' '...Thoughts

" "...Talking

Sesshomaru's Beast

Chapter 6

A New Victim!


CRASH!!

Kagome shot up in bed, instinctively looking out the window to gauge the time.

It was well after sunrise.

'Looks like Ice Prince let me sleep in today. That or he needed more time to come up with revenge.'

BOOM!!

What was that? She got up and dressed, following the increasingly loud volume of something being destroyed.

It led her to the dojo, she stepped inside and looked around.

BAM!!

'In the far corner.' She deduced. She hustled over barely having enough time to duck as a green poison whip soared over her head.

Still laying on the ground with her hands over her head she glanced up, and found a familiar pair of amber eyes gazing back at her, with something akin to anger in them.

'Nothing new there.' She mused and then noticed something to her left. He looked like a teenager, but he was clearly a demon or at least half with those adorable little puppy ears atop his head.

Without second thought Kagome launched towards him completely disregarding Sesshomaru and tackled the boy.

Tweaking his ears until she was satisfied she got up, and dusted herself off.

"Sorry about that it's just that your ears are so cute!" She cooed. She offered him a hand as he was still lying on the ground, shocked at the audacity of this mortal girl.

"What the hell?!" He exclaimed getting up on his own. "Who are you?"

"Well my name is Higurashi Kagome, it's a pleasure to meet you…"

"Inuyasha." Was his gruff reply. She finally took a good look at Inuyasha he looked a great deal like Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru was being oddly quiet this whole time. She looked around.

That's because he was gone.

"Why that annoying, stupid, idiotic…" She ranted on amusing Inuyasha greatly.

He hadn't sensed his brother's abrupt depart but had noticed he was gone. Without the strict lord breathing down his neck it was time for some answers, like,

Who was this girl, and what was she to Sesshomaru?

How come she was not killed on the spot the moment she entered the dojo?

Why did Sesshomaru not care at all that she had interrupted his duel with him?

And most importantly,

How was she able to dodge that blow in time when he was sure it would have hit him?

"Girl." He said stopping her rant; she turned to him with cold eyes.

"Why do all demons insist on going out of their way to avoid using my name?" She asked the kamis.

"Stop being stupid, I have questions and I want answers." She laughed,

"You really expect me to just stop and hang off your every command, you are out of your mind."

Inuyasha was stunned. Did she not know who he was? Even if he was a half-breed he was still the son of InuNoTashio and commanded respect from even those that hated him.

"I am Prince Inuyasha son of InuNoTashio, your superior and your all around better being, so you will obey me." He stated arrogantly.

She merely flipped him off (something she had seen Emi do when she got angry at a guard and did behind his back) and turned around fully intent on leaving the idiot half-demon here.

Inuyasha stared at her retreating back. She was crazy. Walking away from him like that. He may not be as good as Lord Sesshomaru but he wasn't weak either.

He lunged.

She sidestepped moments before he would have decapitated her and gave a swift punch to his jaw. He stumbled back in shock.

"How dishonorable you are attacking someone with their back turned. Tsk Tsk." She then continued on her way out of the dojo.

She had better things to do than waste her time on petty squabbles with immature brats.


Inuyasha watched her go, holding his chin in pain. After she was well out of his sense range he stood up to seek out his brother.

He wanted answers on that girl and he wanted them now!!


Kagome headed to her old quarters and lifted up the futon on the floor.

It was that time of the month.

The time when she gave all the money she had acquired to an orphaned demon child she had taken into her care. She didn't know if he would be accepted here so she paid for a room at the inn in a nearby town, for shelter and she visited as much as she could, but every 10th of the month she would have to pay and give him money for food.

Although young he was very responsible for his age.

She grabbed the pouch on the floor and made sure no one was looking. She stuffed it into her haori and set out for the back gardens. No one ever went there; it was perfect for her escape.

Not even Akemi knew of her son.

She made her way through the castle making sure to keep a low profile. Finally she made it without getting noticed.

She walked all the way to the end and glanced at the 80 foot wall. This was the worst part of going to see her son. Scaling this wall was never easy. It was chipped and cracked in some places so she had something to grab onto, but she was never very athletic.

With thoughts of her baby on the line she started up the massive wall.


Sesshomaru was minding his own business happy to get away from the foul half-breed. He would have to give a serious talk to his guards about letting him in. Already he had a splitting headache. He never got along with Inuyasha.

It was really unfortunate that Inuyasha was his half-brother.

That meant he had to have some tolerance. The half-breed had never done anything to warrant the death penalty and he couldn't kill his own brother for no reason as it would bring shame upon him.

The day Inuyasha crossed the line was the day his death would be dealt.

He heard some rustling in the bushes to his left and was on alert.

No one ever came to this part of the castle. The flowers were mostly dead and dreary, making it the most quiet and peaceful place of his palace.

He picked up the scent of cinnamon and lavender,

'The girl's scent.' He deduced, he had never encountered a scent like it and probably never would again. It was actually a very pleasant smell.

But what was she doing out here.

He got up to follow her.

Tracking her was harder than usual. She was taking extra precaution to not get caught. She would probably fool any other demon. 'I wonder where she learned stealth manuvers.'

It was really too bad she had once again run into him.

He walked to the back and stopped at the wall in front of him. Confused he sniffed around. The girl's scent stopped here, but she was nowhere to be seen.

A curse and a couple of pebbles falling caught his attention and he looked up just in time to see the girl scurry over the top of the wall.

She had scaled this wall! That was not a thing that a normal human should be able to do!!

He easily leapt over the wall but stopped at the top silently.

He was curious as to where she was going and would stay low until he found out.

Or the girl encountered danger. Whatever came first...

He stood silently as he watched her jump the 8 feet to a nearby tree branch, crawl across the thin strip, slide down the trunk of the tree and set off Northeast.

All in a strangely practiced motion.

Even more interested he followed her from a distance.

They walked until noon, when she finally stopped and took a pouch out of her haori.

He inched a little bit closer, it looked like she was counting…money…

After counting and sorting it all she put it back in her pouch and set off again heading south this time.

As he passed by the tree she was sitting against he noticed scribbling in the bark.

Head South from here,

Kagome

'She left herself a note. She must come this way often, but how come no one ever notice and why would she wish to keep it a secret?'

He could smell a village approaching. She walked right into the thick of it.

He followed her using a transformation spell to alter his appearance. If the occupants of this village saw him then they would panic and it would alert the girl to his presence.

He followed her to an old rundown inn. He walked in after her and sat down at a nearby table to watch her interact with the keeper.

"Here's the money Hidiako, as promised. This will cover for another month right?" She asked the scary looking demon at the counter.

In fact everyone in this town was a demon.

What was she doing conversing in a place like this?

"Hai, Kagome your payment is enough; the boy has been expecting you. He is in the usual room." She thanked him and headed down the hallway towards the back.

He started to follow her when a hand on his bicep stopped him.

"Not unless you pay buddy." Just as he was about to take off the man's head for touching him he realized he didn't know who he was thanks to the spell and was only doing his job.

He reached in his haori and threw a generous donation to the keeper on the counter. He jerked his arm from the man's grasp and continued on.

Her scent was coming from the very end on the left.

He stopped outside the door and listened, there was the scent of a male kitsune in there but she wasn't the least bit distressed.

He listened to the voices inside and was shocked at what he heard.


"Okaa-san!!" The boy cried.

"Hai, I am here my little Shippo." She grabbed him as he lunged for her to capture her in a bear hug, at least a tiny one. Shippo's small hands could barely wrap around her petite waist.

But the gesture was appreciated all the same.

Kagome loved this boy to death, he was the only one that didn't ridicule her, push her around, or command her.

He depended on her and she loved that feeling. He loved her unconditionally and she returned the emotion 10 fold.

"I missed you so much okaa-san, I thought you weren't coming this time!!" He sniffled to prove his depressing thoughts.

"I know, I know. I'm so sorry Shippo it's just that so much happened at the castle and I got so caught up. I would never leave you don't ever think that!" She started softly and then said sternly.

He sniffled again but nodded to show he understood. Then he beamed a bright smile up at her.

"So what did you get me this time okaa-san?" He asked jumping up and down in her lap with excitement.

She laughed but handed him and old stuffed horse that Emi had given her when she first met her.

"Thank you, thank you okaa-san!!" He said and hugged the toy tightly to his chest.

Another thing she loved about her son, he didn't care much for material items.

It could be ripped and shredded but as long as it was from his okaa-san it was cherished and appreciated.

"It's starting to get dark Shippo it's time for you to sleep." She said softly.

"But I don't want to okaa-san, you always leave when I wake up. I want to spend more time with you!!" He shouted. Her heart clenched painfully, just as it always did when he knew she was leaving.

"I promise to come back this week, when things calm down some. Okay?" She said quietly.

"Okay." He mumbled. He laid down on the futon in the corner of the dark room and Kagome started rubbing his back, singing a soft lullaby,

"Hush little baby don't say a word,

Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird,

If that mockingbird won't sing,

Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring,

If that diamond ring turns brass,

Mama's gonna buy you a looking glass,

And if that looking glass gets broke,

Mama's gonna buy you a billy goat,

And if that billy goat won't pull

Mama's gonna buy you cart and bull,

And if that cart and bull fall down,

You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town."

She sang softly, watching as her joy in life slowly settled into sleep.

She remembered how she had met the most wonderful child in the world.

-Flashback-

She and Akemi just had a really bad argument about how her latest prank had been completely unacceptable.

A thirteen year old Kagome had set the cook's hair on fire.

Akemi had yelled at her for hours and she was finally fed up. She ran for kami knows how long when she came to a part of the gardens she had never been to before.

She walked until she reached the wall. She looked up at it.

"If I leave then Akemi will never have to worry about me again!"She said venomously going through that stage that running away was always the answer.

The first couple of time she tried to climb the wall was complete disaster but on the 5th try she finally made it to the top.

She knew better than to look down though. Sitting on the top of the wall she noticed a pretty close tree branch that she could probably jump to.

Thinking for all of about 2 seconds she jumped. She maneuvered herself down the tree and started walking in a random direction.

She didn't know how long she had been walking but she had come to a very large tree and a squirrel demon had scared the heck out of her and she had started running South until she reached a village.

She stopped, hesitating. She wasn't demon but from the different and strange looks of the occupants of the town she knew this was a demon town.

She heard a shout and then a cry from one of the alleyways.

Without a second thought she made a dash for the distressed voice.

She had to help the poor creature.

She really wasn't a bad child. Her past was just so sad to her that she played pranks to try and cheer herself up, she never felt fully happy though. She was also very kind and would help anyone in need.

A young Kagome stopped and took in the scene before her. There were three teenage demons beating up a small boy who looked to be no older than 3 in human years which meant he was still pretty young in demon years.

She jumped onto the tallest of the three demons' back. She tightened her hold on his neck when the others noticed her presence and tried to pry her off their leader.

"Stay away from him!!" She cried.

"You are not one to order us around human." He sneered biting her arm, to try and dislodge it from his neck. The girl was usually strong and was cutting off his air supply.

She in turn bit his ear, biting down hard.

He shrieked in pain and dropped to his knees. She let go and went to stand in front of the tiny bruised demon. Her arms spread out to ward the other demons off.

"Let's go boys, this girl is obviously crazy and the boy's no fun anymore anyways." He exclaimed and together they left.

She turned around and her electric ice eyes soften to a soft blue and picked up the tiny body holding him tight to his chest.

With the little medical knowledge she knew she checked his injuries. He seemed to be relatively ok just a couple bruises nothing serious.

His frightened eyes finally opened and he snuggled into her chest.

"Okaa-san?" He whispered. She didn't have the heart to tell him no.

"Hai, okaa-san is here, she's here." She cooed hoping to calm his shaking form.

She walked around the village with the tiny body in her arms looking for some kind of shelter for him. She found herself in an old muddy inn.

She walked up to the counter and asked the man,

"My name is Higurashi Kagome and I would like to know how many nights this could get me," She dumped all the coins she had in her pocket onto the counter.

The man on the other side looked down in sympathy. She was such a kind girl, and even though she smelled human she was cradling that small kitsune boy as if it were her own.

"A month." He said, even though the money she had given him was hardly enough for one night. She nodded and said she would like a room away from everyone else to take care of the baby.

He led her to a room in the back.

"It's not much but it will do for the money you gave me." She nodded and thanked him.

When he turned to leave she called out,

"Yes?"

"I, umm..I can't stay with him is there any daycare centers around here?" He sighed and shook his head no. He noticed the crestfallen look on her face.

"I will make you a deal, if you come back every month and give me the same amount of money you gave me today I will care for the child when you are absent." She smiled bright at him and nodded enthusiastically.

"Thank you mister…"

"You can call me Hidiako."

"Ok thank you mister Hidiako." He nodded and left.

She stayed with the boy for the next week learning that he remembered very little about his parents and only that they were murdered by a rogue demon, and that his name was Shippo.

Just as she was about to leave, he called out,

"Wait!!" She turned around.

"No one ever care for me like you, will you be new okaa-san?" He asked, trying to speak. It came to her attention that he probably never had proper education lessons.

She would take care of him, she would love him.

'I think I already do. He's so cute and adorable.'

"Hai, I will be your new okaa-san." She told him, while tucking him in.

"I must go now, but I promise to always come back until the day you can come with me." He nodded and drifted off to sleep. The next morning she said goodbye and left to find her way back to the castle.

Akemi was not happy but she was home safe and that was all that mattered.

Ever since that day she had made excuses to go and visit Shippo her 'son.'

-End Flashback-

She watched him for a while and then laid down next to him to get some sleep for a while as well.


Sesshomaru listened to the wonderful voice that sang.

It was so soothing. He felt himself relax completely.

When he sensed that both beings in the room were asleep he sat down in front of the door, to mull around this new information.

The girl had a son...

Her son was a full blooded Kitsune.

Obviously adopted, but didn't seem to care less.

She came here often, to see and pay the inn keeper for the room.

And her voice was the most melodic sound he had ever heard.

He stood guard that night pondering on the enigma that is Kagome.

.:-:..:-:..:-:..:-:..:-:..:-:..:-:..:-:..:-:.Morning.:-:..:-:..:-:..:-:..:-:..:-:..:-:..:-:..:-:.

"Shippo, I have to leave now but I promise to come back soon."

"Ok, don't forget my birthday is in a week." He mumbled groggily.

"I won't forget, I promise my love." She said softly smiling when he went back to sleep.

Sesshomaru got up just in time to avoid getting stepped on by the leaving Kagome.

She gave him a suspicious look but said nothing and continued on her way.

He followed her back to the castle and watched her shimmy up the tree and then climbed back down the wall landing as if she hadn't been gone for a day. He had let the concealment spell drop some distance away so as not to draw attention from his guards.

He decided to head to his study; he would not confront the girl on this matter.

At least not yet.

It was admirable that she would travel all that way on a regular basis to take care of a child that wasn't hers and to do it secretly to keep him safe (he guessed) as well.

He would do some paperwork while he waited for dinner to arrive.

It would surely be vexing with Inuyasha here.


Kagome was on her way to the gardens to get some fresh air when a man pushed right by her and made her stumble.

He didn't apologize, in fact he didn't even acknowledge her.

"Hey!!" She cried out, running in front of him not surprised when the being with no manners turned out to be Prince Inuyasha.

"You can't just bump into someone like that and then do nothing."

"The hell I can't, your nothing but a worthless pest that doesn't deserve to be noticed. You're lucky I'm even talking to you right now." He brushed past her and continued on his way to the dining hall.

He wouldn't get away with that and she had the perfect idea.

She changed her destination to the kitchens.

The cook would make some minor alterations to Inuyasha's beverage. He owed her a favor anyway and she would take all the credit.

.:-:..:-:..:-:..:-:..:-:..:-:.Dinner.:-:..:-:..:-:..:-:..:-:..:-:.

Kagome was early and already seated in her seat long before anyone else arrived.

Not many people brought about her wrath but when they did they were always sorry.

If there's one thing she hated it was rude people.

Inuyasha would pay.

Finally everyone else started to file in and dinner was served.

Sesshomaru noticed Kagome's determined aura and prayed to every deity he knew that he would not be humiliated too much this time. Even though he was unsure of what he had done this time.

Kagome's voice rang out around the room,

"I propose a toast to myself as I have not had one prank in over 12 hours." Everyone quickly agreed not wanting her to pull one on them. Inuyasha grumbled but put his glass up anyway.

Everyone took a quick swig of their drink and set it down.

Nothing weird happened.

"Sooo…did you like you're drink, Inuyasha I made it especially for you?" She asked sweetly.

"What the hell did you do to my drink wench?" He growled but it came out like a high pitch squeak. He gripped his throat.

"What?!" He shouted and he sounded much like a mouse, making everyone at the table laugh.

"You should never be rude to people much more cunning than you Inuyasha it will only be your downfall." She said through her laughter.

Sesshomaru's eyes were twinkling it was much more funny if he was the one that was not being humiliated. She was very clever.

"How did you make his voice so?" He asked, the only one able to make a coherent sentence.

"A couple different herbs mixed together, unfortunately it will wear off, enjoy it will you can!!" She cried, tears streaming down her face from laughing so hard.

Inuyasha growled that was supposed to scare her but only made her laugh even harder due to the herbs effecting his voice box.

Inuyasha stood.

"You will pay wench." He squeaked out and left.

'Oh it's on Inuyasha, it's on!!' She thought evilly.

She had a new victim now and she was going to take full advantage of it!

'I love my life!!' She thought to herself grinning like mad, ideas of the two dog demons' downfalls running like slideshows in her head.


A/N: Well there it is. Much longer than the other chapters and a couple introductions to some new characters. Review and tell me what you think.

DeadlyDisaster.