A/N sorry for the lateness… I'll try hard to stop that from happening again. LOL
Chapter 12: There's a first for everything
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of Alexz Johnsons awesome songs...
"He's forty, and she has to be in her mid thirties." I said while pushing the hot latte to my lips. Ayame eyed the couple sitting across from us. It was around seven in the morning and we were at are usual coffee shop. Sometimes for fun we'd both try to guess the ages of couples that we saw.
"You know what's really sad?" Ayame said all of a sudden which got my attention.
I took a large sip of my latte tensely. I had been very nervous since I woke up this morning. I hadn't slept throughout the whole night. Every time I closed my eyes images of Sango and Inuyasha kept clouding my vision. The idea of him being on top of her and vice versa kept me up half of the night. And to add insult to injury tonight was the night of the Welcoming Party. My stomach was in knots all morning I really didn't need any bad news.
"What…" I asked hesitantly as I took a large sip of my caramel latte. Ayame put her cappuccino down to look at the napkin dispenser. I was hoping she wouldn't mention anything about tonight or the Sango and Inuyasha thing. I bit down on my lip waiting. My mom had called me last night and said she was planning on coming to the Welcoming Party… she even said she was going to get my dad to come. I thought the whole thing was odd and overly nice of her, but I knew my mom loved me even though she acted like a prude most of the time.
"Ugh well… I waited for two hours last night, and your brother still didn't ask me out." I sighed in complete and utter relief. I could literally feel my stomach actually clench with the mentioning of the top two things that pained me at that moment. "I mean what's wrong with me… I flirt well right…"
I smiled reassuringly before shrugging. "I think you're putting too much emphasis on the whole situation. You're twenty my brother just turned eighteen. I'm sure he doesn't even know you really like him… or he thinks your way out of his league. You gotta ask him out." I said, but I wasn't really sure if any of that was true. I only said it to make her feel better.
"I knew he was playing hard to get…" She mumbled while smiling widely. I only nodded before sighing and looking at the wooden panels of the wall across from us. My phone vibrated in my pocket for the tenth time this morning, but I didn't bother to answer it. I was afraid it would be Sango bragging.
INU POV
I put the phone down as I looked over at my dad. She still hadn't answered. I was at the studio. I had been at the studio all night since I left Kagome's brother's party. My dad said he needed to go over everything in complete detail for tonight, and he needed Kagome at the studio promptly.
I had actually driven home with the flirty girl. I was trying to remember her name, but my head ache and the simple fact that I didn't care enough to know clouded my thoughts. We were in the living room making out when my dad called me, and I told her I had to go to the studio. She seemed really upset about the whole thing, but luckily Miroku was at home to keep her company, though I wasn't sure she liked Miroku to well.
"Call her again…" My dad said in frustration and I groaned. There was no good in continuing to call her, she was probably sleeping. I had taken off my sweater and I had only my white undershirt on. It was a hard night, and I didn't need people barking orders at me.
"Get him to go get her…" Sesshomaru muttered as he narrowed his eyes down at the complicated cross word puzzle he was working on. He had the most aggravated look on his face. As if he didn't want to be bothered with anything.
"How the hell am I supposed to know where she is?" I asked while looking at my dad and then my idiot brother. She was the third female number I had on my phone aside from my mom and Rin. I felt sort of weird having her number in my contacts when she was unrelated to me and extremely attractive. "I called Kouga and Miroku… they both said she's not at the apartment. Anyone's guest is as good as mine."
My father gave me a worried look as he began pacing around. He had booked makeup artist, designers, hairdressers and more for today. She was supposed to get a complete image change before going to some photo shoots. All this was supposed to start around five in the morning, but we never got a hold of her. "You know this is sort of your fault." I mumbled as my dad paced. I didn't know why, but I was beginning to get worried too, but I knew it wasn't the same worried my dad felt
My dad was worried because he had paid good money for this night to go out without a hitch, but it was already turning into a catastrophe. I on the other hand, was actually worried about her wellbeing. Which freaked me out, when did I start caring?
"How is this my fault?" My dad asked as he turned to face me. Sesshomaru had pulled his crossword puzzle for experts down to watch the fight he knew was going to unfold. My father was narrowing his eyes waiting for me to respond.
"Well…" I said while grabbing my keys from the table. I didn't bother to grab my wool red sweater. Instead I pulled on my white collared shirt and began buttoning it back up. "You didn't bother to tell her you were planning all this. You wanted it to be a surprise. You see what surprises get you…" I said while grabbing my jacket and keys. I wasn't dumb enough to get in a full fledged fight with my father. He'd obviously kick my ass.
My dad gave me a grave look as I exited the studio doors. "Just get out and find her…." He warned while I closed the door behind me. Why was I always the one who had to do all the work?
KAG POV
We were about to leave, but Ayame insisted on getting another cinnamon bun. I groaned while sitting back in my seat and sighing deeply. This was believe it or not her sixth cinnamon bun. The waitress at this point seemed annoyed as she turned around to fulfill her order. I groaned, Ayame ate constantly. I had no idea where most of the food went seeing as she was still slim and trim. I rested my hand on my fist looking towards the glass door of the café.
I watched a cab pull up, but I didn't think anything of it. We lived in New York City cabs always come and go. The door opened and I saw a woman's bare leg step out. This is what really caught my eye. It was the dead of winter. Why wasn't she wearing any wool pants or some nice corduroys? I narrowed my eyes as I sat up. The woman got out of the cab and I could tell by the way she hugged herself she was freezing. 'Serves her right,' I thought. That's what she gets for wearing such a revealing dress…
Then it came to me, the dress, the dark brunette hair caught into a very tight ponytail, that wasn't just any idiotic cold woman. It was Sango. She turned around hugging herself in complete anger as she walked towards the coffee shop. I turned towards Ayame tugging on her weird long sleeve fishnet shirt. She had on purposely holey stockings, a black denim vest, and a very bizarre mini purple and black puffy flared skirt. I didn't comment on her ensemble, I knew Ayame well, and she could do way worse. The whole outfit was actually considered normal for her. She kicked me with her black knee high combat boots. She was mesmerized with her cinnamon bun being made in the back of the restaurant. She obviously didn't want to have anything to do with me.
"Ayame… look…" I said as Sango stomped her way towards the glass café shop door. "Isn't that Sango…?" I asked but of course I knew who it was already. She wore the same dress she had worn to my brother's birthday party. Her coat was on, but it still didn't save her from the cold. Ayame turned just when the waitress was bringing around her sixth bun.
"Yeah… that's her… she looks pissed…" Ayame commented as the café door opened quite abruptly. The weird bell rang signaling someone had come in. Her face was flush yet still pale from being out in the cold. She looked around the shop and I knew instantly she was looking for us. My phone vibrated again and I realized that those phone calls weren't from her.
She scanned the cafe from the left to the right before setting eyes on me. I slipped a hand to my pocket getting out my phone. 'Inuyasha…' came up and I gulped as I looked down at all the calls I missed from him. I flipped the phone open clearing my throat before squeezing out a "hello…"
"Kagome…" I heard him say and I narrowed my eyes. His voice almost sounded like it was worried. I was about to say something else when out of nowhere my phone slammed against the coffee shops chestnut colored floor boards. I looked down not knowing how to react to that. The call hadn't been lost and the phone didn't seem damaged, but I was still a bit lost to what just happened.
I looked up seeing a very mad very flushed Sango. Every customer in the small coffee shop was staring at us. Ayame took it upon herself to grab my phone from the floor and say hello. "I knew I'd find you here… where the hell else would you be on a Saturday morning…" Sango said with complete frustration and anger in her voice. She said each word in a hiss, but we both knew this coffee shop was sort of a ritual for us since grade school.
"Sango settle down…" I said while Ayame laughed flirtatiously on my phone. I bit my lip as I looked towards it. I couldn't take anymore close friends dating my producer anymore. I decided on that last night. I reached over to get the phone, but Sango wasn't having it.
"You dumb bitch… you ruined everything last night…" She snapped loudly and I turned myself to look towards her.
"Oh no don't worry she's fine… we're at that coffee shop at fourth and ten…" Ayame said as she put one finger in her ear so she could mute out the sound of Sango's scream.
"Sango…" I said while looking back at the phone. "I don't know what you're talking about. I was at your house last night." I said. I searched around the small café hoping everyone had looked away, but none of them did. Sango had her arms crossed as she bit the inside of her cheeks.
"Oh sure you were… but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm in the living room… me and Inuyasha are going at it… he takes off his shirt…"
I cross my eyebrows not wanting to hear anymore. I turned in my seat towards my already consumed latte cup. "Spare me Sango…" I said as that unusual pain developed my stomach again. She pulled my chair out again so I can stare at her.
"Spare you what… we didn't do anything… he got a call from his dad to meet him at the studio. He had to set up something regarding you… you ruined my night. It was like one in the morning, he didn't even offer me a ride home. I had to sit on the couch all night watching porno with that perv monk leach… oh you owe me big Kagome…" She said as she dropped her shit on the fake wooden table and sat on the only seat available in our little three seated nook.
We always sat at the same table. Ayame nodded at some information before hanging up the phone. I was too shocked at Sango, and too relieved to care about my conversation with Inuyasha. "Sango you do know none of that's my fault. You picked a horrible time to hook up with him. I mean he is my producer and it's the night before my welcoming party…" I said as I watched Ayame skillfully swallow her cinnamon bun. Sango had tried to steal a piece from her, but Ayame scarfed it down before she could get a hold of it. "Stop acting so over dramatic and lets go see a movie before I have to get ready for my welcome party."
Sango contemplated the idea with false sadness before getting up. I rolled my eyes about to grab my jacket. "Inuyasha said stay here…" Ayame said while beckoning the waitress for yet another cinnamon bun. "He said he's on his way to pick you up…" Sango groaned at the new found information. She hated the idea of me going anywhere with Inuyasha. "He said you have to start getting ready for tonight now…" I crossed my eyebrows while snatching the phone from her side of the table.
It was only seven forty-five why was I getting ready now? Ayame turned to the waitress asking for two more cinnamon buns now, one for her and the other for Sango. The waitress rolled her eyes before suggesting that next time she order all eight cinnamon buns at one time so they didn't play this ridiculous cat and mouse came.
"What cat and mouse… how am I supposed to know I'm going to want eight next time?" Ayame asked while staring at the woman as if she was crazy. The waitress only shook her head before turning around. "Mrs. Perkins is getting too old to work here; they need to hire a new waitress. You should ask for an application…" Ayame said towards me and I only rolled my eyes. Mrs. Perkins had been serving us here ever since we began drinking coffee. She obviously knew Ayame was going to order an obscene amount of cinnamon buns.
Sango sighed loudly in a depressed fit. She obviously wanted everyone to pay attention to her. I didn't give her the time of day. I was too nervous now. Inuyasha was coming to pick me up. I ran a hand through my hair which I left down since Yesterday. I still had on the dress I wore to Souta's party. I hadn't stopped at the apartment to pick out a change of clothes. Sango's room had been locked when I went over her house and I hated borrowing clothes from Ayame. She always had the weirdest outfit. I wondered if he'd think I was bizarre to wear the same dress without changing.
I turned the napkin dispenser so it was facing me. I could see my face well in it. I had put on new makeup and my long classy narrow plaid winter coat went down to my knees so he couldn't really tell what I was wearing. Could he? I decided my face looked fine. I just had to make sure I kept the part of my hair on the right side because it set the whole outfit off if it went flat or parted in the middle… "Oh my gosh… your checking to see if you look hot for Inuyasha?" Sango asked while pushing the napkin dispenser away from me. Two cinnamon buns were set in the middle of the table, and Mrs. Perkins took the liberty of giving me an extra latté. I was her favorite, even though I'd have to pay for it.
"Don't be ridiculous Sango… thanks Mrs. Perkins." I said while bringing the latte to my lips. "I'm just checking how I look, to check how I look. Plus you had your chance with him already. You blew it. You know what they say about the hot Takashi…" I said while swallowing. Sango pushed her cinnamon bun to the middle of the table in pure anger. Ayame who had eaten her own was now reaching out for hers.
"They say once you hook up with him once, he doesn't do it again…" Ayame said with her mouth full of cinnamon bun. I smiled at my red headed friend before faking a look of sadness towards Sango. She was pouting as she looked towards the mahogany rounded table. "I technically called dibs second…" Ayame said as she bit another large piece out of Sango's bun. I turned to look at her incredulously. "But I'm giving my dibs to Kagome, because I'm involved." She said with the most pleased expression I've seen her have all day. I knew she was talking about my brother.
"That's so very sweet…" I said as my phone vibrated again. "My birthday isn't until next month, but I have to say I'm going to decline your offer. You know I don't like him." I lied making Sango look up at me in shock. I glanced down at my phone seeing his number come up. There was a loud honking noise coming from outside and I knew it was him. I got up from my seat as elegantly as I could muster. "But tell you what you can do for me today… pay my latte bill." Ayame stopped chewing to watch me walk out of the café. I knew she was as shocked as Sango, not only were they paying my seven dollar Grande latte bill, but they couldn't believe out of all this time I still didn't have a crush on the single hot Takashi. The truth of the matter was. I didn't know how I felt about him. I didn't know if my like for him was purely physical or if I was starting to have deeper emotions. I hope it wasn't the second thing, because when I fell for a guy I fell really hard.
INU POV
I checked the time on the dash board before calling her again. She didn't pick up, which frustrated the hell out of me because I could sense her. Now that she had moved in with me. I had gotten accustomed to her scent so I knew she was in that small café. I sat back in my seat thinking she was ignoring me. She did seem mad last night. I hadn't had a chance to actually apologize to her. The idea of calling a girl and being ignored was so foreign to me. I couldn't begin to understand the burning feeling I got in my chest when I thought about it.
What if she was mad that I left her friend at the apartment last night? Sometimes women did that. I sighed as I thought it over. I should have driven her home but the truth of the matter was I didn't want to hook up with her? I knew it was strange seeing as she was extremely hot, but I was so hung up on Kagome. Every time I kissed the flirty girl (still can't for the life of me remember her damn name.) I just kept thinking about her. I kept thinking about what she was doing at that very moment. I kept flashing back to her performance and how great she did. I couldn't bring myself to actually hook up with her best friend. So when my dad called I was more than ecstatic to go.
I turned when I heard the swift movement of the glass door opening. My senses were heightened and I knew it was her before she even really left the shop. She didn't look straight at the car she looked somewhere else first, and I could see the slightest sadistic smirk on her face. It made me smile because she didn't seem like the type. Her hair was down today. She looked unusually gorgeous like she usually did. Her plaid coat managed to hug every curve… god I had to have her.
I unlocked the doors and she went around to the passenger seat. Her smile faded to a look of content when she entered. I was expecting me and her to not be on talking terms, so I didn't say anything while I started the car. "Hey…" she said making me turn to look at her. She had a solid grin on her face and she had turned her petit body to face me. I was taken a bit off guard, but she didn't seem fazed by my reaction. "Sorry for ignoring your calls… I was sleep." She lied. I could tell by the way she let her rounded dark blue eyes steer towards the dash board that she was lying. She wasn't too good at it, but it didn't seem as if she cared to hide it.
"No problem, but I have to say today is a pretty busy day, we're going to have to cram a lot of things in." I said while turning to face forward. I tried to let my senses die down a bit. All I could smell was a very strong aroma of lavender. First when I met her I thought it was her perfume, but I was starting to realize that it was in fact her over all scent. No other woman's natural scent I smelled was so strong. She looked out the window as we drove and I decided to make conversation. "So…" I began and she turned to face me. I could see with my peripherals she had a very nice smile on her face, and I realized though she was lying earlier she wasn't in fact angry with me. "What did you do all night…?"
"What did you do all night?" She asked after awhile and I smiled realizing she was mocking me a bit. It didn't really faze me all that much, but I did sort of feel a pang of jealousy. What did she do all night? I mean she was kicked out of her house, so she didn't stay there. It made me wonder if she actually went to another party or clubbing. What if she hooked up with some other guy? I took a deep breath. She didn't seem like the type, but it made me wonder. What if she was? Her friends were the type.
"Uh nothing…" I said as we stopped at a red light. I let myself glance at her. "I didn't do anything at all… actually I was at the studio trying to finish mixing some of your music for you." I said looking up at her. I found it sort of weird that I was trying so desperately to prove to her I hadn't done anything obscene last night. She wasn't my wife or girlfriend why did she care? Why did I care about making her happy?
"Oh really…." She said while sitting up as if she was interested. I turned to glimpse at her. I thought she'd have a sarcastic look on her face, but instead she looked thoroughly convinced, as if she wanted me to tell her what songs I had mixed. I smiled at the light in her midnight eyes; her hair was in the same wavy parted hair style from last night. I remembered how gorgeous she looked when she walked towards me. I always thought with a tad bit of makeup she'd look extraordinary.
"Yeah… during your ceremony tonight my dad wants your music playing. I finished your recording of hot 'n' cold, which is doing really well electronically." Doing really well electronically was an understatement. Her acoustic version of the song was selling like hot cakes. I had to go back in and add music to it, I also needed her to record a couple more songs this morning, then we'd get her all dressed up to take some photo shoots. "I wanted to talk to you about singles. Since you are being signed to our record label, I thought we'd start on sending out some teasers, then getting started on your album." I was about to continue on when I heard her scream in a very unusual high pitch tone. I turned to look at her in shock as I pulled up to the studio. She was beyond happy.
"AN ALBUM, AN ACTUAL ALBUM!" She screamed while I pulled up into the studios private garage. I only nodded not knowing what to make of her excitement. It sort of made me smile a bit.
"Yeah an album, your first single can be I'm in love with my Guitar, your second can be anything you like." I told her while unlocking the car door. I knew better then to suggest she sing Running with the Devil. She only nodded as If everything I said was acceptable. As soon as we got everything set up it would be spring, and then we'd set her teasers out before summer. I was sure the song would be a summer mega hit.
KAG POV
I didn't know how I felt about letting my music out anymore. The idea of having an album was amazing; it was all I sort of dreamed of. I never wanted to be a singer per se, but this was an opportunity of a life time. I climbed out of his car and he locked it . He didn't say anything as he turned towards the garages elevators. I followed him up hoping he wasn't thinking about letting out Running with the Devil, I wasn't ready for it to be released. It was one of my most secretive songs.
"You know It's not really your fault, don't let my dad tell you any different." Inuyasha said as we climbed into the elevator. "You see he has this surprise for you, but he wanted to wait the day of your welcoming to set it all up, so he clumped a week's worth of work into today." I nodded not really understanding what he was talking about.
"Your dad's mad at me?" I asked while looking up at him. He looked down at me in the weirdest way, as if the idea of me thinking anyone could be mad at me or even I being sad was ludicrous.
"No… no… he's not mad… why would he be mad? He's more like frustrated, but it's more like at himself than anyone else." He lied which told me automatically that his dad was mad at me. I sighed as I diverted my attention somewhere else. Inuyasha Takashi thought I was extremely innocent and naïve. I could tell by the way he looked at me sometimes. I wondered if that's what got people like Sango noticed before me. It told me automatically that he would never think of us as anything more then what we were now. I hated always coming off as innocent. I wasn't innocent; I wasn't a virgin like everyone expected. I just didn't flaunt around like my friends. I should have taken his offer to get intimate when I had the chance. Now it was too late.
"So… "I said trying to change the subject. I didn't want him thinking I was innocent anymore, but I didn't know how to get that point across. "Ugh how was your night with Sango?" I bit my tongue as soon as the words came out. How dumb was I? I was such an idiot. The elevator ride got extremely awkward all of a sudden and none of us said anything as the doors pushed open.
"Here we are…" He said before walking forward. I knew he was trying to get away from me after I said something like that. Now he thought I was an innocent, naïve, idiot. I walked out of the elevator to a ridiculous mass of people in the hallway. I wanted to ask him who these people were, but he was trying desperately to get away from me, which I thought was a bit uncalled for. I already knew he and Sango didn't do anything, he could have just said that.
I walked past the men and women who stopped what they were doing to stare at me. "Hi…" I mumbled while walking past them to the room I had recorded Hot n cold in last week. I undid my coat before pushing into the glass door. I unbuttoned my coat dropping it in the chair behind me.
"Oh thank God there she is…" The oldest Takashi said. He got out of the recording booth to look me over. He seemed very happy with what he saw. It was probably because I wore that fancy dress I had worn to Souta's party. He crossed the room to get to me. "Okay listen we are running very late. I'm going to give you about an hour to record I'm in Love with My Guitar then we're going to get you into hair and makeup." He walked past me into the lobby with the crowd of people waiting. "Make up and crew come in," He said and a few people from outside walked in. "This is who you'll be working with." He said before grabbing his jacket and leaving.
I had no idea what was going on, but the makeup people just swarmed around me like I was some sort of fish and they were a school of shark. "Okay okay people leave the girl alone…" I heard a very bored man say. I looked up to see the married Takashi. He was gorgeous as always. He had on slacks and a button down shirt with a small professional vest over it. "Come over here Kagome…" He said while turning around and leading me into the recording booth. "We don't have a lot of time, but we already know what song your singing. Inuyasha has the band set up." He said while sitting in his dad's huge chair in the middle of the soundboard. I looked around for Inuyasha, but he was nowhere. I wondered if he felt so awkward after what I said that he didn't want me seeing him. "Inuyasha went to get the band out of the hall. They're temporary. My father hired them. You can switch any member as often as you want." The married Takashi mumbled as he looked down at his cross word puzzle. He looked so deathly bored, I wondered why.
I took a seat across from him when I heard movement in the glass recording booth. A group of guys around my age, but a bit older lined the room. One was back at the drums, the other at the bass, while one held a guitar. The one who held the guitar got my attention. He was really cute defiantly Sango's type. I decided I'd tell her about it later.
INU POV
"Okay you rehearsed the way she wants to play it. You know the chord progression right?" I asked the guys. I let the last man who played the electric piano come in before shutting the door. I turned around to head back into the sound booth, but I stopped before slapping my forehead. I was forgetting everything today. I walked into the booth seeing Kagome stare at the men with curiosity.
My brother in the other hand was still doing that damn puzzle. I flipped the book out of his hands making it fall to the ground. he looked up at me in pure anger. "Hey Kagome…" I said hesitant to talk to her. I still felt awkward about the whole elevator thing. I wondered if me almost hooking up with her best friend was what had her on edge at the party. She turned to set beautiful eyes on me. She wore the same dress from last night which made me jealous.
What if she did go out last night like I had guessed? "We usually let artist listen to the instrumental of their songs before they sing it, but we're running a little late. You don't mind getting in there and going over I'm in Love…"
"With my guitar…" She said interrupting me and finishing my sentence. She obviously didn't like my new abbreviation to her song. It made Sesshomaru look up from his crossword and eye me, before looking back down in content. "And sure… I'd love to…" I watched her leave before sitting in my usual seat. I realized my brother wasn't going to do anything but sit and get paid for nothing. So I stood back up to begin pressing and switching the series of buttons and switches it took to get the recording process started. Kagome walked into the booth making most of the guys turn to look at her. A couple whispered something in the back, and I lost focus at what I was doing. It was that damn dress. Why didn't she wear sweat pants and a sloppy bun? I really didn't need any other guy getting in the way of me cracking her. I had taken a lot of shit, a soda spill, chocolate cake on my favorite sweater, and lemonade to the face for that girl. I was cracking her and I didn't need a band filled with college drop outs to interfere with that.
"Looks like you better watch out; the bands taking a liking to her." Sesshomaru said boredly as he flipped the page of his crossword. I watched her begin talking to the guitarist and I pressed the button for the microphone.
"Ugh hey… can everyone focus please…" I said a bit snappish. I didn't want Kagome to think I was an ass. I had been acting uncharacteristically nice since I met her. Even Miroku and Kouga had said I was becoming unusually obsessed with cracking her, but I didn't care. Sesshomaru put down the crossword to look at me in mild shock before laughing and shaking his head as if this was bound to happen. Kagome on the other hand looked generally shocked at my tone of voice. I sighed before pressing the microphone button once more. "Everyone take your places, we're beginning in one, two …" I knew my voice went mute by three, and the band began playing. It flooded through the room, but Sesshomaru didn't seem to care he just wrote down whatever word he needed and moved on to the next one.
The guitarist started followed by the drums and Kagome walked forward towards the microphone. she put her hand on the side and began singing. Sesshomaru actually sat up for this. He didn't change his bored expression, but he did look up to take notice.
I've been trying too hard
I've been spinning around
Got people chasing me down.
Gotta find a way back to my world somehow, somehow
Right now I wanna get lost inside of a song
Where there's no right or wrong
In my room all alone is where I belong
My life is mine once I'm behind the door
The guitar played a mass of unorganized notes that made Kagome smile in surprise and astonishment. She seemed to like it which made me a bit angry. I was about to Stand up but Sesshomaru grabbed hold of my arm. He seemed focus on what was going on at hand.
She smiled before lifting her voice up for the chorus.
Whenever we're together no one's a star
I can pour it all out right from the heart
If it's up to me, we'll never be apart
I'm in love with my guitar
I watched as she looked around the room impressed with the band and how well they knew the song. Too bad it was me who had to write the notes and recall the audition night to get this all together. I was the real reason they played so well. I sat back in my seat in frustration as the song slowed down for the second verse.
I grab a handful of strings
I've been dying to play
It carries me far away
I don't need to explain when I've got nothing to say, oh yeah
If I break down it's all the sound I make
She smiled as the band stopped playing and the guitarist played the disarray of notes. She stopped looking around and fell into complete and total performance mode. I watched as she began to jump in beat with the music. I glimpsed at my brother who had his eyes narrowed in amusement. I hated that he liked it too for some reason. I hated that she looked gorgeous up there. I hated that she was doing a kick ass job. She plunged into the chorus again.
Whenever we're together no one's a star
I can pour it all out right from the heart
If it's up to me, we'll never be apart
I'm in love with my guitar
She smiled in a sort of seductive way before pausing to sing the songs hook. The song became a bit melancholy and the guitar, bass, and drums played by themselves. I knew she must have felt awkward without her own guitar, and I didn't take the time to teach her how to play the electric.
Keeper of my secrets
She still had a conniving smile as the guitar shredded the last verse. He wasn't even that good of a guitarist. I could have played a lot better.
Part of all my dreams
Somehow we're connected
from a whisper to a scream
She held the last scream note before plunging back into the chorus in a huge way. I knew this was the part that we didn't get to hear during her audition so I just made the band stop playing and the Acapella end of 'scream' caused goose bumps before the song repeated itself from the chorus. She smiled as the guitarist took it upon himself to play different notes that actually fit the song nicely. She walked towards him egging him on before jumping into the chorus for a second time.
She grabbed the microphone as the electric piano had its moment to shine the band sang back up as she just enhanced the chorus by holding "Part…" and "I'm in love, I'm in Love…" the band died down and she was the only one singing, and though it seemed like she should of ended the song with a high pitch "With my guitar…" Instead she smiled down at me and my brother took on elegant seductive step forward and whispered…
"With my guitar…" I hadn't known I was at the edge of my seat until I decided it was time for me to get up. I almost lost my footing. The band began clapping and before the guitarist could make his way over to her and say something about how good he thought she was. I pressed the microphone button.
"Amazing job Kagome, come out here so you can hear how kick ass you did…." I said as I looked over at my brother who sat back in his seat and crossed his arms in total awe and astonishment.
"I sure can pick 'em'" he said with a slight smile on his face. He didn't pick anything, I was the producer. I took the initiative, but I didn't want to argue about who picked dad's newest star. Instead I wanted to ensure she got into the studio before the lovey dovey guitarist took it upon himself to ask her out and get fired before the welcoming party.
KAG POV
I shook nervously as I grabbed my phone from the purse I was given. "Hello…"
"Hey it's your mom… we're here… you're everywhere…" She said in a shocked and impressed voice. I knew she was talking about the posters of me that lined the fancy entertainment room. I had posed for them around ten this morning. I didn't know they would be already lining the walls before my first live performance as a signed artist. "When do I get to see you in the flesh though?" She asked as I began pacing the back stage dressing room.
The welcoming party already started and I'm in love with my Guitar was blasting through the room. I could hear it on my cell phone and all around me. It was the completed version of it. We tweaked it a couple times after I performed it the first time, but now it was completely done. After the song played out my rendition of hot n cold came on, I was so nervous at first thinking that Running with the Devil would be the third song, but Inuyasha hadn't placed it on the play list. I was so happy I could kiss him, but I hadn't seen him since earlier this morning before I was bombarded away from the studio.
"Mom I don't think you'll recognize me…" I said as I walked to the mirror. I barely recognize myself. The oldest Takashi told the hair stylist not to cut any of my hair. He said my freakishly long hair was part of my image, but that didn't mean she couldn't take the time to chop me up some extremely long bangs and cut my split ends then hack me up some layers. I looked like I had just walked out of a shampoo and conditioning commercial. My hair was still unusually long, but every part of it was loaded with volume. Every time I walked I could feel it bounce up and down. The bangs covered the side of my eye and I was always moving it so I could see. I tipped my head slightly to the left making all the hair bounce to the left. I didn't know whether I liked it or not yet. I would only really find out tomorrow when I try my damndest to make myself look like a casual normal person and not some model slash movie star.
"What are you talking about…?" My mom said. I knew she wouldn't understand. My hair wasn't dramatically altered when I took the pictures today that now lined the stage room. "This place is amazing… very classy… I know your dad would be…"
"Dad… is he here…" I asked and I stumbled from foot to foot as more nervousness came over me. I wore a long dark blue silk gown. It had no back or sleeves and back stage was extremely cold. I ran a hand through my hair in complete nervousness. Soon Mr. Takashi would introduce me on stage. I'd say my thanks then I'd go back backstage and change into a multi color designer halter dress. (None of these clothes belonged to me by the way.) Then I'd get up and perform. I was so nervous about the performance I had actually been pacing since they dropped me off here.
"Yeah Mr. Takashi hand delivered the invitation himself. You know how much respect your dad has for the Takashi's…" My mom said and I crossed my eye brows. No I didn't know. All I knew was my dad sold a timeshare in Hawaii to them two years ago. "He told your dad how amazing you were, and you know your dad… is this you singing…?" The song had changed to hot n cold and I nodded forgetting in my nervousness that I was talking on the phone.
"Ugh yeah it is… where is dad…?" I said, my dad had never ever heard me sing except at home, and he hated it.
"Well honey I'm very impressed…" She said which made me feel slightly better, but it wasn't really a compliment. I decided she'd give me one for the first time when I performed live. "Your father's talking business with some important people." I groaned in a depressed way as I plumped down on my dressing room chair. Only my dad would use my moment to shine as a business opportunity. Inuyasha had said earlier today that the Welcoming party would be filled with celebrities and other people from the music industry. My dad must have been having a field day selling them over priced timeshares. Oh honey… it's starting… that very handsome demon is on the stage…" My mom said in a sing song voice. I knew she was talking about the older Takashi and I felt my stomach do flips.
She hung up without saying good bye and random people began to come towards me. I got up knowing they wanted to lead me to one side of the stage.
INU POV
"So I was wondering maybe we can do it again… you know hook up. Cause when you think about it we didn't hook up the first time…" The flirty girl said as I stared ahead at my dad who had now taken the stage. I was tuning her out waiting for Kagome to come out. As soon as she saw me she strutted herself over here grabbed two glasses of white wine and passed me one of them.
"Aren't you under age?" I asked as I took one small sip of the wine at my hand. She was wearing a short lavender dress and her hair had one single flower in it. She reminded me of Kagome and her scent. I wanted her to go away, and usually I would say something mean or rude to be left alone by an eager girl, but this was Kagome's friend, and what if she told Kagome afterwards.
"Ugh yeah, by one year though…. I turn twentyone next year." She was trying to hide the fact that she had just turned twenty this year. I looked down at her and smiled charmingly before grabbing the wine glass from her hands.
"Look you're not my type…" I lied. Of course she was my type, she was hot and a woman what more could I ask for. "Why don't you go do some mingling." I said while pointing towards Miroku and Kouga. I walked away from her hoping that wasn't too harsh. I placed her wine glass on a random table before spotting my brother and his wife.
My brother saw me instantly, but of course his human wife hadn't. She was too busy looking up at her father in law. "Hey… why don't you lose the zero and hook up with a hero…" I said jokingly as I stood behind her. She looked at Sesshomaru in a very worried way before turning to face me. A smile spilled onto her gorgeous face immediately.
"INUYASAHA," she screamed ecstatically before standing on her tippy toes to give me a hug. Her scent had changed since the last time I saw her but I didn't hesitate to hug her. I looked over at Sesshomaru who realized that I noticed the small change. She looked the same, but something was different. "I haven't seen you in forever… I thought you were avoiding me…" She said jokingly before holding on to my hand. "So what have you been up to, besides still running from commitment?"
"Hardy har har…" I said sarcastically as I looked her up and down. She wore a dark green gown that brought out the flakes in her deep brown eyes perfectly. "I haven't been avoiding you, and I haven't been running from commitment. I've been running from him." I put a hand out pointing at her husband. "And I've been having fun."
She smiled before rolling her eyes. She knew that just meant I was being a man whore. "Same old same old…" she said before giving me another tight hug. "Did Sesshomaru tell you the good news?" she asked and I looked over at my brother. He took a small sip of his wine before looking up at my dad again.
"Nope… good news and him don't really mix, but I'm sure you can enlighten me…"
"I'm pregnant…" She said before I could finish my sentence. Sesshomaru looked down at me as if trying to say he tried telling me. I remembered that time he called me on the phone. Only he would attempt to do something once and not a second time. I smiled down at my sister in law.
"That's terrific news…" I said as I humored her. I didn't really know how I felt about it. I was going to be an uncle. That felt sort of weird, but I wasn't upset. I was actually sort of happy. I looked up at my brother smiling gently… he only put his wine glass up slightly as if to toast the whole thing. "You're going to be a horrible father…" I said while the lights turned off and I approached him.
"Says you…" He said sternly as he looked forward.
"Congratulations…" I whispered and he looked towards me before nodding his head slightly. We both looked up on stage as my dad said Kagome's name out loud. The music changed to I'm in love with my Guitar's chorus automatically and it was louder than ever. She finally walked out from back stage and everyone combusted into applauds, but me and Sesshomaru. We just stared. I looked towards him and I watched as his lips silently moved to form the word "wow"
Rin adjusted herself so she could mumble something to her husband. "Sesshomaru… she's gorgeous…" She said and that couldn't be farther from the truth. She was more than gorgeous she was stunningly magnificent. I watched as my dad whispered something in her ear along the lines of 'you look amazing,' she only blushed slightly and whispered a thank you before grabbing the microphone from my dad.
A few people in the back continued to cheer loudly and I turned around to see her friends, her brother, and our roommates cheering like idiots. I swore you couldn't bring them anywhere. She laughed a little as the music died down and the lights aimed at only her, making her look even more breathtakingly beautiful. I never remembered her dark black hair ever framing her face the way it did now. I didn't recall her dark blue eyes ever being so blue before, or her lips being as vibrant and ruby. Her skin was flawless making me think back to that night when I first saw her on that stage. I remember thinking to myself that night 'she could very simply be gorgeous with a different setting, different clothes, and more make up.' I hadn't known till now she could be much more then that.
I was mesmerized by her. I didn't even register anything she was saying. Her dark blue silk dress hugged her rounded hips so delicately, but plunged into her sharp waist. Her hair bounced over her face every time her movements became too quick making her run a hand through her hair so she could see. She said something about the 'help of friends…' and more cheers could be heard from the back before she ran an embarrassed hand through her newly cut bangs. She showed the audience her face fully and I actually felt a feeling of nervousness come through my stomach. I had wondered not too long ago if she was the best looking girl I had ever seen, but it was clear today that she was hands down. I had to get to her… I had to say something. I didn't know what or how but I had to.
She mentioned something about her parents which made her look around the room searching. I was so jealous of any man or woman who got to have her undivided attention. When she found who she was searching for she grew a tad bit depressed, but she only hesitated for a moment before quickly looking away and continuing. I looked through the audience trying to find the person or persons who saddened her for only a split of a second. She gave the audience another smile before mentioning someone else's name. I was too dumbstruck by her smile to hear who it was, but when I saw her eyes glimpse towards me along with the spot light I knew she was talking about me. I forced myself to give her a delayed smile as my heart beat increased at the warmth of her eyes on me. "I just want to think everyone, and I hope we all have an amazing night." She placed the microphone back on the stand as the audience erupted in another round of praise before she slipped away.
"She looked amazing tonight…" Sesshomaru said as I watched her leave the stage. I gave him a look and I knew he understood. It meant 'yeah she did, and I'm going to do something about it.' He just looked the other way which meant in brother code. 'More power to ya.' I took his somewhat advice and made my way backstage. I was almost there when I felt someone grab me by my arm. I cursed silently to myself before turning. Kouga was standing in front of me with a glass of wine in his hands.
"Kouga… I don't have time for this. what do you want?" I asked wanting him to leave me alone.
"I want her…" He said calmly and seriously as he pointed towards the stage. He was of course signaling the picture of Kagome that hung apart from the rest. I crossed my eyebrows realizing that I had all my focus on Kagome before. I hadn't even sensed Kouga approach me. I didn't know what to say to his serious demeanor.
"What are you talking about…?" I asked as I straightened myself away from him.
"You had your chance with her… she doesn't like you… let me have a wing at her." I looked down at the ground for a second before taking a deep breath. I didn't have time to deal with this. You think you have to steer away a random guitarist from the girl you wanted, but you never once think you'll have to do the same with one of your closest friends.
"Touch her… approach her… even talk to her, and you'll have to find a new place to stay…" I said as I backed up from him. He didn't lose his composure which obviously meant he wasn't backing down from this. I only shook my head before running back stage. I didn't have to look too far before finding her in her dressing room. It was an open area with a mirror and a few expensive clothes lining it.
She was sitting down looking sadly at herself in the mirror. It was such a weird sight. So many women around the world would kill to see what she saw in that mirror. She shook her head sadly and I took one step forward. "Hey…" I whispered. She turned around to look at me and a small solemn smile lit up her face.
"Hi…" she said while slowly getting up. I watched her and again I was shocked at how amazingly fantastic she looked, especially close up. Just a simple shade of eye shadow and her dark blue eyes shined so brightly. "I didn't think anyone was coming back here…" she said while trying to close the space between us. I didn't know exactly what she was going to do, but I knew it wasn't going to be what I wanted her to do.
"Shouldn't you be outside mingling before your performance? Dad said there are some big time investors that he wants you to woo…" She nodded and I realized she was getting closer to me so she could leave. I couldn't just let her leave. "Why are you so sad…?" I asked and she gave me a false smile that never touched her eyes as if to prove she wasn't, but I knew better and she knew I did.
"I'm not sad… I'm happy. It's just…" she trailed off as if she didn't want to talk anymore. She looked up at me for a second. "My dad is actually here, but the whole time I was giving my speech. When I looked up at him, he was talking to some person about business… on my night… I just realize he's never going to accept me…"
"Who cares…?" I interrupted and she looked up at me with sudden anger. I let a charming smile slip in. "I didn't mean it like that… I mean who cares… it's your night… don't let him ruin it. Listen, how did your mom and brother look when you looked up at them?" I asked while stepping forward. I realized her sadden look earlier was for her father.
She smiled slightly as she considered it. "My mom looked very proud for the first time in her life…" she said and I nodded while looking down. I tried to combat the nervous chills that went through me when she smiled. "My brother was cheering his ass off…"
"Exactly, you got your mom to see things on your term… the night's still young. You can still woo your dad later…" she looked up at me and I smiled at her hoping she was reassured. This wasn't the conversation I meant to have with her. I actually didn't mean to have a conversation at all. I wanted more obviously. I always did.
She smiled naturally this time not in a grave way like before. I didn't know what to say. I thought I should comment on what drove me here; her overall gorgeous appearance, when she slowly walked towards me to close the distance between us. It felt a lot like that time she hugged me and I waited for her to wrap her arms around me, but she didn't. Instead she grabbed hold of my tie trying to bring me towards her.
I bent over voluntarily and she smiled. "That's really good advice…" She whispered seductively. I could feel her warm breath on my lips and before I could compose myself her mouth crashed onto mine. I was too stunned and off my guard to function correctly. That didn't seem like something she would do. She didn't strike me as the type. I was utterly and completely surprised. I let the fact that her soft, moist, lips were on mine work its way through my brain before slipping my hands around her waist, and kissing her back. I was about to pick her up and swing her long legs around my waist when I sensed my father.
He couldn't have come at a worse time. I had just begun kissing her back. "Inuyasha…" I heard him bark coherently. I wanted to end the kiss but I could feel her teeth bite down on the bottom of my lip and I was powerless to resist. "Inuyasha…" my dad said abruptly, but I didn't stop. It was her who stopped first. She looked up at me with lust clouding her dark blue eyes. She wanted me… I had done it. I cracked her. She wanted me, and she wanted me badly. The only problem was I wanted her just as bad.
She turned away when she heard my dad say my name one more time. "I'm sorry…" She said to my father, but I hadn't let go of her waist. I couldn't bring myself too, and she hadn't stopped clutching my tie. My dad gave her a very nice smile filled with compassion.
"You did nothing wrong Kagome… it's my idiot son who's to blame. Why don't you go out and mingle like we planned and leave me with him." she nodded before slowly slipping out of my arms. As soon as her warmth and scent was gone my eyes trailed at the door. I needed her, I wanted to go after her, but my father wouldn't let me.
"Inuyasha…" He said sadly and full of regret. "You'll never be able to have sex with every beautiful girl in the world. It's virtually impossible. Why don't you do like Sesshomaru, settle down with one attractive girl and have some grandchildren for me and your mom… huh?" He asked
"Dad…" I said while trying to slip away from him. "How am I going to find that one girl… if you interrupt me with everyone I'm with…?" I said as I backed up slowly from him. I had to get Kagome back. "How am I supposed to know the one girl you just shooed away wasn't the one for me…?" I asked as I turned away from him to find her. I felt a sudden chill develope my body as I ran out into the party floor. I searched around while trying to fight this weird feeling that Kagome could very well be my actual one.
Songs used in chapter in order.
I'm In love with my Guitar: Sung by Alex Johnson/ Jude Harrison From the album Instant Star Soundrack season 1
Virtually all the song was used, but I changed up the end a tad bit.
Hot n cold by Katy Perry was mention.
Running With the Devil by Alexz Jonson's never released album was mentioned.
All songs used prior to this chapter.
22 pages on word people 22… review!