OK… Thanks to Cold Kikyo, WintersBlaze, shina-chan-kittykitty01, Rikaku, priestessmykala and Jamie for reviewing! (This passed the 10 review mark... wow!)
(And I feel like such an idiot for spelling Kirara wrong, so thank you very much to Jamie for pointing out the grammar mistakes… again. You're amazing!)
And about the lack of updates, sorry! Blame the school musical. At any rate, here's a longer chapter to make up for it.
Disclaimer: Uh… if I owned Inuyasha, Kagome… anyone, even Shippou, I would not be scrounging for money to buy my mother a mother's day present!
"…" Speech
Italics: thoughts or quotes
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Change of time/scene
Chapter 3
A Little Research
It was dark and icy. The wind howled over the rooftops like a wild beast and the stars seemed veiled. The clouds had covered the sliver of moon that there could have been, and the cold beckoned to shadowy emptiness.
Dark eyes surveyed the city, with its buildings and streets, alleys and monuments. If the night was icy, then these eyes were frozen in hatred. The figure matched the night perfectly.
His long black hair was braided into one long plait that flowed smoothly with the wind, and the hard eyes were currently narrowed. His long blue coat was unbuttoned and flew behind him like a cloak.
You will pay, little fox kit. You will pay for what you did to my brother!
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Inuyasha grimaced in the alley corner. The chills seemed to reach his very heart these days. He supposed it was because he hadn't eaten properly in a while, but still…
He shivered involuntarily as a blast of icy wind swirled around the alley, and pulled his large red jacket around him tighter. Despite the fact his clothes were made with the fur of the fire-rat, they did little to stave off the cold wind. His ears were burrowed tight under his hair, but that had really made little impact to their temperature.
"Inuyasha?" The hanyou was not in the least surprised to see the little kitsune nearby. Shippou, who had met Inuyasha just after the death of his parents, seemed to come to him whenever he was in trouble.
"What is it, runt?"
"I'm cold." The silver-haired boy surveyed the young youkai. He was shivering inside his jacket, tail almost stiff with the chills in the air.
He's just a kid, Inuyasha mused. He shouldn't be out in this weather.
"Here." He stood up and chucked the fox his coat. Underneath, he wore a white jumper – or at least, a jumper that had started white.
Shippou gaped.
"But you'll be cold!" He tried to give it back.
"Look runt, you come up to me saying you're cold and I give you my jacket! You could at least take it!"
"Oh… thanks." Shippou wrapped it around his small body, instantly feeling a lot warmer.
Inuyasha had realised by now just exactly how cold it was. He could see his breath in a little mist in front of him, and his hands were currently numb.
Ignoring the bitter weather, Inuyasha sat back down against his wall and tucked his hands inside his sleeves.
It's going to be a long night.
Shippou, still cold, took a chance and settled down on the teen's lap.
Inuyasha did not mention how glad he was for the extra warmth.
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Sango and Miroku were not faring much better than the two non-humans. The wind had decided to blow in the general direction of Miroku's little archway, and this made it just as cold as if the two of them had sat out on a boat in the middle of the Thames. In fact, given that the wind blew around the square and in and out of the archway all the time, they might have been better off in a boat.
Sango had tried to get to sleep on one of the cushions, a blanket loosely tucked over her. Unfortunately, the biting cold had made sleep impossible.
Miroku appeared to be sleeping sitting up – at least, he looked asleep, for his head was down and his eyes were closed.
Kirara was the only one who was not bothered by the weather. She had simply tucked her tail in tight and fluffed her fur out a bit.
Sango looked on enviously.
I wish I had a big, fluffy tail, or even a big fluffy blanket, with a hot water bottle next to me.
Too bad all she had was a worn cotton blanket and a rather smelly cushion.
Giving up all hope of sleep, Sango sat up, keeping the blanket wrapped tightly around her. Miroku, aroused from his half doze (all the rest he got in this kind of weather), crawled over.
"Are you alright?" Sango shrugged, pretending that she was all right. Unfortunately, her shivering hands betrayed her.
"You could always sleep with me if you are cold…"
Smack!
Miroku found himself rubbing a red handprint.
Oh well, I tried…
"I didn't mean it like that," he said. "I meant sharing the same blankets, so we can use each other's warmth! My intentions were pure."
Sango looked at him suspiciously, trying to decide which was worse, coldness or risk of groping. She opted for the former, crawling over to the other teen and throwing her blanket over the two of them.
"Don't try anything." She muttered, instantly feeling better.
"Wouldn't dream of it," murmured Miroku, who had decided that if he did, he'd probably end up with a black eye.
Sango, however, was already half asleep, and didn't reply.
She looks so cute when she's asleep.
And with that thought, Miroku shut his eyes too.
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Kagome, meanwhile, was sitting up in bed reading. She could hear the wind howling outside and was really glad that she was inside.
What idiots would be outside in this weather? She wondered to herself. Then she realised what she had thought. Shippou would be. I hope he's all right.
It was strange how a chance meeting had softened her attitude to the homeless. She could almost picture them, outside now, in the bitter cold.
Her mother, upon hearing that she had found someone to help her with the project, had been very happy indeed for her daughter. She agreed fully that Kagome should give something to Shippou, since he was helping her.
"He sounds like a good kid," she had pointed out to her daughter as she folded the washing. "You should get to know him a little. Maybe he'd like to visit?"
Kagome supposed that Shippou would be a little awed by her home – and she'd feel so guilty about letting him visit then letting him back out again.
"I don't know." She had responded.
"Well, think about it."
Kagome had. She just didn't know.
Now, putting down the book, she went to check over the questions for Shippou she had written that day.
Tomorrow will bring what tomorrow will bring.
And with that thought, she fell asleep.
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Dawn tinged the sky. Miroku, Sango and Kirara were all asleep, as was Kagome. Inuyasha would very much have liked to sleep for another hour or so, but he never actually got that chance.
His tiredness had overcome the frigid cold in the end, and Shippou had slept very soon after jumping onto his lap. Thus why neither of them sensed the attacking youkai until it was a little too late.
Thwam!
The hanyou and the kitsune jumped up in surprise, and the thunder pike missed them both by inches.
Inuyasha looked at the youkai before him with some surprise. He was humanoid, but the red eyes marked him as something more than human.
"H…Hiten…" Shippou's frightened squeak trailed off abruptly as the youkai's gaze turned to him.
"You killed my brother… You're the one…"
Inuyasha jumped in front of Shippou just in time, catching the attack with his own weapon, a rusty sword - his only inheritance from his father.
"I don't know who the hell you are," gasped the hanyou as he felt the impact in his bones, "but Shippou's just a kid!"
The kitsune answered the unasked question.
"You killed my parents! Papa's foxfire killed Manten, it was his last gift to me!"
"I… don't… care!" Hiten, for that was obviously the youkai's name, jumped backwards abruptly, almost sending Inuyasha flying forwards. "My brother, Manten, is dead… and you are going to pay."
Inuyasha glanced at the quivering ball of fur next to him.
"Shippou, get out of here." When the little kitsune hesitated, he snapped. "Now!"
The already-scared boy shot out of the alleyway faster than he had ever moved in his life.
To say Hiten was angry would be an understatement. "You will pay for that, half-breed, with your life!"
Inuyasha suddenly found himself hard pressed to defend himself from the crushing blows that Hiten was aiming at him. He didn't have very much control over his sword's power; the Tetsusaiga would not transform into the legendary fang of his father's at will. Inuyasha had learned this from bitter experience… he had to be in big trouble (if he wasn't fighting for someone) before the weapon would change into its true form.
Both fighters were determined to win this fight, and the alley was starting to get very battered indeed when Inuyasha slipped, fatigue finally catching up with him. Hiten's pike dug deep into his shoulder, and he stifled a yelp with difficulty.
"There, see?" Hiten's malevolent gaze seemed to close in on the hanyou. Inuyasha struggled to stand. "A little fox is not worth dying over. Not that I'll spare you."
"And a murdering brother is?" Inuyasha lunged forwards with the last of his strength as the tetsusaiga transformed and sliced Hiten clean in half. Fortunately there were no passers by, or they would have witnessed a mini-explosion as Hiten, former Thunder Brother, died, eyes wide open with shock.
Inuyasha dropped to his knees and put a trembling hand over his shoulder, which was dripping blood and now starting to throb quite painfully. Then, deciding he did not want to be found in the wrecked alley when the humans woke up, got slowly to his feet and leaped away after picking up the jacket Shippou had dropped.
No sense in leaving behind his only inheritance from his mother either.
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Shippou ran for what seemed like hours before coming to a halt in a strange part of town. The little kitsune had panicked and lost his way, but fear had driven him on. Now, he looked around, slightly puzzled as to where he was.
The sun was up so he supposed that he had travelled for a good hour. (He might not have been able to read clocks but he had a good sense of time). Sighing, he decided the best course of action was to follow his own trail back until he knew where he was, and then find Inuyasha.
He's so much stronger than many full youkai. I wonder why he doesn't hang around the youkai side of the city.
(Shippou had chosen the human side when he had realised that humans had more natural compassion than youkai.)
Moaning to himself, he bent down and started sifting through the smells to find his trail.
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Sango had decided to try to find something for breakfast, and Kirara had opted to go with her, which left Miroku on his own. The teen wandered around the market, kicking a few cans around while rubbing his arms to try and restore some life into them. For those who lived outside, it was a constant battle against the cold.
He was moderately surprised at the figure that landed in front of him.
"Inuyasha, what're you doing here?" The hanyou, though pretty reclusive by nature, had become an acquaintance of Miroku some years back.
Miroku had to admit to himself, Inuyasha didn't look entirely well. He was shaking slightly, and his eyes were not completely focused.
"What are you staring at?" Inuyasha blinked a few times to clear his head of the disorientation of his favourite mode of travel.
"Nothing," Miroku spread his arms harmlessly in front of him. "Now, what can I do for you?"
"Got any spare cloth?" Inuyasha hated buying anything to help him heal, but it was preferable to having a white jumper with bloodstains.
"Cloth? I don't follow."
Exasperated, the hanyou unzipped his fire-rat jacket, his protection against the world, and showed Miroku his shoulder.
"Ah… say no more."
Miroku disappeared into his shelter and produced several old towels, too worn out to be used as blankets.
Inuyasha took the towels and gave the monk the broken wristwatch he had found in a bin.
Miroku looked at the watch with approval, then nodded. "Any time, friend."
Inuyasha merely looked up.
"Feh!"
Then he jumped away.
Miroku shrugged.
I'll probably see him in a few weeks or so.
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Shippou was not having much luck. He had run back into his end of town and was now trying desperately to find Inuyasha. The hanyou was not in the alley, but Shippou could smell that only the silver-haired boy had left - Hiten was dead.
After looking all around the Thames, one of Inuyasha's favourite haunts, Shippou was forced to concede to his aching legs. Prodding his grumbling stomach, the young youkai considered where he might find Inuyasha.
Maybe he's on a rooftop somewhere?
After catching his breath, he continued looking.
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Kagome grabbed her shoes.
I'm gonna be late!
After stepping outside and being forcefully reminded of the temperature by the wind, she shot back in and grabbed a coat too. Any observer would have to admit that she looked very cute in a light blue skirt and a dark blue jumper, with a pink necklace to finish off.
"I'm leaving!" She called as she closed the door.
Kagome walked down the drive happily.
Project, here I come!
Kagome had always liked Sundays.
She arrived at the designated meeting spot about five minutes early. The street was just as she remembered it, and clock tower was in clear view. Hopping about to keep warm, Kagome fervently hoped Shippou would remember.
The clock began to strike: "Ding-dong, ding-dong"
Come on Shippou!
Kagome almost went flying as something small and hard rammed into her back.
"Shippou!" she cried excitedly
The little youkai, who was sitting dazed on the floor from his collision, shook his head. He had not remembered to come, having been frantically searching for Inuyasha, and merely coming through the street during his search. Shippou knew that he'd been injured from the smell of blood in the alley and would have hated it if the hanyou had been hurt badly on his account.
Coincidences are sometimes very useful.
Kagome, who had no idea what had happened, cheerfully gave the fox a large sandwich wrapped in foil from her bag.
"Kagome?" He asked, memory suddenly snapping into action.
He looked at the food and sighed. "I can't answer your questions today, so I can't have this."
He offered it to the girl, who smiled and said that he could have it, even if he couldn't help her today.
"Thank you!" The kitsune pocketed it for later.
"I have to go now," he added.
"Where are you going?" Kagome was curious. He had seemed so carefree yesterday and now he appeared anxious.
"My friend got hurt in a fight and I can't find him anywhere."
Kagome picked him up. "How old is your friend?" she asked.
Shippou squinted at the girl.
"About your age, maybe a little older."
Kagome smiled. "Then I'm sure your friend knows how to take care of themselves."
When Shippou still looked worried, she added: "But I'll help you look."
Shippou perked up considerably at that.
"I was going to Miroku's to see if he'd seen him. You could talk to Miroku about your project too if you want."
"Deal!"
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Kagome got to know the fox a little better en route, carrying him so he could eat on the move.
He's so cute… it really makes me wonder why he's on the streets at all.
Shippou was on the lookout for the old market.
"There," he said suddenly.
Kagome turned down the small grotty street and found herself faced with the same sight as Sango had the previous day.
"Wow!" Kagome looked in surprise at the junk lying scattered around. "I never knew there was so much to throw out!"
"Most of it's still useable," a voice came from her side. "I fix it up and sell it."
Kagome twisted sharply, having been told several times that some street people are rough. However, she realised her fears were unfounded when she saw the teen of seventeen years standing there.
"You're Miroku?" she asked, looking him over.
He looks really raggedy… he's quite cute though.
"Yes, and who might you be, fair lady?" Kagome took his hand hesitantly, then winced and gave him a slap.
"Get off me!"
Miroku, cursing his wandering hand, merely smiled. "I apologise. There was a little dirt on the back of your skirt."
"Miroku, who…?" Kagome turned to find herself faced by a girl with long dark hair and eyes.
She looks about my age too!
"Ah, this is Sango, and you are…?"
"Kagome."
Miroku nodded at her then looked questioningly at Shippou, who he had met once or twice before.
"What would you like? I haven't seen you around here before."
"Shippou wants information." Kagome supplied. "He says you might have seen his friend?"
"Inuyasha." Shippou jumped onto Miroku's shoulder. "Have you seen him?"
The teen grinned. "Calm your fears. He's been here. Looked a bit battered though. You got into a fight?"
Shippou nodded. "Hiten tried to kill me, but Inuyasha protected me."
"Hiten…" Sango looked thoughtful. "Isn't he one of the Thunder Brothers?"
"Yeah… Manten was killed when they murdered my parents. Inuyasha killed Hiten just now."
Kagome gasped in shock. "Someone killed your parents?"
Shippou looked at her strangely. "It's not that big a deal. Most street kids are orphans."
Sango looked awkward, and Miroku nodded. "I take it you are not from around here."
Kagome shook her head. "No… I've got a project to do, on homeless people, for school. I was hoping you'd help? I'd pay you in return for your time."
"I'll gladly help you," Sango stuck out her hand for Kagome to shake. "I never thought I'd say it, but I miss school."
Both looked at Miroku, who shrugged. "Don't look at me, I've never been to school. My master taught me how to read and write before he died. That's all I know. I'll help, though."
Kagome grinned. "Great. Say, does anyone want to help me eat my lunch? Mum always packs way too much stuff."
"Real food?" Sango asked. (She had been unable to find anything for breakfast.)
"Yup, real food."
Kagome pulled out a picnic blanket and her lunch.
"Dig in!"
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Inuyasha looked down at them from the rooftops.
It really does look like they belong together.
As his stomach growled, he shot off to find some food too.
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OK – not exactly plot-happy, but I've had so many problems writing this chapter that I'm quite pleased with it. (And it's over 1000 words more than I usually write!)
I'll try to update quicker next time!
CN.
