Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, okay!?

Slay The Music

Scene Thirteen: "Suplifery Metazoid Rock Star" by: Du:plicate

Inuyasha stepped on stage with a comical aura around him, followed by his wolf companion, Kôga who was smirking as the crowd threw the biggest screams at them that had been heard that night. Inuyasha looked to Kôga, who nodded, and the two started off. The music was loud and pierced through the crowd's screams as Inuyasha began singing the lyrics, which were fast, loud, and just about as unfathomable as the band was.

Kagome looked out on the stage from behind the curtain.

"Sugoi..." she muttered.

"They are pretty amazing," Ayame nodded as she stepped up behind her.

"Feeling better?" Kagome asked.

"I guess."

Kagome was silent for a while before speaking again, "So... um... who is this Hiten person?"

"Was," Ayame corrected, and then she sighed. "He was my... mate-to-be, I guess you could say."

"Oh," Kagome said.

Ayame kept going, "like Miro-kun said, he committed suicide the day before our big concert that was gonna get us places. He was going to take us overseas to America and we were going to be internationally famous. But, you know, the Fates hate me... that night the whole group went out to celebrate and got drunk—save for me, I'm not an alcoholic... but anyway, I took him to his apartment because he usually would get really stupid... I watched him die."

Ayame continued, hiding her sorrow behind a stoic mask, though Kagome could see her grief in Ayame's hand that was trembling. "He started talking about... how everything was so stupid. He told me that his younger brother had died the day before in a car accident in America, and that he didn't want to go there anymore because the Americans had killed his brother. He yelled at me. He yelled, and he shook, and he wouldn't stop. He killed himself, stabbed himself with his family heirloom—and ancient demon staff. I could only sit and watch. Sit... and watch..."

Kagome was speechless, "Oh my God, I—"

"Don't be sorry, it's not your fault, he was stupid. I don't care anymore," Ayame said, walking away from her.

Kagome stared after her for a while, deciding it was best to leave her alone. She turned back to looking at the stage. Had she still been a pop star, she would have said that Inuyasha looked truly ridiculous in his red plaid bondage pants, white dress shirt, and pink and blue plaid jacket. But she smiled; it looked awesome on him.

"Especially with that yellow and red striped guitar of his..." she muttered.

"Admiring a certain hanyô are we?"

"Ah! Miroku!?" Kagome jumped as he whispered in her ear.

"Why, yes, Kame, quite the performance tonight, I must say."

Kagome blushed, "not really... you were better, not as nervous as I was."

"Nervous?" Miroku asked, "I didn't see a nervous Kagome on stage."

"Well I had a lot to hide behind, the make up, my guitar, the microphone..."

"You still did really good."

"T--thank you..."

"No problem."

"Do—Inuyasha and Kôga usually play like this?" Kagome asked timidly.

"Of course. They're hard rock artists. Really—strange— hard rock artists, but ya know... I guess it works," he shrugged.

Kagome smiled, "they're so good, I wish I could play like that."

"Inuyasha's been playing since he was three."

"Three!?"

"Yeah, I was barely able to hold a drum stick at three."

Kagome nodded, trying to picture a three-year-old Inuyasha behind a guitar.

"He's the bastard son of Akuma Inutashio, his mother was an aspiring punk rock artist, that's how Akuma-san and his mother met."

"The bastard son...?"

"His mother and father were not married when he was born. Akuma-sama's first mate had died the year before, and he felt rushing into another relationship would have brought much unwanted attention. They never did officially marry—they were mates—but not married."

"He never met his father?"

"Nope. Akuma-san was killed when Inuyasha was two or three... his mother was also killed four years later by Akuma-san's previous mate's sister. She was extremely mad that Akuma-sama could've done such a thing. She's in jail now of course."

"Poor Inuyasha..." Kagome said, "Does anyone else know about this?"

"No, naturally I know because his brother is my manager. Its interesting the conversations we get into while on the road."

"Did you know about Hiten, also?"

"...Yes. He was my good friend for a good ten years. We met in high school—we were both taking the same entrance exams to get into a music school. When he died, I was drunk at Bankotsu's house. It never registered to me that my best friend was dead. I knew it was coming though, when I told him that his brother died."

Kagome sat down on the floor. "That's horrible."

"In the rock industry, we must learn to live with death. The ones who have seen it the most are the best artists. Sango and Du:plicate. That's what puts them on the charts. Death brings soul to the music."

Kagome glanced sideways at Inuyasha and Kôga, who were both singing their hearts out and sweating from the heat of the lights and the vigorous jumping around.

"Have you ever known anyone that died?"

"No," Kagome shook her head, "But my father left our family when my little brother was born, I was six. He told me he didn't love us anymore."

Miroku listened quietly. "Use your loss to your advantage, Kagome-sama. Now if you excuse me, I have an appointment with my manager."

Kagome looked back to Inuyasha, "you've suffered so much... How are you still so strong?"

The music ended. The crowd cheered for more. But Kôga and Inuyasha walked off stage.

"Great job," Kagome said.

Inuyasha looked at her for a moment. They're eyes met, and there was a short pause.

"You too," he finally said, and walked off.

The whole group was sitting around an oval table with their managers discussing the last minute details of the final part of the concert. Kagome was munching on her food in front of her—a rice bowl with fried fish, and not paying much attention to Myôga.

"...Since Kagome has—Kagome? ...Kagome?" Myôga poked at her.

"Wha—?" she peered up at him lazily.

"Get with the program, Kagome!" Myôga scolded.

"Yes sir," Kagome nodded as she sat up.

"As I was saying, since Kagome is now a rock star as well, we're removing the dancers and Ayame will do second bass, Ginta will do our drumming. Inuyasha you're on first guitar, Miroku on second, Sango on third. Hakkaku will do possible forth, and back up-vocals. Kôga you're on lead bass, Sango and Kagome, you are lead vocals tonight."

Sango nodded, as did Kagome.

"After the Shichinintai's performance, there will be a thirty minute break," Sesshômaru said. "During that time, you all will be fixating yourselves on stage. Hakkaku, Ayame, and Miroku, you are to play on the upper balcony of the stage, Ginta and Kôga will be in the raised section of the stage in the back. Sango, Inuyasha, and Kagome will be in the front. Any questions?"

The group shook their heads.

"Then you have twenty minutes till you have to be on stage. I suggest finishing your dinner, and going to hair and makeup immediately." Sesshômaru commanded more then suggested.

"Hai."

With that, the managers walked out of the room, leaving the music artists to finish eating. There was a heavy tension in the room. No one spoke at all. Sango kept looking from Inuyasha to Kagome, then to Miroku, and back. Ayame ate quickly and soon left, followed by Ginta and Hakkaku. Miroku followed a minute afterwards. Kôga looked at Inuyasha.

"Why is it so quiet?" he asked.

Inuyasha shrugged and continued to eat.

"What's wrong?" Sango asked.

"Nothing's wrong," Inuyasha said.

"You're lying to me, bro."

"What the hell makes you say that?"

"You have liar tattooed to your forehead," Sango said.

"Do you really wanna know?" Inuyasha asked.

"Yes," Sango said.

"That's just too bad," Inuyasha said, walking out of the room.

"Bastard." Sango seethed.

"Whatever you say, Sango."

"Go to hell!" Sango called at him.

"Can't! I'm working!" Inuyasha called back.

"What an ass," Sango muttered.

"No kidding." Kôga agreed.

"What was eating him?"

"A lot of things have been eating him lately," Kôga sighed.

"The tour, the pressure, Kôga stole his guitar again..."

"I did not!" Kôga yelled.

"It's okay, Kôga, he's not here right now, you can talk."

"I didn't steal it, little sis."

"Whatever you say, Kôga." Sango shrugged. "By the way, Kame, don't let Inuyasha get you down. Next stop, Ko-re-a!" Sango cheered.

"You really like that place, don't you?" Kôga shook his head in disappointment, "Sango has an extreme fetish for Korean food."

Kagome laughed, "I don't know, I like Indian food the best. I like it spicy."

"Filipino and Chinese food for the Kôga!" Kôga exclaimed.

"Weirdo," Sango stuck her tongue out at Kôga. Kôga swiftly grabbed her tongue and kissed it.

"Well, I'd love to stay and hang out with you wonderful ladies, but the costume lab is calling my name!" He said as he left.

Sango stared at Kagome in disbelief. "Did he just kiss my tongue"

Kagome was just as shocked as Sango was, "I believe he did."

Inuyasha once again found himself staring blankly into the mirror as the hairdresser combed out his newly showered hair. He was mad at himself. That was a given. You could tell just by the expression on his face.

'I'm loosening up around her, I know it.' He thought, 'Why, damn it, why!?'

He growled at his own reflection.

"Is there anything wrong, Inuyasha-sama?" the hairdresser asked.

"No. Don't worry about it," Inuyasha said.

"Hai, Inuyasha-sama."

He stared and stared at himself, until he thought the mirror would break. He would have broken it himself, had the hairdresser not been there. But, he stayed in his spot and didn't move as she finished up his makeup. As she walked out, Sesshômaru stepped in.

"What do you want?" Inuyasha spat.

"I feel you are tense, brother, I felt it all throughout that meeting."

"Well no shit Sherlock," Inuyasha rolled his eyes.

"Listen, this Sesshômaru did not want to waste my time with you. I did so because it was in the will of our Father."

"You did a hell of a job, Sesshômaru, I must congratulate you," Inuyasha rolled his eyes.

"I realize you were an orphan on the streets for some time, but you, Inuyasha, are of the Akuma bloodline whether I care to admit it or not. I had to take you in."

"Thanks for doing so five years after my mom died."

"That could not have been helped," Sesshômaru said. "Nonetheless, you are here now, what does it matter? Inuyasha, the Akuma bloodline has had its defects over the centuries, but they were still Akuma's. You must still live up to those standards set by our ancestors. I noticed there is a tension between you and Ms. Kagome, and I sense some feeling for her in your heart. Don't let it get in the way, Inuyasha, if you need to tell her, tell her. You can't keep things hidden beneath the surface forever."

"So says Mr. Stoic," Inuyasha coughed as Sesshômaru frowned at him, "You know what, whatever. When I feel like taking your advice, I'll tell you."

Sesshômaru walked out of the dressing room, leaving Inuyasha alone.

Inuyasha then took out a piece of paper and began writing random notes to himself on it. At the bottom he wrote.

"This tour is hell. And I believe in this hell, I am Satan."

End Chapter.

I had the worst case of writers block this week. Thank God I got this out. Well, I broke 100 reviews. I'm happy! That's why I got this chapter out for you guys. I'm dead tired now. My Bio projects are due this week and I haven't even started. Grr... I hate Biology! (and Geometry also.) Well, Read, Review, have fun. apriLdawn.