-12 January, 2020

A/N: Yello!!

Okay, so I wasn't planning on revealing this but since it was asked on numerous occasions, I confirm that Inuyasha will definitely be in the story.

Another thing, in chapter 2 when Kagome talks about Natsume's game, everyone's shocked. And so, Yusuke chokes on his sandwich while Azusa somehow manages to swallow the sandwich he (Azusa) himself was eating. But due to some confusion(probably the way I wrote it), people are thinking Azusa gulped Yusuke's choked sandwich. No, guys. That's just plain gross. I'll rectify it soon.

Thanks to:

keotaka1 for following the story. Really appreciate it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or Brothers Conflict. I own the story.

*

Ema has been living with the Asahina brothers for a year now and we all know what has happened. But what happens when Kagome comes to live at the Sunrise Residence? Will things turn out to be for better... or for worse?

*

13. Tinder

"Thank you," Natsume said while the waitress blushingly put down a glass of water.

"Can I get you anything... sir?" The waitress said 'sir' in the most seductive way possible as she clutched her notepad near her chest. She hoped that there might be a chance for her with him. 'There might be. You cannot see Fifty Shades Of Grey and not think that hot and apparently rich men don't go for 'look-at-me' women.' She gave her warmest smile while her eyes displayed pure craving.

Natsume looked up for a moment and replied with no change in his demeanour, "No, thanks."

"If you need anything, I'll be close by." The woman broke into a sexy grin, that made her lovely cheekbones visible. She left the table, making sure that her hips swayed in rhythm.

Well, can you blame her? Here was this man with his perfectly structured face, alluring violet eyes, sharp nose, beauty mark that rested right below his lips... To quote the waitress, "He looks absolutely delicious."

Natsume never goes to a cafe like this. He was an avid coffee-drinker but the coffee shops he visits are more modern and contemporary,rather than stylish and vogue like this one. He remembered the incident when he had called Subaru here for a casual chat a long time ago, and Subaru had just come in his regular tracksuit. Realizing the atmosphere of the cafe and his messy appearance, Subaru almost cried that his Natsu-nii brought him there without telling him about the place's classiness.

'Not to mention how traumatized he was after that... And he even swore not to come out with me again.' He took a small breath as he fondly reminisced. 'The promise that he kept... when I broke my promise to him.' Natsume thought of their disagreement. 'All this... maybe it really was easy before. Maybe if I had just kept doing track, Subaru and my relationship may never have become like this...' He closed his eyes. 'Well, no point in dwelling on the past. It's been a year since we made peace. Although it doesn't mean that we have become close as we were before, I will say that we are on our way. It will happen... slowly and steadily. It won't mess up now.'

'Speaking of a mess up...' The young CEO glanced at his Tonneau-shaped Skyfander, which is described as a Franck Muller masterpiece. Ukyo gifted the watch to Natsume on his last birthday. At first, Nastume had declined to accept it as he only liked to wear sport watches and considering Ukyo, he thought his older brother might've brought him something CEO-like. However, when he saw the watch, he was surprised as it was clearly something he would wear- Swiss and athletic.

So, he gazed at his watch. To get a note of the passing time. He was waiting for a person. And that person was actually very late.

Ding-ding-ding-ding!

The cafe bells chimed as the doors opened which made Nastume look up.

He saw her looking here and there feverishly as if there were hundreds of people there, and she finally spotted him.

"Oh my goodness! I am so terribly sorry!" The tall girl was exclaiming and apologizing already. She wore a white shirt folded at the elbows with a black pleated midi skirt underneath, that matched her black sandals. And with her side-low bun, that was held by a hair stick, her appearance gave a playful and athletic look- exactly how Natsume liked it. 'Wait, what?' Natsume, dumbfounded with his last thought, coughed as if that would clear his mind.

A backpack rested on her back, and there was Kagome Higurashi with a flushed face, standing in front of Nastume Asahina.

"Calm down and sit. Have some water, it's completely fine. It happens to everyone." As she was catching up on her breath, those were the words she expected to hear from him. But her beautiful illusion was shattered as soon as he opened his mouth.

"You're late." He coldly stated.

Kagome looked at him as if he had just asked for her kidney. Still, she recovered. "Yeah, by 2 minutes..." She said as she showed her silver metal wristwatch. 'Can't he see I am panting like a madwoman here? I hauled ass to be here on time, and now for 2 minutes he is...'

"Two minutes or two hours... time is time, and it's wasted." Kagome knew it was her fault- being late. 'But he doesn't have to be so rude about it. Calm down, boi.'

"The first and foremost rule to remember in business is never waste time... especially not of the people that are to be helpful for you." Kagome's mouth formed an 'Ooo' as she sat down on the seat in front of him. 'So this was a lesson... Now I feel bad to have wasted his time.' She sat up straight and kept her palms on her things.

"I am completely and utterly sorry." Kagome recovered and apologised with poise and honesty. "Ema had told me about this place and she did tell me to check it out first, but (being the over-confident person I am) I didn't. However..." The girl continued. "That's not an excuse. I was very careless. Forgive me."

"Genuinely accepting your mistakes is just as valued as the first rule. Good job." As she heard those words, if Kagome hadn't relaxed already, she had now. She told Natsume to hold up for just a second until she grabbed a notebook and pen out of her bag.

As Natsume watched Kagome taking her stuff out, a conversation reached his ears.

"Damn! They look like they are on a date!"

"I know right! I thought he was out for a coffee by himself. Ugh, I should know this by now- hot guys are never single." Natsume rolled his eyes as he overheard the conversation. He had been hearing their voices ever since he sat down. 'Seems like those young girls are crushing over some guy...'

"Well, the girl with him doesn't seem so bad either..."

"Are you serious right now? She is so pretty! Did you see her legs? I would kill for them. Totally."

"I guess."

"The shirt and skirt are a great combo. And the sandals gave her a posture." 'Whoa, whoa. Hold up... sandals, shirt and skirt...? Are they talking about...'

"Yeah, her hair is nice too. It looks so well maintained. Unlike mine that looks like grassroots."

"Yours look fine! She must be some rich girl. You know, how they are- with their scrubs and conditioners... if we had money like her, we would look the same."

"Her entry was cool though! It was so funny when she looked like a deer in front of headlights. She said she is two minutes late, and still, she was so frightened. Do you think he is scary?"

"Maybe. Oh, oh! Maybe he is one of those guys who give you punishment for making mistakes." The other girl cooed. "Like a spank or two..." Both of them roared with laughter.

"He may be a Mr Grey or not- who knows, but they make a nice couple. So sexy!" 'What the hell?! They are talking about us?! And they think we are a couple! And they're comparing me to that heathen Christian Grey?!! And why do I even know who Christian Grey is?!! It just sinks me to their level!' He took a quick peek at Kagome to see if she had heard this, but she was too busy eyeing the menu.

Natsume sighed in relief. It would've been awkward if she had heard this. He turned his head slightly to glance at the pair of girls, and heard one of them scream silently.

"OMG! He's looking at us!! What should we do??"

He slowly moved his gaze from them to around the cafe, so as to not give them an affirmation that he was looking at them.

Natsume shifted in his chair uncomfortably. Judging from their faces, the girls had to be in college. His face lost the blush and returned to the usual plain expression while frowning internally. 'The minds of the young girls these days... plus, why do I sound like a grandma...?'

The girls stood up quite soon and were ready to leave. Natsume felt a bit relieved as the two girls left, his sharp eyes observing their departure.

The bells rang- marking the exit of those girls and as they left the cafe, with a sigh, Natsume turned his gaze over to Kagome- who had her heart-shaped face placed in her left palm, grinning rather stupidly at him.

"What?"

"What, what? I totally caught you checking those girls out!" She said as she stomped her hands on the table and a smirk played on her lips. She had gotten close to almost all the Asahina brothers and this teasing was within the boundaries.

He rolled his eyes. "Stop talking like Tsubaki. I didn't."

"Realllllyyyyyyyyy, now?" Kagome asked in arhythm, failing to believe what he said but she received a blank stare from him. She cheekily smiled. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me." Natsume narrowed his eyes and Kagome quickly added, "Okay, okay! I'll stop! That's enough... for now." She smirked and his face said 'I-am-done-with-this.'

Seeing that he had reached his limit, Kagome let out a laugh. "Sorry. Well, then. Let's start the counselling."

"Order something first," Nastume said as he pushed the menu card towards her, and she nodded.

The CEO suddenly remembered the last time he had come here... 'It was with her.' He didn't feel anything for Ema then- she was just a part of the family for him, but eventually, it happened.

He thought this as he saw Kagome literally scanning the menu card with a hungry look in her eyes, and his face softened with a small smile. 'This girl is so... comical. Everything she does just turns out to be humorous... No wonder everyone at home enjoys her so much.'

As the AC flaps moved downward, the cool air fondled Natsume, making the hair on his neck stand up. He noticed that Kagome's bangs very slightly moved due to the same breeze but she didn't seem bothered.

He looked at her as he reminisced the time when he had been here with Ema. When the brunette had messaged him saying how she was not able to get beyond a certain point in his video game 'Zombie Hazard', Natsume suggested that they could meet and discuss it.

And he was stunned when Ema had insisted on paying for their orders. 'She was really planning on doing it. And because of that, she was getting some modest snack for herself.' Needless to say, that Natsume paid anyways. But it told him something about her. That she had integrity.

Kagome looked up and saw Natsume staring at her with his chin being held in his fingers. She smiled at him.

"Ready?" He kept both his hands on the table as he asked.

"Yeah! I will have garden spread finger sandwiches, you know because of the fresh herbs..." Nastume nodded but he couldn't care less. "I haven't tasted the bagels here, so that also. And an affogato. What about you?"

His fingers glided the menu card towards him and his orbs quickly went over it. He looked up and informed, "Just a caffé Americano."

Kagome's eyebrows quirked. "Really? In this heat?" She referred to the sudden rise in the temperature felt in the past few days.

"It's my go-to-coffee. I always drink it. And heat doesn't matter since I work in a fully air-conditioned office. So it gets balanced up." He nonchalantly replied.

"Wow someone's bragging," Kagome commented and Natsume's mouth curved up a bit. "Well, Mr CEO, I am paying so I would like you to order something else."

The orange-haired man raised his eyebrows. "You're paying?"

"Yeah, obviously. I called you here, remember?"

"Yeah but..." Nastume said as he glanced at the card that was lying in front of him. 'The stuff she just ordered... it's not expensive, but sure is a bit pricey.' Which is why he had figured that he must be exected to pay here. "Do you get a lot of pocket money?" He asked blatantly.

"Hey!" Kagome cried out defensively. Her doe-shaped chocolate orbs widened further- expressing her shock, which created an adorable but embarrassed face. "It's not pocket money!"

Natsume kept staring at her for a while but nodded. He wasn't going to ask her where this money was coming from- that's just rude. "Okay then." And he started checking other items on the card.

Kagome pressed her lips. With furrowed brows and a deep blush on her cheeks, she spoke, "I earned it."

He looked up with dismay apparent on his face. "What? Seriously?"

She looked unsure now, probably wondering whether to answer him or not. "Uh... yeah. I work at a book store and from there..." She left the sentence midway. He could connect the dots.

"At a book store? Wh.. Since when?" Natsume asked sincerely. He didn't know anything about this.

"This month. Everyone at home knows- mom, papa and everyone else." She answered since she knew this would come up.

Natsume breathed while his eyes never left her. "Nobody told me this."

"I see..."

Though he did remember Azusa saying something about Kagome and a book store while speaking on the phone, but the connection was poor so he only remembered those two words. His eyes relaxed, now that he recalled it.

"That's great, Kagome." Natsume complimented, his voice sounding the most genuine it could ever be and his face the most appreciative. Kagome was taken aback by his approach. He had never called her like this and she really had never seen him with such expressions. Somehow, she felt touched, and his mere three words felt much more valuable than anything else at the moment.

"Thank you." She smiled.

"So, how is it then? Working?" He eagerly asked though his eagerness wasn't reflected much.

"It's great actually. I personally love reading and I have to do just some basic things... The pay isn't great but it's significant enough for a college student like me... Significant in emotional terms rather than monetary."

He nodded as he understood her. Money is important for feeding oneself but contentment in doing your work is immensely important. "Well, if our bill is going to be paid by your proud salary, then I am definitely getting something." He declared with a smirk. Obviously, he was still going to order a dish that is modest, but a bit higher than modest.

"Yes, by all means." She accepted it happily.

Some moment passed until Natsume spoke again, "Uh... Is it okay if I ask you how much you get paid? Even a ballpark is fine. Just curious." Natsume had realised that the items on the menu card exceeded 80 yen. Considering she works in a book store, the pay wouldn't be good enough. And spending a month's salary for one brunch seemed drastic.

"It's 200 per month. I work for 2 hours every day."

"I see." He breathed in as he scanned the card again.

Kagome smiled at the guy in front of her. She was completely aware of what he was thinking. Just how considerate could a person be? Seeing him thinking so carefully about what to order, for her sake, made her feel warm inside. She was happy that a man like him existed and that she knew him.

"Natsume-san, I do get 200 yen as monthly salary, but I receive money from my parents as well." He kept listening. "I know it isn't good for a grown-up like me to take money from my parents but mum insists on doing it. She says that as long as she can work, I never have to worry about anything other than studies." Natsume was impressed by Kagome's mother- Miyoko's thoughts. To be so liberal and supportive of her daughter's career... "And papa sends me more money now that I've agreed and come to live in Japan... It's more like a bribe from him. So, I guess you were right before. I do receive a lot of pocket money." She offered a sheepish, toothy grin.

Natsume couldn't help but break into a laugh. Kagome was being so adorable right now. Not in the way that girls act in movies- being shy, blushing, fidgeting with their fingers. She displayed a different kind of adorableness... and he liked it. "Alright then. So I really don't have to worry about what I can order."

Kagome nodded in agreement, and so he made a gesture for calling someone to take their order, and the flirty waitress from before appeared in front of them- slightly annoyed. 'Ugh, great. So he already has a Mrs Grey.' "What can I get you two?" Still, she asked with grace while maintaining professionalism.

Natsume gave their order, and as the waitress left, he turned to Kagome, "I can't help but say this- my respect for you has been magnified." Kagome's eyebrows shot up with interest. "I know a lot of teenagers work, perhaps more than you but I like that you do as well. Certainly speaks a lot about you." And he couldn't help but compare her and Ema, who just survived on her parents' money. He didn't like that he was making comparisons but Natsume was a highly rational person in this matter. Whether he liked Ema or not, doesn't matter, but Kagome had just created a plus point for herself in his mind.

"That means a lot, coming from you." She honestly replied and with that, the counselling finally began.

*ababab*

"Tired?" He asked with a smile as they gulped down blueberry juice.

"You bet." Kagome leaned behind on her chair and stretched her arms. "But it was worth it. Obviously. Thanks for doing this."

"Don't mention it. Everything and anything for family." He said and crooked his neck to each side.

She smiled. Natsume looked and behaved like a blunt guy, but he was actually very sweet. Just like Yusuke is.

"Sorry that it took us such a long time to meet up though." He spoke as he leaned on the table to take a sip. "The business trip and many other things threw me off-schedule. And before I knew it, May had already arrived."

Kagome nodded and took the glass in her hands as she slurped while speaking, "It's completely fine. I wasn't in any hurry, plus it gave me some time to explore the university."

"Are you settling well here? I mean, at home, college?" He inquired.

"Yeah. Home was never a problem. I do miss my mum and my friends, but our Asahina house is so full all the time that it takes your mind off things." She saw Natsume nodding. "College is going great. Everyone's always surprised to hear my accent."

A small grin appeared on his face. "I knew that would happen. How was their reaction?"

"They were appaled. Every one of them speaks in English with the Japanese accent, and then there's me. They are curious about how I have it, but they'll never ask since they don't want to show that they think of it as important." Kagome replied and then realized that it was too detailed.

"I see you've come to realize the "elites" and their mentality." Kagome found this weird that Natsume was referring her classmates as elites when he was also one of them. "It'll get to you- their snobby attitude, I am sure. But you'll also get a glimpse of how those people behave and what their life is. And not all of them are snobs. You'll find some great friends here."

Kagome mentally sighed with relief that he didn't ask her if she had made any friends because she hadn't. She spoke with some girls in her class but they weren't that interested in being that close. She even sat at her desk all alone. It troubled her, but Kagome was still a secure person. So she could deal with it.

"Are you excited about our trip?" 'Oh, Lord bless him.' Kagome was thankful that he changed the subject because it made her feel like crawling under a rock and crying.

She nodded enthusiastically. "Yup! And I am so glad you're coming as well! To be honest, we all were so happy when we saw on the news that the game launch was postponed. Except for Ema. She was quite excited about the game." Natsume smiled. Azusa had told him that. "But screw that! The trip will be way more fun because now you're coming too."

Natsume was pleased to see that the young people in his household liked him. He thought that the age gap would be a barrier, but thankfully it never was because of his timeless cool personality."Yeah. I guess we'll have more time to prepare for the launch, and till then I can enjoy the holiday with all of you." He saw Kagome having a dreamy look in her eyes, obviously hyped up for the trip. When was the last time he had felt so innocently and genuinely delighted? 'Oh, never mind. Let's not get into that.' He thought.

"Oh yeah, before I forget." He took a paper out of his coat pocket. It was wrinkle-free, except for the lines that showed that the paper was folded. "My company is hosting a pre-internship thing for business students. You should consider this."

Kagome read the information on the paper. It was after summer, in September- for two weeks. It would include observing the basic functioning of a company, and later if you find it interesting, you can apply for the internship in whichever department you'll like. "I've sent you the link, it has all the details. It will be for three hours every day." Just then, he realized something. "Uh, you'll have to manage things at the bookstore for this. That is if you decide to do it."

"It's not for your division?" Kagome asked as she pointed out from the paper that the gaming department wasn't included.

"No. We are doing one but for tech students... But we'll host your internship at our office since it's quite central in Tokyo."

"Are students from all over Tokyo going to be there?"

"Yes, but preference is for our affiliated universities such as Meiji, Shirayanagi, Asakura, and Daimonji."

'So only the top universities.' She stared at the paper for some time. "I think I'll do it."

"Are you sure? There's a lot to consider." He asked vulnerably. He didn't want ger to feel any kind of pressure just because he was asking. Her job and studies are hectic enough. But still, he highly recommended the internship.

"Yes, I have considered it. I'll have to juggle, but it's just two weeks and not on weekends. I'll figure it out. Plus, you get the certificate as well, so that's cool. Ahem. I mean after the experience, of course. Experience is the coolest. That's what matters." She sheepishly added.

"Great, fill the online form in the coming two or three days, and then you'll be admitted." Kagome nodded.

"Sure will."

"Should we get going now? It's 5 already." Kagome gave him a thumbs-up. "I'll tell her to get the bill. And please, I'll pay for the drinks."

Kagome sighed. She was not going to have that argument again and nodded in agreement. Kagome watched the flirty waitress put down the bill after inquiring if they wanted something else. 'Honoka.' Kagome read her name tag.

"She has been eyeing you the whole time," Kagome said as she took money out of her wallet while he did the same.

"The waitress? Yeah, I noticed." He replied nonchalantly. "She cooled down a bit when she saw you here, but got her game back on when I began with the tips and you started scribbling notes. Probably understood that we are, luckily for her, not what she expected."

Kagome blinked and then burst into laughter, and he gave out a laugh as well. "Oh my god! Natsume-san, you so-called goody goody!" He smirked at this. "Ah, I should know that it's the silent people like you who turn out to be this smug."

"I was right, wasn't I?" He asked her, while she tried to stifle a laugh. "Because I think you noticed it as well."

Kagome was taken aback. "How did you know that I thought the same thing?"

"Well, first of all, you're a woman, and women tend to see through each other in mere seconds." Kagome nodded impressively. "Secondly, you get that look on your face, a playful smile when you figure out something."

Kagome covered her mouth. "I do? Does that give away my poker face?"

'People as genuine as you never have a poker face.' But he didn't tell her that. "No, your poker face is safe. The smile is the only thing."

"Well, well, Mr Asahina, seems like you have figured out women all over." She smirked as they got up while that waitress took the bill.

"Not all of them- my mother being the leading example." Kagome laughed out loud. "But I do know that you said my last name on purpose so that it'll be easier for the waitress to find me since she has, possibly, already heard you saying my first name."

"Yeah, I did. You aren't on Tinder, are you?"

He chuckled. "No need to set me up, thank you. Come on, I'll drop you home."

*BONUS*

Natsume's tips noted by Kagome:

1) Maintain score. Be in the top 5. Or 3*

2) Consitently read about your subjects. Not only notes but the general material available.

3) Be updated on current affairs.* Read newspaper.

-Download BBC News, HBR, NYT, World Economic Forum apps.

-Open Twitter a/c. Follow: Bloomberg, Business Insider, The New York Review, UNICEF, Reuters, BBCNews, NatGeo.

4) Make to-do lists for daily, weekly, monthly basis. Commit to them.

5) Join clubs: Debate, entrepreneurship, literary, elocution, Japanese, sports, cultural union, etc.

6) Look for internships or certificate courses. Pay attention to the universities that offer them.

7) Learn 1 language (Mandarin, Spanish, Italian, Russian)

8) Practise technical subjects like mathematics and accounting steadily.

9) Watch: Up In The Air, Shark Tank, Suits, Sherlock, Primal Fear, Devil Wears Prada, Silicon Valley, etc. (Will give others later). Observe the technicalities in the plot, behaviours of people, etc.

10) Read books. If about the subjects, great. (Start with 'How to win friends and influence people' by Dale Carnegie). But other than that, read literature. * Becoming by Michelle Obama, Crazy Rich Asians series by Kevin Kwan, etc.

11) Improve soft skills.* Engage in conversations, speeches, etc.

12) Improve vocab.*

13) Start a blog. About anything. *

14) Economic and share market concepts. Read, research- Theory and practical.

15) Exercise*

16) Learn chess, Jenga, Morse code, sign language (For leisure and brain exercise)*

17) Practise for GMAT (from 2nd year). For now, check the syllabus, subjects, requirements, etc.

18) Try to determine a major.

19) Don't hate Natsume-san after this long list.

Am I improving by any chance? Lol. Thank you for reading.