This is part four of Shippo's Tale. Sorry for not updating in such a long time, but I've been working on all of my other stories.

For all of you curious about my other Inuyasha fic, I'm refusing to update it until I get some reviews. I have a feeling that people are reading, but aren't giving me feedback.

Never mind, though. This is the new chapter!

Enjoy!

Kagome blinked. She had been released from the vision for the moment. At first she had no idea where she was, only that she was holding tight onto something. She also felt someone holding onto her. Slowly, she reached up to rub the last of the vision out of her eyes and looked up. She was clutching onto Inuyasha's arm. He did not seem to be free of the vision yet because he was staring directly at her without seeing her.

Suddenly his eyes became aware again. He blinked twice and looked down at the arm Kagome was holding. Then he turned bright red and shook her off. "What do you think you're doing?" he whispered violently.

Kagome flushed crimson and retorted, "How the heck should I know? I was still trapped in that vision! Why were YOU holding ME?"

Inuyasha glared at her scathingly. "I think that everybody would be spared if I didn't answer that," he growled.

"Keep it down," a voice called from the front. "We're trying to watch!"

Kagome and Inuyasha looked towards the direction the voice was coming from and sat still.

"Don't think I was getting all lovey-dovey or anything," Inuyasha muttered out the side of his mouth.

Kagome turned scarlet. "I didn't think of it for a second, Inuyasha. Maybe you should sit somewhere..." she was interrupted as Inuyasha's necklace activated and pulled him down towards the ground.

"Sorry," Kagome whispered frantically.

"Save it wench," Inuyasha seethed.

"I mean it, it was an accident!" Inuyasha bared his teeth and snarled.

"Hey, Inuyasha, Kagome, keep it down!" Shippo called, interrupting his own narration. "I know you want to spend some quality time together, but some people are trying to watch!"

The crowd turned to look at them. They blushed furiously with embarrassment and sat down in silence.

Inuyasha buried his head in his hands. "Maybe we would do better to watch the show away from the crowd," he muttered.

"Good idea," Kagome said, slowly scooting away from her spot on the ground. She motioned to Inuyasha for him to follow her.

"Wench," he growled and followed her ruefully, casting a meaningful glance at Miroku and Sango who had been watching them.

"What is the matter with them?" Sango asked Miroku.

He shook his head questioningly. "Who knows? However," he said grinning mischievously, "This means we're alone."

Sango blushed and punched Miroku's arm. "Oh, just watch the movie," she said, trying to calm herself down.

"So what does this mean?" Inuyasha said from their perch on a large tree. "Your character was hugging mine in Shippo's film. Does this mean that whatever happens there happens here?"

Kagome shook her head. "I'm really not sure. Nothing happened the first time. Maybe that's because we weren't together."

Inuyasha frowned. "What trickery did Shippo put on that thing?" he wondered aloud.

Kagome looked at him in confusion. "What do you mean?" she asked.

Inuyasha's frown deepened as he looked at Kagome in disbelief. "Don't tell me that you forgot that Shippo specialized in illusions? He could be creating this whole thing. Nobody else seems to notice," he drawled.

Kagome closed her eyes. This was too much. "Well, we won't know unless we watch some more. Let's continue. And paws off," she added.

Inuyasha flushed red with anger. "Don't blame me! You were the one getting all mushy," he muttered.

Kagome silenced him with a glared as they prepared for the travel between realities.

Inuyasha gnawed on a fish bone as he lay by the river pondering. Kagome had been acting friendly lately and he wondered if something was up. She was normally very stern and at times angry. Since she settled into the well, she seemed to be more carefree and happy. Probably because she doesn't have me to look after, Inuyasha thought, turning over onto his back. His eyes widened with shock as he saw Kagome looming over him.

"Didn't anyone tell you that bones could give you splinters?" Kagome said good-humoredly, her ears twitching with held in laughter.

Inuyasha's nose twitched. She was much too happy. "What kind of catnip have YOU been sniffing?" he grumbled.

Kagome huffed. "Oh, I forgot you aren't a morning demon," she said tugging on one of his ears. "I just came by to tell you that there's something I think you should see."

Inuyasha's ears perked up with interest. "Really? Something in my territory that I don't know about?"

Kagome nodded, stretching her arms out above her head. "You've got to see it to believe it. It's this way," she added as she sauntered off towards the mountain range. Inuyasha frowned and followed her.

The mountain range was a wide expanse that stretched out beyond the horizon. The sun was low in the east, forcing Inuyasha to squint his eyes. There were several shadows spread out among the rocks below his tree. He growled and flexed his claws. He had not seen these beings before and was prepared for a fight.

"Are they part of your territory?" Kagome asked, not sensing the tension mounting in the area.

"No," Inuyasha seethed. "You did well to bring me here, cat." With that he jumped down the cliff and ran towards the shadowy figures. Kagome's tail bristled in annoyance at his tone. With only a moment's hesitation, she followed him.

The leader of the mysterious figures lifted his head and looked at the approaching Inuyasha. He tossed his long black hair cockily and waved to two of his fellow demons. They followed him as he walked towards the dog demon that was tearing up the hills.

"Who are you? Don't pretend you are a dumb demon! I can see that you aren't." Inuyasha barked commandingly.

The stranger bared a fang, showing defiance. "I am called Kouga. You must be the ruler of these lands." He laughed. "I can see why other demons have said you've gone soft."

Inuyasha frowned, puzzled, until Kouga motioned for him to turn around. Kagome was panting to keep up with him and had stopped to rest.

"Kagome, leave here!" Inuyasha called out harshly. "You'll get in the way!"

Kagome scowled. "Who says I will? I'm staying here!"

Kouga shook his head. "You'd be wise to do as he says, female. There will be a fight." Inuyasha showed the opposing demon his claws. Kouga smirked in response. "Do you mean to protect her? She will be in danger."

Inuyasha shifted his weight so he was slightly crouching. "I don't care about her. She's just a stray that I picked up. She has no meaning to me."

Kouga's grin widened. "Is that so?"

Inuyasha nodded, never taking his eyes off Kouga. "She's just my hunting charm." Kagome's eyes widened with shock and disbelief. Surely she was more than that!

Kouga nodded thoughtfully. "I see," he said. "Then you won't mind if I do this." Kouga rolled forward and called forth a pair of wolves to keep Inuyasha busy. They attacked, fangs bared and running full speed. While Inuyasha held them off, Kouga grabbed Kagome around the waist, hoisted her over his shoulder and fled.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome called in fear and desperation. Finished with dispatching the wolves, he turned and watched Kouga make off with her. He stayed there, wrestling with his emotions.

She didn't mean anything to him at all. However, he thought, she feels indebted to me. If I let her get killed, I'd lose my reputation.

His mind made up, he ran after the wolf demon. There was no way that he could kill someone in his territory and get away with it!

All right, this chapter is finished. I think it will just be a couple more and then this story is done.

Please review!