Hey peeps its me again, back from the dead! (jk) Yeah but anyhoo I will add a teaser at the end of this chappie sometime this week, so make sure to check back!! I don’t want you missing out on what is to come, now do I? :giggles: I love that word. Giggles. It just looks so funny, and puts such a vivid emotion in a person’s head. :giggle giggle giggle: hee hee! Sooooooo….yeah……

Yep yep yep! I hope everybody will love this chapter, and if you don’t, it’s cuz it’s just not your thing. And I know the title of this story is ‘night clubbin’, and as I said before I’m wanting to change the title, but I don’t have many choices of titles to choose from! Work with me here people. I need suggestions for great ideas on what to re-christen my story with! Somebody actually told me that they almost passed my story up because of the title! Eeeek! We can’t have that. (Thank you, you know who you are. I hadn’t even thought about people passing up my story because of a lame title! Yikes!) But anywayz yeah if you want to know what the story’s actually about, check out my bio and you’ll know. And feel free to comment on some of my other story ideas in your reviews. You guys are great.

p.s. there will be major partying going on in this story, along with booze, girls, clubs, cough gentlemens’ clubs cough, and a whole lot more that I don’t want to spoil, so if that was what you were looking forward to, it is yet to come. But I will keep it very tasteful, even if it does get a little extra…colorful. Hee hee. But first we have to work our way up to it. I mean, come on. Sesshoumaru isn’t exactly going to walk up to Kagome and go, ‘let’s go check out some of those hot mamas in your time!’ now is he?

So anywaaaayyzzzz, let’s get on to the story! Ready….set…GO!! !! !!

Disclaimer: yada yada yada don’t own inuyasha yada… :runs away frantically with evil plot blueprints, cackling madly: "YOU JUST WAIT….ONE OF THESE DAAAAYYSSS……!!"

:heh hem:

Chapter 4:

Bath and Bed

(and movie-mania)

Well, so much for a peaceful night’s rest. There was no way in hell Kagome was going to sleep peacefully tonight. No pleasant dreams, no drifting of to la-la land, no holding the reins of her winged golden spoon while steering it through capped mountaintops of whipped cream and over glistening lakes of hot fudge…

Not for her. Not tonight. All because a certain dog demon was going to be awake aaaalllllllll night long. Said demon had informed Kagome that he ‘would not require rest unless he became mortally injured.’ That meant that he would be wide awake for the long hours that everybody else will be heavily snoozing in their REM cycles, oblivious to the world and any persons wishing to leave the house to roam off into the night. Because Kagome just knew that he would stalk off in search of something, anything… a strange sound, and enticing smell, a poor soul wandering aimlessly in the night that unintentionally offends his almightiness whistling the wrong kind of tune…and there wasn’t anything Kagome could do but worry about the ‘what-if’s.’ ‘What if’ he hears a car go by. ‘What if” he follows it outside and down the street. ‘What if’ it leads him to downtown. ‘What if’ he’s met by a measly bunch of hardcore gangsters. ‘What if’ he decides to just simply annihilate them all. ‘What if’ the police just happen to get involved... The list went on and on in poor Kagome’s head, and all lead to the destruction of the world and all creatures in it, not to mention the ice-cream parlor down the street that would close-up shop. Where would she go to get her sugar fix then?

Mmmmmmmm….sugar……no, wait, where was she? Oh yeah, demon lord insomniacs. Well, the only thing she could do about it would be to ask him what he planned on doing for the entirety of the night. Wow, great idea Kagome. Did you have to pass a bar exam to figure that one out? But, beyond all logic and reason, she decided to ask.

“Hey, um, Sesshoumaru?” Her voice had come out squeakier than she had intended.

“Hnnnnnn…” was his stoic reply. She took it as he was listening.

“Remember me telling you humans have to sleep every night to replenish their energy?” He gave her a glance that said he did.

“Well, that means I sleep all night too, because I’m a human,” she did a little flourish with her hand. “Sooo, that means I won’t be up all night.” Wow, a simple question was harder than she thought. It just wouldn’t come out!

Sesshoumaru bore a look on his face that read ‘even Inuyasha could have stated this better’. He lightly growled to tell her to continue. Her speech noticeably quickened.

“Well, since I can’t stay up all night, and you are going to stay up all night, and I can’t be there to stay up with you all night, and since you’re not going to have me with you when you stay up all night…” she took a deep breath. “What I want to know is what are you going to be doing while you stay up all night?” There. She said it. Now for the reaction.

She wishes to know my plans for this evening? The demon pondered a moment, while taking in her anxiety. Why would she be nervous over a simple inquiry? It is only natural for her to wonder, since I am in fact taking residence in her home. He carefully gave her his answer.

“I plan to view more of these divios. They are quite fascinating, and teach me much of your culture. Is this satisfactory?” He patiently waited for an answer.

Kagome had to think for a minute, for her mind was going in slow-mo. Divi-os…? Di-vios…? Oh! Videos! Movies! He wants to watch more movies! That’s great! That’s….“oh boy.” She sweatdropped. “I’m turning you into a couch potato. You’re going to be a vegetable by the time you go back home.” She sighed, and let out a small giggle. (a/n there’s that word again! Yippie!)

Meanwhile Sesshoumaru was thoroughly puzzled.

Couch potato? What does she mean? And how could she turn this Sesshoumaru into a vegetable? How confusing this era is! His features had formed a frown in his mental distress.

Kagome hadn’t noticed the odd look on the demon lord’s face, for she was too thrilled that she had gotten a straight answer out of him, and she knew that if he said he was going to watch movies all night, that that was what he was going to do. She could sleep peacefully tonight.

“Hot fudge lakes, I’m going for a swim!” She announced enthusiastically. Sesshoumaru mentally stopped in his tracks and just looked at her. She blushed.

“Oh…um, never mind.”

After Kagome had bounded off from the den, eager to begin her trip to dreamland, she suddenly remembered something. She popped her head back through the doorway.

“Hey, Sesshoumaru?”

“Hmmmm,” he gave a disinterested reply to show he was listening. Kagome took this as she was okay to go and went on.

“There is one more thing…”

A sense of foreboding weighed down on his entire being as he stood before the door. The sounds coming from the other side told him next to nothing, except that she was in there, doing some sort of strange ritual she had referred to as ‘bath time.’ Similar to his own bathing habits, he supposed at first that it would be as relaxing and soothing as he knew it to be. But as she went on in her instructing on how to work the ‘tub’ and ‘headshower’ and the various substances used for cleansing and what each one was called and used for, he feared that his days of cleanliness had come to an abrupt halt…or at least until he left this accursed time period.

At first she had insulted him by asking if he was familiar with bathing. How absurd! To walk around smelling like the foul human peasants he so utterly despised? It was outrageous that she should think something like that. Him of all beings. Even Inuyasha, although he wasn’t particularly fond of it, was familiar with bathing. But this had been the least of his troubles.

Once he had learned that he wouldn’t be bathing in a proper natural hot spring, he grew anxious. Human bathing areas that were indoors, even those of royalty, consisted of wooden buckets barely large enough for a human to sit in. They were filled with water that had been heated over a fire, and many humans shared this same water, which became filthy, smelly, and cold by the time the last person bathed. And being a guest, it would only be proper that he be the last to bathe. A sign of gratitude, if you will, for the host’s being hospitable. But the thought of being last sickened him to no end, so he had promptly informed the girl that he would not be bathing with the family. He would find a natural spring elsewhere in this country and returned when he had finished.

“But, Sesshoumaru, you can’t just go up to just any body of water, strip down and take a bath. You’d be breaking so many of the government’s rules that I can’t even begin to name them all off. Indecent exposure, trespassing, pollution, all sorts of things like that. Besides, natural water isn’t as clean as it used to be you know. Indoor plumbing is waaay much cleaner and more sanitary than anything you’d find out there.” She had folded a fluffy cloth over her arm.

Sesshoumaru had only understood a small portion of what the girl had rattled off, but he understood enough. Natural bathing had been outlawed? And what was this ‘pollution’ she had mentioned? So many laws and decrees…how could one keep track? It seemed there was a law for everything. Laws for living, for dying, for eating, for fighting, weapons, clothes, animals, plants, land, water, air, killing…well, he could understand the killing part, but the rest was just unheard of. Why, there was even a law stating that only people with the proper papers could have a house. To him, this was complete nonsense. Any being with the ability to build his own house should be able to have a house. Madness. Total chaos.

All his worries temporarily faded when he heard that there would be hot…running…water…and it would be all his for the bathing…ah, sweet bliss. Til he remembered the time period he was in. He just knew that something…he didn’t know what…but something would go utterly wrong at the worst possible time while he was enjoying his bath. And that leads us to where he stood now.

In front of the door.

The blank white door.

With the copper knob, that was…turning?

Sesshoumaru jumped back a couple feet, waiting for the unknown. His body held stone-still, every muscle tense with anticipation for what was to come. His feet at perfect stance for defense, his hand and arm whip-ready…and all this happened in the moment it took for Kagome to fling open the door with a welcoming grin.

“Okay Sesshoumaru, bath’s ready! It’s all nice and hot, hopefully to your liking. Inuyasha doesn’t seem to mind the straight hot water, so I figured that you’re waaay tougher than he is, so it should be comfortable to you too. Enjoy!” She shoved the large blue towel in his still stiffened hand and proceeded to push his solidified self towards the bathroom doorway.

“Remember, shampoo, rinse, conditioner, rinse, body wash, rinse, avoid the toilet no matter what, don’t let anything touch your eyes, everything tastes awful no matter how good it smells, and don’t, under any circumstances, do not sniff anything directly out of the bottle. Inuyasha did that once and passed out for nearly a day. Have a nice bath!” And with that said she closed the door behind her.

“Surely she doesn’t expect me to consume that which is meant for cleansing? I am slightly more intelligent than that.” He looked over to what he assumed was the toilet. It was… full of water?

‘For what?’ he wondered lightly. He noticed a lever near the top, and had the sudden urge to push it. Then he chastised himself for his foolish cat-like curiosities. No, he would proceed to his bathing and return to the den to watch more ‘videos‘, as Kagome had corrected his terminology.

Speaking of Kagome, her voice muffled its way through the door.

“If you need any help Sesshoumaru, I’ll be right here waiting for you to get done. Just beat on the wall or something to get my attention okay?” He rapped on the wall to let her know he had heard.

He leaned over the bathing tub, inspecting the water below. Amazingly enough, his nose detected no impurities; it was crystal clear. Still, he could never be too cautious. He mustn’t let his guard down for a moment. He began to mechanically disrobe, pausing every now and then for anything suspicious.

So there he stood in all his naked glory in Higurashi Kagome’s bathroom. Staring at a tub of hot water. After a few moments of building up the willpower to get in, he went for it. Slowly but surely he would do this. Place his hand against the wall.

Lift one leg up and over the tub.

Stick a solitary toe in... the water seemed to be satisfactory.

Submerse one foot.

Lean forward, lift other leg over tub.

Slowly submerse other foot.

Lower down into water.

Relax.

“Aaaaahhhhhh…” he sighed comfortably.

The water was perfect.

He inhaled deeply, allowing the steamy cloud to envelop his senses. Exhaling, he opened his eyes to take in his new surroundings. The tub was surrounded by three walls, and the sliding screen he had come through, which was still open.

The walls were a pale yellow, made of smooth, large panels. He looked farther up. Well, the lower halves were. The top of the walls were solid, and were of a lighter shade; almost white. And at the very top, edging the ceiling, was a strip of colorful designs and patterns. Two characters alternated at a steady interval all around the room. They were the kanji for ‘peace’ and ‘tranquility’, and were accompanied by a variety of flowers and such. All in all, the room was presentable enough. He nodded his head in approval. This indeed was a much better human dwelling than those he came across in his own time. His mind wandered briefly to his ward and retainer. No doubt, the little toad demon was frantic with anxiety, and most likely chastising the young girl for every little occurrence. The child in turn would be singing a variety of made-up tunes, picking flowers, and badgering Jaken countless times, inquiring about her Lord’s whereabouts, and when he would return.

He mentally shook his head, clearing it of such thoughts. This Sesshoumaru did not linger on pointless memories. They served no purpose; solved no problems. He brought his mind back to the matter at hand.

Golden eyes scanned the area.

‘Hn…’ He spotted what he was looking for.

“Sham-poo,” he read aloud. Kagome’s voice echoed through his mind.

‘Now remember: Shampoo, rinse, conditioner, rinse…’ Satisfied that this was the first item to use, he examined it.

‘Interesting,’ he mused. ‘A brightly colored container, bearing pictures of a tree and…fruit.’ He turned it around, finding a bit of information on this strange substance.

It read:

Nature’s Wonders (R)

Berry Merry Splash

Moisturizing Shampoo

For Silky Smooth Hair.

Indulge yourself in the aromatic blend of

freshly picked berries while giving your

Mane the parlor treatment it deserves.

Our special formula

-revitalizes dry, damaged hair

-leaves it silky, soft, and manageable

-is safe on color treated hair

‘Color…treated?’ A frown formed in his confusion.

“Hnn…” he read on.

Directions: Wet hair, lather and rinse thoroughly. Avoid contact with eyes. In case of eye contact, flush thoroughly with water.

He read this part twice, and continued down the bottle.

Ingredients: Water, sulfate, sodium chloride, cocamidopropyl betaine, glycol stearate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, polyquaternium-7, disodium EDTA, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, glycerin, citric acid, polysorbate 20, propylene glycol, acetate, fruit extract, pass flora incarnata flower extract, niacin amide, biotin, fragrance (parfum,) limonene, hekyl cinnamal, benzyl salicylate, red 4, blue 40.

Three tries later, Sesshoumaru still found that none of that made since to him. He might as well have read it backwards, for it would have done him just as good. He would ask Kagome later what all these things were. Surely she would know.

The very bottom of the bottle read:

--Best when used with Nature’s Wonders(R) conditioner

--This product not tested on animals

Please recycle.

And a series of lines of odd sizes were labeled 22450 34218 008.

In any case, he now knew how to apply this to his hair. He examined the top. Figuring out how to work it, he cracked it open…

Kagome was sitting in bed, finishing up a little bit of studying before sleep. Just as she closed her overly large textbook, a ‘splash!’ sounded from behind the bathroom door. She gave a curious look, set her book to the side and stood up. She walked over and put her ear up against the door. Hearing nothing, she peeked through the keyhole…just to make sure he was alright, of course! Her, Kagome, a peeping Tom? Hah! She gave a nervous chuckle, and looked around in the bathroom at what she could see.

‘Let’s see…there’s the sink, mirror, towel bar, tub…’

A silvery-blue head came barreling up out of the water, along with much coughing and spluttering.

‘…’ Kagome’s mind drew a blank. She watched as Sesshoumaru looked around for a moment, spotted something, and drew a wet bottle of shampoo from the bath water. A few mumbled curses were to be heard, followed by a scrunched nose.

It took the young teen a few moments and a shake of the head to fully realize just what had happened.

‘Hnnn...oh!’ It hit her.

“Heehee--” she clapped a hand to her mouth, and fled to the safety of her room, still muffling giggles along the way. Hopefully the full-blooded demon had still been too fuzzy-headed to pick up on her outburst, but she wouldn’t take any chances. (giggle!)

Sesshoumaru stepped out of the tub, wrapping his lower half in the pleasantly fluffy blue towel. Omitting the few mishaps he had had, it had been a rather enjoyable experience, this bathing in the future. He mind drifted through the past half an hour. The foamy substance the shampoo magically turned into… trying to read the ‘in case of eye contact’ with his searing eyes clamped shut. The wonderfully fragrant smells filling the room from the various soaps he used all over his perfectly chiseled body… the many conks and crashes via slippery tub/skin. Letting cascades of hot water pour down his front to rinse the lather from his mane… spitting the foul poison from his burning mouth with no relief. Yes, he would tell Kagome that it was overall enjoyable and suitable for his standards.

Oh, how he missed his own era!

(One dried-and-groomed dog demon later)

A solitary figure sat upon a couch in the Higurashi’s den, eyes glued to the television screen.

This was absolutely fascinating.

Nothing compared in the least, in all his years of experience, throughout all his travels.

He was in love….with Hollywood.

After the family had went to replenish their energy for the evening, he had settled down in the den to watch his first choice: George of the Jungle. The cover really hit home for him, as it had a natural setting of a forest of some sort, with a variety of wild animals he had and hadn’t encountered. And an interesting title to say the least. He was curious as to which kind of animal this George was; was it the large, gray-skinned creature with ferocious looking fangs? Or the oddly crafted bird with the oversized beak?

‘Ugh, offensively-dressed humans. Maybe the George-beast eats them? How delightful that would be!’

However, it wasn’t too long before he realized that the male human was the George-beast.

‘Perhaps these humans truly think of themselves as lesser intellects than their gorilla brethren? There is hope for this world yet.’

But as he watched on, he could only grow more and more attached to the idiotic male and his female companion. His hatred for the villain also grew, for if there was such a thing he hated more than human filth, it was a crooked, spineless being such as this one. No morals, no honorable traits to speak of; this lowest of low worthless being hadn’t a single right to consider himself a man. If only Sesshoumaru were given the opportunity to meet him in real life…

A low growl softy reverberated from deep within his well-built chest.

“A creature truly unworthy of the life he was given.”

“BRRRRRRRIIINNNNNNNNGGGGG!!”

“ARGH!” Sesshoumaru jumped at the accursed telephone.

“Blasted contraption. I thought humans were supposed to be resting at this ungodly hour of night.” He grumbled to himself. The damned device had interrupted a very intimate moment between the jungle boy and his female friend around the fire.

“…”

What was happening to him?

He was enjoying a scene of human courtship?

“Wretched story.”

And yet he still continued to watch the lovey-dovey couple before him.

“Not all humans sleep at night, Lord Sesshoumaru,” a womanly voice called out to him from the other room.

This statement caught his attention, for he didn’t think that humans could be nocturnal; for one thing, they didn’t have the ability to see in darkness.

Mrs. Higurashi came through the doorway in her night-clothes, phone in hand.

“Many humans, I dare say a great deal over half of our population, stay out through the hours of the night. Some for work, others for fun. If you’d like, Kagome can give you a tour this weekend of how some humans spend their nights, if these movies become a bore,” She gave him a warm smile, her face tinted blue from the glowing television set.

“If your daughter has no objections, this Sesshoumaru does not reject the offer.” He said in his famed tone of finality.

“Of course, Lord Sesshoumaru. I’ll ask Kagome tomorrow if she wouldn’t mind. Might I suggest that you offer her some assurance that our city will be safe from destruction at your hands? I have a feeling that she was very much concerned tonight that you’d grow bored with our humble home and venture out into the night, and our world would be no more.” She lightly chuckled at her daughter’s dramatic fears. Surely this well-behaved Lord, who chopped vegetables and spoke with such civility couldn’t harm a fly, much less a defenseless human. (a/n Wow-wee has she got her wires crossed!)

Sesshoumaru considered her words, and decided that if Kagome felt it was safe for her to allow him free-roam, she would give a more in-depth ‘tour’ of their village. Indeed, it would be a very wise move on his part to ease her worrisome thoughts.

“This Sesshoumaru complies with your request. When Kagome awakens, I shall speak with her on the matter.”

He didn’t expect a rebuttal.

“I’m afraid you won’t be able to speak with her tomorrow morning.”

Sesshoumaru turned full around to face the woman head-on. Never in his life had he been refused by a human, not to mention after he had complied with the same request he had just been denied to comply with. (a/n that took a lot of thought to figure out how to word. Oi, my head.)

“You ask a favor of me, then tell me I’m not to do it?” He impatiently awaited her reply.

Mrs. Higurashi chuckled, to the further annoyance of the Taiyoukai.

“No, I’m so sorry, that isn’t what I mean. What I mean is that Kagome has school tomorrow. She won’t have time to discuss anything until she returns home tomorrow afternoon. Surely she has told you about her schooling?”

Sesshoumaru thought back to the afternoon’s studying Kagome had done; she had been grumbling something about schoolwork needing to be caught up on; was this what the woman was referring to?

“Do you speak of that which she studies for? Is this ‘school’ where she goes to acquire the knowledge of your civilization?”

Mrs. Higurashi smiled. He certainly thought things through much better than his brash relation. Although she did love those adorable ears of the teenaged darling.

“Hai, Lord Sesshoumaru. That is indeed where she goes. Unfortunately, her trips to the past put her at a disadvantage for learning all she needs to. When she comes home, she has to work very hard to keep up with her peers.

“Kagome will leave early in the morning, shortly after dawn, and return mid-afternoon. Be aware, she may be very tired when she gets back. Apparently school has become very dull and dreary compared with her adventures in your time. But you should be able to talk to her after she has had a small snack and has sat down in her room. This is acceptable, I hope?”

The Taiyoukai yet again weighed the woman’s words for any sign of deceit. After deciding that there was none, he gave his answer.

“Hai, this Sesshoumaru will talk to the girl when she returns home tomorrow afternoon.” Then a new thought entered his mind. He spoke aloud.

“What am I to do until that time? Watch these videos for the entirety of the day?” He pondered a moment.

“Surely there are duties that need to be seen to around the shrine? Perhaps the elder priest requires assistance of some sort?” And I will be able to learn more of these legends he is so knowledgeable of. I will learn more by gaining his trust through aiding him in his work.

“I’m sure gramps can find something he needs help with. I’ll ask him in the morning.” She went to leave the room.

“Oh! Here,” she hit play on the VCR.

“I paused the show so you wouldn’t miss anything while we talked. Goodnight, Sesshoumaru.” She left the room.

Sesshoumaru looked back to the movie in wonder. Sure enough, only a few seconds seemed to have passed for the little people, yet he was positive that they had talked for a good twenty minutes. He looked back to where the woman had left the room.

“Fascinating.”

-END-

So there she is, mateys! Hopefully it was to your all’s likings, too. Questions? Comments? I’m not really all that funny, but I can’t help but try to put a bit of humor in it. Sorry if it completely ruins it…but…you know how it goes.

To all of you who reviewed (and those of you who wanted to review but didn’t get to it) thank you for all your support. It’s people like you who make this story (and others like it) possible. Your critical eyes are wonderful in motivating me to continue on…to plunge through the icy depths and scorching sands of writer’s block and cramped fingers. Take a bow, because you all are great.

:curtain falls:

-Icea-blaize-

p.s. ':'(colon) equals 'asterisk', because asterisks magically disappear when trying to load documents to FFN. Drat.