A/N: Yeah, this is getting longer now. Who'd have thought that a review would do so much? At first I was thinking that Her Frightening Nature would be the last one of the series, but it seems that new ideas have been propping up in my head! Lucky you! So there will be more stories after this one - only following this new and deviated timeline. And my eternal thanks to GiggleboxGirlie for this kick up the imagination. Enjoy!
BP
Kagome woke up with a smile, despite the lingering feelings of loneliness and sadness. She had a day out with Sherlock, which was, no doubt, going to be an intellectual challenge… oh how she'd relish this. She had a shower and was towel drying her hair as she checked her phone, finding one text from Mycroft.
Meet me for dinner tomorrow night. MH. And it was sent late last night, so tonight it was. She smiled. So she had both the brothers vying for her attention. The smile turned into a smirk. In a way, it felt like the Feudal Era all over again.
Where? KH. She set about finding some clothes for the day, finally deciding on a blue blouse that matched her eyes and long black trousers. Her phone beeped.
A car will pick you up. MH. She tried to restrain her amusement, but she couldn't help but laugh. Thing was, she knew he wasn't even joking - he would know exactly where she was no matter what time of the day. She didn't ask where they were going - no point, he'd probably stay silent or say that she'd see.
Walking out the door, Kagome realised that she'd never really gotten to know Sherlock in a way that meant they would be able to go out for a day comfortably. Then she shrugged inwardly. They'll be fine. She could form a competition.
The walk passed by quickly and soon she was in front of 221b. She looked at the numbers and felt a sudden hesitance. Would John be there? Had Sherlock changed his mind? How would she react if John was there?
No! She thought to her self violently. You will go up there like the confident woman you are. John can go and screw himself if he dares to show his face. At her own empowering pep-talk she gained some confidence back and opened the door, her head held high.
"Kagome? Is that you dear?" Kagome smiled at Mrs. Hudson, who'd just appeared in the doorway of her own flat.
"Yes, I came to collect Sherlock." The woman smiled.
"Oh, is it a case?" She shook her head.
"No, just dragging him out for the day. No cases involved." Unless we create one, she added silently. Mrs. Hudson nodded approvingly.
"About time that boy got out for something that wasn't a murder." She started to go back into her flat, having ascertained who it was that was in the house. "You take care of him, dear." Kagome tilted her head with a smile.
"Of course, Mrs. Hudson." She made her way up to the first floor, opening the door and seeing Sherlock laying on the couch.
She watched him scan her, taking in her coat, gloves, shoes and many other details that she couldn't pinpoint. She, meanwhile, took in the fact that he was still in his pyjamas and dressing gown. She sighed in exasperation, letting her shoulders slump in annoyance, even as she couldn't keep the smile off her face. You could always count on Sherlock to be completely random and bold in what he does - which, of course, led to the people who knew him to be annoyed and amused in equal measure.
"Ready to go then?" He asked, getting up. Kagome gaped.
"You - you can't be serious. I am not -!" She stuttered and stopped, noting the amused look on his face. She frowned half-heartedly. "You were never going to out like that, were you?" With a smirk, he shook his head and untied his dressing gown, letting it fall at his feet. He gripped his t-shirt and started to pull it up, his eyes on her face. That was when she realised she was staring. A squeak escaped her and she spun around, blushing deep red. He chuckled.
"You can look now." Tentatively, she turned around, one of her eyes peeping open and taking a look. His smirk grew wider as her lips seemed to have a battle between grinning and frowning as she saw that he had his shirt on underneath and was pulling down his pyjama bottoms, revealing trousers underneath. She growled in mock anger. He full out laughed, reaching for his jacket, which was hanging over the sofa, and shoes.
"I hate you." He looked up at her from his place on the sofa, eyes sparkling with mirth, and she felt something stir inside her. Her eyes widened. Oh no, not again! Not now! I'm not ready… A smirk turned up his lips as he stood again, now fully ready to go out.
"No you don't." She sighed.
"I guess not." Kagome said as she followed him out the door, just now realising that not once while in the flat and with Sherlock, had she given a second of thought of John. She smiled. Today would be a good day.
Sherlock led her through the streets of London, pointing out things she'd never noticed and probably would never had noticed. He smiled slightly as she laughed at a joke one of his Homeless Network had said. They just run into him and Kagome had insisted on asking how the man was, not even knowing that he was part of the detective's Network.
The man noticed the look he was giving the pretty woman that had just starting talking to him. He noted the detective's eyes as she laughed and sent him a smirk. Mr. Holmes obviously noticed, because he immediately blanked out his face, making it as impassive as it always was. But the pretty woman turned back to him a moment later and he softened again. He snickered, turning it into a cough that fooled the pretty woman, but not Mr. Holmes. Oh no. The detective gave him a filthy look as soon as she turned away. He couldn't stop the grin forming on his face. Finally, after a pleasant conversation, she gave him a fifty and beckoned Mr. Holmes as she walked away, calling out a goodbye to him.
For another forty minutes, Sherlock led her around London, making her wonder exactly where they were going. Whenever she asked, he smiled and showed her something else, successfully distracting her again. Finally, he led her through a back alley.
"Where does this go?" She'd never been down this way before.
"A nice little shop in probably the worst place in London, and yet it has great customer service." Sherlock replied. She scrunched her nose. Isn't customer service - like all the happy 'what can I do for you?' - an American thing? He turned just in time to see it and chuckled. "And by customer service I mean they give you what you want as rudely as they can and then leave you alone until you pay." Kagome laughed.
"Thank God, I was worried for a moment there." He grinned and Kagome noticed his aura lighten a bit. The little place he mentioned came into view - a cosy little place with weary-looking customers and gruff-looking staff. She smiled. She liked it already. Luckily, it was a take-away place and they had lovely looking sandwiches.
"What d'you want?" The cashier said in his most bored and inconvenienced tone. His nametag said Don't Care on it. Kagome felt a smile lift her cheeks.
"A cheese, ham and pickle sandwich with lettuce and mayonnaise, please." Kagome looked at Sherlock, who shook his head. Don't Care frowned.
"Anything else, your highness?" Kagome giggled.
"No, thank you." She said politely. He nodded and swaggered off into the kitchen. They heard a few indistinct sounds, and then Don't Care came back, carrying her sandwich in a paper bag. She took it and paid, leaving a tenner as a tip, if only for the absolutely incredible service.
They walked out and they just overheard Don't Care shout, "Oi! Brian! You never believe it! We just got a tip!" They both laughed when they heard it. He sounded amazed.
"We should totally go back there one day." Sherlock nodded.
"If only to be mocked." He agreed.
They walked around London some more, finding a park in which Kagome could sit and eat her sandwich. While there, Kagome saw Sherlock's eyes scanning every person that walked by. She grinned.
"Hey." She nudged him playfully. "Tell me about that one there, with the black coat and the badly matched hat." Sherlock tilted his head in agreement of the statement, while his eyes looked him over.
"He's a man in his mid-forties who's been recently divorced because his wife left him for someone else. He can't afford the house on his own and loosing sleep over it. He also tries to be up-to-date with the latest technology to keep up appearances, but, again, can't quite afford it, so he dresses formally and almost smartly, but all of the clothes are from a charity shop and aren't quiet tailored right. He's also lost one and a half stone due to the stress of his financial troubles. His 'badly matched hat', as you put it," Kagome giggled. "Is there because he trying to cover a balding patch, not that it's working - the hat is a bit too small." Kagome gaped. And then smirked.
"You've gotten something wrong." She sing-songed and then enjoyed the glance to the man, the frown that appeared, and the confusion in his eyes.
"Wrong?" His brows drew together. She laughed.
"Okay! Okay, no need to give yourself a headache over it." She reached up and smoothed his forehead, the contact sending her a jolt that resonated through her soul. For the second time that day, her eyes widened in both alarm and surprise. Oh. Well, she thought as she watched his aura lighten to a bright blue in response to her touch, that certainly says a lot. She blinked and suddenly Sherlock was closer than before. When did that happen? His eyes were a beautiful silver colour - like hers when her darker side came out to play.
"Kagome." Sherlock rumbled. She jolted and pulled away, clearing her throat.
"Well, the thing you got wrong is that his wife didn't leave him for another man, Sherlock." She said teasingly. "She left him because he has Bipolar Type 2 disorder and probably couldn't cope with it anymore - which has actually started to trigger a depressive stage." She frowned. "How sad." Sherlock blinked.
"How do you know that?" Kagome grinned and tapped her right index finger to the side of her right eye.
"Practice." They were both reminded of their first meeting suddenly and they both looked away, smiling. She tapped his arm and discreetly pointed at another person. "What about her?" He looked carefully and drew in a breath.
And so they continued. Kagome pointed to someone and Sherlock deduced them, Kagome laughingly pointing out any mistakes. The sun started to set, but they carried on, having too much fun for themselves. It was only when there were barely any people that they realised that it was late and they had to go home. They just got out of the park when a black car appeared. Mycroft's assistant stepped out of the passenger seat, for once, and walked over, opening the door and waiting by it.
"If you would please get in the car, Miss Higurashi and Mr. Holmes, we shall drop you off at 221b Baker Street." They looked at each other and shrugged, deciding to get in. Mycroft was inside, surprising them both, though Kagome was, perhaps, less surprised than Sherlock.
"Hello Kagome, brother-dear." Mycroft greeting politely. Sherlock smirked.
"Actually doing leg-work, dear brother? I wonder what the special occasion is." Mycroft smiled slyly.
"Why, taking Kagome to dinner, of course." The car started to pull out. Sherlock rose one eyebrow.
"Really?" Both Mycroft and Kagome nodded.
"His text could almost have been a request if there have been a question mark at the end." She teased. "Is the great Mycroft Holmes loosing some of his control?" Something dark intruded on the teasing tone and Mycroft smiled carefully, watching Kagome like a hawk. Sherlock frowned a bit, looking between the two of them, sensing the tension and not knowing exactly how long this had been going on.
"Over you? I never had any in the first place." Kagome laughed lightly, but something satisfied prowled there. "If I recall correctly, this was a carefully reached agreement that took a very long time to negotiate." He teased back, but his eyes remained serious. Kagome laughed again.
"You're making it sound like it was like securing a treaty that would prevent a war!" Mycroft relaxed a bit.
"It felt that way." He admitted laughingly, a small smile on his face. Sherlock, fairly certain her was both forgotten and missing something here, was shocked that Mycroft admitted that. But then Kagome could be very scary when she wanted to be, and he'd never had it directed at him.
Hell, he never hoped to ever have it directed at him, because if Kagome ever got like that because of him, it was obvious he's done something very wrong indeed. And then he'd loose her, and that could never happen. She was one of his friends now. And today just proved it.
A/N: Just to say, I have nothing against American's and there is nothing meant by my earlier comment. Just to let you know. Anyway, this is another chapter of the alternate version, and I'm so proud! Thank you all for reading, and I hope you'll all continue. Review and tell me what you think of the new direction, I'd love to know! Until next time!
BP
