The Winds of Fate by Kagura-hime
Prologue
*^The Winds of Fate^*
By: Kagura-hime
Summery: Kagome Higurashi is a chambermaid at the most prestigious hotel/casino in all of Japan. Sesshoumaru Takara is a wealthy businessman owning one of the largest technology companies in the world. What happens when fate unexpectedly throws them into each other's arms, and are forced to depend upon one another if they wish to survive? S/K
Disclaimer: uhh...what was I supposed to put here again? *checks cards* O yes. I own nothing except this plot, for my sanity has vanished beyond even my reach. Though why I want it back I have no idea...*grins*
Hey everybody! I'm back! I know everyone's waiting for me to update A Slaves Love, but I've hit a creative dead end (what does that mean anyway?). Unlike this one, I had absolutely nothing planned out, therefore, had not the slightest where it was going -_-***. If you could please give me any ideas so I'm not just rambling on and on-send 'em in! I would forever be in your debt. Well, that's about it-so enjoy!
Recommended fics: ForgetMeNot by Youkai Yume, Blind Stitch in My Heart by profiler120, and Love is a Gamble by Samarah-chan. They're all really good fics that I simply adore. Remember to r&r!
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^The Winds of Fate^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
*^Prologue^*
It was a crisp fall day in Tokyo, Japan. Leaves where crunching merrily underfoot. Sakura trees full branches gave lovers the feeling that they were in a different world, created just for them. Shy teenagers were looking at each other discreetly from across the park, flushing immensely when they caught each other's gaze. Many people took advantage of the fine weather, after having so many sunless days of rain and clouds. But one person did not join in with the crowds' enthusiastic nature.
This person-this girl- kept her head down, and her hands jammed in her pockets. She was wearing a long white dress, on the bottom of which sakura petals danced a never-ending waltz with each step. She had a lightweight denim jacket that almost matched the electric blue highlights in her raven wing hair. A small baby blue purse was slung carelessly over her shoulder, almost inviting thieves to try and take it. This girl had such an aura of sadness and loneliness around her that people actually made a point of avoiding her, and looked at her with pity in their eyes. You could tell just by looking at her, that this woman-child had the weight of the world on her shoulders-a burden she would carry until someone came along who was strong enough to relieve her of it.
The girl made a sharp turn down a side alley not yet bathed in the suns golden light. Yet she navigated perfectly, like she'd been doing this her whole life, without batting an eye. She followed the twists and turns until she reached the back of one of the largest and busiest buildings in all of Japan-the Shingetsu. With nary a thought, she pushed open the staff entrance and ended up in a kitchen. She smiled sadly at all those who greeted her, happily preparing food and causing a mouthwatering aroma. She walked through the kitchen, until she came to a door, which held the closets and service elevators.
She got a plain white maids apron out, and tied it around her tiny waist and slender neck. Then she grabbed a cleaning cart, and headed out to the elevators to start her day.
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The elevators 'ping'ed important and annoyingly, and out walked the young girl of about 21. As soon as she walked out, the doors 'ping'ed again and rattled off to transport someone else to their desired location.
Meanwhile, our black haired friend was taking out a big set of keys and a list with names and room numbers on it. 'Well, I better get started,' she thought and sighed.
Before she had even walked five steps, the elevator chirped its arrival again, and another girl stood wearing the same trademark apron, and pushing the same cart the previous rider had, as elevator music spilled out from the open doors. This girl had long, jet black hair tied up in a high ponytail that went well beyond her waist, a pair of black dress slacks, and a white, button up shirt.
The first girl spun around and gave the first true smile seen yet. The change was instantaneous. Her stormy gray eyes lightened to a beautiful cerulean blue, and her face looked younger and carefree. Her aura also brightened up, but some of the sadness from earlier remained, though carefully tucked away, so as not to be noticed by the older girl.
"Sango-chan! I can't believe I actually beat you here!" the now happy girl giggled.
"That has to be record," the girl now known as Sango teased.
The other girl pouted and turned her back on Sango. Quietly pushing her cart so it would hold the elevator, Sango crept up behind the pouting girl and starting tickling her sides. The girl gasp as Sango made contact, and immediately stared laughing her head off.
"*gasp* S-sango-chan! *laugh* S-stop! I can't b-breathe!"
The older girl obliged and the still gasping girl shot her an amused glare.
"Gomen Kagome-chan. It was just too good an opportunity to pass up," Sango said, grinning her fool head off.
Kagome shook her head and vowed, "I'll get back at you Sango-chan, I really will."
"Riiiiiiight. And I'll live happily ever after with the man of my dreams," Kagome pouted some more as Sango went to retrieve her cart.
But just as Sango turned her back, Kagome smiled sadly and whispered for only the four winds ears to hear. "If only..."
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Kagome crossed off the last name on her list after remembering to close and lock the door behind her. Now I can go get something to eat!" she spoke excitedly to the empty hallway. She giggled as she neared the elevator, just in case Sango was around. 'I don't want her to notice that I'm depressed...she has too many of her own problems.' So with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, Kagome headed to the elevator, when someone grabbed her shoulder from behind.
Kagome just froze up, solid as a rock, while past memories that she had sealed away even from herself came flooding back to her, making the decorative hallway spin in front of her eyes.
"Kagome, what's wrong?" Sango asked worriedly from behind Kagome.
Kagome's mind instantly stopped torturing her with distant memories that could no longer hurt her. Sango's comforting voice had dissipated all the fear she had felt rising in her gut. She instantly thought up a lie that should be easily accepted by the worried girl.
"I'm fine Sango. I just felt sick for a moment. I think the problem is that I didn't eat enough today, that's all."
"Well, then lets go fix that. Shall we?" Sango said, a smile in place as she held out her arm in a mock gentleman fashion.
"Sure, why not?" Kagome turned around for the first time since Sango started speaking. Both girls smiled and walked to the elevator in silence.
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"May I take your order please?" the scantly dressed maitre'd asked politely.
"Uh...you go Kagome, I can't decide."
"Sure Sango, I'll take veal parmesan with the homemade spaghetti sauce please."
"Soup or salad?" the maitre'd whose nametag read 'Yura' asked with a bored expression.
"Salad please, with Italian dressing. Can you give me the onions on the side also?" Kagome asked, looking up at Yura questionably.
"Yeah, sure. Mashed or baked potato, cole slaw, pasta, or steamed vegetables?"
"I really don't want-"
"She'll take the steamed vegetables please," Sango hurriedly interjected.
"What's the deal Sango, I don't want any," Kagome asked pouting.
"If you don't want them, then I'll eat them. I'm not paying for appetizers when you don't even order any, Kag-chan."
"Oh...ok then," Kagome said slowly. "I guess that means you've decided to pay then."
"Yup, I got a raise, so I'll pay in celebration. Anyway, is it my turn yet?" Sango asked impatiently.
"Congrats. But why such a rush Sango?"
"I wanna order before I change my mind again."
"Oh, then go ahead, I'm done."
"Yes, what do you want tonight miss," Yura asked after rolling her eyes at the scene.
"I want the steamed salmon, and ricecakes on the side, the salad with French dressing, and steamed vegetables," Sango said nodding her head at the menu before looking up at Yura.
"Your order should be ready soon," Yura nodded sullenly and collected their menus.
"Are you going to be able to eat all of that Sango?"
"Probably not. I'll just take the rest home for Kohaku as his dinner before I have to walk him back for work."
"Oh ok," Kagome agreed as she took a sip from her green tea.
Until the food came, the two girls had settled into a comfortable silence. When it finally did, they said "Itadakesumo!" at the same time, and ate quietly listening to the soft classical music the restaurant provided.
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"Goodnight Sango!" Kagome waved as they parted ways outside the Shingetsu, both toting doggie-bags.
"Goodnight Kag-chan! See ya tomorrow!"
Kagome walked silently, just as she did earlier in the morning back to her little apartment. It only had one bed, a 1.5 bath, a small kitchen, and an average size family/living room, but it was home.
Kagome dropped her purse and keys on the kitchen table absent mindedly as she sorted though her mail.
"Junk, junk, bill, junk, and more junk. Jeez, there's never anything good is there?" she said to herself.
"Meow."
"Hey Buyo, how ya doing boy?" Kagome bent down and asked the soft ball of fuzz that was her cat. "Sorry I'm late, I had dinner with Sango tonight. Hope you don't mind waiting another minute while I get your food."
She knew it was ridiculous talking to a cat. It's not like he actually understood what she said, but he was the only companionship she had in the forlorn apartment.
The only other company she had was the creaking of the floorboards above her, and the distant sound of the trains' whistle. She had one window that overlooked Tokyo Tower, and when you timed it just right, you could see the sinking of the sun behind it. The orange ball was blocked from view, but the colors it produced surrounded the Tower and gave it almost a mystical quality. This was the one place Kagome truly did not mind being alone in.
She scooped the cat food out of the tin can and into Buyo's bowl for him to feast on. She bestowed him a loving glance as she headed toward her special place to see the sunset. She threw the window wide open, and shivered in the lingering coolness of the spring air. She sat on the small chest she had placed under the window, and stared at the wondrous shades of pink and rose, blue and turquoise, purple and mauve. She saw a sliver of Ama-Terasu's brilliance peaking out from the side of the Tower, but it only blended beautifully with the shades not even the best of painters could match. She sat there and just stared in a daze as the colors slowly deepened to a dark navy blue, and little bursts of light rapidly appeared on the horizon. She sat there still as the glowing orb Kaguya-hime made her home on rose as a silent declaration that night had begun. It was only now that Kagome slowly pushed herself up and closed the window halfway. She didn't know why, but the moonlight always helped to lull her into a peaceful sleep. So, she would keep the window open, and the moonlight would spill in in bundles, and she could finally sleep easy after so many months of tossing and turning in vain during the dark winter nights.
She silently walked over to her closet and chose the same thing she wore every night- an old, worn-out cotton shirt that was several sizes too big for her. Then she flopped down onto her bed, and whispered to the pale moonlight seeping into her room to settle only upon her it seemed, "Home sweet home isn't it, Otou-san? Home sweet home indeed..."
And the wind seemed to answer her pain-laced plea with a whispered response. "If only, if only..."
Aha! Back with another story! This is the last one for a while though. I need to work on my other two fics as well, and I don't wanna get behind in them. O well, moving onto something more interesting, my muses finally returned from their "mini" vacation. Seemed more like a month long one to me. So if you're going to chuck random objects at me for taking so long to update, aim for them instead, ok? Now that that's cleared up, translations!
Translations~
Sakura-cherry blossoms
Shingetsu- new moon
-chan~ politeness term used between close friends
Gomen- sorry
Itadakesumo- roughly means "Have a good meal!" or "Let's chow down!" except not so informally. I believe it's spelled correctly *sweatdrop*
Ama-Terasu~ the Sun Goddess in Japanese mythology
Kaguya-hime~the Moon Goddess in Japanese mythology. Means "moonlight princess"
Otou-san~father