"This is ridiculous, Hiei. Why do we have to meet up with this guy anyway?"

Hiei rolled his eyes. "Kurama, you know as well as I that we will get nowhere in this stupid ningen world if we don't have it on our side. It has power over youkai, ningen, and those idiotic deities. And he is in possession of it. Now shut up and keep driving."

Kurama sighed, but continued to follow the directions on the scrap of paper held in his hand.

They had heard stories of this youkai, terrible stories that made your toes curl and blood turn cold. Well, Hiei kept his fear under close watch, not letting it show on his features whenever the name 'Naraku' was mentioned. Hiei was always like that.

Stubborn fool, Kurama thought, snorting in his mind. Kurama however was wary of this youkai. He did not seem like one to toy with, and if they went along with their plan, they would be doing just that.

'And if all else fails we'll give tell him you're gay and that you're in love with him. That always seems to work. And with any luck he'll ravage you and send you back, denying your request for something more than a quick fuck.'

Kurama sent a quick glare in the direction of the three-eyed telepath before returning his eyes to the road.

If we use that plan I prefer we send you. Your energy does not deplete at all after hours and hours of rabbit humping. I'm sure Naraku would appreciate that.

Hiei very nearly choked on air at Kurama's comment, but before he could retaliate they pulled into an empty parking lot for a bar called Fuze.

Slamming their doors, both demons exited their car and walked up to the odd looking bar. It was two stories high and made of dark stone. No lights were on, making it look terribly uninviting. However, Kurama and Hiei, being the brave little youkai that they were, merely pushed open the front door and strutted inside.

Sadly upon their entrance seven guns were pointed in their direction, making it extremely hard to strut.

Kurama sighed, but pricked his ears to the sound of footsteps coming down a flight of stairs to his left. Hiei, do you hear that? And… sense that?

Hiei nodded, tuning in his Jagan to the aura of the descending figure. 'He certainly is powerful… but he's a hanyou.'

The man finally reached the end of the steps, walking forward a bit to stand directly in front of the pair. Kurama narrowed his green eyes at him, trying to memorize his features. He had long black hair, kept immaculately in a low ponytail. He wasn't exactly over muscled, but he was no weakling in the strength department. The oddest thing about him was his eyes. Piercing, violet eyes. Eyes you wouldn't get out of your head for weeks. Eyes that would bring nightmares to your sleep…

"What do I owe for the company of you two gentlemen?"

Kurama snapped out of his perusal of Naraku and turned his attention to the man speaking in that velvety voice.

Hiei spoke first. "We're here to negotiate."

Naraku's thin eyebrow arched. "Negotiate what?"

"We've heard some stories," Kurama said, "And if they are true we wish to make a treaty."

Naraku's other eyebrow joined its brother. "Oh?"

Hiei glanced at Kurama. 'You know what to do. Kiss ass like the wind.'

Kurama bit his lower lip, trying to make his features look intimidated. "We have heard tales of your power and of your many victims. My friend and I don't wish to become one of your victims, so we were hoping that we could reach some sort of agreement. You don't kill us, and we'll work under you. I know we aren't as strong as you are, but we have decent powers. I'm sure they would be of some use to you."

Naraku leered at them. Kurama was a little frightened that he could smell the lies radiating out of his words.

'He can't tell, Kurama. I'm still masking our scents, but hurry up and seal the deal; I can only keep up the disguise for half an hour.'

Kurama almost got down on his knees after Hiei told him that. Even though they were fooling Naraku, he'd rather not be the object of his wrath and suddenly find himself the new chew toy for his minions pointing guns at him. But the pride that Youko had instilled in him kept him from bending down.

"It would be an honor if you would accept our proposal." Kurama said, lying through his teeth.

Naraku chuckled. "I suppose we could use a few youkai like you guys." Then he frowned. "But know this… others who… disappoint me… are taken care of by myself, personally and immediately. I do not tolerate slackers."

Kurama and Hiei nodded. "Yes, Naraku."

So. Here I am. Eating sliced olives from a can. Which almost rhymes with am. Can. Am.

The complete uselessness of my life is finally catching up with me. I'm almost beginning to realize that I should be out there ('there' being the world) doing something exciting with my life. And yet here I am. Eating Kroger olives (quality guaranteed!) out of a can with an oversized fork.

Why did it turn out like this? I'm a decent woman of twenty-three. I own my very own business (a dance studio, thank you very much) and I've done nothing too horrible to deserve this loneliness. Well, there was that one time in Mexico when I… uh… right.

I've finished my olives and have switched to a can of tuna with some mayonnaise. Healthy beyond all reason.

I suppose I should be getting ready. My dear sister is coming over in a half hour with her dear fiancé and his dear brother. Apparently, we are going to have a "grand old time" at this club my sister is fond of. And my date just so happens to be her fiancé's brother. Whoop-di-doo.

I shouldn't really judge him since I haven't even met him yet, but when my sister says someone is absolutely and positively fantastic, it's not always true. For example: her fiancé, Inuyasha. How she describes him, in her own words, "He's the most wonderful man I've ever met, Kagome! He's rich and funny and gentle and sweet! And he's the best kisser ever, too hoo hoo!" What he's really like, in my own words, "That man is the most repulsive thing I've ever seen. Not one shred of decency in him! Rich and sweet, my ass!"

Honestly. His brother better have some sense of propriety or I swear I will murder Kikyo again and again and again and again and…

DING DONG!!!!!!!!

Ah crap. She's already here?!

"Kagome! Kagome! KAGOME! OPEN THE DOOR!"

The flustered woman ran to the door, fork still in her mouth, can of tuna in her right hand. She nearly tripped over some random box lying on the ground before she reached the doorknob and turned it.

Kagome's visitors' first sight of her probably wasn't very pleasant

I almost feel bad for Inuyasha's brother. Who would want to go on a date with some weirdo who eats tuna out of a can and wears Monty Python boxers?

Kikyo's eyes widened when she saw the state Kagome was in. "You were supposed to be ready when we got here."

Kagome rolled her eyes and took the eating utensil out of her mouth, pointing it in Kikyo's direction. "And you were supposed to be here at 9:00, not 8:00."

Kikyo laughed in her annoying way. "Well, we decided to surprise you! Thought it was a good idea to come over and introduce you to your date."

Which made Kagome swing her eyesight past Kikyo, past Inuyasha (who was looking at Kagome like she was a repulsive cockroach), and to his brother.

Kagome's eyes blew up to the size of saucers. Whoa.

Demons are supposed to be disgustingly ugly and smelly and stupid, right? Then how come this one was so freaking and unbelievingly hot?!

His silver hair went down to his butt (which is probably gorgey and tight and muscular and… yeah) and blew slightly in the wind (…wind? They were inside an apartment complex…). He was wearing a baby blue button up shirt over a navy blue t-shirt that nicely outlined his toned muscles. His elegant face was adorned with two maroon stripes on each cheek and a crescent moon on his forehead. What was most amazing was his eyes. They were deep amber with flecks of glistening gold. He didn't smile, but there was something inside him that almost wanted to be happy…

"You look like shit. I won't allow my date to look like you do."

I hate him I hate him I hate him.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, too." Kagome gritted out.

He smirked slightly and stepped inside the fuming girl's apartment. "How do you manage to survive in such small living quarters?"

Kagome shrugged, smiled sweetly, and said, her voice dripping venom, "When you are the only person living in a house I figure that it doesn't have to be that large. That and I can't afford anything more than this, unlike you who has buckets upon buckets of money stored somewhere in your mansion. From what I hear your house is just huge and lonely. You are the only one who lives there, right?"

He simply looked at me, as if that answered her question. And he thinks I'm weird?

Inuyasha groaned and blurted out, "Just get dressed, damn woman. It'd be a pain to have to clean up your corpse after Sesshoumaru gets done with you."

Kagome glanced at the sliver haired hanyou. "Fine. I'll get dressed, oh supreme one, so we can get to the club faster so that you can stare at other women's asses." She turned to Sesshoumaru. "So. Sesshoumaru, eh? Fitting, very fitting…"

Kagome then whipped her head around and headed towards the bedroom.

Kagome's ears picked up snatches of their conversation as she pulled on a brown silk halter top and black skirt. Humph, she thought, I could have sworn I heard the words 'no', 'Kagome', and 'that slut better be ready in five minutes'.

Luckily for Sesshy (I better not call him that out loud or I will find myself in a wheel chair…), she was done in four. And fifty-nine seconds…

She stepped out of her room and Inuyasha's jaw dropped. Sesshoumaru stayed as stoic as ever.

"K… Kagome! You look…" Inuyasha stutters.

"Tolerable."

She glared at the inuyoukai. I am more than tolerable and he knows it! Stubborn little son of a…

"Why thank you Sesshoumaru. I'm so pleased that I can accommodate you in some way! Honestly, I live to serve you and your every whim. Now let's get going so that we can have an absolutely scrumtrelecent night!" She said sarcastically.

They got in Inuyasha's car, which was an amazing Porsche. Kagome was stuck in the back with Sesshoumaru, who was sitting as stiff as a board. Even though music was playing, it seemed so quiet. No one was talking and you could cut the tension with a sharp pointy stick. It wasn't quite thick enough to be cut with a knife. By the time they reached the club, Kagome could tell that she was going to have to get drunk off her ass to have a good time.

"Yes! Finally here!" Kikyo screamed as they got out of the car.

Inuyasha grabbed her around the waist and walked to the front of the line, ignoring the complaints of the people waiting patiently behind a red velvet rope.

The bouncer let them in and bowed low to Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru. Do I even want to ask?

They entered and split ways. Inuyasha and Kikyo went to grab a table while Sesshoumaru and Kagome stood awkwardly next to each other. Neither liked the situation they were in.

Kagome cleared her throat and nervously smiled. "I'm going to go over to the bar and get me something to drink. Do you want something?"

Sesshoumaru shook his head at her and sat down at a nearby table, completely ignoring her.

Kagome scowled at him before heading to the bar. She plopped down, sinking her head into her hand.

An odd looking red haired man was bartending that night, and said, "What can I get for you?"

Kagome groaned. "Anything with lots of alcohol."

The bartender frowned. "Bad day?"

Kagome shook her head. "Bad date."

He furrowed his brow, and said, "You're on a date? Where is he?"

Kagome scoffed and pointed at the table Sesshoumaru was at.

He whistled long and low. "That's a fine looking one. I'm sorry that he's neglecting you. Being that he's so handsome and all, I bet you like him, so that kinda sucks…"

"I hate him."

"Oh, well then, screw him. Why don't I get you some shots?"

Kagome grinned. "Please do."

Half and hour later Kagome was slurring her words and making weird faces.

"You knooow, you've been a reeaal sweetheart. Wa's your name agin?"

The man sighed. "I've told you five times. It's Kuwabara."

Kagome laughed. "Ah, yeah, Kuwabura."

"Bara. Kuwabara."

"Gome. Kagome." She snorted and slammed her fist on the table repeatedly. "HA! I did wa you did, but I used my name! HAHAHAHA… ohh… I doan feel so good…"

Kuwabara rolled his eyes. "You shouldn't. You've had around fifteen shots. If you need it, the bathroom is right there on your left."

Kagome nodded, her face turning green, before shooting over to the bathroom.

Kuwabara sighed again and turned to the bartender on the other side of the bar. "Urameshi! I'm gonna go call a cab for one of the customers. Her date sure as hell isn't giving her a ride home and she needs to get home now. Cover for me!"

The black-haired bartender nodded, but rolled his eyes. "Someday your kindness is going to get you killed, Kuwabara."

Kuwabara grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head. "I'm only calling a cab for a girl. I doubt that she will attack me as I dial the number."

Urameshi snorted and turned back to his customers.

Kagome returned from the bathroom a few minutes later, wiping her mouth. Kuwabara called her over and said, "I called a cab for you. You need to get home soon before you get hurt. People in this club tend to be a little rough. If you want I can walk you outside to wait for the cab."

Kagome smiled slightly and thanked him, but told him she would be fine. "But if you want to lend me a few bucks to pay for the ride…"

Kuwabara rolled his eyes but pulled out his wallet and handed her a twenty.

Still a little drunk, Kagome bowed low and said, "Thank you for your kindness and generosity. I will tell tales of your sweetheart-ness and let the world know that Kuwabura the Great is living amongst us, so no fear fellow human beings!"

As she walked away Kuwabara yelled at her, "Bara! Kuwabara!