Playing Mister Romantic
It's been approximately a year since Sesshoumaru found Rin, his half-demon daughter on his front porch. It's been four months since Sesshoumaru had asked Miss Kagome to be his girlfriend. How can Daddy Fluffy possibly be a loving father and a loving boyfriend at the same time?
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Author's Note: I know, I know. I usually don't add an author's note at the beginning, but I had some things I had to tackle before you guys read Chapter Three! First things first, I'd like to thank Kibachow, DarknessQueen12, grimaldos240, Ikutolover93, ZyiareHellsing, meh my name is phill, Ashatan87, firefox1102, and all the anonymous guests that have reviewed this story. You guys rock!And yes, I understand—Playing Mister Romantic and Playing Daddy don't seem to have the same atmosphere. Yeah, I've noticed it, but you guys also have to realize that I wrote some of those chapters about a year ago. I have to say, I've tried really hard to improve my writing techniques and maybe it's working?
Also, there's been a concern that this sequel won't have a conflict. Ohhhhh, trust me—there'll be conflict alright! I told you guys in Playing Daddy that you had to keep Kagura in mind and you still have to! Kagome has an interaction with Sango in this chapter and Miroku is mentioned in here too! Inuyasha, Kikyo, Kouga, Ayame, Miroku, and Sango will included in Chapter Four and Naraku will have his appearance in the story soon! Also, I still haven't announced who Rin's true mother istoo *evil smile*
I'd like to think that you guys would kind of grasp Kagome's struggles in this chapter. Sesshoumaru's conflict will be explained more in the upcoming chapters but I think I introduced Kagome's inner struggle with this one. I realize that Playing Daddy was more of mindless drabbles that I had floating in my brain but with Playing Mister Romantic, I intend to have the chapters longer and have depth.
Okaaaay, I feel like I'm babbling. Heheheh, this was originally meant to be as a reply to a review but I've received countless amounts of question, so why not kill two birds with one stone?
I hope you all enjoy! ~
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or its characters.
x x x
The silence that surrounded them was oddly comforting. Hiromi's home was indeed beautiful and her garden was filled with various colorful flowers that filled each and every inch of her large backyard. After its numerous renovations, the house was once a beautiful castle during the warring states that belonged to Hiromi and Toga, but to keep up with the changing times, they often times changed bits and parts of the castle before ultimately renovating it into a rather lavish mansion.
Sesshoumaru kept his eyes on his cup and tapped his claws rhythmically against the patio table. Here he was, a seven hundred-something demon—who looked like someone in their early thirties, having difficulty talking to the woman in front of him. He had been a demon lord, a savage warrior, and a iron-fist businessman, but he was unable to properly open his mouth without resembling a fish demon. Sesshoumaru had faced more dangerous demons than the woman in front of him but here he was, terrified out of his wits that he might say the wrong thing towards her. But he needed to do something before his mother came back and demanded to know what they ended up discussing.
"Tell me about the Sunset Shrine"
Kagome looked up to meet his gaze, tearing her eyes away from the particularly interesting looking vase from the far corner. "About...the shrine?"
Sesshoumaru nodded. "Yes. You live in the Sunset Shrine with your family but that is all I know."
Tapping her finger against her chin, Kagome straightened and folded her hands on top of the table, giving Sesshoumaru a sweet smile. "The Sunset Shrine has been in our family for hundreds of years, and the Higurashi family had been instructed to protect it with our lives. Then, I think five hundred years ago, a couple of demon slayers found the Shikon no Tama and pleaded that we protect it for them. It's been in our family ever since."
Sesshoumaru nodded, remembering back a couple of hundreds of years ago to see if he had crossed paths with any of the Higurashi family. He remembered the shrine, except that it was not known as the 'Sunset Shrine'-just the 'Higurashi Shrine'. At the mention of the Shikon no Tama, Sesshoumaru leaned forward a bit more. "The Shikon no Tama? As in the jewel of Midoriko? Your family protects it?"
"I actually protect it. It was passed down to the first-born daughter in the Higurashi line. My grandfather had one boy and one girl, and my mother passed it down to me," she explained, pushing her hand towards Sesshoumaru to reveal a ring with a pink medium-sized circular stone with a gold band. "I've never been comfortable with it being left in a guarded room at the shrine, with the modern technology and all, so we shrunk it a bit and I decided to use it as a ring."
The ring was beautiful in itself. The pink jewel held an ethereal glow to it and there was no denying that it captivated Sesshoumaru. He had never realized that Kagome's family had so much back story and that he must have encountered at least two of her ancestors long ago. Then again, he had always noticed that Kagome's scent had something peculiar to it, but he would've never guessed that the peculiarity was actually her spiritual power.
"Kagome Higurashi...a miko. I would have never guessed that underneath those navy blue pant suits that you wear to work was a young miko dressed in chihaya." Sesshoumaru teased, causing Kagome to blush.
And soon enough, they ended up talking about their familial duties, how they got to where they were now, and future ventures that they wanted to dive into. Despite Kagome's spiritual upbringing, she was a brilliant young woman who wanted to break away from her shrine duties to create her own path. Sesshoumaru could feel his stomach flutter every time she spoke highly of the company and what she could contribute to expand their endeavors. How did he get so lucky?
"What about you, Sesshoumaru? I'm here talking about myself and I haven't even asked you about anything!" Kagome questioned, playfully pouting and crossing her arms. How could he possibly say no?
Sesshoumaru shrugged and sipped his tea, giving her a small but inviting smile. "What would you like to know?"
"How old are you?"
"Thirty."
Kagome rolled her eyes and shook her head. "No, I mean how old are you. Now how old do you look like!"
Unable to suppress his laughter, Sesshoumaru boomed with such loudness that Kagome widened her eyes. The Great Sesshoumaru had just laughed at something she said! "Well, if that it the question, then I am about seven hundred years old. Give or take a few years."
Kagome made a face and playfully stuck her tongue out. "Seven hundred years old? And I'm twenty-three! That should definitely count as a deal breaker, buddy!"
Sesshoumaru smiled. He knew she was joking by the sound of her voice and he could feel the fluttering feeling in his stomach intensify. How was she able to do this to him? He was known as Lord Sesshoumaru, the stoic and silent killer of the Western Lands and now, the CEO of the family company. How can a small, twenty-three year old miko affect him in such a way?
"Despite the age difference, I don't that can ever stop me from liking you."
It was a soft whisper, but with his superior hearing, Sesshoumaru had captured every single world. The fluttering in his stomach was going mad with the intensity of his emotions and Sesshoumaru didn't know how to respond. So instead, Kagome continued to talk.
"I know I said that I was unsure of how much I like you but I think I know where I stand. Most of the men that I've seen in the past have found something to run away from. Whether it's the fact that I'm a miko with responsibilities or just because I'm a lowly human being. Whether they were human or demon, they never stuck around for more than a couple of weeks. Or they see that I live in that shrine and try to get the jewel for themselves. But you...I don't even think you knew I was a miko until I told you right now."
Sesshoumaru tried hard not to look at Kagome with such adoration, knowing well that he would look like a fool or a creep. For all of those men—demon or human—who had left, they were all truly idiots. Kagome Higurashi was wonderful. She would be ready to sacrifice her life of the jewel that was on her finger as part of her miko duties, but she also wanted to a part of the company that had given her numerous amounts of opportunities. But her confession ignited something in Sesshoumaru.
Leaning forward to hold her small hands in his, Sesshoumaru looked into her blue eyes, finding himself drowning in the clarity of them. "There is no use in denying that I am in love with you. And I feel as if I have fallen deeper into this love's grasp after hearing you tell me about yourself. I am captivated by you, Kagome Higurashi, whether you be an ordinary woman or a miko with the task to protect a jewel with her life. But I am in love with you and I hope that in these next few days, weeks, or months, you will love me as much as I love you."
Hearing her sharp intake of breath, Sesshoumaru watched her movement. She was breathing evenly, as in trying to stop herself from crying or laughing or whatever her inner self wanted to do. He smelt the minuet scent of salt water but Kagome quickly wiped her tears away. Looking up at him, Kagome placed one of her hands on top of Sesshoumaru and smiled brightly.
"Sesshoumaru, I l—"
"My little Rin fell asleep on me!"
At the sound of Sesshoumaru's mother returning, Kagome jumped and retreated her hands. She quickly stood and carefully took Rin into her own arms and looked towards the mother and son. "Oh, um...I'll take Rin to the car now, Sesshoumaru," she decided, before turning towards Hiromi. "It was a pleasure to be a guest in your beautiful home, Hiromi!"
"Oh, no problem, sweet Kagome! Make sure to visit me as much as you can. With Ryukotsusei being gone a lot, it gets a bit lonesome in this big house," she explained, kissing Kagome's cheek and patting Rin's sleeping form.
Sesshoumaru waited until Kagome and his daughter were out of earshot before glaring at his mother. "You have such an impeccable timing, dear Mother."
Hiromi laughed heartily and patted her son's head. She did show Rin around the house, stopping specifically at a room that the elder demon had newly decorated for her new granddaughter. It was styled after Sesshoumaru's old nursery back when he had been just a mere pup, and just like her father, Rin had taken a liking to it. They spent most of their time in the room, with Hiromi telling Rin about stories of her father from long ago, even if the little hanyou child would not be able to understand it much. But Hiromi just couldn't help but ask Rin what she thought about her father and Kagome ending up together.
"Whatever do you mean, Sesshoumaru? I just figured that it would be wise for you three to go since Rin has fallen asleep," Hiromi explained innocently, sweetly batting her eyelashes at her only son. "Now scram, get out of my house! See you after ten years, seeing that it'll take you that long to finally establish something with the sweet miko, Kagome Higu—"
"Goodbye, Mother."
x x x
"So you told him about the shrine?"
Kagome nodded and aimlessly flipped through the channels, unable to find something worth watching. After going back to Sesshoumaru's place to securely tuck Rin in for her nap time, Kagome had decided she too should be going home to rest. Even though it was just late in the afternoon, Kagome did feel worn out. Maybe it was the nervousness that she had felt when meeting Sesshoumaru's mother for the first time that morning, or maybe it was the comfortable talk she had with Sesshoumaru.
Thinking back to the moment, Kagome paused and dove into her thoughts. Was she about to tell Sesshoumaru that she loved him? Was it her heart talking or was it just a spur of the moment thing? Talking to Sesshoumaru about her miko responsibilities and about her family had been something refreshing and Sesshoumaru seemed uninterested in the jewel on her fingers.
"And how did he react? Was it too much for the mighty businessman?" Sango asked, handing Kagome a bowl of noodles.
Kagome rolled her eyes and quietly slurped some of her noodles. "Hush, Sango! He's honestly not as bad as you think he is," she defended, wiping the corners of her mouth.
The other girl scoffed at the idea of Sesshoumaru not being an egotistical asshole. "Says you! You cannot deny that before Rin came into his life, he was a complete ass to everyone and anyone."
"Okay, okay. He was. But something's definitely changed now!"
Sango raised a brow but remained silent.
Sango Watanabe had been Kagome's longest friend, due to the fact that their ancestors had been closely tied with one another. Both were true to their family's past duties to Japan, with Kagome being a miko and Sango being a taijiya—a demon exterminator. Although Sango's family had stopped their exterminating ways, they still held pride in being the best demon exterminating family Japan had ever seen. But for Sango, her family held no shrine or business, allowing her to venture in different path than most of her relatives.
"So how's your kids?"
Sango turned to look at Kagome before slurping in the dangling noodles into her mouth. "Oh, the kids are wonderful, as usual. Little Ai pushed Ichiro's face into the mud today, while Hiro and Shin fought over the last cookie today. I swear, I don't get paid enough to teach these kids!"
After high school, Sango had decided that she would be a teacher, finding pleasure in teaching "the future of Japan". Except, Kagome knew that the real reason why Sango decided to pursue a career in teaching little kids was because she adored children. So while Sango was engrossed with volunteering at daycares or local elementary schools, Kagome was nose-deep into her statistics and business management textbooks.
"Oh, that reminds me! Miroku's grandfather, Mushin, is having a little festival gathering at their family shrine this weekend. Miroku says that you have to come, and to bring anyone you'd like with you!" Sango explained excitedly as Kagome smirked in the background.
"Miroku? As in Miroku Fujiwara? Miroku the 'Dreamy Doctor'? Miroku the letcher?!" Kagome questioned, tackling Sango for more details.
"Yeah, yeah, Miroku the everything! Wanna add in Miroku the older brother of Hiro, or what?!" she huffed, pushing the miko off of her.
Kagome sat on the floor and pouted, resembling a spoiled brat. The first time Sango had spoken about Miroku Fujiwara was during her first day as a teacher about a year ago. A devilishly handsome young man had dropped off Hiro and Sango felt herself getting hot under the collar. That is, until she felt an unfamiliar sensation on her bottom and realized the handsome young man had been groping her!
He then introduced himself as Doctor Miroku Fujiwara, the older brother of Hiro. It seemed quite the age difference, with Miroku being twenty-eight and Hiro being three, but he quickly explained to Sango that Hiro had been adopted by his mother after his parents died in a tragic statement. Sango swore that she held no feelings towards the doctor, but after hearing her stories of him and with the sudden invitation to his family's shrine, Kagome couldn't help but feel happy about her best friend's blooming romance.
"I'll call Sesshoumaru about it. I'm sure he doesn't have anything too busy going on this weekend," Kagome reassured, climbing back on top of the couch and flip through her phone. Looking at the time, she noticed that it was 8:38 already. Have I really spent that much time here with Sango...?
In her defense, she had been away from Sango much too long. Before, it had been because of her new temporary job as a nanny, which was something Sango hated. But now, Kagome was too busy settling in back to her old routine as Inuyasha's secretary. Inuyasha had offered her job back around two months ago, seeing that it would inappropriate for her to still be Rin's nanny while her father had feelings for her. So now she was back with the company and Rin had a new nanny, Shiori.
Kagome stretched her arms above and let out a long yawn. "I guess I should go home now. I still have work tomorrow morning and I highly doubt that Inuyasha reviewed any of the paperwork," she explained, getting up to grab her jacket, purse, shoes, and keys.
"Drive safely, Kagome! And don't forget about this weekend!"
x x x
Kagome drove up to her driveway and parked, happy that the lights to their house were still on. Mama was most probably cooking Sota's lunch for tomorrow, Grandpa was most probably tending to the shrine, while Sota was most probably fast asleep in his room.
Sliding the door open, Kagome was relieved at the fact that she had been correct. Mama looked up and smiled, and then nagged her about taking off her shoes when entering the house.
"Sorry, Mama!"
Giving her mother a cheeky grin, Kagome made her way up the stairs and into the room, but the scent of a demonic aura stopped her. Someone or something had been in her room. Opening her door with precaution, Kagome was high on alert and ready to purify whoever it was that there, whether it be a friend or a foe.
But what she saw surprised her.
On the head of her head sat a longbow that made obviously made from a dark wood material and a set of arrows next to it. Kagome approached it slowly, attempting to scan the room and the bow and arrows for any demonic nature. Sensing that there was none, Kagome let her hand caress the bow and sat in awe. It was smooth and cold to touch but its intricacy wowed her. She spied a note hidden by the arrows and opened it quickly, dying to see who had sent her such a generous gift.
To my miko, Kagome.
Where would the powerful Shikon miko be without her bow and arrows?
Yours truly, Sesshoumaru
Her heartbeat raised quickly and she found herself blushing. This man—this demon, never ceased to amaze her. After telling him about her life, she had thought that he would be scared of committing to someone who had numerous responsibilities but here he was. 'My miko, Kagome'...I like the sound of that...she thought as she skillfully fished her phone out of her purse and dialed Sesshoumaru's number.
"This is Sesshoumaru speaking."
Kagome's eyes light up with excitement at the sound of his voice, unable to contain her joy. "This bow is beautiful, Sesshoumaru! I cannot thank you enough!"
Sesshoumaru's deep chuckle sent shivers up and down her spine. How can this man make her feel this way when he wasn't even with her? "Quite beautiful, indeed. I attempted to pick a bow that was just as beautiful as you, miko."
Feeling her face heat up, Kagome stayed silent, reveling in the moment. How did she get truly lucky with this being? Remembering Sango's words, Kagome had to agree—Sesshoumaru had been a terrible demon before. He rarely cared about anyone's feelings and only wanted something that could advance his own company. But after Rin, Sesshoumaru had drastically changed. He wasn't scared to laugh or chuckle or smile or joke around with his family and Kagome. Sure, there were times where he was still cruel to his employees but they all felt the change in the atmosphere. And it was great.
"Oh, before I forget. One of my...er...friends has invited me to the Fujiwara Temple festival this weekend and I was hoping...well, if you weren't too busy this weekend and you were up to do something fun...and—"
"Cease your babbling, miko. Rin and I would be delighted to join you this weekend." Sesshoumaru replied with a hint of humor in his voice.
Kagome rolled her eyes but couldn't help the feeling of her heart soaring. "Great! I'll tell Sango that we'll be there then. Good night, Sesshoumaru."
"Sleep well, Kagome."
And then, there was a click.
Being with Sesshoumaru was another feeling. Kagome had her fair share of relationships, but none of them felt like the one she had with Sesshoumaru. She had to admit that Sesshoumaru's boldness of declaring that he was in love with her was charming and chivalrous. It had been awhile since someone was so open about their emotions towards her, but she was still unsure. She knew that she harbored deep feelings for the businessman, but would she be enough for him? He was a great daiyoukai while she was just a lowly secretary—who happened to be the Shikon Miko. But her status in the spiritual world meant little now. Sesshoumaru was so upfront with his affections while she was unable to even say what she felt about him. She liked him—a lot, and it was more than just a school girl crush that she had all those months ago. Every time she was with him, her stomach fluttered, her heart rate increased, and she found herself unable to form coherent sentences. And when she wasn't with him, her heart ached and longed to be in his presence. But what could that possibly mean?
The young miko sighed and massaged her temples. Too much thinking! She stripped out of her clothes, showered, and got dressed in one of her most comfortable pajamas. Moving the bow and arrows and placing them safely on her desk, Kagome shifted herself around the bed before finding her comfort space. After a mere couple of minutes, she found herself slipping into a deep sleep.
Everything was at peace.
x x x
I have to admit guys, I'm very proud of this story. I have some of my favorite chapters already written out,
and since I'm re-watching Inuyasha: The Final Act right now, my plot bunnies are everywhere! But for now, I would like to thank
all those who have reviewed Playing Daddy and Playing Mister Romantic! Without you guys, I'm pretty sure I'd be under a rock ~
xoxo kunfucious