InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Demons Within Us ❯ Crack ( Chapter 6 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

“Where the fuck is he?” Sango paced back and forth in the stockroom, her voice nervous and upset.

Kagome watched her worriedly. She hated seeing her friend so distressed. InuYasha hadn't shown up for practice since the fight four nights ago, and now the band waited in the stockroom at E.Z. hoping for him to show.

“He'll be here, he's never missed a show.” Miroku frowned. He wanted to believe what he just said but there was no point. He hadn't been able to reach his friend since Monday and knew InuYasha was most likely fucked over from whatever he managed to get off of Kikyo. He just prayed the man wasn't dead.

“I swear to God!” Sango yelled as she paced across the room.

“Swear to God that we will do our best, and we will make it through tonight.” Kagome stated softly.

Sango glared at her before slumping her shoulders. “Damn it, Kagome, this is serious. People here will most likely be at the competition next week. If they like us here means they'll vote for us next week. We can't fuck up tonight.” Tears began to rim her eyes as she tried to fight her fear. “God, Kagome, I need this. I need to get out of this city and make a life for myself.”

Kagome looked at her stunned before turning to Kouga and Miroku. Both looked pissed beyond belief, but extremely worried too. She knew what this meant to them. She had gotten to know her band mates over the last few weeks. Though they had kept much to themselves about their personal lives, Kagome was able to piece together their pasts.

Kouga used to be in a gang before he joined the group. All he had was his fists and wit before he cleaned up his act and got a job. Miroku was a mail sorter, working contract, because he could never hold a stable position. Sango never talked much about her past, mentioning once about having a brother. But Kagome knew she worked mornings at a small diner, barely making ends meet. They were all alone before they were brought together by InuYasha and formed Perdition. In reality, they had only each other.

To the three that stood in the room with her, the War of the Bands was not a matter of money and prestige. They needed it to survive. They were taking a massive gamble going into it, and Kagome knew it was their last chance. If they didn't make this, they may not make it all. Her heart fell. She couldn't let them fail. She won't let them fail.

Her eyes turned ice as she looked at them. “We'll get through this.” She walked over to the door. “We have another twenty minutes, I'll check to see if he's out there.”

Kagome walked quickly down the hallway to the side entrance of the small stage. Her eyes looked over the set up before looking out at the crowd. The bar was full and loud. How was she to ever find anyone in this?

“Kagome!”

Kagome spun around, her heart in her throat.

Ayame jogged over towards her with Hojo in tow.

“Ayame? Hojo? What are you doing here?” Kagome felt her stomach clench.

“Wow, Kaggy, look at you. Very hot.” The red haired girl grinned.

Kagome blushed, looking down at her black leather outfit. The pants were ripped along her thighs and calves, as was the front of the shirt, just barely hiding her breasts. Her hair was the usual stage ponytail and she wore the trademark make-up. It was definitely not the uniform for an orphanage director. She fidgeted her hands to hide her chest. “Um, thanks. Why are you here, though?”

Ayame looked back at Hojo who was eyeing her intently and nudged him gently. “Shippou told us you were playing here tonight, so me and Hojo came to see you perform before your big day. Why didn't you tell us you were playing tonight?”

Kagome glanced down at her suit as if to state the obvious and sighed. “We might not be, we can't find InuYasha anywhere.”

The red haired girl looked worried. “Oh, Kags. I'm sorry. I'm sure he'll show. Besides, it's not like I was ever on time when we played together.”

Kagome's eyes flashed up to look at Ayame and Hojo. She was right. Not the fact that Ayame was always late, but the fact that she, Hojo and Ayame played music together. It was the three of them that made the original band at Shikon House, replaced by newer children when the older ones grew up or left the orphanage. Kagome eyed Ayame and Hojo quickly.

Ayame's strawberry hair hung down in soft waves, haloing the white tank top she wore with tight white hip huggers. The red symbol of the Templar Cross was plastered across her full breasts. Hojo was dressed in sharp black casuals, with a black t-shirt covered by a light blue over shirt.

Kagome's eyes were calculating as she looked at both of her friends and a slow smile itched across her lips.

“Kagome? I know that look.” Ayame's green eyes widened as she backed up slightly, pushing Hojo back with her before Kagome grabbed both of their hands.

“God works in mysterious ways.” Kagome grinned. “I need your help.”

Both friends looked at each other before they nodded to her.

Kagome led them to the back of the bar and into the storeroom where her band mates waited.

“Take off your shirt, Hojo.”

The dark haired man stopped short as soon as he entered the room. “What?”

Kagome grabbed some gel and a comb before rounding on him. “Just the blue one.”

His brown eyes looked at the group of leather-clad people nervously before removing his shirt.

“Kagome? What's going on?” Sango looked at the newcomers warily.

Kagome flashed her eyes over at Miroku. “You said InuYasha never misses a show?”

Miroku shook his head. “Never. I've seen him play when he had a massive hangover. It wasn't pretty.”

Kagome nodded as she began to spike and ruffle Hojo's hair. “Good, I'm buying us some time.”

“Kagome?” Kouga quickly checked out Ayame before he looked at Hojo in displeasure.

“These are my friends, Hojo and Ayame. They're going to sing.”

“What!?” They all yelled.

Kagome smirked as she looked over at them. “You guys know how to play `Lies'?”

“Evanescence? Old song, but yeah, why?” Miroku frowned.

Ayame's mouth dropped. “Oh, gee, Kags, we haven't done that routine in years, I don't think we can….”

“We have to.” Kagome looked over at them. “Please, we need to do something or our chances next week will fall.”

Everyone looked around.

“Okay.” Miroku grinned slightly. “What do you need us to do?”

Kagome smiled. “Have faith.”

- -

Kagome jogged over to her band that hid behind the stage. “Okay, told the crew what needed to be done. You guys ready?”

Everyone looked anxious but nodded.

Kagome grinned and looked over at Hojo. He was wearing only his black t-shirt and black casual pants. His brown hair was spiked haphazardly and dark liner rimmed his brown eyes making his countenance look handsome, mysterious and wickedly hungry. Ayame just had green eyeliner to enhance the light green of her eyes. The rest of her looked pristine and perfect. “You guys look great, this will blow them away.”

The lights to the bar lowered, casting the scene into darkness. The crowd began to clap and cat call as Perdition went to their assigned places.

Kagome shook slightly in nervous tension and closed her eyes. `Father, please, let it be okay. Give them strength.'

She clasped her hands to her chest and breathed in deep. Releasing her breath, she steadily began to call out her voice, soft and mournful, into the dark. Slowly, a blue light shone on her from above, making her the only sight the audience could see. She stood in the middle of the stage, looking down as if in prayer. Her voice was the only sound the audience could hear. Suddenly, Ayame's voice followed beside hers, higher and softer. A yellow light brightened above the delicate redhead, casting an ethereal look as she stood to Kagome's left.

Slowly the lights began to grow around them as the band began to play: Sango at the keyboard, Miroku at the electric guitar and Kouga on the drums.

Just as the music cut into a hard beat, Kagome collapsed on her hands and knees as if she was suffering. Ayame looked sharply over at her, symbolizing an angel watching over her as Kagome fervently endured her bitter torment.

Just then a red light cast over to Kagome's right as Hojo stalked over to her in a hunted heat. His lean build and tight frame look absolutely ravishing in the red halo around him, signifying perfectly his role as a demon pursuing her. The red, blue and yellow that surrounded the three cast a rainbow around the band as Hojo stood over her, looking down at her with an evil smirk. He pulled her body roughly against his leg as he spoke heavily down at her.

Bound at every limb by my shackles of fear
Sealed with lies through so many tears
Lost from within and pursuing the end
I fight for the chance to be lied to again

Kagome broke away from his grasp and looked down. Her body slumped as she believed the lies the `demon' was placing in her head. In sullen fear she sang with him.

You will never be strong enough
You will never be good enough
You were never conceived in love
You will not rise above

Her head shot up as she looked out at the crowd and she slowly stood. Her ice blue eyes appeared unearthly and beautiful by the spotlights around her. Her face shone with terrified need, acting oblivious as the `demon' and `angel' moved to stand on opposite sides of her. Kagome's hands roamed her body as if she wanted to relieve some ache but too afraid to touch herself.

They'll never see
I'll never be
I'll struggle on and on to feed this hunger
Burning deep inside of me

Her head shot to the side as the `demon' pressed his frame against her back, stroking her sides as he spoke the next verse down to her.

But through my tears breaks a blinding light
Birthing a dawn to this endless night

As he spoke, the `angel' moved languidly behind them and called softly as she watched Kagome become tormented by the `demon' that controlled her. Her song was only a whisper compared to the rest of them, but she was still there among the turmoil of the devil's voice.

Hojo's arms slowly extended out as if his body was martyred on a cross. At the same time he looked lustily down at Kagome who had slowly lifted her arms to caress his body behind her.

Arms outstretched, awaiting me
An open embrace upon a bleeding tree

The `angel' stopped singing as the `demon' began to roam his hands over Kagome's body once again. In response, Kagome's head fell back on his shoulder and her body thrust with need as she sang with him.

Rest in me and I'll comfort you
I have lived and I died for you
Abide in me and I vow to you
I will never forsake you

Hojo pushed her away from him in bitter disgust and Kagome fell to the floor. She gazed around the stage as if looking for something in a daze. It was obvious to the audience that Kagome could not see Ayame, her `angel,' that moved to stand behind her, as she searched for the `demon' that pleasured her so.

Hojo seemed to walk at arms length, enticing her, but never allowing her to have him. He grinned darkly as she beckoned to the audience with her song, clasping her arms around her body as she tried to shake off the need within herself.

They'll never see
I'll never be
I'll struggle on and on to feed this hunger

Burning deep inside of me

Kagome slowly stood in front of Ayame and bowed her head in neglect, as if she was cast away from the world. Ayame lifted her hands and head, begging to be heard by the lost sheep in front of her. Yet Kagome still sang her torment in desperate prayer, not knowing she already had an angel with her.

They'll never see
I'll never be
I'll struggle on and on to feed this hunger
Burning deep inside of me

Ayame's sweet voice flooded over the music with Kagome's last line, haunted and alone.

The raven-haired woman lifted her head to gaze out to the audience as if pleading for someone to save her. Ever so sweetly, Ayame wrapped her arms around her from behind, melding their bodies closer in a comforting embrace. Closing her eyes, Kagome lifted her face up to the ceiling and called out her voice in release of her torture.

Softly, Ayame's voice followed hers, off sync, but melodic and soft. Slowly, Kagome looked to show signs of peace as she rested her back against the angel behind her.

Hojo appeared to be furious as he watched his conquest be taken away from him. He paced around the two women, his body eager and tense. Suddenly he wrenched Kagome from her `angel' and pulled her heavily against his chest, grinding his body hard against hers. His voice was filled with fury as he screamed down at her.

Rest in me and I'll comfort you
I have lived yet died for you
Abide in me and I vow to you
I will never forsake you

Kagome pushed away from him. Her face showed anger and resentment towards him. She backed up towards the `angel' again, turning her face away from the `demon' that has tormented her for so long. Her hunger was never spent through her body, and as much as the `demon' tempted her, she desired her soul to be filled. Her voice was strong as she sang, enhanced by the voice of her `angel,' Ayame, who sang with her.

They'll never see
I'll never be
I'll struggle on and on to feed this hunger
Burning deep inside of me

Kagome cast her eyes out to the crowd and let her voice flood the bar as she sang out her fears, cares and doubts. The `demon' looked furious, but he backed up off the stage and into the darkness, knowing he was defeated. The `angel' behind her enveloped her soft white arms around Kagome once more, holding her close. Ayame's voice grew and soon entwined with Kagome's, just as strong and just as perfect. Slowly the music faded out, leaving only their voices to grow in sync and slowly stop.

The audience thundered their applause and Kagome couldn't help but smile widely. Ayame had slumped against her back and was laughing in relief as she buried her face in Kagome's shoulder. Looking around, Kagome could see the band was smiling at her and each other.

Kagome flicked her head to the sound crew and a miscellaneous CD came on as the band jogged off the stage and into the hallway beyond.

“Holy fuck, Kagome!” Sango ran into her and hugged her fiercely. “That fucking blew my mind!”

“Damn, Kags!” Kouga picked her up and spun her around, making her laugh out loud. “Damn!”

“Yeah! How did you come up with something like that?” Miroku couldn't stop laughing from happiness as he flung an arm around Sango's shoulders. “You are utterly amazing!”

Kagome smiled brightly. “Hojo, Ayame and I had a band when we were younger. Evanescence was our inspiration. Just something we came up with one winter.”

“Yeah,” Hojo grinned and nudged Kagome with his arm. “Not much else to do growing up at the orphanage.”

Kagome's smiled faded as Sango looked at her stunned before slowly smiling softly at her.

Kagome averted her eyes from the knowing look, but quickly grinned at her friends as they chatted with her band mates.

“I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name.” Kouga smiled slightly down at Ayame, eyeing her with new interest.

She blushed delicately. “Ayame.”

“Kouga.” He winked down at her. “So do you do this professionally?”

Ayame shook her head. “No, I'm not that brave. I work with Kagome at the Shikon House orphanage.”

“Working with kids? Now that's brave.” Kouga smiled.

“You have an amazing voice.” Sango smiled up at Hojo. “What is it you do?”

“I work in administration for non-profit organizations.” Hojo rubbed the back of his neck shyly at her.

“Really? I have thought about opening a half way house for teens.” Miroku perked up. “Any suggestions?”

Hojo's face lit up and soon everyone was chatting animatedly with each other as they walked on to the stockroom.

Kagome smiled softly as she began to leisurely follow them from a distance. It was a relief to have the performance go over so well. She only hoped it gave them the time they needed. Suddenly her back was thrown up against the wall and she was pinned between two muscular arms. Her eyes grew wide as she looked into furious golden depths.

“InuYasha?” Her eyes darted to the stockroom, but everyone had gone inside and the door had swung shut on its own. She looked quickly back at him.

“What the fuck do you think you're doing?” His breath was hot against her face and she could smell a sweet hint of liquor.

She looked at him confused. “Where have you been?”

“Answer me, bitch.” He snarled down at her. His eyes darted up and down her face as if seeking something.

Her eyes searched his in uncertainty. “I don't understand.”

“What was that on the stage?” He pounded a fist furiously against the concrete wall beside her head.

Kagome's mouth opened slightly. “You saw?” She couldn't explain why, but she was nervous and hopeful. Did he like it? Did she do okay for him?

“Fuck yeah, I saw. I saw you nearly fucking some strange guy on the stage with my band as back up! How could you do this to me? How could you ruin this for me?” His voice was low and tight as he tried to control his fury.

Hell yeah, he saw. He had seen the whole thing.

He had jogged into the bar just as the lights went out. Immediately his senses were flooded with the most hypnotic voice he had ever heard. Then she was cast into radiance on the stage. He couldn't pull his eyes away from her. Though Kagome looked beyond sexy in her shredded leather outfit, she held herself in a way that still exuded gentleness. She stood so sad and alone on that stage, yet her countenance revealed hidden comfort and grace. The sight of her amazed him. He had often denied that she was beautiful, but tonight he stopped lying to himself. Why had he never seen it? And why had he never heard her sing before?

Her voice was steady and alluring, beckoning him like a siren's call. It held strength and power that he wanted to drink in as his own. He was stunned her tender frame could emit such force.

He swallowed hard, not realizing his mouth had gone dry, as he listened entranced while she sang. Her song had chilled him as it echoed over the bar, but quickly he burned with rage as some man roamed his hands over her, moving her body in time with his own.

She was not meant to be touched like that. No one could touch her like that. She wasn't supposed to be like that! Not with anyone but him! He was the one she would succumb to! He was the one she would beg for! He would not let anyone take his vengeance away from him!

He had moved steadily though the bar to wait for them after the song was done. He stood near the entrance to the hallway as they ran past, but she never even noticed him. No one had. Instead, they hugged her, praised her and hailed her! And as he watched, he felt himself fall deeper into her and hated her all the more.

Her voice blinked him back into the present.

“Do you think I would do that to you, InuYasha? I only meant to buy some time for you to get here. I would never have done it if I had known it would upset you.” Her eyes sparkled with regret and begged for his understanding.

InuYasha blinked uncertainly. Was she was hurt because she cared she might have upset him? He searched her wide eyes and frowned. Was this girl for real? After all the shit he put her through? After all the names and taunts he threw at her that she easily swept aside, it took one slip, one mention of his emotions, and she crumbles? After all the hell he put her through, she still actually cared about what he felt? Any other person would have told him to go fuck himself, but all she did was look at him with those heavenly eyes, as if he cast no sins upon her.

An overwhelming need to ravish her hit his chest hard, but he fought it back. No, she was just fucking with him. She had to be. No one was that forgiving. She didn't give a shit about what he felt, she was just being her holier-than-thou self.

He eyed her in loathing. Virtuous or not, he'd seen her on the stage with that fucker. She reveled in his touch. She was as sinful as the rest of them. She never fooled him for a second.

The silver haired man leered down at her hatefully. “You're just a whore, Kagome. Letting him touch you like that. I saw your face. You loved it, didn't you, bitch?”

Kagome's eyes widened in shock and confusion as she searched his heated eyes. “Hojo is my friend.”

“Didn't you!” He pounded his fist hard on the wall beside her face. His thoughts thundered against his pained skull. `Admit it, you selfish slut, admit someone else made you feel good. Admit you desire and crave and lust and hunger for a hot touch. Admit you're fucking human!'

Kagome lowered her head and shook it softly before gazing up into his eyes. They looked so serious, so gentle, so fucking honest. “No, InuYasha, he could never make me feel that way.”

InuYasha closed his eyes and felt his forehead fall against hers. He rested against her, feeling utterly spent and tired all of a sudden. Would she never give? No, how could she? She wasn't real. No mortal person could be so good. Why was he even trying to break her anymore?

Damn, his head hurt so much. Kikyo fucked him over royally this time. He couldn't even remember the last three days, only just coming to this morning, naked and on his bathroom floor. Vomit and blood were all over him and the tiles. His chest was covered in what he could only think was knife cuts, which stung heavily because of the bile he lay in. It took most of the day to clean his apartment and himself up, only to realize what day it was.

He had rushed to meet them. He never missed a gig. He was only a few minutes late, only to be stopped by this woman, this untouchable being, as she stood on a stage singing his torment, while another man touched what he unconsciously claimed as his own. Now here she was, as untouchable as ever beneath him, smelling of wild roses and warm summers.

“InuYasha?” Her sweet voice beckoned him gently and serenely.

He reluctantly opened his eyes to be assaulted by the heavens themselves. Her baby blue eyes looked concerned and scared for him, all for him. He just wanted her to stop. He just wanted her for once to fall. Everyone had fallen from grace, yet there she remained, untainted and unmarred. Untouchable her, never been tempted, never been aroused, never been…. His eyes widened slightly and he felt his heart rate begin to rise. He licked his lips slowly.

“Have you ever been kissed, Kagome?” Golden eyes drifted down to her soft lips. “Really kissed?”

Kagome's eyes widened and her breath hitched in her throat. She unconsciously bit her lower lip as she stared up at him quietly. “We should go, the others are….”

InuYasha nudged her nose with his own, stopping her thoughts altogether. He smirked slightly before a small grin settled on his face. “I'm going to take your first kiss, Kagome.”

Kagome gasped as his lips suddenly pressed against hers. They were hard at first but soon relaxed as they moved gently against hers. Her eyes rapidly blinked shut as her lips softened and she slowly let him kiss her. She knew that she shouldn't, that this wasn't right, but her heart and soul won over as she accepted his mouth with certainty.

InuYasha felt his eyes shut heavily and he stifled a moan as he tasted her lips. They were so salty and sweet. He meant to take her lip's virginity hard and hungry, making her first kiss a hated memory, but as soon as he tasted her, he lost the thought. Her full lips seemed to melt into his. They felt so soft, like silk. He had never felt anything so tender and fragile. He thought for sure she would deny him, push him away in anger and revulsion. But she stayed, and pressed her sweetness into him, letting him taste her more.

He dragged his hands away from the wall to cup her face, feeling her soft warm cheeks and satiny tresses. He tilted her head slightly and tentatively touched his tongue against her lips. His eyes nearly rolled in the back of his head as she shyly opened her mouth. Slowly he flicked his tongue in, before pulling her mouth harder against his so he could lap his hungry tongue in deeper. Oh God! She tasted like ambrosia, nectar of the heavens. He ran his tongue along hers and he nearly bucked in desire when her soft appendage flicked shyly against his, tasting him back. She was perfect, so perfect….

His eyes flared open and he pushed himself off of her. What the fuck just came over him? He looked around quickly, before his eyes narrowed onto her. What the fuck was she doing to him? He was about to tell her off before his anger evaporated into uncertainty as he studied her.

Kagome was leaning heavily against the cold wall, staring at him in confused desire. Her normally light eyes looked dark and liquid, and her perfect body was tinted pink. She shuddered softly as she panted to catch her breath.

InuYasha raked his eyes up and down her and he began to laugh. He couldn't believe it. Looking at her flushed face, he could feel his heart harden. So she was human after all. Who knew it would take one kiss to make her stumble from her high perch? He knew now how to bring her down. Bit by bit he would seduce the little virgin until she begged for him to break her. His laugh lapsed into a cold chuckle as he wiped his arm across his mouth, as if trying to rid the taste of her off his lips.

Kagome watched him turn cold in an instant and she blinked heavily to break her from her daze. She stood up from the wall as she tried to gain her composure. She didn't know what had just happened, but she could see he was trying to mock her. Her heart thundered painfully against her chest as she tried to gain sense of it, but she couldn't. The only thing she did know was that he was trying to push her away for whatever reason once again.

She rubbed her arms distractedly and looked everywhere but at him, trying desperately to put herself back in order. She shouldn't have let him get so close to her. He was still against her. She shut her eyes as she steadied herself. He still didn't know that she wasn't out to get him, that she held nothing against him. He still could not trust. She mentally shook her head. No, he wasn't ready, and she could not blame him for it. Her eyes opened to gaze in the direction of the stage. She sighed as she tried to speak clearly, but her voice was soft and low. “They're waiting for you.”

InuYasha stepped toward her and she tried to look into his eyes but kept failing. She averted her gaze to the opposite wall as she automatically stepped back from him as he moved closer.

He smirked as she backed up against the wall and he soon shadowed over her. He wanted to kiss her again, make her fall just a little more, but stopped when he heard the door of the stockroom open.

“InuYasha?” Miroku looked relieved though slightly pissed. “We were wondering about you. Where were you?”

InuYasha flicked his eyes to his friend before looking down at Kagome once again. He stepped back from her a few feet and crossed his arms. “I had something to do.”

Miroku looked from Kagome to InuYasha. He felt unnerved about how his friend was looking at their drummer but now was not the time to ask. “Well, I hope you got it done.”

The golden-eyed man just smirked. “Almost.”

Kagome's eyes widened as she stared up at him. Her eyes finally met his. The confusion and uncertainty were still there, but the innocence looked slightly dimmed. How he wanted to taste her again, steal her soul away little by little. He slowly licked his lips, reveling in the hint of her flavor.

“Kagome?”

InuYasha's eyes flashed in anger at seeing the man from the stage walk towards her.

“You okay?” Hojo searched her face in concern.

Kagome seemed to visibly relax as she looked up at Hojo. “I'm fine, Hojo. You and Ayame should head out and get a seat. Thank you so much for your help.”

Hojo looked at her in uncertainty before darting cold brown eyes at the white haired man standing opposite her. He hated the way the singer looked at Kagome, but Hojo prided himself as being a gentleman. He bowed his head slightly. “Ito Hojo. And you must be the InuYasha that we have heard so much about.”

InuYasha smirked in cold humor. He could take this little shit no problem. His eyes cast briefly to Kagome before settling hard on Hojo. “The one and only.”

Hojo nodded and quickly moved next to Kagome. “Glad you could finally make it. Good luck with the show tonight.”

InuYasha's smirk curved into a malicious grin. He reached out and pulled Kagome roughly beside him. “Don't need luck, Homo. I always get what I want.”

Hojo's mouth opened in protest but did not get a chance to speak.

“Come on.” Kouga growled and pushed past them, holding Ayame's hand. “We got a show to finish.”

“Yeah,” InuYasha glanced quickly down at Kagome before walking towards the stage with her in tow. His face was hungry and dark. “We always finish what we start.”

A/N: Lies, performed by Evanescence. If you can, listen to the song as you read this chapter to get the full effect.