Kagura walked inside her large condo. She took off the light jacket she wore and threw it carelessly on the French sofa. Her home was decorated with lovely paintings from Europe, the finest mahogany furniture carved gently by hand, and her oriental rugs, each single handedly made.
Kagura had just finished with a business meeting with her boss, Mr. Negau. Fires of Hell did she hate that man!
Kagura heard light footsteps come from one of the rooms. She turned her head only to see her daughter, Kanna, standing in the hallway. Kagura eyed her daughter's hair, having it born snowy white. Kanna stared at Kagura with her darkened eyes, making her skin look paler than it really was.
"Kanna, did you sleep well?" Kanna merely nodded then left without a word, back to her room.
Kagura shook her head in frustration and walked to her sliding door at the end of the lavish living room. She slid the door open then shut it when she was outside. She rubbed her arms for about a second then sat on her tanning chair.
Kagura leaned her elbows on her knees as she brought her face to her hands.
'Why does this have to be so difficult?'
Kagura felt the breeze on her, making her lift her head and look towards the skies. Life has always been hard on her, since she gave birth to her daughter.
Kagura was adopted at a young age of four, by trusted friends of her mother. Kagura didn't have a father, and her mother had died suddenly. Kagura moved with an old couple on a small farm in the country, having known Kagura since the day she was born.
By the time Kagura finished with high school, she was granted a scholarship to go to a college on a nearby city. Her adoptive parents quickly sent her on her way, telling her to make the best of her journey.
Time flew and Kagura had a year left till she graduated college, a B.A. in the arts. Suddenly Kagura had received a phone call from her adoptive father, saying her mother was terribly ill.
Kagura went at once to see her family, realizing only two days later, her mother had died in her sleep. Kagura mourned her adoptive mother, returning back to college three weeks later.
Tragedy struck again when her father died, age giving Kagura no time to say her good-byes.
Her adoptive parents left her the farm and what little money they had left. Kagura became depressed, losing her only family too quickly. She had left the dorms one day and went to drink at a bar. Her biggest mistake that night was that she had gotten drunk and left with two guys, demons no less. In the end, they had raped her and left her in a darkened alley.
Kagura had left school only a few short months afterward. She took care of what was left of the small farm, selling all the animals since she wouldn't be able to take care of them anyway. Kagura later on figured out she was pregnant, and tried to carry on.
Months flew by, Kagura could barely walk and she lived in the middle of nowhere. She opted to sell the farm, since she didn't have any money and was close to her due date.
One morning, Kagura began to feel immense pains from her stomach. She had stumbled out of her bed, trying to get to the phone. She hadn't made it and instead was huddled on the floor, trying to think of some way to save herself.
Sooner than later, Kagura was screaming, not being able to withstand the pain. The front door had opened and a strange man came to her aid.
Kagura was now at the hospital, cradling her silent daughter. The doctor had informed her that the labor was difficult and because of that, her daughter was suffering from a mental illness.
Kagura had thanked the man who had practically saved her and her daughter. The man explained that he was over to buy the farm from her, seeing that she had put if up for sale.
"Where will you go?" Kagura glanced at him, then to her daughter.
"I don't know."
The man introduced himself as the owner of a top company, and offered her a job as his assistant, with complete health insurance and the works.
Later on Kagura learned that this man wasn't so nice after all. By the time Kagura wanted to quit, he refused. Saying that she had seen too much already and that resigning was not negotiable.
Hearing the sliding door open, Kagura turned to see her daughter at the door, staring at her.
"Phone for you."
Not waiting for a response from her mother, she left. Kagura wiped her tears from her face, wishing that just once, Kanna would call her 'mother, mommy' anything!
She sighed as she stood and walked inside, sliding the door shut then locking it. Kagura walked to counter where the phone was. She picked it up and held it to her ear, not being able to hide her frustration of the day.
"What!" She heard a sigh come from the other end of the line.
"She sounds better every day. You however, do not." Kagura sighed in silent anger, wondering why the Gods above would do this to her.
Before she could say anything, a distant memory came to her.
Kagura wondered the large park, looking for her daughter.
'Where could she have gone?'
Walking towards one of the many playgrounds, she heard a child's laughter. Turning to stare at the large sandbox, she found Kanna…playing with another child?
'Odd. Kanna doesn't socialize with anyone.'
Kanna walked over and hunched down, her hands on her knees.
"Kanna, we have to leave now."
Kanna stood up silently and stepped out of the a href"http/ onmouseover"window.status'sand box'; return true;" onmouseout"window.status''; return true;" sand box /a . The little girl playing with her stood up fast, running up to Kagura.
The little girl's brown eyes pleaded with Kagura's, shuffling her black hair over her shoulder.
"Can't she stay a little longer?"Kagura smiled gently.
"I have to go. Who will take care of her?" The little girl looked like she was about to cry, until another voice was heard.
"I will watch her." Kagura stiffened at the voice, hearing the little girl run towards him.
Kagura stood firmly and turned her gaze to stare at the proud tai-youkai.
"Sesshomaru Hakatashi." Walking up to her with a little girl grasping his hand, he nodded.
"Kagura Kaze."
They let the two little girls play a bit longer in the sandbox, while the two adults sat on a nearby bench.
Both keeping their gaze on the children, neither made eye contact.
"So how does the tai-youkai end up caring for a human?" Sesshomaru almost frowned at the old nick name, wishing that his old 'human hating' habits died when he was younger.
"Rin is a likely child. Though, it quizzes me to find you of all people with a child and no mate. With the reputation you withhold, that is."
Kagura turned to stare at him with anger in her eyes. How dare he say something like that to her! True, Kagura had a reputation, a good one with business and her way of work, but he didn't even know her and here he was, practically laughing at her!
Kagura stood at once, her hands clenched in fists as her aura rose in anger. She was about to 'give him a piece of her mind' when she heard Kanna whisper for her.
"Momm…" Kagura's anger left her just as quickly as it had come, turning to stare at the two children who stood up too.
Rin left the sandbox and skipped to her adoptive father.
"Daddy, can Kanna come over to play, just for a little while?" Sesshomaru stood, towering over her small form.
"Ask her mother." Rin tugged on Kagura's hand.
"Can she? Please? You can come too!" Kagura was about to decline when she felt a cool hand on her other hand.
Kagura looked down and surprisingly found Kanna's hand in her own. Feeling the tug on her other hand by Rin, Kagura just nodded, not hearing what the little girl had even asked.
Rin jumped in joy, while Kanna released her hand and began to walk away, ignoring Kagura's stunned face.
Kagura watched as both girls walked off towards the gates of the park, a black limo waiting for them.
Sesshomaru stood at Kagura's side, his hands in his pockets.
"She does not agree with your rising aura?" Kagura merrily blinked, not taking her eyes off of her daughter.
"She's youkai…" Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow.
"Naturally." Kagura felt tears on the back of her eyes.
"Nothingness…She is nothingness."
Sesshomaru turned to her, seeing that she was holding in her tears.
Kagura began to walk forward, intending to follow her daughter. Her heel had some how gotten stuck on a crack in the cement and Kagura found herself falling forward.
Her body never hit the ground. She glanced up and noticed she was in Sesshomaru's arms, his golden eyes staring at her intently.
Kagura was in Sesshomaru's home. Kagura and Sesshomaru were sitting on a lavish, a href"http/ onmouseover"window.status'European sofa'; return true;" onmouseout"window.status''; return true;" European sofa /a , drinking wine. Upstairs, they could hear a giggling Rin, while occasionally, soft whispers from Kanna.
'Alright. No more wine!'
Kagura and Sesshomaru ended up having a conversation about the European trade, arts, and what not. One of Sesshomaru's butlers came forward, the bottle of wine in his hand.
"Ms. Kaze?" Kagura held her glass high, thanking the butler for refilling her glass.
'Damn.'
Two hours later, having drunk the whole bottle, they both engaged in a more personal conversation. Feeling a little forward and blunt, they shared each other's lives without a care in the world.
By the time the girls were done playing, Kagura and Sesshomaru were making out in his study, making plans to see each other again.
As time went by, Kanna and Kagura visited Rin and Sesshomaru more frequently, and even went out together in a group.
Kagura whirled in circle, her black fitted Versace dress hugging her body in a very attractive way. Kanna sat on Kagura's bed, eyeing her mother with interest.
"Do you approve?" Kanna smiled lightly.
"Beautiful."
Spending time with Rin had definitely changed Kanna, for the better. She talked a little more, smiled a little more, and even began to hold Kagura's hand.
Kagura couldn't be more happier. Dating Sesshomaru was a definite plus in her mind. They had been dating for three months now, and their children loved it as much as they did.
Turning back to face the mirror on her dresser, she placed earrings on her ears and on her wrist, a matching bracelet.
The doorbell rang and Kagura turned to leave the room, Kanna still sitting on her bed. Kagura made her way towards the front door, a slight frown on her face.
'The sitter's early.'
As she placed her hand on the knob, she felt her earring fall to the floor. Kneeling down to get it, she turned the knob and opened the door. Once she had the earring in hand, she stared at the pair of expensive shoes at her doorstep.
'He's here…'
Kagura stood up slowly, her eyes on his.
"Mr. Negau." Naraku chuckled as he let himself in, eyes staring at her home.
"I see you've done well. Nice to know that I'm paying for a smart worker."
Kagura closed the door silently, not once taking her eyes off of him.
"Do you need something, Mr. Negau?" Naraku turned on his heel, smirking at Kagura dangerously.
"I've known you for quite awhile, are formalities still needed?" Kagura crossed her arms and tilted her head.
"What is it you want, Naraku?" Naraku brought his hands together, eyeing her form of beauty.
"Kagura, you know you are my most valuable and trusted employee." Kagura scoffed.
"Hardly trusted." Naraku nodded and placed his hands behind his back neatly.
"I see you've been seeing Mr. Hakatashi." Kagura narrowed her eyes to him.
"I don't see why that's any of your business." Naraku smirked.
"Oh Kagura, it's very much my business." Kagura turned her head, her eyes still on him.
"How so?" Naraku began walking around her living room, eyeing her taste of decoration.
"Thanks to your negotiations with Shikon Inc. , I've noticed we've made lots of profit." Kagura didn't like where this was going.
"And?" Naraku still walked around her living room, sending her glances every now and then.
"So I'd like to know you're plan of seducing Mr. Hakatashi." Kagura almost gasped, clenching her fists in anger.
"Do you think of me a whore?" Naraku smiled devilishly at her.
"I have no plan of seducing ANYONE. You've sorely mistaken." Naraku frowned at her.
"Then why fiddle with him? Surely you don't plan on taking him as your mate?" Kagura almost flinched, never thinking of Sesshomaru in such a way…yet.
"As I've said before, it's none of your business." Naraku fixed his angry eyes at her, clearly upset with her answer.
"Then what are you doing with him, Kagura?"
Before Kagura could answer, Kanna came walking out of the hallway, her light smile instantly fading away once she looked at Naraku.
Naraku crouched down to her height, placing his hand on her small shoulder.
"Kanna, you've grown." Kanna just stared, her eyes in a blank state.
Naraku quickly turned her to face Kagura, his hand on her shoulder gripping tightly as he took out a small dagger from the inside pocket of his jacket. Placing the tip of the dagger to Kanna's neck, he eyed Kagura in fury.
"When were you planning on selling my company short!" Kagura shook her head in fury, taking small steps towards him.
"I don't know what you're talking about! Let her go!" Naraku flung Kanna to the side, standing up and rushing towards Kagura. He slapped her in an instant, sending her to the floor in a thud.
Kagura looked over to Kanna from the floor, fear evident in her dark eyes.
"Go to your room!" Kanna stood and ran off in the hallway.
Naraku looked down at Kagura in disgust, kicking her twice in the stomach.
"Did you think that I would let you 'see' him!" He bent down and hit her, then gripped her hair in his fist.
"Continue seeing him Kagura, and mark my words. You'll find the head of your daughter in the very sheets you sleep in! You Are Mine!"
Hitting her once more, he stood up, dusting his jacket and heading towards the front door. Before walking out, he turned his head, gazing at Kagura's fallen body.
"You're mine, Kagura. Don't ever forget your place with me."
Hearing the door shut, Kagura exhaled. She laid there for about ten minutes, deciding it was best to get up.
Trying to push herself up, she felt her arms weak, shaking as she settled her weight on them. Soon, she felt small hands around her neck, noticing Kanna's snowy white hair. Not any sooner than that, the door bust open. Kagura closed her eyes in silent relief, half of her wishing he hadn't gotten there at all.
Sesshomaru took Kanna in his arms as he walked towards her bedroom. Two minutes later he came back, scooping Kagura just the same, carrying her to her bedroom. He laid her down gently, then walked out.
Kagura leaned against her soft pillows on her back, hearing Sesshomaru fiddle in the bathroom, probably looking for a href"http/ onmouseover"window.status'medical supplies'; return true;" onmouseout"window.status''; return true;" medical supplies /a .
He came back with cotton balls, a href"http/ onmouseover"window.status'q-tips'; return true;" onmouseout"window.status''; return true;" q-tips /a , and a href"http/ onmouseover"window.status'hydrogen peroxide'; return true;" onmouseout"window.status''; return true;" hydrogen peroxide /a . Sitting next to her, he dabbed the q-tip with peroxide and dabbed it on the side of her busted lip.
Fifteen minutes later, they sat in silence. Sesshomaru had taken off his tuxedo jacket, having it thrown carelessly on a chair in Kagura's bedroom.
Sesshomaru sat on the far end of the bed, his elbows resting on his knees as he kept his gaze on the floor.
"We leave in an hour." Kagura's body had began to heal on its own. She shook head.
"Where to?" He turned his eyes to her, apparently angry.
"Where do you think, Kagura? To my place, you'll be much safer there." Kagura raised an eyebrow.
"Kanna?" Sesshomaru suppressed a growl.
"Now's not the time to ridicule." Kagura sighed.
"So, you plan on taking my daughter and I to your home. What will you do from there Sesshomaru? Plan on protecting us forever?"
One look from him gave Kagura enough of an answer. She sighed silently, leaning her head against the pillows. How wonderful of him, to want to protect her and Kanna? Like they were family. Kagura felt like crying, the stinging pain behind her eyes. She figured Naraku would never let her be happy. Sesshomaru…he made her happy, and Kanna too.
"Leave." Sesshomaru turned to her quickly.
"And do what? Leave you here?" Kagura turned her head, not wanting to see him.
"We cannot go, Sesshomaru. We are owned by him." Sesshomaru stood at once, his aura beginning to rise, which was something that never happened.
"You are Mine! I should kill him for even touching you!" Kagura frowned at his statement.
"You sound just as cynical as he does!" Sesshomaru ran his claws through his hair, trying to remain calm.
"What do you want me to do, Kagura?" Kagura stared at him then turned her head, closing her eyes while fighting her damnest to hold her tears from falling.
"Leave, Sesshomaru."
Sesshomaru turned on his heel and yanked his jacket from the chair, storming to the living room and out of her home, slamming the front door.
Kagura sighed in pain. Her lip wasn't so swollen anymore, and she could feel the need to move now. A few tears made their way down her delicate cheeks, wiping them away furiously with the back of her hand.
She stood, taking small steps to regain her balance before she walked out of her room.
She walked towards Kanna's room, opening the door slowly.
"Kanna?"
Looking around the neat room, she couldn't see Kanna anywhere. She walked towards the bathroom, then the living room. She was no where in sight. She glanced at the front door, it was slightly open.
"Oh Kanna…"
Sesshomaru sat in the back of his limo, his elbow resting on the edge of the window, clenching his fist every so often. He hadn't left the presence of the building yet, half of him hoping Kagura would run out, holding Kanna and telling him to take her away.
'Kagura's a stubborn woman.'
He sighed, turning his gaze away from the building, lifting the small telephone inside the limo to tell the driver to head home. Before he did so, he glanced outside.
His hand going immediately to the door handle, ready to open it and get out.
Kanna was at the entrance of the building, staring at him through the tinted window of his limo.
Just then, Kagura came out, walking slowly behind Kanna. Kagura didn't acknowledge the limo and just picked Kanna up, Kanna's small legs wrapping around her mother's waist.
Sesshomaru had just leaned against the seat watching as Kagura took Kanna back to their home.
A silent tear escaped Kanna's eye as she watched the image of the limo become smaller and smaller as Kagura carried her inside.
"Kagura?" Kagura shook her head gently and cleared her throat, wishing she hadn't remembered such painful memories at all.
"What?" Sesshomaru sighed on the end, hearing the venom in her voice.
"Why are you so difficult?" Kagura examined her nails, holding the phone in the other hand.
"I thought I said never to call, Sesshomaru."
"You were not specific." Kagura sighed in frustration.
"I meant all calls! This includes personal." He didn't say a word, instead letting Kagura carry out her anger.
"Sesshomaru, how long do you plan on following me, like a lost puppy?" She heard him slam his hand against the desk, or table. Either way, he was getting mad.
"I ask again, why do you act so difficult?" Kagura smiled.
"Do yourself a favor. Find someone of your own kind, for I am not easily bent over. For security, how about a bitch? Someone of your nature, eh Sesshomaru?"
The line went dead in seconds. Kagura giggled to herself, having succeeded in making the man angry. She sighed as she hung the phone and turned, knocking down a magazine. She bent over to pick it up, and noticed a small hand come below hers.
Kanna took hold of the magazine and stood up. Kagura stayed crouched down. Kanna stared at her mother from her point of view, whispering in her soft voice.
"He won't wait forever." Handing the magazine to Kagura, she left the living room and into her room, closing the door silently.
Kagura stood and placed the magazine on the counter, rubbing her temples.
'She never talks to me…yet when she does she gives me advice?'
Kagura gave up. She walked to her bedroom, leaving the door open. She flopped on her bed and sighed.
'Nothing will ever go right for me…never.'