InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Eat You Alive ❯ Chapter Bob ( Chapter 13 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Blue-eyed Floozy
What was going on in Kamikaze's head that they didn't show up? And what's this?! They have to battle it out with the bands that got a second round testing? Well, darn it. What will happen?

Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Comedy | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 11.08.2005 | Updated On: 11.22.2005 | Pages: 20 | Words: 16.6K | Visits: 655 | Status: Work In Progress

Disclaimer: There was an old lady who lived in a shoe. She had so many children she didn't know what to do. Obviously she had too many prior obligations to bother with getting me the rights to Inuyasha. Or any of the songs mentioned in this fic. No, I did not write them. Is that a double negative? Oh, nevermind.
 
Chapter 13: A flippin' long chapter that I don't have a name for, so I'll call it, um, Bob. Chapter Bob.
 
Kagura rushed back to the dressing room which had also doubled as the janitor's closet to escape the grasping claws of rabid male fans who had slipped by the meager security, i.e. the greeter at the Jewel.
 
“Come on! Hurry up!” She shouted to the other three as they too ran for their lives. And clothes.
 
Rin, Kanna, and Ayame flew in and Kagura slammed the door behind them.
 
“That was the best show EVER!” Rin shouted in joy as she flipped back her hair and stood from the floor, straightening her shirt and bra as best she could.
 
“Totally.” Ayame grinned. “Can it get any better?”
 
“Yes,” a male's voice spoke from the door.
 
The girls twirled around and stared at the heartthrob standing before them.
 
“Is that…..?” Rin's mouth dropped open.
 
“Can't be.” Kagura lifted a sardonic brow.
 
Ayame circled around him and glanced from head to toe at all the hanyou goodness watching her with his arms crossed. “It looks like him.” She wiped the drool from her chin. “But his hair is…..”
 
The hanyou raised his eyebrows and sighed. “Yes, I am me,” he whipped off the beanie to reveal his long, silver hair and held out one clawless hand to Kagura, “Inuyasha.”
 
She trepidatiously shook the proffered hand and said, “Kagura.”
 
“I know.” He was amused how her jaw dropped and decided to go for a full open-mouthed revelation for the rest of the girls. “And you're Rin, Ayame, and Kanna.” He got the desired effect.
 
The door opened behind him and his friends bolted in. Miroku held off the crowd for the girls to trip through.
 
“Jeez Inuyasha,” Miroku gasped after he forced the door closed, “way to leave us out in the cold like that.”
 
“Yeah,” Sango wiped off her shirt, “I'm going to be cleaning out groupie drool for a week.”
 
“I'm fine. Oop.” Kagome turned around to pick up her cell phone, which had dropped on the way in, and revealed a french-fried, greasy handprint on her left ass cheek.
 
Inuyasha vowed to disembowel whoever dared to touch his woman's bottom after he was done here.
 
“I told you I could handle it.” He turned back to the girls. “Look, we've been listening to you for the last month or so and think you really have what it takes to make it.”
 
Kagura was the first to get over the shock of seeing all of Sengoku and what appeared to be a model (Kikyo Tama maybe?) in their modest dressing room. She stuttered out a thanks.
 
“We held auditions for the warm-up band to head our newest tour today and you weren't there,” he growled. “Our manager told us he'd posted signs all over the city, and judging from how many hacks we listened to, he told the truth. There was only one band that could compare to you and they looked like a bunch of freaks. Why didn't you guys show up?”
 
The four women before him stared in shocked awe.
 
“You really think we're that good?” Rin bashfully asked.
 
The hanyou growled and nodded. His patience was wearing thin. Rin squealed and jumped up to hug him, but he quickly sidestepped and she fell onto Miroku.
 
The boy smiled and held her tight. “Hey, baby. How you doin'?”
 
Sango clenched her fist and slammed it into his skull with the force of her womanly fury. “Pervert.” She glared at him as he released the girl and laughed nervously.
 
“Come on, Sango. You know how it is…..”
 
She continued to glare. His laughter petered off to a sigh. He knew he was in deep guacamole now.
 
“As I was saying…..” Inuyasha glared at the monk who sighed again. “Did you not see the signs or what?”
 
Kagura stepped forward. “Yeah, we saw them.”
 
“So why didn't you come?” Sango asked.
 
“We don't want to be famous.” The elemental glared. “Have you seen what you've turned into? You walk around with your nose in the air and your music has gone completely downhill. Face it. You've sold out.”
 
Inuyasha stepped towards the brazen woman. “Why you-”
 
Miroku cut the hanyou off. “In our defense, Inuyasha has always been like that.” Said hanyou growled and took a step closer to the monk.
 
“They've only had one album.” Kagome stuck up for her friends. “Besides, you don't even know them. They're some of the most down to earth people I've met in a long time.”
 
“Hey,” Ayame spoke up, “we were there from the beginning. Way back when they first started playing in NYC.”
 
“We went to all your shows,” Kanna breathed. “From Yonkers to Albany. Your early sound was much different.”
 
“We had to change. If we couldn't get on the radio, we wouldn't get paid!” Inuyasha yelled. “Even the love of music doesn't pay the bills.”
 
“The song where we just screamed `fuck' over and over wouldn't make it.” Sango tried to make them understand.
 
“Oh yeah,” Kagura sneered. “What about `Give up the Grudge'? That was an awesome song.”
 
“The higher ups didn't like a song about stupid, whiny, rich people too much.” Miroku glared to the side.
 
“So what?! Sing it anyway because it's true!” The elemental shouted.
 
“And what do you expect us to do for a living, huh?” Sango asked. “Work all day at some nowhere job and spend the nights singing in dingy bars and clubs, striving for ten bucks a person through T-shirts and crap CDs that we made in the basement?!”
 
The girls were taken aback with the vehemence in Sango's glare.
 
“Um…..yes?” Rin cowered behind Ayame.
 
“We did that! For four years we worked at the video store,” she waved a hand in Inuyasha's direction, “and WacDnalds,” she pointed at Miroku, “and the Salvation Army during the day and played washed up clubs at night. Do you know how hard it was to get anyone of consequence to even listen to us?! It was fucking hard, but we finally did it. And life has gotten better. And we are sharing our music with the world. And if you can't grasp that then tough. That's how it is. And here we are, practically giving you this awesome chance, and you're telling me that I'm a sell out?!” Everyone gulped and prayed she would calm down. “Get over yourself!” She panted after her tirade and slowly got her heartbeat back to normal.
 
“Feel better?” Miroku asked cautiously.
 
“Yes,” she sighed. “Just had that stored up too long.”
 
“Okaaaaay.” Kagome looked from Sango to the other girls. “I think what she meant to say is that they did what they had to do to survive in a very tough field.”
 
“Exactly.” Sango nodded.
 
“That's great, but what do you want me to do about it?” Kagura looked over the people in front of her.
 
“Not all of our songs have changed.” Inuyasha struggled to find that calm space so he could explain. “In fact on our next album, which we're recording right now, we're going back to our original sound.”
 
“Won't your label be mad that you're changing from that depressing, moody crap to your earlier punk sound?” Kagura squinted her eyes at him.
 
“They shouldn't be.” Sango stared off into space. “We haven't really thought about it. But they did sign us when we were singing moody songs in an upbeat way. They just thought songs about death would be better interpreted if we didn't cause people to smile while we were doing it.”
 
“And what about your fans?” Ayame sneered.
 
“I have a feeling they're more interested in looking at Inuyasha than listening to us.” The taijiya sighed and collapsed into a nearby chair.
 
The four girls before her looked at each other, shrugging with wide open eyes in a non-committal manner.
 
“We're having call backs tomorrow for bands that we thought were good.” Miroku wrote the address to the auditorium on the back of a coaster. “If you feel like coming, and trumping the competition, hee-hee, come around two pm. If not, we'll never bother you again.” He handed the coaster to Rin and gave her a wink, “Talk about it amongst yourselves.” `Charming smile to seal the deal.'
 
Rin stared at the address. “We live two blocks away from here.”
 
“What?” Kagura looked over the bassist's shoulder. “Yeah, we do. Hmmm…..”
 
“Talk about it and think it over. We'll see you tomorrow.” Sango grabbed the back of Miroku's shirt after her little speech and dragged him away. “Bye.”
 
“Aw, Sango, why do we gotta go?” The monk complained.
 
“Shut it.”
 
“Nice to meet you.” Kagome gave a slight bow and took Inuyasha's hand to leave.
 
“It was our pleasure,” Kanna sighed.
 
The hanyou just growled as his girlfriend pulled him out the door with her.
 
“I could have done that myself, you know.” He grumped.
 
“Yeah, we could all see how well you were handling that.” Kagome rolled her eyes.
 
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Next Morning*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 
Suikotsu yawned and opened his eyes at the crack of noon. “Man, that was a great party. Don't you think so, baby?” He look to his left at his drinking buddy. Jakotsu sighed in his sleep and rubbed his bare nipple. “Oh, God!” He screamed. “I'm gonna puke.” The drummer held a hand over his mouth and gagged.
 
“That was just evil.” Mukotsu glared at the three snickering men eating cereal with him when they heard the scream echoing through the small three bedroom apartment they all shared.
 
“But funny.” Renkotsu laughed.
 
“Yeah, not our fault they woke up late.” Bankotsu shoved more Frosted Flakes into his mouth. “They're Grrrrrrrr-eat!”
 
“You're weird when you have a hangover.” The girl who had originally be in Suikotsu's bed lit her cigarette and shoved the chocolate éclair down her throat.
 
“You like that creamy center, baby?” Kyoukotsu smirked. “I know you like that.”
 
She gulped heavily and got up. “Freak.”
 
“You could stay if you want to.” Mukotsu looked up at her, “I would be happy to entertain such a delicious young lady as yourself.”
 
She scoffed and flipped her blond hair over a smooth shoulder. “You're even weirder than him. Midget.” She hurriedly grabbed her purse and walked out.
 
The scorned one began to wail. “They never love me!”
 
“I told you,” Renkotsu tried to soothe Mu's easily frayed self-esteem, “we'll get you a personal trainer when we're famous. Then you can work off that weight and look taller and less creepy.” He realized his mistake too late to do anything but close his eyes and scrunch his nose.
 
“I'm creepy?” The pianist ran to his room.
 
“Now you've done it.” Bankotsu chomped on the crispy golden flakes.
 
Suikotsu stumbled from his room and leaned heavily against the doorframe, looking a little green.
 
“Did you have fun last night?” Bankotsu tried not to smile.
 
The drummer tried to swallow the vomit that was immediately brought up and ran back to the bathroom.
 
The three left in the room cackled evilly.
 
“We have too much fun,” Ren laughed.
 
“Yeah and you have two hours to get ready and be there for your call back,” Bankotsu mouthed around his breakfast.
 
“Huh?” Ren looked at the clock. “Shit!”
 
@_@
 
Kagura and the girls were slightly more prepared than their competition. At least they already got all the showers out of the way.
 
“Where's my flat iron?” Kanna asked Rin, while trying to hold her bathrobe closed.
 
“I think Kagura had it. Where'd my scrunchie go?” She stood from searching the floor and pulled her panties back up.
 
The pale girl merely shrugged.
 
“All right,” Ayame burst into the bathroom, “who took my flower?”
 
“Probably the same one who took my feather,” Kagura grumped when she reached the wolf. “Who did it?”
 
The three girls looked at each other's hair.
 
“We don't know,” they said in unison. “Where's our stuff?”
 
Kagura growled and stomped from the bathroom to get out of her towel and into an outfit. “I can't believe you decided to do this.” Was shouted over her shoulder.
 
“You agreed to it too!” They yelled at her.
 
Kagura popped back in after slipping into her undergarments. “Only after you almost beat me over the head!”
 
Rin giggled. “Like I could even reach your head.”
 
@_@
 
Tasuki, Kagura's persistent ex, stood in the living room of the girl's small apartment and inhaled deeply of his contraband.
 
“Mmmmm. Smells like blueberries and cream,” he sighed.
 
“All right!” He heard Ayame yell towards the back of the house. “Who took my flower?”
 
The items were quickly stashed behind his back as he innocently waited to take the girls and all their equipment to the local auditorium.
 
@_@
 
Sango knocked on Miroku's door. “Wake up letch! You've only got an hour to get out of here.”
 
“I'm up, I'm up.” He hoped she heard him. He stumbled into his bathroom and tried not to fall asleep waiting for the water to heat up.
 
She moved down the hall and tapped Inuyasha's door. “You up?”
 
“Yeah.” He opened the door. “Kagome's not though. So be quiet.”
 
“She stayed over again?” The taijiya stared at him. “What were you two doing last night?” She smirked.
 
“Sleeping,” he stated dryly.
 
“I find that hard to believe.”
 
“Why? I sleep better when she's next to me.”
 
“I hope you did get some sleep. Maybe then you won't be so cranky today.”
 
“I won't be cranky `cause we already weeded out the losers.” He grumped. Swiveling an ear to the side and listening for a moment, he then jerked his head towards Miroku's door. “You might want to actually shake him awake. I can hear him snoring from here.”
 
“But his shower is on.”
 
“Doesn't mean he won't fall back to sleep in all that warm water.”
 
“True.”
 
“I need to get Kagome up. She said she had a shopping trip with Kikyo today.”
 
“Fun, fun.” Sango rolled her eyes and walked down the hall.
 
He bit his tongue on an equally derisive comment and walked back into his room.
 
Kagome laid on the bed, trying to wake up after she heard Sango at the door. She was thankful that Inuyasha said nothing after mentioning Kikyo because she didn't feel like another fight over her career choice. She felt him walk back in and kneel next to the bed.
 
“Kagome,” he said softly and kissed her forehead. “Wake up baby.”
 
“I'm awake.” She sat up slowly. “Thanks.” The girl smiled and gave him a gentle hug.
 
“What for?” He returned the embrace.
 
“For everything,” she sighed and inhaled his scent with her nose buried in his neck. “I know I need to get up and work, but please just hold me for a minute.”
 
He couldn't deny her anything.
 
*~*~*~*~*~*~*An hour or so later*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 
The five bands chosen to come back, or make a first appearance at the competition, ignored each other while they were getting ready backstage.
 
“Everybody,” the emcee shouted at them, “you're wanted onstage for a quick word from Sengoku.”
 
They all looked at each other, some snidely, some with apprehension, and made their way out onto the wide stage. Sengoku was sitting, lazily sprawled before them, protected from the small crowd that had come to watch by two aisles of empty seats. With exaggerated effort, Inuyasha rose from his seat and looked them over. His eyes shown when they settled on four faces that he didn't really expect to make an appearance.
 
`Guess they changed their minds,' he thought. `Stubborn women.' Aloud he replied to the unspoken questions on everyone's face. “Hey everyone. We picked you to come back and compete head to head today because you were the best we saw yesterday. So don't disappoint. We're really going to tear your performance apart. You've been warned.” He fell back into his seat.
 
Dazed, and slightly confused, the bands headed back to finish getting ready.
 
“I didn't see them here yesterday.” Mukotsu pointed one finger, gnarled from years of playing the piano, at the quartet of girls.
 
Suikotsu looked over his shoulder. “Maybe they were one of the first ones. We did get here late yesterday, remember?”
 
“No,” Renkotsu clarified, “yesterday we got here on time. Today we were late.”
 
“Oh yeah.” Suikotsu finished the last spike in his brown hair. “Then who are they?”
 
“Don't know.” Kyoukotsu looked at them. “Stupid girls. Like Sengoku would want to go on after a bunch of chicks.” He sniffed the perfume wafting from that direction. “They even smell girly. I'm going over there.”
 
“Oh no you don't.” Ren held back the giant. “I'm the diplomatic one.”
 
He headed towards Kagura. The lead singer was tuning up her guitar and completely oblivious to the giggles coming from Rin and Ayame about who was cute and who was not and who they recognized from various underground concerts and who was new. You know, girl stuff. Ren stopped beside her and watched for a moment.
 
“Looks like you know what you're doing,” he commented.
 
She raised scathing crimson eyes to the boy. “And you look like your mommy dressed you.” She smirked at his chagrined expression. “Was there a reason why you came over here or did you just want to make sure the girl was competent enough to tune a guitar?” She went back to her task.
 
“Well…..I,” he stuttered. Fighting for control of his vocal chords, he cleared his throat and tried a more suave approach. “The boys and I didn't see you here yesterday. I'm sure we would've remembered a fine lady like yourself.”
 
She looked up at him and gave him a shit-eating grin. “And I'm sure that's the corniest line I've ever heard. Run along.”
 
“Maybe.” He skillfully ignored her brush off. “Seriously though, when did you play? `Cause we were one of the last ones and I never saw you.”
 
“Your persistence is annoying me,” Kagura sighed. “We weren't here yesterday. They asked us to come today after hearing us play at the Jewel. This is just a formality.”
 
His mouth dropped open. These girls had been hand-picked by the band? He had to tell the boys.
 
#_#
 
Inuyasha waited impatiently for the bands to take the stage. They might have weeded out the losers, but they still couldn't agree on just one band. Kamikaze and Mortis were both awesome, they all agreed on that at least.
 
But then there was Miroku's puller (The Bounty Hunters), and Sango's (Suzaku's Warriors), and even his third choice (Spirit Detectives).
 
All three were great bands that they each wanted to get some respect in their own right. Maybe they could pass the word onto Kouga for his new tour. Or just put in a good word at Shikon Records. Or do something. This call back was really more of a glorified battle of the bands to see who had the best second song and try to pick a winner off that. If Mortis really was better than all the rest, they would have to pick them. If one of the others upstaged them, then they'd have to reconsider. But what to do about Kamikaze? Was it possible to have two warm-up bands? Could the label back that many people? Would they back that many people?
 
“Totosai!” He yelled over his shoulder. “Get over here old man.”
 
“I'm standing right next to you,” the youkai huffed. “There's no need to shout.”
 
The hanyou glared at his manager's impertinence. “How many bands are we allowed to take with us?”
 
“Traditionally or under extenuating circumstances?”
 
“What?” The hanyou blinked. “Just tell me what the label said.”
 
“One.”
 
“Are you sure?” Miroku leaned over and butted into the conversation.
 
The old youkai scratched his head. “That's what they told me for the last tour.”
 
“Maybe things have changed since then.” Sango looked at the boys. “Have you talked to them lately about this?”
 
“No. I didn't want to bother them with it.”
 
“Then make the call!” Inuyasha screamed at him. “We have to know how many bands we can bring with us.”
 
“Right,” Miroku handed the old man his phone, “because there's five awesome bands up there and if we can only have one then we have an excruciatingly hard choice to make.”
 
“Okay, I'll do it.” He dialed the number and waited for someone to pick up. “Hi Peggy. It's Totosai. Look I need to talk to…..” His voice got too quiet to hear as he walked away from the group.
 
“What do you think they'll say?” Sango asked Miroku.
 
“Don't know. Could be anything,” the monk replied. “Two or eight. It all depends on that phone call.”
 
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the emcee called attention to the stage. “May I present Suzaku's Warriors.”
 
Sango perked up as six young men, who couldn't be older than twenty three, and a boy no older than seventeen walked onstage nodding and waving to the audience. There was the one that always smiled, the one that looked like some kind of royalty, the rough-and-tumble red-head, the tall and muscular bassist, the ambiguous one, the sexy drummer and the red-headed boy who acted too old for his years…..most of the time.
 
@_@
 
Kagura and the girls crammed behind the curtain when they heard the name.
 
“Why didn't you tell me Tasuki was doing this?!” Ayame yelled at her. “I thought he was just helping us get all our crap here.”
 
“I didn't know!” Kagura shot back. “Remember that I've dumped him like five times. I'm trying to get rid of him.”
 
“Well, if his band gets picked,” Rin smiled, “you're going to have a lot of time to `get rid of him'.”
 
Kagura raised a fist and hit the back of Rin's head with it. “Shut up.”
 
“Ouchie…..,” the girl whined.
 
@_@
 
“Isn't that the car dealer?” Inuyasha asked Miroku.
 
“Yeah.” Miroku squinted at the stage. “Wonder why I didn't recognize him before.”
 
“What was his name again?” The hanyou asked.
 
“Taka or Tamahome or something with a T.” Miroku thought about it. “I remember he said he had a wife and son. That's about it. I think that's them towards the front.” He pointed to a young woman holding an adorable baby and waving the child's hand at the drummer, who was also smiling and waving.
 
“Ya think that's why he gave us such a great deal on the truck?” Inuyasha raised an eyebrow.
 
“Shut up,” Sango hissed. “They're starting.”
 
The band commenced a rocking song about life and overcoming people's skepticism. The tag line was:
 
I'm young and I'm hopeless. I'm lost and I know this. I'm going nowhere fast, that's what they say. I'm troublesome, I've fallen. I'm angry at my father. It's me against this world and I don't care. I don't care.
 
The small crowd around the band was screaming and cheering by the time they were done. Sango gave them a standing ovation and the boys cowered in their seats, recognizing greatness but powerless to do anything to help them. Judging on showmanship, quality of the song, appearance, and crowd approval, Sengoku gave them a score out of ten on the grading paper they held in their hands.
 
Totosai walked back to the band after Suzaku's Warriors had left the stage. He sat calmly in his seat and said nothing.
 
“Well?” Inuyasha prompted.
 
“They said one.”
 
“WHAT?!” Sango and Miroku both yelled. Inuyasha merely grunted his displeasure.
 
“They said one,” he repeated. “Unless you can find a way to convince them that you need more than one warm-up band.”
 
“Shit.” Inuyasha settled farther down in his seat, even while the emcee introduced Spirit Detectives, his favorite for this call back.
 
The band onstage consisted of four men, even though one was short enough to be a boy, all of which had a different look. There was the short one that had a brooding quality, the tall red-head that looked like an idiot but had a true sense of honor, the lead singer that looked like he'd kick your ass faster than you could say his name, and an elegant looking bassist with long red hair. They played a light metal song whose chorus was:
 
I'm spinning out of control, out of control. I'm spinning out of control, out of control. (Go!) Where should I go? (Do!) What should I do? I don't understand what you want from me. (Know!) `Cause I don't know. (You!) If I can trust you. Or all of the things that you've said to me. And I may never know the answer to this endless mystery. (Go!) Where should I go? (Do!) What should I do? I don't understand what you want from me. (Guitar riff) You're still a mystery.
 
Everyone was singing along once it got to the screaming hook of `out of control', especially a very outspoken blue-haired girl jumping next to a more reserved brunette. Inuyasha was head-banging, Miroku kept throwing up his rock sign and yelling “Yes!”, and Sango was smiling at his enthusiasm and appreciation for a catchy line. Even Totosai had to admit that deserved some attention from the labels.
 
After the band left the stage, Inuyasha turned to the other two. “There has to be some way we can get more than one. I'm not saying that we can get all of them, but at least two.”
 
“What could our argument possibly be?” Miroku asked him skeptically.
 
“I don't know.” He scratched his head. “We'll think of something.”
 
The emcee announced The Bounty Hunters and Miroku really perked up once the buxom drummer walked out. With her was the lithe lead singer, the older and more muscular bassist and the young girl who could easily be confused for a boy with her flat chest if not for her cat-like grace when she trip/hopped over to her guitar and with a fluid motion twirled it into position.
 
They had only one fan in the crowd and the blonde didn't say much. Although by the end everyone was cheering for them. The chorus for their loud punk song went like this:
 
Hey ho! Let's go! I'm gonna start a riot. Really want a fight and- One two one two! Don't tell me what to do! I don't wanna be like you. Can't you see? I'm my own worst enemy. Knock me down, I'll keep on movin'. It's the art of losin'.
 
By the time everyone got settled down, Sengoku had written down their scores and Mortis was setting up.
 
“What have you given everyone?” Sango curiously asked Miroku.
 
“Well, I gave your band a seven out of ten, just because of all the long hair, and I gave Inuyasha's a nine, because yesterday's song was a little better, and that one got a ten.”
 
“Why?” Sango studied his face. `If he says it was because that drummer's boobs almost fell out of her shirt every time she hit the cymbal, I'll kill him.'
 
Miroku looked at her and noticed the way she was glaring into his thoughts. “Uh, um, because they were really…..good?”
 
Sango grunted and turned back to her paper with the same answers for the same reasons. Except that hers were backwards. She gave hers a ten because of the hair and a nine for Inu's `cause they were awesome and a seven to TBH because of Faye's boobs.
 
Inuyasha watched the two and didn't even attempt to analyze the undercurrents of that conversation. He also didn't say what he rated each of the bands. It wouldn't make a difference until the end anyway. So he settled in to watch the one band they had all agreed on yesterday.
 
@_@
 
Kagura and the girls had stayed pretty much away from the curtain after Tasuki's band. After all, they knew they were in, there was no reason to watch more than they needed to and there was only one band that Sengoku had said anything about that night at the Jewel. And that was the band that had just gone up.
 
So they rushed the curtains, shoving men out of the way to get to the front to see.
 
“Why are we watching them? We don't know them.” Rin looked confused.
 
“They were the only ones that Inuyasha mentioned last night,” Ayame slowly explained.
 
“The ones that looked like freaks?” The young one innocently asked.
 
“Have you seen them?” Kagura hissed behind her.
 
“Pipe down, Kagura,” Nuriko glared at the girl who had crushed one of his best friends hearts more times than he could count. “Unlike you, we actually want to hear the competition.”
 
Kagura glared back but kept her mouth shut. When you got on Nuriko's bad side, his strength was incredible. Plus that whole cross-dressing phase he went through kept popping in her head. Every time she saw him, she remembered him trying on her lingerie. Another reason why she kept dumping Tasuki. Too many friends with weird fetishes.
 
@_@
 
Ren stood close to the front with just his microphone for company. Kyoukostu was next to him, trying to keep on equal footing with the smaller man. His presence had shocked the entire auditorium into silence, which was fine with the band since their song started out hard and fast with no music for the first word or two.
 
To start the song, Ren and Kyoukotsu took turns yelling the lines. The rest of the band joined with a loud crash of drums and riff on the bass.
 
From the top to the bottom
Bottom to top I stop
At the core, I've forgotten
In the middle of my thoughts
Taken far from my safety
The picture's there
The memory won't escape me
But why should I care
From the top to the bottom
Bottom to top I stop
At the core, I've forgotten
In the middle of my thoughts
Taken far from my safety
The picture's there
The memory won't escape me
But why should I care
 
The music softened, being mainly played by Mukotsu's piano as Kyoukotsu took over the verse with emotional rap. It wasn't his words, but that didn't matter.
 
There's a place so dark you can't see the end
Skies cock back
And shock at which can't defend
The rain then sends dripping
Acidic questions
Forcefully
The power of suggestion
Then with eyes shut
Lookin' through the rust and rot and dust
A small spot of light floods the floor
And pours over the rusted world of pretend
And the eyes ease open
And it's dark again
 
Ginkotsu cued everyone in again with a resounding bass chord as Ren and Kyou took turns shouting the chorus, each trying to take the stage.
 
From the top to the bottom
Bottom to top I stop
At the core, I've forgotten
In the middle of my thoughts
Taken far from my safety
The picture's there
The memory won't escape me
But why should I care
 
Ren dominated the end of the chorus, previously unheard, with his haunting voice calling everyone to remember what only he could. Kyou harmonized as best he could. It sounded good with him holding back his booming voice.
 
Inuyasha was surprised. He didn't think the giant could sing. And he wasn't the only one. Miroku and Sango and the girls behind the curtain looked on in awe.
 
In the memory you'll find me
Eyes burning up
The darkness holding me tightly
Until the sun rises up
 
Kyou took center stage again to chime in with his soft rap while Mu took care of the music once more.
 
Movin' all around
Screamin' of the ups and downs
Pollution manifested in perpetual sound
The wheels go 'round
And the sunset creeps behind streetlamps,
Chain-link and concrete
A little piece of paper with the picture drawn
Floats on down the street
'Til the wind is gone
And the memory now is like the picture was then
When the paper's crumpled up
It can't be perfect again
 
The giant and the lead took turns with the chorus again. They managed to get everyone from wanting to jump from their seats to wanting to cry in one song. It was an emotional masterpiece. Kagura would've fretted over it, like the people behind her were doing, if she hadn't known that the girls were the band's favorite. At least, she thought they were.
 
In the memory you'll find me
Eyes burning up
The darkness holding me tightly
Until the sun rises up
 
Kyou repeated the next verse seven times, so that no one could forget, while Ren punctuated it first with screaming the ends and after the second repeat with a lilting `Ooooo' that carried through the hall almost upstaging Kyoukotsu.
 
Now you got me caught in the act
Can't bring the thought back
Tellin' you that
I see it right through you
 
Ren stopped the vocalization to sing his tagline for the last time with Kyoukotsu backing him up.
 
In the memory you'll find me
Eyes burning up
The darkness holding me tightly
Until the sun rises up
 
In the memory
You will find me
Eyes burning up
The darkness holding me tightly
 
The music cut out completely to just Mu hitting four notes while Ren sang the last words unaccompanied.
 
Until the sun
Rises up
 
The crowd got to their feet simultaneously. They let go a round of applause that had the other three bands green with envy. They all dispersed grumbling obscenities under their breaths.
 
The girls didn't take much notice to the sound. Compared to their appearances, Mortis' cheers were the soft patter of rain against the window on a stormy night. Kagura grinned and turned to the others while the boys exited on the other side of the stage.
 
“Well girls,” she asked them, “what do you think of our competition?”
 
“They were good,” Ayame said.
 
“Yeah,” Rin spoke up, “very original.”
 
“We are better,” Kanna finished up the commentary.
 
“So are you ready to kick their ass?” Kagura clenched a fist, imagining it was that cocky bastard from before.
 
“Yeah!” They shouted in unison.
 
“Let's go!”
 
Kagura poked the emcee in the shoulder and told him they were ready. They strutted out onstage with the man in tow.
 
“Hey, that's Kamikaze!” A girl shouted.
 
As soon as the random girl had spoken a chorus of applause and cheers rang throughout the hall, ultimately dwarfing the noise produced after Mortis had played. And they hadn't even started yet. The emcee shrugged and walked back offstage. No need to announce a band that everyone already knew.
 
From the corner of her eye, Kagura saw Tasuki and the rest of the bands run to the curtain to see what all the commotion was about. He smiled that soft smile that he only had for her. It was one of the things that made her fall for him. Usually he was so brutish and rash. He had admitted that she was his first girlfriend. Seven or so sisters had really messed him up for the rest of the female population. Which was a shame `cause he was a hottie. If it weren't for his obsession with fire and those friends that kept popping up whenever they had a fight, she would stay with him. But she had a temper and an aversion to fire. Although, he was so cute just the thought of him naked…..
 
She had to start playing before she ran backstage and showed him what a mistake she'd made.
 
Kagura cleared her throat and waved to the audience while Ayame started them out with a drum roll. Rin play one note to cue Kagura.
 
Hey boys! Hey girls! Hey anybody who will listen to me!
In case you haven't noticed,
It's just me against the world today.
 
The music picked up with more drumming and intricate harmonies on all three guitars.
 
I fell out of the wrong side of the bed and landed in the worst mood.
With that stupid alarm clock
Screamin' at me from across the room.
 
Rin seemed to get muted while they focused more on the melody.
 
I'm trying to be nice.
I'm tryin' to be reasonable.
But it's oh so hard when I don't wanna be.
 
Kagura played a short riff on her electric guitar.
 
If you're looking for that nice girl from the day before,
Don't bother. She don't live here anymore.
 
The mute got turned off when they hit chorus full blast. Kanna and Rin harmonized with `ah's while Kagura sang.
 
'Cause it's me
Against
The world.
 
“Oh what a stupid day!” Rin and Kanna sang while Kagura took a breather.
 
Yeah, it's me
Against
The world.
(Just stay out of my way.)
And in case you haven't noticed,
And in case you haven't heard.
It's just me
Against
The world.
 
Kagura sang the last line of the chorus with no music.
 
And the world is winning.
 
But it picked back up immediately after with Kagura playing a tune that sounded like a bumblebee on crack. Flighty, erratic, and something you could totally tap your foot to.
 
You should have let me stay in bed. I've got this pounding in my head.
No, nothings OK.
Won't you stay out of my face today.
I'm slamming doors. I'm slamming phones down. Watch out for this temper tantrum.
Stay out of my way.
`Cause if you don't you will be scared away.
 
I'm trying to be nice.
I'm tryin' to be reasonable.
But it's oh so hard when I don't wanna be.
If you're looking for that nice girl from the day before,
Don't bother. She don't live here anymore.
 
'Cause it's me
Against
The world.
(Oh what a stupid day!)
Yeah, it's me
Against
The world.
(Just stay out of my way.)
And in case you haven't noticed,
And in case you haven't heard.
It's just me
Against
The world.
And the world is winning.
 
Kanna played one note over and over while Ayame drummed through the bridge with her.
 
I'm gonna be impossible.
I've gotta tell you, I'm seein' red.
I'm gonna be impossible.
I've gotta tell you, I'm seein' red.
 
Rin and Kagura joined them again as they got back up to speed for the chorus.
 
I'm gonna be impossible.
I've gotta tell you, I'm seein' red.
I'm gonna make you believe what I said.
I'm gonna make you.
 
A beat to pause before they broke into the chorus head-on.
 
'Cause it's me
Against
The world.
(Oh what a stupid day!)
Yeah, it's me
Against
The world.
(Just stay out of my way.)
And in case you haven't noticed,
And in case you haven't heard.
 
Kagura changed up the chorus to work towards the ending.
 
It's just me
Against
The world.
(Oh what a stupid day!)
Yeah, it's me
Against
The world.
(Just stay out of my way.)
And in case you haven't noticed.
And in case you haven't hear-r-rd
 
The elemental youkai drew out the last word to shout the end of the chorus.
 
It's me
Against
The world,
 
“And the world is winning,” the youkai sang whiningly.
 
The girls pounded one note at the same time and let the feedback from the amps end the song for them.
 
The small group of friends and family for the other bands stood to attention and applauded, screaming for more, thoroughly thrashing any chance that their loved ones might have had.
 
The girls walked offstage and looked around at the boys staring back at them.
 
“What?” Kagura glared at them. “You never knew girls could actually play?”
 
The men coughed and found packing up their instruments to be much more amusing. The only other girls in the room stared back and smiled.
 
“Way to go,” the buxom one said. “Knock those arrogant bastards down a peg.”
 
“I thought you were friends with those two guys in your band,” Rin had the most perplexed look on her face.
 
“Jet-person and Spike-person are nice,” the girl said, “but they get moody-groody-foody-doody.”
 
The girls stared at her like she'd grown two heads. Then they turned their questioning eyes back to the whistling-nonchalantly woman.
 
“I'm just with them for the meal ticket,” she explained. “Jet has too many problems and Spike is still stuck up on his on-again, off-again girlfriend out there. Too moody.” She waved her hand in front of her face as if to dismiss a bad odor. “Come on Ed. Stupid wants to get out of here as soon as they announce the results.”
 
The woman walked off with the girl following closely behind, her arms spread out to her sides and making airplane noises to go with her childish song about socks as she weaved along the corridor.
 
“Well, that was odd.” Kagura stared after them. The girls nodded their heads in agreement.
 
&&&&&&&&&&&&&a mp;&&&&&&&&&&&&
 
Hey all! Long time no read. Sorry about that. It took me too long to figure out how to set up this chapter. It was supposed to be this great big ol' battle of the bands thing and I don't think it came out too great. But you tell me what you think. I'm pretty sure everyone got who was in what bands. Except maybe Suzaku's Warriors, but that's just because Adult Swim won't pony up and buy the rights to show Fushigi Yugi at eleven or so at night. Anyway, I digress.
 
If anyone can tell me the names of the songs and/or bands that play them, I'll give you a cookie. And I mean all of them, not just the ones Mortis and Kamikaze played. If not, after the last chapter I will post a chapter on what songs were in what chapters and who played them, including the ones I just hinted at.
 
Oooh! I almost forgot to tell you! I got a puppy for my 21st birthday! Yeah, only four months late on that birthday surprise. Thanks Mom! She's so cute. A little rat terrier and she's only seven weeks old, so she keeps urinating and defecating on my floor. Now that's something I love to step in when I'm half awake! Seriously though, I love her to pieces. And Boo gets along with her. I guess she likes to have a playmate. And yes, Boo is a she. I found this out when I took her to get fixed. “Surprise, Ms. Floozy, your cat is not a male. It's a FE-male.” Hehehe.
 
And now, for everyone's favorite part. Seeing your name at the end of my fic!
 
Let's see…..who's first:
 
Adam: Aw. Thanks. Patronage means you keep coming back for more. “Thank you, sir. May I have another?” Ooh, or more like, “Thanks for the beer Harry. See ya tomorrow.” : )
 
Owari Nai Yumes: Sweet! I don't pay much attention to the end credits. And no, Kagome is in no danger. I think Inuyasha can protect her pretty good. Plus crazy Jak doesn't know who she is. And yes, Inu is one sexy beast. I wish I were Kagome too. Sometimes. When he runs off after Kikyo in the series my heart breaks a little bit. Then I find myself screaming at the screen about what an idiot he is. But I have to keep in mind that he is a man created by an old woman. Take from that statement what you will…..
 
Demonpriestess07: Aw, shucks. I missed you too. Hope you liked this one.
 
Sky: Thank you :D
 
Amber: Yo. Thanks. And I hope you liked this one just as much. Personally I think I had too much music in this one. X_x But I'll find out later what everyone really thought.
 
Sakuragurl: Thankies. Hope this was a fast enough update that you didn't get bored waiting for it.
 
Yashaloves69: Thanks. Nice name by the way. I bet he does.
 
Kazume: Thanks. You're so cute. XD And damn! That is some expensive @$$ gas. Hope it still isn't that high now.
 
GothMistress: Thanks! And I agree. Bon Jovi rocks out loud for old guys! They still got it.
 
Yana5: Thanks for reviewing. And yeah, I hope so too.
 
Alatero: Thank you. I hope you like this chapter too. And thanks for commenting on my other fic. I'm still writing it, but it takes me so long to put two and two together on those chapters. It's been four months and I'm almost done with chapter 16. Sigh. I really need some help on it…..
 
Rain: You'd think he would, but then he just keeps getting it shoved back up there. Bet Cheney helps him do it. Ah, I don't know if anyone will end up with Sesshy. Don't even know if he'll make an appearance. I mean, I love Sir Hotness to death, but the only way he could make it in here is if they go through some legal trouble. Brain storm! Like with Kikyo's deal gone wrong or something. And if I do get him in here, I don't like him to be paired with anyone. Except maybe an adult Rin. Just because he's such a tight-ass and she's so bubbly. Get him to loosen up and enjoy life. And thank you. I DO need to hear it. Reviews are what keeps me going. If I didn't get such positive feedback, then I'd be doing my whole over-analyzing thing and talk myself out of putting some stuff in there and leaving out other stuff. Like I did on my last one. Takes me six months to write one chapter. Now THAT'S the one I need reviews on, if only to tell me what the hell I should put in.
 
Kagomereincarnated: THANK YOU! Hope I didn't disappoint. And if you can tell me how to get a hyperlink to show up on FF I will. Or I can just give y'all the address. Dunno what I'll do yet. Ja!
 
Tawdry Lassie: Sweet. A litre is, like, half a gallon right? So if .93 (is that Euros or pounds?) is almost two dollars, which is way high on our end of the exchange rate (I'd hate to see how much a Snickers would cost me over there), then one of our gallons would cost you almost four bucks. Shit. I think you have the highest priced gas I've heard of yet. Coheed and Cambria. Hm. Not really. The first song from them I don't even remember. I do remember that I thought it was a chick band until the guy turned around and then I just scared at the screen. He doesn't look like he'd have that voice. But the second single, I think it was called `Blood-Red Summer' (?), that one was awesome! And the video reminded me of that movie 28 Days…..Later or something like that. It's like the British version of Outbreak. And you can see the main guys ding-dong in the first fifteen minutes of the movie. Hehehe. That was a little much, but it was a good movie. Have you seen it?
 
Rosepetals: Aw. You totally made me blush. Thank you. I- I don't know what else to say. Thank you. : )
 
And so ends my ANs for chapter 13. Hope you all enjoyed it. And if not…..for shame. On me. I tried though, gotta give me props this chapter was freakin' long. Took me two weeks to write the damn thing.
 
So R&R…..or I will send my giant gorilla after you.
 
JK.
 
I don't have a giant gorilla.
 
But if I did…..