Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho or Inuyasha.
Explanation: Various ficlets and drabbles will go up in this story, mostly unrelated. So no, this is not a multi-chaptered story. There will be various pairings and various situations and they may be really short, or nearly size enough that I could separate them into a one-shot.
--Notes; This is actually a prequel piece to another story I'm doing called Fairytales. But as Fairytales probably won't be posted until at least the first couple of arcs are done, you can just think of this as a stand alone.
Summary: Shippo meets Kurama. Violence ensues.
Warnings: Umm... Violence. Swearing. That's it really, no relationships in this – the start of a friendship.
----It was a long walk from most inner parts of Makai to Ningenkai. Even for a demon it took days. The strangest things happened on the way. So Shippo was hardly surprised when one of those he had heard about, those two who had lived as humans, crashed straight into his forest. Actually, he crashed into his den. Right through the roof and onto his bed. He blinked at the red head, who stared back at him, eyes wide in shock – but no fear. It was then the growling sounded out overhead.
He craned his head up, green eyes flicking away from the human-looking demon. "So, running from them?"
"I was trying to find a place where I could take them out all at once," The other explained.
"A trap. I don't think it worked out very well," Shippo pointed out.
"Yes, I had noticed that," The other agreed. Shippo nodded, but the other already had a whip out and the kitsune was forced to take a second look. Red hair, green eyes, human looking but demon smelling... Shippo knew him. Well, not personally, but by reputation. This was Youko Kurama. Or he had been, at one point. But he had a human mother, and a family that he loved. Shippo knew that feeling.
"Sorry about your roof, but we just want the human lover," He heard from above. He glanced up to see the demons circling them – and most of them were kitsunes, or at least canines. Ah, they must think that any canine that liked humans should be killed. He had heard of some of these groups. They wanted pure bloodlines, and human hating was practically bred in. He closed his eyes for a moment, sighing. They looked young, too – and it had been a few generations since he had ventured far, so these were the descendants of those he had met.
"Human lover would apply to me much more than him, I think. His body is too young for it to have had many humans, and I can assure you I had many humans as lovers before the barrier was up," Shippo purred, opening his eyes and flexing his claws. He needed a good fight anyway.
"That makes it easier," The apparent leader growled, his pale blue eyes narrowing and his smile widening into a feral grin. "Kill them both."
"Shit. I liked this den," Shippo muttered before tossing over his shoulder, "You injured?"
"No, but it is difficult to fight in this enclosed space," Kurama answered. Shippo snorted at the understatement – he didn't exactly have a large dwelling – he had only used it for sleeping. The forest was where he really lived and ate. Too bad it would be gone soon. Already the stupid cubs were dropping down onto them, claws outstretched – as if that would somehow help them hit.
"Your parents," Shippo began as he grabbed the first two and smashed their heads together. "Were awful teachers."
"Shut up! You don't know about our families!" The leader screeched – oddly enough from the apparent safety of the ground above.
"Not so strong now, are you, human lover?" Shippo heard hissed behind him. He didn't turn quite yet, first making the foxfire flare around him. The next instant he was sweeping his claws across the jugular of one youngster who had stepped too close as he turned. It took him an instant to judge the situation – usually he would have expected Youko Kurama could take anyone. However, Shippo recognized the wolf canine standing there in bare feet as being of a certain family with earth techniques – and while Kurama had been busy dealing with the two younger cubs, that one had managed to work enough dirt up to freeze the other fox in place.
Shippo deliberately ignored the situation – not because he wished the other kitsune harm, but because he was curious about the other's ability. He assumed he would get out of it some how, unless it was all rumor. Sure enough, as he had just turned his attention from another kill to lock eyes with the now scared cub on the ground above, he heard a drawn out scream from behind him. There went that cub. Hopefully his family had another heir.
He leapt up to balance on the edge of the hole in his roof, crouching directly in front of the young demon. "Hi there."
The cub trembled, but lifted his chin up. "I won't be as easy a kill as those others."
"And if you don't attack me, I won't kill you," Shippo responded, his eyes sad. "I don't kill children if I don't feel it's necessary."
"I'm not a child," The cub protested, his ears flattening and his black tail swishing back and forth in obvious anger.
"Sure you aren't. Now, tell your stupid parents – don't even try it kid, I'll slice you open – Tell Hikari and Ichiro and Kenta, and all those stupid bastards, and yeah, that bitch Mizuki that if they're going to have cubs, to watch who they're chasing, and warn them that Shippo Higurashi is still out there and if I find any more of their kind on my territory, I'm paying them a visit. Personally. Got it? Shippo Higurashi." He watched the cub trying to gather his courage, those black ears slowly coming up and pointing forward and the cub's claws starting to rise threateningly. He merely raised his bloody palms and let a bit of fire flicker on the tips, casting an eerie light off of the red liquid.
The cub was gone in another second. Shippo watched him go, sighing. He would have to find a new den, and actually work at establishing the forest as his again. It had been too long since he had killed off those encroaching on his territory. He glanced back at the other red head and saw the young seeming male studying him openly. "A strange name for a demon to be carrying."
"Some damn strange things I said all around, I think you mean, Youko Kurama," He retorted, grinning and lowering a hand down into the wrecked den. The other didn't need it, but even as long ago as it had been, his guardians - diverse as they had been – had managed to drive some manners into his skull. He was surprised when the other took it, Kurama's own dry palm fitting into his own bloody one. Shippo pulled him up.
"That as well. I was quite surprised when you weren't on their side," Kurama replied, seemingly unsurprised at the use of one of his names.
""If you're fishing for the story..." Shippo trailed off, cocking his head at the other.
"I do admit to finding myself curious," Kurama admitted, gifting him with a sidelong glance as he turned away.
"Alright. I'll tell you the most unbelievable story you've ever heard while I show you a short cut to the barrier." He ignored the wary stare he was given as he trotted off, wiping his hands on a plant as he went – which dutifully tried to take his arm off, but he expected that in this forest. He didn't expect it to stop in mid lunge and thrash as if it was in pain. He glanced over his shoulder and Kurama gazed back levelly.
"Lead on, then," Kurama said, and Shippo laughed, not commenting on how the plants shrunk as they walked. As the edge of the forest came into view, he broke into a lope, and after a sly glance at the other, changed quickly into his fox form, stretching his legs out. Soon enough, a silver form ran beside him. He eventually did tell him that story, but it was after hours where the only sound was their panting breaths and their paws as they shifted against the earth. It had been too long since Shippo had run beside another fox – and by the way Kurama's eyes twinkled with some unknown emotion, he wasn't the only one.
----Anyone wondering why some of my stories are gone, see my profile. Oh, and if anyone is interested in a crossover roleplay which allows both OCs and has Canon characters available, visit my forums. Supernatural Sparks is just beginning and we need some players, quickly.