Disclaimer: Inu-Yasha is not mine. . . But he belongs to Kagome, so it's all good. XD
Author's Note: Hey hey! Sorry for the long gap in updating. I got the fourth Chrono novel and it rocked so much that I had to write some ficlets for it, and then I have this HUGE research speech I have had to do for English. . . (It's worth half of my semester grade! Augh!)
Anyway, guess what? I got contacts! Woooo. . . It's so cool to be able to wear sunglasses again. XD And I'm almost done with the Rosette costume I'm making for an upcoming convention! (Anime Central 2005 in Chicago. Anyone else going on May 15th?) It looks SO cool. . . I'm so happy! XD
Let's see. . . Was there any questions from last chapter? Well, except for 'who is the new costar?'. Though I thought that would be obvious. . . I'm sure y'all are just trying to be nice and make me think I've got you on the edge of your seat, ne? (; Heehee.
Oh, someone mentioned Stardust. Yeah, I know I said I'd start updating that, but now that I'm doing this one. . . it's on hiatus again. (sweat drop) Sorry. . .
Well, let's get started, shall we? XD
- Headlines: A Hollywood Engagement-
-Chapter Two: I Blame it On the Heels-
"And. . . Oh my God, it's Bad Luck! Back from their world-wide tour! Their new CD, Gravitation, is in music stores now! Next in line is Rosette Christopher and her husband Chrono, fresh from their new movie Fight Against Time- planned to be out in three months. And there's Azmaria Hendrick, the youngest Grammy winner in over fifty years. A real child protégée! Isn't she adorable in her white linen and ribbons?"
"I've heard that she plans on singing a duet with Suichi Shindo some time soon- it will be interesting to hear something beside Christian hymns from her, eh? Perhaps we've got a new Portuguese pop star in our midst!"
"Ugh. . . How much longer?" Inu-Yasha whined, nails digging into his chin as he rested his head in his palm. His other hand clenched tightly around the loose cloth covering his kneecap, gritting his pearly whites in irritation. "I HATE these fucking premieres!"
Growling, he stared out of the tinted limo window at the pink haired rock star and his group, who were currently waving to a hundred of screaming admirers. The singer paused in his acknowledgements to chat animatedly with the embarrassedly blushing twelve year old girl beside him. Her fingers tightened around the hand she was grasping- one that belonged to a cheerful blue-eyed boy. Then she smiled and laughed, pushing a strand of her silvery locks behind her ear. Nodding towards a blonde girl- the sister, evidently, of the boy she was with- and the older girl's purple haired husband, the band of idols skipped into the already packed theater, sending final well-wishes to their adoring, hyperventilating fans. The hanyou rolled his eyes. 'Idiots.'
"Well, tough beans," Miroku huffed, straightening his crisp lapels. Smoothing back his hair and nodding to Sango, he crossed his legs at the knees. "You're going to go, you're going to have fun, and you're going to deal with it."
Inu snarled, returning his attention to the pack in the car. "But I don't wanna have fun!"
"I don't care if you don't want to! It's what you're grossly overpaid to do!"
". . . Dammit."
Kagome smiled tiredly at her fiancée, tugging restlessly at the long golden gloves on her arms. "Let's just make sure this isn't a repeat of the last premiere, okay? Then I'll be happy."
She paused.
". . . And don't ruin my dress this time."
The amber orbed man beside her snorted, crossing his arms. "It was your fault, anyway," he muttered under his breath, glaring determinedly at the opposite side of the auto. Kag stiffened, navy pools narrowing.
"What was that, puppy. . . ?" she began warningly, already in a bad mood after being stuffed into what she considered uncomfortable underwear. Her outfit just barely covered the essentials, and if it wasn't for the see-through, gold colored over-dress and the thigh-high matching boots, she would have felt overly bare. 'What a dumb waste of scrap material. . .' She thought sourly of her vain fight not to go like this, and the disappointing but not unexpected news that fashion always ruled over common sense- especially in the world of divas. But that didn't keep her from feeling very annoyed and irritable.
Inu-Yasha shot her a glare. "I mean you deserved it after turning me into a walking Pepsi commercial!"
"Excuse ME," the actress glowered in response, "but I seem to recall that YOU dumped popcorn on ME first! And besides," she pouted, forehead furrowing as she crossed her arms over her lifted-and-separated chest (God, she hated Sango and Kanna right now), "it was Coke. Not Pepsi."
Yeah, that made a difference.
"Ever realize that we're, like, professional babysitters?" Miroku whispered to Sango, watching the two immature children get into a cat fight. "Only we're underpaid. . . " She nodded before kicking them both and ordering that they calm down. ". . . and we get to physically abuse the kids."
Giving his shin a rub, Inu-Yasha sighed- raking a hand through his wild white locks. "Yeah, yeah, sorry, whatever," he mumbled to Kagome, shooting the managers aggravated glares. They flipped him two encouraging thumbs up, asking if he'd like a smiley face sticker for his efforts. He flipped them something in return before beginning to fiddle with the buttons of his jacket and the extra folds of his loose tie. Soon that became boring, and he started checking his watch.
"Here come the famous fight choreographers, Ed and Al Elric! Aren't they looking snazzy in their designer suits? I think I smell a new fashion trend, men!"
"And I hear they also have a new line of props to donate- especially in the way of armor. Aren't they generous?"
Kagome sighed deeply, head flopping listlessly to the side; causing her shoulder to move up and her "dress" to rise a few inches, displaying even more thigh. Miroku noticed this and was about to make a. . . comment. . . but was distracted by Sango's fist.
"Are we at the front of the line, yet?" Kag then asked drearily, eyes half lidded and full of inexpressible boredom.
"No," her agent replied shortly, glaring at her boyfriend so coldly that she put all Dentine Ice commercials to shame.
Silence fell in the limo, broken only by cheers and overly perky announcers.
"And there goes the Sanzo party! Their hit new game, produced by Kaiba Corp, is still on the top charts for having the best graphics and storyline of any 2005 video game."
"Ooo, look this way, Goku darling!"
Inu-Yasha fidgeted in a strange style that looked more like a weak spaz attack than anything. "Are we there yet?"
"No," Miroku retorted, sounding pained. He rubbed his abused noggin weakly.
Again, silence.
"Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh my goodness, it's the famous martial artist Ranma Satome and his wife Akane- fresh from their new movie! I've heard that they share the spotlight with Kyo and Yuki Sohma, isn't that correct?"
"That's what I've heard!"
"Are we there yet?"
"NO."
"Eee! Ladies, don't forget to breathe- look! It's Dark Mousy and Daisuke Niwa, world-renounced actors, acrobats, and directors- all in one! Their private art collection is nothing to sneeze at, either. Aren't th. . . oi! Get your hands off Dai, girls! No, really! Off! HE'S MINE, DAMMIT!"
"Riku, calm down! We're still on the air!"
"Are we there YET?" chorused the immature couple, Inu considering ripping out his (or perhaps Miroku's) hair; Kagome about to have a breakdown. Sango's eye twitched, hands itching from building frustration.
"Is the door opening. . . ?" she managed to inquire in a strained voice, staring flatly at the two.
"No. . . ?" Kagome offered weakly, not quite sure whether she was stating this or questioning it.
"THEN STOP ASKING!" the other female barked, making the rest of the car's occupants jump.
"But. . .!" Inu-Yasha began, about to argue, when- simultaneously
a) Sango dove to strangle him.
b) Miroku bent down to tie his shoe (which was stupid, really, because it was a slip on).
c) Kagome felt something land on the side of her stiletto heal, making it bend incorrectly.
And
d) The door, (as if on ironic cue) swung open.
". . ."
Four pairs of surprised eyes stared out at the crowed, who'd suddenly fallen silent. It probably didn't look. . . er. . . good in their eyes, what with Sango's hands around the hanyou's neck, Kagome on the floor in pain, and Miroku conked out from being whacked in the head by his lunging girlfriend.
"Er. . . And it's the stars of the show and their agents! Kagome Higurashi and Inu-Yasha Takahashi are finally here! And it looks like they brought. . . Um. . . A little comic relief with them!"
As the crowd began applauding, the small group finally began to breathe again. They were safe, publicity wise, for the time being. The media could laugh at this. But if anything else happened. . .
They needed to get out there and make a recovery, NOW.
Sango hastily turned her death grip into a loving swat of Inu-Yasha's hair, 'trying to put it back in place'. "Smi-i-ile," she sang with a fake, perky air. "Smile or I'll. . . !" A nearby car horn went off as the virulent words poured from her lips, the alarm falling silent only after she'd finished her long, colorful threat. Wow, what timing. . . And though he never actually ended up knowing what she had said, it was silently decided that he didn't want to know- or find out.
And so, taking the hint, the actor slid out of the car with a beam on his face. All of the females in a two mile radius screamed, fainting when he winked. Cameras flashed like fireworks, nearly blinding all those around.
But something was amiss. . .
Hiding his frown by ducking his face back into the limo, Inu glared questioningly at Kagome. She hadn't moved since the door was opened. "Well?" he pressed softly, sounding a bit irritated. "Let's go!"
"I- can't. . . !" Kag snapped back, eyes watering as she clutched her foot, rocking back and forth. "These stupid stupid STUPID shoes just broke my ankle!"
Inu-Yasha blinked. And he thought the siren's timing was good. . . If he didn't know any better, he'd say that someone was working against them. "No shit?"
She stared at him flatly, un-amused by the crude language. "No shit," she repeated monotonously. "And I'm not gonna get up and walk on it!"
"Well, you can't just spend the whole damn night with your head in the car, Inu-Yasha!" Sango bit, sounding positively frightened as the throngs' murmurs began to grow more curious in nature. "Get your asses out there NOW!"
With a shove and a powerful glitter in her eye, the older woman kicked both completely out of the car; Kagome in Inu-Yasha's arms.
Bridal style, of course.
Wonderful.
Both flushed, the crowd cooing. The rabid Inu-Yasha devotees looked a bit put out, though; whipping out their cell phones to connect to their favorite internet voodoo sites. Death to the Evil Slime-Monkey of Hell. . .
Scary, scary fan girls.
But the worst was yet to come. Oh, the horror. . . ! Wincing in anticipation, the couple all but needed botax to keep the smiles on their faces when the media pressed foreword, craning their bodies over the velvet ropes that kept them off of the red carpet. It was times like this that made them truly grateful for all of the acting experiences they'd had.
"Mr. Inu-Yasha! Miss Kagome! What did you like best about Feudal Fairytale?"
"Mr. Takahashi! A word about your recent engagement to Miss Higurashi?"
"Our readers would love to hear what you have to say about the other guests!"
"Miss Higurashi, can we see your ring?"
"We've heard rumors that Bad Luck will be playing at your reception! Is that true?"
"No- our sources say that's why Azmaria Hendrick was invited to this premiere! Isn't that right, Kagome? Inu-Yasha?"
"I LOVE YOU, INU-YASHA! MARRY ME OR I'LL KILL YOU!"
"Are you going to have a western style wedding? Traditional? Public? Private?"
"What is your next movie going to be about? Will it be a new romance?"
"What toothpaste brand do you use?"
"My cheeks are about to break. . ." Kagome muttered through her clenched and shining teeth, tightening her hold around her fiancée's neck. Inu-Yasha gave a small, brisk nod before beginning the long walk down the famous maroon mat.
"Is Naraku Hijimashi going to be in any of your new movies?"
"Do you promote the consumption of dehydrated grapes?"
"Miss Kagome! Great style! Tell our listeners where you bought your bodylicious new outfit?"
"After just having lost your last child, do you plan on trying to have any more?"
"I MEAN IT, INU-YASHA! MARRY ME OR DIE!"
"When will you get on writing your autobiographies?"
"Do you 'got the urge'?"
"Good lord, these people have lost it," Inu-Yasha swore under his breath, still smiling and nodding to random reporters. However, neither were in the mood to actually stop and chat. They'd let Miroku and Sango handle their publicity. . . They deserved to suffer.
With final silent grins and waves, the two pushed their way into the theater
And were again ambushed by a hoard of zealous correspondents. But luckily for them, there were also the hundreds of other stars to keep them busy- most noticeably Bad Luck, who had decided to perform a short, free concert for the guests waiting for the movie to start in the lounge.
"Let's depict the vividly dancing thoughts- Found in that place of light that is unreachable even now," the pink haired rock star sang, gloved hands cupping the microphone that his trigger-happy manager had passed him. Behind him his band members played expertly, using the empty concession stand to their advantage. Hundreds of fans sang along, mercifully drowning out the incessant babble of the media. This gave Kagome and Inu-Yasha the perfect excuse to 'not hear' the rather rude and stupid questions the morons kept asking. Reporters seemed to enjoy using dumb commercial puns to their advantage. . . Hm.
"Don't fear the passage of time, so that words of guidance won't completely spill out and flow away.
(And there's no way out!)
(I'm falling further down!)"
After excusing himself from the umpteenth (he'd lost count after the 666th) writer, Inu-Yasha lead Kagome to a quiet corner near the tastefully gaudy bathrooms of pearl pink and sunset orange; gently setting her down so that she could lean against the wall. Crouching before her and shooting her a semi concerned glance, he carefully gave her ankle a feel through her black leather stiletto. She flinched.
"Still hurt?" he asked quietly.
Fighting the overwhelming urge to reply 'no, duh,', Kagome forced a small smile and bit her tongue. After all, he was trying. . . "Yeah," she replied softly, chewing the inside of her cheek. "It does."
"Hmm. . . Well, I don't think it's broken," he informed her after a few more moments of painful poking. "Just a bad sprain."
"Oh, goodie," Kagome retorted, unable to keep the dry sarcasm out of her tone. "That makes me feel all better."
Rolling his eyes, Inu-Yasha sighed and straightened. "No need to get snippy, wench."
"No need to get stupid, fool."
He arched an eyebrow. "That hardly makes sense."
"YOU hardly make sense," the girl pouted, knowing just how dumb she sounded. She chalked it up to the pain in her foot.
The actor shook his head. "You're no fun to argue with when you're not trying. . . How about we continue this when your foot's feeling better?"
"Sure, whatever," Kag exhaled loudly, much too stressed to think about it. All she wanted was a nice cup of tea and to curl up with a good book. . . Or with Inu-Yasha. Hell, maybe even both. "Let's just get this over with, shall we?"
"To the reincarnation of you, I say "color your eyes without smiling alone".
Even if the world you've longed for suddenly burns to ash,
The miracle can still happen; still come again."
"Love to," her fiancée agreed, scooping her back up in his arms. "By the way, you want anything to eat?"
"Even if I did, we'd have to fight our way through the Bad Luck addicts." She jabbed a thumb at the hyperventilating enthusiasts who had resurrected rather large and dangerous looking barriers to keep from having their concert interrupted. (Were those flaming-things even legal. . . ?)
"Let's depict the vividly dancing thoughts- Found in that place of light that is unreachable even now.
Don't fear the passage of time, so that words of guidance won't completely spill out and flow away."
"Good point," Inu nodded, slightly frightened; edging away from the worshipers illuminatingly evil eyes. "Let's just go to th. . ."
What happened next was, very unfortunately, captured in perfect succession on the channel 12 TV camera- and was then played and replayed throughout the night. In slow motion. Three times in a row each showing. Before it aired, however, people had a hard time discerning what had happened.
Eventually it was discovered that the whole incident began when the 'marry me or die' fan girl found Kagome and Inu-Yasha, and- after quite impressively managing to escape from the dozen of police men surrounding her- charged at him. Like a boar. And, despite his hanyou reflexes, Inu didn't sense the attack until after it was too late. Knocked off balance when her wiry, teenager arms wrapped forcefully around his middle, he began to fall foreword- accidentally releasing Kagome.
"Aa. . . !"
By the time the actress realized she was in the air, she was already falling with a scream of surprise. But before she hit the ground, a strange, demonic young man with long black hair came running foreword, swiping her out of the air and into his arms so fast that you could only see it if you were watching the reel of the recording panel by panel. (Again, which the stations decided to air- many, many times.)
"Hold me gently-"
Kag, her heart pounding loudly from the unexpected and rather rapid turn of events, gave her chest a hard smack to start her blood pumping again.
Then she heard a chuckle.
"Always catch me-"
Looking up in surprise when she processed the new voice, the girl felt her breathe catch in her throat. The pointy-eared man grinned down at her, gently taking her clenched hand from her chest and pressing a chaste kiss to the back of her palm.
"More and more-"
"Hello, Kagome," the man purred, sharp canines flashing when people began to turn; noticing something had happened. "So nice to see you again. Though I suppose we will be seeing quite a bit of each other on the set soon, won't we?"
The actress felt her cheeks flush brightly; eyes widening as she stared at a boy she hadn't seen since high school. "Kouga. . ."
"In order to break my heart!"
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Wow. . . I can't believe it took so long to write that. Believe it or not, I've actually been working on this chapter since Sunday. (sweat drop) Ah well. It's done now! XD (Please pardon the poor quality of it. . . I'm still really busy! (swirly eyes))
Oh- It should be mentioned that I don't own Gravitation (the song, by the way, was a section of Sleepless Beauty, (English translation)) nor Chrono Crusade nor Fullmetal Alchemist nor Saiyuki nor YuGiOh nor Ranma ½ nor Fruits Basket nor DNAngel (nor any of the other products I mentioned), because I threw in some of their characters/merchandise/etc for the fun of it. XD Hope you enjoyed! Please R&R!
Ja ne!
(PS. Never really sure- I know there are two different forms of the word 'fiancée' (fiancée and fiancé) depending on who you're referring to. Anyone know which is which? I always forget. . . (face fault) I feel soooo stupid right now. . . )
