Author's Note: Okay, so the prompt for this chapter is also Introduction. Chapters 1 and 2 were originally one chapter, but it felt too long. After this each chapter will be named after its prompt from the list.
I hope you enjoy the second chapter! :) P.S. I love reviews! This chapter is not beta'd.
Uploaded: January. 10, 2012
Miroku stood up and stretched. It had been a long day so far. His rear was numb and his wrist was cramped. When he'd told Shippo this the kitsune had chuckled and suggested he take a break. The fans objected, but he smiled apologetically and stood up, promising to return soon. He then wandered off in search of a washroom. When he walked out of the room he began, with no particular objective in mind, he began to wander the store, only to come across a mystery.
The first thing he noticed about her was the peculiar aura surrounding her. Not one, but three different youki floated about her, clinging to her hair, clothes and skin. He focused a little and detected a fourth aura. A yellow human reiki. Whoever this girl was, she was something to demons. Something important by the looks of it.
The first aura that jumped to the front of his mind was the most baffling. It was a soft pink hue, almost to the point of being white. Then Miroku remembered that he'd seen wisps of pink floating about the hidden room. It was the brightest youki he had ever seen, never mind that it was attached to a human. It made him wonder at it's pure form.
The next youki was a bright orange, signalling hanyou. It was a vivid aura for a half-demon, but not so impressive as the first. The third youki belonged to Shippo, telling him that she either often graced FoxFire with her presence or she knew its owner on a personal level. He closed off his chii, dimming out the auras until he had reduced himself almost to normal human sight. Yet, the pink youki still clung to his psyche.
The second thing he noticed was her amazing ass, which under normal circumstances would likely have been the first thing he had noticed, considering the state in which he'd come across her. She'd just bent down to pull something out of a box, giving him a perfect view. With a black pencil skirt, little closed-toe pumps, and an adorable blouse with ruffles peeking out from under a smart looking blazer she was a knockout.
As he approached she straightened up as if she'd heard him coming. She turned around, clutching what looked to be a copy of Shirtless in Seattle to her chest.
Her face was just as beautiful as the rest of her. Her skin was rather pale, but her cheeks were pink with a healthy glow to them. Her lips were a gentle red and looked soft. There was a light dusting of hot pink shadow on her eyelids. Long, dark lashes rimmed big blue eyes. He found himself thinking it was odd, and realized he had half expected them to be as brown as his own for some reason. The verdict: she was one hundred percent his type.
He reached out and gently took the book from her hands, flipping open the cover and pulling out his pen.
'To the most captivating girl I've seen,' he found himself writing, finnishing it with his lazily scrawled signature. He smiled as he passed the book back to her. He could see the surprise in her beautiful eyes.
"No need to thank me" he insisted. "You're too gorgeous for me not to have signed it for you." The look of surprise became an incredulous one.
"You've just signed your own book," her voice was feminine but strong, and confident. Taking a step towards him, she thrust the book against his chest and walked away.
Miroku stared after her in confusion. That was not what was supposed to happen. He'd expected a laugh, or the other usual responses. Even a smile. He looked down at the book in his hands and blinked. This book, though the dust jacket was the exact same colour, was not Shirtless in Seattle. Instead of his own novel he was staring at the title The Painted.
The Painted was the first book of a new series by Mr. T. Saiga. It was rumored to be a mystery novel. He had been anxiously awaiting it and it wasn't supposed to be out for another month. It shouldn't be here, though it definitely was in his hands.
Miroku walked into the front room and saw the Mystery Girl standing behind one of the three cash registers. She was helping an elderly lady pack a rather large book into a medium sized bag.
"May I assist you?" he asked pleasantly. THe two women turned their eyes on him. The older of the two looked quite happy about this suggestion, while the younger looked rather annoyed. Ignoring the less appreciative look, he picked up the book and easily slid it into the bag. "I've had a lot of experience trying to fit big things into smaller spaces, myself."
"Thank you, young man!" The lady reached out and grabbed her bag, leaving bfore he could offer to carry it for her. He shrugged and turned back to the counter only to see his Mystery Girl walking away.
"Wait!" He followed her and grabbed a hold of her wrist. She whirled around.
"What gives you the right to touch me?" she snapped and he automatically let go.
"I'm sorry, I just wanted to ask you a question." He held up the book in his hand. "Where did you get this?"
"From the publisher and T. Saiga."
"I meant, why do you have it already? I know for a fact that it's not due to be out for five weeks!"
"Seeing as you hold it in your hands, I assumed you deduced that we got it early" she commented. "As a matter of fact, we recieve all of Saiga's books ahead of schedule."
"Really?" He felt his inner fanboy jump up and down in excitement. "How early?"
"Anywhere between a month to three, usually. Now if you will excuse me Mr. Takeuchi, I need to get back to work." With that she walked away. If he said that he didn't watch her hips sway slightly from side to side as she walked he would be lying.
"Is that all for you?' Mirkou, who was lost in thought, jumped at the masculine voice he heard from just behind him. He turned to see a hanyou with long hair the color of freshly polished silver and two dog dog ears atop his head. Instinctually his 'second sight' turned itself back on full force. This youki was the bright orange he'd seen surrounding his Mystery Girl. It told him much.
In the case of hanyous, they really had two aura's. Each would have a reiki, directly received from their human parent, and a youki passed down from their demon lineage. These two aura's were so closely intertwined that they appeared to be one. The brightness told him the strength of the half demon's parents.
A bright red accounted for the demon parent, and by the reading of it's waves he could tell that it was most likely the father. The bright yellow that danced around the strong red told him that this hanyous mother had quite the strong spirit. When read together he could see the pride and strength of the person in front of him.
It made him wonder even more about the mystery book woman. How did she have strong enough connections to have these youki imprinted onto herself? Who was she to be so far out of the norm and so close to a world where few were permitted to enter? Of the few who were brought into demon company, not many stayed.
"If you're not done can you let others to the front of the line? It's kind of busy?" The hanyou grinned at him over the counter.
"Oh," Miroku cleared his throat, "I'm done, sorry." He handed his new book over to the clerk. "How much do I owe you?" The hanyou turned the book over as if looking for a price, then looked up.
"Hey Shippo, how much for the new book by Saiga?" he called across the room.
"Twenty five dollars InuYasha, and please stop yelling. We have a computer for a reason. Scan in the barcode next time like you're supposed to." The kitsune's voice was amused bordering on annoyed.
"It takes too long and it's all complicated. I'd rather ask you. You know where everything is and everything we've got in the computer anyways." As InuYasha punched the total into the old register, Miroku noticed Shippo shake his head. He chuckled and turned back to the hanyou, handing him the sufficient amount of money.
"Thanks, see you next time Miroku."
As he returned to his seat, Miroku wondered if everyone knew his name. Lately that sure seemed to be the case. They often also seemed to know more about him than should have been public knowledge. He chalked it up the reporters and Shima, but it was still quite unsettling.
It was only an hour or so more before there was an announcement on the loudspeaker informing the customers that the store would be closing in five minutes. Once the customers all had left and the doors were locked Shippo came to collect him.
As they walked through the building to the staff entrance, Miroku found himself drawn to the blue glowing door of the hidden room. His eyes sought it out as they walked passed. It was calling to him.
"I think I'll take you up on that offer from earlier" he told the kitsune as he was about to leave. Shippo smiled and twitched his tails.
"I thought you might. When can we expect you back?" Miroku thought for a moment.
"Next week?"
"I'll be here."
