InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Shards of Foxfire ❯ Chapter 1

I'm updating a lot today (10/25/03), especially since I'm changing the setup of my fanfic. In case you're wondering about the small amount of chapters, I'm pretty much combining every four chapters! Well, Ja ne!

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, but I DO own Shards of Foxfire!

Thanks to my reviewers:

Demonic Rose - Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you like it!

Sango looked around their tour bus at all of the band members. They were headed to their next concert, but it was a very long drive, so everyone was relaxing, and catching up on everything that had happened that week. Kouga was driving, and unusually alert, though he hadn't slept in two days. Ayame stared out the window, not really seeing anything, listening to Kouga talk. Inuyasha was playing a video game in the back. Kagome leaned against him, fast asleep. Kikyo was sitting on her bunk, reading quietly and ignoring everyone, while one of her white soul demons lazily flew in circles above her head. Sesshoumaru was obviously answering fan mail, as he often muttered about how it was all a mess of sappy love letters. Rin was asleep in his lap, leaning against his arm. Kirara was curled up on Sango's bunk, while Shippo snoozed peacefully beside her, out of Inuyasha's way. Miroku sat next to Sango, going on to the Internet, listening to music played by the band. He turned, smiled at Sango, then showed her his laptop. "Look! I typed in our band into a search engine, and we have over 1000 fan sites!" Sango smiled. Amazing, since they were only halfway into their first tour. However, every seat was filled at their concerts. They were doing great!

"Awai, sora ga utsushita, Omoi ga kezu me ni tonde kita houseki…" Sango's voice resonated from the speakers of the flat notebook. Sango smiled, remembering how many hours of practice it took to get that song just right. A sudden noise made everyone jump. Ayame had assembled her flute and started to practice a solo, her fingers moving rapidly across the finger holes.

Inuyasha was apparently winning the video game, because the soothing melody of Ayame's flute was often broken with "Yes! I'm the best! Oh yeah! I rule!" Kagome stirred sleepily, and woke up. "Good for you, Inuyasha! Keep going, you're almost…" She didn't finish her sentence, for she had fallen asleep again. Shippo opened one eye, then the other, and decided to play a trick on Inuyasha. He came up silently, and unplugged the game cartridge. The screen went black, and Inuyasha stared in shock before rounding on the little kitsune.

"SHIPPO, WHY THE HECK DID YOU DO THAT? I HAD A HIGH SCORE, AND NOW I HAVE TO START OVER!" He began to chase Shippo around Kagome, saying "I'm gonna get you!" Shippo jumped into Kagome's arms, whimpering, and Inuyasha ran into Kagome, knocking her over. Kagome landed on her side, and there was a sharp crack as she whimpered in pain. Inuyasha said, "Suck it up, Kagome. You've had worse injuries than tha- Kagome, don't look at me like that!" "Inuyasha!" "Wait, no, I can explain, let me help-" "SIT! SitsitsitsitSIT!!!!"

Inuyasha bounced up and down repeatedly, rocking the tour bus dangerously. Kouga looked behind him for a second, then pulled over onto the side of the road before going back to where Kagome was. "What happened, Kagome?" he said in a concerned tone. Kagome took a while to reply, trying her best not to burst into tears. "Landed…wrong…cracked…rib…his…fault." Kouga glared at Inuyasha, saying, "How DARE you do that to Kagome! She could have been killed!" He turned to Kagome, and with a softer tone, said, "I'd never let that happen to you Kagome." Ayame burst into the back room, looking flushed with anger. "So, Kouga, you'd rather be with her than me?" They began to argue, their voices rising until Sesshoumaru burst in. "How do you expect me to respond to all of my fan mail if you guys won't shut up?" Inuyasha sighed, and then asked Sesshoumaru, "Why are you in here? This has nothing to do with you!" "Spare me the feigned innocence, Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru said heavily. "I have come to shut you up, of course."

Sango listened attentively, enjoying the contest of wills. It took her mind off of her problems, and listening to them argue so much over petty things made her laugh. Miroku said with a smile, "Listen to them argue. It's so pathetic. We never argue like that, do we, Sango?" Sango tensed up quite suddenly. Miroku was getting a little bit too close. Sango decided not to slap him for once. If he didn't do anything stupid, she might actually enjoy his company. She leaned on his shoulder and sighed with contentment. Maybe she was a moment too soon, as Miroku began to act like his normal, perverted self, and rub her butt. She stiffened again, and slapped him. "What was that for?" Sango asked in an accusing tone. "What? You looked tired, so I was giving you a back massage!" Sango sighed. She saw right through that lie, but she ignored it. She turned around in her seat, and started to listen to the argument again.

Everyone was still attacking each other, and there seemed to be no end. Kagome's whimpers were steadily becoming more frequent, but everyone ignored the person they were actually arguing about. Kagome couldn't stand the pain any more, and started to cry. Kouga tried to comfort her, but was attacked by Ayame and brushed away by Kagome. Inuyasha tried to get Kagome to stop crying, but to no avail. This got them arguing all over again. The argument seemed to have no end, until Rin stomped in. Though she was only thirteen, everyone fell silent as she entered, for if they angered her, they angered her `older brother'. "Why are you arguing so much? It's bothering me, and I'm trying to get some sleep! Inuyasha, you first." Inuyasha explained his side, and then everyone else told their stories. Rin quickly sorted out the problem, then left the back room to go to the front of the bus, dragging Sesshoumaru with her. Ayame stared at their backs.

"How can a thirteen year old girl solve problems so quickly?" She said to herself. Miroku got out of his seat, and went to the back of the bus.

"Where does it hurt, Kagome?" Miroku asked. Kagome scooted away from him.

"I would rather be cut in HALF than have you poking me to make sure my rib's cracked!"

"My pleasure." Sesshoumaru said as he reentered the scene, drawing out the Tensaiga.

"KAGOME!!" Inuyasha and Kouga yelled together then glared at each other.

"N-no! Wait! I didn't mean---" the blade came slicing down, and Kagome screamed before realizing she was unhurt, and she was no longer in pain. "Wow. Thanks, Sesshoumaru…"

"Just shut up and let Rin sleep and let me answer my fan mail. He turned on his heel and left, leaving everyone speechless.

"Why don't WE get mail? Shippo asked. Sesshoumaru tossed a bag at him, and everyone rummaged through it.

"Hey! I got a postcard from Grampa, Mama and Sota! And I got a get well card from Hojo? GRAMPA!!!"

"My magazine! Ooh, look, Kirara, here's a cute little bed for you!"

"Those letters are for me…"

"'Dear Inuyasha: Your ears are so cute! Where did you get them? Send them to me, please!' She thinks that they're fake ears?!?! Weirdo! I wish I could reply with something biting, like Sesshoumaru. Of course, I could always use Shippo's ears…"

"You wouldn't dare, Kagome would kill you…Look! Somebody sent me a box of crayons! And a coloring book featuring US! Wow! I'll color Inuyasha pink…"

"You better not, squirt…"

"And his ears can be blue…"

"All right, Shippo…"

"KAGOMEEEEE!"

"Uh, I-I'll just take this magazine and go, um, somewhere…"

"Miroku, what is THAT?"

"Aww, how sweet! `Dear Ayame, I just love the way you are always so happy. You always put a smile on my face…'"

"Aww! How cute! It's a teddy bear! That's so sweet…"

"I'll open my mail later."

"'Dear Sango, you are the coolest band member. Could you send me an autograph?' That's so sweet! I'll just have to send them something. Me, the coolest…"

Just then, the bus started again, and Inuyasha plugged in his game cartridge, while Kagome got up and curled up on her bunk. Sango looked over Miroku's shoulder on his laptop, scrolling through fan sites while Shippo, a large red welt on his head, adjusted a boombox until he found a song that he liked.

"Mezameyou Kono shukan wo yagate bokura wa tsori daku dearou…" Sango's voice surged through the boombox speakers and Shippo curled into a ball and slept. Kirara was playfully batting at the demon lord Sesshoumaru's cloak, and he picked up the cat and deposited it promptly in Sango's lap. Ayame walked up to the front of the bus, tucking the bear under the arm of a soundly sleeping Rin, and passing a smirking Sesshoumaru as he wittily answered fan letters

Sango looked at Miroku, who was asleep with a smile on his face. She deftly stole the laptop from him, and began to type in the address of the fan site of the band that she worked on. Seeing that the site needed updating, she uploaded a few pictures Ayame got, courtesy of their last concert's host. They were of the performance they did last. Sango also added some more music lyrics to that section, and put some daily news in. She made a new site layout, and was just about to add some music on the site when Kagome said, "Wow! You're really good at that!" Sango turned around and smiled; nearly everyone was watching her update the site. "It's nothing, really."

"Can I add something, please?" Rin asked politely.

"Why not? Go ahead. Did you get any good pictures with the camera?"

"Yeah! Too bad this is the last time I'll be able to do this!"

"You make it sound like that's a bad thing! You're being promoted to being a performer!"

"But, I'm not that good."

"Sure you are! You'll do fine this time!"

Suddenly, Kouga's voice rang out from the front. "Here we are! Everybody out, as we have three hours before show time!" Sango hurriedly saved the progress on the website, shut the computer down, and got out of her seat. She shook Miroku, and he awoke, startled. He quickly got out of his seat to let Sango through. Almost everyone was out of the bus now, and getting their things out of the compartment. Sango got her suitcase and guitar case out, and Kirara approached her, growing in size as she came. Sango got on her back, and slung the bags over Kirara's back. Rin joined her, her bags in tow. Kirara sauntered in through the back way of the stage, followed by everyone else. In the anteroom, a harried producer was waiting impatiently. "You're late!" he exclaimed, checking his watch. Sango held back a laugh as Miroku said, "We had a…um…problem." "Well, you're here now, so get ready for show time. Lunch is on the table onstage."

Everyone took their bags to their rooms. All of the girls shared a room, and the boys were next door. All of the girls took out their instruments for a practice exercise. Kagome got out her keyboard, Sango got her guitar, Ayame took out her flute, Kikyo got her harp out, and Rin got ready to sing. They warmed up for a few seconds, then played a prelude that was used while the guys were getting ready for their song. Then, they played part of a song, Every Heart. It sounded great, so the girls put their instruments away so as not to ruin the concert by playing too much.

Now, the girls got ready for the concert. First, they got dressed, and made sure they all looked their best. Ayame had on a top reminiscent of what she wore in the Feudal Era, and a short black skirt. Kikyo wore loose, red pants and a white tube top. Kagome wore a red tank top and black glittery Capri's. Rin wore a short black skirt, and spaghetti strap shirt much like her old kimono. Sango wore a light pink t -shirt with raspberry-colored sleeves and an olive-green short skirt. Next, they did their hair. Sango, Kikyo and Kagome just left theirs down, so they were good at styling everyone else's hair. Rin's hair was wrapped into two cute buns at the back of her head. Ayame's hair was in two side ponytails, her namesake flower, the iris, perched on one ponytail. Next, Ayame's favorite part, was makeup. She was an expert at applying makeup, and so did everyone.

Once they had their hair and makeup done, they went onto the stage to eat lunch. Apparently, Inuyasha had started an argument once again, so they would be late to lunch. Lunch was food from some fast food place, most likely Sonic. They waited for the guys to come out after finishing lunch. The guys soon came, Inuyasha and Shippo devouring anything in sight. Sesshoumaru looked disdainfully at his little brother, most likely wondering how in the world he was related to Inuyasha. After lunch, everyone discussed the concert coming ever closer. The guys went to go set up the stage as the girls went back to their room.

"I can't do this!" Rin said for the third time. "I'm way too scared to sing in front of a live audience!"

"Don't worry about it!" Ayame said reassuringly. "It's my first time to play onstage, too. You're not alone. Just think about your big brother, Sesshoumaru. He'll be so proud of you!"

"I guess so."

"We're all rooting for you guys, Rin and Ayame" Sango said. "Even Inuyasha is rooting for you. Well, he really just said that he hopes you don't mess up, but that still counts! You'll do great!" Sango picked up Kirara, and put on a rhinestone collar. "You've gotta look your best tonight, Kirara! Kohaku promised that he'd be here! The cat's ears perked up at the sound of Sango's brother's name. Kirara jumped to Sango's shoulder, and she picked up her guitar case. She went to the stage, followed by everyone else.

The guys were already setting up the equipment when they arrived. Inuyasha and Kouga had set up the mike system, and Miroku was putting his drum set together. Shippo was already backstage, making sure the effects system was working right. Sesshoumaru was tuning the bass drum and timpani, testing to make sure they would sound right. Kikyo set up her harp at the front of the stage, on the far right. Kagome was at the back, practicing her keyboard solo. Kirara was already joining Shippo, testing things out. Ayame set up her stool at the far left of the stage, up in front. Rin was checking her hair, and watching Shippo and Kirara. Sango put her stool in the middle of the stage, ready to play.

Miroku came up next to Sango, done with setting up. He, like the others, was wearing baggy black pants and a muscle shirt. "So, you worried?"

"Not at all. Well, I'm kinda worried for Rin. She's afraid she'll mess up really bad."

"She'll do fine."

"I know, but she's so stressed about it."

"Don't worry about it. Everyone messes up sometime. Better now than later." And with that, Miroku sauntered off to Kikyo, to help move her harp.

"Ten minutes until showtime, everyone!" the producer called. The roar of the crowd could be heard, even through the thick curtain. "Well, I better get up to the front." Kagome said. She always introduced the band. Sango saw Ayame put her arm around Rin, who was extremely nervous. Everyone was really tense right before the show, except for Kikyo and Sesshoumaru. They both were very calm and said nothing. Inuyasha was especially nervous, pacing around the stage. Kagome whispered something to him, and he went back to where he should have been. "Showtime." Kagome whispered as she went to the front of the stage, in the middle. The curtains opened, the crowd cheering wildly as Kagome smiled.