Chapter Two
Tears
Inuyasha's motorbike roared to a stop as he pulled into the parking lot of the Shikon Jewel Store, his entire, black leather clad self contrasting greatly with the bright pink building and white cars in the surrounding parking spaces; being mostly large vans emblazoned with the store's logo.
The parking lot was completely empty of life except for him and the squirrel that occupied the cherry tree next to the building, it creating more noise than him as he jerked the key from the bike's ignition.
The engine immediately cut off and Inuyasha dismounted, removing his helmet as he went to reveal a black knit cap underneath. Placing the black cranial protection on the leather seat, Inuyasha turned about and headed toward the back of the store, white hair billowing behind him from underneath the cap.
Unlike the rest of the building, the back door was a pale shade of blue that displayed a battered sign reading clearly "EMLOYEES ONLY" in bold black letters.
Sifting through his keys he removed from the collection a small, slightly bent key covered in tiny scratches of which he shoved into the keyhole below the cheap doorknob. Twisting the slip of metal with a vigor that nearly broke it, he just as vigorously yanked it out and jerked the door open. It shut with a resounding slam behind him as he marched down a short hallway into a minuscule storage room. Although Inuyasha didn't work at this hour, he was still an employee and thought nothing of entering before his time.
Passing by the boxes full of cheap, shiny jewelry and assorted amount of souvenirs that lined every shelf along the walls Inuyasha stopped only when he had reached the back of the room where, below a small stack of bright pink boxes, a separate slat of black linoleum lifted to reveal the basement. Removing the boxes that blocked his path, the angry adult nearly ripped the slat from its place as he jerked it upward to reveal a set of cement stairs blackened by the many boots that had passed over them. As he began his descent he shut the basement door after him with a slam almost equally as loud as the noise that had iterated from the back door. He practically flew down the steps as he entered into what was known as the Shikon no Tama Club; or simply the Shikon no Tama; or "The Club".
Even though the upstairs of the building looked quite natural, albeit the strange color, the downstairs was a completely different story and was where the Shikon Jewel Store became the Shikon no Tama Club, as afore mentioned. Its owner, Kaguya, had made the separate buildings in order to earn more cash than what would have been possible had she only stuck with the jewel store or the club. She had also figured that if she used only one building, cutting construction costs; added a sense of mystery to what resided in the basement; and only allowed a select few people to work and visit the bar, she would bring in more profit. As far as her employees knew, Kaguya made more revenue than anybody could imagine, and she wasn't a selfish being when it came to money. Since Kaguya was already quite rich with her later inheritance, her few employees received an even piece of the proceeds earned from both the club and the store, which was sent into their checking accounts. The extra pay didn't make them wealthy, but compared to other jobs the benefits were top-of-the-line.
Insurance included, among other things.
Jumping the last few steps, Inuyasha turned an immediate left and entered into the storage area reserved for the alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, snacks, and replacement speakers--available in case those in use shorted out--of the Shikon no Tama Club. His sneakers creaking on the wooden floorboards, he crossed to the storeroom's swinging doors and pushed them open, walking into what was the core of the Shikon no Tama Club.
As it was closed during the day The Club was unusually quiet as he strode across dark-stained wooden flooring toward the stage. Larger than its honest half, the basement housed a full bar; poker, pool, and drinking tables; private rooms; an entire stage that included a backstage and dressing rooms; and separate bathrooms. Everything was arranged in neat order at the moment, however when the club opened there would be no such thing as organization and calm. At first, things would be relatively tranquil, however, once the members became drunk and reckless, the Shikon no Tama Club would become liken to a madhouse.
Ignoring the greeting of the girl cleaning glasses behind the bar, Inuyasha leapt the three foot climb onto the stage and flung the aside the curtains that blocked his path, planting himself amidst the commotion. The backstage staff was busy setting up for the night's entertainment which would consist of new bands trying to make a name playing in one of the most obscure bars in town, and for the most famous of entertainers who had managed to obtain membership. From what Inuyasha could see someone worthy of advanced backdrop and lighting would be appearing, but he didn't dwell long on that fact; his attention was focused on one thing and one thing alone.
"Kikyo!" he shouted, earning wary and curious glances from the crew before him.
Wearing a snug, pinstriped business suit and carrying a small black clipboard, her long black hair pulled back in a low-hanging ponytail, the woman in question turned from where she stood directing the lighting troop. Once, she had been immensely beautiful with flawless skin and laughing eyes, even if her mouth didn't; but that Kikyo had disappeared long ago. Drugs, gangs, and depression had sunken her once-full features, drawing shadows under her eyes, yellowing her teeth, and giving her skin a sick, pasty texture. Her already compressed mouth thinned into an indignant line as she saw who had called her.
"Inuyasha," she acknowledged, nodding in his direction before turning back to her task.
Gritting his teeth irritably, Inuyasha stalked across the stage toward Kikyo until he stood in front of her view of the lights.
"I need to talk to you," he said, suppressing his anger with difficulty.
"Now is hardly the time," Kikyo said, admonishing him with her dull brown eyes.
"Now is the perfect time," he retorted stiffly.
Sighing heavily as he moved in her way when she attempted to see around him, Kikyo turned and walked toward a man in a blue maintenance uniform.
"Clif, take care of the lights, I'll be back in a moment," she said, handing her clipboard to him.
"Yes, ma'am," he replied.
Giving Inuyasha a questioning look, Clif took Kikyo's place and immediately began directing the lighting crew, who continued their task with looks of apprehension, constantly sneaking glances at the two irritated beings in their midst. Meanwhile, Kikyo led Inuyasha off-stage and into one of the many dressing rooms where it was quiet and clear of anybody who would watch and listen to them talk.
"What is it, Inuyasha?" the pale woman snapped, whirling to face him; her black hair smacking his leather jacket as she turned.
Inuyasha didn't answer immediately, finding a strange sense of calm as he studied the face of the woman he had cared so much about, feelings of disappointment and resentment swirling in his gut. "I talked to Kaede earlier."
Kikyo raised an eyebrow when he didn't continue immediately, his sudden calm piquing her interest despite her previous annoyance. "Should it bother me that you speak with my sister?"
A small growl escaped Inuyasha as his self-control wavered and reached its limit, "You were with Hiten and Monten again last night! What were you thinking? You said you wouldn't do it anymore!" he shouted, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her violently; as if that would put at least a small dose of sense into the solemn woman.
Kikyo waited until Inuyasha had stopped rattling her before she spoke, her dull eyes hardening with defiance as she lifted his hands from her shoulders, her fingernails digging into his wrists. "You are not my supervisor, Inuyasha; I am an adult; I have a right to do what I please when I please. What you think doesn't concern me."
Inuyasha winced, but not because of the sharp, burning feeling coming from her nails as they pierced his skin. All of his anger dimmed to a half-living flame as he looked at her with heartrending amber eyes. Her words had stung, but they hadn't hurt as much as why she was saying them. He'd watched her change, watched her become addicted to drugs, wondered who had given them to her in the beginning, watched her as she became enthralled with a life of violence and alcohol, unable to stop it. He'd tried numerous times, but had failed in each attempt; now here they were.
"Kikyo...what happened to you?" he asked, his eyes dropping to the ground momentarily before returning to her hardened gaze. "What made you...change?"
Kikyo laughed; a tinkling noise that seemed somehow eerie coming from her drug-mottled body; her yellow teeth flashed in the fluorescent lights. "People change, Inuyasha; surely you, of all people, must know that."
Inuyasha said nothing, just continued to stare into her feverish eyes.
"Come now, don't look at me with those eyes," she said playfully, her gaze sharpening into angry knives.
Inuyasha gritted his teeth and kept looking, trying to keep himself under control.
"Stop it, Inuyasha, that's enough." she said finally, her voice strained and empty of any condescending laughter.
His hands fisted and his arms pressed against his sides, but he continued to stare.
"I said stop it!" Kikyo shouted, placing her hands on his chest and shoving with what little strength she had.
Inuyasha was forced to take a step back, but he automatically regained that step; and didn't stop there. Seizing her shoulders once again, he pressed her against one of the dressing room walls, pinning her there with his grip. She attempted to break free, and snapped at him to release her, but her protests were cut short as he kissed her. It both surprised and pleased Kikyo, but she did not close her eyes and neither did Inuyasha. It was an angry kiss, and they glared at each other through its duration.
The contact lasted mere seconds, yet it seemed like hours before Inuyasha took a step back. He had a reproachful look in his eyes--prepared to take any scolding Kikyo had to deliver.
But what she said wasn't what he expected.
"We're through, Inuyasha." she said, looking down on him even though he was taller than she.
Inuyasha blinked stupidly, and during the time it took for the sentence to register in his unprepared mind was the time Kikyo took in escaping him and heading for the exit.
"I did love you, Inuyasha," she said, pausing briefly as he turned to question her words. "But that time has passed; this is when we say goodbye. Forever. I have turned in my resignation form to Kaguya; this is the last time we will see each other. Goodbye, Inuyasha."
Kikyo left in the silence she had instituted on the young adult, neither happy nor sad at what she had done to him...just...indifferent.
Inuyasha watched her go, and when the door shut behind her he swung his fist and sank it slightly into the metal frame of a dressing stall, denting the thin metal. He didn't know what to think or feel or what he should do. Should he go after her, stop her, plead with her to stay with him? Even though it was already hard to bear the time he had had to spend with her lately at work? He punched the metal again; deepening the wound he had already made while the one Kikyo had made on him festered and began to burn.
He didn't leave the dressing room.
Inuyasha pulled into the parking lot of the C-dorms, his expression one of anger--the same in which he had worn in leaving the dorms--while inside he felt nothing as he snatched the key from the ignition. Running a chain through the front wheel and securing it to a lamp-post nearby him then tucked his helmet under his arm and headed straight for the building's entrance.
College classes began the day after tomorrow, so only a few students had arrived as of yet; but those few quickly got of his way when they saw the look on his face.
The scowl was much like a mask as he wore it only to keep the people around him from speaking to him when he was irate or confused, or when he just didn't feel like engaging in conversation--which was most always. But the sudden break up with Kikyo had left him empty, bank; he didn't know what he should think or feel; and it was times like this that his mask of anger became incredibly useful.
He knew he should feel something along the lines of miserable and shocked, or angry and vengeful, he just couldn't seem to conjure the emotions. Perhaps he had more demon in him than he had originally thought. Or was there really something wrong with him, like Kikyo and many others had hinted so many times before? Either way, the scowl proved useful in more ways than one.
Shaking his head half-heartedly, Inuyasha ran up the stairs towards the second level of the building. Normally he would have taken the old elevator that opened on all floors save the fourth, but he didn't want to risk running into Sango or Miroku; or anybody else he knew, for that matter.
Besides, the stairs were faster--at least for him.
He nearly ripped the second floor door off its hinges as he opened it, and then nearly splintered the wood when he slammed it behind him. The wall shook with the force, and the heads of the few walking the halls momentarily looked his way before averting their eyes seconds later.
Although he felt nothing, his body was reacting to what Kikyo had said, portraying the anger and hurt he should have been experiences as a dark aura that warded off the people around him. The halls were soon empty as the occupants hid in their rooms, avoiding Inuyasha purely by instinct. They certainly knew who he was, most everybody did, but they would never know what he was. Nobody knew that except for a select few like, unfortunately, Kikyo who had found out on accident; and Sango and Miroku who he had specifically informed.
Upon reaching his dorm room door, Inuyasha shoved the key into the hole and with a force that should have torn off the doorknob he entered his assigned dorm room. Throwing the door shut behind him, Inuyasha suddenly felt his knees give way, his hands releasing his ring of keys at the same moment his helmet slipped from beneath his arm. Both items crashed to the floor with a mute clatter as he fell backwards against the door, his back sliding down the length of fake wood until he sat with his knees almost level with his eyes. He tried to move, but couldn't; he was barely able to twitch his fingers let alone get to his feet.
As he sat, unable to move, he suddenly realized his cheeks were wet.
Managing to lift an arm, he touched the wetness; following the trail upwards with his fingers until he brushed his eyelashes. It was only then that he comprehended he was crying. In the pit of his stomach emotions of embarrassment and horror swirled, trying to bring to reality that Inuyasha couldn't cry; it just wasn't possible--wasn't right.
Youkai, even half-breeds like himself, didn't cry. Especially not over such a trivial thing as a break-up with a human girl...right? He'd already stopped loving her completely when she started hanging around with Hiten and Monten, hadn't he? So why did it hurt so much that they had finally ended it? That she had finally ended it?
It just didn't make sense.
Yet the tears kept coming, trickling down his cheeks to his chin where they dripped and landed on his leather jacket.
Squeezing his eyes shut, Inuyasha balled his fists and banged his head purposefully against the door behind him, as though trying to knock the tears from his eyes.
Clenching his jaw, Inuyasha suddenly felt very tired as his emotions finally began to drain, leaving him an empty shell. As he slid across the door to land on his side, he vowed never to become so vulnerable again. He would rather die alone than shed another tear.
Landing on his side on the dull gray carpet, Inuyasha opened his eyes once to look out the window above the kitchen sink before closing them again, light spots dancing behind his lids as he let sleep get the better of his senses.
He didn't dream.