InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Demons Within Us ❯ The First Battle ( Chapter 9 )

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

Kagome fidgeted nervously with her sticks as she watched the band before them perform. They were good, real good.

“Stop it.”

Kagome looked up to see InuYasha glaring at her over his shoulder. She held her sticks tightly to her chest and nodded sheepishly.

He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest as he watched the band. “They have no spark, the bass is dull, and you can't hear what the fucker is saying since he's screaming the damn song.”

Kagome giggled before she quickly held it in check.

InuYasha eyed her over his shoulder and she thought she could see a small grin on his face.

“I think I see Shippou.” Sango peered out at the crowd. It was amazing to find anyone since the stadium was packed with close to ten thousand people.

Kagome craned her neck and smiled. It was a bit much for all of the children to come watch, but a few of the older ones made it. In the distance she could see Lady Kaede, Shippou, Ayame, Hojo, Jim, Souten, Kanna and Kohaku. She barely recognized Kohaku, since he had his hair spiked and wore black liner around his chocolate eyes.

“Looks like you have an admirer.” Sango grinned.

“No.” Kagome smiled. “I have family.”

“This vomit was brought to you by another Kodak moment.” InuYasha gagged on his finger.

Kagome slapped his arm and laughed.

InuYasha grinned in spite of himself and nudged her back with his arm before catching himself. Did he just play with her? He turned his back to her, shaking off the feeling as he gazed up at the crowd with them. He quickly crossed his arms and leered over at Kouga. “I see Baby Spice came to wish you well.”

Kouga smirked as he looked up at Ayame. None of the Shikon crowd seemed to notice the band staring up at them as they cheered politely at those on stage.

Kouga grinned at the look of boredom on Ayame's face as she watched the current rock band perform. `That's my girl.' His navy eyes flicked to InuYasha. “Jealous?”

InuYasha rolled his eyes. “Of what?”

“I don't see any tall, fair and gorgeous creatures out there waiting for you.” Kouga sneered.

“Sure he does,” Miroku grinned and pointed, “right over there.”

All eyes searched the front row and InuYasha's mouth dropped in disgust at seeing Sesshomaru sitting stoically by himself. “Fucking asshat!”

Everyone busted laughing as InuYasha turned and nailed Miroku in the arm.

“Ow! I got to play with that arm!” Miroku laughed and rubbed his bicep.

They moved out of the way as the last band walked off of the stage. InuYasha inadvertently stepped in front of Kagome, shielding her from being hit by the one of the performer's guitar.

Her eyes nearly closed as she breathed him in. He smelled so warm and spicy sweet. She wanted to melt against him before his voice woke her from her dazed state.

“Watch it, moron.” InuYasha seethed and crossed his arms.

Kagome blinked herself out of her reverie and peered around InuYasha's body. She frowned as she recognized the man as the one down by the water table.

Jet turned at InuYasha's insult and was about to retort when his eyes fell on Kagome. His eyes roamed her body seductively. “Well, Hello Kitty.”

She unconsciously stood closer to InuYasha but there was no need as the silver haired man stepped back, hiding her from Jet's view.

“I suggest if you like to keep your whiny voice you'll walk away now before I rip your goddamned throat out.” InuYasha growled.

Jet's eyes hardened as he glared up at InuYasha. “Whatever, man, she's a bad fuck anyways.”

InuYasha's eyes flared fire and he lunged at the man, but his hand was held in a warm grip. He turned back furiously, only to be caught off guard by smiling blue eyes.

“They called our name, InuYasha. We're up.”

He wrenched his hand from hers and shot his gaze back to the fucker he was about to kill, but Jet was already too far to reach. He stared back down at Kagome. What the fuck came over him? He actually protected her? He never gave a shit what anyone thought about anyone before. But somehow having that ass-stain say stuff about Kagome made him want to kill everything around her. His eyes narrowed as he fought back the feeling. What was she doing to him?

“InuYasha?” Kagome tilted her head softly.

“Well, get out there!” He barked.

Kagome just smiled and she headed out on the stage. She barely heard the applause over her racing heart as she sat down at the drums. Her eyes drifted over to her band mates. Kouga adjusted his bass, while Miroku and Sango moved to opposite sides of the stage carrying their guitars. Sango was going to play electric with Miroku during this song, since the keyboard didn't fit in the method. Soon after, InuYasha jogged on to the stage and grabbed the mike from the stand. Several in the crowd erupted at the sight of InuYasha and she could tell they were avid fans. Her heart swelled with pride for him.

“Evening, Kyoto.” His voice was like velvet as he spoke to the crowd. “It's only fair they save the best for last. And here we are…. Perdition!”

Kagome pounded the drum and the guitars thundered around her. Her eyes watched hypnotically as InuYasha moved smoothly across the stage. His silver hair looked like strands of silk as it flowed around his back and shoulders, ignited against the black t-shirt and jeans he wore. This was his element. Music was his power, and tonight he was in full force.

Never again will I be dishonored
And never again will I be reminded
Of living within the world of the jaded
They kill inspiration
It's my obligation
To never again, allow this to happen
Where do I begin?
The choices are endless
Denying the sin
My art, my redemption
I carry the torch of my fathers before me

Sango, Miroku and Kouga stood parallel to InuYasha as they sang to the crowd in chorus.

The thing I treasure most in life cannot be taken away
There will never be a reason why I will surrender to your advice
To change myself, I'd rather die
Though they will not understand
I won't make the greatest sacrifice
You can't predict where the outcome lies
You'll never take me alive

InuYasha fisted the air, and the crowd screamed.

I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive

He moved like a seraph along the stage, his voice haunted and alluring as he mesmerized the audience.

Change again, cannot be considered
I rage again, dispelling my anger
Where do I begin?
The choices are endless
My art, my redemption, my only salvation
I carry the gift that I have been blessed with
My soul is adrift in oceans of madness
Repairing the rift that you have created
I am not alone, brothers, give me your arms now

He backed up to join in line with his guitarists, singing in perfect sync with them.

The thing I treasure most in life cannot be taken away
There will never be a reason why I will surrender to your advice
To change myself, I'd rather die
Though they will not understand
I won't make the greatest sacrifice
You can't predict where the outcome lies
You'll never take me alive

InuYasha stared out at the crowd. His golden eyes pierced at them, challenging them to take him on.

I'm no slave
Are you feeling brave?
Or have you gone out of your mind?
No more games
It won't feel the same
If I hold my anger inside
There's no meaning
My soul is bleeding
I've had enough of your kind
One suggestion, use your discretion
Before you label me blind

He looked down as his voice carried out to the furthest corners of the stadium, enhanced by the beat of Kagome's drums and the subtle rhythms of the guitars. He chanced a glance back at Kagome. Her body glistened with her sweat and long strands of her hair framed her face. Her mouth was open slightly as she panted and her eyes were fierce as she pounded her body in tune to the beats she stroke. She looked like a goddess, beautiful and full of blue fire. He watched her a moment longer before looking up at the crowd.

The thing I treasure most in life cannot be taken away
There will never be a reason why I will surrender to your advice

Perdition thundered into his song and the lights flared around them.

To change myself, I'd rather die
Though they will not understand
I won't make the greatest sacrifice
You can't predict where the outcome lies
You'll never take me alive

His eyes flashed up to his massing flock, which were captured in the soul of his voice.

I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive

The crowd erupted in ferocious applause and stood in masses around the stadium.

Kagome smiled. Her family had stood up during the song, so enamored with it along with the rest of the audience. They cheered and called to her, waving furiously. She began to laugh between her pants. She could see why InuYasha soaked this up so much. The feeling was amazing.

“Come on, Kagome!” Sango laughed as they began to jog off the stage. Kagome grinned and followed quickly behind.

“What do we do now?” Kagome panted once they were off the stage.

“We wait.” InuYasha said. He was also panting as he stared out at the stage as the announcer came up.

Kagome looked up at him and her mouth went dry. His hair was dampened by sweat, and he flicked it back with his fingers. That same sweat glistened down his neck, chest and back, slicking his t-shirt against his upper body, which shuddered as he heaved in gulps of air. His eyes were alight with a fire she never seen in them before. He reminded her of Michael, God's anointed angel of war. He stood so proud, so commanding and so mighty, just below God himself.

InuYasha turned to catch her staring and his eyes widened at what he saw. Her eyes shone like the heavens, blue skies marked by bright stars, and she looked at him as if he were the brightest star of them all. InuYasha swallowed between his pants, trying to unclog his throat that felt constricted all of a sudden. Never in his life had he ever deserved what her eyes revealed. If she could bless him one more moment of that look he would gladly fall to his knees before her.

A crowd of squealing girls rushed past them, breaking their eye contact. InuYasha blinked heavily as he numbly watched the group run up to the stage.

Sango shook her head and frowned. “Three bands to go on to the second competition and one of them had to be a fucking pop band.”

Miroku hugged her shoulders. “Well, we don't live in a perfect world where everyone hates pop music.”

Sango giggled and rested her head on his shoulder.

InuYasha cast his eyes back to Kagome and his heart lurched. She was looking at the floor. Her eyes were distant and mouth slightly open as if she had witnessed something that had shocked her to the core.

“Hey?”

Her eyes shot up to meet his. Confusion and innocent desire eddied in her depths.

InuYasha was stunned for a moment. What had he done to make her look at him like that? He mentally shook himself. Whatever it was, it put her in the perfect place to be set up and knocked down. But somehow he couldn't bring himself to go near her. His eyes drifted down to her lips and his chest tightened. One true kiss wouldn't make him a martyr would it?

“Perdition!”

All eyes shot up to the stage.

“Oh my God!” Sango screamed and threw herself into Miroku's arms.

InuYasha looked at the stage, confused as his mind tried to get back on track. They won? He blinked. They won! His mouth quirked into a relieved smile as he pushed his band up to the stage and followed after.

“Congratulations!” The announcer beamed, and bowed to each member. The other two bands on the stage cheered politely.

InuYasha cast his eyes around the crowd, smiling and winking at a few fan girls, before his gaze fell on a sight that both terrified and eased him all at once. He quickly turned to watch the announcer as he spoke to the audience and several television cameras.

“These three bands will continue on to the next competition, held in Tokyo. They will compete with bands all across Japan, and if they win, will be given the opportunity to go on to compete in the Battle of the Orient, held in Hong Kong. Stay tuned next Friday for our second battle in War of the Bands!”

InuYasha had to keep from rolling his eyes at the corny broadcast before they were ushered off the stage.

One week. They had one week to be ready for Tokyo. His heart felt chilled all of a sudden and he felt slightly sick. A lot was at stake, more than he cared to realize. His eyes roamed over to Kagome. At that moment he needed something more to believe in.

-+-

“Oh Kagome, you guys were amazing!” Ayame ran over to them in the parking lot and hugged the drummer fiercely, letting Kagome go with barely enough air to breathe. Her green eyes danced happily as she jumped up and hugged Kouga tightly. “Kouga, I never heard anything so awesome!”

The bass player flushed slightly, catching her in his arms. He gently placed her back on the ground and smiled shyly down at her before he hefted his guitar case to put in the back of the van as they packed up.

Kagome laughed, still on the high from the competition. “Thanks Ayame.” She gazed over at the green station wagon in the parking lot. Jim, Souten and Shippou were making faces at them from the back seat window and Kaede was scolding them from the passenger side. “Where are Kohaku, Kanna and Hojo?”

“They got tired of waiting for you to get changed and such so they went back to the House.” Her eyes twinkled mischievously.

Kagome eyed her suspiciously. “What are you up to?”

Ayame feigned innocence then let her eyes darken in glee. “So where is he?”

“He?” Kagome looked away and flushed.

“Yeah, Mr. High and Mighty himself.”

Laughter echoed over to them as Sango and Miroku walked up to the van to place the last of the equipment in.

“High and Mighty?” Sango chuckled.

Ayame nudged Kagome. “Your little drummer's angry nickname for your singer. Where is he? We'd love to meet him.”

Kagome blushed and turned. “I haven't seen him since we got off the stage.”

Miroku shrugged. “He was still in the dressing room when I left about twenty minutes ago.”

“Heh, just like the guy to fuck off somewhere and leave us to do the work.” Kouga griped.

Ayame cleared her throat softly and looked at him with smiling eyes.

Kouga grimaced sheepishly. “Sorry.”

Kagome giggled. “I'll get him. I wanted to congratulate him before I left anyways.”

Everyone nodded as they chatted idly by the van.

Kagome jogged back into the stadium and down to the dressing rooms. Her heart thundered slightly as she neared the room the boys used. After the concert tonight Kagome couldn't stop thinking about him. He seemed much more reachable, personable almost. Sure he was still rough around the edges, but tonight he just seemed like himself around her. She grinned as she approached the door. She could come to like that in him. InuYasha being himself.

She lifted her hand to knock but was caught unawares by his voice inside.

“Oh fuck….”

Startled, Kagome knocked on the door. “InuYasha? Are you alright?”

“Fucking Jesus!”

She could hear him stumble around in the room. She bit her lip anxiously as he fumbled for the lock on the door, his voice muttering something she couldn't make out.

“InuYasha?”

The door opened slightly as InuYasha looked down at her. He seemed pale and dazed.

Kagome's eyes widened at the sight of his bare chest and toned stomach muscles that ended in a slight V before he hiked his pants up higher and hitched his belt together. Kagome flushed and she looked up at his face. His eyes looked darker, like honey and his hair was up in a ponytail.

He looked at her in confusion as if not recognizing her, eyeing her up and down as he finished tying his belt.

“Yeah?”

She smiled up at him, finally catching her breath. “Hi. I was… um….” Her gaze flicked to the door before she allowed them to look into his eyes once again. “I like your hair like that. It doesn't hide your face. I can see how handsome you are.”

His eyes widened slightly as he gazed at her fully before he looked down uncomfortably. “Is there a reason why you're here?”

“Oh.” She flushed and cleared her throat, trying to gain semblance of her thoughts. “Yeah, my family would love to meet you. I … I was hoping that you….”

“I'm busy.” He growled low that it almost sounded like a mumble.

Kagome's smile fell somewhat. “Oh.” She sighed and her breath hitched. She frowned at him. “Are you smoking in there?”

InuYasha stumbled as the door he was holding opened wider, revealing a topless woman, wearing nothing but a red lace thong. Kagome paled as she recognized the woman from the gray Lexus.

Kikyo lifted the joint from her mouth and popped it in InuYasha's slack lips. She blew the heavy smoke in Kagome's face.

“We… are busy. Is there something you needed, little girl?” Her lips curled in a sneer as she pressed her tits hard against InuYasha's back. Deftly, she wrapped her long arms around his waist to massage the dying bulge at his crotch, watching Kagome all the while.

InuYasha grunted angrily, pulling the joint from his mouth. “Damn it, Kikyo, get the fuck back in there.” He pushed the woman's arms from around him and thrust the joint into her hand.

Kikyo looked up at him in shocked anger and then shrugged. She gave Kagome a spiteful leer and headed back into the room.

InuYasha stepped from the room and shut the door. He seemed to struggle to find something to say but Kagome beat him to it.

“You're busy.” She smiled up at him, though he could see her face was pale. “Maybe you can meet them some other time?”

She turned to go but quickly spun around to face him. “Oh, I almost forgot.” Her lips struggled to smile and her blue eyes wavered down to the ground. She let out a shaky breath before she gazed up at him with the brightest blue he had ever seen and the kindest smile he could ever been given.

“You were amazing. I never felt more alive than I was with you tonight. And I just wanted to let you know that I'm proud of you. We made it because of you.” She looked at him, as if half expecting him to say something before she nodded slightly to herself. “Goodnight, InuYasha, see you at practice.” She turned and jogged to the stairs and up out of his sight.

InuYasha watched her go in a state of shock. His eyes cast to the floor as he tried to figure out just what happened. For some reason the fact that she caught him with Kikyo repulsed him and made him feel bitterly sick. But why did he care? If the church mouse got hurt it was her own damn fault. Not like she was anything to him.

Then why did he find it hard to breathe when those damn blue eyes looked at him with the same blameless expression? She had to know what he was doing. He cast his eyes to the stairs. She knew exactly what he was doing. Other than shock at seeing Kikyo, nothing seemed to faze her. She smiled at him and praised him. The light in her eyes never went out. No, that was a lie. For a moment he saw it flicker dark, but just as quickly it was back, and brighter than before. She was just as pure, and just as untouchable as ever. And what amazed him the most was that it seemed no matter what he did, she never condemned him.

InuYasha inhaled the stagnant air of the hallway before turning back to the dressing room door. `She said I was handsome. She said I was amazing. She said she was proud of me….' His eyes flicked to the stairs one last time before he went reluctantly into the room. It was at that moment he realized he would never be able to put out her flame. And it was then he realized he didn't want to.

A/N: I'm Alive, performed by Disturbed. One of my favorite bands. Also, I drew a few pictures to give an illustration how the characters may look. I'll add on pictures when chapters develop since I don't want to give any spoilers. Happy reading and please review if you like the story. It encourages me to know people are liking it so I'll write more.

http://www.mediaminer.org/fanart/view.php/190745

Revised chapter to add more kids. Sorry, felt odd having so few children from the orphanage come.