Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Then and Now ❯ Where's Shippo-chan?! ( Chapter 8 )

Then and Now

 

 

 

Author's Note: Gomen Nasai many, many, many times! I am SO sorry for the uber long wait. I moved out of Job Corps; then the computer crashed; we moved to Glendale, AZ; and only now do I have the ability to work on my fic. I hope I've made it worth the wait!

 

PS: Due to the long wait, I'm going to make this a Fangirl Special- not one, not two, but THREE(at least) of our favorite sexy bishonen in one yummy chapter. You'll have to read it to see who they are(neh neh-neh neh-neh neh)!

 

Disclaimer: Angst, slight, semi-obscure sexual references(not even lime guys, its squeaky clean), and a little humor. As always, I don't own a damned thing.

 

 

Chapter 8

 

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"I'm flattered, actually, that you dream of me that way...so, was it good for you?" He teased.

 

Kagome promptly hit him with her pillow. "Shut up." She said, giggling with him.

 

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Shippo awoke to the sound of his adopted mother's laughter coupled with that of her Kisune suitor. They're so happy together. He'd be good for her. A Kitsune would respect her independence more than that dog. I've got to help get them together! "Ohayo, Kaa-san!" he called out, crawling into Kagome's lap.

 

"Good morning, Shippo-chan. Did you sleep well?"

 

"Hai, Kaa-san."

 

Kurama leaned over and nuzzled her shoulder, wanting to be close to the girl and her adopted child. Kagome leaned into him, slightly, and Shippo moved so that he was in both laps at once. The three of them stayed that way for several minutes, enjoying each others' closeness.

 

"Good morning, lovebirds!" Sango greeted them, smiling. Kagome blushed and hid her face in Kurama's shouler. "Good morning."

 

Kurama chuckled. "Good morning, Sango-san. Kagome-chan, perhaps we should have breakfast and then go tell our mothers that we will be gone."

 

"Right."

 

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Inu Yasha woke with a contented smile. Kikyo. My mate, the way it should have been fifty years ago. He rolled over to embrace his lover, only to find her gone. The inu-hanyou sat up suddenly, looking around and sniffing the air to find her. He rose and dressed quickly, then began to follow the trail she left. She's been gone for awhile. Why did she leave? Becoming worried, he trailed her into the forest.

 

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It was almost noon when Inu Yasha came to the edge of a small clearing where he spotted Kikyo. He sighed in relief before he saw Naraku standing near her, speaking. Hiding behind a tree, he watched.

 

"And you're certain that he trusts you completely?" Asked the dark half-breed.

 

"Absolutely." The undead priestess responded.

 

"Excellent, Kikyo. Now we must enhance the wedge between them. Find out who the girl's new lover is. Even though Inu Yasha's loyalty to you is now cemented, his jealous nature may be of use in destroying the girl. Get to her through those she's close to."

 

"Of course. I'll be glad to get my whole soul back, but it will be very entertaining to watch her suffer for taking it and everything else from me."

 

"And Inu Yasha?"

 

"My affection died with my body fifty years ago. When he's no longer useful, he will die."

 

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"Two weeks? Where?" Shiori asked her son.

 

"I'll be camping with Kagome's family. She, her brother, and her grandfather. They thought it would be a good way to relax after the end of the year tests." It's a good thing that we arranged a story beforehand. I hate lying to Okaa-san, though.

 

<Shut up. Unless you intend to explain to Shiori about me, my past the well and everything else, this is it. And we're not ducking out on this. We will be by Kagome's side until she's ours completely. That inu was entirely too protective of the future mother of our kits.>

 

Mother of our kits?! Don't you think your getting a little bit ahead of yourself now?

 

<Not a bit. She's young, healthy, powerful, and very attractive. It's obvious that she was meant to be ours.>

 

Somehow, your arrogance still astounds me sometimes.

 

"Well...if they want you to come..."

 

"I was invited, Okaa-san."

 

"Have fun, then."

 

"I will, Okaa-san. Take care of yourself while I'm gone."

 

"Yes, Shu-chan. Now, don't forget to take warm clothes. And your vitamins. Oh, and we should get a gift to bring them. Go pack and then we'll go to the store."

 

"Hai, Okaa-san."

 

Kurama went upstairs to gather a few things together for his trip to the Feudal Era, including taking stock of the seeds he traveled with.

 

<We should collect a few from that era while we're there...I know a very potent aphrodisiac.>

 

Shut up, Youko.

 

<I only mentioned it for later. It has a particular side-effect I'd like you to see sometime.>

 

I'll do without, thank you.

 

<Chicken.>

 

Whatever.

 

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"Ohayo, Kurama-kun!" Kagome greeted cheerfully. Kurama with warmth at her familiar term.

 

"Ohayo, Kagome-chan," He returned, "Oh, yes. My mother sent me with a badminton set. She thought it would be nice to play while camping."

 

"How sweet! I'm sure we'll have fun with that in breaks." Kagome smiled.

 

He leaned in to give her a deep kiss.

 

The young miko blushed. "Are you ready?"

 

"Ready." Kurama answered with a gentle squeeze to her hand. Kagome smiled and together they jumped into the well. The familiar blue light surrounded them for a moment before they stood on the floor of the ancient well and looked up to see the light, mid-spring rain falling. The fox held her around the waist, summoning the vines to raise them to the surface. Kagome leaned into him, feeling safe and loved in his arms.

 

When they reached the top, Kurama produced a huge leaf to use as an umbrella as they walked to the village.

 

"I love little rainstorms like this," Kagome said, "It's so peaceful."

 

"Mmm-hm."

 

<I like showers like this, too. I especially like what they do to white shirts on women.>

 

Pervert.

 

<I was only stating what you were picturing.>

 

...

 

<Fox got your tongue?>

 

Shut up!

 

<Loser.>

 

"Ah, Sango-chan! What are you doing out here in the rain?" Kagome asked suddenly, snapping Kurama out of his internal debate to see the slayer running in their direction, holding an umbrella.

 

"Kagome-chan! Shippo was playing with Rin-chan, and now I can't find him!" Sango cried.

 

"Rin-chan!? The girl who travels with Sesshou-maru? What was she doing in the village?"

 

"I don't know. She was just here, playing with the village children. I think Shippo may have gone with her when she left."

 

"Kagome," Kurama began, "did you say that this girl travels with Sesshou-maru? The taiyoukai?"

 

"Yes. I don't know when he found her, but a little human girl has been following him for several months now." Kagome informed him.

 

"They may be going back to his castle. Kagome, if you'd like to come with me, I know the way. Sango-san, you should stay here, in case he returns."

 

"Hai," came the dual response.

 

As Sango made her way back to the village, Kurama turned to Kagome. "It will be safer if I take my true form." He stated simply.

 

"Alright."

 

Kurama became enveloped in a golden mist. Kagome felt an exponential increase in power coming off of the Kitsune before her. She noticed reactions in the local plant life: grasses growing to excessive lengths; formerly green leaves turning unusual colors; the trees seemed to speak, though not in any language Kagome had ever heard. A silver ear appeared out of the breaking mist, followed by a long, silken foxtail, making the girl's pulse race and the urge to caress the furry appendages became nearly unbearable. When the mist cleared, Kagome was certain that the being before her was the most beautiful creature she'd ever seen.

 

"Are you ready, Kagome-chan?" asked a voice so smooth, she sighed at the sound.

 

"Hai."

 

Youko gently picked her up, bridal style, and began running northwest toward the palace of the Demon Lord.

 

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After traveling for nearly thirty minutes Youko caught Shippo's scent. <They must have left before the rains started.> There was no evidence of fear or injury, he felt safe in assuming that the kit was safe, though he knew that Kagome wouldn't feel content until he was returned to her. The scent was nearly an hour old, and the unmistakable scents of Sesshou-maru and his toad-servant, Jakken were also present, along with those of a completely unfamiliar oni and a human. A whirlwind up ahead caused him to stop to find good cover for the miko in his arms. Such conditions were unnatural in Japan, and therefore signaled the approach of a youkai.

 

"Oh, no. It's Kouga-kun." Kagome sighed when she spotted it, obviously irritated.

 

"Who is Kouga?" The fox asked with vague suspicion in his voice.

 

"Kouga is the Prince of the Wolf Demons. He thinks I'm his woman, no matter how many times I tell him I'd rather just be friends. He is a good friend, but he's just so...clingy."

 

Kurama relaxed. A misguided wolf youkai was no threat. The only problem was that since Kagome thought of him as a friend, he would have to be courteous. This did not mean that he could not be firm, however.

 

The cyclone stopped and cleared just in front of them, revealing the Wolf Prince, grasping Kagome's hands. "Ohayo, Kagome. Have you been well? I smelled you with a strange youkai, but you don't seem to be hurt. Where is Inu-Koro?"

 

Kagome attempted to extricate her hands from the tender grip of the wolf. "I'm fine Kouga-kun," one hand came loose, which she used to gesture to Youko, "This is Kurama, the Youkai that you smelled. I'm not sure where Inu Yasha is." The other hand came loose when Kouga's grip suddenly slackened at hearing the name of her new companion. The miko moved to the side of the Spirit Fox.

 

"Kurama? As in Youko Kurama, the thief?" Kouga's voice showed his fear, not only for himself, but much moreso for Kagome.

 

"Yes. That would be me." Youko answered, putting an arm around the girl. He was both pleased that he was recognized, and nervous about what Kagome might think of him.

 

"Kagome...do you know who that is? Are you sure it's safe to travel with him?" Kouga asked worriedly.

 

"Yes. I know him and I'm sure I'm safe." Kagome replied, giving no indication that she was disturbed by the mention of his past occupation.

 

"Kagome..." Kouga began.

 

"Really, I'm fine." She said, taking hold of Youko's hand. The spirit fox smiled warmly at her, gently squeezing the offered hand.

 

Kouga sighed in defeat. He understood what she was really saying. He took heart, however, in the fact that she had not told him to go, and Youko had not attacked or forced him away. It meant that she still valued his friendship. "I understand," he said, "You and your friends are still welcome at my den whenever you like. I wish you both well." He saluted Kagome as usual and left in a whirlwind.

 

"I see why you are friends with him." The youko said as he watched the dust settle. "How did you meet him?"

 

"He kidnapped me a while back. We had come into a village that was being attacked by Kouga's wolves while we were looking for shards. I sensed that there were shards in his legs and right arm and told Inu Yasha. Kouga heard me and decided to use my powers to kill the king of the demon birds(AN: I can't remember the Japanese name >.<) who had been killing off members of his tribe. I did help kill one of the smaller members who was trying to take off with Kouga's packmate, Ginta. When Inu Yasha came to rescue me, Kouga declared that he loved me." Kagome laughed. "I had just slapped him earlier that day for just deciding that I would be his woman. I'm surprised that he just accepted that I was with you. He and Inu Yasha usually attack each other on sight. I've never seen him give up so easily." She said thoughtfully.

 

"He knew that your heart is with another. Besides, he was no threat to me, and he is a friend of yours. I trust your judgment of friends."

 

Kagome smiled. "Let's go get Shippo-chan."

 

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"Come on, Shippo. Rin wants you to come to dinner with Rin."

 

"Go ahead, Rin. I need to speak with Shippo for a moment." Sesshou-maru stated.

 

"Yes, Sesshou-maru-sama! Come on, Jakken."

 

"Why, me?" The toad complained, but followed dutifully after the girl.

 

Sesshou-maru waited until the pair had gone inside before turning to the kit. "You said that the girl who's been traveling with my worthless brother has found a new suitor. What was the name you said?"

 

"His name is Kurama, and he's a Kitsune. He said he knew you when the two of you were younger. You trained together or something."

 

Impossible. "Are you certain?"

 

"Yep. They're supposed to be coming back today so that we can start shard-hunting again."

 

"And what does Inu Yasha think about this?"

 

"He was really mad yesterday, when he met him. I think he'll be a lot better for my Kaa-san, than Inu Yasha."

 

"Anyone would be. Go ahead and eat."

 

"Okay!" Shippo yelled happily, running into the palace.

 

So, Youko's with the girl. I'm sure that they'll be coming for the child. Good. I need to talk talk with them. These new developments could be an asset, if I'm careful.

 

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Okay, that's it for chapter 8. Hope you thought it was worth it. Remember to read and review, it makes me want to write more.

 

Ja ne.