InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Invitations to Trouble ❯ Foxing the Wolf ( Chapter 9 )

Chapter Nine

"Would you like more to drink?"

"Um, yeah. Do you have anymore of those sweet things? What did you call them?"

"Pocky? Oh sure! Here you go."

A lean hand accepted the plate with a quick 'thanks'. The atmosphere was one of cordial civility.

There was even tea.

Shippo idly wondered how he'd woken up in hell.

'It was a simple plan. Fake some tears, get mom and aunt Kuroi to call the guys to help look for me after I left, a big tearful reunion and everybody's happy.' Watching his mother bestow another large smile and a sweet to the ookami prince who was literally eating it up, the little kitsune fought down a snarl.

Yes sir, the plan had definitely backfired. Big time.

'Trust Inu-baka to be stupid enough to get sidetracked and let the wolf come out like a hero. Why do I even try to help that idiot?' Seeing the warm smile his mother sent his way, the kitsune knew the answer. He had wanted to see her happy again.

Taking his cup with him, Shippo excused himself and went outside. Since Kagome's gaze followed him closely, he left the door cracked enough that he was still visible to her.

"This blows." Nursing the hot beverage, Shippo looked up into the sky and whispered. "Dad, I could really use your help on this."

Although Kagome and Inuyasha had taken him in as their own after the wedding, he still felt some comfort in talking aloud to his deceased father's spirit. The little ritual had helped him adjust after witnessing his father being slain by Hiten and Manten, and he had seen no reason to stop.

"Do you think this was the right thing to do or should I have let them work it out themselves?" Taking another sip, Shippo noticed that his drink was starting to cool a bit. "I know they're adults, but they act so much like kids that sometimes I forget who's supposed to be parenting who."

When he felt tears prickling the back of his eyes, he quickly dashed them away. "I didn't mean to scare momma but I just wanted to see her smile again. Was that so bad?" Overhead, the stars shone brightly beside the blue-white moon. "Dad, I miss you. I miss you a lot."

"I miss my mom too and I'd do anything in this world if it meant I could see her face again."

Startled, Shippo jumped and spun around. Intense blue eyes looked down at him. "Geez Kouga! Quit sneaking around trying to scare me, will ya?!" The kitsune huffed when he realized that he'd spilled all of his tea. 'Aw, it was getting cold anyway.'

A fresh cup materialized in front of him. "I wasn't sneaking brat. If you weren't so busy talking your own ear off, you might have heard me!" Kouga took a seat on the porch next to the fox and looked out into the distance. "I could hear you from all the way inside, so I came to see what you were going on about."

Waving a dismissive hand when the fox looked towards the closed door and the woman inside, he said quickly, "Don't worry. She couldn't hear you." The piping hot tea was moved closer to Shippo. "Drink up squirt."

Startled, the little guy accepted it warily, but didn't drink it. "What's up with you Kouga?" While it wasn't considered good manners to refuse a gift, Shippo had come to be suspicious of friendly gestures from many males who liked his mother. Especially Inuyasha. 'Last time he gave me a sweet, it turned out to be a red-hot candy. Dickhead.'

Kouga just watched him with a thoughtful look. "I understand how you feel about this whole thing with Kagome and dog ears, but I think it's only fair to warn you; don't pull any stupid shit like that again!"

Glancing at the healing skin on the wolf's arm, Shippo smirked. "Like you can do anything to me about it. All I have to do is tell Kagome you were mean again and poof! You're dead at the top of her hit-list." He set aside the tea and stood up to face the ookami confidently. "You can't touch me and you know it."

Those blue eyes that had been warm a moment ago, froze over cunningly. "True, but what happens if I tell Inuyasha what you put Kagome through?"

Shippo suddenly wondered if he was too old to wet himself. As it was, he bladder quivered in a mild warning as his stomach dropped. 'As much as he hates Inu-baka, this friggin' wolf would tell just because I upset Kagome. I really hate dogs and wolves.' The little guy managed a small growl.

"Fine. What do you want ookami?"

"Nothing. You already told me everything you knew about that girl, so you've got nothing I need." A hand descended and yanked Shippo up by the tail. "But what I want is an apology out of your ass for burning me!"

The russet tail twitched and bristled. "You've got shards in both your legs, so how's it my fault that you're too slow to dodge baka?!" Over the years of fighting and verbally sparring with Inuyasha, Shippo had slowly developed a streak of iron that wouldn't let him back down from an argument no matter how bad it looked for him.

That was why Kouga was currently sporting a deeper tan on one arm and he himself was nursing a bump.

Shippo's turquoise eyes burned with gutsy fire, "Or maybe you should have shoved those stupid things between your ears instead?"

Admiration and annoyance flashed behind Kouga's eyes. "Gods keep you cub, you might be worth something when you grow up! If Kagome didn't already claim you, I might even consider making you a part of my pack."

"It's bad enough I have to follow that mutt, what makes you think I want to join you and your flea-ridden mongrels?"

"Why you little…" The prince almost said more, but a noise from inside alerted them both. Releasing Shippo a moment before Kagome came through the door, Kouga stood and smiled at them both.

"Oh, Kouga! I thought you had left already." Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Kagome blinked in surprise.

"Naw, I just wanted to make sure the squirt stayed put." The ookami moved a bit as a tiny fireball shot out to singe his foot. Kagome didn't notice.

"Well, thank you again for finding Shippo. I hope you can use what I told you to help you find the girl you're looking for." Her smile was sad and filled with a touch of pity for him. It irritated him to see it, but he'd be damned if he'd let her know that!

"I'll keep what you told me in mind Kagome." His eyes fell on the glaring cub. "And I'll be back to check up on you guys again." Smirking as tiny fangs were bared, Kouga took off for home.

Kagome scooped up Shippo's tense little body and went back inside. "That was a lot more pleasant than I thought it would be, wasn't it Shippo? Kouga was even kind enough to reset the door for me."

In the warm circle of her arms, Shippo mumbled suitable replies as he plotted chaos and havoc for the prince of ookami.

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A/N: Sort of a short chapter, I know. I just wanted to get the ball rolling about home life from Shippo's POV. I always wondered if he wanted to go to another pack but stayed because of Kagome.

Ah well, guesses and speculations…..

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"This is really chewy."

"Is it? Let me try…"

"Isn't it good?"

"Yeah, what is it? Chicken again?"

"Nope! Turkey jerky!"

"… that's almost as bad…"