The girl lifted groggily from her malleable mattress that was still creased into an indented formation of where her body had slept the night away. At least that was until it stole her blissful empty slumber and twisted it into a sadistic torment that mirrored her past to be so eloquently painful.

Sitting on the edge of her low bed that was an adaptation of the ancient futons of her ancestors, her knees angled to rest in a sharp ninety degrees to her thin ankles. Her hips were much lower than her knees due to the length of her legs and the majority of her body their size took up. Kagome was said to have a short torso, but it wasn't any smaller than normal, it was just considered that because her legs were about two-thirds of her body's height.

Willowy arms stretch lazily above her head as a cat-like yawn sighed from her mouth and her thin, pink tongue curled most curiously in on itself in a wonderful show of dexterity. Ebony tresses flowed behind her to reach the silk sheets in an extreme contrast to the shimmering strands that were only slightly mussed towards the crown of her cranium due to sleeping on her back all night. Kagome found in astonishment that long hair remained much neater during the nightly hours than short hair that usually got caught up in itself and resulted in many annoying cowlicks.

A young woman stumbled through her apartment pass her bedroom door into the sitting room. Delicate feet, albeit somewhat clumsy at times, staggered onto arctic stygian tiles that practically numbed her toes that she had to constantly wiggle to keep the movement available for balance. A hiss slipped softly through half open lips since Kagome was once again nibbling on them, but on this rare occasion, usually where she is trying hard to concentrate, the girl is suckling the upper lip leaving the bottom with a break. The bottom lip is tortured with nips when she is nervous.

It would be pathetic to admit she was trying very hard at this moment, but at four in the morning who wouldn't be besieged with the effort to keep awake? And so she fiddled with her coffee maker sliding the filter into its proper place and listened for it to begin to percolate before re-entering her bedroom to fall into the pleasurable heat of her grey tiled shower. Kagome stood with her knees unlocked as the strings of crystal plummet down onto her shivering frame warming her and flushing her pale skin with a light red that was lost in the darkness of the room.

She never bothered to flick on the lights. It was too early anyways and always stung her eyes. Kagome usually lit the numerous candles circulating the room since there was no window or even a slit, only a vent that would pilfer the steam from the room with the flip of a switch on the wall. But this morning Kagome was more concerned with entering the shower than prepping the bathroom to her usual standards.

Bathing was an art ordeal that she daily took part in and set aside a large amount of time to bask in its splendorous pleasure she derived from the simple convenience it provided. Even with her nightmares, the constant jets of the tingling hot stream streaking, descending down her curves in a sensually relaxing manner. It also helped to replenish her exhausted mind and heal her bared soul. The soothing splatter as the tiles condensed with a fog because of the resounding mist clouding the rectangular area.

Kagome was actually lucky than most of the dorm roomers. She was rewarded with not only a shower in her room, but also a separate room set apart from the others specifically for a large sauna that no where near resembled a bath. Its stark white tile shimmered in the plain room. Along one wall was a table that lined the entire span that had different sized drawers layered in its width that allowed much storage to be contained within its many compartments.

The room had mist gorging the highest borders of the walls created by s small sponge and was a mix of tints ranging from periwinkle to different variations of grey. The white walls appeared to continue down into the floor because of the sparkly white paint blending into the white tiles. The tub itself was large enough for two people to bathe comfortably, but Kagome never had company over and so that was never its use. A thin ledge of about four inches rounded the edge to give space to certain toiletries that would be of use during the time spent in the spacious area.

The outside of the tub was made of a cedar that gave off a pleasant natural perfume that only added to the atmosphere of the experience. Kagome made sure to relax and pamper herself in this treatment at least three times a week. She could never get enough of it and the currents helped to heal her aches, mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Kagome massaged the shampoo into her hair, her eyes opening passed the torrents of the mechanical waterfall to the ceiling watching the curling tendrils of incense smoke mixed with the haze. Her incense burned on the sink counter top and filled the chamber with a lovely jasmine and pine. An odd scent she agreed, but was too curious not to test it out. She was so afraid of the catastrophic bond the two scents would cause that she had burned it on the roof of her building.

Kagome was completely surprised and immediately became an avid customer of the aroma shop that dwelled on the corner of her very street. She had discovered it in her first year of college and had requested this building for the following three years. Sometimes she lived in other dorms, but it was always on or near this street so she was close to her favorite store and the lovely park across the street.

It was also in this small, family owned shop that she bought her massage oils, lotions, perfumes, etc. The store would also customize fragrances. You could make any combination of scents, but only Kagome and a few others were allowed in the back to assist and watch. It was in this very shop that Kagome discovered one of her best friends, Sango.

Her parents started the business when they first moved to Tokyo, but had passed away a few years back leaving it to Sango. Her younger brother, Kohaku who was eight, also helped when he could after school. He went to middle school in a particularly prominent prep school in Tokyo. He retained so much information mainly through audio means it was almost unbelievable. The boy was certainly gifted and went to the rather expensive school for no cost to their smaller family of two. Kohaku was so greatly sought after a full scholarship all four years was given to ensure that the brain would attend. The school was officially named 'The Seikio Order for Gifted Students," but it was shortened to Sei-Prep. (say-key-oh)

Everyday when Kagome had an absence of classes she would help Sango out in the store. One reason was because they were close friends, but also because Sango was a double major in biology and chemistry. The poor girl often had trouble keeping up in her studies as well as maintaining the business basically by herself. Kagome didn't mind the free work and lost time. The majority of it was her sitting in the back on one of the many counters lining the room resting against the cabinets attached to the wall behind her. She would have one of Sango's text books in her lap while reading off questions to her friend to help her study.

Some of her favorite and most cherished memories resided in that back room making incense or filling out orders for customized lotions with her companion. But she also enjoyed helping customers pick out their preferred scent or one that suited their personality best. Even more so she enjoyed the view. A park was set cattycornered to the store and through the trees the most gorgeous sunsets would be visible. She would sit with Sango drinking authentic green tea leaves grown by Sango's grandmother at one of the small tables in front of this window that filled the entire stretch of one wall. It was breath taking and as one who held a certain soft spot for Mother Nature, it was a habitual event that she looked forward to for a good portion of her day.

This would be a filler chapter and yes this is moving slow. The main characters haven't even met yet, but I update every other day, so I ask you to be patient. I will get there. Except I only realized that if I update on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays like I planned you will get two chapters in two days because of the Sunday- Monday turnover. Be happy and keep my updates regular, review. I almost skipped this update today.