Love Transcends

Chapter Twelve:  Tokyo Shopping

Sango looked over the tip of her brown mug. The tasteless green tea stopped at her lips, for she didn't allow it to enter. Shippou was sitting at Kagome's side, who sat across from Sango. She was eating quietly. Perhaps she was starting to change her mind about what she had done….after all, what Kagome had decided tore her away from Inuyasha. Now that Sango allowed herself to think of it, it would have struck Inuyasha hard. First the hanyou had lost Kikyou to Naruku, and now because of Naruku's curse, Inuyasha had lost Kagome. Sango put the glass down softly on the mahogany table. "Kagome-san, what is wrong?"

Kagome sighed nervously, picking up her string noodles with her chopsticks, watching them fall back into the beef stew that Sango had prepared as the after school snack. It had been a week since they left old Japan and came here, and Sango seemed to be adjusting well. She put the chopsticks across the bowl and looked up at the black haired youkai exterminator. "We received a new student today in our class, Sango-chan."

"A new student?" Sango asked. "That shouldn't have you so worried; perhaps you can make friends with this new person? After all, I am sure that this person would not feel…adjusted on their first day."

"His name is Nagika Centauri, a student from America." Kagome answered. "He has dark eyes, dark hair. He makes me feel uncomfortable, Sango-chan. He watched me all day today, as if he were trying to predict what I would do next." She shivered as the chills went up her spine and down. "I haven't felt this creped out besides that time I went to that haunted house as a kid."

"Why would you go to a haunted house, Kagome?" Shippou asked. "Ghosts live there!"

"Oh its not a real haunted house, Shippou. It was a made up one, with people wearing masks." Kagome laughed, lightening the mood. "But still, you just get that feeling that even though his eyes aren't on you – he is watching you."

"Perhaps he is a youkai." Sango jested.

"No, very few youkai live here in this world now days, Sango-chan." Kagome sighed, picking her chopsticks up. "Perhaps he just likes me, and I am just going over board with this whole ordeal."

"I can understand why. You and Inuyasha had a bond." Sango brought up, drinking some of the tasteless green tea. Kagome looked up at the youkai exterminator, the noodles halfway to her mouth. "It was easy to tell you had a bond when I first met you, Kagome-san. Inuyasha loves you, he may not say it much, but he truly does. I think he loves you more than he ever did Kikyou, the miko, but that is just me. I do not truly like the miko."

Kagome brought the noodles into her mouth and gulped them down. "Hai, I know, Sango-chan. But….I cannot risk him becoming full youkai, it scares me too much. Inuyasha may loose control of his powers as a full youkai, and he may harm us….he may harm me. I can't risk that happening. Besides, he wouldn't become full human."

"What makes you think that?" Shippou asked.

"Because Inuyasha said it." Sango answered. "He told Kikyou when he arrived at Keade-miko's home village that he would never become full human. He said it clearly, no sense of doubt in his voice. Do not be alarmed by this, Shippou. Perhaps Kagome-san and I never should have hoped."

"Hope in hopelessness isn't real." Kagome sighed. She turned her head as her brother tore through the house. "Hey! Baka, take off your shoes and change!" Sango and Shippou laughed.

~*~

The next day was Saturday. Kagome had taken Sango shopping, to try and get the youkai exterminator used to the new world she had chosen to live in. Sango was not used to so many people on the roads, but she quickly adjusted. It must have been that female shopping instinct. Kagome brought Sango into the GAP store, an American store with imported American goods. Kagome reached over and pulled down a pink tank top with spaghetti straps. In left corner of the shirt was a small yellow chicken type of animal.

"What's that? It's adorable." Sango asked, pointing to the small yellow chicken.

"It's called a Chocobo, its something from a video game from Final Fantasy." Kagome answered, turning to a mirror and inspecting herself. She placed the tank top to her, seeing how she looked in it. "Americans like a lot of things we make here in Japan. Cartoons, music, games, clothes. You name it." She held the tank top out to Sango. "Here, take this and try it on over there," she pointed. "The lady will give you a small plastic number, don't worry." She smiled as Sango nodded and headed over – the youkai exterminator was adjusting so well.  

Suddenly she felt a ting go up her spine. Kagome turned quickly to find Nagika Centuari standing behind her, with an employees tag. He smiled at her fondly, and Kagome took a breath to clam down from the sudden fright.

"Are you finding everything alright?" Nagika asked, and then blinked. "You are in my class, aren't you?"

Kagome stuck her hand out. "My name is Higurashi Kagome," he took her hand and shook it. "Hai, we are classmates, you came just yesterday, wasn't it….from America?"

Nagika smiled. "Well I have been here in Japan for a while…my family moved here to take control of the GAP Japan Branch. My dad runs this, while my mom takes care of a jewelry store." He looked at her. "Is there anything you need me to help you find, Higurashi-san?"

"No, Centuari-san, domo arigatou though." Kagome smiled. "My friend Sango-chan and I are just browsing."

"In America we call that grazing, Higurashi-san." Nagika smiled back. "Woman tend to graze like cattle, go from here to there – not necessarily looking for a specific thing." There was a moment of silence. "Tell me, Higurashi-san. Do you know anything about a Shikon Jewel?"

Kagome blinked. "Shikon no Tama? The jewel of four souls?" Nagika nodded – and Kagome frowned. "Do they call the Shikon no Tama that in America?"

"Yes, the Shikon Jewel."

Kagome gulped. "Uh, the only thing I know about it is…well, it disappeared after a miko died, that's all I know." Nagika nodded after a moment. Kagome turned as Sango came up. "Ah! Sango that's so kawaii! You should have it."

Nagika smiled. "I think it would look better on you, Higurashi-san. Would you like me to ring that up for you?" Sango nodded and returned to the dressing rooms. Kagome watched as Nagika walked away, her suspicions were growing.

A/n: That was a bit longer than the last time. I have a wicked plot twist coming up here in the next few chapters, so be free to kill me for it! Lol. Kidding. Don't come near me with those sharp objects. O_o…but thank you all for reading this story so far! ^_^