Summery; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.
One more after this, and perhaps a few more later today. I'm also working on my other stuff, so don't kill me! For the record, since I don't think I mention it - Koga shares a house with Kagome and Inuyasha, just in case you noticed that he's always around.
Please read if you review. Comments, ideas, criticism, and suggestions are welcome.
"I can't believe that asshole!" Kagome exclaimed over the phone early that morning, "Maybe you should call out sick today…yeah, you're right. Well, maybe you could bring Sess – Bach with you? Oh, yeah. Well, I'll see you there, then."
"What was that about?" Inuyasha asked, as he and Koga waited to drive her to work.
"Apparently, our boss Onigumo snuck a visit last night to Leslie's, and tried something with her," Kagome told them, "Sesshomaru stopped him, though."
"So now he's playing savior, huh?" Inuyasha smirked, elbowing a sour-faced Koga.
"Where'd Leslie go?" Kagome asked, looking around for the light-haired brunette.
"She wasn't living up to the company's requirements," Onigumo said, with a trace of a smirk, "I had to let her go when she arrived this morning."
"You fired her because she wouldn't sleep with you?" Kagome asked incredulously, and Onigumo glared at her.
"Keep your nose out of my business, girl, if you want to keep your own job," he growled, stalking away. Livid, Kagome sat in her chair so hard that she broke the spring
"Leslie?" Koga asked in surprise, as she and Sesshomaru drove up in her Jeep almost an hour later. "I thought you'd be at work."
"I got fired," she informed him, glaring at nothing in particular, "Smug, arrogant asshole…"
"He forced himself on her last night," Sesshomaru told the wolf mentally, "I interceded when it was apparent she didn't return the feeling."
"Shut up, mutt," Koga ordered, turning his attention to Leslie. "So, why're you here?"
"Well, I've been thinking of trading in my Jeep for a while, and now that I've got a free day, I figured I may as well do it now," Leslie said, glancing around, "I've been wanting a convertible for a while – this thing's almost falling apart."
"I told you a while ago to fix it," he told her, but she shrugged.
"I know. So, got anything for me?" she asked, and he nodded.
"An older model just came in today. It's beat up some, but it's still worth a little more than that thing is," he said, gesturing to the Jeep.
"What's the remainder?" Leslie asked, after looking at the gray convertible, with it's white top down.
"A little over fifteen-hundred," Koga said, and blinked when Leslie nodded.
"I've been saving up for a car – getting this'll leave me with money left over," she grinned at him, "So, how much to fix it?"
"I'll do it for nothing," he offered, "I can stop by the house this evening and work on it for you."
"I couldn't…"
"Nah, it doesn't bother me," he shook his head, "Either way, I'll be doing the same stuff. Just feed me – that's all I ask."
"It's a deal," Leslie nodded, and shook his hand, "Is it safe to drive, though?"
"Oh, all that's fine," he assured her, "Just a little stuff under the hood, that's all. But it's fine, as long as you don't drive to Michigan or somewhere."
"Gee, and I was counting on going there, too!" she laughed, taking the keys from him. Looking at Sesshomaru, she patted him. "Come on, Bach."
"Hey, can I give him something?" Koga asked suddenly, "I've got a sandwich in my car that I'm not gonna eat."
"Okay," she nodded, "I'll check this baby out while you're gone."
"What do you want?" Sesshomaru demanded, as Koga led him to an empty office.
"Listen, mutt, keep away from Leslie," Koga warned him.
"Oh? Is she your woman – like Kagome?" he asked in amusement, and Koga flushed.
"The curse can't be lifted until you love her," Koga hissed back, "And you don't love anyone, Sesshomaru. So leave her alone before you hurt her. Leslie loves animals, and you're using that to your advantage!"
"So what if I am?" Sesshomaru countered coldly, "Perhaps I am merely enjoying her company as a pet."
"Don't play that game with me," he retorted, but Sesshomaru continued.
"She can see my crescent mark," he informed him, stopping Koga cold.
"What?"
"She can see it – but not immediately, she couldn't," Sesshomaru repeated impatiently, "If she had priestess powers like Kagome, she would have spotted it immediately. I want to know how she is able to see it. And she saw my shadow – my human shadow."
"I'll put you to sleep myself if you try anything," Koga growled, dragging him out. "There – I think he liked it," he said cheerfully to Leslie, who was examining the black leather seats.
"Oh, good," she nodded. "C'mon, Bach. I've got stuff to do at home – like look in the wanted ads," she added sourly, and Koga patted her shoulder.
"I wouldn't worry about it, Leslie. You've got plenty of credentials," he assured her, as she started the car.
"Thanks, Koga. See ya tonight," she kissed his cheek as she pulled out, to both of the men's surprise.
"You don't seem to like Koga very much," Leslie commented, as the headed down the block. Sesshomaru snorted, and she ignored his reaction.
"Koga's been a good friend to me since I moved here," she informed him, "I'd like it if you could at least stop showing your teeth whenever he's around, all right? It'd be nice if two of my friends could get along."
Finished, she stared straight ahead, as Sesshomaru processed what she had said.
"She just called me a friend," he realized, thinking. "Perhaps the reason she could see my shadow is because she is developing feelings for me."
"She appears to be interested in Koga more than usual recently," Sesshomaru thought sourly, as Leslie changed into a nicer shirt and pants.
"Don't give me that look," she admonished him, "Koga's a nice guy. And I promised Kagome, remember?"
"Just because you did doesn't mean you have to encourage that fleabag," Sesshomaru retorted silently, following her closely.
"If you get hairs on me, I'll shave you bald," Leslie commented absently, staring into the fridge. The sun was still fairly high in the sky, but Koga had called to say he was leaving work early.
"I'd like to see you try, woman," Sesshomaru chuckled – to himself, he had thought, but Leslie stopped.
"Did you hear something, Bach?" she asked, glancing around. Shrugging uneasily, she continued. "I could've sword I heard someone laugh. First I'm seeing shadows, now I'm hearing things…I blame you," she informed her pet, who blinked.
"Did she really hear me?" he wondered, but decided to keep his suspicions to himself for the time being.
"How's it going?" Leslie asked, peering underneath the car to see Koga.
"Fine," he grunted, "Not as bad as I thought. Hey, is food gonna be ready soon?"
"Well, it's starting to get dark – you can stop now," she laughed, but he shook his head.
"Nope. Once I start something, I like to finish. Besides, it'll only take a few more minutes," he told her, and she nodded.
"Well, I've got macaroni and meat sauce. Sound good?"
"Yep," he agreed, "Gimmie a couple of minutes to finish and clean up."
"You can use the bathroom, you know," she informed him, waiting until he had slid out from underneath the car. "It's not like I have a carpet to dirty."
"Nah," he shook his head, but she sighed.
"Koga, don't be an ass. Come on, I've got some clean rags you can use, if it makes you feel better," she grinned, and he smirked at Sesshomaru, who was now beginning to get annoyed.
Throughout dinner, Sesshomaru remained close to Leslie's feet, never thinking about his pride while remained laying on the floor.
"That mutt must really have gotten attached," Koga thought in surprise, as Leslie cleared the table. "He spent the entire time at her feet like some ordinary dog."
"Here – lemme help you," Koga offered, standing up.
"No, it's okay," Leslie shook her head, "Why don't you take Bach out for a walk while I clean up? It'll only take a few minutes, but I'm sure he'd appreciate it."
"Sure," he nodded, and smirked at Sesshomaru. The white dog glared at him, but refrained from growling, remembering Leslie's request. "Does he use a leash?"
"Nope," she shook her head, "But Koga?"
"Yeah?" he turned, as they headed out the door.
"If he runs away, I won't forgive you," she said calmly, never taking her eyes off the dishes. Sesshomaru smirked in satisfaction, as Koga dragged him out the door.
"You like her, don't ya?" Koga asked, as the two strode down the street. Sesshomaru glanced at him, but was unable to read the expression on the wolf's face.
"She's not so bad," he condescended. Koga snorted, and Sesshomaru barked in protest. "If you are under the delusion that I'm falling in love with her, you're sorely mistaken."
"Well, she's really getting to care for you," Koga said, turning serious, "If you don't think you can return her affections, mutt, you better get lost now before you really hurt her. It's not fair to Leslie."
"What did you just call me?" Sesshomaru growled, ignoring the rest of Koga's statement.
"I called you a mutt – and I'll call you worse if you hurt Leslie," Koga growled back, "I may not love her, but she means a lot to me – and to the rest of us. This isn't the time for your selfishness, Sesshomaru. You'll hurt a lot of people if you hurt Leslie. So you better listen to what I'm saying."
Sesshomaru remained silent, as they turned back to the house, but Koga's words echoed in his mind again and again.
"How'd the walk go?" Leslie asked, looking up as Koga closed the door behind them.
"Fine. Bach behaved himself," he told her. Sesshomaru padded up to her, and gently pushed his head into her thigh. Koga frowned at the intimate touch, but Leslie merely laughed and petted Sesshomaru's neck.
"He's been a lot more affectionate lately," she said, as the pair sat down.
"Really," Koga thought, eyeing Sesshomaru suspiciously, who glared back.
"I don't know what's gotten into him," Leslie shrugged, "But I've always wanted an affectionate animal. All mom and dad ever had were cats that didn't give us the light of day."
"I can't stand cats," Koga shuddered, at the mention of them. Sesshomaru blinked.
"Nor do I," he agreed whole-heartedly. Leslie glanced at Koga and grinned.
"Allergic?"
"No – I just don't like 'em," he shook his head, and glanced at the clock. "Damn – if I want to get back in time, I better get going."
"Where're you going?" Leslie asked, walking him to the door.
"Sango's dragging us to some movie," he shrugged, "And then back to her place. She wants ideas for the wedding. Want to come?"
"Nah, I don't know her that well," Leslie shook her head, "You go and have fun. Thanks for coming, Koga."
"Anytime, babe," he grinned wolfishly at her, and kissed her cheek before running to his truck. Blinking in surprise, Leslie locked the door and looked at Sesshomaru.
"Calm down," she ordered. He snorted at her, and then at himself in surprise when he realized his teeth were bared, and his fur standing on end.
"It's not like I know Sango or Miroku that well," Leslie said, trying to rationalize her feelings of being forgotten. "I mean, I've really only met them once or twice. Kagome, Inuyasha, and Koga are the ones I know well. They're not under obligation to ask me."
"But Koga didn't have to mention that they had left you out," Sesshomaru thought dryly, and then sighed in exasperation when he saw tears in her eyes. Walking over to her bed, where she was sitting on the edge, he jumped up and put his head in her lap comfortingly.
"You don't think I'm selfish, do you, Bach?" Leslie asked, smiling weakly as she petted his head. "I guess I just feel left out. I'm probably just down in the dumps about losing my job, that's all."
"No, I don't think you're acting selfishly," he assured her, "That would be me, as much as I hate to admit it. I had no right forcing my presence on you, after knowing what a kind heart you have."
"Well, I better get to bed," she sighed, "I've got to look for a job tomorrow, after all. 'Night, Bach."
"Good night, Leslie," he replied, unconsciously using her name for the first time. Curling up beside her, he rested his tail around her waist in a possessive manner.
"Nothing except baby-sitting ads," she grumbled early the next morning, eating a bagel as she read the ads. "Maybe I'll have to resort to that until something turns up," she said to Sesshomaru, who raised his head to stare at her.
"Life sucks," she sighed, before picking up the phone. As she began to dial a number, however, a last small ad caught her attention. "What's this?" she wondered, peering closer to read the small print.
"Anything but small children," Sesshomaru groaned, praying that she wouldn't take up baby-sitting.
"Hm…a proofreader for a business firm downtown," she thought, tapping the table with a finger, "Looks interesting – and the pay's negotiable, which is the best part! I might as well give it a shot."
Her mind made up, she picked the phone up again and began to dial. As Leslie was occupied, Sesshomaru slid the paper to the floor and quickly found the ad she had circled.
"Dawson and Cassidy Printing Firm?" he thought, and mentally groaned when he realized why that name sounded familiar. "That's where Inuyasha works!"
Just a little interesting fact about me, in case anyone cares. (stares at empty room) Oh well. I average 6-8 pages a chapter. The least I've ever done is 4, and the most is 9, I believe. I like having long chapters so you get a lot to read, but not HUMONGO pages. I've found a happy medium! (does a happy dance)