LB: Hey all! My goodness, it's been a long time. I have not forgotten you all, or this story, rest assured. I am temporarily (I hope) without Internet, but I have continued writing. Unfortunately, I have the screwiest computer in Canada, so I am unable to transfer any of my work to a disc or floppy or any other source. I have finally taken it upon myself to type out this chapter on another computer after printing it off on my own, but I will post more regularly on my profile, letting you know what's up.
And now, enjoy the long-awaited chapter…
Chapter Eighteen. Suspicion. Part Two.
"Mom? Can I go and meet a couple of friends at the mall?" Mrs. Higurashi nodded. "Who are you meeting there?" (LB: I don't know the exact names of Kagome's friends, so bear with me.) "Eri and Ayumi."
"Fine, dear. Are you going to take Lord Sesshoumaru?" Kagome was taken aback. "Umm…" She looked over at Sesshoumaru, who was looking inquisitively at her, then at her mother, who was pleasantly awaiting her answer. "Umm…I don't know. What about his…well, he is a demon…" Sesshoumaru switched. She could tell that this was a bad thing. "Not that being a demon is bad…but there are no demons here. He'd attract a lot of attention." Tetsuka strode airily into the room, in time to tune into Sesshoumaru's current thought. 'Of course I would attract attention…I am taiyoukai, after all.' Tetsuka sighed at the egotistical thought, then smiled slowly, and pulled Kagome to the side. "Perhaps you could take Sesshoumaru to the mall with you, Kagome…" she suggested evenly, trying not to laugh. She whispered a single word into Kagome's ear. Immediately Kagome brightened. "That's an excellent idea!" Tetsuka beamed. 'Sesshoumaru would be so mad if he ever found out…'
-:-
"This substance is strange…and wet. What is its purpose?"
"It just covers up the markings," Kagome explained cheerily. Sesshoumaru frowned. His markings were what made him…well, him, and what identified him as taiyoukai. He didn't much like the idea of covering them up. "What is it called?"
"Foundation," she supplied absent-mindedly, trying to cover up the navy sliver of a moon on his forehead. (A/N: I know…that's mean…kinda…making him wear makeup…but how else was I supposed to do it?) She turned to Tetsuka. "Where am I going to get clothes for him?" Tetsuka shrugged. "You could always pretend that he was a girl and let him wear your clothes until we get him his own…He looks the part enough…" Sesshoumaru growled, and Kagome stifled a giggle. Sesshoumaru was anything but a girl. "I don't think so, Tetsuka. Why don't you go and see if my mom has any ideas?" Tetsuka shrugged and strode downstairs.
Kagome paused for a moment. She really, really wanted to brush his hair…or even just touch it. She hesitantly picked up a hairbrush, noting that he pretended to ignore her action. She brought the brush up to the top of his head, and dragged it gently through his hair. It went through so easily. Of course, if she had hair like his, she would brush it just for the sake of brushing it.
Sesshoumaru clenched his jaw slightly. This was very difficult. The brush running through his hair and against his scalp felt very good, and he was fighting back a contented growl. Despite his attempts at ambivalence, tingles were shooting up and down his spine.
"Sesshoumaru…are you- purring?" Sesshoumaru glared at her as she set the brush on the counter. "This Sesshoumaru…does not purr. I was…" She smirked. "You were growling in a friendly way, hmm?" He nodded shortly, and she giggled.
Except for his silver hair and pointed ears, she would think that he was human…if she didn't know any better, and if she didn't know that if she said anything, her head would no longer be attached to her neck. Although, he was getting better now.
-:-
"Where the hell is she…and where the hell is he?" he muttered, pacing back and forth. Kiseki sighed. "Inuyasha…it probably isn't any of your business." (A/N: Sorry, but when has that ever stopped him before? This girl really needs to learn how to use the sit properly.) "Inuyasha…we have to talk." (A/N: This can't be good…) he stared at her warily, not liking the tone of her voice. "Yeah?"
"Do you still love Kagome?" Inuyasha was silent with shock. "Huh?"
"Do you love Kagome?" she repeated patiently, waiting tentatively for his answer. He stammered unintelligibly for a moment, then sputtered, "Well…not the way you think I do. I love her…but I don't love her. You know?" He said this all very quickly and uncomfortably. She nodded. "Oh. And…what about the other one?"
"Kikyou's dead." Kiseki bit her lip. "What about…me?" Inuyasha stood paralyzed to the spot. "Uh…Uh…" He was shocked. He had never had a conversation like this that was ever good. All these conversations ended with him getting sat, and Kiseki now had this power, he remembered darkly. "Uh…"
"Yes?"
"Well…"
"Inuyasha! There you are!" Inuyasha practically sighed with relief. He had never been so happy to see that lecherous, perverted houshi. Kiseki, however, was sighing with disappointment. 'Why won't he answer me? Does he feel nothing for me? I know that we haven't known eachother for a long time, but I was hoping that…he might change. Maybe I should just go back to my village. It isn't like I help out a lot, anyway…I'm more of a bother.
Miroku was speaking quietly with Inuyasha, and Kiseki could barely make out the words. "Kagome…went after her…I don't know!…should return soon…barely gave me a chance to…stormed out very quickly…" Inuyasha growled softly. "He…that…he…HE LET HER ESCAPE AND HE WASN'T GONNA DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT?" Miroku cowered slightly. "It…well, it appears that way." Inuyasha fumed. "I'm going to get her." Miroku shook his head, tapping Inuyasha lightly with his staff. "I do not think that that would be a wise course of action. After all…" he grinned lecherously. "I think that there is more going on than may seem…between Sesshoumaru and Kagome." Inuyasha sniffed indignantly. "I don't want to talk about it, okay? Don't you have somewhere to be? Like making sutras…or groping innocent females?" Miroku rolled his eyes, then brightened. "As a matter of fact, I just left Sango in the garden!" he rushed off, barely able to contain his excitement.
Inuyasha turned to Kiseki. "You probably agree with him." Kiseki paled. "You don't?" Inuyasha gaped. "What?' he stepped closer, and Kiseki looked down. "You don't care about me at all, do you?"
-:-
"Tetsuka…this is a good idea, and all, with the foundation, but do I have to take him to the mall? I'm sure that he wouldn't want to spend his afternoon with a bunch of giggling…" Tetsuka brushed her comments aside. "Relax. I'm sure it will be just fine." She grinned inwardly. 'And if it isn't, he'll never hear the end of it!' Kagome sighed. "Okay then…He should be out any second." She rapped on the door. "You almost done in there?"
Sesshoumaru opened the door, and Kagome was immediately rendered starry-eyed. "Ooh…Tetsuka, where did you get these clothes?" Tetsuka shrugged. "Your mother said that they used to be your dad's. They don't look too bad, I suppose." Kagome gaped. 'Too bad? If I bring him to the mall, every girl in the vicinity will melt into the floor!'
Sesshoumaru was wearing a red tee-shirt with a pure white jacket overtop, and blue jeans. It was strange…seeing him in modern clothes, but she was still speechless. Mrs. Higurashi ushered them out the door. "You two stay out of trouble!" Tetsuka grinned. "Yes, you two. No killing anybody…or anything! Oh…and Sesshoumaru? I would bring an oxygen mask along if I was you!" Sesshoumaru ignored her. He assumed that she was merely trying to provoke him.
-:-
"Sango! There you are! I've been looking all over for you! I thought I left you in the gardens."
"You did. I made my escape to see if I could catch a bit of Jaken-bashing. It's quite entertaining."
'Ah. That is understandable, though I pity the poor creature. I myself, know how it feels to be tortured repetitiously with large, heavy objects…especially weapons."
"Yes, well…you probably deserve it."
"I don't argue with you there. It is merely my cursed hand, Sango dear."
"You mean it's still cursed?"
"Oh…I forgot. I suppose it is still cursed, in a way."
'It's more than your hand," she muttered. "It's your brain." He sighed. "Now, Sango…is that a way to speak of your intended?"
"Oh…I forgot," she mimicked. She smiled softly. "I guess not. So…how did Inuyasha take it?"
"Relatively well, actually. He yelled at me, but he didn't hit me, chase me, terrorize me, or threaten me. Do you think something's wrong with him?"
"He doesn't look sick…but that is strange behaviour…maybe something else is troubling him."
-:-
Ayumi gazed up at Sesshoumaru. She sighed dreamily once again. 'He is so stunning…I wonder where Kagome meets all of these guys…" Eri studied him doubtfully. 'I admit that he's handsome…but he looks to old for Kagome…She's never said that they're together, but it's so obvious…'
Kagome giggled nervously. "So…where do you want to go?"
"How about we go and eat first?" Ayumi suggested. 'The perfect opportunity to find out the true status of their relationship!' Eri nodded in affirmation. "Perfect." 'Time to find out what's really wrong…after all, what are friends for?'
Sesshoumaru was silent. He was perfectly aware the both of Kagome's friends were staring incessantly at him. He couldn't appear that strange in this era…they acted as though they'd never seen anybody like him before…(A/N: Or maybe they haven't seen anybody as hot as him before…)
He followed the girls to the food court, a strange place with many people and many interesting and some repulsive smells. Kagome paid for Wacdonalds. Ayumi sat next to Kagome, who sat across from Sesshoumaru. Eri nervously debated with herself for a moment, then slid into the seat next to the taiyoukai, careful to stay as close to the edge as possible.
Sesshoumaru stared at the brightly wrapped package before him, then glanced inquisitively at Kagome. She unwrapped hers, revealing a funny-looking bread enclosing beef and some vegetables. He bit into his own burger, careful not to show his overly sharp teeth. 'Adequate…' he thought, not particularly caring for the processed meat and cheap bun, not to mention the greasy potato sticks.
The rest of the mall trip was fairly silent, as all three girls were ogling at Sesshoumaru, rather than window-shopping at all. Sesshoumaru was most thankful when they said farewell to Kagome's friends at the shrine, first for the lack of stares in his direction, second for the relative quiet, and third for the lack of smells that occupied the mall; such as teenage boys wearing too much axe, the scents of many different varieties of perfume, and the faint smells left from too many shoes traipsing all over the place. He was however, missing the strange bubbling beverage that Kagome had presented to him, called 'Coca-cola'. It wasn't particularly flavorful, but the drink seemed to have a texture…
Kagome closed the door behind them. Three days left, and she had yet to distract Sesshoumaru while she spoke with Kagura.
-:-
"KAGOME! WAKE UP!" Souta called distractedly, no doubt glued to his video screen, having been instructed to wake her. She pulled her pillow over her ears, and hit the snooze button on the blaring radio. 'Aah…silence…'
"Kagome." She groaned. "I don't want to get up…" A hand lightly shook her shoulder. "Your mother wishes that you arise." She looked up into his amber eyes and yawned. "Do I have to?" Sesshoumaru nodded, though he wanted to stay here with her all day. Her dark hair was tousled appealingly, and she stretched and yawned sleepily. "Okay. I have to take a shower, anyways. I'll meet you downstairs, okay?" She knew that he was already down here. She stretched as she got up and shuffled into the bathroom, turning on the warm water and switching the shower on. She discarded her clothes, and stepped into it, closing the semi-transparent curtain and shutting the door.
-:-
"Is Kagome taking a shower?"
"Yes. What is this…shower?"
"In the bathroom. It's like rain and bathing at the same time."
"I see." He covered his ears as a very shrill scream pierced through even Souta's video game sounds. "Is that…" Souta sighed as he saw that Sesshoumaru had already left. "Never mind."
-:-
Kagome shrieked as soap dripped out of her hair and into her eyes. She frantically tried to wipe it out, but that only made it worse. Her eyes burned. She whimpered, now attempting to wipe it out with the shower curtain. She screamed louder when Sesshoumaru burst through the bathroom door, eyes wide with shock when he realized what she'd been doing. "OUT!" she shrieked. He didn't go out, but turned around, grabbing a towel from the countertop and holding it out to her. She took it and whapped it around her, turning off the tap and shivering as she tried to ignore the burning in her eyes. He stared. "Why did you scream?" She wiped at her eyes. "Soap…in my eyes, and it hurts." He made a slight clicking noise, similar to the one her mother made when reprimanding her, and drew her closer to him, gently sweeping the tiny bubbles of soap from her eyes. "Better?" She nodded, teeth chattering, and leaned against him. "I guess my shower's over, huh?" He nodded. "I think so." She grinned, teeth still clacking against each other. "I'm getting you all wet." He lifted a warm, pink housecoat from a hook on the door, studying it for a moment, and, deeming it adequate, handed it to her.
-:-
Kagome strode downstairs, now fully dressed in her school uniform, which Sesshoumaru looked upon with distaste. It was…distracting. (A/N: Interesting… "It was…distracting." This tell you what he is doing when she wears it? O.O hehehe.) Kagome ran into the kitchen. "Bye, Mom!" she called merrily. 'Wait a second…' Sesshoumaru thought. 'Where does she think she's going?' Kagome embraced Sesshoumaru warmly, a blush staining her cheeks. "I'll see you after school, Sesshoumaru, okay?" He looked at her strangely. "Where are you going?"
"To school. To get educated."
"I see. And I am…to remain here."
'Well…yes."
"I see."
"Are you upset?"
"No. Return immediately after." She grinned, kissed him on the cheek, and dashed out of the door. "Why must she go to this place? This school?" Souta shrugged. "I have to go too. I leave in a couple of minutes. It's so that we can learn stuff about life."
"Are you taught to use a katana or a bow?"
"No."
'Are you instructed how to govern or solve conflicts?"
"Sometimes…but it's more math, language, science, history, and stuff like that." Sesshoumaru frowned. How could these things possibly help one in the world, unless perhaps they were committing themselves to a life of service to Kami? Was Kagome's time truly so advanced that they needed all of this extra education?
-:-
Kagome returned from school wearily, having answered many relentless questions about her wellbeing. She threw her backpack down, and collapsed onto the count. Her head hurt, and she was soaked from the rain, but she didn't want to move, either. "How tiring can this school of yours be?" She jumped, startled. "Don't do that, Sesshoumaru," she gasped. He smirked lightly. "Why are you all wet?"
"I forgot my umbrella, and it was raining." He glared. "You aren't going to get another one of those cold things, are you?" She shook her head. "I don't think so." He sat down at the other end of the couch, staring at the poster with the five punctures in the woman's eye. "Why don't you changed your clothes?'
"Because I'm feeling lazy."
"Indeed." She sighed, then blushed at the turn her thoughts took. "Sesshoumaru?" He nodded. "Umm…are you having an okay time? Here?" He nodded. 'Aw, crap…I love having him around, but he can't go back early…not that it matters…he'd probably meet me at the well, anyway…'
"Kagome."
"Hmm?"
"Is something bothering you?" She glanced up. "Huh? Me? No." Tetsuka chose this moment to glide into the room. "Hello, all. And how are things going eith the happy couple?" Kagome's face turned beet red. Sesshoumaru did not grant a response. Tetsuka grinned. "Good, good." She sat across from Kagome. "Why are you all wet?" She paused. "You know what? Don't answer that. Just go and change." Kagome smiled and blew a wet strand of hair from her eyes. "Fine." She stood up, stretching, and Sesshoumaru tried not to notice the way her body arched. Tetsuka noticed him trying not to notice. Kagome left the room to change. "She loves you," Tetsuka stated, almost sadly. "What grieves you now, miko?" Tetsuka shrugged. "Nothing, I suppose. Tomorrow is your last day here, ne?" Sesshoumaru nodded. Tetsuka smiled. "It will be good to return to the feudal era. And I have a feeling that things are going to get complicated."
-:-
"You don't even care about me, do you?" Inuyasha frowned. "Kiseki…I…I don't…" he inhaled deeply. "I don't talk about stuff like this well."
"You never did answer my question." He blinked, and she repeated it quietly. "Do you…care for me?" Inuyasha forced a nod, finding it difficult to speak. "Really?" he nodded, surer this time. A smile lit Kiseki's face. "I know that I'm not very useful…but I do love you."
-:-
This was their last day. There was only one day until they returned. Kagome swung her bag over her shoulder. Tuesday morning had dawned brightly. She'd purchased gifts for all of her friends in the feudal era…except for Sesshoumaru. She had gotten Sango a pretty umbrella, in memory of the time she'd lent the slayer one, in hopes of helping her relationship with Miroku. She had purchased a pretty doll replica of a baby girl for Rin, with bottles and clothes, and a new set of crayons for Shippou. She'd purchased a can of Tetley tea bags for Miroku, as she doubted he'd ever tasted 'Earl Grey' before, a western flavor. For Inuyasha, she'd bought two things: ramen, and a neat little bobble-head dog. (A/N: Gotta love those things…) She'd even gotten a small jewelry box for Kiseki. She couldn't for the life of her figure out what to get for Sesshoumaru. What did one get for the one that never asked or told what they'd like? She'd been window shopping for him since the day before. She bought him a chocolate bar after school, and resolved that night to go out and get him something.
-:-
"Tetsuka? Would you stay with Lord Sesshoumaru while Grams and I go out to the store/" Tetsuka nodded airily. "I'll try and keep him from mutilating anything." Mrs. Higurashi smiled. "Thank you." She and Gramps left, leaving Tetsuka and Sesshoumaru alone. Sesshoumaru glared at her. "Why am I not considered responsible enough to care for myself?" Tetsuka raised an eyebrow. He had sounded so immature…"Do you really want me to answer that?"
"I already know the answer. It was a rhetorical question."
"Whatever. Are you hungry? Because I'm sure there's a can of dog food somewhere…"
"No."
"Okay. Me neither."
'You're never hungry."
'I'm not technically alive…I don't really need to eat."
-:-
Kagome sighed as she passed another store with nothing for Sesshoumaru. Nobody ever sold things for taiyoukai. Nada, nada, nilch, nix, nada. Fan? No. Tea? No. Cell phone? Definitely not. Dog food? No way in hell. Nail file? Nuh-uh. LEgo? Nope. She finally decided on the only thing she could think of. With that emotionless façade, he had to have so many complaints and thoughts. She'd get him a journal.
-:-
Kagome nervously clutched her package. "Sesshoumaru?" He nodded. "You have returned. Your mother is in the kitchen." Kagome smiled. "Thanks. I figured that…well…I got something for everyone else…so…Here." She held it out. He took it quietly. It was a dark blue, leather notebook. "It's a notebook…so you can write your…thoughts and stuff…without anyone else reading them. It's just for you, and nobody else sees it if you don't want them to." He was unsure of what to do with such a gift, but nodded. "Arigatou." She smiled, realizing she'd never heard him say thank you.
-:-
Kagura waited patiently next to the well. A few more hours, and she could begin to repay her debts.
LB: There you go! A six and three quarter pages on word for you! Sorry if it was agonizingly boring, but I am going to add some plot twists. I think that this story is going to be about twenty six chapters, which is amazing because I only expected it to be about seventeen. I am thinking also of writing a sequel. I have already decided how to make Kagome a demon, and I thank you for your input, as it was MOST helpful. That was entirely how I got my inspiration for many plot twists. Also, after a couple more chapters, I will probably get rid of Kiseki. If you have any ideas or anything for this story or the sequel, feel free to review. Also, I always post on my profile. If you wish to reply to that you can review my stories, or email me at The next chater, This I Do for You, will be coming soon.
PREVIEW. THIS I DO FOR YOU.
Tetsuka turned to Sesshoumaru, feigning shock. "Sesshoumaru! I forgot something! Come on!" Minutes later, Sesshoumaru and Tetsuka emerged from the well, the miko looking quite pleased with herself. Sesshoumaru sighed. "You dragged be back for a bar of choco-latt?"
"I had a craving."
'You don't eat."
"Kagome had a craving!"
"And how do you know this?"
"We can communicate telepathically."
"That makes so much more sense."
"I didn't know that you were capable of sarcasm!"
"What you don't know could fill many books."
"Likewise."
