Disclaimer: The following characters were owned by Rumiko Takahashi and Julietta Suzuki

AN: The stories were created originally and no plagiarism was committed.

Bushy tail twitch behind, as paws padded on the ground before emerald eyes shine seeing red berries from the bushes. Reaching with small claw hands, he cut the stem carefully - afraid of crushing the berries, pulling out a handkerchief inside his kimono using it to wrap them before stuffing inside his pocket.

Searching for more food in the woods, sniffing the air as he planned to hunt for his mother, when a metal scent was inhaled in his nostrils - blood! His eyes widened as the air was thick with its smell. Trembling, afraid that there might be an oni killing lower demons thus, pivoting his feet to step away, when a whimper stops him from venturing back to his mother.

Torn in the situation, before remembering her mothers words, clenching his fist tightly, his nerves steel before striding towards the person or animal whimpering, expecting an oni appeared in front of him. However, stumble upon a bloodshed and gore scene where a large silver-white fox, its fur stained by red, laid on the ground and beside him were separated limb, and organs torn from oni, its head decapitated away yet there's a trail of blood from it.

Going near him, when the fox abruptly opened his eyelids, getting shocked as emerald eyes met a violet slitted pupil, trembling - wishing that he would at least come with his mother, yet here he was.

"I…I heard y-you whimper and I follow, I just wa-want to help. Wait here, I'm going to call my mother."

Running away faster and back to the camp, his emerald eyes scan for raven haired woman, squatting down to inspect her herbs, before glancing at him - sensing his frantic aura.

"Mama!"

Jumping at her, her blue eyes widen, feeling him tremble in her arms, combing his ginger hair tied suspended by a ribbon to ease his anxiety.

"Shippo, are you okay? What's wrong?"

Shaking his head on her chest, lifting his head whilst tears gather on the corner of his eyes.

"Mama, someone needs your help! Please come, he's in the wood bleeding… I can't help him"

By now, tears fell down his cheeks, feeling helpless. However, his mother's eyes softened at his statement before nodding at him.

"Yes, we will help him. Now where was he? I'll just get my bow and my first aid kit, I'll be quick."

Striding forward, her hakama gets caught in small branches, hurrying as she senses someone needs help, following the trail of blood, getting out of bushes before seeing her son near a silver white fox, once again his eyes shining.

'Oh my…'

Gasping at the sight of the battlefield in front of her, blue eyes widen at the color of red - lots of them splattered on the soil, trunks of trees and bushes.

"Mama, save him"

"We will save him, Shippo-chan"

Groaning, half-lidded eyes open still blurry from exhaustion, feeling warmth as someone reaches to put a wet cloth on his forehead, face flushing as his body temperature rises from infection sustained from his injuries. Conscious but disoriented from his surroundings, his instinct rose from being put in an unknown area when someone reassured him - not understanding the words whilst his eyes still blurry.

"It's okay, you are safe here"

His ears twitch as those words sink in, retaining his true form - weak from transforming back into humanoid, moving his tail was tucked beside him before falling fully unconscious.

"You're healing, just rest"

Feeling a light pat on his fur, purring at the sensation he received from the stranger, dreaming of an unknown woman extending her arms to serve his favorite food - sasamochi, on a platter.

'Tomoe!'

Coming back from the other room, blue eyes observe the fox they brought inside their hut, lying on a futon as his upper trunk was bandaged; earlier she cleaned the wound, putting a gauze on it to prevent him from too much blood loss, whimpering. Extending her callous hand to reach for the wet cloth and replace it with a new one, admiring him - he was by far the most beautiful youkai true form she ever met, aside from a certain Western Lord, with his silver white fur and violet slitted eyes (from earlier).

Squeezing the liquid from the cloth, she glanced at him before gasping whilst his eyes widened. Seeing tears fall down as his eyes still remain closed, wiping it out gently so as to not disturbed him, sensing his distraught.

'I see he is dreaming'

"Yukiji"

Her face was taunt before painful expression painted her face. Reminding her of a certain someone - the reason why she's currently alone with her son in this hut, the reason why she's far away from them.

'No more'

Standing from kneeling position, she strides towards the sliding door glancing once more at him before stepping out and leaving him alone to recover.