InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Grudging Loss ❯ Life is Highway, Part Three ( Chapter 26 )

Ch 26: Life is a Highway, Part Three

 

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Some strong language in this chapter—please do not read if that offends you.
Special thanks to my awesome and talented betas:
Hedanicree, Theleb K'aarna, Karaumea and Blackdeathmessenger!

You might want to play `Life is a Highway' by Rascal Flatts while you read this chapter.
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Inuyasha grimaced as he sped his motorcycle down the LA highway with Kagome gripping his back. Today had started beautifully with Kagome in his arms as he woke up. However, once they faced the news media his entire mood had soured. Kagome's normally happy demeanor had shifted into something subdued. It was affecting him and putting him on edge. Now they had a gig to play tonight and there was no way that they could get out of it. `Immortal Sin' was playing as an opening band at the House of Blues. With their entire future up in the air they couldn't afford to miss a gig.

 

Inuyasha slowed down and maneuvered past the House of Blues. He looked in dismay at the large crowd and multiple media vans that were parked outside. “Shit. I thought we were over this!” he yelled as he pulled into the employee lot near in the back of the club.

 

Kagome touched his shoulder and looked at him with her wide, expressive eyes before pulling off her own red helmet. “They'll get sick of the story eventually. We're just the flavor of the month.” She smiled up at him with temerity. “They'll leave us alone as soon as another story breaks.”

 

Inuyasha sighed as he jerked out of his metallic red helmet. His silver hair fell out, cascading down past his shoulders. Kagome squeezed him with a quick hug. Inuyasha's eyes roamed over her body as he took in her appearance. Tonight she was wearing long, black leather pants that hung low on her hips, a silver corset and his leather jacket that engulfed her small frame.

 

He touched her cheek. “Keh,” he murmured as he leaned forward to kiss her. His mouth met her warm, soft lips. Her mouth parted and he breathed in as he deepened the kiss. Her lips were jasmine. Her scent clung to him and to his jacket. Cherry blossoms intertwined with his woodsy scent on her skin. He forgot where he was. There was only her and him—their lips—her body so soft and giving under his hands…

 

Clik. Flash. Clik. Flash.

 

“Fuck!” Inuyasha snarled as he broke off the kiss to send a murderous glare to a photographer with a telephoto lens. His fists clenched and he was about to throw his body weight forward to attack the idiot who had interrupted them.

 

It was only Kagome's insistent plea that stopped him. “Inuyasha, no!” she called out. Her single hand on his shoulder was the rock that held him fast. He turned to look at her small hand on him. He took a deep breath as he turned away from the photographer and managed to still his body. He grabbed Kagome's helmet and his own to lock them on his bike before he headed inside. Kagome moved next to his side. Inuyasha resisted the urge to pull her close to him as he walked toward the entrance. The photographer was still taking pictures and he didn't want to help the bastard make any more money.

 

Inuyasha pulled the big, heavy metal door open and let Kagome inside before he turned to flip off the photographer who was still taking pictures of them. The door closed hard and fast behind them with a heavy clang.

 

The coolness of the outside air was replaced with humid warmth and cacophonous chatter. In fact, he could clearly hear someone yelling at the stage manager.

 

“How could you do this to us?! We're the better band!” Inuyasha's ears twisted to pick up the argument that was far down the corridor. He recognized the voice of the lead singer of `Deadspeak,' the band that had headlined the last time `Immortal Sin' had played at the House of Blues.

 

An even voice responded. Inuyasha recognized it as Jim Johnson the stage manager. “I just give the crowd what they want.”

 

Even Kagome could hear the lead singer cuss loudly.

 

“You better get ready for your gig,” responded the stage manager coolly. “You're about to go on.”

 

“We're not done with this, Jim,” shouted the bandleader. Angry footsteps started to echo down the hallway.

 

Inuyasha walked forward with Kagome and finally saw the stage manager. He had his hands in the pockets of his khaki's and leaned forward to rock on his heels. The manager blew against his black bangs in frustration before he noticed Kagome and Inuyasha staring at him with dumbfounded expressions.

 

His demeanor automatically changed and his face beamed a smile that was as fake as it was wide. “Ah, Inuyasha and Kagome. I've been waiting for you. There's been a slight change in our lineup tonight.”

 

Inuyasha looked up at the man suspiciously. He smelled nervousness about the stage manager. “What change?” asked Inuyasha with some wariness.

 

“Oh, you're going to be our headlining band from now on!” exclaimed Mr. Johnson with a great amount of enthusiasm. “I always knew that your band had talent. Now all we need to do is showcase it.”

 

“This wouldn't have anything to do with the media vans out front?” asked Inuyasha as his eyes narrowed.

 

“Ah, yes,” answered the stage manager while he looked at his brown penny loafers. Then he smiled at Inuyasha again revealing two rows of perfect, white teeth. “Well, like I told Deadspeak... I give the crowd what they want and they want `Immortal Sin.' When you're done with this gig tonight, I need to talk to you about changing your booking. We'll need you here as the main act and I'd like to extend your contract.”

 

“Talk to Ginta,” stated Inuyasha with skepticism. “You know that he's the one who handles our contracts.”

 

“Well, that's just it,” answered the manager. “I was wondering if we could mix things up a little bit?”

 

“Mix things up?” asked Inuyasha as he crossed his arms in front of him and stood defiantly.

 

“Yes, just have you and Kagome play. You don't need the rest of the band…,” he offered.

 

Inuyasha growled and his jaw twitched. “We're not breaking apart the band. Take us as we are or not at all!”

 

The stage manager raised his hands in a placating gesture. “Sure, if that's what you want.” He flashed his bleached white smile at him again. “But if there was only two of you, that would be less people to split the money.”

 

Kagome answered this time with a furrowed brow and narrowed eyes, “We're not interested Mr. Johnson. Don't push us.”

 

The stage manager's carefully crafted smile faltered and turned at the edges into a partial frown. “If that's what you wish. Well, you have more time to get ready tonight. And keep in mind that we need you to play for one hour instead of the usual thirty minutes.”

 

“Wha…,” answered Inuyasha as he blinked his eyes in confusion.

 

“Well, you are the headlining act now. You'll be on stage longer.” The manager walked away and smiled as he waved. “Call me if you have any questions.”

 

“Can you believe that man?” asked Inuyasha with a grimace. His eyebrows were raised in exasperation and his finger was pointing at the retreating man.

 

Kagome sighed and put her arms around his waist to hug him. Inuyasha suddenly seemed to notice her small form next to his. He turned around to nestle her head under his chin.

 

“Things are changing so quickly, Kagome,” muttered Inuyasha. His hands absentmindedly stroked her arms that were wrapped around him.

 

“Well, they're not all bad are they?” Kagome asked as she pulled back to look him in the eyes. Her warm deer-like orbs found his amber ones.

 

A small smile graced his lips while Inuyasha looked down at her. “No, not all bad,” he spoke with a soft voice.

 

“Inuyasha!” Ginta yelled as he ran down the hall to greet both players. His eyes darted left and right to make out the duo that were embracing in the hallway. A big grin laced his lips as he looked at them. “So she finally found out the truth, and you actually managed to not get sealed by her arrows!”

 

“Ginta!” yelled Inuyasha in exasperation.

 

“Hey, you know I love you guys. That was just so amazing. I couldn't believe the game and then Koga said that he found you both in bed and…” Ginta's words sputtered to a halt under Inuyasha's menacing glare. The hanyou's fist suddenly came precariously close to Ginta's face. “Hey, man I'm just happy for you,” he mumbled. The wolf demon moved his hands to protect his face from the incoming threat.

 

Inuyasha quickly crossed his arms and looked away from the demon. “Feh,” was all he could manage to say.

 

Kagome hooked her arms around each demon's arm. “So any idea what songs we are going to sing in order to double our time commitment?”

 

Hakkaku arrived quickly on Ginta's heels. “Yeah, hey Ginta did you find out if they were paying us any more?”

 

Ginta slapped his forehead. “I'm sorry. I forgot when I ran into Inuyasha and Kagome.”

 

Hakkaku only shook his head in dismay before beaming a smile at Inuyasha and Kagome. “So….,” began Hakkaku.

 

“Can it, Hakkaku,” commanded Inuyasha. He wheeled around with an arm around Kagome's waist. “Where's Koga? Where's our music? We have a lot of last minute changes to go over.”

 

“Over here, mutt-face!” called out the familiar voice of the wolf demon from a backstage room.

 

The rest of the band ambled toward the door and walked in to see the band equipment strewn about the floor. Koga was anxiously poring through sheets of music, papers fluttered to the ground around him.

 

Kagome walked up to the wolf-demon and picked up the fallen music sheets without asking. “Let's just sing every song we ever practiced,” said Kagome.

 

“We don't have all of our sheet music with us,” answered Koga while he looked at the papers in front of him. “We need to stick with what we have on hand.”

 

Kagome looked at the sheet music that she had just picked off the floor. “Oh, I never heard you guys practice this one before. Inuyasha?” Kagome asked.

 

Inuyasha walked on over to look at the song she was gesturing to and Ginta looked over their shoulders.

 

“Oh, yeah!” said Ginta. “He had us practicing that song for months now. I don't know why we never practiced it while you were around though. It's kind of catchy.” Ginta started to sing awkwardly and Inuyasha winced, “Life is a highway. I wanna ride it all night long…”

 

Kagome smiled. “You know that I love this song. Why didn't you tell me you guys had practiced it?”

 

Inuyasha scratched his head. “Um, well you first sang that song with `Ash',” he explained without continuing.

 

Kagome frowned for a brief moment before looking away from the music and up at Inuyasha. “Afraid that I might figure out the truth?” she asked with wary eyes. She frowned and bit her lip.

 

“Something like that,” added Inuyasha as he glanced down at the paper and avoided Kagome's penetrating eyes. Almost as an afterthought, he turned to grab Kagome and pulled her out into the hallway. The door shut heavily behind them and Inuyasha seemed to become fascinated with the floor. His words had trouble forming as he looked up at her with clear eyes that betrayed longing and sadness. “The song... It reminds me of you,” Inuyasha began as he met her questioning gaze. He took a deep breath and then continued. “It also reminds me of how I was back then. I'm not proud of what I was like or what I had planned. But the song also gives me hope,” Inuyasha paused as he took a deep breath and looked Kagome squarely in the eyes, “…because it reminds me of the woman who made me a better man.”

 

Kagome let out a breath that she seemed to be holding. “A better man?” asked Kagome with a quirky smile.

 

“I'm not the same man that you met a few months ago,” answered Inuyasha as he turned away from her briefly to run his fingers through his hair. He sighed and then looked at Kagome's deer brown eyes again. “Somehow you changed me,” Inuyasha sighed as he pulled her forward and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead. “Kagome, would you like to sing that song again?”

 

“I thought you'd never ask,” answered Kagome with a beaming smile.

 

It didn't take long for the band to pull together a new playlist for the show that night. They had to double the amount of songs that they were going to play since their thirty-minute slot had quickly expanded to one hour. Before they knew it, they were onstage after the disgruntled `Deadspeak'.

 

Inuyasha scanned the audience and grimaced at what he saw. He had never seen the House of Blues as crowded as it was tonight. Every table was crammed shoulder to shoulder with people. The dance floor, which was normally empty, was about as crowded as a mosh pit. Even more dismaying were the television cameras that were pointed at the stage. Inuyasha counted at least five different cameras panning across the club.

 

`Well, if it's a show they want—then that's what they're going to get,' thought Inuyasha. He moved to center stage and the red lights centered on him. His silver hair and dog-like ears seemed to take on an even more demonic look as the ruby lights danced across his features.

 

“We're `Immortal Sin'! Get ready to rock!” yelled Inuyasha. Hakkaku hit the drums and Koga started to strum on the guitar. Soon the rhythm of the song `Life is a Highway' began to stream over the speakers and across the crowded club.

 

Memories of when he had last sung this song with Kagome drifted across his mind. `How long ago was it really? Had it only been five months ago? Did I really conceive a plan to fuck and then humiliate Kagome? Was I really that heartless? Why had she forgiven me?' he mused to himself as he prepared to sing.

 

He gripped the mike in his hands and strutted across the stage to pull Kagome away from the keyboard and next to his body. This song was for her and he wanted her to know it. His deep baritone voice belted out the first verse as he looked at her.

 

Life's like a road that you travel on
When there's one day here and the next day gone…
There's a world outside every darkened door
Where blues won't haunt you anymore
Where brave are free and lovers soar
Come ride with me to the distant shore

 

She smiled up at him. It was the warm, brilliant smile that only Kagome possessed. `Why did you forgive me?' he thought idly as he stroked her cheek. Then his hand dropped to draw her waist flush against his and they sang the chorus together. Their bodies rocked together with the beat of the music. Her hips swayed with his and his eyes never left hers. He seemed to be searching for answers in her eyes as they sung the next verse together.

 

Life is a highway
I wanna ride it all night long
If you're going my way
I wanna drive it all night long

 

She had changed everything, hadn't she? His heart had always held such anger and frustration. Now he searched within and only found a deep, rich feeling of contentment. It didn't matter that he could no longer play team sports or that the press wouldn't leave them alone. She loved him—she truly loved him. Even when she shouldn't, she did. All was right in the world. It had been a long difficult path leading to this moment in time. The riots, his mother dying, his father's growing distance that was mingled with sorrow, his intense anger, his desire to succeed… And above all of that there was Kagome, one individual who made the pain worth it, and she was in front of him. Would she ever know exactly how much she meant to him? He doubted it. But if he couldn't tell her, he would sing to her and let the lyrics take on his voice and emotions.

 

I love you now like I loved you then
You're in my blood
I'm not a lonely man
There's no load I can't hold
Road so rough this I know

 

She held his hand in hers and brought it up to her chest as she sung the next verse. Her smile reached her eyes. He could see that there was no more sadness and—thankfully—no regret in her demeanor.

 

There was a distance between you and I (between you and I)
A misunderstanding once
But now we look it in the eye

 

There was a brief pause in the music before they would have to sing again. Inuyasha's fingers touched the side of her cheek and he couldn't help but draw her face towards him for a searing kiss. Cameras started to flash in quick succession. He tasted her on his lips and in his mouth. Her lips were so soft and warm, her body so pliant and feminine under his touch. He ignored the outside world. This was just about the two of them. He broke the kiss in order to sing his next verse.

 

There ain't no load that I can't hold
Road so rough this I know
I'll be there when the light comes in
Just tell 'em we're survivors

 

`It's just the two of us now,' Inuyasha mused as he stepped back. He decided that things were going to be all right. He would enjoy his life with Kagome, singing on stage with her. If he could do this for the rest of his unnaturally long lifespan, he would be happy. He would never know why she forgave him after everything he had done. He decided that was just what made her Kagome. She always saw the good in everyone. Even when he saw no good in himself, she was able to see it. `I'm a lucky guy,' he thought as they sang the last lines together.

 

Life is a highway
I wanna ride it all night long (all night long)
If you're going my way
I wanna drive it all night long (all night long)

 

As the music started to trail off, he heard voices from the crowd. There were hoots and yelling. Perhaps his hearing that was being selective tonight, but he heard one catcall screaming out louder then the rest. “Kiss! Kiss!” “Kiss her, Inuyasha!”

 

Kagome looked up at him in wonderment and he smirked. He brought her forward and his hot breath misted over her neck. Then, his lips rested on her ear. “We need to give the crowd what it wants,” he whispered huskily. He was pleased to notice that her breath came in short heaves and that her heart raced. She nodded imperceptibly.

 

That was all the encouragement he needed to dip her on the stage and kiss her. His arm held her back horizontal to the ground, and her body felt warm and soft. Her lips moved against his and her arms encircled his neck as if she was afraid he would let go. He really couldn't remember how long he had kissed her in front of the crowd. Was it a nano second or an eternity? He couldn't really tell—all he knew was that at that moment he realized this was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. This was where he could find happiness. This was where he could be content.

 

He dimly noticed the click and whir of the cameras that continued to flash. People were still yelling at them. But he was somewhere else—somewhere serene, somewhere with only Kagome. He lifted her up so that her body slid up next to his—her soft curves pressed beautifully against the firm muscles of his hard body. He looked at her eyes before he brought her hand up to his lips for another kiss. He bent over to her ear to whisper one more remark before he let her go, “Later tonight,” he murmured.

 

He was happy to see that her legs wobbled a little as he let her go. She returned to her keyboard with her cheeks flaming red. However, he knew that the redness was not entirely due to embarrassment. Her scent had spiked so nicely while he had held her in his arms.

 

He grinned and faced the audience. It was time for the next song and there was a show to put on. They continued singing for the longest set they had played on stage. All of his band members were as sweaty as he was from being under the warm lights and the humid atmosphere of the packed club. After a final bow and round of applause, Inuyasha grabbed Kagome's hands and dragged her behind him.

 

“What? Where are we going, Inuyasha?” asked Kagome plaintively.

 

Inuyasha's blood pulsed and he only had one thing on his mind. Her scent had been calling to him all evening. Every time she got close to him, he could smell the aroma of cherry blossoms and every time he kissed her, there was jasmine on her lips. However, what was really driving him crazy was his own woodsy scent that was coming out of her pores. He had scent marked her and she was his. It was almost instinctual, the driving need to keep his aroma both on and within her body—making her his in every way possible.

 

The dressing room down the hallway never seemed farther away while he pulled her along. He was too intent on Kagome to notice anything wrong when he drew her into the room and then locked the door behind him. Within seconds he had her pressed up against the wall and his mouth was devouring her. He had never wanted anything so badly. He thought that he had satisfied his hunger last night, but being around her just brought it out again with a dizzying force. His lips descended on hers and he tasted her again. His mouth would hold no quarter as he pummeled her body with dire need. He knew that he was actually being too forceful, but he couldn't help his instincts. Her aroma called him and wrapped around him, intoxicating him. Her body gave way under his probing fingers, which had found their way under her tight clothes. She was so soft and warm to the touch.

 

Cough. Ahem. Cough.

 

Kagome's eyes widened as she realized that they were not alone in the room. Inuyasha growled as he broke off the kiss. His anger at being interrupted was readily apparent as the middle-aged man held up his hands in placation.

 

“Sorry, I was told to meet you here. I didn't know that…,” the man paused and steeled his features. He got up from the chair he had been sitting in and strode over to the couple. Inuyasha noted that the man was overdressed for the House of Blues. He was wearing a crisp white dress shirt, dark navy slacks and a jacket. He had light brown hair that was thinning at the edges and a calculating look about him. Inuyasha disliked him immediately.

 

“Get the hell out of this room!” Inuyasha bellowed at the man. “Can't you figure out when you're not wanted?” For some reason Inuyasha felt the need to place his body between the unwanted man and Kagome. He felt Kagome adjust her corset behind him.

 

“Ah, well. This has all started out badly, but I am here to make you an offer,” said the man coolly as he pulled out a business card and placed it in Inuyasha's hands. “I'm Don Lenner, vice-president of Sony Music' s U.S. division. We're always on the lookout for new talent.”

 

Kagome gasped behind him in surprise and whispered in his ears. “Please don't upset him, Inuyasha. This is big!”

 

Inuyasha crossed his arms in front of him and looked down at the man with an icy glare. He still wouldn't let the man see Kagome. He was too pissed and frustrated to show any civility. “What talent? What are you talking about?” asked Inuyasha with suspicion in his voice.

 

“Ah,” answered the man as he sat back down again and motioned to the couple to join him on the adjoining couch.

 

“I'll stand where I am,” answered Inuyasha icily.

 

“Inuyasha,” whispered Kagome. She maneuvered to stand beside Inuyasha and finally got a good look at the man who had been talking to them. “You can be a little friendlier?”

 

“Well then,” said Mr. Lenner. He leaned forward and tried to look comfortable. “Of course, I first saw the two of you during that infamous Rose Bowl game. Everyone is talking about you—or don't you know?” questioned the man while his eyebrow perked up.

 

Inuyasha continued to look at the man with frosty disdain. He didn't even bother to reply.

 

The Sony executive coughed and continued. “I found out earlier today that the famous `kissing couple of the Rose Bowl' was also in a band. The owner of the House of Blues has been calling every media outlet in town in order to showcase your act.”

 

Realization dawned on Inuyasha as to why there were so many camera crews watching their show tonight and some of the color left his face.

 

“Oh, don't be that way, Inuyasha. It's only show business. Nothing personal,” the man added. “Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to find that you have a great stage presence, good looks and amazing chemistry,” he said while gesturing to both of them. “You also have talent.” The older man sighed as he ran his hand through his thinning hair. “Which unfortunately is a rarity in bands these days.” He then looked up at them and had a genuine smile on his lips. “So I came to make you an offer.”

 

“An offer?” echoed Kagome who was far too interested in the man's words for Inuyasha's tastes.

 

“Yes,” said the middle-aged man. Everyone felt some tension drop from the room even though Inuyasha still stood stoically and continued to cross his arms like a petulant child. “I'm here to offer you a standard contract. I need to get you into the recording studios immediately and we need an album recorded in a month. Then I need to sign you for a year-long tour…”

 

“Tour?” asked Inuyasha with confusion.

 

“Ah, yes. A tour,” answered Mr. Lenner without missing a beat. “With illegal music downloads these days, tours have actually become our bread and butter. We have started to write off the costs of music distribution in favor of increasing concert ticket prices.” The man paused again and patted the couch next to him. “Please sit down, we have much to discuss.”

 

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Please read and review. It really does help to inspire me to write!
See you in two weeks.
Private messages were sent to all reviewers.
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Author's Notes:

#1: If you like this AU story about Inuyasha and Kagome I have another Inu/Kag AU to recommend to you. Check out the `Watcher in the Darkness' by InuSaga. She does a fantastic job retelling the original Inuyasha, but setting it in modern day America. Her story is so good that I have re-read it two times so far.

#2: If you were disappointed with Inuyasha Manga #558, then I really recommend `When She Comes Back' by Karaumea. It's an excellent one-shot story with some lovely limes/lemons. And while you're at it, read her excellent Inu/Kag drama `Heartless'.

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Next Chapter: Epilogue: Concert at the Rose Bowl…and a lovely lemon…