OMG, I can't believe this! I am now over 200 reviews with this story! And the last chapter got 46 reviews!!!!!!!! Oh my frickin' gosh people!!! That's incredible! Thank you! Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! You guys are a great inspiration!!!

Review responses: (I'm gonna do them a little differently from now on. I'm only gonna give personalized responses to the people that had questions and the like. It just takes a little too much time and space to respond to each person individually. Sorry!)

Lost Darkness: TY for the review, of course. I'm in a really happy mood right now. Hope to talk to you soon on the messenging thingy!

Gea: Wow. Thanks. I'm glad you like it so much. And, um, I don't really have a reason for them appearing and disappearing other than the fact that it makes for a good plotline. Keep reading and reviewing!

Julian Katra: Thank you! It makes me happy that my story makes you, um... happy... yeah. Anyway, you don't have to worry about me discontinuing my fic. I promise I will NEVER discontinue a story even if no one is reviewing it.

Shippogrl: Yes, actually, Sango and Shippo become visible in this chapter. And Kagome will... eventually. Thanks for the review!

fallingkag: XD Omg, that is the best review I have gotten in a long time! I especially liked the Sesshomaru imitation! That is exactly like him! Thanks for the review!

crazcat416: Yeah, I know. Oh, well! Thanks for the review!

TiA aRiEl: You have a guess on why you think they keep appearing and disappearing? Well, why don't you tell me? Thanks for the review!

miroku lover: Thanks! And, um, I can't answer your question, for suspense reasons. Sorry!

Peanut Gallery – Alaska's Own: XD I love your name! And I love your review! Thanks!

Paper Stars: Um actually what they're doing won't affect the future Inu at all. My thinking is that what they're doing already happened to the Inuyasha we know, if that makes any sense. You'll find out at the end of the story.

IceSugarHigh: Yes, I suppose we are... Thanks for the review!

gilbertfan: Shippo needs to work on his spelling. XD Don't tell him I said that. And I will check out your website, thanks!

high-school-girl: Wow. I'm honored to have my story be the first one you've ever read! Thank you!

snowecat: I'm sorry about the long wait, but summer has been really busy so far. Thanks for the review, though!

dark-wolf-soulX: Yes, everyone is going to be visible. And, no, you can't kill all the villagers because then I would have no plotline. Besides, they're mine. kicks them aside This chapter isn't very angsty, but the next one will be! MWAHAHAHA!!! My computer doesn't like the word angsty.

LilBlue-Hedggie: Thanks a bunch for the review! I'd love to talk to you sometime! Thanks! I'll e-mail you soon!

Sanci: Of course I'll check out your stories! If I ever get the time... ::sigh::

dragon's kitty: Feh!

Questionable: XD Thanks for the amusing review!

Angelbrite: Wow, mine really comes in second? I feel really special right now... Thanks!

Thanks to: inuyashafreak337, Dragon Man 180, inuchanluver, Rekouri Sentusu, puffin, roshyn77, Innyhakky, Stephanie, kikkyss4e, arline, Dragon Tears Wing, wolf enchantress 340, Suki 1, Kill-all-Flamers-210, halfdemongurl, ChibiYugiYasha, Koinu-chan, Jaden Blythe, bluecleo, Kitsune Kinu, CrazyDevil100, Gotta-Love-the-Ears, inuyashas-chicky-13, Duana, and badgurl136 for all your great reviews! I really appreciate them all!

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Chapter 12: Kitsune Magic

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Tsuki watched, her eyes wide, as the man vanished before her eyes. 'What in the world?' She would have decided that she was crazy, but then, everyone at the tavern had seen him, too.

'Maybe... Maybe guardian angels exist after all...'

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Inuyasha smiled and panted (no pun intended) as he chased his favorite ball through the village. That ball had a tendency to get away from him whenever he played with it. He didn't mind, though. In fact, he found it quite entertaining to chase after the runaway ball, as he was doing now. He dove for the ball, but fell just short of catching it. He was about to get up and try again when he saw someone's foot on top of the ball, holding it in place, just a few feet in front of him. Still on the ground, he looked up to find that the owner of the foot was none other than Hihan.

"Well," he said coldly, "if it isn't the hanyou."

Inuyasha climbed to his feet and looked at Hihan. Hihan was somehow... different this time. Instead of the usual menacing sneer that he wore, he regarded Inuyasha with a cold stare, his face emotionless, his eyes deep with thought.

"You didn't kill those horses, did you?"

"Horses?" Inuyasha asked confusedly. He didn't remember anything about horses.

"That's what I thought."

With that, Hihan picked up the ball and threw it roughly back to Inuyasha. As he walked away, he called over his shoulder, "Watch it, runt! Next time you won't get off so easy!"

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Nikushimi sat in the shed behind his house, wiping the dried horse's blood off of his knife with a wet cloth.

'So, you survived, little hanyou. I'm impressed. I was hoping I wouldn't have to do this, but...' Nikushimi held the now-clean knife up. '...it looks like I'll have to get rid of you myself.'

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Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, and Shippo, all extremely puzzled, watched as Hihan stalked off.

"What's with him?" Shippo asked from Kagome's shoulder.

"Strange," Sango added. "He didn't even try to bully Inuyasha. I know we haven't known him for very long, but that is definitely not like him."

"What was that about killing horses?" Kagome asked.

"Wait a minute," Sango said. "Didn't the innkeeper go after Inuyasha because he thought that Inuyasha killed his horses?"

"You're right!"

"There's something not quite right here," Miroku said. "Inuyasha didn't kill those horses, but who did?"

As Kagome, Sango, and Miroku immersed themselves in yet another deep conversation, Shippo noticed Inuyasha wandering off again and decided to keep an eye on him instead.

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Shippo looked on longingly as Inuyasha continued to play with his ball. It had been quite a while since he had played with a ball of his own. He remembered the ball his mother had made him and how he had played with it just like Inuyasha was now. He let out a heavy sigh. To his surprise, Inuyasha turned in his direction and cocked his head.

"Uh..." 'Am I visible now, too?'

Inuyasha glanced around as if to make sure Shippo was alone and then, with a smile, said, "Hi."

"H-Hi," Shippo replied.

"I haven't ever seen you before."

"Yeah, I'm, uh, just passing through with my family. That's a pretty neat ball, Inuyasha." Shippo slapped his hands over his mouth, realizing what he had said.

Inuyasha frowned. Then he saw Shippo's tail. His eyes widened. "You're a youkai!" Inuyasha said, fear and mistrust evident in his eyes.

"Don't worry! I promise I won't hurt you! Honest! I'm just a kid!"

"Promise?"

"Promise!"

The fear disappeared and was replaced by a warm smile. "So, are you psychic or something?"

"Uh... Kinda," Shippo lied. "My name's Shippo."

"I'm Inuyasha, but you already knew that, huh?" Inuyasha glanced down at the ball in his hands. "Wanna play with me?"

"Sure!"

The two played until they were exhausted and then flopped down onto their backs, staring up into the sky. They lay there for a while, trying to find shapes in the clouds until a shout interrupted them.

"Shippo! Shippo, where in the world are you?!"

The two sat up just as Sango rounded one of the huts.

"There you are, Shippo! We've been looking all over for you!" she said as she approached Shippo.

"Who's she?" Inuyasha asked.

Sango stopped and stared at Inuyasha, looked around to see if there was anyone else he was talking to, and, seeing no one, stared at Inuyasha again.

"Uh... Sh-she's my, uh, my nanny," Shippo said.

It took Sango a few seconds to make the connection that both she and Shippo were visible.

"You have a human nanny?" Inuyasha asked.

"Yeah, she's a friend of my mother."

"Wow."

"Well, Shippo," Sango cut in. "Who's your new friend?"

"His name's Inuyasha."

"Well, you and Inuyasha will have to say goodbye for now. Your mother is looking for you."

"Sure thing. Bye, Inuyasha."

"Bye, Shippo!"

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"Shippo! There you are! You had us all worried!" Kagome exclaimed the minute he was in sight of her.

"Sorry, Kagome. I didn't mean to worry you."

"He was playing with Inuyasha," Sango said.

"He was... what?"

"That's right, he was playing with Inuyasha until I, the evil nanny, had to crash the party."

"You mean..."

"Yep, both me and Shippo are now visible."

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"Mama! Mama!"

Tsuki turned around just in time for Inuyasha to leap into her arms.

"What is it?"

"Ih meyhd eh nfh brengd," Inuyasha mumbled into her kimono.

"I can't hear you, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha pulled his face out of her kimono. "I said, I made a new friend."

Tsuki looked slightly shocked. "Really?"

"Yeah. His name's Shippo. He's a mind-reading kitsune! Funny, huh? He knew my name before I even told him!"

"He's a demon?"

"Yeah, but he's nice, and he has a human nanny, so his parents get along with humans."

"That's wonderful! If only the whole world were like that." 'Then maybe you wouldn't have to be treated this way.'

"Can I go play with him tomorrow?"

"Of course you can, Inuyasha."

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Sorry about the short chapter, but I am currently battling a major case of writer's block. Please review anyway! I promise a longer chapter next time! Btw, the next chapter is where the fun really begins... MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

IMPORTANT NOTE: I regret to inform that I expect this fic to be coming to a close in approximately two more chapters. You guys have been great! Keep up the reviews!