Finally got a little Kagome/Inuyasha romance in this chapter, though it isn't much. I'm trying to maintain a balance and to keep the emphasis on Shippou and his situation as opposed to the relationship between Kagome and Inuyasha. Let me know if you think I am, or am not, doing this. Or even if you think this attempt at romance is so pitiful that I should just leave it out for the remainder of this story ::clears her throat and looks sheepish::
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters.
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Chapter Eight
Inuyasha was sulking. Of course, had Kagome pointed that out to him, he would immediately deny it. But he was. That was apparent to everyone else besides the hanyou. He sat on the banks of a cliff, staring out over the land with his dog ears slightly drooping.
Inuyasha's mood did not deter Kagome from approaching with her usual cheerfulness, "Inuyasha, you aren't still upset about Sango killing the demon without your help, are you?"
"Keh!" was his only response, but he spared a glance towards a nearby hut. Sango was inside, busy avoiding Inuyasha's bad mood. Mostly because she had been in a bad mood all day too. The hanyou returned his gaze to the land, explaining, "When she's in this temper, she fights well. I'm not upset."
A mischievous smile curved Kagome's lips as she moved to sit down next to him, "You know why she's in this mood, don't you?"
"Don't really care." A pause. Curiosity, as always, got the better of him. But I still don't really care. "Why?"
"She doesn't like Miroku being there without her when there are other women around." It was stated matter-of-factly, as if Kagome wasn't quite sure how Inuyasha could not already know. Everyone else did, after all. Even Miroku and Sango knew it, or at least they would, if they weren't so intent on denying it.
Ever obtuse, Inuyasha retorted, "You keep saying she likes that perverted monk, but I ain't seeing it."
"How can you not see it?" Kagome gave the hanyou an exasperated look, "And Miroku likes her too."
That comment garnered a derisive snort, a well as a sneer, "The monk likes every female with two legs and a pair of..." Inuyasha stopped short at the look in Kagome's eyes. Uh oh.
"Inuyasha..." The girl began, and the hanyou had no doubt what was coming. In a move of desperation, he lept to cover Kagome's mouth with a clawed hand. Startled brown eyes simply blinked at the hanyou.
"Don't say it." It was an unnecessary command, as Kagome could hardly say anything with her mouth covered. She just continued blinking at him. Inuyasha then realized what Kagome had noticed from the beginning. He was rather close to her. Why he should notice it now, when she often rode on his back and he never really noticed it then, was a great mystery. Whatever the reason, Inuyasha found himself savoring it. Still, realizing his odd behavior would soon cause suspicion, he questioned softly, "Do you promise not to say it?"
A mute nod was his only answer. Inuyasha lowered his hand reluctantly, as if expecting that he was going to be sitted at any moment. That, of course, wasn't the whole reason behind his unhurried movements. He rather liked the soft light in Kagome's eyes when he was this close to her and knew the second his hand was completely down he'd have no excuse to stay there.
With her mouth uncovered, Kagome whispered once more, "Inuyasha..." This wasn't the irate usage of his name that always proceeded The Word. The hanyou shifted slightly closer, the lids of his eyes lowering. Kagome felt a thrill of anticipation, lifting her face towards his. He would just need to lower his head a little bit more to kiss her, and it appeared that was just what he was intending.
A soft mewling broke the spell and both Inuyasha and Kagome scrambled backwards, looking around frantically for the source of the noise. Kirara stared at them with wide, innocent eyes, and let out another tiny meow. With cheeks the same color as Inuyasha's clothes, Kagome rose to her feet. "I'm... going to go check on Sango." Inuyasha nodded, his cheeks also a dull red.
He turned to look at Kirara again, only to see that the cat youkai was already gone. All right, he took it back. Kirara was officially a burden.
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Even though Miroku's main reason for deciding to accompany Shippou was obviously for pleasant reasons, he was determined to fulfill the more serious duty of finding out a cure for Shippou first. Oddly enough, his sense of duty was merely increased by witnessing the attention the kitsune got from the young ladies of the town. Unfortunately, speaking with Kaede presented another unwelcome duty for the monk: He had to tell the others that Inuyasha was right and that Kaede also thought that the only way to cure Shippou would be to hunt down the youkai responsible and kill it. The reason he dreaded it so was because Inuyasha liked to gloat when he was proven right. Who can blame him? It's such a rare occurrence for him, Miroku thought wryly.
Looking back to Kaede, the monk inquired, "You are absolutely certain that killing the youkai is the only way to change him back?" Perhaps he was still hopeful that he could provide some wonderful, intelligent way with which to impress Sango. One, preferably, that Inuyasha did not come up with first.
"I am as certain as I can possibly be," responded the old miko.
"Ah." The monk paused, considered her answer for a moment, then tenaciously pressed, "And when you say certain, you really do mean certain?"
"...Yes." Kaede seemed to understand the crestfallen look on Miroku's face and with a sigh, offered, "Show me the child and we shall make sure."
It should have been an easy request to grant. However, Miroku wasn't quite certain where Shippou was. He had lost him earlier in the village, and didn't search him out again because he wanted to get the business portion of the trip over with so he could focus on more...ahem... pleasurable things. This didn't stop him from inclining his head and acting like he could take the miko directly to the kitsune. Of course not. He had a reputation to maintain. No matter how black Sango and Kagome thought it was.
Fortunately for Miroku-and Miroku's pride- a high-pitched yelp raised over the chatter of the villagers just as Kaede and Miroku stepped out onto the dusty road. Miroku recognized that screeching yell. It was Shippou. There was no doubt about it.
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