Author's Notes: First of all, I'd like to know how you silly reviewers got into my head and knew there'd be an incident with a dressing room in this chapter? ^^
Also, rest assured, we will see more of Inuyasha and Kagome in the next chapter and a little more about Rin's relation to the family will be explained as well. ^^;
That being said, please read and review. I'm always getting emails for sites and other things saying how much people enjoy my stories, yet I can never trace their name to a review and that is a bit disheartening. If you're enjoying this story, please take a moment to let me know. Thanks ^^
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Most women adore shopping- claim its fun and "a good stress relief."
Honestly, such women are nothing but poor diluted fools that try to pass off the long lines, the constant thought of "does this make me look fat?" and other hellish shopping traits as "fun."
Well, I knew better. Then again, when most of my time shopping was spent with my asshole Father looming, it was hard to even somewhat enjoy myself. What was so damn "fun" about trying on clothes anyway?
Fun or not though, that morning I found myself in tow with one unique, yet wealthy family...and they were damn determined to have Sesshoumaru and I at least remotely interested in each other by the end of the day. Well, sorry to burst their bubble, but there is no way in hell that's going to happen… at least, I thought so.
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Chapter 10: Tangled Up in Your Wires
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After pulling on the shirt and pants, Kagura looked down at herself.
"That will suit you quite well for the time being," Izayoi remarked, "But we'll get you plenty of nice things for your new job today."
"Um…well, I don't have much money…so…"
Pausing as she felt the other woman's hand on her shoulder, Kagura looked down to her.
"Don't you worry; it can be written off as a business expense. It's nothing to bother yourself with. You save your money for yourself."
Blinking, she glanced at her borrowed clothing, "I really hate having to rely on others."
"I know," Izayoi replied, "But someone needs to help you get your feet back on the ground. And you've already paid us back quite well."
"Excuse me?"
"Romantic or not, Sesshoumaru's been a bit more sociable ever since meeting you and I don't believe that it's a coincidence. I think all that he needed was an independent person like you in his life to give it a little more meaning."
Kagura frowned, "I'm not his babysitter."
Izayoi reached for the door, "No. But for someone like Sesshoumaru, who's had everything he could want handed to him, seeing someone in your condition and your situation has opened his eyes a bit. No one's been able to do that since we adopted Rin."
"Rin?"
"You'll meet her in a moment," She replied with a smile.
The door slowly opened and Kagura stepped out, confusion quickly appearing on her face.
There on the bed sat Sesshoumaru with a small brown-haired girl sitting in his lap and rambling to him.
"That's little girl from the other day…so that was his family I ran into. I knew I recognized his Father and step-mother…but, this is…Rin?"
"So then I told Inuyasha that he was being silly, and he yelled at me and told me to get out of his room but I told him that Mom said it was okay so he got really quiet and then he grumbled, "keh fine" and so I got to sit in there and look at all his neat stuff and then…." She trailed off as she heard the door open.
"Rin, don't bother him too much. He had a tiring night," Izayoi reprimanded lightly.
The small girl smiled and jumped down out of the stoic man's lap, "Ooooh? Is that because he slept with that pretty lady? I know that sometimes if you sleep with someone else you end up really tired and…."
"Rin," Sesshoumaru quietly said, frown apparent on his face.
"Yes, Sesshoumaru?"
"Don't listen to Inuyasha about what happens when you sleep with people."
"Okay!" She said cheerfully before skipping over to where Kagura stood.
"But she is really pretty. She's the lady I gave the flower when she looked sad."
Izayoi placed a gentle hand on Rin's shoulder as she knelt down to the girl's level, "Now Rin, let's be nice to Miss Kagura, all right? She's a bit tired from some things that happened yesterday and doesn't need you bothering her too much."
Nodding enthusiastically, she walked over to her, "Hi! I'm Rin."
She extended a hand and Kagura paused a moment before taking it.
"I'm Kagura."
Turning back towards Izayoi, the brown-haired bundle of energy asked, "So when Sesshoumaru and Miss Kagura get married can I be the flower girl?"
The room fell silent as a light sigh was heard from Sesshoumaru's direction.
Kagura just blinked, "Um…"
"Now now Rin. Just calm down. Why don't you go downstairs and have Inuyasha get you a glass of orange juice?"
"Okay Mom!"
Once the girl was out the door and out of sight, Izayoi turned with a hesitant smile to Kagura, "You'll have to pardon her, she's been very close to Sesshoumaru ever since we took her into our home and she's been very eager to get a 'big sister' aside from Kagome."
"…Kagome?" Kagura asked, noticing Sesshoumaru gathering up his clothing and going into the bathroom to change himself.
"Oh, she's Inuyasha's girlfriend. A very pleasant young girl…but with those two still in school, it'll be sometime before they're ready to be married."
"I see…" She replied slowly, "And since when was becoming Sesshoumaru's wife part of my job description as his secretary?"
"Consider it a bonus if you can win him over," Mr. Taiyoukai spoke up from the doorway.
"I'd rather keep to minimum wage then," Kagura countered with a glare.
"Touche," The elder man thought to himself, "I can see why Sesshoumaru is perplexed so by her. She is indeed very interesting."
"You'll have to pardon our forward intentions. You happen to be the first female he's shown even a remote interest in," He said aloud.
"Oh, so you're forcing him on me so he doesn't turn out gay, right?"
"That doesn't seem to be his persuasion either. The secretary down in the juvenile books branch of his offices doesn't seem to be any more appealing to him than a female."
Kagura blanched, "What?"
"Jakotsu. Openly homosexual man who currently works as a secretary for one of the others in my offices. Has made advances to which I promptly dismissed," Sesshoumaru stated in slight irritation as he came out of the bathroom.
Before anyone else in the room could remark, another voice was heard from downstairs.
"Can we go yet? I want to get this stupid shopping shit over with."
Izayoi shook her head, "That would be my son, all right."
Sesshoumaru just glared, "And why is he coming along against his will?"
"There's a dance at his school soon and Kagome wanted him to help pick out her dress. At first he protested, but I told him it was sweet gesture so he has begrudgingly agreed only if I come along," The black-haired woman explained.
"Momma's boy," The elder brother muttered under his breath.
Kagura smirked slightly, "So he is still somewhat human under that cold exterior. Well now, this day might not be so boring after all…"
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Making their way downstairs, Kagura could overhear three distinct voices in the kitchen.
"So what kinda dress are you getting, Miss Kagome?"
"Well that depends on what Inuyasha helps me pick out."
"Keh!"
Sesshoumaru casually walked in towards his refrigerator, opened it, then turned and leveled a glare at his younger sibling.
"Since when was it appropriate to come into my house and drink all my milk?"
"Since I'm thirsty and I felt it like," Inuyasha retorted.
In a moment, Sesshoumaru was face to face with Inuyasha. With a tinge of a smug smirk, he lifted up the half-full glass from the table.
"That's mine, stupid!"
"Last I checked this was my home," He shot back, face and voice still deadpan.
"Oh yeah well…." Inuyasha stopped as Sesshoumaru proceeded to drink down the rest of the glass, "Hey!"
"Come on boys. Let's try and get along at least for a little while," Izayoi interfered, walking between them and casually taking the empty glass from Sesshoumaru.
"Keh. Stupid idiotic…" Inuyasha began, only to be cut off.
"Inuyasha?"
"Yes, Mom?"
"We're going to drop you and Kagome down at the dress department when we get there. I need to help Kagura pick out some suitable work clothes then I'll be down to help you out, all right?"
"Fine…" He muttered.
Kagura just stood in the doorway, amused smirk on her face.
"Can I go with Miss Kagura and Sesshoumaru?" Rin questioned, looking up at Izayoi.
"Certainly Rin. I'm sure Kagura would love to have your help picking out some clothes," The woman replied, giving her a good-natured smile.
"Sesshoumaru. Izayoi shall attend to you and Kagura for now. Please allow her the use of your car to get you there," Mr. Taiyoukai stated firmly.
Sesshoumaru nodded simply in reply.
"I'm riding with you, Dad?" Inuyasha questioned as he stood.
"I'll attend to you and Kagome while Izayoi is assisting Kagura," He stated.
Everything at the household having been attended to, the family divided itself amongst the two cars and proceeded to the local shopping establishment.
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Once there, Rin quickly ran about the department pointing out dresses and suits that she thought Kagura would like, and Izayoi helped narrow those choices down into more suitable ones.
Kagura stood back and looked around. It was a fancy department store, and she knew every shirt was at least forty dollars or more.
Not looking any more attentive, Sesshoumaru stood quietly beside her waiting for this task to be dealt with so he could return to his usual daily routine.
Finally selecting some outfits, Izayoi ushered Kagura into the nearest fitting room and waited outside with Sesshoumaru and Rin to assess each outfit's appearance on the black-haired woman.
After going through about seven different outfits, Kagura paused as the zipper on the dress she was trying on stuck.
Muttering curses under her breath, she spoke in the direction of the door, "Uh…Izayoi? Can you help me with something? The zipper on this one is stuck…"
Hearing the rattling doorknob, she reached back behind her and undid the lock.
"It's unlocked now."
Shutting her eyes for a brief moment in pain from the quick movement of her arm, she froze on feeling a firm hand on her shoulder.
"That hand is way too big for it to be Izayoi's…"
She closed her eyes tighter, her mind conjuring up nothing but the thought that Naraku could have found her.
"For someone who's always protesting that they can attend to things themselves. You are rather lacking in fulfilling those words."
"That voice…it's…" She opened her eyes, and looked up at the deadpan face of none other than Sesshoumaru.
Releasing the breath she didn't even know she was holding, Kagura managed to get one word out, "You…."
Raising an eyebrow, he finished pulling up the zipper.
"Perhaps the zipper wouldn't get stuck if you choose something that wasn't as…" He averted his eyes, "skin-tight."
"I didn't pick it out," She growled, "And what the hell are you doing in here anyways!?"
"Izayoi had taken Rin to look at something. You needed assistance."
"And who said I wanted your help, pervert!?"
Reaching out, he firmly took her chin in his hand, "You were afraid. Why?"
Jerking her face out of his grasp, she glared at the wall of the small changing room.
Turning, he opened the door and walked out, leaving her with a few words in his absence.
"There would never be any reason for me to treat you like that man did."
Pausing as that sunk in, she was at a loss for words for a moment. Not knowing why, Kagura reached out and caught his wrist before the door swung closed.
Head hung down, she muttered under her breath.
"I know, Sesshoumaru."
Slowly she let go and the door closed.
"Somehow…I know. You'll never hurt me."
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Preview for Chapter 11:
To understand the reserved man who's life she's becoming a part of, Kagura turns to those around him with questions in hopes to get some answers to why he is who he is.