Disclaimer: *points to Inuyasha* My dream, your dream, we all dream for Inu and teem. *shakes head* Nope- never own rights, will I. I just wish that was a lie... And thus my dream is shattered, not that it really mattered. So, stop with the feeling sorry for little ol' me, it's time that you enjoyed reading the story! ^_^ Can you tell I'm having a blast! I hope this fun can last!
A/N: 0.o Right... Anyway, I have a bit to say to everyone out there. First off, I would like to thank all of you who reviewed for Me?, all of you who reviewed for You!, all of you who read my story, all of you that wished me a happy birthday- that turned out okay since I never got that *shutters* kiss(You'd understand the shutter if you knew the boy)-, and - those of you who get my biggest thanks, the thank you from the bottom of my heart- all of you readers who enjoyed my story. Thank you, everyone...
Second, there are a few reviewer responses- I don't and will not do this often, and I will, mostly, respond only to people who leave questions. Although, there are a few exceptions.
Review Responses for You!:
shadowandhawk: *can only shake her head and smirk while suppressing a laugh*
Short on Oxygen: The police man was Hiten- the number thing was the only way he knew Kagome was in the hospital- Sango called him. *Smirks at memory of the confusing dialog at the end of 'Awaken Sleeping Beauty!' chapter* I had so much fun tormenting readers with that part! ^_^
LilTamaAngel: *bursts into sobs* LilTamaAngel, you are the one reviewer I have to praise for your words. I am more than moved by your words and thank you from the depths of my soul for the inspiration you have given me through those reviews. It's touching that you would think I could be so good at something like that. *smiles with teary eyes* Arigatou...
anime_girl101: *sobs... again* Kami, you reviewers love making me cry- you know I'm a sensitive girl and you've found where I hid my buttons, huh? Just start pushing like crazy... Anime_girl101, thank you so much for your review. I'm glad you felt all of those things while reading my story- even if it was inconvenient(do you think me crying in front of my computer because reviewers have made me so happy is convenient!?). Funny little note, though. You!'s story line was actually not even thought about, just typed out on instinct- kinda scary, huh? Well, again, thank you for everything...
inutikidudez: *Just smiles* I think you'll understand this little smile of mine better than words could explain what I'm thinking. ^_^
Review Responses for Me?:
Inutiger: Firstly, the stories that I use in this fic and the ones in You! are ones that I personally wrote. Sorry, no melody that I can give- you just gotta be creative! ^_^ And, just a note, the song in the last one I have named as 'Sleep Sweet, Lullaby'. As for the Japanese, I'd love to help you out. I'm a self-taught person, so I'm not flawless and I don't know as much as I wish I did. And I am trying to write in the Wedding, but I have a problem with tying it into this story- it will, if written, be either a flashback or dream sequence. Thank you for reviewing and I'll try to e-mail you A.S.A.P!
shadowandhawk: *hands her a floppy-eared doggy and cute little kitten plushies* Sorry, I couldn't afford to by really ones! ^_^ And about the 'darker' part- I mean the plot is not around Inuyasha and Kagome getting together- obviously-, but getting through some... rough times... That will make much more sense after chapter 3 and 4, so I hope you can wait till then... Sorry I can't really answer that- and, to my knowledge, I don't think anyone's dying. *looks around nervously* Though, if I see Kagome kiss Inuyasha one more time I may be tempted to wring her neck...
Disoriented Mind: *smirks* Damn, you're quick! ^_~ Maybe I'll have to write in a song for you- you know what? I've actually got one. Next chapter- you'll have your own little dedicated song for being so clairvoyant, okay? I'm gonna have to juice up the plot now- if you can guess that easily... *sighs* Wow... Oh, and thanks for reviewing! ^-^
Faroere The Kitsune: Hey, I like the name! Does it stand for something? Oh, and by the way, I am no gienous, but arigatou for thinking so! ^_^ It brightened up my day!
anime_girl101: *gets teary-eyed* I have to thank you from the bottom of my heart, really. I am touched that you have enjoyed my stories so much and even more so that you believe I could be a song writer. *shakes her head* You don't know what it means for me to hear something like that... *Looks at top of page...* Hey! You made me cry twice!
Mai: *sighs in self pity* Yes, my mother was actually trying to get me kissed- don't ask, I mean, really, don't ask. -_- She's such a wierdo... Anyway, I am glad to hear my stories brighten up your day! ^_^ And I'm glad to hear that you weren't left hanging with the story after it was deleted- some people may not have re-checked for it and it makes me feel bad... I really have a hard time seeing that one of the fics I'm reading won't be continued... *Smiles brightly* Thank you, and I hope that the translations make this a more enjoyable read for you!
icenekohanyou: Yeah, what is it with authors killing off the main characters lately? Jeez, don't they think we have a bad enough time knowing we'll never actually meet Inuyasha in person anyway? ^_^
andrea10: Sorry, I can't help you, but I'll ask everyone else to send in some titles and we can go from there, okay? I'll ask at the end of the chapter- they better read it, to *shakes fist at readers* *laughs nervously* You didn't see that...
trixie-trix: You are so close to becoming my all-time favorite reviewer, you know? Your reviews never fail to make me laugh- and don't worry about not reviewing for You!, I don't really expect more than I already have and those make me happy enough! ^_^
Miko Ariko-901: Just to help out a bit more, I'll do the first few chapters with the translations- not just the first time they're said like I had originally planned. I hope this helps you out so you can furthur enjoy this story! ^-^
MoonLightWolf: I LOVE YOU!!! ---- okay, so maybe that was a little too dramatic, but thank oh ever so much for your review. Oh, and I'm giving you full bragging rights...*turns to other reviewers* ........ ~creepy silence~ *In a taunting voice* he beat you, he beat you! Slow pokes! *Turns back to MoonLightWolf* Arigatou, for being my very first 'Me?' reviewer!
Everyone else(the number is a little too overwhelming- sorry): Thank you for your support and kind words of encouragement. Sorry I can't write each of you individually...
Now, the next section I'll be putting up once in a while for a few authors that want to get word out about their stories! This is like a... advertisement-type of section. For anyone that wants me to put up their story, just go ahead and say so!
Angel-chan3- her story, New Places New People, is quite interesting- if anyone wants to check it out. So far, I've found my self falling in love with her writing style.
Kagome44- House Cleaning is a great read! Go ahead and give it a try, people! It's sure to make you laugh- especially the 2nd chapter. It's my favorite so far!
Anzichick- The New Girl is also very good. The beginning is sure to drag you in- trust me!
Rouge Pryde- This girl is one awesome writer- let me tell you. Her latest update for 'Home is Where the Heart is' had me rolling on the floor with tears in my eyes for simply the most wonderful humor I've read in the longest of time. Really, anything by her is highly recommended.
SnowShadowUser- another multitalented writer. If you liked 'You!', you're sure to fall in love with 'Get a Life'. Also, the other stories by her- those both waiting to be finished and those already complete- are just as wonderful. I suggest you give each story a try- and maybe a review or two *hint, hint*
Now, if it's against the rules to put those little promoters up, then I am extremely sorry for those of you who did not want the recognition. If you have a problem with this, please tell me and I will right my wrong the best way I can...
No new definitions... no new stats... Let's get this show on the road! A bit literally, too... heheh! ^_^
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Author: Sakura-chan88
Title: Me?
Chapter: Having a Little Fun Before the Door Closes
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~ You watch as your life's ruin gathers the small boy in his arms and takes a seat on the recliner. Your 'son' still has 'Jack' in his grasp, holding the small pup close. Well, after watching them sleep peacefully for an hour or two, you look at the clock and note- with no shock whatsoever- that it was almost 6 in the morning. You decide it's time to put your 'son' in his own bed and stagger off to yours. Funny thing, though... as soon as you reappear in the family room once you complete phase one of your plan, a new thought, an evil, uncalled for, and utterly mean idea forms in your head as you glance at the sleeper... You still have 14 years worth of revenge to exact on 'him'. Let's just say- Wake up, 'Dogboy'! ~
I watched him dream on peacefully, serene and completely oblivious to the danger he was facing. I flipped the switch on the flashlight I pulled from the couch's side table and grabbed the pillow Shippo had previously thrown on the floor to get more comfortable. I crept forward on a straight track, keeping both feet firmly on the ground. Just a few feet away...
Flinging the flashlight up so the beam was smack-dab in his vision, I brought the pillow around. It connected with his stomach at the same moment my warning of "freight train!" woke the slumbering man.
"Ah! Kuso(Shit)~" he cried as he tumbled over the back of the now fully reclined seat.
"Stay away from the light!" I giggled as I moved toward him, turning the flashlight off.
"Damn it, bitch- that hurt!"
I scowled, "you're cussing again."
"You expect anything different, wench!"
"Yeah! I expect you to be quiet since Shippo-chan and Rin-chan are still sleeping!" I screeched, pushing the man roughly in the shoulder to send him back to the ground. "And save my ears from the freakin' abuse!"
"YOU'RE THE ONE THAT STARTED IT!" Inuyasha growled from the spot he was at on the floor before his face lightened and a smirk took over. "Wait- you sure they're still sleeping?"
My frown deepened. Men! "Inuyasha, I haven't slept at all and don't think that charming smile of yours is going to change my mind."
Really, it was just because of the thought that he actually knew about the trip to America and never told me. I was going to stay stubbornly ungiving, I was not going to crumble for him this time, I was not going to do one single thing for him, and I was not, I absolutely refused, to fold under the charm he turned on as he tugged my arm and sent me falling on top of him... I was not going to-
Oh, Kami-sama I love his kisses. He knew it, too- hence the reason for his lips being curled into that cruel smirk of his... 'Yum.'
Okay, so it wasn't the smile that changed my mind in the end. ^_^;;
******
"Okaasan," Shippo called from the back of the Beamer, tugging on my sleeve. "Gomen. I didn't mean to not tell you, but Inuyasha threatened to yank out my teeth."
I was too busy staring at my son in astonishment for using Inuyasha's actual name to yell at the man in the passenger's seat for saying something so savage. I found out quite quickly why Miroku almost always insisted on driving in place of Inuyasha. The man shouldn't have ever been given keys to a car, let alone a license!
"THE ROAD, KAG! THE ROAD!"
"Kya!" I screeched, slamming the brake down as the light in front of us turned red and cars commenced to driving at our sides. Kind of pointless to stop in the middle of an intersection, huh? Maybe Inuyasha driving at the Devil's speed would be better than my sluggish one that remained unacknowledged even by me at times...
With my eyes determinedly set on the road, I explored Shippo's exclamation. "Inuyasha did what?" Of course, I said that with a sticky kind of sweet tone. Shippo remained silent.
"That Inu-chan would pull out his teeth!" Rin repeated from her spot behind her brother. "That's not nice, Inu-chan," she reprimanded. "You should be nice to Shippo-chan."
"Why didn't you tell me, Rin-chan?" I asked, looking at her from the corner of my eye for a split second. The blood drained from her face as she looked away.
"Sess-chan no tell Kagura-san, Rin no tell Kagome-neechan," Rin explained. "It's a rule Sess-chan made."
"Rin- repeat yourself," Inuyasha commanded, his face a bit darker than usual.
"Sess-chan no tell- OH! Oops!" She usually did a few mistakes in her speech and would, once in a blue moon, revert to her normal monologue type of tongue. "I mean- When Sess-chan doesn't tell Kagura-san, Rin- I mean, I don't tell Kagome-neechan."
I laughed lightly as her brother turned in his seat to face her and grinned. Rin giggled and reached up to snatch the hat from his head... Okay, here's where we need to pause for a second and talk about this... 'hat'. In the last few months, it caused Inuyasha and me a lot of problems.
This hat had small, white puppy dog ears. I had found it on a shopping spree after meeting Inuyasha again for the first time in years. He had been forced into playing dress up, along with Kouga and Miroku, because he lost a bet. I found them a moment after giving him the official nick 'Dogboy'. They just fit so well and were so kawaii on him when he pouted... I just couldn't pass them up!
But then, a few months ago, Sesshomaru had an idea. Oh, Kami-sama, what an idea it was. He wanted Inuyasha to have animated doggy ears- like real dog ears- surgically set into his skull, completely functional and all. When we both objected... Well, let's say I had to wrestle an unconscious Inuyasha out of some mad scientists death grip after Sesshomaru had knocked him out, kidnapped him, then sold him to the highest bidder. Kami-sama, I swear that man has issues!
I sighed as another light turned red. It seemed as if everything was keeping me from my trip to America- not that I was complaining, of course.
Inuyasha had successfully secured his hat on his head from his sister's prying fingers. I laughed at her pout as I eased my foot on the accelerator. Shippo jabbed Rin in the sides making her squeal in delight at unnaturally high-pitched levels. I just barely stopped from swerving at the unnerving screech.
Maybe a trip could help. My muscles were awfully taunt by the time we arrived at the jet.
Killing the engine, I tucked the keys into my purse and took a deep breath. "America, huh?"
"Something wrong?" Inuyasha asked as Shippo and Rin jumped from the backseats to run to Ayame and Kouga who had just stepped out of Ayame's jade green porche. "You seem depressed."
"Well, maybe I am," I stated, resting my arm on the steering wheel and my head in my hand. "After all, I have been associating with a bunch of back-stabbing bakas who insist that it's a good thing to one-up me everyone once in a while- and I do not want to go to America again."
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow questioningly. "What's the problem with us one-upping you once in a while? Can't we have fun too?" he pouted. "And what's the problem with America?"
"Don't tell me you forgot our last trip to the US..."
He looked out at the jet for a moment in thought. Then shook his head. "I don't remember anything bad enough to actually dread going back."
"... you're joking," I stated flatly. "You are joking- you have to be! You were more upset than I was!"
"You mean the whole mob incident."
"That whole 'mob incident' 'incidentally' ended with me being in the backwater marshes of Louisiana and you being in the frozen expanse of Alaska while Sango announced our disappearance at a press conference with the president and Ayame nearly burning down the White House!" I screeched, slapping my forehead in frustration.
Letting out a deep breath, I placed my hands firmly on the wheel, squeezing to release my excess energy. "Forget it - just forget it! I'm going now."
I was out of the car and on the jet before Inuyasha had even opened his door. What in the world was wrong with everyone!? That last trip was not one easily forgotten... I mean, Miroku and Kouga had been tied up in a room and left for a whole three days by an enraged Sango and frustrated Ayame; I had been taken from the group on a tour Sesshomaru had set up to go to some small town Honky Tonks and mimic their style of music for some still unknown reason; Inuyasha had been tossed into the wrong plane by an impatient flight attendant; and this all happened after a concert and being chased - and separated - for a whole three and one-half hours!
They were insane to forget something like that!
Walking through the opening to the passenger's seats, I found myself in a mass of stiff white objects.
"Kyaaa~!" I cried, falling back onto my rear. "Umph!"
"Here," a voice called, as the same stiff white objects attacked my face once more. Papers... "It's the movie script."
Pulling the script from my vision, I caught a glimpse of Kagura walking away through the entrance I'd just previously been standing in. "Scare me like that, why don't ya?" I grumbled.
Well, with the script in my hands, I stood and started a search for the nearest seat.
******
Sango spent half the trip in the jet's lavatory, vomiting and complaining of air sickness. Miroku remained with her, trying to help her. Ayame had, for a brief moment, also been with her, but was booted out when she mentioned lunch. She then became content on latching herself to Kouga while he attempted to teach Jack how to sit and speak. That didn't go to well for a few reasons. One, Jack was a very quiet puppy. Two, Shippo complained until everyone wanted to throw Kouga off the aircraft without a parachute.
Kagura, much to her own displeasure, was with us - still. Sesshomaru had ordered her to supervise us and keep me on task. It seemed that I had to have a crash course in acting, too, along with a grumbling 10 year old boy.
As Kagura droned on and on about cameras, lighting, make-up, and strict schedules- yeah, like I didn't already know what those things were-, I sighed and wrapped my arms around my knees and let Yura brush my hair.
Yura had been forced to attend us, also. She'd be our hairstylist for the concerts we were set to perform atop all else.
Sesshomaru had no life, I swear it. Our vexation was his delight.
******
Our group had gathered together as Ayame and I acted out a part of the movie 'Loaded Lies'. I was quit intrigued by the plot. See, I was battling for custody of my sister's children after learning about her abusive behavior. I had been in love with her husband, but they were married and then she divorced him and he moved away. Then, after fighting my sister, I met another man who becomes my unofficial boyfriend/lover- 'Oh, Inuyasha's not gonna like this...'. He betrays me for my sister and her ex-husband learns about his children's welfare. We teem up, win the children through court, get married and... Well, the ending wasn't with the script... It was... 'pending'...
"How can you say that! They're your own children!"
"They mean nothing more to me than the money from Henry's wallet."
I snorted, laughing at the name. 'Henry'. Gracious! What an odd sounding gaijin(foreign) name.
"Kagome!" Ayame whined. This was the thirteenth timed I'd messed up on this scene by laughing. I couldn't help it!
"How can you be so heartless!" I screeched, immediately returning to the scene I was acting out.
"Great," Kagura commended, nodding to Ayame. "Continue."
"Well, dearest sister, not every person can be as pure as you," spat Ayame.
"I won't let you hurt them-"
"And how do you plan to stop me?" Ayame implored, poking me in the shoulder. "Henry has made me rich beyond comparison- surely you don't think they'd believe your word over mine. You are losing your house, after all, are you not?"
"I-"
"God, you think you're so high and mighty! Please! Get over yourself-"
"-Inuyasha," I interjected.
Sango sputtered, milk shutting from her nose. Miroku laughed, clapping his coworker on the back. Inuyasha hissed, making Shippo and Kouga laugh all the harder. Yura remained indifferent.
Kagura scowled fiercely. "Kagome, stay serious," she hissed. "Just this once, please!"
"Hai!" I cheered, saluting the glowering woman. Dropping my hand, I sighed. "Do we have to keep doing this? I know these lines by heart, now!"
"Good, give me your papers," she said, extending a hand. Finally getting ride of those papers, I put up two victory signs before turning dead serious again.
"I will get those children, Marry. I won't let you hurt them anymore," I told Ayame, walking over to an imaginary door. "You'll see."
"No, you will, May."
"Then I walk away," I said, acting like I slam an invisible door. "And I run in to Terry- man, they have the oddest names!"
"Mmm... Teriyaki sauce," Miroku mumbled, licking his lips. This, again, had Sango spraying milk from her nose.
"So," Kagura prompted, ignoring the spectators that continued to laugh, "your next line would be...?"
"Oh, sorry! I didn't mean-"
"Hey, it's no problem," Ayame said, putting up hands to cut off an obviously unnecessary apology.
"Awkward silence, please... Laugh, laugh, giggle- Oops... I'm sorry-"
"No, no-" Ayame began.
"Man, you're rude! Stop interrupting me-!"
"KAGOME!"
******
The jet landed in Sacramento three hours before I was due to be in Hollywood. A balding man with beady eyes greeted us with a friendly smile from beside a limo, waving.
"Aha!" I squealed, running over to give the man a hug. "Myouga-jiichan(informal(friendly) form for grandpa/old man). You're back!"
"Konnichi wa(hello), Mrs. Himitsu," he replied. "Glad to be back."
"It's Kagome," I reminded him.
I have been trying, since we first met, to get that man to call me Kagome. He insists on calling me miss, or, more frequently now, by my marital family name. This was a person that, like Kagura, did just about everything for Meisei inc.
"Of course it is, miss," he laughed, moving out of my hold to open the door. "We are a bit behind schedule."
"And the schedule is..?" Kagura prompted, shoving the luggage into a separate limo that was being driven by another person- someone I didn't know. "Sesshomaru decided it was in his best... interests to 'forget' telling us anything... again..."
"I'm glad to see he's back to his old self," Myouga chuckled. "Well, 'Demonic' has a meeting with the Governor of California- an actor, actually-"
"Who!?" I asked excitedly. If it was Orlando Bloom or Johnny Depp... *dreamy sigh*
"Mm... Arn-old Sorts-in-egger," Myouga sounded out, frowning in concentration. He wasn't the best with English.
"The guy from Terminator?" Ayame asked, touching my shoulder. "That was an... okay movie..."
"*sigh* And I was hoping for Johnny Depp..."
"Oh no- Orlando's much better," Sango argued.
"Nah, I liked Johnny better in Pirates of the Caribbean," I muttered. "Did you see the way he walked!? I just loved it!"
"He looked... like a fruitcake walking like that," Ayame scrunched up her nose. "I liked him better as Icabod Crane in Sleepy Hallow."
"Chotto, I thought I was supposed to be the gaijin film expert here!" I exclaimed, slapping the back of Ayame's head as she opened her mouth to protest with some witty comment- if the look on her face meant anything. "Plus, Orlando knows every girl wants him and I don't like that-"
Inuyasha was growling behind me, which, to my surprise, I just noticed. So, thinking as quickly as possible, I ended my... sentence... the only redeemable way.
"- Everyone like's Inuyasha, not him," I said, grinning in apology to the grumbling singer. "They just can't have him. Got him all to myself... Yup, stupid fan girls... All mine..."
'You should have quit while you were ahead,' my mind mumbled.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes before getting into the limo, grumbling the whole time.
"Nice one, Kagome-chan," Sango snorted, following Miroku into the back of the vehicle.
Ayame laughed and clapped me on the back, shaking her head. "Un, nice one."
After she disappeared with Kouga and Kagura entered the vehicle with Yura in tow, I sighed in defeat. One mistake on gaijin ground already... Real nice...
******
After thirty minutes in a room with the 'muscle upon muscle upon a single body with a low, booming, extremely accented voice to the highest degree, voice' called the governor of California, we were on the road again.
I just had to laugh in my head... He invited us and didn't even know who we were- no matter how much 'acting' he put into it, I could tell he was clueless.
"Well," Inuyasha grumbled, pulling me into his lap as the limo continued to roll down the high way, "I have to agree with you on one thing, at least."
"And what's that?" I asked, watching as Shippo and Rin sat on the floor playing 'go fish'.
"It would have been so much more pleasant if Orlando was there..."
I snorted. "That's only because he's 'Elf Boy' off of Lord of the Rings."
"Legolas," Sango corrected.
"I know his name, Coral," I hissed, using her American 'name'. She hissed at this. "Don't attack me- I'm no demon." (A/N: Her last name, people. -_-;)
"You associate with one, though, don't you?" She smirked.
"Who? Miroku?"
Sango's eyes narrowed while Miroku hugged her to his side. Ayame decided to retaliate for her friend and hit me on the nose with a rolled up script. My hand went instinctively to my slightly stung body part, messaging the area as I glared at the giggling actress.
"Again," Kagura commanded and Ayame hit me again. "Iie, not that! Go over the script again."
I stopped rubbing my abused sniffer. "Nani...? Why?!"
"Because if you don't make call backs, then Sesshomaru will be running you crazy with concerts to make up for the time you could have spent making a movie," she answered.
I sighed in defeat, going through the lines I needed to know for the tryouts. No need for the paper with the written words- I knew them quite well now.
"You don't understand, do you?" I whispered, tears forming in my eyes. "I loved him, just as much as he loved you... Then you go and break his heart..."
"He never loved you, so why would you care?" Ayame hissed, lifting my chin to look in my eyes. "You were just another no body to him."
"Do you think I don't know that already!?" I screeched, pushing her away lightly- only because we were in a moving vehicle. "I don't care about that anymore- I care about my niece and nephew!"
"Those worthless brats? Who could possible care about that filth?" Ayame sneered.
"How can you say that! They're your own children!"
"They mean nothing more to me than the money from Henry's wallet."
"How can you be so heartless!" I screeched, failing to find humor in the odd name anymore. The thought of spending four months on tour while my son and Rin spent it away from me was frightening me into complete soberness.
Kagura hummed in appreciation for the lack of a laugh.
"Well, dearest sister, not every person can be as pure as you," spat Ayame.
"I won't let you hurt them-"
"And how do you plan to stop me?" Ayame questioned, poking me in the shoulder again. "Henry has made me rich beyond comparison- surely you don't think they'd believe your word over mine. You are losing your house, after all, are you not?"
"I-"
"God, you think you're so high and mighty! Please! Get over yourself!"
"Wait- can we try another scene?" I asked, looking hopefully to Kagura. I was wanting to get to my favorite scene- I'd read the entire thing the first three hours on the jet. "The court scene? We need two other people to join in."
Kagura nodded, taking out extra scripts. I gaped. "Thought you'd say something like that- I'm always prepared, remember?"
Laughing, I took the script Ayame had hit me with earlier. "Okay... Um... Here it is! Inuyasha- you're Henry, Kouga, you be Terry. Ayame, start at 'can't you see'."
"Now you sound like a director." I grinned at Sango and tuned in to the scene Ayame picked up on.
"Can't you see she's trying to take them just to get back at me!?" Ayame shouted frantically, looking around. "She's still mad about me and Henry- she's trying to get his children for some perverse sense of satisfaction!"
"Shut up, Marry," Inuyasha said calmly, yet with the edge that the line needed. "Your sister is the only one here who deserves them-"
"Sit down, sir!" Kagura yelled. She'd taken the part of 'Judge', which I forgot to assign. "You are not to speak again! I've tolerated enough from you. Next time you'll be escorted from this room, understood?"
'Henry' nods.
"... Now she has him on her side, too! That witch, she's taking everything from me- right under my nose-"
"You gave him up, Marry," I hissed, to which I was supposed to be hushed silently from my attorney. "Sorry, Your Honor."
"You don't pronounce the 'h' in that," Ayame said.
"Oh... Sorry, Your Honor," I corrected.
"... Suck up," Ayame hissed beneath her breath. This hiss was supposed to be only heard by a member of the 'jury'. "Henry and I had problems, I didn't give him up. I had to let him go, for the children. He was the abusive one!"
"You lying bit-"
"Sss," I cut off, looking at the kids on the floor as they looked up with wide, innocent eyes.
"-witch! I never hurt our children!"
Shippo shrugged and went back to playing cards, sneaking a peek at the cards Rin had unknowingly lowered.
"Mr. Johnson, leave this court, now!"
"She's feeding you a bunch of lies!"
"Then these lies are what determine your children's fate! Seeing your behavior here only proves your violent temper and it's short fuse!" Kagura hissed.
"She isn't lying," Kouga said, finally entering the scene. "I've seen her with her children. Henry and May are the only ones here that would hurt them-"
"You may leave as well!" Kagura shouted.
"You..." I whispered, my lip quivering as I looked Kouga in his eyes. "How could you...?"
'Henry' and 'Terry' are then escorted out of the room...
"Let's take a short recess," Kagura sighed. "Court is adjourned until 6 p.m. tonight."
'Marry' walks over, "sorry, sis, but I always win. Didn't I tell you- Terry and I were what drove Henry way. You were just a one-night stand-"
And the back of my hand found her face with a resounding slap.
Ayame staggered backwards, gapping. "You bit-witch!" she shouted, remembering the children on the ground.
Kouga jumped to his fiancee's side. "Oh my- Ayame, are you alright!?"
Ayame and I grinned from ear to ear. I clapped my hands together as I had just moment's ago so close to Ayame's face. The hand I hit barely moved, but was enough to look like I backhanded her- a little trick I picked up from her a few months ago.
Everyone's jaws dropped.
With Ayame and me laughing, the limo rolled down the street, carrying in it three astounded men, two giggling children on the floor, and three other sly grinning girls...
Maybe that would come in handy for them all...
******
The audition was like the one I remembered from my child hood when I'd gone up for a kid's band. Although, unlike that audition, I only went through my lines once and, to my relief, in front of only three people- a movie critic, the director, and the producer.
Well... really, I only got through half of my first line before I was interrupted by the director himself.
"Excuse me, sorry for cutting in," he said quickly. "You're Kagome Higurashi, correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"You're very polite," he commented, standing from his seat and stalking over toward me.
"Thank you, sir," I smiled, bowing my head lightly before looking up to meet his eyes as he stood a few feet away.
"You are that boy- Shippo's mother, correct?"
"Yes, I am."
"You have a very talented son," he chuckled.
"Thank you."
He's lips curled into a friendly grin. "He must get it from his mother." I chose not to comment on this. He didn't need to know Shippo was adopted. He also didn't need to here me say 'thank you' for something I couldn't take credit for. "I'm sorry, continue."
"I don't care about that anymore- I care about my niece and nephew!" I yelled, putting my heart into this. Somehow... I felt I needed this job...
And it wasn't Sesshomaru's omnipresent looming threat...
It was my soul...
Something needed to be done here...
I needed this job as much as I needed Inuyasha in my life and Shippo to be happy...
My soul called for it.
'Hmm... Sounds romantic, almost... Ah! Lyrics pouring in here!'
And they were, with a melody unlike any other... an actual rap was playing itself through. Strange, I've never had one of those before... and it wasn't a romantic one- it was actually a bit... dark...
I returned to reality when I noticed I'd stopped going through my lines. The scene was over and I hadn't even paid it any mind. Mr. Director clapped lightly as the critic frowned and jotted something down on a notepad he held in his lap, his feet hanging over a chair strategically placed in front of him.
"Thank you, Ms. Higurashi," the director said. "We'll be giving you a call, soon. Be ready for call backs."
I smiled, nodded, and left bringing with me the daze I'd found and the confusion that failed to be dropped and put away.
I made it...
And I needed nothing more than to run...
While I had to be the one to win...
These were the only things I needed to know...
They told me all I needed to know...
Something was going to go very, very wrong and I was in the situation I've always been in...
A no-win, lose-before-you-play, defeat-before-the-battle-begins, and credits-before-the-movie-starts kind of situation...
So, in my confusion, I put on a smile that said 'leave me be, I'm busy', and passed my friends. I saw, from the corner of my eye as I walked straight by, Sango and Kagura's eyes flash in curiosity. Ayame was currently purring about my son's newest drawn picture and failed to notice me. Inuyasha, Kouga, and Miroku had put their heads together, whispering about this, that, and the other, leaving Yura to grumble about Kagura's hair and try to 'fix' it- she's just jealous, though.
However, I passed without hesitance in my haste to find the restrooms. I needed to reflect a bit in the peace and quiet of a chilled and tiled room. And I finally found that room after asking for directions three times.
Opening the door, I felt it collide with a body as a shrill cry rang through the air. I panicked and rushed inside to help the person I'd accidentally rammed a solid object into.
"I'm so sorry!" I wailed, placing a hand on the back of the woman who knelt on the floor, her head bowed with her hands across her face. "Are you okay? Are you bleeding? Please, tell me you're okay- I feel so bad!"
"Kuso(Shit)," a feminine voice hissed as the woman clutched her nose. "Hana ga itai-n-desu(My nose hurts)!"
"Is it broken?" I asked in a shaky voice, bringing the woman's chin up to look for myself. It had surprised me to hear the person speak in my native tongue. I vaguely heard the door close itself behind me.
"I'm not sure," she replied, taking her hand away from her face as she switched her speech to English. The reason she spoke in Japanese was quickly understood. Her features showed well, like my own, that she was born and raised in Japan by a lineage much like my own.
Time seemed to pause for a moment as the woman's eyes grew wide. In a roar I heard the one word that had so changed my life- the first word Inuyasha uttered after we met again for the first time.
"YOU!" she screeched, jumping up to my alarm.
"Me?" I yipped, raising to my feet with her.
This is where the first part of my realization turned to recognition as I looked her in the eyes and a trembling hand sped across my face.
'Mikono!?'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: And thus the meaning of 'Me?' makes its... first show... though it isn't its last... This chapter is quite a bit shorter than the first, I know, but I have my own reasons! ^_^
The next chapter should be up some time soon- probably the start of next week, estimated. I'm trying to keep everything balanced- my stories and my school work. So far, I think I've decently balanced 'How to Get From Past to Present' and the 'Y/M' stories with homework, but my other stories are left in the dust when I do this. Kind of a bummer because I know my other stories are important to other people as well...
Also, as a favor to a reviewer- if anyone knows of any worth while stories about Kagome being a hanyou/demon or Inu/YYH or Kagome being a punkster- please contact me. I wouldn't mind reading them, either! ^_^
Again, if anyone would like me to read their story, just say so- I love to read. Anyone who needs help- ideas, problems with formatting, translations, ect.- tell me and I'll see what I can do. I'm here to help. ^_^
Well, please give a bit of feed back!
Ja ne, minna(everyone)!
