This Because of That? Chapter 20: Tailgate Party, an inuyasha fanfic

Sorry for the wait, it has been very hectic to say the least.

Italics is the lead singer and normal is the chorus or backups.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Hours had passed like minutes and soon it was time for everyone to head home for the night. The nighttime DJ, Ticking Tracy, was already at the studio and waiting for her time on the air. Bobby-Boom played his last song for the night then said his goodbyes when it finished.

"Okay, this is Bobby-Boom, about to go home and pass out on the doormat…possibly." He said then looked down at his notes. "Whoa, that's unexpected." He mumbled to himself. "Tomorrow, the third place band from the contest that got these two here will be, well, here. I guess Intensity 5 is coming out with an album also." He said shrugging.

"Who would want those losers?" Rin asked remembering how persistent and annoying they had been.

"Hey, I was once one of those losers!" Koga yelled. "Remember, the only good one from the band? That's why Myoga only gave me his number and stuff." He said indignantly.

"And what do you know? You're still a loser." Ayame teased.

"You weren't even there!" Koga yelled. "You probably weren't even in this state yet!"

"Probably not, but that doesn't matter." Ayame said shrugging.

Koga was about to respond but Bobby-Boom cut him off just as his mouth opened. "So to find out what's going on with those guys; listen to me a noon tomorrow. See ya or something." Apparently he didn't turn off the microphones before. He turned slightly to look at Ayame and Koga, rolled his eyes while shaking his head, and said, "Dudes, get over it, we all know." Then he walked out of the room.

"Finally someone said something!" Inuyasha yelled throwing his arms up.

Kagome shook her head and pulled Inuyasha out of the room. "Come on; let's go, uh, out of here." She said trying to get him out of the room incase he said something stupid.

"Oh shut up Inu! You and Kagome were together for who knows how long before Rin and I figured it out." Sesshomaru said.

"I remember that." Koga said. "But if either of you," he said pointing at Sesshomaru and Rin, "pulls that stunt again, I'll make sure to tackle you myself. I'm sure Ayame wouldn't mind tackling you either."

"Nope, I have nothing against it." Ayame said smiling.

"We'll see about that." Rin said taking Sesshomaru's hand and walking out of the room. Once they were in the hallway, Rin called back to Ayame. "By the way, that was the most sadistic smile I've ever seen." Rin and Sesshomaru heard an angry noise coming from the room and looked at each other.

"Okay, running!" they yelled before each breaking out into mad sprints for the cars.

Sango and Miroku were the only two left in the room with Ayame and Koga. They each turned to look at the other and shrugged.

"Alright, this can go one of many ways." Sango began. "One: either you fess up about your love connection or somehow you will end up begin dared on a date."

"Example: Us." Miroku said holding up their clasped hands. "Or two, you can openly flirt and be oblivious to the fact that people know until your friends tell people about your personal lives and take a poll."

"Example: Sess and Rin." Sango continued. "But then again, there always is the possibility that you're already together and keeping it a secret that one of the pairs will find out about and tell as many people as they can at once."

"You choose." Miroku finished then walked out with Sango.

"What strange and semi-interesting friends we seem to have acquired." Ayame said as she walked out of the room.

"Yeah, huh, wait, what?" Koga asked making a different confused face for each word.

Ayame sighed and turned around. "We have weird friends."

"Oh." Koga said at his moment of understanding. "Gotcha!"

"I bet you do." Ayame mumbled under her breath and continued to walk out of the room.

Koga jogged out of the room to catch up to her. "So, which one do you think it's gonna be?" he asked bluntly.

Ayame stopped walking and looked at him confused. "Huh?"

"Well, everyone else is paired up, so it's only natural that we end up together too…"

"Who said what to whom now?" she asked quickly.

Koga seemed to ignore her or he just preferred to keep talking. "… That and I think the guys have started a bet on it. It's really only a matter of time before the girls are in on it too."

"Uh," Ayame was at a loss for words and said the only thing that seemed right. "You seem to have done your research on this. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to, um, aw who am I kidding? This is just too awkward." She said throwing her arms up into the air and running out to the parking lot.

Outside, it looked like a tailgate party had started. The girls and Bobby-Boom where dancing to the music that was blasting out of Sesshomaru's car. The guys were huddled around a small camping grill telling each other the best way to cook. Some other people from the radio station where also outside having a good time. More people were coming and Ticking Tracy had announced the party over the radio. Someone had the great idea to have some kind of musical contest that would be judged by the Rubber Band, Kids in Cars, and the two DJs. That too was announced on the radio and so far, three bands had signed up but only two knew they had.

"Hey, Souta," Kagome yelled. When he turned towards her, she continued, "I signed your band up for the contest."

"Why?" he asked.

"I thought it would be cute." She answered.

"Well Kag, that's great and all but did you notice that I'm the only one from the band here?" he asked annoyed.

"Of course I did, I'm not completely like Rin." She said chuckling. "I had Sango call Kohaku and he is coming over with your drummer."

"Oh, well I have one more, slight problem."

"And that would be?" Kagome asked.

"I don't have my guitar. How can I play without a guitar?" Souta asked starting to yell.

"You're attracting attention!" She yelled back. "You can borrow, uh, hmm." Kagome said thinking.

"Please, take your time." He said sarcastically.

Kagome's face brightened. "I know, the guys always have an extra guitar or bass in their trunk. It gets better too; Sess drove here, so his car is here, and he plays the guitar, so by process of elimination, the answer is d. all of the above!"

"Care to explain that a wee bit better?" Souta asked.

"Sess probably has his spare guitar in the trunk of his car." Kagome said. "Weren't you listening to anything I just said?"

"I was, but, never mind." He said shrugging. "Let's just go see if I can use his guitar."

Within an hour, the other two bands had shown up and were setting up. Souta was adjusting to Sesshomaru's guitar, Kohaku was making sure his bass was just right, and their drummer was unloading his set from his older brother's pickup truck. Since only three bands had signed up, there would only be two rounds and the winner would be picked after the second one. Basically, it was normal procedure.

"Why hello there, this is Ticking Tracy! Right now, we're getting ready to start the first, probably going to be annual, 'Hey, that's My Band!' contest. Don't ask about the name, I think it was made up by Rubber Band and Bobby-Boom. Anyway, we've got three bands that wanna win. First up is 13 Rocks, then High Heights, and last is Caught 11."

"Hey Tracy, we would like to start now." Bobby-Boom yelled just loud enough to be heard over the sounds coming from each band.

By now, Tracy had turned off the microphone and yelled back to him. "Fine, get 13 Rocks set up and ready to go. Make sure you have High Heights ready to go after them."

"Psh, I think I know what I'm doing." He said and left to get the bands ready.

Ticking Tracy turned the microphone back on once he left and began talking into it. "Sorry about that, Bobby-Boom just had his daily drama moment. Anyway, we're just about to get started so, get down here."

Down in the parking lot, each band was lined up according to their line up. In the first five parking spots was 13 Rocks, High Heights had the next five, and Caught 11 had the last five. To make it look slightly less crowded for the bands, there was an empty spot between 13 Rocks and High Heights and another between High Heights and Caught 11.

After each band introduced themselves, 13 Rocks began to play their song 'Slow Burn'. The keyboardist began then the person paying the bass began to sing. The whole band began playing and the lead singer took over. The song went on for almost three and a half minutes before the singer stopped and the band played for a little while longer.

Next, it was High Heights. The Rubber Band girls had pushed themselves away from the judging "table" and in front of the crowd that had formed around the bands. Kohaku, being the lead singer for the trio began

If I'm
Away
From you
Long enough
To make
You cry
At least
You feel something

All three members of the band began to play after Kohaku finished the first part of the song. For the second part, Kohaku repeated what he did in the beginning and Souta added some more to it.

If I'm (taking)
Away (the love)
From you (believe me)
Long enough
To make (a change)
You cry (too much)
At least (I made)
You feel something

I'm twenty thousand miles away
And you still feel nothing
I'll give all the time it takes
To make you feel something
Twenty thousand miles away
And you still feel nothing
I'll give all the time it takes
To make you feel something

Souta and Kohaku repeated the chorus the same way they had in the beginning except they all played during it this time.

If I'm
Away
From you
Long enough
To make
You cry
At least
You feel something

If I'm (taking)
Away (the love)
From you (believe me)
Long enough
To make (a change)
You cry (too much)
At least (I made)
You feel something

I'm (taking)
Away (the love)
From you (believe)
Do you feel something?
Whoa...

Kohaku and Souta took a break from singing as they got ready to finish up the song.

If I'm taking
Away your love
Then tell me what
I have to do
Huh!

Twenty thousand miles away
And you still feel nothing
I'll give all the time it takes
To make you feel something
Twenty thousand miles away
And you still feel nothing
I'll give all the time it takes
To make you feel something
Woo!

The trio continued to play but eventually the song stopped quickly.

The girls could hardly control themselves. They were cheering the loudest and starting chants of their brother's or friend's brother's name. Above all, they were shocked, all the time they had spent poking fun at their younger brothers failed attempts to start a band had been in vain. Maybe that fancy music school they were sent to was good for them to properly form a band and not to just give their sisters a mini vacation. They didn't have much time to think about it though since the third band had already started their song.

There's chapter 20, finally. It's also the first chapter posted under the title 'This Because Of That?'. I don't know, it kind of make a little bit more sense.

Anyway, the songs I used or mentioned were Slow Burn by Atreyu and 'Til You Feel Something by Dropping Daylight.

I am also aware that the band names are horrible, but I just looked at three artists on my recently played list and tweaked them a bit. Try and guess who they are, I doubt you won't be able too since they are seriously lacking any creativity.