InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Shippo's First Rut ❯ Happy Endings ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter 7: Happy Endings

 

When Shippo and Shiori returned, they tried to be as decorous as possible. They had put their clothes back on carefully, and smiled and nodded politely to Shiori's mother when they entered the hut. There was no physical contact between them. But Shiori's mother knew, she sensed there had been intimacy between them. It was in their body language, the stolen looks and smiles she was not supposed to see. After all, not only was she a mother and former human mate of a bat youkai, she had been young and in love once. Still, she respected their privacy.

 

“Did you have a nice walk?” Shiori's mother said, looking up at them from she sat cross-legged on the floor.

 

They stood side by side and regarded her steadily a moment. Then Shippo ducked his head, turning it away, and swayed a bit uneasily back and forth on his feet. Shiori folded her hands in front of her and nodded, smiling.

 

“Yes, Mama-san,” Shiori replied quietly.

 

“Good, I knew Shippo needed to get out of our small, stuffy hut,” Shiori's mother said.

 

“Oh, I don't find your hut small and stuffy,” Shippo said quickly. “It is a place of warmth and kindness that I am grateful for.”

 

Shippo's sweet and eager words made Shiori's mother smile. The kitsune blushed a bit, but smiled back, reassured that his rash words were well received. She stood up and moved towards her sleeping pallet.

 

“Well, you kids should get some rest,” Shiori's mother replied. “I am off to sleep now myself, goodnight.”

 

“Good night,” Shippo said.

 

“Good night, Mama-san.”

 

For another night, Shippo and Shiori slept apart. The restlessness of sexual desire was quenched for now, but the yearning of new love left them lonely. Shippo hugged himself, his eyes closed. He was keenly aware of Shiori nearby, tossing and turning on her pallet. Things would have to change and soon. In his mind he saw himself returning triumphantly to the village with his new bride. But he still had to see how Shiori would feel about leaving; would she be afraid, would she be happy? He scowled and shook his head, telling himself everything would be fine - he would talk to her about it tomorrow. Finally Shippo fell asleep, where pleasant dreams awaited him for a change.

 

The next morning, Shippo woke to a beautiful sight. Shiori sat by his side, and smiled at him like a ray of sunshine after a tsunami. He smiled back and lifted his head to prop it up with his hand. Automatically she reached out to touch his forehead, and then blushed slightly, pulling her hand away. He grabbed it and held her hand gently, a willingly captured dove.

 

“How did you sleep, koibito?” Shippo said softly.

 

“Okay, but I think I would have slept better if I could have been next to you,” Shiori answered.

 

“I feel the same,” Shippo replied. “Soon, we will never be parted at night.”

 

The mat door swung open, letting in bright morning light, and backlit the figure of Shiori's mother. Quickly they let go of each other's hands, and Shiori stood up. Her mother carried a basket, with fresh vegetables from her small garden, over one arm.

 

“If Shippo is awake I will prepare some breakfast,” Shiori's mother said, and Shiori and Shippo nodded.

 

“Will you let me catch some fresh fish for lunch?” Shippo asked. “It is the least I can do for all you have done for me.”

 

“That would be wonderful,” Shiori's mother responded with a smile. “But for now, freshen up and come get something to eat.”

 

A few minutes later, they sat down to eat some rice balls, some pickles, and drink tea. They made small talk, and Shiori's mother mentioned finding a replacement for Shippo's ruined kosode and suikan.

 

“I am afraid your clothes were too damaged to be repaired,” Shiori's mother said. “May I be so bold to ask, what happened to them? Were you attacked by an Oni?”

 

The remark brought a change in Shippo's cheerful expression, his green eyes darkening like the reflections of clouds on a green ocean. He looked thoughtful, his memory turning inward. His flight from the forest was a blur of pain and despair. And he did not want to remember what fueled the desperate journey that left him on this shore. But a wonderful thing had come from those dark days.

 

“No, it was not a misadventure of that sort,” Shippo said quietly. “I…entered my first youkai rut, and am afraid was not fully prepared for the consequences. My foster family could not help me, but it was not their fault. I learned a hard lesson…”

 

Listening to him and watching him, Shiori yearned to reach out and comfort Shippo. But custom forbade her, so she offered what reassurance she could with the love in her violet eyes. Glancing over at her, he caught her expression and smiled. The clouds of bad memories cleared at once, leaving his eyes their bright, vibrant green again.

 

“I am sorry if I brought up something hard for you to talk about,” Shiori's mother said in concern.

 

“Don't worry,” Shippo said, shaking his head. “It was a question asked with good reason. I know you only asked out of the kindness and care in your heart.”

 

Nodding, Shioris' mother began to clear away the remnants of their meal. Watching her, Shippo's mind filled rapidly with thoughts and questions of his own. One in particular held urgency for him, and he decided he would take a chance and ask.

 

“May I be so bold to ask you a question?” Shippo said.

 

Looking up, Shiori's mother stopped what she was doing and smiled, waiting for Shippo to continue. Next to her, Shiori also waited intently for what he was about to say. She couldn't help but wonder what was going through her mates head that made his voice sound so urgent and unsure.

 

“How do you feel about a full youkai being mated to human or hanyou, after what you went through,” Shippo said.

 

Now it was time for Shiori's mother to look thoughtful, and she put down the tea cups in her hands and clasped her hands in her lap. She knew why Shippo was asking this, and was grateful that he did. After all, he was a youkai, he did not need to concern himself about what a mere human thought about his choice of mate. Yet, obviously his upbringing must have included a sensitive, caring human to lead him to act this way.

 

“Love knows no boundaries, be it human, youkai or hanyou,” Shiori's mother responded slowly. “Even now, after all we have suffered Shiori and I, I have no regrets. My bat youkai mate may be gone, but I have my beautiful daughter. And I got to have a love like no other, even though he is gone. I have nothing against a full youkai being mated with a hanyou or human.”

 

A huge smile came to Shioris face, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears of pure happiness. Shippo was asking her mothers blessing for them to be mated! How wonderful! She wanted to throw herself in his arms, as he sat there visibly relaxing from her words. He glanced at her and flashed a brilliant smile that melted her heart.

 

After breakfast, Shiori got her fishing gear, and took Shippo to their small boat. The kitsune rowed them out away from shore, until she told him to stop. They spent a pleasant morning together, fishing and talking. But soon the rut in their blood called out to them again. Making love in a boat on the water was a challenge, and the way it swayed under them as he took her in his arms threatened to dump them in the water. But Shippo and Shiori just laughed, before getting to the serious business of fulfilling their passion and need for each other.

 

They rowed back to shore, ignoring the stares and mutters of the villagers. For the first time, Shiori held her head proudly. By Shippo's side, she felt a sense of self worth she had never experienced before. Still, their looks did not go unnoticed by Shippo.

 

“You don't have to put up with their treatment of you any longer,” Shippo said. “You will return with me to my village as my mate, if you will have me.”

 

“Of course I will have you as my mate,” Shiori replied. “We belong together. I think it was a gift from the kami that we were brought together. But there is one thing that concerns me…”

 

Shippo stopped walking and faced her, his face serious and tinged with trepidation. Shiori's eyes were troubled and a small crease graced her brow. He did not press her, just waited for her to continue.

 

“My mother will be alone,” Shiori said. “She is barely tolerated as it is. Without me she will be all alone.”

 

“So, we will take her with us,” Shippo replied. “She will be accepted at my village. After all, a hanyou and his mate have made their home there. There will be no stigma attached to her for having been the mate of a youkai.”

 

“Oh, that is wonderful!” Shiori said, practically dancing with joy. “Let's go tell my mother! And when do we leave? I can't wait to be your wife and see your friends again!”

 

Shiori's enthusiasm was contagious, and Shippo found himself grinning at her as she hurried him the rest of the way back to the hut. It hit him that this was for real, he had found a mate and love. He could hardly wait to leave with her and his mother-in-law to be. Just wait until his foster family and friends saw, that he had finally become a man.