Chapter 2: A Fated Glance

All the women in the posters had no grace at all. Sure, they were beautiful, dangerously beautiful, but they were threatening and experienced. They didn't have the soft, innocent look that Takahashi was looking for. He also knew for a fact that Takahashi was also sick of blondes playing major roles. And all he could see were blond dames plastered against the building on poster paper. Miroku gazed adoringly at the pictures outside the Hentaii House. They may not be for his annoying friend, but they were just right for him. He gave a sigh. None of these women would do the role properly. They would be too flirty, or something or another. That he could tell straight away.

"Excuse me, but are you coming in for a visit?"

A blond-haired woman sauntered over to him; her skirt cut way above the knees to reveal long, tan legs. She gave him a vixen smile and winked at him slyly. Miroku grimaced in disgust as he saw a flash of yellow teeth and wrinkled face. This woman was beyond ugly, she was hiding her face behind a mask of dark make-up and a wisp of hair.

She repeated the question again and his only reply was a roll of his eyes. She gave a "humph" of annoyance and pushed past him to enter the building, kicking him in the shin as she walked by, not realizing she had just kicked her boss.

"Damn newbie!"

Groaning, he leaned against the building and pulled his bangs from in front of his face. Biting his lip, he took one last glance at the group of photos hanging on the wall before turning away to look at the girls on the streets.

Ugly. Ugly. Bald. Ugly. Ugly. Old. Ugly. Old. Tooth decay. Damn. This was getting him nowhere! Groaning, he fingered the cross around his neck idly before a hope flashed in his mind.

If you aren't too busy lord, send me a dame. Come on, I really need someone perfect for the role and I swear I'll do anything for it.

He screwed his eyes closed and counted to three slowly.

1………..2…………3

Opening his eyes, he saw a child run away with his pocket watch.

"Damn it!"

He kicked the wall and cursed again as his foot banged hard against the bruise he had just gotten a few seconds ago from the blonde hag. He took a look at the street and saw the girl disappear among the people, whooping triumphantly. Muttering oaths under his breath, he looked up into the sky angrily and shook his fist. Ticked off and sore, he hobbled slowly toward the door. Just at that moment, the clouds pulled away from in front of the sun and a beam of light glimmered down on Miroku. Just as he was about to open the door, the reflection in the glass stopped him.

Her eyes were swirls of chocolate brown. Black bangs seemed to enlarge the wide, penetrating gaze. Her pale skin glowed in the sunlight and a faint blush appeared on her cheeks as she read the sign advertising the Hentaii House. Beneath the baggy clothes she wore, he could see the faint outline of a curvy body. Raising his eyebrows, he held his hand on the door handle, trying to seem as inconspicuous as possible.

"Help yourself to luscious women just waiting for a g-…………..What the hell?"

Kagome winced as she read the sign hanging along the Hentaii House. This is what Mr. Anderson meant by get in, get out, forget about it. Taking a double-take at the business card again, she groaned aloud to find that she had the right address. Crumpling the paper up, she tossed it to the ground angrily, not noticing the man watching her in amusement.

The apples barely shone but still her eyes widened even further as the vendor took a bite of one. It dripped with juice and it looked ripe enough, not like it even mattered. She observed the passerby buying the apples and grinned as she saw the vendor begin to argue with a large, pompous looking woman who demanded he lower his prices.

Trying to look as casual as possible, she slowly reached forward and snatched one, and feeling the hard stem digging into her skin, was about to slip it into her pocket when-

"And were you planning on paying for that?"

She was yanked back as a large, sweaty hand grabbed her arm. Th evendo leered down at her, his beady eyes squinting. Rank breath of ale and apples was suddenly upon her, and suddenly her yearn for Japan's clear air came back to her. Angrily, she struggled to get free but his grip tightened on her wrist, and she began to whine. Her arm was stinging. Applying more pressure to her flailing hand, he leaned even closer to her, whispering into her ear.

"I think we have ourselves a thief. And you know what we do to-"

"Escuse me."

Kagome couldn't look past the vendor to see who was talking. The vendor didn't even blink and continued to glare at Kagome.

"An apple costs 20 cents. Just put it on the counter."

Kagome looked to the ground, feeling her arm go numb. She was caught, and she'd go to jail.

"No, I wasn't talking to you."

The vendor whirled around to meet a young man. Peering over the vendor's shoulders, she could see what he looked like. His black hair was tied into a short ponytail that gave his face a young, boyish look. His violet eyes were staring right at her, and she immediately began to blush. In his hand was a dime, as shiny as the pavement, dingy gray.

"I believe you dropped this."

He held it out to her, and he gave her an encouraging smile. Tentatively, she reached over and took it out of his hand. Immediately, the vendor snitched it out of her hand and put it in his pocket, releasing his hold on Kagome's hand.

"My mistake. So get a move on."

The vendor strolled away to break up an arguing group of people who each had a hand of a rather shiny apple. Kagome, still rubbing her red wrist, gave a questioning glance toward her rescuer.

"Why did you…."

He looked to the ground and under his bangs, gave her a shy smile. She blushed again and twiddled her fingers around her hair. His smile grew weak as he replied.

"To invite a beautiful girl out to dinner?"

This was just too easy.

Kagome downed everything that was handed to her. The waiter, Miroku, and everyone else around her were shocked. This small, delicate girl was eating more than the locals combined. Around the booth people were either scooching to different tables or leaving. The chef glared at her but still she took no notice of any of them. She was now moving on to Miroku's food, ignoring his whine of protest.

This was not going as planned. If this kept up, he would have an obese girl instead of a young, slim actress.

Klang

The fork finally fell to the plate with a clatter, and Miroku let out a sigh of relief. He could barely see the top of her head above the high stacks of dishes on the table. With a disdainful sniff the waitress and the chef carried them away, the dishboy giving a groan. Kagome looked across from him like a cat, her eyes slits as she considered what she should do. Unfortunately enough, Miroku spoke before she could.

"You wouldn't happen to want to tell me what size dress would fit you. Would you?"

Her face took on a dark red hue and her eyebrows slanted downward.

Dammit.

In an instant, Kagome raised her fist and pounded her hand into his face. Miroku's body slid down in the seat and he began to cry out. She rose up to take another strike at him.

"I only wanted to know because I'm a movie producer, not some pervert!"

That was a close call. Another second and he would have been knocked out by the second punch. But God damn it, his nose was bleeding and a large headache were all he got for it. At least he wasn't lying. Entirely.

Kagome stopped in mid-punch. Movie producer? That would only mean…

"You're looking for an actress?"

Miroku rose from his uncomfortable seat on the ground and sat back down, holding a tissue to his nose. He nodded with a grimace.

Kagome glared at him, realization striking her. That was the only reason he had fed her, not out of the goodness of his heart, but because he needed some woman. He was probably

"This is a last minute thing, isn't it?"

Her voice had become dark. Waaaaaay dark. That cutting knife for the bread was right next to her too. Biting his lip, he considered his options. He couldn't let her get away, she fit the role perfectly. Okay, time to improvise.

He was on his hands and knees, well, one hand was still holding the napkin. But he was begging. Begging. And he was giving her a pathetic whimper. God was this embarrassing. People were staring. And now he was rambling all the reasons why she should join.

"Like you said, this is last minute. We have no good actors that will fit the role properly. My boss is angry at me, Takahashi's going to kill me, and I don't know if I can trust Hachi to watch the Hentaii House while I'm gone. And then-"

"Did you just say Takahashi?"

Oooooo. A lady who knows Takahashi. Maybe personally. Hiding a devilish grin behind the napkin, he had to ask,

"Do you know him?"

Shaking her head, she answered, "No. I only admire his books. Again she felt a slight blush rush to her cheeks. She was blushing so much, even at the mention of him she turned to a little fangirl!

The man stood up, still clutching the napkin. With a smile, he held out his hand.

"Miroku Kakashi. Movie producer."

Kagome stood up and took his hand, giving him an equally happy grin.

"Kagome Higurashi, actress."

Finally, to meet Takahashi. Her dream.