Simply Business Chapter 33, an inuyasha fanfic

A.N. Thanks for reviewing! I'm so close!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Inuyasha and never claimed ownership at any point during this story.

(Tsuki)

Simply Business

Chapter Thirty-Three

(Tsuki)

Labor Thanksgiving Day was a day for celebrating the work of men and women alike that was the foundation of a great and prosperous country.

It was a day for patriotic gratitude, prayer, and rest.

But most importantly, it was the two and half week marker for the beginning of Winter break.

Despite all this though, Kagome was in no mood to be 'festive,' in any sort of way. She just wished to stay in her thick, comfortable, jersey pajamas all day long.

If anything, today was a lay in bed kind of day, but she knew eventually, she'd have to wake up, sit through breakfast, possibly have another Kouga visit, and then finish the day by trying to make edible food for the Taisho family. She had to wonder, though, why she had been exempt from heading over there to make breakfast or something, since both of them were off.

She had promised not to make questionable meals anymore, yet Sesshoumaru had spent several minutes handing off container filled orders before excusing himself to go 'finish work.' He hadn't even said a word to her when she went up to say good bye.

Unless of course, 'hn' had been added overnight to the dictionary.

She thought back to the day before and had to wonder what had actually happened to make Sesshoumaru so pouty. It was no brainer that it hadn't been her. Maybe it had had something to do with how long he was on the phone.

What person took twenty minutes to order in?

Quite frankly, even Sesshoumaru wasn't that clueless. Plus he said he had been doing that for three weeks give or take a day or two, so he most definitely take out savvy by now. He had to have been on the phone with someone else in addition to his order.

The girl looked up at her ceiling and had to wonder what the man was doing now. He, too, would have had the day off, seeing as how it was a national holiday so she couldn't help but wonder what he did on day offs.

(Tsuki)

"I cannot believe you legitimately do not know how to pack a suitcase…" Sango looked somewhat appalled as she watched Sesshoumaru place random garments in a bag. He had no regard for quantity or matching or neatness….clothes just went in. It was driving her absolutely mad. "I thought Kagome had exaggerated last time, but you're actually challenged!"

She was with him in his spacious bedroom. Although she had been there once before, it was still awing to be in a bedroom twice the size of her own. 'Even though there's barely anything in it,' she thought somewhat indignantly taking another glance around.

The girl felt out of place in her bright, blue baby doll top, and her purposefully damaged, stonewash, fitted jeans. The room was like an ode to all dreary colors, and he himself was dressed in a white leisurely buttoned dress shirt and black pants. Sango couldn't help but to wonder what his true appeal was… Her eyes rolled heavenward, 'You know, besides the perfect looks, killer eyes, and the mansion of a house…'

Sesshoumaru paused in barraging his suitcase with articles of clothing to drawl in response, "You're right… Instead of learning how to run a multimillion dollar corporation I should have spent the last decade learning how to pack suitcases. My life would be so much more fulfilled."

Sango resisted the urge to imagine what said life would in fact look like and instead put her hands on her hips. The brunette sniffed, "This kind of stuff should be common sense, is all I'm saying!"

The man continued to place clothes into the case and said in a cool tone. "Mourning children with workaholic parents also in mourning do not often go on trips, Takinama."

The brunette let her hands drop from her hips and ran a hand through her hair guiltily. "I'm sorry, Sesshoumaru." Her cheeks tinged with red hot embarrassment. "I really don't mean to be so rude to you." She moved over to his side and began properly folding his clothes and taking out the overkill items, "I just have been easily annoyed lately. Especially when it comes to you."

Sesshoumaru moved to his closest, "Quite understandable, of course, since we seldom meet."

Sango smiled wryly and continued to fold, "I know it doesn't make any sense. But trust me, it actually really does…"

The platinum haired male paused to give her a look and Sango groaned, "It's too weird talking to you one on one right now, so expect me to say bizarre things okay!"

His response to that came completely unexpected to Sango.

Sesshoumaru couldn't help but chuckle, "I see why the two of you are so close now," he murmured. The brunette instantly knew that he was referring to Kagome, but she was still confused.

"What do you mean? Why now?"

He tossed a shirt onto the bed, "You seemed far older than Higurashi when I first met you—too mature to tolerate some of her antics."

Sango opened her mouth to protest but Sesshoumaru had already started speaking again, "But in all actuality, you probably need her more than she needs you."

Sango stopped folding, "Excuse me?"

Sesshoumaru turned and leaned against the wall and he said in a blasé tone, "Your outward maturity works against you in the fact that you seem independent and already established. You don't draw people in as much as you push them away, even though you want to. Higurashi, in contrast, is so open that one cannot entirely detest her."

Sango tried to feel angry, but all she truly felt was hurt. In a low voice, she asked, "Are you saying I'm the dislikeable one and she's the likeable one?"

He snorted, "Hardly." Sango looked away from his gaze and Sesshoumaru murmured, "Rest assured, you both have too many 'likeable' and 'dislikeable' features to categorize either of you into one word." He looked at her intently and continued, "I am saying though, that her presence dilutes your desire to seem independent for whatever reasons you have for it. She helps you open up to the people who you wish to know."

His tone became amused. "Had it been anyone else you were fighting with like this, it would have been Higurashi's influence that would have eventually pushed you to make up. Since she's the adversary, however, you're at a loss for how to fix things one on one. But I do hope you know, an elaborate dinner will not completely make everything better, no matter what your intentions."

Sango sat down on his bed, "How could you possibly know that?"

"You will 'accidently' lose yourself in the role of hostess and miss out on every possible chance to address the problem, just as you've been avoiding it for weeks prior."

"We have the ride down—"

Sesshoumaru scoffed, "Radio, music, feigning sleep…"

Sango rubbed her brow and asked anxiously, "So what do you suggest?"

"I won't suggest anything. Now that I've pointed out this evening's flaws to you, I can only hope you suck up your pride and take action."

"….Thanks for being so harsh with me…"

"That, Takinama, was not harsh. Believe me, I could have been worse."

And Sango wholeheartedly believed that…

(Tsuki)

When Kagome finally slithered out of bed, she was met with a lifeless dorm. With a dubious glint to her eyes, she quickly but silently snuck around the dorm to make absolutely sure. When she was positive that she was alone she breathed out a small sigh of relief. That was one less thing she had to handle to day. Breakfasts with Sango, were so painfully awkward that eating was equally as taxing. She was certain she had lost of few pounds because of everything.

Kagome doubled back to the bathroom to splash a bit of water on her face and rinse with mouthwash. She couldn't stand the feeling of an un-brushed mouth, the taste of minty breakfast, though was far worse in comparison. Instant solution: mouthwash before breakfast and she'd just brush her teeth afterwards.

As she gargled, the girl was left to her thoughts once again. This time, they were not entirely cohesive and ping ponged back and forth between Sango and Sesshoumaru. With an annoyed groan Kagome emptied the contents of her mouth into the sink and headed to the kitchen. A plate of breakfast was wrapped in clear wrap and set on the table with a small index card on it.

Kagome knew Sango well enough to predict it probably held an excuse, told her what she had made despite the fact that the meal was very self explanatory, and wished her a happy Labor Thanksgiving Day.

Sure enough the pink card carried a similar message. Kagome lifted the card and her eyes scanned over the girl's handwriting. 'Hey Kagome, I'm out to help an… acquaintance.' Kagome looked at the line with perplex. The word friend had been repeatedly and thickly crossed out and acquaintance had been inserted above it. The 'n' in the 'an' had been added in what could almost be dubbed a sloppy grammatical afterthought.

The raven haired decided to ignore it and read on, 'Enjoy breakfast. I made chocolate chip pancakes. You might need to warm them up though. Happy Labor Thanksgiving Day, by the way.'

Kagome put the card down and slid the plate sans message into the microwave. She let out a sigh as the room was filled with several beeps and finally a muted whirring sound as the microwave came to life.

The scent of pancakes filled the air as her breakfast warmed up.

"The quickest way to a girl's heart is always her favorite stack of homemade pancakes." She let a pout form on her lips, "I hate passively fighting with someone who knows my weaknesses!"

She shook her head, "Remorse has become a permanent accessory in my day to day outfits and it's, without a doubt, not a good look."

Kagome looked down at her oversized XXL speckled gray shirt that advertised for some MNU event that had long since passed. It was billowing over her pink polka dot boxer shorts with an equally dotted lime green waist band bow tie that clashed with the purple striped fuzzy house slippers she had adorned. She shook her head, "I can't even get dressed properly with all this regret weighing me down…"

The girl snagged a cup off the drying rack next to the sink and poured some orange juice into the clear glass. She then took out the pancakes a few seconds earlier than the microwave timer was set to go off and grabbed a fork before taking a seat with her juice and stack of pancakes.

Sango had left the maple syrup in a small spouted jar in the center of the table, so Kagome amply helped herself to it.

As she ate she mused diplomatically, "I just need to say something to her. I need to let her know I'm not mad and that I genuinely accepted her apologies." She forked a triangle cut of chocolate filled fluff into her mouth with a contented groan. "It has to be a sin to be mad at someone who makes pancakes this good."

Hell that's all Sango should have done in lieu of an apology.

Whip up a stack of buttermilk pancakes packed with chocolate morsels and top with enough syrup to send a person into a sugar coma and who couldn't forget an argument?

After a few more bites, her mind's dishevelment out weighed her stomach's contentment. Kagome lay her head on the circular table and let out a sigh.

Her pancakes lay forgotten as she stood and made her way into Sango's bedroom. She sat down onto the bed and after a moment placed her head on the brunette's pillow, reminiscing about simpler, less testosterone filled days.

(Tsuki)

Rin stealthily crept into Shippou's room, hoping that the red head would be somewhat awake. Or at least not that cranky, if woken up at seven in the morning on a day off.

She slowly closed his door behind her, hoping Sesshoumaru would be too preoccupied talking with Sango to hear the sound.

The girl climbed onto Shippou's bed and searched for the boy under the sea of blankets he had wrapped over himself in his sleep, "Shippou…" she called in a light whisper of a sing song.

She finally found the small boy in the fabric, lightly snoring and dead asleep.

Rin groaned and shook him slightly, "What's the point of setting an early morning meeting if you're not awake for it, Shippou-kun!"

She shook him a little harder, a bit miffed at the fact that she had made sure to wake up early considering the words 'early morning' really could have meant anything.

But seeing the dead-asleep younger boy made her feel as if drinking ten glasses of water had been null and void!

She shook him for a full two minutes, "Shippppou!"

The red headed boy rolled onto his stomach and flailed his arms, "Whadya want?"

"You said we would have a meeting today," the girl lowered her voice and whispered in a lower tone than she had already been using, "about you-know-what. You were the one who planned this remember?"

Shippou bolted awake and wiped his eyes, "Oh yeah! I completely forgot!"

Rin rolled her eyes playfully, "No kidding!"

Shippou yawned, "Okay, so I've been thinking…"

"Uh huh?"

"Maybe we should do something drastic or something—like we can lock them in a room until they get married!"

Rin gave the boy a look, but did not want to hurt his feelings by completely trashing the idea, "…Rin guesses that can be an option, but let's come up with more ideas just in case…."

Shippou rolled over so he could sit up, "But it has to be drastic!" The way Shippou kept stressing the word made Rin suspicious that he didn't quite know the meaning, but was using it because he had heard it on TV. "Sitting back and watching's only making room for people like Wolf-Man and that mean, fat mouse with the weird stares from that costume shop place. We need to do something, Rin."

"We can't lock them in a room, Shippou-kun," the girl scolded, "Papa and nee-chan could starve…"

Shippou sighed and grudgingly admitted, "I guess you're right." His eyes lit up, "Maybe you should hint that you want a mommy—the old man's so clueless, he might not even know! If you start crying and really play it up, he'll make the first person he sees your mommy!"

Rin did not seem to like the idea, "But if Rin cries, Papa would be sad too…" She gasped, "And what if he sees Gome first? Rin does not want a puppy as her mommy, Shippou!"

Shippou fell back down onto his bed, "I've giving you gold and this is the thanks I get?" He huffed, "I guess you can cut out the crying part and just hint at it. It'll just take a whole lot longer for anything to happen, though."

Rin bit her bottom lip, "Hint at it?"

Shippou rolled onto his stomach. "Man, Rin! You're lucky you have me 'cause those two would be apart forever if you were working solo!"

Rin crossed her arms, "Not true!"

Shippou smirked, "So very true…" He gestured her closer, "Now come here—I have a plan."

Rin plopped onto her stomach and listened closely as the younger boy whispered in her ear.

(Tsuki)

Kohaku sighed, "I can't help but to think that I'll probably think of more her in the next ten minutes than she'll ever think of me in a lifetime." The boy was seated on the steps leading up the shrine, accompanied by his sandy haired best friend.

Souta groaned, "That's completely believable—and you know why?" He threw his arms up in exasperation, "You've had one heck of a head start with this crush of yoursand don't do anything about it but think!"

The freckled boy looked surprised that Souta would raise his voice and he sheepishly apologize, "I'm sorry for bothering you with all of this—"

Souta rolled his eyes, "It's not what you're talking about, Kohaku. It's how you're talking about it! You seem so sad! It makes me feel sad hearing it. It's like contact depression, even though today is supposed to be a fun day! C'mon—you haven't smiled all day at least pretend a bit to make me happy."

Kohaku grudgingly had to smile, "You're right." He stood, "I just need to keep busy! Wanna go help my mom decorate the cakes?"

Souta jumped up and clasped him on the back, "That's more like it!"

If only troubles could forever be fixed by cake.

Unfortunately with each passing year, ache curing remedies become more and more difficult to attain.

(Tsuki)

Sango's eyes lit up, "Okay, so how's this…" She paused to throw a diced clove of garlic into a pot, "You drive Kagome and I'll take your kids. Just say it's an emergency so she never figures out—"

"No." Sesshoumaru said, with a definitive chop of a celery stock.

Sango pouted, "But she's more likely to fall asleep on the ride to Kyoto if she's with someone she trusts. Right now I can't be factored into that category and I don't want her to know she's going to Kyoto right away! We can take Gome with us too and he can play with our cats! It'll be a blast! C'mon!"

She had everything almost entirely planned… for the most part. She had called her parents as well as Kagome's mother the night before and outlined slash pleaded with them to see if it could work out.

The parents had been excited at the idea of a dinner party and at once complied.

During dinner with Mirouku, she invited him and his father to attend, seeing as a visit from him was long overdue for her parents. Her parents needed to meet Mirouku anyway so it was killing two birds with one stone.

But bottom line, both men had been very pleased with the idea as well. The only opposition was coming from the man right next to her.

Sesshoumaru abruptly stopped cutting, "Really… how did you get my number?"

Perhaps he should not have let the girl into his home. But he had not been in any mood to demand that Kagome assist his packing. For some reason he was more annoyed with her than usual.

Sango poured some rice into a pot of water, "It doesn't matter. Finish cutting the celery."

Sesshoumaru's brow looked affronted that the girl would dare to command him to do anything without some sort of 'if it please you milord' type attachment.

The brunette took notice and giggled, "Please, since you're so good at reading people, you should already have expected that. I'm incurably domineering. I get it from my father."

The silver haired man narrowed his eyes at her, "I expected a bit more of a humble attitude, since you are asking a favor, Higurashi."

It was Sango's turn to raise a brow, "Higurashi, huh? Something on your mind there, Sesshoumaru? Or someone for that matter?"

Sesshoumaru kept his face impassive as he mentally cursed himself for making such a foolish mistake. He continued to cut celery and said curtly, "It was a easily made error as she has consistently made our meals for so long."

Sango crossed her arms, "I think I know a little bit about mistakes and that, Sesshoumaru, was no mistake… What's on your mind champ?"

He glared over at her, "Never address me as such again."

Sango took his cutting board and dumped in only what he had cut. She placed the rest back in the fridge and asked flippantly, "Or you'll what?"

"Need I remind you that moments before, you were trying to convince me to play a part in your plan—a word, mind you, that I am using very loosely?"

Sango met his gaze evenly, "What's wrong, Sesshoumaru? Just tell me."

"Your rice is boiling."

Sango's head snapped to her left in a manner so fast that the motion had Sesshoumaru wondering whether she caused any internal damage. The brunette groaned as she saw the white nearly opaque bubbles and after taking the oven mitts, she grabbed both sides of the pot and poured the hot water into he sink.

Sesshoumaru oddly felt relieved that the conversation was lost for the moment.

Maybe it was because even he himself did not know what the problem was…

(Tsuki)

Kagome once again had to pry herself out of a bed. Kouga had called moments prior and disrupted her relaxed, half-awake, nap to chat as he was visiting family and wouldn't be able to see her that day. Being on a full level of alertness, though, had made her unable to stay in Sango's room. She reheated and finished the pancakes before she went to shower and get dressed to head over to the Taishos.

She did not bother to dry her hair and tossed it in a thick bun and wrapped a towel tightly around her head. The girl slipped into a pair of jeans and managed a V neck white sweater or her bulky towel covered head. She slid her sock clad feet into a pair of warm boots next and only then did she remove the towel. Deft fingers undid the bun only to place the damp locks into a low ponytail.

As a last minute consideration, she pulled a blue wool hat over her ears. Before she exited, she donned a brown trench coat and grabbed her keys.

The girl stepped outside the building expecting to head directly to her car, but a more familiar car barred her from ever reaching hers.

Sesshoumaru was leaned against his sleek vehicle sipping a thermos of what she presumed to be tea. He smirked at her in lieu of a greeting, "I need you to assist me with something."

Kagome blinked and fished for words. Finding nothing that was by technical definition an actual sentence, she settled with asking, "What?"

"Get in, Higurashi."

The girl's feet moved seemingly on their own accord as she slipped into the passenger seat. Sesshoumaru took another sip of his warm drink and slid behind the wheel.

Before the girl could speak again, Sesshoumaru reached over and touched a lock of her hair. The silver haired man cranked up the heat, "You realize that it is less than fifty degrees outside?"

Kagome pulled her hat down further over her reddening ears, "I didn't think I'd be outside long."

Sesshoumaru slid down his seatbelt and Kagome did the same in confusion. As the platinum blond placed the car into drive, she asked, "What am I assisting you with?"

Sesshoumaru looked a bit amused, "Errands for an acquaintance."

Kagome vaguely remembered wondering why that word kept popping up.

But the drive did not give her the chance to really think on the subject. Or any subject for that matter…

Long drives had a knack of sending Kagome to sleep when she wasn't the driver. According to the dashboard clock they had been driving for half an hour and Sesshoumaru did not seem intent on stopping any time soon.

Her head was doing a fine impression of a bobble head by that time. Between the silence and the warm settings of the car, Kagome was standing no chance at keeping her eyes open.

She had tried making small talk the first ten minutes in, but that bastard seemed very intent on giving a blatant show that he was not in the mood to talk. Even his trademark, 'hn,' would have been a welcome additive to her one sided conversation.

Sesshoumaru chuckled lightly as he took note of her head's bobbing and weaving at a red light. Kagome heard him let out a laugh, but the deep sound, did nothing to jolt her awake. It only pushed her further into a realm of slumber.

"It's alright if you go to sleep. We still have a bit of a drive ahead of us."

His voice was soothing and hypnotic velvet as he uttered those words and they were the final push that sent Kagome off into a light doze.

(Tsuki)

"Higurashi," Kagome's eyes fluttered open and she rubbed them with a stifled yawn at Sesshoumaru's call. "We're here."

Kagome nodded hazily wondering in a sleep induced daze, where 'here' was. Sesshoumaru gave her no chance to orient herself, "Stay here; I will be right back." He was about to open the door, but he paused, "Oh, would you do me a favor?" He did not wait for her response, "My phone fell somewhere under your seat earlier, would you mind getting it for me?"

Kagome nodded slightly and yawned again, "Uh, yeah sure."

Sesshoumaru smirked and exited the car with a short, "Thanks."

He closed the door and started up the familiar steps of the Higurashi's shrine. As soon as he was confident that Kagome could not see him, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed Sango's number.

The brunette picked up instantly, "Hey! You made great time! We just got here ten minutes ago ourselves."

"I need you to do me a favor," Sesshoumaru said into the device inciting a pause on the other end.

"That depends… What's the favor?"

The man took a gamble and replied, "Higurashi insisted on heading into her house and in her rush, she forgot her cell phone. I need you to get it from my car. I left it unlocked."

"She's in the house? Shit! Don't let her in the courtyard yet!" After a second the brunette processed the request, "Wait—why do you want me to get the phone?"

Sesshoumaru took the final step off the last stair and smirked, "I'm simply creating a conversation starter."

With that, he hung up and he made his way into the house to wait.

(Tsuki)

"Where's that freakin' phone!" Kagome had crept down between the seat and the dashboard to get a better angle at feeling under the seat. She futilely touched inch after inch of the car's carpet but felt nothing resembling Sesshoumaru's phone.

Kagome sighed and laid her head on the leather seating, "If that guy is messing with me, I'll be so pissed."

The door suddenly opened and a lithe body slid into the seat. Two surprised shrieks sounded at the same time.

Kagome's eyes widened like a deer in headlights as she saw the one brunette she never expected to see.

"Sango?!"

The afore mentioned girl looked equally as shocked. She let out a groan after awhile, "That guy is an asshole!"

Kagome blinked and asked, "What are you doing here? I thought we were—Actually I don't know where we are… Who's an asshole?"

Sango laughed a bit and Kagome, with a grunt, returned to a proper sitting position on the seat. She addressed the questions in order. "Believe or not we're at your house. I'd thought I'd surprise you with a Labor Thanksgiving Day dinner—or late lunch I guess, considering the time. Sesshoumaru's an asshole though, because I was still mentally prepping for how to talk to you."

"Well I'm glad he set this up. We've needed to talk for awhile…" Kagome smiled a bit, "I'm not mad at you, Sango. The only time I was even remotely mad at you was when you accidently spilled juice on my favorite teddy bear—fourteen years ago!"

The other girl smiled but shook her head, "I still like the hugest jerk for yelling at you."

Kagome rolled her eyes and in a tone that matched Sango's that night, she asked, "Are we even now?!"

Sango burst into laughter, "Oh my God, was I really that loud?"

The raven haired girl giggled and pulled the other girl into a hug, "Does it matter anymore, Sango? I miss my best friend!"

Sango returned the hug, "I missed you too…"

"No more awkwardness okay?"

"Just one last thing though and then we can drop this forever," She looked at Kagome and sighed, "I know you've been seeing Kouga more often lately and I'd feel awful if you've been doing it to just so I wouldn't be mad at you."

Kagome smiled, "No worries about that. I just want to see things through properly with Kouga. He's a great guy."

Sango leaned onto the steering wheel in pensive thought. Finally, she said, "Sesshoumaru's a great guy too…."

Kagome tried to laugh, "He has his moments."

Sango simply smiled and touched her friend's arm lightly, "Come on. It's time for your surprise…"

(Tsuki)

The evening was filled with lively music and wonderful food. It was positively magical despite being planned within the span of less than twenty four hours.

The shrine was a tranquilly beautiful place in the autumn dusk and Sango's planning had made it a sight to behold.

Souta and Kohaku had been tasked with hanging white Christmas lights around the perimeter of the courtyard. Mrs. Higurashi and the Takinamas had then placed two large rectangular tables adjacent to each other so there would be instead one large square table. While jii-chan had clothed the tables, the other five set to work on bringing out chairs to seat fourteen people.

Mr. Takinama brought over his beloved grill and the women went out to purchases wooden torches to help warm the chilly evening.

In addition to supplying the bulk of what would be eaten that night, the duo efforts of the Takinama and Higurashi families shown magnificently hours later.

The large table now held Ryuu, Mirouku, the Takinamas Higurashi, Sesshoumaru, Rin and Shippou.

Many introductions were made that night. They ranged from Mrs. Higurashi's exuberant, "This is the one I told you about!" as she introduced Sesshoumaru to Sango's parents, to Kohaku nudging his father and whispering, "He's the guy I was telling you about," before Sango herself could do the honors of introducing Mirouku herself.

The presence of everyone in addition to the close by torch lamps helped to keep the temperature comfortable rather than cold and the brunette could not help but look over her indirect handiwork.

Her mom had crafted four colorful cakes doused with homemade icing that served as centerpieces. The freckled woman had explained that each was a different type of cake to tailor to the different taste a gathering of their size could hold.

Bordering the cakes was dish after dish of various foods, from sweet pickles to pasta, everything there was contributed by Mrs. Higurashi and Mrs. Takinama, save two of the dishes that Sango supplied thanks to Sesshoumaru's assistance and the freshly grilled menu, Mr. Takinama was making up as he was requested. All the food was kept warm by being suspended over heaters and the scent permeated the courtyard in a teasing fashion. The cool autumn temperature allowed them to conduct their outside affair free from insects.

Ryuu had brought several bottles of French wine for the adults, while Mirouku carried sparkling cider to make the kids feel like adults and those were the drinks of the evening.

But it was not the sight of the perfectly set table that Sango was most conscious of. What she noticed every single time she glanced around, was how well the table clicked.

Ryuu and her parents naturally—but Mirouku and Sesshoumaru were frequently prone to delving into private conversation, which Ryuu or her father would end up joining. Her mother perhaps was the only person who actually enjoyed hearing Kagome's jii-chan's stories and Shippou was more than taken with Souta, if not worshipped the boy's video game savvy. Kohaku and Rin made shy, but unbearably adorable blush coated conversation while in another corner Kagome animatedly caught up with her mother.

Sango bit her bottom lip, musing on how seamlessly Sesshoumaru fit into their world. The dinner went on as if nothing possibly was amiss.

Even Kirara and Buyo seemed smitten with Gome as they ate off together at the head of the monstrous sized table.

Sango took a sip of her white wine filled glass.

Kouga. Sesshoumaru.

She wasn't going to pick sides based on what she thought of either. That was simply foolish. She would merely go with how happy Kagome was whenever either was around.

And so far…

The brunette looked over at the platinum haired man. He caught her staring and raised a brow discreetly. Sango just smiled and joined Kagome and her mother in conversation.

So far that guy was winning…

(Tsuki)

Kagome felt better now that she finally had time to really talk to Sango, even if it really was only because Sesshoumaru forced the time.

Speaking of Sesshoumaru though, she couldn't help but wonder what had provoked Sango's change of heart.

The only thing she was certain of was that she never expected the brunette to ever praise him.

Regardless of Sango's new image of Sesshoumaru, a part of her hoped that eventually she would be completely focused on the blue eyed male.

Regardless of the fact that Sango seemed to think it was out of obligation, it wasn't really.

It was taking the chance that this was that was what fate wanted for her. She didn't want to miss out on what was in front of her just for some infatuation with someone out of her league.

The raven haired girl disregarded the dull ache in her heart and the remembrance of how mechanical her actions were in Kouga's presence.

Oddly the man seemed to take them as her norm though. How stiff she was seemed to go above Kouga's sense of recognition.

He found no difference between forced bray and her genuine bouts of laughter.

He seemed to have no idea that she would gaze off into space, trying to convince more quixotic internal organ that there was a happiness with Kouga that she could not have with Sess.

After all Sesshoumaru wasn't the one who seemed to be within reach.

He was always supposed to be untouchable in that way, except she was never supposed to realize it.

He should have been in some sort of friend zone… just naturally.

She rubbed her brows and internally sighed.

He needed someone like Kagura at his side—just sans the borderline psychotic father and the godawful attitude.

But the woman was gorgeous and held herself with a sophistication that she herself could never posses.

Image wise they were a couple of perfection. Not she and him.

But she wanted to still enjoy his company… the company of his family. Like before.

Her days, after all were numbered.

Once winter break ended, time seemed only focused on passing quickly.

(Tsuki)

A.N. A long chapter leading into even longer once as we hit the home stretch. I'll feel so accomplished when this is done…Sad, but accomplished.

R&R