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XV.
Shippou may have been young, but he was no fool, and with only a little trouble on his behalf, he could see what was going on.
His surrogate mother's confusion shone as brightly as any fire–lit beacon to him, her emotions fluctuating and flaring whenever the stoic, white Taiyoukai was around. He had been watching them for some time now, and he was almost certain he knew what to do. The only thing he had to worry about, though, was his Kagome getting hurt, or losing his own life and Shippou was certain that wasn't a good thing.
Shippou, himself, was only fifty–four years of age, hardly a baby in youkai society, and old enough to know what was going on by his own right. After all, he didn't have a nose and cunning personality for nothing. It had taken many days of observation on both parts, acting sneaky and paying attention when he maybe shouldn't have, but at last he had come to a decision. After he had gotten confirmation, he had set out to devise a smart, easy, efficient plan that would make Kagome happy.
He'd come up with nothing.
Now, standing in the middle of the clearing, his back to the demon, Shippou tried to stop his hands and knees from shaking too badly. He was terrified and only a little unsure. He didn't even know what he was going to say! His safety was guaranteed, but Shippou didn't know if the youkai would keep from shedding his blood when this was all over.
All he wanted was Kagome to be happy, and if Inuyasha didn't cut it (which he obviously didn't – in Kagome's terms "duh" fit well enough) then someone else could step up and try, all he needed to do was get a little coaxing in, and hopefully escape with his head intact and body still assembled.
The Taiyoukai didn't kill children... did he?
Steeling his nerves, Shippou turned to face the enormous mass of youki behind him. The hair on the back of his neck prickled and stung, standing on end. The swirling red mass engulfed him and he fought down the urge to flee. He would do this for his momma.
"Sesshoumaru," Shippou stated in the most authoritive voice that he possessed. In retrospect, he was proud that it only wavered a little. The lord made no move, and he took it as a sign to continue. "What are your intentions toward Kagome?"
One pristine, white brow rose above the other, and Shippou's anxiety increased tenfold. This was it. He was going to die, he just knew it. He squeezed his little eyes shut and prayed that Kagome wouldn't cry too much for him.
Wind blew through the small clearing, tossing up frozen leaves and sending snow skating over the icy ground.
A minute passed, and nothing happened. Shippou cracked an eye open, wondering why he wasn't dead. The Taiyoukai had turned his back to the small kitsune and was walking towards the forest that would lead back to the main group.
"Wait!" Shippou cried out desperately, and sighed in relief when Sesshoumaru stopped by the edge of the forest. He hastily continued. "I just wanted to know because Inuyasha is a big meany and made Kagome cry lots of times, she does a lot for us, and I don't think she's happy, he never really made her happy and I just thought... I thought..." Shippou trailed off, tears welling up in his eyes.
"I just thought that maybe you might be able to make her happy." He mumbled, sniffing to keep his nose from running. "Just don't make momma cry."
In the thick silence that followed, Shippou clasped his hands together, twisting them to rest under his chin so they wouldn't freeze.
Another stray gust of wind flitted through the forest, picking Sesshoumaru's ivory hair up and dancing with it.
Sesshoumaru gave a noncommittal grunt, and left.
Long after the Taiyoukai was gone and his tears had dried, Shippou sniffled and said, perhaps to the wind, and perhaps to nobody: "I just want Kagome to be happy."
(This goes to all the married women, children and overprotective friends/siblings out there. Mothers are amazing people. Cheers! – Incomprehensible)