InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Life Sucks ❯ Just a suggestion... ( Chapter 7 )

Life Sucks
By: ShoukaMiko
Chapter 7: Just a Suggestion…

Blanket Disclaimer for Life Sucks: I don't own Inuyasha, its characters, songs, or any other songs I put on here by other groups.

`Freedom.'

`That's what this feels like.' Kagome thought as they whipped from one roof top or building to the next. The wind whipped through her hair and stung her cheeks rosy.

`Whoever figured out how to bottle this would make billions.' She thought as her pulse raced when they plunged from a building to the street for an instant, then back up again. The now jean clad teen, hiked herself up higher on the hanyou's back.

“Oi, do you want me to drop you, or what?” The silver haired teen asked, hair flickering in the light of the sun as he turned toward her slightly.

“That's why I did that.” Kagome rolled her eyes.

“Keh.” Inuyasha snorted as he took a firmer grip on Kagome's thighs. This time the cool wind wasn't at fault for the added cheek color.

Coming out of her reverie, Kagome turned big cinnamon brown eyes toward the hanyou boy.

“Hey. Why, if you guys all live so close, did you all stay in trailer's last night?”

Inuyasha landed in a crouch next to an unsuspecting shopper and launched himself and Kagome up to another rooftop before answering, leaving the elderly shopper to clutch at her bags and her heart.

“ You remember what a pain it was to get you out of the amphitheatre last night?” Inuyasha said while jumping gracefully from a building, to an alley, to another building.

Kagome nodded before she realized he couldn't see her, “Yes, I remember.”

Inuyasha quirked an eyebrow, and spared her a quick glance, “Do you really think I'd want to go through that again?”

Kagome laughed softly to herself. “No, I suppose not.”

Inuyasha smiled slightly at the warm sound of the girl's laugh before launching them off an over pass. He chuckled softly to himself for being able to draw a soft gasp from Kagome as she leaned trustingly into Inuyasha's back.

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“ ;I got it!!”

Miroku deftly ran in pursuit of the soccer ball, deftly kicking it before it was able to roll into the street. He was currently involved in a game with a grass stained Sango and a ruffled looking Shippo. Sango had even brought her demon cat Kirara with her. Her demon cat was currently in it's small form, taking an occasional swipe at the soccer ball whenever it passed her.

Shippo kicked the ball toward Sango, then stopped to sniff the air. “Inuyasha and Kagome are here!”

Miroku looked at the little fox youkai, then looked up and around him. It never ceased to amaze him how his demon friends were able to smell and hear things from seemingly nowhere at all. Sure enough a couple seconds after the kitsune's announcement, He saw a black T-shirted figure go sailing over head with the long haired girl of the night before in tow.

“Kagome-sama! I'm glad to see you've arrived with all your limbs attached.” Miroku piped up cheerfully when Inuyasha skidded to a halt in his yard, where Sango and Shippo were still kicking around the soccer ball.

“Hey Miroku…” The hanyou began lowering Kagome carefully to the grass.

“Inuyasha…?” Miroku said cocking an eyebrow at his friend as he proceeded to brush dirt and grass from his jeans and once-white t-shirt.

Inuyasha gave him a fang-exposing grin. “Bite me.”

Sango stopped mid kick to turn toward the new arrivals. She tucked some of the hair that had been shaken loose of its low ponytail back behind her ear. She heaved an irritated sigh as she walked toward Inuyasha, in her grass stained carpenter pants and jersey tee that bore a mad kitty face and the logo “Don't mess with me, you will not win.”

The statement perhaps should have been taken as a warning.

“Inuyasha! What were you thinking bringing Kagome here like that?? She could have fallen, or had motion sickness or…well something!” Sango fumed getting in the half demons face.

Inuyasha backed up a step, knowing Sango to get dangerous when she wanted to. “ Hey, have a little faith. I wasn't about to drop her, okay?!”

Kagome smiled at Sango. She still couldn't get over the fact that she was standing next to someone she only ever thought she'd see on TV or something. And here they were, the Sengoku Jidai, just a bunch of kids like her kicking back, making fun of each other, playing a little soccer, just normal everyday people like her.

Somehow, Kagome wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

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< br> “Alright now, everyone get plugged into their amps we gotta get some work done today.” Sango said anxious to get things rolling. She walked in back of the sound shell that was in front of her drum set. The connected plastic sheets were pretty heavy, but she wanted to get that annoying glare out of her way. She tried moving it herself a bit then thought `Why should I do it? We have our own personal strong man.'

“Inuyasha. Do me a favor and get this thing to behave.”

“Yeah, yeah, I'm coming you weak human.” Inuyasha grumbled as he left his personalized guitar unguarded to assist Sango.

Kagome crept up to where Inuyasha had rested the guitar in its stand, took it up quietly and hid in back of Miroku. Miroku spared Kagome a backwards glance and proceeded tuning his bass while he spoke under his breath to her.

“Kagome-sama, if all you wanted was to get a closer view of my butt, then you should have asked? I would have been more than happy to let you have a peek.”

Kagome's mouth hung open for a bit as she gathered her wits. She shook herself out of her initial shock to scold (also under her breath) her new, slightly demented friend.

“You hentai!” Kagome's loud, raspy whisper slightly threatening, “I'm barely a member one day and you're already hitting on me like and old man!”

“Aaaahh, Kagome. Here in lies the difference. While an old man would no doubt offer stability, a young man, such as myself, would be able to offer much more.” Miroku finished this last bit while making his eyebrows wiggle up and down.

“Ugh, I'm almost afraid to ask…but… I'll bite…what?” Kagome asked cringing slightly at her reluctance to knowing the answer.

“Vitality!”

Kagome groaned, “I should have known better than to ask.”

“Oi! Where the fuck did my guitar go now??” Came Inuyasha's below.

Kagome hunkered down lower behind the tall bass player, as he schooled his expression and studiously kept himself from laughing.

Inuyasha glared at everyone, then leaned over to look in back of Sango's drum set. “All right! Who's hiding the wench??”

Inuyasha began snuffling, nose in the air. He slowly turned toward the bassist who was concentrating a little too hard on his instrument.

“Alright pervert, step away from the girl.”

“Inuyasha, I'm merely here minding my own business. I haven't a clue as to what you're talking about.” Miroku said, adding one of his most convincing smiles behind the statement.

“Oh, so I guess that's your size nine foot right there.” Inuyasha pointed out flatly.

Kagome looked down at where her foot was and saw that it was plainly visible between Miroku's legs. She sighed and came out from behind the ebony haired, pony tailed youth.

“Didn't I tell you not to touch my guitar?” Inuyasha addressed to Kagome, crossing his arms in front of him.

“I don't have anything to practice with and you took me out of my house so fast, I didn't have a chance to get my acoustic guitar.” Kagome shifted from foot to foot, her eyes pleading with the golden-eyed boy.

Inuyasha growled in frustration. Did she have to look at him like that? `It's just… it's just wrong!' He thought as he looked away from her heart shaped face finally.

“Keh, whatever. If you so much as ding it though, your ass is mine.” Inuyasha glowered his warning.

“Why Inuyasha,” Miroku began roguishly, “I thought I was the perv…”

“You are, so shut up.” Inuyasha growled out, blushing slightly.

“Ugh, men!” Sango groaned. Kagome nodded her head in agreement.

“Hey everybody, did I miss anything?” Shippo piped up, hefting his laptop and a couple cables. Usually while the band practiced, the kitsune would work on lighting design and setting up a new pyrotechnics scheme for the next concert, and any other multimedia thing he could come up with. He also had a good ear for balance and served as the audience for the band. He had fun telling Sango when she was drowning out everyone, telling Miroku when he was off beat, and telling Inuyasha when he accidentally blocked someone from view during solos. He never really liked telling Kikyo anything because, well, she could never take constructive criticism. In fact she was down right scary when she was questioned. Kagome, however, looked like she would be nicer to him.

“Oi brat, did you bring my old man's guitar with you when you guys brought everything else?” Inuyasha asked the redheaded little demon.

“Yeah, it's over in the living room. Want me to get it?” The kitsune said laying his laptop on the coffee table. One reason why they liked Miroku's place was because of the big basement that had pretty decent acoustics. The other reason was because he kept his kitchen stocked with all their favorite junk food.

“Nah squirt, I'll get it. Set up and make sure everybody's ready to go when I get back.” Inuyasha said walking out the door.

“No problem.” Shippo said, plugging in his laptop and running around the room to get the microphones in place.

Inuyasha walked down the hall to Miroku's living room. On the way the doorbell rang so he turned down a side hall to go answer the front door.

“Ginta, Hakkaku, wassup! The other's are in the basement. You guys know the way.” Inuyasha stepped aside to let the wolf demons in. When they weren't working on security detail, they doubled as the bands roadies.

“ Hey Yash!” Hakkaku greeted, walking through the door.

“You guys got any food up in here, we're starving.” Ginta said sticking his hands into the pockets of his baggy jeans.

“Yeah, yeah, I'm sure you gluttons know where the fridge is too.”

“Hey!” Ginta turned back when he was half way down the hall. “What happened with that one girl last night?”

The remark made Hakkaku stop too. “Yeah, is she staying, or is Kikyo already having a fit?”

Inuyasha looked at them. His glacial expression making both the wolf youkai gulp in the nervous tension.

“Uhhh…right… we'll just go down and see the guys.” Ginta said as he and Hakkaku started back in the direction he was heading earlier.

Inuyasha frowned there, still frozen in the act of closing the door when the two lanky youkai had mentioned Kikyo.

They had a point. Shouldn't Kikyo have been back by now? Surely she would have at least given them a piece of her mind about replacing her as if she meant nothing to them.

“She hasn't even called to chew me out about my extended solo.” Inuyasha said aloud to himself as he resumed his search for his father's old guitar. The solemn faced hanyou remembered Kagome's and his impromptu guitar duel. He smiled slightly. “She can put up a fight, I'll give her that, the stubborn wench.”

He found the hard traveling case that the Gibson Les Paul was usually in up until recently. Inuyasha had been using it more and more of late. He just had been so confused about a lot of things recently, his father's old guitar steadied him somewhat.

Inuyasha sighed and headed back for the basement steps. He was halfway down when he heard the voices of Ginta and Hakkaku discussing something with Miroku at the bottom of the stairs. He went back up a few steps, ears twitching to hear what Miroku obviously didn't want the girls inside to hear, or maybe just a certain girl.

“I don't think Kikyo is going to be coming back. She seemed very adamant about leaving for good. So far though, Kagome has proven herself to be just as good if not better. She just needs a little smoothing out.” Miroku explained in the dimness of the stairway. “Personally, I think she's pretty easy on the eyes too.”

Hakkaku and Ginta nodded a dreamy far off look in their eyes. From his perch at the top of the stairs Inuyasha glowered at the trio.

“What about Inuyasha?” Ginta asked with a confused look on his face. “What does he think about…?”

“Inuyasha is too close to the situation right now.” Miroku interrupted, eyes growing solemn. “My guess is, it will take him longer to adjust to all of this than it will the rest of us.” Miroku sighed, digging his hands into his pants. “ It's all for the best though. Even though Kikyo grew up with us,” Miroku frowned pensively, “ I think Kagome is better suited to be in this band.”

Ginta and Hakkaku exchanged glances. Hakkaku turned back to a solemn Miroku.

“We were just saying that before we got here.”

“Hmmm…” Miroku and the others stood in silence a second before Miroku became his old cheerful self again. “Well we've got work to do. Stick around, we'll probably need your help with a few things.” With that the three went back into the basement room.

Inuyasha leaned his head back against the cool wall, one foot placed on a higher step than the other. `So, they're willing to dismiss her that easily? Even Miroku?' What if she did come back? Would they just forget about her?' Inuyasha clenched his fist in frustration.

“Well I won't.”

With that the Hanyou jerked away from the wall, walked down the remaining stairs, and walked in so they could start rehearsing.

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Sango was enjoying the new balance Kagome added to the group. Her added guitar as well as her voice gave new depth to their songs. So far, the only rough spot had been a half hour earlier. It was enough to make her wince though. She remembered it now as they played Fukai Mori for the third time in two hours.

“Damn it woman! Stay on pitch for more than a couple of minutes!” Inuyasha bellowed in the middle of Dearest. The outburst had brought everyone to a halt.

“I'm just trying to add a little something to it. It just sounds like something's missing.” Kagome said somewhat detached, trying to pinpoint what she felt was missing.

“I know what's missing…TALENT!” The hanyou hissed out.

Miroku, Sango and Shippo, as well as Ginta and Hakkaku had all moved to defend Kagome, but she beat them all to it.

“So you're finally admitting it! All right apology accepted dog boy!” Kagome shouted back, causing the hanyou's ears to flatten back at the sheer volume.

“You know I meant you wench! You don't have half the talent Kikyo has in her little finger!”

Kagome was taken aback for a second. Her head lowered, her bangs covering her eyes, but the voice that come out of the young woman was chillingly stoic, “Well Inuyasha, is she here or am I?”

After that, Inuyasha's disposition grew moodier, but he left the comments to Shippo, Ginta, and Hakkaku on what needed to be improved.

Sango came out of her reverie to see that they had finished the song. She looked around at her band mates. Shippo was sitting on the floor before his precious laptop, clicking away while Ginta and Hakkaku were eating through their third bag of potato chips. Inuyasha was still brooding but, Sango saw, that every once in a while he would throw a confused glance in Kagome's direction. `Hmm… that's interesting.' Sango thought. Kagome had a very far away look on her face, seemingly searching for an answer she couldn't figure out. Sango blinked and blushed as her eyes went in search of Miroku… who was nowhere in sight.

“Oh crap.” Sango said under her breath as she realized that could only mean one thing. She wheeled around on her drum set's stool, drumsticks in hand and brought them down full force on the lecherous bassist's head.

CRACK!!!

“AAAOOOOOOWWWW!!!”

“You lech!!” Sango roared. Her assumptions had been correct. The black haired boy had once again been reaching for her rear.

“Sango-sama! I didn't even touch you that time!” Miroku whined rubbing the newly formed bump on his head.

“You were going to!” Sango growled. She turned back to her drum set fuming, seeming to be on fire with her rage. She noticed everyone cowering back in fear and sweat dropped in embarrassment.

“Remind me never to get you mad Sango-chan.” Kagome said giggling slightly.

“Hey Kagome! Did you figure out what was missing?” The red headed little fox demon asked while popping a stick of pocky into his mouth.

“I think I have.” Kagome said nervously. She looked at all the members of the group, her eyes lingering a second longer on a certain half demon.

“What is it Kagome?” Hakkaku asked from his seat on the couch. Ginta looked up from the potato chips to look up at the ebony haired girl questioningly.

Feeling a little encouraged Kagome looked at the band members.

“I think… well it's just a suggestion… would you guys like to sing with me?

“What's the matter, don't you think you can handle carrying a song by yourself? Inuyasha taunted capping the bottled water he had been drinking from.

Kagome sighed and decided not to take the bait. “I just think it might sound more… I don't know… put together, if we all sang or at least sang back up.” Kagome said a hopeful quality to her voice.

Miroku and Sango exchanged glances and Inuyasha scowled, crossing his arms in front in his usual defensive pose.

“I think Kagome has hit upon something here.” Miroku nodded his head at the idea.

“Do you really think we'd sound all right Kagome?” Sango asked a little nervously. Sango was a bit self-conscious about her voice. Especially after a comment Kikyo had made to her once.

“Of course you would! I know you would!” Kagome smiled enthusiastically.

“Keh, no fucking way!” Inuyasha grumbled.

“Inuyasha, you haven't even tried yet.” Kagome remarked dryly.

“We never had to sing before.” Inuyasha fired back.

“It will add so much more depth to the music though. Please… could you just give it a try?” Kagome pleaded, her eyes could have rivaled any pair of lost kitten eyes.

The stubborn inu hanyou's mouth hung open, he had been about to make another rude remark when he caught Kagome's expression. His mouth snapped shut and all he was able to let out was a halfhearted “Keh.”

Kagome sighed, studied the lead guitarist for a second, and then decided on her plan of attack.

“Well, Inuyasha, if you get nervous when it comes to singing… I'll understand. It takes a brave soul to get out there and sing. I mean, anyone would feel apprehensive if they had to actually get up and…”

“Wait a second wench! Are you saying that I'm afraid to sing? `Cause let me tell you something…I ain't ok?” The half demon's amber eyes blazed in indignation as he placed his fists on his hips.

Catching on, Miroku cleared his throat, and with the most serious expression he could muster, “You know Inuyasha…you don't have to put yourself through this kind of torture. I myself have a fairly decent singing voice, if I do say so myself. If you don't feel your voice is up to the task…”

“Hey! I didn't say I can't sing. I just don't see the point in…” Inuyasha started before being cut off in the middle by Sango.

“Miroku… I'm sure playing the guitar is quite enough for him. You two shouldn't be forcing Inuyasha to do something he doesn't feel comfortable with.” Sango said gently.

Inuyasha opened his mouth to agree with Sango when…

“After all… It would be too much to ask him to do two things at once.” Sango finished sweetly.

“HEY!”

Shippo nodded sagely. “Yeah if you push the poor guy too much, his brain will end up exploding and then where will we be?”

“All right, DAMN IT!!!” Inuyasha roared, having had enough bashing from everyone. “I'll do it already, geez!”

“All right…so let's start with Change the World, we'll just sing in unison first, then if anyone feels brave, we can start making different harmonies.” Kagome had been a bit nervous sticking her neck out there like that. She was the newest member of the group after all. She didn't feel like she had the authority to be changing any of the group's policies on anything. But, if there was one thing Kagome knew, it was music. However, if there was something that could help the group out, she wasn't about to keep quiet either.

Ginta, Hakkaku, and Shippo were rolling on the floor the first few times the rest of the group sang. Inuyasha was not ashamed to sing loud, though, it didn't help that he got some of the words in the wrong places, especially since Miroku was trying to remember them by listening to Inuyasha. One of Sango's drum sticks went flying and broke a vase when she was trying to concentrate on harmonizing with Kagome. Finally Kagome decided they needed a break to save their sanity.

“Okay, that wasn't bad for our first couple of tries. It might be easier though if we had some sheet music so maybe we'll do more of this next rehearsal. I'll go ahead and…”

“Hey, Kagome?” Shippo's small voice interrupted.

Kagome turned to the green-eyed little fox demon. “Yes Shippo?”

“I have a program on my laptop that allows me to write music.” Shippo announced, gesturing to the laptop behind him. “ As long as I can use Miroku's printer, I should be able to have sheet music ready for you guys in no time.”

“That's great Shippo. So let's get to work on harmonies so we'll know just what to put down, and then…” Kagome was already imagining the different possibilities when Miroku, clearing his throat, gently interrupted her.

“With all do respect Kagome-sama,” Miroku's blue, almost purple eyes pleading, “If we don't eat something soon, I don't think there'll be enough band left to practice with.”

“Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry! I just got so excited that I completely forgot about the time.” Kagome said twisting her fingers together and smiling sheepishly at her over enthusiasm.

Miroku chuckled lightly, “Don't worry about it. I have some frozen pizzas in the freezer, so I'll just go and pop some in the oven. Everyone relax a bit and take a break.” With that he walked out the basement door to head for the kitchen.

Shippo turned back to Kagome. “ I'm ok, I can work on the harmonies for the songs. I had a break with Ginta and Hakkaku earlier.”

“Are you sure Shippo?” Kagome asked as she brushed the kitsune's red bangs off his forehead a bit.

“Yeah, I hardly ever get to use this program so I kind of want to play with it a bit.” As he said so the Kitsune's hands flew across his laptop.

“Wow Shippo. You sure do know your way around the computer.” Kagome exclaimed, amazed with the ten year old's abilities.

“Don't tell him that!” Inuyasha scolded, “He's got a fat enough head as it is.”

“Shut up Inuyasha! Just because I'm a genius and you're not!” Shippo said sticking his tongue out at the half demon.

“You little brat! You better watch it or I'm gonna…”

“So shippo,” Kagome cut in before Inuyasha could finish his threat, “ how did you join the band so young?”

Shippo rocked back and forth on his bottom while he started his story. “Well when I was much smaller, I think I was six, these two demons broke into my house. I heard them call each other Hiten and Monten. Well one of them was big, fat, and bald and the other one had a long braid and was more like Inuyasha's height and weight. Anyway my mom picked me up and ran with me to her bedroom. Mother gave me a locket that she said I was never to take off. She put me in a corner of the closet and told me to stay there and not to make any noise, and not to come out of the closet no matter what.” Shippo sniffled slightly, Sango came up behind him and pulled the little fox demon into her lap. Kagome ruffled his hair, her eyes warm and tinged with concern.

“It's ok Shippo. You don't have to tell me anymore if it hurts you too much.” Kagome smiled gently. Inuyasha watched helplessly. His frown shifted from one of concern for the kid, to one of confusion for Kagome.

Shippo sniffled a couple of times more, eyes watering slightly. He shook his head and determined, if a bit quiet, continued. “No, it's okay Kagome. I like you, and you're a member of the band now and…” Shippo trailed off hopefully, “my friend?”

Kagome gave a huge smile and leaned forward to give the tiny fox demon a hug. “Of course Shippo! I'd love to be your friend.”

The kitsune smiled brightly and hugged Kagome with all the strength his little body possessed. Sango smiled warmly at the two and got to her feet. “I'm going to find out what's keeping Miroku, you five keep getting to know each other.

Ginta and Hakkaku were now eating some doughnuts they had found and were both cramming their mouths as if their lives depended on it. They managed muffled “chuurre khanga” which was meant to be “Sure Sango.”

She rolled her eyes at the wolf demons and left as Inuyasha smirked. Both Shippo and Kagome giggled slightly.

Shippo soon remembered what he was talking about and grew very sad and serious again. His little face screwed up a little to keep from crying outright. Everyone waited quietly. Kagome held him a little tighter.

“ Well my dad fought as hard as he could. He even turned into his full fox demon form. I'd never seen him do that before. Well Monten opened his big mouth and spit out lightning. That's what they do, they're called the lightning brothers. Anyway he hit dad with it and dad didn't get up again. Then they found my mother. Monten beat her and asked her where something was, I couldn't understand what they wanted something about jewelry or a piece of jewelry or something. She told them she didn't know anything about it. That's when Hiten got mad and…and ripped her clothes and…” Shippo buried his face in Kagome's shoulder. Kagome wrapped herself protectively around the kitsune as though to physically shield him from his memories. Ginta and Hakkaku shifted uncomfortably on the couch while Inuyasha bowed his head so that his bangs covered his eyes.

Shippo wiped a few tears away then sniffled as he trudged on through his story. “Afterward, Hiten put a hand on her and blasted lightning at mom. They never found me in the closet. They just took some of mom's expensive stuff and dad's wallet, and took off. Shippo brightened up slightly. “That's when I went into foster care. About a year later, Kaede came and found me. She said something had been leading her there and that my heart was her best accomplishment.” The red headed, little fox demon perked up. That's when she found out that I had `a mind for computers' and had me start doing stuff for a band she was manager of.” Shippo nodded sagely. “Inuyasha and the guys were barely starting to be a `serious band' Kaede told me. 'Now you're here, and we can make the band even better!” Shippo said. While he had been talking, Miroku and Sango had arrived with arm loads of snacks, sodas, and pizzas.

“We all have unique pasts Kagome-sama.” Miroku was trying to balance pizzas with one hand and put stuff on the table with the other. “I for instance trained early on to be a religious man. I even showed some skill with spiritual power” Miroku let out a long-suffering sigh. “ I guess it just wasn't meant to be.”

“I wonder why?” Sango remarked dryly. She rolled her eyes and turned toward Kagome while putting down chips and dip. Shippo hopped out of Kagome's arms to attack the food. Sango smiled, “My ancestors were the best demon slayers ever. That's where my last name comes from, Taiyoukai. The traditions were passed down to me and my brother.” Sango's face grew solemn. “That is until he was kidnapped.”

“Kidnapped?” Kagome's eyes grew wide.

“The police said he probably just ran away, but I know my little brother. He had no reason to run away and he was always happy.” Sango stared at her now empty hands as she sat down next to Kagome. “So every time we stop somewhere new, I put up flyers, hoping someone will have seen him.”

Everyone became very solemn again. Inuyasha looked at everyone then snorted a “Keh!” The rest of the group looked at him questioningly.

“I can't believe you guys are spilling your guts to some stranger. I mean how long did it take for Shippo to open up to one of us?” Inuyasha said leaning against a wall, arms crossed over chest in his normal stance.

Miroku looked at Kagome a second then smiled. “You have to admit, there is something about Kagome-sama that makes you want to tell her everything isn't there?”

While everyone else nodded, Inuyasha tossed his hair over his shoulder haughtily and muttered, “Speak for yourself.”

The group of young adults attacked the snackage that Miroku and Sango had hauled in. While Shippo popped a stick of pocky in his mouth, his fingers were going at his laptop. Kagome beside him was giving him the harmonies she thought would fit best into their songs. Finally, the two gave each other a high-five and turned back toward the rest of their friends.

“Ok you guys! I think we have it down now.” Kagome said cheerily. “Shippo do you think there's a way for them to be able to hear what we put down?”

Shippo popped another piece of pocky in his mouth before replying. “That's no problem Kagome. I can just have it play back the file. Watch.”

With that he set to work a few seconds then pressed enter on his laptop. The sound that came out of the laptop was amazing. He had even worked in the parts for the instruments. They were all able to get a clear picture of what the group as a whole would sound like with the new harmonies written in. To save time Shippo had temporarily written the new harmonies into a piano part. Kagome listened, froze up for a second, and then vaulted onto her feet.

“That's it!” She said punching the air in triumph.

“I must admit Kagome-chan it does sound really good…” Sango began smiling and trying to hum along with the part.

“NO! I found out what we were really missing!” Kagome said switching from one foot to the other in her excitement.

Her new friends looked at each other then back to the ebony haired girl in confusion.

Kagome nodded to herself, eyes glowing in excitement and hands clasped before her chest. “That's exactly what we need.”

Ginta looked very confused and with his mouth full of pizza managed a muffled, “What is it?”

“We need someone who can play piano and synthesizers and stuff. You know give us a little more of a techno, or pop feel mixed with our rock! What do you think?” Kagome finished, excited but a bit hesitant. “Just a suggestion…” She said shrugging her shoulders.

“Keh, we have more people than we need already.” Inuyasha said from his sitting position against the wall, a cup of ramen in his hands.

Sango thought a second then turned to Shippo who was pensively chewing a bite of cookie. “Shippo-kun, can you play that file again? I want to hear something.” Shippo did as he was told and everybody, including a grudging hanyou listened.

“Well I think the idea has some merit Kagome.” Miroku said leaning toward Shippo's laptop. “Though we would need to find someone quickly, someone who has performed before and already knows what they're doing.”

Inuyasha's ears twitched this way and that, catching the sounds coming from the electrical device. Grudgingly, he admitted to himself that a little piano would go well in Dearest…maybe…

“Why can't we just have Shippo do it. We'd save ourselves the time and trouble of trying to find someone.”

Everyone looked up in amazement at the hanyou, his ears still twitching every once in awhile at the computer. His golden gaze was locked on the screen until he noticed everyone's jaw dropping expressions aimed in his direction.

“What??”

After getting over the shock, Shippo shook his head. “I'm more of a behind the scenes kind of guy. I'd be too scared to go on stage in front of all those people.”

Kagome shook her head to clear it and blushed slightly at being caught staring. “So who are we going to find that is that good on such short notice?”

Demons, humans and hanyou, all frowned in thought. Suddenly Ginta and Hakkaku looked up at the same time. They said something to each other in hushed tones.

“Uuhhh…”Hakkaku started uncertainly. “Well we know a guy. He's really good, and he just quit his old band.”

“Yeah, and if you just give him a chance, he really is awesome!” Ginta butted in.

Inuyasha looked at the two demons suspiciously. “Exactly who are you talking about?”

The two wolf demons paled. Ginta ran a shaky hand though his black and white hair. “Uhh… It's a great guy…”

“That happens to be our cousin…” Hakkaku hinted, trying to find a way around the impending storm.

It didn't work.

“There is no way I'm working with that BASTARD!!” Inuyasha roared, picking up volume as he went.

“Aw come on Inuyasha, he's not that bad.” Miroku interjected, finally realizing whom they were talking about.

Kagome looked on as the argument escalated, a perplexed expression on her heart shaped face. Sango sighed and put a potato chip in her mouth, deciding to let the boys settle this themselves.

“It will be a cold day in hell before I work with that moron!!” Inuyasha pouted as the two wolf demons, the kitsune, and the would be monk persisted. “I'm not doing it and that's…!!!”

Before he could finish, Inuyasha got a powdered doughnut to his face. It landed in his lap as he stared out through astonished, blinking, golden eyes surrounded by white sugar. Miroku hefted another doughnut in his hand threateningly and the other guys followed suit with pizza, dip and whatever else they could get their hands on. All with threatening smiles as they did so.

Miroku smiled wickedly as Inuyasha's ears flattened back in dread.

“I hope you packed ear muffs Inuyasha.”