Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha...
A/N:I know it has been ages since anyone has heard from me, and that most of my readers have moved on in their lives, but I made a promise I intend to keep. I do apologize for the 5 year absence, but a lot happened. I now have 3 children and am a full-time student and worker. Simple explanation is that I've been entirely too busy to sit down at a computer and write in a long, long time. Now, I'm here to fix this. (this will be posted in each of the first new chapters for all stories, so feel free to disregard if you read others as well.)
For this story, I realized a few things (errors here and there) but I cannot say I'll ever actually revise the previous chapters, since it's taking a lot of energy just to keep my fingers typing the new chapters. I want to thank all of you profusely for the encouragement, holding on to this story. You! was my life for a long time, and Me? was really becoming an outlet for a lot of my inner demons, but my time on got cut short for many reasons… I'd like to say "I'm back!" and continue cranking out these stories, but I will not promise anything right now. This inspiration my sadly be short-lived.
Oh, and just a side note- remember they are in Europe at this point. I'm not certain if I actually ever said this. And I did make a mistake with a name, Goku-mar… It was actually meant to be Guku-mar. -_-' sigh… Sorry, people.
And on we go!
Enjoy!
Love,
Sakura-chan88
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Title: Me?
Chapter 11: The Waking Dream and Breaking News
By: Sakura-chan88
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
~To say that the past occurrences were unsettling would be a grave understatement. You have found yourself facing demons of the past, doing your best to befriend both in order to salvage a semblance of peace. A new life will be coming into this world and you have yet to find a way to properly announce this to one demon… how do you do so without announcing to the world that you married that dog they all love so much? And then you hear the whisper of the wind, a sad lullaby for the night, speaking rather… ominous… dark words. Yet, is it about you? Surely the wind is just blowing hot air in its sleepless ranting!~
The following morning was rather pleasant compared to many I had been experiencing. No screaming or fighting, no randomly being pounced on, no phones ringing or people barging into the room. Even Jack kept quiet and let me sleep in a little.
It seems Kagura had returned him shortly after I laid down, but I couldn't be sure. The moment my head it the pillow, it was lights-out for me. Perhaps it was from overexertion or from the stress of dealing with Shippo's birth mother. The again it could have simply been the draining of energy caused by the miracle of child-bearing.
It seems the news of my pregnancy had Shippo in ultra-maturity mode. He woke before anyone else, called for room service to bring me up a brilliantly delicious breakfast, as well as one for him, Inuyasha, and Rin. It warmed my heart to see this child being so thoughtful and helpful.
Sitting up, my lips curled into the biggest smile I could remember giving in a long time. Inuyasha wrapped a muscular arm around my back, tugging a little to have me fall gently against his side. Rin and Shippo were cross-legged on the opposing bed, looking with hunger-filled eyes are the dishes before them.
"Arigatou, Shippo-chan," I whispered, reaching for my plate. "Itadakimasu!"
"Itadakimasu!" Everyone cheered.
Before I had even lifted the fork piercing my enticing scrambled eggs to my mouth, Inuyasha had engulfed his breakfast, wiped his mouth on his sleeve, and reached for my toast.
"Baka, that's ookasan's!" Shippo yelped.
"But she has so much more-"
"Because she has to feed the baby too!" Shippo exclaimed before Inuyasha could finish whining. "Mou, did you forget already? Or," with a sly glance, "are you just that dense?"
You see, right here is normally where I'd say something along the lines of 'or so I thought it would be a pleasant morning,' but it wasn't possible. Before my mind had the chance to go from delighted for the breakfast in bed to being exasperated about the fight brewing, my stomach lurched. Hard.
And thus it began. The morning sickness. Just one of many unfortunate side-effects that I would experience, I'm sure.
33333333
A few hours later, I found myself staring at a grand stage – or a stage that would be grand once it was completely assembled. The platform was big enough to hold the entire band five times over (the only part completely set up) and was raised much higher from the ground than I had expected. The back stand was currently being lifted into position, the metal structures placed strategically in several different spots. A white canvass was to be held taut across these posts and the manager, Sango, had decided that it was best to project a montage of highlights from other performances. (I had this sinking feeling it wasn't the only thing she'd be putting into the montage). The lighting system had not yet been installed and I had a hard time grasping how this would work without a nearby energy supply.
You see, this would be a first venue of Demonic, with yours truly, outside of a building. Dialone Park was, to say the least, magnificent. The huge open field, riddled with winding paths marked with random benches and some shrubbery, was almost completely encased by a multitude of different tree types in a beautiful pattern, though I couldn't for the life of me name many of them.
"So this is it, huh?" I whispered, turning my head slightly to look at Inuyasha. "Dialone Park…" He stood gazing around in wonder, the smallest of smiles on his lips. Just past him, I caught a glimpse of Kagura and felt one of the most terrifying thing radiating from her: defeat. "Kagura?"
She started, "w-what?"
I took a moment, scanning her face quizzically. Coming up with nothing, I shrugged and said, "you just looked like you lost a really important battle or something."
She blinked. "That's a rather nonchalant way of saying something that would seem important. Well, important to you at least." Brushing her hair back from its dance with the light wind, Kagura smiled. This particular smile shown as a dark light in her eyes. "You sure you don't want to go into the psychology field, Kagome?"
"Yeah, I've very certain that I do not want to. I psycho-analyze enough as it is… Do you really want to be around a Kagome that actually studied that stuff?" I gave her my best I-don't-think-so look. "Even I'd go crazy!"
Before the arms even wrapped around me, I felt Sango's protruding belly give me a kick. "Dear, you already are," she sing-songed…off-tune. Giving me a playful smile, she ruffled my hair a bit.
I deadpanned. This was Sango now, a cheery woman, constantly glowing. Well, at least, that is how she'd been for the past few hours. Something was up. She hadn't swung moods like she did on normal days and I'd noticed on the limo ride to the park that Miroku had simply just sat back and watched her with these seeking eyes.
I glanced over my shoulder for a moment. Yep, still seeking eyes from Miroku.
Then her belly kicked me again.
"Sango…"
"Hai, gorgeous?"
"You're having a boy, aren't you?"
And then began the flood of tears… unhappy tears. Seems Miroku was getting the little girl he wanted after all. 'Oh, Sango,' my mind laughed. In the end, I knew it didn't really matter to her.
"Shh, shh.. It's okay. She'll be beautiful!" And such were the following comments from just about everyone, save Miroku who was completely intent on not consoling his fiancée as he pranced around the park shouting to the world that he was having a girl.
Inuyasha, rubbing Sango's back, looked up at me with the biggest boyish grin. His eyes sparkled and I swore I saw his nose twitch. "I want a girl."
Sango's sobs increased in volume.
'Great job, dogboy…' I sighed. "I just don't understand timing, do you?"
"What's that suppose to mean?"
And this escalated into a screaming match over the head of a sobbing pregnant woman, the whole time being circled around by a man laughing hysterically, "I'm having a girl~! I'm having a girl~!"
It doesn't surprise me much that Demonic didn't exactly associate with other celebrities. Even those spoiled rotten who throw temper tantrums wouldn't want to be seen with this kind of crowd.
Totally humiliating.
"Well, I want a boy!"
Not that I cared at that moment.
33333333
We had gone to the park to meet with Guku-mar, but found ourselves instead being hauled away by the police. Maybe I should explain things a little more clearly. Someone in the park had decided to call the local department, having thought we were attacking Sango. I still cannot figure out what made them assume this, other than the fact that we were almost literally ontop of her at some point in this argument.
When the police arrived, things had gotten out of hand in what had begun as a petty battle of wills, and one officer had unfortunately stepped between us at the wrong moment and got slugged in the face.
No worries, it was me attempting to punch dear dog boy, not the other way around.
Needless to say, this didn't exactly make the officer our best friend at the moment. Later on, I also found out that this officer was very against listening to music, so it didn't matter who we were to him. His partner knew, though, and insisted on getting our autographs the entire time, which only further irked the one who took the liberty of cuffing all of us, including Kagura and Kouga and Sango… but not Miroku.
And Miroku… well, he didn't even seem to notice, still starry eyed and now prancing on the stage, holding a microphone that was not working, singing only Kami-sama knows what.
I'm still trying to understand why Kouga, Kagura, and Sango were being cuffed. At least the kids were with Yura (much to her disdain) and were not witnessing this scene, or hearing the obscene things Inuyasha and Kouga had began shouting.
"Boys." The simple word from Kagura's lips stilled their mouths.
Everything calmed down instantly. With sighs, they obediently followed the officer to the awaiting cars. Kagura and I were paired with one officer, Inuyasha and Kouga with another, and we waited for a third car to arrive for her.
The ride to the station was silent aside from a mumble from Kagura about how the press, and Sesshomaru, would have a field day with this. I could do nothing but nod in agreement, my mind still shocked and bemused as to what had just transpired.
It took about four hours after arriving at the station before the arresting officer was convinced that the whole ordeal was a misunderstanding. He grudgingly let us go, grumbling about unnecessary paperwork as he gathered us from our separate rooms into a hallway. "Your gay friend is waiting at the desk."
"Nani?" I whispered. Everyone shrugged in unison.
Perplexed looks and a few steps later, it was like nothing happened at all. The stress and horror of this trip instantly turned to mirthful, abundant laughs.
'That's what you get for prancing around like a fool, Miroku.'
33333333
The remainder of the day was rather uneventful for Demonic, aside from an enraged Sesshomaru and a media frenzy. The world erupted into chaos though. Everyone now knew of Sango's engagement to the drummer and their unborn child. As for what they said about me and Inuyasha…
Somehow the news of our fight filled our fans with fear that I'd be leaving the band. Of course, this spurred everyone who had not already done so to buy a ticket just in case it was my last performance after all. Problem was, they'd sold out a month ago. Streets were filling with angry people.
Sesshomaru, seeing this escalating into catastrophe, made a few phone calls and dashed out of the hotel with a quickness. Ticket sellers soon flooded the streets.
Yeah, this venue would be a first in many ways. To be honest, know one really knew how many people could successfully fit into the park, but what we did know was that this would be a bigger turnout than any event we had previously done.
Can't say I'm overwhelmed, really. Strange how a few months of touring and being forced into doing things you never imagined you'd do, like acting, can numb you a bit to popularity. I was over it. I just wanted my music to be heard and felt and for it to touch someone's heart like it did mine.
"I'm surprised, I have to say. I always knew the media twisted things, but they didn't really twist anything this time and it still caused so much commotion." I yawned and leaned back into my husbands chest. We were sitting in Sango and Miroku's room, sharing a dinner and calming our nerves.
"It's amazing, isn't it?" Sango asked, her eyes focused on the ceiling. She lay on her bed, head resting on Miroku's thigh as he rubbed her stomach with adoring eyes. They had long since gotten over the inevitable fight about Miroku's behavior. "To think not so long ago we were nobodies, Kagome. And now the whole world knows us: you, me, and Ayame! It's… just amazing."
She smiled and slanted a look my way. I saw something sparkle in her eyes. I still have no idea what it was, but it reassured me that everything would be okay.
"You'll be an amazing mother."
Sango giggled and placed her hand over Miroku's. "I know, Kagome, I know. And you already are an amazing mother. I can see you six years down the road, pushing a three sit stroller and three other kids latching onto you, your face nothing but smiles and your tum-"
My eye twitched. "Don't finish that sentence."
Inuyasha chuckled. I reveled in the way the rumble reverberated in me, making my body feel as if I was simply echoing it back to him. "No worries, Kagome. Two children is enough for me, as long as I get my girl."
I winced a little. "But I have such a strong feeling that it's a boy," I whined. "And I'm not going to keep having kids til I have a girl!"
"Yes you will," Inuyasha said, almost sounding too nonchalant for me. It was a matter of fact statement in his mind…and I knew he was right. I did, after all, love him enough to do anything – and I mean anything – for him.
I just sighed and snuggled back into him. Normally I'd just argue for the sake of arguing, but I rather liked this feeling right here. It was so relaxing, like being at home, lying in my bed with its slightly indented center from the hundreds of times I'd used it to rest up for the next day. Hotel beds had always been comfortable, but they just lacked that little bit of personality that came with ones own bed.
"So the concert is tomorrow, huh?" I heard Miroku query. "I don't know what it is about this place, or maybe it's just all the crazy things going on right now, but I keep losing track of time. I mean, it's like one day were all…"
And the voice drifted off into just an echo of the past as my eyes shut heavily.
When I opened them again, I found myself a little more than just mildly confused. I didn't feel comfortable any more. As a matter of fact, I felt rather cold and stiff and whatever it was I laid on was completely unwilling to form to my figure, solid as stone.
My hand reached up to run along its surface. It was a floor, hard wood from the texture. I blinked and sat up, glancing around as best I could, letting my eyes adjust to the nearly extinguished lighting.
The room was small, very small, and seemed to house me and nothing else. There were shelves with nothing to hold and a light fixture with no bulb. If I had to guess, I'd say that I was currently sitting in an empty closet. The tongue held the sour taste of a prank gone wrong.
I shivered and brought my hands up around my knees to hug them to my chest. 'What's going on?' I wondered, rocking myself to and fro. This gesture wasn't out of fright, simply being cold and trying to warm up a little. As a matter of fact, I felt strangely calm.
It took a few minutes, but I finally warmed enough to take in regard my state of being. My clothing seemed highly inappropriate for the feeble surroundings. Short black skirt with purple lacing, a strapless, white bustier with a tattered, cropped black and purple blazer over top was surely not the attire meant for a closet visit. After taking in the fact that I wore knee high white stiletto boots, I was certain the back of my blazer had the name Demonic in purple scrawled across it.
"What the…?"
As the words stumbled over my lips, I realized something was very, very wrong indeed. Panic flooded me and I made a jump for my feet.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha yelled, gripping me tightly back down into his chest.
Apparently I a scream had been ripped from my throat as I heard it end abruptly. I blinked.
"Yume?" I breathed lightly. 'A dream, just a dream…'
And just moments later, the images of the nightmare faded. Only that feeling of panic remained as Inuyasha began to question me. I didn't really hear him as my mind focused to recall what had just flitted through my subconscious mind, but it had fled from my grasp completely.
"Inuyasha," Sango admonished. "She's probably still startled, okay? Kami-sama knows how many times Miroku's had to catch me from falling out of bed in a fit of nightmares since I got pregnant."
I looked over to the woman giving my husband one of those death glares. "Honto?"
"Hai." She gently smiled at me. "Sometimes I still get them, but nothing like they were before. Most of them were about finding myself all alone…" She trailed off, frowning now. "But their just nightmares."
I laughed a little, seeing that she was deep in thought about something she just dismissed lightly. "Anyway, how could you guys let me just fall asleep like that?" I huffed, crossing my arms over what was suppose to be my chest,, but wound up being Inuyahsa's arms. "Mou… you pervert."
"Nani…? Oh." He laughed sheepishly, removed his limbs from me, and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Wait… what am I doing!" He yelled with this crazed look on his face. We all turned to him with wide eyes filled with surprise. Bringing his hands out in front of us both, he yelled, "these are mine anyway!" and firmly planted his hands on my chest.
Before I had the chance to protest, the whole room turned electric.
Poor Miroku should know better than to do such to Sango.
The broken furniture that turned up wherever we went were sure to rise from their graves to haunt him one day for their misfortune.
33333333
Today was the day! The stage was completely set for the concert to proceed and it seemed each of us band members woke with more energy today than any of us had in ages.
Inuyasha spent his energy swimming around the pool with Rin and Jack (after much arguing and bribing of the hotel staff). From what he told me later on, he had spent almost literally all of his day in that pool, pausing only for a lunch break. I laughed at his pruned skin. Luckily Kagura had pointed out the factor of playing a guitar with water-bogged fingers and just how painful it would be. His week argument of "but the pick…" didn't hold up so well. His last two hours were spent relaxing.
Kouga took off to a local basketball court only to come screaming back when fans swarmed him at a mock half-time. The bassist would then go to the hotel gym. If my sources (mainly Yura) are correct, up until an hour before show time, he continuously beat up a helpless punching muttering 'bastard', 'Itoshi', 'kill', and a few various other words. Either he had not forgiven Ayame or he knew he'd work harder thinking about the thorn in his side named Ryu.
Miroku took the day to drive Sango crazy with a shopping spree. She came back to the hotel crying about sore feet and an aching back. "I never knew there were so many different things that go into caring for a baby. What kind of diapers to use, the theme for the nursery, the different kinds of breast pumps." She was going to do things naturally, it seemed – either that or Miroku insisted – as she unloaded the things from her bags onto the bed: cloth diapers, pins, bottles, bassinette sheets…and the list went on.
I had done things much differently than my coworkers, and I'm glad I had. Shippo had never smiled so brightly at me before as he sat in my lap and laughed.
"Miss Susie had a tugboat!" He started, moving his hands against mine in a concentrated pattern.
"The tugboat had a bell-" I giggled, matching his movements.
"DING-DING" we shouted.
Very much a child at heart as I was, I found it much more enjoyable to teach this little youngster one of those fad-like hand-song games I learned in elementary. This was just the beginning of our day.
I took him out to the movies to catch the latest family move. Filled with good humored slapstick comedy and lots of ridiculous occurrences, we had a great laugh. "Wow, ookasan! It's worse than home!" He laughed.
I grinned, "yes, but not by much!"
His face slowly turned from mirthful to thoughtful as he tilted his little head. "Mama?"
"Hai?"
Pounding a little fist into his upturned palm with clear determination and grinning, he said just about the craziest thing I'd ever heard in my life. "We need to be a reality tv family!"
"Eh hehe…" But, I could see his point.
It was strange, but this band was a family. One that no one would ever truly understand, but it was built with some of the strongest bonds, everyone going through hardships and supporting one another. We experienced some very strange things over our time together, and I was sure things would only get stranger, but I couldn't be happier with this little family of mine.
"As much as it seems like a great idea," I began, hugging the boy to my side as we left the theater, "I'm afraid we would probably scare the rest of the world into a stupor if they learned just how crazy their beloved band really is."
"Mama?"
"Hai?"
"When will you and Inuyasha tell everyone?" He implored, a confused look on his face as I gazed down to him. Seeing my own confusion echo his, he finished, "about being married and whatnot? I mean, you can't keep the secret forever with my little brother on the way."
I chuckled. He thought it would be a boy, too, huh? But, then again, he made a valid point. I sighed. "I'm not sure yet. Hopefully we can tell the world soon."
"Kikyo?"
Another sigh. "Yeah… I haven't quite figured out how to break the news to her either." Thankfully she hadn't been around for the passed few weeks, moving on to bigger and better things in the movie industry seeing as how the critics had given such high praise for Loaded Lies and the actors.
Shippo shook his head with a frown. "Why is life so complicated for you grown-ups? I mean, it's not that hard to just say 'I'm married and pregnant so deal with it'."
'Kids say the darnedest things.'
I grinned and ruffled up his thick, read hair. "Who knows, maybe someday it will be as easy to do as that."
We walked around a nearby park, road the bus across town to a famous ice cream shop, visited a small petting zoo, and eventually found ourselves walking back to the hotel, holding hands that we swung with each step we took.
"You are my sunshine," we sung, "my only sunshine!" It was just that kind of day. =)
When we stepped into the hotel, it was like taking that first step back into our home. A comforting, peaceful sight presented itself in the form of my husband, sopping wet and wrapped in a towel. He had just left the pool it seemed.
Shippo and I joined him in his journey back to our room, me laughing at his pruned skin and him complaining about Kagura's chastising words. In the middle of his whining, Shippo surprised him into silence by grabbing his hand silently, never looking anywhere but forward with that silly smile on his face.
Inuyasha turned to me with a look of shock and glee. After a moment, Shippo gently sighed, "Now, this is a family."
Both Inuyasha and I beamed smiles. Indeed, this was a family.
"I have two crazy aunts, a scary aunt, a hyper aunt who's more like a cousin, a perverted uncle, a weird uncle, a grumpy uncle," Shippo continued. "And that's not even including ookasan's family!"
'Sugoi… I never really realized there were so many of us… It always seems like such a small group.' But then I realized, it's just because we were all so close. "Shippo?" He looked at me with starry eyes. "Want to watch a movie before ooba-chan picks you up?"
My mother was in town today, being there to take care of Shippo and Rin as the rest of the members of our 'family' would be preoccupied with the concert. Yura being our stylist couldn't exactly babysit this time.
"Hai!"
And so we spent our remaining time in our room, all piled on one bed, watching Lion King. Shippo fell asleep between me and Inuyasha shortly after the movie began.
"Well," my husband began in a whisper, "I think everything will be okay for us after all." He looked down at the slumbering boy with a heartfelt, soft smile and brought the blanket up to his chin. "I like this feeling… I think I'll be okay with a son after all."
I giggled a little, bringing my hand to cup his cheek softly. "I'll be okay as long as you're by my side. That's all that matters to me."
Kissing my forehead, his breath wisped against my skin to send a warm tingle through my body. "I'll always be by your side, Kagome. Now and forever, I promise."
33333333
"I don't think I've ever felt this before," Kouga admitted sheepishly to Yura as she finished setting his hair up in a high sweep. "I'm actually nervous."
"Don't feel bad," I said, having pre-stage jitters of my own as I peered out the curtain. Turning back around, I pointed back towards the curtain and squeeled, "I didn't even know that many people existed in this world!"
I wish that had been an exaggeration, but I'm rather certain that security would be completely helpless if the fans got it in their head to try storming the stage.
"Keh! That's nothin'!" Inuyasha said, arrogant as ever with his I've-seen-worse voice. Before he was able to start a bragging spree, which I'm sure was coming, Miroku clamped his hand down on his shoulder, hard. "Oi!"
"…I don't think you've looked out there yet, if you're saying that."
Inuyasha brushed off the hand, took a quick glance outside, and paled. "We're going to be swarmed, aren't we?"
"Yup."
"We still have to perform, don't we?"
"Yessir."
"They'll at least wait til we finish right?"
"…Maybe."
I shook away the jittery feeling, pushed out the voices around me, and proceeded to get dressed with that strange feeling of being watched creeping in. Looking around, I noticed the eyes of Inuyasha straying my way, something intense in his eyes. My cheeks flamed a deep red, my face getting extremely hot, and I took a moment to scoot to a more private location before continuing my clothing swap.
"You sure you want to do this, being pregnant and all?" Sango asked, entering my make-shift changing room. Helping me adjust my clothing a bit, I could feel a tenseness in her fingers that all but said "please don't".
"Don't worry about it, Sango," I chimed. "I'm perfectly fine with performing still. Heck, I'm going to keep at this til I start showing! I asked the doctor, don't worry." Of course, that concerned look in her eyes didn't cease. "I wish I could explain it, Sango, but doing this keeps me so much more relaxed than sitting at home. I'm not stressing when I'm out there on stage!"
"But you'll be overexerting your body!" Sango all but screamed.
Silence.
"Sango, are you okay?"
Her gaze fell to the floor, "yeah, sorry. I'm just really tired after today and I barely did anything but walk around… I'm just worried that you'll put everything into your music like you always do, and you'll overwork yourself or you'll fall over or you'll –"
"Sango," I breathed, pulling the girl close for a hug. "I'll be fine! As much as my music means to me, this baby means more." Pulling back I gave her one of my biggest smiles, appreciating all the more this woman who was my best friend. "I promise, I'll be more careful than I am sneaky," I assured with a wink.
With a giant grin, my friend nodded vigorously. "That's exactly what I wanted to hear!"
And suddenly there was this shaking and this loud "bbrrrr…"
I grinned. 'That's my cue!' I raced for the stage, just barely remembering to grab my Demonic blazer from the chair where I'd sat for Yura to prep me. "Let's get this party jumpin'!"
The tempo was a bit slow, but the bass thumpin an almost defeaning beat. A few rhythmic pounds of the drum later, Inuyasha's voice flooded the airwaves. You could feel something building in the air…
"You have me where you want me
Don't let it slip away
This feeling you hold onto"
And so I burst out onto the stage in a dash to join in with a screaming, deep voice,
"I'll rip them from you one day~!"
Needless to say, the music intensified drastically from here. Not a single body in the audience stood still and this glorious country, known for being influenced so much by punk music. The mosh pit formed the moment this line ended, instantaneous and scattered, but I knew that soon the majority of those not already in them would soon join and eventually the crowd would be nothing more than a blur of crazed fans bouncing off each other.
I loved this feeling so passionately that it never seemed our concerts lasted long enough. I could tell we were building up to our interlude a few songs later. (I say feel because I never memorize the order of songs, I just go with the flow). The brief break would be taken and then the other three members would go back out on stage without me.
I knew this would cause a problem this time, even though our fans were used to this happening when Demonic reverted to earlier songs like 'A Shattered Jewel' and 'Kazaana'. Yet, with that viscious rumor spreading of the bands break up…
Stepping through the curtain with my coworkers, my friends, I sighed. "You guys know it's coming, don't you?"
Miroku rubbed his temples. "Man, what was Sesshomaru thinking this time?"
"He was trying to keep the fans from kidnapping you guys and forcing you to work through it," Kagura answered as she sauntered in. She turned to me directly. "Kagome, change of plans."
"Oh?"
She nodded silently. After each band member took a turn raising an eyebrow, she informed us that only one song would be played before the 'surprise' announcement of my 'surprise' solo.
Good thing she decided that, too, because as Demonic's original trio ended their song, the crowd was all but clamoring onto the stage in a fit.
"And now," Inuyasha yelled. "If you would all calm yourselves back down, we have an announcement. Kagome?"
I stepped onto the stage, microphone held to my side and a sad look on my face. (Who says I can't toy with my fans a little? And it worked too. I saw the crowd change from rowdy to calm to slightly bewildered.)
"You see, me, Miroku-" point to drummer "-and Kouga-" another wave of acknowledgement "have decided that it's about time for things to change around here." The crowd started whispering. As it built to confused, and some angered screams, Inuyasha continued. "So, Kagome…Get up here for a moment."
I moved to stand beside him, center-stage. Remember, I'm not suppose to know I'm doing this. Raising my microphone, I simply ask what he's talking about. My husband dawned a gorgeous grin and spins me about by the shoulders to face the audience and gives me a hard slap on the behind.
"They're all yours!"
The drum starts, a very hard, quick tempo.
"What?" For the audience, of course. "Oh… you mean…?"
"Yup, give us another song!"
Kouga and Inuyasha simultaneously strum their guitars, and the music just rolls right over the crowd.
Said crowd is far beyond what you could call wild, realizing that they are getting a once-in-a-lifetime chance of seeing this wonderful event of a Kagome heart song.
"Oh, yeah?" I ask the crowd.
"YEAH!"
"Oh, yeeaaaah!"
"YEAH!"
"Alright, well, here we go!"
And, bam!, it was off to an amazing start.
"Take a look around and let yourself lose
Find that inner oomph and that extra boost
Shake your fists and break that neck
Ya'll just don't know what you're in for yet!"
Yup, again, just playing to the audience. And it sent them all over the edge. I'd stepped up to the end of the stage and leaned down a little…
"Oh, how the wicked stand waiting at the ready
To grab-"
I kept singing, but had to jerk myself backwards as two of the men in the front row lurched forward to snatch me off stage. It was a bit of a shock, but I pushed forward.
"at those with pure hearts so steady,
They're gonna twist your little mind, my dear
Gonna make that light of yours disappear-"
I had reached center stage, turning my body slightly to take in the sight of Inuyasha as he played. He was smiling out at the crowd and I could just hear his mind saying with delight, 'yep that's my light right there!'
I have to say, that very moment, I think I did the best thing I could've done by looking at him. The very next instant he glanced over and I was consumed by the purest form of love that flooded those golden orbs. Perhaps that's why it didn't faze me so much when I felt my body drop. Or maybe it was the fact that the instant the floor opened beneath me, I looked down into the darkness and saw my leg-wear as if for the first time.
Knee high white stiletto boots.
33333333
A/N: seeing as how many of the great writers who were around back when I myself was writing are gone, I have a feeling not many of my stead-fast fans will be returning to check back on this. But if you have been with me since the beginning and are actually still here, I would like to thank you, so very deeply. I will be making changes to my profile if anyone would like to know what's going on. I will try to make my profile updates a weekly thing to try drawing people back to this sight. Who knows, maybe it will by some miracle inspire Rozefire (Torenza) to return and finish Zero G. /yeah, I'm really pushing it there, but it would make my life complete to know how that story plays out./
To those of you who appeared after my departure or sometime near my length absence… Thank you as well! I don't think I will ever be able to thank any of my reviewers, past or present, enough.
With all of my love,
~Sakura-chan88