Once again, I bring you the fruit of my labors, a new chapter.
Chapter 2: Day One"C'mon, Kagome! Hurryhurryhurryhurry!" a voice called out along the street. A figure dashed along, toward the voice, which, if passerby stopped to think, appeared to be coming up from a huge flight of stairs.
Kagome raced toward Shippō's voice. She smiled as she did so. He wanted to learn so much about her time. It was cute. She remembered the first day with him having "kid legs."
Flashback"That's how most transformations are done, anyway," Shippō finished, after explaining, in not too much detail, how he could transform.
"Shippō, would it be possible to give yourself human legs? You wouldn't have to over-exert yourself with worrying about your claws or ears, we can always cover them up…"
"I can, try, Kagome." Not too much later, Shippō was running around, barefooted, and having the time of his life. It appeared, since his ancestors have always had a human form, the instructions came practically imprinted into his genes. It was easier to sustain, and if worst came to worse, and they needed a quick getaway, Kagome could always wrap him up in her coat and pretend he was her "baby brother."
"Kagome! Look! I'm doing it! I'm actually doing it!" His face lit up with pure joy, he ran around the courtyard. Kagome did look, and needed to stifle a little laugh.
The first order of business would be to get Shippō some new clothes to fit this form…
"KA-GOOOOO-MME! HURRY UP!"
"Coming, you crazy little brat!" She screeched to a halt at the bottom of the stairs. Immediately, Shippō came tearing down them, dressed in baggy jeans and a red T-shirt. He was just a little shorter than Souta, but still had his red hair. He didn't have the bow anymore, and his pointed ears and claws were "gone." His face still had the young, wide-eyed, innocent look, and his eyes where the same old blue.
But the change did nothing for the normal demon strength. As he grabbed hold of her, he forgot to brake and spun her around, her bag almost throwing her off balance.
"EEEE! Shippō! Careful! Thankfully you're light, or I would be on the ground right now."
"Sorry Kagome…" Shippō looked at the ground. She couldn't resist. He was just too cute in his human form. She scooped him up into a big hug.
"Did you know, when I first saw you, you were so cute I just wanted to scoop you up and give you a big hug?"
'You were hanging upside-down too…Inuyasha was holding you up…' the thought coming unbidden to her mind. 'No! I'm gonna be all right! Don't think!'"Nope. I was too busy trying to get those shards of yours. Heehee. Can we go somewhere?"
"Why not? Sure! Let me tell mom…" She started up the stairs.
"Um…" she stopped as Shippō spoke, a little sheepishly. "She already knows…" At this, Kagome couldn't help but roll her eyes and laugh a little.
"Then where too, little one?" She immediately regretted this question as Shippō's eyes lit up…he really liked the city bus…almost a little too much…
'And now…' A grin, white teeth between red lips, gleamed out of the darkness in the trees.
"Inuyasha, couldn't it be just a little bit more time? I mean, I may have to prepare more…Two more days might not be enough." Inuyasha raised an eyebrow at the slayer. Then, he pointedly looked over her shoulder. Lying behind her was a pack to rival Kagome's. Seeing her look, she sighed, looking at the floor.
"But, couldn't we stay…for just one more night?"
"Feh. Day after tomorrow is when we're leaving." He stood up and started to leave. At the door, he paused. "Maybe it wouldn't be wise to leave at night. We shall depart the morning after. No later." Sango smiled just a little bit. She knew it was all she was gonna get, and she appreciated it immensely. Three more nights…Again, a subconscious thought came.
'A lot can happen in three nights, is not days…'Inuyasha, walking around the village, keeping an eye out for stray demons. He kept up this "nightly patrol" not only to protect the village. The truth was, he missed something to protect. He felt useful, not something he liked missing. When you don't feel useful, you feel useless.
With him, It was magnified almost tenfold. And so, much the relief of the villagers, he would circle, ever watchful. There was practically no need. The shards were gone, save for the one in Kohaku. They were with…Kagome.
Peering into the trees, he caught a glimpse of muted eerie white light. Moving slowly yet swiftly at the same time, Inuyasha headed towards it. When he was close enough, he took a deep breath, taking in the scent. If it were possible to choke on air, he would have.
A soul stealer. His stomach knotted on instinct, but after a second, he remembered that Kikyō wasn't anymore. Gone. Disappeared. At rest…finally.
He didn't want any soul stealers, though. He wanted a peaceful life and afterlife for the village. He followed, maybe it was with others. Gliding around trees, flowing from one height to another, it was quite simple. It was headed toward a clearing with a great tree in the center…
…and a figure…
Inuyasha gasped.
'Not possible. Never possible. Not here, not anywhere.'
They turned, but the eyes of the one were uncomprehending, confused, and surprised that he was there.
"What is the meaning of this? You died yesterday." At this, Inuyasha's mouth fell open.
"Kikyō…"
