InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Life Sucks ❯ A Reluctant Whole ( Chapter 8 )

Life Sucks
By: ShoukaMiko
Chapter 8: A Reluctant Whole

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


“Damn it! Why do I have to be here? I already know I don't want him in the band.” Inuyasha grumbled out loud pouting and sporting his usual scowl and pose.

“Now, now, Inuyasha. We need to play nice with the other children.” Miroku chided, loving every minute of the hanyou's discomfort.

“Don't think for a second you're not on my list Miroku!” Inuyasha shot back, tossing his hair indignantly.

“Come on boys, behave yourselves long enough so we don't get kicked out.” Sango said sipping a virgin strawberry daiquiri from her position on the bar stool, one leg crossed over the other.

“Woohoo!” Shippo called out as he spun on the barstool to the left of Sango.

“Did we have to bring the runt?” Inuyasha whined, rolling his eyes as he leaned with his back against the bar next to where Kagome was seated.

“Hey!” Shippo called out, eyes swirling slightly from dizziness.

Kagome sighed, “Take it easy on the spinning Shippo you're going to be sick.” Kagome warned. She was on the barstool to Sango's right, hands on the seat of her barstool and leaning forward to look around Sango to her bushy tailed, little friend.

“Too late.” Shippo moaned, holding his head in his tiny hands.

The group rolled their eyes.

“What's taking those mangy wolves so long?” Inuyasha bellyached, trying to catch a whiff of Ginta and Hakkaku's approach through the smells of spilled drinks, too much perfume or cologne, and the smell of the other wolf demon workers of the Ookami Douketsu (The Wolf Den).

When the civil war between demons and humans in Japan had ended, many of the demons fought to keep their traditions alive in the new society. Many like the wolf demons, set up family run establishments in order to support their tribes. This wolf demon tribe was no different. Their club was one of the best known in Tokyo. The Sengoku Jidai were now seated at the club's bar, waiting for their roadie/security guards to come back with, hopefully, the newest member of the band.

“Man, I can't make out anything with all these stupid wolves around!” Inuyasha griped while sniffling at the air. His outburst caused many narrowed eyes to be aimed in his direction.

“Cool it Inuyasha.” Miroku put a warning hand on Inuyasha's shoulder. “We wouldn't want to cause a disturbance.”

“Bring `em on!” The irritated half demon growled. “Especially that stupid, mangy, son of a …”

“Aww…Inuyasha… did you miss me?” The wolf youkai swaggered forward, a wolfish smirk gracing his tanned face. On his athletic body, he wore a navy pinstripe shirt that was open at the collar to reveal a white shirt underneath. Under that, he wore a black trouser jean. A blue blazer was slung over his shoulder, complimenting his electric blue eyes and dark black hair that was currently pulled up in a high ponytail. Inuyasha growled at the newly appointed leader of the wolf demon tribe.

“Now Inuyasha is that any way to treat your new band member?” The wolf demon snarled in his low husky voice.

“If it was up to me, we wouldn't even be here baka.” Inuyasha said jerking himself away from Miroku's steadying grasp and from his leaning position at the bar to get in the wolf youkai's face. His tone also grew deeper and much more rough.

“Well I guess it isn't up to a mutt like you, is it dog shit?” Kouga snapped back, nearly nose to nose with the fuming inu hanyou. Inuyasha cracked his knuckles at his sides, drawing a worried look from Kagome.

“Umm… shouldn't we do something?” The raven-haired girl asked turning nervous brown doe eyes to Sango for direction.

Sango sighed and shook her head, her hair grazing the top of her green, fitted, crew neck, long sleeved blouse and blue jeans. She had insisted on going home and changing before they had set out for the club after practice. “They're always like this. If it's not now it will be later.”

On hearing the unfamiliar voice, Kouga, breaking eye contact with a still fuming Inuyasha, made a couple of sniffs at the air, then all but shoved Inuyasha out of the way to better stare at the shapely creature who had spoken. “That is definitely not Kikyo.” Kouga closed the distance between him and Kagome, staring hungrily into her eyes as he picked her hand up and kissed it gently. “And who might you be besides the most beautiful woman I've seen in my life.”

The girl blushed all the way to her hair roots. Inuyasha was trying very hard not to snarl at how the wolf was acting with Kagome. What did he care anyway? He turned his back on the scene and huffed, still fuming.

“I'm Higurashi Kagome. You see…well…to make a long story short… I'm the new singer.” Kagome said a little taken a back by the brazen wolf youkai.

“I see. Well if they had introduced us sooner I might have accepted a bit quicker.” Kouga said as Ginta and Hoakkaku finally caught up to him. Kouga smiled down at the girl, “You see, I've barely been elected leader of the wolf demon tribe. To tell you the truth, I was a little reluctant to leave because I'd have to find someone to take care of business while I'm away.” Kouga raised a clawed hand and tucked a loose strand of Kagome's hair behind her ear. “But I think they'll survive without me for a little while.”

Kagome was at a loss for words. The flirty wolf demon had caught her off guard. She was pretty sure he was a nice guy…just a little too touchy-feely for her taste. She had barely even met him and he was already only about three inches from her face.

Inuyasha's possessive youkai blood had taken all it could of the display. He knew Kouga didn't act like that with just anyone. He was traditional, and only pursued those he thought would make him a good mate. Inuyasha stepped toward Kouga. He didn't want the humans butting in, because frankly, they wouldn't understand. The silver haired half demon snarled and growled his order so that only Kouga would understand.

~Get the fuck away from her bastard! ~

Kouga turned around to face the threat. He cocked his head to the side and sniffed in Kagome's direction again. Then he turned his full attention toward the half dog demon and answered back in a menacing low growl.

~What's it to you mutt? I don't smell your mark on her, though I do smell your sent. You better stay away from my woman dog face, if you know what's good for you. ~

Inuyasha cracked his knuckles, bared his fangs, and snarled, ~She's not your woman! Leave her alone! ~

Kouga growled again, narrowing his bright blue eyes in speculation. ~If I didn't know any better Inuyasha, I would say you were trying to go after my future mate. Is that it? Do you want her too? ~

“Uuuhh…” Inuyasha blushed. Luckily for him the Ookami Douketsu was always dimly lit. The half dog demon spun around, his glistening silver hair flying, then cascading down onto his contrasting black shirt.

“Keh, whatever! Like I care.” Inuyasha said as he walked off in a huff. The humans looked at each other, trying to figure out what happened.

“What was that all about?” Miroku wondered aloud as he crossed his arms in front of his deep purple button down shirt. Sango shook her head, also thoroughly puzzled.

“It looked a lot like they were arguing in grunts, growls, and snarls.” She looked over to Kagome who simply shrugged and shook her head.

“That's how we talk. You know youkai and stuff. The closer you are in species of youkai, the better you understand.” Shippo said sipping at his soda with a straw.

“What do you mean Shippo?” Kagome asked. “You were able to understand them? What did they say?”

Kouga shot the kitsune a steely glare then made a sound that suspiciously sounded like a dog's woof. The little fox demon blanched and scurried off calling back to his friends, “Ya know, I think I'm going to go find where Inuyasha got off to.”

Ginta and Hokaku looked at each other and nodded in unison, silently agreeing it would be better if they kept quiet on the subject. Kouga wasn't one to hide his feelings, but he wouldn't say anything to Kagome either unless he was entirely certain he wanted her as a mate.

“Well now that we've had our lesson in youkai to youkai communications, what do you say we get Kouga back to my house so we can try out his skill with his weapons of choice.” Miroku suggested motioning with his hands for them to get going.

“Why? I have my equipment here. I could give you a demonstration right here in the club.” Kouga suggested taking up a seat next to Kagome. “Of course…” He said, leaning into Kagome a little as he did so, “I could use a little help from the audience.”

Kagome looked at the wolf demon and nodded, intrigued at what he could be planning.

“Sango, I think you might want to get in on the action for this one too.” Kouga said as he shoved off of the barstool and made for the club's stage.

The two girls swapped glances and shrugged in unison. They both hopped off the stools and followed after the tall youkai. Miroku got up to find a seat closer to the stage.

“Hmm…” Ginta scratched his ear with one of his claws. “Should we try to find Inuyasha or go watch the show?”

“I don't know about any of that…” Hakkaku said as his head followed the progress of a particularly curvy female youkai form, “but I have more important business just now.”

“Huh?” Ginta looked in the direction Hakkaku had disappeared in. He saw his cousin flirting with a very attractive female youkai and immediately joined the chase. After all, weren't pack members supposed to stick together?

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Kouga deftly leaped up to the stage they usually reserved for karaoke. Sometimes him and his old band mates would play a few songs for the crowds, but those days were gone. His so called `friends' had gotten him really drugged up once, then panicked when he wouldn't wake up and left him for dead. It had started out as a joke. They had wanted him to have a good time and find some youkai chick to nail. So they bought a bunch of PCP (thinking since Kouga was youkai, it would take more to affect him), and managed somehow to get it into him while he was drunk. After that, Kouga never so much as drank a shot again.

He was back on the stage of the Ookami Douketsu again, but now under very different circumstances. He had been watching Inuyasha and his group since he had caught a whiff of them coming through the door. More specifically, he had been watching the group's newest member like a hawk. From the moment Kouga had seen the long haired, sweet faced, beauty and caught her scent (that was very much like white roses and a comforting, earthy scent that was all her own) he knew he was hooked. Shockingly blue eyes had watched her, seeing glimpses of who she was, her compassion, sense of humor and patience as well as what proved to be an amusing stubborn streak. These last things were what made him feel like, as he had strode over toward the group, that she would make him the perfect mate. Still he decided he wanted to make sure he was making the right decision. Because once he wanted something, he wasn't going to give it up without a fight.

“Kouga! What the heck do you expect me to play exactly??” Sango called out to the wolf youkai, pulling him out of his thoughts. She was looking helplessly around the stage for the familiarly bulky form of a traditional drum set.

The man gave her his signature wolfish grin. “That of course!” Kouga responded by pointing to what looked like a flat panel with circles in it and buttons on the top most part. Drumsticks placed on the buttons so they wouldn't roll off.

“You've got to be kidding me! You know I don't like digital drums.” Sango said pouting somewhat and frowning in disgust at the instrument.

“You will for this song just give it a try.” Kouga said walking over to his keyboards and synthesizers. Two keyboards were layered in two tiers while another keyboard was off to the side with what looked like a series of buttons and panels layered on another level above that. What the set up looked like was a right angle that opened up toward the rest of the stage.

“Wait Kouga…” Kagome called out, putting a hand on Kouga's arm to stop his progress. Kouga turned and trapped her hand under his as he bored into her with his eyes.

“Yes Kagome?”

Feeling uncomfortable with the closeness, Kagome stepped back slightly and gently pulled her hand away. “Umm… what would you like me to do?”

“Just do what you do best. Sing your little heart out angel.” He said as he winked at her and began heading towards his keyboards again.

“But wait…what if I don't know the song?” Kagome asked frantically, her brown eyes widened with looming panic.

Kouga considered this for a second, holding his chin in his fingertips a second considering before asking a question of his own. “Do you rent English movies…you know…just because you like to hear the different kinds of music and stuff?”

Kagome nodded, slightly confused. “Yeah, all the time, but I don't see how…”

“Then you'll be fine, and if you don't know all the words, I know Sango can help you out.” Kouga cut her off, smiling reassuringly.

“I hope so.” Kagome breathed, her face set in a worried frown as she turned toward her microphone and the people in the club.

Kouga signaled for the DJ to kill the music. A collective moan came up from everyone. Kouga smiled.

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Inuyasha munched sulkily on pretzels next to Miroku and Shippo. He was in a bad mood and it didn't help that Shippo kept throwing him glances like he was trying to figure out something. When the little fox demon had found him and dragged the hanyou to where Miroku was seated close to the stage, Miroku started firing questions at him about the strange conversation he had with Kouga. The half demon's golden eyes sparked and glowed like fire a second and his good friend decided to let the subject drop for the moment. After that though, Inuyasha had been in an even fouler mood than he was before.

The hanyou slunk further down in his seat, scowled and popped a handful of pretzels into his mouth. What did he care if that stupid wolf liked Kagome? It wasn't any of his business. He didn't even like her. Sure she was…okay looking…so what? Well of course she was nice looking. She looked like Kikyo didn't she?

Inuyasha thought about that then shook his head. No, now that he had thought about it, he couldn't figure out how he thought she looked like Kikyo in the first place. Kikyo had been like a roman statue. She was pale, very angular and defined in her features, and skinny as a runway model, but very well proportioned.

Kagome on the other hand, had much gentler friendlier features. She had curves any actress would kill for and mile long legs. She also had healthy, glowing tan skin. The two women were as different as night and day and yet still seemed so similar. Inuyasha sighed, frustrated at his own thoughts.

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Steely cold amber eyes followed the progress of the different band members around the room. An aristocratic clawed hand descended onto a glass, then lifted it to his lips to sip at the contents.

“Sir, should I let them know you're here?” Jaken asked, getting fidgety from keeping still for so long. The green, little, toad-like youkai looked up expectantly at the stoic figure.

Sesshomaru continued to stare straight ahead through the haze around him. The silver haired youkai abhorred smoking. He could feel the smoke burning the insides of his sensitive nose. He had purposefully sat in the smoking section, realizing if he couldn't smell his half brother and his friends, then they in turn would not be able to smell him and know he was there.

`Hmm…' the tall imposing figure thought silently to himself, `if that half brother of mine is that upset at seeing Kouga, then there must be something else going on that I'm not aware of…yet.' He raised an eyebrow slightly as the hanyou's ears went back and he bared his fangs against Kouga when the wolf demon approached what Sesshomaru assumed was their new lead singer. “Inuyasha no baka.” Sesshomaru commented aloud. His brother had always seemed to have a soft spot for humans.

`Still' the inu youkai admitted to himself, `she's not an unattractive human. As humans go. Her appearance can be as much of a business asset as anything else...'

The music stopped and a collective groan sounded throughout the club. Sesshomaru ran his steely gaze around the club. Trying to locate the source of the sudden quiet. He spotted the wolf youkai on stage. Leaning back in his chair a bit, the intense golden gaze of the youkai swerved to catch a certain feminine figure that was gingerly walking toward the front most microphone.

“Well if she's this hesitant in just a club setting, how does she presume she'll stay on as singer of the Sengoku Jidai?” Sesshomaru wondered aloud.

“What was that Sesshomaru-sama?” Jaken swerved his head back in the direction of his employer after trying himself to see what all the fuss was about.
The full dog demon merely kept his cool gaze locked on the stage as the wolf demon began to speak.

“Hey everybody! As most of you know I'm Kouga…”

The crowd let up a dull roar. Inuyasha at his seat rolled his eyes while Miroku and Shippo just looked on indifferent to the whole thing. Kouga raised a hand to quiet the crowd of both demons and humans before continuing.

“But I bet what you don't know is that you're looking at the two newest members of the Sengoku Jidai!”

At this proclamation, the crowd roared even louder, working itself into and uproar. Sesshomaru's brightly streaked eyes widened the slightest bit, then settled back to their original frosty gaze. He was going to have to have a talk with that little brother of his about inviting people into the band before consulting him.

Kouga again waved to try to quiet the crowd. “ So we've decided to give you a small peek at what's to come.” The crowd roared again but Kouga continued on before it got out of hand. “So give it up for Kagome on lead vocals, Sango on drums, and …” Kouga looked around for some familiar faces in the crowd, found them then turned back to his mike “my cousins Cheza and Mayumi.” The two female wolf demons looked at each other, shrugged then went up on stage to cheers from the crowd.

Kouga bent over his keyboards then leaned toward his microphone to make one last announcement to the crowd. “Here's a little American treat for you.”

Kouga made sure his keyboards were in the right settings then started tapping out a rhythm with a very distorted tone, followed quickly by vigorous piano playing at a flash dance tempo.

Sango and Kagome looked at each other then whooped when they recognized what it was. The background girls started harmonizing and Sango started wailing on her drums. Kagome grabbed the microphone out of its holder and started confidently out toward center stage with it.
(A/N: song Holding out for a Hero from Footloose soundtrack by: Bonnie Tyler)

Where have all the good men goneand where are all the gods?Where's the streetwise Hercules to fight the rising odds?Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?Late at night I tossand I turnand I dream of what I need.I need a hero. I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night.He's gotta be strongand he's gotta be fastAnd he's gotta be fresh from the fight.I need a hero. I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light.He's gotta be sureand it's gotta be soonAnd he's gotta be larger than life!larger than life.

Miroku, Shippo and Inuyasha's jaws dropped simultaneously. They had heard Kagome singing just hours before. Singing their songs and they knew she enjoyed what she sang. They thought they had gotten used to her singing style…until she started singing right now. Her voice was husky, rough, and seductive while her style over all was more aggressive than ever. Looking at her confidence was almost awe-inspiring as they watched her dance, almost acrobatically, across the stage. They all started smiling like idiots within seconds and cheered her on with the rest of the crowd.

Somewhere after midnightin my wildest fantasySomewhere just beyond my reachthere's someone reaching back for me.

Kagome teasingly reached out toward Kouga, who reached back. She pulled herself away and spun out of reach at the last second making the wolf demon laugh.
Racing on the thunder and rising with the heatIt's gonna take a superman to sweep me off my feet.I need a hero. I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night.He's gotta be strongand he's gotta be fastAnd he's gotta be fresh from the fight.I need a hero. I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light.He's gotta be sureand it's gotta be soonAnd he's gotta be larger than life.I need a hero. I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night.
Kouga and Sango pounded at their respective instruments. Kouga didn't have any trouble as he worked over time changing the settings to get different effects. He had purposefully chosen a song that would show off both his skills and Kagome's. Of course it was a plus that it also showed off his friend, Sango's skills as well.

During the instrumental part, Kagome was dancing like crazy. Her dancing, a mix of what looked like ballet and pop, drove the crowd to new heights of excitement. Sesshomaru, in his corner table near the door, allowed his lips the slightest bit of an upturn. The only sign he would physically reveal of his approval of the Sengoku Jidai's new lead singer. `Maybe I judged to quickly after all.' He thought his eyes swung over to give Kouga another once over. `Maybe, just maybe, that one will work out as well. I still must have a talk with that half brother of mine about making all these vast changes without first consulting me.'


Up where the mountains meet the heavens aboveOut where the lightning splits the seaI could swear there is someonesomewherewatching me.

Kagome's hair flew around her wildly as she sang and danced, giving her an almost feral look. Skin glistening and heart pounding. She felt so exhilarated, so alive. She took a quick glance back at Sango to check on her friend. Sango was beating the crud out of the digital drums, she looked no less happy or excited than she did. That spurred her on even more.
Through the windand the chilland the rainAnd the stormand the floodI can feel his approach like a fire in my blood.

Kagome took a few running steps then dropped and slid forward on her knees to the front of the stage. She could see the three other members of the band. There they were on their feet now and closer to the stage. Feeling slightly playful, she tipped her head back and winked at the boys. Miroku blew her a kiss as Shippo waved and laughed and Inuyasha for some odd reason gulped and blushed.

I need a hero. I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night.He's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fastAnd he's gotta be fresh from the fight.I need a hero. I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light.He's gotta be sureand it's gotta be soonAnd he's gotta be larger than life.I need a hero. I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night….

As the music died down the crowd reached a greater volume level than it had all night. Kagome laughed giddily and looked back at Kouga, his cousins, and Sango. She waved and they waved right back at her, smiles on their faces. Kagome then again faced forward and waved to the near deafening crowd. “Thank you Ookami Douketsu!” She cried into the microphone. Kouga pulled his closer and spoke into it as well.

“If you want to see the new and improved Sengoku Jidai, catch us on tour. We'll be waiting for you all to be with us again!” The crowd cried out again. Sango walked toward the front of the stage to stand next to Kagome. Feeling united from their experience they laughed and put an arm around each other's shoulders. Kouga waved to his cousins as they exited the stage. Seeing the two girls together, the wolf demon developed a dangerously mischievous look in his eyes as he walked swiftly forward. Before the girls knew it, he had ducked beneath both of their arms and wrapped his arms around their waists. He stooped down then, with his strong youkai legs launched them both into the air amid the girls squeals of laughter and surprise. He landed just in front of the rest of the group who were joined by Ginta and Hakkaku (both of which had failed to get the phone number of the particular youkai they were after).

“That was awesome ladies!” Miroku said hugging both girls at once.

Sango and Kagome went to hug him back when they simultaneously gasped and gave the tall youth matching handprints on his cheek. The other guys of the group gave Miroku dry and disgusted looks. Miroku sighed contentedly, “It was worth it.”

A collective groan went up as well as many rolled eyes. Shippo hopped onto Inuyasha's shoulder. “That was so great! Kouga you were pretty good too!”

Inuyasha threw Shippo a very dry look and crossed his arms again. His ears flattened back as he turned his head away to mumble “Whoopty flippin' doo.”

Kouga grinned, “What's the matter mutt? Afraid I'll show you up?”

“Keep dreaming ya mangy wolf.” Inuyasha's eyes blazed a dangerous fiery gold in challenge. Kagome blinked as her heart sped up a bit. Maybe that jump was starting to catch up to her…or not.

Inuyasha promptly smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand and sighed. “Now all we have to do is find that bastard of a brother of mine and tell him about all this so he can let Kaede know.”

The older members of the group looked around at each other apprehensively. Kagome and Kouga just looked at each other a bit confused.

“ What's so bad about that?” Kouga asked frowning slightly.

“Hmm…where to start?” Inuyasha said sarcastically, putting a claw to his chin as if in thought. “He's a control freak who likes to boss us around, he holds all of our contracts, he controls where we go, for how long, and what we get paid…so that gives him free license to be the asshole he is and…”

The hanyou paused as he got a familiar, if a bit smoky, whiff of someone he knew he'd rather not see. As he looked at his friends' horror-struck faces he winced and knew he was in deep shit.

“…and he's right behind me isn't he?” The collective group nodded slowly as Inuyasha's wince turned into a grimace. The hanyou stiffened his back and turned to face the very menacing appearance of a full-blooded inu youkai.

Sesshomaru's quiet monotone enough to send a chill down the backs of even the non-youkai band members as he tilted his head slightly in his slightly shorter, brother's direction.

“You were saying…Inuyasha?”

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A/N:

Yeah, I'm going to be using plenty of different music and genres of music but I'll always try to give sources on where it's from for those who aren't familiar with certain songs.Again I'll reinstate, if you don't like music, and lots of it, this probably isn't the fiction for you.

Oh, and another thing, I take it for granted that everyone is familiar with the Japanese terms I'm using throughout the fic. If you have any questions as to what something means that I've written, you need only ask. ^_^