Risky Business
*BEEP, BEEP, BEEP*
The constant drone of her alarm finally reached Kagome's ears through the bleary haze of sleep that filled her head. Groaning, she sat up in bed, smacking her hand down on the little contraption that had disturbed her beauty sleep.
Still in her every morning daze, she mechanically stood and started her coffee machine then made her way to the bathroom. After a quick cold shower, her system was finally into wakefulness.
"Stupid morning. Why does it have to be so blasted early?" Kagome said as she slipped into her uniform and shoes. She inhaled deeply as she took a whiff of her coffee before sipping the dark liquid, savoring the burning sensation that went down her throat. Sighing in resignation, she quickly gulped down the rest of her drink from her small cup and snatched up her keys, hastening out the door.
"Have a nice day at school, Kara-chan!" Kagome called over her shoulder, passing a small girl in the hallway.
"Catch some bad guys for me, Kagome-chan!" Kara returned smiling as Kagome rushed down the steps with her thumb raised in her usual 'you-betcha' salute.
Kagome knew she was pushing it this morning, so brushed her hair in the car and even managed to pull her great mass of raven hair into a ponytail at a stop-sign. Even with her speed, she still arrived later than expected at work. She ushered herself inside, hurriedly grabbing a cup of coffee and a chocolate-filled donut, knowing it belonged to someone else.
"Yo, Kag.!"
She turned, seeing Sango waving at her across the room, and hurried over to see what she wanted while eating quickly between small sips of scalding bitter coffee. She smiled as she made it there, just finishing the last few bites of her donut.
Sango looked at the donut that was already almost half eaten and her eyes widened.
"Kagome, you do know whose donut you just ate, right?"
Kagome quickly covered her mouth before she could cough up her coffee all over Sango. When she had recovered, she gave her a sheepish smile. Sango gave her a scolding look and opened her mouth to speak to say something before Kagome cut her off.
"Nobody will know unless someone tells him," she said with a pointed look.
Sango sighed and shook her head. "One of these days, you're going to get caught and I won't be there to save your butt."
Kagome gave her a grateful smile as she finished off the coffee in her hand. "So, what's the scoop this morning?" she asked conversationally.
Sango shrugged. "The captain is having some trouble assigning new partners for the people who lost theirs. There have been some break-ins down by the old music stores; nothing big."
Kagome looked down quickly before asking, "And Kouga?"
Her friend's eyes softened as she said gently, "He's going to be out of the chase for a couple of months. They think he's fractured his spine as well."
She just nodded in response not lifting her head.
"Sango, my love! What a beautiful morning made so by your ever-present self."
She just rolled her eyes as her partner walked up to her with his coffee mug in hand.
"Sleep well, dear?" he asked suggestively as he put an arm around her shoulders.
Sango sighed in resignation.
He inched a bit closer to her, letting one hand slide down her back. "You know, if you didn't, I'd be happy to—"
*SMACK*
"Bothersome hentai. Can't keep your lecherous hands to yourself," Sango mumbled as she walked away, a deep blush on her cheeks.
Kagome shook her head, laughing lightly at the man's attempts.
"Miroku, you should know better by now."
He shrugged. "I guess my hands just can't resist the beauty that surrounds me daily. Say, Kagome," he started, sidling up to her, "we might--"
"No way. Keep all hands and body parts to yourself, monk," she said, following in Sango's footsteps. She called over her shoulder as she continued to walk, "You would get more than just a slap from me if you don't watch those hands."
Miroku really wasn't a monk; that was just their units' nickname for him. It started because of the prayer beads he kept on his right hand when he joined the force. Then it went on because everyone knew about his wandering hands. His supposed 'innocent' features made up the full package. Really, the only person he seemed to grope was Sango, but he did get carried away in his speech around other women.
Just as Kagome reached her cubicle, Rin, the captain's secretary, came up to her.
Her cute childish features threw you off when you thought about her being on the force. Shoulder length brown hair, innocent hazel eyes, and a heart-shaped face completed her countenance, blending well with her athlete's small, petite form. Even with her youthful appearance, she was as hard as they come when it came to work.
"Kagome-chan, the captain wants you in his office pronto," she said with a polite smile and walked away.
Kagome's face fell. Anxiety tingled through all of her limbs as she turned around and slowly headed toward his office. A feeling of dread filled the pit of her stomach as she knocked on the door.
"Come in," a deep, cold voice said.
She gulped audibly and opened the door slowly, trying to prolong not meeting with him. When she had the door opened just enough for her to slip through, she squeezed inside and silently shut the door behind her.
"You wanted to see me, Sesshoumaru-sama?" she asked meekly.
He sat as his desk, his long silver hair unfairly beautiful, amber eyes cold and emotionless, and face void of all expression. Barely anything decorated the harshly businesslike room with the exception of a few pictures or trophies. One small chair was set in front of the tall desk, making him seem more intimidating.
"Sit down, Higurashi."
Obediently, she walked to the chair and sat, raising her head only enough for her to see him.
"Now,"--she waited for a reprimand—"we both know that Kouga will not be back for this case or any other for some time, so I, Sesshoumaru, have taken the responsibility to assign you a new partner."
She continued to wait for the scolding, as she sat listening to him giving her instruction, barely paying attention because of her anxious state. But the last statement he made brought her back with a crash.
"Inuyasha shall now be your newly assigned co-worker."
"W-What?!"
He stared at her coldly. "You heard me. He has been solo for long enough. It would be good for him."
"B-But he hates me! He's always trying to beat me on every case we do! This pairing would go down the drain!"
"Higurashi, there is no need to raise your voice. In this close proximity, I can hear you quite well."
Lowering her voice, she continued harshly, "You know we don't work well together. The first time you tried that, we nearly brought down an entire unit because he kept thinking I was Kikyou. We both know how explosive he is. That's why I was reassigned with Kouga."
"None the less, you will work with him. He needs to keep his personal life his own and not mix it up with work." She was about to speak again when he said, "You are dismissed."
Her mind screamed at her to protest until he got it through his thick skull that she just wasn't compatible with Inuyasha, but instead, she stood, nearly knocking over the chair she was in, and left the room as fast as her legs would go at the moment. Once out, she started her search for Sango, needing a sympathetic ear. She found her at her cubicle going over some papers that were scattered over her desk.
Without warning she said, "He put me up with Inuyasha."
Sango shook her head and looked up at Kagome. "What?"
"Inuyasha is my new partner." She dropped into the chair in front of Sango's desk and put her head between her hands, settling her elbows on the edge of the desk. "I don't think I can do it. He's such a jerk, and we all know what happened the last time we were partners." She sighed her stress, totally at a loss for what to do.
Sango patted her arm sympathetically. "I wouldn't be too worried. As they say, you learn from your mistakes. Maybe it won't be as bad."
Kagome huffed at that. "Whatever. I might as well die now instead of letting him try to kill me; make my death quick and painless before he tries to torture me."
"C'mon, Kagome. It's not that bad. Just give it time; you'll see. Now, I have work to do and I know you do to so you might as well get started." Sango gave Kagome's arm one more pat before she turned her full attention back to the paperwork scattered around her.
Kagome stood and made her way to the lounge to refill her coffee mug.
The counter was against the far wall, facing the door. A small square table was set in the middle of the room with a couple of chairs surrounding it and a few more chairs pressed against the walls.
As she grabbed the coffee-dispenser, Sesshoumaru walked in with his own mug. A few other cops milled about in the small space, but all Kagome saw was him.
He looked about the room, glancing at everyone then settled on the empty plate on the table.
"Who ate my donut?" he asked in his monotone voice.
She nearly burned her hand as she set the dispenser back on the burner and rushed out of the room with a slight embarrassed blush on her cheeks. Gratefully, she reached her cubicle and hid her face behind her papers to begin working.
Yay, nay? I hope you liked it. Took me long enough, but I finally got it out. My bro is coming home today and he called to tell you ***REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW*** Well, maybe not, but you could still do it for me, right? ^^* Tell me whatcha think so far!