XOX Winter slowly ebbed away and the harsh cold was replaced my spring showers. February had seen the end of the freak snowstorms that had plagued January, and the spa was exceptionally busy, what with all the teenagers coming in to relax after studying for graduation exams. It didn▓t help that one of Tokyo▓s resident celebrities was marrying in mere days and had hired Kagome to do facials for herself and ten of her friends. To put it bluntly, Kagome was exhausted. Needless to say, when five thirty rolled around that Friday, she was quite ready to go home and veg out in front of her computer with a couple glasses of wine and take out. Shippo was spending the night at her mothers, so she had the evening to herself. Kagome parked her car outside her apartment block and trudged up the stairs to her apartment. She unlocked the door and made her way to her room. After a quick shower, she braided her hair and took out her contacts. Slipping into a pair of pyjama pants and the comfortable burnt orange hoodie that Kurama had given her (he decided that she was too cute when being drowned in it), she put her glasses on and walked into the kitchen to grab a bottle of chilled wine and a glass. Sighing contentedly, she walked into the living room, completely ignoring her brother, and straight to the small dining area turned computer room. Booting up the computer, she poured herself a glass of wine and downed it in one go. Deciding she needed something stronger, Kagome took the wine and glass back to the kitchen and gathered her wallet and keys. When she went back into the living room, she finally noticed her brother and his friends. ⌠Hey Dork of Ages, I▓m running out quickly, so if Kurama calls, tell him I▓ll be right back.■
Sota looked over at her. ⌠Jeez nee-san, did you run out of pretty at the spa and have to use your meager personal supplies?■
⌠Bite me brat, I▓ve had a long ass day.■ She replied. ⌠Hey Kohaku.■
⌠Hey Kagome, thanks for letting me stay tonight.■ Kohaku said with a smile.
Kagome shrugged. ⌠No worries kiddo. Sango said that she was having Inuyasha over tonight and I▓m sure that the last thing you want is to hear them together.■ She looked at the other brown haired boy on her sofa and blinked. ⌠I don▓t think we▓ve met.■
He quickly got up from his seat and gave her a small bow. ⌠Shuiichi Hatanaka Miss Higurashi, it▓s a pleasure.■
Kagome shook her head at the formality and smiled. ⌠Ah, you must be Shiori▓s son.■
⌠Stepson actually. How do you know my mother if I may ask?■ He replied.
⌠My son is friends with her youngest.■ Kagome said.
⌠So your Shippo▓s mum?■ Shuiichi said. Kagome nodded. ⌠Wow, when Aniki said you were you were hot, I wasn▓t expecting this.■
Kohaku started to laugh and Sota muttered a ▒dude, that▓s my sister▓ while Kagome blushed.
⌠Er thanks┘I think.■ She turned back to her brother. ⌠Anyways, I▓ll be back in ten minutes so try not to wreck the place while I▓m gone.■
Just as she said, Kagome arrived back home ten minutes later with a bottle of Malibu. She grabbed a shot glass from the kitchen and walked back into her computer room. She sat there glancing over a menu for the Chinese place down the street when the phone rang. She answered with the customary; ⌠Higurashi▓s house of Crazy.■
⌠Hey Kagome it▓s Botan.■
⌠Oh hey Botan, what can I do for ya?■
⌠I was wondering if you▓re busy tonight.■
⌠Not it the least, do you want to come over?■
⌠You don▓t mind? It▓s just Koenma has some guys over to play cards and with the five of them, it▓s too much testosterone for me to handle.■
Kagome giggled a little. ⌠Oh I hear ya. My brother is here with two of his friends for the night, so I was going to get all liquored up and order our. Do you want Chinese or Indian?■
Botan let out a relieved sigh. ⌠I could murder a Korma. Shall I bring a bottle of something?■
⌠If you want. I brought a bottle of Malibu a few moments ago if you like that.■ Kagome said. ⌠Do you need a ride or do you want to drive?■
⌠I▓ll drive. Okay, I▓ll see you soon Kagome!■
Kagome heard a click and went back to browsing menus. She looked out into the connecting living room. ⌠Do you guys want Indian?■
XOX
An hour later Kagome and Botan were sitting in the kitchen, alternating between tearing chunks out of the naan bread and slamming shots of tequila. Botan looked over at Kagome and wrinkled her nose. ⌠I seriously don▓t know how you can eat that!■
Kagome shoved a spoonful of her chicken Tikka Masala into her mouth and smiled. ⌠Its not that spicy.■
⌠Too spicy for my tastes. Give me a nice sweet Korma any day!■ Botan said and took a sip of her Pina Colada.
⌠That reminds me.■ Kagome muttered and walked from the room. She came back a few moments later with a roll of toilet paper, which she stuck in the freezer.
Botan cocked her head to the side cutely. ⌠What did you do that for?■
Kagome giggled briefly. ⌠Because Sota decided he wanted to look macho in front of his friends and ordered a Vindaloo. He▓ll thank me in the morning.■ She slammed another shot of tequila and made a face. ⌠Right, so what were we talking about again?■
⌠Ex boyfriends. I do believe it▓s your turn!■ Botan said with a smile.
⌠Okay, about a year after Kazuma left town, I was in my first year of high school and I met this real fit guy named Tohma Seguchi. God Botan, he was gorgeous! He had platinum blonde hair and gorgeous blue green eyes.■ Kagome said, getting a far away look on her face. ⌠Did I tell you he was hot?■
Botan giggled. ⌠Yeah you did. So how long did you last?■
⌠About three years.■ Kagome said sadly. ⌠He started hanging around with this guy and started a band, we drifted apart. We still talk every so often, but last I heard his band was doing pretty well. Never would have expected him to make it. I think I still have a picture of me and him before we broke up.■
⌠Well go get it!■ Botan said and practically shoved Kagome from the room.
Kagome walked into her spare room and dug out an old box of photos from the closet. She picked it up and took it into the kitchen. Taking her dinner and setting it on the counter, she began to rummage through the box. She found one photo and handed it to Botan. ⌠This is me and Kazuma when we were first dating.■
Botan took the photo and smiled. ⌠I▓ve only ever seen him this happy when he▓s with Yukina. You must have really loved eachother.■
Kagome nodded and discarded a few photos into a rapidly growing pile. ⌠Yeah, we did. He was such a sweetheart. Still is. Ah, here it is!■ She handed the photo of the two of them hugging over.
Botan gasped. ⌠You know who this is right?■
⌠Yeah Tohma, my ex. I should probably call him later, we haven▓t spoke in like a month.■ Kagome said.
Botan shook her head rapidly. ⌠No, I mean he▓s Tohma Seguchi, THE Tohma Seguchi, keyboardist for Nittle Grasper.■
⌠Who?■ Kagome said. ⌠I don▓t think I▓ve heard of them.■
⌠What do you mean you▓ve never heard of them! Everyone▓s heard of them!■ Botan exclaimed. ⌠Even Hiei knows who they are and he practically lives in a hole!■
Kagome stopped her rummaging and shrugged. ⌠I only really listen to American music.■ She handed Botan another photo. ⌠This is us and that guy that he started hanging out with. He was a nice enough guy, but a little weird.■
⌠You went to school with Ryuichi Sakuma.■ Botan said before she fell into a dead faint.
XOX