Word Count: 1040
Chapter 36: Virtues
Rain pounded on the roof of the shop late one night, occasionally the violent beat was interrupted by the rumble of thunder.
"Oh, boy, aren't you glad you decided to stay back?" Shippou asked, lightly elbowing Sesshoumaru, his usual grin ever present on his youthful face. "You were this close to being a wet dog out there."
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes. "Your juvenile behavior will be your untimely demise one day."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Shippou waved off his threat with a bored yawn.
"Ex-excuse me?"
The demons looked up, seeing a woman in her mid-thirties at the entrance, drenched to the bones with her clothes sticking to her skin. The rain had washed away some of her makeup, revealing black and blue skin, a busted lip.
"I'm sorry to bother you this late, but could—could I maybe stay here until it stops raining? I won't be any trouble—"
Shippou walked over, smiled charmingly, and extended his hand to the woman, guiding her in. "Is that all you seek?"
"Pa-pardon me?"
"Do we have a guest, Shippou?" Kagome asked, stepping into the room and holding a towel in her arms. She handed it to the woman, smiling kindly. "You poor thing. You are completely soaked! Shippou—"
"Got it, Sorceress!" Shippou gave her a wink and hurried off to prepare some refreshment.
Sesshoumaru stood back, watching as Kagome made small talk with the woman as she dried herself with the towel. By the time Shippou had returned with a tray of hot tea and snacks, the woman had handed the towel back to Kagome, who placed it off to the side.
They drank in silence for a brief moment before Kagome revealed the nature of the shop and herself. She waited expectantly for the woman's answer, though Sesshoumaru suspected based on past incidents, Kagome already had an idea of what it is her client wanted. She still waited for her answer.
"My greatest desire?" the woman asked, voice wistful, fragile, almost as if she was afraid saying the words would rob her of her hope and dream. "My freedom."
Kagome smiled gently. "You love a man. You do not desire him?"
"I cannot have him," she said quietly, acceptingly. "It would be wrong of me to have him all to myself when he is not even mine to begin with."
"And money is inconsequential?"
"With my freedom, I will gain everything else I desire of my own merit."
"Very well," Kagome said quietly, looking at her client with glasslike eyes. "Will you sing me a song, Miyako?"
Miyako looked back, startled that Kagome seemed to know her name and, to a lesser extent, the modest request. "A-a song?"
Kagome nodded, waiting. Behind her, Sesshoumaru kept his eyes on both women, observing, wondering what was going on in the sorceress' mind.
Hesitantly, Miyako opened her mouth, breathing in before she sang an old folk song she remembered from long ago, back to a time when she recalled dusky summer evenings chasing fireflies out in the fields with her friends and siblings as they waited for the moon to emerge from its hiding spot.
Kagome closed her eyes, seemingly remembering something from her own memories. Her breathing was shaky for a moment, a slip up that caught Sesshoumaru's keen observation, though he kept that to himself. To his side, Shippou had turned away, moved but troubled by his own past of a family taken from him.
When Miyako had sung the last verse, the final note hung in the air heavily as the occupants in the room remained lost in their own thoughts. She spoke shyly, "Was—was that alright? I-I haven't sang in a while."
Kagome opened her eyes and smiled kindly again. "It was lovely, Miyako. You will have your wish soon."
She looked back unsure at the sorceress, but she nodded, willing to take a leap of faith with this kind stranger.
Kagome turned to Shippou, who stepped forward holding an umbrella he had brought with him.
"Here," he said, handing the umbrella to Miyako with a gentle smile, "it doesn't look like the rain will ease up any time soon. You don't want to be stuck here all night with a couple of strangers."
Miyako nodded, bowing gratefully to her hosts as she accepted the item. "Thank you for your kindness."
As she headed for the door, she paused when she heard Kagome speaking again.
"You would have been a wonderful singer, Miyako."
Miyako was still and then she sighed, "Maybe in another life, miss. Goodbye."
Shippou remained at the door, watching Miyako walked down the sidewalk until she disappeared out of sight. He still kept his eyes on the horizon, but his eyes had faded, his thoughts disappearing to a time long gone by. It was only when a flash of lightning and the low rumble of thunder shook him out of his daze, bringing him back to the present. He stepped back in, shutting the door quietly.
"I-I'll be in my room if you need me, Kagome," Shippou said quietly, not waiting for a reply, as he disappeared down the corridors.
Minutes passed with just Sesshoumaru and Kagome alone in the room. She continued to drink her tea in silence as he stared at the door.
"She is a whore," Sesshoumaru murmured softly, breaking the silence. He had smelled the stench of indecency and shame on her in spite of the rain having washed away other fleeting scents. This was one scent, he realized, that had been ingrained into her very person. It could not be washed away so simply.
Kagome nodded. "What of it?"
"Just an observation."
"Is that so?"
He looked back at her, remembering her brief loss of composure. She had seemed so vulnerable then, just like a regular being. He wondered what she was thinking of to make her lose her usual serene merriment for just that one brief moment.
"It is late, I should head home," he said suddenly, heading for the door, still hearing the rain pouring mercilessly over Tokyo. He paused for a moment, not looking at her. "Have a good night, Sorceress."
"And you, Lord Sesshoumaru."
He walked outside, feeling the cold rain washed away his troubles.