Kagome

Sango let out another squeal from the link speaker. Kagome just held the phone away from her ear until her friend's gushing died down some. Sure it had been some time since she had been on a date but this was a little dramatic, even from Sango, and this wasn't even a date! She flipped Inuyasha's card over and over in her hand.

"He's just filling in for Sesshomaru," Kagome said again, trying to convince herself of it just as much as Sango.

"Oh, Kagome! Don't be so blind. If it's anything like what you told me the guy seemed more than happy to 'fill in'. And not just any guy either. Inuyasha of all people! You're going on a date with the back to back winner of Bachelor of the Year, ya know? That's a big deal! Where are you guys going anyway?"

Kagome flipped the business card over again.

Inuyasha Tenzo

Co-Chief Executive Officer of Tenzo HQ

Sesshomaru hadn't told her about Inuyasha heading the company with him. Kagome had wanted to ask him about it tonight but Inuyasha had completely distracted her from her mission They didn't keep secrets from each other. At least, they hadn't before her long tour. She hadn't been there for his father's death, when she thought he had probably needed someone the most. Could that have caused a void to grow between them? She would make it up to him somehow. Going out with his bother wasn't such a great start. Groaning, Kagome threw the card out beside her on the bed.

"I should cancel."

"Noooo! Kagome, you can't! You have to go so you can tell me all about him."

That got a laugh from her. "Hey, you're supposed to be my support."

"I can do that and live vicariously through you at the same time."

Kagome laughed again. "I'll keep that in mind. I don't know, Sango. I don't want to make too big of a deal about it but-"

"You felt the spark didn't you?"

She bit into her lip, chewing out her stress. "Spark is an understatement."

Sango just squealed out her excitement again, completely ignoring the obvious tension from Kagome. "You've got the world in your palm right now, girlie. Principle dancer in the company, a teaching offer at your favorite studio, and you've snagged the hottest guy alive right now? Just let me live 2 days in your shoes. 48 hours, that's all I would need."

"I haven't snagged anybody. Listen, I wasted all my time complaining to you and ran out of time to cancel without being too obvious." She tried to let the laugh Sango let out calm her. "I'll text you when I get home."

"If you don't I'll only assume you let your ever burning passion consume you and let him-"

Kagome cut the line and tried to settle herself. Not a date, she reminded herself and took up the business card again. She keyed in his number for a text.

hey, i can be ready in an hour -k

That was pretty casual, right? That's what she was going to try for tonight. Just a light casual hang with a total stranger she happened to be attracted to. Sango had insisted that the tension she had described to her just had to be attraction. Her link dinged.

Cool, catch you later. -I

She stared at it for a long minute before sighing. Definitely too late now.

Kagome dragged herself to her closet. The new space felt bare even with her old possessions in it. The shrine would always be a home to her but Kagome doubted it was appropriate to live with her mother anymore. She sent him her address and tossed the phone on the bed. "Just another change to add in to the mix, yeah, Taieki?"

The white fuzz ball that had taken up the warm spot on her bed mewed, stretching to settle for a quick nap. A housewarming gift from Souta.

"You might not know this yet but I am very casual. In fact," she picked through some hangers until she found what she had in mind.