InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Shippo's First Rut ❯ I was Lost and Now I am Found ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter 5: I was Lost and Now I am Found

 

 

Under Shiori's gentle care, Shippo was soon recovered. It seemed to him, as he watched her every movement about the small hut, that the very sight of her was impetus to get better. Reserves of youkai strength and healing power he had suppressed in his depression were tapped with the sudden desire to be well, for her. But still, he was not so ready to give up receiving the ministrations of the sweet and kind Shiori…

 

The kitsune lay still as the hanyou girl approached him, and closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep. She placed a hand on his forehead, as was her wont to do, and he smiled. Before she could pull away, he put his hand on hers. Slowly he wrapped her small fingers with his and opened his eyes. Shiori regarded him with a look of hesitant wonder, and then blushed and made to slip her hand from his.

 

“Please,” Shippo said. “Don't go. I wanted to thank you for all you have done for me.”

 

“There is no need, sir,” Shiori said. “My mother raised me right. I would never shun another being in need, even though I may be a hanyou.”

 

“There is nothing wrong with being a hanyou,” Shippo replied. “And don't call me sir, my name is Shippo.”

 

A small crease appeared between her brows, and she relaxed her hand as she thought. That was fine with Shippo, it allowed him to keep holding on to it. A stray strand of grey hair fell in front of her face, and she absently pushed it behind her ear. Gazing at her, Shippo thought she had grown to be quite a pretty, graceful, and sweet young woman.

 

“Shippo…have we met before?” Shiori said wonderingly.

 

“Yes, in fact we have,” Shippo said. “We were both children, and it was a terrible time for you I am afraid. I was traveling with my friends, Kagome, Miroku, Sango and InuYasha.”

 

A look of recognition lit up Shioris face, and her eyes opened wide. As her lips parted, her free hand flew up to cover her mouth as the memories flooded in. Shippo watched her quietly, her eyes reflecting the thoughts that were rapidly going through her mind. He became a little concerned, and lightly squeezed her hand in his.

 

“Oh kami, yes I remember,” Shiori whispered. “InuYasha was an Inu hanyou…the only other hanyou I have ever met. I usually don't like remembering those days …”

 

A delicate shudder shook Shiori's shoulders, as if a sudden blast of cold air hit her. Shippo instantly felt sorry for making her react like that, and his face fell. What a jerk he was, bringing up those horrific memories! But he realized he was really hoping she would remember him. Instead, she mentioned InuYasha….

Slowly, Shippo began to let Shiori's hand slip from his. This distracted her from her troubled reminiscences, and she glanced down at him apologetically. Shyly she slipped her hand back into his.

 

“I'm sorry for reacting like that,” Shiori said softly. “It's just…I have not thought about what happened in a long time.”

 

“It's okay, I understand,” Shippo said. “In order to go through our lives, there sometimes are things we are better off not thinking about. For me, it was the murder of my father…”

 

“Oh, I did not mean to remind you of that,” Shiori said. “But I lost my father too, as you know. I understand how you feel.”

 

They smiled at each other sympathetically, and laced their fingers together. Each felt a pleasurable warmth growing inside them as they looked at each other. In their minds they wondered at the feelings stirring within them. At the same time, their blood began to run hot with lust, whispering for them to abandon themselves to it, but they would not.

 

“Can you tell me what happened?” Shiori asked. “Did your friends succeed in their quest?”

 

“Yes, Naraku was defeated,” Shippo replied. “He was a threat to everyone, not just to my friends who had their own reasons to seek his end.”

 

“I am glad to hear that,” Shiori said with a smile, and lay down on her side, her head supported by her hand.

 

They were now face to face, their hands still laced together, and gazed into each others eyes. It felt comfortable to do this, even as their bodies hungered for more.

 

The two young adults were so deep in conversation, they did not notice the passage of time, but Shiori's mother did. She peeked in and watched them solemnly, but it was as if she was not even there as far as those two were concerned. So silently she stayed hidden and observed them a moment, her hands clasped together in front of her unconsciously expressing her concern.

 

Quietly she listened, taking in their body language as the two unconsciously seemed to draw closer together, until her daughter lay almost in the kitsunes arms. She wondered at how restrained they were being with each other, considering it was the last days of the youkai rut.

 

When she heard Shippo explain that he had spent some of his life as part of a family consisting of a hanyou and his human mate, Shiori's mothers eyes opened wide. An understanding of why this kitsune was not acting like a wild youkai in rut dawned on her.

 

`Well, if it is time for my daughter to find a mate,' she thought. `This young kitsune seems well matched. No family except his surrogate family to deal with - and they are not full youkai. If I can believe my eyes at what is occurring, I will give them my blessing.'

 

Slowly she left them, careful not to bring attention to herself. Not that Shippo and Shiori would have noticed any way. It was obvious to her they were too intent on each other.

 

During a lull in the conversation, Shippo became emboldened. He decided to go with his heart and his instincts, and they told him it was time. Freeing his hand gently from hers, Shippo reached out to push some stray strands of hair out of Shiori's face. Then he let his hand cup her head, and she did not pull away as he drew her towards him. Their faces were millimeters apart for a moment, as they each anticipated what was happening. When he softly planted his lips on hers, the strong chemical reaction of desire almost took their breaths away.

 

But Shippo was still keenly aware that Shiori was hanyou, and had been raised among humans her whole life. She was not some wild kitsune vixen, to be taken and claimed roughly by a youkai male. He felt her lips tremble under his, with passion or fear he could not be sure. So he broke away.

 

“Are you okay with this?” Shippo whispered, his mouth still close to hers.

 

“Yes Shippo,” Shiori whispered back. “Don't stop….”

 

Her response made Shippo want to crow with unbridled joy, but instead he kissed Shiori again. This time her lips parted under his, and she let him deepen the kiss, their tongues exploring each other eagerly but tenderly. Shippo moved his hand to her back, and drew her towards him, until her breasts pressed against him. He could feel the hardness of her nipples through her thin kosode against his bare chest. At this point his blood sang for him to take her - but his heart told him no, take it slow.

 

`I can't mess it up this time,' Shippo thought. `Because this time I know…I have found the right one.'

 

Using all the will he could muster, Shippo broke away from Shiori again, leaving them both panting. She looked at him wonderingly, and then a small, perplexed scowl creased her brow.

 

“Is there something wrong?” Shiori said in a small voice, and bit her lip.

 

“No, nothing is wrong,” Shippo said reassuringly, and stroked her hair. “But I…don't want to go too fast. You see…you are the one.”

 

“I am…the one?” Shiori replied.

 

“I was lost, in so many ways, until you found me.” Shippo said. “Now I know, you are the right one for me.”

 

A smile brighter then the purified Shikon no Tama lit Shiori's face as she realized what Shippo was saying. Smiling in return, Shippo drew her into a warm embrace and closed his eyes. She wrapped her arms around his back. They held each other and let the happiness of their newly found love wash through them, and reveled in it.