A/N: Sorry about that it's late. I think you guys know how i am.
Chapter 10: I thought you'd never ask
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She piled into the passenger side of Rin's baby blue car. Ayame sat in the back seat fiddling with the seat belt. They had just left the movies and it was getting extremely late, all Kagome wanted to do at the moment was get home. Start on the work she had missed, get ready for Monday. She also had a lot of packing to do, they'd be leaving in just a little over a week. She pulled on her seat belt as Rin continued laughing at something from the movie they had just seen.
"Did you see his face..." She asked while laying her forehead on the steering wheel. She was so consumed with laughter she couldn't bring herself to pull out of the lot. Kagome hadn't thought it was that funny. Rin turned towards her checking if she was laughing too, but telling from her expression she wasn't humored by it. "What's wrong?" Rin asked while starting the car and backing out. Kagome just turned towards her smiling meekly. "Did I tell you how hot you look today." Rin said for the tenth million time that day. Kagome spread her smile slightly.
"So what are we doing next?" Ayame asked leaning forward and resting her elbows on both of their chairs. They were now driving down the main road.
Kagome shrugged while turning to face Ayame. "You should probably put your seat belt on." She said but she just ignored the request and delivered her attention to Rin.
"I don't know..." Rin announced smiling while turning towards Kagome. Her long black hair was tossed to the right of her shoulder and she was staring forward again. She thought about Inuyasha's reaction to her, she was wondering how she could ensure that he continued finding her attractive. Soon being just gorgeous wouldn't hold him over, he saw attractive women all the time. Kagome needed something that would keep his attention. throw him off his game long enough that he'd be eating out of the palm of her hand. How else would he even consider going down to her hometown. "Maybe we can stop at home." She said.
Kagome turned towards Rin. "Can you drop me off first. I have a lot of work to do before Monday." She said she had her arms crossed as they drove down the city. Ayame glimpsed at her for a moment.
"What's wrong Kagome?" She asked not understanding. "You were in a great mood before, now your all sad." She observed and Kagome just shrugged. It wasn't that she was sad, she just had a lot of work to do, and though she had had fun. It was time to work.
"Relax, you'll have plenty time to work on Sunday." Rin said and Kagome was about to argue that when Rin cut in again. "Listen we'll order take out and hang out, It'll be fun, than I'll drop you off in the morning. And I promise we'll leave you alone for the whole day." Kagome thought about that plan. Maybe she could get all her work done on Sunday if she was undisturbed. She nodded after awhile and Rin smiled. "It'll be fun, trust me."
"You need to learn to relax more." Ayame said from the back. She was still leaning forward and Kagome did another shrug.
"I'm always swamped with work." She said. "It's hard to just relax when your working to support yourself."
"You should take more days off..." She suggested and Kagome shook her head realizing that Ayame was missing the point. "I mean don't you get paid really well working for Takashi corporation?"
"Somewhat, but when you have the student loans that I have, it doesn't go too far." She said and Ayame sat back. She didn't really understand the predicament, not having to work a single day in her life. She was the only child and her parents were always sending her money when ever she needed it. She had more than enough in her inheritance. She stared forward for a moment letting what she said soak in, but not fully understanding. "Right now I'm saving up for a car." She said and Rin turned.
"You need a car." Rin said in shock. And Kagome smiled nodding.
"Yeah, I've been looking online for some cheap ones, I'm getting sick of being fooled by cab drivers everyday." She admitted and Rin paused letting her finish before intervening.
"You can have my old Prius." She said as if it was nothing. Kagome turned in shock to glance towards her. "If you don't like that, I'm sure Inuyasha has more than enough cars he can give you."
"I don't think that's appropriate. I don't think I should take something as expensive from you let alone Inuyasha." She said, she didn't let anything show, but at the mention of his name her heart began beating over time. She could remember the way he looked her over. She wished she knew what he was thinking.
"No it's no problem trust me. He has more than enough." She said and Kagome shook her head. "Okay well take the Prius it's just sitting in front of the apartment. We never use it. Right Ayame?" Rin asked turning to look at her red headed friend. Ayame just nodded and Rin smiled over at Kagome. They were headed uptown and Kagome was facing the window watching the bright lights and the people walking up and down the side walk. "So what do you say?"
"I couldn't..." She mumbled. "That's a bit much..."
"You'll be helping me, seriously." She said and Ayame nodded as if that was obvious. Kagome looked from both of them for a moment. The car began slowing down as they reached their destination. Kagome had never been to Rin's apartment but it was shockingly close to Inuyasha's. It was actually walking distance. She pulled into what looked like a parking garage "so what do you say?" She asked as she searched for a parking spot closer to the elevators.
"I don't think so Rin." Kagome muttered, she pulled into a space right beside the elevator, on the left a bright red Prius was parked, almost as if by fate. Kagome turned to look at it. "I can't with all good conscious take that, it looks new."
"Phh..." Rin said like that was nothing. "It's not though..." She said while taking the key out of the ignition. "Kagome it's yours really, let me just get the key for it." She said and she just simply shook her head and Rin smiled slightly before saying her famous line that ended all disagreements. "I'm not taking no for an answer." She said and Kagome shut her mouth.
"You can't possibly give me that car." She said gulping realizing that if Rin wanted to, she'd be leaving in it. Ayame opened the car door and walked out. She stood their for a moment as Rin opened the door joining her.
"So what do you think Kouga and Miroku are doing right now?" She asked. Kagome climbed out clenching the hem of the dress, wanting it to stay down. She had done that all through the night. The dress wasn't nearly as short as she made it out to be. "Do you think Inuyasha's still at work?" His name made her look up and Rin noticed it right away. She grinned to herself. Getting them together would be the easiest thing she'd do. Kagome just needed a self-esteem boost. She thought that over for a second. She didn't want to change her per se. She didn't want to turn her into Inuyasha's type either. She just wanted Kagome to see herself the way people saw her.
She decided at that moment that getting Inuyasha to fully like her would be some what the toughest part. He liked his girls easy. He wasn't into trying too hard, and Kagome seemed so innocent. She wouldn't be a good friend if she let Inuyasha corrupt her. That didn't change the fact that he was perfect for the job. Perfect in every way shape and form to impress demanding parents like Kagome's family. He'd be more than perfect, and when the time came, she decided she would deal with the odd ends. For now she had to focus on the attraction area.
"Hmm... I don't know. Maybe we'll stop by Inuyasha's apartment after I give Kagome the key to her new car." Rin said nonchalantly. Kagome widened her eyes, she didn't know rather it was the idea of going to Inuyasha's that had her on edge. Or if it was because she couldn't believe Rin was serious about giving her the car. Either way Rin continued toward the elevator while Ayame followed behind.
"Your going to really like the car Kagome. It's good with gas, it's a hybrid." Ayame added in.
"You should have it then." She said and Ayame just smiled as the elevator doors opened and she stepped in.
"I already have a car, come on. The elevator isn't going to stay open forever." Kagome was still in her spot trying to soak in what was going on. She stood their a little longer until she spotted the doors about to close. She rushed to catch them. Slipping her petite form in just before it closed. Ayame continued talking as they rode up. She only had good things to say about the car. Rin on the other hand was constructing more schemes in her mind.
She wanted Kagome to come with them to Inuyasha's apartment, maybe if she spend some time there she'd warm up to him. She wouldn't be so shy. It was genius, but it could blow up in their faces if Inuyasha wasn't home. She'd have to call him to make sure, he usually wasn't home. The chances that he could be right now at another woman's house were very plausible. Then again he was probably overwhelmed with work and packing. She thought about that for a moment as Ayame kept going on and on about the old Prius. "Maybe if you have something to drive you'll visit me and Ayame more often." She commented. Kagome just looked up at her not too sure about the idea.
Rin stepped forward pressing a button on the side of the elevator. It lifted up for awhile taking them past a few levels, before resting at the 6th floor. The door opened suddenly revealing a gorgeously made up lobby. Just like at Inuyasha's apartment there were chairs lining the halls, and little round tables with magazines on them and flowers. There was even a couch in a small nook to the left with a big screen TV on. The doors to the rooms were scattered far from each other telling Kagome that the rooms themselves were huge. The way the halls were decorated looked eerily like the inside of a living room of some sort. She looked around at the dark red carpet and the comfy sofa seats that lined the walls. It didn't take long till Rin stopped at two double doors off to the the right. She got her key out from the fashionable satchel she kept at her hips.
"Ayame did you close the balcony this morning when you went in?" Rin asked accusingly as she took out a pink cheetah spotted set of keys. She pushed them into the door and twisted before grabbing the door knob.
Ayame didn't answer right away and as Rin opened the door and pushed it to the side she turned to face her red headed friend. "I think I did." She said and Rin rolled her eyes. Kagome took in for the first time their apartment. The foyer was on display as soon as she walked in. She widened her eyes taking it in. The apartment was extremely open so she could see the spiral stair case the open balcony the humongous kitchen nook. And though she was a bit shock at how beautiful and huge the apartment was, she was more taken aback by how bright it was. Literally everything in the apartment, the furniture, the walls the carpet was a bright white. And the only element of colors were extremely vibrant paintings that hanged throughout the walls.
"Wow..." Kagome mumbled and Rin looked down catching her shock. "It's so..."
"Gorgeous..." She chimed in and Kagome shook her head. "bright?" it still wasn't the word on the tip of Kagome's lips. "Uh..."
"White..." she mumbled and Rin nodded agreeing.
"Yeah that's because we have different color florescents." Ayame added. "The room can be any color really. It was Rin's idea."
"Ayame you did leave the balcony open." Rin said angrily as she walked forward to close it. The room had a cool draft in it, and as Kagome walked further in she let her eyes roam the place. It was very clean which was probably a necessity because of how white it was. It wasn't a place that a person with OCD like her should have been around, her eyes were already scanning for any smudges. Rin bowed herself into the kitchen nook for a moment as Ayame plowed down on a bright white rounding sofa.
"Sit down, relax." She suggested, but she rather not. "What's wrong..." Ayame asked and she simply nodded not knowing what to exactly say. Instead she decided to settle for a broken smile before taking a seat at the edge of a single sofa. "It's really cool, but it's temporary, Rin is always changing the apartment. She's a total kook."
"You guys seem like you have a lot of time on your hands." Kagome mumbled Ayame nodded as Rin came back with a cool smile on her face and a key on her pointing finger.
"Okay here it is. It's all yours, don't say I never gave you something." She said and Kagome just swallowed hard. "Come on Kagome, you can have it. It's way better than taking taxis everywhere." She didn't seem sure though. She didn't understand now, but she had the jest of what it meant to take something as big as a car from Rin. When the business trip was all said and done would she have to stay friends with her. Would she always force her to do things she didn't want to. And though she hated to think about that she did have to admit the obvious good things that came from it.
Rin watched her blankly waiting for her to get up and take the key. When she didn't she walked forward dropped it abruptly on her lap making it hit her bare knee before falling on the bright white carpeted floor. It didn't hurt too much, but it took her off guard. Rin turned at that moment grabbing her phone from the satchel she kept at her hip and calling someone. Kagome watched her intently hoping to find some sort of excuse to leave. It wasn't that she couldn't see the benefits from being a close friend with Rin she just didn't like the negative aspect of it. Rin reminded her too much of her sister and if she left her hometown to get away from her family there was no way she'd be trapped in it here.
She rose from her seat. "I think I'm going to take off early. I'm actually a bit tired."
"Rin quickly turned putting the cellphone to her chest. "You're just excited about driving your new car..." Kagome was about to say something else when someone answered the phone on Rin's chest. She quickly put a finger out. "Wait Kagome okay five seconds we're all about to leave." Rin said as she walked forward towards another corridor of the all white apartment. She stopped directly at the kitchen before slumping her shoulders on the wall. "Inuyasha..." She said on the other line.
"Yeah...I said hello a hundred times. What do you want I'm busy." He scoffed and Rin just smiled.
"What are you doing?"
He sighed loudly into the phone. "I'm packing, working, we only have a week left, did you forget."
"Nope, all my packing's done. So is Miroku and Kouga with you?" She asked.
"No I sent them home, what part of busy don't you understand?" He stated and Rin just shrugged while taking a small peek back into her living room. Kagome was still trying desperately to lengthen the mini dress she wore as she sat at the edge of her seat. She still looked gorgeous with her full black hair sprawled every which way. It made Rin beam to think how Inuyasha would respond to it. It would be like stealing candy from a baby. Soon she wouldn't even have to ask Inuyasha to agree to escort Kagome to her sisters wedding, or even Kouga like she had been planing to earlier. They'd flat out beg her soon enough.
"Oh okay, well I'm going to stop by soon to pick up my jacket."
"What jacket." Inuyasha said in a particularly annoyed voice.
"My favorite leather jacket with the huge buttons. I left it on your sofa. I need it for tomorrow." He sighed loudly for the second time. "It'll only be five seconds when I leave you can go back to mindlessly working and packing."
"It better be..."
"It's no ones fault that you wait for the last minute to do do everything." Rin said and Inuyasha just rolled his eyes. No one said anything for a moment and knowing Inuyasha she knew he'd hang up without a bye soon enough so she cut in. "So..." she mumbled awkwardly. "What do you think about...you know...Kagome...?" She asked and for a moment the name didn't ring any bells but before Rin could specify he remembered. And he knew exactly what she meant.
"What do you mean?" He asked knowingly.
"I mean... you know... she's cute. So your type." She stated and Inuyasha paused for a moment.
"What are you trying to get at?" He asked and Rin just shrugged as she moved further away from the living room.
"I'm just saying... she looked good today." Inuyasha didn't answer he just continued packing for a moment letting what Rin said soak in. "I mean I just remembered a time when you told me she wasn't your type because you dated hotter chicks, and she looked right in your league today that's all."
"I'm going to go ahead and end this conversation here." He said. "I'd never date Kagome, so you don't have to worry about it." Rin widened her eyes forming her lips to say 'why.' she knew when guys were into girls, that was one of the things she was good at. Inuyasha was definitely into Kagome, why did he all of a sudden change his mind. "She's my employee first of all, second of all we have to go to my dad's business trip and I need to actually get some work done. I don't need to be tied up in a relationship with someone I'm doing business with." Rin took a deep breath before smiling.
"Oh so you waited till tonight to get morals."
He ignored her. "What brought this on anyway?" He asked curiously and Rin just shrugged.
"Nothing, I just saw the way you looked at her today." She stated bluntly. I always know when your into someone." Inuyasha was taken aback by that but before he could make up an obvious excuse Rin interrupted again. "And Kagome might of slipped and said she was sort of into you." She lied and anything he was going to say slowly disappeared, he was all of a sudden completely tongue tied. "Okay well this was a waste of time. Look at me trying to play match maker. I obviously didn't read the signs well. Okay so I'm on my way to pick up the jacket. See you in a sec." She said hanging up and leaving Inuyasha completely shock. He just stood in his spot staring forward for a moment analyzing everything she said. It took him a good minute to push it aside and realize it was just Rin trying to manipulate something like she usually did. Though he couldn't help but think that she was actually succeeding because Kagome stayed on his mind as he continued packing.
She hung up the phone and smiled to herself. She was too good, it wouldn't be long till Inuyasha warmed up to the idea of Kagome completely then by that time maybe Kagome would relax around him. It was a little step to her plan that would end up shaping everything in the long run. She walked back out into the living room. Ayame and Kagome were talking about the movie they saw earlier. "Okay Kagome... you said you wanted to go home." Rin said with a slight shrug. Kagome looked up in shock. She was surprise to know Rin was actually allowing it.
"Um... yeah... I had a good time, but I have so much work to do. The trip is this Monday, we only have a week left and..."
"No I get it... your really busy. It's wrong for me to try to force you to do something you don't want to do, but I just wanted you to have a little fun." Rin said and Ayame narrowed her eyes not getting her angle. She could tell Rin was working up a scheme, she could always tell. "But please keep the car though. It's just taking up space here." Rin said and Kagome smiled slightly.
"Okay..." She mumbled not knowing what else to say. Rin smiled before feigning shock out of nowhere.
"You know what I forgot..." She said turning around to face Ayame. "I forgot my leather jacket at Inuyasha's. I have to get it before tomorrow. My mom's making templates for it." She lied and Kagome looked up not knowing what anything meant but seeing the importance in the situation. "Can you get it for me. I have to work on some sketches, I was just on the phone with my mom and she needs them like yesterday." Ayame widened her eyes not knowing what to say. Rin winked at her before mouthing the words "no."
"Um... no..." Ayame said repeating Rin's motion. "I have to run out to uh... the bank before it closes. I told you this yesterday. I'm sorry." She said robotically making Kagome stick one eyebrow out. "Perhaps Kagome can go, since she's on her way out." Ayame said as she quickly and without direction rose up from her seat and grabbed her little fall jacket and left out the front door without so much as a goodbye. Kagome just stared as Rin tried to make her face seem a bit distressed.
Kagome looked from the door to Rin. "I couldn't ask you to go. Not after what happened last week." She said and Kagome widened her eyes at the idea. She was already beginning to shake her head, and Rin just nodded in agreement. "Yeah, your right. I'll just have to get it tomorrow morning before I go to work. I'll be up all night tonight though, and my mom wants me there at five in the morning tomorrow, so I don't know how..."
"Why are you waiting till now to get this done?" Kagome asked in shock. "I mean you were just about to invite me over for the night. Now you have..."
Rin cut her off quickly. "My mom just called. That's who I was on the phone with." She lied. "I had completely forgotten." Kagome didn't say anything she just sat in her spot thinking.
"Why don't you call Mr. Takashi get him to bring it." Rin shook her head as if that wasn't going to work. "Well Ayame can't be at the bank forever."
"Inuyasha isn't home..." She lied again. "He said he'd be in the office all night. And I need the jacket to make the sketches. Kagome it would mean a lot to me."
"I don't think so Rin..."
"Please... pretty please. It's on the couch in the living room. It'll be so quick. Just pop in. Open the door grab the jacket and leave." She said. "My mom is probably waiting, she has a video conference with me in like two minutes. Can you run and get it please." She shook her head wanting to say no, but Rin cut her off. "Thank you so much Kags, you won't regret this. You really won't... I owe you big time." Kagome shook her head rising from her seat, and almost like clock work the house phone began to ring. "That's her...okay bye, thank you I'll see you tomorrow maybe." She left out towards the kitchen. Her cellphone was behind her back, she was the one to call the house phone. Kagome just stood in her spot taking deep breaths. She did just say Inuyasha wasn't home. Maybe she'd just pop in for a second and grab the jacket and come right out.
She straightened the mini dress slowly before grabbing the keys to the Prius on the floor. She felt so weird taking it, but Rin wouldn't stop offering it till she took it anyway. She walked towards the door slowly before turning back. Rin was watching her in the corner of the hall, but Kagome couldn't see her. She left after awhile walking towards the elevator. As soon as she entered the elevator Ayame came out from one of the various halls. She walked back into the apartment closing the door behind her.
"You think she's really going to go?" She asked and Rin stepped out shrugging.
"We're about to find out."
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It took less then five minutes to drive the short distance to Inuyasha's apartment. She had less then that to think about her next move. As soon as she entered the gates she was having second thoughts, what if he came in while she was grabbing the jacket. Rin said that it was just lying on the couch. That would be easy she'd just grab it and return it, then when she did that she'd leave. It was that simple. She took a deep breath laying her head on the steering wheel. She also decided that she wouldn't be taking Rin's Prius, it was far too new and expensive for her to just openly take. She decided she'd leave it on Rin's couch after she returned the jacket. She opened the door letting the cool fall air in and stepping out of the car towards the building.
She walked in near the double door where the doorman stared openly at her. It made her a bit self conscious and she was pulling tightly down at the hem of the dress. She stopped walking in front of him. "I just came to get something for a friend." She said as her excuse, but he didn't seem to care. Like usual he didn't see her as an obvious threat. Instead he stood away and opened the door for her. "thank you." She mumbled walking into the lobby and steering towards the elevator. She kept thinking about how lightening quick she would be when she grabbed the jacket and left. She decided the door would stay open so she could make a quicker getaway.
She walked into the elevator as it opened and pressed the needed button to take her to the top floor. She slowly gathered her thoughts during the ride, and when the doors finally opened she seemed to be calm enough to fulfill the whole task. What was she nervous for anyway? Mr. Takashi wasn't home, she was just grabbing a jacket. He wouldn't even know she was there. She walked towards his door at the end of the hall. She placed a hand on the brass knob and like the other day it was open. She all but twisted it and push and it fell back with little hassle. Almost as if he had carelessly threw it back when he had entered the house. That couldn't be true though right? He wasn't here, that was what Rin had said. She entered the apartment and though she told herself she was going to leave the door wide open she closed it anyway. She walked past the foyer into the living room. She was a bit shocked at what she saw. The apartment wasn't a full out pig sty but it was a bit of a mess. Books, papers, pens and pencils were sprawled out all over the table. He had two laptops opened sitting on the couch. His TV was on some sort of cartoon show and two suitcases partially packed sat behind the couch. She looked around taking in the place.
She gravitated automatically towards the cluttered work. Everything that was open the books, the paper, it all had to do with negotiating and buying smaller businesses. It didn't take her long to realize that Inuyasha was studying up for the trip. He had random company numbers and quotas sitting on couches in somewhat organized stacks. She forgot completely why she came and instead began sorting through papers taking a seat at the edge of the couch.
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10
He got yet another call from Rin, he sighed annoyingly before picking it up and sitting on the edge of his bed. "What" he said and Rin looked to Ayame for a moment before clearing her throat.
"You don't have to be so rude."
"I'm trying to pack. What is it now." He demanded.
"I was just seeing if you had any company." She said and Inuyasha crossed his brows not understanding.
"What..."
"You know, is there someone else there with you." He still didn't fully understand. "Well is there."
"Rin..." he ran a hand over his face in frustration. "I don't know what your getting at."
"Okay so there's no one there with you?" She confirmed and Inuyasha took a deep breath to keep from snapping.
"No Rin, I'm here alone. Why...why are you asking, why are you acting so weird."
"I'm just thinking maybe you should check." She said and before he could respond she hung up. He didn't think anything of it though. Instead he went back to folding his things, it took a few moments for him to get bored and decide to switch tasks. He dropped a sweater he was holding and opted for an open file sitting on his bed. He read over it once again before remembering that he had left the bulk of his work in the living room. He turned away from his room and began heading downstairs.
He was reading when he sensed someone. It automatically made him remember the strange phone call he had with Rin, but he wasn't suspicious not when he neglected to lock the door when he came home that afternoon. He also remembered that Rin said she was coming to pick up her leather jacket and the scent was female and very familiar. That was enough for him to let it go completely he didn't try diagnosing it, he didn't even point out the fact that the scent was fairly different from Rin's. He assumed that she had been in the house for awhile, mad that he didn't come down to say hi and that was why she was asking those strange questions earlier.
He headed straight to the kitchen instead of saying hello. He opened the fridge and stared inside for awhile before opting for a beer sitting on the fridge door. He closed the door placing the bottle in the corner of his mouth and with out much hassle biting the top off. He walked into his living room where the scent was coming from. He hadn't seen anyone yet but he spoke anyway. "Your leather jacket is in the coat closet. Last time the maid was here she put it there."
As soon as he spoke someone physically jumped from the couch and papers fell to the floor. He spotted black hair bouncing and he knew Rin's hair wasn't particularly that dark, but he knew someone's who was. He stepped cautiously forward. "Kagome..." he asked questioningly, the form on the couch tensed up. He walked closer and he could see his papers sitting in clear neat stacks, she had organized them. He didn't even know what to say at the moment. He didn't know if he should be mad, surprised or even slightly pleased.
She turned slowly to face him papers in hand. She was still wearing that dress from earlier. She didn't have those thick glasses on that she sometimes wore. She was gorgeous like he remembered her hair waving far past her back. She seemed a combination of shocked, surprised and embarrassed. She stood up as soon as she saw him completely. "I'm so sorry...I can't believe this is happening again. Rin sent me for her leather jacket." She said quickly leaving the spot she was in. He only stared at her for awhile before looking back down at the papers on the table.
"There's something about my apartment you really like." He joked and he hoped it helped to calm her but of course it didn't. She was afraid of him for some reason. It was the primary reason Rin wanted her to go over there by herself, how would her plan work if Kagome never fully warmed up to him. She was overly embarrassed when he was around, too shy, and a bit of a spazz. She hoped that would change before the wedding.
She dropped her head which was now an unhealthy red. She put both her hands behind her back in complete embarrassment. "Maybe I should go." She said quickly and he watched as she began grabbing her things. He didn't know exactly what to say but as she steered towards the door he intervened.
"No, you don't have to go. I'm not mad. I'd be mad if you broke in, but I'm the one always leaving the door open." He admitted. She turned to face him. In her hands were thick black framed glasses. She must have been wearing them when she was looking over the files. She had skillfully taken them off when she heard him. It made him think, 'why would she go through the trouble.' "Tell me what you think..." he asked looking towards her. "I saw you reading over the papers. I'm trying to decide which ones to take with me."
She seemed a bit unsure about the whole thing. "I probably shouldn't. I need to bring the jacket back to Rin." She said while pushing the glasses back into her jacket's pocket. .
"Don't worry about that. If she needs it that badly she'll get it herself. Believe me..." he said and Kagome opened her mouth to say something. "I could use your help." he lied, he really wanted her to stay, and if she didn't stay at least he wanted her to leave less intimidated. It was fine actually productive when an office filled with older employees found him daunting, but seeing and talking to one of them individually in a personal way, it wasn't all that great.
She took a few steps forward. He watched as she pulled off her jacket slowly revealing fully the mini dress she had been wearing at the shop. She didn't take her spot back on the couch instead she lowered herself on the floor on the other side. He watched before grabbing the remote and turning off the TV. She grabbed the closest file and looked over it. "So you like cartoons." she stated with a bit of amusement in her voice. He caught it automatically and he only grinned.
"Only the good ones." he said as he went back to the couch and took a seat across from her. She was opening a folder that had already been skillfully organized by her before he had come down. "So what do you think?" He asked and she looked up.
"I think you're not only deciding what to bring on the trip, your making client portfolios." She noticed and he nodded a bit impressed that she could tell. "It's going along pretty great, but your missing their recent progress." He nodded taking out the folder he had brought from upstairs.
"It's right here." He said and she smiled politely before putting a hand out to retrieve it. He instead laid it out on the table. "I was going to make my decision solely on how they're doing now, but now that it's organized..." his sentence trailed off when he found the look on her face. He could already tell that she thought that would be a stupid idea. "But that wouldn't be smart..." he said and she nodded agreeing. He took a few steps closer to her wanting to crouch down next to her when his phone began to ring. She didn't seem to notice or care, she was extremely absorbed in her work.
He stood back up and moved off to the side. "Hello..." he said a bit angrily. Rin hesitated.
"Hey it's me." she whispered hoping to hear Kagome in the background. She knew Inuyasha always put his phone on speaker. Though when he didn't want others to hear his conversation his acute hearing allowed him to fully hear what the other person was saying even when it wasn't on speaker. Right now it obviously wasn't and she couldn't hear anything in the background. She decided to just admit why she called. "Is Kagome there?" She bluntly asked. Inuyasha didn't say anything so she continued. "I ask because she was supposed to bring over my..."
"Yeah she's here. She's sort of helping me with something so your going to have to hold on for that coat." He said while looking back at Kagome. She was looking through more files. He'd be lying if he didn't admit that he hoped to have sleep with her tonight. He was deciding rather or not it would be a bad idea.
"Oh tell her I don't need it anymore." Rin said quickly then paused for a moment. "So what are you planning to do with her tonight." She asked in a low whisper. She didn't like the idea that Inuyasha was forcing Kagome to do work. That wasn't the impression she was supposed to make, but she also didn't want Inuyasha to sleep with her either. It would ruin everything. Inuyasha lived for the chase, and if it was over that quickly then nothing would motivate him later.
"That's none of your business."
"Please don't tell me your going to try to sleep with her." Inuyasha didn't say anything and that confirmed her fears. "That's not a good idea." She said quickly causing him to rotate his body towards Kagome. She was kneeling over the table thinking. Her hair was parted on the side and running down the right of her shoulders.
"And why not." Rin rolled her eyes before setting them on Ayame.
"Well lets see, your taking her on a business trip in less then a week. You really want to compromise everything you set up just for one night. You just told me this earlier... you remember." He didn't say anything, of course he remembered, but that was before, he had no idea he'd be seeing her. "Any way Inuyasha have some self control, does She even seem like the type to let you just sleep with her and pretend nothing happened." He stared at her for a moment. He didn't know why he had to think so deeply on the matter. Kagome didn't seem like the type at all, it was the first thing Rin had been right on. She looked up to face him after awhile. Her mouth was parted as if she was about to say something but when she witnessed him staring at her she got extremely tense. A hand slapped over her nose.
"Do I have something on my face?" She asked he shook his head as she rotated towards the purse Rin gave her. She never really carried a purse. Rin had told her it was detrimental to the outfit. She pulled out a Kleenex and began cleaning off her face.
"You seriously have nothing on your face." Inuyasha informed her once again. "I'm serious...okay Rin I'll call you back." He whispered.
"Wait... wait... promise me you won't try... the last thing she needs is to feel even more awkward around us." Rin reminded him and he just nodded before hanging up. He stood a bit awkwardly off to the right. "Okay, so..." he announced and Kagome quickly interrupted as well.
"You know, I can work on this tomorrow, if you'd let me. Or maybe on Monday...I just remembered I have to call my...uh...I left the oven running." She lied. She closed her eyes momentarily at how idiotic her excuse was. It was just that right at that moment when Mr. Takashi was just openly staring at her for no proper reason, she felt something very weird go through her. It left her feeling odd, and she didn't really trust herself. Not that he'd ever come on to her, it was Mr. Takashi, what could he ever see in her. "I uh... can you do me a favor and give this set of keys to Rin for me. She gave me her old car and I just don't feel right taking it." She said while setting the Prius keys on the glass table. She grabbed the purse and jacket without warning and began stumbling towards the door. Inuyasha just stared not knowing what to say...
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Kag POV
She stared at the the blouse for a moment wondering if she should take it or not. Rin had said that she wasn't going to interfere with the way she dressed on the trip, yet still she found herself sorting through the new clothes trying to decide if she should bring them. None of them were meant for the office though so she couldn't bring most of it anyway. It wasn't like she loved the clothes, she just sort of liked the way she felt in them. She liked how people watched her when she wore them. She didn't want to admit it but she didn't want to go back dressing the way she used to, but she didn't know the first thing about matching clothes, doing hair, or anything fashion wise. She sighed before rising up and heading back to her work.
She was all packed anyway, she was just grasping for straws. Maybe it was her imagination. She was just fabricating the way people looked at her or the way she felt. Maybe when Mr. Takashi had said she looked beautiful he meant it in a strictly charitable way. It also seemed odd that he wanted her to stay in his apartment last night, or the way he had stared at her before she left. It was just that she didn't know how to react in the sort of situation guys didn't exactly throw themselves at her, and definitely not guys that looked like Mr. Takashi.
She stared at the wall for a moment seeing smudges that weren't there. She was worrying herself a bit too much about the whole thing. It was already past one in the morning. She had been working and packing all day, and she had work at nine. She walked back to her kitchen nook shutting off the lights before heading back to the living room to extend the futon when she heard knocking.
She paused thinking it was the neighbors' door but when she heard it again she rotated in her spot and walked towards the door. She glanced into the peep whole but she saw nothing. "It must be the neighbors..." she mumbled but before she could turn again the knocking began and it was very near and extremely close. She took a step back and cautiously began unlocking the door. When she got done she peeked out catching a glimpse of purple. She extended the door to see a very amused Rin standing off to the corner. She had on a solid white tank top and a wrap over it and what looked like baggy purple pajama pants. Kagome stared in complete shock wanting to say something, but before she could Rin of course interrupted.
"I called you three times today why didn't you answer?" She asked as she pushed herself in. "You gave back the Prius! I gave it to you as a gift. I don't want it back." She stood in the middle of the apartment just looking around. She could see the packed suitcases off to the side and the stacks of organized papers.
"You told me Saturday you wouldn't bother me Sunday so I could get some work done." Kagome stumbled as she closed and relocked the door. Rin sat herself on the single couch staring over Kagome. She had her hair in it's signature bun and she wore matching polka dotted pajamas. She looked like a preteen.
"It's past twelve A.M. So it's officially Monday. Why didn't you call me back?"
"I was working, now I'd like to sleep." Rin didn't say anything she watched as Kagome began to rotate the futon to turn it into a bed. "And I don't think a brand new car is a proper gift. Besides I'd need to purchase the insurance, there's paper work that needs to be done, you can't just give someone a car."
"Okay, okay since you want to be a bore. Just send the paper work to me and I'll fill it out." Kagome glimpsed at her momentarily. "Anyway you didn't even bother to tell me what happened between you and Inuyasha last night?" Rin asked and Kagome tensed up. "Please don't tell me he was being forward."
Kagome paused and widened her eyes. "No, why would he do that. He has no reason to be forward. We...it was strictly business. That's all we talked about." Rin sighed loudly as she examined her friend. She had a lot of work to do before the trip on Monday.
"Well Kagome, I just came by to see how you were, and walk you through somethings before we go on this trip." She said while rising from the chair. She walked towards the kitchen turning on the lights and helping herself to the fridge. "So Miroku and Kouga are coming too, and I thought I should warn you that they're very forward when it comes to girls. And now that I gave you that make over, well did..." Rin said taking another look at her. It made Kagome reevaluate herself.
"I was about to go to bed." She said as her excuse and Rin just nodded.
"It's just that you tend to be a bit stiff with guys. And being naive isn't going to work as a defense once you look the part."
"Look the part?" Kagome asked not quite understanding and Rin just nodded. She wasn't getting it completely she had to rephrase it. She really just wanted Kagome to ease up when it came to Inuyasha. It was detrimental to the plan, and she was hoping that maybe she could cause her to loosen up a bit but Kagome was so naïve and the thing about naivety it wasn't something you could just turn off. Especially when experience was the only true cure for it.
She sighed for a moment. "Well it's just that you act really shy and all and it gives the wrong impression to guys. Either they think your a prude or that you'd be easy to trick. And seeing as I did give you a make over your a lot more appealing now so a lot of guys are probably going to want to trick you. And I don't want that so I was thinking..."
"Rin...Rin..." Kagome interrupted. "About the make over. I don't actually think it's going to work out. I'm going to probably be dressing like myself for now on." She said and Rin just stared. "So we don't really have to have this talk."
"Okay, so I guess you don't want my advice." Rin mumbled and Kagome quietly agreed while continuing to set up her bed. Moments passed before Rin started up again. "So I guess you don't want to know what Inuyasha said about you." That had Kagome effectively freezing in her spot and Rin smiled. "Kagome just take my advice. I can help when it comes to guys. We have a week left."
"And whats happening in a week..." She said while turning to face her. "I'm going on a business trip. Why do I need help with guys?"
"I mean not romantically. I'm just saying you don't want to be nervous in front of guys forever. You just seem really tense when we're near Inuyasha."
"Well, he's my boss."
"I know I just wanted to let you know he can tell." Rin lied. Inuyasha hadn't said much about Kagome's visit besides that she gave back the car. Rin had begged endlessly and all he could say was "nothing happened." and "why do you care so much," but Rin was in the middle of a plan, and she was determined to see that everything went smoothly. She stared at Kagome for a moment. "You can't expect to be his secretary and moving from hotel to hotel with him every night for like two to three months of the year and act all stiff around him. Your going to make things really awkward."
Kagome looked down to the ground thinking about that. "It's just that even though I'm coming and Ayame's coming we won't all be staying in the same place. Your going on the business trip with him as an employee, you'll probably be driving around in limos and staying in business suits, and who knows, the rest of us could be in a whole other part of the town. You'll mostly be alone with him. You can't see him as strictly your boss. You have to ease up." Rin said and Kagome nodded, in just the way Rin wanted her to nod. It meant that she believed what she was saying. Not that she was lying but the first step in order to make any of it work was for Kagome to see Inuyasha as a friend. She didn't have to fall head over heels yet.
"Okay, so lets say I believe you." Kagome said with a shrug making Rin smiled. "What do I need to do."
Rin shrugged suddenly walking ahead of her. "I thought you'd never ask..."
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A/N: leaving it there for now.