The Hybrid

By: Guardian of the Hell Gate

Chapter 6: Meeting; Shippou

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha & co.

It was 12:00 a.m. Inuyasha and Kagome were staying in a hotel near one of the few forested places left in California.

But Kagome couldn't sleep. The forest reminded her of her dream.

Shippou...

Tears came to her eyes at the mere thought of his name. Those turquoise eyes brimming with tears and begging for comfort.

She was standing on the small balcony in their room in a long white gown. A soft summer breeze lifted her hair from her shoulders slightly.

Suddenly strong warm arms wrapped around her waist pulling her back into her holder's chest, Inuyasha.

"Can't sleep?" he asked.

Kagome shook her head softly.

Smiling slightly Kagome freed herself from Inuyasha's grasp and turned towards him.

"Hey, you wanna race?" she asked.

"Now?" he looked at her curiously.

"Yeah it'll burn off all my extra energy, Glace you wanna come?" Glace's answer was to look at them like they were crazy then go back to sleep.

"Well I guess that's a no, so how 'bout it. Come on please?" pleaded Kagome using her best puppy dog eyes.

"Fine," he groaned.

"Thanks Inuyasha. Well race to that big tree in the forest. Oh and by the way... Go!"

Then she was out the window over the balcony and nothing but a white blur as she sped into the darkness.

Quickly scooping up his Tetsuiga he too was gone.

Inuyasha quickly caught up with Kagome, her raven hair flowing behind her like a dark cloud, her laughter flowing through his ears like bells.

They were almost there neck and neck until Kagome skidded to a stop. Her ears twitched as they tried to locate the disturbance. Seeing her trying to pinpoint a sound he too put his ears to work and at the same time they heard a low animalistic growling sound.

Looking towards the sound out crept a fox demon its fur was matted and dirty, and burrs and leaves clung to it as well. Its eyes were red with turquoise pupils. Inuyasha quickly stepped in front of Kagome, as he pushed her slightly behind him. Quickly brandishing the Tetsuiga he attacked the fox quickly dodged and rushed him. Inuyasha deftly dodged before trying to land another attack.

And all the while Kagome watched the fox their was something familiar about him.

Kag's Pov

The fox dodged Inuyasha's attack once more. I couldn't really bring myself to attack him even though I knew I could and should. But I couldn't, it was the way he had looked at me when he first emerged like I had come out of a dream...

But it couldn't be...

But his eyes were turquoise and filled with a sadness and pain that I knew only to well.

Could it?

'Go! Run away with Shippou!' said one of the figures, before continuing the deadly dance in which he had been trapped in.

Although I could see he was young, not even fully grown he moved like that man, Shippou's father.

It couldn't be...

But it was...

It was Shippou.

"Stop!" I cried, the need to protect them both from each other surfacing in my cry.

And for a minute as they stopped it seemed that everything else did too, and all was silent.

I crept towards Shippou slowly, "Shippou..." I whispered his name.

His ears perked, it was indeed Shippou.

"Kagome stay away from him," I heard Inuyasha say, I ignored him. I had to help Shippou.

I could feel his sadness wash over me like a river. It was overwhelming, and for a second it felt like I couldn't breathe. I was drowning in his sadness.

"Shippou it's me, please remember me," I whispered quietly.

I looked about the same as my phoenix form as I did in my hanyou form. But the time away from each other had quickly stripped him of his trust in people; I'm surprised he didn't attack me. And although I do think he recognized me he didn't see me as the person who had saved him from those monsters.

But I couldn't change. Not in front of Inuyasha, I never told him the whole truth about me and I don't know how he would take it.

My eyes pleaded with his to recognize me...

He did.

As he slowly, cautiously padded lightly over to me. I lifted an outstretched hand.

I could sense Inuyasha tensing wanting to spring but knowing he couldn't because of my close proximity to Shippou.

He dropped his muzzle tiredly into my hand as his eyes dropped tiredly; he had finally recognized me.

In a bright flash a young boy was in my arms, exhausted. I stood slowly as to not disturb him and turned to show him the boy, Shippou.

His clothes in tatters, hair lose, matted and dirty, his face smudged with dirt.

Inuyasha looked at him for a minute as if not believing that the demon he had fought had turned into this little boy. Until his eyes met mine, silently demanding an explanation. I nodded towards the hotel signifying I would give him an answer after I had cleaned Shippou. He nodded his eyes lingering on mine, and then we were off towards the hotel.

To…Be…Continued…