A.N. Happy Birthday, Simply Business! Love you guys for sticking with me and SB appreciates the b-day love lol.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Inuyasha and never claimed ownership at any point during this story.
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(Tsuki)
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Simply Business
Chapter Thirty-Six
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(Tsuki)
The first full week in February, Sesshoumaru noted was filled with giggling and not so secretive rendezvous between Rin and Kagome.
By Saturday, they had spent approximately three late evening together, and though her homework was impeccably done as always, he had to wonder what two girls would be doing out on the cold February afternoons.
He also had to wonder why they couldn't take Shippou.
The little red head was currently hijacking a certain man's favorite work chair—the only chair he was actually physically capable of working from his home in.
It was a revolving back leather design from overseas and had plush backing yet the right amount of firmness. He could not help but scowl as he saw the boy rocking back and forth in his prized chair as if it was some toy.
The silver haired man looked down intently at the boy, "Leave, now or I will never less you have even an ounce of sugar for the rest of your lifetime."
Of course that was a threat he undoubtedly could not go through with. But the boy did not have to know that.
And as he expected, Shippou slowly stopped abusing his chair. He waivered between stubbornly staying on the chair and getting off, before he seemed to come to a realization.
The rocking commenced full force and Shippou stuck out his tongue rebelliously. "We're four days away from Valentine's Day, old man! I'd like to see you try!"
'Enviable bravado for someone I still needed to buy pull-up diapers for until a month ago." His mind wandered to the commercials that occasionally played for them and he almost snorted aloud. 'Big kid now my ass...'
A creak from his beloved chair abruptly snapped him back to reality and Sesshoumaru picked Shippou up, "Leave and don't come back."
"But I thought we could hang out since nee-chan and Rin-chan are out doing their Valentine's Day shopping. Don't tell Uncle Inu, but you're my second favorite uncle, old man."
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes, not at the blatant insult of being the second favorite despite the fact that Shippou only had two 'uncles,' but at the word that kept popping up.
Valentine's Day.
He placed Shippou on the floor and took his position in his chair. What could they possibly be shopping for, for Valentine's Day?
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(Tsuki)
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Kagome looked over at Rin. It was Sunday afternoon and the two had just spent two hours delving through various Valentine's Day merchandise. "Hungry kiddo? I know a great diner near by if you are."
Rin rubbed her stomach, "Rin's a little hungry after seeing all that chocolate."
Kagome giggled, "I know what you mean!" She kept her eyes on the road and asked, "But none of them are what you want to give Kohaku?"
They had visited a different store with each of their meetings, yet Rin had pooh-poohed every single premade gift on the shelves.
Rin shook her head, "They all looked too generic, nee-chan."
The girl raised her brows at Rin's sudden augmentation in vocabulary usage and had to wonder if her increased letter communication with Kohaku had anything to do with it. Out loud she said, "I agree. You know we could make our own chocolate. They sell kits and molds around this time, so maybe after lunch we can pick something like that up."
"That would be marvelous, nee-chan!"
Kagome laughed softly to herself and as they pulled into a twenty four hour diner parking lot, she thought, 'Definitely the work of Kohaku.'
The two girls stepped out of the car and made their way into the dinner.
"Any idea of what you'll order, kiddo?"
Rin glanced around in awe at the Western fifties theme they had going on. Everything was red and metallic and the floor were black and white titles. Rin shook her head slowly in answer to the question and Kagome took her hand, "Come on; let's go take a seat."
As Kagome and Rin walked along the booth towards the empty ones in the back someone abruptly said her name.
"Kagome," was uttered in pure shock out of foolish instinct by the impossibly distinguishable voice that belonged only to Kouga Aotama.
Three sets of staring went on at that point.
Kagome stared almost in pure fright at Kouga.
Kouga stared with thinly veiled anxiousness at Kagome.
…And Rin stared at the two, wondering whether the Wolf-Man would end up frequenting the Taisho house again.
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(Tsuki)
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"Valentine's Day…" Sesshoumaru was somewhat irritated with himself that it slipped it mind what that holiday entailed.
He new only the major ones that required some contact, whether through the phone or in person or monetary expense: Thanksgiving, Christmas, occasionally New Year's, and Easter (being in America allowed Inuyasha to experience in his words, 'a second Christmas for chocolate.' Clearly the man didn't care to recognize that there was a religious affiliation with the holyday turned holiday.)
Beyond that he knew there was an insipid holiday with red and a beer soaked holiday with green (also due to his brother's wonderful method of assimilation into American culture).
Shippou rolled his eyes, "Valentine's Day was contrived out of the American's commemoration of their St. Valentine. But now it's super com-mersha-lized and people lots of places hand out chocolates!" He crossed his arms, "What'd you learn in school, old man?"
He gave the boy an even stare as he drawled, "Economics, corporate etiquette, how to pronounce the word, 'commercialized.' Forgive a petty holiday for not being on my agenda."
The red head boy stood in a huff, "You're probably just bitter because you never receive any chocolate."
Sesshoumaru thought back to all the years he had been the Chief Executive Officer of his company and the copious amounts of chocolate he would find obnoxiously overflowing on his desk once a year.
He had to wonder if there was a direct correlation.
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(Tsuki)
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Only after realizing that the three were becoming the center of attention for a very possibly gossip loving diner, Kagome slid onto the cushioned bench across from Kouga. Rin reluctantly followed, as the older girl had a very firm grip on her hand.
Kagome smiled nervously, "Long time no see."
Kouga rubbed the back of his head and said without hostility but with pure honesty, "Yeah, I was kind of trying to make sure of that."
'Well… that did not make things less awkward,' Kagome thought as she lifted the menu and pretended to glance through it.
However she was not focusing on the words. She was trying to think of what to say next.
Kouga looked the same way he always did. He always looked composed and playful and engaging. Even now, when she probably looked like a deer under headlights.
And poor Rin, awkwardly thrown in the middle like this… Not literally of course, since she was contentedly gazing over the menu, sitting her legs at the end of the booth, while she, herself was across from Kouga. But she knew figuratively, the girl was torn…
Kagome opened her mouth to speak but closed it after awhile. After repeating that action four times, well aware that Kouga, if not a handful of other patrons, was staring at her she quickly blurted, "You kind of pissed me off, Kouga."
The raven haired man smiled a bit wryly, "I figured you would be pissed. But I also figured I be doing you a favor…"
Incensed and indignant in tone, yet coupled with disbelief as she whispered in near hiss, "By a poorly thought out break up? Sure I wouldn't expect some elaborate affair, but even a text would have been more preferable. Or hey," she suggested with feigned realization. "You could have told me in person."
Kagome dropped her borderline furious tone and sighed, "And then I was pissed off because I wasn't pissed off at first."
Kouga abruptly took her hand, "Are you done yelling at me?"
"Pretty much, yes." She smiled a bit, "For the record though I wasn't technically yelling, 'cause I'm pretty sure the gossip mongers over there couldn't hear me." She tossed her head lightly in the direction an older couple having breakfast at the counter. Kouga chuckled, "Yeah, they're a crazy pair."
Kagome had to laugh, "Why are you being so calm about this? In all honesty, I'm really not mad at you—but I'm supposed to act it! Do you know how many excuses I've made as to why you can't join Sango, Mirouku, and me for a movie or coffee or whatever?"
Kouga took a sip of the mug of coffee in front of him, "You're in love with your boss, Kagome. You like me as someone you want to be friends with, not as a romantic interest."
The raven haired girl flushed wondering how transparent her feelings truly were, "But we're the ones who have something in common! You've heard of the bands I listen to too, you wouldn't try to commit homicide if Jakotsu pretended to flirt with you, you click in things."
Kouga leaned over and whispered, "When we kissed, did you ever get that feeling that you were kissing that guy friend who you knew was a completely straight male, but just felt like one of the girls?"
Kagome cheeks tinted and she nodded lowly with an awkward smile, "Sometimes."
Kouga chuckled heartily, "I really like you, Kagome. But maybe… just as a friend. We'll break it to Sango eventually, but while we're one on one, I'm really sorry."
Kagome smiled, "Don't be. I never want to hear those words from you again." She extended her hand, "I'm Kagome Higurashi."
"Kouga Aotama?" The male shook her hand with uncertainty and Kagome said with a bright smile, "Pleased to meet you. I hope we can be close friends in the near future and one day joke about how awful we'd be as a hypothetical couple."
Kouga smiled softly at her, "I'd like that."
Rin suddenly perked up, "Rin will have the French Toast, nee-chan!"
The older girl laughed and asked the blue eyed male across from her, "Do you mind if we join you?"
Kouga shook his head, "I've been sitting here by myself most days. Company is a pleasant change." His eyes suddenly roved towards a red haired woman who came up to take their order and Kagome had to smile as the two shared a brief bout of banter before Kouga introduced Kagome.
Sometimes life was unpredictable… but maybe that was only on the surface.
Maybe that was only when you ignored the blaring signs fate tried to send you.
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(Tsuki)
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In the car, Rin asked Kagome shyly, "Is Papa your boss, nee-chan?"
Kagome buckled in the girl with an uncertain giggle, "Yeah, Rin-chan why?" The raven haired girl commenced to put on her own seatbelt and start the car.
Rin breathed out, her excitement evident, "Wolf-Man said nee-chan loved her boss."
The raven haired girl paled as Rin looked hopeful, "Does nee-chan love Papa?"
Kagome sputtered, not really knowing what she should say. She didn't want to dash the girl's hopes, nor did she want to seed any false ones. She settled with saying vaguely, "Love is something different for adults, Rin. It's complicated. And you can't breathe what happened today to another living soul—not even me!" She added in quick addendum as she thought back to that moment in the kitchen, where Shippou nearly outed her.
Rin looked sad, "Why, nee-chan?"
The girl under question drove out of the diner parking lot and started on the way to dropping Rin home. She was in no mood to see bright red hearts and similarly shaped chocolates now. "It's really complicated, Rin, trust me."
"Is nee-chan at least making Papa a Valentine's Day chocolate?"
Kagome sighed and murmured, "…We'll see, Rin."
Mentally she grumbled, 'If they make unrequited love kits, sure, why not?'
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(Tsuki)
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February 14th
The came like any other winter day, but almost every male knew that that day was very unlike any other day.
Valentine's Day…
Mirouku felt oddly nervous as he walked into his office. This was the first Valentine's Day that he actually wanted to spend with another person, so he had spent half the night planning.
He was so preoccupied that he almost missed the purple gift bag on his desk.
But his attention was eventually drawn to the blatantly out of place object. A smile worked its way to his face as he picked up an equally violet card attached with ribbon and a one unit hold punch.
He slipped out the card with ginger fingers.
Happy Valentine's Day!
This is the first time I've ever even attempted to make chocolate but according to my roommate-gone-chocolate guru, it's pretty good. Since I know how much you love sweets so I made enough to send you into a sugary coma—with love of course.
Love,
Sango
P.S. Yes, the bag is purple only because it's your favorite color…
-tsuki-
The doorbell of the Takinama household rang almost as soon as Kohaku returned from school.
Kohaku answered the door, being the most proximate person and was met with a delivery man. The uniform garbed man inquired, "Kohaku Takinama, here?"
The freckled boy answered in surprise, "That's me, sir."
With a smile, the man placed a small brown box in his hands. "Happy Valentine's Day."
Kohaku thanked him in confusion and opened the box. It was no bigger than the size of his gaming system and it was fairly cold, too cold for the length of time it was outside.
When he opened it, an aluminum pan with a clear lid met his sights. And inside that lid was a homemade chocolate. An almost completely unflawed heart that he knew, even with out reading the card, was from Rin Taisho.
-tsuki-
It turns out they did not actually sell molds that proclaimed, 'You Have Been My Unrequited Love for Almost Four Months. Happy Valentine's Day!!'
But they did have molds that read simple, 'World's Best Boss.'
Whether Sesshoumaru would find some secret meaning in that fact that those words were set on a heart shaped milk chocolate background—Kagome would never know.
But as she handed off the chocolate to him before she left that Valentine's Day evening, she also would never know that hers was the only chocolate, out of dozens, that that man consumed that Valentine's night.
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(Tsuki)
A.N. Last day of updates! You guys are getting like five chapters over the span of a day lol. (I didn't budget my time well at all.)