Disclaimer: InuYasha belongs to Takahashi Rumiko. My imagination belongs to me.

Kagome woke up and realized she was on Sesshomaru's bed. There was a light blanket thrown over her body, and she was fully dressed. She could see daylight escaping around the edges of the blinds, and her watch said 10:22. Her head was pounding, and she was afraid to look at her face in the mirror.

A voice came from the outer room. "Since you're awake, you can come out here and face me." She didn't really want to, but that was the only exit.

"I'm going to brush my teeth first, and unless you want me to use your toothbrush, you'd better tell me where you keep the spares." She thought he chuckled, but she wasn't sure.

"There's a new one sitting on the counter, still in the box. By all means, take a shower too if you want, we have all the time in the world." His phone rang, cutting off her retort.

Twenty minutes later, Kagome walked into Sesshomaru's office to find three men and a woman staring at her in disbelief. She blushed in surprise, than blushed deeper as she realized that every one of them thought she'd slept with Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru's voice quickly cut through the silence. "I do know what all of you are thinking. Things are not as they seem." He didn't even look up from the financial statement he was studying. "Can we get back to business?" He looked at Kagome and even though his face didn't change expression, she could see the humor in his eyes. "There are some Danish Rolls on the coffee table, and fresh coffee in the carafe." He held out his mug. "And you can get me a refill since you are up."

She stalked over to the table, grabbing the mug out of his hand. Before she could move away, he snatched her wrist, stopping her motions. "Do NOT think of pouring that on this Sesshomaru when you return." His voice was as cold as she could ever remember. "Remember your place here." The four onlookers shuffled papers and pens, trying to become invisible.

Kagome stiffly walked over to the coffee table and refilled his glass. "Remember your place, my ass. I'm going remember him in a minute." He cleared his throat, damn his good hearing anyways she thought as she took his mug back to the table. He gently took it from her and sipped, forgetting she existed while he concentrated on business. Feeling as out of place as a hobbit showing up in Othello, Kagome took a Danish and a cup of coffee and walked over to the huge window that looked out over Tokyo.

After his morning staff meeting had concluded, Sesshomaru looked around and realized that Kagome was still standing at the window, silently waiting to finish their conversation from last night. Sesshomaru was beginning to see the hidden depths to her that InuYasha had talked about in many of the conversations they held during InuYasha's later years.

InuYasha had explained that although Kagome loved him, she'd always understood his relationship with Kikyo. He smiled at all the Osuwari's he'd received whenever he returned from a meeting with Kikyo.

"Don't think for a minute that she wasn't jealous, she was a total bitch for the next day, and I kissed dirt until I could tell you what kind of minerals were prevalent in the soils of most of the provinces."

"Why did you put up with that kind of jealousy?" InuYasha just looked at him through faded gold eyes. "I see. I would have killed any man who Rin talked to." InuYasha nodded wisely, taking a sip of his tea.

"Kagome was more angry at me for lying than she was for me going off to talk with Kikyo. I have to believe that part of her understood that my feelings for Kikyo were more about taking care of her than true love." He sighed. "I had a youth's love for Kikyo, a first love. The feelings I have for Kagome…" He got up and stirred the fire. "Those are the feelings of a man who has been hardened by battle, but softened by an understanding that life can be fleeting and each moment should be lived. I will love her through eternity, not as a youth; but as a man who lives with the regret of never having expressed his feelings to the woman who carries his heart."

Sesshomaru suddenly remembered that was the same evening InuYasha had given him the letter for Kagome. He'd read it after he'd put Kagome to bed last night, thinking how different his life would have been if he'd never shared his feelings with Rin. "Poor bastard."

Kagome heard him, but didn't have the first idea what he was referring to. "Did you say something Sesshomaru?" He smiled gently and pushed a stray strand of hair out of her face. "I was thinking my brother never understood what he had, until you were gone. Poor bastard." He walked over to his desk and pressed the intercom button. "Mrs. Ihlman, please find Jaken for me."

Jaken entered, carrying the staff of two heads and a wooden box. "Sesshomaru-sama. Jaken has arrived as you requested." Sesshomaru waved him into the room.

"Jaken, I have told you on multiple occasions that you are not required to address me so formally. We have known each other for many years, I was hoping at some point, you would realize that we are more friends than master/servant." He walked around the desk and took the box from Jaken.

"I realize this Sesshomaru-sama. However, I am more comfortable with the more formal address. I have considered you my friend for this last three century, as witnessed by my no longer running from you when you glare at me. However, I have called you Sesshomaru-sama for over a thousand years, I cannot change now."

For the first time, Kagome noticed how very old Jaken had become. Although his human form looked like it was in its fifties, his actual form was wrinkled and he shuffled more than walked. She must have shown some type of pity for him because he wrinkled his face at her. "Do not pity Jaken. I am not far from the next world. However, we each have a part to play in this still and my time is not through." With that, he turned and left.

"Kagome, I told you yesterday that I knew of a way that you could go back. It was a half-truth. I know of two ways to resolve your dilemma. They both involve sacrifices."

Kagome listed seriously to both of the ways that Sesshomaru knew would allow her to be with InuYasha. Neither way would be easy. He said they both involved sacrifices, and she wasn't sure what the correct decision would be. "Can I think about this for a couple of days?"

Sesshomaru thought for a moment. "In order to be given BOTH choices, you must make a decision by Monday. That gives you three days to make your decision and come to terms with what circumstances that will create." She was saddened by what such a short time meant, but she also knew that this was not a decision to make quickly. She promised him that she would let him know her decision Monday morning. He nodded, turning back to his work. As the door closed behind her, he laid his pen down and looked out the window. "Make the right decision, for all of our happiness."

A/N: I sincerely thank each of you for reading this story. I especially thank those of you that have taken the time to reassure me that people are reading.
Please continue to enjoy, drop a review if you feel like it, especially if I've messed up. I will continue to update regardless of whether I receive feedback.
I did enjoy everyone's reviews, I'm changing certain words that have incorrect usage: I hope Mata is better than Sayonara? And I have been unable to find Manga beyond Anime Ep. 167, so this is only accurate through Ep. 167.
-TK