InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Head Over Heels ❯ Chance Encounters ( Chapter 17 )

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

Inuyasha wasn�t gone more than fifteen minutes before he was standing before me holding a really pissed off Kohaku by the collar of his ratty denim jacket. �This yours?�

Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Comedy / Hentai / Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.26.2006 | Pages: 10 | Words: 9.9K | Visits: 491 | Status: Completed

Chapter Seventeen

Chance Encounters

Warning: This chapter contains nothing offensive what so ever. Sorry.

Kagura:

As we walked back to my apartment I had to hurry to keep in time with Sesshomaru's long legs. His mind had left me and was now intently focused on his brother. The man who'd spent all day worshiping me was gone.

Normally this would've been upsetting but it was obvious this had nothing to do with me.

I wanted to comfort him but didn't know how. He harbored such distain for his brother but never came out and said why. By the time we were back on my stoop I was picturing the stuff urban legends are built on; a hanyou gang member who'd just finished serving a prison sentence for selling small children those lickable acid stickers.

Maybe he was in the circus or an exotic dancer. There were a million things he could've done to shame such a conservative family. Whatever it was Sesshomaru wasn't in the mood to share.

He walked me to my door and waited patiently while I unlocked it. He stood outside while I pulled off my coat and tossed it on the couch. I stuck my head out the door to see what was holding him up.

Sesshomaru was down on his knees on the thread bare green carpet running his hands down the front of my door. I knelt down beside him, “Whatcha doing there?”

He frowned. “I thought I heard something last night.”

Really? I've heard the same thing countless times and while I knew I wasn't crazy it was a relief that he'd heard it to. He wasn't going to find the scratches he was looking for; I knew this because I never have either.

Sesshomaru looked up, the silly t-shirt he wore made his expression all that more serious. “Has this happened before?”

I gave a big empty smile, “Has what happened before?”

His fingers traced the thin wood grain of my door. “Have you heard any scratching?”

I was elated and horrified at the same time. He wasn't leaving after one day; he was even concerned for my safety. I'd found a guy I could call if the power went out and I was scared, although it takes more than that to shake my tree. He was someone I could rely on.

But my happiness was like finding a hundred dollar bill on the street then being told by my mom the right thing to do is turn it in to the cops. It was bittersweet and short lived. He could never find out about my secret, I might lose him. He already had a brother he was deeply ashamed of, appearances meant something to him. So how could I expect Sesshomaru to accept all of me?

“Kagura,” He thought I hadn't heard him. “Have you heard anything out here?”

I swallowed and made the safest, wisest choice, “No I haven't.”

Sesshomaru's eyes flashed and his lips thinned but he said nothing. Somehow he guessed that I was lying but didn't know why. After all why would I lie about something so petty?

He stood up and brushed his hands off on his jeans. “I still don't like this. Will you be home the rest of the day?”

I nodded, saddened that he was leaving but not surprised.

Sesshomaru pulled out his cell and punched some a fast note to himself on the number keys. “Good. My man Jaken will be here before long. I'm giving you a security system.”

A security system? Well if that ain't the most romantic gift I've ever gotten.

Actually it was. But I could never accept it. The ghosts would screw with it and probably set it off every other night. I knew this because when things are at their worst all of my electronic equipment goes on the fritz. I would be kicked out of my apartment for constantly disturbing the peace.

And what if he used it to keep track of me?

Sesshomaru was a powerful man and I didn't want him keeping video surveillance on my apartment. I wanted him yes but I refused to be some kind of kept mistress.

I licked my lips and dived in, “That's sweet but don't. Sesshomaru, it's too much.”

He lifted a brow, “Why not?”

“I don't want one.”

The brow fell, “You need one, case closed.”

That was the wrong answer, “It's my apartment and I said no.”

Sesshomaru sighed, “If it's against your lease I can talk to your landlord, I'm sure he'll see reason.”

I stood up and my hand unconsciously found my hip, “I said no.”

He growled and I took a step back, “I don't know what ridiculous notion you have but this is for your own good.”

Suddenly I realized he meant well and maybe a compromised could be reached. “That's beyond sweet, but maybe you could set me up with some dead bolts. I really need them.”

He was never one to give up. “You live in a… less than desirable part of town. I'd prefer the security system.”

I lifted my chin and met his eyes, “I'll only agree to the dead bolts.”

He tossed his head and I saw a bit of red seep into his luminous eyes. “Fine. But I will not always give in so easily.”

He thought that was easy?

Oh well, I had yet to become to fight. Bring it on! I shrugged and tried not to look like I was gloating too much.

“Jaken will be here in the next two hours with a master locksmith. We'll put in two deadbolts and some locks on those windows. Maybe even a new door… this one is flimsy.” He watched me waiting for me to challenge him as he tapped my hollow wood door to emphasize his point.

I smiled, “Thanks that's great.”

Sesshomaru was annoyed but decided to let it go. I had a feeling this was not his usual way of handling a blatant refusal to do his will. He swept over me and bent me back in a fast kiss. My lips gave in to his in happy surrender. When I pulled away for air I saw he was fishing his keys from his pocket. “Are you free tomorrow night?”

I shook my head, “Sorry I gotta close.”

“The bookstore closes at what time, eight?”

I watched him jingle the key ring in his hand. “Seven, but I am stuck there to eight. It takes us awhile to count down and clean up.” Had he ever had a normal job in his whole life? Probably not.

“Have dinner with me?” His request was simple and sincere.

“Where?”

His lips parted and I saw the tip of a white canine. “I haven't decided.”

Interesting. “Fair enough. I'm in.”

Sesshomaru's lips turned up slightly, “Good, I'll see you after work.” He turned and left me standing in the doorway. I wasn't sure where I stood with him but where ever it was; it was a great place to be.

_-_-_-_

I pushed the glass door of the bookstore open with my butt as my arms were over flowing with Chinese food containers.

Sango spotted me from her position by the cash register and made a bee line for the food. “My hero! Is that garlic chicken and vegetable chow mien?”

I laughed, “You know it baby! I always know what you like.”

She unloaded some of the boxes from my arms and helped me carry them over to the coffee bar counter. “God am I ever glad to see you.”

“Me too! I can't wait to hear how things went with Miroku the other night.” I rummaged through the brown paper bag in search of some chopsticks.

Sango popped open a of container garlic chicken and was fishing out the choice pieces. “He's really different when he's away from here. And he took me to that new restaurant I wanted to try.”

I spoke with a mouth full of egg roll, “Yeah, ya don't say?” I was glad to hear that someone around here took my advice seriously.

Sango narrowed her eyes at me over the rim of the white take out box. “I wonder who told him I wanted to eat there?”

I took a long drink of diet soda, “Kohaku did it. So what happened?”

Sango rolled a pen across the counter. “We ate and talked.” Her eyes closed for a second and I knew.

I leaned across the counter and accused, “You banged the boss didn't you!”

She blushed bright red, “Of course not. But now I wouldn't mind…”

I fell back against the counter as I laughed. “What did you two talk about? There must've been some seriously undiscovered common ground.”

“Yeah well let's just say behind that brass exterior is a scared, sensitive little boy.” She grinned.

I smirked, “You mean there is now. You probably beat it out him.” Her eyes widened at my brash words and I quickly added, “And I'm sure he deserved it.”

“Kagura, you are the worst!” Sango's dark eyes sparkled and her lips spread in a warm smile. “I'm glad I went. We are going out again this weekend for New Years Eve.”

New Years Eve reminded me of Sesshomaru's half brother. I was still dying to know what it was about the guy he hated so much. But I pushed this aside and shot Sango a wicked grin, “You'd better not start getting preferential treatment because of this.”

She rolled her eyes, “I get that already. Miroku would be nicer to you if you stopped picking on him.”

Stopped screwing with Miroku? She might as well have asked me to give up air. It was just too much. “You know I can't do that. It's like a drug, I can't help it. I'm addicted; I might even need an all expense paid trip to Betty Ford.”

Sango was frowning at me in a way I didn't like so I protested, “I've been good lately. What more do you want?”

She opened the box of chow mien. “How did your date go?”

Date? I'd forgotten it was a mere date and not some radically life altering experience.

God that man had seeped under my skin like a fast acting bio hazard and was now liquefying my insides at an alarming rate. He was the last thing on my mind when I'd fallen asleep and the first thing I thought of this morning. Once again I'd gotten a full night of sleep. It wasn't as good as the night before because I'd woken to some indiscriminate door banging around two am but I was able to tune it out.

“Kagura! Are you even listening to me? What happened to you? It's that taiyokai, he's detrimental to your attention span.” Sango's words were sharp but her eyes were laughing.

I dropped my chopsticks and let them fall to the counter where they landed with a click! “He's just really… nice.”

Her hand paused over the food and she gestured towards me with her chopsticks. “Nice? That's the best you can do? What the hell? Did he swallow your soul or something?”

Swallow my soul? “NO. It was just… intense.”

She leaned over the counter towards me with a mother eagle glint in her eyes and I took a step back. “Ah hah! The bags are gone.”

Now she was getting on my nerves. “What bags?”

Sango pointed at my face. “The dark ones under your eyes; you've been sleeping.”

My hands slid into my pockets. Normally I am not a shy person and would have no problem admitting to Sango that I'd committed a plethora of amazing sins in the past thirty six hours but for some reason I wanted to keep it for myself. I glanced away from her and said evasively, “Yeah well that's what people do at night after they close their eyes.”

Sango's words were soft but accurate, “But you never do.” She smiled, “You must really like him.”

I sighed and watched a lone skinny customer pick through our travel section. At least I think it was a customer, these days it was getting harder and harder to tell. “He's like no one I've ever met before.” It was the only thing I could say.

Sango's eyes followed the man as he pulled out a book on Tuscany so I knew he was alive. That and I've never met a ghost who was into faraway places, that is if you don't count my apartment. Without turning her head Sango asked, “When will you see him again?”

I picked up another egg roll, “Tonight, for dinner.”

“That was fast. Any place special?” She pushed the white cardboard carry out container closed.

I shrugged, “I don't know but I'm sure it'll be fine.”

“Wow, that's… fast.” She was watching my face to see if I'd give anything away. “So then, what did you do yesterday?”

“I got deadbolts installed on my front door by the creepiest little green man this side of the Weekly World News.” I figured it was a harmless confession.

Sango laughed, “So Mr. Taiyokai must've seen where you live huh?”

“Maybe he did. But it's something I've been thinking of having done anyway.” Now that wasn't a complete lie. I have a vague recollection of when I first moved in four years ago thinking, `Gee, this place could use some sturdier locks.'

Sango moved in for the kill. “Yeah I'll just bet. So chocolates and locks, this guy sure knows the way to a girl's heart…” She narrowed her eyes, “Or her bed.”

Oh for fuck sake. I threw up my hands in defeat. “I'll admit to nothing!”

Sango giggled and chased me around the counter. “Me thinks the lady doth protest too much.”

I side stepped her and ran smack into Kohaku. Today he was sporting an Insane Clown Posse black shirt and his hair stuck straight up in defiance of all the reasonable laws of gravity.

Sango's eyes focused in on his get up and she immediately forgot about me. “You're late! You were supposed to be here when we opened.”

Kohaku stood staring at the floor and said nothing. Sango continued on in a barely contained stage whisper. “Where the hell have you been? You never came home last night and dad's pissed. He's had every one of your uncles who were out on the beat keeping an eye out for you.”

Sometimes I have to question the kid's intelligence. He comes from a family of cops but still tries to skirt trouble. You think he'd get a clue and at least wait until he went away to college.

He lifted his head and his dark eyes were blank holes. Oh no… our man here had been hitting something nasty. “Look sis, do you want my help today or not.”

Sango bit her lip torn between kicking his ass, needing his help and wanting to keep an eye on him the rest of the day. “Fine. Stay here. And after work you are coming straight home.”

He lifted one corner of his mouth in a half smile; his upper lip was scraggy with that patchy teenage stubble. “Yeah sure, whatever.”

Sango's eyes burned violet with liquid fire. “You will be home right after closing. Kagura will see to it.”

Whoa hold on a minute!

Why did she have to bring me into this? Still I frowned and made a show of looking tough which was hard to do in a ridiculous sweater with a snowman on it; last night was supposed to be laundry night but I'd overlooked it.

Sango turned towards me with sheer desperation in her eyes. I nodded and gave in. “Yeah I'll make sure he gets home alright.”

She mouthed the words, `Thank you.' Then she glared at Kohaku, “If you give her any shit, she will blow you off your ass.”

The punk grinned and shot me a hot look that dripped with the words `you promise'. I shook my head.

It was going to be a long day.

_-_-_-_

I was up to my elbows in Cliff notes when a clawed hand tapped me on the shoulder. I dropped the stack of Henry the VIII notes I had in my arms and the thin yellow books rained down around my feet. Damn it!

“Kohaku! Get over here!” I glanced around the store and off course our teenaged punk in residence was no where to be seen. Great! He just might get his wish to be on the receiving end of a good ass kicking.

I bent down to start picking up the mess. Red Converse sneakers peaking out from under baggy blue jeans stepped into my view. “Shit, I'm sorry. Let me help ya with that.”

He bent down and I got a face full of a loose black leather jacket and bright golden eyes framed by arched black brows. Had he not been smiling I would have mistaken him for someone else… those eyes.

His grin was wide and cocky, revealing a mouth full of pointed canines. I scooted back to allow him to help and promptly fell backwards landing on my ass.

“Ain't your day is it?” He asked and his long silver hair shook with his quiet laughter. I opened my mouth to say something but shut it as he bowed his head to retrieve the Cliff Notes.

He had a set of white fuzzy ears that would put any Siberian husky to shame. He was yokai like me or some mix there of. A tiny gold hoop graced the tip of his right ear. I was trying not to stare but he was startling. My hands were itching to touch one of those ears but I had the feeling that probably wasn't a good idea.

He moved fast, further evidence of his dual nature and had the books on the shelf in mere seconds. Then he spun to face me and offered me his hand.

I accepted and at the contact of our bare skin, his second face flashed before my eyes. He was a kid; older than Kohaku but still very young. His liquid eyes were dark and his black hair hung down his mortal shoulders. This could only mean he had a monthly night of mortality. He was a hanyou, that scandalous mix of mortal and yokai that was forbidden.

America has come a long way in the past sixty years thanks to Martin Luther King Jr and the civil rights movements. There were still some places inter racial human couples should avoid and it wasn't an easy life by any means, but on the whole society was a lot more accepting than it used to be. Sadly the same could not be said of the yokai world. I knew his beautiful smile had been dealt more blows than he'd ever admit.

As a pure yokai I wasn't expected to associate with the likes of him but then I've never lived my life by anyone else's rules. “I'm Kagura. Did you need something?”

“Yeah I'm looking for the latest Dean Koontz, no offense lady but your store is a maze.” His words were true, we'd been after Miroku for ages to rearrange the layout but all he'd done was add that half assed excuse of a coffee bar.

I shrugged, “Yeah it is but what am I gonna do? It's not like I own it or something.”

He laughed, “Yeah cause if ya did you wouldn't be here tonight would ya?”

I moved through the aisle and he followed unzipping his jacket. Man when Kohaku got an eyeful of that badass coat he was going to drool. “We all have our little curses don't we?”

He smirked, “Keh, some worse than others.”

I took a stab in the dark, “New to the city?”

He paused to pick up a copy of Entertainment Weekly, “Huh? Naw… I grew up nearby but moved to San Francisco a while back. You couldn't give me this dump.”

Wow, so tell me what you really think. “You here for the big ball drop then?”

He frowned and his nose wrinkled, “Yeah… my girl, she wanted to come.”

So he had a girlfriend, almost a damned pity but I was sure he might be a little young for me anyway. Besides he was nice and all, but it was Sesshomaru who could melt the buttons off my shirt. “Really? Well that was nice of you. Where's she at?” I scanned the store wondering if I'd get to see the female version of those ears.

He scoffed, “Wench is back at the hotel spa… getting something massaged or dipped in mud. That's why I'm here. I was dying of boredom.”

Ah poor baby, shoved aside for a spa appointment. God that sounded like a heavenly idea, I was instantly insanely jealous of his girlfriend. I tossed him a wicked grin and let a piece of his hair wisp through my fingers, “Yeah you seem nice and all but I'd have to choose the mud too.”

His brows shot up and he mumbled, “Fucking women.”

I laughed, “Hey now this is a public place. But here's your book.”

I handed him a hard back book and he flipped it over looking for a synopsis only to see the smiling face of Koontz himself. I offered, “It's a good book but you have to have read the first one.”

He said nothing so I pressed, “Well have you?”

He frowned, “Have I what?”

I leaned on the bookshelf, “Read the first one?”

He shook his head and looked up in time to see me tossing him a paper back copy. He caught it, “Thanks.”

“If you like you can check it out over some coffee.” I pointed to the dejected coffee bar. He shrugged and took a seat on one of the stools.

I slid a cup down towards him. “Here, first one's on the house for helping me with those books.”

He gave the Styrofoam cup an experimental sniff, “I don't drink coffee.”

Well damn. Was the stuff going out of style or something? “We have Izzie soda, bottle water, cocoa… the works.”

He thumbed through the first few pages of his book. “Gimme a coke.”

“Sure thing.” I sat a cold can before him and looked around and realized I still hadn't seen Kohaku. “Hey do me a favor would ya?”

My dog eared guest looked up in suspicion. “What?”

“Can you keep an eye out and make sure no one steals anything too valuable while I go in the back for a sec?”

He shrugged, “Why not? It beats rotting at the hotel.”

“Great! You're the best.” I turned and made a break for the backroom.

The storage room lights were out and it took me a moment to find the switch. The bright florescent lights told the horrible truth. The room was empty.

Freaking hell! The little toad had run out on me. What was I gonna do? It would be hell to close by myself. And even worse, I was going to have to call Sango at home and tell her Kohaku had split.

I locked the door behind me and stepped back into the store. The dog guy was still sitting on the stool reading his book but not watching the store.

Damn, I can't trust anyone. As I approached him I saw he was stealthily watching everyone over the cover of the book and not reading at all. “So” I asked once I was standing next to him. “Was everyone well behaved?”

His ears perked towards me, “Mostly though that guy in the blue coat is trying build up the nerve to either buy or steal that Playboy.”

“Playboy?” I squinted at the magazine rack and sure enough, a girlie magazine peeped out from the top shelf. “Damn Miroku! I thought Sango got him to stop carrying that crap.”

The hanyou chuckled, “It ain't that bad.”

I sighed, “Yeah I guess so, besides my perv boss is the least of my problems. My coworker's gone AWOL.”

“It really ain't your day is it?” He watched me with amusement in his golden eyes.

I sat down on the stool beside him. “God he's just a stupid kid. Guess I'll have to call his sister.”

He tilted his head, “Just a kid eh? I suppose I could help ya.”

And I wasn't even asking for his help, but now he had my attention, “Really how?”

He grinned flashing me his perfect white canines, “Got anything of his?”

“No I don't. Hey wait!” I jumped off the stool and went behind the coffee bar and found the apron Kohaku had worn earlier. I tossed it to my potential savior. “Here, will this do?”

He held it under his nose and winced, “Yeah. Damn this little bastard's a pot head ain't he?”

I shrugged, “Probably.”

He stood up, “Gimme half an hour. I'll have your guy.”

Before he could leave I called out, “Hey what's your name?”

He answered over his shoulder, “Inuyasha.”

I watched as he left. If this worked I would die happily of shock. I saw the man in the blue jacket by the cash register looking very uncomfortable and I went to ring up the Playboy.

_-_-_-_

Inuyasha wasn't gone more than fifteen minutes before he was standing before me holding a really pissed off Kohaku by the collar of his ratty denim jacket. “This yours?”

I gave the J.D. a long look. “Thank God no. But I guess I'll sign for him.”

Inuyasha dropped Kohaku who somehow managed to land on his feet. “I found him out front… smoking.”

“Smoking eh? I just bet your folks will flip when they find out.” I really wasn't looking forward to making that phone call but he didn't need to know that.

Kohaku hissed, “Wind bitch, I should've know you'd do something like this to me.”

Inuyasha's lips barely moved but I heard the barest hint of a whisper, “Wind bitch?”

The store was almost empty except for a man back in the computer section but we were well out of his view. I snapped my head back and met Kohaku's defiant gaze. “Don't fuck with me little boy.”

He curled his lip, “Little boy? Kiss my ass.”

Oh now that was it. I lifted one finger and a single fast gust of wind blew the kid off his skinny legs. Inuyasha lifted a brow but said nothing. Kohaku sat at me feet sputtering.

I looked down at him. “That was just a taste of what I will do to you.”

He dropped his head and adverted his gaze but I could feel the rage pouring off him and waves. “Now start straightening the shelves.”

Kohaku scrambled to his feet and left us. I bit my lip. “Inuyasha… I don't know what to say. Thanks so much for helping when you didn't even have to.”

He ducked his head and his ears twitched. “It ain't a big deal…”

I put my hand on his arm. “Yeah well, as long as I'm working you get free drinks and the employee discount.”

Was it just my imagination or was the hanyou blushing? “Thanks lady.”

The door chimes sounded and I realized it was already four minutes past closing. Lucky for me it was only Sesshomaru. He strode up to me wearing a long grey wool coat and a blue scarf.

I grinned like an idiot and even caught myself waving at him. Oh my God, I was turning into one of those insipid girls who were into public displays of affection!

Ack, I was even making myself sick. Oh well, but I was looking forward to introducing him to my new friend. When I turned towards Inuyasha… he was gone.

Well damn. He'd seemed so friendly it was odd for him to just walk away. Maybe he was late for something. I shrugged it off and locked the door.

_-_-_-_

Notes:

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The Devil's Dictionary:

Riot:A popular entertainment given to the military by innocent bystanders.

Ribaldry: Censorious language by another concerning oneself.