1Belladonna

By: FearlessDranzer

Three Weeks Earlier

I hauled ass going down the street; literally throwing people out of my way sucker punching old ladies and five year old kids, all to get to the bus stop.

You see, I have a perfectly good excuse for slaughtering innocent bystanders: first off, they're in the way; second, they walk slow–I stress slow; third, my mother will have my ass mounted on the wall if I miss the bus. She is that punctual.

OK, I exaggerate a little. I probably only took down three or four old ladies (one might have been an old man...), two toddlers, and that one old lady is probably only maimed. She'll be walking again in no time.

As for my mother... That old lady might be walking soon, but I won't be. You see, she has this obsessive dream of me getting into Tokyo University, only the most prestigious school in all of Japan and probably all of Asia. She wouldn't settle for less even if I dropped dead right this very second. She's still be hounding me about getting in.

To tell the truth, I don't really want to go to Tokyo University, it's too much pressure and way too good for the likes of me. I'd be good with a school a few tiers lower. Actually, even if I do get in, I don't have a major.

But in reality the odds of me getting in are so small, but my mom's heart is set, so all I can do is appease her.

Which is why I had to get on this bus; if I missed it I'd be doing homework and studying in the street like some crazy waiting for the next bus to pull up.

I could see the bus coming so I poured on the speed–not much. It's hard to run in loafers and a skirt, carrying a huge ass bag and a fifty pound physics textbook. Life sucks.

Somehow I made it.

Sitting in the bus seat, trying to catch my breath, I glanced out the window and saw someone standing in the window of the old abandoned building across from the bus stop.

I sucked in air sharply. I could have sworn they were staring straight at me. Then the bus pulled away and I only stopped looking when we were three blocks over. Suddenly, I remembered to breath and shook my head. I felt very strange, very skittish and jumpy.

A chill ran up my back, I felt almost like someone had walked over my grave.

Chapter 1 - The Veracious Caucus

I'm normally a happy perfect person. I'm normally great fun to be around and I'm really funny, cute and talkative.

Not today.

Not to-fucking-day.

Why?

WHY?!

It's raining.

And it's not just raining, it's raining. You know that old saying 'when it rains, it pours'? Well it's true, I can testify to that one. I'd know, I'm standing in it.

Usually, a little bit of rain doesn't bother me, I'm all for it. Yay rain! Feed the flowers and that shit. But today's rainstorm has been the straw that broke the camel's back.

Because today I just so happened to be walking to the bus stop from prep class without an umbrella or a jacket. And I just so happened to be carrying my History text book and Biology textbook and my messenger bag–all three of which are extremely wet right now.

Not to mention my hair! My poor hair! I actually straightened it this morning. I actually took the time out to try and get that stupid pin straight hair that everyone but me seems to be born with. Kill me now.

You know what? I'm going to blame this all on the weathermen. According to them it wasn't supposed to rain until tomorrow afternoon. Not tonight, thank you very much! I'll get them, just you wait, I'll get them even if it's not today or tomorrow or even ten years from today!

Am I over reacting a little bit?

Oh well, it just wasn't a good day at all. I hate prep class. And it doesn't help that we're learning statistics, my worse subject in math. Actually, I'm not that good at math at all. I'm more of a science person, I love Biology and Chemistry. But I'm not taking Chemistry this year... I have to take more math classes.

I had so many tests today I felt like my head would explode and then I got a pop-essay in English. Who gives out pop essays? What a sadistic bastard, getting his kicks out of torturing poor harmless students!

I checked my watch and realized I would barely be making this bus. I tried to speed up, saw the bus turn the corner, heading for the stop, but then my foot slipped and I landed hard on my ass.

The bus roared past.

And I sat there, my underwear now soaking wet and my pride bruised.

Story of my life.

Grumbling and cursing my life, I staggered as I stood up, taking a few drunken steps before I recovered my cat-like balance. I straightened my skirt and sighed as I caught sight of my textbooks lying in a puddle; there goes my study time, trying to dry those bad boys out.

I collected my books and walked the ten feet towards my bus stop.

I stood there in the rain, wet to the bone, and realized what a sad picture I made. I turned my head to try and shake off some raindrops that were in my eyes, when I caught sight of the abandoned building. It was an ominous hulking figure that seemed to tower over me and yet it was the shortest building on the block.

Something about it seemed off but I was more willing to get out of the rain than worry about some psychotic killer with a vendetta.

I looked up, blinking water out of my eyes and there were no lights on, the front door creaked open, and normally, I would be worried, but this is Tokyo, Japan. We have some of the lowest crime rate in the world, and this wasn't a bad area of the city. This was part of the older business district from before World War 2.

So I thought nothing of the abandoned building. At least I'd be getting out of the rain. And I had– at the least– an hour's wait for the next bus.

I walked towards the dark opening and searched my blazer pocket for my cellphone, which hopefully wasn't too wet. Oh wait, there's a plus! Today could have been worse, I could have been wearing my white sailor top! That would have sucked. White doesn't go well in the rain...

I flipped through the contacts and quickly texted my mother a short blurb about why I'd be late. She couldn't come pick me up because of my grandfather's sickness and a second job working nights at the hospital to pay for my prep classes.

I tried to convince her that I didn't have to go to prep classes, I could get a job but she wouldn't hear of it, she was convinced of my TokyoU future.

I passed through the doorway and the floor boards creaked beneath me. I called out a cautious 'hello', and waited for an answer. After a few seconds no one replied and my cellphone started to ring.

It was my mother.

"Hi Mom."

"Kagome, I hope you're studying."

"Of course." I lied.

"Good. But I'm very disappointed in you for missing the bus, you should be able to make a bus, you're seventeen. You'll be in college next year!" I could hear mother starting to rant, I had to get off the phone.

"Mom, look, I'm sorry but I have to go, I went back to prep school and the teacher's helping me with some statistics problems." I lied, so sue me.

"Oh! OK, I'm glad, Kagome."

"Alright, bye, Mom."

"Bye, Kagome."

I hung up the phone and returned it back to my pocket.

I walked a few steps into the building, wondering if I should feel guilty for lying to my mother when I was stopped by a gorgeous purple flower lying at my feet.

It was a deep royal purple, the petals perfectly formed into a bell shape, felt like silky gossamer, and curved delicately at the tips. The inside was a deeper shade of purple and my breath caught in my throat. The stamens were a pale yellow color, only a shade off from pure white.

I put it up to my nose, inhaling the delicate flowery scent, the petals tickling my nose and cheeks. I giggled girlishly, but there was something totally pure and innocent about finding such a perfect untouched flower is such a dirty rotten place like this. A place filled with dead dreams, where hope grew in the form of a dark purple flower.

Presently the flower was plucked out of my fingers and I looked up in surprise.

He was perfect, almost like an angel; his beauty put the flower to shame and would have made an angel jealous.

His hair was long and a blonde so pale it appeared white. Or maybe it was white. His eyes were golden and cold, sternly serious. His lips frozen into a pout. Skin, so pale and translucent– he was like a Dresden doll, more perfect than real life. He was tall and waifishly thin, with strange tattoos on his hands, half covered by an Addidas sports sweatshirt. He had some American band written on his shirt and a pair of black skinny jeans and Nike shoes that were fashionably not tied.

I gaped at him and couldn't stop staring. I felt so inadequate in his presence, my dripping wet hair and clothing made me shiver and I searched his eyes for some sign of life and compassion.

"You like my flowers?" His voice was surprisingly deep, it was unexpected. I couldn't find my voice to answer, I was too busy staring at the stripe of skin showing between his shirt and pants. It was so pale and perfect.

He went on. "I grow them myself, a special breed my family used to cultivate, now a secret known only to myself–and now you."

"They're beautiful."

"Yes they are, in fact they are commonly called the Devil's Cherries–so beautiful they must be the work of the devil."

I stared. I could believe why they thought something so beautiful had to be the work of the devil. "Some things are too perfect." I said.

He chuckled, a sexy laugh, deep in his throat. "I guess so. So what is you name my bella donna?"

"Oh! I'm Kagome! It was raining inside so I came in here..." I trailed off not wanting to sound stupid.

"It's alright. I'm Sesshoumaru, would you like some tea?"

"I'd love some, thanks!"

He motioned for me to follow him and he walked deeper into the building, weaving his way through garbage and piles of wood. He sat down on a wooden crate and picked up a tea kettle cooling on the ground at his feet and poured the amber liquid into an exquisite china tea cup with delicate lace decorum.

I sat across from him, smoothing my skirt down and fidgeting, too afraid to look him in the eyes. I put my books and bag down on the dusty ground. He handed me the cup and it was almost too hot to touch. He cautioned me against drinking before it had time to cool.

I cradled the cup in my hands and felt butterflies in my stomach fluttering. He was just too much. Everything about him. The sharp high cheek bones, the cold golden eyes that were piercing, there was no way he could be real. He was like a fae creature of legend.

"If you don't mind me asking, what are you doing here?" I asked.

He shrugged one of his thin shoulders that I was certain was going to poke out of his shirt at any minute. "It seemed like a perfect place to grow my flowers."

"What are they called?"

"I don't know. They've been called so many things, I prefer the Devil's cherries myself. Others prefer other, less strange names." He talked in an odd fashion like something from a different time, he was formal yet casual at the same time, a crazy combination that made my head spin.

"And your hair! Oh shit!" I can't believe I said that.

Holy Shit! Oh God! How nice Kagome, just make fun of his hair! He could be albino, it could be a skin condition! Oh, gawd!

He laughed at the emotions running across my face and actually answered me. "It runs in my family, it's a very pale blond."

"But you're Japanese!" Smooth.

"Yes, how kind of you to notice." I colored and lowered my eyes to the ground.

He chuckled. "It's alright. I understand, many people have that reaction, including my mother. My family lineage can be traced back to the ancient feudal era, where there is a legend of a priestess cursing my family with the pale hair and golden eyes of demon."

It was a breathtaking story and made images run through my head of priestesses wielding the power to condemn beauty upon a person.

"I don't understand, it's strange, but why would she condemn you like that?"

"Once we were cursed to look like demons we quickly rose to power– not exactly what the priestess hoped. Instead of spurning us and being slaughtered, people came from across Japan to see the humans who looked like demons of fable. They became instant celebrities and ruled for many centuries."

"Ironic." I whispered softly.

"Yes, very."

"I don't think you look like a demon though." I took a sip of the tea. It was cool enough not to burn.

"What do you think I look like, Kagome?"

I laughed at him, his face was eager and there was a small smile on his lips. I shook my head, "Maybe I'll tell you one day."

"That's not fair." He said his golden eyes trying to appraise what I meant. "I told you something, now you need to tell me something. Tit for tat."

"Nothing for something." I replied with a laugh. He seemed to be catching on that I was just teasing.

"You've hurt me greatly." He replied with a sigh, pretended to swoon like the English ladies of old.

"All right, since you obviously need to know... Actually, I don't have anything interesting about me. No family curses, no ancient secrets... nothing."

He looked at me strangely. "Kagome, a person such as yourself must have something interesting to tell."

I held my hands up in defeat. "Nope! Nothing!"

"Then tell me about yourself."

"What do you want to know?"

"Anything. Everything." He seemed uncertain about his bold move forward, but I was enamored of his looks and couldn't help but pour myself out to him.

"Okay. I'm Kagome Higurashi, I'm seventeen years old, eighteen in July. I'm a senior at Tokyo High School. I take lots of advanced classes–too many if you ask me, but I'm trying to get into Tokyo University, so it's worth it, I guess."

"You do not sound too interested in school." He commented.

"Yeah, well, it's not really my dream to go to Tokyo U, it's my mother's."

"What is your dream?"

"For the future? I don't really have any...And I think that's what's been making me put up with my mother's dream for so long..." I trailed off, not wanting to talk about myself or my family anymore. "What about your family?" I asked.

"There is not much to tell." He said dryly.

"Oh come on!" I wheedled. "Tell me something! One thing! Anything."

"Well, my real mother died when I was very young, now I have a stepmother."

I was quiet; I myself had lost a parent at a young age. I was a close friend of death's at an early age.

"Do you like her?"

"She's not my mother." Was all he said, and I let the conversation drop, parents aren't always a good subject.

I leaned back and looked up at the ceiling, listening to the rain pounding on the roof like a drum. There were spider webs in the rafters and vines from Sesshoumaru's plants hanging– almost as if from the heavens. The dark purple flowers bloomed, releasing a sweet scent into the stale, musty air. I breathed in deeply.

"Your bus is here. You don't want to miss it again, do you?" Sesshoumaru asked, a light tease in his voice.

"Oh shoot!" I yelped and jumped up, grabbing my stuff and racing for the door. "Thanks, Sesshoumaru! Maybe I'll see you again sometime." I yelled back over my shoulder, but I could no longer see him.

I stepped out into the world again just as the bus pulled up. I quickly got on and settled myself towards the back near an older couple talking quietly. I looked out the window, but it was too dark, I could only see my own reflection.

Staring back was a girl, her cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. I giggled quietly to myself.

As the streets passed by and I headed towards home I pulled out my cell phone and sent my mom a quick text telling her I'd be home soon. She never replied. Then I noticed something - I had never told Sesshoumaru I was waiting for a bus, or that I had missed the first one.

My eyebrows creased together as I scrunched my brow in thought, maybe he had been watching and had seen what was happening. Maybe he just assumed, or maybe I had said something about the bus and just didn't remember. There were so many explanations that I didn't bother to dwell on it for more than a minute before pushing it to the back of my head.

- Home -

My mother tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she continued to lecture me on staying out so late on a school night, especially when I had my studies!

I'll tell her what she can do with my studies! Way for her to try to make my bad day worse. It just went up another level on the Sucky-Day-Odometer. Congrats, folks, it's a new all time high! Grab the champagne, let's celebrate!

"Kagome! You'd better study extra hard tonight! But remember you need sleep in order to do better in school, every study says a child needs eight or nine hours of sleep, so rest up Kagome!" She chided.

"Sure Mom." I didn't bother telling her that I barely sleep five hours a night because of the amount of homework I do. I held in my pure hatred for studying and obeyed her every word, just like she wanted me to.

I'm not sure why I obey her, especially when I don't care about what she's talking about, but ever since Dad died and Grandpa got really sick... I haven't had that rebellious teenage spirit raging through my veins.

Could I be growing up?

Hell to the no!

I went up the stairs quietly so as not to wake my brother or Grandpa, but the old stairs creaked anyway. Bouyu poked his head around the corner to see who was invading on his territory and upon seeing me, declared me a worthy foe. He advanced as stealthily as an overweight cat could and launched himself at my legs.

He entangled himself in my legs and I hit the ground like a ton of bricks. I groaned and pulled the victorious cat out from underneath my legs and carried him into my room. For some reason, Bouyu had always had a strange sense of fun.

I carried the cat and my stuff into my room and settled them on my desk, where I switched on the desk lamp. I quickly changed out of my damp clothes into a pair of pajamas. Then I sat down at the desk and slammed my head down onto the table. Who ever invented homework should be shot, that's all I'm saying. Then I proceeded to work on an essay concerning the reproduction of mushrooms. Fascinating stuff.

- School the next day -

I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and walked, hurrying down the school hallway. I had spent most of the night up doing homework and studying, but it was worth the look of pride on my mother's face when she checked up on me. The bell rang and I hitched up my tote bag. I wasn't worried about being late, I had lunch. I checked my skirt's length in my reflection off of a locker; too long and I'd be lame, too short and I'd be in detention.

A guy in front of me who I'd known since elementary school held open the cafeteria door for me and I thanked him before walking in. Eri and Yuka waved at me from our usual table and I went over and joined them.

"Kagome! You look different today!" Yuka said as I put my bag down.

"I didn't do anything differently today..." I said.

"No, it's not like that... you just look really happy!" Yuka chirped.

I laughed. "That reminds me, I have to tell you what happened to me yesterday! You'll love it!" They crowded around me and crowed for me to tell my story. That's why I love my friends... they're such stereotypical teenagers, it's refreshing sometimes. And totally annoying the next.

I told them about Sesshoumaru and my crappy day yesterday and as expected they responded the way they should, with sympathetic noises when I fell down and laughs when I told them about running over old ladies and dreamy sighs when they heard about Sesshoumaru.

"You should go talk to this guy again Kagome!" Eri giggled. "He seems really cute!"

"Tell us more about him!" May added. "Tells us everything, every detail!"

I laughed at her eagerness. "I don't have anything else I told you guys!"

She frowned and sighed, "At least tell us what kind of flower it was he had!"

"I don't know... he didn't really say. He did call them the Devil's Cherries... but I don't think that was there real name." I replied.

"You should go look them up on google or something!" Yuka said.

Just then the bell rang and I turned back to Yuka, offered her a smile and told her I'd try but I didn't have too much free time these days. And that made me frown, it almost felt like my childhood was seeping away from me and I was powerless to stop it.

"Definitely see this guy again!" Eri yelled at me as I walked towards my Physics class. I was already convinced I'd see him again but not for a while, I had my studies and my mother to please.

- On the way home from Prep Class -

I'd remembered an umbrella today, too bad it wasn't raining. But I swear, if I'd forgotten it I bet you ten bucks it'd be pouring. That's just the way I roll. In fact, as I looked up at the Tokyo sky, I felt some emotion swell in my chest, rebellion. I could see my mother's face chastising me in the clouds, her perpetual frown and hard eyes, with love hidden behind them.

I sighed and hunched my shoulders over so that the beautiful sunshine wouldn't give me any more ideas to betray my mother. But it was useless once I saw the old building. It felt like a compulsion, I would say I was forced... but it was like I couldn't just turn around and go on my merry way, something was holding me steadfast to that building. I was chained to it and the dark things inside it like a cursed princess.

Gingerly I went in, pushing open the door with two fingers so that as little grime as possible got on me. It creaked so loudly as it opened that I thought for a minute I was in a B-rated horror movie.

"Hello? Sesshoumaru?" I called as I quietly walked forward, picking my way carefully through the debris. I searched for him, all the while a nagging sensation filled the back of my head telling me he wasn't there. I had made it into a far corner in the back where the windows were too dirty to let the sun shine in.

The smell of his flowers was almost suffocating, it was so strong and sickeningly sweet. I didn't see any flowers, but I definitely smelled them.

Suddenly a pale hand reached out towards me from a shadow and handed me a deep purple flower, its throat a garnet red, like a wine. My eyes lit up and the worried expression my face had harbored slipped away in a second.

Sesshoumaru stepped towards me delicately like an ethereal creature. I giggled and took the flower he offered, my cheeks warming. Seeing the look on my face made him smile, it was probably so goofy and dreamy.

I stared at him like a little girl awestruck by a prince, but in truth that was how I felt. The sight of him once more took my breath away and my chest hurt with each gasp for air. He stood out so starkly from the shadows he hid in that I was surprised I hadn't spotted him earlier.

His long white hair shone in the darkness like platinum or silver, where as mine stealthily hid, reflecting only dark blues and purples. I clung tightly to my flower as he motioned me over, but I walked past him, happily skipping away into the waning sunlight, past dark purple blooms.

Finally I let him catch me towards the front of the building where I could just make out the streetlights turning on through the murky window panes. I turned back towards him and surveyed our playground with it's dilapidated chairs and peeling wallpaper that I was certain had once been a bright yellow. But I didn't care, it was almost magical being there with him and I clung fast to that flower and let my books drop like my cares.

End Chapter 1

Diana - Finished! My new baby, Belladonna. I don't want to give anything away but I think even if you all go snooping you won't figure out the twist to this one. I hope you enjoy it, because this one will get you really good. : )

This isn't my first Inuyasha fiction but it feels like it. But it's good to be back.

And concerning Kagome's friends... I can't remember their real names so I went on my womanly intuition.