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Chapter Eight: Derision

"I heard that she was hacked to bits."

"What are you talking about? I heard that she was kept perfectly in one piece, with just the knife in her heart!"

The hushed voices within the café gave an uneasy tension and Kirara Nekomata let out a deep sigh as she dried the final glass.

"And apparently they found out that she was into child pornography…"

"That's vulgar! Yuri would never do something like that!"

"Well, sixteen years ago she was one of those...what do you call them?"

"Dominatrix," Kirara muttered to herself as she filled the newly dried glass of orange juice and walked over to the waiting table. "Is there anything else I can get you?"

The man sitting at the table had a very calm and charming smile, one that would probably never let him have lonely nights. His violet eyes twinkled and his long neatly combed black hair was put into a small rat's tail in the back and when he gave her a flash of that heart-breaking smile, Kirara couldn't help but smile back.

"Oh no, I'm fine thank you…Kirara," the man said as he read her nametag. She noticed however that his eyes strayed a little longer when reading it then needed but then he looked at her and smiled once more. "I'm Miroku; it's nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too," she said simply. "Hey, are you the one that moved into that shrine with the strange woman?"

Miroku laughed at the already put title on his friend. "You mean Kagome?"

Sheepishly, Kirara nodded. "Sorry, I didn't mean-"

"No worries," he said immediately. "Yes, we just moved here. It's quite different then what we're used to."

"Where did you live before?" Kirara asked, slightly curious to where he came from. Someone like him with his personality probably came from the…

"In the city, we lived downtown in the heart of it. Kagome didn't like it anymore though. It was pretty difficult for her to get around there."

Kirara knew it was rude to butt into their life like this but there was just something odd about him. She just couldn't place it. "Why?"

Miroku laughed once more and shook his head. "Inuyasha was right; Trite doesn't hear much about what's the hottest new thing."

"One of the flaws I'm afraid," she said dryly. "Is Kagome an actress or…?"

"She's an authoress."

"Ah," Kirara said, understanding now. "Things like that don't hit us until a couple months later. It's sad, really."

Miroku nodded and then looked out the window near his table. His face seemed to light up and then when Kirara saw what he was looking at, she mentally laughed.

"Well, I have to get back to the counter. Bye," she said and watched as Miroku practically ignored her, watching the woman outside with such intensity it was bordering the lines of obsession.

The doorbell rang as the woman walked in and Kirara started grabbing the large paper cups. "Hey Sango, is it the usual?"

Sango walked up to the counter and sighed. "Yeah, I need two large double-doubles, one large regular, three large black, two medium lattes, one small de-cafe, and one large cappuccino."

Kirara worked frivolously at her task and then spared a quick glance at Miroku who was still watching Sango. Giggling, she caught Sango's attention. "You have an admirer," she whispered and Sango looked as if she turned white.

"I knew that was his car!" she exclaimed quietly and then turned to look around the room. To her disappointment, Miroku sat at his table, waving her over.

Kirara laughed. "How do you know him? Isn't he new?"

"It's a long story," Sango muttered. Finally, she walked over to Miroku who smiled his charming smile and stood up to greet her.

"Hello Sango! How are you this fine morning?"

"Okay I guess. How's Kagome?"

Miroku winced. "In a really bad mood, that's why I'm here for breakfast. What did Inuyasha do? All she would tell me was that he pissed her off…again."

Sango nodded, thinking. "Chief is a great guy, you got to know that but…sometimes he can become very single-minded when it comes to his job. Last night he just forgot Kagome's needs and well, that didn't go over with her too good."

"Well, she's going to have to forgive him sometime or else I might just have to come and live with you."

Sango laughed nervously at Miroku's almost promising gleam. "Oh, don't be silly Miroku. Really."

Miroku shook his head. "No, actually I'm serious. If she throws another one of my papers into the fire, I might just lose something important and may need financial help so I'd have to live with you."

Sango looked at him deadpanned. "Here, then you can help me carry these cups to my truck and then follow me to the station. I'm sure together we can make a very good argument."

It was then that he neared her…it almost looked like he was going to give her a hug…

Slap

Inuyasha Taisho hated mornings with a passion. There were many problems with them: it meant you had to wake up, it meant you were no longer allowed to sleep and it meant you had put up with a whole new bundle of fun and joy.

Yay!

But now, after the murder of Yuri, things were just about to get better.

Please note the sarcasm.

Starting with his pleasant conversation with Tammy yesterday, people had been noticing the slight bruising around his nose. The redness was gone and because of his demon blood the bruising should be gone by dinner time, but that still didn't mean people couldn't see it for the time being.

Comments like: "Wow chief, you look like crap," and "Who did you piss off now?" constantly rung a bell and pretty soon, he was finishing the officers' sentences.

"Chief!"

Inuyasha turned around to see Sango running up, a large coffee cup in her hand. "Here you go- wow! She must have hit you hard since its still-"

"There, I know. I said it before that that…ugh, wench has a good punch. Honestly…" He took a sip of his coffee and sighed. One large black coffee could make all his problems go away.

Until another problem made its way toward him.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Inuyasha barked startling Miroku and making him jump slightly.

Miroku shifted from foot-to-foot, looking at Sango for help. She sighed bitterly and gave Inuyasha a stern look. "Apologize to Kagome, chief. She's going to kill Miroku here if you don't."

"Why me?" Inuyasha whined sounding way too childish for his age. He might as well start learning his ABC's and 123's. "She's was the one that hit me. If anyone should be apologizing it should be her."

"Look," Miroku said hastily, not wanting Inuyasha to start thinking that way. "How about you bring Kagome to that restaurant in town? It was the first thing she pointed out when we got here so why don't you take her to dinner? After that, everything should be fine."

"No." And with that, Inuyasha walked away.

"Wait a minute!" Miroku yelled. "Come on, she really wants to go!"

"With me?" Inuyasha asked expressionless. "I seriously doubt it."

Miroku scoffed. "Inuyasha, just because Kagome punched you in the nose doesn't mean she won't accept your invitation to go for dinner. In fact, I think she'll jump at the chance."

Sango nodded. "I think you should ask her too. Think about it chief. How long has it been since your last date?"

Inuyasha stared blankly at Sango wishing dearly that she was dead.

"My point exactly!" Sango exclaimed when the silence persisted. "Too long to remember so how about at seven? I'll make reservations right now and you can call her?"

"No Sango, I don't-"

"Chief," Kouga yelled. "Bad news!"

"I think it would be in your best interest…" Miroku rambled on.

"Tammy left a-"

"Or should you pick her up at six?"

"I think there is definitely a connection there…"

"She's gone so-"

"SHUT UP!" Inuyasha roared and stared ruthlessly at Kouga (who he had put on office duty since the warehouse incident), Miroku and Sango. Draining more than half his cup of coffee in one gulp, Inuyasha threw the cup in the garbage that was near the door to his office. "Alright, how about this? Sango, make it for six-thirty. Miroku, get out of the station. Kouga, come and tell me in my office. Now all of you move."

Walking slowly into his office, Inuyasha collapsed in the leather chair and massaged his temples. "What did I do in my past life to deserve this?" Inuyasha mumbled.

Kouga tried not to smile. "Knowing you, you probably just ended up pissing off the wrong person. Like you did last night. By the way, what happened?"

Inuyasha glared at the wolf demon and through gritted teeth said, "What is the news you have to report Matsuno?"

Grumbling, Kouga replied. "It's Tammy chief. Gatenmaru just called, he was going to see her –probably to harass her again- when he saw that her truck wasn't in the driveway. He busted through her door I guess because he saw that all her belongings in the house were gone and in the end so is she."

Inuyasha merely blinked. This news was not what he wanted to hear. "What?"

"Tammy ran. She's gone chief and I don't think she's ever coming back."

Kagome wished the sun would burn and die.

Even though, the sun was already burning, it didn't mean it couldn't get hotter and die.

Could the sun die anyways?

She thought so but then again it had been burning all these years, so why not burn another century? The least it could do was go out the day before she died so that she could finally get one long sleep without waking up to brightness. But no, that was not very likely to happen.

And yes, she was thinking about killing the sun.

…

Kagome groaned loudly and pulled the heavy comforter over her face, blocking out the sun's rays that peeked through the uncovered lines of the blinds that hung at her window. She just wanted to sleep…

Yesterday had been Hell. Inuyasha –the pretentious, brainless, ill-mannered, narcissistic, self-interested, egotistical bastard- had just been so pretentious, brainless, ill-mannered, narcissistic, self-interested and egotistical that she never wanted to see him again.

Ever.

If they accused her for the murder of Yuri, she would make sure Sango did it and that Inuyasha wouldn't even be in visual sight of her. If she did see him, she might actually break his nose, or break something else off.

She was just that pissed off.

So, imagine her joy when Miroku called two minutes later, forcing Kagome out of bed wearing nothing but silk shorts and a tank top to the kitchen where her cell phone was located.

"What do you want Miroku?" she asked emotionless. She thought she had already scared him out of the house.

"Good afternoon Kagome. How are you feeling? Any better since I left?"

"Not especially."

"Well that's good," Miroku went on absentmindedly. "I hope you're ready for tonight."

Kagome frowned. "What are you talking about Miroku? What's going on tonight?"

She could hear a loud slap on the other end. A shout of 'he hasn't called her yet?' rang from the other end and Kagome could distinctly pick out Sango's voice. When Miroku started talking again, his voice seemed strained. "Nothing's going on Kagome. Sorry, did I get you up from your nap?"

"Don't change the subject you lecher," Kagome said firmly. "What's going on?"

Slap

"Ouch, that hurt Sango! I'm sorry Kagome but I have to go!"

Then the line went dead.

Figures.

Then the phone rang again.

"It's Inuyasha."

"I know; I have caller ID."

"Well I didn't know that," his voice sounded huffy. "Whatever, look do you want to go to Suki's tonight?"

"You mean that restaurant?" she asked hesitantly. Why was he asking her out? Why wasn't he apologizing first?

"Yes. Do you want to?"

Kagome looked at the phone and glared daggers at it, wishing it was Inuyasha. Of all the nerve to call her up, ask her on a date and not even apologize for last night was brutal. She answered him without hesitance.

"No."

Then she hung up.

Glancing at the clock and seeing that it was already two in the afternoon, she decided to get up and ready but her thoughts kept straying to Miroku and his conversation. He and Sango must have planned the dinner.

"Why was he even with Sango anyways?"

"Why was he even with Kirara anyways?" Nazuna Orikasa yelled, balling her eyes out as she talked to her best friend Tsubaki Mizuka in the washroom of the small café. "He was two-timing me! I can't believe it!"

Tsubaki didn't even seem to be paying attention. She just nodded dumbly and played with a long strand of raven black hair. Her dark blue, almost black eyes glinted dully as she glanced at her friend. "Shippo has always had a reputation like that Nazuna, you knew the risk."

"I thought he would be loyal to me!" she sobbed out, attempting to dry her tears but to no avail. "He was just so…perfect."

"Evil wears a beautiful face," Tsubaki remarked.

"But Kirara…she acts like she didn't even know I was his girlfriend! And just seeing her here, working and smiling like there's no tomorrow is just so frustrating!"

Tsubaki bit her deep red bottom lip, her pale face scrunching under thought. Hugging her friend, she let go reluctantly and sighed. "Come on let's go get some ice-cream. My treat, I promise."

"Can we go to the new ice-cream shop?" Nazuna asked her eyes watery.

Tsubaki shook her head, a small regretful smile on her face. "You just want to pass Shippo's house don't you?"

Nazuna's long dark brown bangs covered the girls green eyes. "…Yes."

"Then let's go to the shop near the police station. The ice-cream there is so much better. Nazuna, you have to let him go. Trust me on this one. Revenge doesn't solve anything."

Nazuna nodded and sighed in defeat.

Kagome wanted to kill Miroku. Best friend or no best friend he had still betrayed her. If he hadn't threatened to undress Kagome himself, she wouldn't be in this position but knowing Miroku (sadly), she knew she had no other choice than to get "dressed up."

And for what, you may ask?

Why, her date with Inuyasha, the humdrum, gratuitous, vain, "high and mighty", supercilious and eye-catching -wait, she was getting off track- jerk in the world.

And no, she was not exaggerating.

Miroku had literally forced her to get dressed and ready for her date with Inuyasha, even though she had already turned him down, Miroku had warned her that she would have to sleep with her eyes open –in a matter of speaking- in case he got "out of control." She doubted Miroku would ever do anything like that towards her, she could already tell he was attracted to Sango, but with him you could never tell.

The biggest reason she called him back though to apologize and ask if dinner was still on, was because given her social record, her last date had been three years ago.

And maybe a slight attraction to the half-demon…but that was beside the point.

Studying her self in the mirror as she finished applying the smooth pale gloss to her lips, Kagome sighed and shook her head. How did she get in these messes? Why was he even asking her out anyways?

Just then, the doorbell went as she glanced hastily at the small clock in her bathroom that she had set up so she would never be late. It was quarter-after-six and she still had to do her hair!

"Miroku, get the door will you?"

"I'm busy!"

Kagome growled, frustrated. "And I feel half-naked in this outfit you picked out for me tonight. Just get the door, I'm not ready yet!"

Miroku's figure appeared in the doorway and he gave her a look-over, nodding before walking over and ruffling her hair.

"Hey! Miroku, what are you doing?"

"Guys like the wild, sexy look. See? Now you're ready." Pushing her out of the bathroom, Miroku smiled. "Now, go answer the door!"

Kagome jogged to the front door and opened it, slightly flustered and out of breath from screaming and fighting and jogging. When she saw Inuyasha though and his wide-eyed expression, she began to wonder what she was really getting into that night.

He's practically drooling, it's sickening. And look at her clothes.

Slut.

I should do away with her, right now. But I can't, I have to wait.

She has to be last, always last.

The longest to suffer and fear and I want to watch that beautiful naïve face as the life drains out of her eyes. I want to see her burn in Hell.

Bitch.

But now, now I must take care of the other. She's going to die too.

She is just like her.

And soon, they will know my secret.

And four can keep a secret…as long as three of them are dead.

Next Chapter: Amalgamation- Something was there dammit, and she be damned if she could stop it.

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