Disclaimer: Again. I do not own Inuyasha. Though I may want to...sadly...I don't.

Chapter 2

"Thanks for helping me out Shippou. This makes my work go by a lot faster when I have someone else to talk to," She said while stapling another wire onto the post.

Shippou was a little fox boy whom she had found borrowed in a pile of hay in the stable only a few years ago. She was only seventeen at the time but had been so completely taken by his fluffy tail and large dewy blue eyes that she had practically begged her grandfather to let her keep him. He had only been five years old at the time and confused by all that was going on around him. Now, at eleven, with his red-hair, freckles, and toothy grin, he could melt anyone's heart. Not that he couldn't do that when he was younger. She was living proof! That little rascal had her wrapped around his finger. Or was it paw?

Shrugging her shoulders, she began to giggle.

Shippou looked up with a funny expression on his face. "What's so funny Momma?"

She looked down into his innocent face and sighed. She had given him permission to call her that when he was younger and it still warmed her heart every time he said it.

"Shippou," she started. "Do you remember when I first found you in that old, beaten up stable by the water hole?"

He looked thoughtful for a minute then broke into a smile. "Of course! That's how I became 'The Stable Boy'."

She shook her head laughing at the name that the other guys had given him. And now he really was the stable boy!

"I'm surprised you didn't want to stay and tend to the horses. You usually love to spend time with them," she smiled, making him blush.

"I'd do anything to get away from 'dog breath'!"

"Who?" She asked, more than a little perplexed. 'Did they have a dog in the stables or was it the name of one of their new horses?'

"The new guy," he explained. His lower lip poked out in a pout and his eyes got round. "He picks on me!"

She stopped what she was doing to look over at the fox boy. Setting the staple gun down, she smiled reassuringly. "It can't be that bad, Shippou. All the other guys use to tease you and you never complained about it before."

He rolled his eyes and sighed. "There's a difference between picking and teasing."

"Oh really?" She asked, eyebrows raised. "Enlighten me."

"Teasing," he explained. "Is just making fun of someone in a friendly way."

Kagome rested her chin on her hand and nodded attentively. "And picking?"

"I was getting to it," he cleared his throat. "Picking is when you're mean and hurt someone's feelings. Like 'dog breath'. When he came in to put his horse in my stable he said, Shippou puffed up his chest and mocked the stranger's voice, "Move it whelp before I decide to stuff you in a pot and have you for dinner!"

Shippou deflated then whined, "Then he bopped me on the head!"

Kagome's eyes narrowed and her face darkened. "He hit you?"

Shippou looked up and gulped at the deadly look on his foster mother's face. "He bopped."

Kagome stood up slowly. "Do you know where he is now, Shippou?"

"Well..."

"Where is he, Shippou?"

"He said he was going to explore the hills near the water hole," the words rushed out of his mouth in a flurry and he looked up at Kagome with apprehension.

"Stay here, Shippou," she said, walking towards her mount. "I'm going to ride over and welcome this new guy properly."

"But Momma he's a-"

"Stay."

She mounted her horse and rode off to the west toward the old stables.

Author's note: Well, that's chapter 2. Poor Shippou left all by himself in the middle of the field. sighs but don't worry, I'm sure he'll be okay. I'm more concerned about Kagome. What will happen next?????? Bum bum bum....