Hi all... short chapter, I know, but i had more typed, my flashdrive got corrupted somehow. No worries, I'ma write while i'm on the road to NY this weekend, and will be back sunday. Enjoy and sorry for the delay.

A Simple Request

Chapter 17- Hello Hojo!

Kagome cracker her neck as she made herself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch. Chorei had given her light exercises today. Sesshomaru had been gone for a month, effectively missing Christmas and a play starring their children. Today was Tuesday, and Kagome had the house to herself. "Glad you're finished eating, I made a grocery list for you. It's pretty specific and I figured it would give you some time out of the house for once." Kagome sighed as Chorei handed her a long, two column list.

"Can you mail Sesshomaru his gifts while I'm out? You've been keeping me on such a busy schedule that I haven't had time to do it myself." Chorei chuckled and patter her shoulder heavily.

"I'll mail them for you darling. After you get everything on the list, pick up the kids and then we'll have more weapon training." Kagome groaned and stuffed the list in the back pocket of her jeans and shuffled upstairs to get her shoes. She should have known Chorei wasn't going to go easy on her. Sighing as she hopped on one foot to put on her left tennis shoe, she rushed to her dresser and put on a matching red headband to her shirt, and then pulled her hair into a medium-high ponytail. Frowning at nothing in particular, Kagome slid down the stair rail and snagged her jacket from Chorei's awaiting arms.

"Keys girl," Chorei reminded, her hand held out with a set of keys. Kagome blushed, backtracking from the door to take her keys. "Try not to gather too much attention and you have three hours. Your credit card is in your jacket pocket." Kagome nodded and ran out the door, closing it soundly behind her. Chorei sighed to herself, rolling her eyes, and wondering what she did for the Kami's to do this to her.

Kagome glanced at the thousand pound shopping cart she was dragging behind her to ensure it didn't hit anything, while pushing the half-ton cart in front of her. She managed to get everything on the list and some, so now she was on the way to the cash register. As she walked, she checked off everything in her mind, looking from the list to the carts on the items she wasn't sure of. Before her brain could register someone was ahead of her, her cart thumped into their side. Kagome looked up in surprise when her cart came to a halt and jammed her ribcage, successfully trapping her in between the two carts. "Sorry." Kagome blurted out stopping the cart behind her from ramming her insides together.

"It's quite alright. I can tell you were distracted and busy." Kagome jumped at the familiar, slightly baritone voice. Chocolate brown met her uniquely colored eyes as well as brown bowl-cut hair. "Do I know you?" He questioned tilting his head to the side ever-so-slightly. If Kagome's hands weren't full she would have smacked her head in recognition.

"You're that guy who caught me at the mall." Kagome replied. "Hojo… right?" The man nodded and she grinned genuinely.

"I didn't recall your eyes being this mesmerizing and you never gave me your name." Kagome blushed innocently.

"Higushari, Kagome at your acquaintance. It's nice to bump into you again. I apologize for my previous rudeness." His eyes seemed to light up and he grabbed her hand which held the front cart then gave it a gentle kiss with incredibly soft lips. Kagome smiled lightly and gently pulled her hand away. Checking the time on her watch, she scowled.

"Got somewhere to go?" He questioned as she gave an exasperated sigh and reached for her cart once more.

"Yea, sorry, but it was nice seeing you again." Kagome exclaimed dragging the heavy carts with her as she left. Once she was out of sight, Hojo smiled as he dialed a number on the cellular phone that was once resting in his shirt pocket.

"Yeah boss, I got her scent and have come into contact with her. You were right… her change has already begun."

"Did you guys have fun at school?" Chorei questioned as the kids sat at the table with their homework.

"Yeah," Shippo answered, "We're learning about history."

"And Daddy's dad was a strong demon who liked humans." Rin exclaimed with excitement. Chorei smiled and sat a large bowl of grapes in front of them.

"Kagome will come fix dinner in a little bit. She has a bit of training to complete."

"Okay." Shippo and Rin replied together. Chorei smiled as she left them to do their work and headed towards the dojo. As instructed, Kagome was inside waiting and practicing her stances. Chorei summoned the same amount of energy that brought Sesshomaru to his knees and hurled it at the unexpected hybrid. Said hybrid gracefully leapt into the air with a stunning back-flip and landed flawlessly on her feet.

"You really need to work on your ambush techniques." Kagome mocked with a smirk. Chorei said nothing, batting the dagger Kagome flung at her away like it was a mosquito. She was soon on the defensive with her staff as Kagome charged at her relentlessly. The girl had improved tremendously as their daily exercise in the morning toned unused muscles and built others. She could now wield a vast amount of weapons rather than none at all. Thankfully to them both, Kagome was a moderate learner and worked best under pressure or mockery, which was why Chorei began to give her allotted times to complete tasks.

Meditation was now a daily necessity for Kagome. After she first woke and showered, the hybrid would meditate for a few hours. Chorei didn't believe she possessed total control over her powers, but she was progressing further than expected. The elder butterfly demoness summoned her aura and sent the taller female flying into the dojo wall, knocking the breath from her. Kagome took two steps before stopping. "Something is off…" She whispered softly to no one in particular. Chorei looked at her strangely, not sure if the younger female was trying a trick. Her aura was spread as far as it could go and she sensed nothing.

"I sense no mal intent throughout the entire grounds. Quit trying to get out of training." Chorei moved rapidly towards Kagome, only to be thrown into the opposite wall by a strong blast of youkai which made her crumple to the ground. Kagome's eyes slowly bled a storm grey-looking color and the last word Chorei heard before passing out was the kit's name.

"Shippo..." Kagome murmured sorrowfully. Her aura lashed out like wildfire searching for her kit. Her eyes glowed blue briefly before she moved rapidly through the mansion, halting in the kitchen to search it with her aura more thoroughly. Rin and Shippo's homework were nearly complete, but they were no signs of disruption. The overtaken Kagome walked slowly, observing the eerie stillness. The slightest movement of clothing caused her to cease her first retreating step and Kagome whirled around to face the pantry. Strangely, she couldn't sense an aura, and even more strangely, hear no breaths or heart beats.

She approached the pantry quickly and snatched it open wit lightening speed, her free hand poised to strike as her claws leaked poison. Large, frightened amber eyes met hers and Kagome gathered the small child in her arms. "Rin…" She murmured in comfort as she snuggled the visibly shaken hanyou pup tightly in her embrace.

"Shippo…." Rin whimpered with large golden irises. Kagome felt something furry brush against her cheek and pulled Rin back gently, causing her to whimper with distraught. Fluffy brown hanyou ears twitched rapidly in her fright, and Kagome lightly embraced her again. Her nose twitched as the hybrid stood with the shaken pup in her arms, the metallic scent of blood hitting her nose fully. Before she could contain it, a deep growl resounded in her throat, causing Rin to jump in surprise.

"Rin hurt?" The huskier voice of Kagome's beast questioned the trembling pup. The small female pup shook her head, bringing tiny, blood-stained claws to the elder female's view.

"This Rin tried to save Shippo, but Rin only scratched her face before she pinned Rin down to submit."

"She…" Kagome growled in repetition, bringing the small claws to her nose. The scent of blood was strikingly familiar, yet her state of mind could not process what female would know where Shippo was and be bold enough to take him during daylight. The demon Kagome gently sucked the blood from Rin's claws, putting the exhausted puppy to sleep. She was still unable to detect who the blood belong to, but now that her beast had the scent, there would be hell to pay.

Sesshomaru worked thoroughly at his office in France. Today had been quite a boring day and really lonely. He had not slept at his mate-to-be's side in over two weeks and he missed her presence terribly. He assumed Chorei taught her how to block sending emotion through their courting mark sometime after the first week. This form of silent treatment was difficult and made his beast whine often to know she was well. The daiyoukai himself had caught up with a retired general of the west who server for his father and done some much needed training and practicing. Sesshomaru stopped suddenly, his eyes darting to his peripheral before returning to work. He was Lord Sesshomaru for Kami's sake… paranoia should exist in his world, but the might Daiyoukai hadn't been able to shake the feeling that something was wrong the entire day.

A frown marred his lips slightly as he placed his electric signature at the bottom of the document he was working on and emailed it to Usagi Inc. a knock rapped at his door. Not bothering to look up, he bid them to enter. "Still a rude puppy I see." Chorei chided closing the office door behind her.

"What do you want pest?" He questioned with an audible, exasperated sigh. Though it was small, it caused Chorei to frown openly.

"A bit edgy aren't we?" She teased with a smile that quickly returned to a frown. "You sense it too then, hmm?" Chorei stated more than asked. She set the large brown box she was holding on his desk, calmly looking through the large window behind him at the sight of the Eiffel Tower.

"How are they?" Sesshomaru questioned as his fingers froze over the custom pristine white keyboard.

"They are upset you missed Christmas, but missing you all together overcomes that. I believe your mate-to-be is still giving you the silent treatment, but she wanted this delivered to her puppy." Chorei answered tapping the box and smiling when the daiyoukai growled softly at being called a puppy.

"That is… good to hear." Sesshomaru responded relaxing in his chair. Chorei smiled, walking towards the door in her graceful pace.

"Well, I must be going if I intend to make it back before the children do." Before Sesshomaru could say another word, the butterfly demoness was gone. His eyes met the brown box that smelled strongly of his love. A ghost of a smile graced his lips and he removed the lid from the box. Inside was a pristine ivory watch, some ties(which Rin got him every year), socks(which scented of Shippo), a hair-tie from Chorei made of her indestructible silk as she had been giving him for the past several years, and half a necklace. Sesshomaru brought the 'broken' moon closer to his view and smiled.

His meddlesome brother was now knocking at his door. Sesshomaru returned the half-necklace into its box and closed it, setting it on the floor behind his desk. "Enter."

"Hey bro." InuYasha greeted setting Italian-to-go food on his desk. "I brought ya some grub 'cause you been cooped in here all day, and I know you aint ate. He explained digging into the bag to remove his own plate of food.

"Your arteries will clog." Sesshomaru told him with a lip curled in disgust.

"Yah I know." InuYasha replied smacking his lips loudly while chewing a mouthful. "I just got spaghetti and meatballs." Sesshomaru opened that Styrofoam plate and shrugged his shoulders, enjoying the meal to its best extent with his half-brother.

"Donnatello is a good trainer." InuYasha blurted sipping his Pepsi before returning to his pizza.

"This Sesshomaru was well aware."

"Well, when that Naraku bastard finally wants to fight, we'll have somethin for his ass." InuYasha exclaimed. Sesshomaru smiled slightly as he continued to eat.

"Indeed we will brother." 'Indeed we will.'

Chorei awoke abruptly from the songs of nearby crickets in her ear and instantly leapt to her feet. The butterfly demoness released a slightly shaky breath. The mansion was still intact… so far so good. She had never met someone whose aura could infiltrate a person's mind. Kagome was even stronger now. Chorei's small, light footsteps barely touched the floor as she ran through the mansion, hoping that whatever it was hadn't sent the unstable hybrid on a rampage. Thankfully, nothing appeared out of place, and the house was eerily silent, causing Chorei to slow down as her footsteps echoed the halls.

Rin's aura was nowhere to be found, and all she could smell or feel was Kagome. Chorei slid into the kitchen. Nothing was out of the norm except that the pantry was left open, Rin and Shippo's homework were on the table, and absolutely nothing was out of place. Chorei's frown consumed her features and worry became heavily evident in her eyes. There was no noise going through the entire house. Her eyes darted to the microwave, confirming that all the workers here were gone for it was fifteen minutes until two a.m.

Chorei continued her search up the stairs after making sure the front door was still intact and locked, and it was. Rin and Shippo were not in their room, and Kagome had long ago stopped sleeping in hers, yet it didn't hurt to check. Chorei tip-toed across the hall to Sesshomaru's room and paused briefly as she grasped the doorknob, praying they were inside and safe. Opening the door, she gasped at the sight of Sesshomaru, Kagome, & Rin asleep in his bed. Storm grey eyes met her confused dandelion orbs and Chorei jumped at the silent warning. She backed up quickly and closed the door with ease.

Sesshomaru would have her head if he knew Kagome had managed to overpower her again. The fact that Shippo was not in the room did not cross her mind as the old butterfly demoness went to bed.

The beast of Kagome watched as Chorei left the room. She sensed Sesshomaru behind her and purred contently. Her pup was sound asleep, yet she had been feigning sleep the past few hours. Her rational side was resting; the trauma of her kit being taken was too much for her to bear. Rin's ability to hide her scent, pulse, and aura astound the norm, but after all, Sesshomaru was her sire, and with adrenaline pumping in a youkai's, albeit half, veins was dangerous, but luckily or unluckily, Rin had used her in defense rather than offense. As far as the beast could tell, Sesshomaru had no knowledge of the kit missing in action nor the reason why Rin was sleeping in their bed tonight.

This was good… the less he knew the better chance of her going to save him on her own was. She would prove she didn't need his tight security. Kagome had every intention of going out and dissecting the vermin piece by piece who dared steal was most precious to her. Rin's sudden change had been mind-boggling. Why had her demonic features just now showed? The crescent moon identical to her father's marked her forehead; her ears lay flat as she slept, and those mystical amber eyes were closed with exhaust. Her mate-to-be was missing a lot in France, but through their time apart they only grew closer. Rin, however, needed her father now more than ever.

The hybrid closed her eyes as their mate carefully removed himself from the bed. She felt soft lips on her forehead before hearing the balcony doors open and close. His aura bushed against her as he left and she smiled as determination set in. She would secure Shippo on her own while their mate was away. Snuggling Rin closer, Kagome's beast allowed itself to rest briefly before the hunt began. Good thing it was Friday… she couldn't allow him to miss school.

And there we have it. Again, I apologize for the haughty length, but i wanted this update out before I headed up to NY.

Reviewers' Corner:

Sesshomaru2004: Thanks, sorry it took so long to update!

Love and Leave Love,

SillY or Mouse