Disclaimer: What? Oh...I can't remember what to put here. Something to do with Inuyasha, perhaps?
A/N: So, the big secret's out. To Inuyasha and Miroku, anyway. That must come as a surprise...I wouldn't know. I had to respond to your reviews, because you guys didn't fail me, once again. If you write stories, and get reviews, you know what I mean. It's satisfying, I guess is one was to put it.
Special Thanks To...
Beautiful.Black.Joy : I'm glad you think it's interesting. Well, here's the chapter. And I don't think you'll have to rip Inuyasha or Miroku's lips off any time soon...
Sienna-shirou : Here it is! Enjoy!
pinky101 : Glad you think so
Lost Forever Without You : That's good to know
Overly cheery. I'm scaring myself.
Chapter 6 - The Life of a Singer
Kagome woke up to the dull thud of pounding on her door. She thought about ignoring it and pulling her pillow over her head, but all at once, the events from last night flooded into her mind. 'Oh God...I can't believe Inuyasha and Miroku know. But there's something we're supposed to do today...What was it?'
But Kagome soon discovered that it wasn't Souta pounding at her door. Sango's muffled voice made its way through the wood, saying something about a CD and the mall. It became silent, and then after a few minutes, the door was thrown open. Kagome blinked and looked up at her friend, wearing a pair of black dress pants, the black sandals from last night, and a light purple tee. Her hair was up, as usual, yet now she looked slightly disheveled. "Kagome, get out of bed, now."
Kagome narrowed her eyes as she rolled out of bed, although, her feet missed the floor and she ended up hitting the carpet. She now stared up at the ceiling with her blanket tangled in a mess of arms, legs, and pajamas. "Right...we had to do something today, but I can't remember what it is..." Her mind tried to concentrate on one thing, but kept coming up blank.
Sango huffed and glanced at the watch she had - thankfully - worn today. "It's ten twenty-five. You told Inuyasha and Miroku to come over here at ten thirty. Ring a bell?" She crouched down beside Kagome and flicked her on the head. "So hurry up."
Kagome bolted upright and slapped her forehead. "Oh God...Sango, don't let them up here until I come downstairs. I knew I should have bought a new alarm clock sooner. But why didn't mom wake me up?" she questioned herself as she scrambled around her room. Somehow, her blanket managed to stay hooked on her ankle. It wasn't too long before Kagome caught her foot in one of the folds and fell onto the carpet. "Dammit..."
Sango couldn't help but laugh as she shut the door behind her, retreating into the hall as her shoulders shook. Inside, Kagome was still attempting to untangle herself from the blanket. Sango heard another loud thud, but didn't turn back, in fear of finding out what had happened. She merely shook her head and used the banister to slide down to the first floor. Just as she landed, the doorbell rang.
She made her way to the front door and placed a hand on the doorknob. Kea had already left for work a few hours ago and Souta was still sleeping. She shook her head slowly as she opened the doors, instantly greeted with a blank-faced Inuyasha and a smiling Miroku. "Alright, come in. Kagome's upstairs getting ready. She..." Sango paused and winced slightly as another thump sounded from upstairs. "Let's just say she's getting ready...and having some difficulty."
Sango stepped backwards so they could step into the house. "You guys can sit down, or something," she suggested, gesturing to the group of navy couches. "There's a stereo and a tv in the entertainment system. Keep yourselves occupied."
They didn't hesitate as they jumped on the couch and lunged for the small pile of remote controls sitting on the coffee table. One remote turned on the stereo and sent a Faded Light song blasting through the speakers. Another was for the TV, and a silver one for the DVD player. It seemed they enjoyed playing with the buttons...
Sango shook her head and went to stand at the foot of the stairs. "Kagome!! Hurry up! They're here!" she yelled as Inuyasha and Miroku turned their heads to stare. "And I think they're going to kill my ears..."
A few minutes later, Kagome appeared at the top of the stairs, wearing a pair of black and pink sweat pants, a pink tee, and a black sweatshirt. Her hair was hanging loosely around her shoulders, as usual, and flew behind her as she slid down the wooden banister.
Kagome paused when she stood next to Sango, both hands covering her ears. "Turn that down!" she yelled over the blaring music and tv. They shut off instantaneously. "That's better. Now let's get going, we don't want to be late," she remarked, and began walking to the door alongside Sango. "The limo's meeting us around the corner. We have to make it quick so nobody sees." As if for a disguise, Kagome pulled a pair of black sunglasses out of her pants pocket.
Inuyasha and Miroku paused before following. "A limo?" Miroku asked incredulously, violet eyes shining.
Sango rolled her eyes and pulled the front door open. "Don't remind me. If Kagome's mom was here, we would take the car. But everyone always suggests we take the limo, God only knows why." Before they could say anymore, Kagome and Sango were outside. They jumped off the couch to follow.
Kagome waited out in the drive so Inuyasha and Miroku could catch up. She turned to Sango and lowered her voice so only she could hear. "Do you think they'll say anything, Sango? I mean...how can we be sure they won't blab to somebody?"
Sango glanced down around the neighborhood, in search of anyone who might be around. "We have to trust them, right? What else can we do? It's not like we can swipe their memories or something." Just as she said this, Inuyasha and Miroku stepped outside. "Right. Let's go. We're already late as it is."
Kagome and Sango walked together, while Inuyasha and Miroku hung out slightly behind them. Since it seemed the girls were already talking to each other, Miroku leaned in towards Inuyasha. "I can't believe they're the lead singers for Faded Light...and nobody's ever figured it out."
Inuyasha watched the girl in front of her, black hair swinging steadily across her back. He didn't exactly like her, but he didn't hate her either. There was something strange about her, and it irked him. She had never been popular either, unlike himself. What was so special about her? He shrugged it off and turned back to Miroku. "I don't know. I still don't completely believe it."
Kagome turned around at that instant. They stood before a black limousine, and all Inuyasha and Miroku could do was gawk. "Don't believe what?" she asked as she moved to open the door. When Inuyasha didn't answer, she frowned and turned back to the vehicle. "Whatever. You guys get in first. Hurry."
Inuyasha and Miroku slid in, and were once again amazed at what they saw. A bar stretched across the middle between two rows of seats, a mini fridge was under one of the counter tops. Over that, there was a tv with a screen on each side, the remote sitting neatly on top of the bar, right next to a tall stereo. A plush maroon carpet covered the floor, and the seats and linings of the doors were red. Talk about expensive...
Sango entered next and slid all the way down to the opposite window. Kagome stepped in and slammed the door behind her, appearing sullen and slightly irritated. "I hate these things...they always draw so much attention," she muttered and began tapping her fingers on the seat. A few moments later, the limo took off.
"Why? I thought you'd like the attention." Inuyasha just had to open his mouth. Maybe he was too dense to know that Kagome wasn't in the best of moods.
Kagome gritted her teeth and leaned forward in her seat. Sango glanced at her trembling hands and tried to scoot as close to the window as possible, despite the large space. She started the countdown in her head. '3...2...1...'
"Inuyasha, why do you think we kept this whole thing a secret in the first place? We don't want the attention. How ignorant can you be?!"
Sango chose this time to bolt to the opposite side of the seat. Miroku was already there. "How long do you think this will last?" she asked and frowned when Inuyasha leaned forward as well.
Miroku sighed quietly and leaned back in the seat, his arms serving as a pillow behind his head. "Most likely all day. What's in the fridge?" Sango instantly opened the door, thankful for the distraction from the fighting pair.
"You're the ignorant one! You have money to buy anything you want and you toss it aside like it's nothing!" Inuyasha yelled. The backseat of the limo suddenly felt too small and overly crowded, not to mention loud.
"I DO NOT TOSS IT ASIDE!" Kagome shrieked and slammed a fist on the bar's counter top. "That's unfair, Inuyasha! How dare you say that?!"
Before Inuyasha could retort, Kagome leaned back and turned towards the window. Her narrowed eyes matched perfectly with her grim frown as her fingers repeatedly drummed on the armrest. She suddenly seemed weary and, if possible, even more irritated than before.
Inuyasha appeared puzzled by the sudden change in attitude. He frowned and leaned forward even more, so he was barely sitting on the seat. Slowly, his face began to break into a smirk. "Keh. I knew it. You're all the same."
Kagome's head whipped around and shot daggers towards Inuyasha, her brown eyes dark and piercing. "Drop. It. Now," she ground out and turned back to the window, resting her hand in own of her palms. Inuyasha, though ultimately bewildered, didn't say anymore.
Sango propped her elbows on her knees and sniffed delicately. "That went better as expected." Miroku nodded lightly in agreement.
And just as everyone began to relax (somewhat) a speaker began to crackle overhead, the driver's voice speaking clearly through the tiny holes. "We're here."
Kagome removed the sunglasses from her face as they managed to make it in to the mall. No one had recognized them - yet. It had always been that way, and it had always put her on edge. 'Maybe if I carried a wig with me...nah.'
It wasn't hard to find the table where the signing would be at - in fact, one would have to be blind not to see it. A fake wall stood behind a long brown table, and on the wall was one of the blown up pictures taken the other night. Boxes upon boxes of CDs were sitting behind the table, along with boxes and boxes of black t-shirts, 'Faded Light' in scrawled printed letters, and a picture of the band. Kagome scowled as she stare up at it. If she hadn't known any better, she would have thought it was some sort of set up for a cult.
Tai and Rizu were already there - surprise, surprise. Kagome and Sango walked up to greet them, and in turn, were praised with slaps on the backs. Kagome smiled smugly, determined not to ruin the day for everyone else.
Inuyasha and Miroku stepped forward as well, appearing slightly dazed as they stared at the band they had listened to for years. Who would have guessed that the lead singers were Kagome and Sango?
Sango glanced up at Rizu and gestured towards Miroku and Inuyasha. "They're here, and they're not going to say anything. Inuyasha's the silver haired one with the dog ears - he's got a really bad temper. And the lecher's Miroku, the one with the rattail...Easy enough to remember."
Kagome sighed and plopped in one of the empty chairs at the table. "How long does this thing last? I really wanted to get some sleep," she said as she crossed her arms on the table and rested her head on them. "We're just missing one thing..."
"Hello!!"
Kagome groaned and slammed her forehead into the table. "Never mind."
Nanami came rushing out of nowhere (yes, nowhere. Kagome couldn't really believe it either), waving one hand frantically in the air. "Everyone's here! Great! Now who's this?" she asked, pointing to Inuyasha and Miroku, who seemed quite uncomfortable.
Kagome raised her head without actually looking at anyone. Was it so hard to get a ten minute nap these days? "Inuyasha, Miroku; this is Nanami, our publicist." She brought her head back down and muttered "Way too damn perky, if you ask me." Of course, Inuyasha was the only one who could hear this.
Nanami clapped her hands together and smiled. "Alright, we have ten minutes until twelve. You'll be here until two o'clock. Then the rest of the day is yours." As if an answer to Kagome's groan that had not yet sounded, she turned and said, "I'm not asking for much, so don't give me that."
It was odd how quickly someone's mood could change. Kagome shut her mouth and shot a 'help me' glance Sango's way, who pretended she didn't see it. In an effort to make the time pass, Kagome stood up and grabbed hold of Sango's wrist. "Nanami, we'll be right back. Just going for a little...uh...walk." Before anyone could respond, she began yanking Sango towards the high staircase that led to the mall's second floor.
"Sango, I swear, if I have to stay here for two hours and sign some idolized t-shirts and CDs until my hands fall off, I'm going to go find the next moving bus and throw myself in front of it. This is insane. What was Nanami thinking?" As she was ranting and raving, Sango trying desperately to calm her down in the five minutes they still had left, neither of them noticed the stares from those at the bottom of the staircase.
Sango sighed and glanced towards the table where everything was sitting. There was a line already forming...how long had it been there? "Look, Kagome, we can't abandon them," she warned, gesturing towards Tai and Rizu. "That wouldn't be fair. After this, we can go somewhere else. Alright?" Kagome nodded weakly and allowed Sango to drag her back down the stairs.
As soon as the band sat down at the table (Inuyasha and Miroku sitting on chairs against the wall), a cheer erupted from the crown. Kagome resisted the overwhelming urge to plug her ears and bolt as she tried to smile. "Right...let the fun begin," she muttered as the line was allowed forward.
After the first signing from an overly energetic teen probably their own age, Kagome could feel a headache coming on. She glanced at a clock on the wall. Only one hour, fifty-eight minutes to go...
Finally everyone in the line was gone, and it was ten minutes after two. Sango began massaging her aching hand as Tai and Rizu stood up from the table. "We should get going," Rizu started when he began walking to the door. "Kagome, Sango, we'll see you later," he said, and the two of them walked out the door.
Kagome used her feet to push her chair away from the table. "That. Was. Hell," she muttered and stood up to stretch. After two hours and ten minutes of sitting on a hard, metal chair and mechanically signing CD after CD and t-shirt after t-shirt, you tend to get very sore.
Nanami once again came skipping forward, dark brown hair waving precariously behind her. "That was great! But it's time for me to head out. I'll be at your next concert!" she exclaimed as she ran out the door. Kagome would never be able to understand her.
Inuyasha and Miroku were almost forgotten as they stumbled off their chairs. Miroku didn't hesitate to put an arm around Sango's shoulder. "My dear Sango, I don't think I've ever seen penmanship as beautiful as yours."
Sango rolled her eyes as she turned and twisted his arm behind his head. "I'd stop right now, Miroku, unless you want a broken arm," she threatened and made sure to give his arm another short tug before releasing it. He began cradling it with his other hand, as if she really had broken it. "Me and Kagome are gonna head out. You guys coming?"
Inuyasha crossed his arms across his blood red button-up shirt. "Whatever. Let's get going, then, before anyone else mauls you to death," he muttered, sounding worn out and slightly annoyed. One could never guess why.
Kagome glowered at Inuyasha at that particular comment. If anyone had decided to maul them, she would grab the nearest durable weapon and beat them all to a bloody pulp. "Car's probably out front." She hated the word limo...as if riding in the damn thing wasn't enough. "We should hurry, before anyone else comes along and meets up with a very atrocious fate." Still muttering incoherent words under her breath, she began to walk towards the exit. Sango didn't hesitate to scurry behind her as Inuyasha and Miroku, as usual, lagged behind. Today had been one hell of a day, and it was only two thirty.
Kagome: God, if I have to sign one more thing, I am going to scream.
Inuyasha: Quit whining, already.
Miroku: Now, Inuyasha, that's not fair... ::hand wandering precariously to Sango's ass::
Sango: ::crack:: Perv.
Stephenie: Well...uh...review please!
A/N:Man, I'm exhausted. I swear, nine hours of sleep a night doesn't cut it. Right...well, I hope that didn't take too long. I have a question for everyone who's reading this - shorter or longer chapters preferred? I could make them longer, if chosen. And I promise to get more into Inuyasha and Miroku's insights in the next chapter. R&R.
Hey...maybe you guys should do what the button says. It might not be very happy if you don't...
