Chapter 7

On the way home from the hospital, the family made a few stops. First and most important, they stopped at their mobile phone carrier's store and changed everyone's phone numbers, making sure to delete Hojo from their contact lists. After that, they stopped by the market and picked up some fresh ingredients for dinner and dessert.

Following the promised feast of her mother's oden, they all retired to the living room to relax and digest, turning on the television to a lighthearted obstacle course game show that played in the background as they occupied themselves. Sota read the latest kendo magazine while texting with his girlfriend, Gramps wrote out charms to sell to visitors, Kaneko used her tablet computer to research recipes and Kagome sat behind her laptop and researched material for her novel.

A familiar chirp from Kagome's smart phone alerted her to a new email. She picked it up and unlocked it before touching the mail icon and then opening up the new message. It was from her agent, a man who simply went by 'Inuyasha,' and if the subject line was any indication, it was "Killer News!" As she read, scrolling down with her right thumb, her left hand slowly rose to cover her mouth as her jaw was now slack in shock over the contents of the email. She had to give him his due: Inuyasha had really gone above and beyond.

Her agent was quite a character and if asked, Kagome would not be the kind of girl to lie and say if she had had a choice, she would have picked him as her agent. But, when you live on a shrine and you work as a mere secretary, your options for literary agents are seriously limited by funds. Inuyasha had been completely up-front with her: he was new to being an agent, having been a professional fighter most of his life, but his only living family was in publishing, so he knew enough of the ins and outs that he felt he could do a good job—in fact, Kagome would be his first job as an agent.

It had taken six months, but Inuyasha had gotten her first novel published by a very well-respected, if small, publishing house in Japan and even negotiated a very generous contract for an unknown romance writer. She had been able to pay down a significant portion of her educational loans with the advance she had received though she kept some of it as a personal savings. But now, the news from Inuyasha was that based on just the first half of her second novel, which apparently her agent had been showing around, she had an amazing offer from a large, international publishing house out of New York City.

Not only did they want the rights to this manuscript when it was finished as well as wanting to buy out her current publisher for rights to her published book for an international printing, but they also gave her an immediate offer for her short stories to be published in several compilation books and the advance they were offering for those was more money than she would see from her secretary job if she worked for the next five years! Inuyasha had finished the letter with "So, think I earned lunch at a ramen place?" betraying his near maniacal love for the classic noodle soup. She replied as fast as her thumbs could type: "Even better—you're invited for some of my mother's ramen! She'll cook you anything you want after I tell her!"

Kagome saved her work on her laptop with a quick swipe of the mouse pad and closed the lid before setting it aside on the end table. Literally bouncing in her seat, it wasn't long before everyone looked up from what they were doing to focus on her clear exuberance.

"All right, dear, I can tell you have something you want to share with us. Go on, child," Gramps urged.

"Yes! It's from Inuyasha! An email! He says I've got an offer from a big, huge, international publisher! How cool is that?! They're going to be translating my book and publishing it in other countries! Just like a real author! Oh, I'm just so elated!" Kagome exclaimed.

"Sweetheart, that's so wonderful!" Kaneko said.

"I knew you couldn't know all those big words for nothing!" Sota spoke up.

"Well, I knew it was just a matter of time before the rest of the world realized how wonderful my granddaughter is," said Kagome's grandfather.

"Aww! Thanks, Gramps," Kagome said with a tight hug. She stepped back from her grandfather and looked at her mother and brother. "Thanks, everyone. I couldn't have become a writer without everyone's support."

"That's it. Time for celebratory dessert! I still have half a tray of brownies and enough ice cream and chocolate syrup to go around if someone wants to help me?" asked Kaneko.

"I'll help Mom. Kagome, you stay here and rest," said Sota.

Kagome smiled at her brother for his thoughtfulness and sat back down in her seat. Sota stood and followed Kaneko out into the kitchen. Gramps smiled over at his granddaughter before resuming his work on his current blessing and then clearing his folding table to make room for dessert.

….

The next day Kagome was at work at her desk when a familiar man showed up with an armful of lilies in a large, purple glass vase. Her smile was immediate. She was a sucker for lilies and Inuyasha knew it. He'd purposely sent his lecherous friend Miroku to find out what sorts of flowers she liked back when he had gotten her first story published.

It had been a normal weekday afternoon at her job when an attractive man dressed in a black business suit with a purple silk shirt underneath sauntered up to her desk with an arm behind his back.

"Well, hello, Miss. You wouldn't by chance be the lovely Miss Kagome Higurashi, would you?" he asked.

"I am," she answered with a nod.

"Then these, my lovely one, are for you." He presented two dozen red roses from behind his back with a flourish and deep bow.

"Oh. OK, thanks. Do you need me to sign or anything?" she asked.

The man gave her a thoughtful look and replied, "No, no signature required. Have a good day and I do look forward to seeing you again, Miss Higurashi."

He had left that day and Kagome had found a blank card inside the bouquet. The next day he had arrived with a bouquet of carnations, daisies, and assorted field flowers.

"We meet again! How are you today, my beautiful Miss Higurashi?" he asked.

"I am well, thank you, and yourself?"

"Quite well, I assure you. Perhaps the offering today will bring a smile to your lovely lips?" he asked as he presented the flowers.

Kagome did smile, though she was quick to look for the card before the man could leave. Noticing another blank card she questioned, "Are you aware of the identity of the sender, Sir?"

He turned from his exit and bowed again saying, "I'm afraid not, miss. The order was placed anonymously and the gentleman paid cash. Here's hoping for another visit soon!"

Soon turned out to be the very next day and she saw the flowers from the door. The elegant, white blooms with bright, golden stamens and long, tapered leaves bounced as the man walked and she could see them peeking out from behind his back and Kagome's lips curved into a true smile.

"Those for me?" she asked, eyes alight.

"You know it, my delicate blossom, compliments of your esteemed agent. The previous bouquets should just be considered practice. He wanted to make sure he delivered you flowers you would genuinely enjoy when he called you with the news he has for you. I look forward to letting him know we have met with success finally," he said as he bowed and presented the bouquet in his customary way.

"You seem rather well-dressed for a delivery man. A friend of Inuyasha's, are you?"

"Bright as well as beautiful! Well, my dear, as a matter of fact, we are, indeed, friends. My name is Miroku. I happen to own a nursery—I find it a wonderful way to meet lovely young ladies such as yourself—and Inuyasha contacted me to ferret out which flowers you would like," he said, flashing a charming smile.

And so it happened that Miroku walked into her office that morning carrying lilies with a knowing smile on his face. One that Kagome returned happily.

"A double order this time! And purple hydrangeas! I can barely carry this—you must have some good news to celebrate!" he said.

"You know what, Miroku? I think the tide is changing for me and it's about to carry me home."

He hefted an exaggerated sigh. "Now why do I think that wistful look on your face has nothing to do with either me or Inuyasha? Whoever he is, he's a lucky man, Miss Higurashi."

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