InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Head Over Heels ❯ Naked & Famous ( Chapter 11 )

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

Sango was dying in suspense. �So are you going to go out with him?�

I already had an answer, �Yeah.�

Sango sucked on her chocolate. �And that begs the question� are you going to sleep with him?�

Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Comedy / Hentai / Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 01.16.2006 | Pages: 9 | Words: 7.4K | Visits: 580 | Status: Completed

Chapter Eleven

Naked & Famous

The store had thirty minutes before opening so I slipped in the back door intent on pretending I'd been there on time; just working in the back where no one had noticed me.

Clever huh?

Sango spotted me right away. “Kagura, where on God's green earth were you yesterday?”

What? Was I supposed to do something and forgot about it? I didn't think so.

“I was at home. It was Christmas after all.”

She sat down the register drawer and began counting the change. When she had enough she began stocking the drawer with rolls of quarters. “I know. I felt bad thinking you were all alone on Christmas and called to invite you over to our house.”

I don't own a cell phone; I see them as an impediment on my freedom. I'm also notorious for never checking my answering machine.

I decided to be evasive, “Oh I was at the park, taking pictures.”

Why the hell hadn't Sango decided to mention she was going to bestow the charity of her family on me before I'd left the store Christmas Eve?

She narrowed her eyes at me. “Yeah, so nine o' clock at night in a wicked snow storm you were at the park.”

I shrugged enjoying the merry chase I was purposely leading her on. “You wanted me to come over to your place at nine pm and in a snow storm?”

Sango rolled her eyes. I followed her as she finished setting up the coffee bar register. “I started calling around two but when I hadn't heard from you I was slightly concerned. I know sometimes you seem a bit down.”

I began stocking the newspaper rack with fresh papers. Guilt pulled at the edges of my mind. She was just worried about me.

Why did I have to be so stinking rotten? “That's sweet but I'm fine and dandy.”

But Sango had to press, “So how was the park?”

“There were trees, leaves and kiddies on bikes.”

She pulled out a freshly laundered coffee apron. “I guess that's nice. So who does the bar today?”

Sango hated the bar but she hated the returns desk even more. In honor of the Christmas call I wasn't home to receive I offered, “I'll do returns if you like.”

She nodded, “I guess Miroku can hold down the coffee today.”

I love talking about myself but in reality I'm a private person. I know that's contradictive but it's possible to talk a lot and still say nothing.

I guess I'm layered like an onion, except I smell a hell of a lot nicer.

Finally I couldn't stand it anymore. This was clawing its way out of my mouth. “Sango?”

“Yeah?” She was filling the coffee air pots with hot water.

“Remember that guy who was in here last week?”

She glanced at me over her shoulder. “Umm there were lots of guys in here last week. I'm afraid you are going to have to narrow it down a bit for me there.”

Good point. “The one who caught me when I fell…”

Her eyes lit up with the wordsI told you so! And she cut me off, “The Inu-yokai?”

“Yeah.” I pretended to be struggling with the tie on the stack of New York Times. “I was with him.”

Sango's eyes widened, “You jerk! You've been keeping me in the dark. SO… Tell me already!”

“I ran into him at the park and he invited me over for dinner. Then it snowed and I had to crash there in a guest bedroom.” I was careful to put extra emphasis on the words guest bedroom.

“Wow.” She had abandoned the coffee pots and was leaning on the counter watching me. “That's it? You've not had any dates or anything?”

“I ran into him at the movies and we sat together.”

Sango groaned, “Kagura. You are the world's worst friend for not telling me all this. So tell me about him.”

We had fifteen minutes to opening so I sat on one of the coffee bar stools and crossed my legs. Today I'd gone all out with a nice black skirt and silver wedge heels. Hey tis the season after all.

I didn't know where to start. “He's a bit of an enigma.”

She laughed, “You don't say.”

“He's the head of a powerful family; he wants to bang me something terrible… Oh and he has this mortal kid.”

Sango pressed her fingers to her temples. “Okay girlie you are going to have to back up. He's rich and powerful?”

I answered with a fast, “Check.”

“He wants to have sex, or as you so eloquently put it, bang you”

I blushed but trudged on, after all I was a big girl now. “Seems like it.”

“And he has a mortal kid?”

Sango was puzzled and I couldn't blame her. The whole thing was confusing. “Her name's Rin. She's like his kid or kid sister. She's adorable.”

“Kagura, you hate children.”

I studied my nails nonchalantly, “There's an exception to everything.”

She turned to dump an air pot and set it under the coffee percolator. “So are you going to sleep with him?”

I frowned and studied the cracked Formica that passed as our coffee bar countertop. “I'd like to but…”

“But what? Aren't you the poster child for freedom and having things your way? What's stopping you?” She straightened her pony tail and checked her watch.

Confession time, oh shit. “I feel…safe around him.”

Sango switched the air pots and the air filled with the aroma of fresh French Roast. “You're gonna have to elaborate on that one.”

“It's like this. The world can be so… loud sometimes. But when I'm with him it's like I can turn down the volume and soften the noise to a dull roar. It's nice, and he's hot.” That was the closest I've ever come to describing my curse.

Sango didn't know what to make of my statement so she gave a noncommittal nod. She wasn't surprised; she'd known me long enough to understand that sometimes I'm just strange.

I was on a roll so I kept going, “I'm worried that if I give in he'll stop talking to me.”

“Some guys are like that but if he does that he's not worth keeping. However I think it's advisable to wait. You barely know him. Make him work for you. Some guys like a challenge.”

Sango's words rang true.

It occurred to me then that we hadn't even exchanged phone numbers. Had I slept with him, there wouldn't have been any waiting by the phone.

Is sex all he wanted from me? I wanted him to but I didn't want to end up tossed aside like a used up paper towel.

Suddenly I was glad I'd blown him over. He did deserve it.

The back down flew open and a teenaged boy with dark spiky hair and black long sleeved Limp Bizkit t shirt strolled in as if he owned the place.

Sango frowned and snapped, “Kohaku you're late.”

He smiled slowly and stuffed his hands in his pockets, “Sorry sis, you know how it sucks getting up early.”

She eyeballed his outfit in disgust. “I told you to dress nicely. But it's too late now.”

Kohaku shrugged, “So where do you want me?”

She put her hands on her hips, “Help customers and get some of these books restocked. Miroku will be here any minute. If you see the line at the coffee bar is longer than three people than help him.”

He gave a fast salute that ended at his pierced eyebrow. “Yes Mam!”

When we were busy and school was out Kohaku often helped out for some extra spending money. He was a cool kid but he tended to wander off if you didn't keep an eye on him.

Once I caught him sleeping in the foreign language section. He claimed he forgot why he was there and just decided to take a nap.

He was always `forgetting' to do things. Honestly if the boy's memory was as bad as he claimed I don't know how he knew his own name.

Miroku arrived and called us all to the pack for a fast pre-opening pep talk. “Okay guys! Even though it's Monday most of the city has today off so we will be swamped. I know we're probably going to end up forgoing breaks and lunches so I'm apologizing in advance.”

He pulled out a little notebook and scribbled a fast note, then looked back up at us. “Kohaku, if you forget what you are supposed to be doing today, I'm gonna kick your ass and you won't get paid.”

He pointed at me, “Kagura, no making fun of the customers… or at least wait until after the store is closed.”

Miroku paused then added, “Sango, I'd like you to have dinner with me after closing.”

This was an old tactic and Sango always shot him down for tying to corner her in public. But maybe today she was feeling some left over Christmas spirit. “Okay buster but you're paying.”

Miroku was so surprised he almost tripped over his own feet. “Um... sure! Okay then.”

He pocketed his notepad, “It's opening time! Let's do this people.”

I unlocked the door and the usual morning crowd was waiting outside. Two old men, one obsessive compulsive college kid and the middle aged house wife who practically lived in our self help section.

She made a bee line for me. “Kagura, do you have any books on reinventing yourself?”

I pasted a fake smile on my face. What Midge here needed was a husband who stayed home and quit running around on her. Not a self help book; unless she was gonna use it to beat her husband. “I'm not sure but I'll be more than happy to help you look.”

She looped her arm through mine as we made our way through the store, “You are always so helpful.”

I thought of Jane and answered softly, “Ain't I just.”

_-_-_-_

I was in the back room digging through a new shipment of boxes in search of a special order book of Michelangelo prints.

My box cutter was dull and I had to pull the packing tape of the box. Damned finger nails. They weren't sharp enough for this job.

Kohaku appeared by my side and almost gave me a heart attack. “Hey about the crickets, nice work.”

I shrugged and bent down on my knees as I dug through the box. “I don't know what you're talking about.”

His tone was smug. “Yeah whatever.”

The book wasn't in this box so I was forced to pull out another box to check. “Isn't there something else you should be doing right now?”

“Probably.”

He didn't move and I pressed, “So go do it already.”

Kohaku knelt down beside me, “I heard you know how to make things happen.”

My box cutter almost slipped. “What kind of things? Because if you are referring to me ratting you out to your sister, I can totally make that happen.”

He shook his head. “Please don't. I just meant… you're a yokai right? So you should be able to do stuff.”

I sighed, “Are you asking if I have powers?”

He grinned, “Yeah!”

I rolled my eyes, “You already know I'm a wind yokai so what do you think?”

“But I've never seen you do anything. You just hang out here like the rest of us. Don't you ever just break loose?”

I pried open the box and was happy to find the elusive book. “Not so much. Now get the hell out of here before Miroku or worse Sango realizes you are MIA.”

I picked up the print book and left him to his own thoughts. I love showing off but don't appreciate command performances. That and I didn't feel like helping Kohaku pursue whatever ulterior motives he was harboring.

_-_-_-_

Business was brisk but not insane. Miroku was disappointed. I know he was worried about competing with the bigger chains.

I was at the refund register when he popped up behind me, “Kagura?”

“Yeah boss?” He hated it when I called him that.

“When do you think you'll have our year end book completed so that we can get the W-2s out?”

It was only December 26th and his mind was already on tax season. “Gimme to the second week of January.”

“Thanks. Hey do you know where Sango likes to eat? I'd like to surprise her.”

I thought about it and wondered why I should help him. Oh why not? “Her favorite food is Thai. There's a new place on Fifth and Elm. She's dying to go there.”

His face broke out into a wide grin. “Thanks. You know…crickets aside, you're a good friend.”

I frowned. “What?”

Asshole! Did he think I was gonna fall for that?

Miroku said nothing and walked away.

_-_-_-_

I was still sitting at the refund desk in a stunned silence when Sango came over carrying a huge Styrofoam cooler.

I rubbed my hands together. “Hey did that loser employer of ours spring for lunch?”

Sango sat it on the counter before me. “Nope, I just signed for this. It came for you.”

The cooler was big, white and alarming. I frowned and said, “Sango…doesn't this look like something on CSI where they keep body parts and organs in so they'll stay cool?”

Her eyes widened and she laughed, “Now that you mention it, yeah it does.”

I sat staring at it waiting to see if it moved on it's own.

Sango prodded me. “Kagura open it already! It's probably safe because it's illegal to ship body parts in the US mail.”

I bit my lip. “I don't even want to know why you know that.”

She smiled, “Easy silly. I come from a family of cops, remember?”

Okay then here goes nothing. I cut the tape lose and pulled off the lid.

A beautiful purple tin sat inside the cooler. The lid had a gorgeous painting of a nude woman on a horse with streaming long hair strategically covering her in just the right places.

“Oh hell Sango, someone's sent me fancy porn.”

She groaned, “Now way. Here let me hold that.”

Sango pulled the tin free and several cold gel packs with it. A card was taped to the tin.

“Kagura, this is maybe a four or five pound tin of Godiva chocolates.”

What?

“Shit! Really?” Now I was itching to hold my tin of fancy chocolates. “Give `em here.”

She sat them down and held up her hands, “Okay greedy lady I am now backing away from the chocolates.”

“That's cool, you can stand next to them for now.” I was planning on sharing… eventually.

Sango propped her elbows up on the counter. I pulled off the tin and saw there had to be four layers of wonderful, decadent, first rate chocolates.

Ohhh the Gods do exist and boy do they love me!

I took a white chocolate starfish and discovered it was filled with heavenly raspberry filling. I generously offered the tin to Sango and she tried a truffle.

We sat in silence just soaking up the gourmet chocolate vibe.

We were both reaching for piece number two when she spotted the card.

Her mouth was full, “You know maybe you should read the card.”

And find out who our chocolate benefactor was? Yeah maybe that was a good idea.

I slowly opened the car and pulled out card shaped like a mimosa, my favorite flower. It read:

The Aztecs thought chocolate to be an aphrodisiac.

Your tongue is in your mouth.

Your mouth is in your head.

I win.

I'll see you tomorrow at six.

Dress up.

-Sesshou

My mouth went dry and all I could do was stare.

That bastard! He really thought I could be bought with chocolates? And he never said what happened to Jane.

But then I guess I did tell him to start with my head. And it is painfully obvious what must've become of the nanny.

Sango got tired of waiting and snatched the card from my loose fingers. She scanned it quickly and dropped it on the counter.

“Wow.”

I raised my brows, “Yeah, you can say that again.”

“He's intense huh?”

I picked up another piece of chocolate. Just because I wasn't sure about Sesshomaru didn't mean I was passing on the candy. “Yeah, just a bit.”

She sighed and helped herself to the tin. “You know this has got to be a three hundred dollar tin of chocolate. And the tin looks like it's some kind of limited edition collector's piece.”

“My specialty runs more into shoes but I'll take your word for it.” There was more candy there than I could eat in a month. But I was looking forward to trying.

I looked and noticed the tin was hand numbered. Mine was number three out of two hundred and fifty. Wow you could collect fancy chocolate tins after all. Who knew? The word EBay flashed through my brain but I dismissed it.

Sango was dying in suspense. “So are you going to go out with him?”

I already had an answer, “Yeah.”

Sango sucked on her chocolate. “And that begs the question… are you going to sleep with him?”

I licked a smudge of chocolate from my lips. “I'd like to but I want it to be about more than sex. And if that's all he sees in me than I don't know what I'm going to do.”

_-_-_

Notes:

How often do you see Kohaku in a fic!

Godiva Chocolates is named for Lady Godiva who rode on horseback through the streets of her town completely nude except for her long hair. This was in response to her husband's words that he'd only lift the huge tax burden from their people when she rode naked through the streets. So I guess we know who wore the pants in that family…or not. LOL!

Dsm1980 has pointed out The Devil's Dictionary can be downloaded legally and for free at Gutenberg dot org! Good looking out and thanks.

From The Devil's Dictionary:

Reporter:A writer who guesses his way to the truth and dispels it with a tempest of words.

Repose: To cease from troubling