#oops typos but can’t fix them on phone so oh well

[kirsctein]

x

[keichanz]

Working Hard

NOTE: TITLE CHANGE. previously titled Workin’ Hot

anyway, i totally meant to post this in the morning but when i finished it last night i forgot to send it to myself so i could post it at work. oops lol. and hey lookie that, just in time for Valentine’s day too! it’s not at all Valentine’s related, but it’s inukag and that’s all that matters amiright ahahha.

moving on tagging my ladies because if i don’t they’ll maul me in my sleep: @clearwillow @sssuperbartola @lemonlushff @tsukinohimeusagi @dangerouspompadour @meggz0rz @cammysansstuff @britonell @eternalnight8806-3 @bearpluscat @morikothehalfangel @hinezumi @ideasthatbuildcities @thunderpot @fantastiqueparfait @umacaking​ 

sorry if i forgot anybody <3

also please note this is entirely unedited so beware the typos and other errors haha.

lol totally forgot to add this but here is a layout of Kagome’s office to get a better perspective. 

“Damn dog’s working you to the bone today, eh, missy? When’s the last time you had a break?”

Kagome smiled, however she didn’t look up from the huge printer as she continued to feed invoices and purchase orders into the tray to be copied. The stupid thing kept jamming on her whenever she looked away for even a second and she was already behind schedule as it is. As it was, she’d have to stay at least until seven now instead of five like she’d originally planned, but that was because the maintenance guy had failed to show up at the allotted time of two pm to fix the malfunctioning air conditioner. He’d called and said he would be late, but hadn’t mentioned how late, and now Kagome was stuck after hours in a stifling hot office with no AC and with a million and one things she still needed to do. She was tired, and hot, and hungry, and she just wanted to go home, but she couldn’t leave until the damn AC guy showed up and she had no idea when that would be.

Her job sucked sometimes, but at least the people she worked with made up for that.

“Hi, Bob,” Kagome greeted one of their driver’s and only looked up once the last PO had gone through the copier. She sighed and collected the copies, stacking the purchase orders in a neat pile on the desk to be received later before taking the originals and filing back where they belong. She left the invoices on Sango’s desk to be done first thing in the morning; she knew her friend would appreciate the help, little as it may be.

“You know as well as I do that Tai has nothing to do with me still being here,” she said, walking barefoot to the filing cabinets; she’d kicked off her heels long before since it was just her in the office and Tai always locked the front door after he and Sesshomaru left for the day.

“I volunteered, and there’s too much to do to take a break. With Kagura on maternity leave and Ayame out sick, it’s only me, Sango, and Shiori to pick up the slack, but because Shiori’s still in training there’s only so much she can do.”

Sliding the last PO into the appropriate folder, Kagome shut the drawer with another sigh and finally turned to face her friend and favorite driver of Taisho Metal Finishing. Rotund, bearded, and with a perpetual flush on his face, Bob treated her like his own daughter and she in turn saw him as a sort of father. Though he constantly harassed and teased her, always stealing her keys and pretending to hide them somewhere in the plant, he also always asked how she was doing and made sure she wasn’t overworking herself. She adored him for it, and usually she would take the time to sit down and chat for a few minutes if she ended up staying late, but right now she simply didn’t have the time.

“It’s hot as balls in here,” he grunted and whipped a hand over his sweaty brow. “Drinking enough, at least?”

Smiling, Kagome ambled over to her desk and lifted up her cold water bottle in answer before taking a swig.

Bob nodded, satisfied, and finally allowed a grin to stretch his tanned face. “That damned AC guy still not here?”

Kagome wrinkled her nose and shook her head, taking another sip of her water before setting it back down and ambling over to the back table to grab the incoming PO’s. Back over to the printer, she fed them into the copy tray and poked around on the screen to get the settings she wanted.

“No,” she muttered and the annoyance was obvious in her tone. “He hasn’t called since the first time when he said he was going to be late, I don’t even know if he’s on his way, and—”

The printer whirred, beeped obnoxiously at her for several seconds, then flashed an error message at her on the screen.

“—and this stupid thing keeps jamming on me!”

Scowling, Kagome refrained from kicking it in sheer frustration – her bare and unprotected toes would not appreciate that act – and huffed out a harsh exhale before angrily jabbing her finger onto the screen to clear the message and start over.

Unable to keep from chuckling despite her obvious frustration, Bob shuffled over and patted her shoulder, squeezing once.

“Take a break, missy,” he told her gently and guided her over to her desk chair. Kagome gave in easily, thinking that perhaps he was right and it was time she took a break. “You’ve earned it. Now, if I leave to go unload my truck, will the printer still be in once piece tomorrow?”

“Oh, shut up,” Kagome laughed and swatted his arm. Bob released a hearty laugh, patted her back, ruffled her hair, and retreated back to the even hotter floor where his truck sat at the dock waiting to be unloaded.

Kagome watched him go with a fond smile. Bob had always been able to lift her spirits and make her day a little brighter and she was grateful to him.

Sitting back in her chair, Kagome grimaced when her clothes stuck to her sweaty skin uncomfortably and she sat back up, fanning her flushed face with her hand and blowing out her cheeks in another sigh. Of course the AC just had to go on one of the hottest days of the summer; it had to be at least eighty in the office, and it was probably reaching one hundred out on the floor where all the hot water tanks, ovens, and machinery were. She couldn’t imagine how the floor employees had faired today. The drivers at least had the reprieve of leaving to pick up and drop off orders in their nice air-conditioned trucks.

Wrinkling her nose, Kagome glared down at her blouse, bit her lip, and gave a mental “to hell with it” before unbuttoning it and shrugging it off. It was only her in the office anyway and she didn’t care if any of the drivers saw her in just a skirt and her camisole. Hell, they were probably walking around without shirts out there since the bosses were gone. No one to yell at them for it.

Feeling better already without her blouse sticking to her skin, Kagome splashed some cool water into her hands via water bottle and dabbed at her face and neck, sighing as the chilly water cooled her heated skin. It was a brief reprieve, but welcomed none the less. It was hot, dammit. She fished around in her desk for a hair tie and bundled her hair up into a loose bun, wondering why she hadn’t had the smarts to do this in the first place.

“Much better,” she sighed, feeling better already. “Alright, now back to—”

The door that led out into the plant opened up and an unfamiliar male voice called out, “Hello? I was called to fix a faulty air conditioner unit. Someone sent me up here to talk to a…Kagome?”

“Oh, thank god,” Kagome muttered to herself and then said louder, “Yes, hello! Just a moment please, wait right there and I’ll come show you where it is.”

Using her feet to drag heels out from under her desk, Kagome slipped them back on and stood from her chair, taking a moment to smooth out her skirt and make sure her hair wasn’t a complete mess. Hoping she looked at least halfway presentable, Kagome stepped out from behind her desk and—

“Oh!”

Either impatient or he simply hadn’t heard her, the repair man had followed her voice from the lobby into the office where only employees were permitted. Wearing stained coveralls with the repair company’s logo on the left breast, the man had black, greasy looking air that fell down his back in unkempt waves and leering red eyes that sent not so pleasant shivers crawling along the length of her spin. He grinned at her and Kagome took an involuntary step back, feeling a chill course through her entire body despite the stifling heat. The man set a heavy looking toolbox on the ground and advanced toward her, his scarlet gaze unabashedly dropping to ogle the cleavage bared by her clingy camisole.

“Um, s-sir,” Kagome stuttered and took another step back. “Y-you’re not allowed back here. Please, the—the AC is upstairs…if you’ll follow me—”

“Kagome,” the man murmured and his smirk had a sinister lilt to it. “Was it you I spoke on the phone with earlier? It was, wasn’t it,” he continued without waiting for an answer. “You’re even lovelier than you sound.”

Kagome paled. Oh god.

“Ah, sir, p-please,” she squeaked and hated how her voice wavered, “This isn’t—the…the air conditioner—”

“Can wait a few more minutes,” he murmured, his voice like a serrated knife cloaked in velvet; malice hidden behind purring tones and slick words. “I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Naraku. Pleasure to meet you, Kagome.”

The way he said her name had a sick, heavy feeling settling in her stomach and she swallowed several times through a throat tight with sudden anxiety. She offered a strained smile and backed up again. He followed her, seemingly either uncaring he was making her so uncomfortable, and completely oblivious.

Kagome suspected it was the former and it made her heart race.

“W-well, Naraku,” she said and licked her dry lips. His eyes followed the movement and she shivered in a mix of fear and disgust. “It’s…nice to meet you, too.” Lie. LIE. “I, uh, I can’t leave until you’re gone, so…if you could…go upstairs, down the hall, and to your left, you’ll find the room where the AC is.”

There was no way in hell she was going to be alone with this man for any length of time now. He can go find the damn AC by his own creepy self. And maybe she’d run out and grab Bob to keep her company in case he came back downstairs for whatever reason. She knew he’d keep her safe. Or maybe even Sha—

“Really?” he drawled and the grin he gave her stretched his mouth, ruby eyes glinting with fiendish delight.

Oooh shit. Maybe she shouldn’t have mentioned that.

“I-I mean—th-the drivers, they—one of them could come in any minute and I won’t be alone and—”

Oh god, she was rambling and not making any sense and he was getting closer and Kagome felt the first tendrils of panic skitter across her skin like thousands of needles—

“Hey, asshole. The fuck you think you’re doing?”

While Kagome gasped and caught herself on the back table behind her as relief surged through her entire body, Naraku paused inches before her and looked over his shoulder to level a carefully neutral look at whoever interrupted them.

Standing behind the reception desk, a six foot wall of solid muscle donned in ripped jeans and a black ball cap, Kagome’s inadvertent savior only spared her a brief glance to assure she was alright before pinning her tormentor under the weight of his unwavering amber gaze. To his credit Naraku seemed unaffected and merely stared back, not moving away from her, but not getting any closer either.

When still the asshat didn’t move away from the clearly uncomfortable woman, dark brows snapped low over his eyes and a deep growl echoed in his throat. Fucker apparently had more balls than brains, but at least he had enough sense to not ignore his presence. A wise decision; if he hadn’t, Inuyasha would have been forced t use a much more physical means to intervene, and he was positive neither his dad nor Sesshomaru would appreciate that.

“Maybe you didn’t hear me,” he started, voice low, gaze narrowing just the slightest. “Or maybe you’re just stupid, but I asked you what the fuck you think you’re doing. This area is off limits to anyone but employees, asshole. Beat it.”

He gestured behind him with a jerk of his head, indicating the lobby where he should get the hell out of his sight, and fast.

Once more Naraku proved that he was below average intelligence when he again refused to move away from Kagome and instead merely half-turned and pegged the half-demon with a narrow-eyed stare.

“The lady and I,” he began, either not noticing or ignore as the lady in question subtly inched away from him, “are having a conversation. One you quite rudely interrupted, I might add.”

“Conversation’s over,” Inuyasha told him firmly and his tone brooked no room for argument. “Now I suggest you leave the lady alone, get the fuck outta my sight, and go do what you were specifically hired to do. And in case your sense of direction is as shitty as your hearing, that would be up the stairs, down the hall, and to your left. Door’s labeled ‘Employees Only.’ Can’t miss it.”

Naraku pegged him with a sinister glare that time and Inuyasha didn’t miss the way his hands clenched into tight fists. His gaze sharpened and he tensed, but didn’t move.

“Kagome was just about to show me herself,” the repair man claimed and swung twin pools of unnerving ruby red said woman’s way. Kagome froze in her gradual bid to escape and Naraku smiled. It was not a nice smile.

“Weren’t you, Kagome?”

Wide brown eyes cut to his and beneath his ballcap Inuyasha’s ears pinned against his head as another growl welled in his throat.

“Tough shit,” Inuyasha snapped and watched as the asshole visibly tensed before once more turning his head to level him with a murderous glare. “I don’t give a rat’s ass if she promised to give you a goddamn tour of France, dickhead. Kagome is busy, I have shit to do other than waste my time standing here talking to someone who clearly forgot his helmet at home and licks windows in his spare time, so do us both a favor, grab your shit, and go do your fucking job.”

Maybe it was the low, ominous growl that even Kagome could hear now, the sudden ring of the company phone that shattered the tense silence that followed, or perhaps it was Kagome driving to go answer it, but whatever it was evidently Naraku finally decided to heed the hanyou’s request. He pursed his lips, glowered balefully at the silver-haired figure for several charged seconds, then wordlessly picked up his tools and stomped by him toward the stairs.

Kagome hunt up the phone, looked over her shoulder, then gratefully sank down into her chair with a loud, relieved sigh. She pressed a hand over her heart and closed her eyes, taking a moment to breathe as she willed her tense muscles to relaxed. She heard him approach and when she opened her eyes again, her water bottle was being held before her by a clawed hand.

“I can’t thank you enough, Sha,” Kagome said and grabbed her drink with a grateful smile. “You have some pretty incredible timing.”

Leaning back against the printer and crossing his arms again, Inuyasha studied her quietly for a moment as she took several deep gulps of the cool liquid before replying.

“Bob asked me to check in on you,” he revealed and Kagome blinked in surprise. “Said he looked pretty sketchy and got a weird feeling about him when he asked where to go.” He cocked a brow. “Suppose he was right.”

Kagome sighed. “And how,” she muttered, setting her drink on her desk. God, if Sha hadn’t intervened when he did…

“Any idea how long it’s gonna take?” he asked and nodded his head toward the ceiling.

“No,” she answered, wrinkling her nose. “And I can’t leave until he’s gone.” She didn’t sound very happy about that and he couldn’t blame her.

Inuyasha frowned. “Are you staying late because of him?”

Kagome shook her head. “Unfortunately, no. You weren’t exactly lying earlier; I really am busy. I still have quotes to send, tags to make—oh! Those are yours, by the way,” she said and pointed to a colorful stack of papers – the aforementioned product tags – on the table. “Then I need to file invoices, finish some receiving, update pricing…the list goes on.”

Inuyasha whistled low, mentally wincing in sympathy. “Damn. Sounds like you’ll be just as busy as me. That idiot Houjo dropped an entire fucking skid of Horschel – an entire skid – from the forklift earlier and it’s giant goddamn mess.”

Kagome’s eyebrows rose and despite herself her lips twitched. “Was that what I heard a few hours ago? That huge crash?”

He grunted and Kagome took that as her answer.

“Oh, man,” she said and her smile was sympathetic. “I hope it wasn’t expedited.”

Inuyasha winced.

Kagome’s mouth dropped. “No.”

He groaned that time and Kagome had to bite her lip to stop from giggling. She really did feel bad; the Horschel brothers were not going to be happy when they hear their entire order had been destroyed.

“Oh…I am so sorry,” she said sincerely. “That’s just…damn.”

“Yeah,” he rumbled, dragging a hand down his face. “Looks like neither of us will be leaving any time before seven, I’d wager.”

“Well,” Kagome piped up, ever the optimist. “At least it’s Friday?”

Inuyasha’s ear flicked beneath his cap and the corner of his lips flickered with the beginnings of a grin.

“Good night for pizza and Netflix.”

“And breadsticks. And—oh! Chicken wings. Hot chicken wings.”

“You absolute mad woman.”

“I know.”

Inuyasha snickered while Kagome dissolved into giggles and as he watched her laughing, face flushed, dark eyes bright and raven hair piled up into a messy bun, the urge slammed into him so hard he didn’t even think to resist. And if he was being honest with himself, it was something he’d been wanting to do for quite some time, and well…no time like the present, right?

“Listen,” Inuyasha began and Kagome cocked her head, curious, but before he could continue, the phone on his belt chose that moment to ring and he released a muttered curse. Sighing, he rolled his eyes, gave Kagome an apologetic look, and when all she did was smile and wave a dismissive hand, he unhooked the annoying device and pressed the call button.

“The hell do you want, I’m busy.”

While Inuyasha talked on the phone with who was probably one of his drivers, Kagome’s smile lingered on her face as she watched him, unabashed taking the opportunity to really get a good look at him while he was distracted.

Good lord, but the man was…mmm. Donned in the light blue company uniform shirt paired with dark jeans and scuffed up shitkickers, Kagome would be lying if she said he didn’t look utterly delicious. Most likely in deference to the heat, he had the top half of the shirt’s buttons unfastened and the sleeves pushed up to his elbows. His skin glistened with a fine sheen of sweat since it was much hotter out on the floor than in the office, and the white ribbed tank top be wore beneath his shirt clung to his chest very enticingly. His long hair was tied into a low ponytail and he had a five o’clock shadow that attractively darkened a strong jaw.

Inuyasha Taisho – or Sha, as most people called him – was the shipping manager and in charge of the drivers that worked for the company. The son of the CEO and half-brother to the president, he didn’t let his relation to the big bosses make him any different from the other employees. He didn’t receive any special treatment either, which was fine with him anyway. He was a hard worker, and though Kagome didn’t work with him much and saw him even less, she knew he was also a valued part of the company and made sure his drivers were on time with both deliveries and pick-ups.

He spent most of his time out on the floor if not in a truck himself, but when she did see him in the office, he always treated the office ladies with respect and was never rude or impatient if he came to them with an issue with the paperwork. Kagome genuinely liked him and had to admit she was a little disappointed she couldn’t work with him more often, but knew his presences was required out on the floor so she didn’t complain.

…Much.

Oh, who was she kidding? For a while now Kagome had been wanting to know far more about him and not just the surface knowledge a coworker was privileged to.  She wanted to know his favorite food or if he was a coffee drinker. Was he an early bird or a night owl? Cats or dogs? McDonald’s or Burger King? She wanted to know his quirks, the little details, and okay fine, yes she was crushing. Big time.

But while Kagome was over her with moon eyes and a dopey smile, he hadn’t so much as spared her a second glance so she’d never approached him like she truly wanted.

“Keep your dick in your pants, I’ll be there in a minute,” Inuyasha drawled and promptly stopped the insistent whining in his ear by hanging up the phone. He grumbled and shook his head, clipping the device back on his belt. Christ, he leaves for ten goddamn minutes and the entire floor is having a fucking conniption because he’s not there.

“Do your people need you?” Kagome asked with a teasing smile.

Inuyasha snorted. “My people are idiots and can’t do a damn thing for themselves apparently.”

Shaking his head, he sighed, studied her thoughtfully for a moment, and decided he’d ask her later, after McCreepy Fuck was gone. She had work to do anyway and he didn’t want to distract her more than he already had.

“I’ll stick around,” he said and flicked a brief glance toward the ceiling in explanation. She beamed at him and his heart skipped a beat. Christ he was done for. “Anything happens, you call me. I’ll hear it. I promise.”

He could see it as she visibly relaxed and he was obvious it meant a great deal to her that he was willing to hang around so she wouldn’t have to be alone with him.

“Thank you, Sha,” she breathed, truly grateful. “It…means a lot to me. Really.”

Inuyasha nodded, expression softening. “No problem,” he murmured just as his phone rang again. Kagome giggled as he tipped his head back with an exaggerated sigh, rolling his eyes heavenward.

He quirked a grin, tipped his hat at her – relishing in her quiet laugh – then grabbed the tags she’d already created before turning around to head back toward the floor, unclipping his phone and answering it with a barked, “What, Miroku? I told you I’d—no, dammit, don’t let him on the forklift again—!”

The door to the plant slammed shut and Kagome was once again left alone. Or as alone as she could be given the circumstances, but she decided not to dwell on that, standing up and getting back to work to distract herself. Let’s see, first she’d finish filing the invoices, then the receiving, and after that get those quotes sent she wasn’t able to send earlier…  

It was perhaps two or so hours later that Kagome had just hit send on the last quote when she heard the AC unit kick on with a stuttered whirr, some clicking sounds, and then smooth out into its usual background buzzing noise.

“Finally,” she muttered and closed out of Gmail before shutting down her computer. She was honesty a little surprised that Naraku had actually stayed upstairs, but then again, he probably didn’t want to get on a certain half-demon’s bad side if he bothered her. Inuyasha had indeed popped in several times to give updates on the goings on of his drivers and to also just see how she was doing. She liked that he took her discomfort about the repair man seriously and loved that he seemed so protective of her. It gave her all the nice warm and fuzzies.

Warm and fuzzies that had abruptly traveled southward at an embarrassingly fast rate when Inuyasha, sans his uniform shirt, had at one point during a brief chat unconsciously grabbed the hem of his tank top and pulled it up to wipe the sweat from his face. Kagome had gotten a very nice view of his toned abdomen and the line of silver hair that disappeared into his jeans which in turn pointed out the enticing V of his hips. Kagome’s face had gone very red, and when she’d finally managed to life her gaze, she was met with the sight of a cocked brow and a knowing smirk.

Needless to say, she hadn’t been able to look at him again after that without turning five shades of red and she could still hear his little chuckle as he all but swaggered away.

Cocky bastard. Damned if she didn’t absolutely love it.

Standing from her chair and glancing at the clock on the wall that read 6:32 pm, Kagome sighed, stretched, and went about tidying up the workspace to be ready for Monday morning. The plant had gone quiet about forty-five minutes ago, signaling that most of the warehouse workers had gone home and it was just the drivers now unloading their trucks and putting away product in its required bay. She knew Inuyasha was still here, though Bob was gone, having left about half an hour ago.

Kagome wiped clean the day’s notes and messages from the dry erase board on the back wall and tided up the table, humming under her breath as she placed pens and markers in their appropriate place. She shut down Shiori’s computer because she forgot to again, turned around—

And screamed.

Naraku raised his brows as scarlet eyes glinted in amusement.

“My apologies,” he murmured, a smirk curling his lips. “I did not mean to startle you, Kagome.”

Hand pressed against her rapidly beating heart, Kagome recovered quickly and put more distance between them with a few steps backward. Jeez, he was quiet; she hadn’t even heard him come down the stairs! She also highly doubted he hadn’t meant to startle her because if that were true, why hadn’t he said anything and just stood there like a creeper?

“It’s, uh, fine.” It wasn’t. “All finished?” As discreetly as she could she inched toward her desk. It wasn’t much, but if she could just get to the pepper spray in her purse…

“It’s running,” he murmured, his eyes half-lidded as he blatantly stared at her chest. “Replaced some wires. Took longer than expected…”

He trailed off and Kagome frowned, deliberately crossing her arms over her chest, her back to her desk now. His gaze flashed back to hers and he adopted a look of nonchalance as if she hadn’t just caught him ogling her and Kagome had to bite back a snort. God, this guy was all kinds of sleaze and she couldn’t wait to get rid of him.

“Good,” she said with a nod. “You can put the invoice on the reception desk on your way out. Thank you for your service. Have a good weekend.”

An obvious dismissal delivered in a clipped, firm tone that suggested he’d do well to heed it.

Imagine her surprise when he didn’t and instead reached out too fast for her to react and snatched her wrist.

“I think I’d rather stay a while,” Naraku purred and his smile dripped with ill-intent.

Kagome gasped and yanked at her hand, her neutral expression falling to be replaced by an outraged scowl.

“Don’t touch me,” she hissed, gritting her teeth as she struggled to escape his grip, but he was surprisingly strong, tightening his fingers around her wrist to the point of pain. Kagome winced at clawed at his hand with the nails of her free hand, digging into his skin, but he barely noticed, his smile broadening as a chuckle escaped his lips.

“My dear,” he chuckled, tugging her closer and ignoring her attempts to free herself. “You don’t have to pretend anymore. I know you didn’t want that half-breed to interrupt us earlier.”

Kagome gaped at him. He couldn’t be serious.

“Don’t be shy, now,” he purred and oh good god, he was serious. “It’s only you and I here, after all. Your eyes were begging me to touch you, to bring you the pleasure that no vile half-breed could ever—”

Before he could finish his disgusting monologue that was making Kagome want to hurl in his face – or punch him in his face, which ever came first – Naraku was suddenly yanked away from her and the grip around her wrist vanished. Kagome stumbled backward, rubbing the abused flesh and watching with great satisfaction as the creep was bodily slammed face-first against the filing cabinets.

Roughly cranking the fucker’s arm behind his back and shoving his weight against it to put strain on the shoulder, Inuyasha reveled in the hiss of pain that reached his ears as Naraku struggled against his hold. He only tightened his grip, claws digging into his arm, and when Naraku tried to headbutt him by throwing his head back, Inuyasha retaliated by slamming his face into the cold metal of the cabinets in front of him.

“Alright, you demented fuck, listen up,” Inuyasha growled in the bastard’s ear, unwilling to let him get away with the stunt he’d just pulled. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re on that makes you think it’s okay to touch her, but my fist is begging to make nice with your face, so unless you wanna be nothing but a bloody fucking smear on the wall, you have three seconds to get the fuck outta my sight after I let you go. We clear?”

Naraku grumbled something and Inuyasha pulled on his arm. The fucker paled, gasped, and then nodded, and satisfied Inuyasha gave him one last shove against the cabinets before releasing him and stepping back. He purposely placed himself in front of Kagome and crossed his arms, fierce scowl on his face and fangs bared as a steady growl echoed in his throat.

To his credit, though he looked mightily pissed, Naraku didn’t even spare the two of them a glance as he grabbed his toolbox and hightailed it out of there. Seconds later the door slammed closed and Kagome was able to breathe easily again.

“Ugh,” Kagome muttered and leaned back against her desk, her knees feeling weak. “If I never see him again, it’ll be too soon.”

Inuyasha only relaxed fully when he heard the sound of a motor starting up and then fading away as the asshole left the premises and he turned to face her, eyes immediately zeroing in on the reddened skin of her wrist. He frowned and gestured toward it with a nod of his head.

“You alright?” he asked, wanting to take her delicate wrist and massage away the soreness while at the same time removing the fucker’s stench from her skin. God, he hated that he touched her.

Kagome smiled at him and he was happy to note that it was genuine, her eyes soft as she regarded him fondly and with something else that made his heart rate kick up a notch. Did she…?

“I’m fine,” she answered, rubbing the skin for a moment before bracing both of her hands on the desk, fingers curling around the edge. “Thank you, Sha. Once again you proved to have some pretty impeccable timing. Any later and you probably would have witnessed me decking him in his stupid face.”

He snorted. “What I wouldn’t give to see that,” Inuyasha remarked and moved so he was leaning against Sango’s desk, arms and ankles crossed as he faced her. “You’re welcome, but this time I actually had an ulterior motive for showing up. I wanted to ask you before, but it didn’t feel like the right time.”

Kagome’s eyes lit up and her smile was hopeful. “Oh? Ask me what?”

Inuyasha studied her for a moment, golden eyes heavy-lidded and intense as they searched her face. Kagome held her breath, biting down on her bottom lip as her heart raced in her chest, butterflies rioting in her belly.

“Sha?” she breathed when still all he did was stare at her.

Something in his expression shifted as his gaze locked with hers and Kagome felt goosebumps ignite on her skin that had nothing to do with the significantly cooler air in the office courtesy of the now working AC.

“Call me Inuyasha,” he rumbled as he pushed away from the desk and closed the scant distance between them. Kagome didn’t move, didn’t stop him as he grabbed her hips and lifted her into the desk, nudging himself between her thighs as hands first slid along the solid muscles of his arms before slipping her own around his neck.

Kagome sighed and closed her eyes as he blazed a trail of soft kisses along her neck.

“Inuyasha,” she murmured and was rewarded by a gentle nip to her ear.  “What did you…”

“Do I really need to ask?” he whispered in her ear and kissed along the line of her jaw.

“Mmm.” Kagome turned her head, nuzzled his temple, and breathed, “So, Netflix and chill?”

Inuyasha laughed, Kagome giggled, but then the sound was promptly silenced by his mouth as he kissed her with a slow but passionate thoroughness that left Kagome whimpering and pressing herself against him. She eagerly returned his kiss and she felt his pleased growl in some very nice places. Her blood heated, her stomach fluttered as arousal sparked a flame deep in the pit of her belly, and when his hand dropped to nudge her forward into the cradle of his hips, she gasped at the feel of him, thick and ready for a long night of hard—

“Fuck,” Inuyasha cursed against her mouth and he felt her lips curl into an impish smile. Despite himself he chuckled and nipped her lip before soothing the brief sting with a swipe of his tongue.

“My place?” he groaned and closed his eyes, tilting his head and letting his little vixen lavish his neck with nips and kisses of her own as her hands slid beneath his shirt to run her fingers over his stomach. He shuddered and moved his hand to grab her thigh, shoving her skirt up to feel the soft flesh beneath his palm.

“On one condition,” Kagome purred and curled her hand around his neck to tug him back down for another hot kiss. He indulged her with a heated growl, slicking his tongue along hers, fangs nipping soft flesh, relishing in her sweet taste.

“Name it,” he growled, willing to give her anything she wanted as long as she kept kissing him like that because fuck.

“Pizza and wings afterwards. You’re buying.”

Inuyasha laughed. God, he was already half-way in fucking love with this wonderful woman.

“Deal,” he rumbled and with a wicked grin, he stole her mouth in another kiss that Kagome happily returned, hands diving into his hair while he pushed her back and then she let him do some very unprofessional things to her on the surface of her desk.

Hardly Working

[kryptored]

The definition of Glaikit - I

This was supposed to be a long one-shot submission for the MLV, turned very long one-shot with title, turned no longer just a one-shot and in separate parts because I just can’t stop. Oops. @vinebino because you asked for the release of this monster.

SUMMARY: They could be nothing more than friends, but sometimes her mind likes to play games with her. It plays with her by making her overthink and overthink and overthink and overthink – 

DAYS: 4 (secret admirer), 6 (crush), 8 (heartbreak), 13 (sweethearts)

He’s a famous model who also happens to attend the same university she’s in, and of all the seats he could have taken in Composition, he chooses the one right next to her. It turns out, they have a mutual friend who sits behind her, Nino Lahiffe.

“I’m sure you know who he is Mari, but just to make it official, this here’s my best bro, Adrien.” Nino pats on said friend’s shoulder, who’s angled his body to face both of them.

“Hi.” Adrien smiles and offers her his hand.

“Hi,” she smiles back and accepts his hand, “I’m Marinette. Nice to meet you.”

“Enchanté, my lady.” He takes her hand and moves it to touch his mouth and discreetly gives it a chaste kiss, his way of hiding it from any prying eyes who’d do nothing but spread but rumours. Marinette can’t help but blush a little at the action. This one’s definitely a charmer.

They got to talking in and out of classes (they have more than one together, surprisingly), and they found themselves quite closer than they could’ve possibly imagined.

Because of his impossibly busy schedule, Adrien is absent more often than not. And if it isn’t his other classmates and friends, it’s predominantly Marinette who provides him a copy of her notes, hand-outs, and even helps him out with assignments and essays they have to do. He thinks she’s a very good friend, and she thinks that he’s a very…interesting friend.

Marinette, on her part, was never exactly the luckiest person when it comes to her love life. The first few times she ever dated, it was either she didn’t like them back enough (unfortunately, as they were actually quite nice and lovely to have for company), or things didn’t go well to begin with (a third party was never anyone’s favourite). Her experience isn’t much compared to others, but it was enough for her to put-off any sort of involvements when it comes to relationships and/or falling in love. A diagnosis of tepid, really.

But with Adrien, everyday keeps getting hard and harder to avoid the little flutters she feels inside of her. It’s when she sees him that she can’t seem to stop fidgeting – her bag strap needed some twisting. Those stray and mischievous strands of hair can’t seem to stay still behind her ear and needs some scolding. She needs to keep touching her earrings to make sure they’re still there. Her favouritepencil needs to feel the warmth of her hand, twirling and spinning That strange little lump of whatever on the knee of her jeans calls for some assaulting with her nails.

It’s with Adrien that she has to be conscious of what she’s doing every time she hears his voice nearby – Do her clothes match? Is her skirt riding up far too up? Does she have a dirty smudge on her face? Are her lips going dry and chapped? Is her hair fixed? Is she wearing matching socks? Was that gum she stepped on with her pink ballet flats?

It’s with Adrien’s texts that gets her excited whenever her phone chimes – Does he think her jokes are also funny? Is he going to understand all those typos? Will he be offended by the meme? Does he mind that her replies are interchanging between too long and too fast?

Personality-wise, Marinette thinks of herself as quite shy and friendly. Others would sometimes come up with the most unexpected, such as mysterious or mostly-keeps-to-herself. She only ever behaves more openly when surrounded by family and friends. But knowing Adrien for quite some time and developing what seems to be a crush on him, Marinette can’t help but doubt all the qualities that made her who she is today.

Is she too quiet? Can he hear her voice at all, even as they whisper to each other? Is she approaching him far too close like that Lila girl, making him uncomfortable? Is she not sharing enough about her with him to make it look as if they’re friends? Does he think her childish whenever she ties her hair into pigtails? Does he think her immature for sometimes dressing herself like a doll? Does he think her designs are good, whether they be dresses adorned with flowers or shirts and pants that fit her petite figure perfectly? Is she too self-assured by wearing her own designs?

Quiet she may be, Marinette chooses to push those doubts and worries and anxieties away. This was just Adrien, a young man who happens to catch her attention and owns a beautiful smile.

He, who happens to have the greenest of eyes and softest hair.

He, who happens to be a dork obsessed with puns and cats.

He, who happens to be smart and athletic at the same time.

He, who happens to be very friendly and doesn’t flaunt his fame and wealth.

It’s only Adrien, and maybe this crush will pass soon enough. Hopefully, it’s before he ever finds out about it, or finds that one person he’ll fall in love with that’s not her. She’d rather not have a repeat of the past. It hurt far too much, and here she was wallowing in the rabbit hole called ‘falling in love with your untouchable and unreachable friend.’

But it’s a hard thing to do – ignoring, that is – when every time Marinette tries to act normally (that she doesn’t have these kinds of feelings for him), it’s Adrien who’s giving her these strange signals.

It’s the way he smiles at her whenever she talks animatedly about everything she’s passionate about.

It’s the way he looks at her whenever they share an entirely too specific joke that only they can understand.

It’s the way he always tries to sit next to her, whether they’re eating out or just talking with their friends.

It’s the way he gets really close to her that she can feel his breath against her, even if it’s because he wants to look over her shoulder.

It’s the way he touches her gently, curious to know if he the thumb rubbing against her elbow is intentional or not.

It’s the way he chooses to lean his head against her when he’s feeling exhausted from his schedule.

It’s the way he seems to light up when he spots her in public and waving at her like a child meeting their superhero.

It’s the way how he hugs her so tightly, while she’ desperately fighting between asking for air or have him hug her tighter and longer than necessary.

They could be nothing more than friends, but sometimes her mind likes to play games with her. It plays with her by making her overthink and overthink and overthink and overthink – is she looking into it far too much, or are they real? The only way she could possibly know is if she asks him directly, and Marinette doesn’t know if she’ll be able to handle the embarrassment.

Yet, was it a heaven-sent miracle when Juleka dropped by? Juleka who not only was another mutual friend but is Adrien’s closest co-worker as a model for Gabriel.

It’s another one of those days where young adults find themselves miraculously free of any responsibilities, friends happily chattering the time away as they play ‘catch up’ and hang out in whoever’s place. This time, it’s Nino who offers his apartment.

Adrien is sitting by the kitchen island, laughing loudly at Kim’s recounting of his disastrous date with Ondine (which ended with a kiss and another date in the future, but still disastrous because it’s Kim), garnering some of the other’s attention. Marinette, on the other hand, remains seated on Nino’s director’s chair (a gift from his brother), with Juleka being her silly herself by standing in-between her friend’s legs.

The tall and dark-haired girl is wearing a black cardigan paired with a cream and black retro plaid shirt, and black round toe chunky heeled shoes with buckles. Juleka takes hold of both Marinette’s legs by the calves, holding them as she lifts them up and down while the smaller girl giggles and tries to hold on to the arm rests. The girl whose legs are being accosted is wearing a grey short-sleeved shirt, tucked neatly in her black and white polka-dotted fixed box pleat skirt reaching below her knee.

“So, how’re you and Adrien?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, there’s friends and best friends, but then there’s also you two.” Juleka walks closer to her friend, her hands now grabbing the back of her knees. “You two seem awfully close.” She smirks as if she knows something, and that something is within her approval. “You look like sweethearts.”

“You think we’re…dating or something?”

“It kinda looks like that.”

“I don’t know about that, Jules. He’s very attractive and all the good things you could ever ask for in a guy, but…” Marinette huffs and feels herself withdrawing into a shell, away from awkwardness. Juleka bends over, realizing how personal this is getting. “I don’t think it’ll ever work out.”

Juleka immediately straightens, her face embodying the definition of elated, but doesn’t say a word. She pulls Marinette by her arms a little too excitedly, and whispers to her. “That’s… I knew I was right.” She pulls her even further inside Nino’s bathroom, making sure to close the door and lock it. “I could tell that you like liked him the minute I saw you melting when he complemented your outfit.”

“W-what? When was this?”

“During Rose’s birthday.”

“Oh…”

“You looked so red, I thought you were going to combust.”

“Was it that obvious?”

“Only if everyone else was looking and could tell you were blushing with all those purple and pink lights.”

“So, how’d you know?”

“Because you always clasp your hands together under your chin whenever you blush.”

Marinette bites her lower lip, worried that someone else now knew about her affections for Adrien. And it isn’t just a random someone, this is Juleka ‘I work with Adrien and is practically his sister from the moon’ Couffaine. This is not exactly bad, but also bad.

“I really don’t want anyone to know, but I guess that excludes you.”

“Oh, definitely! When are you going to ask him?”

“Ask what? To go on a date with me?” Marinette fiddles with the lucky charm turned bracelet that Adrien gave her, her back leaning on the sink. She looks down and believes it her duty to study her red mary-janes with a bow on the ankle strap.

“Well, I can definitely tell you that he likes you.”

Marinette’s heart skips a beat, or maybe two, but she definitely felt something when she hears hope whispering in her ears about a mutual attraction between her and Adrien.

“You think so?”

“Oh, I know so! I swear, you’re all he ever talks about whenever we’re on break. That guy is so smitten, he might as well turn into goo when he hears someone mention your name.” Juleka walks forward to her friend and places her hands on her shoulders. “I swear, that guy really likes you far more than he should for someone who’s just a friend.”

“but did he say it, though?”

“I… don’t know. But don’t actions speak louder than words?”

“And if he really doesn’t see me that way? What?”

“And if he does?” Juleka turns Marinette around, facing both of them in front of the mirror. She hugs her small friend from behind, swaying just a little as if they were dancing to the song of Marinette’s pounding heart. “We’ll never know – you’ll never know – until you actually talk to him.”

Marinette can only hold onto her friend’s hands, overthinking and worrying about what she’ll do.

She arrives early at the Métro and is stuck waiting for her train to arrive. She’s supposed to meet a client (or is it customer?) who reached out to her, asking to have a dress commissioned for her 16th birthday. Marinette was ecstatic and quite shocked to hear that the teen thought of getting a local and aspiring designer to make her debut dress, instead of someone far more experienced in the line of work. Renée, the girl who personally sent her an e-mail about the commission, reassured the designer that she’s actually a fan of her work and has been buying and wearing them ever since her online shop went up in public.

Marinette opted to wear a white graphic shirt underneath an open mint-green knit cardigan jacket, high-waisted denim pants, and her low-cut black converse shoes. She also made sure to carry a small backpack that could at least carry her sketchbook and pencils, among other valuables.

Just about ten minutes away before her train is supposed to arrive, another one does and opens its doors to allow some of its passengers to get off. As they do, she looks through one of the windows and sees –

‘Adrien.’

As if sensing her eyes on him, the blond looks up from his phone and waves at her from his seat. He looks radiant as always, wearing a mustard-coloured vintage shirt over a plain black shirt, black skinny jeans, and what appears to be black vans if she can trust her eyes. He waves at her and it somehow has his body swaying left and right as well, and other passengers sitting near him notices this and her (she who has his attention) find it amusing. A bit abashed at the sudden draw of attention because of him, she waves back albeit with less enthusiasm and offers him a crooked smile. This makes Adrien grin, but his waving finally stops. His mouth opens as if to say or mouth something to her, only for his train to suddenly jolt and move forward. He shrugs and waves again, this time to say good-bye. Marinette waves back but is unsure if he saw it as the window is already out of sight. Her train soon arrives and as she gets in and takes a seat next to an older man busy talking on his phone, she ponders.

She comes to a decision that she’ll be brave this time and waits until class is done. She knows he’s free for the rest of the day today, and bites her lips thinking how things will go from then. Time ticks and ticks and ticks and ticks, until she hears other students start packing up and zipping their bags, and the professor telling them that his office hours might be changed and to wait for his email.

“Adrien,” her voice quivers a little and hopes that he doesn’t hear it the like she does, “can I…talk to you for a sec?”

He’s trying to fit his laptop into his bag, but he’s attentive enough to actually look at her with a smile. “Sure. No one’s going to use this classroom after ours so, we could stay here.” He finally succeeds playing tetris with his belongings, his body relaxing as he faces her.

“Hey dudes, you coming?” Nino asks as he stands by the doorway.

“Oh, u-uh…”

“Mind if we meet you at the cafeteria later, Nino? Marinette just wants to talk to me.”

“Yeah… it’ll be quick, Nino.”

Said friend narrows his eyes in suspicion but relents anyway and shrugs as he walks out of the door. “See ya later, dudes.” The door closes, and Marinette has never felt more trapped until now. And probably, maybe a little suffocated.

“You wanted to talk to me, Mari?”

“Year, I mean yeah.” She looks at him and can’t help but admire how handsome he looks, even in just a Christmas tree green knit sweater over a light blue plaid collared long sleeve shirt, and jeans. He places his hands on the desk behind him as he leans on it.

“You look good, by the way. Your dress is just as good as everything you’ve designed, Marinette.” she feels proud that he has his approval: a high neck and asymmetrically flared dress in navy blue floral patterns, long dolman sleeves, and belted at the waist. She also has black tights on to keep her legs warm. The weather was slowly getting colder.

“Thanks. Appreciate it.” Her hands find each other, fingers fidgeting and pinching the other. She struggles to look at him directly without making a mistake. “Okay, listen…” her hands distract themselves further by playing with the belt. “You’re an amazing person, Adrien. Sometimes I ask myself I’m dreaming for being this lucky to be a part of your life. And for a while, I’ve been feeling things that made me act strange around you. I just kept ignoring and denying it, until I just couldn’t. But now, I have to be honest with myself, and more importantly with you. I’m really glad we met, or that you chose the seat beside me. I’m also glad that we got to be friends and know each other even more.” She takes a deep breath and continues. “I like talking to you, I like laughing at your jokes, I like when you smile at just about everything, I like how you could go on talking about your cat, I like how you’re so kind to everyone even if some don’t deserve it, I like making my notes for you in class with little doodles to encourage you, I like spending time with you, but most of all,” she walks close to him, leaving only but a few inches of space between them. “I really reallylike you, Adrien.” She looks up at him, and she cups his cheeks as she stands on her toes and leans and kisses him.

She kisses him gently like how a snowflake touches your nose, how a cat gently pats you with their paw in reassurance, or how a ladybug’s little legs kiss the leaf it lands on. She kisses him gently, and it only lasts for a few seconds.

She lets him go, but her brows furrow when she sees the shock painted on his face. His mouth slowly opens, his eyes trailing to her, and his right hand goes to cover his mouth. The very same mouth she just kissed. He stays silent for one, two, three, four, five seconds. Marinette steps back in realization.

“M-Marinette. I…I didn’t…I don’t…” his eyes fail to maintain contact with hers, instead looking everywhere else that isn’t her. He misses how embarrassment turns to guilt turns to shame turns to hurt turns to sadness on her face, but never anger. Adrien does not deserve anger if he doesn’t like her. Not like that. And maybe never like that. So, Marinette overthinks and overthinks and overthinks and overthinks – before she hurriedly grabs her belongings and heads for the door. Adrien doesn’t seem to be moving or even aware of the state she’s in when she looks back at him. It’s as if he doesn’t want to look at her, but she knows what his lack of response means. Actions speak louder than words, she remembers Juleka telling her. “I’m sorry, I just thought…” she swallows the lump in her throat and looks everywhere that’s not him to keep the tears at bay. What exactly did she think? “Just forget it.” She leaves without a good-bye, but wonders if tomorrow is the start of unfriendliness and distance and silence between them. The opposite of everything they had until now. The door shuts, and Adrien still refuses to move.

Nino later receives a text from Marinette, saying she had to leave because she forgot to do an errand (which is to cry her heart out for being foolish and ambitious), while Adrien is lost in his thoughts.

Before anyone kills me, Adrienette is endgame here. But first, we must suffer.