AN: This chapter is from the POV of an OC named Baishunfu. Yes, Baishunfu is the Japanese word for 'whore'. She isn't really important to the story line, and I pretty much created her solely for this chapter. There are some other comments that I want to put here, because if I put them in the story it ruins the feel, I think, anyway.

One: Snow is a street slang word for Cocaine. 'Paradise in the snow' is talking about a cocaine trip.

Two: The random stream of consciousness at the very end is flashes of Bai's life. It's not meant to make sense. In fact, I'm probably the only one who understands what half the images are about. Yes, Bai's life is screwed up. Personally, I'm not sure how you feel, but I really pity her. *sniff*

Chapter 18: Enraptured

"Umm." I heard him growl as he kissed my neck. "You smell wonderful."

"Thank you." I whispered, trying not to look at him.

'Just five minutes.' I reminded myself. 'One quickie from hell and then you can lose yourself, Baishunfu.'

"Oi! Naraku!"

"What?" My master asked as he looked over at the striking man who had just entered the room. His hair was in a long braid that reached to his waist and he had a strange cross like tattoo on his forehead. He was wearing thin, blue cotton pants that flowed out and never seemed to touch his legs. His shirt was white but it seemed to be covered by a short of chest armor. I looked over his shoulder and noticed that he was carrying an enormous sword that resembled a club or a battering ram because of its size. Sitting up, I tried to move away from Naraku, as I pulled my robe together to hide my breasts from Naraku's visitor.

"You sent for us?" The man replied, his eyes flickering over my disheveled appearance. I felt Naraku's hand slip around my waist and bent my head in shame. I shook my head slightly so that my hair would fall down and I could watch the man from behind my bangs.

"Bring everyone in then."

"Well, Suikotsu isn't here." The man frowned and I felt Naraku's arm shift as he shrugged.

"That's fine." Naraku replied before he dragged me onto his lap and began to nuzzle my neck again. "I didn't expect him to come anyway."

I watched as five others filed past the first arrival and into the room. I noted that the first arrival gave each of the others a folder, which they accepted but didn't open. They stood in a sort of semi circle behind Naraku's first visitor and seemed to be waiting for something. There were four other men besides the first and it was obvious that the first man ('I really should learn his name!') was the leader, if only because the others seemed to glance in his direction if they did anything that required more complicated thoughts than 'breathe in; breathe out'.

But there was also a girl with the five men. Frowning, I tried to figure out who she was and why she was here.

"Mukotsu." Naraku called and the shortest man came forward. He was pudgy and wore hideously thick glasses. I might have laughed if he had been wearing good pants and suspenders, but he wasn't. Instead he was dressed in a tunic that resembled the outfit an orthodox Muslim woman might wear, head veil and all. "Go to the hospital where Kotaishi's mate is and prepare another mixture of gas for her. I want her dead before sundown."

Mukotsu nodded and turned to leave, only stopping to shake hands with the first man who had entered.

"Jakotsu." Naraku called and the most feminine of the four remaining men stepped forward. He was wearing a robe like mine that was folded so that his legs were exposed to the air. He had long hair that was pulled up into an extremely sloppy bun and his face had two streaks down it. He carried a large triangle-shaped sheath on his back with the hilt of a sword sticking out. "Go find the wind demon named Kagura and kill her along with her sister Kana. I don't really care how, but painfully would be the best way."

"Awwww. Why do I always get sent after the women? It's not fair! Bankotsu, tell him to give me a better opponent." Jakotsu whined turning to look at the leader.

'Bankotsu. That's a pretty name.' I mused as I secretly watched the unfolding scene.

"Go on, Ja. Hurry up and maybe you can finish off someone else."

"Really?"

"Hurry." Bankotsu shrugged and Jakotsu hugged him fiercely.

"THANK YOU, BAN!" Jakotsu shrieked before running out of the room.

"What about me?" One of the men asked as his attention returned to Naraku. He also had two stripes on his face, just like Jakotsu. This man, however, wore a green bandana over his head that seemed to press any hair he did have flat against his skull. He's clothes were similar to Bankotsu's and the other unnamed giant of a man. That was standing next to him. He carried a jug of liquid at his waist and he kept touching it, as if he was afraid it might be stolen.

"Renkotsu!" Bankotsu hissed with a chastising frown.

"I would want you to eliminate a certain man named Miroku. He has the power to see past magical illusions, so be careful."

"Humph. Not all disguises are magical." Renkotsu snorted before nodding to Bankotsu and leaving.

"Kyoukotsu." Naraku addressed the lumbering giant. "There is a demon named Kouga. I need you to crush him utterly."

"Why?" Kyoukotsu asked, his voice betraying certain cautiousness in his mind that his body most certainly could not replicate.

"If he is allowed to live, he may summon his people against us. Would you like to fight thousands of wolves?" Naraku asked, his silken voice flowing through the air as his dirty hands pulled me closer.

"Right." Kyoukotsu nodded and left the room, ducking under the doorframe so he wouldn't hit his head.

"Bankotsu, I've got a special job for you. There is a hanyou named Inuyasha. Kill him. Perhaps, with his reasons for anger gone, Sesshomaru will cease this petty war."

"Gotcha." Bankotsu nodded, as he turned to leave. "Catch ya later."

I looked down at the girl who was left and could feel a bit of pity for her. She was not as old as I was—not that I was old, I just felt old—and I could see that she was out of place in the company of horrible, dirty people like Naraku and I.

"Souten? Are you sure?" Naraku asked and the girl seemed to jump in surprise before looking him in the eye.

"Of course, I am! I will avenge my brothers! How could you question me?!"

"I'm very proud of you, Souten." Naraku smiled. "Remember, just one job for me and I'll tell you exactly who mercilessly murdered your brothers."

"What must I do?" Souten asked and, to my surprise, I felt my heart break for her. Empathy for another was not something I felt every day. My life was so bad that I could not afford to pity anyone but myself.

"Kidnap the fox demon named Shippo."

"Shippo?"

"Shippo Kitsune." Naraku nodded. "You need not kill him, but keep him captive until I call for his release. Unfortunately, my plan may yet call for his murder. Be prepared."

"I understand." Souten nodded and she hurried out of the room. I closed my eyes and heard the door close. I was finally alone with Naraku. I waited to feel his hands touching me again, but there was nothing. I opened my eyes just in time to get dumped off Naraku's lap and I fell onto the floor. Naraku tossed a small bag of white powder at me and I quickly caught it, before clutching it to my chest.

"Get out of my sight. I do not need you anymore today." Naraku snapped and I got to my feet, unsure what was going on. He turned towards me, his eyes snapping angrily. "GO! Unless you want to fuck."

I didn't need another warning. I had already turned on my heels and I was running, for dear life, towards my paradise in the white snow.

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

Running, always running. My legs burn. My throat burns. The wind whips at my eyes and I can't see as my vision blurs, but there are pictures. They flash by quickly as my mind spirals away from my control. I can't think, only see. All I can do is watch. Image! Flash! Image!

A car becomes a tree. Policemen become tiled floors. Shouting. 'I HATE YOU!' Running turns to crying. 'Mommy. I need you, Mommy. Help me?' Wet pavements and dry beds. 'Love…......' Hard stone to warm arms. '…......you.' 'Hold me close.' 'Please don't leave.' 'Return to me.' 'NO! COME BACK!' 'Try this.' Addiction. Naraku. Eden. Snow. 'Save me! Save me, Shibo. Please?' Tears. Lives. Snow… Red snow… Rivers of blood…

"Hey." His voice calls to me softly and I open my eyes. I'm laying on my back, looking up at his face.

"Shibo?"

"It's me, Bai. Come on. We've all been watching and waiting for you. I can't wait to tell your family you're here."

"But…"

"You don't want leave me again, do you?" Shibo asked as he frowned softly at me. I could see the hurt in his eyes, and truthfully, I didn't want to leave him ever again. Smiling, I shook my head.

"It's nothing."

"Great." Shibo grinned as he helped me to my feet and pulled me along, until I had to run to keep up with his quick strides. After a minute he stopped and turned to face me. I opened my mouth to ask what was wrong, when he pulled me into a tight hug. "God, Bai! I've missed you so much."

"I missed you too, Shibo." I replied, fighting the tears that threatened to spill onto my cheeks. "I missed you too."

AN: Shibo = Hope; Wish or Death

Yes, Shibo is dead. This means that at the end of the chapter, Bai is dead/dying from an overdose.