Disclaimer - All Inuyasha characters and rights belong to Rumiko Takahashi.

Special thanks to The Bog Witch for all her beta-ing efforts. You're brilliant!

Prologue

"Awww…Uncle! Where are you?"

The little boy looked forlornly around him. He stood in the middle of the living room, scratching his head in bewilderment. It was a large circular room with two hallways leading out of each side. On the thick stone walls hung large tapestries and cheery rugs that kept the winter chill out. A large fire burned in the hearth at the end of the room, casting eerie shadows along the walls.

Despite his age, the young boy didn't cry out in fear but rather focused his steel blue eyes towards the darker corners, searching...

He silently padded around the room, raising his nose and sniffing the air. He caught the familiar scents of burning wood, flowers and a faint whiff of something else.

"I knew it!" he whispered gleefully. "I know you're in here!"

His eyes scanned the room eagerly, searching for any sign of life. Despite the light cracking of the fire, the room was silent as walked around the low dining table which was surrounded by four leather cushions.

He blinked….four cushions? He didn't remember having four cushions.

A slow smile crept into his face. 'I got you now Uncle.' he thought triumphantly. The young boy turned sideways and pretended to be interested in the tapestry that hung along the far wall.

It was then he heard the slight cough from the cushion on the other side of the table. With surprising speed, Ataru turned and pounced on the cushion.

"OOMPH!"

Jumping playfully away, Ataru watched as the cushion went 'pop' and disappeared behind a small cloud. In a blink of an eye, a young man with a shock of unruly orange hair and an even bushier orange tail appeared before him, rubbing his belly with a grimace.

"Nice one 'Taru … ugh … you found me!" he said with a weak smile.

The little boy jumped happily up and down. "Ha ha! Told ya! I told ya I'd find ya! Even if you did use your demon powers!"

Shippo's smile widened. "Yeah, I know – but it took you long enough! I thought I saw the sunrise start!"

With a growl Ataru launched himself into Shippo, who easily caught the young boy and placed him in a head lock.

"Oh, tough guy now? How do you like this?" Shippo proceeded to vigorously rub his head with this fist.

"AUGHHH! NO!" Ataru cried, and in sheer desperation, flung his nearest arm into his Uncle's sore side, making the kitsune drop the boy in surprise.

"Got you now Uncle!" declared Ataru, who launched himself with a laugh into Shippo's chest. Soon an all scale wrestling match erupted.

And it was Shippo who ended up 'pinned' to the ground.

"Told ya! I told ya I'd get cha!" Ataru teased as he proudly stood on his uncle's back.

"Ok, okay! You got me!" Shippo laughed, looking over his right shoulder. Even if he was only 6 years old, it was clear that Ataru inherited his father's lightning reflexes. Easing himself up, Shippo watched the little boy rub his eyes wearily.

'Uh oh…bedtime. Great.' he thought miserably. As much as he loved babysitting his little 'nephew', getting Ataru to go to bed was another task entirely.

Suddenly, an idea popped into his head. 'Maybe some of that chocolate powder Kagome gave me will do the trick...'

"Hmm...Hey 'Taru, want a snack?" Shippo asked brightly.

The boy nodded. "Yeah! Can I have some choco-"

"Uh uh. Nope. No chocolate. Mom's orders"

"But Uuuuuncle!" he whined.

"Um...How about some hot milk - with some chocolate in it?" he quickly added.

Ataru stopped pouting and cocked his head to one side, his sapphire eyes gazing thoughtfully at Shippo.

"You mean...hot chocolate right?"

Shippo blinked. "Um...yeah! Yeah - that's what your mom calls it - hot chocolate milk!" he clasped his hands together, "So how about it?"

Ataru then smiled, apparently happy at the prospect of getting chocolate in one form or another.

"Really!"

"Yep, really" replied Shippo, "Now how about getting washed up and I'll bring it to your room."

"Yum! Okay! Hurry up!" he called as he sped out of the room and down the hall.

The young man sighed. That was lucky. At least tonight he didn't have to endure a harrowing hour of coaxing the stubborn little boy to bed.

'But what do you expect from Inuyasha and Kagome's kid?' he thought as he entered the kitchen.

A few minutes later Shippo found his little charge struggling to untie his mini haori.

"Stupid knot! It's too tight!" He declared, and raised his hand to sever the tie

"NO! Wait! No claws!"

"But I can't untie it with these things!" He held his small hands aloft, displaying the tiny claws at the end of each digit.

Shippo grinned. "Yeah, I know. I had the same problem too. But you can't always go destroying stuff!"

"But it's easier to get his stupid thing off!"

"Yeah, but are you going to sew it back together? Hmm?" Shippo arched an eyebrow.

Ataru stopped his scowling at the last comment. "Well, I guess not." he mumbled, reluctantly agreeing. "But I still don't like it."

"Hey, you'll get used to them." said Shippo. "Besides, easier doesn't always mean better. C'mere, let me help."

Finally free of his haori, Ataru climbed into bed.

"And as promised!" said Shippo as he handed the steaming mug to the young boy.

The little boy eagerly reached out and grasped the mug with both his hands. He took several sniffs at the treat before proceeding to gulp it down.

Shippo grinned at the sight. 'Reminds me of someone I know.'

Several years had passed since the completion of the Shikon Jewel and the consequent marriage of his two friends. When it came time for the group to go their separate ways, it was Kagome who insisted that the young kitsune stay until he was old enough to fend for himself.

It wasn't that Inuyasha minded either. Despite all the bickering, Shippo looked up to the gruff hanyou in many ways, and somehow he knew, deep down, Inuyasha cared. So it was only natural that the hanyou began to train Shippo with valuable skills he would need in the future. How to stalk prey, where to go for shelter in the wild, and eventually, how to fight. Maybe it was always the case, but Shippo fit in the role of their 'adopted' son.

Eventually it was only a matter of time…

"So Shippo, do you have a little brother yet?"

"Huh?" The 12 year old kitsune, though taller and with an even bigger tail, didn't quite catch on to Miroku's hint. He threw a puzzled glance at Kagome.

"Mi.ro.ku!" she warned, glaring at him. He grinned and shrugged his shoulders.

"Um…I don't get it?" Shippo asked, confused by the sudden reddening of Kagome's face.

"Don't listen to Miroku! He's just talking nonsense!" the miko added quickly.

Sango, who sat listening, smiled knowingly. "Is he now, Kagome?"

Almost a year later, Ataru arrived, making their family complete. Inuyasha, Kagome, Shippo and little Ataru.

Eventually Shippo moved out to stretch his wings, but returned often, to visit his 'home' and his little 'nephew'.

'Not so little anymore though' thought Shippo, watching his charge finish the last of his coco with a loud burp.

"Did you hear that one?" grinned Ataru.

"I think the whole village did!" he replied, taking the mug. "Ok 'Taru, time for bed."

"Wait! Wait! Not yet!" he cried. "I want another hot chocolate!"

"No way! You're mom will kill me!"

"But UNCLE!"

"Ok, okay….how about a story instead?"

Ataru abruptly stopped his loud wail. "A story? What kind of story?"

It was Shippo's turn to look thoughtful. "Umm... " he began, "What kind of story do you wanna hear?"

"One with lots of fighting and stuff!"

Shippo laughed. "Yeah, well I got loads of those kinda stories!"

"Really?" Ataru's eyes brightened, "Then….can you tell me one of your adventures Uncle?"

He looked back at his nephew's expectant face. "But haven't I told you enough stories about me?" he began.

"No!" came the simple reply, "Not really. But Mom and Dad sometimes tell me stories about what they did."

"What kind of stories were those?" asked Shippo.

The little boy shrugged his shoulders. "Lots of stories. Sometimes of when you went demon hunting with Auntie Sango and Uncle Miroku. Or battles with Uncle Sess – though Dad doesn't really talk about them much."

"Well, did they ever tell you about the water demon?"

"Um...yeah! I know that one."

Shippo scratched his head. "Well, how about the battle with Byakuya?"

"Um...I think I've heard that one too."

"Hm...Ok, how about a new story!"

Ataru's eyes brightened. "Really!"

Shippo nodded as he sat on the foot of Ataru's bed, making himself comfortable.

"Once upon a time..."

A/N - I love Shippo! He's a character that I feel doesn't get enough attention in fandom. Tho, it's been a challenge portraying him several years older. And then there's Kagome and Inuyasha's kid - this story is one interpretation of what that child may be like.

This being Bedtime Stories 1 I'm hoping that if things work out this could be the set up for a series of different stories all told by Shippo. Finger's crossed!

Btw, 'Ataru' is the name of the male lead for Rumiko Takahashi's other long-running series Ususei Yastura.