InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Double Vision ❯ Chapter 34 ( Chapter 33 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Shippou came awake to find himself staring at the ceiling of a cave, glowing in the orange light of a campfire. He rolled over, and saw Kohaku, lounging against the wall of the cave. He was reclining as Sesshomaru habitually did, sipping tea out of his battered metal cup and staring at Kagome. Kagome lay sprawled on her back, her perfect skin glowing apricot in the firelight, the incredibly soft, fluffy bounty of moko-moko’s fur contrasting beautifully with her smooth, sleek curves. Shippou was creeped out by the way Kohaku mimicked the demon lord, and he was creeped out by him staring at Kagome. He remembered Kagome saying Sesshomaru and Kohaku reminded her of two pashas, princes of Persia, a strange opulent land on the Continent, its nobles known for their elegant decadence. Whatever about all that. Shippou rolled into a crouch, and launched himself, hissing, at his friend. Kohaku did not react, continuing to sip his tea.

“What’s with you and that tea, you little jerk?” Shippou whispered, rather than shouted. He didn’t want to wake Kagome.

“You wouldn’t like me if I didn’t drink my tea, Shippou.” Kohaku replied calmly, ignoring the fact that there was a pissed off fox demon baring a set of very sharp fangs inches from his neck.

“Stop staring at my mom! You’re creeping me out! You’re a sick, twisted pervert!”

Kohaku had no arguments with Shippou referring to Kagome as his mom. They were all orphans, and it was clear Shippou belonged to Kagome and Inuyasha just as he and Rin belonged to Sesshomaru. He didn’t like his friend referring to him as a pervert. That reminded him too much of Miroku, of whom he was none too fond. “You don’t know anything about it, Shippou, so just shut your mouth if you know what’s good for you!”

Kagome began to shift restlessly in her sleep. Kohaku set his tea down and crawled across the floor to her, leaning low across her body. Shippou growled, very quietly, as Kohaku stroked her forehead. Kagome calmed instantly, at which Kohaku looked Shippou straight in the eye and smiled. “Why don’t you go hunt some game for breakfast, Shippou. You’re small, but even you should be able to bring back a few rabbits or something.”

Shippou left, looking back to sneer at his friend as he exited the mouth of the cave. The night was very cold. Every star shone brightly in the blue-black sky. The moon was starting to go down, meaning that morning would come soon. Kohaku was right, it was a good time to hunt. Shippou hated that Kohaku was a better woodsman that he was. Being raised by Kagome had done that to him. She had spoiled him rotten when he was young, and she still did. She loved to coddle him when he was home, making him special sweet treats with fruit and honey. Nobody had ever told her that he was probably older in years than her grandfather on the other side of the well. Don’t ask, don’t tell. That sounded like a good policy to Shippou. And now this thing with Sesshomaru. Hadn’t she been hurt enough by Inuyasha? From what he had observed, it was too late to change things now. He had seen, and smelled, the mating mark on her neck. Though it was obvious Kohaku had tried to obscure it with his own scent, it was easy to tell that Kagome had been intimate with Sesshomaru. He had known Sesshomaru was interested in his mom for a long time, ever since he was a kid. But he never thought the lord would mate with her. He would be expected to have at least one full-demon as his heir.

Shippou’s mind started going a mile-a-minute. If Kagome was his mom, Sesshomaru would be his father, right? Was there any chance he could persuade the great lord to name him as his heir? All the other kitsune said he was going to be big and handsome, and he was growing very powerful. If he could prove himself worthy, he could become the Lord of the Western Lands! Unless his mother’s new mate were to go the traditional route, and kill him. Shippou shuddered at the thought. If Sesshomaru were to decide to end his little life, there was nothing anyone could do about it, not even Inuyasha.

Shippou returned to the cave a couple of hours later with a nice brace of birds, one each for Kagome and Kohaku, and a rabbit for himself. He still enjoyed eating as humans did, though he had come upon a raccoon during his hunt, which he killed and drained of it’s blood. He enjoyed the blood of such beasts, but knew better than to bring its meat home as food. Kagome would never eat such gamey meat.

Kagome was up, and she told him how proud she was of what an excellent hunter he had grown up to be. Shippou stuck out his tongue at Kohaku, cuddling up to Kagome, who petted his hair and rocked him in her arms as if he were still just a little kit. Kohaku prepared the meat for roasting, and soon the homey little cave was filled with the tantalizing smell of well-cooked pheasant and rabbit. There were rice balls and persimmons, and even a ripe pear, which they cut up and split three ways. Kagome insisted. Kohaku had wanted her to have the delicacy all for herself. He was relieved that she seemed to be back to eating normally, even heartily.

After breakfast, Kohaku suggested that they train for a while, then Kagome could take a bath in the hot spring. Kagome was eager to see what Kohaku had planned for her training. She was delighted when he told her they would be working on agility and flexibility, as he had been doing the other day. He guided her through some stretching and breathing exercises, working up to simple yoga-like poses, giving her gentle advice and repositioning a limb now and then. Shippou watched cautiously. ‘What the hell is Kohaku thinking. Sesshomaru would have every right to rip his arms off for touching his mate like that.’ He hoped for his friend’s sake that Sesshomaru would consider Kagome a mother to Kohaku. That was the only way the boy would get away without injury.

They worked up to the kind of exercises she had seen the slayer performing yesterday. Kohaku, who had never seen evidence that Kagome was even moderately athletic, was beyond impressed. He and Shippou set up some logs for her to balance on, and he spotted for her while she performed a few cartwheels and back flips, ending in a graceful dismount. Shippou stood openmouthed. Kagome bowed as Kohaku clapped his hands in admiration.

For lunch, they ate some eggs, which Kagome had buried in the ashes at the edge of the campfire, sprinkled with a little salt. They were just slightly gritty, but very good nonetheless. As they ate, Kagome explained to the boys about attending school in her time, and how she had practiced gymnastics in “physical education”, just as they had done today.

“I will make you into a real demon slayer, Kagome!” Kohaku enthused.

“Yeah, Kagome, in no time at all you’ll be able to kick even Sango’s ass!” The little fox threw in.

Kagome hoped Sango was doing ok. It was time for the baby to be born, and she had promised her friend that she would be her midwife. She kept quiet, so as not to worry Kohaku. She suspected that he worried more about his sister than he let on.

After lunch, Kohaku left to check the snares while Kagome bathed in the hot springs. It felt great after all the exercise that day. Shippou kept watch, sitting at the edge of the spring with his back to her, handing her the soap or the hair pomade when she needed it. Even though Inuyasha had abandoned Kagome, he had told Shippou that if he caught him around her when she bathed, he would rip his arms off and beat him with them. This was the closest the two had been in a long time. There was something about bathing that fostered a family-like warmth they both missed. They talked about inconsequential things, avoiding the big scary issues looming all around them.