Before hints of roasted beans wafted into his nostrils, Sesshomaru was already awake. He didn't need the coffee to know it was now 6:45 AM. Every night was the same; a struggle to sleep or find any semblance of ease. His sight wandered over to the outline of the woman next to him. It wasn't her fault that he never had a good night's rest- a ghastly snore erupted from the said figure. Well it wasn't entirely her fault. He has had these troubles since before her, even though she has added to the issue. For as long as he could remember his mind was never at peace. He would wake countlessly during the night or sleep would evade him as he pondered about things that always crept into his mind late at night.

The smell of the beans finally woke his bed partner. Her long pointed ears twitched as her whole face scrunched up in a pained look. She let out a loud yawn as she stretched out on the bed; her limbs stretching out into his own personal space. Once she felt properly aligned she opened her eyes to reveal her tired violet eyes. She pouted at Sesshomaru, "Is it morning already?" Her arms reached out to his face as she started to trace his magenta striped markings.

"Every morning is the same Kagura. The smell of coffee always starts at 6:45 AM." His voice nor face held any contempt. He was just stating mere fact. He had never been affectionate or playful towards her, not during their courting or even during their honeymoon. After five years, it never stopped her from trying though. Every morning she would make some remark to start a repertoire with him, or try to touch him in gentle ways that yearned for more than just sex. Today she had been a little bolder as she had done both. He had stopped her hand from wandering on his face any farther and rose from the bed.

Kagura let out a little moan of protest, "But I want to snuggle." Sesshomaru didn't acknowledge her pout for attention, and continued to make his way towards the bathroom. Kagura wasn't one to be ignored though. She snatched his hand to stop him from inching farther away from her. She brought his hand to the opening of her purple silk robe she slept in, resting his hand on the skin between her breast. "Or maybe I want to do more…" Her eyes begged for him.

His face didn't change the slightest at her advances, 'We already had sex this month.' Even though he had thought it inwardly to himself, he was sure she knew what he was thinking. He was no man of passion. He had sex with her once a month, because he was a male after all with needs. But he didn't desire her in the way he wanted to have her every day or even every week. He removed his hand from her chest, "I only have enough time in the mornings to get ready and leave. You know that Kagura. Stop wasting my time."

The words stung. She felt her heart drop from her chest into her stomach. She loved him more than anything, but he was an ass. He had always been this way, so she shouldn't have any reason to complain, right? It's not like he ever led her on to believe he'd be this affectionate loving husband who couldn't keep his hands off her. It may only be once a month, but that once a month was always better than anyone else she's ever been with. It wasn't her fault it made her want him more. Five years. Five years, and he's never given her more than that. She huffed to herself as she ripped herself from their bed, "I am your wife! It wouldn't hurt you to treat me like that occasionally!"

He didn't have to be in the room to hear her complain. If his demonic ears didn't pick it up, she was always sure to speak loud enough that he wouldn't miss it. He inwardly rolled his eyes. She was always so petty. If she was so unsatisfied with the luxurious life he provided her, then she could leave. She never did though, so she'd have to deal with the life he provided her. Physically and emotionally. He felt like time stood still as he completed his mundane morning routine. When 7:30 AM finally hit, he felt like he had spent the last 3 hours listening to Kagura go on about unimportant things. He was relieved to finally be off to work. He sped down the highway in his black 1969 Mustang GT. It was refreshing to feel the wind rip through the car in the mornings after Kagura talked his ear off. He pulled into the parking lot of a tall glass tower with a small sign only at the entrance of the lot: Taisho Law.

He made his way into the building up to his floor; ignoring everyone as usual. His office was the biggest one on the floor, with tall glass walls that were usually shut off to the world by his shades. It helps to keep the wandering eyes at bay. Everything was the same, as it was every morning, every day for the last few years of his life. It was annoying. It didn't matter that he was the one of the highest regarded lawyers on the east coast. Second only to his father. It didn't matter that he made more money than most men. It didn't matter that he did have an attractive wife. It didn't matter that it seemed like he had everything any guy could want. He felt stuck. He was in a rut, and nothing brought him passion or any emotion at that. He planned to continue to brood in silence to himself at his desk when something caught his attention.

Freshly washed cotton.

He couldn't believe he had been so caught up in his misery that he hadn't noticed this tiny little change on his floor. The smell of freshly washed cotton. It was refreshing, and it was subtly all over the place. Even his office. His brows furrowed at the thought. This scent belonged to someone. This unknown someone. An unknown someone who had been in his office. The smell gently filtered off a stack of legal documents in a manila folder on his desk. He curiously stared at the folder. He knew what everyone in his office smelled like. Not willingly. It was a curse and, in this case, a blessing, of being a dog demon. His hand clicked one button on his desk phone as he kept his eyes on the folder.

Only one ring went off before a voice picked up on the other line, "Yes Mr. Taisho? How can I help you?"

The voice was soft and serene. An unknown soft and serene voice. He quickly raised from his seat and walked out of his office to the desk that he rang. The words SECRETARY on a metal plate sat atop the desk. Behind the desk sat a woman whom he had never seen before. She sat confidently in her chair as she glanced up at him, "Mr. Taisho, how can I help you?"

He didn't reply to her. He just continued to observe this different presence in his life. He wasn't a hermit, who never met strangers. It was nothing like that. There was just something different about her. The air around her. Her scent. The refreshing dewy look of her porcelain skin. The long sweeping ebony tresses that decorated her figure. Her deep iris' of mahogany that starred back at him self-assuring. A human. A human who did not cower or falter in his presence. An extremely common habit he always encountered from humans the first time they interacted with him. It irked him. Irked? Was that what he is feeling? He couldn't quite grasp the feeling.

"Where is Kana?" His voice didn't sound professional like he had hoped. Just annoyed, which he detested even more.

"It's my understanding that she was let go sir. I am your new secretary, Kikyo Hatake. Forgive me for not introducing myself earlier, but it is also my understanding you don't care too much for introductions." Her voice never wavered. She spoke just as confidently as she looked despite him coming off as an ass.

When he never responded to the conversation she just continued, "I have set the Asuma files on your desk, it is your next case. I have noted and filed away the Kira files from your closed case. You will notice on your email calendar you have a business lunch with your father scheduled two months from now, at which you will discuss the Asuma files in detail before the deposition. Three of your employees won't be coming into work today as they are using today to work from home for the week. Their remote day was logged into your network schedule so you know who and when. In thirty minutes, you have an appointment with accounting about the monthly numbers. This is most likely new to you, but the meeting needs to happen this week and 8:45 AM is the only time you have available left this week. The numbers are also in the files I placed on your desk."

It was her first day and she was prepared. He would find out more about her. She seemed to be capable, but was it because she typically works in law firms or she's quick to catch on? As he never complimented the work of others, he just nodded at her to express his understanding of everything she just dropped on him. "Kanna was let go because of her inability to keep up with the needs of this firm and myself. I suggest you take that to heart, I wouldn't want you to feel like overdoing it on your first day will give you slack later." He turned on his heel to make his way back to his office, where one of the firm's lawyers followed right behind him.

"She's great isn't she?" The intruder chimed in. A tall man with unruly wavy charcoal hair and corrupt maroon eyes fiddled with a pendulum decorative piece on Sesshomaru's desk. The man turned his attention out the doors towards Kikyo where he instinctively licked his lips, which turned into a lecherous smile.

"I suppose this new hire was you, Naraku?" Sesshomaru turned his gaze to Kikyo as well as the two both watched her diligently work.

"As are all the new hires, expect for my own secretary, no thanks to you. If I had known she'd come knocking at the door I would have fired my secretary too." He licked his lips once more as he ogled Kikyo from afar.

"She still would have been my secretary since you can't hire your own, don't be daft." Sesshomaru added with his usual bored tone of voice. He watched Naraku finally peel his eyes away from Kikyo and sit down in one of the lounge chairs in front of his desk. He gently dusted off the knees of his black suit, straightening it up right after.

"She's studying to become a lawyer as well. She's incredibly smart, I did a thorough background check. She wanted to get into a law office as quickly as possible to gain the experience. I find her above exceptional, which means you'd find her at least satisfactory." He was leering at Sesshomaru now. Flashing as much white as he could from his teeth. He put off a very uncomfortable creepy vibe, and it was anyone's guess on how he was popular with the woman in this office.

"Just because she's your latest eye candy that you've become enamored with doesn't mean I will feel even remotely the same. Hopefully the little show she put on this morning is a long-term persona, not just a fleeting first impression. If she fails to preform your hiring privileges will be revoked, and I will personally see to that."

By now Naraku had crept his way towards Sesshomaru's office doors. His teeth filled smile still encompassed his face, "Of course she will. I only pursue the best." With that he slid out the door and off into his own smaller, less decorated office.

Sesshomaru couldn't help but watch Kikyo after Naraku had departed. The glass doors to his office were the only part of his office that he couldn't close off from the world like the rest of it. He always dreaded it. Having to watch the dreadful interactions of his office when he looked up from his work. But this time, it wasn't so bad. Kikyo was a true beauty. Her looks did not go unnoticed by him, though he'd never admit it to anyone. Honestly, he hasn't ever paid much attention to any woman's looks. Demon or human. He only noticed Kagura's beauty because he picked her to be with, and it was only an afterthought to the more important qualities. With Kikyo it had been the first thing he noticed walking out of his office. How could he have been so daft to not notice her when he walked in. He made note to himself that he'd have to stop inwardly sulking from now on. He's gotten too comfortable with his life that he'd let something like this get past him.

The loud sharp ring of the phone brought him out of his thoughts. He should've known who it was. He was only watching her from his desk as she dialed in to his intercom, "Mr. Taisho, your meeting is going to begin in five minutes. Conference room D. I made sure to have fresh coffee put in there for the hour. Don't be late." Before he could even utter a sound, she dropped off the call. She was demanding for such a lowly position in the office. He felt his lips and ears twitch. There was this warm feeling he couldn't place creeping through his body. It only made him more irritable and angry that he could not place his own emotions.

He grabbed the financial documents that were hidden under the Asuma files on his desk, and made his way out of his office yet again. As he passed by Kikyo's desk he felt his face, involuntarily, shift into a scowl right at her when she watched him walk by. She just nodded politely at him and looked back at the computer to continue what she was working on.

'What the hell was that?' He questioned himself as he finally made it past her work desk towards the conference room. He had no reason to dislike Kikyo. If anything, their morning encounter should have impressed him and put her in his good graces. Perhaps it had something to do with the uncomfortable sensation he got around her.

{…}

Kikyo watched Sesshomaru exit his office. He was wearing a perfectly fitted navy blue suit, white button up, and dark gray vest. She was privately thinking about the way it made him look when he passed her desk and gave her the most hateful gaze. She kept her composure and politely nodded to him. After she watched him leave off into the conference room she finally let her façade drop into her own scowl, "What the hell is his problem?"

"Good question."

Kikyo jumped at the surprise guest to her one-sided conversation, "Oh you heard me?" She could feel a slight blush creep across her nose, but she knew it wasn't noticeable. Slowly she turned to look at the man who had given her this very job. Naraku was leaning with one hand on her desk, the other in his pocket with the lecherous wide toothed smile. Kikyo had to hold back the uncomfortable shiver it sent through her body to see him smile at her like that.

"I guess your performance this morning wasn't as impressive to him as it was to me. Maybe he thinks of you as a suck up now?"

Kikyo furrowed her brows. She hated that nickname. She could just hear her cousin's voice in her head and all the time's she called her a suck up or any variation of it. What is wrong with being well prepared and working your ass off to be good at what you do? Kikyo never felt guilty about who she was. She's come a long way and it was all her own doing, nothing was handed to her. Perhaps that's why her cousin and her differed so much.

"I suppose not, but it matters not to me. I will continue to do my job, and I am sure Sesshomaru will not let his opinion cloud his judgment on my performance."

Naraku snickered, "Always so professional Kikyo. Lighten up. You can joke around and slack off with me. I got your back."

Kikyo forced a smile, "Well thank you Naraku, but I should get back to work."

Naraku was about to interject once more, but a male secretary had walked over and grabbed him away for an important phone call. He didn't seem pleased at all with that and huffed about it as he walked into his office to take his call. Kikyo let out a sigh of relief as he left, noticing the male secretary shot her a quick friendly look. It seemed as if he noticed how uncomfortable she was around him. He walked back over to Kikyo after, "Sorry he's such a creep. My name is Manten. If it wasn't obvious I am Naraku's secretary. He doesn't like me very much, but Sesshomaru won't let him fire me because he knows Naraku just wants a female secretary."

Both Kikyo and Manten laughed about his predicament with his boss, "Well Manten, I am Kikyo. It's nice to meet you."

"Yes the pleasure is all mine! Well I'll let you get back to work, if you need anything just ask me. I've been here for years, so I know a decent amount. Maybe sometime after work we can get some drinks and get to know each other."

With that he walked away leaving Kikyo a tad bit flustered, "Did he just ask me out?" She had never been good with knowing if guys were flirting or interested in her. Unless the men were painstakingly obvious about it like Naraku. Manten wasn't too bad to look at. He had emerald eyes and dirty blond short hair, he resembled Hojo, a past friend of hers from middle school. Kikyo was pulled out of her thoughts when she heard a door shut close near her. Sesshomaru had finished his meeting. She glanced over at the clock and noticed it was barley 9. He hadn't even bothered to spend a whole 15 minutes in there.

"Stop worrying about the men in this office and get back to work. I need to schedule another meeting with accounting sometime at the beginning of next month. Find an hour block in my schedule that works and then go ahead and update it. For the next hour just take messages from all my incoming calls. I'm going to be going over some case files."

"Yes of course sir." Kikyo quickly started on the tasks that Sesshomaru had given her. It didn't take her mind off the fact that he had accused her of caring only about the men in the office and not her work. She felt embarrassed. That wasn't like her at all, and if Naraku was right about Sesshomaru's opinion of her, then he probably thought even worse of her now. What a perfect first day's impression for your boss.

{…}

Around 5 PM everyone in the office had started to make their leave for the day. Kikyo sat at her desk now just sorting through some old files that were unorganized. When she had asked Naraku about her work hours he told her that she would stay up until Sesshomaru stayed in case he needed her. That didn't sit well with her as she had her own schedule she needed to keep to. She walked off to the kitchen to pour a fresh cup of coffee black in a thoroughly cleaned white mug.

Sesshomaru was in the middle of sending out emails when Kikyo walked in with a mug in her hands and set it on his desk, "Excuse me sir."

Sesshomaru leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms on his chest. He gave no answer, but she took it as permission to speak, "I wasn't really told a firm time on when the end of my shift would be. While I don't mind being around when you need me, I don't care too much to only be around to fetch you cups of coffee."

Her bluntness took him off guard. She truly didn't care what she was saying as long as she felt like she had to say it, "I didn't ask you to fetch me a coffee." He looked at the mug that was at the edge of the desk and refused to grab it since she had so boldly demanded how her time would not be spent on his dime.

"There was a desk note on my desktop I noticed, left over from Kanna. In bold underlined words, it says: Bring Sesshomaru a freshly brewed black cup of coffee in a thoroughly clean mug at 5 PM every day. I take it that this was a requirement of you as I can't imagine why it would be so detailed and emphasized if it wasn't important. With that said, I can stay however long you like on Mondays and Wednesdays, but Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays I must be off at 5 PM. That is not optional for me, but if me leaving is an issue I am willing and happy to come in on the weekends to help whatever that was to be done the nights I can't be here."

"Yes, it is a requirement," Sesshomaru reached out to grab the mug and took a quick sip from it, "I am curious though as to how you think it's appropriate for you to come in here and demand a schedule change for you. Pray tell, what's so important you need to be off by a certain time."

"I apologize if I came off as bossing you around. In my opinion it is unprofessional to not provide me with a basic time frame to work around. On top of that, I attend classes at night on those days and I cannot miss a day because I am just delivering coffee."

Sesshomaru took another sip from the mug, "Classes… What makes you think I'd only have you getting me coffee?"

"I've been here all day and you've barley asked me for anything to assist you with. The most was your scheduling and calls. The phones automatically get sent to voicemails at 5, so there would be no calls for me to take. Any appointments in your schedule that need to be added, can wait till the next day, and you're connected to the calendar so you can see anything upcoming you have without my assistance. All files and documents that I anticipate you needing based off your schedule and cases I bring to you on my own without instruction. Anything you realize you need in addition to that, you go and get yourself. I gather that to be because you're self-sufficient and like to handle things on your own, or the latter is that you don't think I am capable of handling such tasks. Of course, the latter can't be it because I have performed all my duties beyond what is required of me."

A small smirk crept up on his face. She was refreshingly different. He couldn't help but give in to her demands as she so perceptively broke down how she came to her decision. "Very well Miss Hatake. I will grant you your schedule change you requested, with possible work on the weekends. I do not need you for the rest of the night, so feel free to leave if you wish."

Kikyo bowed respectfully to Sesshomaru and left his office. He watched her as she turned around and walked away. He watched her open the doors and gather her things at her desk. He even went to his window to watch her get into her car and depart from the parking lot. The warm sensation in his body from earlier once more made a debut.

"Miss Kikyo Hatake..."