How Much Does A Kitsune Charge?

Chapter Three


His fingers worked skillfully as he played his melody, his eyes closed as he searched his very soul for the music within himself. He could smell the crowd's response to his performance, ignoring it as his song intensified. This was the song he had written for her. He usually never played it in public before, but his visit with her this afternoon had been plaguing his thoughts, and he only wished to be near her once more.

This part of the song told of the shy and carefree woman, who had stolen the heart of a man she had never known. The man called to her, and she could not hear him.

His eyes opened as her name drifted across his mind. Kagome… He had finally learned her name. After months of studying her, observing her, and obsessing over her, he finally had a name to call her.

His heart quickened when he thought of her – her name was enough for him to flush from anticipation. Most would think it was from the power he pulled from his core as he played, but in all actuality, he was shy, and his feelings for this girl were the strongest ones he had ever faced.

When his song ended, he took a deep breath. His body was shaking, he noticed, and he took this moment to calm down. The crowd roared their approval, even throwing flowers at him as he took his bow.

Walking backstage, he let his concealment spell drop. He did not like his musical career to interfere with his personal life, and so he had created his alter ego to keep his life a secret. The only one who knew about this was his father, brother, and his manager.

Myouga, the old friend of his father and also his manager, stood up as he saw his protégé enter the rehearsal room. "As expected, you have performed beautifully, Master Sesshomaru. Your father is quite pleased."

Sesshomaru nodded, opening the door to his dressing room, before sighing deeply. He enjoyed performing his music, he really did, but it was a very intimate gesture for him. Playing in front of an audience was something he feared. His alter ego helped to calm him, but it still took a toll on his nerves.

Imagining her smile, he felt himself calming. He looked to the drawing of himself that was lying on his dresser, remembering her invite.

When would he see her again? He felt his stomach coil in anticipation, and hoped it would be soon.

At the end of the night, he walked to his car, stopping as he heard the sound of feet padding against the tiled floor of the concert lobby. He looked, curiously, as he saw the form of a little girl hiding behind a banister. He went to walk towards her, but she fled from him, running the other direction. He sighed, returning to his car. As the lights of the city flickered out, his car turned to life, driving to his home.

On the way, he stopped by so he could see her, to make sure she was okay.

She was working on a flower arrangement, from what he could see, while dressed in overly baggy pajamas. She hummed as she picked different colored flowers, holding them together to see what would go well together, before deciding on a color scheme.

Gold, red, and blue flowers were mixed with large amounts of white baby's breath. Her cheeks were flushed as she created the piece, and once she was done, she took the vase to a covered canvas, pulling the sheet.

She loved oil painting, he remembered her telling him that afternoon, and by the wetness of the oil, she had only just started this painting. His eyes widened as he saw it was a man with golden eyes and white hair, but his facial features were muffled.

She compared the colors of the flowers to her painting, smiling brightly as she cheered her success. "It's perfect…" She whispered, reaching a hand out to her creation.

Sesshomaru felt the butterflies in his stomach growing as she sighed dreamily, her eyes sparkling.

He almost died from excitement. She wanted to see him again, too. He was sure of it.