Hi, here's the next chapter, enjoy!
Thankat0s: Thanks for reviewing, hope you like the rest.
Arial265, Yuki the Rat, & yoursugarpacket: Thank you for reviewing this chapter, too!
Disclaimer: Inuyasha and its characters are the rightful property of their respective owners. This piece is not for profitable purposes.
Chapter 3: Shopping and Dining
Kagome walks into the house and shouts, "I'm home!"
Jii-chan slowly approaches and says, "Welcome back, Kagome."
"Thanks, Jii-chan."
She smiles and then displays a look of surprise.
"It's quiet in here."
He laughs and says, "That's because they went to the mall."
"Oh, ok."
'I wonder why they went there, guess Souta needed something,' she thinks.
He starts to walk away when he stops and turns around and says, "Oh, we'll be having take out tonight."
Remembering her earlier conversation with her friends, she answers, "I'm sorry, I already have plans for dinner, I'm going with friends, then we were planning on going to a party at Hojou-kun's house."
"Hojou-kun, ah, yes, he's the boy who always comes by to ask how you're doing and brings you gifts."
Kagome nods her head yes in response.
He thinks for a moment, and then continues, "Well, since it's a Saturday and Hojou-kun seems like a good young man, I think it's all right for you to go."
"Thanks, Jii-chan!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Here we are!" Kagome's mother shouts as she turns off the car's engine. The three exit and Inuyasha follows the other two as they walk into the store.
Souta looks back at Inuyasha and says, "I've seen boys go in here that are about Nee-chan's age, so I think this is a good place."
Inuyasha remains silent, unsure what to say, but Kagome's mother says, "I think you're right, Souta."
Amidst confused stares from other customers at Inuyasha's unusual outfit, the three search for new clothes for Inuyasha.
'The clothing in Kagome's country is so different, they wouldn't be nearly as good as my clothes if a youkai shows up. But, I already decided, I'm going to do this.' Inuyasha thinks.
Souta and Kagome's mother parade outfits in front of Inuyasha, but he disapproves of them with confused, blank, or disgusted looks.
Souta then holds up a pair of jeans and says, "Inuyasha, all the boys here have a pair of these, they're called jeans."
Kagome's mother nods her head in agreement, but then walks away quickly and returns with a red t-shirt with a design in blue of two samurai posed to battle.
She places the shirt above the jeans and says, "What do you think of this, Inuyasha?"
He smiles and says, "Sure."
Souta and Kagome's mother look at each other and smile and nod their heads yes.
With some coaching from Souta, Inuyasha tries on the outfit, and all three are pleased with it, so they decide to buy it.
They purchase a pair of sneakers, which Souta shows Inuyasha how to tie, and socks, and then exit the mall.
As they head towards the car, Kagome's mother says, "You can change back at our home, ok?"
"Ok, that's fine."
'I wonder what Kagome will really think when she sees me in her country's clothes?' Inuyasha thinks.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After having searched through her whole wardrobe and deciding on a yellow miniskirt and pale pink blouse, Kagome brushes her hair in front of a mirror in the bathroom. As she finishes, she smiles at her reflection. She glances out the doorway at a clock and realizes that she'll need to get going if she doesn't want to be late. She places the brush on the sink and quickly walks to leave.
As she passes him, she says, "I'm headed out now, Jii-chan, I'll be back by curfew."
He smiles and says, "Have a nice evening, Kagome."
"Thanks!" she says as she walks out the door.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After having stopped to get take-out, the three return to the house.
As she enters, Kagome's mother says, "Jii-chan, we're back."
He walks towards her and smiles as he says, "Welcome back."
However, when he notices Inuyasha, he says, sounding surprised, "I didn't know he was here, too."
Kagome's mother thinks for a moment but then says, "Oh, I guess I didn't tell you, sorry about that."
Jii-chan shrugs but says nothing.
"Is Kagome here to join us for dinner?"
"No, she was having dinner with friends."
"Hmm, I see."
'I guess I can wait longer, but if she's not back by the time we finish, I'll go look for her. I hope I won't have transformed by then. Well, probably I won't,' Inuyasha thinks.
"Inuyasha, why don't you join us for dinner?"
"Ok."
She hands him the bag and says, "You can change in Souta's room and then come down."
"Sure," he says as he takes the bag handles.
When he finishes changing, he walks back and they start to eat.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Oh, Kagome-chan, that outfit looks so cute on you!"
"Thanks, yours looks nice, too."
"Does everyone know what they want?"
They all shake their heads yes and then step to the counter and make their orders. After they get their food, they walk with their trays to their usual table. While they eat, they talk about school and boys, but mostly about the upcoming party.
"It's been a long time since Hojou-kun had a party, I remember how upset he was that Kagome-chan couldn't come because of scarlet fever."
Kagome suppresses a sigh but thinks, 'At least that one is an illness that actually exists, Jii-chan has been making up strange ones lately.'
Despite her excitement about tonight, Kagome's thoughts return to Inuyasha.
'If he came and acted the way he does sometimes, when he is nice and considerate, that would be a dream come true,' she thinks.
The conversation continues until they finish eating.
As they dispose of their trash, Kagome says, "Shall we be going?"
"Sure!"
"Ok!"
"Sounds good!"
The three walk out of the building and make their way to Hojou's house.
When they arrive, Hojou opens the door for them, and smiles when he sees Kagome.
"Higurashi, everyone, thanks for coming."
"Thanks for inviting us," Kagome says.
"My pleasure, Higurashi. Come in, come in, everyone."
They follow him inside.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As they are finishing dinner, Kagome's mother looks to Jii-chan and says, "When did Kagome say she was coming back?"
"By curfew," he answers.
"By curfew? How could dinner take that long?"
"Ah, I just remembered, Kagome asked to go to a party afterwards. It's going to be at the house of that young man who comes here with gifts for her and asks how she's doing."
'Brings her gifts?!' Inuyasha thinks.
"Oh dear, this complicates things," she says as she looks at Inuyasha. Her look changes suddenly from worry to surprise.
"My goodness, Inuyasha, what's happening to you?"
'Shit, I'm transforming at a time like this!' Inuyasha thinks.
"Don't worry, it's normal, I change into a human once a month."
"Wow," Souta says with his mouth agape.
"I have to go."
Kagome's mother looks to Inuyasha and smiles as she says, "Hojou-kun lives six blocks to the east in a Western style home. Good luck."
He grins and says, "Thanks," before hastily putting on the sneakers and running out the door.