InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fighting Temptations ❯ Just Gimme the Light ( Chapter 1 )

The flickering stars dragged for miles along the silken plains of darkness above, skipping absentmindedly over the full moon as if it was nothing but a vast pearl barricade in the sky. The darkness strewn beyond the moon like a velvet blanket, leaving its ominous rays to pour down upon the colossal, semi-triangular club found planted within the very center of the congested rows of cars.

Horns wailed through the many roaring engines of slow moving vehicles, overthrowing the many curses of drivers as they stuck their head out of their windows and gave their neighbor drivers one hell of a hard time. They stuck out their middle fingers, grimacing uncontrollably as if the expression was permanently glued to their faces while at the same time trying to steer clear of hurrying cars that tried their best to follow the congested sea of traffic.

Let's just say this, tonight wasn't exactly 'Silent Night'.

Chapter One

The high-pitched ping of two shot glasses tore faintly through the loud bass of the club's speakers as they landed hard upon the bar's smooth, glowing surface. Clear blue shined through their crystalline bottoms as the two customers slid the fragile glasses towards them, a gentle grin gracing their pallid brown lips.

"Looks like Kya still got the moves," one muttered in a low, flirtatious tone before bringing his glass to his lips and drinking his liquor in just one, breathless gulp.

"Thank you, Damarcus," Kagome dragged on in a sarcastically bland choice of voice, a heavy Bronx accent mingling smoothly with her words, "But I think my booty needs to be kept in one peace, alright?"

The one she referred as Damarcus, nodded casually as he braced his chin upon the back of his hand, his shot glass still dangling from their fingertips. "I gotcha," he murmured, "But just think about it. Me and you could grow to be a tight couple."

"Ha," Kagome scoffed aloud, shuffling quickly off towards a nearby rack of glass jugs, shot glasses, and full liquor bottles, "You're probably lookin' for a thick white woman to pull with that ol', raggedy line." Pulling down two liquor bottles from the very top of the rack, she slowly headed over towards a nearby group of men whose eyes, she knew, were wandering everywhere except along her face.

Slamming down both bottles, their attentions finally snapped back to the present as their mindless babble met Kagome's ears in reply. She, of course, didn't stay long with the 'out-of-mind' fools as she walked back towards the end rack, pulling down two, large jugs with only just one hand before bringing them together along the rims with her tightly pursed fingers. Wearily, she peered over her shoulder towards the pair of African Americans, eyes drooping slightly as she noticed the full set of gold and silver teeth lining the places where 'normal' teeth were supposed to be.

Shaking her head slightly from its disgusted trance, Kagome quickly scrambled towards the two men, laying either jug before them in order to start her well-known magic in using liquor mixes to their full advantage. Intertwining her fingers, she held her hands backwards towards her chest, forcing them outwards as several, comforting cracks of her bones met her ears.

The two men could only stare up towards her, their mouths almost hanging open before she allowed her hands to fall limp at their sides. Cranking her neck from left to right, Kagome finally picked up the two mixes, lifting both above each jug before whirling around towards a rack found close behind her and removing one bottle of sheer Vodka. Lifting the bottle above both glasses and filling them to the very rim with clouds and clouds of rising froth, Kagome finally turned back around and placed the Vodka bottle back atop of the rack before doing the same thing with the liquor mixes.

"I hope you two enjoy," she muttered towards them when everything was finally placed back in its proper place, though her voice hinted that she was slightly ticked off at their still wandering eyes, which were currently glued to her chest at the moment. Growling in sheer impatience, Kagome strode off towards the nearby swinging kitchen doors behind the bar only to lean her back gently against the small bit of wall cornering either side of the doors.

Being clothed in a dark tank top and slightly sagging cargos whose sliver zippers glimmered dully within the flickering colors of the club's dim lighting, she couldn't help but to notice all sorts of meandering eyes peering upon her. It was clear then that she would probably have to get back to her boss and inform him about the uniform assigned to all female bartenders - it just wasn't the time to dress up before sex-driven dogs…

Sighing, Kagome peered idly upwards towards the main clock found situated just above the twin doors, her eyes growing wide with excitement as she muttered beneath her breath, "Oh well, my shift is over now. I'll just worry about the uniform thing next Friday."

Making sure not to show even the slightest of smiles upon her lips, Kagome slowly walked off towards the scanty, wooden door that served as an opening for the area narrow area of the bar. Unhooking the inner lock of the door, she gently pushed it open only to quickly dodge to the side as the bartender from the second shift scurried into the narrow passageway, quickly getting to work.

Kagome could've sworn though that as he tried to arrange a couple of drinks for a batch of new customers that the males groaned in utter disappointment, one bracing his cheek within the palm of his hand and turning his eyes harshly away from the hustling bartender. It was clear that he wasn't exactly happy about a woman not being behind the bar other than a man.

A small smile curving her lips, Kagome loosened her grip upon the door and allowed it to swing back into place before rushing off towards the very lip of the dance floor where a familiar figure stood waiting patiently. The figure's ebony-silken hair flowed just partway along her shoulders as its strands formed tiny glints beneath the shallow lighting. Her body stood firm, just plainly working off its dark tank top, loose-leathered pants, and thick Timberland boots. (Obviously she was trying to go for the G.I. Jane look without so much G.I.)

Her smile broadening, Kagome approached the young woman with a hint of sympathy plastered about her face, her waist-length tress swishing gently along her back like the delicate swipes of an artist's paintbrush. The tight braids lining the very top of her hand in rows of countless rows of zigzags and curves clung to her head with only the slightest of pain that was small enough to ignore. Her hands clenched lightly, the inner material of her fingerless, leathered gloves creaking quietly under the sudden added pressure.

"Well, well, well, Kayla," she spoke as she came to an abrupt halt before the young, African American, "Didn't know I kept ya waitin'"

"Waitin'?," the young woman replied in disbelief, "You said that you were goin' to be off hours ago and all of a sudden you're ditchin' me off another hour sayin' that you had to talk to yo' boss about somethin'. As far as I see, you ditched me, what? Several times already tonight?"

"C'mon, girl," Kagome muttered apologetically, "I was just loaded up with a lot of stuff. The guy from the second shift didn't show up in time so I was tending the bar for him."

"Whatever," Kayla replied with a sly smile, "But next time just call me after your shift, not during. God knows I hate bothering with these perpetratin' pimps whose just waitin' for a lonely woman to pull off into their hidden…paradise."

"Paradise?" Kya asked with eyes narrowed slightly while one brow arched instinctively, "Please! You know you livin' in your own fantasy world."

Without another word, Kya stepped beyond the edge of the dance floor, Kayla following close in her wake as the endless beating of hips, elbows, and arms began. Though it was Kayla finding herself deep within the line of fire, Kagome peculiarly never once found herself being shoved or punched by the mindless throws of elbows and arms. In fact, it was as if she was behind an invisible shield or in the least, it could've been that not one of the dancers noticed her, which would never be true since every dancer around the joint knew her by first name and last as Kya Jiles: dancer extraordinaire.

Finally finding themselves at the very opposite end of the dance floor, both women stood like sitting ducks, eyes searching about the club until Kagome's favorite joint hit the speakers.

"Yes! Now here's somethin' I can dance to!" Kagome yelled towards her friend only to find her nowhere in sight. It was obvious that she had managed to find a partner, possibly even her so-called man slash hoodwink slash 'wanna-be' Hood-Rat.

Not stealing the chance to search for her friend, Kagome eased forward through the crowd with a couple of moves that everyone was sure to remember as partners beyond partners began to draw back from her, their smiles and joyous eyes directed entirely on her. Her moves suddenly stopped, though when a brutal hand shunned her into a nearby crowd of dancers.

"What in the Hell!" she mumbled before her eyes skimmed along the dance floor to find the one and only Mekhia Jones and her groupies taking over the small bit of spotlight within the center of dancers. Taking the emotional road at seeing their bodies and hips being shook rhythmically before the faces of nearby men, Kagome gave a surrendering sigh…Always taking the 'low' road.

"When I move you move (just like that?)

When I move you move (just like that?)

When I move you move (just like that?)

(Hell yeah, Hey DJ bring that back!)"

Kagome could nearly feel a heavy yawn make its way through the bowls of her throat, yet she tried her best to stifle it by cupping her hand steadily over her mouth. The smell of lavenders tinged the air as she took a sharp breath of the still air around her. Her eyes immediately began to dart from left to right along the dancers before finally coming across the 'center-of-attention' once again, her ebony locks swishing here and there as if it was trying its best to follow her fast-paced steps.

The dancer's loyal followers did their share by following the moves of their only leader. Mehkia, of course, paid no sudden mind to them as she strolled off towards the very center of the tight circle, collapsing into a new move of pumping hips and widening thighs. Hands braced upon the face of her thighs, she began to pump her hips in a fluid motion towards the floor, smiling wickedly as two nearby guys cooed in satisfaction.

"Watch out for the medallion my diamonds are reckless

Feels like a midget is hangin' from my necklace"

Finally, the young dancer broke off into another fast-paced set of moves, moving her feet in the all too familiar style of Break Dancing before dipping low towards the ground, arm waving silkily within the air as if swinging an imaginary lasso. Sadly, grin still remained curved upon her glossy lips only to bring a sickening tilt to Kagome's very own as she folded her arms gently across her chest, her expression showing patience beyond thinning loads of patience.

Hair slinging brutally, the dancer mouthed the few callous remarks leaving the perched speakers found along all corners and walls of the club, as she backed three steps away from the crowd in front of her, hands clasped firmly upon her hips.

"Most girls lookin' right, some lookin' a mess

That's why they spillin' drinks all over ya dress"

Kagome didn't understand what Mehkia took the ludicrous comment for, but it was clear that she was obviously trying to be the spotlight drama of the whole, entire club. It wasn't until moments later did she finally understand the little bit of entertainment being fed to the crowd. Mehkia sharply turned to face the crowd left of her, one arm swung along her chest while one leg instantly shot from beside its companion, stilling instantly.

She was really trying to work her reputation as a local dancer, but at the same time it was clear that she was looking for some competition within the crowd.

When the music finally died into the thunderous applause and ear-splintering whistles of the young dancers, Kagome never clapped or whistled at all, but stood firm before the center of the left crowd. Her arms were still folded over her chest, her right index finger tapping impatiently along the upper bicep of her left arm. Though she wasn't upset, she still was looking for a chance to dance, so she slowly moved into the very center of the once occupied circle only to hear the many hordes of whispers flutter along the still crowd of dancers.

Out of the blue, two dancers stepped from beyond the obscured boundaries of the crowds, their faces turned completely towards the young woman found in the very front. Finally, dancing invaded Kagome's entire mind as she awaited the second track to meet the woofers of the mounted speakers.

"Just gimme the light!!! (Yeah, yeah)

Just gimme the li-ight!

Just gimme the light!

Sean-A-Paul yo yo!!"

Finally, the many mysterious spirits of dancing overtook her entire body as she moved steadily with the pounding, reggae beats of the flooding music, arms and legs moving in a style that stole each and everyone's attention from their casual ministrations until their rowdy cheers filled the air, "Go, Kya! Go, Kya! Go, Kya!"

That, of course, was enough to entrap the attention of Mehkia, who was currently nearby the bar with a white towel slung unevenly along her shoulders, sweat beading like transparent silk along her body. It wasn't until a grimace stole her once smug expression did she finally grip either end of the towel with both hands, tugging fiercely.

"Just gimme the light and pass the dro! Buss anotha bokkle a moe

Gal dem inna mi sight and I got to know

Which one is gonna catch my flow?"

Kagome broke into a line of exotic moves that brought the intensity of cheers to a thunderous roar of whistles and claps. Her moves were so distinct, yet street practiced all the same as she closed her eyes gently and relished in the Jamaican beats being forced through the speakers. Her mind instantly became the main spot for possession as she immediately lost all control over her own body and allowed it to do the moves that it had practiced so many times before.

"Every man around dem waan tun yuh inspector

But yuh nuh let dem fret and a grill yuh wid nuh lecture

But dem power drill nah dem fuel injector

But dem a infector, Dizzy's collector"

Without further ado, Kagome finally pulled a stunt that had claps from all around racing along the jumbled flocks of crowds, drifting further off into the atmosphere like mischievous, little spirits and causing people from all around to grimace lightly (which partly was only the two groupies of Mehkia's dance cliché).

Carefully, yet skillfully, Kagome eased two steps back, making sure to keep her partially bare abdomen in sync with the fast-paced beats of the pulsing music. Out of the blue, she began to send joyous beams to the people parading her on from all sides and performed a barrel poised flip that had her landing instantly along the floor, legs tucked gently beneath her back while her arms lay sprawled at either side of her. Still, nothing but the same smile greeted her lips as she braced her upper body upon the soles of her hands and began sliding her feet back and forth along the floor while propelling herself in a half circle.

Her glistening, ebony locks became a beautiful curtain of velveteen silk along her shoulders and neck before she pounced back to her feet, a train of claps and cheers sweeping straight into her like the sudden speed of a bullet.

It was truly something that she always had the chance to enjoy…

"Thank you!" she screamed happily, trying her best to tear through the thickening waves of noise.

"You go, Kya!" suddenly came a nearby shout.

Kagome could only rub the back of neck with slight embarrassment, never minding the wandering droplets of sweat that strayed along the naps of her hair, soaking into its smooth strands. She finally whirled around when a gentle tap along her shoulder brought her movements to a still.

There before her stood Kayla, a broad smile curving her lips as she shouted, trying her best to conquer the best of the loud noise clouding around them, " So? How does it feel to be the greatest dancer around this joint?"

"Kayla," Kagome sighed, "It's not about bein' the best. You of all people should know that."

"Just gimme the light and pass the dro! Buss anotha bokkle a moe

Gal dem inna mi sight and I got to know

Which one is gonna catch my flow?

Cause I'm inna di vibe and I got my dough! Buss anotha bokkle a moe

Gal dem lookin' hype and I got to know…"

The music was instantly swallowed whole by the thunderous uproar as Kagome eased out of the tight circle surrounded by endless flocks and followed her friend towards a nearby African American male, who stood waiting eagerly along the opposite wall of the club. His hands were stuffed deep within the pockets of his sagging jeans until Kayla finally approached him and a smile cracked upon his lips.

Kagome, out of pure modesty, tried her best not to look at the bit of alone time the couple was having with one another as she wandered off mindlessly towards the main exit of the club. Thankfully, her friend managed to meet up with her partway, a smile crossing her lips where she was sure even a slightest glimpse of lip-gloss used to be.

"Had fun?" Kagome asked gently with a smile pulling even the slightest corner of her lips.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I?" Kayla replied, returning Kagome's sudden beam with a feeble grin of her own.

At the same time, a brutal brush against Kayla's shoulder sent her stumbling slightly as Mehkia herself showed beneath the flickering lighting just as if she had appeared out of the fiery depths of Hell. (Kagome couldn't help but to assume that she probably did at birth…)

"What in the hell is up with you!" bellowed Kayla, turning deftly on her heel to face the 'Goddess-of-Darkness' herself. Sadly, the strong admonition of her conscious just barely reached her mind when Mehkia replied with only a smart click of the tongue and turned her back quickly in order to head back to the dance floor.

"You motherfucking, son-of-a-bitch!" Her patience thinning to only a mindless thread, Kayla hurled herself towards the young woman, pulling her hair and trying everything to bring nothing but excruciating pain to her.

Mehkia, of course, wasn't going down without a fight. She pushed Kayla off of her with a sharp shove of the hand and screamed with rage so loud that it attracted most of the young men filtering into the club. It was clear that the snake of the dance finally wanted her revenge.

With a quiet gasp, Kagome desperately scrambled off towards her friend in order to pull her out of the line of fire into the main, corridor exit of the club. Their exhausted pants disturbed the small bit of silence streaming along the drearily blue painted walls and beneath the dim, fluorescent lighting.

"Are you crazy!" Kagome hissed, trying her best to force her tone to stay beyond the violent boundary that she knew it just wanted to skip over, "That's my job in there! If you get into a fight I'll probably lose it."

"Sorry, Girl, I couldn't help it," Kayla replied as they started off further down the narrow corridor, "But that bitch just pulled on my strings and the last thing I wanted to do was just to…ugh!"

Kagome understood that Kayla wanted to choke Mehkia so bad that even her great-grandchildren in the future would never forget it. But when it came to her job being on the line, she was limited in the things she could allow Kayla to do. In other words, if she didn't work here, there would still be a conflict going on between Mehkia and Kayla right about now.

"But you got to admit," began Kayla out of the blue, a wide smile curving her lips, "When that bitch screamed at me she sounded close to a pig than a pissed off woman."

Instinctively, Kagome exploded into a loud bawl of laughter before tossing her arm gently along her friend's shoulder.

"Yep! True that!" she replied, her laughs never ceasing.

The morning rays fluttered silently along the apartment's chipped walls as its main partner, the sun itself, bathed the entire undersized apartment in a blinding sea of light as it gave a determined try in peeking through the many slits of the burgundy blinds. In reply, the dismal blinds remained frozen to their spot, never once allowing its guard to grow weak against the piercing rays of the sun.

A bedspring creaked gently within the disturbing calmness of the apartment, sending unnoticeable vibrations along the dark brown wood flooring of the entire room. Surprisingly, it halted suddenly as the soothing noise of rustling sheets followed closely after its demise, tucking itself tightly beneath a large heap concealed within its depths.

Several incoherent mumbles drifted through the shallow material of the bedding as the human heap tossed and turn brutally along the squeaking mattress. It wasn't until the figure's senseless babble came to a quick end did she suddenly snap out of her eternal slumber, freckles of sunlight dancing gracefully along her face and parts of her neck, ever so slowly easing towards the very peak of her breasts.

Kagome's ebony curls formed a cluttered curtain of darkness along either side of her face and shoulders while her bangs revealed matted aside at all horrid angels. Her hazel eyes skimmed lazily along the edge of the bed before her head quickly darted towards the spot beneath her bangs, massaging slowly…Damn!

A powerful migraine slowly found its way to her head, pulsing with pain so sharp that she couldn't help but to release an aching whimper. Even though she wasn't drinking last night she was sure it was because she hardly was able to catch any sleep. In other words, having ghetto neighbors who don't mind sharing their personal stuff with the world with shouts and threatening barks within the wee hours beyond midnight, wasn't exactly luxurious.

Ripping her blanket from the rest of her tired body, the flickering rays came to reveal her dark tank top that she wore only yesterday to the club, and her gray shorts, never once yielding at her sprawled, slender, flushed legs silhouetted upon the under sheets of the bed. Her toes wiggled uncomfortably beneath the weak gaze of the sun's rays before finally sliding ever so slowly towards the left edge of the bed, tossing itself beyond its boundary only to land gently onto the icy, wooden surface below.

Wearily, Kagome eyed the blinds closely before her eyes swept off into an intriguing trance until finally taking a sharp swoop towards the bedside table perched close beside her. Nothing but a lamp and black, digital alarm clock prevented the table from seeming bare and naked to the world while even the tiniest items, including her club ID and car keys, tried its best to add to the scanty bit of covering the table had.

Peering mindlessly towards the digital clock, her eyes immediately grew wide with surprise.

It was nearly mid-noon, and her friend hadn't even taken the time to wake her up, meaning…

"Damn it! My mother's goin' to kill me for this!" Jumping desperately to her feet from the edge of the bed, Kagome quickly fumbled off towards the narrow, bathroom door adjoining her room, thoughts of how she was going to kill Kayla becoming just a figment of what was soon to come.

Curls beyond rich black-golden curls bounced steadily along the stern woman's face, somehow trying its best to hide the pissed off expression flaring through her deep, brown eyes. Her hands lay perched upon either side of her hips as she muttered crucially beneath her breath, teeth gritted tightly against one another, "I swear when I get my hands around that girl's neck that she wished she wasn't dance teacher at this school anymore than I was owner."

A nearby pipe-technician eyed the middle aged woman with a sudden feeling of terror added to his gaze, the new pipe in his hand collapsing towards the cement surface below, giving off a crashing bang that swept throughout the entire bit of space of the run-down locker room. Thankfully, he would have also joined it if he hadn't redeemed the ability of quick reflexes, bracing the palms of his hands strongly against the cement bricks lining beside him.

Strangely, only the constant drips of straying water sounded loudly through the locker room's barracks, dreamily echoing up and down along its bays until finally fading off into a thick blanket of darkness.

Author's Notes: Chapter One done, thankfully more to come…