After an uneventful walk to the grocery store the strange group entered the store. Mrs. Higurashi said "The rules are no killing, stealing or threatening. Got that?" Mrs. Higurashi was able to convince the demons that their weapons were not necessary and they reluctantly left them at the shrine. Kagome's mom took the staff of two heads from Jakan and replaced it with a rattle.
Mrs. Higurashi handed Jakan to Kagome and went to find a cart.
The toad demon squirmed feeling humiliated in his outfit, yet curious about this strange indoor market. "Oh Jakan," started Mrs. Higurashi "You look absolutely darling in Souta's baby clothes!"
Lord Sesshomaru and Inuyasha put their hands to their mouths and snickered at the toad demon that was wrapped in blue feetie pajamas with a Piyo Piyo label on his belly. The frilly bonnet covered his face rather well and the rattle was just for effect. Mrs. Higurashi cradled him in her arms. He saw the dog demons laughing and sat up shaking his rattle at them. "How dare you! You insolent half demon!" rattle rattle
The two demon brothers' snickering blew up into belly laughs. "Bffftt HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Lord Sesshomaru leaned back letting his laughter erupt into the air and Inuyasha crouched forward developing a cramp in his side.
Jakan realized the absurdity of a baby Jakan threatening powerful dog demons. "Oh, Lord Sesshomaru, I am ashamed." rattle rattle Please forgive my shortcomings."
Mrs. Higurashi pushed the metal shopping cart down the first aisle followed by Inuyasha, clad in red on her right, and Lord Sesshomaru clad in white on her left. Rin ran erratically around trying to take a look at all the food that was available.
"Mom, I'm going over to the film place next to the checkout. I'll get these developed."
"That's great dear. Here, will you take baby Jakan?"
"Do NOT pass me around like I'm some helpless child! I am Jakan! The honored retainer of the great Lord Sesshoamru! Don't dare insult me by passing me back and forth!" Kagome was used to holding little bundles because of her little brother Souta and gently rocked him back and forth. "I am NOT a baby!" screeched Jakan.
"Of course not! Goo goo boo boo!" said Kagome as she gingerly took Jakan from her mom. She began to sing a lullaby to the squirming bundle and his angry rants soon quieted down to a snoring sleep.
"I WILL NOT BE…Be…be..quieted…yawn Mmmm…I'm…Jayawnkan."
Lord Sesshomaru felt bare and more than a little unsafe by leaving their weapons and his armor behind at the Higurashi residence. He was also overwhelmed by the scent of human food. It was everywhere and there was lots of it.
Rin walked, mouth open like a goldfish, gawking at the enormous amounts of food that was everywhere. Off of a low shelf she picked up a shiny bag which contained sweet smelling figures. She read the package "Gummy Bears?"
Mrs. Higurashi crouched down to Rin's level and said "Oh my darling! Would you like some? Here, give them to me and we'll put them in the cart." Kagome's mom then looked up to Lord Sesshomaru and said "Milord, Rin is an excellent reader for a girl of her age in your time!"
"I would not have it any other way" he said hoping to please and impress Mrs. Higurashi.
"They smell really good!" Rin said as she smashed the package close to her face
Mrs. Higurashi smiled and laughed at the little girl's innocent assessment and said "Why yes they do! They're some of my favorite candy!"
"Candy? You mean I can eat them too?" Mrs. Higurashi put the candy in the cart and continued to lead the way.
The motley crew walked on down the aisle. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru halted suddenly and Lord Sesshomaru grabbed Rin's shoulder pushing her behind him. He said slowly "I smell…blood."
"Yeah," said Inuyasha, legs bent and arms ready for action. "A lot of it. You two ladies stay here, Fluffy and I'll go check it out."
Sesshomaru was ready to pounce on Inuyasha for the 'Fluffy' comment but was interrupted by the sound of Mrs. Higurashi's laughter "Oh hahahahaha…That's probably just the butcher" explained Mrs. Higurashi.
"Eh?" "huh?" the demon brothers questioned.
"The butcher. He cuts and prepares the meet then packages it up nice for us to buy. That way it's ready to eat right after we buy it! Hmmm. That reminds me," said Mrs. Higurashi, "would you boys prefer steak for dinner? Or should I make Bar-B-Q ribs? Hm?"
The two of them looked at each other and shrugged. Rin got excited and jumped up and down saying "RIBS RIBS RIBS RIBS!" She stuck her arms straight out and ran in circles "RIBS RIBS RIBS RIBS WEEEEEEE!"
Mrs. Higurashi clapped her hands together and laughed saying "Oh my! Hahaha, someone is excited about bar-b-q-ing!"
Lord Sesshomaru said "Rin. Stop spinning and follow us."
She stopped, saluted, and said "Yes My Lord!"
When the group rounded the corner Sesshomaru and Inuyasha's eyes sparkled. "An entire wall of meat!" yelped Inuyasha!
"I, I, I have never seen anything so appetizing. This is a wondrous shop, Mrs. Higurashi" said Lord Sesshomaru. His eyes were wider and happier than Rin had ever seen them. The two demon brother's sparkled with excitement.
"Well, I guess since this seems so special to you I'll make a special dinner for both of you. Go on men. Choose your meet. I'll go and check on Kagome's progress at the photo booth."Kagome had baby Jakan drooling and snoring on her hip as she sifted through the pictures taken while Inuyasha and her were fighting. 'Holy cow! Is that my underwear? Did Inuyasha see my underwear?'
She sifted through some pictures of Inuyasha smashing her face into the carpet. She saw another series of pictures with Kagome smashing his face into the carpet. One with an up close shot of his nostrils flared in anger and yet another of what Kagome thought was her ear.
'Wait…is that his underwear? Wow. I didn't know limbs could bend that way.' "Urrrrgh!" Kagome gurgled as she looked at the other pictures. The ones Inuyasha had taken for her.
"What's the matter dear?" said Mrs. Higurashi as she walked up behind her disappointed daughter.
"Inuyasha, cut off my head in all these pictures! I don't' know how he did it, but he did!"
"Oh, now they aren't so bad."
"Mom! Look! I'm a neck in this one, and a pair of boobs in this one!"
"Well, I guess we see what he deems important."
"That's not it, mom! Get your mind out of the gutter."
"Well, I'm not saying anything about Inuyasha's character, but his skill …eh…is questionable. He's not used to technology like that and he's not as quick a study as his older brother. I'm sure if you asked Lord Sesshomaru to take it he'd do a wonderful job."
"Mom! No! I guess you are right about the technology thing. It's not like either of them uses a camera every day, huh." Kagome had decided to ignore her mother's favoritism towards Sesshomaru.
"No, he doesn't. I can always retake them when we get home. We'll find a perfect picture for you. Oh! I have an even better idea!" Mrs. Higurashi dug through her big over the shoulder mom-purse and dug out a green coupon. "I have this coupon here for free single portraits when we buy a family picture."
