A/N: Hmm…not as many reviews for the last two chapters as previously, but that's alright! I know who's reading out there. For everyone who did review (hint hint) thank you so much! You're the reason why I continue so rapidly. So without further fuss, let's get on with it…the summer's not getting any younger, after all -
By the way, for any Gundam Wing fans out there, I have a little one-shot story out: Spanish Guitar…go see it too! Arigato
Chapter Thirteen
Sango woke to the sound of excited female voices. As she blinked back sleep, she tried to make sense of the cacophony of noise. It seemed as if they were talking about something that happened, to someone, somewhere this morning. 'Sounds like the usual gossip to me,' she thought blearily, still not quite awake.
But as sleep fled, curiosity took its place, and she called out, "Hey guys, what's going on?"
"Oh look who woke up!" She heard Ayame exclaim from apparently nearby. Sango couldn't see a thing due to the armchair's direction, but she was feeling too comfortable to move, at least for the moment. "We thought you had died or something, sleeping so long."
"What do you mean? I was just taking a little nap before dinner." Sango replied defensively.
Laughter met her protest. "Why don't you take a look at what time it is, Sleeping Beauty?" Kagura suggested in a decidedly sarcastic tone.
Sango glanced up at the mantle, frowning as she read the time on the antique clock sitting there. "Are you sure that clock's working properly?"
"Of course it is." Kanna piped in. "Our grand-father fixed it himself, and he's an expert at that sort of thing."
"It can't be ten o'clock already." Sango was rather shocked by the sudden change in time. "I just went to sleep minutes ago." More laughter met her response.
"Well, enough about the spinster over here, getting her beauty sleep." Kagura leaned over the armchair's back to look at her roommate. Sango faked a swipe at her, and she laughed again. "You wanted to know what we were talking about?"
"Oh, right, that." Sango decided to be cruel right back. "I don't think I care anymore."
"Yes you do! You just can't stand that we're teasing you!" Kanna perched on the arm of the opposite chair; Ayame climbed into the chair itself.
"Well tell me then, if you're so cocky about it." Sango crossed her arms, sitting up.
"All right." Kagura moved to the fireplace, where she sat down on the floor between the two chairs, acting as comfortably as if she were in one of the chairs. Sango always rather envied her easy grace.
"Since I have everyone's attention now," her eyes were dead on Sango, who glowered in return, "I'll tell the whole story."
"Just get on with it." Kanna brushed off her sister's speech.
Kagura turned to glare at her. "Hey, who's telling the story here?"
"No more interruptions, all right?" Ayame sighed. She and Sango shared a look; this story-telling was going nowhere fast.
"Well," she began, scanning the common room. The girls were quiet, waiting on Kagura.
"I met the most amazing guy today." She grinned. Instantly the room was full of questions.
"Well, go on. What's his name?"
"Screw his name. What's he look like? Is he hot?"
"Well, obviously. I did say he is amazing, after all." Kagura scowled at Ayame's remark. "To answer your question, Sango, his name is Sesshou-"
"-maru?" Sango's mouth dropped. "What the hell is he doing here?"
"You know him?" Kagura looked slightly put out.
"Yeah I know him. My sister used to date his half-brother."
"Talk about relations." Ayame muttered. Kanna nodded, agreeing.
"Right…well, I met him today." Kagura finished lamely.
Questioning suddenly turned to Sango.
"So you know him. Is he hot?"
"Would you stop asking that?" Kagura glared at Ayame.
"Yeah, he's attractive in a model, godlike, kind of way." Sango shrugged. Attractiveness went only so far with her. However, there was another issue that disturbed her. "But he's also a bit older than you, Kagura."
Kagura shook her head. "So he's twenty-three. He's not that much older."
"Five years. Wow." Kanna pointed out.
"Mom was nearly ten years younger than dad, Kanna." Kanna's twin shot back.
The way this conversation headed made Sango suddenly very uncomfortable.
"Hey guys…back up. Kagura, you only just met the guy. Do you even know what he does for a living?" Sango asked, worried.
"Yeah, he said something about a family business while we were having lunch."
"You had lunch with him?" Ayame exclaimed.
Kagura nodded, the smirk now firmly planted on her face. "I was taking a friend to the airport in New York City – LaGuardia – and he was coming out. He stopped me to ask for directions but," the smirk widened to a grin, "I have the feeling that he only wanted to talk to me."
Sango snorted. "He probably only wanted directions." She supplied.
"What is so wrong with a guy checking me out, huh?" Kagura demanded. "All night, you've been here, questioning me about Sesshoumaru. Well you know what, I spent almost all day with him, and I can tell he's a good guy."
"Right, right." Sango sighed. 'How do you explain to a roommate that the guy she likes is a gangster?' she thought gloomily. Sango had no illusions about what the Inutaisho family did to afford the multi-million-dollar estate in Baltimore. All she had to do was find out where Inuyasha disappeared to every other weekend to know. And wasn't it obvious to everyone that Sesshoumaru was up to no good? Who else wears dark leather in summer and matching sunglasses? For God's sake, he looked like a high-profile gang member.
"What's more, I have a date with him next weekend in NYC. He's taking me to dinner and then to a club."
"Is that so? Don't do anything unwise." Sango cautioned. Kagura fumed.
"What is up with the grandmotherly act? I'll be fine. He's a sweet guy."
Sango's eyes widened.
"Well, maybe a bit on the quiet, brooding side, but its cute. And he's so philosophical, and talented."
"With weapons, most likely." Sango muttered darkly, slouching further in the armchair.
"What was that, Sango?" Kanna inquired.
She looked up, startled. "Nothing. Just thinking to myself." Sango replied quickly.
"Hey, I don't care if he's Lao-Tzu or Aristotle. All I want to know is what this stud looks like." Ayame seemed frustrated. Kagura grinned, and Sango herself couldn't help smiling.
"A physical description would be helpful, sister." Kanna suggested in her normal, ethereal voice.
"Oh right, I forgot to mention that."
"Hurry up." Sango interrupted, finally glancing back up at the clock. "It's ten forty-five."
"Didn't you want me to meet some friend of yours at eleven, Sango?" Ayame asked.
Sango nodded. "That's right. Just a chat."
"Outside in the snow?" Kagura raised an eyebrow. "You guys are crazy."
"Description?" Ayame pressed.
"He's hot. Like, long silver hair, almost white really. He's got these gorgeous amber eyes. Really pale skin, like he doesn't get out much. But his hands are calloused like he fences or something."
"He sword-fights." Sango clarified.
"Right, fencing." Kagura opened her mouth to continue when Sango interrupted her again.
"No, he fights with a real blade; not those foils they use in fencing. He's also adept with guns and probably knives. I've seen them on him before."
"What the hell? Is he an assassin or what?" Ayame exclaimed.
"You could say that, although I'm not a hundred percent sure what he does."
"Guys, he is so not an assassin. I don't know what you were seeing, but Sesshoumaru's so quiet. People like that aren't assassins." Kagura waved her hands in an attempt to still argument.
"Have you ever met an assassin?" Sango asked quietly.
"No, but-"
"He's about five feet eight, pale, silver hair, amber eyes, like she said. He usually wears white, khaki, or black. Occasionally red, but he's definitely not the flashy type. Sunglasses are a must in his wardrobe. He's filthy rich, and he has a kid."
"He has a what? So he's married?" Ayame gasped at Sango's new information.
"No, she's adopted." Kagura tried to wrest the conversation back to herself.
"She's about ten." Sango nodded at Ayame. "So she's not his kid."
"Her name's Rin." Kagura grinned. "He showed me a picture of her in his wallet.
"Did he now? I suppose he is softening up." Sango highly doubted the cold older brother would ever melt, but he was certainly acting oddly towards Kagura. 'Maybe he's supposed to assassinate her or something.' The thought sent chills down her spine.
"Just be careful around him, Kagura."
She nodded. "Of course. I know my way around men, unlike someone I know."
Sango got up to find her winter jacket. "What's that supposed to mean, huh?"
"You couldn't figure out if a guy was interested in you even if he came up and begged to go out with you."
"I'm not that bad!" Sango objected, finding the jacket in her bedroom.
"Yes you are." Three voices chorused in unison when she returned to the common room.
"Whatever. I'm not the one with guy problems anyway."
"Are you sure about that?" Kagura raised an eyebrow.
"I'm too busy. Academics and all." She shrugged.
"You need a life." Ayame had gone for her jacket as well.
"I have a great one."
"All right, then you need to tell Miroku that you want to jump his bones."
"I what?" Sango gasped. Kagura laughed at her gaping expression.
"Oh, that was priceless; the look on your face. I'm not kidding through. It's obvious you two want each other. The tension's always so high when you two are studying together."
"Whatever; I'm out of here. You ready, Aya?"
"Ready." Ayame tilted her head curiously. "Aya, huh? I haven't heard that nickname in years."
"Let's just say this meeting will bring back a lot of memories." Sango smiled.
Post-note: This one took longer than the rest due to field hockey season starting…plus I really need to get my summer work…that stuff is due in two weeks! Gah! Cya next chapter!
