Yeah, I know. Two stories at once, I just might explode. Seriously though, this is just something to get my weird silly ideas out the way.
Watermelon Day
Get a summer job they said. You'll get used to being a normal girl they said.
Kagome Higurashi stood in a tank top, low cut shorts, and apron with the words Bistro Beauty written across the front outside one of the growing bistro chains in her neighborhood.
The sun was high with no clouds for reprieve. A sliver of sweat crawled down Kagome's back slowly and she was seriously considering her life choices. But she would occasionally look back at her friends Ayumi who got her the job and all her anger would deflate. She was such a sucker for her friends.
"Try the best Watermelon water on this side of town!" she called.
The street was busy as the bistro was positioned in the middle of the shopping district. It was the end of August and the humidity was relentless. Despite that, teenagers and adults alike were getting the last few summer rays before school started back up next week.
Kagome's little stand had a few samples of the watermelon they were serving inside and a container of watermelon infused water with a spout. Kagome signaled Ayumi for more cups after a wave of kids left her stand nearly drinking all of it.
"How's it going out here?" Ayumi asked.
"Uh, not so bad. It's pretty hot. How long 'til we rotate?"
"Another 30 minutes" Ayumi said with a half glance at her phone for the time, "Sorry about this 'Gome. It won't be too long."
"Don't worry about Ayumi. I could use the tan since I didn't make it to the beach this summer".
Ayumi looked at her sympathetically.
"Hey, maybe after work we can go to that place you've been raving about."
"Oh yeah! That'd be great. If I don't melt out here." They both laughed. The boss called Ayumi back in and Kagome was left with the sun and crowd again.
Kagome was pouring a cup of watermelon water for a young girl when a familiar youki pricked at the edge of her dampened sense. She looked up and almost cried out.
The frame of the man – no, demon – in front of her as familiar yet unfamiliar. The modern clothes threw off the silhouette she was so use to. Without the armor and flowing sleeves, he could be confused for someone ordinary.
"Sess-sesshomaru!"
"Miko" he said plainly as if 500 years hadn't separate them. There was a whimsical smile on his face.
"Uh, what are you doing here?" she asked. If he can be casual so can I. Not like we were friends or anything back then.
"I was hoping to try some of your watermelon water."
For a moment, she didn't know what to do with her hands as she fumbled with a cup and clumsily poured him some.
He grabbed the cup and their fingers grazed softly. Kagome found herself yearning for the familiarity. It wasn't until this moment that she felt like she wasn't alone here in the modern era. The ache that plagued her heart returned from the simple touch. It was strange. Sesshomauru wasn't even someone she considered a friend but she wanted to reach out to him. She wasn't sure if it was because she wanted to make sure he was real or…something else.
Sesshomaru slowly sipped the water. He hadn't expected her power to thrum so heavily in his presence. It was intoxicating to be so close to her with it rolling off of her in waves.
"Best in town," she managed between the ripple of emotion tearing through her.
"That it is. Thank you".
Kagome bit her lip nervously. Hadn't see rehearsed all the things she would say if she ran into Inuyasha here in her time. But that was Inuyasha and this was Sesshomauru. Still the half-brother did experience some of the same things she did during the battle with Naraku. Right?
Sesshomauru was saying something and holding a card out in front of her.
"….and if you have any questions or you need anything. Please don't hesitate."
Kagome reached for the card but avoided touching him this time. The card was smooth with raised ink.
"Thank you. Sesshomaru".
"Happy Watermelon Day, Kagome".
And he was gone with the crowd. The shinning silver of his hair disappearing around a corner and out of Kagome's life once again.