Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha.
Summary: Happy. That's what she was. That was what she stood for and presenting everyday for the entire world to see. It was what she sought out in so many people and created over a period in time that it became so close to her she could see the emotion so clearly as the sun. She was happy and he hated her for it.
Chapter 1: Homecoming
"Here you are Ms. Higurashi have a safe flight back home"
Kagome smiled at the service agent and grasped the ticket, "Thank you Carl, enjoy the rest of your day"
Carl smirked at the beautiful woman and watched as she walked towards the security check with a bounce in her step. Whoever she was going home to was one lucky bastard.
Kagome licked her lips, hefted her purse on her shoulder, and strutted over to the first lane before disposing of all her jewelry, shoes and electronics for the scan. Once she made it through without alarm she continued on her way, saying a few 'thank you's' to the crew there and made her way to her gate.
She hoped that she didn't seem to giddy, but this was the first time in a long time that she would be headed back to her homeland of Japan.
She attended Julliard School of Music and had graduated in the summer with a bachelors in art. Attending school in America had been fun and she met a lot of great people, and experienced a culture she would never forget, but Japan was home and she was happy to return. She was so excited and she knew that this 18 hour flight would possibly bore her to death but she didn't care. Tomorrow night she'd be in Tokyo and her life would finally begin.
"Now boarding Flight 253 to Tokyo at Gate 23A, this is the final boarding call"
Smiling brightly she walked over to the gate operator when they called her section and scanned her ticket. Her heart beat increased each step that she took and she silently willed herself to calm down before she gave herself a heart attack. She just couldn't wait to see all of her old friends again especially her cousin Kikyo who was recently engaged.
Kikyo had been the one to talk her into following her dream and pursuing art as a major and music as her minor. She had never even heard of Julliard before Kikyo mentioned it and she was forever grateful for her. She was even more excited to know that she was to be her Maid of Honor at her wedding next spring as well.
Settling down in her seat, Kagome placed her bag underneath her seat, grabbed a bottle of water from her pack and leaned her head against the seat while looking out of the window. By tomorrow her journey would begin and from there she would make sure that her work matters.
Rolling her neck, she figured she'd kill the first few hours by drawing in a sketchbook her friend Eri had given her at graduation. Drawing was a big part of her life and it showed. Having a pencil between her fingers and hearing the lead scrape across the paper with every stroke she made gave her inspiration, it made her feel like everything would be alright with a pencil and pad; in a way it does.
Next to that feeling, music was pretty much her favorite thing in the world. Taylor Swift-albeit cliché as she may be- was her favorite artist at the moment because her lyrics described so much in 3 minutes than anyone could ever begin to say in a lifetime. With that thought she pulled out her IPhone and popped in her headphones, placed it on shuffle and went to work on her next drawing.
Over the past few years she had become insanely fascinated with creating a design for a record label that she wished one day to create. It was a pretty far etched dream but she believed that she could do anything she set her mind on and then some. It would be hard she understood but surrounded by her friends and family even if it didn't work out she would be fine.
"Excuse me miss"
Her head shot up and she looked towards the man standing in the aisle, his laptop in hand and small smile on his face. He had dark blue eyes, a strong face, and hair that went down to the back of his knees and braided tightly with a rubber band. He was pretty cute but looked dangerous at the same time. Realizing that she had yet to say anything to the stranger, she blushed and pulled out one ear bud, "I'm sorry sir I didn't mean to be rude"
The guy smirked, "Don't worry about it. It's hard not to stare at such a good looking guy"
Kagome shook her head and smiled a bit at his flirting, "Still it was rude. Is this your seat?" She asked pointing to the seat she was in. He nodded and she made a move to get up but he stopped her,
"It's cool. I'm not too fond of the window seat anyway." He settled down next to her and placed his laptop in his lap, cracking his knuckles, "What's your name stranger?"
Kagome gasped, "Oh forgive me, my name is Kagome Higurashi and you?"
"Higurashi? Hm. Sounds familiar. My name is Bankotsu Kamakazi pleasure to meet you" He smiled at her and she felt her face heat up as she smiled back.
"It seems like this long ride just got a whole lot better"
18 hours later
"That's awful I can't believe your brother would do such a thing! I would never forgive Souta if he did that to me"
Bankotsu shrugged and smiled at the woman he had become very acquainted with, "It doesn't really bother me anymore we were like 13 when that happened besides I totally kicked his ass for it"
Kagome laughed lightly at the face he made and looked down in her lap. For 11 of the 18 hours she was on the plane she had talked to Bankotsu and got to know him better and she was happy to say that she was right in her assumption of him. He was definitely cute but he could also be very dangerous if need be. He was the leader of a gang called the Band of Seven, which was teamed up the FBI as a detective branch overseas. He seemed to really enjoy his job and she was happy to see the spark in his eye as he talked about his brothers and team.
She wondered if he had seen that same spark in her eyes as she told about her dream of creating her own label and designing it as well. He seemed to think that her dream was plausible although he did inform her that it would be extremely difficult. But she knew that already. She knew that it would be hard to find artist that would be willing to sign with her and she was ready for that. Or at least she hoped so.
"Welcome to Tokyo, Japan. We will be landing in the next five minutes so the seatbelt sign wil remain lit for the duration of the flight. I hope you all enjoyed your time of Japan Air and once again welcome to Tokyo, Japan."
Kagome smiled brighter when she heard the announcement eager to see her family and friends after so long. Bankotsu noticed her excitement immediately, "Whoa someone is happy to be home. You have someone special waiting on you?"
"Of course I do! My family will be excited to see me and my old friends have been praying for my return for the longest time" Kagome said breathlessly.
Bankotsu chuckled, "No Kagome I mean someone special, like a significant other, a boyfriend, fiancé, a husband maybe?"
Kagome's eyes widened and she looked down, "Oh" Looking back up she smiled and said, 'No no one like that is waiting on me"
Eyes widening, he looked at her before decided that someone would regret the loss of this girl in the long run. She had an awesome personality, a killer body, and an outlook on life that was so rare he wouldn't believed it if he were not sitting next to her for the last 18 hours.
"What a pity" He said and Kagome furrowed her brows together in confusion, but decided to let it go.
"I would like to thank you all for choosing Japan Air. It is currently 76 degrees and partly sunny skies in Tokyo. You can claim your bags at baggage claim terminal number 4. Once again I would like to thank you all for choosing Japan Air, welcome to Tokyo, Japan."
Kagome's smile if possible got wider as the plane landed and she began to get off. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and dialed her cousins number telling her where she was and where she would wait to be picked up. Kami, just being in Japan, made her incredibly giddy with joy.
Bankotsu who had been waiting on her to finish her phone call escorted her to the baggage claim, and listened to her talk about everything and everyone she was hoping to see today. He laughed,
"Calm down girl, you are moving here after all don't work yourself up, you have the rest of your life ahead of you" With that he grabbed both his and her bags while pretending to ignore the blush on her cheeks and heaved them on his shoulder, "Where to?"
She thanked him for helping her and walked with him out to the place where she told her cousin Kikyo to meet them.
"Well Kagome my ride is meeting me on the other side, I wish I could stay and make sure your okay but my brother is a dick so"
Kagome laughed full-heartedly and hugged him, "It's okay I'll be fine she should be pulling up any second. I hope to see you around" Bankotsu returned the hug and smiled,
"As a matter of fact I was going to ask if you wanted to catch up soon, we could exchange numbers" Kagome nodded as he handed her his phone and typed her number in before letting him do the same.
A loud honk signaled her cousin's arrival and Bankotsu smirked, "Well I guess I'll be seeing you" He grasped her hand and kissed it lightly, "Soon"
-S-
His beast did not just do that.
"You say something Fluffy?" InuYasha questioned looking at his older brother. Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at the nickname and scoffed,
"Your hearing is off my dear Halfling for this Sesshoumaru had not uttered a word."
InuYasha frowned. He could have sworn he heard him say something but shrugged before honking the driving closer to Kikyo's cousin. He honked the horn to gain her attention when he noticed a male standing next to her handing her his phone, "Hey Kikyo who's that guy?"
Sesshoumaru turned his head towards the beautiful woman and noticed that she was indeed standing with a male and apparently enjoying his company. His growled when the male kissed that back of her hand and cursed his self control. How dare that whelp place his dirty lips on her? Sessoumaru frowned deeply, why did he even care. What the hell was wrong with him?
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
Sesshoumaru ignored his brother and continued to look at the raven-haired beauty who awakened his beast in such a way. If he truly wished to connect the dots-which he didn't- he would guess that she was who was destined to be his mate. He frowned. A human was destined to be with the Lord of the Western Lands and Taiyoukai? Preposterous! He was The Killing Perfection, his mate was certainly not this slip of a girl who flirts aimlessly with guys at an airport. Surely his beast was mistaken and had better taste.
"Hey Kagome over here!"
The girl known as Kagome smiled brightly as she rushed over to the car bags in tow and Kikyo jumped out of the car to greet her"
"Oh my God Kikyo I missed you so much!"
Kikyo laughed, "I missed you too little cousin" She grabbed a bag and moved to put them in the trunk for her when InuYasha beat her to it, "I got it Kikyo you two get in the car we need to beat traffic or we'll be stuck here for the rest of the evening"
Kagome eyes widened when she looked at InuYasha and to his ears, "Kikyo is this the infamous InuYasha. His ears are so Kawaii!"
InuYasha laughed a Kikyo's sweat drop and put a hand out, "You must be the infamous Kagome. It's nice to meet you" Kagome dismissed the hand and hugged InuYasha tightly, "You guys are going to have the cutest babies alive!"
It was InuYasha's turn to sweat drop as Kikyo chuckled and pulled her cousin off of her fiancé, "Are you trying to scare him already Kags? Anyway his brother Sesshoumaru is here as well, feel free to say hi I'm going to help Inu okay?"
Kagome nodded and steeped into the car only to stop cold in her tracks at the gorgeous being seated in the middle looking at her intently. His eyes were golden a clear sign that they were from demon heritage and the markings on his cheeks and hands were so intricate that it made her wonder just how far they would go. His form was regal; he looked as if he had been a Lord at one point and his stature was intimidating. She gulped ,
"H-Hello I'm Kagome Kikyo's cousin it's a pleasure to meet you"
His gaze never wavered it was as if he was looking straight through her into her very soul and she didn't know if she liked that or not.
"Hn."
Kagome felt her smile slip into a tiny frown at his response. Was that all he was going to say to her?
"How are you?"
He continued to stare at her with the same stare and it made her shift uncomfortably in her seat. She wished Kikyo and InuYasha would hurry up, she didn't like the feeling Sesshoumaru's gaze gave her.
She was about ready to give up when his gaze left her face and turned toward the window,
"Surely you do not think this Sesshoumaru would stoop so low as to speak to a human wench"
Kagome's head whipped around in shock. Did he just?
"Excuse me?"
Sesshoumaru turned his penetrating gaze back to her, "Are you daft, wench?"
Kagome frowned and tried her best not to glare at Sesshoumaru, "I have a name. Try using it sometime, you jerk"
Her scent spiked in her anger and if possible it became harder to resist by the second making his beast react wildly. He wanted to take her and cast her aside like all the rest. Maybe that's why his beast was acting crazy. He hadn't been with a woman for about three weeks now and his hormones may be affecting his beasts train of thoughts. He narrowed his eyes; now he was lying to himself. He glared at the girl; he would not be like his father.
"You best watch your mouth girl, I am simply giving you the label I feel is more appropriate for your person"
Kagome was inwardly fuming. Just who did he think he was?, "You don't even know the first thing about me!"
"And I do not wish to. Inform my brother that I will be taking my leave early and he can meet me at the restaurant at nine; that is if your human brain can handle all that information." He did not wait for his answer but rather exited the car leaving a dumbfounded Kagome in his wake.
It was at that time that Kikyo and InuYasha popped their head into the car and looked at her, "Hey what happened? Where is he going?"
Kagome frowned, "Hopefully to take that stick out of his ass" before placing her ear buds back in her ears and folding her arms over her chest.
Kikyo and InuYasha exchanged glances and InuYasha smirked, "I think Fluffy may have met his match"
Kikyo looked back to her little cousin and smiled, "Maybe"
Thats it for now! I appreciate all of the wonderful reviews I recieved for the first chapter! I don't have to go to work until Thursday so I will try to have as much written and up as possible. Also the language that the woman spoke in the first chapter was Czech!
Reviews are love!
InumeT