Fake
Shippo clung to a branch high on up on a tree overlooking an encampment of snake youkai. He had spent plenty of time observing them safely from a distance, and not so safely up close. He didn't have a choice. He desperately needed their supplies, and since it was their fault they were hiding in the first place; he saw no reason not to gleefully steal from them.
Master Asaji, his sensei, had instructed him well in the ways of espionage. Even as he hid amongst the trees, his youki blanketed him, making him appear darker, and closer to the color of bark. He had learned different kinds of plants and foliage that he could use to disguise his scent. When he was younger, it had been much harder to master full bodied transformations; usually it left him looking like his target with a large kitsune tail, which didn't fool anyone. Now he had knowledge and experience under his belt. His transformations were very convincing, only a very powerful nose would be able to tell who was the fake.
Magic was not the only lesson Master Asaji taught him. His eyes watched the movements of the soldiers coming and going. He knew their routine, and who was in charge. It was important to know every little detail about his targets. When he transformed into a snake youkai, he had to act the part, otherwise it would jeopardize everything.
His green eyes alighted on the perfect target: a lazy soldier. This one in particular enjoyed sneaking off take a nap. Here was his chance. He watched as the snake youkai glanced about casually before doing just as Shippou had predicted by slinking off into the woods for a nap.
Shippo climbed his way down the tree. Standing at its base, remaining hidden, he allowed his youki to coat his body, and change his features to his will.
A snake youkai stepped out from behind the tree. Dirt brown scales covered his body with small patches of swirling designs, like mud in a creek bed. He wore the typical armor expected of him: a plain chest piece over his kimono and hakama. He carried no weapons, since he was on supply duty.
He looked bored as he strolled through camp. It took him only a second to blend into the crowd of busy soldiers.
Shippo wasted no time making his way toward the crates stacked up in the middle of camp. See, they had been having theft problems, and they figured that by moving their supplies away from the edge of the forest, they would solve the problem.
Too bad for them.
He grabbed a sack and began filling it with bread and dried meats.
"Oi!"
Shippo ignored the call, until someone slapped him upside the head.
He turned and hissed at his assailant.
"Ohh, little shit head Nakago finally doing some work around here." A taller more muscular snake taunted. "When you're done, bring sake to my tent."
Shippo furrowed his brows. "You know drinking is not allowed. Sake is only reserved for - "
The larger snake gave him a hard shove sending him sprawling to the ground.
"I said do it!"
Other soldiers watching the exchange began to laugh, hissing at poor unfortunate Nakago.
The asshole snake walked on, and Shippo gathered his sack once more, and quickly made for an exit.
As soon as he was far enough into the forest, he dropped his disguise. He climbed up a tree, and continued on through the woods, jumping from tree branch to tree branch with as much skill as a squirrel.
It wasn't long before he spotted the familiar line of boulders hidden by a thicket of close trees. Sliding down the trunk, he hopped to the ground and carefully listened for anyone that might have followed him. The foliage was so dense that it darkened the entire area with shade, obscuring the small cave he had found.
He gave a small sigh of relief and proceeded to approach the large crack in the boulders. Turning sideways, he was able to squeeze his slender body through.
Two pairs of eyes immediately trained on him. A small kitsune boy, Kenta, looked at him with eager, hungry green eyes. Shippo couldn't help but be reminded of himself when he was that young. Next to him sat a human girl about the age of ten, Asako. Her kimono was torn in places, and dirty from her escape. Her shoulder length black hair was messy, and hastily pulled back at the nape of her neck. She sat rocking her small hanyou brother, Haro; who was little more than an infant. The baby's eyes were closed, and his fist curled into her robes. Wrapped in a blanket, all that was visible was the small brown bear ears on top his head.
"Relax, it's me. I managed to sneak away some food." Shippo announced.
"Oh thank goodness! I'm starving!" The small kitsune boy said jumping up to grab at the sack of goods.
"Calm down, Kenta. Shippo will divide the food for us." Asako admonished.
Kenta sat back down with a huff of impatience. Shippo pulled out various dried meats and passed them out.
"What did you see? Are they moving camp yet?" Kenta held out his dirty hands for meat.
Shippo sat down. "No. They haven't moved." He ran his hand through his shaggy red hair, frustrated. "Snakes are on every route heading out from here. We could try to get through the forest, swinging wide, but I fear the patrols will catch us. There's a lake that we could cross, but if I were to fly us across it, I think we would be easy targets in the air." He sighed. "I still think it's best that we wait for them to move on, so that we can carefully get around them."
Asako gave a weak smile. "It's okay, Shippo. I'm sure my dad is looking for us right now. He's a bear youkai, you know. If we just stay put..."
Kenta crossed his arms with a glare. "No he isn't. You're a human. Haro's father is a youkai. So is mine. Doesn't mean they are going to fight their way through an army to get us. We don't even know where the rest of the village went!"
Asako opened her mouth to argue, when Shippo beat her to it.
"Kenta! You take that back. That was hurtful. Besides, just because you aren't blood related to someone doesn't mean they aren't family."
The young kitsune huffed, and ignored them by gnawing on a piece of deer jerky.
"Do you think your master will rescue us?" Kenta asked after a moment.
Shippo laughed. "No, Master Asaji is a scholar, not a warrior."
Kenta chewed his meat in thought. "Hey perhaps the Western lord will save us."
"You mean Sesshoumaru?! Extremely unlikely." Shippo scoffed. "He doesn't care about anyone other than himself."
"I don't know...Rumor has it, he has a miko as his adviser. My dad was saying that trade is a lot better now, because of her." Asako chimed in.
"I heard that he hired a miko executioner to kill all traitors to the West." Kenta added.
Shippo's mouthy hung open. "What?" He hadn't seen Kagome in quite a long time, but surely these rumors are wrong. There's no way she could be the miko in these stories. Maybe, just maybe, Sesshoumaru did listen to Rin's plea...even so...
"Both of those are too far fetched to be true, but maybe there's hope that Kagome will send for help if she's with Sesshoumaru." Shippo thought out loud.
Asako and Kenta stared at him for a split second before bursting out in questions.
"You know Shikei no miko!?"
"How do you know her?"
"What is she like?"
Shippo put a hand over their mouths. "Shhhh! We have to be more quiet."
They snapped their mouths shut, but neither lost their enthusiasm.
"Okay, okay. Kagome is my family."
"And?" Kenta asked whispering.
Shippo hated to tell his painful childhood, but at least it would to keep their minds off their current situation.
"It all started with the thunder brothers..."
The children listened quietly as they listened to Shippo's story. Even they couldn't help but feel a small glimmer of hope of rescue, knowing that the Shikei no Miko might come to save them.
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Kagome stood watching a few servants pack up her travel bags, tying them onto the back of massive two-headed dragon.
Sesshoumaru stood off the side observing everyone around him with an air of impatience. Everyone seemed to be moving at a snail's pace. Couldn't they hurry up? His eyes alighted on his companion. She had no problem with the slowness of their work. In fact, she looked bright and cheerful. Kagome looked over her shoulder at him, giving him a soft smile.
She couldn't help but find his attitude amusing. It was obvious he was ready to move on. He looked somewhat different this morning, and it took a moment before she realized what was strange...his armor had been replaced. The new chest piece looked similar to his old one, except now he wore plated shoulder armor. It wasn't until he moved his arms to fold them into his sleeves, did she notice the addition of arm guards. It made her heart hurt to be reminded of why he wore those guards. She hated to think that the naga attack had shaken him up. It was unlikely that she would ever find out either. It wasn't like him to discuss such things.
Her eyes lingered on the white fur over his shoulder, and her cheeks warmed with a thought. That morning, she had woken up in bed by herself, wrapped in his white pelt. She was thankful that he had allowed her to sleep in a bit, especially after all the healing that had been done the day before. The extra rest had done wonders for her. She felt awake and refreshed.
The youkai servants bowed and left, their work finished.
Sesshoumaru looked at her expectantly. Kagome smiled brightly. "I'm ready to go when you are."
"Hm."
Ah-Uh laid down, and Kagome hopped onto its back. When suddenly, a voice broke through above the noise of the crowd.
"Wait! Wait! Sesshoumaru-sama!"
Sesshoumaru stopped and simply closed his eyes, while Kagome whipped around to see who it was.
Rōyakan jogged up to them, his ears flat against his head.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, please allow me to be of some assistance." He begged, hope shining in his large blue eyes.
"No."
"Did I not help to protect the town?"
Sesshoumaru just stared at him, clearly conveying his answer with his silence.
The large wolf's body sank with disappointment. "Please, my lord, I overheard others saying that you were trying to find a lost kitsune. I believe I can help find him."
Rōyakan immediately got Kagome's attention, while Sesshoumaru simply raised an eyebrow in question.
"You're trying to find that small red kitsune that traveled with the hanyou Inuyasha?" The big wolf wanted to clarify.
Kagome smiled. "Yes! However...Shippo isn't so small any more. He's about this this tall now. "She held her hand up to her chest. "He had been sent to a merchant village called..." She looked at Sesshoumaru for the answer.
He gave her such an irritated look. "Shirakawa."
"Ah, I know of that village." Rōyakan said scratching an ear.
"It has been ransacked by snakes, and Shippo and all the villagers are missing. Do you think you can find them?" Kagome asked.
Rōyakan's eyes grew big with excitement, and his mouth spread wide into a toothy grin.
"Yes! Thank you for this opportunity! I will do my very best to serve you."
The over grown wolf tilted his head back and opened his mouth. Three wolves with three eyes poured out of this mouth. The wolves howled and ran off separating in different directions.
"We will meet you at Shirakawa." Sesshoumaru nodded to Rōyakan.
Kagome patted Ah-Un on its side. "Alright. Let's go."
The two-headed dragon jumped into the air, soaring high above the merchant town. Looking down, Kagome could see that Rōyakan was already gone.
"He's useless." Sesshoumaru said floating next to her.
Kagome smiled tilting her head to the side. "He's nice. Besides, it can't hurt to have more help."
Sesshoumaru scowled. That stupid oaf doesn't deserve her kindness.
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Author's Note: Wow! Everyone loved that last chapter! Thank you so much for all the reviews and feedback.