Chapter 43
Tightly
"WHAT IN THE WORLD!" Sango slowly walked toward the girl that was still being held tightly by Shippo. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Both still had their eyes closed as tightly as their arms. Hearing Sango's voice caused them to slowly open their eyes. The girl looked over at Sango as Shippo looked down at her.
Shippo was looking down upon the profile of the same girl from his dreams. The long white gold hair; burnt orange eyes, black diamond, and sea foam clothing. 'It can't be…' he started to tremble as the wheels started working. As he stared down at the girl and shook, she gradually turned her head and looked up into his emerald eyes. Shippo was too stunned to do anything but gaze back.
"Is it true…is it really you…Kirara?" Sango's voice was shaky as she approached them, one hand outstretched and quivering.
The girl reluctantly looked over at the shaking exterminator, a very thin and slight smile arched across her lips then she spoke in a very soft and gentle voice. "Yes I am." No sooner had those words been uttered and Kirara was pulled even tighter against Shippo.
Shippo placed his face on her shoulder as he continued to embrace her. "So it wasn't a dream. You were really there." He felt like crying but fought it off. By the lime Shippo had eased up enough to let Kirara move, everyone had already gathered around to see the new Kirara.
"But…what happened?" asked a surprised and confused Kagome. One of Kagome's ears was tweaked to the side she was so confused.
"Yes! Why did you change? Since when could you change? Why now?" poor Sango was popping off questions faster than Kirara could even open her mouth to answer.
"Sango, calm down! Why don't we find somewhere for the night, then we can talk." Miroku suggested and took his wife by the shoulders and led her away.
Shippo was reluctant to release Kirara but Miroku talked him out of it. So he walked along next to her holding her hand. 'This is weird. It's Kirara and yet it's not. Why did she come to me the other night?' Shippo's mind was working overtime at the moment that he didn't realize they were at camp.
Everyone was seated around the campfire staring at the humanoid Kirara. Shippo put his arm around Kirara's shoulder to comfort her since she was looking a bit nervous.
"Why don't you start with the why you transformed?" stated Kagome.
"Umm, well, I transformed to save Shippo. To be able to use that much power, I had to be in this form." Kirara spoke with the same soft and quiet voice as always.
"Have you always been able to transform?" asked Sango.
"No, I only recently gained the ability to change."
"So what happened that allowed you to change?" Sango continued to ask.
"Umm…well…I…that is…I…" Kirara's cheeks became a bright red as she fumbled over her words.
"She fell in love. Right?" Chiisai finished for her cheerfully and the fire cat demon nodded and buried her face in her hands.
Sango looked at Kirara then over to Kagome. "But who could she have fallen in love wi…" Sango slowly looked over to the fox boy sitting next to Kirara. "It's Shippo! You fell in love with Shippo!"
Kirara opened her fingers enough for her eyes to look through then she nodded. "Yes."
Miroku sat looking into the fire thinking. "It sounds like, if Kirara fell in love she would be able to change into a human like girl. Will you be able to change between your different forms?"
"Yes on both accounts."
"Does it hurt to change?" Kori inquired with big violet eyes filled with curiosity.
Kirara giggled quietly, "No it doesn't hurt, it tickles." She smiled down at the little boy then was jerked up to her feet.
"I'm borrowing Kirara for a minute. We'll be right back." While holding her hand, Shippo walked deeper into the forest, leaving before anyone could stop them.
Kagome sat watching them thoughtfully, 'I bet he has questions of his own about the other night.'
When Shippo felt they were far enough away from the other he stopped walking let go of Kirara's hand and turned to look at her. It defiantly was like a weird and wonderful dream. Kirara was before him looking like her usual self but in a human like body. The hair, the diamond, the eyes, even the tails; it was beyond anything he had imagined. "I'm sorry for dragging you off like that, but…but I want to know why you kissed me?"
Kirara stood still with her head looking down. "I had just realized my feeling for you and was able o change. I…I wanted to confirm it was real."
"So you kissed me?" Shippo's voice was becoming a little agitated.
Kirara placed her face in her hands as she fought a losing battle with her tears. "I'm sorry. I didn't think you would be this mad."
Shippo closed the gap between them and gently pulled her hands from her face. "I'm not mad, just…surprised. A lot has happened today. Plus I fell for you too, awhile ago." He watched as several more tears traveled down her cheeks. Seeing her tearing orange eyes, made his heart ached, specially knowing he was the cause of them. While still holding her hands out away from her, Shippo leaned in and gave Kirara a long and real kiss. He later ended the kiss and took a step back.
When Kirara opened her eyes at the loose of pressure on her lips and noticed Shippo had stepped back; she leaped at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him again.
As they continued to kiss in the darkness surrounded by trees and wildlife, both were think the same thing, 'so this is what it feels like to love and be loved.'
The next afternoon with a warm sun and blue sky overhead follows an odd group of companions.
"Soooo, you two came back late last night, enjoy yourselves?" inquired an all-knowing Chiisai. She snickered when both Shippo and Kirara blushed profusely. "Just kidding!" She then ran and locked arms with Yuu.
Kirara and Shippo glanced at each other out of the corner of their eyes and smiled, 'we'll never tell!'
"I FEEL A SHARD" shouted Kagome as she started looking around. "Over there, in that small village!"
"Well, let's go everyone." Hollered Inuyasha who was already half way down the small embankment leading to the village.
It didn't take long for them to reach the village which consisted of a small merchant and five homes.
"It's coming closer!" Kagome looked around for a glow of the shard or a demon that may have it. What she saw was a little girl walking down the center of the street, a glow emanating from her chest. "It's on a necklace?"
Kagome walked up to the little girl with brown pigtails and kneeled down with a smile on her face. "What a pretty necklace! Did someone give it to you?"
The girl shook her head, "no, I found the jewel and made it into a necklace."
"Oh neat. Would you may be willing to sell to me?"
The girl looked at Kagome as she considered the offer. "Five million yen!"
"That's extortion!" Shouted Miroku from behind Kagome.
"let's just take it from her." Stated Inuyasha gruffly.
Kagome's eye twitched and she continued to smile at the girl. "I'm sorry but we don't have that much. How about we give you some candy?"
"What's can-dee?" questioned the now curious little girl.
Kagome handed her a lollipop. "Here try some, you eat it."
The girl put in her mouth and her eyes lit up. "Ok, done deal!" she pulled off the necklace and handed it over as Kagome gave her a huge handful of assorted candies. She thanked the girl and walked back toward the group.
"That was easy! And no violence" Kagome said as she stared at her husband.
"KEH! Let's get going so we can find more."
"HAI!" shouted the whole group as they walked out of the village.
Later that day as the sky was slowly becoming dark at the approach of nightfall, something total unexpected happened. Everyone was walking along, taking and laughing when Akira was sent over backwards.
One minute he's talking with his friends and family, the next he finds himself lying on his back in the road rubbing the pain from his head (where it hit the road on impact). He then noticed a slight weight on his stomach and looked up into teal blue eyes.
"KOUME? What in the world?" Akira stared up at her as she stared down at him. "Do you suppose you could explain after you get off my stomach?"
"Oh sorry." Koume climbed off Akira then helped him back onto his feet. "I found two more Shikon shards. I thought you would want them so I came looking for you." She walked over and handed the shards to Kagome. "Oh ya, do you think I would be able to join you in your quest? I would really like to see more of the world then just the wolf territory?"
Inuyasha shrugged his shoulders, "KEH, who cares, do what you want."
An enormous smile sprang to Koume's face, "Thank you so much." She then ran over and joined the others her age.
Kagome held all the shards clasped together in her hands, then closed her eyes and prayed. Her hands emitted a pinkish light then faded. Kagome unclasped her hand and stared down at the Shikon jewel. "Looks like only one shard is missing now."
"Well let's set up camp, then we can talk about where to look next." Suggested Inuyasha and Kagome nodded happily.
Once camp was set up and a fire going brightly, Inuyasha sat next to the fire looking over the scene. Two humans and a hanyou talking next to him; six hanyous and three youkai were laughing and playing cards on the opposite side from him. 'My pack is eleven now. Who would have thought I would ever have a pack?'
"HEY INUYASHA!"
Hearing his name shouted pulled Inuyasha from his reverie. "What?"
Kagome let out a heavy sigh and glared at him. "Where should he head to next to look for the jewel shard?"
"THE BEACH!" shouted Chiisai and Mizuki in unison with raised arms and wagging tails.
Inuyasha and Kagome face faulted. "Well I guess awe could all use a break. So we'll head home, get stuff then head to the ocean." confirmed Kagome as she looked at her husband with puppy dog eyes and a wagging tail also.
"KEH!"
