Disclaimer- These characters are not from my imagination. They belong to someone else and I am only using them for my own purposesto entertain others and fulfill my need to express myself through my writing. Isn't that sad?
Hey, there! I hope you enjoy this story that's been festering and aging in my mind. It took forever to finally get it down and how I wanted it. I'm hoping it'll just get better and better as time goes on. Like wine! Ha-ha! Okay, so hope you like it and continue reading as this story progresses. Thanks! Ciao! - Hope Swings
Headlines- Chapter 1: Breath Another Day
"Kagome, I need your article on my desk by tomorrow morning!" the editor of The Hot Spot called as she passed by her doorway, surrounded by cronies waving articles in her face while squawking like a flock of miffed chickens.
"Sure thing, Eri! I'll have it ready by tonight!" Kagome called back, smirking slightly at Eri's expression when she walked by.
All she got in reply was a wave from the depths of the yammering blob of people. Shaking her head, Kagome went back to her work, typing furiously to get her next article up for printing on Friday after going through the long, grueling process of editing and checking and approval. Glancing at her watch, she groaned. Sango was going to kill her….
"I'm going to kill her." Sango growled murderously as she glared at the clock on the wall as it ticked away the seconds, adding to her soon-to-be-dead best friend's tardiness.
Taking a deep breath, Sango tried to calm down as a waiter came back for the fifth time. It took all of her will power and anger management classes to not completely blow up on the young man who was just trying to help. But that didn't keep the stinging bite out of her voice….
"Would you like to just go ahead and order?" he asked- although politely- exasperatedly.
"No! I would not!" Sango snapped angrily.
"Alright…. Would you like anything to drink then?..." he asked hesitantly, taking a step away from the fuming woman in front of him.
"Just get me another Dr Pepper, please." Sango said, suddenly exhausted, letting her shoulders slump.
"Stood you up? I know how it is." He said kindly, taking her empty glass to go get her more Dr Pepper.
"Yeah, I'm gonna murder my best friend, slowly and painfully. If you're asked about it by the police, you didn't hear anything I just said." The waiter smiled and nodded, walking off to get her refill. Sango just propped her forehead against the table top. She and a certain forgetful friend were going to have a very long talk about what happened when she got home. And someone would definitely end up in excruciatingly painful amount of agony by the end of the night. And it would not be her.
Setting her completed article on Eri's desk, Kagome sighed heavily. She desperately needed sleep. But she highly doubted she would receive much when she got home. Sango would skin her alive when she got back. It was the third time that week she hadn't shown up for one of their weekly dinner. And it was just Thursday.
She felt bad that she had to bail on her best friend. If she could, she would do everything in her power to prevent it. But it was unavoidable. Being a magazine journalist with her own column took a lot of time spending at the office, especially at night when it was crunch time right before printing. She'd tried to call Sango to apologize but her phone was turned off. After leaving a few messages and trying various numbers numerous times, she'd given up, hoping Sango would be able to forgive her.
As she stepped into the elevator to travel down to the ground floor, Eri ran up and put her hand in the door to keep it open. Her flock was gone but she still looked extremely frazzled.
"Kagome…." She gasped, panting for air. "I've been looking for you all over…."
"What's up, Eri? Is everything okay?" Eri just nodded, still panting.
"Yeah…. I just wanted to catch you before you left. I got you a meeting with Naraku tomorrow for your column. It's at 10:45 so don't be late. It's at his penthouse downtown. You know where it is, right?" Kagome nodded.
"Wait, the Onigumo, Naraku? The one who owns half of Tokyo and is the third richest man in the whole country?"
"One and only." Eri said smiling smugly. "He'll be expecting you so don't be late. I'm counting on you Kags." Kagome smiled.
"Sure thing, Eri. I won't let you down. When do you want it by?"
I'd like it for next Saturday's printing so…. Friday afternoon, I suppose."
"Okay…. Gotcha, sure thing. I'll see you." Eri smiled.
"Yeah, I'll see you. Have a good evening, Kagome." Kagome just nodded. "And please don't insult him okay? I'm counting on you."
"Yes, ma'am." Kagome drawled and let the elevator door close. She stepped out into the crisp autumn air and pulled her coat up around her tightly to keep warm as she dashed to her car.
She got in and turned it on, letting it warm up and blowing on her fingers. Pulling out her cell phone, she tried calling Sango again.
"You'd better have a good explanation." Sango growled into the pone. "Like you were dying from a bullet wound when you got caught in the cross fire of a gang shooting while on your way over here." Kagome laughed nervously.
"Sango, I'm really sorry. I tried to finish up as fast as I could, I promise. I even skipped lunch. I'm really, really, really, extremely sorry. Please forgive me?" There was a silence on the line.
"I don't think that's dying, Higurashi, Kagome."
"I know and I'm sorry! I tried calling you, honest!" Kagome said panicking. Sango was really mad; she never used Kagome's name so formally.
"You called?" Sango asked uncertainly.
"Yeah," Kagome relaxed just a little bit. "Your phone was turned off so I left a few messages explaining why I would be late or not be able to come."
"Really?... Oh, yeah, you did. You left nine messages……"
"I called more than that. Why'd you turn it off?"
"Some weirdo kept calling me. Somehow, he got a hold of my number. He hasn't stopped calling since."
"Oh, well, I'm sorry. I'm on my way home. Have you eaten yet?"
"No! And it's all your fault! I'm starving!"
"Me too. Well, are you still there?"
"I'm on my way out, why?"
"I'm a block away. I'll make dinner. See you in a little bit."
"Okay, but this doesn't mean you're completely off the hook."
"I know. I am really sorry."
"I know. But there's gonna be a lot of 'making dinner's to get you back in the clear. But I'm glad that you called to apologize and stuff."
"Okay, fine by me. See ya."
They both hung up and Kagome sighed. She'd been 'making dinner' for the past two years to make it up to Sango. She didn't really mind too much, though. Ever since she was little and had an Easy Bake Oven, she loved to cook and come up with her own recipes. And Sango was always willing to try them out.
When Kagome got in, she went straight to the kitchen, pulling out everything she'd need. Boiling her homemade spinach ravioli that was in the refrigerator, she set about making toasted rolls and salad. When the ravioli was done, she covered it in and olive oil/parmesan cheese mix and set it in a bowl on the small kitchen table with the salad and rolls. She poured water into cups and set the table. Just as she was washing her hands, Sango walked in.
"I'm heating some sauce if you want some."
"Sure……" Sango said absent mindedly as she sat down and started dishing up her food.
They ate dinner and Kagome cleaned up the dishes as Sango went to bed in order to be on time for her early appointments with the stars. When Kagome was done, she glanced around the small apartment, nodding at the mostly clean rooms before heading to bed. She could sleep in a little bit before she had to go interview Mr. Onigumo.
Chapter 2: Journalist Smackdown
