Eye of the Beholder

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters or the following songs:

Whip My Hair – Willow Smith

Chapter 12: A Little Fun Part One

Kagome headed backstage as Naraku began to make his closing statements. Everyone was flitting about packing up all their things, but many of them spared a moment or two to compliment her on the performance. Sango clapped her on the shoulder, in passing, and said, “Thanks for not fucking it up.” When Kagome looked back at her to reply, she almost walked into Inuyasha.

“Watch where you’re going idiot! Just because you can sing doesn’t mean you can just bowl people over!”

She stumbled back, a blush spread out over her cheeks. “It’s not like I did it on purpose,” she snapped back as she folded her arms over her chest and glared at him. “besides, I wouldn’t need to bowl you over back here, I just did it on stage.”

Inuyasha was just opening his mouth to make a retort when Miroku came up from behind. “Ho, ho! She’s got some spirit, huh? Must be all that adrenaline from the performance, makes people act a little nuts. How about we work that off in a more positive and less hostile way?” He looked from Kagome to Inuyasha expectantly, but neither seemed inclined to back down just yet.

Then, Inuyasha turned his back to them and grumbled, “I don’t feel like throwing a party this week. You should have seen the mess from last time; my mom was furious.”

“Okay, no party then.” Miroku stroked his chin in the universal thinking pose. “We could go to that new karaoke bar on Main Street…?

“That seems cool,” Kagome piped in.

“I ain’t goin’ to no karaoke bar,” Inuyasha protested, looking even more put out.

Miroku took up his pose again. After a few moments of “Hm…hm,” he finally got an idea. “Why don’t we give a free concert in the park? We can perform, people can watch, and there’s no clean up…How about that?”

Inuyasha thought for a moment as Miroku and Kagome stood by waiting. Time passed, boredom and impatience began to set in, then he said, “Alright, I’m in, but you’ll have to set things up with the others.”

Miroku’s face broke out in a winning smile, completely wasted on his present company. “Don’t worry about a thing.” As inuyasha stomped off he turned to Kagome. “Would you be a dear and gather your bandmates in Roosevelt Park in two hours?”

“I’ll try,” she said, “but you know Sango. She’s going to be a tough one.”

“I will handle her, you just worry about the others.”

“Consider it done.” She gave a mocking salute and headed off.

***

Kagome dashed up her stairs two at a time, burst through her bedroom door, and threw open her closet. She had to pick out the perfect outfit for tonight. She spotted a pair of khaki pants her mom had bought her during the summer that were a little too preppy for her tastes. She took them off the hanger and gave them a once over. A light bulb went off. She spread them out on the floor and grabbed a pair of scissors. She shred the right pant leg and cut the left one at the knee. Then stepped back to take a look at her handiwork. It still needed something. She took her art box off the shelf and pulled out a fat permanent marker. She drew simple cartoonish faces, stars, and bubbles on her pants. She swapped the fat marker for a thin one and began scribbling quotes in the leftover spaces. Now, they were perfect.

She pulled on a long-sleeved red shirt and a white T-shirt on top that was decorated with a rhinestone pooh bear. She sprayed the ends of her hair green and arranged it into two pinwheel pigtails. She lined her eyes with thick black eyeliner, strapped on a pair of black army boots on top of peppermint striped knee-high socks and she was ready to go.

As she reached for her bag, her phone rang. It was Miroku. “Sesshomaru won’t do the concert. You have to get him to come.” His voice was a little panicked.

“How am I supposed to do that?” she asked.

“You two are an item now, right? A thing?”

“Yeah, but that’s just for school. You know that.”

“Exactly, the whole school is going to be at the park in 30 minutes. If you’re there and he isn’t then that will not be a good look.”

Kagome made an exasperated noise in the back of her throat before replying, “All right, all right, I’ll try, but no promises.”

“That’s all I ask,” he said cheerfully as he hung up. Kagome glared down at the phone in her hand. Part of her was tempted to throw it out the window; instead, she slipped the small bit of annoying plastic in her back pocket and made a detour to the Nishizawa house.

***

Sesshomaru was steadily drumming his pencil in an attempt to bang out an answer to his latest problem, an essay for English. For some reason, his mind was not focusing on analyzing the well-crafted prose of Edgar Allen Poe; instead it kept up a steady melody. ‘Tell you something, give you something, show you in so many ways…’ The song had played nonstop in the back of his mind since the battle. He kept picturing Kagome with her head tilted back, eyes brimmed with tears, lights bathing her in a white glow. She was –

Tap. Tap. Tap

He snapped out of his little day dream at the sound of someone knocking on his door. He looked down at his open book. “While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.” With an ironic snort he answered the door. His mother stood on the other side, hands folded in front of a purple paisley apron. “There is a young woman at the door for you,” she said, her eyes drifted idly to the spread of books and papers laid out on his desk.

He nearly rolled his eyes. “Tell her I’m busy.”

“It would not be wise to turn her away. I thought I raised you better,” she chastised.

This time he really did roll his eyes before following his mother down the hall.

***

Kagome’s foot tapped a rapid beat on the stoop. She flipped her phone open again to check the time. Only ten-seconds had passed since she last checked. It was the longest ten-seconds ever. She leaned over and peeked in one of the windows, but there was still no sign of Sesshomaru. Rolling her eyes, she called Miroku.

“Your prayers have been answered,” he greeted.

“Guess where I am,” Kagome demanded as she turned her back to the door.

“Hopefully, you are on your way here with the guy every girl wants to see,” he replied, a smidgen of worry coloring his voice.

“No. I am standing outside of Sesshomaru’s house waiting for him to come to the door. Waiting, Miroku. Did you catch that part?”

“Yes, yes. I caught it, but don’t let it bother you. When you see him, try to do your best impression of a sweet, patient girl and he’ll do whatever you want.”

“I don’t think that is going to –

She could hear voices in the house. “Okay, fine, I’ll do it. Gotta go.” She managed to slip her phone back in her pocket just as the door was opening.

There stood Sesshomaru Nishizawa with his hair tied loosely at his shoulders, dressed in comfortable pants and a thin cardigan. His golden eyes nailing her to the spot and no matter how many times she saw him the effect was the same. Breathtaking.

“Is there something I could help you with?” he asked.

Kagome forced her mind to function and, in the process, forgot everything Miroku had just told her. “It’s about time you made an appearance,” she snapped instead.

“You should be happy. I’m a very busy person; if you are going to waste my time with your unbecoming attitude then I will return to my work at once.” He made to close the door and Kagome jumped to stop him.

“No! Wait! We need you to be at the concert today,” she said hurriedly.

“I have already done the battle at school. I will not participate in any of Inuyasha’s foolish party games.” He made to close the door again.

“But it’s not Inuyasha’s party,” she blurted back, refusing to move away from the door, “Miroku is – Miroku and I are putting this together. Don’t you think it would be more than a little odd if my so-called ‘boyfriend’ isn’t there to support me?” She quirked an eyebrow expecting him to disagree.

Sesshomaru paused for a moment. Then he sighed and said, “I will get my keys.” Kagome didn’t bother to hide her victorious grin as she skipped her way to his car.

“I hope you realize I am not doing this for you or that insipid friend of yours.”

Kagome rolled her eyes and looked out the window. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. You’re doing this to protect your silly plan. I got it.” They pulled out of the driveway in silence.

Kagome sat twitching in her seat while Sesshomaru steadfastly ignored her. “Can we at least turn on the radio?” She asked, not liking the tension.

“Do as you please,” he sighed and Kagome did a little happy dance in her seat before switching the radio on.

I whip my hair back and forth. I whip my hair back and forth (just whip it).

“No,” Sesshomaru protested and switched the station.

I want all guys to come out to club Bubblicious downtown tonight. Sexy ladies get in – 

“Hey! I like that song!” She changed it back. I whip my hair back and forth. I whip my hair back and forth (just whip it). “Don’t you dare change it. ‘Do as you please,’ remember?”

Sesshomaru just rolled his eyes and gripped the steering wheel tighter. “Aw, don’t be that way. It’s a good song. Here, listen: Hop up out the bed turn my swag on. Pay no attention to them haters because we whip ‘em off; and we ain’t doin’ nothin’ wrong, so don’t tell me nothin’. I’m just trying to have fun, so keep the party jumping. So whats up? You know they don’t know what to do; we turn our back and whip our hair and just shake ‘em off.

“See? It’s not so bad.” She gave him a little nudge with her elbow and an encouraging smile.

“Rubbish,” Sesshomaru huffed.

Kagome rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on. It’s not a musical masterpiece, but it’s catchy.” She watched his face for a reaction, but nothing came. Her ears twitched at the start of an all too familiar bridge. “Oh this is my favorite part! All my ladies if you feel it, gone and do it – do it – whip your hair. Don’t matter if it’s long, short – do it, do it, whip your hair! Your hair, your hair!”

“Please tell me you’re done with this drivel?” His hands twitched on the wheel and his mouth seemed tighter than usual.

“Oh fine, it’s over anyway.” She shut the radio off completely. “There, do you feel better?”

“I’ll feel better when this is over,” he grumbled as they pulled into Roosevelt’s parking lot.

**** Author’s Note****

So, yeah, this chapter was looking a little long and I decided to just split it into two. That way you all would have a shorter wait for an update. The next chapter will be out next week. It is halfway finished, so no worries. I will definitely post it. Love you guys! Please review and keep me motivated.

Chapter 11

Chapter 13