Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. Rumiko Takahashi does.

Chapter 10

Last time:

Kagome sighed and began trudging in the direction of the mall. Sesshomaru fell silently into step beside her. It felt like having a giant white angel hovering over your shoulder, only this was an angel that could kill you in over a dozen different ways without caring and without even having to try.

Not surprisingly, the crowd on the sidewalk parted and passed a good distance on either side of them. She assumed the icy stare of the tall demon stalking alongside her was responsible for that. Every so often she glance up at him only to find him curiously observing everything around him with a carefully veiled interest, and though he tried to hide it, she could see his nose working through the assault of new smells that she knew were upsetting his delicate senses. He may have appeared at ease, but Kagome could tell by the forced grace of his usually effortlessly fluid movements he was actively scanning all his senses for any threat among the barrage of new information.

Two hours. Nothing could go wrong in two hours, could it?

xxxxxxxxxx

Kagome tapped her fingers against the rough plastic of the basket dangling from one arm. Inside it she had already tossed several packages of candy, some feminine products for her and Sango, and she now stood in front of the shelf where a large variety of Ramen normally sat. Today, following the streak of particularly bad luck she had been having, the only packages left were those labeled spicy. Yep, sometimes life just sucked.

xxx

It was a ten minute walk to the mall. Well, it would have taken ten minutes if she didn't have an ancient demon lord and his oversized ego to drag around. At first she had been rather pleased by the automatic clearing that opened around the demon. Kagome wasn't sure if regular humans could sense his irritation, but with her miko abilities his flared aura began to send constant goosebumps rippling through her skin after only about five minutes.

The asshole flat out refused to walk beside her, and trailed at least five feet behind her as though he were trying to convince someone he was not accompanying a human. She still hadn't figured out exactly who he was trying to convince seeing as how the only being within five hundred years of them that would have had any objection to this was Sesshomaru himself.

Just as Kagome was getting nice and pissed and had worked out exactly what she would tell Sesshomaru if she suddenly gained an incredible amount of power or stupidity, someone already possessing said stupidity belted out, "Hey, beautiful, did it hurt?"

Kagome stiffened and flushed, both flattered and annoyed, until she turned to inform the man that- yes, it had hurt when she fell from heaven but not as much it must have when his mother dropped him on his head- and saw several rather grungy young men loitering beside a small restaurant entrance leering, not at herself, but at Sesshomaru who had halted exactly five feet behind her when she had stopped and right in front of the men.

"You look like you're new in town. We could show you a good time, give you an intimate tour of Tokyo," another man added with an expression that reminded her of Miroku's when he offered his usual proposition to a beautiful woman.

Kagome glanced over at Sesshomaru who, despite his excellent hearing, did not seem to have heard what the men had said.

"Two hours, wench," he reminded her in his chilling monotone.

Kagome returned her gaze to the men who appeared shocked, to say the least, upon hearing a clearly masculine voice come from the white haired "woman." Taking advantage of this she hurried on in the direction of the mall, glancing once to make sure that "beautiful" was still following. Once she felt the men were far enough away, Kagome allowed herself to snigger and raised her voice enough to ask, "You do realize that those men thought you were a woman?"

"You are jealous," Sesshomaru stated flatly.

Kagome snorted and flipped her hair at him. She halted at an intersection to wait for the light to change. Sesshomaru halted at his self-mandated five feet behind her, but the open space filled suddenly with a group of tourists babbling to one another in a strange language.

She thought nothing of it until she heard the familiar clicking of cameras joined by a low growl a moment later. Kagome whirled and found that a group of tourists had completely engulfed the demon, snapping pictures of him and sidling up beside him so their companions could take some of them with him. Kagome wondered what in the world they were thinking until she caught the word "samurai" mentioned several times between long stretches of their native tongue.

Wisely, she covered her smile with her hand. Sesshomaru's demonic aura flared with rage causing a spontaneous breeze to swirl around him and lift his long white hair into a shimmering display, but this only seemed to excite the tourists who babbled rapidly and snapped even more pictures.

Kagome decided it was high time to rescue the demon and the tourists from one another. Chaos broke out before she could push her way through, though. Sesshomaru confiscated the nearest camera and had been about to crush it in his fist when the flash went off. Kagome could tell he was surprised despite his lack of facial expression because the camera remained unscathed while he blinked his golden eyes several times. The tourist whose camera had been taken now shouted at the demon in his own tongue. There was no need for translation- anger was the same in almost any language.

Kagome took advantage of Sesshomaru's brief shock and snatched the camera back then shoved it into the tourist's chest. Putting on her best angry face, she began to shout back at him about not taking pictures unless he had permission. Her efforts succeeded. The group had nearly vanished into the crowd by the time Sesshomaru recovered and demanded, "What manner of weapon was that? I thought you said humans did not recognize my kind. If this is so, why was I attacked?"

Kagome sighed and explained, "That was not a weapon, it was a camera. And they thought you were a samurai because of your clothes. They are tourists."

She glanced over her shoulder at him to see if he understood. His golden eyes studied her and he said, "Explain."

"Those people were tourists, foreigners, or anyone really, who visit someplace to see and experience new things. I guess you would be considered a tourist right now. Your clothes, well, nobody wears that any more except for special occasions or to impress tourists. They thought you were a samurai and wanted to take a photo of you."

"And what do these 'photos' do, if they are not weapons?"

"A camera is a machine that takes photographs of things. I don't know how it works, but it makes an exact copy of what ever it is pointed at onto this stuff called film. Then specially trained people put the image onto a paper so it can be framed," Kagome continued. She began to miss the silence.

"So this 'camera' is just another term for the 'phone'?" Sesshomaru asked, though it sounded more like he was thinking aloud.

"No, a phone is used to talk to other people, though now some cell phones have cameras on them. But a camera cannot be used as a phone. It is just for taking photos."

Sesshomaru remained silent, and Kagome assumed this meant her answer had satisfied him. The rest of the way to the mall was uneventful, but when she checked her watch, she noticed it had taken twenty minutes to get there.

xxx

Kagome snapped from her thoughts and checked her watch. Only an hour left, and she still hadn't gotten anything for Rin or Shippo (other than candy) and she still had to find another grocery store to get Ramen. At least Sesshomaru had behaved himself so far. He was so quiet, it was like he wasn't even there.

"Sesshoma-" Kagome started, but stopped when she noticed that he really wasn't there.

"Stupid dog, and they say curiosity killed the cat," Kagome grumbled under her breath as she ran along the back of the store glancing down each aisle for her missing demon. Honestly, how does someone with knee-length white hair, ancient armor, clothing and weapons, and a long fur pelt draped over his shoulder disappear in a small store?

She ran to the front of the store and scanned each of the registers and the area near the exit hoping that he had not decided to wander around on his own. Finally she spotted him standing beside one of the claw machines filled with those cute, irresistible little plush toys that are impossible to win. A little boy was at the controls trying to retrieve a large, stuffed dragon while whistles and flashing lights cheered his vain efforts.

The demon watched the claw and the lights intently, but cringed slightly at the noises. Satisfied that he was not destroying anything or anyone, Kagome found a line and paid for her items. On impulse, she had thrown in a few fashion magazines for both men and women that Sesshomaru could read while they finished shopping. At least she hoped he would read them. As a joke she had nearly tossed an adult magazine in as well, but decided against it when she noticed the little old woman behind her give a disapproving frown.

Another disappointed child trudged away from the claw machine when Kagome approached.

"These items amuse children?" Sesshomaru asked suddenly. Kagome jumped in surprise.

"Yeah, kids love stuffed toys," Kagome replied. "Would you like to try? You have to use the claw to get the toy out."

Sesshomaru dipped his head, then lifted his own claws and drew poison to the tips.

"What are you doing?" Kagome hissed once she guessed his intentions, and dropped the coins she had fished from her pocket. "You can't just take one. You have to win it."

"You said I must use claws to retrieve it," he responded as he stared blankly down at her.

Kagome growled and stomped her foot. "Ha, ha, very funny. Just come on. I'll take you to a store that sells better ones. These are only cheap junk things anyway. And we have to find another grocery store too. This one is out of Ramen. Oooff!" Kagome grunted as a man in a long, dark coat knocked her down.

"We must do nothing," Sesshomaru corrected stepping past her as though she were a pile of something that he would not wish to soil his boots. "You will take care of whatever you must, and I will suffer your presence until we return to that half-breed and I can be rid of you."

Kagome glared at the swaying length of white hair that smugly followed its owner out into the crowded walkway of the mall. A hand gripped her arm and pulled her to her feet. She brushed off her backside and turned to thank the man who had helped her when she saw that he held a gun. He shook his head at her when she tried to scream, then pressed the cold steel against her neck.

All that escaped was a soft, "Eep!"

"Cooperate and I'll let you go, understand?" the man hissed in her ear.

His breath stank of stale liquor and vomit. Kagome gagged, but managed to nod her agreement. Why did this always happen to her? Did she have a sign or something on her forehead that said, "Attack me."?

Kagome glanced back at Sesshomaru hoping he had noticed her absence and would be coming to get her shortly. And there he stood, her knight in ancient armor though lacking a white steed. His lithe demon frame rested casually against the doorpost and he watched her with an apathetic bemusement shining in his golden eyes. A brief smirk broke his expressionless mask for a moment telling Kagome that he did not intend to do a damn thing.

Asshole, she mouthed at him, but found herself being jerked around by her captor who barked, "Okay, everyone, down on the floor!" The people froze in fear and just stared dumbly at them. "Do it or I'll kill this girl and then one of you every ten minutes until either you do what I say or you're all dead!"

As if to emphasize his threat he dug the barrel of the gun into her neck until she squealed in pain. Finally, the customers and the clerks listened. The man took her to each register and had the workers empty their registers for him. His small duffle now full of cash, the man backed towards the door, dragging Kagome along with him.

When he passed the door, he noticed Sesshomaru standing there and jumped. When the demon showed no sign of acknowledging the man's presence, much less attacking, the man shoved Kagome roughly towards him then sprinted off. Kagome stumbled, expecting to land roughly against a firm, yet fluffy Sesshomaru. Instead she found herself land sharply on the hard floor where Sesshomaru had been standing.

He now stood five feet away, looked down at her and said, "Forty-five minutes."

Kagome glared up at him and glanced at her watch. Exactly forty-five minutes until her two hours expired. She glared at him again briefly wondering where the hell he kept his watch. She found her feet and her tongue at the same time.

"What the hell was that? Why didn't you stop that guy? He stole all their money." she demanded, thinking that her own hair would be swirling around her at this point had she a demonic aura to show off.

"Why should this Sesshomaru concern himself with mortal affairs? A petty thief is no threat."

Kagome fumed. "Well, what about your stupid life debt? If he had killed me, then you'd lose your honor."

"He could not have killed you, miko," Sesshomaru told her with a hint of annoyance in his voice. He turned and walked away from her either forgetting or not caring that he did not have any idea where they were going.

"Oh, is that so?" she snapped at him and ran to keep up with him, also forgetting that he had no idea where he was going. "Well, I think you are well aware that I am human which means that unlike you, if I get shot, I die."

"Indeed, I am well aware of this, human," he shot back at her. "And perhaps one day you may live up to your boast, unfortunately, that man would have been no help to you. His weapon was no more deadly than a wooden sword."

Kagome put her hands on her hips, but thought about what he had said. The man's gun wasn't real? She guessed that after having been shot he would know a gun, by smell if not by sight. She fought back a smile. He hadn't done anything because he knew she would be okay.

Grinning wickedly, she asked in an innocent voice, "So, does that mean if my life had really been in danger, you would have rescued me?"

He ignored her question, and asked, "Where is the next hellish place you wish to visit before your time is up?"

Kagome decided to take a page out of his book and skipped on ahead of him without a word. She continued to ignore him while she bought Ramen, then when she led him into a toy store, though she couldn't help but sneak a look at his face when they walked into the children's paradise.

A display of battery operated toys walked, crawled, jumped, flipped, barked, beeped and a number of other amazing little tricks for an audience of bored parents, excited children and one outwardly indifferent demon. If he were not not looking at the toys so hard, she might have actually believed he wasn't interested. Giggling slightly, she left him there while she searched for some inexpensive and durable toys for Shippo and Rin.

She decided on a pack of crayons and a coloring book for each, and a deck of cards for Rin. Shippo really seemed to love playing Go Fish, and the thought of the great demon lord playing with the little girl made them too much to resist. Deciding she needed to check on her demon, Kagome eased around the corner of the aisle and peeked at him.

He was now the only one at the display having effectively scared off all the other parents and children, how she did not want to know. One of the toys had gone still, either at the end of its routine or its battery. Sesshomaru reached down trying to prod it to life. When it didn't respond, he glared at its insolence and lifted it in his clawed hand. Much to Kagome's delight, the toy sprang to life with an obnoxious tune and ridiculous dance just as he did this and it surprised him so much he threw it into the wall with a soft growl.

"He, he, he-" she giggled.

"Kagome!" a high-pitched voice squealed.

After falling and picking herself up from her own shock, Kagome turned to find her friends from school crowding around her. They bombarded her with questions about her health and her expected return to school which she answered numbly.

Her luck must have been changing. There had not been a single incident since she had been attacked, Sesshomaru had behaved himself without her having to give him the magazines, and now she had gotten through an entire conversation with her friends without Sesshomaru popping up to ruin it. She did not want to answer their questions if they found she was here with him.

Kagome let out a sigh and smiled. Yep, her luck was definitely improving.

The blare of a small siren a couple of aisles down startled her, but not near as much as the soft hiss, pop, and the slow death of the siren that followed. Damn it, she had spoken too soon.

Reluctance slowed her pace, but Kagome finally rounded the corner to find a satisfied demon lord standing over the ruins of what had once been a toy fire truck. Its mangled box claimed it had a lifelike siren and could actually spray water up to three feet. The demon stared evenly at her before gliding past and down another aisle as if daring her to say something.

Kagome just rolled her eyes and followed. She found him in the section of toys for little girls. He was staring at a doll with long, black hair, a traditional kimono and bare feet. It had a cheerful smile painted on its face, and sparkling brown eyes.

"I'll bet Rin is wondering where her lord is. Do you ever think she will get scared when you leave her like this and find a human village to stay with?" Kagome asked suddenly, reminded of the girl by the doll that resembled her.

Sesshomaru did not answer and moved quickly away from the doll. "Twenty minutes."

"Aren't you going to pick something out for Rin? I've already gotten what Inuyasha wants." Kagome lifted the sack filled to bulging with Ramen.

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at her and said in a voice so cold it sent shivers running down her spine, "You grow far too comfortable in my presence, mortal. It is unwise, if you value your life."

He glided past her with demonic grace and whispered just as he drew even with her ear, "Nineteen minutes."

Kagome shivered and tried to swallow the lump of fear that caught in her throat. He passed so closely that she felt the cold touch of his sleeve and the rough thump of both Tenseiga and Tokijin against her thigh. Her heart pounded in her chest and she closed her eyes in an effort to calm it. All that white- his hair, clothes, even his fair skin- the color of death. Had she really forgotten what he was? Who he was?

Sesshomaru was deathly beautiful; he made killing an art, and she had been foolish enough to point out his weakness to him. Kagome marched over to the doll and grabbed it from the shelf, quickly hiding it beneath her other selections.

Rin, she thought to herself. You deserve this. You are the only living proof that a real red heart beats within that ivory tower.

Kagome glanced at the register and did not see Sesshomaru anywhere in sight, so she paid for everything and hid the doll at the bottom of the sack. If she couldn't convince the demon lord to give it to her, then she would pass it on the next time they saw each other.

When Kagome could not find him anywhere inside the store, she panicked. Had she really made him that upset with her comment about Rin? No, that couldn't be it. Her feet carried her back out into the crowded walkway, and that is where she found him.

He stood, rigid as a marble statue amidst the steady stream of people flowing by on all sides. His golden eyes stared straight ahead at a candy store, though he did not appear to be really focused on anything. His stance, at first, struck her as one she had seen him take on occasion, standing upon the edge of a cliff, staring at the sky in intense contemplation. However, there was something different this time (other than the swarm of humans and neon signs in the background).

Instead of a cool, collected poise, his body seemed tensed as though some horrible fear or memory had seized him. His face remained passive, yet his eyes looked clouded with confusion or even disbelief and his lips were tightly drawn. Even at this distance she could tell he had his hand clenched into a fist, and when she drew closer, she could see he was bleeding. She was also struck by the overwhelming smell of chocolate coming from the candy store. If it was this strong for her, it had to be making Sesshomaru sick.

"Sesshomaru?" she asked and grew worried when he did not respond. She touched his arm, expecting to be thrown back or at least slapped off, but he did not even flinch.

"Sesshomaru," she tried again, in a stronger voice. "Isn't my two hours up now?"

For a moment he continued to stare into space, then suddenly it seemed as though a spell were lifted and he blinked. Without a word he started walking back the way they had come. Something about his stride and the tense snap of his movements warned her to remain quiet, but her mouth didn't seem to heed that warning.

"What's the matter with you?" she asked. Inwardly, she cringed at her own stupidity and thought about how nice it would have been to graduate.

The demon stopped, and in a voice no louder than a whisper said, "I remember."