A Sweet Beginning by kaoruhana

A Growing Realization

Title: A Growing Realization
Author: Kaoruhana
Prompt: Six-Course Challenge – Hors d’Oeuvers
Genre: Romance
AU/CU: Alternate Universe
Rating: T
Warnings: OC characters
Word Count: 868
Summary: Sesshomaru had to admit, his neighbor was more intriguing than he had at first pegged her for. 
A/N: First installment of “A Sweet Beginning.”   

A Growing Realization

                Sesshomaru parked his car in the driveway glad that another day was over at work.  Today had been stressful and as the day wore on he found that the thought of returning home and getting away from all the mess at his office was growing more appealing.  When he noticed it was five-thirty, he packed up his bag and immediately strode to his car, intent on leaving as soon as possible.  He had been angry and frustrated today, meaning a lack of productivity at work, and he supposed he had a good reason to be. 

                His neighbor was a young woman named Kagome Higurashi who happened to always come home from work around the same time he did.  She was nearly always cheerful and managed to greet him with a hello as he checked his mailbox.  She would then pose him questions about how his day had been and he, grudgingly, had gotten used to her presence and replied.  However, that wasn’t the main reason he was angry. 

                Though he would never admit it out loud to anyone, his young neighbor had actually managed to interest him and he found himself admitting that he liked to talk to her after a day at work.  Sometimes, it was actually a little bit relaxing to let out certain frustrations.  And she always listened, which was something he appreciated.  However, she wasn’t there yesterday and he didn’t know if she had ever returned home.  Today, he didn’t notice a car in the driveway next to his either and he wondered if she was away somewhere. 

                As he normally did, he made his way towards the mailbox to check his mail and grabbed the usual allocation of junk mails and bills.  Sesshomaru wondered if Kagome Higurashi had moved and why he hadn’t been privy to that fact if she had.  Sighing, he decided to head inside and ignore this growing interest in his neighbor. 

                The next day as he came home Higurashi’s car was sitting parked in her driveway and she was leaning against it wearing different attire than the one she was customarily seen in.  She was wearing a rather low cut but tasteful dress with a clutch in her hand.  He had to admit that the cobalt blue dress looked rather flattering on her and he wanted to know why she was dressed up as he got out of the car. 

                “Hello Taisho-san.”  she greeted with a smile making her way over to hold a proper conversation with him.  “How are you doing today?”

                “I’m doing well.  And you?”  he inquired making his way over to the mailbox.  He had gotten junk mail again it seemed, along with a bill or two, and to his surprise an invitation which he decided to read later. 

                “I’m good.” She stated noticing him look through his mail.  “So what have you been up to the past two days?” 

                “Nothing much.”  He answered looking back up at her again.  Sesshomaru was much closer to her now and had to admit his interest in her was perhaps taking a different turn today.  “Are you going out Higurashi-san?”  he asked politely, curious as to who would be on the receiving end of her company and beauty that evening. 

                “Yes.  My friends set me up on this date.  I really don’t want to go but they already made the poor guy book reservations and everything so I decided I might as well enjoy some good food for the evening.”  He nodded suddenly feeling a little jealous that some other man was her date that night. 

                “Well Higurashi-san, I hope you enjoy your date.”  She sighed, playing with the hem of her dress and though Sesshomaru was planning on going inside soon, he waited to see if she had anything else to say. 

                “May I ask you something Taisho-san?”  He nodded and she continued.  “Do you think I should go ahead with my plans?  I don’t want to be seen as a bad person but I just don’t think I’m in the dating mood right now.  I’m afraid I might just be leading this guy on tonight and I was wondering if you had any advice to give me.” 

                Sesshomaru wasn’t sure of what to say.  His neighbor had talked a bit about herself before but he had never gotten so much information out of her.  To be truthful, he had no idea what to do or say to her. 

                “It would be pointless to waste a reservation.”  That was the only reply that he could fathom and he hoped she wouldn’t think he was some ridiculous miser as a result of it. 

                “Thank you.”  She smiled and Sesshomaru couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she was in that instant.  All too soon, a car horn beeped and she turned to see that her date had arrived. 

                “Oh, that’s my date.  I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”  He nodded once again feeling a little jealous as he walked inside.  As he shut the door he realized that Kagome Higurashi had seeped under his skin and slowly become an interest that could not be easily ignored.  But what in the world would he do about it?