Disclaimer: Don't own him. Sick of saying this.
CHANGED THE CHAPTER!! If you've already read then skip down to the bottom after Inuyasha says "stay". The ending is different!
A.N: Warning: THIS CHAPTER SUCKS. I'm not kidding, it was incredibly hard for me to write and I don't think I did a very good job on it. It's also quite LONG, but Inu and Kag do meet in it, don't worry. I hate the way they interact in this chapter, but I'm too lazy to fix it. Seeing as this IS my first time writing the characters, I'll probably get more comfortable as I go on. Next chapter should prove to be a bit easier.
I don't usually do review responses, but I feel I have to in this case.
Ami: LOL this is basically why im doing these responses. Yes, very gross eh? Lol don't worry, that's the worst Miroku does in the story, and it doesn't have any graphic detail (as you've already read). I do NOT under any circumstances, write lemons. I don't have the experience (thank god for that) nor the maturity.
Chapter Ten
Stay With Me?
The first thing Kagome saw when she woke up was a pair of violet eyes peering down at her from the crook of their nose. With a shriek she toppled to the floor below, giving the guilty party who had woken her a dirty look.
"Miroku! You scared me half to death!" she sputtered angrily, struggling to get up and sit back on the edge of the recliner chair, bouncing a bit on the footrest.
Miroku grinned and waved a hand in apology. "Sorry, but I always do that to people, scaring them half to death brings some fun into my day!" Kagome couldn't help but giggle a bit at this, and she smiled warmly at Miroku.
"Thanks again for letting me stay here, I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't met you".
"Oh trust me, there are others you should thank besides me".
Kagome cocked her head to the left, unsure of what he meant. Sure there was the mystery man, but she could bet that he wasn't someone Miroku knew, that would just be TOO much of a coincidence. Shrugging off the matter, she leaned back into her chair. "So wasn't there somebody you wanted me to meet today?"
Miroku smiled and offered a hand. She took it and was instantly pulled to her feet. "Yes, actually there is. And if things work out well, I might be able to find a place for you to stay for awhile, if you're interested that is".
Kagome's eyes brightened considerably, and she jerked her head up and down eagerly. "Are you serious? Thank you so much Miroku, you have absolutely NO idea how much this would mean to me!" she couldn't believe her good fortune. I mean, what were the chances that she would just randomly end up in the apartment of such a nice man that may have a place for her to live? With her luck, she was surprised she hadn't ended up back at her father's house again!
She was dragged out of her thoughts by the ring of a telephone. Kagome glanced at a digital clock that sat atop the television to see that it was barely six in the morning.
"Who calls you this early?" she queried, stretching her arms over her head with a yawn.
"I'm betting it's a dear friend of mine, though he usually isn't up this early. Actually, he usually isn't up for hours! I wonder why he's calling?" Miroku mused thoughtfully.
"Well if you don't answer the phone you may never find out!" she pointed out smartly, and Miroku (realizing that she was absolutely right) barely managed to grab the phone on its fourth ring.
"Miroku speaking. What's up?"
"Miroku? Is that you?" a cranky sounding voice shot through the phone.
"I believe I just answered that," he answered with a wry grin. Inuyasha was definitely not a morning person.
"Right, I knew that. I just figured you'd probably be having the usual "company" over," the voice continued, causing Kagome to wonder what he was talking about. She looked back at the white sofa again and felt a sickening feeling rise in her stomach. She KNEW what he was talking about.
"Actually I do," chirped Miroku happily, causing Kagome to fervently protest into the phone.
"He's lying I tell you! Whoever you are, this man is a perverted liar! Eeep!" she finished, as she felt herself being pushed behind Miroku. She tapped her foot in annoyance.
"Your latest girl I presume?" upon hearing that, Kagome absolutely fumed.
"Nah, nah. She's.. a friend of mine," Miroku finished, seeing Kagome brighten at the thought of clearing her name with this mystery friend of his. "I wanted you to meet her actually. I have the funniest feeling that you two may know each other!"
"And I have funniest feeling that you're wrong!" repeated Inuyasha, mocking Miroku's voice perfectly.
"Well we'll see who's wrong later. Anyway, you must have had some reason for calling besides the usual argument. What is it?"
"Nothing big, just this damn dog is a hell lot more trouble then it's worth. I swear, I would have gotten rid of it by now if...," he trailed off.
"If?" prodded Miroku, making sure Kagome was out of hearing distance. Somehow he had the feeling Inuyasha might wring him by the neck if Kagome heard whatever he was going to confide next.
"I don't know. There was something about that girl that I couldn't say no to, and NO, not like that you perverted weasel. I mean she'd obviously been through a lot, I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her".
"But you usually don't give a rat's ass about homeless people. What makes her different?"
"Hey, I'll have you know that I gave a generous donation to some society for the homeless last year!"
"Yeah, but only because Kanna forced you".
"True," sighed Inuyasha, knowing he had lost yet another argument. Ever since he had taken a break from the business, his comebacks had paled in comparison to Miroku's. He really should insult people more, he needed the practice.
"Anyway, I don't know, maybe because I had met her once or twice before she was homeless. Besides, I kind of saved that dog twice before. Why kill it now?"
Miroku understood the reasoning behind Inuyasha's logic and dropped the matter. They continued to talk for a moment before Inuyasha "got to the damn point" as he himself would have said.
"Will you come up and help me out with this mutt or what?"
"Actually," began Miroku. "That's just why I wanted you to meet this friend of mine. She's obviously great with animals, and she's really sweet. I thought you might want her to help out a little".
"Oh, don't be stupid. Are you trying to set me up again? You do realize that I could walk out this door right now and pick up 100 dates in the blink of an eye?"
"My, somebody thinks quite highly of themself" .
"You do know that it's true though".
"I suppose you're right," Miroku conceded. Inuyasha WAS right after all, he very well COULD walk out the door and have half the girls in the city following him without even batting an eye. MORE then half most likely.
"Anyway, I wasn't trying to set you up. I merely thought you might need a bit of help with that dog of yours".
Inuyasha realized that he DID need help, and getting some gushy animal lover up in here might be exactly what Buyo needed to remind him of Malome (or whatever her name was). "Fine Miroku, send her up in ten minutes".
"She'll be there. Later!"
"Much".
The two boys clicked the phones back into their receivers, both happy with how the conversation had gone. Inuyasha had a dog sitter, and Miroku had an Inuyasha sitter. How much better could things get?
He crossed the few feet between the telephone and the recliner chair, in which Kagome happily lay dozing. My, she had certainly taken an attachment to the furniture. After a few gentle taps on the shoulder, Kagome immediately sat up, her eyes wide.
"No mom I wasn't sleeping I promise! I was just looking for a sock in the bed!" she shouted with the guilty look of someone who had been caught sneaking chocolate from the kitchen. After shaking her head a few times and coming to grips with her surroundings, she relaxed into a rueful smile.
"Sorry, I get like that sometimes. So... you done talking to your friend?"
"Yes in fact," Miroku grinned slyly. "He wants to see you in ten minutes".
"Well that's lovely... wait WHAT? Why?"
Miroku chuckled. "Let me finish. He recently became the owner of a small dog, and he really has no idea how to take care of it. I told him you were good with animals, and he said he'd be glad to have your help. I hope you don't mind me volunteering you".
'Translation,' Miroku began in his mind. 'He doesn't want the damned dog, he can't feign kindness to anything, especially a small animal, and he absolutely hates the idea of you coming up to see him. I only volunteered you because I want him out of my hair'. With a shake of his head, he turned back to Kagome, his usual calm smile intact.
Something tugged at Kagome's heart for a moment at the thought of having to work with a puppy. That was something she definitely didn't have the emotional strength to deal with right now. But how could she refuse after this man had been so hospitable to her? She decided she'd have to overcome this hump eventually and turned to Miroku with her usual gentle grin.
"That sounds great! What apartment is he in?"
"Penthouse suite," he began, getting the usual gasp from Kagome, "but you can't go up there just yet. You might want to erm... uhhh...," he wasn't sure how to finish this without getting Kagome mad at him.
"Change you mean?" she finished for him, holding back a giggle. He nodded quickly. "Not that there's anything wrong with how you look now, it's just that...," he trailed off, unable to think of anything else to say.
"It's all right Miroku. There's just one problem. I don't have any clothing!"
"No problem, my sister comes to visit sometimes and she's just about your size. You can go through her closet and pick out something you like".
"If your sister is anything like you, I don't really want to know WHAT kind of clothing she wears!" Kagome giggled playfully.
"Naw, go see for yourself," he waved her away. "Hurry up, he's expecting you soon!"
~*~
"All right Miroku, I'm heading out!" called Kagome as she opened the front door. She felt more alive and new that day then she had in ages. Her stringy black hair was now full and luscious as it framed her oval face perfectly. The haggard dirtiness had disappeared from her face, replaced by a refreshing "just got out of the shower" look that she hadn't been able to achieve in ages. To her good fortune, Miroku's sister was obviously a lot more like her then like her own brother. She had found an assortment of the kind of clothes she was used to, and she had a difficult time choosing which ensemble to wear. Finally deciding on a short blue skirt with a yellow blouse and a button up blue sweater, she slipped on a pair of light blue sandals and headed out the front door. Thank god for Miroku's sister.
Miroku watched her go, a smile plastered on his face. She was awfully pretty once she cleaned up a bit, but he refused to let his thoughts drift in THAT particular direction. Besides he had other, less perverted, plans for her. With a wry grin, he settled back on his favorite sofa (we all know why) for a good few hours of Home Shopping, with the occasional porno thrown in. With Inuyasha out of the way for awhile, he could finally get the privacy and relaxation he so often craved. Crossing his feet on the dirty table in front of him and letting his arms circle perfectly behind his head, he settled in for a perfect afternoon.
~*~
Meanwhile, after a thankfully uneventful trip on the elevator, Kagome found herself standing in the doorway of the penthouse apartment, a bit afraid to tell the truth. Even before her misfortunes she had always felt uncomfortable in the presence of such obviously rich people, and this guy must be the cream of the crop. She knew a girl such as herself had no place in a building like this, and CERTAINLY no place in the penthouse, the most expensive housing in the whole city of New York!
Reaching up to knock, she paused for a moment, unsure if she should. After a few more failed attempts, she summoned up enough courage to manage two quiet raps on the cherry wood door.
"What do you want?"
Well that certainly hadn't been expected. What she had expected was for some stoic butler to calmly answer the door and make her sit in the parlor until Master Whatshisname could take the time out of his busy life to chat with her.
Deciding she should probably answer the question, she spoke without thinking. "Miroku sent me!"
"Oh, you're the lovely dovey dog wench! Get your ass in here, Miroku said you'd be here five full minutes ago!"
"Gee, sorry for disgracing his royal majesty," she muttered under her breath, unaware that this "royal majesty" had excellent hearing.
"What was that?"
Recognizing that she'd been caught, she quickly tried to cover up her mistake. "Oh nothing, sorry I just tripped and didn't know what I was saying!" she laughed nervously.
Inuyasha snorted, clearly not believing a word of it. "Just get yourself in here, I don't have all day". Well technically he did have all day, but he sure as hell wasn't gonna admit it!
"Coming, coming, don't get your undies in a bunch!" she snapped out of the trance that the home had put her in. This apartment looked like something the president of the United States would have trouble affording! Fancy decorations peeked out from every corner, and almost everything was trimmed in solid gold. The furniture seemed almost untouchable, almost giving the impression that it would break after only one use. She was so completely awestruck by this palace that she almost didn't hear the sound that snapped her out of her mesmerized state in a mere instant.
It was the jingle of a dog collar.
She whipped her head around immediately, eager to spot her new charge. She hoped it wouldn't look anything like Buyo, she wasn't sure she could handle herself if it did. Craning her neck to see the approaching puppy, she nearly fainted dead away at the sight that lay before her.
A miniature white dog was rapidly running toward her, nearly tripping over its fluffy white legs. It was definitely young, you could tell in an instant by the clumsy way it ran, and the playful expression its face held, especially when greeting its master. And for the first time in awhile, Buyo finally had the pleasure of doing just that.
Kagome couldn't utter a single word as she watched the puppy awkwardly make its way toward her. Slowly, hesitant at the prospect of breaking her heart, she whispered a single word towards the puppy, her eyes brimming with hope and anxiety.
"Buyo?" she questioned softly. He gave her a familiar look accompanied by a pitiful whine that told Kagome that it was indeed Buyo. Slowly she opened her arms to her dear friend, enveloping him in a tight hug, her tear stained cheeks matting his fluffy coat.
"It's you! It's really you! Miroku must have known about you and that I'd find you here! THAT'S why he was acting so secretive about all this! Oh I'd kiss him right now!" she paused, realizing what she'd just said. "Better yet, I'll slap him a high five next time I see him!" she laughed through her joyful tears, thrilled that she had been reunited at last with the little animal.
Little did she realize that somebody else was watching this scene while leaning against the wall, his legs crossed and his arms folded over his chest. A smirk rested on the corners of his lips. So Miroku had been right about knowing her after all, he had to at least give him credit for that much. Now that the puppy had found his owner again, he could get them both out of his hair for good. The plan was flawless.
"I hate to interrupt this Kodak moment, but do you mind? Watching you two is beginning to sicken me".
Kagome looked up, hardly daring to think that she may be reunited with two friends in a single day. Looking up through her tear stricken eyes, she was definitely able to make out a familiar face.
"Master Whatshisname!" she beamed joyfully, running toward him at lightning speed and enveloping him in a friendly embrace. "You don't know how happy I am to see you right now! I was sure some freaky King who wanted my head lived here! And Miroku was nothing more then another one of his spies! And...," Inuyasha cut her off.
"Save your breath, I'm obviously not royalty, only close. Now will you tell me what you're doing here? And why you're dressed?
"What, you expected me to show up naked?"
A cocky smirk found its way across the man's lips. "No, unless you really wanted to". He had just earned himself an annoyed glare from the girl. Kagome shrugged and leaned back in her seat, proceeding to tell him the whole story from the man who had chased her (conveniently leaving out the identity of said man) to meeting Miroku, to the phone call that very morning.
"So, you didn't sleep with Miroku?" he asked incredulously.
Kagome gave him her best "exasperated" look. "Yes, Miroku and I stayed up all last night and made mad love to each other. Honestly, just who do you think I am?"
"Malome?" he guessed, hoping he had gotten the name right.
"It's Kagome you idiot".
"I'm betting you don't know my name either," the man finished smugly.
"Yes, because you never gave it to me. I must have told you three times by now that I'm Kagome, and you still can't get it through your head!"
"That's because I don't bother with annoying homeless bitches".
"Oh sure, make fun of the homeless girl. Well I'll have you know that just because you saved my ass does NOT give you the right to insult me whenever you want!" she concluded, glaring daggers at him. He gave a cocky snort and turned his head away from her, folding his arms over his chest once again. What a show off.
Yet, in this light, Kagome was sure she'd seen him somewhere before, and not just occasionally on the streets for less then three minutes time. She couldn't pinpoint exactly why this guy looked so familiar to her. Cocking her head to one side, she studied him for a few seconds more. Suddenly a lightbulb went off in her head. She knew exactly who he reminded her of!
"Has anybody ever told you that you have a remarkable resemblance to Inuyasha?"
"Funny you should say that," he turned back toward her, amusement in his amber eyes. One look into those golden brown eyes told Kagome everything. That was no "coincidental resemblance".
"You... you're INUYASHA?!" her eyes widened in amazement, her hand flying to cover her mouth in a gasp. THAT hadn't been expected at all.
Flashing her his best boyish grin, he used his favorite line when asked this oh so popular question.
"In the flesh babe". Her eyes widened more when she realized this was no prank. He grinned, knowing one of two things would happen.
She would jump him. Not that he would particularly mind of course. She, in all reality, was actually quite pretty when not in tatters. It would just be one less trip downtown.
She would faint, in which case he would calmly pick her up, deposit her and her fan stricken dreams outside the door, and ask Miroku to take her back. It worked either way.
What he was not expecting from her was a disgusted shriek, followed by frantic dusting of her clothing, he assumed to rid herself of the stench she had picked up when she hugged him. "Out of all the people in this city... it was YOU?" she cried in disbelief.
He looked at her in amazement. What was wrong with this girl?
"UGH! I can't believe I'm actually indebted to YOU of all people! Why me?" she groaned, unaware of the ever confused hanyou.
"But you don't even know me!"
She looked at him pointedly. "I don't HAVE to know you, nor do I have any desire to. I've heard enough about you to last a lifetime thanks very much. You fool the world into thinking you're such a kind, honorable person, then you sneak girls into your room when the public isn't looking. I'm onto you, k? I know what your real motives are behind all that "donate to the shelters" crap!"
Well duh. Anyone over the age of 15 had given up on the "donate to the shelters" crap. He knew that EVERY girl in the country wasn't one of his fans, but he didn't exactly have a very high percentage of girls who truly despised him. And most of those were rebels, only disliking him because they refused to conform to society. He could already tell that Kagome was far from rebellious. What an odd girl.
"Sheesh, sorry for saving your ass and taking care of that mutt of yours. I promise never to help you out again," he muttered angrily.
She looked at him out of the corner of her eye, momentarily forgetting her hang up moments earlier. "I'm sorry Inuyasha, it's just that, well, I've grown up with a certain opinion of you. I guess you're right though, it isn't right to judge people you don't know just because of silly gossip columns in outdated magazines". Her usual gentle grin once again lit up her face. She stuck out her hand. "Friends?" she questioned.
He sighed, but one look into her soft, convincing eyes and he found himself slowly nodding. "Fine. Truce". He certainly had no plans of being "friends" with some ignorant girl he didn't know. She scowled for a moment at his answer, but decided to let the matter go. After a quick shake, the two looked away from each other, both unsure of what to say next.
Finally Inuyasha broke the silence. He slowly turned to look at her retreating back, his eyes piercing it until she reluctantly turned around as well. "It isn't that big of a deal to you is it?" he asked softly.
"You mean you being... you?"
"Yeah, that."
She gave a playful grin. "Nah, not at all. I guess I can't really see you being anything like the boy they so often portray you as in magazines". Inuyasha hid a muffled laugh. She had a lot to learn.
She interrupted his thoughts with a question. "So what's it like being...you?"
"Are you some kinda news reporter?"
"No, it was just a simple question".
"Well then mind your own business you nosy fool".
"You ARE like the boy they portray you as aren't you?"
He grinned at her with an added saucy wink. "And what if I am? I've got your precious doggie, so you're stuck here until I let you go".
Kagome opened her mouth to say something, then (realizing he had a point) quickly shut it. After a few moments of heated debate within her mind, she finally decided that this boy wasn't worth her time OR friendship. Maybe she'd go see if Miroku needed some help or something. She just needed Buyo back.
"Will you just give me my dog and allow me to go on my merry little way?"
"Nah, you owe me remember? I'm gonna make this worth my while," he finished in a breathy whisper, sending shivers down her spine.
"My god, you're nothing like how I remember you being earlier. You're just an arrogant jerk!"
"I have your puppy," he taunted in a singsong voice, grabbing Buyo from the ground before she had a chance to. He mercilessly teased her with the dog, darting it back and forth across her face. Her temper was beginning to rise. She may owe him, but nobody hurt Buyo and lived to tell about it.
"Just give me back my dog!"
"Make me wench! Besides, she's MY dog now! You gave her to me!"
"You are an insufferable jackass," she muttered softly, "and I can't stand you".
"You're nothing more then some little girl who wanted some independence and now you don't have two pennies to rub together. Why don't you just go running home to daddy and tell him that his little baby can't make it in the big, mean world?"
He saw her bristle at that, he had obviously hit a nerve. Slowly she turned to face him, her cheeks contorted in fury. "Don't you dare mention my father to me... ever!" she shouted, willing herself not to burst into tears.
He tried frantically to think of some new insult that strayed far from that topic. He hadn't truly meant to hurt her, he had just been enjoying the insult war. This girl wasn't half bad at it! But as he turned to face her again, about to let out some rude insult, he immediately stopped.
Her eyes, they were so full of raw pain, emotion, and something that looked suspiciously like loneliness. They seemed to bore straight through his skin into his heart, telling him all he truly needed to know about her. Something had happened to this girl in the past that she had hidden from the world, especially herself. And he had just brought all those raging memories from the bottom of her heart to the surface. He felt like scum, but he certainly wasn't going to show it.
The haunting look disappeared as fast as it appeared. "I'm sorry," she smiled, wiping away stray tears. "I don't know what came over me. I'm just really tired," she admitted, throwing her arms over her head in a yawn. Deciding that now would be a good time to rid herself of this pest, she scooped the dog into her arms. "I'm gonna go back down to Miroku's. See you later Inuyasha!" she turned, fully expecting him to shout some rude parting words toward her retreating back. She was quite surprised, however, when she felt a clawed hand wrap itself around her wrist.
She looked up at Inuyasha, her eyes growing large. She turned to meet his gaze and saw something besides arrogance flicker across his eyes.. something that looked suspiciously like ... apology? He felt bad for what he said? No, that couldn't be. This guy had been a total jerk to her!
But then again, he HAD done her some pretty nice turns in the past. Maybe she should listen to what he had to say. She looked up at him with an innocent gaze, blushing when she realized he still had a hold on her. Pulling back, she waited for his next words.
"Stay," he commanded. No explanation, no logic, nothing. Just "stay".
"Why would I do that? I don't even know you!"
"Not for a lifetime, just for today. Knowing Miroku as I do, he's probably either getting laid at some bar or watching porno. Either way he'd rather not be interrupted, unless you'd want to prance in there naked. In that case, I'm sure he'd be thrilled to have you," he concluded dryly.
She studied the boy thoughtfully. He seemed to be such a confusing character. One minute he was saving her ass, the next he was insulting her, and the next he was offering her his company! What kind of guy was this? Wasn't he supposed to be nothing more then some spoiled legendary jerk?
On a first glance all you could see in this man was his outer demeanor, his rudeness, his toughness, his blatant arrogance. But on a second glance, if you could look past the man whom everyone usually saw, you could see another emotion hidden deep in his amber brown orbs. She couldn't tell exactly what that was, not yet. But maybe that was just another reason for her to stay. She wanted to figure this man out for herself, see why he was the way he was. She had always thought fame was overrated, and maybe his problem was that he did too.
A/N: fixed a few errors and changed the ending. They aren't going to make things so permanent quite yet.
That chapter was a piece of crap.. but I'm posting it anyway. Don't worry, they won't be arguing ALL the time.. I have a feeling their interactions might be a bit better after this chapter. First impressions are hard for me to write.
CHANGED THE CHAPTER!! If you've already read then skip down to the bottom after Inuyasha says "stay". The ending is different!
A.N: Warning: THIS CHAPTER SUCKS. I'm not kidding, it was incredibly hard for me to write and I don't think I did a very good job on it. It's also quite LONG, but Inu and Kag do meet in it, don't worry. I hate the way they interact in this chapter, but I'm too lazy to fix it. Seeing as this IS my first time writing the characters, I'll probably get more comfortable as I go on. Next chapter should prove to be a bit easier.
I don't usually do review responses, but I feel I have to in this case.
Ami: LOL this is basically why im doing these responses. Yes, very gross eh? Lol don't worry, that's the worst Miroku does in the story, and it doesn't have any graphic detail (as you've already read). I do NOT under any circumstances, write lemons. I don't have the experience (thank god for that) nor the maturity.
Chapter Ten
Stay With Me?
The first thing Kagome saw when she woke up was a pair of violet eyes peering down at her from the crook of their nose. With a shriek she toppled to the floor below, giving the guilty party who had woken her a dirty look.
"Miroku! You scared me half to death!" she sputtered angrily, struggling to get up and sit back on the edge of the recliner chair, bouncing a bit on the footrest.
Miroku grinned and waved a hand in apology. "Sorry, but I always do that to people, scaring them half to death brings some fun into my day!" Kagome couldn't help but giggle a bit at this, and she smiled warmly at Miroku.
"Thanks again for letting me stay here, I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't met you".
"Oh trust me, there are others you should thank besides me".
Kagome cocked her head to the left, unsure of what he meant. Sure there was the mystery man, but she could bet that he wasn't someone Miroku knew, that would just be TOO much of a coincidence. Shrugging off the matter, she leaned back into her chair. "So wasn't there somebody you wanted me to meet today?"
Miroku smiled and offered a hand. She took it and was instantly pulled to her feet. "Yes, actually there is. And if things work out well, I might be able to find a place for you to stay for awhile, if you're interested that is".
Kagome's eyes brightened considerably, and she jerked her head up and down eagerly. "Are you serious? Thank you so much Miroku, you have absolutely NO idea how much this would mean to me!" she couldn't believe her good fortune. I mean, what were the chances that she would just randomly end up in the apartment of such a nice man that may have a place for her to live? With her luck, she was surprised she hadn't ended up back at her father's house again!
She was dragged out of her thoughts by the ring of a telephone. Kagome glanced at a digital clock that sat atop the television to see that it was barely six in the morning.
"Who calls you this early?" she queried, stretching her arms over her head with a yawn.
"I'm betting it's a dear friend of mine, though he usually isn't up this early. Actually, he usually isn't up for hours! I wonder why he's calling?" Miroku mused thoughtfully.
"Well if you don't answer the phone you may never find out!" she pointed out smartly, and Miroku (realizing that she was absolutely right) barely managed to grab the phone on its fourth ring.
"Miroku speaking. What's up?"
"Miroku? Is that you?" a cranky sounding voice shot through the phone.
"I believe I just answered that," he answered with a wry grin. Inuyasha was definitely not a morning person.
"Right, I knew that. I just figured you'd probably be having the usual "company" over," the voice continued, causing Kagome to wonder what he was talking about. She looked back at the white sofa again and felt a sickening feeling rise in her stomach. She KNEW what he was talking about.
"Actually I do," chirped Miroku happily, causing Kagome to fervently protest into the phone.
"He's lying I tell you! Whoever you are, this man is a perverted liar! Eeep!" she finished, as she felt herself being pushed behind Miroku. She tapped her foot in annoyance.
"Your latest girl I presume?" upon hearing that, Kagome absolutely fumed.
"Nah, nah. She's.. a friend of mine," Miroku finished, seeing Kagome brighten at the thought of clearing her name with this mystery friend of his. "I wanted you to meet her actually. I have the funniest feeling that you two may know each other!"
"And I have funniest feeling that you're wrong!" repeated Inuyasha, mocking Miroku's voice perfectly.
"Well we'll see who's wrong later. Anyway, you must have had some reason for calling besides the usual argument. What is it?"
"Nothing big, just this damn dog is a hell lot more trouble then it's worth. I swear, I would have gotten rid of it by now if...," he trailed off.
"If?" prodded Miroku, making sure Kagome was out of hearing distance. Somehow he had the feeling Inuyasha might wring him by the neck if Kagome heard whatever he was going to confide next.
"I don't know. There was something about that girl that I couldn't say no to, and NO, not like that you perverted weasel. I mean she'd obviously been through a lot, I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her".
"But you usually don't give a rat's ass about homeless people. What makes her different?"
"Hey, I'll have you know that I gave a generous donation to some society for the homeless last year!"
"Yeah, but only because Kanna forced you".
"True," sighed Inuyasha, knowing he had lost yet another argument. Ever since he had taken a break from the business, his comebacks had paled in comparison to Miroku's. He really should insult people more, he needed the practice.
"Anyway, I don't know, maybe because I had met her once or twice before she was homeless. Besides, I kind of saved that dog twice before. Why kill it now?"
Miroku understood the reasoning behind Inuyasha's logic and dropped the matter. They continued to talk for a moment before Inuyasha "got to the damn point" as he himself would have said.
"Will you come up and help me out with this mutt or what?"
"Actually," began Miroku. "That's just why I wanted you to meet this friend of mine. She's obviously great with animals, and she's really sweet. I thought you might want her to help out a little".
"Oh, don't be stupid. Are you trying to set me up again? You do realize that I could walk out this door right now and pick up 100 dates in the blink of an eye?"
"My, somebody thinks quite highly of themself" .
"You do know that it's true though".
"I suppose you're right," Miroku conceded. Inuyasha WAS right after all, he very well COULD walk out the door and have half the girls in the city following him without even batting an eye. MORE then half most likely.
"Anyway, I wasn't trying to set you up. I merely thought you might need a bit of help with that dog of yours".
Inuyasha realized that he DID need help, and getting some gushy animal lover up in here might be exactly what Buyo needed to remind him of Malome (or whatever her name was). "Fine Miroku, send her up in ten minutes".
"She'll be there. Later!"
"Much".
The two boys clicked the phones back into their receivers, both happy with how the conversation had gone. Inuyasha had a dog sitter, and Miroku had an Inuyasha sitter. How much better could things get?
He crossed the few feet between the telephone and the recliner chair, in which Kagome happily lay dozing. My, she had certainly taken an attachment to the furniture. After a few gentle taps on the shoulder, Kagome immediately sat up, her eyes wide.
"No mom I wasn't sleeping I promise! I was just looking for a sock in the bed!" she shouted with the guilty look of someone who had been caught sneaking chocolate from the kitchen. After shaking her head a few times and coming to grips with her surroundings, she relaxed into a rueful smile.
"Sorry, I get like that sometimes. So... you done talking to your friend?"
"Yes in fact," Miroku grinned slyly. "He wants to see you in ten minutes".
"Well that's lovely... wait WHAT? Why?"
Miroku chuckled. "Let me finish. He recently became the owner of a small dog, and he really has no idea how to take care of it. I told him you were good with animals, and he said he'd be glad to have your help. I hope you don't mind me volunteering you".
'Translation,' Miroku began in his mind. 'He doesn't want the damned dog, he can't feign kindness to anything, especially a small animal, and he absolutely hates the idea of you coming up to see him. I only volunteered you because I want him out of my hair'. With a shake of his head, he turned back to Kagome, his usual calm smile intact.
Something tugged at Kagome's heart for a moment at the thought of having to work with a puppy. That was something she definitely didn't have the emotional strength to deal with right now. But how could she refuse after this man had been so hospitable to her? She decided she'd have to overcome this hump eventually and turned to Miroku with her usual gentle grin.
"That sounds great! What apartment is he in?"
"Penthouse suite," he began, getting the usual gasp from Kagome, "but you can't go up there just yet. You might want to erm... uhhh...," he wasn't sure how to finish this without getting Kagome mad at him.
"Change you mean?" she finished for him, holding back a giggle. He nodded quickly. "Not that there's anything wrong with how you look now, it's just that...," he trailed off, unable to think of anything else to say.
"It's all right Miroku. There's just one problem. I don't have any clothing!"
"No problem, my sister comes to visit sometimes and she's just about your size. You can go through her closet and pick out something you like".
"If your sister is anything like you, I don't really want to know WHAT kind of clothing she wears!" Kagome giggled playfully.
"Naw, go see for yourself," he waved her away. "Hurry up, he's expecting you soon!"
~*~
"All right Miroku, I'm heading out!" called Kagome as she opened the front door. She felt more alive and new that day then she had in ages. Her stringy black hair was now full and luscious as it framed her oval face perfectly. The haggard dirtiness had disappeared from her face, replaced by a refreshing "just got out of the shower" look that she hadn't been able to achieve in ages. To her good fortune, Miroku's sister was obviously a lot more like her then like her own brother. She had found an assortment of the kind of clothes she was used to, and she had a difficult time choosing which ensemble to wear. Finally deciding on a short blue skirt with a yellow blouse and a button up blue sweater, she slipped on a pair of light blue sandals and headed out the front door. Thank god for Miroku's sister.
Miroku watched her go, a smile plastered on his face. She was awfully pretty once she cleaned up a bit, but he refused to let his thoughts drift in THAT particular direction. Besides he had other, less perverted, plans for her. With a wry grin, he settled back on his favorite sofa (we all know why) for a good few hours of Home Shopping, with the occasional porno thrown in. With Inuyasha out of the way for awhile, he could finally get the privacy and relaxation he so often craved. Crossing his feet on the dirty table in front of him and letting his arms circle perfectly behind his head, he settled in for a perfect afternoon.
~*~
Meanwhile, after a thankfully uneventful trip on the elevator, Kagome found herself standing in the doorway of the penthouse apartment, a bit afraid to tell the truth. Even before her misfortunes she had always felt uncomfortable in the presence of such obviously rich people, and this guy must be the cream of the crop. She knew a girl such as herself had no place in a building like this, and CERTAINLY no place in the penthouse, the most expensive housing in the whole city of New York!
Reaching up to knock, she paused for a moment, unsure if she should. After a few more failed attempts, she summoned up enough courage to manage two quiet raps on the cherry wood door.
"What do you want?"
Well that certainly hadn't been expected. What she had expected was for some stoic butler to calmly answer the door and make her sit in the parlor until Master Whatshisname could take the time out of his busy life to chat with her.
Deciding she should probably answer the question, she spoke without thinking. "Miroku sent me!"
"Oh, you're the lovely dovey dog wench! Get your ass in here, Miroku said you'd be here five full minutes ago!"
"Gee, sorry for disgracing his royal majesty," she muttered under her breath, unaware that this "royal majesty" had excellent hearing.
"What was that?"
Recognizing that she'd been caught, she quickly tried to cover up her mistake. "Oh nothing, sorry I just tripped and didn't know what I was saying!" she laughed nervously.
Inuyasha snorted, clearly not believing a word of it. "Just get yourself in here, I don't have all day". Well technically he did have all day, but he sure as hell wasn't gonna admit it!
"Coming, coming, don't get your undies in a bunch!" she snapped out of the trance that the home had put her in. This apartment looked like something the president of the United States would have trouble affording! Fancy decorations peeked out from every corner, and almost everything was trimmed in solid gold. The furniture seemed almost untouchable, almost giving the impression that it would break after only one use. She was so completely awestruck by this palace that she almost didn't hear the sound that snapped her out of her mesmerized state in a mere instant.
It was the jingle of a dog collar.
She whipped her head around immediately, eager to spot her new charge. She hoped it wouldn't look anything like Buyo, she wasn't sure she could handle herself if it did. Craning her neck to see the approaching puppy, she nearly fainted dead away at the sight that lay before her.
A miniature white dog was rapidly running toward her, nearly tripping over its fluffy white legs. It was definitely young, you could tell in an instant by the clumsy way it ran, and the playful expression its face held, especially when greeting its master. And for the first time in awhile, Buyo finally had the pleasure of doing just that.
Kagome couldn't utter a single word as she watched the puppy awkwardly make its way toward her. Slowly, hesitant at the prospect of breaking her heart, she whispered a single word towards the puppy, her eyes brimming with hope and anxiety.
"Buyo?" she questioned softly. He gave her a familiar look accompanied by a pitiful whine that told Kagome that it was indeed Buyo. Slowly she opened her arms to her dear friend, enveloping him in a tight hug, her tear stained cheeks matting his fluffy coat.
"It's you! It's really you! Miroku must have known about you and that I'd find you here! THAT'S why he was acting so secretive about all this! Oh I'd kiss him right now!" she paused, realizing what she'd just said. "Better yet, I'll slap him a high five next time I see him!" she laughed through her joyful tears, thrilled that she had been reunited at last with the little animal.
Little did she realize that somebody else was watching this scene while leaning against the wall, his legs crossed and his arms folded over his chest. A smirk rested on the corners of his lips. So Miroku had been right about knowing her after all, he had to at least give him credit for that much. Now that the puppy had found his owner again, he could get them both out of his hair for good. The plan was flawless.
"I hate to interrupt this Kodak moment, but do you mind? Watching you two is beginning to sicken me".
Kagome looked up, hardly daring to think that she may be reunited with two friends in a single day. Looking up through her tear stricken eyes, she was definitely able to make out a familiar face.
"Master Whatshisname!" she beamed joyfully, running toward him at lightning speed and enveloping him in a friendly embrace. "You don't know how happy I am to see you right now! I was sure some freaky King who wanted my head lived here! And Miroku was nothing more then another one of his spies! And...," Inuyasha cut her off.
"Save your breath, I'm obviously not royalty, only close. Now will you tell me what you're doing here? And why you're dressed?
"What, you expected me to show up naked?"
A cocky smirk found its way across the man's lips. "No, unless you really wanted to". He had just earned himself an annoyed glare from the girl. Kagome shrugged and leaned back in her seat, proceeding to tell him the whole story from the man who had chased her (conveniently leaving out the identity of said man) to meeting Miroku, to the phone call that very morning.
"So, you didn't sleep with Miroku?" he asked incredulously.
Kagome gave him her best "exasperated" look. "Yes, Miroku and I stayed up all last night and made mad love to each other. Honestly, just who do you think I am?"
"Malome?" he guessed, hoping he had gotten the name right.
"It's Kagome you idiot".
"I'm betting you don't know my name either," the man finished smugly.
"Yes, because you never gave it to me. I must have told you three times by now that I'm Kagome, and you still can't get it through your head!"
"That's because I don't bother with annoying homeless bitches".
"Oh sure, make fun of the homeless girl. Well I'll have you know that just because you saved my ass does NOT give you the right to insult me whenever you want!" she concluded, glaring daggers at him. He gave a cocky snort and turned his head away from her, folding his arms over his chest once again. What a show off.
Yet, in this light, Kagome was sure she'd seen him somewhere before, and not just occasionally on the streets for less then three minutes time. She couldn't pinpoint exactly why this guy looked so familiar to her. Cocking her head to one side, she studied him for a few seconds more. Suddenly a lightbulb went off in her head. She knew exactly who he reminded her of!
"Has anybody ever told you that you have a remarkable resemblance to Inuyasha?"
"Funny you should say that," he turned back toward her, amusement in his amber eyes. One look into those golden brown eyes told Kagome everything. That was no "coincidental resemblance".
"You... you're INUYASHA?!" her eyes widened in amazement, her hand flying to cover her mouth in a gasp. THAT hadn't been expected at all.
Flashing her his best boyish grin, he used his favorite line when asked this oh so popular question.
"In the flesh babe". Her eyes widened more when she realized this was no prank. He grinned, knowing one of two things would happen.
She would jump him. Not that he would particularly mind of course. She, in all reality, was actually quite pretty when not in tatters. It would just be one less trip downtown.
She would faint, in which case he would calmly pick her up, deposit her and her fan stricken dreams outside the door, and ask Miroku to take her back. It worked either way.
What he was not expecting from her was a disgusted shriek, followed by frantic dusting of her clothing, he assumed to rid herself of the stench she had picked up when she hugged him. "Out of all the people in this city... it was YOU?" she cried in disbelief.
He looked at her in amazement. What was wrong with this girl?
"UGH! I can't believe I'm actually indebted to YOU of all people! Why me?" she groaned, unaware of the ever confused hanyou.
"But you don't even know me!"
She looked at him pointedly. "I don't HAVE to know you, nor do I have any desire to. I've heard enough about you to last a lifetime thanks very much. You fool the world into thinking you're such a kind, honorable person, then you sneak girls into your room when the public isn't looking. I'm onto you, k? I know what your real motives are behind all that "donate to the shelters" crap!"
Well duh. Anyone over the age of 15 had given up on the "donate to the shelters" crap. He knew that EVERY girl in the country wasn't one of his fans, but he didn't exactly have a very high percentage of girls who truly despised him. And most of those were rebels, only disliking him because they refused to conform to society. He could already tell that Kagome was far from rebellious. What an odd girl.
"Sheesh, sorry for saving your ass and taking care of that mutt of yours. I promise never to help you out again," he muttered angrily.
She looked at him out of the corner of her eye, momentarily forgetting her hang up moments earlier. "I'm sorry Inuyasha, it's just that, well, I've grown up with a certain opinion of you. I guess you're right though, it isn't right to judge people you don't know just because of silly gossip columns in outdated magazines". Her usual gentle grin once again lit up her face. She stuck out her hand. "Friends?" she questioned.
He sighed, but one look into her soft, convincing eyes and he found himself slowly nodding. "Fine. Truce". He certainly had no plans of being "friends" with some ignorant girl he didn't know. She scowled for a moment at his answer, but decided to let the matter go. After a quick shake, the two looked away from each other, both unsure of what to say next.
Finally Inuyasha broke the silence. He slowly turned to look at her retreating back, his eyes piercing it until she reluctantly turned around as well. "It isn't that big of a deal to you is it?" he asked softly.
"You mean you being... you?"
"Yeah, that."
She gave a playful grin. "Nah, not at all. I guess I can't really see you being anything like the boy they so often portray you as in magazines". Inuyasha hid a muffled laugh. She had a lot to learn.
She interrupted his thoughts with a question. "So what's it like being...you?"
"Are you some kinda news reporter?"
"No, it was just a simple question".
"Well then mind your own business you nosy fool".
"You ARE like the boy they portray you as aren't you?"
He grinned at her with an added saucy wink. "And what if I am? I've got your precious doggie, so you're stuck here until I let you go".
Kagome opened her mouth to say something, then (realizing he had a point) quickly shut it. After a few moments of heated debate within her mind, she finally decided that this boy wasn't worth her time OR friendship. Maybe she'd go see if Miroku needed some help or something. She just needed Buyo back.
"Will you just give me my dog and allow me to go on my merry little way?"
"Nah, you owe me remember? I'm gonna make this worth my while," he finished in a breathy whisper, sending shivers down her spine.
"My god, you're nothing like how I remember you being earlier. You're just an arrogant jerk!"
"I have your puppy," he taunted in a singsong voice, grabbing Buyo from the ground before she had a chance to. He mercilessly teased her with the dog, darting it back and forth across her face. Her temper was beginning to rise. She may owe him, but nobody hurt Buyo and lived to tell about it.
"Just give me back my dog!"
"Make me wench! Besides, she's MY dog now! You gave her to me!"
"You are an insufferable jackass," she muttered softly, "and I can't stand you".
"You're nothing more then some little girl who wanted some independence and now you don't have two pennies to rub together. Why don't you just go running home to daddy and tell him that his little baby can't make it in the big, mean world?"
He saw her bristle at that, he had obviously hit a nerve. Slowly she turned to face him, her cheeks contorted in fury. "Don't you dare mention my father to me... ever!" she shouted, willing herself not to burst into tears.
He tried frantically to think of some new insult that strayed far from that topic. He hadn't truly meant to hurt her, he had just been enjoying the insult war. This girl wasn't half bad at it! But as he turned to face her again, about to let out some rude insult, he immediately stopped.
Her eyes, they were so full of raw pain, emotion, and something that looked suspiciously like loneliness. They seemed to bore straight through his skin into his heart, telling him all he truly needed to know about her. Something had happened to this girl in the past that she had hidden from the world, especially herself. And he had just brought all those raging memories from the bottom of her heart to the surface. He felt like scum, but he certainly wasn't going to show it.
The haunting look disappeared as fast as it appeared. "I'm sorry," she smiled, wiping away stray tears. "I don't know what came over me. I'm just really tired," she admitted, throwing her arms over her head in a yawn. Deciding that now would be a good time to rid herself of this pest, she scooped the dog into her arms. "I'm gonna go back down to Miroku's. See you later Inuyasha!" she turned, fully expecting him to shout some rude parting words toward her retreating back. She was quite surprised, however, when she felt a clawed hand wrap itself around her wrist.
She looked up at Inuyasha, her eyes growing large. She turned to meet his gaze and saw something besides arrogance flicker across his eyes.. something that looked suspiciously like ... apology? He felt bad for what he said? No, that couldn't be. This guy had been a total jerk to her!
But then again, he HAD done her some pretty nice turns in the past. Maybe she should listen to what he had to say. She looked up at him with an innocent gaze, blushing when she realized he still had a hold on her. Pulling back, she waited for his next words.
"Stay," he commanded. No explanation, no logic, nothing. Just "stay".
"Why would I do that? I don't even know you!"
"Not for a lifetime, just for today. Knowing Miroku as I do, he's probably either getting laid at some bar or watching porno. Either way he'd rather not be interrupted, unless you'd want to prance in there naked. In that case, I'm sure he'd be thrilled to have you," he concluded dryly.
She studied the boy thoughtfully. He seemed to be such a confusing character. One minute he was saving her ass, the next he was insulting her, and the next he was offering her his company! What kind of guy was this? Wasn't he supposed to be nothing more then some spoiled legendary jerk?
On a first glance all you could see in this man was his outer demeanor, his rudeness, his toughness, his blatant arrogance. But on a second glance, if you could look past the man whom everyone usually saw, you could see another emotion hidden deep in his amber brown orbs. She couldn't tell exactly what that was, not yet. But maybe that was just another reason for her to stay. She wanted to figure this man out for herself, see why he was the way he was. She had always thought fame was overrated, and maybe his problem was that he did too.
A/N: fixed a few errors and changed the ending. They aren't going to make things so permanent quite yet.
That chapter was a piece of crap.. but I'm posting it anyway. Don't worry, they won't be arguing ALL the time.. I have a feeling their interactions might be a bit better after this chapter. First impressions are hard for me to write.