A/N: Hi I skipped a day, sorry. I want to make sure I have a lot of these chapters predone, so I don't have to worry about it, so sometimes I take a day or two to write a few more chapters, so I can stay ahead.

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Chapter 4: embarking on new territory.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha

Kag POV

She skillfully turned the key in the lock of the giant double doors ahead of them. Kagome looked around the building in complete astonishment. The apartment from the outside to the inside looked just like some sort of five star resort. She lived in a studio apartment on the other side of the city; it was so unusual to see how indulgent and exceedingly expensive the higher class side lived. She stared around her as Rin opened the door lazily and walked in. Ayame followed after her, talking about how unsatisfied she was about something of little importance. Kagome had been listening in and out of their conversations sense she entered the car.

"Yeah well that's what happens." Rin said in boredom as the lights to the humongous apartment flickered on. The two girls stepped inside nonchalantly as Kagome's jaw dropped. This was not an apartment; it was a small condensed castle/mansion that the architect had skillfully placed on top of each other. She looked around in shock and Rin scrunched up her face in dislike as Ayame smiled at her reaction.

"It's huge right?" Ayame asked suddenly making Rin hit her in the arm for not acting overly rude like she had. Ayame gave her a look before rolling her eyes and walking near Kagome. She was taking in the high ceilings, the wooden floors, the spiral stair case up ahead. It was all a bit too much. "I swear this room alone is bigger than the house I grew up in." She joked, that was vastly inaccurate. Ayame had grew up with Rin and had lived in a smaller yet massively huge mansion near the private school they had gone to.

"Yeah right…" Rin said with a roll of her eyes. Kagome walked forward slightly. Though Ayame was lying Kagome could accurately say that this apartment was only slightly smaller than the house she grew up in. "Anyway Inuyasha's lap top is on the dining room table, don't go into his office or use any of his other computers, he says he has personal information on it." She said while crossing her arms.

"Okay, but do you know what I'm supposed to be doing on it." Rin shrugged as if that didn't concern her. Kagome took a few steps forward out of the massive lobby into what looked like a living room. He had all kinds of expensive furniture decorating the house. Rin and Ayame followed while Ayame tried thinking of what Inuyasha had said yesterday regarding her doing some files on the computer. He had the flash drive that he had saved the work on so she couldn't give it to her, but she could help her in finding the work on the laptop.

"Well he said something about finances; he said that's what you do." Rin grabbed hold of Ayame's arm trying to stop her from aiding Kagome. Ayame quickly tore away from her grasp. "Come on Rin, she's not after your Takashi." She said as she walked ahead side by side with the 23 year old. "He wanted to give you it today at the office, but we sort of scooped you away." Every detail that had to do with the work came from Ayame over hearing Inuyasha speaking on the phone with one of his executives. That was going to be the person to send her the work. "I'm not as smart when it comes to business and stuff." Ayame said with a shrug, "But I'm sure if you go to his documents and look under recently viewed, it should be there." Kagome smiled slightly knowing it wasn't as simple as that. None of them said anything as Ayame led her into Mr. Takashi's insanely huge dining room. His lap top sat on the charger at the far end of the table.

Kagome walked forward quickly turning on the monitor and playing with the mouse. Ayame watched as file after file came up, she minimized some and exited out of others. Rin hadn't been kidding when she said the lap top was purely business. It had nothing recreational on it at all. Kagome paused as her eyes scanned the screen. She sat down slowly realizing which file he had meant for her. It wasn't anything too extensive; he just wanted her to look over financial documents for their branch and do any touch ups to reports, it was sort of a bit of an honor actually seeing as it was something usually done by the head of a financial department, which they did not have. Usually he'd just have the most progressive employee take care of it. She smiled slightly realizing that was actually her for the time being.

"Did you find it?" Ayame asked when Rin walked into the dining rooms wide entrance. Kagome just nodded as she began her work.

"Looks like she's all set" Rin commented and Ayame turned to look at her in annoyance. "What…" Rin asked. Her friend didn't say anything she just turned towards Kagome. Her back was to them as she typed something out. She took that time to grab Rin by her arm and pull her out of the room into the living room with the giant big screen taking up half of the wall. "What…." She repeated.

"I should be asking the same thing. What's up with you, can you please be a tad bit nicer." She huffed in a strung out whisper. "Your acting ridiculous, she's not after Sesshomaru give her a break."

"Well…" Rin murmured shifting only slightly in her spot. "Maybe I don't like her because of other reasons." She lied and Ayame rolled her eyes. "I'm just trying to be safe; I want to make sure I have a chance with him this time…"

"Well that girl in there probably doesn't even care about dating, let alone Sesshomaru, relax, your acting crazy." She said reassuringly. Rin sighed slightly realizing that was a bit true. They both said nothing for awhile as Ayame thought something over. "Okay well I'm leaving now, I have a hair appointment. I'm on the cusp of a split end tragedy."

"Yeah I meant to tell you…" Rin joked watching her friend whisk around the leather sofa to the front door. She paused for a moment before deciding that she wanted to tag along as well. She grabbed her keys from the table near the sofa. Ayame paused when she heard her following.

"You can't come; she's in the other room." She whispered. Rin just rolled her eyes.

"She'll be fine"

"Well you could at least tell her…why did you bring her here if you were planning to just dump her?" Ayame asked as she walked back to the dining room. Rin sighed slightly.

"I didn't plan anything, and I wouldn't have done it if Inuyasha would have just answered my questions yesterday." Ayame had bowed herself into the dining room planning on telling Kagome. Rin waited for awhile until she came back.

"You only picked her up so you could see how she looked like." Ayame hissed making Rin frown slightly as she passed by her towards the door.

"I can't do anything right today." She said as she followed her auburn hair friend down the hall and out the exit.

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Inu POV

He struggled with key in the lock for a good five minutes before deciding to call it quits. Times like this when he stayed away from home for more than 12 hours he was always exhausted, he couldn't really think straight. He would have just openly left all together. Go to Miroku's house take a nap on his couch, maybe go out for a while, he did that when he didn't want to work, or go home and be persuaded to work, but he already knew that he'd have to go home at some point, so he just sighed and decided to buck up, open his door, take a short rester, and do some files. He sighed while tiredly placing his key in the lock. His new state of mind helped him guide the key and open the door. He pushed it open and uninterestedly walked into his spacious lobby. He wasn't as struck by its beauty and space as Kagome had been, but he did perk up at the scent that trailed around it.

He was used to having different scents in his home. Rin and Miroku both had keys and they came and went when they wanted. Usually they came with several people, sometimes Ayame and Kouga tagged along, but what he was struck by was the eerie feeling that the stale scent that he smelled was still lingering. It was an overly sweet scent, meaning it was a woman's but a bit potent to have been left hours before. If he didn't know better he would of thought the woman was still in his home. He walked out of the foyer into the living area. In the back was the spiral staircase and right in front of him was his leather set and wide screen TV. The scent became stronger as he glided deeper into the room. He dropped down some of his things on the couch. He had managed to do a little grocery shopping. He never fully shopped for groceries, he picked up a few things from time to time, but he never fully devoted his time to it.

He took a deep breath and at that moment there was no mistaking that someone was here. He didn't say anything he just followed the scent towards his dining room as it became more and more potent. He stopped at the doorway when he took in long dark black cascading wavy hair. He didn't know who it was exactly, and he didn't run through any possibilities of who it could be. He just stared lazily trying to think, it wasn't Rin, her hair wasn't as long, and not as dark. This woman's hair was so black that it was slightly blue in the chandelier light. Nope, she didn't ring any bells, but she did seem to be extremely attractive from the back. He cleared his throat suddenly hoping that would catch her attention. It didn't, Kagome was so into her work she hadn't heard the door open, the bags being set on the couch or Inuyasha's soft declaration for attention. He narrowed his eyes slightly before deciding that the mystery was no longer as enticing as he had thought it was before. He was too tired to even fathom anything sexual so there was no reason to act sly. "Hi…." He said clearly and loudly. She heard that and when she did her first response for some unusual reason was to gather her wavy hair back into its strict bun.

She turned to the side spotting him with her peripherals. He didn't say anything as he watched her scoop up her hair easily and turn and face him. On her face she wore a pair of thickly framed glasses. He narrowed his eyes, first in recognition, remembering her in an elevator instantly. "Elevator…" he said with a faint smirk. If he wasn't so exhausted it would have caused butterflies to roam through her stomach and her blood to scorch. Instead it boosted a small amount of adrenaline into her veins, and made her heart beat quicken. He instantly remembered what Rin had told him….the small amount of annoyance and anger lit his memory. That was right, she had been so jealous she scooped her out of his office, he had left that woman's house and went straight to the office. He had wanted her to look over some things, but Rin said she was at his house. Why was she still here though?

"Hi…" She said as she strained her eyes to see him. She could tell it was him just by his voice, his blurry built. Kagome couldn't see well with her reading glasses, but that never stopped her from forgetting to take them off. He walked forward letting his tiredness drain out of him. He was good at that; he could go days without sleep if he wanted to. He really never had to, but he did often. "You don't visit your own home very often do you?" She asked realizing she had been dropped off very early in the morning and now it was late, maybe ten at night and it was the first she seen of him. She had expected him five hours ago. That was when she had tried to desperately finish working quickly and leave, but a few documents on his computer attracted her and forced her into overdrive. They weren't what he had assigned for her, it was his actual work, it was hard administrative work, but she was almost done.

"Yeah, I don't stay around here very much." He mumbled while walking up to meet her. He furrowed his eyebrows when he took a good look at her face. She looked different, and though he couldn't remember her name, he remembered her. He was horrible with names, great with faces. She was a quiet beauty, he admitted to himself, her features were all perfect, all unique and attractive, but she didn't market them, she didn't wear makeup or try to set her hair in a feature popping style. "You wear glasses?" He asked putting a finger on the difference; she flushed red while pulling the frames off her face. He had embarrassed her, and usually if he wasn't so damn tired he would have taken the flush of her cheeks as a sign that she felt inhibited around him, but he didn't have the energy to diagnose the opposite sex now. Most girls had different feelings towards him, most girls acted different when he was around, he didn't have the time to wonder why elevator acted the way most women did.

"No….I don't it's my reading glasses." She murmured while taking them off. As soon as she did her breath caught in her throat. Seeing him blurry already made her blood burn, but seeing him clearly caused her stomach to flip and her throat dry. She told herself they were petty feelings, so what he was gorgeous; she was far too busy, far too educated, and far too deep to care. He nodded than walked out of her eye view. He took a stance behind her, and though he didn't mean the gesture to seem intimate at all, it was intimate to her. He looked over what she had done and narrowed his eyes while bending forward.

"I'm sorry Rin dragged you over here…" He said and she held in air at how close he was. His warm breath touched her cheek and caused the hairs on her neck to stand up. He actually didn't mean to enact that sort of feeling. When he wanted to get a girls pulse moving he did, but it wasn't in this way obviously, she would have felt a lot different if he had been trying. He didn't say anything to her as he placed a hand on the mouse at the center of the lap top and minimized his file. He wasn't upset that she had been working on it. The computer he sometimes left in the dining room was purely business and she had actually knocked off some work for him. He opened up the document he had wanted her to do, and to his surprise it was all done.

"I didn't know what type of format you wanted it so…"

"It's good." He said as he quickly opened up the document she was working on, the one that he planned on doing once he took a quick nap, it was finished as well. He paused narrowing his eyes.

"I know you probably didn't want me doing it, but I decided I'd just go ahead and do it. I should have probably gone back to work…I'll probably just go now." She stated and he stopped her by putting a hand on her shoulder. It was an impulse that had her heart beating out of its cage, why was she so influenced by him?

"It's a good job really; god knows you saved me a lot of work." He said and he was actually extremely pleased. He didn't show it though. He never showed too much positive emotion.

"Yeah well I have a little more to do…" She suggested before pausing. "But if you want to go ahead and do it yourself I'll bow out." He sensed how ready she was to leave. Almost as if she was afraid to be alone with him, but that was something else he didn't diagnose.

"No…go on ahead." He chuckled slightly. "Do all of it if you want, I'm going to just go off to the kitchen get something to eat." He lied; he was going to get something to drink. "Then I'm going to head upstairs." She didn't say anything, but the way she stiffened her posture he knew that she was hiding something. "Any problems…"

"Oh it's none, I'll just finish up here…I was just a bit worried about the work I didn't do at work, but it's fine really." She stuttered. "I have a really good set up of the network's system at home, it's not as great as what you have, but I can get most of it done tonight, and then…"

"Don't worry about it." He said automatically. He didn't know exactly why she shouldn't worry about it. Maybe it was because she saved from a restless night. He usually had no sympathy when it came to work, he expected people to do their work, and that was it. "I'll give someone else your load tomorrow, we'll be leaving soon anyway, and when you get back you won't even be in the same rank." He reminded her and she thought it over, that was true. He narrowed his eyes as he thought about something. He had come up with a slight idea… "Maybe tomorrow I'll come into the office; I think I have something else in mind for you." He left at that before aimlessly going back into the dining room again. "Did you want something to drink?" He asked it startled her slightly and she glanced up.

She had been a bit hungry, but she didn't move from her spot all day. He knew that for a fact, he could sense her only through the dining room and the living room, she hadn't left the apartment either, and her scent wasn't potent enough in the front door. She had stayed in that room working the whole entire time, she was motivated, and that was what he was exceedingly fond of when it came to her. He could have offered her food, he liked that he could trust her in his house, not to go rummaging through it like his own friends did. She shifted in her seat…."Maybe water." She said and he raised an eyebrow.

"You've been here all day, how 'bout something stronger?" He suggested she let that offer roll through her head.

"Soda…" He smiled at her innocence. He didn't say anything sly like he usually would. He didn't make her heart beat any faster, or her butterflies roam any clumsier, or her blood scorch any more than it already did.

Instead he nodded… "Soda it is…" He came back a few minutes later with a can of soda and a sandwich on a plate. He knew she had to be starving. She glanced at it before staring up at him.

"I'm no chef." She raised both brows. She didn't expect him to be so nice. Though he wasn't the complete ass everyone thought he was, he was a bit off tonight, a bit aimlessly nicer with the aid of exhaustion weighing over him. She was shocked she was sure the food was for him, but when he placed it near her, she got the hint instantly.

"Thank you…" she said silently, and he nodded. He knew when to be nice, especially to the right people. She was saving him a great deal of work.

"It's no problem….I'm taking off now." He said as he turned towards the exit of the dining room. She sat up while opening the can.

"I forgot to say, your home is beautiful." She called out he hesitated for a moment, Nodded his appreciation and left to find some sleep.

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When he got up a quarter to noon, he was surprised that she wasn't still in his dining room. He could think clearly, and he was almost certain that she had been downstairs for a large part of the night, or maybe until morning. When he got into the dining room the laptop was still open, she had sent his files directly to his father's branch. He smiled slightly, she was so damn punctual. He had decided at that moment he wouldn't go in the office. He had finished his work, well she had, he decided instead he'd make a call.

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Kag POV

(A couple hours later)

She had fallen asleep at her desk, she was so far asleep that she didn't hear the man above her say her name several times. His voice had actually sunk into her dream and voiced the leprechaun that danced around her subconscious. He continued to repeat her name until he realized that she wasn't going to wake anytime soon. He put a hand on her arm and shook roughly making her jump up in her seat. He was very pleased with his work as he looked at her sprawled hair that flew from her strict bun. "You have a phone call." He said as he looked over at her, he then turned around to head back to his cubicle.

Kagome had missed him completely. She was staring at the computer screen in front of her that connected to the building's main file. Mr. Takashi had said that he'd come in and give her something else to do today, but he never came in, and she ended up making up the work she missed yesterday, and doing new work from today. She was exhausted; she pushed her hair out of her face slightly and let what one of her coworkers said run through her head. She sat up instantly and leaned forward to grab her phone. The line was blinking showing someone was waiting on the other line. She picked it up and pressed the blinking button. She yawned instead of saying hello…

Inuyasha got the hint instantly. "I'm sorry I couldn't come in." He said unapologetically and she sat up instantly in shock. Her heart began beating quicker; she had to search her mind for something to say. "I was a bit tied up…" he lied, "but if you go into my office I have a few things you could work on." He suggested, he paused while accepting the glasses filled with beer the waitress set on his table. No one said anything on the other line and he furrowed his brows. "Hello…"

"Yeah…" she said suddenly, her voice was weighed down with exhaustion, and only slightly he felt a little bad for taking advantage of her. "I can do that…I'll go look now." She said. She rose up quickly from her seat causing the phone to crash to the floor. She paused realizing that she wasn't on a cordless phone. He heard the crash and knew instantly what she had done, a small grin played on his lips, it made the woman across from him hesitate as she applied unneeded makeup.

"Who are you talking to?" She asked and Inuyasha hesitated looking her over. The fact that she felt the need to ask was a turn off.

"Sorry, something fell." She said now wide awake. He didn't believe her, but he knew better. He sat up in his seat slightly.

"Okay what are you doing now?" He asked. She was now bending over near the phone that dangled on the floor. She looked at the computer screen as her memory jogged.

"Just the norm…" she said quickly as her memory returned to her, he sighed on the other line. He didn't even know why he cared, but he couldn't have her doubling up, not when he had so much more for her to do.

"Okay, well whatever you're doing now, don't worry about it. What I need you to do is go in my office and open up the computer, the password is password." He heard a soft snicker over the phone and he paused for a moment. "I don't have a great memory." He mused; it made the woman across from him even more suspicious. "You should find it under my documents." He informed, he hesitated slightly for her to speak. She was at that moment standing up with a note pad in her hand and quickly writing down the information he was providing. "Hello…"

"Yes, Hi, I got it." She said suddenly. He nodded waited for a second than hung up. She was a bit taken off guard; she looked down at the phone, letting her mouth form the words. 'He could have said bye.' She placed the receiver back on the hook while soaking up what he had just told her. It didn't take long for her to process what to do next. She saved and logged off her computer while walking towards the wide glass office up front. The door was shut and the lights were off. She was expecting it to be locked, but when she pulled the handle the door actually opened. She looked around the dark for awhile until the lights flickered on suddenly. The room was in pristine order, the type of clean that was only managed by someone who rarely set foot in a particular place. She walked deeper into the office pushing his wide seat out of the way and sitting securely in it. She noticed the few coworkers who nosily stopped what they were doing to look her way.

She ignored them as she logged in to his computer. It made her chuckle at how simple his password was. Hers was so difficult she had to think about it for a couple of seconds before placing it in. The computer opened up to his desktop. It had no pictures of children, family, or pets like the rest of her coworkers. It looked a lot like hers, just navy blue with the corporations logo repeated over and over. She quickly opened his documents and found almost instantly what he was implying. She pulled out her flash drive that sat securely in her pocket. She hadn't needed it today, but she placed it in her pocket when she stopped by her house. She took it out and placed it in the computer and let it download for awhile before pulling it out and logging off the computer. She quickly shuffled out of his seat making everyone look away and pretend to be fascinated with whatever they were doing. She rose from her seat and went back to her cubicle.

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She finally left the office around nine. The building was practically empty by that time and she securely left without having to say any byes or participate in casual conversations with anyone. Outside it was chilly and she held tightly to the binder at her chest as she left the gates of Takashi corporations. There was a series of Taxi's pulling up and she stepped forward wanting to hail one. She didn't have to do too much, a taxi slowed down suddenly. She was about to slide herself in when she heard a long beep coming from a car horn a few paces away. She turned seeing a baby blue Convertible. She knew that car, it brought back memories of yesterday and as soon as she saw it she was instantly even more exhausted. She decided to ignore it, so she turned forward and pretended she hadn't heard anything, and as she pulled open the taxi door the Convertible's horn rung loudly again. She didn't turn around, she was about to just slide herself into the taxi.

"Hey…I know you see me." A woman called out from behind. Kagome hesitated near the door of the cab.

"Are you coming in?" The taxi driver asked rudely, causing her to place a polite smile on her face and stick her index finger up. She turned towards the baby blue car as it drove down from the garage complex of the corporation. She didn't say anything; she just waited as it drove slowly closer to her. She could make out the brunette from yesterday in the front seat. Her name she remembered was Rin. It was like her worst nightmare coming true and there was no nice red head in the back seat to buffer it.

Rin drove drown stopping towards the main road but stopping abruptly near Kagome. There were a few cars behind her but she didn't care about moving a bit further to let them through, she instead posted the nicest smile she could muster on her gorgeous face. Kagome could tell right away it was a bit exaggerated and fake; she had a sister who liked to place the same innocent smile on her face when she wanted her way. Then it occurred to her right away why she had wanted to ignore Rin, she reminded her so much of her older sister. That thought made her gulp suddenly as cars behind the Convertible beeped excessively so she'd move out of their way. Of course that didn't faze Rin.

"Where're you going?" She asked Kagome as she stretched that beautiful fake smile. Kagome smiled shyly back as she clenched tighter to her binder. "I have nothing better to do. Ride with me?" She asked. At that moment she felt as if she was trapped. It seemed as if she had been waiting for her to leave work, that was the only way to explain why she had come from the garage.

"This taxi's already waiting." She mumbled and Rin furrowed her eyebrows, and like she'd do if her sister had done the same exact expression, she closed the Taxi's door and walked forward. There was no arguing with her, she'd get what she wanted if she really wanted it. Rin smiled sincerely as the cab driver cursed and pulled off the curve. She unlocked the door as Kagome walked towards the passenger seat. Some of the cars behind waiting to leave voiced their frustrations. She pulled open the door and slid in reaching for the seatbelt.

Rin had a content smile of accomplishment as she drove forward. She didn't voice anything until they got to a traffic light. "So where to?" She asked. Kagome didn't reply and Rin turned around to face her. She seemed a bit estranged as she stared forward. "So why take a taxi when I can drive you for free?" Rin asked in hopes that she'd become a bit more comfortable. It didn't help and she realized soon after that she'd have to actually apologize about yesterday first, she sighed as she leaned her head against her free arm. She hated apologizing. "Okay…. So I'm sorry for acting like a total bitch yesterday." Kagome turned around to glance at her. Her apology sounded a lot like Mr. Takashi's. When he apologized he never sounded like he was really all that sorry. The two times he had said sorry to her it sounded more like a hassle more than an apology.

"I don't usually act like that…it's just…" she let that spare hand run through her dark brown hair. She didn't know if she wanted to admit what had made her act so unusual yesterday. She decided she wouldn't suddenly and Kagome not understanding the halt in her speech intervened.

"You like Mr. Takashi." She said and Rin turned to face her in slight shock. "Ayame told me yesterday. "You like the oldest Takashi son, Sesshomaru. That didn't explain exactly why Rin didn't like Kagome, but it was fine for the time being as long as she was planning on being a lot nicer.

"Yeah slightly…every time I make my move he's always with someone else." She explained lightly, "So where to?" She asked and Kagome sat up a bit more comfortable with a little more understanding. She told the direction to her apartment and as Rin drove down to the other side of the city they didn't say anything. It wasn't until Kagome signaled that her apartment complex was coming up that Rin took a good look around the area. She had passed this part of the city several times, but she didn't fathom that people actually lived there. She turned into the parking area as she pulled up into a free spot. "I didn't even know this part of the city existed." She halfway joked in seriousness. Kagome smiled while pulling the door open. She whispered a thank you as she grabbed hold of her binder. Rin watched her leave before clearing her throat. "Hey, you're not going to invite me up?" She asked suddenly. Kagome paused slightly than turned around.

"Would you like to come up?" She asked at that moment. Rin pulled off her seat belt and smiled widely. "Well if you're offering?" She said.

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A/N: Review