Author's Notes: Happy New Years everybody!
God damn, job hunting sucks. I'm going to have to call a temp agency this week to see if I can scrounge a couple of paychecks before I go back to college. Maybe once I'm at campus, my friend Mike and I can get some work down at the comic shop. Eh, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
On a slightly different note, I've decided to shorten this whole story and have reworked the remaining plotline. The result: once again, too many chapters in the beginning. Oh well, I'm getting closer to figuring out the equation. The problem with writing something like chapter stories is that you really don't have much in the way of guidelines dictating the flow, merely your own judgment. Scriptwriting on the other hand...
Lights, Camera, Action!
Chapter 15- Christmas Day
Inuyasha was vaguely aware of waking up. But it was warm in his bed, and there was no smell of food wafting into the room, so there really wasn't a hell of a lot of motivation to get up. What was today again?
"Inuyasha!" The sonic death ray hitting his ears was followed by the 6-year-old depth charge landing on his chest, promptly removing all thoughts of sleep from Inuyasha's tired brain. Just like last year. "It's Christmas!" Rin squealed happily.
Inuyasha sat up as if his spine were made of lead and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Rin sat by his side grinning ear-to-ear wearing her Hello Kitty pajamas. "Okay, I'm up," he drawled and swung his feet out of bed. He was clad only in a pair of plaid lounge pants, but it was warm enough in the room that he didn't mind. At least, until another voice came up from the door.
"I didn't figure you for the type to wear plaid."
Inuyasha looked up to see Kagome in the door smiling at him. She was wearing only a pair of grey shorts and a T-shirt. They both blushed at the same time. Inuyasha leaned forward as he sat up so that several locks of his hair fell over his front. Why did he feel the need to be modest? No clue. But he felt a little vulnerable around Kagome with no shirt on. "You guys go ahead downstairs. I'll be there in a minute."
"Okay!" Rin said gleefully. She hopped off the bed, oblivious to the palpable awkwardness, and grabbed Kagome's hand to drag her down the hall and wake everyone else up.
Inuyasha heaved a sigh and snatched a T-shirt out of his dresser. He shoved it over his head without bothering to check what was on it, figuring out after it was on that it was his Foamy the Squirrel shirt with the Zen of Anger image. He then grabbed his Trans-Siberian Orchestra albums and stepped out into the hall. He saw Kagome being dragged into her mother's room, presumably by Rin. Try as he might, Inuyasha just couldn't bring himself to be mad at that little girl's inexhaustible energy. Normally, early birds pissed him off to no end. But as he so often told himself, Rin was different. Much like Kagome...
Inuyasha shook his head to clear it before that train of thought could continue any further. He proceeded down the stairs to see the Christmas tree all decked up with the little ceramic village under it that his mother had collected piece by piece ever since she and Inutaisho got married. And of course, there were the presents arranged neatly underneath. For once, Inuyasha didn't feel put off by all the Christmas imagery. The albums in his hand now were proof enough of that. He actually was beginning to see why people enjoyed Christmas so much. People stopped bitching at each other long enough to have a little fun. Maybe that was a gross over-simplification, but he still didn't care enough to really mind.
Inuyasha walked over to the entertainment center and put the first CD in. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra could even make Christmas music sound good. Where else were you going to hear The Nutcracker Ballet with guitar solos? He stood up and stretched out, waiting for the others. He didn't have to wait long as Rin eagerly dragged Sesshoumaru down the stairs followed by the Higurashis and Inutaisho.
Inuyasha's father rubbed his eyes and yawned once. "You can all start opening gifts if you want. I'm going to get the oven started and be right back."
That was the only cue that Rin and Souta needed, as they promptly plunged headfirst into the pile of gifts. Most of them were for those two anyway. Inuyasha himself didn't expect much, because he never asked for much. He usually just got movies and CDs, with the occasional decoration for his room. He was starting to drift off into a daydream as everyone went through their gifts when Rin handed him a small gift. He snapped out of it and looked at the tag. It was a joint gift from Rin and Souta who smiled at him expectantly as he gave them a curious look.
Inuyasha removed the wrapping paper. The plastic package inside seemed to have some kind of bundle of fabric inside. He then noticed the picture on it and realized it was a large textile poster of Iron Maiden's Powerslave cover art. A rare smile graced his lips as he looked up at the two kids. "This is one of my favorite albums. Where'd you guys get this?"
"Kagome took us to buy it at the mall while you were in the food court," Souta answered. So that's why she had insisted he go off and stake out a table for them.
"Thanks guys," Inuyasha said softly. They both jumped onto him in a bone-crushing hug, which he returned, albeit with less force.
As the morning went on, everyone continued opening gifts. Inuyasha gave his father an Italian silk tie, the kind you always got compliments on, and his brother a Zen rock garden for his desk at the office. He gave Rin a Hello Kitty lamp and Souta his own copy of Hellfire Club. He had Kagome's gift hidden behind the couch, wanting to save it for last. Another few minutes past of opening gifts until there were only two people left who hadn't opened something from one another.
Kagome smiled over at Inuyasha and picked up an envelope. "I hope you like it," she said softly.
Inuyasha opened the envelope with great curiosity and much to his surprise pulled out a pair of concert tickets. Nightwish this April. Front row, center! He looked up at Kagome in shock. "How did you get these? Tickets for this show aren't supposed to go on sale for another couple of weeks."
Kagome blushed with a smile and looked off to the side. "I was talking with your Dad. He got me in contact with the right people, and I was able to get us a couple tickets before they officially went on sale. I had to pay a little extra to keep the guy who sold them to me out of trouble, but I figured it was worth it."
Inuyasha smiled as he looked at the tickets again. "I'm assuming this second ticket means you're going with me."
"Maybe," Kagome answered playfully.
Inuyasha laughed lightly, something he rarely did. He put the tickets back in the envelope and reached behind the couch, pulling out the several bound packages. "Merry Christmas, Kagome."
She gasped in surprise as she took the large bundle and everyone looked on curiously. This was perhaps the most effort Inuyasha had put into gift-giving ever. Kagome pulled apart the ribbon holding all the packages together and began to tear away the wrapping paper. First, she opened the square box. Inside was a black dress with cream pinstripes and a matching blazer. It was just like the Roxanne Stone costume she borrowed from the theater to do Ace Spade in the episode "Lady in Black." Kagome gasped in surprise and opened the other boxes to find a black fedora and a tan trench coat. It was an exact replica of the costume she was so fond of. She soon found a card tucked into the pocket of the blazer and opened it to read it as Inuyasha recalled what he had written on the inside.
Without Roxanne Stone, we wouldn't have Ace Spade. Thanks for everything, Kagome.
"That's not all," Inuyasha interrupted before Kagome could say anything. "The heels that go with it I had to put on back order, but they'll be here in a day or two. And I talked with the store who sold me the dress, so we can go in tomorrow to have it custom-fitted."
Though the others didn't really seem to get it, Kagome obviously did. And in appreciation she enveloped him in a tight hug, causing him to blush furiously. "Thank you, Inuyasha. That's so sweet of you." Just as Inuyasha returned the hug, Kagome reached her head up and gave him a kiss on the cheek, which caused his face to invent about five new shades of red. This wasn't the first time she had done that, but the last time, no one was around. Here...
-x-
Kagome smiled at Inuyasha, who looked like he was about to self-destruct. He was so bad at taking compliments or getting attention. She decided to slowly draw back before he fainted.
Inutaisho apparently decided also that he should come to his son's rescue. "Much as I hate to break up this beautiful moment, breakfast will be ready in a couple minutes. Let's get to the kitchen and Sesshoumaru and I will finish things up." Of course, even his rescue had a barb.
Breakfast consisted of eggs, bacon, homemade cinnamon rolls, and pancakes. Everyone agreed the cinnamon rolls were the best part, and Mama asked for the recipe for special occasions back home. That reminded Kagome that she'd have to contact Eri, Yuki, and Ayumi and wish them a Merry Christmas. She'd probably also have to assure them that their gifts were coming, but they would be belated.
On that note, she wondered how Miroku and Sango were doing...
-x-
Sango woke up early as usual. She was more of a morning person than most of her friends and was a very light sleeper to begin with. She looked down over the edge of her bed to see Miroku laying on the air mattress on the floor, sleeping peacefully. She smiled softly and reached down, gently running her fingertips along his cheek and forehead. He looked almost innocent when he was asleep.
As her fingertips drifted over his lips, he softly kissed them before slipping out one of his own hands to hold hers. That brat, he was awake the whole time! His eyes slid open and he smiled up at her. "Merry Christmas, Sango."
"Merry Christmas, Miroku." The fact that it was morning, Christmas, and he was being so sweet meant that Sango couldn't bring herself to be annoyed with his little act or wonder just how long he had been awake.
"You want to open your secret present?" Miroku asked with a sly smile.
"I might as well. It'll be a few minutes before Kohaku wakes up and crashes downstairs like a drunken elephant." With a smile, Sango took the package out from under her bed and began to unwrap it. She opened up the white box to find... pink lingerie. Very, very daring lingerie. She had kind of expected something like this, but as she took out the separate pieces, she had to admit that she didn't think Miroku would be quite so... bold. Just how did he know her size anyway? On second thought, better leave that question unanswered for the time being.
"You like it?" Miroku asked, now sitting cross-legged on the air mattress.
Sango flushed slightly and smiled embarrassedly. "Yes, but don't expect me to model this for you in the immediate future."
"That's a shame. I'm feeling kind of adventurous." He arched one eyebrow and gave his sexiest smile.
Sango rolled her eyes and playfully slapped his shoulder. "Just wait until we get settled into the townhouse," she purred coyly.
Hearing footsteps rapidly approaching, Sango stuffed her gift underneath the sheets just as Kohaku burst into the room. "Wake up, guys! It's Christmas!"
"We'll be out in a minute," Miroku said with a fake, but convincing yawn. "You caught us just getting up."
"Go get Dad and we'll meet you downstairs in a minute," Sango said with a smile. Once Kohaku had left, she smiled down at Miroku again. "Come on. I doubt the other gifts are nearly as... exciting, but I think you'll like what I got you." Miroku better appreciate the digital camera she bought him. Though she suspected that with his overactive imagination, he'd be using it in ways she didn't intend... oh, terrific! His perverted sense of humor was rubbing off on her. If this kept up, she'd need a cold shower herself before breakfast was over.
-x-
That evening, Kagome was surprised when Miroku and Sango showed up shortly after dinner, only to have Inuyasha explain that they got together for Christmas to have a karaoke party every year. The difference was that it was more like what happened a couple weeks ago at the dorms, with them selecting songs that had a snowball's chance in hell of getting on the radio. At least in America.
They went with Souta and Rin to a back room with a small stage and a couple of couches with a great stereo system. "I used to practice singing in here 'till I left the band," Inuyasha mused.
"You were in a band?" Kagome asked.
Inuyasha abruptly realized that he had been thinking out loud and cleared his throat. "Yeah... I was the singer for about 6 months. It was a System of a Down tribute band. I wanted to try something different, but they hated all the bands I wanted us to cover so I split."
"You mean they fired you," Miroku corrected with a smirk.
"Semantics," Inuyasha growled back.
"Anyway, let's get this started," Sango cut in before the argument could go any further. "Anybody want to go first?"
"Oh, can I go?" Souta asked excitedly. "Hold on!" He dashed out of the room, and came back with his new Edguy CD. "I want to do The Piper Never Dies."
Inuyasha took the album and walked up to the CD player. "You sure kid? That song is over 10 minutes long."
"If I have the book with me, I think I can get it right," Souta said confidently.
Inuyasha just shrugged. "Okay, whatever you say." He popped the CD and cued the song up before handing Souta the lyrics booklet.
"Can I sing it too?" Rin asked. "I like that song."
"Sure," Souta answered enthusiastically.
The two kids jumped up on the little stage and grabbed a pair of microphones. Kagome smiled and took a seat as Inuyasha switched on the music and stepped out with Miroku to get snacks. Souta really like Rin, which was natural since he had said he'd always wanted a little brother or sister. And Rin was young enough to be his sister. It was a little strange hearing their young voices singing along with the real vocalist on the CD. This guy sounded really familiar, too. Kind of like the guy in Iron Maiden. What was his name? Oh, forget it.
Inuyasha started headbanging and lip-synching with the lyrics, and his energy seemed to infect the kids who began trading off lines in the verse, singing in harmony at the chorus, and loosening up to the point where they were acting like real performers between reading the lyric sheet. It was such a purely "kid moment," not even Disney could put this into a movie if they tried. Souta was trying to headbang without long hair and Rin was making up dance moves. And Inuyasha was just egging them off with his dramatic stage moves, all from the waist up. He was a director in a prompter's box.
By the third chorus, Inuyasha finally stood up and tried to drag everyone up with him, singing out loud with the song and the kids. As the song came to a dramatic closing, Inuyasha put his down, let the kids sing by themselves, and just continued with the headbanging, arm gestures, and air guitar-ing. Miroku even got into the act, waving the Horns. Sango and Kagome just laughed and moshed around. When the song finally ended, Souta and Rin were flushed and sweaty from effort, but looking very proud.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Miroku said with a grin, "we have the next gods of rock." Rin just smiled embarrassedly while Souta looked like he had been handed a crown.
"Who's next?" Sango asked.
"Allow me," Miroku volunteered. He took a jewel case out from his trench coat on the couch and handed it to Inuyasha. "Put this on and give me a microphone." He swaggered up onto the stage and took up one of the microphones, giving his voice a quick test.
Inuyasha set up the stereo system, and moments later, the old blues standard Crossroads came on. Miroku sang along well, casually strolling along the stage and adopting a devil-may-care look. His performance may not have been as showy as the one before him, but he wasn't really the show-off type anyway.
When the song was over, Miroku lazily stepped off of the stage and winked at everyone. "I still got it."
"I got news for you, hipster," Inuyasha cracked. "You were born about 80 years too late."
"I'll let Sango be the judge of that," Miroku remarked. "Speaking of whom, why don't you go next, my love?"
"Alright," Sango said, accepting the microphone. "The track I want to do is the next song on the CD. I wanted to do a song Kirara would pick since she can't join us this year."
"Whatever you say," Inuyasha drawled as he cued up the song. Hey by The Pixies. Figured.
Kagome often wondered why Sango didn't listen to more punk. It suited her personality. Instead her music of choice was Allan Holdswarth, John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald, Weather Report, and Django Reinhardt among others. Kirara on the other hand went after every classic punk and reggae album she could get her hands on. It was quirks like that you came to appreciate in the people around you.
As she sang the song, Sango managed to work in a little dance here and there, acting sexy without being raunchy seeing as there were little kids in the room. Miroku certainly looked appreciative. Up on that stage, more so than usual, Sango looked as though she could beaten you to a pulp if you messed with her.
When the song finished, Sango smiled softly and hopped off the stage looking very pleased with herself. "I thought you weren't into punk?" Inuyasha asked off-handedly.
"It's winning me over," Sango admitted. "Shippo and Kirara are slowly turning me into a Pixies fan. Kind of like how the guy at the music shop got you into Celtic Frost."
Inuyasha nodded at the memory. "Yeah... I remember thinking Tom Warrior's vocals were ridiculous the first time I heard him." With that he shrugged. "Anyway, I'll go next. Kagome, let's go."
Kagome did a small double take. "What?"
"You saw those two," he said gesturing to Rin and Souta. "We're going to need one hell of a duet to compete with that." He walked up to the stereo and pulled out one of his custom mixes, Kagome didn't see which one, and cued up a track. "Wish I Had an Angel. I figure it's appropriate, if you know what I mean."
She certainly did. Well, she knew the lyrics and it was a pretty cool song. What harm could it do. "Unless you've been taking opera lessons I don't know about," she said with a smirk, "I'm guessing you'll be singing the Viking guy's lines." For some reason, she had a hard time memorizing names in Germanic languages.
"The Viking guy?" Inuyasha looked thoroughly appalled. "Tarja Turunen sings lead, Marco Hietala sings backing vocals and plays bass." He had the tone of one lecturing a child.
"Sorry," Kagome said sarcastically. "Not all of us are music nerds."
"Get up here and sing, damn it." She won that round. Kagome got up on the stage and smiled as she gave her voice a quick test.
Miroku hit the play button and the music started on the opening lines which Kagome and Inuyasha sang in harmony. Predictably, Inuyasha was headbanging like a madman with his free hand in a fist at his hip and rocking his shoulders to drumbeat. Kagome sang but didn't move much. She wasn't really into headbanging. Still, she was feeling the urge to move more. It felt awkward with Inuyasha acting so off-kilter beside her while she just stood there and sang.
By the time the bridge came, Kagome finally let herself go and hammed up the dramatic gestures. Strangely, it actually really helped her get into the music. She left hitting the notes to her subconscious and second-nature that her lessons had instilled in her, and just went with the flow. The two of them did the final chorus facing off against one another as if to see who could out-do the other.
At the last note of the closing, Inuyasha dropped to his knees just as his voice hit its peak and hung his head when the song finished. There was a brief pause before he got up again and smirked. Okay, he won that round, but when Kagome arched a brow at him, he clearly got the message that he may not be so lucky next time.
This was probably the most unusual Christmas Kagome had ever had. But she wouldn't trade it for anything.
-x-
Author's Notes: The flu's almost gone, but my sleep schedule is all fucked up, and I need to fix it in a hurry.
On a side note, I'll soon work on my first personal film project. Let me explain. My brother is a very funny guy. Completely off-kilter. When some random music junkie told a friend of his that you aren't hardcore until you listen to Megadeth, my brother devised a sketch to parody metal elitism. He calls it Dead Baby Cafe. Now that I got a mini-DV camera for Christmas, we're going to make a video entitled "Behind the Music: Dead Baby Cafe." The plan is to have it on Ebaumsworld by February. Look for my brother as the lead singer, and me as the longhaired guitarist.
Yabou: I suppose just weaving in the subtle details helps to paint the image better. Go figure.
Maiden of the Moon: Funny story, I actually culled the content of Inuyasha and Kagome's argument over music from several message board conversations I've been in.
Divine-Red-Crayon: I realize not much is happening at this point, but I think I've got it worked out. Pacing is one of those things I agonize over, but can't quite seem to get the hang of, at least in this medium.
shaid: I listen to more different bands than just about everybody I know. When I get into something, I don't do it halfway. I actually now have more CDs than both of my parents and both of my siblings put together.
NightMiko: I know Christmas is over, but bear with me, okay? I planned to have these chapters written much sooner, but... you know, long story short, sometimes things just screw up.
Father Malvado: Can be good? Tell that to my lungs.
Jurei: To be honest, I can't see Inuyasha as anything other than a metalhead. He's a natural-born bad-ass. You were partly right on Kirara's music tastes. There's a little more clarity for you. As for music name-dropping, there's an abundance of it in this chapter. If any of you are reading this, I suggest you check them out.
Magellan-chan: Believe it or not, my mother owns more Nightmare Before Christmas memorabilia than anyone I know. My whole family agrees on Tim Burton's divinity.
Mimiko: I'll see if I can get a chapter out on your birthday. Anyway, there's your payoff on Inuyasha's gift to Kagome and karaoke Rin. It took me a while to decide on a song. I was going to do Fourth Legacy by Kamelot, but Piper got stuck in my head and I needed some way to get rid of it.
bluefuzzyelf: How was my New Years? I got smashed. Nah, I'm kidding, I only had one glass of champagne. Though that alone was enough to give me gin blossoms. For a Slavic guy, I'm not very good at holding my alcohol.