Oh yes. Sesshoumaru was having a simply lovely morning. Taking time out of his busy schedule to call his temporary 'assistant' was apparently not the avenue he should have chosen that day. Upon introducing himself over the phone, he was subjected to a barrage of pointed and extremely loud exclamations from this Higurashi woman. She absolutely refused to come to work that day; unless it was for an introductory meeting "as was customary."
The whole affair was exhausting and utterly unnecessary. Note to self--never personally contact an irritable worker, or any worker..ever.

Shocking, Fast, Flash, Flood.

Iridescence, Softly, softly, Slow.

Breathe, quiet, glance, Continue.

Being the giving person that he is Sesshoumaru arranged the inane introductory meeting per Kagome's request.

Grumbling all the way there about completely irresponsible men in the business world Kagome pulled out of the Kyoto office's parking lot and sped to Mr. Taisho's office building.

This painful, peaceful cycle.

Always Repeating.

Ironically enough, upon her arrival she was met with none other than, Jaken. She gave him a quick hello. Brief "how are you"s were exchanged and to the elevator they went. She released a discrete sigh when she realized that their destination was actually near the top of the sky scraper this time. No more ventures into the basement levels for her, thank you. Hopefully she could just get on with this assignment and start up the next job she'd be given. Stepping outside of the elevator doors was an eye opening experience. It was so classy, and tasteful, for an office suite, that she stood in quiet shock. Jaken, who had probably been to this level only a few times in all his years working at the company looked as though he was trying to not touch anything...not even the flooring. It was this display, that really was rather amusing,that broke her out of her trance. Kagome watched and tried to stifle her giggles as Jaken tried to look respectable while tip toeing across the tile hallway. Walking confidently forward towards the door she believed to hold Mr. Taisho's office Kagome was stopped once again by the insufferable man behind her.

"You have to use this card key to get into any of the rooms above the 25th story. Very few people have that kind of access so don't abuse it!!" It was assured by this statement that he, in fact, did not have this 'high level' clearance.

Once he had successfully given her the card key he began his perilous tip-toe trek back to the elevator. Looking down at the card key showed it to be nothing at all spectacular. It was a thin piece of plastic; reminiscent of a white credit card. It had the company name scrawled across the middle in silver lettering.

With the freshly made key card in hand Kagome once again moved forward to the frosted glass double doors at the end of the hallway.

I thought I was so strong.

My resolve never shook.

Quickly, she stole a deep strengthening breath while her hand was turning the knob slowly to the right. She wasn't nervous, no, of course not. She was simply trying to be polite and quietly open the door. After all, she had over reacted ever so slightly that morning when Mr. Taisho asked her to come into work. It wasn't all her fault though, as he didn't ask her. He commanded. She couldn't be held responsible for her reaction afterward.

Waiting one last second Kagome began to swing the door open. Surprisingly enough, it opened outward. Walking around it she found what she most dreaded...a stairwell. She began cursing in her mind at the sheer magnitude of steps she had to traverse. She was in three inch wedges! This would be a challenge indeed. Note to self-- never wear really high heels to work again.

One look from you,

And I'm second guessing myself.

Looking slightly more frazzled than when she started up the stairs Kagome emerged into Taisho's main office area. Locating the conference room she knocked lightly twice. A deep, masculine voice bid her enter. "Must be the new boss." She thought.

She opened the door to see three men sitting around the oakwood table. One of the men looked rather young and youthful with his dark hair up in a pony tail. He would later be introduced to her as Kouga Wolv. The second man, she remembered, was Miroku the pervert. Her eyes flitted to the head of the table and she began to feel faint. It was the man she'd been avoiding all weekend! Sitting right in front of her was the reason she'd been working so often, and avoiding all of her friends. She visibly tensed but did not at all look panicked, the other two men in the room assumed she was simply having the same reaction that almost all women have to Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru was rapidly pouring through any and all information he had found in Kagome's work profile and resume in the back of his mind. What had he missed? How could he not have realized?! After all of his searching the woman had literally dropped herself back into his life, just as he had been desperately hoping she'd do. He would not react outwardly, of course. He was a rather proud creature. He knew she had walked out on him that night, and now that she was working for him he had two lovely weeks with which to repay her that injury.

Was I right? Was I wrong?

I always thought I was so strong.

What Miroku, Kouga and Sesshoumaru couldn't ever know is that at that exact moment Kagome felt torn into three separate people; one wishing desperately to fall to the ground in a fit of despair, another to storm angrily out of the conference room, and the last urge was completely unexpected. She wanted to practically run and throw herself into that wonderful man's arms. Kagome wondered how he would react to that. The woman who practically ran out of his apartment, throwing herself at him in the workplace. She in the end decided to stand very still and pray to melt into the floor. The plan didn't seem to work too well though.

No questions asked.

No quiet eyes of disapproval.

Sesshoumaru seemed to make an appearance of apathy. She was just another worker to him, and the moment he turned his cool eyes away from hers she was made aware of it. There would be no renewal of their time together. She doubted that if she tried to apologize he'd even care. Maybe she was right in leaving him? Maybe, she thought, I read him right and he just wanted some random girl to have sex with.

You've got my mind in upheaval.

How do you work so fast?

Sesshoumaru's mind was reeling. Where had this darned girl been for the past few days? Did she simply give up all coffee and forms of public transportation to avoid him? He didn't doubt it. She seemed like the over analytic type, it's sweet that she's naiive but this was extreme. He could always speak with her in private. She was his secretary now after all, even if she had an absurd hatred for that title. He had to move on with this ridiculous introductory meeting; it would give him time to think things over.

My decision was final.

I wouldn't turn back.

Squaring her shoulders after a unusually quiet "Good morning gentlemen." she walked over to the empty chair that she assumed was left for her and looked to her new boss. It was his job as the highest ranking person here, to start the meeting. With a nod to her he simply said, "Begin your introduction, we have other work to accomplish today."

With a huff she shot straight into her promotional presentation, after of course, turning up the wattage on her forced smile.

But you were no longer behind me.

You were always in plain sight.

Kagome chatted lightly with Kouga on her way out of the conference area, both them and Miroku were going to get coffee from the cafe downstairs before it got crowded. Their boss, however, stayed rooted in the conference area; apparently he had just set up shop there for the day not knowing when to expect her arrival. She was hoping to continue adamantly avoid him, however, while working so close to him that would be extremely unprofessional. Kagome Higurashi always got her job done...even if she only had it for a week or two. So never being alone with him in the same room would have to do for now.

Ignore it, it's better this way.

You obviously didn't see it that way.

Sesshoumaru suddenly rose from his chair and walked briskly towards the others. "Ka--Miss Higurashi, on your way into the office tomorrow morning I need you to pick up a few important items for me at this address." He handed her another business card and abruptly turned back around.

Just breathe, you'll get through it okay.

My heart just wouldn't believe me today.

Her mind was on a wild chase for the answer. Was this some kind of hidden message for her about what happened? Would he be meeting her at this place to sweep her off her feet? As he was leaving all she could coherently get out of her mouth was a mumbled, "Yes sir."

Flipping the card over (as it had been handed to her blank side up) she saw a name in bright navy black letters in the left hand corner. "BARNUM'S CLEANERS." Flushing bright red she continued with Kouga and Miroku. She practically had steam coming out of her ears when she was in line at the cafe. "The nerve of that man! Who does he think I am, his maid?!" Oh she'd get his stupid dry cleaning alright, but it may end up mysteriously disfigured by the time she gets here tomorrow morning.

So you found my weak spot?

You must have found a mirror.

Sesshoumaru was practically giddy. He had given her the address to his cleaners for two very specific reasons. The first and foremost was to completely frustrate her. He knew that she would not stand for any debasement after that meeting. The second, and frankly more important, was to send her a quiet message about the other night. The clothes she would be picking up were the very ones he wore that night at Sex On A Beach. Hopefully she'd take the hint. Because this was as far as he'd go to recover what they had. He was not often a subtle man.

Don't think for one second,

That I'm still getting over you.

The very next morning Kagome was grumpily on her way to the stupid upscale dry cleaner's joint all the way across town. She wasn't speeding, per say, she was just going faster than the recommended guidelines. That was one way she kept herself from feeling guilty about it; semantics was a beautiful thing!

Walking into the shop was like entering a couture boutique. Clothing was showcased beautifully. Going up to the counter the clerk looked down her nose at Kagome. Her named tag read "Yura." Ugh, Kagome thought, she even sounds rude.

"May I...help you, Miss?"

Yes, actually. I'm here to recover a set of clothes at Mr. Taisho's insistence. Would they be ready for pick-up right now?"

"Of course they are ready! What kind of a business do you think we run here miss? A 25 cent washing facility?!" Yura took a moment to calm herself. "I need to see some identification before I hand over the finished product." Yura was getting a little red in the face. Apparently punctuality was their life code here at Barnum's and she had just insulted it.

"Well, I have my driver's license, would that do?"

"Of course not! I need direct confirmation that Mr. Taisho's approved this pick-up. We have people come in here everyday looking to steel some famous persons socks, or gloves. This is merely a necessary precaution that Mr. Taisho would have informed you of! If you can't prove it then I'll have to ask you to leave."

It's one cycle,

That I was very willing to go through.

Sesshoumaru looked at the clock hanging just above his office door. It was nearly an hour after Kagome's scheduled arrival time. He was worried that she wouldn't be returning to him again. She may walk out on him a second time, and he'll never have had any say in it.

But I knew right away

There's no point in it, so I didn't even start.

Kagome groaned, she had argued with Yura for almost thirty five minutes about the silly identification rule. Although it seems like a clever idea, why on earth would she want a famous persons socks? It seemed absurd. She was really late to work, on her first day no less! Finally after getting fed up Kagome drew out the BARNUM'S CLEANER'S business card and slammed it down in front of Yura's beady little eyes.

"I was given this card, told to come to this business and asked to pick up Mr. Taisho's clothes! Now if you don't give them to ASAP I'm afraid we'll have a small PROBLEM!"

Yura went into the back room and expediently came out again with a shirt and pant combination in a clear sip up bag.

You'll never see this stain on my heart.

I'll hide it for a thousand tomorrows.

Th--This is the order f--for Mr. Taisho, Miss. It had what looked like a lipstick stain on the front collar that we weren't able to get completely out. So the cleaning is going to be free since we didn't meet the 'stain free guarantee'." Yura quickly handed over the items and sped back into the other room without looking back.

"Well that was easier than I thought it would be."

We're both here together,

But I won't admit I'm wrong.

You won't forgive what I did.

It's on your mind everyday.

I'm in this cycle,

And it ain't on delicate.

Kagome was practically marching through the hallways with dry cleaning in tow. Her somewhat more conservative heel clicked furiously on the marble tiling. People were filtering out of her way. Everyone by now had been briefed on the new company personal and her level in the company; seeing her so mad this early in the morning wasn't a good sign.

You struck me like lightening.

And I left you like the waning tide.

The door swung open and Sesshoumaru quickly looked up and saw an angry and very flustered looking Kagome in his office. After slamming the door shut again she strode right up to him and slammed the dry cleaning down on his desk; directly onto the paperwork he had been signing. Through her entire entrance she had not realized that they were now shut in a room together and alone.

"Why on earth would you send me to that stupid dry cleaning facillity without even having the human decency to tell me I needed some kind of confirmation to get your oh so precious clothes!? I spent almost forty five minutes trying to prove that I did indeed "deserve" to pick up your clothing!!!" Finally running out of steam since she wasn't getting any answers from Sesshoumaru she sighed.

Sesshoumaru reservedly replied, "I did not realize that you hadn't been given a company ID yet Kagome, that is all you would have needed. I have sent my employees there before."

Kagome was red in the face almost immediately, she had been given an ID card on her way out of the building yesterday. It was stowed safely in her purse right next to the dry cleaner's card. This entire situation was entirely too ironic for her.

"Uh, I guess I owe you an apology then, uh sir."

"No need. You're new and are supposed to make a few small mistakes. You got the job done though, I'm impressed. Yura has scared workers away before and left me without all of my clothing for weeks."

Your electricity runs all over me.

I can only run away.

Running out of things to chit chat about Kagome brought up what Yura had told her on her way out. "The cleaning was actually free, apparently there was a stain they couldn't get out completely."

Sesshoumaru looked so surprised that she couldn't help a small chuckle to herself. "Yes sir, there was what looked like a lipstick stain." At this she looked away from her boss.

I thought I was so strong.

Eternally resolute.

Oh, she knew exactly where that outfit was from, and she knew that the lipstick wasn't hers. She never wore anything that dark and sluttish; in clothing or make up. Sesshoumaru seemed to notice her uncomfortable stance. He was confused over her reaction. Was she upset about the reminder of their relations, or was it something else? "It may in fact have been yours, you know Kagome."

Kagome was fuming and he knew it, maybe not the best phrasing he could've made on that statement. Delicacy wasn't his style.

"It wasn't mine Mr. Taisho. If I remember correctly I wasn't even wearing any lipstick it must have been someone else. If you wouldn't mind, sir, please address me professionally in the office."

Suddenly her upset countenance made more sense. She felt that it was rude and vulgar for him to have had another woman with him that night. He couldn't see why it bothered her so much though, it was her he took home. Sesshoumaru was then completely surprised when he heard his door close again, although this time it was closed in a mannerly fashion. Kagome had left him sitting there in his office.

You've shown me things,

That would defy the Absolute.

I wasn't wrong, I made the choice I should've made.

But you kept after me for so long.

If you were to move on one day,

I'd think, "What on earth would I say?"

Probably, "Good luck to you." In that sarcastic way.

Then you'd know the pain of running away.

In my heart I'm screaming against the wind.

Please let my message finally be let through.

You don't try to understand, do you?

No. That's just not like you.

I'm stubborn. I'm strong. That's how you see me.

So when would I ever give way?

Kagome stopped on the outside of the door. She had to collect herself and get back to work. Everything was out in the open now, the taboo topic had been talked over. In her mind there was no longer any reason to bring it up. Sure she was still intensely interested in him but it would never come to anything obviously. He had acted like he hadn't heard her when she asked him in a quiet timid voice, "Did it mean anything?" The answer could only have been a complete no if he simply ignored her and her question.

What Kagome didn't know was that Sesshoumaru was so absorbed in his mind that he honestly hadn't heard her.

Walking quietly back to her slightly smaller office Kagome fell into her chair and stared up at the ceiling. The week couldn't get worse atleast, she thought, because ironically enough I started on a Friday. It was a weak reason to smile after everything that had happened, but she'd take it.

"Better get back to work then."

For you, then maybe it'd do.

All in this cycle we're going through.

That night two people would go home from work, alone and wrung out of energy. One returning to find their fat cat had run away, and the other to a chic apartment complex filled with empty faces.

As a special thank you to LadySafire for her lovely review I made this chapter much longer than I had originally planned, so thank you.

Kotorii

"May your pen forever flow on paper, and your imagination soar above the clouds."