The Assistant by Smortz

Clocks and Palaces

A/N

This is in response to Calypso’s and Sugar0o’s ‘Around the World’ challenge.

This story will only be updated when a new location for the challenge is released.

Alright, so I keep forgetting this is a T-rating story. >.> So, I tend to find myself writing something I shouldn't. I hope that you all enjoy it!

Thanks for reading!

~Smo

^_^

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters in the anime/manga InuYasha.

Location: London!

Chapter 2

Kagome giggled once more, a flush adorning her cheeks as she flirted with the delivery boy. Sesshoumaru’s eyes narrowed and his ears picked up the conversation thanks to his demonic senses. “London is amazing! I can’t believe the architecture. It’s all so historical!” Kagome chatted, blushing as the gentleman laughed at her dork-like attitude.

“I-I could take you out later tonight. I just have to go back to the flat and check on my mates,” the boy trailed off nervously as he clutched the box below his arm. “When do you get off work?” He asked.

Kagome’s cheeks flushed to a cherry red. Sesshoumaru grunted. She wasn’t supposed to be flirting with someone. It’d been five hundred years since he had last seen her. In the old days, after he had realized he should keep her alive, he actually enjoyed gazing upon her beauty. The woman was comparable to the goddess Venus.

The luscious, silky black hair that curled around her face and shoulders, stopping at the middle of her back, where a small arch was, teased anyone close enough to touch it. The sapphire eyes held both the ocean and the sky. His eyes roamed over her form from the clear window pane on his office door. The golden handle was the only think one would see if the door was shut.

The slacks she wore showed off the curve of her hips and slim waist. The nice, white blouse showed off her arms, but it also teased men with the two things that laid beneath it. Sesshoumaru gave a grunt as he remembered the time he had fought Inuyasha in their father's grave. While she ran, her breasts had bounced and he'd almost captured a few flies in his mouth as he watched.

“I get off at seven,” Kagome answered with an innocent smile as she swayed from her heels to her toes. Her hands were crossed over the file she was supposed to be copying. She nodded to him and the boy grinned and left. Kagome sighed before making her way into the copy room.

He pushed himself up stoically. Making his way out of his office, he followed the trail of her scent into the room. He wasn't prepared for the sight that greeted him though. He blinked, staring at the round rear that was facing him.

Apparently, something had fallen behind the copier, and Kagome was on her knees trying to get whatever that thing was. Sesshoumaru leaned against the door frame, worrying his lip as he watched. The slacks were teasing him. In fact, he was so focused on staring, he didn't see the moment her eyes caught his.

Instantly, she gasped and sat back on her heels, glaring at him. The same time, the copier began to spit out perfect copies of the file he'd been giving her. “P-pervert,” Kagome grumbled in shock. “Y-You were staring!” She whispered harshly, snatching the papers and tucking them into the file. She then shoved them against his chest.

Sesshoumaru grabbed at the folder when she let go, hoping the papers wouldn't fall out. Then he stepped to the side as she brushed past him angrily. The fiery bounce in each step made him smirk. “You gave me something to look at,” he reasoned as he followed her.

“Please,” Kagome grumbled. “This is a business relationship, and it's not even like I want to be here. I'm only working off a debt,” Kagome ranted. Sesshoumaru almost liked her rambling.

“I missed your useless chatter,” he got out before he could stop himself. He winced at the back-handed compliment, sure she would take it as an insult. However, she stopped and turned to stare at him.

“Y-You missed me?” She asked. Sesshoumaru paused to absorb her eyes. They were actually filled with admiration and hope. Did she not expect anyone to miss her? She didn't expect anyone to be here on this side. He answered.

He gave her a soft smile, knowing that it would shock her. It did. He watched her eyes slowly widen at such an expression. “Yes, I do smile. I even laugh sometimes,” he teased. “Children soften the heart,” he explained, walking past her and into the office. “I did miss you.”

Kagome blinked, watching him retreat into the office. It was almost surreal. Inuyasha's half-brother Sesshoumaru was in front of her, five hundred years into the future. He owned his own corporation that distributed newspapers and – something she'd just learned – cow meat. In fact, this demon owned his own ranch, which came with zebras. Kagome was sure of this information. She'd gotten it from Google herself.

“When is he picking you up?” Sesshoumaru called from his office, startling her from the thoughts. Kagome analyzed his tone. It was almost too casual. She smirked, was the great Sesshoumaru actually worried, or even jealous?

“Seven,” she answered honestly, narrowing her eyes to observe his reaction. All she saw was him shift in his seat, grunt, and nod his head. “He's going to take me out to dinner in London!” She squealed, as if she could no longer bottle the pent up excitement. “Oh, Sesshoumaru! I don't even know what to wear!”

“Clothes,” he bit out, pulling his glasses on to observe the file. He needed to figure out how to merge this company with the Kannai Enterprises after he would purchase it. Unfortunately, the CEO of that industry was playing hard to get. Every file he's gotten had gone through numerous channels and several pieces of it had been missing.

“You know, sometimes bosses and secretaries go out to lunch,” Kagome added, leaning over his desk and resting her chin in her hands. “I've been working for you for a whole week now, you haven't even offered me lunch!”

“You get the lunch. You don't go on the lunch,” Sesshoumaru grumbled sharply, looking up at her and finding it hard to breath at the close proximity. She was right there, leaning over his desk. Try as he might, he couldn't help but glimpse at the two breasts pushed against his desk. Instantly, his eyes went back to hers.

“So, why don't you take me out?” She pouted. She then added in a sultry tone that caused shivers to shake his spine, “You said you missed me.”

“You misunderstand,” he choked out, leaning back in his chair to gain some distance. “I missed you from a distance. I missed the way you riled my brother up. I missed watching you be clumsy. I did not miss you talking to me.”

The glare he got was full of amusement, and he instantly doubted he had offended her. Kagome scoffed, pushing off his desk and eying him, “So you won't take me out to dinner?”

Sesshoumaru snorted. “You're far too young,” he added, looking up at her. “You couldn't handle a date with me.”

Kagome blinked at him, obviously not catching the innuendo he had thrown in there. She then let out a wave of giggles. Then, she gave him a look of sympathy. “If you're looking for someone younger, I think you'll be looking for a long time. Good luck on your treasure hunt, old man.”

He snorted at her insult, but returned to looking at the file. He needed a new plan to takeover the company. Obviously, trying to buy them outright wasn't working. He needed someway to get the employees to cooperate with him. They all thought he would instantly fire them all and replace them with his own, but he wasn't that kind of boss.

Unfortunately, he couldn't quite focus on it. He found himself staring at the clock every five minutes, watching as it slowly closed in on seven. With each change, his thoughts went to Kagome and the delivery boy. She had just said yes, like that! Obviously, the woman still lacked a brain.

When his clock chimed that it was finally seven, he glimpsed out of his office. Sure enough, Kagome was walking towards him. A glow was about her, a happy one, as she entered. Her purse slung over her shoulder as she fiddled with the office keys around her finger. “You want to lock up?” She asked.

“A true secretary would stay until the boss left,” Sesshoumaru grumbled. He still held his hand out to take the keys from her. She tugged on her side of the keys though, making him look at her.

“I only shattered your vase,” she grumbled, “that doesn't make me a true secretary. Plus, you don't even take me out to lunch. Only a spoiled secretary stays behind.”

Sesshoumaru chuckled, shaking his head at her childish antics. He took the keys from her, but gave her a worried stare. “Be careful. You don't know this guy, and you're in his town.”

Kagome waved her hand dismissively. “You only hope he's a bad guy. That way you can come and rescue me,” she said that last part wistfully, as if she'd planned to be the damsel in distress.

Sesshoumaru snorted. “Fat chance. I am a firm believer of 'learning from your own mistakes.'” He watched her pout, but she straightened her purse over her shoulder and pranced out of his office to meet the delivery boy. As soon as she was out of the building, Sesshoumaru made his move. He stuffed the files quickly into his messenger bag, then set his laptop against them. He heaved it over his shoulder and jogged out of the building.

His nose twitched. It found her sweet scent almost instantly. He scanned the area around him, before pushing off the ground and landing on the rooftop of the building. He jumped to the next one, slowly following her from above.

Kagome was just below him when he jumped over her and crouched against the top of the famous tower known as Big Ben. The dark night shadowing his figure, hiding him from the people below. He eyes the restaurant down the street she was in, watching as she dug her head behind a menu. The boy was talking but he couldn't hear from this angle, there were too many other sounds.

Kagome stared at the boy in front of her. The accent was causing her to swoon every time he opened his mouth. “I've never really tried any of this,” Kagome reasoned as she stared at the menu. “Although, the roast beef one sounds excellent.”

“That's the best thing on the menu,” he added with a grin, as if she'd just made his day by her choice. He then released a sigh. “A lot of women don't eat when they're on dates.”

Kagome snorted, then regretted the rude sound. Sesshoumaru was rubbing off on her. “Women are stupid these days. What's the point of wasting the man's money and watching him eat while you starve across the way?” She added. They paused to give the waiter the orders.

The boy chuckled at her, before he gave her a look that partially scared her. The devious gleam in his eyes set her priestess powers on edge. “You're really beautiful,” he added. The powers instantly receded and she flushed at the compliment. He was only checking you out! Calm down! Her flare teased her.

“Thank you,” she mumbled, not at all used to that compliment. To be honest, she didn't go on a lot of dates. Since coming home from the Warring States era, she'd submerged herself in distractions such as schools and work. “Why are you a delivery boy?” She asked.

The boy chuckled, flicking his brown strands out of his eyes. He then reached forward on the table to grab the lamp that illuminated the table. For some reason, whatever angle he held it at made something else shine in the night. The bright lamp seemed to bounce and she looked out the corner of her eyes to see a stray of silver.

Kagome sighed, shaking her head at herself. There's no way he would follow her. Sesshoumaru was right when he'd said he'd missed her from afar. He wanted her around only because they had gone through the same journey, battled the same foe, and could relate to each other.

Still, she couldn't argue that the man was nice to look at. He'd definitely changed from the cold demon. Now, he was a grandfather. Yea, maybe he is a tad old. Her mind reasoned, remembering his precious teasing. However, age was never an issue to Kagome, especially when it came to demons. He was gentler now, softer. He teased and showed more expressions. He was definitely more mature this time than he was the last time she saw him.

“Kagome?”

She jumped out of her seat when the delivery boy called to her. She blushed in embarrassment. “Sorry,” she muttered. “I didn't hear any of that.”

He laughed, but she found herself still trailing off her thoughts. She flared her aura. The man in front of her stopped for a moment as a breeze swept him. “That's weird, no wind a bit ago,” he added. Kagome gave a nod in agreement, but instantly recalled her aura when she felt him. Sesshoumaru was following her; she was sure of it. Hopefully, he wouldn't catch on that she did it.

“I-I'll be right back,” Kagome added, pushing herself from the table and stumbling through the restaurant. She grabbed a waiter's arm and looked to him hopelessly. “Is there a way out the back, I'm being followed,” she pleaded truthfully.

He gave her a skeptical look, but nodded nonetheless. He guided her through the kitchen and into a back alley, before shutting the door on her instantly. Kagome figured she would not be allowed back in. Her date with the hot, British delivery boy was over.

Still, she found herself missing a certain taiyoukai. He went along with her jokes. To put it simply, he amused her. Kagome took in a deep breath, and tried to think of something scary. She needed to figure out some way to get him down. Spiders? No. Clowns? Eh. Jaken? Ew.

Something crawled over her foot. She looked down and shrieked as a rat stumbled across. She kicked, and ran. “Rat!” She shouted, looking over her shoulder at the disgusting, rabies-infested rodent. When she turned around, she grunted when she hit his chest.

“It worked!” She shouted.

Sesshoumaru glared down at her, but she poked him in the chest with an accusatory finger. “You followed me. Didn't anyone ever tell you that it's rude? Makes you seem like a perverse, father-type boss.”

Sesshoumaru snorted. “So you fake a scream in the alley?” He challenged. “Didn't anyone tell you about the boy who cried wolf?” He returned just as haughtily.

Kagome gasped. “There was a rat! Seriously! It was big with red eyes!” She ranted, but didn't miss the doubtful glint in his eyes. She quickly deciding that a new topic was in order. “You were following me,” she teased, crossing her arms over her breast and leaning her hip to one side to patronize him. “Were you jealous?” She asked.

Sesshoumaru gave a grunt, turning to look away from her. “I was protecting my secretary,” he excused. “You're in a different country, and you went on a date with a delivery boy. He could have been a criminal.”

Kagome gave him a mock look of awe. Her lips were slightly parted, and she slowly shook her head. “Spoken like a true demon,” she whispered with a hand covering her heart.

Sesshoumaru groaned, grabbing the same hand and pulling her out of the back alley. “Come on, we're going back to the hotel,” he murmured, obviously embarrassed over his actions. He shouldn't have followed her, but for some stupid reason, he had felt the need to protect her.

“You really did miss her,” the inner demon chided. Sesshoumaru ignored it easily as he hailed down a taxi and forced her into it.

“I want to see London though!” Kagome pouted, even as Sesshoumaru settled in the seat next to her. He gave her a look that told her not to push his buttons, something that she had already done multiple times that night. Kagome decided to ignore the warning. “You're no fun at all,” she admonished, shaking her head while clucking her tongue against the roof of her mouth in disapproval.

Sesshoumaru actually gawked at her. He then shook his head in defeat and leaned towards the driver, handing him some money. “To the St. Martin Hotel,” he ordered. The taxi driver nodded his head.

Kagome glared at him. “I wanted to see London!” She protested, upset that she wasn't seeing any of the historical sights. “Weren't you supposed to be teaching me about historical architecture? Are you going back on your word, Ses-shou-ma-ru?” She asked.

Sesshoumaru snorted, not even satisfying her with a look. “Trust me,” he promised. “The shower in our room is an architectural masterpiece.”