Disclaimer: The first song is Invisible by Lillix, and the second is Kyoto Now! by Bad Religion.
"Morning, Kikyo," Kagome replied. Kikyo fell into step beside Kagome when she kept walking.
"Do you have my song?" Kikyo inquired with a fake air of innocence.
Kagome was momentarily shocked into silence, until she remembered that no one knew of her attempt the night before. Once she had left the house, the world seemed to disregard what had happened.
Kagome removed her music portfolio from her bag and handed Kikyo the stack of music sheets, wrapped in which was a tape of the song.
Kikyo eyed the large pile of papers. "That's a lot."
Kagome sighed. "You did offer to write most of the songs. That means for everyone." She had tried to explain to Kikyo countless times before that each band member played or sang a different part of the song, and therefore plenty of paper was required. Kikyo never seemed to understand, probably because she could barely read the notes written for her, let alone that for other instruments. Kagome finally gave up and started writing what Kikyo was to sing in different color pen. "You sing the part in blue," Kagome said.
Kikyo nodded. When they neared the school, Kikyo said a quick, "Thanks, Kagome. See you later!" Then she walked off to be with her friends.
School was mercifully uneventful, with the exception of Sango's surprise that Kagome wore a skirt to school, which she had not done since the dress code had been eradicated. Band practice, however, was not as ordinary.
The band practiced in a room on Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru's property that was disconnected from their house. Their equipment was on a raised stage with room for a small audience in front of it. They even had professional microphones and speakers.
When Kagome entered the room she passed by Sesshoumaru. She did not notice him sniff the air slightly. "You smell different," he stated indifferently.
Kagome forced herself to relax as the other demons of their group turned towards her and soon agreed.
"New perfume," she replied quickly. "Sorry, I won't wear it tomorrow."
Sesshoumaru did not look convinced, but he said nothing and walked away to ready his instrument. The other demons merely shrugged at her answer and returned to what their own tasks.
"Kikyo, do you have the song you promised us?" Sango asked. She did not like Kikyo much, and her feelings were not hidden in her tone of voice.
With a smug look, Kikyo produced the composition from her bag. The papers were slightly wrinkled and dog-eared, Kagome noticed. Kikyo's stack was larger because she used a copy machine to make duplicates for everyone.
They approached and each acquired one before taking their places.
The song opened with piano, so Sesshoumaru nodded to Kagome to start.
She played. Kikyo and her backup singers, Kagura and Sango, raised their voices, and Inuyasha followed on his drums. The strings, Sesshoumaru, Miroku and Kouga, entered soon after.
What can be done in order for you to perceive that I'm not falling behind?
That's your vision your delusion I was here to begin
You've interrupted our conclusions but we haven't begun
And you've placed your number ones instead
Sesshoumaru mentally grimaced. When blended with the voices of Kagura and Sango, Kikyo's voice was decent enough, but alone, it was not half as good as most people told her. Her male following was what kept her as their lead singer.
So what, I'm different
Would you prefer if we were all like her?
You see the external illusions
We're all the same
I don't want to be gone, I don't want to be, when I'm around
Why do you wanna see?
She's someone that isn't me,
I don't wanna be invisible
Sesshoumaru almost raised an eyebrow at the lyrics. If anyone should feel that way, it would be…
His golden gaze slid to Kagome, who was focused on playing. He watched her slender fingers glide expertly across the keys before he focused on his music sheet again. Kagome was always hidden in her cousin's shadow.
As the band continued to play, Sesshoumaru's mind wondered to recent memories. He had been asked to act in the school play, and at the first rehearsal he noticed Kagome rushing around both on and back-stage.
Kikyo later nominated Kagome as stage manager, and the drama teacher had approved. Kagome had never been asked but she did not protest. Nor did she complain when every problem was brought before her.
He distinctly recalled when, two days ago, Kikyo had finally decided on a design for her costume, and a dress rehearsal had been scheduled for the following day several weeks before. Kikyo's confident words sounded clearly in his head, "Kagome will do it."
And apparently she had. Yesterday at the practice performance, Kikyo had been clothed in the dress she had chosen. Sesshoumaru, though, had not missed Kagome's attempt to hide her exhaustion throughout the day. He did respect her devotion.
Today, though, something was different about her.
As they finished the song, he was brought out of his musings by his half brother's loud and obnoxious voice. "Can't we play a song that isn't so girly?" Inuyasha demanded.
"For once I agree with mutt face," Kouga stated, receiving a glare from Inuyasha. "Don't you have any other songs?"
"Um… let me check. Why don't we take a break?" Kikyo suggested.
"You don't know?" Sango snorted.
Before Kikyo could respond, Sesshoumaru interrupted. "A break would be a good idea. We can rest in the kitchen."
"All right! Food!" Inuyasha was the first out the door.
"Hanyous," Kagura muttered in disgust before following.
The others soon followed her, excluding Kikyo and her cousin.
Kagome moved to where her pack was as Kikyo asked her, "Do you have anything?"
Kagome pulled out the other song she had finished the night before. "I've been working on this for a while, so I'm not sure it's ready yet," Kagome answered hesitantly.
"It'll have to do," Kikyo stated, snatching the music from Kagome's hands. "What part do I sing?"
"You don't. It's for the guys."
Kikyo gave Kagome a disapproving glare before releasing a resigned sigh. Kikyo murmured a barely remembered 'thanks' before ordering Kagome to retrieve the others. Informing the group that Kikyo had a song for them, they returned to practice.
"I only have one copy though," Kikyo said when they entered. Sesshoumaru announced that he could make copies, and so left to do so. When he returned, he gave the stack to Kikyo to hand out, desiring as little close contact with his brother as possible.
"What?" Inuyasha yelled as he began reading the music. "How come Sesshoumaru gets a solo in the beginning? And it's still slow!"
"Quit complaining, Inu—" Kikyo was cut off by a shout of joy from Inuyasha, who proceeded to start playing a quick rock beat on his drum set.
"What are you doing?" Kikyo demanded.
Inuyasha stopped and looked at her incredulously. "Uh, playing my part?"
Kikyo tried to recover. "Right. I meant, why don't we try going through the whole thing together?" she suggested.
The others agreed, so Kikyo, Kagura and Sango sat in the audience to watch.
Sesshoumaru began playing his solo and then began singing the words given to him.
It's a matter of prescience
No, not the science fiction kind
It's all about ignorance,
and greed, and miracles for the blind
the media parading, disjointed politics
founded on petrochemical plunder
and we're its hostages
Inuyasha added his drums and cymbals.
If you stand to reason
you're in the game
the rules might be elusive
but our pieces are the same
and you know if one goes down we all go down as well
the balance is precarious as anyone can tell
this world's going to hell
Miroku and Kouga added their basses and voices for the chorus. Kagome added her keyboard soon after, though she kept it soft, merely an accent to the music of the guys.
Don't allow
this mythologic hopeful monster to exact its price
Kyoto now!
We can't do nothing and I think someone else will make it right
Sesshoumaru began singing alone again.
You might not think it matters now
But what if you are wrong
You might not think there's any wisdom in a fucked up punk rock song
But the way it is
cannot persist for long
a brutal sun is rising on a sick horizon
It's in the way
we live our lives
exactly like the double-edge of a cold familiar knife
and supremacy weighs heavy on the day
it's never really what you own but what you threw away
and how much did you pay?
They returned to the chorus, enjoying the beat. Before Sesshoumaru again went solo.
In your dreams
You saw a steady state a bounty for eternity
Silent screams
but now the wisdom that sustains us is in full retreat
Their singing halted as they broke into musical symphony, and Kagome paused in her playing.
Don't allow
this mythologic hopeful monster isn't worth the risk
Kyoto now!
We can't have vision for the future if it can't be fixed
Alien
We need a fresh and new religion to run our lives
Hand in hand
the arid torpor of inaction will be our demise
Oh, Kyoto now!
Sango and Kagura were yelling and clapping in admiration. Kikyo nodded approval. Kagome could not help but smile broadly. It sounded exactly as she had imagined it. Sesshoumaru and the others had certainly done the song justice with their voices and playing.
"That was awesome!" Kouga declared.
"Now that's what I'm talking about!" Inuyasha exclaimed. "Good job, Kikyo."
Sesshoumaru, too, enjoyed the song, but his suspicions were heightened. The words were artistically arranged, as usual. But he wondered if Kikyo even knew the meaning of petrochemical.
He looked to Kagome. She was the one in as many honors and advanced placement classes as he was, not Kikyo. Sesshoumaru had for some time wondered if Kikyo received help from Kagome in writing songs.
The band practiced for another hour before dispersing. They agreed to meet again in three days.
Kagome returned home in a lighter mood, pleased that her band mates had enjoyed her song. She released her hold over her eye color with relief. When she stepped into the house, her mother called her into the kitchen.
Kagome entered to see her mother standing next to a box on the table. "What's that?"
Her mother smiled at her. "I was going through your father's things to see if I could find something that might help you with your change, and I found some of his journals, so I'd like you to have them."
Kagome hugged her mother tightly. "Thanks, Mom! I appreciate it."
"I just hope it helps," her mother replied, pulling away slightly. "You seem better today. I'm glad."
Kagome just smiled. "I'll be in my room if you need me." She then took the box and went upstairs.
Once she had completed her homework, Kagome began skimming the diaries. Though she would have rather read them in detail, finding out how to hide her appearance was a priority at the moment.
She was up late into the night, but Kagome finally found what she was looking for. She stayed up even later to decipher how to do what her father had written. After a few tries she achieved her goal, and she practiced a bit more to make sure she could do it easily.
She finally fell into a peaceful sleep.
FluffysShai: I am glad to here that. Thanks so much for reviewing!
Sesshie's Black Dominatrix: I am sorry I took so long with this update. I hope it was at least partially worth the wait. I will try my best to update sooner. Thank you for your review!
Rumiko Takahasi: I am happy you liked it. I hope you continue to enjoy. Thanks for reviewing!