J: See I got another chapter out for you! And it's still the same week! GO ME! Post Merry Christmas and a Pre- Happy New Years to you all! Let's see where we stand with the count shall we?

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Thanks to: Jamesbirdsong, Lakeya2700, and Kairi8912

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters.

P.S. I'm feeling iffy on my interpretation of Sesshy, what do you think?

Chapter Six

Sesshoumaru's fingers skimmed over the keys on the keyboard. His office was a space designed to represent his company's roots and his style. Three of the walls were white with black trim, the fourth wall was made of windows that allowed Sesshoumaru or anyone invited into his office to view the entire sprawl of Tokyo. Due to the office's limited space he had chosen the minimum for furniture and decoration. His desk was made of maple wood and tinted black. On the opposite side of his desk Sesshoumaru had two black leather chairs designed to make his clients and employees comfortable for negotiations, updates or termination to go smoothly. On his desk was a picture of Rin standing in front of him smiling with enough radiance to match the sun. It was the day he had taken her home from the orphanage.

On the wall behind him rested three swords. To the naked eye they were ordinary blades meant to be decoration, to those that could sense demonic auras or see energy would know that the three blades were weapons of different measure. The least threatening of the three to the living was Tensaiga, a sword given to him by his father. The other two were Bakusaiga and Tokijin. All three swords were protected by a barrier made of their own power ensuring that only he could wield them. The strength of the three swords together was intense enough to deter lesser demons seeking trouble from entering the top floor of the building. That was if they were even stupid enough to enter the Taishou main office in the first place.

Sesshoumaru was content with his life and all that was part of it.

The calm smiling face of Ms. Kagome Higurashi appeared in his mind causing his fingers to stop. Sesshoumaru blinked, caught up in the regular flow of his work he had managed to forget the woman and her mystery. How he'd forgotten it so easily surprised him just as much as the mystery itself. After he had dropped her off he'd begun to mentally compile all the details he knew about her from the background info and what Rin had shared about Shippo. By the time he'd reached work he narrowed the answer down to the house fire but that was as close as he could get, without any additional information that could only be provided by Kagome he was stuck.

His eyebrows lowered in a physical sign of his irritation towards this mystery. Concentrating on his work was going to be difficult. His dull brown eyes looked to the clock on the computer screen. The time read 7:30, Rin would be going to bed in an hour. The work he had open was a rough contract outline for his offer to KaibaCorp. He wouldn't be meeting with the CEO for another two weeks and it was half finished. "Hn." His decision made Sesshoumaru paged his secretary and let her know she was done for the night, saved the contract to be opened at home, grabbed his coat and briskly departed his office to the elevator to his personal parking garage.

With rush hour over Sesshoumaru breezed through the streets of Tokyo and got home by 7:55, his inner inu made note that this was a new record.

As he pulled through the gates his headlights illuminated a familiar figure from behind. 'Later than planned.'

Kagome looked over her shoulder, seeing Sesshoumaru's car she wondered if he knew she'd be here late or if he was back for Rin. The car pulled up next to her, Sesshoumaru lowered the window to show his raised eyebrow, "Was the decided time not 7?" 'Jaken didn't tell him anything, thanks a lot Jaken.'

Laughing a little nervously Kagome answered, "There were some...complications at work that held me back later. I-I did call ahead and Jaken said it wouldn't be a problem for Shippo to stay later. I would have called you to make sure but I didn't have your work number and Jaken said not to bother you at work..." Kagome felt her face flush as she stopped herself from babbling.

Normally people heard half of what Kagome said during her nervous babble sprees, Sesshoumaru had heard every word. He wouldn't question what the 'complications' were and the rest made sense, he knew Jaken had a tendency to ward off people that might 'bother' him. "Hn. Do you intend to walk the whole way up or would you drive up with me?"

'Now he's offering? Why not just tell me like earlier? He's confusing.' Kagome was tired after being on her feet all day and she'd chosen to walk half the way to the Taishou house to spare her some money. "I'll take the ride thanks."

The short ride up to the house was bliss for her aching muscles. Going into the house for a second time Kagome was still in awe of the grandeur of it all. In the setting sun light the front entrance seemed to sparkle showing her that the home was well tended.

"This way." Kagome must have been gawking again, Sesshoumaru's voice wouldn't have startled her otherwise.

Walking behind the inu taiyoukai Kagome took the chance to study his figure without the disguise. His silver hair swayed back and forth in its low pony tail in such fluid movements that Kagome could picture it being water. His slim body structure would have fooled an untrained eye to think he had nothing but skin and minimum body fat. Having studied youkai for the past ten years she knew that Sesshoumaru was just about pure muscle underneath that skin. Her eye traveled down to his hand, his claws were immaculate, a wet dream for women that pay top dollar for nails nowhere near as perfect. 'His name suits him to a T. Everything about him is perfect and he could still rip my head off with a single motion...Great thought to have about your host Kagome.' Shaking her head at her thoughts Kagome nearly missed the details of the mansion.

They walked into what Kagome assumed was the living room. The floor changed from spotless hardwood to plush navy carpeting that massaged her poor feet as she walked over it. The walls were a complimentary light blue that had more white than blue. The room contained a black L shaped couch covered with small flower print cushions, a coffee table low enough for a young child to sit at and colour, a black recliner that looked like it could seat three and a large screen TV mounted on the wall across from the couch.

Around the room were signs that Shippo and Rin had spent a fair bit of time here. Two cups of unfinished juice, a pack of opened crayons and colourful drawings were on the coffee table. The flower cushions covered the floor at the base of the couch in a familiar shape of a destroyed pillow fort, and the two children themselves sat in the recliner with a picture book on their laps as they read it together. 'They are just too cute together.'

Absorbed into their story the kids didn't notice Kagome and Sesshoumaru coming into the room. Seeing a picture perfect moment Kagome took out her cell phone and snapped a couple pictures. She would send them to Sango to print them off for the scrap book later.

Sesshoumaru said nothing about the pictures but he agreed with the miko that the scene of the little girl and fox kit reading together was one he didn't wish to ruin. Unfortunately his retainer was oblivious to moments of importance, "Lord Sesshoumaru-sama I am so pleased to see you home! Please forgive the mess the children have no sense of responsibility or neatness!"

Rin and Shippo looked up from the book at the same time, each went running to their respective parent. "Mama!Why didn't you say you were here? I was getting worried."

"Sorry Shippo but I didn't want to spoil your time with Rin. I can see that you had a great afternoon." Shippo back in her arms Kagome felt rejuvinated and ready for the trip home.

Rin held onto Sesshoumaru's hand careful of the sharp claws, "Me and Shippo had so much fun today Papa. I wish you could have been here. Shippo can do magic tricks with acorns and leaves! And he made his cookie turn into a big rock that chased after Jaken it was funny."

"It was not funny at all you little brat!"

Sesshoumaru was not surprised Shippo had behaved in this way by playing tricks, it was in his nature. He was slightly intrigued by the kit's level, the tricks Rin spoke of were usually done by older Kitsune. Kagome was giving Shippo a stern look of reprimand that seemed to be a warning more than a threat for a scolding. "It is good you had fun,but you should clean up."Sesshoumaru nodded towards the mess around the couch and on the coffee table.

Rin ducked her head, "Sorry Papa, I'll clean it up right now." Rin ran over to the coffee table determined to do a good job in cleaning to please her Papa.

"I made the mess too, I'll help you Rin." Shippo joined Rin in cleaning earning him a smile in appreciation.

Kagome smiled too, "I think this friendship will be good for both of them."

"In what way?" Sesshoumaru hadn't meant to voice the question out loud but his compulsion to understand Kagome and her mystery made the words come out.

Kagome's eyes stayed on Rin as she put all her crayons in the box, "Shippo is a kitsune and they are prone to give into their more mischievous nature. Like turning cookies into boulders and sending them after grumpy toad demons. " Kagome sent Jaken a slight glare, she hadn't forgiven him for slamming the phone on her or calling the kids brats. "But Rin seems to be a very well behaved child. Shippo can learn to control himself if he has Rin show him how."

Sesshoumaru thought about this. Since the first day in his family Sesshoumaru had encouraged Rin's obedience by treating her to the comforts he could offer. Something about her had seemed different for the past week or so, looking over at Shippo as he picked up the flower cushions he understood what it was, "Rin is naturally an accepting person but she knows that there are other children that would take advantage of that and my social status. Your kit is a good friend for her, kitsune are protective and can see through illusions and lies."

Kagome knew about those traits, when she'd first taken Shippo in she'd done extensive research into their kind so she could understand everything about Shippo. She'd never thought about how those traits would extend into a friendship. Rin's problem of other children taking advantage of her was another thing she hadn't considered. 'He's right Shippo can tell when someone is trust worthy. This isn't a good friendship, it's a perfect friendship.'

J: Love me, because now my fingers don't XD.

Just wanted to add another question for you lovely readers to think about.

Do you think this story should contain more Rin and Shippo chapters, more Kagome and Sesshy centered chapters, or an equal level of both?

I want to know because I am working on an actual plot outline and the feedback will help me put everything into place :)