Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha...
The rain beat steadily outside the window, the skies dark and dismal. There were the occasional eruptions of thunder and lightening, and with each loud rumble the sculptures on her desk rattled. The weather report said that the storm would clear up on…Friday.
Kagome sighed, her chin in her palm, and couldn't help but compare her mood to the weather. Even all the ancient pottery in the new world couldn't keep her mind off the impending "date" she had with a certain golden-eyed devil. She tapped her paintbrush on the table lazily, unable to concentrate.
Working at the Tokyo Museum of Man and Culture was her lifelong dream after graduating college. Relatives and family friends had ridiculed her on her choice of major. History? Archeology? You can't find a job with that kind of a degree…be a doctor!
Kagome snorted. She had puffed with pride when she beat out dozens of other candidates for this position. As a museum conservator, she came into contact with a plethora of ancient artifacts and finds, some which were still hidden from the general public. Each day she touched a part of history, a part of someone's life from the past, and it excited her.
She didn't mind the long hours and average pay; she was doing what she loved. Under the direct supervision of Dr. Yamato, she had a good chance of accompanying her to an actual excavation site.
Her dream of uncovering some earth-shattering find brought her to work everyday, carefully restoring old ceramics with her brushes.
But even work couldn't shake off her irritation.
After rescuing her phone from Inuyasha the other day and unwillingly agreeing to drinks on Friday, Kagome had been in a constant state of agitation. She dreaded waking up the last couple days knowing that it brought her one day closer to Friday.
It wasn't that she thought him disgusting; he was a spectacular specimen of a man, demon, whatever. Kagome had to keep her knees from buckling when he opened the door to his apartment; his amber eyes pierced her, as if he could see her heart pounding. Had she really slept with such a god? She nearly kicked herself when she realized she was longing to touch the outlines of his muscles, finger the hollow of his neck…
Kagome jerked up, forcing herself back to reality. Whatever happened the night at the club was a fluke, she decided firmly. She shouldn't have let herself get so hammered; what if she had been hurt? Or someone had taken serious advantage of her? Sleeping with a complete stranger and not remembering anything was unacceptable.
It was also unacceptable that she couldn't remember Inuyasha's touch on her skin.
"GAH!" Kagome threw her hands in the air, the paintbrush flying off her desk. It was useless; Inuyasha and his god-like body and face had taken over her mind.
"It's like I'm a hormonal teenager all over again."
The grandfather clock down the hallway struck three, signaling Kagome's workday ending. Most days she would ignore the warm bass tones, but she had promised Sango to go with her downtown.
Grabbing her phone she flipped through her messages, looking for her best friend's latest text. Kagome stuck her tongue out when she saw the text sent to Inuyasha by Sango incognito, giving him the directions to their apartment. She had been looking for something in the closet when she had heard Sango's maniacal laugh come from the living room. By the time she came running, it was too late—the text was sent, and Sango was sitting smugly in the recliner, sipping her cup of coffee.
Sango had good intentions. Kagome's last relationship had been disastrous, ending with a wrecked car and the son of a bitch taking her cat. Sango had been there through it all, dragging her to the nearest shelter to pick out a new pet and keying the idiot's new convertible while "accidentally" dropping a couple eggs on it during the scorching heat of summer. She was a true friend.
That was over two years ago. Now she wanted Kagome to take her chances with Inuyasha.
"He's an insufferable playboy," Kagome argued.
"You don't know that," Sango had pointed out. "He could have bought you chocolates and serenaded you with a Spanish guitar and you were too fucked up to remember."
Touché.
It didn't matter; Kagome planned to end things with Inuyasha after Friday night. She was convinced they had nothing in common, and by the looks of his apartment and clothes, they ran in completely different social circles.
She finally found the text from Sango with the address where she was to meet her. Putting her tools away and collecting her purse, she was determined to push away all thoughts of Inuyasha away until Friday.
"So you want me to be the third wheel."
Kagome rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. Upon arriving at the coffee shop, Sango proceeded to excitedly tell her the plans for the evening…involving them and the man Sango was currently seeing.
"No! It's not like that! The other guys in the band will be there too!"
Sango had dated her fair share of men. It wasn't surprising, with her vibrant personality and gorgeous looks, that she had a steady stream of Friday-night dates while Kagome stayed home curled up with a good book. It was rare that Sango ever became attached to one, but apparently this one swept her off her feet.
She had never met Miroku, but Kagome had heard countless stories and knew frivolous details about the guy she knew she could never bring up in a normal conversation. He was the drummer for a new up and coming band named "Shadohanta," and supposedly had the most amazing violet eyes ever seen. His one downfall, according to Sango, was his lecherous behavior.
"You've dated him for almost two months now, why do you suddenly want me to come along?"
"Because I've never made his band mates before. Please? I need emotional support from my best friend."
Kagome glanced at her pleading face and knew she was going to cave in. "Fine, but what do you want me to do? Entertain the other guys while you two suck each other's faces?"
"Of course not," Sango scoffed, picking at her apple scone. "Miroku invited me to watch one of their rehearsals. Supposedly some songwriter they know is going to come by and help them write a new song. He told me to come along and bring a friend."
"I see." Kagome took a sip of her steaming latte, dragging out her response on purpose. Normally she didn't play the vindictive card, but when the opportunity presented itself, she had no objections.
"So what do you say Kagome?"
"I don't know…"
"Please? I'll make you cheesecake cupcakes this weekend!"
The fact that Sango was an amazing baker and Kagome was a glutton for her baked treats trumped her card.
"Alright fine. Let's go."
The band's rehearsal studio was deep in the heart of downtown Tokyo, close to the art district. Located in a rather shady area, Kagome and Sango were surprised to climb the stairs and find themselves in a rather modern and chic lobby. While the outside was covered in graffiti, the inside had plush, white couches and a mini reflection pool in front of the reception desk. The receptionist herself looked like a model straight out of a magazine.
"Is Miroku loaded or something?" Kagome asked, watching as the front desk personnel paged the band about their visitors.
"I don't think so, but I know they did just land a record deal with Conquest Records. Maybe it's the company's facility?"
"Maybe." Conquest Records was a branch of the enormous music conglomerate Maruyama INC., a business dealing with everything from record labels to headphones to sheet music. Headed by the eldest son of the late Maruyama, it recently made papers in regards to buying out many international recording companies.
"Go down the hall, their room is the third from the left."
Kagome and Sango stuck close to each other as they made their way down the hall, taking note of the amazing artwork that framed the walls. Reaching the designated room, they opened it to find a group of devastatingly handsome men lounging around eating chips, beyond them a soundproof glass room with guitars, a drum set, and a piano.
"Yo!" One of them called out, his piercing blue eyes settling on Kagome. "You here for Miroku?"
"Oh you're here! So glad you can make it." Another man emerged from a door across the room with twinkling violet eyes and a debonair smile. Walking over to Sango he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before turning to introduce himself to Kagome.
"You must be her best friend. I'm Miroku."
"Very nice to meet you," Kagome smiled, shaking his hand in the western fashion. "Thank you for inviting us."
"My pleasure." He clasped her hand in between his, and his expression went from one of greeting to grave intent. "May I ask you a question?"
"Uh…sure?"
"Would you like to have my child?"
Before Kagome could respond Sango swatted him away, his cheek red with her handprint. By the lack response by his fellow band mates, Kagome could only conclude that this happened often.
Sango was dating a total pervert. Ah well, to each their own.
"Ahem," he coughed. "I apologize, it's a bad habit. "
"No worries," Kagome laughed uneasily, glancing at Sango's unusually calm face.
Miroku proceeded to introduce them to the rest of the band—Kouga, the man with the icy blue eyes, was their bassist. Bankotsu, tall and muscular with dimples in his cheeks, played guitar while a sullen, pale Onigumo with long wavy hair held the piano.
With a band full of such good-looking men who, much to their astonishment, all sang, it was no surprise that they should land such a coveted record deal. Kagome couldn't help but smile as she took note of Sango's beaming face as Miroku offered her a drink.
"Oh there's another unofficial member of the band," Miroku began, "he should be here any minute."
"Your songwriter?"
"Yup, an old friend of ours from college, who just happens to be the brother of Maruyama." Miroku winked at Sango.
"My, such high connections," Sango mused, elbowing her roommate. The doorknob behind them began to jiggle and when it opened, Kagome found herself face to face with a familiar set of golden amber eyes that widened when they saw her.
Kagome felt her heart jump to her throat, her cheeks burning red.
"Hey babe."
AN: I don't know what to say...here's another chapter? lol
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