▒Anthurium; attraction.
Violets; faithfulness.
Water lilies; perfect beauty.
Primroses; hope.
Kagome,
I would be honored it you would join me for dinner tonight at my apartment. Call me at work and let me know of your answer.
Kurama x▓
She let out a small giggle that was of sheer joy. Kagome had been out a few times with him over the past few months and was really beginning to like him. She placed the flowers on her desk and made her way down to the lobby to say good morning to Ayame and get her client list for the day. She walked down the stairs and got a nice shock when she reached the bottom. A woman stood in the lobby that looked just like Kagome; long black hair that was pulled into a cute braid and the same chocolate brown eyes. The only difference being she was about five years older. Kagome felt her professional demeanor slip and she succumbed to the urge to run to the woman and embrace her.
Her heels clacked loudly on the tiles and she ran, arms out, and launched herself at her. ⌠Kikyo! It▓s been way too long!■
Kikyo grinned and hugged Kagome for all she was worth. ⌠Imouto, I missed you so much.■
⌠What are you doing here this early? Christmas isn▓t for a few weeks?■ Kagome asked.
Kikyo smiled and nodded. ⌠Yeah I know, but my boss is spending the season in the Bahamas so he gave me the extra time off. Are you busy today? I thought maybe we could go shopping.■
⌠Sorry nee-san, it▓s my first day back after my vacation and I know that I have a few people coming in that will only be treated by me.■ Kagome explained. ⌠I could probably take a long lunch though. Ayame would that be alright?■
Ayame looked down to Kagome▓s appointment book and nodded. ⌠After you eleven thirty, you▓re free up until about two thirty when Mrs. Hatanaka comes in for a massage.■
Kagome cocked her head to the side and tapped her chin. ⌠Hatanaka, Hatanaka┘? Shiori Hatanaka?■
Ayame nodded. ⌠Yeah she sounded so sweet on the phone, said her son recommended you. Something about magic hands.■
Kagome▓s face split into a wide grin and she began to laugh. ⌠Shiori is Kurama▓s mother! Ooh, I▓m so going get him back when I see him tonight! That reminds me, can you call him at the museum and let him know that dinner would be wonderful but could we move it to my place because my sister came to town please Ayame?■
Ayame picked up the phone and dialed the number. ⌠Sure thing Kagome.■
Kagome smiled and turned back to Kikyo. ⌠Are you free tonight for dinner? I know Shippo will be happy to see you.■
⌠Or course I am imouto, I▓d love to see my nephew again.■ Kikyo said. ⌠Now, who is this Kurama person?■
Kagome blushed a little. ⌠He▓s this guy I▓ve been seeing. He▓s such a nice guy nee-san. He▓s good with Shippo, got a great personality and looks of a Greek god! I▓m really beginning to like him.■
⌠Ah, I▓ll guess I▓ll meet him tonight then?■ Kikyo said.
⌠If he agrees to it then yes. He wanted me to go to his apartment for dinner but I know he▓ll be happy to come to mine too. When do you plan on visiting okaa-san and dork of ages?■ Kagome replied.
Kikyo shrugged. ⌠Later in the week probably. While I▓m here, will you please book me in with Sango for the works when she has time?■
Kagome nodded and looked over at both Ayame and the clock. ⌠Ayame, please take care of that dearest. Kikyo, you sit here and gab for a few hours, or head over to my apartment. I know you have a spare. I have to get up to my office, Kazuma is bringing his girlfriend in for a healing at nine thirty.■
Kikyo quirked her head to the side. ⌠Where did you find him? I though he moved out of town years ago.■
⌠He came back a couple of years ago and we hooked up for coffee and shit. We actually do dinner at least once a month.■ The younger woman replied, turning around and making her way to the stairs. ⌠Give Shizuru a call later, I▓m sure she▓s dying to see you again.■
XOX
⌠See you next week Miss Mushimo!■ Kagome smiled as her last client before lunch left her healing room with a smile on her face. Closing the door she picked up the cordless phone and dialed a familiar number as she got to work on sterilizing the table. It rung twice before a man answered.
⌠Hello?■
Kagome grinned as she spoke back. ⌠Hey Koga, its Kagome. Listen, Kikyo came back for the holidays earlier than expected so we▓re going shopping before my two thirty comes in. are you in?■
Koga sighed audibly on the other end of the phone. ⌠I guess. It▓s not going to be girly shopping is it?■
Kagome giggled slightly as she placed the sterilizing cloth into the laundry basket. ⌠Not likely. I have to get Christmas presents for Shippo. He▓d be real disappointed if Santa didn▓t come up trumps. What about you? Do you have all of the twins gifts yet?■
⌠Har, har. Rei is desperate for this mermaid Barbie thing and I haven▓t been able to find one so far. Anyways, where shall I meet you?■ He said.
⌠Come to Orange Julius in about fifteen, we▓ll go from there.■ She replied. ⌠Anyways, I should go. I▓m all done here and Kikyo is probably driving your wife spare down in the lobby. I▓ll see you in fifteen.■
⌠Alrighty. Bye!■ He said and hung up.
Kagome replaced the phone on the charger and grabbed her bag from her desk. She quickly looked out the window to determine whether or not her coat was a necessity, deciding against it, she walked out the door and locked up. Kagome made haste to the lobby and sure enough, her sister and receptionist were both seated on the plush white couch reserved for clients in transition from one treatment to another, sipping coffee and gossiping like school girls.
Kikyo spotted Kagome first and got up. ⌠Hey Imouto, are you ready to go?■
Kagome nodded and smiled at Ayame. ⌠I▓m heading off to do some serious shopping, so have a good afternoon.■
Ayame smiled back. ⌠Make sure he doesn▓t go overboard this year Kagome.■
Chuckling with understanding, kagome dug her car keys out of her bag. ⌠Heaven forbid he gives you a diamond pendant like last year. Or another pair of designer shoes.■
Ayame shook her head. ⌠I don▓t think my poor wardrobe could handle it. Have fun girls!■
Kikyo and Kagome linked arms and walked outside into the warm December sun. Quickly grinning at eachother, the sisters walked up to Kagome▓s Beetle and climbed in. Kikyo buckled herself in and looked at Kagome. ⌠So, where to first?■
Kagome pulled out of the parking bay and into the street before answering. ⌠We▓re meeting Koga at Orange Julius in about ten minutes, then I have to head over to Thorntons to get Shippo▓s teacher a present, preferably lunch after than, then I have to head to Mango, HMV and Gucci to pick up my heels.■
⌠You brought designer shoes?■ Kikyo said, wagging a finger at her sister in a muck angry fashion. ⌠So unlike you Kagome!■
Kagome giggled and shook her head. ⌠No, remember my butterfly heels? The ones that Naraku got me as a congratulatory present for opening the spa? They needed to be heeled.■
⌠Ah, such lovely shoes! You▓d think that he▓d spend all his money on his daughter but no.■ Kikyo said, laughing. ⌠He always has and excuse.■
⌠He does. ▒You▓re my babies and Kanna gets enough toys from her mother when she goes shopping. Let me spoil you!▓■ Kagome mimicked their cousin▓s excuses perfectly. ⌠This year I▓m going all out on his gift. I already have Kagura▓s present taken care of, and Kanna asked to spend a day at the spa with me, so I only need his and I have all of my family▓s gifts done. Do you know where we▓re spending Christmas this year?■
Kikyo shook her head. ⌠Not too sure. Mum offered up her place because it▓s tradition, Naraku wants us to go to his house in Osaka and we were invited over to Grandma▓s place too. We could forgo the big family thing and spend it at your place?■
Kagome pulled into the parking lot of the mall and found a spot relatively easily. Once she had parked, both sisters got out, locked up and began walking to the door. ⌠We could do that. Spend the actual day over at my place and the go to Grandma▓s place on Boxing Day. Shit I▓ve never cooked a full Christmas dinner before! Let me call mum and we▓ll get it all sorted out.■
Kikyo nodded and waved at Koga while Kagome got out her cellphone. ⌠Hey Koga, long time no see!■
Koga smiled and hugged her. ⌠Yeah, it▓s been too long. Kagome told me that you were back for the holidays early this year and said that we needed to get some shopping done. So, hows life treating you?■
⌠Good I guess. Work▓s been hectic for the last few months because Tora-san has been closing a deal with a company in Italy and being his personal assistant, I had to run around like a chicken with it▓s head cut off so he didn▓t have to.■ Kikyo said with a grin. ⌠How about you? Are the twins alright?■
He nodded. ⌠Apart from the daily ▒is it Christmas yet?▓ they▓ve been good. I have Kiba▓s new bike hidden in the garage, and only one more gift to get of Rei▓s and everything is set. We▓re having the Hell Harpies over for dinner and my family are coming too, so it wont be that bad.■
Kagome smacked him on the back of the head with one hand and placed her phone back in her bag with the other. ⌠How many times to I have to tell you not to call your mother and sisters-in-law that? Alrighty, mum said she▓d call me when she got conformation on how many people are coming for dinner, so all I need to do now is start buying the groceries. Are we all ready to go?■
XOX
Kurama picked up the office phone and dialed Kagome▓s number. It was four PM and he was going to have to stay and hour later than expected and that put him late for dinner. He heard someone pick up after four rings.
⌠Hello?■
⌠Hey Kagome.■ He replied. ⌠It▓s me.■
The woman on the other end of the phone snickered a little. ⌠Hey me, it▓s not Kagome. I▓m her sister Kikyo.■
⌠Sorry, you sound very alike on the phone. Is Kagome available to talk?■ He said.
⌠One sec.■ The phone switched hands and Kagome came on. ⌠Hey me, hows it going?■
Kurama shook his head. ⌠Sorry to say I▓m going to be about an hour late for dinner. I▓m a little held up at the museum again, I▓m really sorry. So, what are you up to?■
⌠Wrapping Christmas presents and decapitating lizards.■ She replied. ⌠Don▓t worry about dinner, I▓m a little behind on that anyways, so you would have had to wait.■
Kurama blinked a couple of times. ⌠You▓re decapitating lizards?■
⌠Yeah, when I went to the mall today I got a big bag of sour candies from Woolworth▓s and I snagged all the lizards, Kikyo got the worms and Rin and Shippo split the rest before they went to the park.■ She explained with a laugh. ⌠What did you think I meant?■
⌠Nothing. Never mind I▓ll try to come over as soon as I can. See you soon sweetheart.■ He said.
⌠Alright, see ya Hon!■ Kurama heard the phone disconnect and sighed. She really was something.
Three hours later, Kurama pulled on his coat and made his way out of the museum and into the parking lot. He put his jacket into the back seat of his Cavalier and climbed into the driver▓s seat, intent on enjoying the fifteen-minute drive home. Rush hour was long over, so the drive was relatively stress free. Once he arrived at his apartment complex, he parked his car and made haste up the stairs and to his place. He opened the door and stripped off his shirt as he walked to the shower. Walking into the bathroom, he locked the door and turned on the water, adjusting it to the perfect temperature, before stepping in and having a quick hose down. Fifteen minutes later he stepped out of the shower and dried his hair off on the way to his bedroom. Kurama walked over to his closet and pulled out a pair of black denim pants and a white short sleeve shirt. After drying himself off, he pulled his clothes on, tied his hair into a ponytail at the nape of his neck and walked into the kitchen to pick up the ice cream he had originally planned for dessert.
Botan, His roommate, smiled at him from the island. ⌠Hey Kurama, haven▓t seen you much lately and I live with you! What▓s got you so busy these last few months.■
Kurama smiled back. ⌠I▓ve been seeing someone.■
She let out a small squeak and fell off her chair. Picking herself up, she rushed over to him. ⌠Ohmigosh I▓m so happy for you! What▓s her name? What▓s she like? How did you meet her? Is she the one or is it just a casual sex thing?■
Having known Botan for years, Kurama could decipher her questions easily. ⌠Her name is Kagome Higurashi, she▓s my massage therapist, that▓s how I met her and she▓s wonderful. She▓ really cute and smart and I▓m really beginning to like her. She has a son that I just adore and no, it▓s not a sex thing. I haven▓t even kissed her yet.■
⌠Wow, she sounds lovely! You▓re going to have to have her over one night so me and Koenma can meet her.■ She said. ⌠Speaking on which, my lazy ass boyfriend should be over soon, are you staying long enough to see him?■
He shook his head. ⌠Sorry, I▓m having dinner over at Kagome▓s tonight. She was going to come here, but her sister turned up today so I▓m going over there. I▓ll see you tonight Botan.■ He replied and walked toward the door.
He heard her yell at him as he left and had to chuckle at her. ⌠With any luck you won▓t be back!■
XOX
Kurama knocked on Kagome▓s door and got a nice surprise as a seventeen-year-old girl answered giggling. ⌠I▓m going to assume that you▓re Kagome▓s sister.■
The girl, dressed in a pair of jeans and a pink baby tee, shook her head, still giggling. ⌠No, I▓m giggle Rin her babysitter. Kagome is in her snort room getting changed. I▓m guessing that you▓re Kurama?■
Kurama nodded. ⌠It▓s nice to meet you Rin and yes, I▓m Kurama.■
Rin walked away from the open door and motioned him in. ⌠Nice to meet you too. You can head on in to the kitchen. Kikyo▓s in there performing genocide on the sour gummy worms. If you▓ll excuse me, I have a fox to find. Oh, Shippo┘■
She sneaked away, intent on finding the kid and left Kurama to take off his shoes and go to the kitchen. He walking into the kitchen and saw a Kagome clone sitting at the table, laughing menacingly and devouring the yellow worms. Kurama put the ice cream in the freezer and walked over to her. ⌠You must be Kikyo.■
Kikyo looked up from her work and smiled. ⌠Yes I am, you must be the man my sister is crazy for.■ She held out her hand for him to take. ⌠I can see why.■
Kurama shook her hand with a smiled. ⌠I can see that beauty is genetic. You look so much alike.■
She shrugged. ⌠We get that a lot, the resemblance thing. So how are you?■
⌠Pretty good thank you. And yourself?■ He replied.
⌠Alright.■ She picked up a gummy worm and grinned evilly. ⌠Genocide is so much fun!■
Kurama chuckled. ⌠More fun with gummy bears. My little brother guys them by the bucket load and eats one flavour a day. Personally, I prefer to splice them.■
⌠Splice them? You mean like taking two, cutting them in half and then putting them back together?■ She questioned.
⌠Exactly that. It makes it more fun.■ He said.
Shippo bounded into the room and right onto Kurama▓s lap. ⌠Hey Kurama! Santa is coming soon, but I have a question for you.■
Kurama looked down at him and grinned. ⌠And what might that be?■
⌠You see, my school is having a show and tell on Friday because it▓s the last day of term.■ He said. ⌠And I want you to be my thing.■
Kikyo burst out laughing and Kurama just looked dumbfounded for a moment. ⌠You want me to be your thing for show and tell? Why?■
Shippo put on the puppy pout and big watery eyes before answering. ⌠Because you▓re so cool! You work in a museum and you know lots of useless stuff, and you can burn stuff!■
Kikyo▓s laugh had escalated and she was now clutching her sides as Kurama answered. ⌠How do I burn stuff Shippo? That would be a bad thing.■
Shippo smiled and turned the look up a notch. ⌠Well, momma said that your hot, so that means you can burn stuff right? Just like the human torch from my cartoons!■
Kurama flushed a little and smiled. ⌠Not that kind of hot Shippo, you▓ll understand when you▓re older. Back to the subject at hand I think. I▓ll tell you what, if I can get the day off work, I▓ll be your thing for show and tell.■
Shippo nodded and gave him a hug. ⌠Thanks Kurama, I▓ve got to go find Rin now, we▓re playing animal hide and seek! Rin▓s a tiger and I▓m a fox!■
Kikyo wiped the tears from her eyes and looked at him. ⌠Well, that was the most entertainment I▓ve had in a while.■
⌠What was?■ Kagome said as she entered the room. She was dressed in a pair of jeans and a cream coloured turtleneck.
Kurama got up from his seat and went over to hug her. ⌠You look wonderful Kagome.■
Kagome blushed a pretty pink and kissed his cheek. ⌠You do too. Now, what was so funny it had me nee-san in tears?■
Kikyo grinned at her, giggles still escaping occasionally. ⌠Just your son telling Kurama here how you thought he▓s hot. Really Kagome, just like the human torch!■
Kagome started laughing too and started her sister▓s again. ⌠Really now? Remind me to kill him later. Maybe the human torch would like to help?■
Kurama pouted at her. ⌠Honestly Kagome, you▓re are pure evil!■
She smacked his arm playfully. ⌠Oh hush you! Would you like a coffee? Dinner won▓t be ready for another ten minutes.■
⌠I would love one thank you.■ He replied. ⌠Would you like some help?■
She shook her head. ⌠No thanks. You go on into the living room and I▓ll bring you one in.■
XOX
After dinner, Kagome drove Rin home and came back in time to watch a movie with her sister, son and Kurama. Shippo was spread out on the floor, Kikyo was sitting on the chair and Kagome and Kurama were on the love seat. Shippo had choice of movie, so there were watching Finding Nemo. About halfway through the movie, Kagome snuggled up to Kurama and placed her head on his shoulder and her hand on his chest. He responded by wrapping his arm around her and pulling her in closer.
Once the movie was over, Kikyo headed off to put Shippo in bed and then herself as a favour to Kagome. Said woman was now in the kitchen doing dishes and generally straightening out the kitchen. As she washed and rinsed, Kurama dried and put away.
⌠Thank you for coming over tonight Kurama I had a lot of fun.■ Kagome said as she handed the last clean dish to her companion. ⌠You didn▓t have to help you know.■
⌠I wanted to. Beside, it▓s only fair that seeing as how you cooked, I help with the clean up.■ He replied and put the last dish away. ⌠I had so much fun tonight. Thank you again for cooking for me.■
⌠It was no problem at all, I love having you over.■ She said.
Smiling and turning toward her, Kurama pulled her into a hug. ⌠We▓ve been dating for about four months now right?■
Kagome nodded. ⌠Right. Why do you ask?■
⌠Well, I▓ve been thinking lately and I really like you, so would you consider becoming exclusive?■ He mentally berated himself for sounding like a kid with a crush.
Kagome looked up at him and smiled. ⌠I really like you too Kurama. You▓re kind, smart and Shippo has taken a shine to you┘■
He smiled back. ⌠But?■
⌠No buts. I▓d be really happy to call you my boyfriend.■ She replied.
That was all the incentive he needed. Cupping her face, he lowered his head and gently placed his lips on hers. She responded with passion and tilted her head to that their noses didn▓t bump one another. He took this as an opening and nibbled on her lower lip, waiting for her to open her mouth to him. As soon as she did his tongue swept in, languidly tracing every inch of her mouth and making her knees go weak. After a moment or two, they broke apart, both flushed and smiling.
Kagome placed a chaste kiss on his lips and hugged him with a sigh. ⌠Keep doing that and I▓ll never let you leave.■
Kurama chuckled. ⌠Well, if that▓s the case┘■
He trailed off and swooped down to kiss her again.
XOX