Disclaimer: Based on the motion production Moulin Rouge. This fanfic has many direct quotes from the movie, and are property of Twentieth Century Fox.

(a/n: looks up at what she just typed Wow, that seems awfully familiar xD I just don't want angry people from Fox banging on my door to take me away)

Chapter 2
Amazed and Stupefied

"Where? I can't see it," Shippo complained, jumping up and down as if to soar above the heads towering over him. Everyone turned to look at Miroku, who smiled sheepishly.
"I ah... I guess we're a bit early," he said, scratching the back of his head. "The line is longer than last time."
To say it was long would be an understatement. The entire street was packed with males in tuxedoes, each with the same hungry look in his eyes.
"Aw, now I feel like nothing compared to them," Shippo whined, looking at the ground.
"Nonsense. We're dressed just like them. Besides, once everybody gets in, we're all thinking on the same page," Miroku said, winking.
"Speak for yourself," Inuyasha grunted. "I'm not like these losers. I'll bet they're so obsessed that they come here every day."
"Who could blame them?" Toto-sai shrugged. "You know, this joint isn't as bad as you make it to be. It's actually quite sophisticated, while at the same time irking your incontrollable urges." The man's eyes bore into him. "And it will fascinate you to no end."
As the eerie comment settled in, the restless sea of bodies seemed to move. It was then that the building came into view, looking even more bold up close. They walked through the gates to see a rowdy Mardi Gras with countless attractions. Miroku led them past all this, however, to two men who guarding a pair of glass doors. They held them open, and as the red carpet ended everything happened at once.
Immediately upon their arrival, immaculate girls with sumptuous, boisterous costumes came to greet them, one after another. It was a blur of mesh tights, lace, and silk waving in their faces. And it wasn't at all what Inuyasha expected. It was classy and erotic at the same time. He immediately snapped out of it when he noticed something.
"Where's Miroku?"
"What? I can't hear you, sonny!"
"WHERE"S MIROKU?"
"Ouch! You didn't have to shout in my ear. Youngsters, always trying to take advantage of senior citizens..." Inuyasha looked at Shippo. "I don't know, but we hafta find a place to sit before everything's taken. I think he stayed behind, Mr. Inuyasha."
Indeed, Miroku headed back to the plaza of sideshows, searching through the crowd.
"Aha." He spotted the sign that read:

Come See The Housebroken Feline Demon

He jogged over to the cage. A two-tailed cat sat on a stool, blinking its red eyes at him. A lady clad in a black skintight suit stood behind it. She glared at him.
"What do you want? I thought I court-marshaled you away from here."
"Oh, come now, you know I can't resist the charm of a beautiful woman." He smiled blissfully.
"I'm sure that's what you say to every female within a five-foot radius. Now please leave. You're wasting my time."
"My dearest Sango, you offend me. Please have one dance with me. You can't refuse a customer," he said innocently.
"Oh, but I can." This time it was she who smiled. "I don't have to dance with anyone. That is their job," she said, pointing at the flirtatious women inside the dance hall. "All I have to do is show what Kirara here can do," she said sweetly, patting its head. On cue the seemingly harmless kitten transformed into a vicious saber-tooth engulfed in flames. It growled menacingly, baring its teeth.
"Hey, there's no need for hostility," Miroku said, laughing nervously and backing away. "Let me know if you change your mind," he shouted, blowing her a kiss.

"How does my lord like this place?" asked a hideous dwarf resembling a decrepit amphibian.
"The dining is palatable, but the atmosphere is not to my liking," answered his superior, flinging his long silver hair over his shoulder. He pondered for a moment, tracing the black crescent moon etched on his forehead. "It isn't my cup of tea," he said simply. At that moment a girl wearing a flowing kimono pirouetted past him, a colorful fan hiding her face.
"Well, that was rude," the toad-man huffed. "But she's a pretty one. I should like to dance with her."
His master said nothing, appearing not to care.

"Where were you? We were sitting ducks here," Inuyasha griped as he showed Miroku to their table.
"Just...exploring."
Just then a man with dark hair appeared on the balcony in front of the orchestra.
"Good evening, everyone, and welcome to paradise."

If life's an awful bore,
and living's just a chore,
what to do? 'Cause death's not much fun
I've just the antidote, and though I mustn't gloat
at the Moulin Rouge you'll have fun!

Got some dark desire?
Love to play with fire?
Why not let it rip? Live a little bit!

"Who's he?" whispered Shippo.
"His name's Onigumo. He owns the Moulin Rouge. Say, Inuyasha, this place is supposed to have a really good theater, and..."
"What are you getting at?"
"Well, if we write a play, and it sells... It could be the opportunity of a lifetime. What do you say?"
"I say you're out of your ass-groping mind. I don't write screenplays. I write nonfiction. There's no way we could pull it off."
"We could if Onigumo likes it."
"Come on, where are we going to get that kind of connection?"
Miroku didn't answer. The stranger's odd poem had ended, and everything came to a halt. The lights darkened, and mist filled the air as people spoke in excited whispers.
"It's her!"
"Do you really think so?"
"Yes! The Glittering Shikon is about to make her entrance!"

"Now, remember, child: The duke is out there, so you've got to be your very best. You're the main event."
"I know, Kaede. I won't let you down."
"Good luck, Kagome."

A silhouette lowered from the ceiling, leaving everyone breathless as the figure gradually came into focus. The soft spotlight had a gentle touch on her pale skin. It made her raven hair shimmer, along with the sparkling blue dress she was wearing. She opened her eyes; hazelnut shining gems. Inuyasha himself could do nothing but stare.

The French are glad to die for love
They delight in fighting duels
But I prefer a man who lives,
And gives expensive jewels

Her trapeze lowered and the movement began. Longing men famished of such pleasure gaped and reached out to the melodious vixen. "Pigs," thought Inuyasha. To touch someone like her would almost be a sin. He wondered how she got caught up in all of this. His lungs nearly collapsed when she came near him, still singing.

For we are living in a material world, and I am a material girl

He sighed. She sounded convincing, but he could feel the kindness in her eyes (not to mention that what she was singing was several bad songs rolled into one medley). He knew she was putting on an act, just like she was supposed to. As quickly as it begun, the song was over, and the mystery woman disappeared. He blinked quickly, trying not to let her affect him. He probably wouldn't see her again anyway.
Little did he know that sitting behind him was a man with the same desire, but a much higher rank. His turquoise eyes gleamed with infatuation, looking at the spot the performer had been.

"Master Sesshomaru, the show is over. The floor is open now."
"And?"
"Now is the time to find someone to dance with!"
"Bah! I won't get involved in that rubbish. You may do as you please, Jaken."
"Thank you," he said happily, heading towards the clutter of beautiful women. "Will one of you dance with me?"
"Eek!"
"Not on your life, buster."
"Get a face-lift."
"I don't care how much you pay me, you little creep."
Jaken shuffled back to his seat. "Everyone rejected me."
"I wonder why."
"So do I," Jaken said, not getting the mockery of his master's words. "Hey, it's that ill-mannered girl from before," he said, pointing to the girl who's black hair moved wildly as she twirled. He waddled up to the unsuspecting performer.
"Dance with me."
"Kyaa!" she screamed, leaping back. "Um, uh, what... can I do for you?"
"Dance with me."
She looked ready to vomit. "I, um, can't...dance... with you...because...I...already...promised...to dance with him!" She pointed a wild finger at Sesshomaru.
"What?" He stared incredulously at the girl. "I didn't-"
"Of course you did, silly. That's why I can't dance with this cretin here," she said with a forced smile. She looked pleadingly at him, and his expression remained unchanged.
She laughed nervously. "Well, heh heh, I don't want to keep you waiting." She grabbed his arm. "Let's go," she said through gritted teeth, dragging the confused bishounen away from his minion.
Sesshomaru was not pleased. "What is the meaning of this?"
"I had to get rid of him," she hissed, Jaken still in sight.
"So you're attempting to force this upon me when you're disgusted by my underling?"
"Ugh. He works for you? How can you stand him? Please help me."
"I'm not dancing with you," he said firmly. Then he thought about what would happen if she was left with Jaken. He almost pitied her. "What do I have to do?"
"Play along. Just follow my lead," she said, taking his hand and spinning herself underneath it.
"Now turn. And step back. That's it," she whispered. "Bend over."
"What?"
"Just do it, okay?"
"Fine." He flinched in surprise as she vaulted over his back, landing on her haunches. He stared at her in scorn.
"Don't worry about it," she said, bouncing back up. "Because of the crazy things people do here, I'm blending right in." He chuckled, then gave himself a mental slap.
"I can't possibly be enjoying myself," he said to himself as he spun her towards him. "I never even wanted to come here, much less dance. And yet..." His train of thought broke as he noticed the girl had stopped moving.
"The crowd is thickening, so they're creating a diversion. I can go now, and you don't have to torture yourself anymore. Thanks for the help," she said, rushing away.
'How does she move so fast? She is like the wind...'
"Master? Master," Jaken panted, catching his breath. "I couldn't find you."
"You should have given me my privacy, you incompetent fool. Couldn't you see that I was busy dancing? What's the name of that girl, anyway?"
"I know not, master. Why would you-"
"What good are you? Every time I ask something of you, you deem useless. Go find out."
"But, master-"
"Find out," he said coldly, ending the interrupted sentence.