InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Demon's Dance Floor ❯ Defiance ( Chapter 2 )

A/N~ *Huggles* Thanks a bunchies for the reviews, everyone-- And yeah, I was supposed to update 'Seasons' first. But I lied. =^.^=

I won't be answering any questions because as the story progresses, some of the questions will explain itself. So ask at the end. -^_^- Some pople say that this is too much like Beauty & the Beast, and some say it's not even remotely like it. But that they still love it. @_@ Exact comments I was hoping for.

Anyway, this story is a version of Beauty and the Beast, but I will not be following the plot closely--or the exact scenes. I've implemented my own ideas, and as you've noticed--in the first chapter, I go straight to the scene where Kagome is searching for her grandfather. Just trust that the things I add in my plot are there for a reason. Why else would I put it in there, right? Keep reading, reviewing, and find out more!

Chapter warnings ~ Long.. and confusing... ^_^ *pat pat* The wonderful things we authors do to you readers.

Demon's Dance Floor

Chapter Two

Defiance

The Sumizome castle was always dark. In the hallways lived shadows. In every nook, every corner--darkness. In fact, if it hadn't been for the fact that only a few handful of humans dwelled in that castle, Inuyasha would've never allowed even a spark of light to permeate through. He hated light. It always reminded him of the day his beloved miko had abruptly decided to turn on him. It was ironic how she chose the brightest day, the day when the sun was kind and warm. They would've been joined that day if it hadn't been for the miko's treacherous ways. Running a sharp clawed finger across the smooth surface of the miko's face, Inuyasha smiled darkly at the long, cruel scratch that he made across her pastel cheek.

The same mark he had made when he saw her in Naraku's arms. Even worse than that, she had also chosen to test him of his heart because of her own doubtful one. On a stormy and dark night, the miko, in disguise of a disfigured old woman, had appeared upon the castle's marble steps begging for shelter from the rain. Nursing a broken heart and a bruised ego, Inuyasha had turned the woman away. He didn't want anything to with women any longer--none. It turned out, however, that the old woman was in fact--Kikyo. Claiming that he had betrayed her, Kikyo placed a strong curse on him... one that hadn't been broken for nearly five hundred years.

Inuyasha slashed the other cheek.

He wasn't allowed to love anyone except for her. She had made sure of this by putting a death warrant on any bride's head should he decide to take one. Inuyasha hadn't particularly cared for this curse, but Kikyo hadn't stopped there. She left him the cursed Shikon no Tama, the sacred jewel of the four souls. In exactly one year from now--five hundred years from the time she cursed him--his soul would be lost to the jewel forever. Inuyasha would be doomed to live in immortality, and live in suffering--to feel the loneliness, the heartbreak, and the guilt of causing his friends' pain for all eternity. And she hadn't stopped there, either.

-- Because she hadn't cursed just him alone. Kikyo had cursed his friends, and left his servants alone so that no one could take care of him long after their death. New help was hard to find; they were either too frightened of him--or just didn't really care. He didn't have power over anything anymore. Not even his lands. Kikyo had made sure of it. Her anger was vast and swift, and Inuyasha watched helplessly as she threw away her common sense in order to punish him.

The one she loved most. It pained him, tore at him.

But the thing that pained him most was his friends' suffering. It pained him to watch his friends be cursed because of his own folly. Doomed to live an immortal life until the curse was over--if it was over, they had stayed by his side and asked for little in return. Five hundred long years.... Inuyasha narrowed his eyes into dark amber slits.

That would all change.

Because there was a loophole. There was always a loophole. The curse would broken if, and only if, Inuyasha managed to make Kikyo fall back in love with him... and have her accept him in bed. After what she had done to him, Inuyasha would've scoffed and sneered at the antidote for the curse. Except--he had figured out a way. He didn't have to bed Kikyo and make her love him. That would've been too hard. The miko was strong in powers and emotions, and had always kept her weaknesses very well hidden. She loved him, and Inuyasha knew that she always would. But pride could had kept him from coming to her and trying to redeem himself. Inuyasha had vowed never to fall in love with another woman, much less the same one. But trying to convince Kikyo that he loved her, and convince her to accept him again was also impossible. Kikyo had an unbreakable will.

So he figured that he could trick the miko's reincarnation instead. He didn't have to love the pathetic ningen, he just had to seduce her in order to bed her. And then leave her. Inuyasha smiled cruelly at the miko, who was staring down at him with sharp, brown eyes. It was his own sweet revenge. The miko never told him that he had to love her.

Which was good for him, Inuyasha mused. After five hundred years, his feelings had long ago started to fade away due to the long years. That, and the Shikon no Tama's shards had started to disappear one by one slowly, taking a little bit of his soul away with each disappearing shard. They chipped his emotions away until he had none--until he was cold and bitter.

Inuyasha gently rubbed a finger over her lips. Still, he did retain some emotions. Anger. Hatred.

"Inuyasha."

The prince turned around, meeting the gaze of one his old friends, Miroku. "You've returned."

Miroku nodded solemnly.

"Well?" Inuyasha impatiently searched Miroku's face impatiently.

"Naraku and his minions are swiftly moving north," Miroku replied quietly. Then he asked, "did you kill her?"

Inuyasha grunted. "The bitch didn't have a chance."

"I apologize, my prince. I should've known that it was Naraku's doing. Otherwise, I would not have lifted the guarding spell." Miroku bowed his head in sincere apology.

Inuyasha growled. "Don't do that--I hate it when you do that. It's Naraku's own fault for being careless with his fucking puppets." Miroku winced at Inuyasha's use of language. "He should've known that sending her to me would dig her own grave. In fact, he sealed her death when he sent her with the golden thread." Inuyasha scoffed. "He would dare to mock me!"

"Pity," Miroku murmured, "she was his favorite." Then, he lifted his gaze towards the painting of the miko expressionlessly. He hadn't known Kikyo very well, or even at all. "You are thinking of the miko again."

Inuyasha turned his back. "No."

Miroku chuckled. "I have known you for almost five centuries--do not think to fool me, friend. I have lived with you too long."

"Well I have good news for you then." Inuyasha turned to face Miroku with a smug grin. "We no longer have to suffer anymore. The miko's reincarnation has finally come to me at last."

Miroku blinked blankly at Inuyasha for several moments before sputtering, "You... You've found her? How?"

"The gods were kind," Inuyasha replied, "her grandfather was on his way to a meeting, and got lost. The wolves were about to devour him when I saved him, and took him to my dungeon. Of course the poor old fool thought I was going to kill him."

Inuyasha turned around again to look at the miko. "I had only wanted to save him from those damn wolves, but it had turned out to be something more. His granddaughter came to rescue him." Upon saying this, a dry laugh escaped his lips. "I could care less for the girl, but then... the resemblance..." Inuyasha's voice trailed off. Shaking his head, Inuyasha turned to face Miroku. "She has the golden thread."

Upon hearing this, Miroku immediately brightened. "The golden thread!" Inuyasha turned to his friend with a wry smile. The golden thread was a piece of string made from gold, and was cast a spell upon by Kikyo to allow only Inuyasha to see it. A symbol to show Inuyasha that she was his. It was to be slipped on Kikyo by Inuyasha upon their wedding night. Apparently, Kikyo had passed it onto the reincarnation instead. "So you'll be seducing her, I take it?"

Upon the waggling of Miroku's eyebrows, Inuyasha heaved a sigh. "Miroku, you haven't changed at all." The charismatic young man used to be a monk before the curse, but after breaking too many of his precepts, Miroku was fallen. That, and his little habit of groping anything with breasts and legs didn't help his plight much either. Still, Inuyasha respected him as an old friend, and felt angry for the pain he caused Miroku. Upon Miroku's left hand was a curse more wretched than Inuyasha's. A wind tunnel in the shape of a hole threatened to dwarf Miroku's hand completely, and suck in everything once it consumed his hand. Including Miroku.

Inuyasha's eyes flickered briefly to Miroku's hand, which was covered and bound by a thick, purple cloth wrapped around with prayer beads. It was the only thing that kept Miroku and everything around him from destruction. Upon seeing Inuyasha gaze at his hand, Miroku cleared his throat. "I didn't use it if that's what you're wondering."

Inuyasha nodded, and walked away. "I wasn't wondering," Inuyasha teased over his shoulder. Miroku feigned a sad pout. Then, Inuyasha added, "Sango was."

"Please, don't be so crestfallen," Sango told Kagome comfortingly, "it won't be so terrible."

Kagome stared at Sango skeptically. "That's a little hard to believe when I'm in a dungeon cell, isn't it?" Kagome sighed. It wasn't Sango's fault. If Kagome was to complain, then Inuyasha was the one to deserve all her rants. "I'm sorry. I'm worried for my grandfather."

Sango nodded in understanding. "Don't worry. Inuyasha never breaks his word," Sango assured Kagome, "your grandfather will have a safe journey back."

Kagome shook her head. "But I worry still. Isn't there a way for me to get out of here?"

"I'm sorry, princess. I can't." Sango averted her eyes. "You are much safer here at the castle."

"Don't call me that," Kagome muttered angrily. "I am not a princess. I don't act like one, and I don't even look like one."

"But Inuyasha has taken you as his bride."

Kagome lifted her chin up defiantly. "But I will never be his!"

Sango looked to the floor, but kept her face expressionless. She couldn't blame the poor girl. Inuyasha was too hardheaded, and too hot-tempered. And even though almost five hundred years of suffering had passed, Sango knew that deep inside lurked a hidden good. If Kagome failed to see that, then even that small diminishing light of good would forever be extinguished. She had to try. "Inuyasha... isn't as bad as you think he is."

Kagome moaned feebly, and rested her head upon one of the iron bars that held her a prisoner. If anything happened to her grandfather... she shook her head. She had to find a way to get out; even if her grandfather made it safely back... he'd be wrought with worry and would try to come back for her. No, Kagome couldn't let that happen.

With a small side-glance at her companion, Kagome suddenly coughed loudly and harshly. Sango's head snapped to attention as she looked at Kagome in concern. "Kagome, are you... Are you alright?"

Kagome opened her mouth to talk, but another cough shook her whole body. Standing to her feet swiftly, Sango said, "Your cold journey has made you ill. I will get Inuyasha right away--he will let you out, I'm sure of it."

Kagome looked sharply at Sango. "No! Please!"

Sango stared at the girl hesitantly before assenting. "Very well, I will get you water."

Yes," Kagome wheezed, "water would be nice."

But when Sango left to go fetch the water, Kagome's coughs suddenly stopped. A small, defiant smile appeared on Kagome's lips as she folded her arms across her chest. If Inuyasha thought that he would have the upper hand, he was dead wrong. She wasn't going to just cower, and bow down to him that easily--or at all. Kagome looked around her, inspecting every corner for any possible way out. All there was to inspect was the floor made of cold slabs of gray stone. No windows for light to come in, either. Now Kagome knew why the Sumizome castle was named so; it didn't just give one a foreboding sense of darkness... it was literally encased in a shroud of thick darkness.

So to her dismay, there wasn't any possible way out.

Kagome slumped to the floor in a disappointed heap. Obviously, the gods were out to spite her. Unfortunately, Sango wasn't going to help her either. Well! If she was going to be held prisoner here, Kagome was going to make every single day a living hell for the prince.

--No matter how scary he was.

Kagome's hands curled and tightened around the black iron bars. As promised, she had taken the place of her grandfather instead. Her poor grandfather had been so scared, so terrified. No doubt he was racing back home to try and get help for her, Kagome thought to herself sadly. And she knew who, too. The only man that would come to her rescue now was Hojo, a respectable noble of Kyushu who had been vying for her hand in marriage for a very long time. Even if Hojo did manage to get past the horrible rocky path and the wolves, he'd have to face Inuyasha for himself. Even then--the reality was... Kagome couldn't leave even if she really wanted to.

She'd made an exchange for her grandfather's life--a promise. She was Inuyasha's now. A petulant frown marred her features; even if she was Inuyasha's, she wasn't going to make it easy for him. After all, she was a Higurashi. Higurashi's never backed down from anybody--not even the royal prince of Kyushu.

So it was while she was seething and plotting her revenge that she suddenly heard the prison door slam open, heard the low whoosh of the wind, watched the flames on the torches dance and sway in response, and whimpered.

"A Higurashi," Kagome whispered to herself, "remember that you're a Higurashi."

Apparently Sango had lied. She wasn't coming back with the water--Inuyasha was. Sure enough, before another blink of an eye, Kagome saw him standing before her on the other side of her dungeon cell scowling. In one large hand dangled a set of clanking keys, and in the other was a small wooden cup in which water sloshed around. Kagome looked away.

"Not expecting me?" His mocking voice sent cold shivers down her spine. She remained silent.

Inuyasha smirked and bent down to open the cell's door. He watched her in silent interest as she remained where she was. He frowned. "Get up."

Kagome looked at him, blinking in feigned innocence. "I thought I was to take my grandfather's place here." Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at her. She looked up at him peevishly, and got to her feet slowly. But then, her legs gave out and she crumpled to the floor helplessly. This time, however, it wasn't an act.

"What's wrong with you, girl?" Inuyasha snapped.

Kagome scowled. After having to travel through the freezing and perilous rocky pass, Kagome had brushed away her fatigue and concentrated on the fear for her grandfather instead. But now it was catching up with her. Kagome pressed her fingertips to her head as she closed her eyes against the dizziness.

"Drink," Inuyasha's order came.

Kagome nodded, and grasped the cup reluctantly. With a surprising smile of thanks, she raised it to her lips slowly. Unfortunately, when she took a sip, her face contorted and she doubled over to cough. Just as she was doing this, her hand convulsed and accidentally splashed the water onto Inuyasha's scowling face.

Several seconds of terse silence ticked by.

"Let's. Go." Inuyasha ground out.

Kagome let out a nervous chuckle, and was promptly rewarded with an icy glare from the prince. "Go? Go where?"

"To our bedchamber," he snapped, and made a painful grasp for her wrist.

"Oh, no, we're not!" Kagome snapped, wrenching her hand free. "There is no 'our' bedchamber. I'd rather stay in there!" Kagome jabbed a finger in the direction of her dungeon cell.

Inuyasha growled and placed his face merely inches away from hers. "I don't care what you'd rather do. You're to listen to me, and do my every bidding. Do you understand?"

"No!" She snapped. "I... " Kagome squeezed her eyes shut. Why was everything suddenly becoming so cold? But after the cold tremors passed through her body, scalding hot sensations poured over her as well. Kagome moaned, and was dimly aware of strong arms wrapping themselves around her waist.

"Wh-what's happening?" The two sensations swirled together painfully until Kagome couldn't distinguish the two from each other at all.

Vaguely, through her pain, she could see Inuyasha's devilish grin. But her eyes grew weary, and lowered itself even though Kagome struggled against the darkness. Not only that, but Kagome couldn't feel her legs anymore. Soon, she couldn't feel anything at all--except for the numbing darkness that consumed her as her legs wobbled and she collapsed onto the prince.

Inuyasha glanced down at the girl stoically. The ningen had such a strong will where most girls would've cowered under his every command. Of course, her strong will was going to prove difficult, Inuyasha noted as he watched the rising and falling of her chest. The girl was very delicate, fragile in her appearance. Yet, by making it through the rocky pass and getting past the wolves meant that she was anything but fragile and delicate.

It would be hard to make her fall in love with him, Inuyasha realized.

Something inside his chest throbbed as he looked at her face. She looked so much like Kikyo... and yet, her scent was different. Refreshing and clean whereas Kikyo's scent spoke of wisdom and justice. Inuyasha growled softly. Where was that justice when he caught her in the arms of another man? Where was the justice when she sentenced him to almost five hundred years of suffering? Inuyasha's hands curled into a fist.

He would break this puny human. And break her so that she'd never be able to pick up the shattered pieces again. His revenge would be sweet, and all he had to do was bed the woman. Of course, she had to give him her heart first. That would prove a difficult task; Miroku had told him to woo her with sweet words and gifts.

Inuyasha grunted.

Kikyo was never one for sweet words and gifts. And by the looks of this girl, she wasn't either. Then how? How to make her desire him? Inuyasha shook his head. What if she was too much like Kikyo that she grew to despise him as well? And didn't she have a good reason to? Taking her father prisoner, and then trading the old man's life for hers had no doubt, made her bitter towards him. Inuyasha watched her as she turned to the side, her face directly in his view.

It was amazing how she looked so much like Kikyo, and yet--it was all different.

This girl had softer features; features rounder and gentler than Kikyo's sharp lines. Her hair was not straight and beautiful like Kikyo's. Instead, it was wavy and curved stubbornly down her back. Inuyasha reached out to touch her hair gently, threading the strands through his fingers silkily. Her dark hair blended splendidly with the dark mahogany color of his large bed. Something within him tightened. She was such a small, feminine thing... lying upon something so masculine and large. Inuyasha growled softly.

But a pang of guilt erased his small, fleeting moment of desire. Did he really want to seek revenge on Kikyo through one so innocent? His fingers wandered to her face, where they caressed her soft cheek. She hadn't been touched yet. Did he really want to be the one to deflower her?

And then callously leave her?

After all, though she was the reincarnation of Kikyo... She wasn't Kikyo. Inuyasha let his fingers trail across her lips, marveling at how soft they were. Like rose petals, Inuyasha mused.

Kikyo was dead.

Inuyasha applied pressure to her bottom lip with his thumb, eliciting a low whimper from the girl. He had kissed her earlier--not out of love or attraction, but out of anger and relief mixed in altogether. Angry only because she resembled Kikyo... and relieved that he had finally found her. Soon, his friends wouldn't have to suffer anymore. Miroku's curse would be lifted.. and Sango's... Inuyasha shut his eyes, letting his fingers trail down to her collarbone.

It was all his fault that his friends were chained to their sufferings.

Opening his eyes, Inuyasha looked at the girl again. So innocent and pure. But he had to--for the sake of his friends and for the sake of revenge.

Inuyasha sighed. Of course, there was the matter of having her accept him--and sleep with him. Inuyasha scratched at the area above her chest lightly, watching her face warily.

Soon, he would have her.

With a single clawed finger he punctured her delicate skin and marked her, and watched her as she awoke with a painful gasp.

She felt as if she was burned. Kagome looked down at her chest, horrified at the tiny drops of blood that dripped down her chest. A small red mark was there, and it made her skin tingle hotly. Gathering up her courage, she clutched the front of her simple blouse together indignantly, and turned to glare at the prince angrily.

"What did you do to me?" She snapped, even though her cheeks were burning with embarrassment.

"I marked you," Inuyasha replied nonchalantly, "you are mine."

"Don't say that!" Kagome hissed.

"We had a deal. You are mine."

"Stop--stop saying that, will you!"

"Like I said, hime," Inuyasha smiled luxuriously, "we had a deal."

"Yes, but--" Kagome huffed in frustration. "But you can't just force someone to be your wife!"

"Keh," he grunted in amusement, "apparently I can. Why else would you be in my bed?"

Kagome narrowed her eyes at him. "You poisoned me."

Inuyasha hid a smile of amusement as he schooled his features into a scowl. She wasn't fragile and delicate at all; she was fire and ice all at the same time. "I didn't poison you, wench. I merely gave you some water."

Kagome looked away. A horrified look crossed over her features as she realized where she was. And what she was sitting on. "Oh, no," she whimpered, "please tell me this isn't your--"

"Ours," Inuyasha corrected. "You'll be sleeping in here with me. Where my hime rightfully belongs."

Fighting against the dizziness that still lingered inside her head Kagome swung a shapely leg over the massive bed. Then the other--until she was standing up to her full height. Which was nothing compared to Inuyasha's.

Still, Kagome lifted her chin haughtily and said, "you can't force me to sleep with you."

He looked at her with rakishly, then eyed her open blouse--something she failed to keep close in her anger. Kagome followed his gaze, and gasped in maidenly horror as she clutched the front of her blouse together again. The small wound didn't hurt anymore, but she could still feel the moisture of the blood.

"You're right." Inuyasha lifted his gaze to her eyes. "I can't."

"I am?" Kagome looked at him skeptically. Then, "of course I am! I still have my reputation to think of, and--" Kagome's face fell. She was miles from her village, she was in a dark castle with a deranged prince, and she had no way of getting out. And all she could think about was her reputation? Kagome sighed. "I won't sleep with someone I don't love."

"I won't have to force you," he told her. Kagome frowned.

Inuyasha turned away from her, and walked towards the heavy oak doors of the bedchamber. Without turning around, he said, "you will, eventually love me." He paused, then told her, "you can go anywhere you like... except for the northern tower."

Then, he disappeared.

Kagome slumped to the floor, and buried her head into the cradle of her arms. What was she to do? Kagome sighed wearily. There had to be some good to the prince, Kagome thought to herself. She believed that all beings had a kind part to them, a compassionate side. But all she saw of Inuyasha was dark menace. How will she ever get out of this place?

"Jiichan," Kagome whispered to herself, "what am I to do? How will I ever get back to you now?"

Suddenly, there was a small creak as the heavy oak doors opened. Kagome lifted her head and eyed the door warily. "Who's there?"

A familiar head poked in, and Kagome realized that it was Sango. "Kagome?" Sango entered the room, holding in her arms a beautiful kimono. Kagome lowered her eyes. Sango sighed. "I'm sorry. I had to tell Inuyasha."

Looking up at Sango, Kagome abruptly asked, "Sango... You said that Inuyasha wasn't that bad. What do you mean? What caused him to be this way?"

Sango remained silent, debating whether she should tell Kagome the story of Inuyasha's curse or not. After all, Kagome was still a stranger, and Sango learned very young not to trust anyone. But... Kagome did deserve to know. Sango shook her head and sighed.

"You will find out in time," was all she could offer as an answer.

Kagome sighed in frustration. "I don't want to find out in time! I want to know why I'm being held prisoner in this god-awful castle!"

Sango shook her head again. "I'm sorry, but for now you must bathe and change into this." She held out the kimono to Kagome. It was the color of periwinkle blue with patterns of blossoms embroidered on it.

Kagome's shoulders slumped as she released a defeated sigh. "Sango?"

"Yes, Kagome?"

Kagome sighed again. "... I'm hungry."

"She will not love me," Inuyasha growled.

Miroku looked at his friend with a comforting smile. "Patience, Inuyasha. I doubt that you shall love her in return, so can you blame the poor girl?"

Inuyasha groaned stubbornly. "No, I can't."

Miroku nodded. "Women need kindness, gentleness, and sweetness. I suppose all you've done is frighten her to death."

"She's not one for sweetness," Inuyasha snapped, "I can tell. Her will is much like Kikyo's."

Miroku shook his head. "Listen to you, Inuyasha. She isn't Kikyo! If it weren't for... things at risk, I would not agree with this at all."

"I suppose you are right." Inuyasha groaned. "What will I do? If she doesn't accept me in bed in a year... it will all be lost."

"Give it time, Inuyasha. She will soften up to you, but until then--you must be patient and kind to her." Miroku sighed. That would prove very difficult--for Inuyasha had not said a kind word to anyone for centuries. He wasn't one for kind words and sweet action. Inuyasha was gruff, and rarely showed his affections for anyone. Not even Kikyo. But he will have to if he wanted to keep his soul. "Again, you need patience, Inuyasha. She will accept you eventually if you are willing to be kind to her."

"But how?" Inuyasha growled. "How can I get over the fact that..."

"That she looks like Kikyo?" Miroku suggested.

Inuyasha slumped in his chair. "She will always see me as a monster. Miroku... I will end up failing you. I'm sorry."

Miroku looked around him, surveying the dark guest hall. How had he lived here for so long? In such darkness? The hall was huge with sky-tall ceilings, and Miroku was sure that the hall was elaborately designed--but one could not see it because of the darkness. Miroku hated it. Hated being in the darkness. Inuyasha could not fail... if he did--not only Miroku would suffer, but others would as well. The girl had to love Inuyasha.

Miroku murmured, "Inuyasha... do you even know her name?"

"Keh, I know that she is a Higurashi. That is enough for me."

Miroku shook his head. "I've returned only today, and yet even I know her name. It is Kagome."

"Sango told you," Inuyasha retorted blandly.

"Even so--I know, don't I? And I haven't met her. You've been in her company, made her your bride, expect her to sleep with you--but you don't know her name." Miroku sighed in frustration.

"Kagome..."

Miroku nodded. "Yes, it is Kagome. Not Kikyo... remember that, Inuyasha."

A/N ~ Hee! Miroku has come to be matchmaker! Hope you liked this chapter, and as always, reviews are wanted!! Sorry this chapter took so long to get up. I was bogged down by revamping my website and schoolwork. Sorry guys! Review, won't you?

Oh~ and please visit my Inuyasha fanfic/fanart site! It just started, so things are kind of scarce. Submissions / recommendations of fics are now wanted! Link: http : // lovesong . a . la

PLUG: I finally got a beta-reader! A few weeks ago I discovered Numisma! Go check out her stories: www . fanfiction . net / ~ Numisma. They're all wonderful. (have to space the links cuz FF.NET won't make them show up here if they're not spaced)^_^

Love,

Lady Penguin

[CH.2 EDITED VERSION] : MAY 02, 2004 (thanks to Numisma!)