Author's Notes: Whee, another chapter. We're back into the crazy/fun stuff again. Aww, I love my side characters- but I know some of your might not know them, so here's a little info on them.

Here's their roles in the original InuYasha series:

Suikotsu- brown-haired doctor and member of the Shichinin-tai.

Renkotsu- bald, 2nd in command in the Shichinin-tai, uses fire to attack.

Touran- Eldest sister of the neko-youkai (cat-youkai), blue haired, has ice powers

Shunran- neko-youkai, long brownish-red hair, controls illusions with flower petals

Karan- neko-youkai, short spikey hair, controls fire attacks.

Anyways, enjoy! It's two pages over the normal length, so yay :)

Rumors can start so easily, especially in the workplace. I knew from my other jobs that it seemed like you spent a good ninety percent of the time gossiping and only ten percent actually working.

Taiyoukai Books and Publishing Incorporated was no different.

Now normally, most girls would find it flattering to be the talk of the day; especially if their name was laced with someone like Sesshoumaru's.

But when you never know if you ass of a Father is lurking around the corner ready to drag you back to hell, the less people talking about you- the better.

It seemed like it would be easy, all I had to do was go be a normal secretary just like all the other ones he'd had and no one would suspect anything.

Or so I thought…

Chapter 32: Order of Operations
The office building seemed more like a formidable fortress towering above the city skyline, its silver exterior a beacon in the morning sunlight. Kagura looked up at the tall structure as the car approached, her memory recalling when she'd past it once before.

"So this is…the Taiyoukai family business."

Parking was easy. Unlike the countless peons and nobodies that worked there, Sesshoumaru had a designated parking place right near the front.

The perks of power were clearly evident.

"If anyone asks, your car is unable to be driven. Therefore, since you were so highly recommended by my Father, I pick you up each morning. Understood?"

Kagura smirked at that.

"Don't want to ruin your reputation by letting them know you have me living with you, eh Sesshoumaru?"

For some reason, she attributed it to a power trip, she reveled in how her life now being part of his seemed to inconvenience his previous ways at every turn.

"I'm not that good at lying without acting like I'm seducing someone," Kagura quipped.

"Very funny," The dead-pan reply shot back.

"All right, all right, I can pretend. But you'll owe me for it."

"Owe you?" Sesshoumaru paused then, his inexpressive face showing the slightest tinge of surprise and worry.

Kagura couldn't help but laugh and string him along further.

"You'll see when we get home… I mean, after work is over and you drive me to my house which by no means happens to be the one you live in."

The white-haired man frowned, today had started out with a bit of a shock, but now he was regretting hinting anything about his emotional state to the woman. Not because he wanted to take it back, but because now she knew she could get away with just about everything. It would be like Rin all over again.

"Just remember, you're supposed to be a highly recommended secretary put in place by my Father. Antagonizing me will only be in your ill favor."

He tried to sound nonchalant, walking forward towards the building with an air of importance and purpose.

Smirking, Kagura smoothed down her red two-piece business suit and sidled up beside him.

"Yes, Mr. Taiyoukai. The pleasure is all mine."

She'd placed just enough emphasis on the word 'pleasure' to get Sesshoumaru to stop in his tracks and turn towards her.

"You're not going to make this easy, are you?"

Kagura shrugged and kept walking forward.

"I'd prefer if you didn't assume from my last job that I was easy, Mr. Taiyoukai."

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyebrows and frowned, this was going to be one hell of a day.

Walking in through the doors, Kagura noted three pairs of eyes dart in their direction. Sure enough, there behind a marble countertop were three women working the front desk.

"Good morning, Mr. Taiyoukai," They called out, but their eyes remained focused on Kagura.

Noticing the stares, Sesshoumaru felt it best to explain himself before the rumors began.

"Kagura will be my new secretary from this day forward. Due to car troubles she was unable to drive herself and my Father requested that I pick her up."

"You'll need to get the paperwork filled out and filed properly, Sesshoumaru," The eldest of the three women spoke up, a smirk on her face.

"There is no need to reprimand me, Touran. I'm quite aware of the troubles the last uncompleted form caused in the past," Turning back to Kagura, he spoke formally, "Wait here, I must go retrieve the papers we need before someone has to remind me again."

Leaving her standing to the side of the desk, the white-haired man walked towards a nearby hallway and went into the first office to get the papers needed.

Meanwhile, Kagura stood there listening to the whispers from the front desk.

"Did you see how close they were walking when they came in?"

"I know! I don't think I've seen Sesshoumaru get that close to anyone; well, willingly at least."

"The story seems a bit fishy as well. Couldn't she just call a cab or something?"

"Shunran, Karan," The blue-haired one Sesshoumaru had addressed earlier as Touran spoke up, "He said his Father requested it. The matter is quite simple."

"Eh? What do you mean, Touran?" Shunran piped up, pushing her long reddish-brown hair aside.

"Yah really, Touran. Since when has Sesshoumaru let his dad play matchmaker before?" Karan muttered skeptically.

Kagura scowled, it figures that there'd be gossip, but having to deal with it first thing in the morning really put a damper on her good mood. Seeing that Sesshoumaru was still caught up in finding the paperwork, Kagura decided it was time for her to put these gossipy ladies in their place.

Pushing up her sleeves, and beginning to head in their direction- she paused when she felt a hand clamp down on her shoulder.

"Now calm down, just watch- they'll forget all about it in a few seconds."

She gave a brief glance up to the man behind her, his short brown hair hanging loose about his face. He motioned to another man walking in the front doors.

"Give Touran a few seconds to notice."

The bald-man began to walk past the desk when, just as he'd said, Touran stopped him.

"Renkotsu, come here a minute please."

He stopped then, and strode to the front desk.

"What this time, Touran?"

"Just letting you know to go ahead and send the accounting paperwork for Sesshoumaru's new secretary up to his desk. He'll need it."

"The woman standing over there by Suikotsu, I suppose?"

"That's her."

"It's strange to be conversing with you like this," He said with a smirk, "I know you didn't take my last personal request so fondly."

Touran shrugged, keeping her cool, "It's true I found your anger-driven fire prank very childish, but- I suppose my freezing your coffee would be considered all the same."

"I have to get to work, not that you'd understand the term."

"If you don't get that paperwork to Sesshoumaru, I'll just have to call down there and harass you."

Renkotsu waved his hand in dismissal as he headed towards the elevator, "I get enough of your harassment off the clock, so the paperwork will be sent as soon as I can manage."

Kagura watched as the two finally stopped bickering and the two other girls began to berate Touran with questions about her relationship with the man.

"See, nothing to worry about now."

Turning then, the dark-haired woman finally faced the other man.

"So you're…"

"Ah, I'm sorry. I suppose I did just butt in here. My name's Suikotsu. I'm in charge of proofing the medical books here. Bankotsu and Jakotsu mentioned you might show up today."

Allowing herself a wry smile, Kagura glanced in the direction Sesshoumaru had left in.

"I see word travels fast."

"It…does? Ah, I just knew that Sesshoumaru was getting a new secretary and that I was supposed to make sure no one suspicious spoke to her. That's all."

"Well whatdya know. Those two kept their mouths shut…well, mostly. At least the only thing they tipped him off about is that I might be in danger."

Thinking this over to herself, Kagura barely noticed that they'd been joined by another person.

"The new secretary, I presume?"

"Oh, Miss Kikyou. Sorry I was late getting upstairs, it's just that I saw her standing here by herself and I got worried since Jakotsu called me about…"

The pale skinned woman reached up and gently placed a finger over his mouth.

"It's all right. I knew your delay wasn't intentional. Pardon the intrusion; I'm Kikyou- Suikotsu's secretary."

Kagura reached out and shook the woman's hand, "Kagura. It seems you already know my position."

"I see you're getting yourself acquainted."

Sesshoumaru's bored tone interrupted the group, a file folder of paperwork tucked under his arm.

"Well since someone decided to leave me standing here…" Kagura cut off her tirade, she had to keep reminding herself that people here probably wouldn't take too kindly to the way she normally went-off on Sesshoumaru, "Ah never mind, we should probably be getting up to your office- right?"

"That would be correct, if you'll excuse us."

Kikyou and Suikotsu each gave a brief nod before heading down another hallway.

"They seemed…nice."

"They're the sane ones here," Sesshoumaru replied, waiting for the elevator to open and then selecting the floor.

Kagura relaxed a little as the elevator doors slid closed, leaving the two alone.

"It seems Jakotsu tipped them off that someone suspicious might be after me…"

She said it half worried, half pleased that others worried for her.

"You should be careful answering the phones here."

It seemed sudden, almost irrelevant, but then Kagura realized what he meant.

"I guess you're right, I wouldn't put it past Naraku to come up with a fake name and appointment in hopes to be directed to your secretary."

"Most calls are handled by the front desk, but as for those that do come through..."

"I'll be careful," Kagura cut him off, knowing he wouldn't be able to say what he meant so clearly if she didn't do it for him, "I can mask my voice."

The elevator doors opened to a floor full of cubicles and offices, people rushing about with stacks of papers and all heads seeming to turn to get a good look at the new secretary.

"I wonder if they're all taking bets as to how long this one will last," Kagura thought to herself, knowing that Sesshoumaru's rapport with secretaries in the past hadn't been that good.

"This is your desk. Just fill out this paperwork and read that book. It will instruct you how to do your job."

Red eyes darted down to the thick booklet sitting atop the cleared off desk- an instruction manual. From the looks of it, it was written back when the company was formed.

"I see that you're trying to make her act like all those secretaries I hated," A familiar voice cut in.

Sesshoumaru's eyes darted back behind him, glaring at the person behind the voice.

"Jakotsu. Don't you have a job to attend to?"

"That's what I'm doing," He shot back, handing over a bundle of paperwork to the white-haired man, "All the approved ones, ready for you to look over. There are about twenty manuscripts there."

Sesshoumaru's frown grew and he turned to enter his office.

"Call if you need anything," He said briefly to Kagura before closing the door behind him.

"Mou, he still needs to loosen up. You need to act like a real secretary, not some by-the-book boring one."

"What do you mean?" Kagura asked, her voice letting an edge of irritation seep into it.

"Not that you're boring, it's just if you follow his little step-by-step guide there- then none of us are going to have any fun. Here, since I'm not doing anything pressing at the moment, why don't I show you how a real secretary does their job."

She looked up at the effeminate man then back towards the door to Sesshoumaru's office. Figuring that it was better than sitting at the desk filling out paperwork and reading the manual, Kagura shrugged.

"Sure, why not."

"Okay, first rule," Jakotsu sat down on the edge of Kagura's desk, "Always wear something comfortable- yet, attractive."

"Excuse me?"

Kagura glanced down at the red blazer, white blouse and red skirt she wore and frowned.

"Like this…" Jakotsu gave a sly smirk then slowly unbuttoned his shirt to where a gold chain underneath was visible, "See? Still within company dress-code, yet ready to entice and flaunt the assets bestowed upon us."

"Jakotsu…" She frowned, "You don't have that kind of asset to flaunt."

Wounded look in his eyes, the flamboyant man stroked down his flat chest, "I try my best to compensate with muscle."

That did it, and Kagura could no longer keep in her laughter at the situation.

"I'm not sure what is weirder, getting trained to be a phone sex operator or getting flirtatious secretary tips from a gay man."

"Hmm…good question. I'm gonna have to go with the second since it's my only area of expertise. I prefer sexual acts to be in real-time, not over those silly cords and wires."

Picking up the manual, Jakotsu leafed through it.

"Tip number two, always come up with some excuse to knock on his door or page him every hour."

Kagura's smirk grew; who needed a manual when she had a feeling it would annoy Sesshoumaru to no end if she followed even some of Jakotsu's advice?

"Just to make sure he doesn't get too bored cooped up in there doing nothing, right?" Kagura questioned, catching onto Jakotsu's reasoning.

"Exactly. At least you don't have to worry about him getting distracted by computer games…"

"Bankotsu?"

"Yep, it's no wonder he works with the children's books- he's just like them at heart."

Wanting to derail her 'training' for a few moments, and keep the strange looks from the passers-by to a minimum, Kagura took that comment as an opening.

"How long have you two been together?"

"Hmm…well it's hard to say. It depends on whether you gauge together by 'friendship,' 'romantic tension' or actually physically being together. For example, going by what I've picked up- I would consider you and Ice-block in there quote/unquote "together" since the moment you met."

"Since the moment we…" Kagura paused, her thoughts at that, reflecting over all that had happened between them, "I guess we kinda have been reluctantly 'together' since that first time I met him face to face…"

"Anyways, moving onto tip number three- Never let any desperate females talk to him."

"Desperate?"

"You would be surprised how many women working here are out to get our men! They're like vultures, waiting to swoop down and take our attractive pieces of male flesh right out from under us."

Kagura shook her head, having Jakotsu around was just like having a good female best friend to rant and rave about men with. Although she had to admit, both Yura and Jakotsu had their own unique eccentricities.

"Just remember," Jakotsu continued, casually tossing the manual into an empty desk drawer, "Unless it's that psycho editor of his, just pretend he's not there. Even if he's in his office, bored to death, just politely tell them that he's busy, in a meeting, whatever bullshit story you want, then take a message. It deters any of those wanting to move in on what's rightfully yours."

"And that's all I need to know to be a good secretary?"

"You already know the basics of typing, answering the phone and things like that, right?"

"Yah, I've picked that up from previous jobs."

"Well, then the only other thing you need to know is how to apply all I've taught you."

Kagura blinked as Jakotsu tugged her up out of her seat.

"Jakotsu- what are you…"

"I call it, secretary basic training. You just watch me handle Sesshoumaru and then follow my lead."

Without even knocking, Jakotsu pushed open the door to Sesshoumaru's office and dragged Kagura inside.

"This situation has two outcomes," She reasoned catching sight of the glare Sesshoumaru leveled on Jakotsu, "Either Jakotsu will get fired by Sesshoumaru or…" she thought back over the 'tips' he'd given so far, "Or he'll get a raise from Sesshoumaru's Father for encouraging our relationship."

As Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at the two of them, Kagura shrugged.

"Don't look at me. This is all his idea…"

And knowing that alone, made Sesshoumaru wish he had another cup of coffee.

Preview for chapter 33:

Jakotsu's "basic training" gets put into action, and Sesshoumaru is less than amused.