InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Darkness Before Dawn ❯ Results ( Chapter 11 )

Bet all of you thought I’d fallen off the face of the earth, didn’t you? Well, it just so happens that I didn’t, I was bogged down with home, health, beta and author woes!! Yet I have returned to give you an early Christmas/Kwanzaa/Chanukah/whatever holiday you celebrate this time of year gift! So enjoy and don’t forget to review…maybe they will help me get the next chapter off to my wonderful beta’s a bit sooner!!


Disclaimer: The characters still aren’t mine, but they are definitely on my ‘Dear Santa’ list again this year!


Disclaimer: Bye-Bye Beautiful is the exclusive right of Nightwish…tho I do own a copy Dark Passion Play’s Collectors set… Does that count? Nope, didn’t think so….





Chapter 11:


Results

While the last band performed, most of the remaining bands waited anxiously in the Gold Lounge. Kagome’s nerves simply wouldn’t allow her to sit still for more than a moment, yet her legs felt like they were made of rubber after all that dancing on stage. She would pace restlessly across the room before plopping into an overstuffed chair where she would tap the heel of her boots in agitation, only to growl in frustration before standing to repeat the process again. She cast an annoyed glance at the three remaining members of Hell’s Redemption, who seemed to be calmly chatting on one of the plush couches.


In actuality, they were just as nervous as Kagome; they were just hiding it behind a cool façade by critiquing the last of the competition. Finally Inuyasha couldn't take anymore of the singer's distracting movements. "Stop it, Angel!" he barked. "That incessant 'click click' is driving me nuts!" The noise stopped when she halted and faced him. "Thank you," he sighed in relief.


"How can you just sit there?" she asked in frustration. The band on stage finally completed their set and the announcer called out that there would be a thirty minute break for the judges to make their final decision. "Oh God....." she moaned while doubling over and clutching her abdomen. "I think I'm gonna be sick...."


Inuyasha jumped up and roughly shoved someone out of his way as he moved quickly to Kagome’s side. The woman was on the verge of hyperventilating and her skin tone had turned deathly pale. "Okay, babe, slow, deep breaths," he crooned. He turned toward his band mates. "I'm taking her out for some air on the balcony. Come get us when it's almost time to go down there." Miroku nodded in acknowledgement as Inuyasha led the singer from the room.


"You think she'll be okay?" Sango asked in concern. "I think she's more nervous now than she was before the performance!"


"We can only hope, my sweet," he replied, pulling the woman he desired above all others deeper into his comforting embrace.


Inuyasha slammed the door to the balcony open and led the trembling woman into the fresh night air. Kagome shivered at the rush of cool air that blew across so much of her exposed flesh. He turned her until her chest was pressed firmly against his. "Breathe with me, Kagome," he whispered into her ear. "In," they inhaled deeply together,” then back out." The gentle stroking of his hand over her hair served to further soothe the anxious woman.


After a few moments, Kagome was calm enough to be able to breathe without instruction. She shakily pushed away from his embrace, feeling his reluctance to let her go. She walked to the metal railing of the small balcony and looked out over the glistening waters of Tokyo Bay. The gentle wind caressed her face, rustling through the feathers of the masque and blowing through the raven locks of her hair. "I’m sorry. I don't know what came over me," she said softly.


Inuyasha moved to stand beside her. "The adrenaline rush died off."


"Maybe," she replied. "It just hit me all at once. You've all worked so hard to get here. What if my performance was lacking somehow? What if I failed you?" She cast her eyes down to her shaking hands. "I'm terrified that if you didn't get this, you'll all hate me....."


The man took a deep breath to reign in his quickly rising temper. "First of all, stop with this I and you crap. We are all in this together! Second, you were amazing out there! You grabbed that audience in a way I never even thought was possible. Just watching you reel them in while they gladly let you rip out their hearts was incredible. I saw their faces! Each and every one of them wanted to save you!"


"But this was your dream!" she protested hotly.


"No," he barked, "This is our dream!" Inuyasha grabbed Kagome's shoulders and turned her to face him. "You became a part of this from the first note you sang in that garage!" At the startled expression on her face, Inuyasha relaxed his iron grip slightly. His voice softened when he murmured, "From the moment I heard you sing in your apartment, you became my dream......"


Kagome's eyes flared at the honesty that shimmered in his captivating eyes. She shivered at the contact of his warm fingers as his hands cupped her face gently and tilted her head to meet his lips. Her eyes drifted closed at the first tender touch of his mouth upon hers.


Inuyasha's heartbeat raced with excitement when Kagome accepted his tentative kiss. He was content to exchange soft, slow kisses, not wanting to push her too far, too fast.


Sliding her hands into his hair, Kagome found herself slowly surrendering to his sensual ministrations. She moaned softly when he pulled away, and then sighed when Inuyasha wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his nose in her hair.


"Kami help me, Kagome....." he whispered, the husky timber sending chills through her. "I didn't mean for this to happen, but I don't regret it." He tightened his embrace, desperately trying to merge her body with his own.


"I- I don't either," she confessed, confused by the swirling emotions rushing through her. "What does it mean?"


Inuyasha sighed. He knew that this was going to be a difficult path for them, yet he was determined to walk it with her. "It means that we have begun something new, Angel."


Kagome burrowed her face into his shoulder. Hot tears slipped over her lids. "I'm not sure if I can do this....."


"Look at me, Kagome," he demanded softly. "I won't force you to do anything. When you're ready to move forward, I'll be there. No matter how long it takes."


"I'm scared....."


Inuyasha brushed his lips across hers once more. "So am I. I've never felt anything like this before, Kagome." He wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I'm willing to move at your pace. We'll take things slow, but I have to warn you that I can't walk away, not now......"


Kagome raised her lips to his, silently expressing her understanding. You may not have a choice....... The thought of him being ripped from her life, just like all the others, made her heart contract painfully.


A soft "ahem" interrupted the tender exchange. Inuyasha looked over at the man in the doorway and nodded. Miroku flashed the couple an approving smile before returning to the inside of the club.


"Time to go, Angel," Inuyasha said, disappointment heavy in his tone.


Kagome moved away from his embrace with a shy smile. "Where do we go from here," she asked softly.


The last thing Inuyasha wanted was for there to be any kind of awkwardness between them. He decided a little levity was in order. "We go in there and claim our prize!" Lacing his fingers with hers, Inuyasha led her back to their fellow band mates to await the announcement of the Blue Dragon's new House Band.






All the bands were gathered on the stage with the heavy navy blue curtains drawn shut behind them. On the other side of the massive draperies were the instruments of the winning band, waiting for the encore performance. The temptation to peek was effectively quashed by the burly bouncers lining the stage.


The Blue Dragon's owner, a young man of about thirty, moved to stand at front and center stage. He graciously accepted the microphone and large metallic blue envelope from a slender young waitress. With an abrupt clearing of his throat into the mouthpiece, the crowded club fell silent. All eyes turned toward the stage, ready to cheer on the winners of the evening’s intense competition.


"Thank you all for coming tonight," the young man started. "My name is Fujiwara Akito, owner of this establishment." He paused, letting the cheering crowd express their excitement. "Thank you. It honors me that you all are enjoying the fruits of my labor, but I'm not the reason you all came tonight."


He turned to face the musicians that crowded the stage. "I would like to express my gratitude to each of you. The performances all of you gave tonight made rendering the decision a difficult task indeed. You should all be proud of your impressive accomplishments." The crowd erupted into boisterous cheers, some fans holding up banners in support of a particular band.


Once the audience settled a bit, Akito spoke again. "The judges took several aspects of the performance into account, including: Originality, Audience Participation, Vocal and Musical Ability, and finally, Overall Performance. While each band did a spectacular job, only one band raised themselves above all of the others in each and every category!" He made a dramatic show of breaking the wax seal on the envelope.


The groups gathered on the stage clung to their band mates, each praying that theirs was the name scrawled on the parchment. Kagome held Sango's hand in a death grip, while Miroku and Inuyasha both held their breaths in anticipation. When the suspense had become almost unbearable, Akito raised the microphone to his mouth. "Please join me in congratulating the winners and The Blue Dragon's new House Band.........Hell's Redemption!"


Kikyo smiled brilliantly at the audience and took a step forward. She was violently jerked from her fantasy and yelped when Paradise's drummer yanked her back to stand beside him. "What the fuck are you doing, Kikyo? Are you trying to make us look like a bunch of idiots?" he hissed in her ear. "They just announced your former band as the winners, not us!"


At the other end of the stage, Sango and Kagome were locked in each others’ embrace, hopping around in a small circle while screaming their elation. Inuyasha and Miroku enthusiastically thanked the owner while vigorously shaking his hand and slapping the man's back. The bouncers drew the heavy curtains back to reveal their equipment set up behind them. "Congratulations!" Akito said into the microphone. "Now, if you would honor us with your first performance as the official House Band?"


The quartet formed a tight huddle and quickly agreed on which song to perform. The players moved to their places, waiting for Miroku to finish adjusting the positions of the cymbals and microphone. When the three musicians were ready Kagome approached the microphone stand. "Thank you all so very much," she spoke to the audience.


Inuyasha cued up the song on the synthesizer as Miroku tapped out the beat. The audience erupted in cheers as melodic piano chords wafted through the speakers. Inuyasha’s short strokes across the strings hinted at the furious pace a moment before Miroku added a solid blast of the bass drum. Sango's bass thrummed rhythmically while Miroku picked up the tempo slightly, pounding his flying drumsticks ferociously. Kagome pulled the microphone from its stand, and moved to the front of the stage. Her gaze swept over the bobbing heads of the audience, relishing in the energy they fed her. The singer smiled at them as she let her powerful voice rise above the music.


Finally the hills are without eyes

They are tired of painting a dead man’s face red

With their own blood

They used to love having so much to lose

Blink your eyes just once and see everything in ruins


Miroku slammed the sticks down on the drums in forceful succession. Kagome moved back to the center of the stage, her arm sweeping in a gesture of introduction to the guitarist. He flashed the singer a sly grin and almost laughed aloud at her answering wink.


Inuyasha turned his attention to the gyrating crowd to cry out the frustration warranted by the lyrics. Miroku's vocals merged so seamlessly with his that they seemed almost one voice.


Did you ever hear what I told you?

Did you ever read what I wrote you?


Inuyasha turned his head slightly to pose the next questions to the ethereal vision of Kagome. Her hair billowed around her while her body moved sensuously to Miroku's frantic beats.


Did you ever listen to what we played?

Did you ever let in what the world said?


Kagome swirled away from the guitarist to ascend the small platform where Miroku was perched.


Kikyo moved into Inuyasha's line of sight just off stage and he purposely directed the next lines of the chorus to her.


Did we get this far just to feel your hate?

Did we play to become only pawns in the game?


Inuyasha noticed the slight stutter in Miroku's singing, but understood when he saw the bassist shooting a death glare at the pair behind the drums. He turned to see Kagome wink at Sango then jump from behind the drummer back to the stage. He was amazed she didn't break her neck in those shoes!


How blind can you be, don’t you see?

You chose the long road but we’ll be waiting!


Kagome seemed to move with cat-like grace back to the center of the stage. Her arm drifted in a graceful arch as she slowly waved to him, the gauzy fabric flowing behind her.


Bye bye beautiful

Bye bye beautiful


The singer bowed low at the waist until her raven tresses brushed the floor. Kagome bobbed her head to the driving tempest of the music. She stretched her arms to the side, extending the 'wings' of the costume, twirling in a graceful spin as she rose. The crowd jumped and cheered at the feat, enraptured by the vision of the Dark Angel as she continued to turn round and round with her arms stretched high above her head.


Sango watched Kagome approach her, smiling brilliantly. The bassist was impressed with the girl's agility in the dangerously unstable heels. She laughed when Kagome bumped her hips, effectively moving the musician out of her way before lifting her mouth to the microphone before them.


Jacob’s ghost for the girl in white

Blindfold for the blind

Dead siblings walking the dying earth



The women smiled playfully at each other while they harmonized into the shared microphone. Sango loved this side of Kagome; she seemed so carefree and mischievous on stage. It was almost as though she became the person she had been before, the person that none of them had had the pleasure of knowing. Sango’s smile dampened slightly as she internally sighed. It was a shame that Kagome only let that beautiful side of herself shine through while she performed.



Noose around a choking heart

Eternity torn apart

Slow toll now the funeral bells


From across the stage, Inuyasha watched the girls have their fun. He mentally berated himself for the swell of jealously that lapped at his heart. How easy it had been for Kagome to win everyone over. The crowd, his friends, him… He grinned as the memory of Kagome’s soft lips and her shy kisses played slowly in his mind and when she turned to give him a seductive smile, he almost missed the next chord. Recovering effortlessly, his fingers fell into their familiar pattern once more as he cried out the anguish of times past.


He reached back to a darker time when he had believed that physical pain was the only way to feel anything at all!


I need to die to feel alive!



The women continued their play while Inuyasha and Miroku dove into the chorus. The guitarist smiled as they performed a cheesy '80's head bang move, standing back to back while Sango thrummed the bass chords and Kagome played her "air guitar".



Did you ever hear what I told you?

Did you ever read what I wrote you?

Did you ever listen to what we played?

Did you ever let in what the world said?

Did we get this far just to feel your hate?

Did we play to become only pawns in the game?

How blind can you be, don’t you see?

You chose the long road but we’ll be waiting!



Even though this song had been written ages before they ever met, it now seemed that the lyrics had been written for them by the hand of fate. Her soul, so battered and torn by tragedy was yearning for escape. His was the voice of reason, challenging her to face reality while reassuring that he would always be there to catch her fall.


Bye bye beautiful

Bye bye beautiful

Bye bye beautiful

Bye bye beautiful



Kagome moved away from Sango. She did that low, stalking strut back toward Inuyasha that made him want to drool. The distraction she created required him to apply extraordinary concentration to keep up with the music. He once again thought of her as a supple lioness lurking in the shadows. His amber eyes met hers, compelling her to feel the depth of his pain and the meaning of his words.


It’s not the tree that forsakes the flower

But the flower that forsakes the tree

Someday I’ll learn to love these scars

Still fresh from the red-hot blade of your words



Inuyasha poured every ounce of his heart and soul into the desperate plea. He longed to be the strong, unbending tree in her life, to shelter her from the storms that still raged in her heart. The tone of his cry begged the woman to believe in him while promising to trust her enough to reveal the darkness within his own soul.


The players’ hands abruptly stilled on their instruments bringing the raging music to a halt. They turned to face the cheering crowd while the synthesizer played on softly to accompany their low whispers.


...How blind can you be, don’t you see...


...How blind can you be, don’t you see...


...How blind can you be, don’t you see...


...That the gambler lost all he does not have...


As the volume of the soft chords swelled, the musicians once again crashed into the pulse pounding rhythm. Inuyasha and Miroku both drove the fierce aggression of the refrain one final time, while Kagome and Sango once again shared a microphone to harmonize the back ground vocals.



Did you ever hear what I told you?

Did you ever read what I wrote you?

Did you ever listen to what we played?

Did you ever let in what the world said?

Did we get this far just to feel your hate?

Did we play to become only pawns in the game?

How blind can you be, don’t you see?

You chose the long road but we’ll be waiting?


Bye bye beautiful

Bye bye beautiful

Bye bye beautiful

Bye

Bye

Bye

Bye

< /b> The anguished cry of the guitarist echoed out over the audience for a split second after the climatic finale. The crowd, fueled by the adrenaline pumping performance, screamed their approval while jumping, clapping, waving, and punching their fists in the air.

Miroku hopped down from his perch to join the rest of the band for their final bow of the night. Inuyasha and Sango rested their guitars in the stands, while Kagome continued to shout "thank you" to the audience. The four stood together, arms around each other's waists, bowed low, and then waved to the audience as the massive navy curtains closed.

Inuyasha scooped the laughing singer into his arms and spun her around. "We did it!" he shouted in elation. "We really fucking did it!"

In a move that surprised everyone present, Sango jumped into Miroku's arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and locking her ankles behind his back. The drummer held her slight weight effortlessly, though the shock of the movement nearly toppled him. When Sango kissed him soundly on the lips, Miroku's eyes flared in astonishment for a split second before sliding closed. He returned the kiss with equal enthusiasm.

From the shadows behind the stage, Kikyo silently seethed. Just look at them! You'd think they just signed with a label or something! Her dark eyes narrowed at the euphoria that surrounded the quartet. That should have been me! she screamed in her mind. That was my band! He was MY lover! Her eyes narrowed as her furious gaze focused on the woman embracing her former lover. This isn't over.....Not by a long shot!