Maid in London

Chapter Two: Size Two

It wasn't too short. She was glad. Very glad.

She didn't detest skirts. She liked her middle school uniform. But she would've been incredibly self-conscious if she had been expected to wear a short skirt in the presence of the Lord. Kagome held up the outfit and scrutinized the hems. Not too lacy, not too short.

This was her new maid outfit. Her work uniform, really. Just a simple black dress with a white apron attached to the front. Nothing too scandalous about it.

"Kagome," Kaede called. "Are ye ready?"

Why does she talk like that? "Yes, I am." Kagome stepped out of the walk-in closet and tugged on the apron. The outfit felt a little frumpy, actually…

They spent the day touring around the large house (mansion or manor, she couldn't decide—she even considered calling it a small castle) memorizing the laundry room, all the small closets, the bathrooms and bedrooms she was allowed to enter, and the basic etiquettes of greeting a member of the family if there was such an occasion to do so. She learned she was neither required to explore all the rooms, nor was she required to meet the Lord. She wasn't being paid to interact with the family, after all. Interaction was reserved for trusted individuals, like Kaede.

One of their last stops was the kitchen.

"This is the pantry," Kaede said between coughs, and opened the door to what Kagome thought was a garage. "If ye are needed in the kitchen ye will mostly work here," Kaede said. Kagome wasn't listening at the moment. She was too distracted examining the industrial-sized can of preserved mango strips. "If the Lord was to hold a dinner party…" she trailed off. "Excuse me for a moment," she was looking over Kagome's shoulder. "Please wait here," said Kaede and abruptly walked past Kagome.

Kagome turned around and watched Kaede follow a butler out of the kitchen. She was left to her own devices, then. The Japanese maid walked around the kitchen counter and lightly touched the large steel fridge. Ah, if only she could buy her mom one of these… her eyes fell on the ornate Venetian-style mirror hanging in the hallway. She strode into the hall and examined her reflection.

"This isn't size two," Kagome mumbled out loud as she pulled on the back of her outfit. She was also beginning to regret her red Christmas socks.

"You know," a familiar voice drifted down the hall, "most girls would kill for that sort of problem."

Kagome's hands released the back of her dress and she whirled around. There stood Inuyasha, a few steps away from one of the many bathroom doors in this monstrous building. He had changed from his casual shirt and ripped jeans to a more business casual attire, she noted. He was tying his hair up in a ponytail. Kagome straightened her back and, hesitantly, said, "Uh, good morning—"

"It's one in the afternoon," he quickly answered.

"Oh," Kagome paused. "Good after—"

"There's no need for that," he held his hand up. "Kagome, right?"

He remembered her name. How nice. "Yes…" she trailed off. Was she supposed to carry on the conversation? Or perhaps she was supposed to ask if he needed any assistance. This didn't feel like a typical way to approach your employer's family.

"Your apron's falling off," he pointed.

Kagome looked down and noticed the ties had come undone. "Indeed."

"Here," he walked up and motioned for her to turn. She heeded, and found herself watching the reflection of Inuyasha in the mirror tying the apron behind her back. She was confused, to say the least. She had no idea the family was this considerate—so the tabloids were wrong. "You should tie your hair back," he said as he stepped back. "Did Kaede tell you that?"

"Yes, she did." Kagome turned around to face him and all thoughts of apologizing for wasting his time threw itself out the proverbial window to commit suicide.

"Hmm," he wasn't looking at her hair anymore. "Nice socks."

She didn't know how to answer that.

"What's the occasion?" He said, nodding to the socks.

"It's…laundry day."

This conversation, as one could call it, went on for a while. He would make a comment and she would answer. Kagome felt a little guilty; if she was back in Japan, if he wasn't her boss's son, maybe she'd be more apt to contribute to the discussion…which was currently focused on her size two waist.

"Are you on a diet?"

"No." She eyed her waist. Should I be?

Kagome looked up and saw that Inuyasha wore a lopsided smile. Kagome opened her mouth…and closed it.

"Kagome?" Kaede's rough voice broke the silence. She slowly appeared from the kitchen. Kagome was surprised to see that her right eye had been bandaged up. "Ah, young master."

Inuyasha scowled. He disliked that term. "Did you lose your glass eye again?"

"It's been polished," she answered with a straight face. Kagome blanched, but Kaede didn't seem to notice and continued. "Your father is waiting upstairs."

"Figures," Inuyasha sighed. He turned to Kagome and said, "I'll see you around." Kagome and Kaede watched him walk away.

"How very," Kaede began, "peculiar." She had a strange look on her face; something between amused and worried.

Kagome remained silent.

…

AN: Next chapter—a rock garden, an annoyed Hanyou, some Japanese, and a word of warning…