A/N: Sorry for the pause in updating- I was sick yesterday and my folks won't let me use the
computer when I stay home from school. Damn overbearing parental figures! Argh... Anyway,
I hope you enjoy this chapter, I enjoyed writing this one A Lot! ^_^
A Few Songs to Settle the Heart
~ 'Dogboy's brother' is now on a plane to Hawaii with the 'winner'. 'Dogboy' has walked up
to the microphone, calling to the crowd which instantly went silent at 'his' announcement. It
seems 'he' has changed the program again. Now, what is 'he' up to? Good luck! ~
Inuyasha looked back to me, beckoning me to his side. I was a little more than hesitant and
very suspicious of his actions, but I obeyed nonetheless. He looked back to the crowd when I
stood beside him.
"Ladies and gentlemen, before 'Demonic' continues," he said, looking around the room,
then to me, then back to the crowd, "we have a special little something to put you back in the
groove... Debuting her first song- straight off the top of her head and from her heart- Kagome
Higurashi!"
I gasped, my eyes widening with each word. "I-iie, Inuyasha. Iie," I muttered, my heart
pounding in my ears, racing to keep up with my sudden head rush. "Inuyasha, I can't," I said,
backing away to run.
Before my feet could carry me away, Inuyasha had me pinned to my side. "Come on, Kag,"
he whispered. "You'll do great. Now," he spoke into the microphone again, "folks, please
understand that- not only is this her first time on stage, but she hasn't planned for this. We'll give
her a beat she has never heard- she will sing. So, everyone, give it up for Kagome Higurashi!"
The crowd went berserk, but I was shocked beyond words when I realized they were
cheering for me, waiting for me to sing. They were screaming for ME!
Inuyasha handed me the mic.
"Inuyasha, onegai, iie," I plead. "Don't make me-"
"Go Kagome!" Sango yelled over the crowd.
I swirled around to meet her eyes. I scowled.
'This is what they meant! Oh, I'm going to give it to them BIG TIME!'
When I turned back around to beg Inuyasha again, he was gone. He had picked up his
guitar and began strumming out a beat. Well, with no way out, I'd just have to make the best of
it...
The band honed in to a beat, nice and slow, but I knew they'd speed it up dramatically.
Somehow, I knew. Miroku began the beat, Kouga following, Inuyasha last. I planned as fast as
possible, getting the first line in my head and going with it.
Missing my start by a few seconds, I began at an awkward moment, but it was great. It
created its own little melody inside of the true one. Oh, I am sooo good! ^-^
"So, this is how it is,
Saying one thing and doing another,
It's all just fun and games to you,
But to me we need each other,"
I don't know how it happened so fast, but I found myself slipping into place. I belonged on
stage, here with the boys, singing like there was no tomorrow.
"When will you grow up-
Will you go up and see,
Not only do I need you,
But you also need me-"
And the tempo picked up pace, quite abruptly, right in the middle of my lines. Funny thing is
I knew they'd do that right there and I was prepared for it, too.
"If you'll open those eyes boy,
Stop running around blind
I'll be waiting right here for you to be mine,
Open your eyes boy,
You're running out of time-
And time's not something we can just-"
They slowed it as abruptly as they had sped it up. Again, I was ready for it.
"Time, so slow as it seems
From day to day
Always finds a way to fly by at the speed of light
Wait too long and it'll be gone-
Be gone just like me-"
I deepened my voice, whispering as seductively as possible as I turned to look partially at
the crowd and Inuyasha.
"Now, I bet that's something you can see-"
and ended it in a high pitched squeal- not sure how I pulled it off. It was perfect! I swear it
was. I got a lot of cat calls and screams for that. Inuyasha's face reddened the slightest fraction
and I smiled to myself. That's what I was looking for.
Kouga had a solo at this point. I really got into it at this point, strumming on my own air
guitar, walking over to face him. He winked at me. I grinned.
Over to Inuyasha it was as Kouga's solo transferred to Inuyasha. I walked over to him,
mimicking his movements, watching his eyes laugh. Miroku... didn't have a solo... That's not right,
man!
"If you'll open those eyes boy,
Stop running around blind
I'll be waiting right here for you to be mine,
Open your eyes boy,
You're running out of time-
And time's not something we can just let go by,
No don't let it slip by,
Boy please open those eyes and see-"
Here Miroku cut in with his own solo which I 'danced' to. His solo was short and sweet,
giving me the perfect end.
"-me."
And the song died, remaining forever imprinted in my mind. The applause was deafening.
"I know what's best for you too, Kag."
I didn't turn to look at him, bowing with teary eyes. "Arigatou, Inuyasha. You gave me my
chance to be in the spotlight."
"Iie, I..."
"Need to get on with the show," I said sadly, placing a more friendly smile in place. I turned
around and winked. "Break a leg."
"Me going to the hospital right now would not help," he muttered, as serious as could be.
"Ha ha, very amusing. Ja," I called, walking off the stage.
"Ja."
Sango and Ayame met me at the barrier, clapping and cheering for me. I growled at Sango,
Ayame having momentarily zoned in on Kouga.
"Great job, Kagome-chan," Sango shouted as Mr. Security Guard let me pass through the
barrier.
"I can't believe you set me up like that," I hissed over 'Kazaana'.
"We didn't," Sango said, frowning.
"We had nothing to do with that," Ayame muttered, her eyes watering. I looked at her
concernedly. "It's just not right! Non-Fangirl here gets to sing with them but I don't!?"
'Oh,' my mind sighed, exasperated with her. "Aya-chan-"
"I know," she sighed. "I don't want to be in music, anyway. I want to go into the movie
industry. Ya know, actress, producer, director."
"Ahokaya," I said in a hurry. I was trying to stop myself from hurting her feelings and I
succeeded. Whew...
"Chotto," Sango called, a thoughtful look on her face. "How'd you get Sesshomaru to go
along with this 'vacation' thing?"
"Yura set up the Jet and I paid the expenses with Sesshomaru's own bank account with that
palm pilot," I stated. "He has everything on there."
"But, Sesshomaru-"
"Is taking a little nap," I interjected.
"You drugged him!?"
"What about Kagura, the poor girl," Ayame asked.
"Yura is telling her the details. If she refuses, then there is always the way of 'how many
zeroes'."
"Kagome!" Sango screeched in disbelief. "Are you insane!?"
"I was kidding!" I yelled defensively. "We'll find a way. She won't complain, though, even if
she knew the truth. Trust me, she'll go," I smirked. "Any girl would."
"You?" Sango asked, smirking.
"Well, if I can't have one..." I let the sentence trail off.
They shook their heads, one hand on their forehead, another on their hip.
"Unbelievable."
******
Inuyasha smiled at the crowd, making yet another public announcement. They were just
about done- the only song left being 'A Shattered Jewel'.
'What do you have up that sleeve of yours, Inuyasha?'
"Going through all of those... overwhelming fan-letters, we stumbled across one particular
one that caught our eyes," Inuyasha spoke, looking around the crowd.
"This one contained a song- a song written by two friends from the heart." Kouga began,
stepping forward, slightly. "Seeing how serious it was to them, we have dedicated this song to
them, playing it here for the first time."
"This song was written by miss Sango Taijiya," Miroku cut in, taking the lead. "The music
was given by miss Ayame Sasayaku. We now present you with-"
"- 'Just One Kiss'," the band spoke, starting the beat.
"Chotto," I shouted. "That's..!"
It was MY song! That's what they'd been up to! Inuyasha started it off.
"I've been searching the world, looking for you
And now that I've found you, I don't know what to do
Should I risk my happiness to stay by your side
Or keep my feelings bottled up inside my mind
Should I lose the true in lies, or let the truth be found
- Either way, I have to hide my heart when you're around-
The decision became harder with just one kiss
And I searched the world just to deal with this,"
Inuyasha ended, leaning away from the microphone, closing his eyes as he continued the
melody while Miroku sang.
"I used to think ignorance was bliss,
But how can it be when there's so much I miss
I used to believe it was all a mistake,
But learned you were the chance I had to take,"
Miroku mimicked Inuyasha, closing his eyes and leaning back. Kouga was next up, singing
the next few lines.
"Sometimes I stand alone and wonder
About what my life would be like without you
My mind fills with images of a life so cold
And all I want is to have you to hold,"
Then Inuyasha began again, his eyes remaining closed, focus never wavering.
"Should I stay with you- I fell the need to run
But the way my heart beats- I know you're the one
Should I go with what I know- or throw it away
If I tell you what I feel, how do I know you'll stay,"
The band joined in for the end, singing in unison. A single tear fell from my eyes as I
watched Inuyasha. He hadn't opened his eyes yet... and I had a strange feeling that if he did, I'd be
on that stage in an instant- Mr. Security Guard or no Mr. Security Guard, I'd be up there.
"I've been searching the world, looking for you
And now that I've found you, I don't know what to do
Should I risk my happiness to stay by your side
Or keep my feelings bottled up inside my mind
Should I lose the true in lies, or let the truth be found
- Either way, I have to hide my heart when you're around-
The decision became harder with just one kiss
And I searched the world just to deal with this
And I searched the world just to deal with this."
Inuyasha turned his back to the crowd, acting like he was talking to his co-workers.
I looked away, tears falling from my eyes. "That was it, huh?" I asked Sango as yet another
tear sped down my cheek. I wiped it away angrily, hearing the band start up 'A Shattered Jewel.'
"Hai," Sango answered, wiping a tear off my cheek for me. "Don't cry."
"Would you rather I be mad?" I asked, laughing and sobbing at the same time. Sucking back
the tears, I smiled. "You did a great job with that song, Sango-chan, Aya-chan. Arigatou."
"Anything for a friend," Ayame stated, her eyes glistening. "We... You know we don't really
take all those pranks seriously and... It helps sometimes, ne? See," she continued when I frowned,
"it takes our minds off of our other problems and gets us thinking about better things-"
"Like getting revenge on you," Sango giggled, eyes closed with a huge smile.
"AND how glad we are that you're always there for us," Ayame finished, glaring at Sango
half-heartedly. "We wanted you to know that, Kagome-chan. Without you this little group
wouldn't be the same."
"You talk like I'm leaving you," I mumbled.
"Iie, we just wanted you to know," Sango said, serious in an instant. "You're a great friend
Kagome, so don't think any differently, okay?"
I smiled, another tear falling.
'Drat! I hate being so sensitive!'
Turning to the stage once again, Inuyasha's eyes captured mine, pulling me into the song I'd
nearly missed.
"A shattered jewel
Cannot be restored
Without another
To pick up the pieces
A jewel once shattered
Can never be whole again
I'll find another to pick up the pieces-"
Inuyasha's gaze held me, even as he finished the song. The breath caught in my throat from
the intensity emitting from those golden orbs.
"-I've found another to pick up the pieces."
'Oh, iie...' I thought brokenly.
'Inuyasha... iie, don't say that, onegai. Don't.'
No matter how many times I repeated that in my head, I found myself smiling softly at the
singer with the lightest blush on my face. I was glad to know that he felt that way, but... Tonight,
I'd be on my way home- on my way to the rest of my life.
"Why...?"
Sango grabbed my arms, turning me to face her after Inuyasha had left the stage. Searching
my eyes, she sighed. I looked to my feet.
"He just had to say that, didn't he?" I asked my boots. They didn't answer, so I looked up to
Sango.
"Kagome-chan, I don't think we should prolong this anymore," she said, grabbing Ayame's
sleeve and pulling us to the exit. "We should get in the car and drive to an airport some thousand
miles away."
"Sango-chan, I don't think the island is more than one hundred miles anyway you go," I
stated, thinking to myself about what she was saying. "Plus, I can't leave without a goodbye and
our mothers and Shippo-chan and Rin-chan... They're already waiting for us, I'm sure."
Ayame pulled out of Sango's grasp. "I'm not leaving them, yet," she proclaimed, thrusting
her nose in the air. "Like Kagome-chan says, I'm not leaving without a goodbye."
Sango's eyes watered a little. "I know..."
"Come on," I muttered, pulling the two by the sleeves. "The boys are backstage."
Mayu, Shiro, Kiekki, and Mimiri were waiting for me back stage, whispering to each other.
When they saw me, they stopped and smiled. "Kagome!"
"Eh?"
They were acting as if they'd known me for days, not hours. Yes, hours. The concert started
at 9 and ended at... It was 1:38 right now, so about 4 ½ hours.
"Can we have your autograph?!"
"EH!?"
"Onegai," they all screamed in unison.
From the corner of my eyes, I saw Inuyasha standing with Miroku and Kouga, talking to a
group of fans. He smirked, then went back to the girls in front of him.
"Uh, sure," I muttered.
Each pulled out a poster of the band- which they had bought earlier. I signed each one
according to their wishes. Mayu and Mimiri stayed to talk with me as Kiekki and Shiro went over
to the real band.
"So, how do you know the band?" Mimiri asked talking in a whispered hush.
Sango and Ayame excused themselves, chatting as they entered one of the side-rooms.
"I did it as a favor for a friend," I told them. "It's really a long story."
"Oh... Okay, then. Who do you like the most?" Mimiri implored. "I like Miroku, but
Inuyasha is cute too."
"I like Kouga, personally," Mayu said. "He looks so much more mature than the others."
"Kouga, mature?" I laughed. "They're all just a bunch of high school playboys."
They gasped, then giggled. Leaving me to my own mind, they joined the band with the
others. I mumbled, then moved over to the snack bar. I filled a plate, grabbing a Pepsi, and went
into one of the side rooms Ayame and Sango went to earlier. Sighing, I plopped down into one of
the chairs and began chowing down. Mmm... FOOD! So yummy...
"Well, we'll wait until they're done gawking at the fans," Sango muttered.
"Only Miroku gawks at the fans," I stated.
"Are you sure?"
"He better be!" Ayame and I shouted in unison.
We looked out at the boys, sighing. They were surrounded by fans this time. Why was life
never simple for me?
******
An hour later, Sango yipped, waking me from my sleep. I had fallen asleep in the chair,
watching the guys talk to some flirtatious fans. I had gotten bored with the girls- all using the
same 'flick of the hair and cute giggles' hook. The bait just wasn't right.
Looking over to Sango while I stretched my arms and yawned, I found her looking at a
plate on the table blankly. "Sango-chan? Daijoubu desu ka(Are you okay)?"
"I bit my lip," she muttered, still staring at the plate, checking for any blood with her
tongue. "Ite... I'm bleeding."
I shook my head. "Now, how'd you do-" my question ended with a sharp intake of breath as
a pair of arms snaked around my waist and pulled me from my seat. Placing me against his chest,
Inuyasha grumbled about 'stupid fangirls' and their 'stupid passes' with their 'stupid dyed hair' and
their 'stupid gold-digging smiles and false giggles'.
I laughed, his breath tickling my neck while he rested his head on my shoulders. I fiddled
with his hair that slipped down my shoulders, braiding and unbraiding the ends, watching Ayame
and Kouga with a smile.
Kouga had sat next to Ayame and pulled her into an embrace, mumbling something to her
that made her giggle. Kouga smiled, running his fingers through her hair. Ayame picked at his
sleeve, grinning at what he said.
Meanwhile, Sango had been pulled aside by Miroku. They stood by the window, in the
corner, whispering to each other. Miroku's back was to me, Sango facing him. She smiled,
speaking to him, then blushed. Miroku grinned- don't ask how I knew, I just did. He wrapped an
arm around her shoulders, squeezing them slightly before he kissed her forehead.
I turned my attention back to Inuyasha, his eyes closed, his breathing even. I got an evil,
evil,
evil plan...
And what do I do with evil plans?
I perform them.
Taking a deep breath, I slowly placed my right foot in front of my left, keeping Inuyasha on
my shoulder before stepping away from him completely.
And down he went, yelping as he woke, seconds before he would have hit the ground, but I
caught him by the shoulders. He wasn't easy to keep up, but I managed to do it without showing
any signs of struggle. I grinned when he looked up scowling.
He growled. "That was cheep."
"And?"
He shook his head, standing up. He yawned and walked over to the chair, falling into it. I
sat on the arm, letting him rest his head in my lap as I continued to play with his hair. He was
asleep before I had the chance to say anything.
"Kagome?" Yura called, stepping into the room. "Inuyasha?"
"Shh. He's sleeping," I said, looking up to the woman.
"Ah, so I see," she cooed. "Well, let him sleep then. Sesshomaru is now on his way to
Hawaii."
"And Kagura?"
"She doesn't know, yet," Yura said. "She believes that he is worn out from his busy
schedule."
"Busy schedule?" She sounded like she meant something besides his 'management'.
"Hai," she grinned. "You know, all that surfing and Hiking and partying."
I laughed lightly. Oh Kami-sama, how I loved the thought of Sesshomaru doing even one of
those things. Just his luck, Kagura would want to try one of them out. Since Hawaii was the
destination... Surfing! Ha!
"Well, I have to go give Jaken the news," she stated, walking out the door without another
word.
A few minutes of silence went by, Sango and Ayame asleep in the arms of their boyfriends...
Well, unofficial boyfriends, that is. Miroku looked over to me, smiling sadly. I returned the smile.
Kouga didn't look up from Ayame's face, watching her breath softly. He brushed a rouge bang
back from her face with a heavy-hearted sigh.
So, this is it huh? One last look at the faces of the one you love and then goodbye? It just
didn't seem right.
I knew the night wasn't going to end this peacefully. I was dreading having to wake
Inuyasha and look him in the eyes to say my farewell.
Myouga knocked on the door, the sound echoing in our souls, telling us Judgment Day
had come at last.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: I just have a quick note, okay? On my first posting a few people took offence to my reference to Judgment Day. It is only for the dramatic effect, not as in really being Judgment Day, alright? Please, don't feel like I'm stomping the Bible- I read from it quite often and feel bad for some things I do use and say in this story and my others. I am Christian... but my faith is slipping a bit. I am NOT being Blasphemous, got it? I will never speak bad of the Lord, gun to my head or no. Please, understand this....
"So, this is how it is,
Saying one thing and doing another,
It's all just fun and games to you,
But to me we need each other,"
"When will you grow up-
Will you go up and see,
Not only do I need you,
But you also need me-"
"If you'll open those eyes boy,
Stop running around blind
I'll be waiting right here for you to be mine,
Open your eyes boy,
You're running out of time-
And time's not something we can just-"
"Time, so slow as it seems
From day to day
Always finds a way to fly by at the speed of light
Wait too long and it'll be gone-
Be gone just like me-"
"Now, I bet that's something you can see-"
"If you'll open those eyes boy,
Stop running around blind
I'll be waiting right here for you to be mine,
Open your eyes boy,
You're running out of time-
And time's not something we can just let go by,
No don't let it slip by,
Boy please open those eyes and see-"
"-me."
"I've been searching the world, looking for you
And now that I've found you, I don't know what to do
Should I risk my happiness to stay by your side
Or keep my feelings bottled up inside my mind
Should I lose the true in lies, or let the truth be found
- Either way, I have to hide my heart when you're around-
The decision became harder with just one kiss
And I searched the world just to deal with this,"
"I used to think ignorance was bliss,
But how can it be when there's so much I miss
I used to believe it was all a mistake,
But learned you were the chance I had to take,"
"Sometimes I stand alone and wonder
About what my life would be like without you
My mind fills with images of a life so cold
And all I want is to have you to hold,"
"Should I stay with you- I fell the need to run
But the way my heart beats- I know you're the one
Should I go with what I know- or throw it away
If I tell you what I feel, how do I know you'll stay,"
"I've been searching the world, looking for you
And now that I've found you, I don't know what to do
Should I risk my happiness to stay by your side
Or keep my feelings bottled up inside my mind
Should I lose the true in lies, or let the truth be found
- Either way, I have to hide my heart when you're around-
The decision became harder with just one kiss
And I searched the world just to deal with this
And I searched the world just to deal with this."
"A shattered jewel
Cannot be restored
Without another
To pick up the pieces
A jewel once shattered
Can never be whole again
I'll find another to pick up the pieces-"
"-I've found another to pick up the pieces."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: I just have a quick note, okay? On my first posting a few people took offence to my reference to Judgment Day. It is only for the dramatic effect, not as in really being Judgment Day, alright? Please, don't feel like I'm stomping the Bible- I read from it quite often and feel bad for some things I do use and say in this story and my others. I am Christian... but my faith is slipping a bit. I am NOT being Blasphemous, got it? I will never speak bad of the Lord, gun to my head or no. Please, understand this....
