The night club was crowded, the music reaching its maximum, bodies swaying with the high rhythm, touching, grinding, sweating…

Kagome was not an exception. Wearing high heels, dressed in tight black pants and an equally black tank top that hugged her body, leaving little to the imagination, she leaned further on the man dancing behind her, pressing herself sensually on his chest, her hands fisting themselves around his neck, towards his hair, a silly smile coming to her lips as she grinded on him, making a moan escape his lips pressed firmly on her neck.

His hands, resting on her hips, slowly ascended towards her chest, caressing the skin as he went further up. They finally rested on her neck while he grinded back. She giggled and turned around, her chest pressed against his, her eyes looking at his face. She smiled, her hands going back to his neck, caressing his hair, his face, his shoulders…

He grabbed her by the upper arms, not able to take her teasing anymore and crushed her against him, his lips fiercely taking hold of hers, parting them open and plunging his mouth inside her hot cavern. She immediately responded to his touch, grabbing his face between her hands and kissing him as hard as she could, her head light from all the drinks she had. She felt his hands move down her body, resting on her back then slowly descending to her ass while his assault on her lips never ceased.

They finally broke away for air, panting. She closed her eyes, trying to imagine that the man with her was the one holding her heart. She smiled into her little fantasy, imagining that it was Inuyasha the one placing hot kisses down her neck, the one sensually caressing her stomach, up to her chest, lightly squeezing her breasts…

She was suddenly brought back from her situation when the source of her warmth was suddenly torn away from her. She opened her eyes and gasped when she saw that Chris was the one who grabbed her by the hand, distancing her from the man in front of her.

His eyes locked with hers for a few seconds before going back to those of the other man.

"Leave." He just said. The other man was about to reply when he noticed that Chris was not alone. Taking a quick glance at the men standing behind the young lawyer, he disappeared between the crowds.

She felt herself being yanked outside the night club and sighed when the fresh air hit her face. She breathed deeply but gasped when Chris grabbed her and forced her to face him.

"You're drunk." He affirmed, his eyes scolding her. She laughed, nearly losing her balance if he was not holding her so tightly.

"R…real...ly?" she stuttered, laughing still. "I didn't notice."

She laughed harder and stumbled backward when he released her. She looked up and her laughter stopped when she saw Naraku standing in front of her while Chris made his way towards the car. She tried to speak but was silenced by a sharp slap that made her fall on the ground. Eyes wide, she held her bruised cheek, tears stinging her eyes. Naraku had smacked her. He never did. He never raised his hand on her. Why did he just do that?

She whimpered when he forcefully yanked her upwards, making her stare into his cold eyes. She suddenly felt drunkenness leave her system under his gaze.

"Do you know what could have happened if we didn't find you in time? Do you know that man you were shamelessly making out with, that man who was touching you so intimately, the man who was clearly taking advantage of you while you were lost in your drunken state? Do you even know him? Huh? He could be a killer, a rapist, an asshole. He could be married; he could be a drug dealer! What's wrong with you? What's wrong?" He yelled, shaking her.

She stared at him, her eyes watering.

"You have no right to question me…"

He released her and this time his slap was harder. Again, she fell on the ground, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"You act like a prostitute! Look at your cloths! Look at your dark make up! You go out all night and only return when the sun starts to rise! I will strike you again and again until you promise that you will cease this disrespectful behavior."

She glanced up at him.

"I will do as I please." She cut him.

He sighed, his eyes softening. He crouched in front of her, his fingers gently caressing the bruise that was starting to show on her cheek. She flinched away but he held her chin tightly, forcing her to look at him.

"Baby, look at me."

Resultantly, her eyes went to his.

"Is this about Inuyasha? Huh? Is it because you're not a couple anymore? What are you trying to prove Mercedes? Why are you reducing yourself to filth? Why are you forcing me to hurt you?"

"I just want to have fun." She stubbornly replied. Naraku's eyes immediately darkened. He quickly got up, his lips thinning into a straight line, his frown deep and intimidating.

"Chris!" He called the young man. "Let the men take her to her room and lock her up. She is not allowed to get out of her room."

"What!" She gasped, standing up, her eyes wide. "Who do you think you are? You cannot lock me inside my room! You cannot do anything! What's wrong in having fun!"

"It's wrong when you act like you are a fucking whore!" Naraku yelled back. "What? Do you think I will let you go and fuck any random guy just because this bastard Inuyasha doesn't want you anymore? Well fuck that and fuck everything else. You Mercedes are mine, and I will not allow you to ruin yourself. You will forget Inuyasha Taisho! He left you and he will never return! You are mine and I will protect your interests since you are not in the right state of mind to do so yourself."

"Fuck you! I don't need anything!" she yelled, tears rolling down her cheeks. "You know nothing about Inuyasha! Don't you insult him!"

Naraku took a deep breath as two men took hold of a struggling drunk Mercedes and forcefully dragged her towards the black car. It has been two weeks and she still didn't tell him what happened that day she took those pills. His brows furrowed in concern. She swore that she just wanted to sleep but he couldn't dismiss the thought that she was trying to kill herself. …

The morning sun slowly crept in her bedroom, lightening the darkness that was still persisting. Gradually, Mercedes opened her blue eyes, groaning lightly when she felt a strong headache take over her senses. She took a few minutes before her eyes refocused. She sat up in her bed and was startled when she saw Naraku, sitting on the sofa just in front of the bed, looking directly at her. He was wearing a black business suit, which meant that he didn't sleep. He must have spent the night in her room.

She blushed when the events of last night rushed through her head and diverted her gaze from his, shamed by her words and actions.

"You're finally awake Mercedes." He calmly said, but she could hear the anger dissimulated deep down. "I was waiting for you to wake up. Have you woken yet?"

"What do you mean?" she calmly responded. "Of course I am awake if I am looking at you."

"Really? Are you really awake? Because as far as I know, someone who is awake will never do what you did last night."

Her blush darkened but she met his eyes.

"I am sorry. I just needed to change the ambiance."

Naraku smiled and got up, making his way towards her. Calmly, he sat down next to her.

"Come here."

She approached him and he hugged her tightly against his chest.

"I don't know what I feel towards you Mercedes." He whispered against her neck. "I have never felt this way before. I feel hurt when I see you doing things that you shouldn't be doing, wasting yourself on people who are not worth of you."

She hugged him tighter, burying her nose in his neck.

"I love you. I love you so much." She murmured. "I will never love anyone more than you, even Inuyasha, he is not you. I don't love him like I love you."

"Liar." He laughed and she laughed along. "You're just saying this in order to make me feel less angry with you."

"Maybe…" she teased and groaned when her headache suddenly spiked.

"You deserve this for drinking so much yesterday."

They fell into a comfortable silence before Naraku spoke.

"You have a visitor Mercedes."

Rubin was sitting in the immense living room of the luxurious apartment. He had to admit that Naraku was clearly as wealthy as it was said. He was really surprised that the infamous businessman had asked him to come over at such an early hour in the morning. He recalled how a few days earlier, the older man politely asked him to get the idea of having Mercedes in his video clip out of his thick head. Well, maybe polite was not the best word to describe it. Maybe disgusted, cold, uncaring…

Anyway, he was definitely surprised that he received a call from Naraku, asking him to come over to his place to negotiate some issues. And there he was, waiting.

"Rubin." He heard the baritone voice of the businessman. He quickly got up and his eyes widened when he saw an equally surprised Mercedes standing behind Naraku. His eyes wandered on her delicious figure, as she was wearing a rather provocative nightgown, and felt a sudden rush of heat make its way towards his system. God she was tempting. Now he knew why Taisho was attracted by the woman in front of him.

Mercedes was surprised. He had followed Naraku into the living room and found the prince of music standing in front of her. She felt his beautiful green eyes scan her body and her heart fluttered in embarrassment. She had forgotten to change. She went behind Naraku, trying as best as she could to hide from the gaze of the young man but Naraku simply stepped aside.

"I will leave you two to discuss your proposal Rubin." He simply said and smirked when the singer looked at him with gratitude. He made his way out of the living room and closed the huge door separating the room from the rest of the house, giving them the privacy they needed.

Kagome watched Naraku go away and when he finally left, an uncomfortable silence stretched in the room. She took a seat on the nearest sofa and put a cushion on her lap, hiding herself from the intense gaze of the man in front of her.

"So, you wanted to discuss something with me?" she finally asked, meeting his green eyes. He gave her a rather seductive smile and sat next to her, his eyes never leaving hers.

"You are more beautiful than the last time I saw you." he said, his angelic voice making her even more uncomfortable. The man was a sin. She cleared her throat, gently rubbing her forehead in order to ease the headache.

"You just saw me once." She countered.

"Once was enough."

Eyes wide, she looked at him, seeing how serious he was.

"What do you want from me?" she whispered, her eyes never leaving his green ones. His golden strands fell lightly on his forehead. He quickly pushed them back. The motion reminded her of Inuyasha. His long silver head always used to slip towards his forehead, and he would use to same move to pull it back. Her heart beat at the forbidden memory, and she cleared her throat again.

"I want you to perform in a video clip I am preparing. 'Princess of my heart', have you heard the song before?"

"What?" she asked, confused. "You want me to perform in your video clip? Why?"

He shrugged, looking away.

"There is no specific reason. I just want you."

She licked her dry lips, a small blush adorning her cheeks. Did he just insinuate something with his words? She threw the idea away.

"I…I don't know how to…"

"I don't care." He immediately cut her off, "It is you I have chosen and I will not stop until you say yes. Please say yes, you will not regret it."

"I…I…" she stuttered but he quickly grabbed her hand in his, looking straight at her eyes.

"Say yes…" he whispered, his voice ringing in her ears like bells. "Say yes Mercedes. It's just a video clip, an innocent one I might add. This song means the world for me and I want it to be perfect. I want you to make it perfect. I envision you in this song, your eyes…"

She gulped, her heart beating fast. She knew why he was called the prince of the music. He surely knew how to convince a girl with this angelic voice, green eyes and innocent face.

"Your eyes, I like their color so much, like the sea, the ocean, the sky…and your face, so innocent, so beautiful…your lips, so tempting…so kissable…"

Mercedes gasped and immediately yanked her hand away from his, creating a distance between them. Her cheeks were by now flushed and she could feel the blood settling in her ears.

"I am sorry!" Rubin pleaded, seeing how embarrassed she was. "I didn't mean to offend you. I am sorry. I am just so desperate, I need you in my song, I need to look into your eyes while I sing, I need it to be you…"

"Why?" She yelled, moving further away. "You're famous; you can have any girl in your song. Why me? I don't want to…I…"

Rubin got up and knelt next to her, making her even more uncomfortable. He had to admit that Taisho had quite a taste in women. Mercedes was absolutely delicious, tempting, beautiful, desirable and above all, sexy as hell.

"I bet your life is boring…" he began, looking at her blue eyes. He couldn't help it as his eyes shot a quick glance at her rosy lips, perfect, full and half parted. How he would like a taste of those lips. He would be glad to have her in his bed. He silently smirked. He could clearly see that he affected her. He would take it step by step and if he was lucky enough he will have her under him in no time. The idea alone made him feel a little bit horny but he quickly calmed down.

"Think about it…" He started again. "Think about how much this video clip will distract you."

Her eyes widened and he knew that he must have hit a nerve.

Mercedes pondered over the thought. Distraction, that's what she needed. If the video clip will bring her enough distraction, than she would not think of Inuyasha anymore, she would not think about what could have happened if he was still with her. She would be relaxed, not as empty as she was now. She would start over with a new thing on her mind. She will quit going out on night, she will quit drinking in order to forget all her memories, all her emotions, her love….

"Okay." She said. Rubin stared at her, clearly surprised.

"Okay?" he repeated, a small smile crawling on his lips. She exchanged his smile with one of her own.

"Okay." She insisted and laughed when Rubin hit the couch she was sitting on with his palm.

"Yes!" He victoriously yelled, sincerely happy.

Before she could know it, his lips touched hers, lingering for a few seconds before he pulled away, still smiling.

"You won't regret it." He said, getting up and making his way towards the door. Left alone, her hand flew to her lips. Was this a kiss of happiness or a real kiss? Suddenly, she felt that this video clip with Rubin would not be as innocent as it seems.

"So, did she agree?" Naraku asked as Rubin entered his office.

"Yes she did. Thank you for giving me the opportunity of having her in my video clip. I thought that you would refuse it. I must admit that I was shocked when you called me."

Naraku smiled.

"I always change my mind with the circumstances. You see, my Mercedes needs to be distracted and you are the perfect distraction. Now tell me, which company is going to record it for you?"

"Solaris." Rubin answered, taking a seat in front of the businessman. "They told me that they appointed a manager one week ago. I must go today to meet him. However, I must need some papers to be signed by Mercedes by today, the contract."

Naraku nodded.

"Show me the papers. I will fax them to you before the meeting. I will make sure that my lawyers review the papers before."

"Of course." Rubin replied, too happy to argue. "The meeting will be held at four pm."

"Very good. I will send you the papers by three. However, I expect you to spoil my Mercedes; I am really attached to her."

Rubin watched the warning glare of the man in front of him. He nodded his consent.