One day at dinner at his home, Inuyasha had just gotten back from college, Sesshomaru noticed a new maid, she had long raven-black locks and wonderful dark-blue eyes.

Even though he noticed her, he did not ask his father, who was very busy at the moment.

A few days later, he overheard a discussion between his father and his brother Inuyasha.

"This new maid..."
"Her? I picked her up, she was searching for work and accepted when I offered her a position as a maid. She is very capable and respectful. Did you take a liking to her?" smirked their father.

"That's not the point!" Inuyasha stated loudly and stormed away.

Sesshomaru however wondered what has gotten into his foolish brother who never took notice of their servants before.

Only a week later, Higurashi-san – that's how she was called by the other servants, even the arrogant butler Jaken – had become Sesshomaru's favorite maid. She was quiet and respected him, never talked without needing to. He met her in the study where she did some work for his father, who had found out that she was really intelligent. Sesshomaru wanted silence. When he saw her, he silently cursed, until he found out, that he liked her company. She was nice to be with.

He had ordered that her – and only her – should bring him tea to his room in the afternoon everyday. When she knocked on the door, it was a light knock. This afternoon was the same.

The knocking on the door and then: "Master Sesshomaru, your afternoon tea."

"Come in."

She would give him his tea without further words and leave the room after that, mostly wishing him success for his studies.

That day, in the early evening, he wanted to talk to her a bit, his father had confirmed her intelligence and he wanted a conversation.

"Kagome!" he heard his brothers voice.

"Master Inuyasha." she bowed slightly.

"Cut the master-crap. What are you doing here? Why didn't you go to college? We did not see you after high-school-graduation!"

She sighed quietly and Sesshomaru wondered how his brother would know her. He had talked about high-school. And he had called her by her first name which seemed to be Kagome.

"Answer me, Kagome! We were worried after we heard nothing. And then we heard about-"

He was interrupted. "Excuse me, master Inuyasha, but my private life and especially my past is nothing you should think about. I need to pursue my duties. Please excuse me." When she moved away, Inuyasha shuddered for some reason Sesshomaru could not understand.

When his brother did not move and just stood there with a blank face Sesshomaru came closer.

"What happened?"

-VVV-

Sesshomaru sat at his desk til late into the night and rubbed his temples with his fingertips. He was thinking about what Inuyasha had told him about Kagome Higurashi.

She had been a friend since middle-school and after high-school-graduation she disappeared. He and his other friends thought she might have gone to a far away university and did not have time for goodbyes. But because after a few weeks her best friend named Sango did not hear from her, they began to worry. There had been no word from her. And then they saw the obituary of both her mother and her grandfather in the newspaper and their worry grew. They asked around, she still had her little brother Souta, and finally heard some rumors of her and her brother moving to distant relatives far away. But the fact that she had not called lingered in their minds. Inuyasha had been worried for her since she left, so he had told Sesshomaru. And now she appeared as a maid serving him. He was so worried, she had more chances than being a maid, she had been a straight A student since middle-school. And lastly, she had changed. Inuyasha told Sesshomaru with blank eyes, how she had been before. Happy, open, always smiling broadly, caring, trusting. Everyone liked her. She had many worshiper and many guys had been after her since the beginning of high-school.

Sesshomaru admitted in his mind that she was clearly beautiful and graceful enough to have enough admirer.

Inuyasha went on telling his brother how he had acted as a protector, so no boys would approach her and confess. He and his friend Miroku were the only guys Kagome ever had been close with, with the exception of her classmate Koga who confessed to her on her second day of high-school. And how did she react to his confession? She smiled, thanked him for the compliment but told him that it was not possible for them to go out, because she did not know him. And so Koga had stayed at her side the whole three high-school years, even meeting her outside school, so she could get to know him, despite Inuyasha's protector role.

Throughout the conversation with Inuyasha Sesshomaru noticed that his brother was in love with Kagome. And somehow, that thought hurt him, it hurt him to know that his foolish brother knew her that well. But he pushed those feelings away and listened to his brothers story of that young woman.

And now he had wanted to ask her what happened. And her change of personality had scared and at the same time worried him. Her eyes had been cold, her warm smile was gone. Her trust and open mind were gone as well, it seemed like she had closed up. She had been so cheerful before, but now... her cheerfulness and everything happy had disappeared and what was left behind was nothing more than a person full of bitter and sad and cold feelings. She had pushed him away, she never had done before.

Inuyasha seemed too shocked to talk anymore than "Kagome... she... so much..." so Sesshomaru left the room and went back to his own and had begun thinking.

The story about Kagome Higurashi wouldn't let him sleep. So he stayed up until late. The next few days went into weeks and he held his composure and did not ask a thing or acted differently. Inuyasha was mostly not at home, so he did not see her very often. When he did and she greeted him with 'master Inuyasha' he flinched and just nodded weakly. His normally loud brother had become silent in her presence.

Even though Kagome was the newest maid she quickly rose inside the household. Sesshomarus and Inuyashas father seemed to like her and knew of her capabilities. From the beginning even the snobby servants had respected her and called her 'Higurashi-san'. She went from the status of a simple maid to the rank of 'special maid', how his father called it. She was responsible for keeping an eye over the other maids, for taking care of the house-records and became the personal maid for Mr. Taisho. He now often consulted her in questions of the household instead of his head-butler. She was consulted to his study very often and Sesshomaru noticed that his father respected her greatly. She was the only one allowed to wake Mr. Taisho in the morning and was the last one he always wanted to see in the evening before going to bed.

It slightly annoyed Sesshomaru how his father had concentrated Kagome's duties on him, she couldn't even bring Sesshomaru his tea anymore and he refused it after another maid brought him the tea. These feelings of annoyance and some kind of jealousy were irritating him, but once he figured out that he missed her, her voice, her appearance and presence, he began to understand himself.

Inuyasha however had regained his composure and made the decision to talk to her once again. He also was aggravated at his fathers behavior. He did not like how his father seemed to look at Kagome, with delight and content. How she was called to his bedroom late in the evening everyday annoyed him.

Inuyasha and Sesshomaru met in front of their fathers office, one glance and they knew both wanted to ask similar questions. Before they could knock, Sesshomaru stopped his brother, hearing a conversation between Kagome and Mr. Taisho inside. It was muffled but the brothers were able to understand it.

"How is your situation right now, Kagome?"

Both Sesshomaru's and Inuyasha's brow twitched when their father called her by her first name.

"I'm thankful to you for letting me work at your house. You gave me a chance when I saw no other way to earn money."

"I would like you to go to college or even university. Your intelligence should not be wasted on being a maid."
"You know that I don't have enough money to pay my further education and that I won't take money from you that I did not work for, Mr. Taisho."

"And you know that I insist on it, because I like you. And you know how much I like you. Please regard it once again. I insist on paying your expenses for your further education."

When he said that he liked Kagome, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru drew in a sharp breath. He liked her.

"I will regard it again, but it is against my principles to get money without working for it."

"You have done much for me already, dear Kagome. I would take delight in paying your expenses. My money would be in good use. Just regard it. Let's work on."

Silence followed together with a bit of typing on a keyboard.

The brother walked downstairs together and sat down at the big couch in the living room simultaneously.

"He likes her?" Inuyasha silently asked. "And she did not say anything against it. Maybe because she needs money... he is her boss after all."
Sesshomaru thought about how his father once had talked about her.

She is very capable and respectful. I think she is a beautiful person, not only on the outside.

He was hurt and angered. His possessiveness exploded when he thought about his father and her. But he knew he hadn't touched her yer, whether it was kissing or something further. He looked at his brother who seemingly had the same thoughts while his hands formed to tight fists, ready to punch anytime. He wanted to ask his father about their relationship and what was going on, why she was at his side most of her time. Sesshomaru nearly ticked out at the thought of her being taken away from him and by his father nonetheless.

Suddenly Inuyasha's fists loosened. "I haven't even told them that she is working here now." he whispered.

"Your friends?"

"Her friends mostly. Koga even went searching for her. I should have done so too."

"Are you still in contact with her former best friend Sango?"
"Yes. She could be able to get to know what happened. They were like sisters."

-v-

The day Inuyasha's friends would be coming to see her, the same day he had told them everything, he came home earlier to go find Kagome and talk to her. He was searching for her and lastly entered his father's office.

"Hey Dad. Where is Kagome? I need to speak with her."

"She took off this morning and I will follow her soon. I will be gone within the next half hour. I need to hurry."

"She took off? Where to?"

"Master Inuyasha, I'm surprised to see you ask such questions" One of the older butler, Myoga, stood behind him in the door frame.

"Ah, Myoga. Perfect timing. Do you have everything?"

"Of course, sir." Myoga held a small suitcase.

"Perfect. Then I can take off a bit earlier than thought. Goodbye, my son. I will be back in a few days."

And with those words, Mr. Taisho left his son and took off to follow Kagome somewhere. Inuyasha being left got angry. He follows her somewhere and doesn't tell me where. What the hell happened to her?

"Inuyasha, what is wrong?" Sesshomaru came and saw his brother standing in front of their fathers office.

"Everything's wrong. Kagome isn't there, 'took off' to somewhere and Dad just followed her. And by the way, everyone's coming today to see her." he hissed.

The bell rang to his proof. One of the maids opened the door for his friends and led them into the living room where they should wait for Inuyasha.

He walked into the room together with Sesshomaru and his face was grumpy, a total difference to the morning when his face lightened up when Sango promised to talk to Kagome.

On the big couch sat Sango, Miroku and Koga. They greeted Inuyasha and his older brother.

"What happened, Inuyasha? Where is she?" Miroku asked his best friend, worried about his facial expression.

"Where is Kagome, Inu?" Koga asked impatiently, ready to storm towards her if she came into the room.

"It seems like she went away together with our father just today." he said grunting.

"Yes." confirmed Sesshomaru. The whole group silences about what the brothers just had told them.

"Are you talking about Higurashi-san, master Sesshomaru, master Inuyasha?" asked an elder maid from the door.

"Baa-chan!" Inuyasha jumped upwards from the seat he had sunk onto. "Yes, we were. Do you know something we might not?"

"Well..." she slowly stepped closer. "There was a call for Higurashi-san this morning. While that call she went pale and nearly collapsed. We brought her into bed and informed the sir. He came to her bed and had a long conversation with her. We others had to leave the room. After that conversation he let a few of her things be packed and she took off without an explanation. We were told by the sir that there was some emergency, and that he would take care of her. They would be back in a few days. And some hours ago he went after her." she ended her long explanation of what she knew.

"An emergency? What could possible have happened?" Koga asked.

"I really can't guess..." Miroku said, no, almost whispered.

Looking at the shocked faces of his brothers and Kagome's friends, Sesshomaru knew their thoughts immediately. He also couldn't think of anything.

"Young Lady..." the voice of the old maid shivered slightly, talking to Sango. "Might I have a moment with you?"

Sango only nodded and followed the old woman to the other end of the room where they could talk privately.

"Higurashi-san told me about you, her best-friend."

"She did?"

"Hush, hush. I know better than to tell lies. And I know better than to tell master Inuyasha or master Seshomaru or even the sir or the other servants about our relationship. We became something like friends the moment we met. In her first night of being a maid here we were working on some needlework that had to be done together while everyone else was asleep. It became a tradition and we talked a bit, told us stories of our pasts and so on." A small smile passed over the old woman's face.

Sango was surprised. Inuyasha had told them about Kagome's change.

"Both of us do not need very much sleep, so we did some needlework every night. She was a great help, being nice to such an old maid. I could tell from her eyes that she had closed up, her eyes were cold. She had been through a difficult time, her way of moving spoke of a traumatic experience. I won't tell you what she told me though. That is something she needs to tell you herself. But I just wanted to tell you that she's getting better. Well, til this morning though."

"I'm glad she found a friend and helper in you. From what Inuyasha told us, she seemed so... I don't know how to describe it. I worried so much."

"Sango? We will be going now! You come?" Miroku and Inuyasha came closer.
"You can come again tomorrow, child. I will tell you more then. I will be lonely this night though." the old maid whispered into her ear.

Sango smiled, "I will come tomorrow morning then" and winked at her like to an accomplice and left together with Miroku, Koga and Inuyasha.

Sesshomaru closed the door behind his brother and looked at the old maid who slowly walked back towards the servants working room.

"Baa-san."

She bowed slightly as she turned towards him. "What is it, master Sesshomaru?"

"What did you talk about with that girl?" he asked bluntly.

"I suspected her being the best friend of Higurashi-san and figured that she would wanted to know more. I told her some things I wouldn't tell her male friends."
"What did you tell her exactly?"

"Nothing important, master Sesshomaru. Just how Higurashi-san had been and what I knew about her and the sir." she lied looking into his eyes, smiling.

"Her relationship with my father? What do you know about it?"

"Well, I got to know the story how she got this job and once heard a conversation between her and the sir." In fact, she knew everything, since she and her friend had talked a whole night about their boss before.

"Tell me."
"Of course, master Sesshomaru." she paused and took a deep breath. "Higurashi-san was searching for work in town, but as young as she is, she did not have much options. The sir saw her in a hotel, where she asked if an extraworker was needed. The hotel declined and she walked out, where the sir immediately asked her if she was searching for work. She confirmed that fact and he offered her a position as a maid in this household. She gladly took the offer." The old maid paused again to let her words get through to Sesshomaru.

He nodded. "So my father made that offer and she wasn't the active part... Go on. What kind of conversation did you hear?"
"It was a conversation about why a young and gifted woman like her would look for a well-paid job so badly when she was at an age where she should go to university or college. Higurashi-san at first dogded his questions. But then the sir asked her directly what happened in her past. I heard Higurashi-san taking a deep breath before she spoke. She just said – I remember quite well – 'My little brother is in a hospital right now and needs money for an operation. My parents are dead and I don't have any other relatives in Japan. So I need to earn and save money for him.'. I was touched. Higurashi-san had given up her further education and future career to help her little brother. Her cold attire seemed to be a protection, so she wouldn't be hurt." that part was actually true, she had heard that conversation and had suggested that Kagome was only protecting herself from the beginning. "I knew just as well as the sir that she wouldn't take money she did not earn herself. And it would only insult her person. I noticed..." she paused and thought if she should go on.

"What did you notice, baa-san?" he inquired.

"The sire was impressed and respected her only more than he already did, so it seemed to this old woman."
"You have a vast knowledge on humans, I trust your suggestion. Thank you for telling me."

"Always, master Sesshomaru."

Sesshomaru however walked upstairs and thought about what he had been told.

'A younger brother? And she was saving money for an operation? That could only mean the emergency this morning had to do with her brother.'

He grabbed his mobile phone and dialed his father's number.

"What is it, Sesshomaru?"

"Father, I just wanted to ask where you are, Inuyasha told me that you took off, but not where to."

"I'm sorry, my son. I can not really tell you. I can only tell you this, there had been a call this morning and because of that I needed to go."

"That call had been for Kagome Higurashi, right? Some emergency, probably connected to her little brother."

"Why did you ask then?"

"I wanted to know where the both of you went. It must be a place with a good hospital."

"I won't tell you, Sesshomaru. She asked me not to. And I respect her. I need to go now. We will probably be back within a few days."

And his father hung up without a goodbye.

Sesshomaru looked at the phone.

'Why did she ask for it to not be told to me?'

-v-

Mr. Taisho looked at his mobile phone and sighed. He did want to hung up on his oldest son, but he had to. He walked back into the hospital, towards the room where he knew Kagome would be.

He opened the door and looked at the young woman who did not move since he had left.

"Kagome..."
"He looks peaceful." she still looked at her younger brother who had been reanimated just this morning and had fallen into a deep coma. "He cried back then when I left to earn money."

As Mr. Taisho came closer he saw a smile on her face. Her eyes had warmed up and the closed windows to her soul had been flung open.

He put a hand on her shoulder. He did not want to lie, so he said nothing. She knew that her brother Souta wouldn't probably wake up. He would slowly slide into the hands of death.

Mr. Taisho noticed that she held her brothers hand.

"What are you gonna do? You know that I will help you, no matter what you do." he took her into an embrace from behind.

Her other hand caressed over one of his. He had gotten to like her, he loved her like his own child, probably even more. Her will to be strong, her ability to cast everything disturbing her away, her gentleness she did not really show and what he saw now: endless love and an endless strength. Others would have broken down and she mostly had been broken when the message reached her. But she was strong now.

"I'm gonna let the machines be turned down and his medics be stopped. I don't want to let him live like this. We promised once. We would let the other one die in grace if we could grant it. And I can now."

Tears streamed down her face as he pulled her into a closer embrace and she stood up to face him.

'It wasn't fair. What did she do to fate to deserve this?' Mr. Taisho thought while he held her close and let her cry in his arms. She sobbed and shook terribly. He promised to himself to do everything to help her and make her happy, even if it meant losing his sons and everything he possessed right now. Kagome was his priority right now, nothing else.

She calmed down a few minutes later, not saying a word about his now soaked shoulder. He also did not ask her when she was going to do it. He knew she wanted silence right now and he granted it her.

He left the room for her to be with Souta some more time and had to hold back tears when she sat down beside her brother, took Souta's hand again and said: "You will be with mom and dad soon. And grandpa will also be there. Greet them for me, will you?"

Myoga waited outside the room and began walking beside Mr. Taisho.

"Let it be arranged that Kagome will return with me as a part of my family. She needs one now."

"She's a bit overage to be adopted. The easiest way would be marrying one of your sons. Both like her. There are other ways, but they are more difficult."

"You have a good eye for humans, Myoga. Sesshomaru hid it quite well while it was obvious for Inuyasha before. But I need her agreement to becoming a part of my family. And I think marriage would be a step too big for her to take right now. Look for the other ways."
"Yes, sir."

Mr. Taisho left the hospital to get him and Kagome some hotel rooms to stay at. Kochi was big enough to have a more expensive hotel near the hospital, where he got two great rooms.

-VVV-

A/N: Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or the mentioned characters.