Tasogare Akatsuki 'Dusk to Dawn'

Tinkerbell

Chapter 4 Playing the Game

The Mutants swarmed around him. Their leader had returned - late, but able and ready to lead them into battle. And they were all eager to follow.

Naraku approached his followers, they greeted him enthusiastically and with much respect. They all had questions to ask, and messages to give him, but he waved them off and said that he would speak to them all in the main hall.

Reluctantly the group obeyed and turned to meet him in the hall. Inuyasha was among the last of the group, and Naraku signaled for him to stay behind.

Inuyasha strode to Naraku's side, and spoke pensively to his friend.

"Good morning Naraku… Is everything alright?" Inuyasha could sense a tension in him, and he wasn't sure what it was. Naraku didn't answer at first, staring off into the distance while he stood pensive and quiet. After a moment he seemed to snap out of his thought-provoked trance, and took a quick glance at Inuyasha.

"It's nothing. I…" He paused awkwardly, his mind still somewhere else. "I just wanted to talk to you about my ideas for action. As my second in command and close friend I wanted you to know before anyone." Naraku became silent again, and Inuyasha nodded in response.

There was a short uncomfortable silence between the two companions, and Inuyasha couldn't help but remember the pressing matters he needed to discuss with Naraku.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"How'd you get that?"

Kiri looked at him curiously. "What the fuck do you mean?" Inuyasha pointed to her thigh.

"How'd you get that big bruise on your leg?" Kiri looked down at her leg and quickly lifted the rim of her skirt to see for herself. There on the side of her thigh was a large purple bruise. Kiri swallowed hard and looked back at Inuyasha trying to seem casual.

"I…I fell." Inuyasha's eyes looked at her in disbelief, and he knew she was lying. Kiri became uncomfortable and defensive under his stare.

"I said I fell." Kiri turned away from Inuyasha and started to walk towards one of the back rooms.

It had started again, and he didn't like it.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

But those things could wait, now wasn't the time.

Inuyasha was pulled out of his thought as he heard Naraku's deep, composed voice.

"Are 'you' alright?"

Inuyasha nodded slowly. "Yes, I just have some things I need to talk to you about too." Naraku looked at his companion with a touch of impatience.

"Can it wait?"

Inuyasha waved the matter off with his hand. "Of course."

Naraku patted Inuyasha on the shoulder in a friendly way and his lips turned up in a weak smile. But his placid and happy façade faded when he noticed the very pink, and very skimpy, figure of Kikyou approaching them. Naraku forcefully grabbed Inuyasha's shoulder, pulled his ear close to his lips, and whispered to him through clenched teeth.

"What is that slut doing here?" With every word Naraku's breath swept across Inuyasha earlobe menacingly. "You know I don't like it when you bring your toys around. She might have slept with almost every member of the Underground, but that doesn't make her one of us…..Fix this." Naraku let go of Inuyasha, shoving him slightly when in the process - his rare and acute kindness and friendly manner had dissipated. Inuyasha got the message clearly and took one reluctant side glance at Naraku, before approaching Kikyou.

"Uhh, Kikyou…can I talk to you for a second." Inuyasha tried to grab her shoulder, but she dodged his grasp. Smiling with confidence that was completely naïve, Kikyou walked straight up to Naraku, ignoring the look of disgust and annoyance in his face.

Kikyou was fucking Inuyasha, and getting what power and privilege she could from him, but if there was a chance to get at Naraku, 'leader' of the Underground, she would drop that puppy in a instant. Tucking a rogue curl behind her ear, Kikyou greeted Naraku cheerfully, her shiny, gloss, bubble-gum lips curled into a seductive smile.

"Good morning Naraku." He looked through her, not caring about 'anything' she had to say, and simply raised his eyebrow at her. His hands were linked behind his back, and he made no gesture to greet the anxious women, he only spoke to her with little emotion, or implication that he even cared that she was there.

"Why hello Kikyou." He had fake, smug, politeness, which was smooth and charismatic. "Your looking very….'underdressed' this morning." He let his eyes cross her body quickly, and she smiled as she adjusted her skin-tight jeans. She thought he was interested (like most the guys she talked to) and complimenting her - she was wrong.

Before Kikyou could open her mouth again to speak, Naraku cut her off harshly. "I'm sorry, but you must excuse me…..I don't have time for this." Naraku walked around Kikyou like she was just an unimportant obstacle in his way, and headed towards the rest of his followers. Kikyou stood there pouty for a second, before turning to look at his retreating figure. He passed Inuyasha (who had been watching his wench flirt with his best friend at a distance) and then turned to face her again.

"Actually…no I'm not."

"Not what?" Kikyou was a little hopeful, but mostly confused.

"Sorry." Naraku looked at Inuyasha, still disappointed in him, and enjoying the way his friend squirmed with anger. "I will inform you with everyone else." Naraku's voice was crisp and final, and with that he turned again, and continued on his stride to the rest of the group. Now Kikyou was completely sulky, her pride bruised from rejection - something she was not use to.

She crossed her arms under her pink tube top, and sighed hopelessly. She wasn't going to give up, she was just defeated at the moment. She then saw that Inuyasha was still standing there, about ten feet away, and tried to smile at him - she was still going to get what she could. Inuyasha only smirked at her, an innocent and playful gesture, that had much anger and stubbornness concealed in it. Kikyou's face faded at his hateful smirk, and she watched his figure, too, retreat to the main hall, annoyed and disgusted at her.

This was not her day. Kiri hated her - but Kiri had always hated her -, Inuyasha was also pissed at her and spending way too much time with Kagome, but that was nothing a little physical persuasion couldn't fix, and Naraku still looked at her like dirt. But she would have him, she'd find a way to mingle her way into the most powerful spot in the city. If she could get into Naraku's pants, and Kiri out of her way, she could control the Underground. If she could whip Naraku, she could whip them all. It was power, and it was a game….A game she wouldn't lose.

* * * * * * *

Kiri watched discontentedly from the lurking shadows of one of the main hall's doorway. She was anxious and nervous, and very unsure of what she would do.

She hadn't finished her story with Kagome, but she knew the ending all to well.

Kiri wasn't sure what mood Naraku was in, and was hesitant to confront him, for his anger might still linger. She had rushed out of the apartment this morning before he had awoken, so she really didn't know how he felt.

Of course the night had been 'good' for him. He had won, and gotten his way like always. Because even through the many moments of pain, humiliation, and other unspeakable things she had gone through for him, and 'because' of him, she was still subdued to him.

Her eyes flickered across his body, watching his stoic form trek across the room. He could not see her, and was completely unaware of her presence, and stalking eyes.

His arms were crossed behind his back, which forced his chest to protrude forward making him look even more powerful. He adorned a long, black leather, trench coat, black leather pants, and a black-tinted shirt that was sheer but still cast a dark shadow over his chest. The look on his face was priceless - cold, but with so much emotion that his picturesque, amethyst eyes glinted as they stared straight a head of him, not acknowledging anyone he passed. But the thing that set his tainted beauty to perfection was his locks of dark flowing waves and alabaster skin, which contrasted so well, he looked dead.

Dead, but beautiful.

It was the face Kiri had fallen for at first sight, and the face she still hoped she could resurrect, change back to the man who had been an illusion in her heart.

Kiri decided that she had better go over to greet him, before she was noticed hiding in a corner. She turned away from the life filled room and leaned against the wall for support. Sighing, she tilted her head back till it hit the wall, and stood staring at the darkness that loomed near the ceiling for a moment.

Pulling her head back upright and erect, Kiri pulled out her pocket mirror and clicked open the small, steel latch. She held the square, metal colored mirror in her palm, looking at the reflection that met her.

If it was her reflection, she didn't remember anymore.

The face she saw in the reflective glass was indifferent, staring ghostly back at her. Her green eye's seemed darker than usual, and they looked like two piercing emeralds lying against her silk, white skin. The pitch-black eyeliner that encircled her liquid eyes matched the even darker strands of ebony hair that fell carelessly to her face, gracing her defined cheeks. Kiri's stare skimmed the glass once more.

'I'm even starting to look like him.' With that thought she clamped the mirror shut, and shoved it back into her coat pocket angrily.

Kiri then stood up straight adjusting her mini skirt and fishnet stockings. When she believed she was ready to meet 'them', Kiri forcefully pulled her snow-white lips into a smiled and began to stride towards the center of the hall, where everyone had crowded together.

She walked quietly, her steps long and elegant, and the soft sound of clicking heels followed her. Naraku had settled, and stood with his back to her advancing form, talking with a woman member named Kagura.

Most of the Mutants were present in the hall, sitting on the various couches and chairs that were placed before their own big screen TV. A few of them who were standing or just happened to be looking in the area, noticed Kiri as she approached closer to Naraku's back. Most shrugged it off and returned to their conversations or to watching the TV screen, but some knew of the scene that might occur and the things that might happen - so they kept their eye's on the two of them, waiting for something.

As Kiri closed in on Naraku, Kagura's red, gleaming eyes left Naraku's face to stare menacingly at her. Kagura was one of Naraku's close associates in the group - friends, never, they despised each other too much, but as for working towards a common goal they put up with one another. But because Kagura and Naraku couldn't stand each other, Kiri was often pulled in to their quarreling and competition in ways she did like, or sometimes didn't even know about.

Naraku noticed that Kagura was distracted and immediately turned to see who she was staring at. When he was met with the timidly smiling Kiri, he automatically smiled. A smile filled with passion and emotion that was never revealed to anyone, except for in his deathly eyes.

Kiri was happy that he was smiling and not angry at her anymore, but she was still hesitant to say anything. She just stood there strong and tall, hands at her side waiting for him to say something - anything. He was a little taller than her so she looked up into his stoic face, and was surprised when he grabbed her wrist.

Without a word Naraku fingers looped around Kiri's slender wrist, and pulled her to him. As she was pressed against him, Naraku's other arm encircled her back, and he pulled her in for a kiss. Her head titled backwards to give him access to her lips, and she felt limp in his arms. She was unresponsive at first as he sucked at her bottom lip, but when his passion grew and he forced his tongue into her mouth the heated kiss took control.

People in the room watched in fascination at the two embracing, Naraku's fingers running through the waves of her hair as he held her possessively to his chest.

After the kiss had continued for a short eternity, and Kiri could really start to feel his passions deepen, she forcefully broke the contact. Though Naraku was very reluctant to let her lips escape, he still held her tightly with his hands resting on the small of her back, and watched her search his eyes. He couldn't tell what she was feeling, and decided to break the evanescent silence.

"You left so early this morning." He whispered to her, his voice resonating.

Kiri's expression softened, but still compassionless. "I know, I'm sorry. I just had to get out."

The piercing red of his eyes took on a mischievous gleam. "You weren't trying to 'escape' anything were you?" Kiri shook her head slowly.

"No, of course not."

Naraku's wicked smile widened, "Good." He then tilted his head down and brushed away her hair so that he could kiss her neck softly. He spoke between each butterfly caress.

"You know I hate not having you there. I love waking up next to you…Holding you…Touching you." Naraku raised his lips to her ear and whispered even softer. "Don't do it again." He emphasized his tense hiss by squeezing her arm - not enough to hurt her, but enough to make a point.

With Kiri startled at his threat and still trapped in his arms, Kagura decided to speak before he kissed her again.

"Would you rather we finish our little talk later? It is 'important', but I guess it can wait." Kagura stared at them with boredom. They really were wasting her time, and it did not help that she had had to watch Naraku group Kiri right before her own eyes.

Naraku turned his head to look at her, annoyed at the disrespect she was showing - as always. His features were stone cold as he spoke.

"Just leave." Kagura bowed her head slightly, her eyes still filled with malice. Then she gracefully turned and left towards one small group of people gathered near the far corner of the hall.

After she had left and most people had returned to their business from watching them, Kiri looked back at Naraku. He was observing her, and she felt uncomfortable under his intense stare. She was securely locked in his arms, and the only way she could get out was by force, which would not have come out so good for her in the long run. To show such disrespect to her boyfriend and leader, by rejecting his embrace and running away, was something she did not want to do.

Trying to break the tension between them, and to distract Naraku's hands as they crept lower down her back, Kiri spoke.

"What was wrong with her?" Naraku's hands ceased their decent and his gaze's intensity dimmed.

"She's always out to get me, as you know. I can't trust her at all. But besides that I know she is plotting against me, Kagura is also impatient. She thinks I should take immediate action against the threats from the Elite."

"Is it serious." Kiri interrupted.

"No of course not. But Kagura wants me to do something, because it would benefit her greatly."

"How?" She plaid dumb to keep him busy, though she knew the reason all to well.

"If I were to take action against our enemies, and I died in the process from an accident, then she would have the power to take control. But all reasons a part, she's has always wanted me dead. She thinks I have treated her unfair, but the problem lies in that I essentially control her."

Kiri nodded softly and her eye's slowly fell to the ground. "But she will get what she so pettily desires, for I have desires of my own."

Almost as an example of his power and desire, Naraku raised her chin with his finger, forcing her to look at him, and again kissed her lips - gentler this time.

"What is wrong with you?" He said as he pulled away slightly.

"Nothing." Kiri said not very convincingly. "We should go…they're waiting." She glanced over her shoulder at the others.

Naraku did not like the look of tension and uncertainty in her face, and the feeling that she was pulling away, but he knew she was right.

"Fine. Lets go." Naraku abruptly set her free from his arms, and did not even wait for her as he began to walk away.

Kiri licked her lips, and she watched him for a moment, before following a distance behind.

* * * * * * *

He examined the girls face closely. Her eyes were blank with discontent, and her face just as impassive as her eyes. She had a look of suppressed longing plaguing her features - what she desired he did not know. She could have longed for love, attention, relief, or even death, her face was to hard to read. He had to admit she was attractive, with her porcelain skin and black hair - she was beautiful even. Though her features, such as her hair and skin looked ordinary, something found on a thousand other girls if you looked, it was her eyes that set her apart. The way they went on for eternity as he stared at them, an abyss of verdant tinted blue that pulled you into their depths.

Sesshoumaru daintily touched the lips of the girl, before setting the picture back on to the table. The slick back of the ID picture caused it to slide across the table surface, before settling at its edge, the girl's eyes still watching him with disappointment.

"Who is she?" Sesshoumaru's stare raised from the picture to look at Miroku. He sat leaning to the right, supporting his weight on his elbow as he held his chin with his fingers gently, facing Miroku and the rest of the Elite. The important members present were seated on either side of the long table, and quietly watching their leader.

Miroku sat just to Sesshoumaru's left, and he smiled like always as he spoke.

"She is our surprise." Sesshoumaru blinked indifferently, and Miroku attempted to explain himself better.

"Last night myself and two other Babylons came across her on the lower parts of town. We found her with Naraku…" Miroku paused for effect, as he watched the reaction on his leaders face. Unfortunately none came, and Miroku began again, leaving out much detail on what really happened - Sesshoumaru didn't need to know that he had been drunk at the time, and his girlfriend didn't need to know that they had found this woman half-naked on the street.

Miroku looked across the table at his girlfriend Sango. She was slumped over in her chair, not listening, very bored, and picking off her nail-polish. He was never very faithful to her in the first place, but he didn't need to put his adulteries in her face - what she didn't know, couldn't hurt her.

Sesshoumaru awoke Miroku from his distraction. "And what does this have to do wit anything?"

"Well she was with…" Sesshoumaru sat up straight.

"I don't care who she was with, that only proves that she could be a hooker. We have no use for a hooker." His impatience and boredom was growing.

Miroku replied immediately.

"That is what we expected too, at first. But the way he acted around her, the way he seemed so protective, gave me enough suspicion. So today I did some research, and I found more than I had hoped." He smiled again.

Sesshoumaru looked back at the ID picture, examining it with even more detail, working out all the ideas, inspirations, and thoughts flashing by in his mind.

Miroku leaned closer to Sesshoumaru. "Her name is Kiri, and I think she is something Naraku would miss very much if she somehow came up…missing." His words came like silk and Sesshoumaru was somehow intrigued.

Sesshoumaru locked eyes with Miroku, and a simultaneous smile infected all the quiet, obedient members sitting at the table. They had found an upper hand, and Sesshoumaru would have joined their devious smiles, but he was too preoccupied with the thought of this girl.

* * * * * *

Kagome took her seat on one of the couches. She tried to make herself comfortable as she sunk into its deep cushions. She was upset that she hadn't finished talking with Kiri, but she new this was far from over. Once she was settled, Kagome ran her fingers through her still damp hair, and noticed Inuyasha coming to sit next to her.

He seemed annoyed, and with the pouty figure of Kikyou following far behind, she didn't even need to ask.

"Are you alright?" She wasn't quite sure why she asked. As Inuyasha sat down next to her, his annoyance seemed to melt away, and he almost smiled at her.

"I'm fine." His voice was quick and crisp, so Kagome knew not to ask further. They sat silently for a while, either not so sure what to say. Kagome was about to speak, when she noticed Inuyasha's angry stare.

His lips curled slightly and Kagome swore she heard him growl. The sight that he beheld was of Naraku and Kiri. Inuyasha wasn't the kind of guy to get in between two people, but as he watched his friend and leader forcefully embrace her, it just stirred something within him.

"What did you find out with Kiri?" Inuyasha didn't even look at Kagome as he spoke.

"She told me about last night, and how she got…bruised. It's nothing that we didn't know, or hasn't happened before." Inuyasha compellingly turned his head to look at her.

"Just because I know it happens, doesn't mean I have to like it." Kagome lowered her voice to a harsh whisper, hoping Inuyasha would too.

"What are we suppose to do? He is our captain."

"And she is our friend. Can we just let her deteriorate this way? Don't you care?" Inuyasha refused to lower his voice, no matter who might be listening.

"Of course I care. But if we go against Naraku, that could mean exile, and a whole lot of other shit for us." Kagome's eyes became slits. "And don't you dare think I don't care what happens to Kiri, she is one of the only friends I have."

Inuyasha turned his entire body to face her, placing his hand on her knee, half comforting half seductively. "That's why we have to do something damit!" He was fierce and headstrong, and Kagome knew that she could not talk him out of whatever he had planned.

Kagome's eyes traveled to her knee for a moment before returning to Inuyasha's vision. "What's your plan?"

"I will talk to him." Inuyasha's expression lightened, but he did not remove his grasp of her leg. Kagome smiled, and the two quieted down. They backed away from each other a bit when they noticed Naraku headed towards them, Kiri dragging miserably behind.

Kagome was then startled by a soft giggle. She lost her attention on Inuyasha, and looked around to see where the squeaky laugh came from. Seeing nothing in front of her, Kagome cocked her head to peek behind the back of the couch.

Sitting on the ground was her little boy Shippou. He sat cross legged, hands covering his face, green eyes glittery under the harsh lights, and tussles of flaming hair falling on to his forehead.

Kagome smirked at his pathetic attempt at hiding from her, and bending over the back frame of the brown leather couch, picked him up off the ground. She settled him into her lap, and pulled his hands away from his round face. He looked up at her stricken with a dumbly cute face.

"What were you doing back there?" Kagome asked in a childish voice, tickling his sides gently with her finger tips. After giggling and squirming, Shippou coughed out an answer.

"I was playing hide-and-go-seek with Kanna, and you ruined it…now she's gonna find me." Kagome wrapped her arms around Shippou's tiny waist, and squeezed him in a soft, motherly hug.

"I'm sorry baby, but you and Kanna are going to have to play somewhere else."

"Why?" A soft, emotionless voice whispered from the corner of Kagome's vision.

Kagome jerked her head, and her large, brown eyes, were met with two, silver orbs. The little, liquid eyed, girl was dressed all in white, and her thick, straight, hair matched the color of her eye's. Her face was listless with the undertone of childish curiosity. She was the albino, daughter of one of the lower ranking members, and Kagome had never liked her - she seemed so dead. But Shippou loved to play with her, so Kagome never did anything to stop her.

"Because Kanna, the adults are about to have a meeting, and we need you two and your other friends to go play in the back rooms."

"Come on Shippou-chan." Kanna's voice was ghostly, like the weak, whisper of the wind.

Shippou hopped off his mothers lap and wandered away, hand in hand with the pristine white girl. The two friends didn't look back, and had soon vanished out of the main hall, under heavy watch of Kagome's hawk like eyes.

"She really is a creepy kid." Kagome looked over her stooped shoulder at Inuyasha. He wasn't joking, his face blank and serious.

He sat snugly in the corner of the couch, one arm lying on the back of the brown leather sofa, and the other sprawled on his leg. His golden eyes were fixated on her, and the feeling of his stare made Kagome want to blush.

Inuyasha had really only said that, not because he meant it, or cared, but mostly just to get her to look at him. The tension between them was silence, and Inuyasha said the first thing that came to mind to break it.

"But I guess that isn't such a surprise, I mean she is Kagura's niece." The hatred for this red eyed, liar smiled woman hadn't stopped with Naraku.

Kagome smiled, but her eyes were chastising.

"You know you're cute like that." Inuyasha's rash abruptness finally pushed Kagome into blushing, and one of his flawless pretty-boy smiles brandished his face.

Kagome's studied the floor awkwardly, trying to avoid eye contact. "Why do you say things like that?….I mean, don't you already have someone?" Her voice was anything but bubbly, and to Inuyasha's great displeasure and disappointment, Kagome moved her stare from the floor to Kikyou. The pink tube-topped woman sat across the room, sipping some brandy and glaring at random passers by.

Inuyasha was desperate to close in the distance between them, and he leaned far in, and unreadable look on his face. "I get lonely sometimes…everybody does." He looked away for a moment as if searching for the right words, which could be floating in the air around him. "She means nothing to me." Kagome was hesitant to smile, and Inuyasha cupped her chin in his palm. "I had never had the choice of anything better."

He would have kissed her. Taken her lips right then and there…..but she pulled away. She was afraid of something, but she wasn't sure what.

Kagome had turned her cheek to his embrace, and Inuyasha's hand still float there, suspended in space where the lovely curve of her chin had been. His face contorted ending in a frown, and he pulled back to his corner of the couch in defeat. Kagome was nervous to face him, dreading the look of annoyance, anger or humiliation that she expected to be on his face. He was annoyed, hurt and rejected, and his voice revealed what he wouldn't admit.

"Do you not believe what I say?" He seemed agitated and impatient. Kagome still didn't look at him, but stared past the doors, past the walls, and into unseen oblivion.

"I have been hurt too much, too many times before." Inuyasha stared at her turned shoulder, again searching for the right words.

"But I don't mean to hurt you, truly I…" Kagome jerked her head to look at him; her eyes were not angry or hurt, just tired and sad. Her voice was no higher than a whisper of desperation.

"I don't care. It doesn't matter what you say…it's what you do." Inuyasha tried to explain himself, and save his pride, but he was hushed by her words.

"Any liar can say they love me. Only a man can show me he cares."

"But I…" Inuyasha stopped. He was well past agitated and drew closer to anger at every moment he thought of what she said. But he did nothing. Only reclined back into his snug corner of the leather couch. If he yelled at her now, it would only prove what she taunted him with.

Inuyasha's musings were interrupted as Naraku eloquent voice echoed through the main hall. He took one last confused glance at Kagome, who sat serious and ignoring him, then set in to listen to Naraku.

"Mutants of the Underground!" Naraku's words reverberated through everyone's ears, and he stood before them, arms tucked behind his back, and his chest pulsing with vigor and breath. Kiri was at his side, just another presentation of his power, wearing a smile that did not touch her eye's.

"Our forces in the city have become idle. We have had peace and calm for the longest time in years, with no gunshot or bloodshed of either sides. But the Elite have broken our silence, and we would be damned to do nothing about it." He was gaining the full and awesome attention of everyone present. "We all knew, if not remembered, Kirosai. He did not rank high in our cast, but was a great soldier. And I am sad that he was wasted on these months without action. But as some of you know, Kirosai was murdered, stabbed and then gun down, little over a week ago."

A voice spoke out above the group. "But the police have no suspects. How do we know it's them?"

"Do you believe such bullshit?!?" Naraku's voice contorted with even more power. "The Babylons gave their dollar to the right man at the police force, and bribed their way, so that the police would try to convince us it was anyone but them. Are we going to let them fool us? We know they are the ones behind it. Let them be punished for disturbing the peace, and let war rain again!" There was an applause that followed his abrupt silence, and the clapping quieted down as his voice rang out again. Naraku began to pace before his eager audience.

"We will not take action tonight…we need to build up our resources. But believe me.." He turned to Mutants dramatically fists clutched in front of him. "We shall get our revenge, and soon up town will be stained with their blue blood!" Again the applause followed almost mechanically, and Naraku looked back at Kiri, a bloodshot smile on his face.

"Tonight we find out information…and we shall grow ready for battle!"

Kiri couldn't keep her smile any longer, and she let her face fall dead - her cheap mask dissolved in her lovers hatred poison.

* * * * * *

"Are you sure they will be there?" Sesshoumaru inquired.

"Positive." Miroku's eyes were reassuring.

Sesshoumaru nodded his head absentmindedly, and Miroku continued.

"You, Sango, and I can stay at Club Meth keeping watch for activity there, while Kouga and a couple others can patrol around the streets. How about it?"

Sesshoumaru slowly stood up, leaning over his hands pressed against the tabletop. He spoke, scanning his deep gold eyes over the people seated, quietly listening. "We will move out at eight o'clock. And Kouga, I put you in charge of assigning three people to accompany you." His eye's paused on Kouga when he too rose from the table.

"Sir," his stare was downcast, intense blue eyes focused on the glinting table. "I was wondering if I too could go to Club Meth."

"So you can see some Underground slut." Miroku muttered louder than he should have. Kouga jerked his head to stare at the leisurely young man, who sat smirking, and leaning disrespectfully in his chair. He would have killed him right there, ripping those smirking lips off first.

"Well what about you Miroku? You only want to go so you can look like a smart guy for thinking up the plan and then kissing Sesshoumaru's ass, when we all know you'll just spend the night groping your girlfriend, or any other woman you could reach."

Many hands covered mouths, and the Elite members tried to suppress their laughter. Miroku was furious, and was definitely not amused - neither was Sesshoumaru. Kouga was right, Miroku had been kissing his ass, and would spend the night being a leach, but one thing he could not stand was his followers fighting each other, when there was a more important enemy.

Sango blushed bright pink, and Miroku stood up ready to defend his meager pride. But before the two had a chance to fight each other, Sesshoumaru's intimidating voice halted the brawl.

"Both of you shut up and sit down. You embarrass me. You are the Elite…Babylons…highest in the city, and here you are acting like high school assholes." He paused to look at the two who had silenced completely. "The night goes as planed, and Kouga will still lead the street patrol."

Kouga opened his mouth to speak, but was harshly stopped.

"And no arguments!" The blue-eyed boy immediately sat down, and Sesshoumaru turned his back on the group. He let the ominous echo of his powerful words play through the rooms and their minds, before replacing it with more baritone speech.

"You all know you jobs, and are free to go." Without looking back he left the narrow meeting room.

A/n: Whew, I am glad that is over. The next chap gets exciting, with the characters at club Meth and a lot of other juicy treats. Please read and review, and I promise it won't take as long with the next section, because unlike this chap I actually have an idea of what I am gonna do.

Arigatou, and keep reading!