InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Darkness Before Dawn ❯ Legends ( Chapter 9 )

At long last, a new chapter is complete! Thanks again to my two wonderful betas, madma and clnv, for keeping on track with this story! You both let me know when I’m letting my characters stray from my original vision…for which I am eternally grateful. And a loud shoutout to wbaker for all your wonderful words of encouragement through the past weeks…. I look forward to your thoughts on this chapter!!


Chapter 9:

Legends

"MAMA!" Kagome shot upright in her bed, cold sweat trickling down her spine. When her brain had finally shaken loose the last lingering traces of the nightmare, she heaved a ragged sigh and flopped back into the plush mattress. Silent tears of regret slipped from her eyes and onto the pillow beneath her head. "I'm so sorry, Mama. It's all my fault..."

Familiar warmth enveloped the weeping girl, causing her tears to flow more freely. My love, let it go....

Kagome sniffled as she snuggled deeper into the down comforter. "I can't, Shiro. I took everything for granted, reached for too much. And all of you were made to pay the price for my greed....."

Nonsense! You are the most selfless person I ever knew, 'Gome. Why do you refuse to believe that?

"If I was so selfless, why am I being punished?" she protested hotly. "Why was every person I ever loved taken away from me?"

Unfortunately, I don't have all the answers. . . No one knows why the world is the way it is, nor can anyone explain why the purest souls find themselves in the darkest shadows. But listen--you have to live your life. There is an answer for you out there somewhere, something left for you to live for, and the only way to find it is by searching for it yourself....

"Oh, don't give me that philosophical bullshit, Shiro!" Kagome shouted. She threw the covers back and shot from the bed. "Why can't you just give me a straight answer for once? You never used to talk in riddles, but lately that's all you seem to do! Tell me what I have left to live for! Why couldn't I have just been with you that night? Or in the house with Mama, Souta and Jii-chan? WHY?!" The distraught cry echoed off the cream colored walls of the bedroom.

The silence that settled around her, accompanied by the chill of the air conditioning, informed her that her love had retracted his presence. Kagome sank to her knees and hung her head in sorrow. "How could any of you ever forgive me?"




A bleary eyed Kagome stood outside her high-rise waiting for Inuyasha to arrive. She had not slept much and what little sleep she did manage was plagued by the all too familiar nightmares. After the incident with Shiro's specter, the woman had finally given up on trying to achieve any sort of rest. Maybe I should call in the prescription for those sleeping pills..... Sighing heavily, Kagome lifted the travel mug of coffee to her lips and carefully sipped the hot brew.

Just then, the rumble of Inuyasha's motorcycle drifted to her ears. Kagome watched as he pulled into the circular drive and stopped just underneath the overhang.

Pulling off the helmet and killing the engine, Inuyasha called out a jovial, "Ohayo, Angel!" Watching as she approached, he took a moment to drink in the view that she unwittingly presented. Though her tight blue denim shorts were modest in length, ending just above her perfectly shaped knees, they did nothing to conceal her long, well-toned legs. A cropped Kelly-green tee revealed the barest hint of her flat stomach, while the bright yellow straps of her backpack pulled the material tight across her well endowed chest. She had the ebony tresses pulled into a high ponytail, serving to accentuate the delicately exotic features of her face. Once again she wore no makeup aside from a delicate pink gloss on her lips. Golden eyes met chocolate brown, noticing the fatigue in them. "What's wrong?" he asked with concern.

"I'm just a bit tired," Kagome supplied with a shrug. Sleep deprivation will do that, she thought with a sigh before gesturing to the machine Inuyasha hugged between his muscular thighs. "Did you forget we were going to the shrine this morning?"

Inuyasha released the extra helmet as he answered. "No, I didn't forget. I called the pervert early this morning and told him and Sango to meet us there with the van."

"Oh," Kagome replied. "I made you some coffee," she said, thrusting the other travel mug she carried in his face.

Inuyasha intently eyed the woman before him. Something was wrong. Kagome's posture was tense, yet there was a haunted look in her eyes. He thanked her for the cup before deciding the direct approach would probably work best. "Spill it, Kagome. If there's something you wanna say to me, just get it over with."

The singer's eyes widened in surprise. Damn, I was trying so hard to hide the awkwardness! He probably thinks I'm some kind of psycho or something...... Inuyasha's ability to pick up on her moods --even when she tried to keep them hidden-- was uncanny. It was almost like they shared some kind of spiritual connection.

Shit! Here it comes... Inuyasha mentally cringed at the panic racing through him. She's leaving us! I just know it! Think, idiot, THINK! How are you going to convince her to stay? Begging may work...especially if I use the puppy eyes....no, too obvious. Maybe I can appeal to the musician side of her, then beg using the puppy eyes-

"Listen, Inuyasha," Kagome started after gathering her racing thoughts together, "about last night-"

"Is that what this is all about?" he asked incredulously. "I thought you were gonna quit or something equally bad!"

"No, I'm not quitting the band. The thing is, I don't want you to think that what happened to me last night is an everyday occurrence." Kagome released an exasperated breath. "Last night I was really tired, and the fact that you and Koga were acting like boys in a school yard scuffle seriously pissed me off. When the tea spilled, something inside me just snapped."

Inuyasha sipped his coffee before replying. "I really am sorry about that, Kagome. I'll pay for the cleaning, I swear." He took one of her hands in his own. "And I'm sorry I attacked your friend like that. I just couldn't handle the way he was talking about you."

"I had hoped you two would be friends," she muttered, disappointment heavy in her tone. "Koga tends to be a bit over protective at times. He was like a brother to..." Kagome halted as tears glazed her eyes. She looked away from his searching gaze.

"Kagome," Inuyasha said softly, waiting for her to look at him again. "I know you're still hurting. Koga told me a little about your fiancé and how he died. He also told me about the fire. I'm so sorry...." Kagome tried to look away again, unable to take the pity in his eyes. Inuyasha gently grasped her chin between his thumb and forefinger. "I meant what I said, Kagome. When you're ready to tell me about him, I'll be there. Okay?"

Kagome nodded then gave him a small smile of gratitude. "Thank you, Inuyasha," she whispered.

"Well, we'd better get our asses in gear! Sango gave me the third degree about our little field trip this morning. She wasn't at all pleased when I informed her she'd find out when we got there," he stated and handed the travel mug back to Kagome.

Kagome stuffed both mugs into the side pouches of her backpack and grabbed the spare helmet. When she was settled behind Inuyasha, he started the engine and slowly pulled away from the high-rise.




Kagome felt the familiar knot of pain in her chest as the giant red torii marking the entrance to the shrine came into view. As Inuyasha maneuvered the sleek red motorcycle onto the street in front of the shrine, memories of days long gone overwhelmed her: walking home from school with her little brother, Souta; her mother calling out a warm greeting to them as she swept the massive incline of stone steps; her beloved Jii-chan exclaiming over some artifact or another he had "uncovered" in the store house. A fond smile graced the woman's lips.

Flipping up the face mask, Kagome yelled to Inuyasha. "There's a private drive on the eastern side of the grounds. Turn right at the next corner."

Inuyasha nodded in understanding before honking twice as he drove past Sango's van. He waved for her to follow him.

Kagome waited for Inuyasha to kill the bike's engine before removing the helmet and dismounting. Her eyes strayed to the house for just a moment before she moved off toward the family's personal storage shed. An elderly woman called out to her from across the courtyard. "Ohayo, Kagome-sama!"

Rolling her eye's at the unnecessary honorific title to the end of her name, Kagome waved back. "Ohayo, Tanaka-san! How are you today?"

The woman huffed a bit after jogging over to meet the girl. "Oh, you know, these old bones just don't move the way they used to! Have you come for a visit?"

"No, not today. I need to retrieve some equipment from the storage shed."

"Oh," Tanaka-san said, disappointed. "Is there anything I can help with?"

"Oi, Kagome!" Inuyasha called from beside the van. "Daylight's burnin' away here! Where to?"

Kagome shot the woman before her an apologetic smile. "No, thank you, Tanaka-san. I have a few friends for the heavy stuff."

"Well, if you need me for anything...."

"Arigato, Tanaka-san. Maybe I can come for a long visit soon." Kagome smiled as the elderly woman squeezed her hand and then walked away. She waved for the trio to follow her as she walked toward the shed and unlocked it. Inuyasha caught up to her and pulled the massive doors wide open. All along the shelves were various crates and boxes. Paintings and scrolls that were carefully wrapped in water resistant canvases lined yet more shelves. Towards the very back of the shed a long wooden crate marked "fragile" in large red letters was propped in a corner. "There it is, Inuyasha. The keyboard itself isn't that heavy, but I made sure it was well packed before I moved it here."

"Heavens, Kagome," Sango breathed as she moved into the building. "All this is yours?"

"No," Kagome chuckled. "Most of this stuff was already here, handed down from generation to generation of Higurashi’s. It belongs to my family."

"When do we get to meet the rest of your honored family?" Miroku asked, standing beside Inuyasha. The guitarist punched the unsuspecting man in the arm. "Ow! What the fuck was that for?"

Inuyasha glared at Miroku. "Just shut up, stupid!"

Kagome shook her head. "It's all right, Inuyasha. He probably doesn't know." With a tender, yet sad smile she answered the drummer's question. "Unfortunately, you won't be able to meet them, Miroku. They all died in a house fire almost three years ago."

Miroku had the grace to blush. "Forgive me, Kagome. I truly did not mean any offense."

"Just keep your mouth closed and help me move this thing!" Inuyasha barked.

Kagome moved to a shelf and pulled down a few boxes to stack on the floor. "May as well take these too."

"What's in these?" Sango asked as she hefted one into her arms.

"Various electronic equipment and notebooks from my days as a rising pop star."

Once the boxes were packed securely in the van, Miroku suggested Kagome give them a short tour of the shrine's grounds.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Inuyasha protested. "We don't have time for this!"

"Sure we do, Inuyasha," Sango cajoled. "It won't take long, will it, Kagome?"

Kagome couldn't help but giggle. The stall tactic was obvious. It had been so long since she had shared the story of the cursed shrine maiden, the girl easily gave in. "Have all of you heard the legend of the Shikon no Tama?"

At their nods, Kagome walked toward the massive tree and stepped over the low fence that surrounded it. "This is the Goshinboku, and the story of this scar is one that has been passed through the generations in my family." She reached up and ran her fingertips delicately over the worn spot in the bark. "We are all taught the famous legend of the Shikon no Tama as children. What most people don't know is that there is yet another legend of the jewel.

“Many years after its creation there was a priestess who had guarded the jewel, keeping it pure of evil intent. She fell in love with an inu-hanyou who had desired the jewel to become a youkai. In turn, the hanyou also fell in love with the miko. One night the hanyou and the miko had made a pact to use the power of the jewel to make him a human so that they could be together."

Kagome's tone turned sinister as she continued. "An evil shape-shifting demon appeared, who had desired not only the jewel but the priestess as well. He plotted to deceive the lovers and taint the jewel with the hatred and malice of their betrayed hearts. On the day that the couple was to make their wish, the demon had successfully fooled them into believing he was the other, making each of them believe that their love had turned against them. The miko was seriously wounded by the demon portraying her hanyou, and the hanyou was shot at by the false priestess. Enraged by the deceitful nature of his lover, the hanyou attacked the village to steal the jewel. The priestess was equally furious by the traitorous actions of the hanyou who had destroyed her home. Once the jewel was in his possession, the hanyou had fled deep into the forest, where the miko pinned him to this Sacred Tree of Ages- in this very spot - with one of her sacred arrows. He was to remain there for all eternity in endless slumber."

Kagome joined the captivated trio on the outside of the fence line and continued the tale in her 'story-teller' tone. "The priestess retrieved the jewel that had fallen from his lifeless fingers and had ordered that it be burned with her body. She wished to remove the jewel's curse from this world. Fifty years passed before it was seen again."

"If the hanyou was sealed to the tree for all eternity, where is he now?" Sango queried. She had never heard this version of the legend, just how the jewel was formed.

Kagome smiled serenely at the woman and explained, "A young girl of unknown origin appeared in the forest, and released the seal that bound the hanyou. It was rumored that she was the reincarnation of the dead priestess. Now this is where the story gets a bit sketchy...."

"Keh," Inuyasha scoffed. "The whole thing sounds sketchy to me!"

"Don't be rude, Inuyasha," Miroku scolded. "Please, continue, Kagome."

"Anyway, it's said that during a battle with a demon, the jewel was shattered into hundreds of shards, spreading to the far reaches of the island. So the hanyou and the young girl set out to find them. As they traveled, they met up with a monk, a demon slayer and an orphaned kitsune child. Together the unlikely group hunted demons, gathered the shards and ultimately destroyed the demon who betrayed the hanyou and his priestess. The reincarnation of the dead miko wished for the completed Shikon no Tama to disappear from existence."

"That's it?" Inuyasha barked. "Sounds like a bunch of bullshit passed from one generation of geezers to another!" He moved off to the parking lot, shouting over his shoulder, "Let's move it, folks! Play time is officially over!"

Sango, Miroku and Kagome all looked at each other and sighed. Miroku threw an arm over each of the girls' shoulders, following their leader to the lot. "Well, it was fun while it lasted!"





Inuyasha unlocked and rolled open the giant metal door of the garage. Kagome strolled past him to flip the long line of light switches on. While the florescent lights flickered to life he said, "Go on in, Kagome. I gotta grab something from the bike."

Kagome shot him a questioning look then moved toward the "lounge". She had officially given the space that title the evening before when they broke for dinner. The others looked askance at the name, but none argued with her about it. Setting her bright yellow pack on the floor next to the table, Kagome pulled out the now lukewarm coffee for herself and Inuyasha.

Inuyasha approached a moment later, talking on his cell phone. "Well, just hurry up, Sango. We can't get much done till that crate gets here! Yeah, sure. See you in a few!" He snapped the phone closed and plopped down next to Kagome on the couch. "She had to stop and fill the van, so they'll be a few minutes yet," the guitarist explained as he grabbed the other travel mug. After taking a large gulp, grimacing at the tepid temperature of the brew, he presented Kagome with a small brown package. "I found this last night when Miroku and I went for the food," was all he said. "Go ahead and open it."

The woman shot him a bemused glance. "Inuyasha, I can't accept a gift from you...." she protested weakly, yet her heart fluttered in anticipation.

"It's not that kind of gift!" He flushed slightly and looked away from her. "Just open the damn thing!"

Kagome took the box, carefully pulling the lid off. There were several layers of black tissue paper that had to be peeled away before the object was revealed. The woman gasped softly at the masque that was nestled inside. It was simply gorgeous! Delicate silver feathers were covering half of it, designed to hug the side of the wearer's face and shaped like intricate wings. The other half was black leather, the outside of which nearly matched the shape of the "wing". The main difference was on the downward tip where three delicate silver chains draped to the bridge of the nose. Kagome stared in mute wonder at the piece of beauty before her.

Inuyasha nervously bounced his knee while waiting for some kind of response from Kagome. Finally unable to take the silence any longer he burst out,” Well? Do you like it?"

Kagome looked at him, eyes wet with emotion. "Inuyasha...."

Of course, the man mistook the emotion in her eyes, seeing only the tears that threatened. "You hate it! Fuck, I knew I shouldn't have gotten it!"

Kagome shook her head. "I don't hate it," she whispered. "It's so beautiful, I- I don't know what to say...." Her voice trailed off as she gazed upon the masque again. "Help me put it on?" she asked. At his quick nod, Kagome lifted the delicate article from its nest, settled it over her eyes, and turned her back to him. Inuyasha lifted the black and silver braided silk cords, tying them carefully beneath her thick tail of hair. The woman turned to face him and asked in a shy tone, "How do I look?"

Inuyasha stared at the vision of beauty before him. The silvery feathers gently caressed the left side of her face, framing her jaw line to just above her chin and sweeping up into her fluffed bangs. The chains rested across her cheek, moving softly against the creamy flesh as she spoke. The deep brown pools appeared almost black in the shadow of the masque, pulling him deeper into their depths.

Kagome was captivated by the softness in his golden eyes as he gazed upon her. She released a shaky breath when Inuyasha caressed her cheek with his fingertip, seemingly to move a wayward feather back into place. When he continued to trace the outline of the feathers down her jaw Kagome shuddered with pleasure and her heart rate increased. "Inuyasha?" she whispered, though the girl wasn't exactly sure if she was asking about the masque or something more.

"Absolute perfection," he replied in a husky murmur. His eyes flared slightly when her lips parted to gasp softly then lowered as he slowly leaned in to her silent invitation.

"Hey, Inuyasha! You gonna come out here and help me with this or what?" Miroku called out. The couple on the couch sprang apart. When Sango slapped him in the back of the head he yelled "Dammit, woman! What did I do this time?"

"You are such an idiot!" Sango grumbled.







Kagome and Inuyasha had mutually-- and silently -- agreed not to mention whatever had almost happened on the couch. The group hauled in the boxes and crate containing the keyboard, and while Kagome set up the newest piece of equipment, the others got the cooler loaded, set the guitars in their stands, and made some final adjustments to the sound system.

When she had the keyboard ready to go, Inuyasha announced the changes Kagome had proposed. "I want to run through it without the vocals a few times so we can get used to the changes." He turned to Kagome who was spreading out the altered sheet music before her. "You ready?"

"You bet!" She smiled.

"You ever gonna take that thing off?" he asked, pointing to the masque she still wore.

"I need to get used to singing with it on, don't I?" she shot back.

"Keh, whatever. Let's do this. 'Amaranth' from the top!" Miroku tapped off the beats and Kagome furrowed her brow in determination. She had forgotten how different the keyboard felt from the piano. The effect wasn't quite as melodic as she had envisioned it, but Inuyasha seemed pleased nonetheless. Through each run of the song, she made some minor adjustments on the various knobs and slides across the top of the keyboard. For the final run-through, Kagome programmed it to save the music so they could begin rehearsing it with the lyrics.

Inordinately satisfied with the work they had accomplished so far, Inuyasha announced a short break before they started again. The trio cheered--a bit over dramatically in Inuyasha's opinion -- and headed for the cooler filled with water bottles.

Sango chuckled as the singer gently moved the silvery feathers away from her mouth. "Aren't you afraid of eating feathers?"

Kagome almost choked on the drink she was swallowing. "Jeez, Sango! Don't do that!" she laughed. "They don't actually reach my mouth, baka, I just didn't want to get them wet!"

"Won't they get wet when you start sweating?"

"Hmm...Didn’t think about that," Kagome replied with a frown. "I guess I'll have to get them dry-cleaned or something...."

Across the stage, Miroku and Inuyasha were engaged in a quiet, yet heated argument. "If you wanted privacy, why did you leave the damn door wide open?" Miroku hissed.

"I didn't know I was gonna need it! It's not like I planned to....." Inuyasha snapped his jaw shut. "The point is, you are an asshole!"

Miroku couldn't contain his mirth. He tried--really he did-- but what started as a suppressed chuckle ended up being an all out guffaw. When the drummer glanced over to see Inuyasha's furious expression, he laughed even harder.

Inuyasha decided not to break his friend's arms. That would only hinder the work they were doing. No, instead he decided to use a good old fashioned scare tactic. The guitarist clamped a hand over Miroku's shoulder and applied enough pressure to make the muscles contract. Miroku fell to one knee and the laughter abruptly ceased. Inuyasha leaned forward to whisper threateningly, "Remember this, Pervert. Paybacks are a mother-fucker!"






A sleek, raven-haired beauty stepped gracefully from a deep burgundy Lexus. She paused for a moment after closing the door to listen to the driving drum rhythm coming from the garage. Curious, she walked to the gaping entrance, jaw dropping at the scene upon the wooden stage. There were Inuyasha, Miroku, and Sango, accompanied by some strange woman in a tacky outfit and an absurd mask on her face. The music swelled while the woman moved to the microphone at the front of the stage. An evil little smirk settled on her lips. So, he thinks I can be replaced so easily? Kikyo decided to remain in the shadows to assess what this little twit could do.

As the crystal clear notes of the girl's voice rang across the building, Kikyo narrowed her eyes. Okay, so the twit has a decent voice..... By the time they reached what used to be the pause, Kikyo was seething with fury. This was not how this scene was supposed to have played out. Inuyasha was supposed to take one look at her, and beg her to come back to him, to the band. He was supposed to have realized what a mistake it was to let her go! And then she would cruelly rub it in his face that she had found another band-- a better band -- then inform him that she would consider letting him back in her bed. Even though it had been less than a week, Kikyo had to admit she missed the way he fucked her.

But no, Inuyasha thought he could replace her with this wanna-be. The little twit pranced about the stage, caressing and smiling at both men the whole while. The traitorous guitarist watched the tramp with blatant hunger on his face, while the drummer grinned stupidly at her. Does Inuyasha think she could actually replace me in his bed as well?

Kikyo's mind began to conjure lurid images of the guitarist and the girl:

...his hands caressing her creamy thighs, slowly teasing her flesh while working up to her treasure trove.

...the little slut running her fingers through his silky silver tresses, pressing wantonly against him while he raped her mouth with that oh-so-talented tongue.

...their shared moans of rising ecstasy as he slid his throbbing head into her hot sheath.

…his deep baritone telling her how hot she was and her panting cries each time he slammed into her.

...finally growling with completion as he shuddered and collapsed on top of…

The woman shook her head to dispel the disturbing, yet highly erotic scenario from her brain and focused on the players once more. Sango shared a friendly smile with the twit as they went into the final chorus. When did the mouse learn to sing like that? she pondered when the bassist belted out the slightly altered refrain.

Miroku turned his head to drink in the sight of his beloved as Sango leaned provocatively into the microphone. Grinning lecherously, the drummer fairly drooled over the wanton image she created and his hands itched to caress the tempting posterior moving enticingly before him. Out of the corner of his eye, Miroku caught a slight movement in the shadows by the door. When he focused his deep violet eyes on it, his fingers became lax from the sudden realization of who was standing there. The sticks flew from hands that automatically kept playing on.

The cacophony of the drumsticks bouncing off the drums and cymbals brought the rest of the musicians to a halt, while the programmed keyboard played on. "What the fuck, Miroku?" Inuyasha screamed. "We were almost there!"

"Kikyo," he answered, never taking his gaze off the woman by the door.

Inuyasha's gaze traveled to the doorway just as Kikyo stepped into the streaming sunlight, clapping weakly. "That sounded almost as good as when I sang it, Inuyasha. Though the bass line was a bit weak."

Kagome drew a surprised breath and cast an uncertain glance at Inuyasha. The exiled angel approached the stage slowly, her black high heels clicking along the concrete floor. The unnatural height of the shoes accentuated the muscular tone of Kikyo's legs. A very short, silky slip skirt barely covered her hidden secrets and a matching halter top draped sensually over her ample breasts. The woman's midnight black hair was pulled back into a sleek roll that was held in place by two gold hair sticks and her seductive strut exuded raw sexuality.

A disparaging glance at her own attire nearly made Kagome groan. Thankfully the masque hid the flush of her shame. Yeah, right, Higurashi, who are you trying to kid? I'll never look that good!"

Inuyasha noticed the way Kagome sized up his ex and then watched as her shoulders slumped when she came to the ridiculous assumption that her own figure did not compare. Anger swelled in his chest at the look of dejection on the singer's face. He hastily removed his guitar, nearly slamming it into the stand beside him. "What the fuck do you want, Kikyo? I thought I told you never to come around here again!" The guitarist vaulted from the stage to stand before the deceitful bitch he had once thought he loved.

Kikyo moved to press her body boldly to his, running a hand over the hard planes of his chest. "Well hello to you too, my love," she purred. She really had missed his fiery temper. A seductive smile played upon her lips as she leaned in closer. "I've missed you," Kikyo whispered hotly in his ear before pulling the tender lobe with her teeth. Her smile widened with victory when she heard Inuyasha draw in a deep breath. Gets him every time, she thought victoriously as she felt the hot wetness of desire gather between her thighs. Encouraged by his response, Kikyo bit down a bit harder and chuckled at the shudder of pleasure that rippled through him. "And I see you've missed me, too. I can feel the passion rising within-"

Inuyasha decided to turn Kikyo's own game against her and whispered her name. He leaned in to nuzzle her neck just below the delicate shell of her ear and growled, "You are such a stupid bitch, Kikyo!" The man laughed cruelly at her hiss of shock. "That wasn't a shudder of passion. It was one of utter revulsion!" The guitarist shoved Kikyo away from him. "Did you come crawling back for forgiveness, Kikyo? Or to get your spot back? Well, either way you're shit outta luck! We have a new singer now." He shot the seething woman a sardonic grin. "But if you beg real pretty, I may just let you sing back-up vocals."

Kikyo's face paled in shock before flushing red with indignation. "Back up--? You bastard!"

"Hey!" Sango shouted. "I'm not sharing SHIT with that bitch!"

Miroku chuckled as he wrapped his arms around the bassist. "You tell him, my sweet!"

Meanwhile, Kagome was trying to back away from center stage without being noticed, but Kikyo's hate-filled gaze pinned her before she could take two steps.

"Do you honestly think you can replace me so easily?" Kikyo narrowed her eyes, trying to intimidate the girl. "Please! Just look at you! You must keep the second hand stores quite busy." Her gaze returned to Inuyasha. "What sewer did you drag her out of, Inuyasha?"

Kagome's hand flew to her mouth in shock. What did I ever do to her to deserve this hatred? She took an involuntary step toward Sango and Miroku.

Kikyo's evil laughter rang throughout the building. "Just look at her--scampering away like a scared rat! And what's with the mask? Is she ugly, too?" She ignored the way Inuyasha's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Or does the mask make you hot? A little role playing was always fun....."

"Shut. Your. Fucking. Mouth. Kikyo!" Inuyasha growled.

Feigning surprise, Kikyo queried, "Oh, did I hit a nerve, Inuyasha?" Swiveling her eyes back to the trembling singer, she mock whispered, "Has he nailed you in the bathroom yet, Deary? How about over the piano? Wait, I forgot the best one of all! On the back of his precious motorcycle?" At Kagome's blank expression, Kikyo gave her a pitying look. "No? That's too bad. But let me share a little tidbit, just between us girls. Inubaby here likes his women submissive. I hope you like your fucks hard, hot and wild! But don't worry if you don't," she cast a sly look at Inuyasha, oblivious to the tightly chorded muscles in his neck and ticking nerve in his jaw, "because they never last very long."

Luckily, Miroku had noticed the way Inuyasha had coiled his muscles and lunged from the stage. The drummer wrapped his arms around his friend, effectively caging him.

Inuyasha's temper snapped. He struggled against Miroku's iron grip while verbally assaulting the traitorous bitch. "Get the fuck out of here, Kikyo! You can insult me all you want, but you leave her out of it!"

"Inuyasha, don't!" Kagome screamed "She's not worth it!"

Inuyasha took one look at the distraught singer and calmed almost instantly. The image of Kagome's lips just before he leaned in to almost capture them sent a shiver down his spine. She's right. I have something better in my life now......

Kikyo's eyes turned cold as she witnessed the silent, yet tender exchange. "You're so pathetic, Inuyasha! I could have given you everything! But you refused to play the game by my rules. Now you're stuck with a two-bit nobody who can barely carry a tune as your lead!" A false look of pity crossed her features as she said, "I hope you pulled your band out of the competition. I'd hate to see you humiliated like that."

"Hell no," Sango barked furiously. "Now that your sorry ass is gone, we're practically guaranteed the win!"

A confused Kagome looked at each of the band members before asking, "What competition?"

Inuyasha glared at the smug Kikyo before answering,. "The club opening is also a battle of the bands. It's a massive audition to find their house band. The winning band gets a huge cash prize, a free demo session, and a six month contract."

Kikyo sneered at the singer. "Does that scare you, Little Sewer Rat?"

Kagome saw the regret in Inuyasha's eyes. She blessed him with a smile of forgiveness and drew strength from the pride now shining in his amber orbs. "I won't lie," she stated as she moved forward. "It scares the hell out of me." When Kagome reached the very edge of the platform, she looked down her nose at the ousted singer. Determination glinted in her dark eyes, and a new found confidence radiated from her frame. "It just means we'll have to work harder!"

Kikyo chuckled at the girl's audacity. She sent Kagome a malicious smile and said, "It won't matter how hard you try, Little Twit, because you will lose! 'Paradise Scorned' is the clear favorite for the competition, and I always play for the winning team!" She turned on her heel and walked away. "See you in sixteen days!"







Twelve days later, a somber Miroku faced his fellow musicians. "I have some bad news, people. Tiko cancelled our gig for Thursday night."

"What?" Inuyasha bellowed. "He better have a damn good reason for backing out two days before our scheduled appearance!"

Miroku gave him a crooked grin. "Does an electrical fire in the storeroom qualify?"

"Oh my!" Kagome breathed in surprise. "Is he okay?" She'd had the pleasure of meeting the shy little bar owner just three days before. Tiko was only a few years older than she was and had flirted outrageously with both herself and Sango-- much to the drummer's dismay. Kagome had become fast friends with the charming man, and had looked forward to her 'practice gig' as Inuyasha had dubbed it.

"Tiko's fine," Miroku assured her. "He was in the office doing some paper work after locking up last night when the alarm went off. The contractors told him it would be at least three weeks before he could open up again."

"Well this is just fan-fucking-tastic!" Inuyasha's frustration was shared by the rest of the group. "Four days away from the biggest opportunity we've ever had, and suddenly it all goes to shit! I can't believe this is happening!"

"Calm down, Inuyasha," Sango soothed. "It's not like the club cancelled on us."

"Bite your tongue, Sango," the guitarist snapped. "What the hell are we gonna do?" he asked the room at large.

"Are you afraid I'm going to choke in front of an audience?" Kagome asked quietly.

Inuyasha studied the way she plucked at the hem of her black tank-top, a gesture he now recognized as a sign of her anxiety. He crouched down in front of Kagome, taking both her hands in his. "Listen, Kagome, it's been a long time since you performed in any kind of live venue. I just wanted you to get the feel of it before shoving you before the wolves." Kagome nodded in understanding, but she never met his eyes.

Sensing the woman's distress, Sango suggested, "We could always do 'Amateur Night' at The Swan Club."

Miroku sighed heavily. "I don't think we would get a very warm reception there, Sango. They tend to cater to the older, more conservative crowd."

Kagome finally perked up a bit as an idea struck her. "How about a Karaoke bar?" The woman shrank back at the death glare from Inuyasha. "Sorry! It was just a suggestion."

"Keh!"

The quartet silently pondered their situation for a few moments before Inuyasha rose and threw his hands in the air. "Face it, we're screwed!"

Kagome was becoming irritated with Inuyasha's attitude. "Exactly how are we 'screwed'? So Tiko cancelled, big deal. Do you have such little faith in me, Inuyasha? It's not like I've never done this before," she hissed.

Inuyasha sighed with frustration. "Have you ever performed before a mob of angry twenty-something’s? I have a feeling that the pop scene is a little tamer than our usual audience."

"Really?" Kagome replied sarcastically. "At least the 'angry twenty-something’s' generally know how to keep their distance from the stage! Try singing over a crowd of one thousand screaming teenage girls while they all try to climb on stage with you!" The singer ran shaky fingers through her hair. "The point is, Inuyasha, I know how to handle myself on stage. But if you doubt my ability to perform, what's the point of me being here?"

"I just...." Inuyasha shot to his feet. "I was thinking of you, okay!? I wanted you to feel comfortable, that's all. Work out the butterflies and all that."

Kagome smiled sweetly at him. "I appreciate that, Inuyasha. To be totally honest, I don't think it would have helped much. I'll still be a nervous wreck before each and every performance. It's just how I am. I just need you to trust me."

"So, you're okay about not having a gig before we perform at the club?"

"Well," Kagome drawled, "there really isn't anything we can do about it. Why don't we just use the time for one more night of rehearsal?"

Miroku nodded in agreement. "That really is the only option left to us."

"I agree," Sango added.

"Fine," Inuyasha relented. "Now, what are we doing about dinner? I'm starved!"

Sango chuckled at the silver haired man. "Food fixes everything, doesn't it, Inuyasha? You two figure it out this time." She turned to Kagome. "Have you got your stage wear ready?" At the singer's blank stare, Sango moaned. "Kagome, please don't tell me you haven't gotten a costume of any kind yet."

Kagome flushed. "I have the mask..."

"That's it!" Sango shouted as she stood up. "Forget dinner! We are done for the day!"

"Since when do you call the shots, wench?" Inuyasha yelled from the kitchen, where he and Miroku were shuffling through the stack of take-out menus.

"We have a serious crisis here so Kagome and I are leaving!" The woman grasped Kagome's wrist in one hand while scooping up both of their packs with the other before dragging the stunned girl to the door.

"Oi! Where the hell do you think you're going?" Inuyasha demanded, watching the two women walk away.

"Shopping!" Sango called over her shoulder.

Kagome glanced back at the aggravated men. "Need a costume! See you in the morning," she said with an apologetic smile.

Miroku slung an arm over his friend's shoulders. "You should know by now that nothing can stop Sango if there is shopping to be done! The woman has three closets and two dressers crammed full with clothes. Don't even ask me about her shoe collection!"

"It must be something in the female genes," Inuyasha commented dryly.

The drummer smirked, a lecherous gleam shining in his eyes as they watched the girls walk out the door. "Yeah, it's those luscious ass cheeks!"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Fucking pervert. Come on, help me get this place shut down and locked up."