Experiment #5: Science Fair Extraordinaire

Rules of the Lab:

1. Safety first. Always wear your safety glasses when working with chemicals.

2. Always read the methods of the experiment in advance. Not knowing what you are doing can lead to accidents.

3. Patience is a virtue. Chemical reactions must happen in their own time. Never try to force a reaction to occur.

Chemical Reaction of interest: Sodium Bicarbonate + Acetic Acid

NaHCO3 + CH3COOH  CO2 + H2O + Na+(aq) + CH3COO-(aq)

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Souta's science fair project had been a hot topic around my home for the past few weeks. He had spent a great deal of time researching, gathering materials, and preparing his experiment which had quickly become his pride and joy. He was certain that he would win first prize for his work. After all, his experiment was very advanced for his grade; and with a little help from me, as was his knowledge of the reaction he was using.

I had promised him shortly after returning from the feudal era the last time that I would help him with the test runs of his experiment so that when the big day came he would be ready to show his classmates something special. I read over the research he had done, and decided that I could help him 'go out with a bang' so to speak. All that was left to do was test my own addition to his experiment and make sure we had the amounts correct, and he would be ready.

The only problem was, instead of my little brother and I doing the experiment; now we had an observer to the proceedings (one, which from my perspective, was completely uninvited and unwanted). How he had gotten to my time was still beyond me. Even more, what he was doing here had me even more baffled. He wasn't being demanding or intimidating, he wasn't being anything that I was used to; he was simply there…watching.

I knew that there was likely nothing I could do to make him leave and that if I even suggested it he might take offense and things could get a lot uglier for me and my family. I couldn't risk putting any of them in danger, so for the time being, I contented myself on playing along with whatever game Sesshomaru was engaging me in.

When I made downstairs to the kitchen after colleting my pile of brains which had turned into nothing but mushy soup since the unannounced and completely unexpected arrival of Sesshomaru, I was greeted with an amazing sight. Souta was showing off his monstrosity of a paper-mache volcano that he liked to call 'Mt. Souta' to Sesshomaru.

Though it was quite obvious to me that Sesshomaru was more interested in the appliances scattered throughout our kitchen, he did not elude to that fact to the ecstatic child who was busy explaining how he had crafted the mountain using paste and strips of paper and then painted it himself. I couldn't help taking a moment to take in the scene. I knew of the girl Rin that always traveled with Sesshomaru, but I had never imagined that he could be so good with children. It was an unexpected, but truly amazing revelation. I knew then, more than ever, that there was much more to the taiyoukai than he had ever let on.

"Souta," I called out from the doorway, "Perhaps since you have an audience you should practice explaining your experiment."

"Ok," he chirped happily and then pushed his mountain aside and focused on the several glass bowls on the kitchen table. "I'm using vinegar, which is an acid; and baking soda, which is a base. When they mix together, they have a reaction and make lots of bubbles."

"What kind of bubbles?" I asked as I made my way over to the stove to check on the heating vinegar.

"Carbon dioxide?"

"That's right, go on." I decided that the acid had been heated enough and reached into the cupboard to get the last ingredient. A volcano wouldn't be a volcano unless it had red lava right? But when I got the box of food coloring, I discovered that the color of interest was missing. Guess that's just one more thing to add to mom's shopping list. I shrugged and picked out the bottle of green, pouring it generously into the pot of steaming vinegar.

"The carbon dioxide bubbles make the mixture expand until it overflows out of the paper-towel tube that goes inside the mountain. Then it will look like a volcano exploding!"

I couldn't help but giggling at his enthusiasm. I can barely remember the days that school had been so much fun. Or experiments for that matter, my last few experiences in the world of science were definitely on the list of things I wish I could forget.

"So," I questioned him further. I wanted to make sure that he would be able to answer any questions his instructor asked, and it was nice that my little brother probably knew more about what we were doing that the Taiyoukai listening to our every word. Not like I would rub it in his face or anything, I'm far too polite for something like that. "If the reaction will occur anyways, why are we adding heat?"

"Ohhh!" Souta couldn't contain his glee and started bouncing up and down enthusiastically. "We heat up the vinegar because it will make the volcano explode!"

"Souta," I warned. That was not at all the answer I wanted from him and he knew it.

"Ok fine!" he rebutted. "The heat gives more energy to the reaction. With more energy, the…chemical bonds…break easier, and that means the reaction will happen faster right?"

"Yup, that's right!" I was so proud of my little brother. He had actually remembered everything that I told him. He struggled a bit trying to recall the chemical bond part, but still I could not be more proud. "I think that this is ready."

"So we can start?" He was back again to bouncing up and down. Kids are just too cute.

"Yeah, you can start by scooping a quarter cup of baking soda into the small bowl."

"Only a quarter?" he whined. "But I thought that we were going to use it all!"

I giggled. "No we aren't going to use it all. We need to try this a couple times before we will get the amount right. A quarter cup," I winked at him, "no more this time." He grumbled a little about it not being enough, but did what I asked.

"I'm just going to go get some towels in case we make a mess," I told him as I headed for the door, "I'll be right back, then we can begin."

I rummaged through the linen closet and finally pulled out a few old beaten up towels that I was sure mom wouldn't miss if they were to 'accidentally' be used to clean up a bubbly green mess. I tucked the towels under my arm and headed back to the kitchen. I only made it to the living room when I was stopped by none other than the mother whose towels I was commandeering for use in Souta's experiment.

"Kagome I would like to ask you a question."

Her voice was awfully serious; much too serious for my liking. I gulped a little bit and turned to face her.

"Yes mom?" was my nervous response.

"I just wanted to know," Suddenly her voice took on a lighter and more enthusiastic tone. And people tell me I have mood swings. She went from sounding like a scolding mother to a schoolgirl talking about boys; which, unfortunately, was far too good of a description considering what she said next. "Wherever did you find such a polite young man?"

"Polite? Young? Man?" There was no way she was talking about the Taiyoukai that I had left in the kitchen with Souta, because if that were the case there were simply too many things wrong with the statement she had made that I wouldn't even know where to begin correcting her.

Thankfully, I didn't have to. I was saved by the bell, or in this case, by the sound of breaking glass coming from the kitchen. Without another word to my mother (sorry mom I'll make it up to you later!) I dashed off towards the kitchen.

When I got to the doorway, I was run into by a fleeing body and knocked back onto the ground. I looked up and saw Souta scrambling back to his feet. I only saw him for an instant before he took off around the corner, but from what I did see he certainly looked awfully guilty and awfully…green?

I shook my head at his antics and looked through the doorway of the kitchen to survey the damage. What I saw had me hanging my mouth open in disbelief. There were piles of green bubbles everywhere. On the table, the floor, the counters, and I even saw patches of green decorating the cupboards. And standing in the middle of it all was one very unpleasant looking Taiyoukai.

His form was rigid, and his face set in the stone covering I was so used to seeing when he was about to attack Inuyasha. His pristine white garment was covered in green goop. Even his flowing silver tresses had not escaped, and they too were covered in green. When I finally met his glowing golden orbs I could clearly see the message that lay there for me. He said without ever uttering a word 'I dare you to laugh' which, of course, I did.

I was so busy rolling with laughter that I was completely oblivious to the fact that the object of my glee had moved from standing in the middle of the bubbly green mess. That of course meant that I was quite startled when I felt a warm gooey liquid being poured over me. I startled and opened my eyes, only to find that now I too was covered head to toe in the green bubbles.

I stood up in a huff to confront the villain that had doused me in the goop. He was just standing there all smugly. Every inch of him covered in green. If I wasn't so mad at having been pulled into the mess that I was sure was his doing, I would have started laughing again. As it was, I simply said,

"Uncalled for!"

And then whirled around and stormed out of the kitchen to find more towels.

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When I finally managed to get the kitchen cleaned up, thanks to a little help from Souta, mom and gramps (Did you notice I left out one annoying Taiyoukai? Well that's because he did nothing but sit back and watch while I cleaned up his mess. And the whole time I got the feeling that he was laughing at me. That Jerk!); anyways, when I finally got the kitchen clean, it was time to take care of the bodies that had also been doused in green.

I led Sesshomaru to the guest bathroom. I explained to him how to use the shower and the sink, showed him where all the soaps and shampoos were, then handed him some clean towels (the only ones that had been left after cleaning up the kitchen fiasco) and some clothes that mom had found in her closet that used to belong to my dad.

As I turned to leave him to his business I couldn't help but be grateful he hadn't asked me what the toilet was. I could just imagine having to explain that one to him.

"What is this?"

I turned around hesitantly. When I finally saw the object he was questioning I groaned mentally. I guess I had made the thought prematurely that I wouldn't have to explain. I sighed.

"It's called a toilet. It's for…ummm…well eliminating wastes. Oh!" I just couldn't help it. He had caused me enough trouble for the day, the least I could get out of it was a joke at his expense. "No matter how much you may be compelled to do so, DO NOT drink the water! Bye!"

And with that I slammed the bathroom door and took off to my room where I could collapse with mirthful giggles at the thought of a fifty foot dog drinking water out of my toilet bowl.

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Ahhhhh, and another chapter done. Wasn't it great! LMAO ROFL GMSPL Sess covered in green goop; priceless! I know, I know, I haven't explained what he's doing in Kagome's time yet, but that will come later. For now, I simply had to write this chapter. When I came up with the idea I laughed so hard that I had like five people looking at me like I had completely lost my mind ;) Meh, maybe I have, but I bet you guys thought it was funny!

Ok, until next time

Wait one more thing. LOL I just got a review that asked what GMSPL means. I'm so dense! I just made that up the other day when writing an e-mail and I forgot that no one else knows what it means XO so now I have to fix this oversight. Anyways, translation: GMSPL Gripping my sides in painful laughter. Ok that's all.

ShadowsWeaver1

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters I am about to weave into my web of chaos. Any and all definitions have been taken directly from Wikipedia the online encyclopedia because I am far too lazy to do any further research to support my Inuyasha obsession.