A/N: More typing in class. Maybe it should just be a writer's workshop for people to work on their fanfics! I'd get more done that way, at least...

Okay, so a lot of you are going to kill me about now for this chapter. It's an interlude, three parts, with two POV's with the characters. I'm going to start getting to the climax of the story, but I have to keep reminding myself to keep it slow and steady.

...Fat chance.

Ah well, at least I'm trying.

Okay, so like I said last time, I'm going to thank every reviewer who reviewed my last chapter!

Kurama'sFoxyMiko, kagomente, BluesDaughter, IchikoKitsuneKoumori, MoonFace01, FuzzyPurpleWatermelons (Thanks also for catching mistakes! Again! X3), atamagaokashii Ookami, inukuramaRmine, o0darkangel0o, in luv with cold hearted guys, Bloodcherry, Black Hands, SoarMoreFlyHigher, regretfully-yours-Cassy-chan, and animebook fan.

Thanks so much people! It makes me smile. X3

Shippo shivered. Someone was talking about him. He knew it was true; the only time he felt like that was when someone was saying or planning something negative about him.

He uncurled from his position on the bed. Kanna and Chinchou were still sleeping peacefully after the young girl had awoken, whimpering from a gruesome nightmare. She had been having a lot of her nightmares lately, and it was worrying the two young boys. Her last bout of creepy dreams that always seemed to come true, not including the slew that were plaguing her at the moment, was two years ago. It was right before Chin-chan had slipped while repairing Doryoku's roof and had nearly fallen to his death if Kanna and Shippo hadn't broken his fall.

And now that they were back, the young girl refused to talk about them. She was tight-lipped at the moment. Shippo and Chinchou had silently agreed to give her a little bit of time to come to terms with whatever she saw before they persuaded her to tell them about it.

Shippo secretly believed it was something to do with their guardian and one of the kids, but that was just him. Chinchou believed it was something else, something unrelated to them.

Staring at the ceiling, Shippo reflected on his day. He had snuck out (covered by his two siblings) and visited Mrs. Higurashii again. He knew he didn't have to continue going to see her, but it was a little bit of light in the darkness of his life. His visits were made even more enjoyable because of the fact that he got to speak to one of his own kind.

Shippo looked up to Youko more than he let on. That the old fox demon was able to live with a human and protect her while still keeping his secret was a feat that Shippo could only dream of emulating.

The kitsune played with Shippo and they discussed their race together when Kagome left the room for some reason or another. The fox was surprisingly sympathetic for such a powerful being, and Shippo had long ago lost his fear of the youkai.

Kagome continued to be sympathetic and kind. Shippo knew she knew there was something wrong, something going on in the background that the little fox hid. She delicately prodded at his past, dropping little hints that he could talk to her when he was feeling down or depressed. She was very good at what she did; most of the time Shippo didn't even realize she wasprying into his life. She even knew when to tactfully back out. Youko remained oblivious, however, and that hurt a lot more than he thought it would.

But no matter how kind Kagome seemed, no matter how much Shippo just wanted to spill everything and cry in her arms that reminded him so much of his long dead mothers, he knew he couldn't.

Adults, no matter what kind of mask they put on, lied.

They broke their promises.

And that knowledge hurt more than anything.

A dark alleyway gave way to a dimly lit street. A lone dog barked defience before a shout and a dull thud shut the mutt up. A small whine was heard before attention was turned elsewhere.

He didn't understand why he had to do the dirty work. Yes, he hadn't contacted the wench that kept charge of the kid he was supposed to get, but that didn't mean he should be stuck with skulking around the night in a run-down street.

The fact that it was his boss and love rival who ordered it did nothing to soothe Naraku's temper.

No, he was stuck mucking about this dead end. He grumbled as he stealthily approached the house he was targeting. The only lights on in the entire dwelling were not bright at all and barely registered in Naraku's mind. He silently padded up the walkway and approached the door, knocking once, loudly, as per prior agreement.

He shifted as he waited for the resident to answer the door. His eyes flashed once in anger and annoyance at being kept waiting before his face was once again a cool mask of indifference. It was only to the woman's credit that the door opened before he got really pissed off.

"Can I help you?" she asked. The chain was still attatched, leaving mere inches for Naraku to look upon the shadowed face.

Holding back a sneer, he asked "You are Doryoku, are you not?" A slight darkening and lightening of the shadows was the only indication that the wench nodded. "I am here to collect our payment."

He growled in frustration as the door was closed. Chains clinked together and locks were heard being undone. The door creaked open a moment later, opening to a very dark and (if it had been anyone other than Naraku) very creepy corridor. "Come in, come in. You are a bit earlier than I anticipated, but never mind. He is upstairs with those other things he protects. It shouldn't be too much trouble for you, hm?"

Naraku nodded and shoved his way forward. "Yes, yes. I trust you did as asked? I don't want to have to dock your payment because of...damaged goods."

Doryoku waved a hang casually. "Of course. I made sure they ate everything, as instructed. What, do you think I'm incompetent?"

Naraku bit back a sarcastic reply and brushed past her. "Then I will collect what is due and you will get your payment tomorrow or the day after."

"Don't you forget, you or that bastard you work with, that I will go to the police if I don't get what's mine in two days. I have plenty of evidence to hold everything against you, regardless of who commited it in the first place."

Naraku sneered and ignored the comment. She would get her due... The not-quite-whole demon's eyes glittered maliciously. Yes, she would get what she deserved very soon.

Shippo froze as he heard the squeaking of the stairs. He immediately shut his eyes, evening out his breathing to give the illusion of sleep. He began to tremble and had to tighten his muscles to hide the motion. His guardian never went up to their room if she could help it. They hadn't done anything wrong that he knew of, so why was she walking up the stairs?

A creaking door opened and a little sliver of light filled the room. It landed on Kanna's face; Shippo held his breath to see if his little sister would awaken. Not even an eyelid fluttered.

Creaking floorboards brought a chill of fear down Shippo's spine. Something was dreadfully wrong...why hadn't Kanna woken when the light shined in her face? They didn't have any electricity in the attic, which lead to all of them being unable to sleep in even the most dimly lit room.

Shippo tried to force himself to relax. It wouldn't do for Doryoku to see that he was awake. If none of the others showed signs of being aware, it would be on his head if he didn't follow suit.

All that was thrown out the window when he caught a glimpse of the shadow.

It was too tall to be a woman.

It was to broad to be a woman.

It was most definately not a woman.

Throwing caution to the wind, Shippo sat up and screamed. At least, he tried to. Something was sticking in his throat, preventing even the smallest peep from escaping his lips.

Panicking, Shippo barely heard the chuckle that came from the looming shadow. "Come come, now, you should know that little boys ought to behave. Otherwise they'll be in big trouble with their parents," the gravely voice mocked.

Shippo scrambled back as a hand lunged for him. Kicking out, the hand recoiled and a hiss was heard.

Shippo didn't take a moment to spare. He began to desperately shake his brother and sister, wondering why they wouldn't wake. He longed to have his voice back, loud and strong. He wanted to shout at them, tell them there was a stranger trying to attack them.

Despite his efforts, his only remaining family stayed deep in their slumber.

A painful wrentch at his shoulder pulled Shippo back forcefully. The grip was like steel, biting into his arm and causing tears to prick at his eyes.

Shippo silently screamed as the voice spoke to him again. "You are a bad boy. Youshould to be punished, you should. Your guardian agreed that you have been a bad influence on her precious children. You are no longer wanted here. I've come to take you to your new home." A dry chuckle followed.

Fear gripped Shippo's tiny mind. They were taking him away? Away from the only family he had left? Why?

Shippo tried to beg the man to give him a chance. He tried to say he would do anything to stay with Kanna and Chin-chan. He silently cried at Kanna and Chinchou to wake up, to help him get out of this mess like so many other times.

But nobody heard him. His cries went unanswered, his voice refused to cooperate.

He was all alone.

A large object hit Shippo in the back of the head and the young fox saw stars. He dimly felt the man pick him up before darkness swallowed him.

It would be some time before Kanna woke again from a nightmare where only one of her brothers was there to comfort her.

End Chapter
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