Chapter 2: Instant Karma
Disclaimer: I stake no claim over InuYasha, nor "Right Now" by Korn, or"In The End" by Linkin Park. Eh, Hanson neither.. lol.
Kagome sighed nervously as she trudged toward her destination. She had been able to squeeze out further information about the young man's group from a few lower class-men, and now stood across the street from the club that they had told her about. She bit her lip as she gazed up at the formidable building, it's neon sign blinking it's name at her in dark green letters, set just above the door which was hidden in the shadows.
"Instant Karma..." She read to herself. She could hear faint hard rock music from inside, along with a large drone of voices.
Suddenly, the door was thrown open as a pair of men stumbled out, and Kagome was hit with a blast of hot air and loud shouting, knocking her out of her daze. Realizing that she must have looked like a gawking child, she quickly pulled herself together. She ran her hands through her hair, and straightened her uniform's skirt, instantly wishing that she had taken the time to go change clothes. She sighed, but knew that she couldn't turn back now. She waited for the two drunks to wobble a safe distance down the street, then squared her shoulders and jogged over to the door. She stopped to gather her courage once more, then pulled the door open.
Kagome gasped on instinct at what she saw inside. The place was jam packed with people. The dance floor was full of sweaty bodies, while the bar on the side had no vacant seats or empty glasses. The seating area in the back was the only place that had some room, beside the empty stage in the back. The music that pumped through the place was spilling out of large speakers placed strategically around the club.
Kagome closed her eyes and steeled her nerves, then prepared to enter. However, before she could step foot into this mayhem, all eyes suddenly turned on her. A few men sneered at her, while the girls laughed cruelly.
'Oh, great...' She thought, a feeling of dread and regret filling her.
Miroku sighed as he exited the hot room in the back of the club. Koga and InuYasha were at each other's throats again. This time, they were actually fighting over something fairly important, instead of who looked hotter. Nonetheless, Miroku felt like he needed a break from the two before they went on stage. He checked his watch, seeing that he only have 30 minutes.
He sighed, then shrugged. "Might as well make the most of it..." He started toward the bar, but a certain commotion near the door caught his attention. Usually the guests were fairly civil, so all the shouts and growls made him wonder. Acting on instinct, he started toward the surging crowd. Upon reaching the edge of the seating area, he stepped down into the mass of people, and pushed through until he got to the front. What he saw shocked him, but also struck him as hilarious.
A school girl, around 16 years of age, stood in the door way of his club, looking totally bewildered. Around him, he heard people jeering at her.
"What are you doing here?" One girl asked, sneering at her.
"Are you lost?" A man beside him asked, chuckling as he scanned her petite body.
The girl fidgeted uncomfortably, but bravely stood her ground. "I came to check out a band that plays here." She said, her voice surprisingly calm.
"Well sorry, Honey. Hanson doesn't play here." Another girl snarled from Miroku's other side. He couldn't help but laugh along with the rest of the crowd.
The young girl rose an eyebrow at the pathetic attempt at insulting her. "No, I believe they were called 'Something Canines.'" She said smoothly, looking boredly over the crowd, plainly not too bothered by the jeers.
Miroku instantly snapped to attention at the mention of his group.
"Aw, yes. That would be 'Carnivorous Canines'..." He said, quickly stepping beside the girl. He wasn't too sure as to why a prep was interested in his band, but he wasn't going to turn away a potential fan. He flashed her a flirtatious smile, but she simply looked at him, seemingly unimpressed by the fact that he knew the name of the group which she sought. He cleared his throat, then smiled again. "Um, yes... Right this way." He said, taking her elbow and starting to lead her through the thong of people.
The girl, though, did not like this idea. "Excuse me, but what are you doing!" She pulled away and glared at him. Miroku blinked, then smiled. Obviously, she wasn't your average prep.
"Well, you have your choices. You can either follow me to the seating area, or stay here and enjoy the company of these wonderful people..." He smirked.
"Ya know, I'm damn sick of you and your mouth, Koga!" InuYasha growled at the wolf that was currently studying himself in the mirror across the room.
"And I could do without you thinking that you have full control over this band..." Koga answered coolly. He swung his long, thick, black locks up into his usual ponytail before turning to the hanyou. "I sure you remember who is actually the manager of us..."
"Yeah, but he's never around to make the damned choices is he?" InuYasha shot back, stretching before falling back onto the couch. "He's too damn busy with his 'Firm'." He added nastily.
"Watch your mouth, InuYasha." Sesshomaru finally saw a point in joining his two fellow band mates' conversation.
"Shove it, Sesshomaru!" InuYasha sat up and glowered at his older brother, who lounged in the chair in the far corner of the room. "You know that business is more important to him than this band!"
"And why should it not be? It is his life's work." The demon answered calmly, returning his brother's glare.
"Nothin should come before one's children." InuYasha snarled angrily before leaving the room, slamming the door behind him.
"Damn, he's a bit testy..." Koga commented before returning to his primping.
Kagome glanced up at the tall young man who was now leading her through the massive amount of people. She had had no choice but to follow him, but still wasn't sure why he had decided to 'rescue' her to begin with.
"By the way, the name's Miroku." The man said with a smirk, glancing back at her.
Kagome smirked a little herself, then answered simply. "Kagome."
Miroku laughed at her short answer, but smiled warmly at her all the same. "Nice to meet you, Kagome." She simply nodded in response.
"Here we go." Suddenly, she was pulled from between two bodies and up onto a platform that was about five inches above the dance floor. She breathed deeply, relishing in the sudden freedom.
Miroku smiled, then nodded toward a table near the stage. "Come on. Got a good place for you to sit."
Kagome shrugged and followed as Miroku led her up to a table where two girls were already sitting. One had long black hair and deep brown eyes, while the other possessed fiery red hair and bright green eyes.
Miroku bent to kiss the first before turning toward Kagome again. "Ladies, this is Kagome. She's a friend that is interested in the band." He winked at Kagome, then spoke to her. "This is Sango," He motioned to the one he had kissed, "And that is Ayame." He pointed to the red head across the table. "They will take good care of you." He suddenly looked up at a motion on the stage in front of them. "I, myself, need to go. See you after the performance." He touched his forehead gentlemanly, a playful smirk gracing his lips before he turned and trotted to a door near the stage and disappeared.
Once he was gone, Kagome smiled nervously at the two girls who were now watching her skeptically.
"So." The one called Sango spoke first. "You're interested in Carnivorous Canines, huh?" She narrowed her eyes slightly.
Kagome simply nodded.
"Why?" Was Ayame's blunt question, while leaning forward with a amused curiosity playing in her eyes.
Kagome sighed. "Well, to tell you girls the truth, I'm new around here. And, I saw a picture of one of the members, and thought that he was worth checking out."
"Oh, so you're here only for the looks?" Ayame answered sarcastically, leaning back in her chair. Slight disgust was painted in her features as she regarded Kagome.
Kagome rose an eyebrow, never used to being thought of as lowly. "No, I also heard that they played decent rock." She shot back, narrowing her eyes right back at Ayame.
Ayame smirked, but otherwise her resolve didn't change.
"Alright, new girl..." Sango said, smiling mischievously. "Which member did you find attractive enough to venture from your powder puff estate to endure the dark streets of our harsh ghetto?"
Kagome rose an eyebrow at her words, again wishing she had changed from the misgiving school girl's uniform. "Not sure of his name." She said coolly, crossing her arms.
"Then describe him." Ayame piped up, playing along with her friend's game.
Kagome rolled her eyes. "Long, silver hair, golden eyes, wierd ears-" She was cut off by Sango's snort.
"You found InuYasha attractive?" She giggled hysterically.
Ayame too seemed to be holding back her laughter. "Well, at least we don't have to compete for our men." She managed before bursting into a fit of giggles.
Kagome rose an eyebrow while looking from one to the other of the giggling duo. She then decided that sitting alone would possibly be safer, but before she could leave, Sango caught her hand.
"Nah, sit with us. You're cool." She said, a smile showing her lasting amusement.
Kagome stood for a few moments, debating the offer. One glance around the other tables, which were being filled up by the dance floor occupants, made up her mind. She may not appreciate the teasing these two were giving her, but at least it was good-natured compared to what she would get from others.
She nodded and sat down between Ayame and Sango. Her seat faced the stage, and she rose an eyebrow once she saw Miroku get up on stage, taking a seat behind a large set of drums.
"Miroku is part of the band?" She asked, sounding surprised.
The two girls on either side of her exchanged looks, but remained silent. Once Kagome saw that she wasn't going to get a response, she sighed and looked back up at the stage.
Miroku was seated in the far back of the stage, half hidden by his drum set. To his upper right stood a man with long, silver hair and golden eyes, which resembled that of the young man's picture she'd seen, and to his upper left stood a young man with long, loose black hair and the bluest eyes. They seemed to be waiting for someone, and quite impatiently at that. Kagome didn't have to ask for whom.
Suddenly,the awaitedyoung man came screaming out of the backstage, long silver hair whipping behind him. He ran up to the front of the stage, then slid on his knees to the edge. A electric guitar hung from his neck, and he suddenly struck a few loud cords from his position on the floor. Instantly, the other three men joined in, and InuYasha jumped to his feet, walking to the microphone in the middle of center stage.
I"m feeling mean today... Not lost, not blown away... Just irritated and quite hated! Self control breaks down..."
He started belting out the first lyrics to their opening song. Kagome blinked at the apparent anger of the music, but found herself enjoying it by the time the second chorus came along.
Riiight noooooow... riiight nooowww..." Koga and Miroku screamed in the background, as InuYasha and Sesshomaru growled out the front lines.
"Can't find a way to get across the hate when I see you! I feel it scratch inside I want to slash and beat you! I rip apart the things inside that excite you! I can't control myself..."
"I Fucking hate you!" All four members ground out, ending the chorus.
Kagome watched them play the music just as much as she listened to it. She could see that they truly loved what they were doing, especially InuYasha. He gave his all as he screamed the lyrics, none of the emotion the words were loaded with being forced.
Suddenly, the beat changed and she realized they had switched songs. Also, the young man with long black hair had stepped up to join InuYasha at the front mic.
"It starts with..." InuYasha sang softly.
"One thing, I don't know why. It doesn't even matter how hard you try. Keep that in mind. I designed this rhyme to explain in due time..."
Kagome blinked as the second member started rapping like a pro. Ayame squealed in excitement, and Sango in turn rolled her eyes.
"Oh, Koga is soo hot..." Ayame sighed, her eyes glued to the rapper.
Kagome smirked and turned her attention back to the duo on the upper stage just as they started singing the chorus.
" What it meant to me will eventually be a memory of a time when I tried So hard..." Koga finished the verse, and joined in with InuYasha.
"And got so far. But in the end, it doesn't even matter. I had to fall, to lose it all. But in the end... It doesn't even matter!"
Kagome smirked as she watched them perform the song. She was thoroughly enjoying it, bespite how different the music was compared to her usual poppy, alternative music style. The view wasn't to bad either...
She just may have to hang out at this club more often...
"It doesn't even matter..."
There ya go!
Also, you may want to get acquainted with these songs:
CC Song List
Korn: Falling Away From Me, Ya'll Want a Single, All In The Family, Freak On A Leash, Make Me Bad, Right Now
Linkin Park: In The End, One Step Closer, Runaway, Faint
Metallica: Nothing Else Matters
Disturbed: Down With The Sickness, The Game, Forsaken (Queen of the damned)
Evanescence: Bring Me To Life, Imaginary, Tourniquet, My Immortal
Eminem: The Way I Am, Cleaning Out My Closet
Godsmack: Serenity
Puddle of Mudd: Blurry
Marilyn Manson: This Is The New Shit, Beautiful People, Sweet Dreams
Those are the songs that I will be using with this story. It's not a requirement by any means, and the list is subject to minor changes.However, if you would like to have a 'soundtrack' to this story... There ya go! ;)
I hope you're enjoying this story. Thanks so much to everyone who has reviewed, and those who will do soin the future. ;) ;)
Til Next Time!
L.A.