A heartbeat, another one…

The sound of a shattered heart...

darkness…pain…

heartbreak…

tears…deception…

love…hate…

questions…answers…

emptiness… sadness…

Betrayal

Her eyes shot open, her breath coming in uneven gasps. Sweat trickled down her forehead, damping her hair.

Betrayal

She looked around, her lips trembling, her hands clutching the covers. Her heartthundered in her chest, ripping her already fragile state apart.

Betrayal

She tried to scream but her voice betrayed her and she stayed, laying on the mattress, her tears running down her cheeks. Her eyes, again, scanned the room that she didn't recall.

"No." She finally whispered between her tears. "No! No! NO!" she repeated as she sat up, her hands clutching her head tightly, her tears now waterfalls.

"Betrayal." She murmured her voice a little bit calmer, her eyes wide. "How could you?" she whispered in agony, her hands, leaving her head and going down to her hammering heart.

Slowly and progressively she got up and made her way towards the mirror. Once there, she tentatively took a look at herself. She gasped at what she saw, her tears that had calmed before doubled in intensity. Unable to look at the girl in the mirror, she threw the nearest solid object she could find on it, shattering it into tiny pieces.

Still sobbing, she collapsed on the ground, her frame shaking.

"How could you Inuyasha?" She whispered again in the darkness. "How could you use me like that?"

Her sobs finally decreased and she looked around, eying the damages. One big sharp piece of glass lying just next to her knees caught her attention as her face shone in the reflecting surface. Tentatively, she took another look at herself. Blond hair, sophisticated expression, thin face and swollen lips were what she saw. She closed her eyes, taking a sharp intake of air.

"Mercedes…" She murmured to herself. Slowly, she reopened her eyes and gazed at her reflection. She frowned, shaking her head negatively. No, no this won't do.

Her knees trembling, her eyes misty and her body wobbly, she locked her bedroom's door and then stormed towards the little door at the right. She opened it and found herself in the bathroom. She immediately went towards the sink and opened the water. With shaking heads she washed her face over and over and over and over, her tears always getting in the way.

Her blue orbs shot up to the mirror hanging above, and she carefully examined her face.

"Mercedes." She repeated more firmly. She returned to her previous work, but instead of washing her face, she sank her entire head in the water.

As soon as she emerged, panting for breath, her hair dripping wet, she looked again and this time, a small smile came to her lips. Her wet hair was giving the impression of being black, just like it used to be.

She reached for the nearest towel and started drying it. At least now she knew, she knew that she could look like her old self if she wanted to. She suddenly paused. No, not her old self. Kagome is not her old self. She is Kagome. Kagome is her, now and back then when she couldn't even recall being Kagome.

With that thought in her head, she calmed considerably. She was not in the darkness anymore, the darkness where he had kept her. Her gaze hardened, her face going pale.

"I hate you Inuyasha." She declared, gazing at her reflection. "You played me you bastard; you played me like a freaking doll. You took advantage of me. You used my body. You used myheart; my heartthat loved you now hates you." She whispered heatedly, her eyes growing in size.

Her hand firmly clutched her chin as she forced herself to look directly at the mirror.

"Look at yourself Kagome, look what he has done to you! I will have my revenge! I am never going to be the same anymore; I will never regain my stability anymore! I am a mixture of two different perspectives! I am shy and vicious! I am poor and rich! I am innocent and guilty! I am Mercedes and Kagome!"

Her tears returned with full force.

"I promise you Taisho and I promise myself that you will never use me again! Never!"

She took another shuddering breath and freed her chin, her eyes dropping to the floor, her knees following immediately.

"I loved you." She sobbed, weak and vulnerable. "I loved you twice…I gave myself to you, twice. I worshipped you, I sacrificed everything for you…I fell in love with you and then I fell deeper and deeper…"

She stopped, her voice losing its weakness and taking a venomous tone.

"But you betrayed me…betrayed my heart…my trust…my love…my devotion…my body, my soul, my mind…damn you. I hate you…I never hated anyone but now I hate you Taisho. You found it funny didn't you? Playing with little Mercedes, leaving pictures of her old past for her to find."

Her eyes widened suddenly, realization dawning on her.

"He was pushing me…he was pushing me to craziness." She gasped. "Him and Naraku, they wanted me to go crazy. I was jealous of myself, I was having these dreams that I couldn't explain…"

Her voice, now weak, accentuated her sorrow.

"It was all a game for them. They wanted to play with me, they did it on purpose. Everything was a lie."

She whimpered, hugging herself closer on the bathroom's floor.

"My life during the last three years was a big lie…a stupid lie. He wanted to have fun with me…he wanted to…use me."

Her sobs continued until she exhausted herself. Slowly, she got up and headed towards her bed, her eyes cold, and empty, audacious.

"I will not take my revenge." She concluded. "But I'll never forgive."

She was about to go back to sleep when someone knocked on the door. Alarmed, she jolted from the bed, her heartbeat increasing dramatically, her face panicking. She willed herself to calm to no avail.

"Mercedes? Are you here?"

Rubin's voice. Right, she was filming a video clip with Rubin, for that song, princess of my heart. She suddenly gasped, her eyes widening. Her song! Princess of my heartwas a song she wrote when she was with Inuyasha! Did that mean that Rubin knew about her?

Her panic grew to another level. Was it possible that Rubin was another part of Inuyasha's comedy? Did the businessman insert the singer on purpose just to mess with her feelings?

"Mercedes? Can I come in?" He asked again. "I know you're awake. I can still hear the water of the sink running. Are you okay?"

She gulped. She could pretend to be in the bathroom. And if she was in the bathroom, she would be unable to hear him. She nodded silently and sat on the bed. A few knocks later, she heard his footsteps going away and she sighed in relief.

She laid her head on the pillow, breathing deeply. She will leave in the morning before anyone woke up. She would leave and escape. Maybe she'd call her mother.

Her eyes widened for the hundredth time that night. Her mother, how could she have forgotten? Her mother would help her! And Hojo! Hojo would know where to find her mother and again, she had met him in the restaurant. He recognized her but Inuyasha did something, he did something to push him away.

The idea made her shiver. Naraku always made illegal activities and Inuyasha was his friend for the last two months. Did that mean that Taisho was a accomplice?

She was startled when she heard a firm knocking on the door followed by a voice that made her shake.

"Open the door. I know that you can hear me."

It was him, his voice. She could also hear Rubin speaking to him from behind the door. He must have fetched him when she didn't open the door.

She calmly cleared her throat. She would play along; she would stay as Mercedes until she could get away. She could not afford to let anyone know, especially Taisho. He could hurt her.

Summoning her courage, she tried to imitate the voice she had been using for the last three years.

"Go away! I want to be alone!" She yelled, flinching on how hoarse her voice sounded.

"Open the damn door!" He yelled angrily, pounding at the door. "Open it or else I'll fetch the key and you wouldn't like what I am going to do with you!"

She trembled with fear. Was he going to hurt her?

Slowly, she made her way towards the door. She should not anger him. She unlocked it and immediately the door flew open and she was pushed inside by the angry man, followed by an anxious star.

"What the hell?" Inuyasha shouted as the shattered pieces of glass broke furthermore under his feet. His eyes flew to Kagome who was by now standing next to the bed, her back turned towards them.

"Mercedes!" Rubin gasped. "Did you hurt yourself?"

She shook her head negatively but her answer was not enough as Inuyasha made his way towards her and spun her, snatching her arms and eyeing them closely for cuts. Seeing none, he exhaled loudly and looked at her eyes. What he saw there shocked him. Was he crazy or did she look slightly different? Her eyes that usually held a defiant look were now staring at him coldly, dully and he could swear he saw fear.

"Why did you do this Mercedes?" He asked, shaking her, a little as she looked at him. "Are you crazy or what?"

"Do you think I am crazy Inuyasha?" she whispered, her voice weak. "Do you want me to be crazy Inuyasha?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" he yelled, still staring at her. "I found these pieces of glass shattered in your room and you give me that attitude! Explain yourself!" He commanded.

She sneered at him in disgust, pushing him away with her trembling hands.

"It was an accident."

"An accident?" Rubin asked from behind. "What kind of accident leaves a mirror shattered?"

She didn't answer, still looking at Inuyasha.

"That's it!" The young businessman suddenly yelled, dragging her by the arm. She tried to wiggle out of his grip to no avail. Panic surged in her system: where was he taking her? What was he going to do with her? She could hear Rubin following them closely as they walked in the large corridor. He suddenly opened a door and stepped along with her in the vast room.

He roughly pushed her towards the bed, his eyes glaring at her when she spun around to face him.

"You cannot stay alone anymore! You are not trusted with yourself. Since you already have a going relationship with Rubin, you can stay in his room."

Her eyes widened and she felt tears choke her, leaving her lifeless. Did he care so little of her, literally throwing her in another man's bed? Not thinking about her actions she stormed towards him. He looked at her in surprise but didn't expect it when she started hitting him on his chest, tears coursing down her cheeks. She also didn't notice the way he winced in pain as her hands continued hammering him on the chest, just to the left.

"You asshole!" she cried, hitting him harder, while he tried to block her attack. "I hate you! I hate you!"

"You can hate me as much as you want!" he yelled back, effectively pinning both her hands in his large one. The outburst left him panting slightly but he hid it well. "You can hate me but I will not let you stay alone. You will stay with Rubin. This is not a suggestion but an order."

Her sobs increased. What was that? A game with her heart? Throwing her to Rubin after having his fill from her? Stepping all over her heart?

"No!" she countered. "No! I don't want to!"

"Stop that Mercedes!" he ordered. Her sobs suddenly ceased as she looked at him, her face flushed with tears. He had to hold his breath as their eyes clashed. She was so beautiful, so vulnerable in his arms.

"You want me to be with Rubin don't you?" she asked him, her voice suddenly calm. "You want me to stay with him, in his room, in his bed, in his arms…"

"Shut up!" he cut her off, his body trembling, his voice just above a whisper. "Stop playing games with me."

"Am I the one playing games Taisho?" she asked, her tears rolling freely. "Am I really the one shattering the other?"

His hand left hers and with his other arm he clutched her shoulders, bringing her closer.

"What do you mean?" he asked, shaking her. "Spill it out; don't you want to be with Rubin? Are you not the one who wants to be in his arms?"

She looked away but one shake from him forced her to look back.

"Answer me." He whispered, his voice caressing her ears. She loved him and now with her past back, she loved him even deeper. She loved him and hated him in the same time.

"Talk to me, tell me what you want…" he murmured, stepping closer.

She was lost in his eyes, his golden deep eyes. How she loved his eyes. She loved him…but he didn't love her. Her mind replayed what happened and shut her heartout. Taisho had manipulated her along with Naraku for years and she would be a fool to succumb to his game. What was he doing? Giving her the choice to be with Rubin than trying to win her back just to prove to himself that he was better?

When she was Kagome, he betrayed her several times. He insulted her, he slept with Kelly and then, when he thought that the latter was pregnant, he simply left her standing there, alone, in the dark, in the empty space of her heart. He didn't search for her; he didn't even try to find her when she left. He just stood there, smiling with Kelly, looking forward to the prospect of having a child with her.

And then, after that, after he made sure that Kagome disappeared, did he even honor her memory? No. he threw the necklace, the symbol of their love, in his car. He had several affairs, mainly with Karla, a beautiful sexy supermodel. He then went back to her, the game starting again. Slowly, he made her his pet, his sex toy, his own personal amusement.

Maybe he was the one who sent those people to kidnap her! Maybe he did that because he met Kikyo and got bored of being stuck with her.

The question was: did he ever love her? No. Did he even care for her? No. Did he lie to her? Yes. Did he make her suffer? Yes.

"Go to hell." She countered, pushing him away, just to see Rubin standing behind them, hurt in his eyes. She suddenly felt guilty for the young star.

"I do want to be with Rubin, Taisho." She said. Her heartprotested, begging to return in the arms of the one she loved but her mind immediately pushed him away. "You're so pathetic Taisho, I swear that you fall for the same trap each single time." She laughed, but the sound was bitter, even to her ears. "Of course I'll stay in Rubin's room. Why wouldn't I?"

Silence stretched in the room. She was looking at the ground while Inuyasha had his back turned towards her and the star.

Waiting for an answer seemed fruitless as the silence continued. Getting frustrated, she looked up at him and for the first time she noticed that he was leaning on the wall. Why would he lean on the wall?

"Taisho?" Rubin suddenly asked, stepping closer. "Are you alright?"

The businessman did not answer. Instead, he slowly fell on his knees, clutching his chest tightly. Rubin immediately stormed out of the room, searching for Kikyo while Kagome stood there, looking at him cruelly.

"I know you're acting and I am telling you, this would not work. I am not naïve nor gullible. So stand up and face your problems like a man."

She fell silent again and stared as he clutched his shirt tighter, moaning in what seemed to be pain.

"Please…"she started, snorting. "I already told you that this won't work. I hate you Taisho. I hate you from the bottom of my heart."

Slowly, she made her way towards him, kneeling until they were eye level. His face was contracted in pain but she knew better. He was acting, all what he did was act. Like the way he acted he didn't know her.

Her secret bubbled in her chest, creating a path of fire. Maybe he would stop his little comedy if he knew that she knew.

"I know everything." She started, smiling. "You can stop your act."

He opened his eyes, golden eyes clouded with pain. Her heartthundered, trying to reach for him, to sooth his pain but her mind immediately reasoned. She would not be fooled thrice.

"I know what you did; I know that I am Kagome. I know everything. You hear me!" she shouted, shaking him roughly. "You asshole, stop acting!"

His eyes widened and his hand clutched his chest tighter.

"K…Ka…" he tried, pain killing the newly formed sounds.

"Yes." She answered, "Yes, I know what you and Naraku did and let me tell you this; I will never forgive you, never. Now get up! Stop this comedy because I am not buying it!"

"Ka...p...plea...se...my...my heart..." He couldn't continue as his eyes suddenly shut closed and his body collapsed, falling on her lap. Eyes wide, she couldn't move as she felt his body go limp in her arms.

"Stop acting…" she whispered, her trembling hands slowly caressing his hair."You're fine…you're fine…my love, my heart." she repeated.

She suddenly felt people rush inside the room and she could hear Kikyo's screams, accusing her of killing him.

Chris looked at Naraku, curiosity in his face.

"What do you mean you're going after her?"

Naraku kept on pacing his office.

"I mean what I said Chris, I am going after Mercedes."

"Why? You were the one who encouraged her to go! Why would you follow her now?"

The infamous man suddenly snapped.

"Because I feel that something is wrong! I just discovered that Inuyasha Taisho is the manager of that singer! They went together! Why would they go together behind my back?"

Chris shrugged.

"Why would you care? Mercedes will always come back for you. Let her have some fun with Taisho."

"No!" The older man yelled. "I want you to book me a ticket to that damned island. Taisho will learn that things cannot be done from behind my back!"

"Come on!" Chris whined. "Leave them alone Naraku! Don't you want to see your son? He's been in my house forever and you didn't even glance at him. Don't you have the curiosity to see him?"

The businessman glared at him coldly.

"Book the tickets." He simply commented.

"That's really interesting." Anne said, looking at the newspaper in front of her, a picture of Mercedes and Rubin engaging in a passionate kiss taking the whole front page of the gossip magazine. "Our dear Mercedes acts fast."

Hook laughed, shaking his head.

"I bet Taisho is very unhappy with that. Poor him, he also has to be with them in their love trip."

Anne joined him in the laughter.

"That girl certainly has a strong grip on his heart." She added.

Hojo's smile suddenly disappeared as he leaned closer to her.

"Speaking of Taisho's heart, did you know what I discovered by accident?"

"What?" she asked, already liking the conversation.

The young man smile deviously.

"It seems that Taisho has lots of secrets. During the last three years, he has been suffering from depression and other psychological problems so he takes these calming pills."

Anne nodded, urging him to continue.

"Till here, everything is fine. However, what he has been hiding for years, even from his family is that his heart is weak." He said, adding a sad face that made them both laugh.

"Really?" Anne finally asked. "Who would have thought? With all the sexual activities he has been participating in, he is the one with a weak heart.

"Yes, but look at it this way: he never played any sports, he always drives his car and he doesn't sleep around. So when he sleeps with a certain girl, he can go easy and not tire himself. However, with all those pills he had taken, his heart has grown weaker and weaker and weaker and weaker."

Anne smiled, leaning back in her chair, her legs crossed.

"To what point?" she asked.

"To the point that he cannot stand heartbreak anymore." Hojo added, smiling knowingly.