Chapter 5: Born to Lose

He watched her fingers as they skimmed across they keyboard, clicking and clacking in the same humdrum melody they had played for the last week. Kagome Higurashi had taken the place of his current secretary while she was on… medical leave he supposed was the kindest way to put it. And the dark haired beauty was good at her job as much as he hated to admit it, she came in early, left late, always had a cup of coffee ready for him at all times of the day- and occasionally night, she didn't flutter her lashes or stumble with her words. She didn't tsk or groan when Mokuba would decide to do his homework sitting at one of the couches designated as a waiting area for Kaiba's guests, quite the contrary often she would sit by him and help him through his homework, unless it was math she, it seemed, detested math. She was efficient and quick. Practically perfect.

Indeed there was only one single complaint Seto Kaiba had about his temporary secretary.

She was too damn nice.

Oh he could certainly see her temper flare up like raging storm clouds in her blue eyes, but always it would be tempered by a well placed smile quite like a silver lining, before she would then comply with whatever order he had issued, regardless of how he worded it. But the ruthless world of business didn't have room for pushovers and niceties. No what he required in a secretary was intimidation, someone, gender be damned, who would set his rivals and even his associates on their toes. Someone with steel in their spine.

Someone who was not Higurashi.

Which was why he was sending the overly pleasant women to play the part of glorified babysitter to his younger brother on his day off.

It'll keep both of them occupied.

"Higurashi I have a task for you."

To nice? To nice? That pompous ass thinks I'm too nice for the harsh world of business, I'll show him too freaking nice! Similar thoughts had swarmed through her head for the last two hours like an angry hive that sorely wanted to do more than buzz. Maybe I should introduce him to the pointy end of my stick. Momentarily entertained by the thought of attaching Kaiba to one of her old targets hidden away amongst the clutter of one of the storage sheds on the shrine, she allowed herself to calm and lips to lift as another thought popped into her head. Damn shame Kaiba didn't let me stick around; I certainly would have been a boon to have today, seeing as its Shippo that Sesshomaru is sending over in his stead.

The thought of the fox demon talking the young CEO in circles was enough to lift the shroud of anger that had clung to her since Kaiba had appointed her babysitter of his younger brother. Though I suppose being nearly eighteen Mokuba really isn't that young.

"Sorry about my big brother Kagome." Said woman torn from her thoughts blinked up at the young man, who was so unlike his brother except were height was concerned.

She smiled lightly. "There is no reason you should be apologizing for him, Mokuba." Kaiba is an adult and quite capable of giving his own apologies, not that I expect him to.

"Still…" He paused to open the door for her as they entered the main lobby of the Kaiba Corp building. In the distance she could see Kaiba's personal elevator descending as the lit numbers decreased, while the urge to grin increased.

"Mokuba it is quiet alright, trust me I've met and dealt with people just like him." I'm thinking of you Sesshomaru.

"If you say so." He sighed and smiled down at his brother's pretty secretary, for all she was small she had a large kind heart, that expressed itself in her large doe like blue eyes. Her raven wing hair swayed in a thick braid, brushing her waist as she followed his large strides with quick small ones, platform black pumps clicking with each step.

"I do." Her eyes caught the lit numbers once more just as the number one was highlighted. "Besides I'm about to get some sweet revenge." She laughed at his raised brow.

Just as she knew he would, because Sesshomaru and in turn Shippo were highly important guests, Kaiba was escorting him, him being an equally as tall slender male with rusty red hair, that more than made him stand out amongst the browns and blacks, to the exit. They were talking though Kagome could see Shippo had lost interest in the conversation as soon as her scent had made it know that she was there.

Teal eyes met hers and Shippo excused himself from the CEO, practically bouncing his way over to her. No words were exchanged as he lifted her with ease into his embrace, spinning her around as she laughed. "It's good to see you to Shippo."

He huffed as he stopped spinning though he refused to put her down, it would have been a good foot drop if he had given the drastic height difference. "Good to see me? Is that really all you have to say to me? It's been over a month since I've graced you with my presence, be more exuberant will ya!" He gave her a cheeky grin to accompany the mirth she could see lighting his eyes.

With roll of her eyes and a little over acting she responded. "Oh Shippo words cannot describe what pleasure I feel basking in your presence, my heart is simply oozing with joy." She dropped the over the top cheer to a deadpan tone. "Oozing I tell you."

He rolled his eyes with a slight huff, slowly setting her down on the floor releasing her only when she was steady on her feet. "Yes well don't ooze all over the suit, if you please, Sesshomaru may very well make good on his threat."

"Threats Shippo, threats."

"Right. Threats." As he stepped away to give her some room his grin faded completely into an unhappy frown. His teal eyes raked her form, down and back up again until their eyes locked once more. "You look awful…" And she knew he wasn't talking about her appearance but the strained way her aura fluxed about her and no doubt he could, should he feel inclined, figure out where or rather in this case who her powers were being siphoned to. "… drained."

Knowing that Mokuba was near and Kaiba was nearing she muttered an annoyed 'later'.

With a curt nod he angled his body slightly to allow Kaiba to enter the conversation, though not without first dropping a 'hint' to Kaiba letting him know just how well she knew him and in turn Sesshomaru. "Fine we'll do dinner tonight I'm sure Sesshomaru would be interested in this… development." Hint may of course have been an understatement.

"Isn't he always?" She grumped with a dejected sigh. "Of course how can I refuse? But I can't be out all night like last time I've some things that need to be taken care of rather early tomorrow."

"But of course." She fought the urge to childishly stick her tongue out and blow a raspberry as Mokuba made his way beside her.

"You know the CEO of Taisho Industries?"

"Indeed Higurashi." She flinched internally at Kaiba's tone and the way his already narrowed eyes narrowed farther.

Shippo with a mischievous grin pulling at his lips turned towards the CEO. "Well not that this hasn't been a productive day but I really should get going before that old dog really has my head. Kagome I'll see you later tonight." Giving a half wave half salute gesture he made his was out of the building leaving Kagome to the wolves.

"Higurashi my office. Now."

With a mental groan she followed behind the elder Kaiba practically dragging her feet. So much for my revenge, indeed I think Shippo won this one. There are times I feel that I was born to lose.

After a long day of practically being interrogated by Kaiba all Kagome wanted to do was go home and relax before going out and spending the rest of the night being interrogated by Sesshomaru and Shippo and whoever else they decided needed to be a part of the questioning. And so it was with great relief that she flopped on her couch… only to have to get back up moments later when her phone began ring. She very nearly whimpered as she stood back up, her feet screaming in protest as she trudged her way to where she had tossed her purse on the ground and began rummaging through it until she found shrieking object.

She fumbled with her cell phone for a second before finally managing to answer it. "Hello this is Higurashi Kagome speaking."

"…Kagome?"

Leaning against the wall she slid down into a seated position, brows furrowed she stared ahead confusedly for a moment before the voice registered in her mind. "Yami?"

He sighed in obvious relief. "Indeed. Yugi thought it would be wise if I attempted to better acquaint myself with some of this time period's devices."

"Makes sense." She mumbled her agreement. "Wait is something wrong? Is that why you're calling? Are you two alright?"

"Be at ease Kagome, we are well, we are merely calling to see how you are fairing."

"Oh me? I'm terrible." She grumped without thought.

"I knew that barrier was a bad idea, first thing in the-"

She winced when she realized her mistake. "Whoa, whoa Yami I didn't mean it like that. Let me ask you this have you ever had to babysit an eighteen year old adult male all while walking around wearing stilettos your meddling friends picked out in hopes that you could catch the eye of a very available Kaiba Corp CEO?" There was hushed muttering from the other end of the phone as, at least she assumed, Yugi explained what stilettos were.

"I cannot say I have had the … privilege."

"Well if there ever comes a time when you have such a chance don't take it."

"Of that I can assure you. But other than that you are well?"

"Yeah I'm fine, just been a long day, and Yugi I'd like to applaud you for managing to not punch Kaiba in the face in all the years you went to school together. Seriously I'm not sure how you managed it." There was a muffled laugh that had her own lips tilting up.

"What has Kaiba done that has displeased you?"

"Let's just say I happen to have a few connections that Kaiba probably should have known about before he went to his meeting, and upon finding out about my corporate connections he read me one hell of a lecture and then proceeded to question me endlessly."

"A social connection, is that all I am to you? Kagome you wound me." With a startled yelp she jumped up glaring at a hysterical Shippo and a stony Sesshomaru who brushed past her and gracefully folded himself on her couch to wait out what he knew would be several long minutes of childish antics.

"Kagome!"

"I'm fine Yami that social connection I was just talking about has graced me with his presence…" She turned to look at the clock. "…an hour earlier than we had agreed upon." As she was turning back to glare at her intruders the phone was plucked from her hand.

"Yami huh? This Kagome's boyfriend?" With an embarrassed sputter she dove for the phone but to her dismay was easily outmaneuvered by the swift fox.

"…Boyfriend? I am male as well as Kagome's friend…"

"No, no! He's not my boyfriend Shippo!" She could feel her face heat up at the thought.

"Oh ho! I knew it! So tell me what your intentions are for our little priestess." Again he side stepped as she made to grab it.

"My intentions are my own."

Shippo placed his hand over the receiver and mumbled in a low tone, "Who still talks like that Kagome? Seriously it's like listening to Sesshomaru, your boyfriend is weird." With one final pounce she managed to grab the phone from a mirthful Shippo who easily relinquished his hold in favor of breaking out into laughter.

"Yami! I'm sorry about that we'll just have to talk tomorrow, okay?"

Yami found he had no time to respond as she hung up leaving him blinking puzzled at the now silent device. "Yugi I do not understand, why did she deny being our boyfriend?" He turned to the spectral Yugi and found himself even more puzzled as Yugi began stammering in embarrassment.

"Yami you just told some stranger that you are romantically involved with Kagome!"

Dinner with Sesshomaru was never a simple affair, admittedly she hadn't been coerced into something ridiculously fancy… this time, but still the restaurant he had chosen to hold this little powwow of his was certainly not a jeans and t-shit sort. Or even a cheeseburger and french-fry sort. No of course Sesshomaru would pick a place with food like canard à la rouennaise.

Duck in blood sauce! She couldn't stop a sound of displeasure to accompany the grossed out face she was no doubt making.

Beside her Shippo was snickering. "If you think that's bad than I wouldn't suggest washing it down with a cup of kopi luwak."

She refused to give into curiosity.

"Seriously!?" Shippo was in full blown hysterics when her curiosity had finally over taken her causing her outburst. And she was fairly certain that if Sesshomaru wasn't so above showing emotions he would have at the very least pinched the bridge of his nose, if not completely slapped his palm to his face. Instead he chose to ignore them, and continued to mostly ignore them well past the meal, not dignifying either with a response until their plates had been taken away and the billed paid.

It was his way of showing her he was displeased with her course of actions.

Or maybe he's extremely pleased, it's so hard to tell sometimes.

However the subject he broached, when he finally did speak, wasn't the one she thought he would. "Explain to me what possessed you to purify one of the ogres few remaining sorceresses? Are you trying to instigate an uprising?" She flinched; it hadn't even occurred to her the political repercussions such a deed could cause.

"Sesshomaru I'm sor-"

"I require no apology just an explanation."

"Fine." She answered curtly allowing her annoyance and slight anger to color her voice. "The sorceress had been collecting souls for the better part of a month, she's kept them on a tight leash so I've been unable to pin her location." She made sure to emphasize the fact that it was she who had noticed the disturbance on his territory, and she who had acted. "However three weeks ago she took on more then she could handle, which gave the souls enough power collectively to reach out and call to me… and Sesshomaru not all those souls she called to her were already dead she bound a living person to his own body and abused his soul to call fourth another tied to him. I found her, that she was purified in the process was just happenstance."

He was silent for several moments as he absorbed her words. "You've proof of these transgressions I assume?"

"Only the living male she bound."

"He survived?" Shippo sounded surprised.

"They did."

Sesshomaru's brow rose but it was Shippo who spoke. "They?"

"Yes they. Yugi and Yami-"

"You mean your beau?" Shippo snickered.

"He's not my boyfriend!" Exasperation had her near screeching.

"You are saying that there are two souls coexisting within a single body." Sesshomaru interrupted before they could start their antics anew.

"They are, and it's not the first time they've done so either."

"Indeed?" His interest was definitely piqued.

"How is it they haven't, I dunno, become a singular entity?" Shippo pondered aloud for a moment before realization dawned on him. "Wait that's where your powers are being siphoned to, a barrier of some sort to keep them apart!" She nodded her agreement.

"Their story is theirs to tell, but we've spent the last month searching through the store houses on the shrine looking for away to separate them, they've… bonded you see, bound their souls together, and since their reunion it has only gotten worse."

"So you are attempting to separate them without having to destroy one or the other." Sesshomaru mummer thoughtfully to himself.

"Yes. I've also been meditating as well… trying to recall how… how I managed to tear my own soul in half. But perhaps the mixture of herbs Urasue had used scrambles my memories-"

"Or perhaps you were too preoccupied with not dying?" Shippo interjected with sarcasm, his lips tugging down as he recalled the fear that had gripped him, and the repercussions that still resonated to this day.

"As I was saying, I really can't seem to remember much of anything beyond my fear anyway."

Sesshomaru gaze was distant as he thought, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, stopping only when he'd come to a decision. "I will be conferring with the ogres within a week's time, I had not planned on bring you there as they would surely take any chance to exact retribution, but my minds been made, you will accompany me to speak your story. They must know they are in the wrong."

"Is that really wise, at that point why not just have tea with Naraku while you're at it?" Shippo's teeth clenched in uncertainty, he did not agree.

"Don't but obtuse boy." He stared Shippo down until the fox relented with a tilt of his head. "It would be for the best, openly collecting souls, especially souls of those still living cannot be tolerated, the violence our race would suffer should we be discovered would be catastrophic for both sides. It is a war we cannot afford to engage in. And they are ogres, they know the intricacies of the soul, they'll know her truth from her lies. "

"Besides if I can't find anything on the shrine maybe I can get one of the ogres to talk to me, see if they know how to separate two souls." Kagome piped up siding with Sesshomaru.

"Yeah right they're more likely to dance the cupid shuffle then give you anything useful, the tight lipped bas-"

"Shippo watch your language!"

"Unfortunately I've not been subtitled so I've no way of watching such a thing." Shippo stated blandly as his lips twitched and his eyes danced.

"You're hopeless!" Kagome laughed throwing her hands up in exasperation.

"But you love me anyway!" Was his rebuttal as they stood to leave, he tugged her gently to him throwing his arm over her shoulder in a half embrace.

Her eyes crinkled with her mirth as they left their other companion behind to follow at his own pace. "So you keep telling me."

There were times, Sesshomaru decided watching the duo walk away, that he wished it was within his nature to express himself more openly, he sorely wanted to rub his temples in irritation at the entire situation, and his frustration with his… associates in general.

One is a trouble magnet the other is just trouble.

Unwilling to break his carefully crafted façade he instead settled for glaring at anyone who met his gaze reveling in their fear and panic as an old instinct of self preservation told them there was a predator in the vicinity.

It was the little things that made life worth while he decided in satisfaction.