Aitoshii

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I do not own Inu Yasha nor any of its characters. That honor goes to Rumiko Takahashi.

My fanfiction can also be found at inuyasha-fanfiction.com . It is a community dedicated to InuYasha no matter the pairing.

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After Kagome and Maya had finished shopping at Laforet, it was too close to the time that Sesshoumaru had appointed Maya to have Kagome presented at Taisho Corporation. The two women made a trip back to the estate for Kagome to change.

Kagome donned on a black skirt that seemed almost like a slip, but it flared out a bit at the hem, giving it a graceful yet professional and feminine touch. She wore a white camisole with a light pink sweater blouse. Though she had protested at the store, Kagome wore a simple strand of pearls around her delicate throat. Kagome had insisted that they forgo real jewelry and just purchase faux jewelry, as it was less expensive. Maya had insisted that purchasing the real thing would not be a problem with Sesshoumaru and he would have not approved of his personal assistant wearing nothing but the best.

As a finishing touch, Maya pulled Kagome's raven locks into an elegant bun.

"There, now you’re ready to go to your new job," Maya smiled, and tugged Kagome along before the miko would dare to protest.

"I still feel uncomfortable with wearing these pearls," Kagome whined as she pulled on her black open toed stilettos.

"You have no jewelry and barely anything to your name. If it takes buying jewelry to accent your attire, we will not buy anything fake. Lord Sesshoumaru expects his personal assistant to represent his pristine image even to the tiniest detail, including clothing and jewelry," Maya replied like a scolding mother hen. “Now, no more complaining. This is for your career, not flattery.”

Kagome nodded her head weakly at Maya's explanation before climbing into the limousine. The ride to the office was quiet and Kagome found herself nervous. This was nothing close to stripping and she had no real office experience. She knew the basics from school, but this was still a whole new thing for her. When they arrived, Maya rushed her into the building and to Sesshoumaru's office.

"Hurry up, my lady. Only a few minutes left. You will be shown the entire building later," Maya assured Kagome, pulling the nervous woman into the elevator. "To the top we go!"

The elevator ride itself was quick. Once out and on the top floor, Kagome noticed the decor. It was life walking into a museum dedicated to the feudal era of Nippon. On the wall both Tenseiga and Toukijin hung, and to the side was a mannequin dressed in Lord Sesshoumaru’s regal attire and battle regalia during that time.

"Those swords come with me wherever I may go," Sesshoumaru strolled in, interrupting Kagome's perusal of his office. "Now follow me, Kagome."

Kagome complied, and then followed him into a side office. Maya departed without a word.

"This is your office. I have already made arrangements for your work provisions to be delivered at the earliest possible time. This Sesshoumaru understands that you are still attending the university. You will continue to do so until you finish. Do not bother about expenses. Those also have been taken care of as of about noon today," he stated and beckoned her to follow him again.

"I don't mean to offend you, Sesshoumaru, but why do that for me?" Kagome asked, extremely curious.

Sesshoumaru almost did not want to oblige Kagome's curiosity, but because of recent events, he had to get her to trust him and so he had to be more open.

"The Shikon no Miko always thought about others and never herself. For once, let someone take care of you. It seems you have not had it easy. This Sesshoumaru rarely bestows such things, but you are worthy, Higurashi Kagome. Do not ask again. Know that you will not be found wanting of anything for some time," the taiyoukai answered and brought them to his large office.

Kagome kept quiet, but attentive as Sesshoumaru continued, “Of course after your graduation, you are welcome to apply here or elsewhere for whatever position you chose. Think of this opportunity as an apprenticeship. As my personal assistant, you will receive appointment requests through the secretary and this Sesshoumaru must approve each at the end of the day. You will be expected to greet any business colleagues or potential clients and have all information that I want presented in the meetings. Meetings can be held in the conference room on this floor, a restaurant here or in another city, or even in another country. You will travel when I do. You will be expected to learn names and faces if we go to social galas and be my escort. I do not like to call random women and since I am comfortable with you, I believe it best for your experience and my sanity, that you accompany me to such events. Your position, to best describe it is that if the company board is my right hand, you are my left. You will be allowed to make decisions and have liberties that others would be jealous. Do not let anyone push you around. Any questions before I lead you through the building?”

“That is a lot to take up. How long do you expect me to learn this job? I don’t want to mess up, but I hope I have like a probation time to get everything right,” Kagome wondered.

“Good question. Though many know me to be a perfectionist by reputation, I do understand that learning new things take time, like a new job. I will give the standard ninety days,” Sesshoumaru promptly replied.

Kagome breathed easier and nodded. She had imagined that she would have been bossed around and treated like a slave according to her former experience with the taiyoukai. However, she noticed that even though business was a cutthroat life, even he had to comply to some of the modern work regulations.
Sesshoumaru led her through the important floors and briefly explained the floors of the building that he did not think would be necessary to visit. Most of the employees she saw seemed diligent in their duties, and above all, even happy.

“Employees receive generous benefits, especially medical. This company also holds quarterly parties to ensure high morale. In return, I see work produced in every department that meets or exceeds my expectations,” he concluded.

Kagome was impressed.

“And now, I am hoping Maya has at least helped you purchase one cocktail dress. I would like to take you out tonight. I received an invitation to meet with a prospective client at his party and it would be nice to break you in so you familiarize yourself with your job,” Sesshoumaru inquired.

“Hai. I bought one for now. I bought a week worth of work attire, but I’m afraid we didn’t have much time,” Kagome blushed.

“Or was it that you were too modest to spend my money?” the demon lord mused, clearly enjoying the deepening of Kagome’s blush. “Come, we will return to my home and ready ourselves for the party.”

Sesshoumaru offered his arm and Kagome gently slid her hand into the nook of his elbow. He flipped his cell phone open and called Jaken to have his car waiting for him outside the building. As he led the raven-haired woman to his car, he noticed all the stares. He knew it was rare for him to be seen with a woman. Often he heard rumors circulate that some people thought he was gay. It never angered him.

‘Perhaps it was a good idea to take her in,’ he thought amusingly to himself.

Kagome was nervous about the party, as she had never been to anything fancy. The clothes and jewelry she currently wore were a fraction of the cost of the cocktail dress that Maya had helped her buy. She had grown up without many comforts, being that she had lived on a shrine and her grandfather thought it best to live as humbly as possible. She chewed on her lip through the car ride back to Sesshoumaru’s home and most of the time when she was preparing herself.

When her mind came out of its nervous fuzz, she realized that she had worried herself over two hours and currently sat in front of her vanity mirror about to poke herself with the wired mascara brushed.

‘Come on Higurashi. Suck it up! You can do this!’ she said to herself, and then took a deep breath before applying her mascara.

Once done, she applied her lip gloss that gave her a wet lips look and then stood. The cocktail dress was entirely black, but two pieces. The top was almost halter like that had a deep swoop in the back and front and buttoned on the side. The skirt was knee length and straight. Both had black sequins that made the fabric shimmer in the light. It was almost Grecian in style, but turned Kagome into a woman she had never thought was in her.

‘This is me?’

She had been the schoolgirl, the priestess, the stripper, the businesswoman, and now, simply an enchanting woman. She was never vain, but she knew she was not ugly. She felt confident in the dress. With one last glance, she slipped on a pair of open toed black satin and sequined stilettos before exiting her room. She was slightly grateful for her stripping experience, as the platform stilettos were much taller than the shoes she currently wore. She remembered in the beginning being so klutzy. In the first week that she had worked in Aitoshii, she had tripped four trips into the eagerly awaiting laps of the patrons. But now, she gracefully glided over the floor towards the front entrance where she knew Sesshoumaru would be waiting for her.

As expected, Sesshoumaru was waiting for her and she immediately blushed. She was embarrassed that she had possibly made him wait a little too long. However, she did notice Sesshoumaru’s eyes widen when she entered and she almost swore she saw the stoic lord’s cheeks tinge slightly pink.

Kagome’s astounded Sesshoumaru with her whole attire and look.

‘She is beautiful!’

Sesshoumaru bowed slightly and then offered his arm.

“Shall we leave? I hope the host of the party will not mind our tardiness. With you on my arm, I think he might actually forgive me,” he said, quite amused with himself for teasing her.

‘She brings out a playful side in this Sesshoumaru.’

As they entered the limousine, Sesshoumaru whispered into Kagome’s ear, “You looking enchanting, little miko.”

Kagome shivered as his warm breath passed over her ear. She blushed and mumbled a thank you before sliding into the vehicle. She was not confused about her reaction to Sesshoumaru. She would never lie to herself as she had always found the taiyoukai quite gorgeous. However, in the past, he was beautiful to look at, but a real turn off personality-wise. Since meeting him again here in modern times, she found herself becoming attracted to him. She was no longer some shy schoolgirl that would never reveal her feelings. She had learned quickly during her time at Aitoshii on how to express herself.

“Arigatou, Sesshoumaru-kun. You have done so much for me in such little time. I am still recovering from the shrine incident, but tonight, in this dress, I finally feel like a real woman,” Kagome admitted softly to Sesshoumaru as she looked at the passing scenery. “I don’t expect anything from you, but I want you to know my thoughts. I won’t lie to you. I find you quite attractive. In the past, it was only by your looks, but you have shown me a side of you that I am also becoming attracted to. I am glad we are friends.”

A warm, yet alien feeling flowed through his chest when she revealed her thoughts to him. He did not expect her to express herself in such a way, as he had known her to be different in the past. He had not known too much about her, but he did know that she was selfless. For her to say that she was attracted to him and did not expect anything from him, it was an entirely new concept. He had known women, both ningen and youkai to try to throw themselves at his feet. Kagome was the first to not do so, but allow him space and above all, a way to develop their relationship.

He looked over at the woman next to him and took in a deep breath of her wonderful scent.

‘Indeed she looks like a woman, and talks like a woman. This is how she should be, no matter if our relationship remains to be a friendship or of love, this Sesshoumaru will protect you, Kagome.’