Corset-astrophe

"Oh, Damn it not again!" Mia rushed down the street quickly dodging other pedestrians glancing every so often at her watch. She'd been late to work twice this week, she really couldn't afford to be late again. "Dana's gonna have my head." Stepping into the Coronado theatre, she crept down the back stage entrance. She could hear the tech crew rushing around sounding surly as usual. The actors weren't all there yet, which meant that Dana was either in his office and had yet to come out or that he wasn't even here yet. She prayed for the latter.

"Mia there you are." An enthusiastic man who was obviously wearing mostly women's clothes ran to her side latching on to her arm. "Thank god I found you."

"Easy, Jaki." She said trying to calm the exasperated man. "What's the problem?"

Stomping his foot in frustration, Jakotsu crossed his arms and pouted, "It's Ayame. Whoever tailored her corset miss measured her and she's not happy."

Putting her hands up, Mia sighed, as she knew the corset had been measured by Ayame herself. She'd begged her to allow her to do it, but Ayame insisted, "I know my body better than anyone, use the measurements I gave you Mia." The costumer shook her head, "I knew this would happen. Take me to her I'll fix it."

Jakotsu led her down stage right and into the back of the dressing room where Ayame was complaining to no one in particular with shallow breaths. "I mean it Jakotsu!" She hollered. "Find me anyone who even remotely knows what's going on here. I'm tired of putting up with stupid mistakes. Look at this thing." Ayame twirled around to meet Mia and Jakotsu. She stood in a much too tight corset that had her breasts bubbling over the top as the laces groaned in strain. "I look ridiculous."

"Ayame dear." Mia said compassionately to the prima donna. "Oh my, my, my this is far too small."

"I know it's horrible. I can't even sit. I can stand or lay down." Ayame flopped onto her back on the chaise lounge. "See?"

Giggling, Mia noticed how quiet Ayame was. The corset had her squeezed so tight that she couldn't scream. "Perhaps I should leave it on her." She thought as she nodded in understanding. Ayame had been the most temperamental of actresses she'd ever dealt with. Everything had to be just so, or it was high-pitched squealing and often tears for everyone around her. She'd gotten better as of late, but was still conviced in every way that she was a, no, the diva of the Coronado theatre. "Well let's have a look then." Mia helped her back to her feet and took a good look at the construction. Whipping out her scissors she snipped the side and ran the metal clear to the top cutting the garment off. "There we go. Better?"

"Better?" Ayame squealed as the fabric fell to the floor. "You cut it up." Her hands instantly covered her breasts as she blushed.

"I had to, it's about an inch too small. I'll make you a new one, give me two hours and you'll have it." Ayame sighed before she stormed off to go and change into her sweat pants for rehearsal muttering obscenities under her breath.

"You shouldn't have cut it up." Jakotsu whispered slyly. "I could've fit that."

"I know Jaki." Mia whispered back. "I'll fix it for you tonight, come over after work and we'll fit it to you."

Jakotsu smiled and clapped his hands excitedly as he walked out of the dressing room to continue with his stage manager duties. Mia went to work getting her supplies set up for making the other costumes. The other actors would be here any minute. She'd been the costume designer for the company for a year now, Dana had been a difficult director to please. He was always demanding more. And would never explain exactly what he meant by more. He'd often speak in riddles, hated questions, and was rumored to have a terrible temper. No one really knew about his temper, most which saw it left the company immediately.

"Mia!" A booming voice called.

"Yes, Sesshykins!" She called back trying not to laugh.

A tall man with silver hair and golden eyes walked through the door. "Don't call me Sesshykins." He leaned against the doorframe and smirked. "I take it you've already dealt with Ayame?"

"First thing. She was stuck." Mia said with a smile as she pulled out her sketchbook for the show. "I wanted to go over some ideas with Dana, is he here yet?"

"No." Sesshomaru said coolly. "I heard about you and Naraku."

"Oh really what did you hear?"

"Nothing of concern." He sat on the make up counter and grabbed a band to tie his long hair back. "Are you all right?"

"As all right as a woman who's been dumped can be." She said.

"I though you left him."

"I did, I wanted him to care. He chose to walk away."

"Don't be angry." He said stoically his eyes not giving away anything.

"I have every right to be." Before she could continue unpacking Sesshomaru grabbed her arm swiftly and pushed up the cloth on her long sleeved shirt. "Shessh…"

He eyed the bruises on her arm, obviously caused by forceful fingers weeks ago. They were still quite dark. " It matters not that he is gone, so long as these go with him." He kissed the top of her hand and smiled warmly. "Now if you'll excuse me I need to go and practice."

She watched the elegant man leave her workstation and laughed. "How can you be so considerate and yet so moody Sesshykins?" He was one of their more brilliant actors. He spent most of his days being cold, moody and above all stoic. Yet, when he was on stage there was more emotion in his lines than anyone. It was as though he were the character and had never been anyone else. She'd loved watching him act. He'd graduated from the Shikon school of arts a year ahead of her, and she figured he'd move on to better than the local theatre. Part of her was glad to see him her first day with the company though. "You haven't changed a bit." She sighed and went to work finishing her set up. Her nose picked up the faintest smell of coffee and she knew that tech crew was on break. "God bless you caffeine addicted techies."

Miroku poured a cup of the steamy black brew and sipped ferociously. "Oh coffee is there nothing you can't make better.

"Easy Miroku." Inuyasha said getting his own mug. "Save some for the rest of us."

"Yeah like me." Mia snagged the pot from Inuyasha and poured a large spill proof mug for herself. "Mmm, nectar of the gods."

"Gods who are surly in the morning." Miroku smiled. "How's it going Mia." She felt his hand dangerously close to her butt and smacked him instantly.

"Miroku Houshi don't you dare." She scolded. "Those deep blue eyes and tousled black locks may work on some girls, but not on me."

"Damn it Miroku," Inuyasha stated. "Knock it off. Leave my sister in law alone."

"Oh cut the in law title will you Yasha."

"Don't call me Yasha!"

"You sound just like your brother." Mia said smiling.

"I don't sound one bit like Sesshomaru." He said crossing his arms. "We're totally separate people…nothing alike."

"Except for the silver hair, gold eyes and matching last name." Said Sango walking up wrench in hand.

"Keh." Inuyasha scoffed. "Just a formality."

"All right! All right! Slackers get it together and listen up." A stocky man wearing glasses and a fisher mans cap came striding up the aisle. "I want everyone working on something. Actors on the stage we're doing a run through of scene four act two where we last left off, oh Mia…I need to see you."

"Uh-oh." The dark haired girl said. "Look's like Dana want's to see ya."

"I see that Sango. I'm sure it's nothing." Mia said brining her coffee with her. "I'll talk to you all later."

Mia walked across the stage and stood next to Dana as he went over a list of duties for Jakotsu. The slim man nodded and smiled and scribbled notes onto his clip board with an occasional, 'mm-hmm,' or an 'ah, yes.' Dana took of his hat running a hand through what hair he had left. "Oh and Jakotsu,"

"Yes sir."

"Please, please try to keep Ayame calm. I'm growing bored with her tantrums."

"Yes sir." He sauntered past Mia, shooting her a look that screamed 'good luck.'

Mia stood quietly waiting for Dana to acknowledge her existence. He was an odd looking old man and yet he held such power. He'd been in the performing arts business now for over forty years. His name was well known not just in their town, but throughout the country. His grey hair and weathered skin only added to the intrigue of the old theatre guru, Dana Martela. "Ahem." She coughed.

"Ah, Mia there you are." He started down one of the theatre aisles as she followed. "As you know Mia, I'm fond of your work. You're creative and committed. You haven't let me down yet." He paused at the east wall. "But I did not hire you because I like you."

"Do you like anyone you hire." Mia blinked and coughed again. "Sir?"

"Right well," He continued. "I've noticed a certain listlessness with you lately. I'm gonna be honest I don't like it." He stood straight and furrowed his brow. "Now I know that people, especially the young ladies, sometimes have things going on in their lives that they can't exactly control. But here," He gestured to the theatre around them. "We have to be strong. So please Miss Deacon, get thy shit together or be gone form my sight."

She stood blinking watching him leave. She wanted to be offended at his words sprinkled with pseudo charm and sexist undertones, but she couldn't be. He was right and she knew it. Naraku's actions toward her had made life difficult, but he was gone now. She had to get her step back, her spunk. She didn't need him, didn't want him. "I can do this." She said confidently walking back to her workroom. Stopping in the doorway she pulled up her sleeve to look at the bruises. "As long as he goes with them."