"Are you bothered by that?"

Shippou hunkered down, controlling his breathing as he crept towards his prey.

"Not really. You're nicer than Baka-Yasha. He still yells at her a lot."

"He cares for the miko."

"Does that mean you do too?"

The boar was unaware of the approaching youkai, their voices barely above a whisper.

"Kagome likes having friends. Are you going to be her friend?"

The silence that followed was expected. Not pushing it, Shippou sent sparks of his youki around the boar, flashing a fang as the beast reared in confusion. Foxfire appeared between the kit and his prey, and the boar took off in the opposite direction.