Shippo had never been good at fighting. Even after almost two years of training, he was still at best, mediocre. He was just too small, and too light, to do any real damage.
What he was, was a trickster. An illusionist-and a damn good one too. He was levels above what he should be for a fox his age, and he was only getting better every day.
He could have gotten the best of him, the bastard dog whom he called friend, but even as brutal as Inuyasha had been, he'd sworn off using his tricks on him. He couldn't bring himself to fight his brother. So in the end he took his beating, and the dog got the jewel shard. Shippo ran away as soon as he was out of his grasp.
He left Inuyasha two days ago, and was very near the end of his shameful walk back to the only other two people he had in the world. He'd licked his wounds, and they had long since healed, but they didn't hurt any less.
He reached up to the worst of injuries -a nasty split on the crown of his head where Inuyasha had knocked him with a closed fist. He could feel a faint scar, and wondered if it'd be permanent. Inuyasha had never hit him so hard. Even if it wasn't permanent, he'd never forget that punch for the rest of his life.
And maybe he deserved it.
He'd had time to reflect on what happened-what was said-and it had all happened so quickly. He hadn't considered Inuyasha's feelings at all. He'd been instantly consumed with the idea of seeing Kagome again. He hadn't cared at all about the older males wishes.
Looking back made him feel terrible. He missed Kagome so much, it made him feel sick with longing sometimes. But he'd spent almost three years living with Inuyasha. He'd seen him survive the same struggle. For a while, he was just barely making it. Inuyasha had been better, though. He'd been sleeping more, and eating a little more too. He'd stopped torturing himself.
Shippo wondered, bitterly, if the dog was alright. If he went back, what would he find?
He kicked at a tree in frustration, ignoring the leaves falling into his dirty, unruly hair.
Like hell, would he go back. Not after what he did to him. Inuyasha had gone too far. He was so violent this time, and all over a woman he claimed to despise.
"He's in denial." He muttered.
No way did Inuyasha hate her. Shippo knew it. And if he'd have just fucking listened-just tried the jewel at the well-maybe he could get her back. Maybe they could make amends, like they always had. They both had plenty of time to get over whatever fight that caused her to go.
Shippo curled his fists and changed his direction to the east. He was less than a day from the slayers village but he wasn't going there anymore. He had already begun to devise a new plan. And he would not fail.
"The leaves are changing." She muttered, glaring at the red offensive thing.
It stuck out among the others which stayed a light green, and she'd be no less offended by it if its color were yellow or orange. It had nothing to do with the fact that the color matched his robes.
"What are you whining about?" Kouga ground out in response. "That means it will cool off soon."
She looked away to hide her grimace. "Which means it'll be too cold to sleep out here. I don't want to sleep in the caves."
She chanced a glance at the wolf and he was clearly distracted.
"What is on your mind?" She asked, now curious.
He frowned when he looked at her. "I need to go somewhere tonight, so I can't bring you dinner. Can you feed yourself?"
Her eyebrows raised. "Of course. But where are you going?"
"Security detail, tonight. There have been some cats stalking the borders to the west. They get closer every night. Last night, one tried to get in."
"Cats?" She asked, surprised by his answer. Her heart beat a little faster, remembering her last run in with one of them. Even months later, it gave her anxiety.
"We think they're looking for something."
He seemed put out telling her, though she couldn't imagine why. She wondered what it could be they were looking for. From all she'd heard from the pack, they were long time enemies. That they would get so close to his territory told they were indeed up to something worth investigating.
"I wonder what they could be looking for?" She said aloud.
She perked up though. She was feeling excited at the thought of a little late night adventure.
"So when do we leave?" She asked as she began slipping on her boots.
His silence answered her original thought.
She stood back up and shifted her weight onto one foot.
"You're not taking me, are you?"
He hardened his expression, or tried, to show her he couldn't be swayed.
"We don't know if there will be a confrontation. I'm told there were 8 or 9 of them seen sneaking around. I'm taking my best two and we are going to run them off. I hope peacefully."
She heard his reasoning, but he had a hard time saying no to her and she knew it.
"I can be of help you know. I can sense them just as well as you can and I can protect myself. And you." She added, confidently.
"I'm sorry. My word is final Kagome. I can't risk it."
She couldn't believe he'd said that.
"There's no risk." She argued, annoyance heavy in her tone. "You've seen it. My power. You know I can handle myself."
He stiffened and she watched him puff up just a hair. It was like a reflex she had seen him perform a hundred times now-it was a display of dominance. However, he'd never done it to her. He took her everywhere with him. Even patrols, when he went.
"I know you can handle your power, but I don't know what your power can handle. I won't say it again. So please don't ask-"
"Then let me prove it!" She demanded, her anger flaring. "I don't want to be left out."
"No!" He practically shouted at her. And it was the first time, so she fell back a step in surprise.
"Last time you froze. It almost got you killed. I'm not risking your life just so you can prove something to yourself. You're too important."
That last sentence shut her up. All the anger at him, for his sudden exercise of control as alpha, fizzled down to simple frustration.
She understood his worry. If she were him, she'd probably tie her ass up in the caves.
And he wasn't totally domineering with her, like he was his pack. She could see through his phony resolve. He felt bad.
She sighed loudly, unable to argue with him for that alone. Nevermind his unwanted reminder of her near fatal blunder.
"Well, I will worry about you too, you know." She offered instead of an apology.
She glanced up at him and he visibly relaxed, a little grin twitching his lips.
"Those scrawny assholes wont best me. Besides, I'll have back up."
"Who are you taking?" She asked already knowing the answer.
"Who do you think?"
It wasn't that she doubted their abilities, but still she wished he'd take more than just Hakakku and Ginta. She suddenly felt nervous for him.
As if he sensed it, he placed his hands on her shoulders and squeezed gently.
"I'm sorry for how I spoke to you."
She nodded, knowing he really was.
"And I don't want you to worry. We'll be okay."
She couldn't help it. She was careful of physical contact, but she was nervous for them, so she mimicked the wolf and her hands came up to squeeze his elbows.
"Just be careful. And come back here after."
He smiled at her and she let him go when he nodded.
"I'm going to get Hak and Ginta. I've gotta catch them up on my strategy, and reassign replacements at their posts. Just eat your gross dinner and relax tonight."
She raised an eyebrow at his jab at her dinner but didn't argue.
When he'd gone, she thought back over their meeting. She knew something was up when he hadn't joined her til late, and asked her to take a walk. Recalling their brief discussion killed her appetite. That he was so worried about her safety, told her the cats were more dangerous than he'd led her to believe.
Her stomach knotted. Her instincts told her something wasn't right, and she knew she'd be taking an unplanned hike tonight.