Chapter Twenty Five

Bombers and Maps

Shippo kicked the rock at his feet lazily. His head was downcast and a frown marred his youthful face. Currently, he was walking around north Clock Town. Around nine in the morning he left. Inuyasha was still upset about what he'd done, and Shippo just didn't understand. In all honesty, he thought he did the right thing.

"It's not fair," he muttered. No matter what he did, he was always picked on by the older half demon. Just because he was small, didn't give Inuyasha the right to bully him. To top that, even when he tried to do the right thing, Inuyasha continued tormenting him. There were times back in the Feudal Era, when Kagome wasn't around where Inuyasha would laugh at him, especially when he was trying to introduce himself to a girl. Not only that, but he'd steal his share of food, though Kagome always sat him; that would always make him feel a little better.

Sighing, the child kicked at the dirt. Strangely, he wondered why he returned to this part of town. Only last night did that strange man kidnap Kagome, and here he was walking around the area. A laugh brought him out of his ponderings, and he looked up to see who it was.

Across the dirt path leading to the Great Fairy's fountain, Shippo noticed a group of children around his age, in human years, playing together. There were five total, and they were all wearing matching blue bandanas on their heads, except for one whose was red. They wore blue and white shirts and short pants which were questioning to the child. With a small distance separating them, he noticed numbers, similar to those in Kagome's trigonometry book, on each of their backs.

Taking a closer look, Shippo realized that they were all identical. Sure he'd heard of twins before, but to see five kids with the same faces was just mind blowing. They hadn't noticed him, as they had their backs to him. He debated whether or not to introduce himself, but he thought better of it. Shippo was too depressed to talk in the first place.

As he was about to turn and leave, a shout was heard, and Shippo stopped and glanced over his shoulder warily. From his line of vision, he watched as one of the kids with the red bandana approached him in a calm manner.

Not a moment later, he stood before him. "Hey you! What's your name?" The boy questioned while he scrutinized Shippo from head to toe. "You're not from around here, are you?"

Blinking, Shippo shook his head. "No. My name is Shippo," he replied. "Who are you?"

The boy stepped back and snapped his finger. As if on command, each of the boys leapt from their spot in the background and stood beside their leader; their arms were crossed, and their expressions were serious. "We are the Secret Society of Justice!" He exclaimed with pride. Smirking at the boy, he pointed toward himself. "My name is Jim, and I'm the leader."

Scratching his head, Shippo nodded. "Hi."

"Say, what are you? You're not like us, and yet you're not like any of the other races outside of town," questioned Jim.

"I'm a demon," he explained, most of which perplexed the children. "I'm not from around here."

Waving his hand as if dismissing him, Jim smirked. "How would you like to join our group?" Jim didn't care what specie he was. Besides, he certainly looked human enough.

Shippo canted his head. "What do you do?"

"We help others out," replied a boy to Jim's right. "That's what the Bombers do!"

Again, Shippo blinked. "Bombers?"

Jim nodded. "That's what we go by."

As he listened to the kids, Shippo wasn't sure what to say. He had never been part of a group with other children his age, and the thought excited him a bit. However, the child wasn't sure whether or not to accept. All in all, it was a little sudden. "I don't know. I'm a little busy," he explained.

Somewhat saddened by this, Jim nodded. "I see. Well, if you ever find the time, let us know. We're currently looking for new members to join," he explained before sighing. "Gee, and here I thought we had another member." The child pouted.

Shippo was about to apologize for turning them down when he suddenly noticed a shadow tower over him from behind. Glancing over his shoulder, he nearly gave a start when he saw Link regarding him with an arched brow and a hand on his hip. "Link? Where were you?"

An intake of breath was heard from Jim as all the other members gasped in complete shock. "Link?" His eyes were wide and his mouth agape. "Is it really you?" The boy questioned as he took a step forward, most of which baffled Shippo who stared between the two.

Link nodded toward the boys, who all at once circled him. They were smaller than Link, only because they were at least twelve years old.

"Where have you been all this time? You just up and disappeared on us," remarked one of the boys curiously. "You look so much different."

"And your hair is longer!" replied another youth.

Perplexed, Shippo couldn't help but wonder how Link knew them. Of course it wouldn't have surprised him if he was friends with them. There was a lot Shippo didn't know about the green warrior. "Link, you know them?"

Jim turned toward the boy and grinned. "Of course! He's an official member of our group!" he explained with much enthusiasm. "Actually, he graduated to the top some years ago." Jim remembered that day well. Link had aided all the citizens in Termina, and was offered a higher position in the group. Sadly, he declined and left that day after the festival.

The kids circled around Link, nodding vigorously. "That's right!" They exclaimed in unison.

Shocked, the tyke looked upon Link with wonder. "I didn't know." Somewhat jealous of him, Shippo bit his lip, all the while his tail twitched. Only last night, Shippo had grown kind of fond of the boy, though he rarely talked to him or anyone for that matter. However, his kindness lifted his spirits, and it was when he fought in the canyon that he truly admired the boy. "I wanna join!" He looked to Link for permission, though he wasn't really paying attention.

Thrilled, Jim turned his attention away from Link and bounded to the lad. "That's great! All right! Line up, guys!" Jim ordered, watching as all his members lined up on each side of him. His eyes turned to Shippo. "If you can find all five of us by tomorrow morning, I'll teach you the code!"

Bewildered, Shippo was hesitant. He knew that his friends were likely waiting for him to return so they could continue their journey, but he didn't want to go back yet. Not wanting to keep the boy waiting, he nodded. "Alright!" If all he had to do was catch them, then that was easy. Catching them would be a piece of cake!

OOO

Inuyasha marched himself out in to the streets of Clock Town. The fact that Shippo and Link had not shown up for hours was beginning to irritate him to no end. Not only that, but Kagome had yet to be found, and this only furthered his anger. The guards stationed around the town explained that no one had left the town, so he knew she was still in the area somewhere. Because Kagome wanted space, Inuyasha let her. He wasn't in the mood to be sat, especially after what he said earlier.

"Damn it!" The half demon cursed as he cross the paved path of south of town. The clock, which towered over him and the town, baffled him. The letters painted on the wooden surface were unrecognizable to him. It was as if they were written in some unknown language. Inuyasha was unsure of what the time was, and so he turned his sights toward the sky. Little use that did! The freakin eclipse was still there, however, the sun was high in the sky; indicating that it was at least noon, and the sky was blue again.

On his way to wherever, Inuyasha walked past a few workers, who appeared to by lazing around near the food stand to his right. He didn't know where he was going, but he needed a little time to think. Sighing, the half demon placed both his hands behind his head as he walked around the town.

As he walked around the Clock Towerand up the ramps, Inuyasha found himself in north Clock Town. Almost immediately, Inuyasha remembered that this was where the Great Fairy's fountain was located. He wondered what she was up to, but of course he really didn't care. The area was completely vacant, except for the guard stationed near the exit leading to the Snowy Mountains.

Straight ahead of him was a big red box, most of which puzzled the half demon, though he spared it a second glance. Again he continued on his path toward the other exit, which led to another part of the town. He hadn't explored that area yet, or at least that's what he thought. Before he could manage another step, something behind him fell. Curious, he turned around and glanced down.

No bigger than him, but small enough to reach his knees, Inuyasha noticed a short, paunchy man garbed in a one-piece green suit. He was strange looking, that was for sure. This small man's suit clung to his figure tightly, showing off his medium sized gut and rather big backside. The outline of his chest was seen, making him freakier. This person's ears were hidden behind the strange hat that pointed at the top and was also connected to the suit he wore. Over top his garment was what appeared to be red underwear? A brown belt held the red cloth together. Around this person's neck was a round watch, fairly big in size.

Taking a closer look, Inuyasha watched as the man, who at the moment was on the ground picking up his parchment and bottles of ink that lay scattered at his feet. His face was hidden from view, so this made Inuyasha even more curious. He couldn't figure out just what he was. Yes he was an inhabitant of this town, or so he assumed, but he never saw anyone like him, especially someone so small.

The short man, noticing a figure standing over him, glanced up with wide eyes and his mouth agape, showing off his sparkling buck teeth. Bushy black eye brows were above his slanted sparkling dark eyes. This green man's face was oval shaped and his nose fairy large and red. To top that, his cheeks were rosy as if he wore makeup; Inuyasha didn't bother asking. Lastly, a mole lay under his lip, just above his black goatee.

Surprised to see such a fella, the green garbed man hurriedly picked up his belongings and smiled before the half demon. "Hi!"

Not sure what to say, Inuyasha squinted his eyes at the man. "Yo." Knowing he had somewhere else to be, Inuyasha walked away from the little guy, much to his surprise. 'What a strange person,' He thought. The sound of pitter patter sounded from behind him, and he glanced over his shoulder in mid walk. "What?"

Brimming with delight, the strange man ran around Inuyasha, causing him to stop and stare at the man with confusion. As soon as he stood before the tall man with silver hair, he awed. "You're not human!"

"Gee, what gave me away?" Inuyasha nearly rolled his eyes, watching as the little man eyed him from head to toe. "Do you need something?"

The green guys nodded his head vigorously. "I'm Tingle! And I'm a fairy! But I'm actually thirty-five, and a fairy hasn't come to me yet, so I help my father sell maps!"

Inuyasha narrowed his eyes as he crossed his arms. "Uh…why are you even talking to me, pip squeak? I didn't ask to hear your whole life's story."

Tingle ignored him and continued scrutinizing him. "I see you're not from around here," he explained. "Could Tingle interest you in a map, sir?"

"I don't need no stinkin map."

Tingle nearly gasped from shock. Why, everyone he knew bought his maps. "But everyone loves Tingle's maps!" The little man began jumping in place as he pulled out a few maps to the half demon. "They're the best maps in the land! They are the most accurate, and every good traveler must have one!" Tingle ceased his jumping and gazed hopefully toward the man he wished would buy his maps. "Buy a map of Clock Town, and I'll give you one of Woodfall for free!" He knew no one could turn down such a deal, and besides, this was Tingle's bargain day special.

Annoyed, Inuyasha brushed past the strange thirty five year old man. "Get lost!" He didn't have time to deal with a man who thought he was a fairy.

From behind him, he heard Tingle following. "It would make Tingle very happy if you would buy one of Tingle's maps!"

Aggravated, Inuyasha stopped and turned toward Tingle. "Why the hell are you talking in third person? And I said get lost, fairy boy!" If he didn't leave him alone soon, Inuyasha was going to hurt him.

Hearing this, Tingle gasped, but not in the hurt kind of way, rather it was just the opposite. "Does Tingle really look like a fairy?" Before Inuyasha knew what to think, the green man began twirling on his dainty small feet. The man was grinning from ear to ear and his face reddened with embarrassment.

Feeling a twitch develop, Inuyasha glared. The stupid man was supposed to be offended and leave him alone. "No! You look like a middle aged man with no life, and probably no girlfriend either! Now leave me the heck alone!" With that said and out of his system, the half demon turned his back to the man and continued on his way to find Shippo and Link. 'I don't know why, but he really pissed me off.'

"Wait!" Tingle's voice shouted from close behind. "At least let Tingle bless you with my magic words!"

"Shut up!" Inuyasha growled, his anger heightening.

Not dropping his renewed enthusiasm, Tingle leaped in to the air over the half demon's head, which cause him to look up. "Tingle blesses you!" Confetti and strange sparkles fell upon the half demon who ceased walking. The moment Tingle touched the ground he twirled. "Tingle, Tingle, kooloo-limpah!" His hands reached for the sky and his mouth opened with joy.

A rock soared through the air and wacked Tingle across the face. No sooner than that happened, Tingle found himself on the ground, sporting a rather large bruise. Sitting up and shaking away his dizziness, Tingle watched as Inuyasha marched away. Placing a hand to his mouth, Tingle whispered to himself, "Tingle has a friend…"

OOO

As soon as the half demon reached the exit, he thanked god or whoever for letting there be no one there, save for the guard, but he was quiet. Seriously, Inuyasha thought he'd pulled his hair out if he spent one more second around the strange man who thought he was a fairy. Well, he was sure he learned his lesson about bothering others. And what was the deal with the maps? As far as he knew, Inuyasha didn't need a map to know where he was going.

As he sauntered by a few shops, he stopped and sniffed. "This place is just plain weird to begin with." The smells assaulted his nose, and he released a sigh. "What else is going to happen today?" he muttered to himself briefly.

A childish scream reached his ears, causing them to twitch. Just as he heard that, a shadow fell over the half demon, and he looked up. A curse left his lips as he ducked out of the way as a kid jumped from the top of the bar's roof top. The child landed, stumbling a bit before dashing down the stairs toward south of town.

"What the hell?!" Before he could continue, something hard connected with his head and he gave a "oomph!" before falling back on his butt. Blinking, he watched as a child with a familiar tail sailed across the air, holding on to what appeared to be a chicken. The chicken flapped about wildly. Before Inuyasha could yell insults, Shippo scampered away in the direction of south Clock Town. "What just happened?" Realization hit him and he waved his fist in the air. "Shippo, you little runt! Get back here!"

The guard stationed a few feet away chuckled at the half demon. "Kids these days!" When he noticed the glare sent his way, the guard cleared his throat, but his smile remained.

Glaring at the soldier, Inuyasha dusted the dirt from his clothes and turned his back to the man and walked toward the Inn. He was growing very annoyed. The minute he got his hands on the brat, he was in for it. It was obvious that today was not his day.