CHAPTER SIX

x.

"Here's some money for groceries and new shoes," Kagome's mother said, handing Kagome a small roll of bills. "Be sure not to let Sota eat sweets before bed, or he'll have nightmares."

"I won't, Mom," Kagome said. She waved until the taxi had pulled out of sight, then sighed heavily. Groceries. New shoes. Could she leave Sota and Inuyasha alone for that long? Sure, Inuyasha was old enough to babysit, but he wasn't entirely used to the stuff in her house. And Sota couldn't be relied on to keep Inuyasha out of trouble.

But then again, it couldn't be helped.

"Inuyaaashaaaa!" she called, wandering into the living room. Inuyasha looked up from a magazine he was reading, mildly perturbed. "Yeh?" he asked.

"I have to go buy some groceries and shoes," Kagome said. "I was wondering if you could look after the house for me -- don't worry," she added hastily, seeing his alarm. "All you have to do is make sure the house doesn't burn down for an hour or two, and keep Sota from eating candy."

Inuyasha frowned. "I guess I can do that."

"Great!" Kagome departed feeling a bit better. After all, it was only an hour or so. And she didn't have time to do much shopping, so she better enjoy it before heading back to battle Naraku.

x.

"I'm home!" Kagome called, setting down her bags in the doorway. "Inuyasha, Sota, I hope you guys were good while I was gone!"

Suddenly Inuyasha dashed out, still dressed in just his sweatpants. He looked... excited? "Kagome!" he called, grabbing her arm and dragging her into the kitchen.

"What ha-" Then Kagome froze.

Sota was sitting at the table, which was littered with cardboard and plastic takeout boxes, cheap chopsticks, and little packets of sauce. Sota's face was covered in sauce from the Chinese takeout in front of him, and the remains of other foods were still in their boxes. Not to mention on Inuyasha's breath.

"I-I-In-Inu-" Kagome stammered.

"He got it after you left," Inuyasha said happily. "He did something with that thing on the wall-"

"Phone," Kagome said mechanically.

"Yeah, that thing. And then people brought food right to the door. We didn't even have to go out or nothin'." Inuyasha looked thrilled just at the thought. He scooped up one of the boxes from the table. "I saved some for ya."

Kagome resisted the urge to bang her head against the wall. Not only had Sota and Inuyasha been pigging out on every kind of takeout food available in Tokyo, but she was pretty sure she knew where Sota had gotten the money from -- the grocery money. A flush came over her face. "Soooottaaaaa..." she said in a low voice.

Inuyasha looked uneasy. "Uh... you said not to let him have candy. This ain't candy, it's just chicken."

Sota smiled winningly and held out one of the cartons. "Rice and chicken?"

Inuyasha frowned. "Is something wrong, Kagome?"

Kagome was trying to keep her emotions in check. She didn't blame Inuyasha -- he didn't have any idea that Sota wasn't allowed to call in for food. She grabbed Sota by his shirt and dragged the sticky, protesting third-grader over to the stairs. "Eat up, Inuyasha," she said grimly. "And save some for me."

TO BE CONTINUED