The Clash of the Bands

Disclaimer: -whistles- If you guys don't know by now then obviously I haven't been doing a proper job. I don't own the music, or the characters. However, I own the plot! Cookies anyone?

Last Time:

Laughter as they finished packing. Kagome's mom hugged Kagome tightly, and kissed her cheek. "You'll do great. I know it."

"Thanks mom. I sure hope we win! Then I'll have an achievement crossed off my list."

"Good luck sweetheart."

"I love you mom. See you next week."

"I love you too. Drive safe. Call me every night."

"I will."

"I'll make sure of it!" Ayame said, as she jumped in the front seat beside Sango. All three girls waved as they pulled away. Ayame put her game face on. "Are you ready to win this?"

"Are you?"

"Oh Kagome, don't you know…. I'm always ready."

Kagome grinned, and they began their trip to the contest that would undoubtedly change their lives.

This Time:

Chapter 16

Simple

Kagome stretched her legs, and sighed lightly before she sat down in the chair to do her hair. Sango was sitting beside her, finishing the last touches on her mascara before she looked to Kagome. "Are you nervous?"

"Yeah, but I think I can handle it."

"I'm nervous too. There are a ton of people out there. I mean, sure we've sang in front of people before, but that is a TON of people, Kagome. Plus all the bands will hear us sing, especially since we're last. Oh man, what if I miss a beat? Oh my, I don't-"

"Sango. Calm down. We've played these songs thousands of times. You've practiced them religiously. We will be fine. We're going to win, remember?"

Sango smiled, and relaxed. "Yes, yes of course." She murmured, as she began to brush her hair. She pulled her hair up into a ponytail, curling the ends of it. Kagome watched her for a moment, before she brushed her hair out, sectioned it and began to curl it all. She hummed while she did so, and watched as Ayame rushed up with Kouga in tow.

"Kagome, guess what!" Kagome raised an eyebrow. "We're on right after Kouga and InuYasha are!"

"What about Miroku and Sesshomaru?" Kagome asked, eyebrows furrowed. "Aren't they playing with you guys too?"

"Yeah, she just doesn't want to name us all off." Kouga said, poking Ayame in the side. "Lazy."

"Hey!" Ayame said, before poking him back. Kagome sighed. She lightly traced her eyes with eyeliner, before putting mascara on slowly. "Kagome. Sesshomaru seems different." Ayame said, her eyes boring into Kagome's through the mirror. "What happened?"

Kagome sighed, capped the mascara, and began to pull her hair up with pins. It looked as though a black waterfall ran down her back with all the curls pinned up in the elegant fashion. "He asked me to marry him." She stated. Everyone's jaws fell. "And I told him no."

"What? Why?"

"I don't love him…" She whispered. Ayame put a hand on the chair and spun Kagome around to look at her.

"Kagome… there is no way you don't love him. You act so happy when he is near. He helped you through hard times. He was there every time you needed help, right?" Kagome nodded. "Does he make you feel complete?" She hesitated, but nodded again. "Then how can you not love him?"

"We're on in five." Sango said, as she returned to the room. "Kouga, you gotta go and get in your band, now. You're about to hit the stage." She said, and they watched as he took off running.

Kagome sighed, and stood up. She brushed her hands along the light brown silk top she wore, and over the front of her jeans. "Let's go watch." She murmured to Sango, and Ayame. They walked out to the stairs, and walked into the audience. The music started, soft, with just a guitar.

Sesshomaru's voice was strong. "Am I better off dead? Am I better off a quitter? They say I'm better off now, than I ever was with her. As they take me to my local down the street. I'm smiling but I'm dying, trying not to drag my feet. They say a few drinks will help me to forget her, but after one too many I know that I'm never. Only they can't see where this is gonna end. They all think I'm crazy but to me it's perfect sense. And my mates are all there trying to calm me down, 'cause I'm shouting your name all over the town. I'm swearing if I go there now, I can change her mind turn it all around. And I know that I'm drunk but I'll say the words and she'll listen this time even though they're slurred. Dialed her number and confessed to her, I'm still in love but all I heard was nothing." He sang. His eyes were closed, as he ended the chorus.

"So I stumble there, along the railings and the fences. I know if I faced her face, that she'll come to her senses. Every drunk step I take leads me to her door. If she sees how much I'm hurting, she'll take me back for sure. And my mates are all there trying to calm me down, 'cause I'm shouting your name all over the town. I'm swearing if I go there now. I can change her mind, turn it all around. And I know that I'm drunk but I'll say the words and she'll listen this time even though they're slurred. Dialed her number and confessed to her, I'm still in love but all I heard was nothing." Kagome stared at him while he sang, his beautiful golden eyes closed as he held the microphone.

"She said nothing. Oh, I wanted words but all I heard was nothing. Oh, I got nothing. Oh, I got nothing. Oh, I wanted words but all I heard was nothing. Oh, sometimes love's intoxicating. Oh, you're coming down, your hands are shaking, when you realize there's no one waiting." He opened his eyes, and stared into the crowd. Right at Kagome. "Am I better off dead? Am I better off a quitter? They say I'm better off now, than I ever was with her.

"And my mates are all there trying to calm me down, 'cause I'm shouting your name all over the town. I'm swearing if I go there now. I can change her mind, turn it all around. And I know that I'm drunk but I'll say the words and she'll listen this time even though they're slurred. Dialed her number and confessed to her, I'm still in love but all I heard was nothing. She said nothing. Oh, I wanted words but all I heard was nothing. Oh, I got nothing. I got nothing. I wanted words but all I heard was nothing. Oh I got nothing. I got nothing, nothing, nothing." He ended. The crowd went wild as he stepped back from the microphone. Kagome walked back into the dressing room, with Sango and Ayame in tow. Kagome grabbed her guitar, and Ayame grabbed her bass. Sango's drums were set up on the stage.

"I wish Rin was here."

"Me too." Ayame muttered.

"This one's for Rin?" Sango suggested, holding up a drumstick. Kagome put the neck of her guitar near the drumstick, and Ayame put the neck of her bass near the other items. They walked to the stage, being introduced.

"This is Face Down." Kagome announced, before Sango hit her drums. A moment passed, before Kagome started playing her guitar, Ayame joining in. "Hey girl you know you drive me crazy. One looks puts the rhythm in my head. People never understand why you hang around. I see what's going down. Cover up with make up in the mirror; tell yourself it's never gonna happen again. You cry alone, and then he swears he loves you. Do you feel like a man, when you push her around? Do you feel better now, as she falls to the ground? Well I'll tell you my friend, one day this worlds going to end. As your lies come on down, a new life she has found." Sango slammed her drum set a few times, pressing the foot pedal, and banging the cymbals, when Kagome inhaled.

"A pebble in the water makes a ripple effect. Every action in this world will bare a consequence. If you wade around forever you will surely drown. I see what's going down. I see the way you go and say you're alright again, say you're alright again. Heed my lecture!" Kagome sang, her blue eyes sparkling as she played. "Do you feel like a man, when you push her around? Do you feel better now, as she falls to the ground? Well I'll tell you my friend, one day this worlds going to end. As your lies come on down, a new life she has found." Kagome inhaled. "Face down in the dirt, she said "This doesn't hurt!" She said, "I've finally had enough!" Face down in the dirt, she said "This doesn't hurt!" She said, "I've finally had enough!" One day she will tell you that she has had enough. It's coming 'round again."

"Do you feel like a man, when you push her around? Do you feel better now, as she falls to the ground? Well I'll tell you my friend, one day this worlds going to end. As your lies come on down, a new life she has found. Do you feel like a man, when you push her around? Do you feel better now?" Kagome sang, her pitch going higher.

"As she falls to the ground." Sango sang.

"Well I'll tell you my friend, one day this worlds going to end. As your lies come on down, a new life she has found. Face down in the dirt, she said "This doesn't hurt!" She said, "I've finally had enough!"" Kagome and Ayame strummed their instruments, while Sango stomped her foot pedal three times, and hit her cymbals in time with it before they abruptly stopped. Sweat dripped down Sango's forehead, and she wiped it away. Kagome was breathing slightly harder.

Ayame looked at the other two girls, a huge grin on her face. The crowd erupted in cheers. Catcalls, whistles, and other things were heard. They walked from the stage, behind the curtain and hugged each other. "We were simply amazing." Kagome's grin grew at Sango's words. Ayame's face looked like it would be stuck in a grin for the rest of the time.

"We're going to win this." Ayame said with confidence.

The bands were called back to the stage, and they all waved excitedly. The second round would begin tomorrow, so they left and headed to the hotel to relax. Kagome changed into her bathing suit and smiled at Ayame and Sango, who were walking to the café. "I'm going swimming if you need me!" Kagome shouted after them.

"Do you want anything to eat?"

"No, I'll eat later when we go to dinner! Get me a bottle of green tea though!"

"Okay!" And Kagome strolled to the pool, a skip in her step. She felt good. Confident. She hummed as she walked through the door. The pool was large, and Kagome marveled at it, until she saw Sesshomaru swimming back and forth. Kagome paused, but shrugged and continued on her way.

"There's no way you don't love him. You act so happy when he's near."

'I don't love him!' Kagome thought as she sat down her towel on a lounger, and pulled her hair up into a ponytail. It was still curly from when she had done it up a half hour ago, even though she used no hairspray. She jumped into the pool, and began to swim. 'He's just a friend. A really good friend… who saved me from InuYasha… who took me out to eat on multiple occasions. He held my hair when I threw up. He cannot be attracted to me…' She thought as she swam. 'But if he wasn't, why would he ask me to marry him?'

She came up from under the water, gasping in a breath of air. Sesshomaru was in front of her. She looked into his eyes, which were void of emotion. Kagome's breath hitched when his fingers brushed her bangs from in front of her eyes. "I'm sorry." She blurted out. All she got in response was his eyebrow raising. "I…" Her face heated up. "I have to go now." She whispered to him. She felt his hand reach out, and brush against her back, before he pulled her against him. She found herself wrapped in his arms, being held with her face against his chest.

"Naraku."

"Sesshomaru. Oh who is the girl? It's little miss perfect herself, Kagome Higurashi? Tsk, tsk… I figured you were still with InuYasha." He chuckled, darkly as he stared down at them in the pool. "But you've switched brothers. Ah, Kagome… remind Sesshomaru to tell you about his ex-girlfriend sometime. You would like her, I'm sure." He waved as he exited the building.

"Sesshomaru, you can let me go now." Kagome whispered, a few minutes after Naraku had left. Sesshomaru buried his face in her neck, leaning against her. He was on fire. "You are really hot. Are you okay?" Kagome asked, concern evident in her voice as she pulled back from him.

"Kagome." Sesshomaru whispered, before he pressed his mouth to hers. It was spontaneous, the fire that burned through her, and she returned the kiss. He pulled back, slumping down in her hold. "I love you."

Her eyes welled up with tears, and she pulled him to the edge of the pool. InuYasha walked in to find Kagome crying with Sesshomaru's head in her lap. "Kagome! Are you okay?" She looked up, the trails of tears that had ran down her face, with teardrops on Sesshomaru's face made InuYasha pause.

"Help me." She whispered, as she stared up into his eyes. He did, though he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Miroku walked in and both of them took a side of Sesshomaru and carried him upstairs, Kagome following after she grabbed her towel and wrapped it around her body. InuYasha and Miroku laid Sesshomaru on his bed, after Kagome pulled off his swim trunks and slipped him into boxers. Though Miroku's face was bright red when he saw what Kagome was doing, he said nothing and Kagome focused on the task at hand. "Miroku, get me a glass of cold water, bags of ice, and some medicine from the store please. I need them if I'm going to break this temperature." Kagome stated.

"Okay." He said, as he exited the room. InuYasha had been quiet since he seen Kagome strip his brother from his shorts. Kagome hadn't even looked twice at Sesshomaru's package, but InuYasha saw it and stared. "InuYasha, you can go now. Tell Ayame, and Sango that I'm going to stay here tonight."

"What?"

"You heard me. Someone has to watch him."

"I can."

She stared at him dubiously. "I think with your previous track record, I'd rather be here with him."

His eyebrow twitched. "Kagome…"

"No InuYasha, listen to me for once. I don't care if you're his brother or not. The last time he was ill was when he was thirteen. He is almost twenty now! He nearly died last time because you were so busy chasing me around! Instead of listening to your mother and changing Sesshomaru's ice bags, you did what? Came to my house! And when I found out I was furious! So if you don't mind, go tell Sango and Ayame that I am staying here." She snapped at him. InuYasha sighed. "And bring me dinner in a few hours. I am hungry."

He rolled his eyes and walked to the door. "Okay. I will be back later."

Kagome heard the door close, and placed a hand against Sesshomaru's fevered skin. He was burning. Another tear fell, and she quickly walked to the mini-fridge and pulled out a bag of ice, scooped a handful into a plastic sandwich bag, and wrapped it in a dish towel. She placed it against his forehead, and pressed her lips to his ear. "I'm sorry." She whispered. "I don't know if you can hear me… but I do love you. I never knew… not until you kissed me." She sobbed. "Please don't leave me now."

"Kagome…" She heard him whisper, but he was obviously dreaming. She sighed and laid her face against his chest, the heat from his body made her skin feel like ice. She stripped off her bikini, and slipped beside him between the sheets. She flipped the towel covered ice bag, and felt Sesshomaru's arm pull her against him. She closed her eyes, and fell asleep.

She didn't wake up until the door opened and InuYasha walked in. He looked at her, when she sat up. She was naked from the waist up.

"Why are you naked?" He shouted at her. She pulled the top blanket against her and stood up.

"Because he was really hot and I was colder then ice." She stated. "Why did you think? Did you think I fucked him while he was sleeping?" InuYasha's face heated up and Kagome looked into the mini-fridge. InuYasha set the tray of food on the stand beside the bed and Kagome looked up. "I can't believe I didn't hear Miroku come in. He is like a ninja." Kagome said, before she pulled the lid off the food. "Thank you InuYasha."

"Yeah." He said, his eyes averted. Kagome ate slowly, before InuYasha said "Do you love him?"

She choked on the bit of food in her mouth and raised her eyebrows. "That's none of your business."

"You know he loves you, don't you?" When she didn't reply, he continued. "I'm sorry for that day in the classroom."

"Don't think about it."

"I am still sorry."

"It's okay." She whispered, and they didn't speak again. InuYasha left soon after and Kagome climbed back under the blankets with Sesshomaru. His body temperature was a lot lower, thanks to Miroku having changed the ice bag. He really was stealthy, Kagome mused. She closed her eyes and fell asleep with her ice cold skin against his heated flesh.

When she woke up she was staring into a pair of golden eyes. They were looking at her with such affection, that Kagome stopped breathing. He looked into her eyes before his eyes started trailing down her body. Kagome glanced at the clock beside the bed. It read 2 am. Kagome bit her lower lip, wondering when the blanket had been removed from her body. Sesshomaru looked into her eyes again. "You are beautiful."

"Thank you?"

"You love me." He stated, no question to his voice. "I heard you whisper it when you were asleep."

"How long have you been awake?"

He glanced at the clock behind him. "A half hour. I was watching you sleep."

"Um."

"You talk." Kagome blushed. "You kept saying my name, and you whispered you loved me." He searched her face, his eyes gentle. "Do you?"

Kagome stared into his eyes. "Yes." She whispered to him. His hand brushed the hair from her face and he leaned forward to kiss her.

"Ahem."

Kagome looked towards the door, staring at Miroku who had Sango with him. She was blushing and had her gaze focused on the ceiling, while Miroku was staring at them and grinning. "Are we interrupting something?" Miroku asked, closing the door behind him. Sango peeked at the two but averted her gaze again. "We brought you a late night snack, and since Sesshomaru hasn't eaten for a few days we figured he needed to eat as well. Sango brought you clothes, didn't you, sweetheart?"

Sango turned red. "Uh I-I di-did." Sango held the bag out. Kagome accepted, having wrapped a blanket around herself again. Her whole body looked like a tomato as she grabbed the bag and scurried into the bathroom to dress. Sango stared at Sesshomaru. "You didn't fuck her did you?"

His eyes narrowed. "If you wouldn't have come in, I'm sure we could have been making love within the hour."

Miroku grinned. "Stop being that way Sango. She never said anything to you, or me when she caught us in the back of the truck." He watched Sango turn three shades of red, and hugged her tightly. "Stop scolding him. They're adults. If they want to have sex, then they're going to."

She sighed, and Kagome walked back out in blue silk shorts and a blue silk camisole to match.

Needless to say, the snack/dinner was very awkward, and Sango and Miroku left shortly after.

Kagome turned around to gather up her things and go back to her room, considering Sesshomaru's fever was gone and he was feeling better. She was at the door, opening it when a hand reached above her head and closed it. She turned her face to see Sesshomaru's looming very closely to hers. "Now… where were we?" He asked her, a quirk in his lips as he leaned down, and pressed his lips to hers.

Kagome fainted.

Wow, close one. Oh well, next chapter is round two! I hope you enjoyed!

Jaime