InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ My Succubus Girlfriend ❯ Chapter Four ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any characters associated with it. This story is rated for a mature audience.

 

Citrus Warning

 

*******************

 

Sitting in front of the TV, Inuyasha drummed his fingers against the table in agitation. The clock sitting beside his bed drew his eyes more often than the program as he forced himself to stay calm. It's okay… She just got off of work. In the end, she had won the argument about working. It was little surprise that she found a job right away. Less than a day after beginning the search, she returned saying she was a new member of the workforce. Though it was bothersome to him that she kept her workplace secret, she assured him it was respectable work serving at a café.

 

“Respectable enough to keep secret?” he grumbled, leaning against the table. Though he could understand her reasoning well enough, just like him, she wanted her space as well. I just have to trust her. It was much easier said than done considering what she was. He perked up as the door opened.

 

“I'm home,” she said as she entered into the apartment. He could hear bags rustling as she appeared around the corner. A bright smile lit up her face as she held up the bags. “I got dinner.”

 

That explains why she was late, he thought, relaxing. “How was work?”

 

“Fun!” she said happily, moving into the kitchen. “I was lucky and found a great place. I talked to the manager today about my situation and he agreed to pay me daily for a couple weeks. He's a nice man.”

 

“What did you tell him?” Inuyasha asked, curious what `situation' she had told him. Obviously it wasn't the real reason why she needed money quickly. He did feel a twinge of jealousy at her calling her boss a `nice man,' but was quickly replaced by guilt. I have to stop being so suspicious.

 

“I told him I was new in town and city expenses were a little more than I expected.”

 

“And he agreed to pay you daily?”

 

She looked over her shoulder and grinned. “I'm very good at negotiating.”

 

“Especially when the opposing side is a man,” he mumbled.

 

“What's that?” she asked, emptying the bags.

 

“Nothing,” he said quickly. “So what's for dinner?” he asked, changing the subject before she could pry deeper.

 

“I bought some beef. I also got some stuff from the café.”

 

“Bought?” he questioned.

 

“How rude,” she said, turning to glare at him. “Why would I be working if I'm just going to get everything for free? Besides, you told me not to use my magic.” He smiled.

 

“Just checking.”

 

“Well have a little more faith in me or I'll stop cooking for you.” Inuyasha stopped talking before he found himself in any more trouble. Focusing on the TV, he switched to the news. Several minutes later, dinner was ready.

 

“That was fast,” he said, eyeing the food in suspicion. Kagome frowned as she took a seat across from him.

 

“If you tell me I can't use magic to make your food, you're going to find yourself eating instant ramen real quick.”

 

“Itadakimasu!” he said quickly, grabbing food and shoving it in his mouth. “Delicious,” he said after swallowing.

 

“Of course,” she said smiling as she began eating her own food. He eyed her curiously as she ate. “What?”

 

“You're eating…”

 

She lowered her chopsticks. “I'm not allowed?”

 

“No, nothing like that. It's just—odd is all.”

 

She shrugged as she picked at the beef. “I figured that watching you eat all the time was a little awkward. Besides,” she said, leaning forward, “it helps me blend in more, so I have to get back into the habit.” Eating in silence, Inuyasha kept giving her quick glances as he ate. Ever since she he had taken her to that shop, she had been acting different. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but there were a lot of little things about her now that made it seem that way. So far, he hadn't worked up the courage to ask what exactly she had discussed with her mother. It couldn't have been anything small. He knew that a lot had to happen in seven centuries.

 

“What's wrong?” she asked, breaking into his thoughts as she eyed him.

 

“Nothing,” he said, looking back down at his food.

 

Setting her chopsticks down, she rested her chin against her hands as she looked at him. “I know that look of yours. You are trying to figure something out. Come on, let me hear it.”

 

He almost denied it, but the look on her face suggested that it might not be the smartest things to do. “The other day…with you and your mother…” he started, nervously picking at the last remaining beef strips.

 

“Ah,” she said, leaning back on her feet. “I figured you would ask about that sooner or later. I'm surprised it took you this long.”

 

“I didn't want to pry.”

 

“It's okay, it's only natural to be curious.” She took a deep breath. “My mother and I were catching up on things. Most of it was about my brother.”

 

“Brother?” For some odd reason, he hadn't considered Kagome having siblings, let alone a brother. What were male version of succubi again? The name suddenly came to mind. “An Incubus?”

 

Kagome chuckled, shaking her head. “No, no. The Incubus was created by `proper' women who didn't want to wait for a husband to feel the pleasure of a man.”

 

“Huh?”

 

With a gleeful look in her eye, she quickly explained, “Okay, say I'm the daughter of a wealthy merchant. I am engaged to marry some other nobleman's son, but I don't exactly like him or maybe I just don't want to wait. So, I sleep with some guy, or even a couple guys around town. All is well and good, none of them are going to say anything until, `oops' I'm pregnant.” She shifted position. “Now everything comes to light and things start going sour for my father because I am no longer `pure.' That's where the Incubus comes in.”

 

“Ah, I see. If it was a demon that did it…”

 

“Right,” she said smiling. “Provided the other men in the town stayed quiet, I would just blame the Incubus. Sometimes it would save the marriage arrangement, sometimes it wouldn't, but at the very least, I wouldn't be blamed. And it didn't need to be a noble woman, plenty of women used it.”

 

“You sound a little too happy talking when talking about that.” She shrugged. “So, what was your brother?”

 

She smiled sadly. “He was mortal, just like you.”

 

“Ah…” he said, suddenly seeing where the conversation was leading. If he was normal, then he was long dead.

 

“Succubi giving birth to males are extremely rare. Most die shortly after birth.” When Inuyasha frowned, she cupped her breasts. “We don't produce milk.” His face reddened. “Unless we find someone who is nursing, the baby starves. Most succubi simply kill any males that are born.”

 

He gave her a look of horror. “That's terrible.”

 

“It's far crueler to let them starve to death. If it's any consolation, it's a painless ritual.”

 

“But you can find someone who is nursing and—”

 

She shook her head. “This was hundreds of years ago. Travelling was a big ordeal that consumed a lot of time and strength. Not to mention we had to keep a very low profile.” She took a deep breath. “But my brother was lucky. His father's sister had had a baby recently so she was able to feed him.”

 

“His father? So he was—”

 

“My half-brother,” she answered. “I was over a hundred by then.”

 

“What was his name?”

 

“Souta,” she said; voice distant. It looked like she was remembering something from the past.

 

“I take it he was still alive when you were sealed?”

 

She nodded. “He was fifteen. Though we lived in different worlds, we were close.” She smiled. “I was always wondering what had happened to him. My mother filled me in. He got married, had a bunch of kids. From what she told me, it was mostly a peaceful life. Sickness overtook him at thirty nine.”

 

“I'm sorry to hear that,” he said softly. Kagome merely shrugged.

 

“For the time period, that age is pretty good. Besides, it happens to everyone eventually, even us. I'm just glad he was happy.” Inuyasha nodded.

 

“Just for the record, how many siblings do you have?” There was a pause as Kagome thought.

 

“Hmm… if I include Souta in the count, I should have around thirty-six or so.” Inuyasha's jaw dropped. “I haven't paid much attention. Nearly all of them are dead now though, killed by various purges and accidents.”

 

“That's a lot of siblings.” Inuyasha couldn't image having such a large family.

 

“Not really considering the span of time we are talking about. My mother wasn't as—spirited—at having children as most Sisters. She had other duties.”

 

“Such as?”

 

“They are unimportant and boring. I guess you could think of it as leadership stuff,” she said, waving the question aside.

 

“Oh, okay. What else did you talk about?”

 

“What else?” she asked, slightly defensive.

 

“I figure a lot has happened in seven hundred years. Besides, you two talked for a long time.”

 

“Right,” she said, relaxing a little. “Well, we did talk about some things.”

 

“Like?” he pressed.

 

“This and that,” she said. It was becoming apparent that she was being vague on purpose now.

 

“I see… And what about the necklace?”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“You had to talk a little about it. I mean, it was her that gave it to me.”

 

“We… talked about it,” she said reluctantly.

 

“And?” Don't give me that. This is important to me and I will pry until I get something that satisfies me!

 

“And what?”

 

“What did she say?” he growled, annoyed at all the vague answers he was getting. “Why me of all people?”

 

To his dismay, she shrugged. “You looked good? I don't really know her reasoning if there was any at all.” Sighing, he set his chopsticks down. She looked shocked. “You aren't going to finish?”

 

“I'm full,” he replied as he stood. Her eyes following him, he moved over to his bed. Sitting down, he turned on the TV.

 

“Are you mad?” she asked softly, not moving from the table.

 

“No,” he lied, not taking his eyes from the TV. He knew she wasn't telling him something. There were some things she would never tell him and he was coming to terms with that. However, she was keeping things from him that specifically related to him. It was true that they had only known each other a week, but he had given her no reason to distrust him. If anything, he should be a lot more untrusting of her than he already was. Little by little, he was learning more about her, but for the most part, she was still a mystery.

“You're mad.”

 

“I said I wasn't mad!” he replied with more heat in his voice than he intended. Turning his head, he found her staring at him with an amused look. “What?”

 

“You're cute when you're angry.” Face burning, he quickly turned back to the TV. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see her collecting the dishes as she cleared the table. Walking out of his vision, he listened to the sounds of the kitchen as she cleaned up. When she returned to the room, the news had disappeared, replaced by a commercial. She moved over to where he was sitting, taking a seat on the mattress next to him. Shifting away, he looked at her.

 

“What?” he asked as she scooted closer to him.

 

“What do you mean what? I'm getting closer.”

 

“Why?”

 

She looked upset. “Why not? Isn't that what people do in relationships?”

 

“Well yeah but—” Grabbing his arm so he couldn't move away, she moved closer, pressing her body against his. Face reddening, he quickly looked up at the TV as she rested her head against his shoulder.

 

“You're warm,” she said with a giggle, pressing harder against him. “I like it.” Scraping his teeth against his lower lip, he cautiously glanced over at her. Like always, she was wearing tight clothing that showed a generous amount of skin. His eyes trailed down to her chest. To his disappointment, they were completely covered. The one day she doesn't wear a shirt that has cleavage. Shifting his gaze up, he met her narrowed eyes. “I saw that,” she said with a wisp of a smile.

 

“I don't know what you're talking about,” he said, quickly diverting his eyes as his face heated.

 

“Sorry I'm not dressed appropriately,” she continued in a teasing tone.

 

“You know, I have the feeling that isn't the response most girls would give.”

 

“I'm not like most girls.”

 

“No, I guess not.” Locking eyes, the room was silent except for the dull noise from the TV. His heart picked up speed as the silence stretched, neither making any movements. Slowly, he leaned forward. She didn't move away as their lips met briefly. Knowing that she wasn't going to protest, he moved closer as they kissed. She opened her mouth, allowing his tongue to run against her lips. Seconds was all it took for him to lose himself in the moment. Both were breathing heavily, gasping for air between passionate kisses. Inuyasha ignored the tingling feeling that was spreading through his body. What began as a simple kiss was quickly leading into something else. Instinct and desire was driving him now. Shifting closer, he reached out to place a hand on her breast, gently closing his hand on the soft mound. He felt her hand on his chest as she broke the kiss.

 

“Please,” she whispered. Lips hovering just out of reach, he found himself struggling to hold himself back. Their lips grazed against one another as his body pushed him forward, his mind commanding him back. Pulling away, their eyes met. “I—” Stopping, she looked away, an anguished look in her face.

 

“S—sorry,” he said, quickly removing his hand as if burned. He noticed the pink light beneath his shirt fade. “I was out of line.” Too soon! It was too soon! What was I thinking? He wasn't; that much was apparent. She was a succubus, but the more he was around her, the more he realized that just about all the `lore' he knew on them was wrong. She may be a succubus, but she's still a woman and has feelings. She was far from the sex-crazed demons he had heard succubi were.

 

“No! That's not it!” she said quickly, eyes wide. “It's me! I—” He waited for her to continue. “Can't tell you,” she said, looking down. More secrets… “Please don't be angry,” she said, talking fast. “I want to tell you, but there are things I have to work out myself first.”

 

It took him a second for him to nod. “Anything I can do?” he asked hopefully. Slowly, she shook her head. Of course not… He smiled sadly. “Okay.”

 

“I'm sorry.”

 

“It's fine. Everyone has their secrets,” he said, forcing himself to sound cheerful, “Some more than others.”

 

She met his eyes. “I do care about you.” Exhilaration ran through him like a shot of adrenaline, his body suddenly light. Even if she was lying, the words sent him to cloud nine. “One day, I'll tell you everything.”

 

He nodded, smiling. Standing, she moved to the other side of the room. As his eyes followed her, an unsettling feeling crept over him. Only if you're still with me…

 

*******************

 

Entering the church, Sango felt a warm comfort wash over her. It wasn't anything like the Italy, but just being in the building caused a strange homecoming feeling. No one was inside. Being three in the morning, it was expected. Moving down the main aisle, she slowly approached the alter. Climbing the stairs, a voice stopped her several steps away.

 

“Can I help you?” Turning, Sango found a small Asian man standing before an open door, a look of confusion on his face.

 

“Brother Kyo?” she questioned, studying the man. He seemed surprised to hear the name.

 

“Sister Sango?” he replied cautiously. She nodded in affirmative. Looking around quickly, he moved towards her. “Come, come,” he said, gently guiding her to the door he had exited from. Glancing behind them, he shut the door. “This way,” he said, leading her into the back. She was surprised by how many rooms there were in the back. Lost in her thoughts, she almost ran into him when he stopped. Opening the door, he stepped back. “You may stay in this room.”

 

She bowed. “Thank you Brother.” He nodded.

 

“I have been instructed to give you any possible aid in your mission.” She nodded. “But I know nothing about what your mission is, so unless you ask me for specifics, I will not be able to help you.”

 

“I'm—” He held up a hand.

 

“This mission is yours alone. As I said, I will help you with whatever you ask, whether it be information or equipment, but Father Naraku made no mention of me getting involved any farther.”

 

“Very well.”

 

“Also, do not speak to anyone else here. I am the only other Order member who resides here. They will likewise know not to speak to you.”

 

“Thank you Brother.” He smiled, the first time she had seen him let down his guard, if only a little.

 

“Sleep well Sister,” he said, resting his hands on her shoulders. Releasing her, he continued down the hall. Stepping inside, she closed the door behind her. The room was tiny, but she was use to it. Setting her bag down by the end of her bed, she fell down atop the mattress. For some reason, she was tired. The flight hadn't been that bad. Which only means one thing… She tried to think back to the last time she had refreshed herself. After several seconds of thinking, she realized that if she couldn't remember, it had been too long. Sighing, she climbed to her feet, bending slightly to keep from hitting her head against the ceiling. Struggling in the tight confines of the room, she removed her clothing piece by piece until she was nude. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, she closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she pressed her fingers together in her lap. Clearing her mind, she took deep, steady breaths, her consciousness gradually becoming fuzzy.

 

Eyes snapping open, she found herself in the same position. Taking several quick breaths, she looked around in confusion as the memories slowly trickled in. Relaxing, she glanced over at the window, realizing it was no longer dark. I must have really needed that, she thought as she stretched out her legs and arms. Even with her being in that position for multiple hours, she felt more refreshed than if she had gotten a full night's sleep. Standing, she quickly dressed in fresh clothes. With her mind and body fully refreshed, she was eager to begin her search. It's only a matter of time now.

 

*******************

 

With every new day, Inuyasha noticed another subtle detail about how Kagome was changing. Today wasn't so subtle. Even though she had collected some energy from the kissing the night before, it wasn't enough to sate her hunger.

 

Gasping for breath, he watched as Kagome's head bobbed up and down as her mouth slid over his erection. It was completely different than how the other `meal' sessions had been. She was purposefully drawing it out, taking him to the very edge before suddenly stopping him short of toppling over. The result was an intense rollercoaster of mind-numbing bliss. But too much of a good thing could have bad consequences. This was definitely one of those things. Just one minute in and it felt like he was going to die a wonderful death. His heart was beating too quickly, his breaths ragged. Sweat ran from his face as the pleasure began to overload his senses. As much as he wanted too, he couldn't tell her. His entire body was locked up, his brain to focused on sensations to form words.

 

Seconds later, Kagome finally allowed him release. For a brief second, Inuyasha was worried he would black out as he came, a bright pink light radiating from his shirt. Head against the wall, he could only focus on breathing in and out. Kagome's face appeared in his vision, a wide smile on her face. “How was it?” she asked, voice distant. He wanted to say `amazing,' but what left his mouth was nothing more than a mashed together mess of sounds. Her smile widened as she leaned in close, kissing him on the cheek. “I'm glad you enjoyed it. Well, I'm off to work.”

 

He tried to stop her, but his body wouldn't move. Garbled sound left his mouth as his head rolled down to lean against his shoulder. What the hell is wrong with me? Even his thoughts seemed fuzzy. With no sense of time, he just sat there against the wall, body completely frozen. Slowly, feeling began to trickle back into his limbs and he was able to move again. Eyeing the clock, almost an hour had passed.

 

“What the hell was that?” Nothing in his life could compare to what had just happened. It went beyond words. Unfortunately, it seemed to fall into the same category as pain. No matter how hard he tried to remember, the feeling wouldn't return. Looking down at his hand, he opened and closed his fist, the tingling finally fading. Something amazing happened… He couldn't remember it, but his body could. And it wanted more.

 

*******************

 

Kagome was in a happy mood as she entered the employee area of the café. For the moment, she was full, or as full as she was going to get. There was always that nagging feeling, the desire for just that little bit more she was missing. She quickly buried the thought, not wanting to dwell on dark thoughts after such a great morning. Not only was her hunger gone, seeing Inuyasha in his pleasure-induced daze excited her. It had been a long time since she had done that to someone. Her words the night before, telling Inuyasha that she cared about him, was true to an extent. He was important to her mother as well as to her surviving Sisters so caring about his health and wellbeing was a top priority to her. But after this morning, she was beginning to wonder if that wasn't all. The more time she spent with him, the more she craved his energy, the taste growing sweeter and more fulfilling each time she fed.

 

Humming to herself, she moved over to her locker and opened the door. Inside was her café uniform. It was one of the reasons why she had picked here to work. She smiled to herself as she looked at the maid costume. Inuyasha would throw a fit if he knew where I worked, she thought with a giggle. The people here were nice though and so far, no one had misbehaved. And when most girls would complain, the fact that her maid uniform was a size too small was a real plus for her. She could have easily adjusted it with magic, but it reminded her of another time, one where her breasts were a lot larger. Biting her lower lip, she turned sideways, eyeing the mirror on the side of the locker. Cupping her breasts, she studied the reflection. I guess this isn't that bad. Without knowing him, she would have never pegged Inuyasha as a guy who would like this kind of body, but whatever made him happy had a strange way of making her happy as well. Seeing she needed to get ready, she pulled her top off and placed it inside the locker.

 

“You really should lock the door when you're changing,” a voice said behind her. Turning, she saw Kouga standing at the door, a wolfish smile on his face. Stepping inside, he closed the door behind him.

 

“Good afternoon,” she said with a smile, nodding her head in a short bow. She made no effort to cover her breasts which were clearly visible to him from the mirrors reflection.

 

Chuckling, he scratched the back of his neck as he stayed near the door. “You are something else. Most girls would be freaking out now.”

 

“Really?” she replied, taking a seat on the bench to untie her shoes. Once off, she put them in the locker as well. “Is Shin here?” she asked, remembering she hadn't seen the owner when she entered.

 

Kouga's expression soured at the name. “Yeah, the old farts in his office.”

 

Kagome frowned, giving him a glare over her shoulder. “You shouldn't talk about your father like that.” Kouga merely shrugged. She felt his eyes on her as she unfastened her jeans. As she began to push them lower, she froze. Turning her head, she found him staring at her. “Why are you in here anyways?”

 

He smiled, “Enjoying the show.” She rolled her eyes and continued undressing. “But really, I can't believe you don't wear anything—not even panties.” He eyed her maid uniform. “Especially with that.”

 

Pulling the uniform out from her locker, she began to slide it on. “Obviously you've never worn 13th century underwear. Wear that for a couple of days and you'll never want to wear anything ever again.”

 

He chuckled. “Sorry, that's a little before my time, even for me.” Kagome grinned at him. Like her, Kouga and his father were demons. It was the main reason why she had been hired, though her looks were a definite plus for this line of work. It was also the reason why Shin was so happy to help her. She could easily tell they were demons by the energy they put off, something succubi were able to see. It was much like a human examining food at a supermarket. Inuyasha's was a crimson red, one very few humans had, though it followed the same lethargic blob look that all humans shared as it bubbled off him. Kouga and his father on the other hand had an earthly orange, their energy spiraling off them like wisps of fire. For them, they could smell that she was different. Upon exchanging information about themselves, they were surprised to discover she was a succubus, thinking that they had been wiped out minus a few the Church held captive in Vatican City. It had been just as shocking to her to discover they were the ancestors of werewolves, a species she had thought were long since extinct. They had gone through a detailed explanation about how different they were from werewolves of the past. Neither could transform; a wonderful blessing for them. The only thing that made them different than a regular human was their acute sense of smell, a slight boost in speed, and an increased lifespan.

 

Once the maid uniform was on, she began to make minor adjustments, especially around the chest area so that it fit more comfortably. Looking at her reflection, she finished the final touches on the main costume. She smiled when her eyes fell on the skirt. It was dangerously short, especially for what she lacked beneath. Like the other women who worked here, the costume didn't cover the shoulders, revealing a great amount of skin. Putting on the shoes, she straightened, turning towards the mirror. She smiled at the reflection, enjoying the sight of her sexy body. Turning, she faced Kouga. “Well, how do I look?”

 

He grinned. “I think I liked it better the other way…”

 

Smirking, she walked towards the door, playfully hitting his arm as she passed. “Flattery will get you far.”

 

“Oh?” he asked, eyes following her as she walked past. “Just how far we talking about?”

 

She shot him a glance over her shoulder as she opened the door, smiling sweetly. “Time for work.”

 

“You're such a tease,” he said as she exited the room. A thrill ran through her. It felt good being back in the world, surrounded by people and flirting with guys. Kouga wasn't the only one. The men in the café were even more enjoyable to tease. Reading human body language was as simple as breathing, an ability that came naturally to succubi. She knew what they were thinking, what they were doing to her in their mind. She loved it. Lewd, lustful thoughts poured from the men in the café. It wasn't absent at school, plenty of the guys and several girls looked at her the same way, but here it was concentrated, pure. It was intoxicating.

 

Take in moderation, she reminded herself, taking a deep breath. Already in a good mood from the morning with Inuyasha, she had taken it a little too far with Kouga. Still, she couldn't help but feel excited showing skin in front of men. It was something she could suppress, but not eliminate. Mother was right about how society changed. It was almost frightening how easy she could get a partner. A single whisper to any male customer and they would drop their pants.

 

She kicked the thought from her head. Sex was both the first and last thing she wanted now. Her body craved it while her mind loathed the thought of it. Even now, she fought to keep past memories from boiling to the surface. Maybe skipping seven centuries wasn't such a bad thing, she thought as she found herself heading towards the office. Words couldn't express how wonderful life was compared to then.

 

Tapping her hand against the open door, she slowly entered the cramped office. With a surprised look, Shin looked up. She smiled brightly at him as his eyes ran over her. He looked like an older Kouga, gray sprinkled in his black hair. “You look lovely,” he said, eyes finally meeting hers.

 

“Thank you,” she said beaming.

 

“I have you working until five today, but I was wondering if you could work a double tonight.”

 

Kagome thought for a moment. Even though she had just eaten, she was using a lot of energy. Thanks to the necklace, being this far away from Inuyasha caused her to burn more energy than she would otherwise. I should be okay, besides, we need the money and he won't be so suspicious if I work a lot. She nodded. “Sure, sounds like fun.”

 

Shin sighed in relief. “You have no idea how happy I am to hear that. Yuki called off sick, so I was short one.” He smiled. “Besides, the crowd seems bigger when you're here.” Rubbing his hands excitedly, he leaned forward. “Once word gets around… a week, no two, and this place will have tripled the customer base. All thanks to you.”

 

“I'm glad I could help.”

 

“And don't worry about money. I've been saving here and there for several hundred years. Anything you want, just say the word and it's yours. There aren't many of us left so we need to stick together and look out for one another.”

 

“Thanks, but I have to keep things small right now. My boyfriend would get suspicious if I started bringing home stacks of money.”

 

He raised an eyebrow. “Boyfriend?”

 

She nodded, “It's complicated.”

 

“As most relationships with succubi are, just don't let Kouga hear that,” he said with a hearty laugh. “Anyway… we both have work to do. Have fun.”

 

Backing out of the office, she smiled. “I will.”

 

*******************

 

Kikyo wasn't happy. Traveling wasn't the grueling, weeks-long journey's they had been, but that didn't mean they weren't annoying. Layover's, security, delay's, flight time on a cramped plane, nearly twenty-four hours of dealing with the joys of the air industry was enough to piss anyone off. Not to mention she was in Japan. There were so many places in the world that were better than this cramped island. She was currently shaking up with a rich Italian man who lived in southern California. The house was huge, the cars were expensive and the sex was fantastic. However, it was important that she was here. It had been decades since there was a gathering of this magnitude and she wouldn't miss it for the world.

 

Stepping through the barrier, she opened the door and entered the familiar shop. Her mother appeared out of the door behind the counter. “Kikyo!” she squealed, running around to wrap her in a hug. Holding her at arm's length, she studied her daughter. “You look fantastic! How have you been eating?”

 

“As well as I can be,” she said, unconsciously placing a hand on her stomach. Just about the only good thing about the damn curse was it was invisible to the average human. It saved her from annoying questions. Her mother nodded grimly. “But aside from that… wow, look at you!”

 

Smiling, her mother nodded, “I aged a little. Like it?”

 

Kikyo nodded. “Much more motherly looking, but I'm surprised you switched over to older men.”

 

“I wanted to try something a little different. Give it a couple more centuries and you'll know what I'm talking about.”

 

Kikyo shook her head, “Uh-uh, I've had my fair share of impotent geezers. Youth has its perks.”

 

“One day honey… one day,” her mother said with a knowing smile.

 

“Anyway… what's up? It's not like you to call an emergency meeting,” Kikyo said as she moved over to the counter, pulling herself up to take a seat atop it.

 

Her mother turned to face her. “Your sister's out.”

 

Kikyo's face lit up in surprise. “You serious?!” Her mother nodded. “No shit! That's great!” She felt excitement run through her. It had been a long time since she saw her little sister. Slowly, her excitement was replaced by concern. “What about—” She ran her hand over her stomach.

 

“Doesn't have it.”

 

“So…” Her mother nodded as disbelief washed over Kikyo. She doesn't have the curse! She doesn't have it! “I understand why you called the meeting.”

 

“Right, we need to concentrate all our available power here. It's only a matter of time before they get here.” Venom dripped from her voice as she spoke the word `they.' Kikyo knew who she was talking about, every nonhuman did.

 

“You think they're here now?”

 

“It's hard to say. I don't want to say yes, but I think it's better to play it safe.”

 

Kikyo's eyes wandered around the shop. “Will the barrier hold?”

 

“For now,” her mother said with a sigh. “But it's over four hundred years old and they will undoubtedly tear this city apart trying to find us. The only reason it's lasted this long is because they thought I was dead. They've undoubtedly discovered that's not the case.”

 

Kikyo let out a dejected sigh. “So we have a lot of work to do.”

 

Her mother nodded. “First, we need to repair the barrier.” She looked around the old shop. “To think such a simple task I could do in my sleep would be made so difficult that it takes the remaining Sisters pooling their powers to complete. It's not fair.”

 

“Why not have Kagome do it? She's more than capable of repairing it. After all, she's your daughter too.”

 

Her mother met her eyes. “That's the second thing I called you here for. We have to protect the Shikon Jewel.”

 

Kikyo's eyes widened at the name. “You finally brought it out!?”

 

Her mother nodded, “Now is as good a time as any.”

 

“Now is a great time!” Kikyo agreed happily. The past hundred or so years had been infinitely better than the centuries before it. Minus almost being killed numerous times in both world wars, life had been great. Just thinking about her poor decision to live in Germany during the Nazi reign made her skin crawl. One of the many reasons she moved to the United States. But that was in the past. Now that Kagome was back and healthy, she was beginning to feel she like she had a future again.

 

Thinking about the past, a feeling of dread gripped at her stomach. “Wait, she's still not—” Slowly, her mother nodded her head. “You can't be serious!” she cried in dismay.

 

“I don't want you to do anything rash,” her mother warned.

 

“Rash? Mother! She's not having sex! What kind of succubus doesn't have sex!?”

 

“It's a delicate subject. It was a long time ago for us, but not for her.”

 

“Still! Can't she see that this is more important than any of that? We are dying out!”

 

Her mother sighed. “Please promise me you won't do anything for the moment. Once everyone arrives, we can discuss how best to proceed and go from there. Okay?”

 

Kikyo was silent for a long time before replying, “Fine.” Her mother looked relieved. “But we don't have much time. Like you said, the Silver Cross isn't going to just sit around and do nothing.”

 

There was a thick silence between the two as they were left to their thoughts. Jumping to her feet, Kikyo clapped her hands. “Well, I'm starving. It's been a long flight.”

 

Her mother smiled, “I could use something to eat as well. Shall we eat together?”

 

“Why not? It's been awhile since we shared a meal,” Kikyo said with a lewd smile. Gathering their things, they moved towards the door. Suddenly Kikyo's eyes widened. “But I get to pick this time!”

 

*******************

 

It was just as Shin had said, the place was packed. Even with ten minutes until close, people were coming in. It's a good thing I called Inuyasha and told him I would be working late. Now that she was thinking about it, the first thing she was going to buy them was cell phones. It didn't take a genius to realize how vital they were in this modern world. Shame on him for not having one! Thinking about it, it was probably due to his tight budget, something that she was quickly rectifying.

 

“Kagome~!” a male voice called out from behind her. Turning swiftly, she smiled at the customer.

 

“Yes Master?” she bubbled happily.

 

“I need a refill,” he said, gesturing to his drink.

 

“Right away Master!” she said, placing his empty glass on her tray. Moving towards the back of the café, she felt a dozen eyes follow her, sending a shiver of excitement through her. Calm down Kagome, it's been like this all day! You're only tiring yourself out!

 

Escaping through the door leading into the kitchen, she took a second to catch her breath. Most of the clients fit the otaku stereotype, but every so often, a good looking guy would walk in. “Working hard?” Kouga asked, appearing around a metal oven.

 

“More than a certain someone,” she said, giving him a teasing glare. Sliding past him, she set the empty glass down by the dishwasher before moving to make another one.

 

“I'm doing my part!”

 

“Uh-huh.” With the drink refilled, she set it on her tray. “Excuse me, but my Master waits!” she said as she passed. Moving through the crowd, she set the drink down on the table.

 

“Anything else Master?”

 

“No, thank you Kagome-chan!”

 

“Miss, may I get a picture?” a new voice asked behind her. At this point, it wasn't new. A lot of people who came in asked to get her picture and she was more than happy to pose for one.

 

“Of cour—” She froze, recognizing the man.

 

“Kagome?”

 

“Miroku?”

 

Blinking, he ran his eyes over her. Face reddening she felt the sudden urge to cover her exposed skin. Why is he here?

 

“Wow…” he said softly.

 

“Come with me,” she said quickly, grabbing his arm and pulling him after her. Several men shot him dirty looks while others looked at them in envy. Pulling him into the back, she checked to see if the changing room was empty. Pushing him into the empty room, she quickly followed after him, closing the door and locking it. “What are you doing here?!”

 

“What are you doing here?” he asked, camera still in hand. Stop looking at my breasts! It was weird. She didn't mind all the other men ogling her, but when it came to Miroku…

 

“What does it look like? I'm working,” she said, crossing her arms. It didn't do a lot, but at least it covered a fair portion. “Now it's your turn.”

 

“Me? I usually come here,” he answered with surprising honesty. Why am I not the least bit surprised? “A contact of mine was telling me this super hot new girl was there so I decided to check it out. He was right.”

 

“Miroku!” she said, stepping closer, grabbing his hands. Eyes widening, his gaze lowered. “Focus!” she said, his eyes snapping up to hers. “I need a favor!”

 

“Uh-huh,” he said, obviously struggling to keep eye contact.

 

“Don't tell Inuyasha.”

 

“Huh?” he said, suddenly serious. He pulled away quickly. “You mean he doesn't know?”

 

She shook her head. “He would never let me work in a place like this! Please?”

 

He sighed. “I can't. I really want too, but we have this pact. Honesty and all…”

 

“Please,” she said, body tingling as she reached into his mind and planted the suggestion. A glazed look appeared in his eyes.

 

“Yeah sure, no problem.”

 

“Thanks,” she said, sighing in relief. “You have no idea how much this means to me.” She paused, biting her lower lip. I shouldn't… “Why don't you go on home?” she said, giving in and reaching into his mind once more.

 

“Sure thing, I was just thinking that. Good night Kagome.”

 

“Good night,” she said as he passed. Unlocking the door, Miroku stepped out, closing the door behind him. Sighing in exhaustion, she slid down onto the bench. She was drained. Using her magic away from Inuyasha was far more taxing than she had expected. It felt like she hadn't eaten in days, not hours. I can't finish the shift like this… Standing, she gathered her remaining strength. I have to find Shin.

 

*******************

 

Inuyasha was bored. He had no idea how he had lived alone until now. The hours ticked by slowly. The highlight of his day had been when Kagome was supposed to come home, only to have her call to inform him she was working two shifts. He was worried. She still hadn't told him where she was working. He wanted to trust her, but at the same time, she didn't seem to trust him much.

 

He was watching TV when he heard the door open. Perking up, he quickly stood. “I'm back,” she said.

 

“Welcome back,” he responded, moving towards her. She seemed tired. A first time for everything. “You okay?”

 

“Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm just a little tired.”

 

He chuckled. “I didn't know you got tired.”

 

She smiled weakly. “I can get tired, just like you. The only difference is I can't make it go away with a little sleep.”

 

He eyed her with concern. “Can I do anything to help?” She stopped to look at him. Raising his eyebrows, he waited for her to answer.

 

“I'm hungry.”

 

His face heated. “Didn't you just—uh—eat?” He wasn't expecting something like this, but now that it was happening…

 

“Sorry, I know,” she said, laughing it off. “I'll wait a couple days—”

 

“No!” he said, louder than he expected. Even she seemed surprised. Clearing his throat, he tried to recover. “Er, I mean, I don't mind. After all, I know what it feels like to be hungry.”

 

She eyed him suspiciously. “You okay?”

 

“Okay? Me? Of course!” He paused. “Why wouldn't I be?”

 

“You seem… odd.”

 

“Odd?” he said, chuckling nervously. “I'm perfectly normal!” She continued staring at him. He felt a chill run down his back, like she was seeing through him. As sweat began to bead on his forehead, he finally broke. “Okay!” he said suddenly. “This morning, what you did—” He struggled to find words, only there were no words. “I want you to do it again,” he finished.

 

“Why?”

 

“W—why?” He struggled for an answer. Why do I want it so bad? “Why does it matter?”

 

“It matters a lot.”

 

“Please, can't you just do it? You're hungry too aren't you?”

 

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Opening them again, he saw the red ring around her eyes. “Sit.” Suddenly, he found himself sitting on the mattress.

 

“Huh?”

 

She crouched in front of him. Eyes meeting, he saw her lips move before the world went black.

 

*******************

 

Standing over the unconscious Inuyasha, Kagome felt as though she was about to collapse. Must stay focused! Removing the necklace from under his shirt, she wrapped her hand around the crystal. Closing her eyes, she concentrated her thoughts on it.

 

That bitch! I can't believe her! Layer upon layer of enchantments were cast upon the crystal. Scanning into them, she found the one that definitely wasn't supposed to be there. Biting down on her lip, her body shook in rage at her mother's devious move. No wonder Inuyasha was acting so strange. She was about to pull her consciousness from the crystal when she felt a warmth trickle in around her. Pausing, she allowed the warmth to surround her. It was doing its job. What she was feeling now was Inuyasha's warm feelings the crystal had managed to collect so far. There is still a long way to go. The warmth was pulsing rhythmically around her, the pure emotions soothing her enraged feelings. She was calm when she finally brought herself back to her body. She was surprised to find tears in her eyes. Frowning, she quickly wiped them from her face and pulled the necklace off Inuyasha.

 

Standing, she looked down at the unconscious Inuyasha. “Don't worry, I'll be back to wake you before morning.” Turning, she faced the door, anger creeping back into her. “I have to go talk to someone…”

 

*******************

 

Not as long a chapter this time. I have some weird fascination with ending chapters on cliffhangers, or at least, my idea of a cliffhanger.

 

Many thanks to everyone who left a review. Hope everyone enjoyed this chapter and looks forward to the next!

 

*Edit: Found a couple grammar mistakes.