Television, Cars, and Coffee: Chapter 9
Hojo Horrors
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, sadly
"Uh, Hi Hojo! How've you been doing lately?"
"Fine. How about you? I know you had a pretty bad case of the stomach flu last week. Are you feeling better now?"
Kagome sighed in relief. At least her grandpa gave her a normal disease this time. Last time she had come home, she found out that her grandpa had told the school that she had a huge boils on her feet and legs, so she couldn't put on shoes or socks, which caused her to have to stay home. The ointment she had received from Hojo on that occasion would stand out in her memory forever. "Boil-B-Gone" it was called. Thank goodness it was a common flu her grandpa had chosen this time around.
"Yes, Hojo, I'm fine now, thanks for your concern" Kagome replied, turning around, trying in a weak attempt to clue Hojo in that she didn't want to talk to him.
Of course, the hint flew right over his head, soared out the window, and was hit by an oncoming car.
"So, Kagome, are you doing anything tonight? It is Friday, after all"
Turning back around reluctantly, Kagome looked at Hojo.
"Yes, actually. I am. You see, Rin here is sick" Kagome said. Hojo saw her point to the child on the silver haired guy's lap. Hojo jumped, having been completely oblivious of their presence until just then. "Oh, Hi! I'm afraid I didn't see you there. My humble apologies" Sesshomaru stared at the boy from the corner of his eye while Rin just smiled.
"It's all right" the Rin assured, "Rin is pretty small and easy to miss"
Hojo grinned at the girl before putting his attention back on Kagome. "So, if you're busy tonight, then how about tomorrow?"
Kagome internally sighed at his persistency.
"No Hojo, I can't. I'm...uh...going on a trip with my family to, er, New Zealand for a while" the miko said, turning around again, trying to hint to him to stop talking and go away.
"Oh. Well, how about when you get back, then?"
It was official. Hojo couldn't recognize a hint to save his life, even if it walked up to him naked and then hit him in the kneecaps with a waffle iron. Turning back around, yet again, Kagome gave him a flat look. "I'm sorry, Hojo, but I can't"
"Well, why not?"
Sesshomaru listened to the whole exchange between the miko and the boy, whom he found painfully annoying. He came to the conclusion that this boy was dense. Dense, as in Inuyasha-dense. The taiyoukai was surprised to discover this, because in all of his years, he had never met anyone denser than Inuyasha. Maybe he was wrong about the humans being smarter in the future...
Tuning back into the conversation, he heard the boy say, "Well, if not October, than how about sometime in November?" Sesshomaru blinked. Currently, it was the middle of May, wasn't it? And this boy is trying to make plans for November... How clueless could this human be? The miko obviously had no intention of taking him up on his offers, no matter how far in the future they may be. The inu youkai had had enough of this.
"You will cease your mindless prattle immediately" he said icily, not even bothering to turn and look at Hojo, but remained staring out the windshield.
Hojo glanced at the silver haired guy warily. The frozen tone of the guy's voice sent shivers down his spine. Kagome watched Hojo nervously, hoping he was smart enough to leave well enough alone.
"Excuse me, but I was talking to Kagome, not you"
Kagome rested her head in her hand. 'Hojo...you idiot'
Growling at the boy, placed Rin in Kagome's lap and stood up to face him. How dare this mere human speak to him so rudely! How dare he!
Sesshomaru cracked his knuckles menacingly, gaining the stares of the other occupants on the bus. Even the bus driver was watching the commotion through the rearview mirror.
"You will leave now if you know what is good for you, boy" Sesshomaru growled. Hojo stared up at him fearfully. It looked like this guy meant business. Where in the world did Kagome find these friends of hers?
Hojo blindly reached for the thing on the wall to signal the driver to pull over. Finding it, he yanked down hard. The driver stopped at the corner and opened the doors. Nervously, Hojo got up and scooted around the angered Taiyoukai, who was still standing in the aisle. Sesshomaru watched him go with satisfaction. No human challenged him and came out on top. Sitting back down, and replacing Rin onto his lap, Sesshomaru went back to staring out the windshield once more.
Kagome sighed in relief. For a moment there, she thought for sure that Hojo was going to retort something back at the dog demon and end up getting himself hurt, or worse. Shivering at the thought of a dead Hojo on a public bus and having to explain to the police that the only reason he's dead is because he pissed off the Taiyoukai of the Western Lands, Kagome stared out the window, and watched the scenery pass by silently.
They reached their stop, and got off the bus. Heading back toward's Kagome's house, they heard a voice calling the miko.
"Kagome! Kagome!" Everyone spun around to see Eri running up to them, face slightly flushed from the motion. She caught up a second later and bombarded Kagome with questions.
"Kagome! Long time no see! How are you? Where have you been? Are you feeling better? Who's this guy? Who's the kid? Can I get the girls and come over later? Could we get Hojo too? Why aren't you answering any of my questions!"
Kagome blinked it confusion and Sesshomaru watched the girl with a bored look. Rin was busy watching the people walking by who were giving the group weird looks.
"Uh" said Kagome, trying to get her brain to process everything, "I'm fine. At home. Yes. Sesshomaru. Rin. Yes. No! You're asking them too fast"
"Ok, we'll be over later then. About seven o'clock?"
"That's fine"
"Ok, bye!"
"Bye"
Kagome watched Eri walk off. 'What have I gotten myself into?'
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They reached the house by 3:30. 'Not bad timing, considering the company I'm with' Kagome thought to herself. The three reached the livingroom to find Jaken watching tv. He looked up when they entered, and ran over to Sesshomaru.
"Sesshomaru-sama! You're back!"
Sesshomaru just stared at him icily as Jaken babbled away, telling him various facts about things he had absolutely no interest in. Kagome sat down on the couch, and emptied the stuff from the shopping bags. She handed Sesshomaru his books, and Rin hers. Next, she opened the bag from the pharmacy. Kagome pulled out the candy bars, handing each one to the appropriate person. She surprised Jaken when she presented his to him. Taking in cautiously, Jaken mumbled his thanks. Kagome opened her own Snickers bar, and took a bite. She showed Rin how to open her Reeses, and she took out on of the cups, and peeled the paper off of it.
"Is it good, Kagome-chan?"
"Yes Rin, it's great!"
Rin nibbled a bit off the end, and her expression brightened immediately. She took another bite, this time a great deal bigger, and chewed away happily as she looked towards Sesshomaru. Swallowing, she said, "Is Sesshomaru-sama going to try his?"
"Hai"
Sesshomaru opened his candy bar with little difficulty, and broke off a piece. He carefully put it in his mouth, fully aware of everybody in the room watching him avidly. Chewing slowly, Sesshomaru came to a realization: Chocolate is delicious.
He took another bite quickly. This stuff could give Pepsi a run for it's money. Speaking of which, Sesshomaru decided he was thirsty.
"I am getting a drink" he announced before walking into the kitchen and pouring himself a glass of the stuff. He re-entered the livingroom with his Pepsi and chocolate, and sat down on the couch.
Meanwhile, Jaken had opened his up, and had tried some of it. Surprisingly, he liked it, very much. Once everybody was done, Kagome pulled out the bottle of purple stuff that she had gotten Rin earlier. She held it up in front of the young girl's face.
"Do you want to try some of this stuff now?"
Rin nodded with enthusiasm. Kagome open up the bottle and pulled off the lid, which had a small brush attached to the underside of it.
"Okay Rin, now put your hand on the table, and hold it still so I don't mess up on your fingernails" Rin did so. Kagome began her task of painting the child's fingernails purple as the demon lord and the toad demon watched. About ten seconds into her task, Kagome saw both of the youkai cringe a bit.
"Miko, was is the horrid smelling stuff!" Jaken squawked, a hand over his nose. Sesshomaru looked to be getting dizzy off of the stuff, seeing as he was swaying slightly in his seat. Of course, it could have been from the chocolate.
'Oh yeah' Kagome reminded herself, 'chocolate's not good for dogs. I wonder if it's the same for dog demons... I hope he doesn't get sick. That's the last thing I need'
"Well?" Jaken inquired.
"It's fingernail polish, Jaken" Kagome said, looking down at her work, "it temporarily colors one's fingernails"
Jaken looked at his fingers.
"I have no fingernails"
"Then, I guess you can't use fingernail polish"
"Good! That stuff smells terrible!"
Kagome just shrugged, and continued working, "If you can't handle it, just go into a different room for a bit, ok? I'll call you back in when I'm done" Jaken contemplated this before picking himself up off the floor, and headed into the kitchen. Kagome looked up at Sesshomaru. "What about you? Staying or leaving?"
The taiyoukai stared back at her, his nose twitching every so often, "I will stay" he announced. Kagome nodded, and she, once again, put her attention onto Rin's fingernails, which her half painted. A minute later, Sesshomaru got up, and strode towards the kitchen.
"Hey! I thought you were staying here!" Kagome called to him.
"Getting more Pepsi" replied over his shoulder, before disappearing into the other room.
'I'm going to half to buy more of that stuff soon' Kagome thought, sighing.
A/N: There's chapter nine. How'd you like it? Bad? Good? Bad? Good? Huh?
I couldn't have Sesshomaru kill Hojo, just because then he'd be on the run from the police for the rest of the fic, and if that happened, then I couldn't have him go out to any other public places... so I settled for throroughly frightened instead of dead. Anyways, thanks to everyone who reviewed, I appreciate it a lot.
How'd you like the whole chocolate encounter? What about the nail polish? Let me know!
Please review!