InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Long, Stout, and Sharpeye - A Fairy Tale ❯ Stout ( Chapter 4 )

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A/N: I assume from the number of visits that my story is at least somewhat popular, despite the telling lack of reviews…*hint, hint* ;) For those that did review, I appreciate your reviews! And to all, I hope you are enjoying it, even if you don’t say.

A warning here: There is definite ooc in this chapter. I did the best I could for most of the characters and you were warned in the beginning that there would be ooc, so sorry to those that don’t like it but this is my story and sometimes ‘in character’ wasn’t possible.

Oh, and to Jullun - Yes, the princess is Kagome.

A/N2: Ok, so those that have read up to chapter three already; you may be a little confused about the beginning of this one as I went back and revised the end of chapter three. I realised that I had really stretched time to the limit and figured I had better give them some time to sleep as Inuyasha had been preparing to do already when Sango found him. It doesn’t really effect the story at all, except for the beginning of this one, but it is a minor detail. Hope you enjoy! : )

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Chapter 4

When they awoke, again very little was said. They were eager to move on, and really, what more could be said?

So they walked on mostly in silence, their thoughts trapped within themselves at the new outlook they had gained about their quest, until it was well into late afternoon.

Inuyasha was so lost in his thoughts that it wasn’t until his sensitive ears picked up on the sounds of laughter and chatter that he was brought back to his senses and the world around him. They were nearing a village.

Inuyasha wondered about stopping in the village in an attempt to receive food and a room for the night and was about to voice his thoughts to his companion when her voice cut in ahead of his.

“Lord Inuyasha, I think that it would do us well to stop in this village for the night. I have stayed here on occasion and have a good friend who lives here. She would most gladly give us a room and food for the night, as well as replenish our limited supplies. Also, I have a companion whom stays here sometimes. He is… unique, like myself and if he is here now, you should consider allowing him into your service as well, or at least I would ask that he be allowed to travel with us as he would be most useful in defeating Naraku.”

Inuyasha stared in wonder. A companion who was ‘unique’ like Sango? Was he too able to grow tall as she was? Inuyasha’s curiosity piqued, he readily agreed, eager to learn of this new person and their assuredly astounding abilities.


They entered into the village where Sango was greeted warmly by a plump and rather wrinkly old woman who hobbled up to the her, embracing her in a warm hug.

“Kaede!” Sango shouted gleefully at her old friend.

“Aye, Sango child, it’s been awhile. How’ve ye been? Have ye been keeping well? And, might I add, out of trouble? And who is this young…man ye have brought with ye?”

“Oh, Kaede! I have forgotten my manners! Please allow me to introduce Prince Inuyasha. My Lord, this is Kaede, my friend and mentor of many years.”

She smiled broadly as she continued to speak to the woman. “Kaede, I met him in the Dark Forest, and indeed I nearly took his ears off with my Hiraikotsu.” She giggled slightly at the now humorous memory, “It was of course, an accident, I was simply trying to catch a rabbit for some supper when seemingly out of nowhere there he was. I’m afraid he did not escape completely unscathed, for in Hiraikotsu’s return to me he was badly hit on the head.” She smiled merrily, before the memory of why Inuyasha had been in that forest and why they were here now returned to her and her face turned sombre. She turned an intense stare on the old woman.

“Kaede, he is going to Naraku, he knows of his whereabouts and has taken me into his service for his battle with him. Kaede, my old friend, I will finally be able to get my revenge and be at peace!”

The old woman suddenly looked as though she had aged even more than what Inuyasha was sure was her 160 years, her eyes instantly wearied at the young woman’s words and mention of Naraku.

“Oh, Sango.” she began somewhat sadly, “Sweet child. I am happy that ye will be able to fight him, to avenge the death of ye’r kindred, if that is what will make ye happy, but I am not so sure as ye are that it will bring ye peace.” She paused then, her tone and mood seeming to lighten. “But I’ve not been able to talk sense into ye since the day I met ye, nor change ye’r mind when ye set it to something, so I doubt very much I shall be able to now. Ye have my blessing child, though ye never asked me for it. I know ye wished for it.”

Sango’s eyes shimmered at the old woman’s words.

Kaede squeezed her hand tightly. “But come now, ye’r not leaving right away off into the battle are ye? So come, sit with an old woman for awhile and tell her of all ye have done since we last saw each other. Oh, and of course ye must be dyin’ to see Shippo? He has been wondering when ye might return, such a boisterous little scamp he is.” The old woman chuckled at this, her voice becoming like gravel, though it was not so unpleasant to listen to.


The y walked the short distance to Kaede’s home and entered through the unblocked doorway. It was bright inside, as sunlight streamed into it through three or four paned windows and from the doorway. It had a hearth at one end, a table and chairs in the centre and sitting cushions in a corner. It had a very homey feeling.

Sitting in one of the cushions in the corner was a very round, redheaded man, almost still a boy.

As they entered the hut the man eyed them and jumped to his feet, revealing an equally red bushy tail, and rushed to Sango, grabbing her and lifting her off the ground as he swung her around in a tight hug.

“Sango! It’s been too long! How are you?”

Sango ‘oomphed’ at the abrupt contact, but quickly recovered and returned the zealous hug.

“Hello Shippo. Yes it’s been too long, obviously, as you have grown yet again. I swear every time I go away, you always seem to get bigger,” she patted his large stomach, “and bigger. What do you eat Shippo?”

“Ha-ha! Sango, you are one to talk of getting bigger. Look at you! You have grown yourself, though for you it is taller, not wider. What is it you have been doing, sleeping on a rack?” He chuckled at the familiar banter, before his eyes fell onto Inuyasha.

“And Sango, who might this be? Could it be that you have finally given up on your quest for revenge and decided to settle down? And what will Miroku say? You know full well that he has a fancy for you, and indeed I never would have pegged you to court a demon, even a half one at that, being the feared demon slayer that you are….”

Sango’s face turned beet red as she began to splutter out a denial. “No! It isn’t like that! Inuyasha is…well, he’s a Prince, for starters! And I nearly killed him, so I am repaying my debt by being in his service!”

Sango allowed her breathing to even out before continuing her explanation. “Shippo, he was on a quest when I ran into him, a quest which I am now helping him to complete.” And she told him all that Inuyasha had told her previously, about the princess and the castle….and about Naraku.

Shippo sobered at that part of the story, and waited for Sango to finish before he turned to face Inuyasha, his face serious.

“My Lord Inuyasha.” He said as he bowed to one knee. “I hope you will forgive any insults to your person I may have placed upon you. I meant no harm and was only having fun at Sango. I would like very much to accompany you on your journey in defeating Naraku, as he has done much harm that he must answer for. Of course I wish for him to atone for his evil doings against Sango as she has become like a sister to me, but also he has harmed be. When I was but a young kit, he had two demons in his service and they killed my parents, leaving me abandoned. It would be a great service to me if you would let me join your quest.”

Inuyasha was a little surprised to learn that this young man - er, demon - for he was, Inuyasha was sure - a fox demon, so full of life and mischievous fun had too been so hurt by Naraku.

“Shippo, as I believe your name is, I would certainly like very much to allow for you to join us, as your story was touching and your need for revenge evident,” Inuyasha eyed the rather robust figure before him, “but I cannot accept you coming with us if you would slow us down. I have a need to get there as soon as possible and every moment that I delay pains me greatly. I could not allow you to come if you were to slow us down.”

Inuyasha pondered his words. “However, the lady Sango tells me that you have certain….abilities that are - unique? If they would not allow you to travel faster, would they at least then be of some use in defeating Naraku?”

Shippo glanced at Sango, somewhat surprised that she had revealed her, and his own secret but trusting her judgment he rose to his feet, prepared to show the prince his own ability.

“My Lord, indeed it is true. I too posses an ability. One that I have found to be useful… at times. You see my Lord, despite my obvious girth I am not heavy. My size is merely a part of my…gift. One which I would gladly show you, but as we would need a much more open space, might I suggest we save it for after some supper?”

Inuyasha grinned at the portly man suggesting they postpone something until after supper was had, and was just about to argue when his traitorous stomach gave a loud rumble, indicating he too, was hungry.

“Fine. We will eat first, but not a minute more after we finish shall we wait.”

And that‘s what they did. Kaede had fixed them a lovely meal which they all ate hungrily.

They talked little, mostly the three friends among themselves, Kaede, Shippo and Sango, but sometimes they included Inuyasha, (whom had finally insisted they call him Inuyasha as all the formality was getting on his nerves and, he realised was helping to set him even further apart from them.).

The sun was growing low in the sky, getting ready to disappear beneath the horizon when they finally left the small hut and headed out, back in the direction they had come.

After walking for sometime - all the while Shippo had no trouble whatsoever keeping up - they finally stopped. Or at least Shippo did. He advised that Inuyasha and Sango keep walking.

Inuyasha wasn’t happy about this, but did as he was ‘advised’, walking quite a distance when suddenly he felt something push against him, knocking him to the ground. He quickly regained his footing and turned to see his once more would-be attacker and saw a most peculiar site.

It appeared what had knocked him over was a rather large…stomach. And judging by the clothing covering it, Inuyasha had to assume that it was Shippo’s stomach.

It seemed that the young man had expanded his immense girth to an even greater size and was now covering quite a distance, looking much like a low, bulging mountain.

Inuyasha was just getting over this, when suddenly a great wind picked up, knocking him once more to his feet.

Shippo had let out the breath he had taken in to expand himself, and the force of it was immense.

He was not thinking to release it slower, in a less dangerous fashion, or perhaps, like anyone holding their breath, he had simply reached his limit and had to breath again.

Either way, Inuyasha had his claws dug into the ground, holding on for dear life, until the winds finally ceased.

“well?” Sango yelled somewhere from his right. “Incredible, isn’t it?”

“Keh.” Inuyasha said sourly. But he was impressed. He wasn’t sure how this was going to help him in his quest to beat Naraku, but he also didn’t see Shippo slowing him down - his one concern.

“Shippo,” He began when they rejoined him, “it seems that you would not be a burden, nor slow us down any. You may join us. We will leave first thing tomorrow morning. For now, let us get back to Kaede’s hut and get some sleep.”

The troupe reached the dwelling just as the sun was setting, and each slipped into an easy sleep.

Tomorrow they would set out once more, the three of them. Inuyasha laughed at what a site it must be. A Hanyou, an abnormally tall woman in skin tight warriors garb and a pleasantly jovial fat little fox demon. Yes, indeed what a sight they would make.



A/N: well, once again that’s it for now. I hope you enjoyed it. Can’t say when the next update will be, but I imagine that it will be soon. Until then, cheers! : )