"Because you are so needy, I guess we can go back into town." Gojo huffs as he plops down onto the couch, his hand clasping his jacket as if the mere thought is exhausting.

Kagome pinches her nose and counts to ten. What she wouldn't give to have some subjugation beads right now. A grin makes its way across her face. She could totally pick up some supplies while they're out and give him the command ' shut it'. Her hands come up and cover her mouth as mirth dances throughout her body.

"Maybe we should stop at a hospital on the way," Gojo remarks. Kagome straightens herself up and glares at him. "What? You're the one laughing like a maniac."

"You- ugh!" She turns away from him and crosses her arms. "Can we just go?"

"I need to change first." He gets up and crowds her space. Kagome turns her nose up; intimidation tactics do not work on her.

"What's wrong with what you're wearing now? It should take that long to get a sleeping bag."

"Sleeping bag?" His mouth hangs agape at her shrug. "We're going furniture shopping." He rolls his eyes and walks away. "Can't believe you thought I would have you sleep in a freakin sleeping bag."

Kagome scrunches up her nose at his retreating back. That Satoru sure is a weird one. She sits down on the couch. The cushions are surprisingly soft; heck, she would be okay just crashing on the couch until she figured out a game plan. There had to be some reason as to why the well sent her to this world and not back to InuYasha. She bites down on her lip as her blood pressure rises steadily. Dear heavens, please don't let my mission be tied to that man.

"Ready to go!" Gojo calls, interrupting her darkening thoughts. Her breath hitches at the sight of him; the white button-down enhances the blueness of his eyes. They remind her of the sparkling trinkets her grandpa tried to pass off as the Shikon jewel to visitors.

"What's with the glasses?"

"The blindfold doesn't really go with this outfit. Come on, we've got a lot to cover." He extends his hand out. She starts to tell him that the blindfold doesn't go with any outfit, but the headache that will follow those words is enough to keep her mouth closed.

He directs the taxi driver to take them to Ikea—the name gives Kagome pause. If she hadn't jumped into the well, she honestly would have believed that she was still in her world. The drive there is entirely too long; being in such an enclosed space with him wreaks havoc on her senses. His legs are too long. They spread out, brushing against the bare skin of her thighs.

I should have worn jeans today; she bemoans to herself. Gojo throws his arm over the back of the seat. His fingers brush against her arm, drawing intricate patterns on her skin. He's cocky, way too flirty, and more childish than Shippo-chan.

"You're way too tense, Kagome-chan," he whispers, his breath raises the hairs on her neck.

"Do you know what personal space is?" she whispers back as if the driver really cares about their conversation.

"Funny coming from you."

Kagome closes her eyes and moves her head back with a thud. Are we there yet repeats like a mantra. For the next thirty minutes or so, Gojo continues to talk her ear off on topics ranging from the best time to eat mochi to how hard it is to get his blindfolds customized to his liking. She all but hops out of the taxi when they pull up, ignoring the driver's timid stuttering about how the car wasn't stopped yet. What she needs is fresh air and space, lots and lots of space.

"Say, Kagome-chan, what kind of bed do you want? I think a queen should fit in that room." He intertwines their hands and tugs her inside.

"I'd be fine with just a twin. I don't need that much space." She looks down at their hands; the affection he gives so freely throws her off. There's a firmness in his grip like she's going to turn tail and run. Maybe, in the beginning, she thinks, but now that she's had time to think about it; she doesn't really have any other option, but to stick close to him.

"Boring." He sticks out his tongue, making a gagging sound.

"It's not like you're going to be sleeping in it." She mutters, looking around; with all the people hustling around with their heads down, minus the few women that send her dirty looks, it really is just like home.

"And here I thought we had a thing," he starts, "went on a coffee date, I brought you home, now we're shopping for furniture. It's like we're already married." He flashes her a smile that's nothing but teeth. Her blood pressure spikes, sending jolts of purification into his palm. Gojo jerks back, his breath becomes heavy.

I shouldn't have done that.

"Gojo-san, I–"

There's a large commotion to their right. Kagome blinks, not quite sure what exactly she is looking at. The being, if it could be called that, sports eight legs, with a long-spiked tongue. It smells horrendous, like the farts that Sota always tries to pass off as coming from Buyo.

"Pr- p- price." It craws towards them, it's spiked tongue swipes back and forth, flinging saliva on to some of the beds.

Yeah, not getting that bed.

Gojo lets go of her hand and tuck his hands into his pockets. "That's a low-level curse. Is that what your demons look like?"

"Sort of. It doesn't have the same feel though." She looks up at him, his eyes are iced over, with a coolness that she hasn't seen since this morning.

"I want to see what your powers can do." He takes one hand out of his pocket and pushes her forward.

"Seriously!" she stumbles, coming face to face with the curse. It keeps repeating 'price' like a chant. "I don't even have a bow," she grumbles.

"I believe in you, Kagome-chan!" his tone is anything but reassuring.

It leaps at her, wrapping all of its ghastly limbs around her body. The smell makes her want to retch. Its three glazed over eyes focus on her own. Her chest raises slowly in an effort to bring in more oxygen.

"Please don't let it eat you!" Gojo's voice calls out.

She's not going to let it eat her. Her body hums in tune with the pulse of purification she throws out. It's blinding, and not as controlled as she would like, but considering the circumstances, it's the best she can do. Wetness hits her cheek. The curse is crying as its body slowly turns to ash. Kagome reaches out and cups its cheek as the purification spreads.

"P-price," it gargles out, mouth turned upward as tears flow freely from all three eyes.

Kagome turns to look at Gojo as she wipes her cheeks with the back of her palm. His face is blank, but his stance is rigid. "Well? Is that it?"

His face breaks out in a smile, and he claps his hands, approaching her. "Ah man, Kagome-chan, I think I'll need to sleep in your room tonight, for protection of course."

"Idiot." She mutters, heat dusting her cheeks. She reigns her powers back in, keeping them tightly coiled around her. Luckily, no one was near them. But she really doesn't want to chance another one of those things slithering out.

She doesn't notice the look Gojo gives her over the lens of his glasses.

A/N: As always, thank you all so so so much for the kind reviews! I'm on the fence if I want to add in the subjugation beads or not.