Chapter 8

Even Kagome's patience was finite. She noted with some frustration that Shippo really hadn't changed all that much in the past 40 years. True, he no longer looked anything like the little orphan kit she had taken under her wing, but it appeared he hadn't lost his knack for pissing people off.

As the two traveled down the road, Kagome found herself glaring at the back of his head as hard as she could. She wasn't sure how many times she'd attempted to get a full story of the situation out of him. Threats, bribing… she'd tried so many ways to glean information out of him on what had happened here in her absence, but every time the crafty sneak would find some way to change the subject.

'Ooh... he's... he's acting like a kitsune!' she thought to herself, pausing at the obviousness of that statement. She'd never really thought about it when he was but a child, but now that he was nearing if not already at his prime, it seemed as though he was delighting in teasing her!

Well, this would not do. Gradually Kagome's patience was finally beginning to wear thin. She closed her eyes, folding her arms across her chest. "Shippo..." she replied in a warning tone.

He cringed lightly, like a little boy caught in the act by his parent. Kagome fought not to grin, even after 40 years, the 'you're in big trouble, mister' tone never ceased to fail. It was good to know that at least that had stayed the same. However, easing out of the 'panic-stance', Shippo turned back to her with a grin – although Kagome noted it did not reach his eyes.

"Don't worry," he replied, as if reading her mind. Kagome was yet again astounded at his perceptiveness. Were her thoughts really that transparent? "You'll get all the answers to your questions once we've reached the village." His expression softened a little. "I promise, kaasan. It's better this way."

Kagome could only nod, though her thoughts were still troubled. Was what happened all those years ago really so bad that even he was so reluctant to speak of it?

He had already explained to her along the way that the rumor she had been told of an ailing village in need of a healer had been fabricated by the kitsune himself. In fact, he had been the one spreading it across the country with the use of his youki magic. When he had been encountered by the ogre, he had been in the middle of making sure the rumor was on its way to reaching her so that he could see for himself if she was who he thought she was.

Shippo turned his gaze back to the road ahead, tightening his hold on the horse's reins. "Hang on," he cautioned. "We're almost there!"

And sure enough, the two arrived to their destination in a matter of minutes. However, once they arrived, Kagome was surprised to find that what she thought would be a little village, was not really a village at all.

It seemed to be more of a traveling caravan than anything else. There were numerous carts and wagons parked neatly off to the side with a makeshift corral for horses and oxen and other cattle. Amongst the trees, numerous pitched tents and small huts indicated that while people had made themselves comfortable here, their stay was intended only to be temporary.

Looking out at the people stationed and milling about the area, Kagome found that the people didn't seem to be too bothered with their living arrangements. There were youkai and humans working amongst each other, going about their daily activities as if nothing was out of the norm.

Shippo, who had always seemed to draw a lot of attention whenever they traveled through villages, seemed to be very well known and accepted in this little place. As they entered the village on horseback, many humans and youkai would stop what they were doing to wave to him. As they entered further into the compound, a small group of men came looked up to see him coming with grins on their faces.

Jumping down from his horse, he waved to them, a smile upon his face. "Sumu! I'm back!"

Sumu, who appeared to Kagome to be a badger youkai, walked over to him with two human men laughing jovially. "Welcome back, Shippo-kun!" he exclaimed, clapping him on the back heartily. He made for a rather imposing figure, standing at least 6 feet with a wide build. However, when he took a look at Kagome, still sitting patiently atop his steed, and bowed his head politely she figured he really was a softy at heart. Not to be impolite, Kagome smiled back and bowed her head in response.

The two men, taking note of the exchange, and the pleased look on Shippo's face, nudged each other jokingly. They looked to be older than her, possibly in their early twenties, but their ease around the two youkai indicated that they had known them both a very long time.

"Well, look's like Shippo's mission turned out to be a better success than he thought!" one man, the taller of the two with his hair in a messy top-knot, laughed. "Although maybe not the original mission he had in mind…"

"Who's your lady-friend, Shippo-kun?"

"Oh boy, here we go..." Sumu muttered, shaking his head.

"Can it be?" the other, a bit stockier than his companion, laughed. "Our Shippo's finally become a man and brought himself home a woman! You fink – and here we thought you were on an important mission!"

The kitsune gawked, a hint of red showing against his cheeks. "It's not like that!"

Kagome paused, feeling a ki bristle just at the edge of her senses. It didn't appear to be hostile so she ignored it for the time being, turning back to Shippo and his companions. "These are friends of yours, Shippo?" she asked pleasantly.

Shippo huffed, "If you wanna call these jokers that..."

"You wound us, Shippo-kun!" The second man replied, feigning a wound. "We all but practically grew up together!"

"Oh don't give me that, Jyou." Sumu laughed. "Shippo was already past my knee when he started hanging around with these little punks." Considering he was already a few inches taller than her, Kagome had to wander how long ago that was. How quickly did kitsune grow, anyway?

"But now our little Shippo-kun is all grown up!" the first man grinned in a high-pitched voice. "He's brought himself home a woman – wait'll poor Ko-chan finds out!"

Sumu and the other man cringed in response. Shippo flushed, frowned, and then smoothed his face over all within the span of a few seconds. Impressed by his control, Kagome blinked; who was 'Ko-chan'?

Sumu snickered, 'tsk'-ing in response. "Oh dear, it'll just break her heart."

"Cut it out, Sumu, don't you start with that, too." Shippo frowned, though it was quite obvious to see he was embarrassed. So much for that control… "She's not my woman... and neither is Ko—"

The bristling ki that had first made itself known to Kagome became present again. She frowned slightly, this time searching actively for its source.

"Eh, Toudou, Shippo's just bein' shy, that's all!" Jyou, the elder of the two humans, chuckled.

Toudou laughed in agreement, giving Kagome a once over. "C'mon, Shippo, don't be so modest! She's a pretty little thing!"

Shippo's frown evolved into a scowl. "Show a little respect," he replied, as he helped Kagome down from his horse. She was surprised by the no-nonsense tone in his voice. "Kagome is not my woman. She's my—"

Before he could finish his sentence, or lead Kagome away from the little jeering group, the bristling ki came to life, hurtling towards the two of them with unnatural speed. Quick to react, Kagome whirled around just in time to see Shippo get tackled to the ground by a black blur.

He let out a yelp of surprise as he hit the ground. However instead of attacking back, he merely looked up at his captor with a playful grin on his face.

A young girl, who looked to be about in her mid-teens, was glaring down at him. Her hair, black as a crow's feathers, had cropped evenly bangs in front and was pulled back in a loose bun at the nape of her neck. She was dressed in a sleeveless gi and a pair of knee-high hakama. Kagome noted that her angry expression and violet eyes looked very familiar...

"I caught you!" she exclaimed. "I caught you in the act and you didn't even see me coming! I knew you were gonna get into all sorts of trouble without me with you! Damn it, sempai!"

"You're assuming way too much," Shippo replied with a grin. "Besides, you didn't catch me in the act of anything, I knew you were there." At her deepening scowl, he let out a laugh. "C'mon, you were obvious! I didn't even have to see you – your ki was pretty much giving you way." He turned to look at the miko behind them. "Right, Kagome?"

Kagome only nodded, suddenly feeling the urge to hide under the scrutinizing gaze she was being given by the younger girl. Sheesh, she hadn't even done anything wrong and she felt like crawling under a rock. What was up with this girl? She really reminded her of...

Shippo chuckled at the suddenly nervous look Kagome was sporting. After all, there were few he didn't quail when they found themselves on the receiving end of one of the girl's glares. Although he had to wonder at the unusual severity found in her violet gaze – was she really that mad? Pushing that thought to the back of his mind – where it would be quickly forgotten within a few hours time - he wriggled out from under the girl, walking over to Kagome casually. The miko gave him a look that either said, 'save me!' or 'this is all your fault' – he couldn't be sure.

"This is one of the people I wanted you to meet," he explained calmly. He turned back to the girl with a smile on his face. "This is the one I was telling you about, Ko-chan, the one I went to look for – my kaa-san, Kagome!"

The girl's look of suspicion was suddenly replaced by one of wonder and extreme reverence. "You mean... you're the miko, Kagome?" When Kagome nodded, she let out a gasp of surprise and excitement. "Then you must have known my grandparents!"

"Ahh…" Kagome turned to Shippo, looking for clarification.

Realizing her manners were lacking, the younger girl let out a 'oh' sound and bowed before her formally. "I'm honored to meet you, Kagome-sama," she replied. "My name is Kohaku."

'What...! No way!' Kagome couldn't help but blink. "K-Kohaku!"

Shippo laughed at the boggled expression on her face, ruffling both of their heads affectionately. Kohaku glared at him before turning to grin at Kagome once again. "That's right..." he replied. "She's named after her great-uncle. Kohaku is the last of the Youkai taijya clan."

'But that would mean...' She took in the girl's now-innocent looking face and violet eyes. 'Sango-chan…' She felt a sharp pang in her hurt. "And Miroku-sama, too?"

"That's right," Kohaku exclaimed proudly, hands now on her hips. She then turned to Shippo, punching him in the stomach playfully, though by the look on his face it came out much harder than she had intended. "And don't you forget – you promised that once you found Kagome you'd sire my child!"

Jyou and Toudou's loud guffaws drowned out Shippo's uneasy chuckle.

Kagome face-faulted. It couldn't be helped.

Yes, Kohaku was definitely a descendant of Sango and Miroku – there was no doubting that. Staring up at the two of them, she decided things were definitely starting to get interesting.

End Chapter 8

Author's Note - Hey, everyone! Sorry this took me so long to get out... I've been accepted to my new transfer school so I've been searching and writing scholarship essays like a fiend... I should be still, but I decided to take a break.

So, just to be clear, this is the last revised chapter... everything else from here on in will be brand-spanking-new!

Miss Chang Po - Yeah... you really should use 'spankin' in normal conversation... ever.

:blinks: So, it's okay to use in not-so-normal conversation?

Miss Chang Po- ...

Wufei - Mattaku...