Chapter Four- Living with the Devil

Kagome frantically looked around her room, a panicked rage starting to settle over her. Things were missing from her room again. Glancing down at the floor she noticed her scrapbook. It was something precious to her. She had taken a lot of time and care putting those pages together. Those pages held dear memories of friends she was no longer allowed to have.

Gingerly picking up the book; a sense of dread settled into the pit of her stomach. She opened up the scrapbook. Her hands shook as she stared down at the empty pages. Letting out a frustrated scream, Kagome threw the book at the wall, creating a small dent. Walking over to her night stand, the young miko pulled open the drawer. Gone…everything was gone. No letters from her friends…even her book of poems was missing.

Kagome could feel her rage building. Her mother had gone too far this time. Letting out a choked sob, she slammed her hand down on the little wooden table. Trying to calm down, the raven haired girl sat down on her computer. If her mom wanted to throw out her journals and poetry, she would just make a blog. She wasn't going to stop writing.

She logged into her msn while she browsed google for a good blogging site. A small screen popped up, interrupting her browsing.

Taiyoukai- you haven't been on in a while. did you not want to chat anymore?

TaintedMiko- no, that's not it at all. just been busy. psycho mom has been pushing me hard with miko studies. haven't really had time to get on til now.

Taiyoukai- ah ok. i completely understand..my father can be rather eccentric at times as well.

Kagome let out a sigh as she stared at her computer screen. There was a fine line between eccentric and psycho. Her mother had made her drop all of her friends just because they weren't mikos and would even go behind her back and throw out her stuff because she deemed it "inappropriate" for a miko. There were so many rules and no matter what Kagome just wasn't good enough.

Taiyoukai- you still there kags?

Sesshomaru drummed his fingers against his desk, awaiting a reply. Perhaps she was already bored of him? He hoped not. The silver haired demon had missed their conversations. Be able to come home and chat with her online had turned into one of the highlights of his long days. Not that he could tell her that. Wouldn't that just make him seem weird?

Kagome sat in her chair, hands poised above the keyboard. She didn't really know what to say at a time like this. All the anger had deflated out of her like a punctured balloon and now she just felt weary and worn down.

TaintedMiko-…yea, sorry…just a lot on my mind i guess. sorries.

Taiyoukai- care to share?

TaintedMiko- i'm sure it would just bore you lol

Taiyoukai- i doubt it. Nothing about you bores me. quite the opposite,i find you to be very interesting.

Sesshomaru had wanted to smack himself after pressing enter. Didn't he sound stupid? Would she find what he just said to be too forward? He let out an annoyed sigh. Why did he care so much? He seriously needed to chill out. There was no need to be stressing out over something as insignificant as an online conversation.

TaintedMiko- ^^heh thanks. you are pretty interesting yourself.

TaintedMiko- well let me ask you this then, have you ever hated your mom?

Taiyoukai- no but i never got to meet her either.

Kagome paused in her typing. Well crap. Now what did she say to that….

TaintedMiko- -_- ah sorries i didn't know. nvm then. i don't think you would understand then.

Taiyoukai- tyr me. I have an obnoxious half-brother I can't stand if that counts for anything.

Taiyoukai- ^try

TaintedMiko- lol no i don't think thats really the same thing. i just really want to leave this place. i don't suppose you know anyone in japan who needs a roommate?

Taiyoukai- well no. what about that friend i talked to that one time on here? What was her name? Sango?

TaintedMiko- my mom stopped letting me hang out with her because Sango is refusing to join the family business of being a demon exterminator.

Sesshomaru sat back with slumped shoulders. He had forgotten that demons weren't as well off in the states as they were in Japan. Being a demon exterminator was a lot like being in the army… where they specifically trained you in killing demons. Though he supposed it didn't help that the majority of the demons in the states were lesser demons. ...more mindless than anything else.

Taiyoukai- so I take it your mother isn't a fan of my kind then….

Kagome bit down on the side of her lip. For a moment she had completely forgotten that Sesshio was a demon. Well this conversation just kept getting more awkward…

TaintedMiko- sorries..she's part of the Divine's Organization actually…

Sesshomaru face palmed just then. Her mother was part of a cult that was hell bent on taking out his kind. They referred to themselves as purists, trying to rid the world of the evil his kind brought. Where did Kagome stand in all of this? She was a miko. Was he not going to get the girl after all?

Taiyoukai- do you hate me too then kags?

TaintedMiko- no way! i don't believe in any of that crap. my mom just sorta drags me into it. its not like a choice or anything. but once I can leave this place i won't have to be a part of it. i can be free.

TaintedMiko- and thats all i really want right now…to just be free.

Taiyoukai- I wish there was something I could do to help you…let me think on this some more, I might be able to help you come up with a solution.

TaintedMiko- ty sesshio! :)

"KAGOME GET DOWN HERE NOW, I HAVE SOMEONE FOR YOU TO MEET!"

The raven haired girl jumped in her seat. She hadn't even known anyone else had been home. Kagome glance at the clock. She had lost track of time.

TaintedMiko- i g2g ill ttyl!

Kagome shut off the computer in a hurry. She didn't want her mom to know she had been on it. Running a hand through her hair, she left her little haven.

Downstairs, a tall man stood behind her mother. His eyes were as dark as his black hair. Beside that man was a little boy. He looked partially frightened and partially intrigued.

"Kagome, I want you to meet your future step-father, this is Kaon and his little boy Souta."

The raven haired girl felt like she had been encased in a block of ice. She couldn't move. She couldn't speak. Her future what?

This did not bode well.