InuYasha's truck pulled up to the address on the laundry slip and shut off after one final roar of the engine. He'd chosen the jacked-up Dodge Ram with glass packs for the sole reason of irritating his older brother Sesshomaru. The ear-splitting rumble of the pipes never failed to bring about a cringe on the older youkai's face, and InuYasha loved it.
He doubted that the inhabitants of this middle class neighborhood felt the same, but he really didn't care. He was a hanyou on a mission. He grabbed the laundry basket and strode up to the front door of the small, tidy home. It had warm caramel colored siding with green shutters, and was altogether quite fetching.
He was surprised that no one had come to the door already, what with all the noise. He had noticed several curtains in the surrounding houses being serupticiously pulled back as he'd exited his truck. Propping the basket on his hip, he rang the doorbell impatiently. Then again, and again.
He was about to resort to banging with his fist when the orange door (who paints a door that color?) opened.
"Can I help you?" the young woman asked, eyeing him and the truck in the driveway narrowly. She was of average height, with long, wavy black hair. Her eyes were the loveliest cornflower blue he'd ever seen. He was also correct in his earlier thinking; she WOULD fill out the bra nicely. Overall, InuYasha felt sucker punched. Eh, no need for her to know that.
He grunted. "Are you Kagome Higurashi?"
"I am," she affirmed. "And you are here because?"
InuYasha plucked the pink bra from the top of the basket and dangled it before her.
"Look familiar, wench?" he smirked.
Kagome blinked at this action, and her gaze morphed from one of polite inquiry to wary confusion.
"Excuse me? What are you doing?" she asked. "Why are you waving your bra at me? Are you some kind of pervert?" Her hand tightened on the door, ready to slam it shut.
InuYasha sighed. This woman was beautiful, but clearly clueless. "It's yours! All this is yours. There was a mix-up at the laundromat."
"What? That's crazy!" she exclaimed. "I have my laundry right here."
Kagome turned then, disappearing into the house with a huff. InuYasha wasn't sure if he should follow her or not. However, standing on the porch under the scrutiny of the entire neighborhood wasn't his idea of fun. To say nothing of having them see him waving a pink bra about.
Great, bet they all think I'm a pervert, too.
Deciding to play it safe, well as safe as he would ever choose he stepped just inside the foyer. He left the door open as an indication of goodwill. He was about to call out, when a furious exclamation filled the air.
"SOTA!"
Kagome came around the corner a moment later. Her expression was one of mortified disbelief. She carried a blue hamper full of neatly folded clothing. He recognized the National Defense Academy of Japan jersey on top. He was a huge fan of Bo-taoshi.
"You were right, Mr.-?" she said, a lovely blush coloring her cheeks.
InuYasha couldn't help but be charmed. He rather liked the look on her. His aggravation was melting away in the face of her embarrassment. He took the time to step back onto the porch, not wanting to crowd her, or come across as pushy.
"Taisho. InuYasha Taisho," he said.
"Yes, well…" Kagome murmured, not meeting his gaze, "I have your laundry right here. Apparently, my little brother picked up the wrong basket this morning on his way to work and again when he picked it up."
She thrust the hamper at him, forgetting he already had his hands full. "Here you go; I'm terribly sorry."
InuYasha fumbled the container a moment, but ended up holding them both. He raised a brow at her over the clothing. "Do you want your stuff back?" And to emphasize his comment, he flapped her bra at her from one hand.
Kagome squeaked, and blushed harder than ever. She snatched the pink confection from him with one hand, and tugged her basket with the other.
"Careful!" InuYasha warned. He handed over her clothes, watching with a grin as she stuffed the bra well down out of sight. She was too adorable.
Once the basket snafu was overcome, they stood there looking at each other awkwardly.
"Well," Kagome started, "Thank you for bringing my stuff back, Mr. Taisho. Do I owe you anything for the trouble?"
InuYasha stepped back outside to the porch, but eyed her closely, debating on asking her to model the pink bra. Nah, better not push his luck. He settled for, "Have dinner with me."
Her blue eyes shot up to his golden ones. "What?"
He smirked. "For my trouble. I drove six miles out of my way to bring your things to you. I saved you a trip, time and gas. So, have dinner with me."
Kagome's mouth fell open.
"I-you-but!" she sputtered.
InuYasha's smirk grew wider. She was cute when she was riled up.
"I don't even know you!" she finally cried, "And you don't know me, why would you ask that?"
"I like taking my chances," he told her. Then, realizing that his words probably weren't the most reassuring, or flattering, he hastened to add, "I'm perfectly safe, if a bit of a daredevil."
Kagome's mouth thinned. "Well, that finishes that. I don't date daredevils."
Seeing him working up a rebuttal, she quickly added, "Or have dinner with them, either!"
InuYasha smiled a slow, knowing smile. "Oh, I think you're quite the risk taker yourself, Miss Higurashi."
She gaped at him. "How do you figure that?"
"Well, the way I see it, only a 'daredevil' would send her private underthings," here he reached out and stroked the strap of her pink bra, which was peeking from the basket she was still holding, "out for strangers to handle."
Kagome gasped in outrage. "What kind of girl do you think I am?" she demanded, twisting away from him slightly so that her laundry was out of his pinching grasp.
He flashed a fang, "The kind I'd like to get to know better."
Her eyes widened, then narrowed with a kind of unholy glee.
"The only thing you're getting to know better is this!" and with that, she slammed the door in his face.
