Painting the Soul by Myuki-chan

A Proposal

A/N: To the readers of my other fanfic, I haven't abandoned it. ^^; Just a bit of a writer's block. I'm working on it though. This was just something that crawled into my head and didn't want to leave. I think it's fun XDXD

Oh yes. Kagome swears a bit in this. Maybe a lot. I dunno... I don't think it's a lot. XD

Chapter 1 – A Proposal

Kagome flopped down onto her rather worn-out sofa and draped an arm across her eyes. She was exhausted. She had spent that day and the past week looking for some form of employment. So far, no luck. She had a feeling it was because they didn't like how she dressed.

It had taken three years for all the Shikon shards to be collected and to have finally defeated Naraku. It had been a horrible battle for all of them but in the end they managed to destroy him. The last shard had been particularly hard for Sango, however she felt it better that Kohaku was laid to rest as his conscience wished. The last Kagome had heard of Sango was that she had settled down happily with Miroku. That may have changed by now though, considering Kagome had not returned to the Feudal era for 2 years.

When the Shikon jewel had been reformed, Kagome had been suddenly transported back to her own time. She immediately jumped back down the well, only to find it no longer gave her access to Inuyasha's time. It would have been an understatement to say she was devastated.

For the next year, she tried using the well daily, then weekly, then eventually gave up trying and decided to move on with her life. She felt that waiting for the well to work again would just waste her life away... and she had spent enough time worrying about things other than her own future. She soon moved out into her own apartment to distance herself from the well even more. She had graduated high school but spending all her time after that looking for shards didn't allow her much of a chance to develop a career. She managed to get the odd job here and there, but they mostly lasted only a few months. Her mother insisted that if she ever needed help financially to just ask, but Kagome was stubborn and struggled on her own.

With all her extra time when she didn't have a job, Kagome discovered that she was quite interested in the visual arts and testing a few different mediums, found that she rather liked painting. Wandering through art galleries often, she developed a strong friendship with one of the curators, Sumiko Takata. She was ten years older that Kagome, but had the energy of a fifteen year old. Sumiko enjoyed painting as well and let Kagome use her paintbrushes and paints to develop her skills.

Kagome soon discovered that she couldn't escape from her time in the Feudal era, in terms of her thoughts. Paintings she produced were scenes she could remember of the villages and rivers but mostly of her friends. They were abstract paintings, since she enjoyed painting those the most, but if you knew who they were, it was easy to tell who was in each of them.

Other things changed with Kagome as well. She often wondered if her old friends would even recognize her. Her personality had changed drastically, no longer the semi-shy, polite young girl she used to be. She didn't keep many friends as they often got fed up with her attitude, but those who stayed would sometimes catch a glimpse of the girl she used to be: the happier girl that didn't seem so angry at the world. Kagome's entire wardrobe was now black with more than one rather revealing outfit. Gone were the bright colours and especially her school uniform. She wore makeup now too, although mainly black eye-shadow, mascara, and lipstick.

Glancing down at her outfit, Kagome considered that she could have dressed a bit better for those job interviews. She was wearing a knee-length black skirt with knee-high black tie-up boots, a black spaghetti-strap tank top and her usual black makeup. She shrugged to herself and rolled off the couch, walking across the room to look at her most recent painting-in-progress.

Black and white blended together, splashes of red spattered across the canvas. She knew what was missing; she just hadn't picked up the yellow paint yet. The shade of yellow that could make you trust in it, maybe even love it, until everything was torn away without even a chance to fight.

The second year of her absence from the Feudal era had been spent painting anything and everything. By now, she had completed enough paintings that she could set up a show of them. A week ago, Kagome had asked Sumiko about it and she had smiled and said she would see what she could work out. The curator had said she would call her if she managed to get a room free to display her artwork in. Kagome hoped that if she was able to set up a show that someone would take interest in her paintings, making her at least a little less worried about paying rent.

The phone suddenly rang and Kagome scrambled over a stack of paintings to grab it.

"Hello?"

"Miss Higurashi, this is the apartment manager."

Speaking of rent...

"Oh, hi Mr. Yamato..."

"I believe I've spoken to you before. Several times in fact. Now I understand that you're having trouble finding work, but I'm afraid I need that rent money by next week. It's already two weeks late and your past rents have been late as well. If you fail to pay this month's rent by then, I'm sorry to say that I can't let you stay here."

"I'll try."

"Thank you."

Kagome hung up and sighed again. Wandering over to the refrigerator, she threw a disgusted look at the expired milk inside and poured it down the sink. There hadn't been anything particularly edible in that fridge since her last paycheck a whole month ago.

The phone rang again and a confused look passed across her face.

Who the hell would be calling now?

"Hello?"

"K! I've got great news!"

Another thing that Kagome had decided to change was her name. Or at least, what people called her. She insisted on people calling her 'K' unless she had to give her actual information, like when she had first applied for the apartment.

"Sumiko?"

"Yes! The room off the south wing of the gallery is free next week and I managed to book it for you!"

Kagome stared at the phone in disbelief before moving it back to her ear.

"Are you serious?"

Sumiko's gentle smile could be heard through the phone. "I definitely am, my dear K."

"You have no idea how thankful I am that you put up with my bitching."

"You can thank me later by buying me lots of coffee once you become famous. Right now we need to plan the setup. Oh and you don't need to worry about advertising. I'll take care of it so that lots of important people come to admire you."

"You are a complete angel."

"No need for compliments. Just coffee," The curator replied, laughing a little, "Now, how about you gather up your paintings and tomorrow I'll come pick you all up. We can start figuring out where to put which ones..."

"Sounds like a plan."

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

Kagome stared at the crowd of people nervously. She hadn't felt nervous for quite a long time but this was understandable. After all, her possible future career rested on the reactions of them.

A hand rested on her shoulder and she jumped, spinning around to see Sumiko. She wasn't particularly pretty with the typical black hair and brown eyes but her kind personality shone through with a different kind of beauty, especially when she smiled.

"Nervous, K?" She asked with an amused look in her eyes.

Kagome smiled faintly and held up her thumb and forefinger slightly apart. "Just a bit."

They both laughed before turning to look at the crowd. It was a good sign that there were few people standing by the little snack table (also arranged by Sumiko) since that meant most were looking at her paintings... or at least she hoped they were.

All I need is just one lucky break... just one...

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

A familiar looking figure stood in front of the painting titled 'Hanyou'. Kagome had finished it just the night before and it hung in the center of the far wall as the main feature of the exhibit. He stared at it intently through black shades even though it was late in the evening.

Remarkable how well this 'K' has gotten his personality... His irritating perseverance, his mindless impatience... Hmm... it seems there are hints to a different side of him. If I didn't know better, it would seem that K has known Inuyasha personally...

Adjusting his white suit, he turned to glance around the room.

I think I should have a word with this artist... they may be of use to me.

His gaze falling on a girl speaking to a small crowd of people, he figured she must be the artist as she looked nothing like everyone else.

She was wearing a short black dress with black knee-high boots. Her hair was in a ponytail that swept in gentle waves down her back and across her shoulders. On her left wrist were three black bracelets and higher up on the same arm was a black arm bracelet that snaked around it. He couldn't see her face since she had her back facing him, but he assumed that if she was wearing any makeup, it would match the rest of her outfit.

Walking up to her, he cleared his throat and felt a wave of surprise rush through him, slender eyebrows raising above the shades when she turned to look at him. Even with the black eye-shadow, eye liner and lipstick, he still recognized the girl as the young miko that had traveled with Inuyasha.

"Yeah, what do-" Blue-grey eyes widened and her mouth hung open in shock before she gathered enough thoughts together to say rather loudly, "Sesshoumaru?!"

Besides the clothes, it looked as if he hadn't changed one bit, but actually he had changed quite a lot. Sesshoumaru had survived the 400 years or so until Kagome's time and had become a very successful businessman. As a result, he learned to tolerate humans and refrain from melting them all. Of course, he did sometimes give a death glare to some clients if they weren't cooperating, causing them to agree to whatever he proposed. This same look was used to halt any questions about the markings on his face, his pointed ears, his unusual eyes (if someone ever saw him without sunglasses) and the large fluffy object (she didn't think anyone would believe it was his tail) he always had wrapped around himself. It was much simpler to make the humans fear speaking to him rather than to conjure up some ridiculous excuse.

"So... it's the young miko that is the source of all these paintings."

"Miko?" Sumiko blinked in confusion as she looked at Kagome, whose little outburst had grabbed the attention of a number of people, including hers.

"I'm not a miko, Sesshoumaru." Kagome spat, glaring up at him.

"Very well... K," He replied with a small smirk that disappeared quickly, "If that is indeed your name. I'm afraid I have forgotten what you were called so many years ago but I am quite certain it was more than a single letter."

A strange look passed over his face as he thought of what he had just said.

"Wait a minute... how in the world are you here right now? I-"

"Shut the hell up." Kagome said firmly, fists clenched by her sides. The curator glanced back and forth between them.

"K... do you know him?"

"In a way she does, Miss...?"

"Takata. Sumiko Takata."

"Miss Takata. I suppose she does know me but that is not why I came to speak to her. I had no idea the artist was her to be completely honest. The reason why I came is that I am looking for an artist," Sesshoumaru stared down at Kagome, "and I believe I have found one."

Kagome frowned at him. "Why the hell would you want an artist?"

"I have been looking for someone to paint my portrait. But not just any portrait... one that expresses my personality. Looking around me, it seems you have that talent."

"I can only paint the people I know. And to be blunt, I don't know you and I don't like you. I can assure you that anything I paint of you will cause great disapproval." She smirked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Then I suppose you will have to get to know me." Sesshoumaru said lightly.

"And how the hell would I do that?"

"Come live in my house."

"...you're fucking kidding me." Kagome stared at him like he was mad.

"Come on, K," Sumiko whispered, nudging her in the side, "You wouldn't have to worry about rent for awhile and he's famous in the business world! This one commission would ensure you lots of offers later!"

"I am not living with him." Kagome muttered out the side of her mouth.

"So you're having problems with financing? That can be easily settled. Here is my offer. You will live in my house for however long it takes you to paint a complete painting, rent free, and I will also pay ten years rent for whatever location you are currently living at. I'm sure that will be more than enough time for your career to start moving."

Kagome and Sumiko both stared at him with open mouths.

"Why does it seem like you're being... nice?" Kagome asked, being the first to recover from shock.

"This has nothing to do with nice. I'm a businessman now, Miss K, not entirely who I used to be. When I see something I want, I will do everything within my power to take it."

"Yeah? Well this is something you won't get, so fuck off."

A slender eyebrow rose above the shades before Sesshoumaru reached into a pocket and pulled out a card.

"Very well. If you do change your mind, here is my number and home address. Feel free to call or drop by at any time to discuss my offer. I would love to stay and chat but I'm afraid I must be going. Good evening to you ladies."

He turned and walked away down the dark hallway, his white suit and hair contrasting sharply with the shadows.

"K! Why didn't you take his offer?" Sumiko cried out, clutching Kagome's arm and shaking her a little.

"I don't like the bastard, Sumiko." Kagome sighed, prying her arm away, "I think I need to go home. Do you think you could wrap things up here and take care of any questions?"

"Sure, K." The curator smiled sympathetically, "I don't know why you hate him but you really should think about his offer. I don't think there's anything that could beat it."

Kagome waved goodbye and walked slowly back to her apartment. She stared at the eviction notice on her door for a moment before walking inside. Being so busy with her art display she had completely forgotten about the rent. She opened her fridge and stared at the bare racks before closing it. Sitting down on her couch, she sat in the darkness in silence. Her apartment was quite empty now, with all her paintings in the gallery, as she never had many possessions to begin with. Everything she had could fit in a single backpack (not her old yellow one of course).

"Fuck it all." She suddenly muttered, releasing a sigh of frustration, before reaching over and picking up her phone to dial. Hearing no dial tone, she remembered not paying her phone bill either and swore again. Gathering up her possessions into the one backpack she had, Kagome locked the door to the apartment, dropped her keys into the manager's mailbox, walked outside and hailed a cab.

Giving the address to the driver, she sat back and closed her eyes, opening them only when the car ceased moving in front of a large mansion. Climbing out, she marched up to the door and rang the doorbell. Kagome only said one thing before walking past Sesshoumaru into the house.

"Pay the cab driver."

A/N: Hope you liked it!! Please read and review! *hugs*