InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Coyote Tricks: Outfoxed ❯ "Poor Kit" ( Chapter 6 )

As a make up for the last short chapter, I felt the next two chapters could be combined and so this one is a bit longer. Sorry, no yaoi yet but its coming. This chapter is PG-13 for violence only.

Just as a reminder, [text] in brackets are things said in Japanese; `text' in single quotes are thoughts.

Please read all disclaimers and warnings in Chapter I if you haven't done so.

Chapter VI: "Poor Kit"

`He's spotted him!' Kit thought and crying "Spirit Shield!" he leapt between the demon lord and his friend. He poured all his spirit energy into his shield but it was not enough against the 800-year-old demon lord. The whip struck his shield, which flared for a moment then shattered. Searing agony tore through him as the whip tore across his left shoulder throwing him back to the ground. The last thing he saw as his vision faded was Sesshomaru's whip slashing out again. The whip continued on to strike Shippo. Shippo disappeared in a pop just like the other illusions.

Kit struck the ground with a loud grunt but the pain brought him back to consciousness. He looked up to see a puzzled Sesshomaru just as the Shippo behind him, farthest away from Kit and emanating no smell at all suddenly cried ["FOXFIRE!"] and unleashed a bolt of magical fire that struck Sesshomaru square in the back. His armor glowed as its power fought against the blue flame finally repelling the attack but it shattered also.

The demon lord leapt away and turned to face the real Shippo. He raised his hand to strike again.

"THAT IS ENOUGH!" a commanding voice called out bringing everyone to halt.

Kit looked beyond Sesshomaru to see his mentor Spirit Singer and an elderly gentleman in Chinese clothing covered with an elaborate dragon design descending the stairs. Kit couldn't remember his name but he knew he was one the great dragons and a co-chair of the conference.

"I said that is enough, Lord Sesshomaru," Spirit Singer repeated again. "There is no fighting allowed during the conference."

"This is not your concern, Shaman," Sesshomaru answered coolly. "My countryman has dishonored me and is being punished as is my right as Lord of the Western Lands."

"That may be your right in the Western Lands, but not here!"

"Very well," Sesshomaru said as the energy whip disappeared. He turned to fix Shippo with a chilling stare and said, "We will finish this later."

Kit suddenly realized that he had to do something to keep Shippo breathing after the conference ended. Painfully he lifted himself up and called out.

"Lord Sesshomaru," he said "please do not punish Shippo. This was all my doing; he had no part in it. I beg your forgiv..." and then darkness took him and he collapsed again.

"Oh Kit!" several female voices called out from the crowd that had gathered on the perimeter of the scene.

Sesshomaru looked down at him and started to raise his hand.

"Sesshomaru, Kit is my apprentice. You will not harm him further!" Spirit Singer said.

Sesshomaru dropped his hand.

"Shippo"

"Yes, Master Spirit Singer," the fox replied.

"Be so kind as to carry Kit into the lodge, the staff will help you find a healer."

Shippo proceeded to gather up the unconscious coyote aided by a handful of young women that rushed out from the crowd.

"Oh poor Kit!" one girl cried.

"You can take him to my room," another said as they carried him from the scene.

"You heard his confession," Sesshomaru said. "This Sesshomaru expects him to be punished."

"Don't worry he will be punished," Spirit Singer said. "But the time, nature and manner of that punishment will be mine to decide. As for the nature of your embarrassment, that is easily rectified." Spirit Singer reached into his pocket and drew forth a wooden flute and began to play. A sense of power emanated from the music and as it built the pink coloring in Sesshomaru's tail faded back to white.

"There," Spirit Singer said as he finished, "good as new. Now come let us go inside and discuss this matter like civilized beings."

Sesshomaru looked into his eyes for a moment then looked at the Dragon Lord standing behind him. "Very well," he said at last.

Shippo was sitting at Kit's bedside back in the cabin considering the information that the healer had told him when Kit awoke later that evening. He let out a loud groan and slowly opened his eyes. Shippo and Caitlin appeared at his bedside.

"How are you feeling?" Shippo asked.

Kit tried to focus on him. "Are you still doing that multiply trick? There are two of you."

"Sorry, that's not me it's your own fool head."

"My head feels like it's been split in two."

"Well it's your own fault, you should know better than to jump in front of a high demon lord's attack like that." Shippo said chidingly but then in a gentler tone, "but thanks for what you did. I'm glad you didn't get yourself killed."

"That goes for me too." Caitlin added.

"Yea, well I guess we are unanimous then." Kit laughed then groaned in renewed pain.

"Spirit Singer wants to see you first thing in the morning so get your rest. The healer still has some work to do but she says you will be fine." Caitlin said.

"Great," Kit said sleepily as he started to doze off again. "I'll be healed just in time for Singer to kill me."

The next day Kit was up and about. Between his natural spirit based healing abilities and the power of the elven healer he was only extremely sore from his near death encounter. Nonetheless, he wished he was still bed ridden as he knocked on the door to Spirit Singer's office. His lessons and training with Singer were always done outdoors or `Underhill' where the spirit energies were easier to manage and manipulate. The office was where Singer did more mundane things and of course…discipline.

"Come in" the Shaman's voice called out from inside.

He entered, shutting the door behind him. The office was lovingly decorated with Native American artifacts and items that any museum curator would sell his first born to obtain. Spirit Singer sat at the desk looking down as he worked on some papers.

Kit stood before the desk his head slightly down. "You wished to see me, Wise Elder."

Spirit Singer continued to look down at the desk although he wasn't really working at his task anymore. He actually did not want Kit to see him as he fought a smile. He always found Kit using the student's proper title for their teacher amusing. In age he was but a few years older than Kit but the young coyote spirit would far outlive him even with his half human blood. After a moment he spoke.

"Kit?"

Kit's ears flattened to his skull at the tone in the voice, "Yes Wise Elder?"

Spirit Singer looked up and met Kit's eyes.

"Kit as the son of the great Coyote, it comes as little surprise that you have a well developed sense of humor. I do however tire of having to clean up after some of your more inventive efforts."

"Sorry Wise Elder."

"And so you should be. What have I said time and again?"

"The wise squirrel looks to see the tree he will land in before he leaps"

"Yes, you must learn to consider the consequences of your actions before taking them. You get draw great strength from your canine cousins but you also have one of their great weaknesses, you live too much in the here and now. You must learn to use that great advantage that your human cousins have to plan ahead and consider the future."

"Yes Elder, I will try"

Spirit Singer wondered if this one lesson would ever sink in to his adopted protégé.

"And Kit,"

Kit's ears flattened again. "Yes Wise Elder."

Spirit Singer shook his head and chuckled. "Nice color choice"

Kit's ears perked up and the beginning of a smile appeared.

Singer continued, "And since you have such good taste in color I think you can show it by painting all the cabins and fences after the conference next week."

The smile died and Kit's ears flattened again. "Yes, Wise Elder."

"As for your confession, I do not condone lying to me and the great lords," Singer said as Kit's ears and head drooped lower, "I will overlook it this time since it was done out of concern for another's welfare. Next time find a way to do so without lying."

"Thank you, Wise Elder."

Singer looked at his hang-dog appearance for a moment and then laughed and muttered something that sounded like "pink".

"Kit, I'm meeting with Shippo after this to address the questions he asked in his letter to me. After your `confession' the other lords at the conference have convinced Lord Sesshomaru that it would be dishonorable of him to exact vengeance on Shippo. However, we feel it best if you and he stayed out of Lord Sesshomaru's sight for the rest of the conference. Shippo is quite capable of returning to Japan on his own. After his meeting with me, I want you to continue entertaining him until he leaves and keep him clear of Sesshomaru, Alright?"

"Yes Wise Elder" Kit said his spirits a little higher as he beat a hasty retreat.

Spirit Singer watched him go and then reached for the pink colored pencil to finish the drawing he was working on.

Author notes: This story was intended to develop the character of Kit and this chapter is part of that development. There will be some more of this development as well as covering some of the history of both Kit and Shippo but I try to keep it interesting.

Next Chapter: What I think should be added to Olympic swimming events, Skinny Dipping!