Complications

Disclaimer: I do not own this little romp of a feudal adventure, or it's characters. Kudos to Rumiko Takahashi, for the amusements she has provided us with. ;D

This is my new short drabble set, which will be based on prompts and either at, or around, set word limits, regarding the general complications that arise during the progress of time-traveling quests.

These updates may be sporadic, but full of love.

FIRST: BATHING HABITS

Concerning: Inuyasha, Kagome, and Shippo. (mention of the frigid bastard – ahem, the killing perfection.)
Summary: Early on in their feudal adventure, Inuyasha comes to terms with the strange habits of his new ward.
Prompt: Optimism

Bathing Habits

"…Kagome. How come you smell so sweet?"

Blushing, the young student woman looked startled towards the dog demon that perched, leaning a little too close for comfort a short few feet away from her. He was… complimenting her?

His nose twitched, a grimace working his face into a small frown. The unnatural abilities of this strange human weirded him out. It was too demon, too… youkai, her cleanliness to begin with, but not even Inuyasha's natural abilities could keep him smelling that good. It was too much… like his brother for his liking. Clear amber darkened for a moment, before he quickly shook the thought off with clash of teeth. No, there was no way the two of them could be linked in this way.

…Still.

"Seriously, woman. We've been travelling for… nearly 4 sun cycles, and you..." Ignorant of the burgeoning flush that inched steadily across the delicate features, Inuyasha leaned further in, sniffing for the origin of the smell, before arriving at the eventual conclusion: her hair. The scent was… sweet. Like fruit – some kind of berry, though one that he had never come across during his travels – making it possible to originate from the mainland.

"Eugh."

Snagging a strand closer, he pressed it closer, inhaling deeply, memorising the scent in case he ever came across it again, namely, from that damn bastard brother of his. The bastard was all too fond of the mainland, incorporating part of those lands into his hunting grounds if he recollected the strong scent of his marked territory; and in the least, the disgusting scent could come in useful for marking his presence…-

"Ow!"

Falling to the side as his train of thought was shattered, Inuyasha instinctively grabbed forward at the blur of orange that leapt from his vision, grasping the thick furry of tail of one struggling, indignant Kitsune. Lips twisting into a snarl, he failed to notice the bright red woman that scooted speedily back from the spot they had shared not a moment before, the words 'Osuwari' dying on her lips.

"Don't you dare insult Okāsan, you stupid good-for-nothing hanyou!"

"Shut up, baby."

Unnoticed, Kagome's head sank down into her hands. She was steadily arriving at the conclusion that she had been stupidly optimistic to assume that anything that came from that demon would be polite.