disclaimer: I own nothing from Inuyasha
Shippo made a sound of contentment as he patted his now slightly bloated and full stomach. Glancing around the room, he sighed as he noted that almost all of the adults were taking their time in eating their meal as the conversed with one another. That wasn't good, He still had to pack and most of his belongings rested outside the village. Now that it was night fall and all the other adults were inside, he knew Kagome wouldn't want him to go outside by himself. Maybe I could just sneak out? It wouldn't take me long to retrieve my stuff and pack it. He pondered as he continued to study all of the adults in the room, after a few more moments of glancing around he finally decided to go through with his idea.
Getting up, he grabbed his empty bowl and began to walk outside. His pace was quick, but he made sure to be light on his feet so he wouldn't draw the others attention. He was so focused on exiting and excited when he made it to the entrance that he nearly jumped into the air when his name was called. Calming himself down, he glanced back at the one who called his name and offered an innocent smile. "Yes, Kagome?" he questioned.
Kagome rose a brow at him and gave him a pointed look. "Where do you think you're going?" she questioned as she put her bowl down and gave him her full attention, the other adults continued to eat, but were also now focused on their interaction.
Shippo shifted nervously as his mind tried to think of what would be a good excuse to get him out of Kagome's stare. After a few seconds of pondering, his answer came from the object in his hold. "I wanted to wash my dish before going to bed" he replied softly. Pleased with his excuse he waited for Kagome to respond.
Kagome looked at him carefully and frowned. "Why don't you wait until we all get done, I don't like the idea of you going out there by yourself."
Her response made his heart stop and his stomach sink. That wouldn't work because if someone else came with him, he wouldn't be able to get his things. He couldn't tell Kagome that he wanted to go out to pack his stuff, she had already told him to do it earlier but he had been playing instead. Feeling panicked, he opened his mouth to try and convince her to let him go but was cut off by Inuyasha.
"Aw, let the runt go. He'll be fine He's old enough now, if anything happens we can reach him."
Shippo, for the first time in a long time since meeting the elder hanyou felt something other than annoyance with him. It was the first time he had been grateful of the hanyou. Turning his attention back toward Kagome, he anxiously awaited her response to what Inuyasha had said.
Kagome's frown deepened and she nibbled softly on her bottom lip. A habit that happened often when she was thinking deeply about something. After a few moments of silence, the miko sighed in defeat. "Fine Shippo, you can go and wash your dish. Don't wander to far and if you see or sense anything come back here immediately." she instructed with light hesitance in her voice.
Shippo smiled and nodded his head vigorously. Grasping his bowl tighter he quickly fled from the hut with a small bounce in his step. He would do as Kagome advised, he would wash his dish first and then go to his hiding spot. Mind made up, Shippo quickly went towards his first destination, the river.
Shippo leaned back away from the river, his small hands were now soaked, as was his shirt and a bit of his pants. Kagome's going to be mad about this he thought with a frown. Shaking his head, he glanced down at the slightly damp dish in his hold. He forgot to bring anything to dry it with, shrugging, he stood up. It'll dry on it's own. Nodding in agreement to his own thoughts, Shippo glanced around. Satisfied that no one had followed him, he began to walk in the direction his belongings were hidden.
It wasn't that far from where he was now, or where the others remained in the hut so it shouldn't take him to long to get everything he needed.
Picking up his pace, he continued toward his destination. Within minutes he reached a tree that was worn by time. It was big and tall, the leaves had yet to grow back from the season change giving the tree an almost dead look. His tail flicked in excitement and he put the dish down on the ground and went closer to the tree.
Sitting down by the base of the tree he sniffed around it lightly, before his eyes widened in recognition. "Here it is" he murmured to himself. Giggling softly to himself, he began to dig near the roots of the old tree. After a few moments of digging he finally reached his 'prize', his smile grew as he pulled out a medium sized box. Kagome had brought it back here from her time shortly after he had joined them. It was a 'shoe' box. She had given it to him and now he kept his treasures in it. He had to hide a lot of his stuff from Inuyasha so the hanyou wouldn't take it.
He frowned at that thought, he had learned not to hide the treats Kagome brought back from her time in the box though. The first and last time he had done that everything in the box has been covered in ants. It was terrible and he lost all of his treats too.
Shaking his head to clear his wandering thoughts, he glanced at the box that now rested before him. It was really worn and there were some holes on the sides. But it still worked. Wiping the dirt of the top of the box he removed the lid and set it to the side. He clasped his hands together in excitement and than began to remove each item.
Soon all of his belongings were scattered around him, he had to air them out before taking them back to his bag where he could pack them. Humming softly he began to air out and clean off each item from the dirt that had fallen through the holes of the box. He continued to do this and put the items back into the box until only one item remained.
His father's pelt. His gaze softened as he turned around to glance at the last thing he had of his father's. However once he turned around his eyes widened in surprise at the sight that greeted him. His father's pelt was there, but so was Kagome's daughter, Kaiya. The small hanyou was resting by his father's pelt, running her small hands through the fur and making soft grunting noises.
Shippo sighed as he cautiously approached her and the pelt. How did she get her? Glancing at the female he noticed the dirt stains on her clothing. Kagome's really going to be mad now. He noted, but he wondered how Kaiya had even left the hut without any of the adults noticing. Shrugging, he knelt down beside the pelt and girl and placed his hands on the soft fur that once belonged to his father. This action caught Kaiya's attention as she looked at him curiously before her eyes narrowed as she glanced between him and the pelt.
Shippo sighed softly "Let go Kaiya" He instructed in a soft yet stern voice while tugging softly on the pelt.
Kaiya tightened her hold on the fur and glared at him as she began growling softly. Shippo clenched his jaw as he looked down at the hanyou. He understood she was a pup, he did adore her because she was Kagome's daughter, but he wouldn't stand for this behavior from her, not right now and not for this. This was his father's pelt. Jumping to his feet, he glared down at the little hanyou and growled softly. "This is mine Kaiya. You can't have it. This is my papas" he growled.
He knew he may be a little mean, but this was something of his that she couldn't have. He wouldn't let her. Kaiya's growls softened as she looked down at the pelt and then back at Shippo, her brow furrowed. "Ah-Ah?"
Shippo's eyes widened, she was trying to say papa. He frowned and his shoulders slumped, he forgot that she didn't have a papa. Well she did, but he wasn't with her. He nodded and pointed down to the pelt. "My papa isn't here anymore, this is his fur. He- um, well you can tell who your papa is because he has similar energy and scent to your own"
He knew it was strange to explain this to a baby, as she probably did not understand what he was saying. But he felt like he had to tell her, no one else would. At least not right now. Shaking his head, he grasped the pelt and held it close to his body. Luckily this time, Kaiya had let go of the pelt and watched him curiously.
Shippo shook his head and folded his papa's pelt neatly before placing it in the box. Putting the lid back onto the box he turned back toward Kaiya, only to find her looking into the treeline with her brow furrowed. He sighed once more, how was he going to get back to the hut with his stuff and Kaiya? Maybe she'll follow? He questioned mentally.
Going toward the dish he had washed earlier, he picked it up and then placed it in the box before closing the lid again. Picking up the box he approached Kaiya who was still looking into the tree line. "Kaiya" he called, when she looked at him he motioned for her to follow him "Come on, let's go back to Ka-mama" He stated. The little girl huffed, and Shippo took that as a signal that she understood.
Turning around he began to lead the way back to the hut. He was relieved when he heard her following him, he continued to listen to make sure she was continuing to follow him. After a few moments of walking, the noise stopped and he turned around curiously only to find Kaiya looking back toward the tree line while sniffing softly at the air.
His eyes widened in surprise when he heard her growl lightly and softly speak "Ah-Ah" as she gazed at the tree line. His brow furrowed as he glanced at the trees. Was her papa out there? He shook his head, that couldn't be possible, could it?
Shrugging his shoulders, He glanced back at the tiny girl "Kaiya!" He called, the girl looked away from the treeline and back toward him. "Come on, we gotta get you back to your mama. We are leaving early tomorrow" he stated.
The small hanyou huffed but quickly made her way toward him. Shaking his head to clear his wandering thoughts, he continued forward with Kaiya by his side. Glancing back toward the treeline, Shippo shivered, he couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching them.
Sesshoumaru stood frozen on the tree branch he was currently perched on. With narrowed eyes he continued to watch both the kit and hanyou pup as they made their way into the village. Blinking, his lips pulled down into a frown as he heard the miko scold the pup and kit for being out for so long and the pup for disappearing.
He cursed mentally at himself. Why had he stopped? That had been the perfect chance. He could have gotten rid of the hanyou pup when she was alone with the kit. The kit would have been to small and slow to react. Sure, he could still get her now, and the miko too. But doing so would cause to much of an uproar and trouble. Especially if his idiot half breed brother was there. He growled softly, he couldn't rush it. Rushing caused mistakes and mistakes were not something he did.
Grunting softly he continued to stare at the village. It will be okay, he had time. The kit said something about leaving, where would they go? The miko's bag was full, which meant she would not be leaving for a long period of time again. Which could only leave one thing, they would be leaving to collect the jewel shards.
Which means they will be away from the safely of the village. The thought brought a smirk to his lips. Perfect this Sesshoumaru shall act then.