AN: I was really, really sick when I wrote this, so if anybody sees anything that just doesn't make sense, make sure to mention it to me, please. Thanks, guys. Review replies are at the bottom again.

-Sable

PS - By the way, I lived. Others didn't. That's just how it is with storms where I live.

The Deal

Kagome popped a dainty triangle of syrup-drenched pancake into her mouth, sweeping her eyes over her breakfasting companions.

Across from her, a woman her own age sat staring blankly out the window, fiddling with the handle of her fork. She'd propped her elbow on the table and propped her chin up in her hand, and didn't seem to be paying even a little attention to the rest of their party.

Kagome shook her head and smiled, because Sango Takenaka never presented anything less than a reserved, professional persona… unless she was bored out of her mind. The chocolate-eyed lawyer was one of Kagome's oldest and closest friends. They'd gone to the same high school and then to the same college and now enjoyed the privilege of working in two circles that often lapped over one another.

Beside her, Naraku was listening quietly, rather sullenly, so the conversation going on about exchange rates. It had started thirty minutes ago and had gotten progressively duller and more pointless as the hour progressed.

On Naraku's other side was the businessman Sango had been invited to the breakfast by, an American named Rochester, whom Kagome didn't know at all. Across from Rochester was Miyoga Fujimoto.

Fujimoto was another associate of Sesshoumaru's, rumored to be an old family friend, as well. So when the older man showed up with none other than Miroku Hoshi, Naraku had had no choice but to grin and bear it, being far too small a player to risk offending a man who had the ear of one of the biggest.

And so Miroku, fully aware of and probably having orchestrated the situation, had claimed the seat directly across from her silently seething boss, and had spent a few minutes completely monopolizing both Kagome's and Fujimoto's attention.

Things took a turn for the worse when Rochester strolled through the door of the restaurant laughing loudly, his blond hair sprinkled with loose snowflakes and his foreign handsomeness accented by the flush the cold had brought to his cheeks, with none other than Sango Takenaka on his arm.

Miroku had clammed up immediately, his jaw going slack and his eyes glazing over. Amid the stir caused by Rochester's arrival, Miroku's react was lost on both Naraku and Fujimoto, but Kagome could never have missed it.

A big commotion had been made over the fact that the three of them had been in college together and now all worked within the same arenas. Rochester had graciously denied Fujimoto's offer to move so that he could sit across from Sango, insisting that the two women should sit close together so as to be allowed to catch up.

Kagome did not neglect to notice the way Miroku's jaw clenched as the American drew out the empty chair beside him and ushered Sango politely into it.

Kagome watched sadly as Miroku tried to act calm and happy while sitting at the same table as his unrequited love and the man who seemed to be her latest flame, but she could see the sorrow in his dark blue eyes, could see the pain that drew his skin tight over his face. Sango didn't seem to notice.

After a while, Miroku had seemed to get over it, or at least lock the emotions away deep within his heart, and endeavored to engage himself in the conversation going on around him. Kagome found his efforts highly admirable, for the topic was surely boring him out of his mind.

With a sigh, Kagome swallowed her last bite of pancake and took a sip of her orange juice. Carefully, so as not to bruise, she tapped Sango's calf with the pointy toe of her shoe.

The woman's eyes darted immediately to Kagome, and she struggled not to laugh at the eager hopefulness in them. If Miroku wasn't bored to death, Kagome could guarantee that Sango was.

"Gentlemen," she said out loud, placing her hand on Naraku's elbow to call his attention to her, "if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go freshen up a bit. Sango, would you like to come?"

Sango practically jumped out of her chair, smiling belatedly at their company and taking off for the bathroom before Kagome had even pushed her chair in. The men laughed and went on talking, and Kagome shot Miroku a sympathetic smile, which she knew he didn't see for being too busy staring after Sango.

When she joined Sango in the bathroom, the other woman swept her into a warm hug.

"Kags! I was so surprised to see you and Miroku; I just couldn't get over my good luck- until Fujimoto and Andrew started droning on. I didn't even know you were in Tokyo, or else I'd have called. How are you?" she asked. "And don't give me that 'I'm doing good' bull, because I saw the way you hesitated when I asked you out at the table. I want to know everything."

Kagome sighed as she released her, moving to stand in front of the mirror and check the state of her trim grey pantsuit.

"Well, to be honest, I'm preparing to leave Naraku-san's employment."

Sango blinked, looking stunned. "That's… surprising."

Kagome left off tugging at her seams and turned, narrowing her eyes at her friend. "Why is it so surprising? People change jobs all the time."

Sango's eyebrows were furrowed as she surveyed the woman in front of her, her warm eyes worried. "Kagome, there's a rumor going round that you two are engaged."

Kagome's jaw dropped. "You're kidding me."

Sango shook her head. In shock, Kagome leaned against the counter.

"But that's just… that's just…"

"Preposterous?"

Kagome nodded wordlessly and Sango's face immediately smoothed.

"That's exactly what I thought, and the sheer impossibility of it made me decide not to call you up ranting about how you hadn't told me you were engaged yet."

Kagome just shook her head, unable to speak. Another woman walked into the bathroom, smiled at them, and retreated to a stall. Sango lowered her voice.

"I've only heard it within these last few weeks, if it helps. Not from anybody in particular, just through the grapevine, you know?"

Kagome nodded, pressing a hand to her face. "I wonder if he's heard this rumor."

The strange foreboding in Kagome's tone made Sango tilt her head to the side. "He who? You don't mean Naraku, do you?"

Kagome heaved a long-suffering sigh but smiled up at her friend. "I am so glad you're here."

Sango, befuddled by her friend's sudden and uncharacteristic change of topic, just nodded and smiled back.

"Listen, Sango, are you going to the ball at the White Dog on Christmas Eve?"

"Yes, with Andrew."

"The American? Sango, are you and he-?"

Sango blushed and shook her head. "Just friends."

Kagome bit her lip, thinking of Miroku, and pushed herself off of the bathroom counter, brushed out any wrinkles that might have clung to her trousers.

"I have to go get a dress today after breakfast. Will you come shopping with me?" her voice took a wheedling effect and Sango's face looked stricken.

"Kagome, I hate shopping."

"But you do it."

"When I have to!"

"Do you have a dress yet?"

"Well…no…"

"Then that that!" crowed Kagome triumphantly, taking hold of Sango's arm and steering her towards the bathroom door.

They exited the lavatory and Kagome dropped Sango's arm, so as not to look too reminiscent of the teenage girls they used to be. However, before they had reached the table, Sango's hand darted out and wrapped around Kagome's wrist.

Curious, Kagome turned to see two very serious brown eyes locked onto her face.

"I will go shopping with you," Sango said softly, "if you promise to tell me what's really going on with you. Everything."

Kagome smiled to herself, having forgotten how perceptive her very closest friend could be. It would be nice to share everything with the one person she knew she could trust above any other.

"It's a deal," she promised.

After a moment of searching Kagome's face, Sango turned, satisfied, and led the way back to their table.

-end chapter-

REVIEW REPLIES:

Vamp Winter: I absolutely agree. ;)

casedeputy: So would I!

Waffle-Love: Thanks for reading, and thanks for the reviews. I hated making poor Kagome wait, but I had to. :( Soon, though, soon.

AmericaBlessGod: We figure the driver had a trailer. It looked like he'd gone a little off the road when he caught the line, and it's hard to tell if you're dragging something when you go off the beaten pack with a trailer. And yes, the ball is going to be one heck of a party!

Thanks for reviewing, everybody!