"He's so cute," Shippo said as he closely stared at Chico. The fox demon steadied his hands on Inuyasha's leg and leaned closer to the small child. Chico was tense and scared with tears flew from his because him.
"You're scaring him," Star said from the kitchen. With soft steps, she picked up the fox demon and put him on the opposite side of the table near Ren.
"He really doesn't like strangers, does he?" Sango asked as she watched the dog child burry his head in Inuyasha's robes.
"No. Demon's make him more scared than anything else though. His mother's clan killed both of his parents in front of him. I think it might have hurt his mind a little, but that's something for Kanga to determine, not me." Star said sadly and sat down in her spot next to Ren who was still looking a little ashamed. Shippo pulled out some tricks and started showing them to Ren which cheered him up a little. The boy was smiling and happy again as the front door silently slid open.
"That's why he can't talk," Kiko said. Him and his sister avoided Inuyasha entirely and went the long way around the table to play with Ren and Shippo.
"He only talks to Kanga," Star corrected, "Sometimes he will try to talk to us when he's hungry or something." Kanga slipped silently back into the room and Sey stuck to the shadows and disappeared through the door outside.
"We don't have that many rooms, but we have enough for everyone to rest comfortably. Kiki, Kiko, you two are in your own room. Chico and Ren, you're with Star, and me and Sey will take turns sharing my room," Kanga listed off quickly, counting off the rooms on her fingers as she went. Sey came back inside with a slightly wetter head.
"It's raining out," He stated and Kanga disappeared outside, grabbing a bow and quiver from the shadows near the door. At closer inspection, you could see a small alcove had been cut away to hide weapons for easy access. Sey shook his head out and moved in front of everyone.
"Where did she go?" Miruko asked.
"We made special bamboo shudders to keep the walkway from getting slippery. She's going to close them, and then take the first guard shift for the night," Sey explained.
"What's there to guard against? We took out the demons," Sango asked with a slight suspicion.
"Other demons could come. Also, there are human villages close by, and they are known not to like us either. It's only a precaution," Sey said.
"Did those demons we killed ever come here?" Inuyasha asked, his attention still fixed on the clinging Chico.
"Sometimes," Sey hesitantly said, "They asked for food in exchange for not hurting us. They're gone now though." Sey knelt down next to Inuyasha and went to work prying Chico from him.
"Is safe for you guys to stay here?" Kagome asked as the reality began to sink into the group of strangers. These half demons, all of them no more than children, were completely on their own and at the mercy of any demon of human that came by wanting blood.
"The house is hidden from the road by the trees, and we keep away from any place we might encounter humans to begin with. Also, Kanga is more than a match for any demon that comes" Sey named off, but even he was unconvinced with their safety.
"What if she isn't?" Miruko asked.
"Then we try to reason with them. If that doesn't work, me, Kanga, and the twins can all fight. Kanga is the best of us though," Sey finished and took Chico into his arms. He was now half-asleep and mostly limp as Sey stood up and curled the boy in his arms. "Bed time," He said simply and slowly the children started to get up. Star took Ren's hand and then came and took Chico from Sey's arms before disappearing into the dark hallways. Kiki and Kiko said good night to Shippo and disappeared into the dark hand in hand.
"I'll get a few candles for you. We have the three rooms on the right set up with two rolls in each room. You can decide amongst yourselves who will sleep next to who," Sey said and disappeared into the kitchen. The light inside went out inside the room before he came back with three candles in stone holders. "Keep in mind that there are young children in the house though," He added as he blew out a few candles hidden away in circular alcoves around the room. He lite the candles in his hand and set them on the table for the group to take a moment before going into the dark hallway to get some sleep himself.
