I don't own it, but hey, you can't have everything, I'm just glad I can write about it!
Bijou
Chapter 1: A forgettable beginning.
Kagome let her body sway with the music as she danced, she could see Sango, her best friend since middle school, dancing only a foot or so away. Looking around the room she could see all her friends dancing, or sitting at their tables, lost in conversation.
She smiled at her friend Inuyasha sitting close by her sister Kikyo. It had only been a couple for a year or so, but Kagome had known Inuyasha in school, after all Sango had been dating Miroku since high school, and Inuyasha and Miroku were nearly inseparable, even back then. Miroku looked as if he was trying hard to keep his hands in the correct place while he and Sango danced. Kagome couldn't help but giggle at the look of concentration on his face. Shippo, nearly 18 now was awkwardly trying to dance with a young girl he'd met during his summer internship. The apple of his eye was a young girl named Rin, she had participated in the internship from another school close by and they had hit it off almost instantly.
The music turned slow, bringing Inuyasha and Kikyo to the floor, and causing Shippo to blush furiously as he put his hands on Rin's hips. Miroku and Sango slid closer together on the dance floor, as Kagome made her way back to the table. She wasn't going to dance to this one, there was no slow dancing in her life anymore. Sighing inwardly she couldn't help but be a little jealous that she was the single one of the group, but she had to smile when she saw all the content looks, and flirtatious glances her friends were a part of. Though she didn't have someone to be there with she wouldn't begrudge her friends their happiness, after all it wasn't their fault the Hojo had left. He had found someone new, plain and simple. Watching the waiter place another drink in front of her on the table she smiled in acknowledgment and sipped it slowly. She wasn't going to let the memory of a lost love haunt her; she was here to have a good time with her friends.
Kagome wasn't alone at the table for long before a shadow fell over her from behind. She looked behind her to see who was standing there and cringed mentally as Kouga made his way over.
"Kagome, you look stunning." Kouga said smoothly, grabbing her hand and kissing it.
"Oh hi Kouga, I didn't know you were here." Kagome said forcing a polite smile.
"Would you like to dance? You look out of place just sitting here." He asked trying to pull her out of her seat.
"I'm fine Kouga, I just want to grab a drink, and sit this one out." Kagome said, trying to let him down without hurting his feelings.
"No woman of mine should have to sit out the slow ones." Kouga said with a wolfish grin.
For a moment Kagome could have sworn she had seen fangs in his mouth instead of teeth, but when she looked again, nothing was amiss. Shaking her head she looked up at Kouga and sighed.
"I really just wanna sit this one out Kouga, and please stop referring to me as you're woman, I'm my own woman!" Kagome said for the billionth time, but she knew it was really no use.
"As you wish my lady, but I'll be over across the room if you change your mind." He said, once again giving her his famous grin, before walking away.
Kagome watched him walk away with a sigh of relief, she didn't think he would take no for an answer that easily. As the music faded Kagome watched as her friends made their way back to the table. Kikyo stooped over to hug Kagome as she announced that she would be calling it a night. Waving happily Kagome watched her sister leave on the arm of Inuyasha and smiled. Noting the time Kagome turned to the others and smirked.
"Shippo, mom will be expecting you home soon." Sango said smiling at her adopted brother.
"Yeah, I guess I'd better take Rin home and get back." Shippo sighed, helping Rin to her feet. "Thanks for inviting us, this was fun." He said smiling at them as the two of them walked away towards the door.
Sango laughed as she watched Shippo and Rin walk from the club. She shook her head and turned back to the others. Sango's parents and brother had been killed while Sango was young, and she had met Shippo in a foster home before they were both eventually adopted by a nice couple from Kagome's neighborhood. When school started that following year Kagome met Sango and the rest was history.
"Well guys, I think I'll call it a night as well, I have to work in the morning." Kagome said, getting to her feet.
"Alright hun, we'll see you tomorrow then right?" Sango said, hugging her friend. Kagome nodded happily and waved at Miroku.
"Night" Miroku said nodding at Kagome and waved back at him.
Kagome walked out of the club and ran smack into the back of a tall man with long silver hair. Kagome stuttered an apology, looking at the man in shock, thinking for a moment she had run into Inuyasha. When her eyes met the sharp glare of the man, she knew she had been mistaken. Bowing her head she began the short walk to her house. She turned right down a small alley and was half a block down when she heard footsteps behind her. Turning suddenly she saw no one there and shook her head and continued walking. She felt the urge to turn again but before she could there was a sharp pain in her head and everything went black. She heard footsteps and felt hands on her shirt, but couldn't open her eyes, or call out. She was preparing herself for the worst when she heard what sounded like a growl and another masculine voice speaking sharply. She tried to focus in on what was being said, but she couldn't make out the words. Slowly the sound faded, and her awareness slipped into nothingness.
Kagome awoke with a pain in her head, her sight blurry and out of focus. She took a sharp intake of breath as the pain shot through her head as she tried to sit up. The room was dimly lit, and she could feel that she was lying on a soft bed. She blinked a few times to clear her vision, and slowly the room came into focus. She was in a bedroom she didn't recognize, and she wasn't really sure how she had gotten there. She was drawing a blank. Nothing would come to her. Kagome slid to the edge of the bed and tried to stand, she made it about half way before crumpling back onto the bed. The pain in her head was getting worse and she just wanted to close her eyes and let the darkness take her again. She slid back into a comfortable position on the big bed and let herself drift off into a dreamless sleep.
The police left after taking his statement, Sesshomaru sighed and closed the door. He hated having people in his home, especially unexpected guests. Grumbling to himself he walked back up the stairs to check on the woman whose life he may have just saved. Walking into his guest bedroom he could see the woman sleeping heavily on the bed. Shaking his bed he made his way back out of the room and down the hall to his master bedroom. He stripped off his clothes and slipped into a pair of white silk lounge pants, sliding into bed he couldn't help but wonder what had made him follow that woman, or what had made him think she may be in danger. Cursing his instincts he slowly began to relax and finally drifted off to sleep.
Sango walked into work the same as any other day and looked for Kagome in the lounge. Not seeing her friend, she began to wonder if perhaps Kagome had overslept and decided to give her a call. Walking down the hall to her office she sat at her desk and dialed Kagome's number. Getting the answering machine she frowned and left a short message. Sango shrugged to herself and figured Kagome was on her way into work at the moment and decided to pick on Kagome for her tardiness for the rest of the day. Smirking Sango walked back down the hall to get some coffee from the lounge before getting into her work. The day passed uneventfully, Kagome never came to see her, and was missing at lunch hour as well. Sango was beginning to become concerned for her friend, it wasn't like Kagome to just not show up for work, no matter how the night before had gone. On her way home Sango decided she would call Kagome again when she got home, and if she still got no answer she and Miroku would go check on her.
Kagome woke as the sun spread through the room, finally angling it's way across her eyes. Squinting at the sun and the pounding in her head she slid into a sitting position and looked once more at her unfamiliar surroundings. She could hear a voice in another room, and it sounded very unhappy. Slipping out of the bed she stood on unstable legs, trying to find her balance. When her equilibrium centered itself she slowly made her way out of the room, following the voice. She walked about fifteen feet down the hall and came to the open door of what looked like an office. The furniture was very lavish and the desk was huge, made of dark stained cherry wood. She knocked softly on the door and received a beckoning motion from a person in a leather office chair facing the window, their back to her.
"I told you, I will be in tomorrow, can you not handle things in my short absence?" A cold voice said into the phone pressed to his ear.
"Very well I will look over everything in the morning, make sure you have everything prepared." He said, hanging up without so much as a good-bye.
Turning to face whoever it was that had knocked Sesshomaru met a pair of brilliant blue eyes. He looked over his impromptu house-guest with a keen and vigilant eye. Nodding slightly he beckoned for her to be seated. Pushing a button on his phone he soon greeted an older woman at his office door. She set a tray down and poured hot tea for the two of them before slipping silently out of the office once again. Taking the cup into his hand he waited for the woman in front of him to do the same. Once she had sipped her tea he did the same, allowing the steaming hot liquid to warm him as it flowed down his throat.
"I'm sorry to bother you sir, but I'm not entirely sure how I got here." Kagome admitted, believing it's best to be honest when at all possible.
"You are here, because you were assaulted in the alley last night, and had I not seen the events you may very well have been hurt badly, among other unsavory thoughts." Sesshomaru explained, not sure what he had done, and why this was even happening to him.
"Alley? Umm I'm not sure what you're talking about." Kagome said staring blankly at the silver haired man in front of her. She had the feeling she had seen him before, but she couldn't place his face.
"Last night when you left the club, you turned down a nearby alley, I assumed you were walking home." Sesshomaru explained, not sure what the woman was getting at.
Kagome continued to stare blankly at her host, trying to remember a club, or an alley, but drawing nothing but fuzzy blanks. Sesshomaru sighed and wondered what was wrong with the woman sitting in his office. She seemed so far away in her mind, like she was trying to recall something but not finding it. Sesshomaru rubbed his temples and waited for the young woman to say something else, after all he really wasn't the talking kind and he really had nothing to say to her. Kagome continued to sip her tea, looking for the right thing to say to the man sitting in front of her. He was an imposing figure to be sure. He had broad shoulders, and looked intimidating in his dark blue tailored suit. His silver hair was a shocking contrast against his dark clothing. He had piercing golden eyes; they seemed to look through her as though she was merely a pest who had intruded upon his solitude.
Kagome looked down at her hands and sighed, "Umm I know this might sound a little off, but I don't remember being at a club, or walking in a alley, in fact I can't seem to remember much of anything." She said, trying to steady her shaking hands. Sesshomaru looked at her his eyes softening for the tiniest instant, but she didn't notice. She seemed entirely preoccupied with the small cup in her hand.
"Well then it would seem you have a bit of a problem." Sesshomaru said bluntly, getting to his feet and walking over to her.
"Tell me one thing though, do you at least remember your name?" He asked kneeling down to force her to look him in the eyes. Kagome thought hard and eventually looked back at him, unwelcome tears brimming in her eyes and shook her head. Truth be told, she had no idea what her name was. Nodding Sesshomaru stood once again and beckoned the young woman to follow him. Leading her down the hallway he led her back into the room she had awakened in. After walking to a wardrobe and pulling out a lovely white Kimono he led her into an adjoining bathroom.
"Why don't you have a shower and think things over, I'll see if I can't get one of my associates to come to the house, perhaps he could help us figure out just who you are." Sesshomaru said, giving her the faintest of smiles before walking from the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
Kagome looked at herself in the mirror and let the tears slip freely down her cheeks as she tried hard to remember who she was. She slowly undressed, letting the hot water run into the large bathtub. As the tub filled she slipped into the hot water, cringing at first but slowly relaxing into the warmth of the water. She let herself soak for a while before picking up the soap and lathering her body, one limb at a time. She rinsed off and quickly washed her hair with some wonderful smelling shampoo that was sitting near the tub. She turned on the shower to rinse and condition her hair and to rinse the remnants of the soap from her body before getting out of the shower to dry and dress.
Kagome dried herself completely before slipping into the Kimono she had been given, then with a blush she realized that she had no undergarments to go with it. Looking down at her clothes from the night before she shivered uncomfortably. She picked up her clothes and balled them up, taking them with her she moved into the bedroom to find the elderly woman from before making the bed.
"Well hello there child." The woman said kindly smiling at Kagome.
Kagome smiled back and said, "Could you show me where I can wash these? I don't have any clean clothes of my own."
"I shall have them washed for you and bring them to you." The woman said taking the clothes from a protesting Kagome.
"I..I can wash them, really it's not a big deal, I just need to know where the laundry room is." Kagome stammered.
The old woman smiled and shook her head. "My name is Kaede by the way, and I'm the head housekeeper here, I'm more than happy to launder these for you, uh miss?" She looked expectantly at Kagome.
"Call me Kali." Kagome said suddenly, she wasn't sure that was quite right, but she didn't really know.
"Alright miss Kali, I'll have these back in no time, and if you need anything else, please let me know child." Kaede said smiling again and exiting the room before Kagome could protest any more.
Kagome couldn't help but laugh as the woman hurried from the room, she knew Kaede was fleeing before she could argue further. Kagome contented herself with looking around the room. The woodwork of the bed frame and canopy were beautiful, as was the matching bureau, dresser, and wardrobe. She noticed a cabinet not far from the bed that housed a large TV, complete with speakers, Blu-ray player, and other equipment. Kagome closed the cabinet and walked toward the bed. It had a beautiful canopy, hung with lovely velvet curtains, matching the dark blue bedding. Smiling at the beautiful colors someone had chosen for the room she sat down at the edge of the bed and wondered where the man from earlier had gone.