"Aaaand… We're so lost…" Kiki grumbled at Inuyasha from behind. His sensitive ears picked up the comment and he turned to look at her, death in his eyes.
"Because YOU couldn't remember where to go! I had to take the lead!" he argued.
"Oh, please, Inuyasha. I know the way to my own home. You wouldn't let me lead, though." Shippo shot back with a glare on his face. Inuyasha glared right back, the two locking eyes in a sort of staring contest.
"Now, come on you two! Shippo, do you know where we are?" Kiki asked. Shippo shook his head, causing Inuyasha to grunt triumphantly. "Inuyasha! How about you?" No reply. "And I have absolutely no clue. And holding back this rain has been hell for the last 3 hours."
The group had been walking for 3 days. The normal 2 day walk had been turned into a trip of confusion and random paths through the woods. Inuyasha refused to admit it was his fault, although Shippo had wanted to lead the group originally.
"Well, to bad! It's going to be even worse if you let it rain on us!" he snapped in aggravation. Kiki scrunched up her face and let her eyes water, putting on the act that she was close to tears. The half-demon boy shifted uncomfortably and glanced around him. Seeing that she was not going to get anywhere with just acting, Kiki let the waterworks loose.
"Y-you-your so m-m-me-mean!" she bawled, sitting down in the dirt. Inuyasha jumped back from her, hands up and eyes wide. Shippo patted her head comfortingly, being perched on her shoulder.
"There, there… we'll find the den…" he cooed, shooting another glare at Inuyasha. "Don't fall apart on us now, Kiki. We need you to hold back that rain."
"You don't understand! My whole body is starting to ache from holding it back! I've been putting off my powers for a whole week and now I'm trying to hold back a rain storm! It's a lot of pressure! I feel like I'm going to throw up!" Kiki cried, her whole body heaving with the sobs. She was gasping for breath, and Inuyasha was starting to shift his weight from foot to foot. His face was twisted in what seemed to be concern, but comforting her would be held against him for a long time.
"Uh…" he sighed quietly. Kiki lifted her head to look at him and Shippo glanced at him from the corner of his eye. "I guess… We could… You could… I'll try to track Shippo's scent and find his den… And you could… I mean... both of you…"
"Just spit it out!" Kiki snapped through her tears, sniffing and wiping her eyes with a sleeve.
"Hey, I'm trying to be nice here!" he growled at her. She shut her mouth abruptly and looked at him expectantly. "Well, I… I was offering to find the den and then carry you there."
Shippo coughed in disbelief and Kiki's eyes lit up. She jumped up from the ground and started dusting herself off. "Really? You would do that for me?" she exclaimed happily, lunging at Inuyasha and wrapping her arms around his neck. She hugged him tightly while Shippo jumped off her shoulder and onto the ground. "Thank you so much!"
Inuyasha turned bright red, muttering excuses to why he was doing this while she clung to him. Shippo watched warily as he patted her on the back and then pushed her off. "Let's not get too overdramatic here…" he mumbled and Kiki grinned.
"Aww! Look at Mr. I-don't-do-well-with-physical-contact!" She taunted, tugging on one of his ears. He swatted her away halfheartedly and then squatted next to Shippo.
"What?" Shippo exclaimed, crossing his arms and looking at him sideways. "Do you need something?"
Inuyasha's nose twitched and he took in Shippo's scent fully. "What do you say, squirt?" He asked to cover up what he was really doing.
"I don't thank half demons." Shippo replied bitterly. Kiki gasped and whacked him over the head before Inuyasha had a chance to.
"Shippo! That's no way to treat Inuyasha! You know, in a way, I'm also half demon. You don't treat me like that!" she scolded. Shippo flushed and muttered his thanks grudgingly.
"Alright, get on my back." Inuyasha grumbled, squatting down. Shippo jumped onto Kiki's shoulder and grabbed her collar while she got onto Inuyasha's back.
They barreled into the sky, Inuyasha using the tree branches to increase his velocity as they traveled on. After an hour or so, Inuyasha stopped in a clearing and dumped the two passengers off his back.
"Is this it, runt?" he growled at them, waving his hand at a large bump in the ground. "Smells just like you."
"Wow! You actually found it!" Shippo exclaimed, running forward. He passed through a demonic barrier that shimmered as he entered the ground around the bump. Placing a paw on a small patch of dead grass, an entrance shimmered next to him. "Let the half demon and Kiki through." He told the hill.
Kiki stepped forward, through the barrier, and Inuyasha followed. Beckoning to them, Shippo scampered into the hole.
"What is this?" Inuyasha inquired quietly. Kiki laughed at his timid fear of the hill.
"It's an illusion. Only Shippo's family can control who comes in, and who gets out." She explained, crouching down and crawling through the hole. Inuyasha followed cautiously. Before his feet were all the way in he felt raindrops on them.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
"Kiki! Honey!" Shippo's mother shrieked when Kiki stood up from crawling through the entrance. A beautiful fox demon pounced at her in human form, bushy tails waving happily behind her. "I haven't seen you in so long!"
Shippo's mother had long red hair and curious green eyes. Her attire was much like her son's except that it was cut to her curves and the nine tails that spread out majestically behind her. Brown, perky fox ears drooped on her head, the only large difference between her son and herself. Kiki adored Shippo's mother; she was a kindhearted demon who always treated her like a daughter, spoiling her and comforting her when Kaede felt no need to.
Kiki laughed and hugged her. "Kitsune! How are you?"
The witty fox demon pulled back from Kiki and grinned. "I'm great! I'm so sorry for burdening you with Shippo. Was he good?"
"Don't worry, he was fine. Hiei!" Kiki squealed at the sight of Kitsune's husband. He was also in human form, attire identical to his son's except for one difference – Hiei had a spiked plate on his right shoulder. His hair was dark black, with white streaks in it. His red eyes were kind and friendly.
"Kiki, it is a pleasure to see you." He murmured holding out his hand. Kiki grabbed it and pulled him to her, paying careful attention to his spikes as she hugged him.
"Interesting reunion." Inuyasha grumbled from behind her, standing up and dusting himself off. "And an even more interesting entrance."
"I know! We're thinking about making it bigger but it's just the right size when we're in fox form." Kitsune talkatively replied, thoughtfully looking at the entrance behind Inuyasha. It was beginning to melt away.
"Mom, Dad, don't smother her…" Shippo called out. Kiki stopped hugging Hiei and peered down the dirt hallway. Shippo was standing beside a wooden door. "She and Inuyasha just got here."
"Inuyasha? Is that your name, then?" Hiei inquired, holding out his hand. Inuyasha grasped it firmly, both staring each other down. "A pleasure to meet you."
"Oh, yes, yes! I adore company! Although Hiei doesn't seem to share that interest…." Kitsune exclaimed, pouting slightly at him. Hiei reddened and turned away from Inuyasha, walking towards his son.
"It's raining?" Shippo inquired and Kiki nodded. He smiled and pushed at the wooden door behind him. It swung inward to reveal a familiar room. It looked very much like Kaede's hut – almost a complete replica. Kiki shrieked happily and pushed past Hiei, jumping in.
"You finished it! It looks exactly like Kaede's hut!" she pointed out.
"Not really…" Inuyasha muttered, earning himself death glares from the mena dn an inquisitive glace from Kitsune.
"Oh don't be so grumpy." Kiki warned. "We're staying for the night."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Inuyasha coughed, dropping the bowl he had been sipping a strange liquid from. It crashed to the floor and shattered, but he paid no mind to it. His eyes were locked on the entrance to the dining room. He heard Hiei shout behind him and Shippo growl, but his thoughts were blurry and he didn't care.
"Inuyasha!" Kiki scolded from the entrance to the dining room. Kitsune stood behind her, giggling. She had given Kiki a makeover, pinning up her hair with ivory combs and dressing her in a fine floral kimono. She even painted Kiki's lips and gave her a floral fan to pull the look together.
Hiei had sourly agreed to divert Inuyasha's attention while Kitsune did this; she had wanted to surprise him. While they were in the forgery examining swords the girls had been in the master bedroom trying on kimonos and testing colors for Kiki's lips. After sleeping in the replica room that night, Kiki had decided she needed to spend some time with her friends.
Shippo had helped the girls prepare a large dinner almost all day. When they had told him to go play a few hours ago, he had taken the chance whole-heartedly.
"I… I…" Inuyasha choked, taking a step forward. Kiki's eyes danced in entertainment. She opened her fan and held it up to her face to hide the fact that she was blushing.
Inuyasha had also undergone some sort of tidying-up. He had brushed his hair and washed his clothes with coaxing from Kitsune. "It's a big dinner! A welcome dinner!" she had said. "You have to look presentable!"
"Inuyasha, stop staring." Kiki said with a scowl. He gulped and took his seat, letting Kiki approached the table and sit across from him. Kitsune skipped towards her seat across from Hiei.
"He broke a bowl, Mom!" Shippo whined, glaring at Inuyasha. "And he hasn't even apologized!"
"Nonsense! You know very well that he didn't mean to. There's no need to apologize! Anyways…" Kitsune waved her hand at the mess and it disappeared. "Your father and I have complete control over items in this house. See? All gone!"
"Then let's eat." Hiei sighed, giving his son a look of apology. Both he and Shippo didn't really like Inuyasha. They were like her father and brother; overprotective and suspicious. Everyone at the table nodded and Kiki stood up. Kitsune waved her hand at the dining table and bowls appeared.
"The first course is a venison stew with carrots, potatoes, corn, and tomatoes." Kiki announced. Kitsune waved her hand again and a large pot appeared in the middle of the table. A ladle lay next to it.
"Enjoy!" Kitsune gaily chuckled, getting looks from her husband and son. Inuyasha was too focused on Kiki to reply. She was leaning over and ladling stew into everyone's bowls. He blushed when she reached for his bowl, flashing him a sweet smile.
"Th-thanks…" He stuttered, and then shifted his gaze to the spoon beside his bowl. "Uh…"
"It's a spoon, but you don't have to use it!" Kiki giggled. "Just sip stew like you normally do."
Shippo snickered at Inuyasha and picked up his spoon. His father smirked slightly and did the same. Kitsune looked between her family, Kiki, and Inuyasha. The two guests were not using their spoons, but her husband and son were.
"Oh, I'm torn!" Kitsune dramatically sighed. "Do I respect my guests and sip from the bowl or stay loyal to my stubborn family and use the spoon?" While saying this she was picking up the bowl. "My, oh me!" she finished and sipped from the bowl.
The rest of the meal followed in much the same way – Inuyasha didn't know how to use any of the utensils so just ate with his hands. Kiki followed his lead so he didn't feel uncomfortable, but Shippo and Hiei, as if to spite him, used forks, knives, and spoons. Kitsune sometimes ate like her guests and sometimes like her family, casually talking as she made her choice with each food.
When they were all finished Kiki stood up and stretched. "I'm stuffed!" She yawned, swiping her fan off the table and heading towards the entrance. "Goodnight!"
"Wait, Kiki!" Kitsune laughed in reply, scurrying from her seat and directing the young girl back to the table. "We need to hear their thanks! Ok boys, praise us greatly and tell us there are no better women in the world!"
"Mom, I don't have to say that, right? I helped all day!" Shippo complained. Inuyasha and Hiei glanced at each other, making a silent and temporary peace treaty.
"Why would we ever say things like that?" Inuyasha began. He glanced at Kiki, whose head was tilted curiously to the side. "I mean… It was good but it doesn't deserve such rave compliments."
"Exactly. Another fine meal, dear wife." Hiei agreed, standing and going over to them. He kissed her gently on the lips and then headed towards the entrance of the dining room. "Thank you for all you do!"
"Not so fast, boys!" Kitsune snarled, causing everyone in the room to jump. She never got mad. "You can't buy me off with thanks and a kiss! We worked hard! We worked all day! We worked… Oh… dammit. I suppose you can buy me off with thanks and a kiss…"
Grumpily she waved at the table and it cleared of any dishes that were left over. The whole group started for the door except Kiki, who spun around when she heard it begin to creak open.
"WAIT!" she yelled at them. They all turned to look at her. Her face was bright red. "I mean… Isn't anyone... going to… say something?" The group looked at her with question and confusion on their faces. She sighed and slumped to the ground. "Hopeless bastards…" she muttered under her breath.
"Oh! You look very nice, Kiki!" Shippo exclaimed. Her face brightened at the comment and she turned her gaze to the others.
"You know I always think you're beautiful, darling! We did a good job!" Kitsune chorused.
"You look very nice." Hiei murmured, only after being jabbed in the side by his wife. "It's a good look for you."
The family left, leaving only Kiki and Inuyasha in the room. Kiki turned her gaze to him and he squirmed under it, face reddening.
"You… look… better than usual!" He blurted, slipping through the door. Kiki looked at the door in horror and then started to laugh.
"I suppose that's all I'm going to get out of Inuyasha…"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
"Hmm…" Kiki sighed, taking the combs out of her hair. Kitsune had left a trunk by the door with her normal clothes and a note telling her to put the other stuff in it. She was in the Kaede hut replica room. "I think I feel more comfortable with my hair down…"
She started to unbutton the kimono when the door opened behind her. She spun around to face the intruder, her shoulder bare and right hand holding the rest of her clothing half up. A red faced Inuyasha was staring at her.
"AAAIIIEE! Inuyasha, you idiot! SIT!" Kiki shrieked. Inuyasha shouted out in surprise as the beads brought him face first into the ground.
"What was that for?" He snapped, prying himself up. "I didn't know you were changing!"
"Just get out! Out!" Kiki screamed, pointing at the door.
"Fine!" Inuyasha barked, opening the door to reveal the hallway. "I'll see you at breakfast!" With that he walked into the hallway and carelessly threw the door behind him.
Kiki sighed with relief and watched the door for a couple minutes before undressing completely and changing into her priestess clothes. She put the fine attire in the trunk and shut the lid. It sunk into the floor when she stepped back from it.
"And everything was going so great, too…." Kiki sighed, rubbing at her watering eyes. "I'll have to apologize in the morning…"