Aitoshii

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I do not own Inu Yasha nor any of its characters. That honor goes to Rumiko Takahashi.


My fanfiction can also be found at inuyasha-fanfiction.com . It is a community dedicated to InuYasha no matter the pairing.

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“Higurashi!” Hiroshi called out from his office alter he placed the money on his desk that Lord Sesshoumaru had paid him.

Kagome had just sat down to prepare for the stage as The Miko. Though she had already placed the part for Sesshoumaru in the Red Room, she had several outfits made of the same cut. As she heard the owner call out, she sighed and threw on a simple black robe so she could make her way over to the office.

“Nani?” she asked softly.

“You’re off. Lord Sesshoumaru gave me a chunk of money to allow you enough pay for a month. Here is your half of the money. Come and see me in a month,” Hiroshi explained, handing her a lot of money.

Kagome protested, “But I want to work, Hiroshi. You had already let me off early last weekend. This is a lot of money, but I still have rent and paying for my brother’s and my own tuition.”

Hiroshi sighed. He know about Kagome’s situation as he had discovered her on the street.


*** FLASHBACK ***


Hiroshi had been walking near Shinjuku as he had hended to meet up with a business colleague. As he had approached an intersection, he had run into a girl who was holding papers and had a large delapidated yellow backpack. She had lost all of her papers from her arms once they had collided.

“Gomen ne, gomen ne,” the girl said frantically, scrambling to retrieve her papers.

Hiroshi smiled, and kneeled to help gather her papers. It was then that he noticed her.

‘This is no mere girl. She is a miko and a gorgeous one at that!’

He saw that she was tall, blue-grey eyed and had the loveliest shade of raven hair that shined blue at times in the sun.

“It is no problem…,” he replied with a smile.

“Oh, I’m Higurashi Kagome,” she smiled and coged slightly, as much as the ítems in her arms would allow.

“Hiroshi,” he introduced simple, and then asked, “What is a lovely lady like you doing near Skinjuku?”

“Ah, well, I’m looking for a job. Problem is, I’ve been looking for the past few months,” she replied, slightly downtrodden.
“I would’ve thought you would have no problem,” he answered, quite concernid.

“Honestly, I’m twenty- one and I’ve recently finished prep school through a private tutor. Most employers have turned me away. I had a lot of complications during my school years and not long ago, both my mother and grandfather died. So, being the oldest, responsibility falls on me,” she said teary eyed, and then paused. “Oh, gomen, you are standing there hearing my carry on.”

“No, I’m in no rush and it was my fault. I’m sorry to hear of your misfortune,” Hiroshi replied sincerely.

“Maybe you can help me? Do you know where I might find a job?” Kagome asked hopefully.

Hiroshi know of no respectable place, but know of many others including his own establishment.

“You see, I know of no regular places, but I run a place that needs help. Please, Kagome- san , don’t be angry, but I run a strip club called Aitoshii,” Hiroshi practically breathed out shakily, hesistant of her reaction.

Kagome looked at him with an eyebrow raised befote replying, “I won’t judge you Hiroshi-sama. I’m pretty desperate for a job, so I’d be interested. I am not sure if I would qualify for such a job as I don’t think I’m much to look at. I’d probably want to site down and talk about the ruties with you befote starting and then put it into contract.”

Hiroshi looked at her in disbelief.

‘She doesn’t know how beautiful she really is!’

“I assure you, Kagome-san that you would highly qualify for the job with a few minor changes. A meeting would be a good Stara too. Is there a number where I can call you?” he asked.

Kagome paused, and looked sad befote softly saying, “No, I live on the street. I can come by antyome to your business. Just name the time and where Aitoshii is located and I will be there.”

The rabbit youkai felt sympathy as he had grown up alone and had barely been able to make a home for himself at one time. He mulled over her predicament for a moment and then stated, “If you aren’t doing anything, follow me. I have a brief meeting with a business partner and then I would like to make a few calls that would highly benefit you. Don’t worry, these people owe me favours, so I’ll get you a place to stay and then we can start your training.”

“I don’t want to impose,” Kagome said, but her eyes somewhat hopeful rather than sad.

‘Good. She looks better happy. She is still sad, but this is the least I can do to help he ron her feet. She will have to do the rest.’

“Think nothing of it,” Hiroshi smiled and offered to carry some of her load as they now walked together towards his appointment.


*** END FLASHBACK ***


“Listen, Kagome. I know who you are now. Lord Sesshoumaru had pointed it out. Although he paid me money, if I were to allow you to work, he would find out. He has the power to financially crush me. Believe me, I want to allow you to work, but there is the fact that an esteemed person like yourself as the Shikon no Miko should not be in such a place like a strip club. You have brought good money to Aitoshii and it will be hard to find a girl to replace you, but I’m sorry Kagome, but you will not be able to come back for your job in a month. I will however offer my assistance if you need it. Just come over or call and I will do what I can,” Hiroshi explained solemnly.

Kagome smiled and bowed, though her eyes were teary and threatening to spill down her cheeks.

“It’s okay. I thought as much. I’ll just have to start from the beginning again. Arigatou Hiroshi for your kindness,” Kagome bid quickly and turned to go.

Though outwardly Kagome looked pleasant, she burned with a fire like no other. She threw on her street clothes and left in a hurry.

‘How dare he! It’s my life and that arrogant baka decided to meddle in it. Oh, I’ll talk to him when he contacts me and he will wish he was never born.’

Kagome’s thoughts quickly turned depressed, extinguishing the fire of her anger.

‘Who am I kidding? Kisama! Sesshoumaru always had the power to move and shake things. I am tired. Maybe it’s best if I just stick with the shrine. I’ve never had any luck and I don’t think I will ever have it. Huh, I can just see myself old and in miko attire, another Kaede,’ she sighed as she walked to the corner and turned onto her street.

The tears welled up even more in her eyes.

‘After all this time, nothing matters. I broke the jewel and put it together only to find that the wish that was asked of it never made it disappear. I am stuck with this curse for life. Perhaps after some time at the shrine, I can look for a decent job. I did finish prep school and three years of college, so maybe I might have some luck. Fuck it! What does it matter anymore when that will blow up in my face too. I don’t want to go back to the shrine. Too many bad memories.’

As she turned the corner to her street, she ran into someone and fell unceremoniously on her butt.

“Ugh, not again,” she grumbled, as she got up and bowed before apologizing.

“Gomen ne. I was deep in through and not watching,” she said, cursing herself for her clumsiness.

“Typical,” the voice said coldly.

Kagome looked up to place a face with the voice, although she was pretty sure who it was.

‘Sesshoumaru.’

“Do you have any concept of what you have done?” she hissed.

“Of course, miko. You are in the territory of this Sesshoumaru,” the demon lord replied, looking down his nose to her. “You owe this Sesshoumaru a talk.”

“Well, this Kagome will oblige if it means you will leave me alone. You ‘generous’ pat to Hiroshi was nice, but it won’t cover my bills, let alone the tuition of the upcoming semester for both my brother and myself,” she glared, and then sighed, the shoulders slumping. “Come on, follow me.”

Sesshoumaru complied, silently following the raven haired miko to an apartment complex. It was not a fancy place, and in fact, Sesshoumaru frowned in disdain.

‘She lives so poorly.’

Kagome, on the other hand, was nervous about allowing Sesshoumaru into her home. She knew her home was not much to look at and knew the taiyoukai was judging her. Kagome did not relish opening up to him on her past in Sengoku Jidai, but from experience, she knew that once Sesshoumaru was intrigued, her was relentless in getting answers.

‘Always the Aristocratic Assassin.’

She led him to her apartment door and unlocked it. She entered first and then allowed Sesshoumaru entrance as her door was heavy and automatically swung shut if it was not held back.

As the tall dog lord entered, he noticed how small her abode was in size. The entire place was no more than three people wide from arm span and about ten in length. For being so small, it was tidy and pleasantly decorated.

‘Not to mention, it smells divine to this Sesshoumaru’s nose. How could I forget how pleasing her scent has been all these years?’

“Please feel free to sit over on the futon couch. Do you need anything to drink? Tea, perhaps?” Kagome asked, making her way to the kitchenette.

“Hai, tea will be fine, miko,” the demon lord said, settling down elegantly.

“Hmm, well, I guess since you’re here to listen to my life story since Sengoku Jidai, I will start about five months before I had left. You already know I went back and forth from somewhere through the Bone Eater’s Well. Well, I’m not exactly sure what happened, but I learned that the boy who had a strong crush on me in this time had been the son of a Yakuza member. He had seen Inu Yasha one too many times around me and got jealous. By the time I got back from hunting shards so I could see my family and restock that kami aweful yellow bag, my family had been murdered and dead for two weeks. Forgive me, as I still have trouble, but when I mean my family, it was my mother and grandfather who were killed. My little brother Souta had been lucky and while waiting for my return, a close friend of my grandfather who was from another shrine, took him in. I blamed myself as I could have refused Hojou’s advances. However, I never liked to hurt others and so I continued my journeys in Sengoku Jidai. Hojou had assumed that I was his girl and that was my fault as I never said anything in negation to his advances. Despite my domestic problems, Inu Yasha had come back and demanded that I come to hunt shards. I never told him, but he did mention how the shrine grounds stank of recent death. I arranged with the shrine elder who had taken Souta into him home after the incident to keep him further. I went back to the feudal era determined to finish finding the shards as it was my duty. It was my fault that the jewel had broke in the first place.

“I stayed until we defeated Narakyu. I’m sure you were aware of my feelings for Inu Yasha at the time. It was never meant to be. He obsessed over Kikyo so much that there was no room for me in his heart. One night, Inu Yasha had approached me and told me that instead of becoming a full demon, he wanted to wish Kikyo alive once more. My heart died that day, but I complied and gave him the jewel. Though he wished on it and Kikyo become flesh, the jewel had not disappeared. I took the jewel back and left without saying goodbye,” Kagome explained and brought out two tea cups on saucers filled with tea. “I hope you do not mind, but I put 2 lumps of sugar in your tea.”

“I will drink it,” Sesshoumaru replied, then responded to her story. “That seems logical, priestess. It was wise to remove the cursed jewel from that era as it no longer belonged there.”

Kagome sat in the chair in front of her meager desk, and then continued, “I left because of that reason and as much as the jewel did not belong there, I also did not. I had responsibilities. Living in a shrine is not glamourous and it does not pay. The government sends a stipend just adequate enough to provide funds to keep the shrine in fair condition. Some historial societies also send monthly stipends and that always covers just enough for basic needs and nothing more. However, it was not enough for both Souta and I as we needed clothes and other essentials. We also had school. By the time I was done in Sengoku Jidai, I was attending private prep as the public prep schools said I was too old. Souta, on the other hand, was ready for the university. For a while, I lived on the shrine and tried earning money by selling from our store. No matter what I did, nothing came to fruition.

“I started to cut down on my own necessities so Souta would not have to. It was my fault anyway, so I really didn’t deserver anything more than what was needed. When it got bad, I took just enough money for food and public bath hours, then hit the streets to look for a job. Souta was already old enough to live on his own, so I lived on the street.”

Sesshoumaru grew concerned. The streets were nothing like what Sengoku Jidai had been.

“Where did you sleep?” Sesshoumaru asked.

Kagome sighed sadly with a far off look, “I stayed in many places like the park bench or a box in an alleyway, or even underneath a tree. I often got chased away by the local cops for loitering. But, it was all I could do and what I had to do. It took a couple of months before I ran into Hiroshi. I was desperate and on my last few yen. He helped me get on my feet and I have worked for him for the past four and a half years. Because of him, I was able to finish my prep school and go to college. I only have a year left, but right now, since you meddled in my life, I may have to delay.”

Sesshoumaru almost felt guilty, but willed the thought away.

“Where will you go?” he asked.

“You know, I think I’ll go back to the shrine. I’m tired and I don’t want to live on the street again,” she sighed once again, defeatedly.

Sesshoumaru thought for a moment and offered, “You could work for this Sesshoumaru.”

“Thanks, but no. I don’t want to be anyone’s charity, especially yours,” Kagome replied dryly.

“It would not be. You need a job, and I need a personal assistant. This Sesshoumaru can tolerate your presence, unlike the ookami and my half breed half brother,” the silver haired demon explained.

“Inu Yasha works with you?” Kagome asked, clearly disturbed.

“Hai, but the baka hanyou usually is away. He had become what some would say, a ‘freeloader,’” Sesshoumaru replied, slightly annoyed.

“Still, I prefer to keep away from him,” she said softly, her hair covering her eyes.

Sesshoumaru could smell her tears and see her faintly trembling. He surmised that there had been something that occurred between her and his half brother. He reached over and tilted her face up. Her blue eyes were full of sadness and pain that it made his own beast squirm with discomfort.

‘She should be happy, not so tortured.’

“Something else occurred between you and Inu Yasha. Speak of it now,” he commanded softly, not wanting to drive Kagome into hysterics.

Kagome slightly nodded and answered, “Before his decision, we had briefly splot from the group. This was typical as sometimes Inu Yasha felt the others were slowing him down. We had left for another village in order to do a favour for Kaede. Once done, we stayed in the headmaster’s home. Inu Yasha came over to my room and started acting affectionate. I noticed that he was drunk and wanted him to leave as I had never seen him in such a state. He did not do what I said and had practically undressed me before saying, ‘You’re so beautiful, Kikyo.’ I, of course, threw him off of me with my power, but he was in some lustful daze and tried to go further. He got violent and knocked me out. When I woke up, he was on the floor in his human form. Apparently, my spiritual powers came to my aid and purified him.”

Sesshoumaru had not known of the incident and growled low, angry that his half brother had been dishonourable. He had always thought that Inu Yasha held some morals despite his eccentric ways.

“The half breed will no longer for this Sesshoumaru anymore regardless if you decide to accept my offer,” the dog lord said. “Arigatou, Kagome for conversing with this Sesshoumaru. You have earn my respect and I wish that despite forcing you to talk that we can be on friendlier terms in the future. It is my sincerest hope that we talk again soon.”

Kagome was shocked. First of all, Sesshoumaru had said her name, and second, he had been extremely courteous, almost warm towards her. She smiled, though the tears were still in her eyes.

“Okay, that sounds great,” she said and rose to show the six- foot- seven demon lord out of her apartment.

As soon as she closed her door, she slid to the floor.

‘Well, that wasn’t so bad. At least he didn’t pick me up by the neck and demand me to tell me everything. Still, I wish that he hadn’t paid Hiroshi off. I guess in the morning I’ll go visit Souta and tell him the news.’