Give Me Just One Night
Do you ever wonder why
This music gets you high
It makes you wanna ride
You feel it when your
Body starts to rock
And baby you can't stop
And the music's all you got
This must be... POP!
The music thundered out of the speakers surrounding the dance floor. Bodies swayed and writhed under the pulsing beat. Kagome, still a bit too shy around Joey, was sitting at a table with Joey and Yugi while everyone else was bustin' moves on the dance floor. Tea especially so. How could someone be so confident and graceful? Kagome not only wished that she could dance like that, but that someone would ask her to dance. She still had adrenaline running through her from the motorcycle ride to the club, and she felt like it was being wasted as she sat there like a bump on a log.
"Hey, Kagome, get up and dance!" shouted Ayumi, who was dancing with Tristan.
"Yeah," added Eri, "Or are your feet hurting?"
"If you're waitin' for Joey, don't hold your breath," said Tristan.
"Yeah," Tea said with a laugh, "He's got no moves."
"Maybe later!" shouted Kagome. She couldn't blame them for being sarcastic about her 'ailments'. If only...
"I'm sick of sittin here." Joey said, suddenly, standing up and whirling towards Kagome. "Come on, let's show 'em who's got the moves."
"Oh yeah?" said Tea, taking the challenge. "Yugi, dance with me."
"Uh, ok, " Kagome and Yugi said to their partners. Then, as the chorus of the song struck up again, Tea shimmied and twirled around Yugi, who was beginning to loosen up a bit, while Joey took Kagome's hand, and led her in a mix of moves: from the silly, like the robot, to the classics the tango. Kagome couldn't believe it; she was doing every hot dance move out there!
Kagome looked over at Yugi and Tea, and noticed that now Yugi seemed different. He wasn't acting like the shy kid from a few seconds ago. He seemed confident, cool, in total control. Then, something weird happened. She saw two Yugi's! One was the confident one; his presesnce commanding al to look at him, while the other was the shy, sweet one. It was like one was the other's shadow; she almost couldn't tell who was the real, solid Yugi. Then, he was he seemed more solid again. Weird.
"Hey," Joey said, interrupting her thoughts, "You ok?" He looked at her, a look of genuine concern in his eyes. "You need to sit down?"
"Oh, no, I'm fine. Let's keep dancing." she said
"Alright, but whenever ya need a break, don't hesitate to let me know." he replied, with a wink and a smile. He was so cute!
Then, as Joey got down to break dance, Kagome got an idea, and used a few of her fight moves to keep the beat going. She got a good distance away, and then did one? two? three back flips, and just in time to stand up with Joey, as they rounded the dance off with Joey twirling her, Salsa style, into his arms. She was exhausted, but she was having fun! So different from being exhausted from fighting monsters all day. Suddenly, she realized that people were clapping. Everyone had been watching, and they loved it! Oh my gosh, thought Kagome, this is so cool!.
Then, another song started up. She knew this one. It was another American band, what were they called? Oh well, she'd think of it. Later. She just got caught up in doing the Mambo and the Samba with Joey...
------------Scene Break------------
Joey couldn't believe some of Kagome's moves out on the dance floor. She was amazing! He started to feel a little inadequate as far as being the one to lead. He didn't know if he could keep up with her or not. Then he got an idea of his own. He'd use some of his Duel Monsters moves on her! He started spinning on his feet, and waving his hands back and forth . Then, he grabbed Kagome, held her close, and leaned way back. Then he rose back up, and dipped her.
"Wow," Kagome said, "You double jointed or something?"
"Just a dancin' fool," told her as they danced.
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Inu-yasha's sensitive nose was bombarded with the stench of perspiration, heavy perfumes, and cheap cologne. It was nearly as unbearable as the scent of ink, which he detested most of all. He sniffed, and searched around the room with his eyes. In this swarm of people it was hard to find Kagome. To add the humiliation of coming to a place like this, he was in 'modern' clothes. A baseball cap covered his ears, he wore a black t-shirt, and a pair of holey jeans that Kagome's mom had given him once from some stuff in their attic. He hated wearing these clothes, but he needed to blend in tonight. And it was working. Some girls had even asked him to dance, but he just scowled, or worse, gave then a fanged grin. He was here for Kagome, and to rip that guy she was with to shreds.
Just then, however, another scantly clad idiot sauntered over to him. "Hey there," she said, "Cool hair. Platinum blond?"
"Silver," he said flatly.
"Cool," she giggled, "I've never heard of anyone frosting their hair silver before! Can I touch it?"
"WHAT?!" He yelled as she ran her fingers through his hair playfully. He growled, grabbed her hand, and yelled, 'Stop that!"
"Ooh, the forceful type," she cooed.
"Listen geisha girl," he said, "I'm not interested. I'm here for someone else. Got that? Or do I need to make my point?" he asked, lifting a clawed finger up under her nose. She squeaked, and backed off quickly.
Then, he saw them. They were in the middle of a crowd, and the yellow haired grease ball was holding her way too close for Inu-yasha's liking. Then, a fast, and to his chagrin, catchy song started to play.
Just keep telling me you want me
Hold me close all through the night
And I know,
That deep inside you need me
No else can make it right
Don't you try to hold your secrets,
I can see it in your eyes,
You said the words without speakin...
Now I'm gonna make you mine...
Give me Just one night (uno noche)
A moment to be by your side
Give me just one night (uno noche)
To give you the time of your life...
The time of your life...
All the while, Kagome and the guy were dancing in ways that made Inu-yasha steaming with rage, yet making him wish he was the one dancing with her so close. But this wish just made him angrier. He couldn't stand it! No one should be dancing that close, no one! Especially not with Kagome, not while he lived and breathed! She was his woman after all.
"Enough's enough!" he cried, though his declaration was covered by the music and the noise. He started shoving and pushing his way through the flood of humans to get to Kagome. Not even Naraku or his henchmen could stop him at this rate! As he got nearer, he saw Kagome stop dancing, and sit down in the corner, and that sleaze she was with went to talk some other people. She was alone. What a relief, he thought, at least he wouldn't have a hundred people looking at him when he got her out of here. He got out of the throng, and quietly made his way to the back. He made it to her corner with no trouble this time. He stood a moment, getting his breath. He could smell her scent so strongly, so gentle, yet it was spiced with her sweat and the adrenaline in her blood. It was intoxicating.
'Focus, Inu-yasha!' he thought, 'You're here to get her and take her home. Away from him.'
"Hey!" he shouted over the music, and raised a hand. Kagome jumped from being startled, and turned around to look at him
-----------Scene Break-----------
'Oh no! What's Inu-yasha doing here?!' Kagome was trying not to panic. She should have known he'd come and get her, he always did. But this was the absolute worst timing ever. She was having the best time she'd ever had, she didn't want it to end.
"What are you doing here?" she asked "I told you I'd be back in four days."
"I'm not here about that," he said, "I want to know why you're out with some pretty boy in stead of with me?"
"What?"
"You heard me. I came back to talk, and then I see you get on some monster bike with some pretty boy. Now I'm here, in these ridiculous clothes, to get you out of some stinking whole in the ground, so that we can go home!"
Just then, Kagome noticed that he was indeed dressed in clothes from her time. He even had his ears covered, and he hated wearing hats. But no matter how much he went through, he was still acting like a jerk. "Well," she said, "I'm ok. I'm just here with friends."
"Friends don't dance like you two were," he said sarcastically.
He'd seen them dancing!? Now Kagome blushed, and started to feel guilty. She felt like she'd cheated on him. But then she got mad. "Well, how many times have you forgotten me for Kikyo? Dozens!"
"What's that got to do with anything?" he said, a little to loudly. For they attracted attention this time.
-------------Scenes Break------------
"Hey, Kagome," Joey said, stepping up behind her as he eyed the guy with the white hair, in the red cap. "Is this punk botherin' you?"
"Oh, Joey," Kagome said, looking up at him nervously. "No, don't worry, he's just a friend."
"Is that right," said Joey. He didn't like the looks of this 'friend'. There was something about him that wasn't quite right?
-----------Scene Break-----------
Tea looked with the others as Joey confronted this strange new guy. He seemed normal, but she got a funny feeling from him. She sensed that he was hiding a deep reservoir of hurt feelings underneath his exterior.
"Oh my gosh," whispered Yuka, "It's that guy,"
"You know him," asked Tea "Who is he?"
"Oh yeah we know his type," said Eri, "It's complicated, but he's the real reason Kagome's gone from school so much."
"What?" Tea exclaimed.
"Yeah," said Ayumi, "We figured out a long time ago that she wasn't really sick all those times, just a few. The rest of the time, she's been with him."
"He's a punk," added Yuka, "A total bad boy. He gets into fights all the time, and he's, like super possessive of Kagome. He won't let her do anything hardly because if she does, he thinks she's stepping out on him."
"Even though he's cheated on her with his ex a bunch of times." Eri added. That did it. Tea couldn't believe that Kagome, who seemed so nice and kind, could be involved with someone like this guy. Yet, he was here, obviously confronting her about being with Joey.
----------Scene Break------------
"Stay out of this, okay kid." said Inu-yasha, "I'll deal with you soon enough. Kagome and I are going home." "I don't think she wants to go home with you," said Joey. "Why don't you ask her what she wants to do."
"I don't have to, I know her, and she's coming with me. Right Kagome?" She didn't know, she was just so confused. I mean, here was Inu-yasha, her first love, and then there was Joey, a guy she had just met, but who she felt so strongly for already.
"I don't think so, punk." Joey stepped up to this bad boy of Kagome's and stared him down
"What did you say?" Inu-yasha growled.
"I said you're a punk. What ya gonna do about it?" Joey demanded
"Listen you, just be smart and stay out of this!" Inu-yasha told him again. "I don't want to hurt anyone but it's not going to be pretty if you stand in mine and Kagome's way."
"I don't like your tone!" Joey said.
"I DON'T LIKE YOUR FACE!" Inu-yasha replied
"STOP IT!" shouted Kagome. Inu-yasha looked and saw that Kagome had gotten between them. She looked like she was protecting this Joey guy. "Stop it, Inu-yasha! Just stop and go home."
"But...?" he stammered, for once speechless.
"I said go home, NOW." she said, her eyes burning. Inu-yasha looked at Kagome one more time. She was serious, and angry. Why? She usually takes his side, and goes back to the Feudal Era with him after a while. But now... He looked at the intruder upon his relationship with Kagome, this Joey, and then at the people around them. He didn't want a crowd starring at him like that. Especially when he was angry and didn't have the Tetsuseiga with him. If he transformed now, it would start a panic. And Kagome might get hurt. She wanted him to go home, fine. He'd go.
"Fine. Call your pretty boy goon off. I'm going." And he turned away to the nearest exit.
"Yeah, keep walkin, buddy," Joey called after him. "You don't want any o' this!"
"Oh yeah I would," Inu-yasha muttered under his breath, "Wait till Kagome's not around. You're gonna be a scratching post for my claws." Later, as he was climbing into the well, Inu-yasha was still wondering about that look Kagome had had in her eyes. It hurt him that she'd chosen some guy she hardly knew over him. He had thought of just letting her stay here as long as she wanted. Or block the well from his time, just to spite her. But he couldn't. He would wait till tomorrow. Let them both calm down. He'd deal with that Joey later. Tomorrow he was going to try to talk to Kagome, alone. He would find a way to make it up to her...
--------------Scene Break-----------------
The air was cool, and the breeze was light and soft. Kagome didn't want to go up those stairs, and let her time with Joey end. After Inu-yasha had left, things calmed down, but she and Joey just sat and talked. She found out about his past as a thug, and how being friends with Yugi, Tristan, and Tea had changed his life around. He told her about his sister, Serenity, and how he'd gone to Duelist Kingdom to get the money for her eye surgery, and that though Yugi had won the championship, he'd given Joey the prize money. He'd told her about Duel Monsters, and 'the heart of the cards'. She drank up every bit of it.
She'd told him about her family, life at the shrine. And though she had to conceal most of it, she managed to tell him some about Sango, Miroku, and Shippo. It didn't matter to her that they were in the Feudal Era; they were her best friends, and she was proud to know them. But she also wanted to protect them and their time, so she kept the descriptions down to the essentials. Shippo's sweet and a prankster, Miroku can be a pig, but he was harmless, wise and kind, and Sango was tough, but as close to her as a sister.
As she got off the motorcycle, about to go up the stairs, Joey asked her, "Can I come up? To make sure you get in okay?" She looked at him, smiling at how gentlemanly he was being.
"Sure." The walk was quiet at first, but then Kagome turned to Joey and said, "I'm sorry about what Inu-yasha did tonight."
"Why?" asked Joey. "It wasn't your fault."
"I know, but I can't help but feel responsible for him sometimes."
"You shouldn't," Joey replied. "I've known guys like him. They act tough, maybe they've even beat up a few guys, but they're all talk. That's just what he is. His scared, too. Scared someone'll see through him and find out the truth about him.
"And, one more thing," he said, turning to her, taking her hands in his, "Tea told me what those girls said. That he's the reason you're not in school all the time. And, I know it aint' my business, but I think you're too good for a punk like that."
"Joey?"
"It's true, Kagome. You're smart, and pretty, and a great girl. Someone like you shouldn't be with a guy like him. Especially if he's hurt you before."
"What do you mean?" she said, looking into his eyes.
"I also heard that he'd dumped you for his ex once. Right?"
"Yeah, but?"
"No buts. You shouldn't have to put up with that. You're too classy and good to be second fiddle. And you shouldn't let him keep hurtin you. I should know," he said, dropping his gaze, teary eyes. "I had fallen for a girl once...and she broke my heart. I was hung up on her for a while, but then I realized that if that's how it is, that's how it is. And I'm glad I got over her, too," he said looking in her eyes again. "Cause I met someone better."
"Joey..."
"I know I ain't much, and I'm not as smart as most guys, but, could you give me a chance, Kagome?"
"Joey..." Kagome said, as their faces came closer.
"Kagome..."he whispered, as they kissed...
-------------Scene Break--------------
Mai Valentine stood in the hallway outside the apartment. She looked at her watch again; 11:38. She wondered how long Joey would be gone. When she'd gotten to his place earlier, his dad had told her that he was out with his friends. And Mai knew that as long as Joey was with Yugi and the others, it would be like time stopped. She looked around at the walls, where the paint was chipping in some places, and turned yellow in others. The lights were either burnt out or about to, and the carpet in the hall had many mystery stains. How could anyone live in a place like this? Then again, not everyone had grown up like her. In a posh home, with everything handed to her. That was another reason she'd left before. But now she knew that things like that don't matter. She could have everything her heart desired, but it meant nothing without someone to share them with. Someone to love.
Then, she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. It was Joey alright. She saw the hair before she saw anything else. As he turned the corner, he looked up. He'd been smiling until he saw her. Then his face fell into surprise.
"Mai?"
"Hey you," she said softly. "How's it going?"
"Okay," he said slowly, questioningly. "How's things with you?"
"Alright, I guess," she said, walking to him. "I heard about your school. I'm sorry."
"Yeah, well, we're going to another place in Tokyo for now, so it's no big."
"That's pretty far."
"Yeah." he said, looking down at the grungdy floor, "It's not Sha-gra-la, but it's okay."
"Joey," she said stopping right in front of him. "I came to tell you something." Joey didn't sat anything. So she continued. "I've been thinking about things... You... Me... Us... I've thought about the last time we talked." she looked at him, but he still wouldn't meet her gaze.
"I've been thinking. And... I want... I want to give us a chance." Still nothing from him. "Joey?"
"How dare you?" he said quietly. Then, he lifted his head and looked her straight in the eyes. He was crying. His eyes looked confused, angry, and sad all at once. And there was something else there. "How dare you come here and say that to me now, of all times?"
"Joey," she said, reaching to wipe the tears from his cheek, but his flinched away. Like her touch was a hot coal.
"No!," he said, "You just left me there, after all we'd been through, with all these feelings I wanted to get out. And all you said was 'don't sweat it'. I made an idiot out of myself on that hovercraft, when I tried to tell you at the Finals how I felt about you, and all you could do was make jokes."
"I was scared last time, Joey. I'm ready now."
"Well forget it!" he yelled. "I ain't goin through it again. Besides... I..."
She looked at him again. He'd looked down, his eyes far away. She knew what that look before had meant now. "There's someone else." It was a statement, not a question.
"Yeah."
She closed her eyes, trying to blink the tears away. "Who is she?" she asked, getting mad. "Who's the little tramp?"
"She ain't no tramp!" he said, eyes burning at the insult. "She's a great girl. She's smart, kind, classy, honest, and she's got a good heart, unlike an ice queen like you."
"Whoever she is, Joey, she's just a girl. Please, give me a chan-"
"No! Kagome's a sweet girl, and I won't hurt her. Especially with you... you... you Harpy!"
The phrase struck her silent. The Harpies were her favorite cards in Duel Monsters. They were strong, and got the job done, and she'd thought that was the only thing she'd had in common with the mythical creatures. For Joey to use the word like that... She didn't know what to make of it.
Before she knew it. He was gone, disappeared inside his apartment, the door slamming shut. Leaving her alone, as the light above her blew out.
------------------- Authors' Note-------------------
The songs featured are 'POP' by NSYNC, and 'Give Me Just One Night' by 98 Degrees. We're not ones to write stories and not accept some criticism. If anyone's reading this, please review! Or else we'll move the story, or take it off the sight completely.