I'm a bit apprehensive about this chapter. It didn't turn out quite the way I wanted it to, but I was having difficulty with it. I might end up coming back and rewording it and changing it at some later point. ^_^ Any reviews with suggestions or even impressions on this chapter would be appreciated. I hope you all enjoy it though!

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Chapter 6

"Trust not too much to appearances."-Virgil

They sat around the fire for a bit longer, discussing what their immediate plans would be. It was eventually decided that they would go and discuss the fiasco with Kaede and see what advice she could give. This was met with a snort of derision by Inuyasha, who had, for unknown reasons, chosen to spend the night in a tree closer than the one before. "As if that old hag would know anything." He was, of course, still of the mind that simply killing the youkai responsible would bring Shippou back to normal.

Shippou was actually inclined to agree that Inuyasha's plan would indeed reap the desired results, but he certainly wasn't going to say it. As he wanted to stay how he was, it would not serve his purposes to support the hanyou's idea. The imprudence he had in youth was now tempered by increased kitsune instincts. If there is one thing a kitsune knew, it was how to guard their own interests.

Miroku simply ignored Inuyasha's mutter, as if he hadn't spoken at all. "Perhaps we should get some sleep if we are to travel to Kaede's village tomorrow." The exhausted group quickly agreed to this suggestion. Even Shippou, who was still excited over the recent developments, admitted to himself that he was tired.

The others settled down to sleep, including Inuyasha in his tree. Shippou waited for Kagome to lie down, then plopped down next to her and snuggled close as he always had done. Why should his sleeping habits change?

Kagome stiffened at feeling the kitsune so close, her voice odd as she questioned, "Shippou?"

"Hm?" He answered sleepily, not opening his eyes and too exhausted to notice Kagome's discomfort.

"What the hell do you think you are doing, runt!?" Shippou barely had time to realize that was not Kagome's voice before he was lifted into the air roughly. Confused green eyes stared into the flashing gold eyes of the hanyou.

"I was trying to get some sleep!"

"Not that close to Kagome, you weren't!" The chant Inuyasha had repeated in his head earlier had completely dispersed into nothing. It didn't matter if it was Shippou. A man was not going to sleep snuggled next to Kagome! Not unless that man is... Argh! Stop it! Inuyasha cut that line of reasoning off immediately.

Shippou stared at Inuyasha as if he had two heads. Of course, that wasn't incredibly unusual in that time, but that was beside the point. "I always sleep with Kagome," He pointed out, as if Inuyasha was just being slow on the uptake. In his mind, he could see no reason why Inuyasha was acting so oddly. Sending a puzzled glance down at Kagome, his confusion was merely increased when he saw that her cheeks were a bright red and she wouldn't meet his gaze.

"Not anymore you don't." Inuyasha dropped Shippou on the ground a good ten feet away from Kagome. "You sleep over here, and no closer." The command was growled out, Inuyasha barely keeping his temper leashed.

Stunned, Shippou sat on the ground where had been dropped, trying to fathom what had just happened. Miroku decided to have mercy on him, moving to sit next to Shippou as Inuyasha returned to his tree.

"Inuyasha objects because you no longer appear a child." The monk explained in that sage, I-know-everything-because-I'm-me manner of his. "He does not like other men near her, just as he objects to Kouga."

The kitsune's eyes widened in comprehension and astonishment, "Are you saying Inuyasha is jealous of me?" The idea was almost ludicrous to believe. Yet, Shippou now recalled that he had seen that expression on Inuyasha's face before...whenever the youkai wolf leader was nearby. Seeing the dawning realization on Shippou's face, Miroku felt no need to answer. He gave a cryptic smile as he rose to his feet and smoothed out his robes, leaving the kitsune to his own thoughts.

Though he was still irritated at Inuyasha's behavior, Shippou could not help the tiny amusement at his core. Such was the kitsune way. Succeeding in riling someone was something to be proud of. Not that Inuyasha was hard to rile.

Yet, despite the amusement, he was still angry at being treated that way. Especially when his actions had a sheerly innocent intent. He could not let this drop so easily. Furrowing his brow, he stared down at the dirt as he thought on how he could repay the action. If anyone else had seen the grin that curved his lips, they would be surprised that the once adorable and innocent child could look quite that devilish. The look was fitting. A kitsune seeking revenge could be quite devilish indeed.

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Inuyasha shifted position in the tree, too restless to sleep. He was rather disturbed by the way he reacted to Shippou earlier. Not, mind you, that he regretted it or felt guilty. He was more concerned over his possessive feelings for Kagome that prompted it. Damn. I care. The hanyou's head thudded hard against the trunk of the tree at the realization. He closed his eyes, as if in pain, and let out a defeated sigh.

It is the nature of things that one always makes such revelations when one does not have time to truly ponder them. Such was the case now. As soon as the warrior's eyes had fluttered shut, he heard a low hiss from the ground. Cursing himself for allowing his thoughts to distract him, he lept down from the branch and came face to face with a giant serpent youkai. While not the largest Inuyasha had ever seen, the creature was still formidable in appearance. Its scales glinted in the moonlight, the light also illuminating two glistening fangs. Sparing a glance to the others, Inuyasha was stunned to see that they were still fast asleep. How the hell can they sleep through something like this?

Pushing the enigma aside, Inuyasha turned a cocky smirk to the youkai. His frustration from earlier would be well taken care of by killing the snake. Yet, in the back of his brain, the feeling that something was wrong demanded that he listen. That, too, was pushed aside, something that he would regret later.

The hanyou lept into the air, the Tetsusaiga held above him. He brought it down with a mighty swing- one that Sesshoumaru would no doubt think used excessive and unnecessary force for the situation. Still, such a swing should have served its purpose. Yet, the sword hit dirt. It left a rather large hole in said dirt, but it was unlikely the ground was horribly impressed or even bothered by it. Surprised, Inuyasha turned sharply to see that the serpent was now behind him. How did he move that fast?

He didn't have time to contemplate it as he was forced to dodge when the serpent suddenly lunged at him. The serpent seemed to be predicting such a move, for its tail whipped forward and hit Inuyasha firmly in the stomach, sending him flying backwards. Landing ignominiously on his backside, Inuyasha quickly rose to his feet. "That's it!"

The snarled comment was quickly followed by a loud exclamation, "Kaze no Kizu!" The power surged forth from Inuyasha's sword, hitting the youkai straight on and obliterating it. The cry also managed to wake the others. Sango, Miroku, Kagome, and Kirara were all staring at Inuyasha as if he was mad.

"Inuyasha, what are you doing?" Kagome inquired, looking a bit apprehensive.

For his part, Inuyasha looked disgusted, "Getting rid of the youkai that you all managed to sleep through."

"Youkai?" This time the question was from the entire group looking on. They turned their gaze to the place where the youkai once stood, only seeing the claw-like marks in the ground from Inuyasha's attack.

The kitsune could contain his laughter no longer. It rang out loudly as he lept down from the nearby tree, casually picking up a small snake carved from wood...from precisely the same point where Inuyasha's youkai had been. Shippou tossed the toy back and forth in his hands, offering innocently, "Perhaps you were dreaming." Innocent though his tone attempted to be, his smile was pure mischief. The smile faded as he saw the dawning anger on the hanyou's face. Inuyasha looked downright murderous. The kitsune did what all foxes are good at- he ran.

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I will hopefully have the next chapter out in the next couple days. And just to explain, before someone asks, the snake youkai was an illusion –just- on Inuyasha. The others couldn't see or hear it. Hence their reactions. Please review!