I apologize that it took me longer than expected to get this chapter out. I'd like to say a big thank you to those who have reviewed. When I was getting frustrated with parts of this chapter, the comments cheered me up. ^_^
So please enjoy, and if you do (or even if you just have some helpful suggestions), Review!
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters.
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Chapter Seven
Shippou was, once again, very pleased with himself. Inuyasha had chased the kitsune into the forest in his anger, forgetting that Shippou seemed to be more agile in those surroundings. A strategic mistake, really. Shippou quite easily got ahead of the hanyou so that Inuyasha's only recourse was to try to sniff the fox youkai out. This would have worked wonderfully, if not for the fact that Shippou's scent had soon become so confused that Inuyasha was left standing in the middle of the woods, having no idea where Shippou had gone. He had fallen prey to the trap of many dogs before him. Like all crafty foxes, the kitsune knew how to backtrack and create false leads. Trickery was in his blood. Inuyasha, though while more intelligent than many gave him credit for, had no prayer against a kitsune who was afraid of being caught. Shippou's tail swished back and forth as he made his way back to the campsite. To say he was smug was an understatement.
Within ten minutes of being back at the camp, however, he was no longer so smug. Kagome had actually lectured him. Lectured him. She was upset with him. Shippou sat on the banks of the river, examining the reflection of the stars on the water. He couldn't recall a time when she had ever been this upset with him.
"That youkai could have actually harmed Inuyasha, Shippou! When he gets back, you should apologize." Kagome had looked so disappointed in him. "You know his pride. It was a mean trick to play."
Apologize?! Did she actually expect him to be sincere in that apology? Shippou tossed a stone into the water, the resulting ripples distorting the diamond-like images. On Kagome's advice, the kitsune was staying down here until Inuyasha managed to cool down. The curses that came from the hanyou when he finally got back almost caused even Miroku to blush. Shippou had wisely concluded that now was not the time to even speak with Inuyasha, let alone offer an apology.
The kitsune flopped back onto the grass with a sigh. Kagome was getting angry with him... was this foreshadowing of what was to come? Maybe it's not so great being...Shippou stopped that thought. It was absurd. Just because Kagome got irritated with him signified nothing. No one had gotten much sleep, and the sun was already beginning to rise on the horizon, hiding the stars. She was just cranky. So what if crankiness for Kagome was rare? It could happen. Miroku and Sango had just found the entire incident funny, so it couldn't have been that bad. He turned on his side, watching the others began to stir. Today they would go to Kaede's village and see what she thought.
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It seemed impossible for the group to have a chance to handle one problem at a time. Just as they started off towards Kaede's village, Kagome got a strong sense of a Shikon shard. She, Inuyasha, and Sango decided to hunt it down while Miroku volunteered to accompany Shippou to the village. Miroku's choice, of course, had nothing to do with the pretty young ladies of the village.
As the others left, Miroku gave Shippou a sidelong glance that was filled with anticipation, "Ready to go, Shippou?"
The kitsune was a bit apprehensive about what that look meant. In truth, he was fonder of Miroku than he was of Inuyasha. Miroku never hit him or treated him like he was stupid. Still, he knew the monk didn't have the best habits. Kagome and Sango were always telling Shippou not to grow up and be like Miroku. Of course, Shippou was grown up and he had hardly changed a bit, but somehow he was fairly certain that wasn't what they meant.
Shippou had good reason to be apprehensive. Miroku was what later would be known in society as a rake...a cad...a 'connoisseur' of women. In short, Miroku liked women and they liked him. The kitsune understood an appreciation of women. He had had his crushes in their journeys. Yet, how Miroku could so obviously care for Sango and yet continue asking virtual strangers to bear his child was beyond the youkai.
He was still mulling this over as they entered the town. Miroku waved cheerfully to the villagers, appraising the young women as they went. Not that there was any new women in the village since the last time they visited, but occasionally the monk needed to remind himself of what was available. Shippou could almost tangibly feel the stare of the villagers. He tilted his head downward to allow his hair to shadow his eyes, casting cautious looks around to see who precisely was watching him. To his amazement, they seemed to have a running theme -they were female. He shifted uneasily, whispering furtively to Miroku, "Why are all those girls staring at me?"
"They aren't," was the monk's reply, "They're staring at me." But even Miroku wasn't that obtuse. He glanced around, then added begrudgingly, "It's probably your tail."
Said tail twitched at being referenced. Shippou looked over his shoulder, straining to see the allure of his tail. It was just a tail. Lots of youkai had them. Heck, even all the dogs and cats Shippou had ever known had them. Well. There was that one...but the kitsune always assumed the tomcat did indeed once have a tail. Finally, he stated doubtfully, "I don't think it's my tail."
"Who understands women more, Shippou? It's your tail." After all, Miroku couldn't compete with a tail. If it was the tail, then his pride could remain in tact.
Shippou's only response was another doubtful look to the monk. Still, Miroku was right. He didn't have much experience with women. Maybe it was the tail. Maybe human women just have a strange fascination with tails. The kitsune felt the odd impulse to hide his from their prying eyes.
"Do you really think he's kitsune?" Strains of conversation of a nearby cluster of women reached Shippou's ears. He lingered, though not too noticeably, in order to hear more.
"He has to be! They have that fox beauty, you know? He's too handsome to be human!"
Handsome? So it's not just the tail!
"Besides, he's got a tail!"
…It's the tail.
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I hope you liked it! Please review with any thoughts or comments. I will try to get the next chapter out as soon as possible.
