Kagome swirled the smoothie in front of her, Ayame was taking forever! And she was the only one that had clothes! Well, this was an expected thing when with Ayame, she was rather materialistic, but, still one of the best people to be around.
Soon Sango came out of the nearest store with her own bags in tow. Kagome grinned, "So you get yourself some sexy underwear?"
Sango aimed for Kagome's head with her all too heavy bags but the woman was too fast, and ducked gracefully. "Shut up, I'm starting to rethink this whole 'want what you cannot have' idea. I'm also starting to think you staged this entire event in my brain to get me to come."
Sango sat down and huffed, grabbing Kagome's drink from her grasp. Kagome obliged and released her grip, "Who, me? No, couldn't be."
"You're a bad liar Kag's," said Sango as she took a sip of the strawberry banana smoothie.
Kagome made a mock frown, "I don't know what you are talking about, I'm a fantastic liar. Besides, it's not like you are going to be flashing him and jumping in his bed or anything, it's just going to be some casual cleavage here and there, a bit of waist and some leg. It's not a crime showing that you have a body Sango."
Sango snorted, "It is when around Miroku."
Kagome grabbed her drink back, noticing that half of it was already gone. "Then I guess it's a good thing that committing crimes is not only what we do best, but is our job as well. Alright, well, next stop dresses."
"About time too!"
Both girls turned in their chairs to see Ayame standing behind them with three times as many bags as either one of them. Kagome suppressed a laugh as she saw Sango's anger vein pop out. It was a well known fact that when she was aggravated or annoyed it would show up, pulsing on her forehead, and Kagome could easily guess as to its reason for showing up. Ayame was the one after all, who just spent the last 2 and a half hours shopping for the 'perfect' skirt, which oddly enough was each one that she happened to pass by.
Pulling Sango down before they made a scene in the mall, Kagome motioned the two over to the nearest dress shop. Now normally you wouldn't be able to find something as elegant as need be in a mall, but, Kagome was willing to give it a try. And, well, if that didn't work out she was sure Dolche & Gabana had something hanging around in one of their studios. Prada was rumored to be coming out with a new line; they could always stop by and try on a few. She was sure they wouldn't mind if they walked into their designers room and found a few dresses missing, it's not like the manikins were planning some big heist or anything. And they would always return the things…maybe.
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Inuyasha paced around the room, why was he always forced to go to these stupid gatherings? Ok, so maybe the Demon Ball was over hundreds of years old, maybe it was the perfect place to strengthen social status and alliances, but why did he have to go? That idiot half brother of his is the one who handles this type of stuff. Damn that bastard to hell! He wasn't sure why at the moment but it felt good to damn someone for this inconvenience.
Damn, and he had gotten a call from Prada earlier today. The new dress they had been sponsering was stolen! Stolen! How the hell do you steal a top of the line Prada gown? How would do that? And why? Nothing in his life made sence.
He was going with Kikyo too. Kikyo, Inuyasha really wasn't sure what he thought about her, he felt something for her, that was for sure but…damit it, he didn't know. At the same time he felt like he was being judged while around her. Like he was changing who he was for her, changing for someone whom he was still unsure when it came to his feelings about.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door and Kayede stepped in, a face he was rather glad to see. He smirked triumphantly, "So old hag, how's the wench doing? Ready to quit yet?"
The woman sighed and shut the door, "Inuyasha, overloading her with work till she drops dead despite her best efforts is not the way for ye to get on her good side."
"Why would I want to be on her good side?" then he smirked devilishly, "So she on the ground whimpering yet?"
"No Inuyasha, seems as if she is as stubborn as ye are."
Well his mood was just ruined, even more so. "Damn, so what is she doing now?"
Well maybe he could give her even more things to do, ya, that would defiantly make this evening go faster, thinking about her suffering. He's drinking champagne while she's scrubbing dirty bathroom floors…no wonder Sesshomaru came to these things, they really did make you feel better.
"Now? Um…"
Inuyasha's eyebrow went up, "Kayede tell me she is doing something atrocious like I told you to tell her to do."
"Well child ye must understa-"
"Kayede!" he yelled.
"Inuyasha quit being such a child, I swear it, she has been working herself silly doing all this work for you, it's amazing she can still stand. I gave her the night off," she threw his own black tux jacket at him, hitting him square in the face.
Inuyasha waited a few minutes to register everything that had just been said before pulling off the jacket which clung very undignified like. "Kayede!"
The old woman walked over to the door and opened it in order to step into the hallway. "What is it Inuyasha?"
His mouth immediately shut when he say the look in her eye. Whatever was about to be spouted was lost to the world, as he stood there frozen. He had received that look one to many times as a boy to challenge it now, even years later. No, he knew better by now.
Kayede's eye squinted in response, "Yes Inuyasha?"
Oh dude, she just said yes. It was never good when Kayede went out of her old accent into proper grammar, no, that was never good. He gulped, "N-nothing."
"Eye…Kikyo is waiting for you in the hall Master Inuyasha," with that she shut the door and left.
After a few seconds Inuyasha finally took in a deep breath of air, sometimes that woman could scare him more than his old man ever could.
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Kagome sat on her incredibly small sized bed and flipped the page of her book. It was nice to have a short escape sometimes, reading was always a nice breather for the body and soul too. Just yesterday she had taken a wonderful 2 hour bubble bath with the works. Bath salts, candles, dimmed lights, a nice glass of wine and freshly ordered Chinese's Takeout.
And here she was thinking this job was going to be challenging? Even so, she defiantly wasn't going to back out now, no, to much had already been put in. To back out now would be wasting valuable resources. There was way to much at stakes here, all of which that was currently on the line, if one thing went wrong everything would fall. This wasn't a chance you let slip through the cracks, no, the perfect revenge doesn't come along everyday. And Widow was going to be avenged if it was the last thing Kagome did.
That bastard was going to pay for what he did to Widow. She didn't care what she had to do, how low she had to stoop, Widow's soul and honor would be mended.
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Kayede walked down the servant hallways, hoping to find Kagome. The poor girl was probably worked to death with everything Inuyasha had her doing. She would know, Kayede was unfortunately the one who had to tell Kagome her duties. With everything expected of her the girl was probably working day and night attempting to finish up, wanting to beat Inuyasha at his own game. Probably hadn't slept in the past week just trying to keep up.
Those two were just so stubborn; it was amazing how resilient they were towards each other too. What's more, Kagome had undoubtedly been having to deal with Kouga all week as well as Inuyasha. That could not have been easy for the child.
Oh dear, she forgot about Kouga. Kagome was just going to have to wait a few more minutes, not that the child had asked Kayede to come down or anything, the old woman just wanted to check up on her new apprentice. Inuyasha was not always the easiest person to be around, let alone take orders from. He was a bit…eccentric.
Kayede turned back around and headed back towards the upper halls where Kouga was undoubtedly trying to figure out his tux. Some things just didn't click with that boy.
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Kagome gracefully placed her book down, done with her chapter. What could she say; she was a sucker for romance stories. Maybe it was because she new in her heart she would never get her sappy, romantic and foolishly untrue happy ending. She would never find Price charming, no, that was something that was even out of her reach.
Not that she didn't love her life and the people who were now her family. No, she loved it all, the thrill of the hunt, the chase, the act, the rewards. It was just, in her story, there wouldn't be a hansom Prince to sweep her off her feet. It was a fate she had accepted long ago, along with never having kids. It wouldn't be fair, not to them anyways. Why put someone you love through so much suffering because of your own selfish desires?
Kagome closed her eyes and took in a deep sigh. Kagome loved her life, and wouldn't trade it for the world, but…seeing happy mothers wrapping their children in a loving embrace that can only be shared by mother and child did leave her with a small but noticeable pain in her chest. She knew Sango and Ayame felt it as well. They were after all women, natural born care takers.
It was a shame too, Sango would have been a fantastic overprotective mother, and Ayame, well, no daughter of hers could ever say she wasn't hip.
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Kayede stepped into the oversized room to see a black haired blue eyed man trapped by the inanimate object that was his tux. She shook her head at the tanned boy. Yes, he was as much a boy as Inuyasha. "Child, why do you insist on making things harder upon yourself?"
Kouga tried to look up when he heard her speak but only succeeded in toppling over his foot, which was somehow caught in his caught sleeve which was over his head. Face planting on the floor Kayede slowly walked over, not wanting to throw out her hip, and untangled him.
He immediately sat up as if nothing had happened. Kayede fixed the jacket so he could slip his arms in easily, again she sighed. If she didn't love them all to death she would have left years ago.
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Kagome walked over to her small vanity. It was really nothing, just a mirror with a few lights around it sitting on top of a dresser. But she was a maid, it's not like she was expecting more. Her room was rather small too; it was like she was living in a dorm for college, only slightly smaller. It didn't help that she was sharing a bathroom with all the other girls on the floor either. But again, a maid.
Luckily there wasn't really anyone here on this floor, aside from herself it was only three other maids and then Sango. Deciding that she really didn't feel like getting ready for the Demon Ball just yet, she reached over to her closet. Opening the door she felt around for her new clothes.
Kagome had somehow managed to find a couple of great outfits, like her Buckle extra low rise jeans, and then this killer forest green tank top that fit her like a glove. She was kinda worried to wash it in case it shrank. Kagome loved food way to much to try and give it up to loose any weight. Then again, jumping off of buildings and dodging dozens of laser accurate bullets did tend to give one good exercise. And Yoga helped with flexibly, not that that really had anything to do with what she was just talking about.
Moving back to her bed she thought about the Demon Ball. Maybe she should get ready, she looked at the clock. No that's alright, she still had awhile till she absolutely had to be there, I mean, the thing went till four in the morning right?
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Kayede once again went down the halls attempting to find the girl Kagome, all the while praying the child didn't quit. She recalled her conversation with Kouga just moments before.
"So, what are you doing here woman?" asked the head strong boy before her, yes, the very one who was on the floor moments before.
"Attempting to get ye ready for the ball. Ye four will not dishonor this tradition Kouga, it is over four hundred years old. Try to be decent," she sighed.
"Course I'll be decent, it's that mutt you're going to have to watch out for. Hey, speaking of mutts, where is that pretty little maid Kagome?"
"What does Kagome and Inuyasha have to do with each other?" asked Kayede, though she was relatively sure she would not be getting an answer.
"She not busy? Send her up here, she can help me with my clothes."
"Boy ye already have your clothes on," Kayede pointed out.
"Right, help me take them off. A thing like her will be stopped in her tracks when she sees me, they always are," he said arrogantly.
"Kouga, the child has the night off."
"What?" he stopped pulling off his cuff links which Kayede had just put on him.
Lifting his wrists so she could see them better, her vision was failing her in her older age, Kayede started to redo them. Even if Kagome was working tonight she would not send the girl up to deal with Kouga. There was no telling what he would try to pull while she was helping him dress, and in her fatigued state Kagome would be more likely to give in. No, that was not going to happen any time soon. "Inuyasha has been working her to the bone, she has to be exhausted. Everything imaginable Inuyasha has ordered, the girl probably hasn't had time to eat. I feel sorry for what he undoubtedly has in store for her tomorrow since she is not working tonight."
"Dog boy is messing with my woman? I'll pound his face in so hard! Then she'll come running to me, and she will truly be my woman then."
Oh what a wonderful conversation that was. The only good thing about that was Kouga could at least stick to one woman when need be, unfortunately that wasn't a plus for Kagome. Now if only Miroku could show that much determination, oh dear, Miroku. She forgot about him. Old age was really starting to catch up to her wasn't it?
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Kagome picked up her cell and dialed Ayame's number, bored out of her wit but still not wanting to get ready. Not that they really had anything to talk about considering Kagome spent all yesterday on the phone with the woman. They talked for what, four hours strait? Gotta love that whole unlimited minutes plan.
"Ayame speaking," came from the other line.
"You getting ready yet?" asked Kagome.
"Of course! Kagome aren't you? I mean, only three hours till our appearance. I started practically last night."
Kagome shook her head in disbelief, "Ayame it's not that heard to put on a dress."
"Hello, makeup and hair takes like forever!"
Kagome grabbed the nail polish remover and a cotton ball, finally deciding to clean off her nails. After that she quickly grabbed a pink undertone color.
"Fine, I see your point," finishing she grabbed her white nail polish, shaking it up good first, and started to give herself a manicure. Kagome had always loved the classy French tip took, so, when she was younger she went to beauty school just to learn how to do that properly. I mean, it's not that hard to stuff someone in a closet and take on their identity for a couple of days so you could go to their classes.
"So Sango getting ready yet?" asked Ayame.
"Ya, she's already started. I actually think she's really excited about tonight, though you know she'd never admit it," Kagome finished that and started to blow on her nails, trying to dry them.
"Well of course she does, so, you two been working hard?" asked a grinning Ayame.
Kagome suppressed a smirk, almost. "Oh ya," she switched her phone around so it was on the other ear, so she could paint her other hand, "loads. Inuyasha's got me working day and night. Just to day I was ordered to clean the gutters, weed the garden, re-cook four different meals cause they weren't right, scrub his bathroom, wash his clothes, re-file his brother's employee accounts, run downtown to pick up his car that was in the shop, only to discover that he didn't have a car in the shop and rewire his motorcycle. Oh, and wash all the windows."
There was silence.
Soon followed by the uncontrollable laughter of two girls. "Oh damn girl, this is great," laughed Ayame.
Kagome switched hands again so she could put the final coat on; it was really pretty when it looked all glossy. Kagome laughed, "Ya, I know."
"So does anyone know yet?" laughed Ayame once again.
"Not that I know of," smiled Kagome, "not that it would make much of a difference."
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"So, what do you think about that maid Sango?"
Kayede was deeply regretting what she had said about Miroku sticking to one woman at the moment. She fixed his shirt so it was strait.
"What a woman, you should have seen her the other day too, she was with that Kagome girl, you know, the one Inuyasha is always fighting with, and she was wearing these tight jeans that accented perfectly, and then this pink and white jogging top. I almost fell out of my chair when I saw her. Horrible part is, when I get within three feet of her she smacks me! How can she do something like that to me? Does she have any inkling as to how much it's killing me knowing I can't get within three feet of that body?"
Kayede sighed, "One can only hope."
Miroku turned around, "What? Sorry, I could hear you."
"Do you have anyone you wish to dance with at the ball tonight?"
Miroku turned back around so he could fix his low ponytail. "Just my beautifully sculptured maid."
"Oh dear," sighed Kayede once again. What was with these youngsters these days?
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Kagome glanced around her room again, she was so bored! Her stomach made a grumbling sound. Great, and now she was hungry as well. Alright, here's the plan. Go upstairs, grab something to eat and head back down and start to get ready. Ya, that sounded like a good plan.
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Kayede stepped into Sesshomaru's room. She glanced around the room only to find a shadow on the balcony, yes, that was undoubtedly him. Grabbing his cuff links she headed to the sliding glass door. Opening it up she was met with an expected site.
Sesshomaru was talking on his cell phone.
"I don't care, I gave you an order. Do you truly wish to disobey me? You do as I say and get that file to Tokyo in the next two hours or I will personally see to it that your pathetic excuse for a family, extended or not, is on the streets for life," Sesshomaru's voice remained cool and impassive through the entire ordeal, he truly was the perfect business man. Calm, deadly and determined.
To bad Rin wasn't in need of a business man, no, she needed a father.
She slowly reached out for one of his wrists and started to place the cuff in its proper position, all the while he was ignoring her. He flipped his $2,000 cell phone out once again and dialed a new number, once again in the business avenue. Kayede sighed and switched wrists, he silently obliged, just switching hands in which the phone resided, not giving her a second glance.
As soon as she finished he turned his back towards her, dismissing her presence, and looked over the balcony, still speaking on the phone. Kayede sighed, out of all four boys which she had helped raise, Sesshomaru had by far always been the most distant.
Taking her cue to leave Kayede turned back around and headed back into the unlit room. Making it to the door, she stopped when she heard a shuffling noise. Opening up the door quietly Kayede suppressed a frown when she saw a small black haired little girl listening through the other key hole.
"Rin?"
The little girl continued to look at her slightly shocked. With her head bowed down in submission, as she looked at the floor, Rin rose to her feet. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to see daddy before I went to bed. He's always working, I though maybe because of tonight, he wouldn't be."
Her voice was soft, fragile and slightly broken. Kayede couldn't help but let the frown break through, though she knew it wasn't because of the girl's actions but her fathers. "Child?"
The child looked up, eye's slightly red.
"I was about to head down to Kagome's room, would ye like to join me?"
The girl immediately brightened, a delicate smile gracing her features. "Rin would like that very much Lady Kayede," she answered back.
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Kagome took another bite out of the cherry pie she made earlier. God she loved food, it was just so freakin good! Taking another bite and savoring the flavor Kagome opened the door to her room, resolved to start getting ready…maybe.
For a brief second the thoughts of what various types of food might be at the ball dawned on her. Ya, ok, she'd get ready now. Just as she was about to reach for the safety box under her bed, where all of Shadow attire was, a knock made it's way through her door. Getting back up, she grabbed her cherry pie and made a bee line for the door, already knowing that nothing suspicious was out.
She made it too the door and opened it up, only to be met with the brown pleading eye's of a little girl. "Rin?"
Soon another shadow emerged, this one taking the shape of an older woman who Kagome was finding herself respecting more and more as the days went by. "Kayede?"
"Hello child, we just wanted to see how you were doing, since Inuyasha has been working ye so hard. I swear that boy never thinks," the old woman sighed.
Suddenly Rin's eyes went wide, "Uncle Inuyasha has been mean to you Auntie Kagome?"
Kagome made a small laughing noise, "Sure, we'll go with that."
"Oh, Uncle Inuyasha!" yelled the tiny little girl while balling her little hands into fists, "he's gonna get it when Rin gets through with him."
Kagome laughed again and pulled Rin inside her room, motioning for Kayede to follow. Setting the girl up on the bed she sat down next to her. "Alright, what can I do for you?"
Rin's eye's suddenly became downcast, "Well, Rin just wanted to say goodnight to her daddy, but her daddy was busy, so Rin came down here."
Kagome tried not to frown, she hated neglecting parents. They should relish in what they had. To have a child is the most wonderful thing a person could ever want, maybe Sesshomaru needed to be reminded of this. Ok, so maybe it wasn't any of her business or anything but, hell, she was here already right? And it wasn't like it was going to be doing any harm right? Ok, she'd nip Sesshomaru in the ass, someone had to. Besides, the one thing Kagome was never able to stand was someone messing with a child.
"Rin? Would you like me to read you a bedtime story?"
Rin's eyes went wide again, "Really?"
"Ya, really, but not tonight, I'm really tired tonight. I think I might fall asleep while ready it to you, so how about tomorrow night?"
"Ok!" she was so excited, Kagome loved children when they got like this, it was pure and untainted joy, something only someone with a child's heart could ever relay.
"Alright, I'll meet you in your room for your bedtime ok? I think you and your father are staying a couple more nights. But you need to get some sleep tonight to be ready to stay up for tomorrow ok?"
"Ok, and I'll be really good all day tomorrow too."
"That's a good girl, now run up to your room so you can get some sleep, it's already late," Kagome smiled.
Rin jumped off the bed and hurried out of the room, only to suddenly stop and turn around to face Kagome. Walking back slowly she suddenly jumped up and gave Kagome a large hug. As soon as she was done the girl turned back around, running up the four flights of stairs to her room.
That was when Kayede turned back around to face Kagome with a questioning gaze. "Funny, ye don't look nearly as tired as I pictured ye would have. In fact, ye look rather relaxed."
Suddenly the door burst open and about seven scantily dressed maids were standing at the doorway, each with various cleaning supplies in their hands. "Sorry we're late Kagome, thanks again for letting us do your chores, Inuyasha will be sure to notice us now. I mean, how could he not?" They each waved at her goodnight, "Thanks again Kagome, you're the best."
The door shut.
Kagome looked up at Kayede with a grin on her face, "Oh, I'm keeling over in agony."
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Firevixen73-See, that made me laugh, I had to put that in. So I hope everyone is doing ok, and that everyone liked this chapter. I know it wasn't exactly action packed or anything but I still wanted to put it in. Also, the little line across the screan button isn't working so I hope the little dashes were ok. Sorry about the long update, I'm trying to get ready for school. I start in a couple of days! Alright, well, please review. Thank you!