InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Killer In Hindsight ❯ Kitchen Sink Cookies Get You Everywhere ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: I don’t own Inuyasha and Company.
‘Thoughts’
“Speech”
OOO-Flashb ack
XXX-Break in scene or POV
Author’s Note: Edited Version.
XXXX

This was the fifth time today another, rather unqualified, cook had come to see him. A couple days ago he had sent in an ad to be placed in the Tokyo Times only to have it come out today, the very day his crewmates and himself would be leaving. They couldn’t set out without a chef, and were most likely going to leave behind schedule. If there was anything that frustrated the hanyou more, it was being behind schedule.

The being that stood there on the upper level deck of the fishing vessel was a god, for lack of a better word. He was currently shirtless, showing off his lean muscular frame, with eyes the color of amber, hair white as the snow itself and the cutest little doggy ears twitching atop his head. Inuyasha’s large calloused hands grasped the bright orange railing as he looked out over the boat. His crew was currently mopping the deck and loading on the nets. The sun was shining but not in our young captain’s mind, he scowled as he watched them. They weren’t going to like the news of leaving late.

The deck hands currently consisted of Miroku, his first mate, and although the man was perverted he was good at what he did. Next, was Kouga, even though the wolf demon was cocky, he and Inuyasha had some strange, warped form of friendship. Then came Sango, now normally, he wouldn’t let a woman step foot on his precious boat, it was bad luck you know, but he had made an exception for her. She was strong and a bit more on the gruff side, but he liked her and his first mate was in love with her. Sango was one who would get the job done, and in his mind, that was all that mattered.

Then there was Shippou, he had found the small kitsune stowed away underneath one of the tarps. He was only ten and had begged and pleaded with him to stay, the kid had proved his worth being damn good with a mop and broom, and the gods knew they definitely needed someone who could clean up after them. The kid was normally quiet and he didn’t cause too much trouble.

Then there was Hojo, the bumbling idiot, why he still kept him around he would never know. And Hiten, the guy had lost his brother a couple years ago to a rough storm while out at sea. Inuyasha had taken pity on him, and given him a job. And last but not least, the boat’s doctor, Jinenji. The guy was kind of quiet, so no one paid too much mind to him and he did come in handy last year, when Kouga had broken his arm, wrestling with one of the larger nets.
XXX

Kagome stepped out of the shower; steam streaming out from behind her, grabbing her big fluffy towel she wrapped herself in it. Her wet hair dripping onto the blue bath mat, she wiped the fog from the mirror, grabbed her toothbrush from the little stand on the sink and proceeded to brush her teeth. Mentally, she went through her wardrobe trying to decide what to wear for the interview. Humming, she continued on to her bedroom, the plush green rug, soft, beneath her feet.

Kagome opened the doors to her closet on the right side of the room and sat on her black bedspread, staring into it, waiting for the right choice to jump out at her. Eventually, realizing that nothing was going to jump out soon and her cookies were still cooling in the kitchen, plus the fact that she wanted to get down to the marina as soon as she could, she dove into her closet and emerged with a pair of low-rise slim blue jeans and a forest green tank top. Grabbing some panties and a bra, she got dressed, towel dried her still dripping hair as best she could and went on to the kitchen. Of course, the cookies were cooled enough by the time she emerged from her bedroom just down the hall; she grabbed a plastic baggy, stuck one cookie in her mouth and ten more into the baggie.

Kagome figured she might as well take some with her; they might just end up landing her the job. Throwing her hair up into a high ponytail, she grabbed her light blue track jacket, making sure she had her cookies, her keys and some money for the cab. Kagome slipped on her sneakers, headed off down the hall, and down the stairs, to the door that would take her to the street.
XXX

She had hailed the cab some fifteen minutes ago and told the balding man in the front of her destination, vaguely she recognized the song “Dark Blue” by Jack Mannequin playing in the background. It had been sometime since Kagome had been to a marina, her father used to own a small lobster boat and she would go out with him sometimes to set out or bring in traps. Those were some of her best memories; and then one day her father had up and sold the boat. She remembered locking herself in her room for days.

It seemed her small family had fallen into some recent debt and could no longer pay the bills, but her father was most affected by the selling of the boat and he had fallen into a deep depression. He was a Lobsterman by nature, and now that it was gone, he had felt he had failed his family and one day committed suicide.

Shortly after that day, Mrs. Higurashi had come to the realization that she was pregnant. It was a small joy in the devastated family’s life. Soon after Kagome’s younger brother Souta was born, their mother had sadly, died during childbirth. Soon it was just nine-year-old Kagome and new-born Souta trying to make it on their own. They lived on the streets for a bit, Kagome working odd jobs to get food for herself and her brother. Then one day an old woman named Kaede came across them, and in turn took them in. If it weren’t for the kind old soul, Kagome was sure that she and her brother would not still be here.

It wasn’t much longer after Kagome came out of her little trip to the past that they had arrived at the marina. Taking a deep breath she handed the cabby his money and walked along the planks that made up the dockyard. She counted the single docks as she went by them ’ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen AHA!’ She fiddled with the paper of the ad nervously, Kagome could see the boat up ahead, and it was by no means small. Definitely not what she had been expecting, and she was more than a little intimidated by the size of the beast. She walked slowly down the planks; some creaking beneath her feet, her heart rate increased and, for a second, she considered turning back. But she needed this job and so she prepared herself for the worst and inched towards the boat.
XXX

The gulls where cawing, the sky was blue as could be with not a cloud in sight, the waves gently lapping at the side of the vessel it was so serene, in fact it was picture perfect until…

“Goddamit…Can’t find a half decent cook anywhere these days…” Inuyasha paced back and forth on the upper deck of his ship. The people who were showing up for interviewing were nothing more than bumbling idiots. It was enough to make him go crazy, as was seen and heard by his previous outburst.

Just then the most enticing scent hit his nose ‘Cookies? No one’s making cookies.’ He sniffed again and was practically drooling at the smell; he closed his eyes in complete ecstasy “Mmm,” he moaned. Next came the scent of a young woman ‘Hopefully not here to try and get the job.’ He thought.

The last thing he needed was a whiny, prissy little girl to cook nasty food for him. He was; however, dying to know who had those cookies and if he could get just an insy-winsy little taste. He finally opened his eyes, and looking down at the dock saw a small woman staring at his boat and shifting from foot to tiny foot.

She was definitely pretty he’d give her that. With long black hair that had a tint of blue to it in just the right light ‘Looks soft too,’ he thought. High cheekbones, wide nervous blue eyes, and her delicate mouth was shaped into the most adorable ‘o’. Her legs went on for miles and she had curves in all the right places. Forget the cookies, he was now drooling over the adorable girl in front of him and was currently headed down his dock.
XXX

‘Oh, I hope this goes well, I don’t know what I’m going to tell Kaede if she finds out I lost another job.’ Just then her eyes met with the most gorgeous man she had ever seen. Standing up there, looking absolutely luscious, and staring Right. At. Her.

She gulped. ‘I need to just go and get this over with. The sooner it’s done, the sooner I can go home, curl up in my bed, and die.’ Shaking her head, Kagome paced closer to the boat, her heart practically pounding it’s way through her chest. She cleared her throat and then all of a sudden the face of a man popped over the side and a wide grin gracing his features, nearly split his face in two. Kagome ‘eeped’ definitely not expecting that to happen.

“Why hello there Miss. Can I help you?”

“Um, I’m not sure. Are you in need of a cook?” She asked.

“Yes we are, are you here to apply for the position?” The face asked. Kagome still had yet to see the rest of his body or learn his name.

He cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled “Inuyasha! You’ve got another visitor!!”

“Shut up Miroku! I’m not deaf!” The man above them yelled back.

“Why don’t you come aboard?” The man now pegged as Miroku stood and she could see him clearly now. He was dressed in a dark purple t-shirt and blue jeans. The yellow rubber gloves on his hands made Kagome giggle.

“Do you find something funny?” He turned to her and asked, raising an eyebrow, and taking her hand to help her over the side of the boat. Kagome blushed and suddenly found her feet very interesting.
XXX

Inuyasha’s ears were ringing. ‘So, she is here to apply.’ He couldn’t say he was too disappointed, she was pretty and hopefully she could cook. Coming down the steps like he had all the time in the world he walked up to the girl and his first mate.

“Can I help you?” he asked.

“Um, yes sir, I’m here to apply for the position,” at this she stuck out her hand holding the somewhat crumpled and torn piece of paper.

“Feh, whatever…just come with me.” He replied. They walked back up the stairs and into the wheelhouse, sitting down in his dark blue upholstered seat he spun around to face her. Kagome was sitting on one of the little benches across from him, a little lopsided because of the equipment inside of it. She stared at him and he stared back, his eyes raking over her form, she shivered a little from the intensity of it. That’s when he noticed the cookies in her hand. That oh-so-wonderful smell suddenly overwhelmed him again and his mouth started to water.

Noticing where his gaze had wandered off to, Kagome looked down at the hand that was holding the baggie of cookies. Shaking slightly, she stuck the bag out in front of her.

“Would you like one?” Blinking a couple times, as the silence had been broken, Inuyasha stared at her a bit weird and nodded his head. He stuck his hand inside the bag and pulled out one of the cookies. Taking a small bite in tasting it, he immediately thought he had died and gone to heaven. They were so good.

“What’s your name?” he asked around a mouthful of delicious cookie.

“Kagome Higurashi.” Inuyasha glanced at her and took another cookie from the bag.

“It’s obvious you can cook…” taking another bite of cookie, “otherwise you wouldn’t be here.” A few crumbs spewing from his mouth.

“Inuyasha.” He said motioning for the bag. She blushed and handed him the rest of the bag.

“Ever been on a boat before, Ms. Higurashi?” Her head jerked up.

“Yes, my father used to be a lobsterman.” Inuyasha raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue her answer.

“I…I …I used to go out and bring the traps in with him.” She stuttered a little.

“A fishing boat is a lot different than a lobster boat.”

“I know, I definitely wasn’t expecting such a big boat…but it won’t take me long to get my sea legs…” She said glaring at him a little as he inhaled the last of the cookies.

“Will you be making more of these?” he asked.

“If you want me too.” She had to tap down the little bit of hope rising in her, it wouldn’t be good to get all worked up and then not get the job.

“I don’t usually let women on my boat.” He said looking sadly at the empty bag.

“But there was a woman down on the deck before…” she really needed this job.

He heaved a tiny sigh. He did need a cook and she did make some damn fine cookies. “Do you have any other jobs or family that you can’t leave for long periods of time?”

“Well no…I just lost my last job, and my brother will be fine without me, he has someone who can look after him while I’m gone.” It was really hard to keep that hope down.

“Give me your number and I’ll call you when I’ve made my decision.” He said finally. Kagome sat up a little straighter and the red came back to color her cheeks.

“I’ll get you some paper and a pen.” He said as he spun back around in the chair to face the controls. Inuyasha looked through all the drawers until finally he came across a small scrap of paper and a black pen. Handing it to Kagome he watched her write down her number and hand it back to him.
XXX

Back in her apartment, Kagome sat on her white sofa staring at the phone on the stand next to it, willing it to ring. She had been in that position ever since she got back thirty minutes ago, even though it felt like hours. This was her least favorite part of the job process, waiting. She had always hated waiting and she figured she always would. Still, it didn’t make her feel any less anxious.

Finally deciding that she wouldn’t get anything done sitting there, she got up and went to the kitchen hoping to find something edible. Opening her fridge, Kagome groaned, she might have to just order pizza. She didn’t feel like cooking and there was definitely nothing in there that would cook quick and easy. She went back into her small living room and sat on the couch, well she could officially say that that was a waste of time. She had accomplished nothing, other than making herself hungrier.

Picking up the phone, she suddenly realized she couldn’t call; Inuyasha might not be able to get through. ‘Aw fuck,’ she thought to herself. She did have an answering machine so she could always go out, even though she didn’t feel like it. Deciding that him leaving a message was better than her screwing up and not getting his call, she once again grabbed her jacked, slipped on her shoes and headed out the door. There was this place just around the corner named Jason’s Pizza, they had the best pepperoni pizza, ever.
XXX

Inuyasha paced back and forth in the living space of the boat, his crew sat around him and watched him in mild humor. He continued to grumble and pace when Sango suddenly piped up, “Why would it be so bad if there was another girl on board Inuyasha? If she can cook I say let her come.”

“Plus she does have some, albeit little, experience on a boat. She’s the best one yet.” Miroku said as he pondered their current dilemma. It was the most rational decision and she did have a very nice set of…cookies?

“You’re just saying that she’s the best ‘cause she was pretty.” Shippou grumbled from his corner on the floor.

“I don’t care if she’s pretty or not! I don’t like having women on my boat.” He bellowed.

“I’m a woman, Inuyasha; does that mean you have a problem with me?” Sango threatened as she stood up from one of the bunks.

“That you are.” Miroku said before the captain could say anything.

“Shut up, Miroku.” He said turning to glare at his first mate. “No, Sango, I wasn’t talking about you.”

“So I don’t apply when you talk about women.” She was inching closer and closer to the captain with severe pain clearly written in her eyes.

“No, Sango, you’re just different. Besides we don’t know anything about this girl.”

Sango stopped advancing on him only to ask “What are you scared of her? Not like she’s a murderer or anything. I saw her and she most definitely looked like she couldn’t even hurt a fly. The girl is innocent.”

Inuyasha sighed. Yeah, she did look pretty innocent and that’s what he was afraid of with all these men confined to the area of the boat, trouble was sure to happen.

“I’m more worried about her than you guys. She is innocent and with Kouga and Miroku hanging around…she’ll probably end up being raped in the middle of the night.”

“HEY!” came two indignant cries.

“I wouldn’t go so low as to rape a woman and you know that Inuyasha. Besides she’ll probably hop into my bed willingly.” Kouga came back rather smugly.

“If we do hire her, she’s not getting into anyone’s bed, got it?” anyone who dared question him would surely meet their death in that moment, he was radiating possessiveness like no tomorrow. Sighing, Inuyasha finally gave in; there was no way around it. They needed a cook, and she was the best they could get.

“I’ll go make the call.”
XXX

The scratching of a key in the door could be heard, as Kagome threw the door to her apartment open, threw her keys in the little bowl beside the door, and locked the door behind her. She settled down on the couch with her pizza and Bouyo came to investigate. When she was finally all situated she went to open the box to get a slice and as she did, she noticed the little red blinking light on her answering machine.

‘Dear Gods let it be him telling me I got the job,’ she pleaded silently. Pressing the button to play the message, the robotic voice of the answering machine filled the silent room. “You have one new message. Received at one o’clock PM. Beep.” Then Inuyasha’s voice came on, “Hey, Ms. Higurashi, I’m calling to let you know you got the job be at the dock by ten tomorrow morning. Pack your clothes. When you come by we’ll do some grocery shopping…I guess that’s it…bye.” Beep. Kagome’s mouth nearly to the floor, her eyes as wide as saucers.

“I got the job.” She said in awe. “I GOT THE JOB! “ Screaming, she ran around the apartment, occasionally stopping to do a little dance, her smile so wide it nearly split her face. Her screaming had caused Bouyo to go into hiding around the corner in the bathroom. She giggled at her frightened cat, picked up the phone and called Keade’s. She got the job.
XXXX
End Author’s Note:Hey everyone! This is the edited version of Chapter 1. The only changes were with grammar and punctuation