Hi everyone,
Just wanted to let you know, that I deleted this story to re-post because I was trying to edit chapters and things kept on getting botched up pretty horribly. So I decided to start from scratch again and therefore have lost what reviews I had. Chapter three has been edited with the explanation there. Working on chapter four soon. Ran into writers block, (again, explained in revised chapter three), and so I apologize deeply. Thank you for sticking with this story, again, I hope you enjoy.
I don't own the InuYasha characters however, "Yirou" is. He's simply thrown in for this chapter and probably won't be part of the story beyond this point. The story is mine and I encourage any feedback you folks have to offer. Second story I've posted so I hope it's alright. Don't know where the plot is going with it, so any suggestions might be taken into consideration. Thank ye kindly ladies and gentlemen. Hope you enjoy.
-MoriCartel '
"..." Speaking
'...' Thoughts
Our World Is A Canvas
Chapter One: Blind Date Disaster
The key slid into the lock easily and Kagome slipped inside limping slightly as she walked through the threshold and quietly closed the door behind her resetting the lock. Once her coat was neatly hung on the rack and her keys replaced on the proper wall hook she took a look around the place. The light was left on above the stove so she really didn't have to flick a light on to see where she was walking. At least something seemed normal and calm that evening. Her room mate obviously was out. 'Probably out on another date, knowing him.' she pondered with slight disgust and eagerly slipped out of her shoes. The clock on the microwave to her left read ten thirty-two. The open living room to her right didn't look really inviting so she opted to just head towards her room down the hallway ahead of her.
It wasn't a large apartment, but it had two bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen, living room, and a spare closet next to the bathroom. It suited her well. She had moved in in the middle of her college career two years ago when her friend since middle school asked if she'd mind taking him in for a month until he could get on his feet again. Well, a month turned into two years and truth be told, she liked having a friend around to hang out with and talk to. So even if he never moved out and they grew old leaning on walkers in that small quaint apartment, she welcomed it without a second thought.
She sat at the vanity, her face firmly planted in her hands propped up on elbows pining over the recent events of the night before. The whole night was a shamble. Her knee length black dress was now ruined, her hair now needed a completely new do from being singed, the heel of her left shoe was broken off completely, and her only decent pair of nylons were run through. "What a nightmare," she groaned to her reflection in the mirror. "I'm so glad it's finally over with." Just the sight of her hair, now in diverse lengths and frayed ends, was enough of a sign that it was time for bed. She hoisted herself from the cushioned bench and made her way to her dresser located on the wall to her right which rested a couple feet from her door to retrieve some form of sleep wear.
It was convenient to have the vanity where it sat for she could easily peer through the doorway to scope out the rest of the household if need be. Her bed was set against the opposite wall in the corner complete with night stand and shelves built into the head board where a few favorite books, pictures, music cd's and other small knick-knacks were stored. With the money she had saved up from work, a nice television set was added to the décor proudly displayed in the corner a few feet from the edge of her vanity. Again with convenience, it already had a tape player and DVD player built in to save space, and she chose a type of stand with cabinets underneath for the massive quantity of movies and games she enjoyed.
Once she had showered and changed into a soft silk like gown, she sat at her desk (a few feet from the end of her bed) and began to scribble a few notes in her journal before brushing out her hair and retiring for the evening. "Goodbye disastrous Friday. Never am I ever going to be conned into dating one of Miroku's friends again." With that pledge at eleven o'clock, she allowed herself to succumb to a well deserved rest.
The sound of soft foot steps treading across the carpet floor went undetected was she so deep in sleep. Pleasant images of that new laptop she adored danced around her head and the oh so wonderful role playing games and such that it could be utilized for when she felt a nagging sensation probing what could be felt of a shoulder.
He observed the crumpled mass buried under the thick bedding as he neared the edge of the bed. Sighing with the conclusion he wasn't heard and knowing she wasn't going to wake up anytime soon, he sat down gently and ran some tactical strategies for rousing her from sleep. 'I could yell at the top of my lungs like a banshee, but she'd deck me again like last time. Set the stereo next to her head and blast some form of screeching metal into her ear, but she'd deck me again like last week. Smoke detector? Nope. Same out come. Ice water over the head? Not likely. She'd kick me out for sure this time. Maybe I'll try something simple.'
"Kagome?" he asked slowly. "Kagome, it's time to get up. It's already ten o'clock."
Her reply: a simple groan face down in a fluffy pillow completely covered over with the blanket.
"What was that?" he jabbed what he figured to be a shoulder. Not hard enough to bruise, but enough to ensure she wasn't dreaming. "Come on Kagome. I'll make coffee if you'd like."
Another groan. "I'll make my specialty for breakfast: waffles! You just gotta get up first."
The sheets were flung carelessly from her face and shoulders as slowly she turned an evil eye in his direction. Okay, it would have been more flame worthy if she weren't so groggy and disheveled looking. "Oh how lovely, you're up." she yawned before crossing her arms over her chest. "Do you have -any- idea what I went through last night?"
"Went well?" he inquired.
"'Went well?' he asks? Allow me to fill you in. Details, or to the point?"
'Maybe I should have let her sleep in a bit more.' he shuddered. "Judging by the slight lack of enthusiasm, how about we get the details over with, ne?"
"Very well. Comfy?"
"Not sure if I should be, but go on." He nodded.
"Wonderful. First, I go out and buy a new dress because I find out my best friend set me up on yet another blind date which I begged and warned against. I come home later than planed leaving me with about five minutes to shower to get back on schedule. Only to find out in the middle of my shower I ran out of shampoo so I ended up using body wash and no amount of conditioner is going to fix this mess growing from my scalp now." he opened his mouth to say something as she cut him off holding up a finger for silence.
"No, don't. I'll get to that in minute." that shut him up again. "Once dressed and ready to take off, I made my way to the car only to find it had little to no gas in it because someone who used it last decided he was going to forget to fill it before coming home. Now, that didn't bother me so much because I did that once last week before one of his dates. So I thought, no biggie, that why we have a cab fare jar on top of the fridge. So back into the building I go to fetch it and back out to the front of the building I went. I ended up late getting to the movies because the cab ran late but my date didn't seem to mind my tardiness. How sweet. The movie needless to say wasn't good. I sat in chewed gum, the movie itself just sucked, the popcorn was stale and the ride to dinner was just as bad. Call me crazy, but I believe he has the same luck in women as you do."
"Why would you say that?" he chuckled hinting his own guilt and rubbing the back of his head absent mindedly. His trademark when it came to being caught doing or thinking something he shouldn't or just taken by surprise for something he'd be related to. "He couldn't have been that bad a guy you make him seem to be. I've known Yirou for years."
"Because like you, he's a letch!" Kagome squealed. "Practically the whole cab ride to the restaurant his hand seemed to wander to my thigh! Most guy friends of yours seem to share the same problem. Even as kids you'd try to make moves on the girls."
"Ah yes. The good old days. Like the day I met you by the teeter totters. You were so beautiful with your hair pulled up into pig tails."
"You'll also recall sitting us in detention from my act of self defense from those by punching you in the gut and you because of those hands of yours. Our parents were so mad."
"It was well worth the pain." he smirked.
"Our math teacher didn't think the same as you do."
"What can I say? I'm always there aid beautiful women in need."
"Oh right, I'm sure algebra was exactly what a fourteen year old boy was so eager to help a female fresh out of college correcting."
"She was knew and I figured it wouldn't hurt that much. So it was still worth it. Besides, you were much cuter than she was. Anyway, back to last night, or would you like those waffles now?"
"Just because you think a bribe can make me any less infuriated with you, guess again. Moving back to the topic of last night. He took us to an Italian place that's new in town."
"Doesn't sound so bad."
"You'd think so, now wouldn't you. As we sat down to our table, I noticed that some how my nylons had a run starting at the knee. I'm guessing it was one of his nails." she sighed. "They were my best pair too."
"Yes I know. I was quite fond of them, as well."
After a resounding slap she continued. "You didn't have to try them on you know!" she chuckled as his cheeks tinted pink.
"I was dared to, you know that. No one specified -what pair- to chose. Didn't think you'd remember that." he smirked in return.
"Too much sake hmm? Anyway. Remind me never to dine with candles with any one relating to you, Miroku. Especially your guy friends."
"Candles?" he raised an eye brow. "Something tells me that's what's up with the hair thing you've got going on."
"Ugh." she groaned sitting up. "It's really that bad, isn't it? The idiot managed to some how tip the damn candle over and caught the table cloth on fire and thought a napkin or two would snuff it out. Wine wasn't about to do the trick either. How stupid is that man? I don't know how it happened, but either the heat or the floating bits of the napkins and cloth set in my hair and singed it to what it is now. I knew I should have put it up."
"Dear Buddha!" he prayed. "He is a bit clumsy I do have to admit."
"A little warning about that would have been nice you know!" she scolded.
"I thought I was sure to enlighten you of it. Well, did the place burn down?"
"No, thank a higher power. A waiter had a fire extinguisher and dowsed the flames. That particular table is forever out of commission, however. No one was hurt. Well after everything leading up to it, that was it for me. I left after telling him goodnight, giving the waiter thirty dollars from my purse, grabbed my coat and took a taxi home. The heel of my shoe snapped off walking up the steps of the apartment building and I noticed my dress was torn from the car door and singed in places. I didn't even bother to check it for wine stains. A brand new dress ruined, and now I have to go spend even more money saved to get this mess fixed." pointing at her head with both hands.
"Geeze Kagome, I didn't think it would be that bad a night. I've never heard anyone having such an experience on a blind date. Sure I've heard of people being mugged, sick, even killed but to go through all of that in one night? You have my sincerest apologies."
"Miroku, might I remind you that it was -your- doing that I go on these insidious blind dates of yours?!"
"You'll never meet some one unless you get out there my friend."
"That was the worst blind date I have ever been on, no thanks to you. Miroku, may I ask you a question?" she asked sweetly batting her eye lashes.
"Of course." he straightened up. "What do you wish to ask of me?"
"Do you value your life?"
"Value my life? Of course. What ever do you mean?" 'This can't be good. I've heard her say that before…'
"Then I suggest you leave your dating service away from me from now on. Last night was the last blind date you or anyone else ever pit against me."
"Pit against you? That was not my intention in the least. I'm wounded you would think such a thing, Kagome."
"Not buying it, Hoshi. Ever since I took you in, you started the whole blind dating service as a favor to me because you though I was 'lonely'. I think it's time you retire from your match maker position. You're much better studying religion. Now, speaking of studying. I've got to start working on my final paper that's due Wednesday for my psych. class and study for my other upcoming exams. This is my last week of school and I'll officially be a college graduate teaching and studying art. I was lucky your friend didn't kill me last night when I'm so close to getting out of school. So please, no more blind dates. Period. Got it?"
With a sigh of defeat he nodded. "Alright Kagome, but if you change your mind, a good friend of mine is single and thinks you're cute and intelligent…"
"Get out now and leave me in peace or you'll be leaving with less than you walked in with, Hoshi…" she cautioned.
"Yes dear. I'll go see about those waffles. Strawberry?" he bowed promptly and dashed out of the room firmly closing the door behind him before she could respond.
"His dating service is something to be desired but his waffles are still good." she decided slipping out of bed, stretching, and stalked off to the bathroom to take a relaxing bath before breakfast.
Just wanted to let you know, that I deleted this story to re-post because I was trying to edit chapters and things kept on getting botched up pretty horribly. So I decided to start from scratch again and therefore have lost what reviews I had. Chapter three has been edited with the explanation there. Working on chapter four soon. Ran into writers block, (again, explained in revised chapter three), and so I apologize deeply. Thank you for sticking with this story, again, I hope you enjoy.
I don't own the InuYasha characters however, "Yirou" is. He's simply thrown in for this chapter and probably won't be part of the story beyond this point. The story is mine and I encourage any feedback you folks have to offer. Second story I've posted so I hope it's alright. Don't know where the plot is going with it, so any suggestions might be taken into consideration. Thank ye kindly ladies and gentlemen. Hope you enjoy.
-MoriCartel '
"..." Speaking
'...' Thoughts
Our World Is A Canvas
Chapter One: Blind Date Disaster
The key slid into the lock easily and Kagome slipped inside limping slightly as she walked through the threshold and quietly closed the door behind her resetting the lock. Once her coat was neatly hung on the rack and her keys replaced on the proper wall hook she took a look around the place. The light was left on above the stove so she really didn't have to flick a light on to see where she was walking. At least something seemed normal and calm that evening. Her room mate obviously was out. 'Probably out on another date, knowing him.' she pondered with slight disgust and eagerly slipped out of her shoes. The clock on the microwave to her left read ten thirty-two. The open living room to her right didn't look really inviting so she opted to just head towards her room down the hallway ahead of her.
It wasn't a large apartment, but it had two bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen, living room, and a spare closet next to the bathroom. It suited her well. She had moved in in the middle of her college career two years ago when her friend since middle school asked if she'd mind taking him in for a month until he could get on his feet again. Well, a month turned into two years and truth be told, she liked having a friend around to hang out with and talk to. So even if he never moved out and they grew old leaning on walkers in that small quaint apartment, she welcomed it without a second thought.
She sat at the vanity, her face firmly planted in her hands propped up on elbows pining over the recent events of the night before. The whole night was a shamble. Her knee length black dress was now ruined, her hair now needed a completely new do from being singed, the heel of her left shoe was broken off completely, and her only decent pair of nylons were run through. "What a nightmare," she groaned to her reflection in the mirror. "I'm so glad it's finally over with." Just the sight of her hair, now in diverse lengths and frayed ends, was enough of a sign that it was time for bed. She hoisted herself from the cushioned bench and made her way to her dresser located on the wall to her right which rested a couple feet from her door to retrieve some form of sleep wear.
It was convenient to have the vanity where it sat for she could easily peer through the doorway to scope out the rest of the household if need be. Her bed was set against the opposite wall in the corner complete with night stand and shelves built into the head board where a few favorite books, pictures, music cd's and other small knick-knacks were stored. With the money she had saved up from work, a nice television set was added to the décor proudly displayed in the corner a few feet from the edge of her vanity. Again with convenience, it already had a tape player and DVD player built in to save space, and she chose a type of stand with cabinets underneath for the massive quantity of movies and games she enjoyed.
Once she had showered and changed into a soft silk like gown, she sat at her desk (a few feet from the end of her bed) and began to scribble a few notes in her journal before brushing out her hair and retiring for the evening. "Goodbye disastrous Friday. Never am I ever going to be conned into dating one of Miroku's friends again." With that pledge at eleven o'clock, she allowed herself to succumb to a well deserved rest.
The sound of soft foot steps treading across the carpet floor went undetected was she so deep in sleep. Pleasant images of that new laptop she adored danced around her head and the oh so wonderful role playing games and such that it could be utilized for when she felt a nagging sensation probing what could be felt of a shoulder.
He observed the crumpled mass buried under the thick bedding as he neared the edge of the bed. Sighing with the conclusion he wasn't heard and knowing she wasn't going to wake up anytime soon, he sat down gently and ran some tactical strategies for rousing her from sleep. 'I could yell at the top of my lungs like a banshee, but she'd deck me again like last time. Set the stereo next to her head and blast some form of screeching metal into her ear, but she'd deck me again like last week. Smoke detector? Nope. Same out come. Ice water over the head? Not likely. She'd kick me out for sure this time. Maybe I'll try something simple.'
"Kagome?" he asked slowly. "Kagome, it's time to get up. It's already ten o'clock."
Her reply: a simple groan face down in a fluffy pillow completely covered over with the blanket.
"What was that?" he jabbed what he figured to be a shoulder. Not hard enough to bruise, but enough to ensure she wasn't dreaming. "Come on Kagome. I'll make coffee if you'd like."
Another groan. "I'll make my specialty for breakfast: waffles! You just gotta get up first."
The sheets were flung carelessly from her face and shoulders as slowly she turned an evil eye in his direction. Okay, it would have been more flame worthy if she weren't so groggy and disheveled looking. "Oh how lovely, you're up." she yawned before crossing her arms over her chest. "Do you have -any- idea what I went through last night?"
"Went well?" he inquired.
"'Went well?' he asks? Allow me to fill you in. Details, or to the point?"
'Maybe I should have let her sleep in a bit more.' he shuddered. "Judging by the slight lack of enthusiasm, how about we get the details over with, ne?"
"Very well. Comfy?"
"Not sure if I should be, but go on." He nodded.
"Wonderful. First, I go out and buy a new dress because I find out my best friend set me up on yet another blind date which I begged and warned against. I come home later than planed leaving me with about five minutes to shower to get back on schedule. Only to find out in the middle of my shower I ran out of shampoo so I ended up using body wash and no amount of conditioner is going to fix this mess growing from my scalp now." he opened his mouth to say something as she cut him off holding up a finger for silence.
"No, don't. I'll get to that in minute." that shut him up again. "Once dressed and ready to take off, I made my way to the car only to find it had little to no gas in it because someone who used it last decided he was going to forget to fill it before coming home. Now, that didn't bother me so much because I did that once last week before one of his dates. So I thought, no biggie, that why we have a cab fare jar on top of the fridge. So back into the building I go to fetch it and back out to the front of the building I went. I ended up late getting to the movies because the cab ran late but my date didn't seem to mind my tardiness. How sweet. The movie needless to say wasn't good. I sat in chewed gum, the movie itself just sucked, the popcorn was stale and the ride to dinner was just as bad. Call me crazy, but I believe he has the same luck in women as you do."
"Why would you say that?" he chuckled hinting his own guilt and rubbing the back of his head absent mindedly. His trademark when it came to being caught doing or thinking something he shouldn't or just taken by surprise for something he'd be related to. "He couldn't have been that bad a guy you make him seem to be. I've known Yirou for years."
"Because like you, he's a letch!" Kagome squealed. "Practically the whole cab ride to the restaurant his hand seemed to wander to my thigh! Most guy friends of yours seem to share the same problem. Even as kids you'd try to make moves on the girls."
"Ah yes. The good old days. Like the day I met you by the teeter totters. You were so beautiful with your hair pulled up into pig tails."
"You'll also recall sitting us in detention from my act of self defense from those by punching you in the gut and you because of those hands of yours. Our parents were so mad."
"It was well worth the pain." he smirked.
"Our math teacher didn't think the same as you do."
"What can I say? I'm always there aid beautiful women in need."
"Oh right, I'm sure algebra was exactly what a fourteen year old boy was so eager to help a female fresh out of college correcting."
"She was knew and I figured it wouldn't hurt that much. So it was still worth it. Besides, you were much cuter than she was. Anyway, back to last night, or would you like those waffles now?"
"Just because you think a bribe can make me any less infuriated with you, guess again. Moving back to the topic of last night. He took us to an Italian place that's new in town."
"Doesn't sound so bad."
"You'd think so, now wouldn't you. As we sat down to our table, I noticed that some how my nylons had a run starting at the knee. I'm guessing it was one of his nails." she sighed. "They were my best pair too."
"Yes I know. I was quite fond of them, as well."
After a resounding slap she continued. "You didn't have to try them on you know!" she chuckled as his cheeks tinted pink.
"I was dared to, you know that. No one specified -what pair- to chose. Didn't think you'd remember that." he smirked in return.
"Too much sake hmm? Anyway. Remind me never to dine with candles with any one relating to you, Miroku. Especially your guy friends."
"Candles?" he raised an eye brow. "Something tells me that's what's up with the hair thing you've got going on."
"Ugh." she groaned sitting up. "It's really that bad, isn't it? The idiot managed to some how tip the damn candle over and caught the table cloth on fire and thought a napkin or two would snuff it out. Wine wasn't about to do the trick either. How stupid is that man? I don't know how it happened, but either the heat or the floating bits of the napkins and cloth set in my hair and singed it to what it is now. I knew I should have put it up."
"Dear Buddha!" he prayed. "He is a bit clumsy I do have to admit."
"A little warning about that would have been nice you know!" she scolded.
"I thought I was sure to enlighten you of it. Well, did the place burn down?"
"No, thank a higher power. A waiter had a fire extinguisher and dowsed the flames. That particular table is forever out of commission, however. No one was hurt. Well after everything leading up to it, that was it for me. I left after telling him goodnight, giving the waiter thirty dollars from my purse, grabbed my coat and took a taxi home. The heel of my shoe snapped off walking up the steps of the apartment building and I noticed my dress was torn from the car door and singed in places. I didn't even bother to check it for wine stains. A brand new dress ruined, and now I have to go spend even more money saved to get this mess fixed." pointing at her head with both hands.
"Geeze Kagome, I didn't think it would be that bad a night. I've never heard anyone having such an experience on a blind date. Sure I've heard of people being mugged, sick, even killed but to go through all of that in one night? You have my sincerest apologies."
"Miroku, might I remind you that it was -your- doing that I go on these insidious blind dates of yours?!"
"You'll never meet some one unless you get out there my friend."
"That was the worst blind date I have ever been on, no thanks to you. Miroku, may I ask you a question?" she asked sweetly batting her eye lashes.
"Of course." he straightened up. "What do you wish to ask of me?"
"Do you value your life?"
"Value my life? Of course. What ever do you mean?" 'This can't be good. I've heard her say that before…'
"Then I suggest you leave your dating service away from me from now on. Last night was the last blind date you or anyone else ever pit against me."
"Pit against you? That was not my intention in the least. I'm wounded you would think such a thing, Kagome."
"Not buying it, Hoshi. Ever since I took you in, you started the whole blind dating service as a favor to me because you though I was 'lonely'. I think it's time you retire from your match maker position. You're much better studying religion. Now, speaking of studying. I've got to start working on my final paper that's due Wednesday for my psych. class and study for my other upcoming exams. This is my last week of school and I'll officially be a college graduate teaching and studying art. I was lucky your friend didn't kill me last night when I'm so close to getting out of school. So please, no more blind dates. Period. Got it?"
With a sigh of defeat he nodded. "Alright Kagome, but if you change your mind, a good friend of mine is single and thinks you're cute and intelligent…"
"Get out now and leave me in peace or you'll be leaving with less than you walked in with, Hoshi…" she cautioned.
"Yes dear. I'll go see about those waffles. Strawberry?" he bowed promptly and dashed out of the room firmly closing the door behind him before she could respond.
"His dating service is something to be desired but his waffles are still good." she decided slipping out of bed, stretching, and stalked off to the bathroom to take a relaxing bath before breakfast.