The Messenger
Chapter Seven
Blue
By: Rachynn
Standard Disclaimers Apply

"Miss Kikyo?"

She looked up, staying her hands from stroking the soft fabric underneath her fingers.

"Will you be taking the dress?" the short, skinny shopkeeper asked her, an encouraging smile of her face. Kikyo looked at the dress in her hands. There were a multitude of frilly layers that eventually became one at the waist and turned into a twisting, silky strapless top. The fabric was dyed in a shade of deep green and lines of golden beads dotted the material.

Kikyo nodded slightly, indicating that she would indeed take the dress. She paid for it with the credit card left to her by The Agency and left with out commotion. The dress had cost a pretty penny, but she didn't mind since, technically, it wasn't her money to spend.

It was almost five O'clock. The hour of the party at the art gallery was drawing near.

Luckily the quaint dress shop she had found wasn't far from her apartment so she didn't have to walk very far to get home to change.

She dressed quickly, putting on the dress and applying a thin layer of lipstick. Sadly, that was the extent of the make-up she owned. She ran a comb through her hair and made sure it lay straight before grabbing her recently-purchased purse and heading out the door.

She knew she was a tad bit late. Her watch already said 5:30 as she entered the park through the tall, black wrought-iron gates. She set a brisk pace for herself and wove her way through the crowds (if the sparse scattering of people could be called that) with ease. It was turning a little chilly out as the sun began its descent into the horizon. She regretted not bring a sweater with her, but it was too late to turn back now.

The giant willow trees came into her sight and she slowed down a little. A distinguishable figure stood under the exact tree mentioned in their previous conversation. Her purse slider down her arm as she raised it to wave to him, and acknowledging their mutual presence.

"Miss Kikyo" he said when she finally reached him. "Fashionable late I see." A smile crossed his lips, one which she returned. He offered his arm, to which she respectfully declined. It was too friendly a gesture for someone she had only met a few hours ago. The look on his face showed that he seemed to understand.

"My car is parked by the gate; it's not too much of a walk." He told her.

"Alright" she said. She didn't mind walking; it both calmed and exhilarated her. At the Agency building, they didn't really walk, they more … hovered.

The drive was silent, almost to the point of awkwardness. The Top 40 radio station filled the gap with its tunes of both hip-hop and 'emotive rock'. They passed the tall skyscrapers and quaint bistro's of downtown until they broke free of the city's containing concrete walls and continued on a street bordered with pretty flowers and shrubberies.

"You must be a little creeped out by my invitation." He finally said. "I wont lie, I was a little surprised that you said yes." His voice cut though the chasm between them.

"I was a little shocked by your forwardness, yes. Though I thought that maybe it wouldn't be so bad to make a few "friends" or acquaintances while I'm here in your world. She replied, trying to sound friendly enough. "Thank you very much for the invitation though. I hope you don't mind me tagging along for the night."

He waved her off. "Why would I mind? After all, I did invite you. To be honest, I was just eager for some company, seeing as these things are boring as hell half the time. You'll probably be asking for an apology and the number for a taxi service before the night is half over."

She giggled. Occasionally, The Agency put on some formal get-togethers. However, you could imagine how enjoyable a function full of guest who had been dead anywhere from 10 to 10,000 years would be. In Kikyo's mind, this was definitely going to be more enjoyable than that and she told Naraku so.

"Well, I doubt it will be that boring… but you never know there's a first time for everything." She smiled, but otherwise remained silent at his remark.

Finally he turned onto a winding road that ended just in front a large building. It seemed to be made entirely of glass. She could see a gathering of people inside and a fair amount of marble staircases.

"Well, we're here." Naraku announced, before parking the SUV into a nearby parking lot.

Kikyo gingerly stepped out of the car. She straightened her dress with her hands, allowing it to fall free around her knees. She met Naraku on the other side of the car and fell beside him as they walked together towards the door.

"You look very nice tonight Miss Kikyo." He told her before getting the glass door.

She looked at him through mischievous eyes. She did realize that she looked better than normal, but never did she expect anyone to comment on her appearance. She smiled inwardly at the compliment. This was her night to try and have fun, to try and enjoy herself, to mingle among the humans like she was one of them.

"Thank you Mr. Naraku." She responded as they stepped into the lobby. "You don't look so common yourself." He wasn't wearing a tuxedo or anything, but something akin to it. The jacket was a faded black, along with the pants. Underneath he wore a grey collared shirt and a plain blue tie. His long black hair was tied partly back into a small pony-tail, though some front strands were left to hang down in the front.

He led her up two flights of stairs and down a hall to a gold covered door. Before opening it, he looked at her.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"Yes…" she said, slightly confused as to why he was asking her.

Naraku opened the door and they both stepped into another world.

Author's Note: Oh my goodness, what is this, is this an update?? I do believe it is. Sorry guys, I know I promised an update before December, and I do realize it is almost January…. Dundundun, don't kill me. Any who... I was bored today and so I wrote something. This chapter isn't incredibly plot-shaking or anything, but I needed to get something up!

Merry (late) Christmas/Holidays, whatever. I am forseeing very slow updates in the future due to my evil homework, actually work, and then my new DDR Christmas present. YAY.

Review if you want. (It will make me happy.)