the dream.

All of his attention snapped to Sesshomaru's hand when it made contact with hers. He helped her up from her seat and Inuyasha missed what they were saying. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the joined hands. Always in the dreams, he had woken right before getting to touch her. And yet, here was Sesshomaru, by all means Inuyasha's rival, grasping her hand with a familiar ease.

"Of course. Kagome, this is my half brother, Inuyasha. I'm sure you remember me mentioning him."

His eyes met Kagome's again and he fell once more into their depths.

"Nice to meet you." It was said in a whisper, but Inuyasha heard it clearly. She freed herself from Sesshomaru's hold - finally - and was reaching out to him for a handshake. He had a nanosecond of insanity before he took her hand in his.

Soft, small, her hands looked so damned dainty. Their own small wonder. Her velvety skin sent a shock into his body, warming him on contact. Inuyasha ran his thumb over her knuckles, in complete amazement at how strongly he had to fight from yanking her against him and ravishing her then and there. Everything about her was tiny, he realized. She barely came to his shoulder, and it was her small face that made her eyes appear so abnormally huge.

Inuyasha stared into them again. Kagome, he thought, You have no idea how much sleep I've lost thinking about you. He thought of the erection he had had to deal with each night and again in the morning from dreaming of her, his ears still ring with the sound of her hum when he came. He had tried to have a woman handy once, hoping to use her to alleviate his desire, but that had only ended with an embarrassing misunderstanding when his cock had gone uselessly limp after feeling the girl's hands on him. Angry all over again for the suffering Kagome unknowingly had brought him, Inuyasha said, "The pleasure is all mine," then deftly dropped her hand.

The loss of contact immediately irked him. He turned for the office before anymore could be said. He went straight to the couch, scowling to himself when he wished Kagome would sit next to him. Kagura was there, handing him a bottled water when he sat.

Too far, he thought against his will when Kagome took a seat on the opposite side of the angled sofa.

"What bring you here, Kagome?"

She jumped a little at the abrupt question but recovered quickly. "I've just come back from the States recently and thought it would be a good idea to walk around the city some. I went to see your father's headstone while I was out today. I was sorry to have missed the funeral." She was handed a water by Sesshomaru. God, he was on her like a leech.

"We appreciate your respect. It's been a few months now but I'm sure he would have understood your absence."

"If not, I hope the gifts I left out made it up to him." She smiled then to Inuyasha's amazement. He could see her there at the grave, talking to his father's headstone about her travels and the prayers he knew she had likely said. On her knees as she lit the candle. He wondered what expression she might have on her face when she sat on her knees in front of him. Inuyasha willed his slacks not to tent.

"Anyway, I thought I would drop by and invite you to dinner. I was able to get a table at a great place that just opened up. I passed it on my walk earlier and wanted to try it out."

Inuyasha spirits brightened. It looked like taking the Hanabe meeting earlier was going to pay off well in his favor. "Sesshomaru has a meeting tonight," he announced before his brother could say anything. "I'd be happy to take you."

Kagome caught her bottom lip into her teeth. The action sent goosebumps over her skin. The girl was blushing for god's sake! "You don't have to go out of your way just for me, Inuyasha-sama." she murmured.

"I volunteered, didn't I? And there is no way your buddy here can go tonight, right?"

Sesshomaru nodded stiffly.

He felt the grin come to his face. "See? I can take you, I don't mind."

She blushed harder and it furthered his amusement. When was the last time had had been around a girl who blushed? He watched as her eyes darted to Sesshomaru and then back again. He could see the her weighing the options, her eyes an open window into her mind. "If you don't mind, that would be fine," she finally said. Sesshomaru went completely rigid.

His grin widened. "I hope you'll find I'm not so bad."

"Inuyasha," Sesshomaru ground out, jaws clenched together. "A word, please." The two stood and walked to the desk, Inuyasha shot her a wink behind Sesshomaru's back before his brother's soft growl brought him back to the pissed demon.

"Seems rather rude to whisper in front of company," Inuyasha tried.

Sesshomaru ignored his comment. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm just helping out. Our dear Kagome wants some company while she dines and I just happen to be free." Inuyasha's tone was innocent. He wondered if he should send the Hanabe bastard flowers for the luck he was drowning in after their meeting. First the construction delay, then getting to see Kagome in the flesh again, and now this?

"Kagome is not one of your play things. She is nowhere near your filthy reach. It is laughable to think you would dare be in her regular company."

The words had Inuyasha cutting him with a dangerous look. "She has already made up her mind."

"I will shred you into ribbons if you lay one finger on her."

"Yeah, yeah, anything else? Don't you have a meeting to get to?"

Sesshomaru glanced at his watch. "One finger." He stated again before turned back to Kagome.

Inuyasha shoved his hands into his pockets. Shrugging before following.

"It seems I will have to turn you over to Inuyasha tonight, Kagome." Sesshomaru was saying. "I do apologize, I have to meet with a client."

Kagome nodded. "It was very short notice, Sesshomaru. Maybe next time, if this place is any good?"

"Yes, next time. I'm afraid I must head out to make my appointment."

They said their goodbye's and only Kagome and Inuyasha were left in the office.

Odd, he thought again. Odd to have her here. She was looking everywhere but at him. Nervous? Could she sense his demon raging inside him, trying ferociously to break the control Inutashio had drilled into him?

"I should go," she said suddenly.

His demon roared, rattling the bars of the meticulously built prison. Inutashio had been right, the inu demon he held in his soul was too unstable. Inuyasha could just as likely kill her than complete the mating ritual. He only grunted in response, perturbed his train of thought. Angry with Kagome all over again for the insanity he was sinking into. He supposed his overpaid therapist would have a field day with this. He took a business card and pen from his jacket pocket, scrawling out his cell number on the back.

"Call me here, and I'll come pick you up." Without waiting for a response, he shoved his hand back into his pocket when she took the card and left.