Kagome muffled an annoyed sigh as yet another man did a double take as she walked by. So what if she was wearing clothes that could quite possibly make paint jealous? I mean, in the world of today, most people did, didn't they? Besides. It wasn't as if her whole outfit was skintight. Really and truly, it was the Chinese styled shirt that clung to her ample curves. The miniskirt she wore under it only peeked out from under the tunic shirt by at lest three inches. And it was Shippou who had insisted that she wore the knee high boots. Kagome bit back another annoyed sigh when a bike courier all but flipped on the sidewalk. If he had landed on his helmet clad head, she would have laughed her butt off and continued on her way. Sadly, he didn't.
It had all begun that morning. She had woken early to ensure that Shippou wouldn't be able to plant any of his suspicious creations on her and play the back room voyeur. As much as she loved her son, she did not love the fact that he had a penchant for spying on her and any guy she happened to be with that he found dangerous. Although technically, that really didn't happen anymore. Kagome frowned. The world was already boring. She had had her share of interesting men and adventures and now, now it wasn't as interesting as it once was. Not to mention, it was getting harder and harder to kill demons because the NOS existed for the square fact on finding her committing a heinous crime so that they could kill her.
Around lunchtime, she had left the house to grab an unhealthy meal for herself…and to make sure that Shippou had actually gone to work. It didn't hurt to see if she could scour up some architects either. But sadly, that line of thought had ended with a flop. Apparently, as CEO she wasn't supposed to be doing the grunt work herself, not unless she was going bankrupt. Needless to say, the poor starving architects that she had visited had no future with her. She had returned late that evening to find Shippou flopped out on her bed, outfit picked and ready for when she would reach home. When she had, he had thrown her into the shower and deprived of any choice in what she would wear to Shido's office. He was such a bum that way. She had protested the outfit. To her, it had been too provocative to wear, especially when thinking of the circumstances that already were there. But she wore it to please her son. Although, now that she thought of it, her boots now had an odd cadence that she was all too familiar with. He had changed them into a weapon of destruction. She had a feeling that if she was in any danger, there would be at least one weapon found in the boots.
When Kagome reached the building that housed Shido's agency, her nose wrinkled in disgust. Sure he was a small time PI. But did his apartment complex have to suck as much as it did. Sighing, she entered the building and made her way up the stairs that led to his office. Once she reached it, she took a calming breath and knocked.
"We sure are having a busy day, aren't we Guni?"
"Ah, I doubt you'll like our next customer much."
"What do you mean?" The door opened. Riho blinked in surprise when she was met with the Caribbean blue eyes of a woman all too familiar to her. "What do you want?"
"Can I talk to customer service? That wasn't a very welcoming greeting." Kagome smiled slightly. "But I could always just take my business elsewhere." There was a muffled crash from behind the half-opened door. The frame was yanked from Riho's hands as she was all but run over.
"Kagome!"
"Shido. Are you busy? Or can I come in?"
"I'm not really busy at the moment. I mean I have a client I'm talking to right now, but you can still come in if you would like to. I mean, if you don't have anywhere else to be." Shido blushed when he realized how he was fumbling with his words. Kagome chuckled softly.
"I would love to come in." Shido pulled the door out of Riho's grasp.
"Would you like some water? Coffee? Anything?"
"Some water would be lovely."
"Riho, go get Kagome a bottle of water." Riho frowned.
"Yes Mr. Shido." As she left the door, she glared at Kagome. Kagome could only hide a snicker.
"Well, come on in Kagome." He half-bowed in welcoming. "I'm sorry this place isn't half as clean as it could be, but I've been busy recently."
"Really? And you still have time to annoy my dear soul, how marvelous. Go see to your client before you lose her Shido." Shido nodded and frowned before leaving Kagome in the tiny entrance and walking into his main office. Riho appeared seconds later, a frown marring her pretty features.
"Here's your water." She shoved the cold bottle into Kagome's hand rudely. "Is there anything else you want?"
"The sprite?"
"Excuse me?"
"The mini fairy. I would like to speak to her." Riho frowned.
"I have no idea what you are referring to." Kagome smiled mockingly.
"Oh yes, as if she wasn't perched on your shoulder hidden behind your hair. Come out now or I will kill you for invading my office space." There was a near silent gasp seconds before Guni flew out.
"You know about that?"
"I have my skills as you have yours. I do not appreciate the fact that you broke into my office, but I have to ask you something."
"Yea? What?"
"When you were there, was there another man with you?" Guni shook her head.
"Naw, it was just me. I mean, who else would be there with me?" Kagome's eyes went distant.
"A man I swore to kill a long time ago."
"Yea? How long? A year? A month? A couple hundred?"
"Give or take, yes." Kagome smiled patiently when she saw the small sprite frown. "My name is Kagome Higurashi. May I know who you are?"
"Guni." Kagome nodded.
"Pleasure to meet you." The small green woman smiled.
"I have a question Ms. Kagome Higurashi."
"What?"
"Are you ever gonna fuck Shido?" Kagome snorted.
"I may. I don't see if it's any of your business if I do though." Guni snickered.
"It isn't." Riho let out a strangled sound and ran for the door. She slammed it shut behind her as she left.
"Riho!? Be a dear and bring me some napkins!" Shido's disgruntled voice floated out from his office. Guni flitted to Kagome's shoulder and settled on it, rearranging the petite woman's hair to hide her tiny body.
"It's over there. I don't think Riho will be coming back in the near future. Or at least, not with you here." Kagome nodded as she picked up a box of tissue. She walked to Shido's office, pushing the door open with her hip. Shido looked up in surprise when he smelt her.
"Where's Riho?"
"She left." Kagome wandered over to the brown haired woman who was crying on the couch. "She heard something and went to investigate." She crouched in front of the crying woman and offered the box. "Here, sweetie. Don't cry." She crooned softly. Guni flew away quickly.
"Guni, why did Riho leave?" Shido whispered softly, keeping his eyes on the crying woman.
"Aww, she heard that Kagome wanted to jump your bones." Shido frowned.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Guni slapped her forehead.
"You know Shido, for someone who's lived as long as you have, you're really dense." The sprite sank down to Shido's hat, settling on its brim where the client on the chair wouldn't see her. "Kagome's really good at comforting women." Shido blinked in surprise when he realized the woman was no longer sobbing brokenly. In fact, she was smiling softly as Kagome spun her a lie about Shido finding her lost ring that belonged to her beloved husband and returning it to her.
"So it seems." Guni nodded. "Miss? Would you like us to start the search today?"
"Would you?"
"I would love to. If we find any reports of your husband we'll call you." The woman nodded.
"Thank you. Thank you so much. You don't know what it means to me." The woman stood to leave. "I'll be waiting for your call." She left the office. Yayoi, who had been silent when Kagome entered the room, opened her mouth to speak.
"What did you do to Riho!?"
"Guni wondered if I liked Shido. I told her yes and Riho fled. I don't know why though. It wasn't any business of hers." Kagome settled herself on the couch Shido's client had just vacated. "So, busy days hmm?" Shido smiled.
"Yes. Very busy. Chasing down beautiful women of questionable breed tends to fill my days."
"Living dangerously aren't you Shido?" Kagome leaned back, crossing her ankles primly. She noted with faint satisfaction the gleam of appreciation within Shido's amber eyes. "But I do have a reason for coming here."
"Please tell." Kagome looked up at the roof, considering her question. She sighed, finding no way to be tactful.
"Do you know a man, no vampire named Cain?" Shido stiffened.
"Who?"
"Cain." She gasped in surprise when she was suddenly pulled to her feet.
"Why? Why do you ask?" Kagome's Caribbean blue eyes narrowed in anger. He shook her. "Tell me!"
"He was in my office the day you sent your sprite to spy on me. How do you know him?"
"He is my sire. How do you know him?"
"Souta!" Kagome ran across the shrine grounds. "Souta!! Get away from him you bastard!" The man laughed softly even as he threw the drained body of her brother away from him.
"So we meet again. When was it last? Sixty years ago when I killed that orphan runt you had picked up? A hundred, when I first met you? You haven't changed much have you?" Caribbean blue lightened to a light blue, a color shocking to all whop didn't know the petite woman.
"Cain! How dare you take my brother from me!?"
"You refused to be at my side. He deserved his death though. Who told him to have such tempting blood and no defenses?" Kagome snarled, silver light flaring around her form. "He isn't as strong as you. Look, even now, he dies, not even fighting it."
"Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. SHUT UP!!" Kagome howled, swinging her hand, her power throwing the vampyr into the ground. "Why did you do this!? Why!?" She ran towards her brother, already feeling his soul fleeing, already knowing he wouldn't survive.
"I told you already. Had you accepted me all those years ago, you would have had your brother at your side. Now, now he'll live at mine forever."
"I won't let you have him!"
"You know how to end the curse. You must kill him. I doubt you could kill your brother my dearest. I will use him, I will bleed him, and I will consume him and leave him wanting more." Cain disappeared from where he stood. "But if you come to me, I will let you have him as your pet." Kagome looked down at her brother's pale face. A face that would soon be reanimated, but would hide a beast she swore to kill. And then she wept. She was still crying when her son reached the shrine hours later, rocking the body of her changing brother lovingly.
"Mother!"
"Shippou…Shippou he killed him. He killed Souta."
"What of your Mother?" Kagome's eyes widened. She gently sat the body of her brother on the floor and stood. Swaying softly, she made her way into the house, only to scream in horror at the carnage she discovered there. Shippou ran in, stomach tightening in horror when he saw what had caused his mother to break. He grabbed her, spinning her around, wishing that she hadn't had to see what she had. His mother had waited so long to be reunited with her family, and now, they had been taken away from her in one selfish bid for her blood. He stared up to where her mother's head hung, mouth stretched in an eternal scream. He pulled her out of the house and grabbed the cordless phone on his way out. There, he settled upwind, where his mother wouldn't be able to smell the blood and called Bankoutsu. The man had fed on his mother's emotions until he was more than sated, his hair turning back to black, a color that signified that he could take no more from her. Then, he had gone back to where Souta had lain, only to find the boy truly dead, this time, from stray vampires who were feeding on what was already dead.
"Cain killed my family. I swore to kill him for the pain he caused me." Shido stared down at the petite woman in surprise. He heard the door click shut as Yayoi left. He cocked his head slightly when he realized that Guni had run as well.
"You can't kill him He took my sister away from me. He took my memories form me." Kagome smiled gently and patted Shido's cheek.
"No one will kill him but I. Do not interfere Shido. I will kill you if you do." Shido chuckled and nuzzled the top of Kagome's head, breathing in her scent deeply.
"You smell delicious."
"Byproduct of my genes I'm afraid." Shido smiled and tipped her chin up so that he could search her eyes freely.
"They are wonderful genes." His gaze dropped to her lips. Hesitantly, he pressed his lips to her forehead. Gaining confidence when she didn't throw him off, he pressed a soft kiss to her cheek and the tip of her nose and just when he would have placed one on her lips, she turned, forcing him to kiss her cheek once more.
"Don't." Kagome sighed, feeling slightly guilty. She was taking his lust and warping it into some sense of comfort. She smiled softly when his arms wrapped around her body. He pulled her closer, forcing her to rest her head against his chest.
"Why not?"
"You know why." Kagome pulled away and returned to her seat. "Is he in town?"
"I believe he is. After you left last night, I saw him. Or at least I think I did." He sank to the ground next to Kagome's legs. "I don't know for sure. He enjoys playing with my head. It could have been a simple illusion."
"Do you think it was?" Shido sighed and leaned his head against her legs.
"No. I believe that it was him." Kagome sighed. Hesitantly, she raised her hand and ran it through his hair. He made a soft sound of contentment and leaned more into her touch.
"We could have this if you simply left that boy you are with."
"Shippou is not a boy!" Shido half turned, grabbing her hand when she pulled it out of his hair.
"Then what is he? He did that fire trick the night of the play. No human can do that."
"Shippou is what he is, as I am what I happen to be. Don't investigate us Shido." He yanked her hand, pulling her into his lap. Settling back into the chair he smiled.
"What do I get if I leave it alone?" Kagome sat in his arms, stiff. "Kagome."
"I could kill that silly man that follows you around. The red haired one. He isn't worthy of you, no matter if he is not human. Only I deserve you Kagome. I want you to know that." Kagome chuckled.
"Now, now Cain. Shippou will always be with me. I've told you this. Besides, who told you that I wish to be at your side?" She turned, meeting the vampyr's eyes. "Why would I want to be at your side? You disgust me. All your plays for blood, the orgies in which you leave women half dead. I would never support that."
"Don't. Don't you ever try to bribe me."
"I'll let your little fox live for now my dear little miko. But, I will kill you." The black haired man walked away, leaving a furious woman and her son in the center of a burning village. "I will kill him…unless, you come to me. I will give you pleasure beyond your dreams."
"Kiss my ass Tsume. I will never submit to you."
"That's what makes it all the ore sweeter. You will crawl to me one day Kagome. Don't deny what lives within you."
"Don't you ever threaten me. I can kill you before you know what happened." Shido chuckled and turned her to face him.
"Then do so. But know this, it was not my intention to threaten you. Or bribe you." He smiled sheepishly. "I simply want you, and I will try to get you any way I can." Kagome looked up at him, eyes wide. Unable to resist, he plated a kiss on her forehead. "I don't care what he is, or what you are. So long as you aren't killing humans, I can live with it." His gaze dropped to her lips again. Shido found himself consciously fighting the urge to kiss her. She smiled.
"Mr.Shido I ca-." Riho's voice cut off in a strangled gurgle when she saw the man she thought she loved being kissed by the woman she was coming to hate. Her breath caught when she saw Shido's hand slide up the woman's thigh with clear intent. "Mr. Shido!" Shido pulled away with a regretful sigh.
"Yes Riho?"
"What are you doing? Get away from her!" Kagome smiled and leaned up, pressing her lips to the silver haired man's. Mischievously, she nipped at his lips with her teeth, giggling at the shudder that rolled through his body. She slid off his lap slowly, smiling impishly when he tried to grab her again. She stood up, dodging Riho as the girl threw herself at her.
"How about our date gets bumped up to the day after tomorrow?" She smiled slowly, seductively. "There are so many things I want to do to your body now." Riho gasped, choking on a developing sob.
"That would be wonderful. Let me escort you out, Kagome." Kagome smiled, holding out her hand to help him to his feet. He grasped it and was mostly unsurprised when she managed to pull him to his feet. He let out a surprised grunt when she punched him viciously, sending him to the ground once more.
"That was for what you said earlier. Shippou is a man, what's more is that he is mine. So kiss ass if you ever want me in your bed because right now, I sure don't like you all that much."
"So…why'd you kiss me?" Kagome grinned.
"I felt like it." Shido let out a strangled breath.
"That was cruel."
"I know." She winked as he managed to pull himself to his feet. She didn't blink when he grabbed her arms. Her eyes did slide shut when he kissed her brutally, almost as if punishing her. He mimicked her earlier actions and nipped at her lips with his teeth. He felt her stiffen in his hands and knew that she thought he was trying to draw blood. He softened his attack, trying to show her without words that it wasn't just her blood he lusted after anymore.
And then….
Riho…
Attacked…
Kagome was snapped out of her kiss induced haze when a book was slammed into the back of her head. She felt Shido's fang catch on her lip, felt him stiffen when he tasted blood, was aware of when he pulled away, frantic to not taste anymore before he jumped her. But all of that faded into the background as her power crackled over her skin.
"What the hell was that for!?"
"Stop it! You can't have Mr. Shido! You have your own boyfriend already!" Kagome growled at the teenager and resisted the urge to strike out and slam her body into the opposite wall, to hurt the brunette for hitting her. Instead, she turned back to Shido and smiled softly. His eyes were gold and he was all but physically restraining himself from jumping on her to lap at the blood that was slowly leaking down her chin.
"Saturday Shido. Don't be late." She reached fro the box of forgotten tissue and swiped at her chin, cleaning the blood from it. Already, her wound had healed. Playfully, she threw the tissue at Shido and wasn't surprised when he caught it and brought it to his nose.
"Saturday Kagome. Don't be late. I have plans for you." Kagome grinned as appreciative eyes ran over her body.
"I don't plan to be. And I doubt Shippou will let me be." She left the room without a backward glance. Shido turned to Riho, eyes narrowed.
"What the hell were you doing!?" Riho gasped in shock.
"Mr. Shido… I …It's just that…" The door slammed shut as Shido left his office. "It's just that I like you. I don't want you to be taken form you by that girl." She crumpled to the floor, sobs wracking her figure. Shido never heard her confession as he strode down the hallway, smiling at Kagome when she waved at him from the elevator and walking down the stairs to the bottom floor.
He had a date to plan and a man to find.