A/N: I do not own Inuyasha or Goblin: the Lonely and Great God

Chapter Ten

Rubbing his face, trying to dispel any visible stress from his features, Sesshomaru paced back and forth as the damned kitsune sitting unabashedly in front of him continued his mischievous grin. Stopping for a moment, the Goblin turned on his heel, giving a sharp look to the fox. He blinked and gave an innocent look before pointing to himself as to ask, 'oh, someone's in trouble? Wait, who me?'

"Let this one surmise what you had been thinking, kit," the former daiyoukai sighed, massaging his temples. "You told another creature cursed like myself—a creature with uncanny resemblance to my idiotic half-brother—and told him that he could live here under rent?"

"Oh no, not at all, Sessh," Shippou laughed, leaning forward on his knees and winking. "I told him he is going to live here. He already paid the first month's rent."

The atmosphere when frigid as the Goblin glared at the fox. There were several nerves in the white-haired male that seemed visible as he tried rigidly to maintain his composure. There wasn't very little restraint holding him back however. His heir was driving him up a wall that he could not escape and he was furious. Clenching his fists and trying to make his smile as aggressive as he could, he crossed his arms over his chest, making his stance as dominant as he possibly could.

"He paid rent for what? A house that this Sesshomaru lives in?" he demanded.

The kitsune giggled. "Of course. You've got a roommate now!"

Lunging forward, the Goblin set his hands out to strangle the youkai. With a squeal, Shippou hopped out of the way and rolled onto the floor, his five tails waving ecstatically as he looked onto the previous dog demon. He gave an appeasing glance before forming illusions of himself to surround the furious magic user. Snarling with a smirk, Sesshomaru enjoyed a good challenge set before him. It was just like hunting.

"Now now, Sesshomaru, think rationally," the fox gulped, noticing the predatory look from the other; he shifted nervously. Not sure if he should pounce or flee.

"Hah! Just like you rationally leased my house out?" Sesshomaru jumped from his spot on the couch and tackled the kitsune, laughing because even despite his disadvantage of no longer being a youkai, he could still force the other demon to submit.

"Ahhh, uncle uncle!" The fox cried out, his breath hitching when the Goblin kneed one of his tails.

A victorious glint in his eyes but a taut drawn mouth, Sesshomaru stood and pat down his button down shirt to smooth out the wrinkles before dusting off his pinstripe trousers. Giving a groan of defeat, Shippou rested his forearm over his eyes. Leaning down, the white-haired male flicked the younger ginger's forehead.

"Do not sell what is not yours, kit," he warned, that hunter's look back in his eyes.

"Oy, just a fat fucking second," came an uncouth voice, entering the room. "What do you mean don't sell what ain't yours?"

Turning around and facing the white-haired Inu, the Goblin rolled his eyes and walked passed him—ignoring the question.

"Hey bastard just wait a fucking minute, dammit!" the male rushed to catch up with him, throwing his baseball cap on his head so that the white locks of his hair turned black and the golden hues of his eyes darkened to brown. "I live here now so it'd be great if you'd explain why you're here."

"This Sesshomaru will only speak once on the matter." Threatening smoke of violet and lilac began to swirl along the Goblin's body while his eyes blared a beautiful gold. In his hands materialized Bakusaiga, and he held it pointed at the chest of the other. With a surprised look, the capped man stopped with a disgusted curl of his lip. "Do not intrude in the house of a Goblin. So I recommend you get out, Shinigami."

"I paid for my dues and I can't just get a damned refund," growled the Shinigami. "I live here now and you're just going to have to deal with it."

Lilac flames burst along the edge of Bakusaiga and he pressed it closer to the offender. The sound of ice crackled and the tip of the sword was met with a layer of frosted air. Almost like a fight among deities, the two glowered at each other.

"What did you say your name was, fool?" Sesshomaru growled, eying the Inu.

"Ain't got one, and even if I did, wouldn't tell a bastard like you anyways."

"Well then, Shinigami with no name, excuse yourself when you see fit. Make sure the fox locks up behind you. This one wishes not to see your face ever again near my property."

"You're fucking kidding me."

"This Sesshomaru does not kid."

That said, the sword disappeared and the Goblin turned away, walking through the front doors. Outraged, the Shinigami chased after him, yanking open the door with fury before realizing that his new landlord had disappeared into thin air. Pulling off his hat with a grunted exhale, he turned around to see Shippou standing sheepishly, his tails twitching. Giving an irritated intake of breath, he walked back over the fox.

"You better start explaining now, brat," he placed his hands in his pockets, leaning back nonchalantly, "just what the the hell is going on."

o o o

Kagome sat in the booth at Wacdonalds, a tired expression and grimace on her countenance. Eri, Yuka and Ayume continued to prattle on about the newest gossip of their school. Her ears did not particularly take in anything they were saying, however. Her hand propped her chin and her gaze wandered to the window, watching people walk back and forth in front of the fast food restaurant. Was it too much to hope that something exciting would happen so that way she would not have to deal with them today? Her nerves, since she had seen Sesshomaru, had been particularly short. She wanted more explanation as to why he was here. Also as to why he was missing all of his markings. He had told her he was no longer an Inu daiyoukai, but surely that had to be impossible. Someone couldn't just stop being what they were. It was a paradox about identity. But sure enough she could trace youki from him, just not the same youki as before.

It was all very bizarre.

"Were you listening Kags?" Eri asked, a worried look on her face.

Snapping back to reality with her friends, she gave a sheepish look. "Ah, yes, sorry. Who's together with who now?"

Ayume gave a slightly annoyed sigh. "Jeez, Kagome, it's like you've been your own little world for the past few days now."

"You've just haven't been your normal self," Yuka nodded, resting her cheek on the palm of her hand. "Are you okay?"

Reaching across the table, Eri took the miko's free hand and gently squeezed it. "We're your friends, Kagome. If something's wrong, we want you to tell us."

A small smile pressed her lips, and the young woman couldn't help but give her friend's hand a reassuring squeeze in return. "I'm fine guys, I guess I've just been feeling under the weather is all. They say the flu is going around in the class under us."

"The flu?" Ayume tilted her head back before looking a bit shocked. "Oh that's right! I hope you're not sick Kagome! Especially when you were so frail in middle school."

She bit her lip as she tried not to remember all the fake illnesses Jii-jii had come up with as excuses for her not to attend school. Looking back on those times, it seemed rather humourous. But every now and then, some sort of stomach bug or cold would go around the school, and all of her friends would be stern in making sure she took all necessary precautions to not become sick. In all truth, marching around the feudal era with Inuyasha, killing demons—sifting through blood and guts for jewel shards—had given her a rather iron constitution. But no one else knew that.

"I'm sure it'll be okay," she reaffirmed. "I think it's just the tail end of it."

Her friends exchanged worried glances before they all nodded simultaneously. They gathered up their empty paper cups and hamburger wrappers, the stacked their cardboard fries holders and the trays before making a neat pile of their trash. They smiled generously.

"Let's call it a day Kagome," Yuka nodded, gathering the trays in her arms before sliding out of the booth first.

Ayume gathered up the rest before sidling out of the booth as well. "You go on home and get some rest. That way when we go out next, you'll be your normal energetic self."

"Guys," Kagome's voice felt heavy with gratitude.

"Come on, let's head out," Eri gave a pleasant smile, as she finish scooting down the seat.

With a grateful nod of her head, Kagome slide off her side of the booth. However as she stood up, strapping on her purse, a man bumped into her. He tripped over her from behind, stumbling forward with a surprised grunt as he dropped something onto her shoulder. She cringed as the rancid smell of smoke met her nose. The man turned around and cursed at her before stomping away out of the restaurant.

"Could've at least apologized, jerk!" Ayume called after the man.

Yuka raised her fist and shook it. "Yeah! Can't you see the sweet girl trying to leave."

The smell of smoke still hadn't left the miko's nose so she figured the guy must have been a heavy smoker. However, Eri made a surprised gasp, made a motion to the shoulder which the man had dropped something on. She had forgotten.

"Kagome, it's cigarette!"

Realizing that was the source of the smell, her first instinct was to get it off. With a quick turn of her head, she blew as hard as she could, and the small roll of paper fell to the floor. No longer smolder and just out completely, Kagome stepped on the ashy thing and smushed it between the toes of her shoe and the floor. Her brow dipped angrily.

"Gah! I hope it didn't ruin my sweater," she complained, dipping her shoulder to look at the blackened spot on the blue cable-knit."What a guy, couldn't even apologize for doing something so stupid!"

Her friends had gone surprisingly quiet and they looked past her. With a sigh, she figured the man had come back to hear her badmouthing him. Well if that was the case she was going to give him a piece of her mind. Besides, they were in the nonsmoking part of the district anyways, he shouldn't have been doing something stupid like anything—and it was his fault for bumping into her.

She spun around to meet the very irritated eyes of not the man who had bumped her, but Sesshomaru.

He held between his fingers and placed against his lips, a white porcelain teacup with bluebells decorating the rim. His eyelashes fluttered a tad as he double took his settings. With a sigh, his gold eyes landed on Kagome and his ever austere expression did not change. She laughed sheepishly, guessing what happened given she blew the stupid cigarette off of herself.

"This one could attest to people not apologizing for their idiotic actions," he stated lowly, taking a sip from the cup.

With a groan, she slouched back a bit, resting her fingers on her temples. "Look, it was an accident this time."

"So idiotic and careless."

"Sesshomaru, that's not even fair. It was a genuine mistake."

Her friends began to whisper behind them.

Arching his brow in annoyance, he gave a warning glance to the miko. "Whether or not it was a mistake, woman, you still inconvenienced me greatly. Bringing this one to an establishment such as this." His eyes observed the bright red paint and the yellow decals, his nose sniffed the fatty smells of meat and grease. "Distasteful, idiotic, and careless."

"Distasteful?" Yuka piped up, stepping around Kagome. "Now you listen here mister!"

Kagome's blood froze.

The Goblin took another miniscule drink from his tip cup, turned on his heel, and walked away. Swaying neatly behind him was the tail to his long brown coat, while his newly shined shoes seemed contrast against the stale white tiles. The other girls watched him go, completely stupefied that he would just ignore them. On the front door, the bells rang as he stepped out. Kagome could see the lilac swirls of smoke from before and she decided to do the most sane thing she could think of. Chase after him.

With a quick goodbye and apology to her friends, she ran after him. Her hands hit the glass of the door just before it closed and she swung it open. His head was seen over a small crowd of people as he continued walking along, back to what seemed like a small outdoors cafe.

"Sesshomaru!" She yelled, rushing to him.

He spun around, and for the first time in a long, long time, there was a genuine expression on his face. He was surprised. Slightly thrown off by that, she slowed down to where he had stopped on the small street. She blinked, unsure of what to do before she had a good chance to really see what was happening. Around her, there were crowds of people just like she had seen outside the window of Wacdonalds. However, the people here were definitely not Japanese. They were pale, with varying brown or blonde hair. What's more was that they were most definitely not speaking Japanese either; it sounded like English to her.

"How...how did you follow this Sesshomaru?" he finally asked, his voice taut.

"I just...ran after you and pushed the door," she stated in confusion, showing him with her arms outstretched and gave a small pushing motion. "Hey, where exactly are we, Sesshomaru?"

With a small sigh, the white-haired male set his cup down on a brick wall with long stalks of ivy and roses growing along the clay. It was a strange sight. Ivy and roses together in one place, because in Tokyo it was too cold for roses to be in bloom.

"Quebec."

a/n: Hello lovelies! This is a special chapter^^ Every 10th chapter I will try to make a little longer than the average ones:O kind a like a milestone sort of thing! So look forward to the next update!

Leave a review and let me know what you thought3

Takk fyrir and arigato, friends!