Rowan and Sakura actually own characters in this chapter! Go figure, right? Not Rumiko Takahashi's InuYasha, Kirara, Kagome, or anyone else like that…unfortunately. But we do own three very pivotal characters that appear in this chapter, so look for them!
Warning: Continued mention of character death! Shounen-ai eventually! InuYasha being bossed around by someone that is not Kagome!
Enjoy!
Leave Me Behind: Chapter Two
InuYasha's Promise
InuYasha and Kirara had been traveling across the feudal lands of Japan for a week now, searching for signs of Naraku, with no luck. However, both cat youkai and the hanyou were unwilling to give up. As InuYasha set up camp, Kirara was at the river, catching dinner. Suddenly, InuYasha looked up from the fire he was tending in alarm. Somewhere close were intruders. Smirking as he caught their scent, InuYasha whipped out the Tetsusaiga. "Feh, come out you cowards! I smelled you following us for the past week. If you want to face me, be a man about it!"
The bush trembled and a moment later, three small fox demons emerged, clutching each others paws in fright. "Please, scary dog demon sir, don't hurt us!" the largest of the fox children squeaked.
When InuYasha caught sight of the little demons, he sheathed his sword. "What are three kitsune kittens doing out here on your own?"
"Please sir, are you the one they call InuYasha?" the fox who spoke before piped up.
InuYasha sat beside the fire, disinterested already in the young ones. "Who's asking?"
"My name is Kiba," the first fox introduced, "and these are my siblings. My sister Amiya, and my brother Tsuyo."
InuYasha cocked an eyebrow at them. "Kiba, eh? And where are your parents? Dead?"
Kiba looked down at the ground, which wasn't too far down for him, and whispered, "We don't know where they are. We got separated from them. That's why we need your help!"
"That is, if you are InuYasha," the fox called Tsuyo added.
InuYasha sighed. He could tell that helping these kitsunes would only delay his task. But he couldn't refuse them. Though he didn't like to admit it, the hanyou had a soft spot for kitsune children. And speaking of Shippo…
---
Kagome had made it to Shippo's side faster than InuYasha and he was already in his final death throes by the time the hanyou had knelt beside him. "Kagome," the small youkai whispered to the girl. "Where's InuYasha?"
Kagome's tear-filled hazel eyes drifted across to the dog demon. "I'm right here, Shippo," InuYasha, surprisingly gentle, spoke.
Shippo's head turned towards the hanyou, his stomach clenching in pain. His sea green eyes frowned at him. "InuYasha," he said softly, yet still retaining some of his defiance. "I know…what's happening. I'm dying…aren't I?" InuYasha hesitated, then nodded. "Promise me then…that you won't let Kagome get hurt."
InuYasha looked up at Kagome, then back down to the kitsune. "Of course."
Shippo's eyes lost some innocent luster as they clouded over in agony. "Also…if ever a fox demon asks you for aid…you must help him, as punishment…and in my memory. Understand?"
InuYasha would have promised away his fire rat kimono, the Tetsusaiga, even his demonhood had Shippo asked him to. To promise to help any kitsune that asked for it was going light on him, he felt. "Of course Shippo, I promise. Now go to sleep. There will be less pain going that way."
Shippo's eyes closed and Kagome, with a gasp, lifted her little companion into her arms, hugging him to her. "Oh Shippo, if only I could save you, somehow!" she cried.
"Shh, Kagome, it'll be okay," Shippo muttered, his lips the only part of him moving. "I'll see my father again. You remember him, right…"
Kagome smiled minutely at the memory of Shippo's father's foxfire, how it had saved their lives. "He'll be so happy to see you again Shippo," she assured.
"I hope so…" Shippo whispered. "I love you Kagome."
"Love you too Shippo."
"Goodbye." Shippo uttered the word so softly Kagome nearly didn't catch it. Then the kitsune's head rested against Kagome, his whole body relaxed, and Kagome realized that he was gone forever.
"No…Shippo."
---
It was raining as InuYasha and his new companions headed out. The evening before InuYasha had not demanded the kitsunes' story, simply fed them and sent them to bed. Now, as they traveled to the fox's mountain, InuYasha received their tale.
"So Kiba, what do you need my help for?" InuYasha asked.
The kitsune, only distinguishable by his forest green kimono and slightly larger size, was sitting on the hanyou's shoulder. "Well, it was about two weeks ago that it happened. A wolf demon- a really fast one!- attacked our cave where we lived on the mountain. Our father was the ruler of the mountain, so he fought to keep control, but that wolf was ruthless and we were all driven off our land."
"It was chaos!" Amiya, on InuYasha's right shoulder, continued the story. "We got separated from our parents as everyone tried to escape from the wolf. When it finally settled down, it turned out that there were no adults on our side of the mountain. We were scared and lost and didn't know what to do. If it weren't for Tsuyo here we would still be quivering in a huddle in an old abandoned rabbit warren."
InuYasha looked down at the littlest fox, tucked into his belt. "Is that so? And what did he do?"
Kiba answered that question. "Tsuyo can detect Jewel Shards, and we had heard of a group of five travelers seeking them. One, a strange girl from the future, a monk, a demon slayer, a hanyou, and a kitsune youkai. If anyone could help us, it would be them. Tsuyo was able to find you by the Jewel Shards you carry."
"And so you have been following me for the past week to ask me to help you drive this wolf demon off your mountain?" InuYasha confirmed. "How is it that one demon chased a whole group of foxes off a mountain anyway?"
"He had Jewel Shards," Tsuyo pouted. "He was cheating."
InuYasha stopped walking. "Did you say he has Jewel Shards? Where?"
"In his legs," the young kitsune said.
InuYasha glared into empty space, where he imagined the mountain to be. 'Kouga!'
---
It had been raining for the past week and Jaken's arm was stiff with pain. "Lord Sesshomaru, do you think I could lower my arm now?"
"Do you wish your master to get wet?" the Lord of the Western lands asked, slightly amused. When Jaken did not reply, the youkai relented. "Fine, you may put the leaf down now. The rain has nearly stopped anyway."
Jaken lowered the 'leaf'- actually, a rather large tree branch- so swiftly, Rin, who stood at Sesshomaru's side, had to dodge quickly to avoid getting thwacked on the head. "Thank you my lord!" Jaken voiced his appreciation.
Sesshomaru ignored his vassal. "Rin, what do you suppose that think is over there?" Sesshomaru pointed to a small bundle of teal and yellow cloth twenty yards in front of them.
Rin climbed on the double-headed beast's back and looked towards the bundle. "It looks like a kimono, Lord Sesshomaru."
"Hmm." Sesshomaru walked towards the kimono, bending down to inspect it better. He pulled back in surprise when he caught sight of the peaceful face of a fox demon.
"What is it my lord?" Jaken called, curious.
Sesshomaru did not answer him, drawing Tensaiga from its sheath. Immediately he could perceive the small demons of death crawling over the young one's body. Sesshomaru struck at them once with his sword, dispelling them from the body.
Shippo- for that's who it was- stirred, and caused Sesshomaru to pull back in surprise. He could tell that the body had been dead for days, and had not expected the Tensaiga to work. Quickly putting his sword away, he lifted the muddied kitsune up, soiling his hands but not caring.
Shippo blinked awake and looking around, realized he was alive. "Kagome?" he murmured, confused.
"Hmm," Sesshomaru replied.
Shippo sat up suddenly, falling out of Sesshomaru's grip to the muddy ground. Looking up, the fox demon gasped. "You're InuYasha's brother, aren't you?" he asked.
By this time, Rin had run up to the dog demon's side. "Who are you?" the human girl inquired.
Shippo's gaze shifted from the youkai to the girl. Standing up suddenly, he smiled. "I'm Shippo! Who are you?"
"My name's Rin! Aren't you one of Lord Sesshomaru's brother's friends?" the girl asked enthusiastically.
Sesshomaru turned away from the youngsters at that moment. "Come on Rin, we can't stay here forever."
Rin turned away from Shippo, sad. "You're friend can come with us, if he likes."
Rin smiled at the kitsune, her eyes hopeful. She had always wanted to have a companion her age.
Shippo smiled back. "I'm bound to run into InuYasha sometime, so I guess it wouldn't hurt to travel with you for now," he remarked.
Rin grabbed Shippo's hand then. "C'mon! We're going to have tons of fun together!" she gushed excitedly, running back to Jaken and pulling Shippo behind her.
Sesshomaru followed at a more sedate pace. 'So, Tensaiga, today you compelled me to save yet another youngster's life. When will this end?' he thought, only slightly amused.
"Lord Sesshomaru, where are we going?" Jaken asked once the group had begun to move.
Sesshomaru looked back at the brown field where he had found Shippo. "Something happened over there…something concerning my brother. I feel that his life has been altered somehow. I want to know why."
"Why, m'lord? Certainly you do not care?" Jaken inquired.
"Don't be stupid Jaken. I do not care for InuYasha. I am merely…curious."
"As you say m'lord. I cannot understand it, but okay."
Sesshomaru smirked to himself. 'I cannot understand either, but I must know, nonetheless. Maybe I'm going soft?' Sesshomaru snorted at that thought. 'Ridiculous.'
TBC
Rowan: Look, I brought Shippo back! I'm sorry I couldn't bring Miroku or Sango back, but…well, what would be the point of their deaths? Beside, InuYasha needs his motivation to find Kohaku. If Sango's alive, he no longer has that. But I just couldn't leave Shippo dead, so I let Sesshomaru bring him back.
This chapter is shorter that last one, but I am very excited about next chapter!
Sakura: Some of you may be wondering how the fox demon Tsuyo can detect Jewel Shards? I know I am.
Rowan: That will be explained next chapter! So look for it! Um…it'll definitely be up sooner than this one! Also, next chapter someone falls down the well…and ends up on the other side! Who is it? Where do they end up? Those questions will be answered.
As for the shounen-ai couple…RavenMistress figured it out, so I'm sure others have too. Don't worry, it's not incest- Sesshomaru/InuYasha is not the couple. Unfortunately.
Sakura: rolls eyes I'm sure Rowan would like you to review now, huh?
Rowan: Indeed do! I'd mightily appreciate it! Until then-
Rowan and Sakura
Thank you's-
Hieiandkuramalover- Eh heh…is very scared of your mallet I know this isn't soon, but please don't hurt me! Lol
Shampoo- Actually, that idea of each of them having a quest for InuYasha was quite interesting- and hopefully you can see that I did incorporate that in the story! That was a really great idea and it's all due to you so thanks very much! As for how they died…I'm giving very small hints as to how, but that won't actually be revealed until later. Call it- until the opportune moment. Thanks for your review! It really inspired me!
Penny: Angel of Darkest Dreams- ouchies, I felt that whack. And I know, I can't believe I started another fic! Sorry you didn't get to beta this…you're probably reading the story and finding tons of mistakes that if I had given this to you would have been fixed. Thanks ever so much for your steadfast support Penny!
Dragon and Sword Master- do you mean their last dying words? Or what happened to them, as in where the hell did they go? I'm glad you liked the story so far!
Kara- sob yes, it is very sad, isn't it? Hopefully this chapter is more cheerful!
Queenoftheskies16: Oh don't cry! Please! hands you a tissue See, I brought Shippo back; that's good, right?
FluffysBijin05: The beginning was really good? I'm flattered! As for how they died- that will be explained eventually. And no, Miroku was dying when Sango was. Trust me; otherwise he would have been at Sango's side in a flash. And the pairing…well, I'm not giving anything away! Just…read the reviews, you'll get a hint from them.
SnakeMistress: heh, I know this isn't 'soon', but hopefully you like it!
RavenMistress: Thank you so much for your review. In fact, it's what got me to write this chapter, so thank you for the motivation!
Don't forget to review (in case you did, it's that lil purple button down there)
V
