Disclaimer: I own nothing. Are these things really necessary? If I just decided to completely blow this thing off, what is the likely hood that I will actually get sued? ::sigh:: Oh well, on with the show.

Title: Underneath Her Mask

Chapter 11: The Condemning Contract

Last time

"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 a really wonderful guy. He had almost achieved the impossible by making her forget about this morning with Sesshoumaru. 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.'
"What are you doing here?" Kagome whispered, for fear that if her voice were any louder that it would shatter the calm front she somehow managed to put up.

Naraku was standing over her fire place, glancing sideways at Kagome with a glass of brandy dangling in his hand.

"'What am I doing here'?" he echoed. "I was sent by your father actually. Interesting man, your father is. He said that you needed 'supervision' and being the considerate and giving person that I am, I was more than happy to comply."

Naraku Oniguko, Onigumo Higurashi's best friend at the age of 28, nearly young enough to be his son. But to Kagome he was just a new generation of evil, with new tactics to accomplish his bidding.

"Do not think you can lie so blatantly to me Naraku. You and I both know that doing a favor for my father has nothing to do with the reason you are here," Kagome countered. 'He wouldn't do anything unless it is to his benifit.'

He slowly drew closer to Kagome till they were eye to eye and Kagome's back pressed up against the wooden door. He began to run his long fingers though her hair, reminding her eerily of her father, only... different somehow, more tender, and infinitely scarier. She had to control herself from shivering.

"Oh Kagome, you know me so well. As a matter of fact I am not here for your father as much as I am for you."

"For me?" She knew she shouldn't be surprised. He had made a point of mock flirting and was even so bold to do it in front of her father, who only laughed and said she would never be lucky enough to marry a man like Naraku. God, how she hoped she was never that lucky.

"Yes my dear, for you."

"My father would never approve, no matter what he says," she said confidently.

"Your father is a simpleton," he sneered, stopping his ministrations and downing the rest of his brandy, another thing that scared her. Her father hardly ever drank. No matter how cruel he was, alcohol was never a factor. "He knows nothing of business. The only reason that his business has even stayed afloat much less made prophet is because of you and I." he closed his eyes only for a second but it was enough to gain his composure. "But let's not talk of that. You know, I saw you today, with that man. Hiten, I believe his name was." 'oh, no!'

"Don't bring him into this," Kagome warned.

"He doesn't deserve you. Not someone as beautiful or kind or intelligent as you." He cocked his head to the side. "You know, that's the another difference between your father and I. He wanted a woman who was beneath him, to cater to his own selfish needs and to kneel before him as if she were a dog."

"How dare you talk of my mother! You know nothing about her!" She was ignored.

"But not me. I want a woman who is fire to my passion, who will be my equal and kneel before no one." He moved to kiss her but she turned her head away and he was only met with air. "Soon enough my love, you will be mine, and even if your father wants to save you, he won't be able to." He informed her.

"My father is as much my savior as you are my captor," she spat. He only chucked and brushed her cheek with the pad of his thumb.

"We shall see," he whispered. "I'll be watching you, my love, so you'd best be careful. We wouldn't want your father to mysteriously find out about this Hiten person, now would we? Who knows what he would do." She would have been an idiot not to have understood his warning. 'If you see him again, your father will find out and he might decide to pull some strings to make sure Hiten is never seen by anyone again..' He then gently pushed her out of the way and walked the door.

She locked the door immediately and waited to hear his retreating footsteps before rushing to her bedroom. She sighed in relief when she realized her mother's box was still hidden safe underneath her bed. Kagome grabbed the box and held it firmly against her chest as she climbed onto her bed, not even bothering to take off her shoes or to scurry under the covers. 'Oh mommy, I wish you were here,' she thought, closing her eyes as tightly as she could, and trying in vain to make herself forget all of her problems that loomed around every corner, even in her dreams.

Monday Morning

Kagome walked slowly away from the bustling university, a frown on her lips and lost in her thoughts. 'How am I going to tell him? Hiten is such a great guy, I don't even want to break up with him.'

"Kagome," someone spoke from behind her. She looked over her shoulder to see Hiten sprinting to catch up with her. 'Why does this always happen to me?' she asked looking heavenward before putting on a smile.

"Hey, how are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm fine. How 'bout you?"

"I'm great. Say, I was thinking that maybe you and I could go ice-skating sometime, like after you get off of..."

"Hiten, we need to talk," she interrupted and led him over to a bench underneath a beautiful Sakura tree, its branches swaying in the breeze.

"What is it Kagome?" Hiten asked disturbed.

"I'm... I'm not suppose to see you anymore." She said quickly. Hiten was quiet for a long time.

"Why," he spoke finally. She was tempted to say 'because my father's best friend is psychotic.'

"Because a good friend of my father's thinks that I have too many distractions in my life as it is and I should be focusing more on school and my job." She put her head in her hands so he wouldn't see her face contorted in emotional pain, so he wouldn't be able to see her vulnerability.

At first he had thought she was only trying to politely let him down without hurting his feeling, but he had never seen her look so defeated as she did right now. 'No, this is no trick to spare my feelings'. Hiten's arms wrapped around her prone body, and she hands held tight onto the frabrid of his shirt as if he were her only lifeline.

"It's alright," he said soothingly, while he rocked her in his arms. "It's alright."

"Thank you Hiten, for everything." she murmered into his shirt. 'For being my first and probably only date, and for being my friend.'
October 15th 2pm.

In the conference room of Inu Tashio, Kagome sat up straight in her chair looking emotionless and detached to everyone in the room. To most it was unnerving to see, but there was a select few that were either shown nothing but, or were to use to it that they did not spare it a second thought. I am speaking of Kagome's father and his friend, who could never, no matter how hard they tried to get her to show anything but disgust or aloofness towards them, certainly not the fear that the former thirsted for.

Also there was Sesshoumaru, who Kagome had not really spoken to since that morning a few weeks ago, who was used to her cold shoulder and was equally guilty of giving her his own.

Naraku and Inu Tashio sat across from each other, each sitting at the very end of the table, with their sons and daughters, not including Rin who is too young to participate, by their side and then the lawyers next to them. There was once exception, much to Kagome's dismay. Naraku had seated himself on her father's right side, directly across form her, while some nameless face was busy passing out packets.

"Alright," Inu Tashio's voice boomed, so different than the one that he usually used while talking to her. "It's time to get down to business. Now as I understand it, Kagome you are the one who drew up this contract, are you not?"

"You are correct," Onigumo spoke for her. "Kagome knew exactly what it was that I wanted discussed in this contract acted accordingly."

"Why didn't you just have one of your lawyers do it?" Inuyasha asked confused.

"Because Kagome is completely capable of doing such." Onigumo replied slowly, trying to rein his annnoyance.

"No matter," Inu Tashio said with a wave of his hand, dismissing the topic. "I have an announcement to make." Many raised their brows in interest.

"I don't intend to participate further in this meeting. Whatever Sesshoumaru decides from here on out shall have my entire support. Although I do not intend on retiring just yet, it won't be long now." A few of his lawyers were surprised and looked as if they wanted to talk some sense into him but gave up seeing how determined he was. Everyone else just nodded silently. Onigumo even looked pleased.

"Alright, now that that is settled, let's begin," Sesshoumaru spoke for the first time.

"Sesshoumaru's right. The packet laid out before you is based on what Onigumo plans for the company but most of it is regarding his daughter's position in the company," Naraku said as everyone began to read. It was only a few pages long but it was the first one that caught the attention of many. Kagome watched as everyone except for her father and herself read the condemning lines, watching as their eyebrows drew together and how some jaws dropped and internally sighed. It was going to be a long day.

The last few weeks had been almost wonderful. Kagome and Hiten were still friends, Naraku was no where in sight and she hadn't spoken with her father since that grusome weekend. But I say that it had been almost wonderfu, for a reason. She and Sesshoumaru still weren't speaking. They wern't even argueing! And it was taking a toll on Kagome. With few things to sustain her sanity, she needed everyone she could get, and bantering with Sesshoumaru had been one of them.

The Contract

To ensure that the transition to create one complete company between Higurashi

Industries and Tashio Corporation is a peaceful one, the following guidelines must be

agreed up. Per Onigumo Higurashi's request, a set of regulations will be set for his

biological daughter, Kagome Higurashi. He wishes that she must never make more

than $8.50 an hour and her position can by no means be raised beyond that of a

secretary.

After college she will be required to work at least 6 days out of the week with a

shift that is no less than 8 hours. She must never be given any benefits, especially

health care or dental and certainly not a retirement plan. She will never own any part

of the corporation, including stock and under no circumstances must she be given

monetary help by any of her coworkers. And finally, it is essential that Inu Tashio and

his sons have entire control after Onigumo is gone and his own shares of stock will be

given to his life long friend, Naraku Lee Oniguko.

End of First Page

Sesshoumaru was the first to finish and his half brother was not far behind him. "What is the meaning of this?" he commanded. Even Inu Tashio looked as though he wanted to protest but his earlier declaration made him bite his tongue.

"What do you mean?" Onigumo asked. 'Nice one father, play dumb.' Kagome thought, forcing herself not to roll her eyes.

"I mean, why in the hell are you condemning your daughter to something that is could almost be considered servitude!"

"It is nothing like servitude Mr. Takamada. By definition, servitude means that an individual lacks the liberty to determine his or her own course of action or way of life. Kagome and I have discussed this and we both feel that this will enrich her character and that is what is most important to us." Onigumo stated clearly.

"Ms. Higurashi is this true?" Sesshoumaru directed to her.

"Of course it is," Naraku interrupted, appearing astonished. "What reason does Onigumo have to lie?"

"I don't know," Sesshoumaru said, trying to get a grip on his boiling fury. "But I did not ask you, did I?"

"He is speaking the truth," Kagome said, drawing everyone's attention, but only Sesshoumaru saw the way her eyes flashed. "This was my choice." 'She's lying,' he thought to himself. 'But why?'

"Do you honestly think this is best, Kagome?" Inuyasha asked incredulously. "I mean there are other ways to 'improve your character' or whatever your trying to do, that doesn't mean you should have to go will out health care or anything. What if you get really sick or something? What will happen then?"

"Inuyasha makes a good point. Mr. Higurashi, what will your daughter do if something like that were to happen?"

Onigumo uncharacteristicly rolled his eyes. Obviously his irritation was taking its toll. "It is not like I am dying tomorrow. I will be there to help my daughter out, and if I do kick the bucket sometime soon, then are you forgetting about her inheritance? I don't intend on leaving her nothing." 'Yeah right,' Kagome thought sarcastically.

"Alright then," Sesshoumaru agreed, "but what about a social life. Surely your daughter intends to get married someday. How will she have time for her family, much less finding a husband?" Although the thought of Kagome finding someone, anyone, and creating children with them, repulsed him, but the issue had to be brought up.

"Kagome has never been much for 'partying' or whatever it is you kids do nowadays. She has never even had a date!" he replied laughing. "I don't expect her to find a husband and I am completely fine with not having grandchildren." Sesshoumaru looked as though he was about to says something but seeing Kagome's wide eyed stare he decided against it. 'Sesshoumaru must not know that we broke up. I wonder why Hitten didn't tell him...'

"But what about what she wants?" Inuyasha wondered. "I suppose if she did happen to meet someone they would just have to understand how dedicated she is to her work. And if they can't accept that than she would be better off without them. Besides, I believe in the old ways, where the parents choose the groom," Onigumo replied.

Kagome fought not to open her mouth because she knew that if she did, she would say something that she would inevitably regret. Her body was nearly shaking with anger as these men talked about her as if she wasn't even there! 'Assholes, all of them!'

"She needs someone to take care of her! Can't you see that?" Sesshoumaru nearly shouted after slamming his hand against the mahogany table, startling many.

"I have taken care of it, boy," Onigumo replied, losing some of his cool. "If I'm not there, I have already spoken with Naraku and he has agreed that if I pass away, that he will self sacrifice himself and marry her!" 'Oh my god,' Kagome thought, losing her façade for just an instant but it was enough to show those who were paying attention that she had no idea that had been her father's plan, namely Sesshoumaru and as surprising as this may sound, his father.

"She needs someone to love her, not some pompous jerk who takes it upon himself as some sort of burden!" he yelled back, deciding to think upon her shock later.

"I assure you that I do not think that Kagome is a burden at all. In fact I would willingly take care of her, even her father hadn't asked me to," Naraku stated, disturbingly calm and giving her a heated look that only Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, and herself seemed to pick up on. Onigumo smirked, thinking that it would only be because he was his best friend and had nothing to do with his daughter's obvious charm.

"Who said she wanted to be taken care of by the likes of you?" Inuyasha snarled. Voices seemed to be going all at once from then on. Shouting and yelling ensued... and all of it was giving Kagome a headache.

"Enough!" Kagome shouted, and stood up, her hands pressed against the table. Everyone grew quiet, and looked into her angry glinting eyes. "How dare you people plan out my life as if were your own! I need no one, especially some man who has enough gall to think that I can't take care of myself, even with the stipulations that this contract is presenting! Now then, Mr. Takamada," she spoke facing Sesshoumaru. "I am more than capable of handling my own love life, thank you very much, so please keep your own thoughts on that subject to yourself. Further more, you even said that I was nothing special, so it could naturally be assumed that my prospects for a husband are limited as it is." she spoke, surprising no one more than Sesshoumaru himself. 'How did she... oh god, she must have heard Hiten and I talking. No wonder she was so cold after that, who wouldnt' be?'

"And you," she said turning to Naraku, "I will never need, nor want your care Mr. Oniguko, no matter what the circumstances may be." Looking every person at the table in the eye before continuing, she said, "I think we all have forgotten what the purpose of all of us gathering here today was. Not to talk about me and my life, but to begin the creaton of the empire between Higurashi Industries and Tashio Corporation.. If I'm not mistaken my father's wishes for me, have almost nothing to do with the company itself. The only thing that would serve as a substatial impact is that the company would literally be run by the Tashio family after my father retires, which is something I don't think that any of the Takamada's can be at all unhappy about, so in the end, everyone should be content with the situation that this contract purposes." 'except for you,' Inu Tashio thought to himself.

With a one last deep breath, Kagome sat down and waited to hear the response to her outburst. 'Wow,' Sesshoumaru thought entranced. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes still shown with flickers of irritation. She was more striking now, than he had ever seen her as she took control of the situation and showed leadership skills that rivaled his own. He was sure that he couldn't have been the only one to notice it either.

Inu Tashio cleared his throat. "Well, how can you argue with that?" he questioned, then laughed when nobody answered.

"Ms. Higurashi is right." Sesshoumaru declared, taking command of the conversation once more. "Let's get back to business."

It was 4:30 before the meeting was adjourned and still the Takamada's had yet to sign the contract, even though their lawyers repeatedly advised them that it was in their best interest. One of the younger, more bold lawyers, said aloud that they were practacly making off like a bandit and it couldn't get much better than this.

"Kagome," Onigumo said in a low voice, so not to be overheard. He took the official contract from one of his lawyers and placed it discretely in her briefcase. "I want you to get every Takamada to sign this before the week is up, got that?" he asked, even though he already knew the answer. He didn't even wait for her reply before standing up and leaveing the conference room.

"Sure, I would be happy to," she replied cynically, even though she knew he wouldn't hear her.

"Talking to yourself, Higurashi?" Sesshoumaru asked, being the only one left in the room with her.

"You caught me," she said apathetically, too tired to fight. "I like to talk to my alter egos when I think I'm alone."

"That would explain a few things," he said amused. "Which one am I talking to now?" he wondered, his own fatigue showing by his tired movements.

"Your talking to the one that irritable and gets along with just about no one."

"I have a feeling I talk to that one a lot." Even Kagome cracked a smile when he said that.

"Yeah, probably."
A/N: Hey everybody! This would have been longer but I kind of put it off and I was busy messing with my new computer! It is so cool! My last one was like ancient! But this is one is so cool! I can burn CDS!!! Can you tell I'm happy? Anyways I promise the next one will be longer. So what does everybody think? The beginning kind of sucked, but I thought it was cool how Kagome just got sick of everyone talking like she wasn't there and then just chewed them all out because of it! Lol! What about you guys? Well, here's the guideline. Oh and if anybody has questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Kagome was never sexually assaulted, by her father or Naraku.

Hiten and Kagome are only friends now. (I'm sure a lot of people are happy about that)

Kagome always says 'fine' when she is asked how she is doing.

Sesshoumaru knew not to say anything about Hiten.

Sesshoumaru and Kagome seemed to be on their way to recovery if the ending means anything.

Um...

My mind is drawing a blank...

Oh yeah, this doesn't have anything to do with the guideline but it was brought to my attention that this is, in fact, an R rated fic and that perhaps a lemon or a lime should be thrown in the mix, and I wanted to know if anybody is against or for that or something. Just so you know, I have NEVER written a lemon and if I did put some sex or something in this story it would probably only be a lime and much later in the story, aprx. 6 to 8 chapters or so. So... what do you think I should do?

Review responses: Thank you everyone who reviewed! I hope to hear from you again!

Why?What?Shutup: You are so kind!

Sesshy's Hime: Do you have any particular questions?

Augustsunset: I didn't know you had a pen name! Do you have any stories?

Mayukagurl: Do you have any advice for a lemon or lime?

X shadow: Sess is in denial stage right now. I'll wake him up soon enough.

Dragon Rae: That was so cute!

ShikonAngel19: How do u like?

Puffin: I think if he stayed with Kagome that would just be way too weird.

Okami-youkai-no-qukko: That was totally cute!

Youka-White-Kitsune: Not Naraku, Onigumo. Did I say Naraku was? If I did, srry.

Sangre blood: your review was kind of confusing. Lol. Let me know what you think of this chapter.

Myinuyasha04: I don't want to rush anything. Lol

Maggie: ::Big stupid smile: Awwww.

Sesshoumaru's fluff is mine: Cute name! I've probably said that before! Lol

Erin: I'll try!

Kagomehigurashi12: I'll keep that in mind! Lol.

Jazngurl: Lol Your review was so funny! I luved it!

The-piro-16: I hope so too! Lol!

shadowed fry: What kind of action were you thiking?

Hi: Thank you!