Chapter Text
Kagome released a heavy sigh as she leaned her cheek into her palm. It was stiflingly hot in the little room, the summer air as heavy and wet as her client's panting. She didn't bother glancing over at him, though his breathing was loud. This man was a frequent customer of hers and took his pleasure at whatever volume he deemed fit.
Blowing a wild curl off her cheek, Kagome eased up from her spot at the table and approached her client. He was a much older man, in his early forties, judging by the splotches of gray in his thin hair. His face was gleaming brightly in the candlelight, her "magical" treatment having an especially potent effect on him. A naive part of her wished to know his story, but the presently annoyed miko standing before him could care less.
"Saito-san, wake up. Your time is up unless you wish to pay for another hour," Kagome called softly, patting the man's cheek to rouse him. Bleary brown eyes peered up at her, widening the moment he registered her presence.
"Now, now. Don't be so selfish, Aome," the older man chided. "Have mercy on my old, weary soul."
Kagome fought the urge to roll her eyes, after all the reiki she'd pushed into him there was no way he would be weary. Saito was a demanding customer, constantly using her powers to wash away his sins. She wisely held her tongue, covering her discontent with a convincing giggle.
"I am just a girl making a living, Saito-san. Can you blame me?"
Saito smiled at her, blissfully unaware of her increasing ire. He was not a bad man per se, but the gesture made Kagome's stomach recoil. She hated being used for other people's gain.
Shortly thereafter, Saito deposited two large golden coins into her palm and took his leave. Kagome collapsed onto the mountain of pillows with a deep sense of relief flooding through her body. They were uncomfortably warm from the previous occupant. Already drenched in sweat from her heavy kimono, the miko pushed off them with an indignant huff.
After locking and securing her door, Kagome slipped out of the kimono. It fell to the floor with a plop, a small breeze tickling her exposed flesh. Standing in her room in nothing but her modern undergarments was a petty relief. If she closed her eyes tightly, the miko could imagine a fan powered by electricity cooling her heated skin. However, reality didn't allow the illusion to take effect. The night was still obscenely humid and her obscenely furious.
With a tight expression, Kagome pulled on the underlayer of her kimono and stalked to the window. It was a large window that looked into the deep woods behind the Red Lights District. Considering her current situation, the miko was surprised by the luxury of such a route of escape. She quickly found out that the area was very well guarded despite the darkness enveloping the trees. The light of her lantern meekly grazed a few inches of grass out her window.
Dousing the lantern, shadows of night painted her vision black. Kagome gave herself a moment to adjust to the dark before craning her head out the window. Above her head, she was met with the obsidian blanket of sky. Only the beams of a waning gibbous moon decorated the heavens tonight. Frowning, the miko leaned her cheek against the window sill. Judging from the cycle of the moon, this would be her second month trapped in the Red Lights District.
Her predicament was entirely her fault, though it brought immense shame and embarrassment to admit it. It began with her and Inuyasha ending their relationship after trying for two years. Though they loved each other, they were growing in different directions. Kagome wanted to be independent, a protector instead of the protected. Inuyasha had not taken it well, proclaiming it as a rejection to him. No conversations, fights, or screaming arguments could convince him otherwise before they decided to call it quits.
So, of course, Kagome had to go on an adventure by herself. It was supposed to be a simple mission, bringing medical supplies to Edo's sister village out east and helping heal the sick. It was something she had done countless times with Kaede, but her first time alone ended up with her here. If only she had chosen a more secure spot to fall asleep if only she had worn a mask to make her face look ugly. The list of should-haves and if-onlys was long and mentally degrading.
Shaking her head of the past, Kagome returned her attention to the starless night. Her heart clenched at the blank expanse; the stars were her constant through this time and even they had left her behind. She needed to figure out a way to escape this awful place and fast.
The only question that remained was: how? There was no Inuyasha to swoop in and save her. No Sango or Miroku to bust down the doors and take her home. All she had was her own self-doubt and wits to achieve her escape. Unfortunately, those had failed her many times before.
Bright azure eyes peered into the night sky before squeezing shut. Slamming her hands together, Kagome kneeled low and prayed. Her energy rose above her, causing an invisible wind to catch unruly raven waves.
"If anyone is listening, please hear my call."
Regardless of who answered, the miko concentrated her energy on the prayer before crying out into the night.
"Please get me out of here!" With her scream thundering in her ears, Kagome eagerly awaited a response. Her desperation drove her heart to hope for the possibility of an avenue of escape.
A few moments passed before it suddenly dawned on her how stupid this was. Her eyelids felt heavy with tears as she slumped against the wall. Shoving her hands onto her face, the miko began to weep. She essentially put her pathetic misery on a loudspeaker with nothing.
"Why did I even do this? Nobody's going to answer," Kagome whimpered, speaking into her palms.
"This One should be offended at being considered a… nobody?" The sound of a male's voice made Kagome start violently. Smacking her head on the wall, she scrambled to the table and produced a pair of chopsticks. Not necessarily the best option, but it was her only one.
"W-Who are you?" Kagome demanded, brandishing her wooden weapons in his face. Piercingly electric blue eyes watched her curiously, like a cat observing a mouse beneath its paw. The man's feline gaze brightened at her question, his head tilting to the side as he spoke.
"You are a strange miko, I've never seen one so spirited," he said. "My name is Yaboku. I am a god answering your prayer."
He didn't look much like a god to her. He was beautiful, looking like he was just entering his twenties. This strange man stood around average height donning a simple black kimono. A sword with no hilt was fastened at his waist, held up by his obi. The longer Kagome stared the wider the man's smile became.
Realizing herself, her hands trembled terribly as she fought to keep a strong hold on her chopsticks. She could make no sound, opening and closing her mouth. Either a real god had just broken into her room or she was about to be devoured by a demon. Judging by the smirk tilting his mouth, the miko presumed the latter option. Only her luck that the gods weren't on her side.
"How do I know you're a real god and not some demon, huh?" Kagome hissed. Yaboku's electric blue gaze widened with predatory amusement. White knuckling her chopsticks, she leveled him with a glare. "Prove yourself!"
Without warning Kagome was suddenly washed with an overwhelming presence. The heat of his powers was suffocating in the summer night air and she fought for her breath. So this was the power of a god. However, she was not one to be cowed so easily. With a quick inhale of air, the miko pushed her powers against him. As her reiki flitted around him, she sensed the taint of death about him.
Before she could comment, Yaboku suddenly pulled himself back. Without his oppressive energy filling the room it felt strangely empty. The sudden energy shift made her body feel weak. Her chopsticks clattered to the floor in a hopeless clack.
"What are you?" Kagome whispered, her eyes glued to Yaboku's.
"I am a god, one that will grant your wish should you accept my price." A fierce gleam crossed over him then, Yaboku stalked toward her. Heart pounding thunderously she tried to back away.
"P-Price? I have nothing here. If you get me out, I'm sure I can scrounge up some cash-?"
Her words sharply cut off once her back met the wall. Yaboku placed both hands on each side of her head, leaning in closely. Smells of petrichor, the forest, and something akin to the air after a battle emanated on his skin. His proximity and the latter scent made her nose crinkle with disgust.
"Tsk, tsk. A miko has no business beholding a god with such an expression," Yaboku chided, tapping her nose. "I ask for something simple. Do to me what you did to that man."
Kagome stared at him perplexed. While it was true she was residing in the Red Lights District, she had never let herself be touched by a man. Through sheer force of will and charm, she was able to satisfy the men who darkened her room by washing their sins free with her reiki. For a man like Saito-san who dealt with sin as a daily affair, the sensation of her purity was akin to the world's best night of sleep.
"I think you misunderstand what I do here. My body is not for sale even if you are some god," Kagome replied firmly. Her courage withered considerably at the sharp turn in Yaboku's countenance.
"I do not seek you for sex, foolish miko. Allow me to experience the true power of a shrine maiden and I will set you free. Get it now?"
Perhaps if Yaboku was standing further away she could have had a coherent thought to respond with. However, his body was flushed against hers and pushing them into the wall. She could feel the firm muscles of his arms holding her in place. A deep blush painted her cheeks at the proximity and his proposal. She had a niggling suspicion that there was a catch in there somewhere.
"Alright. But no funny business, okay? I'm not looking to link myself with a deity I don't know. I already serve a shrine and have no interest in getting involved with…" Her words trailed off as she looked him up and down. "Whatever you are."
"Do we have a deal or not, Miko?" Yaboku asked with an exasperated tone. Kagome narrowed her eyes dangerously at him.
"My name is Kagome. Ka-go-me! If you'd even bothered to ask before getting in my face-!"
"Do we have a deal or not, Kagome?" Yaboku's breath tickled her ear sending a shiver down her spine. Pointedly ignoring it, she placed both palms on the god's shoulders and pushed him back.
"Yes. Go lay down, you're too tall for me to work while standing," Kagome directed him to the mound of pillows. Yaboku nodded, bright eyes twinkling with mirth. Damned ass seemed to enjoy messing with her personal space.
Once he was settled the miko went right to work. Her instincts screamed at her to stop, something was off about this god and his deal. However, she found it very hard to care as her freedom was inching within her grasp.
"Nngh!" Yaboku grunted noisily as her powers entered his body. His face flushed brightly as she worked her hands from his forehead to his chin, massaging the chakra points with lithe fingers. When her fingers brushed against his sternum, he cried out once again and grabbed her wrist.
"Watch it, pal! I can't fulfill my end of the deal if you're manhandling me." Kagome hissed, yanking her wrist away. Just as quickly as she did so, his hand returned to her arm. Gently his fingers trailed to her elbow, holding it tight.
The expression on Yaboku's face gave her pause. He was panting heavily, piercing her with his heady gaze. The flush on his cheeks traveled down to the exposed plane of his chest where sweat began to glisten in the dim lantern light. The look on his face should be reserved for intimate lovers, not miko and god performing a deal. The miko fought the urge to run out of the room right then and there out of embarrassment. Shaking her head, Kagome refused to meet his eye until she was done with her ritual.
"There was my end of the deal, now it's time to fulfill yours," she huffed. Her gaze remained planted on her knees as the god stood up.
"Mah, Kagome, you're one hell of a miko," Yaboku said airily. "Let's get you out of here."
Kagome quickly gathered her meager possessions and turned to the god expectantly. "I'm ready."
With a nod, Yaboku scooped her into his arms and together they entered the shadow of night. Kagome fought the urge to sigh in relief as the breeze lifted her hair in a wind dance. Craning her neck over Yaboku's shoulder she watched with immense satisfaction as the Red Lights District became smaller and smaller in the distance.