InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Waiting To Inhale ❯ Hell's Kitchen ( Chapter 2 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
Kagome sighed into her phone. It wasn't that she didn't love him; it was just that something had changed. She just wasn't sure whether the change was in her self, or in the relationship. But she was sure that it had changed.
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Waiting To Inhale
By: DPK
Chapter Two - Hell's Kitchen
Read Responsibly.
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Hojou had started monologuing again. Gone was the boy who used to make her laugh with silly jokes and facts. But somewhere in the back of her mind Kagome realized that he really hadn't stopped. He still tried to make her laugh, still told his crazy jokes and stories, still was wonderful as a boyfriend. She just didn't know what it was that made him unappealing as her boyfriend any longer. There wasn't any other guy who held her attention, or anything of that matter, and she wasn't like her friends. She wasn't the type of person to get bored within a relationship, but she in fact was bored with Hojou.
Kagome interrupted Hojou's one-sided conversation. "Hojou I-"
"I-I gotta go. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
She couldn't bring herself to say it. What was wrong with her? Was she willing to throw away her perfectly good relationship?
No, she couldn't do that. He was a perfectly good boyfriend and she didn't want to lose him on her one moment of stupidity.
But that was just the thing; she had been feeling this way for too long now. Way too long.
"Alright Kagome, I'll talk to you tomorrow. Goodbye."
"Bye."
She quickly hung up the phone and rolled over on her stomach in her bed. She felt torn. Torn between her love for Hojou that was fading fast and between the new feelings that her heart was producing. She felt like there was something better out there for her. She got up and went to shut her open window. She stared at the full moon that twinkled back at her. One of her favorite songs whispered in the back of her head.
"There really is never a right time to say goodbye."
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Hojou hung up the phone with Kagome. He stared at it for the longest time. Something was wrong with him. How could he think about her the whole time he was talking to the love of his life? She had snuck under his skin and was starting to ruin his life.
His sighed and gave up fighting the inevitable. Picking up the receiver, he dialed her number and waited for her to pick up her phone.
"Can I meet you tonight?"
"And here I thought you'd never call."
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"Mama I'm leaving!"
"Alright Kagome, have a good day at work!"
Kagome rushed out of the house. She was already ten minutes late, and she stayed fifteen away from Hawks Mark. Suddenly her cell phone rang.
"Hey Sango."
"Kagome you should see the new guys who are working with us!"
"Rin?" Kagome looked quizzical. What was Rin doing calling on Sango's phone?
About to ask the question that ran through her head Rin beat her to it.
"My phone is in the kitchen and I just had to call you." She could hear Sango muttering something in the background.
"Quiet Sango, don't be mad because to you know one looks as good as Miroku." That earned more heated mutters, some of which she could make out. They sounded distinctly like 'who likes Miroku' and 'stupid letch' and other things of the sort.
"Rin, Rin what's going on?"
"Bring your butt down here and find out!" The resounding click told her Rin had hung up.
Pushing the pedal a little closer to the floor, she decided that she did indeed want to find out.
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"Today you two Taisho fellows will be starting off easy. You'll work in the kitchens for now. We are understaffed otherwise I wouldn't even consider it. Be happy that Chikatsu owed me a favor. This job is so simple I'm sure you nitwits could accomplish it without too much difficulty." Feeling that they needed a demonstration, Kuroama walked up to the table. "All you have to do is take the order, take it to he work station," Kuroama pointed to his left, "Make tickets than take it to the kitchen. Then you'll go on to the next table that has been seated. Please try not to mess it up. We do strive for excellence and the very best. It is our motto after all."
Inuyasha looked over the oddly shaped man.
"If that was the case, what happened to you?"
Kuroama turned around quickly and Inuyasha tried to cover his laugh with a cough. The man he had to call boss was extremely short balding man, with a large thick mustache and even larger and thicker glasses. Inuyasha glanced at Sesshoumaru hoping that the callous demon would crack at smile at the appearance of the odd man, but no avail. Sesshoumaru would always be Sesshoumaru.
Feeling rather uninterested as well, Inuyasha zoned out as 'dumpy' droned on about protocol. He scanned the room looking for something to occupy his time while the God forsaken lecture went in one ear and out the other. The room was pretty simple looking, everything was white. In the narrow entrance hall, the hostess stand presided. After passing up the podium was two small hidden passageways on each side of the hallway called the 'Wait Station'. After that was the dining area and to the very back was the kitchen. Inuyasha had never seen something so bland and dry in his life. But he guessed too much color would liven the place causing unwanted and unnecessary heart attacks. A giggle interrupted his thoughts of several different ways to torture dumpy. His ears flicked in the direction of the kitchen.
More giggles and gasps assaulted his eardrum. Then came the coos and 'oh my gosh' and he just knew someone was going to throw a half-breed comment but 'dumpy' interjected.
"Ladies, could you please come out here a second? Id like to introduce you to the first and hopefully last botches to our crew."
Inuyasha clenched his fist. What was with this guy? But a growl died in his throat when
'the ladies' came into view. Even Sesshoumaru seemed to be interested. Three girls no older than Inuyasha himself, came from the kitchen. "Gentlemen this is Sango, Kagome, and Rin."
Sango, the tallest of the three, glared hard at the two brothers. She had heard all about them and just knew they were trouble. She just wished she could pass that on to Kagome and Rin.
They had been looking at the boys from behind the double doors of the kitchen. Nearly stacked on top of each other they peeked to see the latest additions the HM's team.
"They looked positively bored." Kagome stared at Rin.
"Hadn't you been when you heard him talk?"
Rin giggled. They all started working here around the same time. Kuroama almost made her want to bang her head on the table to stop him from talking. Kagome gasped when the younger demon's ear flicked in their direction.
"Do you think he can hear us?" Sango rolled her eyes.
"Kagome even without demon hearing, he'd be able to hear you two dummies."
But when Kuroama called to them, they nearly collapsed on top of each other.
Kagome felt like drooling as they came to stand in front of the silver haired men. The youngest one had two doggie ears on his head that made her giggle and a physique that made her swoon. He wore a crisp white button down left open to expose the black muscle shirt underneath. But just as she looked him over, he did the same to her.
Kagome brought herself out of her stupor when her name was repeatedly called.
"Yes, Kuroama?"
Kuroama was annoyed. He saw the look of admiration that flashed across Kagome's face and sure as hell didn't appreciate the one Inuyasha reciprocated. That girl was too good for slime like him. He just hoped she didn't fall into his trap.
"Show them how everything works. I'll be in my office if you need me."
Walking away he tossed over his shoulder. "You will work here for 6 hours every day for the next two months to complete your hours."
Inuyasha was relieved and pissed at the same time. Relieved because dumpy was gone and pissed because he would be spending the next two months in this hellhole. He couldn't even blame the imp for his problems though he sure could try. The blame fell first his father then that ass of a judge. But, looking at Kagome, things just got better.
"Come on guys we have a few minutes before the place opens up. I'll show you around.
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"And this is where the residents sort of, hang out."
Kagome had spent the last half hour trying to explain the layout of the building they worked in. The home had four conjoined one-story buildings; the one they worked in, the two for the residents, and one more for the offices. They worked in the west wing that held the cafeteria, the common room, and library.
"We should really get to work. I'm sure the breakfast crowd should already be there and I know the girls really need help."
Inuyasha hadn't really paid attention to the words Kagome spoke, he was too busy noticing the fact that her hips swayed side to side when she walked. Sesshoumaru had left and went back to the kitchen some time ago, bored with the whole place and the situation. That left the two of them to tour the building with Kagome leading talking about the rooms and their uses and Inuyasha to well, not listen.
"Sure whatever. Look what the hell is there to do in this hell hole?"
Kagome raised her eyebrow at him. "Besides 'working' you mean?"
Inuyasha huffed. Sometimes humans could be so stupid. "Yes besides working. What did you really expect me to work in this place?"
"Well, yeah since it's your job."
Inuyasha looked pointedly at her. "Look I was forced here against my will. So was my bastard of a brother. I didn't volunteer for this shit."
Kagome turned to look at him, with her hands on her hips. "These people who live here are great. You should be happy to work for them." She turned on her heels and kept walking back to the kitchen. "Maybe you could give it a chance. If you start work with that attitude you'd never be able to enjoy everything this place has to offer."
Inuyasha stared at the spot she once occupied. Happy to work here? Was everyone who worked here crazy?
"I'll never be happy to work here." Inuyasha turned the corner Kagome had turned long ago. "This place is keeping me from where I should be."
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Sesshoumaru had located the kitchen after he'd left the wench with Inuyasha. He had better things to do then find out more than he needed to know about this place. He planned on disappearing as soon as he got the chance.
Intent on leaving, he didn't see the small man from earlier bump into him. "I see Kagome must have given you the tour, no?" Sesshoumaru ignored him. Why talk to something so worthless anyway? "You know Sesshoumaru, you'd be wise to listen to me and do your work. You think you got it bad working here, there are always things much, much worse." That caught his attention.
"Do you think this Sesshoumaru is afraid of anything?"
Kuroama shook his head. "It doesn't have to do with being afraid. Although being in jail is scary." Sesshoumaru had to physically restrain himself from attacking the dwarf of a man. "This Sessho-"
"Mr. Kuroama! Oh and-and you." Rin looked at Sesshoumaru under her lashes. He made her want to do things she couldn't really think about. She grabbed Sesshoumaru's arm and lead him away from the overly daunting Kuroama. "I was just looking for him. We need him back in the kitchen. Excuse us."
When she was far enough from their boss, she looked up to see Sesshoumaru looking at the place where they were joined. She quickly pulled away. "Sorry about that." She made a gesture towards the place where she just had her hand. "I just thought you needed saving. Uh, see ya?"
She took off running, and Sesshoumaru was forced to look after her. His forearm tingled with sensation even though she had taken her hand from it. He shook his head to clear it. He had more important things to deal with than the stupid wench.
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Rin slowed down after she felt she was far enough from the Golden-eyed God. He had looked at her like she'd grown another head. She didn't mean to overstep her boundaries, but she jumped at the chance to get near him. He made feel strange. A feeling she never felt with any of the guys she dated. But right now she didn't have time to think about the Golden-eyed God. She had work to do.
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"Welcome. Here's the menus for today." Kagome placed the menus in front of the patrons. "I'll be right back to get your order. She walked up to Inuyasha and gave him clipboard. "Do it just like that. Circle whatever they order on the piece of paper, then punch it in the computer by the wait station and take the ticket to the kitchen. That's basically it." She nodded to Rin who was carrying a tray of food to a table next to the one she was standing next to. "Rin there will carry the food to the table."
"Now I've got to get back to table five. Why don't you take table six?" Kagome walked back to the table and Inuyasha scoffed. "Keh. I don't feel like it." He said even though he was walking towards the table she indicated.
"Here. Hurry up and order." Inuyasha nearly threw the menus at the members of the table. Seated at the table were an old man and woman, presumably married. They gasped at Inuyashas' rudeness.
"Well I never-" the old woman began. Inuyasha cut in.
"If you don't hurry up and order I'll show-"
"Inuyasha!" Kagome ran up to them. "Sorry Kojima-sama. He just started here." She gave a fake laugh and pulled Inuyasha away. "Inuyasha you can't talk to the people like that!"
"Why not?" Kagome shot him a look. "Because you-you just can't!"
"They're about to die anyway, why be so nice?" Kagome gave an exasperated huff. "Inuyasha you just please don't act that way. Please?" Inuyasha didn't look at her while he walked away.
"What do you want?"
"Well we want the eggs, bacon, pancakes, and toast. But put them all on separate plates. I don't like my food touching each other. And don't put the butter on the pancakes bring that on a separate dish as well. And have the toast lightly toasted on each side, but not to dark or I can't eat it. And can you-"
Inuyasha growled. "Look your gonna eat the fu-"
Kagome interjected once again. "We'll have it out here in a jiff."
"Kagome are they always like that? I'd like to shove that food somewhere-"
"Inuyasha, the Kojimas' are always like that. They're very picky about their food. So what it's not like you have to prepare it."
Kagome took Inuyasha with her to the wait station with her. She punched in their order and sent a note to the kitchen about the Kojimas'. "And you don't even have to bring it to them."
She pushed Inuyasha around the Kojimas' table to one where she was familiar with the patrons.
"Hi guys. Hi gramps." Kagome looked at the elderly man with tears in her eyes. "Oh hello young lady. Are you here to take our order?" Kagome sighed. In the morning, her grandfather never seemed to remember her or anyone else. Even himself for that matter. But as the day progressed he would remember a few things and then he'd go to sleep and they'd start all over again.
"No I'm not but this young man is." She pushed Inuyasha towards them and whispered a quick 'be nice' to him before leaving for another table. Seated at the table were three elderly men and one woman. "Here." He gave them all menus. "What the hell do you want?"
The man sitting across from Kagome's grandfather ordered first. When Inuyasha had gotten everyone's order he doubled checked.
"So-" He pointed to the first man. "You ordered an omelette and-"
"Wha? I did?"
Inuyasha groaned. What was with him getting the loony tables?
"Yeah you did. So do you-"
"I don't remember ordering that. Are you sure?"
Inuyasha held his temples. It wasn't even close to noon yet. The two others sitting at the table argued with the man.
"Toutousai you never remember anything."
"Wha? Who are you again?"
The second man slapped Toutousai in the back of his head. "Ow…Myoga what did you do that for?"
"Oh now remember me." Inuyasha walked away mid-conversation. He punched in the order and sat down. He couldn't take to much more of this. He wondered where his ass of a brother was.
"Speaking of Sesshoumaru, I haven't seen him all morning." Inuyasha tried to recall seeing Sesshoumaru since he left him and Kagome alone.
"If that bastard left me…"
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Sesshoumaru sat in the kitchen watching Rin and Sango work. He hadn't done anything himself, he was far above making food and he damn sure wasn't going to take the stupid humans orders. No he left that job to his idiotic brother. He was happy to sit here watching Rin.
"You know, you could help out here."
The tall one, Sango, addressed him.
"This Sesshoumaru will do no such thing."
Rin raised a brow at him. "Do you just refer to your self in the third person?"
Sesshoumaru didn't answer.
"Yes Rin, this Sango does believe that that Sesshoumaru did."
Rin cracked up. "Do you mock me human?"
Rin answered before she could.
"Well what do you expect when you talk in the third person. I mean, who does that?"
Sesshoumaru's stoic face held no amusement. "It would be wise not to mock me human."
Rin huffed. "We do have names you know." She walked over to him and poked him in the chest. "You can't just go around saying, 'you human' this and 'you human' that. You wouldn't have me call you 'hey demon' would you?"
Sesshoumaru felt the same electric pulse from her when she poked him. He grabbed her hand and she gasped. "Do not poke me," he leveled his face with hers, "human."
Sango coughed to get their attention. Rin looked up and Sesshoumaru kept his attention on Rin. "Um, we still got work to do Rin. You should flirt with him some other time." Rin's face flushed. "Speaking of flirting," Rin looked at Sango, "Isn't Miroku coming today?"
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At nearly eleven, Inuyasha had been working for three hours. This day in hell was almost half over. The cafeteria stopped serving for an hour to prepare for the lunch break. Inuyasha followed Kagome into the kitchen. He saw Sesshoumaru sitting down ignoring both of the girls in front of him.
"Hey bastard, why aren't you fucking doing anything?"
"Does it look like this Sesshoumaru would work in a place like this?"
Rin turned to Inuyasha. "Does he always say this Sesshoumaru when he talks about him self?"
Inuyasha laughed. "I told you not to mock me human."
"Ah, quit your blubbering."
Inuyasha looked towards Sesshoumaru. He was never the one to let anyone get away with back talking him, joke or no joke. But Sesshoumaru just sat there, acting as if he didn't care.
Strange.
The little imp man walked into the room eyeing the Taisho brothers. "How is work holding up?"
Kagome answered first. "It's fine. Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru are doing great for their first day."
Kuroama pushed his glasses up on his nose. "Are you sure about that Kagome? I've gotten twelve complaints about Inuyasha alone, although I haven't seem to have gotten any about Sesshoumaru. Take our little heart to heart serious I see."
Sesshoumaru was ready to kill the man, when Inuyasha voiced sailed in. "The only reason is because the bastards been sitting on his ass all day."
Kagome eyed Inuyasha. "Sesshoumaru has been helping in the kitchen, right guys?"
"No, no Kagome Inuyasha's right for once in his life. Sesshoumaru probably hasn't done anything all day. Can I see you two in my office?"
Kuroama teetered away.
"You know Sesshoumaru's gonna kill you right?"
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I know terrible place for ending, but I'm tired and all that jazz.
Please read and review!
-DPK
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I do not own Inuyasha and Co.
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