InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love Ain't Forgotten Easily ❯ Ice cream+Shippo=Inu-Yasha told you so… ( Chapter 12 )

Chapter 12

“So, guys, how about a movie after all that intellectual stimulation?”

“Sounds good to me!” Sota piped up. Shippo grinned and agreed.

“What do you want to see?”

“Uh…” Both boys went into a huddle, Sota rattling off names and describing the movie to Shippo, who decided `yes,' `maybe,' or `no.'

Finally, they turned back to Kagome. “Shrek 2!” they chorused.

Inu-Yasha's eyebrow twitched. Kagome smiled; she'd figured as much. Shippo had seen the first one a couple of weeks ago.

So had Inu-Yasha, but he hadn't liked it nearly as much. Sota grinned.

“But Inu-Yasha, you didn't like it, right? Do you really want to be dragged through the sequel?”

The hanyou glanced over his shoulder. “What are you getting at, squirt?”

“Well, you and Kagome can go see another movie while Shippo and I go to this one,” he said slyly, seeing Shippo try to stifle his laughter.

“Can you two behave if I let you go in on your own?” Kagome asked seriously, looking in the rearview mirror at Sota.

His solemn expression held an undercurrent of devious joy. “Yes!”

“All right, I'm leaving you in charge of Shippo. Inu-Yasha, is there anything specific you'd like to see?”

He raised an eyebrow. “No.”

“How about Catwoman?”

His eyes narrowed into a glare. “Very funny, Kagome.”

She stuck her tongue out at him. “It's got a woman in tight leather.”

He shuddered. “Kagome, I've seen that before.”

“Huh? Was it that bad?”

“A very fat woman tried to go as a punk rocker. That image is forever burned in my mind. Remember, Shippo?”

The kitsune nodded. “Yeah.”

“You remember something like that? But you're only, like, seven years old!”

“Uh…” He went for a quick cover. “It's not that easy to forget.”

“Well, Halle Berry is not fat,” Kagome said. “She's the opposite. Come on, Inu-Yasha! Please?”

“Feh. All right.” He rolled his eyes.

“Yay!” She pulled into the theatre parking lot. The two in the backseat scrambled out and across the parking lot, shouting for the older pair to follow.

“Hold on, hold on! Inu-Yasha, can you please catch them?” Kagome grabbed her purse and hauled herself out of the car. She locked it, and turned to see the hanyou dragging the boys back by the collars of their shirts.

“I told you two to behave! If you do something like that again we'll get right back in that car and leave!” she admonished fiercely. Shippo and Sota nodded meekly.

***

“All right, when your movie's done meet us right by the video games. Got that, Sota?” At her little brother's nod, she handed him the soda. “And you too, Shippo.” The kitsune bobbed his head up and down and held his small hands out for his own pop.

“We're also not to lose sight of each other, wander off alone, or talk to strangers in Theater—” They checked the number above them. “14, unless it is to tell them where our chaperones are. Right, Kagome?”

Inu-Yasha snorted at their perfectly-rehearsed speech, done in unison. Kagome smiled and handed them their popcorn tub.

“Bye!” Both boys shot into their auditorium.

“Shall we?” Kagome turned to the hanyou. “Our movie starts in five minutes.”

“Lead the way. I'm lost.”

***

About halfway through the movie and his beverage, Shippo realized something. He reached over and tugged on Sota's sleeve.

“Sota, I have to go to the bathroom,” he whispered.

“Can you hold it `til this part's over?” the other boy returned, eyes fixed on the screen.

“I don't think so.” Shippo was already fidgeting.

“Then go.”

“Kagome said we had to stay together!”

“She won't know! And it's not like you'll get lost.”

“Please, Sota?”

Sota sighed. “Go. I'll be right behind you.”

“Thank you!” The kitsune jumped off of the top of his seat—he hadn't been able to see otherwise—and ducked under the legs of other people in the row. He shot down the stairs and out of the theater, not bothering to look over his shoulder to check on Sota.

The bathroom was close by, and he was rather glad for it.

He finished his `business' and stepped out of the stall, walking over to the sink and bouncing up onto it. But where was the tap?

Shippo reached out towards the depression in the counter and jumped backwards when water sprayed out of the shelf above it. He found the floor with his head and yelped.

“That would be an automatic faucet,” a familiar voice said. The kitsune's head snapped up, and he gulped.

“Uh, y-y-yeah.” Shippo hopped back onto the counter and quickly washed his hands, green eyes trained on the man behind him.

“Shippo, was it?” Naraku walked over.

“Um…I don't talk to strangers.” He walked over to the paper towels and tried to reach them. Please buy it! Sota, where are you?

No such luck on either. “What, you don't recognize me?” Naraku came over and tore off a paper towel, handing it to the kitsune. “We met the other night at the party?”

“O-oh.” Shippo disposed of the towel and was about to jump off when Naraku grabbed him and set him down on the ground. “W-what was your name?”

“Keizo Toriyama.”

“Y-yeah. I-I need to get back to—”

“Wait.” Naraku knelt down and set his hand on the terrified kitsune's shoulder. “I need you to take something to Lady Kagome for me, if you would?”

No! Shippo's mind screamed. However, his curiosity and manners took over. “S-sure.”

“Good.” Evil-in-disguise dug in the front of his expensive-looking jacket and produced a very crisp, clean white envelope. “Also tell her I would like a reply as soon as possible. My cell phone number is inside.”

“O-okay.” The kitsune took the white parchment, noticing how heavy it was.

“And there is one more—” His head snapped up as footsteps echoed through the bathroom. He stood, smoothed out his jacket, and slipped over to the sink.

Shippo got out of there, silently thanking the man who had walked in as he placed the envelope in a huge pocket he'd found in his new jacket.

He slipped into Theater 14 and made his way back to his seat. Sota was still sitting in his, eating popcorn.

“Where were you?” Shippo hissed. “You said you were going to follow me!”

“Sorry.” Sota shrugged. “But you're all right, aren't you?”

Yeah, right. “That's not the point! I'm telling Kagome what you did.”

“No!” Sota's eyes widened, and his head whipped around. “I'll do anything!”

“Well, you can start by telling me what happened while I was gone. Then we'll talk.”

***

As Shippo and Sota waited for Kagome and Inu-Yasha, the kitsune decided he'd give Kagome the letter from Naraku when Sota wasn't around.

“Hi, guys!” The girl appeared around a corner. “How was your movie?”

“Great!” Sota launched into an energetic explanation of his favorite parts. Shippo remained silent, giving Kag and Yash a meaningful look. The former picked him up as she walked out the exit, and the latter feel into step beside them. Sota ran slightly ahead, singing “Livin' La Vida Loca” at the top of his lungs.

“What's up, Shippo?” Kagome asked quietly.

“Naraku.” He dug around in the opening of his furry coat, producing the heavy white packet and handing it to her. “He says he wants a response a.s.a.p. and his cell phone number's inside.”

“I'll open it later.” Kagome, nervous, hid it in her purse and made herself brighten. “Now, what does everybody say to ice cream?”

“Yeah!” Shippo and Sota cheered. Inu-Yasha groaned and muttered something, hiding his face with one hand.

“Huh? What was that, Inu-Yasha?” Kagome asked.

“I said you're going to regret that.”

“Why?” She looked puzzled.

“You'll see. Just don't expect me to help.”

***

“What do you want, Shippo?”

The kitsune, who was currently sitting on Inu-Yasha's shoulder so that he could read the flavors, turned to Kagome with a huge grin. “Coffee with a sprinkle cone!”

She looked surprised, but turned to the attendant behind the counter. “One scoop of coffee on a sprinkle cone for him, a Brownie Blast sundae for me, a double scoop of sherbet for the other kid, and—Inu-Yasha?”

“Banana split,” he replied shortly.

Their ice cream was done before long, and Kagome soon found the meaning to Inu-Yasha's earlier comment.

From the first lick of his cone Shippo was on the sugar high of all sugar highs. And what was worse, the normally sugar-immune Sota was on one too.

“Is this what you were trying to warn me about?” Kagome asked, her eyebrow twitching as she watched the two boys run around on the patch of grass outside. They had finished their ice cream in a matter of seconds.

“Told you so. Shippo developed an addiction to coffee ice cream about ten years ago, and this same thing happened. He should run himself out in about ten minutes. At least it isn't like the last time; he ate an entire carton of the stuff and it took an hour before he finally keeled over and fell asleep.”

“A…carton?!” she squeaked, nearly choking on a piece of brownie.

“Yeah. It wasn't pretty.”

They finished in silence, and upon walking outside found both boys sprawled on the grass, fast asleep.

Inu-Yasha picked them up and loaded them into the back of the car. Neither even stirred, and they didn't wake until the car was back in the mansion's garage.

Then they were wide-awake once again and took off into the trees.

Kagome shook her head as she made her way into the house, Inu-Yasha trailing after her. “I never remember being that energetic,” she murmured.

After doing a quick sweep of the front hall, Inu-Yasha ripped the bandanna off of his head and let his ears move about freely. “Shouldn't you be reading that letter from Naraku about now?”

She stiffened. “Right. Let me go tell Mom and Dad we're home and that Shippo and Sota are out playing, and we'll meet in my room. Oh, and go find Sesshoumaru!”

Inu-Yasha twitched; he really didn't want to do that. But Kagome was already gone, and he (unfortunately) saw her logic in calling his half-brother's ghost.

***

Dear Lady Kagome Higurashi,

I am sure by now Inu-Yasha will have informed you of who I am, and that you will have had the thought that I am your ancestor. (“No, actually, it didn't. Weird…” “Keep reading, wench!” “Shut up, dog-boy!”) Well, this is not true for several reasons. (“Huh?”)

1. Kikyo, who miraculously survived her fall off the cliff, married Lord Koga Yamamoto but bore him no children. However, the estate was sold almost directly after the Lord learned of her `death'. Those were your ancestors, the ones who lived here for the twenty-odd years before they declared it haunted. From what I understand, it changed owners many times over the subsequent years before landing in your father's hands.

2. How would you be descended from me? I live now, and yes, I do bear a strong resemblance to Lord Naraku Tsukino, but that is because I am from his brother's line.

By now you are wondering why you look like Kikyo even though she is not your ancestor. I will tell you. (“What a know-it-all…and a liar.”)

You are the reincarnation of Kikyo Tsukino; her soul is now housed within you. Why, I do not know, but there must be a reason. It is your job to find out that motive, and I wish to be informed the instant you do.

And enclosed is something Kikyo left to her reincarnation. She apparently knew what was going to happen to her.

Sincerely,

Keizo Toriyama

***

Scrawled below the signature was a phone number.

Kagome set the letter down and picked up the small package that had been in the envelope, weighing it down. It was wrapped in paper far older than what the letter had been on. She unfolded it carefully, squeaking as something landed on her lap.

“What…?” She picked it up; a small, purplish jewel with pieces missing from it.

She then glanced down at the paper. On it was writing: really old writing. Kagome could barely read it.

***

If you are reading this, it means I have passed on and you are my reincarnation.

It also means that a great responsibility has fallen upon your shoulders, and I am sorry for that. But it must be done.

Once you took the Shikon no Tama in your hands, it was bound to you, as it was to me. It is now your duty to protect from all those who seek it.

Especially my father, Naraku Tsukino, who became a hanyou earlier this year. He will strive the hardest to take it from you.

This is because the Shikon jewel contains massive power, and will increase that of any person who wields it. Yet I am sure you can see that it is chipped, and the reason for that is because (“This part got rubbed off…how weird.”)

And you must now go in search of the fragments, to reunite them with the rest. They will be tainted, but if you are truly my reincarnation you will be able to purify them as well as locate them. They will appear as tiny glowing spots that no one else can see, and something in the back of your mind will tell you what you are feeling is the aura of a shard. You must collect them before Naraku.

And in the event of my passing away I have ordered the deaths of Miroku Kishimoto and his fiancée Sango. A spell is set so that they will return when it is your turn to walk this Earth, and will be able to help you in your quest. (“Well, that explains why they were brought back.” “I'm sure they'll be just thrilled to hear Kikyo ordered their deaths.”)

Search also for the ghost of one named Sesshoumaru Noshiro; he knows about my father's transformation and may be of more help than Miroku and Sango. (“Ha.” “Was that you, Sesshoumaru?” “Since when do I say `ha?'” “There's no one else who could have done it.” “Another ghost, perhaps?” “Your sense of humor is warped.”)

I bid you good luck and fast recovery of the shards. Kikyo Tsukino, 1500

***

Kagome peered at the small object in her hand. “Shikon no Tama…Jewel of Four Souls? What do you two know about it?”

“Not a thing,” Inu-Yasha said, turning away.

“Naraku mentioned it frequently over the years. He never knew where to find it and cursed his miko daughter for hiding it too well.”

“But he's the one who gave it to us. Why would he do that?”

“Simple.” Both heads whipped around towards Inu-Yasha. “He wants Kagome to collect the shards for him so he can steal the entire thing.”

“Amazing, you do have a brain,” Sesshoumaru remarked, earning a glare. “And that you know how to use it is even more astonishing.”

“Shut up, Sesshoumaru…”

“Boys, stop arguing. Do you suppose Naraku read the message Kikyo wrote?”

“If he'd done that, don't you think he would have come out in his letter instead of thinking up that elaborate little explanation?”

“So maybe he doesn't know he sent us the Shikon.” Kagome laughed. “It'd probably tick him off to find out.”

“Kagome.” She ceased her laughter to look up at the stoic ghost. “If he didn't look at it, which at this point is likely, he may be taking you for a fool and expects you to reveal what was in Kikyo's note when you call.”

“Right…” She looked down at it. “But how would he know the answer was in it?”

“He's taking a wild guess. He did that a lot.” Inu-Yasha had a faraway, almost hurt look in his eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it had come and was replaced with a hard, angered expression. “But this time it's going to be his downfall. Kagome doesn't call him, collects the shards, and makes a pure wish on the jewel.”

“Why?” Kagome asked.

“Because that's what will make the jewel disappear, and you're the only one capable of that in this group.”

“How do you know that? I thought you didn't know anything about the Shikon.”

Inu-Yasha was caught off-guard. “Feh. So what if I knew a couple things? It's the same stuff you'll learn when you ask Miroku.”

“Do not withhold information, little brother. If Miroku were to forget something crucial, what then?”

“Miroku's like an elephant; he doesn't forget anything.”

***

Miroku groaned in annoyance when he heard the phone ring. He'd just laid down for a nap after exorcising a very unwilling weasel youkai this morning, and Sango was out slaying some rat youkai.

He rolled over, misjudged the distance to the edge of his bed, and yelped as he fell off.

His head struck the edge of end table with his alarm clock, and he saw stars floating around his head for a few moments before darkness consumed him.

***

“Miroku?” Sango called, opening the door. “You home?”

Kirara, her neko youkai companion, bounded past her into the house. She mewed, sniffed, and then ran into the bedroom.

“He must've decided to take a nap,” Sango muttered, following.

She opened the door to find Miroku sitting on the edge of the bed, holding his head in his hands. Kirara was pawing at his leg and mewing.

“Miroku?” Sango asked softly. “You okay?”

His head snapped up, and she jumped back at the sight of a large wound decorating his forehead. He smiled.

“Hello. Might I ask you something?”

“What?” The taijiya was confused.

“Who are you and how did I get here?”

“Um, Miroku, what happened to you?” She came forward and knelt in front of him, peering at the wound. “I'm Sango, remember? Your fiancée? You live here.”

“Really?” He grinned sheepishly. “You think I'd recall something like that, especially with you being so pretty. Of course, I can't remember my name either…”

“Miroku. Let me go get something to clean that up and then we'll figure out what you did.” Sango darted out of the bedroom, found one of their many first aid kits, and came back. Sitting next to him, she pulled out the bandages and antiseptic and began to pepper him with questions.

“What do you know?”

“Uh, two plus two is four, cat is spelled c-a-t, women wear skirts, and that I like to grope such women—wait, I do?”

“Figures you'd remember that,” Sango growled under her breath, pressing a little too hard on his wound and making him hiss in pain. “What do you know about youkai?”

“There are a bunch of different types and that half-bloods are called hanyou.”

“Inu-Yasha?”

“Who, or what, is that? All I'm getting are dog ears.”

“You'll meet him later. Higurashi?”

“Sounds familiar but drawing a blank.”

“Naraku Tsukino.”

He remained quiet for a few moments. “All I see is a flash of black and red.”

“Kikyo Tsukino.” She finished wrapping the white gauze around his head.

“Nothing. Except…wait, was anything of a lavender color associated with her?”

Sango, who had currently been leaning back on her palms, fell flat on her back. “You remember the Shikon no Tama?”

He gazed over at her. “Suddenly that's not the only thing I'm remembering.”

“What the—Miroku!” She laughed as he reached over and began to tickle her. “Of all the things to stay in your memory!”

“That's not all,” he murmured, leaning over her.

***

A/n: I don't know how amnesia works, so just go with it on the Miroku thing. `Kay? `Kay. ^___^

Sesshoumaru: -*- You're such an idiot…

Me: Anyone ask you, Fluffball?

Sesshoumaru: -*-` I don't know, but you're asking for a serious torture session.

Me: >:) And so are you. MYLI!!!!

Myli: *pops out of nowhere* ^______^ SESSHY!!

Sesshoumaru: -*- I hate you. *is glomped*

Me: ^__^ I know. Okay, fourth chapter, so…

REVIEW-REVIEW-REVIEW! Or else I'll make Inu-Yasha go to your house and sing a Britney Spears song! (I know, a lot of you won't review now…but I'll make it so he doesn't go away, so after two weeks of him singing endlessly, you'll finally go insane and REVIEW, mwahaha…)

Shippo: You're so weird.

Me: So I've been told.