Chapter fourteen
"I guess, what I'm trying to say is," Inu yasha turned away from her and stared out the window, gripping the counter like a lifeline. Kagome stared at him, unsure of these recent turn of events. He was acting so different…
"I guess I sorta, kinda like you…ok?" he said suddenly and whirled around to stare at her.
Kagome stared at him in shock and wondered for a brief moment if he was joking around to see her reaction. His gaze was steady and he continued to look at her, his violet eyes never wavering and his grip never leaving the counter. She opened her mouth and then closed it again, baffled.
"What?"
His gaze finally shifted as he looked at his feet, a giant blush on his cheeks. "I said I like you, what's it to ya?"
Kagome bit her lip.
"But…how?" she asked, slightly shocked that he actually had feelings for her.
He shrugged and stared at the wall off to his right, "It just kind of happened that way, I can't explain it. I just…I guess…um…" He blushed brightly and suddenly looked timid, something Kagome had never expected to see out of the confident, egotistical man.
"Oh…"
"Um…I don't expect you to really return the feelings so…um…it's ok if you don't…I just…thought you…should know," he scratched his head, suddenly regretting his previous actions. "I'll just…go…now…"
He began walking, his head down as he stared at his feet, instead of strolling forward confidently as he normally did. He looked like a kicked puppy.
Kagome watched him start to leave, her face still doing an excellent fish impression as she racked her brain for something intelligent to say. But before she could, he was already gone and his door was clicked shut.
She stood awkwardly in the kitchen for a moment, her heart beating wildly in her chest and a pink blush on her cheeks. He…liked her?
Thousands of feelings and uncertainties crashed into her full force. What about Kouga? What about Moriko? What about Sango? What about her? How could this be possible; how could he honestly feel that he was attracted to her? What had she done to make him attracted to her? Did she like him, too? She paused as that thought struck her and she stared at his closed door, her blue eyes held uncertainty and small amount of hidden fear swirled in the depths of her deep cerulean orbs. It was…odd…this feeling swimming within her, making her feel light headed yet grounded to Earth at the same time. Was she going insane…or did she like him too? Her heart hammered in her chest and she placed a hand over it, as if that would calm her down. A blush painted across her cheeks and her lips quirked into a small smile as she basked in the thought of him liking her.
She shook her head and began walking towards his door, "Inu yasha don't just walk away!" She opened the door. "We have to-oh…"
Inu yasha was half way in taking off his shirt, his room still a boiling hot. She stared at his chest again and found she still couldn't tear her gaze away from his abdomen.
He stared at her in shock, "Don't you ever knock anymore?" She could hear the insecurity in his voice, though he tried to cover it with his usual cocky self. She glanced at his rosy cheeks, wondering if they were pink from embarrassment or just the heat in the room.
She blushed and lowered her gaze, "You…didn't give me a chance to answer..."
He blinked before blushing, staring at the wall, "I know what you're going to say, so don't bother."
"How do you know what I'm going to say?" she snapped in annoyance.
"You're going to say something lame like 'you're a nice guy, Inu yasha, but not my type.' Or 'one day you're going to meet a really nice girl. But it's not me.' I know how it works; I've endured it enough," he sighed and stared at the ground, "I shouldn't have told you."
"But I'm not going to say that!" she insisted. Her agitation grew at the thought of him thinking she would say something like that, something so uncaring and so…she couldn't really understand, in her life she'd been the one to be the dumper, not the dumpy…and her last break up had been over a letter, as lame as that sounded.
"You're right, you'll probably call me a dumb ass and laugh at the pathetic actor who stole your daughter's room," Inu yasha sighed and rubbed the back of his head. His blushed deepened.
Kagome's eyebrows knitted together as she sent him a glare. "I'm not going to do any of that!" She marched up to him and shoved him onto the bed. He looked at her in shock; she snorted and pointed a finger at him poking him the chest, she vaguely noticed that it was smooth to the touch. "Don't ever put words in my mouth! Especially when you're so off!" She paused as she shouted this to him, feeling as if her mouth had run away from her and was doing its own bidding. She felt out of control as unknown feelings washed out from her mouth, things he hadn't known existed until now. But did she really like him? Or did she just like him because he liked her?
He blinked, "You mean…"
"Maybe I like you, too, I'm not sure," she blushed and continued pointing at him, though her finger shook slightly. "Just don't…leave me alone…"
"I'd…never leave you alone," he stood and grabbed her hand in his larger, tanner one. Their hearts both sped as their fingers intertwined. "I…er…this is awkward."
She giggled and blushed.
He looked at her and smiled slowly, "This is…the first time I've ever held you." He blushed as he looked at their clasped hands before pulling her into a hug. Kagome gasped in surprise as his other hand fell around her and hugged her close. She stood awkwardly for a long moment before closing her eyes and wrapping her own free hand around Inu yasha's back.
"Yeah…"
It felt nice…
"Here are the applications you asked for sir," a petite secretary whispered out softly as she set down a stack of papers. "I've highlighted her names and contact numbers, sir. Some will be long distance. For those, simply use line three," she smiled cheerfully at her employer who flipped through the résumés that sat in a neat pile. His dark eyes flickered at the names and the experience with an aloof indifference that had been perfected over the years.
"Indeed, thank you, Yuko; you are dismissed," he said absently as he continued to gaze at the résumés silently flipping them over when not interested.
"When you want their videos, please call," Yuko said politely and exited the room.
"Indeed…"
"NO WAY!" Sango shouted out in surprise, nearly dropping the cup of coffee she held in her hands. She noticed people staring at her and lowered her voice, "You have got to be joking…"
"No…he was…kind of romantic in a way," Kagome said with a small blush. It was their break. The two friends had taken occupancy of their staff room. She had just explained what happened two nights prior to this day and she felt her heart speed at the remembrance of the intense look in his lavender eyes. It was astounding how much she blushed even now.
"I can't believe this," Sango said half in disappointment and half in girly excitement. "When do I get to meet this bum, or am I going to have to listen to you either bash him or gush over him?"
Kagome smiled feebly. "Someday."
Sango snorted. "So how was he romantic?"
"Well, he grabbed my hand and said that this was the first time he'd held me," she whispered, a smile on her lips as she recalled the memory.
"Has he asked you out yet?" Sango asked curiously.
Kagome frowned lightly, "No, not yet. I don't know what he's waiting for, and you know old traditional me, I won't ask guys out."
"Indeed, but you have no trouble breaking up with them," Sango joked as she smirked, ducking as Kagome threw a half-hearted punch towards her best girlfriend. "But seriously, why do you think he hasn't?"
"I think he's still hesitant," Kagome said with a shrug, "He likes to pretend he's confident and collected, but deep down he's unsure and insecure with himself. Or maybe I'm just reading too much into this and he's waiting for me to ask him out. But that's highly unlikely…"
"Yeah, from what you said about him, he doesn't strike me as someone who likes to be controlled." Sango gulped down the rest of her coffee and glanced at her watch. "Come on, only three more hours before we can clock out."
"Hallelujah and amen," Kagome said as she stood with Sango. Together they walked out of the employee's break area.
Moriko looked at the two adults sitting across from each other at the kitchen table. They were both drinking coffee, but every so often would sneak glances at the other, smile, and return to what they were doing. Moriko stuffed some eggs into her mouth and stared at her mother.
"Mommy?"
"Hm?" Her mom took a sip of coffee as Moriko scooted her chair closer to her.
"Can I go over to Hikari's tonight?" Moriko asked, "She told me at school the other day that I could! I just forgot to ask you."
Kagome cringed at the mention of Hikari's name but nodded anyway, "Sure baby. Just don't do anything destructive."
"Distrantiiive?" Moriko asked, confused.
"Bad, sweetie," Inu yasha smiled at the little girl before refilling his cup. "Your mom doesn't want you to do anything bad."
"Oh…ok! I won't!" Moriko hopped off the stool, "I'll call her now."
Kagome watched her daughter run away down the hall in search of a phone before turning towards Inu yasha, who ignored her in favor of drinking coffee.
"You're good with kids," She commented.
Inu yasha shrugged and sipped his coffee, "I had a lot of younger foster siblings back in the day." Kagome stared at him in shock. He took a long sip, making sure to only do so once the coffee was cool enough. "They kind of always looked up to me. I had to be tolerant. The talent kind of stuck after that."
"Moriko really likes you," she said.
"She's one of the first in a long time," he sighed and took a sip. "After my second to last foster home, they started to leave me alone. After a while, I wasn't that popular anymore."
"…foster home?" she asked and blinked, not having realized that he had lived in a foster home.
Inu yasha looked at her briefly, his violet eyes studying her, "Yeah, I'm a bastard orphan."
"Don't say that!"
"It's true," he shrugged, "I never knew my dad, and my mom died a long time ago."
"Oh…I'm-"
"Don't bother apologizing, it's not your fucking fault," he snapped and took a sip. "I hate pity."
"Oh-sorr…I mean…" she huffed in agitation and sighed. "My dad died when I was fifteen."
He eyed her and smiled slightly.
"What are you smiling about?" she joked, "like to think of me in pain?"
"Nah, I just think it's sweet that you're trying to sympathize with me," he shrugged and finished his second cup of coffee.
She smiled too and stood, collecting their cups and the emptying coffee pot.
"Anyways, I've been meaning to ask you…" Inu yasha scrunched up his nose and scratched his cheek absently.
"What?" she blinked.
He poked his two index fingers together and looked around sheepishly, "Well…since Moriko's going to Hikari's…and…I guess…we aren't doing anything…unless you are…but…um…maybe you…want…to- I don't know, go…er…somewhere…and, uh, do…stuff?"
Kagome blinked before breaking out into a grin, "Are you asking me out?"
"Maybe!" he said quickly and blushed hotly.
She giggled and nodded. "Sure, I'm not doing anything."
"Ok." he perked up and beamed at her; she returned the smile and felt butterflies flying in her stomach. He blushed softly and smiled shyly at her, happy that she had agreed and silently wondering what the hell he was doing.
"Be good Moriko, and remember to thank Hikari's mother and father for having you," Kagome brushed her daughter's short hair as the door knocked and Inu yasha went to answer it.
She walked out of the bathroom and down the hall towards the front door where Inu yasha was making introductions with Hikari's mother. Kagome was surprised to see the woman looked nothing like Hikari.
"You must be Kagome Higurashi," the cheerful, black haired woman said as she stuck out her hand, "My name is Hilary."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Kagome said politely and shaking the woman's hand. "I'm sure you've already met Inu yasha." She nodded towards the long haired man, who shrugged, leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets.
"Yes, very charming man," she whispered to Kagome, Inu yasha blinked but didn't hear what she said. "Quite a catch." Kagome blushed and Inu yasha continued to look at her curiously, his violet eyes flashing in annoyance at being left out of an obvious secret.
"Have fun, Moriko," Kagome called after her daughter who had spotted Hikari downstairs and was running down to see her best friend.
Hilary smiled, waved to Inu yasha, and left after the two girls, her long black hair floating behind her delicately.
Kagome sighed and waved goodbye before closing the door.
She turned around and leaned against it, and nearly yelped in surprise when Inu yasha was nearly an inch away from her face, "What did she say about me?"
"Nothing important that concerns you," Kagome smiled.
"It's about me; it fucking concerns me," Inu yasha said crossly and cursed when she whacked his head. "What was that for?"
"Just because Moriko's gone doesn't mean you can start swearing. Behave yourself."
"Feh!"
Kagome smiled and after a moment of pouting, he smiled as well.
"Are you ready yet?" Inu yasha complained as he leaned against the wall outside of the bathroom. He wore a silky blue dress shirt and black slacks, his dark black hair was pulled into a low ponytail and he wore black shoes He looked at his watch and tapped his foot against the floor, "We're going to be late."
"Be quiet," came Kagome's muffled response. "I'm a woman; it's customary that you have to stand around and be bored while I make myself presentable, damn it."
"Oh how ladylike," Inu yasha said sarcastically and chuckled.
The phone rang in the background, "Inu yasha, will you get that please?" Inu yasha rolled his eyes and pushed off the wall making his way towards the phone in Kagome's room. As he entered he took a deep inhale, enjoying the smell of lilac filling the air. He strolled towards the phone and picked it up, "Hello?"
"This is Hideki Naraku, may I speak to Inu yasha Takahashi," Inu yasha felt a small dread creep in him but was soon overpowered by his inquisitiveness and anxiety. Was it happening?
"Speaking," he whispered.
Meanwhile, Kagome exited the bathroom and looked around for Inu yasha. She sighed and went to the kitchen, where she had left her purse. She grabbed it and made sure everything was in order before waiting patiently for Inu yasha to get off the phone.
He came back a few minutes later, his eyes slightly sad until he spotted Kagome and his face lit up into a happy smile. "Kagome…you look…wow," he was at a loss of words.
Kagome blushed and looked down. She wore a blue dress and her hair was up, small amounts of hair coming down in curled masses.
"Thanks; you look nice too." She smiled. He returned the smile, everything that had been said in the conversation over the phone forgotten from his mind. He reached for her hand.
"Shall we go?"
She wrapped her fingers around his hand, enjoying the feeling of the small contact. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see."
She rolled her eyes, but couldn't wait.
"That was great!" Kagome proclaimed as they exited the Broadway musical for Beauty and the Beast. "How did you know I liked Disney stuff?" she turned towards Inu yasha, surprised to see such a tender smile on his face, but too delighted with the play to really care.
"I had this strange conversation with Moriko once, and heard that you dressed up as Snow White for Halloween and that you liked Disney movies. I thought it would beappropriate." He shrugged as if it was no big deal and Kagome hugged him silently. "Hey, what was that for?"
"For a wonderful time. It was amazing. Thank you so much," she gushed as she rambled on about how either how wonderful the musical was or how wonderful Inu yasha was. She smiled up at him, and he smiled back, a small blush on his cheeks.
"Don't make a big deal about it," he whispered, embarrassed.
Kagome only smiled.
"Sometimes you're such a bastard, Inu yasha." Kagome hid her smile.
"What? What did I do?" Inu yasha asked in shock and growled when Kagome started laughing.
"There's the Inu yasha I know." Kagome smiled warmly. "Where next?"
"We can go get something to eat." Inu yasha smiled, letting her teasing go for the time being. He grabbed her hand. "Let's go."
Kagome smiled and let him lead her to his car.