InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ As Deemed By Fate ❯ Disruption ( Chapter 6 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Jade Catseye 
Bitches are psychotic...
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Drama / Comedy | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 07.16.2005 | Updated On: 09.29.2006 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.4K | Visits: 1.2K | Status: Work In Progress
Bitches are psychotic...
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Drama / Comedy | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 07.16.2005 | Updated On: 09.29.2006 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.4K | Visits: 1.2K | Status: Work In Progress
Disclaimer: I don’t own Inuyasha or its characters.
Title: As Deemed By Fate
Rating: R (for obscene profanity usage, content, and some limey situations)
Pairing: Kik/Inu/Kag
Summary: AU. Man is incomplete until he marries. Inuyasha believes his fiancée Kikyo will make him whole, or did until he met Kagome, an avid exotic dancer that instantly complicates things. Temptation has never been so hard to resist.
Chapter Six: Disruption
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Disruption
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True to his word, Yash hadn’t returned after their falling out, not that Kagome cared or anything. She didn’t need him, his arrogance, or his so-called help. Her life was hectic enough without some chauvinistic businessman infringing upon her carefully planned routine. And besides, she was a grown woman. She didn’t need a babysitter to come and look after her and make sure that she was ok. The crime in her parts was not outstanding that it would warrant such course of action. So what was the real reason behind giving her his number?
‘Oh yeah, because he didn’t want to be held accountable for anything bad that could happen to me,’ she mentally scoffed, but the mental rationalization did nothing to shake the guilt she felt within.
For the thousandth time in the past three days, Kagome looked up from her Biology text to stare at the phone. It would take all of thirty seconds to call him up and apologize for her stubbornness and thank him for caring about her welfare, even if she didn’t take him up on his offer. Her hand twitched. All she had to do was walk downstairs, get the envelope out of the trash, and call his cell, and then maybe she would be able to do get some actual work done.
‘No! I will not apologize. I didn’t even do anything.’ Kagome forced her eyes to focus on the endless stream of words that continued to move about in a jumble on the page like alphabets floating in a sea of white soup. Her fingers drummed impatiently when the mélange of black letters refused to unscramble. Blowing the irritating bangs that insisted on poking her in the eyes, Kagome’s gaze landed on the phone for the umpteenth time.
“Ugh,” she slammed both the book shut and her mental deliberation, thoroughly disgusted that her train of thought was revolving around that egomaniac when she had a major test in less than 18 hours. “There is no way I’m going to get through the test at this rate.” With one hand, she pulled off the scrunchie that bound her hair in a high ponytail and let out a relieved sigh as cascading obsidian locks spilled down her back. Rolling her shoulders to relieve them of their stiffness, Kagome glanced at the clock hanging on her wall. It was a quarter until 8.
Soon she would have to leave for work. ‘Wonderful, I’ve been studying for the past three hours and am still on the same chapter I had been on when I started. Only five more chapters to go.’
Sighing, Kagome pushed her chair away from the desk, stood, and stretched, allowing her cramped muscles much needed liberation. She so did not feel like going to work tonight, especially with a test that counted twenty percent of her overall grade on the line. But the money she would get added to the three day’s worth of tips from last week under her bed would be able to cover the electric bill due this week.
The soft rumbling of her stomach broke through Kagome’s thoughts, reminding her that she hadn’t had a meal since breakfast. “Calm down,” she rubbed her grumbling abdomen sympathetically, “food is on its way.” Seemingly satisfied with this tidbit of information, the growling subdued. ‘That is, if there’s anything left. With everything that’s going, I haven’t had time to shop, let alone eat.’
Running a tired hand over her face, Kagome padded barefoot to the wall and flicked off the light. “What I wouldn’t do for a cheeseburger right now,” she grumbled heading into the hall, but stopped, her eyes meeting the empty room across from her own.
A thread of loneliness wrapped around her heart as she surveyed her little brother’s room, clean (dirty?) articles of clothing mingled with video games and mismatched shoes were still strewn over the carpeted floor like they had been a month earlier. His bed was still unmade, most of the cover laying a heap on the floor. All of the drawers to his dresser were wide open, more clothes dangling over the side. She hadn’t had the heart to clean up his pig sty of a room for in some way it felt as though he’d never left, as though they never left.
The thought guided her steps to the other two rooms on either side of the steps that led downstairs. Her grandfather’s room was as messy, if not more than Souta’s, with laying in a tangled heap at the foot of the bed, scrolls, ofudas, books on demons and purifications and other miscellaneous item littered the room. Kagome didn’t know where the junk stopped and the floor began. She shook her head with a light smile, nostalgia yielding memories of when she was a schoolgirl and having every boy she had over chased away by a crazed old man waving ofudas and accusing them of being demons.
The small smile wilted before fading completely as Kagome turned to her mother’s room, impeccable as ever. Everything was in their rightful place. The queen sized western style bed was made neatly, each pillow fluffed and situated in complimentary positions near the head.
The sweet, floral scent that was her mother still emanated from the room, an invisible reminder of her presence, of who she was, of her gentle nature. Her throat tightening,
Kagome looked away unable to handle the flood of overwhelming emotions the room evoked. She hated being helpless. Helpless to do anything about her mother’s well-being, helpless to stop her pain, helpless to do nothing but sit back and watch her mother fade away.
The blaring of a honking car horn jolted Kagome back to the present. Wiping away the scattered tears that had formed during the poignant interlude, she glanced down to her watch and cursed. Suki was here to pick her up already. “I guess that meal will have to wait,” she said apologetically to her stomach.
Jogging back to her room, she quickly retrieved her black duffel bag from her closet, made sure everything she needed was inside, and grabbed her keys from the desk before departing. Kagome rolled her eyes at the incessant honking as she locked the front door. “Ok Suki, I’m coming.” Pocketing the keys and tying her hair up in a sloppy bun, she made her way to the top of the shrine steps and almost fell over at sight of an expensive convertible with the top down parked at the curb instead of an old Buick that could barely start up.
Suki stopped with the horn and leaned over the side of the silver 2004 Toyota MR2 Spyder, a grin as bright and wide as the sun itself. “Like my new wheels?”
Kagome’s stupefied daze lifting, she ran down the stairs in record time, her grin mirroring the other woman’s. “What happened to The Tank?”
“That piece of shit? I got rid of it. With all the good tips I’ve been getting since I’ve started, I can afford to be wasteful with my money.” She tossed her hair back flippantly, which was comical since her hair barely reached her shoulders. “And besides, a woman as beautiful as me couldn’t be seen in a dump like that. Now stop drooling all over my car and get in.”
“Vanity is a sin,” Kagome snorted going around the small convertible and entering the passenger’s side.
“I can’t help that I’m sinfully delightful.” She gave a haughty laugh and threw the gear into drive. “Buckle up darling, this bitch has a lot more kick than The Tank.” Suki stamped on the accelerator.
Kagome choked on a scream as the car tore down the street, the wind whipping her head back into the cushion of the head rest as the car reached sixty miles per hour in about five seconds flat. Scrambling to put on her seatbelt, Kagome squeezed her eyes shut as she wove in and out of lanes, dodging slow moving cars at any cost, including their lives. “This baby has enough torque for six cars,” Suki squealed applying more pressure to the gas pedal, her head tilted to the left to allow the passing wind to violently sift through her hair.
“Are you purposefully trying to kill us!” Kagome yelled overtop of the thrashing airstreams, her grip knuckle white on the door handle.
“Oh Kag, you gotta learn to live a-GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY!” Suki angrily banged, not honked, the horn at the poor old man who had been foolish enough to pull in front of the psychotic driver.
“Stupid old mother….FUCK!” A blue minivan to the right and a charcoal Maxima to the left boxed them in, effectively preventing them from shifting lanes. “I don’t believe this shit!”
Seeing a red light coming up, Kagome silently thanked the gods for the small blessing.
Suki begrudgingly brought the car to a rolling halt. “I don’t think people over the age of sixty should be allowed on the…this light is taking fucking forever.”
“Patience is a virtue.”
“One that I don’t have.” Realizing they weren’t going anywhere anytime soon, Suki clicked her tongue and sat back in the chair, her expression thoughtful as she looked over at the younger woman. “So how’ve you been kiddo?”
Kagome rolled her eyes. “Would you stop referring to me as if I’m a child? I’m 19 years old.”
“And still a baby is so many ways.” Smiling, she pinched her cheek. “Stay naive and innocent sweetie. It suits you. I suppose that is why Hiten is so taken by you.” Suki jabbed her side suggestively and winked.
Cheeks heating up, Kagome averted her gaze to the intersection. “The light’s green.”
The other woman immediately snapped forward, her attention focused on the motionless car in front of her. “Come on you old fart! What shade of fucking green are you waiting for!”
Whimpering slightly, Kagome clung to the door handle as Suki speedily merged into the left lane and put the pedal to the metal, just narrowly missing a fender bender from an oncoming car as the car shot off like a rocket. She stuck her middle finger out the window at the car beeping at them from behind. “From now on, pick me up in The Tank. You and this car are a dangerous combination.”
“Don’t try and change the subject on me girlie.” A sharp left threw Kagome into the door. Suki, however, remained unperturbed and upright. “Your birthday is coming up in a few, right? I’m going to drop a subtle hint to the big bossman. My guess is that he’ll probably plan something romantic for just the two of you and then propose.” With a hand over her heart and the back of the other over her eyes, she gave a heavenly sigh. “It’s almost too good to be true.”
“Suki! Watch the road!” Kagome dove for the wheel just in case the car veered into another lane.
“Kag, you worry too much,” she said but reluctantly decided to be a driver again and put her hands back on the wheel. “Seriously you’re always on edge babe. That’s a sign that you haven’t got any in a while. But don’t sweat it. Hiten is going to change all that, even if I have to chain that fine, naked ass to the bed while you have your with him.”
Kagome blanched at the prospect, because it wasn’t a naked Hiten who her imagination spurred to mind in a split second of wayward imagery, but a certain white haired individual stretched taut over satin sheets, his long, lean build housing a magnificent display of muscles. ‘Oh gods,’ she inwardly groaned, flames engulfing her face, ‘I did not just think that. What the hell is wrong with me? Why can’t I get him out of my head?’
Taking her colored countenance for proof, Suki smirked and smacked the dashboard. “I knew it! You may deny it, but I know what the deal is. The sooner you accept your feelings for him, the sooner you can fuck the man.”
Kagome winced at her choice words. “Must you always be so crude?”
“Must you always be a prude?” Suki retorted with a grin and ruffled her hair to show she was kidding, but her playful demeanor soon faded into annoyance. “Ah hell, I knew I should’ve picked you up earlier.”
Kagome’s eyes widened slightly as they entered the already full parking lot. Although the club didn’t officially open until 8:30, a line of waiting party goers as far as the eye could see continued down past the building and wrapped around the corner. “Why do I have the sneaking suspicion that this is going to be a long night?” she sighed.
“At least we’ll be making a shitload of money while at it.” It took five minutes of to maneuver around the procession of cars waiting to be guided to a space by the parking attendant to enter the private sector of the lot where parking was limited to employees only, a great move on Hiten’s part considering the influx of people during the weekends.
After flashing her ID to the guard stationed at the gate and entering the lot, Suki pulled into her regular spot in the front and cut the engine. “Hn, fuckface is working here tonight as well,” she announced as they got out and shot a withering glare at the silver Mercedes parked a few cars down to her right.
Rolling her eyes, Kagome slung the duffel bag over her shoulder and closed the door. She did not have the patience or energy to put up with Mizuki’s bullshit. “I hope she has enough sense to stay out of my way tonight or I won’t be held accountable for my actions.”
“I must concur,” Suki agreed activating the security device. “But enough of this foul talk,” she waved a hand as if clearing the air of their unpleasant words and sentiments, “lets go join the crew and make this money.”
They greeted the bouncers at the back entrance, clocked in, and then made their way to the dressing room. This was the part of the night that Kagome least liked. Not only did they as dancers have to keep in shape and perform in the shows, but also had to do a couple of hours of waitressing. It wasn’t mandatory of all dancers, but for those who wanted to make a couple of extra bucks. And for Kagome a couple of extra bucks could do no harm.
“Suki, Kagome, what’s up?” Momiji smiled as they dropped their things at their stations.
“Have you seen her new ride?” Kagome asked setting her bag down on the chair.
The woman stifled a groan. “Have I. She gave me a ride in it this morning. Almost pissed in my pants. Trust me when I say I won’t go near that thing again, well with her behind the wheel anyway.”
“Hey bitch if you don’t like, you don’t have to step a foot in it,” Suki sniffed dumping the contents of her bag over the vanity table. “But don’t come asking me to drop Lin off at the daycare anymore since my car isn’t good enough for you.”
“Who said anything about the car?” Momiji inquired strapping on her stilettos.
“I’m inclined to agree,” Kagome admitted giving an apologetic smile to the shorter woman.
“Whoever gave you a license should be fired, asap.”
“Who said I had a license?” Suki cocked an eyebrow smugly.
Kagome watched as Momiji opened her mouth, no doubt to come back with another retort, but stopped, her lips closing and forming a grin. “Um, Kag, I think somebody wants you.”
Noticing the lack of activity in the room, her heart skipped a beat as she turned around. Something akin to disappointment rose and fell as she turned to face Hiten. Kagome shook the feeling off and offered a shaky smile. “Hey Hiten.”
He flashed a dazzling smile, taking away the breath of several women in the room.
“Kagome, can I have a word with you in my office before you start your shift?”
A frown furrowed between her brows. “Is something wrong?”
“Oh it’s nothing serious. I just need to talk to you. Swing by when you get a chance.”
“I can go now since my shift doesn’t officially start for another fifteen minutes,” she shrugged.
He shot her another brilliant smile. “Then let’s be on our way.”
Zipping her bag back up, she tossed it on the dresser and followed her boss out of the dressing room, completely oblivious to the contemptuous glares and stares from her fellow dance mates.
“I can’t believe that little tramp,” someone spat once Kagome had left the room.
“I know.”
“And did you see how he was openly flirting with-“
“Talk about sleeping your way to the top-“
“I bet she’s sleeping with his brother-“
“Hey, all of you shut the fuck up!”
Silence fell over the room, all eyes on the short woman with the fire burning in her eyes. “If I hear one bad word spoken about Kagome and I do mean one or if I even think you’re speaking about her, I’m going to personally break each and every one of your fucking fingers and rip out your tongue, capisce?” Suki barked, her eyes challenging someone to defy her.
Fervent nods followed the threat.
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“So what did you want to see me about?” Kagome asked folding her legs underneath her comfortably on his plush chair behind the desk and casually observed the layout of the oval office. She had always loved his flare for taste. The decorum went for casual with an eclectic edge. The room was a mix of tan, grays, and reds, complimenting colors that enhanced the aesthetic properties of the office.
Eight foot mahogany double doors stood at the entrance with a giant stone fireplace adjacent to them, tall bookshelves doubling as a haven bowls of refreshing potpourri, tan couches on either side of the room along with small pedestal tables accompanying each, a series of miniature chandeliers aligned on the lofty ceiling, a gray-red Rosetta stoned mini bar across from the fireplace and his black, marble desk sitting towards the back. The office was a stark contrast to the theme of his club and a revitalizing deviation that Kagome had no qualms after being in the dungeon for hours.
Hiten strode to his mini bar and poured himself a glass of brandy. “Can I get you something to drink? Scotch? Vodka? Apple juice?”
She raised a brow, a light smile turning up the corners of her mouth. “And why, may I ask, do you have apple juice in a club known for its exploitation of liquor?”
“Well,” he began pouring a tawny-colored liquid into a glass, “it just so happens that I have one very important person close to me that dislikes the taste alcohol.” Hiten gathered both glasses in his hands and walked over to where she sat. “And I know her favorite drink happens to be apple juice, so I always make sure I have some in stock.”
“You know me well,” Kagome grinned gratefully taking the glass of juice. The tawny colored liquid struck a chord within her. Pursing her lips together, she tried to recall why she was reacting to the color of the juice. Something curled in her stomach as she remembered eyes the same shade, his shade, their depths shining with a sort of harnessed fervor that made her blood heat. ‘Stop it. Stop thinking about him,’ she mentally chastised and downed its contents without another moment’s hesitation, allowing the sweet nectar to cascade past the dry walls of her throat. “So what’s up?”
Leaning against the edge of the desk, Hiten finished his drink in one gulp and set the glass down beside him, his gaze refocusing on her, his eyes now absent of everything save but concern. “Have you been feeling alright the last couple of days?”
Not knowing where he was going with this, Kagome cocked her head to the side in question. “What do you mean? Has something been off performance wise, because if so-“
“No, no, no, your moves are still as flawless and graceful as ever.” Lowering himself to the floor on one knee so that they were eye level, Hiten took her hands, worry etched into his features. “I’m talking about that distracted look in your eyes, like you’re not entirely here at times.”
Kagome squirmed in the chair, uncomfortable with the matter at hand as well as his proximity, all too aware of the heat emanating from his large, protective hands. She gulped.
“Um, why do you ask? Have there been complaints?”
“No, you’re still at 100 percent customer satisfaction, but I’m worried about you. You don’t…” he hesitated, fishing for the right words, “you haven’t been yourself as of late.” He held up a hand to quiet her before she could speak. “And don’t try and deny it because I can see it in your face when you’re both offstage and onstage.”
‘Great, he has distracted me from my study time and now my job.’ Careful to not reveal her bitter thoughts from displaying outwardly, she settled for looking at her lap. “I’ve been really stressed out with balancing work and studying for all these upcoming tests that are going to given back to back.”
“Are you sure that’s the problem?” Flinching slightly as he touched the side of her face, she lifted gaze and met quizzical teal eyes. “Your family isn’t back yet, are they?”
“No, not yet,” she answered softy. “But they should return in the next couple of weeks.”
Hiten nodded. “If you ever need anything, you know where to find me. I’d be more than happy to make adjustments to your schedule or go pick up some groceries for you.” He smiled, her laugh that of chiming of crystal bells.
“You’d seriously go out and buy groceries for me, not one of your hundreds of maids and butlers,” Kagome teased and prodded his arm, knowing full well of the arsenal of hired help he had doing his everyday chores upon visiting his manor.
“Seriously, I would. Just give the order and I’m gone.”
“That’s really sweet of you, but no thanks,” she smiled gratefully.
Hiten sighed. “Sometimes you’re too stubborn for your own good, you know that?”
“I am what I am.” She glanced down at her watch and felt a ping of sadness when she saw that her time with him was being cut short because of her job. “I’ve got to go. I don’t feel like hearing Hisa’s bitching about me being two minutes late.”
“Is she giving you trouble? Because if she is, let me now and I’ll fire her faster than you can say-”
“No, no that’s ok,” Kagome said quickly. She did not need to hear anymore shit from the girls about how she was Hiten’s little pet, or worst, his whore. “I’d better get going.”
Unfolding her semi-numb legs, she stretched and reluctantly stood from the cushy recliner, missing its warmth already. “Thanks for the apple juice. I’ll see you around.”
“Kagome.” Feeling a hand take her by the wrist, she turned back around to face her now standing boss.
“Yeah?”
She blinked when strong arms encircled her waist and pulled her into a firm chest. Relaxing in his protective embrace, Kagome wound her arms around his neck and nestled her face on top of his shoulder. “Stay strong, beautiful,” Hiten breathed into her hair.
Her throat tightened. Willing herself not to cry, she turned her head to the side. And that’s when she saw her. Mizuki stared through the window, onyx orbs burning with hatred and jealousy, lips curled and teeth bared. Unease coiling in her gut, Kagome averted her gaze and extracted herself from his comforting hold half-heartedly. “Thank you Hiten, for everything.” She hoped her smile reached her eyes.
The frown forming on his face told her that it didn’t. “What’s wrong? Why are you so pale all of a sudden?”
“Bye Hiten. I’ll see you later.” Spinning out of the range of his grasp, she practically ran for the door. Mizuki was nowhere to be found when she exited his office, the hallway empty save for the two bouncers posted on either side of the door. Ignoring the crawling of her skin as she swiftly walked back to the empty dressing room, Kagome changed into her waitress uniform in record time and left for the main room. She could only hope that tonight went down without a hitch.
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“Thanks for the ride Momiji.” Kagome yawned, shifting the bag to her other shoulder.
“No problem girl. Even though this isn’t as fast or as pretty as Suki’s Spyder, my baby gets the job done.” She laid a loud, juicy-sounding kiss atop of the steering wheel. “I’ll see you later hon.”
Kagome waved and watched as the little green Acura sped down the street. Chest heaving from exhaustion, she began to make the treacherous hike up the shrine stairs. “As soon as I make enough money, I’m installing an escalator,” she muttered glaring at the seemingly endless troupe of concrete steps. Usually she would’ve been able to run up the stairs in ten seconds flat, but after a laborious night of waitressing, dancing, grinding, etc. she was officially worn out. “Ugh, I’d kill for a-“
Clink. Clink. Clink. Clink.
Kagome fell silent as an empty can of spray paint rolled past her, the loud, almost crude bouncing of the aluminum can unremittingly breaking the silent night air. Every nerve in her body on edge, she slowly finished the last few steps leading to the house.
Breath hitching in her chest, Kagome let out a small, indefinable sound, the duffel bag dropping to ground. The florescent light of the full moon highlighted the destruction to the teeth, allowing her to see the full extent of damage. To say the shrine was desecrated would be putting it lightly. ‘Oh my god.’ She lifted a shaky hand to her mouth. Each and every window of the house was shattered, the shutters ripped from their hinges, the door lying in a splintered heap by the threshold, toilet paper littered the grounds, decorated the trees, the house. But what was even more despicable than despoiling holy grounds that had been passed down through the generations, were the ugly, derisive words spray painted in red over the panels of the house, words that mocked the holy place to such a degree that made her sick to her stomach.
Smoldering bile clawed its way up into the back of her throat. Legs feeling like they weighed several hundred pounds, Kagome stiffly approached the place that was her home. ‘How could somebody do something like this? Why would anyone want to do this?’ Angry tears clouded blue-gray eyes, her hands trembling, as she stepped onto the porch, the only thing that remained unscathed.
Her heart lurched painfully as Kagome walked past the threshold. The interior looked no better than the outside. There were more sordid red writings on the walls, leading up the stairs and into the kitchen. Tables lay overturned, curtains slashed, floor littered with broken pieces of china, trash, shattered vases, ripped pictures. Nothing was left intact. Kagome collapsed numbly to her knees and allowed the free flowing tears to run down her face. The indistinct objects swimming in her vision was better than witnessing the chaotic shambles that was left of her family’s life.
Kagome nearly jumped out of her skin at the loud crash to her left and scurried to the far wall of the kitchen. All was silent once more, the only audible sound being the loud, pounding of her heart in her ears. ‘What if the people who did this are still in the house?’
Back pressed to the wall beside the counter, Kagome blindly searched amongst the debris around her to find anything she could use as a weapon. She glanced down as her hand found a balled envelope. ‘Great. What am I going to do with this? Throw it at them and run away?’ Just as she tossed it over her shoulder, it hit her.
‘Yash.’ Hesitation kept her from picking it up. Did she really want to renege and eat her own words? A clatter coming from the dining room had Kagome jumping and unballing the paper.
She glanced up. Thankfully the kitchen phone had been spared and was still in one piece on the dispenser. Kagome hastily snatched the cordless phone and returned to the floor. Swallowing a mouthful of pride, she punched in the numbers as best she could with shaking fingers and held the phone to her ear.
AN: Strange place to end, I know. Sorry for taking such a long time to update, but I don't have much time to do much of anything besides work, work, and work. Let me just say I hate waitressing even more than I hate studying.Enjoy the good life kiddies. :curse parents for not being rich enough: Anyway, thank you all for the wonderful reviews, as I have read each and every one of them, including those cursing me out for not updating sooner. This is the unedited version so forgive the typos and such since my betas haven't had time to edit on such short notice. The next chapter of this or Til Death will be up by next weekend depending on my work schedule. Until next time people. Ciao!
Title: As Deemed By Fate
Rating: R (for obscene profanity usage, content, and some limey situations)
Pairing: Kik/Inu/Kag
Summary: AU. Man is incomplete until he marries. Inuyasha believes his fiancée Kikyo will make him whole, or did until he met Kagome, an avid exotic dancer that instantly complicates things. Temptation has never been so hard to resist.
Chapter Six: Disruption
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Disruption
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True to his word, Yash hadn’t returned after their falling out, not that Kagome cared or anything. She didn’t need him, his arrogance, or his so-called help. Her life was hectic enough without some chauvinistic businessman infringing upon her carefully planned routine. And besides, she was a grown woman. She didn’t need a babysitter to come and look after her and make sure that she was ok. The crime in her parts was not outstanding that it would warrant such course of action. So what was the real reason behind giving her his number?
‘Oh yeah, because he didn’t want to be held accountable for anything bad that could happen to me,’ she mentally scoffed, but the mental rationalization did nothing to shake the guilt she felt within.
For the thousandth time in the past three days, Kagome looked up from her Biology text to stare at the phone. It would take all of thirty seconds to call him up and apologize for her stubbornness and thank him for caring about her welfare, even if she didn’t take him up on his offer. Her hand twitched. All she had to do was walk downstairs, get the envelope out of the trash, and call his cell, and then maybe she would be able to do get some actual work done.
‘No! I will not apologize. I didn’t even do anything.’ Kagome forced her eyes to focus on the endless stream of words that continued to move about in a jumble on the page like alphabets floating in a sea of white soup. Her fingers drummed impatiently when the mélange of black letters refused to unscramble. Blowing the irritating bangs that insisted on poking her in the eyes, Kagome’s gaze landed on the phone for the umpteenth time.
“Ugh,” she slammed both the book shut and her mental deliberation, thoroughly disgusted that her train of thought was revolving around that egomaniac when she had a major test in less than 18 hours. “There is no way I’m going to get through the test at this rate.” With one hand, she pulled off the scrunchie that bound her hair in a high ponytail and let out a relieved sigh as cascading obsidian locks spilled down her back. Rolling her shoulders to relieve them of their stiffness, Kagome glanced at the clock hanging on her wall. It was a quarter until 8.
Soon she would have to leave for work. ‘Wonderful, I’ve been studying for the past three hours and am still on the same chapter I had been on when I started. Only five more chapters to go.’
Sighing, Kagome pushed her chair away from the desk, stood, and stretched, allowing her cramped muscles much needed liberation. She so did not feel like going to work tonight, especially with a test that counted twenty percent of her overall grade on the line. But the money she would get added to the three day’s worth of tips from last week under her bed would be able to cover the electric bill due this week.
The soft rumbling of her stomach broke through Kagome’s thoughts, reminding her that she hadn’t had a meal since breakfast. “Calm down,” she rubbed her grumbling abdomen sympathetically, “food is on its way.” Seemingly satisfied with this tidbit of information, the growling subdued. ‘That is, if there’s anything left. With everything that’s going, I haven’t had time to shop, let alone eat.’
Running a tired hand over her face, Kagome padded barefoot to the wall and flicked off the light. “What I wouldn’t do for a cheeseburger right now,” she grumbled heading into the hall, but stopped, her eyes meeting the empty room across from her own.
A thread of loneliness wrapped around her heart as she surveyed her little brother’s room, clean (dirty?) articles of clothing mingled with video games and mismatched shoes were still strewn over the carpeted floor like they had been a month earlier. His bed was still unmade, most of the cover laying a heap on the floor. All of the drawers to his dresser were wide open, more clothes dangling over the side. She hadn’t had the heart to clean up his pig sty of a room for in some way it felt as though he’d never left, as though they never left.
The thought guided her steps to the other two rooms on either side of the steps that led downstairs. Her grandfather’s room was as messy, if not more than Souta’s, with laying in a tangled heap at the foot of the bed, scrolls, ofudas, books on demons and purifications and other miscellaneous item littered the room. Kagome didn’t know where the junk stopped and the floor began. She shook her head with a light smile, nostalgia yielding memories of when she was a schoolgirl and having every boy she had over chased away by a crazed old man waving ofudas and accusing them of being demons.
The small smile wilted before fading completely as Kagome turned to her mother’s room, impeccable as ever. Everything was in their rightful place. The queen sized western style bed was made neatly, each pillow fluffed and situated in complimentary positions near the head.
The sweet, floral scent that was her mother still emanated from the room, an invisible reminder of her presence, of who she was, of her gentle nature. Her throat tightening,
Kagome looked away unable to handle the flood of overwhelming emotions the room evoked. She hated being helpless. Helpless to do anything about her mother’s well-being, helpless to stop her pain, helpless to do nothing but sit back and watch her mother fade away.
The blaring of a honking car horn jolted Kagome back to the present. Wiping away the scattered tears that had formed during the poignant interlude, she glanced down to her watch and cursed. Suki was here to pick her up already. “I guess that meal will have to wait,” she said apologetically to her stomach.
Jogging back to her room, she quickly retrieved her black duffel bag from her closet, made sure everything she needed was inside, and grabbed her keys from the desk before departing. Kagome rolled her eyes at the incessant honking as she locked the front door. “Ok Suki, I’m coming.” Pocketing the keys and tying her hair up in a sloppy bun, she made her way to the top of the shrine steps and almost fell over at sight of an expensive convertible with the top down parked at the curb instead of an old Buick that could barely start up.
Suki stopped with the horn and leaned over the side of the silver 2004 Toyota MR2 Spyder, a grin as bright and wide as the sun itself. “Like my new wheels?”
Kagome’s stupefied daze lifting, she ran down the stairs in record time, her grin mirroring the other woman’s. “What happened to The Tank?”
“That piece of shit? I got rid of it. With all the good tips I’ve been getting since I’ve started, I can afford to be wasteful with my money.” She tossed her hair back flippantly, which was comical since her hair barely reached her shoulders. “And besides, a woman as beautiful as me couldn’t be seen in a dump like that. Now stop drooling all over my car and get in.”
“Vanity is a sin,” Kagome snorted going around the small convertible and entering the passenger’s side.
“I can’t help that I’m sinfully delightful.” She gave a haughty laugh and threw the gear into drive. “Buckle up darling, this bitch has a lot more kick than The Tank.” Suki stamped on the accelerator.
Kagome choked on a scream as the car tore down the street, the wind whipping her head back into the cushion of the head rest as the car reached sixty miles per hour in about five seconds flat. Scrambling to put on her seatbelt, Kagome squeezed her eyes shut as she wove in and out of lanes, dodging slow moving cars at any cost, including their lives. “This baby has enough torque for six cars,” Suki squealed applying more pressure to the gas pedal, her head tilted to the left to allow the passing wind to violently sift through her hair.
“Are you purposefully trying to kill us!” Kagome yelled overtop of the thrashing airstreams, her grip knuckle white on the door handle.
“Oh Kag, you gotta learn to live a-GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY!” Suki angrily banged, not honked, the horn at the poor old man who had been foolish enough to pull in front of the psychotic driver.
“Stupid old mother….FUCK!” A blue minivan to the right and a charcoal Maxima to the left boxed them in, effectively preventing them from shifting lanes. “I don’t believe this shit!”
Seeing a red light coming up, Kagome silently thanked the gods for the small blessing.
Suki begrudgingly brought the car to a rolling halt. “I don’t think people over the age of sixty should be allowed on the…this light is taking fucking forever.”
“Patience is a virtue.”
“One that I don’t have.” Realizing they weren’t going anywhere anytime soon, Suki clicked her tongue and sat back in the chair, her expression thoughtful as she looked over at the younger woman. “So how’ve you been kiddo?”
Kagome rolled her eyes. “Would you stop referring to me as if I’m a child? I’m 19 years old.”
“And still a baby is so many ways.” Smiling, she pinched her cheek. “Stay naive and innocent sweetie. It suits you. I suppose that is why Hiten is so taken by you.” Suki jabbed her side suggestively and winked.
Cheeks heating up, Kagome averted her gaze to the intersection. “The light’s green.”
The other woman immediately snapped forward, her attention focused on the motionless car in front of her. “Come on you old fart! What shade of fucking green are you waiting for!”
Whimpering slightly, Kagome clung to the door handle as Suki speedily merged into the left lane and put the pedal to the metal, just narrowly missing a fender bender from an oncoming car as the car shot off like a rocket. She stuck her middle finger out the window at the car beeping at them from behind. “From now on, pick me up in The Tank. You and this car are a dangerous combination.”
“Don’t try and change the subject on me girlie.” A sharp left threw Kagome into the door. Suki, however, remained unperturbed and upright. “Your birthday is coming up in a few, right? I’m going to drop a subtle hint to the big bossman. My guess is that he’ll probably plan something romantic for just the two of you and then propose.” With a hand over her heart and the back of the other over her eyes, she gave a heavenly sigh. “It’s almost too good to be true.”
“Suki! Watch the road!” Kagome dove for the wheel just in case the car veered into another lane.
“Kag, you worry too much,” she said but reluctantly decided to be a driver again and put her hands back on the wheel. “Seriously you’re always on edge babe. That’s a sign that you haven’t got any in a while. But don’t sweat it. Hiten is going to change all that, even if I have to chain that fine, naked ass to the bed while you have your with him.”
Kagome blanched at the prospect, because it wasn’t a naked Hiten who her imagination spurred to mind in a split second of wayward imagery, but a certain white haired individual stretched taut over satin sheets, his long, lean build housing a magnificent display of muscles. ‘Oh gods,’ she inwardly groaned, flames engulfing her face, ‘I did not just think that. What the hell is wrong with me? Why can’t I get him out of my head?’
Taking her colored countenance for proof, Suki smirked and smacked the dashboard. “I knew it! You may deny it, but I know what the deal is. The sooner you accept your feelings for him, the sooner you can fuck the man.”
Kagome winced at her choice words. “Must you always be so crude?”
“Must you always be a prude?” Suki retorted with a grin and ruffled her hair to show she was kidding, but her playful demeanor soon faded into annoyance. “Ah hell, I knew I should’ve picked you up earlier.”
Kagome’s eyes widened slightly as they entered the already full parking lot. Although the club didn’t officially open until 8:30, a line of waiting party goers as far as the eye could see continued down past the building and wrapped around the corner. “Why do I have the sneaking suspicion that this is going to be a long night?” she sighed.
“At least we’ll be making a shitload of money while at it.” It took five minutes of to maneuver around the procession of cars waiting to be guided to a space by the parking attendant to enter the private sector of the lot where parking was limited to employees only, a great move on Hiten’s part considering the influx of people during the weekends.
After flashing her ID to the guard stationed at the gate and entering the lot, Suki pulled into her regular spot in the front and cut the engine. “Hn, fuckface is working here tonight as well,” she announced as they got out and shot a withering glare at the silver Mercedes parked a few cars down to her right.
Rolling her eyes, Kagome slung the duffel bag over her shoulder and closed the door. She did not have the patience or energy to put up with Mizuki’s bullshit. “I hope she has enough sense to stay out of my way tonight or I won’t be held accountable for my actions.”
“I must concur,” Suki agreed activating the security device. “But enough of this foul talk,” she waved a hand as if clearing the air of their unpleasant words and sentiments, “lets go join the crew and make this money.”
They greeted the bouncers at the back entrance, clocked in, and then made their way to the dressing room. This was the part of the night that Kagome least liked. Not only did they as dancers have to keep in shape and perform in the shows, but also had to do a couple of hours of waitressing. It wasn’t mandatory of all dancers, but for those who wanted to make a couple of extra bucks. And for Kagome a couple of extra bucks could do no harm.
“Suki, Kagome, what’s up?” Momiji smiled as they dropped their things at their stations.
“Have you seen her new ride?” Kagome asked setting her bag down on the chair.
The woman stifled a groan. “Have I. She gave me a ride in it this morning. Almost pissed in my pants. Trust me when I say I won’t go near that thing again, well with her behind the wheel anyway.”
“Hey bitch if you don’t like, you don’t have to step a foot in it,” Suki sniffed dumping the contents of her bag over the vanity table. “But don’t come asking me to drop Lin off at the daycare anymore since my car isn’t good enough for you.”
“Who said anything about the car?” Momiji inquired strapping on her stilettos.
“I’m inclined to agree,” Kagome admitted giving an apologetic smile to the shorter woman.
“Whoever gave you a license should be fired, asap.”
“Who said I had a license?” Suki cocked an eyebrow smugly.
Kagome watched as Momiji opened her mouth, no doubt to come back with another retort, but stopped, her lips closing and forming a grin. “Um, Kag, I think somebody wants you.”
Noticing the lack of activity in the room, her heart skipped a beat as she turned around. Something akin to disappointment rose and fell as she turned to face Hiten. Kagome shook the feeling off and offered a shaky smile. “Hey Hiten.”
He flashed a dazzling smile, taking away the breath of several women in the room.
“Kagome, can I have a word with you in my office before you start your shift?”
A frown furrowed between her brows. “Is something wrong?”
“Oh it’s nothing serious. I just need to talk to you. Swing by when you get a chance.”
“I can go now since my shift doesn’t officially start for another fifteen minutes,” she shrugged.
He shot her another brilliant smile. “Then let’s be on our way.”
Zipping her bag back up, she tossed it on the dresser and followed her boss out of the dressing room, completely oblivious to the contemptuous glares and stares from her fellow dance mates.
“I can’t believe that little tramp,” someone spat once Kagome had left the room.
“I know.”
“And did you see how he was openly flirting with-“
“Talk about sleeping your way to the top-“
“I bet she’s sleeping with his brother-“
“Hey, all of you shut the fuck up!”
Silence fell over the room, all eyes on the short woman with the fire burning in her eyes. “If I hear one bad word spoken about Kagome and I do mean one or if I even think you’re speaking about her, I’m going to personally break each and every one of your fucking fingers and rip out your tongue, capisce?” Suki barked, her eyes challenging someone to defy her.
Fervent nods followed the threat.
.
.
.
“So what did you want to see me about?” Kagome asked folding her legs underneath her comfortably on his plush chair behind the desk and casually observed the layout of the oval office. She had always loved his flare for taste. The decorum went for casual with an eclectic edge. The room was a mix of tan, grays, and reds, complimenting colors that enhanced the aesthetic properties of the office.
Eight foot mahogany double doors stood at the entrance with a giant stone fireplace adjacent to them, tall bookshelves doubling as a haven bowls of refreshing potpourri, tan couches on either side of the room along with small pedestal tables accompanying each, a series of miniature chandeliers aligned on the lofty ceiling, a gray-red Rosetta stoned mini bar across from the fireplace and his black, marble desk sitting towards the back. The office was a stark contrast to the theme of his club and a revitalizing deviation that Kagome had no qualms after being in the dungeon for hours.
Hiten strode to his mini bar and poured himself a glass of brandy. “Can I get you something to drink? Scotch? Vodka? Apple juice?”
She raised a brow, a light smile turning up the corners of her mouth. “And why, may I ask, do you have apple juice in a club known for its exploitation of liquor?”
“Well,” he began pouring a tawny-colored liquid into a glass, “it just so happens that I have one very important person close to me that dislikes the taste alcohol.” Hiten gathered both glasses in his hands and walked over to where she sat. “And I know her favorite drink happens to be apple juice, so I always make sure I have some in stock.”
“You know me well,” Kagome grinned gratefully taking the glass of juice. The tawny colored liquid struck a chord within her. Pursing her lips together, she tried to recall why she was reacting to the color of the juice. Something curled in her stomach as she remembered eyes the same shade, his shade, their depths shining with a sort of harnessed fervor that made her blood heat. ‘Stop it. Stop thinking about him,’ she mentally chastised and downed its contents without another moment’s hesitation, allowing the sweet nectar to cascade past the dry walls of her throat. “So what’s up?”
Leaning against the edge of the desk, Hiten finished his drink in one gulp and set the glass down beside him, his gaze refocusing on her, his eyes now absent of everything save but concern. “Have you been feeling alright the last couple of days?”
Not knowing where he was going with this, Kagome cocked her head to the side in question. “What do you mean? Has something been off performance wise, because if so-“
“No, no, no, your moves are still as flawless and graceful as ever.” Lowering himself to the floor on one knee so that they were eye level, Hiten took her hands, worry etched into his features. “I’m talking about that distracted look in your eyes, like you’re not entirely here at times.”
Kagome squirmed in the chair, uncomfortable with the matter at hand as well as his proximity, all too aware of the heat emanating from his large, protective hands. She gulped.
“Um, why do you ask? Have there been complaints?”
“No, you’re still at 100 percent customer satisfaction, but I’m worried about you. You don’t…” he hesitated, fishing for the right words, “you haven’t been yourself as of late.” He held up a hand to quiet her before she could speak. “And don’t try and deny it because I can see it in your face when you’re both offstage and onstage.”
‘Great, he has distracted me from my study time and now my job.’ Careful to not reveal her bitter thoughts from displaying outwardly, she settled for looking at her lap. “I’ve been really stressed out with balancing work and studying for all these upcoming tests that are going to given back to back.”
“Are you sure that’s the problem?” Flinching slightly as he touched the side of her face, she lifted gaze and met quizzical teal eyes. “Your family isn’t back yet, are they?”
“No, not yet,” she answered softy. “But they should return in the next couple of weeks.”
Hiten nodded. “If you ever need anything, you know where to find me. I’d be more than happy to make adjustments to your schedule or go pick up some groceries for you.” He smiled, her laugh that of chiming of crystal bells.
“You’d seriously go out and buy groceries for me, not one of your hundreds of maids and butlers,” Kagome teased and prodded his arm, knowing full well of the arsenal of hired help he had doing his everyday chores upon visiting his manor.
“Seriously, I would. Just give the order and I’m gone.”
“That’s really sweet of you, but no thanks,” she smiled gratefully.
Hiten sighed. “Sometimes you’re too stubborn for your own good, you know that?”
“I am what I am.” She glanced down at her watch and felt a ping of sadness when she saw that her time with him was being cut short because of her job. “I’ve got to go. I don’t feel like hearing Hisa’s bitching about me being two minutes late.”
“Is she giving you trouble? Because if she is, let me now and I’ll fire her faster than you can say-”
“No, no that’s ok,” Kagome said quickly. She did not need to hear anymore shit from the girls about how she was Hiten’s little pet, or worst, his whore. “I’d better get going.”
Unfolding her semi-numb legs, she stretched and reluctantly stood from the cushy recliner, missing its warmth already. “Thanks for the apple juice. I’ll see you around.”
“Kagome.” Feeling a hand take her by the wrist, she turned back around to face her now standing boss.
“Yeah?”
She blinked when strong arms encircled her waist and pulled her into a firm chest. Relaxing in his protective embrace, Kagome wound her arms around his neck and nestled her face on top of his shoulder. “Stay strong, beautiful,” Hiten breathed into her hair.
Her throat tightened. Willing herself not to cry, she turned her head to the side. And that’s when she saw her. Mizuki stared through the window, onyx orbs burning with hatred and jealousy, lips curled and teeth bared. Unease coiling in her gut, Kagome averted her gaze and extracted herself from his comforting hold half-heartedly. “Thank you Hiten, for everything.” She hoped her smile reached her eyes.
The frown forming on his face told her that it didn’t. “What’s wrong? Why are you so pale all of a sudden?”
“Bye Hiten. I’ll see you later.” Spinning out of the range of his grasp, she practically ran for the door. Mizuki was nowhere to be found when she exited his office, the hallway empty save for the two bouncers posted on either side of the door. Ignoring the crawling of her skin as she swiftly walked back to the empty dressing room, Kagome changed into her waitress uniform in record time and left for the main room. She could only hope that tonight went down without a hitch.
.
.
.
“Thanks for the ride Momiji.” Kagome yawned, shifting the bag to her other shoulder.
“No problem girl. Even though this isn’t as fast or as pretty as Suki’s Spyder, my baby gets the job done.” She laid a loud, juicy-sounding kiss atop of the steering wheel. “I’ll see you later hon.”
Kagome waved and watched as the little green Acura sped down the street. Chest heaving from exhaustion, she began to make the treacherous hike up the shrine stairs. “As soon as I make enough money, I’m installing an escalator,” she muttered glaring at the seemingly endless troupe of concrete steps. Usually she would’ve been able to run up the stairs in ten seconds flat, but after a laborious night of waitressing, dancing, grinding, etc. she was officially worn out. “Ugh, I’d kill for a-“
Clink. Clink. Clink. Clink.
Kagome fell silent as an empty can of spray paint rolled past her, the loud, almost crude bouncing of the aluminum can unremittingly breaking the silent night air. Every nerve in her body on edge, she slowly finished the last few steps leading to the house.
Breath hitching in her chest, Kagome let out a small, indefinable sound, the duffel bag dropping to ground. The florescent light of the full moon highlighted the destruction to the teeth, allowing her to see the full extent of damage. To say the shrine was desecrated would be putting it lightly. ‘Oh my god.’ She lifted a shaky hand to her mouth. Each and every window of the house was shattered, the shutters ripped from their hinges, the door lying in a splintered heap by the threshold, toilet paper littered the grounds, decorated the trees, the house. But what was even more despicable than despoiling holy grounds that had been passed down through the generations, were the ugly, derisive words spray painted in red over the panels of the house, words that mocked the holy place to such a degree that made her sick to her stomach.
Smoldering bile clawed its way up into the back of her throat. Legs feeling like they weighed several hundred pounds, Kagome stiffly approached the place that was her home. ‘How could somebody do something like this? Why would anyone want to do this?’ Angry tears clouded blue-gray eyes, her hands trembling, as she stepped onto the porch, the only thing that remained unscathed.
Her heart lurched painfully as Kagome walked past the threshold. The interior looked no better than the outside. There were more sordid red writings on the walls, leading up the stairs and into the kitchen. Tables lay overturned, curtains slashed, floor littered with broken pieces of china, trash, shattered vases, ripped pictures. Nothing was left intact. Kagome collapsed numbly to her knees and allowed the free flowing tears to run down her face. The indistinct objects swimming in her vision was better than witnessing the chaotic shambles that was left of her family’s life.
Kagome nearly jumped out of her skin at the loud crash to her left and scurried to the far wall of the kitchen. All was silent once more, the only audible sound being the loud, pounding of her heart in her ears. ‘What if the people who did this are still in the house?’
Back pressed to the wall beside the counter, Kagome blindly searched amongst the debris around her to find anything she could use as a weapon. She glanced down as her hand found a balled envelope. ‘Great. What am I going to do with this? Throw it at them and run away?’ Just as she tossed it over her shoulder, it hit her.
‘Yash.’ Hesitation kept her from picking it up. Did she really want to renege and eat her own words? A clatter coming from the dining room had Kagome jumping and unballing the paper.
She glanced up. Thankfully the kitchen phone had been spared and was still in one piece on the dispenser. Kagome hastily snatched the cordless phone and returned to the floor. Swallowing a mouthful of pride, she punched in the numbers as best she could with shaking fingers and held the phone to her ear.
AN: Strange place to end, I know. Sorry for taking such a long time to update, but I don't have much time to do much of anything besides work, work, and work. Let me just say I hate waitressing even more than I hate studying.Enjoy the good life kiddies. :curse parents for not being rich enough: Anyway, thank you all for the wonderful reviews, as I have read each and every one of them, including those cursing me out for not updating sooner. This is the unedited version so forgive the typos and such since my betas haven't had time to edit on such short notice. The next chapter of this or Til Death will be up by next weekend depending on my work schedule. Until next time people. Ciao!