Disclaimer: I own nothing. Big surprise.

A/n: I am so proud! This was updated so much faster than usual!

Title: Underneath Her Mask

Chapter 10: You Don't Deserve Her

Last time

It was 6:30 in the morning when Hiten woke up. He stretched from his seat and glanced around the basement. It looked as though he was the first one awake. 'Wait a minute... When the hell did that happen?' he thought, looking at Kagome cuddled up in Sesshoumaru's arms. She was spooned against his body and Sesshoumaru had his head buried in her fragrant hair. He had to stop himself from laughing out loud. Perhaps Sesshoumaru isn't such a fool after all. Well, this certainly changes things.

Sesshoumaru was the next one to wake up. He inhaled a spicy vanilla scent. 'Where am I?' Reluctantly he opened his eyes and was met with a mane of inky black hair. A person's delicat chin was tucked into the crook of his neck and he could feel their warm breath against his skin. 'Kagome' As gently as he could, Sesshoumaru detangled their entwined limbs and looked around. Hiten was no where to be found, but all the others were sleeping soundly. He was probably helping himself to some breakfast if past endeavors meant anything. 'So beautiful' he thought gazing at her porcelain flesh. It seemed a little discolored but that might have been due to her recent 'skin condition' he concluded.

But something was nagging at the back of his mind. Her medication was obviously powerful if it could last for 6 hours, but what exactly was she suffering from? Sesshoumaru wanted to find out so badly why even while she was asleep, she was withdrawn and showed no emotion.

Internally sighing, Sesshoumaru headed to the kitchen in search of food and just as he predicted, Hiten was sitting at the counter top, eating a bowl of Fruit Loops. The milk and cereal hadn't been put away yet, so Sesshoumaru sat down and silently made his own bowl of the sugary, multicolored, fruity, loops.

"What are your feelings toward Kagome?" Hiten asked suddenly.

"'My feelings?'" he echoed.

"What is she to you? Is she merely your coworker, a friend, or perhaps a potential lover even?"

'I don't know what she is to me.' "I'm not exactly sure. Why?" he asked cautiously.

"Last night I asked her out." 'May as well be honest about it' Hiten thought grimly. "And she accepted. But that was before I woke up this morning and found you two locked in each others arms. What exactly happened last night Sesshoumaru?"

"You asked her out." He didn't like the way it sounded as the words tumbled out of his mouth or the way Hiten didn't look the least bit ashamed. His voice was laced with something foreign, that neither Hiten nor himself had ever heard before. It was tight and if it had been any other person besides Sesshoumaru, they would have to agree that it sounded strained as well.

"Yes, but if you have any feelings for her at all, I will back off. Our friendship means more to me than some girl. Even if that girl is Kagome" 'She said yes'. That was the onlly thing he seemed to comprehend. Sorrow overwhelmed him. 'No!' he thought vehemently, 'I refuse to feel this way, especially over some inconsequential chit.'

"We are nothing more than acquaintances that see each other more often than I'd like, due to circumstances beyond our control." he said, almost convincably. 'Oh Sesshoumaru, playing the fool once more I see' Hiten thought sadly before they both went back to eating their cereal in a now uncomfortable silence. Sesshoumaru was the one to break it a few minutes later.

"You might want to watch out for my brother though. He will not be happy about this bit of information."

"Hmm?" Hiten asked with a mouthful of Fruit Loops.

"He has had his eye on Higurashi since she smacked him in from of everyone at that gathering, back in July."

He swallowed. "She is quite a woman. I can understand why I was not the only person whose attention she caught. I find it hard to believe that even you aren't attracted to her."

"She is nothing special. There are tons of woman in Tokyo just as pretty as she, if not more so." He was lying. He knew it. Hiten knew it too. But it was a lot easier to say than the truth.

Outside the doorway, Kagome struggled harder than she had ever done before to keep her tears at bay. 'I should have known that there never could be anything between us. It was stupid to believe otherwise.' But for the first time in a long while she had felt safe laying by his side, and she didn't want to let the feeling go. Getting a shaky grip on herself, she headed back to the basement to leave a note for her friends.

-Guys

Thanks for having me Inu. See you all later. I have to get to work. I had a really great time. I'm leaving my winnings =D here. Feel free to chow down! Bye.

Kagome

Grabbing her purse beside the table, Kagome clumsily searched it, looking for her bottle of pills. She wasn't entirely sure that the throbbing going throughout her body was from to injuries or because of what Sesshoumaru thought about her. Either way, Kagome was hoping that they would take the pain away, if only for a little while. Popping open the top, she realized her hands were shaking. 'I just need to get out of here. Then... then I'll be alright,' she told herself. Not bothering with a liquid to swallow with, Kagome forced the capsule down her esophagus, leaving a disgusting aftertaste in its wake, before stumbling her way to the main entrance.

She was stopped by a brick wall and would have fallen if a pair of arms hadn't encircled her waist and drew her close.

"Are you alright?" What she thought was a wall turned out to be Sesshoumaru. 'Do you even care?' she thought bitterly, prying herself from his arms.

"Kagome, what's wrong? You look like your lost or something." Hiten said worriedly beside them. She gave out a shaky laugh.

"I'm fine; I just woke up with a little headache is all. I was just leaving when I bumped into you," she said facing Sesshoumaru, her voiced edged with steel venom. Sesshoumaru's face looked as though he just remembered something before his features grew frozen.

"I hear that you are going out on a date with Hiten." He stated coldly.

"Yes, I am," she said equally cold. Turning towards said person, she smiled warmly. "That is, if he hasn't changed his mind.'

"Of course not!" he reassured. "Speaking of which, when would you like to go out?"

"Well actually, are you free for lunch? There's a quant little café called Ramen on 35th Street. Do you know it?"

"Yes, that sounds perfect. Sesshoumaru and I go there often. How about we meet at one?"

"Sure. I have to be getting to work so..." She started towards the door.

"You don't work today. My father gave you it off." Sesshoumaru said briskly. For a moment, Kagome was startled, for he had caught her off guard but soon enough she was looking over her shoulder at him and saying, "Just because your father gave me the day off, doesn't mean that mine did," and then she left.

"Was it just me, or did she seem a little... off to you?"Hiten asked looking after her. Sesshoumaru didn't bother answering.

The Ramen Shop

"What'cha doin' Kagome?" Shippo asked, watching her scratch away at a piece of paper while she waited for her date to arrive.

"Writing up a contract."

"Oh... What's it for?"

"It's for my father. He wants to make sure that when his company and Inu Tashio's are officially one corporation that I stay working as a secretary." 'And never have any money. And never get promoted And am always working my ass off. And...'

"Why would he want to do something like that?" he asked, his eyebrows drawing together cutely.

"Well," she said putting down her pen and looking directly at the boy beside her. "He wants to make sure I'm always going to be working hard."

"Why would he think you wouldn't work hard, even if you got a better job? You always do everything the best you can!"

"I'd like to think so Shippo." She smiled sadly at the boy. "My father would like to make sure nothing ever comes easy to me. He's getting older now. He's 46 and he's not going to be around forever to control what I do so he's making arrangements now so that incase he passes away, he'll still have some power over me."

"Kagome." Shippo said, drawing her out of her sad musing. "I don't think I like your father. Not one bit." He said quietly.

"Neither do I, Shippo." She looked at him, her eyes showing how confused and lonely she felt, not to mention guilty by burdening this little boy with her problems. But ever since he had told him that her father broke her arm, he just kept on asking about it and there was no way she could lie to his trusting face. "Does that make me a bad person Shippo? That I don't love my own father."

"No Kagome. That doesn't make you a bad person." He gave her a tight hug that made her body tingle. "He's too mean. You don't deserve to be treated that way. You didn't do anything wrong." 'Oh but I did Shippo. I did something awful. I was responsible for the death of my mother.' That was the one thing she wouldn't say, not event to Shippo.

The jingling of the bell atop the door drew both their attentions. Her date stood in the doorway, glancing around the dead café till his gaze fell upon them and he smiled.

"Hey you two. What's happening?"

"Nothing much." Said Kagome. "Right Shippo?" She gave him a meaningful glance, and Shippo wasn't the only one to pick up on it.

"Right!" He said brightly. "Hey I remember you! You're that guy that always hangs out with Rin's brother!"

"I didn't know you've played with Rin, Shippo." Kagome said genuinely surprised. 'Small world I guess.'

"Yeah, her brother comes in here and then he takes us to the park!" He replied excitedly. "He's really cool!"

"That's... nice." Kagome said with a forced smile while feeling a pang near her heart.

"Well, it appears to me that we have never been properly introduced." Hiten said, holding out his hand. "I'm Hiten." He leaned closer when Shippo's smaller one was encased by his own. "I'm Kagome's date." He whispered grinning. Shippo's eyes went wide and his whole posture changed from bubbly childish enthusiasm to distrust and suspicion.

"What exactly are your intentions toward my Kagome?" Shippo asked seriously. He had heard that line in a movie one and it seemed like the right kind of thing to say. Of course in the movie, the guy was the girl's dad and he said "What are your intentions toward my daughter?" but Kagome's father sucked and he hurt her when he was supposed to take care of her, so Shippo would be the one to protect his good friend.

Hiten was struggling not to laugh and finding an actual response to a question like that. Even Kagome looked astonished.

"'Your Kagome'?" he repeated.

"Yes," Shippo huffed, crossing his arms. This guy wasn't doing so well. "My Kagome." Hiten cleared his throat. He could tell this kid meant business.

"My intentions toward Kagome are the utmost honorable and I think it is wonderful how well you protect her." Shippo looked sheepish at the compliment and nodded. 'Maybe this guy isn't so bad.' He thought. Shippo's eyes began to droop and he looked at the clock. 1:15. He should be taking his nap right about now, but that would leave Kagome all along with this...man! And he couldn't let that happen! No matter how nice he seemed.

"Shippo, isn't it your nap time?" Kagome asked helpfully, seeing his head bob side to side.

"I'm yawn not going to take a nap today Kagome-chan. I'm not that tired," he said as his eyelids drifted shut before he abruptly opened them.

This happened repeatedly before Kagome shook her head affectionately and picked him up. She settled him in her arms saying, "I insist Shippo. You need to take it easy."

"Okay Kagome, if your...sure" and he was suddenly asleep, his head resting comfortably on her shoulder.

"I'll be back in a minute." She told Hiten. 'She's sweet with kids too. Doesn't this woman have any faults?' he thought while watching her walk away. After she had left, a man with a broad shoulders and unruly red hair came out to take his order.

"I'd like the Chicken Flavor Ramen and a glass of green tea please." Hiten said politely. The man was giving him the same looks the little boy had. 'What is it with these people?' The older man nodded and retrieved two orders of green tea and their accompanying meals.

"How did you know what Ms. Higurashi wants? I didn't think she had ordered yet." Hiten commented awkwardly when he didn't leave.

"Kagome has a goal of trying everything on the menu at least once. She is going down the list and this was the next in line," he said gruffly, while sizing Hiten up.

"Uh... that's cool." Hiten replied awkwardly. "Look." He said finally, tired of feeling like he was being watched through a looking glass. "I don't understand why you or that little boy are so protective of her, but I swear to God that I would never do anything to hurt her." The man's gaze softened a bit and he sat himself down to explain.

"Kagome is very important to us here," he said in his deep voice. "My wife and I, along with my nephew, love her. She has been coming in here often for the past month now and... I've heard things." He shifted in his seat. "She talks to my nephew when she thinks were not there, but not when she notices that my wife or I am nearby." Hiten was listening with wide eyes.

"What sort of things?" he asked warily.

"Little things. That could very well be nothing but... I don't know. When she is with my nephew she looks so sad and lonely... and afraid. I'm not exactly sure what's wrong, but I just know that something is. So, you can understand why my nephew and I are precautious." Hiten nodded and just then, Kagome came out with a big smile plastered on her face.

"Hey guys, what are you talking about?"

"My lovely date of course," Hiten answered easily returning the smile.

"Oh?" Kagome replied raising an eyebrow at the men.

"Well, I'll leave you kids alone now. Better be getting back to the Mrs. Call if any customers come in."

"Alright." Kagome said suspiciously, eyeing them both.

"So... what did Shinduu say about me?" she asked when the man now known as 'Shinduu' was out of earshot.

"Only that you are a good girl and if I even dream of touching you, he and his nephew will make sure I burn in hell for all of eternity." 'I got to talk to Sesshoumaru and tell him what Shinduu said' "You know, nothing unusual," he said smiling.

She laughed. "They are rather protective, aren't they?"

"'Protective'? Kagome, they were ready to call the Calvary if I so much as laid a finger on you." They both laughed and were left with a companionable hush afterwards.

"Oh, we better eat this before it gets cold." Kagome said glancing at an interesting looking dish that was supposed to be something akin to Mongolian stew.

"Mmmmm... delicious." Hiten said, sipping his hot broth.

"So Kagome," he began, "What was with you this morning? You just kind of ran off."

"I told you, I had to get some work done."

"What kind if work?" 'What would it hurt to tell him?' she thought gazing at Hiten.

"I'm writing up the contract between my father and Inu Tashio," she said simply. Hiten nearly choked on his noodles but managed to force the down as Kagome patted his back.

"Are you alright?" she asked. Hiten ignored her.

"Don't you have to be a lawyer or something to do that?!" She just shrugged.

"I'm just drawing it up because I know what my father wants to cover in it. His lawyers will no doubt be double checking it." He nodded slowly.

"So what does he want you to put it?"

"Nothing important. None of it actually affects the company at all, just my position it and stuff like that."

"He wants to make sure you are taken care of then?"

"Yeah, I suppose you could say that..."

It was 3:00 o'clock before either of them realized that they had been talking for the past 2 hours straight. Hiten played the role of the gentlemen and volunteered to walk her home.

"So," Hiten said as he rubbed the back of his neck, an unusual show of nervousness. "Do you think you'd be willing to go out on another date with me?"

"I would love to. I had a really great time tonight."

"I'm glad," he responded, obviously relieved.

"Bye," she said softly, opening the door to her apartment marginally and slipping inside. When her door closed, she sighed. She did have a great time. Hiten was really a wonderful guy. He had almost achieved the impossible by making her forget about this morning with Sesshoumaru even. But was that all there really was to dating? Kagome got the distinct feeling that there was something more, something she had yet to experience.

"Hello Kagome." 'That voice!' Kagome's mind screamed, and her eyes shot open.

'Naraku.'

Hiten drove wildly toward Sesshoumaru's house, his hands clenching the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles were white. 'Finally,' he thought as he pulled into their driveway.

"Sesshoumaru!" Hiten shouted as he barged through the door. 'Damn it Sesshoumaru, where are you?' he thought climbing the huge staircase towards his room.

"Hiten, what's wrong?" Sesshoumaru asked opening his door. "You're loud enough to wake the dead." Hiten didn't comment as he shoved past.

"What's up?" he asked seriously after seeing Hiten's expression.

"I'm worried about Kagome," he said grimly, watching as Sesshoumru switched into defensive mode right before his very eyes. "You told me that she was hiding something, and at first I just brushed it off as an excuse to pay attention to her but then this guy the owner of that restaurant you like, said some stuff. He thinks there is something seriously wrong! He said that she would talk to Shippo about it and..."

"I don't care anymore." Sesshoumaru interrupted calmly. Hiten looked taken aback.

"You what?"

"You heard me. I don't care anymore. If she wants to hid something that's her business not mine." Hiten shoulders slumped and he tilted his to the side, as if seeing him for the first time before turning to leave.

As he stood with his hand on the door he said, "He told me that she was sad and unhappy, alone and afraid. And if you are willing to give up on her that easily than you don't deserve her," and then he left.

'Kagome, afraid?'

Hey! Aren't you all proud! This has been such a quick update! Anyways... I thought the ending was pretty stellar, the rest was alright. I had a hell of a time naming this chapter so what do you think? Oh and I would like to say that I had four reviews less than my personal goal of 20 a chapter! That's never happened before!!! Did my last chapter completely suck or something? Anyways here is the guideline.

Kagome and Sesshoumaru are pushing away from each other.

Because Sesshoumaru wasn't honest with himself or Hiten, Kagome is vulnerable.

Hiten has feeling for Kagome.

In the next chapter you get to meet Naraku more! Dun Dun DUN!

Kagome was never sexually assaulted.

And... I can't think of any more!

Feel free to e-mail me with any questions or comments you have, or just say what you need to by REVIEWING!

Review Responses:

Dragon Rae- Thank you!

Faithwings- Wow! You are so sweet!

Marika- Emily is too common. In 2003 it was the most popular name for baby girls the U.S. Marika is unique and... fresh. Totally cool.

Sweetsnow645- Do you really think so? That is so sweet of you to say!

Why?What?Shutup- I'm glad you think so!

Puffin- Um... I'm confused. What should be Naraku?

ShadowObscuritty- Aren't you proud? This update was so much faster than usual! ( I can't say that enough)

Youka, Youko's little vixen- I don't want to rush things, you know? I want this to last till after Kagome's birthday and that is months away in story time.

Sesshoumaru's fluff is mine- Thank you! I like it and I'm glad other people do too!

Myinuyasha04- Yeah, you are so right!

The-piro-16- I'm glad you liked it.

Erin- Do you mean more as in more length?

Baka onna- Yeah your right.

Kagomehigurashi12- yeah. Thanks for the review!

X shadow- it does make sense! Let me know what you think about this chapter!