Disclaimer: I claim no ownership of Sengoku Otogizoushi - InuYasha nor the Dark Hunter series. Inuyasha belongs to Takahashi Rumiko, Shogakukan, Viz Media, ShoPro Entertainment, and Shounen; while the Dark Hunter series belongs to Sherrilyn Kenyon. No profit of any kind is made from this fan-created crossover.
Written For: Black Firelight

Bourbon Street Stories
Introduction: 1990, New Orleans

Nick Gautier had never given anything thought beyond "ridiculous" to the supernatural. He would admit to knowing some Voodoo priestesses, especially since one was his mom's best friend, and some hokey psychics around the French Quarter, but it was not as if he actually believed in it. Though he would admit that Menyara had something different about her, and how she knew things. It was weird and worse than how his mother knew things. He hated both, though, and would be caught dead before admitting to it out loud.

And when thinking about the "mystical", Miss Liza was not the first person to come mind.

She was normal enough, for an old lady who owned a doll store. He found all the dolls a little creepy, but he enjoyed the money she gave him for sweeping the floor and other odd jobs enough to not give too much lip. So he was surprised when he saw a young woman older than him, yet too young to be her daughter or any other close relation. It did not help matters much that she was very obviously Asian; if he was not mistaken, and he did not think he was given his love of manga, she was Japanese. A petite Japanese woman who loved short skirts and loose tops. And dolls, apparently. It was the only reason he could come across for why anyone could look that at ease in a doll shop.

Nick did not think he had a thing for Japanese women, but had he been about ten years older, he gladly would have for her. Because those legs. God, those legs. And she was not even standing!

"Ah, Nick. How nice of you to show up," Liza said. He figured she saw his shocked look if the way she was smiling was anything to go by.

"Yeah, yeah." He waved her words off. "Who's the chick?"

Liza sighed while the other woman laughed. "Still lacking some manners, I see."

"Oh, he's fine, grandmother." She smiled. "I've been around people with fouler mouths and less class."

Nick paused in the motions of grabbing the broom. Grandmother. Had he heard correctly? He looked between them, trying to find their similarities. All he could really come up with was the shapes of their mouths, the thing for dolls, and the blue eyes. He shuddered as his thoughts betrayed him and reminded him that that meant Liza had to have sex at some time in her life. It was a thought he wished he could remove from his brain forever. "Grandmother? How the heck does that work out?"

"I don't think it's any of your business. But the floors need some attention."

The young woman smiled at him, her blue eyes catching his own. For a second it felt as if she was delving into his soul, and that she was far older than she seemed. He did not like the feeling of it at all. Yet he could not look away, not until she did first. "It's fine. I think it's good that he's curious. It does build character, you know."

She stood and walked over to him, grabbing the broom. "Her son is my father. He went to Japan after the war, and met my mother. And the rest is, well, history." She held out the broom to him, and he took it. Their fingertips brushed, and he would swear she did it on purpose because he could feel the spark of something jump from hers to his. Something that was not just some static electricity.

He jerked back, stumbled really, and could not keep from staring at her.

"We'll be seeing a lot of each other. I'm going to be working here, too." She smiled brightly at him and clasped her hands in front of her. It was such a typical pose for a Japanese woman in manga that he could not help drawing the similarities. "I'm Kagome Higurashi, by the way."

It took a while for her words to register in his head, but not because he was not listening. But because of how odd she was. She was interesting, in the strict definition of the word. "Nick. Nick Gautier."

Liza cleared her throat and gave him her best look that told him to get to work or else. "Your job, Nicky."

"The dust ain't going nowhere." Yet he did tighten his grip on the broom handle and walked off to do his job. His mom and he did need the money, after all.

Even though he focused on his work, he could not help but overhear bits of their conversation. One part stood out to him more than the rest.

"You shouldn't look at him like that. Anyone who didn't know better would take it as you being interested, and I know you don't like young boys like that."

"I'll bet you money that he'll be handsome when he's older than twelve. And you're right: I am far too old for him."

Now, Nick did not have too much experience in these situations, and as it was he was trying not to blush from the compliment about how he might look in the future, but he knew something was off with Kagome's words. Women usually said, "He's far too young for me," not what she said. The meaning behind her words was going to haunt him for a long time, he just knew it.

Ah, so this is coming out quite a few days later than I intended. But it just worked out that way. Yes, Nick Gautier is 12 at this point. And Kagome... Technically, she's only supposed to be around 9--I wonder what could have happened, lol. Of course I know, but you all will have to wait.

And I hope you have enjoyed this first chapter, Black Firelight, as this fic is for you.