Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.
1,413 words, originally posted 4-5-12.
"Hey I just met you, and this is crazy,
But here's my number, so call me maybe.
It's hard to look right at you, baby,
But here's my number, so call me maybe."
Meet the Gang
Kagome unlocked the doors to the gym bright and early the next morning, eager to get a full work out in before her first batch of students arrived.
She flipped on the lights in the dojo, preferring the naturalness of the room, with its traditional wood flooring and large widows, to her usual training room, which was significantly less atmospheric than the kendojo. Admittedly, this was probably because the kendojo was the main draw for the gym, and Kagome's classes functioned as a small but lucrative side business. There weren't many serious kendo schools in New York, or even the United States.
Kagome unrolled her yoga mat and began with some deep breathing to center her body and mind. Then she began a complicated series of backbends, inversions, and balancing moves to strengthen her core. Just as she was preparing for her big finale, a handstand that had taken almost a year to perfect, she was shoved roughly sideways and toppled unceremoniously to the floor.
Her eyes narrowed in irritation as the perpetrator proceeded to guffaw at her lack of coordination. Kagome dusted off her leggings, though the floor was pristine, and proceeded to punch the still-laughing half-demon on his well-muscled bicep.
"Darn it, Inuyasha!" she scolded, grinning despite herself. "How many times do I have to ask you not to do that?"
"At least one more," he quipped, brushing a long forelock of shocking white hair away from his face. "Come on, sweetheart. You know I only do it for the laughs."
"I imagine it leaves something to be desired when you're the only one laughing," Kagome said dryly.
Her sarcastic reply rolled off her co-worker's back like water off a duck's, and he casually crossed the dojo to the storage room, disappearing inside before returning with two bokken.
"Practice with me?" he asked, adopting a puppy-eyed look that she could never seem to turn down.
They faced off, not bothering with face masks or body armor since both had agreed ages ago that a light touch counted as a point. The challenge was actually getting close enough to Inuyasha to make any kind of contact at all. As they swung, Inuyasha effortlessly dodging while Kagome worked up such a sweat she feared she would have to shower again before the students came, they chatted about their weekends.
"So… I met a guy," Kagome offered casually, hoping Inuyasha wouldn't attempt to pick up any hidden meaning.
"Yeah?" Inuyasha countered just as nonchalantly. "Didja bang 'im?"
Kagome stopped short, letting her sword dangle recklessly, forcing Inuyasha to pull up on his swing before he hit her head on.
"What the hell?" he yelped. "I could've hurt you!"
Kagome waved off his concern; it wasn't likely as Inuyasha had excellent reflexes.
"What the hell?" she repeated back. "Why would you ask me something like that?"
"Oh… yeah. I'm sorry, Kagome. I forgot."
Kagome's eyes narrowed skeptically, waiting for him to finish his thought.
"I forgot you live with the Ice King. He isn't likely to let anybody get within five feet of you, let alone in your pants."
"Inu-YASHA!"
"Aw, lighten up, sweetheart. All I'm sayin' is, it's been a long time. You could use a good lay. It's too bad my asshole brother is your roomie or you might actually get some every now and then."
Kagome growled, a surprisingly feral sound coming from a human. "Who said I wanted to get laid?"
Inuyasha shrugged. "I'm just sayin'."
"Well, stop it."
"Fine."
"…So did you bang 'im?"
"Gah!" Kagome cried, throwing her hands in the air and leaving the bokken for Inuyasha to put away. "You're hopeless."
His chuckles followed her all the way to the women's locker room, where she proceeded to strip and have a long, comforting shower. Sufficiently calmer after 20 minutes under the hot spray, Kagome dressed in a clean pair of leggings and a fitted tank, noting that she had just enough time to check in with the other gym staff before her first students arrived.
She heard the sound of laughter drifting toward her from the main office and she followed it, coming upon Inuyasha with Miroku and Kohaku, all three laughing so hard tears were streaming down their cheeks.
"You should have seen her face," Inuyasha choked out. "I've never seen her so angry."
"Did she… did she…" Mirkou stuttered, gasping and attempting unsuccessfully to catch his breath. Finally, he managed, "Did she ever answer?"
Inuyasha paused to wipe his eyes, still chuckling. "I'm not sure, actually. She seemed to dodge that question pretty well, now that I think about it."
"Allow me to ease your minds," Kagome interrupted dryly, catching the three men off guard and startling them out of their laughter. "The answer is no."
They stared back at her, seeming to shrink in the face of her wrath.
"You weren't kidding," Miroku whispered. "She looks pissed."
Kagome turned her evil eye on him, lips pursed. "What are you even doing here, Miroku? Don't you have to work?"
He grinned then, walking over and draping a proprietary arm over her shoulders. "I just dropped Sango and Kohaku off and stopped in for a chat. So, who's the lucky man?"
"None of your business," she replied smartly. "And I thought you and Sango were on the outs."
"He stayed the night," Kohaku muttered, flushing with embarrassment. Miroku was Sango's on-again, off-again boyfriend, but they spent more of their time arguing than not. If Miroku had spent the night, it meant he and Sango had made up from their most recent fight, which spelled a rousing evening of lovemaking, much to Kohaku's mortification.
Sango and Kohaku were both capable adults with good jobs, but they had been on their own since Sango was nineteen and Kohaku only thirteen, after their parents' sudden death in a car accident. Their budget had been tight as Sango struggled to take care of her younger brother while attending college. Living together was an effective means of saving money, but sometimes it meant enduring the embarrassment of a sibling bringing home a date.
They managed though, and both were rewarded now for all the hard work they had put into put into martial arts over the years. Kohaku was the assistant instructor for Inuyasha's kendo classes, and he occasionally assisted Sango in leading her Tae Kwon Do, Judo, and Hapkido lessons. As a team, Inuyasha, Sango, and Kohaku also held Thursday night self-defense courses for the general public. They were a fun bunch to work with, and together with the martial arts and Kagome's yoga and pilates classes, plus her training as a licensed nutritionist, their gym was able to turn a tidy little profit.
"Oh ho!" Kagome cried. "Back in Sango's good graces again, I see. She finally forgave you for pinching that buxom blonde's bottom, huh?"
Miroku grinned like that cat that got the cream. "Don't try to change the subject, little girl. I want hear all about this mysterious man of yours."
"You've got a mysterious man?" Sango asked as she wandered in, freshly changed in a white gi, hair pulled into a high ponytail.
"No!" Kagome snapped in frustration, squeezing her eyes shut. "Why are you all so nosy? I just met this nice guy over the weekend, and we hung out a bit is all. We're just friends!"
"Kagome, relax" Inuyasha began contritely, flashing her that irresistible puppy look, "I was just teasing. I guess Miroku's perviness is rubbin' off."
"I take offense to that," Miroku complained with mock hurt, pressing a dramatic hand to his brow.
Sango narrowed her eyes at him. "Well, don't. You are a lecher, you depraved idiot. And what are you still doing here; you're going to be late for work."
Miroku glanced at his watch and gave his girlfriend a sheepish grin. "Thanks for keeping me honest, my love."
"Tch," Sango huffed, though it was clear she was amused. "Get out of here."
Miroku pressed a quick kiss to her cheek and headed for the door, insisting, "You will give me the whole story one of these days, Kagome-chan. I'll weasel it out of you if it kills me."
And then he was gone, roaring off in his black Ferrari, off to win another court case for his equally depraved and very rich clients.
"Weaseling things out people is what he does best," Sango admitted reluctantly. "That man is a natural born charmer. Damn him."
That was the absolute truth.