Disclaimer: I don't own jack!

Crossing Stars

Chapter Eight: Phone Call

Kagome lowered her arm over her eyes.

Dabi knew.

More specifically, he knew that she'd recognized him the other night but had opted to not call attention to him. He seemed appreciative of that fact and when he'd propositioned her a second time, she'd nearly agreed.

Her body still felt heated at the thought of him. Her heart raced beneath her breast as she tried to get the image of him hovering over her out of her head.

Unlike Houjo, Dabi was attractive in a way that made her blood rush. His body was perfectly toned and he had a roguish personality that gave him a masculine charm. She could honestly say that Dabi was more her type. Perhaps her attraction was due in part to her curious nature. If Houjo had been a terrible experience then maybe Dabi would be better?

Kagome shook her head as she tried to clear the thought from her mind.

No matter how curious she was, she wasn't about to sleep with someone she didn't feel any sort of emotional connection with.

She paused as she found Ohagi meowing outside her window.

She quickly opened it and let the feline in.

When she untied the note from his collar it'd only said one thing.

Call me.

Beneath that was a phone number she didn't recognize.

Kagome debated with herself for a moment. She'd never even met this person yet they were offering her their phone number. If she called them then she could be opening a floodgate that she couldn't close.

She flinched when she heard her mother slam a door downstairs, yelling into her own phone about how disappointed she was.

Kagome sucked a breath through her lips. She silently crept over to her door and locked it.

Afterwards she dialed in the number. She checked it once then twice before she hit the call button.

It rang three times before a masculine voice answered on the other end of the line.

"This Kagome?" His question was playful as she heard the familiar city sounds of cars rushing by in the background.

"It is," She answered. "I believe that my cat has decided to harass you."

The man gave a light hearted laugh. The sound alone was attractive and she felt herself flushing.

Seriously, what was wrong with her? She was starting to think that she was just desperate at this point.

"I wouldn't call it harassment. More like he just pops by for attention and runs away right after." His voice turned serious, "You know, you sound familiar."

She had to admit that he did too.

Where exactly had she heard his voice before?

"When you said that you were late because of a villain attack, were you the one that'd gotten attacked?" She heard him shift in the background.

"Wait," Kagome paused, "Is this Dabi?!"

His laughter was the only answer she needed to know that he was one in the same. The man who'd become Ohagi's second favorite and the hero who'd rescued her twice now were the same person.

"Now I've finally got your name and number, lucky me." He laughed lightly, "Also just call me Touya. Dabi is my hero name and I'd rather you just call me by my real name."

She felt herself flush, "Alright Touya, thanks for helping me twice now."

"Don't mention it. I take it that the plain looking guy I saw you with before is the one you're dating?" His voice was smooth, causing a pleasant shiver to run down her spine.

"Kind of," Kagome answered. "I've tried breaking things off with him before but he just pretends like he doesn't hear me." Her brows furrowed, "He's the son of my mom's best friend so she's biased. However all my friends think he's a perfect gentlemen and that I'm making a mistake in trying to dump him."

Touya was silent for a moment then he responded, "Sounds like he doesn't do anything to get you excited." She heard him walk inside a building a the background noise of cars and traffic suddenly faded away. "Also from my experience, if someone can't take no for an answer then they're not going to respect you where it really matters. If you want to be done with him then tell him point blank that you're through. No need to be in person for it either. Texting it to him would give you a legal paper trail and you won't be putting yourself at risk."

Touya paused for just a moment, "If you have your own place, why is your mom able to push this guy on you?"

She fidgeted as her mother's yelling downstairs grew louder.

"I still live with my family. I was trying to spend a few years saving before I moved out but I kind of lost my temper and quit this morning." She crossed her leg over her knee.

It'd been a spur of the moment decision but now she needed to find something else quick.

"I get that you're not ready for anything physical." Touya started and she felt heat rush between her legs at the thought. "But if you're used to running insurance claims then I could use you at the Agency. There's a dorm system there too so you could at least have your own place."

Kagome felt her lips curl into a smile, "A very tempting offer but I'd like that in writing."

"Smart girl," Touya laughed in response. "I'll send it over to you after we're done here." He then continued, "Now that I've got you on the phone, what kind of men do you like?"

Kagome found herself smiling, "It's hard to say. I guess I'll know once I meet them."

Touya gave a thoughtful hum, "You haven't met them yet?"

She closed her eyes, "Let's just say that I do find one person I've met to be attractive but I'm not sure if that's all I want. A single night versus a lasting relationship are two very different things."

"Then let's get to know each other," He took her bait. "You can quit the Agency any time if you don't feel that the work suits you, but I'd like to keep talking to you."

Kagome laid down on her bed as she laughed, "Alright, you win. I'll message you later with my answer once I see your employment offer."

This had the potential to become extremely messy. Logically she knew that yet another part of her felt like it was the change she needed.

Even if things didn't work out between them, she could at least get out of the shrine for a little while and find her own footing without Houjo or anyone else to pressure her.

"Ohagi can hang in the office," Touya spoke after a short moment. "We need an office cat anyways."

That got her to laugh, "I'll be sure to bring him."

"I have to go now, but talk to you soon." Touya bid her once last farewell before he hung up the call.

Kagome glanced down at her phone.

Her body still felt hot while her heart raced.

Ohagi had rolled onto his back and offered her his belly. She knew it was a trap and yet she also couldn't prevent herself from touching the forbidden belly of her cat. Ohagi wrapped his paws around her hand as he kicked it with his back feet.

Once she drew back, she opened up her text thread with Houjo and shot him a simple two word message then blocked his number.

We're done.

Starting now, she was single and free to do as she wished.