Disclaimer: I own nothing. I will never own anything.

Title: Underneath Her Mask

Chapter 12: Love and War

Last Time-

"Kagome," Onigumo said in a low voice, so not to be overheard. He took the official contract from his top lawyer 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 leaving the 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."

the next day


Kagome knocked gently at the door and when she didn't hear a response opened the door and peered inside.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome called quietly. "Are you here?"

"Hey Kagome," Inuaysha said from his seat. He was lounging in his black, leather chair with his feet propped up on top his desk; his hands were resting behind the back his head, in an office that wasn't much smaller than Sesshoumaru's. The picture made Kagome smile. It was so.... Inuyasha. When he heard her come in, he opened his eyes.

"What's up?" She set the contract in front of him, a ball point pen laying on top.

"Why didn't you sign this yesterday at the meeting?" she asked, even though she had a good idea of what his answer would be. Inuyasha took his feet off the desk and crossed his arms defensively over his chest.

"My family didn't feel that it was fair."

"'Fair'? It was more than fair Inu. What more could you possibly want?"

"No Kagome, you don't understand. The contract wasn't fair to you. We didn't sign it because it would make your life miserable."

"No Inu. What would make my life miserable is if I have to deal with my fathe never letting me forget that there was a chance that I couldn't have made it on my own. I want to show everyone that I don't need anyone's help," she told him.

"But you shouldn't have to!" he argued, smacking his fist on the desk. "You deserve to have everything you desire!"

"Inuyasha, just sign the contract," she requested.

"Do you know what your doing? If you go through with this... it will ruin your life."

"Please," she pleaded. "Do this one thing for me." She leaned on the desk till they were face to face and implored him with her beseeching eyes. "I'm begging you." She never asked for anything before, and it was killing him.

"I shouldn't be doing this you know." He said defeated, before uncapping her ball point pen and scribbling his signature.

She smiled softly and stood upright. "I know Inuyasha, and I appreciate it."

"Sesshoumaru isn't going to be happy," he stated truthfully.

"When is he ever happy?" she countered.

"Good point. But what do you think he will do?"

"Sesshoumaru? He'll sign it, even if I have to use my feminine whiles on him." She said fluttering her eyes exaggeratingly, but that didn't make it appear any less sexy to Inuyasha. 'If I actually did try to seduce him he would probably turn me away,' she thought sadly. 'what am I thinking?'

"Hey," Inuyasha said indigently. "Why didn't you use your feminine whiles or whatever on me?" She laughed and threw her arms around his neck.

"Because you're a pushover Inu," she joked, kissing him chastely on his cheek before practically skipping out of his office.

Inuyasha brought a single hand to rest upon his cheek, savoring the memory of her warm lips on that very spot. 'Oh Kagome, will you ever be mine?' he thought longingly.

It was Friday before Kagome could blink an eye. All week she had postponed talking to Sesshoumaru, telling herself that the next time she saw him that would be it, but it never happened. And now she only had an hour before she needed to call her father to tell him that she had all of the signatures of the Takamada men.

On the first floor of Tashio's company, Sesshoumaru was ordering his lunch in the buildings built in restaurant.

"I'll have a cup of green tea and the Kimchi noodles," he said without even looking up from his daily newspaper.

"Right away, Mr. Takamada," she said nervously taking his untouched menu. He frowned and shot her a glare that sent her scrambling away.

"Could you be any more rude?" asked Kagome, sliding into the seat across from him and watching the poor woman nearly run away from her boss. "Mind if I sit here?"

"Do I have a choice?" he wondered. Kagome smiled.

"Not really. Actually I have something that I would like to discuss with you," she said tucking an errant hair behind her ear.

"Alright Higurashi, what is so important that you couldn't wait 20 minutes for me to finish my lunch?" he asked, setting down his paper. "You have my complete and undivided attention." She opened her purse and took out the contract that already had his brother's name scrawled messily at the bottom.

"I need your signiture."

"This is what was so important?" he question motion towards the official document.

"Yes," she stated simply.

"I see that you have already spoken to my half-brother," he noticed, irritated. 'Inuyasha, you fool. What part of don't sign the damn contract do you not understand?'

"Yeah, he agreed right after I said 'please'." She said smiling fondly, but it dropped a little when she looked back at Sesshoumaru. "I'm assuming that won't be the case with you."

"You assumed correct."

"Why won't you sign it?" she asked frustrated.

"Why should I?"

"Because this is what is best for everyone."

"Not for you."

"This has nothing to do with me," she amended.

"This has everything to do with you Higurashi," Sesshoumaru contradicted. "Signing this contract would mean that I condemn you to a life that you and I both know you don't want."

"How would you know what I want?" she questioned. When he didn't answer she sighed. "Sesshoumaru, I'm not yours to look after," she said softly. 'Not that you would want to anyway.'

"I know. You're my best friend's," he said in the deep, monotone voice of his. Kagome looked startled.

"When was the last time you talked to Hiten?" she asked.

"Not since after your first date," he said confused, "why?"

"Because Sesshoumaru, that was our first and only date."

"Why? Didn't you two hit it off?" For some unexplainable reason, he felt a surge of joy.

"We had a great time, but some... stuff came up."

"What kind of 'stuff'?" She just looked at him and didn't answer. "Are you doing anything for Halloween?" he asked, abruptly changing the subject.

"No, why do you ask?" Kagome wondered curiously.

"Well I was wondering if you would like to join Rin, Shippo and I in trick in treating this year."

As she was about to answer the waitress came up with Sesshoumaru's food in hand.

"Here you are sir," said the skittish waitress, nearly spilling his green tea as her hands shook.

"Kagome!" she said surprised, forgetting her nerviousness. "How have you been doing? I haven't seen you down her in a while."

"I've been a bit busy Ayame, but just fine otherwise."

"Your always 'just fine,'" murmured Sesshoumaru before taking a bite of his food. Kagome shot him a glare and Ayame just looked puzzled.

"What about you?" Kagome said suddenly. "How is everybody? Are you and Kouga getting enough alone time?" she asked, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively and laughing.

"Humph. Get your mind out of the gutter girl. We are getting plenty of "alone time". Either way you just have baby-sit sometime soon. . You're all that the kids talk about! Kagome this... Kagome that, it's all I ever hear anymore," she said, smiling warmly.

"They are such great children Ayame. Your doing an excellent job with them." Ayame blushed.

"Oh! Where are my manners? What would you like to eat?"

"I'm not staying," Kagome said shaking her head.

"No, please join me. Then you and I can finish our... discussion," said Sesshoumaru before wiping his mouth with his cloth napkin.

"Alright, I will," Kagome said pleased. "I'd like the chicken pasta salad please. Thank you Ayame."

"Be back in a minute," the waitress said before departing.

"You certainly have a way with people," commented Seesshoumaru.

"I'd like to think so," Kagome replied, giving him a small smile. 'It's been too long since she's smiled at me like that,' Sesshoumaru thought to himself.

"And I would like to go trick or treating with you."

"Good." She blushed at his intense gaze.

"We've gotten off track. Now, again, why won't you sign this? She asked gesturing to the forgotten document.

"I refuse to feel guilty if you become unhappy for the rest of your life."

"I won't be unhappy, so you won't have anything to feel guilty about. Actually, I've never been happier since I came to Tokyo," she replied honestly.

"I'm still not going to sign it."

Ayame decided to come by jut then. "Here you go, Hun. Enjoy."

"Thanks Ayame." They sat in silence for a while, each eating their respective meal when Sesshoumaru noticed Kagome kept moving her fork about, shoving the tomatoes in her salad, to the side.

"What are you doing?" he asked finally.

"Hmmm?"

"With the tomatoes. What are you doing?" Kagome looked down at her plate in surprise.

"Oh I.... It's just that I don't like cherry tomatoes." She said as she continued to pick out the vegetable/fruit. Twitch. The corner of Sesshoumaru's mouth began to cure. Then he began to laugh. Kagome pursed her lips and put down her fork with a noisy clang.

"Now what is so funny?" she demanded.

"You."

"Me?"

"Yes you. It's just funny that you don't like tomatoes."

"Plenty of people don't like tomatoes, and its not all tomatoes, just the cherry ones."

"It's still funny."

"Ha ha," she chuckled dryly.

"What are you doing?" Kagome asked as Sesshoumaru began to eat every single tomato one by one, off her plate. Somehow managing to make such a mundane act look regal.

"Eating your tomatoes. What's it look like?"

"You didn't even ask!"

"What's the big deal. I like them, you don't," he said, continuing to pick them off her plate.She sputtered for a moment before just shaking her head and waited for him to finish.

"Sesshoumaru, I would like you to sign my father's contract as a favor to me," she said after he was done. He looked up from his own meal.

Flash back

"I purpose that we make a little side bet. Whoever win's this hand receives a... favor from the other." Her eyes narrowed.

"What kind of favor?"

"Any kind." At her deadpan look he added, "nothing sexual." Kagome smirked.

"I guess I'll just have to think of something else for you to do then, won't I?" Sesshoumaru gave her an uncharacteristic, not to mention dangerous smile.

"Well, we could add sexual favors to the list if you'd like. I certainly wouldn't mind," he said as his eye's roamed her body, making her very aware of the temperature in the room.

End of Flashback

'Damn that stupid bet. But I can't go back on my word' "You know this is not fair," he said grabbing the pen off the table and signing his name next to his brother's. At the same time he was essentially signing her life away.

Kagome just shrugged. "All's fair in love and war." 'So which is this Kagome,' he wondered. 'love, or war?'

"So how do you plan to convince my father?" Sesshoumaru asked after he finished paying the tab, much to Kagome's displeasure.

"I don't intend to."

"What?"

"Your father said that he would support any decision that you make," she explained. "You signed there contract, therefore so will he."

'shit.'

Let me just say how incredibly awesome you people are!!!! I got over 40 reviews! Thank you so much! I love you all! So what did you all think? Kind of a filler chapter, I know but I couldn't just leave it off without discussing the contract anymore, you know? And sorry that it kind of sucked. Tell me if you think I should redo it. And it would have been up sooner but my new computer is having a few problems.

Okay here is the guideline:

Sesshoumaru, Hiten, Naraku and Inuyasha are all the people that have romantic feeling for Kagome.

Kagome was never sexually assaulted.

(I've gotten a lot of questions about this) Kagome didn't stand up to her father at the meeting because frankly, what good would it have done? She would just pay for it later when they were alone, you know?

And Onigumo didn't punish her for speaking out because it got the Takamada's to shut up about her rights.

Sesshoumaru hasn't ever heard Kagome say that she really disliked something.

The Halloween thing is the closets thing to a date that they have had, but its not officially.

Reviews: Thank you soooooooooo much everyone! I hope to hear from you all again!

Dragon Rayne: I still haven't gotten enough support to the point where I am seriously looking into it. Besides I haven't ever written a lemon and I have that feeling that if I did it myself, it would suck.

Megumu: 1. You have to realize that Kagome has been suffering for 11 years. She is getting wary, but don't worry. Her confidence is going to get a boost in a short while. 2. Sesshoumaru and Kagome both are skirting around their feelings right now in the vain effort to protect themselves from getting hurt. But like in practically all stories. They both get over it eventually. 3. Kikyo has a VERY interesting roll in this story. I hope you'll like it.

Katz Mina: You really think it is written that well? Thank you much!

Augustsunset: I would love to look over your story!

Madam Sorceress: lol. Sure

Angel of the Heavens: Thank you so much! Let me know what you think about this chapter.

Shiichi23: Well thank you! What do you think about my story?

o0Hottie0o: Cool name. The memoento's will come when they come. I'm kind of playing by ear right now. That will come later in the story.

Alexis Barnes: Alas, I'm afraid it is.

Sesshys-lady-of-da-westerns: I'm glad you like.

Sesshoumaru's Element: Lol. I'm on one now!!!!

FluffyLover078: You flatter me!

Mikoi: Wow that is soooo cool! I want to become an editor or an author when I grow up. (I'm fourteen now) would love for you to be my beta reader, but I have a problem with my e-mail. Do you think that you can just give my things that I need to work on. So few people give me constructive criticism but then how can I get better if I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I would really appreciate it!

Faithwings: muchos gracias.

InuJinx: You are so sweet!

Ioke: she got a break because she got the Takamada's to shut up about her rights and stuff.

Caley: lol. I'll keep that in mind.

Night of the Raven: Thank you for the review!

Sesshys Hime: Kagome didn't stand up to him alone because of appearances. How would it look if his daughter chewed him out in front of all those important people? And what good would it have done? She would just pay for it later when he got her alone. About the false contracts: One word: Lawyers. Kagome might talk about her mom but not that her father beats her.

Electure: I feel sorry for her too. No one should have to deal with that s. Sorry about the contract but all I can tell you is that everything will work out.

Kerri: Thank you!

Porcelain Gothic Doll: They died in a car crash when he was a baby. He never knew them. If I told you then I would take away from the plot. But there definitely won't b a rape scene. At least I hope not.

Myinuyasha04: I'm glad!

What?Why?Shuttup: Only time will tell...

Twilight Beaker: Thanks for your review!

Erin: K!

ChaosKree8er: Can't wait till I get your e-mail!

Sess's little one-was this soon enough?

7hougen: Kagome ill talk about her past but not that her father abuses her.

Hi!: Thank you monemi! =D

Rebx1: Thanks I hope to hear from you again.

Shikonangel 19: lol. Glad to hear it!

Crazy anime chikc696: lol You sound cool as shit. Hope to hear from you again!

Lady Dimo: Is it true that you might cry reading this? Because that is my personal goal, to move someone to tears. I think that if a story is good enough to cry over that it must be pretty damn good.

Dixy-Misa-Misao-Amano: Thankx! Did I spell your name right? I don't think I did.

Sesshoumaru's fluff is mine: You are very welcome.

Rosie: Thank you. Question: is Rosie your real name? Its cute

Mayuka gurl: lol If get enough feedback then yeah, we should do something like that.

Puffin: don't worry too much about the contract K.?

Aska19: Thank you.

Jazngurl: lol. Like I told a couple of other people. Don't worry about the contract. Your review was f-ing hilarious! I can't wait to hear from you again!

Shadowed fury: OMG are you serious? That is so sweet!

Shadows insanity: Kool

Maggie: She has always known that her father was one of the most influential people in Japan. Who would have believed her?

You UK White Kitsune: Thanks

The piro- 16: You got that right!

Shadowed Rains: That's cool lol.