Hey guys! Sorry it took so long for me to update, it's a long drawn out story, but for those of you who are suffering righteous indignation about my slow updates, I vacationed, then I packed for college, and in the move I somehow lost my entire chapter, which was almost finished. I looked for it for a while; then I started rewriting it. About three weeks ago I found it under the passenger seat of my car. I have no idea how it got there. I am suspecting the penguins had involvement. Then I finished writing the chapter, and have been typing it when I could between tests, papers, homework, activities, and work. This is an extra long chapter, longer than any of my others. Hence the long wait. I hope you enjoy it!
Next Morning
Nine o'clock found all of us cheerfully going to the commons for breakfast, which was highly unusual, because I am not a morning person. Probably it was the prospect of shopping that made me so uncharacteristically perky. If not, beware, the apocalypse is imminent.
We girls sat down at our table after giving the guys our 'orders'. While we waited, we talked about the day we had planned. The girls who had been in the school before told us about this truly awesome boutique called Megumi that had everything one could possibly want. We all agreed to go there, and I told them for the third time that, yes, our salon appointment was at four, and no I couldn't move it back because the salon had appointments them and we would have them booked solid all by ourselves.
The guys came back with out food just then, and we gave up on talking about shopping. Sango got into a heated debate with Inuyasha on the best approach to Kendo. Sango was advocating strategy, while Inuyasha maintained that brute force would win a match every time. Kagura had enlisted Sesshoumaru's help with a problem on her Trig homework that she couldn't get. Yusuke and Kuwabara were insulting each other's fighting, and Boton and Kurama were arguing over the best judo hold, with Miroku putting in his opinion on the matter every once in a while. Apparently everybody had either judo or kendo today, except for Kikyo and I, who were in Miko Studies. When I asked her about it she explained that usually only Judo and Kendo courses were held on Saturdays, but that this was the only time available when Miko Studies could be taught.
Of course this led to me asking about the class. She told me that it was more of a hands on thing; she couldn't really explain it outside of class, but there were only two other students beside me in the class.
Then we started talking about out other classes, and quickly immersed ourselves in the finer points of archery. Kikyo preferred a different grip than I did. It was then that I really took a good look at Kikyo.
"Oh man! You're the chick that took first at the national high school archery competition last year. I was so envious of you. I only managed to take sixth.
Kikyo laughed, "Well I am older than you. It's quite an accomplishment to get sixth at your age."
"Yeah, Aunt Myo was so proud of you," Sango put in.
"Says the girl who took second in freestyle weapons, and third in the kendo portions of the competition," I teased.
"Yeah, that was some celebratory dinner. Lots of oden!"
"And pocky!" I paused, "Man now I miss my mom."
"Yeah me too, we'll call auntie tonight when we get home."
"Deal!"
Bell Rings
When Kikyo and I got to class, she explained that she'd given the other two students a special assignment, so it would be just the two of us today. Then she gave me a brief history of mikos, and jumped right into the lesson.
"The first thing we have to do is determine your color. You see, your color will tell us what abilities you will be strongest in. There is only one miko of any color at a time, which probably explains why there are so few of us.
Some colors are more common than others. For example, the yellow miko, or healer, is born almost every generation, while you might not see a white miko for a millennium. The last known white miko was the legendary Midoriko.
To find your color you must meditate until you've reached your state of inner peace, and look inside yourself. You should see a core of power. Whatever color miko you are manifests in your spiritual energy."
Because it was my first time meditating, Kikyo talked me through it. After the first few minutes time flew by, and when I finally opened my eyes I would have sworn it's only been about twenty minutes rather than the full hour and a half that had passed. Kikyo was very surprised when I told her my color was midnight blue.
"Well this is unusual."
"What do you mean? Did I do something wrong?"
"No, no. It's just, most people don't find their color on the first try, and dark colors are rare. It's usually pastel colors, you know, pale pink, pale purple...pale blue. In fact, there hasn't been a blue miko in 400 hundred years, but I don't think there's ever been a miko of dark blue. I have to discuss this with Mistress Kaede. Blue mikos are always troublesome to train. They don't have a specified set of powers. They're wild cards. Because of this I have to start training you in everything and see what you have an aptitude for. You should think about taking extra lessons with me."
Bell Rings
"All right, for homework, you are supposed to meditate every night and focus on compressing your power. Every miko sees her power differently, but however you see it, you need to make sure that there are no tendrils or loose bits floating around. Trust me I'll know if you haven't been doing your homework. Remind me to give you a list of miko colors and powers, and then you can tell me which powers feel right to you. Oh, and I meant it about those lessons with me. Think about it and let me know okay? But for now...let's blow this pop stand and shop till we drop!" she said, linking arm with mine as we walked to meet with the others.
20 minutes later
Toe tapping I asked, "WHERE is Inuyasha?? He had better not be skipping out on us! As it is there is going to be a penalty for all of you boys because of this delay."
Kikyo sidled up to me and whispered questioningly, "There is?"
"Oh yes," I replied not bothering to whisper, "Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, gets between me and shopping, for any reason beside death, unless of course, torture, maiming, or disease is involved. Now you guys better hurry and find Inuyasha, because for each minute you're gone, I'm adding an hour of time to your punishment."
"And what exactly would that punishment be? I don't think anything you do to us could be worse than slavery." Sesshoumaru said drolly.
"Why, I'm going to make you watch romance movies with us. And if you don't get a move on, then you'll continue to watch them for a looong, because the clock is ticking...."
The guys' eyes widened; then Sesshoumaru quickly took control.
"Miroku you check his rooms, Yusuke you check the square. Kurama, you've got the class rooms. I'll take the dojo and the commons. Kuwabara you look through the halls in this building. Then we meet back here as soon as possible and hope that either someone found him or he got here on his own."
Then they ran out, and I mean ran. I'll admit that I'm not a big fan of chick flicks, but geez, they're not that bad.
Five minutes later the guys skidded into the room breathless and noticeably lacking Inuyasha.
"Is he back yet?" they panted.
"Ermm, no."
"Ima kill him!" Yusuke growled.
Just then, with his usual perfect timing, Inuyasha strolled casually into the room slurping Ramen, "Hey guys. Sorry I'm late."
Then he noticed the scene before him. On one side of the room, stood a group of girls, arms crossed, feet tapping impatiently, several thinking of ways to torture Inuyasha, and in general, looking very annoyed.
On the other side of the room a group of guys glared at him, hands fisted at their sides, some even growling, while the group as a whole gave off an aura of extreme malevolence.
Inuyasha looked panicked and swallowed his mouthful of Ramen hard. Of course this brought attention to the fact that he had Ramen in the first place.
Kurama, though normally a calm, dignified person, looked ready to throttle Sesshoumaru when he said, "It was your job to check the commons. Why, exactly, is it that Inuyasha returns with ramen, yet you returned empty handed?"
"It is inexplicable. Knowing Inuyasha's predilection for Ramen the commons was the first place I looked. He was nowhere to be found."
"Naw, I just got out of a meeting with Kaede. Baba apparently took offense when I called her 'old hag'. I have detention all next week. Then I stopped and got some Ramen for the trip and came here straight away."
"See, he wasn't skipping out, he couldn't help not being here," Yusuke interjected, "You can't possibly hold us to that punishment."
"What reasons did I give that would result in non-punishment?"
"Death, torture, disease, or maiming," Yusuke replied resignedly.
"Unfortunately for you guys I don't see Kaede indulging herself in any of those venerable pursuits. So the punishment stands."
"But...listening to her was torture." Inuyasha whined.
I considered it for a minute, mostly to give the boys false hope because I was still feeling a little vengeful about the delay. Then I said, "Nope, not acceptable. On the bright side though, you only have to watch..." I looked at my watch, "Oooo, eight hours of chick flicks. Soo much fun to go around."
The guys all turned and glared at Inuyasha.
"What! I couldn't help it!"
"AHEM! So who's driving?" Yukina asked.
"Ooo Ooo," I said waving my hand in the air like a second grader; bouncing around in my seat.
"No!" Sango said vehemently
"But..."
"NO! Remember what I said? NEVER AGAIN!"
I pouted, but Sango ignored me and said, "I can drive, but we're probably going to need three cars."
"I can drive too," Yukina said, "But my car's only a two seater."
I was still pouting. Sesshoumaru saw this and sighed, "I'm probably going to regret this, but Kagome can drive my car," then he turned to me, "One scratch and I won't be held accountable for my actions," he said as he dangled car keys from his index finger.
I snatched them, "Deal!" I exclaimed happily.
Sango's eyes widened, "Girls, by all that's sacred, run for my car!"
Boton had the presence of mind to drag Kurama behind her as she ran. At the other girls' inquiring looks when they reached the car Boton explained, "I didn't want to have to break in a new boyfriend, and from what Sango's told me about Kagome's driving..." she trailed off leaving the girls to draw their own conclusions.
Everyone shrugged. Then Sango said, "C'mon I want to be well ahead of Kagome when she gets behind the wheel. I only hope Yukina waits until after Kags leaves the lot."
General POV
The ride to the mall was relatively uneventful, and everybody started to go inside to wait for the others, but Sango held up a hand and said, "Stay. This should be interesting. Well worth a few minutes wait."
"But Kagome has to be almost ten minutes behind us."
"I know. I give her two minutes. Tops."
Just then a car rounded the turn into the parking lot on two wheels and screeched to a halt in a parking spot with mere millimeters between its bumper and that of the car in the opposite spot. Kagome exited right away, skipping away from the car towards the girls.
"I think I've gotten better Sango! Don't you think?"
"Yeah, you've added another millimeter between you and the parked car. But you're still not driving."
Sesshoumaru was the second one to emerge from the contraption of death most commonly known as a car. He circled the car and murmured, "Amazing. Not a scratch to be found! No missing hubcaps, no dents, no flat tires...absolutely amazing."
Inuyasha exited next, "Woohoo! Kags, you're my kind of driver. That was great! We're definitely doing it again."
Yusuke emerged holding his stomach; then he dropped a suspicious smelling bag into the garbage. "Did I mention that I get car sick?" he groaned, staggering away.
At that point everybody's eyes were locked on the car, waiting for Miroku to exit...and we got nothin'.
We all edged closer to the car, each of us hoping we wouldn't see the contents of Miroku's stomach on display. Fortunately we weren't disappointed, but the sight we were greeted with was almost as disturbing. Miroku, still securely buckled into the car, had one hand clutching the door handle in a death grip, and the other hand covering his eyes. His whimpers were broken only by the occasional panicked cry of, "We're going to die! We're all going to die!"
Someone cleared their throat loudly, and Miroku peeked between his fingers to see all of us staring at him. He immediately assumed a nonchalant pose, but unfortunately...
"Guys! A little help here! I seem to be stuck to the door..."
We finally detached Miroku from the door just as Yukina showed up.
"Perfect timing!" Kagome squealed, "We were just getting ready to go in and eat." Then she did a little dance, "...Pizza, pizza, pizza!"
"We just had pizza the other night, don't you want something else?"
Kagome looked scandalized, "You blaspheme!" she hissed.
Everybody just looked at her.
"Well I'm getting Ramen," Inuyasha insisted stubbornly.
"And you guys think I'm bad," Kagome said indignantly.
Sango sighed, "We'll just have to push some tables together. Everybody get what you want and meet there.
After we got out food we chatted amicably for quite a while, then one of the guys asked what was on the itinerary. All the girls looked at each other.
"We hadn't really discussed it. The salon is reserved for four o'clock, which gives us...two and a half hours."
"That's not a lot of time, we'll have to coordinate this well. What do we need to do?"
"Oh, well, I need to stop at the anime store."
"And I need to pick up some CDs."
"I could use a new video game..."
The guys were starting to perk up. This was the stuff they normally did! If all they had to do was hold a few extra bags, than this was going to be a piece of cake. Of course, then their hopes were dashed.
"I need to pick up a dress for tomorrow night," Sango said
"And I need some new shoes," Kagura put in, like she didn't already own a million pairs.
"I could use some earrings or a bracelet or something."
"Ooo, and a new purse."
"Because Sango shows no signs of relenting in her pursuit of my physical fitness, I'm going to need the appropriate clothes," Kagome grumbled.
"Okay," Kikyo said, taking charge, "Anyone who needs to go to another store just meets the rest of us at Megumi when they're done."
Kagome's POV
We had to put out collective foot down when all the guys tried to follow Sango, Boton, and I rather than go to Megumi with the other girls. After a small huddle, we announced to the boys that all guys were required to go to Megumi with the rest of the girls.
The boys just stared at our retreating backs for a few seconds before realizing that they really didn't have a choice in the matter and trailing reluctantly after the girls headed for Megumi.
General POV
Hiei stalked through the mall. Somebody was going to pay. Yukina was acting decidedly unYukina like. It had been bad enough when she got that baka for a boyfriend, but now she was asking favors and making demands. It had to stop! Especially since he couldn't refuse her anything.
"I bet it was that little ningen girl," he thought, "The one with the mouth. She's got to be a bad influence on Yukina."
In fact may be it was time to have a little chat with Yukina about choosing her friends wisely. She'd be at Megumi. She was always at Megumi when she was at the mall.
30 minutes later-At Megumi
As soon as we entered the store we were pulled aside by the other girls. They were proposing we put on a little fashion show for the guys. Kikyo, Kagura, and Yukina were going to go first so the rest of us would have time to pick out our dresses.
We took off immediately because, after all, we didn't have much time. The other girls got the guys seated in front of the entrance to the dressing room and proceeded to start the show.
Kikyo glided out in a classy floor length white strapless sheath. The color really complemented her skin tone and brought out her eyes. Of course, Inuyasha's eyes were almost brought right out of his head when he noticed the that the dress was slit all the way up to the hip on one side, so that when Kikyo moved you caught a glimpse of long shapely leg clad in high heels that laced up the calve.
Kagura slinked out in the classic little black dress, and boy, the neckline on that thing rendered even the dignified Sesshoumaru incapable of any form of articulation beyond a squeak.
Yukina flounced out in a spaghetti strap dress that swirled mid-thigh. It started out foam green at the neckline and gradually darkened until it hit hunter green at the hem. It was a quintessentially sweet but sexy dress that personified Yukina, and boy did those guys appreciate the intricacies of shopping. Well, that's one possible explanation anyway. I can think of another that's more likely, if you know what I mean.
Sango had chosen a sassy red halter dress that ended about mid-thigh. Its simple lines really suited her slender figure, but what really made the outfit go that extra mile were the strappy, red high heeled sandals that made her legs look miles long. You could tell that all the guys approved of the outfit, but Miroku was drooling over it. I kicked him in the shin to remind him to behave.
Boton walked out in a hot pink, asymmetrical dress. Its ruffly hem started high on her left thigh and ended at her right knee. It was cute and fun, and definitely something I could see Boton picking out.
Personally, I had decided to go for shock factor. My dress managed to cover everything and still be really revealing. It consisted of three pieces: a tube top and an itty bitty skirt that barely covered my butt, in a dark blue stretchy material that molded to my body like a second skin. Overtop of which I wore a floor length see-through mesh coverup that was slit up to the knee on both sides, had a high neck, and long sleeves and lots of sparkly sakura flowers embroidered on it.
When I walked out several jaws dropped and Kagura, with her J-loesque neckline, came up and congratulated me on 'showing those guys just what I was made of.' Then Sango sidled up to me and told me I had excellent timing. When I looked mystified she simply pointed Yukina's way.
Now that I was focused on Yukina I could hear her say to a guy with his back turned to me, "Well how as I supposed to know that you needed the car today?"
Not that the fact that I couldn't see his face mattered. I'd know that hair anywhere. Yukina was talking to Hiei, but why? Don't tell me I have competition! And from Yukina! She knows I like him! And she has a boyfriend!
Wait. I don't like Hiei! Do I? I took a quick mental inventory of the situation, drooling in said male's presence, check; extreme possessiveness and jealousy, check; an insatiable desire to know more about him, check. Okay. It's official. I put up a valiant fight, but I am indeed crushing on Hiei. Now, what to do about the current situation...
'Oh well, subtlety never was my style anyway,' I thought as I stalked over to them, with my hands on my hips, and demanded, "Just what is going on here?! Are you harassing my friends now too?"
Hiei's POV
I'd walked in intending to talk some sense
into Yukina, but somehow the discussion got all twisted around, and
Yukina made it seem like my fault that she'd taken my car without
asking. Then of course the mouth had to barg into the conversation.
I started to turn around to tell her it was none of her business...
Kagome's POV
Yukina just looked at me for a second before she said, "Kagome, Hiei's my brother."
I blinked, then gaped, and looked back and forth between them before I managed to sputter, "But you don't look anything alike!"
"We're only half siblings."
"Ohh..."
Hiei's POV
My train of thought suddenly broke off as I was confronted by an angry mouth in clad in two tiny scraps of cloth. All brain function ceased for several moments. I was vaguely aware of the conversation between Yukina and the ningen in the background, but I was still shell shocked. When I realized that the conversation had gotten too personal for my liking, I realized I had to say something, and I fell back on habit. I was rude. I said something like 'butt out,' it was probably just as well if I alienated her. I was becoming entirely too absorbed with her, and nobody, even an annoying ningen who was entirely too mouthy, deserved to be saddled with the likes of me.
"Kagome's POV
"Onna, what are you doing interfering in my family business."
"Well excuse me for being curious!"
"I will not."
Yukina turned to her brother, glared, and said, "Oh yes you will! That's my friend and you will treat her courteously at all times. If I hear otherwise from anybody, you will regret it."
The only physical response that betrayed Hiei's surprise was his slow blink. Then he reluctantly turned to me and said grudgingly, "No pardon is necessary because no offense was given."
I looked at him in surprise. "All right..." I said warily, and then I turned to leave, but Yukina grabbed my arm and pulled me back, "Erm Kagome, because Yusuke invited Keiko up for the dinner, we had an odd number of people and I invited Hiei to even things out. I just thought you should know, beings how he'd be your escort," she said quickly before scurrying off.
I just stared after her in shock for a minute then I exclaimed, "What!" thus drawing the attention of the entire store towards me. Hiei wasn't looking very pleased about the situation, but he didn't say anything, probably because of Yukina's threat.
To be honest, I wasn't sure whether I should thank Yukina, or exact my revenge. Hence I decided to hold off on any action until I had determined exactly what Yukina's motivations were, and whether or not this would be beneficial to my wooing of Hiei
I did, however, manage to lock a questioning gaze on Yukina when I got back to the dressing room. She mouthed 'Later." in reply. I shrugged and mouthed back, "Your room?" She nodded.
While this silent communication had been going on, the other girls had hatched a few plots of their own. Apparently they had decided that we were being too easy on the guys and they needed to kick it up a notch. Yukina and I looked at each other mystified, and decided that we should just watch the others go to it.
Kikyo and Kagura teamed up on Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru. They had both picked out and put on outfits that they knew were, shall we say, unflattering, and then proceeded to exclaim things like, "Oh my god, this dress makes me look fat," and "My butt looks HUGE!" Then they turned to the guys and asked in unison, "Doesn't it?"
Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru looked at each other with twin expressions of male terror; then they gulped, and turned back to the girls. Inuyasha with his usual eloquence said, "Feh."
This gave Kikyo all the ammunition she needed. "You DO think I look fat!" she wailed. Then she whirled around, her face buried in her hands and her shoulders shaking.
Sesshoumau took more time with his answer, trying to avoid catastrophe, "Kagura, you look beautiful no matter what you wear."
Inside Kagura was melting; however outside she remained stone-faced, and said, "That's not what I asked Sesshoumaru. Does this skirt make my butt look big or not?"
Sess must believe that honesty is the best policy, because he said that Kagura 'might perhaps find another outfit that suited her figure better.' Kagura must have decided that she like his answer because she was leading him through the clothes racks by the hand, smiling. Inuyasha was faring less well with Kikyo. He was still trying to 'calm her down.' I suspect she was actually laughing her ass off.
I looked over to see what Sango was doing and my eyes widened. Apparently she had decided to torture Miroku using his particular weakness. He was positioned in the chair in front of a mirror, and Sango was between the two, using the mirror. Currently she was bent over with her arms pressing her breasts together. Miroku was sweating, his eyes darting back and forth between the image in the mirror and the posterior that was mere feet away from his face. Then, abruptly, she stood up, turned to the side, stuck her chest out, and studied the image in the mirror for a minute. Then she turned to Miroku, repeated her previous actions, and asked, "Does this top make me look too busty?"
"No," he squeaked; then he cleared his throat and said normally, "Not at all. Actually it's quite flattering."
Sango looked surprised at Miroku's restraint, and tried tempting him with his favorite body part. "What about my butt?" she asked, practically waving it in his face, "Do these pants do good things for it?"
Miroku almost reached out, but then he shook his head and said, "Certainly. It looks very nice."
Sango looked dumbfounded, but I was so proud. My little lecher has gone and turned into a decent person. Awww. Now I'm all misty eyed, for a few seconds anyway. No time for tears, baby, cuz it's time to play dress up. And such nice life sized dolls we have. This is going to be fun.
First we buried the guys in piles of clothes, not a few of which were a little...off. Picture Sess in plaid pants; Yusuke in a pink shirt with ruffles; Kurama in the leather vest backfired, he somehow managed to pull it off, and be H-O-T-T hot. Grrowl. I saw Boton grab that vest and scurry off to the check out line. Anyway, you get the picture. Eventually we outfitted the guys to our satisfaction.
I had managed to preppify, Yusuke's normal punk look. He was wearing a fine knit white sweater that clung to his shoulders and chest, and then flowed down to a pair of black jeans that fit nicely around his hips. This was topped off with a black leather jacket slung over his shoulder. Verrrry Nice. Keiko's going to have a heart attack.
Kuwabara actually didn't look half bad in the navy pants and pale blue shirt that Yukina had put him in. Now if only we could convince him to do something about his hair when we get to the salon...
Inuyasha was wearing black pants with a red button up shirt rolled slightly at the sleeves. He was actually managing to look like something other than a rude jerk, but hey I might be just a tad biased about the jerk thing.
Sango must have been going for darkly sensual or something, because Miroku was wearing a long sleeved silk shirt that was so dark of a purple it appeared to be black, except when the light hit it right, paired with a pair of black leather pants. This combined with his little ponytail, and the hoops in his ear made Miroku look bad, in an entirely good way. It suited him well.
Sesshoumaru and Kurama were standing side by side looking very elegant, and very, very untouchable. Sesshoumaru was tasty in white slacks topped by a long sleeved golden yellow silk shirt. Kurama was wearing a pale pink shirt with charcoal pants. Gotta love a man secure enough with himself to wear pink.
You put all those good looking guys together and it could be hazardous. 'Warning, do not place near females. Possible side effects include swooning, stalking, and cat fights.'
After everybody paid for their purchases and, to further prove my point, there was a little tussle among the sales girls over who would ring up the guys, we only had forty five minutes before we had to be at the salon.
As we were trying to decide what to do with the time, Miroku had the audacity to suggest that the girls go lingerie shopping. The girls looked at each other exasperatedly, but several of the guys showed enthusiasm for the idea. Sango offered, "We girls will try on lingerie," at this point the whole group was in uproar, the guys were all showing various forms of excitement, except for Yusuke who was muttering something about Keiko killing him, and the girls were protesting vigorously. Sango held up a hand and loudly enough to get everyone's attention said, "HOWEVER." As soon as the clamor died down she continued, "However, how many of you are willing to do the same? That would be the requirement."
The other guys' eyes widened and they vigorously shook their heads no, but Miroku appeared to actually be considering it! I went to smack him, but Sango stopped me.
"No. It'll be worth it as long as he follows through with his part of the bargain."
I looked at her like she was crazy, but said, "All right, if you're sure..." and when I walked past Miroku I muttered, "Don't screw this up."
General POV
Hiei was walking through the mall on his way to the food court, when suddenly he stopped, retraced his steps and looked into a lingerie store. Yes, that was indeed a man in women's lingerie reflecting back at him through the big mirror at the back of the store. In fact, he was thinking that the guys looked awful familiar, when he saw Sango come up and smack the guy on the ass with a plastic hanger. The guys turned to see Sango dangling a hot pick corset in front of him, but Hiei was too busy being shocked to notice. That was Miroku! He rapidly decided that Yukina would no longer associate with these people, and he would tell her so as soon as possible.
Kagome's POV
After Miroku and Sango left there was a rather heated discussion among us remaining girls. We were torn between two objectives: torture the boys some more, or let them go do their own ting so we could have some girl time. Girl time won out so while we strolled through the jewelry section of Megumi, the boys scurried off to sporting good stores, the anime shop, the arcade, and, in Inuyasha's case, the food court, all in a desperate attempt to 'reclaim their masculinity.'
We girls made some interesting finds. Kagura got a new pair of earring, I swear the girl is shopping happy, and I found a really awesome bracelet. It was made of intricately carved onyx beads interspersed with small irregular chunks of blue topaz, but alas the time approached when we'd agreed to meet up with the other's at the food court.
The guys were already there when we arrived. Personally I was glad. I really didn't want to have to chase anybody down. Now where were Sango and Miroku? I started looking around for them when suddenly my concentration was broken by Inuyasha's random laughter. I looked over towards him in annoyance only to discover Sango and Miroku approaching from that direction. Sango was carrying a Victoria's Secret bag, and Miroku was walking in an...interesting...fashion, and grumbling about something I couldn't quite make out, though it was getting clearer as they got closer.
"...thong. Don't know how women do it."
"Actually, once you get used to them, thongs aren't that bad. They're really pretty comfortable." I said offhandedly.
The guys all looked at me like I was insane.
"What! You guys would have to experience it to understand."
And still I got the looks along with several unenthusiastic, "No thanks," in reply. I sighed and said, "C'mon, let's go, our appointments in five minutes."
Cut to the Salon
Sesshoumaru, Kurama, and even Kuwabara were okay with the whole salon thing. Not necessarily happy about it, but okay with it. So they just walked casually in and took their seats. Miroku walked in casually as well, but then he just as casually ducked in to the waiting room and hid his face behind a magazine. Kikyo had to drag Inuyasha in by his ear, and Yusuke we couldn't get further than the door beings how he was currently clinging to it with a death grip.
Of course chaos broke loose when Kikyo released Inuyasha's ear and he tried to escape. The cosmetologists, and I call them that instead of beauticians because I now have a profound respect for them, quickly took care of the situation. One was sneaking up on Yusuke with toe separators and nail clippers in hand. Two were after Miroku, one with a whrrring nail buffer in hand; the other with a nail file. Miroku peeked out from behind Cosmo and sighed, then put down the magazine, held his hands up in the air, and said, "All right, I surrender. Do with me what you will."
The cosmetologists lead Miroku back to the main room, just in time for him to witness the 'main event'. A whole hoard of the salon workers, including the receptionists and a janitor, had Inuyasha backed into a corner and were strapping him down to a chair while another approached with a bowl of pink goop.
"No! No! Anything but that!" he wailed whilst struggling against the bonds that held him prisoner. When the first bit of goop touched him, he dug his fingernails into the arms of the chair, leaving claw marks in the wood.
Sesshoumaru and Kurama had facial masks on, and were leaning back totally relaxed as they got pedicures. Kuwabara was just now starting to get his hair cut, as it had taken more than five minutes for the lady working on him just to wash all the goop out of his hair. Miroku was getting a manicure. Yusuke was still clinging to the door, but the girl who went after him had finally gotten his shoe off and was trying to get the toe separators on his flailing feet.
General POV
After the first harrowing experience of the day, Hiei quickly went to the food court, ate even faster, and left at practically a run in hopes of avoiding any more sights that no man should be subjected too, but it was a fruitless endeavor, because as he passed the salon on the way out mere feet from freedom, he caught a glimpse of something inside; he reluctantly, almost involuntarily slowed his pace, turned around walked back to the display window, and peered inside. It wasn't! But it was. Kurama! And Sesshoumaru! Inuyasha, Yusuke, Kuwabara, Miroku, though he wasn't surprised about that after what he'd seen, all sporting facial and toe separators, and several of them looking like they enjoyed it.
"I need to find new associates," he thought automatically shying away from the word friend.
Kagome's POV
After the first few minutes, Inuyasha started to relax, and by the time the lady working on him had finished putting the deep conditioning treatment in Inuyasha's hair, he was practically a puddle in his chair. Of course, just then he caught sight of the next girl coming at him with a green facial mask.
"No! No! Anything but that!"
We all rolled our eyes, but beyond that there wasn't much movement or talking. We girls had promised each other that no matter what the guys pulled we would relax and have a good time. Alas, our salon time was over far too soon. As we left I noticed that everyone looked a little better than they had before they came in. The girls were all more relaxed, and the guys had gotten much needed trims and manicures; the deep-conditioning treatment had done wonders for Inuyasha's hair, but the real miracle was Kuwabara.
Without all the goop making his hair darken to that carroty orange it was actually a pleasant color, much lighter, a little more golden, sort of like marmalade, and it wasn't in the Elvis do, or should I say don't, anymore. In fact it was short enough that he couldn't put it that way anymore even if he wanted to. The moisturizing treatment and facial had somehow managed to soften the harsh lines of his face, and if you put him in the clothes Yukina picked out for him he wouldn't be too bad looking. Of course, we're always surrounded by preternaturally gorgeous guys, so he'll never be considered anything more than average, but at least nobody will wonder who tried to beat him to death with the ugly stick.
"All right guys, let's head home..." Sango said.
"Ah, ah, ah," I interrupted waving my finger in her face, "Now what are you forgetting?"
"Umm..."
"We have a few stops to make before we go home. We have to pick up their 'special outfits' for tomorrow, and then we have to stop at the video store. I think I hear Breakfast at Tiffany's calling my name."
"Oooo, and Steel Magnolias."
"...Sixteen Candles!"
"A Walk to Remember!!!" Yuking squealed.
Everybody winced, but nobody said anything, after all, nobody said the girls had to sit through every movie, just the guys.
"Pretty Woman," Boton sighed.
"Classic."
"Very."
"We have to get popcorn!"
"And chocolate."
"Ice cream!"
"Tissues."
All the girls commiserated on that one.
"Let's go!" Yukina said excitedly.
Sango's POV
So we got the guys' costumes, though we barely made it before closing, because Kagome got stopped by the cops. Again. Then we picked up the movies, and loaded up on food and tissues. When we got back to the school we unloaded the car, and then a couple of us went back to pry Miroku off of the car door, while the others set everything up.
Once the movies started, we were all going pretty strong. The girls were laughing and eating chocolate and popcorn through Pretty Woman and Sixteen Candles, while the guys, well they weren't completely miserable yet, after all we did provide them food, and Pretty Woman did involve hookers, but for the guys it was all downhill from there.
We broke out the ice cream and tissues for Breakfast at Tiffany's and Steel Magnolias. At a particularly sad part you might find Kuwabara sobbing loudly into tissues with Yukina holding his hand. Little sniffles and surreptitious wipes with tissue were the only indication that some of the others were crying, and the guys exhibited frequent eye rolls and the occasional bobbing head as they struggled to stay awake.
It was almost midnight when Yukina broke out A Walk to Remember. Kagome stretched out on the floor and went to sleep. Kikyo and Kagura were hyped up on sugar, trying to do their trig homework in my and Kags room, and Boton dragged Kurama off to the perverts room to 'look at the stars.' I think being around Miroku has corrupted them.
I, on the other hand, well I was stuck sitting through the damn movie because I didn't want Yuki and Kuwabara making out on our couch, and somebody needed to make sure that the guys didn't fall asleep. Personally, I thought it should be Kagome's responsibility, but apparently I'm the only one holding that opinion.
I started to nod off, but I jerked back awake when Inuyasha hit the floor with a loud thud. He jumped back up and yelled at Kuwabara, "What was that for!?"
"Yukina went to all the trouble of picking out a movie, and you will stay awake and watch it."
My eyes widened. No more falling asleep for me. Of course, Inuyasha couldn't just leave it alone...
"Well maybe, if your girlfriend, hadn't picked out such a dum..."
I smile up at Kuwabara, while tightening my grip on Inuyasha's mouth, "Ignore him, he said nothing."
And I'd really like the furniture to stay intact, I thought to myself.
Inuyasha said something garbled.
"Are you going to behave yourself?" I asked.
He nodded so I took my hand away from his mouth.
"Bitch," he muttered.
I shot him a glare, but resisted the urge to smack him, because that would have started he fight I'd worked so hard to avoid. Brawn wins over brains my ass.
I must have fallen asleep at some point during the movie, because the next thing I knew, I woke up on the floor, disoriented and staring straight into Miroku's sleeping face.
"ARGH!" I yelled in surprise.
Kagome jerked awake, "Damn Sango, I'm trying to sleep here!"
"Pervert!" I screeched, scooting away from Miroku.
"Sango! Geez. He's like three feet away from you, you're both fully clothed, and no body parts are touching. You're totally overreacting. Now I'm going back to sleep, shut up before you wake the others."
Like two seconds later I heard faint snores from Kagome. God that girl goes out like a light. I shivered faintly. It was a little chilly. I carefully looked left and then right. Satisfied that nobody was going to see, I scooted over to Miroku and then snuggled close. By the time I'd drifted off to sleep I'd almost convince myself that the cold was the only reason for snuggling with Miroku. Almost.
General POV
After Sango goes to sleep, Miroku opens an eye, smiles, and then wraps an arm around her, drawing her close, and goes back to sleep.
Next Chapter: Rude wake up call, guys in short skirts armed with toilet brushes, dinner and a surprise, aka the emergence of my heretofore nonexistent plot.
A/N- Megumi is a figment of my imagination, and there is no relationship between my Megumi and any real store. I knew of no Japanese chick flick, and I'm too lazy to research, so we're going with movies from the good ole U.S. of A. Also not mine.