Chapter 1: The Set-Up
"The meeting will be called to order shortly." the soft feminine voice carried across the room to the other occupants. As the various people sat down, many of them male, with slender, gorgeous females as their companions, the chair at the head of the long conference style table remained empty.
"I heard the new Don is some chick. She's rumored to be one hot piece." a young man with cool ice blue eyes smirked at the other table members. His long ebony locks were secured in a high ponytail and adorned with a navy blue scarf.
"Shut 'er trap, Kouga you mangy wolf. The new Don is a chick, but I heard she's ugly as shit, and she don't associate much with types like you." another young man snapped as he propped his loafer shod foot on the table. His unusual shade of silver hair was pulled into a low ponytail, throwing the puppy ears on his head into sharp focus.
"I can see both of you are well." another voice piped in, this one female. The two squabblers turned to the voice as a young woman, with long mahogany colored hair, secured with a bold pink ribbon near the end, strolled in. She wore a pair of black slacks, some open-toed stilettos, and short-sleeved silk shirt the same color as her ribbon.
"Sango! What do you know about the new Don?" the silver haired male asked.
Sango raised a brow over her intelligent cinnamon brown eyes.
"I hear she's female, and a real looker. They say she's suited to run, and she takes no prisoners either."
"Great. Between the three of us, we know the same information!" the blue-eyed man said.
"The only one of us here, who actually has some knowledge about her is the bastard, and he refuses to talk. Hell, even Miroku hasn't seen her."
"This Sesshoumaru is not amused, half-breed. I know you are lacking in certain areas, and vocabulary is one of them, therefore, a dictionary has been mailed to you." another silver haired male replied calmly over the newspaper he was reading.
"Hello, Sesshoumaru-sama. I hear you are well. How is Rin?" Sango asked as she slid into another chair.
Sesshoumaru glanced away from his paper, and with a blank gaze, informed Sango that Rin was well.
"Does anyone know where the letch, the fruit, the brat, and the serial killer are? They should have been here by now."
"Why, Inuyasha. I am offended you think so lowly of me. I am but a humble man, trying to fulfill his purpose."
"Of getting as many hits in one day as possible?" Sango wondered.
A violet-eyed young man breezed in with a pout.
"Miroku."
The man turned.
"Ah! Sesshoumaru-sama! I am shocked to see you."
Sesshoumaru raised a brow.
"I received notice of the new Don the same as all of you."
Suddenly a feminine giggle, and some serious stomping alerted the occupants of the room to other arrivals.
A green-eyed teenager, a ebony-haired man, and a stylishly decked out something wandered in.
"Hey, I didn't miss anything, did I?" the teen dropped into a seat, and tried to arrange his frizzy auburn ponytail into some semblance of order.
"She aint even here yet." Inuyasha griped from his seat, as an ear swiveled on his head. "Don't touch 'em, you fruit."
A sigh was heard from the stylish figure, as they sat on a chair. Removing the straw sun-hat, the female pouted.
"Why, Inu? I just wanna touch."
"Jakotsu. Leave him alone." The ebony-haired male said as he sat down. His hair hung in a braid down his back, leaving the blue marking on his forehead in plain view. His brown eyes were annoyed.
"Bankie, I just want one little touch." Jakotsu whined lightly as he placed his sun hat on the table.
"I don't swing that way, Fruit." Inuyasha snarled.
Jakotsu, now identified as a male, rolled his eyes.
"Sure, you say that now."
The rest of the table erupted into laughter.
"If I may have your attention!" a male voice said loudly.
All the occupants of the table turned.
"Hey Jinengi!" Sango called. "Haven't seen you in a while!"
The mammoth giant nodded calmly at her. He had a face only a mother would love, and many woman would find disgusting. But he was a gentle soul, and rather sweet.
"I would like to announce that her ladyship is on the way down now. She had something that needed to be seen to. So, if you would please-"
"Thank you, Jinengi. I think I can handle it from here. Why don't you run up and check on the soup for me?" a feminine voice said lightly.
Jinengi held out a large hand as footsteps grew closer.
"I will, my lady."
The voice sighed. "You can call me by my name. You know how I feel about the ladyship thing."
Jinengi blushed.
"Yes ma'am."
Every person at the table leaned forward as a petite young woman came into the room. She was dressed in a simple pair of black wide-legged slacks, and a silver silk shirt. Her feet were covered in a pair of silver ballet flats. Another male, obviously the bodyguard, shouted.
"On your feet, for the ladyship!"
There was commotion and noise briefly while the occupants stood, as the woman sauntered to the table head and sighed.
"You may be seated. It isn't necessary for you to stand. Jinengi. Hiten."
The two men bowed smartly and left the room.
"La Bella Mafioso" Kagome Higurashi resisted the urge to run a hand across her face. Facing the table, she counted out eight people. Representives of eight of the most powerful families, and then her, the leader of them all. One of the silver haired men was staring over the top of a newspaper, with a look that clearly said he'd seen her before.
"Ladies, and Gentlemen. I am Higurashi Kagome. While many of you have not heard of me, I have heard of all of you. I am the daughter of Don Kenishii Higurashi, and have been completing some training while my father worked. I will be acting Mafioso effective immediately. I am interested in meeting all of you in a one on one setting, which will not be so formal. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask them."
A hand shot up from a young male, Kouga Ookami, if she was correct.
"Yes?"
"So are you available for a date? You know with the possibility of a relationship?"
Kagome smiled thinly as she raised a eyebrow.
"No. You're not my type, plus all the man I need is upstairs. Now onto further business."
Inuyasha Takeshi snickered.
"That's what you get wolf-brain!" he chortled gleefully at the put out look on the wolf's face.
"Excuse me?" a young woman said.
Kagome turned to her.
"Yes?" she asked, flipping through mental files until she found a name. Sango Hitachi.
"You said you'd like to meet with us on a one on one schedule, right?"
Kagome nodded.
"Ok, Is there anytime that is fine for you or are you just going to assign times?"
Kagome let out a sharp breath.
"I have a list of times. If you like, you can start."
Sango nodded and with a look to Sesshoumaru, who was still staring over his paper, reached behind her for a pen.
Sesshoumaru was cruel and ruthless. He had a reputation for never being surprised, and always managing to come out on the upper hand. But with one look at the little chit, he was struck dumb.
She had a face that was better suited for bedrooms, the soft, dreamy blue eyes, the lush pouty lips, and the whispery voice that one barely heard anymore. And her body was a man's wet dream and likely to be found on the pages of Playboy. It was neat, with a very small frame, but she was still voluptuous enough to warrant attention anywhere from the top of her head to the toes of her dainty feet.
If fact, her face seemed familiar enough. In fact, he was sure he'd seen it somewhere before. It looked older, and more distinguished, but he'd seen it. He'd have to check her out.
Kagome resisted rolling her eyes as she arranged a time with Kouga. He still tried to get her to agree to a date with him.
He muttered to himself as he left. Inuyasha Takeshi randomly picked a time, and then made a note in his phone which she doubted he'd remember tomorrow.
Sango Hitachi smiled as she wrote down her name, and then pulling a slim calendar out of her bag, jotted it down.
"I think this will be fun."
Finally the only person left was the other silver haired male. Sesshoumaru Takaherashi.
Kagome smiled politely as he pulled out his blackberry.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, I've heard many things."
"I've heard things as well for you, Higurashi-sama."
"Here you are." she handed over the list.
Sesshoumaru looked it over briefly, punched some numbers on his blackberry, and then wrote his name in.
"I'm looking forward to this." Kagome smirked.
"As am I." Sesshoumaru said.
*Later*
Kagome grumbled to herself as she poured bath salts into the steaming hot water. Her ebony curls were messily pulled into a knot on the top of her head. She ran a hand through the water, sniffed lightly, and then upended the bottle into the water.
Slipping a rag into the tub, and then herself, she let out a moan of contentment.
As she washed, she thought of all the things she had to do tomorrow. She had a one o clock meeting, a late lunch date with Hitachi. And finally, she was supposed to visit Souta.
As she soaked away the stress of the day and prepared for a new one, she heard the door to her bedroom bang open.
With a chuckle, she climbed out and pulled on the blue and white bath dress.
"Mama."
"I'm coming sweetie."
"Mama!"
"I'm coming." Kagome pulled open the bathroom door and smiled into her son's face.
"Katsuro, it's past your bedtime." she admonished.
Katsuro Tai Higurashi looked up into his mother's face and grinned impishly.
"Mama!" he reached up with his little arms and when Kagome picked him up, snuggled into her.
Breathing him in, Kagome realized her little one was growing up, he smelled like powder, the red crayola soap he liked, and his own special scent of outside.
"I sleepy, Mama."
"I put you in your bed."
"No!" he giggled. "Sleep with you."
"But Mama wants to sleep in her bed."
"Then me sleep too!" Katsuro slithered away from Kagome and scrambled up into the bed.
Kagome laughed to herself and pulled on a pair of underwear and a four times larger men's t-shirt.
Snuggling down in the bed behind Katsuro, she arranged a pillow on the edge, so he wouldn't roll out and then curling around his back, surrendered to her busy day.