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The Scarlet Ties	By : QueenCeaona Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female > Sessh?maru/Kagome > Sessh?maru/Kagome Views: 3794 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 3
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters associated with the series. This story is a work of fan fiction, written for entertainment purposes only. The author makes no monetary gains for this work.

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The Scarlet Ties

A Run In Again

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“Good luck, Kagome!” a smiling Keiko waved from the front door, watching as her daughter raced across the grounds and toward the long flight of steps that led to their shrine.

“Thanks mom!” the young priestess returned, turning back to wave before hastily making her way down the stairs.

‘I should have gotten up earlier!’ Kagome thought absently, ‘now I’m running late! I hope I don’t miss the bus!’

Although, Kagome acknowledged distantly, to an outside observer, it might appear that she had in fact set her alarm clock and gotten up in plenty of time to get ready and catch the bus by 8:30. That same observer, who really needed to mind his own business, would probably suggest she could have left on time had she not spent the extra twenty minutes or so fussing with her hair.

‘Well,’ the priestess sniffed, turning her nose up at the nonexistent person, ‘Certainly you wouldn’t expect me to meet with a prospective employer looking unkempt would you? Of course not!’ she answered her own question. ‘It’s not like I was getting all dolled up just in case I ran into that Koichi guy again! I don’t even want to run into him again, I already told you that!’

Realizing that she was, essentially arguing with a figment of her own overactive imagination, Kagome dismissed her meandering thoughts in favor of paying attention as she made her way toward a busy intersection. Making it to the other side in one piece would probably go a lot better if she weren’t mentally disputing the ridiculous notion that she’d had the slightest thought of that Koichi guy in mind as she prepared herself for the day. The very idea!

The light turned just as she arrived at the corner and the miko quickly crossed the street. It wasn’t long afterwards that the bus pulled up to the corner and she made her way onto the already crowded vehicle.

________________________________________________________________________

“Yes mother, I had a banana with my breakfast this morning… I know… Yes mother. No I’m not wearing it today, I already told you it itches like crazy and the last time it gave me a rash!”

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Naoko held the phone a little farther from her ear, hoping that the overly loud voice coming from the other end wouldn’t bring on another headache.

“Listen, I don’t have time to talk to you about this right now, I’m working! I know, mother. Okay, I love you too. I’ll talk to you later.”

Sighing, Naoko pressed the “end” button on her cell phone before slipping it back into the lapels of her kimono. She loved her mother, she really did, but the woman was nuts! There was really no nicer way to put it. It had never really bothered her that she was an only child growing up, but now that her father had passed on, she was finding herself the sole benefactor of the woman’s loving, if not excessive attention. It might have been nice if there were some siblings to share in the surplus of home cooked meals, hand knitted sweaters, and repeated phone calls throughout the day. Not that she was unappreciative, it was just… a bit much at times.

Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, as manager of the museum’s gift shop, Naoko, at least while she was inside the store, didn’t really have to answer to anyone about the frequent phone calls her mother was always making. She was going to have to do something about that woman one of these days.

For now though, it was time to get the day started, so Naoko entered her password into the cash register before tidying up the store shelves. Once she was satisfied with that, she made her way to the large twin glass doors and flipped the “closed” sign to “open.”

She opened the left door and was just sliding the doorstop in place when a masculine voice startled her so completely that she hopped nearly a foot into the air, yipped and nearly tripped over her own two feet as she simultaneously pivoted and backpedaled from the sound.

“Good morning Naoko-san.”

“Yah!” the slight woman gasped, placing a hand over her racing heart as she pressed her back against the door. “Daichi! I’ve told you not to sneak up on me like that! You’re gonna give me a heart attack!” She scowled up at the tall, broad shouldered man and then exhaled deeply, discreetly brushing a bead of sweat from her brow. “That is if my mother doesn’t beat you to it.”

The security guard smiled down at the woman, a teasing glint in his dark eyes. “Aww. Is she trying to get you to wear that itchy sweater again?”

She scowled at him again. “It’s not funny, Daichi! That stupid sweater gave me a rash! My back was itching for two weeks straight! And, if that wasn’t bad enough, my mother then insisted on coming to my apartment every night to slather that stinky ointment all over me! I swear she thinks that stuff can cure anything!”

Daichi just smiled at her, sheepishly scratching the short hairs at the nape of his neck. “Sorry, Naoko-san, I didn’t mean to tease. I was just--”

“What are you doing here anyway?” the woman cut him off, only then noticing that there was someone standing a short distance behind him.

The security guard stepped aside, allowing her to better see the woman who’d accompanied him. “This is Kagome-san, she is here to apply for the salesclerk position.”

Initially the woman frowned, as if she had no idea what he was talking about.

“Remember?” Daichi prompted after a moment.

“Oh… OH, right!” Naoko said, brushing past the guard to shake Kagome’s hand.

“Good morning, Kagome-san, If my face is red right now, it’s because you overheard the embarrassing conversation I just had with good old Daichi here! He’s the best you know! Between him and my mother, I’m sure to take up residence within the confines of a rubber room sometime in the near future!”

Kagome giggled as she shook Naoko’s hand. “Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Naoko-san! If it makes you feel any better, I tripped and almost fell off the bus on my way here today. An old man actually managed to catch me, even though he was about half my size.”

At first Naoko just stared at Kagome with wide eyes, and then the two burst into laughter.

“Well, Kagome-san,” Naoko finally said, “now that we’ve been properly introduced, I suppose you’ll want to fill out an application?”

“That’d be great.” Kagome said, and was led into the shop.

Daichi simply smiled and watched them go, before turning and heading back to his post.

Like the part of the museum the miko had seen so far, the gift shop was spacious, organized and pristine, the shelves fully stocked with candies, salted treats and various novelties. Naoko led her beyond the check out counter and down a short hallway. They passed the restrooms, a closed door, presumably a closet, and the employee break room before finally arriving in a small office.

Naoko gestured to the seat nearest to the door. “Please have a seat Kagome-san.”

As Kagome took the proffered seat, Naoko moved to the other side of the desk and opened the top right drawer. “Here,” she offered politely, “This is the application. Please fill it out as completely as you can. I’ll be back to check on you in a few moments.”

“Thank you Naoko-san,” Kagome smiled, removing a pen from her purse and beginning to look over the paperwork.

________________________________________________________________________

It didn’t take long to complete the application, and once it was done Naoko returned and conducted a brief, but detailed interview.

Though the woman clearly had a sense of humor and was personable and friendly, she could also be, when the time called for it, very professional, and even a little meticulous. Kagome liked her right away, and as far as she could tell, Naoko liked her as well.

“The museum is beautiful!” Kagome said as she and Naoko returned from a tour around the building. “Some of those artifacts are just so fascinating!”

Naoko smiled. “The museum’s owner and curator does indeed have quite an extensive collection here. There are artifacts from all around the world, many of which are hundreds of years old!”

“Wow,” Kagome sighed, an array of images still drifting through her mind. The museum was absolutely amazing, there was really no other way to describe it. There were swords and various other weaponry, some of which were collected from cultures she’d never even heard of before. She’d seen sculptures, tapestries and paintings that were truly awe inspiring. Some pieces told their own stories of timeless love between men and women, mothers and children, people and their gods; while other pieces were completely mysterious, giving the viewer just a tiny glimpse into the minds of their ancient creators.

There were everyday objects as well, such as pottery, ancient cookware and cutlery, even children’s toys.

Though they didn’t tour the entire museum, Kagome had seen so much! It made her want the job that much more. It’d be nothing less than a privilege to work in such a fascinating place!

“Would you like a cappuccino Kagome-san?” Naoko asked suddenly, rousing the miko from her thoughts.

“Oh, I--”

“We also have hot tea, coffee or cocoa if you’d prefer.”

“Cocoa would be nice,” she said, beginning to riffle through her purse for cash. “A small one please.”

“Coming right up,” Naoko replied cheerfully, “and put that away. Beverages are free to employees.”

Kagome stared at the other woman, optimistic confusion written clear on her face.

Initially, Naoko didn’t say a thing, opting instead to fill Kagome’s cup before topping it with a brown plastic cap. Smiling, she offered her the steamy beverage.

“I think I’ll enjoy working with you, Kagome-san.”

“You mean… I got the job?! Just like that?!”

Naoko’s smile broadened as a puzzled Kagome slowly took the cup. “Well, I supposed I could have you jump through rings of fire to prove your worth, but I’m not sure I have enough gasoline on hand to light them.” she chuckled lightly at her own joke. “I think you’re well qualified for the position, my dear. You came in bright and early, you interviewed well, and from what I can tell so far, you have excellent people skills. What more could I ask for?”

Kagome quickly sat the cup on the counter to shake Naoko’s hand. “Thank you so much!” she cried happily, “When do I start?”

The priestess was all ears as Naoko began going over the details of the position, so much so that she was completely oblivious when a tall, traditionally attired male strode into the store behind her.

Without looking up, Naoko reached for a large cup, filled it with white tea and then handed it to the male. “Good morning Koichi-san. I expected you about ten minutes ago. It‘s not like you to be running late. Is everything okay?”

He took the cup from her and sat it on the other end of the counter. “There was business to attend.” he responded vaguely.

“Koich--” Kagome began, her heart suddenly leaping into her throat. It couldn’t be the same guy, could it? Turning ever so slowly, as if afraid of what she would see, the priestess all but held her breath.

Today he was garbed in black and white semiformal Japanese attire. Beneath the open lapels of his white outer kimono, he wore black haori and hakama, tied about the waist with a thick white obi. She looked up, and was met by that striking face and those mesmerizing hazel eyes.

Without thinking about her actions, Kagome backed into the counter, as if trying to escape his overwhelming presence. Naoko didn’t seem to notice and Koichi didn’t seem to care. His movements were deliberate, almost predatory in fact, when he stepped forward again to narrow the space between them.

“Koichi-san,” the store manager spoke up, “I’d like you to meet our newest employee. Her name is--”

“Higurashi, Kagome.” Koichi said, extending his right hand. “It is a pleasure to see you again.”

The priestess slowly took his hand. “H-hello.” she managed, not really sure what else to say.

“Ah, so you two have already met. Excellent!” Naoko clapped happily, again moving behind the counter to retrieve her cappuccino.

“Um, yeah,” Kagome said, “Koichi-san was the one who told me about the position in the first place.”

She retrieved her hand, her eyes still glued to his face. “I umm… wasn’t expecting to see you again. Do you work here too?”

“Does he work here?” Naoko asked, incredulity edging her tone, “Koichi-san is--”

“Yes.” Koichi cut the woman off, giving her a look as he moved to retrieve his cup of tea.

“Well, you didn’t mention that before.” Kagome muttered, glancing at Koichi beneath thick dark lashes.

“You didn’t ask,” he said before taking a sip of his tea. “Besides, would it have made any difference if you had known?” he asked, lifting a dark brow into the fringe of his bangs.

It almost seemed as if he was challenging her, but Kagome ignored it, considering his words instead. “No,” she finally told him, “I don’t suppose it would have.”

Koichi smirked.

“Well then,” Naoko chimed in, effortlessly cutting through the mild tension that had been building, “I shall see you tomorrow morning, Kagome-san. The store opens at 10:00 am, but I’ll expect you here no later than 9:30. Oh, and I should mention that all employees and volunteers of the museum are encouraged to wear traditional attire; everyone but the security guards. Nothing too fancy, simple kimonos are fine. I hope that won’t be a problem for you?”

“Nah,” Kagome waved airily. “My family is… a little old fashioned, so there’s really no shortage of traditional clothing for me to wear.”

“Excellent!” the other woman smiled, “We’ll see you in the morning then?”

“Bright and early,” Kagome assured with a smile. She glanced at Koichi before quickly looking away, a faint blush coloring her face.

The room grew silent after her statement and Kagome began to pluck nervously at the strap of her purse, feeling Koichi’s gaze upon her. “Well,” she finally said, “I should get going. I think the next bus should be coming along soon. Thanks again Naoko-san, Koichi-san.” she said, bowing slightly to them both before turning to leave.

“Wait.” the male spoke up behind her.

Nearly startled by the sound of his own voice, Koichi could do little more than watch as the woman slowly turned around to face him. Honestly, he hadn’t intended to call out to her, but had done so before he could even consider it. When had he become so impulsive?

It was of little consequence he supposed. He had her attention now, so he might as well make the best of it.

The priestess eyed him curiously, suspecting that for the briefest of moment‘s he looked almost surprised. The expression was quickly replaced with one of mild indifference and a vague memory tickled the cloudy edges of her mind. Before she could attempt to decipher it, the male before her regained her attention by lightly clearing his throat and taking several steps in her direction.

“Perhaps you’ would like a tour of the museum before you go?” he asked, a small, genial smile gracing his lips.

Kagome’s breath caught in her throat. ‘God he’s pretty!’

Throat dry, she gave herself a small mental shake. “Actually, Naoko-san already showed me around. Umm… thanks for offering though.”

“Hn,” he murmured thoughtfully, “Then at least allow me to walk you to the bus stop?”

Wide brown eyes stared up at him as the woman held up both hands, almost as if waving him away. “Oh no!” the priestess cried, an exaggerated smile widening her lips. “That won’t be necessary! The bus stop is just across the street, and I’d really hate to impose--”

“Do not concern yourself,” Koichi insisted. “It is no trouble at all. In fact,” he pressed on, moving even closer as a tiny smirk found the edge of his lips. “I insist.”

“Um… okay.” Kagome heard herself respond, her restless fingers again finding the strap of her purse. She plucked at it several times before turning back toward the exit. Striding up beside her, Koichi moved in silence before reaching toward the door. He pushed it aside without effort, allowing them both to walk through. Kagome stole a glance at him from the corner of her eyes.

Physically striking as he was, there was just something about this Koichi-san that made Kagome incredibly edgy. Vaguely contemplating what it could be and why, she strolled along beside him as they made their way through the lobby and toward the main entrance. She would have preferred if he didn’t accompany her, but couldn’t think of a way of dissuading him without being rude. He hadn’t done anything to warrant that.

Again he opened the door for them and the pair exited the building, bright sunlight spilling over them as they emerged from the small awning that sheltered the double doors. Crossing the street without incident, they arrived at the bus stop and Kagome seated herself on a small bench to wait.

“You seem troubled.” she heard Koichi murmur.

“What? Oh, no, I was just thinking,” she told him, somewhat distracted.

“About what, if I may inquire?”

‘About… how uneasy you make me. About the fact that you’re asking me my thoughts, yet you don’t really look interested in what I have to say. About why you seem so…’

“Kagome-san?”

“Oh, sorry!” she gasped, tearing her eyes away from his handsome face. She must have been staring at him like an idiot. How embarrassing!

“I was just thinking about… what I was going to wear tomorrow.”

The man nodded. “You mentioned that your family was old fashioned?”

“Yeah,” she smiled, a little uneasy. “My upbringing was a little… unconventional. I grew up in a shrine and my family has hosted tons of festivals over the years. That coupled with the fact that my mom is a master seamstress, and I almost have more kimonos than I do modern clothes.

“Hn,” he murmured, seemingly unsurprised by her response.

“The Higurashi Shrine,” they said in unison.

She looked up at him and smiled, and Koichi felt an odd leap in his chest.

“Yeah, I guess the last name kinda gives me away, huh?”

The man didn’t answer, instead choosing to stare down at her. His expression was oddly serene.

The comfortable silence that had fallen between them was soon interrupted by the approaching vehicle and Kagome’s attention was drawn away. “The bus is almost here.” She stood, taking a moment to settle her purse and brush the wrinkles out of her skirt.

“Well, Koichi-san, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Indeed.” he intoned lightly.

Bashfully tucking a few stray hairs behind her ear, the miko gave him one final smile before climbing onto the bus. Koichi watched her go, and instantly began looking forward to tomorrow when he would see her again.

_______________________________________________________________________

Right, so it’s been forever and a day since I updated this story. Well, I kinda forgot about it. Um… sorry?

At any rate since I’m picking this up again, I’ve decided that this story will mainly consist of unabashed romance and unhealthy helpings of fluff. Seriously, I mean LOTS of fluff! Consider yourselves warned!

Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. I’ll try to get the next one out fairly soon!
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The Scarlet Ties