Meet Kagome Black

Yes….

Pain. Sharp, biting pain. A fierce burning of the chest, but the cold hand of death on the neck.

Inu Tashio bolted upright from his bed, breathing heavily, grasping both his chest and the pale Egyptian sheets about him. With each breath the pain would intensify and dull all at once. His mind whirled as he swung his legs from underneath the sheets to the cold, wood floor. Moonlight spilled from the large, French windows. White curtains swayed lightly; the light breeze mingling with his panicked breaths.

“Yes…”

Inu’s eyes widened, a small growl spilling from his lips in warning. Keen eyes scanned the gray dark of the large bedroom.

“Who’s there?!” He barked to the emptiness. “Who are you?”

“Yes…” The voice cooed.

The voice was so familiar, yet held a tone that was taunting…almost malicious. Sweat ran cold down Inu’s neck, his hands loosening the grip on his chest and sheets. The pain was gone; as quickly as it had come. Aged eyebrows came together in confusion, lips lightly parted as breathing calmed. No one was here. He shook his head lightly and tried to lay back down, but to no avail. He would have sensed an intruder but he knew he had not imagined it.

Without realizing it, sleep began to tease him back into darkness. Barely able to settle back into the sheets, his eyes fell closed on their own accord. From a corner of the room, large, brown eyes took in the sleeping form one last time before turning and vanishing.

~The next morning~

The busy chatter of the passengers almost overpowered the very noise of the helicopter that bused them to the Tashio summer home. Before them, on the sea’s edge, sat a large white mansion. People dotted the lawn and structure, carrying various objects, and hammering away on lighting structures and staging. Tashio stared on at the busy scene, his thoughts elsewhere. Beside him his youngest son, InuYasha, talked on with his wife, Kikyo, stopping ever so often to nudge his father for an opinion or decision. Kikyo held before her a large pile of papers on her suit-attired lap, pointing to various totals or colors.

“And of course we’ll have the band on the north end of the floor, next to where the cake will be wheeled out.” Kikyo’s gentle tone barely rose to meet her husband’s, a delicate finger gliding across the paper.

“And have we decided on his cake yet?” InuYasha asked, his voice gruff as he leaned in to eyeball the floor plan. His wife shook her head slowly, nodding in his father’s direction. He grunted softly before turning to the distracted guest-of-honor at his side. “You know, Pop, you’re going to have to let us know what you’ll want for the party.” He frowned when the older man made no move to answer him. “Pop!”

“Err! Right.” Tashio started, his eyes clearing slightly as he turned to them. The conversation was abruptly ended as the helicopter came to a landing, the door opening harshly to noise and chaos.

The passengers exited quickly, shouting various “Good Mornings” to various staff members and friends as they climbed the marble steps to the house.

“Hello, Father.” A deep baritone rang out as they reached the top. Tashio’s eyes widened in surprise as he took in the form of his oldest son.

“Ah! Sesshomaru!” Tashio clapped his eldest on the shoulder before entering the house, the small company of people following in tow. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m off call for the day, and I came down to see how the party’s plans were coming.” Sesshomaru’s voice was monotone, but Tashio could barely catch the warm undertone that his son only saved for him. “That, and Kagura is flying in to see you and she asked me to meet her here.”

“That damned party…” Tashio groaned. “Do I really need something else to make me feel older? Birthdays become vastly overrated after four-thousand.” Sesshomaru chuckled lightly, a small smile on his lips. “It’s such a shame these days. We demons really don’t live as long as we used to.” A sigh to accompany the shrug that graced Tashio’s shoulders.

“We’re environmental creatures, Father.” Sesshomaru offered. “With how the earth has fallen into disrepair, it’s not surprising that it’s effected our kind. All the pollution and such.”

“I never thought I would see a day when demons could start falling prey to diseases and actually dying from them.” The sadness in Tashio’s eyes caused his son to turn his gaze to the scurrying servants.

Sesshomaru stole a glance at his aging father. By demon standards he still had another thousand years left in him, but he could smell the hand of time on him. Tashio’s eyes had lost some luster, and creases now marked his face and hands. The once bright claws that had brought down armies and kingdoms had grown dull. Yes, this is not the world they had been born into anymore by far. This was not the world of magic, demons, and battle that their kind had thrived in. It was man’s world now.

“So!” Tashio’s suddenly jovial voice broke him from his reverie. “How are things with Kagura?” The teasing light had returned to his father’s eyes.

“She’s…” Sesshomaru began, grateful for the break from his troubling thoughts. “…a good business woman. Kagura can take care of herself, and she is fairly attractive. I’m not really sure what to expect from demonesses these days, but so far I suppose she’s one of the better women I’ve come across” He quickly noted the frown that marked his father’s features.

“That’s all?” The older man quipped. “Does she make you feel anything?” At the smirk that lit the younger demon’s features, he quickly reworded the question. “Alright. Is there an emotional connection; does she make you truly happy?”

“Why the sudden curiosity in my love life?”

“I’m just concerned that you might just be settling instead of really going out to find that something special. That one thing in another person that makes you truly happy.” Tashio sighed heavily and looked out over the sea, his tone had gone soft.

“You trust Kagura as a co-worker, but not as a potential daughter-in-law?” Sesshomaru’s tone was slow, but carried a small touch of offence. His father was questioning his judgment? When had he ever given him reason to question him? Tashio caught the tone quickly.

“She’s a brilliant business woman…” He began slowly, steadily. “But I am beginning to think that business is all she really cares about. Her own affairs, if you will.” When he was answered with silence, he turned to his son, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Sesshomaru.” The younger demon’s gold eyes turned to his in quiet agitation. “We may live for thousands of years, and see many things. But what good are those years if you don’t have that one special person to share them with and protect? Just think about it.” With that said, he let his hand drop and turned to enter his office. Sesshomaru stood in the hallway, his eyes dark and pensive.

“Someone special…” His mind wandered back to a pair of warm, brown eyes and a musical laugh.


~To be continued…