Collide

By. Animechick262003

Chapter Three

Show Me Something Amazing

"I've seen better work come from pre-schoolers, Miss Higurashi. Is this the type of talent that Rukia is putting out these days? It is truly a sad day for the architectural world. I'm afraid I have no interest in you, or your work. Good Day."

Kagome sat at the bar inhaling her third martini since arriving only an hour earlier. The shock of all that had happened was still soaking in. Kagome still couldn't believe all that had taken place. Better work from pre-schoolers? Sad day for the architectural world? The more she thought about Mister Akira's scathing review of her work, the harder the tears came. She'd utterly felled.

"I'm a failure." She sobbed, dropping her head down on the bar "Ouch!" She lifted her head up quickly. Ok so dropping her head down that fast probably wasn't the best thought she'd had all day, she thought rubbing her bruised forehead.

"You okay, Kagome?" The red head behind the bar probed, making his way towards her.

"No I'm not ok, Shippo." Kagome whimpered. "I felled. I suck. I suck."

"I'm sure it's not that bad, Kagome. And you don't suck." He said, giving her shoulder a squeeze."

"Yes, it's that bad and I most certainly do suck." Kagome said chugging the remains of her apple martini. "Another please."

"I'll give you another if you tell me what happened to make my, Kagome scrunch up her pretty face."

"It's a deal, but be warned; it's a really tragic story of a girl and her lost dream."

"Oh my, you did what!" Shippo laughed."

"This is not funny, Shippo. I told him he was a jack ass, only I had no idea he was him. I am so screwed." Kagome sighed. "I'll never become the designer I want to be now."

"I wouldn't go so far as to say that much." Shippo said, sliding her drink. "You're already pretty good."

"Being good is not enough in this business, Shippo. You have to be the best if you want your work recognized. And to become the best, you train under the best. That job should have been mine."

"If you feel that strongly about it, why don't you go and get it." Shippo shrugged.

Kagome shot Shippo a go to heck glance. "Are you still mocking me?"

"No," Shippo said tossing a rag over his should and propping up against the bar. "I'm saying you just gave up. If you want this job so badly, Kagome, go and take it. Show him you want it."

"Humph… and how do you propose I take the job?"

"Well, for starters. You can put that apple martini down and get your butt back down to Akira Designs."

"You think I can do it?" Kagome said sitting the glass down on the bar.

"Positive." Shippo smiled. "The Kagome I know doesn't run from fights."

"She doesn't, does she?" Kagome said straitening in her chair. "A quitter never wins."

"Nope, they don't."

""What in the hell am I doing? That jobs mine." Kagome jumped to her feet, grabbed her hand bag, and rushed for the door. "Thanks Shippo!"

Kagome hurried towards the office suites on Obito Ave. Things had certainly taken a turn for the worst that morning. Who would have figured in a million years she'd be face to face with the man she idolized for years and never realize it. Even worse, who would have imagined that she would finally meet him to unknowingly insult him?

Things had definitely gone awry, but she couldn't allow things to end this way. She'd worked far too hard to watch her dream be lost simply because of some ill-gotten information. She would have to make him see, despite his opinion of her, that she was the person best suited to work at his side as his apprentice, and it looked as if her convincing would get underway immediately.

Fate was working on her behalf, Kagome thought, as Kouga emerged from the building on the sidewalk in front of her. This was her chance to make him see the light, that he'd made a mistake. The job was hers.

"Mister Akira," Kagome called out, then started towards him.

Kouga looked up to see who'd called out to him. What he found was a surprise. The young woman he'd interviewed earlier that morning was headed strait for him.

"I need to talk to you, Mister Akira."

"Need to talk to me?" Kouga asked, facing her. "What reason would you have to talk to me?"

"The interview."

"The interview?" Kouga scoffed as Kagome stopped in front of him. "All that needed to be said, was said during that time, Miss Higurashi." Kouga snorted, turned and started down the sidewalk. The sound of her heals colliding with the pavement echoed as she hurried along behind him. She was a relentless one. "Why are you following me?"

"I will follow you until you listen to me." Kagome announced, keeping stride.

"I've made up my mind and I don't intend to change it. You're wasting your time."

"You didn't conduct a fair evaluation of my work. That job is mine, Mister Akira, and you know it."

Kouga stopped sharply and turned to face her. She was persistent, but his decision was final. "The job belongs to you? What makes you think the job belongs to you?" Kouga snarled, taking a step towards her. "The job was intended for someone who shows exceptional promise. Promise, I didn't see in your work."

"Bull!" Kagome returned, closing the distance between them. "Now I'm sorry I insulted you, Mister Akira, but your crit of my work was way off base. I am a damn good designer and I won't let you, or anyone else tell me differently. I deserve this job."

Kouga almost smiled when she tilted her head, and stared him square in the eyes. This woman's unwillingness to take no and make the internship hers was admirable. It had been a long time since he'd seen this sort of passion from anyone, but the fact remained, although her work was good, it wasn't the best he'd seen.

"Look, I'm flattered that you feel so passionately about becoming my apprentice, Miss Higurashi, but I have made my choice, and I will not change my mind. Now if you'll excuse me. "Kouga spun on his heals and headed for the small black sports car parked on the opposite side of the street.

Kagome watched helplessly as he made for the parked car. Things were still not going according to plan. Mister Akira was as stubborn an opponent if ever she had one, but she could be just as bull headed. He was wrong to say her work showed no promise. And he was wrong when he said the job was not hers. She wouldn't allow things to end like this. Kagome started after him. She took a step, and suddenly found herself tumbling forward. She didn't even have a chance to blink. In a matter of seconds the entire ordeal was over.

"Damn it!" Kagome grunted, grabbing her head as she pushed herself up. One minute she'd been giving chase of Mister Akira, the next she was laying face first on the hard sidewalk.

"You okay, Miss Higurashi?" The familiar voice rung from next to her. Kagome looked up to find Kouga hovering over her, his expression a mixture of shock and concern.

"Yeah, I think so," Kagome replied, sitting up and dusting off her skirt.

"What in the hell happened just now?" Kouga asked squatting alongside her.

"I don't know. One minute I'm chasing after you, the next I'm licking pavement." Kagome replied as he gently pushed her hand aside, analyzing her head for injury.

"Well you don't seem to have bruised our head much, but that's another matter.' Kouga sighed looking at the injury on her knee.

Kagome followed his gaze, settling her eyes on her injury, which up until that point she hadn't realized she'd received. It stung something awful, but it didn't look to be too severe. Too bad she couldn't say the same about her favorite black pumps that lay on the sidewalk, the heel completely ripped off.

"Great! My shoe is ruined."

"I think your shoe is the least of your concerns right now." Kouga said, lifting from his stooped position. "Do you think you can stand, Miss Higurashi?"

"I'm not sure, but I'll give it a shot." Kagome said, placing her hands on the ground and giving a firm push. She'd practically climbed to her feet when a sharp pain passed through her knee and nearly sent her to the ground once more, but thanks to Kouga's sharp reflexes, she would avoid a repeat of her previous calamity. Without a word, Kouga wrapped his arms around her waist, and effortlessly hoisted her into his arms.

"Hey!" Kagome squawked as he started for the parked car again. "Just what do you think you're doing? I can walk."

"Don't be stupid, woman. You can't put any pressure on your knee." He snapped, tightening his hold on her. "I'll carry you until we know exactly what's going on with you. So don't argue. I don't like this any more than you do."

Kouga looked at her, and all her fiery defiance was extinguished. His eyes had to be the clearest blue she'd ever seen and were positively mesmerizing. And he smelled pretty nice too, Kagome thought closing her eyes, and inhaling deeply to gather more of his scent. His smell was like fresh baked apple pie, warm and inviting, and Kagome could have stayed there forever reveling in it, but as suddenly as their journey had started, it ended.

"I'm going to have to put you down for a minute while I open the door. Try not to put too much pressure on your knee. " Kouga said, snatching her back to reality. Kouga lowered Kagome slowly until she stood propped against the small black Porsche, then reached in his pockets for his keys.

"It doesn't feel all that bad." Kagome said, trying to think about something other than the way he smelled.

"It may not feel all that bad, but its best we have a physician take a look at it to be safe." Kouga said helping Kagome into the car.

"Physician!" Kagome exclaimed. "I don't need a physician. It's just a little scratch."

"Your injury may not appear serious, Miss Higurashi, but you'll regret not having seen a doctor if you go home and wake tomorrow to find your knee the size of a grapefruit." Kouga replied, coasting the vehicle onto the open roads. "Besides, I'd hate to see such a nice pair of legs disfigured." Kouga grinned.

Kouga glanced at Kagome and her face flushed the instant their eyes met. "I'm not going to any doctor." Kagome huffed, tearing her eyes away from him. Looking into those blue eyes of his was making more than her face heated, and it startled her. It wasn't exactly an unnatural response. No woman in her right mind could look at a man as devastatingly handsome as Kouga Akira, and not feel anything.

"So if no doctor, where to?" Kouga asked

"My house. It's only a half hour from here." Kagome answered, avoiding eye contact.

Kouga was utterly amused as he watched the woman sitting next to him, her face twisted up into a scowl. Only a half hour earlier he a Kagome had left from Tokyo Medical Center. Kouga had chosen to override her decision to go home, and instead opted to take her for medical attention. And Kagome wasn't at all thrilled over it. Kouga however had no regrets over his choice. It turned out he was right in his decision to take Kagome for medical treatment. Kagome had done more than simply scraped her knee with her little tumble. Kagome had twisted it pretty bad, and would require crutches for at least two weeks. The way Kouga saw it, Kagome actually owed him a few words of gratitude, but he knew the stubborn minx wouldn't give him one any time soon.

'"Frowning is not very becoming, Miss Higurashi."

"Neither is ignoring someone request to go home, tossing them over your shoulder and forcing them into a hospital room." Kagome returned.

"What I did was in your best interest."

"My knee could have waited. What is important at this time is the discussion we were having prior to this entire taking place."

"And what conversation was that, Miss Higurashi?"

"The one where you were going to give me the internship."

They were back on that again. Kouga sighed inwardly. This woman was terribly stubborn. She was fighting a losing battle. Why couldn't she see this?

"If I recall correctly, Miss Higurashi, you said the job was yours, and I pointed out, it is not. End of conversation."

"No it's not the end of the conversation," Kagome flared, "Why are you so hell bent on fighting me on this?"

"Should I just roll over and give you what you want?"

"Yes!"

"Nice try," Kouga grinned, pulling to a stop in front of row of three six story apartment buildings. "This is where you live, right?" Kouga asked undoing his seatbelt and getting out of the car.

"Yes."

"What floor?"

"Second." Kagome answered as she was helped from the car.

"Do you want to hold my hand and I help you up to your apartment, or would you like to carry you again?" Kouga asked

Kagome looked up into his handsome face, and her cheeks reddened. Instantly the memory of being held in his arms passed through her mind. She could still feel his rock hard torso pressed into her shoulder as he lifted her so effortlessly. His strides had been long and powerful as he carried her over the streets. Even the smell of him lingered on her clothe. Kagome felt the start of a familiar pulse in places she wouldn't mention, and quickly diverted her eyes to the ground.

"Don't try to change the subject! I don't need you to carry me. I can make it up to my apartment on my own." Kagome barked, leaning into her crutch and starting towards the stairs. "I want that job, Mister Akira."

"No," Kouga replied giving chase.

"Why are you such a stubborn man?"

"Why are you such a stubborn woman?" Kouga returned as they entered onto the second tier.

"It's called determination, Mister Akira. And it can hardly be associated with stubbornness."

"Can't it?" Kouga scoffed. "I gave you my reasons for why I turned you down for the job, and yet you continue to demand I give the job to you."

Kagome stopped outside her apartment, and turned to face him.

"If you can honestly say that you were not the least bit ticked with me for those things I said when you critiqued my work, then I'll back off."

Kouga stared at the beauty in front of him. Her jaw was set and her dark eyes were challenging, and her mouth. Kouga swallowed hard as his eye fell to the soft pink flesh of her lips. He'd come across a lot of beautiful women over the years, but none were quite as alluring as the one in front of him. It was subtle, but Kouga could feel his body awakening. And not just awakening. The tingle he felt was something he hadn't since Ayame, and it felt good.

"Well? Will you deny you were mad?" Kagome huffed, pulling him back to his senses, and he was thankful she had. Another second and he may have attempted something very foolish.

"I was a little upset." Kouga admitted trying to focus on something other than her mouth.

"You were more than just a little angry, you were a lot angry. You had me dress like a street walker, and I was solicited five times no thanks to you."

"Five? Wow. You should be flattered." Kouga laughed, and not just a little laugh a full, hearty laugh that touched his blue eyes and made them sparkle.

"That's not funny." Kagome said tearing up.

"Oi, don't do that!" Kouga said, as his laughter subsided.

"I'm sorry." Kagome whimpered turning away from him. " I really want this job."

Kouga stared at Kagome in disbelief. Passionate fell short of describing what he'd seen in her eyes just before she'd turned away from him. Kagome's emotion was so raw, and so earnest, that it actually touched him.

"Oi? Why the hell are you crying, woman? There's no need for those tears. It's only a job. They'll be others." Kouga said trying to console her.

"There won't be others. Not like this one."

"I don't get it." Kouga shrugged, shoving his hands into his trouser pockets. "Why is it so important that you have this job?"

"You're the reason it's so important." Kagome said, meting his gaze.

It was Kouga's turn to blush as she stared at him with those large brown eyes of hers.

"Me?"

Kagome took a wobbly step forward, closing the distance between them. "Yes, you Mister Akira. I have dreamed of working under you for so long. You're a genius. I just want a chance to have some of your talent rub off on me. Please, give me another chance to prove to you that I am the person for this job. Please."

He'd said no a hundred times, and still she insisted on having this job. To tell her no again would only serve to add fuel to her fiery determination. Maybe if he humored her, pretended to reconsider, and then let her down gently, she would back off, and he would be free of this incredibly beautiful, yet extremely annoying woman once and for all.

"Alright. I'll give you another chance." Kouga sighed.

"Yes!" Kagome dropped her crutch and flung herself into him. "Thank you! Thank You! You won't regret this. I swear!" Kagome gushed, hugging him.

"There is one condition you'll have to meet." Kouga quickly added.

"I don't care I'll do anything."

"Alright. You have two days to come up with a design for an office building. It has to be fresh, innovative, but most importantly, and the hardest, Miss Higurashi, I want to see your heart in the piece."

"My heart?" Kagome gave him a puzzled glance. "I put my heart into all I do."

"No you don't." Kouga replied shaking his head from side to side. "But if you want to truly work at my side as my apprentice, you'll have to put your heart on paper. You, Miss Higurashi, must show me something amazing. If you can't do this, then I will hold to my original decision, and you will not harass me further over this. Agreed?"

Kouga could tell, he'd completely caught her off guard with the last part of her statement. But it was a fact that the best works contained pieces of the creator's heart. If she could not overcome this small obstacle of giving her work everything, then she would never be the artist she longed to be. Which would make his teaching her the things he knew a pointless endeavor in the end.

"Well is it an agreement or not, woman? I've wasted enough time with you."

Kagome met his gaze once more, and with the fiery will he'd come to admire over the span of a day, said.

"I'll accept your challenge and win."

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