6 Months Later...

"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh! I'm LATE!" Kagome hollered, her voice echoing against the walls and her anxiety already going through the roof as she flew down the stairs and exploded into the lobby of Yamamoto Inc. She was already wheezing and man was she out of shape. The tranquil waterfall in the corner, always bubbling away, did absolutely nothing to hide her obnoxious breathing.

Working for Sesshoumaru as a freelance interpreter was going well enough so far but that meeting had run way too long and he was waiting for her! Somewhere…

Kagome slammed into the front desk and the gaggle of secretaries took her extra pep in stride, smiling up at her with knowing grins. Too knowing, Kagome thought to herself. She'd found out more than once today that apparently when Sesshoumaru set up a surprise, that loose-lipped demon told literally everyone in the world but her. Not. Fair.

The almighty Lord Taisho had called her WAY too early in the morning with his sketchy and ambiguous mystery announcement. The sun wasn't even out yet when he called and it was high noon before Kagome was 100% sure she hadn't just dreamed it up. Meet me after work, he said. I've got a surprise for you, he said. That's it. Six months of dating bliss and Kagome was suddenly finding herself in uncharted territory yet again. The anticipation was infuriating.

She was too keyed up to even lower her voice in front of the secretaries and blasted her question at an entirely inappropriate volume. "What did he say?!" she yelled in their faces.

Thankfully, they only giggled like a bunch of schoolgirls and after what seemed like an eternity, the head of the group addressed her, smiling wider still, "He says you'll know where to go."

Still trying to catch her breath, Kagome's brow furrowed in confusion and aggravation at the ambiguity he knew very well that she didn't deal well with. But then her whole face lit up in realization. She beamed and let out a breathless laugh, "You know, I actually do!" she said, "Thanks, you guys!" Then she turned and started walking toward the door, each step in her high-heeled shoes echoing in the cavernous foyer.

One split second after that, the secretaries looked on, silent and confused, as Kagome stopped in her loud, wobbly tracks only a few steps from the desk to look down at her feet. They knew Kagome well enough by now to almost see whatever inner monologue had started, floating directly over her overly-excitable head. Sure enough, the next thing she did was heave a dramatic sigh, obviously resigning herself to some kind of decision. Then they saw her bend down and pluck the high heeled shoes right off of her feet and take off at full speed across the lobby and out the door, one shoe in each hand. She almost hit the door on her way out but managed to exit unscathed, waving a shoe at them in farewell with a great, big, Kagome-smile still on her face.

Once she was out of sight, the giggling erupted yet again in the otherwise peaceful lobby. That less-than-graceful, shoeless getaway was one of many events that continuously endeared Kagome to her boyfriend's employees. It wasn't the first time excitement had carried her through the front door with wings on her heels, coming or going, and they all knew it certainly wouldn't be the last.

Their giggling paused for a moment when a secretary sitting at the very end of the desk voiced the slightest bit of worry, "I hope she really does know where to go..." she pondered.

It wasn't too far-fetched of an idea to think Kagome might have the wrong one. But there was something special about today and they could tell by the look that was on her face before she walked away- that girl knew exactly where she was going and what was waiting there for her.

The secretary beside her gave her hand a reassuring pat, "Don't worry, I think she does."

Then the head secretary sitting at the center of the long desk picked up the phone and all voices hushed. She brought the phone to her ear and carefully dialed a familiar number with manicured fingers.

The deep baritone greeting on the other end of the line came right away.

"Hn," he said.

She kept on smiling, "She's on her way, sir."

Sesshoumaru didn't even look up from his drink when he finally heard the jingle of the bell on the door. He didn't turn around when it swung shut or when the slap of not-so-dainty footsteps on the hard floor reached his sensitive ears. He huffed through his nose and hid a mirthful smirk. Of course, she was barefoot.

He listened as her shoes clattered to the floor and her tiny person slid onto the barstool right next to him. Still not sparing her so much as a glance, he tested the air, nostrils flaring ever so slightly. Her scent was already swirling around his head, sparkling with the happiness that was her trademark, along with some more than usual excitement and… anticipation.

Good, he thought.

He raised his glass to hide the grin that was becoming more difficult to stop by the second. She really had no idea… Then again, he had no idea just how much he would enjoy this particular surprise. Or rather, how much he would enjoy teasing her with it and making her wait- though that particular satisfaction he was now quite familiar with. His gaze fell for just a moment, hooded and far away amid more recent memories of teasing… tasting.

Sesshoumaru took a careful sip of his waiting drink and did his best to bring his thoughts back to the present, knowing full well that she must be watching him closely.

If he had actually turned his head though, he would have seen Kagome looking in a completely different direction, any other direction, just trying to calm the erratic pounding of her exasperated heart.

The unexpected jog over to the bar had really taken it out of her and the excitement surrounding her mystery surprise was doing an even better job of keeping her breathless. In her entire afternoon of wild speculation, there was only one possibility she could only think of that matched the levels of her speeding heartbeat but there was no way… it was way too soon for that, right?

It also didn't help that in the 6 months they'd been officially dating, she had no frame of reference to help her. Sesshoumaru Taisho wasn't exactly spontaneous. Sesshoumaru Taisho just didn't do surprises. Not like this, anyway.

On that subject, it was a very true fact that Kagome had never been and would never be more surprised in her life than on that night that she found herself in a dark alley, bleeding and scared, staring at his back, his muscles tensed and deadly. He was ready to take her out of harm's way by utterly eliminating the threat and would have done just that if she hadn't interceded. Kagome unconsciously ran a finger over the long, thin scar on her arm, still fairly new though it felt so far away and long ago.

Each day since then had found the pair inseparable, not wanting to waste a single moment without each other.

Kagome placed a firm hand on her chest and it helped to slowly even out her breathing at last. How many scenarios and surprises had run through her head all day long? Too many. And she needed a drink. "Hey Myoga!" she hollered pleasantly to the old, beloved bartender that finally walked through the back door.

He looked up at the sound of his name on the familiar voice and smiled at her far too knowingly, just as the secretaries had. "Sure, kid. What can I get ya? A scotch? A beer? A big ol' glass of tar..?" he let the question dangle with an extra twinkle in his eye. He even threw a wink at Sesshoumaru, who raised an unamused eyebrow at the man.

Kagome snorted and the expression of both the man and demon present softened with affection. "Only if you're trying to kill me." she teased, "Just a good 'ol Smirnoff, Myoga. You know me."

"I sure do." he chuckled warmly before disappearing behind the back door once more to retrieve it. Kagome smiled after him. She'd have to thank that old guy one of these days for opening this precious, divey bar in the first place and then for putting it where a certain businessman would see it and go in for a drink on a particularly bad day.

The slightest color rose in her cheeks. It seemed like a lifetime ago that Kagome had decided to sit her cranky-self next to such an equally cranky stranger. Thinking of how far they had come and how unbelievably, incandescently happy she was… her heart started racing again at what the future might hold. The time was getting closer, she could feel it. This was gonna be big.

The sudden sound of Sesshoumaru's wonderfully deep voice sent her heart sputtering even faster.

"Hello," he said. The rumbling sound reverberated against her heartstrings and sent a pleasant chill all the way down to her toes. She heard him set his glass down onto the bar and knew he was waiting for her to face him. Gathering her courage, a calming hand still on her chest, she turned and met his eyes, her favorite sight of all time, warm and gold and looking at her like she was the only person in the entire world.

Sesshoumaru was at a complete loss for words. He found himself glued to the spot, having finally allowed himself to turn his head only to be caught fast by her enchanting gaze as soon as she looked up. He also found himself memorizing every detail, letting his gaze roam over her slowly, appreciatively. He was not expecting the adorably messy sight before his very eyes, sitting right there next to him on that barstool.

He took in the forgotten, high-heeled shoes on the floor. Her pale, bare feet. Her rosy cheeks, brightened by the exercise and her windblown hair. Then finally, he met her eyes. Those perfect, perfect, perfect eyes, always looking at him- gorgeous and wild and so very blue. Their present expression was his very favorite of hers, the one that told him and anyone else around without question that she loved him.

One of Sesshoumaru's hands was still clutching the half-empty glass of bourbon resting on the bar but the other hand was in his pocket, nervously fingering a small, wooden box. Fighting more anxiety than he'd ever admit to anyone, especially her.

The precious item was chosen with the utmost care by none other than himself, though he would later be coaxed into admitting to some help from certain friendly parties.

Sango and Miroku had run secret reconnaissance around the subject for weeks, proving themselves especially valuable members of team 'Pop the Question' as Miroku took to calling it.

Inuyasha had accompanied Sesshoumaru (unnecessarily) to retrieve it and his faithful, secretarial staff had provided the secret (very necessary) safekeeping under Kagome's very nose.

Even as they sat there together in this place that meant so much to both of them, Cosmo was waiting on the other side of the wall with their favorite dessert, baba and limoncello, probably already weeping tears of joy, while Myoga had kindly closed the entire bar for the night so that his carefully laid plans would go undisturbed.

Sesshoumaru's hidden fingers kept turning the box over and over, waiting for the perfect moment to offer Kagome… well, everything. She deserved nothing less. So when his eyes dropped to her lips as they parted to speak, he knew he wouldn't be able to hold out for much longer.

"Hey, Sesshou..." she greeted him with infinite warmth, unable to keep the smile from her beautiful face.

The End.

I have no words to express what this story, and all of you who've read it, have meant to me. 10 years... Reading this story after all that time was like visiting my favorite place after years away. It was surprising and very dear. I was only 15 when I started it.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to read and review. Thank you to kstewdeux and ryochan for being excellent Betas. Thank you to OnceUponABlueMoonDream for your wonderful review that finally lit the fire of inspiration to finish the story.

I hope this is an acceptable conclusion and reached the intended levels of fluffage. I love leaving my happy endings open and unfinished in a way.

May Inuyasha and the stories in its fanfiction family live forever and ever and ever. As always, thanks for reading.