InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Jewel Shard's Bail Bonds ❯ Destiny ( Chapter 1 )

A/N: this is a revised version of Chapter one, I have recently acquired the amazingly talented InuBaka who has graciously been giving up her free time to help me edit my story. So that being said I will be making a lot of updates and it should be a little while until chapter twelve comes up. As soon as InuBaka Catches up we'll be rolling with the new chapters thank you all for your patience and sorry for flooding your inboxes with updates today for some reason my original author's note didn't save with the document so I apologize for that as well thank you all for reading.

<3 nicluv1787

P.S all future authors notes will be at the end of the chapter

Chapter One:

Kagome fiddled with the hem of her skirt, while on the way to her first interview in San Diego. She moved here a few weeks ago, to go to college here. After two years of community college, Kagome had decided it was time to spread her wings and try to make it on her own. She opted not to live in the dorms, but instead she used her savings to rent her very own apartment. It was rather tiny and somewhat shady, but it was hers.

She sighed deeply looking out the bus window; she was sitting next to an old woman who was staring forward with a vacant look. She seemed harmless though and it was better than the older man eyeballing her. As the city streets of downtown zoomed by, she noticed the bus came to a slow stop and she exited.

She looked down at the small scrap of paper she had written the directions on.

“A left on Fifth Street and two blocks up.” She muttered to herself, as she looked up at the street sign and saw she was on Fourth Street. She walked up a block, saw Fifth Street, and made her left turn. The street was clear of pedestrian traffic, which she was glad for.

She was not sure she would ever get used to all the crowds. In her hometown, there was a small population, so you pretty much knew all your neighbors. Back home she lived on ten acres of farmland with her grandfather, Mother and younger brother Souta, and sadly her father had died right after her younger brother was born. She was happy there but she felt like she was missing something in her life, so she had gone to junior college and transferred to SDSU. Kagome had gone two blocks and looked up at the store in front of her.

‘Jewel Shards Bail Bonds; this must be the place.’ she thought. Kagome took a moment to straighten her clothes. She wore a plain button up white collared shirt and a black pencil skirt, her hair pulled up into a modest bun. Once satisfied with her appearance she walked to the front door pushing it open. Unfortunately, it was heavier than she thought and struggled a little until a young man with short black hair and a small ponytail came and helped her by opening the door from within.

"Door’s a little heavy,” she said lamely, looking a little sheepish.

"Don’t worry that what strapping young men are for.” the man replied with a grin.

"How can I help you miss?” he said heading over to a modern looking desk with a glass top and a sleek flat screen computer sitting on top of it.

"I have an interview with…” she looked down at her scrap paper, “Inuyasha?” she said hesitantly.

"Oh you’re the girl he’s interviewing today.” he said with an evil grin, “go ahead and have a seat he’s in his office right now but he’ll be available shortly.”

He motioned to a black leather couch a few feet away. She walked over feeling even more nervous, because she had never been in a real interview before. The only real jobs she had had at home was working at the fruit stand and babysitting for some of her neighbors. ‘Twenty years old and I have never had a real job.’ She thought sadly.

There was a squeak from a door behind the desk, and she watched as a young woman with long black hair in a high ponytail came out. She was wearing a bright pink tank top and tight black pants.

"Don’t do it again!” yelled a male voice from within the office,

"Yeah, Yeah,” she said offhandedly, “Oh hello!” she said sweetly to Kagome.

"Hi,” Kagome said shyly.

"Are you here for the interview?” the woman asked.

Kagome nodded mutely.

"HEY! Inuyasha that girl is here for her interview, so come out and stop being rude!” she shouted back at the door.

A young man with white blond hair and amber colored eyes appeared in the doorway. He was wearing a pair of loose black pants and a tight red shirt that showed off the muscles in his arms and chest. Kagome gasped a little when the amber colored eyes clamped on her.

"Oi! You Kagome?” he snapped.

"Y-y-yes-s,” Kagome stammered rising to her feet.

"Well don’t make me wait all day lets get this over with,” he said turning back into his office.

Kagome stood dumbstruck for a moment looking where Inuyasha had just been standing.

"You should probably follow him.” the young man with black hair hinted.

"Oh yeah!” Kagome said walking into the office.

It was small room littered with Ramen cups, and a glass top desk with papers strewn all about it. The walls were painted grey and a white board hung behind the desk. Inuyasha sat in a brown leather chair, his feet propped up on top of the desk. Kagome took a seat in a leather chair across from him and noticed a picture of a gruff looking man with a scar across his face and some writing. She couldn’t read it because Inuyasha was speaking to her.

"Kagome Higurashi right?” he said in a gruff tone.

"Yeah,” she said trying to gain some confidence.

"So what makes you think you’re cut out for the bonds business, this isn’t babysitting.” he said looking over her resume. She blushed a little before answering.

"Well honestly I don’t know. I’m new to the city, I saw your ad in the paper, and I thought I would give it a chance. I’m a quick learner and a hard worker. I’m a people person. I mean I’m great with people.” she nervously recited her practiced speech. Inuyasha gave her an accessing look; he seemed to be thinking about what she had said she choked on her own nervousness as he replied.

"You’ve got a lot of guts admitting that you’re unsure I like that, like the ad said I wasn’t looking for some one with experience, I’m just looking for some one to do the job. I’m going to give you a chance and hire you, but only probationary. So I’ll give you three months and if I don’t think you’re working out you’re out of here; you got it?”

Kagome stared at him mouth agape.

"You’re hiring me?” she said incredulously.

"Are you dense? That is what I just said” He replied, looking slightly annoyed.

"Thank you so much,” she said jumping up from her seat, “You won’t regret this I promise!” She jumped up to shake his hand and he took it hesitantly.

"Be here Monday morning at nine am and we’ll get you trained in the bond business. Now get out of my office I have things to do.”

Kagome bowed as she exited feeling embarrassed the moment her hips bent forward. It was just an old habit from home. Her grandfather had emigrated from Japan and had instilled Japanese customs and traditions into his children and grandchildren. Kagome chanced a look over her shoulder to see if Inuyasha had noticed but he was staring intently at something on his desk. ‘What a relief!’ She thought heading to the front door.

When she turned to face the door, the woman with the dark hair was sitting on top of the desk, speaking to the young man who was behind the desk.

"How’d you do?” the woman asked

"I’m your newest co-worker! Kagome Higurashi!” Kagome replied brightly.

"Welcome!” the young man said, “My name’s Miroku and may I say how nice it is to have such a beautiful young woman working with us.” he took her hand, kissing it gently as Kagome blushed. And then she heard a loud slap and saw that the young woman had slapped Miroku across the face

"Quit being such a lecher!” the young woman said.

"What?” Miroku said rubbing his cheek.

"You know what you did,” the young woman said glaring, “I’m Sango by the way.” she said to Kagome in a friendly tone.

"Nice to meet you both, I look forward to getting to know both of you.” Kagome said sweetly.

"Get back to work you lazy good for nothings!” Inuyasha called from his office,

"He’s all bark and no bite,” Sango whispered to Kagome.

"I find that hard to believe” Kagome said dryly.

Sango laughed a little and patted Kagome on the back, “You’re going to fit right in here,” she said with a smile.

*************************************************************** < p>That girl had finally left after talking to Sango and Miroku for several minutes. Inuyasha hoped he had not made the wrong decision in hiring that girl. He had a good feeling about her though, as quiet and reserved she seemed he could tell she was a scraper. In his business, there would be a need for that eventually, and maybe one day she could join them on a bounty hunt.

That was his favorite part, maybe even the only reason he had opened up this business. Well not the only reason, but there was a personal hunt as well, and that fact reminded him of the old days in Japan.

‘Speaking of Japan that girl had bowed him before she left, didn’t she?’ he thought. Inuyasha dropped his concealment as soon as that girl had left the building, and his white fuzzy ears were free of the entrapment the concealment caused. He would have to use it a lot more with that girl around, but that was until it he knew she could be trusted. Inuyasha thought back to the last person he had revealed his secret to.

"Kikyo” he breathed.

Kikyo had been his on-off girlfriend for the last two years. They had broken up several times over the past two years after he had told her that he was a Hanyou, and things only got worse from there. He shuddered at the memory of that night.

That was when the object of his thoughts came strolling into his office. She was wearing a modest floor length red skirt and a white blouse. ‘She so beautiful.’ he thought as he noticed her long black hair was down around her shoulders like he liked and her expression was impassive as ever.

"I was just thinking about you,” Inuyasha said happily.

"We need to talk,” she said with out preamble.

"About what?” Inuyasha said trying to quell the fear within him. They had these ‘talks’ more than once.

"I’m not happy Inuyasha,” she said tersely.

"Why is that?” he said coming to stand near her.

"You know the reason,” she said avoiding his gaze.

"I can’t change that yet,” he said in a calm voice belying the rage that was building within him.

"Could you please cover up anyone could see you,” she said glaring at his ears.

"Kikyo, you know I’m Hanyou why should we pretend?” he said sweetly, “No one comes into my office without my permission anyway,” he said shutting his office door.

Kikyo glared at him.

"Just do it,” she said harshly.

Inuyasha sighed putting on the ring the held his concealment charm.

"Better?” He said sitting in a chair next to her hoping to coax her into sitting.

She didn’t reply but stared at him.

"Inuyasha, I’m not happy, I think we need time apart, I need to find myself again, and I’m drowning in you.”

"I don’t know if that’s the best idea Kikyo, if you’d just let me try to make you happy I know I could.” he said with a half-desperate smile.

"You can’t talk me out of it Inuyasha I need my space” She said coldly, her dark brown eyes boring into his. He felt like those dark brown eyes could see right through him. He sighed, “If that’s what you want.”

"It is,” she said turning to the door, “I’m going to leave now.”

"Go ahead,” he said.

‘You’ll be back within a week.’ He thought smugly, as he sat back down in his chair behind his desk. They never broke up for long, a few days two weeks at the most she always came back to him or he went back to her. They were meant to be, because it was destiny.

He watched as she strolled out of his office only a slight swish in her long red skirt as she went out the front door.

“Everything okay?” Sango asked from his doorway.

“It’s nothing, me and Kikyo broke up again,” he said offhandedly stacking some paperwork aimlessly on his desk.

“Do you want to talk?” she asked kindly.

“Keh,” he replied turning his chair to face the white board.

“I’ll take that as a no,” she said, closing his office door to leave him in silence.

He turned his chair back around when he knew she was gone.

‘I guess I should get back to work,’ he thought dourly. He looked down at that girl’s resume that was sitting on his desk. ‘Kagome Higurashi,’ he thought, ‘well I hope you do better than the last receptionist I hired, because she insists on dumping me every couple months and leaving me in a state of misery.’

Kagome’s smile popped into his mind when he told her she had the job. ‘I do not think you could hurt some one if you tried,’ he thought filling out the necessary paperwork to make her an employee.

************************************************************** *
Kagome put down her bag as she entered her apartment. Her thrift store couch called to her invitingly as she plopped down taking off her kitten heels.

‘I got the job!’ she thought happily, ‘Kagome Higurashi receptionist to Jewel Shard Bail Bonds, first time apartment renter and student at San Diego State University. What a great day!’

The school semester was still two weeks away, but she had already prepared her backpack and books, that were waiting expectantly next to the door. She had been dreaming of the day she would go to the university since, she was a girl back in high school eating Wac Donald’s with her High school friends Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi.

‘Which reminds me, I need to make some calls.’ She had been gushing to them about her new apartment and her interview today and they probably wanted to make sure she’d gotten the job. But first, she wanted to get into something more comfortable.

She went into her closet and pulled out a pair of pajama pants and a pink spaghetti strap shirt. It was only two in the afternoon but she wasn’t planning to go anywhere. All her friends had either stayed in her hometown or went to school abroad like she did; and she didn’t have a boyfriend. She had a boyfriend once, in high school, and his name was Hojo. He was a nice guy, and they dated for three years, there was just no passion with him. They broke up amicably her senior year of high school and she hadn’t been seeing anyone since.

Her mind wandered to the athletic form of her white blonde haired boss with his strong muscled arms in a red t-shirt and blushed a little. He was cute, but he was her boss and definitely off limits. She sighed wistfully; maybe she would meet some one in the city and fall in love. She shook her self-thinking, ‘I am acting like a thirteen year old girl.’ She went to her small kitchen looking for a snack before making her calls; all three of her friends would want a status report as well as her mother.

Kagome imagined her mother’s easy smile and how sad she looked the day Kagome had moved away. She had told her to take care of herself and watch out for whacks, and insist that she called her at least once a day to make sure she was still alive. She figured after a while her mother would calm down and let her live her life.

‘Her life,’ she mused, ‘I like the sound of that.’ She settled on a cup of Ramen and was reminded once more of her new bosses office strewn with Ramen cups.

‘There must have been thirty empty cups of ramen in there! I don’t know anyone who likes it that much. And I know college students eat a lot of it because its cheap, but that guy has to have money if he owns his own business.’ she thought as she slurped her ramen happily then when she was finished she made her phone calls.

She called her mother first knowing she would be looking for a status report. The conversation was pleasant and Kagome left out the parts of her day where she saw homeless people and rode on public transit with people who looked a little dicey. Her mother, grandfather and brother were doing well. Grandpa was up to his usual tricks and was keeping an eye of the farm. Souta was starting His senior year in high school in a couple of weeks and he was very excited. Her mother herself was just trying to keep the household in order.

When she was done on the phone with her mother, she called her friends and had three identical conversations with three different girls. She told each one about life in San Diego and for the Hundredth time, riding the city transit. She told all three all about her new job and impossibly cute boss. She was nearly exhausted from all the giggling she had done when she hung up with Yuka, and looked at the clock to see it was nearly nine- o- clock. She sighed a little feeling her eyes getting heavy.

‘It’s sad that I want to go to bed at nine at night on a Friday night; but what’s a girl to do?’ she thought moving into her bedroom. She sat down on the small twin sized bed with its over stuffed teal comforter and brown pillows. ‘That does look inviting though.’ she thought sleepily, laying her head down and falling asleep.

************************************************************

Inuyasha stared darkly into his coffee cup his head was pounding and threatening to split wide open. He hadn’t heard from Kikyo in two days. On Saturday night, he went to her apartment to talk to her, when he arrived he found out she wasn’t at home. He inspected the entire apartment thinking something had gone wrong, because Kikyo never went out when they were fighting. She was always waiting for him, but there was no sign of struggle, and he assumed she was visiting relatives. Until he went into the bedroom. It reeked of another man; his scent was all over her room and all over her bed. He inspected closely trying to find the scent of semen but found none.

He was convinced there hadn’t been intercourse on the bed, and it was a small relief. He knew Kikyo had been in her bed with another man and the thought made his blood boil. It took all the control he had to keep from tearing Kikyo’s apartment apart.

He’d gone home and spent the rest of that night, all of Sunday drinking, but unfortunately Sunday night was the New Moon, and he was human. Unperturbed by the change and glad to feel more of the effects of the alcohol to numb his pain, he became intoxicated almost to the point of alcohol poisoning. He’d awoken this morning with a splitting headache, and again Hanyou but he still had enough alcohol in his system to give him a hangover, which is why he never drank as a Hanyou.

"That was a bad idea,” he whimpered to himself in his dark office.

The lights to his office were suddenly switched on, his head screamed in protest, and he let out a low moan. He looked at the person who dared to interrupt him while he was trying to get over his hangover. Miroku stood in the doorway grinning at him in his usual manner.

"Good Morning Sunshine!” He said cheerily coming to sit in one of the leather chairs across from Inuyasha. “You look terrible? Last night was your human night right?”

"Yeah,” Inuyasha said miserably, his head really threatening to break open from the fluorescent lighting.

"Could you turn off the lights?” he asked a little too quietly then normal and Miroku raised a brow at him as he did his bidding.

"Everything okay Inuyasha?” Miroku asked with concern.

"I’m fine,” Inuyasha grouched feeling slightly better now that there weren’t bright lights increasing his headache. “What are you doing here so early?” he said testily.

Miroku smiled an evil grin before replying, “I wanted to be here to greet the lovely Ms. Kagome when she gets here for her first day of work.”

‘That’s right,’ he thought ‘that girl is starting today, I nearly forgot with all this trouble with Kikyo.’

"You better behave Miroku I don’t need you chasing off my new receptionist with your lecherous ways!”

"Me?” Miroku asked innocently, “I have no idea what you’re talking about”

"Keh” Inuyasha replied, “Just behave alright, and don’t let anyone disturb me I have paperwork to take care of today”

"Sure thing boss” Miroku said with a salute, “should I leave your lights off captain?”

"Yeah,” Inuyasha snapped, as Miroku slipped out the door closing it quietly behind him.

Inuyasha rubbed his aching temples hoping that his headache would subside soon. He looked at the clock it was eight thirty, he still had a half an hour before the new girl arrived. That should be more than enough time for his Hanyou powers to cure him. He would need to be in top form for his new employee and he didn’t want to seem weak to her on her first day.

‘But why do I care what the new girl thinks’? He thought, ‘I don’t’ he concluded. He took his thoughts away from the new girl and began working on his paperwork.

*************************************************** ****

Kagome had woken up at five am Monday morning, no longer able to keep her eyes shut from the excitement. By six-thirty, she was showered, dressed, and sitting on her couch staring at a blank T.V. screen. The weekend between her interview seemed to have dragged by, because she had no friends in the city and her classes hadn’t stared yet. She didn’t even have homework to occupy her mind.

She fidgeted with the hem of her teal collared shirt, matched with gray pin stripe pants. She wasn’t entirely sure what the dress code was and she wasn’t going to risk wearing jeans to work in case it would make a bad impression on her new boss. Inuyasha seemed like an interesting person, but she wasn’t sure about him yet. Sango and Miroku made him sound like a kitty cat but there was definitely a temper lying dormant that she hadn’t had the misfortune of meeting yet. She sighed a little looking at the clock it was only six-forty five and she was bored to tears.

‘I could always stop at that coffee shop on my way to the office to kill time’, she thought, ‘It beats sitting here and staring at my television that’s not even on.’

The bus ride from her apartment in college grove was easily an hour, leaving her a good hour and fifteen minutes to kill. The more she thought about it the better the idea sounded and she resolved to do just that she grabs her yellow backpack and headed out the door.

One hour and two busses later, she stood at the corner of the coffee shop across from the park. She walked into the packed Coffee house where there was a line almost to the door.

‘I forgot how much people love coffee in the morning!’ she thought as she got into the line. Fortunately, it went quickly and she gave her order for a vanilla latte. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a tall brown haired man looking in her direction. She took a chance and looked at him; he had long brown hair in a high ponytail and a brown headband around his head. He wore a wife beater and black sweat pants; she smiled at him and he winked back. Kagome felt her cheeks turn pink as she looked away.

Her latté came and she hurriedly grabbed it shooting out quickly past the man, out on to the street, and facing the park. Her watch still only read at 8:15. Looking at the park and its park benches she decided it would be nice to take sometime to relax before she went into work and besides Jewel Shard Bail Bond’s was only a five-minute walk away.

She found a nice bench near the side walk and sat down, she watched joggers dog walker and people in business suits as they bustled by her while she sipped her Latté until she heard a voice behind her.

"I’m sorry miss but are you following me?”

She turned to see the young man from the coffee shop that and she was reached into her backpack for her pepper spray, secretly hoping that being friendly with a stranger in a coffee shop wouldn’t get her killed or raped in a park.

"Excuse me?” she said hand clutching desperately to the pepper spray concealed within her bag.

"Are you following me?” he repeated with an ice-melting grin; she let her hand slacken a little he didn’t seem like a rapist or murder.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about” she said feeling confused.

"Well,” he said sitting on the bench next to her making her grip tighten on the pepper spray once again, “I saw you in the coffee shop and you smiled at me then you disappeared and here you are sitting on a bench on my way back to my condo, which makes me think your stalking me” he said giving her a smooth smile.

Kagome stared confused.

"This is a public place and I’m allowed to sit here, and why would I stalk you? I don’t even know you,” she said feeling bold.

“True ,but I can fix that, my names Kouga.” He was very handsome and his blue eyes twinkled with mischief.

“Nice to meet you.” She said,

“And you are?” he prompted.

She thought about giving him a fake name but decided against it, “My name’s Kagome.”

“Kagome, what a pretty name, to go with a pretty face.”

Kagome felt a blush rising up her neck,

“Thanks,” she said quietly.

“So what’s a pretty girl like you do in a park like this?”

Kagome giggled at the cheesy pick up line,

“I work around here, today’s my first day actually.”

“Oh really? So will I be seeing you around here?”

“Maybe,” she said coyly.

“I can’t believe I’m flirting with a handsome stranger in a park!’ She thought.

“Well I hope you don’t find me too forward Kagome, but could I get you number?”

She choked on her latte when he asked and looked at him opened mouth.

“Really?” she said.

“Really” he answered.

She fumbled with her messenger bag, pulled out a scrap of paper, wrote down her number, and handed it to him.

“Thanks!” he said pulling out a Blackberry, “I’ll be giving you a call sometime!”

“That would be wonderful,” Kagome said happily, as they both stood.

“Well I better get going” Kouga said, “I need to get ready for work, see ya!”

In a flash, he was gone jogging down the sidewalk coffee in hand. Kagome watched him go, surprised at the interaction she had just had.

‘Wait until I tell the girls, they’re just going to flip!’ she thought as she walked in the direction of Jewel shards Bail Bonds.

In less time than she would of thought she arrived at Jewel Shard’s she opened the front door to see Miroku waiting right behind it, with an eager look on his face. His face dropped a little when he saw her.

“Good Morning Ms. Kagome,” he said kindly.

“Good morning Mr. Miroku,” she replied smiling at him.

“You’re early, you’re trainer isn’t even here yet!” he said with an evil grin,.

“Who’s training me? Inuyasha?” she tried not to sound to eager when she said Inuyasha’s name, but in her defense any girl would want to spend time with some one as handsome as him.

“Oh no, Inuyasha doesn’t have the patience to teach,” he said waving a hand.

“I heard that ass!” Inuyasha bellowed from his office.

“I know you could hear that’s why I said it!” Miroku yelled back at the closed door,

Kagome was a little taken back she couldn’t believe he was talking to his employer like that, but Miroku looked back at her and read the question on her face.

“Me and Inuyasha go back years, we always talk that way to each other. But we love each other really,” Miroku, grinned looking towards the door.

“Don’t lie to the girl we do not love each other. I’m your boss and you’re my employee you’re setting a bad example. Pretty soon you’ll all be mouthing off to me.”

Inuyasha looked terrible his long white blond hair was scraggly, he had dark circles under his eyes, and he looked like he had been wearing the same T-shirt for at least two days. Inuyasha saw her looking at him and shouted,

“What are you looking at wench?”

“Nothing,” she said hotly with hands on her hips. Inuyasha looked taken a back by her response but only responded by saying “Keh,” and slamming his office door.

“Not a morning person?” Kagome questioned,

“That’s not it,” Miroku said looking back at the closed door; he looked thoughtful for a moment before responding, “He had a bad weekend.”

“Oh” Kagome said, there was an awkward silence for a moment until shuffling near the front door caught both of their attentions.

Sango staggered in wearing an oversized sweatshirt and pajama pants with little white cats on them. Her long brown hair was pulled up in a messy bun.

“Now, that’s not a morning person,” Miroku said as she entered.

Kagome giggled behind her hands, Sango was a far cry from how she looked the last time she saw her. She looked so put together the last time so confident, this morning she looked like a zombie.

“Good morning Sunshine!” Miroku said cheerily to Sango.

“Ehhh,” she replied slumping onto the black leather couch near the door. “It won’t be a good morning till I get some coffee in me. And don’t even think about it Houshi.” she said to Miroku as his right hand stretched out towards Sango.

“I’m sorry I just can’t control my hand around you Sango. It has a mind of its own,” he grinned devilishly.

“Quit it you, Lecherous Son of a Bitch,” Inuyasha said now standing next to Kagome. He had turned a complete one eighty. His hair looked brushed and the circles had completely disappeared, and it looked like he had put on a clean shirt. Kagome wondered if she had imagined his haggard state.

“Sango go make your self some coffee and decent. I need you to train Kagome today, and Miroku why don’t you give Kagome a tour while Sango’s waking up?”

“Aye, Aye Capitan!” Miroku said with a salute, which Kagome giggled over, Inuyasha looked down at her glaring which quieted her giggles there was a fire behind his amber eyes that scared her.

“Get to work all of you!” Inuyasha shouted going back into his office slamming the door once more.

“Well let’s get started,” Miroku said holding a hand out to Kagome.

She took his hand hesitantly and he led her over to the desk near the door.

“This will be your desk,” he said in a tour guide like manner, “here is you computer and drawers to hold your pencils etc.; here is the telephone which you will be responsible for answering, as my associate Sango will be explaining your duties later on in the tour.”

He held her hand leading her over to two-desk divide by a cubicle wall.

“This is mine and Sango’s desks. If you ever need any help this is where we’ll be when were in the office.” He bowed a little leading her into a room in the back behind a beaded curtain.

“And this,” he said in a game show host voice, “Is the break room, where you’ll find your refrigerator and coffee pot along with round kitchen table, but that’s not all your also getting the lovely Sango who has made her self decent for the public and is now awake with the help of strong coffee.”

Kagome let out the giggle she’d been holding since Inuyasha glared at her. Sango had indeed straightened herself up her long brown hair was loose around her shoulders and she was wearing a tight pair of black pants and an orange tank top. Kagome went to the table and sat down next to her.

“Thanks for the Tour Miroku,” she said sweetly, “Feeling more alive?” she asked Sango.

“Yeah thanks, I don’t usually come in this early; I’m more of a night person to tell you the truth, I usually come in at eleven am at the earliest and even that’s pushing it. Miroku usually takes the day shift and I take the night but since the last receptionist quit I’ve been covering where I can. I seem to be the only one besides Inuyasha who knows how to use the scheduling system for some reason.” she gave a dark look to Miroku who shrugged his shoulders and went to make him self a cup of coffee.

“What happened to the old receptionist?” Kagome question her curiosity peaked.

Sango shot a glance to Miroku who shook his head.

“She quit,” she said.

“Oh,” Kagome said, having a feeling there was more to the story. She would find out more later.

“So I was wondering what is the dress code around here?” she said trying to change the subject.

“Pretty much anything goes except maybe pajamas but like you saw I came in, as long as you’re not dealing with customers in them its fine. We all normally wear jeans and a t-shirt, and just for your own protection I would suggest not wearing anything to revealing or sir gropes a lot over there won’t leave you alone.”

Kagome looked at Miroku who smiled innocently.

‘I’ll definitely remember that.’ she thought.

Once they were sufficiently caffeinated, Miroku, Sango and Kagome returned to the front of the office. Miroku went to his desk to do ‘paperwork’ but it looked like he was surfing the web to Kagome. Sango pulled a chair up to Kagome’s desk and taught her how to use the phones and the different computer systems she would be using for her job. Then she taught her how to file. Once Sango felt she had a sufficient grasp on the programs, she had her do test calls. Sango went into the break room and called Kagome’s desk phone.

She answered with the phrase Sango had made her practice.

“Thank you for calling Jewel Shard Bail Bond’s; this is Kagome speaking how may I help you?”

Sango replied on the other line in a fake southern Accent,

“Yes my husband’s been arrested for drunk driving; I need to get him out as soon as possible.”

“Okay ma’am let me get your name and I’ll transfer you to our bail bondsman Miroku.” She replied.

“My names Sharon, Sharon Stone” Sango said as serious as possible in her southern accent.

Kagome had to stifle a giggle as she wrote down the name.

“Hold on one moment ma’am,” Kagome said putting Sango on hold, she dialed Miroku’s extension and he picked up right away, stopping to help Kagome.

“Miroku, I have a Ms. Sharon Stone on the line for you, her husbands in jail.”

“Oh yes, put her through,” Miroku said in a professional manner, and she transferred the call and watched as Miroku talked to Sango on the connected call for a few seconds. Sango appeared from the kitchen her face bright red, Kagome raised an eyebrow at her. But Sango gave her a look that said don’t ask.

They went through several more test calls each getting sillier as they progressed and Miroku joined in eventually. He added even more hysterical voice as his last caller was named Davey Jones and had a pirate accent. Kagome lost all resolve and she ended up rolling on the floor laughing which brought Inuyasha out of his office.

“What the hell is going on out here. I thought I was running a business not a nursery!”

Kagome rubbed the laugh induced tears from her eyes,

“Sorry Inuyasha, we didn’t mean to interrupt Sango and Miroku were helping me practice phone calls.”

Inuyasha glared then said “Keh” meaning conversation over and returned to his office.

Kagome stood up and straightened her clothes then looked to the clock it was nearly one o’clock and she hadn’t eaten since early that morning. It was just then that her stomach decided it would be a good time to announce it was empty by making a loud gurgling noise.

“I think I’m hungry,” Kagome admitted.

“Me too,” Sango said now standing next to Kagome, there’s a nice deli a couple blocks away from here do you want to go?”

“Sure,” Kagome said, glad to take a break and get some sunshine, “How about you Miroku?”

"Of course I can never say no to a pretty girl,” he winked at her.

Sango just shook her head and turned to yell at Inuyasha’s door.

“Hey Inu, do want to get some real food besides Ramen for once?”

“Ramen is food!” he bellowed from behind the door.

“I’ll take that as a no,” Sango said, “Hold on a second Kagome, Miroku, I need to get my purse.” Sango hurried off to get her purse while Kagome went to get her wallet out of her backpack. She opened the drawer she had left it in when she noticed a flashing light coming from her bag. She retrieved the source of the light, which was her cell phone; she had a missed call and had a new voicemail. She looked at the number of the missed call and it didn’t register with a name she called her voicemail to see who the message was from.

“Hey Kagome,” A gravelly voice announced, she recognized it right away her stomach did a happy flip, “It’s Kouga the guy you were stalking through the park this morning…” that’s not how she remembered it but it was still cute.

“I called to give you my number and see if you would be interested in going out this Friday night say around seven…” Kagome’s heart gave a nervous jump she hadn’t been on a date in a long time.

“Call me back later beautiful I’m off at five so you can call me anytime after that, talk to you later.” Kagome couldn’t help the smile that spread her face as she closed her phone. A date with a cute guy would be the perfect topper to an already amazing week. She promised herself silently to call him the second she got off work.

Sango was standing next to her with a confused look on her face,

“What are you smiling about?” she said raising an eyebrow.

“Oh I just got asked out by this cute guy I met this morning!”

“Oh you have to tell me all about him!” she said excitedly.

“Ready ladies?” Miroku said bowing,

“Yes,” Sango said, “we’ll talk later.” she whispered to Kagome as Miroku ushered them out the door.

**************************************************************

Kouga looked down at the phone vibrating in its phone clip, he was on his way home from the bank and was only a few blocks away. He had a good idea of who was calling him as he answered on his blue tooth.

“Hello, this is Kouga.”

“Hi Kouga, its Kagome your stalker from this morning!” she said giggling, Just as he thought it was the angel he had seen in the coffee shop then had the pleasure of speaking with in the park. When he had first seen her he was taken back by her beauty, she wore no makeup and still had flawless skin and the most beautiful ebony hair that she wore loose around her delicate shoulders. He had been watching her and she saw him and smiled, when he smiled back and winked. She was obviously uncomfortable, then she left shortly after and he thought that would be the end of it until he’d seen her sitting on a park bench on his normal route back to his condo. It was fate that had intervened to put this angel in his presence. He couldn’t help himself and he approached her and she told him the name of an angel Kagome. She was Japanese and beautiful she could be the one.

“Kouga you there?” she said sounding concerned; he’d been lost in thoughts and almost forgot he was on the phone with said angel.

“Yeah, I was just speechless at the beauty of your musical voice.”

“Thank you,” he could hear the tremble in her voice.

“So are we on for Friday night? Is that convenient for you?”

“Oh yeah,” she said happily, “I don’t have friends here so I’m always free.” he could here some resentment in her voice.

“That’s good to know I can have you all to myself,” he said, trying to hide his excitement this girl got better all the time, beautiful, Japanese and unattached.

“You’re very funny Kouga, so what are you doing right now?” she said sweetly changing the subject.

“Just driving by the park we first met at on my way home,” He said suavely,

“Oh what a coincidence, I’m two blocks away waiting for my bus home.” she said conversationally.

Kouga rolled down his window trying to catch her scent if she was that close he couldn’t go with out seeing her again.

“Would you like a ride home?” he said trying to keep the urgency from his voice.

“Oh, I don’t want to put you out, I live all the way in college grove.”

He’d caught her sweet scent and made a right turn,

“It’s no problem it’s my pleasure where are you at?”

“I’m on the corner of fifth and willow,” she said hesitantly.

He had her in his sights,

“I’m turning on fifth right now I can see you.”

“Is that you in the Mercedes?” he watched her shade her eyes from the glare coming off his car.

“Yep!” he said pulling up next to her hanging up his phone.

She opened the car door and smiled at him widely, her sweet scent filled his nose as she got into his car.

“Well, hello there.” she said smiling,

“Well, hello beautiful” He said making her turn beet red. He loved how flustered she looked when he complemented her. “Where to?”

“Take the ninety-four to College Dr.”

“Your wish is my command, my lady.” He complimented.

They chatted amicably as he drank in the essence that was Kagome, she told him about her day, about her knew job her new boss sounded familiar to him but he wasn’t sure where he’d heard the name before. She told him her conspiracy theory on her co-workers who she thought were a little more familiar than just co-workers. He felt at ease around her and was sad that the drive was quicker than he had hoped and pretty soon, he was pulling up to her apartment complex on top of a hill.

“Nice place,” he said hoping to draw out there time together.

“Yeah, a lot of college students though.” she said smiling.

“Are you a university student?”

“Oh yeah” she replied, “I start the week after next at the San Diego State.”

“Impressive,” he replied.

“Thanks” she blushed a little, but not like when he complemented her appearance. There was a lull in conversation and he struggled to think of things to say to keep her in the car with him he was hoping that she would invite him up to her apartment but he wasn’t holding he breath.

“I guess I won’t see you till Friday?” he said hoping to get a pity invite up to her apartment.

“Yeah, but we’ll still talk on the phone till then right?” she said smiling innocently.

“Of course,” he smiled reassuringly.

‘So much for seeing her apartment tonight,’ he thought sadly, ‘Well, there will be other occasions I’m sure.’

She leaned across towards him and he thought she was coming in for a kiss, he wasn’t expecting it but he wasn’t one to deny a forward woman, when he leaned in however instead of her perfect lips his lips met air. She had leaned forward to reach her bag he felt a little embarrassed for misinterpreting her signals.

“Well I’ll see you.” she said standing outside of the car with her bag over her shoulder. “Thanks for the ride!”

“Anytime,” he replied.

“I’ll hold you to that,” she joked, closing the door to the car.

“I hope you do,” he said watching her run towards her apartment he watched her close the door before driving away the misinterpreted kiss had stirred his yokai. He checked his reflection to make sure his concealment was still in place, luckily his yokai hadn’t been stirred enough to dislodge his concealment. Which was good the last thing her needed was for his cover to get blown, At least before he was ready to reveal his true self to her. He took one last look in his rearview mirror at her receding apartments as he drove back down town.