Disclaimer: don't own Inuyasha.

AN: Thanks, .. Really needed the words of encouragement, the writing is coming easier to me now :D !

Anticipating Your Visit

Kagome stood staring out the window in her chambers, watching the messenger of Lord Sesshoumaru leaving the okiya. It had been two months since the lord had graced her okiya with his presence and between then and now, time had slowly crept by as she anticipated her first evening with him. She would admit that a man so handsome as he, had her daydreaming a bit. At times the onee-chans of the okiya would have to call her back to reality when her mind would drift off into another hazy thought.

Leaving the window she left her chambers to find the closest shikomi. Finally spotting one she called the little girl to her, glad it was her favourite little friend.

"Rin!"

The little girl with a lopsided ponytail turned to her, her eyes filling with merriment at seeing her okaa-san. "Okaa-san!" Running into her arms, Rin gave Kagome a fierce hug before she pulled back and composed herself, a light blush evident on her cheeks.

Kagome lightly chuckled at the girls antics before speaking. "Rin, can you do me a favour?" Rin nodded. "Alright, call Kaede for me. Tell her I wish to see her in my chambers." And with that Kagome gave the little girl another hug before returning to her room. Her smile faded into a slight frown as she thought of the little girl and her past.

Rin was an orphan that Kagome had found on the verge of death one day in the forest. The little demoness had be raped and badly beaten, left for dead by the human men of a nearby village. The sight of the battered girl had tore at her heart and struck a cord, reminding her of the dark shadows of her past. She had gathered the small girl into her arms at that moment and left that spot of remembrance, bringing Rin to her okiya and taking the girl under her wing. She was unsure whether Rin could ever become a geisha, but if that was not her future then she had the spot of replacing Kaede who was the head onee-chan.

Pausing in front of her chambers, Kagome slid the shoji doors to the side and entered her room. Leaving the shoji doors open for Kaede, she moved to sit behind a small wooden desk upon a lush forest-green cushion. The desk faced the doors and kept hold of all her business papers for the okiya.

Settling herself on the comfortable cushion, Kagome waited for Kaede. Running her hands over the scrolls on the desk, she searched out one in particular. Finally finding it, she picked it up, removed the ribbon and unrolled it, her eyes roaming over the characters on the page.

Looking up from her desk when she heard a sound, she saw Kaede bowing to her outside the shoji doors. Beckoning her inside, Kagome placed the scroll atop the desk. Raising her elbows onto the desk, she laced her hands together and rested them under her chin. Her face became thoughtful as she began their bi-daily meeting.

"How are you Kaede?" She questioned.

"I am feeling good today okaa-san -" "Kagome, Kaede."

"Kagome. These old bones of mine haven't been giving any trouble as of late." Kaede continued.

"That's good to hear Kaede, I'm not trying to lose you any time soon." "Nor will ye, I've got at least a good few hundred years left in me."

Smiling at the old demoness's words, she couldn't help but chuckle since Kaede would most likely be out-living her.

"Anyways, down to business. How are my geisha doing Kaede?"

"Their all doing fine. Only a few incidents have occurred since our last meeting -" Kagome raised a brow at that. "- Some how Sango broke another sword. 'tis confusing how that girl manages to break everything she touches. The nearby blacksmith will soon be getting suspicious Kagome."

Kagome frowned at her words, she didn't want to draw any attention to the okiya. "I'll have to hire another local blacksmith to work for us then. I don't want any unnecessary attention brought to the okiya. Anything else Kaede?"

"Kikyou. That young demoness is always causing some sort of trouble, but I cant accuse her of anything because she leaves no proof behind. I found one of ye kimonos shredded the other day, I know she did it. That kimono costs a lot of coin but I can't put it under her debt because I have nothing to back it up."

Kagome groaned at her words. "Kikyou has it in for me Kaede, I swear it. Ever since I entered this okiya and Ayame pointed out how our appearances are so similar, she's ignored me. Then when I was left okami-san, she's disliked me. Now with the Lord choosing me for his geisha, when she's the top one of the okiya, she hates me."

"'tis nothing for ye to concern ye self with Kagome, we will eventually catch her. 'tis a pity she brings in the most coin or I would turn her out myself."

Smiling, Kagome replied. "Thanks Kaede. Oiran?" She continued.

""Normal, but that reminds me. Naraku is becoming more persistent in asking for ye to grace him with ye presence. Ever since he found out ye have become Lord Sesshoumaru's personal geisha, he's asked me if he can override that offer, with more coin might I add, and have ye. 'tis necessary ye speak with him Kagome. He is here again today to see Kikyou, I will tell him ye wish to see him after his session is done."

"Please do that. Naraku is a thorn in my side, but he's still our most frequent patron. Speaking of Lord Sesshoumaru, a messenger from his castle delivered a scroll to me only a while ago, stating his arrival for tomorrow. Now I'm giving you the responsibility of preparing everything for my Lord's arrival, alright?" She paused and Kaede nodded her head in acceptance. "Good, here is the scroll with everything the Lord wants -" Kagome handed Kaede the scrolls, who in turn opened it to read it over. "A simple enough task. I shall be taking my leave now Kagome. Expect Naraku soon, also Kikyou afterwards."

Kaede rose from the desk, nodded to Kagome and left the room. Sighing to herself, Kagome picked up the scroll with the scheduled arrangements for that evening, deciding she should read it over.

#*-

"Kagome wishes to speak with ye after ye session with Kikyou Naraku. Please don't leave my okaa-san waiting. Ye as well Kikyou but I shall be escorting ye to her later on in the evening when all of ye sessions are over." Kaede said, relaying her message before leaving the room.

Naraku smirked at her words, so all his persistence had worked and now he would be granted the company of Kagome. He couldn't even wait to see the human woman whose beauty surpassed most demonesses, even Kikyou who was his personal geisha.

"Kikyou, I will be taking my leave now. I wish not to leave Kagome waiting. I will be back to see you at my regular time next week." With that Naraku rose from his cushion and brushed past Kikyou out of the room, his mind so set on seeing Kagome and 'showing' her how happy he was at her change of mind, he missed the dark look that settled on Kikyou's face.

#*-

Running her nimble fingers through her black-blue hair, Kagome sighed for the umpteenth time. She sat on her forest-green cushion, staring off at the window which gave her a gorgeous view of her garden. Her mind being nowhere near her body, she imagined yet again how her first meeting with the lord would be. She had failingly attempted to occupy her mind with something, I.e. the scheduled sessions for that evening, but it hadn't worked out well. She'd quickly grown bored from staring at the characters and her eyes had fluttered over to the window, and then her mind had just escaped her. Now she was off in the planes of a day-dream. But a knock on the wooden desk in front of her brought her back.

Startled she dragged her eyes from the window and her daydream to look into the red eyes of Naraku. Stifling the irritation that came with her daydream being interrupted and the presence of Naraku, Kagome cleared her throat before starting.

"It has been brought to my attention by Kaede, that you wish to override Lord Sesshoumaru's arrangement with me. Naraku -"

He easily cut her off, wishing to show his gratitude and hoping he could get his first session today. "Correct, and I thank you for changing your mind on the subject. Now I know the coin is a concern, but I will have word sent for one of my men to arrive later today with a chest of coin. Having you as my personal geisha, it will be unnecessary for me to continue seeing Kikyou so that can be ended from now -"

"No."

"No? Well then I guess I can continue seeing her but I think you are woman enough for me Kagome."

She almost sneered at him at that moment, but easily brushed the reaction away. Patience is a virtue, the patron is always right, just let him down easy Kagome. Remember! You want his coin, you want his coin… "Naraku I am sorry to say this -" No I'm not. "- but I will only be entertaining Lord Sesshoumaru. As you've been told before, my company is not for sale. I don't allow exceptions but it seems this time Lord Sesshoumaru will be one."

Clenching his fish Naraku growled at her words, anger blossoming in his chest. "No? Obviously if you accepted his offer then more exceptions can be made. If it is the money I can easily double his offer."

"It is none of your concern why I chose to accept his offer. Naraku I will not repeat myself, my mind will not be changing. My company is not for sale." Dismissing him with a flick of her wrist towards the door, she rose from her cushion and moved to the door. Holding up her arm to the door, she bowed low to Naraku before straightening herself.

"My sincerest apologies Naraku, but it cannot be helped. I hope your session with Kikyou went well as usual, please feel free to book a session with any other geisha if you wish, or stay the night in our inn with one of our oiran. I will see you again I hope."

Naraku looked at her from his seat, silently fuming at the fact that she had not only turned down his offer but even dismissed him from her presence like he was some random shikomi. Rising from the cushion, he swept from the room without sparing her a glance, his anger never leaving him.

Kagome wearily slid the shoji doors shut and moved to the window where she stood for a few moments, tired blue eyes staring down at the Sakura tree in the middle of her garden. That demon would be the death of her. Composing herself, she pulled a long rope that fell from the ceiling in the corner of her room before returning to her seat behind the wooden desk. Sitting there for what seemed like hours, she steeled herself for the upcoming discussion with Kikyou.

#*- (hours later)

Kikyou paced back and forth in her chambers wearing a hole in the tatami mats.

"How DARE she accuse me of shredding her kimono?! That worthless twit, who does she think she is? She's just a human, where as I am a great demoness." Kikyou stewed, her anger growing in notches as the seconds went by.

"The filthy human will pay. Not only does she accuse me, but she even goes as far as attempting to steal Naraku from me. Its bad enough the wench somehow got Lord Sesshoumaru to choose her as his geisha. It sickens me at how she acts like she didn't wish he would, which female wouldn't wish to be in the company of such a demon?" She fumed, her tantrum becoming louder with each word.

Stopping in the corner of her room, her hand swept to the side, backhanding an expensive vase into the wall. Raising her hand to her face, she clenched it into a fist, her eyes shutting tight as she attempted to control her anger.

"Asuka, Kochu. Clean that mess up. I don't need Kaede on my back right now."

From the corner where the broken vase lay, two little shadow demonesses appeared and began to clean the mess. One wore an light yellow kimono with a blue obi, the other a light blue kimono with a yellow obi.

"How though? That worthless copy of me will pay, but how? The others love her if not give her unconditional respect, so there is no way they will turn against her, I'm alone in this. I'll just bide my time as I wait for her to slip up, she'll slip up I know it."

Decision made, Kikyou swept from the room leaving the two demonesses to their task.

#*- (the next day)

The day started of beautifully, the sun high in the sky, not a cloud in sight. Shikomi and minarai, ran about the building, preparing the okiya the for great demon lords arrival. Kagome sat upon a cushion in the preparations chamber as she got ready for the lord. Kaede rubbed an oil sheen through Kagome's hair before tying her hair into an elaborate bun, she left a few wispy tendrils in the front to frame her face. Placing a few flower pieces into her hair and matching decorative chopsticks, she nodded her hair in approval.

Kagome waited patiently for Kaede to finish with her preparations, she didn't like being so pampered it was plain uncomfortable. She fidgeted in her seat, her nervousness growing in leaps and bounds. Kaede noticing her restlessness, gave her a stern reprimanding.

"Kagome, stop fidgeting, it will take longer for me to get ye ready if ye cannot sit still. What will the lord say if ye are later for his session? I doubt he will be please."

"But Kaede, I've never done this before. I cant help but fidget. What if I mess up? What if I do something to offend him?" She replied.

"Ye will be fine child. Ye forget ye have learned all the ways of a geisha already. Just because ye haven't officially entertained a patron doesn't mean ye will mess up. I'm sure ye will be fine. Now stand I'm done with ye makeup since the lord has asked that ye don't wear the white face paint. I've just applied the red lip color, and a little blush and eye color."

Nodding her head at Kaede's words, Kagome rose from her spot to walk over to the opposite side of the room where her kimono was hung. Raising her arms, Kagome stood still as the Kaede and a few onee-chans who had appeared out of nowhere, dressed her in the elaborate kimono. Said kimono had arrived earlier with a few soldiers sent from the Western Castle who were to stand guard of the okiya while the lord was visiting. The soldiers had arrived with a large chest full of kimonos, for her to wear over the course of the lords visits.

The kimono she was to wear today was a soft pink, the sleeves were covered in grey and white clouds. The obi was a pale yellow with streaks of orange. The bottom of the kimono had matching clouds to the ones on the sleeves, with the image of a brilliant gold sun , which reminded Kagome of the lord's eyes, peeking through some of the clouds.

When the obi was finally tied, Kagome gave a little twirl so Kaede could get a better look at her. Kaede nodded in approval before she did some last minute adjustments until she was satisfied with her work. Smiling into Kagome's face, she brushed a kiss to her cheek before pulling back.

"Ye look lovely Kagome. Now on ye way." Kaede slid the rice paper shoji door to the side for Kagome to leave the room, watching her as she went. Her eyes filled with love as she watched the young woman amble down the hallway towards the ochaya, a fleeting smile passing over her lips. The girl really did look lovely. Sliding the door shut, Kaede went about cleaning up the mess in the room before the next girl came in to prepare for her session.

#*-

Struggling down the hall as she walked to the specially selected room for Lord Sesshoumaru's session, she growled under her breathe at how tired she was becoming from just walking from one building to the next. The blasted kimono was so unbelievably heavy, there were so many layers to this one. Note to self, next time, choose the kimono with the least layers. Stopping in front of the most expensive tearoom of the whole ochaya, Kagome bowed slightly to the youkai that stood guard of the room. Sucking in a deep breathe, she composed herself as best she could before sliding the door open and stepping into the room.