Hi, Honey Bee here! He, he. . . uh, yeah, it's been about two months since
my last update. I apologize. School started and, well, any chances to work
on my stories were, well, gone. -_- But, now I've gotten into a good daily
schedule, and I can finish! But hey, don't get ahead of yourself - I still
have a lot of writing to do.
Ch. 8, finally up! Sorry it's so short, but it was necessary. Please Review! Reviews keep me inspired! ^_^
Chapter 8 The Dress
Kagome had to stay late for work later that day, due to her missed work, and it was getting to be around 9:30. The shop was practically dark, except for her work lamp which's bulb was now scalding hot because it had been burning for so long.
Kagome sighed as she finished her last basket, set it aside, gathered her purse, and clicked off her lamp.
There was just enough light from the street lamps outside so she could see to lock up and get out of the place. She went into the front room and looked right over the figure that was waiting for her in the shadows.
"Higurashi?" it said.
She screamed, but her scream was muffled by a strong had that wrapped cautiously around her mouth. She found the thumb of the hand and bit down hard, and the hand immediately left her mouth and a number of curses filled the dark room. Kagome then realized that she recognized the beautiful - and once again agitated - male voice.
"Ses - Sesshoumaru?"
"Yes, dammit!"
Kagome gasped and hurriedly found a light switch. "Shimatta, Tokunawa-san, what the hell were you doing, scaring me like that?!"
"I came here, " he said as he turned to face her, "to ask you something. I tried you at your apartment and no one answered, and I also called here, but no one answered, as well." He held his thumb, which now had deep purple and blue-ish teeth marks imbedded in it. "I decided to come to look for you, and I saw a light from the back room. The shop was unlocked, so I came in." He was still wincing at the pain in his thumb.
"How long were you waiting?" She reached for his thumb unconsciously, to see the damage she had done.
"I just got in here, " he jerked his hand away from her, "a minute ago."
"Let me see!" she grabbed his hand firmly, and Sesshoumaru sighed, defeated. He stood there limply as she inspected his thumb.
"It needs ice," she concluded. She chewed her lip, as if she was unsure of her next decision. "Why don't you come back to my apartment with me, and I'll get some for it, ne? It's the least I can do."
He nodded, slightly pissed, as the pain in his thumb began to fade into a dull throb.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
His thumb throbbed with pain when Kagome put the ice pack on it, but Sesshoumaru barely flinched, for he was getting used to the soreness of it. She sat down beside him on the small pale-yellow couch. "What did you want to ask me?"
Sesshoumaru almost laughed at the irony of it all, suppressed it, then answered. "There is a benefit event for a book we just finished publishing this Thursday. I wanted to know if you would like to accompany me."
Kagome smacked her forehead and blushed, smiling. She kept her hand over her eyes for a moment, removed it and looked at him sheepishly. "I doubt you still want me to come with you, now, ne?"
"No. What happened was a misunderstanding. I will still appreciate your joining me on Thursday."
Kagome smiled at him. He didn't smile back, but raised his eyebrows almost impatiently.
"I'd love to come with you." she sighed. "But aren't those formal?"
Sesshoumaru nodded.
"Hmm," she rested her chin on her fist, "that only gives me a day to find a dress. . . "
"Don't worry about that, "he answered simply, standing up.
Kagome followed him to the door. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, don't worry about it." He said it with an edge that he only got when he had to repeat himself. "I would really like you to come so you can see what is involved with promoting a book. "
Kagome nodded understandingly. "Hey, I'm sorry about your thumb."
"I'll live. The benefit starts at eight. I'll be here then."
"Okay. . . goodbye."
"Hn."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kagome leaned against the door after she shut it behind Sesshoumaru, and her eyebrows drew together. What did he mean, don't worry about a dress? Did he want her to wear her jeans, then? She snorted at the thought as she returned to the couch.
She plopped down on it and leaned back, looking up at the ceiling. She wasn't unnerved at his invitation, but something was making her uncomfortable. Sesshoumaru confused her very much. When he was around his brother, he talked more, mostly to spit insults at the younger man. When they were together on business, he was more formal than usual, and was never unkind to her, but wasn't warm either. And finally. . . when there was no InuYasha or a novel bringing them together, he talked less and was very short with her, yet was more emotional and personal, somehow.
At times, his questions confused her. For one, that day on the bench he'd wanted to know what she saw in InuYasha. And his motives were sometimes suspicious. He had unknowingly been successful at breaking she and her former boyfriend up, and - wait. Why would he ask her to be his date if he knew nothing of their break-up? Of course, though, he'd never actually said "date". . . he wanted her to "accompany" him. And, she remembered, he wanted her to "see what is involved with promoting a book."
Okay, Kagome, she thought to herself, let's see what happens.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The next day. . .
"Kagome-san?" Mitsuko entered the back room softly.
Without looking up, Kagome replied, "Nani?"
"A package came for you."
Kagome then looked up suddenly to see Mitsuko standing in the door way with a fairly large, flat package in her hands. She got up and smiled excitedly at the other girl as she took the package into her own hands. She motioned with her head for Mitsuko to follow her to her desk, and before she knew it, all the girls in the back room were gathered around Kagome and the package, anxious to see it's contents. They chattered excitedly as Kagome untied the silky red bow from around the package, took the top off the box, cleared the tissue paper, and saw. . . "A dress!" Sango gasped.
"Who's it from?!" Judy giggled.
Kagome looked down at the dress, smiled, and sighed. Sesshoumaru, she answered in her mind. She carefully picked the dress up, it's black fabric soft and slinky against her fingertips. She held the shoulders of the dress and let it's length unfold to the floor. All the girls gasped yet again at the dress's gracefulness, and classy appeal, but also at how it was still simple. Jet black from collar to hem, it sparkled just right, and the girls squealed and giggled when Kagome held it up to her frame, just under her chin. "How does it look?"
"It goes great with your hair!" Sango said.
"It's just your size!" Judy giggled again.
"Go try it on!" Julia suggested. The other girls agreed and followed Kagome into the bathroom. Kagome changed into the dress, and when she was finished, she unlocked her stall and stepped out. She stared at the other girls, and they just smiled and sighed, and as Kagome turned her gaze to her reflection in the mirror, she couldn't help but gasp. She looked beautiful. She smiled and stepped closer to the mirror, turning around and admiring the way the dress fit her body.
"Kagome, you never said who it was from." Sango said as she stepped up beside her friend.
Kagome stared back at herself in the mirror and replied, "Sesshoumaru."
"Who?" the others all questioned at once.
"Tokunawa?!" Sango gasped when Kagome nodded. "Why would he send you such a gift?!"
Kagome explained about the benefit the next night and who Sesshoumaru was, to the others who still didn't know.
"But why would your editor buy you a dress?" Judy asked, still a little confused.
Kagome eyed her and shrugged. "I commented on how I only had a day to find one, and he told me not to worry about it. I guess this is what he meant. Sort of an - apology for asking me at the last minute."
Kagome changed back into her clothes and everyone returned to their desks, Judy staying behind in the front room to explain to Kaede why the girls had suddenly just stopped working. When Kagome began to wrap the dress back up, she reached down to gather some spare tissue paper that had escaped to the floor. When she picked it up she found a small card under it that she had missed. She picked it up and read:
Kagome,
I hope you have shoes.
Sesshoumaru
Kagome smiled. Luckily, she did.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The next night. . .
Sesshoumaru stood in front his mirror for one last check-up. He straitened the bow tie once more, and ran his hands over the tux to straighten any small wrinkles out. There. Now he looked presentable.
He wondered faintly what InuYasha thought about Kagome going to this event with him. Knowing Kagome, she probably told him about it - but then again, he didn't really know Kagome all that well. . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kagome was putting her earrings in when she heard a not-so-unexpected knock at the door. She checked herself one last time in the mirror (again admiring the great dress), and rushed into the living room to answer the door.
The look on Sesshoumaru's face was not one she had expected. In fact, there wasn't a look at all, just a satisfaction. A sort of look that told her he wasn't surprised at all. Kagome wasn't exactly sure what to make of it, and in turn tried to ignore it. "Hi."
"Good evening. Are you ready?"
"Uh, yes, just - let me grab my purse. . . "
She took a few steps into the kitchen to retrieve her purse, then returned. Sesshoumaru eyed her body - wait, no he was actually looking at the dress, and he inquired, a little sarcastically, "I trust the dress fit?"
Kagome smiled. "Yes, perfectly. I, um. . . I'm really not sure how to accept it. Except to say thank you. It's really beautiful. . . "
He looked at her, waiting for her to finish. When he presumed she was done, he replied, softly. "Be careful in it. It's a rental. And. . . " he offered his arm to her so he could lead her out the door, "your welcome. "
Ch. 8, finally up! Sorry it's so short, but it was necessary. Please Review! Reviews keep me inspired! ^_^
Chapter 8 The Dress
Kagome had to stay late for work later that day, due to her missed work, and it was getting to be around 9:30. The shop was practically dark, except for her work lamp which's bulb was now scalding hot because it had been burning for so long.
Kagome sighed as she finished her last basket, set it aside, gathered her purse, and clicked off her lamp.
There was just enough light from the street lamps outside so she could see to lock up and get out of the place. She went into the front room and looked right over the figure that was waiting for her in the shadows.
"Higurashi?" it said.
She screamed, but her scream was muffled by a strong had that wrapped cautiously around her mouth. She found the thumb of the hand and bit down hard, and the hand immediately left her mouth and a number of curses filled the dark room. Kagome then realized that she recognized the beautiful - and once again agitated - male voice.
"Ses - Sesshoumaru?"
"Yes, dammit!"
Kagome gasped and hurriedly found a light switch. "Shimatta, Tokunawa-san, what the hell were you doing, scaring me like that?!"
"I came here, " he said as he turned to face her, "to ask you something. I tried you at your apartment and no one answered, and I also called here, but no one answered, as well." He held his thumb, which now had deep purple and blue-ish teeth marks imbedded in it. "I decided to come to look for you, and I saw a light from the back room. The shop was unlocked, so I came in." He was still wincing at the pain in his thumb.
"How long were you waiting?" She reached for his thumb unconsciously, to see the damage she had done.
"I just got in here, " he jerked his hand away from her, "a minute ago."
"Let me see!" she grabbed his hand firmly, and Sesshoumaru sighed, defeated. He stood there limply as she inspected his thumb.
"It needs ice," she concluded. She chewed her lip, as if she was unsure of her next decision. "Why don't you come back to my apartment with me, and I'll get some for it, ne? It's the least I can do."
He nodded, slightly pissed, as the pain in his thumb began to fade into a dull throb.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
His thumb throbbed with pain when Kagome put the ice pack on it, but Sesshoumaru barely flinched, for he was getting used to the soreness of it. She sat down beside him on the small pale-yellow couch. "What did you want to ask me?"
Sesshoumaru almost laughed at the irony of it all, suppressed it, then answered. "There is a benefit event for a book we just finished publishing this Thursday. I wanted to know if you would like to accompany me."
Kagome smacked her forehead and blushed, smiling. She kept her hand over her eyes for a moment, removed it and looked at him sheepishly. "I doubt you still want me to come with you, now, ne?"
"No. What happened was a misunderstanding. I will still appreciate your joining me on Thursday."
Kagome smiled at him. He didn't smile back, but raised his eyebrows almost impatiently.
"I'd love to come with you." she sighed. "But aren't those formal?"
Sesshoumaru nodded.
"Hmm," she rested her chin on her fist, "that only gives me a day to find a dress. . . "
"Don't worry about that, "he answered simply, standing up.
Kagome followed him to the door. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, don't worry about it." He said it with an edge that he only got when he had to repeat himself. "I would really like you to come so you can see what is involved with promoting a book. "
Kagome nodded understandingly. "Hey, I'm sorry about your thumb."
"I'll live. The benefit starts at eight. I'll be here then."
"Okay. . . goodbye."
"Hn."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kagome leaned against the door after she shut it behind Sesshoumaru, and her eyebrows drew together. What did he mean, don't worry about a dress? Did he want her to wear her jeans, then? She snorted at the thought as she returned to the couch.
She plopped down on it and leaned back, looking up at the ceiling. She wasn't unnerved at his invitation, but something was making her uncomfortable. Sesshoumaru confused her very much. When he was around his brother, he talked more, mostly to spit insults at the younger man. When they were together on business, he was more formal than usual, and was never unkind to her, but wasn't warm either. And finally. . . when there was no InuYasha or a novel bringing them together, he talked less and was very short with her, yet was more emotional and personal, somehow.
At times, his questions confused her. For one, that day on the bench he'd wanted to know what she saw in InuYasha. And his motives were sometimes suspicious. He had unknowingly been successful at breaking she and her former boyfriend up, and - wait. Why would he ask her to be his date if he knew nothing of their break-up? Of course, though, he'd never actually said "date". . . he wanted her to "accompany" him. And, she remembered, he wanted her to "see what is involved with promoting a book."
Okay, Kagome, she thought to herself, let's see what happens.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The next day. . .
"Kagome-san?" Mitsuko entered the back room softly.
Without looking up, Kagome replied, "Nani?"
"A package came for you."
Kagome then looked up suddenly to see Mitsuko standing in the door way with a fairly large, flat package in her hands. She got up and smiled excitedly at the other girl as she took the package into her own hands. She motioned with her head for Mitsuko to follow her to her desk, and before she knew it, all the girls in the back room were gathered around Kagome and the package, anxious to see it's contents. They chattered excitedly as Kagome untied the silky red bow from around the package, took the top off the box, cleared the tissue paper, and saw. . . "A dress!" Sango gasped.
"Who's it from?!" Judy giggled.
Kagome looked down at the dress, smiled, and sighed. Sesshoumaru, she answered in her mind. She carefully picked the dress up, it's black fabric soft and slinky against her fingertips. She held the shoulders of the dress and let it's length unfold to the floor. All the girls gasped yet again at the dress's gracefulness, and classy appeal, but also at how it was still simple. Jet black from collar to hem, it sparkled just right, and the girls squealed and giggled when Kagome held it up to her frame, just under her chin. "How does it look?"
"It goes great with your hair!" Sango said.
"It's just your size!" Judy giggled again.
"Go try it on!" Julia suggested. The other girls agreed and followed Kagome into the bathroom. Kagome changed into the dress, and when she was finished, she unlocked her stall and stepped out. She stared at the other girls, and they just smiled and sighed, and as Kagome turned her gaze to her reflection in the mirror, she couldn't help but gasp. She looked beautiful. She smiled and stepped closer to the mirror, turning around and admiring the way the dress fit her body.
"Kagome, you never said who it was from." Sango said as she stepped up beside her friend.
Kagome stared back at herself in the mirror and replied, "Sesshoumaru."
"Who?" the others all questioned at once.
"Tokunawa?!" Sango gasped when Kagome nodded. "Why would he send you such a gift?!"
Kagome explained about the benefit the next night and who Sesshoumaru was, to the others who still didn't know.
"But why would your editor buy you a dress?" Judy asked, still a little confused.
Kagome eyed her and shrugged. "I commented on how I only had a day to find one, and he told me not to worry about it. I guess this is what he meant. Sort of an - apology for asking me at the last minute."
Kagome changed back into her clothes and everyone returned to their desks, Judy staying behind in the front room to explain to Kaede why the girls had suddenly just stopped working. When Kagome began to wrap the dress back up, she reached down to gather some spare tissue paper that had escaped to the floor. When she picked it up she found a small card under it that she had missed. She picked it up and read:
Kagome,
I hope you have shoes.
Sesshoumaru
Kagome smiled. Luckily, she did.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The next night. . .
Sesshoumaru stood in front his mirror for one last check-up. He straitened the bow tie once more, and ran his hands over the tux to straighten any small wrinkles out. There. Now he looked presentable.
He wondered faintly what InuYasha thought about Kagome going to this event with him. Knowing Kagome, she probably told him about it - but then again, he didn't really know Kagome all that well. . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kagome was putting her earrings in when she heard a not-so-unexpected knock at the door. She checked herself one last time in the mirror (again admiring the great dress), and rushed into the living room to answer the door.
The look on Sesshoumaru's face was not one she had expected. In fact, there wasn't a look at all, just a satisfaction. A sort of look that told her he wasn't surprised at all. Kagome wasn't exactly sure what to make of it, and in turn tried to ignore it. "Hi."
"Good evening. Are you ready?"
"Uh, yes, just - let me grab my purse. . . "
She took a few steps into the kitchen to retrieve her purse, then returned. Sesshoumaru eyed her body - wait, no he was actually looking at the dress, and he inquired, a little sarcastically, "I trust the dress fit?"
Kagome smiled. "Yes, perfectly. I, um. . . I'm really not sure how to accept it. Except to say thank you. It's really beautiful. . . "
He looked at her, waiting for her to finish. When he presumed she was done, he replied, softly. "Be careful in it. It's a rental. And. . . " he offered his arm to her so he could lead her out the door, "your welcome. "