Chapter Three – The Plan is Working?


Kagome was finishing a last sentence when she felt a shadow cross over her desk. "One sec, sir," she mumbled, not looking up, sending her pen scrawling across the page. "I just have to get this idea down."

"There is no hurry," Sesshoumaru intoned, shifting to read over her shoulder. In an age of computers, he found it refreshing she preferred to hand write her document translations. She had uncovered more mentions of So'unga, and he was instantly drawn to people and places he had once known.

"There," he leaned down, pointing to a name she had put question marks around, oblivious to how close he was, as usual. "Saya. He was a retainer of my father's, charged with Myouga to protect the sword."

"Myouga," Kagome nodded, opening a desk drawer and withdrawing another file, flipping through its contents. "Yes, of course," her pen resumed its furious scribble as she added this new piece of information.

Sesshoumaru felt eyes upon them and flicked his own up. Two men at a photocopier down the hall – both secondary accountants who knew nothing of artifacts except their monetary worth – were staring. At Kagome.

What were they doing up here? Was the machine on their level broken? He did not surround himself with the mundane coming and goings of underlings – this floor was reserved for himself and those who saw the true value of his pursuits.

He glanced down. Kagome had worn her hair free, and done something to the ends so they curled in soft waves. Her cream top and dark skirt were more fitted than her usual attire, and small, golden hoops hung from her ears.

When she absently lifted her head to verify the spelling of something, he noticed she was wearing a touch of makeup at her eyes.

Snapping his attention back to the men, he shot them a dark scowl, placing a hand on the back of Kagome's chair.

He could see their swallows as they whirled back to the copier, suddenly laser-focused on hastily collecting their paperwork.

"Hello? Sir?"

He blinked, barely registering, watching as the men broke into a dash, trundling towards the exit. Neither spared Kagome a glance as they sped past her desk.

"Are you listening?" She huffed.

"Hn," he murmured, returning to her only when the pair had ducked inside an elevator. A hint of the snarl he'd held back edged his voice. "You have changed your appearance today."

Her eyebrows inched upward. "What? What does that have to do with—?"

Sesshoumaru straightened, releasing her chair. "Why?"

A blush rose, dusting the bridge of her nose. "I dressed up for our 'date'. I figured we'd head over right from work," Kagome tapped her pen. "But did you hear what I said? There was an error in the original translation – So'unga summons one hundred dead souls. It reanimates those it fells."

Sesshoumaru didn't like the idea his plot had made her draw attention to herself now that he knew she tried avoiding it. "That is an important distinction," he hummed.

Kagome blew bangs from her face, sending a cloud of grape, the gloss at her lips, into the air. "One I'm sure you already knew," she grumbled. "I can only help you locate lost items from your past if you share things with me."

"You don't share your 'things'," he pointed out.

"Because I don't need anyone's help with them," she snapped. "They aren't ancient, lethal, family heirlooms who could destroy the world in the wrong hands!"

Kagome's perfume was as potent as ever, but Sesshoumaru didn't need his nose to detect her irritation. Despite its warning, he couldn't seem to stop himself from pressing the issue. "So, your thing is a 'who'?"

Kagome slammed her pen down, fuming up at him. "Would you LIKE me to be convincing in front of your daughter tonight? Because NOT filling me with a desire to slap you upside the head will probably help with that," she had the grace to gulp as he glowered. "Sir," she added.

The elevators took that moment to chime anew, and Sesshoumaru realized his attention had been so fully consumed he hadn't sensed Rin heading up. She was about to happen upon them unawares.

"She is here," he whispered, returning a hand to the top of her seat, grazing her shoulder-blades as he stretched his arm down. "Her timing is as unfortunate as yours."

Kagome tensed, but immediately summoned a smile, gazing up at him with a nauseating, saccharine sweetness. "You owe me," she whispered back, swiveling in her seat and grabbing the end of his tie. "And it's going to be the biggest favor one day," then she threw her head back and loosed the fakest laugh he had ever heard, tugging his tie as if to draw him closer.

"Do not overdo it," he hissed.

She peeked up knowingly. "I was once a twelve-year-old girl, sir. Trust me."

Rin ran towards them, jangling keychains coming to a shuddering halt as she stopped a few feet away, agog.

"Um…?" The stunned syllable made them both look over in mock surprise.

"Oh, hello!" Kagome gushed, still holding his tie. "You must be Rinny!"

Sesshoumaru had to give her credit; the horrendous nickname alone was enough to sour Rin forever on the idea of a second parent.

The girl cringed. "It's just Rin," she managed. "Miss…?"

"Kagome," Sesshoumaru supplied. "You met her yesterday."

"Ah," she ducked her way through a nod. "Yes."

Kagome started to stand, palming his chest as she did so. "I have to thank you Rinny," she twittered, curling her fingers into his shirt as if momentarily distracted by the hard definition she felt. "Your father hasn't looked at me twice since I started working here, despite my best efforts," she winked in sisterly collusion. "Whatever you've been telling him finally made him ask me out."

Rin recoiled, and Sesshoumaru could see a single date would be more than sufficient to deal her infantile daydream a killing blow. He had chosen his accomplice well.

"Uh…," Rin fumbled, looking a bit queasy.

It was rare his daughter was struck speechless – her months of silence had cured her of the need to mull in solitude. Now, her mouth opened and closed, refusing to work properly.

Kagome continued to enthuse, seemingly oblivious. Prattling on about fate and romance and how deliciously handsome he was – all grossly inappropriate and sickeningly smug – Sesshoumaru watched Rin grow ashen.

He covered the hand still at his chest with his own, timing his strike. "Kagome is looking forward to getting to know you better tonight at dinner," her fingers were impossibly small under his, and he closed his clasp, trying to verify their size.

Rin raised her palms, backing up a step as if to physically distance herself from such an event. "You know what?" She finally found her voice. "I wouldn't want to… er… impose," she cringed again as Kagome pulled her lower lip in a pout. "You should go out for real—to a real restaurant. I can always tag along…," the words were pained. "Next time."

Kagome put up a token argument, and Sesshoumaru's ears twitched at the heavy, exaggerated layer of regret she poured into her tone. Rin heard the insincerity just as well and frowned, unable to help herself.

Sesshoumaru felt a twinge of guilt and released Kagome's fingers, extracting himself from her clutches. This plan was off to a shockingly successful start, and worry broached his triumph. He only wanted to rid his daughter of her prying schemes, not scar her with lies and treachery.

"One moment, Kagome," he said. "I want to ask Rin about school."

"Of course," she demurred, bowing slightly. "I'll go tidy up your office," she sent him a long, lingering look – as if leaving his side was a gracious concession – before striding for the large, oaken door.

He waited until she had disappeared before glancing at his daughter.

Rin's expression instantly morphed to outrage, and warm pride doused his concern. His pup would not cower or chafe under another's oppressive mantle – she would make herself known.

She stomped forward, glowering as only he could. "You cannot be serious," she seethed. "She's… the worst."

"You have repeatedly said I should—."

"NOT with her. She's…," Rin rolled her hands in the air, groping for words. "So fake and shallow. She only likes you for your money."

Sesshoumaru's mouth quirked as he privately marveled at his assistant's performance. As one of the few individuals seemingly immune to the rarity of his race or the wealth of his holdings, her nuance at playing the part was perfect. "I was not aware you knew so much about her," he drawled.

"I can tell," she pointed at the tie Kagome had tugged. "She's all… touchy… and…," more gesturing. "Grasping."

As Rin continued her unkind commentary, Sesshoumaru had a startling burst of clarity. Kagome was a skilled actress, more so than he would have ever guessed. He had a feeling whoever she hid from had made the need vital. What version of herself had she shown him in the last two months? Did he know the real her, or just a construct she thought would pacify?