⌠Hey Boss Lady, hows it going?■ Sango said with a mock salute.
⌠Fine Sango, how goes it with you? We haven▓t had much time to talk lately seeing as the spa has been hectic.■ Kagome replied with a grin.
⌠That and you have a boyfriend now.■ Chuckled Sango.
Kagome scowled at her friend playfully. ⌠Oh hush you. I heard all about you and a certain client. Inuyasha was it?■
Sango blushed a deep red and returned the scowl her friend gave her. ⌠We are terrible aren▓t we? It▓s seems that we are setting a trend.■
⌠What trend?■ Ayame asked as she came into Kagome▓s office for the meeting.
⌠The ▒lets sleep with our clients▓ trend.■ Sango answered.
⌠In my defense, we haven▓t gotten that far yet.■ Kagome said. ⌠Just a few kisses and some over the shirt stuff before Shippo came into the living room after he had a nightmare.■
Ayame looked at her with laughter in her eyes. ⌠That has got to be the worst thing about having children. Once things get hot, they come and interrupt. I remember this one time shortly after me and Koga got married, the twins were four I think, we were in bed in the midst of passion when Rei burst in, crying about how Kiba took her teddy. It was a rush to get clothes on before she climbed in and demanded to sleep with us.■
The three girls sat talking for a while they waited for the other healers to come in so they could start the meeting and open the spa for the day. The meeting only took a half-hour and it covered all of the bases; from new treatments and products being offered to how much sales had gone up.
Kagome looked at her employees with a huge grin on her face. ⌠ I want to congratulate you all on a productive year and you all deserve the four hundred dollar Christmas bonus on today▓s paycheck. And that about covers it, you▓re all dismissed and have a merry Christmas!■
XOX
It was five and that meant closing time at the spa. Sango had left an hour earlier because she had to get her brother from their grandparent▓s house, leaving Kagome and Ayame to close up. Sango had lost both parents at a young age. Her mother died giving birth to her younger brother, Kohaku, when she was eight and she lost her father to cancer when she was sixteen. Kohaku was only eight, so her grandparent▓s had tried everything in their power to gain custody of him. Had it not been in their father▓s will that Sango and Kohaku were to go to Kagome▓s family, then he would have. She loathed her grandparent▓s with every fibre of her being and the feeling was mutual. Mr. and Mrs. Koetsu detested the fact that their only son, Keigo, Sango▓s father, had married ▒beneath his station▓ when he took Sakura, Sango▓s mother, as his wife. Keigo come from a somewhat wealthy family, where as Sakura▓s was only middle class. Mr. and Mrs. Koetsu could see Sakura in Sango and this was the reason behind the mutual hate. Sango looked and acted exactly like her mother. From her soulful honey brown eyes, to her firey temper; it served as a permanent reminder to them of what their son had done. Kohaku on the other hand, was all his father. Thus, they treated him as such. Sango had never denied her brother the right to see his grandparent▓s, but he claimed to only want to see them on a rare occasion.
Kagome▓s heels clacked on the tiles as she made her way to the front of the spa so she could walk Ayame out and lock up before heading over to Kurama▓s for dinner and a movie. Tonight, she was going to meet his roommate and to her, it was scarier than meeting his parents (she had already done that at the park a while back). His parents would have practically no swing over who he dated, but his friends would. If this Botan girl disapproved of her, chances are that they wouldn▓t last through Christmas. It would be an awful shame if that were the case, because Kagome really liked Kurama, and more importantly, Shippo did. The problem with being a parent and finding love was whether or not your kid liked the person you where seeing. Kagome came to a stop in front of Ayame▓s and smiled at hr. ⌠Hey sweet thing are you ready to go?■
Ayame clicked the shutdown button on the computer and grinned. ⌠Sure thing foxy lady!■ She stood up and grabbed her jacket and bag as she made her way from behind her desk and over to Kagome. ⌠Do you have time for a drink?■
Kagome shook her head. ⌠Sorry Ayame, I▓m heading over to Kurama▓s place for dinner tonight and I nee to go home and get ready before dropping Rin and Shippo off at her house.■
⌠Are you sure she▓s alright to take him for the night?■ Ayame said as they walked to the door.
⌠Yeah Miroku said that it▓d be alright for him to stay there with them for the night because I▓m not sure what time I▓ll be home.■ Kagome replied.
⌠If at all.■ Ayame added with a smirk.
Kagome shot Ayame a glare as she locked up the front doors. ⌠Oh hush up! You know that it isn▓t going to happen any time soon so stop being a hose rag about it.■
Ayame gave Kagome a hug before she walked off to her car. ⌠I▓ll give you a call in a few days and we▓ll do some last minute shopping. I still haven▓t found the mermaid Barbie that Rei wants.■
Kagome snapped her fingers as she unlocked the door to her VW. ⌠That▓s what I▓ve been forgetting! I found one of those at the grocery store when I went in to do all my Christmas food shopping on Saturday. It▓s sitting in my closet at the moment, so I▓ll give it to you when we go shopping alright?■
⌠Are you serious?■ Ayame said in delight. ⌠Both me and Koga have been searching for one all over Tokyo and came up dry. I owe you big for it Kagome!■
Kagome shook her head. ⌠Treat me to a coffee and we▓ll call it even. I▓ll give you a call. Bye!■
Traffic was vicious most of the drive home, so Kagome had half hour less to primp before she had to take Shippo and Rin back to her house. She stormed into the house without even taking her coat off and headed straight up to the shower. Fifteen minutes and half a bottle of vanilla mint lotion later, Kagome emerged from the bathroom squeaky clean and smelling delicious. She pulled on the gorgeous powder blue underwear set she had lain out on her bed and began to blow-dry her hair straight. Once that was done, she slipped into the pastel purple mid thigh skirt and cream coloured soft wool sweater before applying a small amount of mascara and lipgloss. Pulling out her pastel purple blazer and cream knee high furry boots, Kagome grabbed her purse and Shippo▓s overnight bag, and headed down to the living room where her son and Rin would be waiting.
Rin▓s head turned to Kagome as she heard her enter the living room. ⌠Wow Kagome you look gorgeous! You have to let me borrow that skirt and jacket set sometime!■
Kagome smiled. ⌠Thank you Rin and I will. Are you sure that your brother doesn▓t mind Shippo staying the night?■
⌠Are you kidding? He loves having kids around, more so than me I think.■ Rin replied with a giggle. She looked at Shippo who hadn▓t taken his eyes off the movie and poked him in the side. ⌠Are you ready to go sweetie?■
Shippo looked up at Rin with a beaming grin. ⌠Of course I am! I can▓t wait to see Miroku again Rin!■ He looked over at his mother and took a flying leap at her. ⌠You look very pretty momma! Are you going to get married tonight?■
Kagome shook her head at him. ⌠No baby, I▓m just going to dinner. Now, I packed your dinosaur pj▓s and your dungarees for tomorrow. I▓ll be there to pick you up in the morning and then we▓re going to see Auntie Sango for lunch.■
Shippo nodded and left to get his coat. Kagome smiled at him and looked at Rin. ⌠You have no idea how much I appreciate this Rin. I haven▓t really gotten out in over a year and I▓m so looking forward to this night.■
Rin shook her head as she pulled her own jacket off of the back of the sofa and onto her person. ⌠No it▓s alright Kagome, I love spending time with Shippo. He▓s like the little brother I never had.■
Kagome took one hundred dollars from her purse and handed to Rin. ⌠In any case, you do a fantastic job with him and I honestly don▓t know how I▓d get by without you.■
Rin shook her head at the money offered. ⌠I don▓t want this Kagome, I▓m quite happy with what you pay.■
⌠Nonsense. You deserve it Rin, it▓s my way of saying thank you for everything and I▓m sure that there▓s something you could use it for.■ Kagome stuffed the money into the hood of the teen▓s coat and walked toward the kitchen to grab the cherry pie she had baked for dessert the previous day.
XOX
Kurama was panicking. Okay, so maybe panicking is too strong of a word. ▒Dashing around at mock chicken while trying to cook and clean the kitchen▓ might be more suitable. Koenma watched his friend from the doorway with a grin on his face. He had never, in all their years of friendship, seen Kurama so flustered over a woman. ⌠You know, you▓ll never be able to get dinner done if you keep up that pace.■
Kurama stopped momentarily to take a gulp from the glass of water on the side and glare at his friend. ⌠Then why don▓t you do me a favour by checking to see if the oden is done while I set the table.■
⌠Now where▓s the fun in that?■ Koenma asked as he walked over to the stove. He stirred the stew a couple of times before tasting it and putting a touch more salt in it. ⌠It tastes about done. Why are you so flustered anyways? From the way you talk about her, this Kagome girl could care less about how lemony the counters smell?■
Kurama▓s speed slowed down until he came to a stop in front of the sink where he rinsed out the rag and placed it in the dishwasher. ⌠Because she▓s never been here before and I want everything to be perfect.■
There was a quick knock on the front door and Kurama▓s head shot up in alarm. ⌠She▓s here! Shit! Koenma, please go let her in, I haven▓t even changed yet!■ with that he dashed out of the kitchen and into his room. This was also done at a speed Superman would cringe at.
Koenma chuckled and walked over to the front door. He opened it and smiled at the woman standing on the other side. ⌠Hello, you must be Kagome. I▓m Koenma, Botan▓s boyfriend. Kurama is just getting changed and will be out shortly.■
Kagome smiled at him. ⌠It▓s lovely to meet you Koenma.■
Koenma nodded and ushered her in. ⌠If you want to take a seat in the living room, I▓ll go get you a drink. Would you like tea or coffee?■
⌠Coffee is fine thank you.■ Kagome replied. ⌠Oh! Would it be possible for me to put the pie in the fridge please?■
He nodded and led her to the kitchen just as Kurama came out of his bedroom. Kurama smiled at Kagome and walked over. ⌠Kagome you look amazing tonight. I▓m so happy you could come.■
⌠Yeah I am too. It▓s refreshing to be away from home for a while.■ She replied.
He gave her a quick kiss. ⌠Where is Shippo tonight? Does your sister have him?■
⌠No Rin and her brother took him to their house for the night. I actually get a lie in tomorrow morning!■ She beamed. ⌠So, how have you been?■
⌠Excellent actually. The museum is closing in two days and my mother has invited me over for the holidays so I▓m leaving for there on Christmas Eve.■ He took a sniff of the air and walked into the kitchen. ⌠Dinner is ready Kagome.■ He set it on the table and waited for his beautiful girlfriend to come and join him.
XOX
Kagome and Koenma sat laughing at the table while Kurama sat there red faced. Dinner had been over for about half an hour and buoyed up on a bottle of wine, Koenma had been telling Kagome amusing stories about her beloved while he waited for his own to return from work. The story that had caused this bout of laughter involved Kurama and a night spent in drag as a dare from his friends.
⌠Pink Kurama?■ Kagome said between dying giggles. ⌠I would have thought blue more your colour!■
Kurama flushed some more and pouted at her. ⌠You can▓t tell me you▓ve never accepted a really stupid dare.■
⌠Well, there was this one time┘■ Kagome trailed off as she thought of that one time in high school.
Koenma▓s eyes flashed in amusement. ⌠Come on Kagome, you can tell us. We▓re all friends here!■
Kagome shrugged. She had to admit, Koenma was a complete blast and she felt foolish for worrying over this evening in the first place. ⌠Alright, try not to laugh too hard okay? When I was fifteen my cousin Naraku, my sister Kikyo, me and my old flame Tohma were all in the same high school. It was the end of the year and we were all sitting in the parking lot skipping final period and playing rummy for dares. I only lost once and they all decided that I should set off the schools sprinkler systems and run through the halls.■
Koenma shook his head. ⌠That▓s not so bad.■
⌠Naked.■ Kagome concluded.
It took about two seconds for that to sink into the brains of the two men, and five more for them to fall off of their chairs in fits of laughter. Shrugging her shoulders, Kagome decided that it really was rather funny after all and joined them.
This was how Botan found them.
⌠Hey guys I▓m┘■ Botan walked into the kitchen and all words that were coming stopped as she saw her boyfriend, her roommate and an unknown female all sitting on the floor and huddled together as they laughed. She crossed her arms across her chest and cocked her head to the side as she waited it out. It only took a few moments for that to happen and she looked at the three of them questioningly. ⌠Feel better now?■
Three pairs of eyes looked toward the doorway. Kurama smiled at his roommate sheepishly. ⌠Botan, this is Kagome.■ He gestured to both the women.
Kagome quickly got up off the floor and held out a hand to the other woman. ⌠It▓s very nice to meet you Botan.■
Botan took the offered hand with a smile. ⌠It▓s nice to meet you too Kagome, Kurama has told me so much about you. So, Kurama said that you have a son, do you have any pictures?■
Kagome grinned and walked over to her purse. ⌠What kind of mother would I be if I didn▓t carry pictures of my baby around with me?■ She pulled out one of her and Shippo on his first birthday with her. He was dressed up like a fox and Kagome was dressed up like a butterfly. ⌠This was on his sixth birthday, he had a costume party at my mothers shrine. Next year he wants to go to Chuck E Cheese▓s, but I▓m not sure that it would be the best idea.■
Botan chuckled. ⌠Wow, he is a cutie! I take it he looks like his father from his eye and hair colour?■
Kagome shrugged. ⌠Not sure, he was adopted. I can▓t imagine my life without him though.■
Botan sighed wistfully. ⌠I love children so much! Maybe we could do coffee soon and I could meet him?■
⌠Oh that would be lovely! I▓m having lunch with one of my best friends tomorrow, would you like to join us?■ Kagome suggested.
⌠I would love to! Now, down to more serious business, where did you get those boots?■ Botan replied.
⌠I▓ll only tell you in exchange for the name of your hairdresser!■ Kagome said playfully as the two girls began to walk into the living room.
Koenma and Kurama exchanged looks before following their partners into the living room. They silently acknowledged the fact that they would be getting ignored for the rest of the night.
XOX