Battle of the Bands
Chapter 6
Spies, Lies, and Love
Hey there everybody, I'm back with another beautiful slice of writing. Last chapter I failed to mention in my author's notes that I used Cold Play's 'Shiver' for the chapter song. I still didn't get as much stuff as I wanted to in the last chapter, which was once again very short. To those who read and review, I'm very sorry for this. I'll try harder to not end the chapter so early, but it was a really good stopping point, and I was tired, please forgive me...I'm an evil author. Well, moving right along, I hope to introduce another band this chapter if I can get to it. The way this fic is looking, there won't be many more chapters coming your way. It'll probably be the first one I finish. Wow... that's scary. I'll let you read in peace now. Get ready 'cause this chapter's gonna be really different!
Sapphire -
Kagome was in shock. Koga was kissing her in a crowded parking lot in front of her friends, and his! Something about that sent her into mental shut down. It was unbelievable, not only had Koga confessed his true love for her, he'd kissed her in the process. What is one supposed to say to that? That thought stayed in Kagome's mind as Koga pulled away and looked into her eyes once more. She was turning all sorts of red.
All Sango could do was stare in disbelief. Miroku looked from Inuyasha to Koga and back and stared at the scene with his mouth open. Inuyasha looked like he was gonna faint. Something wasn't right about that picture. A paralyzing shock in Inuyasha's system had made him look like the kid who sees an act of violence they aren't supposed to see. He somehow felt hurt by what just happened, and confusion rose up from deep within him.
"Miroku, what just happened?" Inuyasha asked.
"Koga confessed his love for her and before she could respond, he pulled her into a kiss," came Miroku's shocked reply.
"Why'd she just let this happen?" he asked no one in particular.
"She didn't have much of a choice did she?" Sango replied.
Kagome finally broke the silence and came back to her senses. Standing up straight against the van, she fixed a look of determination on her face.
"Look Kouga, I appreciate that you feel that way about me, but what am I supposed to say to you? I can't tell you that I love you the same way you seem to love me; that wouldn't be true. I can't tell you that I have no feelings for you either, that would be a lie. What am I supposed to do?" she asked genuinely confused.
"You don't have to say anything Kagome, just let me love you, let me be there," Koga said.
Kagome couldn't talk, Inuyasha was torn between depression and relief, Sango was watching this event rather like a soap opera, and Miroku had become Sango's crying shoulder and soap-watching buddy.
"Koga, I don't know what to say. I....I'm not ready, you can't always be there, and I can't return your feelings, I'm sorry, but we have to stay just as friends."
Koga looked like he was gonna faint. Something had made him go stiff, his eyes widened, and his skin turned a sickly pale. He kept his eyes locked on hers and for a moment he looked frightened. Then, as if on cue, the color returned to his skin and his expression changed form that of a frightened child, to that of an angry demon. He spun around and glared at Inuyasha.
It all happened in a blur. Koga ran with a demon-like speed and attacked Inuyasha where he stood. Sango grabbed the instrument in Inuyasha's hands and Miroku grabbed Koga.
"This is all your fault mutt face!" Koga yelled at Inuyasha. Miroku was doing a remarkably good job at restraining Koga, even though Koga was much stronger because of his rage.
"It's all your fault! If you had just left Kagome to me, she would love me instead of you! You will die for this pain you caused!" Koga screamed hysterically. His eyes began glowing bright red, and his hair grew back. Fangs grew in his mouth; his nails grew to be like claws and a tail sprouted from his back. Koga's muscle size increased by the second until he looked more like a weight trainer than a musician.
Miroku was thrown to the ground after putting up a great fight, but he was no match for Koga's demon strength. Sango threw the instrument she was holding to Kagome, who barely caught it, and ran to Miroku to check out the poor guy's wounds. Kagome whimpered a moan of fear and lost all feeling in her legs. She was on her knees before she realized what happened to her height. Sango watched with fury in her eyes, mixed with intense confusion and mild amusement. Miroku got back to his feet and prepared to protect Sango and Kagome if necessary. At that moment a strange looking cat had decided to walk behind Sango and took a defensive stance. Sango who was on her knees stayed there by the cat, which for some strange reason, felt sort of...natural.
Kagome watched the scene in horror as she realized what had happened. Koga had turned into a demon.
Koga looked down at his prey with a grim satisfaction. He had successfully gotten rid of Miroku and cornered Inuyasha. He didn't let Inuyasha move a muscle. As he felt foreign words leave his mouth he prepared to strike down his prey. Inuyasha's amber eyes were both calm and angry. They were fierce enough to scare Miroku out of his wits. Koga let fly a punch aimed directly for Inuyasha's head that would have killed him if he hadn't dodged it at the last moment.
Inuyasha kicked Koga off of him. As he watched Koga, he hardly realized that his hair had grown about ten inches longer and much thicker than before. Koga had flown back a few feet and quickly regained his composure. His speed was unearthly as he retaliated with another swift punch that Inuyasha blocked with his hand. He hardly even moved. He stared at Koga and notice that the angry demon's ears had changed; they were more pointed now, like an elf's. Inuyasha felt a strange sensation in his body, but he didn't panic, it felt natural.
Koga pried free his fist and dropped in an attempt to sweep Inuyasha but his opponent saw it coming. Inuyasha jumped to avoid the attack, but he was a little surprised when he didn't come down right away. He shot up high into the air and landed in front of his van with much ease and grace. He suddenly became aware of his increased hearing and vision. Also, his sense of smell had greatly improved.
Koga launched an all out assault on Inuyasha and never once hit him. Inuyasha was different now. Koga noticed that his hair was longer, thicker, and he was stronger than before. He suddenly noticed that Inuyasha had dog-like ears. It seemed as though Inuyasha had changed into a half-demon.
"Koga stop! Don't do this!" Kagome finally managed to get out. Though it was a little late, it got Koga to pause.
"Please Koga, stop this now!" Kagome pleaded, "Inuyasha isn't to blame! I don't feel that way about him either!"
Even she knew she'd lied about that. She definitely felt something for Inuyasha, and it was much stronger than what she felt for Koga. She couldn't say it was love, though it was close enough to it. She had to say something. It didn't seem to deter Koga too much.
"I don't really care, he won't be much competition after I kill him now will he?" Koga answered while leaping after Inuyasha.
It became all too clear that not even Kagome could calm Koga. Things were getting out of hand. Miroku looked at Kagome who looked really worried. She was still on her knees and scared looking, clutching the instrument Sango had thrown her. She watched every moment with a horror that was unfathomable. Koga and Inuyasha had turned into demon-like creatures, and they were fighting because of her. Not a good scenario for one's psyche.
Sango began to feel her body change. A new feeling of courage came over her and she stood up ready to fight. The cat behind her now had three tails and ran to Sango's right side. She felt a wave of strength and energy flow through her body. She picked up Miroku's guitar case and held it over her shoulder. She took out the guitar and handed it to him. She picked up the cat and as she threw it, it burst into flames to be replaced with a huge cat demon that had flaming feet and tails. Sango leapt effortlessly unto the flying demon and flew towards Inuyasha and Koga. She used the guitar case as a weapon and beamed Koga with it in the head.
The metal guitar case knocked Koga out cold. Ouch. He fell to the ground and the strange mutations disappeared. His hair was short and his ears and muscles were normal again.
Inuyasha's muscles returned to their normal size, and his claws shrunk back into nails. His hair and ears returned to their normal state as well. Sango dropped the case and the feeling of strength and courage left her. The cat demon returned to its former self and vanished as well. Kagome, who'd watched the scene from a distance, was in shock. She and Miroku had seen it all. They were the only ones who had not changed. That was the first time in all his life Miroku had fainted. That was also the second time Kagome had fainted that day.
When Kagome woke up, she was in Sango's bed. The memories of what happened in the parking lot came flooding back to her. She dismissed it as a dream until she realized she was in the same clothes as in the parking lot. Terror, sheer shock, and complete confusion settled upon Kagome. It dawned on her that somebody must be here to explain what the hell just happened, and that was something she was desperate to know.
Against her better judgment, she got out of the bed and walked to Sango's living room where, as she suspected, everyone else was waiting for her. They all looked up grimly at her as she entered. Inuyasha made room for her since he had been stretched out like a cat on the sofa. The strange cat from before was on the arm of the sofa. Its three tails swished contentedly as Kagome sat down.
An awkward silence enveloped the room. Finally, Sango broke the silence.
"I guess, you're wondering what happened?"
"Duh," Kagome replied shortly.
"It appears as though Inuyasha and Koga were possessed by the spirits of a wolf demon and a half demon who had a score to settle. I still don't understand how you are involved in that, but I'll find out. Sango, it seems was possessed by the spirit of a demon slayer. That strange cat, is really a demon. I believe its name is Kirarah," Miroku said.
"How do you know all of this? What's going on?" Kagome asked.
"I told them," said an unknown voice.
"Who said that?" Kagome asked hugging Inuyasha very close.
Just then a flea jumped off of Kirarah, and onto the coffee table. "I am Mioga the flea. I have a very important message for all of you. The spirits that possessed you tonight were your pre-incarnated selves. Miroku is an amorous monk, Sango is a beautiful demon slayer, Kagome is a shrine priestess, and Inuyasha is a half demon. Koga was the leader of the wolf demon tribe from the south, if memory serves, and things like this will continue to happen until you each find your own talisman. Sango's talisman is a red feather from a fire phoenix. It just so happens that I have one for you since they are now extinct," the small creature said. Mioga pulled a red feather out of its pack and gave it to Sango.
"Why is it a feather from a fire phoenix?" Sango asked. She stuck the feather in her ponytail.
"What do you mean pre-incarnated?" Inuyasha asked confusedly.
"How do you know us?" Miroku asked.
"Why are you helping us?" Kagome asked.
"To answer young Sango's question, it is because it was the fire phoenix that delivered your pre-incarnated self's finishing blow," Mioga explained. "To answer Inuyasha's question, you are all the reincarnations of a person from the past. Hence the people from the past are your pre-incarnations. To answer Miroku's question, I'm a flea. I can tell that the blood in you is the blood of that of the pre-incarnations. I am helping you because it is my last job, once it is done I shall die after living a long life of servitude."
"Oh," was everyone's reply. It was apparent that nobody really understood in depth what Mioga was talking about, but they'd take care of that later.
"Master Inuyasha's talisman is Tetsaiga, the demon sword. I can only tell you that it is in the bottom of the sealed well of Higurashi shrine. Lady Kagome's talisman is an arrowhead. Master Miroku's talisman is a holy walking stick from the monastery called Meteora. Master Koga's talisman is a silver bullet. You will all need to find these things soon. The souls of your pre-incarnations are becoming restless. It appears only Lady Kagome's and Master Miroku's pre-incarnated souls are remaining intent. I do not know why, but it probably has something to do with their spiritual powers, however these powers will not always be able to hold back the spirits, and only heaven knows what will happen then. I implore you, find the talismans before it is too late," Mioga said.
"Mioga, what do you mean too late?" Koga asked.
"It means your restless souls will take over your bodies," Mioga said grimly.
An awkward silence fell over the room and an icy force gripped the occupants of the room's soul. They were going to have to find the talisman's up fast and in a hurry, or they'd miss the battle of the bands. That was something they would not do.
Meanwhile in Kyoto
"Sesshomaru Hayashi, it would seem our paths have crossed once again. Do you still want me to take you to your younger brother? Or have you changed your mind?" Kikyo asked.
"Miss. Ina, it's a pleasure to see you again. Please if you would, take me to my little brother. I would like to ask him something," Sesshomaru answered coolly.
It had been about ten minutes since the train made it to Tokyo. The both of them had boarded the train in different classes. Kikyo taking the cheaper compartment because of her limited income had gotten off the train first and decided to wait for the older Hayashi brother. He took his sweet time getting off the train and finding her, but she remained calm and diligent.
"I see, well, the best I can do for now is show you where he lives, I can't guarantee he'll be there. I don't know where he works anymore, you'll have to ask one of his other friends," Kikyo explained.
"Well I suppose you'll be leaving when you're done then?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Unless you need something else I can help you with, I'm afraid so," she replied indifferently.
Well, that's all for now. I hope you liked it, if you didn't you aren't very nice. Next chapter a new band, a new story line too. Just wait until the next chapter, lots of stuff is going down. Everyone goes on their own little adventure, except Kikyo and Sesshomaru. Hope you enjoy this lil twist. I realize it's unorthadox, but I don't really care. It gives me more of a challenge and it's hard to come by those when you get writer's block. Anywho, love to my loyal reviewers! Sorry so short. I hope next time to actually introduce Kenshin and Fushigi Yuugi characters in the next few chappies. Till next time, tootles my noodles!
-Sapphire