Well, yet again, fanfiction has captured me..
So I had this routine going. I would check on my various accounts to various websites, do smoething productive, and it'd go back and forth like that. And then, around midnight, my friend on the other side of the U.S would come online, and we'd speak for a while, and I would go to bed around three in the morning.
But alas, the poor soul got kicked out of his house (yet again) for a couple days, and my schedule was ruined. So, with a lack of anything better to do..
...I came back.
So, this story kind of mixes up my various hobbies (boy, I'm sure liking the word 'various') with each seperate character. Now reminder: Just cause I do it all, doesn't mean that I'm any good. It just means I do it as a pass time.
My main hobbies are pretty much Photography and Music. Feel free to ask me about either! (:
I've never really understood why women go head over heels for musicians. I mean, sure, they have 'talent', and they can 'write beautiful songs from the heart', or some sentimental crap like that. But in the end, the girl gets mad that there's no song written about them, or they're too busy touring to give them any love, and it all just ends in tragedy.
Well.. Don't all relationships?
But then, of course, my best friend, and best female model, Sango, had to go and become the lead singer of a local band called "Asphixiation", and she just had to introduce me to them as her "Amazing Photographer Friend", so they would be interested in me photographing them, and a certain hanyou just HAD to put up a fight.
Ok, so it doesn't really sound like anything there.. Maybe I should start at the beginning.
It all started with a small cafe on Maple Street.
Sighing comfortably, I brought the warm cup of hazelnut coffee to my mouth. Hazelnut has always been my favourite, mainly because I only ever drink it during the holidays. Any other time of year, it just feels awkward.
"Hey, Kagome, can I see the shots from earlier?" My friend, and model, asked me.
Before anyone asks, no, I didn't get drunk off my ass from to many shots of tequila and have a gun pointed at me afterwards. She's talkning about photographs that I took of her. It's what I do, I'm a photographer. I photograph portraits, landscapes, and nature. My weapon of choice is my baby, my Nikon D3000. I use the lens it came with, a 3x 18-55mm Zoom-NIKKOR VR Image Stabilization Lens, and a AF Micro-NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8D lens. I've been photographing ever since my sophmore year at Bel-Air Academy, and now, 20 years old and getting offered jobs for various events, I feel that I've done myself good.
"Now now, Sango! You know that you can only see them after I've printed them out!" I remarked in that annoying motherly tone that just screams "You know better". She knew I was just joking, as she grabbed for my camera's bag. If anyone, I trusted her with my camera. She knew how priceless that thing was to me, even though it was only Six-Hundred Dollars.
"You know, Kagome.. Everytime I see these pictures you take of me, I wonder whether or not you camera has an automatic photoshop button to make me look so pretty." Sango laughed as she set my camera back in it's bag.
"Nope, that's you're natural beauty right there! " I assured her. Sango is a lovely women, only two months younger than I. Her long brown hair cascading like silk down to her tailbone, and her beautifully high cheek bones that complement her brown eyes and plumed lips so well. Add a smidge of a nose and a killer body that has most porn stars green with envy, and you have her.
Inwardly laughing at my little joke, I took another gulp of my coffee. Sango then made a small gasping noise.
"Oh, Kagome, I've got amazing news!" She shrieked. I felt as if we were back in high school with that sound she made.
"Spill!" I demanded, her smile being contagious. She got so bouncy when I said this. Maybe I shouldn't let her drink espresso anymore..
"Well, I told you how I had that gig as the sexy girl sitting on the grand piano at Baily's the other night, right? Turns out, there was a young guy at the small bar in the corner, and when he heard me singing, he asked me about my music taste, and we kept talking until finally, he asked me about becoming his lead! They're a local punk-rock band that plays at the local clubs and stuff, and they've been searching for a female lead singer for a while now, and Kouga, the bassist of the group, told me that they'd love to hear what I've written. Isn't that amazing?!" Sango squealed.
"No, now you'll be gone all the time, practicing with your new band mates, and writing amazing songs.." I droned on, acting annoyingly depressed. Sango new it was just an act, we both did. I hardly ever got to photograph her anymore, but that just makes her portraits even better.
"Oh, come on! If anything, you'll see me even more!" Sango said. I was curious as to what she meant, and I'm sure she could tell from the way my eyebrows lifted, so she offered her explaination.
"Well, I told them about you being a photographer, and they said that the last one they had just left to backbag through Europe.. So they wanted to see you, too." She said. I gave it serious thought. I've never really shot band portraits before, so it would definitely be a new experience, for me AND my camera.
"Hmm.. When are we supposed to meet them?" I said with a smile. This shouldn't be to bad. If anything, it could open all new doors!
"Alright, so we make a left here.. Then the second turn on our right, and it's the third house on our left." Sango read the directions out loud. Turning the wheel, I counted to three before pulling into the driveway of a beautiful house. It was big, but the inside could be anything, considering the whole band of three guys lived here. We got out of the car, Sango with her binder, and me with my Camera Bag and my own binder, and we walked up the pathway to the two door entrance to the house. The cold winds started picking up, and I tightened my jacket. As much as I loved cold whether, my doctor told me that I'm practically border-lining Anemia because of my lack of vitamins, which I really don't understand, but I guess it'll all explain itself in due time.
Standing there, we heard someone doing small, simple drum beats, and a couple notes on a bass being played, along with some yelling. Sango and I both exchanged quizzical looks before she rang the door bell at the side. After a couple more insults being thrown, a man with long brown hair in a high ponytail answered the door. When he saw Sango, he smile and opened the door a little more, showing off his white shirt and beaten up jeans.
"Ahh, good, you came! I almsot thought you'd ditch out on this!" He said with a breath of reliefe.
"You kidding? I wouldn't pass this kind of offer up!" Sango assured them. Smiling, the man with the ponytail invited us into his house. I was shocked to see a very clean and very organized bar room, consisting of the classic pool table and a small vertical piano, and many of posters of famous punk rock bands from the 70's, 80's, and even the 90's hanging around. There was one of Sid Vicious drinking a beer next to his beloved Nancy, a couple of Led Zepplin rocking out on stage, the Red Hot Chili Peppers took their place right next to the bar, and the ever-so-famous Rolling Stones tongue. It was impressive, really. Never expected to see a clean room with a house harbouring more than one guy.
Further into the house, I saw a small, but tidy kitchen to my left, and straight ahead, a living room with two couches and a love seat. There was a small coffee table infront of them, and a moderately sized flat screen on a wall between a door to a bedroom, and the sliding glass doors to a small, but cute back patio. The wall next to the love seat had an entrance to a small hallway, which I guess led to more bedroom.
But you didn't let me get to the people on the couches.
First off, there was a another boy with long black hair, much like our host, but in a braid starting at the nip of his neck, sitting on the biggest couch. He wore a black over shirt with blue flames at the bottom, and a classic pair of jeans. He had to drumsticks placed on the table space infront of him.
Then, sitting on the smaller couch was a boy with a guitar. He had long silver hair with two dog ears perched upon his head, so I automatically knew he was a demon of sorts. He wore a red over shirt with some sort of black design, and a pair of black jeans. He had a beautiful red guitar in his lap, with a black pickguard. It's edges seemed to be sharper then most guitars looked. He was strumming away at some melancholy melody.
"Alright guys, this is the amazing girl from the other night." The man with the long black ponytail said, giving attention to Sango. As expected, she blushed, and tried to deny being as good as he said.
"Seriously, you're really good. Kouga and I went and saw your performance at the Italian resturaunt a while back, and it blew us away." The one with the braid said. Sango's blush just grew darker, and I stifled a giggle. That's when he turned his eyes towards me.
"Ahh, so I'm guessing you are Sango's photographing friend, Kagome." He said. It almost seemed as if he were trying to pick me up with his tone, but I'm hoping he was just being friendly.
"Yes I am, and you must be Kouga?" I asked, taking a guess. He smiled and nodded as he took my hand to shake.
"Well, let me introduce everyone. This here," Kouga said, putting a hand on the biggest couch, "is Bankotsu. He's our Drummer. He works part time at the bar we perform at most, Element. And over there is Inuyasha, our Guitarist. And I'm the bassist."
Sliding over back to us, he put his arm around Sango's shoulders. "And this, boys, is hopefully our future singer and keyboardist, Sango Taijima." Kouga said. Sango giggled a bit, and I smiled.
"So, you're really interested in a small punk-rock band like this?" Bankotsu joked to Sango.
"Well, I don't know yet! We still gotta have an audition." Sango implied. He laughed a bit, then focused his attention to me.
"And then you, our future photographer?" He asked politely. Inuyasha snorted to that remark. Ignoring it, I smiled and shrugged, not really knowing what to say. Kouga noticed my awkwardness and stepped in.
"Well, how about we get that singing audition started, then we take a look at Kagome's portfoliio, how does that sound?" Everyone gave a simple grunt or nod in agreement, and then stood as Kouga led us to their garage, where there was a full drum set, and different microphones waiting. I took a seat on one of the chairs they had at the car entrance of the garage, while everyone else took their place. I couldn't keep my eyes off of Inuyasha, there was something about him, the way he walked, the care he used with his guitar..
Everyone soon took their respected places, after fumbling with the technical things. Sango had suggested them doing a classic, a Joan Jett song. They agreed, Inuyasha somewhat reluctantly, and then they started.
Sango gave an intensity to the song that I didn't know she had. I saw Kouga's looks of approval, and Inuyasha didn't seem to mind her either, not really giving any attention to anything but his guitar. When the song ended, Bankotsu took the time to clap.
"Beautiful voice, my dear! I say she's in."
Kouga didn't think twice before agreeing, and Inuyasha gave a small nod.
So it was decided then and there that Sango would be there new lead singer. After their small audition, we went back inside their house. Kouga offered a water bottle to Sango and I, which she gladly excepted, and I politely declined. the others got Soda's out of the fridge, and took their respected places on the couches, this time, Kouga taking a seat next to Bankotsu.
"So, let's get a look at your portfolio!" Kouga said excitedly. Bankotsu set down his drink on a coaster, and Inuyasha went straight back to his guitar. I gave him my binder, full of different portraits of close friends, different landscapes, various weddings and parties. They both looked pleased with my work, so I was sure I was in.
"Dude.. You're really good!" Bankotsu said, and Kouga nodded in agreement. Oh yeah, I was definitely in.
"Ugh.. We don't need a new photographer!" Inuyasha suddenly said, getting up from his comfortable-looking position on the couch, guitar in hand. "Kikyou isn't gone forever, she'll be back in six months!"
"Inuyasha, a lot can happen in six months, and there's no denying what happens to women in France.." Kouga said suggestively, elbowing Bankotsu. They shared a laugh before Inuyasha's growling was loud enough to hear.
"No, She's not like that!" He screamed. He seemed really hung up on this Kikyou girl. Poor boy, letting relationships getting the better half of him.
"Inuyasha, get over it. If not for good, Kagome can be good for us when Kikyou can't." Bankotsu suggested. Inuyasha let out some awkward noise of anger before escaping through the small hallway next to the couch. A door slam soon followed after.
Ok, so maybe I wasn't in.
With a sign, Kouga and Bankotsu turned back to me."Don't listen to him, he's just mad because of some stuff that went on between him and Kikyou." Kouga assured me. I gave a small smile, not to sure what to think or say.
"Hey, if anything, I think she'd be better that Kinky-Hoe." Bankotsu said. Kouga laughed at the nickname and nodded in agreement.
"Well.. Thanks for having us, but I have to get going. I have a family dinner to get to. Sango, you coming?" I asked. I wanted out, I felt a little more uncomfortable then I should have.
Sango nodded, understanding my position, and Kouga led us to the door. With a final thank-you, we headed back to my car and left.
Small spur of inspiration ;D
Ok, so now it's explanation time!
The Camera Stuff - Well, being an aspiring photographer myself, that's all the stuff I want. XD
I currently have a Canon Powershot XSi 110, and it's good.. but I like Nikon much better.
Bel-Air Academy - I couldn't resist. Do you know how much I watch that show? It's on almost every night. I never used to watch it as a kid, but now, in my teenage years, I've memorized the opening and can quote certain episodes. Do you know how.. traitorous I feel towards my 90's self?
Anemia - It's this disease you get where basically your blood gets really thin from a lack of Iron and Vitamins and such. I can't really explain it fully, but my doctors were suspecting me of having it for a while. Basically, you can get reeeeaallyyy cold really easily.
Inuyasha's Guitar - Mhmmm. It's a dark red Gibson SG Special Edition guitar. It's the guitar of my dreams. I know it's a common guitar amongst many rockstars, but I can't help but love it!
SO yeah, any further questions, just ask in a review. (: