Power/ Money/ Sex/ Fame… Death and Betrayal

They were rock royalty, but the people made them out to be Gods.

Glitter and Doom

Inu Yasha and all characters within are property of Rumiko Takahashi.

Stage Three: Pride and Prejudice

Soundtrack: You Know My Name – Chris Cornell

Kagome took the first step into the room when a hand clamped down on her wrist, causing her to gasp out in surprise. Turning around, ready to yell at whomever was trying to manhandle her, she realized it was Sango. Sango quickly let go of her wrist and placed her hand on her knee, trying to catch her breath.

"Sorry, I forgot to warn you. Watch out for Miroku's cursed hand, Inu Yasha's quick temper, Kouga's silver tongue, and Sesshoumaru's...well, just watch out for Sesshoumaru."

Kagome blinked. "But isn't Miroku your boyfriend?"

Sango rolled her eyes. "Trust me, that's why I'm warning you. I know. He says it's a curse. Personally I think I'm cursed for liking him."

Kagome giggled but made note to watch out for the alleged pervert. Sango smiled; glad she made it in time. Kikyou suddenly stuck her head out of the dressing room doorway.

"Gome, are you coming or not?"

"Hai!" Kagome turned toward her cousin as Sango ran off to the bathroom before she exploded.

To say the room was amazing was an understatement. There really were no words to describe it. The walls were painted a deep maroon, with gold accents. There were drapes of sheer plum and peacock blue, giving off a mysterious air. The lamps that stood around in various places were molten orange marmalade set in bronze casting. It was over-dramatic and fantastic all at once and Kagome felt her senses overwhelm her. Or perhaps, it could have been the smoke.

Kagome coughed, hating the smell of cigarette smoke. Scanning the room, she locked onto her target and narrowed her eyes slightly at the sight. Straight ahead was Inu Yasha sat smoking and scowling on a velvet couch. Miroku was next to him, grinning like an idiot as Yuka fawned all over him, sipping from a water bottle every few seconds. On the other side of the couch was Kouga, the drummer, who was making small talk with Ayumi. Eri was animatedly chatting Inu Yasha's ear off, but kept looking around every few minutes for Sesshoumaru. Apparently Inu Yasha wasn't the best replacement for her idol, because his frown kept increasing as time went on. Kagome could only image what Eri was saying. Sesshoumaru appeared from behind a curtain, much to Eri's delight. She immediately rushed over to him, and began gushing and making motions with her camera. Kagome silently groaned and searched for her cousin.

Kikyou had been standing by the door, waiting for Kagome to enter so she would feel completely awkward in a room filled with demon and teenage hormones. She was really starting to get the creeps from the demon youki that she felt. When she felt her cousin's spiritual energy enter the room, Kikyou looked up to see her younger counterpart survey the situation. Kagome had always been the more energetic and adorable of the two cousins, with Kikyou often coming off as pulchritudinous but aloof. Still, Kikyou could never begrudge Kagome for her charms, in fact having a rather soft spot for the only one in the family who didn't bring up Kikyou having been orphaned at eleven as the root of all the troubled woman's problems. Kagome believed almost blindly in Kikyou's spiritual power as proof that Kikyou had a good heart.

Kagome felt a hand on her should as Kikyou appeared next to her with a small smile.

"Aren't you supposed to join them and giggle like a fan girl?"

"It just all seems so surreal that I'm not sure what I'm suppose to do." Unlike her girlfriends, Kagome wasn't a diehard band groupie.

"Well you could always just say hi and take a picture with them for kicks," came Sango's voice from behind as she opened the dressing room door. "I'll even introduce you to the King himself, seeing as how he looks like he needs to be rescued."

Kagome laughed at that, for Inu Yasha certainly seemed pissed being wedged between two band mates and chattering females. Sango walked over to him with Kagome closely following behind. Kikyou tagged along out of sheer boredom.

"Hey Inu Yasha, you really shouldn't smoke, I thought you were smarter than that," stated Sango flatly as she coughed loudly as if to prove a point.

"And you really shouldn't date Miroku, I thought you were smarter than that," replied Inu Yasha with a sneer. Sango just grinned in return. Kagome's cheeks tinted as she felt that she was intruding on a private joke.

"This here is Higurashi Kagome," said Sango, waving her arms theatrically.

"Douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu," said Kagome as she bowed. Sango nodded and decided that it was now time to rescue her own boyfriend before he got himself slapped.

Inu Yasha raised an eyebrow. This slip of girl really liked heavy metal/rock? Must be another idiot fan girl. Inu Yasha just nodded, his eyes already distracted as Kikyou came into view.

The girl from the concert…what do you know…

"Yeah, nice to meet you, whatever. This your twin sister?"

Kagome blanched at being compared to Kikyou once again. While it was true that they held a strong family resemblance, they were years and worlds apart! What was worse was that Inu Yasha had completely blown her off in favor of her more curvaceous cousin. How rude!

"Actually, she's my cousin," Kagome grounded out.

"Oi, what's your name?" Inu Yasha called out, startling Kikyou out of her trance of staring at the floor.

"Kikyou." Suddenly she realized that she had a chip in her nail polish. Not good.

"You're a miko, aren't you?"

"We both are and you're a hanyou." Should she go to the salon tomorrow and get a manicure?

Inu Yasha scowled that he was being outright ignored. Kagome silently cheered her cousin on for not getting suck into Inu Yasha's good looks. Speaking of which, since he was thoroughly distracted, Kagome decided to take a good look at him. The posters and commercial boards really didn't due him justice. Though he was sitting, his long legs stretched out before him, very muscular by guessing from his tight leather pants. His tight black t-shirt with splattered gold across the front let Kagome know just how well built he really was. His long white hair that glittered sliver in the light was hanging loosely on his shoulders. His eyes gleamed amber as they flashed in irritation at her cousin, his ears twitching slightly. Oh his ears! Kagome lit up like a Christmas tree as she watched the fuzzy appendages with amusement.

I want to touch them…Kagome thought, her hand already reaching out. Suddenly a clawed hand clamped down on her wrist, causing her to 'meep' in reply.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Mutt face might shit a brick," came a cocky voice from her left. Kagome's eyes darted to see Kouga smiling back at her in amusement.

"S-sumimasen. They just looked so cute!" Kagome blushed at being caught.

"I don't know, I think you're much cuter," said Kouga with a smirk. Kagome blushed even further.

Don't let him suck you in! Sango warned you about his flirting!

"I bet you say that to all the girls," said Kagome with a laugh.

"But with you, I mean it," stated Kouga, taking her hands in his. "I mean, you're beautiful, and a miko – a strong one, I can tell. We'd have amazing pups. You should be my woman!"

Kagome's eyes dilated into pinpricks at this and sweatdropped.

Somebody…help!

…

Inu Yasha didn't seem to notice that Kagome had almost attacked his person, as he was too busy glaring at Kikyou. Kikyou rolled her eyes in response.

"Aren't you acting a little childish?"

"Hey! I'm 23 years old!"

Kikyou snorted. "You really are a baby."

Inu Yasha narrowed his eyes, "How old are you to make you the almighty?"

"Twenty-six. Now, can I get a cigarette?"

"You've just been insulting me the entire time and now you ask for favors? Feh."

"See? You're acting childish. You may be hot, but I'm out of your league junior so be a good puppy and give me a cigarette and a light."

Inu Yasha was sure whether to be pleased that she said he was hot or angered that she managed to make even that sound like an insult. Not wanting to be outdone, he took out his cigarettes and stuck it in his mouth, disposing of the other one in an ashtray. Lighting up, he took it out and handed it to Kikyou, who was scowling.

"Afraid of an indirect kiss princess?"

"Hardly. I've been around. Just wary if you got any germs from slumming with your teenybopper fans."

Inu Yasha's lip curled and was about to say something when Kouga's voice made his ears perk up.

"Here, you can write your number on this napkin."

Kagome nodded, jotting down her digits before she managed a weak smile at Kikyou, whose eyebrows were raised.

"Picture time!" chirped Yuri, who was dragging Sesshoumaru across the floor with the help of Ayumi, Sango, and Miroku. Sesshoumaru looked like he was going to tear someone's head off any second.

"Hey Fluffy, where's Rin?" called Inu Yasha, loving any chance to mock his brother more than life itself. Which he was about to lose as Sesshoumaru's fangs protruded at the mention of the nickname Fluffy.

"She had to leave early," he grounded out, as Yuka and Eri draped themselves on either side of Sesshoumaru. Ayumi came over and promptly rescued –retrieved- Kagome and brought her over to the group. Miroku and Kouga soon joined, with Miroku edging ever-so-close to Yuka.

"Come on Inu Yasha! Join the picture!" Ayumi pleaded, making the hanyou snort. Sesshoumaru looked angered, the thought of his half brother being able to escape the embarrassing fate of fangirls most unacceptable.

"Yeah Inu Yasha, be a good little puppy and sit." Kikyou blew smoke rings in his face, smirking.

Inu Yasha's jaw dropped but somehow he found himself wedged in between Kagome and Kikyou, the latter joining to placate Kagome. Sango laughed and held up Yuka's camera.

"Okay, smile!" she said brightly.

Miroku smiled brightly as his hand reached its target, Yuka – who yelped and fell against Sesshoumaru, blushing. Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed as Yuka hit him and felt Eri cling to his other arm at the same time. Meanwhile, Kouga draped his hand over Kagome, which caused her to flinch into Inu Yasha who was stealing Kikyou's cigarette, and enjoying her annoyed expression.

Click

"Wow, I'm going to need a copy of that…" Sango muttered, turning the camera off.

"MIROKU!" Yuka gasped, giggling girlishly. Miroku merely smiled and placed a finger to his lips and winked. Sesshoumaru disentangled himself from Eri and went left the room, in desperate need of solitude. Ayumi shyly asked Inu Yasha for an autograph while Kagome bounced up to Sango with a smile.

"Hey, want to get a picture of just the two of us?"

"Yeah sure!" Sango said, handing the camera over to Kikyou. Kagome and Sango posed and Kikyou snapped the shot, though she realized that her hand was beginning to tremble. Frowning, she realized that she hadn't eaten since early that morning.

"Hey 'Gome, how much longer? I'm starving and want to get home."

Kagome nodded in understanding and returned the camera to Yuka, making her goodbyes to her friends and the band. Kouga merely waved, knowing that he already had her number. Sango hastily wrote down her number on a napkin and handed it to Kagome.

"Text me sometime k?"

Kagome smiled and left together with Kikyou, much to Inu Yasha's dismay. No one had ever treated him that way and got away with it. However, just as he was about to chase her down, Myouga, SHIKON's manager, pinned him down to talk about his performance during the second set.

…

It had been a week since the fateful meeting with SHIKON and frankly Kagome couldn't care less. Kouga had been calling her every other day trying to secure a date and she was slowly losing her will to say no. It wasn't for lack of trying – Kagome had said no in every possible way. Kouga wasn't a bad person per say, just that she knew that he was more friend than boyfriend material and she felt bad at the idea of leading him on. Kikyou told her to stop picking up his calls, but she felt that that was really mean too. In other words, she was stuck between a wall and a hard place. She almost wanted to ask her newfound friend Sango for advice.

The sound of her cell phone ringing brought the girl out of her musing. Digging into her purse, she pulled out her phone and checked the caller ID.

-Restricted-

Oh great…Kouga. Drawing in a breath, Kagome answered.

"Hey Kouga, no I still don't want to go out with you."

The sudden burst of laughter on the other line made Kagome realize that she made a mistake.

"I mean…hello? Who is this?"

"Shit, that's the funniest thing I've heard all week. Man. Guy can't get any if he tried." Kagome cocked her head, the voice sounding oddly familiar…

"Hello?"

"Oh sorry. This is Kagome right? We met last week. Inu Yasha."

Kagome suddenly felt all the blood rush to her head as her heart began to work overtime. Inu Yasha was calling HER!

Careful girl…remember how he was at the concert? Oh yeah, a jerk. But still -!

"Y-yes?"

"Sorry, lifted your number from Kouga. Anyway, I was wondering…"

"Yes?"OMG! Is he asking me out? Should I say yes? But he was so rude…

"Hey kid, are you listening? I said, give me Kikyou's number,"

"W-ha?" Kagome suddenly felt her heart plummet to her knees.

Of course Kikyou. Always Kikyou – never her.

"Hey! I'm not a kid! I'm Kagome, KA-GO-ME! And if you want her number ask her herself!" Kagome had just spotted Kikyou approaching the house and flounced over to her and shoved the phone in her face. Kikyou looked bewildered.

"For you!" Kagome said with a huff before she went back inside.

"Hello?"

"Well if it isn't my favorite cynic."

"Ah, I see little puppy is coming back for scraps. Begging is so unattractive. Someone aught to put you on a leash."

"Wanna train me?"

Kikyou gave a secretive smile as she sat down on the steps.

"Maybe."

End of third chapter. With Inu Yasha asking out Kikyou, and our heroine Kagome angered, will the two ever unite?