Title: Work-A-Holic
Author: Tsubasa Kya
Disclaimer: This story is the most horrible thing known to man. It has given me troubles of ungodly proportions. In spite of this, I do not own anything from the "Inuyasha" universe, and neither do I own anything from the "Yu Yu Hakusho" universe.

Chapter Fifteen:
Reflection

"Dinner is wonderful tonight, Souta," Kagome lied as she forced down overcooked stew. Certainly it was better than last night's burnt pork chops, being that it at least had a little moisture to it, but it still had that vile, burnt aftertaste.

Souta looked eagerly at the man he would eventually be married to, expectant of an answer to his 'how's dinner' question. Souta's burning passion to cook something that met Shuichi's standards oversaw any sense the young boy should have taken pride in.

Shuichi smiled and opened his mouth to answer but his phone rang then and he had to excuse himself to take the call. Kagome could understand how work calls might be important enough to take precedence over family; she herself would have taken the call. However, Souta's disappointment shadowed the kitchen in a morose gloom.

Moments later, Shuichi re-entered the kitchen and wrapped his arms around his lover from behind. He whispered to Souta softly in a voice that showed deep regret. "Work called. We have a new case; I'm sorry. I'll probably be gone a few days with this one."

Souta clearly felt put out. He said nothing in response, and Shuichi sighed and left the house. Just as soon as the front door was heard closing, Souta stood up. "I need some fresh air." He declared and he took off.

Kagome knew it was hurting her brother greatly to have Shuichi leaving for work at all hours of the night. Souta didn't even have a clue about what Shuichi really was, so she wondered if their relationship would work out at all.

Left alone, Kagome didn't bother finishing the awful food her brother had cooked and began feeding it to the garbage disposal. Even that didn't want to eat it and it ground angrily. She'd felt the presence moments before it came; an aura like that was difficult to hide.

Then he was there in her kitchen. She refused to turn and look at her once-master. She could feel him standing by the table, and when she turned to grab another plate of food to give to the garbage disposal, she saw he was in man form.

By night, man you will be, Sesshoumaru. But by day, you are cursed to be as you truly are: a dog.

She smiled. She could feel the curse throbbing just beneath the surface of his skin. "Five hundred years and you still haven't gotten rid of the curse, eh?" she asked him coldly, prideful of her work. He didn't smile back at her. He glowered.

"You've ignored my call." He pointed out.

She continued cleaning up the kitchen. Five days had passed since a man came to the shrine and threatened her on Sesshoumaru's behalf. She'd simply decided Sesshoumaru wasn't worth her time and effort and didn't heed the warning. She wasn't Sesshoumaru's pet anymore. She didn't have to come the instant he snapped his fingers.

"Of course I have," she told him. "I have more important things to do than play with you."

She felt him cross the kitchen and come up behind her. Ten years ago, that would have made her melt in fear of him and she would have submitted to each of his whims. She would have let him toy with her body, rip at her just to watch her heal and lick the blood from his fingers.

Ten years ago she would have screamed in agony as he tore his claws down her stomach. Ten years ago she would have writhed beneath him as her blood stained the dyed red silk he kept on his bed. Ten years ago, her future depended on whether or not she could provide him with an heir.

But that was ten years ago. She wasn't his slave anymore. She was the Shikon no Tama now, in human, living form. She breathed the air of freedom, if not from her memories but at least freedom from him. She didn't answer to him.

He would learn that. Or he would die; either way she was immortal now, and he was not. She could not die, but he could be killed. Sickness and age might not affect him but he could be killed. She was impervious to sickness, age, and physical attack. Nothing could harm her that she would not heal from.

"Why will you not come? It is for Toshiro's sake." He questioned.

"Why will you not leave? It is for my own sake," she mimicked.

She was cursed. She cursed herself. In her lust for power, she gave up her humanity—she gave her sanity for this power, and it was a power she could not even access because she would not accept what happened. She would not learn to cope with the blood on her hands. But the ghosts weren't being kept at bay anymore. She could feel them circling her even as Sesshoumaru stood behind her.

"He is your son." Sesshoumaru pointed out.

"And you are trespassing." She walked around him and back to the table. More food was fed to the garbage disposal.

He reached out and grabbed the plate she was handling. "Toshiro is sick, woman. I will not stand by as my son dies. You have the power to heal him, and heal him you will!"

Finally she looked at him. He looked at her with fury in his gold eyes. He was going to do whatever it took to enlist her help… or try. As if she'd bend to his whims. "You're right about one thing… he's yours. I have had nothing to do with him since he was taken from me. I will not start now." She pulled the plate away, set it in the sink, and turned to wash her hands.

To wash her hands of him as much as the food on her fingers. She wiped her hands off on a towel. There was enough time yet to mop the kitchen before she would cook supper for her patient. Once he'd eaten she could do the dishes and then have plenty of time to vacuum the living room and clean the bathroom.

Anything to keep busy. Anything to keep the ghosts at bay. Anything to stay awake.

His presence wasn't helping her a single bit. She went into the cleaning cupboard and took out a broom and the dustpan. He simply stood there, staring at her like she was an alien. She was very unlike him, and she knew that. At the same time… she was worse than him. She was a danger as much to herself as to others.

It was so sad she knew this. She was the bane to mortal existence and like it or not, he was mortal. She was as close to the gods as anyone would ever be. If it meant she could die, she would take the mortal death. It would be an escape, and she would most certainly love that.

"What could I give you to persuade your help? Toshiro is dying of disease. He needs you."

"You could die." She said, not sparing him a single glance. Her voice was like ice daggers, and even she felt a chill though she showed none of this. "But then I will curse him to suffer as I have made you, just so you can hate me in the afterlife."

She began sweeping and he growled in anger. She only smiled as she swept the floor, but he could see that smile as a reflection in the patio door. She looked at his reflection. "There was a time when you would have jumped to help anyone on a whim." He told her.

She laughed, a cold and hurting sound. "Long, long ago. There was a time when you would never have stopped to ask for help. Don't start now…"

He clenched his fist, and seemed to simply fade out of existence like a ghost from her memories. She continued sweeping. Tonight, she would have no nightmares. She hoped. She would work herself to death so the nightmares were kept at bay; so the ghosts could not haunt her.

This chapter was read and approved by Ancient-Relic. Thank you Anci!