Chapter Nine: Attempted shopping, and another "dangerous one"

"Inu Yasha?" whispered Kagome, sitting down next to him slowly. He peeked at her before focusing on the TV and snapping,

"What?"

"Umm…would you…take me to the mall?"

"The mall? Why?"

"Because I want to go do something and you won't let me leave this house without you…is it because you don't trust me?"

"Yes." He replied bluntly, "You would try to escape any moment you could. You're my bait and not going anywhere."

"Can I please go to the mall? I need to get out of this house!"

"Mmm…" he murmured, annoyed, and kept his eyes on the box in front of him. Kagome pulled her trump card.

"I need to distract myself from last night…" she pronounced pitifully. Inu Yasha looked at her sharply, eyes wide in surprise. Kagome was looking at the floor, her eyes glazed. He snatched the remote and flipped off the television.

"Fine. Let's go." Standing up, he headed towards the kitchen calling loudly, "Kagome wants to go to the stupid mall and I'm going to take her, considering that she needs to get her mind off last night. I'm hoping that by the time I get back, Miss Future Detective and the runt will be gone."

"You hope." Said Shippo snidely and Miroku smiled at Sango, saying,

"I hope not." Inu Yasha growled slightly and grabbed his keys, turning to storm out the door, Kagome following after a fleeting look at Sango.

Sango immediately pulled out her cell phone, and jumped up, beginning to leave the room. Miroku stood, a confused look on his face.

"Where are you going Sango?"

"I have to make a call…" she said dismissively and glanced at Shippo who smiled and jumped on Miroku's shoulder.

"Mr. Inu Yasha's friend, I'm hungry…so hungry…" Miroku blinked and looked at Shippo, which was all Sango needed to slip away.

She ran into the other room and dialed quickly.

"Kouga? This is Sango; I know where Kagome's going to be for the next hour or so."

"What! Where!"

"She's going to be with Inu Yasha at the mall. She told me to tell you. In public, so you two demons can't make a scene."

"I would not make a scene with that half-demon!" Then he hung up sharply and Sango sighed.

"Well, Kagome isn't going back to him anyway…" she coughed before returning to the kitchen to help Miroku find the young fox food.

Kagome and Inu Yasha made their way slowly down the wide hallway of the mall, the girl glancing occasionally at stores. The half-demon, on the other hand, kept looking at the people they passed with a glare.

"Inu Yasha?" golden eyes quickly fixed to rest on gray ones passively.

"What?"

"Last night…um…I never really thanked you properly." She turned her gaze to the ground quickly.

"Oh. Well, uh, no problem. It was…wrong, what they tried to do."

"But you didn't…have to bring me up to my bed or anything…or…stay with me until I woke up…" She gave him a momentary look and then returned it immediately to the floor. Inu Yasha eyes flickered and glanced around gradually.

"Yeah well, I couldn't just leave you there. Plus you…uh…wouldn't let go of my shirt."

"Huh?" she turned slightly pink, "Oh…uh, sorry."

"That's alright." He muttered.

There was a long silence as they continued along, Kagome resuming her perusing of stores and Inu Yasha examining the people around them. "Um." Said Kagome, stopping suddenly and turning to him. "I'm going to be blunt." He looked at her questionably. "I don't want you to kill Kouga. I don't love him of course, but I still…he's still my friend. I do not want him dead. What I'm saying is…I'll do anything to stop you from killing him."

"Ah yes, brother dear, and what is that anything that you would want? Perhaps a little something…inappropriate, shall we say?" said a regal voice from behind them. Kagome spun around to see Sesshomaru standing behind them, a slight smile on his peaceful face. Inu Yasha turned sharply and his eyes stared with fire at his frosty brother.

"Sesshomaru…you shouldn't say stuff like that."

"Are you saying that you would not even consider that? That, brother, would be a lie. Even I would consider it with such a beautiful young woman." Kagome blushed and stammered,

"Uh…well, what are you doing at the mall? Um...if I may ask."

Sesshomaru blinked before smiling again and saying,

"Ah, well, sometimes I enjoy a bit of browsing," he replied. Kagome tried not to stare openly. Inu Yasha made no such attempt, and snorted slightly. Kagome frowned at him before turning back to the older demon.

"Are you here by yourself, Mr. Tanryoku?"

"Sesshomaru, please. And yes, I am."

"Kouga usually has a whole bunch of his…associates with him wherever he goes. For…protection."

"I can take care of myself." Replied Sesshomaru sourly.

"Oh gee, Sesshomaru, she wouldn't know that because the one chance she had to witness your fighting expertise, she had fainted because…oh, let me think, oh yeah! Your servants were going to rape her!" Inu Yasha snarled savagely.

"Please do keep your voice down to a dull roar, brother, you are attracting attention."

"Good."

"Yes, well." The older demon sighed quietly before looking at Kagome with a charismatic smile. "Miss Higurashi, let me apologize profusely for what happened last night. Those responsible have been…disposed of." He took her hand and kissed it delicately. "Can you forgive me?"

"I think I'll manage." Said Kagome with a shy smile, "After all, it wasn't your fault. Thank you for the apology."

"And now, if I may ask, what are you doing here with Inu Yasha? He is hardly the type to go shopping."

"He's escorting me…" she replied, her gaze darkening. Sesshomaru got the message as the "escort" bristled angrily.

"You know, if you would accept my invitation, you would not be a prisoner in my house. It is quite large. You could roam freely."

"What about outside of you house?" asked Kagome, her eyes searching.

"You would be supplied with companions."

"Why can't I go by myself? In fact, why can't I live by myself!" she asked peevishly, tossing her head.

"Because, Miss Higurashi, you are of interest to three very dangerous people at the moment. You need protection."

"What the hell do you think I'm doing?" Inu Yasha snapped.

"Using her for murder." He replied coolly, then turned his attention back to Kagome, who was looking utterly confused.

"Three dangerous people?" questioned Kagome.

"Yes. My brother here, Kouga, and…a new person has stepped forward recently expressing interest in your…circumstances."

"Who?" asked Kagome and Inu Yasha in unison.

"I'd rather not say…"

"It's not a question of preference, Sesshomaru." Growled the half-demon. "You had better tell me."

"Kagome, come away from the two Tanryoku's and over here next to me." Said a new voice and all three persons flipped to see Kouga standing with a group of gangsters.

"Kouga!" said Kagome, in a surprised voice. She figured he would come, since Sango was supposed to tell him where she was, but still…part of her didn't want him to be there.

"You…" sneered Inu Yasha, pushing Kagome behind him, "Kagome, don't move." Sesshomaru frowned deeply.

"This is ridiculous. We should not show such unscrupulous behavior in public."

"Shut up, Mr. Rich Asshole." Snarled Kouga before glaring back at Inu Yasha. "Let. Her. Go. Before I decide to forgo worry of cops and just kill you here!"

"There isn't going to be any killing!" yelled Kagome, trying to shove Inu Yasha aside, but he wouldn't let her. Kouga looked at her with curiosity and she gave a pleading look.

"Kouga, please go, I'm fine. Don't start anything that will get someone hurt. Especially all these innocent people."

"No no, Kouga. Stay. This is a good of chance as any to kill you." Hissed Inu Yasha, before tossing Kagome behind him with a flick of his wrist. She would have fallen, but Sesshomaru caught her, shaking his head at his younger brother.

Inu Yasha narrowed his eyes and prepared to attack the wolf demon, lifting his arm. Kagome jumped back up and grabbed Inu Yasha's raised arm, locking eyes with him.

"Please stop. Just…can we just go? I promise I'll do whatever you want. Just…don't hurt him." The corners of her eyes started to tear up and Inu Yasha sighed heavily and lowered his arm.

"Alright, Kagome. You win. Lets go. Plus, the runt will be wondering where you are."

"What?" asked Kouga harshly, "Runt? You'll do whatever he wants? What is he talking about Kagome?" The girl glanced back at Sesshomaru who shrugged as if to say "you got yourself into it". Inu Yasha frowned and grabbed her arm, with more tenderness than roughness. Kouga looked fiercely at the two and snapped his fingers. His "associates" immediately surrounded Inu Yasha and Kagome. "Get me Kagome; I don't care what happens to him." They launched themselves at the half-demon. Kouga smirked to himself when suddenly there was an icy voice from his left.

"That's right; Mr. Urufu can't do his own work. What a coward. He has no right to be running a gang." The wolf demon spun to face Sesshomaru growling savagely.

"You have no right to say that! You stay high and mighty behind the scenes too!"

"Ah, but if it come to a romantic interest of mine, I would rescue her myself. Easier to sweep her off her feet, huh, Kouga?"

"Shut up."

"This would be a good chance to kill you. Take care of mine, Inu Yasha's, and Kagome's problem all in one clean sweep." His hand wandered to the hilt of the sword at his side. Kouga took a small step back.

"But…we're in public…it wouldn't be…unsoupul-"

"It would be unscrupulous Kouga. Might want to grow up before you use big words. But you're right. And lucky. I won't kill you here. I'll keep you in suspense. Oh, and did you know there is another soul who is trying to find Kagome for some sort of revenge factor?"

"Who?" asked Kouga warily.

"You past employee, Naraku. Apparently, or at least, according to rumors, he needs her for some sort of trap or trick. I don't know whether it is for you or my dear brother. Inu Yasha seems to have gotten quite fond of Kagome, did you notice?"

"Yes…" replied Kouga through clenched teeth. "What does that bastard think he's doing?"

"It seems he is taking her back to his house at the moment." stated Sesshomaru, motioning to Inu Yasha and Kagome stepping over the prone forms of Kouga's gang and hurrying away.

"Dammit!" yelled Kouga, and Sesshomaru allowed himself a minuscule grin before departing himself.

Greetings. I am having a bit of writer's block with this fanfic at the moment, so I shall be putting it on pause temporarily. I apologize in advance. I will be updating eventually. A review with ideas would help of course. Just a click of that button in the bottom left corner. You know you want to. Wouldn't you want feedback?