Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters. I do not own and Disney/Pixar movies either. Well, I own DVD copies of some of them, but that doesn't count.
"What are we doing here?" Sesshoumaru asked, fighting the urge to release a long-suffering sigh. He tolerated too much from his friend. For that, he found himself dragged to any number of unsavory places, and always regretted it.
They had arrived in the US a couple of days ago. It had all been a whirlwind of activity – meetings with local officials, building contractors, and employees that were transferring from Japan to help with the initial set-up. In addition, they had been getting their personal affairs arranged. The company had purchased condos in the more upscale part of town for the transferring employees so they would have places to stay during the process.
"I wanted to get a new TV for my condo." Miroku answered as he started walking toward the electronics department.
"And you had to come here for one?" Sesshoumaru cast a disdainful look about the busy department store. "You make enough money in our company that you could purchase state-of-the-art appliances anywhere."
A particularly pungent-smelling shopper walked by. Sesshoumaru fought the urge to wrinkle his nose in disgust and began to, discreetly, breathe through his mouth. "Why come here amongst these . . . unwashed masses?"
Miroku rolled his eyes, wondering how he managed to stay friends with Sesshoumaru when they had been from completely opposite ends of the financial spectrum. Not having been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Miroku had worked hard to get where he was. He had been your typical broke-ass-poor-living-on-Ramen-noodles college student, paying tuition through a number of minor scholarships, student loans, and whatever income he got from various low-paying, menial jobs. It had all paid off for him in the end, but he had not lost his knack for thrifty spending. Why should he go to some place and pay five times as much for the exact same thing at a discount store?
"This is a nice part of town. I think these masses here are better-washed than most." Indeed, this particular store was near one of those shopping centers full of boutiques where women pay hundreds for a single pair of shoes. And ugly shoes at that.
Sesshoumaru had barely listened to Miroku's reply. He had been distracted by a child in a cart, screaming over a toy, or something. The mother seemed completely oblivious to the ear-piercing racket. That, and he was getting a lot of stares. Men were glancing over him, summing him up. Women stared longingly. As if he would waste his time with any of these women.
Of course, he expected that in a place like this. He was dressed in an expensive suit that would have caught eyes by itself. Tailored onto his well-built physique and coupled with his aristocratic features and flowing, silver hair . . . well, he may as well have been carrying a neon sign over his head to attract the same amount of attention. He was sure the markings on his face raised a couple of eyebrows among some people, not that he cared.
It was only in the past couple of decades that he had stopped bothering to hide them, or any of his demonic features. For the most part, he looked human. He kept his pointed ears covered with his hair and trimmed his claws on a daily basis. Markings and hair and eye color could be explained away easily. These days, even the pointed ears could be explained as a plastic surgery endeavor.
He glared coldly at a woman who had given him a seductive smile. Or it was her attempt at seductive. At least in his own circles, people were somewhat acclimated to his appearance. That didn't stop the women in those circles from flinging themselves at him periodically. Of course, most of them knew him well enough to know what to expect. Sometimes he thought about getting Shippou, a kitsune who was a master of illusions, to develop a new glamor for him. One that would make him stand out less. But he couldn't just do that while being a public figure. Besides, his pride liked people being able to recognize him on the spot and grovel before his powerful being, as they should.
"You know you were provided with a TV. There's no reason to be here," He finally returned his attention back to Miroku.
"I don't like that TV. Quit complaining and enjoy the fact that you are not stuck in you superficial world of the rich and famous."
"No, instead I'm stuck in the superficial world of the poor and unknown. It's just as bad."
Miroku let out a sigh of frustration. Sesshoumaru was completely jaded when it came to other people. The problem was that he had not really spent a lot of time getting to know many people, humans or demons. Not that he could blame the daiyoukai. When you are as powerful as Sesshoumaru, people have a tendency to always want something from you. He was pretty sure that Sesshoumaru could count all of his true friends on one hand. He kind of felt sorry for the guy. He imagined him being very lonely, underneath it all.
All the more reason to get him out amongst real people once in a while. And what better place than a department store? People from all walks of life shop in places like these. One can see the best and the worst of people here. But, really, Miroku's focus was the electronics department. He has few vices, but one of them is electronics – all the little gadgets and gizmos that come out newer, shinier, smaller, and faster every year. If it's something new, he's got to have it. It makes his thrifty shopping skills even more worthwhile. Otherwise, he would be bankrupt by now.
The only vice he has stronger than his love of electronics is his love of women. They are his Achilles' Heel. Speaking of which, he spotted a real hottie that was regarding Sesshoumaru with a wary expression. He resisted the urge to elbow the daiyoukai in the ribs to get him to quit casting death glares at everyone. When her gaze shifted to his, she noticed Miroku's friendly smile and flashed him a smile in return.
"Good afternoon," The girl greeted. "How are you finding everything today?"
"Oh, I'm finding everything very well." Miroku answered, surreptitiously looking the girl up and down. She was roughly his height, maybe a couple of inches shorter. Her body had an athletic build – slim, but still curvy. Her long, black hair was in a high ponytail. A fringe of bangs framed her face. She had bright brown eyes accented with pink eyeshadow. He cast a quick glance at her name tag. "Sango, I'm looking for a new television."
"Oh . . . well, all of our TVs are over here." She lead them to the wall of displays. Miroku was unable to resist checking out her butt as she walked.
As Miroku looked over the various sizes and styles, he asked about some of the details of several models. Sesshoumaru wanted to roll his eyes at his friend's antics. Miroku knew everything there was to know about TVs, and any other useless gadget there was out there. He knew Miroku was just trying to keep the salesgirl there to attempt flirting.
After a couple of questions, Sango flushed a bit, "I really don't know too much about them, but I can get someone who does." She pulled her walkie-talkie from her belt, "Kagome, I need your expertise at the TVs."
A voice over the walkie crackled back, "I don't know about expertise, but I'm on my way over."
Another girl appeared from a set of double doors that probably led to a stockroom. She was slightly shorter than Sango. She had a slim build, and her work uniform fit her in such a way as to suggest that there were generous curves underneath the clothing, without making it completely obvious. She had a round face framed in dark bangs so long that they fell into her deep, brown eyes. The rest of her hair was pulled into a sloppy bun, revealing a long, slender neck.
Overall, she was attractive. Hardly gorgeous. Sesshoumaru wondered if it was part of some conspiracy for this store to have attractive girls selling expensive electronics. A flirtatious woman could probably convince a man to buy any number of useless things. As he watched her approach, he decided that may not be the case, totally. As she walked, she had a natural swing to her hips. Not over-pronounced as if she were really trying to walk like that. In fact, with the way she held her head high and her shoulders thrown back, she looked more like she was marching.
As soon as she was close enough to be heard over the volume of the TVs, she stopped, "Hi, how can I help you?" She gave a neutral smile and glanced back and forth between Sesshoumaru and Miroku, waiting for one of them to speak.
"Hello," Miroku greeted. "I am interested in a new TV and was hoping to learn a little about the ones you have here."
"Sure, what size are you looking for?"
Sesshoumaru half-listened to the conversation. He wasn't really interested in the specifics of the TVs. And all of the noise back there was distracting – TVs blaring, people talking, children screaming . . . A loud voice started speaking over the walkie hooked to Kagome's pocket while she was listening to one of Miroku's questions. He was thankful that she turned the walkie down to reduce the noise level. Apparently it was even too much for humans.
He noticed she cast a meaningful look to Sango while she continued the conversation with Miroku. Sango walked away, much to Miroku's disappointment, but returned a few moments later with a phone in her hand.
"Excuse me for a minute," She gave the two males an apologetic look, "Kagome, there is a woman on the phone asking if we have the movie, Up, in stock."
Without pausing for thought, Kagome answered, "It's not out on DVD yet."
Sango relayed the message and looked confused over the reply. With his sensitive hearing, Sesshoumaru could hear the overly-confident voice claiming the movie had been advertised in the store's weekly circular, and that it had been advertised on TV as coming out that past Friday.
When Sango restated the comment, Kagome shook her head patiently, "That was for the video games that have been released for it. Friday was when the movie came out in the theaters. It'll be at least a few months before it comes out on DVD."
Sango nodded and walked away, explaining everything to the woman on the phone. Sesshoumaru was unable to hear the reply, but he could imagine the person on the other end was very embarrassed to have been proven wrong so thoroughly.
"Sorry about that," Kagome turned back to Miroku without a moment's hesitation and masterfully hiding the fact that she thought the person on the other end of the phone line was a complete idiot. "What was it you were saying?"
"I was wondering what you thought about this 47-inch Ayano?" Miroku asked. Sesshoumaru took a little notice in the salesgirl's answer. Ayano was a company Takashi Enterprises had acquired a few years ago.
"Hmm. . . I wouldn't suggest any TVs made by Ayano."
"Why not? It looks like a nice picture."
Kagome nodded her head. "Oh, it is. Plasma screens always seem to have the better picture. But Ayanos. A lot of them break within the year. They overheat or just short out."
Well, they were still trying to whip that company into shape. "After a year, it should be time to replace it anyways." Sesshoumaru replied coldly.
Kagome looked at the tall, pale man with some surprise. Up until this point, she had thought that he was either mute, or couldn't speak English. "For most people, televisions are not like computers, where they become out-dated in the short span of one year. Besides, Ayanos are the most expensive televisions we sell. Would you want to shell out that kind of cash on something that can't make it past one year, when so many other, cheaper versions can last for a decade?" All of this had been spoken in the most polite, matter-of-fact manner.
Sesshoumaru was about to reply when an irate-looking woman, holding one child on her hip and trailed by two more, marched up behind Kagome.
"I need a video game." She announced, seemingly oblivious to the fact that she had just interrupted a conversation. Kagome whirled around to face the woman as she continued her rant. "I have been waiting forever while you have been standing here, chatting with this man."
Kagome was about to reply but Sesshoumaru's cold voice stopped her. "Excuse me. This young woman is assisting my friend and I with a television. As we were here first, you can wait until we are done or find someone else to help you."
This took Kagome by such surprise that she was almost too stunned to call for Sango.
"There is no one else in the area." The woman continued, ignoring Sesshoumaru's cold glare. "I am in a hurry and my children are getting cranky from having to wait."
"In such a hurry, yet you find the time to buy a video game? No doubt to be thrust into the hands of your attention deficient children, whose temperaments are of no concern to me. You should teach them to read, instead."
The woman stared at him, her mouth opening and closing as she tried to form a response. Luckily, Sango appeared at that moment.
"Did you need something, Kagome?"
Kagome, avoiding eye contact and biting the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing, simply nodded and pulled a set of keys from her pocket. Oh this was going to be a great story to tell the others. Pulling herself together, she managed to say, "Could you help this lady with a video game? Thanks, Sango."
Sango walked off with the woman and her brood while Kagome returned her attention to the two men. Miroku had been covering his mouth to keeping from laughing at the whole exchange. "I think we have been keeping you long enough. I'd like to get this one." He pointed to one of the TVs.
She nodded her head, "I'll bring it from the back. It'll be just a few minutes." She turned and walked back to the double doors she had come through earlier. Once she disappeared behind them, Sesshoumaru could hear her burst into hysterical laughter.
"You didn't have to be so rude, Sesshoumaru."
"I was returning the sentiment."
"We cost her a sale."
"She's making more from your sale. Besides, your little girlfriend is getting that one."
Miroku smiled, "Sango is lovely, isn't she? Think I should ask her out?"
"Since when did you care what I think of such matters?"
"Good point."
Kagome burst through the double doors, pushing a flat-bed cart loaded with Miroku's TV. She spoke into her radio as she expertly guided the cart with one hand. "I'll check you out over here and have someone take this out to your car for you." She pushed the cart to one of the cash registers.
Sango was at another register, finishing up her transaction with the rude woman. She was looking rather put out. Apparently the woman had been complaining about Sesshoumaru's rude words. The woman left as soon as she saw Sesshoumaru approaching.
"Sorry I had to push her off on you," Kagome muttered as she rang up Miroku's purchase.
"Oh, it's alright." Sango smiled. "I've dealt with worse."
"Hm . . . we all have. Sometimes I think all of the scholars and scientists could stop theorizing if they just observed the electronics department of any MegaMart. I discover the center of the universe here at least once a day."
Sesshoumaru smiled at this statement, unable to stop himself. A young man wearing the store uniform approached.
"This is Jason. He'll help you out to your car with this." Kagome explained. "Good-bye and have a nice day." She spoke as Jason began to wheel the cart toward the store entrance. Sesshoumaru began to follow him.
"One question before we go." Miroku reached out to take Sango's hand. "Sango, my dear, would you do me the honor of bearing my children?"
Sango looked as if she had just been struck in the face and was indecisive on how to react. A heavy hand landed on Miroku's shoulder and pulled him away from the perplexed woman. "Don't mind him, he's harmless." Sesshoumaru steered Miroku away stating, "You shouldn't be allowed in public."
Miroku looked back over his shoulder, "Call me." He yelled back to Sango.
"That card only has your office number in Kyoto on it."
"Oh yeah. Damn."