Author's Note: I am so very sorry for not updating. I was just caught up in my other story "Moonlight Enchantment." Please forgive me!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters. So there.

Chapter Two

Kagome blinked a couple times just to be sure that she wasn't hallucinating.

"This is my son, Akayami Takeru," Takeru introduced.

Kagome forced a smile. It can't be Naraku. She reasoned with herself. Naraku was destroyed by Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru. He couldn't have been…

"Kagome," Sesshoumaru nudged her the slightest bit.

Kagome came back to reality and realized that she was just staring at him. A blush crept up to her cheeks and quickly bowed her head.

"It is a pleasure to meet you," Kagome said, continuing her charade.

Akayami bowed in return. "The pleasure is all mine," he said.

Kagome shivered and backed away a little. Even his voice is the same as Naraku's. She thought. Feeling the need to get away, Kagome quickly excused herself and almost ran to the ladies room. Once inside, Kagome forced herself to take deep calming breaths.

"How can Sesshoumaru not notice?" Kagome wondered. Because it wasn't Naraku. She answered herself.

"But he looks like him and has the same voice and the same eyes…" Kagome trailed off. "Oh, I'm just being silly."

Kagome forced herself to banish those thoughts that linked Akayami to Naraku. Maybe the events of the Sengoku Jidai had more of an impact than I thought. Kagome reasoned. Taking a cleansing breath, Kagome walked out of the ladies room and back to Sesshoumaru's side. He was currently engaged in a financial conversation with Ishiyama and Takeru.

"Ah, so the lady returns," Takeru exclaimed.

"Do you not feel well?" Sesshoumaru asked.

Kagome shook her head. "Iie, I'm fine," she said.

"I fear our conversation has bored Kagome-san," Ishiyama said kindly.

Kagome tried to protest but Takeru jumped at the chance.

"Akayami!" he called.

Akayami materialized beside his father. "Yes, Father?" he asked.

"Take Kagome-san and entertain her while we discuss business," Takeru rapped out.

Akayami bowed to his father. "Hai," he answered.

Sesshoumaru stared at Akayami warily when Akayami offered his arm to Kagome. A tiny scowl marred Sesshoumaru's otherwise perfect features when Kagome smiled and accepted. Curse Takeru and his ploys!

It was a well-known fact that Takeru and Sesshoumaru were not the best of friends in the business world. They never had been on a friendly note and especially since Takeru had lost an important client to Sesshoumaru. Both of them were always competing with each other and the situation with Kagome had been no different.

"Stay away from Kagome," Sesshoumaru warned Takeru.

Takeru only smiled. "Why Sesshoumaru-sama, you wound me," he said, feigning hurt. "I dare not interfere where your fiancée is concerned."

"You are warned," Sesshoumaru said.

Ishiyama felt the tension rising within the group and hurriedly tried to expel it.

"Gentlemen," he said. "I believe drinks are in order."

"Would you like anything to drink, Kagome-san?" Akayami asked.

"No, thank you," Kagome said.

"My father mentioned you attend Tokyo University," Akayami said.

Kagome nodded. "You attend there to," she said. "What do you plan on majoring in?"

"Business," Akayami said. "My father wants me to take over his company. What do you plan on majoring in, Kagome-san?"

"I don't know. I haven't decided yet," Kagome said honestly.

Akayami stared at her with his red-tinged brown eyes and Kagome felt a little uncomfortable. Akayami sensed this.

"Do I make you uncomfortable, Kagome-san?" he asked.

Kagome shook her head quickly. "No," she answered. The last thing she wanted to do was insult the son of Sesshoumaru's business associate.

"I think you're very beautiful, Kagome-san," Akayami said in a low voice.

Kagome snapped her head up and blushed. No one ever told her she was beautiful save Sesshoumaru. "A-arigatou, Akayami-san," Kagome stammered.

An awkward silence filled in between the two college students when suddenly, a familiar voice broke the silent atmosphere.

"Oi, Kagome,"

Kagome turned her head and saw a familiar figure walk towards her.

"Inuyasha," she said.

"Been lookin' all over for you," Inuyasha said. "So, who's your new friend?"

"Ah, this is Akayami Takeru," Kagome introduced. "Akayami-san, this is my friend, Inuyasha."

Akayami nodded his head. "It is nice to meet you, Inuyasha-san," he said. "May I presume that you are Sesshoumaru-sama's relation?"

"Feh, if that's what you wanna call it," Inuyasha said.

"Inuyasha, don't be rude," Kagome reprimanded.

"Fine, fine, sorry 'bout that," Inuyasha said.

"Iie, no harm done," Akayami said. "Would you please excuse me?"

Inuyasha shrugged and Akayami disappeared into the crowd.

"Interesting guy," Inuyasha observed.

Kagome remained quiet.

"Anyone in there? Hello?" Inuyasha waved his hand in front of Kagome. "Kagome!"

Kagome jumped a little at Inuyasha's loud voice. "I'm right here, you don't have to yell," she said.

"Well, if you would've just answered me, I wouldn't have had to yell," Inuyasha shot back.

"Whatever," Kagome said.

"You okay?" Inuyasha asked. "You seem kinda…out there."

"Just thinking," Kagome said.

" 'Bout what?" Inuyasha asked.

"Akayami," Kagome answered.

Inuyasha was shocked. His mouth hung agape and he looked like a fish out of water. "That guy? Why?" he asked.

"Didn't you notice?" Kagome asked.

"Notice what?" Inuyasha asked.

"The similarities between them," Kagome said.

"You're talkin' in riddles," Inuyasha said.

"Between Akayami and Naraku," Kagome clarified.

"That bastard's dead. Sesshoumaru and I killed him, remember?" Inuyasha pointed out.

"I know." Kagome said. "I've tried to convince myself that there is no connection, but it's not use. When I look at him, all I see is Naraku."

"Then don't look at him," Inuyasha said. "Problem solved."

"He attends Tokyo U." Kagome said. "Now that he knows me, I don't think avoiding him will be that easy."

"Yeesh," Inuyasha said. "Can't we talk about something else? I'm getting bored."

Kagome looked at him for a moment and sighed. "Fine, what do you want to talk about?" she asked, knowing she wasn't going to get anywhere by talking to him. She would just have to make an effort to be in minimal contact with Akayami until she felt sure that he wasn't who she thought he was.

"So, how's life?" Inuyasha asked.

"Good, considering the fact that I have professors that are pure evil," Kagome said.

"Homework?" Inuyasha asked.

Kagome nodded vigorously. "Mountains," she said, stretching the truth a bit.

"Glad I don't hafta go to school," Inuyasha said.

"What are you doing now?" Kagome asked.

Inuyasha shrugged. "Nothing worth talkin' about," he said. "Actually, I'm not doing anything. Killing time, I suppose."

"Wasting your life?" Kagome asked, teasing him a little.

"I am not!" Inuyasha said defensively. "I'm…uh…exploring my options. Yeah, exploring my options."

Kagome laughed. "Whatever you say," she said.

"Feh,"

Kagome sat there with Inuyasha by her side and just watched as people tirelessly talked on and on.

"How can people do this?" she asked.

"Do what?" Inuyasha asked.

"Talk for hours," Kagome said.

"Lot of practice," Inuyasha said.

"The next time I'm tempted to come to one of these things, please feel free to remind me of this one," Kagome said.

Inuyasha nodded. "I bet my bastard of a brother made you, ne?" he asked.

"Actually I said I wanted to come," Kagome said. "Don't push this on Sesshoumaru."

"Feh. I bet he somehow manipulated you to come, right?" Inuyasha asked.

Kagome bit her lower lip in trying to think of an adequate answer. Well, it was Sesshoumaru who threatened her with time with Jaken if she didn't attend. "Uh…" Kagome said.

"He's always doing it," Inuyasha said. "I learned this the hard way."

Kagome was just about to answer when Sesshoumaru came up beside her. "You want to leave," he said. It was statement, not a question.

Kagome nodded. "I'm tired," she said.

"Understood," Sesshoumaru said. He turned towards his brother. "I will depart and leave the representation of Taisho Enterprises to you. Do not fail me or there will be consequences."

Inuyasha growled. "What the hell do you mean 'fail you'?" he asked.

"Do not embarrass yourself anymore than you already have," Sesshoumaru answered.

"How the hell have I embarrassed myself?" Inuyasha exclaimed.

"Simply by existing," Sesshoumaru said.

"Bastard!" Inuyasha growled.

"Kagome, let us depart," Sesshoumaru said, ushering Kagome towards the door.

Inuyasha fumed as he watched Sesshoumaru and Kagome leave. Bastard! Still an arrogant bastard even with Kagome. Grr…

As Sesshoumaru and Kagome made their way to their limo, Akayami rushed from the room to catch up with them.

"Kagome-san," he called.

Kagome turned around, "hai, Akayami-san?" Kagome asked.

"You're leaving?" Akayami asked.

Kagome nodded. Sesshoumaru felt a growl make its way to his throat. He did not like Akayami Takeru.

"Then, will I see you tomorrow?" Akayami said.

"Hai," Kagome said, a little reluctantly.

"My fiancée and I will leave now," Sesshoumaru said, almost pushing Kagome into the limo.

"See you tomorrow, Kagome-san," Akayami said.

"Sayonara," Kagome called from inside the limo, thinking she should at least be polite.

"Mansion," Sesshoumaru said, closing the door.

Akayami stared at the limo that disappeared around the corner. The red in his eyes more prominent, almost coloring his irises completely. Soon. He thought.

Author's Note: Okay, I know this chapter sucked. So much redundancy and it was just full of crap. Gomen nasai. The next chapter will be better!!!

Please Read and Review. Arigatou!