Mysterious Lounge Singer

Chapter 10

Masquerade Ball: Part II

Summary: Inuyasha has become spell-bound, almost obsessed, with the mysterious singer that has begun working at the small lounge he visits frequently. What secrets does she hide so protectively? Why does he feel so drawn to her? And why does she seem so unattainable?

Chapter 10

Masquerade Ball: Part II

"Noo! Kagome!" Yura sighed out in frustration as the sat at Kagome's feet, trying for the third to time the pain her toenails black. "I'm sorry Yura. My mind is...wandering around and stuff. I'll be still, go ahead." Kagome apologized with a small smile, her face looking like she had just came out of the clouds. The slight spa like setting that they had going while getting dressed helped her out a little bit. Though it could stop her from thinking about that one special hanyou. "You said that before. This is the last time I'm going to try." Yura spoke dryly as she wet a cotton ball wit finger nail polish remover then proceeded to rub off the polish that was on her skin.

She understood she was having a hard time at the moment but she could only take repainting the same toenail so many times! "Hey! You don't think, this looks TOO slutty?" Sango asked as she came into the living room, clad in her red corset and skirt vampire costume. "No! You look good." Kagome complimented as she blushed and turned to the full length mirror that they had set up in the living room so they would have more room to move around. Sango looked in the mirror, wondering if the lace down the front that revealed her cleavage and stomach was a bit too much. "I loove the hat, choker, and fishnet stockings. Very becoming of you. I think Miroku might faint!" Yura teased with a wink making Sango blush even more. Over the weeks she had gotten used to Yura's personality and actually appreciated her input at times, if it wasn't a little harsh at moments.

"Well...I think that would be nice. Long as he isn't trying to grope me or slide his hand up my skirt." Sango laughed with an eye roll trying to appear nonchalant about the whole Miroku situation. "Tell me Sango. Do you like him? I know you do. You can't lie to me." Kagome teased as she squeezed a finger between the tiny rollers she had in her head to scratch her scalp, glad to get her mind off of her hopeless romance and onto someone elses hopeful one. "I guess. I mean, he's not as pervy as I thought and he's actually really smart, a good business man." she spoke as she sat down on the couch, pulling her arm stocking on to her hand, lacing her middle finger through the opening then pulling it up to her elbow.

"Yura, the quickest way to Sango's heart is to be a good business man. I think she liiiikes him." Kagome teased as Yura nodded in agreement finally finishing Kagome's toenails. "So...so what if I do? It's not a crime to like someone." Sango spoke defensively crossing her arms as she grabbed her shoebox off the arm of the couch then grabbed her black stilettos that had a red pencil thin heel and black flower on the front toe part. Kagome stood from the chair with a smile than walked over and sat next to Sango, pulling her robe on her shoulder when it had slipped off.

"No, it's not a crime. It is however to let that like or love go to waste, don't make the same mistakes I did. If you feel you will regret not going forth with your feelings then I think you should persue him." Kagome spoke sounding wise beyond her years. Smiling while placing her hand on Sango's shoulder. Sango stopped blushing as she nodded taking in Kagome's words. "Ooookay! Enough of this love talk! Go get your dress so I can lace you up, now is NOT the time to get teary eyes!" Yura exclaimed, trying in her own way to cheer Kagome up as she walked over to her stereo.

The sound of bass filled hip hop met her ears as she went to her room to grab her black sparkly Victorian like bustle dress. Yura swiveled her hips to the beat as she was getting her pre-party dance practice in, causing Sango to burst out laughing as she bobbed to the beat. Kagome knew Yura probably felt out of place with all this love talk. 'I wonder if Yura has ever been in love? Or, at least liked somebody?' Kagome pondered to herself as she opened her closet and grabbed her dress and shoebox then closed it back with her foot.

(ACROSS TOWN AT AN ITALIAN LIKE MANSION...)

Inuyasha paced back and forth in his bedroom, had actually been pacing since he hung up with Kagome, his suit and mask laid on his bed. He hadn't been able to relax all day. Not ever since Kagome told him what she had on the phone hours ago. 'I'm an escort, ok?' her voice replayed in his head and he had to give it a shake trying to dislodge it from his mind. "An...escort? How the hell could I not notice that?" he muttered under his breath as he turned back around to walk to the other side of his room. He was a ball of nerves inside. 'Say I'm a filthy bitch that deserves any punishment that God is going to give me. Go on!' her tear filled cry once again surfaced in his mind.

"But...you're not...at least, I don't think you're not." he whispered to himself, remembering all the time that she had spent with him and the honesty that had shown in her eyes when they were talking in his car after the dinner that they had so much fun at or the fact that she never pressured him about money. 'How the hell could she keep something like this from me? All she had to do was ask for money if it was that bad!' he thought then slumped onto the foot of his bed, his head in his hands. He didn't know how to react. A part of him was mad, steaming mad! But another part, despite how angry was, felt sympathy for her and wanted to know why she had been so secretive.

'Well could you blame her? That occupation isn't something to necessarily be proud of.' he said to himself as he flopped back to lay down, his hands behind his head as he stared at the ceiling. 'And how I reacted didn't help either...I just hung up. I was so damned...shocked.' he thought as his face contorted into one of confusion as he grabbed his pillow then pulled it over his face. "Fuck." he muttered into the pillow. He didn't want to lose her and despite all that she kept from him, he still cared about her. Suddenly he heard the sound of his doorbell emanating throughout the large house and he stood with a loud sigh. "I better stop thinking before I think myself in circles." he muttered as he descended down the stairs, his footsteps muffled by the white carpet.

He opened the door and wasn't too surprised to see Miroku standing there, with his tux in a garment bag along with a shoe box. "How ya holdin up 'Yash?" He asked with concerned eyes. "Feh." was all Inuyasha replied as he stepped back to open the door. "I know you're upset but you should know tha-" Miroku began to explain, beginning to tell him why Kagome escorted in the first place but Inuyasha shook his head, his jaw set. "I really don't want to talk about it, 'kay? I'm tired of thinking about it." Inuyasha cut him off, holding up in his hand. "Just...don't make any stupid decision." Miroku sighed as he didn't know what to do to make him see that Kagome truly cared about him and that they needed each other...more than they realized.

(BACK WITH THE GIRLS...)

"You look stunning! As usual." Sango cooed as Kagome had exited the bathroom from taking her rollers down and pinning her curls on top of her head with bobby pins, leaving a few spiral curls to dangle down the side and back of her head. "I hope so? No puffy eyes?" she asked as she pointed to her eyes, she had tried to hide it with concealer and hoped that it had helped. "Nope. Can't even tell you were crying your heart out." Yura spoke warmly as she motioned for Kagome to model for them and she did with a slight laugh, turning slow.

"I think you're going to need this." Sango spoke handing her a black masquerade mask with crystals along the edge and black folding fan with sparkles on it. "Almost forgot." she replied in thanks, tying the fan to her wrist with the string it came with and sliding the mask onto her forehead. "I'm driving!" Sango chirped as she grabbed her coat and Yura rushed to grab her wand and mask then they were out the door. "Damn it's too cold for this! My legs are freezing!" Kagome gasped once she was outside, feeling as if she'd dived into an arctic cold ocean. The cold felt as if it were penetrating right through her bones and into her soul!

"Shiiit! I'm freezing my ass off!" Sango exclaimed past chattering teeth as they teetered down the stairs in their heels. "Well I think I'm worst off because I'm freezing my clit off out here." Yura countered, making them all burst out laughing. Kagome felt her mood was the best it had been all day, albeit she was still depressed. 'Now I see why it's good to have girlfriends. Always there to help you when you're down.' Kagome thought as a rush of gratitude flooded her as she watched her friends talk and laugh all the way to Sango's car.

Sango had told them a lot of people would be showing up but when they had pulled onto the street the banquet hall was on they truly understood what she meant. There was a sea of cars and limousines congested in the street, honking at each other and jockeying for parking spaces across the street from the hall. "My God Sango. Looks like all of New York is coming to this party." Yura exclaimed as they had got caught up in a bit of traffic as she was trying to make it around back for the V.I.P. parking. "At least every important corporate business in New York is here. So that's just about all of it." Sango beamed her pearly whites, glad that all their planning had turned out such a response.

"If this asshole would MOVE IT! Then I could get around back!" Sango hollered as she honked her horn, trying to boss hog her way to the front of the traffic by revving her engine a couple of times. "Uhm Sango, they can't hear you." Kagome chimed in with a slight chuckle. "Lucky they can't!" she replied as she honked her horn again in frustration. "That's how New York drivers are. They don't give a damn about anyone else but themselves." Yura sighed as they creeped past the entrance, seeing the man at the front approving invitations and checking people for weapons with a detector similar to the ones used at airports.

"High security huh?" Kagome asked, glad that she didn't have her 38' on her for once. She didn't suspect anything out of the ordinary tonight, unbeknown to her that a certain sadist had a plan for her. "Our guests safety is always first." she said in a sing song voice that made Kagome and Yura smile as they finally made it to the corner and Sango was finally able to turn onto the next street and into the back barking lot of the 82Mercer Banquet Hall. "Damn. I can't find a parking space anywhere. Looks like all the executives took up all the good spots." Sango vented in irritation as she passed the front parking spaces that were full and headed down the closet row.

After driving many circles around the lot and complaints from Yura telling her to hurry up and park cause she was ready to party she settled on a spot that was a row from the very back. "I hate to park in a dark spot like this. Here, slide these cans of mace in your boobs." Sango said opening her armrest compartment to reveal about 6 cans of mace. "Damn Sango...isn't that, y'know, illegal?" Kagome questioned as she reached down and grabbed her a can, reading the label and saw that it was the same kind that the police used.

"When it comes to safety who cares about legality? No telling what a drunk bastard might try to pull tonight cause we look too damned good." she responded as she safely tucked hers in the side of her skirt where her own lacy mini-bustle hid the bulge, since her corest was laced down the front and showed a lot of skin. "Woww." Kagome gasped when they had entered through the back (after showing their invitations of course) and her eyes had saw the inside of the banquet hall, the hall was decorated to look like an old haunted mansion. "All right ladies, time to work our magic!" Sango whispered encouragingly as they all slid their masks over their faces then headed towards the dance floor, their arms linked together as they bopped to the beat of the music.

Across the hall at the bar they had failed to notice the pair of eyes that had been glued to them ever since they'd entered the building. "Holy fuck...Sango looks...I'm speechless." Miroku sang as his eyes sparkled, unable to keep his eyes from lingering on the skin that was teasingly calling to him. "Good! Stay that way." Inuyasha snapped as he drank his third martini, he couldn't help but stare at Kagome. As usual she looked impeccable and all he could keep staring at were her legs and butt.

He couldn't help but growl at the bartender across from them who had whistled low as his eyes were on Kagome also. "Excuse me, but you can't deny I have good taste right?" he spoke defensively to Inuyasha who's hands tightened on his glass to the point that it shattered in his hands. "Inuyasha, how about we go say hello to the girls." Miroku spoke in a rush, trying to save the bartender from the beating he was undoubtedly about the receive. "Yeah, yeah, whatever." Inuyasha muttered nonchalantly although he couldn't deny that the same fluttery feeling in his stomach was beginning to take over.

Kagome was glad for the slightly dim lights in the room cause now she could look for Inuyasha without it seeming like she was desperately looking for someone, which she was actually. "Relax Kags, here comes your man now. 12 'o clock." Yura said in a slight sing song voice as she pointed and played it off like a dance move and Kagome turned around, her heart jumping to her throat when she'd laid eyes on Inuyasha clad in his masquerade mask and black and white tuxedo. 'God he looks so delicious! Even though that is not what I should be thinking about right now.' she chided herself as she saw them nearing.

"Good luck." Yura whispered before she began to dance away from them, grabbing a slightly drunken man and twirling him into her arms making him laugh as they began to get lost in their own little dance. "Hell-o ladies. You look breathtaking this evening." Miroku complemented with a slight bow, making Sango giggle and blush a bit as Kagome curtsied slightly. "Hey." was all Inuyasha had said to her, looking her in the eyes for a slight second then looking off around the room. 'Hmph! Oh no he didn't!' Kagome thought resisting the urge to frown, pout, and stomp her foot.

"You look handsome this evening Inuyasha." Kagome spoke, genuinely thinking he did. "Thanks." was all he said. Kagome looked to her left for Sango but was surprised to see her and Miroku were walking off to dance together, leaving her alone with Inuyasha. No doubt a part of their plan. "Look, let's not be like this, ok? I want to fix this...but you have to let me." Kagome spoke, all the stress and heartbreak she'd been feeling beginning to show in her voice. But before they could even begin to patch up the situation: "Mr. Taishio! The man of the hour!" came a sudden booming voice, a voice that sent shivers down Kagome's spine. 'Oh no...it can't be...' Kagome thought as the voice was coming from behind her.

"Mr. Onigumo, nice to see that you and your associates made it out tonight." Inuyasha smiled, although the tension was in his face and the way he shook the oily haired man's hand. "Surely we wouldn't miss this occasion. I'm sure you're pleased with the way things turned out tonight." Naraku spoke, two women on either side of him. One was rather pale and Kagome assumed she was an albino because she had white hair and the other was tall but shapely with black hair and a feather in her hair that complimented her red eyes. Eyes that were similar to Naraku's. Kagome felt as if she had entered a tunnel and had lost track of the conversation as their voices began to sound as if she were underwater.

Her heart beat in her ears as she saw Naraku's eyes flick over to her then narrow slightly as if warning her through his white mask, as he looked back to Inuyasha. "Uhm, I'm sorry Inuyasha, I need...some fresh air." Kagome spoke quickly, as Inuyasha turned to see her paled skin and before he could say a word she had rushed off into the sea of costumed people and he had lost sight of her. "Ah. Women. Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em, eh?" Naraku chuckled when Inuyasha had turned back around to him, pinning him with a suspicious glare. "Darlings, could you go get me something to drink? Thanks." he spoke as the women took off in the same direction Kagome went and Naraku put his arm around Inuyasha, beginning to drill into him about stocks and business shares as Inuyasha wasn't even listening but thinking about the woman who had fled when Naraku had shown up and the smell of pure fear that had lingered when she had gone.

Kagome panted as she had tried to fight off the feeling of claustrophobia, as she had ran out through one of the emergency exit doors. The cold air welcoming to her now and seemed to make her feel better as the nausea she was feeling began to die down a bit. It seemed that he would follow her wherever she went. That she would not be able to ever escape him and his twisted reality. "God...please...help me." she muttered as her heart rate was just beginning to slow down. "It's too late for God." came a woman's voice from behind her. She turned around quickly, body dropping quick into a fighters stance. "What do you want?" Kagome spoke, hiding all weakness seeing that it was the two women who were with Naraku earlier, no doubt some of his minions.

"Isn't it obvious?" spoke the white haired woman, her voice surprisingly monotone as was her face. "Cut the cryptic crap." was all Kagome sneered as she lunged at the woman, catching her face with the toe of her heel in a kick as she turned to face the black haired woman now, hearing the other woman's body hit the ground with a slight moan. "Not bad, but Kanna's really not the fighting type. Let's see how you'll do with me." the black haired woman spoke as she took off at a sprint at Kagome. She dodged a punch as they then began to exchange blows. The woman was fast. Kagome hadn't had to fight this hard in a while but was glad that she was holding her own.

"Not bad...for a human." she sneered after catching Kagome with a punch that was supposed to knock her out, but only dazed her slightly as she fell to the ground. "But not good enough." the black haired woman sneered as she kneeled over Kagome and placed a white handkerchief over her mouth and nose, holding her head firm with her other hand. Kagome screamed into her hand as she grabbed her wrist with both hands. Smelling something in it she held her breath for as long as she could, trying to dislodge the woman's vice like grip. Seeing that it wasn't working her hand went into her dress where she had her mace stashed, but as her head began to swim from the lack of oxygen she unconsciously took a deep breath.

Only receiving a lung full of chemicals and a blanket of darkness clouding over her vision as she slumped onto the ground. "Stupid bitch, blacked my eye." the black haired woman sneered as she leaned away from her, kicking the can of pepper spray out of her hand now that she was out for the count. "Get up Kanna! Go tell Naraku that everything went as planned. I'm going to the limo now." she sneered as she hoisted Kagome up and over her shoulder. "Yes, Kagura." Kanna whispered, seeming unphased from the kick that Kagome had dealt her and turned around to go fetch Naraku.

(Sorry so short! I had a little trouble with this chapter and thought it would be longer. Next one will DEFINITELY be better!)