Fever by Smittee

Fever

I do not own any of Rumiko Takahashi’s characters. I merely write this out of enjoyment doing so. I do not write this for a profit.
…

“Ah, come on man! We might be able to find some real winners here!!!”

Amber eyes narrowed to his ‘friend’. The attitude he had about women was much different from the black haired man beside him. ‘How did I become friend with him again,” he asked himself, putting it away for later thought. He then spoke to his grinning friend.

“First of all, a bar is not the smartest place to ‘get chicks’. Not to mention Hiten, you aren’t the best person I’d like to be around, if I indeed found a woman. With your history, they’d believe this Sesshoumaru would treat them worthless after one night of meeting.”

Hiten chuckled. “You got a point there, buddy. Even so, you may hear some good music.”

“If you call ‘karaoke night’ good music-”

“Don’t worry, Sessh. I plan on making sure we’re drunk enough to no longer care!”

Sesshomaru held back a sigh. “It would take me another 300 years before I’m drunk enough to not care.”

Standing outside the local bar, woman and men alike passed by and stared at the two.  Sure, with all the hair dyes out there now, it’s understandable for a young man with long, silver hair. The markings on their face though… Most thought they were two wild people that loved getting there faces tattooed. Some of the more sex-filled minds wondered where else they were tattooed. They entered the establishment, already hearing the whispers. Sesshomaru expected this. Demons use to have to hide everything about them. With so many strange ideas of what makes you an ‘individual’ now, there was no need to hide as much.

Wanting to get it over with, Sesshomaru walked forwards towards the door; Hiten following after. Oh, did he hate bars. The scents, the people… Everything about it pointed to either stupid teens or disgraced humans. ‘Stupid teens… That’s more of Hiten’s personification than the old demon he was,’ he thought to himself. As the doors opened, strands of hair fell over his face. He quickly moved them behind his ears, hearing more whispering.  It was simple to figure out what of. ‘Pointed ears. Are they a deformity? If so, I want it! Maybe they’re those realistic fake ones…’ The list of things said went on and on. The youkai merely rolled his eyes.

Letting Hiten pick the seating arrangements, he was thankful he chose to sit far away from the set up Karaoke stage. Not to mention they were close by the entrance. ‘Much easier to escape.’
….

The night seemed it would never end. There had been a couple a fights and depressed workers, who tended to cry and drink themselves to sleep. The worst of it all had been the karaoke. So far, the people were either too drunk to sing or off key, to where wanted to strangle them.

Hiten was enjoying himself, though he had been constantly complaining about ‘nothing to score’. To Sesshomaru’s luck, a woman at the bar looked to his friend and winked. That was enough for him to leave the table.

‘Finally, some time to myself. Perhaps I should take this opportunity to exit this disgusting atmosphere and drive off without him. That should be punishment enough for dragging me he-’

A groan escaped, seeing another person go up to the karaoke and choose a song. Not sure that he could stand another terrible voice; he got up and headed towards the door as the music started up. Rushing at a normal human speed, mostly not to scare anyone, he found victory once he made it to the door.

‘Now, to get out of here before she starts in.’


“Never know how much I love you
Never know how much I care ..”


The demon stopped in his track. It had been the first good voice he heard all night. So soothing to his ears. Apparently it was to all others, for the bar grew silent. The song was “Fever” by Ella Fitzgerald. The girl was a young woman, seeming to be around the age of 24. Long, cool black hair flowed down her back; some lying over her shoulders. She was wearing blue jeans with a dark red shirt. Not someone looking  who would usually know that song, seeing as it was a much molder one. Her eyes were closed, and the jazz seemed to ooze out of her.

Sesshomaru leaned against the wall, deciding he might as well stay a little longer. As the song continued, he began to feel a little uncomfortable. He gulped, not sure why he was so entranced at this moment. That bothered him so. Her voice sent chills down his spine, and her expression…Something about this woman was really attracting him.

As the song ended, the crowd cheered and the owner of the bar came up to the stage clapping his hands.

“Yeah! What a great job, Kagome! A perfect song for you too,” he owner spoke into the mike.

“Thanks, Miroku,” spoke Kagome, as she was heading away from the microphone.

‘Kagome, huh?’ The name imprinted on his mind. He would find out more about this woman before the night was through. He was determined he would.
…

The youkai waited. A variety of people had flocked to her; all mostly trying to get her to come home with them. He watched as each one was brushed aside. When the moment was perfect, he took it. Stepping in front of her table, he asked.

“May I sit? I’d like to talk with you about the song you sang.”

“Uh… okay,” she spoke, nervousness in her voice.

“Thank you,” Sesshomaru replied. Pulling out the chair, he sat down and made himself comfortable. “I was actually quite surprised. I was about to leave, tired of hearing  some of the worst voices in my life, when you came up there. Even more surprising was, not to insult you in anyway, to see a younger woman up there. It’s not everyday you see someone who knows older songs like there.”

“Yes, I can see why you’d think that. I grew up on that music, not to mention  my friends tend to be older than me and so also listen to a bit of the older stuff... Actually, it’s because of one of my friends I’m here. I’m a friend with the owner’s wife. When I saw how people were leaving more and more as the night went on, most of the complained about the karaoke, I just had to do something. “

He nodded. “You’ve probably just saved him having an almost empty bar then. Sure, you expect some bad karaoke; but, not that much and that bad. He probably appreciates you doing so.”

She giggled.” Yes, though it makes the reason why I’m here a lot harder.”

Sesshomaru’s ears perked up. “How so?” What could doing some karaoke make harder to accomplish?

Kagome blushed. “Well, the owner’s sort of lecherous. He has always been that way, while he never has cheated on his wife, he does sometimes go too far on the flirting. Then women start to flock to him, and then he finds himself in a lot of pain from his furious wife. Though if he was any different, they probably wouldn’t be together today.”

“I see. So, you must ensure he keeps straight, because his wife asked you to?”
The woman laughed. “No, because he asked me to.”

For the first time in a long time, Sesshomaru couldn’t help but laugh with her. Something that amusing couldn’t keep him from laughing. It had been the first good laugh he had had in a long while.
….

They spoke until the bar was getting close to closing time. Hiten had left with two women he deemed ‘exciting’. Sesshomaru was really enjoying the conversation he had with her, until Miroku came up and told them they should probably be heading home. They walked each other out, and he followed her to her car to make sure she got in all right. Getting in, she rolled down the window and smiled.

“I… enjoyed out conversation together, Kagome,” he said, a smile on his face.

“Me too,” she replied. “I hope we can meet again sometime.” She started up her car. She said only one more thing, before she drove off.

“Though next time, be careful. There are some that don’t like demons in this area. Wouldn‘t want a nice person like you getting into trouble.”

He felt it then. She let her aura fully go, and he could feel the miko powers flowing off her. Then, she just drove off.

Sesshomaru stood dumfounded. Never did he expect such an outcome as this.