-1Chapter 1: Strangers and engines.
It was a beautiful day in Tokyo city. The streets were bustling with the sounds of traffic and the occasional street vender selling their goods. The airport was no different. Flights were being announced left and right, departures, arrivals and delays. People were coming and going and hugging family members they were greeting at the airport and crying over the people they were seeing off.
A quaint little bar and restaurant sat in the middle of all of this commotion. It was pretty popular for having the lowest prices in the whole airport. It was easy to get a quick meal at a decent price and slug down a quick shot of sake for the nervous traveler. At the end of the bar, a black haired woman sat and sipped at her coffee while scanning over a paper in her hands.
"Still looking for that perfect car, Kagome?" The young waitress and bartender said as she rinsed out a freshly used collins glass.
The woman, Kagome, looked up and laughed. "Sango, I've got the perfect car, I'm just wondering if anyone's selling parts for it."
Sango scowled slightly and huffed. "You know your boss is never going to sell you that car. He has far too much to hold over your head that you're in way too deep with him."
"I know. But I have nothing left but my dreams. He says that one day I'll get that Daytona, if I 'work' hard enough for it that is. I'm hoping that I've started to make a dent in what I owe him, after all I've been putting in so many hours at the shop, it's making me sick. I'm up to 62 this week. Thank god tomorrow's Friday." Kagome sighed and stretched out her arms over her head. Through her amazing beauty, frustration and fatigue shined through her chocolate brown eyes. She glanced at her wrist watch and sighed again. "I still have an hour before I have to leave. I think I'll have another donut."
"Sure thing, Kagome." Sango said and handed her a chocolate glazed donut and refilled her mug with coffee.
A man sitting three stools down from where the ladies were talking couldn't help but over hear their conversation. He was an interesting looking fellow, he had long silvery blonde hair that was hanging down to the middle of his back and his eyes shone like the sun. He leaned in a little and pushed some money in Kagome's direction. "Let me pick up the young lady's tab." he said in a kind manner.
Kagome only scoffed at his money. "Thanks." She said and glanced at the man before her. She figured he couldn't be much older than her, maybe mid twenties, but the color of his hair struck her. It wasn't often a young man like himself had the silvery hair of an elderly man. She couldn't resist asking "so is that you're natural hair color?".
"Kagome! That's rude. He offers to pay for your meal and you inquire about his 'natural' hair color?" Sango scolded.
"It's quite all right. Yeah, it's real. I kinda inherited it from my father. My half brother has the same hair color too. So are you here alone?" The young man asked.
"Hmm, I'm here with my friend while she works. I'm her ride. I don't need to be 'picked up' if that's what your intentions are." she stated rather rudely.
"You'll have to excuse my friend here, she's worked too hard with way too many men, including my husband and lacks social graces as a result. Plus she's forgotten her medication, haven't you Kagome?" At the mention of her name in front of this total stranger, Kagome gave Sango a glare that could have killed.
"Yeah, sorry I haven't taken my midol yet today. I guess hanging out in a pit with your perverted husband under me most of the day has dampened my lady-like charm" Kagome huffed.
"Hmmm, Kagome is it? What a beautiful name. I'm Inuyasha." With that, the young man extended his right hand.
Kagome took it and bowed. "I guess it's nice to meet you. I'm sorry for being so rude, but it's been such a long and hard week." Kagome said in a softer tone.
"When isn't it a hard week?" Sango asked.
"So I heard you talking about a 'Daytona'? You into cars, Kagome?" Inuyasha asked.
Sango roared with laughter. "She eats, breathes and sleeps cars. If she's not working on one at her job, she working on one at the shop. Although it's a lost cause because she spends all her energy and money on a car she'll never own."
"Stop it. She'll be mine one day." Kagome huffed and crossed her arms, looking hurt.
"So tell me more about this 'Daytona'. I'm a bit of a collector myself, but I haven't really delved into the MOPARs". Inuyasha said.
"Ahh, let me guess, GM boy, right? You say you're a collector? Let me guess, classic GTO's and you look like you probably own a 67 or 68 Camaro." Kagome smiled, by the look on Inuyasha's face, she had hit the nail on the head.
"Yup, both 68's." Inuyasha said. "So you really know your cars and car people, huh?"
"Yeah. The car I'm pining after is a 1969 Charger Daytona. It's the car of my dreams. Turns out my boss had one come in as a trade for some repairs I did on a customer's Hemi 'Cuda. He was going to trash it because it was in rough shape, but I talked him into keeping it and letting me work on it. He says I'll get it one day, but after all my debt is paid off to him." Kagome sadly stated. "You should see her. She's one of 503 original Daytona's with the 440 magnum engine block. She still has her original blue paint with the black bumble stripes. It's just the interior needs work and the frame is shot along with the suspension and that poor engine needs a lot of tender loving care, but that good ol' B body is still in pretty good shape and even has it's original 23 inch wing. I have replaced the floor plans, transmission and most of the interior. I'm adding the windows next month once I have the money and I can forget about replacing the brake and electrical system this year." Kagome explained with a defeated look in her eyes.
"Sounds like you've got one hell of a project car. But one of 503, that's a rare find!" Inuyasha stated.
"Yup only 503 came with either the 440 magnum or a 426 Hemi. The Hemis where more popular because at that time they were still new and shiny. " Kagome explained.
"You know, I have a wing car too. She's a 1970 Plymoth Superbird. Sandstone red. It's not as special as your Daytona, but she's all I inherited from my father's passing. My half brother has a matching blue one that was handed down to him after our father's death. He's been trying to talk me out of my car for years." Inuyasha explained. Inuyasha paused and had a thoughtful look on his face for a moment. "You say you're in debt with your boss? How bad could it be?" he inquired.
"You would have no idea and I wouldn't know where to begin." Kagome sighed. She took a sip from her mug and glanced at her watch as she did so. A scowl came over her face as she studied the time. "Damn. Looks like I've got to get going. If I'm not twenty minutes early, I'm late. Well, it was a pleasure meeting and talking with you, Inuyasha. Maybe we'll meet again." Kagome said as she removed herself from her stool and hurried off after waving goodbye to Sango and called "I'll see ya' later. What time do you want me to tell Miroku to come pick you up?"
"Same, five as always! Have a good day at work!" Sango called back at her friend's retreating form.
"You know, it's not every day I meet a woman who knows more about cars than I do." Inuyasha said to Sango.
"Yeah, she was raised around them. So are you here visiting, or are you off to some where exciting?" Sango asked.
"Actually, I just got back from a trip to America. Had some business to take care of there. So you're friend, Kagome, have you known her long?" Inuyasha asked, not willing to change the subject off the strange and interesting young woman he had just met.
"Yeah, you could say that. Let's just say we all have a long history together. After my younger brother was in a bad car wreck, she went to her boss and got the money to take care of his doctor bills and rehab expenses. He's still in pretty bad shape and it will be years before he can live a normal life, but if the funds stop coming in for his physical therapy, he'll never be able to heal and return to his normal life. Miroku and I are in a great deal of debt to Kagome. She's taken on extra hours and then some and has even taken a pay cut so that Kohaku, my brother, can be taken care of. But enough about my problems. What do you do?" Sango quickly attempted another subject change back on the young man, Inuyasha. She saw something in this guy that Kagome had obviously missed and thought maybe he'd do her young friend some good.
"I'm a business man. I'm in pharmaceutical sales. I travel all around the world to sell and pick up new technology and medications. You know America has leading technologies in cancer treatment? It's incredible the leaps and bounds they've made in medical science." Inuyasha explained. "So where does Kagome work? You know, incase I ever need to bring my Superbird in for repairs? I would want someone as knowledgeable and capable as her working on my baby.
Sango laughed at his antics. He was definitely a stubborn one. "She works for Naraku's Miasma Mechanics. They specialize in custom building, restoration and repairs of rare and old vehicles. They even do routine maintenance on today's car's as well. I don't think there is a problem a car can have that they can't fix." Sango stated. "You know, in case your daily driver needs an oil change or a transmission flush." she continued.
"I see. Well thank you for the information. Come to think of it, my Durango is over due for an oil change. I might just happen to be in the area and find some time to drop her off." Inuyasha said with a wink. "Um, where is this place again?"
Sango giggled and pulled out her pad and pen. "Here, let me give you directions. You might want to call first and set up an appointment around two. That's when Kagome is on the quick lube station." Sango said with a wink of her own and jotted down the shop's information.
Inuyasha thanked Sango and left her money for his and Kagome's bill and extra for a rather generous tip and went on his way.
"What an interesting young man. Hope I haven't started anything that will get Kagome in trouble." Sango said quietly to herself as she put Inuyasha's money away in her till.
Inuyasha smiled to himself as he used his cell to call the shop where he discovered his new fascination was employed. He realized he truly was intrigued by the woman, something about her was a bit familiar, but he shrugged that off as he thought of how he would get to know her better.
Sure enough, he had an appointment at 2:15 and wore a smirk when he realized that it was Kagome who took the appointment and hadn't recognized his voice. Even when she took his name, it was obvious that she was struck with familiarity but seemed too busy to reflect on where she heard that name before.
He ran back to his home and cleaned up and called into his office to let his employees know he woudn't be in until later that afternoon and took right off again for his date with destiny. He didn't know what it was about this girl that captured him, but she looked like fun.
This would definitely be an interesting afternoon.
End of Chappy.
(A/N: Ok, so what'd you think of the first chapter? It's my first try at an AU fic, so bare with me. I wanted to incorporate my passion for cars in a fic and I thought I'd give you guys something slightly new. Well review and let me know! And yes, a 1969 Daytona is my dream car. I would love one with a Hemi because I'm a Hemi nut, but those Magnums roar with both low end and top end power. Hmmmmm and a supercharger drool Yes, I'm suicidal! I'm not satisfied 'till it's pushing at least 475hp!)