InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The World Through His Eyes ❯ Somewhere I Belong ( Chapter 12 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: I can't sing…Just thought you should know that…for a look at past, and more informing disclaimers look at chapters 1-11…

OH! I got some of the names for Shippou's pet from Pruningshears and Green Bird 2071. thanks guys!

AN: I'm setting all snugly on my couch in front of the fireplace drinking orange cappuccino…I need to do my English 02 home work…but it's hard ya' know? I mean I'm in that class with a bunch of people who have never written more than a one paged essay in their lives and the professor treats everyone like they don't know how to read…and I feel so out of place… I want to stand up and scream “I've been doing this for years! I've been a critic and a writer since I was 13 and I'm dang good at it! Let me out of this dead end class!!!” but of course I can't say that…Just because I think I can write and I've done some betaing on the side doesn't make me an expert…but I feel so unchallenged in that class… But that's college for ya… So instead of writing an essay analyzing the tone of Faulkner's a Rose for Emily…I'm writing a new chapter!! YAY!!

Oh and on another note…one of my very good friends is having a baby today! By the time I finish this chapter and post it she'll have already had the baby…but that's not the point…ummm…The point is…Oh, that my thoughts and prayers are with you Amy! I'm glad your baby boy is finally ready to meet us all! God Bless!

::RECAP::

“Okay, one thing at a time. Yes, I brought you back something good. Yes, Inuyasha and I went away for a bit but no it did not have anything to do with Miroku. And yes you are right; Myoga-jichan doesn't know what he's talking about half the time. Now do you want to see your surprise?” She sat down on the ground beside him and pulled the little cage out from behind her back. Shippou looked at it funny for a moment, wondering why Kagome was giving him a see-through box. Then he noticed movement in the box. He peered closely at it as a fluffy ball of fur appeared from beneath the layer of saw dust it'd been napping under.

“You can get it out. I got it for you as a pet.” Kagome prodded when all he did was stare.

“Told you we should have gotten a snake.” Inuyasha mumbled. Kagome chose to ignore him.

Shippou gently sat the cage down and pried off the bright blue lid of the box. Then he reached in and pulled the squirrel out by its tail. Kagome was almost afraid that the animal would bite him, but the tiny thing just looked at Shippou with black beady eyes as it hung upside-down next to his face. Shippou blinked. The squirrel blinked back. Suddenly Shippou grasp the small mammal to his chest and beamed a radiant smile up at Kagome.

“Thank you Okaa-chan! This is the best gift ever! Can I go show him to Kaede-baachan? Oh what am I going to name it? I bet Kirara will help me pick one out! AH! I've got to go show everyone! Thank you so much!” He sprang forward and gave her a kiss on the cheek before rushing off to show everyone the newest member of their group.

“I told you he'd like the squirrel.” Kagome told Inuyasha smugly.

“Keh. You just wait in a few hours he'll find out how wimpy that thing is and then you'll be sorry you didn't get the snake.”

::END RECAP::

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chapter 12: Somewhere I Belong

And I get lost in the nothingness inside of me

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It was a glorious day. The type of day only spoken of in fairy tales and other oral folklore. The type of day where the sun shines a pure intense yellow, not one cloud floats in the azure sky and the birds sing themselves horse with happiness. The gentle breeze caresses everything in its path with velvety fingers and the once faded glory of the flowers changes to bright jewel-tones and soft pastels. It was, to put it simply, the perfect day for travel…Or it would have been the perfect day for a journey if traveling with Sesshomaru-sama wasn't so boring sometimes.

Rin's attention drifted away from her beloved lord's back as she contemplated the flowers growing by the path. What she wouldn't give to hop down off of Ah and Un and go play in them! She wanted to make flower chains and make up songs about fairies and mermaids and heavenly maidens…but Rin knew that if she hopped down off the back of the two headed dragon that she risked getting left behind. She had no fear that Sesshomaru-sama wouldn't come back for her, for she knew that he would eventually when his business was taken care of, she just didn't want to be by herself for any long length of time. So she stayed aback the dragon, trying to be a good little girl and not let her restlessness show. She wanted Sesshomaru-sama to be proud of her restraint.

Sesshomaru glanced over his shoulder to make sure his little group of followers were keeping up. He knew that on a day like today his little human charge would be restless, and under normal circumstances he would have let her stop and play for a bit under Jaken's somewhat watchful eye while he himself scouted the trail ahead. But this jorney wasn't like their normal wanderings and Sesshomaru was disinclined to stop long enough for the human to waste some energy.

`Inuyasha…why is it that you always have to be a thorn in my side?' His little half brother had done it again. He'd broken another one of the ancient inu-youkai traditions that had been handed down for untold generations. But Sesshomaru really wasn't surprised by this, after all, Inuyasha had been breaking things since the day he was born. And in all honesty, he'd stopped caring about the disgraceful things his half brother did fifty-two years ago when Inuyasha got himself pinned to a tree. It was only when the runt went and did something that inconvenienced him that Sesshomaru took the time to give a damn.

`You know nothing of the old ways, little brother, and it makes this Sesshomaru ill to know we have the same bloodline. Why couldn't you have at least done this one thing right?' Of all the laws and traditions of the inu-youkai, the rituals of mating were some of the simplest to follow. Yet, somehow, out of ignorance or out right rudeness Inuyasha ended up making a mess of things. And here was the rub! Since Inuyasha hadn't made the journey to the palace in the Western Lands when Sesshomaru was holding court to get his union blessed, Sesshomaru as head of the family and head of the tribe was obligated to go to him! He'd refused to do it when news of Inuyasha's breech in manners had first reached him but one of the elders of the tribe had pointed out that it was his duty. And Sesshomaru never turned his back on duty.

“Sesshomaru-sama? Rin is very hungry; can we please stop long enough for me to find some food?” He felt the small tug on his empty sleeve seconds before her childlike voice reached his ears. He spared her a glance before turning his eyes back on the path ahead. If they stopped now that would mean it would be mid-afternoon before they reached the human village his halfling brother called home. Sesshomaru debated just leaving his companions behind so he could finish this horrid errand alone. They were, after all, just slowing him down, but the more he thought about it the more he realized that leaving Rin in Jaken's care would only cause him to lose more time in the long run. Every single time he left the little girl-child in the care of the toad youkai he ended up having to rescue her from the jaws of death. Jaken obviously couldn't be trusted with this task ever again, but some things couldn't be helped. When they arrived at Inuyasha's village he'd have to leave Rin and Jaken outside while he went in to confront his half brother. He looked back down at the little girl who was waiting patiently by his side for his answer…and relented. What he had to say to his rude little brother wouldn't change with time, he'd stop and let the human play before continuing on toward his destination. Maybe that way she'd be too tired to play any tricks on his little toad retainer.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Kagome was trying to enjoy the cloudless sky that only the absence of pollution could produce. Here in ancient Japan the weather seemed to always be perfect even when it was raining, this was one of the many reasons she cherished her time here with all her heart. But at the moment it was quit impossible to enjoy anything with Inuyasha pacing around the hillside, growling at every blade of grass that dared to move while he was in such an agitated state.

She'd suggested coming out here to the fallow fields this morning when it was made clear that Inuyasha wasn't fit for human company today. Before being bound to her, he'd been able to get away from the group for a little while whenever he'd felt restless and agitated. Now of course that couldn't happen, and it showed. Inuyasha woke up in such a nasty mood this morning that even the offer of hot roman noodles couldn't fix. He'd `accidentally' broken some of Kaede's pottery, threatened to rip Miroku a new one at least five times, and almost had Shippou in tears…and breakfast hadn't even been ready yet. So Kagome had taken pity on him (and everyone else within striking range) and decided that going some place where Inuyasha wouldn't be constantly surrounded by people would be a good thing.

So here they were, almost half a mile from the village, well away from anything that could possible get on the hanyou's nerves, yet he still refused to calm down. His behavior was beginning to make her nervous, which only made his agitation worse.

`You could try to help him calm down. Myoga-jichan said that you'd have the power to do so now that you're…you know. Maybe then he'd at least calm down enough to tell you what's wrong.

But I don't even knowhow to go about doing that! What do I do, think happy thoughts at him? Somehow I doubt that will work.

I bet if you concentrated hard enough you'd be able to find the link between your souls again. This time though instead of trying to cut it apart, you could use it to ferry calming emotions toward him.

Kinda like email? Wait! Am I talking to myself again? I'm going crazy and it's his entire fault! I was mostly sane before I married him and now look at me, carrying on full conversations with the voice in my head. Oh Kami-sama did I just admit that I was married to him? Can I actually be accepting it? But it's not right, I can't get used to this because we're going to have to find away to save Kikyou…. If I let myself hope that Inuyasha's finally mine and then have to give him up for her sake my heart will shatter—`

Her thoughts were interrupted by an especially loud growl of warning from Inuyasha. Kagome then realized that her lap was practically covered in flower stems and petals.

Her fingers were stained a sickly pale yellow. There was dirt under her finger-nails.

In her own nervousness she'd been ripping the little plants out of the ground and picking them to pieces without knowing it. She'd destroyed all the spring blossoms within arms reach. A sudden sadness overwhelmed her at the sight of the bruised petals lying withered in her lap. Inuyasha jerked to a halt and looked at her with a frown of absentminded concern.

“Oi, are you okay?” He didn't bother to come closer to her, just stood were his pacing had stopped as if he had more important things to do besides stop and check on her.

“I'm fine.” Kagome didn't look at him at all. She just brushed the dying flowers from her lap with unsteady hands. She wasn't about to admit to feeling guilty over killing the flowers, because then he'd either try to dig deeper into what was really wrong with her, or he'd just ignore her and go back to growling and pacing.

She didn't know which one would be worse.

She tried unsuccessfully to clean her hands off on the denim jeans she was wearing, but had no luck. She couldn't help but wonder if Kikyou's fingers had ever been stained like this. Surly they had been, since herbs were needed for healing potions and other spells and Kagome knew from first hand experience with Kaede that herbs had a tendency to dye the figures strange colors.

But had the other miko's hands ever been stained with the yellow blood of the flowers like this?

Kagome shook her head to clear away the morose thoughts that cluttered her mind. This was not the time to get depresses over something she couldn't change. Now was the time to calm down her presto mate before he paced a bigger hole in the ground.

`Okay, let's see…find the link, find the link…' Kagome closed her eyes and concentrated inward to find the place where her soul was meshed with Inuyasha's. After a minute of searching she `bumped' into something that `felt' like Inuyasha. `AH! Found it! If I just concentrate on calming him down…at least I think that's what I should do…' Kagome gave the link a gentle nudge and she was almost overwhelmed by the negative emotions that poured into her. Stiffening her shoulders she began to clear her mind of all thoughts save one thing; soothing Inuyasha. She found a place inside herself that was absolutely still and focused on making that tiny place grow until is spilt over their link. She was so caught up in producing an ocean of peace for her hanyou to drown in she never noticed when he stopped pacing.

“You can stop doing that now. I don't appreciate you playing with my emotions like that.” But his voice wasn't angry; in fact it was very relaxed. She opened her eyes just in time to see him flop down on the ground beside her with a gusty sigh. Kagome was happy to see that some of the worry lines between his eyes were fading.

“Want to tell me about it?” She asked quietly, reaching out to scratch gently where his white ears met the top of his head. The last of his worry lines disappeared completely with her actions and he let out another sigh.

“Sesshomaru is coming soon, and tomorrow night is the new moon.” Inuyasha felt some of his agitation bubble back up. This was not the time for his half brother to show up and cause trouble, not when all his injuries mirrored on Kagome. Not when he'd soon be a weak human for a nigh. There was no way for him to fight like that! He was growling again before he even realized it.

“Come on, don't start growling and pacing again, I don't think my nerves can take it. Why does it bother you so that Sesshomaru might show up, I can understand being anxious about the new moon, but your brother's only coming to bliss our…what ever we have?” She couldn't quite bring herself to say marriage out loud. Kagome really didn't understand why this was bothering him so much. The last time the brothers had met they hadn't even bothered to exchange blows, just a few insults. Why was he so up tight about it now?

“It bothers me, bitch, and it should bother you! If Sesshomaru wants to fight I'll have to run, because I can't risk getting hurt when all my injuries fucking show up on you! You'll get hurt! How am I fucking supposed to protect you from all the bad guys if I can't even fight! Tell me how!” Kagome was taken aback by his words. She'd never thought about it, but Inuyasha hardly ever came out of a fight without injuries of some kind.

He didn't wait for her to answer his questions before continuing his tirade, “And we have no idea how this spell is going to react to my human night! It could very well get even more fucked up than it is! And there's nothing I can do to keep you safe….I just have to seat back and watch while you continually get hurt.” Toward the end of his rant Inuyasha's voice lost its growl and he hung his head. Kagome's heart went out to him. She was touched that he was worried about her like this. Kagome reached over and brushed a strand of soft white hair out of his face. His eyes rose to meet hers and Kagome almost felt like crying when she saw just how worried and helpless he felt reflecting in his eyes. Without much thought she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close. Inuyasha immediately hugged her back, going a step further and pulling her into his lap. He tucked her in close to his body even though the day was pleasantly warm and there was no need to protect her from the cold.

“Inuyasha, don't worry about it, okay? If Myoga's right Sesshomaru's only coming to see what kind of mate you picked. I don't think there'll be any fighting if the two of you can keep your tempers in check. And as for the new moon, we'll cross that bridge and deal with those problems when they come.” Kagome rested her head against his chest and wondered absently why she'd ever wanted him to stop holding her like this. Inuyasha mulled over what she said, but he was too distracted by the feel of her in his arms to really concentrate.

“Keh, we'll see.”

“Why can't we just enjoy the day for right now? You can worry about that stuff when the sun isn't shining so brightly.” She poked him in the ribs gently before squirming a little to let him know she wanted off his lap. Inuyasha ignored the squirming and caught her finger before it could do much damage to his ribs. On impulse he brought the digit to his lips and kissed it. Kagome immediately stilled. Her blue orbs met his and the whole world seemed to fade away. There was only the two of them; no spells, no ex-girlfriends, no brothers, no new moons, no worries. Just them and their feelings.

Kagome licked her suddenly dry lips and Inuyasha's eyes were drawn downward. He wondered if they'd feel as soft as they looked, or if she'd taste anything like she smelled. He couldn't really remember noticing stuff like that the first time they'd kissed years ago, when Kagome was trying to tame his youkai blood, but he wanted…no needed to know now. He reached up with a light touch and maneuvered her chin so that he'd be able to kiss her. Kagome's eyes drifted shut and her breathing turned shallow. He could hear her heart beating to the same fast rhythm his was pounding out against the walls of his chest and he leaned in closer. His lips brushed hers slightly, hesitant, giving her plenty of time to pull away if this wasn't what she wanted. Kagome leaned in closer, willing him to do more than just brush his lips against hers this time. Inuyasha was happy to do just that but before he could crush his lips to hers and ravage her mouth like he wanted, Kagome jerked away. He growled softly in his throat and reached to pull her back but she shook her head.

“I..I feel shards coming this way fast!” Inuyasha swore, realizing that he'd let his guard down.

“What direction—“He started to ask her, caught in the action of rising to his feet when he was interrupted from behind.

“Right here ya' piece of dog shit! Now what are you doing with my woman?” Kagome wanted to beat her head against something really hard. Of all the times for Kouga to show up, this one had to be the worst.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Shippou stared into the black beady eyes of his new pet and waited. The squirrel stared right back as if to say `I've played this game before and there's no way you're going to make me blink first.'

Shippou frowned then blinked.

“AH! You did it again! I can't believe I was beat by a nameless squirrel! Hey, that reminds me…what do you want to be called?” He rested his elbows on his knees and cocked his head to the side. The squirrel just stretched a little and flexed its claws before hoping up on Shippou's shoulder and making itself comfortable.

“Okay, I see you're not going to be any help…lets see, I could call you Rihu?” No response.

“Cam-chan?”

“…”

“Meromaru?”

“…”

“Kenji?” Shippou could have sworn the squirrel snorted in disgust. “Well, okay I didn't much like that name either.” Then another thought hit him, maybe his squirrel didn't like the names because they were all boy names…maybe his pet was a girl?

“Hey, are you a boy squirrel or a girl squirrel?” The squirrel on his shoulder gave a little snore and snuggled closer to his neck. Shippou sighed, the only complaint he had with his pet was its short attention span. He lay down on his back in the short grass and shifted the squirrel to his chest. Shippou knew that names were very important things, and he wanted his new pet to have the best name in the world, but he was having a hard time coming up with just the right one. Just then two of the young married village women walked by. One was obviously ready to give birth very soon. He was ready to just ignore them, when something in their conversation caught his attention.

“So Keriko-chan, have you decided what you're going to name the little one when it gets here?”

“Junto and I can't agree on the right name so we're going to ask Kaede-sama to name our baby for us. She is a wise woman and we know her choice will be true.”

Shippou tuned the rest of their conversation out. There was the solution to his problem! It was so simple he wondered why he hadn't thought of it before. After all he lived with the most important spiritual figure in the village; why not ask her for help in naming his pet?

“Okay, squirrel it's time we find Kaede and get you a name that fits!” He stood up and pushed the squirrel back up to his shoulder. The little thing gave a muffled humph, as if to say `Would you please find a place I can sleep and then leave me there?' Shippou just rolled his eyes.

“If I didn't know any better I'd think you didn't even want a name! Remember I'm doing this all for you!” The squirrel was clearly unimpressed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

For a breath in time everything was still, then Inuyasha shoved Kagome behind him and took up a defensive stance. His instincts were screaming at him to rip the wolf apart for calling Kagome his, but Inuyasha managed to clamp down on his more homicidal urges. Kagome tried to push passed him but he growled a warning at her.

“What do you want bastard?” Kouga tried to use his enhanced speed to get behind Inuyasha to see Kagome but Inuyasha kept himself between the wolf and the miko.

“Stop coming between us dog shit! I've heard some damn strange rumors about you two lately and I'm here to prove them wrong! There is no was Kagome would mate with a weakling like you!” He took a swipe at Inuyasha, intending to knock him out of the way, but Inuyasha grabbed Kagome and jumped back.

“Kouga-kun! If you'd just calm down for a moment I can explain!” Kagome tried to get around Inuyasha so that she could see Kouga, but Inuyasha kept pushing her back. Kouga stopped coming after the couple but his stance still told how angry he was.

“What's happened here, Kagome? I don't understand, I thought you loved me? Then I get here and all I can smell is his stench tainting yours. You were mine!” His voice shook, but Kagome couldn't tell if it was from angry or from some other emotion.

“Keh, she was never yours at all stupid.” Inuyasha smirked at his one time rival. One good thing to come out of this mess, Kouga wouldn't be able to take Kagome away from him, ever. Kouga bristled at his words, ready to try an attack again, but Kagome managed to push passed Inuyasha so that she could face the wolf youkai.

“Inuyasha you're not helping.” She scolded him before turning sympatric eyes toward Kouga. “I know it's hard to accept right now, but you have to let me explain it without attacking Inuyasha.”

“Why? Did he do something to you?”

“I didn't do anything to her!”

“Then whyin the hell does she smell like she'd mated to you!?!”

“BECAUSE SHE IS!” Kagome wanted to hide her face in her hands as the blush crept up her cheeks but found that she couldn't. The situation was deteriorating too fast for her to do anything but watch in embarrassed horror.

“I knew it! You forced yourself on her!”Inuyasha saw red when Kouga uttered those words. The wolf prince never saw the hanyou coming before he found himself slammed to the ground. Kouga looked up into the face of the seething Inuyasha and spat out some blood from his busted lip.

“I'm going to make you sorry you did that, you bastard.” His voice and eyes told Kagome just how serious Kouga was, and she began to think that this was going to be a much different fight than normal. Without thought she pushed herself between the two males, trying to stop the violence before it began, fearing down deep that she was already too late to stop the impending blood shed.

“He didn't force me to do anything Kouga—“

“Kagome, I want you to go as far as you can and stay there. I'm going to teach this fucking moron a lesson.” His tone was quiet and for a moment Kagome had an overwhelming fear that his youkai blood was going to take over, but she saw the death grip he had on the hilt of Tetsusaiga. She still worried that Kouga wouldn't come out of this alive. She hadn't seen Inuyasha this mad in a long time. The sound of his knuckles popping reminded her that she was still standing between two youkai who were spoiling for a fight.

“Inuyasha I can't let you do this! I won't let you kill each other over a simple misunderstanding!” She cried, turning her back on Kouga so that she could face Inuyasha fully.

“This isn't a simple misunderstanding Kagome! He thinks I forced myself on you! He wants to take you away from me!” Inuyasha reached out grasp her upper arms. He shook her a bit, not enough to hurt her, but enough to show her that he would not argue with her over this. Seeing that Inuyasha was distracted, Kouga used the moment his rival looked down at Kagome to his advantage. Too late Inuyasha realized what was happening, he only had time to push Kagome to the side and raise a sloppy block that did nothing to ward off Kouga's kick.

From the ground a few feet off, Kagome grabbed her midsection and tried not to groan with pain. Inuyasha quickly recovered from the blow, now angrier because Kouga had hurt Kagome, even if it was unintentional.

“Kagome, are you alright? Can you walk?” He asked, this time not making the mistake of taking his eyes off his opponent, even though all his instincts told him to go to his downed mate.

“I…I'm fine…just please don't fight.” Her words were no louder than a whisper as she tried to drawn in a breath around the pain.

“See what you did! You hurt her!” Kouga didn't seem to realize that it was his fault in the first place that Inuyasha had had to push Kagome away. “You're not fit to be her mate!” He came at Inuyasha again, but the hanyou managed to knock him away with a well placed blow to the chest.

“I'm not the one who hurt her! She can fucking feel my pain! YOU. HURT. HER.”

And as abruptly as it began the fighting stopped.

“What do you mean she can feel your pain?” Kouga asked uncertainly, his fist caught right before he pounded Inuyasha in the face.

“It's a side effect of the spell.” Kagome winced as she managed to pull herself to her feet. Inuyasha rushed to her side and helped her remain upright. Kouga stayed where he was standing hand still raised uncertainly. “If you'd had let me explain it all in the first place with out resorting to violence this whole mess could have been avoided.” Kouga couldn't look her in the eye. Inuyasha ignored the wolf totally as he sat down on the ground and started to check Kagome over for injuries. She blushed when he lifted her top to see how badly her ribs were bruised and tried to push his hands away.

“Inuyasha, I said I was okay! Could you please not do this now?” In her embarrassment she was all too aware of Kouga standing a few feet away. Inuyasha didn't care that he was embarrassing her, of course. If anything his movements became that much more deliberate. If he couldn't prove that Kagome was his by beating the hell out of Kouga, he would prove it in other ways. His touch clearly screamed to Kouga that Kagome belonged to him and him alone. It was a plus that she was cute when she blushed.

`How much of this should I tell him? Should I let him think that it was a mutual choice for us to become married or should I tell him that neither of us had a choice? Of course that's going to be hard to do if Inuyasha keeps poking around on me like he as a right to be touching me.'

“Keh, of course I have the right to touch you! It's my job to take care of you, so stop squirming around so damn much. And don't tell Kouga about the spell, it's none of his fucking business how we came to be bonded.” His fingers probed an especially tender spot, but Kagome didn't really notice. Something about what Inuyasha's words bothered her.

He'd responded to things she hadn't voiced aloud. Again.

Now that she thought about it, he'd been doing that a lot lately. Kagome remembered all those times were she'd thought she'd accidentally spoken her thoughts aloud. She remembered the conversation they'd had with Kaede about the way the spell was changing and then their conversation yesterday with Myoga. She came to one startling conclusion.

Inuyasha could hear her thoughts, and he'd been keeping it a secret from her!

`I can't believe you would keep something so big from me! You've been willfully invading my privacy! Did you think I'd never figure it out? Do you really think I'm that stupid?!?' Kagome expected to feel her eyes well up with tears, but they didn't. Instead she was seething with rage. Inuyasha's eyes slowly rose from where he'd been inspecting one of her old bruises and his ears flattened to the top of his head.

Oh, Kami-sama, he was in trouble now.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Shippou sat dejectedly in the door way of Kaede's hut and fed his still nameless squirrel an acorn from his pocket. He'd looked every where for the village miko but it seems he was always one step behind her… He'd went to the temple, to the springs, to the herb fields, to the rice fields, to a house where a little girl was sick with a cold, and finally back here. And the message was always the same: “Kaede-sama was just here! If you hurry I bet you could find her.”

But of course no matter how fast he ran he always missed her by a few moments.

That was probably due to the fact that all the different villagers he'd met today had a lot of free advice to give. They always wanted to know why he was looking for the old miko. Shippou felt it would be impolite to not answer their questions so he would tell them about the pet squirrel his okaa-chan had gotten him and about how it still needed a name. Of course they all wanted to see his pet, and after looking it over they always told him what they would name it if it was theirs.

Yeah, listening to them all talk was probably what kept him from finding Kaede-baachan, but it couldn't be helped now. He thought about all the names he'd been given today. One of the older teenaged boys who helped clean the shrine told him that his squirrel looked like a Mamenosuke but the women washing clothes at the spring all agreed that the little thing looked more like a Babomaru to them. The two children helping their mothers to gather up herbs got into a fight over which name was better; Yoshi or Itokuzu. When Shippou left they were still beating the crap out of each other. One of the farmers in the rice fields suggested naming the squirrel Fujita after himself, but another said that plain old Risu seemed fine to him. The little girl sick with the cold suggested he name it Seiji because he was a hero in her favorite fairy tale…at least that's what Shippou thought she'd said. Her cold and lisps made it rather hard to understand what she was saying.

“Hey, why so glum Shippou? Is it because you can't find Kagome-sama?” Miroku's voice broke him out of his thoughts and Shippou glanced up.

“No, I haven't been looking for Okaa-chan. Inuyasha was in a bad mood when they left this morning and he said that my squirrel was stupid. I don't want to see him right now.” Shippou patted his pet on the head to reassure it that he didn't think it was stupid at all. No, his nameless pet was much better than a slime snake.Miroku took a seat by the down-hearted kitsune and decided to find out what was bothering him. After all, if he helped the child, maybe Shippou would be willing help him find his beloved Sango. She seemed to be avoiding him for some reason.

“If you're not looking for your mother then who are you looking for? I bet I can help.”

“I was looking for Kaede-baachan so that she could help me find a name for my squirrel, and cause she could probably tell me if it's a boy or a girl. But every time I get someplace she's supposed to be she's not there and everyone tells me to go look somewhere else! Then they tell me what they would name my squirrel if it belonged to them! By the time I get away from them she's not where she's supposed to be! She's never there! And now I'm tired and hungry, cause I missed lunch, and my squirrel still doesn't have a name!” He gulped in a deep breath at the end of his rant and waited for Miroku to tell him where he'd last seen Kaede just like everyone else.

“Oh, sorry but I haven't seen her either. Have you seen Sango-sama in all your travels today?” Shippou nearly fell over at the monks words. He should have known Miroku wouldn't be any help.

“Last I saw she and Kirara were headed into the forest to train. If you hurry you'll be able to catch her.” He replied in a dull voice.

“Thanks!” Miroku stood to leave but before he walked away he looked at Shippou thoughtfully, “You said some of the villagers suggested names to you? If you're too tired to hunt for Kaede-sama why not just use all of the names? That way when you give him a nick name you have plenty to pick from.” The monk waved to the kit and started off in the direction of the forest already lost in day dreams about his beloved Sango and her squeezable backside.

Shippou thought about what Miroku had said for a moment before picking his squirrel up by the tail like he'd done the first time they'd met.

“Hmmm…Mamenosuke Babomaru Yoshi Itokuzu Hibiki Fujita Seiji no Risu…that has a nice ring to it don't ya' think? Long, but nice. How about it?” the squirrel blinked and Shippou took that as a sign that it liked its new name.

“For short I'll call you…umm…Suke?”

“…”

“Kuzu?”

“…”

“Yos?”

“…”

“Please not this again!” It looked like now Shippou now had another problem, what nick name to give Mamenosuke Babomaru Yoshi Itokuzu Hibiki Fujita Seiji no Risu.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Kagome, I can explain—“

“I can't believe that you would do something so insensitive! No, wait, yes I can believe it! It's just like to you keep things from me the whole time you're threateningto tie me to a tree if I didn't tell you everything!”

“He threatened to tie you to a tree?!? Can someone please tell me what's going on here?” Kouga was confused. First he found out that his woman mated a lousy hanyou while he wasn't looking, then when he was about to beat the crap out of said hanyou he found out that he couldn't because every injury inflicted on Inuyasha mirrored on Kagome. And then about the time it looked like some one was going to explain everything to him, Kagome started yelling at Inuyasha for invading her privacy, not that Kouga minded Kagome getting mad at Inuyasha, but he'd be much happier if he knew why!

“It's not like I did it on purpose! By the time I realized what was happening I was afraid if I said anything you'd get mad! And HA! It looks like I was right!” Inuyasha pointed his finger at her. Both of them continued to ignore Kouga, much to his agitation.

“I wouldn't be getting mad if you'd have just toldme! Kami-sama, you can be so dense!” Kagome was struggling with the urge to just strangle Inuyasha and put them both out of their misery.

“I heard that! I'd like to see you try to strangle me!” He leaned in close enough for their noses to touch, his eyes daring her to make a move. Kagome lunged at him, too angry to care that she didn't have a prayer at actually getting her hands around his neck. Inuyasha caught her by the shoulders and held her back. This only frustrated Kagome more.

“LET ME GO!” She yelled at the top of her lungs.

“Not until you calm down! I never told you because I didn't want you upset while you were still recovering!”

“Try another one Inuyasha! And. Let. Me. Go.”

“NO!” Somehow they ended up in each others faces again, yelling loud enough for people in the village to hear them.

“Would some one fucking tell me what's going on before I strangle both of you?”

“They are struggling for dominance in their relationship.” Kouga jumped back, noticing for the first time that Inuyasha's older brother was standing beside him. Inuyasha quickly forgot how mad he was at Kagome and took up a protective stance in front of her.

“How long have you been there, Sesshomaru?” He growled out. Fighting with Kagome could wait; right now he had to make sure his brother didn't do anything that would hurt her.

“You can relax little brother, this Sesshomaru would never stoop so low as to go after your mate. “

“Like I can believe anything you say!” Sesshomaru chose to ignore Inuyasha's comment. Instead he turned to Kouga and fixed his stoic gaze on the wolf prince.

“This is a family matter, and as such it will be kept between members of the inu-youkai clan only. Your presence is no longer wanted.” Kouga was about to argue, but thought better of it. If Inuyasha and Sesshomaru got it in their heads to attack him at the same time he'd never survive.

“I'll go for now, but I'll be back dog shit! You're going to have a lot of explaining to do then!” Sesshomaru watched as the whirlwind of dust that was Kouga departed, then he turned back to his brother.

“If you two are quite done with your squabbling now we can focus on the reason I am here.” He as a little disappointed to see that Inuyasha still hadn't relaxed, although he didn't show it.

“We know why you're here Sesshomaru, Myoga-jichan told us you'd be coming.” His slight disappointment was replaced by amusement when his brother's mate decided she no longer needed his protection and tried to push past him to stand before Sesshomaru.

`Ah, so your little miko is still causing you problems like I remembered. If anything I approve of her just because she'll bother you endlessly for the rest of your days.'

“Then you know I'm here to bliss your union if I find that you are strong enough to be my halfling brother's mate. Although, I can not imagine anyone being too weak to be with him considering he is only half demon.”

“Oi! I aught to rip—“

“Inuyasha! What did I say about keeping your temper?” Kagome snapped. Inuyasha was in the middle of drawing his sword and managed to look sheepish and defiant all at once.

“But he—“

“You know, if you don't gain the dominant position early in the relationship, your female will never learn to obey.” The inu-youkai lord told his little brother when he looked like he was going to back down and sheath the Tetsusaiga. Now it was Kagome's turn to be insulted…

“Hey!”

…and Inuyasha's turn to remind her to keep her temper. Sesshomaru waited as patiently as he could for them to stop fighting again. Finally he just had to interrupt.

“It is this Sesshomaru's opinion that even though your mate is a human, and a miko on top of that, she seems strong enough to honor our clan. Next time, Inuyasha, try to at least attempt to honor the inu-youkai traditions. I know you're only a hanyou, but even you can do something right once in life. I do not want to have to make this journey again when your first pup is born. Do you understand?” He sent his half-brother one last scathing glare before turning around to leave. Rin had been in Jaken's care too long as it was. Sesshomaru wondered what peril he's need to save her from this time.

“What do ya' mean, first pup?” Inuyasha growled at his departing back. Sesshomaru looked back at him and raised an eye brow.

“Do not expect me to tell you what happens when a male and female come together Inuyasha. I refuse.”

“What…no! You damn well know that's NOTwhat I meant!”

“Ask your worthless little servant if you truly have no clue. I have no time to enlighten you at this moment. I have to attend to my responsibilities in the Western Lands.” With those words he started walking away again.

“Oi, aren't you going to at least fight with me?” Inuyasha called, confused a bit by his brother's strange attitude.

“Our only fights were over the sword our father left you and the weakness in your blood. Since I no longer need your sword, and I can do nothing about the blood in your veins, this Sesshomaru doesn't see the need to fight you any more. I tire of all our squabbles, one of us has to be the mature son and let the past go. Since I doubt that it will be you…” He left the rest of the sentence hanging and turned to go again for the third time just as a green toad youkai burst onto the scene.

“Sesshomaru-sama! I can't find Rin!”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Shippou walked down the path leading out of the village. He scuffed his feet through the dirt and wandered around aimlessly. His squirrel perched on his shoulder and looked at the world with curious beady black eyes. Shippou still didn't know how to cut its very lengthy name short.

“I can't just call you Mamenosuke Babomaru Yoshi Itokuzu Hibiki Fujita Seiji no Risu every time I want you to come to me!” The squirrel blinked in agreement.

“Are you talking to yourself?” A voice coming from seemingly nowhere made Shippou jump.

“Who's there?!?” He pulled out his top, ready to defend himself and his pet to the death if need be. A giggle came from some bushes next to the path and Shippou shot them a suspicious look. A hand reached out of the foliage and grabbed him by his shirt. Before he could protest, he was pulled into the thick leaves.

“What in the hell do you think you're doing!?!” He yelled trying to back away from the scary little girl who had pulled him into her hiding place.

“Shhh,” She whispered, “I'm hiding from Jaken-sama.” She giggled again and Shippou took the time to really look at this scary human child. She looked really familiar to him.

“And Sesshomaru-sama says that one should never curse. He says curse words remind him of his disgraceful brother.” It dawned on him where he'd seen this little girl. She was Sesshomaru's ward. That meant that Inuyasha's full youkai brother was in the area. Suddenly Shippou was happy to be hiding in the bushes, until he remembered that where this little girl was, the inu-youkai lord wouldn't be far behind.

“I…ummm…really have to go now.” He tried again to back out of the bushes.

“RIN!!! Why did you leave me to watch after this disgusting human female, Sesshomaru-sama? I could have gone with you when you confronted your brother. You could need me right now, and instead of coming to your aid I'm trying to find that evil child. RIN!!! COME OUT THIS INSTANT!” The voice of Jaken sounded shrill and near. Rin looked up at Shippou with pleading eyes.

“If you leave now, he'll find me, and then the game will be over. Can't you stay a bit longer, please?” Shippou felt himself weaken when Babomaru Yoshi Itokuzu Hibiki Fujita Seiji no Risu hopped down off his shoulder and curiously peeped at the girl. She squealed and scooped it up before cuddling the squirrel close to her face.

“OH, she's soooooo cute! What's her name?” Shippou was a bit miffed that Rin automatically assumed that his squirrel was a girl.

“HIS name is Babomaru Yoshi Itokuzu Hibiki Fujita Seiji no Risu.” He puffed out his chest proudly and dared her to say anything about the long title the small squirrel carried. Rin blinked, looked at Shippou, blinked again and looked at the squirrel.

“Her name is longer than she is, don't you think. Why don't you shorten it or something?” She reached up and pulled the ribbon out of her hair and began to tie it around the compliant squirrel's neck. Shippou was highly offended by her refusal to refer to his squirrel by the proper gender. He swatted the ribbon away and shoved his pet back onto his shoulder.

“I was trying to find a shorter name for him when you dragged me in here!” Rin wondered to herself why this little fox boy was so cranky. It couldn't have been anything she'd done.

“I'll help you find a name for her,” Rin told him with a nod, “Since you're helping me play my trick on Jaken, it's the least I can do. Sesshomaru-sama says that I should always try to be pleasant, unless I'm dealing with a peasant, or a lower being. And I don't think you're a lower being, are you?” She pushed her face close to his, as if by getting an in-depth look at him she'd be able to answer her question for herself.

“Of course I'm not a lower being! I'm a kitsune! Other youkai fear me and tremble when I speak!” He folded his arms across his chest doing his best smug-Inuyasha impression.

“Whatever you say,” But she kind of looked doubtful.

“Who says I want your help?” This girl was reallybeginning to get on his nerves.

“Of course you need my help silly. Now why don't you call her Fuji?”

“He doesn't like that name.”

“Babo?”

“Are you kidding, that's stupid. My squirrel is extraordinary, and savage, and death deifying, and super…and savage.” Shippou balled his fist up and a fire came to his eyes. Rin leaned away from him and then glanced at the tiny animal that was sleeping on the boy's shoulder.

“She doesn't look like that kinda squirrel to me.” A little vein popped out on Shippou's forehead. He reminded himself that this girl was younger than him and obviously stupid so he had to be patient.

“Are you going to help me or not?”

“Ummm…,”Rin worried her lip for a moment. It looked like she was having some kind of internal debate before she made up her mind, “Call him Fluffy.”

Shippou's frowned, her suggestions just kept getting worse and worse.

“That's worse than Babo. Where did you come with this stuff?” He really didn't mean it to come out as harsh as it did, and the moment the first sparkle of tears appeared in her eyes he wished he could take it back.

“Fluffy is a very good name I'll have you know! That's what I call Sesshomaru-sama when no ones around to hear me! Not even Ah and Un know I call him that! It's the only other name I know that's any good.” She sniffed pitifully at the end of her rant and Shippou felt even worse.

“I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Fluffy is a great name! I'll call him Fluffy, I promise! I'll just make it sound tough so no one will pick on him.” He rushed to assure her.

“Really?” Suddenly her tears were gone and she was smiling again. Shippou had a sneaking suspicion that he'd just been had, but he didn't say anything for fear making her cry again.

“I'll call him Fluffy the extraordinary super savage death deifying youkai squirrel for short. How does that sound?”

“But that's just as long as her other name…Why not just call her Mame-chan or something.” At her words the squirrel sat up and gave a happy mew. Shippou was so happy that his pet had finally responded to a name that he didn't care who it had come from.

“I think he likes it. Mame-chan it is!” He smiled over at the little girl and just like that they were the best of friends.

“Oh, I forgot to ask what your name is. It's not as long as your squirrel's is it? Cause if it is I won't remember it.”

Shippou sweat dropped.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

TBC

AN: Thank you all for the lovely support you gave me in my hour of need. I would have gotten this out yesterday, but I burned my right palm pretty badly and had trouble typing. But that's the price you pay when you grab the handle of a pan that's just come out of the oven.

Yes, stupid I know…

Anyway, I want to give a special thanks to the following people.

Lemmings_please

Tessenchan

Inuyasha-loves-Kagome

Lavender Valentine

Galalorton

Elyssalyn

Thaelia15

Lachwen

Silver Eyes Bright

Inu-chan 613

Blah39

Rona

Akita Inu

Kakashi

Haru

The encouraging words you gave me really helped write this chapter. I'm also glad that you liked the game. When I saw how many times Kago ended up in Inu's lap I just had to make up a drinking game.

Inu has a human night! You'd better go back to Kago's time if you want any sleep tonight!

Kago goes to the doctor! Better go Inu and keep those evil docs at bay!

Houjo decides to ask Kago out again, Inuyasha don't kill the poor boy!

And what's this? Fluff in the next chapter?!?

Or will there be trouble in paradise?

Find out next time on TWTHE!