The summer month of July had proven to be increasingly hot that year. Everyone in the apartment building was sure to have their air conditioners on high. Once in a while, someone could be caught going to the laundry room on the first floor in their skimpy pajamas (though, it was usually only Takara-Ojii-san, the eighty-five year old man on the third floor). No one dared open their windows, no matter how beautiful it was, for fear that the faux cool air would be wasted.

Kagome, on the other hand, used the heat to her full advantage. Her air conditioner would only ever be found on at night, or when company was over. But otherwise, her windows were opened as wide as they could be to allow the gentle summer breeze to grasp at her curtains. Not only was it refreshing, but it allowed her to keep an eye on her laundry…

Because Kagome wasn’t normal, no. The first time she had seen Takara-Ojii-san, she had gotten permission from the landlord to have a clothesline during the summer. Not only did it give her clothes that clean smell or the wind, but it gave her the excuse to glance down at the small balcony of the apartment below her.

She had no idea that her gorgeous hunk of a neighbor lived directly below her. Kagome found out the hard, and embarrassing, way when a pair of her more… personal pajama bottoms had fallen from her clothesline…

And right onto his chair. Oh, how red her cheeks were when he appeared at her door. She had been so excited to see him when she answered his knock that it took her a moment to realize he was holding an absurdly pink pair of incredibly short shorts. She could have sworn her face was the same color as his hair when she snatched them out of his hand. But to try and make light of it, she playfully called him a ‘panty thief’ to which he smirked at her and coolly walked away.

She had melted at that.

Two months after the incident had Kagome being extra careful when she was taking in her laundry. She wasn’t so lucky this time, though, when the skirt she had planned to where t hat day slipped right from her grasp. A horrified gasp escaped her lips as she tried to grab it at the last second. She watched with wide eyes as it draped itself over his chair. Not even a second later, Suichi walked out in a pair of pants with a towel around his bare shoulders. He picked up the skirt and looked up at Kagome’s shocked face.

She didn’t know whether to praise or curse herself for dropping it. On one hand, she got to drool over Suichi’s amazing body. On the other hand, she was only in those pink shorts, and he was on his way up right now… and she had told him to just walk in when this happened. Granted, he still always knocked, but there could always be that one day.

Kagome shrieked quietly when she heard the gentle rapping at her door. She contemplated grabbing a pair of pants, but realized that this could be her chance to get some type of reaction out of him.

“Coming,” she called lightly. A quick glance in the mirror and she walked to the door. Suichi was holding her skirt in front of his waist with a playful little smile on his face. He looked up to Kagome when she appeared, his eyes jumping a bit when he noticed her attire.

“Well, I was going to ask how you manage to fit into something this small, but I see I have my answer.”

Ok, Kagome, keep cool and casual. Cool and casual. You can do this. No matter how sexy he is without a shirt.

“And I was going to ask Takara-ojii-san how he had managed to get into pants, but I see that you are most definitely not eighty-five years old.”

Suichi smirked and played with the end of his towel (though Kagome could tell he was amused that she was comparing his shirtless ness to an old man) . Kagome tried to control the butterflies raging in her stomach. Here, in front of her, was her all too sexy, quite shirtless, neighbor, holding her favorite skirt. And she was in too short shorts and a white tank tope. God, she prayed the same things were running though his head that were hers.

“This is a very pretty skirt, Kagome,” he said casually, holding it up to his waist again. The difference in size was obvious. Kagome gave him her cutest smile.

“Well I did plan on wearing it today, but if you think you can squeeze into it sometime, you can gladly borrow it.”

A chuckle rumbled from Suichi’s chest as he put the skirt between her hands, holding them there for a second longer than necessary (or at least she hoped). “I think I would much rather see it on you.” He took the towel from around his neck and replaced it over only one shoulder.

Kagome knew he could hear her heart pounding by the little smirk that played on his face. He was implying something, she knew it. But… at the same time, she didn’t want to assume anything. As it was, she could swear he was daring her to ask him out for that day. Was he free? Or… maybe he was just being friendly. But, did friendly people really act so incredibly sexy all the time (though, he was sexy. It just seemed to amplify around her).

Deciding that she had done enough contemplating, Kagome held the skirt before her in a similar fashion that Suichi had just moments ago. The flimsy, blue, floral material fell to just her knees. “Still, it is rather hot today. I might just forgo the skirt and go out to dinner in these.” Ok, this had to work. If he were in such a good mood, he’d have to give her some kind of hint.

“Out to dinner, you say. Well, depending on where you eat dinner, you can wear whatever you like.” Pulling away from the door, Suichi began to walk back to the elevator. Kagome waited for a moment, hoping he would say something more. Anything. He couldn’t leave her with that.

The elevator dinged as it made it’s way from the top floor. Suichi looked over his shoulder at her as he waited, watching her through his thick lashes as he spoke again. “And while I’m sure most restaurants would look down on such attire, having dinner in your own apartment isn’t considered eating out.”

And he left.

Kagome felt as if her heart would explode from her chest when she closed her door again. Her mind was in shambles as she attempted to get her bearings about her. He couldn’t say that without meaning to imply something, Suichi was just too smart to do that. Could this really be her chance? No. She couldn’t assume. What if he was just being friendly? She didn’t want to make it awkward between them. Hmm.

Glancing at the clock, Kagome sighed and made note that there was enough time to go grocery shopping.

---

Ah, the wonders of mail time. Kagome spun around her apartment with the envelopes, as per her usual ritual of sorts when she picked up her mail. Even if she had seen him just that morning, there was nothing wrong with hoping for another hello.

She dropped the pile onto a chair in her living room, ignored her flashing answering machine, and headed straight to he bedroom. Her hair was brushed until Kagome was sure it couldn’t be any smoother and she walked through a thin mist over her favorite, light, perfume.

Softening her skirt out with her palms, Kagome walked towards her door. She picked up an envelope next to her phone and proceeded to the elevator.

Recipient: S. Minamino, Apt. 342

Sender: K. Higurashi, Apt. 219

---

Words: 1,347
Pages: 3
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, Yu Yu Hakusho, or the original idea for this story
Note: This is the sequel to chapter 25 of 100 Themes: KagomexKuramaxYouko by The Kuramateers- I highly recommend them for any Kagome/Kurama fixes that you need... I really needed to write this. Extra Froth is on it's way, as is Mud2.

Reviews Welcome:3