CrazyDreamerGirl: Yay! I got more reviews! I want to thank Inari's angel, Bloodcherry, in luv with cold hearted guys, sable, Pure Shikon, lone-wolf, NeonAlchemist, JadeStoneTheYounger for reviewing.

Disclaimer: Isn't obvious enough that I don't own either of them?

A Fox's Heritage

Chapter 8

"Dad?" asked Miroku, Sango, and Inuyasha in astonishment.

Miroku, Sango, and Inuyasha looked at each other and blinked before asking, again, "Dad?"

Kuronue took this chance to move away from their line of fire and walked towards Youko. Shippo immdiately jumped into the bat demon's arms. Kagome was rubbing her temples at the antics of her three friends. They couldn't speak in complete sentences, so the other would finish their sentences. Finally, Sango pulled herself together and hit both Miroku and Inuyasha on the head so they would stop.

Sango stepped forward and said, "Shippo, I thought your father was killed."

"It's a long story and it would be better not to get into the details, but it was all a ruse, and I really am Shippo's father," explained Youko.

"Has anyone ever told you that you two look nothing alike?" asked Miroku, completely ignoring the impossibilty of the situation.

"If I had a jewel for every time I heard that one. . ." said Kuronue.

"But you do," teased Shippo, jumping from Kuronue's shoulder to his father's.

Kagome kept glancing between Shippo, Kuronue, and Youko. She couldn't help but feel that she was going to be forgotten very soon.

"Wait, wait, wait!" shouted Inuyasha.

Everyone turned to face the half demon.

"Do you mean to tell me that I was nearly killed so you could see Shippo again?" asked Inuyasha irritably.

"Yes," replied Youko and Kuronue in unison. They saw no flaw in that logic.

Inuyasha had an anime fall. He quickly got back to his feet. "When I get back into my demon form, you two are gonna pay!"

"You'll never beat my dad!" said Shippo, sticking his tongue at the half demon and pulling his lower eyelid down.

Inuyasha lunged forward to grab the small fox demon to give him another bump on the head, but he grabbed nothing but air. Shippo was resting in his father's arms, blowing a raspberry at Inuyasha. Youko hit Inuyasha on the head instead. Then, Inuyasha began a glare war between himself and the silver fox demon.

Kagome sighed at immaturity of Inuyasha, and surprisingly, Youko as well. The latter seemed to be such a sensible and mature demon, but apparently, he wasn't. Currently, Youko was sticking his own tongue out at Inuyasha. Now she knew where Shippo got it from.

Shippo was enjoying himself thoroughly. Inuyasha was finally going to get his after everything he put the young kit through. He was looking forward to this for the longest time. But then his smile turned into a frown. He began looking around. Kuronue was there, and so was Youko, but where was his mother. Maybe hiding somewhere. No, he could probably smell even if she was hiding somewhere nearby.

Shippo tugged at his father's pant leg. "Where's Mom?"

Youko turned his head to face his son. He smiled nervously. "Mom's waiting for us back home," he lied. Oh, please let him buy it. I don't want him to find out here with all these people, he thought desperately.

"Oh, okay," said Shippo with a smile on his face. He sensed his father was not telling him the truth, and he hoped that his father would not see through his fake smile as well.

Kuronue sighed in relief. That was a close one, the bat demon thought.

"So, will you be taking Shippo away?" asked Kagome meekly.

Youko scratched his cheek. "Actually, Kuronue and I have a quick errand to run. So, we're going to need you to take of Shippo until we come back."

"Yeah, we'll be back by nightfall," added Kuronue.

"Can't I come with you?" asked Shippo with pleading eyes.

Youko bent down and placed his hand on Shippo's head. "Sorry, kiddo, but you're going to have stay here." He stood up. "There's a village to the north of here. We'll meet you there."

- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -

Inuyasha was grumbling very loudly. He didn't like accepting help from two complete strangers. "Ow," he complained. Kagome ignored him. She was busy using the medicinal plants Youko left behind to heal Inuyasha's wounds. He said that the plants would speed up the healing process as soon as they were put on. By nightfall, he would be healed.

Kagome glanced at Shippo. He was sitting at the base of a tree. He seemed troubled. As soon as Kagome was finished bandaging Inuyasha's wounds, she made her way to the young fox demon.

"Is something bothering?" asked Kagome.

Shippo was about to open his mouth and reply, when Inuyasha cut him to it. "Hmph, I would be depressed too if my father that I haven't see in who knows how long came back and left in less than an hour."

"Shut up, Inuyasha!" yelled Shippo.

"Inuyasha," scolded Kagome.

The half demon rolled his eyes. "He obviously has better things to do than spend time with his son." Inuyasha stood up and walked away. "Come on, we're going to that village now."

Shippo glared at Inuyasha's retreating figure. "Shippo, I'm sure none of that is true. Your father is probably doing something that could be very dangerous for you," she said, trying to console the young child.

Shippo didn't meet Kagome's gaze. He stood up and began following Sango and Miroku.

"Thats not true. Your father cares deeply about you. I can see it in his eyes," said Kagome loudly enough for Shippo to hear.

Shippo didn't reply. He kept walking. Kagome let her shoulders sag, and then, she too, followed the others.

- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -

Naraku chuckled. "So, he's finally dead." It wasn't a question; it was a statement. He smirked as he looked at the bloody, red piece of clothing in front of him. It was a piece of Inuyasha's Fire Rat.

Youko gave Kuronue a look praising his thieving skills. Kuronue had snatched that article of clothing while everyone was preoccupied with Youko and Shippo.

"It's too bad that we couldn't bring his head back, but like I said; Youko and his plants got a little carried away," commented Kuronue casually.

"What about the shards?" asked Naraku.

"We couldn't grab them. The monk used his Wind Tunnel. He sucked up everything, including the insects. During the confusion, they fled," explained Youko.

"Yes, well, you have proven your worth. With Inuyasha out of the picture, it will be much easier to retrieve the shards."

"Well, we need to leave now," said Youko, standing up.

"So soon?" asked Naraku.

"We heard rumors of this palace in the mountains. It's supposed to be loaded with riches," replied Kuronue.

"Once a thief, always a thief, I suppose," said Naraku.

Youko and Kuronue stood out in the courtyard. "What are we going to do about Naraku?" asked the bat demon.

"Leave that to me, for now, let's go see Shippo."

"Where are you two going?" asked Kagura sternly.

"To rob someone, where else?" said Kuronue.

"I heard your conversation with Naraku," started Kagura.

"Didn't anyone teach you that it's rude to eavesdrop," retorted Youko. He was dying to get out of the miasma, literally.

Kagura ignored the fox demon. "As I was saying, I was there during your little encounter with Inuyasha and his friends. Nothing I witnessed matched the account you gave Naraku."

"And why does that matter to you?" asked Youko.

"I want to know why you lied."

"Look, Kagura, we can't tell you, but you have to trust us. Don't tell Naraku, please," said Kuronue seriously.

She glared at the two before making her decision. "I won't tell, but you are going to tell me later."

"Thank you, Kagura. I knew I could trust you," said Kuronue and followed Youko out of the barrier.

"Thank you for that helpful bit of information, Kagura," said Naraku as she stepped out of the shadows.

She turned to face the monster known as Naraku. She glared at him. If only Kanna didn't show Naraku the night's happenings on her mirror, than maybe she wouldn't be forced to betray their trust like that.

Kagura turned to leave, but Naraku stopped her. "I have a little assignment for you. . ."

- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -

Youko and Kuronue waited until nightfall to meet up with Shippo and the others in the village. The quietly sneaked in the shadows as Youko traced his son's scent to the richest house in the village. They stayed up on the roof until the last servant finally went inside. They dropped down onto the ground and Youko was about to slide open the door when it opened. It was Shippo.

He jumped happily into his father's arms. He led them into an empty room.

"So, Shippo, how did you all end up in a place like this?" asked Kuronue as he admired all the valuables in the room.

"Miroku's actually doing a real exorcism," replied the young kit.

Youko chuckled. "So, this happens often?"

"Not the real ones. The fake ones are all the time," said Shippo with a grin.

"That's one smart monk," commented the bat demon as he pocketed a small statue.

Youko rolled his eyes.

"Dad, I want to ask you something."

"What?"

"Where's mom?"

Youko frowned. Kuronue quietly slipped out to give them privacy. The sliver fox sat down and motioned for Shippo to come and sit on his lap like they used to do. Shippo reluctantly did it. He knew something was wrong from his facial expression.

- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -

CrazyDreamerGirl: I know I said I would update soon, but things came up in real life that interfere, and I really wanted to work on my other story. Sorry. . . Anyway, I got a question about the pelt that Shippo took from the thunder brothers. Well, he has it, but somewhere during the story Shippo, or maybe it was Youko, said that the red fox Shippo was staying with was his uncle. He was still family, so he still has the pelt somewhere. They don't say what happened to it in the episodes so I'm assuming that he hasn't gotten rid of it.