Feudal Christmastime
By Ekonika
Chapter 5: School Friends at the Mall
Disclaimer: Did you know 'monkey' is the #1 random word that people I knew came up with when there was a lull in conversation? Usually, I'd break that 'monkey' up with talking about InuYasha. Then they'd say 'But you don't own InuYasha.' And I'd say 'So?' and they'd be all "You still don't. Why are you typing what I'm saying?'
Kagome sighed.
"I can't believe I'm saying this…but we should probably shop separately." She quickly explained money to InuYasha. She gave him 9,000 yen. (a/n- roughly $75)
"Okay, remember, Christmas presents!" Kagome said. "And leave your hat on."
"Alright already, but where's the ramen store?"
"Kagome!" InuYasha was the first to hear it, and perked his ears in the direction the call came from. Three girls in uniforms identical to Kagome's were coming up to them. They were about a hundred feet away, and Kagome was thankful that there was a large crowd.
"InuYasha, it's that way." Kagome pointed quickly, shoving him in that direction. He looked at her as if to say 'but I want to see who's calling you' and the thought he hid was who's calling my Kagome? Kagome groaned, exasperated.
"InuYasha! Go shop!" She hissed. "And remember, Christmas presents and your hat!" InuYasha started walking away, defeated.
"Got it!" He shouted as he left, waving once to acknowledge Kagome's wishes.
Just then, Kagome's friends came up to her.
"Hey, Kagome! Who was that?"
"Who?"
"Come on… was it … mister possessive?"
"Huh?"
"Your boyfriend!" Kagome blushed.
"So it was him? Which one is he?" Kagome's friends began standing on their toes and sifting the crowds with their eyes in the direction they saw him leave.
"He's gone…" Kagome said.
"Aww, I wanted to meet him."
"No… you didn't." Kagome mumbled.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"So are you going shopping with him?"
"Hmm? Who?"
"Stop playing dumb, you're not fooling anyone. Your boyfriend!"
"He's not technically my boyfriend…"
"Riiight…How come?"
"He hasn't asked me out or anything."
"So are you shopping with him?"
"Sure."
"Did you split up to buy each other presents secretly?"
"I don't know… I did, I'm not sure about him." Can they read minds?
"Have you hugged?"
"I guess so."
"Yes or No?"
"Maybe."
"Kagome!"
"Yes."
They broke off, giggling too much to talk, and Kagome was red.
"Have you… kissed?"
"Uh… no!" Kagome lied. It was just once… to break a spell. It's not like there was anything like love in it…She told herself, and knew it wasn't true.
"Oh… who said 'I love you' first?"
"Would you just drop it?"
"After you answer!"
"No one's said anything!"
"Oh yeah, how's your back?"
"My back?" Although glad for the change in subject, Kagome had no clue what they were talking about.
"Yeah, not being able to move because it hurt so much must have been awful, we were worried."
"Oh… yeah, it's better." Kagome made a mental note to ask her grandfather what other 'illnesses' she suffered from currently.
"So what are you doing at the mall today?"
"Christmas shopping. You want to help? It's for one of my friends out of school. She's our age, and I think we should go look in there." Kagome suggested, pointing to the scent shop.
The girls all giggled with glee; they loved going in there as much as anyone because it smelled so good. The four friends walked through the store, and, after about fifteen minutes, they went up to the counter with 'Morning Mist'- scented perfume and 'Minty Christmas' bath salt- Kagome hardly believed InuYasha would be able to get Sango anything she'd like, through no fault of his, though. After Kagome bought them, she thought about whom to shop for next. She decided on Kirara, and headed to the pet store with her friends. They were tormenting her about InuYasha, whose name they had figured out. Kagome had been half-distracted, because she was thinking of all the things she'd forgotten to tell him, like elevators, escalators, cashiers, and about twenty other things, it seemed.
"What's wrong, Kagome?" Someone finally asked.
"Oh, nothing!" She gave a small laugh, and shrugged it off. InuYasha can think for himself… I hope.
At the pet store, Kagome looked at a ball of yarn as a cat toy. Her friends, having finally given up on interrogation, now laughed at their mind's pictures of Buuyo playing with it. Of course, it won't be Buuyo. Kagome looked around the pet store for something InuYasha might want, and spent so much time trying to find something that her friends said they had to go and finish their own shopping or they would never have enough time. Kagome said good bye and Merry Christmas, which was returned three-fold, by each of her friends. They departed, leaving Kagome to search.
Suddenly, an idea struck her. She briskly headed towards the fabric store, with new-found excitement. I'll get him a holiday Kimono! It will be a deep green, and made of silk… or a silk substitute; that would be lighter. I can get Miroku one, too! It will be dark blue, made of synthetic material- it is more durable.
As she walked through the isles, trying to find the materials, a blue cloth roll already in her arms, she found a red silk next to a dark green one. She debated for a while. If I got him the red one, he wouldn't be embarrassed to wear it because you wouldn't be able to tell the difference unless you touched it…But if I get him the green one, he can blend into the forest and shadows… She decided on the deep green, and took both rolls up to the cutting counter.
"I need two large kimonos made from these materials. Can I see the choices for hems?" Kagome said, laying them on the counter. The seamstress looked at the materials and to Kagome. She pulled out a ring of fabrics of different colors, and suggested a deep green or black for the green Kimono and a purple or blue-violet for the blue one. Kagome agreed, and the seamstress wrote down Kagome's order on a sheet of paper.
"Would you like the Kimonos in boxes?"
"Yes, separate ones, please. Do I have to come and pick them up later?"
"Yes, in one hour. You pay for them now, and when you come back we hand you two fully done kimono-filled boxes."
"Alright, I'll be back in an hour." Kagome said as she handed the money across the counter. She left the shop and headed for her last gift shop: the toy store. She browsed the toys, and quickly decided on a Jacob's ladder and a kite for Shippou. When she left, she counted her money. 9,500 yen… Wow, lots of great bargains this time of year. I wonder where InuYasha is. Kagome went to the food court, because it was about 2:15, and she hadn't had lunch.
This chapter is dedicated to my friends at school, because… well, they're interrogators! Just like Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi! (Kagome's three school friends) Pretty good stuff, huh? (I hope) Thanks for reading this, please, be looking forward to the next chapters!