I have alas no claim on the character of Sesshomaru or any of the charcters of Inuyasha. I promise we'll get to Paris soon.

Chapter 2

Maki's Apartment

The car trip down to the city took many hours. Sesshomaru looked quietly out the window as they sped down the motor way as Maki chatted non stop. He really did remind Sesshomaru of his old companion. Strange, he never thought he would miss him as much as he did but when Jaken finally died Sesshomaru felt an emptiness that had never left him. So much emptiness, first he lost his beloved Rin, he had more time with her than he had expected. Because of the Mediou she had lived two hundred years and had never really grown old. Still, she was human and eventually time took her from him. He had hoped their son would escape the fate of a hanyou but he finally succumbed to his demon blood after four hundred years. His castle had become a tomb with nothing but his echoing footsteps to accompany him. Here he was now in the human world not really sure why he had decided to be here.

"Hey Sesshomaru," said Maki ,"We're here, Tokyo, if you want to join the human world in class this is the place!"

Sesshomaru looked out the window. He knew this place, he had spent a great deal of time here of course it had not been called Tokyo then. It was so changed he could barely recognize it. Fugiama was still there and there were some physical landmarks he remembered. He ran his tongue over his teeth, it felt strange not to feel his fangs, he absently touched his ear which now lay closer to his head and was soft and rounded. They passed a shrine, he remembered this place, there were more buildings now and it was like a compound in the middle of the city still there were parts that were unchanged. For a second he could sense Kagome, and then the feeling was gone. Kagome, who loved and followed his brother Inuyasha, this was her world but she was no longer at the shrine. He wondered where she was.

Maki drove the car through the center of Tokyo. Sesshomaru was astounded, so many humans, lights, sounds and machines of all kinds. It was almost overwhelming even for a demon such as him. Finally they came to a large building. "Here we are," said Maki, "home sweet home!" Maki parked his car and took his suitcases from the trunk. He swiped a plastic card in the door and somewhere a mechanism clicked and the heavy door opened. He led Sesshomaru to a large box which suddenly began to rise. It stopped with a jolt the sliding door opened to reveal another door. Maki took a fob on a chain from his pocket which he moved over a red light. The light turned green and the door opened. They walked into a large space, nothing here looked familiar. Sesshomaru stood bewildered looking around at the strange devises and things.

"This is my studio and home," said Maki proudly, "this is where I make magic!"

"Then you are a sorcerer!" said Sesshomaru sternly.

"Oh no," said Maki smiling, "it is just a figure of speech; I guess you could say I'm an artist. I create my art here."

"You make your pictures with light."

"That's right my Lord," Maki was no fool, he could tell Sesshomaru was becoming bewildered and irritated best to try to calm him. "Lord Sesshomaru," said Maki, "this world is very different from the one you are used to. Allow me to speak frankly so I may show you all that is here and how it works."

"Of course," said Sesshomaru.

Maki literally danced around the large room explaining his lights and camera equipment. It was obvious he was passionate about his work. "I take pictures of lots of pretty girls and some guys too," he said. He brought Sesshomaru to the kitchen part of the room which was all white and chrome. Maki demonstrated the sink and faucet showing how with a mere movement of a lever one could get cold, warm and hot water. He turned a knob on the stove making a low blue flame shoot up and explained how it was gas that came from deep in the earth that powered it. Sesshomaru watched intently and Maki wondered if he could take all this in. Sesshomaru was a powerful demon, his mind was clear and sharp he drank in everything Maki was showing him. Maki took him to the bathroom and showed him the shower. "You see," he said, "I turn this knob and we something like the waterfall I found you in except you can make it any temperature you like."

Sesshomaru smiled and turned the shower on and off a few times. He looked over at the toilet and a puzzled look crossed his face.

"Oh that, that is the toilet," Sesshomaru still looked puzzled. "It's where you put the waste from your body." Sesshomaru looked at him and at the toilet, he didn't get it that much was obvious.

Maki was not sure how to approach this. "Do you pee?" he asked, "Do you poop?"

Sesshomaru stiffened his eyes flashed red.

"You don't have to tell me," said Maki quickly "if you do that's where you put it then you push this lever here and it is taken away." Sesshomaru solemnly pushed the lever watching the water swirl and go down the drain. Maki breathed out relieved, last thing he wanted was to find a pile of steaming demon crap in a corner.

Maki led Sesshomaru back out to his studio. "Do you mind if I take a few pictures of you here?" he said," or would you prefer to rest?

"I need no rest," said Sesshomaru, "take your pictures."

Maki positioned Sesshomaru in front of a large draped white sheet; he positioned the lights carefully as Sesshomaru watched patiently. Finally, Maki began to snap pictures. Sesshomaru was a natural looking right at the lens his golden eyes exuding power, danger and even a little sadness. Later as Sesshomaru clicked from one television station to another in the living room area Maki sat at the computer looking at the extraordinary pictures he had taken. Yes he had really found something special today; Sesshomaru was a star, that was for sure. Maki had always had a good instinct for these things and if that instinct was correct he had just found a super star.