A Geisha's Love

Lord Akihiko looked at his friend of three hundred years as if he were crazy. "So you want me to help you find eligible bachelors for a human girl because your son doesn't want her?"



Toga cleared his throat. "I would not say that he doesn't want her. He wants Kagome and Nozomi both, but that's not going to fly."



"Eligible human bachelors or eligible demon bachelors?" Toga grinned.



"Whomever you can find will do."



Lord Akihiko sighed as he leaned back in the chair. "I cannot believe you asked me here for this. But it does sound fun." After Toga heard Akihiko say this, he was just anticipating the magic words. "I'm in."

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Izayoi sat with me in Sesshomaru's room as I dressed in the beautiful pink and green silk kimono she had recently bought me. She clapped her hands enthusiastically as she raced over to hug me.



"You look absolutely beautiful, Kagome." I sighed as I ran the brush through my hair. Izayoi insisted that she straightened it but I turned her down. I wanted to leave my curls in this time.



When I had gotten up this morning, Sesshoumaru was gone.. I opened the door to go to breakfast to see Izayoi been for me. On the way down to breakfast she told me about the men coming to see me. I suddenly thought that she was trying to marry me off. I asked her about it and she said it was something like that. More like trying to get Sesshoumaru to see that I wasn't always going to be there waiting for him when he came home. Izayoi understood that I loved Sesshoumaru so her and Toga came up with a plan. Now, this had scared me, but I didn't think it could get toobad. It was the Lord and Lady of the Western Lands. I agreed to go along with it which ended up with me here in the room dressing for the second time that day.



"Now, Lord Akihiko is here with three men." I stared at her when she said that.



"Are they human?" Izayoi laughed a laugh I've never heard before.



"We'll never know if we don't go see, will we?"



Her laugh scared me.

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When the doors opened in Toga's meeting room I felt like dying. There, standing in the middle of the room were an assortment of men. From what I could tell some were demon while some were human. Many looked at me as if I were a piece of meat.



"Ah! There you are Kagome!" Toga's voice pried my gaze away from their hungry eyes. Toga was smiling as he walked towards me. "Here she is boys. This is the beauty that you as well as others are fighting for."



"My, my, Toga. I did not know you were holding such a beautiful woman here in your palace. I may have to send all of these boys off and have her myself." I blushed while Toga turned to smile at the male sitting in his chair near the window.



"I don't think so, Aki. I do not think Kagome will be too comfortable with that arrangement." Akihiko's eyebrow rose as he crossed his long legs.



"Is that so? I thought Lady Kagome is able to choose." Toga narrowed his eyes at his friend. Akihiko was quite the womanizer.



"Everyone but you Aki." Akihiko just waved his friend's comment away.



"Okay, okay. I am known for my patience." Akihiko replied. Toga cleared his throat, bringing my attention back to him.



"Do not mind him, Kagome. He says that to all the pretty girls." Toga's words were nice but they did not help my blushing.



"Now, boys. There are thirty of you. You all have one day with Kagome. After thirty days, Kagome will pick whom she liked most. Sounds easy enough, yes?" They all nodded their heads.



"Good. Now Kagome shall pick the first suitor." My breath almost left my lungs as I watched all the eyes fall on me.



Oh, Toga. Why? I flushed as I looked at Toga pleadingly. Toga only winked at me while chuckling.



"Do not be shy, Kagome. Just pick one." Sighing, I walked up to the first row of men and when I was in arms length, I chose the second one to the left. He bowed as he smiled charmingly.



"Hello, Lady Kagome. I am Prince Jeno from the Northern Lands. Son of Lord and Lady Kai. I hope to be the one you choose in the end."



When Prince Jeno had finished his sentence, I could tell that this would be a very hard month.

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I swallowed a sigh as day fifteen rolled around. I was now having lunch with Prince Shojo. His parents were Lord and Lady Yamaguchi or something like that. He was human. He liked horse riding and practiced the bow.



"What are you interested in?" Shojo asked, his blue eyes on mine.



"Dancing." He smiled, his hand on mine.



"Oh? I wouldn't mind seeing you dance." I smiled politely in return, but all I wanted him to do was go back home to his parents.

As the days and dates passed, I realized something about all the men I've been seeing. All of them had different character and attitude. They all enjoyed doing something.



Shojo liked to touch.

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Day 20



I have noticed that Sesshoumaru seemed to get more and more irritable. Of course, I only see him at night, but sometimes I didn't have the energy to talk to him. I've been tired during the day after the dates and the activities they had for me seemed more tiring than the last.





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Day 25



Prince Giichi, son of Lord and Lady Nanase liked to talk. He liked to talk a lot. He talked too less about his family.. All he seemed to talk about was his estate and his money. Anything and everything. He was annoying and thought too highly of himself.



Prince Giichi was an idiot.





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Day 30



I smiled genuinely for the first time in weeks. Prince Yukito, son of Lord and Lady Kurodo was quite the opposite of all the other men. He was cultured, charming, and sweet. He practiced with swords and had four brothers and one sister. He talked about traveling with his parents and what good he was planning to do with his power when he was Lord. I enjoyed his time immensely. I giggled as I walked up the stairs. My face was red and my neck was warm. Prince Yukito was a snake demon.



Prince Yukito liked to kiss.





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Day 31



Today was the day. The day I would choose the one I was interested in most. Toga smiled at me as I entered his meeting room. I was not surprised to see Lord Akihiko there. He winked at me and I quickly turned my attention to Lord Toga.



"Well, Miss Kagome. Who have you chosen?" Toga asked, his fingers on his beard.



I could feel my face heat up as I answered, "Prince Yukito." From where Lord Akihiko was sitting, I could have sworn I saw his eyes flash. Toga's smile widened as he clasped his hands.



"Very good! Very, very good!" Toga exclaimed, suddenly excited. "I will have him brought back soon enough." Lord Akihiko raised his hand as if he were in class. Toga rolled his eyes as he nodded his head.



"What is it, Akihiko?"



"I do not think Prince Yukito is the right choice."



"But it is Kagome's choice."



"Maybe that is the problem." I felt my ire rise. I was not a child.



"Maybe the problem is you wanting to control everything." After I had spoken, the room became silent. Lord Akihiko's ruby eyes turned to me.



"What was that?" he asked, his voice deadly calm.



"You are quite charming and handsome, Lord Akihiko. But I could tell from the first day that you were controlling and I do not wish to have anything to do with you." I replied calmly. Toga blinked at me for a moment before laughing.



"Why you little cu--"



"Oh, leave it alone Aki. She has gotten you and you know it. Do not allow your pride to get more than just your feelings hurt." Lord Akihiko looked at Toga before leaning back in the chair. I could tell Lord Akihiko was not used to be talked back to in such way. I was not either. I had not spoken back to anyone but Sesshoumaru and that was a surprise to myself. That was a big thing in the geisha house. Never talk back to Miss Kishito or any of the clients.



"Any who!" Toga began. "I will have Prince Yukito sent back over in three days time." I smiled and quickly came over to hug him.



"Thank you so much, Toga-sama." I whispered.



"It's the least I can do for my daughter." As I pulled away from Toga, the door to the room slammed open. What surprise I was in when I saw that it was Sesshoumaru.



"Father!" he growled, his eyes red with rage.

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Toga's jaw shut tight as he looked over his son. He was quite glad that Kagome was not able to smell him. He rinked of that woman.



"Hello, Prince Sesshoumaru. It's nice to see--"



"Shut up." Sesshoumaru barked at Akihiko.



"Nice to see you, too." Akihiko muttered, running his fingers through his ink black hair.



"What is it, Sesshoumaru?" Toga asked.



"Do not try to trick me, father. I know what you have been doing while I've been away!" Toga patted my shoulder which automatically caught my attention.



"You may leave, Kagome. This has nothing to do with you." I nodded and glanced towards Sesshoumaru. I was afraid to go in his direction. He was blocking the door.



"Do not be afraid. He shall not harm you." Though I nodded I was not sure if I could believe him. Sesshoumaru looked royally pissed. As I walked towards the door I kept my eyes on the floor. I could feel Sesshoumaru's burning glare boring holes into my head.



"Yes, leave Kagome. For when I retire tonight, I will make up for my absence." Sesshoumaru growled threateningly. His growl sent shivers down my spine. They were not good shivers.

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Toga waited until Kagome left the room before looking at his son in question.



"Who told you?"



Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed.



"No one told this Sesshoumaru. Kagome's just not good with cleaning up after herself." Toga's eyebrow rose.



"What are you talking about?" Sesshoumaru smirked cruelly.



"It was the mark they left on her that I knew that you were up to something." Lord Akihiko stood up from his seat and walked around to stand with Toga.



"Why are you so interested anyway? You are planning to mate Nozomi, yes?" Akihiko asked. Sesshoumaru growled.



"That is none of your concern."



"Oh, it is my right to be concerned, pup. I am interested in Kagome myself and though she has chosen that little boy I shall challenge him."



"What!" Toga yelled, his head swiveling around to look at his friend.



"That was not the deal!"



"You cannot challenge something that does not belong to you." Sesshoumaru replied, calm once more. He realized what Akihiko planned and it was not going to work. He's forgotten one key article.



"And why is that?" Sesshoumaru smug smirk began to confuse Akihiko.



"Does she not have to be a virgin?" Akihiko smiled as he placed his slender hand on his hip.



"Of course they do, that's why I'm calling the challenge." If he were anyone else Sesshoumaru would have let out an evil laugh.



"Aki..." Toga whispered. Akihiko paid no mind to his friend.



"I know that Kagome is a virgin. She has to be. She is obviously an innocent."



"Umm... Aki..." Toga whispered again. Toga had a feeling that this may not end well. If Akihiko found out that Kagome was not a virgin and Sesshoumaru was right...



"I've already taken Kagome, Akihiko." Sesshoumaru said plainly, his arms crossed. Akihiko's mouth fell open.



"That can't be! She wouldn't let you of all people!" Sesshoumaru nearly rolled his eyes. "Toga! It's not true is it? He has to be lying!" Toga sniffed and turned his head away admiring the large map he had on the wall.



"I think I may need to move that to the other side..." Toga muttered to himself. Akihiko's red eyes widened before narrowing at Sesshoumaru.



"No matter. I shall have her myself. You don't deserve her." Sesshoumaru snorted.



"And you do? Akihiko Fukushima the womanizer?" He flipped his hair behind his shoulder. "I do not have time for this. Father, Kagome will not be seeing whomever she picked. If I even smell them, I will kill them myself." Sesshoumaru threatened as he turned to leave.



"Sesshoumaru," Toga called, his eyes on his son's back. "You do not have permission to sleep with Kagome. She is no longer yours. You have made your choice. If Kagome becomes pregnant, Nozomi will wish for her death. I cannot have that happen."

Sesshoumaru quickly turned around to face his father. "Permission-"



"That is why I have prepared a separate room for her. Prince Yukito will continue to court Asaiya and you will not stand in the way of it. You will not ruin her life."



Sesshoumaru glared at his father.. How dare he change such things without telling him. Though he went to see Nozomi during the day, he always came back home during the night to see Kagome. There was a reason why he did so. He slept better when she was there. Now that his father was doing this it was angering him.



"You are not Lord yet, pup. You do not challenge me. Do you understand?" Toga asked, his tone stern. Sesshoumaru gave a curt nod before leaving. Akihiko watched and listened in silence. Though Toga talked calmly to his son he understood the threat in his friend's voice. That is something Sesshoumaru would not do.

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Sesshoumaru stormed up the stairs to his room and was even more angered when he did not sense Kagome inside. His father was really pissing him off. Opening the door to his room, he slammed it closed. He soon let out a loud growl before slamming his fist into the wall near him. Prince Yukito? Yukito? That damn womanizing man-whore will only hurt Kagome.



Like you've done to her.



"Shut up." Sesshoumaru growled, walking into his bathing room. His room no longer have the strong scent of honey. It was quite faint.



As Sesshoumaru slipped into the hot water, he clenched his teeth. Having Kagome not there was really pissing him off. It was messing with him more than he thought it would. When he came home to bathe and sleep, he could always smell her in the onsen and it soothed him. But now...



"Dammit!"

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I worried my lower lip as I wrapped the towel around me. Usually my time in the onsen was warm and comforting, but tonight it was the complete opposite. There was something... someone... missing. I wanted to go to him. I really did, but I did not know what he would have thought of me. Would Sesshoumaru think me a whore for seeing others without his knowing? Would he no longer wish for my company? All these questions worried me as I pulled on my sleeping yukata.



Though Prince Yukito was quite nice and charming, I still had feelings for Sesshoumaru. Yes, he went off to see that demoness, not caring too much about my feelings but he made sure I wanted for nothing and that no one ever harmed me.



As I laid down in my bed, I contemplated going to him. I know things wouldn't be right if I didn't but I also didn't wish to chance his mood either. I sighed as I blew out the candle, staring out of my balcony window. It was half-way open, the cool breeze filtering into the room. I was not sure how long I had spent lying there thinking, but as soon as my eyes began to close, I heard my door open. My eyes immediately flew open, turning around to face the door. The room was pitch black aside from the small light coming in from the moon. My heart began to race and I had thought about screaming, but decided against it when I noticed two familiar eyes.



"I am not here to hurt you," he said, sitting down on my futon. I hesitantly sat up, my legs crossed my hands in my lap.



"Then why are you here? I know that you are mad at me-- but...but I wish to explain!--"



"You will no longer be seeing Prince Yukito." As Sesshoumaru said this, I felt a calloused hand sliding up and down the inside of my thigh.



"W-Why is that?" I asked, my heart racing.



"Because I will tell Yukito myself that you have already been taken."



My eyes widened and I quickly sat up clutching the soft sheets to my body. "Don't! I mean..."



"Don't?" Sesshoumaru asked.



Though it was dark in the room, I could see two golden eyes narrow.



"Don't?" he asked again, grabbing my arm.



It hurt.



"I mean... I like Prince Yukito. He's nice to me and--"



"Am I not nice to you?"



"Well..." I was not able to think of anything because of the pressure he was putting on my arm. "Sesshoumaru.. please let go."



I heard him growl and after a long minute, let go of my arm. "Explain." he ordered.



"Well, you go to see Lady Nozomi and I know how beautiful she is..." I said slowly, looking away from his expecting eyes. "And though I appreciate you coming back to sleep with me, I don't feel comfortable sleeping in the same bed knowing what you have done with me and what you have done with her." I whispered.



As I finished my reasoning, I could feel the tension radiating from Sesshoumaru's body.



"Nozomi is of no consequence," At this, he pushed me back on the futon with him on top of me, my hands pinned on either side of me as he leaned down to my face.



"Do you not want her?"



Sesshoumaru growled, pressing his body closer to mine. "This Sesshoumaru wants you."



"Do not announce me as your chosen if you really wish to mate Lady Nozomi." I said, my voice soft as I stared him in the eyes.



Sesshoumaru growled and before I even thought about stopping him, he grabbed a handful of my hair, crushing his lips on mine as he pulled me closer to him. He only said one thing before ripping off my yukata,



"I do as I please."