~*~My Heart Is Yours~*~
A/N: Well, enjoy the next chapters of the story because they will be the last ;_;. Happy New Year!
Chapter 12: New Year's Festival
Sango sat silently in the back seats of Inu Yasha's jeep and peeked at Miroku, who was in the passenger's seat. All had been quiet since Christmas.
Inu Yasha glanced at his friends through the corner of his eye.
'I hate seeing my friends like this,' he thought with a frown.
He stopped at a red light and then took the chance to talk.
"So.." he began and then paused. "Are you two ever going to talk to each other again?"
"No," both Miroku and Sango answered at the same time.
Inu Yasha cocked an eyebrow and then drove off again, "Why?"
"Because Miroku won't meet my dad," Sango said softly.
Miroku countered, "I wasn't ready to meet her dad. It's like we're.."
"Going to get married?" Inu Yasha asked with a smile. "Geez, Miroku. You don't have to make a big deal out of such a little thing."
"Shut up," Miroku replied.
"Make me," his best friend stuck out his tongue.
Miroku rolled his eyes, "Always childish, aren't you?"
"Look who's talking," Sango defended Inu Yasha. "At least he wasn't scared to meet Kagome's mom!"
"Meeting women is easier," Miroku ran his fingers through his hair casually.
"Easy for you to say because you're a hentai!" she sneered.
Inu Yasha listened to their bickering with a grin, 'At least they're talking to each other again.'
*****
Mrs. Higurashi squealed with delight when the three arrived at the shrine. She was dressed up in an elaborate kimono and held a fan (let's just say Inu Yasha, Miroku, and Sango are dressed in casual clothes).
"Come on in!" she ushered them. "And Happy New Year! Be sure to find a seat in front of the stage. My speech is going to start soon."
Inu Yasha noticed that some of the games from the last festival had returned.
"Hey, Mrs. Higurashi," he said with a sly smile. "Aren't some of those games from last year? You know, the ones that Rin and Shippou brought over and helped you put up?"
Mrs. Higurashi giggled nervously, "Well-eh-there wasn't enough time to set everything up so I called Rin-she gave me her phone number-and well, um, she came over and helped with the games section."
She looked behind them and then waved an arm, "Welcome! Help yourselves to refreshments before the speech begins!"
Inu Yasha, Miroku, and Sango gave her a weird look before walking past her.
*****
"New Year's Day..one of the busiest times in the year for shrines, huh?" Inu Yasha nudged his best friend. Miroku nodded stiffly. Inu Yasha rolled his eyes. Miroku and Sango had forced him to sit between them.
'What did I do to deserve this?' he thought grimly.
"HELLO!" Mrs. Higurashi shouted into the microphone on the stage (let's say it's the same stage from the play..just to make it less complicated). The speakers vibrated violently. "I'd like to thank you all for coming and even if I'd like to continue speaking, I know you all want to go and have fun, so please go and do so!"
Inu Yasha sweat-dropped, "THAT was her speech?"
Mrs. Higurashi walked down the stage steps and bowed before walking off again.
All the people seated in the chairs in front of the stage looked at one another.
"That's all?" a little girl tugged at her mother's sleeve nearby.
Murmurs soon rose in the crowd. People started getting up…including Inu Yasha, Miroku, and Sango.
"WAIT! DON'T GET UP!" Souta's voice shrieked through the speakers. Everyone turned their heads. Souta stood on the stage, a microphone in his hand. "My sister and I dedicate this song to our grandfather who passed away last year, and we all want you to listen to it."
People looked at him with sympathy and everyone took their seats again.
Music started up.
Kagome shyly walked to the center of the stage. She was dressed in a flowing white dress and sandals, and had tucked a flower behind an ear (very 'Ayame-like' ^_^).
She clutched the microphone tightly in her hands and began singing,
(A/N: The song and lyrics does not belong to me. The song is called "The Year Of The Dragon", by Trish.)
"Listen closely as the wind is blowing
There is something different in the air.
A cold wind, that's changing everything.
Far ahead beyond the new horizon,
There are dreams you can't imagine.
It starts with the year of the dragon.
This is the moment,
The future is bright and clear.
Turning and turning,
The coming of golden years.
Winds of changing,
A time that's filled with wonder.
Can you feel excitement in the air?
A cold wind that's blowing everywhere.
Falling leaves and green
And flowers blooming,
Mystic feelings all around here.
The season for your new beginning.
This is the moment,
The future is bright and clear.
Turning and turning,
The coming of golden years.
The year of the dragon…
The year of the dragon…
Listen closely as the wind is blowing
There is something different in the air.
A cold wind, that's changing everything.
Far ahead beyond the new horizon,
There are dreams you can't imagine.
It starts with the year of the dragon.
This is the moment,
The future is bright and clear.
Turning and turning,
The coming of golden years.
This is the moment,
The future is bright and clear.
Turning and turning,
The coming of golden years…
Another 100 years…
The coming of golden years…"
Kagome bowed and smiled as the audience clapped.
"Arigato," she murmured into the microphone. "Now please enjoy the rest of the festival. Feel free to come up on stage anytime if you would like to sing. We have karaoke up on stage. My brother, Souta will be here, taking care of the music and I'm sure he would be glad to help you."
Souta nodded beside her, "Ye-yeah."
*****
Kagome cheerfully walked over to her friends.
"How was I?" she asked.
"Great," Sango smiled.
"Marvelous," Miroku grinned.
"Horribly awful," Inu Yasha smirked.
Kagome pushed him gently, "Shut up."
She looked at Miroku and Sango, then at the stage, and then at her two friends again, 'I have an idea..'
"Uh-I'll meet up with you guys later," she said, walking off. "I gotta go get something in my room."
With that, she ran into the house.
*****
"Put this in," Kagome ordered. Souta raised his eyebrows.
"What are you going to do?" he asked as he stuck in the CD. Kagome grabbed the microphone from the stand and replied,
"I'm going to sing."
She marched to the center of the stage and cleared her throat.
Souta turned on the music (this song is called "Big Big World", also by Trish and the lyrics and song do NOT belong to me! In fact, all the songs/lyrics that are in this story do not belong to me!)
Kagome fixed her eyes on Miroku and Sango, 'They better be listening to this.'
She opened her mouth and began softly,
"I'm a big, big girl
In a big, big world.
It's not a big, big thing if you leave me.
But I do, do feel
That I do, do will
Miss you much…
Miss you much.
I can see the first leave falling.
It's all yellow and nice.
It's so very cold outside,
Like the way I'm feeling inside.
I'm a big, big girl
In a big, big world.
It's not a big, big thing if you leave me.
But I do, do feel
That I do, do will
Miss you much…
Miss you much.
Outside, it's now raining
And tears are falling from my eyes.
Why did it have to happen?
Why did it all have to end?
I'm a big, big girl
In a big, big world.
It's not a big, big thing if you leave me.
But I do, do feel
That I do, do will
Miss you much…
Miss you much.
I have your arms around me,
Warm like fire.
But when I open my eyes…
You're gone…"
Sango gulped, 'Is this just a coincidence?'
Her eyes flew over to Miroku and she thought sadly, 'Everything in that song sounds like our relationship right now.'
"I'm a big, big girl
In a big, big world.
It's not a big, big thing if you leave me.
But I do, do feel
That I do, do will
Miss you much…
Miss you much."
'It's true,' Sango's eyes half-closed. 'I do miss him.'
Kagome ended the song softly,
"I'm a big, big girl
In a big, big world.
It's not a big, big thing
If you leave me…
But I do fe~el
That I will mi~iss you much…
Wi~ll miss you much."
The people that were watching and listening to Kagome clapped. She bowed and walked over to her brother and helped him with the music.
"Hey, Inu Yasha," Miroku said suddenly. "Why don't YOU sing?"
"Yeah," Inu Yasha shot back. "Why don't YOU sing?"
Miroku rolled his eyes, "I suggested first."
"I'm not going to sing," Inu Yasha said firmly.
"Is it because you're too chicken?"
"No."
"Then why won't you?"
"Because I don't want to."
Miroku imitated chicken sounds, "Bwok bwok BWOK!" (I have no idea how do write out chicken sounds -_-)
*PUNCH*
Inu Yasha stood up, "Fine, I'll sing."
He walked over to the stage.
Miroku rubbed the lump on his head and smiled, "Good, old reverse psychology."
*****
"Kagome."
Kagome turned around and blinked, "Inu Yasha?"
He replied, "Turn on a song."
"Why?"
"Because I want to sing."
"You want to sing? Since when did you want to sing?!"
"Since Miroku called me a chicken."
Kagome laughed, "I see…"
Inu Yasha eyed her, "Why DID you sing that extra song?"
She gave him a sly smile, "Because I'm trying to make those two heartbroken lovers over there get back together again. I just hope they're actually listening."
Inu Yasha took the microphone from her hands, "I get it. Now let's just hope they listen to this song too."
*****
"He's actually going to do it!" Miroku gasped in disbelief.
Inu Yasha stood on stage, glaring at his 'best friend'.
(This song is called, "Crash and Burn", by Savage Garden.)
The music started up and Inu Yasha looked at the karaoke screen.
'Here we go,' he thought and began singing,
"When you feel all alone
And the world has turned its back on you
Give me a moment please
To tame your wild, wild heart.
I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you.
It's hard to find relief and people can be so cold.
When darkness is upon your door
And you feel like you can't take anymore.
Let me be the one you call.
If you jump I'll break your fall,
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night.
If you need to fall apart,
I can mend a broken heart.
If you need to crash,
Then crash and burn,
You're not alone.
When you feel all alone
And a loyal friend is hard to find.
You're caught in a one way street
With the monsters in your head.
When hopes and dreams are far away
And you feel like you can't face the day.
Let me be the one you call.
If you jump I'll break your fall,
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night.
If you need to fall apart,
I can mend a broken heart.
If you need to crash,
Then crash and burn,
You're not alone.
And there has always been heartache and pain
And when it's over you'll breathe again…
You'll breathe again.
When you feel all alone
And the world has turned its back on you
Give me a moment please
To tame your wild, wild heart.
Let me be the one you call.
If you jump I'll break your fall,
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night.
If you need to fall apart,
I can mend a broken heart.
If you need to crash,
Then crash and burn,
You're not alone.
Let me be the one you call.
If you jump I'll break your fall,
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night.
If you need to fall apart,
I can mend a broken heart.
If you need to crash,
Then crash and burn,
You're not alone.
Let me be the one you call.
If you jump I'll break your fall,
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night.
If you need to fall apart,
I can mend a broken heart.
If you need to crash,
Then crash and burn,
You're not alone.
Let me be the one you call.
If you jump I'll break your fall,
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night.
If you need to fall apart,
I can mend a broken heart.
If you need to crash,
Then crash and burn,
You're not alone…"
Inu Yasha bowed and then left the stage, over to Kagome.
People clapped again, but this time for Inu Yasha.
Miroku blinked, "He was actually pretty good."
Sango stared blankly at the stage and whispered, "Those words sounded exactly how it was like before this whole break up. Miroku was always there for me."
"Inu Yasha…Kagome," she said quietly. "What are you two up to?"
*****
"See?" Kagome said with a smile. "That wasn't so bad."
Inu Yasha just ignored her.
"Hey," Kagome walked up to him and put her hands on her hips. "Look at me."
He lifted his face and made eye contact with her.
"You're blushing!" Kagome laughed as she hugged him tightly. "Why?"
"I sang awful," he murmured.
"You didn't sing awful! People liked your singing! Hello, Inu Yasha! Didn't you see and hear them clap for you?"
"Yeah.."
"They like you."
He added, "Yup, they like me better than you."
*BONK*
"I said they liked you," she gritted through clenched teeth. "Not: They liked you better than me."
"That's what I really meant," Inu Yasha told her innocently.
"Come on, let's sing another song," Kagome gave him back the microphone. She picked up a spare one and gripped it tightly in her hand.
"Another song?!" he gaped. "Heck no! I am NOT going to sing again!"
"You'll be singing with me this time," she assured him.
"No," Inu Yasha looked away stubbornly. "I'm not singing and there's nothing you can do that'll make me sing."
"Please?" Kagome gave him big puppy eyes.
"No."
"Pretty please? With a cherry on top?"
"No."
Kagome sighed and then looked away, her bangs covering her eyes, "Fine then…"
Inu Yasha glanced at her and then gulped, "You aren't-you aren't crying are you?!"
Her shoulders shook slightly as she wiped at her covered eyes. She sniffed, "No. I'm not going to cry over a little thing like-like-like…this."
She turned around so that her back was facing him, "It's okay, Inu Yasha. You don't have to help me get Miroku and Sango back together."
Kagome laughed a little, "Actually, I wouldn't mind getting them back together by myself because I would get all the credit."
Inu Yasha looked at her guiltily and replied, "Fine, I'll sing with you."
She turned around and smiled at him.
"Thank you!" she squealed and clobbered him with a hug. Kagome gave Souta the track number for the song and then skipped to the center of the stage.
Inu Yasha shook his head, "She was faking the crying all along. I can't believe I fell for it."
*****
Miroku blinked, "Now they're singing together?"
He watched as Kagome gave Inu Yasha a warm smile.
"Come on, Inu Yasha!" she beckoned. "You're wasting my time!"
"You're wasting my time too," he muttered.
When he finally reached her, he turned and looked at the audience.
"Miroku, Sango, you better be listening to these songs!" he shouted into the microphone. The two looked at him confusedly. Kagome jabbed him in the stomach.
"Shh!" she hissed. "Don't let them know about our plan!"
Souta waited for them with a sigh, "Sis! Can I please turn on the music now?!"
"Yeah, go ahead," Kagome nodded.
The music started up and the blank screen in front of her and Inu Yasha lighted up. When the words appeared on the screen, Kagome began singing,
(This song is called, "Once Again")
"Far away, a distant star.
The only one I love, love with all my heart.
I'll be here, holding back my tears.
The days grow long, my love is strong…"
She stopped and Inu Yasha began singing his part,
"Are you shy?
In all my dreams,
I see my life with just you and me.
We'll remain till the very end…"
Then, Kagome joined in,
"Our love will never change…
I'll never let go.
You're the only one
That I hold so close to my heart.
My wild side underneath the sky
Gazing in your eyes for always.
All day in your arms
Is where I belong.
I'll be in the end with you…
Once again."
Kagome continued alone,
"Bittersweet are memories.
I think of you all so tenderly.
You'll come home,
Surely this I know.
Inside I feel
That you are near."
Inu Yasha continued the song after she stopped,
"Every night,
I think of you.
You make me smile
When I'm sad and blue.
Till that day,
When you're here again…"
Kagome sang in harmony with him,
"Our love will never end…"
Then, she sang alone again,
"Far away, a distant star.
The only one I love, love with all my heart.
I'll be here, holding back my tears.
The days grow long, my love is strong…"
Inu Yasha continued,
"Are you shy?
In all my dreams,
I see my life with just you and me.
We'll remain till the very end…"
They sang together,
"Our love will never change…
I'll never let go.
You're the only one
That I hold so close to my heart.
My wild side underneath the sky
Gazing in your eyes for always.
All day in your arms
Is where I belong.
I'll be in the end with you…
Once again.
All day in your arms
Is where I belong.
I'll be in the end with you…
Once a~gain…"
Kagome and Inu Yasha smiled at each other and then bowed.
The audience clapped loudly.
Mrs Higurashi wiped happy tears from her eyes, "Oh…I can't wait until I get those grandchildren!"
*****
Kagome stood behind a food booth with Sango and prepared all sorts of…food.
Sango quietly worked and said nothing. Kagome eyed her curiously.
"Kagome," Sango finally said.
"Hm?" was her reply.
"You sang those songs…to help get Miroku and I back together again, didn't you?"
"…yes," Kagome admitted. Sango smiled sadly at her.
"I don't think that's going to happen," she whispered, with tearful eyes. "I think it really is over."
"Don't give up hope, Sango."
"I already did."
Kagome gave her best friend a hug.
"Sango…" she said soothingly. "Don't be like that."
"But Miroku and I will never be together again!" Sango cried back. "I just know it!"
"Time will tell," Kagome answered. "Time will tell."
"Oh, look," a voice snarled coldly at the booth's doorway. "It's two wenches. One crying their eyes out and the other soothing her."
The two girls turned.
"What do you want, slut?" Kagome narrowed her eyes. Kikyo rolled her eyes.
"I'm here to help you."
"Here to help us?" Kagome asked. "Why would you want to help us?"
"Because your mother offered to pay me several yen."
Kagome snorted, "Just like you to do this for the money."
Kikyo sneered at her, "Hey, I could be doing something else at this festival, but no. I'm volunteering to help at one of the booths instead."
"If you don't want to help, then don't!" Kagome hissed.
Kikyo ignored her, walked into the booth and set her purse down on to a table.
*****
It was nighttime, and there were only a few people left in the festival.
Mrs. Higurashi stood at the top of the shrine stairs and said good-bye to all the leaving visitors.
Sesshoumaru, Rin, and Shippou, who all arrived in the afternoon, were cleaning up with Inu Yasha and Miroku.
Kagome yawned and then turned to Sango, "I'm going to talk to my mom for a few minutes."
"Okay," Sango nodded back. She turned back to her task at hand and listened to Kagome's footsteps, growing fainter and fainter by the second.
'I'm tired,' she thought with exhaustion and tucked some hair strands behind an ear, away from her eyes. 'I skipped lunch too…'
"Kikyo," she said softly.
Kikyo gave her a cold stare, "What?"
"Could you get me a cup of water please? There're some water bottles over there."
Kikyo walked over to the bottles stiffly and picked one up.
Sango weakly sat down onto a chair.
"What's the matter?" Kikyo asked with a smirk. "Do you feel tired?"
"Of course I do!" she snapped back. "Now please! Give me a cup of water!"
Kikyo rolled her eyes and then wandered out of the booth, searching for a cup. She stopped in her tracks and then walked back into the booth.
"Oh, I almost forgot," she sneered and snatched up her purse. "I don't go anywhere without my purse."
Kikyo held up her chin and stomped out again.
*****
"Ha! Found one!" Kikyo cried in delight and held a glass cup in the air. Kagome's little brother had led her to the kitchen and to the cupboards. She opened the cap of the water bottle and poured some water into the cup.
Afterward, she looked around her. After making sure that the coast was clear, she opened her purse and took out a small pouch. Kikyo's fingers untied the pouch string, revealing white powder when the pouch opened.
"Let's see if a little poison does anything to Sango," she grinned evilly. Kikyo took some of the powder in between her thumb and index finger and then applied it into the glass of water. "This is payback for all you've done to me in high school…"
*****
"Here you go!" Kikyo merrily handed over a glass of water.
"Thank you," Sango said gratefully. She drank it in slowly.
'Yes,' Kikyo watched with a smile. 'Drink it all in.'
Sango set down the cup onto the table next to her.
"Feel better?" Kikyo cooed.
"No," Sango answered. Her eyes began to close and she pitched forward. When she collapsed to the ground, Kikyo cackled,
"My work here is done."
She walked out of the booth and toward the shrine stairs where Mrs. Higurashi and Kagome stood.
Kagome eyed her suspiciously and thought, 'She looks a little too happy.'
"Leaving already?" Mrs. Higurashi asked.
"Yes," she replied with a fake smile.
Mrs. Higurashi gave her a pouch full of yen, "Thank you for helping."
"The pleasure's all mine."
With that, Kikyo skipped down the stairs.
Kagome stared after her and narrowed her eyes, "Something's wrong."
*****
"Let's go grab some water," Inu Yasha told his best friend after they took a break from the cleaning.
Miroku shrugged, "Okay."
They walked over to the booth where the girls worked at and stepped inside.
Miroku gasped, "SANGO!"
He ran over to her unconscious-looking form and pulled her up into a sitting position.
"Sango!" he repeated. "Sango, answer me!"
She didn't reply.
Inu Yasha knelt beside them and placed two fingers gently against her neck. His eyes widened.
"I can't feel a pulse," Inu Yasha said with a shocked expression. He turned to his best friend.
Miroku didn't say anything. He just stared down palely at his ex-girlfriend and whispered shakily, "She's dead."
A/N: This is the longest chapter that I have ever written! *rubs eyes tiredly* Please review!
Oh, great…I left you all at another cliffy…well, actually, not really. The last chapter didn't really end with a cliff-hanger…yeah. Anyways, let's see…about 3 chapters left?
;_; WAH!