Disclaimer I do not own Inuyasha or any of it's characters.
Acknowledgments I did not make up this idea. I got it off of the chalenge section in SsP.
Chapter 6
She Sings . . .
Kagome felt nothing but complete utter shock. For the second time in her life she felt herself turn pale blue instead of the usual cheery red.
"Um, I don't think I heard you clearly. Could you please repeat that again?" she asked.
'I hope what he said isn't what I think he just said,'
"Kagome-dear, Kagawa-san hasn't turned up, and we need you to take her place temporarily," stated Satoshi.
Hearing the last part of the statement made Kagome's stomach jump about a good three feet. A sense of panic immediately washed over her as she searched desperately for reasons as to why she just couldn't take Kikyo's place. She found one, and she prayed to God that it would change Satoshi's already made up mind.
"Can't you get an impersonator to do that? I'm sure there's bound to be many-"
"Yes, yes, there are many suitable impersonators, but the fact remains that they need to be able to sing. We don't have the time to sort out an impersonator talented enough to take her place."
Another thought jumped into Kagome's head making her heart leap with hope.
"But I can hardly sing!" she declared while truly believing she had won and wouldn't be forced to take Kikyo's place after all.
"Nonsense! Tadao-san said you sang Kagawa's part during rehearsals to help the dancers know when to come in," stated Satoshi crisply," Even Miki said that you both go sing Karaoke together, and your score is always one-hundred, but my point is that you can sing exceptionally well, so to the make up room you go!"
'Damn!'
The last bit of hope deflated from her stomach only to be replaced with small feelings of the butterflies.
When Satoshi saw Kagome turn even paler, he gently took her cold hands into his warm ones.
"Honey, you are our only hope. We're all counting on you- I'm sure Kagawa-san is too. So, please, go up there and sing your heart out."
Kagome had personally met Kikyo many times during rehearsals. She had observed that Kikyo was a stunning, confident person, but was somewhat stressed out. Kagome had always thought she sang wonderfully at times, but on other performances, she just didn't give it her all.
She took one look into Satoshi's anxious, pleading eyes, and felt her heart pull. Was she really their only hope? She wondered.
'But I don't know if I even sound like Kikyo . . .'
Satoshi's eyes intensified with anxiety.
'I'm going to regret this . . .'
Not being able to say the words that would seal her fate, she only nodded her head while wondering if she could really fool the audience this time, but under the new circumstances, it was highly unlikely so.
"That's great! Thank you, dear!" Satoshi cried while gaily clapping his hands.
He lunged at Kagome, and suffocated her in a friendly hug in which he kissed her smartly on her left cheek. She could have sworn she felt a remaining sticky residue of lipstick on her face.
Peering over Kagome's head, Satoshi called over the make-up artist through herds of busy people going about their business. The make-up artist hurriedly made a B-line towards them.
"Go with Lewandowsky," Satoshi commanded while pointing at the make-up artist," She'll fix you up. Oh, and O'dea will do your hair. They'll both find something nice for you to wear."
Kagome could only stand there dumbstruck.
She would get a personal make-up artist and hairstylist? Maybe this is a bit over the edge . . .
"Err but-"
"Now, now, there's too much talk and not enough work. I'll see you in a moment, sweetheart. Now shoo!"
While Kagome was being dismissed by the flick of Satoshi's manicured fingers, the situation finally struck home. She would be performing in front of hundreds of thousands of people. She felt her stomach turn nervously from more than just the butterflies.
The thought stuck to her like hot glue, and by the time the make-up artist was preparing to do wonders on Kagome's face, she said," Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. This will not do, Kagawa-sama. I'll have to put a richer tone of foundation on your face . . ."
'And we're back to square one.'
Voices of hundreds of thousands of people echoed throughout the arena. People and fans alike were screaming excitedly, and some proudly showed off their devotion to the famous singer, Kikyo, by flashing their tattoos of her name, face, etc. on their various body parts.
The arena was enormous making it not only perfect for the great amount of spectators, but also for the entertainers to take up large amount of space to perform their difficult skills.
"Good thing Miki gave us great seats!" Inuyasha yelled trying to hear himself.
This, Sesshoumaru thought, was unnecessary. He was only several inches away as they pushed and shoved pass thrilled people. The combination of Inuyasha's yelling and the damn arena was killing his ears!
'Miki! She just had to give Inuyasha those bloody tickets!'
Sesshoumaru was behind Inuyasha. This gave him a good view of the back of Inuyasha's black shirt, which loyally had the title that hundreds of the same shirts had: I Love Kikyo!
It sickened Sesshoumaru.
Somehow, they managed to get to their seats, which was fairly close to the stage. It was decent enough for Sesshoumaru, who was only pleased that it was far enough from the group of Kikyo-look-alikes, all clad in pink, that he had spotted while making his way to his seat.
Sesshoumaru casually sat down as Inuyasha stood and joined the rest of the fans who were screaming Kikyo's name in a dogmatic fashion.
"Will you cease that horrible shrieking? I don't see how people can possibly be so obsessed to such a fake wench."
Inuyasha turned his attention to Sesshoumaru. He had the audacity to glare at him.
"Fuck off, Sesshoumaru. I didn't ask you to come."
"And I assure you, I am more than discontent for being forced to hear some phony wench attempt to croon."
"You act like you're some connoisseur," Inuyasha sneered.
"I'm certain that you don't need to be an expert to realize that her singing is all too-"
"Okay, Kagome-dear! It's about time."
Kagome took in a deep shaky breath. She felt her hands tremble.
She went from Ballet to Modern dance to singing in less than five months. She was use to performing, but not like this!
"You know what to do. Remember, Honey, if what Sango-san and Tadao-san have told me are accurate, then it really shouldn't be hard for you. Just go up there and make me proud!" Satoshi cheered while checking the back of Kagome's outfit.
'It's nothing but a piece of cake,' Kagome lied to herself,' I just go, sing, and maybe root up the crowd a bit. That's all there is to it.'
Satoshi made last adjustments to Kagome's hair, and then beamed at her.
'Just a piece of cake,' Kagome chanted to herself.
Sesshoumaru entertained the idea of Kikyo accidentally tripping from her long white dress. It would not only mortify her, but Inuyasha as well.
It would seem that she had recently gotten a new hair cut. Possibly trying to make a new fashion statement, Sesshoumaru thought amusingly.
The last time he had seen her, she wore her hair super-straight and long. Her hair was now several inches shorter and had more volume to it.
'Strange . . . she looks a tad bit different.'
He watched as she seemed to act hesitant.
She moved with nervousness, and when she picked up the microphone with unsteady hands, she froze.
'What are you waiting for, wench? Sing.'
He heard Inuyasha hold his breath beside him.
The awkward silence and blurry light was too much for Kagome. She froze right there on spot.
'I'm sorry, Satoshi,'
She could hear the audience start to murmur. It felt as if every sound of movement was multiplied by the hundreds. Every cough was a person mocking her inability to sing, and every whisper was someone criticizing her personage.
'I can't do it. I can't sing!'
All around her was a sea of people watching and waiting for her to give them a splendid performance that they expected.
Kagome felt her heart beat madly in her ribcage. Her hands shook even more.
She cursed inwardly for being such a fool and a coward, and made plans to turn down any future irrational favors for Satoshi that involved risking her pride.
As a last resort to calm herself, she closed her eyes. The whole situation reminded her of a familiar memory. She had no clue as to why such a memory would surface at a time like this.
"What do you want to be when you grow up, Kagome-chan?"
"I want to be a singer, Mommie!"
"Is that so? Why, you'd make an excellent singer."
A voice stood out from the dozens of others in Kagome's mind. It told her that this was her only chance to become what she's always dreamed of. She would be damned before she let the chance just slip away from her fingertips. She would show how all of those young childhood years of voice lessons took a toll on her. At least in this way her mother's attempts to make Kagome achieve her dream wouldn't be in vain.
It's now or never. If she should fail, then she will do so with dignity.
She opened her eyes with fierce determination. The whole audience was just Sango challenging her to make a superior score in the Karaoke bar. Kagome had always won.
She smiled.
The person that Sesshoumaru believed to be the horrible singer, Kikyo, was now singing wonderfully on stage.
When she began singing, his eyes had slightly widened in surprise, but it returned to its normal arrogant appearance in the matter of seconds. This is not to say that he wasn't surprised.
No word other than perfect could be said to explain the quality of her voice. It rose higher, and this time, instead of sounding like she was choking the notes out, the sound just flowed out like smooth honey. Her voice grew loud and then decrescendo into a soft high pitch sound that was neither wailing nor earsplitting.
Being a very critical judge of talent himself, Sesshoumaru hardly gave any credit to any forms of art mind the famous, historical music composers, artists, etc. But this was just ridiculous!
Where was the inept girl that could hardly catch his attention?
This certainly wasn't her. It wasn't possible.
Her hair and facial features screamed something that was not Kikyo. Even the sound of her voice proved it. She was an imposter.
She was an imposter with an unbelievable faultless voice.
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes while letting his curiosity get the better of him.
( Author's note ) Please understand that I did't get an editor for this chapter... just last time. / Please be patient with all my grammar mistakes and what not? Big thanks to all previous reviewers! Love ya'll!!