Hey guys! Thank you so much for your understanding a couple of weeks ago about my school situation. I am happy to say that I am back and ready to keep writing over the summer! If anyone is interested, I also have a couple of stories of the KouKag variety that I'm hoping to start posting fairly soon once I get a few more chapters done. I hope you are all staying healthy, enjoying the time to yourselves or off from work/school if you're able, and for those who are also students, have a great summer!
The next couple of days pass by in much the same manner. I take Kagome to work, drop Rin off at school, and make it into my office just a few minutes later than usual, but still earlier than needed. I make sure to finish my work and arrive at Kagome's studio a few minutes before she officially closes so there is no attempting to take the bus on her part. Upon our arrival, Jaken is dismissed, Rin shows off her schoolwork from the day, and we all eat dinner together before watching a movie of Rin's choosing. By Tuesday, Rin is more than a little upset at the idea of Kagome having to return to her own home but, when the police phone to give her the alright to return, she tells us that they had not found anything out of the ordinary in their days of observation. As such, they requested she stay with us until the weekend, a request Rin and I were far too eager to grant. Thursday afternoon, I let myself into Kagome's studio for the wedding practice, once again the first to arrive. The front studio is empty, but I can make out Kagome's voice from the back where her office is located. She sounds frustrated, her scent spiking in irritation, and her aura, normally calm and situated around her like a blanket, is equally agitated and shooting out erratically. Keeping my expression composed, I walk towards her office and lean on the doorframe. Her back is to me, posture rigid, as she listens to whoever is on the other end of the phone.
"No, I don't understand, why don't you explain it to me? Because from what I recall, you and I were a done deal, set partners, and now you're telling me that you're going to partner with Yura two and a half months before the contest?" She yells, slamming her hand on her desk. I arch an eyebrow at her little display. She must be truly irate not to have noticed my presence yet. She gasps, running a hand through her hair, turning just enough that I can see her profile. Her expression, from what I can see, incredulous. "You're ditching me to get laid?" She yells into the receiver. I cross my arms over my chest, debating whether or not to get her attention somehow. The decision is made for me, however, when she pulls the phone away, yelling, "I hope you get an STD you ass!" before hanging up and slamming the receiver into its holder. Just after, she turns around, looking more than ready to murder whoever was on the phone, and jumps upon spotting me. She clutches her heart, taking a deep breath. "Jesus Christ, Sesshomaru, you almost gave me a heart attack." I hold back a smirk while she gets her breathing back under control. "How long have you been standing there?" She asks, suddenly looking embarrassed. I shrug. "Oh my god," she groans, rubbing her face with her hands, "I'm so sorry you heard all that." Her aura still betrays her irritation.
"Is there anything I can do?" She looks up at me, a surprised expression on her face, before she smiles, tiredly, shaking her head.
"No, it's fine. I mean. It's not fine, but I'll figure something out." At my silence, she sits on her desk and elaborates. "There's this contest I entered, dancing, and my partner just informed me that he has decided to dance with someone else in the hopes of getting something in return." Her cheeks flush a little in embarrassment, forcing a smirk onto my face.
"Will you be able to find a suitable partner in time?" She groans, burying her face in her hands once more.
"I don't even know. All of the good ones got poached early, normally I'd use InuYasha as a bribe to get Jakotsu to agree but with it being so close to the wedding I doubt he'd go for it, not that he was happy I did it the other four times, but still, there's a line somewhere. I'll have to drop out or go and lose," she sighs and the smell of salt permeates the air. Tears. "I really needed that money," she mumbles to herself. I purse my lips together, trying to come up with an alternate solution. This competition clearly means a lot to her, there must be some way to remedy the situation. "I'm sorry, this isn't your problem. I'll get my - "
"Does one have to be a registered instructor to participate in this contest?" She looks up at me in shock before shaking her head.
"No, anyone can enter. Usually, it's only professionals and instructors, but there's no rule saying it has to be." The door at the front of the studio opens and shuts, followed by several voices. "That must be the others, come on." She smiles up at me before leading the way out to the front. InuYasha and the others are waiting by the door while Kikyou and Sango are changing their shoes. Upon seeing Kagome, they all stand up and exchange hugs, asking how everything has been, typical human pleasantries.
"Kagome, have the police said anything about who might have broken into your apartment?" Sango asks, concern lacing her tone. I lean against the wall across from smiles, embarrassed, when InuYasha's head whips around to face her. Strange, she hadn't told the half breed?
"The hell? Why is this the first I'm hearing of this?" He yells, immediately stepping into her space. "Are you okay? What happened?" Kagome waves off his concerns.
"It's not a big deal, I wasn't even home. They didn't take anything, just trashed the place and left. Pretty sad when petty criminals can't even find anything valuable in my place, huh?" She rubs the back of her head, clearly uncomfortable.
"And you didn't call me? What if they'd come back, you ain't safe there!" He continues yelling. I feel the smallest of smirks tugging at my lips, This should be interesting.
"Well, I haven't actually been staying there, I've been with... a friend." I arch an eyebrow at her phrasing but, sure enough, InuYasha scoffs in disbelief.
"Yeah right, all your friends are in this room and if you were staying with those two," he gestures to Sango and Miroku, "she wouldn't be asking for updates." Kagome looks at the ground, tugging at the hem of her tank top.
"I've been staying with Sesshomaru," she admits, quietly. The whole room is silent as the information sinks in for everyone. I count to five before InuYasha breaks the silence.
"You what?" He yells, making everyone else jump. He turns his gaze towards me, shock and anger flooding off of him. "You don't even know him, how could you ask him for a place to stay and not one of us?" Kagome looks up at him, eyebrows lowered and eyes narrowed.
"He was there, and I didn't ask, he offered! What's it matter so long as I'm safe? That was your big issue a minute ago, wasn't it?" Caught in his own words, my half-brother looks to his friends for help only to find them all looking anywhere else but at him. "Now, if you're done throwing a tantrum, we have a lesson to get through and a lot of work to do." Sending one last glare in his direction, Kagome walks over to the stereo system on the other side of the studio and starts setting up the music for today's class. I push off the wall and walk towards the rest of the group, InuYasha glaring at me the whole time. Once I am within earshot, his left eye twitches a bit before he steps into my space, trying to seem intimidating.
"You better be treating her damn well, Ice-Pop," he threatens. I raise an eyebrow at the insinuation I would be anything but a gentleman, but do not comment. It comes from a place of concern, I remind myself.
"She is being taken care of. She will be returning home this weekend," I inform him. The music comes on, another piano piece, and Kagome's slightly irritated footsteps come back towards us.
"She is also right here, and not in the mood for any messing around today. Now, can we continue our lesson?" She looks expectantly at InuYasha until he nods, looking more than a little afraid of the small human girl. "Thank you," she bites out, rolling her eyes. "Now everyone, show me what you remember." She claps out the beat of the music, occasionally calling out corrections. As the hour goes on, the irritation slowly leaves her body until she is finally enjoying herself. When our time is up, she is smiling and back to her old self, before that phone call earlier. "Alright, great job everyone! I'll start teaching you guys the routine next week, and you," she says, looking at Kikyou, "might have some decent dancers at your wedding." Her tone is light and teasing, yet InuYasha still takes offense.
"Hey, it's my wedding too!" He interjects, only to receive an eye roll from each cousin.
"And you'd be just as happy to have no dancing, if not happier," Kagome points out. "It's not all about you." He pouts, throwing a quick goodbye over his shoulder as he heads towards the door. Just before he leaves, he throws another glare my way and groans, turning to face Kagome once more.
"If you need any help getting your place situated again, give me a call. I don't have any plans this weekend." And then he's out the door. Kagome turns to Kikyou, shaking her head.
"Honestly, I don't know how you do it. I would have killed him by now." Kikyou laughs, smiling out the door where her fiancé is waiting by their car.
It's endearing enough. Thank you for putting up with him for this, it means a lot to me." Kagome waves her off and says her farewells to the others, all repeating InuYasha's offer for help. Once they have all left the building, I walk over and pick up her dance bag for her. Before she can thank me, I raise my hand, cutting her off. She looks at me in surprise.
"I believe I have a solution to your problem," I inform her. She looks confused for a moment before she realizes what I am talking about.
"Have you been thinking about that this whole time? Sesshomaru, I told you, you don't need to worry about that, I'll figure something out," she smiles up at me.
"I am not worried. However, you are and I feel I have reached an adequate solution." She waits quietly for me to continue, still smiling. "What if I were to be your partner?"