A Deal With A Demon
Summary: Kagome’s struggling to keep her family’s bar afloat after her mother’s death. One night, a demon makes a deal, intriguing her to change her life.
Trigger Warning on this fic! I'm so sorry I forgot to mention it before, there is an attempted assault in the first part.
Part 1 l Part 2 l Part 3 l Part 4
ao3
Dedicated to my dear friend @enchantedink-ag Much Love! 💕
Three days had passed and Kagome had returned to work, everything seeming normal again. Koga hadn’t returned, but Ginta and Hakkaku had once, apologizing for their friend. She merely smiled, gave them a round of drinks and sent them on their way. She hadn’t told Sango yet either about Inuyasha, but had told her about Koga pushing his luck and that he was no longer allowed back in her bar. Sango hadn’t taken that very well and wanted to kill him.
She looked around her bar, the empty stools feeling more and more like a death sentence these days. She had decided to visit her father today and he wouldn’t even look up from the television at her, his hand wrapped tightly around a handle of vodka. She hadn’t stayed more than five minutes, only to bring in the mail and take out the trash. She had almost begun crying when she saw the shattered picture frame of her parents in the trash. Removing the photograph, she tucked it in her back pocket before dropping the trash out the back.
Back at the bar, she reached in her back pocket, pulling out the worn photograph once more. Staring down at the woman, she brushed her fingers over her face, sniffling a bit. Mama, I miss you. Her mother had passed almost six months ago and because of her focusing on the bar, she hadn’t really had time to grieve. Her father’s drinking had run the business into major debt and she hadn’t even heard from her brother since New Years. Wiping a stray tear from her cheek, she folded the photograph back up, slipping it back into her pocket. Grief sure has a funny way of presenting itself.
Glancing at the clock, she figured someone would be in shortly for a nightcap and decided she could go ahead and start on her front of house inventory, keeping an eye for any patrons. Grabbing the clipboard and a pencil from the office, she heard her front door chime, signaling a customer. Putting on her best smile, she headed back behind the bar, ready to serve the patron and gasped at the man who walked in. Inuyasha frowned at her as he took a seat on the closet bar stool.
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“Why were you crying?” He asked, glancing at her hand. “Is it your hand?” He reached forward, his clawed fingers grazing her palm softly, she trembled and pulled her hand back in shock. He stood quickly, knocking over the stool and backed away. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have, uh, done that.” He muttered.
She could see he was panicking and held her hand up.
“Wait! I’m okay, look.” She set down her clipboard and pulled the bandaid off, showing a solid pink line that had formed over the cut. It was still a little tender, but she had pulled away because she liked the way her body reacted at his touch. She realized he thought he scared her or was disgusted by her. “Your claws just tickled a bit.”
“Tickled?” He stared at her in horror. “My claws don’t tickle.”
“Well, they did me.” She giggled at his horrified expression. “Your face! I’m so sorry!” She began to laugh louder and he smirked, sending butterflies in her stomach.
“Tickled. Alright.” He shrugged, shaking his head, smiling at her softly as he bent to pick up the knocked over chair.
“Bourbon again?” She asked, reaching for the handle.
“Nah, it’s not my favorite. I prefer scotch, Macallan or Johnnie Walker if ya got it.” He mused, setting his chin in his palm.
“I got you.” She smiled over her shoulder, pouring him a double of Johnnie Walker Black. “So, um, how have you been?” I’m an idiot. The demon who saved my life just arrived back at my bar and I asked how he has been. Kagome, ya idiot. He smiled at her and shrugged, despite her inner turmoil.
“You gonna tell me why you were crying earlier?”
“I asked you a question first.” She smiled ruefully, leaning on the counter in front of him, sliding his drink.
“Technically, I asked first as soon as I walked in.” His fang peeked out over his lip as he leaned forward towards her. She held her breath, staring into the golden depths of his eyes as if they were baring his soul. She slowly leaned closer, feeling his warm breath on hers. Is he going to kiss me?
Suddenly, he blinked quickly and leaned back, bringing his glass to his lips and she shook her head.
“I was crying because I missed my mother.” She whispered, her mind focusing on the almost kiss.
“Your mother passed away?” When she realized he was still talking, she blinked, missing his question. When she looked at him confused, he laughed softly and repeated himself.
“Oh! Yes, she passed over six months ago, from cancer. My father, he hasn’t been okay ever since.” She looked down at her fingers tips, picking at the bar top. She really needed to refurnish it, the wood was deteriorating after all these years.
“I’m sorry.”
She looked up suddenly, surprised. People have been saying sorry, most not really caring and the few who really mattered to her had yet to really listened to her about it. Sango just tiptoes around the subject and her boyfriend Miroku, she didn’t really know all that well yet. Her cousin, Kikyo, came for the funeral, but like her brother, hadn’t spoken to her since the holidays.
“Thank you.” She whispered, smiling for him softly. His apology seemed genuine and while she was thinking him, she realized something. “Can I ask a question?”
“Haven’t you been asking them already?” He smirked. Glaring at him playfully, she waved her hand mockingly.
“How come I’ve never seen you around before?”
“I ain’t your normal demon. You remember when that scum was here trying to hurt you and you prayed for someone to help?”
“So you’re like a kami or a deity?” She asked, surprised.
“Nah, just a demon who makes deals. You made a deal and paid your debt by pouring me a drink.” He crossed his arms across his chest, letting it all sink in. She hummed, nodding her head and turned to grab her clip board. Figuring he would be the only bar guest tonight, she began to count her inventory.
“Does that not surprise you?” He asked after some time.
“You remember what I said the other night? He’s not the first demon to visit my bar, plus with the way my life has been going, I’m not surprised anymore.” She shrugged, writing in her numbers. She heard his soft hum and continued to count. They spent time in easy silence and she briefly wondered to herself when she was that comfortable with anyone, besides Sango, like this.
“Where is your dad?”
“Hmm?”
“Your dad. This is your family’s bar, so why isn’t he here helping?”
“He didn’t take mom’s sickness too well, his drinking got really bad after her death. He barely leaves his chair anymore, drinking handles of liquor a week.” She set her clip board down, staring at the clear liquid in the closest bottle. She sighed, her heart breaking a bit as she swallowed the tears that threatened to fall. Turning towards Inuyasha, she poured him another drink, putting on a smile for him.
“Why do you do that?” He whispered, his voice laced with curiosity. She looked at him, tilting her head, having no clue what he meant this time.
“You put on a fake smile, when everything is clearly not okay.” He murmured, leaning closer on the bar top again.
She had no idea what to say. That fake smile she used a lot for her guests, especially when they were particularly annoying. That was part of a being a bartender, so she shrugged, unsure of how to explain. Ever since her mom got sick, that smile had been her mask, keeping people at an arm’s reach.
“You don’t have to do that with me.”
Her shoulders sagged and she smiled for him, a genuine smile, relieved. Why am I so comfortable with him? He’s a stranger and yet, I feel safe, like he wouldn’t let anyone harm me. He smiled back softly and Kagome began to feel a sense of peace for the first time in a while.
“Are you staying long today?” She asked, reaching for a glass to pour herself some water.
“I can’t for much longer, but I was passing through and saw you, so I thought I would check in on you.” He shrugged, getting to his feet, throwing the last of his scotch back.
“Will I see you again?” She asked quickly, her heart lurching.
“Maybe, depends on if you need a deal or not.” He smirked, his fang glinting again the light. She shook her head and grabbed his empty glass, wiping the bar top of any stickiness. When she looked up to say bye, he was already gone. Smiling to herself, she went back to counting her inventory, determined on getting home at a decent time tonight.
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Pulling the mail form her box, she sighed as more red letter’s were stamped on white envelopes. Past due, past due, respond immediately, past due. Can’t I ever get a letter with some good news? Gathering the bills under her arm, she closed the metal door, turning her key to lock her mailbox. Heading up the stairs to the third level, she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket as she reached her floor. It’s after two am, who is calling me?
When she glanced down at the phone, figuring it was a drunk dial, she ignored the random number and inserted her key into the door, careful to be quiet in case Sango was already sleeping. Opening the door, she heard the television going softly, and glanced around the corner into their small living room. Sango was sleeping, leaning against Miroku’s shoulder. He glanced at her and held his finger up, Kagome smiled and nodded.
She headed towards the kitchen, figuring a nice cup of ramen noodles would be good for a quick dinner before bed, tossing the bills on the counter. I can deal with those later. She set her phone and keys next to the pile, not seeing another phone call coming from the same unknown number. She filled the kettle up with water, setting the pot on the stove as she turned up the heat. Grabbing the instant ramen down from a shelf, she didn’t hear her phone buzzing a third time. She leaned against the counter, waiting for the water to heat, thinking about a hot shower to soothe her muscles.
After a moment, the kettle began to whistle and she poured the scalding liquid into the styrofoam cup, closing the lid. Soft footsteps came from behind her and she looked over her shoulder as a sleepy Sango, followed by a grinning Miroku, walked into the kitchen.
“Just get home?” Sango murmured, rubbing her eye, yawning.
“Yeah. Headed to bed?” She smiled at the two. They were really a cute couple, he helped keep her level headed. She was going to tease her for sure for falling asleep on him. Before Sango could answer, the home phone rang and Kagome frowned. Who calls this late? An equally frowning Sango reached for the phone, answering promptly. Kagome checked her ramen, waiting for her to tell her who it was, when Sango’s faced paled, her grip on the phone tight.
“Kagome, I think you should take this.” She whispered. Miroku stepped behind her, squeezing her shoulder in support. Kagome’s forehead wrinkled as she grasped the phone from her best friend and answered.
“Kagome Higurashi? We’ve been trying to reach you. There’s been an accident, it’s your father.”
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