InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Breaking Point ❯ Fighting Temptation ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: For this chapter, I don't own Maroon 5's 'This Love', Eminim's 'Lose Yourself', and Alicia Keys 'If I Were Your Woman'.

SF: DN-C did a great job on a pic for this fic. It's a picture of Sesshoumaru playing the guitar, and you can find it at (you guessed it) Mediaminer.org!


Chapter Three: Fighting Temptation!


"So what's the deal?" Rin asked at lunch Monday afternoon as she, Sango and Kagome sat at their usual spot at a table outside the lunchroom.

"From what I understood," Kagome responded while Rin and Sango sat down. "We're supposed to go to some address at 5 o' clock this afternoon."

"What address?" Sango asked around a mouth full of pizza. Kagome dug around her purse, zipping and unzipping compartments inside it before pulling out a slip of paper.

"This address," Kagome said before passing it to Sango. Sango read it a moment, then shrugged and gave it back.

"I don't have a clue as to where that is," she admitted. "I don't think it's on the bus line."

"Great," Rin groaned irritably. "How the hell are we supposed to find it? Walk?"

"Rin!" Kagome gasped. Rin scowled and stuck her tongue out at her. "Oh please," she brushed aside. "I've heard you say worse than that in your sleep."

"From what I was told," Sango interrupted. "That Myouga guy would have our contracts and stuff and such today."

"Jee," Rin grumbled. "You're a barrel of information-"

~No more games, I'm a change what you call rage. Tear this mother f*ckin' roof off like 2 dogs caged.~

"Not again," Sango growled, one of her hands lightly smacking her forehead. She glared at the overcrowded table beside them, the hand that rested on her forehead now balled in a tight fist. "I swear, I'm tired of this crap. I'm going over there."

"Sango wait!" Kagome yelled, but Sango had already jumped up and was now walking toward the crowd as the gruff voice in the center continued.

~ I was playin' in the beginning, the mood all changed. I been chewed up and spit out and booed off stage.~

"Move out of the way!" Sango snapped, shoving various people out of her way as she waded toward the center. Kagome and Rin struggled to keep up, apologizing for Sango's actions as the came closer to catching up to her.

~And it's no movie, there's no Mekhi Phifer. This is my life and these times are so hard. And it's getting even harder tryin' to feed and water my seed, plus see dishonor.~

"I'm going to kill him," Kagome and Rin heard Sango growl as she neared the last few people before the center. "I'm going to beat them up first, then I'll see if I still feel like killing them. They'll probably want to die anyway."

"Sango!" Kagome called as Sango shoved another person. "You really should think about this!"

Sango and the others emerged beside the table moments later, they're mouths falling open in shock soon after. "Hey," Rin said after a moment. "Don't we know those guys?"

Three men sat at the table, the one with the long dark hair and amber eyes sitting in the middle. The one on the left was currently looking back at them, his jaw dropping briefly before closing with a click.

"Um, Puppy-sama," he mumbled, nudging the one in the middle. He continued to drum on the table, his eyes closed and his head lowered as the one on his right looked up.

"Hey," he said to Sango. "Don't we know you?"

"Yeah," Rin responded as the one in the middle finally stopped. "You guys are on the band aren't you?"

"Yeah, that's us," the one on the left nodded as he thoughtfully studied them. His eyes widened a second later, a happy smile on his face as he turned to his tablemates. "Hey you guys!" he exclaimed. "It's Icicle Girl!"

"Oh yeah," the one in the middle said with a nod in their direction, then turned to watch the rapidly dispersing crowd. "How you doin'?"

"I'm fine, but who are you guys?" Kagome asked. "I mean, what's your name?"

"I'm Kouga," the one on the left began. "Dude on the right is Miroku and this-" he slapped the middle one upside the head, his smile growing when the other glared at him. "Is Inuyasha, or Puppy-sama."

"Shut up Kouga," Inuyasha grumbled, then gestured to the empty seats in front of them. "Take a seat. We don't bite. Well," he said as an afterthought. "Miroku does, but it don't hurt."

"Thanks," Sango replied as she, Kagome and Rin sat down. "So, what do you guys do on the band?"

"I'm drums," Inuyasha responded with a quick rap on the wooden table.

"I'm keyboard," Miroku said, then tossed a fry at Kouga.

"Oh, and I'm bass, but I can pretty much play anything. Have you guys been briefed yet?"

"Briefed?" Rin repeated. "What's that?"

"Just the schedule and things like it," Miroku started, then nodded when the women shook their head in the negative. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure Sesshoumaru planned on telling you guys today."

"Anyway," Inuyasha interrupted. "We have rehearsal every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Gigs are normally on Friday or Saturday. Can I ask a question?" he tossed to Kagome.

Kagome nodded. "Sure. What is it?"

"Why the fuck are you wearing a sweater in 70-something degree weather?"

Kagome frowned, then balked when Sango and Rin voiced their agreement to Inuyasha's question.

"Why are you wearing that?" Rin asked, gesturing to the light sweater-vest Kagome had on. "Aren't you hot?"

"Just a little, but most of my classes have the air on full blast," Kagome explained. "So I have to dress for them. I'd rather be hot for a few moments that cold for the rest of the day."

"Yeah, I can understand that," Kouga agreed. "My morning classes are like the Antarctic. I can't help but go to sleep in there."

"How old are you ladies?" Miroku asked, then shrugged at Inuyasha's accusing stare. "What, I just wanted to know."

"I'm nineteen," Rin answered. "Sango and Kagome are twenty. How old are you guys?"

"Kouga and Inuyasha are twenty-one. I'm twenty four."

"Why are you still in school?" Kagome asked. "Did you start late?"

"No," Miroku answered with a chuckle and a shake of his head. "I'm studying to be a vet."

"Wow" Sango sighed wistfully. "I love animals."

"Really?" Miroku leaned closer to her, an eyebrow cocked suggestively as he winked at her. "You know, you could become my assistant."

"I don't think so," she said with a shake of her head. "I'm studying criminal law."

"I'm going into botany," Rin offered. "What about you two?"

"I'm studying business law, and Inuyasha's taking marine biology."

Sango turned to him instantly, Miroku's mournful snap of his fingers unnoticed as she smiled at him. "What are you going to specialize in?"

"Shark research," he said with a grin. Kagome sighed, settled her chin in her hand and propped her elbow on the table surface.

"Isn't that just like a guy?" she 'whispered' to Rin, who giggled and nodded in response.

"Hey! Shark research is important!" Inuyasha countered. "It's a well known belief that shark cartilage could help Alzheimer's patients. It would be really cool if I were to discover some new fish or plant life."

"I agree with you Inuyasha," Kagome placated easily, then frowned when Sango and Rin started to laugh. "What?"

"You!" they both giggled, grinning at everyone's confusion. "Kagome's always gotten along with everyone," Rin explained. "I swear, that girl could charm the devil."

"If she ever fell into the snake pit at the zoo, I wouldn't be worried," Sango retorted with a snort. "She'd most likely enchant the snakes."

"But she doesn't get along with Sesshoumaru," Miroku noticed. "Why is that?"

"I don't know," Kagome answered honestly. "He just…grrrr! He's such a jerk!"

"But you've only met him once," Miroku replied. "Perhaps you two just got off on the wrong foot."

"Yeah, you're probably right," Kagome said with a sigh. "Um, why do you guys make so much noise?"

"See that guy over there?" Inuyasha rudely gestured to a nearby security officer. Kagome and the others responded with a nod. "Well, our first day here," he pointed to himself and Kouga "we were walking down the hall, minding our own business, when that asshole comes from out of nowhere and tosses us outside!"

"You two were horse playing at the time," Miroku interjected casually. "But he is rather rude."

"So we do this every lunch period to piss him off. We're not bothering any of the snobs inside the cafeteria, so he doesn't say anything." Inuyasha smirked evilly, mischief and mirth dancing in his amber eyes. "But I bet he wants to, the fucking jerk."

"I don't see what's so bad about him," Kagome said, then waved at the guard.

"Hey! You can't sit here if you're with him!" Inuyasha hollered, then shot the guy The Finger.

"So…" Miroku said while Inuyasha and Kouga made faces at the guard. "How are you getting to practice today?"

"I guess we'll take the bus," Rin sighed dismally. "But we wouldn't know what bus to take."

"There isn't a bus," Kouga turned and said. "So you guys are stuck."

"What?!" Sango exploded, startling Inuyasha into turning around as well. "How are we going to get there?"

"One of us could take you," Miroku offered. "I mean, we are going to the same place. It shouldn't be too much of a bother."

"Are you sure?" Sango asked. Miroku nodded. "Yeah. Why not? Now who wants to-"

"I can't," Inuyasha interrupted. "I have to run home after school."

"Me either," Kouga said. "I have to stop by the dean's office."

"Well," Miroku said with a grin. "I guess that just leaves me."

"Oh great," Rin moaned with a shake of her head. "This promises to be interesting.

*

Kagome, Rin and Sango waited outside the university, their books seated on the steps as they waited for Miroku.

"What's taking him so long?" Sango complained. "It's like he had to buy a car first."

"I can't believe we're getting in the car with him," Kagome grumbled. "We don't know the guy-"

"If you get started with your 'He could clock us upside the head and leave us for dead' speech, I'll clock you upside the head and leave you here," Rin growled. "Just live in the moment, jeez."

Kagome opened her mouth to respond when a horn blasted beside them. "Hey," Miroku called from a black Jeep Cherokee. "You girls need a ride?"

"Bout Tucking Fime," Sango said as they plied inside, with Rin and Kagome in the back and Sango climbing in the front seat. "Hey!"

>Smack!<

Kagome glanced from the red handprint, to Miroku's hand in the seat and put two and two together as Sango ploped down beside her.

"You can't blame a guy for trying," he offered for an apology before pulling off. Most of the drive was in total silence, with Miroku sitting up front by himself with the girls glaring at him from the back. "Um…" he finally said after a few minutes. "How about I turn the radio on?" He fiddled with the knobs to the stations a moment, flipping between stations until a familiar piano intro sounded over the speakers.

"Keep it right there!" Rin cried out. "Don't change it!"

"I wasn't planning to," Miroku assured her as he turned up the volume.

"Don't tell me you like this song," Sango quipped as she and Kagome exchanged glances.

"Like the song! Hell, I know it by heart!" Miroku winked back at her, then started to sing. ~I was so high I did not recognize the fire burning in her eyes. The chaos that controlled my mind. Whispered goodbye and she got on a plane never to return again but always in my heart.~

"Wow, he really does know the song," Rin whispered as they stopped at a red light. "And he's a good singer too!" They watched as he bobbed his head to the beat before a grin spread across their faces.

~This love has taken its toll on me. She said Goodbye too many times before. And her heart is breaking in front of me. I have no choice cause I won't say goodbye anymore.~

~I tried my best to feed her appetite, keep her coming every night. So hard to keep her satisfied. Kept playing love like it was just a game, pretending to feel the same then turn around and leave again.

Miroku turned just as Kagome jumped in the passenger seat beside him and smiled when she and the other girls belted out the chorus before singing the vamp by himself.

~I'll fix these broken things. Repair your broken wings and make sure everything's alright. My pressure on her hips, sinking my fingertips into every inch of you 'cause I know that's what you want me to do.~

He listened when they laughed after the end of the song, the smile on his face widening when they all reached to hug him. 'Weird,' he thought as he continued down the road. 'But I feel like I've just passed an college initiation or something.'

*

Kagome yawned for the umpteenth time, her gaze bored and dazed as she observed the scenery outside her window. The radio still played, but the riders inside the car were less enthusiastic than when the drive began.

"Are we there yet?" Rin groaned from her prone position across the first back seat.

"Yeah, how long have we been driving?" Sango grumbled from behind Rin. "And were are we?"

"I'm wondering that too," Kagome replied as they passed yet another horse. "And are there supposed to be so many horses on this road."

"Hey, there are sheep on this side of the road," Rin told her as she looked out the left side window. "Cool!"

"You would say that," Kagome grumbled as Miroku slowed in front of a house on Kagome's side.

"Here we are girls," he said as he pulled into the house's driveway. Kagome and the others looked in awe at the simple two story farmhouse, it white with chocolate brown shutters and a covered driveway. Miroku stopped underneath the covering and gestured to the little house on the other side of the pathway. "There you go ladies," he said as Kagome and the others got out. "Just go that way, toward the shed over there. I'll be back in a few."

"Where are you going?" Sango asked while Rin slammed the car door shut.

"We park our cars in the back, or Mrs. K. will have a fit. I'm coming though, so you go ahead."

"Alright then," Kagome called, then she, Sango and Rin made their way toward the shed.

"Shed my ass," Sango grumbled as Kagome opened the door. "This is more like a poolhouse or something."

"Yeah," Kagome and Rin agreed before opening the door and stepping inside. Their mouths dropped open instantly, their purpose for entering the building forgotten as they stared around them in awe. The room was set up like an enormous stage, with the stage entrance the only door in or out of the room. The back right wall was painted the same burgundy as the left and the entrance wall, with burgundy curtains covering the left wall and black curtains covering the right. The drum set, two stools, a keyboard and mic were facing the right wall, where Sesshoumaru and Myouga sat talking while Kouga and Inuyasha set up.

"Wow," Sango finally whispered, with Rin and Kagome nodding in agreement. "This place looks great."

"Yeah," Kagome mumbled, her eyes settled on something other than the room. 'Wow,' she thought to herself as she watched Sesshoumaru and Myouga talk. Sesshoumaru sat on a stool facing her, dressed in a pair of loose jeans and a red johnny collar shirt with a white long sleeved shirt underneath and his hair pulled into a high ponytail. "He does."

"Who does?" Rin asked. Kagome blushed and ripped her eyes away a second before Sesshoumaru looked up. "Um, nothing. This room. It's great." 'Gah Kagome! Get a grip! You have a boyfriend, remember? And he is an ass!'

"Well," he said as Miroku rushed inside. "It seems that everyone's here. Now we can begin." Inuyasha and Kouga looked up just then and waved to Kagome and the others.

"Hey, how are you guys?" Kouga asked as Miroku turned on the keyboard. "Was Miroku on his best behavior?"

"Of course," Miroku huffed. "I am not some ruffian."

"Whatever," Inuyasha snorted. "I'm surprised you're not sporting a bruise right about now."

"Why would he?" Sesshoumaru asked.

"They didn't know the way, so Miroku drove them here," Kouga explained. Sesshoumaru nodded in understanding, then turned to the girls. "Are there any questions before we get started?"

"No," Rin said while Kagome and Sango shook their heads. Sesshoumaru nodded. "Good. You two," he gestured to Rin and Sango "Stand beside Miroku….but make sure to stand a little away from him. I don't want any interruptions and smacking him would create one."

"Aww Sesshoumaru," Miroku whined as Rin and Sango stood out of his hands' reach. "Way to take a guy's fun."

"You stand right here," Sesshoumaru said to Kagome before pointing to the mic in the middle of the floor. He watched her as she did as he said, inwardly grimacing at her outfit. 'One would think she were a child in what she has on,' he griped at the green and blue plaid, knee-length skirt, blue sweater-vest and white blouse. Her hair seemed to be up inside the blue chauffeur's cap on her head. 'It is a good thing I thought of this test,' he thought while she looked at him. 'She's not visually fit for this band, even if she is kind of cute…' He thought a moment more, then shook the thought from his head in disgust before clearing his throat. "Before we go any further, I'd like to test your stage presence."

"Test?" Kagome repeated. "What kind of test?" Sesshoumaru smirked at her unease, causing the same chill to creep up Kagome's spine that did the last time he smiled at her like that.

"This is to see how well you perform. Should you fail, then you and your friends leave immediately and we find a replacement-"

"Aw come on Sesshoumaru, man damn!" Inuyasha exclaimed suddenly. "We know you don't like the girl, but she won fair and square. We all agreed on it, so quit being a prick and stop playing around!"

"I do not play, dear brother," Sesshoumaru spat coldly. "I, unlike some of us here, am not so impressed by the little song bird. If she can perform as well as she can sing, then she shouldn't have a problem." 'Besides,' he said as the previous members of the band grumbled around him. 'I haven't written anything for her yet. She would definitely save me the trouble if she fails.'

"I don't think the others are happy with you," Myouga whispered before Kouga and Inuyasha began to complain. Sesshoumaru shrugged. "When are they?"

"I think you're wrong about her," Myouga told him as Sesshoumaru picked up his guitar, a blood red electric with white decoration. "I think she's going to surprise you."

"I don't," Sesshoumaru quipped. "Nothing surprises me."

"You guys calm down," Kagome said to the others. "Sesshoumaru's right."

"WHAT?!!!!!" Kouga and Inuyasha shouted back, voicing everyone else's surprise. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

"He doesn't believe I'll make a great stage presence. Since he is in charge of the group, it is his decision on whether or not I'm capable." She winked suddenly, a happy grin spreading across her face as she turned back to Sesshoumaru. "Besides, I don't think he thinks I can do it."

"There she goes," Sango whispered to Rin and Miroku. "The Snake Charmer, back at work."

"I heard that Sango," Kagome said, then turned to Sesshoumaru. "Well Lord Sesshoumaru," she said with a bow. "What will you have me do to prove my worth?"

Sesshoumaru frowned as the others laughed around him, then closed his eyes and plucked a few guitar strings. "What would you suggest Inuyasha?" he asked, knowing that Miroku would instinctually go easy on the impudent girl.

"Um…how about Key-Diary-Four?"

"Yeah," Kouga and Miroku said around him while Kagome, Rin and Sango stood confused. "That sounds good."

"Huh?" Kagome finally said. "What's a Key-Diary-Four?"

"That," Miroku explained, "Is a code for when we rehearse with other people's songs. The first part of the code is the name of the artist-"

"The second part of the code is the name of the album," Kouga explained. "And the third part of the code is what number it is on the cd. Get it?"

"Yeah," Sango replied while Rin and Kagome nodded thoughtfully. "It's kinda like Monica's So Gone would be Monica-Storm-Three, right?"

"Correct," Sesshoumaru answered for her. He cocked his head to the side, curiously watching as Kagome nibbled on the corner of her lower lip. "Have you figured it out yet?" he teased. His answer was Kagome's glare and the fire that suddenly sparked in her crystal blue eyes. 'Woah,' he thought as she nodded. 'That was…unexpected. Pleasant, but unexpected.'

"Yeah, I think I have it," Kagome said. "Its Alicia Key's 'If I Were Your Woman' remake, right?"

"Correct again," Sesshoumaru told her, though inside he wondered how she knew it to be a remake. "Would you be ready to start?"

"Whenever you are, Lord Sesshoumaru," she said with another bow. Inuyasha and Kouga snickered behind her, but stopped with innocent faces when Sesshoumaru glared at them. Sesshoumaru cued Miroku to start them off without another word, then listened for his cue before playing the guitar introduction.

Kagome lifted her sweater over her head seconds before she began to sing, with nothing to clue the others to her actions but a secret wink to Rin and Sango. ~If I was your woman and you were my man you'd have no other woman. You'd be weak as a lamb.~ She un-tucked the ends of her blouse, then unbuttoned the cuffs and rolled them to her elbows before unbuttoning the third button from the top and the last two buttons from the bottom of her blouse.

~If you had the strength to walk out my door, my love would overrule my sins and I'd call you back for more. If I was your woman. If I was your woman and you were my man.~

She gripped the mike in one hand, the other falling to grasp the stand. ~She tears you down darling. Says you're nothing at all but I'll pick you up darling when she lets you fall. Cause,~ Kagome stretched her open hand toward Sesshoumaru, her face sincere and set as she inwardly grinned at his surprise. ~You're like a diamond but she treats you like glass.~ She dropped her outstretched hand, then clasped both together as if in prayer. ~Yet you beg her to love you but me you won't ask.

~If I was your woman. If I was your woman. If I was your woman here's what I'd do. I'd never, never, no, no, stop lovin you.~

'Perhaps I misjudged her,' Sesshoumaru thought as Kagome tossed her head to the side. 'She's an alright performer, I suppose, though she could use a little work.' Myouga studied Sesshoumaru out the corner of his eye, his years in dealing with the young man giving him privy to the nearly emotionless stare. 'It's his eyes,' Myouga thought to himself as he watched the nearly yellow / honey brown orbs carefully. 'They give him away. He's intrigued by the girl, and that my friends…' He sighed as he leaned against the wall behind him and crossed his arms behind his head. 'Is a good thing.'

****

SF: Forgive me for that 'It's a good thing.' I watched Martha Steward Living before I typed this chapter.

****

Sesshoumaru watched when she tossed her hat to the side and shook a cascade of wavy, black hair free. The result left her looking wild, untamed, and…'Enchanting…'

~Life is so crazy and love is unkind. Because she was first darling will she hang on your mind? You're part of me but you don't even know it.~ Kagome turned her head to the side shyly and occasionally snuck peaks at her 'audience'. ~I'm what you need but I'm too afraid to show it. If I was your woman. If I was your woman. If I was your woman here's what I'd do. I'd never, never, no, no, stop lovin you.~

Kagome waited until the others finished the song, then turned happy eyes to Sesshoumaru. "So…" she began. "What did you think?"

"Acceptable, I suppose," Sesshoumaru replied as his stoic mask dropped back in place. "You need work, but you will do."

"Well gee, thanks," Kagome grumbled sarcastically. "Now what?"

"Now you learn the schedule." Sesshoumaru waited while Myouga passed Kagome, Sango and Rin their contracts before explaining. "I suggest you read those carefully, because they explain exactly what percentage you get of our pay and things as such."

"Ok, but we already know the schedule," Rin interrupted. "You do?" Sesshoumaru replied skeptically. "What is it, if I may ask?"

"Practices are on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday," Rin said.

"Gigs are normally on Friday and Saturday," Sango said next.

"And the practices on Monday, Wednesday and Friday are between 4:30 to 8:00," Kagome answered last. Sesshoumaru applauded in approval. "Very good. I see you've spoken to the others. However, the background singers only have to be here on Mondays and Fridays, plus the gigs. You-" he smiled at Kagome, "have to be here for every practice."

"Alright then," Kagome said with a smile that matched Sesshoumaru's. "So, what now?"

"Normally we practice on original songs, but since I didn't figure you on passing this little test-" he smirked inwardly at Kagome's frown "I haven't written anything for you to sing. I should have something ready by next week, so practices are canceled until Monday. Then we may begin."

"So what, we just go home?" Sango asked. Sesshoumaru nodded. "Unless you would like to stay here, I would suggest you go home."

"Yes!" Inuyasha cried out as he and the others began to pack their stuff. "A free week! Now that's what I'm talking about! How about you three come with us and hang out!"

"Well-"

"Alright!" Rin agreed, ignoring Kagome's frown at being interrupted as Rin and Sango dragged her behind the other band members. "Where are we going?"

Sesshoumaru remained in his own world while everyone left, waiting until Myouga passed the threshold and closed the door behind him before sighing and opening his eyes. 'I've never actually written a song for anyone else,' he thought as he picked up a sheet of paper and a pencil. 'So I'm not entirely sure what her mood would be. I guess she could-' He looked up when the door opened again, smiling a true smile as an older woman with the same silver hair as his walked in the door.

"How's my baby?" she asked as she hugged his shoulders and kissed the top of his head.

"Aw Mom," Sesshoumaru groaned and patted her hands. "Do you have to call me that?''

"Yes, I do," she giggled before peering over his shoulder. "What 'cha doin'?"

"I'm supposed to be writing a song for our new lead, but I don't know a thing about her," he answered.

"What does she look like? Is she the tall one with the brown eyes?"

"No," Sesshoumaru answered with a shake of his head. "She's the short one dressed like a Catholic school reject."

"Her? She seems nice dear. I'm sure whatever you come up with will be great." She pressed a loud, embarrassing kiss to his temple. "Now don't work too hard and don't forget about dinner."

"Gee, thanks Mom," Sesshoumaru called, then waited until she disappeared on the other side of the door to wipe the side of his head. 'I can't believe her sometimes,' he griped as he focused once again. 'But she's right. I normally write decent songs, so why should it stop now?' He sighed to himself and played a few notes, making sure to concentrate on the song he was creating and not the girl; no, woman he was creating it for.

----

SF: Well folks, that's the start of the attraction right there.

Silver Fox: You want to know what I noticed?

SF: What's that?

Silver Fox: That Sesshoumaru lives with his Mom! (starts laughing)

SF: Silver, shut up! You live between your mom and my mom, so you can't say anything! Or, you live between your mom's refrigerator and my mom's.

Kagome: Yeah, and so what if he lives with his mother! I noticed the way he talked to his mom! He was actually nice!

SF: Of course! It's his mother! In this story, we'll get to see two sides of Sesshoumaru. One side will be what the outside world sees, and the other is the way he treats his mother. There's a reason for this other than the obvious, but you guys won't know it until somewhere in the middle of the fic. The next chapter of 'A Breaking Point' is chapter four: Performance Anxiety.