(Edited and revised as of 5th Nov 2006)
Author's Note: I would really like to thank Number 1 Kagome, xinuyashaxidolx, punkrockgrl92, greenblanket (:D) and xcloudx for kindly gracing my first story with their wonderful and inspiring reviews. Arigato to those who have been patient and took time to read my fanfiction too!
To greenblanket, I will definitely try my best to make my chapters longer!
As for Shippou, I cannot help but confess my extremely unhealthy obsession for it. But fret not, the main lead in this story is NOT Shippou (as much as I want to). However this chapter will be written from Shippou's point of view, because in my opinion, it is always pleasant to read a story from an innocent child's perspective. So now, without further ado, I present to you chapter 2! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, because if I did, Kagome would look uglier on the mangas since I am not a fantastic artist (Self-confessed).
Chapter 2: Pining for Her
"Where's KA-GO-ME!!!" I screamed my lungs out. A minute without Kagome rendered me to a minute more of Inuyasha's taunts and abuses. Poor me! I am just a kid!
"Shippou-chan, Kagome could have returned home. Be patient, I am sure she would be back soon—with more of your favourite ninja snacks!" Sango kindly replied, feeling sympathetic for me.
If it was a day ago, I might have left it at that. But Kagome was gone for more than 48 hours! I am not her son for nothing!
I gazed deep into her deep atramentous, onyx eyes, and for once, my heart felt like a bottomless, terrifying chasm. I suddenly felt so lonely, so abandoned. Had Kagome forsaken me? Had she forgotten about me? Where was she?
Home did not feel like home anymore. Or perhaps, to them, it wasn't really a home, a shelter.
At Kaede-baba's little hut, I felt loved. I could feel the warmth of a family, it was a feeling I had never experienced, and a feeling that I longed and hankered for after Chi-chi (father) died. For once, I felt that I had a perfect family; a family I could depend on... But now, the family was broken.
Kagome had disappeared, Inuyasha had left, (though it was obvious Kagome's disappearance was linked to the hanyou's meeting with Kikyou) and even Kaede-baba had gone with the villagers to pick herbs. Only Miroku and Sango were here, accompanying me.
Why had they all left? Did they not like Shippou?
I wriggled the little lollipop wrapper in my hands, taking in its blackcurrant scent.
Why didn't they come back to Shippou?
A large, pearly teardrop slid down from my eye, and into my mouth. And I felt its salty, bitter taste in my mouth… I curled myself up at the darkest corner of the hut, and hugged my knees. I could so vividly remember the enjoyable times we had shared together…
"Shippou-chan, I made you a lovely bento set lunch. It has your favourite unagi meat on it!" Kagome smiled at me and I returned her a giant teddy bear hug!
"Arigato Kagome! You are the best!"
"Inuyasha! Hahaha! I've got a bento set, and you've got none! Kagome treats me better than you! Wai! (Whoopee!)" I squealed in a singsong voice.
"Baka! You little measly, nefarious, pathetic nitwit! Have it for all I care. Feh!" Inuyasha raised his voice and thumped me on my head.
"Ite! (Ouch!)"
Everyone stared at Inuyasha momentarily, dumbfounded and transfixed. Even Kaede-baba was staring at Inuyasha suspiciously. Miroku raised a delicate eyebrow.
"Nani! (What!)" He scowled at our scathing looks.
Miroku-kun was the first to regain his composure. In a slightly amused voice, he gently chided Kagome.
"Really Kagome-chan! You should have known better than to bring your dictionary over. Inuyasha must have seen that as a window of opportunity to learn more disgusting words to hurt poor Shippou-chan's dignity."
"And Inuyasha…Such behaviour is unbelievably childish…Tsk." He shook his head in dramatic sorrow and sighed.
Everyone erupted into peals of laughter almost instantaneously. The look on Inuyasha's face was priceless! If only Kagome had captured that on that weird contraption that she had mentioned earlier (camera). His face was tinted a deep cherry-red blush, and yet at the same time contorted with fury and embarrassment. His amber eyes illuminated and he sent us a murderous glare. His hands and legs were shaking like a wobbly jelly.
"Baka! Miroku!"
"Gomen (Sorry) everyone! I promise to be more cautious the next time!" Kagome winked at Inuyasha knowingly and once again everyone was consumed by waves of laughter. All except Inuyasha, I meant. He was still glaring daggers at Kagome, tongue-tied at her betrayal.
The next moment, a flash of blurry red and white whizzed past me, striking me hard on the brittle forehead of mine and snatching my delicious bento set away!
Inuyasha was sitting Indian-style opposite me and gloating over his little victory. He hurriedly poured down the food (MY UNAGI!!) into his throat, gave a loud burp and a satisfied grunt.
I found myself suddenly hung upside-down by a very annoyed hanyou. In a low growl, he muttered "Serve you right, you baka! Miroku had kindly reminded me of a WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY!"
"KAGOME!" That Inuyasha was not going to get away scot-free. Not after eating my bento anyway.
"INUYASHA SNATCHED MY LUNCHHH…."
"Inuyasha…" Kagome preened sweetly, with a hint of threat in her voice.
"Oh dear, Inuyasha has yet ANOTHER date with the mud…" Sango shook her head empathetically. "Why doesn't he ever learn?"
"OSUWARI! OSUWARI! OSUWARI! OSUWARI…"
The result? There was a sudden deep pit in front of me, perhaps as deep as the Atlantic Oceans that Kagome have told me about. A grunt from him was all that needed to confirm his survival…And from that day onwards, Inuyasha always thought twice before stepping on my toes, lest he incurs the terrible wrath of Kagome though he does not seemed to have learnt much…
Those moments were such happy ones. But now without her, I felt abnormal and nervous. I felt like a balloon without its owner, floating in the air, always afraid that the birds might prick it, or a strong wind might blow it thousands of miles away from its rightful owner.
Where was the family where a quarrel must ensue every five minutes? Where was the hentai and his accursed hands, and his victims? Where was Inuyasha and his crater? And most importantly, where was my ramen supplier?
A monstrous grunt suddenly billowed from my empty tummy.
Damn.
OoOooOoOooOoOooOoO
She stirred and began to show signs of consciousness. Her head felt like it was inflated to such a great degree that it could burst; she blinked her eyes to try to get a clearer view of where she was, but to no avail.
Everywhere was like a black hole – devoid of any trace of light. She noticed that she was now clothed in a silky kimono, and her raven hair had been elaborately combed into a butterfly style, adorned with semi-precious rubies and garnets alike. Even the bed she was lying on was as fluffy as a pillow.
The only thing that convinced her that she was not in Paradise was the inevitable smell that plagued the room. It was the thick but unmistakable smell of death lingering in the air.
She struggled to get up. Her head throbbed. Where was she?
"I see our little depressed princess has awakened from her dreams…" A snide feminine voice trailed off somewhere near to her.
"…Bet you would never guess who I am, eh? Because you are a half-brain creature…Sigh, now I comprehend why humans are always considered lesser beings compared to us demons… I say, utter foolishness…No backbone, no dignity, no pride…Goes off whining and crying like a little baby after a mere setback." She cooed and cawed. "What's with those brittle emotions and tears?"
The lady in kimono began to stiffen and shudder unwittingly. "Who-who are you…? Why-why have you captured me?"
"Funny I thought you should have remembered me by now. Obviously I held too high an expectation of the reincarnation of Kikyou. I shall remember to pity her for having such a dim-witted creature as her reincarnated being."
Like a bolt out of the blue, a sudden blast of white light appeared in front of the miko and blinded her momentarily.
"Does your pea-sized brain offer you any recollection now?"
A lady so young and ravishing stood in front of her, smirking. She was a great beauty, if that evil, ominous, claret crimson light was not present in her eyes, and if her face had not been twisted to such an angle that all of her veins popped out and masked her original beauty.
"You shall exact my revenge…for him! You shall command them all and eventually, lead them to their deaths!" Her voice had risen to such a magnitude that she was now screeching like a horn. The deafening sound pained the miko's ears.
"I am Suluo!" She had stared into the miko's ebony eyes. The miko gasped and showed recognition to the name. But immediately like a charm, the miko changed. Her eyes no longer spoke of fear and panic, but were blank and lifeless.
"Follow me." She commanded.
"Hai (Yes), mistress."
"Sesshoumaru-sama, we will meet again…" She started. "…And this time, you will be under my clutches…"
A/N: Yep, finished another horrendously long story. I decided to be kind on my readers and inject in some good-humoured jokes to lighten the atmosphere. Have you guys remembered Suluo? She appeared in a special edition of the Inuyasha anime. More details on next chapter. Now, please reward me with your R-E-V-I-E-W-S!