Story: At First Sight

Rating: T

Summary: Ever believed in love at first sight? Kagome didn't. Until she met her mother's new boyfriend...and fell in love with his son.

Disclaimer: I sadly do not own any of these characters...I'm just having some fun with them ^-^

A/N: Trying out a new story...we'll see how it goes! Thanks for stopping by to check it out!

xXxXx

Chapter One: I Think I Love You

Kagome fidgeted nervously from where she stood beside her mother, brother and grandfather. The resounding echo of the doorbell could be heard from within the home they waited outside of (or rather, mansion, as Kagome saw it. The place was huge!) Her mother must have noticed her inability to keep still; she rested a reassuring hand on her arm and smiled warmly.

"You'll be just as fond of him as I am," she whispered gently, squeezing Kagome's arm for emphasis. "Don't worry."

As they heard footsteps approaching the front door, Kagome breathed in deeply. She wasn't exactly worried - just nervous about meeting her mother's new boyfriend and his family. Her mother hadn't dated since Kagome's father passed away several years ago. This was surprisingly foreign to her, especially since she had never really dated either, so that made the idea of her mother dating even more difficult to wrap her mind around. As the door slowly opened before them, she tried to calm her nerves and force a big smile.

The man in the doorway was very handsome, and gave off an air of importance. His long, black hair was pulled into a low ponytail, and he had soft brown eyes that lit up when they landed on Kagome's mother. He wore a dress shirt and slacks, and looked as though he had just returned home from work not long ago.

"Ayumi," he said, and Kagome was surprised at how deep his voice was. He spoke with authority, even when he was trying to sound casual. Her mother wrapped her arms around him in a quick hug before stepping back to introduce her family.

"InuTaisho, I'd like you to meet my father," she began, sounding delighted this moment had finally come. "And this is my son, Souta, and my daughter Kagome." She turned to Kagome and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm so glad to finally meet Ayumi's family," InuTaisho grinned, shaking hands with each of them in turn. They all returned the greeting and he invited them inside. "Dinner is just about ready. Let me call my son down. Unfortunately, my other son, Sesshomaru, was unable to make it tonight. Work obligations and such." He waved it off. "InuYasha! Ayumi and her family are here!"

Kagome furrowed her brow at the name. Why did it sound so familiar to her? Her mother hadn't really mentioned the two sons names had she? As she was trying to figure out where she had heard the name before, a boy with long, black hair and deep brown eyes that matched his father's descended the staircase behind InuTaisho.

Kagome felt her eyes widen and she quickly stifled a gasp that almost escaped her lips.

No..

It was him..

The boy she had fallen in love with at first sight.

xXxXx

2 Days Earlier

"I'm home!" Kagome called, slipping out of her sandals and padding into the kitchen.

"Oh, Kagome dear, I was hoping you would be home soon," her mother smiled brightly from the stove. She was stirring a pot of something that smelled delicious, but when she saw Kagome she set down her wooden spoon and wiped her hands on the apron hanging from her waist. "I wanted to discuss something with you and Souta."

"Okay," Kagome replied distractedly as she opened the fridge and took out a pitcher of water. "Where is he?"

"I believe he's watching TV in the living room. Go and get him would you?"

"Sure Mom." Kagome sipped her water as she turned and headed into the living room, spotting her little brother lounging on the couch watching cartoons. "Hey squirt, Mom wants to talk to us. And I think dinner's almost ready."

"K," he replied absently, reaching for the remote without taking his eyes off the television set. Once he had switched it off and followed Kagome back into the kitchen, the two of them slid into chairs at the table and waited. Their grandfather came in and joined them at the table, while Mrs. Higurashi turned the heat on low at the stove and pulled up a chair next to her father.

"I wanted to talk with you both about something that may be a little surprising to hear," she told them slowly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Kagome blinked, sensing her mother's nervousness. She was rarely ever nervous when talking to them. She was usually calm and understanding, and Kagome wasn't used to seeing her like this.

"You see, ever since your father died I haven't really been able to let go. I never imagined being with another man or loving someone the way I loved him. I still believe to this day he was the love of my life, but there comes a point when you need to let go and move on."

Kagome didn't quite understand where this was heading, but she listened patiently to her mother and waited.

"That's when I met InuTaisho. It was such a casual meeting that I didn't quite know what was happening at the time. I bumped into him at a coffee shop and spilled my drink all over him." She laughed fondly at the memory. "He was such a gentleman about it. He even offered to buy me a new drink when he saw how embarrassingly flustered I was. We sat down and talked for what seemed like hours. And well...everything just sort of blossomed from there."

"What blossomed?" Kagome asked dumbly. It was starting to dawn on her where this was heading.

Her mother blushed. "We've been dating for quite some time now. Almost four months."

"Four months?" Kagome and Souta both gasped at the same time. They'd had no idea their mother was dating!

"Yes. I'm so sorry I didn't tell either of you. I just wanted to be sure he was a good man before introducing him to our family. When I told your grandfather," she glanced at the older man beside her and smiled, "he gave me his blessing and I decided I didn't want to wait any longer before having you all meet him!"

Kagome was trying to wrap her mind around what her mother was telling her. It seemed so strange...her mother dating, being happy with a man who wasn't her father. It had been so long. When she stopped and thought about it though, her mother had seemed much happier lately. Kagome had merely thought it was because summer was coming to a close soon and autumn was starting. Her mother loved autumn.

"Well?" Mrs. Higurashi asked anxiously, for neither of her two children had responded. Souta looked at Kagome as if silently telling her to be the first one to speak.

"I, um...I think it's great Mom," the raven-haired girl said, meaning it. "It's a lot to take in, but I'm happy for you."

Her mother's face softened with relief; obviously she had been working up to this moment for some time now, unsure of how it would turn out. Souta nodded his consent, but it was apparent that he didn't have any interest in discussing the topic of his mother dating. He glanced back towards the living room, eyeing the TV.

"I'm so glad your both alright with this," Mrs. Higurashi said as she stood up and walked over to the stove, picking up the wooden spoon and lifting the lid on the pot to stir the bubbling broth within. "InuTaisho invited us over for dinner two nights from now and I've been dying to give him an answer."

Although it seemed like another ordinary day for their family, Kagome had a nagging feeling their lives were about to change. But if it was a change that made her mother happy, it was for the best, right?

"Well, count me in," she smiled as she smoothed out her skirt for lack of something better to do with her hands. "I would love to meet him."

The rest of the night Mrs. Higurashi was practically giddy with joy, hurrying off after dinner to call her boyfriend and tell him the good news. Souta seemed relatively unphased and went back to the living room once he finished eating, and their grandfather went outside to do some last minute chores. Kagome washed the dishes in silence, wondering what her mother's boyfriend was like. How old was he? Was he good looking? Smart? Where did he work? She would have to inquire more about him tomorrow.

After she finished tidying up the kitchen, Kagome headed up to her room and fell back onto her soft bed. She scratched her cat Buyo behind the ears as she contemplated whether to work on her summer homework. Her first day of high school was next week and she was very excited, but also slightly scared. Many of her friends had been accepted to different high schools, but luckily her best friend Sango would still be attending school with her. That was a relief. Still, there was so much homework to be done. Preparing for high school was tough work!

Kagome sighed, having made up her mind to at least work on a little bit of homework tonight, and dragged herself to her desk. She turned on her lamp and set to work.

xXxXx

"She's dating?" Sango asked, unable to mask her surprise. "Your mom? How long's it been?"

Kagome shrugged nonchalantly, licking her ice cream that was slowly starting to melt in the summer heat. "About ten years. Dad died just after Souta was born, so..."

Sango nodded thoughtfully and bit off the tip of her popsicle. The two friends were enjoying a day at the park, leaning against an old tree by the water fountain. The shade was refreshing compared to the bench they had been sitting on earlier. Kagome had been explaining to Sango the previous nights conversation with her mother, and Sango was just as surprised as she and Souta had been.

"Are you excited to meet him?" Sango asked.

"Yes and no," Kagome admitted, watching a couple standing hand in hand at the ice cream cart they had purchased their treats from. "I mean, I'm excited to meet him and see what he's like, but then this will all become real. Right now it doesn't feel real. I'm a little scared to see how far this relationship goes, to be honest. What if they get married? Will we have to move? I don't even know where he lives."

"Oh, I'm sure he lives in the district," Sango replied, trying to calm her friends worries. "We'll still go to the same high school. You can't get rid of me that easily." Kagome knew she was teasing, but it didn't ease her fears very much.

The couple at the ice cream cart had their backs to Kagome and Sango, but Kagome could hear the girlfriend laugh audibly at something her boyfriend said. It made Kagome's heart skip a little. She wondered if her mother and InuTaisho were like that together. Laughing, carefree...

"Anyway," Sango said, standing up and straightening her white shorts, making sure there were no grass stains on them. "I'm sure everything will work out fine. Don't worry yourself over it. Your mom loves you, and she wouldn't do anything that made you or Souta uncomfortable."

Kagome nodded. "Your right. Thanks Sango." She stood up too, making sure her scoop of ice cream didn't fall off the cone. They began walking back towards the ice cream cart, which was by the park entrance. The couple standing there finally received their ice cream, and when they turned around Kagome stopped short and felt her heart practically leap from her chest.

He was the most gorgeous boy she had ever laid eyes on.

His black hair reached almost to his lower back, but it looked unbelievably good on him. His eyes were a deep brown, but had flecks of amber that caught the sunlight as he walked. He wore a simple black T-shirt and red shorts, but Kagome could see the noticeable outline of hard muscle through the shirt. He carried himself in a way that wasn't exactly arrogant, but confident.

How could someone look as good as he did?

"Kagome...Kagome?" Sango was asking, looking at her friend curiously. Kagome felt heat rising in her cheeks, but she wasn't sure why. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and her palms had suddenly gotten sweaty, making it difficult to hold onto her ice cream. What was this feeling she had? She couldn't describe it. Suddenly, the saying 'love at first sight' came into her mind, but she frantically shook it off. There was no such thing. Love didn't just happen, it took time to cultivate. And it certainly didn't happen with a stranger, from just one look. Maybe she was feeling lust for him...but that sounded extremely creepy.

Sango was following Kagome's gaze until it locked onto the boy walking towards them with his girlfriend. She grinned. "Cute, isn't he?" she snickered. "I've never seen you get so flustered over a boy Kagome-chan."

"I-I'm not!" Kagome retorted, feeling her blush deepen. She knew Sango was teasing again (she rarely called her Kagome-chan unless she was teasing or comforting her) but her words were truthful. She was very flustered...

Kagome forced her legs to move so she didn't continue standing there like an idiot, staring at some boy she didn't even know. All of sudden, a small gray dog came out of nowhere and started yapping at her, obscuring her path. Kagome noticed a little too late, and with a squeak she stumbled over the dog. Luckily, she was able to catch herself before sprawling out on the sidewalk, and the dog hurried off after she'd bruised it's paw, but before she even had the chance to get embarrassed she noticed her scoop of ice cream was gone. All she was holding was the cone.

"Darn it..." Kagome muttered, looking down to see if it had fallen into the grass or on the cement.

"AH!" she suddenly heard someone huff in a frustrated tone, causing her to glance up. She paled and dropped her cone.

The couple that had been walking towards them were standing a few feet in front of her. Her chocolate ice cream was now running down the pink shirt of the girl who had been holding hands with the guy Kagome was just drooling over. Sango's mouth formed an 'o' shape as she looked from the couple to her mortified friend.

"This was my new shirt!" the girl was saying angrily, wringing her hands and looking disgusted by the ice cream dripping onto the pavement. She glared up at Kagome as her boyfriend headed back to the cart to get napkins.

"I'm sorry," Kagome managed to say, still staring in shock at the ice cream that had been in her hand a moment ago. "I...didn't see..."

"Yeah, apparently!" the girl said disdainfully, her silver hoop earrings swaying each time she moved her head. She had long, blue-black hair that nearly reached the same length as her boyfriends, although it was difficult to tell because it was pulled into a sleek ponytail. Her violet eyes flashed each time she glanced at Kagome, for now the ice cream was slowly making it's way down to her jean skirt and onto her slender legs.

The girl turned her chin up at Kagome and looked over her shoulder to where her boyfriend was coming back towards them. "Inu! Where are those napkins?!"

Inu...so that was his name, Kagome absently found herself thinking.

"Keep your pants on," her boyfriend grumbled when he reached them, handing over a cluster of napkins he'd retrieved from the man at the ice cream cart. She grabbed them quickly, wiping at her shirt, but it was a futile effort. She would have to change.

"My shirt better not be ruined or you're buying me a new one," she told Kagome coldly, as her boyfriend rolled his eyes.

"Look Kikyo, it wasn't her fault," he said, sounding slightly annoyed. Kagome wondered if his girlfriend did this often...she didn't seem like the most pleasant person. "If it's ruined I'll be the one to buy you another shirt."

Kikyo's eyes lit up as she turned to her boyfriend. "Really, Inu? That's so sweet of you! But still," her expression soured again as she glared over at Kagome. "Watch where you're going next time."

"I will," Kagome replied sincerely, wanting nothing more than to get away from this couple and go crawl under a rock. But at the same time, she almost dreaded walking away and never seeing this boy again. Why was he having such an effect on her? Her heart rate still hadn't slowed, and she knew it wasn't from the embarrassment of spilling her ice cream all over his girlfriend. She hoped, if nothing else, her blush had faded, but her face still felt hot. It didn't help either when he glanced at her, meeting her gaze and sending a shiver down her spine. The good kind of shiver.

"Yeah, I'll keep her in line," Sango chirped, grasping Kagome's arms and starting to pull her away towards the park exit. "Thanks for being so understanding!" She waved with the hand still holding her melting popsicle, and then tossed it into a nearby trash can.

Kagome glanced over her shoulder at the retreating couple, still feeling uneasy. Maybe once she and Sango were far enough away from them she wouldn't feel like this anymore. But something in the back of her mind told her she would never meet another boy like him again.

"Earth to Kagome," Sango was saying beside her, finally releasing her arm as they reached the park exit. Two little boys blew past them, shouting something about the swings and playing tag. "What's gotten into you? Are you alright?"

Kagome swallowed and plastered on what was probably more of a wince than a smile. "I'm fine. That was just embarrassing."

Sango snorted and waved it off. "Who cares. That girl probably had it coming judging from her attitude. She acted like she was queen of the world and we were two lowly peasant girls who ran into her."

"But we did run into her," Kagome commented, looking down at her sticky hand. Some of her ice cream had melted onto it when she'd been staring at Kikyo's boyfriend.

"So? It happens. And it wasn't technically your fault...that dog ran right in front of you. Your probably more upset about falling in front of that cute boy," Sango teased. Kagome felt her face heat up again.

"Let's go. I told Mom I would pick up some groceries on my way home," Kagome said quickly, hoping Sango wouldn't bring the subject up again. She didn't want to think about that boy, especially when he already had a girlfriend. What was wrong with her?

xXxXx

Despite her best efforts, Kagome found her thoughts drifting to the boy later on, when she was sitting at her desk trying to focus on the rest of her homework. She had never met anyone like him before. Although he'd seemed rather frustrated with his girlfriend, what he had said to her was sweet. Kagome knew many boys who had told her sweet things in the past, but her heart had never fluttered at them the way it had when she was around him. And they hadn't even really spoken, although he had defended her from Kikyo's wrath.

And those eyes...they were so captivating. As if she could gaze into them and see his soul. She wondered what kind of a person he was, what his ambitions and dreams were, where he came from -

Kagome noticed her reflection in the mirror above her desk and mentally slapped herself. This is ridiculous Kagome! she scolded herself, settling back in with her pencil and staring down at her geometry. She had never been this hung up over a boy before. Not Hojo, or even Kouga...and both had made several attempts at wooing her. Yet she had never been interested, never felt that rush people are supposed to get when they think about a boy they like. She tried to reason with herself, knowing she wasn't normally this silly. You will never see him again. Get him out of your thoughts!

That was easier said than done.

xXxXx

"Kagome dear, are you ready to go?" Mrs. Higurashi called up the stairs, securing her pearl earring onto her right earlobe. "Souta and your grandfather are already in the car!"

"Be right down!" Kagome shouted back, adding just a touch of lip gloss to her lips. She stood back and examined her appearance in the full length mirror behind her bedroom door. The dark green dress she was wearing was certainly flattering, especially paired with her favorite black flats. A simple emerald necklace and earring set completed the ensemble, and she had pulled her silky black hair into a loose bun on the top of her head. While she was satisfied with how she looked, she hoped she would make a good impression on her mother's boyfriend.

Grabbing a jacket and her purse, Kagome hurried down the stairs to where her mother was waiting by the front door. The woman gave her a motherly smile and pulled her into a hug.

"You look absolutely beautiful Kagome!" she said, causing her daughter to smile.

"Thanks Mom. But look at you!" she stepped back and stared admiringly at her mother's outfit. It was a gorgeous teal blue dress with thin straps, and Mrs. Higurashi had clipped a section of her hair back with a pretty butterfly clip. Pearl earrings dangled from her ears and she wore just a touch of makeup.

Her mother seemed to blush at the compliment. "Thank you sweetie." They locked the front door and made their way to the car that was parked around the other side of the temple. The night was warm but Kagome pulled her jacket on anyway.

"So, Mom..." she said casually, "things must be pretty serious with this guy, huh?"

A faint smile spread across Mrs. Higurashi's lips as she replied, "Well, I like him very much. He would make a good father figure for you and Souta. Not to mention he would do a wonderful job taking care of us all. I never imagined falling in love with another man, but I think I'm starting to."

Kagome nodded and looked up at the setting sun, thinking how beautiful all the reds and oranges looked against a pink sky. "I think that's great Mom. I'm so happy for you." She hadn't seen her mother this happy...well, maybe ever. Since their father had been gone anyway. "What does he do? I mean, where does he work?"

Mrs. Higurashi looked thoughtful for a moment. "Have you ever heard of Takahashi Corporation?"

"Yeah?"

"He owns it."

Kagome stopped in her tracks, staring at her mother. "He...owns it?!" she asked, shocked. It was one of the leading corporations in all of Japan! They had discussed it a bit in one of her classes last year. Her mother turned to look sheepishly at her daughter.

"Yes, he does. Crazy, right? Although my feelings wouldn't change even if he were a pig farmer." She laughed, her eyes twinkling, and Kagome knew it was true. So what if the man was possibly one of the richest in the country? No big deal. Right?

They reached the car and Mrs. Higurashi slid behind the wheel while Kagome got in back next to Souta. Here we go, she thought, praying she would like InuTaisho. Something about the name made her frown. Inu...

They pulled out into the busy city, and traffic was especially terrible since it was a Friday night. Luckily they had left early. Her mother had to drive slowly with all the people out and about, and Kagome noticed all the couples walking along, holding hands and heading into restaurants and shops.

"So who's all going to be at the dinner?" she asked, watching an ambulance speed past them. She hadn't thought to ask whether InuTaisho had any children.

"Well, he has two sons, but only one lives at home. The other moved out a few years ago," her mother replied, turning at a traffic light onto a less crowded road. "I've never met either of his sons, so I'm hoping they will be at dinner too. InuTaisho said his youngest son will probably be there, but he wasn't sure if his eldest could make it. He's usually very busy at work. He's the vice president of his father's company."

"I see," Kagome answered, wondering what her maybe-someday-stepbrothers might be like. Her mother turned up a long driveway lined with oak trees, and when she slowed at what could only be InuTaisho's house, Kagome gaped. It was enormous! A bubbling fountain stood in the center of the driveway, so Mrs. Higurashi circled around it and parked off to the side by the multiple garages.

"Woah!" Souta yelled, hopping out of the car, his eyes bulging. "Your boyfriend lives here?!"

His mother nodded slowly, taking in the large house as she slammed her car door shut. "I guess so," she replied, pulling her purse over her shoulder. "I've never been to his house before. We usually met up at restaurants or went to places in the city."

Kagome was even more intrigued by her mother's love interest now. It was a very regal house, made entirely of brick and had several windows on both the first and second stories. She noted the wraparound porch, and the garden on the other side of the yard. A two person swing hung at one end of the porch, and low lit lamps shone on either side of the front door. The house was slightly intimidating, but also somewhat calming. She thought she could get used to it if she spent enough time here, which maybe she would now that her mother was dating the man who lived within the mansion.

"Can I ring the doorbell?" Souta asked excitedly, as the four of them made their way up the front steps to the door. Kagome felt one of them creak under her weight.

"Of course honey," Mrs. Higurashi smiled.

"This place is a bit much, don't you think?" their grandfather grumbled, tugging at his tie. He wasn't used to wearing dress clothing.

"I think it's lovely," his daughter replied, in a tone that suggested he not make any further comments about the house in front of her boyfriend. Grandfather crossed his arms with a dejected look but didn't say anything more. Kagome smiled at the old man beside her brother, but she couldn't help from fidgeting nervously. She felt a soft hand on her arm.

"You'll be just as fond of him as I am," her mother whispered, "don't worry."

The door opened and a man whom Kagome assumed to be InuTaisho stood before them, grinning. "Ayumi," he said, his voice echoing in the large foyer behind him. Mrs. Higurashi slipped into his arms for a quick embrace before pulling away to introduce her family.

"InuTaisho, I'd like you to meet my father," she informed him, looking positively giddy. "And this is my son, Souta, and my daughter Kagome." She turned to Kagome and placed a hand on her shoulder. Kagome smiled.

"I'm so glad to finally meet Ayumi's family," InuTaisho grinned. After shaking hands with each of them and the individual greetings were made, he invited them inside. "Dinner is just about ready. Let me call my son down. Unfortunately, my other son, Sesshomaru, was unable to make it tonight. Work obligations and such." He waved it off. "InuYasha! Ayumi and her family are here!"

Kagome felt her brow furrow again in contemplation. InuYasha. Her mother hadn't really mentioned the two sons names had she? But just as it dawned on her where she had heard Inu before, a boy with long black hair and eyes with amber flecks descended the staircase behind InuTaisho.

Kagome felt her body stiffen with recognition and she quickly stifled a gasp that almost escaped her lips. It was him..

The boy she had fallen in love with at first sight.

xXxXx

Let me know what you think? Reviews are always wonderful ^-^ Thanks for reading!