Author's Note

I apologize in advance—this chapter may seem filler-esque, but I promise you…good things are incoming! :D

Please enjoy!

Lead Me Down the Garden Path

You're Invited

Over the next few days, Inuyasha intentionally, but non-admittedly, altered his schedule so he could find himself close to the west side of his property between the hours of 7:30am and 6:00pm. From spending more time in his third-floor office, to spending significant portions of his afternoon underneath his cooling patio fan, Inuyasha was so intrigued by Kagome he wanted to find a way to keep her within a certain proximity to him.

The girls' laughter was a common sound on the property now. Whether Inuyasha was upstairs with a window open, or sitting in the sunroom engrossed in a book, or taking a meeting with his investors. The sound was omnipotent.

Tuesday's eye contact melding into Wednesday afternoon, Inuyasha's curiosity was so aroused he told Miroku to ensure the housing staff always opened the west side windows first thing in the morning. He would never verbalize how captivated he had become by listening to Kagome's voice, her stories. But her laughter was something he had grown used to hearing. It was something he had grown fond of hearing.

He wasn't at all surprised that she used to be a teacher. From listening to her speak, it seemed almost a perfect occupational fit. He couldn't, for the life of him, understand how she found herself in this job. But he wasn't one to complain.

From hearing her speak periodically, Inuyasha felt certain that he had never met someone who was always so optimistic as that girl. She worked hard. She never complained, and she was supportive of her friend whenever Sango grew frustrated with the work.

He overheard stories about her family, stories about an old boyfriend who was really vanilla, as Sango called it. She grew ridiculously enthusiastic when talking about a new book she started reading, became so animated about a restaurant she couldn't wait to try. Inuyasha found her perspective almost…refreshing. She wasn't jaded. She was happy. Genuinely happy.

She was also uncharacteristically intensely stubborn, and it was her stubbornness that Inuyasha found so…amusing.

She would argue—albeit politely—with that douchebag Kouga when she disagreed with his opinion. She reprimanded that kid Shippou when she saw he was getting a sunburn. She stood up for herself, and for Sango, and the work the two girls accomplished. Her personality was a fine balance between a carefreeness that left a smile across her delicate features, and a firm moral compass that made her stand her ground when she felt it was necessary to do so.

Inuyasha couldn't explain it, but he couldn't get enough of her.

He wasn't the kind of man who conventionally felt the need to resort to eavesdropping. Matter of fact, he had never put so much effort into keeping a controlled distance from someone before. He knew what he was doing was stupid. A part of him even felt ashamed for sneaking and spying like this. He felt jumpy whenever one of his household staff came around when Inuyasha had stopped what he was doing to listen to the girls. He didn't know how to explain himself. But then he remembered that he was the owner of the house and the man in charge so he didn't need to explain himself to anybody.

Ever since he and Kagome shared that…look…he didn't know how he could instigate it again without seeming like he was trying to hard. Therefore, Inuyasha put effort into trying to make an encounter with Kagome appear effortless.

And Miroku, amusingly, was in the same boat.

After the lemonade incident, Miroku had approached the girls later in the day in hopes of providing a peace offering. However, his visit was not well-received by Sango who was forced to finish the rest of her Tuesday in clothing that left her skin feeling tacky and with hair strands that became crispy from lemonade dried by the sun.

Unwilling to allow Sango to stay mad at him, Miroku concocted a plan. On Wednesday, Miroku orchestrated some of the staff to bring the girls coffee, tarts, and muffins in the mornings, and watermelon and iced tea in the afternoons. However, by the end of the day, he grieved that his gifts had been untouched. By Thursday morning, though, he was pleased to see that Kagome begun to graciously accept his hospitality.

Having inquired once, to a meek looking female, on whose behalf these treats were sent, the woman merely bowed her head to Kagome and said 'Master Houshi.' By the time Thursday afternoon rolled around, the housing staff were leaving the girls trays of drinks and light snacks on the patio table.

Despite Sango's pride that prevented her from accepting Miroku's gifts, she was all too happy to oblige to taking a break in the shade when Kagome wanted some tea or a snack. Starting Thursday afternoon, when the humidity became so thick it felt like you could take a bite out of it, the girls took a welcome break underneath the patio canopy.

It was that afternoon when how Inuyasha learned about Miroku's generosity towards the girls.

He had been leaving the pool house after a swim in the afternoon when he heard the girls on the patio before he saw them. In shock from the site before him, he backtracked his steps and, still dripping wet, Inuyasha marched into the house using the connected pool house entrance and confronted Miroku.

"We're feeding them now?" Inuyasha demanded, his hands on his hips.

"Ah, Inuyasha," Miroku commented, his eyes on his phone. "Did you see the memo I forwarded you? Your lawyer responded to your question about—"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll get to that. But the girls, Miroku. What the hell have you been doing with those girls? Why the fuck are they on my patio?"

"Oh," Miroku blinked a few times, a harmless expression taking over his face. "It's a peace offering."

Inuyasha's mouth opened slightly as he watched Miroku walk away and flip through papers in his hands.

"A peace offering? What the hell does that mean?"

Miroku turned to look at Inuyasha over his shoulder, the documents falling to his side. "I'm sure even you, Inuyasha, noticed how tense everything became with the girls after Sango and I…" Miroku trailed off with a shake of his head. "I don't mean to presume, Inuyasha, but from taking a look at your calendar these past two days, I have a suspicion that you are quite intrigued by our girl Kagome, out there—" Miroku didn't stop speaking when he saw the look on Inuyasha's face that suggested he was about to interrupt— "And I'm quite taken by Sango, myself. Therefore, I feel it's in our best interests to not permit any bad blood to exist between us. That explains the patio and the coffee and the treats."

"And fucking muffins can fix bad blood?"

"It's a show of good will, Inuyasha," Miroku replied with a stern look in his eye.

Looking down at his feet, Inuyasha noticed the wet footprints he left in the carpet and adjusted himself onto the hardwood flooring. "Feh, I just don't see what good feeding them will do. If they're gonna be bitches about some lemonade then it's no skin off my back."

"You know, as well as I do, Inuyasha, that having those girls work so closely to the house would make it uncomfortable if things negatively escalated between us. If you are that opposed to allowing the girls the use of the patio, I'd love to hear some alternative suggestions for how to keep the peace, if you have them."

Inuyasha sighed belligerently in response and turned his head to look in the direction where the girls would be seated. He wanted to argue that he would have the authority to just fire both of those girls if push came to shove. However, he was too flustered to know how to word his argument, so he just let it go.

"Alright, fine. But they're still not allowed in the house," Inuyasha grumbled, walking away.

"Of course," Miroku nodded. "I wouldn't have permitted otherwise."

The days went by slowly but the week flew by. Before Kagome knew any better it was Friday. Her first payday.

Sango and Kagome had been giddy that morning while they rode in the truck alongside their colleagues on the way to Sengoku Manor. The pre-weekend electricity in the air, everyone seemed to be in brighter spirits.

The moment Sango climbed into Kagome's Corolla, Sango was insistent that the girls go out that night. It had been a long, gruelling week, and Sango claimed that she and Kagome were going to dress up and go out to celebrate their first paycheques.

Kagome couldn't recall the last time she had put a substantial amount of effort into dressing up, and she certainly couldn't imagine the last time she wore high heels instead of steel-toed boots or running shoes. Reluctantly, Kagome agreed that she and Sango could plan a night out depending on how tired Kagome felt after work.

However, Kagome knew that once Sango sunk her teeth into something, Kagome really didn't have a choice.

Kagome became used to the routine she and Sango had developed, and walking down the lengthy driveway to reach their garden site, Kagome felt her heartbeat flutter at the sudden reminder that came upon her of Miroku's coffee and morning pastries.

She had been overly amused when Miroku had trays initially brought to the girls; however, Sango had been insistent to the woman bearing the tray that it be taken away. Sango was firm in stating that she and Kagome wanted no special treatment from the house's owner or its staff. However, Kagome's amusement intensified at noticing how Sango's stubbornness matched that of Miroku's.

Not only did he not accept Sango's refusal to accept his gesture, but he had the trays left for the girls on the patio. The news was delivered to the girls by a note handed to them by a member of the house's staff. It had been signed with the initials M.H. and said, "The host requests you enjoy yourselves. He won't take no for an answer." Kagome, not one to deny the efforts or generosity of others, was happy for the reprieve brought to her day by meandering over to the patio for ten to fifteen minutes. She found the fruit and iced tea a welcome refreshment. Sango, however, followed her friend and took some enjoyment in the shade, but she wanted nothing to do with the goods.

"I don't understand, Sango," Kagome said over a mouthful of watermelon. "What's so wrong in enjoying this? I, for one, think this is a really nice gesture."

Sango's eyes steeled. "I don't trust him, Kagome. That pervert is up to something."

Kagome smiled. "How many times does that poor man have to apologize to you before you accept his apologies? I really don't think he planned to knock you over or cover you in lemonade, Sango."

"And what about copping a feel?" Sango retorted, her cheeks flushed. "Bet he didn't plan that either?"

Kagome sighed and shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know the man, Sango. I can't speak for his intentions. But," Kagome motioned to the table in front of her, "he's been quite insistent that we accept his generosity as a white flag. I really don't see what harm coffee or iced tea could bring you."

Sango grumbled and crossed her arms underneath her breasts. "Unless they're spiked with something."

Kagome sighed with an amused roll of her eyes and took another sip of her iced tea.

"Are you still adamant that we go out tonight?" Kagome asked, eager to change the subject to bring her friend out of her funk. She smiled at seeing how immediately Sango emerged from her irritation.

"Oh god, yes. I need to feel like an attractive female again. I've been covered in dirt and sweat for the last few days. I almost forget what false eyelashes feel like."

Kagome laughed. "I know what you mean. The idea of getting ready to go out sounds exhausting, but I can't remember the last Friday night where we went out."

Sango nodded. "Where should we go?"

Kagome made a face and shook her head. "You know way more about that sort of stuff than I do. What do you feel like? A bar? A club?"

"If I'm getting dolled up, I'm going dancing. I can say that much."

Kagome laughed. "A club it is then."

A lull developed in the girls' conversation as Sango pulled her phone out from her back pocket and started scrolling her thumb vertically.

"What are you doing?" Kagome inquired.

Sango was silent for a few moments before responding. "I'm trying to see what sorts of events some of the clubs have going on this weekend."

Kagome's eyes widened fearfully. "Please, Sango. No foam parties. For the love of god, don't do that to me again, okay?" Kagome laughed. "Once was certainly enough."

Sango laughed and playfully winked at her friend. Then she turned her attentions back to her phone.

"Goshinboku has dollar beers," Sango said, her eyes glued to her screen. "Yura's has free entrance for women after eleven…" Then, after a brief pause and snigger, "No friggin' way."

Kagome put her drink down and turned her curious eyes to her friend. "What is it, Sango?"

"Apparently Kobura is closed tonight for a private event." Sango turned her eyes to meet Kagome's. "Guess who's event it is?"

Kagome shrugged.

"Inuyasha's."

Kagome's mouth opened slightly. "What's the event for?"

Sango shook her head, her eyes returning to her phone. "Their website doesn't say. It just has an apology that the place has been reserved for a private event."

"I'm surprised they have it advertised who booked the event," Kagome pondered, tapping her finger against her chin. "You'd think that would cause some serious alarm in people. I mean, advertising that a celebrity will be hosting a private event?"

Sango shrugged. "Yeah, I see what you mean. I have no idea though."

A devilish look appeared in Sango's eye just then, and it caused Kagome to brace herself. She knew that whatever Sango was about to say next would not be good.

"Do you want to go?"

Kagome frowned, "Go where?"

"To Kobura's."

Kagome tilted her head to the side in confusion. "But, I thought it's a private event. We'd never get in."

Sango smirked. "I bet you Miroku would have authorization over the guest list."

Kagome flashed Sango an unenthusiastic eye. "We can't just ask if we can go, Sango. We barely know Miroku well enough to think we have a right to attend such a party."

Sango mirrored Kagome's earlier gesture towards the food and drink in front of her. "You think Miroku would go to such trouble with all this if he wasn't interested in one of us? Put two-and-two together, Kagome."

Kagome sighed. "I'm really not comfortable asking him, Sango. It seems…I dunno…kinda presumptuous."

Sango smirked at her friend. "I didn't say you had to ask him. I'm more than happy to."

"We haven't seen him at all today," Kagome countered. "How do you plan on asking him?"

Sango flashed Kagome a confident smile then stood up and walked towards the patio French doors.

Anxiety spiking in Kagome's stomach, watching Sango creak open one of the doors, Kagome quickly covered her ears with her hands. At the same time Sango shouted Miroku's name into the house, Kagome reiterated to herself that this really was a bad idea.

Author's Note

The next chapter is gonna be doooooooooope. Thanks a million all you lovely reviewers! I'd love your feedback!