InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ He's My Girl ❯ The Working Class ( Chapter 7 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or the other characters from the anime/manga. They belong to Rumiko Takahashi.

 

 

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Warnings:Please do not read if you find swearing, dirty talk or sexual situations disturbing. Trust me, we just find them immensely fun and entertaining—and we hope you do, too.
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Special thanks to our awesome and talented betas: Hedanicree, Blackdeathmessenger and Theleb K'aarna!

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This chapter was written by Ai Kisugi, with edits and additions by Karaumea.

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Chapter 7: The Working Class

 

 

 

Takeshi frowned. Last night had been long. He had followed the hanyou girl and Kagome to the movie theater. However, he had been surprised to see a boy from the Hojo clan waiting to take Kagome on a date. It was too bad that the girl didn't know the boy's connections. He would have to warn her somehow. The Hojo family was trouble, and he knew that from personal experience.

 

He pulled his SIG-Sauer pistol out of his side holster and put it down on his rickety kitchen table. He pressed the magazine release button with practiced ease. He wasn't even looking at the gun as he caught the clip of ammo that slid out the bottom. He placed the clip on the cheap, linoleum table. Then, he carefully checked to make sure that the chamber was empty and that no ammo cartridges were stuck inside the housing.

 

He knew that there were no stray bullets inside, however his gun was a weapon. You always checked to make sure the firing chamber was clear—always. One mistake with a gun could end a life.

 

Takeshi then moved to his right to open up a thin, rectangular wooden box. Inside were cloths, rods, brushes, and cleaning solvent. His pistol really didn't need to be cleaned, but working on his piece slowly and methodically like he did every day was almost a catharsis for him. As usual, he was frustrated, and the monotony of the task he was doing simply let his pent up feelings find an outlet.

 

Hojo. Why did that kid have to get involved? He pulled the slide all the way back and locked the pistol into place, opening up the barrel of the gun for inspection. He looked to see if there was any excess carbon soot marring the steel finish. Luckily, Shaya was there.

 

The middle-aged man laughed to himself and his brown eyes twinkled in merriment. He recalled the `date' that he had witnessed last night and the many attempts of Hojo to woo Kagome that were met with Shaya's frequent discouragement. He really didn't know what was funnier: the way Shaya pelted the young boy with popcorn kernels or Hojo's look of dismay every time his attempts to touch Kagome were repulsed.

 

Ahhh… Takeshi wiped a hand down his face. He had been a little worried when he found out that Shaya had been Kagome's new roommate—more than worried, in fact. However, now he saw the hanyou as someone who could protect Kagome from harm. Shaya had even saved her from a potentially fatal fall at a shopping center earlier that week.

 

Shaya. Takeshi shook his head. Inuyasha, that poor boy… He knew who Shaya really was and he didn't envy the lad. It had been only a week since he trailed Naraku to the Takahashi building and the office of Sesshoumaru.

 

He had arrived well before Naraku and had noticed that Sesshoumaru's younger brother, Inuyasha, and Kouga Ookami had arrived. He was well aware of the two boys. Not only did they often tangle with the law, but they also had just managed to destroy a large portion of Naraku's property the night beforehand. Takeshi was surprised that they arrived just prior to the mob boss. It was well known that Naraku had put out a hit order on the two boys. Over a billion yen had been offered to anyone who could kill both of them. They were only teenagers, but Naraku was merciless and angry. Apparently, Kouga had also managed to sleep with the man's only daughter during their rampage. The older man grimaced. Shortly afterward, Naraku had arrived, and he was sure that the two boys would soon be found dead within the Takahashi building. Those two had no idea who they were messing with.

 

He was utterly surprised when he saw Inuyasha and Kouga leave the building with the headmistress of the Shikon Boarding School some thirty minutes later. Even more astounding was that this time they looked like female versions of themselves. He knew they were the same troublemakers. They wore the same clothes and they had the same features. It was just now they had feminine curves. The sheer hilarity of the situation made him laugh to himself again. The look on their faces! Utter bewilderment, anger, befuddlement, and shock laced their features, while the headmistress corralled the girls as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

 

Sesshoumaru Takahashi really managed to find the punishment that fit the crime. Takeshi assumed that the well-connected businessman had managed to get a hold of some very expensive and rare, demonic concealment charms. The two boys had already tangled with the law too many times. Hopefully, this penalty would calm them down and perhaps even change their ways for the better. They had been caught dealing drugs, getting into fights, and the Ookami boy had been arrested for having sex in a public place.

 

He was surprised to find out a few days later that the `boys' were rooming with Kagome Higurashi and Ayame Kita. He was a little upset to know that two boys were sleeping in the same room with two teenage girls. However, after observing the situation he found that their disguises effectively gelded the `boys.' The two boys turned girls seemed to be trying to keep from getting noticed, probably due to the embarrassment they would face if discovered.

 

He smiled as he pushed a cleaning rod down the neck of his automatic. As long as those two boys didn't get frisky with any of the girls, he would let them keep their disguises. If they were in their true forms, Naraku would have killed them already. The mob boss was practically seething in rage over the accumulated losses that they had done to him. And the last thing he wanted to do was to help the mob boss kill some hapless teenagers—even if those teenagers were troublemakers.

 

Until Naraku was exposed and put behind bars neither those two boys nor Takeshi could ever hope to lead a normal life again. All he needed was evidence.

 

Takeshi's cleaning was done, and his fingers fairly flew as they locked pieces of the gun back together. He slid the magazine chamber into place. It was a fully loaded clip with 12 rounds.

 

Soon, Naraku…soon.

 

~~~oo0oo~~~

 

Shaya sat down in front of an old computer model in the high school computer lab. He tried not to growl in frustration. Before he was stuck on campus as a `girl' he had more money than he knew what to do with and had every electronic gadget known to man. Now, he was stuck using a rundown computer that was loaded with software from eons ago and had a keyboard with missing keys. At least it doesn't connect to the Internet with a modem!

 

Inuyasha started to search on the Internet for a job that he could apply to. What sort of job hires girls with no experience? He found a job website and did a search with the keywords: no experience. Several options were then listed on the screen and he started to scroll through the offerings.

 

As he started to look, he saw that his erstwhile demon companion was strangely engrossed in his computer. Shaya peered over to look at Kori's computer monitor. Inuyasha's eyes widened in surprise when he saw the many windows that had erupted all over the screen. Most of the windows had erotic pictures of half-nude women and most of the captions read, `Women seeking women.' Kori had managed to find the lesbian personal ads. He had also found a link to `Gold Finger:' a lesbian club in Tokyo. The wolf demon was also madly engrossed in an online chatroom called, `Cyber Dykes.'

 

“What the hell are you doing, bim-bo?” remarked Shaya a little too loudly for the other members of the computer lab, who looked at him with irritation.

 

“Keep it down, dog-breath,” answered Kori as she grinned wolfishly. “You don't know how long I have fantasized about being in a lesbian chatroom.” The demon scrolled down the site showing various pictures of girls in all manners of dress and undress.

 

Shaya looked at the screen with a bored gaze. Most of the girls that were pictured looked more like men than women. Most of them had short haircuts; some of them even had buzzcuts or were bald. It was as if they were trying to get rid of their lovely feminine mystique by looking like a man.

 

Kori pointed out a picture to Shaya. “I'm going to try to meet up with this girl.”

 

Inuyasha looked down at the personal ad Kouga was perusing. Lipstick lesbian seeks feminine-acting woman for romance. I pack. No butches. Inuyasha paused as he quirked an eyebrow in confusion. “What's a lipstick lesbian?” asked Shaya a little too loudly.

 

“Shut the fuck up!” responded Kori as she grabbed Shaya forcefully by her silvery forelocks and pulled her down to see the girl he was trying to meet up with. Then the wolf demon spoke in a subdued voice so that no one else could hear. “It means she looks and acts like a normal girl. No short haircuts or butch behavior. She just likes fucking girls. I'm going to ask her to meet up with me.” Shaya pursed her lips as she looked at the picture. The girl had black hair, a china doll haircut and crimson eyes that held an odd gleam. She was obviously a demon.

 

“Hey, what's with the `I pack' stuff?” queried Shaya.

 

“Dunno,” answered Kori. “And I don't care. I need to get laid.”

 

“Don't you think she'll notice that you don't have the right equipment?” added Shaya dryly as she crossed her arms and arched a perfectly manicured black eyebrow.

 

“I'll tell her it's a strap-on,” replied Kori nonplused. “I'm telling you. I just need to fuck something and do it soon. I'm loosing my mind.”

 

Shaya only rolled her eyes and started to look over the listings again. It didn't take long for another set of demonic eyes to start gazing at her monitor.

 

“What are you staring at, Kor-ree?” questioned Shaya a little too loudly.

 

The wolf demon started to read the listing on Shaya's computer screen. “Seventh Heaven club. Needs waitress. No experience necessary. Will train. Uniform provided. 2,000 Yen/Hour. Roppongi Street.” Kori looked at Shaya quizzically. “You're trying to get a job, muttface?”

 

Inuyasha glared at his demon friend before printing out the listing and then closing up the computer screens. “Yeah. I'm broke and…” Shaya paused before she lowered her voice and cupped her clawed hand in front of her mouth. She started to whisper conspiratorially, “Kagome agreed to go out on a date with me.”

 

“What?” Kouga turned Shaya around to look at him as he whispered, “She said she'd date you? Is Kagome a lesbian?” Kouga's face was crestfallen. “Damn, all the hot chicks are playing for the other team!” Inuyasha almost started to laugh, but he was able to withhold his guffaw into a snicker.

 

Inuyasha took Kouga's arm aside. “No, wolf shit. She agreed to date Inuyasha.” Then Shaya mumbled to herself, “Whenever he can show up.”

 

Kori's sorrow turned into bemusement as she started to laugh, which further disrupted the other girls trying to work in the computer lab. More angry glares were sent their way.

 

“Shut up, Kori,” responded Shaya with embarrassed dismay.

 

“Oh damn, you just get yourself into so much shit sometimes,” said Kori as she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. After a moment she sobered up a little. “You know, I might need some money, too. You know, to take this bitch out on a date and to pay for a hotel room. Who knows how many times we will be shacking up,” she whispered before putting her hands on her hips and thrusting forward suggestively.

 

Inuyasha ignored Kouga's antics. He had seen it all before, so he just decided to change the subject. “And to pay me back the 5,000 Yen you owe me, Kor-ree,” answered Shaya will a smirk.

 

“Owe you? Money, since when?” asked Kori in astonishment.

 

“Didn't someone say that he'd be banging a new girl everyday here? We made a bet.”

 

Kori's lips curled in peevishness. “Yeah, but I still have time. I just need to get involved with an `all girls network.'”

 

Shaya only rolled her eyes as she grabbed her printout and walked out of the computer lab. The hanyou ignored his wolf demon friend and instead focused on the job ad in front of her. She walked down the school's hallway oblivious to everything.

 

“Hey, Shaya. Wait for me. I need to earn some money, too,” called the wolf demon, who quickly scampered after his hanyou companion.

 

~~~oo0oo~~~

 

“I'm in heaven,” Kouga murmured as they stepped foot into the strip club known as the `Seventh Heaven.' Surrounding them was a glimmering, raised walkway in the middle of the dance floor and numerous poles. Kouga's mind was already imagining the many female strippers walking down the aisle and gyrating their naked, oiled bodies against the scattered posts. His face held a rakish smile.

 

“It's just a name, wolf-shit,” countered Inuyasha as he tried to keep his face from showing his unease. When the hanyou had printed out the job wanted ad for a waitress, he had no idea that the location was actually a strip tease bar in the middle of downtown Tokyo. No wonder the pay was good!

 

“Hello, girls. Are you looking for someone?” asked a silky, masculine voice from behind the bar counter.

 

Shaya and Kori turned to see a handsome man with a long, black braid snaking behind him. He was wearing a traditional man's white and gray kimono and had a curious, star shaped tattoo on his forehead. The man smiled at the girls winsomely, and his eyes wandered over their forms with appreciation.

 

Shaya could only blanch in sudden horror at being checked out by a guy. Kori also seemed a little perturbed by the man's gaze, but suddenly decided that a job involving lots of naked women was worth some measure of discomfort. Naturally, Kori turned on the charm as her cerulean blue eyes twinkled in merriment.

 

“Yes,” answered Kori coolly as she gazed evenly at the dark-haired man in front of her. She winked before she continued, “We're responding to a job ad for some waitresses. I am Ookami, Kori and this is Takahashi, Shaya.”

 

The man's steady grin faltered for a moment. “Oh, you're not here to try out for a position as a dancer?” His eyes raked in their forms, and Shaya had the unpleasant sensation that the man was undressing them with his eyes. Inuyasha was about to growl before Kouga elbowed him in the stomach.

 

The wolf demon's eyes started to glimmer in total bliss as he started to imagine himself in a strip tease dance with several nude girls grinding against him on the stage. The lecherous grin on his face seemed in complete dissidence to his girlish façade.

 

“Don't even think about it, wolf-shit,” muttered Shaya behind him. The wolf demon then sighed petulantly to only put on a forced grin when facing the man in front of him. “No, we're here for the waitressing position,” countered Shaya as she stepped in front of her demon friend and crossed her arms under her ample cleavage.

 

“I see,” said the man. He grinned impetuously before he took a perfunctory bow before the girls. “My name is Bankoutsu. I run this establishment.” Again, he gazed at the girls who returned the bow and then nodded to himself as if making a decision. “Usagi?” he called out airily as he waved his hand.

 

Soon a very tall girl with long blonde hair and two silly buns on the side of her head walked in from a side door. The girl was wearing an extremely short and revealing outfit that seemed a complete mockery of a schoolgirl's `sailor suit' uniform. She giggled as she bowed.

 

Shaya frowned in annoyance. A complete and utter airhead…

 

Kori, on the other hand, bowed in response and then took the girl's hands in her own. “I'm sure that we'll become great friends,” the wolf demon added as he gazed into her baby blue eyes.

 

“Tee hee,” she replied as she continued to giggle. The tall blonde dropped her hands from Kori and looked expectantly at Bankoutsu.

 

“Ah, yes. My girl. I think we need to try out Kori and Shaya for the night,” Bankoutsu said while he gestured to each of the girls in turn who were standing uneasily near the bar. “We need to see if they can handle it when this place is packed. Be sure to get them into the special `waitress' kimonos,” he added with a gleam in his eye.

 

“Right away, boss,” responded Usagi as she saluted the man with two fingers. She then gestured for the two girls to follow her into the dressing rooms near the far end of the stage.

 

Kori was watching the girl's hips swing in front of him. The little navy blue skirt she wore barely covered her rear and she had legs nearly as long as Kagome's. Damn, I'm going to love this job!

 

When they walked into the room, they saw numerous dressing tables lined with gleaming globe lights, racks of sequined, satin and feathery clothing in every hue, and a set of gray lockers on the far side. There were already a few girls in the area who were putting on makeup or styling their hair. “I'm so happy that you two girls showed up,” added Usagi with a smile. “Things have been getting really busy lately. The `Lady of the West' is really pulling in the crowds.”

 

“Lady of the West?” parroted Kori with a mischievous grin on his face.

 

Usagi didn't catch the look on Kori's face and instead walked forward to look at the rack of costumes. She pulled out a few tiny, silk kimonos and seemed to be having trouble deciding on which color would look best on them.

 

“Yes,” the girl commented absentmindedly. “She's our main act. You'll see her performing tonight. She has this great act with these feather boas.” The blonde girl paused before she nodded to herself. “I think these two uniforms will do. OK girls, try these ones on… Oh and take off your bras. Bankoutsu likes us to appear `au naturale.'”

 

“I'm not wearing one,” added Kori with a grin.

 

“Oh, yeah. I see,” responded Usagi as if they were simply talking about the weather. “My boyfriend, Mamoru, likes it when I don't wear one as well.” The girl then broke out in giggles again. “He says that he likes to see me jiggle when I move.” She elbowed Kori to let her in on the joke. “The patrons love it as well! Oh, and here's a red kimono for you….”

 

The tall blonde girl handed Shaya a very short, crimson kimono with a smile. However, the dog-eared girl could only grimace as she picked up the garment and eyed it critically. I think a washcloth would cover more. Holding the sorry excuse for a dress over his torso, the agitated half-demon shook his head in dismay, his ears drooping to disappear into his hair. A washcloth would definitely cover more. There was no way he was going to be caught wearing that thing. No fucking way! Frowning in determination, he turned to leave. He was going to tell that freak of a boss exactly where that kimono would look best. However, a sudden thought froze him in place. Kagome. The date. He could still remember how he squirmed in discomfort when Kagome had paid for him—repeatedly. Now, that's not happening again. If there was anything less manly for a dog demon than dressing like a whore, it was having your bitch provide for you. And this job pays really well… Grudgingly, the distraught teenager turned to his companions, the red silk he was expected to wear clutched in his fist.

 

Clueless to the macho hanyou's inner conflicts, Usagi continued beaming a smile as she gave Kori another cobalt blue kimono. “Here you go, girl. This one will match your pretty eyes.”

 

The girl then put her hands on her hips and motioned to her two new subordinates. “Now get undressed! Chop chop! I'm going to need to tie those obis on for you.”

 

Shaya blanched and her face erupted in a lovely shade of red. “But, I…,” she stammered.

 

Usagi just smiled at her with a gleam in her eye. “Oh, don't worry girl, it's not like we don't have all the same parts. Now hurry up!” The girl waved her hands at them in an attempt to hurry them in their efforts to disrobe.

 

Shaya's blush turned her face crimson as she turned away from both Usagi and Kori. She tried everything she could to disrobe without revealing too much skin. However, once she was only down to her bow-tied cotton underwear the blonde-haired girl started wrapping the red, silk kimono around Shaya's voluptuous frame.

 

“Wow,” murmured Usagi. “You barely fit into this one. You're really busty.” The girl turned Shaya around so that her bare chest was facing her and then folded the silky fabric gently over one breast and then another.

 

“Uh, thanks?” muttered Inuyasha who was distinctly unnerved by having a girl he didn't even know dressing him. As the hanyou looked at the girl and how little the kimono covered; he swallowed in nervousness. The kimono had a deep plunging neckline. In fact, the neckline dropped almost to her navel and revealed almost all of Shaya's tanned skin from one breast to the next. Only her nipples were barely covered, and if Shaya were to swivel a little one way, her entire bosom would have fallen out of the top.

 

The hanyou grew pale and tugged at the hem of the kimono, which scarcely covered her underwear. Shaya's legs from the top of her thighs to her pretty, pink painted toenails were on complete display.

 

Kori only laughed, causing Shaya to flip him off while she glared. Usagi didn't notice Inuyasha giving his friend the bird and continued to swathe the girl in a golden obi. The elaborate waist cincher drew into a looped knot at Shaya's back that looked like an elaborate bow.

 

“There now... All wrapped up,” murmured Usagi as she slapped Shaya on the bottom.

 

“Ahhhh,” yelped Shaya in complete surprise as she put her hands on her butt to keep any further molestation from happening.

 

Usagi just grinned impishly at the hanyou. “Oh, that was nothing. I'm just trying to get you used to what is going to happen tonight. The men here have a hard time keeping their hands to themselves.” She then turned to Kori, who was only wearing black boxer shorts and giggled again. “Oh, what an interesting choice of underwear. Are those your boyfriend's?”

 

Kori grew pale at the insinuation. “No, I don't have a boyfriend. I just like to hang loose.”

 

The sailor suit clothed girl only started to giggle again. “You are so silly. Now it's time to get you dressed. Turn around.”

 

The wolf demoness only grinned impetuously as she raised her arms and let Usagi wrap her body in the tight-fitting silk. In no time at all, Kori was wearing a short blue kimono and silver obi that showed every inch of her legs and most of her bosom.

 

Usagi motioned for the two girls to turn around and after thoughtfully pausing she pulled two separate pairs of stiletto heels from the shoe racks. “OK, girls, try these on,” she commanded as she put the high-heeled shoes in front of the two demons.

 

Shaya sat down and stared at the spiky heels and the steep incline of the shoes. How in the hell do girls wear these things? He tried to slide his foot in, but his feet were larger than they looked under the concealment charm.

 

“What? I thought that size would fit you,” said the blonde thoughtfully. When a grunt from Kori indicated that she had the same problem, the girl gave them bigger sizes. After a few more trials and 20 minutes of searching, a stupefied and disheveled Usagi came out from a back closet with two pairs of shiny, strapped stilettos dangling in her hands. “These were brought in for a special transvestite show that we had last year.” The girl missed the grimaces of her new companions as she continued, “I hope these fit, because we don't have a bigger size!”

 

Grumbling in frustration, Inuyasha slid his foot in and surprisingly, this time it fit. Already hating the feel of high heels on his feet, he carefully buckled the thin ankle strap. However, it was when he tried to get on his feet that he ran into the real problem.

 

Inuyasha tried to stand in the stiletto heels only to have his ankle nearly twist out from under him. The hanyou stumbled and fell promptly after only taking one step.

 

“Oh, girl!” Usagi called out. “Take it easy. Those heels are six centimeters high. You have to practice.” The blonde girl then giggled as she grabbed Shaya's hands and tried to teach her how to walk. Usagi walked in front of her, leading Shaya like she was a wayward toddler walking for the first time.

 

The hanyou certainly stumbled and nearly fell. How in the fuck do girls make this look so damn easy?

 

Usagi motioned the two girls to sit down at the dressing table. She blithely ignored Shaya's fumbles as she made her way to the countertop.

 

The blonde quickly took out a makeup case and handed the brushes, pads and cosmetics to the girls. “Will you two put on your own makeup? I need to check in with the other girls before the customers start to show up. Oh and use these ones.” She quickly gave them a lipstick tube of `flaming red,' eyeshadows called `blue desire' and `pink orgasm,' a blush called `deep throat,' a mascara called `stiletto,' and a coverup called `naked lunch.'

 

The two `boys turned girls' looked at the collection in front of them with wary eyes. Shaya picked up a tube of lipstick and twisted the stick in her hands. “How in the hell do you put this on?” she asked with trepidation.

 

Kori grabbed the tube from Shaya's hands. “Like this!” The wolf demon took off the lid, twisted the crimson red lipstick and smeared it all over her lips. The result looked more like clown makeup than something a sexy, ebony-haired women like Kori should have on her lips.

 

“Buwahaha!” exclaimed Shaya as she suddenly found humor in their bizarre situation. “You look so stupid!”

 

Kori was not to be outdone and quickly slashed her buddy with the lipstick, leaving numerous wide swaths of red color on her cheeks that looked like warpaint. “Muhahaha!” guffawed Kori as she held her clenched arms to her stomach and fell over laughing.

 

“That's not fucking funny!” yelled Inuyasha as he grabbed eyeliner and started to draw X's and O's on Kori's face. The wolf demon wasn't about to let things stop at that and managed to grab the `blue desire' eyeshadow and swabbed it across Shaya's nose and cheeks.

 

“Girls, how are you…?” Usagi's question lingered in the air as she spied the two girls with brushes and lipstick tubes in their respective hands battling it out at their dressing room table. The formerly beautiful girls wore makeup that looked like children had smeared finger-paints all over their faces.

 

The blonde girl sighed wearily. “I just knew this was going to be a long night.”

 

~~~oo0oo~~~

 

I can do this. Inuyasha repeated that same mantra again and again in his head as he tried to steady himself on his tall, spiky heels. He held a silver tray with one hand and was about to try stepping out onto the crowded club floor. He stumbled a little, his ankles a little wobbly from being much farther off the ground than what he was used to. Fuck. How can girls do this without breaking their necks?

 

He teetered precariously, but managed to maintain his balance as he slowly walked forward. He kept his eyes glued straight ahead to keep from jostling his unstable equilibrium. Luckily for Inuyasha, he didn't notice that men were watching his every move.

 

Shaya was everyman's dream even though she wobbled as she walked. She was an ethereal goddess with a curvaceous body, mesmerizing golden eyes, silvery waist-length hair and lovely long legs. She appeared even more exquisite in the tiny, scarlet kimono and golden obi that accentuated her tiny waist and shapely hips. Inuyasha was oblivious to his gorgeous looks, and since he had been desensitized to it long ago, he had no idea that his sweet rose scent was intoxicating. Just serve drinks and walk. That's it. I can do this!

 

He made his way to a group of men who were looking at him expectantly. He bent down to place several cocktail napkins in front of the group. “What would you like to order?” he asked with nonchalance.

 

“You on my lap,” answered the panther demon in front of him.

 

Shaya looked up and her eyes bugged out of their sockets. What in the hell did that fucker say? That bastard! She clenched her fists; ready to bury the idiot's smirk into the depths of his head. A savage growl began to vibrate in her red, silk covered chest. However, two warm chocolate eyes and a dazzling smile flashed before her eyes—effectively stopping her from getting herself fired. Calm down, you need this job. You need money to take Kagome out on a date. Calm down. “I'm only taking orders for drinks,” she added with a heated glare.

 

“Oh, she shot you down, Daisuke,” said one of his compatriots. “So lovely, would you sit on my lap instead?”

 

Inuyasha felt the veins in his temples pulsing. “I said no, you fucker. Now, what do you want to drink?” seethed the hanyou girl.

 

“Oh, whoah, lady. Calm down. We're just kidding. We'll all have some Kirin beer, right boys?” The other men in the group nodded their heads. “And keep it coming, OK babe?” The panther demon took a 2,000 Yen bill out of his wallet and tried to slip it into Shaya's kimono top.

 

The hanyou girl was able to grab the bill before it got too near to her skin. “Thanks, bub,” she responded dismissively as she turned around to get their orders.

 

Meanwhile, Kori was also trying her hand at waitressing. Kouga really couldn't help but to admire the sights all around him: numerous waitresses in short, tight dresses and strippers in various states of undress. He had actually been rather lazy for the last few minutes as he watched strippers toss their clothing aside and then made their way around the room selling their lap dances. This is the best job that any man could ever hope to have!

 

With a grin that belied his internal happiness, the wolf demon made his way to one of the many tables. “Would you gentlemen like to buy some drinks?” he asked with a disarming smile.

 

The man were startled by his entrance, but simply nodded and then the mood changed quickly as they grinned wolfishly.

 

He was momentarily alarmed. He knew that look—it was the very one that crossed his face every time he was at one of these clubs. It was a look of predatory desire. The look that denoted a succulent dish had been placed before you and that you were simply dying to get a taste. He swallowed nervously when he realized that the dish that was being savored was him and that the group before him wanted a bite.

 

Kouga nervously placed cocktail napkins in front of each man. Suddenly, he froze in place when he felt hands creep under his skirt and snaked under his boxer shorts. Without even thinking he smacked the hand that was touching his ass like it was an offending fly.

 

“Ouch, the bitch has one hell of a slap,” said a masculine voice behind him.

 

Kori quickly stood ramrod straight and moved her silver tray to cover her rear end. The wolf demon rapidly decided that if there were no drinks on his tray that it would be a shield instead. “What do you want to order?” she asked and this time her voice was squeaky with anxiety. The men only grinned deviously at her while they told her their orders.

 

Once the wolf demon was done, she quickly walked away with the silver tray securely covering her retreat.

 

Both Shaya and Kori managed to survive for one more hour, but the toll was evident. Shaya's obi was partially untied and trailed behind her loosely. Her beautiful, silver hair was now a frazzled mass somewhat akin to her mood.

 

Kori didn't look much better. Her cobalt blue kimono hung askew on her shoulders. More than a fair section of her shoulders and breasts were showing. She was constantly tugging at the top in order to keep her bosom from falling out.

 

The hanyou had a full cadre of drinks on her silver tray and was trying to balance them on her shoulder as she tried to wind her way to Kori.

 

Shaya stopped in front of her friend, her agitation evident from the twitching of her eyebrows. “No amount of money is worth this!” she complained vehemently to her demon friend.

 

Kori looked around the private club as she blew out a breath of air. As much as he disliked the attention that the men were giving him, at least he had some lovely sights to enjoy. He looked wistfully at a stripper who was jiggling and bouncing at the stage wearing only a red g-string.

 

“Well, there are some benefits,” the wolf demon tried to reason.

 

“They're fucking groping me at every opportunity!” yelled his hanyou friend. It looked like the veins in the half-demon's forehead were pulsing and about to burst. “I can't even bend down without someone grabbing my ass!”

 

Kori looked at Shaya's disheveled appearance and was about to make a comment about her lovely assets—but decided that he wanted to survive the night. “Well, we have to pay the piper in order to reap the rewards,” he answered while grinning mischievously. He gestured to the dancer with the bare body and oiled skin.

 

Shaya's eyebrows twitched again and her right eye seemed to have developed a tick. “I've fucking had enough! I'm out of here!” The tense and weary half demon shoved his tray full of drinks into Kori's hands and then made his way to the back door. “Don't fucking touch me!” he yelled one final time as yet another man from the club tried to fondle her ass in passing. The unlucky man was hit furiously across the jaw and was slammed to the floor as the gorgeous hanyou girl stormed outside in a huff.

 

Once he hit the cool night breeze, Inuyasha threw off his spiky high heels, and they tumbled onto the wet, slimy cement of the alleyway. Then, he jumped to the nearest building and crouched before springing up with a frenzied force. Blood was pumping through his veins, and he really didn't recall ever being this angry. All he could do was leap and run—otherwise he would never cool off. Fuck. I lost my first job. Fuck!

 

Unbeknownst to Inuyasha, Kouga was still trying to keep his job at the place he had called `heaven'. However, unfortunately for the wolf demon, heaven was rapidly turning into a manmade hell.

 

Kouga knew that he looked good as a woman. He had often admired his naked physique in the mirror. Hell, I even propositioned myself! Tonight, he knew that he was even hotter than usual. He had never worn sexy clothing as a woman before and he had certainly never worn makeup. But, he realized enough to know that he was now everyman's wet dream come to life, strutting up and down the floor of this nightclub in his stiletto heels.

 

It didn't take long for him to find the unwanted male attention annoying. And annoyance quickly turned into disgust, which was now blending into something akin to dread.

 

Kori quickly made her way to a drunken table of revelers who had been slipping a few bills to her throughout the evening. As much as he disliked the attention that the men were giving him, at least he had some lovely sights to enjoy. He looked wistfully at a stripper who was grinding up against one of the poles in the middle of the stage. What a lucky pole.

 

“Hey, girlie. I'm talking to you!” a man yelled right next to him.

 

Kouga quickly snapped his face back to the men immediately in front of him and breathed in deeply. “What would you like to order?” he drawled as he placed the cocktail napkins on the table. This time he was wiser and the round silver tray was now flat up against his rear end, reflecting off any unwanted hands.

 

“You know what I want girlie,” answered the man snidely as his eyes raked the girl up and down. Before him was another drunken demon that would not leave him alone.

 

Kori gritted her teeth. “I'm not on the menu. Is there a drink you want to order?”

 

The demon's smile widened, and he could see sharp teeth and fangs. “I told you that I want you. And I always get what I want.”

 

How in the hell can I get him to back off? “Well, I'm not interested. I'm a dyke. I only take girls to my bed if you know what I mean.”

 

Kouga thought he had been incredibly clever to mention his penchant for girls. He had thought it would cool the man's ardor. But then he quickly realized that not only was it the wrong thing to say, but that if he were in that man's shoes, he would have reacted the same way. The male demon in front of him wore a broad smile and his fangs peeked over his thin lips. Oh Shit!

 

“I've always wanted to bang a lesbian and let her see how it should be done. One night with me and you'll be a convert. Just bring your girlfriend along,” said the demon smoothly with desire in his eyes. “You don't know what you've been missing babe until you've had a real cock in your pussy.” The man moved forward with newfound energy and wrapped his strong, hairy arms around Kori's midsection. “What do you say babe, we can leave this joint and I could take you to my apartment.”

 

Ookami, Kouga was actually patient for a demon. He could even put up with some occasional groping if it meant that he could see naked women dancing all night. But even he had his limits.

 

“Stay the fuck away from me!” Kouga screamed. Using all of his demonic might he slammed the demon that was manhandling him into the nearby wall. Kouga wasn't homophobic; he just couldn't handle a male groping him. He was the one who usually did the groping. Having the tables turned on him sickened him immensely. “I don't want you to ever touch me,” he yelled as he made a flying kick to the man's upper-torso.

 

The demon had already drunk his fair share of alcohol that night. The last kick he had received was enough to make him go limp like a puppet without any strings. The other men who had sat next to the fallen demon pulled back in surprise and alarm.

 

Kori wiped her hands in front of the passed out drunk as if to clean her hands of the whole affair. Kouga had never been so humiliated or so emasculated. He had thought it would be fun to work at a strip tease bar. It would be great to check out naked women all night for free. But it wasn't worth his masculinity—of which there was very little left at the moment—to hold this job.

 

Kouga had finally had enough. Retreat could never be quick enough from this hell on earth. He threw his silver tray to the ground. Then he tried to walk, with what little dignity he had left out the front door. Unfortunately, his high heels made him stumble a bit on his way out. Kori quickly ripped off the troublesome shoes and then dashed out the door. If I ever come back there again, it will be too soon…

 

~~~oo0oo~~~

 

A middle-aged man watched the exchange from a dark corner of the club. Takeshi took another drag of his cigarette as he watched Kori storm out of the `Seventh Heaven' just as Shaya had done earlier. He wasn't too sure as to why the two `boys turned girls' had tried to work at the private club. Didn't they know Naraku owns this club? In which case, they are playing with fire or are they just two young guys looking for a chance to ogle some naked women?

 

He puffed the cigarette again as he cogitated. The dying embers glowed lava-red as a whispering trail of smoke wound its way into the darkness and neon that surrounded him. Probably the former… He smashed what was left of the tan roll into an aluminum cigarette tray. He brought up his black trenchcoat and put his hands through the sleeves again.

 

Just as he was about to make his way out of the smoke-filled pit, he heard the announcement for the main strip tease act that was about to grace the stage. He frowned. This wasn't the type of place he normally visited and now it was time to leave. He'd have to keep a better eye on the two hapless boys in order to find out the true reason as to why they were here tonight.

 

Takeshi was making his way to the front door, and unfortunately for him he was near the glossy-hued walkway that was the center of the stage. He heard the announcement and then saw the next stripper.

 

“And why don't you give a round of applause for the walking sex queen, the woman who only wears feather boas—let's hear it for—the Lady of the West!” He could hear the hoots, yells and applause as a petite young woman with long brown hair and doe-brown eyes walked proudly to the center stage. Just as the announcer had said, all she was wearing were white feather boas that trailed behind her like some sort of long white tail. The boas were wrapped all around her form like fur—fur she was about to shed.

 

All Takeshi could do was gape in absolute horror and astonishment. He averted his eyes—he could not look at her right now. “No, not her! Not here! She can't be here!” he whispered.

 

~~~oo0oo~~~

 

Blackness surrounded Inuyasha as he jumped up to the second story window of the dorm room he shared with Kagome. The dorm mother had already locked the front doors. This was the only way he could get in this late at night. He tried to be as silent as he could as he slid the window open and then cautiously moved inside.

 

If there were one thing he hoped to avoid, it would be Kagome seeing him in an emasculating outfit. It was only because he wanted to earn enough money to take Kagome on a date that he resigned himself to wearing something so revealing. Frankly, the getup he wore only filled him with self-loathing and ill ease. But, that would pale to the humiliation of Kagome seeing him dressed this way.

 

He looked around warily in the dark as he tried to tiptoe past his sleeping roommate. It should be easy to do. She was such a heavy sleeper. He suddenly felt a prickling sensation running along the back of his neck. Oh no, she can't be awake…she…

 

“Shaya-chan?” called out his roommate's sleepy voice as she stretched and then casually switched on the overhead light.

 

Inuyasha winced inwardly. His shoulders hunched over, and he refused to meet her shocked face. No, I never wanted you to see me this way.

 

“Shaya-chan!” Kagome yelled. “What are you…? Why are you wearing that? What happened?” The questions flowed quickly as she looked in dumbfounded astonishment at her roommate.

 

Shaya was standing under the harsh light of the room in a tight, red, silk kimono. The girl's ample figure and tanned skin could be easily seen since the dress covered nothing other than the bare essentials. The red silk was cut high at the hip, so that Shaya's long, shapely legs could be seen almost from the junction of her thighs down to her delicate ankles. The top of the kimono was cut down nearly to the girl's naval and her ample breasts seemed to almost fall out of her top. Kagome looked at the girl's face, which was reddened in shame and embarrassment. It was then that the miko noticed for the first time that Shaya was wearing heavy makeup. She wore black eyeliner stylized like an Egyptian, thick mascara that let her already long lashes seem garish, harsh neon-pink eyeshadow above each eye, blood red rouge on each cheek and dark crimson lipstick that was applied generously to her pouty lips. Her hanyou roommate no longer looked like the schoolgirl she knew; instead, she looked like a strikingly beautiful prostitute.

 

“Don't…don't look at me, Kagome. It's bad enough that I had to wear this,” answered Shaya as she clenched her fists and looked at the floor with dismay.

 

Kagome threw off her bedcovers and walked over to Shaya. “What? Why, Shaya? Did you want to wear this?”

 

Her hanyou roommate laughed bitterly as she ran her red painted nails through her long, silver strands. “You think I wanted this?!” asked the hanyou girl as a clawed nail pointed to the bare spot between her breasts where most of her upper torso was on complete display. “I...I tried to get a job, Kagome. I really tried…” The girl's jaw clenched in frustration as she moved to her futon and sat down in utter dejection and humiliation. “I never had a job before. So this was all I could get. I was a waitress at the `Seventh Heaven.'”

 

The miko's eyebrows pursed in confusion. “Seventh Heaven? What is that, Shaya? Some sort of gentlemen's club?”

 

Shaya snorted in response and crossed her arms in front of herself. The gesture effectively covered the large expanse of skin from the swells of one breast to the other.

 

Shaya turned her golden orbs at Kagome. “You could say that.”

 

Kagome shook her head in disbelief. “Why, Shaya?”

 

Her hanyou roommate looked down at the floor and sat down on her futon with resignation. “I just…I just needed the money, and they pay well. I had no choice.”

 

Kagome rushed to the girl and knelt in front of her. In one swift movement, she pulled Shaya into a fierce hug. Inuyasha let out a breath of astonishment as the girl he loved embraced him.

 

“Shaya, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, Shaya-chan.”

 

Inuyasha looked down at his roommate in utter bewilderment as she clung to him. He had often dreamed of feeling her warmth press up close to his own. However, so far it had only happened twice. The first time was when he had the accident in the shower. He still remembered the way her slick, naked skin rubbed up against his nude wetness as she held him—water cascading around them—and the way his skin felt so achingly hot. He had wanted to respond to her caresses that day, to touch her in return. But, she would have thought he was a lecherous lesbian if he had tried anything. So he had to remain content to just let her touch him while his he lower half ached miserably.

 

Now, she was holding him again, and he couldn't help but to respond. Gingerly, he pulled his arms around the miko and brought her to him in a welcoming embrace. There was nothing else now, just him holding the girl he loved in his arms—her soft, giving form enveloped in his strong arms and pressed so sweetly against his body. Gods, Kagome…

 

Kagome sniffed as if she was trying to hold back a sob. Then much to Inuyasha's chagrin she pulled away from him and placed one of his clawed hands in her own.

 

The miko tugged as she stood. “Come on, Shaya. I'll wash that makeup off your face.” Inuyasha followed behind dutifully, looking at his roommate in a daze. She was wearing her red and white `Big Dog' t-shirt again that barely covered her ass. Some of her satiny pink panty was visible as she walked ahead of him—each sway of her hip revealing another glimpse of a smooth, rounded butt cheek and shimmering pink.

 

Soon they found themselves in the bathroom and Kagome motioned for Shaya to sit on the rim of the bathtub. Inuyasha watched Kagome with curiosity as she pulled out some makeup remover and poured it onto a washcloth.

 

“Close your eyes, Shaya-chan,” asked Kagome politely as she rubbed the cool cloth over Shaya's face. Obediently closing his eyes, Inuyasha reveled in her touch, its gentleness soothing his agitated nerves. “Shaya-chan?” asked Kagome hesitantly.

 

“Yes, Kagome?” answered Inuyasha as if he were in some dream-like trance.

 

“I am so sorry you had to go through that. I'll help you.” Kagome paused to wipe off the girl's red lips, her fingers trailing over the surface that the terry cloth had just brushed over. Shaya opened her mouth and licked her lips as the digits moved away. “OK, Shaya-chan? I'll help you get a better job.”

 

The corners of Shaya's pink mouth started to curve up in a glimmer of a smile. “You'd do that for me, Kagome?”

 

“Of course, I would, Shaya-chan. Now, let's get you out of that outfit,” responded Kagome as she led Shaya back to her room and then pulled out some clothes from the drawers. “You like sleeping in shorts and t-shirts, right?”

 

Inuyasha only nodded as his roommate carefully placed a pair of red shorts and a white t-shirt on his futon. Then, he became startled as Kagome moved toward him and asked him to turn around. “What are you doing, Kagome?”

 

“Helping you out of this,” remarked Kagome as she pulled on the obi wrap and started to untie the numerous wraps that encircled the girl's thin waist. The miko worked with patient ease as she pulled Shaya out of the golden obi and red silk. Before Inuyasha knew it, he was standing nearly nude in front of the girl he desired. Yet, he stubbornly refused to look down at his feminine form. The last thing he wanted to see were large breasts hanging from his curvy figure. It was so wrong that it disgusted him.

 

As much as he tried not to, he caught an errant glimpse of his exposed, tanned skin. Inuyasha blushed at his nudity, though Kagome seemed nonplused. All she sees me as is a girl…

 

Kagome turned to his bed and handed the t-shirt to the girl. Inuyasha ducked his head under the top and then took his shorts from her.

 

His roommate looked at him wistfully before she spoke. “I'll put in a good word for you tomorrow morning. I bet that I can get you a job where I work.”

 

“Really?” Shaya answered as she pulled her red shorts onto her long and slender legs.

 

“Really,” answered his roommate with a heartwarming smile. Kagome reached out her hand to Shaya's. “Tomorrow will be better.”

 

Shaya could only smile as he saw Kagome turn and get under the covers of her futon. “Good night, Shaya.”

 

“Good night, Kagome,” Shaya murmured. His head was filled with thoughts of Kagome in his tight embrace and the girl stripping him of his clothes. He couldn't help it—his lower body started to respond. He tried to force his fervor away with disturbing images of an old, wrinkled Kaede having sex with an equally wrinkled and bone-thin Totosai. But those images quickly disappeared into the mist as Kagome's lithe, nude form beckoned him. Soon, his imagination took over and his nude male form was pressed up against her feminine softness. Fuck!

 

He waited until he heard Kagome's soft, steady breathing from across the room. Then, his hands found their way under his shorts again. Fuck! And just after I washed these sheets to get rid of the stench!

 

Any trepidation he might have had was quickly forgotten as his fantasy played again in his mind. Kagome was touching him, caressing him—more intimately than she had done minutes before. And all was right in his world.

 

~~~oo0oo~~~

 

Inuyasha awoke the next morning feeling optimistic. He found the feeling to be bizarre considering the roller coaster ride he had been on the past week. However, today was the day that Kagome would help him get a job at her work. Any place that Kagome worked had to be reputable, he imagined. Inuyasha cracked his knuckles. If it wasn't he was sure to put an end to it. Kagome should never go through what he had faced last night—men groping him and gazing at his body like starving wolves. No, Kagome will be kept pure and innocent.

 

Inuyasha smiled inwardly at his last declaration as he glanced across the room to sneak a peek at his roommate. He watched as Kagome stretched in her t-shirt. As her arms lifted above her head, the shirt rose up enough to reveal her smooth rounded ass and a glimpse of her toned abdomen. Life is good…

 

The brown-eyed girl sighed and reached into the top drawer of her dresser. She brought out another pink panty and bra, as well as a small red skirt and a white spaghetti top. What Inuyasha found curious was that she also took out a small teal-colored box. It was plastic and about the size of a slim wallet. Once she opened it up he saw rows of tiny blue pills. She pressed one pill out of the foil container and popped it in her mouth. She grimaced as the obviously bitter pill hit her tongue and she swallowed.

 

Shaya raised an eyebrow in curiosity. “Kagome?” she asked.

 

“Hummm?” responded the miko sleepily as she pulled her old panties off and threw them in her clothes hamper. “Yes?”

 

Inuyasha tried not to be distracted by the girl bending over without any panties on. “Oh, uh. What was that? You took a pill?”

 

“Oh that,” responded Kagome as she shimmied into a new panty and ripped her shirt off of her form. She was standing in front of him with her bare bosom and only a panty covering her. “Oh, it's just a birth control pill.” The girl continued dressing by pulling her pink bra around her torso.

 

“A...a what?” rejoined Shaya in sudden alarm. “A b..birth…con..control pill?” she squeaked. The hanyou walked over to Kagome and started sniffing the air near her.

 

Kagome was suddenly jolted awake as she felt Shaya right next to her, sniffing like a dog. “Shaya, what are you doing?”

 

“But, you're a virgin, Kagome. Why do you need those?” Shaya asked while waving her hand in utter dismay at the small plastic blue box.

 

“How do you know I'm a…?” Kagome swallowed nervously and then straightened her back. She took a deep breath before continuing. “It's not for that. I mean, maybe someday… But I'm taking them to control, you know—that time of the month.”

 

“Time of the month?” questioned Shaya in complete bewilderment.

 

“You know, the time when you feel sick and weak and you don't want anyone around.”

 

“Oh,” murmured Shaya in perplexity. Her brows furrowed in confusion. “I didn't know they had pills to control that sort of a thing. Hey! Why do you have a time of weakness? You're not a hanyou.”

 

“What?” inquired Kagome. “Time of weakness?” It was Kagome's turn to look uncertain before a look of understanding graced her features. “Oh, I forgot. You go through `it' two times during the month don't you? I'm sorry. Um, the pill only controls the menstrual cycle. You know, when women get their periods. You're talking about the time when you become human, right? Your time of weakness…?”

 

“Keh! What do you think I was talking about?” replied Shaya as she crossed her arms in front of herself.

 

Kagome only giggled in response. “Well, as far as I know, there are no pills for that. But I love these things. I only get my period four times a year with them.”

 

Suddenly, Inuyasha felt the ground shift underneath him. This was a territory that no self-respecting male would ever wade into. “Uh, good for you,” Shaya murmured as she turned and walked back to her side of the room. He shook his head as he tried his best to get the idea of Kagome and menstrual cycles out of his mind.

 

He stared ahead with determination as he tried to pick out clothes for today. It was Saturday and he needed something that would be acceptable for a job. Inuyasha realized that he had no idea what sort of clothes he should be wearing for the place Kagome worked at. “Um, Kagome? What sort of clothes should I wear for your workplace?”

 

Kagome turned to smile at him. “I have to change once I get there. I'll get you an outfit as well. Just dress nicely.” Kagome walked over to his closet and pulled out a pretty yellow skirt and a white shirt. “This should do it,” said Kagome warmly.

 

Shaya only looked at the skirt in utter dismay. “Do I have to wear a skirt?” the hanyou croaked.

 

Kagome tilted her head to the side. “Well, no you don't have to. But, you only have the first time to make a good impression.”

 

Shaya frowned as she pulled on the yellow skirt and the white blouse. God damned skirts. I hate skirts!

 

Before Inuyasha knew it, they were both dressed in skirts and were walking out of their dorm room. After a quick bite to eat at their dormitory cafeteria, they were soon traveling the subways of the Tokyo Metro. As they exited the station, Inuyasha noticed that the neighborhood seemed very familiar: the long concrete sidewalks, the trees every few meters that cast a dappled green shade upon them and an odd shrine that stood atop of a hill.

 

Inuyasha stared up the steep stone steps with a red Torii gate at the entrance. I've been here before. When? “Kagome, where are we going?” Shaya asked with apprehension.

 

The miko turned around and beamed a smile at him. “My home, the Sunset Shrine. It's been in my family for generations. I come home every weekend to help run the shrine,” she paused for a second as if carefully considering her words. “Grandfather has always been telling me that we need more help. Someone strong who could help him lift some of the heavier boxes and antiques. He was looking for a man…” Kagome paused again to look at Shaya with a quirky smile. “But, I think you're stronger than any man. I know that you could do the job.”

 

Shaya looked at Kagome quizzically. “A hanyou working at a shrine? Are you sure, Kagome?” he asked with trepidation.

 

The miko only smiled again and linked Shaya's arm with her own. “Positive. Now Grandfather might be a little…hesitant at first. Just let me do the talking, OK?”

 

Shaya's right ear twitched at the words, but otherwise she wore a straight face and managed to keep a frown from appearing. They walked up the steep steps and walked under the Torii gates. The hanyou quirked an eyebrow at the komainu, shrine dog statues, that were at either side of the entrance. Maybe that's a good sign…?

 

Kagome walked forward to the fountain that had a metallic green dragon at the top with water pouring from its mouth. She bent to pick up a bamboo cup and scooped some water up to pour over her hands. Then she took a drink from the water.

 

She smiled gently at Shaya. “You've done this before. You know it won't harm you.”

 

Shaya uncrossed her arms and managed to murmur out, “I know that…” Afterward, she followed in Kagome's footsteps and performed the same ritual of purification that was to be done before entering a sacred shrine.

 

Once they crossed over the threshold to the shrine, they entered an area of concrete pathways surrounded by gravel and dappled shade. In the center of the shrine was a huge tree that was nearly three stories tall; it's branches as wide as it was tall. It was wrapped with mystical ropes and stood aloof from the rest of the shrine.

 

Kagome called out to an elderly man with graying hair who was wearing the robes of a Shinto priest. “Ohayou!” The young miko waved, and the older man stopped sweeping the concrete pathways to wave back to his granddaughter.

 

The young miko ran to her grandfather and gave him a hug before gesturing to her friend that was standing warily by her side. Shaya shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot as the older man looked at her.

 

“Grandfather, this is Shaya. She's my roommate at the boarding school.”

 

The older man simply bowed stiffly, yet respectfully to the hanyou girl in front of him. Shaya followed suit.

 

“You know, grandfather,” said Kagome as she laced her arm with his and started to walk him away from Shaya. “You said that you needed someone strong to help you with the shrine.”

 

The older man nodded as his young granddaughter led him to the Goshinboku tree in the middle of the shrine grounds. “I'm not strong enough to carry the heavier relics and boxes, and it will be a long time before Souta is strong enough. So I was wondering…” Kagome paused as she stood in front of the God tree. “I was wondering if you would consider hiring Shaya. She's a hanyou, so she's really strong. I bet that she could lift over 500 kg, maybe even a 1,000!”

 

“A hanyou you say?” asked her grandfather as he looked down at Kagome with a frown on his face. “Working at our shrine?”

 

“Grandfather,” Kagome said pleadingly. “Remember this tree? Remember the legend? This shrine has long been tied with mikos and half-demons. Remember the legendary half dog demon who was pinned by a miko to this very tree?”

 

“Yes, because he stole the legendary shikon jewel,” responded the elderly priest circumspectly.

 

“Grandpa. You know very well he was betrayed by another jealous demon. You know that he was good and loved the miko who sealed him. And you know that his spirit and the miko who pinned him to this very tree still watches over this shrine. Certainly the spirit of the dog demon would be pleased to see an ancestor of his working here.”

 

The older man sighed wearily as his watery, dull eyes looked down at his bright-faced granddaughter. “There will be no dissuading you, I suppose?”

 

“No, honored grandfather,” the young miko replied. The edges of her smile quirked up in apparent victory.

 

The gray haired man waved at the hanyou girl who was still standing at the fountain. Her back was to them, her arms crossed and her ears twitched and turned in their direction as if she had been listening to their exchange. “Take her to your room and find some miko robes for her to wear. Train her first on how to run the shrine shop and then after closing I'll need her to help me move some boxes.”

 

Kagome squealed, then burst out laughing as she hugged her grandfather and spun him around. “Thank you so much, grandfather!” She ran to Shaya with the giddiness of a schoolgirl. The miko grabbed the hanyou by the hand and pulled her toward the home at the back of the shrine.

 

Shaya tagged behind Kagome, who seemed immensely happy and satisfied. They slid the front door open and took off their shoes, which they left at the genkan. Kagome handed Shaya a pair of slippers to use as they walked into her house.

 

The hanyou looked around in wonderment. He knew that he had been here before. It must have been one of those family meetings where everyone from the Takahashi family met Rin's family. They had sat in this very room. He looked around the family room. There were several cushions on the floor for sitting, a low coffee table and a large TV in the middle. The TV was hooked up to some sort of video game system that Kagome's younger brother seemed to be playing.

 

The first time he was here was probably when he had first laid eyes on Kagome. It had been her scent that had called to him that day. Sure she was beautiful, certainly prettier than Rin in Inuyasha's eyes. But she had the most luscious scent that just made him want to follow her around like a wayward puppy. And that was when it started—when he found that he couldn't even speak in Kagome's presence. It was when he had batted away any attempt on her part to be friendly just because he didn't want to stutter around her. He wanted to be around her badly, but not if he was embarrassed and not if he was going to act like an idiot. Thank the gods I no longer stutter! He shivered to himself.

 

“Hey, Souta,” Kagome called out good-naturedly as she walked past the young boy. Souta was mesmerized by the video game in front of him and couldn't peel his eyes away from the screen. “Hi ya, sis,” he responded as his fingers and thumbs pressed various buttons on the white controller in front of him. There was a furious battle taking place on the television screen.

 

Shaya stopped to ascertain which system and game he was playing. It looked like a Wii system and he thought he recognized the game. “Hey, is that the Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess?” Shaya sputtered out. “Hey, have you beaten the Temple Boss, Ganondorf?”

 

Souta turned around. Someone was speaking his language—the language of video games. Once Inuyasha saw the boy's face he could tell that Souta was around ten years old.

 

Kagome giggled to herself when she noticed the look of wonder that spread across her younger brother's face the first time he looked at Shaya. The little boy's face bore the look of surprise and utter bewilderment. He stared at Shaya with his mouth hanging open and he waited far too long. His character, Link, was hit with an energy attack from a huge fossilized skull. His character twittered and sputtered as Link fell to the ground in defeat.

 

Souta never took his eyes off of Shaya, even though his character had just died. “Uhh,” responded the unfortunate youth.

 

“Souta, this is Shaya,” said Kagome while she motioned to her friend. Souta was still looking at the lovely hanyou girl in gape-faced wonder.

 

“Uh, huh,” the youth responded with glazed brown eyes.

 

The half demon goddess was oblivious to the young boy's attentions. Her eyes were glued to the screen. “So you're only at the Arbiter's Grounds? Maybe I can help you get through this after I'm done working here?”

 

Souta could only nod dully.

 

Shaya beamed a beautiful smile his way, her lovely golden eyes glowing with passion. There were only a few things that Inuyasha enjoyed above all else: Kagome, ramen, kicking someone's ass and his favorite past time—video games. “OK, kid,” answered Shaya as she scuffed up the youth's hair and then followed Kagome upstairs.

 

“Sha-yah,” murmured Souta in steadfast appreciation as his eyes gazed at the hanyou girl with long, silvery hair. She was wearing a short yellow skirt that showed all of her lovely curves and was walking up the staircase. His eyes were still glued to the flight of steps even after the hanyou girl had been long gone.

 

~~~oo0oo~~~

 

Shaya wiped her brow. It had been a long trying day, but at least it wasn't as hard as it had been when she was working at the `Seventh Heaven.' At the shrine, she was wearing long, red hakama pants that affectively hid her `feminine' curves and a white billowy kimono top. This was a vast improvement over the short red kimono that exposed almost every inch of her skin.

 

Just like the `Seventh Heaven,' there were a few customers that had been checking him out as he ran the shrine shop. However, unlike the gropers at the club, these patrons were courteous and polite. He quickly found that if he didn't act too gruff the male patrons would buy twice as many goods. The unfortunate side effect was that they lingered longer and tried to get his phone number. He quickly decided that increasing the shrine sales wasn't worth the added hassle and continued on the day giving male customers a stony stare.

 

Shaya lifted yet another heavy box from the storage shed. Kagome's grandfather was having him pick up and move every box out of the shed and onto the shrine grounds before re-stacking everything. The work wasn't very hard for him. The boxes were easy to lift, and he could tell that the old man had grudgingly given him his tacit approval today. He had gained it when he lifted a large, stone statue effortlessly that would have normally taken four grown men to carry. He smirked to himself when he remembered seeing the old man's befuddled countenance that was quickly followed with a look of satisfaction. Even the old man likes me…

 

He glanced over at Kagome who was also wearing the red and white miko garb of a priestess. He found that he liked the way the clothes fit her and the way her beautiful ebony tresses were tied up in a silk ponytail holder low on her back. Inuyasha decided that he liked her best when she didn't know that he was watching her. He gazed at her for a little longer. She stood alone, demure, sweet and beautiful—smiling to herself with an internal happiness.

 

Kagome was busy gathering fortunes and wooden prayer plaque cards. She was untying the objects from the trees and fences on the shrine grounds and placing them into her woven reed basket. When the basket was full, she took the prayers and fortunes to a small pit next to the shed. It was where she would say a final prayer to the gods and then burned the offerings. Once each votive was burnt, it was transported to the gods for their decision and every bad fortune was mystically erased.

 

He watched closely as she murmured a prayer, clapped her hands twice, bowed, and then struck a match. The contents quickly flared with flame, and a single white cloud of smoke rose aimlessly above the pit. Kagome knelt next to the rapidly burning fire and the halo of smoke.

 

Somehow as the smoke curled its way up to the heavens, she sensed someone looking at her. Kagome gazed up at hanyou through the cloudy smokiness. Inuyasha smiled at her before walking back inside to get another box.

 

In his embarrassment at being caught staring, he had been too quick to turn his head away from the miko and never noticed Kagome's confused expression. She was about as slack-jawed as Souta had been when he had first seen Shaya.

 

All Kagome could do was stare in absolute confusion. Walking past her was the very hanyou male she had a crush on—the guy who was supposed to be in China on some sort of business trip with his father. There was no mistaking his masculine jaw, his broad shoulders, his lean manly physique or those adorable puppy-dog ears. However, he was wearing women's clothes—the garbs of a miko! Her vision was getting stranger and stranger.

 

Kagome couldn't quite shake the feeling that she was dreaming. She often daydreamed of the gorgeous dog-eared demon that she was spying on at the moment.

 

Her eyes widened in apparent bewilderment. She found her pulse beating rapidly, and her breathing quickened.

 

She stood up and ran over to where Shaya (or was it Inuyasha?) last stood. With panic running through her veins, she stumbled right into the hanyou, who was lifting a large wooden box. Kagome slammed right into the crate and stumbled backwards to fall on her bottom. “Ouch!” she complained as she looked up at the hanyou before her with disbelieving eyes.

 

“Oi, Kagome,” the hanyou called out.

 

The miko shook her head in confusion. Shaya even sounded like Inuyasha. “Inuyasha?” Kagome questioned under her breath as she gazed at clawed hands and the front of a wooden crate.

 

Shaya startled and put the large box down. She then squatted to stare at Kagome directly in the eyes. Curious amber eyes gazed at confused chocolate orbs. “What did you call me, Kagome?”

 

Kagome's lips parted in evident uncertainty as she looked at the hanyou in front of her. I just saw Inuyasha. He was wearing miko's robes. What is happening to me? “I…I thought I saw your brother. I must be…” Kagome hesitated as she looked up at the silver-haired half demon in front of her. The confused miko had the look of a person who had just woken from a dream.

 

Shaya stood up and reached her arm out to Kagome to help pull her up. A secretive smile erupted all over her face. “Ah, well you never know. Maybe he'll show up again,” the pretty hanyou girl responded. “Now I have to finish moving these boxes. I'll see you inside soon.”

 

Kagome brushed off her hakama pants after standing up. “Yes, uh…”

 

“Kagome!” a middle-aged woman exclaimed. Inuyasha turned to see the woman he knew as Kagome's mother. He noticed that Mrs. Higurashi had rosy cheeks and bore a smile of satisfaction. The older woman met her daughter with a warm hug. “How are you doing, Kagome? How is school?”

 

Shaya quickly turned to Kagome's mother and her lilac scent. It was pretty, but not nearly as wonderful or intoxicating as Kagome's. He sniffed again, there was something curious layered on top of her fragrance. Something odd… The wind swept the scent away from Shaya, effectively hiding the curious smell he was trying to ascertain.

 

“Fine, Mom,” responded Kagome as she pulled an errant wisp of hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear. “Oh, I forgot to mention that I have a new roommate, Shaya. She is also the newest employee here at the shrine.” Kagome motioned to Shaya who bowed low to Kagome's mother.

 

The older woman with short black hair and a winsome smile returned to bow. “I'm pleased to meet you Shaya.” The middle-aged woman paused as if in thought. “Are you related to…?” she left the sentence dangling.

 

Shaya responded immediately with a smirk. “I am a Takahashi as well.”

 

Kagome gushed breathlessly, “She's the sister of Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru.” Was it just Shaya's imagination or did Kagome's eyes look akin to hero worship when she mentioned his name?

 

The older woman quirked an eyebrow in astonishment. “I was sure that I had met the entire Takahashi family.” She looked over Shaya as if appraising her. “But no one can doubt the resemblance. You are a Takahashi.” She beamed a smile at the hanyou girl. “I would love for you to stay for dinner and hear how your mother is doing! I haven't talked to her in so long.”

 

Inuyasha only nodded in agreement. The older woman turned to leave when the wind reversed direction. The scent of Kagome's mother wafted his way. He was doubly surprised by what he smelled. There was a lingering scent all over the woman, and he was having trouble remembering what it was. There was a man's cologne that clung to her as well as the man's musk and the scent of smoke. It only took him a few seconds to identify the source.

 

The middle-aged man on the subway! The guy in the black trenchcoat who gave me a subway pass! Now why would Kagome's mother be meeting up with him? Was my meeting with him a coincidence? I know that he seemed familiar somehow… Who is he?

 

Inuyasha looked at the older woman's retreating form warily. There was a mystery right under his nose, and he intended to find out the answers.

 

~~~oo0oo~~~

 

Next Chapter: A double-date, but who is going?!

 

Author's Notes:

#1: Karaumea just finished traveling across continents and now she has to move twice! However, Heartless fans take note! Despite all of the things she has been through, the next chapter of Heartless is over 18 pages so far. She has 14 sections in that chapter and has finished 4 of them. She says it will be even longer than `When She Comes Back'—so it will be a very beefy chapter! Yeah!

#2: Takeshi. Ta-Keh-she.

#3: A Billion Yen. About one million USD.

#4: The `Seventh Heaven' is a real strip club in downtown Tokyo on Roppongi Dori. (Ai Kisugi used it before in one of her other stories.)

#5: The birth control pill is not commonly used in Japan. It is available now (after taking more than 20 years to get approved), however condoms and abortions are the usual birth control methods in Japan. `Seasonale' was described in this chapter and is one of many different types of birth control pills that limits the number of menstrual cycles per year to 4 instead of 12. As usual, Ai Kisugi couldn't help but to mention a birth control method that was appropriate for the situation regardless of how things are really like in Japan.

#6: Yes, we threw Usagi from `Sailor Moon' in the story. We were looking for a good-looking airhead and *ahem*… well there you have it.

#7: `Ohayou' is `Good Morning' in Japanese.

#8: A `genkan' is the entrance to any Japanese home where you take off your outdoor shoes and then put on your indoor shoes or slippers.

#9: When I (Ai Kisugi) visited the Yahiko Shinto Shrine grounds I noticed a shrine maiden picking up paper fortunes and wooden prayers and placing them in a basket. My Japanese friend told me that they would be burnt afterwards in a ceremony and sent to the gods. I didn't see the ceremony where they were burned, so I made up one for this chapter.

 

~~~oo0oo~~~