Having Fallen Off Chapter 1, an inuyasha fanfic

Hello, This story is adopted from LeSinner, I do have permission from her to adopt and carry on with the story. The first eleven chapters are written by Lesinner, they will be marked.

I do not own Inuyasha, or the cast, the other charters are Lesinners, the plot and everything is owned by Lesinner

Having Fallen Off

Chapter 1: The Fateful Encounter

Pairing: Sesshoumaru/Kagome

Rate : Mature.

Chapter by : LeSinner.

Story : Adopted.

It was in a square, in modern day Japan, where everything began.

In the days of my freedom and glory, I never managed to appreciate the beauty of my land – or of my glory… or freedom, really. I, secure in my station and power, despite my superior intellect and being, was blinded enough by arrogance that I fell prey to machinations so simple and… the very thought of the cause of my situation for the past four hundred and fifty years has me twitching at times.

I was neigh invincible, that I was. The whole land of Japan shared this sentiment, and it was just a little hole in my defenses – wrought by my own arrogance – that brought about my downfall. This gods-damned arrogance of mine, allowed a gods-damned cup of tea to poison me, the almost-king of poisons. I was shamed and humiliated, but mostly, I was – am – betrayed.

My kingdom was torn to shreds with my enslavement to human royalty. I, a royal, myself, served and slaved for human royalty. Throughout the years, I served as a loyal (forcibly so) figure. Powerful youkai such as myself live for thousands and thousands of years – if the royal family and their descendants were wiser, I would have remained an heirloom and a tool for power. As it were, the nobility of my masters was but a veil for underground activity.

My last master, the last of his blood, died. I had thought the blood-binding contract to be fulfilled and my freedom within reach. However, for all the inferiority I have treated humans with, these greedy creatures managed to overturn the original conditions – the damned servant-bond was transferable. I, Sesshoumaru, former ruler of the Western Lands, am being auctioned off.

I have not been given sufficient nutrition since my last master's death.

Present day, Japan

In an almost remote town in Kyushu, a young woman of twenty years ploughed through the streets; her bearing and striking appearance was enough to sway some heads and clear her path. Her blue eyes were flashing with irritation brought by forced cooperation.

Kagome Higurashi sped from the great Shrine she and her family was visiting at for the first week of their vacation towards the nearest convenience store. Which, she noted, was not conveniently close or convenient at all? The heat was getting to her nerves; her little brother was getting on her nerves, being in Kyushu was killing her nerves, and the whole situation was… really getting on her ga-damn nerves.

Kagome turned the corner, and promptly ignored the appreciative stares she was receiving from the locals; she was more in favor of acerbically ranting within the confines of her mind over feeding whatever satisfaction she may have gotten from catching eyes.

…..

"Excuse me, miss?"

Kagome stopped before she could cross the road and turned to a young man sporting a cheerful, if somewhat flirtatious grin.

She checked and double checked – surreptitiously, of course; her aunt always insisted on maintaining grace and control. Yes, the man was still there.

"Yes?" She swallowed a snarl and smiled the brightest and fakest smile she could muster.

She allowed eye to eye contact if only for the sole purpose of allowing the vermin – rather, the young man to see the intensity of her blue eyes.

"Uh…" Kagome hid a smile. She enjoyed throwing people off-kilter. She subtly eyed the male before.

He cleared his throat. The flirtatious grin was back – brighter than before.

"Miss, say, you wouldn't happen to hail all the way from Tokyo, would you?"

Hail? Who on earth uses such archaic… ok, I guess the old traditions are very firmly intact yet.

Kagome withheld a scowl. She was still in the sweltering heat. She settled for a raised eyebrow instead.

"You look like a city-girl, miss. I was wondering if you were kind enough to show me around Tokyo?"

… Either I missed something, or this man is… touched in the head. That, or a really horrible pick-up line.

" – and, do you have a grandfather named Hyobu Higurashi?" Screw it.

The look of slight confusion mingled with surprise (she wasn't surprised; she was annoyed) in Kagome's eyes must have prompted the man to clarify.

"I'm Mamoru Higashi." The smile that was starting to annoy Kagome actually grew. "I apprenticed under Higurashi-dono, your honorable – "

"I never said I was from Tokyo; neither did I say I had a grandfather Hyobu." She disliked it when men would provide a false opening for a response.

The man was not expecting this turn of events. "Uh. You looked the part, so I assumed you were related to – "

"Well, I'm sure you know what assuming makes of you and me."

"I didn't mean to –"

"Never mind." She might have enjoyed tormenting the man were it not so warm today. "Yes, I am the granddaughter of Hyobu Higurashi." With a shrug, she managed a neutral tone. Then with a sudden turn in temperament, a skill she honed when dealing with Inu-yasha, she gave a slight, albeit tight, smile. "Higashi-san, why don't you walk with me while we talk? I'm rather in a hurry."

Perhaps the young man was thrown off kilter more than she thought for he had not taken a single step in the right direction.

Well, bully for him. Kagome walked on in a decidedly deliberate fashion, effectively leaving behind the male.

"Wait for me, Miss Higurashi!"

" – I'd rather not." She mumbled. He, like the weather, was getting on her nerves more than she thought possible.

"Sorry, I didn't quite catch that?"

Kagome ignored the query as she held a light frown. There was a strange pulse just now. Like a heartbeat. She decided to end the blasted meeting. And maybe find the source of the strange pulse.

"I was just making sure you were the right person. Can't be too careful these days. I'm Kagome Higurashi, and I'm sure Grandpa was expecting someone – an apprentice or something – at the great shrine at Oita tomorrow by 6 PM. Sharp. If it's you, and you can't show up tomorrow, then do so this week; the week after, my family and I will be visiting with my uncle. I warn you, though, an audience is quite difficult to obtain at the House of Nishiguchi."

She turned to leave, but good breeding prevented her from being so rude. "Well. I've got to go now. Good day."

A quick exhale and with a sharp smile – showing entirely too much teeth to be truly pleasant – Kagome Higurashi turned on her heel and left in search for the nearest (not quite near nor convenient) convenience store and the strange, weak pulse of something thrumming through the local area.

Belatedly, she wondered how this Higashi fellow knew to single her out as "Higurashi-dono's granddaughter."

The man, Mamoru Higashi, was left staring at Kagome's form. He was sure he did nothing wrong, and was even hoping for her number, but something did go wrong and, well… there would always be tonight and the next two weeks to get her number. That, and if Higurashi-dono's plans were anything to go by, he'd be spending a lot of time with the lovely lady. In Tokyo.

Kagome was too engrossed with actually finding a convenience store with the materials she needed. The crowd was thick and the humid air made the forced proximity even worse. She was full on sweating now, even though the sun was not at its peak yet.

I knew I should've just asked Rengi to drive me today.

But as she reached the edge of the square, all acerbic thoughts were brought to a screeching halt… her heart stopped.

The feeling was strange; strange, rather, in the sense that it felt out of place in her time.

Soon her body was releasing cold sweat; she noticed that the feeling intensified with every pulse of… youki?

Good gods.

The youki was pulsing steadily, weakly, softly… so softly, it seemed suppressed and as Kagome rushed to the source of the pulsing, the feeling only grew minutely; the minute difference only confirmed the repression.

It can't be Inu-yasha. He knows better than to follow me here… that and Inu-yasha barely has the minimum self-restraint required to tether his massive youki.

What could it be? She thought.

It didn't seem malevolent; though if worse came to worst, she'd be able to take care of some youkai easy peasy. She didn't suffer and rough it out for the past four years with nothing to show for, after all.

I can't shake the feeling that I've felt this youki before… it was definitely younger back then, and less tortured… in any case, it is calling to me. If not for curiosity, then I must at least answer this call.

The problem with time travel was that she couldn't possibly think of all the possible scenarios that happened in the past – that will happen in the past – to explain why the pulse was so familiar.

Did someone from the past make it through the centuries? Or… through the well?

Irrespective of her advanced logic and analytical preparations, none could have suitably prepared her mind for what she encountered at the far end of the town near the more unsavory parts of the local area.

I'm bound… rather tightly with chains. Unnecessary. The spells on the collar alone are enough to subdue me. Nothing can compare to my true strength and power… nothing but carefully crafted spells by traitorous youkai. Strong traitors. Cowardly traitors.

The process of showcasing my apparently healthy, if unfed body to the masses was more shaming that I thought. I'd have imagined myself numb to such scrutiny but being bare like this, dirty and tired makes me realize that this taiyoukai still does feel the sharp stab of shame and pain even after four hundred and fifty years.

As I shift to rearrange my chains, a scent, sweet and familiar tickles my nose. I unassumingly peer through my lashes at the crowd; there's a female there. Her eyes are bright blue sapphires and her scent is as clear as the sky. She smells like freedom. My lips crawl into a ghost of a smile.

I could not resist peering, if rather surreptitiously, at the woman's eyes. She's human, I can smell it. Her eyes widen in something resembling shock; her body does scream shock as she stood rooted to her spot. Before I knew it, her eyes narrowed decisively; she marches towards… towards me?

No; she is moving to the man in charge of my chains. She stalks to the man hawking his – my – wares. With every step she nears me; I feel a strange pull towards this human woman.

I can't help but watch in fascination as the young woman's carefully bottled shock and anger thrums through her body; thrums like power and energy of old. The hair at my nape stand in attention, but I'm much too captivated by this woman of power.

Kagome was far too controlled to point and scream, but – damn, no, this can't be real. That can't be him. That just. Can't. Be. Him. He's got two arms, for goodness sake! And just what the fuck is going on here? This looks too much like slave trade!

Settle down, Kagome told herself. Did he get through the well? Oh my fuck. He's chained. Did he just smile at me? No. that's… he didn't go through the well. That's an older Sesshoumaru!

But what about Inuyasha? Did he make it through the ages, too?

Kagome was frozen where she stood. Her thoughts kept coming, lightning fast. Her feelings were being sorted as best as Kagome could. Here before her – and before the local community, apparently – was a beautiful youkai lord. This man – youkai – was the most feared and powerful being in the lands. Was. The crescent moon, the markings, the familiar youki made it even harder for Kagome to convince herself that the great Sesshoumaru was not just standing there, shirtless, with cropped hair, being displayed, of fall things, right before her.

Wait.

Displayed?

Shock punched her in the gut. Her innate sense of justice was rising to the fore; this was an injustice! The taiyoukai may have tried to kill her and her best friend, but nobody deserved to be enslaved like this! Even with the teachings of her decidedly Machiavellian uncle and grand uncle, slavery was pushing the limit.

"It's that man again. He's been here for the past two days, displaying the silver-haired one for all to see." Kagome overheard the susurrus of the women beside her. Around her, people were discussing the man and his wares.

"I know. Today is the last day, though. The handler – yes, the meaty one with the keys – apparently couldn't do business anywhere else. The clans in the main island are not pleased with him, you see." Kagome wondered just what exactly she was really listening to.

"So he does business here? The yakuza clans in the main island sure are powerful. Our men might not yet compete."

Ah. It made sense now. Yakuza. Her uncle was part of Yakuza… but did that mean that her uncle was here on behalf of the Sumiyoshi-rengo; was the head of the clan here on business? This sort of business?

Regardless; this is unforgivable. Even Uncle is against slavery. Loyalty is won; not bought.

But Kagome was a bit amused at the back of her mind. On a lighter note… it is quite amusing to even hear of this without trying. Then again… I suppose these minor clans simply have not the brains, nor the discretion the more notable clans possess.

Kagome took a deep breath and moved with determination towards the meaty, ugly, disgusting man. If today is the last day… it's now or never.

With every step she took, her aura pulsed with her mounting anger and was palpable even to those lacking the spiritual gift; the instinct of the Japanese to respect their betters had the low-born locals moving away, clearing a path for Kagome and her ire.

She moved towards the podium and motioned for the man to the side for relative privacy.

"Sir. Am I to understand this is business? Open to all?" A closer inspection of the man nearly gave Kagome palpitations. Ye gods. If I had any doubt before, then they're all gone now. This man – youkai – can't be anyone else but Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru spared a concealed, anxious look towards Kagome. He could feel her scrutiny. And the tingle of whatever powers the woman possessed. He was in his most vulnerable, bound and chained with suppressors. The woman was a threat.

The trader would have turned the young woman away had it not been for her forbidding aura. "Aye. Tomorrow night, at the Morunake-shi. Anyone can join, but," the man tossed a leer for emphasis, "you'd need the right invite, missy."

Kagome did not quite understand. It was free trade; but required an invite? And the Morunake-shi Manor?

"Of course, I can give you the right papers. Maybe if you were to escort me tomorrow, I might pull some strings." The man was pleased to see Kagome's eyes widen in understanding.

"Or you could always play date with the big shots. Not much luck there, though, missy. Might as well let me take care of you tomorrow night – what do you say?" The innuendo was not lost on the young woman.

Comprehension dawned upon Kagome; the invite, only the right people would have it; her Uncle would most definitely be one of them. She could manage the entrance. It was doable.

Belatedly she realized the man was still leering at her. Fool.

"I assure you, sir, I'd be one of the right people, with the right invite." She had to leave. A minute longer in this man's presence would have her acting rashly.

After a quick call to her esteemed uncle's estate, Kagome wrangled the details from her doting uncle. Her aunt, for good measure, sent a missive to be sure. It was perfumed and skillfully written. Kagome assumed it served a dual purpose; as an example of how women of Kagome's station should be like.

Kagome,

Tomorrow, at the Morunake-shi, exactly an hour before midnight, the secret weapon of the Xuanzong royal family will be revealed. They say it is actually a person, but no one can live for centuries. You will have to wear appropriate clothing for tomorrow evening if you are to come. I've taken the liberty of filling your closet for the branch house here in Kyushu. The driver shall pick you up at 7:30. You will bathe and prepare yourself here at the Nishiguchi branch house. We know how much your mother hates exposing your younger brother to our Society's ways. Tomorrow night will also serve as your pre-debut into our Society. Your Uncle sends his love.

Much love,

Auntie Aoi

It was informal, but definitely managed to twist Kagome's gut in apprehension. Pre-debut? She wasn't even sure if she was ready to take up responsibility as her Uncle's heir; or if she would at all! With a pre-occupied frown, Kagome decided to address the matter later when her uncle was there. Surely they hadn't forgotten she still had her own duties in the Feudal Era!

But to the point of the letter, Kagome's eyes narrowed in thought. By the sound of it, nobody actually believes that Sesshoumaru is – was the so called special weapon of the Xuanzongs. And Kagome would be willing to bet that the minor clans here would definitely follow her Uncle's example; that is to say, flat out rejection.

Tomorrow's plan will have to account for every possible outcome; it must be carried out smoothly. Kagome was no longer sure why Sesshoumaru must be secured. She only knew that something about Sesshoumaru called out to her.

The following day

At exactly 6 in the evening, Mamoru Higashi made it to the great Hamanaka shrine of Kyushu. The compound was austere, but not even the cold night air could distract Mamoru from the excitement bubbling within him.

The Usa Hamanaka-gu seemed empty; there was no one in sight except for those who came to receive him. Yet, the shrine grounds reverberated with the chants of the praying priests and the discipline training of the younger ones. Hamanaka shrines, after all, are known for their warrior-priests.

Tonight, the plans for his continued apprenticeship would be finalized. His role in the lives of the Higurashis, and most importantly the Miss Higurashi would be stamped out in paper. This was surely a turning point in his life.

It also really didn't hurt that Miss Kagome Higurashi was one fine piece of ars– art.

At 6:30, she saw Mamoru Higashi with her Grandfather, speaking in quiet tones. The resolve flickering with excitement in the young man's eyes were enough to make Kagome pause and speculate. She would have imagined it had much to do with priestly things, but Kagome knew better than to assume such things conclusively. Things were seemed to be converging here in Kyushu, and the events couldn't be mere coincidence.

At 7:00, Kagome finished drafting up her plans for this evening. Wine, dine, and go for the kill. Sesshoumaru must be secured.

By the time the driver arrived at her home, Kagome managed to secure an extra bedroom for Sesshoumaru. There were no ifs, ands, or buts. Sesshoumaru was coming home with her, no doubt about it.

By 8:10, Kagome arrived at the Nishiguchi branch house. She was a woman on a mission, and the first step to achieving her goal was to dress and act the part.

By 9 PM, everything was set. The ruling Sumiyoshi-rengo pair and their heir were preparing to leave the Nishiguchi branch compound.

"Kagome, you look very beautiful." Her Uncle was immensely fond of her and this affection coupled with Kagome's position in the workings of the Sumiyoshi-kai clan had her clad in much finery.

"She should be! She's my niece, after all." Her Aunt gazed upon Kagome with pride. Not by blood, certainly, but Aoi Nishiguchi accepted and embraced Kagome as the daughter she never had.

"Thank you Uncle, Aunt. Really, I'll make you proud." And she would. In exchange for this evening, Kagome would take up half of the duties expected of the heir.

Her Uncle, Shigeo Nishiguchi-Higurashi was pleased to have such a worthy heir. To think his kin birthed such a precious jewel!

"Kagome, be yourself. I am proud to say that you need very little instruction to impress the others. We will be arriving in separate cars, as usual, and I want you to stick close to Rengi. I made sure he was free tonight to guard you."

"Of course, Uncle." At times like these, Kagome has great difficulty viewing her Uncle as the ruthless clan head of the second largest yakuza group in Japan.

"And Uncle – about what we spoke earlier…"

Aoi and Shigeo turned amused glances toward Kagome. She rarely asked for anything, and they would gift her this, regardless of her reasons.

"Don't worry about it, Kagome. You'll have your… present later."

Sesshoumaru was waiting in a simple room. It was sparse, but clean. Sesshoumaru knew that he was not the only commodity the trader had left to earn with. He was in fact, not the most priceless, but assuredly the most valuable. After tonight, Agara, his handler expects to live with relative comfort and luxury.

Tonight, he was fed, cleaned, and dressed.

Tonight, he will be greeting his new master, whoever he may be.

He took his place on the large red velvet cushion and waited for the appointed hour.

Kagome was bored. She was counting down the minutes for when Sesshoumaru would be presented to the eyes of the clans. Rengi stood placidly, a guard and escort shadowing her side.

She greeted and bowed, charmed and ensnared, flirted and impressed; no matter how unwilling, she never did things half-assed. She may no longer be as innocent as she once was four years ago, but growing was the only way to move forward.

Once more, Kagome smiled and gave the appearance of being involved with her Uncle's – rather her clan's – associate.

Aoi and Shigeo Nishiguchi watched their little heiress from afar. It was no false comfort the couple offered to Kagome when they told her to be herself. She was of strong character; impressive by herself.

"Husband, why would Kagome want this man so desperately for her own?" She didn't understand why this slave (a slave, for kami's sake – slaves in the 21st century!) was to be acquired at all cost. While no doubt, she was pleased to have her husband's niece finally embrace her birthright, Aoi wondered its worth, or plans for the slave Kagome could possibly have to willingly sacrifice whatever was left of her normal modern life.

"He is a relic of her past." Shigeo was personally interested in what Kagome assured him was a youkai.

"Her past?"

"The past past." Aoi stiffened with instant understanding. The family knew of Kagome's involvement with the supernatural, but if a relic from the past showed up in their lives, what risk could this possibly pose towards Kagome?

"Shigeo – " Aoi tensely started. Her instinct to protect Shigeo and his kin was overwhelming. As the wife of the Sumiyoshi-kai's kumicho, her duty and desire to protect gave a passing thought to placing numerous tabs on her precious niece and her soon to be gift.

"Don't worry. Trust Kagome. I'm sure that you've noticed she's started to play for keeps."

"What are you talking about? What she wants, she… well, she 'keeps'. Admirable quality of hers."

"Exactly. What she wants, she takes. She plays for keeps, Aoi. She won't enter the battlefield without ensuring it would definitely be a battle. With her as the victor. Can you imagine the clan with Kagome as the kumicho?" came the wry tone of Shigeo, somewhat disbelieving that his dear, sweet niece had the makings of a formidable leader.

Aoi turned her scrutiny to Kagome with delight. Apparently, Kagome's every step was a calculated step towards victory. If this is what her time in the Feudal Era turned her into, then who was she to cut Kagome's ties from her strength?

Kagome was finding the entire process rather tedious at this point. Regardless, she remained alert and focused on the proceedings. Her entire plan hinged on the smoothness of this stage.

"Preposterous. You expect us to believe that this pretty boy right here lived for centuries? What fools do you take us for?" The trader could not get a word in edgewise since the unveiling of Sesshoumaru.

"Agara, do you seriously think we would fall for such lies? I don't care what you say – magic does not exist!"

"Step down this minute, Agara. There is no point in continuing this charade. We are very much aware the clans in Honshu have rejected you."

The clans all thought this Agara fellow was duping them; deceiving them into accepting such absurd claims.

All that prompted this swift rancor from the gathered crowd were some discrete calls, and some carefully planted ideas. From there on, the natural desire of the clans for knowledge had them digging up information on the supposedly rejected trader. Their efforts revealed some embellished 'facts' regarding Agara and his dubious wares.

Yesterday was a day full of plotting indeed. Kagome felt a slight twinge of uneasiness for ruining someone so effectively… so… efficiently. So many things could go wrong! Especially since she believed in karma – how could she not?

Throughout the matters, Shigeo and Aoi, representatives of their clan remained silent, watching with eyes glinting with the fulfillment of their inevitable conquest. All they had to do was lean back and watch what their niece had in orchestrated.

Aoi was truly amused. Kagome, with the resources of the Sumiyoshi-kai, ensured that every priceless item brought by the trader was questioned, doubted, and shot down. Playing on the pride of the lesser clans, and the predictable outrage of imagined slights, Agara the trader was effectively rejected, impugned, and alienated.

Kagome and Aoi watched as Agara was dragged by security, along with the silver-haired youkai to be escorted to their suite for a swift boot out. Across the table, Shigeo raised his wine glass to Kagome in a silent salute.

"Rengi," Aoi called to the chiseled bodyguard with a pleased smirk. "Proceed to that fool trader's suite, and make an offer he can't refuse."

When Rengi arrived at the trader's rooms, he found Agara alternately packing and demolishing his merchandise. The silver-haired slave, included. Agara broke some pottery, and rained kicks and punches on the slave. The slave remained standing, eyes trained on the floor, like a statue. This only further angered the violent trader, hurling some priceless items at the silver-haired man's head.

Rengi frowned. Whether the trader knew it or not, everything in this room already belonged to Kagome Higurashi. If Rengi was anything, he was loyal to the point of rabid proportions. He was not wholly familiar with Miss Kagome yet, but she is the heir, and was the beloved niece of the Kumicho and his Seisai .

Before Agara could hurl another priceless vase, Rengi intercepted him, using his superior strength to subdue the trader. Agara spluttered in apoplectic rage.

Rengi refused to mince words. "Agara, my master and mistress offer you a deal. And before those greedy cogs turn in your little brain, it is non-negotiable. I warn you, though, that whether you accept the deal or not, all these here in this room will belong to my clan."

Sesshoumaru glanced sharply at the newcomer.

Agara twisted from the bodyguard's grasp. He knew what that meant. He had been dealing in the underground long enough to know what the very sentence implied. The unvoiced condition was accurately along the lines of doing things the "easy way," or the "hard way."

Controlling his violent temper and anxious shivers, Agara nodded.

"Whatever it is, I'll take it. My plans are ruined; down the drain, and the life of relative peace I've been looking forward to is gone. I only ask that we do business again."

Rengi nodded in approval whilst hiding his slight surprise. The man was smarter than he looked, it seemed.

When the auction completely died down, it was well past midnight, nearing two or three hours away from dawn. The auction was not the main event; it was merely the side-dish of the gathering.

Earlier in the evening, Kagome mingled with the younger members of the present clans, socializing and, at certain points, enjoying.

Soon after the failed auction, the real festivities began, and the kumichos of the present clans arrived at the scene. Kagome found this to be an annoyance as she was impatient to get to Sesshoumaru, while simultaneously dreading her next course of action. She quite forgot to plan for the long-term.

Aoi watched as Kagome dealt with idiot members of the visiting clans. Aoi could feel Kagome's tension boiling below the surface of her calm. This was the first time Kagome has ever been to major event; tonight was actually the annual meeting of the local heads. While her husband far outranked the people in this room, it still gave Kagome good... practice. Exposure.

At length, Rengi arrived from the task given to him.

"Aoi-sama, articles of Kagome-sama have been seen to and are ready for perusal."

Aoi was silently amused at the impersonal tone of Rengi. Although the slave was a person, Rengi was truly no stranger to the darker side of the yakuza world; human trafficking was nothing, really. If he did not comment on the deliciously handsome man placed in the adjoining room of Kagome, then it was all well and good. It was not his place, either way, to speak of the affairs of his masters.

Aoi excused herself from her husband and their companions; Shigeo knows Aoi has grown tired of the people and surmised Kagome was anxious to greet her… property.

"Kagome, dear," Aoi deftly stepped into the conversation between her darling niece and some nondescript associates. "I fear I am too tired to carry on until dawn. I think it's time to go."

Kagome quickly hid her relief. Without Rengi as her escort and guard, she was more vulnerable to overtures from men and women, both of the professional and personal persuasion. It was a most precarious situation; regardless of her station, she has yet to fully take on the life of a true yakuza and the authority that came with it.

The little priestess in her was doing a little jig and a prayer as thanks.

As they sauntered away, a most striking pair of women, Aoi was proud to notice that many admiring gazes were tracing Kagome's form.

The moment her feet touched the Nishiguchi grounds, she focused on navigating the vast compound. Though her feet moved swiftly, her body was on auto-pilot as her mind was preoccupied with the exchange with her Aunt in the car. The conversation was replaying in her head.

"Now that we have a moment to ourselves, I'd like to say I am very, very proud with how you managed the entire evening."

Kagome was glad to hear it. "It was a trial, Auntie Aoi! It took all the patience to last through the evening. All those simpering groupies…. I have groupies! I have groupies, Aunt, and that's because I'm the Sumiyoshi kumicho's niece."

"Yes, that, too." Aoi was not speaking of Kagome's charisma with the yakuza of her generation. She already knew Kagome would be impressive.

"Actually, Kagome, I was referring to your… how do I say this… ah – to your plotting skills."

Kagome was surprised to hear her Aunt term it as such and let out a light laugh. At the back of her mind, though, was a sort of consciousness that she, in her single-mindedness, did all the "plotting" without remorse at all.

"Your plan was well executed, Kagome, and effortlessly so, too!" Aoi paused to give Kagome a warm smile.

"We decided to accept your terms and conditions for leadership of our clan, and all that trader had to offer are yours. Including this slave of yours – "

"His name is Sesshoumaru, Auntie. I don't know how he came to… you know, be the way he is now, but in the feudal era, he was a great and terrible lord. Gosh knows how many times I could have fallen to his claws. Could we… I mean, I know I will, but, is it possible to treat him with, you know, some… respect?"

Aoi treated Kagome to a penetrating stare. "Kagome, what are your reasons for going to such lengths for a creature who, from what I gather, has made repeated attempts for your life?"

Aoi waited for an answer, but all Kagome could give was a halting sentiment. "It just… it just didn't feel…it was wrong, seeing him like that…"

"Did you take him, hoping to know of the past?"

"Eh! No! I didn't even think of that… Actually, I don't think I should tell him of my past adventures, too. We should probably not mention this in his presence. Who knows how he might react."

Aoi was not overly concerned. Kagome assured them that Sesshoumaru was somehow bound. Physically speaking, the dangers Sesshoumaru poses should be easily neutralized.

"Do as you please, Kagome. As I said, all that horrible man had to offer this evening is yours. We will be cordial, of course, to your… to Sesshoumaru. He is yours now, Kagome, and no matter in what capacity he exists, you must take care of what is yours."

The car stopped at the entrance of the main building.

"Good night, dear."

Kagome finally reached her personal quarters and eyed the small room adjoining hers. She had planned to put Sesshoumaru somewhere else – somewhere decent and appropriate, and not adjoined to her own room. However, Rengi apparently has his own ideas. Kagome was somewhat mortified when she guessed the reason for such an arrangement.

Sesshoumaru should be settled in by now. Silently, she opened her door; best to be quiet so as not to disturb the youkai.

"Welcome back, Master."

And there the demon lord was, waiting for his new master in the dark, shirtless and kneeling on her floor.