Epitome of Distraction: Chapter two! Cool! I know I said I wanted to have this entire story done by Halloween, but I don't think I'll be able to. There should only be another chapter or two left, so it will DEFINITELY be done by the end of this weekend. Sorry, ya'll, but my life is busy, etc. Oh, and I think you all know I don't own InuYasha.

Bewitched

Chapter 2

Under a gray sky, the trees surrounding the small village rustled and shook in the wind. Despite the clouds, it was surprisingly bright out. As Kagome walked threw the forest in search of her half-demon friend, she inwardly cursed her bare thighs and made a mental note to start wearing clothing that covered more. Kagome loved the forest. She loved the way the branches moved in a breeze, and the sound the leaves made when they did. Looking around, she savored the sight of leaves falling, floating daintily downward or spinning wildly into the ground. Clutching the binder she held closer to her chest for artificial warmth, she closed her eyes contentedly, breathing in the changing season.

CRASH!

She opened her eyes wide, body going tense. "What in the heck was that!?" she said aloud, surprise and little bit of fear in her voice. 'Is it a demon? Where is InuYasha!' Kagome charged ahead. 'Why didn't I bring my bow and arrows?' Another loud crash came from ahead of Kagome. 'That sounded like a tree breaking in half! Oh, InuYasha, please be okay.' She broke into a small clearing and saw a red flash of InuYasha's clothing. He had the Tetsusaiga in both hands, and he was attacking. Frantic, Kagome called to him, "InuYasha!"

In two bounds, the half-demon was in front of her, sheathing his weapon. An expression of fear and shock was on the schoolgirl's face. "Where's the demon?"

InuYasha raised an eyebrow. "Huh? What are you talking about? There isn't any demon around here."

Kagome looked behind InuYasha at the pile of destroyed trees. "But...I heard the crashing. And you had Tetsusaiga out."

He rolled his eyes and smirked. "Boy, are you stupid. I was just practicing with the Tetsusaiga. There wasn't anything to get worked up over. Geez, jump to conclusions."

"Hey! That isn't cool! I was actually worried about you! I can't believe you would call me stupid for assuming you attacking things meant there was a demon around! You're so insensitive!"

"You're overreacting! It's not my fault you can't even tell when there is or is not danger around."

A severe tic developed suddenly in Kagome's forehead as she squeezed her eyes shut tight and scowled. "Sit boy!"

InuYasha hit the ground face first. "Would you stop doing that!"

She crossed her arms. "I was coming to talk to you about costumes for Halloween, but I don't really feel like doing that anymore. Your stupid attitude ruined that for you."

InuYasha pushed himself into a sitting position. "What makes you think I wanted to dress up like an idiot for your stupid holiday anyway? Not everyone likes making a fool of themselves like you do."

"Sit!" Kagome grabbed the binder from where she had dropped it and turned on her heel. "Sit, sit, sit, sit!" Ignoring the cries of pain from behind her, she walked briskly away. "Doesn't want to dress up like an idiot, does he?" she grumbled to herself as she stormed away. "Fine. He's going to dress up whether he likes it or not. And I know the perfect costume for him. It'll fit him perfectly, the jerk. 'Not everyone likes making a fool of themselves, Kagome.' Ooh! He makes me so mad!"

She continued like this all the way back to the village, stomping to Kaede's hut. Shippo was already in there, drawing with his crayons. "Hey Kagome! Look at my picture!" He showed her a picture of what looked like himself wearing InuYasha's clothing and holding a giant sword. "It's a picture of me on Halloween. See? Cuz you said that we got to be someone else for the day. So I want to be InuYasha."

Kagome plopped onto the ground next to the young demon in a huff. "You don't want to be that meanie."

Shippo put his paper and crayon down. "Uh oh. Did you two have a fight again? Please don't get back home! I wanted to do Halloween with you!"

The schoolgirl tried her best to smile for his sake. "I'm not going to miss out on Halloween just because of that idiot. No way! I do need to go home, though, but only to pick up all the supplies for Halloween. I need time to get the costumes and everything. And I'll bring back a pumpkin for you to carve, too, okay?"

Shippo looked up at her with big eyes. "Aren't you forgetting about something?"

She thought about it. "Um, I don't think so? Am I?"

"Candy! You didn't mention bringing back my candy! You can't forget the candy!"

Kagome laughed. "No, I won't forget the candy. I promise." She pushed the binder towards him. "In the back are all of the child-sized costumes. Why don't you look through that and find something you like?"

- - - - - - - - - -

Eventually, Kagome managed to get back to her era. She had dumped all of the supplies she could have out of her bag into a corner in Kaede's hut, so sh would have more room in her backpack for the costumes, candy, and pumpkin. Her pace was fast. She was still mad at InuYasha, the idiot. She was just trying to have fun with her friends, and he had to go insulting her and ruining her plans. Figures. That's what he always does. She smirked. She'd get him back when she forced him to wear a clown costume. Big poofy colorful wig, over-sized spotted bow-tie on a striped "suit". And to top it off, a bouquet of flowers that shot water when you held the bottom tightly. She wouldn't tel him about that last feature. Secretly, she hoped he would spray himself with the water. That clown costume would teach him for being such an ass to her. Walking into a local costume and decorations store, Kagome was oblivious to the surreptitious character following her from a distance.

- - - - - - - - - -

The figure in red started at the jingle of the bell as he cautiously pushed the door of the costume shop open. His shoulders tensed at all the people around him, the strange new smells, and the too-bright lighting that was in every building around here. InuYasha's ears twitched. He had waited outside for Kagome to be done shopping, where he had planned to grab her as soon as she exited the building and forcefully drag her back to the right era for her to be in. That plan had dissolved when she actually came out of the store. For some reason, he couldn't bring himself to go down there and confront her.

InuYasha suspiciously looked around the room. There was an almost overwhelming smell of machinery and rubber in here. So much of this era smalled like that. If it wasn't for the small, InuYasha would have thought this was some evil demon's lair. On one wall was a large display of hair – whole heads of hair – without the heads. Next to that were the heads themselves, but they didn't look human. They were limp and utterly lifeless. It looked like it was just the skin hanging there. Above all this on the wall were the words "Wigs and Masks." InuYasha didn't understand. There were strange outfits on the walls as well. One piece of clothing InuYasha recognized as what Kagome had called an "angel".

A young smiling man came up to a leery InuYasha. "Can I help you find something" he asked. "I see you're looking at our costumes. Is there something in particular that you're looking for?"

InuYasha didn't know what to say. His mouth opened a little bit. "Costumes?" he said.

The man smiled. "How about I show you what we have.

He took InuYasha around the store, pointing out all sorts of different outfits, make-ups, masks, and more. Vampires, ninjas, Spiderman – InuYasha bristled when he saw that costume, thinking of the spider mark on Naraku's back – , vikings, robots, werewolves, and so many other things that held no meaning in InuYasha's mind. Then, the young man brought InuYasha to a display. The half-demon stared at the cardboard cut-out in front of him. "Who's that?" he demanded, pointing.

"You don't know who James Bond is?" Oh, he's famous. He travels around the world and thwarts badguys. Lots of guns, action, explosions, and sex. It's great."

InuYasha nodded. "He's a real man. I can tell. He looks like a warrior."

The store worker nodded. "Doesn't really fit with your current look –" He glanced at InuYasha's ears. "– but it's a good choice. Let's get you fitted for the costume."

InuYasha followed the man into the back, saying as he went, "So tell me more about this James Bond guy..."

- - - - - - - - - -

With a contented sigh, Kagome sank deeper into the hot water of her bubble-bath. It had been a long day, and she was greatly enjoying this relaxation time. After she had finished getting the costumes, she had gone to the grocery store for some pumpkins and candy, stopped by her school to talk with her teachers about missed work, and picked up some "extra stuff" for Sango's outfit that she had requested. Why did it feel like running errands was more exerting than fighting demons? It was still fairly early in the day. She'd go back after her bath. She had time.

An hour later, Kagome walked though the little village that had become a second home to her. Sango, Shippo, and Kirara were sitting on a grassy patch of ground, playing some sort of game that involved sticks and a bouncy ball Kagome had given Shippo. "Hey guys! How's it going?" the smiling schoolgirl asked.

Shippo jumped up "Kagome! Did you bring me candy?"

"I might have candy. But it's not for today. You'll have to wait until tomorrow, Halloween!" She unslung her pack from off back a few pumpkins to carve!" She hauled one out to prove her words. "They aren't very big, but I did have to lug them over here by myself."

Shippo sniffed the pumpkin experimentally. "Do you eat it?"

"Haha. No, you don't eat it."

Sango looked at Kagome with a smile. "Yes, Kagome, what do you do with it?"

Kagome pulled a permanent marker from her bag. "Here, I'll show you." She quickly drew two triangular eyes and a toothy mouth onto the gourd. "See? And then you would carve that out and put a candle in it, and at night it lights up and looks really cool. You guys want to try it?"

"Sounds like fun, doesn't it Shippo," Sango said.

Shippo clapped his hands. "Yeah! I love to draw! This will be fun too!"

Kagome pulled another pumpkin from her bag and set it in front of Shippo. "You are really creative, Shippo. Let's get started on the messy part!"

- - - - - - - - - -

The sun was setting when Kagome, Sango, and Shippo finally put the candles in their jack-o-lanterns. The sound of footsteps behind the kneeling group made them turn around. Miroku stood behind them, admiring the glowing pumpkins. They turned around to greet him. "Hey Miroku!" Shippo said excitedly. "Do you like my jack-o-lantern? I put it those teeth to make it extra scary-looking!"

Miroku smiled, "It looks very scary indeed. I've defeated demons less frightening, I'm sure."

Shippo grinned widely at the compliment. Kagome picked up the bowl of pumpkin innards and said, "Boy, I'm hungry. I've got a few lunch boxes my mom gave me. Who's ready for dinner?"

Everyone agreed heartily. Kagome handed the bowl of pumpkin to Sango and picked up her backpack. "Miroku, where's InuYasha? I'm sure he'll be hungry too."

Miroku gave her an inquisitive look. "He went to your era shortly after you had returned there. I haven't seen him since. Are you to tell me that he was not with you?"

"InuYasha followed me? I didn't see him at all today. He must have meant to bring me back here after that fight we had."

Miroku and Sango both looked mildly surprised. "You two had a fight today?" Sango asked. "You didn't mention it."

They started walking, carrying their pumpkins with them, toward Kaede's hut. "No, it kind of slipped my mind," she responded. "It wasn't that big of a fight. He was just mean to me about my Halloween idea, and I got mad. I'm still a little angry that he was such a jerk, but it's okay. I have a great way to get back at him." She smiled.

They got to Kaede's quickly and, after setting up their pumpkins, washed their hands (or in Shippo's case, arms and face) in the bucket of water, and began preparing dinner. Near the end of a dinner of sushi and soda, InuYasha walked in, holding a large plastic bag. The group looked up at his entry.

"Ah, good evening, InuYasha. We were starting to think you wouldn't be returning." Miroku wore his casual smirk.

Kagome was eying the bag. "What do you have, InuYasha?"

"None of your business, woman." He was stony-faced.

She pointed to the bag in InuYasha's hand. "You bought something. You don't have any money from my time. Did you steal money from me?" She sounded untrusting and hurt.

Defensively, InuYasha countered, "Of course I didn't steal from you! What kind of person do you think I am!?"

"Then were did you get money?"

"I told you, it's none of your damn business!"

Kagome stood up angrily. "What were you doing in my era? You always get into trouble somehow. And you won't even tell me what you were doing or how you were able to do it. You are so infuriating!"

Sango leaned over to Miroku. "That didn't take long, did it?"

The monk shook his head sagely. "They do seem to argue a lot, don't they? I wonder sometimes if it's just their teenage hormones. They can't get what they really want, so they do this instead."

"I would normally smack you for such a vulgar suggestion, but I can't help but agree with."

They turned their attention back to a screaming InuYasha. "I was wanting to leave this in here so it wouldn't be outside overnight, but I think I'd rather have it with me, so I know a certain nosy wench isn't snooping through my things!" He turned on his heel and jumped out. Kagome plopped back down in a huff.

"Can you believe that guy?" she said to no one in particular.

Miroku stood up. "I should probably take InuYasha some food." He picked up a lunchbox and a bag of potato chips.

Shippo jumped on his shoulder. "I'll come with you, Miroku."

When they were alone, Sango said to Kagome, "Men are frustrating."

Kagome sighed. "Yeah. But mainly just this one. Stupid InuYasha." She brightened. "That reminds me. Sango, I got that stuff for you. Your costume, and the rest. Do you want to try it on?"

Sango smiled. "Absolutely."

Kagome dug through her bag and found what she was looking for. She handed it all over to Sango.

As Sango was changing, Kagome was quiet. Finally, hesitantly, she said, "I'm sorry about me fighting. I didn't mean to ruin the evening for you and the others. I hope it didn't change your mind about...whatever it is you're planning for this stuff I got you."

Sango blushed. "I'm not planning anything. I just, I just wanted to look good. I wanted to feel like a girl. Like someone other than a warrior." Kagome was looking at her intently. "I know it's stupid and vain, but I wanted to feel rich, like a princess. It is Halloween. You said yourself, you're supposed to dress up to be someone you don't get to be otherwise." She looked at the ground. "I feel foolish."

"No, don't! It's a reasonable thing to feel. I completely understand. Why do you think I wear my school uniform to fight demons? I need to feel some kind of connection to my world, some kind of normalcy in my life. It's silly, but everyone needs to feel things sometimes. Don't feel foolish."

There was a knock at the door. Miroku's muffled voice came from behind it. "Why is the door locked? Can I come in to sleep or not?"

Sango and Kagome looked at the outfit Sango was wearing and giggled, the demon-slayer more nervously than Kagome. "One second, Miroku! We're, uh, changing. We'll let you in in just a moment."

"You're changing? In that case I demand entrance at once!" Sango kicked the door.

"In one moment, Houshi-sama, you pervert!"

Kagome smiled. She may still have been mad at InuYasha, but she was getting very excited about the next day.