The Day After Tomorrow

AUTHOR: Angelhart
GENRE: romance/hurt/comfort
STORY: continuation
STATUS: incomplete
RATING: M
DISCLAIMER: Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi / the television series are produced by Sunrise.

Sorry for the delay, but my health problems at the moment are not helping my writing muse.

On with the new chapter. I know a few of my following readers have been waiting for this one ^-^

And thank you so much for the favs and reviews everyone!

those who are confused for Sesshomaru's reasons and such, all will be explained eventually

Chapter 14

Kagome woke up. A masculine scent so close to her that penetrated her nose. The matrass beneath her telling her there was another body present behind her. Almost spooning her.

She wasn't oblivious to what had happened in the night. The soreness of her body – muscles she didn't even know existed within her making their announcement painfully – was very much prove of that. All combined with a pleasurable tingling that was also left behind. So mind questions like 'what the hell happened' seemed rather silly. But it was weird. He didn't seem like the man that would snuggle in the morning.

She moved her legs to a lazy stretch, well, wanted to. Inside muscles protested heavily. She hissed and muttered a soft curse. What the in the hell has he been poking me with down there?! It felt even worse in the morning. She had hoped the bath she had taken somewhere in the night – when she had woken up and found her limbs somewhat obedient again – would aid her in a smooth awakening. This was not a smooth awakening. Maybe demon males were more endowed? And she realized that she had not seen the demon's full 'equipment'. And it had been inside her twice. She caught a glimpse of it the first time, but she couldn't make an estimate in size of that fast flashing glimpse she remembered. Biologically she could squeeze babies out of there. But that didn't mean it was a comfortable experience.

Kagome forced herself to move so she could turn around and give the demon responsible for her discomfort an angry glare, but as she turned she found herself staring into green intense eyes. A soft friendly expression so childlike that was attached to a male adult face.

She blinked. Her eyes taking in the features of the person resting on the bed. A smooth face resting on a hand as he leaned on his right elbow. Long ginger red hair that was bound to a ponytail. Strands that were too short were trying to avoid the natural hairline and some even gravity. He was wearing the black pants of an expensive suit, but no jacket. A shirt that was partly tucked in his pants. The first top three buttons of his shirt were loose so a muscled hairless chest was visible.

Although a familiar face was staring back at her that face was now all grown up. Features of a young man. Not a small kid. A slim but strong jawline and not the chubby cheeks she remembered. The eyes however were sparkling with that same playfulness she remembered from nine years ago.

Definitely a player. A grin forming on her lips as she thought who had to have taken a huge part in his upbringing in her absence. He had matured a lot over the years. He was handsome. He must have broken many girls' heart, she mused humorlessly.

A clawed fingertip brushed her nose in a sweet playful manner as his voice whispered a "hi".

Her right hand reached out to stroke the face before her eyes. "Shippou," her voice whispered softly.

"Hi, Kagome," he replied, his right hand reaching out to let his fingers curl around some raven black locks.

Forgetting all modesty. Forgetting she was practically naked underneath Inuyasha's robe, she threw herself on him. Her arms hugging his slim frame. Her enthusiastic reaction had caught him off guard and his arms moved around her a bit awkwardly to return the embrace.

"You're alive. You're alive," Kagome's voice chanted over and over again in disbelief.

The kitsune rolled onto his back with Kagome partially draped over his chest. Her tears of joy wetting his throat. She raised her head to look at his face. Fingers of both her hands tracing his features.

"I can't believe you are really here." She smiled. "You are so handsome." Her hands were now moving through the stubborn spike strands of ginger hair and when they moved down she noticed the pierced ears. Like Miroku. "Gods, I missed you," she sighed.

A hand stroked through her hair lovingly. "You have no idea how much I missed you, Kagome."

She had so many questions she wanted to ask him, but right now she was just content in holding him. If he were a mere human her hold on him should have hurt. She placed her head against his chest to hear that real heartbeat beneath her ear. Evidence that he was actually there.

"Are you real?" she asked softly, carefully.

He laughed softly before he answered. "Yes."

She remembered that little demon child that she had held in her arms so many nights. And even though there was an adult body that her arms were holding now, it still felt the same. He resembled everything she missed so much. He was Shippou. The one who bickered over chips with Inuyasha. The one who was always trying to make her laugh when she was feeling gloom. The one who sought her comfort and warmth in the cold nights.

Kagome raised her head once more to look at him again. "You know, I was going to adopt you. Live in your world and find a place and you could live with me."

He smiled at that. "Yeah... you were going to live with us."

She ran her right hand through his ginger hair. "I guess," she said, "it's a bit too late to adopt you now, isn't it?"

With the most genuine sincerity in his voice he answered: "You can adopt me anytime, Kagome."

She raised herself completely. Her hands pushing the too large suikan tighter against her to give herself some modesty. "I guess," she said with a queasy smile, "I'm not really dressed for company."

"I've seen you with less clothing, Kagome," he winked as he sat up as well.

Before she could feel embarrassed she thought quickly of how long it had been since she last seen him. "Look at you," she said almost giddy. "You are all grown up. The last time I've seen you, you were this tall." She moved her right hand above the sheets to measure the size she remembered.

"You haven't changed a bit, Kagome. You even smell the same. Only now, I guess, combined with a tad bit Sesshomaru." He indicated with the thumb and index finger of his left hand how much of a tad bit, while giving her another playful wink.

She couldn't help but laugh at that and she realized she hadn't laughed in ages. Not like that.

"I've missed you…" Kagome sighed melancholy.

Suddenly the kitsune nudged his head. "We've got company."

Kagome turned her head and noticed Sesshomaru standing at the foot of the bed. The demon's expression as stoic as ever. Which seemed a bit odd though, for she was sitting there naked – just covered with the fire rat robe – with another man. And considering that she had been intimate with him last night…

I guess it didn't mean anything…. And somehow she didn't even felt regret for it. But she had thought of him to be more possessive about her. Like Inuyasha was when Kouga was around. And she hadn't even kissed Inuyasha yet around those days.

The man who stood in the room was in full control over all his emotions. If it did annoy him even in the slightest that she was sitting naked in bed with another man he did not show it at all.

"Thank you," she muttered almost silently. She knew he had to be the one who had arranged this odd meeting obviously.

He said nothing but placed a tray on the bed.

Shippou looked at her. "Breakfast in bed. You surely got him wrapped around your finger."

A soft scowling growl rumbled in the demon's throat. Obviously meant for the man sitting on the bed with her.

"See to it that she eats." Sesshomaru said before leaving the room and closing the doors behind him.

They both looked at the tray. Kagome noticed tea, some toast and eggs. A simple, yet most welcome breakfast.

"Want me to try it first? See to it that it isn't poisoned?" Shippou quirked an eyebrow teasingly as he looked at her.

"He would poison me now?" she asked in a chuckle. Kagome reached forward to grab a piece of toast. Holding her other hand beneath it to catch the crumbs she took a large bite. It was just plain bread, but it felt like ambrosia on her tongue. Being revived from the dead and then fucked until her legs gave out had provided her with an healthy appetite.

"You want some?" The words came out muffled after she had taken another bite, but he got the idea when she held out the plate to him.

Shippou shook his head.

"What?" she said as she swallowed and cleared her throat. "You don't eat human food anymore?"

He laughed. "Are you kidding?"

She noticed him reaching behind him and heard the rustle of plastic paper. When the hand returned it held two chocolate muffins in a transparent paper wrapping.

Kagome placed a hand in front of her mouth quickly as she started laughing, avoiding crumbs mixed with saliva to spurt from her lips for she had just taken another bite.

His tongue caressed two sharp white fangs before it clicked against the roof of his mouth. "Do you even know me?"

After swallowing the last bite she grabbed one muffin from him. "These are the best. They have those hard pieces of chocolate in them."

He raised both his eyebrows and grinned. "I know."

"You know, I'm going to save this for later. Desert."

"Well, you don't have to worry that your new white haired friend is going to eat it. He is not Inuyasha."

She smiled even though a sadness filled her heart by the sound of his name. No, Inuyasha would have snatched my muffin right away. And would have taken Shippou's as well. And then he would have looked at them with a most innocent expression asking 'what?' Kagome sighed.

"What happened?" Out there, in that world…

The kitsune was about to take a bite, but lowered the muffin as he noticed the change in her. "After you disappeared Inuyasha opened a meido zangetsuha and jumped in to find you. You were both gone for three days. Me, Sango and Miroku took turns waiting where the well once stood. It disappeared right after you were swallowed up by the darkness. I guess, somehow it was connected to you. We didn't know what happened. If you were alive. If Inuyasha was alive…"

She could picture it. Him, Sango and the little nekomata, Miroku all staring at a barren ground where the Bone Eater's Well used to be. Looking at the plate she felt her hunger dissipating.

"Then suddenly the well reappeared again. But… The only one who came out of it-"

"-was Inuyasha," Kagome finished in a whisper.

"Yes…"

She felt a tear rolling down her cheek and wiped it quickly with the back of her hand.

"He told us you were back in your world. With your family."

Yes, she remembered that, like it was yesterday. She had emerged from the well after the destruction of the Jewel with Inuyasha. But suddenly he disappeared. The well drew him back in and he vanished before her eyes as if he never existed. She had jumped right back in, only to realize the well didn't let her through.

And after a couple of more days, weeks, months… she realized the well would not open anymore. The world she had grown to love so much, the era where she had found such dear friends and love… was not accessible to her anymore.

"We stayed by the well for days. Me and Inuyasha. And some days Sango and Miroku waited while we got some sleep and hunted for food. But… you didn't came back."

She shook her head. "I-I couldn't. I tried… The well didn't let me through." It had just become a wooden object. A mere legend.

"He returned to well. Every three days, Kagome." Shippou's expression looked just as sad. "He loved you. He never stopped waiting."

Suddenly there was a chuckle from him and it made her look up. Though there was dark shadow of sorrow beneath his eyes, a faint smile curled around his mouth. "Kouga returned one day. Was going to check if you weren't tired of the 'puppy' yet." His smile got bigger. "But he couldn't smell you anymore. He tracked your remaining scent that lingered at the well and noticed Inuyasha there. He was yelling at him: What the hell did you do, dogturd?!" Shippou stated the quote in his best mimic voice of the wolf demon.

Dogturd. Kagome couldn't help but giggle. It even gave her an excuse to wipe the new tears that had gathered in her eyes. She hadn't heard that word in a long time. It brought back a lot of fun memories.

"You should have seen it…"

A hand reached for her face and the touch felt warm and comforting at her cheek. Kagome pressed her face against the hand and closed her eyes. Yes, I've should have seen it. I should have been there. I should have been there all along. I would have to break them apart, for their tiresome bickering would still continue after so long, I guess.

"You should call your mom. She might be worried."

The hand retreated and Kagome opened her eyes. She nodded and watched him pull out a mobile phone from the left pocket of his pants. Yeah, she must be worried. How selfish of me. I haven't thought of that. I was nearly dead in that hospital. Later kidnapped…

She opened the phone and pressed the numbers. Placing it slowly against her right ear she waited until a familiar voice answered. Closing her eyes for a second and swallowing the lump that had gathered in her throat she answered. No single muscle in her face was able to stop the tears that gathered when the person on the other end of the phone burst into tears. Unconsciously she had reached for the kitsune's hand with her own free one as she waited for the sobbing in the phone to stop. There was a reassuring squeeze and she found the courage to break in, to find her voice once more.

"Mom, Mom," she voiced repeatedly until the crying stopped. Softer she then spoke. "Mom, I'm fine."

She noticed Shippou giving an encouraging nod as he sat back. She released his hand and reached for the tea that was now getting cold. Her mother meanwhile filling her ear with questions and as she sipped her tea she answered them calmly and with a new found reassuring authority in her voice.

~ "Yes, I'm fine."

~ "I was… saved."

~ "Yes, by a demon."

She bit her lip when his name was spoken by her mother. No matter who said it, no matter how many times she heard it, it still hurt. "No," she almost whispered. "Not Inuyasha... His brother."

~ "Yes, he has a brother."

~ "No, I haven't told you about him before."

~ "No mom, he doesn't have cute dog ears. He has normal human ears, but a bit more pointy"

~ "Yes. Like an elf."

She noticed Shippou's shoulders moving and after a moment figured out he was laughing at that last remark. When she realized the odd shudder for what it was she laughed softly as well, almost choking in her tea. She quickly placed the near empty cup on the tray.

~ "No mom, you don't have to-"

~ "He is not the socializing kind. He doesn't do house calls."

~ "No, he won't stay for dinner."

~ "Mom, Mom. Mom."

She sighed, held the phone at some distance from her ear and covered the lower part of it with her free hand, before she turned to Shippou. Through the speaker her mother's rambling voice could be heard most clear. "She wants to invite Sesshomaru for dinner," she hissed in a whisper towards the kitsune.

Two upper fangs pressed against a lower lip to prevent laughter. "Good luck with that," he whispered back.

Kagome tried again, removing her hand from the black communicative device. "Mom… Mom… Mom." She shook her head as she removed the phone from her ear again. Sighing she gave it her last shot. "Mom. Mom!"

~ "Mom, he won't come to visit."

~ "Mom, I gotta hang up. I borrowed this phone and-"

~ "No, it's not his phone."

~ "No, you don't have to save the number-"

~ "Yes, I will visit you soon."

~ "Okay."

~ "Yes, I will."

~ "Yes."

~ "Okay. Bye mom."

Kagome closed the phone. As she handed it back to Shippou she grinned. "She has saved this number, so she is going to call you now, for sure. To thank you for saving her daughter's life."

"Well," he said and in his eyes there was a playful glimmer. "I don't mind. I like dinner."

She looked at his stomach. "You know, somehow I pictured you a whole lot fatter."

They looked at each other and laughed.

"Demon perks, I suppose," Shippou replied.

She slid towards him and as he leaned against the headboard she molded herself into his embrace again. Somehow it still felt unreal. Pressing her face against his chest, his steady heartbeat a soothing rhythm against her ear, she closed her eyes.

"Tell me," she asked. "Tell me what happened."

Maybe he had started talking. Telling her everything that happened but she didn't hear it. Surrounded by the warmth of fire rat fur, the scent of a familiar fox demon in her arms, she fell asleep. The most relaxed and peaceful slumber she had in over nine years.

Gently, most carefully he unwrapped himself from her arms. Moving the sheets back he positioned her until her head rested comfortably on top of a pillow. Slowly he covered her with the sheets before he slid himself of the bed.

Before he stood up completely his eyes fell on top of the tray. He grabbed the cup and smelled the essence that remained. He knew those herbs. That wasn't normal tea. He placed the cup back and stroke some black strands away from her face.

"Sleep tight," he whispered softly and he leaned forward to place a kiss on top of her forehead.

He took one last glance at the person on the bed, before he closed the doors. Shippou made his way towards the library. The echo of his shoes made him almost transform his lower part back into his true self. His fox feet would be much quieter. But she wouldn't wake up. She would sleep soundly and wake up refreshed, just as the potion intended to do. So he resisted to transform that part of him, even though there was a longing to do so.

He had gotten used to this body now. Upper half his demon human like form, the lower part human. It had become natural over the years. Even when he was amongst other demons.

But there were days, where he really missed his fluffy tail.

The daiyoukai wasn't there, but a newspaper on the desk caught his eye. Headlines screaming: 'Woman kidnapped from hospital'. He unfolded it and read the article quickly. He sighed in relief when he noticed they had done exactly as ordered. He moved his left hand through his hair and shook his head. That had been a really close call. He had pulled on every string he could find to shush what needed to be shushed. Humans were fortunately most susceptible to money and threat. And both worked miracles.

He threw the paper back on the desk and exited the room. He knew where to find the demon.

Shippou sat himself down on the one boulder and made himself comfortable. The Inu youkai did not acknowledge his presence, but he was used to that. Shippou allowed the foxfire to rise up from his left palm to let it overflow to his right palm and back. After a couple of minutes he got the man's attention.

"I will be most displeased if you set this place on fire."

The kitsune ignored the remark. "You're one arrogant, selfish prick, you know that?"

"Watch it, Kit," the Inu youkai snarled. "Should I remind you of who it was that protected you during those years?" The demon's eyes narrowed dangerously as he turned his head. "Who taught you to actually fight and overcome those ridiculous fears? That you are youkai and not some mere mortal?"

"That deal worked both ways, didn't it?" Shippou let the flame be absorbed into his palm. "Because you made a promise so long ago. One you didn't even intended to make, but bound you." The kitsune chuckled sadistically. "Honor is a bitch, ain't it?"

Sesshomaru turned his head away from him to stare at the lake again.

"My help for your protection. Seemed logical since I knew her and held information about this world. And I was a mess back then."

"A weakling."

Shippou couldn't deny that. His nature was more a 'flight and live to see another day' anyways. He had never been the courageous one. Not then.

"You know, I recall him asking you to watch over her, making you promise. I don't recall at all him asking you to fuck her."

Sesshomaru's head turned quickly and the piercing look would have made Shippou flinch if he had been years younger. Now it made him chuckle. Bluntness and courage never formed a good pair with rationality.

"I bet he would rather have her be with Kouga than with you." The kitsune's lips pursed in a challenge and his eyes sparkled with mischief.

"I will not have her bed that wolf!" Sesshomaru snarled.

"Being possessive, are we?"

He used to draw his kicks in teasing Inuyasha. For a demon – even a half demon – the man had been absolutely gullible. Inuyasha was most susceptible to spells and trickery and could easily fall for the same trap twice. Even three times. But his full blooded brother was equally fun to tease. Not susceptible to ordinary trickery, but the right use of words could draw out the same irritation.

"So after five hundred years you became exactly like your father, heh."

The youkai was quick, but Shippou had already anticipated that move. Claws hitting the boulder he had sat upon while he took Sesshomaru's spot by the lake. An annoyed growl behind him as the man had noticed he had missed his target.

Shippou turned around, facing the demon. He was amazed at the way the man could control his emotions like that. A few second ago he was trying to rip his guts out, but now his expression was already calm and cold again. Inuyasha would not have rested until there were at least two large bumps throbbing on Shippou's head. Then again, he rather had a headache than his intestines spilled out on to the grass.

"Are you gonna keep her?"

"She is not a pet."

Shippou found himself most tempted to ask even though he knew he would regret the consequence the question would bring. "A mate?"

The reaction was surprisingly mellow. "Don't mock me".

"You know, humans and demons are very compatible."

"Don't go there."

"I could take her of your hands."

"Don't go there either."

"You are indecisive."

The demon passed him as he returned towards the lake. Standing at the edge again a deep sigh was released. A chest pressed against the tight armoured plate in the sharp inhale of breath.

"She is human. She needs to be with her kind. The world she longs for is gone."

"Is it? We are still here, are we not? Hidden, yes, but her friends, some of them, are still here."

"Friends…" It was muttered coldly. The demon raised his left hand and looked at his claws for a moment. "If such relationship even exists between our race then it is a brittle one."

"I am not expecting for you to understand. I know those years of war, hardened you once more."

"They slaughtered us."

The anger was bitter in the voice. Shippou could even taste it in the air around him. He recalled that era. An era of blood. Where the human race had used every knowledge, every artefact, every magic spell, everything to not mere repel their species, but to really exterminate them. And not just the harmful ones. But all of them. Even those that were innocent, as far as a demon could be.

His kind… There were so few of them left… And dog demons… even less.

"You know the problem of getting extinct is to be alone. She-"

"You love her."

Shippou looked at the demon who interrupted him. The man had turned around to face him and was smirking. A low chuckle followed. Shippou swallowed.

"You don't," the kitsune replied then. The words spoken harshly, making a point on their own that the demon had no right to have been intimate with her that way.

"Love is a human emotion. I'm not human." The head of the daiyoukai tilted slightly in the pause that followed. "Neither are you."

Shippou felt his anger rising.

"You have been raised around humans. Spend too much time with them. It's logical for their weak emotions to leave their mark."

"Inuyasha found his strength in love," Shippou spat back.

"He was a hanyou. Half a human."

"You did love a human too. A long time ago."

"Hn. Taking one under protection is not the same as love. I resurrected a life. Took it as my own. My honor would not have allowed me to not see to its needs and leave it unguarded. Resurrecting a life without tending to it seems pointless."

"So you were just tending to her needs?" Shippou mocked bitterly. "You're sure you didn't tend to your own as well? Getting off on it?"

"The girl was lost. She needed to see. I brought her back to the real world. I would be a fool not to take my pleasure from it as well."

"So you fed of her." The thought of it was sickening to him. Shippou felt his stomach twist.

"I have not. Such accusations are unfit. I, Sesshomaru, have no need to feed upon such emotions like a low class demon."

"But you are able to."

"As are you. All demons are able to use emotions like fear, distraught for nutrition. Even blood can be sustenance to keep our bodies alive when brought upon close to death." Sesshomaru's eyes widened. "They are our prey, are they not? Evolved as we are, they can still feed us. Every single part of them can provide us with food. Humans are abounded with many rich flavors. Emotions. Blood. Flesh. Even the form we use daily is designed for us to mingle amongst our prey freely. To attract them to us."

Like moths to a flame, Shippou thought. He didn't want to think like that. They referred to a time long ago. An era more primal. Why did demons take on human forms if their powers abled them? Just because of that. To draw their prey in more easily. Whether for food or to toy around with them. Their features always attractive. Always alluring.

It wasn't a mystery why people were attracted to demons. It was common logic. Because they needed to be. Because when drawn in close it would already be too late. When slow human instinct would kick in, when recognition of wrongness - of the trap - would widen their eyes in fear, it would already be too late for escape. And for those that relished it, there was no sweeter nourishment then the dying of hope. The despair of their captive as the reality was forced upon them: they were going to die.

And there was hardly further need to fuel that fear even more. The abounded resources of human imagination would do that for them. It was odd to know that the prey had even a bigger imagination for death scenario's then the predator. And those that could penetrate the human mind used it to enhance their pleasure as well. They would merely have to choose from the wide variety of deaths that would cross the fragile mind of their victims. Pick the one that would drive fear most of all.

Shippou felt nauseated thinking about it. That the being that was his origin was like that. He had come to see humans as equals. Friends. He hated it that he was being put in his place by the one that was always providing a vivid reminder of a time were such alliance was a rareness.

"Do I need to remind you of what you are?"

Shippou voiced it softly. But as the word would fall upon sensitive demon hearing there was no need to speak up loud. A whisper would suffice. "No.."

"Good. For it would be in her best interest to remind her of that as well."

"I smelled blood on her. Dried up blood. Do your so called lessons needed to be so violent?" It had made him sick to his stomach as his nose had picked up on the scent right away as he had entered the room where she lay sleeping.

"She offered. I was lenient still."

"You could have said 'no'."

An emotion flashed in the cold stare of the demon's eyes. One so quick a mere human would have missed it for sure. Humor.

"Would you?"

It was funny to think that she enticed the Inu like that. And especially one who had no desire to mingle with humans.

Shippou turned around, but stopped in his tracks as he walked away when the demon behind him spoke again.

"Your love will be unreturned, young kitsune. Human affection doesn't work that way. She will still see you as a mere pup."

"What the hell do you know about humans?!" Shippou spat angrily as he spun around. Was he about to get a lecture from a demon who didn't give a shit about the human race?

"I know enough to survive era's full of them."

"Why did you fuck her, anyway? Was it to get back at Inuyasha? All this time? You still hold a grudge?"

The demon ignored the remark and turned around. Shippou clenched his fist, but did the same, turning around as well. It was pointless getting into a fight. He would lose anyway. He would suffer from a stomach full of toxins and would spit blood for over a week as his demon cells repaired the damage. And not forgetting the nasty taste it would leave in his mouth for a month. It wasn't worth it.

Being the wiser he walked away. But the words stung.

The demon could just have stabbed him in the chest with claws full of poison…

For those that are curious: For the adult version of Shippou the image of Reno of FFVII somehow got stuck in my head. So I went with that description. It seemed fitting. The red hair, the ponytail and the 'player' look with the mischief eyes.

(If you don't know who I'm talking about, look for some Reno artwork on DeviantART. Enough amazing pictures out there that will give you an idea.)

An amazing artist made fanart for this fic. You can check it out on my DeviantART page or on my tumblr [Angelhart79] If there are other artist out there between my readers that feel inspired, or have already created artwork related to this fic (or any other fics of mine), please let me know ^-^ I am most curious.

Reviews are most welcome and most appreciated.