Today was doomed.

The moment Kagome unlocked the doors to the café she knew she was in for a rough day. Only moments had passed before people began flooding in for their morning coffee fix. Sango was labeling and pushing over cups, so many that Kagome's arms ached trying to keep up. Luckily, they were fully staffed today with Inuyasha in the kitchen and Sesshomaru behind the counter. Initially when the owner had come in that morning, dressed in his usual business attire, Kagome assumed that he would work the counter and leave the drinks to Sango and her. This was not the case as he fluidly assisted her in pushing out the beverages.

While the rush was mind numbing, Kagome was thankful for the distraction as she and Sesshomaru settled into a steady rhythm. Cup, flavor, pass. Their bodies moved in a dance of coffee, cream, and sugar, a rhythmic cadence created by the fluidity of their limbs. Kagome had to force herself to concentrate more than once when their fingers would brush against the others.

Ever since their meeting at the elementary school, she'd been nervous to talk to "Papa Takahashi" again. She had cursed herself after the fact, they had met only a few weeks ago and she was actively trying to get on his bad side. Kagome chalked it up to the fact that Inuyasha and him were brothers, making her instinctually seek out his ire.

As the last few customers left, it was finally time to breathe again. The café was buzzing with soft conversations and fleeting steps. Kagome's eyes roamed the café, making sure everything was in order before she turned to face Sesshomaru. Noticing sweat began to gleam against his temple, Kagome appreciated for a moment that he wasn't all talk when it came down to action.

"I think I'd call that a successful rush." Kagome declared proudly.

"Indeed." Sesshomaru replied. He didn't notice her gaze as he readjusted the sleeves of his shirt. Rolling up the red fabric to his elbows, Kagome gulped at the exposed arms. It was an established fact that Sesshomaru was objectively an attractive person. Yet, Kagome couldn't quite name the sensation wriggling under her navel as she watched him move. Pushing it down, she decided that it was the customer rush making her feel that way.

"Nice job today, Higurashi," Sesshomaru complimented her with a smooth tone. Snapped back to reality, Kagome tried to fight off the redness creeping up from her neck with a broad grin.

"Thank you. With the training I had to go through to get here, damn right I did," she added cheekily, earning her an approving smirk. Their moment of respite, however, was cut short by a light tap on the shoulder from Sango.

"We've got a visitor, Kags," she intervened with an apologetic tone. Kagome cocked her head to the side in confusion, but the tall mall with striking blue eyes and tanned skin standing in the back room made her words clear.

"Kagome!" Koga called to her with a wolfish grin. He held a clipboard under his arm as he waved her over to him. Kagome could barely contain her groan. From the corner of her eyes, Sesshomaru followed her to greet the delivery guy.

Of course today was destined for failure, it was freaking truck day.

"Oh, hey Koga," Kagome greeted back, mustering her most polite smile. The problem with Koga wasn't with his loud, over-confident demeanor. Rather, it was his endless flirting every time he came to the café.

"How's my woman doing today? Looked like a big rush out there." Koga said as he handed her the inventory sheet. Kagome resisted the urge to groan when the tips of his fingers remained on hers a tad too long.

"Once again, not–" Kagome began. Before she could finish, her hands were gathered in Koga's callused grip.

"You wouldn't have to work so hard if you were truly my woman, Kagome." Koga said fiercely. Kagome blanched at the bold statement. This guy just couldn't take the hint.

"Flirting on the job is highly unprofessional, Higurashi," Sesshomaru's chilling voice cut through. Kagome's face turned another shade of pink as she pulled her hands away.

"Hey now, boss, no need to shut us down like that." Koga complained childishly. If Kagome didn't know better, the comment made Sesshomaru annoyed judging by the barest crease in his brow.

"This one will shut down anything in his business if he feels the need to," he replied testily. Glittering amber eyes proceeded to glare at him, eyes imperceptibly tightening as he wrapped an arm around Kagome's shoulders.

"Nope! This is not what's happening here!" Kagome protested feistily. To regain some personal space, she pushed the papers in between herself and Koga. Gods, someone please save her from this embarrassment.

"Oi, Kagome, what the hell does this order mean– you!" Inuyasha appeared, brandishing a floppy white ticket towards them. "Get the fuck off her, ya mangy wolf!"

"Who ya callin' mangy!" Koga abandoned Kagome in order to shove his face into Inuyasha's.

"Right, mangy isn't the right word. Fleabitten is what I was looking for," Inuyasha quipped, glaring at him.

"Why you– piece of dog shit." Koga grumbled angrily.

Kagome surveyed the scene with exasperation. Their squabbling was a weekly ordeal and frankly, she was not in the mood to deal with it. Tossing her boss a sideways glance she noticed the distinct shake of his head. Kagome got a sense that she and Inuyasha were going to get fired if things escalated.

"Takahashi-san, feel free to go back on the line to help Sango. I'll deal with them." Kagome said, smiling nervously. Their eyes met for a moment before Sesshomaru merely inclined his head and walked off. With a huff, Kagome wedged herself between the two and grasped their ears. With a purposefully painful tug, she ignored their protests as she dragged them down to her height.

"Would you two cut it out! There's too much work to be done for you two to fight like freaking kids!" Kagome hissed. "Now, play nice or please leave."

Both boys rubbed their ears when she released them. Rather than invoking Kagome's wrath once more, the two shared an electric glare before Koga stomped off.

"Next time, I'm taking you out on a date, Kagome." Koga called out just before dashing out the door.

"Gods, that guy gets on my nerves." Inuyasha grunted.

"So stop trying to pick fights with him!" Kagome replied testily.

"As if, I'm not the one who starts shit!"

"Can't you take responsibility for anything? Stop acting like a child."

"Oh I can't take responsibility? Who the fuck is going to put all this shit away, huh?" Inuyasha gestured to the piles of boxes. "You and Sango always push this shit on me."

"W-well." Kagome attempted to think of a comeback, but her words died in her mouth. He was right, she and Sango did have a tendency to ask him to move all those heavy boxes. Sango was more than capable of the work, her body was strong from years living on her family's farm. Kagome, however, did not. Unfortunately, her strength was in her legs, not her arms. "It's not a big deal. You don't have to do it today, I will."

"As if!" Inuyasha laughed. Kagome gave his shoulder a half hearted slug.

"Don't be a jerk, I can do it!"

"Yeah right, and I'm going to ask Koga on a date." Inuyasha mocked in between laughter.

"Let's wager then. If I can put away these boxes before shift ends, you have to do just that." Kagome challenged impulsively. "If I don't, I'll ask him out."

"You can't be serious, Kagome." Inuyasha said, wiping away tears. Taking in the steeled look in her eyes, he mulled over the bet for a moment; it was harmless at best and the odds were in his favor.

"Deal." Inuyasha declared, holding out his hand. Kagome grasped it and shook.

0-0-0

12:38

Five minutes in she immediately regretted her decision. After finally organizing the milk crates, Kagome emerged from the cooler with aching arms. Before her stood foreboding piles of boxes that seemed to mock her. Once again her temper got in the way of sense and Kagome ended up reaping the consequences of it.

Kagome took a quick breath and began working away at the evil cubes of cardboard. The wager itself was ridiculous and a waste of everyone's time, but to prove Inuyasha wrong was a golden opportunity. Sure, she and Sango may have pushed truck duty on him often, but Inuyasha sucked at talking to customers…

"How's it going, Kags?" Sango called out, curiously peeking into the backroom. Kagome rolled her shoulders back with a wide, totally-not-faking-it grin.

"Oh it's great, fantastic really. Just a part of the job, ya know?" Kagome rambled as she shoved another box onto a shelf. Rather than giving her a sympathetic look and telling her she was a strong powerful woman, Sango shook her head saying:

"Shouldn't have gone off on Inuyasha like that."

"It's either do this or ask Koga out. I don't think I could stomach rejecting him after one date," Kagome pouted as she wiped sweat off her brow.

"When will you two learn to just be nice to each other?" Sango sighed before leaving Kagome to her own devices. The latter barista stuck her tongue out at her retreating friend. Glancing at the time, Kagome's heart dropped. Her shift was almost up.

0-0-0

13:03

"What was the purpose of challenging that half-breed?" Sesshomaru's voice broke through a dwindling mountain of cardboard. Kagome glanced over her shoulder, seeing Sesshomaru leaning casually on the wall.

"Just gotta prove that I'm capable, girl power and all." Kagome said, a nervous laugh bubbling out of her "Sometimes my mouth gets me in trouble."

"Indeed," Sesshomaru replied nonchalantly, but there was a glimmer of humor in his golden eyes that gave her pause. Rather than sassing him Kagome merely bit her tongue. She purposefully failed to mention the outcome of the wager, not wanting to appear childish to him.

"How is it up there?" she asked instead, turning away to hide the pink that warmed her face.

"Considering who is up there, it is fine." Sesshomaru replied. "Unfortunately my half brother is rather unteachable in terms of hospitality."

"Go figure," Kagome snorted as she picked up a box. Hoisting it up, she climbed the step ladder to put it up. "But he's not all bad, he's a real softie once you get through all that bravado."

The step ladder did little to aid her, even on her tiptoes. Kagome struggled for a moment before tossing it onto the shelf where the box landed haphazardly. One moment, she was on the step ladder the next she was falling backwards. Before the thought to brace herself for impact occurred, Kagome felt strong arms holding her up.

Craning her neck to look into the face of her savior, Sesshomaru looked down at her with an unreadable expression. How had she never noticed how big his hands were? Or how warm they are through the fabric of her sweater?

"Thank you," she said breathlessly. It was too late to try to hide the flare of her face. He was so close, nose nearly brushing her cheek.

"Clumsy girl," Sesshomaru said, each word a beautiful whisper making her shiver. After helping her back onto her feet he left. Kagome watched him go, a hand over a rapidly beating heart. Realizing herself, she smacked her cheeks.

"No time to dawdle!"

0-0-0

13:59

Done and with one minute to spare. Kagome basked in her glory, Sango smirked triumphantly before leaving, and Inuyasha openly gaped at the now organized backroom. It wasn't easy, but she was proud of herself.

"There's no way you did this all by yourself." Inuyasha cried in outrage, pointing an accusatory finger at her.

"I did this by myself and it wasn't nearly as bad as you complained!" Kagome retorted even though it was definitely as bad as he complained. Inuyasha queried a disbelieving brow at her.

"Oh really? Then why was Ice-prick back here for so long?"

"You jerk! Why is it so hard to believe that I am capable of unpacking a damn truck?" Kagome sputtered. She did her best to push the memory of his hands on her out of her brain. "You're just mad because you have to ask Koga on a date now!"

"Not in a million years."

"But–!"

"Didn't father teach you to be a man of your word, Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru queried, appearing out of the blue. "Or will you dishonor him more?"

"That's real fucking low, Sesshomaru. Even for you." Inuyasha growled, pinning his half brother with a glare. "As if Dad knows shit about keeping promises."

Kagome didn't miss the narrowing of Sesshomaru's eyes at Inuyasha's words. However, he said nothing as he walked back into the office.

"What was that all about, Inuyasha?" she asked. Her answer was a dark look from Inuyasha. "I won't make you call Koga, I was just teasing."

"No. I am a man of my word." Inuyasha grumbled, pulling out his phone. The tense atmosphere loosened. "But that bastard is getting a text, not a fucking call."

Kagome couldn't help but smile.

0-0-0

Omake

"I didn't know you felt the same way. How does Friday at Mushin's sound?"

I hate you.

Laughter burst from Kagome rapturously as she read Inuyasha's text. Even the strange looks from others passing by couldn't dampen her joy. Things just got interesting.

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A/N: Did someone say update? XD Sorry for the long pauses between updates, life kicks your ass sometimes! Thank you for reading, lovelies~