A lone woman hurried down a back street as she made her way to the side door of Sakura Etsu, the club where she sang every other night. A couple of weeks ago she would have used the front door, but after a cell phone video recording made its way onto the internet, she had become the “next voice” of Japan and her popularity had skyrocketed. In fact, the club, which had never before needed any form of security, found themselves hiring not only one, but two bouncers, to deal with the crowd that would wait in lines around the corner just for a chance to see her.
Not only had her new found fame created chaos just trying to get to and from work, but now she found her life in general being affected. She couldn’t go to a grocery store or restaurant without someone asking for an autograph. Not to mention that some of the major record companies had gotten a hold of her cell number and would call her at all hours trying to sweet talk her into leaving the club and signing with them. Despite their smooth talking and shiny promises, she adamantly refused. Miroku and his wife Sango, the club owners, had been her best friends growing up, and, other than her brother who was living in America, were her only ‘family’ still alive. There was no way in the world and she would never be able to leave them so suddenly for the ‘glamor life.’
Shaking the thoughts of fame, and the stress that would come with it, from her head, she made her way through the backstage hallway towards her dressing room, nodding to the band members as she went. Just outside her door however, she ran into Sango, loaded down with flowers, gift baskets and fan mail. “Wow, Sango! When did you become so popular?” She laughed has she opened the door before taking half of the stash into her own arms.
“Oh stop it Kagome, you know good and well that this comes from your ‘admirers’ and those grease-ball smooth talkers from the record companies. Honestly, I know you love us and are like family, but I’m still surprised that haven’t managed to steal you away from us.”
“Nothing could tear me away from you guys!” After setting one of the flower baskets down Kagome spun around with her hands on her hips. “I sing because I love to sing, not because I want to be famous. You guys allowed me to follow my dream.”
“And we know that honey, but you know that we would never hold you back right? We got you started, but if the right thing comes along, promise me you’ll take it.”
“Fine, fine, I promise. If something good comes along, and they don’t try to take control of me, then yes, I will pursue it. But I’m telling you right now, I have little faith in any record company out there. They always bully artists into changing their styles or singing songs that don’t fit their personality. Eventually, they lose who they are, but by then are stuck in a contract with no escape.”
Her friend nodded in agreement before changing topics and flinging wide the wardrobe door, “I suppose you’re right, but let’s stop talking about business and start talking about dresses. What stunning creation are you going to wear tonight?”
Kagome laughed and joined her as they discussed that night’s performance.
Meanwhile, in the Sakura’s VIP lounge, Miroku sat talking with his friend from high school and his older brother. “I’m serious guys, as good as Kagome was on that fuzzy, online camera video; she’s ten times better in live performance.
“Yeah man, I was shocked when someone showed me her video. I couldn’t believe it was the same little Kagome that you and I went to High school with. She was so shy and quiet. I never would have believed she had such a set of pipes.” Said the younger of the two, “Sesshoumaru, you never met her, but this girl did practically everything she could to avoid attention. The only people she would talk to were Miroku, Sango and I, and even then, it was like pulling teeth out of a crocodile to try and get her to say more than 3 sentences together.”
“Indeed, so you have told me many times Inuyasha. The only reason I am here tonight is so you will hopefully cease talking about how amazing it is. She is just a human onna; surely she cannot be the most beautiful vocalist out there.”
“I don’t know Sesshoumaru, you might be surprised.” Miroku leaned back on his chair, running his hands through his hair. “I grew up knowing Kagome, but the first time I ever heard her sing, it was like an angel had walked into the room.”
As if he had timed it intentionally, the lights started to dim and a spot light focused on the curtains. “Ladies and Gentlemen, The Sakura Etsu proudly presents our own shining gem, that sultry voice of Osaka, Kagome.”
The curtain parted to reveal a lithe figure in an elegantly long red dress with an open back. It had a single shoulder on the right, garnished with gems that split just at the shoulder blade to window the back in more sequins. Slowly she turned around to face the microphone, revealing even more beading along the left accentuating her sleek frame. As she took a step forward, the dress parted just enough on the left to reveal a long tapered leg from mid-thigh down. The guys in the crowd whooped and called until the room filled with her first clear note.
“There’s nothing I could say to you,
Nothing I could ever do
to make you see
What it means to me.
All the pain, the tears I cried,
every time I was pushed aside,
but now I know just how far I can go.”
She took another step forward and wrapped one hand around the microphone stand while the other hand rested on top of the microphone.
“I will be, all that I can,
And gather myself together
Just to keep from falling apart.
All my life, I’ll press on forever
And I will get through the day
Until everything’s okay.”
She took the microphone off the stand and made her way to the fore-front of the stage, other hand held out to her side. Miroku glanced briefly at his companions and smirked to see that they were both absorbed in her performance.
“I thought that I was worth nothing,
I didn’t know what life could bring.
But now I see, honestly.
It’s the only thing that I got right,
I never before felt so alive
I can finally breathe, like I’ve been set free.
I will be, all that I can,
And gather myself together
Just to keep from falling apart.
All my life, I’ll press on forever
And I will get through the day
Until everything’s okay.
So share with me and you can believe
you’re all that you need.
You are all that you need.”
The lights dimmed as the crowd rose their feet in applause. Miroku and Inuyasha were one of the first to stand, but it didn’t take long before Miroku noticed Sesshoumaru was sitting speechless. “I told you she was amazing my friend.”
“Truly your words did little justice to her talent. Tell me, Miroku, just how you’ve managed to keep her here in your club. Surely she aspires to bigger dreams than just an every other night performance that only two hundred, three hundred tops, people can see. Doesn’t she desire fame and fortune?
“Again, you under-estimate her. Perhaps you’d like to meet her in person after her performance? Maybe she might surprise you even more. I warn you though; our Kagome has a bit of a temper and doesn’t take kindly to assumptions or rudeness.
“Heh, no human onna would dare to be so bold with this Sesshoumaru. Especially not with the plans that I have in mind to offer.”
“Shh, guys, enough chatting, she’s about to start her second song.” Inuyasha shushed his friend and brother before turning back around and watching best friend and ‘little sister’ once again magically transform before his eyes. He always knew she would be something special one day and did everything to encourage her when they were in school. Shaking bad memories from his head, he turned back around to focus on the musical lilts that filled the air.
Dress idea: http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa226/ame33087/fic%20ideas/clubdressone_zps40c5be54.png
Song: Based on “I will be” by Leona Lewis (slightly re-written)
Translations:
Sakura; Cherry Blossom
Etsu: Delight
Onna: Woman