Glitter and sweat covered her well-toned body, a feeling she had grown accustomed to since she started working at the Silver Lotus. It was a requirement that all dancers be sprayed with sparkly body mist to ensure their "silvery" appearance. Kagome hated it as much as the other dancers did. What she hated even more, were their stage names. Each dancer took on the name of a flower. It was the corniest thing ever and she was sure even some of their customers found it too cheesy to bear, not that it stopped them from coming in.

She'd been given the alias Amaryllis, which wasn't as bad as some of the others, but it still reminded her of an STD. It was just the consequence of working at a strip club. That, and constantly coming home at the unholiest hours of the night. Her grades suffered every now and again because of this, but she always brought them back up. They were, after all, the reason she worked as an exotic dancer.

Sure, she could have worked at a fast food joint or a shop in the mall, she probably could have even been a secretary… if any of those places had been willing to hire her. Unfortunately, none of them were. It was when she was walking out of another joke of an interview that a middle-aged woman with pale blonde hair, who she had learned was named Margo and would become Kagome's future employer, came up to her and asked if she liked really nice, really expensive shoes.

The shoes were a marvelous pro, she couldn't lie. They were always as dazzling as the scanty costumes she had to wear. That wasn't the only bright side to being a dancer at the Silver Lotus, either. Kagome's favorite part about being Amaryllis, surprisingly, was the pole-dancing. Pole-dancing turned out to be one of the best work outs of her entire life. Each new tantalizing dance she performed with her inanimate partner left her feeling sexy and confident. Of course, she learned to block out the hoots and hollers from the men watching her. More often than not she'd shoot them what appeared to be a seductively coy smile, but in reality she imagined pinning them to their chairs with her sacred arrows.

The act was upheld, though. Kagome, or rather Amaryllis, had every man eating out of the palm of her hand from open to close. Closing time, however, varied drastically every night. They were supposed to shut down at midnight, but seldom did. Kagome stumbled into her apartment at 2:37 AM, exhausted beyond belief and smelling like the cologne of the men she'd been dancing with all night. Her black bag was thrown to the floor without a care after she closed the door behind her, landing with a heavy thud.

She shrugged off the oversized maroon hoodie she wore for the ride home to reveal a gray tank top above her black sweatpants. Any indication that the twenty-two year old was a stripper had been snuffed out with the modest loungewear. A quick update on the time left Kagome debating whether or not she should wait until morning to shower. This was the latest she'd come home from work in a long while and she desperately needed the sleep after a hectic night of switching between lap dances and studying in the back.

"Ugh," She sighed, plopping on the sofa, "I'm so tired but I feel so gross and itchy." Her whining went without response as she sat alone in her little apartment. "I should have just asked Izumi to cover for me tonight. She would have done it!" Kicking off her white flip-flops, Kagome laid herself out on the couch and checked her cell phone for any missed calls.

No one had tried calling her that night, but there was a text message from her landlady. It read:

Kagome, if you're not busy tomorrow I could use your help. New neighbor moving in next door

The miko-turned-dancer smiled kindly at the request. Her landlady was an elderly woman that introduced herself as Mrs. Fiona Schultz but insisted upon being called by her first name, and she was the sweetest lady Kagome had ever met. This made it difficult to turn down her plea. As anyone else would have done, she caved in and agreed to help Fiona in assisting their new neighbor move.

Sorry, just getting home from work now. Would love to help! I'll be good to go by nine

With that reply, Kagome hooked up her phone to charge for the night and fell asleep right there on the couch. She had a long day ahead of her despite not having any classes, and only hoped that the moving process wouldn't take up too much time before she had to go to work. Her concerns did not follow her into her slumber, as the woman's dreams were littered with puppy ears, giant boomerangs, and jewel shards.

The nostalgic dreams came to a sudden end some time later when Kagome woke with a falling sensation. It took her a moment to shake off her panicked feeling. "I hate it when that happens," She mumbled tiredly while rubbing her eyes. "What time is it anyways?" She quickly checked her phone to see it was 7:45 AM and felt proud of herself for getting five full hours of sleep. With that in mind, she made her way into the bathroom to shower at last.

Her baggy clothes were shed from her body once she had the water running at a warm enough temperature and she hopped in. It rarely took Kagome more than fifteen minutes to shave and wash her hair and her body, she just stayed in for the extra ten to fifteen minutes because of how soothing the water's warmth felt on her skin. She welcomed the comforting caress of the water as she went over her day's agenda in her head.

After this, I need to get ready and help Fiona with the new neighbor. I'll have to run to the grocery store at some point, too, if I have time. Grab something to eat once I've finished my errands and then start my shift at the Lotus.

"Piece of cake," Kagome reassured. With her schedule in mind, the miko decided to cut her shower short to brush her teeth and get dressed. Her choice in attire was a dark purple tank top, jean shorts, and black sneakers. She tied her damp hair back into a pony, applied deodorant, and grabbed a banana for breakfast. Not long after doing so, her phone began to buzz noisily, coercing her to check it promptly to reveal another text from Fiona.

Wonderful, dear, thank you very much! Stop by once you're ready

With a smile, Kagome packed her work bag with everything she needed for that evening and left much earlier than she thought she would. She rushed down the stairs with her bag hanging off her shoulder and stopped at her landlady's door. Fiona answered right away, standing at a tiny 4'10" with her gray hair pinned up and sporting her large, thick-framed glasses. Mrs. Schultz, after all, was as blind as a bat.

"Good morning, dear! Oh, I'm so glad you could help today. You look just lovely, by the way, I love that color on you." The old woman greeted her.

Giggling, Kagome bowed her head. "Thank you, Fiona. I'm more than happy to help. Who's the new neighbor?" Fiona's hand went to her heart as she quietly closed the door behind them.

"He's inside, I invited him over for coffee before we started." She stated in a hushed tone. "Kagome, he is just about the most handsome man I have ever seen. He's tall, very muscular, and he's a few years older than you are." She hinted suggestively while lightly elbowing the dancer's right arm.

Does she actually need my help, or is she just trying to set me up with someone again?

"You have to meet this man, dear, you absolutely have to. Try not to fall in love right on the spot." Fiona joked and opened the door to call out to the man inside. "Mr. Taisho, there's someone I want you to meet! Come in, Kagome." Fiona took Kagome by the hand and led her into the dining room where a very attractive man sat at the rounded table with a coffee mug in his hands.

Although said male had short black hair and the clearest skin she'd seen in her life, Kagome could spot those cold eyes anywhere, even if they were altered to appear brown instead of the familiar gold. It didn't even matter that his demonic aura had been masked, her advanced miko abilities saw straight through the act. "Sesshomaru?" She whispered in pure disbelief.

It was strange to see him dressed so casually. Sesshomaru had never, ever struck her as the jeans and t-shirt type of fellow, yet here he was. The daiyoukai wore dark jeans, black sneakers, and a simple blue t-shirt. He arched his brow, both confused and curious. Looking over the woman before him, something snapped in Sesshomaru. He had known this woman from long ago.

"You…" He whispered in turn. Yes, he knew this brazen, outspoken archer. It had been centuries, but his memories of her were now more than refreshed. Besides, forgetting a first impression such as Kagome's was not something easily done. They stared at each other for a short while, neither really knowing what to say to the other. From enemies, to allies, to something she assumed to be friends, Kagome still had no idea how to properly greet Sesshomaru.

Fiona looked on at the awkward reunion. "You two have already met?"

Kagome averted her gaze for a moment to spare the old woman a glance. "We knew each other when we were teenagers. Um, I guess we kind of lost touch."

The demon in disguise stayed silent, not denying Kagome's explanation. "I was a friend of his brother's, actually. It's good to see you again, Sesshomaru." She gave him a genuinely polite smile, trying to hide how excited she was becoming.

He only nodded once. "You look well, Kagome." Her smile grew, until Fiona spoke up.

"That's so nice! Kagome, I see you have your work bag. Are you at the Lotu-" The miko felt her freak-out coming in the form of goosebumps and a jolt in her legs, and quickly cut the old woman off without hesitation, beginning to back away closer to the door.

"Yes! Right, right, I am. I'll just go put my bag in the car and um… I'll come back to help you guys with the move." She paused. "Be right back." Bolting out the door felt like the only option she had at the time.

No, no, no! There is no way in hell I'm letting Sesshomaru of all people find out how I make a living. I'm ashamed of being ashamed… but this is Sesshomaru we're talking about. It's okay to feel like that, right?

This wasn't the first time Kagome didn't want certain people to know about her current job. Her family, for one, didn't know the truth. The three of them were under the impression she worked as a waitress in a bar. Fiona was a different case, being her landlady and all. Kagome did come home at the most undesirable times and the miko had no hope of passing it off as hanging out with friends or working late at the restaurant.

So yes, Fiona knew that Kagome worked as an exotic dancer, and she was about to blab to a lethal, daunting daiyoukai that already looked down on Kagome. One could only imagine how he would feel about Amaryllis. For the time being, Kagome decided she would rather imagine it than see for herself.

She put her bag in the passenger seat of her car, a silver 2006 Jetta, and took a minute to calm down before going back inside. She had to go back in, she promised she would help. And help, she would. All Kagome's previously racing thoughts had settled considerably and she was now able to think clearly.

All I have to do is be private about my work life, and I really doubt he'll even ask. Besides, Sesshomaru moving in next door is a good thing. I have so many questions. I have to know about Inuyasha and the others.

Just then, her phone went off. She groaned in response as she pulled it out of her pocket to check it. "Ugh, what now?"

One of the other dancers from the Lotus, Yoko AKA Lily, had texted her.

Heads up, we're doing our theme songs tonight and Margo said we have a whole new wardrobe. Shoot me!

Kagome very nearly face palmed, but instead pinched the bridge of her nose as she texted back with one hand.

Not before you shoot me.

Tapping the send button angrily, Kagome shoved her phone back into her pocket and made her way back to Fiona's apartment. "This is the last thing I need right now." She muttered to herself. The sun was blazing with a fury today, at hardly 9:30 in the morning, so this mission was sure to be absolutely miserable. "His new place better be air-conditioned."

She found out Sesshomaru's home did, in fact, have air conditioning within an hour as she set down a large box in what would soon be the dining room.

"This place is pretty roomy for just you, huh?" The question was directed to Sesshomaru, who appeared to have hardly broken a sweat.

He spared her a glance from the doorway. "Hn," High ceilings, spacious rooms, and large windows made the house quite sizeable, indeed. It made sense, though, as the miko could never picture the demon living in a small place.

"Chatty as ever, too" She said more to herself but knew Sesshomaru would hear it regardless. "How old are you now anyways; one thousand? You look good for your age." The girl couldn't help it, she was paid to tease men, it was natural to do it for her own amusement every now and again. Truthfully, she was just trying to make conversation with Sesshomaru.

"Just about," He meant it as a joke, but he wasn't lying. Sesshomaru was a little under nine hundred years old, which was nothing impressive by demon standards. Humans, on the other hand, could be easily blown away or even crushed by this simple fact. He assumed that was why Kagome's mouth hung open in a manner most unflattering. "You'll catch flies if you keep your mouth open like that for much longer."

Fixing her expression, Kagome simply shook her head as she leaned against a wall. Fiona was outside talking to one of the other neighbors so neither of them feared any eavesdroppers. "I'll never get used to how old you demons get. Almost one thousand years old and you hardly look a day over twenty-five. Talk about unfair. I swear you guys don't age at all as you get older."

The daiyoukai smirked. "Something like that." The two of them continued to tease and poke fun at each other as the afternoon went on and they brought more boxes in.

Fiona was allowed to solely carry smaller or extremely light boxes along with a lamp or two. Aside from that, she supervised and gossiped with a few neighbors. Kagome didn't complain, though, since she never had much alone time with Sesshomaru except on a few rare occasions. Now was as good a time as any to get to know him.

What should she do? Invite him for a drink, maybe? Terribly cliché, but typically effective. She could always offer to make him dinner, or they could go out to eat. He might think she was hitting on him, but then again he probably knew better than that. She figured he wouldn't appreciate dancing, so going to the club was out of the question. What's a poor girl to do?

"We're nearly done here," Sesshomaru's deep voice cut through her train of thought. "And Mrs. Schultz has decided to go home to call her sister. I need to run a few errands before I start unpacking."

"Oh, okay. I'm glad I could help you out, so I guess I'll see you-"

"You're coming with me." She looked at him oddly when he interrupted her. It was rather unlike him. "We're going out to lunch." He stated bluntly. "You don't expect I let your labor go without thanks, do you?"

A faint blush colored her pale cheeks. "Well, I kind of volunteered to do this. You don't have to get me lunch, Sesshomaru, it's really okay." Even in the guise of a human, the powerful and expectant gaze he gave her was enough to unnerve her and accept the invitation. "Alright, alright, I'll go. But you owe me some answers."

"The same goes for you." She rolled her blue eyes and smiled. To be in a car with Sesshomaru was something she only ever dreamt about when she hit the liquor a little too hard. In real life… it was much weirder.

He was silent in the passenger seat, naturally, but Kagome never did like quiet car rides. Even while she drove alone, she could not find it in her to tolerate the silence. Blasting the radio, both during solo rides and drives with certain friends, had become a habit.

"So how've you been?" She asked in an effort to obliterate the awkwardness in the car, taking a left turn while doing so.

"I'd be better if you had let me drive my own car." He bit. For some reason, the student refused to let him in her car, yet managed to swipe his keys from him and jumped into the driver's seat of his 2014 Lincoln MKX. The car, of course, was white.

Kagome's lips pursed and she let out a short breath through her nose. "I don't trust your driving."

"Nonsense, I've been driving since cars were invented. Find a new excuse, miko."

Surprisingly, she smiled and laughed at the title. "It's been so long since I've heard you call me that. God, I missed you." Sesshomaru gave her a funny look, brown eyes now their natural gold. "You know what I mean, don't make it weird."

The stoic demon lord leaned his head back and inhaled deeply. "I understand." He understood more than he was willing to let on. Sesshomaru, too, yearned to return to the Feudal era. Things weren't so complicated. The air was cleaner, the children were obedient, and if a man gave you trouble you could cut him down and no one would think anything of it. More importantly, demons were not only believed in, but roamed the lands freely. There were times when Sesshomaru himself wondered how humans convinced themselves that his kind had been nothing but fiction. Now here he was, putting in more effort than ever to look like one of them and for what? To avoid startling mankind? What did he care?

Had he been a witless oaf, he would have long ago made an appearance as the great dog demon he himself had turned out to be. However, Sesshomaru was not brainless, if anything he was far too intelligent for his own good. So incognito he stayed. "You were able to see through the concealment spell pretty quickly. Your power has improved, you've grown stronger."

Driving down the straight road before them, Kagome looked at him from the corner of her eye. "Sesshomaru, did you just compliment me?" With a giggle, she apologized. "Sorry, I tease a lot. I wouldn't do it if I didn't like you."

"I've seen what you do to those you dislike. I'm content with the teasing." Their chat was delightfully pleasant. Sesshomaru was no longer the uptight lord she had known him to be. Whether or not he was merely casting his glacial ruthlessness aside for her because she was familiar, she couldn't tell, but she couldn't complain either.

Having him living next door might not be so bad. I'm actually having fun… with Sesshomaru. Never thought I'd live to see the day.

Instead of going to lunch, the two decided to go out for a joy ride. There was plenty of gas in the tank, and Sesshomaru didn't mind it. Hours went by of just driving and talking, asking him about living through the centuries and the wars, asking her about her studies, it was a great time. But all fun must come to an end at some point, and Kagome noted she had an hour to get back to her place to get ready for her shift.

"Hey, um," She began, uncharacteristically nervous. "Do you mind if we head back home? I gotta start getting ready for work."

"That's not a problem. Once you're ready, I'll drop you off at work." Every one of her limbs froze, her heart skipped a beat or two, and her eyes grew wide at the kind offer.

The only thought in her mind: Fuck me.