11.22.02

DISCLAIMER: Sesshoumaru, Kagome and the world of Inuyasha are the creations of Takahashi Rumiko and are not owned by me.

WARNING: This fic is rated PG 13 (yes i changed it) for obvious reasons: sexual reference and provocative/graphical scenes. If you feel offended by materials as such, or you are underage or watever...PLEASE STOP HERE. Of course i'm still testing the waters at this stage, tell me what you think about so far, ne?? I want to portray Sesshoumaru as a highly sensual character, often using sexuality as a tool to get what he wants. Some of you might not be used to that in Sesshoumaru, (I'm thoroughly enjoying this 'horny bastard' however =D) so you have been warned ^_________^ On the same note, if you feel that you will not enjoy reading Sesshoumaru who's like this, PLEASE STOP HERE AS WELL. As much as i enjoy reading constructive criticisms, I do not like it much when people tell me to change a very major part of my story to suit their own liking. This is my story afterall, so please respect that = )

**I'm writing dis as my dad clears the fish tank besides me. Gawd, wat a conducive environment yea =_=;

neways!!! dis chappie's written especially for avihenda. Dood! thanks a whole bunch for your motivation and your wonderful story ideas!!! *big hugz*!!**

Hakuyoukai - white demon aka Sesshoumaru. This is his Yakuza nickname, in case i haven't made it clear enough =
Yakuza - literally, ya=8 ku=9 za=3. The Japanese mafia.

Oyabun - 'Father' of a Yakuza clan. The highest in command second to none.

Shinjuku - a large city in Japan which is famous for its shopping and business district.

Kabuchiko - located on the north eastern part of Shinjuku, the 'red-light district' of the area where the crime rate is one of the highest.

Irezumi - A Japanese style tattoo. It is a beautiful form of art, treated with great reverence, and is considered a 'trademark' for the Yakuza.

Bakayaro/baka - Stupid. Cuss word.


YAKUZA

***


Chapter eight: Deals and Make-overs


Mrs Higurashi coughed slightly as roused from her sleep. She reached for the small clock by her bedside. "Oh no...Is it really one already?"

She pushed the bed covers aside weakly and slid her legs from the bed. "Kagome..." Mrs Higurashi's called out, her voice coarse and strained. She had had a hard time falling asleep the night before. Souta...Shaking her head, she struggled to push her worries aside. "Kagome, have you had lunch yet?" She called again, even as she got to her feet in a hurry. "Okaasan overslept darling -- "

The sudden bout of dizzyness caught her by surprise.

"Kami..." Gasping, Mrs Higurashi supported her head with one hand as sat back onto the bed. The room was spinning. Or was it her head? She bit her lip to keep from crying out. It was those sleepless night, for sure. They were starting to take a toil on her mind.

Finally, after what seemed like hours but was really just several minutes, Mrs Higurashi managed to stand. Unsteadily, she made her way across the warm carpet on her floor, to the pale, yellow wooden door.

She remembered how Souta and Kagome had squealed with delight, when she had decided to buy a creamy white carpet for their rooms each. That was probably...ten years ago? Then, Souta was still an innocent seven year old child, and Kagome, a bashful young lady who had just turned eleven.

She sighed as her pale hand turned the door knob. How time flies. And how people change...Well at least Kagome was still the same sweet girl, caring and thoughtful. But Souta...

If only Kagome had even a fifth of his fiery temper.

She chuckled grimly. Souta had a temper alright, but it never showed until he reached junior high. And it had shocked the whole family, to say the least. When she had received news that her younger son had set fire to his school compound, she had thought it to be a prank. Souta would never have hurt even an ant.

But sadly, she could not deny it for long.

Without even knowing why, she watched as her kind-hearted son turned into a wild, rebellious stranger.

She was thankful, though. For the loving support and strength Kagome had given her, even till now. She knew that the younger girl sensed it. Sensed her troubled heart, and her confused mind. Kagome never mentioned any of it though. Steering away from the topic was the way the younger girl dealt with it, her own quiet way of comforting her mother.

And Mrs Higurashi appreciated that.

None of the fake concern, or the sarcastic sympathy. None of those, 'oh, it is such a shame, the way your child turned out. A gangster, really.' Or, 'well, Mrs Higurashi, we can hardly blame you, for the way things have turned out. One would hardly expect a boy without a father, to grow into a fine gentleman, after all.'...

"Get a hold on yourself, Asako! You will not let those thoughts enter your mind." Firmly, she pressed the yukata around her body and stepped out into the cold corridor.

***

Kagome stared mutely at the digital clock in front of her. Worried blue eyes seemed glued to the digits, unaware of the many high-tech gadgets that had been skillfully encased into the dashboard of the Porsche. It blinked a luminous green, unrelentlessly slow, a contrast against the darkened interior.

10:15 AM.

10:24 AM.

10:29 AM.

Seconds seemed like minutes, and minutes passed like hours.

Yet, with each blink, Kagome's white fingers digged themselves deeper into the black leather seat. Her gaze on the clock intensified and the thin furrows between her brows deepened.

Finally, Kagome could contain herself no longer.

"Whe-when are you letting me home, Hakuyoukai-san?" She cursed her stuttering. Why did she feel like it just made her appear much less intimidating than she had wnated? "The contract never mentioned that I would be kept 24 hours a day, did it? I-I'm sure it didn't..." Frowning slightly, she shot a quick glance at Hakuyoukai.

And faltered.

Ok, so even if she wasn't stuttering, Hakuyoukai would probably remain unruffled. In fact, she was starting to doubt who was doing the intimidation. "Ah...didn't...ah...say anything about..."

"Come to the point."

***

Finally, Hakuyoukai removed his piercing amber gaze from her and focused on the road before him. The traffic was slow. They were, afterall, in the business district of Tokyo, where congestions were abound. Around him, drivers blasted their wretched horns. And the hell it helped.

But he could wait. He had all the time in the world to wait. The day never really started for him, until it was night. He drummed his fingers softly on the dashboard.

She breathed a sigh of relief, he noted with satisfaction. At least she held this much fear for him. But this much, was just enough. Anymore fear, conviction, or even suspect, and his plans would cease to work.

His plans...the plans he had, for this foolish woman-child.

And he wasn't about to ruin them, just because he felt the faintest of urges to subdue her.

Consciously, he softened his tone, until it was like a honeyed caress. "You are worrying. Of what? Tell me." His gaze softened too, and he knew she felt it. Her tiny face spelt confusion all at once. He chuckled. Hn. Gullible fool. This was going to be all too easy.

"I...its just, my mother..."

She seemed to avert his eyes. Bashful. And where was all the fire that you had displayed earlier on?

"She's all alone at home now and..." the tone of her voice lowered, and she spoke cautiously. "Souta's gone...but well at least you let him off right? But still, I'm..." Suddenly, she lifted her face to meet his. Her expression suddenly lightened. Hopeful, almost. He flinched inside, but refused to let it show. He would have to let her keep her hopes up, for now.

"I'm worried, about my mother." Her small hand suddenly reached for his, which still laid on the steering wheel. He felt her lay her hand upon his. Her touch was cool, soft, gentle even. His grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, but his mask remained unchanged. Except for the faintest twitching in his jaw.

He tossed a look at her from the corner of his eyes. Her dark head was bent. Afraid of meeting his gaze? She's going to beg me now, to let her home...like the little bitch she is...

Suddenly, her face lifted, and she looked on at him, her gaze firm and steady, her expression grim. But it was the bright shine in her eyes, the determination, and something else...tears?

"And I thought, maybe you take me back, to meet her?"

He felt his control was wearing thin, his patience snapping.

"Don't misunderstand, Hakuyoukai-san. I'm definitely not trying to escape. I just want her to see that I'm with you and everything's fine..."

Fine? How naive can you get, girl.

She was blabbering on still. "Things like that only happens in...in movies, right? I mean...I have an idea what line you're in..." Think, Yakuza. "But you're not as cruel as you make yourself to be, right?"

Those god-damned trusting blue eyes of her. Manipulating. She was manipulating him, pulling at his heart strings. Trying to gain his sympathy. That little bitch...Playing mind-games with me, are you?

"It's a cruel world out there and people like me," he half turned towards her and let his gaze fall, his long thick lashes half covering his amber eyes. "We fight, hard, to survive." Well that wasn't far from the truth. He looked up at her and let some of the force return to into his gaze. "You wouldn't understand, little girl."

She inhaled softly.

"Then...Souta...does he do that too?"

Twin pools of blue widened like they always did when she was affected. He knew that now. Suddenly, he found it almost difficult to focus on his real intention. Her large eyes seemed to be drawing him in, and weren't about to let him go that easily.

"Souta is a fool." He finally replied. "Excel in whatever you choose to pursue, or give it up."

The traffic lights suspended high in the air turned green and broke his concentration, Tearing his eyes from hers, Sesshoumaru revved up the engine once again and removed her clasped hand gently. He shifted the gear and stepped on the accelerator. About time too. Wouldn't want big, bad Yakuza clan leader here to start a gun fight now, or commit bloody murder in broad daylight.

The girl turned to face the front once again, and he released the breath that he realised he had been holding. She was considering his words. Just as well for her.

"Well," she gave him a rueful smile at last. "I take it that you are coming with me to see my mother, right, Hakuyoukai-san."

***


"Hai, Yamamoto-san. You can expect the goods to be arriving by midnight today." Jaken squeaked, holding the mobile phone a distance from his shrivelled green ears. Yamamoto had a voice like thunder, especially when he was agitated. But then again, how else would the leader of such a humongous syndicate expect to command full attention?

"Very well, Jaken." The deep, bass voice over the phone paused. "And tell Hakuyoukai, I place a hundred percent trust in him, and I do not expect him to fail me either. The dirty bastards from the FBI, they're bent on cracking down on us. Spies, everywhere!" The voice boomed angrily.

Jaken tugged at his collar, the sweat on his palm fast creating a damp patch above his accounts. "Rest assured, Yamamoto-san...our reputation is at stake here."

***


"Just why, exactly, are we here?" Kagome asked in a small voice, refusing to step even an inch further away from Hakuyoukai. Somehow, along the way, he seemed to have changed subtly. The sinister feeling was there, but there was something...gentle about him as well. Not to mention he had promised for her to meet her mother, soon after.

And she was starting to have a rather firm belief, that he was definitely not as bad as he made himself out to be.

So now, between Hakuyoukai and the gigantic, high-ceiling Gucci shop, she definitely chose the former.

"You did promise to follow me, didn't you?" He reached for her arm from behind him and half dragged, half coaxed her out. "Wouldn't want your mom to suspect you of sneaking out in the middle of the night." He bent gave a final whisper in her ear - one which sent another thrill down her back - and shoved her right into the middle of the pristinely white, crystalline hall, as well as a rather ample bossom.

"Uh..." Wow. Kagome had watched women like this on television hundreds of times, each time wishing even more than the other, that she had just a tiny portion of their beauty. But she had never expected one to be standing right, before her.

Though she wasn't too tall, maybe just an inch or two more than Kagome, she was the epitome of feminine beauty. Her porcelain skin seemed to shine with a radiance of her own, the immaculately applied lip gloss gleamed a red sheen. Proudly she stood, her back rod straight and her posture perfect. And she was shapely. Covered with a grey sheath dress, the woman's body seemed infinitely curvaceous, and yet managing not to look sluttishly so.

"Are you a model?" It blurted out from her mouth even before she could catch herself. Pressing a hand over her mouth, she turned furtively to look at Hakuyoukai. His face was expressionless as usual, giving nothing away. She had almost wished they were back in his Porsche again. At least then, he seemed more approachable.

Well, she was definitely on her own now.

She turned back again to face the woman, venturing to look her fully in the face. And suddenly, she was struck by the familiarity of the woman's features. Almond shaped face with a sharp chin, wide blue eyes...just where had she seen it before?

"Kikyo." Was that the woman's name? "Get her a new outfit. And loose the rag she has on. It would not do for me to be seen with her like that."

Kagome spun around sharply on Hakuyoukai's words. "Hey! It's not a rag! And you don't look that good yourself in your blood stained - "

"Follow me." The voice was icy and cold, and it seemed to sap Kagome's will abruptly. Defeated, without even a battle. Meekly, Kagome trailed after Kikyo, but not before shooting Hakuyoukai a hard stare.

"I'll do my best, but Hakuyoukai..." The woman paused in her tracks, and Kagome had to almost skid to a stop, to prevent from bumping into her. "But Gucci on a piece of trash, would be nothing but wasted cloth."

Kagome could only gape.

-end chapter 8-



**Oh humm...*scratches head* if u peeps could, checkout my new ficce, Distant Thunders. And i'm hoping someone'd at least be inspired to write a Hiten/kagome fic too ^______^ uh...pretty please???**

-REVIEWS CORNER-

[Cin of an Angel] - Ooo thank you! I love insightful reviews like yours. *giggles delightedly* And thank god for you dark sense of humour lol.

[may] - heart attack?? gaaa mayhaps i'd better tone down abit *winks*

[Luna] - enthusiastic? All the better for me ^_____^

[avihenda] - well here ya go hon! and thanks SO much for your ideas. Luv ya ^.^

[ForestKarma] - aaahh thank you for liking sess heeeheee but of course, he IS sesshoumaru =D ohhahahah U cracked me up!! i never did think of it that way, but now dat you've mentioned it. LOL ^__^

[Paper-Thin] - yaaaa *wipes sweat from forehead* love your review!! =D

[Landlady of the Universe] - Aekekkeke nop, dat was definitely Inuyash!! but seriously, dat idea is making me laugh so hard lol. oooo i think u'd better not put too much faith in me. knowing me, sesshoumaru might very well be the next ditz in the story lol. KIIddiiinng!! neways, YOU update Promises soon too!!!!!!

[Hoshii] - yo!! thank you ^_____^ am i glad i made dat move den.

[Aoko] - Hmm i included dat in this chap. Kag is 21 dis yr, and souta is hum...17? cant remember . neways, thanx a whole bunch for your review : - )

[Princess Sapphire] - SESS AND KAAGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hey but i'm seriously gld ur reading it despite the pairing =D

[Voldersnort] - u betcha = )

[phoebemoon] - more seduction? o_____o oooOoOo don't tempt me...*grabs fingers which r inching towards keyboard*

[rebecca] - aahhh she's having her hols now. lucky girl huh. and eh..read to find out!

[Celyia] - *stares at celyia and blinks* oh. thank you... *suddenly breaks into loud sobs and wails* but u haven't updated your fics yeeeettt!!!!

[Tea] - thankies babe ^______^ !!!

[Me..] - Woo loved your nice long review! *HINT!* ahahh wat can i say, just read to find out more =P and humm...i really cant tell u where the rating's gonna go but....KEEP UP THE HORNY MIND!!!! *ehem* =___=;

[baka deshi] - hey, glad ya noticed!!! phew, i was hoping kagome would turn out right . she really is a strong chick huh?? ditzy at times, but...strong. which is y she's one of the very FEW female anime characters i respect alot. oooh and i reli cant wait to develop their r/s frm annoyed gangster and freaked out girl to....!! hehe = )

as usual, BIG THANK YOU to those of you who've give me such wonderful reviews and critiques!!