Simply Business Chapter 17, an inuyasha fanfic

A.N. I know I haven't updated in forever… but I was still struggling with the fact that I lost the only grandma I ever could really have respected and not to mention its junior year and I have PSATs and SATs to worry about. I thought I could finish this up this year since it's almost been three years that SB has been going on but that's not looking too good. SO I won't make any promises on the subject of finishing this. It'll be done when it's done. Thank you for all the reviews. It's definitely a pleasure reading what a lot of you have to say. I was also truly shocked to know that I have male readers. I don't know why, but I was completely floored by the idea that guys actually tolerate my writing haha.

Important: I make references in this chapter to an event that occurred in chapter 9!!! Plus this is super super long so review guys! Like really. It's exactly 30 Word pages.

Dedication:

To all my male readers out there & my father since his birthday passed Saturday.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Simply Business

(Tsuki)

Chapter Seventeen

Kagome breathed in a deeply as she glanced around her hometown. Kyoto. It was so laidback and tranquil. It was a definite contrast to Tokyo which was better suited to appeasing the desires of tourists' interest than it was for a place to completely calm down.

It was only here she felt like she was home.

It was here that she did not need to worry or feel the pressure of bi-yearly miscellaneous school bills and monthly fees for food and rent. She didn't have to job hop as soon as better pay came along, (albeit this was the first instance of her doing that.)

She could be Kagome.

The raven haired girl smiled. It was only here where she felt truly at home…

They were in a quiet section of town with little traffic that was a few blocks from the shopping center. Kagome gave a glance at their group.

If anything, they looked more than out of place. Souta was currently at her side, animatedly discussing a certain incident at school that had his sister cracking up. Kohaku was doing the same with Sango, but of course, that was were all normality ended.

On the empty sidewalk, next to small houses and varying shops, what really stood out was one red haired little boy with a mismatched outfit and a fox like grin that was currently hanging off a tall, stoic, silver haired man.

Sesshoumaru managed to look as if he belonged in a closed off office somewhere as he kept a short distance in front of them looking prim and proper. He managed to appear as if he were doing some major internal business work and yet look alert at the same time.

He also managed to look as if he knew where they were going…

Rin suddenly ran ahead and grabbed Sesshoumaru's hand. He looked down momentarily and the air of permanent preoccupation evaporated. Rin grinned at him.

Sango abruptly looked at Kagome during a lag in the boy's conversations and in low tones whispered, "I really have to say something about this." She gestured at Sesshoumaru's show of navigational savvy. "I wonder how he knows his way around here so well…" Kagome rolled her eyes heavenward, "Another perk to being him, probably. I'll bet he has a GPS system internally installed."

Sesshoumaru turned slightly. Ironically the reason for his street savvy was incidentally due to the fact that he had spent an extra hour driving along the streets looking for one very well concealed Higurashi Shrine…

However, would he mention that aloud?

Hell no.

"Your friend at least had the consideration to lower her voice. How is it that you are so freely able to talk about your boss behind his back?"

Kagome snorted, "This is Kyoto. You're no longer my boss. You're just plain ole Sesshoumaru."

"I see…" Had he been facing them, they would have been surprised to see a mischievous grin spread across his face.

(Tsuki)

"If I am reading this correctly, none of this is on the list." Kohaku and Souta both sighed out in unison.

Sango put a finger to her lip and winked as Kagome placed a bottle of liquid vitamins for canines and other pup necessities in their cart, "Does a bag of candy make them on the list?"

Souta smirked, "What do you know, Sango-onee-sama, I believe it does."

Kohaku handed the list back to his sister with a smile, "We must have just misread it, sis. Our mistake!" he chirped and stuffed the list in his pocket.

Sesshoumaru raised a brow as he adjusted Rin in his arms. A block away from the shopping center she had requested to be picked up. Sesshoumaru had carried her ever since. He scoffed, "I believe that's called bribery."

Sango ruffled her brother's hair, "Technically, this is me spoiling these guys after not seeing them for so long."

Shippou kicked his legs inside of the front basket of the cart, squirming at being confined to the unrelenting space. "Is all that stuff for 'Gome?"

Her employer who only acted as her employer in Tokyo but was a regular albeit cynical man anywhere else gave her a look, "I already paid in full the costs of the ill named mutt, why must you purchase more?"

Kagome tossed in a few toys, "First off: Kagome is a wonderful name. Second: you paiad for the basic necessities that I picked out. You didn't get everything you needed for a puppy. Anyway, prices here are cheaper than in Kaede's—" She suddenly froze as her hand reached for a toy bone.

Kaede…

A small smile graced her lips and Kagome brought the toy closer. She had placed an order for a shipment of this brand while she had been back there. 'I miss it there…'

She hadn't found time to go back there after she had left.

'Even though it had been my workplace for years,' she thought bitterly, almost disgusted with herself.

Kagome shook the thought from her head, but the pause had already gone detected by the group. She cleared her throat, "And a growing puppy will need toys or you'll find yourself with half eaten shoes and scratched up furniture."

Sesshoumaru cringed.

Rin poked Sesshoumaru, "Where is Gome-chan, Papa-Sesshoumaru? I miss her."

Sesshoumaru nonchalantly replied, "I dropped the mutt off at one of my employee's houses." There was a distinct pause as Sesshoumaru suddenly looked up in thought, musing, "He makes a quick cup of tea."

Rin pouted a bit, "Is Papa's im-ploy-ye nice?"

Sesshoumaru inclined his head despite the fact that the boy was probably now cursing his existence at the moment

Sango suddenly gasped, "Oh my gosh! Look! They have a sale on cookies!" She let out a small cheer and sprinted towards the aisle indicated in the flyer.

Kagome blinked and slowed her pace. As she trailed a bit behind the group, she once again became lost in thought. 'Sango's been so different lately…' It wasn't that Sango was not a fun person by nature—despite her maternal side, she was a ball of enthusiasm. Hence her spot as captain, she was amazing at volleyball sure, but she was also an inspiring player. However this…

'She just seems less serious lately….' Almost as if she had a permanent glow around her.

Kagome felt an uncontrollable sob in her throat.

Was she so bad of a friend that she couldn't even pinpoint her closest friend's happiness? In fact, she barely knew what Sango had done this week.

She probably was blowing this out of proportion, but it just felt like…

'I'm always letting myself drift from the people closest to me.'

Suddenly someone grabbed her hand.

She looked down only to see her brother at her side, "Hurry up sis, you're gonna get lost again!"

Kagome did say anything for a moment, before biting down her downcast mood and groaning. "Souta! You still remember that? It was a year ago! Besides, this is a really big store—"

She stuck out her tongue as her brother scoffed and with a playful roll of his eyes he pulled her along.

Sesshoumaru looked back at the two momentarily, before returning his attention to the matter at had.

"So you're telling me that people…eat those? Are you sure they are digestible?" Kohaku looked up at Sesshoumaru as Sango, holding a store flyer in one hand and as many boxes of chocolate drizzled coconut topped cookies with a caramel center as her arm could handle.

Kohaku nodded, "Yes, why?"

Sesshoumaru placed Rin down and went over to the shelf filled with a rainbow array of variously packaged cookies. He picked up a box and read the ingredients. His eyebrow lifted.

Sango grinned, "Go ahead and find something you like."

Rin grabbed Kohaku's sleeve, "Can we go over to Souta-nii-chan and Kagome-nee-chan?"

Kohaku less than gently removed her hand, "I'm sure you don't need an escort to walk a few feet."

With that, he started over to Kagome and Souta who were arguing over what chips to pick up. Rin slowly trailed behind him.

Sesshoumaru swiveled around but Sango placed a hand on his arm, "Kohaku doesn't mean to be so rude. He's a little uncertain how to act with strangers."

The silver haired man looked at Sango and she put the boxes in the half filled cart. She folded the flier, "And another thing…Please don't be so hard on Kagome."

It was an abrupt request and Sango smiled, "She's a really a responsible woma—," Sango was interrupted by a resounding rip that sounded in the aisle and the clutter of chips that fell to the floor.

"—kid." She deadpanned, "She's a good kid."

The four rushed towards the cart at the sight. Kohaku produced the list on the way, "Let's go pick up some teriyaki sauce—over there!"

Sesshoumaru allowed his daughter to grasp his hand and Kagome to push him from the aisle, "Hurry guys—I think someone's coming!"

Souta groaned, "This is why momma doesn't let you go shopping without supervision."

Kagome jokingly put him into a light headlock, "You're such a brat! That was all on you!"

Sango looked up in thought; suddenly she snapped her fingers, "A mostly harmless child!"

Sesshoumaru snorted.

(Tsuki)

Mrs. Higurashi gratefully received the groceries and then told everyone to "go and play" until dinner. Since Shippou and Souta were understandably reluctant to resume video gaming, "playing" meant sitting in the living room with Jii-chan and listening to him tell tales of his younger days-which according to him was an era filled with demons and mikos.

Sesshoumaru all through the exaggerated tale telling, used the time for dismissing business proposals and checking his email on his laptop.

All, save for the one person who was well used to tuning things out, were thankful when the doorbell rang.

Kagome and Souta both rose and vied for the task of answering it.

Souta pulled his sister's sleeve, successfully holding her back. "Hey don't worry about the door, sis! You're practically a guest here yourself! I'll get it."

Kagome tugged back, "I insist! I hardly get the chance to…open doors …at college." She fudged weakly. "I'd love to answer the doorbell."

As the doorbell rang a second time and the two siblings continued to bicker, Sango rose with a playful roll of her eyes and opened the door.

Both siblings behind her did not take note. Only at Sango's surprised, "Woah!" Did either turn around.

Beyond the doorway, stood a dozen women-all varying in age. Four of the women in the group were absolutely gorgeous while others…..not so much so.

Sango blinked, "Um… Can I help you?"

The women noticeably looked past her and into the house, as if searching for something. The assumed spokesperson of the group answered the question distractedly, "We're all interested in a shrine tour." Blatant lie number one.

"We wanted to know if you had any one available for the job? Anyone would do…" Blatant lie number two.

Jii-chan suddenly stopped speaking. "Well now! Business is booming today… Sango, I'll take over from here."

He rose and approached the women. As soon as they saw him, they spoke with him in hushed tones that no one else in the room could hear.

They did however pick up the giggling.

The women every few seconds would enter a giggling fit.

Kagome whispered to Sango back at the couches, "I don't know what's worse—their giggles or my jii-chan's stories."

Suddenly jii-chan turned to her and Kagome was suddenly reminded of a character from one of the books her little brother had read. If she wasn't mistaken, at the moment, he looked like Count Olaf. Her grandfather's eyes had gone extremely shiny and he was staring at Sesshoumaru in such a fashion that made Kagome shiver.

A smile grew on his face and he turned to Kagome, "Kagome-chan, would you mind giving the tour for me? These women want to see all the grounds and after sweeping outside all day, my back is aching!"

Kagome instantly felt concerned, "Of course I wouldn't mind, jii-chan! You should have mentioned that your back hurt earlier, though. Do you need anything before I go?"

Her grandfather shook his head and a bit guiltily he said quickly, "Oh don't worry about me!" Kagome rose and Jii-chan added, "Since it's a big group, why don't you take your friend?"

Sango smiled, "I'd love to help ou—"

"Not you, Sango-chan… Him!"

Sesshoumaru cringed as he abruptly felt multiple stares penetrate the back of his skull. "I refuse," he drawled.

Rin tugged at Sesshoumaru hand, "Rin will help Sesshoumaru-Papa give a tour."

There were several shrill squeals that sounded from the doorway. "That must be the little girl he was looking for!"

And suddenly all the pieces well into place.

Weren't those the same women he had asked directions from last night?

He narrowed his eyes. "I refuse to give those vultures a tour. I have ignored my work long enough and this distraction will not occur."

Souta snickered, "Basically, he just said, 'over my dead body.'" Kohaku laughed.

Shippou tapped Sesshoumaru. He was standing on the cushions of the couch, "Hey, old man! Look at how old that one lady is. She must be ancient! I bet she must be even older than you. I bet she's—"

Sango clamped a hand over the child's mouth, nonchalantly. "I think you should just give the tour Sesshoumaru. Don't be rude."

Jii-chan suddenly resumed his Count Olaf persona, "I suppose I will have to recount the story these lovely women just told me, of how they gained knowledge of our very hard to find Shrine... Hmmm…"

Sesshoumaru brown twitched minutely.

'This is a dilemma….'

Was he to swallow his pride and admit that he—Sesshoumaru Taisho had indeed gotten lost…. Or should he give those amorous women, who looked at him as if he were a slab of meat and they—ravenous wolves, a tour?

He inwardly rolled his eyes. 'The answer is quite obvious….'

(Tsuki)

Thankfully compared to the rest of the day, dinner was uneventful. But then again, the seating also helped.

Sango and her brother were in between Mrs. Higurashi and jii-chan who was too exhausted from a long day of supervising shrine tours to even tell one of his fables. Sesshoumaru and Rin were on the opposite side with Sango's parents next to them. At the heads of the table were Kagome and Souta.

Of course the home cook meal was a relief, not that either girl were incompetent in the kitchen—there was just something relaxing about a quiet Kyoto dinner.

Besides she was exhausted.

She hadn't really gotten over having to carry so many bags home, before.

Kagome had intended to ditch the bulk of the bags on Sesshoumaru claiming that, 'since she was so fragile, the employee's health should be their employer's number one concern."

Not only did said employer completely scoff at the idea, he also used her own words against her as he replied that with such admirable sarcasm that he wasn't her employer in Kyoto.

'That jerk has a memory comparable to an elephant's!' she thought, slightly annoyed.

But that hadn't been so bad compared to the fact that she had spent over an hour giving a tour to twelve women who were creepily attached to their second guide.

'I do have to wonder, though….Why did Sesshoumaru ever agree to give that tour? I thought those women were going to assault him. Old Mrs. Yuna even looked like she was going to rape him on the spot…'

Kagome suddenly shuddered, thinking of the eighty year old neighbor.

The dinner chat was mostly general after an introduction by Mrs. Higurashi of Sesshoumaru and Sango's parents.

It was after the meal that Sesshoumaru announced that he would be leaving the next morning, with the two stowaways.

Apparently, Rin had a doctor's appointment. Or so he said…

Sango snorted to herself, "I don't blame him for wanting to leave. Those women were scary…"

Jii-chan produced a newspaper from beneath his pristine white haori. "I 'm going to miss having someone to attract customers."

Kagome blinked, "But they thing is, he just got here…. I don't see how he could have helped business in a day."

Sesshoumaru cleared his throat and jii-chan chuckled and took it as a sign to keep quiet. "Never mind that Kagome."

His granddaughter pouted.

So Sesshoumaru had eventually taken to stopping at random but mostly female populated houses and asking where a certain shrine was…

But would he ever willingly share that tidbit?

Of course not.

(Tsuki)

It was lonely after dinner ended and Sango left with the rest of her family. Shippou and Rin were sleeping with her mother, so she was all alone in her room. Sesshoumaru was somewhere in the house, working of course, while her jii-chan was watching a documentary in the living room.

So she was all alone.

All alone and with no one there to stop her from mentally beating herself up.

'I must be the worst friend ever.' Kagome drove her face into a pillow. "I spent all week complaining about everything and just worrying about myself."

So try as she might, she couldn't even recall anything essential that really happened with Sango. Sure she knew about Mirouku… but she hadn't gotten to know him at all.

But Sango… she knew every detail about Kouga and even Sesshoumaru for that matter, as well.

"I can count on my fingers the amount of stuff I know about this Mirouku guy."

Kagome moved to the corner of her room and sat down at her desk. She listlessly brought a brush to her raven locks and ran it down the thick strands in a monotonous motion.

She sighed.

"I haven to stop thinking like this. It's forgivable that I don't call as often… right? It can't be a crime to not know your best friend's boyfriend."

She led her head drop sharply to the desk and she laid there, groaning, eyes shut tightly.

"Stop berating yourself!"

The raven haired girl rose and flopped down onto her bed only to rise moments later to flick off the ceiling lamp.

She then stumbled in the dark to her plush feeling bed.

The cool material of her sheets felt good against her dully throbbing skull as she slid under her sheets.

"My head hurts…" she complained to empty air.

Her eyelids suddenly drooped, feeling heavy and exhausted.

Kagome yawned and that was the last sound she remembered hearing as she lulled gently to sleep.

Although…it was not one that was meant to last.

She was brought back from her dreamless sleep with the opening of her door.

'I had forgotten how creaky my door was…' She thought nonchalantly, not really realizing that someone was entering her room.

It was only until someone slid into bed with her that Kagome knew there was another presence in her room.

Kagome gave a hoarse, low shriek, "Who's there?"

There was a sigh, "Sorry to wake you sis, I just couldn't sleep."

Souta…?

Kagome rubbed her eyes and looked at the clock. It was nearing ten o'clock.

Kagome made room for her brother on her bed and Souta rolled onto his side on Kagome's plush mattress. He propped his head up on his elbow. The faded scent of cherries and a dash of some lime-coconut body mist Kagome owned filled his nose. That was her room's scent. It varied though when she was in it. Now there was a touch of the pomegranate lotion Kagome loved so much. Souta swallowed the urge to encase his arms around her.

He turned back on to his back where he had originally lain. Abruptly he whispered softly in a gruffly cracked voice. "Please call more, sis. I'm a guy so I won't get all mushy with you, but I will admit that I miss you. And it sucks that you don't call that much, this year. It makes us all worry since we never know what's going on with you."

Kagome guiltily took in a shaky breath. "Souta I'm sor—"

Souta furrowed his brows as he interrupted her, "If it weren't for Sango calling every other night we'd never hear about you."

The raven haired girl quenched the small noise that had it erupted from her throat, would have sound like a cross between a cry and a laugh.

What a terrible person she was. She made it seem as if everything she was doing was meant to help her mother—her family. But was she really? Kagome closed her eyes and swallowed a lump in her throat.

"I won't let it happen again…. I-I just trying to work hard to live up to being your one-chan."

Souta turned to her again. He looked frustrated, "That's just it! Why do you have to work yourself so hard?... I don't get it!"

He had long since stopped whispering and suddenly his voice sounded pained and resonating.

Kagome sighed. "Because it's the least I can do. I'm twenty three. I know I don't always act like it, but I'm no child. I can't depend on too many people anymore. It's not fair. I'm capable of helping out and mom shouldn't have to support a family by herself!"

A scoff left her brother's throat. "And neither should you! No one can blame you if you sit back and enjoy life, sis. Jii-chan helps Momma out too."

Kagome sighed rubbed her eyes sleepily, "I just want to make it so that momma doesn't have to stress herself out anymore. It's hard on her."

"But I don't want you millions of miles away, Kagome…" Souta looked at her pleadingly as he referred to the move that she would be making after graduation.

Kagome smiled and suddenly rolled onto her side. She propped her head on her elbow, her arm comfortably resting on a plush purple pillow. "Millions of miles? Souta I'm not going to another planet! Just how are your geography grades?"

Souta tried not to smile. A light blush tinted his cheeks and he gruffly mumbled, "You know what I mean! Sis… it's bad enough that you have to drive a couple of hours to get here, there—you'll have to take a plane too! If you can't even call regularly, what makes you think we'd ever see you again!"

Kagome extended a hand and brought it softly against his heated cheeks. He looked at her sadly. "I need my sister, Kagome—who else is gonna get their butt kicked at vid games? I mean there's jii-chan… but I just don't think that's fair anymore 'cause he's all senile and stuff."

"Souta!"

He laughed and Kagome relished the sound. "Hey, not so loud! You might wake someone up!"

Kagome hit him lightly, the blow lost to the soft comforter he was beneath. "You've gotten a little rude, squirt! Now go to sleep before I kick you out!"

Another laugh filled the room, "Alright, alright! Good night, sis…"

She ruffled his hair, the brown locks splaying on the pillow he was on. He halfheartedly fought off the action. "Yeah, yeah kiddo, sleep tight." She planted a kiss on his forehead.

Souta groaned, "Hey, hey, hey! The hair thing I could deal with, but really! Kisses? Grow up Kagome…"

Kagome giggled, "Good night, Souta."

Souta held the blanket up to his nose, "If I say g'night again you won't kiss me again will you?"

"We'll have to see…"

"…Good nig—Ahhh!! EWW! Kagome germs!"

(Tsuki)

"I had an affair."

"I-I know… I forgave you for that a long time ago. We were young and—"

"Please don't make excuses for me! What I did was unforgivable."

"…I still love you, Takai. We have a beautiful family now. What was in the past should just stay in the past. For the sake of our children. For my sake!"

"Were I given another chance, Treina— Kagome?"

"Kagome?"

…."I had an affair…"

"What I did….was just unforgivable…"

"You've been on anti-depressants for how long? When did you find out?!"

"I forgave you…"

"Just let it go! I've finally gotten past this! Don't you dare bring it up! I love you and that's all that matters!"

"I had an affair…I cheated on you."

"I'm sorry, Treina…."

Kagome's eyes shot open as she jolted awake. A feeling of nausea overcame her. Her breathing increased rapidly as her heart pounded in her chest.

Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as Kagome rose from the bed, somewhat mindful not to wake up Souta. However she needed desperately to just leave. She suddenly mumbled almost inaudibly, "I have to clear my head…"

She stumbled out of her room and down the stairs, nearly tripping on the steps in her rush. A few stray sobs escaped her throat that she muffled with her hands.

Kagome rushed into the kitchen and toward the sink. She emptied the contents of her stomach into it. She stood there, hunched over the sink for a moment.

Abruptly she became aware of someone else in the room. Kagome sighed weakly, "I'm sorry to have woken you Souta."

She turned on the faucet and ran water over her face before turning. She felt her nausea return when she saw that it was not Souta at all. It was Sesshoumaru.

Kagome furrowed her brows and hoarsely asked, "What are you doing up?"

He shrugged nonchalantly as he tore a sheet from the paper towel roll located on a stand atop the kitchen counter. "Thin walls."

Sesshoumaru folded the napkin twice before handing it to her. Kagome gratefully took it as he moved to take a seat at the small table set up in the kitchen. He motioned for her to sit down. Kagome obliged shakily as she wiped her mouth on the flower printed napkin.

"How much did you hear?"

Sesshoumaru looked at her and said what he knew she wanted to hear, "A few words here and there." That was a lie. Everything…he had heard everything, even her tête-à-tête with her brother.

Kagome suddenly was overtaken by a pained look. There was a moment of silence between them.

She cleared her throat.

"I lost my father when I was about thirteen years old. I overheard a conversation he and my mother were having a year before he died. Neither knew, though that I was there that night… But I remember, the next day, he surprised me by picking me up from school and we stopped at a park."

She gave a helpless shrug, "I just remember him trying to hug me…trying to explain something…. And I just bolted. I don't know far I ran or how much time passed by but all I remember is seeing two headlights… And then he saved me… I—,"she paused and shook her head, "what happened after that, I don't remember. But…He was in the hospital for weeks. He got better though. Then a year later he died. Just like that…" she shrugged her shoulders helplessly.

Kagome pressed her hands to her eyes, annoyed at herself for how much she wanted to cry at that moment.

"The day before his accident, I had sworn that I would hate him forever…. But I loved him so much! He was my father …But I just don't know what to make of him!" She was half talking to herself and half whispering to Sesshoumaru. "Was he the hero or the villain or what?—All I remember is "I had an affair." That's all I think of when I think of my father…"

There was movement from the other side of the table, and abruptly her hands were taken from her face and she was loosely encased within Sesshoumaru's arms. "If you feel the need to cry, then do so."

His voice was a velvet murmur that wafted over her in soothing tones.

Kagome shook her head and looked up at him with tear soaked cheeks, "I shouldn't load my problems on you, Sesshoumaru. You're my boss and it's not your concern to know any of this. I'm sorry I even brought it up—"

Sesshoumaru suddenly scoffed, "Did you forget where we are? 'I am not your boss in Kyoto'. They were your words, were they not?"

There was a moment of silence and Kagome just stared at him with wide eyes. They suddenly refilled with tears.

Her bottom lip quivered.

Kagome latched onto Sesshoumaru tightly and started to cry.

(Tsuki)

Kagome awoke in her bed, encased instead by Souta's arms rather than Sesshoumaru's. She furrowed her brows and tried to think of how she even ended up there.

She stopped trying to think after a moment and just snuggled up next to her younger brother. He smiled a bit at the contact.

Kagome stared at her ceiling as a light blush seeped onto her cheeks, 'I-I actually half expected him to not even care…'

Sango was the only one who knew about her father. Not even her mother knew how torn she was on the subject of him.

Having Sesshoumaru know as well made her feel vulnerable.

Kagome blush increased.

But she was grateful.

She had had that dream a few handful of times since she was thirteen, but she had never slept so peacefully afterwards.

She smiled and whispered, "Thank you, Sesshoumaru."

Souta suddenly stirred and muttered "You say somethin' Kagome?"

"Yeah… I said that it was time to get up munchkin." Kagome teased in a louder voice. And one glance at the clock easily told her that it was.

A light blush still tinted her cheeks as she slipped from out of the bed and onto the floor of her room.

She gathered some supplies to go and take a bath and prepare for her day. As she left her room, hoping Souta would wake up and vacate her room before she returned, she verbally told that to him, "I better not see you in here when I come back squirt!"

A mumble was her only answer.

Kagome slipped into the hall and the first thing she saw was Sesshoumaru. She started a bit and nearly dropped her things.

After a bit of fumbling she gave an uncertain giggle. It streamed from her lips in an awkward and loud fashion. "Um good morning…S-s-s-sesh…you."

With a blasé nod he strolled past her and into the room he had been staying in.

Kagome rushed into the bathroom as soon as his door closed and sank onto the rug covered floor.

Her face felt and probably looked like it was on fire…

For some reason she just felt so flustered. "What exactly is wrong with me?" She shook her head at her actions.

And so the day continued.

Sesshoumaru left after breakfast with the two kids but without a goodbye. Kagome was not even sure exactly when they left. He had though, given her paycheck to Mrs. Higurashi before taking his leave though.

She never had the chance to look at it though throughout the course of the day. Until it was time to leave, Sango and Kagome each spent time an excessive time with their respective families.

The day was gone in a blur and before Kagome knew it, she had dozed off on the ride back to their apartment complex.

Sango nudged her, "Kagome-chan. We're here."

And it seemed like in a blink she and her friend had brought everything inside and had sat down to a snack of cookies and milk.

It was only then did time stop flying.

Kagome settled into their living room couch as she searched for her backpack on the nearby floor. She found it propped against the couch.

Sango had already started tearing through the work she had due for the next day. It had long since become one of their bad habits to leave all their work until Sunday night and then stay up for endless hours completing it. Even though when they each thought it through it made zero sense to start their weeks exhausted as hell….it made all the sense in the world to preserve as much of their weekend to non-college functions.

Abruptly Kagome asked, "Can you tell me about Mirouku? This week has been all about my issues and I'm clueless about yours."

Her voice sounded a little sheepish, but truthfully she said. "I really feel like I'm in the dark about him. We haven't exactly been properly introduced and I feel weird not knowing who my best friend is head over heels about."

Sango blushed a deep crimson color. "Well I can't really say I'm head over heels! I barely know him myself, Kagome," she sputtered then grinned, her hand moving her pen across the sheet of paper in her lap so that it sat parallel to the sheet, "But I do like him. He's sweet."

She recapped her week with him and Kagome smiled, feeling as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders as she started seeing what her friend was.

"I guess I really like him… I mean he's been great hanging out with all week. And besides that, he's quite the looker." She grinned like the Cheshire Cat.

Kagome smiled, but her smile was short lived as Sango asked her, "And what about you. Are you excited for your date on Friday?"

Kagome blinked, "Date? With whom, pray tell?"

Sango let out a loud laugh, "Are you serious!? Kouga would be crushed if he knew you forgot. Every time I see him at work that's all he mentions…"

Kagome suddenly gasped, "Oh my God! That's right!"

She felt her heart beat a little faster and she smiled a bit wistfully. If anything. Kouga was the guy she should be concentrating on and not a certain callous jerk (though, she would admit he could have his moments where he was not unlike someone who wasn't a prick…).

Abruptly Kagome smacked a hand to her head.

Wait…..

Kagome's eyes widened minutely, 'Not that I'm concentrating on S-s-…my boss or anything like that!'

She leaned against the couch and sighed, ignoring the looks Sango was giving her.

'I'm a mess, aren't I?'

(Tsuki)

It was three in the morning when Kagome finally went to sleep. She and Sango had "gone to bed" at two, but she had wanted to start an outline for her extended essay, so she had stayed awake a little longer.

She didn't have class until eight anyway…

She yawned and contently struggled deep into her blankets as her laptop shut down in the background. Just as she was on the verge of a gorgeous slumber, she suddenly heard something vibrate.

'Ignore it, Kagome…'

Vrmmmmmmmm!

'It's all in your head, Kagome. Who the hell would call someone at this ungodly hour?'

Vkrmmmmmmmmmmmzzz!

'Go away…'

Vkrmmmmmmmmghmmhggkkmmmm!

And suddenly it seemed as the vibrating would never stop. Perhaps it was the five minutes of sleep she had gotten, but it seemed as if that it was getting louder, longer, and even more annoying, with each vibration. Kagome, with an angry cry picked up her cell phone from its place on her nightstand and flipped it open.

"Do you not realize what time it is?! I swear to God—!"

Abruptly the sound of crying interrupted her.

Kagome instantly pulled the phone away from her and stared at it in confusion. She suddenly looked at the caller ID.

She did not recognize the number. Oddly enough however, she felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

"Shippou?"

"He has been doing that for the last ten minutes. Forgive the intrusion, but you need to quiet this child."

Kagome groaned after a while and responded, "I'll be there is a little bit…."

She recognized that tone. That eerie politeness clearly meant that Sesshoumaru was about to turn homicidal.

As she rubbed at her eyes, she muttered uncaring of the fact that he could hear her on the other line, "This sure as hell counts as overtime."

"You have my thanks."

Suddenly Kagome's eyes widened, "Wait…when did I give you my cell phone number?"

"You didn't."

"Then—"

"Your mother confiscated my phone."

Even though that led to so many more questions, Kagome just nodded a bit and responded simply with an. "Oh…"

She rose from her bed, only to trip on her blankets and fly to the ground, her phone leaving her hands hit the wall, though not before a string of curses left her mouth.

Kagome dusted herself off with a frustrated grunt, "I guess I found a new way to hang up on people."

(Tsuki)

Miraculously Kagome made it to the Taisho household sans any accident. Perhaps that was because of the fact that the roads were virtually empty at such a ridiculous hour.

Not that she was complaining. There had been times when she completely could not keep her car moving in a straight line. And who could forget her sudden tendency to start breaking without warning.

Kagome yawned, "It's so weird… I mean I'm an amazing driver normally. I don't why it's so hard for me to drive now."

She shrugged and rang the doorbell.

Sesshoumaru looking quite annoyed answered the door within second.

Kagome blinked disgustedly, "How is it that I look like shit and you look like you're heading off to a runway?"

Sesshoumaru looked at her and smirked, "Your certainly have a colorful vocabulary at this time of night."

Kagome never got a chance to let out a retort, for Sesshoumaru continued to say, "At least you look less ridiculous than last time. You look more like a pineapple tonight. That's quite normal nowadays, am I correct?"

Kagome pushed him aside. "Oh shut up and hurry up and let me in before your neighbors start thinking you actually have enough game to have night time visitors."

She had taken an extra five minutes to change from her pajamas to something that actually looked normal. Though…that was pretty hard when she was half awake.

She was dressed in a pair of yellow fleece pants with little pineapples on them and an emerald and brown striped tank top that she had thrown an orange jacket over. Her hair was piled a top her head in crazy bun, ponytail hybrid that had her hair spiking in all directions above her head.

Sesshoumaru snorted as he closed the door behind her, "My neighbors are too drugged up on anti-depressants and sleeping pills at night to notice anything," he drawled as he led the way up to the second floor. The sounds of Shippou's crying soon reached both as Sesshoumaru added, "I could have sex on their lawns and none of them would take note."

Kagome grimaced, "Wow…the first new fact of the day! Thank you!"

Sesshoumaru opened Shippou's room door and Kagome felt her heart wrench a little. Rin was seated on the bed and was holding Shippou's hand, gently prodding him to wake up.

But the child continued his heartbreaking cries.

As Kagome drew closer, he quieted slightly.

Kagome sat down on the bed and Rin looked up at Kagome. "Is Shippou-chan alright?"

Kagome nodded. "He's fine sweetheart, now why don't you head to sleep okay?" Sesshoumaru took that as his cue to approach the bed and picked up his daughter. Kagome had tucked Shippou in his bed as his fussing stopped and his crying became a slight whimper.

Sesshoumaru quietly exited the room and Kagome caressed Shippou's face as he almost ended his laments and hummed gently a lullaby her mother had sung to her when she was his age.

She barely took note of Shippou's decent into a content sleep as a yawn broke through her singing.

Sesshoumaru entered the room a moment later. "You will spend the rest of the night in here. I will drop you off at your dorm tomorrow morning."

Kagome nodded a bit. She rolled onto her side and wrapped an arm loosely around Shippou.

Shippou responded by snuggling up to Kagome and a few stray tears dripped down his cheeks, "Momma!"

Sesshoumaru sighed as he got a blanket from the closet and covered the raven haired girl after he removed the sneakers she had adorned.

He stood there for a moment and watched her.

After a moment he turned around and left.

(Tsuki)

And suddenly it was Monday. Or more specifically, the sun was up now. The weekend was an official blur. Or at least for Sango it was.

Sango sighed as she donned a purple off the shoulder sweater over a green wife-beater, and slipped into a green and purple striped skirt. She combed her brown locks out and tied her hair in a high ponytail before moving to stuff her volleyball clothes in a duffel bag.

She called out, "Hey! Kagome! Wake up! I'm leaving early, so don't you dare stay asleep!" As she put on a pair of purple boots, she added, "I don't want to hear anything about you being late, okay!"

Kagome poked her head into the room, clad in a man's robe. "I'm taking a shower now, so don't worry."

Sango blinked, "Hey you look beat… are you okay?" She bit her bottom lip. "We should probably stop our Sunday cramming, huh?"

Kagome laughed, "No… it wasn't really that. I was in bed by three and then Mr. Taisho called. Shippou wouldn't stop crying again."

Sango exited the room with Kagome and both girls went across into Kagome's room. Suddenly she realized that Kagome was wearing a robe that wasn't hers. "Could you backtrack a little? Who's Mr. Taisho? Is that Sesshoumaru's last name?"

Kagome nodded and continued before Sango could question her use of his last name, "I actually fell asleep there. I got back now."

Sango began picking out Kagome's clothes, "Hop into the shower and I'll make you some tea to wake you up." She was frustrated with herself that she had not heard any of that happening. Hell she hadn't even heard her friend come in.

What was more frustrating though, was that she had slept soundly while her friend was probably up most of the night. A feeling of guilt successfully planted itself within the pit of her stomach, "Don't you dare disagree with this. I'm going to leave work early and relieve you at Sesshoumaru's today. You are going to come here and work on your extended essay for half an hour and no longer, then eat, and head to bed. Is that understood?"

Kagome made a move to protest, but a yawn destroyed her efforts. Sango gently directed her to the bathroom, "I'll see you at four then."

She had classes earlier in the morning today, so she would be done around noon. Practice was only an hour that day, then she would head to work after that. Kagome on the other hand did not have class for another hour or so, and she would be done a little before two.

Sango warmed up a muffin for her friend made Kagome her tea, which she poured into a thermos and left on the counter.

She called out a goodbye and left after grabbing her backpack, her duffel bag, and a light jacket.

As soon as she walked into the hall, she ran into a curly haired brunette. She approached Sango, appearing as if she had been waiting for Sango to come out. She was one of Sango's classmates.

Once she as she saw Sango, her worried expression melted away a bit and she looked a little relieved.

"Hey Aarie!" The other brunette smile, surprised. "Hey, Sango. Um, this may sound like a weird question, but are you and Kagome-chan alright?"

Sango furrowed her brows… Maybe it was due to the fact that she had no clue as to what this girl was talking about…but she had no clue to as to what this girl was talking about.

Sango resumed walking towards the elevator. She needed to drop something off at one of her teammates' room. Aarie walked with her as Sango questioned with a small laugh, "Why wouldn't we be? We're fine Rie-chan."

Aarie pulled on her arm to draw her closer as they reached the elevator. "A lot of the girls were approached by some pervert. I heard he was cute, but he acted like a total creep!"

Sango laughed and pushed the button for the elevator, "Aarie, believe me—if I met a guy like, no matter how cute, I'd definitely knock to him down a peg or two. If I ever see him, consider him already castrated."

There was a ring as the elevator reached their floor.

Aarie hugged her and stepped into the elevator with her, "That's why I love living with you, Sango. I feel a lot better now." She giggled a bit, "I admit, though, I was a bit of a wreck, because I heard he had been to this floor Friday, and was harassing mostly people here."

Sango suddenly felt a bit of uneasiness in the pit of her stomach. "Do you happen to know what he looks like?"

Aarie answered after a moment, "Some of the girls say he had dark eyes and raven hair. But that all I remember hearing."

Aarie ended up getting off the elevator at the next floor, and Sango was left alone for a few minutes.

She shuddered a bit, "Is it me or was she just describing—No way. Mirouku?" She nervously laughed it off, "I would have noticed if he was a creep… Right?"

She rubbed her temples as she hopped into her car.

"There's just no way."

(Tsuki)

The morning passed by eventless. Sango barely paid any attention to her lectures and snacked on only an apple and half of a sandwich with some of her guy friends from her classes when lunch came around.

It was only when she went to practice did she start to feel perturbed again.

All the girls kept talking about was some pervert who came to the apartment complex.

Suddenly the setter gasped, "He was the guy Sango was with at our last game! That two timing scum! The sick lech asked me what my underwear size was when we were in the elevator together! He literally said that my ass looked like a friend of his and he wanted to double check something! How messed up!"

Sango stopped her practice serving. She nervously started twirling the volleyball with a small giggle, "Are you sure…? He could have been someone else… I mean—"

The co-captain interrupted her, "I'm sure Sango wouldn't get caught up with someone like that guy! I saw this guy too and he looked nothing like the guy at the game. His hair was the same color, but I'm almost positive that it was a lot longer. Besides," she muttered disgustedly as she tossed it beautifully and jumped up to hit the volleyball angrily, "he was noticeably off. I mean I saw him with women's underwear."

The setter somewhat reluctantly admitted she could have been wrong. Sango seemed relieved, "Now let's concentrate on our practice."

The captains decided that a run around the school track and a mock scrimmage would suffice for the day.

After a quick shower in the girl's locker room and a change into more work appropriate clothes that she had in her duffle bag, Sango quickly hopped into her car and drove off to work.

She had just put the dorm incident behind her, as she stepped out of her car and locked it. She unfolded herself from the car seat and walked towards the building in her deep burgundy corduroys and a yellow and pink striped button up shirt.

Sango quickly rushed inside, since she was bordering on being late. She hurried to punch in at the front desk.

She was so in a rush that barely noticed the stares she was getting from different females as she approached the main desk.

The girl behind the front desk looked up at her, her usually friendly eyes, uncertain as she asked, "Sango-chan…is it true that you've been spending time with Mirouku-sama?"

Sango blinked as she punched in her work code in a small black machine on the counter, "I've hung out with him a few time, yeah. Why do you ask?"

The girl suddenly sighed, "I see. No reason… Tatoushi-sama wants to see, " she said in somewhat clipped tones.

Sango frowned, "Um…okay. Bye Suna."

Suna gave her a noncommittal nod and returned to her work unhappily.

As Sango walked towards Ryuu's office, she suddenly became uncomfortably aware of the various whispers that were circulating.

"I feel bad for her. I bet he's just stringing her along…"

"Clearly she can't be all that innocent! I heard she's getting promoted. I mean coincidences only go so far…"

"I mean how could she not know he's a player? He runs through women, like I run through clothes!"

"I knew from the beginning she was one of those girls. I mean she got this job way too easily! It should have been impossible for someone in college to land what she does!"

"I heard her calling the boss by his first name once! She so scandalous."

Her brow twitched slightly, "I swear to God. If I find out they are talking about me, I think I have the proper grounds to be pissed."

She stepped into the office of a man whom she considered an uncle. "Excuse me, but you wished to see me?"

She gasped as she had seemingly walked into an argument between Mirouku and Ryuu.

Sango blushed, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. I'll just—"

Ryuu gestured for her to take a seat, "I'm actually glad you came, now. I had wanted to do this before, but I suppose I never got the chance."

Mirouku refused to look at Sango as he continued to stand in front of Ryuu's desk.

Ryuu rubbed his temples and after pause he began, "Not even your father knew this Sango, but I married a nonnative women who had come to Japan on holiday decades before. We divorced. And that was that. However she, without my knowledge, had a son. When she died, a few years ago, she placed him under my custody."

Time slowed as she suddenly recalled an incident that occurred on campus last week.

Sango sipped hers shyly as she tried to think of something to start a conversation. Finally she settled with, "What brings you to MNU?"

She was really making progress. Soon she and words wouldn't be so ...unreceptive towards each other.

Mirouku rubbed his forehead before sighing out, "Dad," he suddenly paled and cough, "T-that...That...is a very interesting question... Um.. I came with Kouga to give a discussion in one of the Advance Business classes—" Sango looked surprised as she interrupted, "Really? I have that class. It dropped this block though."

Abruptly, she knew where this conversation was going. Ryuu glanced up at Mirouku, "And that son is him."

Sango felt her head spin. She looked at Mirouku and asked a bit shrilly, "So why am I finding this out now?"

Ryuu rubbed his brows, "I had assumed that everyone here knew. There was no need to really give a formal announcement since I thought it seemed unnecessary. Besides, Mirouku had not wanted one."

Sango let out a wry laugh, "That makes me feel even better. Everyone knew and I didn't…"

The man looked at her, "That's unfair, Sango-chan. You also have to take into consideration that you're part-time. You don't spend as much time here as most of the other workers."

Mirouku suddenly turned, "You two should continue this conversation without me."

Sango stood and glared at him, "Don't you dare exit this room! Why would you keep that from me? What difference would it have made to mention this!?"

Mirouku sighed, "I don't know."

Sango laughed, "'I don't know?' Is that all you can really say to me?"

Ryuu looked up at Kagome, "Please calm done, Sango. I regret not telling you and I'm sure Mirouku does as well."

Mirouku made eye contact for the first time since Sango entered the room, "Actually I don't regret it at all."

Sango's eyes filled with tears, but she suppressed them, "I-I see." She smiled a bit, "Well I'm almost glad. Even though my reputation is being questioned—"

Ryuu spoke up slightly frustrated at the rate of gossip, "I guess people heard about your promotion."

Sango shook her head, "There is no doubt in my mind that it was justly deserved. I'm still in school, sure, but I work harder than half of the people on your payroll." She took in a breath, "Despite that, I'm just glad that I found out just what kind of a game you were trying to pull on me. I heard enough on the way here to gather what type of a person you actually are…."

Ryuu slammed his hand on the desk, "Sango-chan! Please stop for a second and listen to my son's side!"

Mirouku suddenly chuckled. "Father, what's there to my side? She's right, after all. I'm a complete player. In my stay with you, I've dated countless women here. None lasted more than a week, so it's good that we're ending this now, right?"

Ryuu rubbed his brow exhaustedly. "…Mirouku…"

Sango's bravado completely crumbled then.

For the first time in a long while, she started crying, "Then I bet you're the jerk, the girls at my dorm were talking about! How many of the exactly did you harass on Friday?"

Mirouku looked at her for a second, his face constructed into an indifferent mask as he answered, "As many as I felt like."

Sango abruptly rubbed at her eyes and composed herself, "I don't think it would be appropriate to continue working here, so I'm resigning as of now, Mr. Tatoushi."

With that, she stood and with out a look back, she left.

Ryuu looked sadly at his son, "Why would you dig such a hole for yourself, Mirouku?"

"…..I'd prefer it if we just dropped this…."

(Tsuki)

A.N.

Well I don't mean to toot my own horn, but c'mon. This is the longest chapter I've ever written ever for any of my stories! This was bordering 9,500 words. That so deserves like fifty reviews per person. (kidding) I'm really proud of myself though, because so much happened. But I feel bad because I dashed the San.Mir romance. Like I honestly took it out back and shot it, basically.

But…who knows. Maybe I have something up my sleeves and everything will turn out all cutesy and fluffly. But like I said… who knows. I may have gone up to immeasurable scales on the bitch meter and just made Mirouku a total asshole in this story,

Who knows?

So review, because I love you and dished out this wonderfully long and event filled chapter that had Sesshoumaru saying the word sex lol.

Merry Christmas, lovelies!