Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha…
Blanket Scenario; The Little Fox Puppy
By Kitty
"Brrr! It's so coo-oo-oold!" a lonely little fox kit cried to the sky. He'd wondered off from the village and was now hopelessly lost in the beginnings of a snow storm. If it hadn't been snowing so badly and if it hadn't been so cold as to freeze scents in the air, Shippou wouldn't have had any problem finding his way back. However, that wasn't the case and he was stuck.
Remembering lessons from his childhood as well as skills learned recently on his adopted family's quest, he scurried around the trees, examining the strength of the wood and the shape of the roots until he found a suitable alcove.
The snow was piling up pretty heavily now and Shippou knew he didn't have much time. Quickly bracing himself for a brief instant, he began a long process of scratching and digging into both the tree and the ground.
Kagome had once had them all take shelter deep with in the earth during a situation much like this one, using a "sitting" Inuyasha as a convenient tool to create the hole. At the base of a hill, the group found that it was actually warmer underground in the earth than up in the elements.
So Shippou decided to put his newly learned survival skills to work, efficiently digging out a decently sized den three or so feet into the ground. The snow was piling up over the entrance now, and Shippou could feel the warmth gathering inside his little den. After taking a small break, he continued digging, his natural fox instincts awakening inside his little body. They brought him back to the surface to ensure the making of a small air-hole at the entrance. They urged him to dig further, to make a bulb inside the pocket within the earth. His current creation would one day be a predecessor to a home for his future mate. Shippou was struck with an odd need to make it perfect. It had to be big enough to fit two or three of him, but small enough to effectively insulate the body heat of its occupants. It had to be deep enough to provide a haven from the elements, but not so deep allow for no hope of salvation in case of a cave in. He even tunneled out and created a second outlet, his demon muscles whirring to create the heat that bounced off the wall of his little house and returned to him. Finally done, Shippou removed his outer garments and examined his work before he drifted off into a satisfied sleep.
A soft crumbling sound was the only warning he received before an unexpected weight dropped onto his back.
"OOF!" It said.
Shippou leaped away and crouched with toy top ready and cried, "Who are you?!"
"Ow… Rin hurt her head!" a little voice replied.
"Rin?" Shippou asked, instantly thinking about Inuyasha's older brother. 'Uh oh…'
"Oh!" the little girl standing across from him said excitedly, "Rin is sorry for falling on little fox puppy, Rin was lost in the snow! Master Sesshomaru told Rin to stay by the tree while Master Sesshomaru went to do business but the sky started snowing so Rin wondered off to find a warm place then fell in! Rin is very sorry. Rin wants to know if Rin can stay. Rin thinks little fox puppy's toy looks fun!"
"Huh?" Shippou said, unable to make sense of the girl's jittery babble. The only thing he understood was that now he had a charge. He was responsible for this girl now or his head would be received on a platter to Sesshomaru.
Shippou yipped when the girl reached out to touch, then grab his tail.
"Little fox puppy has a tail! Master Sesshomaru has a fluffy tail! Is little fox puppy related to Master Sesshomaru?" Rin asked innocently.
"Um… no, I'm not," Shippou said hesitantly.
"So can Rin stay? Rin promises she wont be any trouble! Rin has a blanket see?" Rin produced, seemingly out of nowhere, a thick warm blanket and Shippou's fingers itched upon seeing the promising measure of cloth.
"Ok, you can stay as long as you share the blanket," Shippou said, already shivering slightly, the weather outside hadn't let up and was becoming colder. Though beneath the ground was warmer, Shippou still had not the strength to dig deep enough to escape the dropping temperature and both children bore goose bumps, Rin's lips slightly tinged purple.
"Um… Rin can't," Rin murmured, almost regretfully.
"Huh?" Shippou frowned, confused, "Why not?"
"Master Sesshomaru told Rin never to share her blankets because boys will defile Rin and then Rin can no longer travel with Master Sesshomaru!" Rin said fearfully, her eyes round and tearing, shining eyes glaring at the young fox demon.
"I won't defile you. What's it mean to defile someone anyway?" Shippou asked, tilting his head and fiddling with his top.
"Um… Master Sesshomaru said it was something bad and that all men and boys do this and Rin promised never to let them do it to Rin so you stay away!" Rin shrieked, backing to the far end of the den, directly under the hole she'd created when she fell in. A gust of wind sprinkled a dusting of snow over her dark head and she yelped. Shippou sighed, deciding to ask Kagome or Miroku later. Instead, Shippou offered the young human girl a small clawed paw. Rin looked at the outstretched hand and decided that all funny puppy people with fluffy tails like Master Sesshomaru could be trusted so she took the offer hand and the two of them headed further into the den, away from the gaping hole.
La Fin
A/N: um… not sure wut to do with this… I think I should continue it enough for Sesshomaru to discover them… but I'm out of ideas… help!