Sesshomaru shook his head minutely. "Go ahead." He moved out of the way, going to check on things around the house before he left. He had to make sure the pup was fine, but his father was home, so he figured that wouldn't be an issue.

Kris shook her head, listening to Aura's frantic running around. It was kind of amusing, actually. Not that she would say that to Aura, but still. Shippou even looked rather intrigued.

"What's she doing?"

"Preparing for a date." Kris chuckled.

"What's a date?"

"When two people go out and do something fun. She's going out with Sesshomaru."

"Oh." That seemed to click for Shippou since he grinned. "Does this mean we're adopting Sesshomaru?"

Kris choked at that and started coughing.

Once Aura was changed, made her way back downstairs. Somehow, she still had a couple minutes to spare, so she went back down to the kitchen.

"What did I miss?" she asked when she saw Kris choking and laughing at the same time. She glanced at Shippou for some sort of clue.

Hisoka nodded and got up from his chair. He would need to straighten himself up a bit before leaving to see Kris.

"Nothing," Kris said with a grin. "You go have fun. And tell me if I need to do any more ass-kicking."

Shippou snickered. "Sure you wouldn't be on the receiving end?"

"I was doing just fine!" Kris glowered at the kit.

Sesshomaru gave her the required time before slipping into his car, a sleek black car with all the upgrades and things. He thought most of it was extraneous, but he hadn't bought the car himself. His father had bought it. Oh well. It didn't take him long to get to Kris and Aura's house to pick her up.

Aura couldn't help but giggle a little bit at the exchange between the two. The easy banter was amusing to listen to. Going over, she sat on a stool to wait to be picked up.

Hisoka left a little while after Sesshoumaru, but he walked rather than driving. Call him old-fashioned, but he wasn't all that fond of cars. He preferred walking, when he could.

Sesshomaru knocked quietly on the front door. He'd changed into all dark blue, a little more relaxed for him but still nice. He even waited patiently for Aura to answer the door.

Kris snorted. "Call me if you're going to be gone all night, okay?" she said, looking at Aura. "That's all I ask."

"I'll call," Aura promised as she got up from her seat. She grinned. "Make sure you actually pick up the phone this time, alright?" she teased. She knew how much Kris disliked modern electronics. Lights and running water were fine, but anything that lit up or made noise or moved made her a little skittish sometimes, Aura knew. Grabbing her purse, she went to answer the door.

"Hey," she said as she opened the door. It was kind of a surprise to see Sesshoumaru in so much dark color, but the deep navy looked good on him. She would readily admit that it did, although she was equally as ready to admit that she probably didn't look nearly as good as he did, and he didn't even seem to be trying. It was completely not fair, in her opinion.

Kris grumbled something inarticulate about phones and electronics but didn't get up to walk Aura to the door. Instead she grabbed the kit when Shippou tried to slip past her.

"Not for your ears, kid," she said, hauling him up the stairs to go distract him with a strategy game.

Sesshomaru smiled faintly when he saw her. "You look very nice," he murmured. Even demon women liked to be complimented, so he knew how to do that much. He held out his hand to her. "Are you ready to go?"

Aura blushed slightly at the compliment.

"Thanks," she said. "You do, too." Reaching out, she took his hand and stepped out of the house, closing the door behind her. "So where are we going?"

Hisoka was taking his time walking to the house. He'd stopped at a small shop that was a favorite of his for small toys and such, and he picked up what looked like a Rubic's Cube, but was shaped like a pyramid with rounded corners. As he walked, he twisted the puzzle until the colors seemed to be hopelessly mixed. Hopefully, it would work as a preliminary gift for Shippou. Or, if he was really being honest, a preliminary bribe for Shippou. He needed the kit to approve of him, and a gift like this certainly wouldn't hurt.

"It's a surprise." Sesshomaru led her to the car, opening her door for her and waiting for her to get in before he shut the door. In a moment he was around at his own door, getting in and starting the car.

He glanced over at her as he drove. He wasn't planning on telling her, but he did want to see her reaction.

Kris spent a while playing with Shippou, since Aura was gone and neither of them was very hungry. Besides, she didn't feel like trying to clean up the backyard.

"Well, I did say to surprise me," Aura said after a moment. She was a bit distracted by the car, though. It was the most gorgeous car she'd ever seen, and she wasn't much of a car junkie. But this car was absolutely beautiful: sleek and black with more buttons and switches than a NASA spacecraft. It would take her days to push all the buttons to find out what they did. This time, though, she didn't touch anything, instead just staying put for the ride.

A few minutes later, Hisoka arrived at the house and knocked on the door. Kris had extended the invitation to him to drop in when he liked, but it was still best to be polite and wait to be invited inside. It was her home, after all.

Sesshomaru smiled faintly but continued driving, glancing over at her once in a while. He had the feeling she was going to like this place. It took a few minutes, but he parked behind the building, turning off the car and then going to open her door for her.

"Shall we?" he asked quietly, offering her his hand again.

Kris blinked when she heard the knock, going downstairs to see who it was. And then blinked when she saw Hisoka.

"I wasn't expecting to see you," she said, stepping aside so he could come in if he wanted to.

Getting out of the car, Aura took his hand.

"Let's go," she said. She was curious as to where he'd taken her, since he parked around back without letting her see the front of the building, but she figured she'd find out soon.

"I thought you might enjoy some company while your packmate is out," Hisoka replied. He waited until she'd stepped aside to go in, although he didn't try to move past her. "Unless I'm mistaken...?"

Sesshomaru led her around to the front. He'd taken her to a family-run place, small but homey feeling. The couple that ran it was a mixed couple; a human and a demon. The human greeted them, smiling brilliantly at them.

"Sesshomaru!" she greeted. "It's been a while, dear. How are you?"

"Well. And yourself?"

"Oh, we're fine." She smiled and led them back to a table in the back. "Anything I can get started for you two?"

Sesshomaru's lips flickered in a smile. "Not quite yet. Thank you, Mari."

"Of course! Let me know when you've decided." Mari set down menus for them and went back up to the front.

"No, come in." Kris looked at him. "I just wasn't expecting you. Shippou is upstairs, if you wanted to see him." Because she could be very dense sometimes.

Aura immediately liked the place. It seemed warm and inviting, and she immediately felt at ease. She stayed quiet during the exchange between the two and then followed Sesshoumaru to the table.

"I take it this place is a favorite of yours," she commented as she sat down across from him.

"There was something I wanted to speak to him about, but it shouldn't take long," Hisoka said. "When I come back downstairs, perhaps I could keep you company?"

"Indeed. For the past few years." Sesshomaru didn't even have to pick up his menu. "I know the owners very well, although I have rarely come here with someone else."

Translation: she was special. In case she didn't know that already.

Kris nodded. "Sure." She retreated to the kitchen, letting him go talk to Shippou.

Shippou looked up from some of his toys when he heard Hisoka coming up the stairs. Now he was curious.

Aura caught the implication and tried valiantly to fight back a faint blush. She could easily get used to being treated like she was special, and he seemed to be treating her that way all the time. Not that she was complaining, of course.

Hisoka paused in the doorway of the kit's room and knocked softly on the doorframe.

"May I come in?" he asked

Sesshomaru watched her for a moment before he nodded to the menu. "Order whatever you'd like," he murmured. He even picked up his own menu, perusing it again. Not that he needed to.

"Are you visiting?" Shippou looked at him for a moment before he nodded his permission. He was curious now.

Aura nodded distractedly, already perusing the menu.

"For the evening," Hisoka replied, stepping into the room. "With Aurellia out for the evening, I thought perhaps Kris would enjoy it if I paid a visit." He paused for a moment. "However, it brought something to my attention that I feel you and I should discuss, first."

Sesshomaru's lips flickered again before he looked at the menu as well. He'd tried everything on the menu, so now he simply amused himself trying to guess what she'd order.

Shippou looked at Hisoka, raising his eyebrows. "Okay. What did you want to discuss?" He was curious now.

"It has occurred to me," Hisoka said, "that if I want to court Kris, as I intend, that I must first see what you think of the idea." He looked at the kit. As Kris's son, adopted or not, Shippou had the right to voice objections about any potential suitors. While Shippou couldn't outright tell Kris to reject anyone, Hisoka was sure that Kris would put some weight on the boy's opinion.

Shippou looked thoughtful at that, mulling over what he knew about the two together. "You went after her when she and Aura had the argument, right?" He had to confirm that first. Then he'd have to think about it more.

"I did," Hisoka replied. He wanted to explain that he'd looked after her when she refused to, but it almost sounded like bragging, which didn't sit quite right yet.

Shippou nodded, looking thoughtful. "I see. I'll have to think about it." Which wasn't unusual, since Hisoka hadn't asked for an immediate answer. But Shippou hadn't outright said no, either, which meant Hisoka had some leeway.

Hisoka nodded in acceptance of that answer.

"Fair enough," he said. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the puzzle toy and offered it to Shippou. "Here. I thought you might enjoy this. Perhaps it'll help you think."

Shippou grinned briefly and took the puzzle, starting to work on it already. He glanced up at Hisoka with a mischievous grin, already thinking.