Called It by Sereia

Chapter 1

Sequel to Bad For Business.

..::**::..

Kagome kept her posture straight as her boss continued listing the qualifications of the new position. It had been several months since she'd left the café—it was closer to a year at this point—and she'd done her due diligence to put herself in the running for this specific promotion.

It was all in her boss' hands now.

There was no reason why she wouldn't be considered; her work ethic was top-notch, and her record was complaint-free, but Bankotsu had insisted on applying to the company at the same time. He'd told her that the café was no fun after she'd left, and little Jak had begged him to keep in contact after she'd turned in her resignation.

And now he was vying for the same position as her.

If she could reach through the screen of their video conference and throttle him, she would.

Biting the inside of her cheek, she forced herself to focus. It didn't matter that he was here, she knew this was just a formality. Hizuki-san was tough but fair, and she wasn't about to let a few well-placed compliments from Bankotsu sway her opinion.

There was a rustle of fabric behind her, and Kagome attempted to keep her eyes on the screen, but Sesshoumaru's hand slid up her back in a reassuring caress. "Have confidence in yourself," he whispered. She nodded, allowing herself a slight tilt of her head as his lips brushed her temple. "I will call you once my shift is finished."

She nodded again, his hand squeezing her shoulder, then returned her gaze to her computer screen. Hizuki had gone silent, and Kagome frowned, tapping her keyboard to ensure she hadn't lost the connection.

"Sesshoumaru?" her boss asked hesitantly. He stiffened, one arm frozen in the action of putting on his jacket, and Kagome looked between the two, panic rising. Her boss' eyes narrowed. "Higurashi, are you sleeping with my son?"

Bankotsu uttered a startled curse as Kagome's mouth dropped open, waving her hands in front of her. "What? No!"

"Is this why you applied for the promotion? The job?" Hizuki questioned, crossing her hands in front of her. "I will admit, it is a daring move. He is not usually so eager to comply."

The bottom dropped out of her stomach, and Kagome leaned closer to the screen. "I chose your company because of its involvement with humans and hanyou alike, I swear!"

Sesshoumaru sighed, sliding on the rest of his coat. "Mother, I assure you, she had no idea of our connection."

"Oh shit, it's true?"

Hizuki's eyes flickered to the side of the screen. "Be silent, Nintai. You are not a part of this conversation." Bankotsu opened his mouth to argue but then seemed to think better of it, hiding his smirk behind his hands. Hizuki let out a sigh, leaning back in her chair. "Given the circumstances, I cannot offer you the promotion, Higurashi."

"But I didn't—"

"There will be no year-end bonus for you, either. I do not deal in this kind of underhanded tactics."

The blood drained from Kagome's face, and she gripped the edge of her desk. "Hizuki-san, I honestly had no idea. It doesn't affect my abilities at work. There's no reason to be hasty in making the decision."

Bankotsu let out a bark of laughter. "Does this mean I get the promotion?"

Kagome had a feeling if they'd been in the same room, he would've ended up with a singed collar—or even a missing hand. "Absolutely not."

He groaned, slumping back in his seat, looking utterly defeated. He clicked his tongue, then crossed his arms. "Then can I sleep with your son?" Both daiyoukai growled, and his response was cut off as his screen went dark, Hizuki severing the connection.

Kagome sucked in a deep breath, steadying herself. "I swear on my grandfather, I had no idea you were related when I applied for this job. I enjoy coming to work every day. Your company has gone to great lengths to—"

"Pandering will not save your job, Higurashi," Hizuki replied coolly, perfectly manicured nails drumming on her keyboard.

"What can I do to fix this?" she asked desperately, unwilling to let it go.

Her boss gave her a considering look, head cocking to the side in a way Kagome was all too familiar with, and she raised her chin, refusing to back down. "Do you cook?"

The question startled her, and she blinked in surprise. "Yes."

"Clean?"

Sesshoumaru was still in frame, and she felt his aura darken. "Yes, of course. But what does that have to do with—"

"Then marry my son."

Both of their mouths fell open. "What?"

Hizuki smirked. "I require grandchildren, and your dear brother is currently no help," she said, looking sternly at Sesshoumaru.

He pursed his lips. "We have had this discussion before, mother. Inuyasha is perfectly happy with the wolf. They wish to travel before settling down." He flipped his hair over his shoulder. "And I refuse to be forced into another one of your engagement schemes."

Hizuki chuckled softly. "You have claimed in the past that your job leaves you with no time to pursue romantic endeavours. The fact that you have clearly slept over at this woman's house proves that to be false."

"What I choose to do in my spare time is none of your business." His hand gripped the back of her chair. "And I will not put her in harm's way."

Golden eyes gleamed on the other end of the connection. "Ah, so it is serious enough for you to be protective. How lovely." She met Kagome's gaze. "What is your decision?"

She blushed fiercely. "Shouldn't this be a decision between me and him? You can't resort to blackmail—"

"You forget, Higurashi," his mother said, inspecting her nails before giving her a feral smirk. "This is my company. I can do whatever I want."

Blood pounded through her ears, and Kagome gave Sesshoumaru a pleading look, hoping he could come up with something to appease the business tycoon, but he simply sighed. "Very well. But you are to leave all preparation up to us. I will not allow you to interfere any further."

"Wonderful!" Her smile was genuine enough that Kagome almost relaxed, but as her boss leaned in again, she kept herself rigid. "I shall expect monthly updates on the reception along with the reports that come with your new position, Higurashi."

She clasped her hands together tightly. "Yes, ma'am." Hizuki continued to smirk, blowing a kiss at Sesshoumaru before logging off, and Kagome finally slumped in her chair.

"You're a coward," she accused half-heatedly.

"Can you say I was wrong?"

She turned to him, arms crossed. "Was it completely necessary? I could've lost my job!"

He chuckled. "There was no danger of that. She has voiced nothing but praise about you since you started." Leaning over her, he pressed their foreheads together. "And she would not have agreed any other way. Now she will allow us to plan things our way without interference."

She wanted to lean into the touch but was still shaking from the confrontation. "Does this mean I get to wear my ring in public now?" She pulled the chain out from under her blouse, a cascade of rainbows flickering around the room as the diamonds caught a ray of sunlight.

"I have told you such from the beginning."

"You also told me how terrifying your mother was about trying to set you up with people—Kagura included! Which you failed to mention until after I started working for her."

"I did not wish to chase you away," he said with a shrug.

She dragged a hand through her hair, then removed the ring from the chain and held it up to him. "You saved me from Hojo. I'm not going anywhere."

He plucked it from her palm, kneeling down in front of her before putting it on her finger. "Is that the only reason?"

Colour tinted her cheeks. "I should really say yes after you put me through that."

"It would not be the first time you have answered my question that way," he said softly, tracing the lines of her hand before brushing his lips across her knuckles.

"Like I would've said anything else," she muttered.

"Perhaps I should ask again, just to be sure." His eyes held the same glint his mothers' had, and she couldn't help the smile that broke out on her face.

"I still don't know how you've hidden the fact that we live together from her," Kagome mused, glancing around the redecorated office. "And it would serve you right if I said no."

"But you will not."

She surprised him by leaning forward and kissing him soundly. "Remind me of that after your mother starts harassing me with recommendations for everything."

Sesshoumaru chuckled. "Then I have at least a month to revel in the fact you have agreed to be mine."

She blushed but cupped his face, stroking the marks on his cheeks. "I was always yours." She kissed him again, his arm snaking around her waist as he pulled her to her feet. "Do you actually have to leave?"

"Of course not. That was only part of the ruse."

"Good. We should go back to—" She groaned when her phone buzzed. "You said we'd have a month."

He checked the screen, visibly relaxing. "It is only Bankotsu." He held up her phone, and she burst out laughing at the messages coming in.

'Did it work?'

'Does she suspect anything?'

'You better not be celebrating already! Your fiancé owes me dinner!'

"We might have to fend off both of them," she said.

Sesshoumaru shrugged, tossing her phone back onto her desk before his discarded jacket muffled the buzzing. "I will add dessert to his payment for playing his part so well." He tugged her toward the bedroom, her arms already wrapped around his neck.

Being married to Sesshoumaru would never be boring, but it had been that way since their first meeting. They'd get used to it.

Eventually.