Disclaimer: I owned him, at one point in my life... um... former life... See, my soul was ripped in two and this shell called Rumiko Tahakashi was given my imaginative side...
A/N: I'm SORRY!!!! (Yes- I made it one whole chapter without saying that and I had to say it the first thing this chapter! I'm so proud of myself!) Anyway- the HUGE delay back there was because of my AP US History test... and I am pulling my hair out in frustration from having to wait for my results... let's just say, I already know it's not my best... Shoot... Plus, end of school- you all know how that goes. --;;
Well, I'm sorry to say, you'll have to wait - AGAIN - for review responses and WNB stat changes, because I'm in a rush to get this out! See, about a month and a half ago or so, I was nominated for a Fanfiction Elimination for my story You! and I made it to the second round!!!
Please, if you have the time, vote for me!
www. geocities. com/ bikifriend/ main. html (without the spaces)
Author: Sakura-chan88
Title: Me?
Chapter: Rimose Occurrences
You've passed the 'test' he gave you without a hitch... except for the fact that you are now freezing from your soaked mini skirt- which has succeeded in riding up on your legs a bit more- and skimpy (thanks to the water) shirt. Wait... Listen... Hear that? He's laughing at you! Why- the nerve of the guy! You better make sure you dunk him for it later!
"You are such a jerk, Inuyasha..."
"And? Your point is...?"
I frowned. "Can I open my eyes now?"
"Yeah, but... I still don't get it," Inuyasha muttered as I slowly opened my eyes and chlorine-water slipped into them, burning... 'Oh, yes Kagome,' I thought to myself, 'Feel the Buuuuurrrrrrn...' Right... "You're too complicated."
"I know," I giggled, swimming over to the edge of the pool. "I'm also a person who bases all view points on illogical human thought, too."
"Got that right!"
Inuyasha smirked at me, watching as I unsuccessfully attempted to pull myself over the side of the pool (I don't need the little kiddie-latter!), chuckling before offering his help after I slipped and splashed back into the pool (okay, so maybe I do need the little latter...).
"Ohhhh hush, you!" I pouted, slapping him a little to hide my blush as he fixed my skirt for me, grumbling the entire time. "It's your fault."
"You shouldn't wear these things," he stated, straightening his back as a deep voice spoke.
"Like you argue any other time."
"At least I can last a week without whimpering back to my wife with my tail between my legs," Inuyasha sneered, turning to give Sesshomaru a pointed glare.
Sesshomaru stood with Kagura, having just walked in. He was obviously searching for his brother, since his attire still radiated "SUPREME BUSINESS MAN" and Kagura looked rather bored.
Inuyasha walked toward the man as I turned my attention to my clothing, scowling, few words catching my attention. Straightening my skirt just a bit more, then fixing one of the straps on my shirt, I raised my gaze at the same moment Kagura whistled. Quirking an eyebrow, I looked to the woman for an answer.
"Come on."
"Eh?"
"You need to get changed, for one," Kagura pointed out, turning around and walking away. "And I have to talk to you."
Of course, I follow along like a lost puppy... "About?"
We had left the pool area, the Himitsu brothers still deep in discussion near the edge of the huge, irregularly shaped bowl... I briefly entertained the idea of pushing them both into the considerably cold (for a hotel) pool... Kagura was silent for a moment, waiting just to make sure the men were out of range.
"Kikyou."
"What about her?"
"What are you going to do?" She asked. I shrugged. "You can't just do nothing..."
"I'll think of something... Eventually... When need be, I suppose," I muttered. "I feel its better to confront problems when its necessary, not worry over something when it won't help anyway..."
"But you are worrying over it if you won't tell Inuyasha about her," Kagura mentioned, looking at me from the corner of her eyes in a suggestion of, 'So, you'll tell him?'
I sighed, switching gears. "How were Shippo and Rin? Did they give you any trouble?"
Yes, Kagura 'babysat' for Inuyasha and me while we went to that 'meeting' with Ryu Itoshi (A/N: I'm drilling that name into your head for right now... ).
"Fine - Yura used Rin for a few hair experiments and Shippo kept busy with Jack. I think Jack can 'wave' now, but I'm not too sure about that - it might have just been a fluke," she muttered.
"Hn."
"Anyway, Sesshomaru wanted to check out a concert that's going on next week so he's staying for a while," Kagura sighed. "Something about new scouting opportunities since it's a bunch of small bands, then there's a club he's thinking about buying..."
"He's opening business here now?"
"There's always been business here, just not American oriented."
"That's news to me," I giggled. This group of people I associate with are forever surprising me.
"... I have a bit more news for you," Kagura smirked, stopping and turning to face me fully. "It's about the call backs."
My eyes snapped open and, from the sheer excitement, I reverted back to my native tongue, squealing, "Honto?"
"Hai." A faint smile graced her lips. "You made it."
'And you are May.' I could practically hear the smirk in my inner voice's tone, filled to the brim with arrogance. Meanwhile, I, being quite pleasantly winded by the information, was searching for my own voice.
"... Iie..." My heart raced. "Ii-iie... No way..."
An arm draped over my shoulder. "Of course you made it, Fangirl."
Large eyes focused in on glittering golden ones. How Inuyasha managed to close the gap between our two groups so quickly when he was in a 'serious business meeting' was beyond me. "Inuyasha?"
"Don't act so shocked. We knew you'd make it." Sango.
"There was no doubt in our minds." Miroku.
They just keep popping up one by one, don't they?
"Yeah. So don't doubt yourself, y'hear?" Ayame and Kouga.
I smiled to them all, inclining my head slightly in agreement and thanks, eyes sparkling bright.
Seemed today may turn out alright after all.
"Empty chamber
Six vacant shells
A quiet whisper
Is all that tells
Listen close
Between the lines
The words you hear
Are loaded lies
Direct the heart
Twisted mind
Play the games
Crooked spine
Spell's been cast
In over time
Things you see
Are loaded lies
Feel it pulse
Live the show
Know the chorus
Sing in tow
Tell the truth
Take the blow
Loaded lies
Seems are sown
Mirror image
Backwards glance
Breath deep for once
Seize the chance
Break the rules
For the prize
These silences
Are loaded lies
Screams unheard
Minds unclear
Eyes still closed
Ears won't hear
Change fate's tune
Look to the skies
See the words
Are loaded lies
Feel it pulse
Live the show
Know the chorus
Sing in tow
Tell the truth
Take the blow
Loaded lies
Seems are sown
The chamber's empty
Words hide the mines
To destroy a believing soul
And you're out of time
Feel it pulse
Live the show
Know the chorus
Sing in tow
Tell the truth
Take the blow
Loaded lies
Seems are sown."
I sighed heavily, falling to a sitting position on the ground, voice sore from the repeated singing of 'Loaded Lies, 'Loaded Lies' (duh...) theme song... Wow, how original...
"Well... that's an interesting tune..."
"I'd say... haunting, yet lively with a smidgen of techno..." The ever so observant Miroku sat at his drum set, still tapping out the beat lowly, playing around a bit with the sound. Inuyasha tossed his guitar into its case with the utmost love and care. Kouga stalked off to the door, leaving like the rest of us should have.
... Should have, but were not. I was just too tired.
(A/N: Pause for a moment... The whole 'smidgen' thing just brought back a memory I think you'll all like to hear... I was six years old the first time I heard it (and I was called 'midget' because I was so small for my age- which is important for this tirade), and I wanted to sound smart and use it in a sentence. So, being the smart girl I am, I went to my mom on Thanksgiving and said- "I wanna smidget of milk!"
....
Needless to say, I still have to sit at Thanksgiving with my family and hear them laugh and ask if I want a 'smidget' of this or a 'smidget' of that... sigh Yeah, anyway!)
My week had been so over-the-topo hectic that I'd actually made a mental chart... which missed so many things... Kinda looked like this-
This week:
Sunday- Went to call backs, in which I auditioned three times and eventually came out victorious. gasp Big shocker there!
Monday- Met the rest of the cast (except Kikyou- something about a surgery...)
Tuesday- Shopping with Spree-er Extraordinaire, Kaguya (my wardrobe technician).
(A/N: Kaguya is a kick-ass-looking evil chic bad girl off of Inuyasha's 2nd movie...)
Wednesday- A run in with a mob of fans who were, for the most part, Japanese-American... who, for the most part, attended Demonic's earlier concert (a week ago- which turned out to be one of our best- including my debut...)
Thursday (today)- Started three hours too early. I had my first screening shot today with Shippo and Rin and Ryu Itoshi. I had a meeting with the CEO of a company Sesshomaru was planning to buy. I had been singing, re-singing, and re-re-singing for the last six hours.
And this is where I am, now. Finally, the recorder (Oh, what was his name?!) heard what he was looking for and ended the hours of stress on my vocal cords. I am soooo not complaining. If I did...
I cast a sideways glance toward Sesshomaru...
... shutter
Yeah, I'll just keep it to myself.
"I like it," Inuyasha stated. "The rhythm is different. Unique. And the bass line is awesome to play..." He mimicked a few chords on an air-guitar. "I actually had fun with this song."
"That's new." I sighed, stretching out my legs and leaning back on my arms. "Usually you complain and Sessho-chan makes us do another round."
Sesshomaru cleared his throat, throwing a menacing glare in my direction for the new nickname.
"Still, I think the words could be spruced up a bit."
"Like?" Miroku prompted, leaning forward across his drum set.
"Hmm... Like...
"An empty chamber
Six vacant shells
A quiet whisper
Is all that tells-
"Then have this really quite whispered part-
"(The words you hear
Will bring you down-)
"Then
"Screams unheard
Minds unclear
Eyes still closed
Ears won't hear
"(The truth is too close To your open heart)
"I mean- just a few actual whispered parts. Not necessarily those words, but..."
Unknowingly, at the time, I was putting myself into more stressful hours of singing. And rewriting to a song I didn't actually care for... for a movie I was bound to hate.
"That would spruce things up a bit, wouldn't it?" Inuyasha mused.
"... Yeah," I breathed in a 'like-duh!' tone.
"Never mind that," said Sesshomaru, finally joining us humans from his heaven-ward podium he himself built... right... "We are attending that concert tonight."
Three inward groans turned to outward sighs of defeat.
Life is simply too short... and stress-ridden.
The bands which had played, until this point, had been hard-rock head-banger groups with male singers. Not much of a shocker there. Now though, a woman took the stage, her band setting up behind her. She had three songs to play - as all bands did - and she started out with a slow song, gather "boo's" from the entire crowd, but something struck me...
"It's not that I feel I need time alone
It's not that I hurt inside myself
It's this pain that I feel with the words I say
It's the pain that I shown to drive you away..."
It honestly wasn't the words, either... It was her voice. She was an extraordinary singer, her voice light and lively...
"I know I should have said the truth
That I was hurt by your past's shadow
It shrouded your judgment and closed my eyes
From the fear it built up in me, inside
Don't let the words fool you
You trusted me so much, but please
Know that my heart spills tears fire-red
Because I listened with my mind instead..."
Then the tune caught me... It was fast-paced in its own melody, blending just that much better with the sweet, uplifting voice emitted from the woman standing on stage, seemingly unfazed by the various insults and jeers from the idiot crowd.
"It told me to remember your mistake
It told me don't think you're truthful
Don't believe he could be, with you, in love
When his past is evidence enough
And I listened like a fool would
And told you what it told me too
'I love you, but it can't last,
I can't live with you and your past',"
Then the words struck me...
I searched for Inuyasha and found him easy enough, approaching the stage through the crowd of morons who couldn't open their ears enough to hear. I followed him, knowing exactly what he was thinking, and I would back him up.
"It's not that I feel I need time alone
It's not that I hurt inside myself
It's this pain that I feel with the words I say
It's the pain that I shown to drive you away
Those excuses won't justify my wrong
I know I owe you so much more, love
Don't let my heart fall just yet
Hold on a bit longer, love, it'll be alright-"
Then her voice kicked up a notch, startling with it's inner laughter at some type of joy she felt through the song, through her voice... And all the lyrics finally sunk in...
"I'll make it all right
I'll take away the pain
I'll stop the falling rain
I'll catch up with that train
That carries you away
Just to stop the hurt
That shines in your eyes
That slump your shoulders so
That makes your head hang low
It's not that I need time alone-
Not that I hurt inside
Not that I cry out loud
Not that I hate you so
But that I can't let go
My Love, Take This To Heart,"
She had stopped and I had reached my husband, slinging my arms around his neck from behind as we both walked onto stage. I sobbed, I couldn't hold it back. Whoever this girl was, I owed her... Really owed her...
Inuyasha snarled, retching the microphone from her hand as she squeaked in surprise and protest. I released him to embrace the stuttering woman on stage, startling her even more as Inuyasha took the moment to thoroughly beat the crowd into battered shells of former beings for their stupidity.
"Who the hell do you think you are!? A bunch of fucking experts on music!? Did you even give her a fucking chance you bunch of low-life, good-for-nothing, idiots I'm ashamed to be specie-related to!? Did you!?" He bellowed, the ground vibrating with the volume. "Did you hear her voice over the nonsense you were sputtering or were you too wrapped up in the fact that she did something different- which meant you had to change from head-banging to actually applying yourself to some form of dance you needed a brain for!? She's been the best fucking vocalist out here and the band is in the best sync any have shown as of yet!? So what the HELL is your problem!?"
Silence descended like a hammer, driving each person into an alarmed quiet that sunk bone-deep. I finally let the woman go and leaned back, grabbing her hands.
"Thank you so much..."
"... Uh..."
"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!?" the supreme idiot of the club shouted from the background....
I could have slapped Miroku a thousand times for that and still not have been satisfied since a violent roar of 'YEAH!s' thundered around.
"Lead singer of Demonic, moron," Inuyasha hissed, his voice low, yet heard by everyone through the sound system.
"Yeah right," another idiot snorted from the front row, "I'll believe that when I see that Demonic Chick."
I blinked. WHAT THE HE...CK! That was different. For one, an American knew us; Two, he didn't recognize the centered, spot-lightened, glossy-silver-haired tall and handsome standing before him...
Yes, that was different...
Then again, a lot of the girls had started squealing and trying to get to the front row by now, so not everyone was both blind and deaf... though I sorta wished those girls were...
I sighed and grabbed the mic. "So, you want to shut up now or keep on making yourself look like the idiot you are?"
The room went silent once again...
"NO WAY!"
Shoot, not good.
Well, after being chased, again, for another three hours, we were free- Inuyasha, Miroku, Kouga, and me, that is. Sango, Ayame, Kagura, and Sesshomaru stayed safely where they were at the club which I assumed grew oddly roomy, and I really felt bad about that, but...
"Thank you, Ms. Higurashi," the seriously under acknowledge woman said in a hush-hushed voice. "Inuyasha..."
"Himitsu," he offered, standing beside me.
"No, we ruined your show," I muttered sadly, bowing slightly. "Forgive us, we didn't-"
"What show?" she laughed. "Honestly, I liked having more positive energy from the smaller crowd than the negative from hundreds, you know?"
"Understandably," Sesshomaru breathed, walking up to us from a side down, holding his almost ever-present bottle of water - you'd think he'd learn, would you? "Miss, if I could have a few words with you..."
She nodded and bade us farewell.
"Shoot!"
"Hm?" Inuyasha hummed as we left to join the others waiting at the limo.
"I forgot to get her name!"
"Oh- You mean Rayven McCaynn?"
"Rayven McCaynn... I have dibs on her first cd!" I shouted, flashing a victory sign at Inuyasha when he sputtered.
"No- I get it! I knew her name first!"
"So? I called it!"
"Nah-uh!"
"Yea-huh!"
"Nah-uh!"
"Yeah!"
"No!"
"Shut up or I get it."
We both turned to see Sango as she leaned boredly out the limo window. I gawked. Inuyasha sputtered some more.
"That's not fair! Hey, don't copy me! You're copying me! You did it first!"
I tell you- we are both in sync with each other and VERY, VERY childish... if you didn't already know... But these were the times that I loved to share with Inuyasha- being myself to the fullest extent, you know? Everything about those times is just that much sweeter than when we hid behind masks deemed acceptable to society.
If only life was like that - completely uninhibited by those 'Socially-Fit Masks'...
If only...
10:49 the next night found me, the band, Sesshomaru, Kagura, Sango, and Ayame in the hotel's pool area. A belated 'Congrats' party for me on getting the Loaded Lies part. Apparently they hadn't believed I'd get the part enough to plan the party before the day I was selected so we'd have it directly after.
I was busy drying off with a towel; Kagura was standing between Inuyasha and Sesshomaru, who were all staring out of the glass wall to look at the stars as they spoke; Ayame and Sango were giggling from the side of the pool, their feet drawing slowly in the water; Kouga and Miroku were busy racing each other. I had just lost to Miroku, so... I decided it was time to join the girls... and I would have if Kagura hadn't turned to lock gazes with me.
My eyebrows shot up in question, seeing the faint smirk on her face. "What?"
Inuyasha, still dressed for business as he had just come back from a meeting his brother had dragged him to, cast a quick glance over his shoulder before returning back to the conversation he was involved in. Sesshomaru, dressed much the same, completely ignored the interruption.
"I have a point to make," Kagura stated, smiling sinisterly.
I think my suspicion shot up three notches at that smile. "Yeah? What's that?"
"This," she said as two index fingers hooked around the top of two pair of pants and tugged. Hard. My eyes instantly flew wide open with disbelief at what she had done.
"WHA!" the Himitsu brothers shrieked, instantly following their pants to the ground in order to cover themselves up, their heads colliding with the glass to make them stumble a bit... She was skilled... VERY skilled to have pulled off boxers, too...
She had just pantst them... completely...
"Oh Kami-sama...!" I exclaimed.
Okay, so here I am, eyes wide open, staring unbelievingly at the woman whom stood between two half-stripped-of-clothing male bodies - one being my brother-in-law! - with a Miroku-innocent smile on her face. Imagine what everyone else thought I was staring at...
If they weren't focused on my half-nude husband and (shutters) brother-in-law, that is...
I could just hear Sango and Ayame's eyes pop out of their skulls, even with the splashing of water Kouga and Miroku were still taking part in a race that seemed endless.
"Kagura!" I shouted, snapping myself out of my dazed state. My voice was a few octaves higher. "What are you DOING?!"
"I told you Inuyasha wins in that department," she laughed. "I'm right, aren't I?"
"Kagura - you're insane!" I cry in exasperation, hand flying over my eyes a bit too late. "That is not something I wanted to see... I'm forever scared..."
"Well, I'm right, aren't I?"
"You could have just asked them to try on leather-"
"You're avoiding the question..." She smirked, knowing she won.
Alright, the biggest problem here was that when I'd answer, it would be the exact same thing as admitting I looked at them both... But Kagura wouldn't let me off the hook until I answered. Okay- confession time, then! "... Yeah, and? What's the point of this?"
By this time, both men had gathered their shaken selves, salvaged their remaining pride, and fled from the temporarily insane (or so I hope) Mrs. Kagura Himitsu, whistles following them from two women I'm thinking of strangling... Truly, I wished I could flee with them, but... then who would be around to save an unexpecting victim from the deranged woman?
She smiled - not a comforting look at the moment - and chuckled, "just that I'm always right - so you should listen to what I have to say."
"Eh?" What a way to prove it. "Right... Did you have something I should be listening to you about?"
"... No, not really."
"I see..."
"I can see what keeps you with that jerk," Ayame laughed from the other side of the room...
... I'd say it's time to let my hands do the talking for me...
'Dear diary, /Wednesday, March 16, 2005/
Today...
Blah...'
I stared intently at the newly written page.
Yup, that summed it up quite nicely.
Today- I went to the store and bought a diary.
The end...
Hmm...
'Life has just hit it's worst low point for me. Inuyasha and I are still being... us... just not together 'us'- even after the whole Rayven McCaynn song-thing. See, he's out touring with the boys and I'm stuck here... in a hotel room... waiting...
Filming got canceled, again, because of Kikyou and her surgery. It seems that she hasn't healed completely yet. It's been four weeks since the bathroom incident and I haven't seen her since. Not that I'm complaining or anything. I'm more than happy about it, but... Well, I like the philosophy of 'If you get it done now, you won't have to do it later.' Ne, get it out of the way?
Well, Shippo and Rin are having a blast (Rin went shopping with me and thus you were bought (under her pestering)). They're just being kids. Ayame (who hasn't spoken to me since I strangled her at the pool- SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN LOOKING...!) has gotten things patched up with Kouga, for the most part, as far as I know. Kouga still has trouble believing Ryu and Ayame had nothing going on. Miroku is Miroku and Sango is Sango...
I think.
I still haven't talked to her, yet. Maybe that's what I should do. Now, with Kouga, Miroku, and Inu gone (oh, dear god, I just called my husband 'dog' - 'dogboy' is okay, but 'dog'? - ... Let's keep that our little secret, k?) it would be the perfect time. I think that's what I'll do... Yeah!
Thanks! This has helped. Maybe I should thank Rin for pestering, huh?
I'll write again later, D.
Kag,'
I smiled, snapping the journal shut. I don't ever remember writing in one before, but... I think it will be a new hobby of mine...
(A/N: No, this won't happen often- if it ever even happens again.)
Picking up the receiver, I dialed Ayame's room number. Surely she'd talk to me...
A girls night sounded like a plan she'd go for, after all.
Sango arrived with a huge pizza box in her hand, grinning like a school girl. Honestly, I think we all felt like school girls again. I mean, Ayame had her make-up out, dressed in pajamas; Sango had a pizza in on hand and movies in a bag in the other while wearing pjs; I had the tiny room-refrigerator stocked with drinks of all sorts- alcohol included (thanks to Kagura's nifty ability to 'talk' an employer into sneaking us a bit- not that I'm a drinker... and I wasn't allowing Sango to have any if she was pregnant, but just in case the whole thing was a false alarm, you know?)
"Well, let's get to it!" Ayame squealed, pulling the pizza from Sango's grip and tossing it onto a side table before taking the girl herself and beginning her 'Aya-chan Make-Over Special'... And she's over the strangling now...
Yes, we're most definitely reverting into schooldays.
"Ah, doesn't it feel great!" Sango exclaimed, beaming as she drew in a deep breath. "Sesshomaru's not breathing down our backs, the men are gone, Kagura's taken the kids for a night..."
"The good ol' days," we chorused, giggling.
"What a feeling..."
...
"No pranks, right?" Ayame asked, quickly searching the room. This sent Sango into a nervous bout of twitching and stuttering.
"... I hadn't even thought about it," I said, honestly. "Haven't since... well, since I pinned Sess to that tree... Oh, wait- I freight trained Inuyasha just before we left Japan..."
:::::: Silence ::::::
"Are you sure?" Sango queried, doing one last survey of the room.
"Yeah, I didn't set anything up."
"So, what is this all about?" Ayame asked, catching my attention as I burrowed through the bag of movies.
Hmm... Underworld or Grease...
"Besides the guys being gone," Sango added.
Grease, definitely.
Popping in the tape and grabbing the remote, I joined the girls on the bed. Ayame continued her treatment of Sango's hair.
"I wanted to talk to you..."
Sango's eyes lifted to gaze into mine, a curious flash lighten them. "About...?"
"Well, for one- the movie. Two- I just wanted to catch up on what's going on with you two..." I looked down at my feet. "We don't just sit and talk with each other like we used to and Ayame has to leave in three days for that movie back home..."
Sango sighed, "I know. It feels like... Everything's different... and not..."
"In the best of ways," Ayame finished, setting down her brush.
"Well, let me start first- 'kay?" I asked, smiling as much as I could. "You both know Inuyasha and I aren't exactly getting along, right?" Two heads nod. "... Aya-chan, I haven't told you this yet because... well, I didn't want you letting it slip in front of Kouga or something." She frowned. "The first day here, after auditions... I had a run-in with Kikyou."
Ayame blinked, absorbing the information.
...
"... NANI!?"
"Ye-"
"That's where you got that bruise from!? She hit you!?" the woman screeched, outrage apparent in her voice. "Why, the nerve-!"
"I broke her nose, though. I kinda deserved it," I mumbled guiltily.
Ayame shook her head, "no you didn't. Kouga told me the whole story behind Kikyou and Inuyasha. For her to do something like that..." She slammed a fist on the bed. "She deserved more than a broken nose."
Okay, scary side of Ayame showing through again.
"... Well, it doesn't really matter right now. I haven't told Inuyasha about her and I won't... not yet. I don't want to lose him."
"You won't lose him." Sango is persistent, isn't she?
"... I just don't trust him enough and he noticed it when I refused to tell him why I had a bruise," I continued, ignoring my friend's statement. "Now he's keeping his distance or cuddling more than usual- one or the other. It's really awkward. I mean, one second I'm watching him sulk in the corner chair, then next thing I know he's hugging me and not letting go until he falls asleep or we have to leave for something..."
"I think that's kind of sweet," Ayame declared.
"Not when he's sulking and grumbling in my ear, it's not."
"Oh... well, I still think it's sweet." Ayame smiled, picking up the brush and motioning me over to sit in front of her.
Complying, I returned to my speech. "So, he doesn't know about Kikyou, thinks I'm hiding something, and thinks - for some odd reason - that it has to do with Ryu Itoshi..."
"I wonder," Sango muttered sarcastically. "If I was your husband - arigatou, Kami-sama that I'm not - and you were going into a movie were a guy's hands are going to be grabbing you in worse ways than even Miroku would do... I think I'd be thinking it had something to do with Ryu Itoshi..."
"How can me not trusting Inuyasha connect to Ryu Itoshi in any logical sense?" I hissed as the brush caught a hidden knot of hair.
"... Good point."
"We don't have the same mind frame as Inuyasha, though," Ayame noted softly.
I nodded, picking at the blanket distractedly. "On top of this, Kikyou hasn't shown up for work because of surgery - her nose hasn't healed fully yet. So I have absolutely nothing to do. Inuyasha's gone - which isn't really a bad thing right now. Nick called Sesshomaru and Sesshomaru called Kagura and Kagura told me-"
"Sounds almost like good old gossip!" giggled Sango.
"-that Demonic has to go back into recording for 'Loaded Lies' and I have to go to work tomorrow, then to the studio to brainstorm revisions for the song with the head honcho because I had to open my big mouth and voiced my opinions out in the open with Nick listening from the sound room and he liked the ideas I was coming up with and the whole thing is just a load of bologna..."
Sucking in a deep breath, I calmed my now frazzled nerves. That took a lot to say just that little bit... Maybe I need to see a psychiatrist...
Where was Kagura when you needed her?
"Woah... tough break."
Sango soon found herself slammed in the face by a pillow. She chuckled and tossed it back.
"Ayame's turn," Sango volunteered her.
"Um... Well... Kouga finally understands the whole Ryu thing... Seems Itoshi-san is involved in a lot of our life at the moment, huh?" Sango and I snorted a quick, 'got that right,' before Ayame continued. "Kouga suggested that we, he and I, go to Canada once I get back from filming if you're still stuck here in America. He said something about a skiing resort the band went to their first month of fame. 'Great slopes,' he said. It sounds interesting.
"... He's... distant, too. He's blaming it on Inuyasha, actually, saying that his mood is just rubbing off on him-"
"-Miroku too," added Sango, sending an apologetic gaze my way.
'Damn him...
'... Damn me...
'My fault, all my fault... It's all my fault... Everyone's suffering and I just can't...
'Maybe it will get better.'
Fat chance.
"Well, I think it's bogus that he'd pin the blame on Inuyasha. I think it has to do with Ryu, still, even if he said he was over it," Ayame uttered, sweeping my hair up and twisting it as she saw fit. She was going for some type of bun, I think. "Kouga's one to hold a grudge. I mean, he still has a bit of an edge in his thought of Inuyasha because of Kikyou..."
"Eh?"
Sango still didn't know the whole story... Ayame filled her in with it while she finished up my hair, then moved to make-up as Sango took over the brush and tended to Ayame's auburn locks. I turned my attention to watching Ayame's jade eyes, the emotion switching from irritation to disgust, from hurt - for Kouga, then Inuyasha - to hatred. Seems Kikyou has a bad rap in Ayame's mind.
"Well, that's a story to be put in the books," Sango joked.
"Anything else new, Aya-chan?" I asked, pulling out some nail polish to gloss over her fingernails.
"Not really. My life is at a stand still, it seems."
"Sango-chan?"
Sango frowned, putting the brush down slowly. Her eyes shifted nervously. I could see it, the wheels turning - 'they told the truth, you should too.' 'But... what will they think about it.' 'Their your friends, they always will be. They'll understand.' 'I'm not so sure...' 'Just tell them.'
We've all had that conversation with ourselves. It's definitely the most aggravating and least fun of arguments. I couldn't help but sigh in helplessness at not being able to solve the struggle without her either blowing up in my face and storming off or clamping her mouth shut in suspicion or hurt...
... She saved me the trouble.
"Yeah... I have something to tell you."
Ayame, sensing something important, turned her full attention to the women. I put the polish away before ever using it.
This was it.
Sango's lips quirked at their edges, a sort of rueful smile forming. "Miroku and me... For one, we're engaged."
"Aha!" I laugh/squealed, happy for my friend beyond imagination. "That's so great- when'd it happen?"
"New Years, when all the fireworks were lighting the sky..." she trailed off dreamily. "Oh, he was so..."
"So?" Ayame prompted.
Sango grinned, "perverted... and sweet."
"That's Miroku for you," I sighed, shaking my head in pity for the thick-skulled drummer. "What else?"
"Well, I'm... I went to the doctors a few weeks ago..."
"And?" I squeaked, excitement taking over. Maybe she was pregnant... Then I'd be like an aunt! ... Oh, right, BAD Sango-chan... But still!
"I'm... Well, New Years... We... and..." Sango's eyes were downcast, her cheeks a flaming red. "Well, Miroku, he... we... uh..."
Ayame's expression switched from ecstatic over the engagement to pale disbelief. "You're pregnant!?" Sango winced... and nodded. "Oh. My... Kami-sama, what the- how'd he talk you into THAT!?"
"Ehe..." A hand sheepishly rubbed the back of a flame-red neck, a shy-like smile forming on slightly parted lips. "Well, he kinda tried to talk me out of it..."
'Inuyasha was right...! Kami-sama that just can't be true!'
"WHAT!?"
"I think it's great, Sango-chan," I whispered, grabbing her hands to reassure her. "But, who started it?" Sango grinned at that as we all answered, "Miroku."
"Still, Sango..." Ayame was having a bit of trouble it seemed. "What about your mom?"
"..."
Sango's expression changed completely. I cast a furious glare at Ayame. Way to spoil it.
"She has too much on her mind already," came a small, hesitant whisper. "... Kohaku..."
I was taken aback. What's wrong with Kohaku? Did he get in trouble with the cops? Was he sick? Sango's chin quivered as tears formed. Something was definitely wrong.
"Sango-chan, what is it?" I asked, taking her shoulders to steady her as she cried. "Tell us what's wrong, please..."
"Kohaku....
"...
"... he's dying."
A/N: As you can see, quite a bit is happening in this story. Yes, Sango is pregnant. As for Kohaku, you'll have to wait and see. The guys are touring without Kagome because she is supposed to be shooting the film but Kikyou is currently healing from her surgery. Ayame is going back to Japan for her film and Ryu is ruining the girls' life just as much as Sess is destroying the band's. Rayven is now contracted under Sesshomaru and you won't be seeing too much of her, but she will return once or twice if I don't forget her... ;;
Anyway, please don't forget to check out the stories up for vote! They are all spectacular!
www. geocities. com/ bikifriend/ main. html (remember- without the spaces!!!)
Ja ne minna!
A/N: I'm SORRY!!!! (Yes- I made it one whole chapter without saying that and I had to say it the first thing this chapter! I'm so proud of myself!) Anyway- the HUGE delay back there was because of my AP US History test... and I am pulling my hair out in frustration from having to wait for my results... let's just say, I already know it's not my best... Shoot... Plus, end of school- you all know how that goes. --;;
Well, I'm sorry to say, you'll have to wait - AGAIN - for review responses and WNB stat changes, because I'm in a rush to get this out! See, about a month and a half ago or so, I was nominated for a Fanfiction Elimination for my story You! and I made it to the second round!!!
Please, if you have the time, vote for me!
www. geocities. com/ bikifriend/ main. html (without the spaces)
Author: Sakura-chan88
Title: Me?
Chapter: Rimose Occurrences
You've passed the 'test' he gave you without a hitch... except for the fact that you are now freezing from your soaked mini skirt- which has succeeded in riding up on your legs a bit more- and skimpy (thanks to the water) shirt. Wait... Listen... Hear that? He's laughing at you! Why- the nerve of the guy! You better make sure you dunk him for it later!
"You are such a jerk, Inuyasha..."
"And? Your point is...?"
I frowned. "Can I open my eyes now?"
"Yeah, but... I still don't get it," Inuyasha muttered as I slowly opened my eyes and chlorine-water slipped into them, burning... 'Oh, yes Kagome,' I thought to myself, 'Feel the Buuuuurrrrrrn...' Right... "You're too complicated."
"I know," I giggled, swimming over to the edge of the pool. "I'm also a person who bases all view points on illogical human thought, too."
"Got that right!"
Inuyasha smirked at me, watching as I unsuccessfully attempted to pull myself over the side of the pool (I don't need the little kiddie-latter!), chuckling before offering his help after I slipped and splashed back into the pool (okay, so maybe I do need the little latter...).
"Ohhhh hush, you!" I pouted, slapping him a little to hide my blush as he fixed my skirt for me, grumbling the entire time. "It's your fault."
"You shouldn't wear these things," he stated, straightening his back as a deep voice spoke.
"Like you argue any other time."
"At least I can last a week without whimpering back to my wife with my tail between my legs," Inuyasha sneered, turning to give Sesshomaru a pointed glare.
Sesshomaru stood with Kagura, having just walked in. He was obviously searching for his brother, since his attire still radiated "SUPREME BUSINESS MAN" and Kagura looked rather bored.
Inuyasha walked toward the man as I turned my attention to my clothing, scowling, few words catching my attention. Straightening my skirt just a bit more, then fixing one of the straps on my shirt, I raised my gaze at the same moment Kagura whistled. Quirking an eyebrow, I looked to the woman for an answer.
"Come on."
"Eh?"
"You need to get changed, for one," Kagura pointed out, turning around and walking away. "And I have to talk to you."
Of course, I follow along like a lost puppy... "About?"
We had left the pool area, the Himitsu brothers still deep in discussion near the edge of the huge, irregularly shaped bowl... I briefly entertained the idea of pushing them both into the considerably cold (for a hotel) pool... Kagura was silent for a moment, waiting just to make sure the men were out of range.
"Kikyou."
"What about her?"
"What are you going to do?" She asked. I shrugged. "You can't just do nothing..."
"I'll think of something... Eventually... When need be, I suppose," I muttered. "I feel its better to confront problems when its necessary, not worry over something when it won't help anyway..."
"But you are worrying over it if you won't tell Inuyasha about her," Kagura mentioned, looking at me from the corner of her eyes in a suggestion of, 'So, you'll tell him?'
I sighed, switching gears. "How were Shippo and Rin? Did they give you any trouble?"
Yes, Kagura 'babysat' for Inuyasha and me while we went to that 'meeting' with Ryu Itoshi (A/N: I'm drilling that name into your head for right now... ).
"Fine - Yura used Rin for a few hair experiments and Shippo kept busy with Jack. I think Jack can 'wave' now, but I'm not too sure about that - it might have just been a fluke," she muttered.
"Hn."
"Anyway, Sesshomaru wanted to check out a concert that's going on next week so he's staying for a while," Kagura sighed. "Something about new scouting opportunities since it's a bunch of small bands, then there's a club he's thinking about buying..."
"He's opening business here now?"
"There's always been business here, just not American oriented."
"That's news to me," I giggled. This group of people I associate with are forever surprising me.
"... I have a bit more news for you," Kagura smirked, stopping and turning to face me fully. "It's about the call backs."
My eyes snapped open and, from the sheer excitement, I reverted back to my native tongue, squealing, "Honto?"
"Hai." A faint smile graced her lips. "You made it."
'And you are May.' I could practically hear the smirk in my inner voice's tone, filled to the brim with arrogance. Meanwhile, I, being quite pleasantly winded by the information, was searching for my own voice.
"... Iie..." My heart raced. "Ii-iie... No way..."
An arm draped over my shoulder. "Of course you made it, Fangirl."
Large eyes focused in on glittering golden ones. How Inuyasha managed to close the gap between our two groups so quickly when he was in a 'serious business meeting' was beyond me. "Inuyasha?"
"Don't act so shocked. We knew you'd make it." Sango.
"There was no doubt in our minds." Miroku.
They just keep popping up one by one, don't they?
"Yeah. So don't doubt yourself, y'hear?" Ayame and Kouga.
I smiled to them all, inclining my head slightly in agreement and thanks, eyes sparkling bright.
Seemed today may turn out alright after all.
"Empty chamber
Six vacant shells
A quiet whisper
Is all that tells
Listen close
Between the lines
The words you hear
Are loaded lies
Direct the heart
Twisted mind
Play the games
Crooked spine
Spell's been cast
In over time
Things you see
Are loaded lies
Feel it pulse
Live the show
Know the chorus
Sing in tow
Tell the truth
Take the blow
Loaded lies
Seems are sown
Mirror image
Backwards glance
Breath deep for once
Seize the chance
Break the rules
For the prize
These silences
Are loaded lies
Screams unheard
Minds unclear
Eyes still closed
Ears won't hear
Change fate's tune
Look to the skies
See the words
Are loaded lies
Feel it pulse
Live the show
Know the chorus
Sing in tow
Tell the truth
Take the blow
Loaded lies
Seems are sown
The chamber's empty
Words hide the mines
To destroy a believing soul
And you're out of time
Feel it pulse
Live the show
Know the chorus
Sing in tow
Tell the truth
Take the blow
Loaded lies
Seems are sown."
I sighed heavily, falling to a sitting position on the ground, voice sore from the repeated singing of 'Loaded Lies, 'Loaded Lies' (duh...) theme song... Wow, how original...
"Well... that's an interesting tune..."
"I'd say... haunting, yet lively with a smidgen of techno..." The ever so observant Miroku sat at his drum set, still tapping out the beat lowly, playing around a bit with the sound. Inuyasha tossed his guitar into its case with the utmost love and care. Kouga stalked off to the door, leaving like the rest of us should have.
... Should have, but were not. I was just too tired.
(A/N: Pause for a moment... The whole 'smidgen' thing just brought back a memory I think you'll all like to hear... I was six years old the first time I heard it (and I was called 'midget' because I was so small for my age- which is important for this tirade), and I wanted to sound smart and use it in a sentence. So, being the smart girl I am, I went to my mom on Thanksgiving and said- "I wanna smidget of milk!"
....
Needless to say, I still have to sit at Thanksgiving with my family and hear them laugh and ask if I want a 'smidget' of this or a 'smidget' of that... sigh Yeah, anyway!)
My week had been so over-the-topo hectic that I'd actually made a mental chart... which missed so many things... Kinda looked like this-
This week:
Sunday- Went to call backs, in which I auditioned three times and eventually came out victorious. gasp Big shocker there!
Monday- Met the rest of the cast (except Kikyou- something about a surgery...)
Tuesday- Shopping with Spree-er Extraordinaire, Kaguya (my wardrobe technician).
(A/N: Kaguya is a kick-ass-looking evil chic bad girl off of Inuyasha's 2nd movie...)
Wednesday- A run in with a mob of fans who were, for the most part, Japanese-American... who, for the most part, attended Demonic's earlier concert (a week ago- which turned out to be one of our best- including my debut...)
Thursday (today)- Started three hours too early. I had my first screening shot today with Shippo and Rin and Ryu Itoshi. I had a meeting with the CEO of a company Sesshomaru was planning to buy. I had been singing, re-singing, and re-re-singing for the last six hours.
And this is where I am, now. Finally, the recorder (Oh, what was his name?!) heard what he was looking for and ended the hours of stress on my vocal cords. I am soooo not complaining. If I did...
I cast a sideways glance toward Sesshomaru...
... shutter
Yeah, I'll just keep it to myself.
"I like it," Inuyasha stated. "The rhythm is different. Unique. And the bass line is awesome to play..." He mimicked a few chords on an air-guitar. "I actually had fun with this song."
"That's new." I sighed, stretching out my legs and leaning back on my arms. "Usually you complain and Sessho-chan makes us do another round."
Sesshomaru cleared his throat, throwing a menacing glare in my direction for the new nickname.
"Still, I think the words could be spruced up a bit."
"Like?" Miroku prompted, leaning forward across his drum set.
"Hmm... Like...
"An empty chamber
Six vacant shells
A quiet whisper
Is all that tells-
"Then have this really quite whispered part-
"(The words you hear
Will bring you down-)
"Then
"Screams unheard
Minds unclear
Eyes still closed
Ears won't hear
"(The truth is too close To your open heart)
"I mean- just a few actual whispered parts. Not necessarily those words, but..."
Unknowingly, at the time, I was putting myself into more stressful hours of singing. And rewriting to a song I didn't actually care for... for a movie I was bound to hate.
"That would spruce things up a bit, wouldn't it?" Inuyasha mused.
"... Yeah," I breathed in a 'like-duh!' tone.
"Never mind that," said Sesshomaru, finally joining us humans from his heaven-ward podium he himself built... right... "We are attending that concert tonight."
Three inward groans turned to outward sighs of defeat.
Life is simply too short... and stress-ridden.
The bands which had played, until this point, had been hard-rock head-banger groups with male singers. Not much of a shocker there. Now though, a woman took the stage, her band setting up behind her. She had three songs to play - as all bands did - and she started out with a slow song, gather "boo's" from the entire crowd, but something struck me...
"It's not that I feel I need time alone
It's not that I hurt inside myself
It's this pain that I feel with the words I say
It's the pain that I shown to drive you away..."
It honestly wasn't the words, either... It was her voice. She was an extraordinary singer, her voice light and lively...
"I know I should have said the truth
That I was hurt by your past's shadow
It shrouded your judgment and closed my eyes
From the fear it built up in me, inside
Don't let the words fool you
You trusted me so much, but please
Know that my heart spills tears fire-red
Because I listened with my mind instead..."
Then the tune caught me... It was fast-paced in its own melody, blending just that much better with the sweet, uplifting voice emitted from the woman standing on stage, seemingly unfazed by the various insults and jeers from the idiot crowd.
"It told me to remember your mistake
It told me don't think you're truthful
Don't believe he could be, with you, in love
When his past is evidence enough
And I listened like a fool would
And told you what it told me too
'I love you, but it can't last,
I can't live with you and your past',"
Then the words struck me...
I searched for Inuyasha and found him easy enough, approaching the stage through the crowd of morons who couldn't open their ears enough to hear. I followed him, knowing exactly what he was thinking, and I would back him up.
"It's not that I feel I need time alone
It's not that I hurt inside myself
It's this pain that I feel with the words I say
It's the pain that I shown to drive you away
Those excuses won't justify my wrong
I know I owe you so much more, love
Don't let my heart fall just yet
Hold on a bit longer, love, it'll be alright-"
Then her voice kicked up a notch, startling with it's inner laughter at some type of joy she felt through the song, through her voice... And all the lyrics finally sunk in...
"I'll make it all right
I'll take away the pain
I'll stop the falling rain
I'll catch up with that train
That carries you away
Just to stop the hurt
That shines in your eyes
That slump your shoulders so
That makes your head hang low
It's not that I need time alone-
Not that I hurt inside
Not that I cry out loud
Not that I hate you so
But that I can't let go
My Love, Take This To Heart,"
She had stopped and I had reached my husband, slinging my arms around his neck from behind as we both walked onto stage. I sobbed, I couldn't hold it back. Whoever this girl was, I owed her... Really owed her...
Inuyasha snarled, retching the microphone from her hand as she squeaked in surprise and protest. I released him to embrace the stuttering woman on stage, startling her even more as Inuyasha took the moment to thoroughly beat the crowd into battered shells of former beings for their stupidity.
"Who the hell do you think you are!? A bunch of fucking experts on music!? Did you even give her a fucking chance you bunch of low-life, good-for-nothing, idiots I'm ashamed to be specie-related to!? Did you!?" He bellowed, the ground vibrating with the volume. "Did you hear her voice over the nonsense you were sputtering or were you too wrapped up in the fact that she did something different- which meant you had to change from head-banging to actually applying yourself to some form of dance you needed a brain for!? She's been the best fucking vocalist out here and the band is in the best sync any have shown as of yet!? So what the HELL is your problem!?"
Silence descended like a hammer, driving each person into an alarmed quiet that sunk bone-deep. I finally let the woman go and leaned back, grabbing her hands.
"Thank you so much..."
"... Uh..."
"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!?" the supreme idiot of the club shouted from the background....
I could have slapped Miroku a thousand times for that and still not have been satisfied since a violent roar of 'YEAH!s' thundered around.
"Lead singer of Demonic, moron," Inuyasha hissed, his voice low, yet heard by everyone through the sound system.
"Yeah right," another idiot snorted from the front row, "I'll believe that when I see that Demonic Chick."
I blinked. WHAT THE HE...CK! That was different. For one, an American knew us; Two, he didn't recognize the centered, spot-lightened, glossy-silver-haired tall and handsome standing before him...
Yes, that was different...
Then again, a lot of the girls had started squealing and trying to get to the front row by now, so not everyone was both blind and deaf... though I sorta wished those girls were...
I sighed and grabbed the mic. "So, you want to shut up now or keep on making yourself look like the idiot you are?"
The room went silent once again...
"NO WAY!"
Shoot, not good.
Well, after being chased, again, for another three hours, we were free- Inuyasha, Miroku, Kouga, and me, that is. Sango, Ayame, Kagura, and Sesshomaru stayed safely where they were at the club which I assumed grew oddly roomy, and I really felt bad about that, but...
"Thank you, Ms. Higurashi," the seriously under acknowledge woman said in a hush-hushed voice. "Inuyasha..."
"Himitsu," he offered, standing beside me.
"No, we ruined your show," I muttered sadly, bowing slightly. "Forgive us, we didn't-"
"What show?" she laughed. "Honestly, I liked having more positive energy from the smaller crowd than the negative from hundreds, you know?"
"Understandably," Sesshomaru breathed, walking up to us from a side down, holding his almost ever-present bottle of water - you'd think he'd learn, would you? "Miss, if I could have a few words with you..."
She nodded and bade us farewell.
"Shoot!"
"Hm?" Inuyasha hummed as we left to join the others waiting at the limo.
"I forgot to get her name!"
"Oh- You mean Rayven McCaynn?"
"Rayven McCaynn... I have dibs on her first cd!" I shouted, flashing a victory sign at Inuyasha when he sputtered.
"No- I get it! I knew her name first!"
"So? I called it!"
"Nah-uh!"
"Yea-huh!"
"Nah-uh!"
"Yeah!"
"No!"
"Shut up or I get it."
We both turned to see Sango as she leaned boredly out the limo window. I gawked. Inuyasha sputtered some more.
"That's not fair! Hey, don't copy me! You're copying me! You did it first!"
I tell you- we are both in sync with each other and VERY, VERY childish... if you didn't already know... But these were the times that I loved to share with Inuyasha- being myself to the fullest extent, you know? Everything about those times is just that much sweeter than when we hid behind masks deemed acceptable to society.
If only life was like that - completely uninhibited by those 'Socially-Fit Masks'...
If only...
10:49 the next night found me, the band, Sesshomaru, Kagura, Sango, and Ayame in the hotel's pool area. A belated 'Congrats' party for me on getting the Loaded Lies part. Apparently they hadn't believed I'd get the part enough to plan the party before the day I was selected so we'd have it directly after.
I was busy drying off with a towel; Kagura was standing between Inuyasha and Sesshomaru, who were all staring out of the glass wall to look at the stars as they spoke; Ayame and Sango were giggling from the side of the pool, their feet drawing slowly in the water; Kouga and Miroku were busy racing each other. I had just lost to Miroku, so... I decided it was time to join the girls... and I would have if Kagura hadn't turned to lock gazes with me.
My eyebrows shot up in question, seeing the faint smirk on her face. "What?"
Inuyasha, still dressed for business as he had just come back from a meeting his brother had dragged him to, cast a quick glance over his shoulder before returning back to the conversation he was involved in. Sesshomaru, dressed much the same, completely ignored the interruption.
"I have a point to make," Kagura stated, smiling sinisterly.
I think my suspicion shot up three notches at that smile. "Yeah? What's that?"
"This," she said as two index fingers hooked around the top of two pair of pants and tugged. Hard. My eyes instantly flew wide open with disbelief at what she had done.
"WHA!" the Himitsu brothers shrieked, instantly following their pants to the ground in order to cover themselves up, their heads colliding with the glass to make them stumble a bit... She was skilled... VERY skilled to have pulled off boxers, too...
She had just pantst them... completely...
"Oh Kami-sama...!" I exclaimed.
Okay, so here I am, eyes wide open, staring unbelievingly at the woman whom stood between two half-stripped-of-clothing male bodies - one being my brother-in-law! - with a Miroku-innocent smile on her face. Imagine what everyone else thought I was staring at...
If they weren't focused on my half-nude husband and (shutters) brother-in-law, that is...
I could just hear Sango and Ayame's eyes pop out of their skulls, even with the splashing of water Kouga and Miroku were still taking part in a race that seemed endless.
"Kagura!" I shouted, snapping myself out of my dazed state. My voice was a few octaves higher. "What are you DOING?!"
"I told you Inuyasha wins in that department," she laughed. "I'm right, aren't I?"
"Kagura - you're insane!" I cry in exasperation, hand flying over my eyes a bit too late. "That is not something I wanted to see... I'm forever scared..."
"Well, I'm right, aren't I?"
"You could have just asked them to try on leather-"
"You're avoiding the question..." She smirked, knowing she won.
Alright, the biggest problem here was that when I'd answer, it would be the exact same thing as admitting I looked at them both... But Kagura wouldn't let me off the hook until I answered. Okay- confession time, then! "... Yeah, and? What's the point of this?"
By this time, both men had gathered their shaken selves, salvaged their remaining pride, and fled from the temporarily insane (or so I hope) Mrs. Kagura Himitsu, whistles following them from two women I'm thinking of strangling... Truly, I wished I could flee with them, but... then who would be around to save an unexpecting victim from the deranged woman?
She smiled - not a comforting look at the moment - and chuckled, "just that I'm always right - so you should listen to what I have to say."
"Eh?" What a way to prove it. "Right... Did you have something I should be listening to you about?"
"... No, not really."
"I see..."
"I can see what keeps you with that jerk," Ayame laughed from the other side of the room...
... I'd say it's time to let my hands do the talking for me...
'Dear diary, /Wednesday, March 16, 2005/
Today...
Blah...'
I stared intently at the newly written page.
Yup, that summed it up quite nicely.
Today- I went to the store and bought a diary.
The end...
Hmm...
'Life has just hit it's worst low point for me. Inuyasha and I are still being... us... just not together 'us'- even after the whole Rayven McCaynn song-thing. See, he's out touring with the boys and I'm stuck here... in a hotel room... waiting...
Filming got canceled, again, because of Kikyou and her surgery. It seems that she hasn't healed completely yet. It's been four weeks since the bathroom incident and I haven't seen her since. Not that I'm complaining or anything. I'm more than happy about it, but... Well, I like the philosophy of 'If you get it done now, you won't have to do it later.' Ne, get it out of the way?
Well, Shippo and Rin are having a blast (Rin went shopping with me and thus you were bought (under her pestering)). They're just being kids. Ayame (who hasn't spoken to me since I strangled her at the pool- SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN LOOKING...!) has gotten things patched up with Kouga, for the most part, as far as I know. Kouga still has trouble believing Ryu and Ayame had nothing going on. Miroku is Miroku and Sango is Sango...
I think.
I still haven't talked to her, yet. Maybe that's what I should do. Now, with Kouga, Miroku, and Inu gone (oh, dear god, I just called my husband 'dog' - 'dogboy' is okay, but 'dog'? - ... Let's keep that our little secret, k?) it would be the perfect time. I think that's what I'll do... Yeah!
Thanks! This has helped. Maybe I should thank Rin for pestering, huh?
I'll write again later, D.
Kag,'
I smiled, snapping the journal shut. I don't ever remember writing in one before, but... I think it will be a new hobby of mine...
(A/N: No, this won't happen often- if it ever even happens again.)
Picking up the receiver, I dialed Ayame's room number. Surely she'd talk to me...
A girls night sounded like a plan she'd go for, after all.
Sango arrived with a huge pizza box in her hand, grinning like a school girl. Honestly, I think we all felt like school girls again. I mean, Ayame had her make-up out, dressed in pajamas; Sango had a pizza in on hand and movies in a bag in the other while wearing pjs; I had the tiny room-refrigerator stocked with drinks of all sorts- alcohol included (thanks to Kagura's nifty ability to 'talk' an employer into sneaking us a bit- not that I'm a drinker... and I wasn't allowing Sango to have any if she was pregnant, but just in case the whole thing was a false alarm, you know?)
"Well, let's get to it!" Ayame squealed, pulling the pizza from Sango's grip and tossing it onto a side table before taking the girl herself and beginning her 'Aya-chan Make-Over Special'... And she's over the strangling now...
Yes, we're most definitely reverting into schooldays.
"Ah, doesn't it feel great!" Sango exclaimed, beaming as she drew in a deep breath. "Sesshomaru's not breathing down our backs, the men are gone, Kagura's taken the kids for a night..."
"The good ol' days," we chorused, giggling.
"What a feeling..."
...
"No pranks, right?" Ayame asked, quickly searching the room. This sent Sango into a nervous bout of twitching and stuttering.
"... I hadn't even thought about it," I said, honestly. "Haven't since... well, since I pinned Sess to that tree... Oh, wait- I freight trained Inuyasha just before we left Japan..."
"Are you sure?" Sango queried, doing one last survey of the room.
"Yeah, I didn't set anything up."
"So, what is this all about?" Ayame asked, catching my attention as I burrowed through the bag of movies.
Hmm... Underworld or Grease...
"Besides the guys being gone," Sango added.
Grease, definitely.
Popping in the tape and grabbing the remote, I joined the girls on the bed. Ayame continued her treatment of Sango's hair.
"I wanted to talk to you..."
Sango's eyes lifted to gaze into mine, a curious flash lighten them. "About...?"
"Well, for one- the movie. Two- I just wanted to catch up on what's going on with you two..." I looked down at my feet. "We don't just sit and talk with each other like we used to and Ayame has to leave in three days for that movie back home..."
Sango sighed, "I know. It feels like... Everything's different... and not..."
"In the best of ways," Ayame finished, setting down her brush.
"Well, let me start first- 'kay?" I asked, smiling as much as I could. "You both know Inuyasha and I aren't exactly getting along, right?" Two heads nod. "... Aya-chan, I haven't told you this yet because... well, I didn't want you letting it slip in front of Kouga or something." She frowned. "The first day here, after auditions... I had a run-in with Kikyou."
Ayame blinked, absorbing the information.
...
"... NANI!?"
"Ye-"
"That's where you got that bruise from!? She hit you!?" the woman screeched, outrage apparent in her voice. "Why, the nerve-!"
"I broke her nose, though. I kinda deserved it," I mumbled guiltily.
Ayame shook her head, "no you didn't. Kouga told me the whole story behind Kikyou and Inuyasha. For her to do something like that..." She slammed a fist on the bed. "She deserved more than a broken nose."
Okay, scary side of Ayame showing through again.
"... Well, it doesn't really matter right now. I haven't told Inuyasha about her and I won't... not yet. I don't want to lose him."
"You won't lose him." Sango is persistent, isn't she?
"... I just don't trust him enough and he noticed it when I refused to tell him why I had a bruise," I continued, ignoring my friend's statement. "Now he's keeping his distance or cuddling more than usual- one or the other. It's really awkward. I mean, one second I'm watching him sulk in the corner chair, then next thing I know he's hugging me and not letting go until he falls asleep or we have to leave for something..."
"I think that's kind of sweet," Ayame declared.
"Not when he's sulking and grumbling in my ear, it's not."
"Oh... well, I still think it's sweet." Ayame smiled, picking up the brush and motioning me over to sit in front of her.
Complying, I returned to my speech. "So, he doesn't know about Kikyou, thinks I'm hiding something, and thinks - for some odd reason - that it has to do with Ryu Itoshi..."
"I wonder," Sango muttered sarcastically. "If I was your husband - arigatou, Kami-sama that I'm not - and you were going into a movie were a guy's hands are going to be grabbing you in worse ways than even Miroku would do... I think I'd be thinking it had something to do with Ryu Itoshi..."
"How can me not trusting Inuyasha connect to Ryu Itoshi in any logical sense?" I hissed as the brush caught a hidden knot of hair.
"... Good point."
"We don't have the same mind frame as Inuyasha, though," Ayame noted softly.
I nodded, picking at the blanket distractedly. "On top of this, Kikyou hasn't shown up for work because of surgery - her nose hasn't healed fully yet. So I have absolutely nothing to do. Inuyasha's gone - which isn't really a bad thing right now. Nick called Sesshomaru and Sesshomaru called Kagura and Kagura told me-"
"Sounds almost like good old gossip!" giggled Sango.
"-that Demonic has to go back into recording for 'Loaded Lies' and I have to go to work tomorrow, then to the studio to brainstorm revisions for the song with the head honcho because I had to open my big mouth and voiced my opinions out in the open with Nick listening from the sound room and he liked the ideas I was coming up with and the whole thing is just a load of bologna..."
Sucking in a deep breath, I calmed my now frazzled nerves. That took a lot to say just that little bit... Maybe I need to see a psychiatrist...
Where was Kagura when you needed her?
"Woah... tough break."
Sango soon found herself slammed in the face by a pillow. She chuckled and tossed it back.
"Ayame's turn," Sango volunteered her.
"Um... Well... Kouga finally understands the whole Ryu thing... Seems Itoshi-san is involved in a lot of our life at the moment, huh?" Sango and I snorted a quick, 'got that right,' before Ayame continued. "Kouga suggested that we, he and I, go to Canada once I get back from filming if you're still stuck here in America. He said something about a skiing resort the band went to their first month of fame. 'Great slopes,' he said. It sounds interesting.
"... He's... distant, too. He's blaming it on Inuyasha, actually, saying that his mood is just rubbing off on him-"
"-Miroku too," added Sango, sending an apologetic gaze my way.
'Damn him...
'... Damn me...
'My fault, all my fault... It's all my fault... Everyone's suffering and I just can't...
'Maybe it will get better.'
Fat chance.
"Well, I think it's bogus that he'd pin the blame on Inuyasha. I think it has to do with Ryu, still, even if he said he was over it," Ayame uttered, sweeping my hair up and twisting it as she saw fit. She was going for some type of bun, I think. "Kouga's one to hold a grudge. I mean, he still has a bit of an edge in his thought of Inuyasha because of Kikyou..."
"Eh?"
Sango still didn't know the whole story... Ayame filled her in with it while she finished up my hair, then moved to make-up as Sango took over the brush and tended to Ayame's auburn locks. I turned my attention to watching Ayame's jade eyes, the emotion switching from irritation to disgust, from hurt - for Kouga, then Inuyasha - to hatred. Seems Kikyou has a bad rap in Ayame's mind.
"Well, that's a story to be put in the books," Sango joked.
"Anything else new, Aya-chan?" I asked, pulling out some nail polish to gloss over her fingernails.
"Not really. My life is at a stand still, it seems."
"Sango-chan?"
Sango frowned, putting the brush down slowly. Her eyes shifted nervously. I could see it, the wheels turning - 'they told the truth, you should too.' 'But... what will they think about it.' 'Their your friends, they always will be. They'll understand.' 'I'm not so sure...' 'Just tell them.'
We've all had that conversation with ourselves. It's definitely the most aggravating and least fun of arguments. I couldn't help but sigh in helplessness at not being able to solve the struggle without her either blowing up in my face and storming off or clamping her mouth shut in suspicion or hurt...
... She saved me the trouble.
"Yeah... I have something to tell you."
Ayame, sensing something important, turned her full attention to the women. I put the polish away before ever using it.
This was it.
Sango's lips quirked at their edges, a sort of rueful smile forming. "Miroku and me... For one, we're engaged."
"Aha!" I laugh/squealed, happy for my friend beyond imagination. "That's so great- when'd it happen?"
"New Years, when all the fireworks were lighting the sky..." she trailed off dreamily. "Oh, he was so..."
"So?" Ayame prompted.
Sango grinned, "perverted... and sweet."
"That's Miroku for you," I sighed, shaking my head in pity for the thick-skulled drummer. "What else?"
"Well, I'm... I went to the doctors a few weeks ago..."
"And?" I squeaked, excitement taking over. Maybe she was pregnant... Then I'd be like an aunt! ... Oh, right, BAD Sango-chan... But still!
"I'm... Well, New Years... We... and..." Sango's eyes were downcast, her cheeks a flaming red. "Well, Miroku, he... we... uh..."
Ayame's expression switched from ecstatic over the engagement to pale disbelief. "You're pregnant!?" Sango winced... and nodded. "Oh. My... Kami-sama, what the- how'd he talk you into THAT!?"
"Ehe..." A hand sheepishly rubbed the back of a flame-red neck, a shy-like smile forming on slightly parted lips. "Well, he kinda tried to talk me out of it..."
'Inuyasha was right...! Kami-sama that just can't be true!'
"WHAT!?"
"I think it's great, Sango-chan," I whispered, grabbing her hands to reassure her. "But, who started it?" Sango grinned at that as we all answered, "Miroku."
"Still, Sango..." Ayame was having a bit of trouble it seemed. "What about your mom?"
"..."
Sango's expression changed completely. I cast a furious glare at Ayame. Way to spoil it.
"She has too much on her mind already," came a small, hesitant whisper. "... Kohaku..."
I was taken aback. What's wrong with Kohaku? Did he get in trouble with the cops? Was he sick? Sango's chin quivered as tears formed. Something was definitely wrong.
"Sango-chan, what is it?" I asked, taking her shoulders to steady her as she cried. "Tell us what's wrong, please..."
"Kohaku....
"...
"... he's dying."
A/N: As you can see, quite a bit is happening in this story. Yes, Sango is pregnant. As for Kohaku, you'll have to wait and see. The guys are touring without Kagome because she is supposed to be shooting the film but Kikyou is currently healing from her surgery. Ayame is going back to Japan for her film and Ryu is ruining the girls' life just as much as Sess is destroying the band's. Rayven is now contracted under Sesshomaru and you won't be seeing too much of her, but she will return once or twice if I don't forget her... ;;
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Ja ne minna!