A passing gust of moist air pushed me sideways, causing my balance to waver ever so slightly. The wind was laced with autumn rain that soaked through my clothes greedily. The flimsy umbrella I held proved useless as I made my way through the storm. Another breath of water caught my hair in its gasp; wet, raven locks flying around with a sort of peripheral shock to their movements. I used my numb fingers to pull my coat together, the last, foggy black button's thread announcing that it had enough before breaking away.
Great.
I thought, my lungs filling themselves with the crispness of my surroundings. My chocolate brown eyes hurriedly scanned the nearest shelter that I could retreat to. On the ghostly boulevard I found myself traced to, there was only one dim light. I quickly followed it, knowing that if I didn't get out of the numbing drops I would no doubt catch a cold.
I pulled the thin plastic of my umbrella closer to my head, trying to pick my pace up. My feet splashed through the shallow puddles as my eyes blessed themselves with the vision of a door. Hanging above this door was a dim light, the one that lured me here in the fist place. I stepped under a ledge that led to the door, closing the flap to my umbrella in a rigid motion.
My thin fingers cautiously slid themselves around the doorknob. Its color was once a brilliant copper, but due to its many years it had become rusted and stained. Its paint chipped away under the pressure of my settling hand. With a flick of my wrist, I turned the knob and slid the heavy block in.
As soon as the door opened, heat waves crashed into me, pulling me into the dimly lit room and telling me to close out the offending cold. This room was less a room and more a hallway. It stretched out far enough that I couldn't see the ending. Scarlet lights flickered like mad as they hummed an electric tune to me. I followed the path hesitantly; a hand traced behind me, running my palm against the roughness of the concrete walls. My heart beat picked up considerably; my mind taking in my predicament and running away with thoughts of thugs and murderers.
I was about to turn heel and make my way back into the icy liquids when voices, angry voices, met my ears. I realized that the speakers were directly outside where I had just come.
"Where's my money, fag?" A man snarled. His tone indicated that he was not playing around. I gulped.
"I don't have it yet. I'll get it soon, though, I promise!" Came the next response. I could hear the fear knitted into this one's voice.
"Not good enough." A smothered chuckle came from a new voice. "Whaddyou think we do with him, eh' Bankotsu?" A moment of silence fell, me frozen in place as I strained to hear the next response. Fear knotted in my chest, making it hard to breath silently.
"I don't really care, Jakotsu, he's all yours if you want." Responded a new voice. This was one of a younger male. His tone was care-free. An eerie giggle attacked my skin, shivers crawling under my flesh.
"Thanks." The man who was so eager to know what their plans were with the captured mused. I watched in horror as the knob to the bleached green door I was looking at turned. I swung myself around, gulping down breath as I prepared to launch myself down the hallway. My legs took off, my wet shoes thudding against the muddy carpet underneath me.
I came to a dimly lit flight of stairs that led to another door. I practically jumped down them, taking two steps at a time, the voices of the men now echoing in the hallways. My heart continued to pound as I opened the door I came to.
I was unsurprised to say the least when I was greeted with the stench of alcohol and cigarette smoke. I slowed myself to a steady walk as my eyes took in the scene. A group of husky men sat around, some talking to one another, others screaming their heads off and throwing punches. I backed myself up against the wall, just inches prior to the door that suddenly erupted open. Five men walked in. My eyes instantly glued themselves to the man that had fear rolling off of him. Behind him was the one who pinned his arms to his back and whispered into his ear. A smirk played on this ones lips and I registered that he was a full out cross dresser, from the makeup to the clothes to even his shoes. He wore a purple lipstick that classed with his bright pink low cut belly shirt. He had on skinny jeans that clung to his skin ( I didn't even *own* jeans that tight! ) and were ripped down the sides. Behind him stood three other men.
One of them was tall with broad shoulders that took up most of the doorway, a gray shirt and torn up jeans decorating his outer layer. The next was a frail looking bold guy that dressed in normal attire. The last one was obviously the youngest, looking at the age of twenty-three at most. His dark hair was pulled back into a loose braid and fell onto his brown leather coat lazily. I noticed that on his forehead seemed to be a bejeweled cross.
I held my breath, waiting for one of them to look at me and kill me on the spot. But the blows and hisses never came as they walked on by; no interest in me.
That was, until a man that, I soon realized was the bar tender, called me over.
"Girl!" A raspy cough guided itself through the violent drum of my rushing blood and into my thoughts. My eyes shot up to the man that stared intensely at me. He had piercing green eyes and a young face. I couldn't help but see the slightest glint of a fang from his bottom lip. His red hair was pulled into a messy pony tail and his gritty white tee-shirt was stained. Dumbly I blinked and pointed to myself. The man nodded and I began to walk over to him.
To my surprise, the nook of my elbow was caught and I was pulled back into the steel chest of the one who had done it. "Tell me what you want with such a pretty lady, Shippo." I could feel a hot stare on the back of my neck.
"I was going to ask for some I.D. She looks under the legal age." My breath caught in my throat as I felt the man lean in closer, his breath now just against my ear. Before I could do anything in protest, I found myself shoved up against the gray concrete wall, straining to get away from the man that now lavished my neck with his tongue.
"G-Get off me!" I yelled, balling my hands into fist and slamming them into his shoulder. This only seemed to turn him on more. Before he could get any further, the man that had been addressed to as Shippo pushed him off of me.
"Get off of her, God damn it!" He yelled inadvertently.
"You wanna fight?"
"Bankotsu," he warned, "I'm giving you three seconds before I call the police. Three-." Bankotsu glared at the man, his stare boring into the bar tender like they were daggers. Slicing and tearing into any sort of defiance. But the red head knew better and kept his ground. Soon enough, Bankotsu and the other men left, along with their trembling prisoner.
I couldn't help a sight of relief pass my lips. Shippo motioned for me to follow him, and I did. A couple glances lingered upon me, making me feel uncomfortable. I was led to the island that separated the alcohol beverages from the customers. I sat on a hard wooden stool and the young man slid behind the counter.
I allowed my sight to wander around the room, ignoring lustful eyes that hungrily took me in. There were a few tables; no doubt for poker. A string of golden Christmas lights hung loosely above my head making the dying read of the furniture look purple. There were no windows and the only exit that was viable from where I sat was the door I had cone in through.
"Sorry about that." Came a sigh from the man that had saved my virginity. I turned to face him once more. His hands busied glasses as he used one hand to hold the cup steady and another to circle a rag through it. "We don't get women down here much."
"I can see why!" I retorted, crossing my arms over my chest in an attempt to distract myself. Shippo nodded.
"What's your name?" His put the cup down with a slight clatter, not even looking up as he spoke to me.
"Kagome." I responded quietly, not wanting anyone else to hear. Not because I was some bad ass runaway or I held a deep secret, I just didn't want these thugs knowing my name!
"Now tell me, are you *old* enough to be in an underground bar?" He asked, picking up another steaming glass. I pressed my lips together. So that's what this was.
"To be fair, I didn't know what it was when I came in." I said, waving my hand in the air in a slight dismissal motion. "I just came in to get out of the god forsaken rain!" Something clicked in his eyes as he connected my soaking clothes to my scenario. "And I'm nineteen." I added. He lolled his head back and forth into a nod.
"I suggest getting out of here ASAP. If you think Bankotsu is bad..?" He shook his head silently. "Well let's just hope you don't find out how the others can be..." A shiver shook its way up my spine to my distaste. He asked another question that settled on his mind. "What are you doing around here this late, anyway?" A frown tugged the corners of my mouth down.
"My car broke down a little ways away on my way home." I explained. "My cell is dead so I couldn't place any calls,and to top it all off I live in the next town over!" I let out an exasperated sigh and leaned my head into my arm glumingly.
"String of bad luck." Shippo commented, his eyes switching upwards to examine the girl. "But if you want," he continued as he switched his gaze back to his current task of dusting dishes. "You can you my phone."
I shot up instantly. "Really!" I chimed brightly. Snaking a hand into his pocket he pulled out a flip phone.
Jeez, I thought, old phone much.
But I couldn't find it in myself to complain any further as he handed it over to me.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I sung as I took the electronic from his hand and dialed in my roommate's cell number.
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
I let myself fall onto my bed. Slinging an arm over my eyes to bloke out any light. I let out an inaudible whimper. The night before had been draining to say the least. Sango, my roommate, had driven twenty five miles to get me, so I sat in the bar for almost half an hour. Definitely not my cup of tea!
"Kagome?" Sango asked, walking into the small room I had claimed of our apartment. I peaked out at her, a grumble responding to her questioning eyes. "Well, I was just wondering if you were gonna sit in your room all day, or are you going to join me." This caught my interest.
"Join you where?" I asked, pressing my hand beneath me as I hoisted my body into sitting position. A smile played her lips at this question. I had fallen into her trap.
"The party Miroku is hosting." She explained.
Miroku was Sango's "boyfriend". They weren't actually dating, but with how they acted towards one another I laid the label on the complex "couple". I stared at her. Every time Miroku did host a party, it consisted of drugs, alcohol, and weirdos. The word "no" settled itself in the air and Sango pouted.
"Aw, c'mon, Kagome! Do this for me. If you want to leave in the middle of it, I'll drive you home... seeing as your car is out of the question..." I sighed, the image of my baby, dead on the side of the road flashing through m head. After a moment of fighting Sango's puppy eyes and pout, I broke.
"Fine!" Her pleading frown lifted into a toothy grin.
"Good! Find something to wear, it starts at nine." I raised and eyebrow.
"Why do I have to start getting ready now?" She eyed me.
"I've seen how long it takes to get your bangs in check." Her words directed my attention to my untidy hair that stood tall with a generous amount of frizz. I detested my bangs: combs, gel, and hair spray never put it in its place! I frowned in defeat.
"Get the straightening iron hot..."
•••
By the time nine came creeping around the corner, I stood tall in a silver dress that shone when the light hit it and high-heeled black boots that crawled up my legs, ending at the nook of my knee. My bangs, though I tried my hardest, still reached for the sky.
Sango wore a dress that's top was pink, but a cool effect made the color bleed into a deep red as they inched down and ending at the skirt as suck a dark red it looked black. Her shoes were open-toed half inch heeled sandals. Her hair was put into her signature high pony tail that caressed her neck when she walked.
We made it down the street to Miroku's one story house in minutes. Since Sango was driving, I was able to touch up on my makeup. She stopped and I pulled my eyes away from my reflection. We were here. Stepping out of the car I could hear music loud and clear as if we were standing next to the speaker that wailed it. I could already smell the liquor that intoxicated the people inside.
"Ready?" The women besides me asked, I shrugged.
"Ready as I'll ever be." With that, we made it into the house. Miroku, already very drunk and very grabby, met us in the living room.
"Sangoou 'rought Kag'mee!" His words were slurred, loud, and made me roll my eyes due to the "y" sound he tacked on to the end of my name.
"I see you started partying early." Sango laughed. I walked away from them, looking around to see whom else had come. The house was bustling with young adults- drunk young adults. A few guys attempted to pull me into a dance,but I always pulled away, shaking my head and politely telling them off. The lights were dimmed and the music was deafening, not my cup of tea, that's for sure. I enjoyed quiet, alone sober time. Not Miroku.
My attention was diverted to a tap on my shoulder. I spun around to see who it was, the words "no thank you." already on my tongue. I saw no threat was opposed, though. The boyish man smiled at me. "Hello, Kagome. I didn't expect to see you here."
"Yeah, Hojo, neither did I."
Hojo was a nice boy. He was sweet, considerate, and a good friend. But to be perfectly honest, he was a bore. I have known him since kindergarten, and it's been quite clear that he has had a crush on me ever since. Always giving me things to improve my health, sending me soft smiles when I'm down, and even right up asking me to be his girlfriend. Every time I had found a way to get out of our movie dates. Every. Time. Still, he didn't seem ready to give up.
"So what are you doing here?" I asked, praying he'd say he was on a date.
"My buddy wanted to come and I'm the designated driver." Of course. "But, I'm happy to see you've gotten over that cold that kept us from seeing that movie last week." I nodded, forcing a guilty smile on my lips.
"Yes, I apologize for that." I spoke as sincerely I could muster, even though my apology were completely feigned.
"We must reschedule for Sunday."
"Uhh-" I racked my brain for an excuse. "Well you see-"
"She'd love to! Kagome hasn't been on a date since high school!" I cringed when I heard Sango's enthusiastic tone behind me.
Damn you Sango!
"Y-Yeah." I recovered my composure.
"Great!" Hojo boasted. He look like he was going to do some kind of happy dance, but held it back thankfully. Hojo then walked away, more than likely to go find his buddy. I turned on my heels.
"Sango! What was *that* for?" I cried.
"Oh c'mon, you've been telling the poor guy off since fourth grade! Just give him *one* date." I huffed, crossing my bare arms over my chest.
"Fine..." Taking a deep breath and letting it out I walked towards the kitchen where the back door was. "I'm going outside for some fresh air." I called over my shoulder, not even sure that she could hear me over the music. "The stench of this place is overwhelming." With that, I continued into the messy kitchen, stepping over multiple cups while swimming through the people that lingered around the drinks and chips. Once I pushed my way through the crowd and to the old door, I swung it open and stepped through. When I closed the door, the beat of the music became muffled to my delight. No one was in the backyard, so it was just me and the night. Oh, and the blue house that wouldn't shut up behind me. The backyard was large, a tall white fence kept me away from the street, but I could distinctly see the roof of the house that lined up with Miroku's. A rusted metal bench leaned up against the house, leaving a rotten gold line across the blue paint. The thin grass was a greenish yellow. Two trees sprouted from the earth on the left side of the lawn, leaving the right area naked up until the fence.
Walking into the middle of the yard, grass crunching under my boots, I looked up at the sky. Stars began appearing, but had not reached their full potential due to the fact it was still early in the night.
The first thing I noticed about him was his long, silver hair. It flew over his shoulder, waving through the wind like a hand, saying goodbye to a loved one. His silhouette appeared above me, all I could do was watch, eyes wide. He dropped down, mere inches in from where I stood. It happened so fast. His eyes shone amber gold through the darkness, staring at me- studying my reaction. I was frozen in my spot, unable to even breath. I was able to take in his full appearance for only a millisecond before his clenched fist hit me over the head, a sharp but quick pain that took all light from my vision and cause my knees to give out as I toppled forward.
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
My eyes opened. Nothing. I could see nothing but darkness which swallowed me up greedily. "Wha-Where am I?" I questioned no one in particular. Shivers ran up an down my spine. I remember when I was a kid me and my friends would dare one another to go into the snow with no coat or shoes. I felt like that kid again. Vulnerable to frost bite and being able to do nothing because it was a dare. Except now, I was not in snow, I was not dared, and my friends were nowhere to be seen. What happened? Where am I? I trembled there as I tried to move. My arms were tied down- to what I guessed was chair arms- tightly digging into my flesh, making me wince every time I moved. My legs were restrained in a similar way, pain escalating up my body. Suddenly, the memories of what happened came back to me. The man with brilliant golden eyes and white hair. I could swear I saw dog ears atop of his nest of silver locks, but I could be mistaken. How he came from the sky like a bird with no wings. And than I couldn't remember anything past that.
I turned my head around hystarically, my breath shallowing, terror lacing into my actions like a bow. "Where am I!? Let me go! Ow-" I struggled to get out of the chair, but all I did was tear deeper into my skin. Due to the lack of sight, my other senses sharpened. I could feel the warmth of blood making its way lazily down my wrist. I could smell the fluids waft into the air. But what made me freak was when I heard footsteps. They came from far off, echoing in the distance. In no tine at all they made their way to me, a snicker breaking through my thoughts.
"Good, you're awake." I swallowed.
"Wha-Where am I? Who are you? Why'd you take me?" My mouth raced as my mind did. It help keep the burning fear at bay for a moment.
"Keh, full of questions, aren't we?" The man spat. I tensed up. No more questions. No more holing back the panic. My heart accelerated a great speed, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I began struggling again, praying my arms and legs would miraculously come free and I could leave.
"Stop that!" Barked my captor. I didn't listen, though. I needed to get out of here! "I said-" his tone was dangerous as he leaned in, clasping his hands around my shoulders and holding me still with brute strength. "Stop that. You're making your situation worse by drawing blood like that!" My temper took control, as it usually did when I was helpless.
"Worse!? How the hell is it worse!? Let. Me. Go!" A moment of silence passed before a laugh met my ears. He was laughing. His carelessness made my hair stand on end.
"What? You think I'll just let you go? Try again, Kagome." I froze.
"H-How do you know my name...?" He paused, I could imagine the smirk on his lips, the twinkle in his eye.
"Oh, Kagome, you don't remember me?"
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
AN~•~ First chapter finished! School is here but still I manage to write like crazy... Of course its all at midnight when I *do* get the chance to do all this.
REVIEW! Tell me what you thought. The more reviews, the more likely chapter two will come out.
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA OR THE CHARACTERS! IF I DID KAGOME WOULDN'T BE SO WHINY! ( but we still love her to death~ )
Review.
Love you all,
Let us fall up