InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Demons Within Us ❯ Leaving Trails ( Chapter 12 )

Kagome stifled a yawn as she waved to the remaining guests as they left. She leaned exhaustively on the doorframe and breathed in the cool night air hoping it would revive a few of her tired senses. The party ran long past midnight and she was about ready to drop.

 

Eri walked past her on the way out and gave her a soft nudge, waking her slightly from her dazed state. “So, Tokyo huh?”

 

Kagome nodded tiredly. “Yeah.”

 

The dark eyed girl grinned mischievously as Yuka and Ayume gathered beside her. “So are you going to tell us about him?”

 

“About who?” Kagome finally let out a yawn.

 

Eri chuckled. “About the fair haired hunk you got for a lead singer. Come on, Kagome, you can't keep it a secret for long.”

 

“Secret?” The blue-eyed woman looked at the three women in front of her in turn. “I have a secret about InuYasha?”

 

“Kagome, no one looks at you like that without feeling something for you.” Ayume smiled knowingly.

 

Kagome flicked her head back in confusion. “Who looks at me like what? And feels what for me?”

 

Yuka was about to respond before she was cut off.

 

“Ladies.”

 

All four turned to see Hojo walking towards them from the doorway of the house.

 

“Hi, Hojo.” Yuka blushed slightly. The other two girls smiled brightly at him. Kagome just grinned at him tiredly.

 

“Can I offer any of you girls a lift?” His eyes danced to each girl in turn before falling softly on Kagome. He smiled shyly. “I couldn't go without wishing you goodbye and good luck. I may not see you until Saturday.”

 

Kagome smiled back. “It's not as long as it seems. I'll be home before you know it.”

 

“Yeah,” Eri giggled, “time flies when you have fun, and I'm sure InuYasha will give you the time of your life.”

 

Kagome blushed faintly and rolled her eyes. “He's just a friend, Eri.”

 

“A friend that I am sure would be willing to give a few benefits.” Yuka winked.

 

All three laughed as Kagome groaned and wiped her face in embarrassment.

 

“Honestly, you girls have no scruples.” Hojo shook his head and forced a grin to his face.

 

“Aw `Jo, we're just making fun of Kags. Besides, it's about time she had some fun, not to mention a boyfriend.” Eri crossed her arms.

 

“Yeah, Kagome. Why not consider it at least?” Ayume cajoled.

 

Hojo forced a laugh. “Kagome doesn't need a boyfriend. She's got me.”

 

Kagome looked at him and grinned. “That's right. I have my friends.” She looked down and shrugged. “Besides, InuYasha already has someone.”

 

All four stared at her.

 

“Aw, dang.” Eri shook her head.

 

“Tough luck, I guess.” Ayume sighed.

 

“Well, at least he's still good to look at.” Yuka hummed.

 

Hojo didn't say anything. He found it hard to keep his anxiety in check as he studied Kagome's distant expression, but just as quickly her face turned bright as she looked over at them.

 

“So are you guys coming over next week?”

 

The girls nodded.

 

“For sure.” Yuka smiled.

 

“Yeah, next Saturday is the charity concert, remember?” Ayume grinned.

 

Kagome blinked in confusion before her eyes widened. “Oh no! I completely forgot it was this Saturday!”

 

“No sweat, Kags.” Ayame smiled as she walked outside with Kouga to join them. “Hojo and I already have the arrangements done and the paperwork signed. All you need to do is show up and cheer them on.”

 

Kagome looked from Ayame to Hojo and back. She shook her head sadly. “I can't believe I forgot all about it though.”

 

“Kagome.” Ayame chastised. “No one can blame you for it. You've been super busy, but as of this morning you're on vacation. There is nothing you need to worry about except winning those competitions. Besides, you're home on Saturday so you won't miss them perform.”

 

The raven-haired woman vehemently shook her head. “No way would I miss this.”

 

“Miss what?” Kouga raised a brow in question.

 

Ayame looked up at him with pride glowing on her face. “The first concert of the Shikon House orphanage band. They're playing down by the waterfront.”

 

“I hope they'll come up with a better name than that.” Eri smirked.

 

Ayame sighed exasperatedly, recalling the many fights the boys had over the name. “It's still in the works.”

 

“So the kids are going downtown on the streets to perform?” Kouga smirked. “They've got guts.”

 

Ayame nudged him and gave him a playful grimace. “They've got God. Besides, it's more of a benefit to raise money for the Shikon House. If you haven't noticed already it really needs it.”

 

Kouga glanced back at the house, his eyes raking in the chipped paint, rotting floorboards and leaking windows. Until then he hadn't really noticed since everyone around him treated this place like a lived in home not a decrepit refuge. But yeah, looking at it now it really needed work.

 

“Not to mention funding to keep the contract going.” Kagome shrugged. “That's if Perdition doesn't win next week's competition, but I doubt that will happen.” She winked at Kouga.

 

Kouga looked down at her stunned. “You mean you're giving your earnings to the orphanage?”

 

Kagome nodded and smiled softly, looking at the worn down house. “That's the reason why I joined Perdition. To save the orphanage.”

 

Kouga frowned and looked away. More and more this girl surprised him. She had no selfish bone in her body. He never thought to question why she joined the band or what her plans were. He figured it was the same as the rest of them: get rich and get out. It panged him to think what would happen once the competition was over. Would she leave? Go back as director of Shikon House? Or would she stay to keep the band going? He looked at her from the corner of his eye.

 

Kagome smiled and laughed with her friends, so at ease without a care in the world, though now he knew differently. She had every care in the world. She was an angel with a heart of fire, raging and unquenchable. He knew he wasn't the only one who saw it. Hell, anyone with a soul could see it when she drummed. The girl lived to play music. And she lived to save others. Somehow he knew that no matter what happened, she wouldn't abandon her responsibilities, neither to the orphanage nor to Perdition.

 

“Mind if I take your car, Kagome? I'm going to take Kouga home.” Ayame yawned, breaking Kouga from his musings.

 

Kagome nodded. “Yeah, it's fine. Drive safe.” She looked over at Kouga and smiled. She softly wrapped her arms around him and gave him a warm hug. “Thank you for coming, Ko.”

 

The guitarist faltered, unsure what to do at first, but contentedly enveloped her in a hug. She felt so small in his arms and so frail, almost as if he could break her in half if he held her too hard. Rubbing his hands up and down her back he could, for the first time, faintly feel the scars her body suffered when she was a child. He suddenly felt overprotective of her, like he would a younger sister. She was too good for this world, but damn if she wasn't needed. And he'd make sure she was kept safe from anything and anyone. “Anytime.”

 

She pulled back and smiled up at him. “Now what's that look for?”

 

Kouga looked away sheepishly. He hadn't realized he looked so intense. “Nothing.”

 

“It better be nothing.” Ayame joked and grabbed his arm.

 

Kouga looked down at her and smiled slyly. “Do I hear a threat in that angelic voice?”

 

Ayame slid an evil grin on her face. “This angel's got horns. Watch it, mister.”

 

“She does have a mean streak.” Kagome laughed. “I'd watch out.”

 

“Oh?” Kouga wrapped his arms around Ayame and looked down at her hungrily. “Duly noted.”

 

“Ick.” Kagome stuck her tongue out at them in mock revulsion.

 

“Well, Kags, we need to take off, too.” Eri laughed and gave Kagome a quick hug. “Good luck next week.”

 

Yuka and Ayume hugged her as well, wishing her all the best.

 

“Thanks, guys. I'll see you next Saturday.” Kagome grinned.

 

They nodded and headed down the walk, but Yuka stayed and sidled up to Hojo. “About that ride home?”

 

Hojo blushed lightly at her and looked over at Kagome. “Um…. Good luck, Kagome. I'll be thinking about you.”

 

Kouga glanced over at the brown haired man and frowned. He knew the little keener had a crush on Kagome, but did he really expect that schoolboy charm would work on the girl? His eyes narrowed as Hojo gave Kagome a tight hug and discretely inhaled the scent of her hair. Was this kid for fucking real? He watched as Kagome pulled from Hojo's grasp and nudged him away from her, wishing him and Yuka a goodnight. Kouga was proud of her for that. He knew Kagome had no interest in the boy, and proper thing. The guy was dull and listless, not to mention a total momma's boy. Kagome needed someone to keep her fire roaring… and he knew just the person to do it.

 

“If you keep looking at her like that I may get jealous.” Ayame broke his thoughts.

 

Kouga looked down at her and grinned. “Believe me, you have nothing to be jealous of.” He led her to the driveway where Kagome's car was parked and waited by the passenger side door.

 

Ayame waved briefly to Kagome before looking back at him. “Then what was going through your mind just then?”

 

Kouga smirked and looked over at Kagome as she entered the house and closed the door behind her. “I was thinking that I just might be able to repay my debt after all.”

 

“Debt? To whom?”

 

Kouga grinned. “InuYasha.”

 

-+-

 

Kagome stretched out and yawned, her bleary eyes finally focusing on the soft contours of the room she shared with Ayame. A bright light glowed on the walls, reflecting a sunlit day from the window. She laid there contently, listening to the movement of people around the house. Subtle sounds of the children downstairs told her it was definitely Saturday morning.

 

She inhaled deeply as a soft shiver of delight flittered through her body. Today she was officially on `vacation leave' now that Perdition was going to the second competition in Tokyo. Kaede had graciously given her time off since she would not have time for her duties at the orphanage. She smiled lightly at the thought of a week off. She may even get another few weeks off if they make it to the Battle of the Orient.

 

She grinned happily. She was tempted to roll over and fall back asleep, letting the day go to waste, but her superego won over her id and she pulled back the covers to get up. She may not be working, but she still had duties. And her first duty was to answer the call of nature.

 

Twenty minutes later Kagome walked down the stairs, showered, dressed and ready to start the day. She hummed contentedly under her breath as she ate a quick breakfast then went to see what everyone was up to.

 

Several youngsters were sitting open mouthed in front of the T.V. in the living room. It was just their luck that an anime marathon was on. Kagome suppressed a laugh as she watched the kids, wondering when one of them would eventually blink. Apparently it wasn't any time soon.

 

Shaking her head she meandered around the house and backyard, chatting and watching everyone go about their usual activities. It felt good to not have to be involved, but she quickly grew bored.

 

Sighing resolutely, she headed towards the basement to get in a few practice rounds on the drums. Opening the door to the basement she could make out the sounds of the orphanage band practicing downstairs. Smiling, she quietly stepped down the stairs, sitting on a middle step in the shadows to watch.

 

“Shippou, try that last beat again, I think that was the one we needed.” Kohaku stated as he strummed a few chords on the electric guitar that's seen better days.

 

Shippou nodded and tapped the cymbals a few times before rounding the drums to set the tempo. “Like that?”

 

Kohaku nodded. “Great. Shall we try it from the top?”

 

Jim nodded distractedly. The fifteen-year-old strummed a few chords on his electric as he tried to tune his beat up guitar. Kagome smiled at the look of concentration on his face. Jim has been at the Shikon House the longest, arriving here when he was a toddler. He was often the first to help the new comers adjust to the orphanage.

 

He flicked his long black hair from his gray eyes and grunted. “Souten, toss me one of your hair bands, will ya?”

 

Souten, a dark haired girl around the age of thirteen, adjusted the strap of the bass she was playing over her shoulder. She deftly took off one of many bands she had around her wrist and tossed it to the boy.

 

Souten was new compared to the other older children. She lost her parents when she was young and was raised by her two older brothers. Unfortunately, both brothers were in a heavy gang and were wanted for drug trafficking. Souten was considered to be in the way of such dealings and she was quickly discarded by her brothers and left on the street. Eventually, social services brought her here. It took awhile, but she was beginning to warm up to them, especially with the help of Shippou, whom Kagome suspected she had a crush on.

 

Souten nodded briskly to Kohaku. “I think we're good to go, as soon as Kanna gets her bubblegum out of her tambourine.”

 

A fourteen-year-old girl stood in the corner of the room distractedly rolling pink wads of gum from the instrument. Kanna was born an albino and was left abandoned on the streets as a child. She was quickly accepted into the Shikon House when she was six, but the trauma she endured before she came was too much on the girl. She was very soft spoken, and often portrayed her emotions materially, such as today. Her hair was dyed pink and was up in two pigtails. Her clothing was mostly Goth, and she wore a bright t-shirt saying God Has No Religion in bold black letters. She may not speak much, but everything about her was loud.

 

The girl in question glowered over at her band mates. “Not my fault. You dared me in a bubble contest.”

 

Souten laughed. “And you won.”

 

All four children laughed as Kanna tugged the remaining sticky mess from her tambourine.

 

“Are we ready now?” Kohaku grinned.

 

Everyone nodded.

 

“Okay, from the top.” Kohaku strummed lazily on the strings of his guitar, immersing himself in the song.

 

Kagome watched the teenager in awe. Well, not so much a teenager now since he would soon turn eighteen, or so they assumed. She bit her lip as she saw him fold himself into the music.

 

Time has had its way with me.
My broken tired hands can't build a thing.
The wires that have held me still

Embedded now in flesh to find my will.
The idle of my days has won,

The empty I have fed has made me numb,
Despite what you'll find in me;
The failures of my past just swirl beneath.

 

Kagome blinked in sad realization. He was singing about himself. She never knew he would have the courage to put his pain to music, but she was proud he had. She hung her head as the music flooded around her, listening to him as he told his story.

 

I need a heart that carries on through the pain
When the walls start collapsing again.
Give me a soul that never ceases to follow,
Despite the infection within.

Our careless feet leaving trails
Never minding the fragile dirt we all end in.
Our careless feet leaving trails
Never minding the fragile dirt we all end in.

 

 

Kohaku came to Shikon House when he was fourteen. No one knew the extent he witnessed, for the boy had gone into shock and suffered complete amnesia of his past, only remembering his name. He was always aggravated with himself, forcing himself to remember what happened, often working himself sick trying to recover parts of his past. Yet little was he able to recognize or identify. He was a boy with a past hidden in the darkest corner of his mind, and he felt useless against it. He once said he felt like a puppet on strings, acting without will. Kagome could understand where he was coming from. Without a past, it's hard to know where it is you should go. At times it just feels like you are going through the motions, trying to make sense of all around you, wondering it anything near you has any significance at all to you.

 

Kohaku was a special case when it came to faith. He knew he must have suffered something terrible if his mind was protecting him from it. He often felt disjointed, experiencing fear and anxiety at the most odd moments without cause or reason to it. He sometimes would have panic attacks and need to be left alone to sit in a dark corner to let the feeling pass. No one could reach him. Only he could bring himself out. That's why his faith was so unique. He needed to associate himself into two people. The Kohaku he was in person, and the boy that was lost in him. And he needed one heart strong enough to endure both in order to survive: a heart to carry the joys and triumphs he gained, and a heart to carry the pain of a shadowed past. He needed a heart that would carry on into life even when the darkness ate at him.

 

This is where I find my fall

The cares that held me alive don't work at all.
And every step away from here

Is closer to the plague I hold so dear.

I need a heart that carries on through the pain,
When the walls start collapsing again.
Give me a soul that never ceases to follow

Despite the infection within

 

Our careless feet leaving trails
Never minding the fragile dirt we all end in.
Our careless feet leaving trails
Never minding the fragile dirt we all end in.

 

Kagome shuddered at how cold and distant his voice seemed. His song bled deep into her soul and she wished she had the power to find out what happened to him, to release him from the prison he carried. On the outside he seemed like a normal kid. He laughed, he joked, and he played sports. But he had no identity. To those who knew him, he was just Kohaku, and everyone understood what that meant. But for those who didn't know him, Kohaku was an enigma. Almost like a man with no face. He was just there, like a glimmer of light between the clouds, without form or substance. No wonder he fights himself so hard. It must be brutal to have fourteen years of your life hidden from you by your own self. And for a child it's even worse. Does he have family out there? Are they looking for him? Do they love him? How strange it must feel to walk down the road with hopes someone you don't know knows you, the you inside your mind.

Awaiting my end breathing in the day that finds me new.
Redemption begins bleeding out the flaws in place of you.
Awaiting my end breathing in the day that finds me new.
Redemption begins Redemption begins.

 

He drew a picture once. It was a portrait of a teenage girl with long hair and kind laughing eyes. He said he knew her and that she was very special to him, though he never gave the girl in the picture a name or identity. Kagome knew he kept the picture next to his bed. He told her she protected him. She often saw him holding the picture when he was suffering his anxiety attacks. He would stare at it for hours until he finally relaxed and came back out of his shell. Kagome often wondered who the girl was. Was she his sister? A friend? Was she even real? But since it was a picture drawn from a fragmented mind, she would never be able to associate it to any given person. And even if she did, it was a big world to find one person. If only she could. Yet he knew that face as clear as day, and she knew he looked for her in the crowd. She prayed one day he would find her.

 

Our careless feet leaving trails
Never minding the fragile dirt we all end in.
Our careless feet leaving trails
Never minding the fragile dirt we all end in.

 

Our careless feet leaving trails
Never minding the fragile dirt we all end in.
Our careless feet leaving trails
Never minding the fragile dirt we all end in.

 

“Kagome!”

 

The woman cast her eyes over in surprise as Shippou gazed up at her from the drum set.

 

“Did you hear us?” The boy beamed.

 

Kagome smiled and stood, walking the rest of the way down the stairs. “Yeah, Ship, it was incredible. I have never heard this band sound so good.”

 

All the children smiled at her, even Kanna allowed a soft grin.

 

“I'm sorry I haven't been around to help you guys out. But I really don't think you need it. You sound perfect.” Kagome smiled widely.

 

“Yeah.” Kohaku blushed slightly and nervously tweaked his guitar. “A few more rounds and we should be okay.”

 

“Are you coming to the concert, Kagome?” Souten asked.

 

The woman nodded. “Yeah. I'll be in Saturday morning and the concert starts at one, so I'll definitely be there.”

 

“I just hope we're good enough.” Kanna whispered.

 

Kagome grinned down at the girl. “Kanna, the way you guys play together, the faith you have in each other, I'm sure nothing can stand in your way.”

 

The girl just nodded numbly.

 

“So, Kags, are you nervous? You have the second competition coming up.” Jim smirked.

 

“A little. I think I'm more nervous about the promos we have to do during the week. It's one thing to be on stage and be in the back, it's another to be there with a person in front of your face with a microphone. I've never been interviewed before.” Kagome grimaced.

 

Kohaku chuckled. “Better you than me. Don't choke.”

 

Kagome lifted a corner of her lips wryly. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.” She ruffled his dark hair.

 

“Kagome!”

 

Kagome shut her eyes at the wail of Ayame's voice upstairs. “Yeah?” She shouted back.

 

“Phone! It's Sango.”

 

Kagome rolled her eyes. “Well, so much for a day off. I'll see you guys later.”

 

All five nodded their heads and went back to their practice while Kagome ran up the stairs to grab the phone.

 

“S'up, Sango?” She panted into the receiver.

 

“Catch you at a bad time?” Sango joked.

 

“What?” Kagome panted and held her breath. “Oi!”

 

Sango laughed. “You're sounding like InuYasha now. Better be careful you don't pick up any other words.”

 

“Keh.” Kagome laughed.

 

Sango chuckled. “Listen, I got off the phone with Mr. Cheerful himself. He wants to get at it this afternoon. He's gone hardcore mental too. He said to tell you that you could wear whatever the hell you want.”

 

Kagome blinked in shock. “Huh?”

 

“Yeah. That's what I said. Anyways, come by the warehouse at three, okay?”

 

“'Kay, San, see you then.”

 

“Later.”

 

Kagome hung up the phone and frowned. `Wear whatever I want?' Was this a trick? She glanced down at her watch. Twelve thirty. Well, whatever it was, it gave her three hours to go shopping.

 

 

 

A/N: Deteriorate is performed by Demon Hunter. It seemed like an appropriate song for Kohaku. I also wrote this chapter as filler to delve deeper into the characters to get a better understanding of each of them… and it's good for the plot. Anyways, please review. As Robert Martin once said “Taking an interest in what others are thinking and doing is a much more powerful form of encouragement than praise.” Hmm… I guess that means I should be happier with how many hits I have then reviews. But praise is good too.

 

Thanks to all who have reviewed my story so far, you don't know how much strength you given me to carry on with this story.