What better way to celebrate Kagome's love than to pair her with one of my favorite actors, Lee Pace.
This series is dedicated to his roles and possibly himself.
Kagome Higurashi is a fictional character belonging to the animated series Inuyasha, created by Rumiko Takahashi.
Lee Pace is an American Actor featured in films, stage, and television shows. In Pushing Daisies, he portrays the main character Ned.
I highly recommend Pushing Daisies if you guys haven't seen it yet! Very cute.
This would be the day Ned would always remember.
This would be the day that would begin his understanding of his curse.
This would be the day that would eventually lead to his curse becoming a gift.
This would be the day he would meet the love of his life.
This would be the day he would thank the universe for sending him Kagome Higurashi.
He just didn't know it yet.
The day began like any other.
He would come in at 6:00 AM and begin prepping the pies that would go into the oven.
He opened his pie shop, The Pie Hole, at 7:00 AM.
He'd greet his overzealous neighbor and waitress, Olive Snook.
He'd smile and spend time split between manning the booth and the kitchen, all the while his dog Digby, followed happily.
It was rather rainy day.
But thankfully, that didn't deter the regulars from popping into the shop to gorge on a piece of pie.
It was just another day.
Then she came in, at the age of 26 Years 5 Months 2 Days and 14 Hours.
And suddenly, his day became sunnier.
Kagome was frustrated.
There was no other person in the world that could anger her so in such a short amount of time without even raising his voice or insulting her in any way.
"No, Sesshomaru, I won't go to your fundraising gala for you and spend five hours pretending to enjoy speaking with individuals who are convinced I am sleeping with you," Kagome grint out through clenched teeth, working to ignore the strange looks thrown her way by passing pedestrians.
Sighing, the young Miko juggled her umbrella, phone, bag, and coat in her arms making her way across the street. Though she was used to walking around in business suits and heels, her feet still ached after a long day. And normally the sound of rain calmed her, but today was a rather tense day.
Unfortunately, a normal day for the once time-traveling woman.
Spotting a quaint shop a street down, Kagome quickly began shuffling her way towards The Pie Hole. It sounded a bit strange but adorable.
And from what she could see form the window, it looked more than welcoming.
"No, no I'm still listening Sesshomaru...And my answer is still no. Besides, I'm in America doing business, your business. It would be unreasonable for me to just fly back to Japan for a single night. And I've already had your suit chosen, dry cleaned, and placed in your closet for tonight. I've even picked your watch and cuff links," Kagome smiled without a thought, already knowing he would give in. Freeing her hand, she pushed the door of the quaint shop.
Immediately a delicious aroma warmed her chilly bones. Biting her lip to prevent herself from squealing, she quickly shuffled in and closed the door behind her. It only took a few seconds before a smiling blonde waitress greeted her.
"Hi! Welcome to the Pie Hole, table for one?" The Waitress asked with a large smile, wearing an almost-revealing lime green dress despite the cold weather outside.
"Yes, just one for me please. May I have a seat at the booth?" Kagome smiled back at the sunny waitress and followed behind her dutifully. The parlor was absolutely adorable. Aside from the roof looking like a pie top from the outside, cherries hung from the ceilings as light fixtures. The entire place was homely.
Usually customers made their choice within minutes of seeing the menu, while regulars ordered the minute they walked through the door.
So when new faces came around and had a difficult time making a choice, Ned took responsibility to help them.
With a nervous, pleasant smile he wiped the flour on his hands onto his white apron as he made his way to the single silhouette at the booth facing directly into the kitchen. The menu covered her face, but he could see she was a small woman, almost the same figure as his short waitress Olive. And despite the raised seat, he found himself towering over his customer.
"The apple rhubarb is the specialty today if you need any...help..." Ned stuttered, trailing off as he found himself suddenly being peered at by large, stormy blue eyes. Framing the reflective irises were curled, black lashes, accompanied by unblemished pink lips raised into a small smile.
He swallowed the sudden lump in his throat, she was beautiful.
Beautiful like the sun on a bright day and radiated a presence that was as warm as a fire on a rainy day.
"I-uh-hi, welcome to the Pie Hole. Ned, that's me. I-I'm Ned. I make...the pies," Ned smiled sheepishly, suddenly conscious of the flour spots on his black shirt. His shoulders relaxed the slightest as the woman giggled into the menu.
"Hello Ned, I'm Kagome, it's great to meet you," She introduced, holding out a hand in greeting. Another bit of laughter left her as he shot forward to grasp her hand, moving it into a meek shake. For a moment he forgot his aversion to skin contact, until her fingers curled around his and shook back gently.
It was almost disappointing as she took her hand back to peer at the menu again.
"Hmmm, eto... I think I'll...no, wait...this looks good too..."
Ned watched as her eyebrows furrowed in thought, he found himself watched to rub it away.
'Why am I, that's a weird thought,' Ned mused, finding himself bombarded with foreign thoughts. But he couldn't keep from smiling as she mumbled aloud.
"Can't pick?"
"Ha ha...no, I don't think I can, I'll take..." He watched as she lifted her right hand and wiggled her index finger.
"This one!"
It was...adorable the way she closed her eyes and randomly jotted it down onto the menu.
The two leaned forward consecutively to peer at her choice.
Classic Mother's Apple pie.
His favorite.
Kagome looked up to smile at him.
"A slice of the classic Mother's apple pie please!"
A word didn't leave him as he stared at her with a smile of his own.
Then the day after that.
And then the day after that.
She came back and ate a different flavor each time.
And every time she came by, she sat on the same seat and stared at the same menu with the same pout on her lips.
Ned welcomed this faster than he could predict.
And each time he practiced in his head what he would say to her.
"W-Welcome back! It's good to see you again. I mean, you came by yesterday, but it's good - not in a creepy way, I-"
"Hi Kagome! You're back! Not that it's a bad thing, it's just not everyone eats pie everyday. Not that I'm saying you're eating too much - because it certainly doesn't look that way-"
Each time, his face would color but not as much as the time before. She took his rambling with a smile and sometimes with a blush of her own. Those, he took time to put to memory. No matter how many times he saw her, she looked just as, if not more, beautiful.
Slowly, they began speaking more and more. From topic to topic with ease.
And some would say that since her first day at the Pie Hole, the pies almost seemed to get tastier.
Especially the special of the day.
For she chose that special almost every time.
Then she didn't show for a week.
The dough fell from his hands and onto the floured counter top, sending a cloud of dry, white powder into the air.
But he paid no heed.
"Next on the evening news, reports come in as the body of a young woman was found in her Rolling Heights apartment. Current evidence points to cold-cut murder as the apartment owner describes a gruesome crime scene. No identifying information has been released as of yet however resources say it's a young woman of Asian heritage - "
The rest was like television fuzz.
Kagome lived alone in her apartment, an apartment she rented at the Rolling Heights Complex.
Could it be?
The blood almost seemed to drain out from his body.
Suddenly he felt like a child again, back to the fateful day his mother kissed him goodnight and ultimately sealed her death.
And as fate would have it, it was his birthday.
Except this time he knew of his power, his fingers twitched at the thought.
Would he?
Could he?
Could he use his powers for the first time for selfish reasons beyond that of his secret part-time job?
He wanted to, if he could but his feet would not obey.
He was numb.
He did not even catch the sort chime of the bells as the entrance door swung open.
He did not hear the clicking of heels coming closer.
It wasn't until the familiar blue eyes that entranced him caught his own.
Ned's breath caught.
Kagome's blue eyes and excited smile glowed in the flickering candle light.
"Happy Birthday!"
She stood in flesh and blood.
She was alive.
"You're okay," Relief poured from his words.
Ned suddenly started towards her, startling the petite Japanese woman as he encased her in with his long arms.
The breath left him. And her.
This was the first time they stood so close to one another, hugging. And it felt far different from the subtle touches they occasionally engaged in.
Kagome blinked in confusion, settling her arms around the tall pie maker she held a growing affection for. The forgotten birthday cake sat on the counter top.
Furrowing her brows, Kagome tucked her head onto his shoulder and looked up at him with worried eyes.
"Are you okay Ned? Did something happen?"
Ned had never been so happy that nothing truly did, "No, no. I'm okay - fantastic, I'm...fantastic."
He then gave in for the first time and kissed the wrinkle between her brows.
Her face lit up in a heated glow.
Smiling widely, Ned simply pulled her closer. Enjoying the touch and feel of her.
Who knew human contact was so...warm.
"Happy Birthday to me."