AN: Sorry for the long time since the update! Hope you enjoy!
Incessant pounding on the door startled Inuyasha. Jumping out of his chair, he angrily stomped towards the door.
"What in the actual fu—" he cut himself off as he registered Kouga's grim expression.
"Dude," he began in softer tones, "what the hell happened to you? Also, ever heard of texting? It's 11:30 at night."
"My phone was an inferior piece of technology that needed to be replaced," Kouga growled, stalking inside Inuyasha's house. He loosened his tie and threw his coat on the couch as he reached for his friend's drink, knocking it back.
"So you destroyed it?" Inuyasha asked flatly.
Kouga snapped his head around and bit out, "As I said, it was an infe—"
"Yeah, yeah, inferior technology," Inuyasha waved his hands, "but you got pissed and crushed the thing, right?"
Kouga slumped into an armchair. "Yup."
Inuyasha laughed as he made his way back to the couch, grabbing his glass out of Kouga's hands. "And the only time you do that is when you have woman problems," he sing-songed.
Kouga rubbed at his eyes, "I don't have lady problems, I have secretary problems."
"I feel like we've been over this before. Today, in fact. Is Secretary Higurashi not a woman?" Inuyasha asked, eyebrow raised. "Because she's got those curves in all the ri—"
"Fuck, just shut up, man! She's not a woman, she's a worker. She could be a sexless robot for all I care," Kouga retorted.
"Hell of a robot, then," Inuyasha replied, raising his glass at Kouga.
"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted," Kouga continued, leveling his friend with a glare, "even though I followed your advice, and may I say, it was terrible, Secretary Higurashi is still planning to quit!"
Inuyasha set down his glass. "First of all, I gave you no advice. You acted on your own. But secondly… no kidding, man? She's really going through with it?"
Kouga pressed his lips into a thin line, frowning. "No kidding."
"You messed this up. You had to. The woman has the patience of a saint—"
Kouga growled, "You don't have to keep reminding me."
"—which means that you must have done something to upset her, beyond being your usual self," Inuyasha concluded. "What happened the day she said she was going to quit?"
Kouga ran his fingers through his hair, "I'm not sure. It was a pretty typical work evening for us. Although, now that you mention it…" Kouga trailed off.
Inuyasha sat upright, "No, no, I don't like where this is going."
Kouga broke into a grin, "She did seem to get teary eyed in the garden as I was surrounded by those women!"
"You must have been imagining it. She is a consummate professional—" Inuyasha started.
"Oh, but all makes sense. She's in love with me! She did comment on my handsome appearance in my tuxedo. And really, if you think about it, it's only natural," Kouga continued.
Inuyasha snorted, "Natural?"
"Yes!" Kouga intoned excitedly, "After all this time together, she must have held out hope that we could be together. And to see me with all of those very, very beautiful women would no doubt be heart-breaking for her."
"There is absolutely no way you have that right, Kouga." Inuyasha remarked flatly.
Kouga shot up from his seat. "I must talk with her about this! Let her know that even though I—obviously—cannot accept or reciprocate her feelings, this should in no way change our working relationship."
He collected his coat from the couch and grabbed Inuyasha's phone. "Don't mind if I borrow this, do you? I have to call Secretary Higurashi and have her pick me up."
Inuyasha jumped from his seat.
"I think you're making a big mista—" he began, only to be silenced by the front door's cheerful slam shut.
Kagome blearily rubbed her eyes again as she pulled up a few blocks from Inuyasha's house. She had just gotten home and changed into comfortable clothes when Kouga called her, demanding a ride home. If he hadn't been drinking I could have said no, Kagome thought angrily. She sighed, But who am I kidding, I don't ever say no to his requests, no matter how inane. Grow a backbone, Kagome.
She quickly changed into professional clothes before hopping in the car. She typed in the location Kouga texted her into her phone. I've never collected him from this place before…I wonder what he was up to?
Kagome shook her head before shifting the car into drive. Within 15 minutes, Kouga appeared. She noted that his appearance continued to be—Is haggard too strong of a word? Kagome thought to herself.
As she stepped out of the car, she quickly noted that he was holding a bouquet while mumbling to himself. She walked towards him, catching only a couple of words.
"…be together… work well… professional…"
She rolled her eyes up towards the sky—What did I do in a past life to deserve this—before pasting a polite expression on her face. "Sir?" she called.
Kouga swung around. "Ahh, Secretary Higurashi, about time you showed up."
Kagome smiled through gritted teeth as she replied, "Apologies, sir, I was unaware you would need a ride home so late in the evening."
Kouga smiled back, "It will all be worth it, Secretary Higurashi. You'll see. These, by the way, are for you." Kouga thrust the flowers in her face.
Kagome's eyes immediately began to water, causing his expression to soften.
"I know, Secretary Higurashi, that you are truly overwhelmed by this gesture. I need you to kno—"
Kagome shook her head and took several steps back, interrupting Kouga.
Kouga frowned and walked towards her. "Please, don't interrupt me. There is no need to hide from the truth. You see, I deduced that—"
"AhhhCHOOO!" Kagome sneezed violently.
"Sir, may I please place these flowers in the trunk while you continue to enlighten me about what you have deduced? I am incredibly allergic to flowers." Kagome sniffled, trying to find a way to contain additional sneezes. Is there a professional way to blow my nose? I need a tissue.
Kouga's jaw dropped. "Allergic?" he muttered.
Kagome rummaged through her purse, looking for a tissue, as she replied, "Yes, sir. Very allergic. While I believe I included this in my personnel file, along with my request to avoid areas with many flowers, such as gardens, I wonder if I did not provide appropriate documentation?"
"Avoid…gardens?" Kouga asked, voice strained.
"Yes, sir. Obviously it is not as significant of a problem when I have advance notice, as I did during the Ambassador's reception, because I can preemptively take medicine. But I try to avoid flora as much as possible," she replied in voice she hoped was neutral.
Kagome popped her head up and noted Kouga's obviously dismayed reaction. "Thank you for the gift though, sir. It's the thought that counts. Would you like to keep them to give to another woman, perhaps? Shall I put them in the trunk?" She offered.
"There is no other woman," Kouga intoned darkly.
Kagome gingerly grabbed the flowers from his fist and popped them in the trunk before ushering him to the passenger side. "I am sure you could have any woman you wanted, sir. Please do not take any offense to what I said."
"I'm not sleeping with Kagura, you know," Kouga snapped, nose-to-nose with Kagome, "I'm not dating anyone else either. Are you happy now?"
Kagome gently pushed Kouga into his seat and closed the door. She took a deep breath as she walked to the driver's side. I must have done something pretty terrible in my past life. She slid into the car and turned to Kouga, saying, "Sir, I'm happy if you're happy. Are you happy about not dating?"
"That is none of your business," Kouga growled.
Kagome grit her teeth and counted to five before she replied, "In all honesty, sir, I'm having a little bit of trouble tracking our conversation. Let's get you home. How does that sound?"
"You want to get rid of me!" Kouga exclaimed, offended.
"Sir, that is distinctly not—"
"I bet that getting rid of me would make you happy, huh?"
"Please, that's not what I'm saying here—"
"Well, you can't get rid of me just yet! You promised to find me a replacement," Kouga intoned darkly.
"Of course, sir, I'll find—"
"Why don't you just take the day off tomorrow?" Kouga interrupted, "Save yourself the trouble of seeing me."
Kagome paused. "Are you genuinely offering me the day off tomorrow?" she asked, hesitant.
"Yes. Take it. I demand you take the day off." Kouga grumbled.
Pulling up to a red light, Kagome turned and smiled a genuine smile. "Thank you, sir. I really appreciate that. Rest assured I will find you the best secretary in the—"
"Have you even found another job yet?" Kouga interrupted.
Kagome paused. "Not yet, sir."
"Are you going to stay in the city?"
She sighed, "That would depend on the next job that I find."
"If you don't have a job and you aren't planning on moving, then why are you going to quit?" Kouga asked, voice low and frustrated.
Kagome gripped the steering wheel a little tighter. "Personal reasons, sir."
"Like what?" Kouga pressed.
She sighed as she pulled up in front of his home. Shifting to park, she turned to him and replied, "Personal means something that you don't share with your boss."
Kouga angrily opened the door before he stalked over to her side, pulling her door open. "Well, pretend I'm not your boss. That's an order."
Kagome carefully pasted on a neutral face. "Sir, if you're giving me an order to do something, then you are acting as my boss."
Kouga tugged at his hair. I can't seem to make a solid point tonight. Stupid alcohol. "Just…just tell me, Secretary Higurashi."
Kagome stared at the floor before quietly replying, "I want to get my life back."
"Huh?"
She turned to him, determined expression set on her face. "I want to get my life back. I have spent seven years dedicated to this job, which means that I have had minimal time for friends and family, let alone time to date. I want to date. I want to get married one day. I want to have a life that is more than working for someone who expects me to be there any moment of any day, even at—" she checked her watch before she through her hands in the air in exasperation,"—1:15 on a weekday morning. I want more than this!"
Realizing her mistake and how , Kagome softly closed her mouth as she tried to regain control of her breathing.
"Do you mean all of that," Kouga asked quietly.
"Yes, sir." Kagome responded, face once again neutral.
"Then we have a very easy solution," Kouga replied.
"I need to quit—" Kagome began.
Kouga dropped to one knee. "Keep your job. Marry me."
AN: Thank you for reading! Let me know what you think will happen next.