The Engagement Chapter 9: The Apartment, an inuyasha fanfic

A.N. I'm back throws confetti now. I don't have a lot to say. But I hope this chapter will be a good one.

Dedication: I'm dedicating this chapter to LadySafire who gave me all of my awesome ideas for this next chapter. And a few to come!

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It had been a two weeks since Kagome had talked to InuYasha about looking at some old picture books in front of Sesshoumaru. But Kagome had been so busy going to work, and studying for school that she hadn't had the chance to talk to him since. She figured it worked in making Sesshoumaru mad because he had clearly avoided her a lot recently.

"Alright," Kagome said, getting her locker open on the first try, "you are my bitch today."

"Who are you talking to?" asked a gruff voice behind her.

"My locker," Kagome explained, knowing Kouga's voice, but not registering that he was right behind her, "it's never opening for me properly and today it did. TWICE! So now I have claimed it as my bitch."

"Right," he said, leaning against the locker next to hers, "so who's bitch are you?"

Kagome was stunned, she hadn't gotten a comment like that before. But when she looked at Kouga, it seemed to click he was talking to her.

"Well I can tell you I'm not yours," she said with a smile, "I don't know yet. Definitely not my fiancé's. Asshole won't even talk to me."

"Why do you put up with him?" Kouga asked, taking her hand in his, "if you dumped him. I could show you the time of your life."

Kagome wasn't really sure what to say, or think for that matter.

"Thank you Kouga," she started, "but no thank you. I've already got a ass of a fiancé, I don't think a boyfriend would help me out right now."

Kouga shrugged, "can't blame a guy for tryin' right?"

Kagome laughed and nodded, "I guess your right. But hey, I gotta go to class. Cya later."

In Math

"Why did you want me to look at those books again?" InuYasha asked Kagome as they started their assignment. They sat next to each other and talked regularly.

"Because it's the start of pissing your brother off," she said with a grin, "why did you get hurt?"

InuYasha grinned, "no. It was just weird that's all. I mean have you looked at those books since we broke up?"

Kagome shook her head, "no I haven't. I've got a couple at my house. But they just sit in a box somewhere. I don't even know where it is.

InuYasha nodded, "well he never saw me with the books. Every time I pulled one out, when he was in the same room, he would be doing something else. Or talking quietly to some retarded little friend of his. Some green guy."

"Did you say green?" Kagome asked all of a sudden. InuYasha nodded, "there's been this kid following me around all day. I wanna say he's probably a freshman. Green skin, some kind of demon."

"Probably the same," InuYasha said, "why would he be following you though?"

Kagome shrugged, "the same reason you followed me like a puppy for a week strait once."

InuYasha blushed, "that's not funny. I have a sensitive nose. Hell normal dogs were following you around too!"

Kagome giggled, "yeah good point. But it wasn't weird when they would sniff me, it was bizarre when you did it."

InuYasha turned a deeper red, "whatever."

"MR. TAKAHASHI, MS. HIGURASHI!" the teacher yelled, "WILL YOU TWO SHUT UP AND DO YOUR WORK?"

The two laughed, nodded and finished their assignments. Actually, even with all the talking they did, the finished before everybody else.

"Did you actually do the work?" the teacher asked, "if not you'll do it again."

Kagome nodded, "yup we did the work. Right too!"

The teacher read over the papers, "well your lucky you two are my top students. But don't talk in class, there are kids here who don't do as well as you and don't like the distractions."

InuYasha and Kagome nodded and went to sit back down.

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"Jaken. Did you get the information I asked you for?" Sesshoumaru asked the younger demon.

"Yes milord," the boy replied, "it's all here I this folder."

Sesshoumaru nodded, taking the file from Jaken. The lower level demon sure does his work neatly,Sesshoumaru said to himself as he read the papers, everything's labeled, and typed out. I'll keep him around a while longer.

"Right," Sesshoumaru said, "this will do for now. But keep a eye on the girl. I don't need anything to slip away."

Jaken nodded, "you should know then milord. Your cousin, the wolf, has been… sniffing in your territory."

This caught Sesshoumaru's attention, "what has he been doing now?"

"Well it would seem that the Higurashi girl has caught his attention," Jaken explained, "I saw him talking to some friends of his. He plans to make her his mate."

Sesshoumaru nodded, "that will be all Jaken. You can go."

The smaller demon nodded, bowing as he left his 'master'.

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"So Kagome," Sango said as they went back to Kagome's after school, "what are you going to do about living with your mom still?"

Kagome shrugged, "InuYasha gave me the number of a person who can help me find a place. I called her this week, she said she wants me to meet her at her office Saturday and we can start a search."

Sango nodded, "I have a question."

"Shoot"

"If I helped pay for everything," she started, "can I come with you?"

Kagome smiled, "that would be awesome."

"So you don't have a problem living with your friend?" she asked, "that includes if I bring my boyfriend home?"

Kagome giggled, "I'll find a way to soundproof your room. That way you and Miroku can make plenty of noise."

Sango giggled, "that's not what I meant but okay. It's a plan then?"

Kagome nodded, "it'll be good. Why do you want to move out though? I thought things were good at home."

"It's the step monster," Sango said, referring to her stepmother, "she's getting more annoying by the day. And only to me, so I told my dad its either her or me. And now I'm trying to find a place to live."

"Well," Kagome said with a smirk as they walked up to her house, "be glad I like you."

Sango giggled, but frowned when she saw Kagome's mother waiting at the top of the stairs to the shrine.

"Hey mom what's up?" Kagome asked.

"Do you hate me that much?" Mrs. Higurashi asked.

Kagome was confused, "what?"

"Do you hate me so much that you have to move out?" her mother asked.

"I don't hate you," Kagome said, "but I need to leave. You and I used to be close, and now we're always fighting. Especially since the engagement. I think it's the only way that me and you can keep our relationship without killing each other."

Her mother frowned, "but moving out? Your only 17 Kagome. How are you going to live? And pay for a apartment?"

"Sango's moving in with me," Kagome said, "we can split the price of rent and everything. And besides, I have a job. And I can still work here at the shrine with grandpa. He doesn't give a lot, but he does pay me for dressing up and reading legends to the local kids."

Her mothers face fell, she looked truly hurt.

"If you move out," she said, "then when you fail. You're not coming back here."

Kagome nodded, "that's fine. Because I won't fail. I don't need to live with my parent to take care of myself. Unlike you mother, you moved in with gramps under the pretenses that he was sick. But he's better now, and in better health than people half his age. If we didn't live here, we'd be on the streets because we couldn't afford a house."

SMACK

Her mother hit her, "don't you ever speak to me like that again."

"Don't worry about me speaking to you at all," Kagome said, "after this, I'll be out of here in no time."

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"Hello Kagome," the woman said kindly, "I am glad you were able to come today."

"I am too," Kagome said, "actually. I know I told you last week that I was looking for a one bedroom apartment, but now I need a two. A friend of mine is going to move in with me, but she couldn't come today. She works."

The woman nodded, "not a problem. Well first of all. What kind of location are you looking for?"

Kagome thought about it for a moment, "something not too expensive obviously. But not… I don't want to say shabby, but well. It's got to be nice. But I need it to be close to the high school, and between US Diner, and the mall."

The woman nodded, writing that all down, "now I'm guessing you and your friend work in those two places?" Kagome nodded.

"Alright," she said, pulling up something on her computer, and typing a few words in, "what is the price range for monthly payments your looking for?"

"Well with both of us," she said, "and I've actually got 2 jobs. But well I guess… between $750 a month or so."

Again the woman nodded, typing more into her computer.

"Okay," she said, "I've got a few nice places. turns computer to Kagome These are the pictures of them, but they are the ones that match your criteria. We can go look at them, when you and your friend have a day to do so."

"Well I don't work until 5:00 pm tomorrow," Kagome said, "and Sango doesn't work tomorrow at all. That's the only day this week I know her schedule."

"We can go tomorrow," the woman said, "if you would like. I have time in the morning, a whole 2 blocks open from 9:00 am to 11:00 am if you would like?"

"I think that will be good," Kagome said, "I'll tell Sango."

"Alright," the woman said, writing something in a planner, "I will see you both tomorrow at the first apartment at nine am."

"Okay," Kagome said standing up, "thank you so much."

"It was a pleasure," the woman said with a grin, shaking Kagome's hand.

After Kagome left, the woman sighed, falling against the door of her office.

"I can't believe that," the woman said, "she's so young. Why would she move at that age?"

With Kagome

Kagome was happy, she managed a line up with 3 apartments to check out. She just needed to talk to Sango.

"Thank god I found this car," she said to herself, getting in her 'new' vehicle, "or else I would be walking everywhere."

"Kagome what are you doing here?" came a familiar voice.

When she looked up, she saw Miroku walking in her direction.

"Hey Miroku," She said, rolling down her window, "I was talking to a real estate agent about getting a car."

"Here?" he asked, "how'd you find out about this place?"

"InuYasha," she said, "he knows I'm trying to move out. So he helped me find her. Do you know her?"

Miroku nodded, "Tohru? Yeah I know her, she's my cousin."

Kagome was stunned, "really? Wow that's awesome. She's nice."

Miroku nodded, "too nice. I come in to check on her daily to make sure she doesn't get into any trouble."

Kagome smiled, "well I'll let you go talk to your cousin. See ya later Miroku."

Miroku nodded, and waved goodbye to Kagome before walking to his cousins office.

At The Mall

"Thank you for choosing us," Sango said, faking a smile, "come again soon!"

Bankotsu watched Sango for a while, noticing how she was so stiff when she walked, and how her shoulders were always scrunched up as if in pain.

"You ready to leave?" he asked, moving over to her.

"Oh yeah," Sango said, "I swear. If I have to pull out that damn bunny plushie one more time I'm going to scream."

Bankotsu laughed, "I would too. You're the only one who makes the kids laugh though. I can sit there for 20 minutes, and by the end of the day, I've only got shots of kids crying."

Sango laughed, "I guess I'm just more talented than you are."

"Right," he replied sarcastically, "your just better looking."

"That too," she said with a smirk.

Just as Bankotsu was about to say something, Kagome ran into the studio with a huge grin on her face.

"What's got you all excited?" Sango asked her friend.

"I talked to the girl," Kagome said, "the real estate person. She's set us up a appointment tomorrow at 3 apartments to look."

Sango grinned, "so quickly?"

Kagome nodded, "yeah. But they're in the morning because I've got to work with gramps tomorrow afternoon. Weekly legends and all. Gotta read to the kiddies."

Sango laughed, "I forgot about that."

"Are you talking about at the Sunset Shrine?" Bankotsu said, looking at Kagome with interest, "the legend readings they do there?"

Kagome nodded, "I play the priestess. My family runs the shrine. I read the stories while my gramps puts 'sutras of well being' on the children."

"Wow," he said, "you don't look the same. I take my cousin there almost every Sunday to hear the legends. You're really the priestess?"

Kagome nodded, "every Sunday from 10:00 am- 1:00 pm, and 5:00 pm to 8:00pm."

Bankotsu smiled, "I've gotta tell my cousin. He's got a mad crush on you."

That caused Kagome to blush.

"A lot of the children who come in like Kagome," Sango said with a smirk, "I took over for her once. And this kid came to see her, and got mad because I was a different priestess."

Bankotsu laughed, "that's great. Well I hope to see you tomorrow morning with my cousin. But we've (him and sango) need to clean up and shut down."

Kagome nodded, "well I'll be in the afternoon tomorrow. Because of the apartments search. But I guess I'll see you there next week."

He nodded, and Kagome left. She needed to get started on packing, she had a good feeling about the apartment.

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Sunday morning, when Kagome woke up. She was happier than she had been in a long time, and she wasn't really sure why. But she got up, showered, and left her house to get Sango at 8:15 am.

"I'm going to get Sango," Kagome told her grandfather who was setting up the shrine. Since Kagome wasn't going to be there, he managed to talk her cousin Kikyo into reading the legends that morning, "we'll be looking at apartments all morning. But I'll be back in time for my afternoon shift."

"Alright," the old man said, handing her a slip of paper, "take this sutra for good luck though."

Kagome nodded, slipping the paper into her pocket, "thanks gramps. See you later."

The old man nodded, and waved as his granddaughter left.

30 Minutes Later

Kagome and Sango arrived at the first apartment just before 9:00. Kagome was surprised that they were on such good time today. She was always running late now that she had a car.

"Hello Kagome," Tohru said, "I'm glad you made it. I'm guessing this is your friend?"

Kagome nodded, "Yes. This is Sango, Sango this is Tohru. She's the real estate agent InuYasha referred me to."

The two women shook hands, but it was Tohru who said something first.

"You look familiar," she said, "do you know a boy named Miroku?"

Sango nodded, "yeah. He's my… I don't know what he is. But yes I know him."

Tohru laughed, "he's my cousin. You looked familiar, he's got this picture of you. It's really cute how he talks of you."

Sango blushed, "I didn't know he talks about me."

The other woman nodded, "constantly."

When they entered the apartment, Kagome and Sango were surprised at how big it was. The living room was large, there was actually enough room in the kitchen to fit about 4 or 5 people in it, the bathroom had a old fashioned claw footed tub, with a showerhead in the wall over it. The bedrooms were huge too, Kagome was surprised at how big they were, each having a walk in closet with a window facing the park behind the apartment.

"What do you think?" Tohru asked, noticing how happy the girls looked.

"I'm really tempted to say we should take it," Kagome said, "this is great. But there are still two more apartments to check out."

After The Apartment Search

"Kagome I like the first apartment," Sango said at the end of the morning, "it was perfect."

"I do too," Kagome said, looking at Tohru, "when can we fill out the info to move in?"

"Well let's call the apartment owner," the woman said, "and we can set up a day."

Five Minutes Later

"Okay girls," Tohru said, "if you want. You can go down to the apartment and fill out the paper work today."

"Great," Kagome said with a grin, "wanna go down there and do paperwork?"

"Sure," Sango piped up, "let's go."'

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Later in the Day

After Kagome and sango filled out the paperwork they were extra hyper.

"CAN YOU BELIEVE WE CAN START MOVING IN THE APARTMENT TOMORROW!" Kagome squealed as they headed to the diner to eat lunch.

Sango grinned, bouncing in her seat.

"This is great," she said, "we are almost out! When do you think we'll have everything out of our houses?"

"Probably around Tuesday or Wednesday," Kagome said, "if we pack right and start moving small stuff like our TV's and books and stuff."

Sango nodded, "okay. Well when I get home I'll start packing."

Kagome laughed, "this is going to be awesome!"

When the girls arrived at the diner, Kagome noticed a black truck that she recognized, but didn't think anything of it and just walked right in.

"Hello Kagome," said a deep voice, "how are you?"

Turning around Kagome didn't think anything of it, until she saw who was behind her.

"Na-Naraku…" she stuttered.

A.N. Okay I'm done. It took a few days, but I finished. throws more confetti I hope you liked this chapter. I will add another one by the end of the weekend.