Animal Affections by Xaverie

Reflections

Animal Affections

Chapter one: Reflection

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Disclamer: I don't own any of the characters created by Rumiko Takahashi.

A/N: This is my first shot at this pair so hang in there with me. The story line follows one thats close to my own. Read, Rate and Review please:

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*BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP*

"ugh i dont.... wanna...mmm" Kagome mumbled as she threw the pillow over her head.

*BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP*

Growling to herself, she threw her hand around searching for the off button. 'Damn this stupid clock'

Finally finding the off switch, she rolled on her back, loosing the pillow in the process and laid in bed and began to go over her past few weeks of her hectic life.

She been working at the vet for a little over a year now. She did everything from cleaning cages, to answering the phones and helping clients, to giving shots and doing life saving surgeries. She was the best of the best there and she knew it. However she never walked around with this on some big ego trip....'No that's what those damn kids do....think they own the place'

It was only recently when the old man who lived upstairs moved out. The apartment was built so a person can be on the premises 24/7 for any emergency cases and such. His name was Totosai, he was a little on the strange side but that was why she liked him. He happened to be the only person to live there for more then 3 years...in fact, he lived in that old apartment for 18 years before finally getting his relative's house after they died.

"God I don't want to get up....bed....to comfortable" she mumbled as she pulled the blanket over her head.

When she heard about a possible place to stay she jumped on it. She was trying to save up and get her own place but it was kinda hard when you don't even have enough money to buy a car let alone afford your own place. She could never understand why she was so poor, she never really spent money on clothes and such and she hardly ever went out. And hey, free rent, free gas and electric, and free utilities.....who can complain?

In return for no rent, she would have to clean every night or so and make sure the animals that were either boarding or animals that were part of the hospital itself were ok. She would also give any meds, and make sure no one breaks in and such. Which she didn't mind, she loved animals, loved cleaning (something she blames on her mom) and she could kick anyone's ass should they cross her path.

It took several months for the move to finally happened, Totosai was having some issues with money and his family that it took awhile for him to finally move. Kagome didn't care. She was finally gonna have her own place with no pestering brother, mother, or grandfather. She loved them very much but....'But they are always on my case about stuff' Kagome huffed.

"When you gonna get married? When you gonna move out so I can get your room? When you gonna grow up and take care of the family shrine?" Kagome mocked as she rolled her eyes and stretched. She began to kick the covers off of her semi naked body. Not getting enough sleep and working to much was catching up to her...she didn't even have the strength to get fully dressed for bed...nope...just a tank top and panties today...where the hell her pj shorts were she will never know.

Its not like she hated her family....she just was tired of them bugging her about her life. She was raised to be a shrine miko, though she never fully believed in the miko and demon thing. Her grandfather on the other hand...well lets just say she never brought any friends over. Just thinking about the last time makes her skin flush red with embarrassment.

It was her first year of middle school, she and her new friend Kumi stopped by Kagomes home to pick up something. Kumi had to use the bathroom while waiting for Kagome to get done doing whatever she had to do and Kagomes grandfather ended up busting down the bathroom door. He proceeded to chase her around screaming "DEMON" while trying to throw a sealing spell on her. All of which happening while Kumi's pants where dragging on the floor.

'Lets just say she and I never spoke after that' Kagome sighed. 'Well I guess it didn't help that she, at the time was wearing a blue wig and elf ears...which was something she did all the time to stand out.....and she had the nerve to call me strange'.

Kagome went to roll out of bed but only managed to get tangled in the cover. Rolling to her side she glanced at the clock and read the time.

"6am.......grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr" she grabbed the nearest pillow and shoved it back over her face.

"I'm still used to waking up early....just 10 more minutes" she mumbled as she let out a long sigh.

She finally moved three weeks ago, it was a sad and happy moment all at once. She was happy to be getting her own place but her mom seem to never want her to leave and her grandfather was so sad that she wouldn't be taking over the shrine.

"Its not that I don't want to follow in my family's footsteps...its just...I want the chance to live my own life...not one in the past laid out by others." Kagome said as she hugged her grandfather. He seem to understand, though he was still hurt that she didn't seem to care as much as he did. Of course, who did? The old man would rush outside, in the cold, butt naked just to sweep ONE leaf off the shrine steps.

'Wouldn't be the first time...nor the last....good thing we don't have any close neighbors.' She thought to herself.

Kagome was so happy when she was all settled. Miroku tried to convince her to throw a mad, and crazy party to celebrate but she would rather just sleep in her bed. She has been working to many hours and its starting to catch up with her. The doctors insisted that she be trained in everything...and now...one year later...she is the head staff member, and did...well...

"Everything...that's what" she whined while throwing her pillow off the bed.

The Yukuri Animal hospital wasn't just a hospital for pets. It also happened to be a boarding place for cats, dogs, birds and other small animals as well as a dog and cat grooming facility. Which means there was much to do all the time. Between getting to work at 7am, feeding all the animals, letting the dogs outside to do their business and such, cleaning cages, helping the doctors with appointments, and in her case...all that plus running the front office, giving the shots, surgeries, and making sure everyone else is doing their job right.

"Speak..err...thinking of which...better get downstairs before Kouga starts banging on my door wondering what's keeping me...or worse....Sango......she'll drag me down the steps before I even have a chance to get dressed." Kagome softly chuckled to herself as she climbed out of bed and began to dig threw her clothes basket, looking for her favorite work shirt.

She took the time to decorate it with some color. The shirts were grey but she decided to add some art and color to it. She and Sango were trying to convince they change the uniform to something more colorful but Dr. M didn't care for it at the time. So, they decided to do it on their own. Kagome's shirt had paw prints on it and a white fluffy dog. It also has several paw prints on the back, a little joke that Sango used saying everyone walks all over her. Which only made Kagome pissed off and threw her off the bed.

It is so nice living right above work, can sleep in a few extra hours, and not have to rush to work only to realize that she for got something at home. Kagome happened to live on the outskirts of town before she moved and it took her over an hour to get to work, not including the traffic. She loved her job to much to get one closer to home...not to mention thanks to this place she now has her own place.

*BANG BANG BANG*

Kagome was startled out of her train of thought when she heard someone bang on her door. 'Probably Sango...coming up here to wake me up....its not even 7:30 for godsakes.'

Opening the door, Kagome prepared herself for what was to come. There stood Sango, with what looked to be like a big wet spot on her shirt and pants. And that's not forget how her normally nice looking ponytail and neat bangs were anything but neat and nice looking...it looked like she just woke up....and she seemed to have a few scratches on her arms and neck

'What in the...?' "Are you....ok...Sango?" Kagome asked trying not to laugh at her distressed and obviously pissed off friend.

"WHEN are you coming down to work KAGOME?!.....Hojo isn't here yet....Kagura of course isn't here either, Kouga is gonna get his fucking ass kicked and I have this damn dog in C ward that is mean as hell and it pissed all over me and tried to eat my FACE!" Sango yelled as she began to flare her arms everywhere.

"Oh my god calm down...ok give me two minutes to feed Buyo and I'll be down" Kagome said while fixing her shirt and pulling her pants up.

"Please hurry....the doctors will be here soon and will flip if they dont see you down here....oh..and do you think I can borrow a new shirt?" Sango smiled while pointing to her pissed stained shirt.

"Yea here." She said while tossing Sango a clean shirt and shutting the door so she can finish her morning routine.

*meow*

Kagome looked over at Buyo as he ate his morning meal. He seemed so happy with his new place...sure it wasn't a house but less people meant less times having to get up from a seat cause no one had room to sit down.

"Looks like I'm working the front again....that damn Kagura ONCE again...she freaking didn't show up....damn her...damn her and her drug using self."

Well there's no real proof that she does drugs but the groomer said she's always asking for painkilleres and threatens her with her job if she doesn't give them to her. And lets not forget how she acts when she's "sick" as she likes to put it. She looks more like she's going threw withdraw then having the flu.

"I dont see why the doctors keep her around.." she said to Buyo as she slipped her flip flops on. "I mean....no one likes her...she doesn't do her job right...she rather gossip about men, money and her daughter Kanna....grrr..Kanna this.... Kanna that.." She said in disgust. Kagome hated kids that got what ever they wanted. Not cause she wasn't so lucky or cause she's jealous...its cause people like that dont know what its like to not have anything...they dont know what its like to have to work for everything, they are SO selfish.

Kagome sighed as she grabbed her laptop, keys, cell phone and an apple then went out the door locking it. She didn't feel safe leaving it unlocked...even when she was working right down the steps...never know when someone will sneak up there.

Walking down the steps she pause at the front window and noticed it was raining, pretty hard in fact. 'Good maybe clients wont want to come in today and cancel their appointments' Kagome said to herself as she walked threw the back door and into the front office to clock in. She set her card back in the slot and sat at the desk. She hated running the front but at least she didn't have to run around the back taking orders from that blasted Dr. Onigumo. He seemed to love making her day hell....and when he wasn't telling her what to do every five minutes, he was flirting with her or Sango. 'Which is soooooooooooo gross...he's like 30 years older then us...and married...with kids...' kagome thought as Sango walked in the front office and handed her some files.

"Hey Sango" Kagome chirped sounding WAY to happy at 7am on a rainy, Monday, October day.

"Hey" she sighed as she sat in the extra chair and watched as Kagome started to pull the files for today's appointments. Everyone who wanted Kagura gone wanted Kagome up front. Yeah they rather have her in the back working with them cleaning cages and such but she was so much better then everyone else who ever worked the front office. She so nice to the clients and boarders she never had any client yell at her or about her. When ever a client was having a bad day, just five minutes with Kagome and their bad day will be forgotten. Not like Kagura who could less about them and more about the money they have in their bank accounts. Sango growled at that. 'How can she be such a bitch...and get away with it?'

Sango was Kagome's best friend since middle school and was the reason Kagome works at the vet. Sango convinced Kagome to come and work with her when her ex broke up with her, even though it didn't take much to convince her. Kagome was glad to have something occupy her time.

Sango was just a little bit taller the kagome but both had long black hair which she always wore up while at work. It was too much of a hassle when it was down. Cant have hair in your face while holding a dog or cleaning cages.

Sango always wore her pinkish pants with her grey vet shirt. No sense in getting all her pants dirty at work. Where Kagome worked on a new work shirt, Sango worked on the pants, her design had paw prints going up the length of the right leg. She was just as sweet as kagome though she did have a mouth on her, which Kagome blames Miroku and Kouga.

Sango had been working at the vet for three years now as well as Kouga. Both started in the summer which happens to be the busiest time of the year. Sango and Kouga were both offered to live upstairs but both thought it was better for Kagome. One, she needed a place to live, two she was more responsible and three, she was more dedicated.

Sango sighed 'If only she would go out and meet a man....I dont like her being here by herself at night not to mention she needs someone...it would be nice for her to have a man in her life.....cant tell her that though' She thought to herself and giggled.

"Cant believe that whore didn't show again" said Kouga as he hopped over the counter and jumped inside the front office. He was your typical bad ass attitude male. He never wore the proper clothing, he had vet shirts but they always seemed "to dirty" to wear to work. He always went more for the trouble maker kind of look with his baseball cap and loose, torn jeans with a long chain hanging from them. He was a real ass to guys but was a real ladies man...especially with Kagome. He has been trying to convince her to go out with him for nearly two years but she just didn't seem interested.

Kouga was about 5' 8 compared to Kagome who was 5' 6" and Sango's 5'7", and always had a leather headband in his long brown hair. He always had it up in a rough ponytail and his face always seemed to have this wolf like grin. Yes Kouga was a real ladies man indeed, he would always whistle at all the hot girls. He was cunning like a wolf and always got the women he wanted in his bed...except for Kagome. She was so much different from the others and he just cant stop thinking about her.

Kagome's skin had a nice earthly glow to it, unlike most people today who go into all that tanning and shit to look good. No Kagome wasn't like that, she was all natural. She hardly ever wore makeup, though when she did it was mostly eye shadow. Her eyes were like the ocean....a nice medium blue that seem to swirl with life and catcher any who stare within their depths. Her hair was fine as silk and flowed freely to her mid back. Occasionally she would pull it into a loose bun when she was eating or working which made her look even cuter.

Kagome hummed a song that seem to give peace to the other two occupants in the room. She was looking over the files and checked for shots and when they are due for the morning appointments. The day always seemed to be better with Kagome around. No matter how stressed someone was, just being around Kagome made all that go away. She always knew what to say and when to say it, she always stood up for her friends as well as herself. Kagome always put her friends wellbeing before hers...same thing with animals. As nice as she was to people and all, she preferred to work with animals...mostly cause in her opinion they needed help the most.

*RING RING RING*

Kouga was thrown from his thoughts when the phone rang. 'Line 3....10 bucks its Dr. O' kouga thought to himself. He didn't really like Naraku that much. Hell, no one really did. He was a real ass to him and for the life of him he couldn't figure out why. 'Ok maybe cause I bitch him out everyday for him treating me like a kid and I called his daughter a fat cow....but still....what did I ever do to him...'

Kagome groaned as she looked at the phone. 'Oh how I hate that damn thing' she thought

*RING RING RING*

"Are you gonna get that Kagome?" Sango asked as she looked over the list of dogs going home so she knows who needs to be all nice and clean.

"Do I gotta....its probably Dr. O and I dont want to talk to him..." Kagome said as she slowly began to pick it up.

"Thanks for calling Yukuri Animal hospital, this is Kagome speaking, how may I help you?" Kagome said as cheerful as possible.

"Oh hello, how are you?" Naraku's voice sounded from the receiver.

"Fine, and you" Kagome smiled then made a funny face which let the others know who she was speaking too.

"Good...very...good...look I'm gonna be a little late so just tell my appointments to wait...Is Kagura in?"

Kagome rolled her eyes. She knew he was gonna ask that. He knew she wasn't here, he just loved to asked stupid questions, pretending to not know anything and piss people off. She could swore they were fucking on the side...wouldn't be the first person..and wont be the last person he cheats on with his wife. "No...she's not...did she call you?" 'Oh no she didn't call but dont worry about it...its not like I'm gonna yell at her and fire her' she thought to herself as she mocked him.

"No, I guess I will give her a call.... Now Kagome...I want you to make sure the back crew get the important stuff done...and make sure everything's just about done by the time I get there...I dont want you guys sitting around not working...you can do that at home." Naraku said bitterly and hung up.

Kagome blinked at the phone. "That ass hung up on me" Kagome said to Sango and Kouga who simply shrugged knowing full well about his tactics.

"Well we better get the cleaning started...Kouga do runs and I'll do wards....I dont feel like having to deal with that damn hose....its to cold outside to get wet." Sango said as she walked over to the phone and began to dial a phone number.

"Who you calling?" Kagome asked as she gathered her files and was about to take them to the doctors area so they are ready when the clients come in.

"Hojo, he's a half an hour late and I'm wondering what the hell is up." Sango said as she walked to the boarding side of the front office for some privacy.

"Well he said something about car troubles....I thought he was gonna take that POS to the shop last Saturday and that it would be fixed by now...well I'm gonna go start on runs....hopefully Kagura wont come in and it will be a nice....rainy day..." he said as he flipped a stray hair from his face and walked out the front office door.

"Ok....no its cool....do the doctors know?...oh ok...really?....no she's not here....yea I know....yea she is....me too...ok...cya later....cool...bye" Sango said before turning back to hang the phone up, only to realize she was tangled up with the long ass cord.

"SHIT...help me" she called out to Kagome just as she was about to fall. Kagome rushed to her side laughing slightly while helping her friend.

"Its not funny......ass" Sango said as she sighed in relief.

"So what did he have to say?" Kogome asked as she looked at time and noticed its almost time to open up.

"Car problems...though he knows I could have picked him up but he said he needed a break anyway." Sango said fixing her shirt.

"Dont blame him really....well...better open up...." Kagome said walking up the hallway.

~

The day started out like any other day. Wake up at 5 in the morning, shower, eat, yell at Jaken for any given reason, go to work, work all day around stupid humans, come home, eat dinner and go to bed.

Sesshoumaru sighed as he looked out the window. 'It sucks being me" he thought to himself. Being the owner of his father's company was a big responsibility. He never had the time to enjoy himself or go out.

'Not that I need that kind of stuff" he said bitterly to himself.

Though there we some days where he was just to tired of deal with people. He was always being admired by women and men alike because of his good looks and money.

Sesshoumaru stood about 6'1, with long silvery hair that went down the length of his back and golden eyes that shined like the sun. His chest and arms were muscular but not overly so, as well as his legs. He always dressed with class at work and when ever he went 'out'...which was hardly ever unless it was for some sort of business deal.

Only at home did he ever tone it down a little. He still wore the best of the best, silk shirts and pants and the finest jeans and T-shirts.

"How much longer Jaken?" Sesshoumaru said with a slight twitch in his brow. He hated traffic and hated being in it. He just wanted to get to work and get it over with.

"Sorry my lord, but the traffic isn't moving very fast" Jaken said as calm as he could. He hated being around his lord when he was angry. 'To bad he's always like that.....he needs someone in his life....' Jaken thought to himself as he seen the glare his sire sent him in the rear view mirror.

Sesshoumaru sighed, 'Why me?' he thought to himself as they finally reached Taisho Corp.

Sesshoumaru just took over his dads company two years ago and already made more money then his father ever did. Of course there was a catch to owning it...he had to co-own it with his younger brother Inuyasha.

His eye twitched. 'Damn him' he said to himself. Sesshoumaru didn't really hate his brother, he just seem to always get on his nerves just to piss him off. At first Sesshoumaru protested against the idea of running the company but it was their fathers dream for them to work together and he will make that dream come true for him.

Pulling up to the curb, Jaken quickly got out and went around to let Sesshoumaru out.

As he opened the door he quickly bowed as did the two doors men when he walked past them threw the opened door.

Sesshoumaru made no acknowledgement to them as he continued to walk to the elevator. The receptionists at the main desk started to giggle as he walked past. They always did that...they would always say how they wish they could be with him and wonder how good he was in bed.

'Pathetic' he growled to himself as the door in the elevator shut. Twenty six floors later he was at his floor and stood, waiting for to door to open and thinking to himself how shitty his day is gonna be when Inuyasha gets in. That boy just always loved to pester him.

"Good morning Mr. Taisho" Said Urasue, his receptionist who has been with his dads company for years. She was in her upper 50's and would be retiring next year which was a shame cause she was one of the few who wasn't after him for anything.

'Which is a good thing' Sesshoumaru said as he internally grinned.

"Good morning Urasue" He said as he walked over to her desk and grabbed a folder that had today's agendas and reminders.

He quickly walked in his office and shut the door. Inuyasha would be here soon once word gets around that he is here. And of course he will walk right in, wont knock or anything, and plop right in front of his desk and try to convince him to either get a women or just plain out loosen up. It was the same every day, and sure enough will always be like that until he either got tossed out the 27th floor window or Sesshoumaru gave in and did what his little brother wanted.

'Which will never happen." He said to himself as he looked threw his folder.

*knock knock knock*

Sesshoumaru looked up. "Enter" he said slightly confused that his receptionist didn't announce he had a guest though it didn't show on his face. No he was too good to show emotion on his face. He always kept his emotionless mask in place. Showing emotion is a weakness he will never have.

As the door opened Sesshoumaru looked up to see who it was. There stood Inuyasha, totally not looking like himself. First off, he never knocked, second he never was neatly dressed. He always had his red tie all loose and undone and same goes with his dress shirt. He always went for the more lazy comfortable look. Third, he was bowing before he fully entered. 'What is he up to?' Sesshoumaru thought as he motioned for him to sit.

"Well this is a surprise little brother" He said as he went back to reading about a meeting next week. There we gonna be some new mergers coming to make a deal and Sesshoumaru wasn't looking forward to it. He hated meetings and would rather send Inuyasha to do them...though some times that just wasn't possible.

"What do I owe to this little visit?" Sesshoumaru asked while sneaking a glance to inuyasha. Normally by now his brother would be wrecking havoc in his office or being very loud.

"Well dear older brother of mine.....I have a proposition for you, you see?" Inuyasha said all calm and cool....kinda like he was mocking him in some way.

"Speak...you have five minutes for I am extremely busy" Sesshoumaru said while picking up a pen to sign a form.

"Well dear brother...my proposition is this......GET....LAID!" Inuyasha said as he leaned towards his brother all dramatically.

Sesshoumaru nearly dropped his pen but caught himself. The same couldn't be for his facial expression, shock was written all over his face. 'I knew it' he thought before he yelled for his brother to get out.

"Didn't work huh?" Inuyasha said as he loosened his tie and undid his outer shirt jacket. He then sank deeper in his chair as he watched his brother start to write something.

"oh come on Sessh.....find yourself a nice girl and settle down." Inuyasha was tired of his older brother being alone. 'If he would just get a nice girl, I'm sure he will loosen up and stop being Mr. Ice king.

"Come on what little brother?" He said while glaring at him. "Just cause you need someone in your life doesn't mean I do" Sesshoumaru said as he gathered the paperwork for the upcoming meeting next week.

Inuyasha huffed. "Please, you need it more then me...your always to busy with work and being an ass. Why cant you go out and meet someone?"

'Always the same...comes in here and tells me that I need a woman....I dont need anyone.' "Cause little bro I dont need anyone in my life, I'm happy with what I got" Sesshoumaru said still not understanding why he had to explain himself to his pest of a brother.

"Well you could at least get a pet or something....like a dog....you need SOMETHING in your life" Inuyasha said as he got an idea. 'Start off small and work your way up sorta speak' he smiled to himself as he watched his brother stare at him.

"A dog? Like I need some mutt tripping me up" He huffed "Not to mention I dont have time for one." Sesshoumaru concluded.

"Bro you work no more then 5 hours here...everything else is taken care off at your house on your computer. Dont give me that shit your to busy" Inuyasha said. Oh yea he had this all planned out. Eventually he will just give in cause he will get tired of it.

Sesshoumaru growled. He didn't need a dog. It will just be something else to deal with. Just like a female...a nuisance.

"Look even dad agrees with me....why dont you make him happy and do what he wants?" Inuyasha said with a smile on his face. Unlike his older brother, he was very open with his emotions. His golden eyes always showed what he was feeling, unlike Sesshoumaru who's golden eyes seem to be another barrier he had up. Inuyasha was about 5'10, with long silvery hair that went to the middle of his back. Normally he work it down but while at work he would wear it in a loose pony tail. His hair seemed to have more volume to it then his brother's. Inuyasha was not only more open, but more spoken then his brother. Were Sesshoumaru was more calm and collect, Inuyasha was more forward and vulgar. The two were completely different, only think that they shared was there hair and eye color as well as the same father.

Sesshoumaru's father remarried after his mom died in a car accident. His father ended up marrying Inuyasha's mother nearly three years later. And then Inuyasha was born. At first the two didn't get along. Sesshoumaru was so angry that his dad remarried and hated both him and his new stepmother. But as years wore on, he began to accept inuyasha, the same cant be said about his step mom. She ended up dying from cancer when Inuyasha was only 12 years old and the brothers began to get closer.

Sesshoumaru sighed. 'Great if dad is in on it too...he'll end up getting some strange dog for me to make me happy.'

"FINE" he said finally. Inuyasha's smile grew 'Yes, my secret weapon worked.' He said to himself as victory music played in his head. To many video games? No such thing.

"I'll get a dog after work...if you promise to leave me alone for the rest of the day." He said giving in. 'What am I getting myself into?' He asked to himself when inuyasha began to jump up and down.

"Don't worry bro, you wont regret this one bit" Inuyasha said running out the door.

Sesshoumaru sighed when he left. 'Just great...I'm getting weak.....I should have just thrown up out the damn window' He rose to sand by the window when the phone beeped.

"Yes Urasue?"

"Sorry to bother you sir but a Mr. Onigumo is on line 2 for you about the meeting" She said waiting for the anger that was sure to come for not stopping Inuyasha.

"....Fine" he said as he grabbed the phone. 'Time to get back to work' he said to himself as he sat down and answered the call.

"Yes?"

~

Inuyasha sat in his office, which was one floor down from his brother. He was going over the plan he was working on for his brother. 'He get a puppy, which will help lighten him up, then I tie his ass up and take him out to some nice club or...... something....yea that will work' he thought with a grin

"Aww who am I kidding? I can't even plan what to make for dinner let alone try to hook someone up" Inuyasha admitted to himself.

Inuyasha wasn't to good with plotting but with some help from Miroku, who was the ultimate lech, sure he could work out something. He would just have to give him a call and set up a meeting date.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well there you have it...I will try to get Chapter Two out some time this week.