Café
Inu-Tenshi
No character I use from Inuyasha belongs to me.
"If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place." -Nora Roberts
Day 4
Kagome rose the next morning, unable to tell whether it was night or day, and lethargically reached for the clock she had always kept beside her bed. When she felt nothing but air, she furrowed her brows in confusion, still only half awake. She rubbed her eyes and observed the unfamiliar surroundings. Now wide awake, Kagome stood and tried to recall the events that had taken place the night before. Nothing came to mind.
Slowly opening the door and poking her head out carefully, she looked around and realized she had no idea where she was. She tiptoed out of the room and walked down the winding staircase until she arrived on the lowest level. It was at that moment that her stomach growled. Embarrassed, Kagome wandered around the large house, exploring rooms while searching for the kitchen. When she came upon a set of polished doors with fancy handles, she couldn't help but become curious.
Heart filled with anticipation, she pulled the handles. What she saw was beyond her expectations. There were shelves and shelves of books. Momentarily disregarding her hunger for food, she skimmed through countless rows of literature until she found a book that intrigued her. Plopping down on a cushioned armchair, Kagome brought the book she had chosen into her sight and opened it. At first, she had planned to read only one chapter, but she found herself unable to put the book down and soon neglected the time.
Meanwhile, Sesshoumaru had concluded his morning shower. He walked downstairs, now dressed in a thin silk bathrobe, and proceeded to prepare breakfast in the kitchen. As he was cooking, he found it strange that Kagome was still asleep. She usually rose quite early in the mornings --at least, she did back then.
Once the table was set and the breakfast was ready, Sesshoumaru advanced up the stairs. He strode across the hallway until he came upon the guest room. He knocked lightly a few times, then turned the handle. Scanning the room, he saw that the bed had already been made. That could only mean that Kagome had decided to explore his house. Old habits never change.
Sesshoumaru inspected every room. The library was the only one left. He noticed that the door was opened and walked in. And there she was, so engrossed in one of his books that she didn't even hear him go in. Not that he made much noise anyway.
"Kagome." His smooth yet commanding tone seemed to have surprised her. She would have fallen out of the chair if the armrests had not been there.
"Holy... Sesshoumaru, what the heck! Don't do that!" Kagome yelled, face flushed from embarrassment. "What are you doing here anyway?"
"I live here." Although he showed no emotion on his face, it seemed to her like he was inwardly laughing at her.
"Oh... right... umm... I sorta forgot." Kagome replied sheepishly, recollections of yesterday's events suddenly rushing back into her head. "Anyway, you were looking for me, right?"
"Breakfast." He informed her before returning to the kitchen.
Kagome sighed, unwilling to put the book down. Reluctantly, she left the library and placed the book back in its original section.
Sesshoumaru had already started to eat. Kagome sat down and as she ate, she glanced at Sesshoumaru every so often. "What is it?" He asked, knowing she had something to say.
"I feel alittle embarrassed to be asking this, and I'm not trying to be a bother or anything, but is it okay if I stay with you temporarily? I'll pay a monthly fee." Kagome looked at the floor, shut her eyes, and crossed her fingers behind her back, already beginning to question her own sanity. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all, she thought.
"That's fine," he replied without missing a beat.
Kagome's head shot up. "Really? Thank you so much!" Even her eyes were shining with joy at his consent.
"...There is one condition. You may only stay if you cannot find an apartment. Look for one after you finish your breakfast." He finished, watching as her joy deflated and disappointment was clearly shown on her features.
"Today? But what about work?" She said, trying to come up with an excuse.
"Call in. Tell them what you need to do." He told her bluntly.
"They won't fire me, right?" Kagome asked hopefully.
"No. They are not that strict." He said.
"Alright, I'll try to look for one after I call in. But you promised, okay?" She waited for his confirmation.
"I never go back on my word." He replied, somewhat peeved by the fact that she didn't completely trust him. But still, it wasn't her fault that she didn't remember him.
Oblivious to Sesshoumaru's inner conflict, Kagome finished what was left of her breakfast and changed her outfit before leaving the house. "I'm gonna leave now." She told him before stepping out of the house and closing the door.
By the time the doorbell rang, it was nighttime. Sesshoumaru opened the door to reveal an exhausted Kagome. "Sorry, I guess I'll have to stay here until I find a new apartment or a house. The offer's still up, right?" Sesshoumaru nodded.
"Thank God." She sighed. "Can I come in? I need sleep."
He stepped to the side like he had the night before and let her into his house.
"By the way, is $5,000 a month okay?" Kagome asked tiredly.
"Don't be a fool. I won't accept money from you." Sesshoumaru said, quirking a brow at Kagome's proposal.
"Wha--" A yawn effectively stopped Kagome from completing the rest of her sentence. "You know what? Let's discuss this tomorrow. I'm tired." She walked up the steps sluggishly until she reached her room.
Sesshoumaru found himself slightly amused by her behavior and personality. I can't imagine why she is unable to remember me, he thought. Surely I am not that insignificant.
Note: All I can say is that I hope it's detailed enough. Thanks to those who commented on my chapters being too bland and lacking in detail; it really motivated me. And to anyone who wants to know, I don't think my grammar is perfect, but I read my work over twice before submitting it. It helps. If you ever spot any mistakes, tell me and I'll fix them. Especially this chapter, because I typed it at midnight and I'm too tired to reread it. Also, if you have pictures for my site, give me a link and I'll check them out. Emails won't work for me, I never check them. Thanks.
Next chapter: "What are you talking about, Kagome?" Kouga said, laughing. "This isn't Inuyasha in the picture, it's Sesshoumaru."