InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Beautiful Disaster ❯ Tears Can Only Lead To... ( Chapter 4 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Beautiful Disaster

Chapter 4: Tears Can Only Lead To…

Warning: The rating has been changed to M for later chapters.

Miroku's fingers tightened around hers, though he kept his eyes on the road. The rain gave the road a blurred appearance through the windshield, and the overcast sky cast a blue-grey glow over the city. People trudged down streets like it was the warmest day of August as the rain poured from the tops of their umbrellas. He stopped at a red light, headed up the street to the Manhattan Apartments where Sango lived.

After Inuyasha's phone call last night, he had called Kai, then called Sango. He'd invited her to breakfast this morning, taking her to one of his favorite cafes, `Grey Dog Coffee'. With an inviting setting, wicker-baskets atop the tables, dried flowers here and there, and some dog-inspired artwork laced throughout, it had been relaxing for both of them. They'd shot questions back and forth, and had eaten slowly; only prolonging their time together.

Miroku parked outside the apartment complex and pulled out an umbrella, going around to open Sango's door. He wrapped his arm around her waist to pull her closer as they walked to the door together under the umbrella. He contemplated on letting his hand fall lower… to caress her womanly curves. Unfortunately for him, they reached the door before he had the opportunity. She turned the door handle slowly, surprised to find it open. `I could've sworn I locked the door when I left.' She stepped inside the cozy apartment, pulling her sopping jacket off. Miroku remained on the front porch.

“Come in,” she offered, holding her arm out welcomingly. Sango could hear the TV running in the background - the faint hum of voices on the screen. `Funny; I thought I turned that off, too.'Miroku shrugged his jacket off, following her inside. They rounded the corner of the living room together, stopping dead in their tracks at the sight they were greeted with.

Inuyasha and Kagome were nestled on the couch, both asleep, both with looks of complete contentment and ease on their faces. Inuyasha's hand had traveled down in his sleep, now resting lightly on Kagome's hip. “What'd I tell you?” Miroku whispered in astonishment. Sango's mouth hung open stupidly, not quite believing the sight before her.

“Wow.”

“Wow indeed.”

Inuyasha's ears twitched slightly before he repositioned himself, pulling Kagome closer - if that were possible. She shifted too, smiling while being drawn to the warmth of his chest; yawning and cracking her eyes open to see two blurry figures standing across the living room. “Sango?” she questioned groggily, rubbing her eyes to chase away the remnants of sleep. “Miroku?” She propped herself up on her elbow, and the hand at her hip flexed, sending delicious shivers down her spine, reminding her that she wasn't alone on the couch. She felt the blood rush to her cheeks faster than she could process her thoughts.

She bolted upright, rousing Inuyasha in the process. His eyes fluttered and he opened his mouth in a fang-bearing yawn. Opening his eyes to stare into the room, he focused on the two people who stood between him and the TV. “Move your ass, Mir… what the hell are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same question, my friend.”

His cheeks lit up and he sat up to scoot away from Kagome. “She invited me in to wait out the storm, seeing as I had no means of transportation. Now tell me your excuse.”

“I took Sango out for breakfast and was returning her home. Have I committed a crime, Inuyasha?” he asked tauntingly, looking between him and Kagome, and then glancing at the TV, the DVD stopped on the opening screen.

“Keh. So how did Kai take the news last night?” he asked, changing the subject abruptly, having nothing left to argue about.

“Just don't expect a welcome back,” he said with a shrug, closing his eyes. “Said you shouldn't allow her personal life to mess with our well-being.”

“Like that arrogant asshole cares about anyone but himself,” Inuyasha scoffed. He looked up at the clock. “Eleven thirty and you're just getting back from breakfast?”

“We talked for awhile afterwards, not to mention the traffic was thick as molasses. Somehow, the traffic always seems to get worse when it rains.”

“Hasn't stopped yet, huh?”

“Nope, and it shows no signs of stopping.” Kagome yawned in the background, stretching her arms above her head. Miroku smirked. “So how was your nap?” he asked suggestively.

“Shut up, lecher.”

---------------beautiful-disaster---------------

“Counselor?”

“No.”

“A prep cook?”

“My cooking's no better than hers,” Kagome said, pointing at Sango.

“How about a receptionist?”

“My people skills suck.”

“Bookkeeper?”

That made her laugh. “Do I look like I want to work in a library?”

“Good point.” He looked back down at the newspaper, scanning the columns for a suitable job for Kagome. “I've got it!”

“I can't wait to hear this one…”

“You can be a chauffer!”

She rolled her eyes. “You're not serious, are you? Maybe you should just give me that,” she said, leaning across the table to snatch the paper from his hands.

“Nope.” He pulled back, making her land flat on the table. “Sit down… there's gotta be something you'll do.” He turned the page, eyeing the columns with conviction. “What'd you say you did before?”

“I wrote a column in the newspaper.”

“Wanna be a publicist?”

She sat back down in the frail chair, contemplating his offer. “That doesn't sound too bad, actually… what's the catch?”

“I don't think there is one.” He scooted his chair around the table so he was seated next to her. “This one,” he said pointing to the job description. “It's even for MTV.”

“I'll think about it. I'm not too keen on the idea of making TV appearances.”

Inuyasha marked it with a highlighter. Kagome had cooked an early lunch for herself, him, Miroku and Sango, and when everything was put away, she had begun the great job hunt by raiding the newspapers. Inuyasha discovered that she was very picky and opinionated about the jobs. He had only marked down four possibilities, and they had been going through the newspaper for hours. Sango and Miroku had been watching TV for awhile now, flipping through channels, only moving to get snacks or visit the restroom. Rain was still pounding against the rooftop, and five o' clock would be rounding the corner any minute. Their stomachs were all becoming restless.

“What do you say we give this a break and go out for dinner? The newspaper will be here when you get back,” Inuyasha suggested. Miroku turned around to nod his head in hunger. Sango remained folded over the arm of the big couch, uninterested.

“What did you have in mind?”

“How about a steak and some karaoke?”

“Can't get enough of work, can you?” she muttered. Miroku turned around again, disappointed in Inuyasha's choice.

“We'll go somewhere nicer next time, I promise.”

“Whatever,” she said with a sigh. `Next time?'

So they went to the bar, Miroku dragging a sleepy Sango along by his side. They ordered their food from the waitress, then acted as critics for everyone who attempted singing karaoke on stage. Inuyasha was disappointed with the performers tonight, and made it very obvious with his snide remarks.

“A dying cat is more in tune than that… I'd sound better in a drunken slur… She should try singing underwater…”

“Aren't you the critical one tonight?” Kagome asked, taking a sip of her diet coke, sucking on an ice cube.

“Don't tell me you think that's decent. We should go up there just to show them how it's done.”

“We?”

“Do you sound as lousy as they do?” he asked incredulously, pointing at the middle-aged couple on stage. “I swear, the owners of this place should screen these people before they let `em pollute the stage with that crap.”

“I guess I don't know how I'd sound in your opinion. I don't think I'm too bad. I'm certainly not tone deaf,” she replied, cringing at a held note that vibrated through the microphone, bouncing off the walls and settling in her mind; an evil cackle. They finished and bowed for the crowd, light clapping giving them their exit as they walked down the stairs, stepping out of the spotlight. Inuyasha scooted across the worn vinyl of their booth, a light hold on Kagome's wrist pulling her along.

“Whoa, you're not serious, are you?”

“Of course I am… what song do you want to sing?”

“Now I'm singing alone? Who made you the boss of me!?”

“I'll play guitar… if you don't want to do karaoke. Just tell me what songs you know. I'm not giving up until I've heard you sing.”

There was a guy on stage holding the mic., scanning the audience for the next volunteer. Inuyasha raised his hand, pointing down at Kagome. “It seems we've got our next performer - this nice young lady in the back.” She shook her head furiously, trying desperately to escape from Inuyasha's grasp and navigate her way back to the table. Miroku and Sango only encouraged her, pointing toward the stage where the DJ was waiting with the microphone. “Don't be shy now, miss.” Other people in the crowd began cheering her on, whistling and clapping.

Inuyasha was forced to drag her on stage, where he left her in the DJ's company, retreating back to the table with their friends. She watched him grab his guitar from beneath the table, and even from the distance, his golden eyes pierced her when he looked back up. She was distracted when a microphone was shoved in her face and a warm arm wrapped around her shoulders. “So what'll you be singing?” She glared daggers into the crowd, focusing on a certain hanyou who she wanted to kill right now. He smirked, flashing her a bright white grin. Sango and Miroku watched the exchange in pure amusement.

“I'm not singing karaoke… do you mind if I use the piano?” she asked quietly, away from the microphone so the audience wouldn't hear.

The DJ's eyes lit up, and he brought the mic. up to speak to the crowd. “We've got an instrumentalist in our midst, too!” he cheered. Light claps of encouragement filled the room, and Kagome took the mic. from his hand, stumbling over to the piano in the dark. She didn't look to the crowd when she introduced herself - not that they could see her anyway - the piano crammed on the back corner of the stage. When she began introducing herself, the spotlight snapped on. `Shit.'

Inuyasha watched in avid interest, actually disappointed he wasn't there on stage with her. He was silently begging her to look him in the eye, but her gaze artfully avoided his when she smiled into the crowd. Her fingers found their place on the keys, and they began to glide across them seamlessly.

“She walks to school with the lunch she packed

Nobody knows what she's holdin' back

Wearin' the same dress she wore yesterday

She hides the bruises with linen and lace”

By now, it was well past six-thirty, after all the commotion Kagome had caused. The door swung open in the back of the bar, the thudding of heavy boots distracting some of the people sitting in the back. But most of the people in the bar were hypnotized, staring at the stage with their mouths agape, soft tinkling of piano drawing his eyes to focus on the pale skin of her arms as she fluidly reached for keys. His eyes roamed up her arms, her porcelain neck, her face…

`Kikyou? No… that dog's bitch.'

“The teacher wonders but she doesn't ask

It's hard to see the pain behind the mask

Bearing the burden of a secret storm

Sometimes she wishes she was never born”

Her voice was breathtaking… he couldn't pull his eyes from her soft face, lips curving to punctuate every word. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, leaning back from the microphone. Tearing his gaze from the angel onstage, he glared viciously at a booth in the corner when a glint of silver caught his eye. `Inuyasha…'

His eyes were transfixed on the woman on stage, as were Sango's and Miroku's. But the way he looked at her… Kai could already see the extra little gleam in his eye… that gleam that brought back such painful memories, taunted him nightly. That gleam that had been burnt out six months ago. That was re-ignited now. `You won't win this time, Inuyasha.'

“Through the wind and the rain

She stands hard as a stone

In a world that she can't rise above

But her dreams give her wings

And she flies to a place where she's loved

Concrete angel

---

Somebody cries in the middle of the night

The neighbors hear, but they turn out the lights

A fragile soul caught in the hands of fate

When morning comes it'll be too late

---

Through the wind and the rain

She stands hard as a stone

In a world that she can't rise above

But her dreams give her wings

And she flies to a place where she's loved

Concrete angel”

Her voice was like honey, smooth and supple, and he was in a trance. His ears picked up on the thudding of boots on the wooden floor behind him, but he couldn't pull his eyes from her. Entering the next verse, she opened her eyes to stare at him, the intensity in her gaze only adding to the spell that she cast over him. Her voice was lovelier than he could've imagined, and he had to wonder why she was so reluctant to get on stage. The corners of her eyes glistened, holding tears back that she wasn't willing to let fall.

“A statue stands in a shaded place

An angel girl with an upturned face

A name is written on a polished rock

A broken heart that the world forgot

---

Through the wind and the rain

She stands hard as a stone

In a world that she can't rise above

But her dreams give her wings

And she flies to a place where she's loved

Concrete angel”

The crowd sat silently for a moment when the song ended. The air was so still, Kagome choked up, finding it hard to breathe. `They didn't like it… they're not clapping…'She finally let her tears fall, staining her cheeks with mascara before the crowd erupted into astonished appreciation. Chancing a glance at Inuyasha, her tears flowing freely down her face now, she noticed that she could hear every one of his claps with such clarity it scared her. The blood rushed to her cheeks as she bowed before daintily walking down the steps, returning to the booth in the back.

Before she could greet her friends, Kai - looming in the shadows behind the booth - made his presence known. “You've caught quite the talented little slut, haven't you Inuyasha? What else is she good at?” he sneered with hatred. “After all… you missed last night's show. You must've been doing something worth-while.”

“For your information, asshole, we were at the hospital. Her mother's sick,” he defended, pulling her into his side when Kai advanced on them.

“Well I hope the bitch dies, because thanks to you we didn't get paid last night,” he announced, pointing between himself and Miroku. Miroku looked at Inuyasha and Kagome apologetically as Kai continued his rant. “I can barely get by as it is. I don't need your filthy ass fucking my life up any worse.”

“Maybe if you didn't blow half your money on drugs you wouldn't be so bad off.” Kai started steaming like a tea kettle because he couldn't deny his drug abuse to Inuyasha. The dark circles shadowing his eyes gave people the hint, but Inuyasha could smell the coke, the weed, the meth. It was something different every night.

The salt of Kagome's tears hit Inuyasha hard, and he tightened his hold around her waist. Kai couldn't watch his comforting gesture without gagging. “Teach her to keep her emotions in check. Everyone dies.”

“Why the fuck do you act like I'm not even here!? Stop having your conversation through Inuyasha! Talk to me if you have something to say!” she yelled in frustration, attracting the attention of many of the people seated around them. Kai opened his mouth to yell back, but was abruptly cut off by the announcer on stage.

“It is now ten past seven; can we please have the band on stage? Let's not have a reoccurrence of last night, shall we?”

Inuyasha and Kagome were both in the mood to lunge forward and strangle Kai until he drew no more air; until his lungs were deprived of oxygen long enough for him to choke and die. Unfortunately, they were civilized members of society who knew when to restrain themselves. Inuyasha and Miroku grabbed their guitars and Kai pulled his drumsticks out of his deep pockets.

Inuyasha turned to tell her something when she felt a vibration at her hip. She held her hand up in a silent question, asking him to wait. He did, standing by her side while she flipped her phone open. “Hello?”

Kai and Miroku had stopped as well, watching in interest as the look on her face morphed from annoyance to worry to determination, though the worry never left her eyes. Kai's eyes narrowed on her when she squeezed her eyes closed and her forehead wrinkled - she was once again holding back tears. Inuyasha put a hand to her shoulder, applying the lightest amount of pressure he could in a comforting gesture. She walked out of his reach.

“I can come later… I don't know, probably around ten… Don't worry, I'll be there tonight.” Her voice held all her pain; it cracked and broke, allowing her to begin sobbing weakly as she ended her phone conversation. From behind, you would never know she was crying.

“Kagome?” No response. “Kagome?” he tried again. Her shoulders shook, her body started convulsing rapidly, and he had to hold her to keep her on her feet. “Kagome, what's wrong?” Inuyasha begged her for answers, the desperation in his voice sickening to Kai. She sobbed openly onto the front of his shirt when he approached her.

“That was Souta… mom… she… she…”

“Shhh, everything will be alright. Don't worry,” he tried to comfort, running his hand up and down her back, holding her close as he whispered softly into her hair. “She'll be fine. Do you have to go now?” She shook her head.

“Go play… you're in enough trouble because of me as it is. I told him I'd be there by ten,” she managed to say; watery eyes penetrating his heart as she glanced up. “Just go sing. I'm not going anywhere,” she added with a sad smile, tears threatening to pour out again any second.

He gave her a reassuring glance, though he was worried immensely. Kai huffed in the background, stomping onto the stage, settling himself at the drum set. Miroku too turned to the stage, climbing the steps and plugging his bass into the amp. Sango approached them from behind Kagome and pulled her away from Inuyasha. “Go. I'll keep her company,” she said, guiding her to a table closer to the stage.

And he went, tearing his eyes from the girl who he wanted desperately to help right now… who was internally bleeding, heart ripped open, left to bleed on the floor. When he made it to the stage, the spotlights seemed brighter - distracting - and his hearing was muffled, like he had earplugs in. People walking around in the distance were blurs, and he couldn't focus on what his band-mates were saying behind him. All he could focus on was the angel sitting in the front row, looking up at him like he could right all the wrongs in this world. Like he could do anything. Like he would make everything right again…

A/N:

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, but I still own Kai. Too bad Kai is an ass.

Okay, so I'm sure this chapter has given you some questions…DON'T WORRY! They will be answered in the next couple chapters. The song in this chapter is `Concrete Angel' by Martina McBride.

Until next time - grilledbamboo