Shelter

Pick Me Ups'

"I understand that Kikyo, but please! I'm low on staff here!" A voice begged through the wall. Stomping could be heard as she called out again, pleading with her mysterious opposer.
Sleek obsidian hair swished as the woman he presumed to be Kikyo, stormed out of the doors. She sneered when her eyes landed on him, and she gave a look of disgust when she spotted his ears.
Inuyasha growled, daring said woman to comment on his appearance. She simply "humped!" and continued her walk down the path. Her hair swishing behind her.
"What a lovely ray of sunshine." Inuyahsa growled, returning to his pace. If that wench was like that, he could only imagine what the rest of this place was like. Inuyasha adjusted his uniform, stuffing one hand into his pant pocket, and proceeded through the glass doors.
His ears were overwhelmed by barking, chirping, meowing, and the stench of frebeeze. His ears retreated back to his head, bending in annoyance at the noise.
A bell chimed as he finally closed the door, and it seemed to infuriate the animals further. Inuyasha barred his claws and fangs at a particularly aggressive looking dog that barked ferociously at home. The dog only seemed to want to fight more, his nails grinding against the glass that separated Inuyasha from the creature. He smiled a cockily at the k-9.
"Not so tuff behind the glass, are ya?" He chuckled, dragging his talons along the barrier, creaking a squeaking noise. The dog whined at the awful shriek of the glass, and backed away against a wall in his "room". Inuyasha glanced at more of the shelter, admiring how clean it was, despite the overwhelming amount of animals. He wondered though, why he had to come for this stupid meeting. It was just some dog. Coulda been done last week, he thought.
He took a seat at a small couch beside the main desk, waiting from someone to come up front. He was a little early, he had to admit.
Suddenly he saw a flash of green and scales. A tiny lizard-like creature was wiggling rapidly across the tile floor, as a fat orange cat chased after it.
"Buyo!" An an irate voice called. Inuyasha stood, jumping from his seat as he was met with the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on.
Wavy, onyx tresses danced behind the most flawless face he had ever seen. Mocha eyes glared at the fat cat, as she chased it still. She wore a black tank top, with a loose red plaid shirt dangling over her thin, but toned arms. Mid-thigh jean-shorts graced her perfect, creamy legs; and worn workers boots covered he chasing feat. He could tell right away, this girl was different from anyone he'd ever met. She looked like a hard-worker who wouldn't take anybody's shit.
Damn...He thought. He'd never seem anyone so gorgeous in his life, and just like that he felt small compared to this feisty woman.
Finally, he realized, she had caught the cat. She picked up the orange and white furball, stuffing him into a cage, and violently locking the door. She scooped the scared lizard into her hand, and put him on her shoulder, rubbing it's tiny head her with her index finger. She smiled sympathetically at it. Her gaze finally faltered, feeling another presence in the room.
"Oh!" She exclaimed, hurriedly walking back over to the counter. She smiled apologetically at Inuyasha, and he felt his heart beet faster.
"Hi there! How can help you today?" She asked kindly, an angelic smile planted on her lips; and Inuyasha had the over need to cover them with his own. Thoughts jumbled in his head as his mouth sputtered to form a coherent answer.
"Uh..." Stupid, say something! Suddenly he felt the irritated gaze of the woman in front of him.
Oh shit, oh shit! Say something you damn pansy! He screamed at himself, but to his shock, she simply picked up a whistle and blew. Terrible high shrieking filled his ears, and he instinctively reached up to cover his head. She'd picked up the whistle to silence the animals, uknowingly silencing him as well. The girl, seeing this, threw down the dog whistle, repeatedly apologizing.
Thoughts finally returned to his head, as he eyed the compassionate and sympathetic eyes of the woman in front of him. He chuckled at her embarrassment and spoke.
"Ahh, um...I'm here to pick up a dog for the K-9 unit." The girl smiled, apologizing again before speaking.
"So your Inuyasha! I'm Kagome, your here for Pepper right?" Kagome asked, reaching behind to grab a folder. She plucked a file while Inuyasha nodded.
"I'll bring her right out just hold on..." Kagome stopped, pondering something to herself, before she turned back around to face Inuyasha. "Actually, would you like to come with me? I'd hate to leave ya alone with my stupid cat." Kagome said, glaring a Buyo and flashing Inuyasha a dazzling smile.
Inuyasha swallowed the lump in his throat as he nodded, beginning to walk with Kagome. Now that he was closer, he could see so much more of her. Her hair was about mid back, and she was a creamy sort of pail. Her legs were toned, along with a lot of her body. A runner maybe, he thought. He could see very clearly scars on her hands and wrists, and band aids on her fingers. All to soon though, they were standing in front of a large chain cage. Kagome reached down and unlocked the cage, grabbing a leash from a nearby hook.
"Pepper!" She called, whistling with her hand. In response, a black husky trotted to Kagome, a jovial sort of grin on it's muzzle. Kagome smiled at the k-9, and knelt down to pet the animal.
"Come here Inuyasha! Pet her." She asked kindly, guiding his hand to the dogs nose. Pepper gave a sniff of his hand, then licked his palm. Inuyasha knelt down with Kagome, scratching and petting the animal.
"Good girl, Pepper!" Kagome cooed, scratching the dogs belly, to which in response, Pepper rolled over begging for another rub. Kagome giggled at the action. Inuyasha had never heard something so sweet, and he only wanted to hear more. Pepper stood up, as Kagome clipped the leash to the furry dogs collar. They paced back, Kagome occasionally stoking a dog trough the chain cages.
"I'm so glad she's going to the police department." Kagome said, trying to break the silence. Inuyasha merely nodded. "She's been such a good dog, and I had just hated that no one considered adopting her. All because of one eye too..." Kagome sighed, scratching Pepper's ear. Inuyasha looked closer at the dog, and he saw the milky cover over her right blue eye.
"I was so glad when the police department called. We had Pepper for two months, still kind of a puppy, but you all were more that kind enough to take her, along with a couple other dogs. I can't tell you how grateful I am." Inuyasha blushed as Kagome beamed at him. He swallowed hard, trying to say something.
"It's only a few dogs...nothing huge ya know." He responded, ignoring her shocked expression.
"Only a couple dogs? They're lives Inuyasha, souls. They have feelings just like you and me. They're precious, it is huge! You're providing them with a purpose, that's amazing!" Kagome exclaimed passionately as she starred down Inuyasha.
"Sorry..." He choked, mentally punching himself for offending her. Kagome realized her outburst and blushed.
"It..um...sorry. I'm just...I care about them Inuyasha. That's all." Kagome whispered, gazing down at Pepper. Inuyasha couldn't look away from this compassionate woman. She was different all right, he thought.
She coughed, awkwardly handing Inuyasha the leash. She walked behind the counter, grabbing a few things and then coming back out. She had a box in her hands, a large box that took over her entire figure. The little lizard from before was clutching onto her shirt. Inuyasha grumbled, handing the leash back to Kagome and swooping the box out of her hands. Kagome stuttered, blushing a pleasant pink, to Inuyasha's amusement. She followed him to his car. An older Chevy, a deep burgundy. Not something you picture a police officer owning. Kagome was ripped out of her stupor as Pepper climbed into the passenger seat. She soon regained her wit and smiled at Inuyasha.
"It was lovely meeting you!" Kagome beamed, holding out her hand.
Inuyasha couldn't help but remember that Kikyo chick from before, and the pleas form Kagome. Was she really the only one on staff? He didn't see other cars, not here or behind the building; and frankly he didn't want to let her go. She was different. She hadn't judged him, hadn't been sacred. He cursed himself mentally.
He took her small hand in his, carful to avoid her skin with his claws. She had a strong grip for a woman, he noticed. Kagome smiled again, then turned her back and began to leave. Before he knew what he was doing, his hand had flown out and grabbed her arm. She let out a gasp at his grip, and swung back around.
"Kagome..." Inuyasha began, feeling his palms sweat. Don't screw this up dip-shit.
"Do you, um...do you take volunteers?" Inuyasha asked, a nervous edge to his voice. You fucking pansy. Kagome starred at him in shock.
Did he...did he really just?, she thought. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she smiled at Inuyasha as her body racked with tremors and she hiccuped.
Shit, Shit, what did I do?!? Inuyasha questioned, terror stricken at Kagome's reaction. She hugged inuyahsa, laughing at his distraught face. He was overjoyed at the contact, but still confused as to what brought on her tears. He heard her sniffle as she pulled away. He fought down a whine at her retreat.
"You have no idea...how happy I am to hear you say that." She chuckled, wiping away her tears and breathing in relief. His whisky colored eyes widened at the comment. He right, she really had she been doing all this by herself.
"My last day shift employee quit today. So now I only have one girl, Ayumi, working the night shift...and a lot of times she can't even come in!" He chuckled pathetically at the situation.
"I don't know what I do wrong! I mean, I gave her vacation. The pay was steady, she had weekends off; but I asked her to work tonight because Sango is sick and she blew up! Ugh! I-I just...thank you." She mummbled, taking his clawed hands in hers'. He could feel the slight callouses on her hands, and couldn't help but want to rub his fingers over them, over all of her.
She shook his hand vigorously, her small figure shaking with happiness. Inuyasha couldn't help the grin that curled on his lips. She was radiant, a total beam of joy. Russet and mixed with golden eyes, and both fond themselves unable to look away. Kagome coughed, a blush rising to her cheeks. She pulled away from Inuyasha, noticing hoe cold her hands were without him.
"So...um, does Monday work for you?" She asked tentatively. Inuyasha's scrunched in confusion at her question.
"Huh..." He said. She chuckled nervously at him, holding the side of her arm.
"The um...volunteer work. I-If you don't want to, it's fine!" She added hastily, not wanting to pressure him into anything.
You stupid ass! Inuyasha thought, mentally smacking himself. "Yeah, ahh...no. I work Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Um...hold on a second." He said, reaching into his navy blue pocket. Kagome was still blushing, wither it was from the very attractive hanyou in front of her, or out of nervousness, she couldn't say. She couldn't help but look at him. He was really really attractive. His whisky colored eyes could take the very breath from her lungs, and the lopsided grin she got from him every once in a while, while a pearly white fang would peak out. And his hair. That captivating silver that could challenge the moon. The adorable little appendages that bent and swerved when he listed for sound; the over whelming urge to rub them and tweak them was killing her. She'd never been so drawn to a male before, it was like he held her heart in his hand; and she had only just met him.
Your going insane Kagome. She thought. This man just came for a dog, not to be oogled at! Kagome was snapped out of her inner turmoil when she heard him speak again.
"Here, my numbers' on the back. Just call or text me when you have a defiant schedule...or you know. Just for shits and giggles. I don't mind." he mumbled the last part, gently planting the note in her palm. His fingers lingered, and Kagome felt the all powerful heat that he emitted so clearly. She swallowed the lump in her throat, trying, but failing, to contains the scarlet dusting on her cheeks.
"Yeah, um. Okay. I'll uh, work it out tonight. Thanks Inuyasha." She whispered,as looked up into his pools of amber.
His face reddened considerably from her comment, and he grimaced at his childish behavior. "Like I said before, it's nothing huge..." He shrugged off her gratitude, and began to walk away. Kagome smiled at his actions, clutching the peace of paper in her palm tighter.
"Bye Inuyasha!" She called a waving to his retreating back. His stuck a clawed hand in the air, waving leisurely as he walked. "See ya, Kagome." He responded to the girl behind, hiding his grin from her view. He proceeded back to his truck, hopping back in to find Pepper dozing off in the passenger seat. He chuckled at the dog, rubbing her ears.
"Maybe I should do pick ups more often."