Chapter 4: Hot and Cold
Sesshomaru extended another green energy whip and drew his arm back. Shippo was ready for the attack, yet he held his ground fast; seemingly waiting for something. The energy whip snapped and crackled. "HA!" Screamed Sesshomaru with an evil grin, and with that, the energy whip was flung at Shippo. It struck the tree Shippo was standing behind hard, causing a small explosion. Shippo had to be dead.
"Now, to kill the girl." Said Sesshomaru with a hint of bloodlust in his voice. He now towered over the sleeping Kagome, ready to thrust his sword into her chest. "Now for the final blow girl." He brought his sword down fast, and…
"Shouldn't you finish your first job before moving on to another one?"
Came a voice out of nowhere. Sesshomaru whirled around, angrily. "You BRAT!" he screamed. "Show yourself!" Shippo giggled. It could be heard throughout the forest.
"But I didn't disappear!" Shippo said. "I'm right here!" Sesshomaru looked around. He saw nothing but trees all around.
"Where?" demanded Sesshomaru, whirling about. "Where are you?"
"Ha!" replied Shippo. "Like I'm gonna tell YOU. Tell you what. Let's play a little game, shall we? You walk around. If you come near me, I'll say "Hot." If you're far away from me, I'll say cold."
Sesshomaru was visibly angry. "I have no time for your childish endeavors! If you won't come out, than I'll just go ahead and kill the girl first!" He screamed.
"Might I also add that I have the Shikon shards?" said Shippo cockily. Sesshomaru glared at Jaken.
"Jaken…the shards?" Sesshomaru said with an angry stare.
"He-he must be lying, m'lord." Said Jaken, shivering. "He has to be because I have the shards right h-"
He reached in his robe's pocket for the shards. But they were not there.
"I-I swear I just had…"
"Jaken." Stated Sesshomaru flatly. "I'll deal with you later." Jaken was silent.
"Very well. I'll play your game, brat." Said Sesshomaru.
"Sesshomaru-sama. We don't need to waste our time on him." Chirped Jaken. "Let's just…"
"I don't need your suggestions, Jaken. Say another word and I'll kill you." Said Sesshomaru, abruptly cutting off Jaken. Jaken gulped and stepped back.
"Okay, then!" announced Shippo. "Let's start!"
Sesshomaru figured Shippo had used his powers to disguise himself as a tree. It would be an obvious piece of camouflage in a forest. He began looking through a patch of trees for anything out of the ordinary.
"Brr. Is it cold in here, or is it just YOU?" mused Shippo. Sesshomaru shrugged it off and kept looking. He walked over to another patch of trees and started looking.
"Wow! Did somebody turn up the air conditioning in here? Because it is COLD."
Accursed brat… grumbled Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru began tearing through some underbrush in his search.
"Are you off on an arctic expedition, or something?"
Sesshomaru grit his teeth and narrowed his eyes. "You are breaking my concentration!" he screamed. Shippo chuckled.
"Okay, okay! I'm just having a little fun!" he said. "Okay. Start looking again."
Sesshomaru began searching near a tall tree.
"Hot." Said Shippo. "Hothothot." Sesshomaru looked around.
"You still can't see me?" Shippo said.
Sesshomaru frowned. "Where are you?" he demanded once again.
"I'm right in front of you! Shippo said.
"I'm a germ! That's right! I used my powers to become a germ! So you can't see me!"
Sesshomaru was furious. "The Shikon!" he demanded. "Where is the Shikon?"
"I hid it while you were looking." Said Shippo. "You'll neeeeeeeeever find it. So, you wanna play again?"
"Hmph." Said Sesshomaru. "I have a better Idea." He walked over to Kagome, and resumed his stance. He pointed his blade downward at her throat. "Now we'll play my game." He said. "Give me the Shikon, or the girl dies."
"Sesshomaru! Don't do it!" Pleaded Shippo. "I'll never give you the Shikon if you lay a finger on her!" said Shippo with courage.
Sesshomaru chuckled. "Au contraire." He said. "If you don't give me the Shikon, you will never see her again! I can always kill her first and kill you later." He claimed. "Now, here's how my game works. I'm going to count to three. If you don't give me the Shikon, I'll slit her throat."
"Don't do it, Sesshomaru!" demanded Shippo.
"One." Began Sesshomaru. Shippo did not come out.
"Two." He continued. Still no sign of Shippo.
"Three!"