InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Coyote Tricks: Outfoxed ❯ Spirit Peak ( Chapter 2 )

Author Notes: This chapter is rated PG for language. Please read all disclaimers and warnings in Chapter I if you have not already done so.

Coyote Tricks: Outfoxed

Chapter II: Spirit Peak

The sunlight rained down gaily on the clearing through a break in the canopy. This clearing appeared perfectly normal, the tree bark was normal colored; the birds and butterflies in the trees were birds and butterflies. Indeed, the only thing unusual in the appearance of this clearing was not noticeable if you weren't really looking. The trees forming the perimeter of the clearing formed a perfect circle. The only thing growing inside the circle were grass and two trees that like the trees on the perimeter had grown here before the first European settlers ever set foot in the Americas. A squirrel took a break from burying nuts to watch as a swirling mist began to form between the two trees in the center. The mist grew thicker as a darkness the sunlight could not penetrate grew between the trees. Then Kit and his charges stepped out of the darkness and into the glade. The squirrel's curiosity was peaked and it edged a little closer, tail twitching. Kit's ears twitched as he saw the squirrel and gave a little growl. `The hell with this,' the squirrel thought, and high tailed it up the nearest tree.

Kit turned to the others, "Gentlemen, welcome to Crystal Peak Colorado and the Spirit Peak Resort and Spa. The Elfhame and Spirit Peak council are co-owners of the mountain and the valley here. If you follow me I'll take you up to the main lodge and get you checked in."

"Are there humans going to be here?" Shippo asked.

"The Resort is closed to the public for the conference and there are wards up to keep out the unwanted. The only humans around are aware of the spirit world, so there is no need to maintain any illusions while on the Resort grounds." Kit grinned.

Rounding the bend they came out of the woods onto a green open lawn. Across the lawn was the Resort lodge a four-storied structure with a homey rustic feel to it.

A member of the lodge staff met them. "Good morning, Lord Sesshomaru, My name is Erin. We have your suite prepared. There is a stable for your dragonet in the basement levels of the parking garage. The staff there is prepared to meet all its needs."

Erin noticed the paper on Jaken's staff and tossed a frown in Kit's direction. He made a subtle gesture with his hand and stiff gust of wind whipped the paper away.

Erin looked over the group. "I'm afraid there was a misunderstanding, we were expecting only two in your party. There are only two beds in the suite, should I arrange for a folding bed?"

"That will not be necessary." Sesshomaru said. "The fox will not be staying in our suite, perhaps a spot in the stable?"

"Oh dear that will not do at all!" Erin said distressed. "And I'm afraid there are no other rooms available."

"That's all right Erin," Kit spoke up. "Shippo can stay with me if that is OK with him."

"Thank you very much Kit-san," Shippo said bowing to Kit. "I would be most honored to stay with you."

A short while later, Kit and Shippo were walking up to the porch of Kit's cabin in the woods behind the Resort. Kit opened the door and let them in to the living area with fireplace that also served as kitchen and dining room.

"It's not much," Kit said, "there is only one bedroom but the couch folds out, the perfect bachelor pad. Of course if the couch is uncomfortable, I've got a comfy little dog bed that I can use in my canine form."

"Oh no the couch will be fine," Shippo said with a little bow, "and thanks again for taking me in."

Oh that's no problem, I just couldn't stand the way that Sesshomaru was treating you. What a stuck up windbag."

"He is like that with everyone, don't mind it. I think he has mellowed a little, when I first met him he would just as likely kill you as talk with you. It can still be bad for your health to cross him."

"Still," Kit said with thoughtful look on his face, "I think someone ought to take him down a peg."

Kit had to go back out again to help with the final conference setup. He came back briefly for dinner then was gone again. When he finally came back in late and exhausted from the long day, Shippo was already asleep on the pull out couch. He grinned and headed off to bed.

Shippo woke early the next morning. He found that traveling through the Spirit World with the various rates of time flow only made jet lag even worse. He climbed out of bed and wandered into the bathroom next to the open bedroom door and quietly took care of his morning business. As he stepped out of the bathroom, he stopped to look in the open door of the bedroom. It was a terrible invasion but he found himself drawn to the figure of his sleeping host. Kit was obviously a restless sleeper, the covers were strewn all around and his entire upper body and one leg were exposed. He admired the youth's slim muscular form very much like his own. His dirty blond hair lovingly framed his teenage looking face. He knew from their conversation last night that Kit was almost 60 but by canine hanyou standards that made him just entering adulthood, the same as late teens in human age. Of course he would maintain that look for many years. Shippo himself a little over 500 years old still looked like the mid 20's in human years. During the brief time he been with Kit, he had already come to enjoy Kit's company. He had a youthful enthusiasm that Shippo was beginning to realize he'd lost in recent years and now missed. He watched as Kit's ears and tail twitched in some dream he was having. The movement slipped more of his covers off his young frame and Shippo grinned as he saw that like himself he slept with no clothing. Tails were always such a bother when it came to clothing and pajamas were no exception. Reminded that he was hanging out himself, he went over to his bag to get dressed.

Shippo got dressed, made and folded up the couch mattress, eaten breakfast (Pop tarts and orange juice) and spent the rest of the morning watching DVDs. Kit seemed to have an impressive collection of anime and hit movies. He wished the cupboard was as impressive as he started looking around for lunch. He choices seemed to be between Pop tarts (again), ramen noodles, or something blue and furry looking in the fridge. He settled on the noodles. The water had just started to boil when Kit staggered out of the bedroom.

"Good Morning," Shippo said noting Kit's lack of clothing.

"Hmph," was Kit's reply as he staggered into the bathroom. After a moment there was a flush and then the shower started.

Shippo had finished his meal, cleared away the dishes and was sitting on the couch watching the American version of "Godzilla" when Kit finally emerged looking alert and blow-dried (hair and tail).

"Good Morning," Kit said cheerfully. "Godzilla huh? This one is such a wimp compared to the original."

He headed back into the bedroom and started pulling clothes out to wear. Shippo followed into the doorway watching as Kit's tail wagged slowly over his cute butt.

`Alright Shippo,' he thought to himself, `its not polite ogle your hosts body even if he appears to have no modesty.

"I helped myself to breakfast and lunch," he said, "I hope you don't mind."

"Oh no problem," Kit answered as he worked his tail into the hole of his tailored jeans. The issue of the tail usually precluded him bothering with underwear. "I'm sorry there wasn't much choice, I wasn't expecting company. We can head in to town and get some groceries later."

"I mentioned to Spirit Singer that you wanted to talk to him." Kit continued as he fastened his jeans, "I'm afraid he is too busy to see you before Friday. The first three days of the conference are the executive session and there are a lot of big issues this year. There is a big hubbub over the last Dark Tournament. It seems some minor demon has blended himself with a spirit dragon. It got the dragons in a tizzy over whether to recognize him as a dragon or not. It isn't helping the argument that the same demon killed the ice dragon Seiryu. While dragons are not above killing their own at the drop of a hat, it doesn't help the case for this guy."

"So what happens if they decide not to accept him?"

"Oh they will probably have to kill him, just on the principle of the thing. But I think they will accept him in the end. They can be big powerful and arrogant but in the end most dragons are a pretty sensible lot. For one thing being blended with a spirit dragon is not going to make him easy to kill."

Kit pulled on a t-shirt and passed Shippo heading for the kitchen. "But anyway, Spirit Singer has given me the week off to entertain you in compensation. Let me get something to eat and then I'll give you the tour of the Resort."

Author's note: Yes I know its boring background stuff, things start getting a little more interesting next chapter.