Author's Note
Thank you, friends! I'm so thrilled you're liking the story thus far. I have a really great pace going where I seem to be writing a chapter and a half at one time. Things are really slow at work right now so it makes for great day-dreaming about the chapters to come.
Enjoy!
Lead Me Down the Garden Path
Release
"Pizza's here!"
"Oh, thank god, I'm starving!"
In her slipper-covered feet, Sango scurried to the door with her wallet clutched under her arm. Kagome remained seated on Sango's futon, turning her attention back to the television once Sango disappeared from the room. Kagome's bare legs were crossed, her feet tucked underneath her, and she swirled the contents of her wine glass, pensively.
My first day of work and I fainted like an idiot, she thought. Who does that?! God, I can't believe myself sometimes…
Despite Sango's assurances that it wasn't as big of a deal as Kagome made it out to be, Kagome still felt humiliated. Leave it to Kagome Higurashi to experience heat exhaustion on her first day on the job and pass out because of it.
She was grateful for how well Kouga had handled the situation. Her boss could have been totally unforgiving, but he was the opposite of that. Both he and Shippou, actually, had been really doting and receptive to her. Kouga sat Kagome in the front seat of the truck and turned the AC on full blast, aiming the vents at her. Kagome had closed her eyes—more out of humility than anything else—and let the cool air drift over her balmy skin.
"What else do you need, Kagome? I have some carrot sticks left over from lunch if you're hungry."
Kagome laughed and shook her head, her cheeks still slightly flushed, "That's really nice of you, Kouga, but no, I'm okay. Just sitting here is fantastic."
Kouga nodded.
The two of them then sat in the quiet until Shippou came bounding over, Sango a few feet behind him.
"Kagome! Sango told me you fainted. Holy, I've never seen someone faint before. Are you hurt? Are you okay? Is there anything I can do to help?"
Kagome wanted to smack her hand against her face in humiliation, but she just offered Shippou a forced and awkward smile.
"No, no, Shippou, I'm just fine."
"Sango said it was heat exhaustion? You should have taken it easier! You were just building a garden after all."
Kagome's cheeks warmed and she turned to stare at the water bottle in her hands. She didn't appreciate Shippou's reminder how delicate she was. She had sincerely thought she could handle this job. She didn't think she was pushing herself too far. Yeah, she had been getting tired, but she could work through it. Sango didn't faint. Sango didn't need to be doted on. Kagome wished she could, for once, be like her friend and not need others to help her. Kagome sometimes envied Sango for her independence, and she often blamed her lack of it on growing up in a home where she was raised, and somewhat coddled, to be dependent on family. She loved her family dearly; however, she just wished that, while growing up, Kagome had been given more opportunities to take chances, get her hands dirty, and be independent.
"Where's Ayame?" Kouga asked, his eyes directing the question to Shippou. "Did you leave her by herself? 'Cause I swear to God, Shippou, I will—"
"I'm right here, Kouga. God, you didn't even see me? That's rude…"
Kouga turned to look past Kagome out the passenger side window. Ayame stood right in front of the window with her hands on her hips and her dark eyes glowering at Kouga. She had rolled her shirtsleeves up to her shoulders and knotted the portion of the shirt that would have covered her stomach just above her belly button. She had a red bandanna tied around her hair to keep the sweat out of her eyes. Her muscles weren't prominent, but Kagome could tell that Ayame was in good shape. Allowing herself a a minute to wallow in self-pity, Kagome turned her eyes away from Ayame; the way Ayame looked and presented herself made Kagome feel like she really didn't belong in this industry.
"We're calling 'er quits early today, folks," Kouga called, stepping out of the truck and slamming it behind him. "Go check your stations and ensure there's no trash and no messes. You know how the doucheba—um, I mean, you know how he can be. Put everything back in the trunk where it belongs," he shouted to the backs of both Shippou and Ayame who ran back through the iron rod gates.
Sango walked around to the trunk to drop her arm-full of items into the back. She had planned ahead. The cooler was latched over her one shoulder and the tool-belt containing Kouga's instruments was slung over her other. She clutched his binder and some empty water bottles in her arms.
"Well, look at you!" Kouga marveled, taking the items from Sango. "I appreciate your efficiency Sango. It's a good trait to see in a worker. Keep it up!"
Sango nodded her thanks and then climbed into the truck in the seat behind Kagome. Sango sat forward and reached her arms over Kagome's shoulders to give her a limp hug. Sango could tell from the look on Kagome's face that she felt badly for herself after hearing Kouga praise Sango. Kagome patted Sango's arms appreciatively.
When Shippou and Ayame returned with their work tools, Ayame begrudgingly and indignantly stared Kagome down. Shippou climbed into the back beside Sango. Kouga climbed into the driver's seat. And Ayame just stared at Kagome. The look on her face said, clear as day, what the fuck are you doing in the front seat with Kouga?
Kagome slunk down in her chair to try and make her body feel smaller.
"What the hell are you doing, Ayame?" Kouga shouted, adjusting the rear-view mirror. "Get your ass in the truck!"
Kagome could sense Ayame stomping around the truck to open the door on Kouga's side and toss herself in behind the driver's seat. Kagome could feel Ayame stewing from the back seat. Kagome intentionally angled her face to look out the window. She could feel the heat from Ayame's eyes on the side of her face and it made Kagome uncomfortable.
The drive back had been silent; however, Kagome occasionally noticed Kouga's glances from her peripherals. She had appreciated his attentiveness; however, it had gotten to the point where she had worked an eight and a half hour day and just wanted to go home. She didn't want to be stared at anymore.
When they arrived back at RTL headquarters, everyone said their goodbyes to each other and went their separate ways.
Kagome couldn't believe that she was going to do this all again in less than twelve hours.
While Kagome moped about the upcoming day two of the job, Sango invited Kagome over for pizza delivery—they both said fuck that to cooking after the day they'd had. Kagome agreed; pizza sounded great. Sango took Kagome's keys from her purse and made her friend ride shotgun. Having fainted, Sango told Kagome she didn't want her driving. Kagome felt so tired she didn't even try to put up a fight. She didn't think she had the level of consciousness to drive anyway, so she happily allowed Sango to drive.
Back at Sango's apartment, Kagome showered, changed into a pair of her friend's pajama shorts and an oversized hoodie—Sango kept her apartment AC just above freezing—and immediately stormed the fridge for a bottle of white wine.
Sango ordered the pizza, and the girls crashed themselves down onto the futon. Sango poured their glasses and then toasted Kagome on their first day on the job. Not wanting to be a killjoy, Kagome kept her thoughts about her first day of work to herself and clinked Sango's glass before taking a sip.
Once Sango returned with the large double cheese pizza and a side of garlic cheese bread, Sango told Kagome all about the interaction with Miroku and Inuyasha.
"I don't know what I feel worse about," Kagome said in between bites. "I'm honestly mortified about facing everyone tomorrow, but the fact that this random guy carried me? Jesus, that's embarrassing."
Sango laughed and stuffed the last bit of crust from her slice into her mouth. "You're really making it sound worse than it was, Kagome. He was really nice about it. Although..." Sango stopped to mull it over, "he was kinda pervy..."
Kagome laughed at the comment and then took a sip of wine.
"I don't think I am making it sound worse though, Sango," Kagome retorted, feeling her heart begin to beat faster as she got herself worked up. "It was the first day of work, the first day to leave an impression identifying what kinda worker I am, and I demonstrate that I'm a little weakling who can't handle a bit of sun. Dammit…" Kagome cursed, leaning forward to grab another slice, "Maybe this job was a bad idea."
Cheerful, bubbly Kagome was always an optimist. Sango knew this kind of self-pitying behaviour was very unlike Kagome, but she knew her friend would come around. Sango knew that everyone needed to blow a little steam once in a while. Not even Kagome Higurashi could be all sunshine and rainbows all the time.
Kagome's comment on her mind, Sango knew she had thought the same thing earlier, but she genuinely felt badly for her friend. She wanted to make her feel better.
"I've never fainted at a job before," Sango offered, "but I have embarrassed myself before." She sighed, "It was a lot worse than what happened to you. I ripped my pants once during one of my classes. It was mostly guys there too. Right in the crotch." She laughed and covered her eyes with her hand, "Now that was mortifying. I didn't even wear underwear that day."
Kagome covered her mouth as she laughed to prevent pieces of pizza from flying out everywhere.
"I know what it's like to embarrass yourself at work, Kagome. But, we'll go back for round two tomorrow and you'll be ready to face another day, stronger than you were today. You have an advantage; you know what to expect now. Everything will be fine. Trust me."
Kagome smiled at her friend, "You really showed your vagina to your class?"
"Oh, shut up!" Sango cried, moving her leg to pretend to kick Kagome. "I was just trying to make you feel better. I just got over the trauma of all that last year."
Kagome laughed then patted Sango's leg affectionately, "Well, thank you. I do feel better about it."
The girls sat quietly for a couple of minutes while Sango held her pizza with one hand and flipped through TV stations with the other.
"You really met Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, breaking the silence.
Sango knew it was only a matter of time before this came up. She peered at Kagome through the corner of her eye.
"Yep."
"He was rude, you said?"
"He was."
Click, went the remote.
Click.
"But he was good looking?"
Click.
"Very."
"Huh…What did he look like?"
"Tall, muscular, white kinda silverish hair. Gorgeous eyes."
Click.
"That does sound attractive." Kagome took a bite of pizza and tried to play it cool, almost indifferent. "And he was shirtless, you said?"
Sango turned to face her friend with an amused grin on her face. She pointed at Kagome with the remote control, "You Googled him, didn't you?"
Kagome turned to glimpse her phone on the arm of the futon and then offered Sango a guilty smile.
"I may have on the car ride home."
Sango laughed, "Then what are you testing me for! You saw pictures of the guy. You know how attractive he is! What, you jealous that you didn't get to see him without hsi shirt on?"
"Oh my god, Sango!" Kagome cried, smacking her friend in the arm. Sango merely laughed in response and took a sip of wine.
"At first when I typed in his name, I was really confused," Kagome continued. "There were two different guys who came up on the search."
"Ah," Sango said, swallowing her food, "That would be his brother, Sesshoumaru."
"Oh my god," Kagome cried with an incredulous look in her eye, "How do you know everything there is to know about this guy?"
Sango made a face and shrugged, "It's just common celebrity knowledge, Kagome. I'm blown away that you had to look up Inuyasha to know who he is. And Sesshoumaru? Seriously? He's like…the number one grossing model on the continent right now."
"I have no excuses," Kagome sighed, shaking her head and shrugging her shoulders, "I honestly have no idea how I've made it this far in my life without knowing any of this. I don't pay attention to the media, Sango. You know that."
"You never even look at the magazines in the grocery store when you're waiting in line?"
Click.
Kagome shook her head, "I couldn't be bothered."
Click.
"Well, you know, Kagom—oh hey! Speak of the devils!"
Sango's intial train of thought disappeared when an image on the TV screen caught her eye. What she was going to say to Kagome was stolen from her lips by the sight of the Taisho brothers standing before them on the TV.
"What the hell?" Kagome cried, leaning forward with wide eyes to grab her wine.
"Of course!" Sango shouted enthusiastically. "It's the last Monday of the month! The TV special Mondays with Molly is on."
"Mondays with Molly?" Kagome questioned.
Sango nodded, inching forward on the futon, "It's one of the best TV talk shows you could possibly watch. Molly Woo sits down and interviews the who's-who of celebrities. I completely forgot it was on tonight! She must have the one of the Taisho brothers on tonight. This is so fantastic.
"Oh, hey!" She said distractedly, pointing to the screen. A black-haired man in a dark blue suit followed behind the two silver-haired men. "That's Miroku!"
"The guy who carried me?"
"That's the one!"
Kagome groaned and rested her face in her hands. Somehow, the fact that the man was traditionally very handsome made her feel worse about the whole situation.
While the girls had been talking, Sango put the TV on mute. The beginning of the TV program had included close-up shots of the Taisho brothers walking into a modern-looking building and waving at the line-ups of fans, media personnel, and paparazzi who swarmed behind roped off areas along the walkway.
Anytime the camera lingered on Inuyasha, Kagome couldn't remove her eyes from the screen. She had to admit that he did look a little familiar, but unfortunately, as she had hoped, seeing him didn't fill in the gaps; she still didn't know what had happened in the news with him and The Band of Seven outside of what Sango and Shippou had told her.
But thoughts of The Band of Seven and Inuyasha's history drifted far from her mind.
She couldn't take her eyes off him. She couldn't remember a time she saw a more attractive man.
He wore a red fitted suit the colour of a Bloody Caesar with a black shirt underneath unbuttoned to reveal a smooth tan chest. His white-grey hair was tied back into a loose ponytail. His teeth were perfect. His skin looked perfect. And his eyes…Kagome was floored. She had never seen eyes the colour of his before. The way they shimmered behind his cheeks when he smiled reminded Kagome of gold ore that's been smelted. An off-yellow goldish hue that glistened under direct light. That was the colour of his eyes. Kagome felt her heart leap into her throat. She didn't realize she was getting so worked up just at the sight of him.
She couldn't believe she had been passed out when he came by.
"Was he really rude, Sango? He looks so…nice," Kagome sighed with a tilted head.
Sango smiled at her friend, "He was kinda a dick, Kagome. Kouga hit the nail on the head. Plus," she laughed, "he is on national television, so of course he's gonna look nice. He also hasn't opened his mouth yet," Sango pondered with a contemplative finger to her chin. "He was nice to look at earlier too…but then he opened his mouth and the asshole came out."
The opening credits came up with the face of a black-haired woman who Kagome assumed to be Molly. The title of the program then faded away to reveal Molly sitting on a white leather couch with Inuyasha and his brother opposite her.
Sesshoumaru looked nothing like his brother except for the same coloured hair and similar eyes. However, when Kagome tried to evaluate his appearance, she couldn't get past the word brooding. His eyes were cold and he held himself with an air that, to Kagome at least, screamed pompous. He was handsome as anything, she couldn't deny that, but to Kagome, personality was just as important as looks.
Personally, of the two brothers, she kinda preferred Inuyasha over the model brother.
Go figure, she thought.
"Turn it up, Sango. I want to hear what they're saying."
Sango did as requested as Molly was mid-question.
"—real surprise. When I thought I was going to be sitting down with one of the Taisho brothers, it's a real treat to have gotten both of you. How did this come to happen, Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha laughed then leaned back on the couch and crossed his leg over the other. "It wasn't planned, Molly. I can tell you that much. Sesshoumaru and I haven't seen each other outside of work in quite a few years—
"—I'm assuming, Inuyasha, that you're talking about the brief time that you yourself got into the modelling business?"
"Yes, that's right, and—"
"—And it was through this part of your career when you met Kikyou. Is that right?"
Kagome furrowed her eyebrows at the look appearing on Inuyasha's face. It wasn't quite discomfort, but she could tell he didn't like the fact that Molly had brought up that name.
"Well, we started dating then but—"
"Right! You two had known each other before your modelling stint. But it wasn't until Sesshoumaru took you under his label that you and Kikyou became official."
"Yes," he said somewhat withdrawn, "That's right."
"I must say, my daughter was devastated when news got out that you two broke up. The world wanted an engagement."
Inuyasha didn't respond to the comment.
"Anyway," Molly chirped, "Sesshoumaru. Do tell me about what you're working on next."
Kagome couldn't take her eyes off Inuyasha. She could tell he was uncomfortable. For being on public TV he kept himself composed pretty well, but Kagome could read people. It was an innate gift of hers. She could read people, and Inuyasha wasn't as well as he tried to pretend he was.
"Who's Kikyou?" Kagome asked, slowly turning her eyes from the TV to face her friend.
"Oh no," Sango argued, "No, you can't not know Kikyou. She is the most famous female model in the world right now, Kagome. You can't be that withdrawn from the world!"
Sango grabbed her phone off the side table and typed Kikyou's name into the Internet search engine. Thousands of hits came up on Sango's browser, and she scrolled through several of them until she came across the picture from Kikyou's infamous photo shoot.
"Here! Tell me you haven't seen this before."
"Oh, I have seen this before," Kagome cheered once Sango passed her the phone. "Where have I seen this before?"
Sango smirked, "That was the cover of The Band of Seven's last album, Mount Hakurei. It was the picture that launched Kikyou's modelling career."
"Wow," Kagome sighed, staring at the picture. "She's gorgeous."
"I see a bit of you in her actually, Kagome."
"What?" Kagome squawked with a laugh, pulling the phone closer to her face to inspect it. "I look nothing like this…"
"Not that one in particular, but if you look at some of her other stuff? The eyes and the hair are the biggest differences, but if you look at the face shape? And the nose? You guys could pass for sisters."
"Wow," Kagome sighed, "I couldn't ask for a nicer compliment than that." Both girls laughed.
Once Sango had her phone back, she browsed through her e-mail inbox while Kagome tuned back into Molly's interview with Inuyasha.
"So, Inuyasha, I'm dying to ask. It's been over ten years since it all happened. The band went to jail. Your name was cleared. A few years ago things didn't end well with Kikyou. Tell me, what have you been up to since? The camera and—I'm sure I can say—your fans have missed you."
Inuyasha seemed to take a second for a deep breath before speaking. "Honestly Molly, I've been focusing a lot on me. I took over the ownership of my dad's old house and the damn place was falling apart. So, I restored it. The inside has been completely remodelled, and I'm current in the process of updating the exterior of the house and the property. It's a big project, but it's really opened my eyes to how home restoration is such a rewarding endeavour."
"That's just wonderful. Now, Sesshoumaru. You must tell me about—"
"Don't you just love how he doesn't give us any credit?" Sango sneered. "I mean, we're the ones doing the actual work to the property. You think he could have the decency to give a shout out to RTL or something."
Kagome smiled, "Us? We?" Kagome laughed, "We did just start the job, Sango."
"Yeah, well. It's not right that he's taking credit for the work we're doing."
"Or the work that I would have done if I didn't faint."
Sango rolled her eyes dramatically and smirked at her friend.
"Welcome back from our sponsor's messages," Molly beamed at the camera.
"So, Inuyasha. It's time for the question all of our viewers have been waiting for. I'm sure you've heard by now that three of the seven of your bandmates have been granted an early release from prison. It's breaking news that came as a shock to many of the public viewers. What do you have to say about that?"
Inuyasha sat quiet for a moment and Molly didn't interrupt him or pester him for an immediate answer. Kagome was hovering so close to the edge of her seat she was almost on the floor. She couldn't decipher the expression on his face. He looked concerned, angry, and genuinely alarmed.
The question that came out of his mouth though, caused Kagome and Sango to exchange a baffled glance.
"Do you know which three?"
The question took Molly aback and she put a hand to her ear where her earpiece was and flipped through the notes on her clipboard with the other hand.
After a slight and heavy pause, she said, "No, I'm afraid our source hasn't revealed the names of the three. May I ask why you'd want to know which ones will be on parole?"
Inuyasha turned his eyes away from the camera, "I was just curious."
Then, only moments later, he snapped out of whatever perplexity he held onto and covered his face with a disingenuous smile.
"But that's great news about their early release. I'm very glad to hear it."
Author's Note
The story is really starting to build momentum. Can you feel it? I'm excited
Please review!