Tasogare Akatsuki 'Dusk to Dawn'

Chapter 5 Sins of Temptation




A/N:
I know, I know, it took way to long for me to update, but believe me I had good
reason – which I will not bore you with now. But TADA! Here is your 8,028 word
next installment of one of my most popular fics, now doesn’t that make the wait
at least a little worth it, ne?

 

What
to expect in this next exciting chapter is: the whole club scene! Not much Sesshoumaru,
but lots of Naraku, more swearing, drugs, lust, and the answer to what really
happened between Naraku and Kiri that one mysterious night! So Please
read&review!

 

Oh,
and the song lyrics at the beginning of the chap are from the song “Stupid Girl”
by Cold. I absolutely love this song, and thought it was perfect for the story.

 

DISCLAIMER:
I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters, but I do own this plot and the
characters I make up with my own mind.

 

WARNING:
this chapter contains SWEARING, DRUG and ALCOHOL use, mild VIOLENCE, and lite
SEXUAL SITUATIONS….you’ve been warned.

 

(*
* *) means change in place, time, point
of view, or all three

(~
~ ~) means a memory, flashback, or dream

 

Now
read and enjoy!

 

 

Tasogare Akatsuki ‘Dusk to Dawn’

By Gothic-Tinkerbell

 

 

Chapter 5
Sins of Temptation

 

“Wanna love ya, wanna bug ya, wanna
squeeze ya…Stupid girl.

Wanna touch ya, wanna take ya, wanna shut
ya…Stupid girl.

 

I can’t take this.

Born to break this.

 

She’s going away, she’s going away…what’s
wrong with my life today?

She’s going away, she’s going away…what’s
wrong with my life today?

 

Stupid girl…Stupid Girl.

 

I’m a loner, I’m a loser, I’m a winner, in
my mind.

I’m a good one, I’m a bad one, I’m a sick
one, with a smile.

 

I can’t take this.

Born to break this.

 

She’s going away, she’s going away…what’s
wrong with my life today?

She’s going away, she’s going away…what’s
wrong with my life today?

 

Stupid girl…Stupid Girl.”

 

 

God how she
hated this. The first semi-slow song they play all night, and her she was
ducking into the bathroom so her boyfriend couldn't find her.

 

Kiri slid to
the floor, her back against the tile of the Lady's room wall. Her hip-hugging,
black plaid pants tightened around her thighs, and her red, midriff, T-shirt
rose up her torso as she slumped on the ground.

 

There were no
other girls in the insanely silver bathroom, so she pulled out her black
cigarette case with a rose engraving from her back pocket. Kiri tilted her head
against the platform of the sinks, lit up her cigarette, and brushed waves of
black hair from her face.

 

Drag after
drag, Kiri sat in silence, listening to the vibrating drone of the music
outside, and thinking too much.

 

She didn’t know
why she was here, beside the fact that Naraku didn't give her much of a choice.
The ride to Club Meth had been so awkward with tension, she had been afraid to
speak. So the drive had been…quiet.

 

It wasn't that
Naraku had seemed angry, or upset, but there was definitely something bothering
him. He had said something to her along the way.

 

'I'm worried about you.' Naraku had
flipped off the booming stereo, and turned occasionally from looking at the
road, to glance at her. She sat slumped against the passenger window, staring
at the night city from the speeding, black car.

 

She looked at him from the corner of her
eye. 'I'm sorry what?' She had heard him clearly the first time, but she really
didn't care or need his reasons to worry about her right now

 

“I said I'm worried about you.” Kiri looked at him faintly. 'Why?"

 

Naraku didn't answer right away, but when
he did it sounded as if he was changing the subject, but Kiri knew that the two
were dangerously related.

 

“I hear you've been talking to people.”

 

The
conversation hadn't go on much longer after that, but it had worried her. If
Naraku thought that she had been telling people what had been happening between
them both, behind closed doors, lately, she really didn't know what he'd do.

 

Kiri sighed
into her cigarette, letting the deadly smoke roll over her ample lips glazed in
deep red lipstick.

 

As she flicked
the deadened ashes of her expired cigarette across the ladies room floor, and
prepared to light up another one, the door swung open. Accompanying the breath
of warm air, was an instant of blasting music, and the chatter of the three
women entering the bathroom.

 

As they walked
into the bathroom, their group seemed to disperse, and the tallest of them all,
a particularly thin woman with straight brown hair, noticed Kiri on the floor.
She did not try to hide her look of arrogance and disgust as she stood for an
instant, watching Kiri ignite her silver rose lighter, and then light her
cigarette. She puffed at the end of it, trying to get a full drag, and the tall
woman questioned her with a great sense of presumption in her voice.

 

"You do
know your not allowed to smoke inside the bathroom?" Kiri pulled the
cigarette away from her lips, and blew a thick puff of heavy smoke directly at
the woman, a look of 'go fuck yourself' on her face. The woman gave another
look of disgust, and stalked off towards the large mirrors on the other end of
the bathroom.

 

As one of the
other three left for the mirrors, one stayed behind. Her face was round and
tan, with short, brown hair curving around her plump cheeks. The girl looked
young, but her womanly curves filled out her short, blue dress.

 

Kiri grew
annoyed when she realized the girl was not just staggered back from the group,
but standing and watching her. Kiri had been contemplating the floor, looking
head on into the abyss growing in her mind, but she now raised her eyes in a
silent, accusing stare.

 

The girl in the
blue dress now realized her mistake, smiling sweetly out of instinct and
immediately trying to validate her reason.

 

“I apologize,
it was rude of me to stare. But I was just… fascinated.” Kiri’s cold stare was
her reply.

 

“Uhh…well you
just looked…I mean.” The plump girl fumbled with her explanation as she felt
the judgment of Kiri’s eyes.

 

The girl
sighed. “You looked like you were going to die.” Awkward silence followed, and
the girl with her slinky, blue dress walked up to Kiri, hand extended, ready to
shake.

 

“My name’s
Tomi.” Her smile flashed with pink braces. But Tomi’s sweet expression and hand
pulled away when Kiri made no attempt to greet her.

 

While Tomi
stood looking hurt, Kiri took another drag.

 

Tomi was about
to give up and return to her vacuous friends, when Kiri had a change of heart, and
regretfully gave her name – she felt oddly sorry for the girl.

 

“My names
Kiri.” She said. The pink braces shone again, and Kiri smashed her cigarette
butt on the bathroom floor.

 

“I really am
sorry, I always do things like that, stare, ask questions, and just get my nose
where it doesn’t belong.” She chuckled.

 

Kiri spoke with
apprehension. “Really, it’s no big deal.”

 

The girl at the
mirror, who hadn’t asked Kiri about her smoking, now budged into the
conversation.

 

“Do you come
here often? I think I’ve seen you before.” She asked, while applying more
mascara to her already ink black lashes.

 

“Yeah. I’m sure
I’ve seen you also.” Tomi piped in.

 

“I come here
time to time.” Kiri was quiet and reserved, the way she always was with people
she didn’t know.

 

“We come here
all the time.” Tomi began – she was the talkative type. “We use to go to Liquid
moon, but they closed that down after the gang shootings. Now me, Reina…” Tomi
pointed to the girl at the mirror with mascara. “…and Nana.” She gestured to
the tall slender girl with brown hair. “Come here, because it’s the hottest
place in town.”

 

Nana turned
away from the mirror. “You mean you
always come here, you only drag us with you most of the time.” She gave an
arrogant look at Kiri. “Tomi’s on a desperate search for a boyfriend.”

 

Tomi blushed,
and tried to act like the comment didn’t embarrass her. She attempted to change
the subject.

 

“What about you
Kiri? Do you have a boyfriend?”

 

Kiri’s
expression went from contemplative to defensive and almost frightened. She
looked up at Tomi with fierce eyes, making it clear she didn’t want to answer
the question.

 

“I’m sorry.”
Tomi retorted automatically. “I didn’t know, I was just curious. I had no idea
that…” She stopped mid sentence, a look of shock came over her face, as it
dawned on her. “He’s the reason…isn’t he? The reason you’re so upset…”

 

Kiri cut her
off. “How old are you Tomi?”

 

The girl spoke
with young innocence. “Well honestly I’m seventeen, but my ID says
twenty-one.”

 

Kiri thought back
to the tragic hardship that had been her seventeenth year of life. A lot had
happened at that point that would control her future from then on.

 

“As someone
young, I give you one piece of advice. Bad things happen to good people, so
it’s better not to ask questions…you might get the truth.”

 

She spoke with
a tone of finality in her words, and Tomi wandered over to the mirror and her
friends, without even saying ‘sorry’ this time.

 

None of the
girls talked for a while, the only sounds were the clicking of compacts,
lipstick tubes, and the distant drone of the music in the club. Kiri had
returned to her cigarette, and again her mind drifted, until she was pulled
back by female voices at the mirrors.

 

“Did you girls
see some of the guys here?” asked Reina.

 

“I know -
complete hotties.” Added Tomi.

 

Nana looked at
them both with a smug knowing. “But you won’t believe the guy I saw.” Nana and
Tomi were silent with anticipation. “The leader of the Elite
himself…Sesshoumaru. The walking dream with silver hair.”

 

Kiri’s ears
tuned to their conversation after she caught the name of her gang’s greatest
threat.

 

Tomi giggled.
“Are you serious?!? He is like the hottest thing to ever come out of uptown.” A
wide smile stretched her lips. “Did you talk to him?”

 

The tall, thin,
bragging girl’s smile faded. “No. But I’m pretty sure he looked at me for
while. I’m just waiting for him to come talk to me…you know, play it cool.”

 

Tomi nodded in
agreement.

 

“Oh but that’s
nothing compared to who I saw.” Reina
said as she applied a third coat of mascara in the mirror.

 

“Well I bet
your going to tell us.” Nana said, angry she was being out done.

 

Reina looked at
her and smiled, “Of course.” She put her mascara away and faced the girls.

 

Without realizing
it, Kiri had somehow been drawn into their banter, and was actually somewhat
curious who this man was.

 

“Okay.” Reina
began painting her story. “Right after we got here, I wanted to get a drink,
but the front bar was completely crowded with people. So, I went to the back
bar, you know, where all the drug dealers and hard cores hang out, and after I
got my Jack Daniels, I walked around a bit, and checked out the people. Then,
low and behold, sitting at one of the farthest tables, I saw Naraku.”

 

Tomi gasped,
Nana’s eyes grew to saucers, and Kiri got off the ground.

 

Nana
interrupted. “Your kidding right. I mean, I’ve seen him before, but not at a
place so mainstream as this.”

 

“I swear I’m
not kidding. And girls, he-was-gorgeous.” Reina rolled her eye’s back to
exaggerate her point.

 

“I think he’s
kinda creepy…have you heard the rumors?” Tomi muttered.

 

Reina looked
down at the innocent teen. “I know, but isn’t that part of the whole
attraction. He’s got that dangerous appeal, and those eyes - I swear they were
on fire. I mean, when he noticed I was staring at him and looked back, I
couldn’t take it and I rushed right back here.”

 

“Oh my god.”
Nana wore a smile that instantly came to the lips when fantasies played through
the mind.

 

Reina giggled
seductively and bit her lip. “I bet he’sanimanimal in bed.”

 

Kiri couldn’t
take this anymore, and anger boiled inside of her at these girls who didn’t
know shit. If they wanted him so bad, they could have him. But they didn’t
know, and would never understand. And the fact that there was nothing she could
do about it angered her even more.

 

Kiri left the
silver women’s rooms, slamming the door open and shut, and ing ing her burnt
out cigarette butts, and three very confused girls.

 

·       
* * * * * *

 

Naraku downed his
shot of peppered vodka, and slammed the glass on the smooth tabletop. He wiped
his lips clean with his fingers, and then holding his chin in his hand, propped
up his tipsy head.

 

He was staring
holes across the room. His dark eyes unfocused, and his mind drifted.

 

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

 

The gathering
had adjourned and everything seemed good and settled to him. He had sent Kiri a
head to the car and told her to wait there for him. They were just going to go
out to get some lunch, and then head back to the apartment before the club, but
Naraku still liked to know where she was.

 

He had stopped
to talk to one of his informants for a moment, and was lagging behind when a
firm hand was placed on his shoulder. Naraku turned to come face to face with
Inuyasha. His second in command’s solemn expression was carved in stone.

 

“I need to talk
to you.” The tone of his voice didn’t seem to leave much room for discussion,
and Naraku detested the sound.

 

“Right now is
not a good time…” Inuyasha interrupted him harshly.

 

“No. We need to
talk now.”

 

Naraku was
skeptical, but sighed, and gave in. “What the fuck is this about Inuyasha?”

 

“We can’t talk
here.”

 

Naraku wore a
nasty smile, mocking his friend with sarcasm. “Then lead the way.”

 

Inuyasha
motioned to the alleyway with his head, and Naraku followed him reluctantly.
Mostly everyone had left, so they could be alone.

 

When Inuyasha
finally stopped, Naraku was about to speak, but was silenced as he was shoved
and pinned against the slick wall of the alley. Before he could defy the act of
force, he was met with pure anger.

 

“What the fuck
have you been doing to Kiri!?!” Inuyasha still had his hands forcefully on
Naraku’s shoulders, and he was only inches away so that he was completely understood.

 

Naraku tried to
push Inuyasha off him. “What the…”

 

“You said you
weren’t going to do shit like that anymore!” Inuyasha barked through clenched
teeth.

 

The delicate
matter was finally dawning on Naraku, and he attempted to keep his own anger
under control as he addressed his dimwitted follower. He had eyes of cold fire
that met Inuyasha’s stare with vigilance.

 

“I haven’t done
anything.” He stayed calm and preserved, and played innocence with perfection.
sp; sp;

“I saw the
bruises god damit!” Inuyasha was to the point of slugging Naraku straight in
the face, but directed his rage to the alley wall as his fist met with the
stone right next to Naraku’s head. Inuyasha dropped his head, looked at the
ground, and panted as his heart raced with rage.

 

Naraku took
this opportunity to carefully take Inuyasha’s wrist, pull his hand from the
wall and placed it to his side.

 

“Ahh, temper,
temper.” Naraku eyed his companion and subordinate angrily, as he slipped out
from his grasp.

 

“You never hit
a girl.” Inuyasha whispered, but his voice gained intensity. “You never ever
fucking hit a girl!” He punched the wall again, and the sound of the impact
reverberated against the mildew festered alley.

 

Naraku studied
him for a moment, and shook his head.

 

“It’s pathetic,
you know that don’t you?”

 

Inuyasha
finally raised his head to look over his shoulder at Naraku. He didn’t say a
thing.

 

“I mean, when
have you ever cared about what I’ve done before? When did you become a night in
silver armor, ready to defend the damsel in distress?" There was a moment
of tension between the two, as their eyes were locked in a silent battle in
which Naraku was undoubtedly victorious. "Never once did you say anything
in the past? Why now?” He mused mockingly as a sneer bloomed on his face.

 

Naraku sighed.
“Just know this,” He leaned closer to Inuyasha, his expression unpredictable.
“You take orders from me. That means I can listen to what you say, but I don’t
have to care.”

 

Inuyasha was at
a loss of words, and took his defeat without pride, honor, or a last word.

 

“Have a nice
day Inuyasha." Naraku clipped. "I will see you at Club Meth tonight.”

 

He left the
alley, and headed for his car. He could see Kiri sitting in the passenger seat,
watching his approach from the alley as if he was the bringer of death himself.


 

There was
always something about her fear that aroused him. But sadly he wasn’t in the
mood to bring her to her knees trembling…yet.

 

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

 

Naraku looked
up as his informant sat down across from him. He was a thin jittery man,
paranoid in a way, and always one to look over his shoulder. But experiencing
the punishments he’s faced from being a snitch, would make anyone twitch.

 

The man itched
his nose, as he looked at Naraku’s slumped form.

 

“You look like
shit.”

 

The glare given
by Naraku terminated any further discussion about that, and the snitch knew
well when to change the subject. He snapped his fingers repeatedly until an
annoyed waitress making rounds came over.

 

“Tequila
please.” The waitress left with his order.

 

“Kazuki, did
you bring me anything or not?” Naraku was impatient, and getting drunker by the
minute.

 

Kazuki chewed
on his fingernail nervously, and muttered out a reply.

 

“Sorry boss, didn’t
get much.” His eyes darted around the room, trying to look anywhere but at
Naraku.

 

“Well what did
you get?”

 

“I know that
some Elite are coming here tonight. I don’t know when, and I don’t know who,
but they got to be some important people. Other than that information was
pretty scarce, but the clubs not that big, your people should be able to find
them.”

 

The building in
which Club Meth resided was a two story building that once had been used as
factory for heavy drug dealers, before the measly law enforcement broke down on
them. In short, the place was pretty damn big, and could hold a hell of a lot
of people, so though the Elite leaders were well known, it would still be like
looking for a needle in a haystack.

 

Naraku was losing
tolerance for his informant. “Do you even know why they’re here?”

 

Kazuki gave a
jerky shake ‘no’ of his head, and knocked back his shot of tequila that the
waitress had just brought him.

 

Naraku frowned
and stared at the table in thought for a moment, not even lifting his head when
he finally spoke.

 

“Get out of my
site, maggot.”

 

Kazuki took the
warning nice and clearly, and scurried from the table like a frightened mouse.
Naraku put his head back in his hand, and tried to clear his thoughts, and
extinguish his anger.

 

*
* * * * * * * *

 

Kiri plopped
down on a leather barstool rubbing her temples in frustration. She was staring
off into her own personal consuming void, when the bartender interrupted her.

 

"Look
sweetheart we got a full bar tonight, so if you want to sit you got to order
something too."

 

Kiri looked at
the man, her expression threatening, rivaling a madman.

 

"Vodka on
the rocks," she looked him straight in the eyes, "and if you call me
sweetheart again…I'll throw something."

 

The bartender
left with her order, returning with less than enthusiastic service. Kiri
continued for two more shots, before she began to loosen up and felt like
moving around.

 

She turned
around on her barstool and looked out upon the crowd. People danced in a mob
like fashion, convulsing to the music till detail seemed to disappear and the
forms melted together into a unified congregation of sin. Something inside her
wanted to join with them, forget her problems and individuality by becoming one
of the pulsing crowd.

 

But first she
needed a lift.

 

Finishing her
fourth shot that sat patiently on the counter, she rose and left the sanctity
of the bar. She slowly mingled around the outskirts of the mob, and made her
way to the back of the club, filed with scattered tables and questionable
behavior. Looking around for her specific need, she spotted a round table in
the far right corner with three men sitting at it. They huddled around the
tabletop, which was laced with a white powder, almost unnoticeable from her
distance - but Kiri knew what she was looking for.

 

Kiri approached
the table, her mood completely changed as she made a show of herself - standing
tall, eyes seductive, and flaunting her feminine features. The three men noticed
her well before she made it to their table, and they were cautious but
interested.

 

The one in the
center of the three had a square, dark face, and a goatee, and watched her with
the most intrigue. Kiri returned his stare, and a tacit agreement was formed
between them - they both knew why she was coming.

 

Kiri finally
sat down at the table. The center one immediately spoke.

 

"Oh,"
he snickered, "well what's a pretty lady like you watching something like
this." The man with the goatee gestured to the small mound of fine, white
powder, himself, and the two other men snorting it. Kiri looked at him coldly -
she was drunk, unhappy, and in no mood to mess with assholes.

 

"I'm not
watching." A wicked and patronizing smile plaid on his lips.

 

"Then I
must ask. What's a pretty lady like you doing with things like this?" Kiri
had no patience for him, and was sick of him treating her like she was some
untouchable, pure, innocent, little girl. She leaned over the black marble
table, her arm under and across her chest, accentuating her breasts - she
wanted to make sure they were paying attention.

 

"So what?
A lady can't get fucked up?" The man's wicked smile grew bigger and gained
a lustful tint. The look on his face, mixed with the well-groomed goatee around
his lips, made him look just like what the old biblical stereotype of Satan
should be.

 

"Would the
lady like some help to get fucked."
Kiri scowled at him, showing her disgust for him and his too contently watching
friends.

 

"I was
talking about the coke, you dip-shit."

 

The man's smile
faded slightly. "And I was talking about you, wench."

 

Kiri reacted to
their sudden flash of anger, and smiled teasingly. "Well, I might think
about your offer, if you let me take a hit." Kiri gestured to the pile of
cocaine quickly with her finger. The men's smiles returned ane one one in the
middle signaled to his friend on the right.

 

The man on the
right pulled out a small, rectangular piece, of white, paper, and placed it on
the table next to the coke. He then took a small sifter out of his other
pocket, and created a thin, white, line of power down the center of the paper.
Then with a smile and a wink, pushed the paper across the table to Kiri. He
offered her a straw, but she refused. And the three men looked on in wonder, as
Kiri bent over the paper, covered one of her nostrils with her thumb, and
inhaled the entire line of powered, in one hit, through her nose.

 

Kiri lifted her
face back into their gazes, and shook her head slightly while twitching her
nose. She then smiled and tucked a strand of her black bangs that had fallen
into her face, behind her ear.

 

"That's
some good shit."

 

The men were
impressed and decided that this girl was worth keeping around. But Kiri ran her
fingers through her hair and rose from the black marble table.

 

"Thanks."
Kiri smirked at them and started to walk back to the pulsing dance floor. The
man with the goatee looked at his friend on his left and then stood up, calling
out to Kiri.

 

"Hey, what
about our offer!" Kiri stopped and slowly turned around. She met their
stares with poise and confidence, and the same disgust she had be.
e.

 

"I said
I'd think about it. That doesn't mean I'd say yes." With that Kiri turned
and entered the sea of swaying bodies, beneath flashing lights, and it was no
use for the men to try and find her. The one with a goatee sat down and hunched
over the table, taping his finger on its smooth surface.

 

"Bitch."
He muttered.

 

But Kiri's
injustice in their eyes was soon forgotten at the consumption of more
narcotics.

 

*
* * * * *

 

Kiri felt an
arm on her shoulder and turned around. She wasn’t disappointed or excited to
see Inuyasha smiling at her with a glass of liquor in his hand.

 

“Yo.” His lips
curled up in a cocky smile.

 

“Hey.” She
replied weakly.

 

Kiri could tell
what he was thinking as he looked her up and down, smelling the alcohol on her
breath, and the red hue creeping into the corners of her eyes.

 

Inuyasha
frowned. “Are you okay?”

 

Kiri smiled
facetiously. “Never better.”

 

“You’re not
very convincing.” He said, half joking, half worried.

 

“Damn.” The
same frustrated smile crossed Kiri’s lips. “I guess I have to work on my acting
skills.”

 

“But seriously,
what’s bothering you?”

 

Kiri sighed. Too
much of her life was crumbling in the palm of her hands. Not like she had much
control over it anyway, but the pieces just seemed to keep falling, falling.

 

“I don’t really
want to talk about it.” Kiri took a new interest in her shoes, as she avoided Inuyasha’s
stare.

 

He saw that she
was turning away, and he made a drastic move to keep her interest.

 

“I talked to
Naraku today…” No longer than did he utter those words, did Kiri’s eyes fix on
him in unadulterated accusation.

 

Surprised by
the sudden hostility towards him, Inuyasha tried to defend himself.

 

“I was only…”
She cut him off.

 

“It was you?”
She whispered. Kiri drew closer to Inuyasha, getting in his face. She looked up
at him menacingly, not letting him speak. “You're the one who ratted me out?”

 

“I didn’t rat
you out…”

 

“Shut up!” She
began to chuckle dryly to herself. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

 

Inuyasha tried
to apologize. “I was only trying to help.”

 

“You would have
helped more if you had just kept your big mouth shut, and you nose out of where
it doesn’t belong.”

 

“I was worried
about you Kiri.”

 

“Well you
better be worried now!” She smiled wickedly, her fear playing out ironically on
her lips.

 

Inuyasha put
his hand on her shoulder. He looked into her eyes.

 

“What is he
going to do you?" He began to shake his head slowly, "Cuz Kiri I
swear I will beat the shit out of him if…”

 

Kiri brushed
Inuyasha’s hand off her shoulder, and shoved him, his drig spg spilling onto
the ground. “Your a little late.”

 

She stalked off
into the crowd of people on the dance floor. Inuyasha watched her go, again
feeling out of control of the situation, and guilty for making it worse.

 

·       *
* * * * *

 

Sesshoumaru
made his way through the scattered crowds of people. It wasn’t very difficult,
because they all seemed to move aside for him, except for the few who froze
like a deer in headlights, desperate to say something, to touch the infamous
figure - but who were all to afraid.

 

His face was
set in a silent but intimidating stare, and wisps of his silver dyed hair fell
to his face, giving him a mystical look, as they brushed against his tattooed
markings.

 

The staircase
to the second floor lay before him as his destination. But an impulse caused
him to side-glance and pick up a familiar face.

 

Sesshoumaru
stopped to look. A girl with a despairing face was shoving her way through the
dancing people. Something caused him to watch her for a moment – her face
seemed so familiar, but he couldn’t place where he had seen her before.

 

Then their
eye’s met. The girl had raised her head to avoid being hit in the face by a
waving arm, and she locked her eye’s with his stare.

 

Sesshoumaru
noticed how fleeting the moment was. The figure of despondent beauty almost
seemed to cower and flee from him instantly, and before he knew it, she had
disappeared into the crowd again.

 

He reluctantly
returned to his business, regarding the incident as strange, and then ascended
the stairs. He came upon yet another crowded dance floor, smoke tainted air,
and sinful people. As he entered he passed Mi and and Sango, who were in heated
embrace against a wall.

 

Sesshoumaru
spoke as he passed them, not even heeding the two, in his eyes disgusting,
lovers. “I think I found something…”

 

The two pulled
apart in shock. Miroku immediately straightened out his clothing and fixed his
hair, while Sango wiped her smeared lipstick from her cheek. They both had red
cheeks and panting breaths as they followed behind their poised leader.

 

·       
* * * * * *

 

Kiri dodged deeper
into the crowd to avoid Sesshoumaru's glance. She couldn't believe he was here.
Sure, that one girl from the bathroom had said that she had seen him, but Kiri
hadn't given much credit to what a shallow, gossiping girl said.

 

A shot of
liquor sat unattended at an empty table, and without even knowing what she
drinking, Kiri downed the burning liquid to take the edge off.

 

The song again
changed to a more uplifting beat. The palpitating base would make anyone want
to move, and it was just the inspiration Kiri needed.

 

With a new
sense of passion she discarded the shot glass and found a spot inside the
droning dance floor.

 

Bodies swayed
and closed in the distance. Hands were everywhere from different arms, touching
and feeling without a sense of shame. Sweat stained the air with an acrid
scent, and the orgy of dancing continued.

 

Kiri closed her
eyes, letting herself follow the music without question or doubt, ignoring all
other outside forces. She gave herself over to the beating vibrations, and nothing
else mattered.

 

An eager man
had seen Kiri dancing alone, her rounded figure moving seductively, and made
his way to her, standing behind Kiri and countering to her every move. Kiri
didn't pay attention to the man, and kept moving and swaying - ignoring his
hands on her hips, his eyes on her body, and the friction he was imposing on
her. The stranger was practically molesting her within the social and
traditional boundaries created by generations of uncensored culture, but she
didn't care.

 

She just had to
keep dancing.

 

The music beat
faster and the orgy followed frantically. But observing from the corner, a
spider was lurking, just emerged from his blackened nest. His dark curls flowed
onto his taught shoulders, and cast grotesque shadows onto his deathly pale
face. The murk of the corner consumed his form as his all black attire melted
into the background. He wore an expression of dissatisfaction. The spider
stayed outside the dancing mob and kept his eyes on Kiri and this intruding
man.

 

Naraku growled.


 

There he was,
defiling his woman in the vast public that was the dance floor. This man's
hands were on Kiri's hips, occasionally grazing her ass. His firm on on her
body made it easy to move against her and manipulate both their movements.

 

This man was
crossing a line, and touching what did not belong to him. Touching what was his. Naraku couldn't watch this anymore
- he couldn't take it.

 

Naraku pushed
his way through the crowd, everyone seemed to be in his way, and his anger
amplified his impatience. A few dancers he had shoved aside had begun to
challenge him, but their threats were taken back once they saw who exactly they were dealing with.

 

Finally he had
worked his way to Kiri and the intruder. He stood behind the two, threatening and
ominous. Naraku even watched them for a moment, motionless, staring at the back
of the violator’s head, focusing all his drunken rage into that one spot.

 

The whole wave
of people ebbed and flowed around him, and he seemed to be the only stable and
constant thing for miles. His stillness was only broken once he finally let his
rage be released.

 

In one swift
motion Naraku pulled back his fist and slugged the side of the man's head from
behind. The two broke apart instantly, and Kiri stopped and turned, horrified
to see Naraku panting with anger and adrenaline, while the man she had been
ignoring but dancing with none the less, staggered back a bit.

 

A few close
range dancers observed, but not enough noticed to start a real audience.

  nce nce the man
finally came back up, Naraku gifted him with another blow to his swelling face
- before the stranger even had a chance to see the fist coming.

 

Life seemed to
play slowly for a moment, and Kiri saw in great detail, the man's head knock
back, and his body give out beneath him and begin to fall.

 

This was all
too familiar, and as he fell in slow motion to her eyes, Kiri remembered in
bitter clarity what had occurred between Naraku and herself the night before.

 

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

 

Her bruised
shoulder hit the ground again, bashing the tender area, and Kiri gasped in
response. The force of his blow sent her back colliding with their bedroom
wall, and she lay motionlessly on her side - afraid to move.

 

But before she
knew it the preying spider was upon her.

 

Naraku bent
down on one knee and reached for her neck. His fingers enclosed around the soft
pale flesh, and he lifted her back onto her feet.

 

Kiri scratched
desperately at his fist, and avoided contact with his rage filled dark eyes -
the undefined depths focusing purely on her. Again she had to be reminded that
running away was not a smart choice,
nor really an option. Her legs kicked out but could not reach him.

 

With sadistic
ease her held her up by the neck, just forceful enough so that she wouldn't
choke - but she would cry. He played gamegame with skill and poise, keeping his
placidly mysterious façade, as he struck terror inside his beloved.

 

In his eyes,
each cut, each bruise, each mark in her skin that he left was a lesson, and
though she never did stop trying to escape, and she never really fully subdued
to him - this was the only thing he knew to train her.

 

He had
cultivated pain within his stone-cold heart for as long as he could remember. He
loved her more than anything he had ever known, so she should only receive what
he had in abundance.

 

Naraku slammed
Kiri against the bedroom wall, his hand still in a death grip around her neck.
His eyes traveled the length of her body, noticing the black-and-blue spots on
her whiter than white skin. He grinned oddly.

 

"Say that
you love me." Again he raised the horrid demand, in a threatening growl.
Kiri began to weep and convulse from fear.

 

Naraku slam her her against the wall again, and tightened his chokehold on her.

 

"SAY
IT!!!" He raged.

 

A glowing
sliver of the moon shown out as a silver silhouette against purple skies. A
city of sin slept, as its nocturnal inhabitants still roamed free. And far
below the dawn-tinted horizon, a muffled cry of pain could be heard, and then
followed by the words of a broken heart.

 

"I love
you."

 

Kiri coughed,
and choked for air - her dignity again taken from her.

 

Now that his
simple request had been satisfied, the odd grin returned, now accompanied by a
primitive glow in his eyes.

 

Kiri was still
only wearing a pair of black cotton panties, and the rest of her, from the
sloping curve of her chest to her ice-bitten toes, was his to have.

&;
;

Naraku looked
Kiri one more time in the eyes, his grin expanding into a now lustfully evil
smile. He reached for her panties, and ripped them off.

 

Kiri would have
moved away from him, but there was nowhere to go - she was trapped. So Naraku
closed in around her and took wha bel believed to be rightfully his.

 

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

 

The mans body
hit the dance floor, and time for Kiri stopped moving at an agonizing pace. She
shook her head to dissipate the fog in her mind.

 

She looked down
at her arm. Naraku had a firm grip on it, but was distracted for the moment with
the task of making sure the stranger got every bit of pain her could render.

 

Since he was
ignoring her, she took the time to observe him. Aww, how he disgusted her - but
his jealously was a strange thing. She hated the controlling, accusing attitude
he had, but at least someone out there wanted her so much he would fight to
keep her. But that wasn't always a good thing either.

 

Kiri felt his
grip get tighter, and was now being dragged behind him as he wormed his way out
of the gathering crowd. Even though the man Naraku had fought was close to
being unconscious, no one dared move to help him until they knew the dangerous
Underground leader had left.

 

The two stopped
on the outskirts of the dance floor, their voices and bodies hidden by a larghadohadowing overhang. Naraku forced Kiri to face him, or at least look up at him
because of his intimidating size.

 

Kiri blurted
out her defense before she knew how Naraku was going to react to the situation
at hand.

 

"It's not
my fault - I was just dancing. I didn't know he was there…I'm sorry."

 

"I
know!" Naraku yelled to silence he pleading. "I hit him, not you,
didn't I?"

 

Kiri nodded
shakily. She could tell by his eyes and breath that he was drunk, but then
again, from her appearance and smell he could probably tell she too was drunk
and had been snorting cocaine - so they were even.

 

She also
noticed that Naraku was contently staring at her, as if he was always about to
say something, but decided against it.

 

"What is
it," she asked. "Is there something wrong?"

 

"No."
He shook his head as he answered - his reply seemed automatic more than
genuine.

 

He took in a
heavy breath, as he never let his eyes leave hers. The green pools, now a musty
purple from the darkness, seemed to pull him in, and he was drowning in their
depths.

 

"I was
just thinking about how I wanted this to be a night for you and me, and yet
I've seen you hardly at all tonight."

 

This was partly
her fault for avoiding him, but she almost completely forgot her reason for
that as she was strangely touched by his sincerity.

 

"As you
know, I've never been one to let business get in the way of pleasure," He
grinned boyishly as he took her hand in his. "But I've been so distracted
lately, I ignore the most important things."

 

Naraku kissed the
smooth top part of her hand in a sweet gesture.

 

Kiri would have
let her jaw drop to the ground if possible. How could he say such a thing?
After everything, absolutely everything
that has happened in just the last twenty-four hours, how could he say this? He
was a real son-of-a-bitch to treat her like shit, and then manipulate her
feelings the next - and he knew he was. In fact, thought Kiri, he probably
enjoyed it. He enjoyed this complex game he had created, of love, life, sex,
and lies, with her as the pone.

 

Kiri couldn't
help but be cruelly facetious. "What are yoingoing to say next? Ask me to
marry you?" She probably shouldn't have said this, but she did.

 

Naraku's
sickly-sweet smile faded, and he let her hand drop. The two beloved lovers and
hated enemies stood in intense and uncomfortable silence. Naraku's impatience
with ignorance caused him to give in first.

 

"We can
leave now, your highness," he clipped maliciously. "I've gotten what
I came for, s may may gather the others and leave."

 

A familiar male
voice piped in. "Already?"

 

Kiri glanced to
see Inuyasha.

 

"Yes,
Inuyasha. Already." Naraku had no patience for him now.

 

Kiri looked at
the silver hair boy, stuffed into leather pants, and a button-up blue shirt,
which still held the stain of his liquor that Kiri had spilt on him - she felt
bad for that now.

 

She looked back
at Naraku and soon realized the mounting tension and awkward silence between
the three of them. Naraku was staring at Inuyasha in displeasure, Inuyasha
looked at Naraku with apprehension, and her eye's traveled from one to another
as she began to wonder what had really happened between them earlier.

 

Kiri
desperately tried to break the enclosing silence.

 

"May I use
the ladies room before we leave?"

 

"Fine."
Naraku snapped at her without looking. "Just be quick about it, and met us
at the main entrance."

 

Kiri nodded and
headed towards the bathroom - relieved she was leaving that situation.

 

Once Inuyasha was
sure Kiri had gone, his normal façade melted into professional seriousness.

 

"I saw my
half-bro…I mean, I saw Sesshoumaru."

 

"Wonderful.
Did you two have a nice family reunion?" Naraku wasn't done with his
sarcasm quite yet.

 

"You know
we don't speak." Inuyasha said with a heavy sigh. "And forgive
me," false sincerity added to his voice, "I thought you might want to
know that your most hated opponent and rival, in fact your worst enemy, that
you've wanted dead since any of us can remember is in the same building as
you."

 

Inuyasha looked
over his unreadable captain. "That’s what you came here for, right? You
wanted info on the Elite? Well you got the fucking leader of the Elite
upstairs."

 

Naraku
calculated the information in his mind, seeing if it molded to his already
thought out plan.

 

"We're
still leaving…" The dark eyed man took his leave, and his trusted follower
trailed behind.

 

·       *
* * * * * * * *

·       
 

 

His knuckles
knocked against the cold, polished surface. “Come on, were leaving.” He
commanded, hoping his voice penetrated the thick door.

 

Kiri had been
taking an abnormally long time in the women’s room, and his impatience had
subjected him to the degrading task of finding her without entering the ladies
room.

 

He didn’t get
an answer, and heaved a haggard sigh.

 

Naraku stepped
back and leaned against the wall outside the restroom, using his well trained
self-control to muster any patience he might have left. At least Inuyasha had
gone home, driven to his apartment on the east side in his little Mercedes.
That bastard was really costing him lately – Naraku made a mental note to do
something about his second in command later.

 

The insidious
man looked up from his thoughts, and another degrading task presented itself as
a woman came to use the bathroom. Biting back his pride, Naraku approached the
lady.

 

“Excuse me
miss,” the woman’s dark marble eyes studied him with apprehension, and she
clutched her purse tighter at her side. Naraku managed to bring a false but convincing
smile to his full lips. “Would you please assist me in finding my girlfriend?
She went into the ladies room,” he gestured to the door with his graceful hand,
“and has been taking a very long time. I am worried about her. Would you please
see if she is inside?” He asked, eyebrows arched.

 

The woman’s
eyes softened, relieved that this had nothing to do with her – she was not at
all use to men talking to her before she entered the bathroom.

 

She returned an
insincere smile. “Sure.”

 

Naraku stepped
back again, and let the lady enter. His expression returned to a more honest,
disgruntled look. Five or ten minutes passed, an unbearable amount of time for
Naraku, and the lady again returned.

 

She had
forgotten about him, and he tapped her on the shoulder before she left. Naraku
said nothing, but looked at her with covered anticipation.

 

“Ohh, right.”
She bubbled reluctantly. “I’m sorry, I don’t know where your girlfriend is.
There wasn’t anyone else in the bathroom.” The woman turned and left.

 

Naraku waited a
moment, his face morphing to passionate ardor, and his breath quickened. His
pride all but forgotten, determination took over as he slammed open the
bathroom door, and entered in a rampage.

 

He immediately
went to the stalls, kicking each one open. His delicate ego was burning with
treacherous stabs as he realized how he had been deceived - played like fool.
Each door that swung open and revealed an empty stall infuriated him even more.

 

Naraku turned
and punched the wall. His chest undulated and the inky depths of his eyes hued
red. Then as he calmed down a bit and began to rely on his sense more than his
rage, he finally noticed the gentle breeze kissing his cheek.

 

Naraku looked
up and saw an open widow above the sinks. It had been pried open by reckless
hands, which had only desired to get out. The window was exposed to the night,
and it was the last and fatal blow to his power.

 

She had
escaped….again.

 

·       *
* * * * * * * *

·        

 

Kiri’s heart
was racing faster than a heard of wild horses. And that’s how she felt at this
moment, like a wild horse. A caged beast that had starved itself so much, that
it could finally squeeze between the bars, and feel freedom in it’s blood.

 

Her feet were
swollen inside her steel toed boots, but the elation of having the cold night
wind flow through her hair, and the moonlight reflect on her tired eyes was
enough motivation to keep running.

 

She didn’t even
know where she was going.

 

The street she was
bounding down, curved into the horizon as it declined into a steep hill, and
before her the night seemed to go on forever. So did it matter to where she
flew? She was flying and that’s all that mattered.

 

Kiri came to
the downward curve of the hill and leapt. Her long black jacket streamed behind
her like tattered wings, and for a spilt second she really was suspended in
air. But moments are fleeting, and before she knew it, her feet hit the
pavement, and she almost toppled forward and down the hill.

 

The tattered
angel kept her footing, and sped down the hill, only to be watched by the
stars.

 

As she reached
the bottom of the hill and the end of the isolated sidewalk, Kiri prepared to
slow down before she ran straight into oncoming traffic.

 

But from her
blind spot came a cop car that rolled down the main street, turned into the
corner Kiri was at. She stopped suddenly, and almost slammed completely into
the police car as it stopped at the corner.

 

Kiri took a
step back, and panted as she tried to catch her breath. The cop from the
driver’s side got out of the car.

 

Kiri shook her
head. “I’m sorry officer,” she spit out between breaths, “I didn’t see…I didn’t
see you…coming.” She was confused when the policeman said nothing, and kept
walking towards her.

 

He wore thick
sunglasses that hid almost half of his face, so Kiri had no idea what he was
thinking. She took another step back.

 

“Are you Kiri
Atsakumae?” The officer asked with the same lack of emotion that his face had.

 

Kiri nodded,
her apprehension and confusion building. The officer looked at his partner who
still sat inside the cop car, and motioned for him to come out. He looked back
at Kiri, and waved his hand, gesturing for her to come closer.

 

“I’m sorry
miss, but your gonna have to come with us.”

 

“Why?” Kiri
took another step back, getting ready to run.

 

“Please don’t
ask questions miss.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

A/n: I hope
everyone liked it, and yes I know it was long, but that’s my excuse for taking so
long. I was going to cut it off sooner, but decided to go all the way, and give
you that wonderful cliffhanger (it keeps you coming back).

 

Please read and
review, and know that I appreciate all my readers (my reviewers even more) and
that I just want my stuff to get out, be read, and for people to enjoy it. And
I am working hard on the next chapters to my other fics.

 

Next time in
Tasogare Akatsuki ‘Dusk to Dawn’, expect pain, betrayal, sex, and the moment
you’ve all been waiting for, when Sesshoumaru and Kiri meet!