Standard disclaimer applies.

First off, this is a COMPANION fic to my Inuyasha-Sango fic entitled Bless the Broken Road. Check it out if you dig the pairing…

More explanations at end of story…enjoy reading!

sampaguita -small white flowers exuding the sweetest smell ever. national flower of the Phil.

Koura – the ice cat demon from eps 75-77 (I think) waging war against Sessh

Yabou – ambition

Yuukan – bravery

If my Japanese is wrong, inform me!

Chapter 1: I have no choice

The massive garden was decorated with white sampaguitas. The scent was invigorating to the senses. Petals of red roses scattered everywhere, carpeting the greenery of the well-cut grass. There was a hired band playing on a platform at the centre of the garden. They were playing classical tunes of love songs written long ago. All of it projected nothing but beauty: the beauty of the festivity of the event.

Then why couldn't he rejoice in such? Why did he feel so trapped?

Sesshoumaru gazed at the tall, blue-haired woman standing right beside him. She, like his surroundings, projected beauty and grace. Her smile lighted paths she walked. Her words were melodies strung from an antique violin.

Then why did he have the sudden urge to run away from her?

Sesshoumaru blamed it on the situation.

Someone stepped up on the platform, interrupting the band just when they were about to play the song Where Do I Begin, a juxtaposition of what was ahead. Sesshoumaru watched as the older version, mirror image of himself tapped the microphone, which produced a deafening echo all throughout the compound. The older man chuckled.

"Oops. Heh! Sorry about that!" Taisho Yuukan exclaimed, his 'youthful' exuberance coming into view. "Anyway, my wife and I are quite delighted to have you all here at our country house, considering everyone had to leave the city and civilization just to partake in this event," he shot a glare at Sesshoumaru. "I have no idea why my older son even chose to live in this god-forsaken boring town, and," he was cut off with a slight cough from his wife. "But then again, if he didn't insist in staying here, we wouldn't be having this party, would we?" his gaze was still on his eldest son. The father immediately noticed the annoyed glint in his son's eyes. "Anyway, I would like to announce the engagement of my eldest son, Sesshoumaru to Koura Yabou," he announced, raising his champagne glass to his audience.

A thunderous applause erupted. It was as if the greatest announcement had been proclaimed. Indeed, it was. All knew the union between the Yuukan and Yabou family was a big deal. Both families were part of the country's highest society, with great claims over money and power. A marriage between the eldest Yuukan and the eldest Yabou was a match made in heaven, filled with gold and approval by many.

Koura had a satisfied smile lingering on her face. She had always maintained looking dignified despite the girlish excitement bubbling inside of her. Meanwhile, her fiancé still wore his unemotional, blank expression, unmoved by the cheerfulness of the surrounding crowd. Koura gazed at Sesshoumaru, sending him a message to give in to the implied requests of the guests. He offered her a slight nod in understanding. He held up his hand, which she took accordingly. Together, the two ascended the built platform where Sesshoumaru's father had vacated.

Sesshoumaru claimed the microphone with his monotonous voice, applying the tiniest pint of joy. He hated showing emotions. He was the best actor at masking emotions from strangers; but at the moment he had to submit to the situation.

"Koura and I share my father's sentiments in regards to our engagement. We will see everyone at the wedding," he proclaimed, trying hard not to sound bored. He shifted his gaze towards Koura. He had done his job. He would leave the rest to her.

Koura realized the guests wanted something else. The chanting and hooting were encouragement for the 'lovebirds' to display any kind of affection. She was willing to show them. She leaned forward; her tall form still no match to Sesshoumaru's height. Sesshoumaru, being the gentleman he is, bent his head so Koura reached his ears. She whispered the gentlest and softest "I love you" in his ear, an affection she was not willing to share to anyone. Sesshoumaru brought his lips to place a kiss on her forehead.

He closed his eyes, mixed emotions playing in his eyes. "I do, too," he whispered before claiming her lips – much, much to the crowd's enjoyment and contentment.

OOOooOOooOOOooOOooOOOooOOooOOOooOOooOOOooOOooOOOooOOooOOO

Yellow. It was all yellow. No, not yellow but gold. Why was her dream filled with nothing but gold? She slightly cracked open one eye. Ah, it was only the rays of the sun seeping through my window. Somehow it had invaded my dream.

She should really put a curtain on her window. The rising of the sun just seemed to interrupt her sleep every freaking morning. Damn! She cursed. Wouldn't you know? She was still late at waking up! Late again for work…

She half dragged her heavy footsteps downstairs. In less than thirty minutes, she was able to shower, grabbed any decent clothes to wear, put her hair up in a messy ponytail and bring herself downstairs. Her funky grandmother who never seemed to age a day older met her at the base of the stairs.

"Good morning, my beautiful granddaughter," Granny Bettie as she liked to be referred enveloped Kagura in a tight embrace. "Is that what you're wearing?" she asked upon examining the young woman from head to toe.

"Gran, you know I always wear this stuff," she straightened out her crisp white blouse that got wrinkled from her grandmother's embrace. "I can't wear stuff like those," she pointed at her grandmother's outfit. Granny Bettie was, as usual, wearing bright, vibrant colours: a bright pink for a shirt with matching bloody red Capri pants.

"Well, you should wear something womanly, even slutty, my dear. This pants of yours, which matches your eyes by the way, was just rotting old in your closet. That's why I borrowed them," Gran directed her towards the kitchen. "Anyway, eat your breakfast. You have a lot of work today," she started feeding Kagura with a mouthful of eggs, and then insisting a bite on a bagel. Kagura, in turn, dutifully munched on everything her granny fed her.

She took one huge gulp from a glass of milk. "I have to go, Gran. I don't wanna be late," she quickly gave her grandmother a peck on the cheeks, dashing to her office.

Her office as it turned out was right beside her house. In fact, it was part of the house: a small building beside the garage. On the door was a huge sign that read: Jiyuu Trucking Services. This was a family business that survived for seven years; Kagura had been managing it for nearly three years now.

"Good morning!" she muttered to her assistant, Abi, who was on the phone. It was apparent the young assistant was having trouble with the person on the other line. "Who is it?" she asked in low tone.

"Mrs. Tsubaki. Refusing to accept our loan," the younger girl mouthed.

Kagura rolled her eyes, smirking in annoyance. "Give me it." She moved her head sideways, trying to put her presence at ease. The smirk was all gone, replaced by the fake smile she wore. "Good morning, Mrs. Tsubaki," she let her cheeriness be absorbed in the receiver. "This is Kagura Jiyuu. We're really aware of our business's financial status, and you're assistance will be a big help. We are only awaiting for the confirmation of an order, and assure you we'll be able to pay up the loan," she paused, listening intently on the other woman. If there was anything Kagura was good at, it was to suck up to other people and make them surrender to her wishes.

But the smile on her lips quickly disappeared when her only two truck drivers entered the room. Kagura cupped the receiver. "Ginta, why were you absent yesterday?"

Ginta scratched his head. "I had a stomach ache, ma'am. I came here in the afternoon, though."

"Yes, Mrs. Tsubaki, I'm also aware of that," she directed her gaze to Ginta, cupping the receiver once more. "You know the orders for deliveries are done every morning. What's the use of coming to work when there's no work left?" she hissed. "No, but this order we're awaiting will guarantee our payment to our other loans to you," she once again focused on her phone conversation.

Ginta laughed nervously. "Well, heh, heh! It was really a near-death experience, ma'am. The pain was just too unbearable so I thought I should skip a half day's work."

Kagura rolled her eyes in exasperation. What was she to do with all these problems she was having? "What if I show you a real near-death experience!" she nearly screamed, unaware she was shouting at the phone instead at her employee. "Oh no, not you Mrs. Tsubaki. Hee, hee. But really ma'am, it would do a big help for our business. We promise to acknowledge you at our next Yellow Pages advertisement," she smiled then shot a glare at her two employees. "Thank you very much, Mrs. Tsubaki. I'll send someone for the cheque. Have a good day," she had a gentle look on her face upon hearing the financier's agreement.

But the gentle look dissipated like a bubble in thin air. The two truck drivers were now subjected to the harsh, fear-adhesive appearance their employer was famous for.

"Temper, temper," Abi tried to remind her. "Not good for the heart, Ms. Kagura."

Kagura clenched her fists. "Fine. Just make sure if you're skipping a day's work, skip the time when there's no orders to be filled," she pointed to Ginta who seemed relieved he didn't receive tongue-lashing from the fiery woman. Kagura turned to the other employee. "How can I help you, Hakkaku?"

"Umm… Ma'am, if I could be so bold… You know how it is with the missus and the… uh," he was cut off by a harsh 'get to the point' from Kagura. "Can I have an early payday?"

Kagura's eyes widened. "Again? You just asked for an early pay last week!"

Kagura buried her head in despair. Must she really be subjected to such cruelty? Why couldn't she be freed from life's sarcasms and tortures? Oh how she craved for freedom from it all!

A/N: This is my 2nd fic, and it's AU once more. Therefore, I think I have the freedom of making my characters act a little OOC, esp with Sessh and Kagura who are both complicated to write in maintaining their ICness. I also have weird reasons in placing roles with various characters... so pls be patient with me.

The plot, just like my other fic, is borrowed from a romance Filipino movie. I'm a sucker for those.

Tell me what you think about this first chapter and give this fic a chance, eventhough we all know Kagura's dead in the manga…