InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ No Such Thing As Fate ❯ Sin and Being Sneaky ( Chapter 3 )

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

Hi people this is chapter 3 for everyone.

I'm dissappointed i'm not getting any responses on as to what people think of this story but I can't make people review now can I? This story is really fun for me and like i mentioned before i've already written alot of chaptes so as long as I get reviews I have stories to put up. I'm looking for a beta reader soooooo if anybody wants to be awesome and beta read my story please email me, I really need the help.

Anyway, this is the second part of my self dubbed getting to know Jiji ark. i've decided to develop his character because people seem to like him, i like him too of course.

Like i mentioned this is going to be an epic legnth story.

FOR THOSE WHO DON'T READ AUTHORS NOTES: This story will be listed as an Kagome/Sesshomaru fic until I get people voting on what the couples are. you will be introduced to one of your choices in this chapter. the third possible match for kagome won't be introduced until way later in the story. at that time I will open a second vote for the favorite couples. The first vote will start... I believe two chapters from now. SO LOOK OUT!

So for those who like this story, read and enjoy.

Disclaimer:Inuyasha...is owned by Rumiko Takashashi. She is an awesome writer and sadly she is 100 times better at this than I am. This is obvious because she is making a living drawing cartoons and makes more than I do in year. Of this I am very sure.

Chapter 3: Getting to know Jiji: Sin and Being Sneaky

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Kagome jogged into the cave ignoring the sharp ringing of metal as Jiji sharpened a sword. Jumping the counter with practiced ease, she heard Jiji's growl but ignored him.

He hated it when she did that because if a customer walked in it looked bad, but she could really care less what stuck up youkai thought. To many had made it clear they hated the ground she walked on but they weren't willing to get on Jiji's bad side just to insult her. She had heard rumor from a friendly old Tanuki that her Jiji wasn't somebody to start a fight with but also nobody wanted his dislike because he made such good weapons. Many weapons, she found out after a particularly nasty encounter with a cursed sword jiji had made for the last person that had pissed him off, were demonic swords in nature which made his work all the more appealing to the youkai populace.

She ran to a wall and snatched one of Jiji's old cloth ropes, that he used to hold his sleeves back while he worked, from a hook. Pulling the sleeves back of her kimono top, she tied it back with practiced ease and efficiency. She pulled a hair band from around her wrist and used it to tie back her now shoulder blade length black hair. Her clothing, a simple black and pink female styled horai top with matching shorts, helped keep her cool and dealt well with her more unreserved movements, such as jumping counters and climbing trees with Shippou.

She had bartered the cloth off a merchant friend of Jiji's who was just passing through. It had taken almost two hours to talk him into selling. Mostly because it was a weather resistant cloth youkai used to clothe themselves. The merchant had deemed her unfit to have cloth higher status youkai donned even if she had the money to pay, which she did.

Jiji stepping up to put in a few words and his angry aura had turned the tides in her favor. a few days later she had sown a new outfit. The very nervous merchant demon had even thrown in extra cloth for Shippou clothes for half off when Jiji threatened to stomp the poor demons face in.

How she loved Jiji.

In the end Shippou got three new outfits from the deal.

“Jiji where's your clothes I'm washing” she called over the sound of metal rubbing violently against rock. He paused his work a moment and tilted his head to a corner over by a pile of weapons then immediately went back to his work.

Kagome rushed over dragging a half full straw basket of her and Shippou's own clothes over to his pile. She picked his things up and flung them into the basket haphazardly before picking up the basket and walking around the counter to leave the cave. Walking through the aisles of shelved herbs she stepped out into the light. Kagome cringed and hissed as her eyes protested and she silently vowed to give Jiji an earful for suggesting she keep her enhanced night vision activated at all times of the day so she would use it without thought.

Now it was on permanently and she didn't know if she should be happy or very pissed. Sure she could see outstandingly well in the dark now, like he had promised the blurriness in her vision had faded with use. On the other hand, it was aggravating adjusting to extremely bright light that had appeared normal to her before. Even bright colors hurt her eyes sometimes if she wasn't prepared.

With a grunt she set the basket by the basin of water. Walking over to the fire with a pot hanging over it, she pulled the cover off to check on the soup. While they hadn't had breakfast today they were going to have an excellent soup for lunch. “Shippou!” she called not even having to look around to see the kit wasn't where she wanted him to be.

Living with a youkai that loved to sneak up on her she had taken to using auras to search for someone she wanted. At the moment, Shippou was supposed to be sitting over by a rock using a wooden plank Jiji had given him to work on his writing. Instead, he had run off to the tree line to play with bugs. She lifted the soup pot by the handle ignoring the uncomfortable heat against the palms of her hands; she had been burned worse before. Kagome sat the soup aside to cool by the rice container that, no matter how much everyone ate, never seemed to run out of freshly cooked rice. Silently she vowed to question Jiji on that, but she was busy at the moment. She put a kettle of water over the fire for Jiji's tea.

She glanced up when she saw the kits bright orange hair pop up in the field of tall grass. It astounded her how tall the grass had grown when just a few weeks ago it had been snowing like hell was freezing over.

It had been a very tough winter even by Jiji's standards. Between Shippou constantly being bed ridden with colds and the shortage of food in the nearby village during the winter, she realized both she and Shippou would be long dead if not for Jiji. Especially after the violent vomiting fits she had been subjected to during the winter, She was very sure she had just picked up the flu from Shippou.

“Hai Kagome-chan?” he shouted, despite his cry he was already racing toward her, he knew what she wanted. “Finish your writing practice for today and then you can go play” he slowed to a trot once he was upon her. With a grumble, he went to obey. Kagome smiled at Shippou and moved to toss some of the clothes into the basin. “It's not even afternoon yet, don't you have to do your lessons first” he whined.

Kagome shot him a dirty look and he grinned at her distress “Did Jiji make you run around the human village again?” he cackled, Kagome rolled her eyes at the kit. Jiji had not been kidding when he said she would run laps when she didn't memorize what he asked. It had happened all of three times, the last time had ended with her being chased by wild dogs around the village, before she had made it her goal to avoid that jog at all costs. On the other hand, with Shippou always asleep and nothing really to do in the caves during the winter, she learned all of the different medicines and poisons and the like he wanted her to learn, and then some, all within the six months, if only to avoid Jiji's unorthadox punishment.

“No, but I'll make you run if you don't do what I told you too” She scolded. Shippou's shoulders sagged and he turned back to his plank of wood with a brush in hand. Kagome went to scrubbing the clothing. Despite her disdain of going near the human village, thus wild dogs that loved to chase things, mainly her, she did go jogging everyday, just not by the village. She did acknowledge it built up endurance.

She scrubbed the clothes clean with practiced ease. Every few minutes a growl, something she had picked up from Shippou and Jiji, spilled from her throat when she found a hole or something of the sort in Shippou's clothes. She stuck a finger through the under pit of one of Shippou's tops and the kit smiled sheepishly when he saw her scowl.

“Now how did you do this?” she demanded. Shippou shrugged ducking his head a little at her anger.

She tossed the top into the pile of clean but wet clothing in the basket and with a shook her head. It was damn hard making Shippou's clothes because he was so small. Trying to copy the style of clothing he had worn for as long as she had known him, she had worked long and hard to make his outfits. Her fingers still hurt when she even thought about sewing all Shippou's clothes.

Standing she picked up the basket of clean clothes and went to hang them on the clotheslines.

Shippou's clothing and the bit of education he had received before their meeting raised a question of the kits status before he had been orphaned. His clothes were really well made and were more durable than anything she had ever come across. The level of education made her wonder. Shippou had already been started on his writing, reading, and a few other things and had been at a decent level before he had met her and she had begun to continue his lessons. She tilted her head in thought but shrugged it off when something else caught her undivided attention.

Her body went rigid when she felt a youkai aura approaching. Shippou glance up at her obviously sensing the approaching aura too. She waved a hand; it wasn't unusual for a youkai to come see Jiji for something, mostly weapons. Shippou turned back to his work and Kagome finished hanging clothes as she resisted the urge to flare her powers as a means to keep the youkai away. Said youkai landed in the clearing not ten minutes later. Kagome turned from her work to glance at the youkai and he stared at her in return.

He was a humanoid youkai who stood a few inches taller than her. He had short black and red hair that seemed wild and cut without any care to how it would look but then again it was a unique style that made his handsome features stand out. He had that beautiful face that seemed common in any humanoid like youkai she came across.

He was young and leaning toward the same 'wild handsome' that Kouga seemed to poses. His eyes were a strange and very light brown-hazel color with specks of lime green in the iris. Under each eye was a green stripe that stayed close to the eye then vanished of into his hair on the side of his face.

She had learned to examine the type of fighter someone might be judging by body type. This youkai had a graceful body like a dancers. He was most likely a fighter who liked to move around a lot and was very flexible but with devastating effect. She pegged him more of an assassin or someone who didn't go toe to toe with other fighters very often. His body wouldn't allow for it very long before he was overpowered by a bigger youkai built like a tank. One good example of such a tank was Jiji, five foot eleven and built like a brick wall. However, this new arrival did look the type to dance around you and tease you into a rage during a fight.

He seemed to examine her and they both stared each other down a moment neither willing to back down but the bubbling of the tea kettle caught her attention. She tossed a shirt onto the line and walked slowly…cautiously, around him to the kettle. The youkai turned away and started into the cave and kagome pouted at his dismissal of her. He didn't seem to notice Shippou who was staring a hole into the youkai's back. The new arrival vanished into the cave and Kagome checked the water absently to indeed find it was boiling. She walked into the cave and spotted the youkai at the counter but she ignored him in favor of grabbing the wooden bowls, cups and utensils she had sat on one of the shelves earlier.

Walking back outside, she sat everything down and scooped some soup into a bowl along with some rice. She poured the hot water into one of the cups then stood with the bowl and cup in hand. Kagome walked back inside and paused at a small off to the side shelf with small jars on it. These jars contained tea and lots of it. Jiji was well off money wise and could always afford his favorite teas. She checked one of the jars on the bottom shelf where her favorite kind of tea always was. Yesterday, Jiji and his guest had emptied it out, much to her dismay. She licked her lips happily when she found the jar of mint tea full.

She didn't know where he got the tea leaves but all of them were addictive beyond reason.

She went for the black tea though, which was jiji's current favorite and with a scooping spoon dumped the black tea leaves into his cup of water. Stirring them tea absently with a pair of chopsticks she tapped the sticks against the rim of the cup then sat them down on the shelf. For some reason he liked his tea made this way, it was odd but not something to make a scene over. Taking the bowl of food back into her hands she walked toward the counter. She walked around the counter this time for fear of spilling hot tea on herself. She put the bowl of food in his hands and sat his tea on the counter.

“Thank you little one” he hummed.

Kagome hugged him happily, “No, thank you ,” he grunted in confusion. Their guest watched their interaction in fascination. Kagome grinned pressing her cheek to his “Mint tea” she purred.

“Oh” he gave a chuckle as she released him and bounced back around the counter. Feeling a stare on her she paused and turned to glare at their guest who didn't even try to hide the fact he was eyeing her bare legs.

She growled and he seemed a bit surprised if not pissed at her. “You have a Miko as your little servant?” he commented to Jiji not taking his eyes off her.

Kagome bristled, while her growls left something to be desired her hisses made cat's proud.

So instead of growling again, she hissed angrily at the comment and their guest smirked coldly at her finding her behavior funny.

“She must not know any better” he continued. Jiji hummed eating slowly ,“she doesn't seem to understand that her kind kill our kind and we should be enemies but I'm not complaining” Jiji admitted. “She's a good girl though, so if you have a problem with my little one then you should leave Sin-sama”

Not yet…

“I-I don't have any problem with your little human pet” he admitted quickly obviously confused by the old youkai's outright protection of her.

“She's not a pet, she's my little one” Jiji corrected as if chastising a child. Kagome sent Jiji an amused glance, she could hear the playful tone in his comments, Sin obviously didn't get the hint.

“O-Oh, little one, but she's human why are you claiming her as yours” he demanded.

Damn it, she knew he wanted to do it, why was he holding back?

Jiji shrugged, “Why not, she hasn't been corrupted by other Miko's into killing youkai simply because she can, she protects herself, the kit and whoever else is under her protection at the time. She is not a threat to you if you don't harm what is hers” Jiji explained. “I have no children of my own and she's a fine little one, I might as well claim her as my own. I've grown quite fond of my little one while she's been here, I'd hate to see her harmed in anyway,” there was a threat in his words that his tone swore he would carry out quite painfully.

Sin shifted uncomfortably glancing between Jiji and Kagome who was staring at Jiji with wide warm eyes. “You aren't the first customer I've explained this to and you won't be the last, I say again is there a problem” Sin stared at Kagome a moment before finally conceding. “No, I don't have a problem with your child”

There it is!

Jiji gave a shit-eating grin.

“Good” he all but chirped tilting his head in a manner that reminded kagome of someone playing stupid.

“Now what can I do for you Sin-sama” he asked pleasantly.

“Kagome-chan can I eat now?” Shippou called from the mouth of the cave. Sins gaze darted to the fox kit as if suddenly realizing he was there.

“She really has a fox kit” Sin sputtered. Kagome rolled her eyes at the youkai as Shippou ran in.

He paused to eye Sin warily, “Should you not be with your parents kit.”

Shippou scowled at him but Kagome stepped between him and Shippou, “He's an orphan I take care of him and that's all you need to know.” Sin frowned a bit as she took Shippou's hand and walked away.

“What a ….fascinating human,” Sin finally admitted once she was out of earshot.

“Yes...and my little one loves to fight with others, she hasn't realized that's what draws the most attention to her. She has a healthy dose of fear for youkai that should be present in even other youkai, but she's not afraid to fight and defend her beliefs.” Jiji shrugged. “You should get to know her you'd like her Sin-sama” the old youkai suggested.

“She's a human” Sin snapped.

Jiji shrugged the younger youkai's comment off, “So, she's a powerful little human and she doesn't have the same foul scent as most humans either, I saw to that” He pointed out with a toothy grin. Sin glanced at the old youkai in confusion but didn't think to find out what he meant.

“She figured out how to see in the dark like a youkai, the fox kit says her eyes glow in the darkness like a youkai's also” he said a bit gleefully. “Do you know if other humans can do that, I've asked but nobody knows so far” he inquired curiously

Sin's eyes narrowed, “Humans can't do that” he assured.

Jiji was silent a moment “Well she can so surely other miko's can too?” Jiji huffed.

“No, I've fought mikos in the dead of night during the new moon, they can't see” Sin grumbled. “Their power burns their eyes when they try.”

Jiji went silent again for a long moment, “Then surely kagome must have a talent for picking up weird new powers, because she can see in the dark, I demand it of her.” Jiji nodded to himself thoughtfully. Sin eyed the old youkai curiously but again chose to keep his thoughts to himself.

“I'm debating if I should find her a youkai mate, she's not normal, a human male is not worthy of her nor would they tolerate her unique personality, if they hurt her for disobedience I would have to kill them” he said this with such nonchalance Sin was hard pressed to pick up his jaw off the counter.

“Your serious, you're actually claiming her as yours?”

Jijis eyes opened a bit but even as he focused on Sin, it was as if he were looking right through him. Sin shivered a bit having only seen the elder youkai's pink eyes once when he was a small child and his father had started an argument with Jiji. That had ended badly with his father hobbling away nursing a broken jaw.

He didn't want to repeat his fathers mistakes.

“I am a very serious person,” he said calmly. Had Sin known Jiji a bit better he would have caught the laughing undertone in the demons voice. “I just told you she is my little one, you didn't believe me?” the inflection in Jijis voice told Sin he was offended.

“W-wait I didn't mean…” Sin smacked his forehead and Jiji gave an amused smile as he finished off his meal. “ You are heir to a clan you can't let the common folk like myself fluster you Sin-sama.” Sin looked a bit ashamed even as he glared at the counter in his frustration. “Yes, you have always given me fine advice since I was that kits age, I don't know why I choose now to question your logic…even on the human” he sighed deeply.

Jiji nodded approvingly, “Now you still haven't told me what you need” Sin nodded absently and began rattling off a list of things. Jiji stared at him with open eyes, the dangerous gleam no longer present, and Sin recognized the expression of `are you serious' on the old youkai's face. Jiji was silent a moment as he made a mental list of all the weapons and supplies needed. “Are you preparing a small group for war or something” he asked playfully.

Sin chuckled a bit “Something like that” he admitted.

“Ah, are you trying to be sneaky Sin-sama” Sin blushed a bit and glared at Jiji.

“Well, as you can be sneaky I can be aggravating, Kagome will make your weapons” he said with the kindest smile.

Sin looked at Jiji horrified “I don't want a weak humans weapon!” he cried. “You're gonna get us killed” he accused.

Jiji looked at Sin in mock horror “Are you questioning my logic again young one?”

Sin bit this tongue to keep from screaming in anger. He made motion of strangling the old youkai.

“What are you doing?”

Sin looked back to see Kagome staring at him highly amused. He snarled at Kagome even as his face turned a most dashing cherry red. Jiji gave a belly laugh and Sin glared at the old youkai who obviously knew Kagome had been standing there. “How did you sneak up on me girl?” he demanded. Kagome pointed to Jiji in a child like manner “Jiji taught me how to hide myself” She answered immediately. “And how long have you been there” Kagome bit her lip debating if she should tell him or not.

With a shrug she made her decision, “Since you accused Jiji of trying to get you killed” if possible Sins blush turned a deeper color.

He slammed his fist on the counter, “Damn you old man” he fumed.

Jiji belly laughed again, even as Sin stormed out he spoke “Come back in a week” he called waving after the young demon. When Sin's aura had left the area, Jiji turned on her with a grin that made her pale, “did I miss something important?” she asked warily.

“Yes you did, your going to be making Sin-sama's weapons”

She thought she would die right then

“I can't I've only been learning this stuff like seven months” she sputtered frantically.

“He wants quickly disposable weapons, most of my weapon are infused with youki and its very hard for me to do otherwise now. Your weapons on the other hand are more suited to monks, mikos, even creatures like earthly spirits and such, but for a youkai it has no special properties that can be called on. It'll be easier for you to make weapons that can be used and left behind in the heat of battle simply because you haven't even practiced making anything with special properties.”

Jiji pet her head “Don't fret I'll stand over you and make sure you do what is needed” Kagome rolled her eyes.

“Jiji just likes to bother people” came Shippou's sigh.

Kagome's eyes briefly flickered to the cave entrance where she had left Shippou a few moments ago. The kit stood on the counter shaking his head even as he grinned, “that's why I and Jiji get along so great” the kit chirped. Kagome groaned and bowed her head in defeat.

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The door slid open with a creak that made the rats in the room flinch and scatter. Only the sound of nails hitting the solid stone of the floor and heavy breathing echoed in the room. Kana slid the door closed obviously unaffected by the loud scraping sound it emitted. She stood a long moment staring at the door lost in thought before she gathered her self and turned slowly to face her father, maker, and soon to be executioner. She did not believe herself above Naraku's usual treatment of his offspring. If they were not useful he reabsorbed them, simple.

“Kana” Naraku's voice whispered from the darkness of a corner. Despite the moonlight flowing in from the hole in the roof the light seemed repeled from Narakus form, or rather it wasn't being repelled but absorbed.

She walked a little closer and as she did so she began to see glimpses of his hulking form. Tenticles covered in slime, buldging pieces of flesh that shook and writhed when he moved…another transformation to go. She briefly wondered if he would need more strength for this transformation, would he absorb kagura back into himself or maybe she herself. It was a fleeting thought so she ignored it in favor of hearing her master out.

“Have you found the girl?”

His voice was a low whisper that cracked and shook as if he were in pain.

“No I have not” Kana answered in a quiet voice staring directly into Narakus flaming red eyes.

“What do you mean you 'have not'” Naraku hissed in a low voice.

Kana wasn't fazed by his angry reaction, “Where ever Kagome has gone there is powerful magic protecting her, even I cannot catch a glimpse of her unless she is in a human village. I saw her only once and never again”

Naraku was silent a long moment “Powerful magic that even you cannot get past, there aren't many who could do such a thing” he mused aloud. “It would have to be a spell specifically made to hide her, something curious to ponder”

“Her friends do not know where she has gone either, she has effectively vanished from view all but that one time, you say she appeared for a bit?” he rasped turning fully to kana. His movements made the room shake and the already unstable ceiling crumbled a little. Kana glanced up as dust fell into her hair. She turned back to Naraku not even bothering to wipe the dust from her pristine white hair. Why her master had chosen such a run down abandoned castle to hide in for his transformation was beyong her comprehension.

“Yes, I saw her once”

“Tell me what you saw, did you get a good glimpse of the terrain at least?” he asked with a bit of an edge to his voice.

“The time I saw her through my mirror I didn't have enough time to glance around to find where she was exactly. The moment the spell caster realized I was watching her I was violently ejected from my vision after seeing a pink eye, the mirror cracked.” She traced the lines running across the smooth surface of the mirror. It was only a little bit cracked, the broken piece on the side of her mirror would fit in her palm if taken out, but the fact someone had managed to do such damage without even seeing her face to face was still baffling.

“The Miko has an amazing ability to attach herself to powerful youkai, I wouldn't be surprised if she convinced a new friend she has met to cast this spell, for the moment she is out of our reach but that is fine, it won't last forever. Inuyasha's group is testament to that, they're at each other's throat without their little Miko” he purred.

“Sadly they still fight together when I send hordes, no matter, as I said it won't last”

“have you been watching our other target, I'm sure he doesn't have such luck with youkai that he can hide himself.”

Kana ignored his comments and turned the mirror a bit to show him the vision he wished. He stared at the mirror a long moment.

Naraku seemed pleased by what he was seeing on the mirror but she couldn't be certain because his face was hidden in the darkness. “This human lord reminds me of myself. I believe I can use him, send Kagura out to speak to this human” he murmured turning away fully. Kana righted her mirror and the vision ended as she turned and walked from the room.

Naraku stared at the wall lost in thought “ A youkai cannot fight a miko and hope to get away unscathed, but a miko cannot harm a human, lets see how much longer you hide with a human to fight” he chuckled to himself.

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Jiji sat silently by the fire as it crackled and danced. His eyes were cracked open a bit to watch the fire and the food over the fire. It was always nice to see the beautiful colors of the fire, especially for someone who couldn't see unless he was right by the fire. Naturally he developed an unhealthy love of fire because it had been the first thing he had ever seen. Despite his love of the dangerous element his attention was on the container in his hands. The vial was small and carved from wood instead of glass but it served its purpose to hold the precious liquid he was trying to complete. He absently ran a finger over the carvings he had etched into the vial.

He clenched the vial in a hand and looked into the fire absently as he searched for any auras. He didn't need Shippou or Kagome being nosey just yet. Shippou was off in a field and Kagome was inside working on the weapons she had been commissioned to do.

Jiji nodded to himself and looked down to the tiny bits of herbs lying before him on small bits of paper. He sat the vial aside and cupped his hands together. After a long moment a small ball of water appeared in his hands. When the ball of water became about the size of a pingpong ball he moved one hand away slowly. He sat a moment waiting and once he was satisfied the little orb wouldn't burst he picked up the little pieces of paper and slowly, one by one, dumped the herbs onto the little orb. He watched the orb spin violently in his hands mixing the ingredients as he murmured an incantation under his breath. The ball of water began to turn a brown color. The brown color began to concentrate itself into a smaller ball inside the bigger pingpong sized ball. He watched it carefully as the water around the core began to clear and when he was finished he eyed his work with a critical eye.

A gust of wind blew the little bits of paper that had held the herbs away but he ignored them.

Bringing his free hand up he stuck a finger into the orb and paused just as his claw penetrated the core of the orb he held. Slowly he pulled his finger away and the brown core followed the digit flowing through like water. The core now extracted from the orb he swirled his finger absently making the brown liquid swirl in the air. The orb was useless now so he tossed it to the ground nearby and it exploded upon impact before dissolving into the ground.

He turned his attention back on the swirling brown liquid and smiled in approval. Grabbing the vial he popped the cork off and willed the brown liquid to go inside. It quickly filled the container and Jiji took the container carefully in his hands. A few sniffs of the liquid gained his approval. He put his thumb to his lips and bit down to draw a bit of blood. Before the trivial wound could heal he quickly let a few drops of blood fall into the vial. He sealed the vial quickly and tossed it into the fire.

With a smile he stood and walked over toward the tree line where he had tied a fish up to hang earlier that morning. He circled the fish sniffing lightly “poison, I couldn't be too sure earlier but now I am” he murmured aloud.

A swipe of his claws cut the fish free from the tree and he caught it before it hit the ground. The fish was half his height which was quite a feat. He silently decided to store some of it to eat for breakfast tomorrow. With a hum he walked over to a plank of wood and lay the massive fish across the make shift cutting board. Taking up a nearby knife, he went to cleaning and gutting the fish. The half he didn't plan to use today he wrapped in some paper to take care of later.

The the top half of the fish was left for him to use. The first matter to take care of was the eyes. Kagome would absolutely refuse to eat a fish with three eyes, even if she wouldn't be eating the head today if she caught a glimpse of the fish he would have to fight with her to make her eat something.

She didn't need to know it was a demonic fish, she just needed to know it was the only thing keeping her from starving. He cut out the third eye of the fish and threw his head back as he tossed it into his mouth and swallowed it. He smacked his lips and rubbed his stomach absently “I'm going to have heart burn later.”

He loved cooked meat, that didn't necessarily mean his food had to be cooked, just the benefits of being a youkai. Next, he worked on cutting out slices that both Kagome and Shippou could eat easily. He cut out the poison creating organs of the fish, a few extra herbs would take care of the poison still in the flesh, Kagome couldn't handle that just yet. Adding the herbs he needed he skewered the fish and stuck them around the fire.

As he sat down to relax Kagome finally decided to emerge from the cave. He smiled when he heard her stomach growl and her tired groan, “working hard?”

She only grunted and sat down beside him. Kagome snuggled into his side with another groan and he chuckled lifting his arm and draping it across her side to allow her more space. He could make out her soot covered face from the corner of his eye

“How can you do that everyday” she grumbled.

“You get used to it,” he promised

Kagome wrinkled her nose “Making weapons isn't for me then, I don't think I'll ever get used to it.”

“It's a good skill to know though, just in case you don't have a choice but to make your own weapons, saves money too.”

She only frowned and pushed herself more into his side. They sat in silence a almost fifteen minutes just watching the fire.

The sound of Kagomes stomach broke their peace, he cracked a toothy smile and she blushed a bit. “Why are you making so much food today. Fish and soup?”

He shrugged “The soup is left over from this morning and I simply got lucky with the fish and needed to cook it” she didn't question him anymore on the matter and was content to sit attached to his side.

He pet her side and glanced down again at this rare opportunity to sit and look at his ward. Her hair was getting longer but she had lost so much weight during the harsh winter. He himself had lost weight and only shippou had been spared. The kit had been sick and he was a child, of course he got food before the adults.

Kagome was very thin almost sickly so, compared to her very healthy weight when he had met her. She hadn't complained of being hungry probably because she knew of the situation. Besides there being a lack of food, it had taken him a long time to figure out humans had different dietary needs than an old youkai like himself. He didn't have to eat everyday while she did and so did the kit, which was another problem. She didn't notice she had lost weight or she didn't really mind, after all females of every species loved to diet for some unfathomable reason. Now that it was easier to hunt and he could actually leave his cave without freezing to death, food was no longer an issue because he could easily get around to buy or hunt it. He badly wanted to get back to her previous weight or near it, little things like that gave you an edge in tough times like these.

Right now he wanted her diet to change, if he fed her right her body would fix itself a lot faster than if he left her be and hoped it got better. If she ate like him he could worry less about what she needed to eat.

“Kagome”

She glanced up blearily at him “Go fetch shippou so you two can eat, the fish is almost done” he said quietly. Kagome nodded absently and slowly pulled herself from the warm little spot in his side. She climbed to her feet and started in the direction she sensed the fox kit in. Jiji stood and once she was at an acceptable distance he pulled his sleve back. He took a breath and flexed his hand a bit nervously.

While he loved fire he was rightly wary of being burned. His abilities gave him a semblance of control over fire that didn't mean he couldn't get hurt playing with said fire. He reached into the fire slowly fighting not to flinch as the flames danced around his arm but never burned him. He searched under the hanging pot of soup for the vial he had tossed into the fire earlier. The charred surface of the container met his fingers and he quickly grabbed it and slowly pulled his arm from the flames.

With a wary sigh he ran his fingers over the surface of the vial. Despite it having been submerged in fire it was only warm to the touch. He turned and walked toward the cave to fetch tea cups. When he found the cups he took them over to the tiny shelf with all of his personal teas on it. He wiped the soot from his hands onto his clothing before pulling the top off the vial and pouring it into one of the cups. Next, he added mint tea leaves to the cup. In another empty cup he put some kind of spice tea. Shippou had begged him for it and he had obliged. His own cup was soon full of black tea.

Gather the cups and the bowls and utensils he walked back outside to the fire pit. Shippou and Kagome were making their way back over to the pit. Shippou chatted happily while Kagome listened with a fond smile. Spotting him with all the supplies they quickly rushed over to help. Kagome took the cups and Shippou took the bowls leaving Jiji with the chopsticks. He raised an eyebrow then looked to them “I am capable of handling this myself”

“nugh ugh Jiji is old, let us do it” Jiji frowned annoyed and Shippou grinned cheekily as they sat down for dinner around the fire. Before Kagome could notice the tea leaves in one of the cups were wet he was able to swipe the cups from her and serve the tea. He set the cup of mint tea before her as she served the food. Shippou got his food first and with a cry of `ITADAKIMASU' immediately began to eat the skewered fish strips.

Kagome ate a more reserved pace and Jiji choose to take his time eating. “Kit you'll choke if you don't slow down.” Shippou looked up his cheeks stuffed with food and his face covered in soup soaked rice. “No I-“ Shippou gave a wheeze his eyes widening when a bit of rice went down the wrong pipe. He set his meal down and beat frantically on his chest. Kagome rolled her eyes skyward as she pet Shippous back roughly. When he could breathe correctly, he smiled at her with watery eyes and Kagome looked at him disapprovingly. Jiji shook his head and turned his attention back to his meal.

Shippou cleared his throat with a few rough coughs “How did you know what I was doing?” he called across the fire to him.

“I can hear you silly kit,” Jiji answered dully.

“…Okay, I want to know how you can see across the fire though” Jiji paused and looked up and Kagome looked between them thoughtfully as she used her chopsticks to scoop rice into her mouth.

“I don't know” he shrugged a bit.

Another silence fell over them as they all worked on filling their stomachs.

“Jiji what type of youkai are you?”

His attention turned on kagome. The eager gleam in Shippou's eyes told him Shippou approved of the question to fill the silence of their meal.

“I am part wolf” he answered after a long pause.

“What's the other half” Shippou asked immediately.

Jiji pressed his lips together and Kagome shifted sensing he didn't like where this conversation was going.

“I purposely left that out so I wouldn't have to tell you kit” he growled a bit.

That didn't stop Shippou

“If you didn't want me to ask you should have just said you were a wolf” Shippou pointed out. Kagome frowned at the rude comment and made a note to scold Shippou later.

“I'm not just a wolf, I'd would be lying if I said so” Jiji replied a bitter tone sneaking into his voice.

“Grown-ups lie to kids all the time” Shippou responded confidently.

Kagome coughed a bit when the food in her mouth took on a sour taste a moment before it faded as quickly as it came.

The two males stared each other down and Kagome had the sudden urge to go to her room and leave them to their arguing. She wasn't very surprised when Jiji chose not to get up and simply leave the vicinity. Of course, Jiji was never one to leave an argument, he was stubborn and very confident in his fighting ability, he had threatened enough Youkai to reinforce that image. The problem was this wasn't fighting, it was debating and he was talking to a very wise and clever little kit.

“My father was a black wolf, my mother a Spirit of fire” both Kagome and Shippou looked stupefied.

`How is that possible?' they both thought to themselves.

Jiji already knew what they were thinking “Spirits can take on bodies of flesh if they are powerful enough” he grumbled.

Shippou and Kagome nodded dumbly and went back to their meals their thoughts racing. Shippou finished quickly and, not wanting to sit with the two quiet adults, raced off to play in the forest.

“I'll talk to him later for being so rude” Kagome murmured.

“It's fine, he's a fox kit. It's what foxes do” he answered quietly as he took a sip of tea to calm his nerves. Kagome took a drink of her own tea and smiled happily at the mint taste. Jiji smiled to himself suddenly feeling as if that conversation had never taken place. As long as she drunk the potion once a month he could keep the silly girl safe, that made his life that much easier.

“Besides it's not that important” Kagome frowned at him.

“It is” she insisted. A tired look flashed across his face and Kagome looked away frightened that Jiji suddenly looked his age. “I-I think it's cool your mom was a fire spirit, I bet that was an interesting childhood”

Jiji tilted his head then nodded in agreement his lips twitching upward “It was” he admitted. He stood with a sigh “Finish that tea and come inside so I can check your weapons”

Kagome smiled brightly and saluted him playfully “Hai” she chimed sweetly.

With a chuckle she turned back around to finish her tea.

XXXXXXXXX

Okay and that was chapter three. fFor anyone wondering if this chapter really had any importance, it did. Sin was introduced. he's another weird character with issues, Jiji likes to call them denial issues and i'm sure everyone will agree as his character shows up more. Also, we got a little into Jiji's character and his origins, though that is of no importance so far in what i do have typed out. In the next chapter alot more will be explained before my Getting to know Jiji arch is over. The Inu gang won't appear for a while and when they do they won't stay long. I have things for them to do in the backround.

Oh! after this arch is over I plan to move kagome along to the next best thing. A new adventure, in a way I hope is new and unused.

Also i'm trying to keep Kagome in character a little while longer before she needs to grow up a bit. your opinions on how I'm doing are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

RXR