"I owe you for keeping the girls out of our business," said Sesshomaru. Miroku held the keys close to his heart and smiled.
"So warm…so alcoholic," he murmured.
"Don't overdo it," warned Sesshomaru. "I need you sober tomorrow."
"I promise to be a good boy!" cried Miroku before racing up to the top floor of the Taisho mansion. Some people have mini bars at home where they can have a drink at the end of the day. The entire top floor of the Taisho mansion was an enormous karaoke bar that had almost every kind of beer, ale, and wine that had ever existed. Champagne bottles were stored in a giant refrigerator and the large counter hid the makings for margaritas, martinis, and any kind of drink that you could dream up. Three of the best bartenders in the world came in at 7 PM, ready to give you any kind of drink that you desired, and they didn't leave until 3 AM.
"Heaven!" screamed Miroku. "All we need are girls…but I'll settle for a martini." One of the bartenders hopped into action. Sesshomaru requested a glass of cognac while Miroku strolled over to the sound system. It was, like everything in the Taisho mansion, the best. Miroku put on "I love Rock 'n Roll" and danced back over to the bar.
"Now this is living," he sighed. The night progressed through many songs and drinks. Moonlight spilled through the magnificent skylight and onto a wall clock; 2:35 AM. Miroku, wearing nothing but a pair of socks, a clean white button-up shirt, dark sunglasses, and (thankfully) underwear slid out of the bathroom.
"I am jungle man!" he yelled drunkenly. Sesshomaru sighed.
"And I am sending the bartenders home early." Miroku pouted and flipped his sunglasses up onto the top of his head.
"We're celebrashing," he slurred. Sesshomaru carefully grabbed Miroku's arm and pulled him down the stairs.
"It's bedtime."
"Okay, mommy…night night…" Miroku collapsed on the stairs. Sesshomaru slung his friend over his shoulder and headed away from the bar.
"I can't wait for morning."
The sound of Miroku retching was not music to Candy's ears.
"Damn…well, Mr. Taisho, I'll care of him until your friends get here. I feel like I owe you anyway."
"Thank you." Sesshomaru hurried outside where the queue waited. After only four admissions a disgruntled girl shoved through the crowd.
"Wait in line!" yelled a very randy man. He froze in mid-yell, and cowered.
"Listen, you fucked up horny little toad of a man!" hissed Alenka. "I'm not here for a show, so unless you wanna hold the hair of a MALE vomiting teenage pervert you can shut the fuck up!" The line moved aside to give Alenka a clear path to the door. "I hope you like 5 AM Sesshomaru, because I don't," she spat.
"We had to increase our hours due to popular demand. I am grateful," Sesshomaru replied dully.
"You better be; Jill and Sango won't be here until eight!" She stormed into the house and the crowd of men reformed their line. Inside the mansion Candy thankfully let Alenka tie back Miroku's hair.
"There's a hangover cure sittin' on the coffee table, hon, so have him force it down once he's done."
"I will," sighed Alenka.
"Thanks, sweetie. Off to the salt mines!" Candy blew her a kiss and walked off. Alenka shuddered.
"No offense, dearie, but prostitutes creep me out," she mumbled.
"Not me," sighed Miroku. His squinted eyes widened and he turned back towards the toilet.
"Karma," said Alenka.
"This is humiliating!" grumbled Sango as she unlocked Miroku's cashbox. "I'd better get well paid for this."
"You will," said Sesshomaru with a complete absence of reassurance. Sango sighed.
"The bouncer for a whore house…where did I go wrong?"
"Cheer up!" said Jill brightly as she watched the queue grow. "At least you're not with Alenka." Sango chuckled.
"Yeah, I guess." At noon Alenka sidled down the stairs and announced that Miroku was fast asleep. She also took over for Sesshomaru.
"If you take Jill to lunch I'll call it payment for me and her," said the weary girl. Before Sesshomaru could object Jill had dragged him off again, this time in the direction of Quiznos.
"This is fun!" chanted Jill as she played with several toothpicks. "I don't have to do anything!" Sesshomaru shrugged. "So, how'd Miroku get so drunk?"
"I let him at my father's bar." Jill cackled.
"You guys have a weird friendship! Alenka and Sango would never do anything illegal but you and Miroku do that kinda stuff all the time."
"I suppose we do."
"Alenka says it's sweet," continued Jill. "She told me that Miroku doesn't really have a family, just his pervy, drunken grandfather and that he sees you as his family. Sango thinks you're both just pervs. But me, I say you two are just like the three of us." Sesshomaru blinked.
"Why?"
"'Cause your lives revolve around your friendship! I dunno what I'd do with Alenka and Sango…be bored all the time, I guess." Sesshomaru was stunned. It didn't show on his face, of course, but in his mind he realized that this klutzy girl was exactly right.
"Would you like to have lunch tomorrow?"
"What?" Jill gaped at Sesshomaru's blank face.
"Would you like to have lunch tomorrow?" he repeated.
"Sure!" Jill beamed. And, just like that, the girls became part of the routine. Sango and Alenka worked with Miroku and everyday Sesshomaru went to lunch with Jill. And paid, of course.