Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or it's characters; that right belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. Nor do I own Naruto or it's characters, that right belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.
Author's Notes: This story contains certain tropes - IE: Kagome in the role of Big sister/mother to Shippo, damsel in distress, etc, then I don't fucking care. So if you do not like that, I politely ask you to turn around and leave now. Because I don't see the point in you wasting your time and mine.
Author's Notes 2: Age Notices: Kagome: 16, Shippo: 5, Sango: 21, Miroku: 23, Kakashi 26, Ibiki: 27, Itachi: 18, Rookie 9: 12-13, Team Gai: 14, Gai: 27.
Kagome sat there looking back at the two Ninjas. She had learned quite a bit from them though they didn't know it since she had read their aura's to get the truth from them. As well as being caught up by Miroku and Sango. All while keeping Shippo silent as things were explained to her in detail, or lack thereof. They were making her smile sweetly at the two men.
"Oh, I have a clear picture of things now," she said in a sweet voice. "I am not able to leave this village, at all, if ever. Essentially, I am yet again, a prisoner. Nothing new there. But that you all are in one form or other power-hungry bigots who'd not hesitate to kill my adoptive child because of events that transpired almost thirteen years ago."
The way the men before stayed silent, meeting her gaze as their bodies tensed ever so slightly let her know that she was making them very uncomfortable.
"Uh... I would suggest to you two that you not make her angry," Miroku chirped in a slightly amused manner, well aware of just how bad her temper could get and what she was capable of.
The way their aura's flicker had Kagome smiling a bit wider. A year traversing a demon-infested Sengoku Jidai had hardened her in many ways. Death, blood, even torture, it didn't phase her. Hell, she had done her share of killing by purifying demons or tainted humans. And now in this village were what was called Clans that had a Kekkei Genkai, or bloodline limit that came from demonic ancestry—making them drunk on their power from what she saw of that lavender eyed male trying to touch her barrier.
"Look, I get it. I am a stranger that wandered into your village after a battle... one that has left several demonic energies all over. One of which is hanyou. And to make matters worse, why that old man's spirit seemed frustrated about Ryuk-the shinigami, stating I was a Miko and one chosen by Enma himself," Kagome continued after lifting a hand to forestall anything the two had to say. "Because as Miroku stated in the five years, he has been here, Miko's just don't exist. Monk's that have some spiritual capabilities are rare. Thus making my perverted Hoshi friend extremely powerful and a secret that the Fire Temple kept from this village all the more profound."
Sighing and closing her eyes, Kagome just wanted to scream and pull at her hair. One hot Frying Pan wasn't bad enough. Now she was standing with one foot in two separate ones.
"Miss Higurashi," the silver-haired ninja, Kakashi, spoke, making her open her eyes and stare blankly at him. "You... stated you felt several demonic energies?"
Rolling her eyes as Shippo laughed softly into her stomach, where his face was pressed currently while two amused coughs came from her friends.
"Yes. There is a snake, which is linked to the hanyou, A Frog, A Tanuki, and a very powerful Kitsune. Though that latter one is heavily muted now and no longer in the village as it's youki has weakened greatly," she stated flatly as she narrowed her eyes at the two men.
When their auras flickered in surprise and a bit of guilt, Kagome let air hiss from between her clenched teeth. The feel of the Kitsune before she had blacked out was overwhelming. The demon fox had to have at least six tails or more to make her Reiki thicken her barrier and drain her twice as fast. It had been so very close, but she had been so focused on protecting Shippo she hadn't tried to spot it. She knew that at a certain age and power that Kitsunes could look wholly human and blend in, or worse... trapped inside a human sacrifice. Kitsunes were very social creatures, and imprisoning them could drive them insane.
"Oh! Oh, no... no... tell me that you all were not idiots," she growled in a low voice as her arms tightened around Shippo protectively, drawing a small whimper from him.
Morino blinked once as he looked at her and spoke, "What do you mean, Lady Miko Kagome, by that sentence?" His voice was dark as he narrowed his own eyes on her.
"That answered that question. You morons sealed a Kitsune with several tails into a human sacrifice. Blasphemy against not just a powerful demon, but against Buddha and all the gods in the heavens!" she screeched, noting that both men had shocked looks on their faces as Miroku and Sango wisely stepped back.
"Mama?" Shippo asked in a quiet voice.
Her hands rubbed up and down his back in a soothing manner. He was shaking, and his youki was flickering violently with his fear.
"I would suggest you two say nothing more. While I am sure, there is a reason that you did what you did. Kagome is correct, it is blasphemy," Miroku said in a soothing voice, trying to appease the guys. "And Kitsune are very social creatures, imprisoning them can drive them insane. Well, any demon for that matter would be put into a human container. A creature that they consider beneath them."
Silence rang out at those words as Kagome saw a glance flick between the two men. It was telling that what was just said affected something. But the fact that their aurae smoothed out as humor ran through them, that somehow the Kitsune's human prison was adapted to having an excess of energy.
Kakashi was not sure what to make of this little teenage girl. She was sweet and smiled with the light of the sun, but her words and temper were quick and sharp. Though he could see that she was overly protective, her grasp on situations made things so much easier. Though, he found her to be a bit annoying at the same time. Complicated things were not something he liked to deal with, no matter how fascinating they seemed.
Yet, as she sat there, calming the tiny little Kitsune in her lap. Promising Shippo that she would let no harm come to him. That the stupid, ignorant fools of this village would rue the day, any harm came to him. It was hilarious and terrifying. Because something told him she would rampage and while the Monk and his wife, who was more than she looked, helped her.
"Excuse me, but you are a holy person and care for a small demon. Your actions and words state that you side with the very things that you were born to destroy," he said bluntly. "So, forgive me for my confusion as to why?"
When her head raised slowly, and those blue eyes looked at him. Or instead through him, Kakashi felt the urge to swallow. He was watching as she shook her head at him before frowning and looking sad for but a second.
"I won't give you any details of the stuff me and my Taishi have been through. But I have always believed in everyone being given a chance. And encountering Demons in my travel's I have learned that in some cases, there is no hope, and killing is the only course of action. But in others, if you look beneath, listen to what is not said, you see that whether demon, Hanyou or human, there is minimal difference in certain areas," She stated. "Besides, I am still alive because of said Hanyou's and Demons. One I hope to find here soon enough, along with his brother... and his... lover."
Kakashi didn't miss how her voice changed as her last words left her lips. And from the way, Morino subtly shifted neither did her. Making him wonder just how much mystery was wrapped around this little girl. Because she just threw his philosophy back at him. Look beneath the beneath.
Miroku listened and watched. He was only interjecting when he felt the need. Kagome having her temper run high, was never good. And he didn't need her to expend herself like that again. Though he was with her about being upset using a human as a sacrifice to contain a powerful Demon, though, he was seriously curious about the seals. He was wondering if a Fujin master had done it or if it was crude and rudimentary. If it were the latter, then when that Kitsune broke free, there would be a bloodbath. Of which he was sure Kagome wouldn't stop.
Glancing out the window, he saw how dark it was—coughing to get everyone's attention, which was easily gained as he smiled easily at them all.
"It is getting late. And I was told that we were to reside in the District that belonged to the family of our guide, Itachi. If I don't miss my guess by looking alone, is he an Uchiha?" He stated.
The slow nod he got from the man called Morino, Miroku, gave a small tilt of his head in return.
"I am hungry, as I am sure my wife is. We didn't stop to get anything to eat on the last leg of our journey here. And came straight to the Hospital. Might I suggest we continue our conversation tomorrow..." he said, trailing off feeling several auras out in the hall milling about. "And maybe speak with those who seem very eager to meet Kagome, it seems. Though, I speculate that we in this room will either have large headaches or laugh ourselves to the point our sides hurt."
His head snapped forward for his snide comment after Sango hit him. He knew he'd have a small lump there in a few minutes, but as he lifted his head, Miroku saw Kagome and Shippo laughing as amusement colored both Kakashi and Morino faces. Yes, tomorrow would be rather interesting, with a huge meeting and answering questions for those. Though Kagome and him, reading auras and avoiding power-hungry people as they walked through the minefield of his friend's temper.
"You know, you could always place fuda in the strategic points of the room, Miroku," Kagome said, her voice sounding way too happy. "You know ones that will make it so no one can lie or speak of anything outside the room. Thus sealing all that wants to be there in with a spiritual barrier... Make it, so they are trapped with us."
Miroku couldn't help it as he let his face split in two. Glad that Kagome had spent time with Sesshomaru and become an excellent tactician as well as a devious little woman. He was rather proud of the woman that Kagome had turned into over their year of traveling to get the shards of Shikon no Tama. All while retaining the happy-go-lucky-accepts-everyone-for-who-they-were personality.
Morino was shocked at what the girl on the bed just said. He wasn't too happy at her chastising him and Kakashi and calling his village nothing but bigots. Then again, Morino found her rather amusing in how fearless she was. He could tell she was battle-hardened. Not easily scared. And had admitted in a few words that she'd been the victim of multiple kidnappings. Helped kill, but only when it was a last resort. She was very complex.
But he liked her idea; she just broached. And he let a rare, genuine smile appear on his face as he looked at Miroku.
"If you can do that, I will personally take you to the stateroom, making sure that no one is in there. Claiming you are blessing it with good energy for the meeting. Then I think it will do some good, especially with those on the council and our... resident elders... to be honest for once," he said.
The bark of laughter he got out of Kakashi at that spoke volumes. As he looked from Miroku to Kakashi, finally settling on Kagome. Whose eyes were dancing in mirth, and dark delight had him smiling at her? He wasn't sure why, but there was a familiar kinship with her. It was strange as he had never met the girl before in his life.
"Uh... do I have to stay in the Hospital another night? Or... can Shippo and I leave and stay with my friends?" Kagome asked in a soft voice.
Morino turned to look back at Kagome only to blink his eyes in disbelief. She was staring up at him with large, shining, blue eyes that were pleading with him silently to let her out of the Hospital. Understanding the feeling of not wanting to be trapped in the damn place, he knew he was not able to release her. It would be up to the staff. Doctors and Nurses to release her. And he was well aware of the fact that they knew she was awake, especially by the sounds of muted talking out in the hallway.
"Miss Higurashi, I cannot release you, that is up to the staff here that has been attending you. And if you are, you cannot stay with your friends. As per the wishes of our now fully deceased Hokage Sarutobi," Morino stated. "That would be showing favoritism to a Clan. On top of it, I do not think they would be happy to have your... child? I mean Shippo in their District, for personal reasons."
The soft huff and pout she gave as she just glared back at him were almost amusing. But he wouldn't allow anything to happen to her. Placing her with any clan would cause an uproar. None of the Elders, or citizens who ran the businesses in Konoha either. Knowing they'd try to manipulate her, not that he thought it would work, to give them and the Clans they worked for her favor.
"You know Ibiki... she could stay with you. I mean, you live alone in that tiny little apartment," Kakashi said in a tone that said he was deliberately throwing him to the proverbial wolf.
Turning his head just enough to look at his friend and former Anbu, Morino said nothing.
"I think I would prefer that over you since you strike me as a kindred soul to Miroku. A pervert," Kagome said in a sing-song voice.
Unable to stop himself, Morino threw his head back and laughed loudly. Hearing both Kakashi and the man called Miroku sputter as they tried to deny it. He figured if she could make Kakashi react like this, having her in his apartment wouldn't be a bad thing. Now, to get the doctor and get a prognosis.
He had heard the deep laugh from inside the room, along with everyone else who had gathered outside the hospital room. The laughter brought everyone to a state of blissful quietness though he knew that the laugh didn't belong to the Monk or his wife, no Kakashi, leaving the only person by default and male to be Ibiki Morino. And it was a bit of a shock to hear the always serious, stoic man laughing.
When the door opened a few minutes later, Itachi caught a quick glimpse of the girl. She was sitting up and looked slightly bemused about something or another as Kakashi was rubbing at his head sheepishly, a faint blush barely visible on his mask-covered face. Only to have Morino motion for the Doctor and Nurse that had been vetted for monitoring the girl. The moment the two medical staff were in the room, the Monk and his wife stepped out. Both were meeting his gaze head-on, smiling in a somewhat amused manner.
"Ah, Uchiha-sama! We were released to go back to your esteemed families home," Miroku stated as his violet eyes sparkled. "If you'd be so kind?"
Giving a small nod of his head, Itachi turned to look at those who had gathered in the hall after the couple had arrived hours before. Everyone had both felt that burst of pure energy, as well as heard the girls' voice raise sounding irate, though the words were highly muffled as if there had been on silencing jutsu used, so it had him curious as to why they couldn't hear what she was saying at such a raised volume.
The moment they left Hospital, they were joined by his cousin Shisui. Who smiled disarmingly and immediately struck up a conversation with Miroku. Who seemed to be in a rather good mood about something.
"So, is the little girl awake? And if she is, when is the little girl getting released?" Shisui as they strolled through Konoha proper towards the Uchiha District.
There was silence for a few minutes before twin sighs were heard, followed by soft chuckling.
"Oh, Kagome is awake and rather upset," Sango replied, trying to cough to cover the obvious laughter.
"And if she has her way, tonight. Though where she will be staying is classified," Miroku replied, not even bothering to hide his laughter. "Ah, I think it will be interesting for her guardian if she is released into their care tonight. With her temper as it is and a small kit that has enough energy for ten children after being cooped up for the last week. I hope the man has patience with pranks."
Itachi saw Shisui stumble in mid-step at those words while he just slowed his pace. Knowing his cousin was recalling Naruto as a small child pranking things. He held a Kitsune, fully grown, in his body, and loved mischief. Silently Itachi was grateful it was not to be his family's home. Because he already knew that somehow, his father and Kagome were going to butt heads. That and his family, if not the elders and whole clan, would not like having a mini Kyuubi running around the District.
TBC!