Chapter 21

Kagome followed her mother out of the department store, pulling Inuyasha behind her. Rukia had bought him some new clothes to make him blend in. The half demon now wore a pair of boxers, black jeans, a red muscle shirt, sandals and a red bandana to cover his ears. Kagome had also braided his hair neatly down his back. In her opinion, he looked pretty normal. Using her own money, she got a new blouse and a light blue bandana, which she was currently wearing.

"Kagome, these clothes itch!" Inuyasha said, scratching his chest.

Kagome dragged him along and tried to catch up with her mother. "I know, but it's just for today. Your Fire Rat will attract too much attention."

Rukia swerved off to the side away from the crowd and rummaged through her purse. "Kagome, I'm giving you some money for some new clothes for the feudal ear and whatever else you might need." She said, pressing some money into her daughter's palm. "Have fun, I have to buy some medicine for Grandpa."

"Thanks Mom!" Kagome said, waving while her mother disappeared back into the hoard of people. She smiled at Inuyasha and pulled him along. "C'mon!"

Inuyasha followed his mate around as she ran from store to store. She looked at dozens of outfits but didn't purchase one. He watched as she walked out of the final store and sighed in frustration.

"I like the clothes they have, but I don't want to buy something that costs a lot of money and have it get tore up in the feudal era." She muttered, staring at the wad of money in her hand. "I might just go back and take a look around the village shops for a kimono. My school uniform stands out; I want to blend."

Inuyasha stared around, nervous for her safety. "How much longer do we have to stay here Kagome?"

She turned and smiled at him. "We can leave; there's nothing that I want." She began to hurry toward the mall exit, but stopped when three familiar voices rang through her ears.

"Kagome!" the voices called in unison. Yuka, Eri and Ayumi waved to her from in front of the food court.

"Why now?" Kagome muttered, rolling her eyes. She crafted her face into a smile and waved back. "Hi guys."

The trio skipped up to her and crowded around. Yuka was the first to speak. "Hey Kagome, we haven't seen you in forever!"

"Yeah, are your chickenpox gone?" Eri added.

Ayumi's eyes peeked around Kagome's shoulder to where Inuyasha stood. "Isn't that the guy who's working for your grandpa at the shrine?"

They stared at him curiously as Kagome cleared her throat. "Oh yeah, you guys did meet once before."

Whispers erupted form the group as they looked him over. With her new hearing, Kagome picked up every word they said. She moved closer, her friends completely oblivious that she was listening in on their frantic chatter.

"Does Kagome seem a little different to you guys?" Yuka asked.

"Poor Hojo." Eri said.

Ayumi had not stopped staring at Inuyasha. "I just realized how cute he was."

Holding back her unexpected anger to punch her friend, she smiled and took Inuyasha's arm. "Well it's been great seeing you guys, but we have to leave."

"Why?" the three asked.

"Um … OH LOOK … IT'S PSY FROM GANGDAM STLYE!" she shouted, pointing behind them.

When they turned away, she tugged the confused hanyou toward the revolving doors. When they were outside and sprinting down the sidewalk, Kagome was pulled to a stop.

"What?" she asked, her eyes wild.

Inuyasha could sense his mate's anger. "Kagome, are you okay?"

She growled and balled up her fists. "I could sense her attraction to you. I wanted to …" she stopped and stared down at her palms, where little red lines of blood had appeared from where her claws had pricked her skin. She sniffed and tears formed in her eyes.

"Kagome?! Why are you crying?" he asked, cupping her face.

She hid her face in is chest. "What's wrong with me?"

Inuyasha chuckled and nuzzled her hair. "It's okay. It was just your demon being territorial. It happens when its thinks your place as my mate was being challenged."

"She was looking at you way too friendly." She growled.

He licked her nose. "I'm glad you feel possessive of me; that's the way I feel about you."

"Let's head back. I miss everyone." She said with a smile.

They came in the front door and were greeted by Sota, who was trying to reach a box of ice cream sandwiches. He jumped again and again but his fingers only skimmed them. He moaned in frustration and flinched when he noticed the pair behind him.

"Could one of you guy's give me the ice cream? I can't reach it!" he said.

Kagome watched as Inuyasha reached into the freezer and handed the box down to her brother. "Here kid."

He smiled and tore the box open. "Thanks Inuyasha, you're so awesome!"

Inuyasha grinned and ruffled the kid's hair. After her returned the box to the fridge, he ran upstairs to his room, the door clicking shut behind him. Kagome smiled; she knew her mate would be a good father. She kissed his arm and nosed his shoulder.

"You know why he asked us; Mom wasn't here. She doesn't let him eat them before dinner. He better finish before she gets back." She said. When he didn't react to her words, she turned him to her. "You okay?"

"Feh, fine." He said, looking away.

"You're not getting soft on me are you?" she asked in a teasing voice.

He glared at her but smiled. "Are you trying to make me angry wench?" he asked, licking her chin.

"Mmmm, yep. What you gonna do about it?" she asked.

He growled and captured her mouth with his. Her arms constricted around his neck as he slipped his hand on her shirt, running his claws over the soft skin of her belly. She giggled and pulled away suddenly, leaving her mate in the kitchen as she raced into the living room.

"Come and get me!" she said, playfully hiding behind the couch. He crouched low to the floor and stalked her, listening to the sound of her breathing. He snuck on to the cushions of the sofa and peeked over the edge at her. He yelled and landed on top of her lightly. She squeaked and rolled him off her, pinning him underneath her. As his hands reached for the button of her jeans, she heard the front door slide open. Seconds later the scent of her mom entered the room.

"Kagome, are you two home yet?" Rukia called.

"Darn it! Play along." She told him, making her clothes look neat. "Where is it?!"

"Oh, there you are honey. Where's what?" Rukia asked.

"The T.V. remote; I lost it under the couch and Inuyasha was helping me look for it." She lied, looking at Inuyasha for him to back her up.

"Oh … uh, yeah." He said casually.

Rukia narrowed her eyes. "Well that was nice, but the remote is right here." She said, picking it up from the coffee table.

"Oh, Haha … there it is. We couldn't find it anywhere! Thanks Mom." Kagome chirped, sweat rolling down her neck.

Rukia knew very well what those two had been up to but didn't say anything more. Seeing her daughter's face turn beet red was enough. "Okay then, are you two heading back?"

"We were planning to, I just have to get my bag." She said, quickly sprinting up to her room.

"Did you buy any new clothes?" Rukia asked as Kagome returned with her bag and Tetsusaiga.

"No, I couldn't find anything I liked. I'm just going to buy a kimono back in the feudal era." She said, tossing the sword to Inuyasha. The pair sprinted out the front door and bolted to the well house.

"Well okay then dear. Come back soon!" she called, waving from the window.

Kagome smiled and blew a kiss. "Bye Mom, love you! Thanks!"

As she and Inuyasha traveled through the blue mist, she felt a little guilty about leaving so fast. She knew that Tokyo was the place she was raised and the world she knew, but she was born to be with Inuyasha in the feudal era. Despite the fact that the present didn't really feel like her home anymore, she knew it would be the place she could go if she needed help. She smiled as her feet touched the dirt if the Bone Eaters well.