When Kagome woke up this morning, she was nervous but thrilled to start her new job. She got up early, ate a hearty breakfast and drank two mugs of delicious life saving coffee. She got ready and headed to the research faculty.
Her day went rather smoothly. She met the team she would be working with. They were 6 including her. They all seemed friendly and as passionate as her about their researches. One of them showed her around the office that was designed for them. It was a huge open office, with 6 desks and everything you would need to work.
After she was done setting up her work space, she received her ID card. Why do we always look bad on these? she thought when she saw her picture on the plastic card. She was also given access to a laptop that she could bring back home to work if she needed to.
Kagome had her first meeting with her team where they welcomed her properly. She learned the main points they were currently working on, as well as references to past studies that were the foundations of their research. She was relieved to know that for the two first weeks, she would have to read what was done so far and then would be assigned her personal tasks.
After her first day, she was really tired. There was so many things to remember and the adrenaline rush of the initial stress had wore off hours ago. She decided to ride the bus back home.
On her way back, she noticed that the bus was passing in front of the Wolf's lair. She didn't know what got into her but she rang for the next stop.
Once outside, she hesitated. Why did she get off the bus here and not at the stop near her appartment? Did she really want to go to the bar right after work? Unlike last time, she wasn't with Sango and didn't really have a reason to go...
I don't need a reason to go! I just want to unwind after this stressful day. she thought, convincing herself.
She entered in the bar and went to sit on a high stool at the counter. The bar was almost empty and nobody was actually behind the counter. She looked at her phone and realized it was not quite the time for happy hour yet.
Inuyasha emerged from a door near the refrigerators with three boxes of beers in his arms. He put them down to open the first fridge he needed to refill when he caught a rather pleasant smell. He turned around and saw Kagome. Heh I didn't hear her come in. Damn hat that muffles the sounds! he thought.
"Hey Kagome. Sorry I didn't see you come in." the hanyo said, wiping his hands on his jeans.
"Hey Inuyasha! I've only been here for 5 minutes, no worries!"
"Ok. What can I get you? Do you need another "my friend abandoned me to hook up" or maybe a bloody Mary?" he asked with a crooked smile.
Kagome chuckled. "Neither. I would actually need a coffee. I'm exhausted and my head is so full it might explode."
"Oi, don't spill brain matter on the counter I just wiped!"
Kagome chuckled, rolling her eyes. "I'll try!"
"What kind of coffee do you want?"
"Just a regular filter coffee."
"Alright. Be right back." Inuyasha said as he went to the professional coffee brewer that was on the other side of his workspace.
A few minutes later, the hanyo put down a clear glass high mug on a coaster in front of Kagome. "There you go."
The black haired girl looked down at her coffee and was surprised to see a three layers coffee, topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with vanilla sugar.
"Hum Inuyasha? That's not what I ordered..."
"Keh. I thought a special occasion needed a special coffee." he answered.
"Special occasion?" the woman asked, a bit confused.
"Your first day of work you dummy! And don't worry about the price, it's on me."
Kagome blushed slightly and smiled at the hanyo. "T-Thank you, Inuyasha."
"Yeah no problem." The hanyo left to finish refilling the fridges.
She took a sip of her drink and sighed. This stuff was heaven! The coffee was strong but creamy an sugary, with a subtle taste of vanilla and Bailey's.
"Oh my that's exactly what I needed right now." she thought out loud.
Soon after, Inuyasha, an opened can of soda in hand, got around the bar counter and sat on the high stool next to Kagome.
"Thanks really for the coffee, it was delicious and I feel a little bit more awake now."
"Good. I hope you don't mind the company." the hanyo answered.
"Not at all!"
They sat in silence for a few minutes. Kagome didn't realise she was staring at Inuyasha.
The ladder broke the silence. "You can ask me three questions."
"W-What?" the woman answered, confused.
"I know you're dying to ask questions about my origins. You can ask three." he said, looking at her.
"Oh! Huh... Hum... Ok. Let's see...Hum... How old are you exactly?" she asked.
"In human years... A little over 450 years old."
"Wait. What? This much? You don't look that old!" she exclaimed.
Inuyasha chuckled. "Even if I'm a hanyo, I age like yokais, thanks to my father. I don't know exactly how old this makes me if I compare to humans life span, but I'd say around 30 years old. I'm still quite young."
"Wow... It's... impressive really. You must have seen a lot in your life... And also outlived a lot of people you know..." said Kagome, with a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"Well... Yes but I'm more a solitary kind of guy so... Not that much really." he answered softly. He cleared his throat. "Ok next question!"
"Ok hum... Having lived that long, do you have kids?"
Inuyasha almost spat his 7up sip. "W-What kind of question is that? Of course not!"
"I'm sorry! I just... I just thought you could have had girlfriends or wives in the past so we never know..." answered Kagome, a bit flustered.
"Keh! Whatever. I've never been married or anything like that anyway, and I've always been careful." the hanyo replied, not looking at the girl beside him. "Last question."
"O-ok. Apart from longevity and your apparent traits, what else did you get from your father?"
Inuyasha scratched his head, thinking. "Well... I have a great sense of smell and hearing. I need less sleep than humans do and I have way more stamina. My body is stronger and I heal pretty fast. I... I can do some attacks with my claws but I haven't used those for maybe 100 years?"
Kagome's eyes lit up.
"Wow I'm really impressed honestly! I've read a lot about special habilities of yokais and hanyos but I never thought I would meet someone like you. You're truly exceptional, you know?"
Inuyasha blushed slightly.
"Keh. No I'm not. I just managed to survive until now, that's all."
"Well I still think it's amazing. Are you the only one of your family who survived?"
"I already have answered your 3 questions." replied the hanyo.
"Aw come on! Just this one and I'll stop bothering you."
"Nope. My mouth is sealed."
"Please...?" answered Kagome, trying to do Sango's kitten eyes.
"Arf why do girls always do this? It's annoying."
The woman continued to fix him without a word, hoping he would give in.
"Keh! As if I would fall for that trick... Stop that."
Kagome didn't budge. After a few minutes, Inuyasha sighed dramatically. "Ah damn it!... Ok look. I finish to work in two hours. I will answer more of your questions but only if we go eat dinner together."
He was looking straight at her, waiting for her reply.
Kagome was sure her face was red. She try to act unaffected. "Well... Ok. Where?"
"My place."
The black haired girl didn't answer.
Great move Inuyasha. Now she'll think you're a perv." he thought.
"That is if you don't mind! Don't think I have something else in mind!!" Inuyasha exclaimed, waving his hands in front of him like he was trying to disperse invisible smoke. "I... I just can't stand having my ears covered more than I have to. I was planning to order pizza anyway...so?"
"Ok pizza sounds nice. Should I meet you here or...?" she asked.
"Yup. At 8:15 pm. We can then walk to my place. Now I have to go back to work or Koga will annoy me."
"Alright! See you later!" said Kagome, waving at him while heading to the exit.
