Disclaimer: Inuyasha is a god and Rumiko Takahashi is goddess. I am a mere mortal so I cannot own the rights to Inuyasha. Enjoy the fic! A/N: Thanks for the reviews! Now I'm accepting anonymous reviews so please no flames (although constructive criticism is appreciated!)

Chapter 5: The error proof elephant test & Shippo, the orphan clown-in-
training

Kagome went outside and looked around the circus grounds. There were a lot of places that that stranger could have been hiding. She looked in the main tent and saw Kouga rehearsing with his pack of wolves. She thought to herself that maybe that guy might know where the stranger was so she decided to ask him. She went up to the caged area and said loudly, "Excuse me sir."
Kouga looked up and saw that it was Kagome, the new trapeze artist from the Higurashi trapeze troupe. He tossed a thick and juicy steak into the corner of the cage and his wolf pack went to retrieve it. He made his way to Kagome smiling all the way. He opened the door to the cage, stepped out, and locked it once again. He came up to Kagome and offering her his hand saying, "Hi, I'm Kouga the wolf trainer and you are Kagome Higurashi."
"Why yes I am. But I came here to ask you a question." started Kagome.
"Go ahead, shoot." responded Kouga.
"Did you happen to see a boy around my age with doggy ears and long white hair come by here?" inquired Kagome.
Kouga looking a bit dejected and pissed that she wasn't there to inquire about him said, "Why are looking for dog breath for anyway?"
"You see," Kagome lied, "he asked me to have lunch with him earlier today but now I can't find him. Do you know where he would be around this time of day?"
"How dare a puppy like ask my women to lunch?" Kouga stated more to himself than to Kagome.
"What do you mean by 'your' women?" asked a nervous Kagome.
"Well, a woman like you deserves to be with a guy like me." Kouga said while slipping his arm around her waist. Kagome gently took his arm off of her waist and screamed into his ear, "Please don't do that because I'M NOT YOUR WOMAN! Now where is the dog boy?" "Babe, you might find him cleaning up after the elephants now. Keep in mind that this information will cost you." Kouga said. "I'm sure you can take it up with Sesshoumaru seeing that he also sports an interest in me." Kagome said wittingly. Kouga's face turned blue with panic. He nodded in Kagome's direction and went back to his wolves inside the cage. Kagome walked away from the main tent and made her way slowly but surely to the elephants. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Inuyasha pushed the wide broom across the floor with ease. This was by far his least desirable job. Cleaning up after the elephants meant cleaning up after industrial-sized waste. After about fifteen minutes of toil and bad smells it was time to feed the elephants. Inuyasha sat down with the elephant food and watched Tanto's trunk meander toward the food. Then his wife Eli also came over and tried to snatch the food from Inuyasha.
"Now, hold on you guys! There is plenty of food for both of you." Inuyasha said with a bit of cheer in his voice. The elephants always managed to cheer him up at his worst times. Tanto got Inuyasha off of the bench by wrapping his massive trunk around him and lifting Inuyasha into the air. Inuyasha began to laugh as he raised him higher and higher into the air.
"You know, they say that animals have a sixth sense that can sense whether or not a person is genuinely good or not." yelled Kagome from six feet away.
Immediately, Inuyasha's laughter stopped.
"Listen, I know that you don't trust me and don't want to be friends with me. I can see by the way the animals like you those bad things happen because of other circumstances and not because someone is simply friends with you." confirmed Kagome as she walked closer toward Inuyasha.
Tanto put down Inuyasha and he turned to her and said, "Well, it's obvious that you won't be leaving me alone. So how about we strike a bargain?" asked Inuyasha.
Kagome nodded and he continued, "If Tanto here lets you pet him, then we can spend the rest of the day getting to know each other. Let me warn you though. The only people that Tanto is close to are his trainer and myself. It took Tanto a whole week to get used to his trainer. So, knowing that do you still want to try?"
"Of course. Tanto looks like a sweet heart. He's a beautiful African elephant." Kagome said.
".with great big ivory tusks." finished Inuyasha.
Kagome took a deep breath and made her way toward Tanto. When she was moving too quickly, Tanto let out a deep breath and Kagome saw this. She slowed down significantly and bent down a little. She moved forward and reached out her hand. Tanto extended his trunk and took in Kagome's scent. Kagome then reached her hand out toward his massive head and gently stroked his cheek. Kagome came closer and whispered something into his ear. His trunk now pulled Kagome closer into a type of elephant hug. Kagome laughed and averted her eyes to Inuyasha smiling because of success and meeting her new friend Tanto.
Inuyasha was astounded. He could not figure out what it was about this girl that Tanto and him found so appealing. "Feh, you can call me Inuyasha Kagome Higurashi." he said looking away stubbornly from her.
"Inuyasha.I like it." commented Kagome. "I think this guy is hungry, do you got any food?"
Inuyasha handed her the food and watched the elephant and Kagome interact. Is it true he wondered? Is it possible the Kagome is not deceitful like Kikyo was?
"Here" he said as he handed her the bag of elephant food. He decided to give friendship with this Kagome wench a chance. He would definitely continue to be on his guard to protect Sesshoumaru and himself from future harm.

*******************************
Inuyasha sat with Kagome and ate their bento in almost complete silence.
"You know, somehow I figured that this day would be a lot more enjoyable spent without Sesshoumaru." informed Kagome.
"Why do you say that?" asked Inuyasha.
"Well, his feelings for me are kind of transparent and I am uncomfortable around him because I can't return those feelings to him." stated Kagome.
"Ah, I see. So you are enjoying yourself with me?" inquired Inuyasha.
Kagome nodded and smiled. Inuyasha's heart skipped a beat. He conjured a pissed off look on his face so that Kagome could not see how she had made him happy by that comment. Inuyasha already finished with his lunch turned to Kagome and said, "Well, Kagome lunch was great but I need to get back to work and you have to go to dinner with Sesshoumaru."
"Can't I stay with you Inuyasha? I can actually help you with your chores. Plus, the deal was for the whole day.and the day is young my friend." Kagome informed.
Inuyasha looked at her playfully and said, "Fine wench, do whatever you want. Just remember that if you get caught by Sesshoumaru, you are endangering your career and I won't plead for you."
"I didn't expect you to. I can handle Sesshoumaru and the Higurashi trapeze troupe with my awe inspiring and believable acting skills." entertained Kagome with dramatic motions and all.
Inuyasha could not contain his laughter. Kagome shot him a look and scolded, "What, you don't think that I could fool everybody that I am deathly ill. Please, that's an easy act to play. I'll be back in five so you better not disappear on me again. If you do and I find you, then you'll be sorry." Kagome waved to Inuyasha as she ran toward her dressing room.
Inuyasha sat and looked at the sky. Spending time with Kagome brought back good memories of the times that he had spent with Kikyo before things went sour. His relationship with Kikyo had had a lot less laughter but they were still comfortable around one another and enjoyed each others company. Inuyasha hoped deep within his heart that his friendship with Kagome would not go sour like it did with Kikyo. He was really enjoying himself today and he was looking forward to having someone help him with his chores. Like he vowed before, he would try not to leave himself too vulnerable if deceit made its way into the picture. Yet when he saw Kagome running toward him after five minutes with a triumphant look on her face and a victory sign, he knew that it might be already too late, he was too emotionally involved. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Inuyasha, why do you wear this red cloak?" asked Kagome.
"Because I look different from everyone else and Sesshoumaru says that it would be less distracting if I wear it." added Inuyasha.
"Are you and Sesshoumaru related somehow or are you just really close friends?" inquired Kagome.
"Both. He always stuck up for me when others made fun of me."
"Well that's what older siblings do, but I don't agree with Sesshoumaru about the cloak thing. If anything, I find the cloak more distracting." stated Kagome.
"How it conceals my abnormal features?" countered Inuyasha.
"But when you walk around all cloaked and mysterious in public, it draws attention because everybody is wondering, 'who's that cloaked and mysterious guy?'" argued Kagome.
"I've never seen it that way before. But this is also a comfort issue with me. So I'm not changing for you wench." snapped Inuyasha.
"I'm not asking you to. Hopefully one day though, you won't need it." Kagome encouraged.
Kagome felt somebody tiny run into her leg and get pushed back. She looked down and saw a little kid that was no older than five years old sitting on the ground and inspecting the elbow that he fell on.
"Watch where you're going you little runt!" scolded Inuyasha annoyingly.
The little boy looked up and saw Inuyasha's face shaded by the hood. He screamed and said, "Monster! Someone, help me!" He started to run away but saw the lady that the monster was with bend down and offer him a hand up. He quickly grabbed her hand and wanted urge her to run away with him.
"I'll rescue you from this demon lady. Now come on, we have to run away quickly before he catches us!" demanded in the little boy in a panicked voice.
"He's not a monster, his name is Inuyasha." explained Kagome.
"So he looks like a monster and has a monster's name. He must have you under an evil mind-controlling spell!" the little boy said before he started to cry.
Inuyasha getting severely annoyed punched the kid on top of the head and yelled, "I'M NOT A MONSTER and This GIRL is not my latest VICTIM!"
"Inuyasha, you shouldn't hit children! But what he says is right little boy." stated Kagome. The little boy who was dressed as a fox looked up at Kagome and smiled.
"My name is Shippo, who are you lady?" said Shippo rather calmly and cutely after his tantrum.
"I'm Kagome Higurashi, one of the new trapeze artists that works at this circus." stated Kagome.
"I also work for the circus! My parents were clowns and I am a clown- in-training along with my kitty Kirara." said Shippo happily.
"Your parents were clowns?" asked Inuyasha.
"Yay, they both died of a contagious disease." Shippo said in a small and sad voice.
"I'm sorry Shippo." Kagome said with a voice full of concern.
"So to make my parents proud Kirara and I will be the best clowns that this circus has ever seen." added Shippo.
"I know that you will be a great clown one day, Shippo. I believe in you and so does Inuyasha." said Kagome happily.
"Feh, maybe you do Kagome. I say that this kid is rude and not grade 'A' clown material." insulted Inuyasha.
"Osuwari Inuyasha!" screamed Kagome as she saw tears start to well up in Shippo's eyes.
"He even talks like a monster, that Inuyasha." stated Shippo through his tears.
"Hey, I'm a human being wench! Don't address me like you would a mutt!" countered Inuyasha.
"Hmph!" muttered Kagome as she took Shippo into her arms and comforted him.
"You will make a great clown one day with that cute fox costume of yours. You know, I have a knack for predicting things like that." Shippo smiled and hugged Kagome just like he used to hug his own mother. "Now, I also predict that a certain someone is going to apologize to Shippo." demanded Kagome.
"Feh, the future is unclear, so you might make it kid." stated Inuyasha.
Shippo happy to hear Inuyasha say something remotely positive caused him to hop onto to his shoulder and pull off his hood.
"Kagome was right! You're not a monster at all. You have fun doggy ears. Can I play with them." inquired Shippo.
"No you can't kid. Now get off of my shoulder before I decide to insult you again." informed Inuyasha.
Shippo jumped down and looked toward Kagome and Inuyasha and waved goodbye to them. "Well, I need to find Kirara now. Practice begins in about an hour so I need to go put on the rest of my costume. I'll see you two later!" He skipped away happily from them.
After Shippo was far away from the two Kagome turned to Inuyasha and said, "He was sweet and so kawaii!"
Inuyasha just turned away and said, "Let's go, there are still more work to finish."
Kagome looked toward Inuyasha and realized that this was all an act. Beyond that exterior was a kind heart that had been hurt. But by what she wondered.
Inuyasha saw the girl staring at him and said, "What are you staring at?" asked Inuyasha harshly.
"Nothing." responded Kagome with a smile and placing her hand on Inuyasha's shoulder.