Summer Heat

Disclaimer: Nope, don’t own them, never have never will. ~Sigh~

A/N: Warning…these two are going to be out of character. If you don’t like reading about them ooc, then please do not continue any further. This story does not take place in the Feudal Era, and excuse me if it sounds “Americanized” as someone put it once. ~waves hands~ Hello! I AM an American. So, now that THAT is settled. I hope the rest of you enjoy this chapter/fic. Thanks to all who have read this story, liked it, and wanted me to continue.

P.S. If you happen to think there are any spelling or grammar mistakes, please let me know. I write everything in MS Word before I post it on AFF, and I run it through the spell/grammar check. So thanks in advance.

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Ten Years Ago…

A little raven haired girl in a pink flowered dress and pigtails to match stood at the bus stop alone reading one of her favorite books, oblivious to the world around her.

Down the street to the right walked two silver haired brothers. One short, carrying his school books in a backpack slung across his shoulder, and rambling on about some sports game he watched with their father. The other was much taller and quietly listening to his younger brother’s conversation with disinterest while he carried two library books in his hand.

To her left raced a man and a cop. When the man got to the little raven haired girl, he pushed her out of his way and into the path of an oncoming car. She fell to her knees and cried “Hey!” unaware of the car screeching its tires, unable to swerve away.

The two boys snapped into action. The shorter ill tempered one tripped the running man by swinging his backpack to the man’s knees allowing the pursuing cop to capture him. The taller of the two dropped his books and rushed to the little girl’s aide. He tackled her from the side, wrapped his arms around her tightly and rolled them to safety, but not before suffering a broken leg by the almost deadly car.

That was the first time Kagome lay in Sesshoumaru’s arms. Nor would it be the last. Over the years, the raven haired girl and the silver haired boy grew to become the best of friends. Many a time they would accompany each other to the library or even go so far as to “scout out” potential boy or girlfriends while never revealing to the other their true feelings.

Then came the fateful day when Kagome started to date Sesshoumaru’s younger brother Inuyasha. During that year, Kagome and Sesshoumaru grew somewhat distant. She rarely came over to their house to just see Sesshoumaru, and he almost never came to see her. He had some respect for his brother after all. Until one evening they came back to his house and found his brother and her best girlfriend in bed together. Knowing his best friend as he did, he felt the tears about to fall, so he followed his instincts and took her hand pulling her away from the unpleasant scene before them and took her home. As they got to the door of her house, she could feel her knees get weak, so she clung to him, and he picked her up bridal style and took her to her room. Once there, he again held her tightly in his arms and let her cry for as long as she wanted.

When he got back home, there were heated words and furnishings crashing in various places. The two brothers fought hard and were only subdued when their father came home. They rarely spoke afterwards.

That was two years ago.

Now they were both starting into their twenties. She, an aspiring romance novelist, and he was soon to take over his father’s company.

The two dried in Kagome’s room with the window open and both still stark naked. Their earlier activities proved very exhausting. Kagome was lying haphazardly on the bed, and Sesshoumaru was lying on the floor with his legs crossed and his head upon his hands. Her window was open although there was nary a breeze that slipped through. Her dark blue curtains never moved. Outside was quiet and still, as if nature knew to be silent so the two new lovers could rest in peace if only for a little while.

Neither heard Kagome’s family drive into the garage, so deep asleep were they.

Ceri came upstairs to change from her bathing suit to find her daughter’s door closed. She turned the knob and stepped in.

“Kagome, why is this door closed and why aren’t you…?”

Her jaw proved to be a doorway for any wandering flies.

The couple had awakened to her mother’s voice and both were scrambling trying to find something to cover themselves. They paused their actions when Ceri started to laugh.

“Oh don’t bother you two. I’ve been wondering when the both of you would get together. Take your time; I’m going to change and head downstairs. I’ll meet you there.” With that, she shut the door and left, snickering down the hall.

Kagome slapped her hand to her head and began to laugh uncontrollably. Sesshoumaru in the meantime was mortified, but only for a split second when her laugh became contagious.

“Oh my God! I can’t believe that just happened!” She laughed.

“I know. Me too. What are we gonna do now?”

“Get dressed I guess and go down to the living room.”

Downstairs in the living room sat Ceri, Kagome’s mother. She flipped the channels on the TV trying to find something to watch while she waited for her daughter and her best friend to come join her. She had already sent Souta, Kagome’s brother and their grandfather to the shrine. She needed to talk to them alone. Seeing as she wasn’t going to find anything, she settled on an infomercial and set the remote down. As if on cue, the couple came into the room.

“Come on in here, I’m not going to bite you guys.” She patted the seat next to her on the couch. Kagome sat next to her in the middle, and Sesshoumaru sat next to Kagome.

“Mom, I know what you’re thinking…”

“Now hold on a second. You don’t know what I’m thinking.” She sighed.

“I knew one of these days you guys were going to get together, but please tell me you guys were careful at least.”

Kagome and Sesshoumaru both blanched. That thought never crossed their minds, and it showed.

Ceri slapped her head with her hand.

“Crap. I should have been more prepared for this. I’m okay with what you two are going to be doing, but I beg you to please be more careful. Either I can go to the store and get them, or one of you can. I have one other rule. Don’t do it while your brother is here. I don’t need him asking me to bring a girl into his room. Sesshoumaru, in lieu of Kagome’s father, this may be silly, but I need to ask, what are your intentions towards our daughter?”

“Well Mrs. Higurashi, I love her. I’ve always loved her, and I’m going to continue to love her.” He grabbed Kagome’s hand. “Matter of fact, since it’s just the three of us, I want to ask this now before I lose my mind. Mrs. Higurashi, may I have your blessing to court your daughter?”

Kagome smiled. Only he would ask permission from her mother to date her. Even Inuyasha didn’t do that. He just made it clear to Kagome one day that they were dating from there on in. Hell, he didn’t even ask her permission.

“Of course you may Sesshoumaru. It’s great that you two have finally come together. Now, why hasn’t the air conditioning repair man come yet?”

“Well, they’re backed up, their trucks are breaking down, let’s just say they’re not coming today. The guy I talked to, Scott I think was his name, said he’d reschedule us for tomorrow and we’d get 20% off for the inconvenience. He sounded like a really nice guy.”

“Damn, that means we have to sit in this sweltering heat another day.”

“At least it’s not all summer mom.”

Sesshoumaru interrupted, “If I may, I have a suggestion.”

“Oh?” Mother and daughter echoed.

He laughed. “Yes, why don’t the whole family stay at my house? We have plenty of room. Believe me.”

“Hmm, let’s see what grandpa says when he and Souta get back from the shrine. If I know him like I do, I think he’ll say yes. Anything to get out of this hot house.”

“Cool. Kaggy, you better start packing now. Knowing you, you’ll bring your whole closet.”

Kagome punched Sesshoumaru in the shoulder.

“I will not, you punk.” She got up to go back to her room and pack.

Sesshoumaru got up to go with her when Ceri grabbed his arm. She had tears in her eyes.

“Sess, please take care of our daughter. I realize she’s pretty much all grown up, but her heart is still so fragile. Her father’s death haunts her, and she worries over the rest of us. She deserves some happiness, especially after what happened with Inuyasha. Also know that I have nothing against you for his actions. She loves you; she always has as far as I know. Ever since you saved her that day. This family owes you much for what you have done. This family loves you Sess. Please take care of our most precious jewel and handle her gently.”

Sesshoumaru pulled Ceri into a tight embracing hug.

“I will do everything possible to keep her happy. You know me; I’d do anything for her.”

They shared a laugh, and then were joined by Souta and their grandpa when they arrived shortly thereafter.

“Why hasn’t the air conditioning been fixed? This old body can’t take much more of this heat you know!”

“Grandpa, the repairman isn’t coming until tomorrow. We’ve been invited to stay at the Taisho house until then. Want to go?”

Grandpa turned to Sesshoumaru.

“Young man, do you have adequate air conditioning in your house?”

“Yes sir, I do. There’s plenty of room for everyone to stay as well.”

“Good, then this family will be staying with you and yours tonight. Ceri, Souta, go get packed. Where is Kagome?”

“She’s already packing dad.”

“Hmph. Let’s get going.”

“Sess, why don’t you check on Kagome and see if she needs help.”

“Yes ma’am.”

Up in her room, Kagome was humming to her self. When she turned back around to her closet, she screeched. Sesshoumaru had snuck up there and was leaning against her door frame with his arms crossed. She tossed a pair of socks at him.

“Don’t do that to me! You scared me dammit.”

“I’m sorry sweetie. Look, you really only need to pack for tonight and tomorrow.” He slinked up to her. “You really don’t need anything for tonight though, seeing as we have many hours to fulfill.”

She giggled.

“Sess, come on. We can’t do that in your house.”

“Oh but we can, I have many many rooms.”

Her cheeks reddened.

“Until then, I have to go home and prepare for your family’s arrival. Pack lightly koi.”

He planted a chaste kiss upon her cheek.

“I’ll see you later. Oh, and tell your mother I’ll be sending a car over in an hour. That should give everyone plenty of time to get packed.”

“Sess, you don’t have to do that.”

“I know I don’t, but I want to. I hardly ever use father’s car, and I’d like to do this for your family.”

“O-okay then. I’ll see you later aisuru.”

With that he left her room and went downstairs.

“Mrs. Higurashi, may I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“If I uh, wanted to ask Kagome something really important um, say something like oh boy, say I wanted to ask her to marry me, um its really hot in here, may I have your blessing?”

Ceri was needless to say, elated. Yet it was a bit sad that Kagome’s father wasn’t the one there he was asking.

“Yes! Yes, yes, oh yes you may. Oh Sesshoumaru, you will make her a very fine husband. Oh she’s going to be so happy!”

“Please, keep it down Mrs. Higurashi. I don’t want her to know.”

She placed a hand over her mouth and giggled her excitement.

“I’m so sorry. Yes yes, oh wow. When are you going to ask her?”

“I don’t know as of yet, I would just like your blessing for whenever I do decide to ask her.”

She gathered herself together as best she could and took a deep breath in.

“Is Kagome packing alright?”

“Yeah, she’s pretty much packing everything, just like you said.”

“Where are you going?”

“I have to go home and prepare for your arrival. I’ll see everyone later.” Then he was out the door.

It was still extremely sticky outside. The heat just didn’t seem like it was going to let up. His clothes and hair had already begun to stick to his amazingly sculpted body. The tank showed off his muscular shaped arms that seemed to glisten with the sweat already beading down their length.

Everyone in the neighborhood seemed to be moving slower than usual due to the muggy day. Kids were dragging themselves home; grownups were driving slower, most with their windows open. Yep, it was the summer heat that was the cause of everything. Even the events of Sesshoumaru’s day.

Oh what a blissful day it was. He had made love to the woman he loves. She even professed her love for him! The day just kept getting better. With his hands in his pockets he continued to walk through the neighborhood. It was a quaint place. When he stopped to admire the buildings, he didn’t notice at first the building he was next to. It was one of those hole in the wall; you’d almost never find any where else stores. It also wasn’t just any store either. It was a beautifully kept jewelry store. With an idea in mind, he entered through the dark glassy door.

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Hehehe…just what do you guys think he’s going to buy? ~Winks~ Guess we’ll just have to see. So ya’ll had to wait so long for an update, I’ve been trying to work this story out in my head, and its just not there. Roses and Thorns has been put on a hiatus for the time being. Sorry…please don’t hate me! I’m looking for a job and all my energy has to be put into looking for one. I may continue it as soon as Thursday or Friday, I don’t know yet. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review!

~Much Love~

Faerie Demoness

P.S. If anyone here knows html, could you please help? I guess the only way to put things in italics is for it to be in html format. I have no clue how to use it. I thought it was working my Roses and Thorns story, but I guess not. So if anyone can help, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.