InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Brief Moments ❯ New Paths ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6

New Paths

 

It seemed strange that he should feel so odd in his own clothes, but Shippo couldn't get over the feeling. His body had changed just enough to make him uncomfortable, and his mind was struggling to accept the changes.

 

“You're having a hard time with it, aren't you?” Nishi asked. She was very weak, which could be heard in her voice. She was lying in the grass next to him. She was comfortable resting there on her side with her eyes half open. “I am sorry that your illusion was broken. Papa told me that kitsune can't handle it when their magic is exposed. It hurts their notion of reality.”

 

He looked at her in confusion. “I don't understand.”

 

“You're not a child, Shippo. You have let everyone believe that you are a helpless child for so long that you finally believed your own lie. You created an illusion of who you were. Now that you have been confronted by the truth, your illusion is breaking apart.”

 

“Who are you? How do you know all this stuff about me?”

 

She tried her best to sit up, but failed. She settled for propping herself up on one arm to get closer to his face. “You already know my name. I'm not lying. I've been told all my life that kitsune blood runs in my veins. I know all about you because I know about kitsune.”

 

“You are doing this because I'm a kitsune, not because you like me?” The notion hurt him deeply.

 

“No, Shippo…” she said. She made the mistake of moving to quickly and fell backwards before she could say more.

 

“Nishi!” Shippo cried out and scampered closer to her face.

 

“I'm alright. I really should just lie still as we talk,” she suggested while her hand searched for his. “I really do think you're cute. I think you're really sweet too. It's more like, I'm not afraid to be with a kitsune. I understand what you are, and it adds to who you are.”

 

Her words made him smile, but he was worried about how weak she was. Her face was so pale. He wondered if he should go for help, or try to help her move.

 

“Should I get help?” He asked hesitantly.

 

“No, I'll get my strength back soon. I'm sorry; I wasn't ready for what happened. I shouldn't have told you that I was.”

 

He was ashamed to admit it, but he had to tell her the truth. “I think I remember finding the well of energy inside of you, but I don't remember what I was doing when I was searching for it. I didn't do anything that you didn't want me to do, did I?”

 

“No. You were only rubbing your check against my hand. But…it felt like…more than that,” she trailed off as she turned her eyes way from him. “It felt like you were…” She couldn't finish her words. She just couldn't get herself to say it. “I didn't try to stop you. I didn't really want you to stop. I just didn't know what to do.”

 

He looked at her in silence as she looked back at him. He had no idea what to do now. Something was set into motion, and there was no going back. He could not go back to the illusion. She was right; it was crumbling all round him. If he could find the nerve to continue on this path, she would be the one whom he would pick to be his mate. He would not dare to try it with anyone else. She had stumble into it without fully understanding, and he didn't need someone else doing the same thing.

 

******

 

Inu Yasha followed Grandpa as they entered the heart of the shrine. He had spent the majority of the morning listening to the old man ramble on and on about strange gods that he knew nothing about. Finally, after being doused with water, he was being lead in to a place where he had absolutely no desire to enter.

 

“Why am I here again?” Inu Yasha asked. He was irritated and he didn't feel like hiding it. He was fighting the strange hat that he was wearing. It was tall and slender, which made it top heavy. “I'm getting sick of hats,” she grumbled.

 

“This is where the kami dwell. You will be expected to learn how to care for the sanctuary and the kami that is housed here,” he explained as he pointed to the alter before them. There sat a circular mirror that was surrounded with flowers and incense. “We make sure that the kami is worshiped properly. We offer prayers for those who come to ask for the kami's guidance.”

 

He immediately thought of Kana when he saw the mirror. Kana was one of Naraku's detachments, who could capture a person's soul with the tiny mirror that she carried. She had used that mirror once in an attempt to steal Kagome's soul. She had used the same mirror to reflect the kaze no kizu back at him.

 

“Why does it have to be a mirror?” Inu Yasha whispered while shaking his head.

 

“They reflect the light and nature of the kami,” Grandpa replied with admiration.

 

“You think that I can do this?” Inu Yasha gave him an exasperated look.

 

“You're now the oldest son of this family. Souta may not be ready to take over when I'm ready to die. You're the right age, and you do know a thing or two about fighting evil. The way you do it is only one of many ways. You are also married to one of the only two mikos that this shrine has. It'll be up to you and Kagome to keep this family, and shrine, going until Souta is ready for a family.”

 

Inu Yasha swallowed hard. He didn't like where this was going. He was being put into a position where he couldn't say no. He didn't understand any of it, let alone believe it. He couldn't believe that Grandpa had honestly expected him be anyone's replacement.

 

“Well, I guess you have had enough for the day. Kagome and Souta will be home soon anyway. Let's go change and relax before dinner.” Grandpa said while directing Inu Yasha to turn and exit from where they had entered.

 

*****

 

The sun was low in the sky by the time Nishi was ready to attempt the journey home. Shippo was still in a daze as they walked. Neither of them seemed to mind that the other was silent, because talk seemed to be the farthest thing from both of their minds. Nishi was still very tired and struggling to keep on her feet; while Shippo was still adjusting to the changes to his body.

 

Shippo was amazed at how his new height had affected the way things looked. He was seeing the world from a new perspective, and it was startling. He was still only half as tall as Nishi, but he had been used to a seeing the world from a third of this height. He had to make her stop, so that he could bend down to look at the flowers as they walked. This was definitely a first for him.

 

Her family's hut was just in view when he had discovered that his clothes were no longer too small for his body. He had been too busy examining everything from this new perspective to notice that his clothes had changed to fit him. He nearly knocked her off balance when he stopped walking.

 

“Nishi, my clothes…” his voice stopped suddenly as his eyes went wide.

 

As quickly as she could manage, she dropped to her knees in front of him, “Shippo, it's alright. Don't panic. Your clothes are part of your illusion. It's normal for them to change when you change form.” He seemed to be looking right through her as she spoke. In desperation she tried shaking him as she called out, “Shippo!”

 

“I understand. That's right, I can do this. I forgot that this is how it works.”

 

“You've done this before then? I thought you had no clue?” He asked as a puzzled look covered her face.

 

“Before my dad changed to full fox form. He was the one who could change his clothes to match his form. I saw him do it,” he paused to look at her before continuing, “Nishi, I think that I can take human form now. I just need to figure out how to control this.”

 

“Well, that should be easy. You just have to decide on the illusion you want to create.”

 

“Are you sure?” He asked. He seemed to doubt this idea a great deal.

 

“I think so. I could ask Papa to tell me more of the legends, but I think that is all it takes.”

 

Shippo looked at the sun, which was all but lost behind the horizon. “We need to get you home.”

****

 

“I wish Shippo has told someone where he was going,” Kagome stated as she took a quick peek out of the doorway of her hut before returning to her seat next to Inu Yasha.

 

“Feh, he's probably collecting acorns or something like that. If he doesn't show up soon, I'll go look for him,” Inu Yasha assured her.

 

“First Kirara, now Shippo. What is going on?” Miroku mumbled. He was setting next to the fire with Sango.

 

“We've been to busy with ourselves too notice them. I am sure it has to be terrible for them,” Sango said as she looked into the fire.

 

“Sango-chan, there has to be a better reason then that.” Kagome said.

 

“Inu Yasha!” Shippo shouted across the village.

 

“That sounded like Shippo!” Kagome said with panic in her voice.

 

“What the...?” Inu Yasha muttered as he looked towards the doorway, “That sounded too far way to be a good thing.”

 

Inu Yasha and Miroku were already on their feet before the girls could suggest that they check it out. The moment they hit the steps, Miroku and Inu Yasha, could understand why Shippo was calling out. Nishi's father had him by the tail, and Nishi was on the grown crying. Her mother and younger sister were trying to help her to her feet.

 

“Leave her be! She is worthless to us now,” her older bother ordered. “Once under a kitsune's spell, it is too late!”

 

The women let her go, but Nishi kept trying to stand on her own.

 

“Stop, leave her alone!” Shippo growled and scratched at the air.

 

“If you don't want to deal with me, you should put him down,” Inu Yasha roared as he sped towards the men.

 

Miroku was right at his side, and grab his arm before the he could act against the villagers. “Not yet, Inu Yasha,” Miroku cautioned as they came to a halt a few feet from the men. Knowing that the girls were not far behind, Miroku called out to Sango, “Sango, stay back.”

 

Both of the girls stopped and turned back towards the hut.

 

“Shido-san, why are you doing this?” Miroku asked, returning his full attention to the man that was holding Shippo.

 

“Your little friend has dishonored my daughter,” he stated with anger in his voice.

 

Shock flew over both Inu Yasha's and Miroku's faces as they looked at Shippo with wide eyes.

 

“I didn't, I swear!” Shippo pleaded, waving his hands franticly.

 

“Papa, we didn't do anything wrong. I'm telling you the truth,” Nishi tried to reason with the man. “Don't hurt him because of me,” she demanded through her tears.

 

“Shut up, you piece of trash! How dare you question his actions after what you have done to this family,” her bother growled through clinched teeth just before striking her across the face. The blow forced her back to the ground.

 

“Gigen!” The older man yelled. “That is enough. I want you to go inside, and take your younger sisters and mother with you. Nishi, come with me.”

 

The young man sneered at Shippo, but he did as he had been told. When the boy was gone Nishi climbed to her feet again. When Shido-san released Shippo, the little kitsune rushed to her side.

 

The realization that Shippo was taller had hit both Miroku and Inu Yasha at the same time. It took several moments before they knew what to say. Finally, they looked at each other to verify that they both were seeing the same thing.

 

Still looking at Miroku, Inu Yasha asked, “Shippo, have you gotten taller since this morning?”

 

Shippo cringed and gave a fake giggle, “Hehehe…well, I guess I have.”

 

“Of course he's taller, he was well fed. Kitsune gain power when they feed, and I believe this one has had his fill of my daughter today,” the man said with resentment in his voice.

 

“I don't get it,” Inu Yasha shrugged.

 

“Inu Yasha, do you know how kitsune feed?” Miroku asked slowly, giving his words emphasis.

 

“Well,” he and stopped to think, “don't they feed when they ma…” Inu Yasha's jaw dropped. His ears were twitching like mad. Suddenly his eyes narrowed, and he turned to look at Shippo. “You said you were still a kid!” He barked.

 

“I am!”

 

“No your not, Shippo,” Nishi insisted.

 

“Fine! But why does everyone but me know how kitsune feed?!” Shippo whined.

 

“What do I do about my daughter? She was promised to the son of the village chief. He'll not take her now.”

 

“You already have a boyfriend?” Shippo asked with his heart in his throat.

 

“No, he is not my boyfriend. I like you, Shippo,” she insisted. Then without missing a beat, she looked at her father and said, “Papa, he only took a little bit of energy from me. I'm still a virgin! How can I be under his spell, when I'm still a virgin?”

 

That was more information than either Miroku or Inu Yasha wanted to know. If this kept up, Inu Yasha's head was going to explode. Meanwhile, the thought of Shippo having sex, was more than enough to make Miroku's eye twitch. This really was not going to be a pleasant topic for either of them.

 

Inu Yasha hit Miroku's shoulder, “Say something.”

 

“You're the one who took responsibility for him, you say something.”

 

“You're the pervert. He probably got this idea from your influence,” Inu Yasha mumbled, looking over at Miroku with narrowed eyes.

 

Miroku, who was putting his hand over his eye to stop the twitching, was left without words for the moment.

 

Shippo buried his face in his hands and thought to himself, `I'm so doomed!'

 

Nishi's mother was suddenly rushing towards them. “You are not going to talk about this without me.” She insisted.

 

“I can handle this Ryoko. You don't have to get involved.” Shido pleaded.

 

“Your son seems to be forgetting who the head of the family is. You should remind him that the position is not his yet,” she scolded before she put her arms around Nishi's shoulders. “I am not leaving my oldest daughter's fate to a bunch of angry men.”

 

Shido-san returned his attention to Miroku and Inu Yasha. Miroku was still struggling with his eye. Inu Yasha stood perfectly still. The look on his face was absolute confusion. He honestly didn't know if he wanted to laugh or cry.

 

*****

 

“What are they doing?” Sango asked from her seat on the small porch.

 

“I don't know, but if something doesn't change soon I might pass out,” Kagome mumbled.

 

“Do you feel his emotions that much?” Sango whispered in disbelief. She hadn't meant to say the thought aloud. It was a careless slip that was making her more embarrassed by the second.

 

“I feel it that much. I feel it so much that I don't have emotions anymore,” she paused to look at Sango before continuing, “We have emotions. And it is so terrifying, Sango.”

 

“Kagome-chan,” Sango said as she reached out to hug her friend.

 

Kagome was grateful for the hug. She needed to know that she could count on Sango. It felt good to know that Ayumi wasn't the only friend who was trying to understand her life. `As long as I have Sango and Ayumi, I'll be fine,' she cried to herself.