Disclaimer: The characters in this fanfic belong to Rumiko Takahashi, but all the candy in the store is mine! And I'm not sharing.
A/N: And another thing!...please enjoy the story 😊
O.O
Kagome was gazing dreamily out a large, shiny, window panes at the blank gray sky that blended into the side walk when something caught her eye.
Some caramels she had been packing into a bag for an order were glistening invitingly at her. She shrugged, who was she to deny them the housing of her stomach. No customers, no harm in a snack. Oh ho ho, for me? Don't mind if I do. She threw one in her mouth.
"Kagome, did I just see you eat a caramel?" Her manager had opened the backroom door and was sticking his head out to the side from it.
"No!" Kagome replied automatically, then remembered that she didn't like to lie "Ah. Yeeeees." She amended with a sheepish smile.
"Well stop it!"
"Okay, if I must." She sighed dramatically and he shut the door with a huff. She snorted, totally worth it.
The glass door glimmered with movement and a happy looking woman whose belly said she had a very close relationship with candy walked in. She was quickly followed by a young man with dark shades, a red cap, and long black hair in a ponytail that swished saucily as he walked.
She would have thought he was a girl if it weren't for his muscular build and masculine cut clothing. It was rare to get attractive customers that were single so she didn't even dream of flirting with him. Instead she wondered what kind of girlfriend he had, probably pretty…and nice since he was buying her chocolates.
Kagome stopped her musings when the woman stopped and looked around with wide eyes. "Oh, my, I've never seen it so empty in here!" She then changed her directory towards Kagome, or really the giant candy counter Kagome was standing behind.
"Yeah we heard you were coming so we cleared the store." She joked wryly. "Here, I've got some samples for you guys." She got two samples ready in her hand.
Predictably the woman laughed and practically leapt gleefully at her sample. The young man didn't though, instead he ignored her and went to browse the store.
Fine, no free chocolate for you Mr.I-have-things-to-do-people-to-buy-chocolates-for-and-no-time-for-commoncurtosy.
Kagome gave the nice woman his sample as well and carried on with her.
Then the rush came. One after another, often two or three at a time, the customers started moseying on in, too many for Kagome to keep a line from forming. More employees clocked in and danced behind the candy counter to keep up with customer demands. Soon the room was filled with the eager bustle of people who loved their candy and wanted it now.
Kagome couldn't complain though, she only worked at Chewie's Chocolates, once or twice a week for some spending money. And who was she to begrudge people their sweets, she was addicted herself.
Speaking of, a dark chocolate nugget she had been packing into a box had unluckily come into contact with her finger. It would be such a shame to just throw it away after replacing it with an uncontaminated one….
Her customer, a blond with pretty blue eyes that were glued to her phone, wasn't going to be noticing anything anytime soon. Kagome snuck a bite of the treat…so it wouldn't go to waste.
"I saw that!" she heard a perky voice singsong. Kagome swallowed quickly, too quickly. She coughed discretely into her elbow.
"Ayumi!" She managed, immediately recognizing the voice. She looked up and saw that one of her best friends was standing next to her oblivious customer. How she'd managed to bypass the huge line…well, it was a feat she was sure only her friend could manage without enraging the population of chocolate lovers.
"Hey there Kagome!"
" Ayumi, I thought we banned you from the store! On your left Kagome." Kagome's manager Hitaro said fondly. Jumping in as he grabbed some chocolate almonds near Kagome's elbow for another customer, never passing up the opportunity to flirt with a cute girl, no matter how unsuitable the age. Kagome rolled her eyes.
"I snuck back in, don't tell the manager kay?" Ayumi winked shamelessly.
Kagome coughed, this time not discretely. "Gross" and flipped a lid onto her finished box. "I'll be done with this customer in a minute, and come help you."
By the time she'd finished ringing her customer up, Yuka had joined Ayumi.
"I hear you might have some chocolates here…" Yuka remarked with a shrewd glance at the case showing a gleaming display of hundreds of chocolates.
"Really, where'd ya hear that?" Kagome put her elbows on the counter and set her head in her hands.
Yuka flipped her hair. "Oh. A little bird told me…and you guys have a sign."
"Well if the sign says so…" Kagome reasoned with pursed lips. "You know what? We might have that thing you've been talking about called chocolate."
They grinned at each other, and Kagome wanted to laugh as she became aware of the customers starting to look at them like they were crazy.
"So…" Ayumi interrupted, impatient for her sweets. "I'd like to try that one, and that one, and this one. Ooh, that one looks good too, gotta try it."
"Sure sure." Kagome said putting the samples together. "Do you want to buy any candy?" she inquired.
"Nope, that'll do. You're off in thirty right?" She asked, as Kagome's manager helped build a small bag of chocolates for Yuka, who actually wanted to buy some.
"Yup."
"We're going to meet Eri at Cold Things and wait for you there. We want to get shakes!"
"Even though you have all this chocolate?" Kagome asked, looking wide eyed at the pile in her hands, part of which Ayumi was already shoveling into her mouth.
"Yeah, so?" Ayumi's eyes widened as she looked at Kagome with legitimate confusion.
"That's a lot of sugar." Kagome explained.
"Since when have we cared about that?" Ayumi asked as she caught Kagome discreetly throwing a couple of chocolate raisins in her mouth.
"Sinph Whe strumpsh it."
"What?"
Kagome gulped her guilty treat in surprise, she had thought she was being discreet. "I don't know, since we started eating a lot of it? I think maybe it's time I start cutting back," she revealed as she tucked a peanut butter patty she had accidentally touched into her apron. "I think I'm getting addicted."
"Good luck with that!" Yuka snorted and sauntered over from where she had finished with Kagome's boss. She gestured to the wide windows, and the girls turned to regard the now brightly lit outdoors and clear blue sky. "It's sweltering out there. You could fry a chicken on the side walk…or a Hojo." She snickered and Kagome wrinkled her nose, wishing Yuka could go one week without having to mention Kagome's unfortunate ex.
"There isn't enough meat on Hojo to do that." Ayumi quipped, suddenly feeling very loyal to Kagome.
Yuka sighed dreamily, "Nope, just LOTS of muscle."
"What!" Ayumi and Kagome shouted as they turned wide, disbelieving eyes onto the short haired girl. Yuka returned their looks with a devious smile.
"I ran into him when stopping by my brother's gym the other day. He's been working out over the break." Yuka paused and leaned in to whisper and the girls followed the movement, leaning in closer. Kagome unconsciously had leaned so far over the counter her feet no longer touched the ground. "And I'll tell you…those abs and that ass—"
Unfortunately, someone was eavesdropping on them. "Excuse me Kagome." Kagome's feet dropped to the floor as she suddenly righted herself and turned at the tap on her shoulder. Her eyes snapped to her boss's.
"Yes?" she asked, flushed, and a little worried she was about to be faced with two unfortunate outcomes to their conversation. She was either going to be missing out on the juiciest part of the gossip…or was about to get fired.
"Your break is over."
"But I wasn't on a break…" she replied, searching her boss's face and finding a pointed, unamused look on it. "Eeexactly." He drawled.
Kagome gulped quickly enough realizing her error. "Okay, one second." She turned back to her friends who were giggling shamelessly and hissed, "look I don't care what Hojo does or how he looks anymore." she said, lifting her chin. And honestly she couldn't understand their continued obsession with him either…She was like so, so over him.
"Oh?" her friends challenged, exchanging glances.
"That's right, I have far more important things on my mind, like work and…yes, I'm very busy so you two should go, I'll see you soon okay!" She shooed them away.
Kagome listened to their snickering up until they exited before sighing at the things she put up with and signaling the next customer over.
A man with long dark hair and eyes that were even darker. Youngish, but not quite her age, probably twenties walked up. Normally she could asses the friendliness of a customer with a first glance, but the only vibes she was getting were, creeper alert, and not much else. Something about him didn't sit right with her and she wasn't sure why.
Suddenly she remembered the snooty guy from earlier. He had given her a straight up crabby vibe, but otherwise seemed harmless. It was the opposite with this guy, and she pitied whatever girlfriend he was buying for. Where did that other guy go? She found herself wondering…must have slipped out with the crowed.
"Hello sir," she smiled, "What can I get you?"
He gawked at her. And Kagome vaguely wondered if jaws were supposed to drop that low. "I'm not sure, are you on the menu?" He asked with a lewd grin.
Kagome balked at the suddenly bold flirtation, and on impulse leaned away a bit from the counter. She eyed him suspiciously, not sure if he was trying to be nice, or really was just a creep. There was definitely something off about him. But at least it seemed he was trying to be nice. she could handle him she decided.
"I'm not sure what kind of candy store you think this is sir, but it's not that kind. We sell candy not people." She enlightened him brightly.
"Oh?"
She nodded her head in confirmation. "Sample of our peanut brittle for you today sir?"
"I'll take anything you feed me." he rumbled, raising suggestive brows.
She chose to ignore her urge to gag and instead set the cup of candy on the counter without another word. She'd dealt with weirdos before, but he was definitely her most unsettling one yet.
He took a piece out and immediately took a bite. He moaned and looked at her. She grimaced, suddenly he didn't seem so nice at all anymore.
There was an oiliness about him that made her want to run away when he looked at her. But he was a customer so that wasn't really an option.
"This is so good. I came for the candy, but will stay for those eyes and that smile…" he said.
Ew, so creepy.
She wasn't even smiling anymore. She was having trouble thinking up a way to respond that didn't involve smashing his face in when suddenly a nicely muscled arm came out of now where and shoved the creepy guy away. She then found herself facing a vibrant red clothed, muscled back. "Hey, yeah. That's right I cut the line! Deal with it!"
It was the boy she had seen earlier, the rude one who was now proving to be even ruder then she had first assumed. He had shoved the creepy guy away and was turned away from her, gesturing crudely at the crowd which was openly regarding him with shock, and on some faces anger.
"Seriously, you people take forever! You're picking out chocolates, not the next damned president!" The creepy guy he had shoved had his arms crossed and was watching with a look that could kill small children. Kagome picked her jaw back off the floor when sunglasses guy suddenly turned back to her. She could almost feel his gaze piercing her from behind the dark shades, and his mouth was twisted into a scowl.
"I have been waiting behind these idiots for a goddam hour, and I got here before all of them! All I want is this one little box of lollipops." He held up one of their assorted twelve packs and waved it in her face. "NOW please."
Abruptly Kagome's manager was next to her.
"Kagome, please take this young man to register number three and ring him up. Then clock out."
"Uh, okay, I—"
There was an outraged cry from the creepy guy, "Hey! I'm not going to take this—" But he was interrupted by Kagome's manager.
"I'll be taking care of you now sir, here, more free chocolate!" Her manager grinned widely and pushed Kagome away towards register 3.
Kagome strolled to the register on the other end of the counter feeling rather surreal as she watched her manager shove more candy into the creep's hands. Her new customer had followed her easily and was standing before her with a smirk when she stopped. She watched him for a moment, wondering how to proceed. She couldn't pretend she hadn't found his attitude more than a little outrageous.
"So," she feigned a conversational tone, "why didn't you get in line sooner since, as you said, you were here first and all…"
Where do you get off barging over and talking to people like that?
She knew it was a really bad idea to try and aggravate an obviously temperamental and unstable customer… She had never been very good at letting bad behavior pass without a remark. Her little brother would eagerly testify to that.
Although she was rather relieved she didn't have to deal with the creepy guy anymore, she wasn't sure this guy was a much better option. Well, at least I don't feel him trying to undress me with his eyes…
The smirk was swept straight off his face and he mumbled, "It took me a while to pick em out." At her unimpressed look he added defensively, "What? Is that a crime?"
"Uh, no" She responded simply with raised brows and scanned his lollipops "Would you like it gift wrapped?"
"Why the hell would I want that?"
Now Kagome wanted to know what his problem was, anything she said he seemed to be taken as some sort of attack. It was really starting to eat at her, and her grip on professionality was beginning to slip. "Because it's a gift?" she reasoned, sucking in her cheeks.
"Really? For who? A man can't buy himself a box of…" he turned the box to read the description, "chocolate and caramel lollipop yum yum delights?"
He crossed his arms, and she didn't think it was physically possible, but his scowl somehow got deeper. Keep that up…and you'll get major grumpy old man wrinkles! She warned internally.
"Of course you can, it's just, most men your age who come in here have…"
"Have what?"
"Girlfriends." She huffed, hating having to explain herself to this idiot. "Of course none of them had your personality, so this makes much more sense!" she added without thinking and then bit her lip hard.
She had never had such an outburst with a difficult customer, she couldn't believe herself. But she had really just lost a grip. Her mother had always told Kagome that her temper at its greatest strength was her greatest weakness. She prayed her manager didn't hear her and that this guy didn't suddenly flip on her. That would be just what she needed.
But to her surprise neither of those things happened. Instead he just stared at her at her for a moment with an unreadable expression. She blinked back, hoping she didn't look as scared as she suddenly felt when he finally spoke.
"Are we just gonna chat all day or are you going to let me pay so I can get out of this hell whole?" he demanded.
Letting out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding, Kagome looked away from him to her register screen. "Your total is $9.75"
She jumped a little when he slapped down a 10 and grabbed his box. "Keep the change."
"Gee thanks" she called wryly as he stormed out. "Have a nice day." She added after he slammed the door shut behind him.
People!
O.O
When Kagome stepped outside and the sun's rays bounced happily off the sidewalk and…straight into her eyes.
"Gah!"
She dropped her purse as she threw a hand over her eyes and seriously considered turning back. She couldn't believe how hot it had become, she had been so sheltered in the walking fridge that was Chewies Chocolate Shop. She picked up her purse and dashed to the closest shady spot for refuge.
Despite her summer clothes she could already feel sweat dotting her back. I could really use that milkshake now.
She looked around and found that her refuge was an awning, but most of the shade lined the alleyways. The city pulsed with summer heat and people, who seemed to have no problem walking around in a sauna. Although the majority also had parasols.
Darn, she had forgotten to…own one.
She made a game of dashing from shadowed alleyways, and between people's shadows and awnings as she made her way towards Cold Things.
Now sweating from her fast movements and the heat, she jumped into her last alleyway made it half-way across with a hop and a skip and then froze. Cold Things would be just on the other side of the building but something or rather someone was in her way.
"I was hoping to see you again, I kind of miss the uniform though."
Kagome said nothing as she tried to discern his face in the shadows. She gripped her purse, she definitely didn't like the way his voice sounded.
"I was so sad to see you go before, so sweet, guile-less, and tasty. I just wanted to put you in my pocket and take you home. Maybe now I will."
Kagome gulped and took a step forward, refusing to be intimidated. It was just that sleaze ball creepy guy from the chocolate shop.
He didn't move.
"That's right come to me baby."
"Actually I'd like to get around you, but I don't think I'll mind running you down if you get in my way." She bit out, knowing it was easier said than done. He was actually much bigger than her and his eyes were crazier than she remembered. She looked around for a weapon.
There was a cardboard box, some string, a lamp shade.
What could I do with that? Cone of shame him to death?
With a jolt she realized that she was in a rather helpless, horror movie situation, and yet she couldn't bring herself turn her back on him and run. What if I'm not fast enough.
"If you're looking for a weapon baby the only one you'll find is right here." She looked back at him to see him crudely whipping his hands in a pointing motion towards his crotch.
"That's not funny!" She screeched as she blushed and felt her insides freeze in fear. "Now get out of my way!" Where was that temperamental crass boy to shove this guy away when she needed him? Panic was starting to burble in her throat, and she was finding it more and more difficult to build up a scream.
He suddenly looked down. "Ah, no that's not what I meant…although..hmm..Urk..Urk!"
She stared at him dumbfounded and mute with fear as he re-swung his arms towards his crotch twice until something glinty fell from his sleeves and into his hands.
Two blades, one for each hand. And suddenly Kagome realized why he had looked so odd to her when she first saw him. He was wearing a thick longsleeved leather jacket even though they were in the middle of summer.
He smiled as he gripped the blades and looked back up at her horrified face.
The smile held no kindness or reassurance in it.
She thought maybe it was time to escape back the way she came when suddenly she heard what sounded like a seemingly large man land from nowhere just a couple of feet behind her.
She was trapped, but adrenaline had fully surged into her bones by now and she was feeling ready to run. She turned her head to see who else she would have to out run and caught a glimpse of a very large shadow but jerked her head away when she heard a clatter in front of her.
The crazy man had dropped one of his weapons and was staring in shock at whatever had magically jumped down, albeit impossibly, from what she presumed was one of the beams hanging between the buildings walls.
Since he looked like he was about to pee his pants, she really didn't want to see what had landed behind her, maybe it wasn't even a man. He pulled back the hand with the knife still in it. He was going to throw it, she had to get out of there! She screamed and made a dash past him and to freedom. In seconds she was panting as she rushed into the coolness of Cold Things, not daring to look back.
"Wow you really wanted that shake!" Ayumi laughed walking over to her.
Kagome's heart was beating so fast she couldn't form a reply, she just looked up at her friend with wide watery eyes.
"Hey, are you okay?"
O.O
A/N: Not much of a cliff hanger…but hey, who likes those anyway!
See ya next chapter!