~*~Silver Rain~*~

Chapter One: Silver Rain

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Kikyou opened her eyes slowly, burying her cold and stiff body deeper under the covers. She clenched her hands, attempting to warm them up. It was a cold night in her dorm. The heater had been broken for a while, so Kikyou was used to the cold, but tonight dreams and the cool air was sinking into her bones.

"Face it Kikyou. You're not going to get any sleep" she told herself, throwing the blankets off her body.

Kikyou sat up and looked across the room to her roommate. Kagome slept, and like Kikyou, she looked cold. Despite the look of iciness, Kagome appeared as if she slept peacefully. Kikyou sighed heavily as she forced her frozen legs to move. She placed her own cover on top of Kagome, then slipped into a dark red dress. If she wasn't going to get any sleep, she might as well go around town for a bit.

She glanced at her clock. The bright green numbers glowed eerily in the dark. 12:18. Spinning Petals was open until two A.M. depending on how busy it was. Kikyou taped a note to Kagome's forehead then closed the door behind her.

As she arrived at Spinning Petals she sat at her favorite table to the left of the stage. Kikyou glanced around her. Spinning Petals was pretty empty for being a Saturday night. It was the most popular club and closest to the college. Kikyou wasn't one for crowds, but she enjoyed Spinning Petals. It always maintained a calm and laid back atmosphere.

The waitresses had started to sit at the back tables with drinks and friends. Kikyou figured the band had finished playing since they were fooling around and not paying attention to the women that had started to whisper in the back. She turned back to the band.

The keyboardist moved her fingers across the keys gracefully as she rocked her body slowly in time to the tune she played, her waist-length hair swaying with her body. She paused as her hazel eyes scanned her music then wandered to the black-haired man sitting across the stage with a guitar by his side. She shrugged then continued playing. Meanwhile the man had picked up the guitar and played a few cords, adjusting the strings and brushing his bangs out of his eyes occasionally. Another man sat further off to the side, his yellow amber eyes scanning the club as he flicked his long white hair over his shoulder with impatience.

He stood up as he motioned to his fellow band members. The girl stopped her playing and the guitarist rested his guitar on his lap. The white haired man tapped on the mic, then cringed from the screech.

"Well, I guess that still works. We're going to play one more song for whoever's out there, then we'll pack up. Once again this is Ningen-Youkai. Sango plays the keyboards and percussion, Miroku is our guitarist, and I'm Inuyasha. Once again this is our last song and we hope you enjoy it."

Inuyasha looked behind him as Sango and Miroku nodded to him. He sighed in response then turned back to the waitresses and Kikyou. Again Sango's fingers flew over the keys, carrying the melody she had been playing before, only now it held more feeling to it, like it had more meaning than just some little tune.

Miroku joined in with a harmony and the two played in perfect unison. Inuyasha lifted his eyes to the audience then raised the mic to his lips.

"As I walk through the streets at night,

The silver rain drenches my might.

Sorrow and grief I feel,

As the reflected lights catch my appeal.

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Strength, Spirit, Beauty, Hope.

All the things I admire most.

Were lost in seas of Rage and fury,

Because of wandering heart's query.

-

Loneliness and Love, both for we pray,

Because both can go very astray.

Why does one feel such a void at times,

Then feel so lost inside?

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Like the silver rain,

Or indescribable pain,

One does cry,

And so, often wish to die.

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Hugging close your own loneliness,

As the sacred world goes amiss.

I feel very lost,

It's a terrible cost

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Hating yourself for old things past,

Purity and good you will never cast

Again in your own silver rain

The only comfort is only pain.

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Strength, Spirit, Beauty, Hope.

All the things I admire most.

Were lost in seas of Rage and fury,

Because of wandering heart's query.

-

Loneliness and Love, both for we pray,

Because both can go very astray.

Why does one feel such a void at times,

Then feel so lost inside?"

Kikyou was enchanted. The lyrics were so moving and Inuyasha expressed so much emotion in those few words. It was beautiful. As the music faded, Kikyou quietly applauded as the women behind her cheered and whistled.

Inuyasha waved his hand, "Thanks. Um...Once again this is Ningen-Youkai. We're going to play some recordings while we pack up. That's about it. Goodnight!"

Kikyou heard the cheering of the waitresses die down to a murmur. One came over and poured her a glass of water. She nodded in thanks then returned her attention to the stage.

Miroku tapped the keyboardist on the shoulder, "Hey Sango....OW!"

Sango had grabbed the guitarist's wrist and had twisted it behind his back, "Don't touch me, you peverted creep!" she growled.

"But I didn't do anything!"

"Not yet..."

"Miroku! Sango! Can you keep it down?" Inuyasha called to them, tilting his head towards Kikyou.

Miroku slipped out of Sango's gripped then walked to the edge of the stage, "Hello young miss, and how may I help you tonight?"

Suddenly he was hit with a flying mic, "Ow! What was that for?" He called, suspecting who had thrown the mic. As he turned to where the keyboarder had stood before, he saw her walking backstage carrying one of her boards. He followed after her.

"Those two idiots. They're in love with each other, but are doing a crappy job at hiding it." Inuyasha complained, hopping off the stage and walking towards Kikyou.

She nodded, "That's fine. I've seen worse."

She thought about Kagome and her countless suitors, namely Hojo and Kouga. Hojo was a sweet boy and Kagome liked him as a friend, but the poor boy didn't seem to notice that Kagome didn't return the feelings he had for her. He would make a good boyfriend if he was just a little less dense.

Then there was Kouga. Kouga was, well, Kouga. He was determined to make Kagome his girlfriend. Kikyou was surprised that he didn't hook up with Jenenji and form a fan club. She giggled, shaking her head and returning to Inuyasha.

"I bet you don't live with them though. I hate walking in at awkward moments. The sad thing is that it's so obvious that they like each other."

Kikyou laugh. Her voice filled with a tint of sadness and lack of joy. Her small happiness faded back into seriousness, "I loved you're song. It seemed to have a lot of meaning."

Inuyasha looked at her sharply, "It does. I'm not a trusting person. I also lack friends."

Kikyou tilted her head in curiosity, "What about that man and Sango?"

"They're just there cause they're good at what they do. They know how to set the mood. We all have had bad experiences, so we're able to put it into our music, but that's about it. I have no need for anyone." Inuyasha said tartly.

Kikyou shrugged, "I didn't mean to hit a sore subject."

"Yeah, well, it's not your fault, but I have no need of anyone's help."

"I know. I'm like that too."

"Well, I need to help pack up. If you want to see us play, come anytime from Tuesdays to Fridays. You can't miss us."

Before Kikyou could utter a thanks Inuyasha had turned and jumped back onto the stage to help Miroku with a large speaker. Kikyou watched Inuyasha's long white hair disappear behind the backdrop. She sighed then walked out with her sad beauty reflecting the feelings she knew Inuyasha felt towards others.

Kikyou walked down the street humming the tune Ningen-Youkai had played. She wrapped her arms around herself as a light sprinkle started to fall. She started to sing what she could remember of the lyrics,

"As I walk through the streets at night,

The silver rain drenches my might."

Kikyou found that quite ironic.

She opened the door to her dorm. She dropped her keys on the table, and opened a water bottle. She placed it next to her keys and walked into the bathroom to change from her wet clothes.

She left the bathroom wearing a large sweatshirt and jeans, then sat at the table, drinking from her water. She glanced at the clock hanging on the kitchen wall. 4:30. Kikyou released a heavy sigh.

Good thing it was Sunday Morning. She didn't feel like doing work today. Kikyou shifted the water bottle between her hands. She sighed again. Always she carried this anxiety. Always such sadness. Kikyou wished she could forget it all, but something always reminded her.

She thumped the bottle on the table and fiddled with a lavender stone on her necklace between her fingers. She stood up and grabbed her bow by the door. Other than during class, Kikyou went to Archery when she was anxious, depressed, or angry.

And now? She was depressed. Her arrows would fly straight this morning, and they would fly again, but it would not be from depression.

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