Chapter 21

Kagome walked into Naomi's room, not surprised to see Sesshomaru. He had a notebook in his hand, writing something out, before he showed it to her. She did her version of a giggle, covering her mouth with shaking shoulders. Sesshomaru had been released two days ago, and he came back to visit every day since he left. He spent hours here talking to Naomi and was grouchy the moment he was forced to leave.

He glared at Miroku and Kagome when they entered, but they brushed him off. He was just angry his alone time with his crush was getting interrupted. Kagome signed something to Naomi, picking on Sesshomaru and his bad mood. Naomi covered her mouth again, a smile on her face as she glanced at Sesshomaru and then looked away.

"What did you say to her?" Sesshomaru had his eyes narrowed towards Kagome, but the woman just shook her head, placing a finger over her lips.

"Face it. The girl talk has started." Miroku sighed, shaking his head. "Sango came by yesterday with Kagome, and they kicked me out of the room. I drove them here, and that was the thanks I got."

"Hn." Sesshomaru leaned back, once more looking at Kagome who just raised her eyebrow.

Brushing off the men, Kagome took a seat next to Naomi's bed. "I overheard the nurses, the other day when I first came in here. They said you didn't have any family. Is that true?" Kagome had told Miroku about what she heard, but nobody else. Miroku had given her permission to offer Safe Haven to Naomi if she needed it, which was why Kagome had told Miroku in the first place.

Naomi immediately began to sign, going into her story. What she said, had Kagome's heart breaking. For long moments Naomi just signed, the only one who could understand was Kagome. Miroku and Sesshomaru waited impatiently, Sesshomaru fidgeting as he waited for Kagome to translate. When Naomi finished, Kagome signed back, asking if she could tell the boys.

With Naomi's nod of permission, Kagome turned to Miroku and Sesshomaru. "When her mother was alive, everything was okay. At least, as much as it could be. Her mother was sweet and kind and didn't look at Naomi any differently because she couldn't speak. However, when she was six, her mother died. Her father never accepted her. He refused to learn sign language and moved her from America to Japan. There he locked her away, and never let her out of her room. She has been in that room for years. She escaped the night of the accident. She had nowhere to go."

"You finally get free just for me to run you over with my car." Sesshomaru was scowling, looking at his lap as he thought of what he just learned. Naomi said something, but he didn't understand which frustrated him even more.

"She doesn't blame you. She said she had never been outside of her house, so she didn't know the road was there." Kagome smiled at Sesshomaru, and then held up her hands, wiggling her fingers. "I'll teach you sign language if you want. It's the least I could do to thank you for helping me like you are. I can teach everybody."

"That would be much appreciated." Sesshomaru nodded at Kagome, his aggravation gone.

Kagome turned back to Naomi, getting to the reason as to why she came here. "I was like you. In a way, at least. I had nowhere to go until Miroku found me. I was living on the streets. He owns a club called Safe Haven. It's a strip club." Naomi's eyes widened, and Kagome chuckled. "I had the same reaction. I'm sure all the girls did."

"Not Kagura." Miroku mumbled under his breath, Sesshomaru nodding in agreement.

Kagome ignored them, keeping her focus on Naomi. "I'm a bartender, along with Sango. There are a few girls who come every night to strip, and they all have similar stories to ours. Nowhere to go. Safe Haven is a place for women to get back on their feet. You will have a room to sleep, and a job that pays decent money. When you are on your feet, you are free to do as you will."

"I will add that I have rules for all of my customers." Miroku leaned forward in his chair. "They are not allowed to touch my girls. No drugs from the customers, or the girls, are allowed. No prostitution is allowed. The girls dance. They don't get groped. Think of it as a respectful and clean strip club. An oddity."

Naomi asked a question, making Kagome choke on air. Miroku had called the girls his. It was something he had always done. But he meant it as a protective boss, more than anything else. Naomi had taken it the wrong way and asked if she was expected to sleep with Miroku.

Kagome shook her head sharply, blushing. "No. That isn't required. He isn't like that. Plus, he and I are together, and I don't share." She refused to look at Miroku, but she was sure both males had gathered what Naomi had asked. "You will be paid hourly, and any tips you make are yours. Kagura is the senior girl. She has been there the longest and will do all of the training. If you disagree, we understand."

"It is possible that I could find something other than stripping, as well. I do not need any more bartenders, but perhaps someone to do my books for me. Numbers have never been my forte. So, if you know any accounting, that would be an option as well." Miroku wanted to give Naomi as many options as possible, but he didn't have many more spots open aside from stripping.

Naomi grabbed the notepad she was using, writing something down and turning it around for everyone to read. She was offering to do both. She would strip and help Miroku do numbers and inventory when it was time.

Kagome smiled largely. "Great! When you get released tomorrow, Miroku and I will come and pick you up. We will get your room prepared tonight. I brought you an outfit. Sango went and picked it out, she did the same for me." She pointed to the bag she had set on the sink when they walked in. Soon Naomi would have a new home at Safe Haven.

…

The next morning, the crew was once more shutting down the bar. They were going through their cleaning routine, then Miroku and Kagome were going to pick up Naomi. Sesshomaru wasn't cleaning. He of course complained that he was still hurt from the car crash and couldn't help. That didn't stop him from bringing in the dozens of bags full of clothing that he bought for Naomi though.

Kagome laughed at something Sango said to InuYasha, the poor man once again getting turned down. They all stopped when they heard the door open, and an older woman walking in. Miroku straightened, smiling kindly. "I'm sorry, but we are closed until tonight."

"I know that." Her voice was cold, degrading, and caused Miroku's smile to fade instantly. She looked to Kagome, who took a step back, eyes wide with fear. "I need to speak to you, Kagome."

"No." Kagome whispered, shaking her head frantically. When the woman stepped forward, Kagome took two steps back, running into Sesshomaru who helped to steady her. He released her as soon as he was sure she wouldn't fall.

"I represent Mrs. Wolfe." Sesshomaru pulled out a business card, walking to the woman and handing it out to her. "I am unsure what your business with my client is, but any communication should be done through me."

Hitomi slapped Sesshomaru's hand away, glaring at him. She looked back to Kagome, holding up her phone. "We talk, or I call him now."

"No!" Kagome's eyes were starting to water, her hands clasped in front of her chest. Miroku moved to stand beside her, glaring at the woman that was causing such an emotional uproar in Kagome. Kagome, sniffled, looking to her feet. In that moment, she reminded them of the woman she was when Miroku first found her. "Please don't tell him where I am. I know you never cared for me, but I am begging you. At least give me this."

"I gave birth to you. You owe me everything." Hitomi ignored the gasp of the others in the room. She wouldn't be bothered by the thoughts of lowlifes such as strippers and bartenders. "What on earth are you thinking? Kouga has been at my doorstep almost everyday asking for you. Why did you leave him?"

"You know why." Kagome's entire body was trembling. Sango placed her hands on her friend's shoulder, glaring at Hitomi from behind Kagome. The rest listened, waiting to see what Kagome would do. "He tried to kill me. I-"

"What did you do that made him angry?" Hitomi snapped, stomping her foot.

"Excuse me?" Miroku stepped in front of Kagome, eyes so furious they were dangerous. "Did you just blame Kagome for getting abused? What kind of mother are you?"

"Stay out of this." She didn't even look at Miroku but kept her eyes on Kagome. "You scared him Kagome." Glancing down, she saw the scars on Kagome's hands, shaking her head in disappointment. "You hit him with a hot cast iron skillet, stole his money and left him on the floor."

"Sounds pretty badass to me." InuYasha was looking at his nails, pretending not to be bothered by the scene in front of him. Truthfully, he was just as angry as the others. This woman was a true piece of work.

Closing her eyes, Hitomi took a deep breath, begging the gods for patience. "You run away from your husband. Start working in a strip club, file for divorce… you are making yourself look like a whore." Hitomi covered her face with her hand, shaking her head again. "Stop this nonsense Kagome. You agreed to marry him to pay off our debts. You leaving means our support is gone. What about your grandfather and brother?"

"You manipulated me. You told me Kouga was nice and that he would love me." The tears broke free, and Kagome wiped at them. "You knew how he was. He killed my baby, and you told me to suck it up and be a better wife. My baby, Mother!" Kagome yelled the last part, breaking the hearts of those around her. "I was devastated, and you didn't care! You didn't even take me to the hospital. You left me to take care of myself! Now you want to know why I left? He tried to kill me. He had his hands around my throat, and I defended myself and then ran."

"He said you started slamming doors, throwing things, and acting out. I told you that if you wanted him to stop disciplining you,-"

"I slammed one fucking door." Kagome yelled; hands clenched into fists at her sides. "One single door. I found him fucking some bimbo, but I would get beaten if a man even looked at me. I got punished for something out of my control, but he screwed around."

"You are acting like a child-"

"That's enough." Miroku's voice broke in, the sound dangerous. He was looking at his feet at first, but slowly raised his head to meet Hitomi's eyes. "Get out, and don't come back." Hitomi opened her mouth to argue, and something in Miroku snapped. He flipped the table in front of him, sending it flying in his rage. Stalking towards the woman, he got into her space, hovering over her. "Stay away from Kagome. Stay out of my bar. If you so much as step foot anywhere near her again…"

"You'll do what. She needs to come back. She needs to go to Kouga-"

"You tell that fucker he can rot in hell. Kagome isn't going back to him. She is going to stay here where she belongs, where she is safe. Women like you shouldn't have children. How Kagome turned out to be as sweet and kind after being surrounded by you and Kouga for so long, I will never understand. Get the fuck out of my bar." Hitomi glared at him for a moment, and he yelled, making her finally move. "Now!"

Sparing one last glance at Kagome, she turned and left, leaving behind a shell shocked Miroku. No one had ever seen him so angry before. He wasn't one to get violent or even close to it. For a moment, he wondered if he was turning into his father, because he had been close to forcing that woman out of his bar.

Two hands wrapped around his waist, and his body slumped, the anger leaving him in one giant whoosh. "I am sorry, Kagome. I shouldn't have reacted the way I did." He turned in her arms, slowly cupping her cheeks. He was worried that he had frightened her, but she turned her cheek into his palm.

"I love you, Miroku." Opening her eyes, she met his stunned ones. He was silent for a moment, but then leaned down to capture her lips. His kiss said so much more than his words ever could. He loved her too, and he would spend the rest of his life showing her that.

...

This is an apology chapter for being so damn late. Again, I am sorry for missing last week. I want to offer a second reminder that I have officially started posting a new story called Severed Bonds. It is a Sesshomaru/Kagome story. I'm trying to get back to the way I was before when I had several stories going at once, and this is the first push I am giving myself. So, I hope you all enjoy.