InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Cats and Dogs ❯ From Deux to Quatre ( Chapter 2 )

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

Chapter 1

 

 

If there’s one thing you should know about the Higurashi sisters. 

 

It’s that they are almost complete and total polar opposites. 

 

This can be observed from pretty much anything the two of them do. 

 

When the alarm clock in Kagome’s room blares to life on the morning of their first school day, Kagura has already woken up, gone for a quick flight around town, showered, gotten dressed and packed her bag for the day. 

 

Sighing as Kagura enters her sister’s room, the older of the two quickly makes her way to her sister’s bed and pulls the covers off of her curled form. 

 

“Come on Kagome, up you get. We have to leave in less than 15 minutes so that we can get fitted for our uniforms before class starts today.”

 

Kagura reminds her sister in a bored voice, though she glories in the reaction her words get from her little sister. 

 

Kagome practically bolts out of the bed, almost running into the door in her haste to make it to the bathroom for a record-breaking 3-minute shower. 

 

Kagura merely smirks as her sister runs around her room, throwing almost half the contents of her closet onto her bed and floor until she decides on an outfit for the day. 

 

By the time the two girls arrive downstairs, Souta is already waiting by the door with Kaito, whom offers the girls a muesli bar each as they make their way to the car. 

 

Kagome had decided on a pair of light blue jeans, a white shirt and a black hoodie, while Kagura wore dark wash jeans, a green t-shirt and a black leather jacket.  

 

After arriving at school and sending Souta off to play with his friends before the bell, Kaito escorted his step-daughters to the uniform shop across the road. 

 

… 

 

“Hell no.”

 

Kagura said flatly, vehemently shaking her head at the navy blue and white uniform the clerk lay out for her to try on. 

 

‘Kagura.’

 

There was almost a warning tone in Kagome’s thought, but Kagura stood her ground. 

 

She did NOT wear white. 

 

It was an unbreakable fashion rule. 

 

White made her look like a ghost. She had sun-shy, pale skin for crying out! 

 

She absolutely REFUSED to wear it. 

 

Kagura’s eye twitched when the clerk made no move to remove the offending garments from her sight. 

 

Sighing, she snatches up the uniform and changes in a quick huff, being sure to throw on her leather jacket and zip it up all the way, thus concealing the offending white blouse from view. 

 

“Great, it fits, we’re done here.”

 

Kagura says grimly, clenching her jaw with every step she takes out of that horrible place, because, in walking, she is forced to see that quick flash of the white ankle socks that adorn her feet. 

 

Kagome doesn’t see anything wrong with the uniform. 

 

A blue and black checkered skirt, white blouse with dark blue school insignia, a tie with the same pattern as the skirt, a blue blazer, white socks and black school shoes. 

 

Still, it was typical of her sister to find some sort of fashion crime in an outfit she didn’t get to chose for herself. 

 

Shaking her head, Kagome turns to wave goodbye to Kaito, before following her sister into the school complex, leaving Kagura’s blazer with her step dad, since she knows she won’t wear it. 

 

‘It’s amazing how BIG this place is.’

 

Kagome thinks, genuinely surprised, but also hoping to distract her sister from her fashion dilemma. 

 

Kagura huffs, but a tiny smile lifts a corner of her lips. 

 

‘Well, I actually though it would be bigger. But it doesn’t look like schools teach every student individually.’

 

Kagura remarks. 

 

The girls continue their telepathic conversation until they reach the student office and face the first challenge of their transfer. 

 

“Pardon?”

 

Kagome asks, hoping she’d heard wrong the first time. 

 

The administrator sighs, before repeating himself in a bored voice. 

 

“I said, what course are you in, Youkai or Miko?” 

 

Kagome casts a helpless look at her sister, who herself was trying to figure out what to do. 

 

It wasn’t exactly an actively kept secret that Kagome was a half-demon with purifying powers, but, to the world, such a fusion has never before been successfully created. 

 

After a few seconds however, it clicked that Kagome could also just be confused by the old terms. 

 

‘Demon or Priestess.’

 

Kagura supplies, her eyes sparkling when she sees Kagome’s relieved expression. 

 

“Youkai, sir.”

 

Kagome then answers, glad that her sister was such a huge fan of history. 

 

Nodding once, the administrator prints Kagome’s time table and does the same for Kagura a few moments later. 

 

Kagura sends a cold glare over her shoulder when the guy immediately starts doing something else on his computer once he’s handed the girls their time tables. 

 

‘Such lacking manners.’

 

Kagura thinks in disgust, smirking when she sees the shiver run down the guy’s spine. 

 

Kagome could only sigh. 

 

‘So, any idea where our first class is?’

 

She asks, trying to puzzle out her timetable. 

 

Kagura bites the inside of her cheek as she too tries, and fails, to understand the numbers and symbols on the piece of paper in her hand. 

 

‘Well, I see numbers on all the doors, and it looks like the first number determines what floor the room is on, so let’s start by trying to find room 012.’

 

She says, quickly picking out a pattern in the door numbers and the floors they were walking down. 

 

‘Kagura… you’re a genius.’

 

Kagome thinks with a bright smile. 

 

The sisters find the room just as a loud bell rings through the entire school. 

 

The sudden sound makes both girls wince, though they refrain from clamping their hands over their ears as more than half the students in the hallway are doing. 

 

Sighing their relief when a teacher comes and lets the class into their room, the girls are rather confused to see the classroom furnished in a similar style to a dojo. 

 

As it turns out, the class is for aura control. 

 

They spend most of the lesson either meditating or focusing their power into a concrete form. Though they like the concept of the lesson, it’s seriously distracting for a wind demon to try and focus on the essence of her power, when said essence is constantly being disrupted by the breathing of other students and the teacher himself. 

 

A few minutes before the lesson ends, the teacher decides to get the new faces to introduce themselves. 

 

So, Kagome and Kagura stand at the front of the class and do so. 

 

“Good Morning everyone, my name is Kagome… Kumoiro. I was home schooled until my second year of high school, but I hope to get to know you all as the year progresses.”

 

Kagome says, a little perturbed that some of her classmates snicker at her self introduction. 

 

“I’m Kagura, her older sister. Guess I’ll be seeing you around for the next year.”

 

Kagura speaks up, sending a sharp glare in the direction of the girls who had snickered at her little sister. Despite having been enrolled with the Kumoiro family name, Kagura had always refrained from mentioning her last name, so that type of behaviour wasn’t all too out of the ordinary. 

 

Realising that he wasn’t going to get anything else out of his new students, the teacher bade them to sit down again. 

 

“Oh, but, before the bell goes, do you mind telling me what your youkai is?”

 

The teacher asks, making Kagura grit her teeth. 

 

‘You should have asked us that BEFORE you started your damn lesson.’

 

She thinks, which leaves Kagome to reply for the both of them. 

 

“Oh, we’re wind demons.”

 

Kagome says brightly, her brow furrowing in confusion at the pin drop silence that suddenly reigned in the classroom. 

 

That day, every teacher asked the same question, and Kagome’s answer ALWAYS got the same reaction. It was starting to annoy the teen. 

 

Then again, next to dragons and dogs, wind demons were one of the rarest breeds of youkai.

 

Still, what was so weird about being a wind demon damn it! 

 

Sighing as she leans against a fence that separates one school side from the other, Kagome throws a glance over her shoulder, through the diamond holes between the wires, and watches the miko students practise their barriers and imbuing skills. 

 

‘Regret picking youkai already?’

 

Asks a teasing voice, which makes Kagome smile as she looks up to see her sister above her. 

 

‘Yeah right, because I WANT to learn how to hurt you on purpose.’

 

Kagome rebuts, rolling her eyes to emphasise her ironic intent. 

 

‘Hey, I’m not judging, but I could teach you all of the stuff we did today at home, and you could use the practise to get better control of your two halves.’

 

Kagura points out, hovering down to Kagome’s eye level and giving her pause. 

 

Wow, she’s actually serious. 

 

Still, Kagome shakes her head. 

 

‘Even if I switched, I don’t really feel like going to a school that separates me from my sister with a bloody fence.’

 

Kagome replies angrily. 

 

She was never a fan of prejudice, no matter who it was directed against. 

 

“WOW, you really ARE part Miko!”

 

At the sudden voice on the other side of the fence, Kagome feels herself jump an easy three meters in fright, while Kagura almost loses control of her hover. 

 

There, on the other side of the fence, with the biggest grin either sister had ever seen, was Souta. 

 

“Uh, yeah… But how do YOU know that?”

 

Kagome asks, and Kagura has her ears wide open as well. 

 

“Oh, that fence you’re leaning on is imbued with a powerful tenka that only lets people with their own tenka powers in and out.” 

 

Souta explains obviously. 

 

Kagura raises a brow. 

 

That faint throb of tenka she feels coming from the fence is hardly worthy of being called a barrier. 

 

A second later, and Kagura is VERY glad that the barrier is indeed so weak. 

 

While the fence separated the two school halves, those halves weren’t identical. 

 

So, when Kagome walked a few paces to her right, to take a seat on a provided bench, Souta did the same, only his roof ended a little earlier and the kid was suddenly falling down the five story school building! 

 

‘Gap!’

 

Kagura calls, already plucking one of her feathers from the low, messy bun she wore whenever she went out.

 

Kagome makes one instinctually, and Kagura’s feather shoots through one of the diamond holes, expanding as soon as it is on the other side, and catching the falling boy barely two seconds before he would have hit the ground! 

 

Concentrating to the best of her ability, Kagura carefully lowers her feather to the ground, flying over the fence with Kagome right by her side as the sisters land beside the somewhat stupefied Souta, slowly sitting up in Kagura’s feather. 

 

“Oh Souta! Are you alright?”

 

Kagome asks worriedly, helping the boy sit up and checking him over for signs of injury or shock. 

 

Souta seems to shake himself a little, before looking up to Kagura, who was still standing over him and her sister, an unreadable look in her eyes. 

 

“Can I go again!”

 

The boy asks with a sudden grin, excitement and adrenaline in his scent. 

 

Kagura’s entire eyes flash an angry blue, her beast getting dangerously close to the surface. 

 

“How about NO.”

 

Kagura snarls, trying desperately to reign in her demonic instincts. 

 

She herself was rather shocked at the intensity of her reaction to the boy being in danger. 

 

Those instinctual movements were only reserved for the most dire of instances, yet she’d been compelled to save the boy born of the same horrible mother as Kagome had been. 

 

Maybe that was it. 

 

Despite hating Hikari with a seething passion, Kagome was one of the very few people she genuinely cared about, and she and Souta shared a similar scent alongside their features. 

 

Breathing out heavily through her nose, Kagura notes the crowd gathering a few meters around her family and feather. 

 

“You do realise that that was a five story drop, right!?”

 

Kagome exclaims worriedly, still crouched at Souta’s eye-level. 

 

Souta merely raises a brow. 

 

“Uh, yeah, that’s why it was so fun.”

 

He explains matter of factly. 

 

‘…can I wring his neck?’

 

‘Kagura!’

 

‘What? I was joking, chill.’

 

The older sister thinks mirthfully, an eye roll accompanying the thought. 

 

‘On another note… Have you realised that the courtyard is getting rather crowded?’

 

Kagura asks in an off-handed way. 

 

Kagome starts at that, rising to stand, half hidden behind Kagura as Souta steps out of Kagura’s feather and stretches as though he regularly fell off of buildings and was caught by giant flying feathers. 

 

“Well, thanks sis, that was fun.” 

 

Souta says loudly, grinning at the burst of whispers his remark causes. 

 

“Don’t push your luck, Tyke.”

 

Kagura says with a low growl, with makes the boy just slightly uncertain. 

 

Kagome though, raises her eyebrows in surprise. 

 

For Kagura to give anyone a nickname, she had to REALLY like them. 

 

Smiling, Kagome gives Souta a discrete, little nod, which alleviates the boy’s concerns some. 

 

In all honesty, he hadn’t planned to fall off the building, but he’d been genuinely surprised when Kagura had used her powers to save him, knowing how much she hated his mother. 

 

When it finally registers what the nickname must mean, Souta can’t stop the grin from spreading over his face. 

 

“OI! Does anyone want to go and get Kaede-sama!?”

 

A sudden shout rises from the students, though none of them dare move. 

 

Not only were they aware of how rare and powerful ALL demons were. The fact that they’d witnessed the powers of the two sisters, as well as their humanoid forms, told them that the two youkai currently in their school were much rarer, more powerful and more intelligent than many other youkai. 

 

“What do ye think ye are all still doing here!?”

 

A loud voice, aged with wisdom and power, calls. 

 

Immediately reacting to the authoritative voice, the gathered students are quick to head to their next classrooms. 

 

Kagura remains where she is though, one hand reaching down to rest on Souta’s shoulder. The action makes the boy pause in his own attempt to leave, looking up to see a hard edge in Kagura’s eyes. 

 

There was a powerful aura making its way across the courtyard toward the three part siblings. 

Souta bites his lip to keep from smirking. 

 

It was not an unusual reaction for a youkai who hadn’t yet met Kaede-sama. 

 

She was the head teacher of the Tenka Course, and, though old and slow due to age, she had one of the sharpest minds and strongest auras in the entire school. 

 

However, she was one of the kindest people Souta knew. 

 

“Is that you AGAIN Kumoiro?”

 

Kaede questions, suddenly appearing next to Souta, a gnarled hand taking a firm grip around his wrist. 

 

Souta sighs. 

 

Seriously, what was it about him that made people think they had to protect him? Next to Kaede, he had the strongest tenka in the school! Why did people keep forgetting that? 

 

“Yes Kaede-sama. I fell off the roof this time.”

 

Kaede’s eyes widen at that particular admission, knowing that the boy speaks the truth, but seeing not a scratch on his person. 

 

“My sisters caught me before I could hit the ground.”

 

Souta offers, turning his head to look up at Kagura with a smile. 

 

That little interaction told Kaede all she needed to know. 

 

The red-eyed demoness had saved Souta’s life, with the assistance of the blue-eyed hanyou behind her. Even half-blind, Kaede saw the resemblance between the three of them. Their auras were also similar, though the silvery red aura of the red-eyed demoness almost totally eclipsed the auras of her two siblings. 

 

She was undoubtedly the daughter of TWO Taiyoukai. 

 

They were so rare nowadays that you could count the still existing families on one hand. 

 

Still, neither of the two held any malice in their auras.

 

Satisfied, Kaede releases Souta’s wrist, before turning her attention to the sisters before her. 

 

“My apologies. My name is Kaede Seishin. I am the head teacher for the Tenka Course at this school. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

 

Kaede introduces herself, a quick side glance sending Souta to his next course. 

 

“Kagura Higurashi. My sister Kagome. We are the last descendants of Kuro Higurashi, heirs to the Sky Castles of the South. Though we ask to be called Kumoiro within the school, it’s also a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

 

Kagura says formally. 

 

A startled look from Kagome the only indication of how rare it is for Kagura to act civilly with someone. 

 

…

 

Kaede herself is too busy with her own thoughts to catch Kagome’s shift in expression. 

 

The Higurashi family is known as one of the oldest families to have ever lived. Their ancestry goes back further than any human record of history can trance. Not only that, but Kuro Higurashi was the youngest of three children that Lord Higurashi sired. He was the only one who managed to conceive his own heirs, but he died only a little more than a week ago. 

 

…

 

Kaede didn’t even have to check Kagura’s aura for fluctuations to see if she was lying or not. Lying was beneath most humanoid youkai, and the striking resemblance to the lord was undeniable. 

 

Any Higurashi had dark hair, pale skin and piercing blue eyes. Though Kagura’s were red, Kaede hadn’t missed the way her eyes had flashed a brief blue when she’d been struggling to keep her emotions and her inner youkai in check. 

 

Yes, she’d seen that, she had been keeping an eye on the three siblings ever since Souta had gone up to the roof. 

 

A rarity for the boy, which had spurred Kaede to follow him. 

 

That was also the reason Kaede knew that Kagura’s aura was not only large and powerful, but also being used to mask the dual auras her sister possessed. 

 

“Tell me child, do ye find it necessary to mask yer sister’s aura so?”

 

Kaede asks suddenly, genuine curiosity shining in her one, pale eye. 

 

“We do not hide the fact that Kagome is a hanyou, if that is was you mean. But I won’t have my little sister be turned into some sort of sick lab rat simply because she has two powers that most suppose to be exact opposites.”

 

Kagura answers, her eyes again displaying that brief flash of blue, though, this time, it is used as a defensive mechanism, a warning, if you will. 

 

“I have no intention of entrapping a living being into a lab.”

 

Kaede offers, which makes Kagome inch her way around her sister’s side, coming to stand next to Kagura at her full height, which is about a half a head shorter than her sister. Her hand tightly clasped around Kagura’s, but her eyes are open and curious. 

 

The sight makes Kaede smile softly. 

 

“I do have a proposition for Kagome though.”

 

Kaede offers, waiting to continue once Kagome and Kagura both give her a small nod. 

 

“As head teacher I have certain, liberties, shall we say, so no-one will say anything if I take an hour each day to privately tutor a priestess who possesses a powerful tenka that is both delicate and unstable.”

 

Kagome feels her eyes widening at the teacher’s suggestion. 

 

‘What do you think?’

 

Kagome asks quietly. 

 

‘Why are you asking me?’ 

 

Kagura replies, a furrow momentarily marring her brow. 

 

‘Well… what happens if I lose control when you’re not around!?’ 

 

Kagome thinks, worry clearly evident in her thoughts. 

 

‘IF that were to happen, then Kaede would be around… and it’s not like we’ve heard the details of her full proposition yet.’

 

Kagura says calmly. 

 

The last part of her thought draws Kagome up short. 

 

Considering her options for a moment, she decides to speak up herself. 

 

“Would it be possible to have these sessions in the presence of my sister?”

 

Kagome asks, causing Kaede’s eyes to widen. 

 

She’d misjudged the two. 

 

It wasn’t that Kagura was protecting others from Kagome, it was that Kagura was protecting Kagome from HERSELF. She was something of a safety net for the rare hanyou. 

 

Well, that cleared up quite a few things. 

 

“Ay, she may join us. But, I would advise ye create a Fang, so that she is not continuously stung while on the grounds here.”

 

Kagura smirked. It figured that the old croon had picked up on her tense posture and densely packed aura. She liked the miko already. 

 

Kagome feels her eyes go wide, having completely forgotten that they were currently standing on holy ground, though she felt no such sting at the moment, she did know what it felt like. 

 

“I’m SO sorry! Wait a sec, I’ll switch right now.”

 

Kagome said, quickly focusing on the fission in her auras and pulling one to cover the other. 

 

After a few moments, Kagome exuded a soft, pale blue aura, enveloping Kagura and protecting her from the sting of other tenkas. 

 

Kaede can only blink when she sees what Kagome does. 

 

She had, essentially, blanketed her own aura with her tenka powers, and expanded them to protect her sister from other tenkas. Kagome’s power only sought to help and heal and protect, which it did, no matter the type of power it encountered. 

 

It was incredible to behold. 

 

“Well, I’ll print out your new schedules and give them to Souta before school ends today. I hope you enjoy your time here at Umitoge High.”

 

Kaede intones, turning to leave, but casting a backward glance to watch the two wind demoness’ fly back over to the Youkai side of the school. 

 

… 

 

‘Need some help switching back?’

 

Kagura asks, supporting Kagome as they land on the roof of the Youkai side. 

 

‘Please.’

 

She thinks thankfully, reducing her Reiki with a helpful push from Kagura’s youkai aura. 

 

‘Looks like last period is self-study… you want to ditch?’

 

Kagura offers with a cheeky grin. The expression is so rarely seen on Kagura’s face, it makes Kagome laugh out

loud. 

 

‘So long as you’re thinking of a certain alternative, you know I’m SO in.’

 

Kagome intones, knowing that Kagura is indeed thinking the same thing that she’s. 

 

‘Music Room.’

‘Music Room.’

 

The two think simultaneously, giggling in the confides of their minds. 

 

After letting Kagome rest a moment on the rooftop bench, the sister’s leave the roof, descending a single flight of stairs to arrive on the music level of the school. 

 

Picking a room at random, Kagura walks in on a large studio, fully equipped with all sort of instruments, mics and the like. There also happens to be a group of five demons, clearly ditching, in the room. 

 

Kagura smirks, her eyes changing to a glowing blue, which is all Kagome needs to see to stay outside and let her sister let off a bit of steam. 

 

“You new or something slut? This is OUR terf. Get lost.”

 

A bull youkai snorts arrogantly. 

 

Kagura merely flares her aura in response, though his blatant disrespect annoys her. 

 

Three of the five youkai in the room pale notably when that particular aura registers. 

 

“Shut UP Arakan!” 

 

A fly youkai buzzes, he was the only other one who hadn’t reacted to Kagura’s aura surge. 

 

“What the hell Botan!?”

 

The bull youkai, Arakan, yells at him. 

 

Kagura ignores the bickering, walking smoothly closer until she stands right in front of the only two remaining youkai

in the room. 

 

“You bore me. Leave.”

 

Kagura sighs, raising her hand to throw the two guys out of the room with a sudden gust of wind. 

 

Turning, Kagura makes a quick motion with her head, and Kagome, who had been peaking inside from the door, enters the room with a smile, closing the door behind her, though it opens again, just a smidge, as she joins her sister. 

 

“Ah. Peace at last.”

 

Kagura sighs contentedly, sitting gracefully on a piano stool. 

 

‘Anything in particular we want to practise?’

 

Kagome asks telepathically. 

 

‘Hm, What about that song you wrote last week?’

 

Kagura asks, suddenly excited when she remembers the first few chords of the song. 

 

Playing them almost absentmindedly on the piano in front of her, Kagome smiles sadly, remembering how she’d written that song just before the police had come to inform the sisters of their father’s death. 

 

(Song: Pretending, Artist: Glee Club)

 

Taking a violin out of a case laying nearby, Kagome sets herself up to join in with her sister. 

 

Soft and sad chords echo in the quiet room, almost immediately followed by both sisters singing. 

 

“Face to face and heart to heart

We're so close, yet so far apart.

I close my eyes I look away

That's just because I'm not okay.”

 

Holding the note, Kagura lets Kagome take the next few lines solo, keeping a slow and even pace with her piano accompaniment, while also keeping in time with Kagome’s violin. 

 

Kagome’s voice is almost angelic. Soft and sweet and so full of emotion, it’s impossible to not be touched by her voice. 

 

“But I hold on, 

I stay strong

Wondering if we still belong.”

 

Taking a breath, Kagura echoes her sister’s last word on each line, before turning the song back into a duet for the chorus. 

 

The sister’s sing their hearts out, voices strong and loud. Kagura has a slightly deeper but also much smoother and rounded sound, as opposed to Kagome’s clear, high notes. But their voices blend together beautifully. 

 

“Will we ever say the words we're feeling

Reach down underneath and tear down all the walls?

Will we ever have a happy ending

Or will we forever only be pretending?

Will we always always always be pretending?”

 

Now Kagome gives her voice a rest, only echoing the last word of each line as Kagura takes a solo. 

 

“How long do I fantasise? 

Make believe that it's still alive?

Imagine that I am good enough

And we can choose the ones we love.”

 

They are so caught up in their song, that neither one of them registers the end-of-school bell. Nor do they realise that two pairs of feet stall outside the door of the music room in which they’re performing. 

 

A brunette and a red-head share a wide-eyed look as they listen to and watch the two girls give a goosebump-worthy performance. 

 

“But I hold on, I stay strong

Wondering if we still belong.”

 

Again that gorgeous blend of their voices rises as they reach another chorus. 

 

“Will we ever say the words we're feeling, 

Reach down underneath and tear down all the walls? 

Will we ever have a happy ending

Or will we forever only be pretending? 

Will we always always always be…”

 

Holding their final note, the sister’s exchange a look, and suddenly, the entire tempo, dynamic and nature of the song changes as they softly sing the bridge with slightly staccato-like voices. 

 

“Keeping secrets safe.

Every move we make.

Seems like no one's letting go.

And it's such a shame,

Cause if you feel the same

How am I supposed to know…?” 

 

Kagome allows her voice to taper out, this time letting her older sister’s voice shine with the swelling note that leads into the final part of the song. 

 

“Will we ever say the words we're feeling

Reach down underneath and tear down all the walls?

Will we ever have a happy ending

Or will we forever only be pretending? 

Will we always always always be (pretending)

Will we always always always be (pretending)

Will we always always always be pretending?”

 

Ending on an achingly soft note, Kagome and Kagura share a small smile. 

 

‘Wow, that sounded even better than our first run-through.’

 

Kagome thinks, eyes glowing happily. 

 

‘Yeah, it’s a great ballad.’

 

Kagura agrees, but something in her voice gives her away. 

 

‘…but?’

 

Kagome coaxes, knowing that her sister had an even more amazing ear than she did when it came to instruments and harmony. 

 

‘But I feel like we’re missing some impact with our chorus. If we had drums or percussion of some sort, it could really change the entire nature of the song.’ 

 

Kagura admits, knowing that neither she nor her sister could play the drums though. 

 

A quiet creaking suddenly has Kagura’s eyes zeroing in on the door, no longer open just a sliver, but ajar to show the faces of two peeping girls. 

 

A quick proof of their scents tells Kagura that one is a human, while the other is a wolf youkai. 

 

“I thought it was the cat’s job to eavesdrop.”

 

Kagura says pointedly, causing Kagome’s head to swivel to the door, just as a pink-faced red-head throws the door wide open and marches into the room. 

 

“We weren’t eavesdropping, we were…”

 

The red head trails off when she finally registers the aura of the demoness she’s talking to. 

 

“…listening to your singing, ma’am.”

 

She finishes in a demure voice. 

 

Kagura cocks her head to the side at the sudden change in the wolf’s attitude. 

 

“Raise your head, Princess of the North, there is no need for formalities here.”

 

Kagura says, immediately recognising the pale green aura of the demoness, inlaid with a white sparkle to showcase her royal roots. 

 

“Since you were listening, are you guys able to, um, play?”

 

Kagome asks timidly, though the sudden glimmer of an idea lighting her sister’s eyes confuses her for a moment. 

 

‘What do you think?’ 

 

Kagura asks telepathically. 

 

‘A band?’

 

Kagome questions, a little taken aback. 

 

‘If you’re not up for it I won’t ask them.’

 

Kagura states simply. 

 

‘Oh, no, I think it’s a great idea… we just don’t know anything about the two of them yet, is all.’

 

Kagome explains, making Kagura sigh. 

 

‘That, my dear sister, is why we possess the ability to speak.’

 

Kagura replies in a mocking tone, turning her attention back to the wolf demoness to await her answer to her sister’s question. 

 

“You bet! I’m been drumming since I could crawl.”

 

The wolf demoness exclaims, back to being all bubbly and emotional. The countenance suits her. 

Barely pausing for breath, the wolf demoness reaches outside and pulls the brunette into the room to stand beside her. 

 

“and Sango here is a dream on the keyboard… though she can also sing pretty damn well too.”

 

Kagura gave an acknowledging nod to the cat demon now standing in the room with them. 

 

“Well then…”

 

Kagura stood up from the piano stool, and gestured to it. 

 

“Why don’t we try that song again with your accompaniment?”

 

She says, a pointed gaze directed at Sango which makes it quite clear that Kagura isn’t giving her an option, she’s ordering. 

 

“O-of course.”

 

The brunette answers, cursing her nervous stutter in the presence of such demonic power. 

 

“Princess?”

 

Kagura says, turning her head to look at the drum kit in the corner of the room. 

 

“Ayame is fine, Ma’am.”

 

The wolf princess says, already moving to sit at the drum kit. 

 

“Kagura.”

 

The wind demoness supplies, earning a graciously lowered head from Ayame in response. 

 

“Everyone ready?”

 

Kagura asks, and, when the three other occupants of the room nod, she uses her powers to close the door fully, and signals Ayame to start the drummer’s intro. 

 

The next few minutes are almost surreal. 

 

Ayame has complete control of her entire drum kit, muffling the volume so as not to overplay the other instruments, and keeping a perfect beat and tempo the whole way through the song. 

 

Sango plays the piano keys so skilfully, one would hardly think they were being played at all, but rather moving of their own accord to carry out the will of their wielder. 

 

She is also rather experimental, giving the song a bit of an edge and some much needed spice. 

The added nuance of Kagura’s own playing of an acoustic guitar also helps transform the song from the ballad it had been into the pop song it now was. 

 

Eventually, the song concludes with four slack faces staring at each other in awe. 

 

“Looks like you guys have what we’re missing.”

 

Kagura notes with a genuine, though small, smile. 

 

“I’m Kagura Higurashi, first heiress to the southern sky castles, though I ask that you use my alias, Kumoiro, while on school grounds… I would like to form a band with the three of you.”

 

Silence greets her surprising, though serious, proposition, though he sister soon speaks up. 

 

“I’m Kagome Higurashi, second heiress to the southern sky castles. It’s a pleasure to meet you two, though I would also ask that you refrain from mentioning my family name at school… You can count me in as a band member, sis.”

 

Kagome supplies, seeing that the other two girls seem to be in a mild state of shock. 

 

Though, at least in Sango’s case, it had more to do with the sister’s positions in the youkai hierarchy, than their amazing performance. 

 

“Nice to meet cha. I’m Ayame Hikaru, only heiress to the northern mountains… I’d be thrilled to be a part of your band.”

 

Ayame suddenly speaks up, barely contained excitement evident in her voice. She also clears her throat rather obviously, which manages to snap Sango out of her thoughts. 

 

“Oh, my apologies. My name is Sango Seidoshima. Seventh generation Demon Whisperer and eldest daughter to the President’s primary bodyguard… I would be honoured to become a member of your band.”

 

Sango says diplomatically. 

 

“Well, since we have our members figured out, all we need now is…”

 

“a name!”

 

Kagome exclaims, interrupting her sister’s sentence. 

 

“Any ideas?”

 

Kagura asks with a half-hearted glare directed at her sister. 

 

“How about Four Queens?”

 

Ayame offers, though the other three girls all wrinkle their noses at that name. 

 

“Sorry Ayame, but that sounds REALLY old fashioned.”

 

Kagome says. 

 

“Not to mention that we’d sound SO full of ourselves if we went with a name like that.”

 

Sango adds. 

 

“We should try and keep it simple.”

 

Kagura says, almost totally in sync, as Kagome says something similar. 

 

“It should be something we all like.”

 

The younger sister points out. 

 

The sisters share a look. 

 

“What’s your favourite time of day?” 

 

Kagura asks suddenly, directing the question at all three girls. 

 

Her answer is simultaneous and unanimous. 

 

“Night!” 

 

Comes the triple answer, the girls exchanging surprised expressions. 

 

Kagura smirks. 

 

“Ok, what’s your favourite thing about the night?”

 

She asks, this time receiving synonyms in answer. 

 

“The heavens.”

“The sky.”

“The stars.”

 

The three say, though Kagura pauses at Ayame’s word choice.

 

‘Ok… Now for something to set that apart.’

 

She thinks to herself. 

 

“Stars… I like that, but, now we need something to make it more original.”

 

Kagura says, leaving a weighty silence for the other three girls to fill. 

 

“How about just The Stars?”

 

Sango suggests, though the downward turn of the demoness’ lips is enough of an answer. 

 

“I think that’s a little TOO common.” 

 

Kagome concedes. 

 

“Yeah, we’d be drowned out by fans of The Fangs in an instant.” 

 

Ayame tacks on, earning her three raised eyebrows. 

 

“What? They’re a cool band, but we’d just be cast in their shadow if we follow in their footsteps.” 

 

Ayame huffs defensively. 

 

The Fangs were the most popular boy band out there at the moment. 

 

They had millions of fans, concerts were sold out in 10 minutes flat and they attended the partner high school to Mélodie Academy, the most prestigious university for music in all of Japan. 

 

“Why not just change it to Four Stars?”

 

Ayame suddenly pips up, and the idea does hold its appeal. 

 

“Four is just a number though, we’d want to be something a little more individualistic… What languages are you guys taking?” 

 

Kagura asks. 

 

“Demonicryl.”

 

All three girls answer. 

 

Kagura sighs at that, rifling through her memories of the various language snippets she’s heard throughout her life. 

 

“What about… Cat Stars?”

 

Kagura says slowly. 

 

She’s met with three blinking girls who aren’t quite sure if they heard her right. 

 

“Think about it. We can take the origin from the French quatre, spoken kat, meaning four, and we met when I called you two spying cats… Or does someone have something against neko?”

 

Kagura explains, sounding surprisingly pleased with herself. 

 

Indeed, the name had a fun and fresh ring to it. 

 

When Sango also raised an eyebrow in an ‘are you being serious right now?’ expression, it was settled. 

 

And so, Cat Stars was born. 

 

- - - - - 

 

Author's Note 

 

Hello again Lovelies! 

 

I know it's been a minute, but, I'M BACK! 

 

AND, to make up for the fact that CaD has been having a bit of a dry spell, I'll make sure to post the NEXT chapter within a week! (I'm almost done with it, but it still needs a bit few tweaks...) 

 

As always, feel free to let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

 

Tora 

 

PS. The song the sisters sang was their own COVER of Pretending from Season 2 of Glee. I do NOT own the song OR the lyrics!