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It was always nice to just sit in bed all day. Listening to the comforting sounds of the busy city pass by and the warmth of the sun filtering through the windows. Or maybe it was the mysterious way the clock seemed to change by hours when it had only been a few minutes since she read the glowing numbers. Either way, one of her favorite pastimes was staying curled up in bed.
But that hadn’t been the case today.
No, today she was walking, another favorite pastime, through the light snow that fluttered down giving her hair an elegant hat. People passed her by, occasionally nodding their heads if they remembered seeing her around at all-which wouldn’t come to that much of a surprise. Every Sunday morning she would walk down this same way, through rain, sleet, thunder or snow. It was her thing to do, and being a street that mostly locals just walked on, many people recognized her.
It was easy to call her a creature of habit, but it was her healthy habit to uphold. Her busy week of work barely left her enough time to eat let alone walk around. That’s why, every Sunday, she would exit her beautiful third floor apartment, and walk to her favorite café only a few blocks away. There was a usual coffee that went with this too of coarse. Walking there was her favorite part though
The café was at the corner base of a rather old, but nice, big building. The aged brick stopped in place of perfectly clean glass that made up either wall. The inside stretched back with soft couches, chairs and table scattered across the hard wood floor, along with a few bookcases.
The line was long for either register, but that didn’t matter. A few dirty glares were sent her way as she walked up to the counter next to the lines, some people just smiled secretively…she never understood why…
“You’re usual, Ms. Higurashi.” A smooth mail voice said. Kagome smiled brightly and took her latte and book from his hands. Even this was the same. No matter how busy they were, he always managed to get her order ready before she even walked in the door.
“How many times have I told you, call me Kagome. Just because I work at the corp. doesn’t mean I deserve any more respect than you. You are the one that goes to college and you are older than me. If anything I should be making you coffee.”
Passing the entirely too handsome man her money, she made her way to her favorite sage couch jutting out from the wall. The cup was placed on the heater next to her to keep it warm and to give her an excuse for staying longer, but not before she sampled the froth.
A few minutes of peace passed by for Kagome. Between her book, latte, and the amazing view of the snowy streets, everything was perfect. Calm blanketed the air giving her butterflies. Waiting customers had been given their order.
She had lied before.
The tall read-head made his way over to the couch and sat in the chair across the
table from her.
This was her favorite part of the weekend.
“I trust your latte was satisfactory.” He said in that voice that made her want to melt. He had a way of doing that to her. His very presence made her just want to live in that moment forever.
She held up her half empty cup and took a sip, making sure to take in the smallest amount possible. “It is satisfactory. More so I should say.” Kagome was discreet to swallow the lump in her throat when he smiled. Things had been this way for almost a year now. He worked here to keep up with his college payments, always making sure he had Sundays- but she never knew why. The first week, he had only come over because she had forgotten a napkin. Then the next week he had come over to suggest a few good books. It had come to the point where she purposely took her dear sweet time just so she could stay because when her latte went, so did she. Sad on her part, but at least she didn’t seem desperate.
Besides…he had a girlfriend.
There were many women on the floor where she worked. They would always talk about the man at the café; it was never a dull subject for them. Some even told about their stories asking him out- always ending in him saying, “I’m seeing someone.” Pity…
Not that she was interested. Nope, not like that. Not one bit. He was just a great person to talk to. Every book on the bookshelves he had or was going to read. And every time he finished one, he’d give it to her with her order. Kagome found it a great subject of conversation where she could learn about her…friend.
“I saw that you didn’t have a book last week. This one is very good. It made quite a past time, even though it’s much shorter than the others. I almost didn’t see it because it was behind a few other books.”
Kagome smiled and flipped through the age-old pages a bit. “A short book is just what I need. My hours were upped so a big one would be annoying to read, stop, forget, reread, stop, read more, blah, blah, blah. I work through lunch just to get home before eight.” Over her latte she could see her friend giving her a worried look. He was always worrying over her. She was afraid his brow would wrinkle with how much he frowned.
“Are you sure you’ve not overworking yourself? It can’t be healthy skipping meals.” He reached across the table and wrapped his slender fingers around her wrist. Kagome froze like a dear in the headlights. He had never touched her before, but that didn’t mean she didn’t like it. It was just surprising how it sent a freezing electric shock through her body, making her shiver. “You’re cold. Your jacket must be wet still. Here.” He pulled her to stand with his grasp on her wrist. She couldn’t say anything in shock when he pulled her soaking coat off and draped it over the heater to dry. She wanted to kill herself for choosing such a small shirt. It wasn’t revealing in any way- long sleeved in fact- but it blatantly showed how much weight she had lost, already being a skinny little twig.
She wished she could have died right then and there. She use to be proud to say she had a nice body. When she was in high school her three friends made it a point for her to know how many guys ogled over her. Inuyasha would make her wear pants whenever they entered a village because she would get to many lookers. But now, with her grueling job as secretary for the largest corporation in Japan, she had lost her healthy weight and bordered on dangerously under weight…and his surprised green eyes proved that.
“You’ve lost so much weight. Kagome you have to eat more, this isn’t healthy. You may have an important job but that’s no reason to not eat.” He left for a second and walked behind the counter. Kagome wanted to cry in shame. It wasn’t a disorder or anything she was just a workaholic. She’d eat whenever the opportunity arose, usually a bagel on her elevator rides up the building and something small when she got home-if she had enough energy after feeding her cat.
He came back with a small plate holding a pastry and fruit cup. Kagome couldn’t help but smile sadly and eat the offered food gratefully- it wasn’t like there was much of a selection at her apartment.
The end came all too soon. Kagome saw green eyes snap to the door when a blue-haired girl walked in. she knew that it must have been his girlfriend and quickly finished her little meal so it didn’t look like anything suspicious. Kagome tried her best not to look hurt as she picked up her dishes, but she was stopped. He towered over her with that strange determined look. “I’ll take these, my treat. You just promise to eat more. It wouldn’t do any good to lose our best customer.”
“Thank you” Kagome whispered and pulled on her toasty, dry coat. “ I’ll try to fit in a lunch break. Till next week.” She walked towards the door and smiled at the pretty woman with ice-caked blue hair.
“The snow’s really coming down out there,” she said in a sweet accented voice. Kagome nodded in thanks and tried to push the door open. The wind was getting to harsh outside, poshing against the side of the building and keeping the door sealed tightly. An extra hand was added to the door and the café was met with a gust of wind. Kagome slid out into the now blizzard-like conditions and was pleasantly surprised when another body fallowed her.
“I’ll get you a cab.” He said and signaled a yellow car. His unoccupied arm wrapped around her shoulders to keep her from blowing away. Kagome hid her face gratefully in his shoulder when another strong wind burned her skin. A taxi pulled over and he opened the door for her.
“I only live a few blocks away, I can walk,” she tried to reason but he only shook his head and closed the door after her. Kagome felt a mix of guilt and joy when he slipped the driver a few dollars and rushed back inside.
“Thank you, Kurama.”
“So that’s why you work every Sunday.” Botan said from behind him and he could practically hear the smile in her voice. A visit form the ferry girl was never a good sign. He had quit the Reikai Tantei after his mother was killed by an escaped youkai. His acceptance into college was the perfect opportunity to get out of Mushiori City and move to Tokyo. Most of the expenses were paid via a scholarship, but he needed the café job to pay off living expenses.
He learned to enjoy the job. He made it his business to remember the regulars, their orders, and their names. There were many older men that came in on Saturday’s to watch the large TV on the back wall. He manager warned him that they were a tough bunch and always complained…Let’s just say they always demanded him for their server.
The only downsides were the girls that came in constantly during the week. They practically memorized his week schedule so he made it a point to change his hours and tell them he took weekends off. They had asked him out multiple times, but he told them he was already seeing someone. It wasn’t exactly a lie…per say. He did see her. But that didn’t stop them from trying.
And then there was Kagome. He could clearly remember the first time he met her, every detail about her. She had been wearing the very same purple coat over black pants to block out the wind on that dark morning that was almost too warm for winter. She had waited almost half an hour in line only to order a tall latte with extra froth. He knew she was different when instead of giving him strange, lustful looks she sat quietly on the soft, sage couch next to the heater and wall. He remembered walking around the long counter and giving her a napkin, making it a point to stay a few seconds longer than necessary.
But she never paid him any mind. Sure they talked a lot, but only about books really. Although some of the conversations they had allowed him to learn some about her. He found that she worked as a secretary for the entire building for the largest corporation in Japan. He knew that she had a brother and that her mother and grandfather had died in a fire. That she was guilty about not going to college and only getting her secretarial job by being organized and knowing the owner/founder personally. He knew that the man she loved left her for his ex who looked exactly like her.
“What is it that brings you here, Botan. My sentence for Reikai is more than paid for.” Kurama said almost venomously. He found that whenever he thought about Kagome’s tragic betrayal he grew angry. He couldn’t understand how someone could do that to such a sweet woman, but it wasn’t his place to interfere. They were just friends- she probably couldn’t even recognize him if they passed on the street.
Botan sat in the same spot Kagome had just moments ago. He didn’t like people sitting there, that was Kagome’s spot. Most of the customers knew not to occupy that couch Sunday’s else get bad service. The ferry girl didn’t know…but that didn’t mean it didn’t make him mad.
“It’s not Reikai that sent me here. Yusuke and the others wanted me to tell you they’d be visiting next Sunday to hang out. Yusuke says he doesn’t care if you’re busy he’s still coming. I’m not so sure about Hiei but I do know Kuwabara’s coming. They wanted to ask you something but I don’t know what…they don’t’ tell me anything”
Kurama smiled at Botan’s pout and was immediately reminded of the cute face Kagome made if he won some sort of debate over a book. He shook the image from his mind and sat himself next to Botan.
“Can they come some other day? Sunday’s aren’t good for me.” He saw Botan smirk and give him her little neko face. She was known for little match making games- that always worked out well in the end after some major disaster.
“Does our Kurama have a girlfriend finally?” Kurama shook his head and ran a calming hand through his hair. He didn’t want anyone to know about Kagome, that would bring danger for her. He’d rather keep everything as is with her barely knowing him than her getting hurt. Not even Botan could know…especially not Botan.
“I don’t know what you mean.” Yeah, that earned him an incredulous look from the girl sitting next him.
“Don’t give me that. What about that beautiful woman that just walked out of here? You even went out without a coat just to get her a cab. It’s easy to see that you like each other! Why don’t you ask her out already? You don’t have to worry about rejection! She looked so happy when you were with her. Trust me, I was trying to open that door for a good ten minutes.”
With a spark of hope, Kurama glanced at Botan through his long red locks. She just did her neko face and purred. “You really think so,” he whispered. Though it was instantaneously regretted when she pounced on him squealing and laughing about him having a crush. Next week would be interesting…
Just as he was really getting worried, and the crowed had either left into the snow or sat down, Kurama came over with a latte and bagel and set them on the heater with a book. He turned to Yusuke and Kuwabara only to pull them up but the collar of their shirts. If his assumptions were correct he could feel Kagome’s aura approaching quickly as if she was running. She never ran. He ushered his three friends away and walked to the door just in time for Kagome to come crashing into his chest. She wore her usual long purple coat but instead of casual wear she had on black dress pants and heels.
“You’re late” Kurama said and brought her over to the couch. He was lucky that she hadn’t noticed the others yet. Being the gentleman he was, Kurama pulled off Kagome's coat and draped it over the heater.
“How do you know I didn’t just set your clocks forward, hmmm?” Kagome sat down heavily and sipped the froth on her latte. “But maybe I should be late more often. This was already in my spot. You’re so awesome, Kurama.”
Kurama’s day just got ten times better. He watched with glowing eyes as she bit her bagel and flipped through the book a bit. If Botan was right and he asked her out, would she have anytime to go? She did work all day all week and probably didn’t want to deal with anything on Saturday. Maybe he should just stick to the good ole Sunday latte.
“I have great news!” Kagome said suddenly. She put her cup back on the heater and clasped her hands in her lap. “The corp.'s been saving some money on the side, I guess ('not that they need to, Sessh's just a cheap bastard,' she murmured quickly), and Sesshoumaru says that I'm getting an assistant! I get a lunch break and everything. I bet I'll even be home by 5:30!” Kurama opened his mouth to reply his congratulations three unwelcome people waltzed into their view.
“That’s where Keiko just got a job! You must be that Kagome she said she was working with. Damn, she was nervous you’d turn out to be some bitch.”
Kurama looked shocked at his friend’s use of language but Kagome merely laughed. That was enough for him to forgive the tantei. He could easily forgive anything that made Kagome laugh. “Well I hope I fit her expectations for a pleasant coworker. I probably owe her my life.” Kurama gave a small smile when Kagome sent him a secretive glance he knew what she was talking about and Keiko probably was one to thank…he should do something for her in gratitude.
That was when Botan came in. Kagome didn’t seem to notice but picked up her latte and bagel at the exact same time. “I guess I should be going…my, uh, my brother called me yesterday saying he wanted to hang out. Sorry I couldn’t stay longer.” Kurama frowned in disappointment at seeing her leave so soon. Damn it, she probably would have stayed longer if the others weren’t here. She seemed rather nervous around them so maybe that was it…
Kagome didn’t seem to see the look that passed over his face, but it was blatantly obvious to the others. Hiei snickered at them through their mental link. To the kitsune’s dismay, the apparition found it amusing that the one woman they agreed on wasn’t paying the least amount of attention they wanted. He’d never hear the end of it.
Kagome shrugged her coat back on and finished off her bagel. Kurama’s eyes never left the fragile hand holding the cheap coffee cup still filled halfway with her latte. Her eyes held a hesitant look, almost like she didn’t know what she was doing, but a smile was still plastered on her face. It was fake. He could tell. She was hiding her emotions from him again. She had done the same thing when she told him about her ex-boyfriend, or when she explained guiltily how she got her job.
But that had been at the beginning. That had been when they had first started talking, when she didn’t have any reason to fully trust him yet. Kurama felt hurt as he watched her walk towards the door with a single, small goodbye. She didn’t trust him, at least not today. She only got that face when she didn’t trust to show how she really felt, and the scary part was that she had perfected it. Kagome, the one girl that had caught his attention, didn’t trust him enough to tell him what was wrong. And that’s what hurt the most.
Now all he had to do was figure out what was causing these doubts and destroy it so that they may at least seem like friends again.
He would try, and he would conquer.
“You let her get away again?” Botan admonished as she flopped down onto the couch, again, in the same spot Kagome had just occupied. Kurama felt the stares he was getting as a small growl escaped from his throat. It was just low enough that the only ones capable hearing it were Yusuke and Hiei, but that didn’t mean it didn’t raise some eyebrows.
“So…is that you’re girlfriend or something, Kurama?” Yusuke finally said after a moment of silence. The tantei gave a cocky smirk at the kitsune, so sure that he was right on the button. What he didn’t expect was for Kurama to reply. And here he was hoping for a blush, a flicker of golden eyes! But nope, Kurama was being stubborn today.
“Or something.” The redhead said dryly. He didn’t want to talk to them. They made Kagome leave; it had to be them. Not once, in the entire year they had known each other, not once had she left before her latte was finished, and it broke his heart. He had gotten his hopes up that maybe she liked coming to the café when he noticed her pretending to take sips sometimes. He had finally gotten up the courage to ask her out on a date with the persuasion Botan had given him, and she had left.
It was days like these when he would allow Youko complete control over their body just so he didn’t have to feel the pain. He saw himself as a coward where other people found him an absolute prince. But it was all a lie. He couldn’t bear to see lives end by his hand, Youko could. He didn’t have the confidence to ask Kagome out, Youko did. And he was afraid every Sunday that Kagome wouldn’t come to the café, Youko wasn’t.
He was a coward.
Hiei seemed to be the only one that noticed Kurama's sudden change in behavior. From experience he knew that Kurama was insecure about a few aspects of his life, but that was only in battle. During particularly gruesome assignments in the days of the Reikai Tantei Hiei could decipher that slight change in youki that meant Youko had control over the body. But this, this was something on a level he couldn’t comprehend.
It was surprisingly understandable, to him at least, for Kurama's ningen side to be sensitive to the act of taking lives, even if it was for the greater good. Contrary to popular belief, the apparition wasn’t entirely unaware of how the fragile human mind reacted to traumatizing situations.
‘Fox. You’re letting your emotions get away from yourself. If the matter of this woman is such a big deal, why not go after her? She’s obviously not chasing after you.’ He snapped through their mental link, smirking when the fox gave him a glare. Without a word he sent pictures of how Kagome would pretend to take sips of her latte when she thought he wasn’t paying any attention, or how she would ask a painfully obvious question just so that he would answer. But then Youko got a little carried away with himself and started to imagine her smiling and laughing doing that little pout that just looked soo cuuu-
“Damn it! I’ll drag her ass back here myself if you don’t get a hold of yourself!” Hiei practically yelled, making Kurama wince. Yusuke looked at his friend with a quirk of the eyebrow.
“You two having one of your mental conversations again?” he asked in a tone that Kurama couldn’t decipher as annoyed or amused. The other two looked at him and Hiei just about the same, probably wondering what it was they were talking about.
“I’d prefer if you didn’t refer to my and Hiei’s conversations as mental, Yusuke. But yes, we were having a private discussion.” He answered coolly, knowing it would press Yusuke’s buttons, and Youko knew how much fun that could be.
“The fox is going to be pursuing the girl as a potential lover.” Hiei said simply as if it didn’t have the slightest bit of significance. Kurama looked on at the apparition with wide, unbelieving eyes. “And he will be joining us next week whether he likes it or not. If I am to be forced there against my will, so will he.” After that oh so touching speech, he disappeared before their eyes. Botan pouted a bit for being forgotten when Hiei appeared again, his lips against her check before leaving again.
Kurama looked at the remaining three, wondering what was going on next week. Yusuke was the first to speak up, breaking it to him as gently as possible. “We’re bringing you to that new club next Saturday whether you like it or not.”
Well, it was a gentle as Yusuke got…and he knew he had no solid reason to refuse….
They were taking their American business partners out to a new local club to welcome them. Sesshoumaru had brought her along for the ride, needing someone to get them drinks and entertain them. Kagome didn’t want to have to drag Keiko into something so degrading so she offered to help this one time, making sure Sesshoumaru knew that she would never do it again.
He apologized for her having to do this, but promised a bonus on her next paycheck. Friday afternoon he had presented her with a cute little halter-topped black dress and strapped black shoes to match. At first she couldn’t accept them, knowing he paid more than necessary on her account, but when she tried them on for the first time they looked absolutely adorable on her! And she was never on the turn down such a cute outfit.
With a sigh, she acknowledged that this would be the last time he bought an outfit for her because she refused to attend anymore of these…’business’ get-togethers. It happened maybe once a month when people from all around the world came to visit them. Sesshoumaru would buy her an outfit, she would play unattainable, and the next day she’d have a flood of work. But at least she had a full closet and millions of shoes…every girls dream.
She was vaguely aware of the half-drunk fool hanging off of her as she thought about how the couch rubbed against her bare back. It reminded her of the sage couch at the café with its smooth texture. But then she realized that it was with her back that she was feeling the cloth. It made her think about how different this dress was from all the others in a way that made her suspect Sesshoumaru.
Blue eyes fell onto the regal youkai with suspicion. He merely glanced right back with an amused gaze. Kagome almost fell out of her seat right then if the man next to her hadn’t been holding her arm. Sesshoumaru, damn it, he was planning something and laughing at her all the way! No fair! Grrrrr…. She’d get him back, oh yes, he would feel pain….
“Why don’t you go get yourself a drink, Kagome? I’m sure you must be thirsty; you have not had anything all night. I’ll even pay for it.” Kagome resisted the urge to roll her eyes; of course he was paying! She wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t paying. Call her cheap, but hey, he wasn’t complaining.
Gratefully peeling the drunken man off of her person, Kagome stood and smoothed the bottom of her dress down so it didn’t expose more than necessary. She was glad that Sesshoumaru had finally given her permission to leave. It would be rude to desert the guests all alone with him, and when he saw that they were getting a bit too drunk, Sesshoumaru would tell her to ‘get a drink’ as code for ‘you can go now.’
She was thankful for the excuse to leave but didn’t feel like it just yet. Instead, she gracefully walked up to the bar, entirely surprised at who she found there. His back was to her, so he obviously didn’t know she was right behind him. Mentally, she went over her outfit to make sure she didn’t look too whorish. Then she ran her gaze over his outfit.
Yup, he looked fine, more so if you asked her. The incredibly simple outfit of black slacks and a loose black, button-up shirt showed off his lean body but left just enough for the imagination to run wild. His long luxurious hair ran down his back in a simple, low ponytail, and boy did she want to just rip it from its confines.
Shaking the perverted thoughts from her head, Kagome stalked up behind the all too gorgeous man and pulled up the seat beside him at the bar. And, giving him a glimpse at her most secret little smile, she spoke.
“Fancy seeing you here. I almost didn’t think you went out at all.”
Kurama snapped his head up at the familiar voice that had been haunting him all evening. Ever since his friends had dragged him off to this- in his opinion- boring club, the only thing that crossed his mind was how he longed for Kagome to be there with him. And here she was, right in front of him as if she had just dropped from the sky-
Which wouldn’t surprise him any. She looked like an angel with her long hair framing her glowing skin, and he couldn’t get over how much he loved how her toes could justbarely touch the bar for their feet. He found himself staring at her, mouth agape like the idiot he felt like.
“Now this is something I wasn’t expecting to happen tonight,” he said in a quick recovery, “not that I’m going to complain, a beautiful maiden just happened to sit next to me. I do believe we’ve met before madam, but I’m sure I know no such person with the splendor you emit tonight. Allow me to introduce myself to a beauty such as yourself,” he found himself taking her hand in his and placing a gentle kiss to her knuckles, his eyes never leaving hers, “Suichi Minamono, also known as Kurama to my closer friends.”
He stared as she blushed prettily and smiled at him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kurama. But I do believe we have meet before. Or have you forgotten the poor little girl who visits you every Sunday while you work? Kagome Higurashi?”
Kurama took her hand again, this time as he stood. “I would hardly call her a poor little girl. In fact, the only difference from her and you would be that utterly delicious dress you wear. And, with the little dignity I have left, I ask if you would join me for a dance…or three?”
A broad grin over took her features for a split second before she hopped off the seat, hand still in his. Kurama noticed the few inches she grew and looked down at the strapped heels that didn’t look at all comfortable. With newfound confidence, he guided her back into her seat and pulled her foot into his grasp. “I think you would enjoy yourself much more if you were to forgo the shoes.” He smiled and put the shoes on the ground before pulling her back towards him. “And now I whisk you off your feet.”
Kurama tried to tone down the happiness he knew he was showing on his face as he led Kagome to the dance floor. She was smiling up at him, her blue eyes shining in joy. It made him all the happier. He pulled her into his arms when the reached the slightly lowered floor, making sure he didn’t come on too strong.
She didn’t seem to mind though. In fact, if he didn’t know any better, he could swear she was inching closer and closer to him throughout the entire song. It was slow, giving him the chance to get use to the reality that she was there, with him, in his arms. Everything at that moment seemed almost too good to be true.
They’re gracefully swaying bodies lulled Kagome into something akin to a daydream, Kurama could see the small clouding in her eyes as she looked up at him. He had trouble keeping Youko at bay with her gazing at him like that. But, unfortunately of fortunately, he couldn’t tell which, the song ended and was replaced by loud, upbeat song.
Kagome took his hand, her spell broken, and led him into the center of the crowd, where he found her true carousing side. They weaved around each other, making sure to always be in some sort of contact. Kurama never felt a bit out of place, as he would have normally, as long as she was by his side.
Generally, anytime the gang would drag him to a place like this, he felt awkward and out of place. But now, with Kagome slithering about him in an impossibly sexy – but entirely innocent – way, he couldn’t help but feel that everything was right.
“Your surprised about something.” Kagome spoke close to his ear so that he could hear over the blaring music. Kurama almost gasped at the proximity of their faces, feeling as foolish as a teenage schoolboy. He took Kagome's hands and wrapped them around his waist, keeping her molded against his chest. He could see the surprise in her eyes until the music suddenly switched again to a slow song.
“I never realized you were so nimble; it makes me glad I decided to save your feet from the torture of those shoes, you’d be horribly soar.” He spoke, his mouth just barely brushing against her ear to give her a taste of what he had felt just seconds before. A shiver ran through her body into his.
Can it really get any better than this, Kagome thought to herself as she rested her head under Kurama’s chin. She felt like the world was just melting away and all that existed was them. If she hadn’t been so accustomed to being left feeling alone and empty after being treated so kindly, she would have asked Kurama for a date ages ago…well, that, and the fact that he had a girlfriend stopped her…
Which just reminded her…crap. If he was here, that Botan girl must be somewhere around here too. They had been dancing for a good half an hour already; surely the blue-haired girl was wondering something!
But she was so happy. She wanted this feeling to last forever! Why couldn’t it ever be her turn to get the guy? But no. Inuyasha presumably preferred cold, dead, girls to living, warm, happy girls that wanted him to live life to the fullest. So NO. Kurama was hers right now and no girlfriend was going to stop…this…feel…ing?
Kagome could feel eyes at her back. They were familiar so she wasn’t afraid or alerted, just surprised. She lifted her head just enough to turn and look at Sesshoumaru who was looking from her to something else with an amused little smirk on his face.
Come to think of it, she could feel another four pairs of eyes on her! Snapping her head to the right again, mindful of Kurama’s chin, she first found Keiko and Yusuke sneaking glances at them every so often, Keiko giggling.
Sesshoumaru smirking + Keiko giggling could only mean one thing…
“They so totally set this up!” she spoke just loud enough to be heard, but not intentionally. Kurama looked down at her with a puzzling look. “Do you know any one that likes to play match-maker? Hmm?” she asked. Kurama looked around the dance floor a bit before turning their bodies a bit and nodding in the direction of a couple near the back of the club.
They were wrapped up in each other, almost impossibly tangled. The girl rested her head contently against her lovers’ chest, clearly hopelessly in love, but her glowing smirk was directed at them. The man, holding her possessively against him, was sending Kurama a cool, but pleased, maroon gaze before he nodded and returned his attention to the blue-haired girl in his arms.
Blue haired? Maroon eyes? Kagome couldn’t believe what she was seeing when she recognized the couple as Botan and Hiei from previous encounters. But Botan was…and Kurama was… they weren’t ... But he was seeing someone! If it wasn’t Botan, and it obviously wasn’t Keiko, then who the hell was he seeing!
“I know that Botan has a nasty habit of setting people up, but I don’t think I understand your point.” Kurama said, returning his full attention to Kagome again. She merely tried to hide her perplexed face
and smiled.
“Well, think about it. You told me that your friends rarely took you out, and when they did it was usually to that club on the other side of Tokyo. Keiko is my coworker who knows all of the events going on as much as I do. And Sesshoumaru bought me an entirely too revealing dress and sent me to get a drinkright when you just happened to be sitting at the bar directly in front of me. I’d say that’s a bit suspicious, don’t you think?”
Kagome noticed Kurama’s wide, emerald eyes dart from the noble youkai, to the two couples sharing the floor, to Kagome where they took on a softer look. He pulled his arms tighter around her shoulders. “If I may, now I don’t have to tell my pursuers that I am just seeing someone.” At Kagome’s confused look he continued. “ I’m sure you’ve heard from a few of the woman in your building that I am seeing someone, whom I’m not willing to give up for my life. But now, not only am I seeing her with my own two eyes, I’m holding her in my arms for the first time, something I’ve only ever dreamed of doing.”
Kagome sniffled for good measure, hoping that she could trust her voice. “I guess all their hard work paid off. What says we give them the show they were hoping for?”
With a boldness she never knew she possessed, Kagome rose on her tiptoes to her full height and pulled Kurama down to press a searing kiss to his lips.
“It’s about damn time you two hooked up!” Botan yelled over the music before they had a chance to pull apart, “now we can all live peacefully without your sexual tension suffocating-oh!”
At that second, Kurama was glad Hiei was a man of few words as he pulled the rioting girl into a passionate kiss. Kagome couldn’t help the giggle that bubble up in her and buried her face in Kurama’s chest. With a sigh, she looked up at him and gave her biggest smile.
“I don’t know what to say,” she said sheepishly. Kurama smiled and nuzzled his nose into her hair, letting the intoxicating scent overtake him. Kagome giggled at the affection and tried to mask a yawn while he wasn’t looking.
But, alas, nothing got past Kurama. He gave her a look that told her he knew she was overexerting herself, even if it did make both of them happy. Nevertheless, it would only be hell later if either of them stayed out any longer; they still had to get up in the morning…damn…
“You should probably head home and get some sleep if you’re going get your latte in the morning.” He whispered in her ear in the brief moment of silence between songs. Thankfully it switched to another slow song to settle everyone down for the night…for whatever reason. Kagome gave that pout (she secretly knew he loved) and squeezed her arms tighter around his neck. She buried her head his chest and sighed dramatically.
“I will. But it’s awfully late out. I wouldn’t want to walk home all by myself.” Again she did the pout, adding the puppy-dog eyes to boot. Now, how could anyone say no to a face like that? Taking her hand in silent agreement, he began to lead her back towards her shoes. Using the same method as before, he
returned the shoes to her feet, being extra careful to take his dear sweet time.
“Did you bring a coat? The snow still hasn’t let up.” He said loudly over the music. Kagome sent a quick glance to Sesshoumaru, who knew everything that was going on at every given moment and nodded. Shaking her head to Kurama’s question, she asked the bartender if she could borrow his phone (her cell phone being left at home and making her feel bare).
With a quick call, Kagome took Kurama’s hand and hoped down from the seat. “We can use the limo since it’s too far to walk and I think my feet would freeze off,” she said. They began walking towards the door and stopped at the entrance to wait for their ride.
It came in due time, thankfully because Kagome could feel her eyelids drooping as it was. She leaned heavily on Kurama, trusting him to guide her when they hurried through the snow towards the limo waiting at the curb. He was very right when he said she was tired…
“Mm… can we just stay here all night?” she mumbled. The quiet of the back of the limo was welcome after the booming of the club. She didn’t drink at all, but she knew she’d sure as hell be feeling it in the morning.
Kurama smiled down on the drifting woman in his arms. In the back of his mind, Youko was practically giggling with triumph at finally getting his wish. He was thinking back to all the times it would have been perfect to take action and comparing them to now. To both of them, nothing could have been more perfect than that night, those few hours where he finally spilled the beans that he had wanted her for so long. That night would go down in history as the night that both Suichi Minamono and Youko Kurama actually agreed on something, something that wouldn’t be leaving their sight for a very long time…
And just as he was going to tell the driver to circle around a bit, to prolong the moment of bliss, they hit a snow bank on the small street Kagome lived on, only a block and a half away from her apartment building. The driver seemed a bit upset at not being able to bring them any further but Kurama assured the nervous man that all was well.
Kagome had startled to consciousness and was now looking up at Kurama with wide, glowing blue eyes. Again, he bit back the urged to ravish her with kisses, trying not to push their new relationship too fast. She just smiled and pulled him out of the limo and out into the night. Snow was still lightly falling, giving the air a crisp feeling that sent of shiver of cold and joy down Kagome’s spine.
“Too bad, now you’ll just have to keep me warm,” she said and wrapped Kurama’s arms around her from behind. She looked up at him with a cheeky smile and they continued on their way down the snow-covered sidewalk.
“I’m glad.” Kagome said suddenly. Kurama looked down at the top of her head and tightened his grip around her.
“Me too.” He said without hesitation. He was glad. Everything was right. Everything was exactly as it should be. They both deserved to be happy, and he would make sure that they would be.
Kagome stopped outside of a tall, rather expensive looking building. The front door was revolving, perfectly clean glass, allowing you to see the doorman in his clean pressed, green suit. Kurama knew the significance of the building and couldn’t help the feeling of disappointment bubbling up inside of him. Kagome pulled out of his arms and turned around to face him.
Tentatively, his hand reached up and brushed some of the snow from her hair, allowing him a moment to stare shamelessly into her eyes for the first time. She giggled when his hand found a particularly ticklish spot at the back of her neck. Kurama found himself using his grip on the back of her neck to brace her as he leaned forward for a soft, brush of the lips. The touch was short, but the feeling was lasting.
“I will be seeing you tomorrow,” he said in a tone Kagome could easily identify as distress and tried to hold down a giggle. Her body felt oddly cold when he pulled away, but that could have been for the fact that she didn’t have a coat.
And just as he turned to walk away, Kagome caught the material of his sleeve, stalling him. “If you think that after waiting almost a year to for you, I’m going to let you go that easy, you’ve got another thing coming, mister.”
Kurama was surprised at her firm voice, and Youko wasn’t helping any with his eagerness to stay with her. Both he and the kitsune felt the extreme glee when she pulled him back into her arms. This time, it was her turn to reach up and press her lips to his, being shy enough to rouse a pleased growl from Youko in the back of their mind.
“And don’t worry,” she giggled out when she pulled away. She pulled him towards the door by his arm. “My floors comfortable enough.”
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