A/n: Hey guys, Thanks for the reviews! Just to clear things up, I'm keeping things between Inuyasha and Kagome lighthearted and sweet. I hate reading stories that never build a relationship between them and end suddenly with them in love. I don't want to spoil it by rushing in to quickly. But I promise there will be fluff. Oh and I'm always open for suggestions for the story. Thanks!!!
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One step at a time, Kagome slowly inched closer to the holy slip of paper as if one sudden movement would scare it away. The advertisement was plain and simple; one bedroom, one bath, with a family room and a medium sized kitchen. Not to mention, it was already furnished. Kagome smiled. "This is perfect."
"Lucky you." Sango said from behind the counter.
"It's as if the apartment fairy heard my prayers and realized how pathetically desperate I was." Kagome said as she tore off one of the precut strips on the poster. Quickly she pulled out her cell phone from her pocket and dialed the number printed on the strip.
After a few rings, a gentle voice answered with a simple "Miki speaking, how can I help you?"
"Hi, my names Kagome and I just saw your ad for an apartment space and I was wondering if the space was still available?" Crossing her delicate fingers, she prayed she wasn't too late.
"Nope, it's still very much up for rent. Lets see…I'm free around 5pm. would you like to see the space around that time?" kindly asked Miki.
Without a seconds haste, Kagome agreed. "Yah, perfect. See you there. Thanks!" Hanging up, she slide her phone into her pocket and gave a thumbs up to Sango. Walking over to Sango, she picked up a mop and began sweeping the floor. It was an unusually slow day. They had been packed the last to days. Kagome had been so busy that she had hardly even had time to chat with Sango.
Trying to make up for lost time, Kagome tried to start a conversation. "So what about you? Got anyone special in your life?"
Glancing over at Kagome, Sango smiled as she dramatically rolled her eyes. "There is this one guy. His names Miroku and well, he's got this nasty habit of letting his hands wander." Somewhat understanding, Kagome smiled as Sango continued on, "It's just that I only see him a few times a week when I go to the gym and other than that, we don't really talk."
Kagome was a bit relieved that she wasn't the only one alone in the city. Sango's reply had made her feel a bit more comfortable about her situation. " I guess we just have to face the facts. Men are like parking spots, the good ones are taken and the free ones are handicapped."
Sango couldn't help but laugh. "So Miroku would be my handicapped spot? Makes sense. What's your ideal spot like?"
"I prefer rock star parking," started Kagome, "You know, the best guy that's still single but ridiculously hard to find. The only problem is when you do find him, someone's always there to cut you off and steal him."
Sango couldn't agree more. Before either of the girls could continue, the front door opened and many customers eagerly rushed inside.
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It was close to midnight when Kagome got home. It had been a long but productive day. After finishing her shift at work, she rushed to meet Miki for a tour of the apartment. What an apartment it had turned out to be. The living room was quant but spacious with a small original fireplace, one bedroom with en-suite bathroom and a fully equipped kitchen. The walls were painted a warm cream color with a glazed look to them. Since the owner of the apartment was eager to fill to space quickly, the rent was lowered greatly, which was great for Kagome. She eagerly signed the papers and wrote a check for the down payment, effectively using up every bit she had in her account.
After the tour she called Sango to ask her if she was free after work tomorrow and if she could help her pack and move out of her current apartment. Thankfully, Sango agreed eagerly. After getting off the phone, she stopped by a local recycling factory to grab a few moving boxes and got a head start.
Slowly drifting off to sleep, Kagome's soft eyelids shut softly.
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"I believe that's everything!" Kagome shouted excitedly. They had just finished packing up all of her belongings. "Let's load it all in then!" They both started grabbing boxes and hauling them down the stairs to Sango's car, since Kagome didn't exactly have one.
As they were moving the very last load of Kagome's stuff, they realized that they couldn't get it all to quite fit with the tailgate up so Sango bungeed it as best she could. Just as they were getting over the bridge, half the load spilled out of the back of the truck. Pulling over, the girls walked halfway up the bridge to clear the debris and take it back to the truck. And of course, there was a traffic jam because of it.
So there they were on the bridge, picking up old greeting cards and pictures, and the metal shelf and filing cabinet that had fallen out. People are honking and yelling out their windows and glaring at them, occasionally waving to them but not exactly using all five fingers. As if things couldn't get worse the police showed up. Apparently there were some accidents caused by people hitting their brakes. Nobody hit the actual debris, but Sango got a $200 ticket for losing the load. Which the officer said was her fault, because she it the one that packed it. Ironically enough, after they got everything picked up and re-loaded, they were able to configure it so that the tailgate would close. Go figure.
"I'm never helping you move again." Laughed Sango sarcastically.
Kagome couldn't have felt more horrible. "Sango I'm so sorry about the ticket. I swear I'll make it up to you!"
"It no big deal, how about we just get this stuff to you new apartment huh?" said Sango, trying to cheer Kagome up. She knew how awful Kagome felt about the expensive ticket and didn't want to make her feel any worse.
"Ok. Thanks Sango, for helping and everything, it really means a lot to me." Said Kagome sincerely.
Sango smiled back, "No problem. Now lets get out of here, shall we?" Firing up her engine, Sango continued towards Kagome's new apartment.
It didn't take very long to arrive there. Stepping out of the car, Kagome took a deep breath and pulled the keys to her new home out of her purse.
Calling to Sango she said, "I'm going to take the first load up ok?" Kagome grabbed a medium sized box and opened the heavy lobby door with her free hand. Taking a few steps forward, she leaned forward and pressed the elevator button. Calmly she started to hum as she waited.
A soft chime sounded as the elevator doors slid open. Once inside, she pushed the button for her floor and took a deep breath. No longer did she have to anticipate coming home to an eviction letter. Homelessness was father and father away as she descended higher. Finally reaching her floor, the elevator doors swiftly slide open. Kagome slipped out and headed for her door. As she inserted her key into the lock, she couldn't help but notice the door immediately to her right. 'Was that door always there? I don't remember having a neighbor this close on my floor…hmm. Guess I was to busy."
Kagome greeted her new home with a warm smile and set down her box on the floor. Collecting herself, she rushed down the stairs, not having the patience to wait for the elevator. Approaching the car Kagome saw no sight of Sango. Brushing it off lightly, she assumed she probably had taken a few boxes inside using the elevator. Kagome had already told Sango which floor and what number to look for.
Slowly, Kagome lifted a rather large and heavy box and headed back inside. After a brief struggle with the lobby door, she managed to get inside and hit the elevator button. No use in crushing herself to death before she even moved in.
Unfortunately, the elevator seemed reluctant to open for Kagome. "Oh, boy. Guess I'm taking the stairs then." She said when her patience had ended.
Not wanting to fall backwards, she turned her back to the staircase and began to climb up backwardly. The box was so big that she couldn't see above or past it. After somehow managing up the first flight of stairs, Kagome felt her strength escaping her. Just when she felt herself giving up, the box seemed to suddenly become much lighter. She soon realized that someone was helping her lift the box up.
Kagome figured it was Sango and breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh thank god. I was dying here. Just when I needed the elevator the most, it decides to take its time. Just my luck huh?" she said as they reached her floor, gently placing the box down.
"Well, I believe that luck has a peculiar habit of favoring those who don't depend on it," commented a husky voice.
What? That doesn't sound like Sango… thought Kagome as she turned around to see whom the voice had belonged to. Her eyes immediately snapped to attention as she felt her knees buckles. She was shocked to see him. He seemed to be just as surprised, but slightly more humored by the meeting.
Inuyasha tossed a light wave in Kagome's direction. Her heart felt as if it was about to thump out of her chest. All she could do was try to break his deep golden gaze. "Hi," was what clumsily stumbled out from her mouth.
Casually leaning against the doorframe to the right of Kagome's apartment, he nodded towards her door and simply asked, "Moving in?"
"Who? Me? Oh yah, I am. I mean, yes I'm moving in.," she said, mentally slapping herself for acting so oddly. Get a Grip! She thought, yelling at herself.
Attempting to look as comfortable and as casual as Inuyasha, Kagome crossed her arms and leaned back. Unfortunately, she underestimated the room between her and her doorframe and went crashing backwards, landing in a mess on the floor.
Loud trains of laughter left Inuyasha, as he just couldn't resist laughing. Then the laughing turned into howling as he gasped for air.
Kagome was beyond mortified and decided it was much better for her to lie on the floor. Maybe she was dreaming? She shut her eyes and pinched her arm. Nope…she was still there, and he was still laughing. Her embarrassment soon turned into annoyance and then into anger. There was no way it was that funny. So what, she fell. Okay, so really she crashed like an idiot. But what right did that give him to laugh at her. "Are you going to stop anytime soon?"
Slowly sinking to the floor beside her, Inuyasha threw his arms around his waist as tears rolled down his cheeks. "I am so sorry, but that was truly the most pathetic and hilarious attempt at cool I have ever seen." He said between laughs.
Kagome went red with anger and shot him an icy look. "Pathetic? You're pathetic! Look at you, rolling around on the floor, grabbing your stomach with tears in your eyes. People are going to start calling for you to be put in a institution, with padded walls for sure."
Regaining composure, Inuyasha turned to her, "Your right. That was very rude of me."
Kagome smiled, she enjoyed being right. Maybe he was a gentleman after all.
"But you do have to admit, that was truly epic!" grinned Inuyasha.
Or not. Who needs gentlemen anyway?
Like an angel gone MIA, Sango reached the top of the stairs just in time. Kagome jumped up and opened the door for Sango. "Something mischevious going on?" whispered Sango as she entered Kagome's apartment.
"Give me a minute and I'll explain everything," Kagome replied, soflty closing the door behind Sango. Turning back to Inuyasha she simply turned on her heel and headed down the stairs. No need for anymore embarrassment.
Inuyasha turned to follow her down the stairs. "Need help with the rest of the load?"
Kagome didn't bother to turn around, she was having a hard enough time focusing on the steps infront of her. Plus she was still angry. "Nope, I can manage just fine."
Inuyasha smirked. "Really? Just like how you managed with that other box?"
Silence
He wasn't expecting that. "Stop being stubborn, let me help you."
More silence
He tried a third time, "We can work as a team, but remember, there's no "I" in "team"."
"There is a "me", though, if you jumble it up." Kagome replied quickly.
"Feh. Your going to be difficult aren't you?" Inuyasha said smugly.
Feeling a bit triumphant, Kagome turned around and gave a curt smile. "Mhmm."
A small smile tugged at Inuyasha's lips. She's cute when she's feisty.
Kagome grabbed a few boxes and turned to help instruct Inuyasha. Before she could, he had already picked up several boxes and began to stack the rest of the boxes ontop of the ones he currently held. Kagome's jaw dropped. What was he, superman?
"Are you sure you can carry all of that?" said Kagome, a bit concerned.
"Give me some credit would yah?" said Inuyasha, a bit annoyed. Was he losing his tone? Maybe it was all the ramen. Starting for the door, he thought about maybe attending the gym a bit more.
Kagome followed after him. "No, It's just that you've taken all of the boxes, there nothing left in the car."
Inuyasha just smirked as they headed up the stairs. "I know."
Once everything was safely in Kagome's apartment, Inuyasha turned to leave. Following him outside into the hall, Kagome asked him, "So do you live on this floor?"
Pointing to the door adjacent to hers, he replied, "home sweet, home." Extending a hand, he continued, "I wanted to formally welcome you to the floor. Hello neighbor."
Sliding her delicate wrist into the warmth of his masculine hand, Kagome simply nodded. "Thanks, for all the help I mean."
Shrugging casually as he reached for his keys, he smiled, "No problem. If you ever need anything, you know where to find me."
Waiving goodbye, Kagome watched him slip into his apartment before she turned and entered hers.
Sango was sitting on the couch reading a magazine when Kagome walked in. She had been waiting there for a while, eager to hear all about Inuyasha. Hearing the soft click of the door, Sango sprang up from the couch and skipped over to her new friend. "Omg, Tell me ALL about it!"
Kagome felt herself blush. Had she really just moved into his apartment building? Slowly, and sure to include every detail, Kagome told Sango about how she mistook him for her and even admitted to how she fell over.
"Smooth, really Smooth Kagome." Sango laughed as she tried to imagine Kagome spraled out on the floor.
"Anyway… he formally welcomed me at the end." Kagome exlained.
Hungry for detail, Sango pressed Kagome for specific quotations. "What did he say?"
"He said, Hello neighbor," Laughed Kagome, it actually sounded kinda cheesy when she said it. But how amazing did it sound when he said it? Gosh, she could only attempt to relive the moment.
"What did you say? Or more to the point, what did you want to say?" Sango leaned in to hear her friends answer.
"Honestly? I wanted to shout , HELLO LOVER!"
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I am trying to make each chapter longer, I promise! Lol, even though it may not seem that way. The next chapter will contain a lot more Inuyasha for sure. 3 Reviews are always appreciated!
