Disclaimer: Don't you think that I'm depressed enuff! Why should I hafta admit that I don't own Inu-Yash!… Oh, shoot…I just did, didn't I?


Cooking Session (or Day Off, I should say) 4 - Apron Shopping

As Kagome's alarm clock went off, she realized that today was a day off. She felt free. No Home Ec classes! She was glad to be rid of Naroku and Kikyo, especially. For some odd reason that she couldn't comprehend, however, she missed Inu-Yasha. She really felt bad for him because of how embarrassed he got the previous day. She, out of some weird twist of fate, decided to make it up for him by…oh, what would he be interested in doing with her on a day off?

Kagome hoped Inu-Yasha wasn't preoccupied on the day off. Still, she couldn't think of anything she could do to make him cheer up. Mall shopping was a definite no. Kagome knew well that boys and malls didn't mix. Going to a restaurant, maybe? Nah. Kagome had seen enough fancy food in Home Ec class. She didn't need any more than that. Then what to do?

Kagome probed her mind, and then it came to her—they could go apron shopping! After all, she knew he had to be getting tired of his pink, girly apron. It was too frilly and lacey for him. Plus, it was stained with berry smoothie splatters and gravy smudges. She decided that that was the perfect thing to do.

She grabbed a phone book and found his address. Then she prepared to leave, though it was early, and ride her bike to his house. Surprisingly, it wasn't too incredibly far away. Kagome was thankful for that.

When the house was finally in sight, Kagome realized that she was being foolish. She felt dumb, going to someone's house at eight-thirty in the morning. Especially since that 'someone' despised her. She discovered, too, that he might not even be at home. It was a dilemma; to go or not to go; that was the question. (I've been studying for my history test too much.)

Anyway, she parked her bike next to Inu-Yasha's front porch and knocked on the wooden door. She noticed that the house was small and surrounded by a lot of trees, which seemed very unusual to her.

After she gave her third knock, the door jerked open. Mr. Pink Apron Boy himself was standing in front of the doorway, clearly shocked to see Kagome. Kagome couldn't get her mouth to work. She didn't know what to say. No, actually she knew what to say, but she didn't know how to put it into words. How could she tell Inu-Yasha that she wanted to spend her day off by going apron shopping with him? He would surely think her crazy.

"Great," Inu-Yasha said with a bit of sarcasm, "did you come to tease me about my stupid criminal record?"

Kagome tried to ignore his mean tone. "Well, hello to you too. And no, I didn't."

Kagome began to wish she had never gone to visit Inu-Yasha. She obviously wasn't welcome. Inu-Yasha's eyebrow raised.

Kagome finally said (trying to sound kind and a little sympathetic), "I came to ask you if…well, if you'd like to go shopping with me today. I would like to buy you a new"—She blushed and thought, Here it comes…he's gonna laugh—"apron."

Inu-Yasha, surprisingly, looked like he was considering her offer. This made Kagome blush even more. She felt very strange around Inu-Yasha that day for some reason. What's wrong with me! She thought. Why am I blushing? Why do I have butterflies in my stomach! I'm just taking him apron shopping, that's all! The feeling didn't cease, or even ease a little.

"Why?" Inu-Yasha simply said.

"U-uh…" Kagome tried to hide her flushed cheeks, "I think you deserve a new apron—one that's not so…pink."

Inu-Yasha snorted. "Fine. How long?"
Kagome was confused. "How long what?"

Inu-Yasha looked annoyed slightly. "How long will it take?"

"Oh, depends. It will take a long time to get there since we'll have to walk."

"Get where?" Inu-Yasha asked.

"To Aprons Galore. An apron store."

"There's an actual store for aprons? Geez, what is the world coming to?" Inu-Yasha studied Kagome carefully.

"Fine, I'll go. But under one condition: no 'C words.' Got it?"

Kagome nodded in agreement, knowing that she'd probably regret it later. Inu-Yasha walked out of his small house and waited for Kagome. Kagome started to get onto her bike, but Inu-Yasha stopped her.

"What are you doing? I have a car, y'know."

Kagome was shocked. She didn't even consider the possibility of Inu-Yasha having a driver's license! Or…wait a minute…did he? Kagome's eyes narrowed. He did have a criminal record, after all. He may be driving without a license, a crazy driving lunatic. And where did he get a car? Was it stolen, possibly?

Kagome shook these thoughts from her mind. Her imagination was getting away with her, she knew. (Or at least hoped she knew.)

Inu-Yasha walked to the end of his driveway, revealing a black, rusty car. Kagome couldn't figure out the model; she wasn't good with car stuff. Inu-Yasha jumped in on the driver's side, and Kagome, awkwardly and reluctantly, got into the car on the passenger's side.

"Don't look so worried. I have my license, you know," Inu-Yasha said as he started the car.

Kagome realized that her face was pale white. She hadn't meant to show her nervousness. She hoped Inu-Yasha didn't think she didn't trust him. She wondered to herself: did she trust him? She shook these thoughts from her mind. She had to concentrate on giving Inu-Yasha instructions to Aprons Galore. To be honest, she couldn't believe that she was actually doing this. Going apron shopping with a criminal that hated her. But did he hate her? After all, he had decided to go with her on a date.

Kagome blushed immensely and turned to look out the window. Had she actually thought to herself date? No…she had meant shopping outing… It had just been a simple error of words in her mind…

Kagome tried not to think, since her own thoughts were embarrassing her. She decided to start up a conversation, noticing how quiet it was.

"So, Inu-Yasha…you live in a small house," she said meekly. "Do you live with anybody—family, pets, anything?"

Inu-Yasha grunted and then replied, "No."

Kagome waited for him to say more, but her patience was in vain. The topic wasn't going anywhere. She decided to start again with something different to discuss.

"I'm sorry about yesterday," she practically whispered. "Naroku was really cruel for doing that to you."

"I don't need your pity," Inu-Yasha said, surprisingly loudly. "I don't care about what he said at all!"

Kagome sighed. It was a touchy subject, and she wished she had never changed the subject to it.

"Okay, fine," she said.

Silence. Kagome didn't dare speak again, fearing Inu-Yasha would react with little interest or personal offendment like with the last two things she tried to talk about. She was really surprised when Inu-Yasha spoke up and started a conversation.

"Why did you have to take the blasted Home Ec classes?" he asked. "I've been wondering that, since you don't seem very fond of cooking."

Kagome, relieved that she finally had something she could say, told him the entire story of Hojo calling and the burnt cake disaster. Inu-Yasha seemed amused by it.

Even better, by the time Kagome was finished telling him about it, they had arrived at Aprons Galore. Kagome prepared to shop.


Author's Note: Please forgive me…this ends in sort of a cliffy. The day off will have to continue into chapter six, I guess. In the next chapter, guess who will be at Aprons Galore? Miss. I'm-the-best-cook herself, Kikyo. And she's not going to make apron shopping easy for Inu-Yasha or Kagome, belieeeeeve me! The ice cream surprise I promised in the last chapter will have to wait until this upcoming chapter. (Sorry!) And thank you so much for the reviews! Keep giving them! They really are nice. :-)

Please forgive me…this ends in sort of a cliffy. The day off will have to continue into chapter six, I guess. In the next chapter, guess who will be at ? Miss. I'm-the-best-cook herself, Kikyo. And she's not going to make apron shopping easy for Inu-Yasha or Kagome, belieeeeeve me! The ice cream surprise I promised in the last chapter will have to wait until this upcoming chapter. (Sorry!) And thank you so much for the reviews! Keep giving them! They really are nice. :-)

Oh, yeah…today I was taken by complete surprise. I was telling my younger sister about this story, and she shocked me to death.

Sister: "What does Home Ec mean?"

Me (gaping at her, speechless for a moment): It means Home Economics—like cooking, sewing, and doing laundry and stuff, you cheesehead!"

So just to clear that up for all you cheeseheads out there, that is what Home Ec is. Except that I kinda tweaked it a little and made it only a cooking class since I hate doing laundry and sewing. So there you have it.