Readers--This chapter took me a while to write. I was jotting down notes for it in my notebook all during school today, the little voice of my muse was nagging me, ack! Oh, and I decided what I want to be for halloween today, a ninja/pirate! Yay! *snickers* Even though I'm passed the trick-or-treat stage, I still go out. How can one resist free candy? Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or American Hi-Fi, but if I did, I'd be a happy wolf...
Chapter 2: Attack of Shopper's Block
Kagome woke the next morning still in her clothes. She stretched, showered, changed, and went downstairs to wreak havoc. The dark thoughts of last night were forgotten. But Kagome received a most pleasant surprise when she came into the kitchen to see her grandmother having a conversation another person over coffee.
"Kagome!" the visitor squealed happily, coffee forgotten as she jumped to her feet and launched herself into Kagome's arms.
"Rin! Oh my God! What are you doing here?" she cried happily, returning her cousin's hug. Kagome and Rin hadn't seen each other since the fourth of July, nearly four months ago.
Rin and Kagome were roughly the same age, Kagome being four months older. Their father's had been brothers. And although Rin had no relation to Kaede or the Higurashi family, she was always a welcome person in the dojo. Rin, like Kagome, had raven black hair, but hers was longer and she always kept it plaited in double braids. It made her look younger than seventeen years old, but very cute. Her eyes were a very light brown, flecked with gold. Rin was the picture of innocence, happiness always in her eyes. Kagome had always taken comfort in her cousin's unwavering optimism and laughter. Rin was also a good six inches shorter then Kagome, only coming up to her shoulders.
"Kaede called me this morning and said that you're staying with her for a few months. I'm so happy! You'll be going to my school and everything!" School! Kagome had forgotten that. Good thing today was Saturday, she'd get a fresh start on Monday morning. "I rushed over to see you as soon as I was off the phone, I'm so glad your here!"
"Me too!" Kagome hugged her cousin again happily. She looked over Rin's head to her grandmother and mouthed a thank you. Kaede raised her coffee mug in a toast-like fashion and took a sip.
"You're mother did give you money for clothes, didn't she Kagome? Perhaps Rin could take you to the mall or something, help you get familiar with everything." Both girls beamed.
"Kaede, you read my mind!" Rin laughed. "I was going to ask Kagome to come to the mall with me anyway. I wanted to introduce her to a few of my friends from school." Kagome smiled happily.
"I'd really appreciate knowing a few faces. It would make blending in so much easier."
"Blending in?" Rin said in mock amazement. "But Kagome, darling, you were born to stand out!" Both girls giggled uncontrollably. Kaede rolled her eyes.
"Oh get out of here already. I have a class at eleven and this much noise will distract me!" she scolded with a smile. Kagome and Rin ran up to her room to grab the money Sayaka had given Kagome. She also fitted her mirrored-sunglasses to her face and jumped down the stairs.
They took Rin's car, a rather roomy old sedan, because they knew they would have a bunch of bags that would never fit on Kagome's motorcycle. They chattered all the way to the mall, the radio blaring a song that Kagome couldn't help but sing along to. The lure of American Hi-Fi is too great to resist, especially when Gold Rush is playing and there is a large wad of cash in your pocket.
She caught the Gold Rush
I could never get enough
She's been in magazines
What a little beauty queen
She'll stick around a while
With such a winning smile
She could be in Black and White
I'm colour blind, I'll make it right
"You have such a pretty voice Kag, why don't you ever sing something besides rock music?" Rin complained laughingly.
"Because rock follows the heartbeat, Rin my dear! How can I sing along to Cry-me-a-river boy? Answer me that! 'Til then, I'll be singing me songs!"
Her head keeps spinning 'round
I'm in over my head
There's an art to falling down, down
Hey, hey, I got a message for ya
You're gonna blow it girl
Stuck in your little world
Fight, Fight, Till we get it right
I've got you right where I want you
"This is what I'd like to say to all the cheerleaders from my old school," Kagome sighed. Rin laughed. Kagome pantomimed punching someone at the word 'fight'.
She caught the Gold Rush
I must have lost my touch
She's on the movie screen
Acting like a Rocket Queen
She'll go a long mile
With such a winning smile
Break it down forever now
Coz I don't want her anyhow
Her head keeps spinning round
I'm in over my head
There's an art to falling down
Hey, hey, I've got a message for ya
You're gonna blow it girl
Stuck in your little world
Fight, fight, Till we get it right
I've got you right where I want you
"You're so full of energy," Rin laughed, pulling in to a parking space in the mall parking lot. Kagome jumped out of the car, swinging her fists in the air.
"Fight, fight," she sang. "Till we get it right!" They both laughed and then raced each other to see who could get to the door first. It earned then a bunch of stares from others in the parking lot, these two teenaged girls laughing a screaming at each other. Kagome hadn't had this much fun in years! She and Rin always had a ball together.
"I told her to meet me by this entrance," Rin said as they walked in the door, still giggling unbearably. Once they were inside, Kagome heard a voice call Rin's name. Rin grabbed Kagome's arm and pulled her toward the small pretzel store.
"Hey Sango, this is my cousin Kagome," Rin said, pushing Kagome in front of her. Kagome came face to face with a girl about two inches shorter then her. Her hair was deep brown and tied back in a pony tail. Her chocolate brown eyes held a friendly smile, the same one that graced her lips.
"Hey, I'm Sango," she said with a little wave, Kagome grabbed her hand, pumping it up and down.
"I'm a pleasure Sango, I'm Kagome, Rin's cousin from suburbia." Sango laughed. "I take it you're the welcome wagon?" Sango blushed.
"We're not that high on the socialite list I'm afraid. It's basically just me and Rin, and the boys of course. But they never get here on time."
"That's ok, I'm not exactly the picture of popularity. I mostly just draw stares." All three laughed. "So we're meeting boys, huh?" She gave Rin and Sango a wicked grin, pulling her sunglasses up just enough to arch her eyebrows in a suggestive manner. Sango looked a little surprised, then smiled.
"Wow, you have such pretty eyes!"
Kagome laughed. "Genetic defect. The glasses make it easier to avoid the stares."
Sango nodded in understanding, then answered the privious question. "Yeah, we're meeting our two guy friends. In school they're really popular, but they hang with us anyway because we all go to the Isharugi dojo to learn martial arts."
Kagome brightened. "You go to the dojo?" Kagome looked at Rin and she blushed.
"Kaede always said if I wanted to learn I should go. When Sango begged me to come I decided to go. We've been going to classes three times a week since last spring."
"You little fink!" Kagome yelled, chasing her cousin into the nearest clothing store. "You never told me that you were learning martial arts with Grams!"
"Pardon?" Sango seemed confused.
"My last name is Isharugi. Kaede is my grandmother. I just moved in with her, that's why I'm here," Kagome explained. Sango looked elated.
"That's so cool! Now I know why you're familiar! I've seen your picture on the wall in Kaede's rooms. That's so neat though. You live at the dojo, that's gotta be cool. So you must know a lot of fighting moves huh?"
"I've spent summers at the dojo my whole life. I'm pretty good, I guess. But not enough to get an ego over. But this is really nice that all of you come to the dojo. We could hang out some time." Sango smiled, as did Rin.
"That would be awesome!"
"What would be?" a voice asked from next to them. Kagome looked over and her smile faded. Miroku and Inuyasha were standing behind Sango.
"There you are!" Rin said happily. "This is my cousin Kagome."
"We've already met," Inuyasha said in a dismissive tone. Miroku smiled and offered a polite hello. Kagome returned it, glaring under her glasses at Inuyasha. "Why are you wearing the shades? There's no sun in here," he commented nonchalantly. Kagome flipped him off, with love of course, then put the sunglasses on top of her head.
"Happy now?" she asked sarcastically with a sweet smile. He looked her in the eye and it made her breath hitch.
"Very. What are we doing here anyway?" he asked, turning his attention now to Rin.
"Shopping of course. Why the hell else would we come to a mall?" Sango said with dramatic sarcasm, trying to dodge Miroku and hiding behind Kagome. Kagome looked down at him with a warning glance of brown and green, mouthing the word 'no'.
Inuyasha sighed heavily. He really hadn't expected to see Kagome again, at least outside the dojo. When Rin had called him the morning ,saying that they should hang out at the mall because she wanted to introduce her cousin, Inuyasha saw no reason to think that cousin was Kagome. But here she was, acting like she had in the beginning of yesterday. Maybe what Kaede said was right. He should give her a chance. She wasn't so bad really. She had a lot of attitude and a sense of humor. Not to mention those killer eyes of hers. He had never liked someone's eyes so much. He wouldn't care if Miroku walked into the mall in a pair of shades, or if Sango or Rin decided to prance about with them. But seeing Kagome with shades annoyed him. He found her eyes too beautiful to hide behind mirrored glasses. But he dismissed that train of thought immediately. This girl was a tool, a bitch, a miko. She was raised to hate and hunt demons. Why the hell did that bother him so much?
Kagome sighed, bringing his thoughts back to the present. She was looking at him in a menacing way, though he doubted it was just his comment on her glasses that pissed her off that bad. She looked like she was itching to kick his ass in a major way. "What?" he asked in a defensive manner.
"Nothing," she grumbled, turning to the others. She suddenly smiled shyly. "I hope you don't mind my being the fifth wheel. I mean, you're a set group of four and none of you know me apart from Rin..."
"Don't sweat it," Sango assured her, tossing an arm casually over her shoulders. "Let us take you under our wing. Give me and Rin five minutes and we'll turn you into an anti-social delinquent to rock the ages!" Kagome laughed at that.
"You're about ten years too late, Sango my dear." Everyone laughed at that, even Inuyasha. "You know," Kagome said, tossing an arm around both Rin and Sango. "This looks like the beginning to a beautiful friendship." That was when Kagome felt something warm and groping lingering around the back pockets of her jeans. She went ridged. Rin and Sango looked sympathetic, they knew the feeling all too well. What they didn't expect was Kagome's calm release of them, that the quick-flash back kick that sent Miroku flying into a rack of girly shirts.
Kagome relaxed her stance, bringing her leg back to the ground and taking a few deep breaths. "Kag, you alright?" Rin asked worriedly. Sango patted her arm while glaring fiercely at a semi-conscious Miroku. He was muttering something about beautiful things being the most deadly. Inuyasha looked at him in disgust before pulling him off the ground.
"Way to go pervert!" Sango yelled at him. "Now Kagome won't want to hang out with us anymore!"
"Don't worry, I'm good," Kagome assured them. "Just caught a little off guard there. Sorry Miroku," she said with a sheepish smile. "I didn't think I kicked you so hard." Miroku, who was still semi-conscious, shrugged it off.
"So many women attack me, I think I'm becoming immune." Miroku and Kagome shared a smile. She could tell they would be friends.
"Wow Kagome!" Rin said, drawing everyone back to the present. "You've got one wicked back kick!" Kagome blushed.
"All those years of training with Grams have got to be good for something. Very handy for fending off an attacker!" Kagome explained dramatically. Then she dropped her sunglasses over her eyes again with flourish. "Ladies, shall we shop?" Rin, Sango, and Kagome marched out of the story as if they were off to battle, heads high, as Inuyasha carried Miroku after them, muttering nastily all the way.
Six clothing stores, one electronics store, and a trip to the food court later, the five teenagers now congregated in an Old Navy. Kagome had dragged them all in there so she could poke fun at the fleece fashions. "Tell me," she demanded, dramatically clutching a sweater-vest to her chest. "Do you think the sheep miss their wool? They have to feel so...'naked'. Sheep have no rights! Farmers can just come and violate them!" Rin and Sango giggled helplessly, receiving quite a few stares from one of the sales girls. Kagome moved on to a rack of hats. She grabbed a nice looking khaki one and pulled it on to Inuyasha's head, over his ears. "Voila!" she announced, taking a step back. "We've taken a fashion don't and made him a fashion do!" She snapped her fingers for an added effect. Inuyasha scowled.
"Feh."
"Would you mind," the red-eyed sales girl commented from her place at the check out. "Please restrain yourselves! Other people might like to shop in a 'quieter' atmosphere."
"Actually," Kagome said, hustling over to the sales girl's check out counter and hopping up to sit on the counter as she studied her name tag. "Kagura, pretty name. Not that I'm trying to sweet talk you here." Kagome paused to clear her throat. Kagure did not look amused. The rest of the group snickered, waiting for Kagome's next crazy antic. "You see Kagura, I actually would mind being quiet. It's a sad story." Kagome looked suddenly sad. Kagura raised an eyebrow. "I was born without part of my vocal cords. I can't speak IN A LOWER VOLUME!" Kagura covered her ears, which Kagome only just noticed then as being pointed, and glared. She then turned to the others, ignoring Kagome.
"The rest of you, collect the comedian and get out!" Rin and Sango each grabbed one of Kagome's arms and began to drag her out of the store. "Hey! Boy with the silver hair! The hat please!" Kagura snatched the hat off of Inuyasha's head as he passed by.
"Be careful of the ears!" Kagome howled while being pulled out of the store. "He's the next Justin Timberlake!" Kagura snorted, making a mental note to kill her employer for making her get this third-rate job so that she would appear normal while observing the masses.
Sango and Rin nearly dropped Kagome in their fits of laughter. Kagome had now jumped on to one of the benches that littered the interior of the mall and started preaching at the passing shoppers about Old Navy's injustice to the rights of sheep. She sounded like a street profit raving about angels raining from the sky. Inuyasha brooded next to the bench, adding the appearance of Kagome having a body guard, though he was really only thinking about why she would have called him the next Justin Timberlake. Miroku joined the girls as they howled with laughter, but ended up face-first on the ground for letting his hands wander too far south on Sango's anatomy and grabbing her ass. She was laughing to hard to even shout her battle cry of 'pervert' before decking him.
"What did you mean by calling me the next Justin Timberlake?" Inuyasha inquired, pulling Kagome off the bench before the mall rent-a-cops came and arrested her. Kagome laughed, tweaking one of his ears in a playful manner.
"Well, you look like a Justin Timberlake fan. I mean, the name brand clothes, the most expensive sneakers, you even have the gold chain around your neck. Plus, you're such a pretty boy." Inuyasha scowled, not knowing that coming from Kagome, that was a compliment.
"Number 1," he growled. "I hate Justin Timberlake. Number 2, I don't, never have, and never will, want to 'be' Justin Timberlake. And Number 3, I am NOT a pretty boy." Kagome looked unphased, that crooked smile still playing across her face. This annoyed him, so he added in a 'bitch' for good measure. Then Kagome scowled.
"Well just who do you like then?" she challenged. Inuyasha shrugged, losing intrest in the conversation. The other three, conscious and no longer laughing, watched on in silence. Rin knew Kagome's temper; Miroku and Sango knew Inuyasha's. It became apparent to all of them that these two had conflicting personalities a mile long. They were too much alike. It could go either way. "Well?" Kagome prodded.
"I like rock music. You know, Finch, Good Charlotte, stuff like that."(I too enjoy rousing punk and Finch is responsible for my favorite song of all time: What it is to burn. I shall be including that song in this fic as well ^-^) Kagome nodded. She liked them too, but they were popular bands. A lot of people liked them. "But my favorite band is a lesser known group called American Hi-Fi, not that I expect you to have heard of them." Kagome froze, eyes widening in disbeleif. She lifted a slightly shaking hand to remove her sunglasses as she looked him square in the eye.
"Did...you just say...American Hi-Fi?" she asked slowly. Surely her ears deceived her! How could this conceited jerk of a half-demon know the greatest band to every walk the earth?!
"Yeah, I did, so what?" Inuyasha challenged. Rin spoke up.
"Wow, what a coincidence! They're Kagome's favorite band too. You guys have something in common." Inuyasha stared at Kagome and Kagome stared at Inuyasha. Sango, Rin, and Miroku stared at them. Suddenly, at the exact same time, both of them turned their backs on each other.
"Hmph," huffed Kagome.
"Feh," huffed Inuyasha.
The other three sweatdropped. Oh, this would be a *fun* few months indeed.
"Come on Kag," Rin said, grabbing her cousin's arm. "You still have money to burn and you only bought a few things. Plus, there's a sale on shoes!" Kagome sighed, smiling.
"Oh however did I manage to miss that? I'll never be a cheerleader at this rate! I must have shopper's block!" Kagome looked panicked for a minute, latching on to Rin's arm. "Lead the way Rin darling!" Sango and Rin laughed, leading the way with a continuous chant of 'shoes'. Miroku and Inuyasha trailed after them, grumbling to each other about how the hell they ever get roped into a shopping trip to the mall with a bunch of girls.
By the time they left the mall, Kagome had succeeded in increasing her wardrobe by two pairs of jeans, an air-brushed shirt with a fire design, and a pair of strap-on high heeled shoes to match the slinky dress she bought while no one was looking. She also treated everyone to lunch--including Inuyasha--as well as bought Rin the leather jacket she had been drooling over for months.
"Oh, it's so expensive Kag! You don't have to do that!" she protested.
"Nonsense Rinny-kins," Kagome teased, tugging gently on one of Rin's braids. "Consider this an early Christmas present, alright? That way I can beat back the holiday rush with one less gift on my list." Rin gave Kagome her most adoring smile and Kagome knew how much she appreciated the gift.
Rin dropped Kagome off at the dojo with a promise of seeing her at the high school, bright and early Monday morning. Sango had taken a ride with Miroku and Inuyasha since the three of them lived in the same neighborhood. Sango had already promised to meet Rin and Kagome on Monday before school to see if Kagome's schedule matched theirs. Kagome waved enthusiastically to her cousin as Rin drove off, leaving Kagome to carried all her bags up the two flights of stairs to her room. Of course, Kaede had demanded details of her day and Kagome was up late, drinking cocoa in the kitchen and talking with her grandmother. She called home, but only talked to the boys for a few minutes because it was late. She only wanted to make sure she kept her promise of calling every day. When she went to bed that night, all the anxiety about her presence in the city had vanished. It felt like she belonged.
Here we are, the end to chapter 2. This story is getting wrapped out there! I'm really happy. For all those still waiting for the concluding chapters to Surviving a City, never fear! I'm almost done with the rough copies! I just have to retype and elaborate a bit more, after consulting Inuyasha of course. He's become my second, evil head. Please remember to review!
~~Jesse the Wolf Demon~~
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or American Hi-Fi, but if I did, I'd be a happy wolf...
Chapter 2: Attack of Shopper's Block
Kagome woke the next morning still in her clothes. She stretched, showered, changed, and went downstairs to wreak havoc. The dark thoughts of last night were forgotten. But Kagome received a most pleasant surprise when she came into the kitchen to see her grandmother having a conversation another person over coffee.
"Kagome!" the visitor squealed happily, coffee forgotten as she jumped to her feet and launched herself into Kagome's arms.
"Rin! Oh my God! What are you doing here?" she cried happily, returning her cousin's hug. Kagome and Rin hadn't seen each other since the fourth of July, nearly four months ago.
Rin and Kagome were roughly the same age, Kagome being four months older. Their father's had been brothers. And although Rin had no relation to Kaede or the Higurashi family, she was always a welcome person in the dojo. Rin, like Kagome, had raven black hair, but hers was longer and she always kept it plaited in double braids. It made her look younger than seventeen years old, but very cute. Her eyes were a very light brown, flecked with gold. Rin was the picture of innocence, happiness always in her eyes. Kagome had always taken comfort in her cousin's unwavering optimism and laughter. Rin was also a good six inches shorter then Kagome, only coming up to her shoulders.
"Kaede called me this morning and said that you're staying with her for a few months. I'm so happy! You'll be going to my school and everything!" School! Kagome had forgotten that. Good thing today was Saturday, she'd get a fresh start on Monday morning. "I rushed over to see you as soon as I was off the phone, I'm so glad your here!"
"Me too!" Kagome hugged her cousin again happily. She looked over Rin's head to her grandmother and mouthed a thank you. Kaede raised her coffee mug in a toast-like fashion and took a sip.
"You're mother did give you money for clothes, didn't she Kagome? Perhaps Rin could take you to the mall or something, help you get familiar with everything." Both girls beamed.
"Kaede, you read my mind!" Rin laughed. "I was going to ask Kagome to come to the mall with me anyway. I wanted to introduce her to a few of my friends from school." Kagome smiled happily.
"I'd really appreciate knowing a few faces. It would make blending in so much easier."
"Blending in?" Rin said in mock amazement. "But Kagome, darling, you were born to stand out!" Both girls giggled uncontrollably. Kaede rolled her eyes.
"Oh get out of here already. I have a class at eleven and this much noise will distract me!" she scolded with a smile. Kagome and Rin ran up to her room to grab the money Sayaka had given Kagome. She also fitted her mirrored-sunglasses to her face and jumped down the stairs.
They took Rin's car, a rather roomy old sedan, because they knew they would have a bunch of bags that would never fit on Kagome's motorcycle. They chattered all the way to the mall, the radio blaring a song that Kagome couldn't help but sing along to. The lure of American Hi-Fi is too great to resist, especially when Gold Rush is playing and there is a large wad of cash in your pocket.
She caught the Gold Rush
I could never get enough
She's been in magazines
What a little beauty queen
She'll stick around a while
With such a winning smile
She could be in Black and White
I'm colour blind, I'll make it right
"You have such a pretty voice Kag, why don't you ever sing something besides rock music?" Rin complained laughingly.
"Because rock follows the heartbeat, Rin my dear! How can I sing along to Cry-me-a-river boy? Answer me that! 'Til then, I'll be singing me songs!"
Her head keeps spinning 'round
I'm in over my head
There's an art to falling down, down
Hey, hey, I got a message for ya
You're gonna blow it girl
Stuck in your little world
Fight, Fight, Till we get it right
I've got you right where I want you
"This is what I'd like to say to all the cheerleaders from my old school," Kagome sighed. Rin laughed. Kagome pantomimed punching someone at the word 'fight'.
She caught the Gold Rush
I must have lost my touch
She's on the movie screen
Acting like a Rocket Queen
She'll go a long mile
With such a winning smile
Break it down forever now
Coz I don't want her anyhow
Her head keeps spinning round
I'm in over my head
There's an art to falling down
Hey, hey, I've got a message for ya
You're gonna blow it girl
Stuck in your little world
Fight, fight, Till we get it right
I've got you right where I want you
"You're so full of energy," Rin laughed, pulling in to a parking space in the mall parking lot. Kagome jumped out of the car, swinging her fists in the air.
"Fight, fight," she sang. "Till we get it right!" They both laughed and then raced each other to see who could get to the door first. It earned then a bunch of stares from others in the parking lot, these two teenaged girls laughing a screaming at each other. Kagome hadn't had this much fun in years! She and Rin always had a ball together.
"I told her to meet me by this entrance," Rin said as they walked in the door, still giggling unbearably. Once they were inside, Kagome heard a voice call Rin's name. Rin grabbed Kagome's arm and pulled her toward the small pretzel store.
"Hey Sango, this is my cousin Kagome," Rin said, pushing Kagome in front of her. Kagome came face to face with a girl about two inches shorter then her. Her hair was deep brown and tied back in a pony tail. Her chocolate brown eyes held a friendly smile, the same one that graced her lips.
"Hey, I'm Sango," she said with a little wave, Kagome grabbed her hand, pumping it up and down.
"I'm a pleasure Sango, I'm Kagome, Rin's cousin from suburbia." Sango laughed. "I take it you're the welcome wagon?" Sango blushed.
"We're not that high on the socialite list I'm afraid. It's basically just me and Rin, and the boys of course. But they never get here on time."
"That's ok, I'm not exactly the picture of popularity. I mostly just draw stares." All three laughed. "So we're meeting boys, huh?" She gave Rin and Sango a wicked grin, pulling her sunglasses up just enough to arch her eyebrows in a suggestive manner. Sango looked a little surprised, then smiled.
"Wow, you have such pretty eyes!"
Kagome laughed. "Genetic defect. The glasses make it easier to avoid the stares."
Sango nodded in understanding, then answered the privious question. "Yeah, we're meeting our two guy friends. In school they're really popular, but they hang with us anyway because we all go to the Isharugi dojo to learn martial arts."
Kagome brightened. "You go to the dojo?" Kagome looked at Rin and she blushed.
"Kaede always said if I wanted to learn I should go. When Sango begged me to come I decided to go. We've been going to classes three times a week since last spring."
"You little fink!" Kagome yelled, chasing her cousin into the nearest clothing store. "You never told me that you were learning martial arts with Grams!"
"Pardon?" Sango seemed confused.
"My last name is Isharugi. Kaede is my grandmother. I just moved in with her, that's why I'm here," Kagome explained. Sango looked elated.
"That's so cool! Now I know why you're familiar! I've seen your picture on the wall in Kaede's rooms. That's so neat though. You live at the dojo, that's gotta be cool. So you must know a lot of fighting moves huh?"
"I've spent summers at the dojo my whole life. I'm pretty good, I guess. But not enough to get an ego over. But this is really nice that all of you come to the dojo. We could hang out some time." Sango smiled, as did Rin.
"That would be awesome!"
"What would be?" a voice asked from next to them. Kagome looked over and her smile faded. Miroku and Inuyasha were standing behind Sango.
"There you are!" Rin said happily. "This is my cousin Kagome."
"We've already met," Inuyasha said in a dismissive tone. Miroku smiled and offered a polite hello. Kagome returned it, glaring under her glasses at Inuyasha. "Why are you wearing the shades? There's no sun in here," he commented nonchalantly. Kagome flipped him off, with love of course, then put the sunglasses on top of her head.
"Happy now?" she asked sarcastically with a sweet smile. He looked her in the eye and it made her breath hitch.
"Very. What are we doing here anyway?" he asked, turning his attention now to Rin.
"Shopping of course. Why the hell else would we come to a mall?" Sango said with dramatic sarcasm, trying to dodge Miroku and hiding behind Kagome. Kagome looked down at him with a warning glance of brown and green, mouthing the word 'no'.
Inuyasha sighed heavily. He really hadn't expected to see Kagome again, at least outside the dojo. When Rin had called him the morning ,saying that they should hang out at the mall because she wanted to introduce her cousin, Inuyasha saw no reason to think that cousin was Kagome. But here she was, acting like she had in the beginning of yesterday. Maybe what Kaede said was right. He should give her a chance. She wasn't so bad really. She had a lot of attitude and a sense of humor. Not to mention those killer eyes of hers. He had never liked someone's eyes so much. He wouldn't care if Miroku walked into the mall in a pair of shades, or if Sango or Rin decided to prance about with them. But seeing Kagome with shades annoyed him. He found her eyes too beautiful to hide behind mirrored glasses. But he dismissed that train of thought immediately. This girl was a tool, a bitch, a miko. She was raised to hate and hunt demons. Why the hell did that bother him so much?
Kagome sighed, bringing his thoughts back to the present. She was looking at him in a menacing way, though he doubted it was just his comment on her glasses that pissed her off that bad. She looked like she was itching to kick his ass in a major way. "What?" he asked in a defensive manner.
"Nothing," she grumbled, turning to the others. She suddenly smiled shyly. "I hope you don't mind my being the fifth wheel. I mean, you're a set group of four and none of you know me apart from Rin..."
"Don't sweat it," Sango assured her, tossing an arm casually over her shoulders. "Let us take you under our wing. Give me and Rin five minutes and we'll turn you into an anti-social delinquent to rock the ages!" Kagome laughed at that.
"You're about ten years too late, Sango my dear." Everyone laughed at that, even Inuyasha. "You know," Kagome said, tossing an arm around both Rin and Sango. "This looks like the beginning to a beautiful friendship." That was when Kagome felt something warm and groping lingering around the back pockets of her jeans. She went ridged. Rin and Sango looked sympathetic, they knew the feeling all too well. What they didn't expect was Kagome's calm release of them, that the quick-flash back kick that sent Miroku flying into a rack of girly shirts.
Kagome relaxed her stance, bringing her leg back to the ground and taking a few deep breaths. "Kag, you alright?" Rin asked worriedly. Sango patted her arm while glaring fiercely at a semi-conscious Miroku. He was muttering something about beautiful things being the most deadly. Inuyasha looked at him in disgust before pulling him off the ground.
"Way to go pervert!" Sango yelled at him. "Now Kagome won't want to hang out with us anymore!"
"Don't worry, I'm good," Kagome assured them. "Just caught a little off guard there. Sorry Miroku," she said with a sheepish smile. "I didn't think I kicked you so hard." Miroku, who was still semi-conscious, shrugged it off.
"So many women attack me, I think I'm becoming immune." Miroku and Kagome shared a smile. She could tell they would be friends.
"Wow Kagome!" Rin said, drawing everyone back to the present. "You've got one wicked back kick!" Kagome blushed.
"All those years of training with Grams have got to be good for something. Very handy for fending off an attacker!" Kagome explained dramatically. Then she dropped her sunglasses over her eyes again with flourish. "Ladies, shall we shop?" Rin, Sango, and Kagome marched out of the story as if they were off to battle, heads high, as Inuyasha carried Miroku after them, muttering nastily all the way.
Six clothing stores, one electronics store, and a trip to the food court later, the five teenagers now congregated in an Old Navy. Kagome had dragged them all in there so she could poke fun at the fleece fashions. "Tell me," she demanded, dramatically clutching a sweater-vest to her chest. "Do you think the sheep miss their wool? They have to feel so...'naked'. Sheep have no rights! Farmers can just come and violate them!" Rin and Sango giggled helplessly, receiving quite a few stares from one of the sales girls. Kagome moved on to a rack of hats. She grabbed a nice looking khaki one and pulled it on to Inuyasha's head, over his ears. "Voila!" she announced, taking a step back. "We've taken a fashion don't and made him a fashion do!" She snapped her fingers for an added effect. Inuyasha scowled.
"Feh."
"Would you mind," the red-eyed sales girl commented from her place at the check out. "Please restrain yourselves! Other people might like to shop in a 'quieter' atmosphere."
"Actually," Kagome said, hustling over to the sales girl's check out counter and hopping up to sit on the counter as she studied her name tag. "Kagura, pretty name. Not that I'm trying to sweet talk you here." Kagome paused to clear her throat. Kagure did not look amused. The rest of the group snickered, waiting for Kagome's next crazy antic. "You see Kagura, I actually would mind being quiet. It's a sad story." Kagome looked suddenly sad. Kagura raised an eyebrow. "I was born without part of my vocal cords. I can't speak IN A LOWER VOLUME!" Kagura covered her ears, which Kagome only just noticed then as being pointed, and glared. She then turned to the others, ignoring Kagome.
"The rest of you, collect the comedian and get out!" Rin and Sango each grabbed one of Kagome's arms and began to drag her out of the store. "Hey! Boy with the silver hair! The hat please!" Kagura snatched the hat off of Inuyasha's head as he passed by.
"Be careful of the ears!" Kagome howled while being pulled out of the store. "He's the next Justin Timberlake!" Kagura snorted, making a mental note to kill her employer for making her get this third-rate job so that she would appear normal while observing the masses.
Sango and Rin nearly dropped Kagome in their fits of laughter. Kagome had now jumped on to one of the benches that littered the interior of the mall and started preaching at the passing shoppers about Old Navy's injustice to the rights of sheep. She sounded like a street profit raving about angels raining from the sky. Inuyasha brooded next to the bench, adding the appearance of Kagome having a body guard, though he was really only thinking about why she would have called him the next Justin Timberlake. Miroku joined the girls as they howled with laughter, but ended up face-first on the ground for letting his hands wander too far south on Sango's anatomy and grabbing her ass. She was laughing to hard to even shout her battle cry of 'pervert' before decking him.
"What did you mean by calling me the next Justin Timberlake?" Inuyasha inquired, pulling Kagome off the bench before the mall rent-a-cops came and arrested her. Kagome laughed, tweaking one of his ears in a playful manner.
"Well, you look like a Justin Timberlake fan. I mean, the name brand clothes, the most expensive sneakers, you even have the gold chain around your neck. Plus, you're such a pretty boy." Inuyasha scowled, not knowing that coming from Kagome, that was a compliment.
"Number 1," he growled. "I hate Justin Timberlake. Number 2, I don't, never have, and never will, want to 'be' Justin Timberlake. And Number 3, I am NOT a pretty boy." Kagome looked unphased, that crooked smile still playing across her face. This annoyed him, so he added in a 'bitch' for good measure. Then Kagome scowled.
"Well just who do you like then?" she challenged. Inuyasha shrugged, losing intrest in the conversation. The other three, conscious and no longer laughing, watched on in silence. Rin knew Kagome's temper; Miroku and Sango knew Inuyasha's. It became apparent to all of them that these two had conflicting personalities a mile long. They were too much alike. It could go either way. "Well?" Kagome prodded.
"I like rock music. You know, Finch, Good Charlotte, stuff like that."(I too enjoy rousing punk and Finch is responsible for my favorite song of all time: What it is to burn. I shall be including that song in this fic as well ^-^) Kagome nodded. She liked them too, but they were popular bands. A lot of people liked them. "But my favorite band is a lesser known group called American Hi-Fi, not that I expect you to have heard of them." Kagome froze, eyes widening in disbeleif. She lifted a slightly shaking hand to remove her sunglasses as she looked him square in the eye.
"Did...you just say...American Hi-Fi?" she asked slowly. Surely her ears deceived her! How could this conceited jerk of a half-demon know the greatest band to every walk the earth?!
"Yeah, I did, so what?" Inuyasha challenged. Rin spoke up.
"Wow, what a coincidence! They're Kagome's favorite band too. You guys have something in common." Inuyasha stared at Kagome and Kagome stared at Inuyasha. Sango, Rin, and Miroku stared at them. Suddenly, at the exact same time, both of them turned their backs on each other.
"Hmph," huffed Kagome.
"Feh," huffed Inuyasha.
The other three sweatdropped. Oh, this would be a *fun* few months indeed.
"Come on Kag," Rin said, grabbing her cousin's arm. "You still have money to burn and you only bought a few things. Plus, there's a sale on shoes!" Kagome sighed, smiling.
"Oh however did I manage to miss that? I'll never be a cheerleader at this rate! I must have shopper's block!" Kagome looked panicked for a minute, latching on to Rin's arm. "Lead the way Rin darling!" Sango and Rin laughed, leading the way with a continuous chant of 'shoes'. Miroku and Inuyasha trailed after them, grumbling to each other about how the hell they ever get roped into a shopping trip to the mall with a bunch of girls.
By the time they left the mall, Kagome had succeeded in increasing her wardrobe by two pairs of jeans, an air-brushed shirt with a fire design, and a pair of strap-on high heeled shoes to match the slinky dress she bought while no one was looking. She also treated everyone to lunch--including Inuyasha--as well as bought Rin the leather jacket she had been drooling over for months.
"Oh, it's so expensive Kag! You don't have to do that!" she protested.
"Nonsense Rinny-kins," Kagome teased, tugging gently on one of Rin's braids. "Consider this an early Christmas present, alright? That way I can beat back the holiday rush with one less gift on my list." Rin gave Kagome her most adoring smile and Kagome knew how much she appreciated the gift.
Rin dropped Kagome off at the dojo with a promise of seeing her at the high school, bright and early Monday morning. Sango had taken a ride with Miroku and Inuyasha since the three of them lived in the same neighborhood. Sango had already promised to meet Rin and Kagome on Monday before school to see if Kagome's schedule matched theirs. Kagome waved enthusiastically to her cousin as Rin drove off, leaving Kagome to carried all her bags up the two flights of stairs to her room. Of course, Kaede had demanded details of her day and Kagome was up late, drinking cocoa in the kitchen and talking with her grandmother. She called home, but only talked to the boys for a few minutes because it was late. She only wanted to make sure she kept her promise of calling every day. When she went to bed that night, all the anxiety about her presence in the city had vanished. It felt like she belonged.
Here we are, the end to chapter 2. This story is getting wrapped out there! I'm really happy. For all those still waiting for the concluding chapters to Surviving a City, never fear! I'm almost done with the rough copies! I just have to retype and elaborate a bit more, after consulting Inuyasha of course. He's become my second, evil head. Please remember to review!
~~Jesse the Wolf Demon~~