Standing on an elevated platform in front of several hundred teenagers was probably not the best of times to develop stage fright, Miroku reflected.
It was the night of their big event; the weeks leading up to it had passed in a blur. As he took a seat behind his monstrous drum set, he allowed his gaze to wander out over the audience. Predictably, it fell on Sango. How could they not have? He'd been keeping tabs on her since she'd walked in the door. Strangely enough, she was alone. He was not quite sure what to make of this fact.
He cast a nervous look at Shippou; he could see the boy silently mouthing the lyrics to the first song they would perform. Reaching back into his bag for his bottle of water, he took a giant swig. Ten minutes until show time.
In preparation, he forced his breath to still— the lights dimmed, and he continued on in this manner until they flickered back on again, to highlight InuYasha on the stage. The silver-haired man cleared his throat and spoke a few words of introduction. When he turned his head, he could see Kagome waiting offside with baited breath. He caught her eyes and smiled; she shot him a goofy grin. Heartened, he turned his attention back on his bandmates.
Shippou was speaking, now. Drawing a lot of laughs, from the looks of it. He would have loved to listen. He couldn't quite hear the tiny boy— the incessant ringing in his ears seemed to block out the here and now.
But suddenly, all eyes were on him, and he was jolted quite abruptly back into the reality of their situation. Apparently, he was supposed to say a few words, himself. There was a long, embarrassing pause as he floundered for his water bottle. It was with a healthy flush that he was finally able to address the crowd.
"I'd like to thank the school for allowing this to happen. Everyone has to start somewhere, you know? And tonight's my night, I suppose. The three songs we have for you all tonight are all of my own composition. I was careful in selecting not only the ones which best showcase my talent, but the ones that really meant something to me. So I hope that as you listen, you'll be able to emphasize with them. Perhaps even take a little bit of them with you tonight as you leave."
To his surprise, his speech was met with scattered cheers and applause. Some still looked skeptical, but he did his best to ignore them as he readjusted the placement of his microphone and turned to InuYasha for his cue. It happened all at once, and he felt a little thrill course through him as he suddenly blurted out, "And today was a day just like any other."
There was a sudden explosion of music, and he felt the panic which had begun to seize hold of him just moments before slowly start to slip away.
"I'm on the verge, I'm on the verge. Unraveling with every word," Shippou sang with earnest, a boyish gleam in his gaze. "With every word you say, make me believe. That I won't feel your tires on the street. As I'm finding the words… You're getting away!"
Sometimes, though, he feared he got a little too involved with the meanings behind the lyrics of his songs. It was all he could do to keep the shakiness from his tone. "I come undone, oh yes, I do. Just think of all the thoughts wasted on you. And every word you say, say something sweet, 'cause all I taste is blood between my teeth. As I'm finding the words… You're getting away!"
Originally, the chorus had been designed with all three of them in mind: a perfect blend of all their voices. That had been the case, at least, until the first time he'd heard InuYasha belt it out in solo. The raw passion the other could invoke with these simple lines had simply floored him. "Well, I'm ready. Ready to drop. Oh, I'm ready, I'm ready so don't stop. I'm ready, ready so don't stop. Keep pushing, I'm ready to fall. Oh, I'm ready, I'm ready, so don't call. I'm ready so don't call."
And it was back to Shippou for the last remaining bit of normalcy. Miroku held back a snort as the fresh-faced young man all but beamed out at the crowd, ready to grace them with his own distinct interpretation. "I am aware, I've been misled. I disconnect my heart, my head. Don't wanna' recognize when things go bad; the things that you'll accept, except that I am finding the words… To say…"
Miroku tensed inwardly, counting down as InuYasha once more chimed in, "I'm ready, I'm ready to drop. Oh, I'm ready. I'm ready so don't stop, I'm ready, so don't stop."
This was it. The pivotal inspiration for the song, delivered in beautiful narrative. "I wake up to find it's another four-aspirin morning, and I dive in. I put on the same clothes I wore yesterday. When did society decide that we had to change and wash a tee-shirt after every individual use? If it's not dirty, I'm going to wear it. I take the stairs to my car, and there's fog on the windows."
"I'm fighting the words," Shippou softly broke in.
"I need caffeine in my bloodstream; I take caffeine in the bloodstream. I grip the wheel, and all at once, I realize…"
"And you're getting away." Once more, a subtle interruption.
He sucked in a deep breath, preparing to deliver his final line: "My life has become a boring pop song and everyone's singing along."
"Well, I'm ready, to drop. Well, I'm ready. I'm ready, so don't stop, oh. Well, keep pushing, I'm ready to fall. Well I'm ready, I'm ready so don't call. I'm ready so don't call…"
The applause was thunderous. Whatever fear he had left in him instantly dissipated. He eagerly looked in the direction he'd last seen Sango. His heart plummeted to the pit of his stomach as he watched Kuranosuke sidle up from behind.
He scarcely had time to bemoan this turn of events when InuYasha struck the beginning chords of their next piece. His forehead creased and he was forced to look away.
"There's a war inside of me, do I cause new heartbreak to write a new broken song?" He quipped, in as playful a voice as he could muster. "Do I push it down or let it run me right into the ground?"
"I feel like I wouldn't like me, if I met me," Shippou adopted a tone of lamentation.
"Well, I can't stop talking for fear of listening to unwelcome sound. And you haven't called me in weeks, and honestly, it's bringing me down," InuYasha skillfully echoed the sentiment, sounding wonderfully sulky.
"I feel like, I wouldn't like me, if I met me; I feel like, you wouldn't like me, if you met me," Miroku murmured, feeling a small twinge of guilt at his reaction. Their group talk had been some time ago, and as much as he hated it, Sango had every right to date who she pleased…
"And don't you worry, there's still time," The three of them smoothly issued as one.
"There's nothing to live for when I'm sleeping alone," Shippou winced, having nearly missed his line. "And I wash the windows outside in hopes that the glare will bring you around."
"Sunshine is days away, I won't be saved," InuYasha's grin was accented by a particularly vigorous strum of his guitar. The beat to this song was bursting with infectious energy. "I know all the words."
"I can't say that I'll love you forever," Miroku finished with a thoughtful hum. "I won't say that I'll love you forever."
Again, they were met with a burst of applause. He could not stop himself from peering in her direction once more. This time, he was met with a different sort of surprise. Not only had Kuranosuke disappeared, but Sango was conspicuously absent as well.
Had the two of them gone off together? Had they just up and left during the middle of the show? Though sick at heart, he had no choice but to press on. It was their final song, after all. Surely he could put aside his feelings for the sake of their performance. It wouldn't do to get weepy about it.
"The world was on fire, no one could save me but you," InuYasha opened, his voice taking on an unusually dreamy quality. "Strange what desire will make foolish people do."
"I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you," Shippou added, in a hushed murmur. "I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you."
"No, I don't wanna' fall in love," Miroku languidly drew out the words, hoping to calm his raging nerves. "This world is only gonna' break your heart."
"No, I don't wanna' fall in love," InuYasha did his best to replicate the other's exact pitch. "This world is only gonna' break your heart."
"With you, with you," Shippou mused, venturing closer to the edge of the stage. After plenty of searching of his own, he had finally spotted Kirara.
"What a wicked thing to play, to make me feel this way," Miroku cursed his wandering mind. Like Shippou before, he had almost missed his line. He couldn't help it, though— he'd spotted the double doors swing open out of the corner of his eye. "What a wicked thing to do, to let me dream of you."
InuYasha, who had been keeping on his toes so as not to commit the same folly, quickly added, "What a wicked thing to say, you never felt that way. What a wicked thing to do, to make me dream of you."
The three of them made it through the rest of the song without incident, much to Miroku's intense relief. It was only as he gave the last line, "Nobody loves no one," that he dared to glance up again.
Sango had taken Kagome's place by the side of the stage, her face shining with emotion. Kuranosuke was nowhere to be seen. Miroku noticed, with muted fascination, the bags under her eyes. She looked tired, and yet… Strangely happy. More happy than he'd seen in a long while, actually.
He could barely hear himself think over the roar of people. Abandoning his seat, he motioned for her to join him. Hesitantly, she complied.
"So, what did you think?" He had to shout over the noise.
"You were brilliant!" She returned, and he felt himself swell with pride.
"Do you really think so?" He giddily demanded, thoroughly swept up in the moment.
"Of course!" She punched him lightly on the shoulder, arms reaching to encircle his sturdy frame.
He stiffened at her touch, deeply confused b y this sudden display of affection. Foolishly, he inquired, "Where's Kuranosuke?"
It was her turn to balk, although she made a swift recovery. Not particularly wanting to announce this next bit to the general populace, she gently yanked him down so they might speak eye-to-eye. Her warm breath trickled against his chin, and a shiver ran down his spine.
"Miroku, I broke up with him."
A/N: I'm well aware of the time that's gone by since my last update. There is no need to admonish me for this hiatus, because I will not apologize. I will, however, say sorry for its unexpectedness. To be honest, I have little will to finish this. I still adore the characters, but I've lost my zest for the series as a whole. I've officially begun to devote my time to Bleach, a new love, and Battle Royale, an old favorite. So with the exception of one last unposted piece, you will probably never see another InuYasha fanfic from me again— which is sort of a shame, because I know I can offer you all much better than this piece of crap. In any case, I will at least attempt to finish this, one day. I should hope that's fair enough for you. But I think that's already more than needs to be said on the subject.
This chapter is features the following music;
"I'm Ready" by Jack's Mannequin
"You Wouldn't Like Me" by Tegan & Sara
"Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak
The chapter title was inspired by;
"It's a Hit" by Rilo Kiley
Please Review!