"I feel so out of myself." She whispered as she eyed her reflection in the mirror. Naraku stood behind her, smiling lightly.
"You look beautiful, Mercedes." He responded. The girl in question shook her head negatively, her eyes never leaving the mirror.
"I don't know. I…it's just not me. It's like I am looking at someone else."
She turned towards him, her eyes trembling slightly.
"It's kind of scaring me. How much I do not resemble myself and I do in the same time. Naraku, I don't understand why I should look like that. It's irrelevant with the affair of Taisho."
The business man laughed a little.
"Oh believe me, I know what I am doing. Now look at yourself again." He said while turning her so that she looked at the mirror again. He leaned towards her, his breath caressing her ear.
"Tell me…" He whispered. "Who do you see? Isn't that beautiful girl you?"
Kagome frowned a little, her eyes wandering over a figure.
"Yes but…"
"Isn't that you Mercedes? Why do you refuse your reflection? You just changed a little in your appearance. Big deal."
"But…"
"Don't you want to destroy him?" He whispered again, his voice hypnotizing her. "Don't you want him to suffer for all the things he did? Didn't you vow that you will help me?"
"Yes I did." She answered.
"Then do not question me. Do not doubt me or doubt yourself. You are who you are. No one can change you, not even I. this girl…" He said, pointing to the mirror. "This girl, she's you."
"I look so, so, so innocent."
"You are innocent Mercedes. This is you. This is no one but you. Do you trust me?"
She turned around and looked into his eyes.
"With my life." She responded, her voice confident. Naraku smirked and gently caressed her cheek.
"Then you will do as I told you to do. Promise me that you will not fail this time."
"I won't." she assured. "Inuyasha Taisho will be destroyed. I will offer him for you Naraku, him and his company. You have my word."
They were interrupted when Chris entered the room. When he saw her, he posed for a few seconds, his eyes rooming her figure.
"What's the matter Chris?" Naraku asked, smiling. "You look as if you have just seen a ghost."
Chris looked at him.
"Everything is ready as you wanted Naraku. I am here to pick up…Mercedes."
"I am ready." Kagome said. "I'll wait outside."
They waited until she left before Chris looked at Naraku.
"Are you crazy?" he suddenly said, making sure that his voice was low enough. "You'll kill him. And what if Sesshumaru or Rin or maybe someone else recognizes her? What am I supposed to do then?"
Naraku waited for him to finish before answering.
"They won't recognize her. Don't worry about that."
"Bullshit!" Chris countered. "They are not stupid!"
"No they are not, that's why they know that a person who died cannot return to life! Chris, your friends know that Kagome died. And even if they see a certain resemblance between her and Mercedes, they will surely link it to coincidence. However, the only person who will be truly affected is the one that is in love with her."
Chris paced the room, his frown increasing with every passing second.
"Naraku, this game is very dangerous. I am afraid."
"You are not the one to be afraid. It is Inuyasha who is in danger. I hate him. I hate him so badly that not only I want to destroy his company but I want to make him go crazy. Mercedes will make him lose whatever sense he's still holding to!"
And with that he laughed. But his laughter died with Chris' words.
"I know why you hate him so much Naraku. It is not business anymore. It's a personal matter."
The businessman turned towards him.
"What do you mean?"
"You know exactly what I mean. You're still not over the Kelly thing."
Naraku looked at him, anger spilling from his eyes. He raised his finger, pointing it to Chris.
"Don't you say that again." He warned with a low deep voice that made Chris shiver with fear. "You are crossing your boundaries young man! Do not speak of that woman in my presence again and do not doubt my decisions. You will take Mercedes to the party and you will help her with our plot. Am I clear enough for you?"
"Of course." Chris answered before leaving.
It took Naraku a few seconds to calm himself. He never lost his temper, never until that girl was mentioned. He hated her; he hated her for making him seem so pathetic. He poured a drink for himself and sat on the futon in the darkness. For the first time in years, a thought crossed his mind. What happened to Kelly?
The night club was exploding with music, dancing and drinking when Inuyasha and Karla made their way to the table where the others were already sitting. As soon as they arrived, they were greeted by a very enthusiastic Rin.
"Hey! You finally made it!" she shouted over the music. Inuyasha simply nodded. He hated that place. He almost felt a shiver and a need to throw up when he arrived. He sat next to his brother while Karla and Rin started babbling about girly things in their side of the big table. Some high place employees greeted their boss before returning to their conversations.
"So, the bad Inuyasha came." Sesshumaru mocked in his seat. Inuyasha simply ignored him as he ordered a whiskey bottle.
"A whole bottle!" Rin exclaimed. "I don't know if we are capable of drinking that much."
Inuyasha laughed loudly as he removed his dark glasses and tossed them on the table.
"Darling, the bottle is for me."
His older brother glared at him.
"You will not drink a bottle of Whiskey by yourself, Inuyasha. You are becoming what I call an alcoholic."
"Go to hell!" Inuyasha mumbled for his brother's ears only. "You made me come to this place and you expect me not to drink. You will not order me around. I am twenty six years old and I shall do what I please."
He then smiled when his bottle arrived. He grabbed a glass that was on the table and poured the drink in it.
"Inuyasha!" Karla whined. "Please, can't you stay sober tonight?"
He took a zip of his drink. The music was loud and thrilling but he didn't feel any need to dance. He just wanted to drink, to forget.
"Baby, instead of telling me not to drink, why don't you come and sit next to me?"
He pointed to the empty chair next to him. Karla obeyed and a few seconds later he had one hand wrapped around her waist while he was still drinking with his other hand. Rin looked at her husband in disapproval but Sesshumaru suddenly got up. Inuyasha followed his brother's eyes and saw his father making his way towards them, accompanied by 2 bodyguards that stood at a distance from him. When he reached the table, all the employees rushed to salute him. He taped Sesshuamru's shoulder, kissed Rin and then looked at his youngest son who was staring back at him.
"Is this how you behave with your father Inuyasha?" He coldly asked. Karla liberated herself from her lover's embrace and shook hands with Inutaisho.
"Are you the young beautiful woman who stole my son's heart?"
Karla blushed a little before Inutaisho focused back on his son.
"How are you doing Inuyasha?" He asked, taking a seat between his two sons while Karla regained her chair. The young man took another big gulp of his drink.
"I am wonderful. Thank you for your concern father." He answered sarcastically. His father frowned but did not comment. Rin felt the tension growing between the men so she decided to divert the conversation.
"Where is your new assistant Inuyasha? Didn't you invite her?"
Karla looked at Rin, slightly confused.
"He has a new assistant?"
Rin nodded.
"Of course. The one with the French accent and the fancy cloths. What was her name? I think it's that of a car."
The two women laughed before Inuyasha cut them, his face angry.
"Her name is Mercedes and you will not make fun of her just because you're too bored to find any decent conversation to exchange."
Silence stretched between the groups. The two women looked at him with wide eyes while his brother shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"Rin, darling, don't annoy Inuyasha."
"I was not annoying him!" she exclaimed. "I just didn't know that he will pop like this to defend that woman."
"She has a name!" Inuyasha countered. "Use it."
Karla was stunned. Why would anyone defend his employee like that? Her thoughts were interrupted by Inutaisho.
"Sessh, you never told me that your brother has a new assistant."
"Yes, well, she is very smart and we found her as the best choice in order to help us in the deal we were working on."
Inutaisho looked at his younger brother who was drinking the alcohol as if it were water.
"So Inuyasha, where is your assistant? I would like to meet her."
"I don't know if she will come." He rudely responded.
"Oh, she will come don't worry." Rin cut him. Their eyes clashed with intensity.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that our dear Mercedes is going to come. Chris told me that he will be the one to escort her."
Inuyasha diverted his gaze.
"Why? Are they friends or something?"
Karla bit her lip. Was it jealousy she was hearing?
Sesshumaru chuckled, attracting the attention of the others.
"Inuyasha, you do not know Chris as I do. Chris doesn't have friends among females. He has lovers, one night stands, girlfriends, mistresses but certainly not friends."
They all laughed except for Inuyasha. He glanced at his watch before grabbing Karla's hand and making them both stand up.
"Well, I have work tomorrow and I am tired." He stated. "I was very happy to see you all but you know, many responsibilities and Karla has work tomorrow right?"
He looked at her and she simply nodded.
"So, we'll go. Enjoy yourself."
His father got up as well, his face angry.
"I never thought that a day will come when you will retire from the evening before I do. Now sit down here or I will make sure that you will regret it. You will spend the whole evening with us do you understand?"
The young Taisho clenched his hands into fists, trying to suppress his rage.
"Father, I said that I was retiring for the night and I gave you enough reasons. I don't see the point of being here at all."
"Not everything in life has to have a point. Now sit down!"
Inuyasha took a deep breath.
"What are you trying to prove father? Huh? I am not a toy. I am telling you that this whole evening is a set up, a trap!"
"Shut up! Don't you raise your voice in front of me! It is the alcohol who's talking not my son!"
Inuyasha chuckled.
"Keep your philosophy to yourself. I will not be under your control and I will not undergo one of your sanity tests. And if you find me as crazy as you think I am then you will have to report me to a mental hospital."
Karla hid her face between her hands, embarrassed. She had never seen him act as he was acting right now. Why did she have to get involved with such a complicated man?
Sesshumaru stood up and went to stand next to his father.
"Father, he is tired and a little bit drunk. Let him go. We will discuss this earlier tomorrow. We don't want to create a scene in front of everyone."
Inutaisho looked at his older son before sighing.
"You're right. I'll drop it for now."
Pleased with his father's answer, Inuyasha turned to leave but was met with striking blue eyes. His heart skipped several beats as she made her way towards him, Chris at her side. Once in front of him, she smiled.
"I am sorry Mr. Taisho. Was I late?"
His eyes descended on her body before they returned very fast on her face. Blood boiled like magma in his veins and he felt that he was suffocating. His head spun with unlimited questions as she stared at him, stared deep in his eyes. He tried to swallow but his throat was too dry. He tried to speak but he found himself unable to articulate a single syllable, he tried to escape but his legs could barely hold him up. His face paled. He felt cold and hot in the same time, angry and depressed, crazy and sane, light and heavy.
Chris smirked at him but he was not able to comprehend the true meaning of this gesture. They simply passed by him and went to the table. A ghost? Was it possible that he could see a ghost? He turned around, his hands trembling, his chest pulsating with old memories. He saw the curious look on his brother's and sister in law's face but they didn't comment any further. He saw them introduce her to his father and to the other employees, to Karla.
"Inuyasha." Chris called him. "Don't tell me that you're leaving! Come on! It's still too early! We're going to have so much fun tonight. Come and sit."
He miraculously managed to find his lost voice.
"Sure." He barely said, his voice lightly trembling. He sighed in reassurance that everyone will link this to the alcohol. "I'll just go to the toilets."
"Of course." Chris responded, his eyes boring into his.
He splashed water on his flushed face over and over again. His hands were still trembling, his heart thundering in his chest. He looked at his reflection and stared into his eyes. They were shaking, shaking with fear. He feared himself, he feared his imagination and for the first time, he feared for his sanity. Is it possible? Is it possible that he may be losing himself? He passed his hand in his hair, trying to calm the ache that took control over his body.
"God!" He suddenly cried, nearly sobbing. "God." He repeated, but this time with a bare whisper. He spent a few seconds and when he felt that he could return he opened the main door of the toilet and came face to face with her. He tried to play it cool, to look indifferent but he knew that he looked like hell, like a dead man. Without his permission, his eyes roamed her body again. It started with beautiful white slippers and then he could see her baby blue dress. His heart was nearly ripped from his chest. Wasn't that the same exact dress Kagome was wearing 3 years ago? Was it a coincidence? The thought almost made him collapse but he stayed calm. He then saw her face. Her face, how he missed that face. She was wearing very light makeup, unlike the makeup she usually wore in the office. Her blue eyes were shining in her face. And finally her hair, tied back in a high ponytail, thus hiding the only difference between Mercedes and her. He could barely see the color of it and in the darkness; he could assume it as black. He nearly shuddered. Was he crazy? It was her, her with a few changes, so few that he could barely see them.
She broke the uncomfortable silence.
"You took too long to come. I was worried about you, so I decided to come check you myself. Are you okay?"
He closed his eyes. Her voice held no French accent. It was her, it was her. He was not a fool, he knew her, hell he loved her. But it could not be her, there was no way it would be her.
"I am a little bit drunk." He answered in a husky voice that caught her off guard.
She did not understand but she knew that something was wrong the first time their eyes met that evening. His face suddenly paled and it was as if he was barely able to breathe. But why? It was surely not because of her beauty because he was certainly used to higher standards. And then he excused himself and went to the toilets and there they were, standing in front of each other and he was looking at her in that same way, as if she was something unreal.
But she was able o tolerate everything, everything except the way he answered her. His voice held so much passion that she nearly fainted. How could such a criminal affect her in such way?
"You should not drink that much." She answered, never breaking eye contact. How she loved his eyes, like the rising of the sun, illuminating nearly everything. She will enjoy crushing him down and with every instant of pleasure she will have an instant of pain and regret. Pain for seeing such a proud creature being crushed and regret for not having a chance to be really herself with him.
"I drink to forget." He responded with the same huskiness in his voice. "But you Miss Mercedes are making it very difficult for me to forget."
"I don't understand. What do you want to forget?"
His facial expressions suddenly changed and she could see anger in his eyes. She gasped when he grabbed her by her arms and pinned her to the wall.
"Who sent you?" He asked, shaking her a little.
"I told you I was worried about you and then I…"
"Why are you dressed like that?" he cut her off, his eyes searching hers for the truth but she held her ground.
"I did not know that I should not dress like that." She countered but deep down she was trying to find an answer. Naraku seemed very confident with himself when he gave her that dress, the kind of dresses she would never consider to wear, so simple, so average. Was there something about this dress that he was hiding from her? Has Taisho anything to do with that?
"Do you expect me to believe that?" He growled. Kagome detached herself from him.
"Let me go! You are drunk Mr. Taisho."
"It is not alcohol that makes me act this way. It's you!" he shouted with frustration.
"Me?! What have I done Inuyasha?"
They both froze. His name coming from her lips made him go over the edge. He lost control. He didn't care for the consequences, he didn't care for what was wrong or what was right. He slammed her back to the wall and kissed her.