Disclaimer:Nothing new; I don't own jack besides the plotline.

Title:As Deemed By Fate

Rating: R (for obscene profanity usage, content, and some limey situations)

Pairing: Kik/Inu/Kag

Summary: AU. Man is incomplete until he marries. Inuyasha believes his fiancé Kikyo will make him whole, or did until he met Kagome, a beautiful exotic that instantly complicates things. Temptation has never been so hard to resist, especially when feelings get involved.

Chapter Nine: Debatable

---

Kagome knew that telling her friend of her current predicament was not a wise decision. At first Ayumi had been excited to learn about her new, gorgeous male associate, but the excitement had quickly gave way to unease as the story progressed. Of course Kagome had made the occasional cut and paste so as not to let the girl know of her extracurricular activities from dusk til dawn because that wasn't really important. But even the censored version had Ayumi's eyebrows rising and a frown forming on her lips.

"What were you thinking?" Kagome winced, the question affirming her thoughts.

"I didn't have time to think," she defended, chasing salad around the plate with her fork. "He was kind of a last resort."

Ayumi gave her a look that clearly denoted her displeasure. "So your house is vandalized and you turn to a complete stranger that you've met, what, two seconds ago, instead of the friend you've known since childhood? Now why doesn't that make any sense?"

Kagome groaned. "Ayumi, don't be mad. What was I supposed to do? I don't think your roommate would appreciate having me show up unannounced and crashing at your place without her consent."

"Thugs broke in and trashed your house. I'm sure Kari wouldn't have minded you staying over a few nights."

"Yeah but that's the thing. I don't know how long it'll take to have everything repaired and replaced." Kagome rubbed her eyes with the pads of her forefinger and thumb. "I haven't even looked up a contractor yet. I planned on doing it this morning but I couldn't miss that bio lab."

Ayumi's critical expression softened and she placed a hand over the other girl's. "I'm sorry Kags. I didn't mean to go for the jugular like that but I'm just worried about you. You've got so much on your plate already and then something like this happens. Who would do something like that to a holy shrine?"

Kagome's eyes narrowed as a fleeting image of Mizuki popped up. "Someone pretty screwed up in the head. But the police are looking into it now and plan on giving me a call later on today."

Ayumi shook her head and sipped her carbonated water. "So what's up with this guy Yash you're staying with? Are you sure he can be trusted?"

"From what I've seen so far, yes. He hasn't taken advantage of the situation or myself and doesn't seem to have any underlying motifs." A brief smile appeared on her lips. "I believe he's genuinely a nice guy."

"And probably the last of his kind." Ayumi sighed and stared at her friend imploringly. "Are you sure you don't want to stay over at our place for the time being? I mean the couch has seen better days and Kari's boyfriend has practically made himself at home, but we could work something out for you."

Kagome waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it. I'm fine where I am and it shouldn't take more than a couple of days to have everything fixed, hopefully."

Ayumi twisted a strand of her curly hair, her expression less than convinced. "I don't know. Something about this doesn't sit well with me. But," she quickly tacked on as Kagome opened her mouth, "I have faith in your instincts and if you really think that this guy can be trusted, then you should stay with him. And if he tries anything, you will let call me? There are too many sickos in the world nowadays for you to be too trusting."

"Even though I doubt the possibility of that ever happening, if it does, yes, you'll be the first to know. Now," Kagome clasped her hands together and leaned forward, all too eager to switch topics, "enough about me, what's going on with you and that new transfer student Nobunaga you were telling me about?"

Ayumi's features lit up at the mention of her crush and she launched into a rather lengthy narrative involving one of the few guys she actually deemed as "dateable". While Kagome smiled and asked all of the appropriate questions, she could not help but run through her situation over and over, doubts beginning to spring from the corners of her mind.

Why had she chosen to pick up that balled piece of paper that he'd scrawled his number on? Why hadn't she called Ayumi or Momiji or even Suki? Was it really because all the girls had roommates and boyfriends and short on space? Or something else?

And was it really such a bad idea to crash at some random guy's pad?

Ok, Yash wasn't totally random. They'd met briefly, under completely sketchy circumstances yes, and he had been a flirt once second then a chauvinistic asshole the next, but he had redeemed himself after rescuing her from almost being raped.

Reliving the memory for a fleeting second, Kagome inwardly shuddered and forced another encouraging smile as Ayumi continued to go on about the boy. She didn't even want to think about what would have happened if Yash hadn't been there to fend off those guys. For some inexplicable reason, she trusted him; her instincts hadn't sounded any alarms when she'd first awoken in his bed after being knocked unconscious. In fact, she felt completely at ease in his presence, something that baffled her to no end because ever since she began working at Erotica, she had become slightly uncomfortable around men. Perhaps it had to do with her line of work and having to endure the stares, the drooling, the obviousness of their lust.

Kagome couldn't even remember the last time she had a date. Hiten was part of the reason she hadn't completely written off the males in general and now she could add Yash to that category of respectable gentlemen, reserved for the few men she'd met that deserved her time.

The half smile that had steadily worked its way on her face wilted as she distantly recalled that Yash had told her that he had a girlfriend. Why was it that the good ones were always taken?

After lunch, both girls parted ways with promises to call one another that night and headed off to their classes. The rest of the day passed by without incident. Psychology and Japanese Lit were, as always, fascinating and ended much too early for her liking.

Sighing, Kagome stuffed the textbook into her bag just in time to avoid being hit by a glass door. "Thanks for nothing," she glared daggers at the back of the guy's head who hadn't made an effort to hold the door open for her. Kagome swung the bag over her shoulder and began walking toward the bus stop.

"Higurashi-san."

Stopping in her tracks, she turned around and blinked at the young man dressed in a dark navy suit standing behind her. "Yes?"

"My name is Watanbe Hiroki. Inu…err, Yash-sama has designated myself as your driver for the afternoon," he explained, covering his faux pas smoothly.

Comprehension dawned upon her face. She had forgotten all about Yash's promise to provide transportation. "Um, that's ok, I don't really need-"

"Oh but I must insist. I was given very specific orders to make sure that you arrive in a safe and timely manner back to the condo."

Kagome's brow furrowed. Though a gentleman Yash may be, he was still a condescending jerk. "I guess it wouldn't kill me…"

A knowing grin appeared on the man's face. "Right this way."

She followed him toward the parking lot, somewhat confused as to how the chauffeur recognized her. It wasn't as if she'd given Yash a picture of herself. Kagome was still ruminating on this when the man stopped in front of one of the most expensive looking cars she'd seen in her life.

"A Phantom? He made you pick me up in a Rolls Royce Phantom? Does this man's ego have no end?"

"If I may be so bold, Higurashi-san, Yash-sama has a particular inclination for traveling in style, and that extends to those he offers rides to."

"Clearly," she responded dryly. "And please, call me Kagome."

"Then you may call me Hiroki. Pleasure to meet you." He gave a dramatic bow.

'Talk about over the top,' she thought but couldn't help but grin. "Nice to meet you too Hiroki."

Smiling pleasantly, he stepped up to the car and opened the door. Kagome thanked him and climbed inside. The interior smelled of newness and leather. The seats were plush and comfortable and felt like heaven against her back. Kagome allowed herself to get comfortable and leaned back further.

"Actually Hiroki," she began when he turned out on the ignition, "would you mind stopping by my house. I need to see a few things before I call the contractors."

"No need to worry Kagome," he said glancing at her through the rearview mirror, "it has all been taken care of."

She stilled. "What do you mean?"

"The contractors have already assessed the damage and are scheduled to begin work tomorrow. Were you not informed?" he asked, legitimately confused.

The temperature in the car rose several degrees, anger prickling the hairs on her neck and arms. "No I was not informed. I take it that Yash-sama was responsible for this as well."

The chauffeur coughed, whether to hide his amusement or embarrassment she wasn't sure, but she did know that the next time she saw that arrogant businessman, she was not going to be held accountable for her actions. How dare he go behind her back and make decisions that were her own? Kagome had thought she'd made it more than clear that he was not to meddle in any of her affairs unless she told him otherwise.

"Yash-sama and I need to have a talk."

---

The day had been long; too long.

The meeting that Inuyasha had told his secretary to reschedule with the British clients did not go as planned. First off they were not happy about having to readjust their schedule for the sake of his convenience and what should have taken no more than an hour ended up going just over three. It took them forever to choose a loan option and being that it was their first joint collaboration, they had had a few reservations about aspects involving trade and project financing. The meeting had been one of the most painful in his life. Even Sesshomaru, who always maintained stoic professionalism, had to deviate from the norm, demanding that the men either settle on an agreement or find another firm.

That had been the only highlight of the day. The rest had been packed with work, work, and more work.

"As is the story of my life," he muttered running a hand through his hair. It was five minutes past ten and he was still in this fucking office. He had tried to call Kagome's cell to tell her that he'd be home late and to find something in the fridge to eat for dinner, but she hadn't picked up. That meant one of two things; either she was busy studying or she was angry at him over something.

But what the hell could she be mad at him over? It couldn't be about having a driver pick her up from school, as they'd resolved the issue that morning and she didn't seem to have a problem with it.

He grimaced. Unless Hiroki had told her about the contractors. The girl was as stubborn and prideful as they come. He couldn't remember the last time a woman turned down anything he offered with no strings attached, not that he that he did this sort of thing on a daily basis. In fact, he couldn't call to mind doing something so generous for someone besides himself in his life.

A gentle rap at the door pulled Inuyasha from his thoughts.

"Come in," he said without looking up from his work, naturally assuming it was the janitor, as neither his brother nor his employees bothered to knock. Hell, he didn't even know why they bothered installing a door. They all seemed to like barging in on him whenever they pleased.

"Hey."

The silver-haired man glanced up and was moderately surprised to see Miroku. Ever since their pseudo argument the other day, the two hadn't exactly been on speaking terms or rather Inuyasha had refrained from speaking or acknowledging the guy he'd presumed was his friend. Call it childishness on his part, but he was a grown ass man and would be damned if he'd have someone else tell him what to do.

"Why are you standing there like an asshole? Get in here already," he grunted while initialing the last memo of in the stack that had been sitting on desk for the past couple of days.

Miroku offered a hesitant, yielding smile as he took a seat. "So, am I correct in assuming that we're back on speaking terms?"

"No," he said flatly. "Is that all you wanted?"

The other man had to suppress the urge to roll his mauve-colored eyes. "Inuyasha, seriously how long do you plan on not speaking to me?"

"As long as it takes you to realize that I am not a fucking two-year old and stop giving me bullshit advice on how to run my life," he responded reshuffling all of the papers and setting them aside.

"How many times to I have to tell you, we are not trying to run your life," Miroku groaned sinking deeper into the chair. "We are merely trying to ensure that you are comfortable with the decisions you are to make."

"I.e., run my life," Inuyasha translated sourly. "Listen, not that I don't appreciate all you've guys have done for me, but that part of my life is over and done with. This is a new chapter and I'm a changed man. Fuck, I'm getting married in a few weeks Miro, how much evidence do you need?"

The corner of Miroku's mouth quirked. "I suppose you have changed."

"Damn straight I'm have."

"I don't know," the man murmured. "Maybe it is we who have not adjusted."

"Well then you need to get with the program because I don't plan on having this conversation again. So are we clear?"

Miroku rolled his eyes. "Yes mother, clear as crystal."

Inuyasha grinned, more than happy to do away with the awkward tension. "Good. Now that the stick has been uprooted from your ass, tell me what's going on with you."

"Oh the usual. Sango and I got into another little tiff the other day because she thinks the random numbers on my cell phone are all from the woman I am allegedly seeing behind her back."

"Are they?" Inuyasha asked bluntly.

Miroku had the decency to look disgusted. "Why I would never cheat on my lovely dove a girlfriend? She is the apple of my eye, the temptress of my heart, the-"

"Alright I get it, save it Romeo."

"How about I give you all the details over a beer? It's been a while since we last went out and since I'm confined to the couch tonight, I doubt Sango will care about what time I come in."

Inuyasha shifted uneasily, his thoughts turning to Kagome. What he wouldn't give for a beer right now, but he couldn't very well leave his houseguest to her own devices, especially when she was pissed at him. "Actually I have more work I have to do at home, so I'm going to have to take a rain check."

This time it was Miroku's turn to raise an eyebrow. "Work? At home? There are two words I'd never thought I'd hear you say in the same sentence."

He didn't answer and instead busied himself with tidying up his desk. "Well that's what happens when you're making seventy million yen a year."

Miroku stared at him a second longer, the answer obviously stirring his suspicions. And what more was he supposed to expect? He rarely took work home, claiming that they were two entities that needed to be separated at all times.

Inuyasha nearly exhaled his relief when the man nodded. "Fine. But you owe me a beer next time we go out."

"Yeah, yeah, I'll get your damn beer."

"And I'll hold you to it." Miroku gave a mock salute. "See you tomorrow."

He waited until his friend left before picking up the phone and speed dialing Kagome's cell. Inuyasha frowned when it went straight to voicemail. Where the hell was she? He dialed another number. "Why isn't she answering her phone? What the hell did you tell her?"

"Ah, Inuyasha-sama, so nice to hear from you," Hiroki replied respectfully, too accustomed to his boss's brusque personality to take offense to his lack of courtesy. "I dropped off Kagome-san at her job about four hours ago. Although she politely declined a ride home, I did tell her that I would be there to pick her up at 10:30."

"Don't worry about it; I'll pick her up."

"Are you sure? It would be no problem."

"I'm sure. You can call it a night."

"It's your call sir. Kagome-san said she would be waiting at the back gate."

"Thanks. Have a good night."

"You t-'" Inuyasha flipped the phone shut before the driver could finish, grabbed his car keys, and headed out the door, all but forgetting the untouched stack of files sitting at the opposite end of the desk he'd been planning on bringing home.

Her job did not sit well with him at all. She was basically selling her body to make money. Granted sex was not involved but it might as well be with all of the pole grinding and lap dances.

He could still remember her riveting performance the night they first met. The contortions she could do with her body were no less than amazing. She certainly knew how to make a guy respond.

Inuyasha tried to shake the replaying of her movements, of the perfection of her body, the swell of those curves-fuck, that was really not helping. He was beginning to see her as two different people: the seductive, tempting character Ember she posed as during her routine and Kagome, the intelligent, passionate college student that he knew was destined for great things.

And he knew it would be best if he kept the two separated at all times.

It didn't take long at all for him to reach the club since he worked only several blocks away. The place was just as crowded as it had been the night of his party. The parking lot was packed with cars and the lines at the front doors literally extended as far as the eye could see. Miroku hadn't been kidding when he'd said this was place was the hot spot. If it was this packed on a week night, he'd hate to see what it looked like on the weekend.

Thankful he didn't have to deal with the backed up traffic many party-goers were probably bitching about in the lot, he made another right and continued onward until he reached the back gates. "Hey pal, open up, I need to pick up Kagome," Inuyasha called out the window to the guard posted.

The large, burly-looking man with a thick mustache and beady eyes stared at him as if he'd lost his mind. "Ri-ight. Sir, the back entrance is off limits to everyone except the personnel."

Inuyasha swallowed a growl and tried to maintain a calm disposition. "She asked me to pick her up after her shift ended."

"Oh really?" the guard remarked matter-of-factly. "Well she didn't inform me that some white-haired weirdo was picking her up, so there's no way I know if you're lying or not."

It was taking all of the inner strength he could muster from getting out of the car and beating the living shit out of the arrogant security guard. This asshole obviously didn't know who he was talking to. His knuckles whitened on the wheel.

"Kenji, you big bully, stop being so mean to my friend."

The gruff façade of the man immediately toned down in intensity as a woman no more than twenty-one walked around the corner of the box, a teasing smile on her face. "Ah Kagome, sorry about that. I didn't know he was with you. He was the fifth guy tonight that asked for you." He stared at Inuyasha stonily . "You can never be too safe."

Kagome laughed, a light, tinkling sound that unwound some of the tension that had coiled in Inuyasha's chest. "Thanks Kenji. It's good to know that you have my back."

"Trust me Kagome, it's my pleasure." He winked flirtatiously.

Inuyasha gnashed his teeth together as Kagome giggled again and said good-bye before getting in on the passenger side of the Ferrari. He backed out of the entry way and flipped the bird at the guard.

"Was that really necessary?" She didn't bother concealing her irritation.

"After what that idiot said to me, yes it was called for," he shot her a glare as they sped off, which she graciously returned.

They held one another's heated gazes. Kagome was first to look away, more so because she wanted him to pay attention to the road and not get them killed over a staring contest. "You know what Yash, I don't think that I can do this."

His annoyance suddenly faltered. "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is that this whole me living with you and you taking care of responsibilities that are mine is not working out."

"This has to do with contractors," he stated rather than asked.

Kagome felt like yanking her hair. Was he trying to be this dense on purpose? "You're not getting it. You had no right to conduct business that I should have initiated and been in charge of."

"What is with you and not being able to accept generosity when its offered?"

"Yash, you treat me like a child. You act as if I can't handle things on my own, like I need someone to hold my hand and tell me what to do."

Inuyasha felt the vaguest impressions of déjà vu. Did he not just have this conversation with Miroku not twenty minutes ago? He ran a hand over his face, the fight beginning to seep from him. "I'm not treating you like a child. But is it a crime to see someone in need and want to do something to help?"

"Ha!" Kagome jabbed in the shoulder, her eyes bright with determination. "So you do see me as someone who always needs assistance."

He let out an exasperated noise. "No, you're taking me words out of context."

"Am I?"

"Yes, no, fuck, I don't know. Do you enjoy playing mind games with me?"

"But Yash, your mind is simply too easy to manipulate. I couldn't resist," she said with a hint of a smirk.

"You wound me."

"Punk."

"Wench."

"Jerk."

"Bitch."

Kagome withheld her next insult, realizing that at some point she'd failed to maintain her grip on the irritation that had plagued her all afternoon. After Hiroki had kindly informed her of his employer's involvement in her personal affairs, she'd spent the remainder of the day preparing her argument, intent on setting the record straight once and for all, even if it meant her moving out and renting a room at a motel until her house was restored to its previous state.

'So how did my logical discourse become reduced to petty name-calling?' She sighed. 'Well, there goes that.' "

Inuyasha sneaked a peek at her and was pleased to find that curls of smoke no longer emanated from her ears. "So, are we good now?" he ventured cautiously.

Kagome rolled her eyes. "Yash, the next time you make any decisions that involve me or anything that goes on within my life, just let me know. I don't like being kept out of the loop. And if I say I don't want your driver to pick me up or if I want to take care of something myself, then please respect my wishes and don't interfere. Can you do that?"

'Crisis averted,' he grinned to himself. "Yes ma'am. Now that that's off of our chests, how about sushi?"

She glanced at the digital clock lodged in the dashboard. It was almost 11pm. "Isn't it a little late for dinner?"

"I can't sleep on an empty stomach."

"Well I can't sleep on a full one."

"Then you can watch me eat."

"Because that's so exciting," she drawled sarcastically.

Later on that night after they'd eaten, or rather after Kagome had watched him eat and made comments on his voracious appetite, and they'd both said their good-nights and he was beginning to think it wasn't so bad having a girl for a roommate since there would always be more food for him, Inuyasha retired to his room and checked his messages as he prepared for bed.

"You have three new messages. First message:

"Half-breed, report to the office at eight o'clock sharp tomorrow morning. We have to finalize the final pieces of the project before it goes before the board. Do NOT be late again or try and reschedule for a later date. This has to be taken care of now. And answer your phone from now on. This Sesshomaru does not like speaking-"

Inuyasha pressed the erase button before the recording could finish. "Asshole," he muttered unfastening his cuffs. "Just because we have different mothers does not give you the right to call me half-breed."

"Yo dog shit, poker night is tomorrow and you will be there. Don't try and weasel out of it like last time you little pussy. Peace."

"Fuck you and your gay ass poker nights Kouga." He erased the message and kicked off his shoes.

"Hi, it's me." Inuyasha froze mid-movement at the sound of his fiancé's voice. "The interview ended earlier than expected so I took a plane back to Japan this morning. I just landed a few minutes ago. God it feels like I haven't seen you in weeks. Um, I'm going to swing past your place on my way home. It's ten o'clock now, so I should be there in about an hour or so…I-I can't wait to see."

"End of messages. You have no more new messages."