Deeds of the Great Shippo

Day 1

For all intents and purposes Lord Sesshomaru was a very stoic man. It wouldn't be too far off to say that while he felt emotions, he didn't understand the point of them at all. They were ever changing and irrational, and because they refused to maintain a constant state, he chose to ignore them and instead live with a rational, calm view on life. Unlike most creatures, the Lord was able to re-prioritize and ignore what was unnecessary, making him able to remain logical and calm in nearly all situations.

So as Rin's son, Munto, followed Sesshomaru around, babbling on and on about how happy and sad and frustrated and confused he was in all sorts of situations, Sesshomaru had no idea what to do with the child other than completely ignore him. After all, he had only come to Rin's humble wooden home in order to ensure she was still doing well. That, and he had brought new clothing for her and her two children in order to help ease her burden. But Rin was asleep, Kohaku was off slaying demons, and Jaken was taking Rin's other child off to catch some food. So Lord Sesshomaru was left to just slowly walk away with the chattering child, who would have otherwise disturbed Rin, following behind him. All in all, a very annoying experience.

Unlike Rin, Munto did not shut up when asked. By the time he had walked out of the village and was in front of the forest of InuYasha, Lord Sesshomaru heard all about Rin and Kohaku's parenting styles, why Munto and his sister Yuna hated InuYasha this time, how much trouble Munto got in when he touched Kohaku's weapons, what Munto had for breakfast, and how fantastic the sky looked when it rained yesterday. Throughout the walk, Sesshomaru's responses varied from silence with no eye contact to silence with no eye contact and an increased speed in his pace. But still, Munto talked away, ignoring the snot that was falling out of his small, button nose.

Even when the Lord entered the forest of InuYasha to leave, Munto continued on with his simplistic stories. The child knew his boundaries and did not follow Sesshomaru into the forest of InuYasha once the Lord entered, but just continued babbling louder at the forest's edge. It wasn't until Sesshomaru was nearly out of sight that he finished off his story about how he managed to catch a fish, and then happily yelled good bye.

The demon Lord could not even fathom what was going on in that child's head.

Once he had heard the child run back, Sesshomaru began to depart at a quicker pace, trusting Jaken would eventually catch up. He walked for an hour, watching the dew fall from the pine trees around him, and listening to the distant sounds of the river and birds, while reviewing various battle techniques in his head. Then, suddenly, he stopped in his tracks.

He sensed something, but could not determine what it was. It wasn't demonic energy, nor was it spiritual, but it was surrounding him from a distance, getting closer. His mind replayed various experiences he had in other energy enriched fights and he prepared himself, ready to confront his opponent. But as the energy got closer and closer to him, surrounding him like a ring from all angles, he realized that the energy he was feeling had no presence. Trees did not move. The air remained stagnant, and the creatures of the forest made no effort to hide.

He put a hand on one of his blades, sensing as the ring of energy continued to quickly close in. He realized what is was. Someone dare curses me?

He couldn't see it at all, but as he jumped up at an impossibly fast speed to avoid it, he felt the ring of energy follow him at an alarming rate. Despite his speed, it reached him, surrounded him, engulfed him, and finally disappeared within him. Sesshomaru landed back on the ground, mind still calculating, ready for whatever would happen next.

Nothing happened.

Sesshomaru stood there as seconds passed, slightly confused. If it truly was a curse, he could no longer sense it. The was no lingering presence. It was almost as if the energy never appeared in the first place. And unlike usual, none of his swords pulsated with an answer. He tried another method.

His face, normally picturesque and symmetric, baring the markings of noble lineage with a crescent moon on his forehead and magenta striped on his cheeks, began to morph and stretch into a more feral, canine form. His eye widened and glowed red and blood vessels popped from the pressure he was creating. His long silver hair flew up as the energy he was exerting began to take on a physical form. He could feel the creatures and demons in the forest run from his presence. But still, even after exerting his energy to dispel the attack, nothing happened. So he stopped himself before he made a full transformation, his body returning to its usual state.

He was confused. No other living creature seemed to have been affected by this formless energy. Not even the demonic birds which normally fly at the slightest disturbance, the mortal creatures which survive solely on survival instinct, or even the trees seemed to have been affected.

Perhaps I imagined it... No, I, Lord Sesshomaru, am not such a lowly creature as one who would invent an attack on myself. What could it have be-

His thoughts paused as his body sensed something.

He began feeling dizzy.

And then his cheek began to hurt.

And then his stomach began to ache.

And then, for the first time in decades, Lord Sesshomaru began to feel afraid.


Shippo's involuntary sighs seemed incessant as he chased after the short, white haired child. As an adult now, Shippo grew tall enough for his head to reach Kagome's waist if he stretched on his tip-toes. His face was less round, and much like full yokai, he was perpetually stuck with the appearance of an eighteen year old, albeit extremely short. Passing his fox magic exam, he was older, wiser and much more competent than when he was searching for the Shikon Jewel Shard. Shippo figured that much, at least, would render him capable of being selected for more important work amongst his friends. So why...

"Oh please, Shippo! Please! They won't stop fighting! You're the great Shippo! You must know of a way to keep them together!"

Shippo sighed again as he remembered how Kenta, the youngest boy of Kagome's children, stared at with Shippo with wide, watery eyes, whining for Shippo to find a solution for his parent's marital problems.

Shippo had tried everything. He went from his playful fox magic to some more advanced spells. From chiding and promises that the fighting was a normal part of healthy marriages, to serious distractions which included telling embarrassing stories from the times of old when Naraku threatened the world. But still, nothing helped. The child could not be deterred or distracted without some sort of promise. At that point Shippo, no longer able to maintain his usual positive self, was at his wits end, concluding that he had no other choice but to tell some grandiose lie that would ensure the child would believe that Kagome and InuYasha would stay together forever.

Now Shippo, chasing after the child, who ran into his parent's shed with a strand of silver hair in hand, was regretting his decision. Why can't Kagome and InuYasha behave like responsible parents in front of their children?

"Shippo! Hurry!"

"I'm coming! Slow down or you'll trip!"

As Shippo entered the storage room, he watched as Kenta propped up a wooden window to shed light into the dim space. Small and completely laden with shelves filled with demonic and spiritual items Kagome had collected or sealed over the years, the room was carefully arranged with everything in its own place. There was just enough room for Shippo and Kenta to enter and move around while avoiding the spiderwebs and bugs which made their home in the walls.

"Wow, Kagome sure has gathered a lot of stuff! I haven't been here in ages." Shippo mused.

Kenta ignored him, and started scanning the shelving with his eyes. "Mama showed me the stuff she brought back from her country when I was little... I think I remember seeing a comb in there!" He pointed up to a small, metal chest which rested conveniently on the top shelf in the room. And then being the brilliant six year old that he was, started the climb the shelves that seemed to barely be able to support the boxes and scrolls laying on them. Shippo pulled him back.

"Kenta, no, I'll get it." Shippo said. Honestly, the kid looks like his mother but acts like his idiot father. I'm lucky though, if he grows any taller, I won't be able to stop him so easily. That'd be reason enough to end this babysitting job. Shippo clapped his hand. "Stand back Kenta! Be ready to catch it."

With a quiet popping noise, Shippo used his magic and transformed into a tiny pink balloon, floating high enough to get behind the chest and push it over the ledge.

With a, "Wow Shippo! You're amazing," Kenta caught the chest and opened it, rustling around to pull out a small plastic black comb. Shippo transformed back and landed down beside Kenta. He watched as the child pulled off a strand of hair from the object. It was dark in the room, but when Kenta pulled the hair off the comb he knew immediately that it was not Kagome's. It was closer to Shippo's hair colour, but too long to be his own. Kenta didn't notice. He looked straight into Shippo's eyes with an excited look on his face. "I got the hair, Shippo! Now what?!"

Shippo sighed for the umpteenth time. Now what do I say? "Uhh, twist the two strands of hair together and repeat after me."

The boy took the two strands of hair, one silver and one red, and twisted the hair together by rubbing the palms of his hands. He stared expectantly back at Shippo. Shippo felt the sweat drop down his back as he struggled for words.

What should I say?! Uhhh..."Now as the two strands become one..."

"Nooow as the twooo strands become oneeee...!" Kenta echoed excitedly, trying his best to sound like a monk like Miroku. He had closed his eyes and held the hair between his palms, as if praying. He was so enthusiastic. Holding back a snicker, Shippo almost broke down laughing from hearing Kenta's earnest voice, and had to stop himself from telling Kenta it was all a lie. This was so elaborate. But what's he going to say to the boy the next time his parent's argue? He stopped snickering, gulped and continued.

"So too..."

"So toooo...!"

"Do the bodie-I mean the lover's soul..."

"Dooo the bodieeee-I mean the lover'sss soullll..."

"T-to share and understand each others pain..."

"T-tooo shareeee and understannnnnd each otherssss painnn...!"

"So that they can never fight in a way that will cause each other ham, I mean harm!..."

"Sooo that they can neverrrr fight in a waaay that will cause each otherrrr hammmmm, I meannn harrrmmmmm!...!"

"So even when they are se-separated, they will always be together!" Shippo finished. That sounded like a good ending

"Sooooo even when they are seeeee-seeeeparated, theywillaaaaalwaysbetoooogeeeetherrrrr."

"That's the end of it, Kenta!"

Kenta opened his eyes and smiled at Shippo. "You mean they will be together forever?!"

Shippo nodded. He wasn't pleased that he had just deliberately lied to an six year old, but it worked. He wouldn't have to deal with the child's whining for the rest of his babysitting job today. However the hair in Kenta's hands, which was so obviously not Kagome's, seemed to chastise him. It was evidence of his wrong doing. His guilty eyes seemed to be playing tricks on him, because the silver one was starting to look un-InuYasha like as well. What if Kenta noticed?

"Kenta, give me the hair."

Kenta placed the twisted up strands of hair into his hands. Thinking quickly, Shippo closed his eyes and whispered "Fox fire!" causing a small green orb of light to appear in Shippo's hands, burning the evidence.

Thank god that's over, he thought. And then suddenly the thought struck him: What calamity will befall him once InuYasha and Kagome fought again and Kenta learns that he was tricked. He'll definitely tell InuYasha. Shippo groaned. Why is it always me?


Kii held her bowl up high over the table, food stuffed in her cheeks. "More rice!"

Her mother, sitting across from her, still in her apron, made a face. "At least say please," she chided. But predictably, she reached into the rice cooker and filled up the bowl.

"Can't help it, I'm hungry!"

Her father, at the head of the table, pipped in, "If Kii is this big of an eater, I wonder how crazy the little one is going to be?" He reached over and rubbed his wife's round stomach, probably hoping to feel a kick. Kii looked away awkwardly as her parents started to blush and giggle. She didn't want to think about how the child got in her mothers stomach, but after having her sexual education class her unborn sibling was a constant, unpleasant reminder.

Kii gobbled down her rice in silence, frantically chewing as she ignored the pain in her cheek and stomach. Her parents chattered away happily amongst themselves. They had been trying for years to have another child so this one was a miracle in their eyes. Her parents seemed to glow with a new found youth that Kii had never seen. But as happy as she was for them, and for her new sibling, she still felt uncomfortable being around them. It was just weird.

Peeking upwards from her bowl, Kii dutifully noted that despite her pregnancy pounds, her mother still looked beautiful, with her tall stature, long brown hair, white skin and brown eyes. It was a wonder that her father's short and stocky Asian figure had managed to catch her eyes, but Kii guessed that her mom was into foreign guys. She smiled, remembering some of the stories her parents had told her about their younger days, and then she turned her eyes back to her bowl. Carelessly, she sat picking apart clumps of rice to mix with her chicken.

And that is when it happened.

"Kii," her mother asked, "Are you wearing makeup?"

Kii choked on her rice, and had to put down her bowl and chopsticks before answering cautiously, "Maybe?"

Her mother made a face, ruining the innocent mood in the room. "When you're done eating, go wash it off."

"But-"

"No buts Kitsuna. You're beautiful just the way you are. You don't need to focus on impressing boys now, wait for college. And you only put it on one side of your face, for heavens sakes. If you're going to use foundation, you've got to cover up all your freckles to make it even. Not just the one side."

Kii stammered, blushed, pouted and then, as she thought about the circumstances that led to her needing the make up in the first place – showing up for school, being cornered in the hall, the fists slamming into her face and stomach – tried to hold back tears. The cheerful mood she had spent the day alone trying to fake was fading. She had applied the makeup for her parents sake, to cover up her swelling, but now that was not even good enough.

She stared her mother in the eye, feeling tears of shame threaten to fall over. "What if I say no?"

"Kitsuna, you heard me." The kitchen table made a squeaking noise as her mother leaned forward, pushing it with her oversized belly. Kii leaned forward out of her chair as well, hating confrontation but feeling the blood rush to her head. The argument was stupid, but she didn't want to deal with her parents finding out about the swelling by removing the makeup. She couldn't bear the shame if her parents knew what was happening at school.

"Well, I'm saying no!"

Her dad stopped eating. Kii watched her dad's eyes dart awkwardly between mother and herself through her peripheral vision."Kii, honey, listen to your mother."

Her mothers light brown eyes narrowed as she examined at Kii's face, getting a better look at it as they both leaned in. "Kitsu... Kii. Kii, is your face swollen?"

Kii jerked her body up, the back of her shins knocking her chair over. The room went silent as the chair hit the floor. Seconds went by before her mom spoke up.

"Is-Is there something goi-"

"I'm going out," Kii said, cutting her mom off. The idea of having to explain her circumstances to her family made butterflies go ballistic in her stomach, giving her the instinctual urge she had cultivated from school to flee. Quickly, she ignored her parents demands for her to return, and nearly ran to the front door. She slipped on her brown shoes in seconds and left the house. Her dinner sat on the table half eaten.

Adrenalin pumping, she ran two blocks up the narrow streets while trying to get comfortable in her shoes. She needed to get away from her parents if they decided to give chase. But in no time, she was out of breath and had to settle down into a walk while her unfit body struggled for air. Her stomach ached from the bruising she had received from her classmates. She had her school's navy skirt and heavy blazer on, adorned to give her parents the illusion that she had just returned from school, and was starting to feel hot from the summer evenings heat.

Why didn't I take the time to put it on properly? Kii thought, If only I did it properly, instead of lazing around, she wouldn't have noticed. I should have been more careful. I'm such an idiot.

Being past dinner time, the streets in the residential district were relatively empty. Due to the walls around every ones home, Kii didn't have to worry about anybody seeing her from their houses. After getting far enough away from home to clear her head, she stopped walking. She waited as water cluster in her eyes for a moment, and then wiped them out. She then slapped her face with both hands to pull herself together.

I'm so pathetic right now. But I can get through this! I can do it alone. My parents don't need to know.

She felt for her red hair and found that it had become disheveled on her run. Sighing, she once again wished for straight black hair and clear skin like her father, instead of the red hair and freckles she had inherited from her grandmother, mixed in with her dad's almond shaped eyes. She tied her hair in a bun with the elastic she had around her wrist, and then tried to rub the makeup off her cheek.

It could be worse, Kii. Cheer up! Focus! She continued to rub the makeup off her sore cheek and then put the brightest smile on her face she could muster. The pressure of everything going wrong with her life tightened around her heart, making it feel hollow, but she ignored it. She continued walking through the streets, taking the long way round back to her house. Regrettably, she had no friends to run to if she really wanted to leave her home, and she was missing the air conditioning in her house.

Focus, Kii. First things first. I've got to make up some story about my cheek. They're not going to believe just anything with the way I ran out like that. I can do this. Just stay focused. I can do this.

It was at that moment that Kii began to feel dizzy.

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AN: A couple of people have been asking about how Kagome got Kii's hair on her comb. This shall be explained much later (as of chapter 20, I'm still not even half way to the point where the comb will be explained, so it will be a while. Sorry). Try not to dwell on it. ^^

Also! I'd also like to give you guys a forewarning about Kii (because she's my baby and I love her and I want to pat her on the head and tell her everything is going to be okay even though it isn't). This story is very slow moving time wise (I think a week has passed as of 20 chapters), so it is taking a while for her to grow a pair. Nevertheless, she'll get there eventually. :D