Lucida: There are not enough Kagu/Sessho stories out there. Screw the fact that I have a million others to write. “This Sesshomaru…” S’funny to write.

SUMMARY: Kagura Tadakaze is a talented actress who gets no respect, no praise, and just doesn’t have the right connections to make it big. Sesshomaru Tsuyoino is a famous, snotty actor who gets everything he wants. Well, nearly everything…

-------------

The sun peeked into the messy apartment. The young woman groaned, trying to block the light from hitting her eyes. Not another day. Why couldn’t she just stay in her dream world? Life was better there. She had just won an Oscar or award or whatever. Then sun was a very persistent bastard.

“All right! I’m getting up!” She yelled at it. “What was your Greek name?! Apollo, yeah. I’m getting up, Apollo!” Why had she just yelled that? Oh, one of her friends from high school was obsessed with mythology of any kind. Even though her friend was kind of a dork, she was able to kick ass and kick it hard. She stood up and put her dark black/brown hair into its usual ponytail. She glared into her ruby red eyes as she looked in a mirror. She sighed, walking to the bathroom. She had to go to the theatre today. It was a sad play and wasn’t going to sell well but hey, at least she would get some money out of it. And she loved acting. It was another way to get away other than sleeping.

Life sucked for Kagura Tadakaze. Her last name meant “free wind” but she did not feel free at all. This hellhole called life made her feel trapped. After walking out of the bathroom, finished in there, she grabbed a bagel and sat down in front of the T.V. turning it on. A movie with that show off silver haired actor, Sesshomaru Tsuyoino. She frowned in disgust. That guy couldn’t even act! The only reason he got paid was the shirtless scenes. Not that Kagura was complaining. She liked a good-looking guy as much as the next. But for him to be called an actor just made her sick. She changed the channel is utter disgust. It was the morning news.

“Last night, another victim of the serial killer was found,” the anchor said. “There is still no clue as to who is behind this. The authorities advise that people stay inside after dark and keep your doors locked. Do not speak to any strange people you meet on the road.” Kagura finished her bagel and turned the T.V. off. Please, like she would ever get caught by a serial killer. Besides, those murders were clear across town. Not really any concern of hers. She stood up and brushed off her loose, white t-shirt. So what if she wore jeans and a white t-shirt to practice? It’s not like she was going anywhere special. Just the same people she’s seen for the past month, everyday except Sunday. The director was ungodly religious. Oddly enough, the group was able to get the show together pretty well. Goes to show that the good stuff is on the streets, not T.V. She grabbed a black backpack and left her apartment, locking it. She then went down the messy stairs of the apartment building. She walked briskly down the sidewalk and across a few roads. There was a lighter beat in her step every time she took one. She loved acting and you could tell as you watched her walk by. She stopped in front of the old theatre and entered it.

“I’m here!” She announced. She looked around at the fellow players. “What? Miroku’s not here yet?”

“Miss Tadakaze, call me Mr. Hishou,” a voice said from the back. Kagura turned around to see the perverted director. “I brought doughnuts for you all!” The cast and crew looked at each other then made their way over to help Miroku get the doughnuts from his car.

“Miss Tadakaze,” Miroku said. “I need you to do a favor for me.”

“Yeah? What?” Kagura asked, glaring at him. He handed her a piece of paper with an address on it.

“You have a car, right?” He asked.

“Yeah, hardly drive it though,” Kagura replied.

“Could you run to this address and pick up some costumes for the play?” Miroku asked her. “And give these fliers to the clerk? She told me they’re running low.” He handed her the papers, without her having a say.

“Fine, I’ll be back in a jiff,” Kagura said, leaving the theatre and walking down to her apartment building. On the side if the building was a small parking lot for the people of the building who owned a car. She walked over to an old, beat up, red Pontiac grand am and opened it.

“I think it’s time I traded this in,” she said. Although, she said that every time she drove it. She got in and buckled up, turning the car on and the radio, full blast. Her tires screeched as she drove out of the parking lot.

This address is near uptown, she thought, as she glanced at the paper then back at the road. I hate going uptown. Eventually, she got the area the shop was in. She drove by to see all the parking spots in front of it taken. She scowled and drove around, looking for a parking spot. This had not been on her agenda. She finally found one and pulled into it, putting her car in park and turning it off. She got out and locked the door, swinging her keys in her hand. It was a good three or four blocks to the shop. Curses. She hated uptown folks. She quickly walked down the side walk, trying to avoid the mothers shopping with their children, the business men, and all that. As she continued on her way, scowling and muttering curses for her good day ruined, she felt herself bump into someone’s shoulder with hers.

“Watch where you’re going, you fuckin dickhead!” She said as she turned and looked at the man. Gold met red as they looked at each other. Kagura was utterly surprised. There before her stood the actor Sesshomaru Tsuyoino. She glared at him, putting a hand on her hip. “An apology would be nice,” she growled at him. He just turned away. Kagura felt her anger burning. She grabbed one of the fliers, crumbled it up, and threw it at his head. Bull’s eye. She then turned on her sneakers and continued on her way.

-------

Sesshomaru watched after the woman, his face not showing the shock he felt. He bent down and picked up the flier.

The Last Dance. Starring Kagura Tadakaze, Hiten Denkou, and Shippo Niiro.

So, she’s an actress? He thought. She had treated him like an equal. No one had ever done that to this Sesshomaru before. He pocketed the flier. He had time tonight. He might as well go laugh at some pathetic fools.

------

Kagura entered the costume shop, looking at all the odd costumes and normal costumes, and everything you could imagine. There was even some cosplay outfits. Kagura walked up to the counter and rang the bell. She waited for a bit then rang it again. She had to get back to practice!

“How may I help ye?” An old voice asked. Kagura jumped and spun around, seeing an old lady with only one eye standing in front of her.

“Um, yeah, I’m here to pick up some costumes for Miroku Hishou,” Kagura stated. The old woman nodded and walked to the back.

“I take it ye are Kagura Tadakaze,” she said, coming back to the front. Great. Conversation.

“Yeah, you are?” Kagura asked.

“Kaede Mikotou,” the old woman replied. “You ran into a famous man on the street earlier…?” She asked.

“Um, yeah, I guess,” Kagura said, starting to get creeped out.

“It was not wise of ye to come to this side of town,” Kaede said. “A man searches for ye. And he will find ye tonight.” Kagura felt her heart beat faster. “The man…With a spider on his back…” Kagura tried to take a breath, failing.

“Um, here are those fliers,” she said, putting them on the counter and taking the costumes, leaving in a rush. She ran quickly to her car, throwing the bags in the back. She locked the door, feeling the beads of sweat oh her forehead. Naraku? He was tracking her? She sighed and leaned back in her seat.

Naraku was her former boss. He hardly ever gave her any freedom and frequently said that he had her heart in his hands. She had finally managed to get away, hoping that changing her last name from Yoshitama to Tadakaze would get him off of her back. It worked for two years. She glared fiercely out of the car, turning it on. She wasn’t going to go back without a fight. No. She wasn’t going to go back at all. She turned her car on, and backed out, heading back to her apartment building and the theatre. A man with long black hair stood a little ways off, smirking and holding one of the fliers.

----------

Everyone sat on the stage, finished with practice. They all laughed heartily and were very excited for the performance tonight.

“So, Kagura, what do you plan on doing after the play?” Hiten asked her, moving a little closer to the woman.

“Going home to sleep,” Kagura said flatly, turning down another attempt by the tan-man for a date.

“Kagura, do you think you could walk me home before you do that?” The young player, Kagome, asked her. Kagura looked at her.

“C’mon, Kag, those murders were on the other end of town!” Kagura said, eating her Subway sandwich.

“But, he might get bored over there and come over here!” The girl stated. Kagura sighed, shaking her head. “Besides, you always carry that-“ Kagura covered the girl’s mouth.

“Don’t mention that,” she muttered. Kagura carried a side opening switchblade, every where she went. This was illegal, of course. “Fine, fine, I’ll walk you home, you big baby,” she sighed.

“Thank you, Kagura!” Kagome said brightly, eating her Subway sandwich.

“No problem, it got you to shut up,” Kagura replied, finishing hers.

------

Kagura looked in the mirror, making sure her fifties outfit looked good. The show had fifteen minutes before it started. Suddenly, Kagome burst into the room.

“Ka-Kagura,” she said, panting.

“What is it?” Kagura asked, turning and looking at her.

“You will not believe who I saw in the audience! They had on a pretty tough disguise, but I saw them!” Kagome squealed.

“Um, who?” Kagura asked.

“Inuyasha and Sesshomaru Tsuyoino!” Kagome squealed, causing Kagura to cover her ears.

“Great, two idiots,” Kagura said, turning back to the mirror, finishing up some things.

“Kagura! How can you not be excited?!” Kagome exclaimed in shock.

“Easy, because they have no talent,” Kagura replied, walking past Kagome towards backstage.

“How can you say that?! They’re two of the most famous actors, like, ever!” Kagome said, walking after her.

“All they’re famous for is their shirtless scenes,” Kagura spat. Kagome was about to retort but the play was starting. Kagura waited backstage for her cue and went right in.

--------

During the entire performance, Kagura felt amber orbs following her. Even when the attention wasn’t suppose to be on her. Like any professional actress, though, she didn’t pay attention. She just kept acting. A lot of stuff had been on her mind before but now, on stage, she was Samantha. She wasn’t Kagura and didn’t have those problems. She was Samantha and her only concern was her 50s life. Unfortunately, the show ended, giving Kagura her problems back. She stood under the stage lights with her fellow players and bowed as the crowd applauded. The red curtain shut, hiding the audience from them.

“Great job, you guys!” Miroku said, walking behind the curtains. “An outstanding performance! Just as I expected!” He smiled brightly. “Now, go out there and meet your adoring public!” Kagura sighed, staring at the man. She then shrugged.

“C’mon, Kagome, our adoring public awaits,” she said to the girl who had played her younger sister.

“Right,” Kagome said, walking after the older woman. The young red haired boy, Shippo, walked after them. Kagura and Kagome were greeted by mainly men. Kagome was bright and cheerful while Kagura shrugged off their comments.

--------

“Well, it wasn’t half bad,” Inuyasha said to his older brother. The two were sticking to the shadows, hiding their unique hair under darker wigs. Sesshomaru didn’t respond. He wasn’t entirely sure why his brother was there anyway. But he had noticed him watching that one girl…The one who played Mary…

It was no concern of this Sesshomaru. He had come and had to admit that the Kagura girl had talent. He might look her up for a movie sometime if she would learn some manners. He watched as the crowd around the two actresses dissipated. He pushed off of the wall and walked after Kagura as she walked towards backstage.

-------

“Look, I’m gonna go get this outfit off, okay, Kag?” Kagura asked as the crowds started to disperse. “Meet me at the back door in 15.”

“Okay,” Kagome said, nodding and turning to a fan. Kagura lightly made her way backstage, not paying attention to the fact that someone was following her. She didn’t even realize it until she was backstage, in a secluded area…

Someone threw something at her, hitting her in the head. She spun around to see someone leaving the area. She saw a crumbled piece of paper on the ground and bent over to pick it up. She uncrumbled it. It was a flyer from the show! But there was something written on it.

This Sesshomaru would appreciate it if you would not throw things at the back of his head.

Kagura bit her tongue, raising her eyebrows. That Sesshomaru was one weird guy. She decided that she was too tired to do anything about it tonight and went to the dressing room.

“These contacts are killing me!” She muttered, taking them out and replacing them with her glasses. She only wore contacts for performances.

“You should wear them more often though,” a male voice said from the door.

“Hiten, stop with the flirting,” Kagura said, turning to the tanned man.

“What, it’s true,” Hiten said, putting his hands on in defense.

“What’re you doing in the girl’s green room anyway?” Kagura asked, grabbing a fan. “Out, I say! Out with thee!” She said, hitting him over the head with the closed fan.

“Ow, ow! Okay, Kagu! I’m leaving!” Hiten said with a chuckle. He left, closing the door behind him.

“Men are pigs,” Kagura sighed, slapping the fan in her hand.

-------

“Kag, you’re two minutes late,” Kagura said to the girl as she came running up in jeans and a band shirt.

“Sorry, I got preoccupied,” Kagome said, a faint blush on her cheeks.

“Really? By whom?” Kagura asked, raising a delicate eyebrow.

“Inuyayshsuyoino,” Kagome muttered hurriedly.

“Who was that? Didn’t quite catch?” Kagura asked, putting a hand to her ear.

“Inuyashasuyoino,” Kagome said, a little louder and slower.

“Eh? Speak up,” Kagura ordered.

“INUYASHA TSUYOINO!” Kagome exclaimed then covered her mouth.

“Do I need to hurt him?” Kagura asked.

“No, no, no!” Kagome said, waving her hands frantically in the air. “We just…Talked. He told me he liked my acting.”

“Oh yes, praise from a nincompoop,” Kagura said in her dry sarcasm. “C’mon, let’s go. I want to go to sleep as soon as possible.”

“Fine, be that way, Kagura,” Kagome said, pouting a bit. “I think I know why you can’t get a boyfriend.”

“And why is that?” Kagura asked as the two stepped into the alley behind the building.

“Because you’re so bitter,” she replied. “Why is that?”

“Y’know, I’m not too sure,” Kagura said, scratching her chin with a delicately crafted nail.

“Wait, you’re being sarcastic again,” Kagome said, nearly being fooled.

“And I wonder how such a smart girl like you can swoon over one of those Tsuyoino brothers,” Kagura sighed, putting an arm around the girl’s shoulder.

“Hey-!”

“Shh,” Kagura said, her sharp ears picking up a noise. Something-one- was following them. Her mind went back to that crazy old lady in the costume shop. “Run,” Kagura whispered to Kagome. Kagome gulped. “On the count of three. One. Two. Three!!” The two girls started to run. But something grabbed onto Kagura’s ponytail.

“Kagura!” Kagome screeched.

“GO!” Kagura said, flicking out her blade. Kagome nodded and ran, tears streaming down her face for leaving her friend. But they needed help.

-------

The Tsuyoino brothers were at their car, Inuyasha doing most of the talking.

“Hey,” Inuyasha said, stopping in mid-sentence. Sesshomaru followed his brother’s gaze. It was that girl who played Mary again. She was running out of an ally, crying. Inuyasha, being how he was, instantly ran over to her. “Kagome! What’s wrong?!”

“Kagura-someone-someone’s attacking her, Mr. Tsuyoino!” Kagome said in between gasps.

“Sesshomaru! Aren’t you going to help?!” Inuyasha asked, running into the ally.

“It does not concern this Sesshomaru,” he told his brother. Inuyasha scoffed and headed into the ally.