Summery; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.
"En Famille" by KawaiiChica helped inspire this new development. You'll see what I mean. SesshomaruXOC coming very soon. Don't forget to tell me who you think she should end up with - reviewers decide their fate...Will it be Sesshomaru, Bankotsu - or someone else entirely? Tell me your opinions, people!
Please review if you read. Ideas, suggestions, and vote on couple is greatly appreciated.
Tugging her jacket closer around her as protection from the wind, Tori stood impatiently in front of the statue at twenty to three.
"I wonder where he is?" she wondered, and checked her watch. "Well, I'm early, after all. Guess I'll just have to wait some more."
Looking around, she huffed as fifteen-to-three came and went. As the first warning bell went off for her class, she muttered a curse and ran down the hall, royally pissed at whoever LordYoukai was.
"Damn," Sesshomaru thought calmly, glancing at the clock, "I missed the appointment with Tori. Ah, well, it's not as if I wanted to meet her that badly."
He shook his head as a little voice inside him labeled him a liar, and threw his book at the first target in sight – Inuyasha.
"What the fuck?" he demanded, throwing it back. Sesshomaru caught it effortlessly. Without a second glance at his brother, he returned to his studies.
Tori sighed loudly as she studied her books, earning glares from several students.
"Oops," she grinned softly, and bent her head back over the page.
"Excuse me?"
"Yeah?" Tori looked up, and found herself confronted by one of Hiten's friends – Inuyasha's girlfriend, Kagome.
"I have to get up higher, and I need the stool," she pointed out, and laughed good-naturedly as Tori jumped off the stool.
"Sorry, it's a habit," she explained quietly, as Kagome climbed up.
"Oh, it's no problem," Kagome replied cheerfully, "I'm Kagome Higurashi. Have I seen you before?"
"I think so – I'm a friend of Hiten's," Tori began, and then stopped as several other students began hissing for them to be quiet.
"I just need to check this out. Wanna meet me outside?" Kagome asked, "Or were you studying?"
"Nah, can't concentrate," Tori shook her head, "Lemme just grab my books."
"Kay!" Kagome nodded happily, and skipped toward the counter.
"So, you were saying?" Kagome asked, once the two girls were outside. Kagome's blue-black hair and light-blue eyes were the exact copy of her older brother Koga's.
"I'm Tori Baird," Tori finished, and shook her hand while laughing, "That's the first time I had to leave the library for making too much noise!"
"Believe me, with three brothers, I'm used to it," Kagome told her, shaking her head, "Wanna go to that café near campus? I hear they're pretty good, and it'll be a lot warmer than out here."
"Why not?" Tori agreed, slightly surprised at herself. Kagome's natural charm and friendliness, however, had quickly made it past Tori's shyness.
"Ahh…" Kagome sighed, relaxing in the chair, "Much better."
"So, you're GrtMiko?" Tori checked, and Kagome nodded.
"Yeah – I love reading about the priestesses of the Warring States Era," Kagome told her, "How'd you guess?"
"Because of your history books," she pointed out, "I remembered that GrtMiko was going to major in history."
"And you're philosophy, right?" Kagome remembered, grinning, "Well, my brother Koga's WolfPrince, Souta is KidB, and Shippo is Kitsune1."
"Cool," Tori nodded, "Now I know who almost everyone is."
"Who doncha know?" Kagome asked.
"MonkMan and Paint4Life," Tori told her, and Kagome giggled.
"I'll introduce you to the – hey, there they are!" she realized, and waved to her two friends, "Hey, Sango! Miroku!"
"Hello, Kagome," Miroku greeted her, and then turned his perverted attentions to Tori. "And who is this lovely young lady?"
"I'm Tori Baird," she said, as Sango glared at her boyfriend, and promptly sat next to Kagome. Miroku took a spot between Sango and Tori – a dangerous one, to be sure, due to his unfortunate habits.
"Please to meet you," Sango smiled, "I'm Sango DeCruz, and this is Miroku Bouzu."
"She was just asking who Paint4Life and MonkMan were," Kagome told them, "She's JigsawPuzzle on the college IM chat."
"I'm Paint4Life," Sango admitted, "I'm an artist. And Miroku's MonkMan, due to his major."
"Guilty," he raised his hand. Lowering it, his hand somehow found it's way to Tori's…
"Miroku!" Kagome yelled, as Tori jumped a foot in the air.
"Miroku…" Sango gritted her teeth, and backhanded her boyfriend viciously, "Cut that out!"
"My apologies, Tori," he laughed weakly, rubbing his now-ringing head. "My hand is cursed, you see, with…"
"Oh, save it," Kagome interrupted him, and turned Tori, "Sorry 'bout that. Miroku's a little perverted."
"It's okay," Tori shrugged, moving her chair further away from him, "It's not like it's the first time I've been groped by a guy. Granted, they're usually single or old men, though."
"So, are you doing anything tonight?" Kagome asked.
"Well, I was going to meet someone on TUIM, but other than that…"
"We're going over the Taisho's with Jak, Hiten, and Bankotsu," Sango said, "Do you want to come with us?"
"Inuyasha said that he met you, and Jakotsu and Hiten have spoken of you often," Miroku added, "I'm sure they'd be glad to see you."
"Well, I'd have to ask my cousin, but sure, I'll go," Tori nodded, suddenly grinning confidently, "I haven't been anywhere for months."
"Where do you live?" Kagome asked, "We can pick you up, unless you know where the Taisho's live."
"I don't," Tori shook her head, and wrote her address on a napkin. "Is Sesshomaru going to be there?"
"Have you met him?" Kagome asked in surprise.
"Yeah," Tori nodded, but left it at that. "He came across as an arrogant asshole, to be honest. At least Inuyasha is down-to-earth – sorta, no offense." She blinked in surprise as Miroku burst out laughing.
"None taken," Kagome assured her, before Miroku cut her off.
"Sesshomaru came across that way because that's what he is," he gasped between fits of laughter, and winced as Sango elbowed. "It's just that girls are usually falling over his feet, and the guys loathe him. Either way, I haven't heard anyone describe him like that except Inuyasha."
"Good point," Sango said thoughtfully, as Tori shrugged helplessly.
"We'll pick you up at eight," Kagome said, bringing the conversation back to normality, "Here's my cell number, in case something comes up. Is that okay?"
"Sure thing," Tori nodded, "You just hand out your cell number to random strangers?"
"No, just the ones that seem nice," Kagome answered, and laughed at Tori's look that clearly said that Kagome was an idiot. "No, I don't. But Hiten and Jakotsu both know you well, so there's no harm, since we're all friends. In a roundabout, you're already our friend, in a way, right?"
"I guess," Tori agreed. Standing up, she stretched. "Sorry, but I'm gonna head home. I wanna hit the sack for a bit – early classes," she explained, and they nodded their understanding. "Luckily I don't have any night classes scheduled for today, so I'm free," she joked, and slung her bag over her shoulder, "I'll see you at eight, then. Bye, Kagome – Sango – Miroku!"
"She seems nice," he commented, as she left.
"Inuyasha was telling me about some crazy scheme Jakotsu has to set up Tori and Sesshomaru," Kagome told them, "He wants Sess to have a girlfriend, and Jakotsu wants her off a hopeless crush. Apparently, Hiten's trying to stay out of it, and Inuyasha's all for it."
"So that's why you asked her to come," Sango realized, narrowing her eyes, "Kagome, you're a little sneak!"
"Hey!" she protested. "I asked her because she seems nice, and lonely! Jakotsu's plan just makes a nice bonus," she added thoughtfully, and her two friends cracked up.
"Hey, Naraku, I got invited to a party at the Taisho's tonight," Tori said, coming in the door.
"By who?" Naraku asked, "Not that it really matters, because you're an adult and there's no reason for you to ask me my opinion – or permission."
"Yeah, but if you call up Renkotsu…" she shivered, "I'd be dead, and you know it, you blackmailer. So, can I go?"
"Sure, why not?" he stood up, "Oh, something came for you in the mail."
"Really? Is it from Renkotsu?" Tori asked curiously, following him to the counter. A half-wall and counters divided the flat's main room into the kitchen, dining, and living rooms. Down a hall were the two bathrooms and bedrooms.
"I doubt it," he shook his head, "It's local."
"I don't recognize the handwriting," Tori thought, and began to unwrap the box. Digging through the packaging paper, she gasped in embarrassment as she found lacy lingerie, and an envelope.
"Nope, definitely not from Renkotsu," Naraku remarked dryly, as Tori opened the envelope, "Unless he's gone psycho, which I doubt it. He's too boring to."
"It's not funny, Naraku," Tori whispered, "Look at these."
He whistled in shock as she showed the several pictures enclosed in the envelope. One displayed Tori sleeping her room, another studying, yet another on her computer – and a final one, which Naraku put face-down quickly.
"Any note?"
"No," she shook her head slowly, "Naraku…my window overlooks the park, and we're on the sixth floor. How the hell did he get a straight view into my room? And bathroom!"
"Calm down," he said, beginning to pace, "Panicking isn't going to help. First, we're going to call the police." He suddenly glanced up at the clock, "What time is that party?"
"In thirty," Tori replied, "Why?"
"I'm going with you," he decided, scooping the pictures and lingerie into the box, and closed it. "I'll call the police while you get ready. We'll go – and if you see anyone you've never seen before, I'll talk to Sesshomaru about it."
"Why him?" she asked in surprise.
"Because he and Inuyasha are particular about who they let in their house," Naraku informed her, "Trust me, I know. If neither of them know someone, then that person isn't supposed to be there."
"So you think whoever it is might show up?" she asked, shivering slightly.
"Maybe," he nodded grimly, "Now, go change while I call up. Are you getting picked up?"
"Yeah – Kagome Higurashi and her friends," Tori told him, and he nodded again.
"All right."
Pulling her shades tightly shut, Tori ducked into her closet to dress, with the help of a flashlight. In the semi-dark, she managed to slip into low-heeled sandals, a short tan denim skirt, and a snug shirt that had lavender and green-blue hues swirling together.
Tripping into her desk, she brushed her hair loose, and pulled a strand from either side to the back of her head, keeping them back with a black clip.
"Ready?" Naraku asked, knocking on her door, "It's almost eight."
"Yeah, I'm fine," she nodded, locking her window. Turning around, she shrugged. "Just in case."
"That's what the police said to do," he told her, "I already locked all the other windows, and I'll deadbolt the door before we leave."
"Sounds good," she nodded, and blinked as someone knocked on the door. "Oh, that must be Kagome and others," she realized, and ran to the door. To her surprise, a young man with long hair, who closely resembled Kagome, was there.
"Who're you?" Naraku demanded, taking Tori's elbow.
"Relax. I'm Kagome's brother, Koga," he assured them, "The others are waiting in the car, so let's hurry it up. You coming too?" he asked Naraku.
"Yes," he said shortly, and the cousins followed the nineteen year-old downstairs.
"Just going up and down those flights seems like pretty good exercise," Kagome commented, in a blue-black dress, as the three climbed into the Jeep.
"Yeah," Tori nodded breathlessly, "The elevator's broken."
"Really? I wonder if Hakkaku is working on it," Sango said thoughtfully, and then explained. "He's Ayame's older brother – you know who she is, right?" she checked, and they both nodded.
"Ready?" Koga asked, "Keep your seatbelts on until I stop the car to park, got me? Good, let's go."
"Keep 'em on because Koga drives like a maniac," Miroku whispered, causing Tori and Kagome to erupt in giggles.