Wish I Were You
Sakura's Note: Sorry for getting this out so late, writer's block had me until late last night. But, I posted it nonetheless. This chapter mostly is about who the two girls meet at first when they arrive. I also wanted to point out that I'm starting of Inuyasha and Kagome's relationship like it started out in the anime/manga. Kagome started out trying to befriend the distrusting Inuyasha, even holding off on her true anger for a while hoping that will do the trick.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed! I'll try and respond to reviews next chapter, because I need to hurry and upload this one. Enjoy!.-..-.
Chapter 4: Settling In
.-..-.
Kagome looked in utter bemusement at the teenager in front of her. Her mind had come up with many possibilities as to what to expect when she arrived, but being threatened wasn't one of them. Obviously, he didn't like cookies.
She noticed in slight amusement that he did freeze when he realized his mistake. Of course, that was thanks to the other, older man at the door.
"Higurashi?" His cheeks began to heat up. "You're not selling cookies?"
Slightly puzzled as to why anyone could have such strong hate towards cookies, she shook her head numbly. She could have sworn she heard him curse under his breath. He disappeared from the entryway, looking discomfited.
"We didn't expect you for another hour, otherwise Kohaku would be here to welcome you."
Kagome looked up at the silver haired man standing in front of her. He was so tall and stoic that the heiress faltered a step. "Oh, I--"
"Don't worry about it. It's no inconvenience. By the way, my name is Sesshoumaru." He gave a ghost of a smile. "Inuyasha can take your bags up to your room.""Oh, thank you!" She smiled, getting a little of her nerve back.
Sesshoumaru lifted her suitcase, handing it off to someone out of her line of vision. With a curious glance, he also hefted her yellow backpack. When he handed this one off, there was a definite 'oomph!' from the unknown person.
"Come on in," Sesshoumaru moved aside, allowing her to enter into the hallway.
The living room was a rich scarlet with a beige carpet. It was homey, something Kagome had yet to see in her own New York City home. In the corner of the living room a spiral staircase lead to the second floor. From where she was standing, she could just make out the beginning of the dining room. "This place is beautiful!"
Sesshoumaru gave her a questioning look. "An odd thing to hear from an heiress."
Kagome turned around with a smile, "For the next three months I'm just Kagome."
She turned back around to continue admiring the house and noticed someone coming down the stairs. The boy from the door stared back at her and something flashed across his face. It was immediately covered up with a look of placidness.
"To celebrate your arrival we're going out to Red Lobster around six," announced Sesshoumaru, ignoring the look of disgust on his brother's face. "Until then, there are some things I have to clear up. Inuyasha can give you a tour of the house."
Inuyasha balked.
.-..-.
The elevator hummed to life, zipping smoothly up to the 65th floor. With a ping the doors slid open, revealing a chic penthouse. The place looked like it was straight from a magazine, which it probably was.
Sango gasped at the magnificent view.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" A woman who looked to be in her fifties entered Sango's line of sight with a wise smile. "I've always loved this window the best."
"It's breathtaking..." Sango murmured, pressing a hand to the glass. She was high enough above the streets that pedestrians looked like ants. Skyscrapers rose up around her, their windows reflecting the setting sun.
"I'm Kaede, Kagome's old nanny. You must be Ms. Dawson."
Sango smiled, "Nice to meet you--but just call me Sango, please."
"Welcome, Sango, and congratulations. We're very excited about you living here for these three months." She motioned for the young girl to follow her, "Come with me, I'll show you to your room. I'll introduce you to some of the other staff once you get settled in."
The fifteen-year-old trotted after her, sneaking glances into any open doors along the way. At the end of the hallway Kaede stopped, "Here we are." She twisted the knob, and pushed open the door. "I hope everything is satisfactory... If there's anything further that you need, just tell me and we'll get it."
Sango's breath caught in her throat, "This...is my room? My whole house could fit in here!"
Kaede chuckled, turning to leave, "I'll be back to get you for dinner in a few hours. That should give you enough time to familiarize yourself with everything."
"Uh huh..." Sango nodded dazedly, "Sure." A wide grin formed on her face, My friends are so gonna hate me.
.-..-.
"And this is the microwave."
Kagome shot the back of his head a very dry look. He'd turned into a robot ever since Sesshoumaru had disappeared into his office.
"The fridge, the stove, the toaster--"
"Really? This is a toaster? Wow! I've never seen one of these before!" Kagome squealed excitedly.
Inuyasha stopped gesturing to the household appliances and turned around. "...You don't know what a toaster is?"
Kagome rolled her eyes. At least she'd gotten him out of Cyborg mode... "No..." she drawled, leaning on the counter. "Of course I know what a toaster is! Where do you think I came from? Mars?"
The teen glared, and gritted his teeth. "I get the point." He turned back around. "This is the kitchen."
"No, really?"
"Do you want to know where the bathroom is or not?" He huffed, obviously more than a little annoyed.
Even though she had a feeling she could find the bathroom herself, the idea of him deserting her in the kitchen still made her feel nervous. With a resigned sigh, she shut her mouth.
Inuyasha gave her a forced smile before heading out into the living room and up the stairs. "This is my little brother Kohaku's room. And across from his is Sesshoumaru's... and the bathroom. And finally, here's your room."
Kagome looked over Inuyasha's shoulder inquisitively, "What's in there?" Inuyasha looked back, following her gaze, and frowned.
"My room." The way he said it implied that she wasn't welcome there, and that dangerous things would happen if she ever got near it.
So, of course she wanted to go inside.
"Lemme guess, I'm not allowed?"
"Ding, ding, ding!" Inuyasha smiled, "Exactly! Besides, there's nothing in there that'd interest you anyway."
"How do you know? We just met." Kagome countered, folding her arms defiantly.
"Because I know your type."
"Really? So how many heiresses have you met before me, hm? Or do you rely on the media like all the other ignorant celebrity chasers of the world?"
"How did this get from my room to ignorant celebrity chasers?"
Kagome shrugged, dismissing the subject rather calmly. "Is this your sister's room?"
Inuyasha frowned, confused about how easily she'd dropped their argument. That annoyed him. "Yeah, Sango."
The heiress nodded, "I wish I could have met her." She stepped inside the room to look around. "She's really creative!"
Inuyasha turned around, "You can go ahead and start unpacking. I'm gonna go get some food." In a random act of kindness he stopped and looked back at her, "You want anything?"
She gave him a confused look, "Aren't we going out for dinner?"
"Yeah." He stated breezily.
Kagome watched him retreat down the stairs.
Perfect...
With a cheeky grin Kagome crept down the hall to her tour guide's 'fortress of solitude' and turned the knob. The door opened without creaking.
The room itself was surprisingly clean with only a few clothes lying haphazardly on the floor. Sun shined in through the windows. It was a typical teenage boy's room...
Except for the--
Kagome screamed.
The long, white, beady eyed, scaly, slithery, snake flicked out its tongue, changing its course towards the door.
She could see its glass tank sitting in the corner, with the top moved to the side. Her mind screamed at her to run but her feet were frozen to the floor. Then she heard footsteps ascending up towards her. With a whimper, she took a step back from Inuyasha's bedroom.
Hearing the scream, Inuyasha dashed up the stairs, hollering to Sesshoumaru that he'd take care of it. The little concern he'd had, though, was instantly replaced with anger when he saw where the heiress was standing.
"What are you doing?" Inuyasha barked, causing the girl to jump. "I told you to stay out of my room!"
Kagome glared. He didn't even care if she was hurt! "You didn't tell me there was a monster in there!"
Inuyasha rose an eyebrow, "You mean my python?"
"Pyth...on? Python?!"
"Well it isn't a garden snake." He smirked inwardly, "You aren't scared of them, are you?"
She completely ignored the question. "I-I opened the d-door and it was loose in there!"
"Loose?" Inuyasha looked into his room, scanning it for any signs of his snake. Then his eyes closed in on the empty tank. "Where is he?"
Kagome looked inside as well, although she was much more jumpy. "What do you mean 'where'?"
"He ain't in there," Inuyasha muttered, heading down the hall.
"It got away?!"
"We're gonna have to find him."
Kagome gawked, "You're joking."
"It'll just slither around all day if we don't find it." He countered, traipsing into her room. "It could be anywhere by now..."
She gulped. "Peachy."
Inuyasha searched the other rooms with Kagome trailing behind. "Would you stop following me?" He jogged down the steps into the living room. "We'd find him faster if you'd look somewhere I haven't."
Kagome lifted a sofa cushion. "We'd find it faster if you stopped worrying about me following you." She shot back, glancing under the coffee table.
Inuyasha sighed, "Killer's never hurt anyone, you know."
The heiress paused in her search. That made her feel safe...
.-..-.
Kagome hesitantly entered the living room, keeping an eye out for anything too scaly, and seated herself on the couch. The renegade python 'Killer' was still on the run. Inuyasha had gone off to change before they went out to the restaurant, which left Kagome alone.
Alone and terrified.
Ever since her fifth birthday party, where the magician had accidentally caused his snake to reappear wrapped around her neck she'd been terrified of them. After the snake was successfully detached it had been a joke among the businessmen and women invited.
'Ha ha ha, the young heiress to the Higurashi fortune almost died by suffocation!'
Oh yes, very funny indeed.
Needless to say Kagome did not laugh.
She sighed, leaning back into the pillows. Everything had changed after her mom had died. Her father's business buddies slowly replaced children at her birthday parties. There were more and more cocktail parties that required expensive dresses and polite etiquette.
Something moved behind the television.
"Um... Inuyasha?" Her voice was too squeaky for anyone to hear her. "Anyone...?" Kagome drew her legs up onto the couch, "I think I found the snake." Two red eyes peered at her from behind the TV table. If it's eyes were that huge...
It sprung, flying through the air with a... mew?
Kagome froze, a scream stuck in her throat, and braced herself for impact. The snake seemed much lighter than it should have... The heiress peeked an eye open. There was another purr, and then something furry nuzzled against her cheek.
A...kitten?
The animal mewled and sniffed at the girl's neck. Satisfied that the girl smelled somewhat like her owner's family she jumped back off the couch, landing gracefully on all fours.
The front door opened, letting in an early autumn breeze. "I don't care what the referee said, they cheated to get that goal past you." A girl walked into the living room, still looking towards the door. Her ponytail was on the side of her head, tied with a red ribbon. It matched her soccer uniform. "Kohaku, they're cheaters!"
Kohaku entered the room with a soccer ball under his arm. "Oh, come on, Rin, it was just practice..." He kicked off his cleats and tossed them into the hallway closet.
"But if they're desperate enough to cheat at a practice game they're bound to do it next Saturday." She placed her shoes by the door.
"We'll be ready for them." Kohaku's smile faltered as he finally looked into the living room.
"Kohaku?" Rin followed his eyes to the girl sitting on the sofa. "Oh...my...It's you!" She squealed, "You're Kagome Higurashi!"
Kagome blushed, "That's me."
"I'm Rin." She grabbed Kagome's hand, shaking it excitedly. "I thought we'd be back in time for the Grand Welcoming!" Rin continued excitedly, "I still can't believe Sango won!"
The heiress smiled, "You must be Kohaku?"
Kohaku looked surprised that she knew him by name, but nodded with a dopey smile. "Yeah. How did you--"
"Inuyasha told me."
Rin and Kohaku looked at each other for a moment, then back at the heiress. "He wasn't himself, was he?"
"If you mean rude and sarcastic, then yes." Kagome said wryly.
"He's like that to everyone..." Kohaku confessed. "Well, almost everyone, anyway." Rin nodded in agreement.
"You're a loyal brother."
The three of them turned at the new voice to see Inuyasha standing at the bottom of the steps with a dry look on his face.
"Hey, bro." Kohaku laughed self-consciously. "What's up?"
"Killer's loose."
Kagome's happiness came crashing down like a tower of cards. "Thanks for reminding me! I only just forgot that the thing was slithering around somewhere ready to kill me! Now I'm terrified again."
Inuyasha smiled happily, "Then I've accomplished my task." He meandered into the living room, taking in the fresh grass stains on Kohaku and Rin's jerseys. "How was practice?"
Kohaku ran a hand through his hair, "We killed them."
"Even though they cheated," Rin supplied angrily.
Inuyasha nodded, "Kohaku, we're leaving in half an hour for Red Lobster. So get changed out of your uniform."
"Alright." He nodded and kissed Rin on the cheek. "Be right back."
Rin blushed at being temporarily the center of attention. "Okay."
"Hey, Rin, are you coming with us?" Kagome noticed Inuyasha's shell-shocked face, but brushed it off. He was always rude to someone...
The fourteen-year-old's face brightened. "You're inviting me?"
"Well, yeah." Kagome laughed, "Of course I am."
"You are the most down to earth celebrity I've ever met." She confessed expressively. "Let me go call home and ask if it's ok." The girl gave Kagome a quick hug before dashing into the kitchen.
"Hyper girl, isn't she?" Kagome smiled in the direction Rin had gone. When Inuyasha didn't respond, she turned to look at him. "Inuyasha?"
"Why...did you do that?" Inuyasha asked through gritted teeth.
Had she done something wrong...? "I didn't see why not, she goes out with your little brother doesn't she?"
"Yes, she does." Inuyasha's voice had dropped to dangerously low levels, setting warning bells off in Kagome's head. "We don't have enough space in Sesshoumaru's jeep to take everyone; she'd have to get a ride."
Kagome frowned. "So? She shouldn't be excluded because she doesn't fit in the car."
"I hate her brother." The teen confessed, "With a friggin' passion."
"What's so bad about her brother?" Kagome asked, perplexed. "And what does he have to do with anything. I didn't invite him."
Inuyasha slapped his face, "Do I have to spell it out for you?"
"Well, obviously. The way you explain things it's a wonder anyone ever understands you."
"Her brother is the only one with a car! He'd have to drive her." He snapped, "I'd have to see him outside of school. Something I don't enjoy."
Kagome would have said more if Rin didn't bound back into the room. "My mom said it's ok." She gave Kagome a gracious smile. "My brother's picking me up so I can get changed. Then he'll drop me off at Red Lobster."
Inuyasha plastered on a smile, "Great! When's he getting here?"
"He was already on his way to pick me up, so he'll be here soon. I'm gonna go tell Kohaku I'll meet you there."
"Alright." Inuyasha waved as she sprinted up the stairs. As soon as her legs disappeared from view his true feelings bled through. "Do you have any idea how much I don't like you right now?""Do you have any idea how immature you are acting right now? Rin is one of the sweetest girls I've ever met," Kagome conceded. "Just because you hate her brother doesn't mean that you should treat her that way."
"Keh." Inuyasha snorted, "You don't know her brother."
There was a honk from outside, saving Kagome from any further ranting from the heated boy.
Rin rushed down the stairs. "See you guys there!" She dashed to the door, grabbing up her cleats as she went, and closed the door behind her.
Kagome smiled for a moment before gathering up enough courage to ask what she'd been dying to know. "Inuyasha, can I ask you a question?"
"Shoot."
"Where... Where's your parent's room?"
Inuyasha stilled for a moment, then bent down to tie his shoe. "They're dead."
.-..-.
Sango stepped out of the closet in amazement. The walls inside were lined with clothes from the latest fashion magazines. There were more than enough shoes from the top fashion designers inside, along with an entire cabinet full of Gucci. She was sure they were all over one hundred dollars.
Kaede smiled from the open door. "Enjoying yourself?"
Sango grinned sheepishly, "This is amazing! Did you know Kagome has over three hundred CDs, almost all of them autographed?" She giggled as she hugged a stuffed unicorn on the bed. "And a personal home entertainment system with plasma screen TV!"
"I've come to collect you for dinner." Kaede clasped her hands together. "It's Italian night."
"Really? What are they serving?"
"Things an old woman like me still cannot pronounce," She gave a good-natured laugh and motioned for Sango to come. "Let's go see if you can, hm?"
"I'm game." Sango jumped up off the king sized bed, heading after the woman. Once by her side, she slowed to a comfortable pace. "Will Mr. Higurashi be at dinner? I haven't met him yet."
Kaede shook her head, "Mr. Higurashi is a very busy man. He's lucky to be able to sit down for dinner at all." Her words sounded oddly rehearsed, as if they'd be repeated hundreds of times. "But Ms. Spears said that she would be joining us for dinner."
"Who's she?" Sango boarded the express elevator.
"Mr. Higurashi's Press Secretary. She said that she needs to go over some things with you before tomorrow."
Was there something they'd forgotten to tell her? Sango coughed, "Um, what's tomorrow?"
"There is a cocktail party tomorrow evening. It will be your 'public debut' of sorts. She needs to go over a few things, just incase the paparazzi manages to find you."
"But I've never been to a cocktail party!" Sango protested, "I don't even know what you do there."
"That's what Ms Spears will be going on about, child. Mr. Webb, another of Mr. Higurashi's personal assistants said he might also attend tonight to welcome you here." She'd spoken his name with more than a little disdain.
In a place as famous as the Urashi Building, tension must have run between at least some of the staff.
"So." Sango jumped at Kaede's voice. "Was your family excited?"
"Well, my youngest brother Kohaku was. My oldest brother Sesshoumaru was open to the idea, too. But, Inuyasha... Well, let's just say he hates change." Sango laughed. "He didn't want to admit it, but I know he'll miss me."
Kaede watched as the girl's eyes lit up with unseen memories as she continued on about her family. Indeed, family is a wonderful thing... "And what about your parents? Was your mother seeing you off with tears?"
Sango quieted somewhat, "She would have, but they passed on when I was four." She saw the apologetic look on the old woman's face and waved her hand. "It's ok, I'm alright. Don't regret asking, I like it when people ask about my parents. I think out of all of us, Inuyasha had it the hardest though. When we were kids, Sesshoumaru blamed their deaths on him. He got older, and matured, but Inuyasha still keeps that all inside him."
She paused as the elevator came close to their stop. "I never saw him cry about it..." The distant look in her eyes faded somewhat. "But, now Sesshoumaru takes care of all of us. I have to admit, for a brother he really is a good role model. He took care of us and has a great job." The doors slid open into a hallway that opened into the dining room. "Well, time to eat like the rich do, huh?"
With a wink, Sango headed off down the hall.
Kaede stepped out of the elevator and paused.
They had a serious problem.