Disclaimer; The original characters in the based story are not mine and the
characters that are originally in the series are not mine. Characters of
my own creation are added to the story; otherwise the characters belong to
the original author.
~~~~~~~~
Well de Rouge (An Inu-yasha X Moulin Rouge Tale)
This is a story about truth, beauty, freedom, love, and a gigolo who is half-human/dog demon? Yes folks that's right, Inu-yasha is the male prostitute in this story, and Kagome is a poor seamstress looking for a better life in Paris.
Inu-yasha, the famous gigolo of the Well de Rouge, has lived out his life of pleasure under the protection of his demon brother and boss, Sesshoumaru, the owner of the Well de Rouge. This is a place where humans and demons alike gather to seek out sinful pleasures with their choice of beautiful and handsome demons or humans every night. What makes Inu-yasha so special is that he's both, and is also incredibly handsome (don't deny it). In the beginning, he used to lovely a courtesan named Kikyo, but she soon learned that her job required much more discipline in her affairs, and pushed Inu-yasha aside.
Kagome, a poor and young seamstress, comes to Paris with hopes of becoming a fashion designer or at least finding a job. With no such luck, she finds a cheap hotel and decides to make the best of it by drawing sketches of clothing.
By a twist of fate, these two will meet by pure accident (just like the movie) and somehow fall in love with each other, something that is forbidden in Inu-yasha's line of work.
Now, they will have to hide it from Sesshoumaru and their friends, and also Kikyo's newest client and master, Duke Naraku.
Are you drooling yet? Now, this story will be written with all the Moulin Rouge songs (some slightly altered due to characters, so please don't kill me) and if I get the words wrong, it's because I have no lyrics in front of me, I'm doing it all by ear.
So, wipe your mouth (or just get a bucket) and get ready for what I hope will be the wildest twist between two stories. So, get your Can Can on, find the Lady Marmalade (or Master) in you, and get ready for some serous Inu-yasha/ Kagome romance and some fun with Kouga (who plays a gigolo as well), Sesshoumaru, Sango and Miroku (the play writes and actors), Shippo (an actor), and Rin who plays as the hotel manager's daughter who is interested in Kagome's fashion drawings.
Okay enough talk...let us begin!
(Chapter Revised August 2003)
~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 1; There was a Boy
(There was a boy
A very strange, enchanted boy
They say he wandered very far
Very far, over land and sea
A little shy and sad of eye
But very wise was he
And then one day
One magic day he passed my way
And while we spoke of many things
Fools and Kings
This he said to me
"The greatest thing
You'll ever learn
Is just to love
And be loved in return!")
This is a story about a man. The man a young seamstress fell in love with. The man she loved is...dead.
~~~~~~~~~
Okay, sniffle, cry, and sob!
~~~~~~~~~
Kagome came to Paris with dreams of making it to the fashion industry, but with little money, a carpetbag of cloth, needles, and other whatnots, all she could do for now was find a place to stay. So, with the clothing on her back, her favorite long skirt, a white under shirt complete with a black corset, and her black knee-high heels, she went off on her search to find a place to stay for the night.
She stepped off the train and took a breath of her new found freedom. Her ebony hair played with the wind and she opened her eyes to look upon her new home.
"Paris!" she whispered, and picked up her carpetbag and whisked off to the south end of the city. She counted her money, which consisted of 600 francs. As she counted, the words her grandfather told her before she left resounded in her head, "It is a place of sin! Where demon's look to find a young maiden and seduce them into giving them what they desire most, YOUR MONEY!!!"
Kagome shook her head though, but still took the warning with great judgment. She was smart enough to keep away from those places. Besides, she had a dream to follow, and she would have to make her money last in case of emergencies. She never knew love, anyway, so it wouldn't matter to her.
She found a hotel, and rested out the cheapest room, which was the size of maybe a walk in closet. It was on the top floor, and it came equipped with an oil lamp, bed, and a window that led out to a balcony cluttered with crates.
Kagome shrugged her shoulders and placed her bag down and began to set up her manikin and lay out all of her rolls of white cotton, lace, silk, and satin. She placed her sketchbook and folder by the oil lamp, and placed her needles and various colored treads and dyes. Then, she took out the expensive fabrics with prints, and placed them safely away in a locked drawer. She completed her house warming by placing white linens on her bed and an old brown blanket.
Feeling that there was nothing left to do, she whipped the sweat from her forehead and gathered up her sketchbook and lead, and walked out to her cramped cement balcony. She made a seat for herself on the crates and leaned back to dream.
As she was doing so, she saw a red well where on lookers would either spit and curse, or place a single coin in for good luck she supposed. Not far behind it was a gate that led to a massive hall. Upon the building was a sign written in lights that were out during the day, "Well de Rouge".
Kagome snorted in disbelief, and brushed her hair to the side as she began to sketch her first masterpiece. It only took a minute, before she was interrupted by a knock on the door. With a moan and a slap of her book closing, she marched off to the door and opened it.
Before her stood a dark haired man and woman. At her feet stood a short, and young fox demon with a rather bushy tail and full hair of thick hair. The man bowed, "Ah! Good afternoon, Mademoiselle! Welcome to Paris! I am Miroku and these are my partners, Sango and Shippo. We could help but notice that you are new to the area?"
Kagome leaned against the jamb of her door, "Yes! I just came in from Tokyo."
Sango smiled with joy, "It is a pleasure to meet you. May we come in?"
Kagome smiled and welcomed them in, "Do you live in this building?" she asked as she closed the door behind them.
Miroku looked over her fabric and other objects in her quarters, with great interest. He turned to her, "You're a seamstress, non?"
Kagome nodded slowly and smiled, "I've come to Paris in hopes of being discovered as a fashion designer."
Shippo looked over her linens and made himself comfortable.
"A seamstress?" Sango said, "Oh, Miroku! We're in luck!"
Kagome watched the fox demon with great interest as to why he thought her linens were comfortable. Suddenly, Miroku took her by the arm.
"Come with us for a moment would you, um..."
Kagome blushed, "Oh excuse me! My name is Kagome!"
Miroku nodded with pleasure and led her to a room just a step away. Here, she opened her eyes to a rather cluttered room filled with sheets of paper pinned to the wall. Hugh rolls of canvas with back rounds where carelessly placed in the corners of the room. Last, there was a bunk with two unmade beds and a pillow covered in brown pre-shed fur.
Sango placed the fox demon on her shoulder and walked into the cluttered room, "Sorry for the clutter!"
Kagome's jaw hung open for a moment until she shook her head back into reality, "Um! What can I help you with here?"
Miroku picked up a black cane and pointed its tip at a section of paper- covered wall, "Behold, Miss Kagome! My finest work! Before your very eyes is the musical of the century. One that reflects jealousy, hate, passion, war, peace, truth, freedom, and most of all...love!"
Kagome looked over the paper and read some of it over, "Wow! You write all of this?"
Miroku grinned and nodded, "Oui!"
"Oh will you stop it with the French accent, already?" Sango elbowed him, "WE wrote it!"
Shippo nodded, "It will be famous one day, and play in theaters across the world, but there's just one problem."
Kagome turned to the little fox, as he suddenly began to sob and cry, "We have no money to get costumes for the musical, or for actors and singers."
Miroku shook his head, "It's true! We stand on the edge of a broken dream. Yet, with your help, Miss Kagome, we just might be able to promote your fashion ideas and in our musical. All you need do is assist us in our plan to find a hall and dancers."
Kagome looked at the trio dumbfounded, "You'll help me with my fashions, and debut them in your musical?"
The three of them nodded in unison, and Kagome jumped for joy, "I don't believe this! I've only been here a few minutes and I already have a job. What can I do to help?"
Sango opened up a chest with an elegant black evening gown complete with ruffles of lace and straps that were to hang of the shoulder. Kagome took a hard gulp, "What's that?"
"Your outfit for tonight! We're going out to meet our biggest money provider."
Kagome took the dress a bit concerned for what she was about to get herself into, but a job was a job and who knew how much money she would earn making costumes and fittings for this. Opportunity was at hand and she wasn't going to push it aside.
"All right then! Where do I meet you, Miroku?"
He smiled, "We'll come to get you when it's time to leave. In the meantime, we hope to find your partnership well worth it, Miss Kagome."
Kagome smiled and walked out the door with the dress in hand. He closed her door and placed the dress on her manikin, "Hum! It needs some fitting!"
Not faraway, Miroku and his comrades were celebrating.
"At last, Sango, out prayers have been answered, not to mention at the same exact time," he cheered.
"Yes! Not only is the girl a seamstress, but she also looks almost exactly like the courtesan at 'Well de Rouge', The Miko Diamond, Kikyo."
Shippo frowned, "Really? I thought she was much prettier than her!"
Miroku ignored the little fox demon and raised a bottle of champagne, "Tonight, my friends, we go to the Well de Rouge!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Welcome! To the Well de Rouge!" said a dog demon on the stage of the grand hall. Kagome gasped and looked around her sudden and unexpected surroundings. The noise of cheers and cooing as Kagome and her newfound friends took a seat at a booth by the dance floor.
She was curious as to where they had taken her still, even though she knew well that she was in a whorehouse. Kagome looked over the dog demon on the stage that was stirring up his many guests, but there were far more women it seemed than men.
"Sango, who is that dog demon on stage?" Kagome leaned in to ask her.
Sango ruffled her red gown and checked her eye shadow and the large feather in her hair, "That's Sesshoumaru Zidler, Miss Kagome. He is the owner of the Well de Rouge."
Kagome nodded and watched as sunlight began to empty out of the hall, and as soon as the sun was gone, the show began. Sesshoumaru threw a pellet on the stage and it exploded in a puff of red smoke. The loud bang grabbed everyone's attention. Kagome almost jumped out of her black dress as she watched Sesshoumaru appear from the smoke once more.
"Ladies...and gentlemen! I give you..."
His voice droned and echoed through the hall, and Kagome watched with interest, and she soon found her heart pounding with excitement.
"The Diamond Dogs!"
(Because we Can Can Can! Yes we Can Can Can!)
Lights burst into full luminance in that instant as Sesshoumaru cackled into the room. The music burst as the girls in their ruffled gowns came running out of all the side doors in the hall. They were screaming and laughing and cooing as they ran by all the gentlemen. Next, came men in their tuxes and top hats. Each of them grabbed a lady or a man to dance with them, and try to make them respond to them when they whined and bustled.
Kagome soon found herself not quite felling well. Her head pounded and she felt dizzy just watching all of the dancing. She felt like someone had hit her across the head hard, and that she could be dying. She remained in the booth, even though Miroku jumped into the crowd of girls and let them gawk at him and swoon (Now does that sound like him or what?)
Then, the music stopped and Sango grabbed hold of Kagome's arm, "Look, Kagome! The Miko Diamond!"
Kagome opened her eyes to a girl with long black hair in a silvery dress suspended in a swing above the dance floor. Her top hat shadowed half of her face, and her black-gloved hands twisted around the ropes of the swing.
Everyone was silent and some awed in amazement silently or gasped from their booths. The girls began to retreat to their seats and pout, but all of the men gathered beneath the suspended swing that held the 'Miko Diamond'.
"The French are glad to die for Love...They delight in fighting duels...But I prefer a man who lives and gives expensive jewels"
(A kiss on the hand may be quite continental
But Diamonds are a girl's best friend
A kiss may be grand but it...
Won't pay the rental on your humble flats
Or help you feed your cats!
Men grow cold, as
Girls grow old
And we all loose our charms in the end
But spare cut or pear shaped
These rocks don't loose their shape
Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend!)
"Tiffanies!"
"Cartier!"
('Cause we living in a material world,
And I am a Material Girl!)
"Come and get me Boys!"
Behind stage, a gigolo with silvery locks and dog like ears met up with his brother and boss, Sesshoumaru. His brother fixed his outfit up and brushed him up. Kaede, who was in charge of make up and curing some small illnesses in the group, came to apply heavy amounts of black eye make up to the gigolo's eyes to make them stand out more in the light, but also to make him far more easier for the ladies to find.
"You're going to be on next after a dance break, so keep your cool! We have a lot of women out tonight."
The gigolo nodded and loosened his tension by shaking his muscles freely in the air, "I'm ready!"
"Good, Inu-yasha! Now wait until Kikyo is in left stage and out before making your opening move."
Inu-yasha groaned, "Hey, Sesshoumaru! I've been doing this for like, oh how long?"
The dog demon grumbled, "Just stay in line and meet me at right stage!"
"Got it!"
Inu-yasha loosened his body up on last time, and brushed out the white tux with no shirt but a simple white tie (Woo! He's got to be a bit chilly, huh?).
Kikyo, also known as the Miko Diamond, began to end her number, and disappeared momentarily into a trap door in the ceiling, singing her last line "Diamonds are a Girls Best...Friend!"
Kagome watched and got to her feet to see the Miko Diamond disappear into the darkness, and before she knew it, she was swept up by a demon gigolo and lost in the crowd of dancers. She soon found that she couldn't get back, and that the crowd pushed her to the front of the right stage and she remained there where she was safe from the crowd.
Then, the music ceased once more and all of the lights went out in the hall, many gasped and all that could be heard were breathless women and men. Kagome could hear her own breath and she whispered under her breath, "I should have never come here!"
Then, as the last word brushed against Kagome's soft red lips, a spotlight turned on and hard music began to play.
Suddenly a trap door opened from beneath the stage, and a dog demon with long silver locks appeared before Kagome's eye. He turned around and grinned as he opened up his tux to show of his chest to the women in the dance hall. As if on cue, every woman within a five hundred foot radius swooned and gasped.
Kagome looked at the gigolo in white with his chest bared and gasped in awe. She couldn't help but admit to herself that he was indeed handsome.
Then, from the corner of the dance floor she heard a large woman whispered, "That's Inu-yasha, The Half Karat Diamond! They call him that because he's half human and half dog demon. He's the most prized gigolo in Sesshoumaru's whole house. He's top dollar! Fifty francs per-minute, darling. I'm telling you, one night with him and you'll wish you had more money to make him stay."
Her friend giggled, "Well, he is a dog too, is he not? He'd 'stay' if you commanded him too."
Kagome snorted, and couldn't believe that the prized gigolo was a mere half- breed, a handsome and strong half-breed. Yet this did not revolutionize her, nor was she impressed. Looks after all can be deceiving!
Inu-yasha tap-danced for a moment on center stage, and while he did Sesshoumaru jumped onto the right stage. Kagome ducked, and prayed that she wouldn't be seen.
Inu-yasha stopped his dance and bowed before letting out a loud cry, "Sesshoumaru! The Diamond Dogs are getting a bit antsy, don't you agree?"
The dog demon trotted over to his prized gigolo and rested on his cane. "I'm not sure, Inu-yasha! Perhaps if they were to tell me?"
Kagome watched the girls around her as the Diamond Dogs began to appear and sing.
(Voulez-vous coucher avec moi
Ce soir?)
Inu-yasha looked at his Master from the corner of his eye. *Hey sister, go sister, soul sister, flow sister *
Suddenly all of the ladies cried out at once, "Hey!"
(Sesshoumaru = ^, Inu-yasha = *, Diamond Dogs = $, Crowd = () )
^If work's an awful bore and living's just a chore^
$Hey sister, go sister, soul sister, flow sister$
Inu-yasha leaned up against the side of the stage. *What to do? Cause death's not much fun! *
$Hey sister, go sister, soul sister, flow sister$
Sesshoumaru spun around and pointed to the gigolo. ^I've got just the antidote, and though I mustn't gloat^
$Gitchie, gitchie, ya ya da da$
Inu-yasha stood up and plucked a rose from behind stage and let it's petals tickle his sensitive nose. *At the Well de Rouge you'll have a lot of fun! *
$Gitchie, gitchie, ya ya here$
Sesshoumaru opened his arms to his audience. ^So scratch that little niggle
Have a little wiggle^
$Gitchie, gitchie, ya ya da da$
Inu-yasha threw his rose out into the crowd next and it landed in Kagome's lap. She quickly hid it before any of the women attacked her. Slowly he began to walk away, not even really taking a really good look at her. *Creole Lady Marmalade! *
Sesshoumaru had a spotlight appear on him as Inu-yasha made his way up a spiral staircase to the overlooking balcony. Sesshoumaru held out his hand to the crowd on the floor. ^Cause you can, can, can! ^
(Yes, you can, can, can!)
Inu-yasha leaned over the balcony rail to tease the ladies in the crowd below. *Or you can't, can't, can't! *
(Yes, you can, can, can!)
Inu-yasha put his back to the rail and leaned over, and made his voice slightly strained and airy as though he were in the mood. *Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir? *
Kagome rolled her eyes and shook her head, but doubled back to watch him a moment longer.
(Here we go now, entertain us!
We feel stupid and contagious)
^Got some dark desire? ^
*Love to play with fire? *
^Why not let a rip? ^
*Live a little bit! *
(Here we go now, entertain us!)
^Cause you can, can, can! ^
(Here we go now, entertain us!)
*Or you can't, can't, can't! *
$Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir? $
Meanwhile, Kikyo was in her dressing room getting ready for the next number, with Kaede helping her into the dress.
"I'm doing it tonight, Kaede. The relationship between Inu-yasha and me is getting far to complicated for our line of work. It will only be a matter of time before he doesn't want anyone to have me. Jealousy for Inu-yasha will not only be devastating for Master Sesshoumaru, but dangerous for any of my clients."
Kaede stopped work for a moment, "But the boy cares for ye, Lady Kikyo. Why do you wish to break a heart that you love as equally as he does?"
Kikyo sighed, "My duty to the Well de Rouge is far greater than any boy, besides... I work for the pleasure of men, not boys."
~~~~
So, back on stage, Inu-yasha joined his brother as a group of fellow gigolo's encircled them for cover, and Sesshoumaru whispered to his brother as the women outside gossiped and swooned for him. Inu-yasha began to change out of his white tux as Sesshoumaru leaned in to talk to him.
"Okay, so, who's on my list tonight?" Inu-yasha asked.
The two brothers failed to realize that Kagome was in earshot and she was able to see them both through her cover in the darkness.
Sesshoumaru took off his tux jacket and turned it inside out to reveal a white fur and he spoke firmly, "To be honest, you don't have anyone tonight."
Inu-yasha groaned, "You're kidding, right? Jeez, Sess, this is a third night in a row. Don't you have any clients that demand me?"
Sesshoumaru growled, and Inu-yasha held up his hands and surrendered, "All right, fine! Don't lose control here. So, what about Kikyo? What's in store for her?"
Sesshoumaru grinned, "Finish your quick change, and I'll show you."
Inu-yasha felt confused and finished changing into a pair of black shiny pants, matching bow tie, and tied his mane back with a ribbon, and got into his pose for his grand reentry.
^Cause you can, can, can! ^
$Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir? $
^Outside it maybe raining, but in here it's entertaining! ^
*Cause you can, can, can! *
$Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir? $
*Outside things maybe tragic! But in here, we feel it's magic! *
(Here we go now, entertain us!
We feel stupid...)
^The can-can, because we can, can, can! ^
$Hey sister, go sister, soul sister, flow sister! Hey sister, go sister, soul sister, flow sister! Gitchie, gitchie, ya ya da da! Gitchie, gitchie, ya ya here! $
*Because you can, can, can! Yes you can, can, can! *
$Gitchie, gitchie, ya ya da da! $
*Creole Lady Marmalade! *
Kagome looked at the rose in her hand for a moment and threw it across the dance floor to let all the gawking women stomped all over its crushed red petals.
^Because you can, can, can! ^
*Because you can, can, can!
Miroku looked to the Diamond Dog beside him and sang (You can bump and grind!)
Kagome shook her head.
*Cause it's good for your mind! *
^Cause you can, can, can, can, can, can, can, can, can! ^
The women in the hall swooned as Inu-yasha finished his number, and Kagome decided that now was a better time than never to make her move. She pushed through the sea of women to find her booth once more. When, she made it through, one of the gigolos spied her taking a breather after making it out of the crowd of swooning and cooing women.
Kagome jumped when someone grabbed her arm, and struggled to break free of his grasp.
"What are you doing out on the floor?"
Kagome looked at the gigolo and realized he was a wolf demon, and stuttered to ask, "W-what?"
The wolf demon took her by the arm and pulled her to left stage, "You're supposed to be here!"
With that he left her alone in the dark corner, and in a deep panic. Kagome didn't know what to do or how to get herself out of this situation, "Oh my gosh, what now?"
~~~~~~~~~~
A/N; There we go guys! My first chapter in an odd attempt to make an Inu- yasha cross with Moulin Rouge, and I didn't leave with any bruises. Though, Kagome may have a few after she pulls through this.
Next time; Kagome and Inu-yasha meet face to face, and while Kagome knows she's there to promote her new friends' musical, Inu-yasha believes he's face to face with Kikyo and that she's skipping her appointment with a very powerful client. That is, until Kikyo knocks on the door, not to mention Sesshoumaru and Kikyo's client.
Oh boy, Kagome! What have you gotten yourself into?
See you next time! Love, Rubster
~~~~~~~~
Well de Rouge (An Inu-yasha X Moulin Rouge Tale)
This is a story about truth, beauty, freedom, love, and a gigolo who is half-human/dog demon? Yes folks that's right, Inu-yasha is the male prostitute in this story, and Kagome is a poor seamstress looking for a better life in Paris.
Inu-yasha, the famous gigolo of the Well de Rouge, has lived out his life of pleasure under the protection of his demon brother and boss, Sesshoumaru, the owner of the Well de Rouge. This is a place where humans and demons alike gather to seek out sinful pleasures with their choice of beautiful and handsome demons or humans every night. What makes Inu-yasha so special is that he's both, and is also incredibly handsome (don't deny it). In the beginning, he used to lovely a courtesan named Kikyo, but she soon learned that her job required much more discipline in her affairs, and pushed Inu-yasha aside.
Kagome, a poor and young seamstress, comes to Paris with hopes of becoming a fashion designer or at least finding a job. With no such luck, she finds a cheap hotel and decides to make the best of it by drawing sketches of clothing.
By a twist of fate, these two will meet by pure accident (just like the movie) and somehow fall in love with each other, something that is forbidden in Inu-yasha's line of work.
Now, they will have to hide it from Sesshoumaru and their friends, and also Kikyo's newest client and master, Duke Naraku.
Are you drooling yet? Now, this story will be written with all the Moulin Rouge songs (some slightly altered due to characters, so please don't kill me) and if I get the words wrong, it's because I have no lyrics in front of me, I'm doing it all by ear.
So, wipe your mouth (or just get a bucket) and get ready for what I hope will be the wildest twist between two stories. So, get your Can Can on, find the Lady Marmalade (or Master) in you, and get ready for some serous Inu-yasha/ Kagome romance and some fun with Kouga (who plays a gigolo as well), Sesshoumaru, Sango and Miroku (the play writes and actors), Shippo (an actor), and Rin who plays as the hotel manager's daughter who is interested in Kagome's fashion drawings.
Okay enough talk...let us begin!
(Chapter Revised August 2003)
~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 1; There was a Boy
(There was a boy
A very strange, enchanted boy
They say he wandered very far
Very far, over land and sea
A little shy and sad of eye
But very wise was he
And then one day
One magic day he passed my way
And while we spoke of many things
Fools and Kings
This he said to me
"The greatest thing
You'll ever learn
Is just to love
And be loved in return!")
This is a story about a man. The man a young seamstress fell in love with. The man she loved is...dead.
~~~~~~~~~
Okay, sniffle, cry, and sob!
~~~~~~~~~
Kagome came to Paris with dreams of making it to the fashion industry, but with little money, a carpetbag of cloth, needles, and other whatnots, all she could do for now was find a place to stay. So, with the clothing on her back, her favorite long skirt, a white under shirt complete with a black corset, and her black knee-high heels, she went off on her search to find a place to stay for the night.
She stepped off the train and took a breath of her new found freedom. Her ebony hair played with the wind and she opened her eyes to look upon her new home.
"Paris!" she whispered, and picked up her carpetbag and whisked off to the south end of the city. She counted her money, which consisted of 600 francs. As she counted, the words her grandfather told her before she left resounded in her head, "It is a place of sin! Where demon's look to find a young maiden and seduce them into giving them what they desire most, YOUR MONEY!!!"
Kagome shook her head though, but still took the warning with great judgment. She was smart enough to keep away from those places. Besides, she had a dream to follow, and she would have to make her money last in case of emergencies. She never knew love, anyway, so it wouldn't matter to her.
She found a hotel, and rested out the cheapest room, which was the size of maybe a walk in closet. It was on the top floor, and it came equipped with an oil lamp, bed, and a window that led out to a balcony cluttered with crates.
Kagome shrugged her shoulders and placed her bag down and began to set up her manikin and lay out all of her rolls of white cotton, lace, silk, and satin. She placed her sketchbook and folder by the oil lamp, and placed her needles and various colored treads and dyes. Then, she took out the expensive fabrics with prints, and placed them safely away in a locked drawer. She completed her house warming by placing white linens on her bed and an old brown blanket.
Feeling that there was nothing left to do, she whipped the sweat from her forehead and gathered up her sketchbook and lead, and walked out to her cramped cement balcony. She made a seat for herself on the crates and leaned back to dream.
As she was doing so, she saw a red well where on lookers would either spit and curse, or place a single coin in for good luck she supposed. Not far behind it was a gate that led to a massive hall. Upon the building was a sign written in lights that were out during the day, "Well de Rouge".
Kagome snorted in disbelief, and brushed her hair to the side as she began to sketch her first masterpiece. It only took a minute, before she was interrupted by a knock on the door. With a moan and a slap of her book closing, she marched off to the door and opened it.
Before her stood a dark haired man and woman. At her feet stood a short, and young fox demon with a rather bushy tail and full hair of thick hair. The man bowed, "Ah! Good afternoon, Mademoiselle! Welcome to Paris! I am Miroku and these are my partners, Sango and Shippo. We could help but notice that you are new to the area?"
Kagome leaned against the jamb of her door, "Yes! I just came in from Tokyo."
Sango smiled with joy, "It is a pleasure to meet you. May we come in?"
Kagome smiled and welcomed them in, "Do you live in this building?" she asked as she closed the door behind them.
Miroku looked over her fabric and other objects in her quarters, with great interest. He turned to her, "You're a seamstress, non?"
Kagome nodded slowly and smiled, "I've come to Paris in hopes of being discovered as a fashion designer."
Shippo looked over her linens and made himself comfortable.
"A seamstress?" Sango said, "Oh, Miroku! We're in luck!"
Kagome watched the fox demon with great interest as to why he thought her linens were comfortable. Suddenly, Miroku took her by the arm.
"Come with us for a moment would you, um..."
Kagome blushed, "Oh excuse me! My name is Kagome!"
Miroku nodded with pleasure and led her to a room just a step away. Here, she opened her eyes to a rather cluttered room filled with sheets of paper pinned to the wall. Hugh rolls of canvas with back rounds where carelessly placed in the corners of the room. Last, there was a bunk with two unmade beds and a pillow covered in brown pre-shed fur.
Sango placed the fox demon on her shoulder and walked into the cluttered room, "Sorry for the clutter!"
Kagome's jaw hung open for a moment until she shook her head back into reality, "Um! What can I help you with here?"
Miroku picked up a black cane and pointed its tip at a section of paper- covered wall, "Behold, Miss Kagome! My finest work! Before your very eyes is the musical of the century. One that reflects jealousy, hate, passion, war, peace, truth, freedom, and most of all...love!"
Kagome looked over the paper and read some of it over, "Wow! You write all of this?"
Miroku grinned and nodded, "Oui!"
"Oh will you stop it with the French accent, already?" Sango elbowed him, "WE wrote it!"
Shippo nodded, "It will be famous one day, and play in theaters across the world, but there's just one problem."
Kagome turned to the little fox, as he suddenly began to sob and cry, "We have no money to get costumes for the musical, or for actors and singers."
Miroku shook his head, "It's true! We stand on the edge of a broken dream. Yet, with your help, Miss Kagome, we just might be able to promote your fashion ideas and in our musical. All you need do is assist us in our plan to find a hall and dancers."
Kagome looked at the trio dumbfounded, "You'll help me with my fashions, and debut them in your musical?"
The three of them nodded in unison, and Kagome jumped for joy, "I don't believe this! I've only been here a few minutes and I already have a job. What can I do to help?"
Sango opened up a chest with an elegant black evening gown complete with ruffles of lace and straps that were to hang of the shoulder. Kagome took a hard gulp, "What's that?"
"Your outfit for tonight! We're going out to meet our biggest money provider."
Kagome took the dress a bit concerned for what she was about to get herself into, but a job was a job and who knew how much money she would earn making costumes and fittings for this. Opportunity was at hand and she wasn't going to push it aside.
"All right then! Where do I meet you, Miroku?"
He smiled, "We'll come to get you when it's time to leave. In the meantime, we hope to find your partnership well worth it, Miss Kagome."
Kagome smiled and walked out the door with the dress in hand. He closed her door and placed the dress on her manikin, "Hum! It needs some fitting!"
Not faraway, Miroku and his comrades were celebrating.
"At last, Sango, out prayers have been answered, not to mention at the same exact time," he cheered.
"Yes! Not only is the girl a seamstress, but she also looks almost exactly like the courtesan at 'Well de Rouge', The Miko Diamond, Kikyo."
Shippo frowned, "Really? I thought she was much prettier than her!"
Miroku ignored the little fox demon and raised a bottle of champagne, "Tonight, my friends, we go to the Well de Rouge!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Welcome! To the Well de Rouge!" said a dog demon on the stage of the grand hall. Kagome gasped and looked around her sudden and unexpected surroundings. The noise of cheers and cooing as Kagome and her newfound friends took a seat at a booth by the dance floor.
She was curious as to where they had taken her still, even though she knew well that she was in a whorehouse. Kagome looked over the dog demon on the stage that was stirring up his many guests, but there were far more women it seemed than men.
"Sango, who is that dog demon on stage?" Kagome leaned in to ask her.
Sango ruffled her red gown and checked her eye shadow and the large feather in her hair, "That's Sesshoumaru Zidler, Miss Kagome. He is the owner of the Well de Rouge."
Kagome nodded and watched as sunlight began to empty out of the hall, and as soon as the sun was gone, the show began. Sesshoumaru threw a pellet on the stage and it exploded in a puff of red smoke. The loud bang grabbed everyone's attention. Kagome almost jumped out of her black dress as she watched Sesshoumaru appear from the smoke once more.
"Ladies...and gentlemen! I give you..."
His voice droned and echoed through the hall, and Kagome watched with interest, and she soon found her heart pounding with excitement.
"The Diamond Dogs!"
(Because we Can Can Can! Yes we Can Can Can!)
Lights burst into full luminance in that instant as Sesshoumaru cackled into the room. The music burst as the girls in their ruffled gowns came running out of all the side doors in the hall. They were screaming and laughing and cooing as they ran by all the gentlemen. Next, came men in their tuxes and top hats. Each of them grabbed a lady or a man to dance with them, and try to make them respond to them when they whined and bustled.
Kagome soon found herself not quite felling well. Her head pounded and she felt dizzy just watching all of the dancing. She felt like someone had hit her across the head hard, and that she could be dying. She remained in the booth, even though Miroku jumped into the crowd of girls and let them gawk at him and swoon (Now does that sound like him or what?)
Then, the music stopped and Sango grabbed hold of Kagome's arm, "Look, Kagome! The Miko Diamond!"
Kagome opened her eyes to a girl with long black hair in a silvery dress suspended in a swing above the dance floor. Her top hat shadowed half of her face, and her black-gloved hands twisted around the ropes of the swing.
Everyone was silent and some awed in amazement silently or gasped from their booths. The girls began to retreat to their seats and pout, but all of the men gathered beneath the suspended swing that held the 'Miko Diamond'.
"The French are glad to die for Love...They delight in fighting duels...But I prefer a man who lives and gives expensive jewels"
(A kiss on the hand may be quite continental
But Diamonds are a girl's best friend
A kiss may be grand but it...
Won't pay the rental on your humble flats
Or help you feed your cats!
Men grow cold, as
Girls grow old
And we all loose our charms in the end
But spare cut or pear shaped
These rocks don't loose their shape
Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend!)
"Tiffanies!"
"Cartier!"
('Cause we living in a material world,
And I am a Material Girl!)
"Come and get me Boys!"
Behind stage, a gigolo with silvery locks and dog like ears met up with his brother and boss, Sesshoumaru. His brother fixed his outfit up and brushed him up. Kaede, who was in charge of make up and curing some small illnesses in the group, came to apply heavy amounts of black eye make up to the gigolo's eyes to make them stand out more in the light, but also to make him far more easier for the ladies to find.
"You're going to be on next after a dance break, so keep your cool! We have a lot of women out tonight."
The gigolo nodded and loosened his tension by shaking his muscles freely in the air, "I'm ready!"
"Good, Inu-yasha! Now wait until Kikyo is in left stage and out before making your opening move."
Inu-yasha groaned, "Hey, Sesshoumaru! I've been doing this for like, oh how long?"
The dog demon grumbled, "Just stay in line and meet me at right stage!"
"Got it!"
Inu-yasha loosened his body up on last time, and brushed out the white tux with no shirt but a simple white tie (Woo! He's got to be a bit chilly, huh?).
Kikyo, also known as the Miko Diamond, began to end her number, and disappeared momentarily into a trap door in the ceiling, singing her last line "Diamonds are a Girls Best...Friend!"
Kagome watched and got to her feet to see the Miko Diamond disappear into the darkness, and before she knew it, she was swept up by a demon gigolo and lost in the crowd of dancers. She soon found that she couldn't get back, and that the crowd pushed her to the front of the right stage and she remained there where she was safe from the crowd.
Then, the music ceased once more and all of the lights went out in the hall, many gasped and all that could be heard were breathless women and men. Kagome could hear her own breath and she whispered under her breath, "I should have never come here!"
Then, as the last word brushed against Kagome's soft red lips, a spotlight turned on and hard music began to play.
Suddenly a trap door opened from beneath the stage, and a dog demon with long silver locks appeared before Kagome's eye. He turned around and grinned as he opened up his tux to show of his chest to the women in the dance hall. As if on cue, every woman within a five hundred foot radius swooned and gasped.
Kagome looked at the gigolo in white with his chest bared and gasped in awe. She couldn't help but admit to herself that he was indeed handsome.
Then, from the corner of the dance floor she heard a large woman whispered, "That's Inu-yasha, The Half Karat Diamond! They call him that because he's half human and half dog demon. He's the most prized gigolo in Sesshoumaru's whole house. He's top dollar! Fifty francs per-minute, darling. I'm telling you, one night with him and you'll wish you had more money to make him stay."
Her friend giggled, "Well, he is a dog too, is he not? He'd 'stay' if you commanded him too."
Kagome snorted, and couldn't believe that the prized gigolo was a mere half- breed, a handsome and strong half-breed. Yet this did not revolutionize her, nor was she impressed. Looks after all can be deceiving!
Inu-yasha tap-danced for a moment on center stage, and while he did Sesshoumaru jumped onto the right stage. Kagome ducked, and prayed that she wouldn't be seen.
Inu-yasha stopped his dance and bowed before letting out a loud cry, "Sesshoumaru! The Diamond Dogs are getting a bit antsy, don't you agree?"
The dog demon trotted over to his prized gigolo and rested on his cane. "I'm not sure, Inu-yasha! Perhaps if they were to tell me?"
Kagome watched the girls around her as the Diamond Dogs began to appear and sing.
(Voulez-vous coucher avec moi
Ce soir?)
Inu-yasha looked at his Master from the corner of his eye. *Hey sister, go sister, soul sister, flow sister *
Suddenly all of the ladies cried out at once, "Hey!"
(Sesshoumaru = ^, Inu-yasha = *, Diamond Dogs = $, Crowd = () )
^If work's an awful bore and living's just a chore^
$Hey sister, go sister, soul sister, flow sister$
Inu-yasha leaned up against the side of the stage. *What to do? Cause death's not much fun! *
$Hey sister, go sister, soul sister, flow sister$
Sesshoumaru spun around and pointed to the gigolo. ^I've got just the antidote, and though I mustn't gloat^
$Gitchie, gitchie, ya ya da da$
Inu-yasha stood up and plucked a rose from behind stage and let it's petals tickle his sensitive nose. *At the Well de Rouge you'll have a lot of fun! *
$Gitchie, gitchie, ya ya here$
Sesshoumaru opened his arms to his audience. ^So scratch that little niggle
Have a little wiggle^
$Gitchie, gitchie, ya ya da da$
Inu-yasha threw his rose out into the crowd next and it landed in Kagome's lap. She quickly hid it before any of the women attacked her. Slowly he began to walk away, not even really taking a really good look at her. *Creole Lady Marmalade! *
Sesshoumaru had a spotlight appear on him as Inu-yasha made his way up a spiral staircase to the overlooking balcony. Sesshoumaru held out his hand to the crowd on the floor. ^Cause you can, can, can! ^
(Yes, you can, can, can!)
Inu-yasha leaned over the balcony rail to tease the ladies in the crowd below. *Or you can't, can't, can't! *
(Yes, you can, can, can!)
Inu-yasha put his back to the rail and leaned over, and made his voice slightly strained and airy as though he were in the mood. *Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir? *
Kagome rolled her eyes and shook her head, but doubled back to watch him a moment longer.
(Here we go now, entertain us!
We feel stupid and contagious)
^Got some dark desire? ^
*Love to play with fire? *
^Why not let a rip? ^
*Live a little bit! *
(Here we go now, entertain us!)
^Cause you can, can, can! ^
(Here we go now, entertain us!)
*Or you can't, can't, can't! *
$Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir? $
Meanwhile, Kikyo was in her dressing room getting ready for the next number, with Kaede helping her into the dress.
"I'm doing it tonight, Kaede. The relationship between Inu-yasha and me is getting far to complicated for our line of work. It will only be a matter of time before he doesn't want anyone to have me. Jealousy for Inu-yasha will not only be devastating for Master Sesshoumaru, but dangerous for any of my clients."
Kaede stopped work for a moment, "But the boy cares for ye, Lady Kikyo. Why do you wish to break a heart that you love as equally as he does?"
Kikyo sighed, "My duty to the Well de Rouge is far greater than any boy, besides... I work for the pleasure of men, not boys."
~~~~
So, back on stage, Inu-yasha joined his brother as a group of fellow gigolo's encircled them for cover, and Sesshoumaru whispered to his brother as the women outside gossiped and swooned for him. Inu-yasha began to change out of his white tux as Sesshoumaru leaned in to talk to him.
"Okay, so, who's on my list tonight?" Inu-yasha asked.
The two brothers failed to realize that Kagome was in earshot and she was able to see them both through her cover in the darkness.
Sesshoumaru took off his tux jacket and turned it inside out to reveal a white fur and he spoke firmly, "To be honest, you don't have anyone tonight."
Inu-yasha groaned, "You're kidding, right? Jeez, Sess, this is a third night in a row. Don't you have any clients that demand me?"
Sesshoumaru growled, and Inu-yasha held up his hands and surrendered, "All right, fine! Don't lose control here. So, what about Kikyo? What's in store for her?"
Sesshoumaru grinned, "Finish your quick change, and I'll show you."
Inu-yasha felt confused and finished changing into a pair of black shiny pants, matching bow tie, and tied his mane back with a ribbon, and got into his pose for his grand reentry.
^Cause you can, can, can! ^
$Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir? $
^Outside it maybe raining, but in here it's entertaining! ^
*Cause you can, can, can! *
$Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir? $
*Outside things maybe tragic! But in here, we feel it's magic! *
(Here we go now, entertain us!
We feel stupid...)
^The can-can, because we can, can, can! ^
$Hey sister, go sister, soul sister, flow sister! Hey sister, go sister, soul sister, flow sister! Gitchie, gitchie, ya ya da da! Gitchie, gitchie, ya ya here! $
*Because you can, can, can! Yes you can, can, can! *
$Gitchie, gitchie, ya ya da da! $
*Creole Lady Marmalade! *
Kagome looked at the rose in her hand for a moment and threw it across the dance floor to let all the gawking women stomped all over its crushed red petals.
^Because you can, can, can! ^
*Because you can, can, can!
Miroku looked to the Diamond Dog beside him and sang (You can bump and grind!)
Kagome shook her head.
*Cause it's good for your mind! *
^Cause you can, can, can, can, can, can, can, can, can! ^
The women in the hall swooned as Inu-yasha finished his number, and Kagome decided that now was a better time than never to make her move. She pushed through the sea of women to find her booth once more. When, she made it through, one of the gigolos spied her taking a breather after making it out of the crowd of swooning and cooing women.
Kagome jumped when someone grabbed her arm, and struggled to break free of his grasp.
"What are you doing out on the floor?"
Kagome looked at the gigolo and realized he was a wolf demon, and stuttered to ask, "W-what?"
The wolf demon took her by the arm and pulled her to left stage, "You're supposed to be here!"
With that he left her alone in the dark corner, and in a deep panic. Kagome didn't know what to do or how to get herself out of this situation, "Oh my gosh, what now?"
~~~~~~~~~~
A/N; There we go guys! My first chapter in an odd attempt to make an Inu- yasha cross with Moulin Rouge, and I didn't leave with any bruises. Though, Kagome may have a few after she pulls through this.
Next time; Kagome and Inu-yasha meet face to face, and while Kagome knows she's there to promote her new friends' musical, Inu-yasha believes he's face to face with Kikyo and that she's skipping her appointment with a very powerful client. That is, until Kikyo knocks on the door, not to mention Sesshoumaru and Kikyo's client.
Oh boy, Kagome! What have you gotten yourself into?
See you next time! Love, Rubster