My seventh chapter… enjoy… if you don't then here's a hint… don't read the story!
Chapter 7…
" Hey Kagome we're here," said Sango lightly shaking her friend.
" Hnn," said Kagome unconscientiously staring off into the distance.
" Come on girl, we need to get you up and about before you go totally dead on me," she said while grabbing Kagome under the arms and lifting her slightly.
" Huh? What are you doing?" questioned Kagome when she felt Sango's grip.
" Just trying to get you outta la la land, that's all. Now come on we have some serious shopping to do!" Kagome laughed at her friend's enthusiasm and felt touched that Sango would do this just to cheer her up. Kagome smiled a somewhat fake smile and got out of the car grabbing her purse.
Out of curiosity Kagome asked, " So where are we off to first?"
Her friend gave her a devilish smile and replied, " You'll just have to wait and see."
Kagome pouted not liking being left in the dark, " Come on just tell me now!"
" Uh, let me think about it… no. I just want you to relax and let me take you out. I know you've been feeling down a bit lately and I just want to cheer you up. You know relieve the stress and such. Just trust me. I promise you'll have heaps of fun."
Kagome sighed giving into her friend and just agreed.
They walked into the large open area shopping center. It was outdoors but had a clear roof to protect from the rain but still let in the light. Kagome gasped at the extensive shops situated around the mall. Everything that you could ever want you could probably find in this place.
Okay maybe that was a little exaggerated but Kagome felt as if they whole world were in this mall. She looked around with amazement at the numerous cultural stores, which sold food, trinkets, and other things that you would find in some far off country.
Of course after she noticed the cultural stores the next thing that caught her attention was,
" Oh my god Sango! Look at these jeans. They would go perfect with that little bag I got the other day"
" Yeah girl, it's cute. But just wait before you go buying anything there's something I want to show you."
Curious Kagome accepted and reluctantly put the jeans down but promised them she would come back.
Sango lead Kagome right to the middle of the shop before she said, " Ta da! So what do you think?"
Kagome stared in awe at the centerpiece of the mall. There was a magnificent statue portraying a little girl playing with a dog. The statue was surrounded by a small pond of water while, above this hung over 1000 paper cranes suspended by clear strings. Kagome gasped at the beauty of the image before her. The statue was so well sculptured that if it weren't for the grey colour of the marble she could have sworn it was real.
Marble barriers, which some people were sitting on, encased the pond, which surrounded the figures. The water was so clear and well… perfect.
The cranes where suspended high above the statues where no one could reach. Each swilled in a pattern made by the wind.
Sango snapped Kagome out of her thoughts," So do you like?"
" Yeah, it's beautiful."
" Hmm, yah I thought you would. I know you like that contemporary art stuff."
" Thanks for bringing me here Sango." With that Kagome wrapped her arms around her friend and gave her a heartfelt embrace. Sango gratefully accepted and hugged her friend back.
" Just glad I could help," she said while smiling at her friend's newfound cheerfulness. " Okay now for some serious shopping!"
Kagome giggled at this hooked Sango's arm with hers.
" Okay lets get going!"
###
" Oh my god! What happened to this place!?" screamed the young hanyou.
This older brother flicked his long silver hair to the side while keeping a cold impassive face, " I was assuming you could tell me."
" Nope sorry bro but I have no idea what happened. I mean I've never seen this house so… so… oh damn what's the word?"
" …Clean?" supplied his brother.
" Yeah clean. Geez it feels weird just saying it."
" Hmmm, what I want to know is who did it."
" You don't know?"
" I believe I just said that little brother."
" Yah whatever. So what do you suggest? Maybe fairies came and magically swept the house before you came home. Or perhaps burglars tried to rob us but couldn't find anything under all the mess and decided to clean up the place up?" Inuyasha's voice thick with sarcasm.
" Well actually I was thinking that the cleaning lady finally came round."
" Well that's also a possibility."
" She said she was coming around on Thursday. What day is it today Inuyasha?"
" Umm, Saturday?" he guessed.
" Well done Inuyasha. Now was there any messages you were meant to tell me from the cleaning lady?"
Inuyasha racked his brain then a forgotten memory slid back into his mind. He remembered a message on the answering machine that he'd deleted. Something about the cleaning lady wasn't coming on Thursday because she had another appointment but she would come on Satur… ' Awe shit!'
" Ah yah, okay my bad Sess."
" Yes, 'your bad'. Now get upstairs and get changed. I left a suit I want you to wear on your door."
" Wait… a what?" questioned Inuyasha shocked.
" We're going to one of my client's house for dinner and to discuss business. These people don't accept 'punk' misfits."
" So then why do I have to go?"
" Family looks good to these people. Especially a well brought up family that wear suits and act politely."
Inuyasha sighed, " Okay, okay I get it. I'll be on my best behavior." In a sweat voice he added, " Promise."
" Good."
###
" Whoa Sango wait up," yelled Kagome as she raced to catch up with her friend.
" Can't… to… busy… shopping…" she managed to say in between grabbing random items of clothing off the rack. " Oooh Kagome this top would look so cute on you. You should try it on." Before Kagome had a chance to answer Sango thrust a baby pink top into her hands.
" Hey Sango don't you think your going a bit over board with the clothes?"
" No. Why?" she questioned while pulling on yet another pair of jeans.
" Oh it's just that you've been using your credit card like mad. You've bought eight pairs of jeans and we've only been to two shops so far."
" Well I don't see why you're not doing it. You said you needed a new out fit but you haven't even tried anything on."
" Yeah well," Kagome sighed then sat down on one of the couches situated in the waiting room for the changing room.
" Aw Kagome, what's wrong? You were so exited when we first came here. What happened?"
" I've just been thinking about stuff. What do clothes and makeup really mean? Why do we go out of our way to get the best when we just switch it for something new in a week?"
" Aw honey, it's just the way of life for us. No matter how long you think about it, there is no meaning. Just a lot of questions, which no one can answer. Now come on while I pick out an outfit for you to try on. You can show it to Kouga next time we go partying. He'll be drooling over you like a small puppy!"
Kagome lightly slapped her friend's arm. " Hey nothing is going on between me and Kouga. We're just friends!"
" Yeah sure you are!" Sango smiled at her friend's frustration. " Hey come on. We'll pick out the perfect outfit for you!" Kagome smiled at Sango.
" Thank you so much for putting up with me. I know I'm being a bit of a downer but I just can't help it."
" Don't worry about it girl. You're my best friend and I'd do anything for you. Now come on lets get out of this shop and back to the one you saw those gorgeous jeans at"
Sango quickly dropped at the clothes she was holding on one of the couches and lead her friend out of the shop.
###
" I look like a poof," he stated bluntly. Inuyasha looked himself up and down in the mirror and decided he looked queer. 'What was Sess thinking making me wear this. I bet he's trying to get me back for leaving the house in a mess this morn… afternoon. Well I'll be damned if he thinks I'm going to be a good little Barbie and play dress ups.' Inuyasha went to his drawer and picked up a wrist cuff with silver spikes protruding out of it. Rolling his sleeves up he placed it around his wrist then went and grabbed a silver ball necklace and placed that on as well.
"Well I look a little better. I still look like a poof though." He looked around for any other accessories he might have forgotten. He then laid his eyes on his dirty, old skate shoes.
" Oh baby, this is going to be good." Now his room was clean Inuyasha made a straight path to his shoes. 'Whoa that felt weird. No jumping whatsoever.' He had just picked up his skate shoes when a voice came from his doorway.
" I hope you don't plan to wear those."
" Ah, no of course no Sess. I wouldn't dream of it."
" Good because I have brought you some shoes to wear." Sess held up a pair of black shiny Gucci shoes.
Inuyasha's immediate response was, " What the?!" but after a death glare from his older, full demon brother Inuyasha quickly said, " Oh what err… lovely shoes. I'll just wear them shall I?"
" Good boy Inu. We'll be leaving in about half an hour."
###
" Wow Kagome, you look hot!" complemented Sango when her friend emerged from the dressing room.
" Really? I don't know. I really like the jeans but the top seems to come down a little low."
" What are you serious? No way. I swear you look hot. I can practically see the steam coming off you." Kagome blushed then went to put on her normal clothes. " So are you going to get them? They would be perfect to wear to Kouga's party next week."
" Yah I suppose." Kagome cast a wary eye at the top she had just tried on. It was a halter cow neck, which came down a little to far for her liking. It also had no back. Just a couple of stings that where used to keep it together. " Sango are you sure about this top?"
" Yes! I'm telling you, you look fantastic in it." Kagome just nodded and walked up to the counter pulling out her credit card.
Sango however, pulled the card out of Kagome's hand and replaced it with hers. " My treat okay?" Kagome was going to refuse but realized it was fruitless. Sango was hot headed and stubborn. There was no way she would let Kagome pay so she just let her be. After her purchases Kagome and Sango left the shop. As they emerged Sango's eyes fell on a familiar image. Pocking Kagome she said,
" Hey isn't that Kikyou?"
Kagome turned her attention to where Sango pointed. " Yah I think it is. Why did we have to see her?"
" I thought you liked her Kagome?"
" No not really. She's always saying how we look alike but I never seem to get any guys in comparison to her."
" Don't worry she's just jealous because you're prettier, and not a slut. Besides I heard she was going out with some no name skater boy. She just goes from bad to worse. I even heard she got with Kouga for a bit."
" Really? Wow I never thought she's go for a guy like Kouga. Hey do you think we should say hello?"
" I don't know? Well let's just walk past and if she say's hello then we will." Kagome nodded and they set off at a brisk walk toward Kikyou.
At first it looked as if she was going to ignore them but at the last moment she said, " Oh my god. Sango and Kagome, is that you?"
" Oh hi Kikyou," they both said in unison.
" We didn't see you there. How have you been doing?" asked Sango in a reserved tone.
" Oh I'm fine. Just doing a bit of shopping before school starts up again. I've only got a year till I graduate. Too bad for you two that you've still got 2 more years to go."
Kagome smiled sweetly while trying to restrain from strangling the girl, " Yah it sux. So are you going to Kouga's party next week?"
" Oh of course. I wouldn't miss it for the world!"
Sango smiled somewhat viciously as she said, " So are you coming with that skater boy boyfriend of yours?"
Kikyou's smile faltered for a moment but she quickly regained her composure, " Oh where did you hear about him from?"
" Oh just around. So are you going with him?" Sango repeated the question just to make sure Kikyou wouldn't avoid it.
" Well actually I just broke up with him just before I came here. He was of lower class; he knew it wouldn't work with us. He did seem a bit surprised when I told him though. I would have thought he'd have seen it coming. I admit though towards the end I was starting to feel something towards him but thank god Yura snapped me back to reality. "
Kagome looked shocked at the girl's answer, " So you dumped a guy you liked because of what people might think of you? Is that what you're trying to say?"
" I suppose that's one way of putting it," replied the girl flippantly. " Well I must get going if I want to finish my shopping. Ta ta girls."
Kagome gave a small wave," Yah bye Kikyou." Sango didn't bother to answer.
" That girl has some nerve!" steamed Sango after Kikyou was well out of range.
Kagome looked at her friend puzzled, " What do you mean?"
" Dumping a guy she liked just because of what people would think of her. Even we aren't that heartless. No offence intended. It just gets to me how she just picks up a guy then tosses him away when she's done. Okay even if the guy was a skater my heart goes out to him."
Kagome nodded in agreement, " It's not right to play with people like that. I don't know what's wrong with her. She doesn't seem to care who she crushes on her way. It's horrible. I just hope the guys alright."
" I'm sure he's fine. He's a skater after all."
" Hey Sango, why do you dislike skaters so much anyway?" Kagome seemed to touch a nerve.
" Who said I don't like skater's? Huh? Huh? I never said that!"
Kagome touched her friends arm soothingly, " Don't get so worked up Sango. It was just something I noticed."
" Aw, well do you want to hear the story then?" Kagome smiled and sat down on a nearby bench.
" I'd love to."
Sango took a deep breath then started, " Okay well you know how I said I lost my virginity at the start of the holidays?" Kagome gave a reassuring nod.
" Well it was at a party with a skater boy named Miroku. I thought I loved him and he loved me. We went out for about a month before we did anything. He would never keep his hands to himself, always wanting to grope me. Finally at this party we got a bit drunk then did it. Then the next day I see him chatting up these girls at the skate park. His hands were all over them! From that moment I realized he didn't love me, just wanted to get into my pants, just like every other girl. After I broke up with him he seemed really upset saying about how him groping girls was hereditary and he had no control over it. The nerve of the bastard! Well that's why I have a thing against skater guys."
Kagome was speechless. " Wow" was all she managed.
" Yah well that's my sad story,"
" Why didn't I know about this before?"
" Because you had your own problems to deal with. Plus I did tell you I lost my virginity didn't I? So it wasn't as if I was hiding it from you. I just didn't think hearing about other people's problems would be good for you at that time."
" Aw Sango come here." Kagome reached out to Sango and embraced her in a strong hug. " I'm sorry I haven't been there for you like I should have."
" No it's fine. I'm a big strong girl I can handle it." Letting go of the embrace Sango leaned back and wiped a tear from her eye. " He he, you've got me all teary now," she complained.
" Me too," said Kagome also wiping a tear from her eye.
Sango took a look at the watch on her right wrist. " Hey Kagome it's 4:30. Do you want to call it a day and come back some other day? I mean you've got you're outfit for Kouga's party so I guess we could come back for the rest of your wardrobe. As for me I've got 12 out fits I could wear to Kouga's."
" Okay cool, lets go," agreed Kagome. With that the couple left the shopping center, Kagome helping Sango carry her shopping bags.
A/N: okay no cliffie.. I'll update soon.. sorry for the wait..