Chapter 24: Laws of Attraction

In the weeks following their shared vision of the past, Sesshomaru had spent the better part of the time avoiding the woman like the plague. Refusing to talk about the incident with her or anyone else for that matter, the demon had become a recluse in his own home; only coming out for work or to order food to be brought up to his room.

Kagome, on the other hand, was the complete opposite; having been alone for the past two centuries, the company of her own kind was a welcome change in her life and before she knew it found herself being able to relate more closely with Inuyasha who as her bodyguard whenever she left the house, seemed to be starting to feel the same way about her too.

"So, Sesshomaru didn't really like you when you were younger?"

"Keh. That bastard hated my guts...not that I didn't return the sentiment. Half-breeds are pathetic he would say."

"Wow."

"Yeah. And when he finally started to change he would talk about how he couldn't stand you at first either."

Kagome stared. "He...talked about me?"

"Yea," Inuyasha said from his place on the opposite side of her desk. "He wouldn't mention you by name, but he would talk about how he didn't want to make the same mistakes with me. Of course, he wasn't entirely...sober when he was telling me all that crap."

"I can't see Sesshomaru drinking."

"Nobody can. That stick slides right out of his ass after he's had a few beers."

"Inuyasha!" Kagome said with false admonishment.

"What? It's true."

Giggling, the demoness glanced at her watch and stopped when she saw what time it was. "Lunchtimes over Inuyasha. I gotta get back to work." Throwing away the few burger wrappers that littered her desk into the nearby trash bin, Kagome dutifully returned to her drafting table to continue with her building plans that were almost complete. Behind her she could hear the half demon once more on her computer, immersing himself in a computer card game.

A knock on her door, however, had Inuyasha glaring at the intruder, quickly losing interest when he saw it was her assistant.

"Abigail?"

"Yes, Hojo?"

"Uh...forgive me for interrupting you but...I spoke with my family with Hiroshima as you asked."

Perking up, Kagome swiveled in her chair to look at him expectantly. "Oh? You asked them about Kokumajutsu?"

"Yes. And they apologized for not being able to get back to you sooner. They wanted me to let you know that they don't have any artifacts like the one you specified."

"Oh..." Disappointment riddled her features. Behind her, Inuyasha grunted in indignation, almost like he had been expecting it. "Thank you Hojo...it was a long shot anyway..." huffing, the demoness returned to the draft table, her hands slightly shaking as she tried to finish her blueprints. Hojo's throat clearing, however, made her peek back over in his direction. "Yes?"

"Two more things Abigail-san."

"What is it?"

"Well, even though my family didn't have an entire book on the text you wanted...they did have a few pages from a book said to be cursed by evil magicians."

"Really?"

He nodded happily. "Uh huh. They have to pray over it everyday because otherwise there's a chance the magicians rage would break through and cause mass chaos."

"Wow..."

"My father won't allow it to leave the temple...but you're more than welcome to my childhood home and see it for yourself."

"In Hiroshima?"

"Yes. I myself planned on going there for the new year's celebration next week if you can leave on such short notice."

"Uh..." Shifting her eyes to meet Inuyasha's she looked back at Hojo with a more even gaze. "Thanks. I'll have to look into it..."

"Well, you are more than welcome as I said before."

"Anything else?"

Shifting the books in his hand he produced a sticky note that was attached to his finger. "There's a Mr. Jorogumo here to see you. He says it's important..."

"Jorogumo?"

"Naraku Jorogumo to be exactly."

"Uh…" puzzled, Kagome flipped through her nearby planner. "I didn't have any office hours today, What does he want?"

"To see you, alone. He wouldn't say why.

"Uh…"

"Fine," Inuyasha said without warning. Standing up he addressed Kagome gruffly. "I need a break from this cramped office anyway." Taking a moment to roll his shoulders, the disguised half demon stretched before sauntering out, pushing past Hojo as he went through the door.

Baffled, her assistant gazed after Inuyasha. "I've been meaning to ask." he started absently, only to be cut off by Kagome's dismissal.

"He's my bodyguard," she said, going over to her desk.

"Bodyguard? But…"

"I just wanted to feel safer is all, now don't you have work to do?"

"Oh. Yes! Of course!" nodding vigorously, her assistant turned on his heel and left, calling out behind him that he would be sending the man in shortly.

Recalling his earlier words, Kagome sighed when she realized she would be having to make a trip to Hiroshima soon.

"Tokuoka-san?"

"Huh?" Snapping out of her musings, the demoness looked at the stranger in her office and held in a gasp when she saw just how handsome he was.

Long jet black hair was pulled into a low ponytail out of his face while a chiseled jaw and wine colored eyes gave him an overall dark beauty appearance. Swooning when his gaze went over her own features predatorily, Kagome forced herself to remain professional as he fully entered the room, shutting the door shut softly behind him.

"Tokuoka-san?" He repeated, extending his hand as he walked towards her. "Forgive me for barging in like this, but I just needed to see you in person."

Standing to take his outstretched palm in her own, Kagome didn't miss the shock she felt when their fingers touched. She was attracted to this man...a rare occurrence in her life. "Don't worry about it. What can I help you with Mr. Jorogumo?"

With a quick peck, he kissed her hand affectionately before releasing it. "Please just call me Naraku."

"Naraku then," she said as he took a seat in the chair across from her. "What can I help you with?"

"Simple, I merely wish for you to rebuild an old mansion of mine in central China."

"Mansion? China?" blinking a few times, she mulled over his words. "By chance are you…"

"The person who sent you the letter along with an incentive check to think it over? Yes," he answered, offering her a small smile.

"Okay?" Kagome withdrew slightly. "Uh...It was nothing personal that I didn't get back in contact with you, but anonymous contracts just aren't my forte."

"I understand completely, which is why I wished to come to you in person to….speak with you one on one." that sexy grin was still on his face, making the woman's gaze flicker back to his mouth every few seconds while he spoke. "I really need this project done, but if China is too far for the moment, I also have a residence in Hiroshima that could use a little reconstruction of its own. What do you say?"

"Well…."

"I am willing to pay whatever it takes." he reiterated.

"Um…"

"And if necessary, I can explain what I want in detail….tonight….over dinner perhaps?"

"Dinner? Isn't that a little forward?"

He held up his hand defensively. "It is strictly business I assure you."

"Well...under the bizarre circumstances….Alright." Kagome agreed at long last. Discretely she breathed in the man's scent and shook slightly when the powerful aroma of bergamot and coriander reached her delicate nose. He had a strong and alluring spice about him; though on an odd level the zest of his essence made her wary of this stranger, but partially concealed by her increasing attraction to Naraku. It was a feeling she couldn't explain. "Should I pick the restaurant or.."

"I know the perfect place for us. Quiet and comfortable. Tonight works for you I assume?"

"Yes." she responded enamored.

"Great," he said, standing up. "I'll text you the address after I have your phone number of course."

"Yes." absently, Kagome scratched her name and number down on a random sheet of paper, still mesmerized by the man's wine colored orbs.

"I'll be seeing you soon, Tokuoka-san."

"Oh, Naraku you can just call me Ka...Abigail, I'm sorry I have no idea where my mind is today," she said, giggling a little as though nervous.

"Abigail it is then." With a nod of his head, the man left with her phone number, his jet black hair shimmering down his back.

The moment he was gone, the demoness nearly crumpled into her desk chair. "That was...intense…."

A/N: Already I hear the complaints and shouts. "Don't let Kagome sleep with Naraku!" Kagome should keep her virtue and remain pure! Well, relax that is going to happen. As a nice little spoiler and do stop reading here if you don't want to know, Naraku is using the same spell on her that Miyako used on Sesshomaru which made him cheat on her. It's an attraction spell which makes them attracted more so to their scents then to the person, dogs as I've read recently tend to trust people based on scents alone. Anyway Please review! -Theores