A/N: Hey! Sorry that this chapter was rather unimportant, I just wanted to save the next chapter solely for the dinner party. It should be fun! Also, I will be taking a week off from writing this – I am going on vacation! Yey! But I will be back shortly and will update as soon as I can! Enjoy this chapter!

A First for Everything

Chapter 18

Miroku paced slowly through the hallway, greeting people as he moved, as well as groping several co-workers asses. He carried a plain manila folder in his hand as he placidly made his way to Hojo's office. Although the papers inside the folder were far from important, Hojo did not need to know that. His cunning girlfriend had informed him of Sesshomaru's actions, including Kagome's perspective. Now he wanted to see how Hojo was reacting, and to see if the man still thought he had a chance with the raven haired, blue eyed woman.

Coming to Hojo's office, the lavender eyed man knocked gently at the door before waltzing in.

"Hello, Hojo," Miroku called out cheerfully.

The dark haired man behind the desk looked up, smiling at Miroku as he walked in. "Hello, Miroku," he responded. "What brings you here?"

"Oh, nothing much," Miroku responded casually, walking further into the room.

"Oh, ok," Hojo said, smiling again before looking down to the papers on his desk again.

Miroku sighed silently, rolling his eyes. Sometimes this man shocked him with his stupidity. Taking the folder in his hand, he tossed it onto Hojo's desk, surprising Hojo enough for him to start. Hojo stared at the folder for a moment before turning to look up at Miroku with questioning eyes.

"What's this?" Hojo asked.

"It's the file for the Herendi account. I need you to look over it quickly and sign it. Sesshomaru said he needed it by this afternoon, so you might want to sign it now so I can send it up to him," Mirkou lied, knowing that the other man would not question him.

Hojo nodded while picking up the folder. "Ok, sounds good."

As Hojo glanced over the contents of the folder, Miroku tilted his head to the side, examining the man. He showed no physical signs of distress over the incident, but that doesn't mean there was no emotional distress. Voiding his face of any emotion, he flopped down into a comfortable chair. Digging his hands in the pockets of his pants, he turned his eyes to carefully watch Hojo for reactions.

"So, Hojo, are you excited for your date with Kagome?" he asked casually.

Hojo hesitated for a moment, glancing over at Miroku with a blank look before turning back to the document. "The date's been cancelled," Hojo replied solemnly.

Miroku raised an eyebrow at the man. It looks like he isn't pleased with the situation. "Why? What happened?" Mirkou asked.

"I don't want to talk about it," Hojo said quickly.

"Ahh, I see. She cancelled on you, didn't she?" Miroku pushed.

Picking up a pen to sign the paper, Hojo sighed. "She didn't, but Sesshomaru did."

Miroku mocked shock. His eyes widened as he allowed his mouth to drop open. 'Not too far,' he mentally warned himself, 'or he might be able to tell you are faking it.' Leaning forward slightly, Miroku stared at the man with fake concern.

"What do you mean? Why in the hell would he cancel Kagome's date for her?" Miroku asked in astonishment.

After signing the document, Hojo closed the folder. "I don't know," Hojo started dejectedly. "He just called me yesterday and said that Kagome was going with him to that dinner party. The funny thing is that I could have sworn that I heard a woman's voice in the office…"

Miroku narrowed his eyes for a minute in thought. Should be break the news to Hojo or should he let him figure it out on his own. Most likely, though, the man would not figure it out. He was a bit dense at times. Standing up from the chair, Miroku made his way over to the desk, picking up the folder in his hands.

"It might be best if you just give up on Kagome," Miroku said cryptically.

Hojo tilted his head and looked at Miroku in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Beginning to turn away, Miroku warned, "I think that Kagome is already taken."

"No, I don't think she is. I mean, she agreed to a date. She wouldn't do that unless she was single, would she?"

"Hojo…" Miroku began tiredly.

"What?" Hojo responded in a bewildered tone. Miroku did not have to see the man's eyes to know that he was not grasping the warning.

"Never mind," Miroku said. "I'll see you later," he added before walking out of the room.

After shutting the door, Mirkou shook his head sadly. "Stupid man," he muttered before walking away.

She sat before her laptop, typing furiously. Adorned in sweat pants and a plain T-shirt, she was prepared for an afternoon of pure accomplishment. Sitting in her living room, she was cross legged on the couch. Her coffee table was pulled forward towards her for easy access. She had been pushing this off for much too long. In the midst of a classic sentence, her doorbell rang.

"It figures," she muttered to herself with a sigh. However, she did not want to lose her concentration. "Who is it?" she yelled from her spot.

"It's me," a rough voice answered.

Snorting, Kagome shook her head, but never took her eyes off of the computer screen. "It's open, Inuyasha."

The door opened and closed, with Inuyasha walking into the room a moment later. "What's up?" he called out.

"Nothing," Kagome answered automatically. "And you?"

Flopping down on the couch beside her, Kagome frowned a bit when she bounced along with the motion. Inuyasha sighed before responding. "Feh. Nothing, I guess. What did you want to see me for?"

Finally tearing her eyes from the screen, Kagome reached over and grabbed some papers from the edge of the coffee table. She tossed them to Inuyasha. "This, Mr. I-am-always-grumpy, is the outline for the new book that I want to work on. Why don't you look over it and tell me what you think," Kagome asked, looking to the man beside her.

Inuyasha looked back at Kagome, pouting slightly. "Do I have to?" he whined.

"Yes!" Kagome growled, folding her arms across her chest.

Lowering his gaze quickly from hers, he grumbled a bit. With a heaving sigh, he began to skim over the papers.

"Really, Inuyasha, why are you an agent if you don't want to do work for your clients?" Kagome asked in disbelief.

Inuyasha shrugged his shoulders. "What's it matter?" he asked testily. After hearing Kagome's tired groan, he put the papers down. "Looks fine to me, but you really are going to have to ask Fluffy-kins for his opinion."

Kagome paled immediately at the mention of Sesshomaru. She shivered lightly as she thought of him. "Do I really have to?" Kagome asked quickly, and almost fearfully.

Inuyasha glanced over at her, raising a dark eyebrow in her direction. "Feh, look who is complaining now," Inuaysha mocked. Shaking his head for a moment, he continued seriously. "I don't blame you, though. Not after what he did to you."

Kagome's eyes widened. "What do you mean?" she asked carefully. How was it possible that Inuyasha found out? What the hell was going on?

"About you and Hojo," he replied, raking a hand through his silver hair before slouching down further into the couch. "He has taken his asshole status to a whole new level with that one."

"And how did you find out?" Kagome asked angrily, giving Inuyasha a death glare that went unnoticed.

"Miroku told me."

"WHAT!" Kagome yelled, smacking Inuyasha with her hand. "What the hell is wrong with you people? Must you all gossip about me?"

Inuyasha yelped in surprise as her hand hit him in his head. He ducked down low, covering his head with his arms in defense. "Hey! What did you do that for? Take your beef to Miroku!" Inuyasha screamed.

"Don't yell at me!" Kagome screamed back, smacking him in the arm again.

"Stop it!" Inuyasha retorted, swatting away her hand as it moved to slap him once again.

"Well, stop being a brat!" Kagome yelled, finally pulling her hand away from Inuyasha's head.

Grumbling irritably, Inuyasha turned his head away from Kagome angrily. He crossed his arms across his chest as he silently fumed for being yelled at. However, every once in a while his golden eyes would dart over to Kagome, looking for any sign of forgiveness. Kagome folded her arms as well, huffing in annoyance as she listened to the man's mumbling. Her gaze was turned to the table as she sat silently, waiting for Inuyasha to make the first comment. He did not disappoint her.

"I think he likes you," Inuyasha muttered, his face still turned to the side.

"Huh?" Kagome asked, her anger forgotten in temporary confusion.

"Fluffster. I think that he's acting like this because he likes you."

Kagome snorted. "And what makes you think that?" she asked, turning her eyes to the man beside her.

Turning his head tentatively, Inuyasha studied Kagome for a moment. "Well," he began slowly. "Sometimes I act like that when I like a girl."

Kagome's eyes narrowed. "You treat a girl like crap? Remind me to kick your butt later, Inuyasha. But I still think you are wrong," Kagome replied darkly.

Inuyasha's eyes widened for a moment before he contracted his eyes in disappointment. "Feh," he said arrogantly. "Whatever, but I don't think you know what you're talking about."

Before she could make a reply, Inuyasha rose from the couch, turning away from her. He walked to the door, pausing once his hand touched the knob. Glancing back over his shoulder, he called out, "Don't forget to run that story over with Sesshy. If you don't, don't come crying to me if he rejects it." And then he left, closing the door softly in his wake.

"Blah!"

Kagome stood in front of her mirror on Friday evening. She looked over her reflection in the mirror, examining the way that her red dress looked upon her. Her nose scrunched as she turned slightly to each side, making sure that everything was in its place. Sighing, she picked up a pair of silver earrings, sticking them into her ears as she walked away from the mirror.

"Do I really have to do this?" she whispered to herself as she slipped on a pair of black high heels.

The doorbell rang as she finished, making Kagome groan in disappointment. She did not feel as if this would be a great night. After all, she had to deal with Sesshomaru, and more importantly, his ego. With a splash of perfume, Kagome made her way to the door, taking her time to reach the destination.

As she reached the door, the bell rang again. She could not help but snicker in amusement. "Well, someone's impatient," she muttered. Opening the door, Kagome froze.

Sesshomaru was gorgeous in his dashing black suit. His silver hair was brushed to perfection as left loose to trail down his muscular back. A few fine strands fell forward, brushing against his forehead and cheek. His powerfully built form was barely hidden behind the fabric. She could see his golden eyes trail down her body before coming to meet her eyes once again. They held her captive with their depth and luster. 'Damn,' she thought.

Smirking slightly, Sesshomaru nodded his head to her. "For you," he said smoothly as he pulled out a single red rose from behind his back.

Kagome stared at the rose in shock, her mouth falling open wide. Raising an eyebrow, Sesshomaru mocked her. "Do you not want it?"

Immediately her mouth snapped shut and she carefully reached out for the flower. "Thank you," she said softly.

He merely nodded his head again, offering her his arm. "Shall we depart?'

TBC….