Disclaimer: InuYasha belongs to: Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Media, Shogakukan, Sunrise, Yumiuri TV and the other foreign manga rights companies that I have not dealt with. Twiknham owns intellectual rights only to the original characters including: Michael, Lucy, Logan, Armaund, Sesshoumaru's household staff (minus Jaken), most of Kagome's co-workers and any characters in this story who reside in Texas. Twiknham makes NO monetary gain from this story, it is a completely free fanfic and Twiknham will not accept any payment. Reviews would be great, but are not required for updates. Also, as with any Twiknham fic, criticisms are welcome but please keep the language clean. Reviews do not come with ratings and are open to all viewers. Thx! –TK
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It took Kagome only a day to get settled into her new apartment. She called work and informed them that she'd be back the next day, while thanking them for working with her while she was out.
As Kagome pulled up to the office building she worked in, two of her coworkers noticed she'd arrived. Waiting while she locked her car, they walked in with her. Kathyrin was the first to speak. "So, Kagome, what's this I hear about you shacking up with some gorgeous guy?"
Her cheeks tinged in embarrassment. "My apartment burned down, so I went to stay with my ex-fiancée's brother."
Kaori looked at her slyly. "Would this be the same 'brother' that you were seen arguing with in the newspaper?"
"Ano…"
Kathyrin grinned. "Way to go! So, why did you drive if you have such a yummy man at your beck and call?"
"I wasn't living with him, I was just staying there until I could find a new apartment. I found a new apartment, so he's not longer around." She opened the door and marched over to the elevator, hoping that they wouldn't follow.
They didn't, but Kaori did yell across the room. "I think you should have stayed shacked up with him! He was good for you."
Kagome closed her eyes, mortified. When the elevator doors pinged open, she walked in and pressed 'close door' and stood there for a moment gathering her wits before heading down to her subterranean sanctuary.
ssssss
After a long first day back, Kagome walked into her empty apartment and set her small bag of groceries down on the counter. After making two small vegetable rolls and a pot of green tea, she sat down to catch up on all of her bills. Halfway through the first stack, she realized that it was too quiet in the room. Putting a classical CD in her new player, she went back to work. Finishing the first stack, she looked at her watch, 8:30. It was too early to go to bed.
She fidgeted for a few minutes, wondering how she could miss someone who never showed any interest in who she was. Then she walked over to the phone and glared at it. Impulsively, she picked it up. No dialtone. 'Oh yeah, it gets turned on tomorrow.' Laughing at herself, she put the handset back in the cradle. 'Saved by a failure in technology.' Deciding that 8:45 wasn't too early to go to bed, Kagome turned out the lights and laid down on the futon.
The next two days were very similar. She'd work too many hours, come home to an empty apartment and go to bed early to keep from calling Sesshoumaru. She had no idea if he missed her, but she hoped if he did, it was all he could do to keep from calling. Thursday afternoon, she stopped by an electronics store in Harajuku on the way home and picked up a clearance model TV. Putting in a DVD, she munched on popcorn and waited for a man who didn't have her phone number to call.
On Friday, she gave in. Picking up the phone, she dialed his number. It was answered on the third ring by a harried voice. "Shujin Residence."
"Hello Jaken! How are you?"
"Very busy Kagome. What can I help you with?" He tapped his foot on the floor hoping she would be quick. He liked the girl, but she tended to dawdle.
"Is Sesshoumaru around?"
"Yes. Hold on." Putting his hand over the phone, he turned in the direction that he'd last seen his master. "SESSHOUMARU-SAMA, TELEPHONE!"
Kagome laughed. He was as bad as a kid. A moment later, she heard mumbled words and a squeaky apology.
"Hello Kagome."
She didn't think there was a drug in the world that would make her immune to his voice. "Hello Sesshoumaru."
"Is there a problem?" He looked at his fingernails and realized he would have to file them before he left for Texas.
"Am I only allowed to talk to you when there's a problem?" Heat was beginning to grow in her voice.
Sesshoumaru blinked. "No…but most people do not contact me unless there is a problem. So, what is wrong?" Kagome thought for a moment. It was a long moment, and Sesshoumaru had a slight insight into how people felt when he gave them the silent treatment.
"Um…I miss you. That's what's wrong." She huffed over the phone. "Somehow, you've managed to worm your way into my life and now I miss you. Dammit!"
Sesshoumaru's eyebrow quirked up, but there was no other reaction. "How is the new apartment?"
"Aren't you listening to me? The apartment is fine, the job is fine. I MISS YOU!"
"I heard you Kagome. But what do you want me to do about it?"
"I want to see you."
"As in a date?"
"As in the two of us get together and talk, get together and go eat, get together and be. I don't care."
"In case you had not noticed, I am not big on talking."
She laughed, it was a wet sounding laugh, and Kagome wiped tears off of her face. "I know. How about dinner?"
"Are you asking me on a date, or are you trying to get a free meal?"
All conversation stopped. Then suddenly he heard a quiet "never mind."
Having been alive a millennia, he knew what was coming next. "WAIT!" Then he wanted to smack himself for showing that weakness. He had never called a person back to him when they had walked off.
Her 'what?' was sulky.
"I can only deduce from your reaction that you are not trying to get a free meal."
"Have I ever wanted a free anything from you? I moved out because I felt I was being a burden."
"I know."
"I suppose it's too much to ask for an apology?"
"Yes." He was fighting a miniscule grin at this point.
"Okay, so are we on for dinner Friday night?"
"No." Silence ruled the phone lines for a moment. "I am leaving to go out of town. The following weekend is not too busy."
"Saturday or Sunday?"
"Sunday."
Kagome's tone suddenly became very light and cheerful. "Okay. Have a great trip and I'll see you next Sunday." Not giving herself a chance to say anything to mess up what she'd gained, she hung up.
Sesshoumaru looked at the buzzing phone then gently put it back in the cradle. "Jaken! Get back down here, we need to have a short discussion about phone etiquette."
A/N: Reading for final proofing before submittal often reminds me how much fun some of these chapters were to write. I know the last chapter was a little boring, but it was a builder chapter and was needed in order for the story to progress at a somewhat smooth pace. To answer a couple of questions that I have been getting repeatedly…First, I update on Mondays. If I'm going to be busy, I typically update on Sundays. Sometimes it's very late on Mondays, usually it's mid-evening. Second, the pacing of their relationship is slow for two reasons. One is because they may not "get together" (puts on Nomex for protection from the flames that statement is going to generate) and the other is because if they did get together it would not happen overnight. Either way it goes, Sesshoumaru does nothing in a relationship (friendship or more) quickly. He has all the time in the world and would definitely see a couple of months as only a blink. I know it's frustrating, but the journey is half the fun of reading a story, correct? Please continue to enjoy this tale and if you are so inclined, tell me what you think. I enjoy the comments, complaints, etc… and will not be offended by anything you say (as long as you keep it clean, remember there are no ratings on reviews). Until next week, and a shorter A/N… -TK