InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Blessed Curse ❯ The Intruder ( Chapter 3 )

~Blessed Curse~

By: Youkai Yume

Ouch! I just got my first flame, and I'm still a bit bitter about it. I just want to take this time to say that I don't accept flames in ANY of my fics! Just read my bio! If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all! Just walk away, and don't darken my doorway again if you have anything against my stories.

IMPORTANT NOTE! If I ever consider writing a lemon in this, or in any of my stories, I might not accept anonymous reviews anymore. Don't get me wrong! I still accept them at the moment, but I strongly suggest that you get an sn and send me signed reviews. My reason is because of ff.net's current lemon-story-killing-spree, and there are spies amongst us! So, be prepared when the time comes! But for now, all reviews are welcome.

Disclaimer: If you were to sue me, you'd only get 47 cents. Yes, I'm THAT poor. You try saving money with the allowance that my cheapskate parents give me! So, trust me, it's not worth it.

Act 3: The Intruder

The grand, fine furnished oak doors creaked slowly open, allowing the soaking wet kitsune pup passage into its dark, gloomy interior. Shippo shivered slightly, he wasn't sure if it was because he was cold, or because this place gave him the creeps.

"H-Hello?" He said in a rather small voice, though it was enough to send echoes throughout the halls. No answer could be heard, so he decided to explore the castle a little bit more. `Hopefully, no one lives here, and if someone does, I sure hope they're friendly!'

*~*~*~*

Cinnamon eyes followed the kitsune pup as he continued his exploration, hidden in the dark shadows of the castle's pillars and walls. She tried to stifle a giggle at seeing how cute he was. Oh, how she just wanted to cuddle the adorable thing! But she refrained from doing so, on account that she didn't want him to know that she was watching. . .yet anyway.

"Rin!" The little girl whipped her head around upon hearing her name. She saw the familiar green toad who always looked after her, and he had his annoyed mask on as usual. "What are you doing, girl? I told you not to wander off by yourself! Sesshomaru-sama would have my head!"

Rin put a finger to her lips, motioning him to be silent.

"Shhh! Jaken-sama has to quiet!" She whispered. The green toad only scowled at her. He approached the little girl, who was still crouched on the floor behind the large marble pillar.

"You can't tell this Jaken what to do-mnph!" He was immediately cut off by Rin's small hand around his beak-like mouth. She signaled him to be silent once more before pointing over her shoulder. His already large eyes became even larger.

"An intruder!" he gasped, "We must get rid of him at once, before the master finds out!" They both looked back at the kitsune, who was now shivering and sneezing slightly from his still drenched clothing.

"Wait, Jaken-sama! Rin thinks it's sick!" She said with extreme concern. Jaken glared at her.

"I don't care! You know how Sesshomaru-sama feels about trespassers!" Rin glanced over at Shippo again, who let out another sneeze and mumbled,

"Why me?" She gave Jaken a pleading look.

"Aw, Jaken-sama, have a heart! Rin will take care of it!" Rin exclaimed rather loudly.

"Shhhh!" Jaken hurriedly tried to cover her mouth in an attempt too silence her. But that was unsuccessful, as she bit down on his tiny green hand.

"OW! STUPID GIRL!" He screamed out, but quickly covered his own mouth when he realized his outburst. `Damnit!' he cursed, as Rin was now sputtering and wiping her tongue on the collar of her kimono, screaming,

"Eeeew! Jaken-sama tastes bad!"

*~*~*~*

Shippo's head spun around to the direction of the voice. Someone was there! Why hadn't he noticed? He sniffled a bit. `Oh yeah, stuffy nose.' He was trembling slightly, was the thing going to eat him?

"W-Who's there?" He asked shakily, although he tried to sound brave. "I'm warning you! I'm a powerful demon, so, if you try anything, I-I'll. . .I'll beat you up!" Shippo falsely threatened, hoping to scare it away.

What stepped out of the shadows however, was far from being a bloodthirsty, kitsune pup eating youkai. His big turquoise eyes widened when he saw a little girl about seven approach him in a red kimono. She had her hair in a cute half ponytail on the side of her head, and she wore a big toothy grin.

"Really? You look too kawaii to beat up Rin!" She exclaimed. Seeing as she didn't pose as any real threat, Shippo decided she was okay.

"Hi! My name's Shippo, do you live here?" He asked. The girl nodded enthusiastically.

"Hai! Rin's name is Rin!" She ran over to where Shippo was and immediately began petting his tail. He `eeped' at the sudden move, but found that he quite liked it.

"It's so fluffy and kawaii!" Rin giggled. Suddenly, a certain green toad ripped her away from the kitsune.

"Don't touch it, you baka!" He yelled, and turned to glare at Shippo. "And you! You shouldn't even be here! You must leave, or I'll roast you with my staff!" He threatened, branding his two-headed staff at Shippo. Much to his own surprise, Shippo didn't flinch, but rather went closer to examine him. His eyes narrowed in concentration.

"Hey, haven't I seen you somewhere before?" He asked, and Jaken only glared at him.

"Like I would be associating with common whelps like you! Now leave, or I will be forced to remove you myself!" Shippo said nothing at this, but instead sneezed and wiped his nose.

"Eew! Don't spread you germs!" Jaken screeched, but was quickly silenced when Rin yanked the staff from his hands and hit him over the head with it. The toad fell swirly-eyed onto the ground, sporting a huge lump on his head.

"Jaken-sama's mean! Shippo-chan has a cold!" She grinned at him, who gave her a nervous smile in return. "S'okay Shippo-chan! Rin'll take care of you, and make you ALL better!" With that she began dragging him away into a room where comfy chairs and pillows were propped up. A fire crackled merrily in the fireplace, and gave Shippo warming relief to his shivering form.

"Wow! This is great!" Shippo excitedly examined the room with keen interest, before plopping into the biggest and comfiest chair he could find. Rin giggled and plopped into a nearby chair herself.

"What are you doing?!" They both turned their heads to see a rather disoriented Jaken fuming. "You can't sit there! That's the master's chair!"

"Aw, lighten up, Jaken-sama!" Rin looked at Shippo, "Are you hungry?" His ears perked up at the mention of food.

"Yeah!" He exclaimed, and before he could say anything else, Rin had clapped her hands together. Immediately, a rather aged looking cat youkai appeared. Her face was kind and shone with wisdom, and her long gray and silver hair was tied in a neat bun in the back of her head.

"Yes, Rin?" She asked the little girl.

"Can Nira-san get Rin and Shippo food?" Nira looked questioningly at her.

"Shippo?" She looked questioningly down at the child. Rin only gave her usual toothy grin and pointed to the kitsune that sat in the huge chair.

"Hi," he greeted shyly. Nira only smiled at him, she loved children, and was more than pleased to make the little kit more comfortable in this lonely castle. She had been assigned by Lord Sesshomaru to look after Rin when he went away, since Jaken wasn't always suited for the job.

"Of course you can have something to eat! Would you like some tea, dear?" She asked Shippo kindly. His eyes shone with gratitude and hunger.

"Yes, please!" Shippo rubbed his small hands together in anticipation, and within seconds, servants had brought in trays and dishes filled with food and drink. The children stared at the feast with wide, hungry eyes, before digging in.

All the while, Jaken was fuming in the background, ranting on about how the master would kill them all for this. His cries were ignored, as everyone went about eating, leaving the poor toad forgotten. (A.N. You think that he'd get used to it by now. . .)

*~*~*~*

His golden eyes stared out into cloud-covered gray skies as tiny droplets pitter-pattered against his window. Sesshomaru found himself doing this a lot lately, almost thinking that if he gazed out long enough, the sky would lift the heavy feeling of loss from within his soul.

Letting a sigh escape his lips, he looked down at his hand, his now almost human hands if it weren't for the slightly sharpened, but in his opinion, dull claws. A growl formed from the back of his throat. He hated this, this feeling of being weak, of having tainted blood. Was this how weak Inuyasha always felt? Ever since that wretched bitch cast that curse upon him, he was doomed to forever be a hanyou. Worse, a human if he is unable to find a mate by the new moon, and it had already been ten days.

What's more, his mate had to be a human also. `Never!' he thought. `I will never go as far as to shame myself and my mother for lowering myself to take in a human mate!' Sesshomaru closed his eyes in frustration.

He knew that if he was to abide by this rule, then he had sealed his own fate. He was doomed to become that which he hated, for all eternity. It was hopeless; there was no other way. He knew, he had tried searching for one, but was unsuccessful. His hand went to rub his temples, and soon slowly moved to cover half his face in exhaustion.

`Besides, what human would want to come near me, with my reputation?' His thoughts had been interrupted though, when a strange scent reached his nose. It smelled of fresh pine and a sweet scent that he was unable to identify (chocolate). He also sensed it to be a youkai.

Sesshomaru knew that he smelled it from somewhere before, but he couldn't quite remember where. He let out a growl. Well, whatever it was, it was trespassing.

*~*~*~*

"Ah! I'm sooooooo full!" Shippo patted his satisfactory full stomach, wiping off the remaining rice morsels off his face. Rin giggled at him, and mimicked patting her own stomach as well.

"Rin's full too!"

"Great! Now that we fed you, might I suggest that you GET OUT!" Jaken yelled at the kit. The old cat youkai merely waved his demand away.

"He has just eaten, and besides, it is still cold outside. At least let him stay the night," she offered. Nira grinned when she saw Jaken give a sigh of defeat.

"Sesshomaru-sama will not like this," as soon as the words left his lips, the doors swung open with such intensity and force, that the flames in the fireplace had been extinguished from the cold rush of wind.

There, in the doorway, stood the dark, but unmistakable silhouette of the taiyoukai of the West. His golden eyes shone in fury in the silent darkness, sending everyone in the room cowering under his gaze, including Rin. A low, feral growl emanated from his throat, demanding an explanation upon seeing the kitsune pup.

"S-Sesshomaru-sama!" Jaken crawled out cautiously, "Please forgive this lowly Jaken! I tried to stop them, but they wouldn't listen!"

"Silence!" He bit out in his cold, velvety voice. Shippo shivered slightly. Sesshomaru's eyes scanned the room and it's inhabitants before falling onto Shippo. The kitsune pup froze when his cold golden eyes met his, and before he could blink, Sesshomaru was right in front of him, and held the poor fox dangling by his tail. He whimpered in fear at his nearness to him.

"Kit, you are trespassing," he said coolly. Shippo hadn't realized that he had shut his eyes, and when he slowly opened them, he was met with the sight of a very irritated and very angry demon lord. `Gulp.' He looked with fearful eyes at Sesshomaru, and even in his state of complete terror, he noticed that there was something different about the taiyoukai.

Deciding this wasn't the time to think about such petty thoughts, he focused back on his life and death situation.

Sesshomaru glared at the pup in his grasp. Yes, he was familiar alright. This is the same little fox that accompanied Inuyasha. He growled at the thought of his half-brother, earning another wave of shivers to go through everyone in the room. He was about to lift his claws to kill the little kit, when his mind suddenly clicked to another thought-Tetsusaiga.

"I could kill you this instant, you are aware of this, are you not?" He said indifferently, and Shippo nodded miserably at him. "But, instead, I'll spare you, for reasons and purposes of my own."

With that, he took the little kit with him, and began to walk out of the room.

"What're you going to do with me?" Shippo asked in a shaky voice. The demon lord did not turn to look at him, but said,

"I plan to use you as bait to gain the Tetsusaiga." The doors closed with a creak behind him, leaving Rin, Nira, and Jaken alone in the dark room.

After a few moments passed, Rin turned to look at Nira, who she had clung onto the entire time.

"Nira-san? Will Sesshomaru-sama hurt Shippo-chan?" She asked with teary eyes. Never before had she seen her Sesshomaru-sama look at anyone with such terrifying eyes. Well, she had to admit that he was a little moody since the weird lady came and cursed her Sesshomaru-sama.

The aged cat could only look down sadly at the child.

"Let's get you to bed, deary."

*~*~*~*

Kagome walked down the dusty path that lead into Inuyasha's forest, hoping not to have too much trouble finding Shippo. It had been some time ago that she had sent him herb picking, and she hoped that he didn't get bored waiting for her.

When she finally reached the forest though, she saw Shippono where in sight. She began to panic when she saw wolf paw prints on the ground, hundreds of them. `A pack? Don't tell me that he was ambushed!' She was overcome with fear for Shippo now, where had he gone?

Just when she was about to resort to going back to Inuyasha for help, she heard a weak mewl coming from the bushes. She quickly turned around to see a very scratched and bruised Kirara.

"Kirara! What happened?!" She rushed to the fire cat's side, as it slowly transformed back into its' chibi form. It gave her an apologetic look and whimpered in pain when she took it into her comforting embrace.

"Shhh, it's okay. Please, Kirara, where is Shippo?" she asked it gently. It meowed at her, and lifted it's head in the direction of the forest. To her surprise, tiny little mushrooms began popping out of the ground and wailing loudly. `Shippo's distress calls!'

The trail of mushrooms lead deep into the forest. Kagome's mind was set. She quickly went to retrieve her bow and arrows, before heading out in search of her lost pup, Kirara cradled in her embrace.

~End Chapter

Okay, there it is! Now that's over, I really have to study! AP History test tomorrow, and I barely studied at all!

Review Responses:

~Fanfiction.net

Sanosuke Hidane: LOL. You're welcome! I should be the one thanking you for giving me such a great idea! Please keep reading and tell me how I'm doing!

Blue-Saiyan-Angel: Hmmmm I wonder indeed. . .wink wink

Mistress Fluffy: Calm down! Take deep breaths! Well they're coming, see? He's in this chapter, isn't he? ^_^

Cinderelly: Thanks, I'm glad you don't mind the whole Inu being bad and all. It was kind of a fear I had, but it was in the original plot, so. . .

Helba: Thanks for the compliment, I'm not all that great, really! But, really, do go on!

BlackShadow1: You better review this chapter, and NOW!

The hitokiri battousai himura: Sorry! But it is Beauty and the Beast you know, and the wolves just had to be there!

Celestial-x: And I puke. Repeatedly.*and yes, it's because of this little chunk, no pun intended, of a shitty flame/review.

Reed: yay! So glad you think so! Try reading my other fic if you haven't!

Little Cosmos: Yes, Inu should've been slapped, and he will be! But not until later! ^_^

Dangerous-beans: Yeah, I know! That's why when Sano mentioned it to me, I just HAD to do it!

Hikari no Sekai: Really? Most people don't care much for the first chapter, but hey. As for the wolves, let's just say that Koga didn't know about their little hunt, and thus had no control over them at the moment! ^_^

Akanekoyoukai: Glad to hear you're reading both my stories, I updated my other one just recently, so go read if you have time!

Inuyashagirl1702: Thanks! I really hope to read your next chapter too! How could you just end your story like that?! Please update!

Blessed Curse: Really? What twist? LOL. Just kidding, you must've read a lot of B and B stories!

Striking Falcon: Ahhhh! So ashamed! I'm so sorry I left Shippo out in the rain, but technically, he wasn't out very long, cuz I left him on the verge of entering the castle! Oh yeah, how'd you like that last episode, "Sesshomaru Wields Tokijin?" ^_^

~Mediaminer.org

Tsukitani: Wow! So glad that you reviewed! So honored! But, you're right, I should've let Sess kill Kikyo, what made me do otherwise? Geez I'm stupid!

It's a secret -__-: Thanks! I'm coming!

Adorable akane: I will do all of that and more! Yeah, ppl just don't like to review here.

Sunstar: You did it AGAIN! You're the first reviewer on MM.ORG for chapter 2. Gods!

Well that's all folks! R and R means Read and REVIEW not read and RUN! Remember, no flames! ^_^

Ja Ne! ^_^