Disclaimer: The characters of Inuyasha are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, but this story belongs to me

Chapter Twenty-Two: Shippo's Lullaby

December 3rd

The weather has turned much colder. We had to stop the search for Kanna's mirror for the day. Inuyasha didn't complain as usual when we asked to stop. Maybe he's cold too. All I know is that I'm FREEZING! I don't know why we couldn't wait until spring to search for the stupid mirror.

Stupid Inuyasha. Doesn't he know that when we find the mirror Kagome will leave us? Of course he does, he's the one who told me!

I don't want Kagome to leave. I love her! I know she loves me too, I don't know why she wants to leave us. I don't want to be alone! I want to whimper and cry. What the heck, I'll whimper. That always wakes her up.

Whimper whimper.

"Shippo?" Her voice is heavy and groggy. She's not quite awake yet. Time to bring out the big guns.

Sniffle sniffle.

"Shippo, sweetie… are you ok?" Yup, the tears woke her up. It works every time. I can hear Inuyasha snorting rudely in the tree above us. I ignore him. Moron.

As pathetically as possible I say, "I had a nightmare." That much was true. I've been having nightmares every since Inuyasha told me WHY we are searching for the mirror. They have been getting worse the closer we get to finding it.

Kagome sits up and pulls me into her arms. She wraps our blanket around us and leans against the tree Inuyasha is sleeping in.

"Tell me about your dream."

"I was alone." I didn't have to fake the tears on that one. I'm terrified of being alone. I don't remember my own mother at all. My father took care of me by himself for as long as I can remember. When he was killed I realized I was all alone. He was the only family I had. No brothers or sisters or aunts or uncles. No grandparents or cousins or anything. Just me and my dad.

And then it was just me.

Then came Kagome. She scooped me up in her arms and protected me using her own body as a shield. She held me and coddled me. Yes, she spoiled me rotten. I know that. And don't think for one minute that I don't love every second of it.

I loved my dad, I really did, but he was never big on lovey dovey stuff. He was tough on me, wanting me to be a strong demon when I got older. But I know that he cared, I could tell by the way he watched me carefully, always ready to pull me out of danger if there was anything I couldn't handle. He was kind of like Inuyasha. Don't tell that stupid dog I said that though, I'll deny it.

"Sing me a song?" I give her the big tearful baby eyes. She can never resist them. I should probably feel bad about pulling her strings like this, but hey… it works!

"Now?"

"Pleeeeease?"

With a sigh she pulls me closer and begins rocking back and forth slowly. I'm not sure she knows she rocks me whenever she sings me a lullaby. Must be her Mama Instinctkicking in. Everyone is asleep, so I don't mind being treated like a baby. Well, Inuyasha is still awake. I saw his ear twitch in our direction. He may grumble about her singing, which when we are walking usually makes her sing louder and sometimes more off key, but he is always listening.

Her voice is soft and low, trying to keep quiet so only I could hear her. She's singing about love again, one of her favorite topics for stories and songs. I don't know if she knows that Inuyasha is listening too. I don't tell her because I don't want her to stop. She gets embarrassed way too easy. I gotta admit that sometimes it's fun to manipulate Kagome and Inuyasha into fights, they are a hoot to watch.

But not tonight.

Tonight I just want to be babied. Tonight it seems too real that she might actually leave us… leave ME. I don't want her to. I don't CARE if it is selfish. I want her to stay.

Kagome sings softer and starts stroking my hair. I look up and see that her eyes are looking into the distance at the stars. I think she's trying not to cry too. I don't think she wants to leave me either. I wonder if there is a way I can convince her to stay. What's so great about that world of hers anyhow?

"Do you love me?"

Kagome stops singing and looks down at me and smiles. She hugs me and rubs her nose against mine.

"Yes Shippo, I love you very much."

"Will you love me forever?"

"I will love you forever… and then some. No matter where I go or what happens, I will always hold you close in my heart."

Inuyasha is going to kill me for making Kagome cry. But I needed to hear it. I needed to know that she really does love me. She holds me like her heart is breaking. So I do the only thing I can do… I cry with her.

The sobs turn into sniffles and eventually she gives a little smile.

"You never know what the future brings," she says to me. "We have to cherish the moments we have."

"One more song?"

She laughs. I knew she would. It was super late, well, early depending on how you look at it. I don't think either one of us would have the energy for a whole story or even her shortest song.

"How about I just hum a bit while we lay down."

I grin at the compromise, then snuggle down next to her as go to sleep.