Chapter 8: Kouga's Kindness and Inuyasha's Jealousy!
KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKHe couldn't believe that idiot Kouga. What was he thinking, just coming to Kagome's house like that? Inuyasha didn't even remember Kagome ever mentioning being friends with him. So what was he doing, appearing at Kagome's doorstep? If Kagome hadn't been there, he would have beat him to the ground…
He was leaving the mansion behind him, he didn't want to listen to Kouga flirting with Kagome, while she gave him slight nods and smiles, but never taking up on the flattery. For that, Inuyasha was grateful, but just that she tolerated it was enough to make his mind spin and his stomach churn.
What was so wrong with someone liking Kagome?
He didn't have the answer. Not right now. He glanced towards the mansion that was so large, and up on a hill that it could be seen from almost anywhere in the city, except the far side, away from it. No doubt Kouga was flirting with Kagome to get some money out of her, the Higurashis were well known for their money.
Maybe that's what was bothering him. Or he just didn't like Kouga. Whichever it was, he still had a faint smell of Naraku—or perhaps Kagura, on him. He didn't like the thought of what that could mean. He had to watch Kouga… he wasn't to be trusted.
Inuyasha was so deep in thought, he hadn't realized that Shippou—the kit—had followed him, until the kit said, "I don't like that Kouga."
Inuyasha spun on his heels, facing the small child with a glare. "What are you doing? Kagome will be worried sick."
"Yeah, but its better than listening to that wolf flatter Kagome every five seconds. Can't you get rid of him, Inuyasha?"
The kit had read Inuyasha's thoughts precisely. He wanted to get rid of that wolf… badly. There can't be a good explanation for Kagura or Naraku's smell on him. "I would, but Kagome would just sit me."
"Well, he has Naraku's scent on him, which isn't good." Shippou says, as if not expecting Inuyasha to understand exactly how bad that was.
"You smelled it to?" Inuyasha questioned. Maybe there was something more to this kit than it appeared. He focused on the fox child for a moment, taking in his appearance. He was only about three in human years; he had a red bushy tail—which humans probably didn't see if he didn't want them to--. "What do you know about Naraku?"
"Not much." Shippou admitted, "I just know his scent."
"How do you know his scent?"
"His scent… it was thickly in the air when my parents were killed." The kit shifted uncomfortably, and changed the subject, "So will you get rid of Kouga?"
"I told you, I can't." Inuyasha responded, continuing on his way. Shippou had to jog to keep up.
"Please? I don't want to be with him for the rest of my vacation. Besides, he might try to hurt Kagome." Shippou pointed out.
Inuyasha froze. He sniffed. And through the tangle of smells on the streets, he smelled blood. Kagome's blood. He picked up Shippou by the tail, and placed him on his shoulder. "Hang on tight." He warned, and sped off.
Shippou lost his balance once or twice, but luckily, each time he was able to regain his balance. What was up with Inuyasha's sudden change in attitude? Before he hadn't even looked at Kagome's house, and now he was racing towards it. Could Inuyasha smell—or hear something that he couldn't?
Shippou stared down at Inuyasha's head, wondering what was going on in there. But he didn't have much time to wonder any farther, for Inuyasha skid to a halt in front of Kagome's mansion.
"Stay here." Inuyasha commanded. He picked Shippou off his back, and placed him on the ground before rushing in.
"Ouch. Looks like you cut yourself." Kouga's voice reached Inuyasha's ears, "Let me help you."
Had he come rushing, just to find that Kagome had just cut herself? Or was there something going on that he couldn't see?
He peeked around the corner. Kouga was helping Kagome put on a Band-Aid around her finger.
Disappointed he hadn't caught Kouga in an untrustworthy act, he was about to go back outside, when he heard a whimper that was clearly Shippou's. He followed the whimper to outside, where Shippou was covering his face with his hands in a protective way. Faintly, he smelled the scent of a wolf youkai—Kouga? But it couldn't have been… He was inside the mansion.
He soon realized that the smell was a lot like Kouga's, but wasn't. Disappointed once again, that he didn't have anything against Kouga, he stood next to Shippou and said, "Who was just here"
The only sound was another whimper. With a sigh, Inuyasha picked up Shippou, actually quite gently, and when the kit started to thrash, he calmed him with a simple, "I'm taking you back to Kagome. Be still." He didn't want to deal with a thrashing, frightened kit.
True to his word, he took Shippou into the house and intruded upon Kouga and Kagome. "I'm taking Shippou up to his room, so I don't have to interfere with your flirting." Inuyasha said before carrying Shippou up the stairs.
Kagome looked a little shocked then told Kouga it was about time he left, and hurried up the stairs after Inuyasha. When she approached the door to Shippou's room, she heard a whimper, and a "She's too busy to come take care of you. Tell me what happened."
Kagome opened the door, and said in a quiet voice, "What happened to Shippou?" She sat down on the bed that was far too big for the small kit, and began stroking Shippou's head.
"I was about to pry that out of him when you came in." Inuyasha snapped.
Kagome winced a little but replied with, "I never thought you the kid's type."
"I hate kids."
There was some silence before Shippou choked out a sob. Kagome spoke soft, reassuring words to the frightened child, still stroking his head gently and reassuringly.
The words escaped Shippou's mouth between sobs. He explained how Naraku had killed his parents. He explained why he was attacked. He couldn't tell them who, he didn't know. When at last, he finished; he choked out another sob.
Inuyasha and Kagome had been quiet through the whole explanation. Kagome began to speak reassuring words to him in a soft voice again, still stroking.
Inuyasha didn't know what to say. All he could think of was, "Naraku doesn't deserve to live."
Shippou choked out a word of agreement, and Kagome stared at the floor, "…Naraku…" She muttered.
Inuyasha and Shippou heard this comment, but knew they probably weren't supposed to. Shippou kept his mouth shut about it, but Inuyasha was curious.
"Is there something wrong?"
"W-what? Oh. No." She answered quickly. She told Shippou that he could sleep in the chair in her room if he liked, but he shook his head.
"Inuyasha, I'd like you to stay the night." Kagome said suddenly.
Inuyasha's heart beat a little fast. Kagome wanted him to stay the night? Why? But all he could say to that was, "…okay."
Kagome smiled and said, "Thank you. You can call your parents and tell them where you are."
"No."
"No?"
"My parents are dead."
Kagome was silent, before she said in a soft, gentle voice, "Come this way, I'll find you a room. Do you want me to turn out the lights, Shippou?"
Shippou shook his head violently.
"All right." Kagome left the lights on and shut the door gently behind her when both Inuyasha and herself had left the room.
"This way." She turned down a hallway, another place Inuyasha had never been. She opened a door and looked around the inside. "You can use this room." She opened the door wider, and let him look inside.
The room was plain, with a wood floor and white walls. There was a bed in the corner, and a desk was on the left wall. A nightstand was next to the head of the bed, and a couch was on the wall the door was on. It was empty, the desk had nothing in its draws, and nothing on the top. The closet was empty as well. It reminded Inuyasha as a room where somebody was just now moving in.
"You can go home and bring whatever you like. You're free to stay here as long as you like as well." Kagome reassured him, "My mother went on a business trip today in London. She'll be back in a week, but you can stay longer than that if you want."
Inuyasha growled lowly in his throat at the mention of Kagome's mother. "I'll stay for awhile." That's all he said. He didn't say exactly how long he planned on staying, but Kagome didn't push it. "I'd like to call Sango and Miroku."
"Sure thing." Kagome led him to the living room and handed him the phone. She left him for privacy.
He dialed Sango's number first, and then Miroku's, setting up a three-way phone conversation.
"I got something to tell you two." Inuyasha began, but Miroku interrupted.
"Lady Sango, may I come to your house today?" Miroku asked.
"No." Sango said firmly, "Go on, Inuyasha."
Miroku made a noise, and then allowed Inuyasha to speak.
"There's this guy named Kouga flirting with Kagome. He has Naraku's smell on him—" He was interrupted again, this time by Sango.
"Ookami Kouga? The one in our class?"
"Yes, the one in our class." Inuyasha rolled his eyes.
"Continue." Miroku goaded.
"I don't trust him. Then Shippou, the kit Kagome's taking care of for awhile was attacked by someone who smelled awfully a lot like Kouga."
"Maybe you're just jumping to conclusions about Kouga." Sango suggested, "He can't be all that bad right?"
"He had Naraku's smell on him." Inuyasha wrinkled his nose in disgust.
"That is a problem—Where are you now?" Sango asked suddenly.
"At Kagome's, why?"
"Nothing. We'll come over, 'kay?"
"I'll tell Kagome, I'm sure it's fine, since your not leaving room for an argument." Inuyasha replied.
"All right. Well I got to go. Bye Inuyasha, bye hentai." With that said, Sango hung up.
"Bye Inuyasha." Miroku said with a sigh, "See you later." He hung up as well.
Inuyasha hung up, and place the phone back where it belonged. He trudged up the stairs and on the way to his room, he heard Kagome whispering reassuring words to Shippou.
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Second chapter in one day.
