Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Reason To Fight ❯ Ch.2 Chance Meetings and Milky Ways ( Chapter 2 )

A Reason To Fight

Ch.2 Chance Meetings and Milky Ways

`Shippou…'

Shippou glanced around nervously in the thick fog. Where was he? The last thing he remembered was being thrown into the well by Kagome, now…

"Oh no…Kagome!"

Shippou looked around frantically, but could see nothing but fog. Was this Kagome's world? What if something had gone wrong… did he get left behind? A fearful sob threatened to emerge. Kagome was hurt, possibly even dying, and here he was with no way to protect her.

"Shippou…"

"What? W-who's there?" Shippou squeaked.

Two shadowed figures appeared from the mist, walking slowly towards the now trembling kitsune. Swallowing Shippou tried to regain his bearings. He didn't have time for this; Kagome needs help! Bristling with a renewed purpose Shippou slowly approached the shadowy figures.

The figures stopped and seemed to be waiting. Were they waiting for him? Almost there…He tread on carefully, until he heard a voice that stopped him in his tracks.

"Shippou is that you?" A sweet, almost musical voice called.

Just the mere echo seemed to make the fog seem less bleak. Dropping to his knees, Shippou suddenly felt weak as his heart pounded. That voice… it was the sound of soothing lullabies and immeasurable warmth, something he longed to hear over the past two years, yet knew it was not meant to be. But it was… no one else could possibly sound so much like…home.

"Momma?" Shippou whispered.

"We're here son."

"Poppa?"

Before his very eyes a tall male kitsune with long red hair flowing freely around his waist and ice blue eyes appeared next a kneeling woman with dark green eyes and brown hair pulled into a neat bun. Both were smiling, but there was a nearly tangible sadness around them. Shippou felt his heart clench painfully as he rushed towards them, but just as he was about to leap into his mother's arms a strong voice commanded.

"Shippou stop."

Automatically Shippou obeyed and looked at his father's sad face in disbelief.

"Is it really you? What's going on?"

"It's really us son, but I'm afraid you cannot touch us. This is only a dream."

"B-but your right here! What's going on Poppa? Why are you here? Aren't you…"

"Yes darling we're still dead." Shippou's mother answered softly.

Shippou shivered as the mist suddenly became colder and foreboding. It swirled around the three kitsunes' feet like icy specters threatening to consume them should they linger too long.

"But you are not, and that is what's important. Our time draws short. Your father and I came to warn you about the troubles ahead. Kagome needs your help badly; she will not survive if you cannot find help." She continued.

"You know about Kagome? Is she all right? Where is she?!"

Smiling sadly, she answered. "Yes, your father and I know all about Kagome, and your adventures with the accursed jewel. She cares about you very much Shippou, and I trust her to do what I cannot. She will need you in the time to come though, and you must stand strong."

Shippou hung his head miserably. "I can't… I'm so weak compared to someone like Kagome. What can I possibly do to help her?"

"You can train. Become stronger son, and never forget your origins." Shippou's father answered softly, with an underlying strength.

Carefully the male kitsune ran his hand through his long hair and withdrew a single glowing seed the size of an acorn. Shippou held his breath remembering; those were his father's spirit seeds. Each plant that grew from the seed was infused with his father's spirit energy and held amazing abilities. Shippou always loved watching his father manipulate the plants in their garden, but no matter how hard he tried, Shippou could never do it. Nostalgia washed over him in an engulfing wave. Was it possible for a kitsune to drown in the depth of his painful emotions?

" Shippou, remember every seed has a unique spirit. It will respond to the strength of the spirit energy around and within it, and grow. Some will nurture life, while others will bring nothing but death. This seed holds the last of my power, you must use it to awaken your own. It will grow as you do, become stronger and see what happens my son."

Carefully he placed the seed in a tiny leather pouch, and stepped forward to place it around Shippou's neck. Shippou expected to feel the gentle brush of warmth that used to accompany his father's fingers against his nape, but there was nothing but a cool tingle. Smiling gently, Shippou's father stepped back.

"Shippou darling."

Blinking back tears, Shippou turned to face his mother. Tenderly she placed a small leaf in his palm and closed his fingers over it carefully. The same eerie tingle traveled along the kit's palm. To his surprise her eyes twinkled slightly in amusement.

"Don't forget, when you transform hide your tail."

Blushing Shippou answered. "I will Momma."

Rising slowly to her feet, she blew Shippou a small kiss. Her mate tenderly wrapped his arms around her waist, and the two simply gazed at their only son for a moment. Shippou felt as if an old wound was being torn open at the seams. They were really going to leave him alone again. He would never hear his mother's sweet voice in song again. Never again would he be able to enjoy the feeling of being held in his father's strong embrace. They were going to leave him alone…Shippou's mother seemed to read his mind.

"Shippou you'll never be alone, and there are still people who care about you in the living world. That alone is every reason for you to keep on living. Live on darling…"

"We love you son…" Shippou's father said quietly.

`Goodbye…'

Tears flowed freely down his cheeks as Shippou watched them disappear, but made no move to stop them. A few stray tears dropped upon the pouch above his heart and it glowed for a moment before dimming once more.

"I will live." Shippou whispered.

And then such as the destiny of all dreams, he awoke.

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

Where was Kagome?! Shippou shot up the moment he regained consciousness and frantically felt through the suffocating darkness for his surrogate mother. Finally he found Kagome's blood soaked form beside him and was relieved to feel her breathing. Blinking, Shippou's eyes struggled to adjust to the darkness inside the well. The moldy scent of aged wood and earth combined with the metallic smell of fresh blood flooded his kitsune senses. The well was completely silent except for the slight whoosh of erratic breathing coming from Kagome's still form.

`Thank kami she's still alive.'

Now aware of his surroundings, Shippou struggled to stay calm and deal with the next problem at hand. How could he get Kagome out of here?

`I can't possibly transform in here, there's no room, but I'm not strong enough to pull her out on my own. I need help.' Shippou thought frustrated.

Vaguely Shippou recalled Kagome telling him about her home beyond the well. In her time, the well was in what Kagome called a "well house". That must be their current location, Shippou presumed. What was beyond that?

"In the future the well is protected within the well house. Beyond there is the main shrine, which is next to the Goshinboku. Hard to believe it has survived all this time, but it's true. Across from the main shrine is where my family and me live. If you ever need help in the future Shippou, that's where to go." Kagome had once told him solemnly.

Shippou nearly smiled in relief. Silently he thanked Kagome for thinking ahead for times like this. Now he was at least equipped with the knowledge needed to find help. Gently Shippou tucked a stray hair behind Kagome's ear and kissed her cheek.

"I'll be back with help Kagome. Please wait for me."

With a final glance into the darkness, Shippou began to climb. Without stopping, he raced out of the well house and towards a big building Shippou could only assume was the main house. He was nothing but an auburn colored blur beneath the moonlight.

"Hello? Is anyone there? Kagome needs help, please answer!" Shippou cried as he stood before the dark house.

The only answer was the faint chirp of insects around him. Straining to detect any signs of life within the house, Shippou waited. His own heart pounded wildly as panic began to flood his thoughts.

`Nobody's here! What now? Kagome needs help quickly or else…' Shippou thought in near hysterics.

Panicked Shippou sprinted down the shrine steps onto the street below.

"There has to be someone here who can help…oomph!" Shippou gasped as he collided with something solid and tumbled to the hard pavement.

"Hey watch where you're going twerp!"

Shippou snapped his attention back up and saw three boys that looked about Kagome's age standing over him. All three were wearing strange black haori's with buttons from the collar down and were glaring at him.

Shippou stammered in fright. "P-please, my friend is injured badly at the bottom of a well and needs help desperately. Can you help me find the village miko to heal her?"

The three boys stared at Shippou as if he had grown a second head. Finally a boy in the middle with black spiky hair burst out laughing. Gasping for breath he wheezed. "Your friend fell down a well and needs a miko. Who are you? Lassie?"

Shippou looked at the three helplessly as the other two thugs joined their leader in laughter. Leering a boy with short brown hair and an evil grin reached down and picked Shippou up by his tail.

"Hey boss look at this. He's got a tail!"

Shippou fought against the boy's painful grip. "Put me down, Kagome needs my help!" He growled, green eyes flashing as anger began to replace panic and fear.

This only made the three laugh harder and the one holding his tail captive shook him roughly. Pain shot through Shippou's body as he felt a strange sensation began to stir within him.

"He's not a dog, he's a freak!" The leader jeered.

The three's laughter rang in Shippou's ears as his anger grew. Red began to seep into the corners of his vision, and an unfamiliar feeling of utter rage washed over him. The rush of blood roared in his ears. There was no time for this. Kagome needs help and she needs it now!

Flexing his tiny claws in frustration, Shippou growled out. "Foxfire!"

Green flames erupted around the punks and began to burn their way up the boys' sleeves. Shippou's voice was immediately drowned out by the sudden shrill screams of terror. Dropping to the pavement, the enraged kitsune watched as the three ran away screaming demon. Breathing heavily, Shippou felt the anger disappear, leaving him feeling once more helpless and lost. A cold sweat ran from the back of his neck and down his spine.

What on earth just happened to him? Shippou shivered. He never fought. He was the one who always ran away and hid, so what was that? An image of Inuyasha covered in blood and growling invaded Shippou's mind. Green eyes widened in terror at the revelation; for the first time in his life the demon rage had reared its ugly head. Desperately shaking his head to rid himself of those unwanted thoughts he forced his attention back to the crisis at hand. He got rid of those three, but now what? Shippou fell to his knees and unshed tears burned his eyes as a feeling of utter helplessness engulfed him.

"Mother, Father, what do I do now? Kagome's dying and I can't do anything to help her…"

"Shippou?"

Souta blinked in surprise as the kid kneeling before him looked up with panic in his eyes. Could this the kitsune kid Kagome told him so much about? He had been coming home from soccer practice when three big kids ran by screaming demon. So naturally he ran home as fast as he could hoping for a chance to see his hero, Inuyasha, again. But what he came upon was not Inuyasha, but a kid who looked only a little bit younger than him with a tail. He didn't look dangerous, merely scared. Souta remembered his Nee-san once telling him about a kitsune who traveled with her named Shippou; this had to be him.

"W-who are you?" Shippou stammered. This boy looked like Kagome. Was it possible that they were related?

"I'm Souta, Kagome's brother. Where's Kagome? Is my sister all right?" Souta asked worriedly.

Shippou gasped as the boy's identity sunk in. He had the same dark hair and bright blue eyes as Kagome; this boy had to be telling the truth. He had finally found help. Gasping, Shippou leapt to his feet and grabbed Souta's hand with a grip no kid his age should have. Souta blinked in surprise at the kid's strength as his hand began to numb.

"You have to help me! Kagome was attacked on the other side and is injured badly. We managed to make it back here, but Kagome won't wake up and I can't get her out of the well! If we don't help her now she could really die!" Shippou shouted while tugging him toward the shrine.

Cold fear settled in the pit of Souta's stomach, spurring him into motion.

"Kagome's hurt? Come on!"

Souta and Shippou raced back up the shrine steps, and Souta raced into the main house.

Shippou ran after him and yelled. "What are you doing? The well's that way!"

Souta glanced back over his shoulder quickly.

"We can't save Kagome alone; I'm calling an ambulance. You go check on Kagome. I'll be right back!"

Shippou faltered for a moment. An ambulance? What was that and how could the peculiar boy summon one in time? Shaking himself out of his momentary stupor, Shippou raced back to the well. He would have to trust him for now and pray the boy knew what he was doing.

Carefully, Shippou climbed back down and sat beside Kagome's still form to wait. Minutes passed like hours, leaving Shippou with nothing to do, but listen to the shallow breathing of his surrogate mother. Tenderly, Shippou brushed stray locks of silken hair away from Kagome's face, attempting to remain calm and not start sobbing on top of her.

`Hold on Kagome. Please just hold on a little longer… don't.'

"Don't leave me alone…"

It was only a whisper of breath in the night, a child's desperate plea, but it was enough to rouse Kagome's instincts to comfort the scared kit for a brief moment. A feeling of warmth and security flooded the kit's tiny body as he felt his right hand being squeezed gently.

" I won't leave you…" Kagome whispered weakly before falling back into unconsciousness.

The sound of Kagome's voice was like a beacon of light shed upon the darkness to Shippou. He wasn't even sure if she had been awake or just mumbling in her sleep, but it was enough to know she was alive.

About fifteen minutes later, an eternity to the distraught kitsune, a jumble of urgent voices and rapid footsteps drew closer.

"She's over here sir!" Shippou nearly cried in relief as he recognized the voice to be Kagome's brother.

Bright light's blinded him for a moment as several people wearing white helmets with red crosses on him peered down at him. Blinking his eyes back into focus, Shippou waved furiously.

"Hey, we're down here. Help!" He yelled.

A dark haired man with glasses and a facemask leaned closer and called down.

"Don't worry son. We'll get you two out of there in no time. Everything's going to be all right."

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

`Where is a rampaging demon when you need it?' Youko grumbled.

At this point, Kurama was inclined to agree with his demon counterpart. The sparkling clean room smelled of bleach and apple cinnamon air freshener. They were also unfortunate enough to be seated right next to the plug in, so the overpowering apple scent was giving him a headache. He shifted slightly in the over stuffed blue chair he had occupied for over a half an hour so far in the waiting room.

`I admit this is uncomfortable, but would you rather sit next to that bald man who has been eyeing us for the last half hour?'

Youko shuddered in the back of Kurama's mind. `Hell no, he reminds me of a certain toad demon I encountered once. The smell alone was enough to make even the strongest demon retch.'

"Mrs. Shiori Minamino? The doctor will see you now."

A kind looking nurse smiled at Kurama and Mrs. Minamino, and stood by the door waiting.

`Finally… I thought we were going to see our next decade before they would see her.'

`So this is the extent to the legendary Youko Kurama's patience?' Kurama teased.

`Believe me I'm famous for a lot more than my patience.' The youko scoffed. Inwardly Kurama rolled his eyes, as the proud fox preened shamelessly.

`That's what I'm afraid of ... '

Kurama rose from his seat with his mother and started to follow her down the white hallway when the nurse lightly cleared her throat. The two paused and Shiori gave the nurse a questioning glance.

The nurse gave Kurama a pointed look and said. "I'm sorry, but only patients are allowed past here. I'm afraid you must remain in the waiting room sir."

Kurama started to protest, but Shiori beat him to it.

"Are you sure my son cannot stay with me ma'am? I've had serious problems with my health earlier this year and my son has been concerned."

"I'm sorry but our new policy is very strict about family members and visitors. He must remain here." The woman said firmly before turning and walking away.

"Well if it's the rules… I'm sorry Shuichii, why don't you find something to eat while you wait?" Mrs. Minamino gave her son an apologetic smile and a small peck on the cheek before turning to follow the nurse down the white hall.

`Only for her…' Kurama thought.

`Yes, only for her, and perhaps a particularly delicious looking demon with red eyes and spiky black hair.' Youko agreed readily.

Kurama mentally groaned at the hentai kitsune's fantasy. Then he noticed the man across from them was still trying to catch his eye. Horrified, Kurama took an unconscious step back.

`Mother's right. All of the sudden I'm starving…' Kurama thought as he escaped into the hallway and fled to the sanctuary of the snack machines outside.

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

`Everything will be all right now…'

Souta and Shippou sat in the back of the ambulance watching in mute horror as the doctors struggled to help Kagome. The flurry of activity was unnerving, and Souta could feel Shippou shivering madly beside him. He felt the same way, but for some reason something inside him forbid the urge to break down into a sobbing quivering mass beside the small kitsunes. A strong feeling of protectiveness surged within Souta, and he held Shippou firmly, a strong lifeline to keep the kit together, like one would a younger brother.

`Kagome is depending on me to be strong for Shippou as well as myself. She won't leave us; all she needs is a little time to recover.' Souta bit down on his lower lip and chewed fearfully.

"I need a compress stat!"

"Her pulse is slowing!"

"Call ER and tell them to get ready."

"We need this bleeding stopped now!"

Shippou shook madly as the shock of constant fear and adrenaline for the past hour finally took its toll on his tiny body. There was so much blood… he had forgotten how much blood a person had in them. The sight of it pouring from Kagome's torn body, the accursed metallic scent, the sticky feeling as it began drying on his hands, it was like reliving the moment of his parents death…

A warm grip on his hand pulled Shippou from his thoughts. He looked up at Souta as the older boy smiled reassuringly. Despite the pain and fear shining in his own eyes Souta tried to sound sure of himself.

"Don't worry. Kagome's just needs a little time to recover. She'll be fine. Kagome will be just… fine." He repeated as if words alone could will Kagome back to them.

Shippou couldn't do anything but nod uncertainly. The two boys rested together as the siren's mournful wailing expressed what their hearts could not.

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

`Get the chocolate with marshmallows and caramel.'

Kurama stared at the snack machine in question, and spied what Youko was talking about.

`You want a Milky Way?'

`That's the one. The marvel of chocolate is one of the few things that made the trip to ningenkai worth it.'

Inwardly sighing, Kurama punched in the snack selection and retrieved the Milky Way.

` That, and not dying from a fatal wound you received during a botched job.'

Sniffing in disdain, Youko retorted. `Botched my tail. There was no way to know there would be a bloody A class demon guarding the vault.'

Kurama was about to reply, but his attention was diverted as the double doors at the end of the hall were flung open. Stepping to the side quickly, Kurama just barely avoided being run over by a pack of doctors as they rushed by pushing a gurney. The heavy scent of blood hung in the air with…. Jasmine? How odd for such a soothing scent to be in a hospital of all things. Curiosity forced the kitsunes to glance at the person lying on the gurney.

Time stood still as the most magnificent stormy blue eyes Kurama had ever seen captured his gaze. Even clouded by pain, the sheer intensity was enough to freeze him in his tracks. They were owned by a girl with dark shoulder length hair who was covered in blood from the shoulder down. She blinked at him as if not quite sure what she had seen, and then closed them once more. She murmured so softly Kurama could barely hear her.

"A silver angel…."

The moment was broken and Kurama stood frozen in shock as she disappeared down the hall. Silver angel… what on earth.

`That...'

`Was the most beautiful human I have ever seen.' Youko interrupted. Kurama could practically see his tail thrashing in excitement.

"Who was that?" Kurama wondered aloud.

His mind kept picturing her eyes… she was obviously young, probably around the same age as he, and yet those eyes held look of one who has gone through amazing and most likely terrible experiences. In a way they reminded him of Yusuke's, intense after experiencing staggering amounts of pain both physically and mentally, but they also held a comforting warmth that Kurama couldn't possibly describe with words.

`I don't know, but we're sure as hell going to find out.'

*************

Well there's Ch.2. Sorry about some of the glitches in Youko's dialogue, but for some reason some sentences just did not want to italicize. Any ideas why??Heh anyway sorry for the wait, but I have been getting ready for school x-x A big thanks to everyone who reviewed!