InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Siren ❯ Chapter 14 ( Chapter 15 )
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama / Comedy | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 08.28.2007 | Pages: 5 | Words: 8.6K | Visits: 324 | Status: Completed
A/N: ...Yeah, ok, I've got no excuse. But hey, there's a lot of ground covered in this one, there's even some fluff. If anything confuses you, either e-mail me or trust that it will be explained later.
Be forewarned, there is quite a bit of music in this chap.
Disclaimer: I own nothing recognizeable. 'Lass', I believe is public property. 'Forgiven' and 'Our Solemn Hour' belong to Within Temptation. All other lyrics belong to Tuomas Holopainen, any alterations to said lyrics are mine. The bridal party's dresses belong to David's Bridal. Rin's is viewable in a deviation by KrisCynical on deviantart.
Kagome’s next day ran considerably smoother. Her last class of the day was nearly finished and they’d known both songs that she’d worked with them on so far. Smiling, she let them put away the second piece.
“Alright,” she nodded from her seat behind the piano. “Pull out ‘Lass From the Low Countree’.”
The young women stared blankly at her, sheet music in their hands.
Noticing their looks, Kagome sighed. “What is it?”
“We haven’t started this one,” one of the Soprano 2’s announced.
Glancing at the clock, the new substitute noted that they only had three minutes left in the period. “And we don’t have time to start it today.” Forcing a hand through her hair, and making a mental note to drop by Yura’s, Kagome bit her lip. “Why don’t I play through it for you, so you can hear what it sounds like, and we’ll work on it next time?”
There were a few scattered nods and Kagome turned her attention back to the piano. The melody was quiet, melancholy, haunting. It was part of why she liked the piece.
As she began the words, her voice was tender, gently lending itself to the tale.
Oh, he was a lord of high degree
And she was a lass from the low countree
But she loved his lordship so tenderly
With two other choirs joining this one for the competition, she’d easily heard the piece ten times in the past two days so she allowed herself to focus more on the tone. Her voice became stronger as she moved to the chorus, commanding the attention of the listener.Oh sorrow, sing sorrow
Now she sleeps in the valley where the wildflowers nod
Her voice softened slightly, seemingly in pity for the poor girl.
And no one knows she loved him but herself and God
The soft notes of the piano took over for a moment before the story continued.
One morn when the sun was on the mead
He passed by her door on a milk white steed
She smiled and she spoke but he paid no heed
Oh sorrow, sing sorrow
Now she sleeps in the valley where the wildflowers nod
And no one knows she loved him but herself and God
It followed the format of a folk song, story then moral and she felt her voice become more cynical as the warning came.
If you be a maid from the low countree
Don’t love of no lord of high degree
They hain’t got a heart for sympathy
The strength behind her voice returned and the words of the chorus were caught somewhere between being a command and a desperate plea.
Oh sorrow, sing sorrow
Now she sleeps in the valley where the wildflowers nod
Her pace slowed and her voice dropped to a whisper, honoring the girl’s secret.
And no one knows she loved him but herself
A beat of silence followed the held note.
And God
The piano’s melody ended on an empty chord.
As if by unspoken agreement, everyone in the room was silent, then, as one, the girls rose to collect their things.
The harsh sound of the bell broke the silence and Kagome breathed a sigh of relief. Now all she had to do was make it through a prep and get home and she could-
Someone threw their arms around her from behind.
“You’re not allowed to sing happy stuff ever again!” Rin’s voice insisted.
“Rin?” What was she doing here?
“The sad stuff is too pretty!”
“Rin,” Kagome drawled, trying to look the other woman in the eye. “What’s going on?”
Rin gave her another squeeze before chirping, “We’re going shopping, silly! Didn’t Inuyasha tell you?”
Playfully, Kagome wheezed out, “Must have slipped his mind.”
The other woman giggled. “Going senile at his age?” she clucked her tongue. “Whatever shall we do with him?”
Rin’s humor was infectious and Kagome found herself grinning. “I vote we lock him on a bus with a few crazy people.”
Rin had obviously gotten her welcoming personality from her mother. Dawn Matthews surprised Kagome by hugging her the instant she was close enough.
“Oh, it’s so good to see that my baby’s settling down and making friends,” the older woman sighed out. “Usually she travels so much I barely see her. Though I must say, her fiancé is an odd one.”
“Hey!” came the laughing protest.
Kagome snickered as Rin pouted.
After a few seconds the woman shook it off, smiling brilliantly. “C’mon, Alisha wanted to meet you.”
Alisha turned out to be Alisha McCary, owner of one of the most fashionable boutiques in the area. Dawn and Rin began chattering happily with the woman while Kagome stared, dumbstruck.
Alisha turned to the raven-haired woman, muttering, “Hmmm….Lovely pale complexion. Blue. Hmmm…No….”
Kagome stood absolutely still while the woman circled her. Alisha McCary was studying her, spouting off names of colors that Kagome had never heard. Finally, the older woman snapped her fingers, triumphant, and vanished into the back of the shop.
Rin was grinning like a kid in a candy shop.
Alisha reemerged holding a length of fabric and a tape measure. She smiled kindly and held the fabric out to Kagome.
“Take it,” she nodded. “Examine it, feel it: if there’s anything you don’t like, I want to know.”
There was no way Kagome would be able to find a flaw with the fabric: it was simply too gorgeous.
When she told the other woman as much, Alisha merely laughed. “You are entirely too kind,” she gave Kagome a motherly smile, tilting her head. “Now, if you’d peel off that denim cocoon of yours, I’ll get your measurements and we can begin.”
All mothers beneath the earth and sky
Hold their children’s hands for a while
Their hearts forever yours and mine
Attention in the small studio was divided between the lanky man sitting at the soundboard and the petite woman in the recording booth. The only sounds were breathing, the woman’s voice, and the occasional sigh of the tech as he adjusted the levels on the board.
The three entertainment reporters sat silently, watching the woman fire questions at the unreachable ‘Riddler’.
Make me wonder what’s the meaning of life
What’s the use to be born and then die?
Make me guess who’s the one
Behind the mask of Father and Son
The band, on the other hand, was crowded around Tero, making sure that not one note was missed. They had very little time in the studio today: Sess had arranged a press conference of sorts.
Kagome’s voice dropped to a lower, more intimate tone and Tero adjusted accordingly.
For Nature hates virginity
I wish to be touched
Vaughn rolled his eyes as Turbaldo, the Regent’s reporter, immediately made a note: “Suggestive lyrics.”
Not by the hands of where’s and why’s
But by the Ocean’s minds
Tero made an odd gesture, and Kagome nodded before continuing.
You think you dwell in wisdom’s sea
Still sweet ignorance is the key
To a poet’s paradise-
As you wish
For kingdom come
The one to know
All the answers
Once she heard the click signaling the end of recording, Kagome removed the earphones. “Am I allowed out now?” she asked sarcastically.
Tero gave her a dismissive wave as he and the band stared at the computer screen, willing it to save.
As soon as she stepped from the booth, the lone female reporter pounced.
“Teresa Clelan, Mammoth,” she introduced, sticking out a hand. “What’s it like being the only woman?” Without giving Kagome time to answer, she continued, “Do you feel underappreciated?”
Kagome shook the woman’s hand hesitantly, turning to her bandmates for help. “It’s…Interesting. It’s almost as if they don’t know what to do with me at times.”
Inuyasha moved to stand behind her, smirking at the reporter. “We’ve only had to use the ‘Sing, Bitch, sing’ chant once. So she’s doing alright.”
Vaughn smothered a laugh as Clelan sputtered, Turbaldo made another note, and Kagome swatted the hanyou’s chest.
Tero, ignoring pretty much everyone else, brought up the media player. Drowning Pool’s ‘Bodies’ started immediately.
Two of the three reporters froze. Kagome and Inuyasha both turned to the Finn, giving him nearly identical looks of confusion.
Teresa noticed the singer’s look and immediately asked, “Does a difference in musical taste ever cause problems in the group?”
Inuyasha turned his confusion on the reporter. “The hell?”
Kagome dropped into her computer chair. Rubbing sleep from her eyes she concluded that she’d rather deal with the students than the reporters: the students at least paused to breathe.
Opening up her e-mail, she noticed an address she’d never seen before.
“Hey,” the message began. “Figured you’d want to read this before it was sent to print. Didn’t want any surprises. I’ve got an open deadline, so take your time.
Vaughn”
Kagome smiled and opened the article.
“Have you seen these people?” It asked. “Chances are, the answer is no, but don’t be surprised if you start hearing more about them than you ever wanted to.
“Meet Nightcry.”
“Do I have to be here?” the petulant voice asked.
Kagome ruffled the kit’s hair. “It’s just to make sure that you don’t get sick.”
Shippou gave her a skeptical look. “I’ve never been sick.”
Smiling, she mussed his hair again, earning an annoyed “Mom!”
“Humor me, alright?”
“Higurashi!”
Wrinkling her nose, she picked the kit up. “That’s us!”
Kagome hadn’t pestered him all day and Inuyasha was a bit more than curious. Laughter and coos coming from the choir room confused him: Kagome had a prep right now, there shouldn’t be students.
Entering the room, he found Shippou surrounded by a group of high school girls and loving the attention. Shaking his head at the kit, the hanyou scanned the room for Shippou’s surrogate mother.
She was in the office, standing at the window, looking into the room with a bittersweet expression that was all too familiar to the hanyou.
Entering the office, he eyed her warily as he closed the door behind him.
Almost immediately after the door clicked into place, she spoke, “Sometimes I wonder if I made a mistake.”
Perplexed, he moved to stand next to her, following her gaze. The kit was amusing the girls surrounding him by performing various small illusions.
He watched Kagome out of the corner of his eye. She couldn’t possibly be having second thoughts about adopting the kit. Could she?
“I’m going to miss his whole life.” There was no self-pity, it was merely a statement.
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. “You’re working to put yourself through school and support him. I think he understands.”
A slightly bitter smile crossed her lips and she sighed. “That wasn’t what I meant.”
Thoroughly confused now, he stayed silent.
“I’ve had him for four years.” She smiled as one of the girls handed Shippou candy and he immediately put it in his mouth, earning more coos. “He hasn’t changed: he still looks- he still acts like a six-year old.”
Realizing where the conversation was headed, Inuyasha relaxed slightly.
“He told me once that if he were human, he’d be thirty. By the time he even looks anywhere near that, I’ll be dead.
“People are so stupid,” she shook her head softly. “Forever searching for the ‘Fountain of Youth’, trying to find ways to live longer. As though one-thousand years could give life any more beauty than one night could-“
She paused for a moment, looked back at the notebook lying open on her desk and smiled. “One night: I like that.”
Inuyasha nearly smiled at the distraction: that conversation had been getting way too heavy.
Kagome moved to the desk, scribbled something down in the notebook, then looked up. Still smiling, she tilted her head. “You didn’t come down here to hear me wax poetic. What’s going on?”
He did smile then. “Nothing really. You hadn’t tried to drive me crazy yet today: just wanted to make sure you were still alive down here.”
Fluttering her eyelashes coquettishly, she giggled, “If you’re that desperate for my company…”
Unfortunately, one of the students decided that that was the opportune moment to ask a question. “Miss Higura-“ the girl’s eyes grew huge. “Sorry!” She scampered off.
“And it’s shit like that,” Inuyasha jerked his thumb in the direction of the door, “that’s why we have to keep explaining the non-dating issue.”
Kagome shook her head, chuckling, before rising and moving to the door, giving his ear an affectionate tweak as she passed. Moving to the stereo, she spoke to the girls, “Those of you that have me next period, start getting your folders. Those of you that don’t have me, you’ve got three minutes til the bell.”
She put a disc in the stereo, as had become her custom before classes, and hit random. Immediately, Sharon den Adel’s voice floated through the room, pleading, “Santus Espiritus, redeem us from our solemn hour.”
Almost as quickly, Inuyasha emerged from the office, a bemused look on his face. “How the hell did you get this? It’s not out for months!”
“Here,” Kagome corrected. “It’s been out in Europe for a while…And I have very good friends.”
“Woman, you’re going to have to introduce me.” And then he was headed out the door.
Kagome shook her head and waved him off with a ‘shoo’ gesture. Shippou’s weight landed on her shoulder and she tilted her head to look at the kit.
The kit’s tail fluffed once, twice, and then he spoke, quiet, almost nervous. “Can I go with him?”
Confused, she simply watched the kit for a moment. Then she smiled, “Of course.”
Shippou gave her a brilliant smile and took off after the hanyou, calling a quick ‘thank you’ to the girl who held the door for him.
Still smiling, Kagome busied herself with moving the keyboard into position. She was adjusting it slightly when a voice caught her attention.
“Kagome?”
Turning, the substitute opened her arms to hug the student. “Mandy!”
The young woman adjusted the baby in her arms and returned the hug, smiling wearily.
Pulling away, Kagome began guiding Mandy towards the office, chattering happily the whole way. Once in the office, her demeanor changed. Motherly again, she brushed the girl’s bangs from her face. “Sweetie, what happened? I thought-“
Sighing, Mandy cut her off. “He isn’t mine. He’s my girlfriend’s.”
Kagome would have questioned her further, but the bell sounded and Mandy moved into the classroom. Curious and no longer feeling sorry for herself, Kagome followed.
Inuyasha brought Shippou back at the end of the day. Neither of the males mentioned why the kit had gone with the hanyou and, honestly, Kagome wasn’t sure she wanted to know.
She was just getting ready to lock up the office when Mandy appeared again.
“Hey,” the girl shrugged, shifting the baby’s weight to adjust her bag. “I missed my bus, figured I’d see if you could talk.”
Kagome smiled, guiding the girl into the smaller choir room, she told the two males in the office to behave.
Inuyasha gave her a disgruntled glare, Shippou merely smiled.
It was ten minutes before either of the women emerged. Mandy was the first to appear. Sans child and teary-eyed, she made her way out of the room and into the hallway. Kagome emerged moments later, shouldering the girl’s bag and cradling the infant. She cooed nonsense at the child and it burbled happily.
Still speaking in the same sing-song, baby-talk tone, she said bluntly, “I need to borrow your car.”
Inuyasha frowned. “D’yours break down again?”
She cooed a bit more at the baby before the coos turned to words. “No, I just don’t want to take this little one in mine.”
Ten minutes later, Inuyasha knew why: he wouldn’t have trusted that car in downtown rush-hour traffic even without factoring in the infant.
Shippou had relegated himself to sitting between the two women as they chatted amiably about nothing.
Mandy was the first one to ask if anyone had any music. Without so much as an ‘I’m goin’ through your CD’s, k?’ Kagome had snatched his CD carrier and was flipping through them, muttering to herself.
After a few moments, she asked, “Why is there a CD called ‘Miro’s Pron Groove’? And why are there two?”
Not answering either question, Inuyasha held his hand back to her, “Gimme the blue one.”
Pouting at him, she hesitated. “Will it make me feel dirty?”
“Would you trust me on this?”
Sighing, she complied, saying, “If I have to cover Shippou’s ears once, you’re in trouble.”
He simply gave her ‘the look’ in the rearview as an overly happy version of Nine Inch Nails’ ‘Closer’ started up, complete with censoring dog barks.
It took all of the first verse and chorus to snap Mandy out of her melancholy. By the end of the second track, ‘I’m Not Wearing Underwear Today’ from Avenue Q, she was laughing. Sometime around the middle of the third song, a little gem he’d dug up from Anthony Rapp, the back seat was a mass of giggles and happy burbles.
Inuyasha smiled to himself. Good. Those two had been about to drive him emo.
When they finally arrived at Saint John’s Hospital, Inuyasha hung back a bit from the two females.
Kagome noticed and slowed down. Pacing the hanyou, she frowned. “That was a dirty trick, trying to get us to laugh.”
“It worked, didn’t it?” he pointed out.
Nudging him, she smiled brightly. “Yeah, it did. Thank you.”
He simply shrugged before waving her away.
Hours later, long after Kagome and Shippou would both be home, Inuyasha lay awake.
“Oh, you remind me so of my daughter,” the ebony-haired woman’s voice rang in his ears. “She never visits me, you know.”
He saw the same face before him, the expression a mixture of frustration and long-buried pain. “At least your mother remembered you!”
Pieces of a puzzle were slowly coming together, and he found that he’d rather they didn’t.
Approximately five weeks later, Kagome stood backstage, struggling not to laugh as six boys performed a riotous rendition of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. Really, she’d have to tell Mrs. Schirlet about Carl’s falsetto: it was unreal the notes he could hit.
As the boys finished their act, Kagome directed the two seniors moving the school’s baby grand into the wings. Once the curtain closed, she hurriedly waved them onto the stage. Mandy emerged from the wings after them, giving Kagome a soft, nervous smile before moving to her place near the newly set up mic.
Kagome took her seat behind the piano and, after receiving a nod from Mandy, signaled the student operating the curtain.
As soon as the curtain was fully open, Kagome began the soft piano intro.
Mandy swallowed hard and opened her mouth, her voice trembling.
Couldn’t save you from the start
Love you so it hurts my soul
The next line came out almost in a whisper. Kagome kept her eyes on the girl: if Mandy broke down she’d understand completely.
Can you forgive me for trying again?
However, Mandy actually seemed to calm down the further she got into the song. Her voice moved easily from a high, airy soprano to an almost alto tone.
Your silence makes me hold my breath
Oh, time has passed you by
The transition to the bridge came and Mandy closed her eyes, her voice softening.
Ooh, for so long I’ve tried to shield you from the world
Ooh, you couldn’t face the freedom on your own
Here I am
Left in
Silence
There was a brief pause before the pair began the chorus, the soft piano echoing the singer’s notes.
You gave up the fight
You left me behind
All that’s done’s forgiven
You’ll always be mine
I know deep inside
All that’s done’s forgiven
Mandy’s eyes remained closed as a soft smile drifted across her lips, gone by the second line.
Watched the clouds drifting away
Still the sun can’t warm my face
I know it was destined to go wrong
You were looking for the great escape
To chase your demons away
The bridge came again and the chorus followed, the only change being the soft, nearly alto harmonies Kagome supplied.
The following section was stronger. Tears slipped past Mandy’s lashes and she shook her head, determined to continue.
I’ve been so lost since you’ve gone
Why not me before you?
Why did fate deceive me?
Everything turned out so wrong
Why did you leave me in silence?
As if by an unspoken agreement, Kagome strengthened her harmonies for the remaining chorus, offering her friend support.
After a slight, instrumental tag, the pair froze and the curtain closed. Then, and only then, did Mandy allow herself to cry. Kagome smiled slightly at the techs as she moved to comfort the teen, guiding her offstage, whispering assurances and stroking her hair.
An hour and a half later, Kagome waved farewell to Mandy as she dropped the girl off at the hospital. Visiting hours were long over but the ICU staff had grown used to the teen’s late hours by her girlfriend’s bedside.
Pushing all thoughts of Mandy’s situation from her mind, Kagome focused on her drive home, where she would, with any luck, fall into bed and not have to move.
In bed, face down, is exactly where Inuyasha found her nearly nine hours later.
“You want to wake her?” Tony scoffed, leaving the room. “Be my guest.”
Shippou, sleeping on the curve of the woman’s spine cracked an eye open before deciding that it wasn’t worth his time and closing it again.
“Hey,” the hanyou tried, wary of getting too close to the singer, lest he become her personal teddy bear. “Get up.”
She didn’t even flinch.
Tapping her shoulder hesitantly, he muttered, “Up, woman. We’re already late.”
When she, again, refused to stir, he threw his hands up in defeat and settled for staring at her wall.
“If you’re reading my wall again, I will kill you,” Kagome mumbled, still not awake enough to move.
“Put that energy towards getting your ass out of bed,” he crossed his arms. “We have a tour to shop for.”
Her head turned and she gave him a tired half-glare. “Shippou’s still sleeping. I’m not waking him up. You’re out of luck.”
Inuyasha was just about to start a rant about lazy women when the kit piped up, sliding easily from his perch. “I’m awake. Not that I could sleep with Noisy over here…”
The kit scampered from the room and Kagome let out a pout of “Traitor” before heaving herself up and pointing towards the door, giving the hanyou a silent order. Deciding he didn’t like the look of over-tired malice in her eyes, Inuyasha gave a “Feh” and left the woman to her own devices.
Twenty minutes of pestering her through the door later, she emerged, glared at him, and brushed past, braiding her hair. He followed her, glaring at Tony as he said a slight prayer for the hanyou’s safety and sanity.
Five minutes later, Tero, ensconced in the seat behind Kagome, goaded his cousin into a discussion about possible singles. Twenty-five seconds after that, having been smacked for the sixth time because of something the Finn had said, Inuyasha was wishing he hadn’t interrupted Tony’s praying.
“But Seija,” the Finn was saying. “I don’t see why ‘Passion and the Opera’ wouldn’t work.”
“It’s not exactly ‘family-friendly’, Caveman,” Kagome countered.
“But it gives the clearest picture of the band’s sound,” Tero pointed out.
Too tired to turn far enough to glare at her cousin, Kagome settled for the next best thing: glaring at Inuyasha. “No, Caveman.”
“But Seija-“
“No, Caveman.”
Not wanting to be on the receiving end of Kagome’s misplaced anger again, Inuyasha said the first thing that came to his mind, “Why not ‘Sacrament’?”
Kagome considered for a moment. “That would work.”
Then the whine came from the back seat, “But I like-“
“No.”
“But-“
Inuyasha turned the stereo on, belatedly remembering that Rin had filched his CDs and left one of her own.
Flogging Molly’s ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ started up.
Oh, he could not wait to get out of the car.
Oh, she could not wait to get out of this store.
“Tero, for the last time, you don’t need it,” she sighed. “Put it back.”
“But it’s-“
“Put it back.”
Tero huffed at her, muttered a sullen ‘vittu’ and wandered back towards the liquors to put his coveted bottle back.
Kagome watched him go, breathed deeply and rested her head against the cool metal of the shopping cart. “Inuyasha, take Miroku, anything that can be eaten as is or cooked with boiling water, grab it.”
She figured they’d probably end up with a cart full of Ramen, but hey, if it kept them quiet, happy, and out of her hair, she was fine with it.
“Kouga, when Tero comes back, get sodas, please,” she paused before adding, “and please, keep him away from the vodka.”
Naraku, the only one who hadn’t said a word all morning, quietly asked, “Is there anything you need me to do?”
The singer raised her head to smile at him. “Act like you’re shopping for five-year olds?”
The keyboardist smiled back. “Cookies, candy, and chips?”
“That would work.”
“And where are you going?”
“For Haagen-Dazs and tea,” she muttered, pushing her own shopping cart out of the aisle. “Lots of tea.”
That evening, nostalgia was setting in big-time. Clad in the robe for the last time, Kagome waited for her cue. When it came, she quickly launched into the familiar opening of ‘She Is My Sin’.
Before the final notes had faded, she spoke, “Tonight is my last night here,” when the protests died down she added, “so tonight, you choose the songs. Any song.”
She noticed the small group towards the back, Miroku front and center, and laughed, knowing what was coming.
Sure enough, the group counted down from three and then shouted their choice. “Master! Apprentice! Heartborn! Seventh Seeker!”
She joined them for the rest of the stanza, kicking off the quick-tempo’d ode to all things fantasy.
Warrior!
Disciple!
In me the Wishmaster!
The group cheered their approval and then went quiet for the bridge.
Oh Elbereth
Oh Lorien
Those who knew the song chanted the verse along with her, pausing occasionally to catch their breath. The trick to this song, Kagome mused, was to take a very, very quick breath whenever the opportunity came up.
Dreamy-eyed child staring into night
On a journey to the story-teller’s mind
Whispers a wish, mixed with the stars
The words are silent in him
It’s a sigh from the lonely heart
“I’ll be with you soon, my Shalafi”
Grey Havens my destiny
This time, Kagome stayed silent for the chorus, gesturing for the crowd to fill in, which they did, very enthusiastically.
Oh Silvara
Oh Starbreeze
Smothering laughter at the attempts of several to sing the bridge with her, she launched into the verse, making sure to toy with the word ‘realms’.
Sla-Mori the one known only by him
To august realms sorcery within
When you hear the call of arcane lore
Your world shall rest on earth no more
Maiden elf calling with her cunning song
“Meet me at the inn of last home”
Heartborn will find the way
When the chorus had finished, she moved to the guitar solo. In a moment of complete immaturity, she stuck her tongue out at Inuyasha before deciding on using her original, less complex solo. He looked confused for a moment, but flipped her off as soon as he figured it out.
Laughing, she transitioned again.
Wishmaster crusade for your will
The child, dreamfinder
The apprentice becoming
Almost in apology, she used the revised version of the second solo, complete with the random whammy bar notes he’d been bored enough to throw in.
The crowd joined her again for the chorus and applauded enthusiastically at the abrupt end.
The next request, one for ‘the signature’, was met with a confused frown. “Are you bored of me already?”
“Nah!” Miroku called. “We just want to make sure you do it!”
Rolling her eyes, she decided for once to do the intro. Backed by a slight, eerie melody, she spoke.
In the sheltering shade of the forest
Calling calming silence
Accompanied only by the full moon
The howling of a night wolf
And the path under my bare feet...
...The Elvenpath
Soon after she let the instruments kick in, she remembered why she wasn’t really doing this one any more: it was almost too damn low. Naturally, she was relieved when it moved into the higher key.
Tapio, bear-king
Ruler of the forest
Mielikki, blue-cloak
Healer of the ill and sad
Open the gate and let me follow the uncarven path
After a brief jaunt through the chorus, she was back in the lower key, crossing her eyes at Miroku under the cover of the hood.
The moonwitch took me to a ride on a broomstick
Introduced me to her old friend home-gnome
Told me to keep the sauna warm for him
Ignoring Inuyasha’s sudden snort of comprehension, Kagome finished out the verse and moved to the chorus.
The way to the lands
Where as a hero I stand
The path where beauty met the beast
Elvenpath
It’s the honesty of these worlds
Ruled by magic and mighty swords
That makes my soul long for the past
Elvenpath
She was more than surprised when several voices recited the passage from Lord of the Rings along with the eerie voice. Shaking her head, she added her own series of notes, cutting the last off sharply.
As I return to my room
And as sleep takes me by the hand
Madrigals from the wood
Carry me to NeverLand
Tapering her voice out, she allowed the mysterious voice to return, before vocalizing over it. The instruments took over, crescendoed, and then slowly dropped out.
Mac was the one who spoke next. “Now that tha’s outta the way, don’tcha think ya ought ta end the secrecy? Kagome?”
Shocked though she was, Kagome had to admit, if she wanted anyone to win the purse, it was Mac. Smiling, she removed the hood, asking, “Any special requests, Mac?”
“If ya remember it,” the man began, laughing. “Tha first one ya ever played.”
Kagome frowned in concentration for a moment before smiling again. “I think I do.” Turning to her cousin, she said, “Tero, could you get the acoustics out of the car?”
The dark-haired Finn frowned at the implication, but complied and was back in moments.
In the meantime, Inuyasha watched curiously as Kagome filched two stools from the bar, promising to return them shortly. She fiddled with them for a moment, arranging and rearranging them on the stage before she stopped, apparently satisfied. Tero raised an eyebrow at her and tried to hand her the two instruments.
Kagome gave the man a deadpan stare that Inuyasha was willing to bet was picked up during her time in his father’s class. Tero huffed his frustration and grudgingly climbed onto one of the stools. Kagome ruffled his hair, earning a glare, and claimed her own perch.
While she was getting situated, Tero tapped out a simple beat, ending with the pair beginning a call-and-answer melody. Kagome played a folk-style high melody, and Tero answered in a lower key. They then played simultaneously, the seemingly separate parts blending in a calming harmony.
This continued for a small while, key-changes coming smoothly and naturally before Kagome opened her mouth.
Inuyasha had no clue what the hell she was saying, but it almost sounded like a lullaby, calm and gentle, the melody simple. As she continued, he wondered where she’d learned to roll ‘r’s while singing.
They returned to the simple call-and-answer for a moment before closing out with a strummed chord.
Mac murmured a quiet “Thank you” as Tero left the stage, carrying the guitars.
When no one offered a song for a few moments, Kagome began one of her own choosing. A few people seemed to recognize the guitar intro and smiled.
She seemed to be concentrating much more on this song than on the others and he soon realized why.
She began the verse, accompanied by several copies of her own voice.
A nocturnal concerto
Candlelight whispers me where to go
One by one, the copies dropped out until only she was left.
Hymn of gathering stars as my guide
As I wander on this path of the night
The process repeated with the next verse. In the third, she added a subtle, wordless vocalization.
Macrocosm poured its powers on me
And the hopes of this world I now must leave
The nightwish I sent you centuries ago
Has been heard by those who dwelled in a woe
The next verse was much the same until the instruments dropped out abruptly and she began her own vocalization, light, melancholy. With a beat, the instruments rejoined and her voice gained power, aided by numerous, harmonizing copies.
She continued singing wordlessly as a new yet familiar voice took up the altered yet familiar verse.
This constant longing for your touch
This bitter ocean of hatred and pain
This loneliness I need to be who I am
The oceans are as alone as I
Somebody take away this gift of mine
No charisma for the beast!
But still I love you, forevermore!
Both voices dropped out as the instruments took over. They slowly faded, leaving only the synth to echo the eerie notes of the guitar’s opening.
The man’s voice returned, a harsh whisper this time.
Come to me
Deliver me from you
And from all the days of the earth
Slowly, the lights began to fade as Kagome, unaccompanied, closed out the song and the show.
No last words to say
Only memories remain
A farewell then, my path goes forever on
“Sess!” Inuyasha was getting really tired of pounding on this damn door. “Quit acting like a fuckin’ woman and get out here!”
Behind him, Rin’s brother, Marcus, was shaking his head in amusement. Miroku , sporting his favorite deep purple button up under his black suit coat, turned to the other man, “Might as well head up there.”
Marcus nodded, “Entertaining as this is, I need to check on Crystal. I’m not sure how all this excitement is going to affect her.”
“Oi!” Inuyasha turned to glare at them. “Where the fuck do you think you’re going? You’ve got to help me get this son of a bitch out of here!”
Miroku simply smiled and waved, leaving his friend to deal with the groom.
Out in the hallway, Marcus was already knocking on the door to the room the women had claimed as theirs. Sango, a surprise bridesmaid and self-appointed security guard, poked her head out, recognized him and opened the door. Miroku grinned devilishly and trotted in after the best man.
The instant he entered the room Miroku knew the reason for Rin’s odd request that the groomsmen wear specific colors. Crystal, Marcus’s wife and the maid of honor, was dressed in a pale blue halter, floor-length skirt and ribbon sash that matched her husband’s shirt. Sango, the lech was delighted to find, was wearing a deep purple sleeveless top and floor length skirt along with a broad sash that emphasized her trim waist.
‘But why the red?’ Miroku mused, recalling the burgundy shirt that Inuyasha had had no problem donning. He glanced around the room until he spotted the woman kneeling and telling the bouncing bride to sit still or else ruin her eyeliner. A rather cruel smile crossed his lips. ‘Yash is going to flip.’
Kagome, liner in hand, was kneeling in a burgundy strapless corset, long, flowing skirt and a sheer, long-sleeved, bolero-style shrug. She applied the last touch of liner, leaned back and smiled. “Miroku! Come over here! Tell me what you think!”
Never having been one to pass up the opportunity to see a beautiful woman close-up, he practically leapt over to them.
Rin, obviously hyper and nervous, bounced slightly and looked up at him. “It’s not terrible, is it?”
The dress looked like something out of a fairy tale, creamy ivory fabric with lush embroidery around the hem of the full skirt and top of the bodice detailing a golden, curving trellis with vines and pale blue and pink flowers covering it. The veil was only fingertip length, set with a tiara matching the embroidery. The make-up was muted: light, neutral browns around the eyes and an earthy rose on her lips.
Smiling reassuringly, Miroku bowed, taking one of her gloved hands and kissing the back lightly. “A vision, Milady.”
Marcus quickly thwapped him upside the head. “No funny business.”
“They hate me,” Inuyasha intoned, keeping a tight half-smile on his face, guiding the woman next to him down the stone path to the lily-covered arch.
Holding his arm, also smiling, Kagome asked, sotto voce, “Who hates you?”
“The gods.”
“Really now?” she flashed a brilliant smile to the priest, who’d given them an odd look.
“I have possibly the clingiest woman in the world next to me,” he ignored the playful nudge she gave him. “And I get the feeling I’ll need an insulin shot before all this is over.”
“Be glad you’re wearing comfortable shoes,” she remarked, already wanting out of the heels she was wearing.
Naraku, who had also been invited and apparently had excellent hearing, let out a muted cough. The pair took the hint and shut up.
Ahead of them, Crystal and Marcus kissed lightly, drawing a round of ‘Awwwww’s from the women, and took their places.
“…Help me lech, if you pull one stunt…” Sango was warning in an undertone.
Miroku merely smiled softly and kissed her cheek, murmuring something too low to hear, but that drew a light smile from Sango. Then they too took their spots.
Kagome and Inuyasha glanced at each other out of the corners of their eyes. ‘Aw, hell no!’ protested their minds. ‘This was not in the program!’
Inutaisho raised an eyebrow. ‘Do it, goddamnit!’
Tony tilted his head. ‘….They’d have cute kids…’ he blinked. ‘The hell? I’m turning into my wife!’
Inuyasha swallowed, muttered an ‘I’m going to kill her’ and gently placed his lips on Kagome’s forehead. They were separated and in their positions in almost the same second.
Several attendees chuckled and there was a suspicious cough that may have come from Kouga’s area, but the softly babbling brook made it difficult to tell.
The bridal march started and, predictably, everyone turned. At the beginning of the pavestone walkway was Rin, backlit by the afternoon sun. Holding her father’s arm, the bride smiled and began her walk.
Someone shoved a glass of champagne into Inuyasha’s hand and he eyed the drink distastefully. Walking to his place at the head table, he vaguely acknowledged someone shouting “Speech!”
Noticing that most of the guests’ eyes were on him, he raised the glass, called out “Not the best man!” and kept moving.
Taking his seat next to Kagome (Rin’s idea, again) he put the glass in front of her.
She smiled at him. “And just what makes you think I’m going to drink that?”
“I don’t care if you throw it at Sess,” the hanyou smiled tightly. “I don’t want it.”
Still smiling, she lowered her voice. “Everything set up?”
Following her lead and lowering his own voice to a near whisper, he answered, “Everything’s backstage and the guys know 7:15.”
She relaxed and went quiet. Watching the bride and groom dance, she mused, “Just tonight.”
Inuyasha nodded. “Then you’re stuck on a bus with six guys and Sango.”
She laughed slightly, a gentle smile on her face as the song ended and Rin led her groom to the cake table.
Sesshoumaru earned a few coos as he delicately fed Rin a small bite of the cake. Rin earned laughs and a huge cheer, from Inuyasha of course, when she not-so-delicately shoved a not-so-small bite of the cake into Sesshoumaru’s face.
Mushed cake hid what may have been a smile as Sesshoumaru wiped some of the frosting from his face and swiped a white trail down Rin’s cheek. Her eyes narrowed slightly and Sesshoumaru inclined his head before walking away…rather quickly, actually.
Rin smiled brightly and, gathering her skirts, took off after her husband, catching up to him quickly and leaping onto his back.
Grimacing to hide the smile that wanted to push through, Inuyasha muttered, “They’re being so cute it’s making me sick.”
“Normally,” Kagome tilted her head.”I’d smack you for that. But your brother’s starting to scare me.”
Precisely at 7:15 PM, Kagome, having moved to the stage with the rest of the band, made a request of the gathered people. “If you would all please turn your attention to the Western window, we have a…Gift, for the bride.”
As the crowd complied, Sesshoumaru at the front, hugging Rin from behind, Naraku began a very simple intro. Miroku soon joined him, adding soft, infrequent beats. Kagome joined and the three soon established a rhythm.
The sun is sleeping quietly
Once upon a century
Wistful oceans calm and red
Ardent caresses laid to rest
Sunsets weren’t uncommon. Eclipses were slightly more rare. The combination of the two…That was nearly a miracle. And it was exactly what was happening just outside the window.
For my dreams, I hold my life
For wishes, I behold my nights
A truth at the end of time
Losing faith makes a crime
The keys and drums gained power as Kouga joined the mix. Kagome’s voice grew stronger, a contrast to the soft, soothing tone she’d been using.
I wish for this nighttime
To last for a lifetime
The darkness around me
Shores of the solar sea
Oh, how I wish to go down with the sun
Sleeping
Weeping
With you
As they all transitioned back to the verse, Inuyasha began adding simple, infrequent chords.
Sorrow has a human heart
From my god it will depart
I’d sail before a thousand moons
Never finding where to go
Two-hundred twenty-two days of light
Will be desired by a night
A moment for the poet’s play
Until there’s nothing left to say
The chorus came again and Inuyasha dropped out, biding his time. As the chorus ended, what sounded like a choir began. Kagome backed away from the mic and, after a couple measures, opened her mouth. What would have been an overpowering vocalization in another circumstance was nearly hidden by the amped instruments, lending an ethereal quality to the moment.
The eclipsed sun was midway below the horizon when the guitar solo began. Flowing and melodic, Sesshoumaru silently admitted that it was unlike anything he’d heard his brother come up with before.
A sustained chord faded out as the chorus came back in, ending with only Kagome’s voice, just as the final rays of light slipped from view.
Rin, wiping a single tear from her eye, made a mental note to buy the band the biggest ‘just ‘cause’ presents she could think of.
Waving goodbye to her father and a sleeping Shippou, Kagome climbed on the bus, dead tired and glad to be out of that infernal dress. Turning, she nodded to JT, their driver for the next year, before making her way to the back of the bus.
She reached the sleeping area and frowned. There were eight beds, enough for the band, Tero, Sango, and the imp of a tour manager. Seven of said beds had the curtains wide open, their occupants either ignoring her or grinning at her as she realized just who she’d be bunking below.
Resisting the urge to throw her bag at the imp in the top bunk, Kagome opened the curtain to her new, cramped, semi-permanent bed. Her annoyance fled, replaced by a gentle warmth as she picked up the soft, brown teddy bear the curtain had shielded.
A/N2: I had a couple of requests for Wishmaster and Elvenpath, so there they are. The acoustic song Tero and Kagome perform is 'Erämaajärvi' off Nightwish's Angels Fall First album. And for the record, I like the song 'Seven Deadly Sins'...Just not when I'm annoyed. Go show Nightwish some love, eh? Trust me, the new album is/will be awesome.
Thus ends Part I. Stay tuned for the tour.