Jam and Marmalade
by Kei



AN: Thanks for all the reviews! *huggles* They make the pain of this gimpish wrist go away! :D

*mini rant* Why does my dad insist he can do computer-like stuff? It always ends up breaking anyway. So that's my excuse why the chapter didn't come out. The computer was broke. .

I'm too lazy. No email updates. Unless someone wants to do it for me. -_-;; *blaaah*


Genre: Romance, Drama, Humor

You know, I could come after you with an armadillo if you don't review ^-~

Disclaimer: Hmph.


Chapter Seven: Say What?

Kagome immediately tried to protest, but when Sango had that face on, there was no stopping her.

"Sesshoumaru's making you work as his maid so you can pay off some debt your family owns to his company," Sango guessed.

"Ehh, no..." Kagome gaped.

"You mean you're doing it voluntarily?"

"She's not my maid you baka," Sesshoumaru growled, seriously annoyed.

"Then you mean she's your-- Kagome! I've lost faith in you!"

"SANGO!!" Sesshoumaru and Kagome both yelled, thoroughly shutting her up.

"Will you PLEASE let me explain?" Her friend begged, extremely embarrassed. When Sango nodded sheepishly, she continued, "Well, there was this thing with the crazy old land lady who stuck us in the same apartment. Since neither of us wanted to go back home, we got stuck together."

Her roommate nodded shortly, confirming the situation and hopefully clearing his name. He didn't need HER telling stories about him.

Sango sighed in relief but looked warily at the quiet schoolmate, "I knew this guy was messed up, but I'm glad he's not a hentai like Miroku."

"What about you, eh?" Sesshoumaru grumbled under his breath.

Kagome looked between the two, confused. "Hey...how do you two know each other anyway?"

"Through my stupid half brother," the teen answered, but when Kagome only gave him a blank look, he continued, "Inuyasha. Didn't he tell you?"

"Err, no... I didn't know you guys were related! Wow..."

In fact, I don't know much about him at all...

+ + +

After that oh so exciting and eventful afternoon... came one boring evening. After dinner and kicking Sango out, Sesshoumaru and Kagome laid out on the living room floor and played Go Fish, the latter happily chattering about nothing in particular until she started talking about the earlier topic.

"It's so neat that you're related to Inuyasha! I never would've guessed you guys were related!"

"Not really..." Sesshoumaru looked down at his hand. "Got any fives?"

"Nope, go fish. So why don't you guys live together anymore?" Kagome wondered. She looked up, startled, as her roommate stood abruptly, his cards falling to the floor.

"I'm going to bed," he drawled, his tone cool and emotionless, but it was obvious he was pissed.

Kagome scrambled up and followed him, apologizing profusely but he paid no attention to her, walking to his room and rudely slamming the door in her face. When there was no response, he leaned against the door and sank until he sat heavily on the floor.

On the other side of the door, Kagome stood dumbfounded and hurt. It was just a question, she thought indignantly. He could have just as easily not answered.

Yet she knew it had been salt on an old wound that hadn't quite healed, and she trudged guiltily to her own room, pausing only once to look back at Sesshoumaru's closed door.

+ + +


That weekend was tension filled, at least when the two of them were in the house together. After several attempts to apologize, Kagome became frustrated and left the apartment. An afternoon with the gang let the situation at hand get pushed to the back of her head. On the other hand, Sesshoumaru, the lone wolf he was, stayed at home brooding.

It wasn't brooding over how Kagome had done him wrong, because she hadn't. Rather it was brooding over how he couldn't bring himself to apologize. It was like he couldn't bring himself to do it, because he was unsure of himself. Would she hate him; would she accept it? He couldn't understand himself anymore. Everything perfect was crumbling away.

The new girl was changing everything; Sesshoumaru's heart of ice was melting.


Glossary:
hentai = pervert


AN: Oh yeah, Inuyasha's in his human form in my story. That's why Kagome couldn't tell! Sorry for the short chapter! *sobs*

See you next time! ^-^ ~Kei