InuYasha Fan Fiction / Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Another Yellow Brick For The Road ❯ Chapter 8

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter 9

“Pencils down and put your tests into the envelopes.” Watching the class put their chemistry finals away. Hatake Kakashi made his rounds picking up each test from the students. His advanced class had just finished their final exam for the year. Despite that they had about a month left, Kakashi always spent that last month letting them goof off or watch movies during class. This was a treat only given to his senior class, and compared to last years class he was pleased with what they had done.

After the prior years class’ test results returned, Kakashi was told that he was to provide better grades and scores if he wanted the advanced class to remain. To make up for the lack of promise his last class had, Kakshi gave them more projects and homework than he’d ever given before. Not only that, he’d even given them all detentions if their assignments weren’t done. Picking the last test up, Kakashi looked at the clock telling them, “You still have forty-five minutes left, so do as you like.” Feeling a sudden rise in volume approach, Kakashi added, “Quietly or you will all get detention.”

Dropping their voices, the class began chatting about possible answers for the test, everyone except Naruto, Duo, and Shikamaru were talking about anything but the test. Biting an apple he’d brought with him, Shikamaru gazed down at Naruto’s book stack asking, “How far are you into that thing?” Seeing where his friend had pointed, the blonde told the lazy teen that he’d finally gotten beyond the halfway point. Taking another bite, Shikamaru snorted telling him, “Those books are too bothersome to read. I prefer complex and short instead of long and drawn out.”

Sipping his soda, Duo put the bottle down asking, “You mean like all those books we had to read in English class?” Taking another bite, Shikamaru stayed silent toward his interrogation. Finding no fun in picking on a person who wouldn’t retaliate, Duo took one of Naruto’s books away from him and began to read. Shortly into the story, Duo’s urge to annoy resurfaced forcing him to ask, “So what’s it been like having your girlfriend so close, yet so far away Buddyboy?” That earned him a slap in the head making him growl, “Jesus Christ! What was that fo rit’s an honest question?”

Glancing around, Naruto caught a few suspicious looks, and hissed to his fellow band mate, “You know that we’re keeping that a secret. She’s leaving next week and I don’t want people getting the wrong idea about it.” He then proceeded to smash his friends head into the desk after taking the book back to get rid of any padding the brunet may have had. Sticking it back into his pile, Naruto gave Shikamaru a threatening glare. The lazy teen just told the blonde that if he were to start any rumors he’d have to explain where he heard it making his life too bothersome. “Still, just keep your mouth shut about it.”

The bell rang moments later, but they all stayed behind to ask the teacher what sort of movies they could bring in. Scratching his chin, Kakashi thought about it then said, “R-rated is fine, but if more than say five people have a problem with it we will have to go to something more appropriate. I will however have the final word as to whether or not it will be shown.” The class all nodded and left discussing possible movies. “Oh and you two,” he pointed to Naruto and Duo, “Mr. Iruka wants you in his classroom. Seems there was a bit of a problem with your bands set list.”


Leaving without a word, the pair proceeded to the music classroom where th rest of the band would be waiting. Reason they weren’t in class with the others was that since they had a final exam. With the written coming after the practical exam portion they required nearly two full blocks and lucky for the two they finished it just as the Kakashi called for their pencils to go down. Stopping by a vending machine, Naruto bought some fruit snacks as they walked along the now empty halls of the school. Giving some to Duo he asked, “What songs do you think they have problems with? Last time I checked we had songs that were pretty acceptable and appropriate.”

“I don’t know, man. Maybe Iruka doesn’t have the final say as we though that he did.” Shuffling his books after his reply, Duo dropped one of them with a loud bang. Hearing Kagome laugh from the stairwell near Iruka’s class he flipped her the bird shouting, “You know what he wants to talk to us about?” Kagome shouted back that she didn’t know, but it wasn’t as bad as they thought according to Iruka. Raising his eyebrows to Naruto, Duo dumped his books on a table and hustled down the stairs after Kagome, with Naruto hot on his heels.

Inside Iruka’s classroom, Sasuke, Kohaku, Miroku, and Inuyasha were all waiting patiently with no sign of Iruka anywhere. Taking her seat, Kagome asked, “Do any of you guys know why we’re hear.” Nobody answered, telling her that it must have been a last minute meeting. Fiddling with her drumsticks, Kagome stared at the clock watching the minutes tick by slowly. Finally after a half hour of waiting Iruka walked in. “About bloody...,” her voice trailed off as Vice-Principal Asuma walked in with his usual unlit cigarette in his mouth.

Hearing Kagome’s reaction, Asuma smiled at them saying, “That’s my fault kids. I had to discuss a few things with Mr. Iruka about your set list.” Pulling up a chair Asuma tucked the smoke behind his ear staring at each of them in turn. He liked all of them and had gone to school with a few of their parents. Strumming his hand along his knees, Asuma began to explain the situation to them. Except after the first sentence he had to tell them all to be quiet.

Rubbing a finger under his nose, Asuma said to them, “I know we said you could perform for most of the dance. But due to some complaints from the student council, and not to mention a couple of parents, she has been forced to change her mind on you guys.” Seeing the anger flare up in a couple of them he said, “You will still be paid in full for the performance, but we just had to get a D.J. to take up where you guys left off.” The bit about money seemed to soften the blow to the kids. He then said, “And also you’ll be allowed to enjoy the food and dance instead of spending all your time up on stage.”

Raising his hand, Inuyasha waited for permission to speak. When it was given he asked, “Who the hell complained about us performing? Did it have to do with Mrs. Aburame? Because that woman has been making trouble for us since we became friends with her kid.”Asuma told them that he couldn’t make any comments on the situation, knowing that doing such a thing gave the kids their answer. Getting up, Inuyasha told them he had to get home because he had to help his parents entertain some people.

Asking if they knew that the principal had very little control over the situation, Kohaku told him, “We get it, a lot of people I know don’t like that I’m in a band like this so it’s not that unusual. And do you know if my sister is still here?” Saying that she was expecting him, Kohaku told his friends goodbye leaving the room with a loud scream as he tripped over the stairs. Jumping up immediately he shouted, “I’m all right!”

Snorting, Sasuke told Naruto that they had to get home because they had to take their dad to dinner before dropping him off at the airport. Duo said that he’d drop Miroku and Kagome off at home and the all left with slightly glum looks on their faces. Outside the classroom, Sasuke punched the wall growling, “This is seriously fucked. We spent all that time practicing and now we have to rework the entire set!” Hearing his brother groan in pain shaking his right hand, Sasuke blinked saying, “Sorry about that.”

Lacing his hands behind his head, Miroku walked ahead telling them all, “Good news is that I have us set up from after graduation to Christmas. So, we’ll be leaving the midwest in October and be home by early December.” Not hearing the footsteps of his friends, the manager turned around to find them all staring at him. Shrugging he said, “I had a lot of free time. Which means that we need to start pooling our resources to get that R.V. in the next couple of weeks.” The band just muttered that he’d better looked into the places they were playing leaving Miroku to shout after them for not trusting him.

As the other band mates were getting into their cars, Kohaku was in the middle of checking his sisters. According to her limited knowledge of automotive mechanics, she thought it might have been the transmission. Listening to it for a minute, the theen stuck his head out from behind the hood telling her, “It’s the freaking oil! When was the last time you put any in it?” Going to the trunk he pulled out a bottle of oil, checked the gauge and filled it. Slamming the hood down he wiped his hands before smacking his sister.

Hitting him back, Sango said, “I filled a few months ago. And it should have lasted a lot longer than this!” When her brother got in, Sango started it up with no trouble and honked as they drove past all his friends. Driving along she said, “Sorry about you guys having to cut your show short. But, at least it gives you a chance to dance with your boyfriend.” The teasing sound in her voice had Kohaku grumbling something about not dancing under his breath. Raising her eyebrows she asked him, “I take it all that grumbling means you won’t be going to the dance with him.”

Closing the book he had been reading, Kohaku confirmed her suspicion telling her, “We told you it won’t become public until after graduation. So, why can’t you just let it go?” Sango told him that she didn’t like the fact that the two of them had to hide their relationship from the world. Granted things weren’t perfect, but they had friends who would be their for them if anything happened. Clenching his fist, Kohaku told her, “We don’t need protection. All we want is to be left alone to handle this relationship in peace.” A sudden memory striking his breain, he then added, “Of course I would like to see what his parents would do if they found us together.”

At a seafood restaurant down near the airport, Sasuke gave a loud sneeze to the side of the table spraying Sakura on accident. Pushing her brother away, the girl said, “Next time use a napkin if you’re going to blow snot. You nearly got some in my soup.” Rubbing his nose, Sasuke apologized when wiping his nose. “Just be sure you don’t do that at the dance to Ten Ten. I hear she’s a bit picky when it comes to manners.” She then went back to her soup in silence as Naruto bit into a biscuit.

“I’m sorry I won’t be around to hear how you guys did. But I am going to be back in time for graduation. That is if you can keep yourselves under control for the next couple of weeks.” Said Keiji biting a bit of salmon with a smirk. When their middle child said that they were always well behaved in schoo, Keiji added, “Well remember you are a bunch of delinquants whose parents are unsuitable to bear children because they let them have a rock band and head out on long dangerous road trips just out of high school.”

Kicking her husband in the shin, Janice smiled and ate a bit more of her steak. While her husband nursed the wound to his leg, Janice asked Hinata, “Do you need me to take you to get your dress refitted?” Hinata’s head shot up from her tuna asking what she wanted. Sipping her wine, Janice asked again, “DO you need me to have your dress refitted one last time?” Shaking her head no, Hinata prodded her tuna asking who they got to finish the last half of their performance.

Taking a bite from his pasta, Naruto told his girlfriend, “They got a disc jockey to do all the usual sappy love song crap. As well as mix in a few dance songs.” Swallowing his food, Naruto added, “And although I hate to admit it, this probably would work out for the best because there’s only so much that we can do for something this. Good thing is that we’re still getting paid in full.” Giving his brother a quick glance, Naruto saw his brothers face drop at knowing he had just spoken the truth.

With dinner over, the six eaters went to the airport and said goodbye to Keiji. Giving their father a hug, the kids watched as their mother cried a little at her husband having to fly. Kissing her cheek he said, “It’s all right, I’m sure that nothing will happen on the flight. Just make sure you think positive or it may happen.” Wiping her eyes, Janice gave him another kiss before stepping back to her children. Hinata stood by Naruto waving when Keiji gave her a hug whispering, “Keep him under control while I’m gone.” Hinata gave her word before watching the mans back retreat into the crowd.

As the Uchiha family were saying goodbye to the head of the house hold, Shippou was in the middle of helping his father fix the sink. Handing him a wrench, he watched as his father received a face full of shredded food. Wiping his face, James said, “That should take care of the clog.” Fixing the pipes back together he had Shippou run down to the basement and wait. Shouting for his son to turn on the water, James removed himself from the cupboard and turned on the water. When he saw no leaks he told Shippou come back up while he washed his hands and face.

“Good thing that was all that we had to fix.” Tossing his dad a towel, Shippou put the small pile of tools back into their box. Closing it up he asked, “So did she send those papers yet?” He saw his dad freeze on the spot at the question. Locking the box he said, “Sorry, I just thought I’d ask since she hasn’t bothered to even talk to me.” He was preparing to leave when his father said that he got them in the mail yesterday and sent them to a lawyer earlier that morning. “Well now she doesn’t have to worry about us anymore and can live her own life.”

Tossing the dish towel to the counter James said to his son, “She did love you in her own way. But, I guess you already figured out the truth from having listen to us fight all the time.” Getting the idea, Shippou said that he knew who the better parent was by listening to all those arguments. Chuckling, James thanked him by saying, “That’s sweet of you Son, but I should have just taken you and raised you myself instead of forcing you through all this misery.” Finishing his sentence he felt his son give him a hug from behind.

Squeezing his dad a bit, Shippou told him, “You did what you thought was best for me. And I’m fine, I may be a little bit screwed up. But, still ya did what you thought was right, and if Mom doesn’t want us then she can go fuck herself.” His dad laughed at the comment and he broke the hug. Sure he was eighteen and it may seem a bit odd for him to hug his father, but every now and then a hug just seemed to be the right thing to do.

He had a couple of days until the dance and went to check his suit. Like the rest of the band he had his own style to go with. He decided to go with a pair of khakis, and a sports jacket. Knowing Temari was going to beat him when she saw it, Shippou also knew that she was expecting him to pull something like this. It was now past nine and he had nothing to do so he picked up the phone and dialed up Kohaku. When the phone was picked up he asked, “Hi is Kohaku there?”

Saying that he was indisposed at the moment, Sango asked, “What did you need him for? I can have him call you when he’s done.” Just telling her that he had to ask him a few things about the gig, Shippou asked how long he was going to be. Checking her clock she said, “He’ll be home in an hour. He had to go and help out at his work for a little bit, but I’ll have him give you a call when he gets here.” When she heard that he’d tell him tomorrow Sango just said, “Okay, Shippou. But remember in a couple of weeks you guys don’t have to be so formal with me. Believe me I know how uncomfortable it’s all made you. Especially when I baby-sat all of you while my parents were alive.” Saying goodbye the two hung up their phones, going back to their business.

Staring at her computer screen, Kagome heard her mother stumble into the house and the voice of a man laughing as she continued on with her story. Rolling her eyes, she continued typing out a story she had been writing when her mother called up to her. Going to the door, she stuck her head out asking, “What do you need?” When asked if everything had gone okay while she was out, Kagome gave her a lame salute saying, “Souta finished his homework and gave me no trouble.” She then muttered under her breath, “Except he tried to sneak out of the house an hour ago.”

Notincing someone standing at the foot of the stairs she asked, “Did you have fun Mr. Kakashi?” Smiling he told her to take care of her mother since she’d had a little too much to drink. Telling him that she would, Kaogme listened as her mother said goodbye to the man and fumble up the stairs. Souta came out asking what the problem was, only to find his mother dancing happily through the hallway. When Kagome heard him enter she asked, “Aren’t you glad the district is changing next year so you don’t have to feel weird about the whole school knowing who your mom is dating?”

Picking Buyo up off the bed, Souta placed the over sized cat in his lap telling his sister, “Damn right I am. I just can’t believe how happy she’s gotten in the past few months.” Petting the cat gently he suddenly asked, “Do you think they’ve done it?” The question nearly forced Kagome to break the entire desk as she fell to the ground with a violent crash. Watching his sister pick herself up painfully telling her, “It’s a fair question. It’s not like I’m pressing for specifics. I mean I know you and Inuyasha have done it when mom’s not around.” He paused at a few disturbing memories before saying, “And, since they’ve been dating for awhile I just started wondering.”

Pulling her chair back up, Kagome turned around telling her baby brother, “If you want to know about it. Ask Mom or Mr. Kakashi and not me.” When her brother asked why them she said, “If you want the truth go straight to a reliable source. Although I doubt Mr. Kakashi will say anything to you about it due to school policy.” Shrugging it away, Souta said goodnight to his sister. Noticing the time she said, “Good night,” and saved her work before turning in for the night.

Waking up the next day, it being a Friday and only one day left before the performance, they all decided to cut school, along with most of the senior class. Their finals were done, and had no reason to go back for the next couple of weeks. Pulling out her dress, Kagome made sure that it still fit and had no problems with it. Seeing a couple of frays in the hem, she picked up the phone and dialed Kohaku up. Hearing his grumbling on the other end she asked, “Since we’re skipping today, you mind if I stop by and have you fix my dress a bit?” Asking why she didn’t have her mom or somebody else do it, she replied, “You’re my friend, good at fixing things like this, and you’ll do it for free.”

Hearing the phone move around, Kagome wondered what was up when a familiar voice said, “You’ll do it so shut up and get out of bed.” A loud thump and a couple of whines from Shippou came through the phone when the voice told Kagome, “By the way, we’re both clothed so don’t even try to go any further than that.” No answer came from Kagome’s end, so the voice then added, “And please keep it quiet at school. It’s bad enough having to keep Sango in check every time I stop by for a little while.”

“I’ll be sure to do that. Just make sure that I don’t have to see anything when I show up in an hour.” She then hung up the phone and checked the bus schedule. She would have to run twice as fast if she was to make it in time. So, she unceremoniously stuffed the dress into a bag and ran out the door heading to the stop to arrive a mere half second before it stopped to let a few passengers off. Hopping on, she greeted the driver and paid her fare before settling on a seat near the back door of the bus. Realizing what she had done with her dress, Kagome pulled it from the bag and let out a loud whine seeing the fray was actually a rip on the in-seam.

At the stop, she rushed to Kohaku’s door, pounding on it in a desperate attempt to make him answer the door. When he finally did open the door, she thrust the dress into his face begging him for help. Scratching his head with a loud yawn, he snorted telling her, “I can have this fixed in about twenty minutes.” Letting her into the condo, he walked over to his mothers old sewing machine and checked through her thread. When he was a kid he used to always help his mother sew when they ended up ripping a pair of pants or a shirt. That also led to him getting into the idea of fashion designing that also helped them earn some of the money they had make for renting the recreational vehicle they’d be using to tour in.

Finding the appropriate thread, he set the machine and began his work. Over the noise of the machine he heard his boyfriend ask if Kagome was there. Stopping his work he said, “Yes, she is so you can come down if you want!” The drummer looked up from her magazine and inquired to if Kohaku really wanted to confirm her suspicions on who he was dating. Shrugging his shoulders as he worked, the teen told her, “I don’t care so long as word doesn’t get around school. God knows what’ll happen then.” Not getting an answer, Kohaku went on with his work for the next fifteen minutes and held up the dress telling her, “All fixed and ready for a test run.”

Kissing him on the forehead, Kagome rushed to the bathroom and let out a scream as she’d just barged in on Shino doing his morning business. Getting an eye-full of something she knew she shouldn’t be seeing. Blushing, and saying she was sorry, Kagome went back into the living room asking, “Is that real?” Seeing that she’d said the wrong thing, walked past the bathroom, covering her eyes as she walked past and went into Sango’s room to change. Checking the full length mirror, she went back out and modeled it for Kohaku. Walking over he checked the his work asking if the dress was fitting fine.

“If I didn’t know why you’re doing what you’re doing, I’d be pissed that you had your hand part way up her dress.” Seeing the two separate so quickly forced a rare smile onto Shino’s lips. Patting Kagome on the back she told her, “Sorry you had to see that. Just make sure to knock next time.” When he finished that he picked Kohaku up saying to him, “And you be sure that you tell her that somebody might be in the bathroom.” After being pushed off of his boyfriend, Shino went to get a drink to leave Kagome and Kohaku to their work.

Checking the dress one last time, Kagome excused herself and went to go and get changed. Back out in the living room, she thanked her friend and asked if he was ready for tomorrow night. Sitting on the couch he told her, “Since I don’t have a date and half of our set was cancelled, I’m just thinking about not going.” Sitting down next to him she just asked why he and Shino didn’t go together. Snorting at her he said, “Only two words can answer that question. His mother.” Laying down on the couch he saw Shino standing on the other side with a glass of milk in his hands.

Smirking, Shino told Kohaku, “At this point I could care less about what she thinks. We got only a couple of weeks left of school, and if she kicks me out I’m sure your sister’ll let me stay here while you’re gone. Hell I got that scholarship so I don’t need help paying for school.” Sitting up Kohaku then asked what if she decided to do something to the school. Scoffing a bit, Shino said, “I’m eighteen and I made the choice myself. Only reason she’d be pissed is because you’re not one of the girls she tried to set me up with. Along with the fact that you’re part of a rock band, so she can just kiss my ass.” Petting the black hair he then added, “And if anybody tries to mess with us at school we can also have our friends help us out.”

Growling at that phrase Kohaku hissed, “Why do we have rely on them? We can take care of them ourselves.” Noticing the pain behind the words, Shino kissed his forehead apologizing for even suggesting it. Crossing his arms, Kohaku added, “It doesn’t matter, because knowing our friends they’ll jump in whether we want them to or not.” Eyeing Kagome malevolently, Kohaku then glanced back at his boyfriend with the same look saying, “Now once this is over we shall need to stock up on ammonia and ether.”

Raising her eyebrows, Kagome held up her dress and thanked him saying that she was going to get going. Leaving the house she shook her head muttering to herself, “He’s nuts.” Walking to the bus stop she sat down on the bench and pulled out a magazine and started to read up on a few of the new products they’d be getting in at work. While waiting she heard a couple of voices start talking to her. Telling them, “I’m not interested,” she went back to her magazine. When they stopped she thought the worst was over when a somebody grabbed her from behind. Jumping up she shouted, “Who the hell!? Inuyasha that is not funny!”

Her boyfriend was leaning over the bench with a stupid smile plastered on his face with Miroku standing next to him smirking in a similar fashion. Stamping her feet she walked over to the two and began smacking them senseless with her now rolled up magazine. After smacking them around she panted, “If you ever do something like that again I’m going to kick the living crap out of both of you!” Seeing the two of them rub their wounds, Kagome felt a great swelling of pride at causing the two of them pain. Smacking the magazine against her hand she told them, “You two are lucky you didn’t make me rip my dress again.”

Taking it away from her, Inuyasha asked, “What the hell did you do to it? You’ve only had It for a couple of weeks!” Checking the garment bag that Kohaku had lent her, Inuyasha looked at the dress saying, “With as little as I know about dresses, I can’t find anything wrong with it. What about you?” Miroku looked at it saying he couldn’t find any problems. When Kagome took the dress back she just said that Kohaku’s ability to sew was better than she thought. Shrugging it off, Inuyasha told his girlfriend, “We’re just on our way to see if Kohaku was ready to stop by the place and see if he could do something with the lighting.”

Feeling that something might happen, she asked, “Are you two aware of who Kohaku is dating?” The two nodded saying that they saw them once on accident at the back of the school. Blinking she said, “Am I the only one who didn’t know about them?” Shaking their heads, the two men told her that most of their friends knew, but in terms of the school and parents almost nobody knew. Sighing she wiped some sweat from her head and told them, “Well I don’t think now is a good time because Shino is at Kohaku’s.”

Taking Miroku’s cell, Inuyasha clicked on Kohaku’s number. While it rang he told his girlfriend, “He told us to stop by around this time so he shouldn’t be in the middle of anything. Hey, Shino is Kohaku ready?” After a moment of conversation Inuyasha said, “All right we’ll be by in a minute.” Tossing the phone back to Miroku he asked, “You want to come with us?” Scratching her chin, Kagome gave a shrug and headed back over to Kohaku’s so they could go and see what he would be doing with the lighting.

While this was going on, Duo was in the middle of getting a last minute fix on his tux with Naruto and Sasuke. When it was done he asked, “Too much like a priest?” His friends telling him no, Duo thanked the seamer and went to get changed when he spotted Sesshomaru in the store buying a tee-shirt. Shouting, “Hey girly-man,” he quickly rushed into the back while the platinum haired reporter came over with a look to kill on his face. Snickering at the actions, Naruto noticed something out of the corner of his eye and excused himself leaving the prevention of their replacement guitarists death up to his twin