InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Spring Fever ❯ An Interesting Girl ( Chapter 15 )

Chapter 15

 

An Interesting Girl

 

Sesshomaru was fairly certain that irony was having its way with him. The miko had, quite unwittingly, let off a decent amount of pheromones which now lingered in her scent.

 

Really, what were the chances of that?

 

Hormones he could easily deal with, being as they are daily odors, even if coming from three girls who wanted nothing more than to hug him. They were nothing more than a few white flags of bodily chemicals fluttering over a distant horizon, and easily ignored. Pheromones were a very demanding scent though, in the sense of turning around and seeing a blade inches from your face and an army of supporters to back the wielder up. ... Well, it was that bad if you were a male in your prime and didn't have a mate and whatnot, because on the other side of that blade was suppose to be the most tantalizing woman known to exist and who you'd give your arm for just to get past that blade... ... This was unfair. SO unforgivably unfair. If Sesshomaru already had a mate in mind then things would be far more easily dealt with. Of course, the situation was made worse the more he thought about recent events. Tickling, untying an obi, laughing, her falling on him at the carnival, her clinging to him, happy, free from the oppressions of royalty, deep blue eyes... The universe hated him. He knew it now. Despised him, really. Humans weren't suppose to give that scent off, only demons. ... Right? And she was too young for this! She had yet to fully mature! ... RIGHT?? OH, this would be grating at his instincts for a LONG time, especially considering the season. ... GAH!! WHY!! Why HER!! A HUMAN MIKO!! NO!!

 

As he calmly walked onward, inside he was about ready to claw at his own face and have a very personal conniption right when the pack of hormones squealed at his arrival and encircled him like he were some wounded animal. … That was a cruel comparison.

 

“Do you like this outfit or something?” one asked in regards to his own.

 

“You look so much different without that tough armor on!”

 

“I'm glad you kept the pelt!”

 

“How exactly to you keep your hair like this?? It's gorgeous!”

 

Yadda-yadda yadda-yadda yadda-yadda...

 

“Sesshy, are you sick?”

 

He looked at the miko who bore a teasing smirk, realizing he had lulled himself into a state of complete and total detachment from the chattering of the three females.

 

The girls all looked at their friend, then at him.

 

“That's an ADORABLE nickname!!”

 

... Oh kami... He had to kill something now... Maybe himself...

 

“Alright girls, he needs room to breathe,” the miko informed. “Want to get slushies at the vendor and sneak them into the movies?”

 

The girls backed off, and while the miko seemed uninterested in the slushie proposal she was dragged away nonetheless.

 

Good.

 

Don't ever come back...

 

Ever...

 

Even if he didn't want to look away from her, which he must...

 

...

 

She got a blue colored slushie, and ground the toe of her tiny shiny shoe into the pavement while she waited, making her leg bend at just that angle which swayed her back in a very pleasing manner.

 

Yeah... First thing after the movie he was jumping into the well. Even if it didn't work, he was digging his way back to his own time…

 

The girls didn't immediately come back to where he was left standing. Instead, they walked a little bit further away from him and sat down, having a heated conversation amongst themselves. He couldn't hear them at that distance, considering it was frantic whispering in a crowded area, but he could easily guess what they were talking about when the trio kept throwing him glances.

 

“ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!” the miko yelled, staring horrified at the short haired woman.

 

Alarmed, and wanting to know more of this subject that apparently concerned him, he jumped over. The trio flinch when he was suddenly there.

 

“What is the problem?” he asked, regarding Kagome.

 

“Holy crap you're fast!” the one with her hair pulled back informed him.

 

“So, that's a 'no'?” the woman with wavy hair inquired.

 

“A definite no!” the miko yelled, still panicked over something. “Would never happen!”

 

“Good!” the dark brown haired woman replied. “Because Hojo's coming!”

 

“Who?” Sesshomaru asked. The miko suddenly looked like she was dipped in a bucket of dread and hung out to dry.

 

“Doesn't he go to an all-boy's high school...?” she asked, sounding a little flustered and dazed at the same time.

 

“Yeah! That's why he's coming to hang out!” the girl with brown hair stated, winking at Kagome. Er, the miko. “You know, he still hasn't given up on you.”

 

The miko who was named Kagome gave a dreadful sigh and finished it while cupping her face. “Just make him go away, please...”

 

“So, are you still going out with that two-timing guy Inuyasha?”

 

Sesshomaru felt his anger rise with Kagome's embarrassment. ... The miko's embarrassment... This Sesshomaru angrily stomped his anger down and wanted to sigh with how self-contradicting he was becoming.

 

“Um, actually, I'm not sure how far things between him and I could get,” she admitted, flushing ever so slightly. “I don't know, but I think my attraction to him is fading... He's more like a brother after all. A very protective brother.”

 

There was silence.

 

“He dumped you...” the girl with her hair pulled back stated.

 

Kagome was shocked.

 

“That two-timing creep!” the other fiery girl yelled.

 

“It's alright Kagome, denial's a common thing,” reassured the wavy haired woman as she placed a hand lightly on Kagome's shoulder.

 

“No one dumped anyone, alright?!” Kagome yelled, standing and slamming her hands to the table in anger. “If anything, I'm dumping him!”

 

The girls all looked at each other, then said at the same time “denial” with a nod of affirmation.

 

Kagome lost it. Whatever 'it' was. She actually sent 'it' screaming petrified for the hills as she began flicking blue slushie at everyone's clothes in a fit of irritation.

 

“Good day everyone! Hello Higurashi-san! ... Am I interrupting something?”

 

Everyone whipped their heads to the side to see a young man approaching from behind the miko. He had short brown hair, and kept a proper air about him.

 

Sesshomaru wanted to growl threateningly at the lad, then to kill the downright hilarious miko and forsake his bloodline and heritage just to have his peace of mind back. Yet, to do all of that for the sake of sanity seemed just a tad insane…

 

“Hojo!” she greeted with somewhat false happiness while turning completely around, missing Sesshomaru rubbing the back of his neck with frustration. She plastered a smile to her face as the slushie slipped from her hand unnoticed to splatter over shoes. “What a… surprise!”

 

“Indeed!” he agreed, holding out his hand. She shook it with the hand not still occupied with a long red straw, and the girl with short brown hair scoffed.

 

“After so long...” she sighed, twirling her straw in her drink.

 

The boy smirked, and bent slightly to formally kiss the back of Kagome's hand.

 

Yanking it to her chest with a sickened expression, Kagome stumbled back and bumped into a secretly annoyed Sesshomaru.

 

“Oh!” Hojo toned, looking up to meet eyes with the demon lord. “Hello! My name is Hojo, it's an honor to meet y-”

 

Sesshomaru looked at where the boy was staring, and noticed that his hand had gripped Kagome's shoulder. He was half a thought from removing it too.

 

“Hojo!” she gave a brilliant exclamation, holding her hand lightly over Sesshomaru's and keeping it in place. She was having a personal session of hyperventilation. “This is my ... boyfriend!!”

 

That last word was admirably forced, and even quaked a little with squeaked pronunciation. Sesshomaru could almost hear her pearly little teeth grind against one another.

 

“WHAT?!” the trio exclaimed.

 

“But! You just said-”

 

“Who cares what I just said, I was joking!” Kagome giggled nervously, interrupting the girl with her hair pulled back. The three were pursing their lips at the miko, each for a different reason. “Yes! Completely hilarious, isn't it?? Haha! I got you good! Sesshy, dear, would you come over here for a second?”

 

He was led off with her nails inserted into the back of his hand, an act she was allowed to get away with since her earlier one left him completely baffled. Either this was important enough to risk her life over, or she was too petrified to let go and see what else he would do with the claws currently held down by her palm. Then again, walking with his arm draped lightly over her tiny frame was rather-

 

Inconceivable!! Yes. It was. He wanted to let go. Now... ... He was letting go... ... His will was as intolerable as Tenseiga...

 

“GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!” she yelled with pained vexation into her palms when she broke away from him, muffling the sound considerably. They had just turned a corner so as to not be seen, and she was pacing. “I'm sorry!” she yelled to him, looking desperate. “Hojo's just so BORING and freakin DETERMINED and OH my GOD, I can't STAND him!! This has been going on since MIDDLE SCHOOL!! You'd THINK he'd learn 'no' means 'no' by now! Oh, WHY did he go to an all BOYS school!? He needs to meet different girls, dammit!!”

 

She was now burying her face into the collar of her baggy short-sleeved shirt, as though to suffocate herself into being calmed.

 

“What is a boyfriend?” Sesshomaru finally asked, deciding to get the answers to his questions in chronological order...

 

Her face popped out of the fabric and she looked mortified. “Eh?? ... I said I was sorry! Please don't kill me!!”

 

He blinked. Killing her was actually, for once, at the bottom of his list of things to do, which was bad. Very bad.

 

“Explain the term and I will not resent you,” he stated in a persuasive manner.

 

She began chewing on her thumb, the side of her upper lip lifted slightly. “... Do I have to?”

 

“Yes,” he enforced.

 

“Um, well...” she breathed, rubbing the back of her neck with the hand which didn't have a digit in her mouth. “A boyfriend and a girlfriend are two people who are... Ummmmm...”

 

“Yes?” he prompted.

 

“Who are... Seeing one another! And, ah… Getting to know each other?”

 

She was lying, it was written all over her body in bold print, but since it wasn't in her scent then she was telling part of the truth. Just not all of it. “And?”

 

She gulped, looking to one side. “Getting to know one another in a… a, ah… friendly manner...”

 

“Meaning?”

 

“Very friendly...”

 

“Which translates to what in Japanese?” he inquired, wondering why she refused to flat out tell him.

 

“A... A step beyond...” she glanced up at him, then looked away. “Courting...?”

 

Several definitions suddenly sped through his mind, and considering her sheer humiliation only one made sense. Courting was currently being seen as an act of wooing one to be your mate, and the step beyond that meant the desired mate had accepted the pursuer, which opened the door for many entertaining activities. No wonder she was flushing so brightly.

 

“Please don't kill me...” she mumbled. “I was desperate, I really was... And if there was any other guy, trust me, I would have put him in this situation!”

 

She looked at him in a mix of horror and humiliation when he chuckled dryly.

 

“Am I that unappealing?” he questioned. He should have left her staring, because the he would have a minute to think about things and put them into a logical order.

 

She gapped at him, recycling what she just said. “By desperate, I meant for an idea, not entirely for who I chose...” she clarified. “Since you'd sooner kill me than play along. Besides, you're probably the most emotionally stunted person on the face of the planet, past OR future, and I can't imagine you kissing someone, let alone getting married and having kids and what not.”

 

“On the contrary,” he corrected, “I have been more emotionally unraveled of late than has been deemed appropriate for myself.”

 

“Well, yeah, you laugh a bit more,” she admitted, looking away. She apparently did not know him too well. “But you still seem pretty numb to the whole 'there are others in the world besides this Sesshomaru' concept.”

 

“I am working on that,” he assured sarcastically. “It is difficult not to with such an outspoken woman in your midst.”

 

“Gee, thanks,” she grumbled, pacing in a small and indecisive oval of dread.

 

“And acts such as kissing and love making are not uncommon for someone of my age, miko.” In fact, he would be happier if they were more common. Perhaps then he could think straight when the miko turned on him, making him recall the scent lingering around them.

 

The universe... How to get back at the universe...

 

“That's gross,” she stated, suddenly refusing to meet his eye. Oh yes, she was very young still… “I don't even want to think about it...”

 

Nor did he, because he was sure that mating a human would be entertaining and interesting in more ways than one. His inner demon was simply purring at her now... Damn, what a flaky essence... Why couldn't it go back to wanting to eat her alive? And damn his most recent thought process to the cold stagnant depths of-! She was looking at him.

 

“Sesshomaru, are you alright?” Kagome asked.

 

“I am fine,” he bit out brashly, wishing he could beat that purring noise out of existence. It was like trying to push a stubborn cat off your chest, in regards to the claws... The noise was actually ringing in his ears.

 

“So, you ARE going to kill me for me calling you my boyfriend,” she replied quickly. Because fate deemed him to be with someone who talks in rapid fire when nervous. “Well, you could have the damn courtesy to do it now and get if over with. But, then again, you do like to watch things suffer, so I suppose that-”

 

“Stop talking,” he told her, pushing her to the wall in a common act of dominance so that she'd shut up. He couldn't thing while she was talking, and holding her there he stared off past the road to visually ignore her. Well, he could think through her chattering, but he couldn't focus on any topic he wanted to... And her body heat increased and sent more of that foul, nasty, wondrous odor to assail his senses.

 

“Sesshomaru?” she asked, a little shakily. Her voice vibrated against his palm, reminding him where he had carelessly left it. … Just a few inches lower and he'd be feeling cleavage rather than her collarbone. “You look really angry, and... confused. We don't have to see the movie if you don't want to. We really don't. We can go back and pretend like nothing ever happened.”

 

“The distraction would be nice,” he stated, being unhooked from a good thought and thrown back into the whirlpool that was reality. Women were truly demons no matter the species, at certain times... He pulled his hand back, and she sighed with relief.

 

“Okay,” she replied. “We'll see the movie then. I'll stand here by myself too, you don't have to restrain me again. It's a brick wall anyway, which is a bit uncomfortable, and I don't like being pressed up against it.”

 

He wanted to cover his ears. She was talking too much. Again... And she seemed nervous. Why did she love talking when she was nervous? It put quite the annoying spin on his favorite pastimes, considering most were aimed to put her nerves on edge...

 

She kept talking, and despite himself he was listening. Halfheartedly, but he was. That damnable scent had his senses targeting her, so he noticed how very gently her chest lifted with breath, how wild her hands were as she spoke, how easily and smoothly her lips moved and flowed into different shapes as she articulated her words... She said she's never been kissed before...? ... Hm...

 

“Maybe you should go to the hospital,” she finally suggested, now just leaning against the wall. “You're not yourself. It's sorta scary...”

 

“Scary?” he asked. That wasn't a word he was expecting to hear.

 

“Or, creepy...” she replied, shifting some more. “It makes me uneasy, please stop...”

 

…

 

She was being contradictory. Females only released that malicious odor when in the presence of the man they wanted to mate with. Not that he would even consider it, but still... Was it different for humans? Did they normally seek multiple mates in life?

 

He shook his head, not wanting to think like that. But, she was telling him he was scary and looking unwell, which was not what women releasing that scent around him before had said. That odor was suppose to be a lure. A sign of readiness and nigh unfathomable willingness, and usually one he gave in to.

 

However, he was stuck with a woman whom he not only wanted to ignore and be far away from at that moment, but who also did not seek him as a mate.

 

That last idea made the gears of his mind slowly come to a stop. This wasn't natural. It was far from natural...

 

“Sesshomaru,” she spoke his name. “Um... Do you have a fever?”

 

A gear twitched, making him process a thought. This woman found him undesirable. …

 

“Why are your expressions changing so quickly?” she squeaked in a dry sob of hopelessness when he stared at her in shock. This woman found him undesirable?? This human did? Him? He had several female demons whom he'd never met before come dancing up to him with one thought on their minds, yet here he was, in the long-time company of this miko, and although she released the scent she would deny him? Wow... That was a really good shot for his ego, and she wasn't even trying... That's like getting kicked between the legs by a sleeping person, it just shouldn't happen... Actually, he was rather affronted…

 

“I want proof!”

 

Both Sesshomaru and Kagome looked at the girl with dark brown hair, who stomped to a stand nearby and addressed them both with tiny fists planted on her hips.

 

“WHAT??” Kagome whimpered. Sesshomaru just stared. Fate was probably laughing its ass off somewhere in the near vicinity.

 

“You said the two of you are dating, so prove it!” she confronted them with. “It wouldn't be too hard to do.”

 

“You've got to be joking!” Kagome yelled. “Yuka, we- UM!! We just admitted having feeling for each other, that's all! We're still just holding hands, and-”

 

Oh yes, this was promising. It will be fun to see her explain her way out of this one.

 

... Wait, did she just say they admitted feeling for each other...?

 

“Why don't you two cut through the mushy business and kiss then?” the 'friend' asked, giving the young newcomer male an apologetic look when he approached with the other two women.

 

“Yuka!” Kagome yelled. “This is mean! I'll put a restraining order on you!”

 

“It's natural!” the girl defended herself with a laugh. “Besides, seeing the two of you kiss would be quite the pretty sight!”

 

Both members of the addressed party were suddenly angry, and they spoke at the same time.

 

“Ridiculous,” he growled.

 

“I would NEVER kiss him!!” the miko yelled.

 

Even Sesshomaru stared at her on that note.

 

“Oh really?” he asked with a smirk. She gave him a death glare.

 

“Oh, then I suppose things aren't going too well between the two of you?” Yuka suggested. “I mean, Kagome, you don't want to be hung up on another guy so soon after Inuyasha, right?”

 

Sesshomaru's patience was ready to break like fine china all over the place, and there would be blood.

 

“Yuka, stop butting into my life!” the miko yelled at her friend.

 

“She's right,” stated the woman with wavy hair, smiling. “Love's something you can't force. It takes time.”

 

“Yeah, come on,” sighed the one with her hair pulled back. “I mean, half the credits are probably over by now...”

 

There was a sudden panic, just like before, and the cluster of annoyance ran for their seats. This left Sesshomaru plenty of time to ignore the miko, and vice versa.

 

“Listen,” she finally began. “I'm sorry for dragging you into this. Let's just go back to the shrine. I could use more training anyway...”

 

He spared her a glance. “That was very poorly handled, miko.”

 

She puffed her chest slightly at him. “Yeah, well...! ... Thanks for not killing anyone...”

 

“It was tempting,” he admitted.

 

She looked up at him for a short time, then giggled. “Kami, I hope no one has to ever suffer with another person like you and I have to...” She walked for the entrance.

 

“Are you insinuating that this Sesshomaru is insufferable?” he inquired, holding the odd glass and metal door open for himself after she waked in. Through another set of doors she glanced back at him while bracing the entrance open again until he'd grab it.

 

“Very much so. You haven't tried living with yourself,” she replied, smirking. “You deserve a lot of tickling and roller coaster rides to make up for making me put up with you.”

 

Well, at least she made him laugh...

 

They were walking into a dark room that was absolutely littered with seats, and reeked of humans. Maybe going back to the shrine would have been better...

 

“Kagome!!” one of the more tame girls from above yelled, waving a hand excitedly. Kagome waved back, and began mounting the steps, which were highlighted with very tiny lights.

 

The miko took a seat next to the girl with her hair pulled back, commenting on how crowded it was, and seeing Sesshomaru standing and looking around she lowered the bottom of the seat next to herself and offered for him to sit. Not wanting to be rude, as she was accusing him of being of late, he took it.

 

… Hm, he was sitting too close to her now…

 

“Fine, be that way,” she suggested as he took the next seat over.

 

“Oh!” the short haired girl exclaimed. “Hey! Eri! Do you want some popcorn??”

 

“Yes!” the girl exclaimed.

 

“Well, Hojo doesn't like it, so switch places!” The miko looked pissed. “Hurry! The movie's about to start!”

 

“No! Wait!” the miko hissed, trying to grab the back of her friend's shirt as she got up. “Oh, YUKA!”

 

Sesshomaru had thought only he could make Kagome utter curses through gritted teeth, and was oddly relieved that it wasn't true.

 

“I enjoy these theaters!” the young man informed with a smile, getting comfortable next to Kagome.

 

“They're a blast...” she replied in a very moaning tone. A blast of what?

 

“I don't eat the popcorn here. It's too greasy and the kernel shells get stuck in my teeth.”

 

Oh, kami, he WAS boring... What kind of a conversation starter was THAT??

 

“M,” Kagome intoned, glancing around. “Wow, I never asked! What movie are we watching anyway?”

 

“Oh, they didn't tell you?” the boy asked. “We're watching the feature clip of the day. It's the dubbed over movie Titanic. It's suppose to be really good, despite the mouth movements in dubbing. ... Kagome?”

 

The miko very unceremoniously scrambled away and over Sesshomaru's knees, threatening to unbalance and fall into his lap, and muttering something about drinks she booked it down the steps and back into the light of day. Sesshomaru was surprised she didn't break her neck with that little display.

 

Very amusing.

 

“Kagome!” yelled her three friends, the biggest nuisance of the lot hopping over the row of chairs in front of them and running down the empty aisle after the miko like she was her prey.

 

Alright. He had to see this. And he could use a drink anyway...

 

“You EVIL, conniving BITCH!” was the outburst to greet him. A beautiful start.

 

“What!?” the friend demanded. “It's only a little more than two hours Kagome, can't you handle that?”

 

“No! And it's over THREE hours!”

 

“Oh, cut the drama and let's get back in. The lights were dimming on our way out!”

 

“Yuka, I really don't want to give Hojo any false hope! Or any hope for that matter! I'm not interested in him!”

 

“You're pretty mean to him...”

 

“Wow, coming from you, that says a lot...”

 

“Hey! I'm only looking out for your best interests, alright??”

 

“I'll do that, thanks! If you're looking out for Hojo's, then YOU can date him!”

 

“Are you kidding??”

 

“Oh, so he doesn't strike your fancy either?”

 

This was getting good... He didn't peep around the corner though, he was fairly sure he'd be noticed.

 

“No, it's just that he refuses to see anyone other than you! Besides, he's a really sweet guy!”

 

“Yeah, with the personality and intelligence of a computer.”

 

“Kagome, we have to be looking to the future of things! Intelligent men are desirable men, don't you get that yet??”

 

Sesshomaru logged that last bit. Not that he'd ever need it, he was quite intelligent already.

 

“Maybe for you,” the miko replied. “I just can't see myself living with him, let alone dating him! He's so boring, and plain, and I would hate to have little boring Hojo's running around the house! And I am not even old enough to be thinking about kids!”

 

That she wasn't. And she was right, raising his kids did seem to be an undeserving fate for anyone who had a life of their own, even the miko.

 

“You know what, fine! I'm giving up on you Kagome. Good luck with all the losers you've been picking up!”

 

Little stomping feet approached, and the intolerable woman walked angrily past Sesshomaru and into the room again.

 

He nonchalantly smacked the back of her head with his knuckles.

 

“What the hell!” she seethed, turning and realizing who she just stormed past and called a loser.

 

“Mind yourself, child,” he warned. She stared at him, a tad horrified, and not wanting to have to look at her he stepped to the side and let the door close.

 

Some innocent thing was being kicked, by the sounds of it.

 

“Dang it!” the miko cursed, walking away from the floor-fixated garbage can and past the doorway Sesshomaru was standing in. She was heading for the food bar, and seemed angry enough to not have noticed him. He followed her.

 

“What do you want?” she grumbled miserably when he stood next to her.

 

“A drink,” he replied, giving her some space. He didn't want to be poked in the side again after all.

 

She scoffed so softly that even he was hard pressed to actually hear it. “How about this. I'll do something for you if you're willing to do something for me.”

 

“That sounds fair,” he replied.

 

“Good!” she said with a smile, turning back to the cashier. “I'd like two giant bags of popcorn, and two waters please!”

 

When they entered the theater again, she stopped quickly and looked up.

 

“Okay!” she whispered excitedly, shifting the two bags of popped corn into one arm so she could point up. He had to crane his neck to follow her finger. “See where the wall levels off and this wall next to us stops slopping up to it with the stairs? I'd very much appreciate it if you could lift me up there in one jump.

 

She was serious?

 

“Heights no longer scare you?” he asked sarcastically, glancing back when a splash of white and purple hit the screen. Nice outfit... Very BIG television…

 

“I just don't trust some of those rides,” she replied, looking at him hopefully.

 

“So you trust this Sesshomaru then?”

 

He wasn't expecting her to smirk.

 

“Yeah,” she agreed. “I trust you. Now come on, let's have some fun!” Her face fell for a moment. “Oh... Right, I almost forgot about the whole `no touch' thing with yo-”

 

Before she could finish that hindering reminder, Sesshomaru easily tucked a hand around her waist and jumped up. Her torso hit heavily against his for once unarmored one, but she didn't scream into his ear so all was good. They were just making the drop above the waist-high wall when her free arm darted behind his neck for security.

 

Her warm little hand left immediately once her feet touched the ground, and with a giddy thanks she ran to the empty back of the theater. He followed while wondering if he would have removed the hand of any other being who did that to him, rubbing his neck while he was at it. Not too many people were on this list of trusted and tolerated, and he never imagined the miko would keep all four limbs after an act such as that.

 

He was in the middle of reprimanding himself for his lack of action when Kagome threw something.

 

“Not even close!” she muttered, crouched between two of the back seats near the floor. She selected another popped kernel, and lobbed it into the air at the young girl who tried to destroy her evening. It was a horrible shot.

 

“What are you doing?” he asked, looking down at that crazy little being.

 

She cackled lightly yet evilly to herself. “I've always wanted to do this!” She waved her hands frantically as though to make the wind pull him down to her, so he knelt. Kagome displayed for him a little kernel of popcorn. “Alright! Take this, and try to hit them.”

 

“Try?” he inquired.

 

“Fine, DO hit them! Your aim is probably better anyway.”

 

Grabbing another piece, the miko tossed it, and was closer to her target by a foot. “Damn!”

 

Sesshomaru, his smile hidden inside, positioned his hand and flicked his piece.

 

“OW!!” yelled the twit halfway down the theater from them, looking around angrily. Sesshomaru and Kagome had ducked by then, and were now exchanging humored glances.

 

“That was amazing!” Kagome breathed, looking delighted. She peeked over the chair top, and giggled. “She's actually rubbing the spot. That's so priceless, I wish I had that sort of strength!”

 

He shrugged. “It is possible.”

 

Although the movie was a fascinating instrument in and of itself, with what the miko identified as the screen, surround sound and story plot, the thing which proved to be the most interesting and self-involving was teaching her how to flick around what she called 'super popcorn'. She caught on surprisingly quickly, which was odd since without knowing the other exercise she shouldn't even be able to make the popcorn glow.

 

Then again, she was using so much energy that the popcorn should either implode or catch fire…

 

Now she was juggling three nigh-neon blue pieces in the air without moving her hands. Just flowing energy, and saying how amazed she was every five seconds; believe him, he counted.

 

With a glance she sent a piece flying out of the loop above her palms and into some nearby plastic. She put dents into quite a few chairs, and Sesshomaru was certain that some random servants would wonder just how exactly the starchy food had inserted itself so precisely into the fabric of the seat cushions.

 

“This is so awesome...” she sighed, glancing up and sending another piece sky-rocketing for the ceiling. It didn't come down. “I think I'm overdoing this somehow.”

 

“You lack control,” he supplied, surprised that the popcorn wasn't sizzling from her energy-overload on it. Control was what they had been trying to achieve for so long, making the energy obey its possessor and stay dormant. It she forever had no control, then Sesshomaru would run for the hills whilst she try and activate the well again. Playing with popcorn was safe enough though, so long as she wasn't aiming for him... That would actually sting quite a bit despite his rather high resistance to spiritual powers.

 

“So, I can't shoot her in the back of the head?” the miko asked.

 

“Go ahead,” he replied. “It would only kill her. One less human never hurt anyone.”

 

The miko scoffed. “Your honesty is almost as admirable as it is depressing.”

 

Despite that last statement the miko offered him a smile, and for the rest of the movie they completely emptied the two bags of popcorn onto Kagome's short haired friend and pursuer, and their seats.

 

“Did you SEE their FACES!!” Kagome cried with happiness, doing little circles as she tried to walk in a straight line. She did a fairly good job, falling off the curb only once. “Oh kami, I feel so sorry for those janitors! I would HATE to be in their shoes and look at those seats after we were done with them!”

 

He decided that he liked her sadistic side the best. It made her seem less human and more sane.

 

“That movie was based off of a true event?” he asked again.

 

“Yes, Sesshy,” she replied, relaying her irritation via the new nickname. They continued talking about the movie for the duration of the walk, and when they arrived there was a note where the pile of books had been left on the kitchen table.

 

“Glad you're reading,” the miko read aloud, “but please keep the house neat while you do it. We'll be back in- IN A WEEK?!”

 

Kagome's eyes insanely skimmed over the tiny note several times, and she sat down heavily at the table.

 

Sesshomaru was not too preoccupied with the contents of the note. He was much too busy getting a visual of what was beeping and getting on his nerves.

 

“What the hell...” the miko asked herself when he approached the odd little machine which flashed a segmented vertical line at him. “Sesshy, what are you doing...?”

 

“Entitle me properly, little miko,” he replied, picking the device up. It was wired to the wall.

 

“You do the same and I'll consider it,” she stated, looking over. “... There's a message?”

 

It beeped, and she saved it from being smashed by grabbing it away from him.

 

'You have, one, new message,' the machine spoke at an odd note, beeping once more.

 

“Hello dear!” came the mother's voice. She sounded quite excited. “I'm sorry I couldn't leave you much more notice! Grandpa just won a radio contest, and we had twenty minutes to pack and be there! We're going on a week long cruise! I'm so sorry to have to tell you this in a message, but there were only three tickets given out, so Grandpa, Sota, and I decided to pack up for a week! I'm running out of time on this pay phone, but we won't be having any reception on a boat and can't get on a computer, so I hope everything will be fine on your end. Go ahead and take money from The Jar, that should be enough to get you through the week and then some. If you wreak anything or need help, remember our relatives and don't bother the police too much. Let's see, what else... Oh! Please feed Buyo every other morning, he's on a diet still, and I hope everything goes well with you and your friend! The taxi just pulled up to take us all the way to the harbors, so we're on our wa- Yes, Sota, go ahead and get in! We all love you sweetie! Take care!”

 

There was a click and that was it. The miko continued to stare at it, eyes rather shadowed by her bangs.

 

She abruptly snapped somewhere deep inside though when she began beating the counter top.

 

“GAAAAAAAAH!!” she yelled. “It's not fair!! It makes perfect sense and it's wonderful for them, but- GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!”

 

“Is something wrong?” Sesshomaru asked, completely confused.

 

“Yes!” she practically sobbed. “I got gypped!! Out of a CRUISE!!” She claimed a seat with a breathy huff and scrubbed her fingers through her hair. “And the timing is HORRIBLE!!”

 

Sesshomaru lifted an eyebrow at her, and she rolled her eyes and looked out the kitchen window, her chin resting in a palm.

 

“Aaaaaaaaargh… I'm suppose to have a boyfriend when the entire house is suddenly dumped into my care. It's in so many movies that it should be a part of life itself!” She threw him a look. “Instead I'm stuck with a regal dog...”

 

He scowled at her.

 

“Hey, you're the one who hates humans, don't blame me for identifying you by your proper nature,” she defended herself.

 

“Taking the form of a human is simply more beneficial for demons,” he stated gruffly, still offended. She did say 'dog' in a rather sarcastic way... “It is like English being the official language.”

 

She became interested, and within five minutes he was sitting at the table and trying the tea of the future while listing off the reasons of his claim; such as easy maneuverability, specialized attacks, utilizations of crafted weapons since humans had opposable thumbs, and more.

 

“Having an official manner of body language amongst other high ranking demons of different species is also desirable,” he continued, noticing the moon light had passed considerably across the table. Time tended to sneak out the back door when he was with Kagome. “Although my kind do not suffer with things such as foul odor and endearment of injury, we do experience other setbacks such as lack of control in appearance and withheld energy. That is, however, a small price to pay in exchange.”

 

A few seconds passed before she realized he had finished, and blinked. “Wow... That's really... Wow.”

 

Wow indeed. He never spoke so much in one sitting. And that had been a long sitting. The water in the kettle was at room temperature and it felt like he had gone to the library over a day ago.

 

The miko yawned and looked over at the microwave. “It's only nine??”

 

So it was. Still early. She got up and stretched, her shirt lifting to expose a small portion of her abdomen. Apparently hefting a bow across his lands and riding that odd shiny thing of hers gave her a sufficient workout.

 

“Are you bored?” she asked.

 

“No.” And he wasn't. He was use to being alone, and he certainly had plenty to read and keep himself busy with.

 

“Alright,” she replied, yawning and turning for the stairs to her room. “Well, I got up at four, so I'm off to bed. Good night, Sesshy.”

 

He smiled wryly. “Good night, little miko.”

 

“Yeah, yeah, screw you too,” she stated halfheartedly, shaking her head as a giggle escaped her. A look crossed her face and she regarded him. “I've been meaning to ask… You and your father came to Japan from China, didn't you?”

 

He nodded. “My mother as well. That was rather perceptive of you.”

 

She flushed slightly. “Yeah, well, your clothes give that away for the most part… Besides, there weren't any dogs in Japan until Americans came over and brought them as pets, so your species shouldn't have been introduced until far later…”

 

So, dogs were shipped to the island at that time… Considering he hadn't read about the history of Japan, that was a new fact for him.

 

“Also,” she continued, “if China is to the west of Japan, and you're Lord of the Western Lands, do you rein over part of the continent too?”

 

“Not yet,” he informed her. “It remains under the control of my uncle.”

 

She nodded. “Huh… Alright, see you tomorrow!”

 

Sesshomaru, now sitting outside in his usual spot and halfway through his fifth book, admitted that he couldn't keep his mind on it and set it aside. Kagome had found the pile relocated to her room, and brought a third of them down to his while he was slipping his swords back into place under his sash. Although the air outside was clean and refreshing without any annoying feminine scent, he still couldn't keep his mind off of her.