CHAPTER TWO

Kikyo tapped her foot impatiently and looked at the grandfather clock across the room. Half past nine...in the morning.

They were late.

Not to mention the really bad weather out there, she almost thought she might forgive the drivers. The three winners were suppose to be here at nine, it was half past nine, they would be late, Miroku would threaten to fire her, although Inu Yasha would prevent it. She sighed realizing that she would have to find some way of keeping Miroku CALM throughout the whole thing. Out of the three highly-attractive male models, Miroku was the most annoying. He was the scrawniest, but probably the most popular. He had the muscles n' all, but he was lean, not bulky, like Kouga. Inu Yasha was half way between the two.

Kouga was probably the least popular, no matter how ripped he was. Truth to be told, he wasn't ripped as most 'fan girls' thought. When he was relaxed he appeared to be no better than Miroku, but the photographers make him flex for over half an hour just to work up his muscles. It annoyed Kikyo ever so...

She jumped slightly as thunder crashed and the bullet proof glass windows shook from the force. The wind beat heavily and she watched as a tree almost snapped. Gods, what a horrible storm. She was definitely not going to fire them now. Maybe...she should call off the contest? Wait-no, here they come.

Kikyo opened the large window door just a crack trying not to let any of the bad weather in. She'd have to come up with something special for the three contest winners, that way they wouldn't be angry about the delay and probably getting wet. She watched the door to the sleek, black limo open and one girl jump out with an umbrella over her. Useless. She watched the umbrella flip up breaking before flying out of the girl's hands. One of the security guards grabbed her leading her to the door.

"Come this way, this way people!" Kikyo shouted opening the door. The black haired girl dashed inside squealing lightly at the cold precipitation hitting her. Next was a slightly older girl with brown hair. She seemed to ignore the rain but clung to her luggage refusing to let the guards take it.

"I can carry it myself!" Sango shouted making one back up.

Kikyo watched wondering what the third person looked like. She prayed to the gods it wasn't a male or Inu Yasha would have her head...literally.

"This way, miss," the man called grabbing the girl's thin arm. It was dark but Kikyo was sure she noticed the girl has red hair. Scottish, perhaps? Or maybe she was Irish. Probably Irish, they were the race that usually had red hair. Great...she'd need to hire a translator. The girl didn't even scream or shout...or even threaten to sue...boy, she was tolerant of the rain.

Kikyo opened the door letting the third girl in, who was soaked worse than the other two. "Miss, would you like to freshen up before you meet the three models?" she asked quietly. The girl only shivered before kneeling.

"I-It-it's cold..." she said through chattering teeth. Kikyo quickly grabbed the girl's arm. Why was she wearing a cloak? Oh well, some people did that-WAIT...did she just speak Japanese? 'Praise the Lord,' Kikyo thought silently, knowing she wouldn't have to hire a translator.

"Come this way," she instructed. "May I ask your name?"

The red headed girl looked up for a moment before standing with Kikyo's help.

"A-Ayame, my name is Ayame," she chattered out. Kikyo nodded pulling the girl away from the group. She made her way through the halls until she finally came to one of the bathroom. Ayame glanced around nervously.

"Is something the matter?" Kikyo asked noticing the girl's unusual face. Ayame looked around again trying to think of what to say.

"These... this is different from where I come from," she said quickly.

"Ah," Kikyo nodded pulling the girl in. "Here, I'll give you a quick run-through of how everything works."

Ayame sighed as her racing heart slowed. After Kikyo showed her how to turn of the shower and set the temperature, along with the bathtub, if she wished, she left. Ayame watched the door as it closed and locked. She pulled the cloak back letting it drop with a loud, wet slap. She hadn't wanted for them to see her poor attire. The attire of a hobo...

Her shirt was a dull brown with a strange smell to it, along with a few tears and rips in it. Her pants were nothing what they looked like they should. They were slip on's, like she always wore, but with many, many more holes. After all, she had no real clothes; she constantly tied or stuck rags together to suffice. She pulled the thin clothes off leaving herself bare. She turned to stare at her figure in the mirror a moment.

She could see a faint outline of her ribs against her stomach. She probably hadn't eaten in at least a year. She had tried to starve herself to death, but to no avail. Her stomach was sunk in just a bit. If she ate a little, it would be fixed. Her arms and legs were what one would consider WAY too skinny. Almost no meat on the bones.

She signed at her 'pathetic' self and turned to the shower turning it on. She followed Kikyo's instructions on how to work it.



*T.T*



Kouga glanced outside at the rain. It was soothing to him. It was probably the one thing he would never smoke around. He knew how cigarettes were, but...since he was a demon; he could just heal so it wouldn't hurt him, right?

Kouga sat down into a lounge chair just as his figure slipped. He moved his tail to his side to prevent sitting on it, not realizing his image was back.

A knock.

"Yes?" he called out wearily. He was exhausted and his muscles were sore. Those damn photographers had pushed him over the edge today. He'd have to ask Kikyo for tomorrow off.

The door opened.

"Kou-" Kikyo started. She gaped for a minute before shaking her head.

"I'll be right back," she said walking out and locking the door behind her. Kouga raised a brow but ignored it.

A moment later Kikyo returned trudging Miroku in. Miroku looked down at Kouga and sighed.

"You've been drinking again, haven't you?"

Kouga opened his eyes turning to Miroku. "Why do you care?"

"I wouldn't, but anyone who saw you now would hate you for the rest of your life..."

Kouga looked down at his lap and spotted his tail next to his leg. "Aw, fuck."

Miroku reached out his hand helping Kouga up and setting his disguise over him again. "Let's go," Kikyo said opening the door. "They're waiting to meet you."



*T.T*



Ayame stepped out of the shower slowly with the towel awkwardly wrapped around her shoulders. She shivered as the cold air touched her wet skin. She'd liked to have stayed in that shower longer, but the warmth had started to leave it, and she didn't want to be rude. When she reached for her clothes, she was surprised to find them gone. Confused, she looked for her belongings. She easily spotted her small bag with her few possessions in them. She moved the towel around her waist getting it stay on better and opened the bag pulling a small phone out. As soon as she opened it she could hear the voices.

"How may I help you?" the woman's voice asked. Ayame swallowed feeling nervousness surround her.

"M-may I speak to agents 506 and 709?"

Immediately the line was cut off. A moment later it picked back up and she recognized Kagura's voice.

"I'm in," Ayame whispered feeling as though she could be heard if she spoke too loud.

"Good," Kagura replied from the other side, "Have you seen any of the models yet?"

"No."

"Alright. Look inside of your bag. You should find a necklace with a silver pendent on it. Keep it on at all times, it'll keep you disguised since it's been blessed by many monks. Next, find a small black device. It should fit in your ear. That way we can talk to you without using the phone. Got all that?"

"Yes," Ayame whispered setting the strange ear piece in place. Her ear twitched at the intrusion before relaxing to it. She almost forgot it was in there when she hung up the phone. She pulled the silver pendant necklace from the bag and clipped it on. She watched her image quickly fade into that of a human. She hung up the phone setting it back down into the bag. She jumped as the door knocked and cracked open.

"Y-yes?" she called out as the maid walked in.

"Miss Kikyo has informed me to fit you to a dress," the maid said pulling in a small clothes cart with about five dresses on it. Ayame stepped back nervously.

"Why?" she asked back as the maid closed the door. The maid lifted her head smiling gingerly.

"No need to be scared. It's quite obvious that you're from a poor family. Don't worry, you're being pampered here. I sent your clothes to be washed. If you wish to keep them, I'll return them. But anyway, back to business."

Ayame watched the maid pull a plain green dress off the rack. "Here," she held out the dress. Ayame touched it lightly running her fingers over it a few times. It was so soft...

"What is this material?" she asked blushing at her lack of knowledge.

"The inside is simply a smooth, slightly stretchy acrylic. It may seem cold at the moment, but it'll warm as you wear it. The outside is crushed velvet."

"Crushed...is that why it looks like it's two colors?"

The maid nodded. Ayame smiled faintly as the maid helped her dress.



*T.T*



Miroku walked down the hall behind Kikyo. Inu Yasha, on his left and Kouga, on his right.

"Now listen up," Kikyo began raising her voice a bit, "these two are 'ordinary' people as you call them. They aren't use to the famous life, so try to act normal, okay?"

"Okay," they said in unison.

"Oh, and one more thing," she spun on her heal making each of them take a step back. "One of these girls comes from an extremely poor family from what I can tell. She's probably the luckiest to be here. She doesn't seem all that bright, so you'll have to try and speak things as if she were a two year old, got it?"

"Got it," they said in unison. Kikyo rolled her eyes turning back around and opening the door.

"Wow," Inu Yasha whispered looking at the two girls sitting in chairs apparently just watching T.V. and awaiting their arrival. Miroku leaned down holding a hand to cover his mouth as he whispered into Inu Yasha's ear.

"I call the brunette."

Inu Yasha smirked looking at the girl Miroku was probably going to try and get. He wasn't really one for romance, but he was supposed to let these girls have the best time they wanted, so he'd listen to Kikyo. Plus... it wasn't every day you find a young, black haired, skinny, innocent looking young girl.

"Fine, but I get the other one," Inu Yasha whispered back.

Neither of them noticed Kouga pass them and continue towards the two. He had a bored expression on his face. He'd let these girls hang around, but he'd try his best to ignore them. After all, it was just a contest they'd one.

He walked to one of the chairs next to them and plopped down sideways on it. Kagome squealed at first not realizing who it was.

"Yo," he called out raising a hand before setting it back down. He smirked as the two stared him. It seemed the brunette was the first to respond when she jumped out of her seat and grabbed his hand shaking it.

"Sango, huh? That's a lovely name," he complimented, something neither of his two friends were good at. Sango blushed heavily releasing his hand.

"Hey, Kouga don't hog the girls," Inu Yasha taunted grabbing her hand to shake it. He released her hand and walked to the other girl.

"So," he started kneeling down setting his elbows crossed on her armrest to look up her, "what's your name, may I ask?" He loved doing this to some people...

"Ka...Ka..."

"Well Kaka, nice to meet you."

Kagome nodded slowly trying to register who was in front of her.

Miroku walked to join them. He walked to Sango who had stood up and was still blushing. "Hello there," he said making her turn around. Her entire face turned pink as she blinked a few times. Miroku reached for her hand and brought it up to his lips kissing it softly.

"Nice to meet you," he purred out. Sango squeaked quietly as he released her hand.

"Miss Kikyo!" a new voice came. They all turned to the maid walking out of the hall leading a girl with her.

"Ah, yes," Kikyo nodded grabbing the girl's hand. "This is our third contest winner, please welcome Ayame."

Kouga sat up looking over his chair. He'd wondered what the 'hobo' would look like. It was obvious she'd just had a shower or bath of some sorts for her hair was still damp, but brushed through. Her hair was a bright red and she had the prettiest pair of green eyes he'd ever seen. She was wearing a short sleeved green dress with crushed velvet. Before he could even say hello, or introduce himself, or anything he'd normally do, Miroku walked next to her.

"Why, hello there!" he said in an unusual tone. Inu Yasha slapped his forehead knowing what would come. Sango and Kagome ran over to Ayame introducing themselves to her.

"Back up," Kikyo groaned pushing the two girls a small distance from Ayame, who was grateful. She wasn't use to having so many people around her at once. Kikyo began speaking again but Ayame ignored as she heard the earpiece click. Hearing the word 'testing', she chose to ignore it.

"...and tonight we'll be having crab legs along with..."

Ayame felt something sliding down her back to rest on her rear. She shivered for a moment and tried to ignore it.

Miroku looked at the girl to his side. Was she ignoring him, or did she enjoy his touch?

"...afterwards we'll take you all to your room to..."

Ayame heard the earpiece click again signaling it was off.

Miroku looked at her again. She'd not responded once. Maybe if he took it a notch higher...

"AHH!!" Ayame shrieked jumping back and tripping her dress. Kagome extended her arms catching the girl. Kikyo turned to glare at Miroku who had the most innocent expression on his face.

"What did you do?!" Kikyo snarled.

"I was acting as I normally would have... your orders, Kikyo dearest."

Kikyo fumed as she turned to Ayame who was trying to stand. "H-HE PINCHED ME!" she shouted hiding behind Sango who was now 'temporally' over her crush.

"You asshole!" she shouted. Kagome stood in front of Ayame hiding her as well.

"You dick! What possessed you to do that?!"

Ayame sobbed lightly as tears bridged her eyes refusing to fall. Sango and Kagome parted letting her stomp up to him. Ayame glared at him a moment.

"You... you..."

Miroku smirked awaiting the curse. It didn't bother him, for that matter.

"What? What am I?" he teased smirking.

"You butt-head!"

Ayame spun around and began at a quick run towards the exit. She couldn't take this, already she'd been humiliated. Something... she wasn't used to.

"Hey, hey!" she heard a voice and before she could lift her head she ran into something. She tried to push past it but it grasped her arms tightly.

"Shh, calm down now," it called out again stroking her bangs as it led her back to the group. She finally lifted her head and looked at the gentle blue eyes.

"There, there," he spoke again leading her to a couch. Ayame sniffled wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

Miroku turned to Kikyo and swallowed backing up from her glare.

"Kikyo I-"

"Sweaters. For a year."

Miroku sighed and turned in defeat. First all his maid-girls get run off by Kikyo. Then these three new girls are no fun so far, he scared a girl half to death, got called a butt-head... man that was weird. Not to mention he'll never get to impress girls if he keeps modeling sweaters...





Thank you to my new beta-reader, KagomeHigurashi66.