This fic is very loosely based upon the life of Edgar Degas (with artistic liberties taken ^^;). Also, the story was inspired by the song Tiny Dancer by Elton John.

I do not own Tiny Dancer or Inuyasha. The material presented in this piece belongs to their respective owners. Not me.
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The next morning, Sesshomaru awoke with a very strange disposition. He felt oddly… inspired. As he drew on his clothes, his hands were almost twitching in anticipation of the day's work to come. He ignored the feeling as he walked downstairs.

He quietly sat down at his small wooden table and ate his breakfast while Jaken babbled incessantly about meaningless trifles. After setting down his fork and knife, the artist quietly cleared his throat, commanding the attention of the startled little manservant.

"Jaken," Sesshomaru stated politely. "Are you acquainted with a 'Madame Midou's' ballet studio?" He deftly rose from his seat and walked over to the corner of the room which stored his canvases and various art media.

Jaken squawked in indignation. "Why, of course, my lord. I know of the place. What kind of driver would I be if I did not? I, however, do not understand why it is that you seek it, and why you are currently gathering your art materials. Are the two connected, sir?"

"Be bothered not by it, Jaken. At 11'o'clock sharp, I wish to depart for this studio. You are then free to do as you wish for the remainder of the day, for I predict that I will be spending all afternoon there." Sesshomaru looked up from his burlap pencil case and gazed passively at the little man before him.

The little man in question looked quite baffled and muttered a half-coherent thanks as Sesshomaru stepped out of the room.

At 11am sharp, the carriage left as planned. They traveled across town to a modestly-sized ballet studio with the words "Mme. Midou's Dance Studio" emblazoned across the top of the building in green paint.

Sesshomaru stepped out of the vehicle just as a small dark-haired woman was preparing to close the front door. He strode toward the woman with an air of coolness and dignity.

"Pardon me, madame. Would this be the dance studio of a 'Madame Midou?'" asked the artist smoothly.

"Why, yes, sir, this is the aforementioned place, and I am none other than Celestine Midou. How can be of service to you today?" the woman replied, tilting her head up to let her pale green eyes stare into Sesshomaru's face, her mouth contorted into a half-grimace of annoyance and impatience.

"Pardon the intrusion, but I came to inquire about the studio. May I sit in on a practice session?"

Sesshomaru motioned to the small sketchpad and canvas pencil bag he held in his right hand. "I am an artist and wish to study the human form from a new perspective. This may also gain popularity for your studio if my work sells for large sums." This wasn't a complete lie; he merely wished to see the tiny Oriental ballerina again, but whether it was out of simple intrigue or malice, he could not yet tell.

"I wish to sit in upon your class, madame," he restated with cool confidence. The short, middle-aged woman looked up at him speculatively, one dark eyebrow elegantly quirked.

The artist nimbly reached into his pocket and pulled out a 10 franc coin, which he promptly pressed into the hands of the woman before him, who was standing dumbly at the outrageous aplomb the man before her was displaying.

After looking around her to make sure that eyes were not prying, she quickly stuffed the coin into a side pocket on her apron and ushered Sesshomaru through the door. "The girls do not know that you are here, so be prepared if there is a bit of outrage," she offhandedly commented as she shut the door behind Sesshomaru, encasing them in the dusty, but well-furnished foyer.

Sesshomaru glanced around, suddenly wanting to kick himself for putting himself into a situation where he would be surrounded by several of the singular objects which were the very bane of his existence. However, it was too late to turn back, and he followed the short, bustling woman into the practice room, where several young girls were stretching their legs and idly chatting, their lithe bodies, just emerging from prepubescence, seemed to contort before him like pale vipers. Their large, child-like eyes (for several of the girls were just emerging from childhood) glinted like dark cesspools, and their small budding breasts seemed to Sesshomaru as pointed mounds of cancerous flesh. Every move of the waist, every inch of skin wrinkled or folded by movement, repulsed the artist further. At the sight of the seemingly furious imposing stranger, they suddenly hushed and unconsciously gathered together in a cluster of nervous twitching limbs.

Madame Midou cleared her throat and spoke. "This here is…"

"Sesshomaru De Gas," the artist calmly provided.

"…Monsieur Sesshomaru De Gas. M. Degas is an artist who wishes to study, and has kindly picked our studio to be his subject matter. Please, do not do anything to offend the gracious sir."

"Please, young mesdemoiselles," Sesshomaru stated smoothly, though inside, he was writhing in disgust, "please, just pretend that I am not here. I do not come to intrude. I am here merely to observe." And with that, Sesshomaru quietly sank down to sit upon the short black piano bench that Mme Midou had quickly procured during his short statement.

As the girls looked around nervously and eventually dispersed, Sesshomaru took the opportunity to take in his surroundings. He was in a room seemingly made out of mirrors, and in the east wall was installed a series of ceiling-high French windows, which let the sunlight bounce off of the highly polished pink granite floor. There was a skylight in the ceiling, which ensured that no matter what the time of practice be, sunlight would be provided to dance by.

Mme Midou calmly interrupted his pensive observations to say, "Please pardon the wait. Practice does not begin until about 11:30, once Monsieur Laurent, the dance instructor arrives. This should happen any time in the next few minutes."

Sesshomaru nodded and was almost about to inquire about the presence, or lack thereof, of a certain Asian ballerina, but before the words left his lips, she appeared in the doorway. She walked across the room to her companions, seeming to not notice Sesshomaru's burning gaze directed toward her. Finally, she looked up after meticulously adjusting the red sash over her white-clad midsection, and for a brief moment, his topaz eyes met her aquamarine ones. He saw in her eyes a flicker of recognition as she registered his face, and her eyes widened marginally.

Meanwhile, Sesshomaru's thoughts were reeling. He could not distinguish his feelings for this young girl. Where he felt utter disgust and malcontent toward her teenaged colleagues, this feeling was somewhat absent in regards to her. Still gazing at her seemingly painted china-girl eyes, he could still not put his finger on the feeling. However, what he did know is that when he looked at her, he gained a sort of inspiration, like his hands were itching to create something.

The girl's eyes were still locked upon Sesshomaru's, and her lips slightly parted, as if she was going to say something but decided against it. Sesshomaru was so busy thinking of his sudden inspiration and of the fact that they were staring, that he didn't stop to think if they should be staring.

Neither of them noticed when Monsieur Laurent, the dance master, strode into the door until, upon seeing the short fairy dancer unstretched and entirely unprepared for the lesson, he firmly called, "Kagome! Mademoiselle, please begin your stretches. You have now set us behind schedule!"

This shocked the girl out of her reverie, and she startled and sputtered for a moment before managing to shakily call out, "Oui! I am sorry, Monsieur Laurent," and, without a second glance toward Sesshomaru, the tiny raven-haired ballerina named Kagome began her stretching routine while Monsieur Laurent stroked his thin dark mustache and barked out orders to the other dancers.

A/N: Sorry this story is progressing so slowly! I promise, it'll be worth it in the end.
And I am also extremely sorry to those who were awaiting an update. It's been something lie 2 weeks since the last update. *insert various excuses that are legitimate but sound pathetic here*