A/N: This story takes place during the modern day. Youkai are well-known all over the world, so humans and demons coexist rather peacefully in this particular story.

Please ignore any typos that may occur during the story. This story hasn't been completed just yet, but I'm working on it. Yes, I know, I have SEVERAL other stories I need to get a move on with buuuuut... I had an itch to tell this story. I started this story before one of my other ones, actually. "Going Under" was actually made after this particular story...I just didn't have the courage to post these few chapters for this story. Personally, I think I've done a good job with these few chapters. I will probably be posting chapters back-to-back for this story, so keep an eye out on it!

I hope everyone enjoys this story!

Prologue: I Think You Need A Break

"You're insane if you think they're just going to go for it," she said over the phone. It was getting close to closing time, soon enough, she will have to be heading home to get started on yet another lonely dinner. After a few moments of someone speaking over the phone she sighed, "Look, just hold them off till tomorrow that- no, it's not. Again, just hold them off till tomorrow afternoon. When I come in, yes. When I come in, just be sure to have the paperwork ready. We'll have the meeting the second I'm clocked in. There's no problem so long as we get it done and over with." After a second or two she nodded her head, "Right. Yeah, see you tomorrow. Thanks."

With a sigh, she pinched the bridge of her nose before reaching over to a few documents and signing off on them. A knock at her door caused her to momentarily pause before she reached over with a file. "Boss says you can go ahead and head out for the evening," a woman's voice filtered in through her mind. "Are those the documents for the admins?"

"Yes," she responded, "they're all yours now. Signed and grammar corrected. Just hand them in."

"Alright," the woman replied, "I'll see you later, I'm headed straight to the office now, then it's off to home!"

"Alright, catch ya' later, Claire," she said as she rubbed her temples.

"Get some good sleep tonight – big day tomorrow, after all," Claire replied and she nodded. Once the blonde-haired Claire went on her way, she was once again left to her own thoughts. She stopped writing for a moment and pressed her hands to her temple.

She eyed her cell phone next to her before actually picking it up and dialing a number. It rang a few times before someone on the other end finally picked it up. "Hey, Shinji, is Houjo around?" She asked, looking at her watch. "Yeah? Is he too busy? He can always just call me when he get's off...oh gosh, no, no its oka- okay."

"Kagome?" She heard his voice on the other end and instantly she began to relax. She swiveled about on her chair, stacking her papers a bit as she chatted. Humming, she answered his greeting. "Is there anything wrong?"

"Mm, mm," she said, shaking her head. "I don't suppose there's any way we're going to have dinner together tonight, is there?"

"Kagome, my love, you know as much as I that we can't always have what we want," she sighed at that. It was the same speech all the time..."Love, don't be that way. I know how you are. I promise, we'll have dinner together soon. Look, I really have to get back to work, my boss is already calling me to get over there."

Kagome shook her head, "Okay...I guess I'll see you later. I love you..."

"I'm coming, don't worry! I just need need a minute or two – I'll see you later, Love, be careful."

"Right...bye," she said right as there was a dial tone. With a sigh, she stood from her chair and placed her phone in her pocket. She was done for the day...

When she got home, she heat up some left over lasagna and ended up sitting in front of the tv, checking over whatever mail they had that day. Nothing interesting until she had a phone call from her mother.

"Hello, dear," she heard her mother greet.

"Hey, Mom," she said with a slight smile, "How goes things?"

"Well, Souta will be getting married soon, and he would invite you himself, but because he doesn't own a phone at the moment...you know how it is. What's with that tone? Don't tell me – Houjo couldn't be there tonight."

"You guessed it," Kagome sighed, "I just...I don't understand why he can't be here. It feels like he's putting his job before me and well, it's just getting a little...ridiculous."

"I see. Sweetheart," Kagome knew that tone. She didn't want to hear it. She already knew what she would say... "You know he has only the best intentions. He's working to one day support you with a child. He's trying to build up, Sweetie. He's already close to having a supervisor status, and you know that. He wants a baby..."

"Moooom," she huffed, "I'm not going to be having kids now or anytime soon. I was trying to say that I don't know what to do. I'm so lonely...I mean yeah, I've got everyone at the museum, but still..."

"I feel like you just need a break, is all," her mother said as she took another bite of her lasagna.

"I'll see what Houjo thinks about it all..." She said when she realized there was another person calling. "Oh, Mom, I'll call you back. There is someone calling me."

"Alright,dear, I love you, and be careful. I promise, things will always work out, for better or worse – that's what you said when you married him, remember?"

"Absolutely," Kagome said with a nod, realizing that her mother had once again cheered her up. "I remember, Mama, I love you, too. I'll chat with you later." She pushed call to answer the other call, "Hello?"

"Kagome, I'm glad you picked up. I was beginning to think you had gone to bed already," she heard his voice. Why was he calling her so late? In fact, normally, he'd be home by now. "My love, I wanted to let you know that I'm going to probably be working well into the early morning. There's a gigantic shipment coming overnight and they need someone to guide in the Diesel. They gave me about forty-five minutes to do whatever.

"Now, before you get mad, I promise, it wasn't my intention. I love you, you know that, right? I'm just heavy at work right now, my love. I wanted to spend this time to talk with you.

"Now, I know this might seem silly, but I feel like you need a break. Why don't you take one? Go somewhere with your friends? Go out and have some fun? Oh, I know! Go on a trip!"

"Now hold on just a minute!" Kagome intervened, "I can't just pack up and take a break – we have a really big exhibit about to happen and-"

"Oh come now, Kagome," Houjo interrupted, "They can do without one time of you being the main show. I mean, come on, they have other employees. Think about it, Kagome, if you were to go and enjoy yourself, perhaps, maybe, you can...umm...well, maybe you'll feel better.

"Don't think I haven't noticed, Love," she hummed as she listened to what he had to say. A break, honestly, didn't sound like a bad idea. She wanted to feel a little on the free side. She had the money saved – in fact, she could probably get married three times and still have some left over to pay for an entire house. Idly, she wondered if her mother had talked to Houjo before she herself."I've noticed that...well...you haven't really been well.

"You're losing a little bit of weight...and I've also noticed that you space out when we're together. Kagome...I want you to take a break. I don't care if it's now or later, just...promise you'll be okay?"

Kagome snapped out of whatever stupor she had gotten herself into to actually listen to his words. She felt as if she were drowning...she felt it every day at work. "I'll do it." She heard him sputter for a second, "I'll do it, Houjo. But...I don't know when I'll come back."

"Okay," he finally said after a very long silence. "When will you leave?"

"After I get everything packed tomorrow," Kagome said with a gentle smile. "I'm going to go ahead and tell the boss that I can sign docs over my laptop. I'll just...I'll figure something out. I'm going to go ahead and check the bank when I'm finished chatting with you."

The rest of the conversation was spent talking about the different places she would visit as well as the things she may or may not see. When Houjo's time was up, true to his word, he left to finish up work, and she went about her own business.