A.N. My computer has made my hitlist. (Yes, this note is going somewhere) This chapter is late only because it massacred my defenseless chapter (it refused to save them WITH the words.) So I rewrote.
And nothing is ever as good as the original.
Disclaimer: Would I truly be writing fanfiction if I owned Inuyasha? No. No I wouldn't. So other than some parts of the plot, I own squat.
Tsuki separators. I have mentioned this a gazillion times.
Simply Business
Chapter Seven
Kagome nervously toed the carpet, "You wanted to talk to me?"
Sesshoumaru nodded, "I wanted to apologize for yesterday's behavior." Kagome gave a small smile, "You already did, and I forgive you."
Sesshoumaru shook his head, "In person," he continued, "My behavior was inexcusable. Allow me to take you out tonight."
Kagome blushed, "You don't have to... Like I said I forgive you."
There was a muffled thumping sound, as if someone were banging their head on something upstairs.
Was it coming from the staircase?
She shook her head, and decided she was hearing things. Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru.
'Aw hell!' "Alright... I'll go..."
The last five minute conversation replayed at least twice in Kagome's head as her heart fluttered. She was going out with Sesshoumaru. She swallowed. Alone.
'Why am I so nervous?'
She had gone out with him, by her self before, granted it had been against her will...
But still it had been a one on one thing in a place with food.
Kagome smiled a bit uncertainly and added quickly, "But I get to choose the place and you have to dress down.
If he was hell bent on taking her out, then there wasn't much she could do just get a say in a few things.
Sesshoumaru inwardly cringed. His first thought was, 'Ouch...my wallet.' (not along those lines exactly of course.) The second was, "What is wrong with what I am wearing?"
Oops. Did he just say that out loud?
By her expression, he just did... Oh well. But what was wrong with what he was wearing? It was nice, a pressed black suit with gray-lime thin stripes and a lime tie. (Contrary to popular believe his favorite color was green. Not that that information would ever leave his mouth any time soon.)
Kagome looked him over, "What isn't wrong with what you're wearing? You look like someone's dad!"
He gave her a wry look, "Aren't I?"
Kagome blushed, "Right... I forgot you were like forty-somethin'."
"Twenty-six."
Apparently not only women were sensitive about their ages.
Kagome's eyes widened in disbelief, "Seriously!" She cleared her throat, "I mean, yeah, so... um yeah. Just dress down!"
With that she scrambled into the kitchen mumbling. It was something about her opening her mouth and how she should not do it, if he heard correctly.
And he had.
He was hardly ever wrong.
He almost sighed. Except for yesterday.
Sesshoumaru walked to the staircase, ignoring the almost human sounding squeak that sounded. He shrugged it off as effects of the old wooden flooring, as he began his ascent up the stairs.
It would not do any harm to 'dress down' as she had asked. It was the least he could do.
'But why?'
He had caused a lot of people to suddenly burst into sobbing messes.
His brother for one...
(More so when they were younger, but that was not the point)
His step-mother...
Waitresses...
Clinging, whorishly dressed woman...
His step-mother...
His employees...
His step-mother...
The list went on and on. But why did he feel the need to make it up to some ordinary girl whose head was always up in the clouds, and whose mouth was as comparable to a broken faucet.
As his line of thought continued on the enigma that was this Kagome, he quickly stripped down to a singlet and a pair of silky black boxers. He pulled on a pair of dark jeans.
Inuyasha- his half brother had, the day before Sesshoumaru's birthday, taken Rin out to 'secretly' buy him a present. (Inuyasha had slipped out exactly what they were going to do.) This had been the less than a year ago.
They had decided to go with clothes since Sesshoumaru, other than the heads of every incompetent worker on a silver platter, wanted nothing. So getting clothes was a neutral gift. 'Or so they had stated. I, however, beg to differ.'
They had gotten him 'street clothes,' which they presented to him the next day at a surprise party.
They had only been worn on one other occasion. And it was not by his own will, then either.
The top was simply a black polo- that was not the original shirt of course. The original shirt had been ordered from overseas and could easily be described in two words. Naked women.
Enough said.
Sesshoumaru dressed in record time and after checking up on Rin and Sonya... or whatever her name was, he went down stairs.
Kagome blushed when she saw him, he noted with a smirk.
"It's amazing how much younger you look."
Sesshoumaru snorted- an impartial noise, though he agreed wholeheartedly. But youth was not something you wanted in his field.
It was the younger ones that the more ruthless business sharks went after, and his company had enough distractions.
Kagome smiled, "Well since you're dressed, shall we go then?"
He gave another smirk, "We shall."
(Tsuki)
Sango grinned wickedly as she watched Kagome and Sesshoumaru leave, through Rin's window. She nudged Rin, "So Kagome and your dad don't have all the excitement, why don't we do something fun?"
The younger girl nodded.
Sango rubbed her eyes, "Anything in mind?"
Rin cutely tapped a finger to her chin as if in thought then gasped, "Rin knows!"
Ten minutes later found in the Recreational room, various slapping noises would be heard every few minutes.
Apparently Rin's idea had been a friendly card game. Spit in fact. But now there was definitely a feeling of one-sided competitiveness.
She cursed under her breath, "Ugh! This is pathetic! C'mon, Sango ole girl get it together!"
She was prepping herself for the next 'round.'
Rin smiled toothily, "Spit..."
Sango pulled a card from her pile and flipped it over.
She let out another frustrated curse as Rin's hands seemed to be a blur of movement (or Sango was just impossibly tired).
Finally one last slap was heard as Rin slapped the smaller pile.
'I hope Kagome's having an easier time with Sesshoumaru...'
(Tsuki)
Kagome smiled, "I'm totally serious! C'mon it'll be fun... It's a great place."
"No."
"I'll let you get a crown..." She laughed in sing song.
He stared at her, "Yes that will definitely make me want to go in there."
Kagome giggled, and got out of the car. She crossed over to his side and opened his door. She tugged on his shirt and gave him the best puppy dog eyes that she could manage. "Puh-puh-puh pweease?"
He let out a snort, "No."
Kagome pouted, "You promised, Sesshoumaru...And aren't you like a 'man of his word' or something like that?"
He rolled his eyes, "Hardly." But he exited the car anyway, much to Kagome's delight.
He stared in distaste at the 'restaurant.' "We are becoming too Americanized."
Kagome rolled her eyes, "Nah...We're just ...expanding our culture," she shrugged b.s. ing (boldly speculating) the statement.
Sesshoumaru deadpanned, "There is a Burger King ten minutes from my home... That is not what I would call expanding one's culture."
Kagome giggled, "Well then call it quite convenient."
He snorted and Kagome grabbed his hand and pulled him along the parking lot, since he appeared to be in a mood to take his sweet time.
When Kagome had said that she would pick the location, he had been worried that she'd pick the most expensive place possibly and order him out of house and home just to spite him for the other night.
But apparently she was doing the opposite of that. He obviously would not have to worry about spending more than twenty dollars.
As soon as they entered the scent of frying foods and cooking meat filled the air. Kagome giggled at Sesshoumaru's grimace.
"I guess Mr. Businessman isn't used to fatty, oily, junk huh?"
The look he gave her could have frozen over hell. "I would rather still be living after fifty, with out the use of dialysis."
Kagome stuck out her tongue and pulled him over to the line.
"Well if you are to completely make up for your '...inexcusable behavior,'" she made quote marks in the air as she mocked him, "Then you'll order something."
Sesshoumaru rolled his amber eyes, "I am not order—"
"Then I'll order for you. Simple as that."
She sounded like a reprimanding mother, with caused Sesshoumaru to let out a wry chuckle. Kagome hadn't heard it however for, she suddenly grinned, "We're up."
The cashier was a young man with a flirty grin and twinkling dark eyes. He seemed hell bent on working his charm.
"So," he leaned over seductively and purred, "Can I help you?"
It was a miracle itself that Sesshoumaru didn't run out of that place, scarred completely for life.
The partial innuendo was aimed towards him.
Kagome covered her mouth to smother her giggles.
"Hi," she tried to ignore the guy's annoyed glare, "Um two number 1's and two large orders of fries. One cherry slushy and one coke slushy... Um and one order of those chicken strip things...Oh! And two of those Oreo cake things..."
Jakotsu with a small roll of his eyes pointed to a glass case that showcased the sweets, inside was her desired cake.
Kagome smiled, "Yeah, that one. Two of those."
His glare was really making her nervous. Hopefully he wouldn't spit in her food. He repeated the order.
Kagome nodded and the man behind the register looked at Sesshoumaru, though spoke to her, "Anything else, miss?"
She turned to Sesshoumaru, "Anything else?" He did not even humor her by scanning the menu. He simply deadpanned, "I believe you've got it all covered."
"I wish I could have all of you covered."
Sesshoumaru cringed at the young man who continued to flirt with him. Well if it could even be called flirting...
A short glance at his name tag informed him that his name was Jakotsu. Jakotsu fluttered his eyelids, "Here or to go?"
Before the words, 'to go' could even leave his mouth, Kagome had already chirped out, "Here, please!"
Jakotsu once again shot her a dirty look, "Well then. That'll be 15.95."
Sesshoumaru once again gave a shudder, as he handed the money to Kagome to give in. She gave him a knowing smile and handed over the designated amount.
Jakotsu groaned in frustration, mumbling more to himself than Sesshoumaru, "I hate when they play hard to get. But the challenge is fun."
Kagome pushed Sesshoumaru along before he could hurt the poor guy.
But could you blame him? I mean did Sesshoumaru look in the mirror at all?
He was freakin' gorgeous...
Kagome blushed, 'Not that I in particular think that he's gorgeous... But some people might, and I understand how but—Crap. I just dug myself into a hole, didn't I?'
She sighed.
"Order up!"
Kagome gave her companion a faux grin, "That's us..."
There were about ten other customers in the place already eating and two other people in ordering line.
So it was basically a slow day.
The two picked up their tray—well Sesshoumaru got the tray with everything on it and Kagome carried their slushies. Both were inside a brown colored holder.
She got the napkins, straws, and ketchup while Sesshoumaru scouted out a table. Fidning one, they headed for it.
On the way to the table, Kagome with silent laughter, one handedly picked up two crowns and hid them behind her back.
They got a table in the back. One that was far, far away from the counter.
Then they set down their things, and before Sesshoumaru could take a seat, Kagome giggled, "Wait."
He turned to her, and she brought the crowns out. His brow rose, "I am hoping that those are for you."
Kagome laughed and shook her head. "One is." She placed one snugly on her skull, and then stood on her the tops of her toes and placed the crown on Sesshoumaru, avoiding eye contact.
It wouldn't set quite right, since she was so short in comparison, and it slanted.
He shook his head a bit at what he was about to do, and helped her out by taking her hands and moving the crown back.
She wobbled a bit, but stayed standing.
Once the crown was on, she stepped back grinning.
"Now we match..."
Sesshoumaru let a ghost of a smile curve his lips upward and Kagome laughed, "Come on, let's eat. The food's getting cold."
—
"Alright Rin, before Sango keels over, why don't you help me make dinner, so you can go to bed?"
Rin nodded enthusiastically. "Can Jaken help too?"
Sango blinked, "Erm...I don't see why not..." 'Jaken...?' She suddenly smiled, ' I bet it's a toy. That's a really funny name though,' she mused to herself amusedly.
Rin grinned and ran off to her room. Sango sighed and called out to the over enthusiastic child, "I'll meet you downstairs."
Sango rubbed her eyes as she walked downstairs, "Kagome is definitely some sort of Amazon to be able to tame Hurricane Rin."
Entering the kitchen she headed straight for the refrigerator. After perusing what she had to work with she made a selection.
Dinner would be mashed potatoes with a side of corn.
She got the frozen vegetable and the butter and reached for the gallon of milk, 'The upside to this job must definitely be the food,' she grinned, then sheepishly added when she heard footsteps in the room, 'and Rin of course...'
With a smile she whirled around only let out a piercing scream.
"Here's Jaken, Sango!"
Sango put the items on the counter. She had thankfully kept herself from dropping anything. Free of cumbersome dinner ingredients, she was able to place a hand over her rapidly beating heart to calm it down some. "What the hell is that?"
A green toad like doll was being waved at her. It was a puke color green, and its eyes bulged out of the sockets. Its mouth was a strange beak like ...beak.
"It's the doll Rin made."
Sango looked indignant, "Y-you made that..." 'grotesque mutant creature from hell...' "Um," 'grotesque mutant from hell.' she tried to think of what to say that would not hurt Rin's feelings, "Uh...Lovely,"
'Grotesque...'
"Not-misshapen,"
'Mutant...'
"Erm, thing,"
'Creature...'
"From hell? I mean... from.. h-Hera? Yeah... Hera!You know in Greek mythology she was...very important. Or something like that." She mumbled as Rin looked with pride at her homemade doll.
"Uh-huh Rin made it all by herself. Sesshoumaru-papa says that it's really nice. But he used really, really big words that Rin didn't understand. He said it all meant nice though."
Sango laughed, a bit unsurely, "Yeah..."
'That definitely replaced the C's in my nightmares...'
(Tsuki)
Kagome jammed a fry in her mouth, and took a sip of her cherry slushy, "And there was this one kid who came in with his older sister, and he just would not stop crying..."
Sesshoumaru hid a grin at the face Kagome made.
"The older girl was about fifteen and she was the most prick-ish person I have ever met! And I'm including you."
Sesshoumaru tossed a fry at her, causing Kagome to laugh, "Well she said and I quote, "My idiot brother thinks his dog is dying... He won't tell us why though.""
She imitated the teen's nasally voice, gaining a chuckle from her companion.
"And with this huge smile pasted on my face I ask why, and the boy belts out that stuff was coming out of its butt."
Kagome blushed, "So I had to explain the excretory system to a five year old. I all but died."
Sesshoumaru's lips twitched and Kagome glared, "It is not funny, Taisho!"
"I beg to differ."
Kagome reached for a chicken strip the same time that Sesshoumaru did.
It just so happened to be the last one. Apparently they had been gifted with a extra chicken strip.
With a faint blush tinting her cheeks, she smiled and pushed the carton over, "Here take it."
Sesshoumaru pushed it back, "I insist that you have it. This meal is after all my treat."
Kagome pushed it right back, "It's nice to know that chivalry is not dead, but go ahead, Taisho, its fine."
She had stated calling him Taisho, because she was learning that when one on one, calling him Sesshoumaru made her blush.
Okay... basically everything in his company made her face the envy of every cherry.
Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes and took the strip. His eyes never leaving hers, he broke it in half evenly, and gave her a piece.
Kagome smiled shyly at him and took it, muttering a small thank you.
'Look mommy! Me and the fire hydrant match!'
To break what felt like an awkward moment to her, Kagome smirked a bit smugly, "So I take it that you now have no qualms with fast food?"
Sesshoumaru rolled his amber eyes, and said airily, "I have no problems with here."
Kagome polished off the last of her burger, and wiped her mouth on a napkin, "Well then, we should come back some time and order the Kid Meals."
She tried to keep a straight face, but at last a tirade of giggles broke through and Sesshoumaru had to smile, "You are ridiculous."
She laughed, "Why thank you."
Her expression turned serious, "How do you think Sango's doing?"
He blinked, "Who?"
Kagome gave him a weird look, "The girl that's watching over your daughter?"
Had he been anyone else, he probably would have given a long drawn out, "Ooh!" But being Sesshoumaru, he merely snorted ignoring the moment as if had never happened, "She will be fine. As long as Rin does not show her Jaken, I suppose."
For the umpteenth time that night, he shuddered.
Kagome gave him a look, but decided that she did not really want to know.
(Tsuki)
Really bad place to end this chapter, I know, but eh. I'm not in the caring mood. I have an oral quiz in French, a Bio lab report, a French project, Humanities, other Bio & math homework, an analytical essay for L/A, and tons, tons more. Most are due in the next two days- the project and the report are the only exceptions...
I definitely don't know if there is a BK any where in Tokyo. I really doubt it. So don't quote me on that. I know they have McDonalds somewhere (they're everywhere), but I can't stand anything from there except the apple pies –sweat drops- and I wanted to use the crown idea so badly. Also, I like when someone flirts with our Sesshoumaru...but why does it always have to be a girl? But who thought originally, since it was a guy, that he'd ended up hitting on Kagome?
Decided not to use yen figures in this fic. Money conversion was never my expertise so ...yeah.
Also there's a new fic out, Truly, Madly, Deeply check it out and R&R
MT