Wow, great reviews for the last chapter!

I just finished part of my disgusting history homework, so I'm more then happy to provide all you readers with the fourth chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

Chapter #4

Shippou held up his tiny cleaning cloth. "So you just sweep it up the railings like this—see?"

Kagome nodded, and imitated him with a larger version of the cleaning cloth.

Actually, everything issued to her was just a larger version of what Shippou had.

Broom, bucket, mop, feather duster, and all the other supplies.

Shippou really seemed to know what he was doing, and seemed to have everything under control.

So why do they want me? Kagome wondered for what the hundredth time. Sure Shippou seems happy for the extra help, but he really doesn't need it. Does he? Is this Inuyasha guy abusing kids? It certainly wouldn't surprise me.

Kagome gritted her teeth as she scrubbed the railing.

"Shippou?"

"Yeah?"

"Why did you guys hire me here?"

Shippou abruptly stopped with his work. "Kagome, you missed a spot."

Kagome swiped away the nonexistent spec of dust, and repeated, "Why am I here?"

Shippou fidgeted nervously.

Finally, he asked, "Do you mind that we're demons?"

"Well, that's a little off topic, y'know. But no, I don't mind that you're demons."

"We weren't always like this." Shippou plucked a bit at his tiny broom. "It happened a long time ago—I can't even remember, I was so little—and there was this curse."

"Curse?"

"Yeah." Shippou shrugged. "Anyway, back when we were human this whole place was a castle. Inuyasha was a prince and everything." He beamed proudly, showing both his baby fangs. "My mom was the Head Maid. She was in charge of everything. After she died, I became Head Maid." Shippou drooped slightly, but didn't look any less proud. "The youngest one ever."

"Do you remember how this whole curse thing happened?" Kagome asked gently.

"Not much, but I remember one really cold night. I was sitting in the kitchen in front of the fire—it gets really cozy there in the winter—and then there were lots of people running and shouting and everything."

He sat down on the steps, and motioned for Kagome to join him.

"Ya see, I was still a bit sleepy, so I followed all the commotion out to the front hall. There was this really pretty lady, but she was Even colder then snow."

Kagome shivered herself. Hadn't her mother said that Inuyasha was cold when he approached her?

"She was smiling at Inuyasha. They talked in front of everyone, and Inuyasha got mad." Shippou shook his head. "Inuyasha has temper problems. We would've signed him up for self-help a long time ago, but he kept scaring off the physiatrists."

"Temper problems?" Kagome asked cautiously. She wanted to know as much as possible, but she felt a little guilty about getting all her information out of Shippou.

"Yeah. He started yelling at the lady, insulting her 'n stuff, and then things went really weird. I fell asleep then, and I don't remember the rest."

"Nothing?" In spite of herself, Kagome couldn't keep the disappointment from her voice.

"I remember waking up a demon. It was still night, so we were all demons. When morning came everyone went back to normal 'cept Inuyasha. We thought he was the only one really cursed, and then night came again."

"That's horrible." Kagome shuddered. Shippou was cute enough, but what did the other demons look like? She got horrible images of fangs and claws and scales...

"Yeah. But we got used to it."

"Inuyasha seemed like he deserved it," Kagome growled angrily.

"Oh, Inuyasha's a really nice guy!" Shippou told her quickly.

"Nice? That's hard to believe. He's probably some spoiled, loud, cruel, mean—" Kagome went on ranting for a while.

Oh dear, Shippou thought worriedly. She really doesn't seem to like him very much. But then again, she hasn't met him. Maybe things won't be so bad. It really seemed like it was going really nicely at first. Maybe for once Inuyasha will be the charming prince we know he can be.

"—a stupid, self-absorbed, moronic—"

But knowing Inuyasha, he'll probably say the worst possible thing, and then she'll leave.

Shippou made a small fist.

This has to work! She's the only one with miko blood...If that idiot messes this up I'll kill him!

He paused, and then smiled sheepishly to himself.

Er...maybe I'll just get Kagome to slap him up. She did a pretty good job with Miroku, and I wouldn't want to hurt Inuyasha too much.

"—freakish, idiotic, bullying, scummy—"

That's when Miroku showed up.

He arrived in time to hear the end of Kagome's little speech, and promptly went very pale.

"Miss Kagome, don't you think I've suffered enough for that one small question?"

"Not you!" Kagome snapped. "I was talking about someone else. Not that you aren't a scummy, freakish, idiototic bully, that is. I wouldn't talk about you behind your back. You're the type of person who I prefer to insult face-to-face."

Relieved, Miroku bowed. "That's nice to hear." He stopped. "I think." He shrugged. "I've been sent to inform you, Miss Kagome, that dinner is now ready. You'll be dining with myself and Inuyasha."

So he doesn't make a jerk of himself, he added to himself.

Kagome frowned.

Can't these people do anything the normal way? Why do they want to eat with me? Aren't I just some lowly maid?

Crossing her arms over her chest, she stuck her nose in the air, and assumed a pose that Miroku and Shippou secretly thought looked very Inuyasha-ish.

"I'm not going."

Can anyone see where this is leading?

I kinda got a little distracted at the end there, but over all I think this chapter was pretty good.

Review! You know you want to.