Chance Meeting or No?
Hands shoved in his pockets, Inuyasha trudged slowly down the hall to his first class of the day. His head was lowered so he wouldn't have to see anyone; no one to see anyway. Old friends passed without a glance anymore. He'd shut himself out, closed his mind off from everyone. They didn't understand, didn't know, how he felt; no one ever would.
Everyone was already in class as he kept walking slowly through the halls, not really caring that he was late. Silently, he slipped inside his class as the teacher turned her back to get something fro her desk and made it to his desk before she even noticed he was late.
Then he saw her. Just a few desks over in the very front row sat Kagome, head up and smile on her face, talking with one of his old best friends. Kuso; not this. He slumped lower in his desk. If there is a God up there, please don't let her see me. Suddenly she turned her head slightly, caught sight of him, then turned fully toward him and smiled. I hate you all. He scowled in return, turning his head away.
"Nice. Looks like her, don't you think?" a snide voice said next to him. Oh, hell. Great, just great. I've got the Ass-wipe in here, too. Inuyasha didn't even turn his head to see the teen with his long dark brown hair kept so high-and-mighty.
"Piss off, Naraku," he shot at him.
He just smirked at him and said back nonchalantly, "Well if you aren't going for her, I wouldn't mind a Kikyou look-a-like." Naraku seemed to absentmindedly pick at his fingernails, checking for dirt as he added, "She's a bit prettier though. An addition to the collection wouldn't be bad."
Inuyasha just turned to face the board, trying to look immersed in what the woman was saying.
"…assigned later on, but for now you don't need to worry. I shall post them a week from tomorrow. Now, on to other things, we have…"
He zoned out. His mind wandered from place to place, not really ever settling on any one thought or idea. The day went by basically the same from class to class, Inuyasha only catching bits and pieces here and there, not really caring.
Everyone always seemed to be in such a rush. While Inuyasha walked slowly down the hall out the double-doors, teenagers raced to them, pushing and shoving to be free of the teacher-infested place. Every now and again he would be jostled, but nothing to worry about.
Out of no where, she was at his side, walking with him out the doors toward his car.
"Hey, I saw you in my first class. Interesting coincidence, huh?" Smiling without a care in the world.
"Yeah, just dandy."
Her smile faltered for a second, but came back full force. "Sango tells me you have a band. I've always wanted to be in one myself. Do you enjoy it?"
"It's just peachy. Could you leave now?"
Then her smile was wiped off. "What's your problem? I was just trying to talk to you."
"Well, has it occurred to you yet that maybe I don't want to talk to you?" he retorted.
They had just reached his car, and he began to get inside as she spoke. "I heard what happened to you and my sister." He paused, standing next to his open door and she smiled sadly at him. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry and I know how you feel. I was hoping—"
"You don't know jack about how I feel!" His hands were tightened on his car door, knuckles white. "Don't even start! I don't want your pity, and I don't need it!"
Inuyasha got in his car, hands shaking, and turned it on, slamming the door in her chalk-white face. Girl doesn't know what she's talking about. She can just bite me. Pressing hard on the petal, his car sped out of the parking lot. Glancing once into his rearview, he saw her still standing there, motionless, staring at where his car had been. He stubbornly turned his eyes on the road, switching on his stereo and twisting the volume up loud, Metallica pounding in his ears as he made for home.
A knock on his bedroom door shook him from his reverie, staring at the blank sheet of paper that was to be his homework. HE dropped his pencil and went to his door, cracking it open.
A teen about his age stood with his hands in his pockets. Black hair was pulled back into a small horsetail, revealing a face that looked as innocent as a criminal's. The purple wrap with blue prayer beads on his right hand could barely be seen from the jean covering.
Inuyasha sighed and opened the door for the newcomer, allowing him entrance to his sanctuary. "What is it this time, Miroku?" he asked wearily as he shut the door behind them.
Miroku smiled innocently in return. "Can't a friend come visit a pal when they want?" Inuyasha gave him a flat look, and Miroku sighed. "Come to practice. It doesn't sound the same without you, man. We need you."
"Can't; too much work."
"C'mon, man. We both know you can't concentrate. Besides, you need to get out." Miroku punched him lightly on the shoulder in a friendly nudge. "C'mon; we need our lead, Inu."
Inuyasha looked at his desk and the blank paper next to his open text book. With a sigh, he grabbed his guitar case as Miroku let out a whoop of triumph, and they left the house together.
"Old place?" Inuyasha asked with a bit of nervousness.
Miroku shook his head. "Found a nice place someone else's going to let us borrow." Inuyasha would have shown his relief if no one was looking, but he just nodded. "It's better than the old one, too; more space and better sound."
Inuyasha kept his head down as they walked down the street, not really caring where they went as long as they didn't go to the other one. Kikyou had gone to the old place sometimes, listening to their music while they practiced. She'd helped out on some of the songs they'd created, but Inuyasha didn't think he could handle going back there.
After a couple of blocks they turned into a driveway and Miroku said, "We're here."
Finally lifting his head, Inuyasha nearly took a step back, but stopped himself. Turning a glare on Miroku, he asked, "What the crap is this? Just what are you trying to pull Miroku?"
Miroku held up his hands in surrender. "I'm not pulling anything. She offered when I told her about the band. Her family isn't going to use the part that we're in. Besides, they were just going to make it into a place for her to take her friends." Miroku sighed as he looked at Inuyasha. "It's a place, alright? NO one wants to go back to the other one anyway. Sure as hell not you."
Inuyasha ground his teeth together as he surveyed the shrine with a scowl. "Where to?"
Miroku flashed a grin and jerked his head to the side, signaling the small building near the God-tree.
As they headed there, Inuyasha could barely be heard whispering, "Oh, hell."
Inside the building, an old couch was set up in a corner close to the door and a couple of other chairs were set up close by. A small stage was set up against the far wall and all of their supplies were ready. Snacks and other assorted goods had been set up on a small table against the right wall for them.
Sango was tuning her bass guitar when they entered, and Miroku's drums were ready and waiting. The sound system for Inuyasha's electric was set up for him.
Inuyasha didn't notice the girl sitting in a shadowed corner of the place as he took out his guitar and got his instrument prepared. Playing a few notes and setting the tuning correctly, Inuyasha looked at his fellow band members. They nodded at him and he took a deep breath.
Just for warming up, he started them off on a slow one they hadn't even titled yet. No one had thought of lyrics for the song so they just played. It was just slow enough for a warmer for the instruments, but still had enough speed to keep them moving. Not one mistake was made throughout the song, which bode well for them so they knew they weren't doing bad.
Inuyasha looked back to his friends. "Which one you wanna try? I'm a bit out of practice, but I think we could manage 'Crushed.'"
"I'm up for that," Miroku said, and the boys both looked at Sango for ascent.
She just shrugged. "It's all good."
Inuyasha nodded and turned back to the microphone set up for him. He started them off with a short guitar solo, leading into the beginning of the fast, melancholy tune. He lifted his head and started to sing, his voice carrying over the room.
No one understands,
Too afraid to open up
They may rip out my heart and use the blood to fill a cup
No one understands
I cover dark emotions with lighter ones
Becoming one of the zombie-like clones
Like nothing ever felt before
No more pity to store
I'm here now to see
The empty shell for all eternity
No one understands
I want to scream, stomp, pull my hair
But all I do is sit and stare
No one understands
I search for one I can confide in
Overlooking one who just that have been
Like nothing ever felt before
No more pity to store
I'm here now to see
The empty shell for all eternity
No one understands
I know one day I shall stop
Leaving my tears behind me and pop
Inuyasha broke into a long guitar solo, pouring out all the longing and loneliness he felt. His voice got low, almost a whisper as he sang on.
Like nothing ever felt before
No more pity to store
I'm here now to see
The empty shell for all eternity
I am confiding in you my thoughts
Stopping my stupid banterings of shoulds and should nots
As the last note was played, a lone applause broke out and Inuyasha opened eyes that he hadn't realized he had shut. Then he noticed her in the corner. What he didn't see was the tears she quickly wiped away.
Eyes narrowed, he asked, "How long have you been there?"
She stood slowly, walking in front of him. "From the beginning. You're playing is beautiful."
"Whatever," was his harsh reply. Letting his head drop, he pretended to be interested in his strings. "What's next, guys?"
He could barely hear her sigh of resignation as she sat closer to them in one of the other overstuffed chairs. He didn't see the hard looks he was receiving from them as he 'tuned' his guitar for the next song.
"How about we play 'Exhilarated?'" was Sango's clipped reply.
Now that stung. Kikyou had thought of that one; helped them shape it into a little melody.
"K," was all he could say.
The melody was short and lazy. He couldn't force his vocal cords to sing the lyrics; to painful. His hands shook, but he managed to keep the song going fairly well.
They played a couple more songs, some fast, some slow, and some just downright creepy; the eerie ones were those he had created after Kikyou's death, but the band played them anyway. It was past nine o'clock by the time they stopped playing. Everyone gathered what they would take home. Sango and Miroku left earlier, having most of their stuff ready beforehand, and thanked Kagome as they exited.
Inuyasha got his things together more slowly, still slightly shaken from that one song. Kagome approached him as he was nearly ready to go.
"You were really good. Do you plan on playing anywhere abroad?"
He just glanced at her, continuing his work.
He heard her sigh. "It won't kill you to talk to me. I'm not going to bite."
That caught his attention. Slowly, he stood and got closer to her, forcing her back.
"You don't? Well, that's nice to know, but…" She was cornered now, flat against the wall. His face got close to her own, the heat rushing to her cheeks as he hid a grin. "I do."
With that he turned abruptly, leaving her against the wall. A smirk worked its way onto his face as he walked home, thinking about the look on her face. This could be fun.
Well, it came out FINALLY. Hope you enjoyed! *evil eye* you'd better press that purple button down there and tell me what you think! I might wait even LONGER for the next update. MWAHAHAHAHA! *cough, cough* Well, yeah……