Hills

"Uh...Yes mother. Of course, mother. I'll try, mother. Yes, I will stay with Inuyasha. I will be back by dinner. No, I won't get into trouble. No, I won't use my powers. I'll be careful. Bye, Mom! What? Oh… Bye!"

Inuyasha snickered as Kiki fled the hut and ran ahead of him. He was leaning against the wall next to the doorframe, outside.

"You just promised the woman you would stay with me!" He barked after her. "Haven't I told you enough that you can't run off alone with the jewel?"

Kiki stopped at the top of the hill that overlooked the village. She was panting happily as she turned to Inuyasha and waved. "Are you coming or not? Hurry it up, I want some fresh air!"

A week had passed since Kiki's souls had gotten out of her control. Between exchanging information and making things up that made sense as they went along, the whole group had figured out Inuyasha, Kikyo, and Kiki's story.

Kiki was a creation of three souls: Kikyo, Kikyo's murderer, and a small soul of her own to hold the other two in check. Through 34 years of developing within Kikyo's Murderer's body, she had created a soul of her own; the demon that contained her probably knew nothing about it. She was then set free in a child's form, near the village, and was brought to Kaede be an unsuspecting villager. Kaede had unknowingly trained Kiki to draw spiritual power from Kikyo and she now used the identity of a priestess to mask her unusual powers.

"The only reason I'm coming is because you have the jewel! Remember that!" Inuyasha warned, springing up the hillside to stand beside her. As soon as he was nearby, she sat down.

"Let's roll down the hill! First one to the bottom wins!" she exclaimed. Inuyasha gave her a look that suggested only slight interest. "What? You can't tell me you didn't do this when you were little."

"When I was little I was off alone in a forest fending for myself and running away from demons until I was strong enough to fight them off!" Inuyasha snapped at her.

"Well then all the better!" Kiki cheerfully replied as she grabbed his arm and yanked him down. He pulled his arm back as she continued. "It's time to finally have some fun!"

"Why are you so perky? Don't you know that you were apparently created for no reason?" Inuyasha muttered.

"Oh, stop being cranky! I'm just happy to finally be out of the interrogation room!" she said, motioning the Kaede's hut. It had been a long week of questions, migraines, and warnings of not using any of her powers for a while. Inuyasha had witnessed it all with a taunting smirk and sarcastic remarks.

"I'm not cranky!" He growled at her.

"Then roll with me! Wheeeeeeeee!" Kiki yelled as she fell to her side and rolled down the hill. Inuyasha watched until she reached the bottom and stood up, dusting herself off. She then turned to look at him. "C'mon! It's really fun!"

With a sigh and an under-the-breath mutter of 'This is so stupid', Inuyasha fell onto his side and crookedly rolled down the hill, not nearly as fast as Kiki had. She cheered when he hit the bottom.

"Now wasn't that fun?" She cooed, pinching one of his twitching dog ears. He swatted her hand away as he sat up, not replying. "Oh, come on! Give me your opinion!"

"Why didn't I go as fast as you?" he asked bitterly. Kiki squealed energetically at his sudden interest. He shot her a glare. "Well? Why didn't I go as fast as you?"

Kiki reached out and patted him on the head. "That's because you haven't had a lot of practice, silly!"

Inuyasha stood and began his way back up the hill, Kiki prancing up behind him. "Then we'll just keep doing it until I can go as fast as you." He stated coldly.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"Inuyasha… Can we please stop?" Kiki begged for about the hundredth time that day. "We've rolled down the hill, like, 50 times already."

"Did I go as fast as you?" He questioningly snapped, sitting down. They were at the top of the hill, readying to go down once more. "If I did, we can walk down this time."

"Yes! Yes, you went as fast as I did! Faster! As fast as the wind! Can we please do something else?" Kiki said, lunging at the opportunity to stop rolling. "It's already mid afternoon and we haven't even visited the tree. That was our original plan. To visit the tree and try to find some clues."

"Fine. But if we want to get back by dinner and still have thoroughly examined it we're going to have to get there in…" He examined the sky. "Two minutes."

"WHAT?" Kiki groaned loudly, and then put a hand over her mouth. Her eyes darted towards Kaede's hut at the bottom of the hill they were standing on. She still thought they were at the tree.

"Oh, shut up. If you get on my back we'll be there in no time." Inuyasha growled at her.

"Your back?" Kiki exclaimed, her energy suddenly revived. "That sounds like a lot of fun!"

"Uh... Sure…" Inuyasha muttered, cursing himself silently for even offering to give her a ride.

"So squat down so I can get on." Kiki ordered. Reluctantly, he did, allowing her to jump onto his back. When he stood up she rested her head on his right shoulder. "Onward!"

With a short squat Inuyasha launched himself from the top of the hill and soared over the village below. Kiki wrapped her hands around his waist and squeezed tightly, as if hanging on for dear life. He landed on a roof-top and skittered and jumped across and onto others. Before Kiki could even absorb how fast they were going they were hopping from tree to tree and then suddenly she was dumped onto the ground.

"There. We're here." Inuyasha huffed sourly. Kiki stood and rubbed her butt, deciding not to whine about how he had dropped her as soon as possible. It was good enough that he had carried her to the tree.

It was the tree Kiki had freed Inuyasha from. The wise tree; "The Tree of Time", as Kaede had called it in their discussions. Kiki scampered up the large, overgrown roots and up to the spot where Inuyasha had been. There was a dent in the tree where the arrow had been. Kiki felt a strain around her neck as she touched it. The Shikon jewel was pulling her towards the spot.

"Huh…" Kiki murmured as Inuyasha sat, pouting, on the ground to watch. Kiki went from side to side, examining everything she could. Soon it began to darken outside, and Inuyasha called her back from her mission.

"You're going to be late for dinner." He sated blankly as she passed him again. "You're going to be late if we don't start walking back."

"Then it's not a problem, is it? I'll ride with you." Kiki replied with a wave of her hand, brushing the problem aside. The tree fascinated her to much to leave it now.

"No, you won't." Inuyasha growled. "That was a one time thing; I'm not doing it again."

Kiki turned from the tree and sat in front of him. "Aww! Please? I'll only be a couple more minutes, and then you can carry me back!"

"No!"

"Pleeeeeeeease? It was invigorating! I'll never ask you again, I promise!"

"NO!" He snarled.

Kiki leaned forward, putting her hands on his knees. Her purple eyes glimmered with an emotion Inuyasha could not identify. "You know the only reason I didn't want to kill you is because you're too important to the story of why I was created. Think about it." She whispered into one of his ears.

With that she got up and began to walk back to the hut. Inuyasha watched her wearily as she left. "And the only reason I can't kill you is because you look too much like Kikyo…"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"I'm back!" Kiki called into the hut before pushing aside the mat the covered the door and entering. Shippo was sprawled out across the floor playing with clay marbles and Kaede was preparing herbs for some sort of potion. There was a pot over the fire boiling water.

"Where's Inuyasha? Didn't you tell me you'd stay with him?" Kaede asked, not looking up from where she was cutting Red Reishi, a rare mushroom used in powerful rememdies.

"Oh my goodness! Where did you get that?" Kiki shrieked upon sight of it. "That's so rare!"

"My question was 'Where is Inuyasha?', and it still stands." Kaede replied, brushing aside Kiki's comment.

"He walked me to the top of the hill and then sprung off to do some things…" Kiki said with a shrug. It would be better if Kaede didn't know she had walked back alone. "I'm allowed to go down the hill alone, right?"

"Did you walk or roll?" Shippo inquired, looking up from his marbles. Kiki twitched noticeably and turned to face him, fake smile plastered onto her face.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"You know because you were – MMPH! MMM!" Shippo had begun to explain but Kiki had pounced on him and covered his mouth.

Kiki tried to cover up the sudden action by saying, "So… Uh… Mom. Where did you get the Red Reishi?"

"A man from far away lands was passing through the village today and stopped by at the hut. He offered to sell me some for quite a reasonable price." Kaede said wearily, looking up from the rare mushroom to examine Kiki's position over Shippo very carefully. "Mind telling me what you're doing?"

"Oh! Nothing!" Kiki assured, releasing Shippo from her grasp. He gasped dramatically for air and Kiki bopped him over the head.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"I'm back." Inuyasha called sourly, pushing aside the mat in the doorway and waltzing in. Kaede glanced up at him from watching the pot over the fire carefully.

"Done with those things you needed to do?" she asked.

"Yeah." Inuyasha replied, finding it easier to just agree with what she was saying then ask questions about it. He stopped next to her and peered over into the corner where Kiki was curled around Shippo, both of them sleeping.

"They went out and ate berries for dinner. I apologize if you didn't have any."

"Dinner? No, that's fine." Inuyasha said as he sat down. "What are you making?"

"I'm preparing Red Reishi for later use." Kaede told him, as if he would understand what it was. "It's much easier to use for later potions if I cook it now."

Kiki stirred and lifted her head, opening her eyes slightly. "Keep it down, we're trying to sleep." She muttered at them, raising a hand to cover a yawn.

"It's just because you're such a light sleeper." Inuyasha snapped. She scowled in reply and laid down again, hissing something about 'since when do we allow strangers to live in the house?'

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"Demon Slayer Village…?" Kaede said in question, turning to a very set faced Kiki. Shippo was still asleep and Inuyasha had left sometime in the night. "You want to go to the Demon Slayer Village?"

"One of the villagers is from there, and they told me… It would be much better if I lived in a place that could handle the increase in demonic activity."

"I don't know…" Kaede sighed.

"Like you said, many demons will be after the jewel. I want to live in a village that will not have problems with demons coming at them every day. And, she said it was where the jewel originated from. I could figure out the history of what I'm protecting." Kiki argued, knowing that Kaede would not like the idea. "And I could take Shippo back to his den on the way there. Didn't you get a message yesterday from his parents apologizing for their sudden absence?"

"Well… Yes… I suppose… But leave the village? For good? In your condition?" Kaede pleaded.

"Mom, I fixed my leg and it's been a week. I'm going to have to start using my powers again or the souls will probably get restless. The rain hasn't visited the village all week because I'm not allowing any of the elements I control near me. And I miss the chill of the wind…"

"Well… I will think about it. Now you go and find Inuyasha and see what he says about it…" Kaede stated, her face as set as Kiki's. The young girl sighed in irritation.

"Why do I have to check with him? He'll follow me wherever I go because I have the jewel."
"Because he's a living thing and deserves to know that you're leaving." Kiki's face brightened at that statement. "If you are leaving." Kaede finished with warning in her voice.

Doesn't matter, because I'm leaving with or without your permission. She taunted in her mind, standing and exiting the hut. And I'll tow Shippo back to his parents while I'm at it.

Kiki headed up the hill and then down to the village, cutting through the market and onto the path into the woods. Inuyasha would sense the jewel and come after her; he always did.

Upon reaching the tree she released him from, she sat down on one of the roots. Inuyasha jumped down and landed before her.

"How did you know I was following you?" He sneered, straightening. Kiki just flashed him a smile and looked up at the sky. Inuyasha went forward and place his hands on either side of her legs, leaning in close to her face. She lowered her head and looked straight into his eyes. "Answer me when I speak to you."

"You're not my mother." Kiki replied with a smirk, lifting up her knee and kicking him back. Inuyasha squinted his eyes at her, catching her foot before she let it go back to the ground.

"You came out here for a reason though. Perhaps because your mother told you to?" Inuyasha snickered. Kiki glared at him and then smirked again, knowing she would upset him with her news.

"Yeah. I'm going away. She wanted me to tell you before I waltzed off, leaving you dumbstruck and confused."

Inuyasha let go of her foot and stared at her. Kiki basked in his surprise. "You're… going away? Where to?"

"The demon slayer village in the north. All I know is that the village is somewhere in the mountains, because… the villager I got the info from can't remember. I also know that the jewel came from there. I'll ask people in other villages if they know anything about it." Kiki answered with a smile. She tilted her head playfully at Inuyasha. "Why? You don't want to come?"

"I didn't say that! And I also don't mean to say that I want to! I mean… I'm following the jewel! That's all! It's the only reason I'll go with you!" Inuyasha barked, taken of guard by the question. "Why do you care, anyways?"

Kiki slipped off the branch and seductively placed her hand underneath Inuyasha's chin. He was only a bit taller than her, but she still had to tilt her head up to look at him. Inuyasha nervously backed off, but she kept her approach. "Why do I care? Why shouldn't I? Are you sure that the jewel is the only reason you'll go with me?" Kiki brought her face very close to Inuyasha's, and his eyes went wide.. "Are you positive it's the only thing?"

"It's the jewel." Inuyasha assured her, his voice shaky and uncertain. Kiki smirked and let go of his chin, skipping off towards the village.

"Ok! We're leaving tomorrow!" She called back. Inuyasha watched, stunned, as she left.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"I told him!" Kiki said in a sing-song voice, spinning into the hut. Kaede raised an eyebrow at the smiling girl as she sprawled herself across the floor to relax. Shippo scampered through the door with herbs and handed them to Kaede.

"Told who? What? What's going on?" He energetically exclaimed, jumping into her lap. Kiki laughed and patted him on the head.

"I told Inuyasha that we're going to take you back to your parents tomorrow! And then we're going on a journey to find a demon slayer village that I can live in and not cause problems for the residents!" Kiki exclaimed before Kaede could reply. Instead, the old woman shot Kiki a death glare, which she ignored.

"Really? I get to go home? Yay! Not that I'm not having fun here, but I want to see my mom and dad. And I want to go play with my friends! " Shippo exclaimed as he jumped out of Kiki's lap and ran circles around her. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

"Whoa, slow down there!" Kiki laughed, catching Shippo before he tripped over his own two feet. "Tomorrow! We're leaving tomorrow! So you've got to go help me pack! We need to pack my two other outfits, some food, some medical herbs, and we need to find some water sacks somewhere in this hut! You up to the challenge?" Shippo nodded his head vigorously. "Alright, then let's get to it!"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"You over packed." Kaede bitterly pointed out, two drained children sprawled before her. Kiki lifted her head off the floor and examined her pack from afar. It was indeed overstuffed, herbs protruding from every pocket.

"Then un-pack some of it. We were just excited, is all." Kiki said with a wave of her hand. It was mid evening and Shippo was taking a nap beside her; they had spent all day running around the village getting useful things.

"I'd unpack all of it if you hadn't gotten Shippo into such a good mood." Kaede threatened. Kiki shrugged and rolled over, turning her back to Kaede.

"And then I'd just set off with nothing, fending for myself as I went along." Kiki threatened back. Kaede sighed and began to unpack her bag, removing a great amount of herbs, two outfits, and about five water sacks. There were also jars of berries and sacks of dried meat.

"Keep most of the food." Kiki warned, sitting up. "And you know what herbs we should have."
'"Of course, of course. Now go back to sleep." Kaede said with Kiki's classic wave of the hand. Kiki scowled at her but Kaede didn't see.

"What's this?" Inuyasha exclaimed from the doorway. He raised his eyebrows. "Are you going into hiding for a couple years?"

"You know very well I am not!" Kiki exclaimed defensively. "I just over packed!"

"This is good for me because I get most of the herbs she collected…" Kaede murmured. Kiki sharply turned towards her adoptive mother.

"What was that?" she basically shrieked.

"Oh, nothing!" Kaede sing-songed back to her, somewhat mocking. Kiki fumed silently as Inuyasha snickered at her and Kaede bottled most of the herbs she had collected with Shippo that day.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"You'll come back some day, right?" Kaede choked out. Kiki nodded and embraced her mother warmly. "I'll miss you, child."

"Don't cry, Mom. If you cry, I'll cry and then Shippo will cry and then Inuyasha will make fun of all of us!" Kiki warned, her voice cracking.

"Hey! I'm capable of emotions too!" Inuyasha snapped. Shippo crossed his arms and looked up at him, trying to stare him down. Eventually it started to make Inuyasha uncomfortable. "I mean… I probably wouldn't make fun of you because it's kind of emotional for you!" More staring. "Ok! I would make fun of you!"

Kaede laughed, trying to cheer herself up. Kiki drew back from her mother and held her in front of her by her shoulders. "Now you be careful." Kaede warned them. They all nodded and Kiki smiled at her.

"Bye Mom. I will miss you so much. Thanks for taking care of me all these years. Thank for putting up with my… silence, for so long." Kiki hugged her mother again and then picked up her pack and shrugged it on. Shippo hopped onto her shoulder and Inuyasha put his arms in his sleeves.

Kiki waved as Kaede's hut got blurrier and blurrier until she couldn't see it anymore, due to all the trees. The path they took was slightly overgrown, and took sharp turns. It would be a while before the reached their first destination: Shippo's home.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"Dammit, girl, watch your step!" Inuyasha exclaimed as she tripped and bumped into him. He steadied her as she tried to straighten up.

"Sorry, this pack is really heavy." She huffed and Shippo jumped off her shoulder to relieve her of some weight.

"Runt, get back on her shoulder." Inuyasha growled, getting behind Kiki and yanking the pack off her back. He shouldered it as she watched in awe. "What? You're slow. And you'll be even slower if you have this thing on."

Kiki grinned at him and Shippo jumped back up onto her shoulder. The three went back to walking, silently, through the forest. They had lost their way a while back, Inuyasha insisting that he would lead because he was traveling with "A bunch of idiots".

Kiki sighed. "This is going to be a long trip…"