Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, which would be Rumiko Takahashi that you are looking for, not me. I prefer to keep what little material objects I own.
Well hello, I am cauchemaraku, pleased to meet you. The characters in this story will be mildly OOC at times I would imagine, so that they fit into what is bubbling in my head. It is AU, and Kagome's mother is basically my mother's twin I suppose. Everyone should have a mother like mine. Feel free to review, flame, whatever. I like the criticism, because it means that the story is being read, or at least skimmed.
Dream of Me: Have you ever woken up, knowing you had just had an interesting dream but yet you can never remember the full details. You may try to goad yourself into going back to sleep, hoping that what little pieces you remembered can jumpstart your dream once again. Almost like TiVo for your mind (what an idea!) Kagome Higurashi is a translator for the corporate world by day, a dream interpreter by night. Best friends with her mother and younger brother, a kid at heart with a healthy love for ice hockey, and "the only 24 year old virgin left in the world." When she meets Inuyasha Takahashi, by chance, they hardly hit it off. But can she unscramble his bizarre and sometimes chaotic dreams?
Prologue: Yes Mom, I know what condoms are
"Mom, I am positive, everything will be okay because it always is!"
'Please just let me be, I swear I will get you the most beautiful bouquet of yellow roses.' "Well, Kagome, I never did like the idea of you walking by yourself, let alone having an alcoholic beverage."
'Here we go again…'
"I promise I will be careful and I will call you at the hospital the minute I get home, are you going to be in labor and delivery or in the nursery?"
Kagome was going to be late for her dinner meeting with one of the ambassadors from Egypt, but mothers just can't wait like Mahmoud El-Begourmi, well it always seemed that way when Kaori Higurashi, her mother, phoned
"I am supposed to be in labor and delivery, if they take me off the floor one more time, I will not be happy, though I do love the nursery, we have about 4 ne-"
"Mom I NEED to go NOW, I will call you as soon as I enter the apartment, and I love you, Bye!"
"Wait! I had a dream last night!"
click
Phew…conversation averted, though she would have to talk to her mother later about that dream, she knew it was a ploy that Kagome's mother used all the time to keep her daughter on the phone. It wasn't that Kagome disliked talking to her mother; she just did not know when to shut up. Sometimes, Kagome did not feel her age after their conversations on the phone. In fact, she felt about 15 years younger, but not in a good way. Not in the way that makes you feel more energetic or puts you in the mood to go out and buy a very risky outfit, only for said item to sit in the back of your closet forever. No, for Kagome, whenever she talked to her mother on the phone, (which was about 3 – 4 times daily) she oddly thought that she was back to being 9 years old. It wasn't that her mother treated her that way, well she did really. It was something to be expected though, since she was living thousands of miles away, a half a globe apart. Her mother lived in Japan, where Kagome was born and raised, with Kagome's younger brother Souta. Souta was about to graduate high school and had been accepted into George Washington University, the same college Kagome had attended, so Souta decided he was going to live with her. 'We will see how long that will last,' Kagome thought to herself.
Back onto the subject of her mother, how many 24 year old women still received care packages from their mother, greeting cards for every occasion under the sun, cute little stuffed animals (hello kitty to be exact), and news on the local hockey team? Better yet, how many 24 year old women who live in Washington D.C. are virgins? Kagome's answer was always the same: none, zip, nada, zilch. This was good, more angst and self-observation to add to her online blog, life gets more and more predictable.
It wasn't as though she had not tried, was not capable, or swung for the other team. It wasn't even a complicated answer, according to her. It was simple really, the guys that had been in and out of her life (each was fairly brief, no real relationship) had turned her off, wore her down, and gave her no respect. At first she attributed it to her odd hobbies and immaturity at times, but then she just realized that all men really want between the ages of 18 – 24 is sex, plain and simple. So what if she had a talent for reading dreams, well really a passion. It was just something that happened, and people believed what she told them. But if you give a college boy some T & A and he was set for the weekend, deep and meaningful conversations were not to be had. College was not the best place to meet men. A deduction that took her nearly 3 years to figure out, no thanks to Zach, Dylan, Ryan, Alex, and Bobby. The fact that she remembered their names still evoked a pathetic sigh and a moment of solitude, depressing silence. The one man that she was most attracted to and treated her best, was gay (no surprise, they always are.)
Hojo Katami was probably one of the best friends she had at George Washington, along with Sango Taijiya and her on again off again boyfriend Miroku Houshi. The 4 were practically inseparable during their years together, amazed to have found another person from Japan to relate to. Many a night spent playing Frisbee on the lawn at 2 in the morning, trying to chase away a hangover, sleeping the day away after 3 – 4 nights in a row of all night cram sessions. Not to mention the happiness of raiding Kagome's boxes that had arrived from her mother. College was a good time for friends, not lovers. When Kagome had finally finished her bachelor's at GWU and started on her master's, men were the furthest items from her mind.
Hurrying quickly to brush her hair and pull the top half of it up in a barrette, then smooth out her brand new suit, compliments of the sale at Banana Republic, she cursed underneath her breath as she glanced at the clock. Mr. El-Begourmi was hopefully as nice man, or else she might lose the deal between the current software company she was working at and the country of Egypt, hoping to broaden their horizon for the future. Luckily she would have "just" enough time to catch the metro into downtown D.C. so she ran out the front door, locked it, and was on her way.
"Hello Mr. El-Begourmi, how are you this evening?" Ever the suave and sophisticated, Inuyasha Takahashi firmly held his claw tipped hand and shook the Egyptian man's hand. Inuyasha had entered the restaurant punctually to find the ambassador just arriving as well. All that was left now before the debating and haggling began was for the translator to show themselves.
"Good Evening Mr. Takahashi, it is a good night, shall we wait for our other guest or inform the Mâitre D' that we wish to be seated and to escort our guest when they arrive?" What do you say to that? Inuyasha wracked his brain for the best possible answer, not wanting to annoy the man. "I believe that we can have a seat and order a spirit or two while we wait for our third party." Smooth Yash, really smooth. The Egyptian man smiled at this and the young man at the door was told that if their guest came, to lead them back to their table.
Inuyasha Takahashi was the youngest Vice President of anything in Washington D.C. Vice President of GloboTech, pretty much just another spoke in the money wheel though. While this was amazing, he was bored with it, wished for something different. He did love his job, always had a fascination with computers and their technology, but now that he had been promoted into an office with just paper work and publicity to deal with, it was a drag. He found himself rewriting programs to screw around with the employees down in the mail room. He wanted to branch off and create his own company that had nothing to do with software. Instead, he wanted to open a restaurant, well more like a café with different areas in it to choose food from all around the world. Cafeteria, yet not. Where he had gotten this idea, he was not all too sure, most likely his dreams. But it had always seemed like a great idea, something to keep him happy and occupied instead of cranky and occupied. He and one of his friends in the communications and media departments at GloboTech, Miroku Houshi, had always added onto what they were going to do with the café. Sango, Miroku's girlfriend, had decided that she would have a hand in decorating, since she was an interior decorator.
His thoughts were interrupted when a pretty little thing, blackest hair ever he had seen, walked in with the young man from the front towards their secluded corner. He was sure his ears were at attention, much like a few of the other demons that were seated in the large dining room as well. He took a deep breath, trying to catch a scent as she neared. Cherry blossoms, vanilla, and jasmine. What a combination, what a body! His honey gold eyes traveled her form, and he noticed that she had yet to look their way. As unprofessional as this was, he could not tear his eyes away from this lovely young woman. As she bowed to the man who brought her over, she turned to bow at both he and his client. She was Japanese, and that piqued his interest even further. He knew she worked for his company, but he had never met her. They, Mr. El-Begourmi and himself, shook hands with her after bowing and the seated themselves.
"A salaam wa Alykum, Mahmoud El- Begourmi. Ismee Kagome Higurashi. (1)" Inuyasha just glanced in her direction across the round table from him, silently shocked. She was the translator after all, but still, Arabic had never sounded so good, her voice was melodious. He wondered what French would sound like, coming from those lips. 'Stop it…she is your colleague, no mixing business with pleasure, you never had this problem before,' the voice in his head was right, but she was just, different. "Wa Alykum A salaam, Kagome, Kayfa haluka? (2)" His eyes went back and forth as they volleyed greetings, well he would see if she was Japanese. "Behair il ham de lilah, shookran. (3)"
Inuyasha got ready for his turn as she looked ready to greet him. "Hajimemashita, Higurashi-san, Takahashi Inuyasha desu. Yoroshiku. (4)" Kagome looked surprised to say the least but followed with he own greeting and smiled a wonderful pearly white smile at him. Maybe this business dinner would not be so bad after all…
Kagome was enjoying the meeting; Mr. El-Begourmi was a gentleman, showing pictures of his grandchildren to both her and Mr. Takahashi. Inuyasha Takahashi…was very handsome. No, he was more than handsome, he was gorgeous. She was transfixed with his ears and had the most insane urge to touch them, play with them, and rub them. He was a very attractive man, and she attributed this to his exotic looks. Sure, she had befriended demons before, her brother's best friend, Shippou, was a fox demon. But she had never met a demon that had such cute ears like Inuyasha did. He had a deep, masculine voice that entranced her when he first spoke to her, in Japanese. That had made her day to find another person who had something in common with her. Sadly, he was her co-worker, maybe she would quit! 'Kagome! No! Men are evil, and with looks like that, I am sure that he is too.' She sighed to herself as the three of them went over specifics of the deal Kagome and Inuyasha were trying to close, well the deal Inuyasha was to close, Kagome was there just incase Mahmoud did not quite understand the lingo being tossed around.
Dinner was delicious, the one perk of working for GloboTech, the business dinners were paid for and absolutely great, at the best restaurants. The deal was near being sealed as tea was being served after they had protested the likelihood of dessert. 2 cups of tea and a well deserved piece of cheesecake for each of them, and the deal was sealed. The universities of Egypt would be receiving the technology in the deal and hopefully more transactions would be made in the future.
As Mr. El-Begourmi thanked the two and insisted he was on his way, the waiters came and cleaned up, offering a drink. "I would like a glass of orange juice with a splash of Beefeater please, Kagome?" Inuyasha was silently hoping that maybe she would stay and join him in a drink, almost begging her in his mind. "Well, I think that I had had enough tea for the night," his ears drooped and Kagome nearly gasped, wondering if he realized just how he looked. And yes, he certainly did. "I suppose a gin and tonic will suffice, Thank you." He beamed at her and they shared a mutual smile as her lips lifted.
"You are such a jerk! Honestly, who tries to pick someone up after only knowing them for a few hours?" The night had started well enough; it was until they were truly left alone, leaving the restaurant that sparked the current situation. "Well I figured I would try, you didn't have to flirt with me either, you know, stupid wench!" She had been trying to hail a taxi, not wanting to take the metro at this time. As the statement rolled out of his mouth, she stepped back and gasped.
"Did you just call me a wench? You insufferable pig! And I was not flirting, I was being polite. Every one of you is the same, no matter what this always happens. I GIVE UP ON MEN!" And with that she nearly jumped in front of a cab, trying to hail it and leaped inside as she flung open the door. "I am so glad I never see you at work, Asshole!" And with that she was gone.
He stared in shock. Sure, he shouldn't have asked her to come back to his apartment for a little after-hours activity, but she did not have to freak out the way she did. It wasn't until he finally entered his apartment when he realized that he still wanted to see her again. Maybe it was the sweetness, maybe it was the sourness. The catty remarks were spiteful, and he could only guess that she was not a fan of one night stands.
TBC
Well, I am still working out the details, but that was just the prologue. More about Kagome's dream readings and all in the next few chapters. Let me know what you think and how you like or dislike it
Arabic – Hello (standard greeting), my name is Kagome Higurashi.
Arabic – Hello (the return greeting), Kagome, how are you?
Arabic – I am fine, Thank you.
Japanese – Nice to meet you, I am Inuyasha Takahashi. Let's work well together (I think)
-cauchemaraku-