Kagome strode past the secretary's unoccupied desk and let herself into his office, not entirely surprised to find it empty but disappointed all the same. He was more likely to be catching up on office work than out enjoying his lunch, and a glance past the blinds towards the parking lot all but confirmed those suspicions. Her elusive appetite would forgive her for waiting him out; so with an inaudible huff, she left the door open a crack to venture further inside.
Professional heels carried her soundlessly across the carpet and over to his large, mostly organized desk. A prying glance as she passed revealed a few open folders beneath an uncapped pen. Beside them, a mug of freshly brewed coffee steamed a strong aroma that boasted its potency. A small smile touched her lips as she recognized the items, manicured fingertips grazing the mahogany on her unhurried journey around.
The sounds of children at play distracted her pleasantly, and she drifted toward the window to let the endearing spectacle of recess warm her heart and fill it memories that didn't feel all that long ago.
Those innocent childhood thoughts ended abruptly when the blinds slammed shut, blocking out the noonday sun and everything it touched.
A strong pair of arms encircled her from behind; simultaneously, hands splaying suggestively around her hips and clavicles secured her against a firm body while the warm press of lips at her neck had her melting into the embrace.
"I thought we agreed to refrain during school hours, after the incident in the copy room," a low, masculine voice purred into her ear- a fan of hot breath and silky suggestion that caused gooseflesh to raise all over.
She groaned softly as the lips that grazed her ear progressed boldly, nipping and licking down her throat to suck on her collar bone. Blue eyes fluttered closed as her head fell back limply, entrusting him with the cargo to give him better access.
The hand deftly undoing her top button slid behind her blouse, but it was the other venturing beneath her skirt that caused her to arch back, gasping.
French tips dug into his scalp and forearm, and she could feel him smiling against her skin as silky strands fell over her shoulder.
"We did," she sighed. "If anyone other than Miroku had found my panties behind the copier, we'd both be out of a job. Good luck finding another school to hire us, too."
Long fingers slipped beneath satin lace and pink, pouty lips parted wide.
"Hn," the slick drag of his tongue made her shiver, and he lowered his voice even more. "So, you finally admit my original suggestion to keep our affections confined to my office is the only reasonable option," he rumbled against her, sneaking another lick, "seeing as you are wholly unable to restrain yourself."
"Yes..."
He squeezed her roughly, stroked so tenderly all at once, and she moaned.
Faculties happily drifted away as he nibbled and sucked, seamlessly stealing her will into his possession. She gladly surrendered it, his mouth and hands working in concert to remove every last shred of her sanity.
As the last vestige slipped away, she just managed to catch it. "...No! No, Sesshoumaru, that's not why I'm here."
Lithe muscles tensed, and he relaxed his hold enough for her to spin around. "I need to talk to you about Rin."
He watched the remaining lust chase from her eyes as she pinned him with the sharpening blue.
"Takahashi?" he asked. "What is the problem?"
Suddenly serious, he brushed past the frazzled woman to reclaim his chair, straightening his tie on the way. She hastily followed suit, righting her skirt as she took after him.
"She's been missing a lot of school lately," she said, fixing her blouse next. "When she does show up, she's often tired or listless."
It was normal for kids to go through phases, especially at that age. But such a stark change in the bright, energetic little girl sent off warning bells in the intuitive educator.
"I am aware of her absences." He spun his chair toward her. "Her mother's messages on the attendance line said she has been struggling with an illness as of late. If she is not feeling well, it is reasonable that is affecting her cadence."
Kagome shook her head determinedly.
"No, it's more than just that. You know how she usually is, so outgoing and cheerful, and now..." The concern worrying her features caused Sesshoumaru to frown. "It's like she's lost her luster. I think she might be depressed."
"You are not in a position to be administering clinical diagnoses."
The mild displeasure suddenly radiating off her boss would send most running for the hills, but Kagome softened.
"I know I'm not a doctor," she smiled gently, "but I am a woman. One who has dedicated her life to children, and I have developed an intuition about this sort of thing."
Sesshoumaru found himself unable to argue with any part of her statement as she rested her hip at the edge of his desk. He lifted his gaze to find her scowling. "Something's wrong; I can feel it. You should at least speak to her mother."
His eyes widened slightly, and Kagome rounded to his side.
"You were like a father to that girl." She reached to stroke his arm, the hard muscle melting under her soft touch. "If you really think she's okay, I'll trust you, but- eep!"
Taking her off balance, he pulled her easily into his lap until long, lean legs were hanging off to the side of him. He squeezed her tightly, burying his nose in her thick locks and inhaling deep.
"I will make the call after lunch," he promised.
Her arms slid around his neck.
"Thank you. I hope I'm just being paranoid."
She rested her chin atop the firm rope of his shoulder, and he did the same, rubbing his hands over her back in soothing patterns.
"Either way, it merits looking into. You know that Rin holds a special place of concern with me. Besides," he tilted his mouth towards her ear, "if you are urging me to speak with Kagura, it truly must be worrying you."
The sultry heat of his voice traveling across her skin sent a shiver of want down her spine, and when she pulled back, she saw his cocky grin taunting her at close range. She returned it with one of her own.
"Whatever insecurities I may have had regarding your ex fell away with last weekend's surprise confession in the cabin."
She leaned into him giddily, and a thin eyebrow rose.
"You are allayed by something This One claimed with altered senses at the height of passion? It simply slipped out."
"What did?" she grinned.
Looking her straight in the eyes, his own softened and his smile lost its arrogant edge.
"The truth," he admitted gently, causing pink to dust her cheeks. He squeezed her possessively as his voice fell above a whisper. "I do not know if you realized, but at the time, you forgot to return the sentiment."
His tone was only slightly teasing, but it was enough to bring her confidence back full force.
"I didn't forget," she smirked. "Guess one of us is a little better at restraining herself."
With a quick kiss on the tip on his nose, she abruptly sprung up from his lap, causing his chair to roll backward. His firm grip on the desk prevented him getting too far by the time she made it to the other side.
The sway of her hips in retreat drew his eye ravenously.
"Perhaps you would be willing to defend your claim later this evening. Dinner?"
"I'd love to." She turned back in time to see where he'd been looking- but he'd made no attempts to hide it.
"Good. I will pick you up at seven."
The husky promise sparked something wicked inside her; so with a devious smile, she approached his desk again. "I have a better idea."
He was already leaning forward when she reached over the desk, grabbed his freshly straightened tie, and pulled. "Why don't you let me cook for us?" Bending to meet him, she didn't stop when their noses touched, winding the orange material around her hand to keep the slack tight.
It was rough abuse for such an expensive gift, but this was why she bought it.
"Then, after dinner, we can pick out a movie and... not watch it."
"I will bring the wine," he murmured against her lips before a solid yank brought them together heatedly.
They really shouldn't be doing this -not there, at least- and agreed to stop only a week ago. But a busier than average workload and an inconveniently timed family emergency meant they hadn't spent a moment alone together off school property. A little self-denial was good for the soul, but constantly restraining your basic human needs had to shave a few years off.
They would start cutting back soon.
His warm kiss and teasing tongue were doing anything but dousing her need, and when he rested his hand on her cheek, she nearly attempted climbing over his desk and getting back in his lap... but that would be bad. Ethically.
He finally let her pull away and gave himself five minutes to eat his lunch before the hour was over- not that he wouldn't gladly trade his sandwich for something a good deal more satisfying. Especially with the week they'd had.
But unfortunately, she wasn't on the menu today. Yet.
"Seven?" she asked, combing through his bangs before going in for another quick peck.
His half-lidded nod earned another, longer press of her lips and then a bright, beaming smile.
She stopped at the door to give herself a once over before leaving his office.
"Kagome..."
She turned around to find his tie straightened back out, and not a hair out of place. The only thing that gave him away was his eyes, which burned a primal, predatory warning that something big, and fast, and hungry was coming to get her.
"Six-thirty."
And his voice. A thrill shot lightning through her, and she smiled.
Then, she ran her tongue suggestively along her upper lip, and slipped out of the room while she still could.
***
Since he'd spent the majority of his lunch handling school business, Sesshoumaru didn't feel bad about the five extra minutes he took to finish his sandwich. It used to be his favorite, but after Kagome had thoughtfully prepared him lunch last week before running home to change for work, his self-prepared meals just didn't hold the same appeal.
He longed for the opportunity to eat her cooking everyday, or lovingly prepare meals for her to enjoy. But even if she was ready for some version of co-habitation -and by all accounts, she did not appear to be- there was still optics to worry about.
He was her boss, and she was a very recent hire. Still probationary, in fact, and it was not a good look for either of them to be carrying on as they were.
They were the board's rules, not his, but he would admit they made perfect sense to him just a couple of months ago. Back then, he would have sneered at the unprofessionalism if it were any one of his colleagues indulging in an office tryst.
But the attraction was instant. Powerful. Mutual. And the pathetic attempts on both of their behalf to ignore the irresistible pull were abandoned shamefully quickly, and the affair had begun.
He didn't know how long they had to wait before a relationship could be deemed acceptable- if it even ever would- but two months was definitely short of that milestone.
They would cross that bridge when they came to it, but as far as he was concerned, this was it. She was the one. And if he had to eventually take a new job to preserve both their careers, so be it.
He just had to be sure she felt that way too.
After choking down his bland sandwich, Sesshoumaru contemplated calling Kagura; but reconsidered, dismissing as ridiculous the troubling notion that he procrastinated out of trepidation just as soon as it conjured.
It had been a few months since they'd spoken, but that was healthy when making a clean break. He just wasn't particularly interested in speaking with the woman, and until now, he had no reason to.
Kagome was another reason he was avoiding his ex. Keeping up relationships of that nature was a disaster he was keen on avoiding- especially considering her insecurities. But at her behest, he decided it was time. He just had one thing he needed to do first. Another overdue conversation.
When the door to his office opened, the shy little girl that entered caused a wave of unexpected emotions to flitter around his chest.
"Rin," he said warmly. "Take a seat."
Sure, he'd seen the girl in passing. At recess, in the halls... But the few words he'd spoken to her in those times were woefully insufficient for how close they had been.
Guilt churned his insides as he realized what he had convinced himself of as healthy separation had been no more than negligence. Abandonment.
After what she'd gone through with her father, all the progress he'd made in gaining her trust, only to leave when she needed him most –just like that bastard had- without a backward glance. He was disgusted with himself. He was pathetic.
He was no better than that slime.
"Am I in trouble, Mr. Taisho?"
Despite the pain her formality caused, he kept his expression even.
They had been on a first name basis for a time- she'd even called him father by accident once or twice, and he rather liked the notion. But he wouldn't demand that level of familiarity with him now. He no longer deserved it.
"Should you be?" he asked, playfully lifting a brow. When her expression turned fearful, he smirked sadly. "No, you are not in trouble."
"Then why am I here?" She squirmed anxiously in her seat as he straightened his posture, folding his hands atop his desk.
"Your teacher says you have been missing classes. Is everything alright at home?"
He let his keen gaze rake over the small girl, assessing in a way he hadn't been able to in some time.
Months of distance made the change easy to detect. Kagome was right- something was wrong with her. He just couldn't determine what.
"I've been sick," she offered weakly.
That answer didn't satisfy him.
"So I have heard."
It could very well be the case. Her skin was pale, her eyes had shadows. She looked weathered. It could be illness- or it could be a number of things he was not privy to.
As he tried to gauge her state, he could tell his suspicion was making her nervous, so he relented.
Relaxing in his chair in a way no other student had seen, he looked at her sympathetically.
"I know we have not spoken much since your mother and I decided to stop seeing each other," he said gently. "That is my fault, and I apologize."
A sad look passed through her features, causing him to purse his lips. He had explained things to her during their last real conversation, but he felt he owed her more than she'd gotten.
Time had healed some of those wounds and granted him perspective. But expressing himself, showing vulnerability, was still not something he was adept at. However, for her, he would try.
"Sometimes," he began uncomfortably, "after ending a relationship, it is important for adults to get space from one another. But it does not mean you did anything wrong, understood?"
"I know," she said somberly, and it relaxed him some.
"Do you remember what I told you the last time I was at your house?"
She bit her lips, scrunching her nose in the way she did when she really had to concentrate, and he couldn't stop the fond smile that sprouted as a result.
"That you weren't going to be coming over anymore... but it wasn't because you didn't like me?
"And?" he prompted.
"And..." she scrunched again, "that you would always care about me. And if I ever need anything, I can come to you- even just to talk?"
She waited hopefully to see if she'd answered correctly, like he was giving her a pop quiz.
"That's right," he nodded, and tried to remain serious when she grinned triumphantly. "Since you have not come to me, I had assumed everything was going well with you. Is it?"
Concern flooded him as her happy demeanor fell. She was reluctant -hiding something, now he was sure- but he no longer held her confidence, and the faith she had once placed in him was painfully absent. The realization caused a dull aching in his chest.
"How is your mother?" he tried next. That was another can of worms.
"Really sad... She stays in her room a lot and cries, and I have to play by myself."
He frowned. "Why did you not tell me that?"
He wanted to throttle himself for his cowardice. He should have been there for her. If he was strong, he would have been.
"You were so mad when you left..." Downcast brown eyes dropped to the carpet. "I thought you hated her."
He'd admit, he thought he hated Kagura too at the time. Perhaps he did, in part. But regardless, he should not have let either female detect it. He'd lost his cool in front of Rin, and the shame he felt in that was part of why it was so hard to face her.
"I am sorry you had to see that," he frowned again. "I was angry. But I will always care about you and your mother, even if I cannot be with her anymore. Do you understand?"
He prayed that she did, and a heavy weight was lifted when her genuine nod was his reply.
Things were far from remedied between them, but he vowed right then that they would be. No matter how long it took, he would win her trust again. Watching the downtrodden girl slouch in her chair, he knew just where to begin.
"I am going to speak with her when she comes to pick you up today."
"Really?" she asked hopefully.
"Yes. It has been long enough." The room felt lighter when she sat a little straighter. It was closer to how things were before, and he realized how empty it had been without her there.
Kagome filled another part of his life -several, actually- more than sufficiently. But she couldn't quite account for that Rin-shaped hole he didn't know he had.
"And I want you to come and speak to me more often. In fact, I think we should start having weekly meetings in my office."
"Why?"His lips twitched as her brow furrowed comically.
"Because you are my favorite student, and I miss our talks." The honest partiality seemed to swell the girl's head a bit, but he didn't mind. It was a much-needed boost. "I may even be able to sneak in some circus cookies, provided you do not tell your classmates. Would that be acceptable?"
He played it straight as she shot up in her seat, nodding enthusiastically to his terms. His official nod in return sealed the deal.
"Good. I will have a look at my schedule and find a time that works best for both of us. Until then, try not to injure any more students at dodgeball. I have to answer to their parents."
"Okay," she laughed at his half-hearted glare, the condemnation ringing hollow considering all the pointers he'd given her, and he relished the sound.
As she hopped off the chair, he vowed to hear much more of it in the future.
After the door closed behind her, a quick glance at his schedule elicited a heavy sigh, and he picked up the phone.
"Kagura, this is Sesshoumaru. We need to talk."
***
TBC...