AN: Don't be offended by some of this chapter's content. My brother wrote most of it.
Chapter 4
Dementia Don't Cost A Thing
The second day of the Festival dawned with Shippo waking early, and walking a quarter of a mile to the port-a-potties. On his way, he observed the others sleeping, almost in a heap, from where they collapsed after partying the night before. Tristan was sprawled out on the grass with a pair of women's underwear on his head, Inu-yasha was curled up next to Kagome's sleeping bag, and Mai was doubled over Joey, who was sleeping comfortably on top of a pile of cans. There were at least a thousand other groggy teenagers wandering about the grounds that morning. None of them really noticing Shippo, who was cleverly disguised as beach ball. He only hoped that no one would mistake him for the real thing and kick him.
When he returned to the group later, they were all finally getting up. Joey yawned and then looked over at the Blonde Disaster laying on him.
"What the-" Joey moaned.
"Hey there," Mai said groggily, "Was it good for you," she asked with a wink.
"Was what what for who?" the boy asked, scared.
"What's she doing there?!" Kagome demanded, Inu-yasha laughing his head off behind her.
Just then, the pile of cans began to move. And emerging from underneath came The Blindman. "Killer party last night, J-man" he said to Joey.
"But- but!"
"This just keeps getting better," Tristan said, getting up.
"I wouldn't say anything if I were you," Serenity said, pointing to the top of his head.
"How did these get here?" Tristan said innocently, but blushing beat red.
"Hey Yugi," Tea said, sitting up in her sleeping bag, "I think we're stuck together."
"Tea," Yugi said, "I know we're best friends, but-"
"No, I mean we're really stuck together," she said, tugging her hair, "I don't think you got all the syrup washed off yesterday."
Kaiba walked up just then, a wet towle flung over his bare shoulders. "Well this looks like a pretty sticky situation," he remarked.
"Hey, I make the jokes around here," Joey said.
"I don't think you're at liberty to be making any jokes," Kaiba said snidely. Joey then remembered that he was still in his nest of cans, pushed Mai off him, and rolled off the Bilndman and his tin mini-fort. The group circled aroung Yugi and Tea, helped them up, and then proceeded to pull them apart.
"All right guys," Kagome said, "You take Yugi, we'll take Tea." She, Serenity, and Mai grabbed Tea's arm, while Joey, Tristan, and Inu-yasha grabbed Yugi's, and they pulled.
"Ow! Ow ow ow !" Tea cried.
"Stop, it guys! You're gonna pop my head off!" Yugi groaned. They stopped pulling seeing as it was of no use to try further.
"I think there's only one thing to do," Kagome suggested.
"I think you're right," Inu-yasha agreed. They led the sticky pair to the nearby pond, where most of the party goers were now congregating. Inu-yasha picked them up, and tossed them in, clothes and all. They came up sputtering and coughing a few seconds later, but at least they weren't stuck anymore.
"Hoe did you guys know to do that?" Tristan asked them.
"Happened to Songo and Miroku once," Inu-yasha sated, walking away.
"It was the last time I brought Salt water taffy with me." Kagome said.
When they all started piling into the car again, Tristan asked, "Well, shall we go back to the hotel room? We've still got it for another night."
"Oh no," Kagome objected. "I'm not going back to the 'Bates' Motel.'"
"Then what are we supposed to do?" Tea asked, "We haven't showered, we're still in yesterday's clothes, and we can't sleep out here another night!"
"You can wash up in the band's trailer," The Blindman offered. So, with no other options, they each had a turn in the huge tour van, washing up and changing clothes. The last to come out was Inu-yasha, now dressed in tee shirt, blue jeans, and a cowboy hat.
"That's it," Mai said, "Yesterday was a fashion nightmare. Today is like 'Revenge of Frankenstein'."
"Like you dress any better," Inu-yasha retorted.
"Hey, I MAJORED in fashion," Mai said. "I have more fashion sense in my pinky than you have in your whole body."
"She's right about one thing," Tea said, stepping behind him, inspecting the out fit. "Though you look good in hats, everything else is just awful."
"We can take him shopping with us!" Kagome suggested. "We were going to hit the department stores anyway. This could be our good deed for the day."
"But we were gonna-" Joey objected.
"That was before this morning," Kagome snubbed.
"Serenity," Kaba said, reaching into his wallet, "Go buy the dog boy a nice collar or something. I'll treat these gentlemen to some of the other more interesting cultural aspects of Kyoto."
The girls gratefully accepted Kaiba's generous offer, and gleefully took the han-you with them. They took all manner of clothes from the racks, and sent Inu-yasha to the dressing room. He came out in several different out fits, each paired with the appropriate hat.
The first was a total cowboy look. Boots and all. The girls looked him over, then shook their heads. Next he was adorned with the leather attire of a biker. But that wasn't right either. Next came the grunge look, followed by 'vintage chic'- mainly bell bottoms, tie dye, and dashikie.
"Would you stupid girls hurry this up? I feel like the village idiot!"
"We have to find the right look. This is a process!" Mai said as the girls picked out more clothes. After trying over two dozen different combinations, they finally found one that worked. The cowboy hat, a leather jacket, jeans, and steel toed boots. They even found a pair of fox footy pajamas for Shippo to wear so his paws and tail wouldn't be so noticeable. .
As the girls left the shop with their own choices, Kagome took Inu-yasha's arm, and said smiling at him, "Inu-yasha, you're the best doll we've ever had."
Well, he thought as Kagome squeezed his arm, at least I got something out of this humiliation.
"I don't get it?" Joey said, staring at the painting.
"It's mesmerizing," Tristan gasped. The swirl of colors were taking the limits of his imagination to the outer limits.
"I've seen better," Yugi said, scratching his head.
"Kyoto is home to one of the finest art museums in all of Japan," Kaiba said. "I go to the trouble of trying to bring a little culture into your pathetic lives, and all you can say is 'I've seen better'?"
"I guess it's ok." Yugi said, picking his ear. " I've just never been to that many art museums before."
"Hey guys, they got a jungle gym," Joey said as he climbed up on a very large metal sculpture."
"You idiot!" Kaiba cried.
"Joey, get down!," Yugi yelled.
"What? It's metal," Joey said, "It can't break." But he was wrong. It did break, and in many pieces. As the other guys came over to make sure he was ok, Joey climbed from the rubble. Naturally, the museum's curator was furious at them. So he had them dragged away, and tossed out on their rear ends. Even Kaiba, who offered to pay for the sculpture, was banned from the museum.
"If I were you, Kaiba," Tristan said, "I would refuse to give them money."
"Every time I have ANYTHINMG to do with you three idiots, it costs me one of three things: Time, money, or a piece of my sanity. What on earth ever possessed me to think that I could be FRIENDS with YOU?!?"
"Wait," Yugi said. "You did this because you want to be friends?"
"I didn't say that," Kaiba said, walking away from them.
"Yes you did!" the other three said. They caught up with him, and Joey got him in a headlock. "So you actually like us dude!" he said, giving the rich boy a noogie.
"Let go of me, you Neanderthal! I'm only doing this for Serenity." he said when he wrenched himself from Joey's lock. "She seems to think I need to get along with you stooges. I don't need anyone but her. You understand?"
"We understand, bud," Tristan said, "It's alright man! Don't hide your emotions! Let it all out!" he said dramatically, hugging him.
"Let go, you idiot!" Kaiba yelled. "Yugi, call him off!"
Yugi smiled, and said, "Group hug!" And all three hugged the mortified Seto Kaiba until finally he let out a yell more gruesome than any of them had ever heard before.
When lunch time rolled around, the two groups met up at the local Noodle Hut. Inu-yasha's outfit was not that big a hit with the others.
"When did the rodeo come to town?" Tristan asked, holding back his laughter.
"I told you this outfit was stupid," Inu-yasha mumbled to girls.
"You have fun playing dress up?" Joey mocked, "Well Mr. Rhinestone Cowboy?"
"Shut up." Inu-yasha grumbled.
"What's that? Did the cowpoke speak?" Joey said as he and Tristan burst out laughing. Inu-yasha's patience had worn thin He growled, grabbed them both by the collars, and lifted them off the ground.
"This wasn't my idea! So SHUT UP!!!" he shouted, knocking their heads together. When the boys slumped down, Inu-yasha sat down at the table, with all the diner patrons staring, and many girls giggling and blushing, at him while everyone else tried to act normal.
"So what's for lunch guys?" Yugi asked, looking at the menu.
"Ramen." Inu-yasha said with a growl. No one wanted to argue with him after what he'd done to Joey and Tristan so they ordered a round of fresh Ramen noodles and had a quiet lunch. Inu-yasha seemed to be in an abominable mood all day long for what seemed like such a trivial mater like clothes. Only Kagome knew the real reason he was so upset though. Inu-yasha always dreaded this time and what it meant. And Kagome dreaded it too in some ways. This was the time of the new moon. When her han-you friend became completely human. Seeing him in that vulnerable state always made her feel so strange. She saw him in his human form and always thought he looked so handsome. He really was a completely different person too. He wasn't as hard hearted, mean tempered, or the least bit cross with her. He seemed to be more upset with himself though.
As the day went on and then faded into night they returned to the campgrounds for their things and Inu-yasha went into Kaiba's tent and stayed in there until well after sundown.
"Come out of there!" Kaiba screamed. "I won't tell your friend again Kagome. Get him out of my tent.
"I'd like nothing more than to be able to drag him out by the hair of his head." She replied. "Inu-yasha come out of there and let Kaiba have his tent back."
"NO!" He barked from the other side of the tent flaps.
"What's wrong with dog breath?" Joey asked.
"He's just having some personal problems." Kagome said.
"Personal? What are you talking about, I'll get him out of there." Joey said rolling up his sleeves. He barged into the darkened tent and grabbed Inu-yasha by the shirt. "I still owe you for earlier, Dog breath, so kicking your butt is going to be pretty sweet." The two of them came rolling out of the tent brawling .It was sight to behold as none of them had ever thought it possible for Joey to actually gain the upper hand. Then they all noticed that there was something very different about Inu-yasha. He wasn't a half demon anymore. No, in fact, he was totally human.
"What the…" They were all totally flabbergasted. All except for Kagome.
"Surprise!" she said. Joey just sat staring his opponent for a moment.
"Is that you dog breath?" He asked.
"Yes it's me, now will you let me go." Inu-yasha threw Joey off of him then got up and dusted himself off. "This is what I look like during the night of the new moon. Happy, Kagome, now that your new boyfriend's humiliated me?"
"Not really." She said, taken a back. It was happening all over again. Every time she saw him this way, those old feelings came rushing back to her. His course white hair was now so black and soft. His rough claws had turned into gentle fingers and his bright yellow eyes were now so brown and deep. He wasn't the same han-you anymore. He was a handsome Samurai warrior and Kagome was falling in love with him all over again.
Chapter 4
Dementia Don't Cost A Thing
The second day of the Festival dawned with Shippo waking early, and walking a quarter of a mile to the port-a-potties. On his way, he observed the others sleeping, almost in a heap, from where they collapsed after partying the night before. Tristan was sprawled out on the grass with a pair of women's underwear on his head, Inu-yasha was curled up next to Kagome's sleeping bag, and Mai was doubled over Joey, who was sleeping comfortably on top of a pile of cans. There were at least a thousand other groggy teenagers wandering about the grounds that morning. None of them really noticing Shippo, who was cleverly disguised as beach ball. He only hoped that no one would mistake him for the real thing and kick him.
When he returned to the group later, they were all finally getting up. Joey yawned and then looked over at the Blonde Disaster laying on him.
"What the-" Joey moaned.
"Hey there," Mai said groggily, "Was it good for you," she asked with a wink.
"Was what what for who?" the boy asked, scared.
"What's she doing there?!" Kagome demanded, Inu-yasha laughing his head off behind her.
Just then, the pile of cans began to move. And emerging from underneath came The Blindman. "Killer party last night, J-man" he said to Joey.
"But- but!"
"This just keeps getting better," Tristan said, getting up.
"I wouldn't say anything if I were you," Serenity said, pointing to the top of his head.
"How did these get here?" Tristan said innocently, but blushing beat red.
"Hey Yugi," Tea said, sitting up in her sleeping bag, "I think we're stuck together."
"Tea," Yugi said, "I know we're best friends, but-"
"No, I mean we're really stuck together," she said, tugging her hair, "I don't think you got all the syrup washed off yesterday."
Kaiba walked up just then, a wet towle flung over his bare shoulders. "Well this looks like a pretty sticky situation," he remarked.
"Hey, I make the jokes around here," Joey said.
"I don't think you're at liberty to be making any jokes," Kaiba said snidely. Joey then remembered that he was still in his nest of cans, pushed Mai off him, and rolled off the Bilndman and his tin mini-fort. The group circled aroung Yugi and Tea, helped them up, and then proceeded to pull them apart.
"All right guys," Kagome said, "You take Yugi, we'll take Tea." She, Serenity, and Mai grabbed Tea's arm, while Joey, Tristan, and Inu-yasha grabbed Yugi's, and they pulled.
"Ow! Ow ow ow !" Tea cried.
"Stop, it guys! You're gonna pop my head off!" Yugi groaned. They stopped pulling seeing as it was of no use to try further.
"I think there's only one thing to do," Kagome suggested.
"I think you're right," Inu-yasha agreed. They led the sticky pair to the nearby pond, where most of the party goers were now congregating. Inu-yasha picked them up, and tossed them in, clothes and all. They came up sputtering and coughing a few seconds later, but at least they weren't stuck anymore.
"Hoe did you guys know to do that?" Tristan asked them.
"Happened to Songo and Miroku once," Inu-yasha sated, walking away.
"It was the last time I brought Salt water taffy with me." Kagome said.
When they all started piling into the car again, Tristan asked, "Well, shall we go back to the hotel room? We've still got it for another night."
"Oh no," Kagome objected. "I'm not going back to the 'Bates' Motel.'"
"Then what are we supposed to do?" Tea asked, "We haven't showered, we're still in yesterday's clothes, and we can't sleep out here another night!"
"You can wash up in the band's trailer," The Blindman offered. So, with no other options, they each had a turn in the huge tour van, washing up and changing clothes. The last to come out was Inu-yasha, now dressed in tee shirt, blue jeans, and a cowboy hat.
"That's it," Mai said, "Yesterday was a fashion nightmare. Today is like 'Revenge of Frankenstein'."
"Like you dress any better," Inu-yasha retorted.
"Hey, I MAJORED in fashion," Mai said. "I have more fashion sense in my pinky than you have in your whole body."
"She's right about one thing," Tea said, stepping behind him, inspecting the out fit. "Though you look good in hats, everything else is just awful."
"We can take him shopping with us!" Kagome suggested. "We were going to hit the department stores anyway. This could be our good deed for the day."
"But we were gonna-" Joey objected.
"That was before this morning," Kagome snubbed.
"Serenity," Kaba said, reaching into his wallet, "Go buy the dog boy a nice collar or something. I'll treat these gentlemen to some of the other more interesting cultural aspects of Kyoto."
The girls gratefully accepted Kaiba's generous offer, and gleefully took the han-you with them. They took all manner of clothes from the racks, and sent Inu-yasha to the dressing room. He came out in several different out fits, each paired with the appropriate hat.
The first was a total cowboy look. Boots and all. The girls looked him over, then shook their heads. Next he was adorned with the leather attire of a biker. But that wasn't right either. Next came the grunge look, followed by 'vintage chic'- mainly bell bottoms, tie dye, and dashikie.
"Would you stupid girls hurry this up? I feel like the village idiot!"
"We have to find the right look. This is a process!" Mai said as the girls picked out more clothes. After trying over two dozen different combinations, they finally found one that worked. The cowboy hat, a leather jacket, jeans, and steel toed boots. They even found a pair of fox footy pajamas for Shippo to wear so his paws and tail wouldn't be so noticeable. .
As the girls left the shop with their own choices, Kagome took Inu-yasha's arm, and said smiling at him, "Inu-yasha, you're the best doll we've ever had."
Well, he thought as Kagome squeezed his arm, at least I got something out of this humiliation.
"I don't get it?" Joey said, staring at the painting.
"It's mesmerizing," Tristan gasped. The swirl of colors were taking the limits of his imagination to the outer limits.
"I've seen better," Yugi said, scratching his head.
"Kyoto is home to one of the finest art museums in all of Japan," Kaiba said. "I go to the trouble of trying to bring a little culture into your pathetic lives, and all you can say is 'I've seen better'?"
"I guess it's ok." Yugi said, picking his ear. " I've just never been to that many art museums before."
"Hey guys, they got a jungle gym," Joey said as he climbed up on a very large metal sculpture."
"You idiot!" Kaiba cried.
"Joey, get down!," Yugi yelled.
"What? It's metal," Joey said, "It can't break." But he was wrong. It did break, and in many pieces. As the other guys came over to make sure he was ok, Joey climbed from the rubble. Naturally, the museum's curator was furious at them. So he had them dragged away, and tossed out on their rear ends. Even Kaiba, who offered to pay for the sculpture, was banned from the museum.
"If I were you, Kaiba," Tristan said, "I would refuse to give them money."
"Every time I have ANYTHINMG to do with you three idiots, it costs me one of three things: Time, money, or a piece of my sanity. What on earth ever possessed me to think that I could be FRIENDS with YOU?!?"
"Wait," Yugi said. "You did this because you want to be friends?"
"I didn't say that," Kaiba said, walking away from them.
"Yes you did!" the other three said. They caught up with him, and Joey got him in a headlock. "So you actually like us dude!" he said, giving the rich boy a noogie.
"Let go of me, you Neanderthal! I'm only doing this for Serenity." he said when he wrenched himself from Joey's lock. "She seems to think I need to get along with you stooges. I don't need anyone but her. You understand?"
"We understand, bud," Tristan said, "It's alright man! Don't hide your emotions! Let it all out!" he said dramatically, hugging him.
"Let go, you idiot!" Kaiba yelled. "Yugi, call him off!"
Yugi smiled, and said, "Group hug!" And all three hugged the mortified Seto Kaiba until finally he let out a yell more gruesome than any of them had ever heard before.
When lunch time rolled around, the two groups met up at the local Noodle Hut. Inu-yasha's outfit was not that big a hit with the others.
"When did the rodeo come to town?" Tristan asked, holding back his laughter.
"I told you this outfit was stupid," Inu-yasha mumbled to girls.
"You have fun playing dress up?" Joey mocked, "Well Mr. Rhinestone Cowboy?"
"Shut up." Inu-yasha grumbled.
"What's that? Did the cowpoke speak?" Joey said as he and Tristan burst out laughing. Inu-yasha's patience had worn thin He growled, grabbed them both by the collars, and lifted them off the ground.
"This wasn't my idea! So SHUT UP!!!" he shouted, knocking their heads together. When the boys slumped down, Inu-yasha sat down at the table, with all the diner patrons staring, and many girls giggling and blushing, at him while everyone else tried to act normal.
"So what's for lunch guys?" Yugi asked, looking at the menu.
"Ramen." Inu-yasha said with a growl. No one wanted to argue with him after what he'd done to Joey and Tristan so they ordered a round of fresh Ramen noodles and had a quiet lunch. Inu-yasha seemed to be in an abominable mood all day long for what seemed like such a trivial mater like clothes. Only Kagome knew the real reason he was so upset though. Inu-yasha always dreaded this time and what it meant. And Kagome dreaded it too in some ways. This was the time of the new moon. When her han-you friend became completely human. Seeing him in that vulnerable state always made her feel so strange. She saw him in his human form and always thought he looked so handsome. He really was a completely different person too. He wasn't as hard hearted, mean tempered, or the least bit cross with her. He seemed to be more upset with himself though.
As the day went on and then faded into night they returned to the campgrounds for their things and Inu-yasha went into Kaiba's tent and stayed in there until well after sundown.
"Come out of there!" Kaiba screamed. "I won't tell your friend again Kagome. Get him out of my tent.
"I'd like nothing more than to be able to drag him out by the hair of his head." She replied. "Inu-yasha come out of there and let Kaiba have his tent back."
"NO!" He barked from the other side of the tent flaps.
"What's wrong with dog breath?" Joey asked.
"He's just having some personal problems." Kagome said.
"Personal? What are you talking about, I'll get him out of there." Joey said rolling up his sleeves. He barged into the darkened tent and grabbed Inu-yasha by the shirt. "I still owe you for earlier, Dog breath, so kicking your butt is going to be pretty sweet." The two of them came rolling out of the tent brawling .It was sight to behold as none of them had ever thought it possible for Joey to actually gain the upper hand. Then they all noticed that there was something very different about Inu-yasha. He wasn't a half demon anymore. No, in fact, he was totally human.
"What the…" They were all totally flabbergasted. All except for Kagome.
"Surprise!" she said. Joey just sat staring his opponent for a moment.
"Is that you dog breath?" He asked.
"Yes it's me, now will you let me go." Inu-yasha threw Joey off of him then got up and dusted himself off. "This is what I look like during the night of the new moon. Happy, Kagome, now that your new boyfriend's humiliated me?"
"Not really." She said, taken a back. It was happening all over again. Every time she saw him this way, those old feelings came rushing back to her. His course white hair was now so black and soft. His rough claws had turned into gentle fingers and his bright yellow eyes were now so brown and deep. He wasn't the same han-you anymore. He was a handsome Samurai warrior and Kagome was falling in love with him all over again.