Life is a huge debate, a war between what is right and what should be right, what is wrong and what should be wrong. Actions have consequences and sometimes the action itself is a consequence of cumulated frustration, agony, desperation and love. Between sanity and craziness, there exists a very thin line, a line very easy to cross yet very difficult to reach at the same time.
However, he knew that even if he crossed that line, he would never regret because for every beginning there is an end, and every end is a beginning by itself. If we begin to wonder what would have happened if we stopped a love one from dying, than our life will be regret by itself. But change can occur; a slight event can disturb the course of so many years, can create hope where darkness reigns.
He kissed her. The passion burning his heart, he could not contain it anymore. The sight of her in front of him was more overwhelming than he ever imagined it. Her eyes looking straight at his, her smile tempting him with the darkest secrets within his soul, her body, so close to his yet so far. He reached for her and what stunned him was that she reached back.
Kagome closed her eyes, her body trembling from the rush of emotions coursing through her veins. Her shaking hands found their way to his shoulders then encircled his muscular neck. He pressed her to the cold wall, caging her, dominating her. The idea shook her to the bone, sending shivers down her spine. His lips were so soft yet so demanding. Her cheeks flushed from the intimate contact with the man she has learned to desire since she first saw him, her forbidden temptation. She felt his hands her face, lightly stroking the skin while continuing his assault on her lips. Vulnerable, she felt so vulnerable in front of him, like a paper in the wind.
The kiss, which started a bit tender and slow, transformed to an explosion of passion. His hands left her face and snuggled in her hair, titling her head back, allowing him more access. She gasped, taken aback. His body so close to hers was hypnotizing her, sending her to levels where no other man had sent her before. He took advantage of her surprise and deepened the kiss, initiating their first intimacy. Her body shook, overwhelmed by the sudden intrusion yet so desperate to participate. Her hands took fists of his hair while she tried to match him with the equal fever he was showing her.
He pinned her harder to the wall, trying to submit her to his kiss, to his touch. Unknown sensations flew in her body. Desire like she has never felt before, the desire to keep him with her, the desire to be even closer than they were.
She was kissing him back, and he had never felt as happy as he was. Her body was shaking, he could feel it. She was trying to hide it but he could feel the heat rushing from her skin, making her blood boil and awakening buried sensations in his body. For the first time in years, he felt no lust, he just felt pure love, pure passion. He could not have enough of her, her taste, her body, her smell. The kiss which was a relief at first changed to a burden, a torture. He needed more access to her, a taste of her, and a connection. He buried his hands in her hair and deepened the kiss, penetrating forbidden territories. He groaned in the kiss. He missed her. He missed her because he knew that he would never feel such feelings except for her, her and only her. He wanted more contact so he pinned her under his weight. She was his drug and now that he had taken a taste of it, he would never have enough.
Her hands left his hair went to his shoulders and suddenly, with all the force she could master, pushed him off and slapped him hard across the face.
"How dare you!" She breathed, her voice coming in short pants. His body, still recovering from the effect of the alcohol and the kiss stumbled back until he hit the opposite wall. His golden eyes bored into hers, silence filling the air between them, only cut by the sound of their heavy breaths.
"Mercedes…." He started but she cut him off, the music in the background fainting, leaving them alone.
"How dare you kiss me as if you were my lover!" she yelled, her blue eyes trembling in her face. "Who do you think you are? Do you honestly believe that I am that easy?"
He gulped, his eyes softening.
"I am not sorry." He responded without any hesitation. Her eyes grew wide.
"I hate you!" She shouted back and her words hit him straight in the heart.
"You don't mean that." He said, his voice coming low and uncertain. She smiled, however no kindness was there.
"I hate you." She repeated slowly, stressing every word. "I hate you with such passion. You disgust me. You and everything you represent. You think that you can buy anything with your money don't you?"
"This has nothing to do with money!" he shouted, her words killing him. His heart ached in his chest and he felt like he was dying. "Nothing I do has to do with money."
"I don't care!" she continued. "Your kiss leaves me trembling with disgust. I have never felt this way before. I feel so dirty, so used. Your body against mine makes me feel like throwing up. Do you think that I will throw myself in your arms?"
His hands trembled.
"Stop it Mercedes." He begged, his pain rising to a new level, old scars opening again.
"Why? Don't you want to hear the truth? I may work for you but I would prefer to die before having to handle your touch. It freezes my blood, leaves me dead."
He turned his eyes away from her, his head bent down.
"You kissed me back. Would you blame it on my imagination or my drunken state?" He asked. His question caught her off guard. Yes, she did kiss him back. How could she not? How could she ignore his touch, his passion when her heart was thundering with equal one? But if Naraku taught her something valuable, it was that the heart should never interfere.
"You forced yourself on me." She countered. His eyes met hers again and she felt that she was about to drawn in those sunset orbs. Why him? Why was the man her logic chose to destroy the same man her heart chose as a lover? Was it a test? A cruel mockery of fate? She was still trembling, aching for him, only for him but he would never have the satisfaction to know. She had promised Naraku to crush him tonight, even if she would crush her heart with him.
"You're lying. I can see it in your eyes." His voice dropped to a very low tone that made her feel dizzy with passion. "You wanted to kiss me. You needed me like I need you."
She supported her weight against the wall behind her, fearing that she would collapse at every minute. Her eyes hardened with determination. He was her enemy, Naraku's enemy and she would bring him down.
"I would not kiss you even if you paid me to. I hate you. You disgust me."
"Shut up!" he yelled, glaring at her. "Don't you say that! Don't you say that when you do not mean it!"
"But I mean it!" she answered, a small smile decorating her swollen lips. "I don't want you. I would never want you and you can never buy me."
His jaw tightened.
"Don't challenge me. I will have you Mercedes. I don't care how, I don't care when but you will be the one who will come for me. You will be mine and no one else's."
She laughed. This was the end of her turn. She had handed to Naraku the documents he so badly needed, thus her presence in the Taisho's company was not necessary anymore. However, Naraku had asked her to crush him emotionally before he leaves. She knew he had something to her but she didn't care. He was nothing.
"You're nothing to me." She answered. "I don't want anything to do with you. I quit."
And with that she left him in the hallway. Minutes passed before he regained his composure and followed her.
Chris was standing near the hallway when he saw Mercedes coming out, slightly trembling. She stopped when she saw him and looked at him, her eyes full of tears.
"Did you do it?" He coldly asked. She nodded and looked away.
"How do you feel?" He continued. She shrugged and continued to stare at the dancers, losing themselves in the music.
"I know that you feel low." He began and she suddenly looked at him. "Speaking what you do not feel, doing what you do not desire. Trust me; I've been through that before."
"Does it disappear?" she whispered but he was still able to hear her. "The pain?" she continued.
He looked at her and then smiled.
"Of course it does. With time, this becomes a daily style. You sit with people, you talk to them, you get closer to them and in the end you betray them and move on. Big deal. Success needs sacrifices. Now, are you ready for the last part?"
"I just want to ask you a question." She said, looking at him. "Why does this hurt him? Why would he care? We don't really know each other, we…we barely saw each other and yet I feel this kind of connection…I feel…"
"You don't want the answer." Chris responded. She looked at him, shocked. "Trust me." He continued before the lights in the night club dimmed and the music went off. Everyone went quiet when the owner of the club came into view.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am honored to tell you that tonight we will have a very special guest in our club."
Mercedes took a deep breath, her eyes suddenly coming in contact with a golden pair on the other side. He stared back and she could see betrayal in his eyes. Why was he affected? Why would he even care? Since when did he grow so attached to her? Since when did she grow so attached to him? Was it the kiss? Was it before? Or after? Or maybe in another life?
"He is one of the most formidable talents in our country. The one that had conquered our hearts with his divine music and voice."
It was like he only existed. Was she under a spell? Did he bewitch her? His eyes looking at her, trying to disrobe her from any lie. She shivered, the feeling of his strong body against hers making her blood protest in her veins, boiling to a very high temperature.
Chris noticed the mutual looks between them. He shook her shoulder lightly, gaining her attention.
"Don't encourage him. Just crush him, all his hopes, and his desires. Make them go to ashes. Don't try to understand. Just trust us." He whispered and she nodded. She knew that Naraku was somehow toying with her but she would not bother to question his motives. She simply trusted him.
"…and he will give us the honor to sing for us tonight. Ladies and gentlemen, again, I will present to you the prince of the music, Rubin!"
Inuyasha's eyes widened and flew to the stage. Rubin? Why was he here? Coincidence, again.
Rubin made his way between the cheers and applauses and stood in the middle of the now empty dancing floor. His golden hair shone under the lights while his green eyes scanned the audience.
"Hello everyone!" he shouted into his microphone and the people in the club went wild.
"You must be wondering why I am here. Well, an old and very dear friend asked me to come over tonight and sing in this place that means so much to me."
His eyes briefly met those of Chris who only smirked.
"Why did Naraku chose him to come?" Kagome asked but Chris gave her no answer at all.
Karla found Inuyasha between the crowds and hugged him from the waist. He didn't even seem to notice her presence.
"Do you believe that? Rubin will actually sing tonight. I have never heard him sing live before!" she said, excited. "He's amazing isn't he?"
Inuyasha only nodded. His cell phone suddenly vibrated from his pocket. He opened it and found a text message.
"It was not easy but I was able to bring the files. Meet me in the usual place tomorrow at 8. Trust me, you won't be disappointed."
Inuyasha smirked and looked at Chris who was talking with Mercedes.
'Enjoy yourself while you can' He thought to himself. 'I am sure I'll find something very interesting tomorrow'
His thoughts were interrupted when the music went on and Rubin started to sing while passing through the audience.
I have never felt that way before
It's almost like I am flying
He swirled a girl with one hand, smiling at her as she almost fainted from enthusiasm. He then went to another girl and looked at her while singing. She simply blushed and looked away, making him grin.
I am going insane with you
I cannot help but think of you
And each time you shut me down
I simply love you even more
Inuyasha met Kagome's eyes while she was staring at him. She immediately diverted her eyes. He would not take advantage of that kiss. Tonight will be the last day their paths cross. She will never have to see him again. Never. She nearly cried. Now that she would think of it, she wanted to see him but why? Since when? She was not like that.
I look into your eyes
All I can see is ice
Baby don't break me
I won't survive
Chris nudged her again and whispered in her ear.
"Naraku brought him here. It is your turn to attract him. He's coming closer to us. Flirt with your eyes."
"Why?" she whispered back, feeling guilt in her heart. He did not answer.
Rubin arrived at her level and sang.
I look into your eyes
All I can see is ice
Am I that stupid
Or am I falling hard?
And their eyes clashed. He looked at her and for him, time stopped. He never believed that he would see those eyes again. Those deep beautiful innocent blue eyes. It was her. He was not crazy. He knew her, she was his muse, his inspiration, and he would never forget an angel like her. She looked just like before, breathtakingly gorgeous. The music stopped as he stopped singing while he stood in front of her, just looking at her. The audience started to whisper.
"What is he doing?" Karla asked Inuyasha who was staring at the scene, ache growing in his heart. He felt jealousy rush into his veins, asking no begging to take his fury out on Rubin. How dare he, how dare he approach her? He knew that somehow, Rubin felt the exact same thing he was feeling. He knew that Rubin was fusing the two different persons in one.
Kagome slowly extended her hands and grabbed the microphone. Without detaching it from Rubin's hands she brought him to her lips. Naraku had already told her that this song will be played.
Her voice rose, angelic, pure and passionate.
I look into your eyes
All I can see is ice
Am I that stupid
Or am I falling hard?
Her voice seemed to get him out of his dizziness as he brought his microphone back to him and sang without detaching his eyes from hers.
And baby the way you speak
You make me feel so weak
All the nonsense I may say
Simply disappears
And without you by my side
I feel it slipping away
Yes life life life
The music returned and the audience cheered again but Rubin didn't seem to notice. All he could see were her eyes, calling him to her, attracting him. He turned the microphone to her side, grabbed her by her hand and attracted her to the middle of the dancing floor. For a few seconds, her eyes met golden orbs again. Jealousy was burning inside but she would not care. She diverted her eyes to Rubin and smiled while singing the paragraph he offered to her.
You may think of me as cruel
You may hate me on top of it all
But don't you believe, don't you believe
That I have ever stopped loving you
Rubin grabbed the microphone and leaned so that it was on their both reaches. He sang loudly, his voice thrilling the public.
Loving you is all my life
The way I need to survive
I can spend eternity
Searching in your eyes
All I want is your lips
To satisfy all my needs
Call it as a sin
But I would die for you only you
Inuyasha turned around and made his way towards the exit. Chris spotted him going and smiled. He looked devastated, sad, destroyed, hurt. Of course he would, he just had one hell of a night. Karla followed him but he stopped her with his hand. The two of them exchanged an argument. Karla suddenly slapped him and stormed away. Chris furrowed his eyebrows but ignored the young man leaving the club and focused on Kagome. He sighed deeply as he saw that her eyes were following the retreating form. She then smiled and looked at Rubin. It was over and she didn't even know when it had begun. But sometimes, you don't need the beginning to figure it out.