Disclaimer: Do not own, do not make money… Song performed by Counting crows.
'Gou' is mentioned in this chapter, it's performed by Ken Narita... :)
A week has passed since the last chapter ended.
Chapter eleven – All star
He was everywhere. They played his song in the radio, they interviewed him on the TV, they made articles of him in the papers. It was rather silly. The whole Japan had gone crazy for this one new hot young foreign singer. Anyway, he had really only sang one song!
Kagome looked at his picture that was next to an article in a magazine she had bought. He was good-looking, she had to admit.
The guy was an year or so younger than she was. He had silvery blond, short and spiky hair, blue eyes and pale skin. He had tribal tattoos in his both shoulders and three earrings in his right ear. His left brow was pierced too. He looked cool and his voice was good, but Kagome still couldn't understand the flock of fangirls who thought that Ken Narita was their god.
Kagome was again feeling confused about Sesshoumaru. The whole supposed-to-be-romantic-dinner with Hojo had turned into something completely different when Rin, Hitachi and "Ken-kun" had joined their table. Luckily Hojo had been blissfully unaware of all that had been happening in Kagome's mind – and under the table. Sesshoumaru's gesture had really surprised Kagome. Why would Sesshoumaru-sama be suddenly doing something like that? It wasn't like him...
And at the bachelor-party, then! It had been very awkward, but still..
She couldn't deny that she had enjoyed it.
A thought of Hojo doing a lap dance for her made her laugh. But if she imagined it to be Sesshoumaru.. Her reaction would be completely different.
Kagome covered her cheek with her hand. There was the spot.. He had licked her while doing the dance. Kagome still blushed at the thought.
Curse his skilful tongue – especially when she knew what all he was able to do with it.
"Those new clothes look good on you!"
"Thanks, Kayade-chan!" Kagome smiled.
"Um, I'm getting tired. Let's go to check out the bar."
"Sure."
They made their way through the crowd to the bar-counter.
"Hello ladies," the bartender grinned.
"Hiya!"
"What would you like to have?"
Kagome examined the list.
"I think I'll get the opening special."
"Uhh, Kagome-chan, are you sure about that?"
"What do you mean?"
"It has alcohol in it."
"So?"
"So, that's not good for your.. you. I mean, still remember that one time, when.."
"All right, all right, I got your point. I'll just take ice tea, then."
"And I'll try the opening special."
"Right, just a minute," the cheerful bartender said, taking out clean glasses.
"This club is so great!"
"I know," Kagome replied, "we were lucky to get the invitations."
"I think it's cool that Shaere-san knows the owner."
"Yeah, but I think it's cooler that she gave the invitations to us," Kagome giggled.
"Here you go, girls," said the bartender, setting the drinks on the counter before the two women.
"Thank you," Kayade smiled.
They sat on their chairs, sipping of their drinks.
It was a new club. So new that tonight it actually was the opening night. The club was rather packed but all the people there were invited guests. Kayade and Kagome had been able to get the invitations from Shaere-san, for the owner of this club had once been on the same class with her and they had been friends. Since Shaere-san wasn't much of a party-person, she had given the invitations to her employees.
Kayade and Kagome were overjoyed.
"Oh my gosh! It's Gou! We gotta go to the dance floor now!" Kayade squaled.
Gou was the big hit of Ken Narita. His one, first and only song.
Kagome liked the song too, so she let Kayade drag her to the dance floor among the other partying people.
As they danced, letting the music flow around them, Kagome let her gaze wander in the crowd that was not on the dance floor. Among the few people who were standing next to the wall she spotted a familiar figure.
Kagome paled and tugged Kayade's sleeve.
"Look, it's him!" What was he doing here!
Kayade followed her friends gaze and gasped.
"Oh my gosh, it's Ken Narita-san!"
Whaaaat!
Several heads turned to look at them, then the heads turned to stare at the lonely figure leaning against the wall.
And then the mass of fan girls rushed over to him, screaming and squealing and shrieking. They soon had circled him completely, he was stuck between the wall and the flock of fans.
"Kayade, what are you talking about?"
"That guy! He's Ken Narita!" The blonde-haired girl was bouncing.
"The hell he is! He's Sesshoumaru!"
"WHAT!"
"My my... I think I owe you an explanation.."
The both girls turned to see who had talked.
The small black-haired woman smiled sheepishly.
"It didn't go as I had planned though," she admitted, "I only wanted to hear him sing."
"Rin-san," Kayade said after getting over her surprise, "what are you talking about?"
"I dragged him to a record-company... He was supposed to sing only one song. I had no idea his voice was that good and well, the situation has kind of got away from our hands."
"Kind of?" Kagome said weakly. "You call that a 'kind of'!" she added pointing at the still screaming fan girls.
"Poor Sesshoumaru-sama. We should help him out of there," the tall man said frowning.
"Oh, Hitachi-san, hello. Sorry, I didn't see you," Kayade said bowing.
"It's all right. I just came here anyway..." Hitachi's eyes narrowed.
"Have I met you before, girl?"
"She's Ka-chan, Ayame-chan's daughter!" Rin said, poking his husband's rib.
"Really? My, it's been 20 years or so?"
"I really don't remember." Kayade said blushing.
"Wait," Rin suddenly realised, "where did Kagome-nee-chan go?"
Kagome was desperately making her way through the ring of screaming fans, muttering curses under her breath.
"Excuse me, coming true!"
"Move it!"
"Excuse me, excuse me, sumimasen, sorry..."
And then she was finally there, standing next to him.
"Boy aren't you in trouble," she said in a low voice.
He glared at her and she knew he had heard her silent words.
"I could get you out of this you know."
"What?"
"Please. Don't kill me."
Sesshoumaru was about to ask what the hell the crazy wench was talking about when he froze. It was not like he could say anything at all now, since his mouth was kind of busy at the moment.
The fans stood there, watching wide-eyed and disappointed as an unknown, dark-haired beauty wrapped her arms around their godly Ken-kun's neck and without any greater ceremonies kissed him deeply on the mouth.
Several yards from the circle of the now disappointed, jealous fans stood three figures, gawking at the pair, their jaws dropped.
It felt as minutes had passed when the kiss finally broke. Kagome took a deep breath and watched Sesshoumaru like a woman madly in love.
"Come, darling, let's go back home," she said on a loud voice and grabbed his hand. Sesshoumaru was too stunned to refuse and thus allowed the miko to lead him away from the suddenly silenced club.
Kagome stopped as she reached the side of the sidewalk.
"Taxi."
"What the hell were you thinking, wench?" he snarled.
"Oh shut up," Kagome said, looking for a cab.
Shut up? The miko was telling this Sesshoumaru to shut up! Oh that little, filthy –
Oh, I love her!
Silence you fool, I never asked your opinion, in fact –
He was about to start once again blaming his demon self for everything, when a sudden flash got his attention.
He turned his head and saw a photographer, holding his camera, ready to take another picture.
"Get away!" Sesshoumaru bellowed and was about to go after the photographer, when a small but determined hand wrapped around his wrist and pulled him back.
"Leave him be. Let's get you home."
Sesshoumaru glared at the wench for some time, but since it didn't seem to have the hoped effect, he gave up with a snarl and got into a cab that had just arrived.
Kagome gave the driver his address and they set forth.
Sesshoumaru didn't know what to think of the fact that she actually still remembered his address.
"You owe me one," Kagome said casually.
"What?" he growled.
"Oh come on," she said turning to look at him. "I saved your butt out there."
"I did not ask for your help."
"But of course you didn't. You wouldn't want to lower yourself for something like that," she said, barely hiding the sarcasm in her voice.
Sesshoumaru stubbornly stayed silent and watched out from the window.
"Why were you there anyway? You don't seem to be a clubbing person."
The utter silence lasted for a minute or two.
"It was Rin."
"She still keeps dragging you around?"
"Unfortunately."
"Oh, you poor thing."
After a few more minutes in silence, Kagome turned to look at him.
"Thank you."
He gave her a questioning glance.
"For not killing me," she explained.
"You're welcome."
"Although maybe you should... Kill me, I mean."
"Why so?"
"Because I so boldly saved your butt although your highness clearly did need no help."
He saw a glint in her eyes and knew she was teasing him
Sesshoumaru did not know what to think of anymore, the miko was different than he had expected.
You never tried talking with her.
I did not say I was changing my mind.
Neither did I, the inner demon chuckled.
So she was teasing him? Very well. Two could play that game.
"You should grovel in the ground before me, begging for your life. Such an outrageous deed as saving one's 'butt' without any need to is truly unforgivable."
What? The stuck up guy had a sense of humour? Or was the comment just a reflection of his inhumane arrogance?
"If I'll pay for the taxi would that make up for the grovelling? I'm wearing a new dress and wouldn't wish to dirty it."
"I'll consider it."
"My, you truly are being generous today, your highness."
"No need to call me 'your highness', 'the almighty Sesshoumaru-sama' will do."
"Oh, you are so humble, almighty Sesshoumaru-sama."
"Always."
The cab stopped.
Sesshoumaru got out of the car. Before slamming the door shut, he paid the driver.
"Take her home."
"I still can't believe this."
"What?"
"That the Ken-chan I tried to hit on is the Narita Ken."
"Yeah, now I guess it's harder to get his attention since the half of Japan is drooling after him," Yuka noted.
"He already has a girlfriend."
"What?" Eri squeaked.
"Don't you two read news?" Ayumi wondered. "There is a picture in the newest issue of – "
"Let me see!" Eri grabbed the magazine from Ayumi's hands.
"Aww, it's not fair! She is really pretty and she's – " Eri gasped.
"What is it, Eri?" Yuka asked.
"She... She's Kagome!"
"What? No way!" Ayumi said. Both she and Yuka rushed over to Eri and stared at the picture over her shoulder.
"My, it is Kagome!" Yuka blurted.
"This is not fair! Why does Kagome always get the guys I want!" Eri said, clenching her hands into fists.
"But wait... Kagome can't be seeing someone while she's engaged to Hojo-kun!" Yuka said, biting her lip.
"This all is got to be just a misunderstanding," Ayumi said quietly.
"There's no way that it would be misunderstanding," Eri barked, getting up.
"Where are you going, Eri-chan?"
"I'll make sure that Hojo-kun sees this!"
"What? Wait, that's not – ! Eri-chan! Wait – !"
"Higurashi," Kagome answered the phone.
"Kagome…"
"Hojo?"
"Kagome… Are you cheating on me?"
"Huh? I uhh.. I..."
"As I thought," she heard him sigh, "I saw the picture."
What picture?
"If it would be just me I would forgive you. But I'm afraid that it's also the honour of my family in question. My parents found out and they find it inappropriate for my betrothed to be seeing other guys right before our wedding. We have to give up on the engagement. I have to abide to the will of my parents. You may keep the ring, but it's over. The wedding's off."
"Hojo-kun..."
"Good bye, Kagome my love."
He hung up.
Now Kagome did truly feel guilty of what she had done. Hojo's voice had clearly betrayed his sadness and hurt.
And still she felt relived, for there was no need to lie anymore, no secrets to be kept. She was free again.
The next morning she awoke at 5 o'clock, screaming "Inuyasha" out loud.
A moment later she pondered what the heck was up with that yell. She then concluded that she had once again seen one of those weird dreams of hers.
As on so many mornings lately she had to ran into the bathroom, she always felt so sick and weak in the morning now. She had wondered what it was about, but now, on this very morning she stopped to think about something she earlier had refused to even consider.
Could it be that she was...?
Oh no!
Everything spoke for it, but no, she did not want it to be true, no, it could not be...
And still, it was the most natural and obvious option. She got up and walked out of the bathroom in utter shock.
He woke up an hour before his alarm clock would have awaked him. The reason for his awakening was some lunatic who apparently was trying to get through his front door. He rolled onto his side groaning. Soon the freak would give up and leave and he could go back to sleep...
After fifteen minutes of ongoing racket he got up cursing and dressed himself. The noise was giving him a headache – what a perfect start for a day!
With a snarl he opened the door, giving the nuisance a furious glare.
"Sorry," the nuisance said weakly, stepping in. He was about to throw the insulting person out, when he was stopped.
She is not being herself.
That's no excuse. Why should I care?
She has to have a reason for coming here this early. Just let her stay until you find out what she's up to.
Sesshoumaru for once agreed with his inner demon and walked into his living room, only to find that the miko was already there sitting on his sofa. She turned he shocked brown onto him.
"Sesshoumaru," she simply addressed, "I'm sorry."
He said nothing.
Kirara jumped onto the sofa and settled herself into the miko's lap – but the woman didn't to notice.
"I.. I might be pregnant."
So that was what this was about.
"Ah. I see."
"How can you take this so calmly?"
"I have known about this for some time now."
"What? How?"
"I smelled the change in your scent."
"The change in my.. What are you talking about?"
"I have a superior sense of smell compared to yours."
"Huh?"
"I'm not a pitiful human like you."
"What?"
"I'm a demon."
"WHAT!"
At first she thought he had hit his head. Badly.
"You're telling the truth now, aren't you?"
"Why would I lie?"
It was impossible, it was madness.. And yet it made perfect sense.
"Do a trick."
"What?"
"Do some demon-trick to convince me."
Damn that wench I'm going to kill her for this.
I truly love her.
Shut up!
"I will not lower myself into doing a silly trick. I do not care whether you believe me or not, it's your own issue."
"Forgive me for insulting your pride almighty Sesshoumaru-sama," she said sarcastically.
Minutes crawled on in silence. Then the miko winced as if she was in pain.
"Ohh, what am I going to do? What should I tell to my mother and to all of my friends? First Hojo breaks up with me and now this.. Can I even keep the baby? What will people say? Would it be better to give up the baby or –"
The demon broke free.
Sesshoumaru took Kagome's hands into his own.
"Do not worry for I shall take you as my mate and thus I shall take care of you and our pup until I die."
"Wh – umph!"
Once again Kagome forgot everything else as he pressed her tightly against his chest and kissed her deeply. She did not know what it was about him – or was it everything about him – that made her abandon every thought, making her to let him do whatever he wanted to do to her.
After the kiss was broken he nuzzled against the spot where her neck met her shoulder and whispered against her skin:
"Kagome, would you like to be my mate?"
Kagome didn't even have time to think about her answer, before Sesshoumaru quickly jerked away from her.
She noted that his eyes were back to amber again.
"Why are you suddenly telling me something like this?" she wanted to know.
"Forget that I ever said anything."
"How could I forget that you in principle proposed me?"
"What? I did not say such a thing!"
Kagome glared at him, her temper rising again. That guy...!
"Sure, fine, whatever. Be it that way then!"
He watched her stomp away and a few seconds later heard his door slam shut.
"Mind being my therapist for a while?"
Rin looked at the woman who had suddenly walked in.
"Sure. Just tell me what worries you."
"Well... It all started when I saved Sesshoumaru-sama from the fangirls in the club. The rumour spread of me being Narita Ken's girlfriend and so, Hojo found out and we broke up."
"Oh my, I'm sorry to hear that.."
"It only gets worse. This morning I realised that I'm pregnant for Sesshoumaru-sama and I went all the way over to tell him that just to be told that he already knew and that he – apparently - happens to be a demon!"
Well wasn't that just smooth, Sesshoumaru-sama, Rin cursed in her mind.
"And then he told me that he'd take care o me and our 'pup' 'til he dies..."
"Aww!"
"And the next minute he was telling me he said no such thing and told me to forget all about it."
Sesshoumaru you jerk! You ruined a perfect chance...
"Right... " Was all that Rin said aloud, "I guess you want some kind of explanation?"
"Yes please, if you can give any."
"Oh, I can. First of all, Sesshoumaru is a demon, a dog demon to be exact. But, Sesshoumaru-sama isn't just any demon, he's the taiyoukai of the western lands. Now, every truly powerful youkai is based on a duality, and they have a true form and a human form..." Rin smiled to herself as she remembered the afternoon, centuries ago when Jaken, the green toad had proudly explained these same things to her. Sometimes, she missed that old grumpy toad.
"And thus their minds are also split in two. They have the rational mind and the primitive inner demon, who is less sophisticated and is a creature based on its instincts... And with Sesshoumaru-sama, they often disagree with each other. Usually it's Sesshoumaru-sama, his rational self who is in control – that's the way it should be – but sometimes, his inner demon breaks out from Sesshoumaru-sama's control – that's why his eyes turn to crimson sometimes. His demon self is in control."
Kagome paled.
"But that means – "
"Yes." Rin nodded. "Sesshoumaru-sama has told me that his inner demon has grown tired of living alone for centuries. He now wants a mate – a partner, a person to spent the rest of his life with."
Kagome stared at Rin and then slowly started to blush.
Rin watched the miko who was standing in front of her and smiled gently.
"And Sesshoumaru-sama's inner demon has decided that person to be you."