The Crow *Status Update* 1st part of Epilogue Up!!

Title: The Crow
Author: Pucie
Chapter: Burn


A/N: Ok, here is the new and improved version of chapter 2. Special thanks go to TapTheMemoryBank, and Shaid! Shaid, I agree with you, just typing a copy of the movie does a disservice to the fans of the movie and the anime. It also takes away from the quality of the work, and poses no challenge in the way of working out the plotline for myself. I will however say that there are going to be some instances where the scene is a direct copy from one of the movies, such as the "Devil's Night Toast" that takes place at The Pit from the first movie. Dunno why I, but I've always liked that scene. . . And I want to keep some of the dialogue from both movies as well, just because they make such good catchphrases. TapTheMemoryBank, thank you so much for the encouragement! I decided to go ahead and revise my story because I want something that fans of the movie can enjoy, simply because it reminds them of the movie, but at the same time is something new for them. And I want to give people who haven't seen the movie a feel for what the movies are like, and yet still have a story that is uniquely my own. And a BIG Thank You to everyone who has reviewed, you guys are awesome!!

Burn

Kagome made her way quickly through the grimy streets on her skateboard. She couldn't be late for work again, or else her boss was gonna have her ass. . .

She had been able to find this job just a few months after her friends had died, and for that she was grateful. It might not be the best pay in the world, but it gave her enough money to finally move out on her own.

That was a relief in and of itself, because her mother had been trying to get her to take up her chosen profession. But, Kagome refused to lower herself to such a level as that. Her body was not just some object for sale, and besides, she had seen what had happened to her mother on those numerous occasions when her current pimp had decided her mother had need 'disciplined'.

She had never known how her mother could view sex as such a casual thing, anyway. To Kagome, it was the supreme act of love that should only be performed between two people who loved each other.

So yeah, she was grateful that she had found this job, too bad her boss, Sesshoumaru Yuniko, could be such a dick sometimes.

She quickly brought herself back to the present and focused on her surroundings. 'Ah, good. I made it here quicker than I thought I would.' she thought to herself as she opened the door and walked into the tattoo parlor.

"Kagome, how many times have I told you, I don't tolerate lateness," Sesshoumaru said from his place behind the counter.

"Not late this time, check your clock, Oh High and Mighty Lord of the Western Lands Tattoo Parlor," she said sarcastically.

He looked up at the clock on the wall behind him and confirmed that she was, in fact, on time. Seeing his plans for a swift punishment thwarted, he scowled at her as she made her way to the back room to store her things before she headed back out to get to work. Once back in the main room of the shop, she looked out the window to see that it had started raining again. . . . .'Great, as if I wasn't already depressed enough,' she thought to herself.

Sesshoumaru eyed her with concern when he saw the look of sadness cross her face. She was too young to be plagued by sadness of such magnitude. Truth be told, he thought of the girl as a younger sister.

Such being the case, he looked over to Kagome and voiced his concern, "You ok?"

"I'll be fine, Fluffy. I just wish it didn't rain all the time. . ." She sighed.

He was extremely hard on her, even more so than his other employees, but there was a reason for that. He saw the potential in her to become something great, and was grooming her for taking over the shop whenever he decided to finally retire. But she seriously needed to learn the lesson of "punctuality".

There was one other thing that bothered him where she was concerned, he really hated that damned nickname she had come up with.


~ Banko and the Roughriders~

They were cruising around town, just waiting, when the call finally came. They had been waiting to hear from Naraku all day. He was supposed to be calling them sometime today to let them know how he had decided he wanted them to kick off Devil's Night this year.

Banko answered his cell phone as soon as it started ringing. He was anxious and was past ready to cause a little mayhem, and hated having to wait for the Boss to call them with his plans. Of course, he didn't disclose this fact to his employer. Oh hell no! He liked breathing too much to let his mouth get carried away on that subject.

He listened carefully as the boss told him that they needed to get back to the Manse quickly, what he had planned for tonight was to sensitive to be broadcast over a phone, especially considering the fact that his lines were more than likely tapped.

Banko did a sharp U-turn and headed back out of the city to Naraku's hidden country 'retreat'.


~In the Cemetary~

Inuyasha continued to lay there as he tried to get a handle on his surroundings. Once his head had cleared, he looked around.

'What the hell am I doing in a cemetary?' he silently mused.

He tried to get to his feet, but he felt so damned weak. He stumbled and fell back on the cold, wet ground.

He managed to crawl over to the gravestone, and pulled himself up.

It took a few minutes of struggling, but he finally made it.

He stood there for awhile, he wanted to wait til he had gotten enough strength back before he tried walking.

He stood there contemplating his situation, and he suddenly heard the flapping of wings coming from behind him.

It was a huge crow, and it was flying straight at him.

Startled by the sudden appearance of the bird, he jumped, lost his grip on the stone, and fell to his ass.

He watched as the bird flew to land on the headstone he had just been leaning on.

He sat there and looked up at the bird, and noticed that he could see himself through the bird's eyes.

"What the fuck?" he muttered. Somehow he had a connection to this bird, and as he continued to stare at the bird, he saw it suddenly cock it's head in the direction of the exit/entrance of the graveyard he was in.

He didn't know how, but he did know that the crow was telling him that they needed to leave.

He needed to follow it.

So, standing on shaky legs, he lifted himself to his feet once again, found he could walk, and set off in the direction of the bird.


~Banko and the Roughriders~

They pulled up to 'The Manse', it wasn't really a house, but rather a huge club, and there was a new party every day. Only the best and wealthiest of Youkai could enter here.

If anyone else dared to try, they were simply exterminated. They got out of the car and headed in.

Banko knew just exactly where 'The Boss' would be. Right about now he'll be in the Rum and Coke room.

Following his instincts, he headed up the stairs to Naraku's private room, and knocked when he reached the door.

"Who goes there?" he heard his boss shout.

"It's me and my soldiers boss, should we come in or you want us to wait til you're finished?" he asked.

"No shame in what I'm doin, you boys come on in. Join the Party," he said.

Banko reached out and turned the knob. Stepping inside the room, he was greeted by his boss getting his cock sucked by his sister.

He had always known that the two were seriously sick when it came to things like that, but that didn't mean he'd ever wanted to see them in action.

As he watched, he saw Gura raise her head from his lap, and look at Naraku questioningly. He slapped her across the face, and yelled, "I never told you to stop, bitch."

She only grinned at him before resuming her current task.

"Bout time you boys got here, I've come up with the most brilliant plan this year. I had planned on this happening last year, but then that boy and his girl had to get in the damned way. So as my daddy used to say, "Ain't no time like the present". Boys, I think it's time to remind the fair people of our city who really runs shit around here, catch my drift? They've come to be damned complacent on MY holiday. It's time we showed these fucks what Devil's Night is all about. I was in the store the other day, and guess what the hell I saw?"

He continued on without waiting for their reply, "Fucking Devil's Night greeting cards! Tonight, we're gonna give them a damned show. By the time we're done, this whole damn city is gonna go up in flames," he said.

A/N: Yeah, I know this one is short, but I'm still working out the rest of the chapter, it's not flowing like I want it too. Promise I will get up here soon, though!!