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The Breakup
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The night of the new moon was upon him. Sighing heavily, he knew Kagome was aware of the fact as well as aware it didn't have any impact to his being whatsoever but the biggest concern on both of their minds was that Shiori was swinging wildly between clinging desperately to Kagome's arm and trying to make up excuses to leave. A silent question passed in the glance they shot each other as Shiori insisted for the umpteenth time that she needed to leave to check on 'something' Kagome finally knelt down beside her.
"Tonight's your human night, isn't it?" Kagome whispered so quietly even Inuyasha had to strain to hear her but it was clear that the small girl heard her when she gasped and frantically shook her head, "N...no. I mean, what are you talking about? I'm...uh, I...uh..."
Violet eyes darted anxiously between the two giving her knowing and reassuring smiles before she swallowed thickly and nodded almost imperceptibly. Grinning, Kagome lifted the small girl onto her hip and looked up at Inuyasha, "Do you know somewhere safe nearby where we could spend the night?"
Once again, that damn feeling of longing built up in his chest before he shook it off and scooped Kagome and Shiori into his arms, "There's a waterfall just over this way with a cave behind it. I've...uh, stayed there many times, actually, in, uh, similar situations. It'll do."
Leaning up to place a quick kiss onto the jagged purple, Kagome giggled at the deep pink that bloomed across his nose.
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"Tell us what you know," the unseen voice hissed angrily, "We need more facts and answers before we trust one of the dead."
"Ah, I am indeed dead but that could change," Kikyo answered cryptically keeping her eyes trained on the slight shimmer in the rocks, "Inuyasha has been split into two beings by my hand. One human, one demon. He can no longer wield the sword that took down your former leader. He wouldn't be able to break any new barriers you could create."
"Why should we work with you and not just go kill him ourselves?" the voice quipped back, "What is it you want from us?"
"I merely need you the kill some villagers," she answer plainly, "and perhaps take care of a pesky priestess or two...but I doubt that will be necessary if all goes according to plan."
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As the sun set below the horizon, Shiori shivered as her translucent white hair darkened to a soft mouse brown and her pale violet eyes transitioned into a deep sapphire blue. Taking a shivering breath, the small girl seemed to withdraw into herself and stared at them with wide frightened eyes as though she immediately regretted letting them in on her little secret.
"I'm not going to let anyone hurt you," the demonic Inuyasha whispered kindly as he offered her a small smile before glancing at Kagome before meeting the small blue eyes once more, "Neither of us will. You're safe here."
Not seemingly entirely convinced Shiori flinched when Kagome reached out to move a stray hair from her face. Withdrawing her hand, Kagome sighed before gasping suddenly and turning to open one of the pockets of her backpack. After a few moments, she withdrew a small box of pocky and a bar of chocolate before turning around and offering them to the little girl.
"Have you ever had candy before?" Kagome asked as the girl stared incredulously at the strange packaging, "Its really sweet. It's for kids like you!"
Shaking her head slightly, Shiori grimaced apologetically before anxiously playing with some of the soft brown strands of her hair as she watched the demon Inuyasha plop down at the entrance. Feeling her gaze on his back, Inuyasha sighed and glanced over his shoulder, "I think Shippo prefers the strawberry pocky, Kagome. Did you bring any of those? Maybe she'd like that better than chocolate."
"What girl doesn't like chocolate?!" Kagome scoffed incredulously, earning a small giggle from the small timid girl who reached out to take the small box. Opening the small package, she tentiatively took a bite before her eyes widened and a grin broke out on her face as she began to snack with much more enthusiasm. Quickly devouring a few more sticks, Shiori quickly snatched the small chocolate bar out of the miko's hand and began inhaling that as well.
"See told ya," Kagome laughed as she stuck her tongue out at him playfully, "Girls prefer chocolate."
"Keh. Whatever," Inuyasha snorted as he adjusted himself to slouch slightly against the entry way, "You never give me chocolate so what do I know."
"Well..." Kagome chuckled nervously, "I mean...okay, don't take this the wrong way but chocolate can, uh, kill dogs and I was worried that..."
"OÍ! I'm not a fucking dog! I bet I can eat chocolate!" Inuyasha snarled making Shiori drop the piece she'd torn off onto the ground in her surprise. Fluidly getting to his feet, he stormed over, snatched the tiny square off the ground and popped it into his mouth before Kagome could stop him, "See! I'm fine!"
He was not fine. Not ten minutes later, Kagome and Shiori were rubbing his back as he puked out the contents of his stomach over the side of the tiny cliff.
"You fucking..." Inuyasha paused to retch violently before clearing his throat and hoarsely continuing in a mildly playful yet miserably sounding tone, "you fucking poisoned me, Kagome!"
"I told you not to eat it," Kagome teased lightly as she held his hair out of the way as he emptied his stomach again "And it's not poison per se, it's an allergy."
"Remind me about today next time I try to do something that stupid," Inuyasha groaned miserably as he took a swig of water to wash out his mouth before collapsing on the floor and pouting, "Never again."
"Never again," Kagome laughed as she reached up to run one of his fluffy white ears, noticing to her surprise that while he had noticed what she was doing, he wasn't stopping her like he normally would have. Shrugging inwardly, her fingers finally found their target and stroked softly earning a happy sounding sigh as his eyelids closed and he leaned into her touch. Giving the two distracted adults a knowing smirk, Shiori bit her lip as she stealthily snuck back over to the pocket in that yellow bag that held all that chocolately treasure. Boys didn't eat chocolate, after all and even if they did, Shippo wouldn't miss something he didn't know was there in the first place.
