InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Not So Young Anymore ❯ Chapter Two, Bathwater, No Doubt ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: I do not own either InuYasha or YuYu Hakusho. I mean, come on, if I did, would I be writing this kind of crap? No, I'd be drawing it! LOL!

 

HBWD's Corner: (stares slack-jawed at review number) Wow, I'm surprised you all liked it so much. I though you would have ripped my throat out by starting another story, lol! Well, I hope you like the second chapter as much as the first! And hopefully you guys won't react the same ways Kagome does when a certain part comes up. Plz don't blow chunks on your computer screen! PLEASE! XD

 

I've been searching FOREVER for a good toddler Hiei pic, and I've found one! :D

 

http://www dot squeakymoose dot com/young_hiei dot jpg

http://cyberpsychos dot netonecom dot net/Cels/Wishlist/ToddlerHiei-sword dot gif

 

GO THERE!!! And take away the word dots and use the symbols! (nods) And take away the Jagan eye. Lol. The second one is kinda what I wanted for ch. 1's scene (shrug) xD Lol, anyhoo, here's the next chapter! ENJOY!

 

-+-+-+ Two +-+-+-

 

Kagome sat in front of a small hot springs a slight scowl on her face. “Hi-chan, stop being stubborn! Just get in the water so I can clean you up!” She tried to reason with the blood-coated child.

 

He stared at her in slight anger. Hiei didn't say anything but Kagome knew he wanted nothing more than to stomp his feet and give himself over to a toddler tantrum.

 

She gave him a disarming smile, again, and held out her hand. “Come on, Hiei-kun. The waters not going to hurt you.” The miko dipped her hand in the warm liquid and pulled it out, small beads of liquid dripping down her arm.

 

InuYasha snorted. “He's a fire demon, wench. That's why he ain't goin' in tha water. I though you knew that. Fire n water don't mix, baka.” Kagome turned to stare at him in surprise.

 

“He is? Oh, I'm sorry, Hiei-kun!” She pulled the youth into her arms and hugged him tightly. The fire youkai relaxed in her hold. His eyes closed, only for them to snap open at Sango's calm voice.

 

“He won't die if he gets in the water, Kagome-chan. He may be a fire demon, but with his human form, he can get in water. He probably just doesn't want to take a bath.” The tajiya yawned and stretched her arms over her head lazily.

 

Kagome scowled. “Is that what you were doing, Hiei-kun? Well, then, if you're scared to get in the water, I guess I'll have to go in with you.” She looked down at the tiny boy. He growled loudly, showing everyone his baby fangs.

 

“Not scared.” He hissed before quickly stripping and racing towards the water. Hiei padded through the warm liquid before turning to look at the miko expectantly.

 

The priestess giggled and stripped down to her bathing suit. She had decided a while ago that going around in just regular bra and panties was not a good thing. After so many ruined sets of undies, the priestess bought tons of pairs of swimsuits to take the place of her undergarments. So now she had brightly colored clothes under her mini skirts and t-shirts.

 

Kagome glided through the water and turned to look at both InuYasha and Miroku. “Don't you two need to secure the campsite and get more wood?”

 

The two grumbled and moved away.

 

Sango watched Kagome for a moment before standing up. “I'm going to go look for Shippou-chan. I'll be close if you need me.” She walked away with a lazy wave.

 

The miko grabbed her cleaning bucket and let it float in the water. She pulled a floral scented shampoo from the basket and poured a small amount in the palm of her hand. “Turn your back to me, Hi-chan. I need to wash your hair.” He did as he was told and rested on her raised knee. “This is shampoo. It cleans your hair and makes it smell nice.” She held the bottle out for him to see and then let him see the green concoction.

 

Kagome's fingers massaged the soap on his scalp and through his soft black locks. Fluffy white foam bubbled and fell down around him. Hiei blinked and tilted his head down to look at it. “Don't do that, and keep your eyes closed. This stuff burns if it gets in your eyes.” He closed his eyes obediently.

 

She worked the shampoo in his hair before grabbing a small cup and tipping his head back. “Keep your eyes closed, Hiei-chan.” She dumped the contents over his head. The foamy liquid fell away and Kagome gave a satisfied sigh. “There, you can open your eyes. I'm going to put some conditioner in your hair and let it sit. It keeps your hair healthy and easy to work with.” She showed him the bottle and poured the watery fluid in the palm of her hand.

 

The miko moved his head back again and slathered the conditioner through his wet locks. “Now that that's out of the way, lets get your little tootsies and cheekies clean.” She giggled and pulled a washcloth from the floating bucket. Kagome dunked the rag in the water before ringing out the excess. She soaped up the cloth before moving Hiei further out of the water.

 

The rag glided over his skin slowly, taking the dirt and grim and blood with it.

 

The bath lasted ten minutes all together. Kagome dried Hiei off, much like she did with Shippou. “There, now we need to get you some better clothes.” She held the shredded material up to her eyes critically. “Hmm…” Kagome scooped the little fire youkai up and walked to the encampment. Settling him down in the loop of her legs, the miko dug through her bright yellow backpack.

 

“Where did I put it…” She murmured to herself. Her fingers touched something soft before grasping it tightly. She pulled out her fist, thick black cloth hanging from her hand. “Here we go!” She grinned and stood Hiei up in front of her.

 

His luminous ruby eyes stared at her curiously, his head tilted to the side in a quizzical fashion. Kagome held up the small kimono for his speculation.

 

Hiei stole it away and slipped it on. He tried to tie it closed. His red eyes narrowed at her and he held out his hand expectantly.

 

“Say please, and I'll give you the obi.” Kagome watched the tiny youkai. His youki flared angrily but calmed down after a few minutes.

 

“Please.” He said.

 

Kagome arched her brow. “Please what, Hiei-chan?”

 

The boy glared at her. He had never had to ask anyone for anything. He got what he wanted, when he wanted. That was how he was raised. But it seemed the sweet smelling ningen onna was trying to get him to be civil. Hiei scowled angrily but did as he was asked. “May I please have the obi.” He held out his hand expectantly and Kagome grinned at him.

 

“Hai, you may, Hiei-chan.” She gave the cloth to him. He tied his kimono closed and looked down at himself.

 

Hiei looked around and spotted his katana leaning up against a tree. He moved over to it and picked up the rusted blade.

 

Kagome watched him silently, a gentle smile playing across her slightly tanned face. “Is that sword something important to you, Hiei-chan?” She asked him.

 

The little fire youkai turned towards her. He nodded his small head before walking over to her and settling himself in the circle of her legs. He leaned back and rested his head on her belly, his burgundy eyes watching the rest of the inu-tachi.

 

The miko hugged him tightly before opening her arm for Shippou.

The growing kitsune squealed in joy and jumped into her arm, hugging Kagome tightly. “Is that our new friend?” The fox's glittering emerald eyes stared at Hiei in wonder before his nose twitched. “Hi! Watashi wIa Shippou! It's very nice to meet you! What's your name? Do you want to play?”

 

Hiei stared at him blankly.

 

Kagome gave the kitsune a reassuring smile and patted his back softly. “Hiei-chan doesn't say much. I think he lost his parents like you.” Shippou scowled slightly.

 

“You did?”

 

Hiei nodded his head slowly, hesitantly. He knew that if he told the truth and let them know that he had killed those humans on his own, then the sweet smelling girl would leave him. He didn't want that. So lying was better than telling truth in this instance.

 

The kit grabbed Hiei's hands softly. “Its okay. The hurt goes away after a bit, but it doesn't completely disappear. You get used to it.” Kagome worried her bottom lip, tears gathering in the corners of her eyes. “But, you're with us now! And that means you get to kick youkai butt and watch meaningless ningen squabbles and get baths and… and… and have FUN!” The kitsune grinned up at Kagome, who giggled happily and cuddled him. He locked eyes with Hiei and whispered, so only they could hear. “And free Kagome-cuddles.”

 

Hiei watched as Kagome set the fox down before holding his arms up. The miko cooed and cuddled him too.

 

The rest of the day passed and the whole group quickly assimilated to the fire demon's presence. He was quiet and stayed out of everyone's way… Well, almost everyone's way. Kagome seemed to have a now permanent black fixture on her hip since the child did not want to let her go.

 

But as nighttime came around and tummy's started rumbling, Kagome had the hanyou and kitsune fetch them some fish. InuYasha had grumbled the whole way, saying things like: “I shouldn't even be doing this kinda shit…” and “The runt can go by himself, he's a big boy.”

 

Hiei watched everyone silently, like always, as Miroku stoked the fire and Sango located the sticks that would be stuck in the fish to cook them. His tiny fingers fisted in Kagome's socks and he leaned forward, burgundy eyes locked with the dancing flames.

 

Kagome played with his hair absently before smiling at the houshi and tajiya. Sango returned the look and held out a thin stick for the miko, who accepted with a dip of her head. “We're going to have fish, Hiei-chan! Won't that be yummy?”

 

He slowly blinked up at her.

 

The priestess beamed down at the child and hugged him softly. “Oh, you're so cute!” She squealed, smooshing the poor kids face in her breasts.

 

Miroku gave a jealous sigh before yelping in pain. “Itai!” He whined and rubbed the back of his head tenderly. The monk turned to look at Sango questioningly. “What was that for, Sango-sama?” She scowled at him dangerously.

 

“Don't act innocent with me, Houshi-sama! You know what you did, or were thinking!”

 

Miroku pressed his hand against his chest. “Oh, but my dear Sango-chan! I am but a holy monk who has nothing but pure thoughts!” The tajiya gave an undignified snort at that. “I am! You wound me with your skepticism, Sango-chan!”

 

He let his hand fall from his chest and looked down at it. The purple glove smiled up at him in a cruel way. In Naraku's last ditch effort to take everyone with him, he had forced Miroku's kazanna to expand and explode. Or, that's what should have happened. It didn't though, for his draining youki had sealed the wind tunnel in the monk's hand. The vacuum wouldn't expand anymore; he would keep it till his deathbed.

 

Sango saw the movement and silenced herself. She wouldn't egg him on anymore, not when his mind was drawn back to that day. Her own memories played out in front of her minds eye and tears gathered in their corners. Kohaku had given his last shard to Kagome in hopes she could use it to defeat the vile hanyou. He had died in her arms that day. The inu-tachi held a funeral for the brave boy and Sango had cried her heart out that day. But, surprisingly, she felt better. She knew her brother wouldn't be taken control of anymore, since they had burned his body, and his soul would pass to the afterlife to await his time to be once again reborn.

 

The two lovebirds were brought out of their thoughts as both InuYasha and Shippou came back to the camp with large bundles of dead and gutted fish. Kagome moved forward and sat next to Miroku to stab the carp on the long sticks. She jabbed the wooden rods into the ground next to the fire and let the de-scaled vertebrae cook lazily.

 

Hiei ambled over to a fish and sniffed it before wrinkling his nose. He didn't want to eat that gutted garbage. Turning away from them the little youkai dashed into the thick foliage.

 

Kagome gasped loudly. “Hiei-chan!” She called out but was met with silence. She turned to the hanyou. “InuYasha! Why did Hiei-chan run off like that?” Her fingers tangled themselves in her hair and tugged nervously. She started to follow after the youngster but stopped at InuYasha's deep baritone.

 

“Let the kid get his own food. He obviously doesn't like fish, so leave him be. He'll come back if he wants.” The hanyou waved his hand dismissively and lazed back against his chosen tree.

 

Kagome chewed her lip in worry.

 

Hiei was gone for a good few minutes but reappeared with three wriggling fish, one of which clutched in his mouth. Its fin flapped wildly in front of his face before he clenched his jaw. The fish bones gave a nasty cracking sound and it's scaly body moved no more.

 

Spotting Kagome, the fire youkai seated him self in her lap and let the fish drop from his mouth before repeating the biting process with the other two. He held one of the fishes up to the grimacing miko, who pushed the dead thing from her with a quick shake of her head. “I… I…” She covered her mouth with her hand.

 

Hiei shrugged lazily before taking a large bite out of the fish's stomach. Blood and guts squirted from the sides of his mouth and Kagome screamed. She stood up and raced away from the tiny youkai. Her body hung off the side of a tree as she heaved the contents of her stomach on the ground.

 

InuYasha snorted angrily. “Oi, runt.” He glared at Hiei. “Don't eat raw shit in front of Kagome. She's a ningen and can't handle that kinda crap.” The hanyou yawned before snatching one of the finished fish from the brightly burning fire.

 

Hiei starred at InuYasha for a bit. Turning his curious red eyes on Kagome he saw her wipe her mouth with the back of her hand. His sensitive nose caught the rancid stench of puke and scowled. Ningens are so weak… He trailed off mentally before scooping up the rest of his meal and shimmying up a tree.

 

Kagome turned to look back at the little fire youkai, but paused at not seeing him. InuYasha pointed a claw up lazily at the bright green leaves and she nodded in understanding.

 

The miko didn't eat that night though, and fell asleep snuggled down in her sleeping bag; both Hiei and Shippou curled up with her.

 

-+-+-+-

 

Kagome watched Hiei and Shippou as they sat next to each other near the waters edge. It had been four months since the little spitfire had come into their lives and Kagome couldn't be happier. He and Shippou were the best of friends, doing everything together. Even the cuddling. They trained together, hunted together, bathed together and pranked together.

 

InuYasha was the brunt of most of those pranks, the latest one dealing with pointy vines and a very tied up hanyou.

 

Kagome didn't punish the two, since the dog had deserved it. InuYasha was being a dick, again. And like always Shippou had retaliated. This time with the littler youkai's help.

 

Shippou had tried his new skills out on the unsuspecting half demon.

 

The fox was getting good at his plant manipulation and spent most of the day growing and shrinking seeds. That day, the kitsune thought it was as good a time as any to see if he could control vines. And boy could he. The long tendrils smacked and cracked on the hanyou's ass, making him scream like a little girl, before tying him up.

 

InuYasha had screeched and hollered for a good twenty minutes before Kagome found him. He snarled for her to undo him, and the miko did, after making him ask politely.

 

Kagome's stormy blue eyes watched the two as Shippou held out his hands for the fire youkai to see. “Isn't it cool? Guess what I'm going to be one day.” He suddenly said.

 

Hiei ran his fingers over his katana's sheath slowly. “What?” He squeaked out.

 

“I'm going to be a greater thief than Youko Kurama! I'm going to beat him in thievery and take the Bandit Crown from him!” Shippou growled happily. Hiei's eyes narrowed at the declaration.

 

“You want to be a bad guy?” The kitsune snorted and waved his hand dismissively.

 

“Bad is only in the eyes of the beholder. Besides, Kagome-chan told me story where this one guy stole from the rich and gave to the poor! He was a thief, but he was a hero too! That's what I am going to be!” Shippou thumped his chest with his tiny fist.

 

Kagome wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her head on her knees. Maybe I shouldn't have read Shippou Robin Hood. It's a bad influence on him. She let her eyes flutter close for a quick second, only to be tackled with a jubilant cry from the excited kit.

 

“Kagome-chan! Did you hear what I want to be?” His pudgy hands pushed her cheeks into her teeth and made her lips stick out in an unattractive way. She pulled his hands from her face and smiled at him.

 

“Of course I heard, Shippou-chan! And if that's what you want to be when you grow up, then by all means, do it. But don't loose sight of your reasons for being a heroic thief! Or you'll have to answer to me.” Kagome rolled them over and she started to tickle the tiny fox. Said kit squealed and squirmed under her relentless wiggling fingers.

 

“HIEI! HELP!” He got out finally between gasping breaths and loud giggles.

 

The petite fire demon watched momentarily before running and leaping onto Kagome's exposed back. He wrapped his arms around her neck lightly. “AH!” Kagome cried out playfully. “I have been caught by the big bad fire demon! What should I do?”

 

Shippou wormed his way from her tickling fingers and tackled Kagome to the ground.

 

The three rolled around for a bit before the miko landed on her back, both Shippou and Hiei leaning over her. She continued to laugh lightly, her arm slung over her eyes. “Wow… That was fun… Hehe, we should do this more often.” She panted and puffed, a cute flush crossing over her cheeks. The raven looked up at the two before opening her arms in a snuggling invitation. They didn't miss a beat and wiggled in beside her. The miko played with the soft hairs absentmindedly and looked down at Hiei. “What do you want to be when you grow up, Hiei-chan?”

 

He was silent, as usual, for a long while. Kagome was close to nodding off when his high pitched voice woke her from her daze. “Someone who can beat whatever gets in my way and be the strongest youkai alive.” His dark burgundy eyes had the miko's slate orbs tearing up.

 

Hiei was a tortured soul, she realized. A child who had lost his parents a young age (how right she was, but she doesn't know that yet) and was either forced or came willingly into the burnt and dead family she had seen him with before. Kagome would never be able to ask him why he as in the clearing, but she would always wonder, for now.

 

She closed her eyes and gave a soft sigh. “I'm sorry, Hiei-chan. You do what you need to survive, but don't kill unnecessarily, it's not right and you would be named a murderer. I don't want you to be a bad person.” The priestess resumed her lax pets to the two boy's long locks.

 

Kagome woke up later to Shippou's insistent pokes. “Kagome-chan! Kagome-chan! Wake up! Come on, wake up!” Her eyes fluttered open and she blearily gazed around.

 

“Wha-iz-it..?” She slurred sleepily.

 

The kitsune grinned at her. “I'm hungry! Can you make me something to eat?” The priestess covered her face with her hand before sitting up.

 

“Sure, lets see what's cooking.” Kagome stood and picked both Hiei and Shippou up. “I'm kinda hungry too.” She smiled at the two before walking back to the camp.

 

-+-+-+- End Two -+-+-+-

 

HBWD's Corner: YAY! We got chapter two out of the way! WHOO! I hope I get a lot of reviews like I did with my first chapter!

 

And please, reviews make me a happy HD! PLZ REVIEW!!!!

 

Preview of Next Chapter:

The small demon folded his arms over his chest and glared up at Shippou. His eyes barely reached the fox's hip, which was cocked out in a taunting way. “Oh, come on now! Don't get mad at me! You practically scream `Call-Me-Chibi'! Admit it!”

 

Hiei wrapped his small hand around the katana's hilt threateningly.

 

The fox knew not to push too hard. Hiei's ego was very precious to him. He remembered when he had to look up at the fire demon, back then when Hiei had started to travel with them, nearly six months ago. And as he recalled, the fire demon didn't tease him on his stature. Probably because he knew what it was like to be teased about his height.

 

Translations: miko - priestess; baka - idiot; youkai - demon; tajiya - demon slayer; kimono - traditional Japanese clothing; obi - kimono belt; ningen - human; onna - women; hai - yes; katana - Japanese sword; inu-tachi - the dogs group; kitsune - fox; hanyou -