Disclaimer: Ok yeah, I don't own Inuyasha and I never will so let's get on with the story.
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CHAPTER THREE: Feudal Japan's Worst Spies
The next day, everything went normally. Shippo helped Kagome around the house along with Shirrow and Noriko, while InuYasha caught their lunch and dinner and watched Kotaro. After they had all finished their morning chores they went off to do their own things…
InuYasha yawned while he sat in a tree. He had been watching everyone from his perch for about an hour. Noriko and Kotaro were playing in front of the house under Kagome's watchful eyes, Shirrow was with Mushin trying to catch a rabbit, and Shippo had gone to his room. Yes, it was a peaceful day…
He yawned again, closed his eyes, and leaned against the trunk. It was the perfect day to take a nap…
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Shippo snuck out of his room and into Kagome and Inuyasha's room. Their room had a window that was in the back of the house. He could sneak out unnoticed since everyone was in the front. He poked his head out and checked his surroundings to be sure that no one was around to see him sneak out.
Good… Everyone's still in front. I'll sneak out and come back before anyone realizes I'm gone…
With that thought in mind, Shippo slipped out the window and silently made his way into the forest.
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InuYasha's ears perked up. Perhaps Shippo wasn't as quiet as he thought he was. InuYasha's gaze followed Shippo as he went into the forest behind their home.
Shippo, InuYasha thought. Why are you doing this?
He scowled and jumped down from his perch and grabbed the back of Shirrow's shirt.
"Oww! Dad, what're you doing?"
"Quiet." InuYasha turned over his shoulder. Kagome wasn't paying attention. She was still watching Kotaro and Noriko play. Good. I don't want her to know that Shippo left yet…
"Dad?"
"Listen up, guys… Shippo just left. I want you two to follow him."
"Why do we hafta' follow him? Why don't you go?" Shirrow asked.
"Oh come on, like you don't want to spy on Shippo without getting in trouble…" InuYasha smirked.
Shirrow thought it over, and looked towards Mushin, who also smirked. "Okay, we'll do it."
InuYasha nodded. "Good. Remember: don't be seen, and you're only there so you can follow Shippo. I don't want you two running off somewhere else… Got it?"
"Yeah, yeah we got it… So when do we come back home? When Shippo does?"
"Once you find out why he left, you come back here."
"Got it." Shirrow turned to Mushin. "C'mon, Mushin. We got a fox to follow."
The two of them ran off and Kagome came up to InuYasha.
"InuYasha, where are they going?"
"Uhh… I figured I'd let them wander around… I mean, they were by themselves yesterday since Shippo ditched them. And they didn't cause any trouble then, so I told them they could go wherever… As long as they were as good as they were yesterday…"
"Well, that was nice of you…" Kagome gave him one of her biggest smiles.
Man, I hate having to lie to Kagome… But I don't want her to know that Shippo ran off… She'd only get worried, and she doesn't need that right now…
"Yeah, I know…"
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Shippo looked up at the sun. It was almost midday… He was just arriving at the entrance to the village. He had plenty of time to get to where he and Mayu had agreed to meet. He could walk to the spot and then rest from the long run he took to get to the village.
So he walked to the river and laid down to rest. It would be a little while before Mayu got there…
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"C'mon, Mushin! You're so slow!" Shirrow turned to look at his best friend. They had just arrived in the village.
"It isn't my fault I'm not part demon like you are, Shirrow!" Mushin was tired. His half-demon companion had wanted to run the entire way to the village to keep up with Shippo.
"Keh. I shoulda' just left you behind. You only slowed me down!"
"So what? It's not like we won't find Shippo now. You can just sniff him out, can't you?"
"Of course I can! It'd just be easier if we caught up to him so I wouldn't have to waste time trying to find him, that's all!"
Mushin rolled his eyes. "Yeah, whatever…" He smirked. "Start sniffing, dog-boy!"
Shirrow glared at Mushin. "What did you…"
"Haha! Stupid half-dog can't even sniff out a fox!" Mushin teased. He knew it would just get Shirrow angry, but he was so much fun to annoy… ((A/N: not to mention easy!))
"That's it!" Shirrow swung an arm at Mushin which he easily ducked under.
Mushin stuck out his tongue mockingly and ran off. "Catch me if you can, Shirrow!"
Shirrow growled and ran off after him. "Get back here, Mushin!"
A group of village women that had been watching the two of them laughed as they ran off.
"Oh, those two… they're always causing such a fuss…"
"Yes, but they keep the village entertained."
"They're so adorable…!"
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Mayu walked towards the river. She was happy.
I get to see Shippo again… I hope he didn't get into too much trouble for being late for dinner yesterday…
See continued walking until she could see the top of Shippo's head resting against the ground by the river.
There he is!
She smoothed out her skirt and walked down towards him. He looked up and smiled when she sat next to him. Then he sat up too.
"Hey Mayu! How are you today?" He asked.
"I'm fine. Thank you for asking…" Mayu looked down at her knees. "Shippo… you…"
Shippo looked at her curiously.
"You didn't get into too much trouble… did you? I'm really sorry if you did…"
Shippo smiled. "Aww, don't worry about me, Mayu. I got into trouble, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle."
May seemed relieved. Thank goodness…
"Yeah…" Shippo continued. "InuYasha isn't that tough… I can take him on easily…" ((A/N: Putting it on a little thick… don't you think, Shippo?))
Mayu smiled at him.
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"Mushin, get back here! I'll tear your stupid head off!"
Mushin continued running. Luckily, he had gotten a head start and Shirrow was growing tired from running the entire way to the village. Fortunately, Mushin had only run part of the way and half-jogged the rest.
If he thinks threatening me will get me to slow down, he's mistaken! Mushin thought.
He spared a moment to glance back at Shirrow. Yep, he's still pretty angry. Oh well… Hey is that…?
Mushin slowed down and continued looking off to the side.
Keh… Shirrow thought menacingly. That idiot! He's gonna get it now!
Just as Shirrow was right behind him, Mushin suddenly stopped. Shirrow rammed into his back and they both fell to the ground.
"What was THAT for, Idi- OWW!"
Shirrow put a hand on his head where Mushin had smacked him.
"Now what're you-"
"Shh! Shirrow, keep it down!" Mushin said.
"Why should I?" Shirrow responded with a glare.
Mushin rolled his eyes, put a finger to his lips to tell him to be quiet, and pointed down the hill towards the river.
"Look." He whispered. "It's Shippo… and some girl is with him."
"Ah! Good work, Mushin!" Shirrow said, forgetting about his friend's teasing. "Now we just need to find out why he's there with that girl."
"Maybe she's why he snuck out…"
"No way! You mean he snuck out just so he could see a GIRL? Not likely, moron."
Mushin shrugged. "Maybe he likes her…"
"Keh… yeah right…"
"Well, she IS fairly attractive… OW! Why'd you hit me?"
"Quit acting like your dad! We're s'posed to be spying on Shippo, remember?" Shirrow crawled slightly closer to try to hear what they were saying…
Mushin rubbed the back of his head and crawled after Shirrow. "So what're they saying?"
"Shh…" Shirrow perked up his ears. "Her name's Mayu…"
"What else?"
"Something about how she hopes he didn't get into too much trouble yesterday…"
"Maybe Shippo was with her yesterday too! I bet he likes her! Why else would he keep sneaking off to see her?"
Shirrow nodded and continued listening. "Now he's asking about her family… She's trying to change the subject…"
"Why do you think she's doing that?" Mushin asked quizzically.
"Dunno…"
Suddenly Shippo turned around. He was looking right at them. Shirrow tried desperately to get as close to the ground as he could so that Shippo wouldn't see him. Mushin did the same.
Shippo scowled. "How long have you two been there? Shirrow! Mushin! Get down here!"
The two boys sighed. They got up and began to walk down the small hill towards Shippo and Mayu.
"Stupid Shippo…" Shirrow muttered.