Mysterious Lounge Singer

Chapter 1

Misery's Buisness

Summary: Inuyasha has become spell-bound, almost obsessed, with the mysterious singer that has begun working at the small lounge he visits frequently. What secrets does she hide so protectively? Why does he feel so drawn to her? And why does she seem so unattainable?

Chapter 1: Misery's Buisness

Kagome sat wide awake in bed her upper body leaning against the wooden headboard as the moon shone bright through the bay windows of the five-star hotel that her and her most recent client had rented for the night. Only slightly comfortable because this was not her own bed, she was still on the job, and the man that lay in bed next to her was married. She glanced down at the dark bushy haired man that snored loudly. His arm wrapped loosely around her as he lay on her stomach. Her eyes gave a comical roll as she watched his wedding ring glisten in the moon light. Finally he had slipped off into deep sleep from the pleasure her body gave him. Of course she didn't enjoy any of it, it was nothing but buisness to her. She had to repress the look of disgust from her face as the feeling arose with strength inside her, watching his mouth lawl open as drool dripped onto her waist. "Eww..." whispered as she gently removed his arm from around her form and silently slipped out of bed so that she wouldn't disturb him. Stretching slowly she began to gather her clothes and her belongings.

After she was dressed she opened her billfold and counted out the money once more to make sure the man hadn't short changed her for company. It wasn't unusual that she'd sleep with her clients, it just took the right amount to earn that. '1,500...everything's there...' she accounted in her head placing the money back into her billfold and into her purse. Quietly grabbing her heels she looked back over her shoulder, glancing once more at the man to make sure he hadn't awoke to notice her leaving. "Yesss Yumi..." he whispred in his sleep and she couldn't help but smirk just a tad. 'Yumi' was the name that she used with her clients, the one that could get the job done and keep 'Kagome' safe. They would never have the pleasure of knowing who she really was and what she really thought about them. Seeing that he'd hapahazardly left his pants hanging over the chair with the corner of his wallet hanging out she tip-toed over to it. Her brother's face flashed before her mind, laying in a hostpital bed with no hair and an IV in his arm. Quickly pulling it out she opened it and took out all the money that was left in it, $500. "Thanks sweetie." she whispered softly, her brother was always her first priority. Never these cheating men.

Leaving the hotel key on the table she walked out, closing the door soundlessly behind her as she rushed to the elevator placing dark shades over her eyes. Looking at the watch on her arm she'd seen that she'd still had time to head out to her favorite lounge for a drink and a little down time. "First stop though, home to shower." she whispred as she entered the elevator and pushed the button for the first floor, placing her diamond encrusted stilettos back on her feet. She hated how men would slobber all over her like she belonged to them, leaving their stinky clogone on her skin and stuck in her nostrils. They may have their body for a small amount of time, but it was never truly theirs. It and her mind belonged to her, and souly herself. Stepping out into the chilly night air she wrapped a scarf around her neck she walked over to the kia sports car she'd bought 6 months ago, no extravagance on her part, even though her had money she liked staying low key.

"Fuck! Houshi, I told you once before, this broker was very important. A merger with her would have solidified Taisho Corp. at the top of the buisness ladder." Inuyasha chewed out his fellow employee, cell phone to his ear as he swirled the drink in his cup. He had just gotten off work at the office and was following up on a business meeting over the phone with Miroku, his buisness partner of 8 years. "I'm sorry Inuyasha, but was driving a hard bargain. Plus her flawless hourglass shape was more of a distraction...I've never met a woman with such persuasion skills." he heard Miroku sigh over the phone, sounding like a love sick high schooler. "This is not the time to think with your dick you hopless lecher. Buisness before pleasure, ALWAYS remember that!" Inuyasha sneered over the phone, his buisness partner's wandering eyes were going to cost him this deal with an influential company that was second running to his. "I suggest you call her and use your 'charms' to reschedule another meeting with ." he spoke, cutting his friend off before hanging up in his face, deciding to let him think on the words he'd just spoke to him.

"Ugh...stupid pervert!" he muttered under her breath as he pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to stave off the headache he could feel coming on from the tension in his neck and upper shoulders. "Sounds like you need another drink, this ones on the house." came the flirtatious voice of the bartender, Kikyo, as she slid another round of daquiri at him. "Thanks. But this still doesn't get you in my pants." he responded as he drained the last swallow of drink that remained in his last glass, then picked up the newly filled one that she'd given him. He watched as she cleaned glasses with a pout, her face portraying an innocence that was too beautiful to trust. "Why, whatsoever do you mean Inuyasha?" she purred with a wink, walking over to him to reach under the counter suductively. Letting him get more than eyefull of her breasts that were spilling out over the corset like top she'd worn tonight, no doubt hoping that it would sway his mind to take her home at least for this night. "Tell me, you come everyday of the week just to sit and stare at her. What is it that's so special about her? " Kikiyo pouted, not noticing the whine that had entered her voice.

She'd tried everything in her power to rope in the unattainable Inuyasha Taishio in. He was the most elegible bachelor of the states. She'd known almost everything about him from magazines and television interviews. She felt they had alot in common and that she was the best match for him. As she cleaned another glass she watched an emotion flicker across his eyes as she mentioned 'her'. Oh how she hated her! She felt that was the only thing standing in between her and her prize. Once she was with him she'd never have to work another day in her life. It didn't hurt that he was insanely handsome, with gorgeous golden eyes and lucious lips, she'd gladly spend the rest of her life with him and his money. "I don't know acutally Kikiyo. She's gorgeous in that mysterious way. I feel something about her, something...she's special." he spoke, his last two words ending in a soft whisper. 'Well, we'll see how special you think she is when you find out the truth about her.' Kikiyo thought with a sneer, jealousy rising inside her like a violent green eyed monster that wanted to destroy all of New York. Everyone in the neighborhood knew what she was all about. It seems Inuyasha didn't because it didn't live around here and hear the gossip that floated around regurlarly about her.

"Well, if you ask me she's not that special. In fact she's common, quite nasty actually, if you knew the truth about her." Kikyo spoke, trying to open Inuyasha's eyes and make him see the truth. But before she had the chance to voice the truth about her competition the said person walked through the door. 'Finally...' Inuyasha thought with a sigh as he instantly relaxed seeing her form walk into the vacinity. He'd visted the lounge everyday so as to not miss her perfomance. It could never be predicted to when she would show up. Sometimes she'd show up faithfully for a couple of weeks, then not be seen for just as along. He wondered what kept her busy and why her visits were so unpredictable. When he wasn't there he often daydreamed about having conversations with her and what her personality was like. "There goes your precious Kagome." Kikiyo sneered, her lip lifting on one side in a sneer. It was clear that Kikyo felt threatened by her, clear to anyone but herself of course.

Kagome sighed as she walked into the Shikon Lounge, the soothing sound and just the smell of the place taking the stress off of her. Everytime she came here she felt as if the world was lifted from her shoulders, and all her past 'deeds' just disappeared from her mind. This was the only place she could be herself, find peace of mind and healing from the singing she did here, that's why she used her real name on stage. Everytime she sung here, she felt as if she was getting back to herself, finding solace in a cold world she'd felt so lsot in. Everything she did to earn a dollar was in the hope of having a better life for herself and getting the treatments for her little brother, who was terminally ill with bone-marrow cancer. 'Souta...' she whispered to herself as she remembered the conversation she'd had with him and his doctors this morning, a sad smile coming onto her face as she sat down at the bar. She was so caught up in her thoughts she didn't notice that she'd taken a seat next to the most eligible bachelor in the United States.

"Hi Kikyo, one purple panty please." she chirped with a smile, hiding the inner turmoil that raged inside her like a turbulent sea. So much had to be done and in an amount of time. Most of her money went on her brother and her clothes. First rule: You had to look like money to make money. The doctors had told her that this should be his last year in St. Judes, for they had found him a match in a marrow donor and that all she had to do was pay for the procedure on both children, to exctract the marrow from the donor and place it into her brother. What stressed her the most was the total was going to come to a whopping $250,000. Of course it wouldn't be hard for her to make it, it just would take a lot more networking and bedding the rich men, more than she wanted to. But she would do anything and everything for her brother, he was all she had left. 'Time to raise the prices on these boys...' she thought smugly, after all her 'lovin' was well worth it in her opinion.

Inuyasha watched out of the corner of his eye as she'd taken the glass off the napkin Kikyo had placed it on in front her, noticing how she'd smelled of fresh lilies. 'Hmm, fresh out the shower...' he thought, wondering what she'd looked like, body glistening from the water. He gave his head a slight shake. 'Must be Miroku rubbing off on me...definetly not good.' he thought with a small smile at the thought of his friend. She closed her eyes as she swallowed, the sweet taste of the drink bringing a slight smile on her face as she didn't notice the death glare Kikiyo shot at her. 'The bitch sat here on purpose, she knows I want Taishio for myself...' she thought as she began cleaning a glass so hard that she dropped it and it shattered on the ground. "Oops!" she gasped as she'd ran off to got get a broom before her boss caught sight of it and before the bitch Kagome had a chance to sink her claws into her man.

Kagome sighed after taking another deep drink from her glass, feeling her body relax even more from the warmth it provided inside her belly. "Whoa..." she gasped when she'd noticed she'd drained her glass kind of fast. She jumped slightly when she'd heard a chuckle from beside her and she turned to look at the man next to her, "Hard day of work, huh?" he smiled to her, feeling as if his dreams were coming true when she smiled slowly at him. "I guess you could say that." she replied as she felt as if her stomach had fallen through a trap door when she met eyes with him. Never in her life had she met a man as gorgeous as him. She could tell he was made of money, but for some reason didn't feel the need to persue him and milk him of all he had. For once she felt she should enjoy a good conversation that didn't include talk of money for sex.

"So much to do, so little time." she sighed as she glanced over at the stage seeing that there was an act currently performing. She began to wonder where Shippo was, the owner of the bar so she could tell him she wanted him to hold a slot for her. "Hopefully you have the time to bless us with one of your beautiful songs. You're actually the main reason I come here, good music like yours is hard to find." he complimented making a blush rise on her cheeks. "Really? You don't know how much that means to me. I work hard on the songs I write." she said genuinely, noticing the heat on her face. She couldn't remember the last time she'd blushed or felt anything for any man. Since men were her buisness she usually kept her heart seperate, worlds apart. That's why she thought it unusual of her to even be enjoying her conversation with this man. "Hopefully I don't disappoint, I wanted to sing one of my new songs tonight. I originally wrote it to guitar but will be adapting it to piano since this club doesn't have any." she said, her eyes shining a light that only shined when it came to music.

"I can't wait to hear it. You have the voice of an angel, and the looks of one too." he winked, making her blush even more as her heart skipped a beat. 'Pull it together Kagome! He's just a man! I gorgeous, tall, scrumpcious speciman of a man...oh who am I kidding, he's sooooo delicious!' she thought to herself as she realized that he began to look kind of familiar. "If you don't mind me asking but have we met before or something. I swear I've seen you somewhere before." Kagome smiled, feeling the alchohol loosening her tounge and lowering her walls just a bit. Sure she liked talking to this man but she wasn't about to put all her cards on the table just meeting him from the first time. "Well, I do come here almost everyday...and plus there's that obnoxious billboard outside." he said with dislike, pointing out to his right at the glass windows.

"Oh my goodness!" Kagome gasped placing a hand over her mouth. There was a billboard across the street of Inuyasha sitting on a black leather chair, elbows on a business table with a sexy glint in his eyes as his buisness logo was to the side: 'Taishio Corp. Where we do the 'dirty' work you you.' "You're Inuyasha Taishion! The buisness mogul. You're like...the most eligible bachelor in New York!" she gasped in surprise. She knew he looked like he had a lot of money but not that much! And for some reason, she still didn't feel like doing buisness with him. In fact, a part of her didn't want him even knowing what her buisness was. She liked being seen as just a normal woman of the streets of New York, not a sex toy. She'd been 'working' her job for a long time and had grown used to just being seen as a body instead of person. It was quite refreshing for once.

She smiled as he chuckled and shook his head. "No, I'm just Inuyasha. Plain and simple. The media makes me out to be some some handsome god with loads of wealth and property shares when I'm really just like every other person on this planet. A person with thoughts and dreams, y'know?" Inuyasha spoke his eyes running up and down her frame, taking in the outfit she had on. From head to toe she looked put together. From the white open toed heels she had on and the skinny jeans, nice black cashmere sweater, white scarf that draped loosely around her graceful neck, to the white crocheted hat that was placed over her satin ebony locks. "I fully understand. People have their set assumtions about me also...but all that we can do is live for ourselves and our loved ones. Right?" she said with a slight sad smile, her brother running across her mind. Inuyasha nodding in agreement liking how down to earth she was. She dressed slightly upscale so he thought she would be like the shallow New York women that were constantly trying to bed him, like Kikyo for example. But her personality was even better than he imagined, it had a genuininity to it that was really hard to find these days.

A bright head of orange hair caught her view out of periphial, "There goes the man I was just looking for, Shippo! Shippo!" she called over the music of the people singing on stage. When he turned his face brightened considerably, caushing Inuyasha stomach to twist uncomfortably. Was he her boyfriend? Someone she was dating? "Kagome! My sister from another mister, I was hoping you would show up tonight. I saved the 10 o' clock slot just for you." he spoke seeing his favorite lounge singer sitting next to his favorite regular. They both had good hearts and he thought it was finally about time they began speaking. Inuyasha always came in hoping to see her, even if he didn't everyone to know so. "Thank you so much Shippo! I'm glad you didn't forget about me. Hope you enjoy the new song I'm going to sing." she spoke as he took the empty glass and replaced with with another full one. "Already know your fav Kags, Purple Panty. I'll leave you two back to your talking. Enjoy yourselves, you two deserve it." Shippo said, being one of the few that knew the reasons why Kagome did what she did for a living.

Looking down at her watch she saw it was 9:30 so it was 30 minutes until show time. Which gave her 30 more minutes to enjoy with this man and his wonderful conversation. He was glad she wasn't talking about work and grilling him about how much he made a year, it seemed she disliked talking about work just as much as he did, which made her his kind of girl. After a couple of more minutes they both a slight idea of what their lives and childhood were like. They both came from a knock-hard back ground, which he thought explained for her down to earth demeanor. He could tell she was not the selfish type, especially when the talk turned to her brother. "I hope I can get to meet him one day." he chuckled after she had told him the story of how they were playing and she accidently knocked out his two front baby teeth. Her eyes took on a sad look and he had a feeling maybe he'd said something he shouldn't have. "I'm sorry if I said something to upset you." he spoke noticing the sudden downcast look of her eyes. "It's not that, it's just my brother. I normally don't talk about it because I hate people feeling sorry for me." she spoke with a slight eye roll. Pity was the last thing she need, money was the first.

"Well, I won't pressure you to talk about anything you don't want to. Everyone has their limits, I understand that cause most people don't respect mine. They think I have the perfect life with all this money." Inuyasha said with a chuckle that lacked the happiness it had in it when they'd first began talking. "Oh believe me I know! Money can buy a lot of things but true happiness." she spoke locking eyes with him as she saw something flash behind his eyes, causing her stomach to flip pleasantly, a warmness settling there that seemed to spread to her lower parts. She don't know how long they're sat like that, eyes locked in silent conversation. But there was something in his gaze that seemed to speak to her, call for her. She placed her hand on the table, not minding when it landed over his and he turned it over to gently cup hers as if asking for permission. When she smiled her fully grabbed it, locking fingers. "You're the most...engaging man I've ever met. And in my line of buisness that's saying something." she spoke voice full of emotion that she didn't intend and almost revealing something that she really didn't intend to either. "Which buisness is that?" he asked curiously, rubbing a thumb over her hand. "I don't know if I should tell you..." she whispered, fear edging in on her voice that made him begin to really wonder what it was she did. "Try me." he smiled, the warmness in his voice almost pushing her over the edge, to spill her deepest secret.

WHAM!

The slamming sound of a tray jolted both Kagome and Inuyasha out the trance they had fallen into from being trapped in their own little world. "Kagome! It's almost ten o' clock." Kikyo chuckled tensely, her smile hiding the jealous anger that was coursing through her. "Oh man!" Kagome gasped looking down at her watch. "I'm sorry Inuyasha, I lost track of time." Kagome said with a nervous laughter, thankful for the awakening that happened upon them before she'd spilled her guts all on the lounge floor. 'I don't know WHAT was coming over me!' Kagome thought to herself with a sigh, feeling she had just dodged a bullet. She'd have to watch herself around Inuyasha, he was different kind of dangerous. Not to the physical but to the mental and her feelings.

She'd have to work harder to keep her feelings seperate and under control around him. Even though she hated to admit it there was something about him that awoke something inside of her, old feelings she'd thought she'd ever feel again. Now she felt like running, running to the highest mountain and hiding under it. Wrapping herself up in rock harder than steel to keep any and everything out and herself in. "I really enjoyed talking with you Inuyasha, it was quite refreshing." she smiled, her sapphire eyes glittering with light as she looked upon him. "I feel the same about you, we should definetly do this another time, soon." he grinned back, holding out his buisness card to her. "I'd hate for us to loose touch, please, call whenever you get the chance, angel." Inuyasha spoke softly, again that warmness in his voice that made her melt like and ice cube on a hot sidewalk in the middle of August. "I promise, you will be hearing from me again." Kagome spoke as she took the card and tucked it securely inside her bra. A bad habit she'd developed from placing money there, it was the one safe place she knew nothing would fall out of, and she DEFINETLY didn't want to lose his number.

Suddenly Shippo's voice came over the microphone announcing that Kagome was coming to the stage. He watched her as she walked away, his eyes glued to her pear shaped form, watching her heart-shaped butt poke out perched ontop of thick lucious thighs that he hoped one day to lay his hands on. "Still think she's so special?" Kikyo sneered, her arms crossed over the tray which she held to her chest. "Yes Kikyo, yes I do." he smiled with closed eyes, knowing that reply would eat her up inside. Watching her sit down behind the piano he smiled as she glanced back over at him, he cheeks turning red when she saw he was watching her like a hawk, eyes glued to her and only her.

She took a deep breath before her fingers began to move over the black and white keys of the armstrong piano, normally performing never made her nervous, but tonight she'd been feeling a lot of strange things. Like the butterflies that still lingered from the knowledge that his eyes were on her and that he came here just to hear her sing. He smiled as she began playing, the sound of the piano notes cascading down like a gentle rain on his eardrums. She saw her close her eyes as she began singing.

Oh star fall down on me

Let me make a wish upon you

Hold on, let me think

Think of what I'm wishing for

Wait, don't go away.

Just not yet.

Cause I thought,

I had it.

But I forget.

And I won't let you fall away,

From me.

You will never fade.

And I won't let you fall away.

From me.

You will never fade away from me.

And now I let my dreams consume me,

And tell me what to think.

But hold on,

Hold on.

What am I dreaming?

Wait, don't go away.

Just not yet.

Cause I thought,

That I had it.

But I forget.

And I won't let you fall away,

From me.

You will never fade away.

I won't let you fall away.

You will never fade away.

And I won't let you fall away.

You will never fade away.

And I won't let you fall away from me,

You will never...

Oh star fall down on me