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Here we go, people! Chapter 6 of Four Feet Tall Again. It's a bit longer than usual so I hope you like it. But I'm not sure if this is my best. And yes, I am aware that Kagome seems kind of bipolar in this story.
I should have probably made this longer but it's already over 2500 words. Plus, it's past midnight here and I only got 5 hours of sleep today (which is why I sleep in class). So I apologize ahead of time if this chapter is crappy.
People kind of seem OOC in this chapter, so be warned...
Hope you like the chapter!
A bloodcurdling shriek pierced the Taisho mansion. A frantic miko jumped out of bed, gripping a small object in her small hands.
"Sesshomaru!" she cried, running to her surrogate brother. He emerged groggily from his room.
"What?" he snapped. It was his day off and Kagome hated waking him up so early. But this was of vital importance.
She thrust the object as high as she could, reaching just below his chin. "Look!" Sesshomaru looked down in shock, the sleep in his eyes immediately gone.
"No." he said indignantly. "It can't be." Sesshomaru picked up the object delicately with his long slender fingers. "This shouldn't be here."
Kagome nodded vigorously. "I know! I thought it was gone!"
"As did I. But how did it get here?"
The miko shrugged. "I don't know. It might've just popped out. But either way, Sesshomaru, we need to find a way to dispose of it."
"How?" Sesshomaru shot her a skeptical look.
Kagome hesitated. "I… don't know. But we'll find a way!"
The taiyoukai sighed and rubbed his temples. "We will discuss this later. It is almost time for school. Go get dressed." She nodded and walked off, grasping the forbidden object tightly between her hands. A frown marred her normally cheerful face as she thought about the current happenings of the morning.
The Shikon no Tama was back.
It was a quiet drive to school, both of them tense and confused about the jewel. Kagome had left it in Kikyo's care, but when she died, Kagome thought the Shikon went with Kikyo, the rightful guardian. But no. The damned thing just had to come back to her.
Kagome let out a sigh as she pinched the bridge of her nose. This didn't help the entire 'X-egg business' either. Right now, it's critical that we dispose of the Shikon. But how to go about that is the question.
She was still pondering this as they arrived at Seiyou Academy. Kissing Sesshomaru on the cheek, Kagome walked to her class in a daze, concentrating on the question at hand.
If anything, they'd need help. The Shikon wasn't exactly an ordinary marble. The immense power it contained might need power that could stand its own and not taint the jewel. The miko sighed. The more she thought about it, the more confused she got.
Still in a trance, Kagome barely harnessed the fact that she had bumped into Amu. It was only when she hit the ground that Kagome noticed.
"Gomen, Hinamori-san! I wasn't paying attention to where I was walking!" she apologized frantically.
Amu grinned up at her from her spot on the ground. "Just don't let it happen again, ne?"
Laughing, Kagome pulled her up and the two began walking to class together.
"Ne, Higurashi-san. Did you hear we're having a substitute today? Nikaidou-sensei has a conference out of town or something."
Kagome turned to her startled. "We are? Who?"
Amu shrugged. "Don't know. Probably some old geezer, though." They shared a laugh at the comment. Kagome and Amuwalked into the classroom. Immediately, everyone quieted. The two promptly jammed their fingers into their ears as deafening squeals of "Dark and wise!" and "Cool and spicy!" rang through the air.
Releasing their ears once the squeals subsided; they took their seats and waited for the teacher to arrive.
Several minutes later, the door opened, revealing a tall and good-looking man around the age of twenty. His long auburn hair held up in a low ponytail, sparkling emerald eyes, and boyish grin just screamed 'hottie.'
Instead of drooling like most of the other girls, Kagome gaped at the man. His aura was so familiar…. No! It couldn't be. Kagome shook her head doggedly, attempting to shake herself of the ridiculous notion. There's no way he could be here… And even if he was, there's no way he'd still love me. Not after what I did… she thought sullenly. Shippou… my baby boy…
The man cleared his throat to get the kids' attention. "I am Kogitsune-sensei. You will address me as that and nothing else." Everything went silent as they stared openly at the teacher. He shot them a grin. "Man, I always hate saying that part, but it's got to be said." Kogitsune-sensei shrugged. "Now, could you introduce yourselves? Yo, Cotton Candy, what it be your name?" he suggested, pointing at Amu.
Amu stood up, looking miffed at being called Cotton Candy. "Hinamori Amu. Don't call me Cotton Candy." More squeals of "Cool and spicy" rang through the air before Amu sat back down.
Their teacher chuckled as he looked around the room for someone to choose. He looked at Kagome and his eyes grew wide with recognition of her aura. "Okaa-chan," he breathed his voice nearly silent. Anyone other than Kagome couldn't have been able to hear it. But his whisper caught her ears and made her eyes tear up. She glanced up at the teacher, startled to find that his eyes were filled with tears as well.
Shippou blinked them away rapidly before he called on the next person, his voice slightly choked. This process went on until the entire class was introduced. By then, Kagome's tears had faded and all that was left was a dull aching of her heart.
What if… what if Shippou hates me? I left him when he needed someone the most. He must hate me for it! She thought violently.
During the first half of the day, Kagome barely registered anything that Shippou had been saying. She had been staring at him, taking in his finely drawn features, trying to find whatever trace of her kit was left in him.
Her boy was a man now. The auburn hair and the sparkling emerald irises remained the same. But he had grown up without her. Shippou's short body had matured into a towering figure of a well-built man, much like Sesshomaru. His grin was even more mischievous than before, just adding to the whole, "Mysterious and boyish" image he seemed to have.
Kagome let out a sigh. Shippou had grown up so much over the years. She felt awful that she had missed out on so much of his life.
Before she knew it, lunch had arrived. Kagome was about to leave and join Amu, but Shippou called her back.
"Higurashi-san, please wait here." It was more of a request than the usual demand that teachers usually said. His voice was impassive but eyes were pleading and desperate.
When everyone had left the classroom, Shippou approached her. "Kagome Higurashi?" he whispered urgently.
"Yes, Shippou-chan?" Those two words were all he needed to engulf Kagome in a tender embrace. Shippou hugged Kagome's small frame against his own, burying his face in her shoulder, sobs racking his own.
Kagome put a hand on the back of his head. I guess he really did miss me… "Shippou-chan, it's okay. Darling, stop crying," the miko pleaded, tears blurring her own vision.
He merely shook his head and wrapped his arms around her tighter. "N-no. I've already lost my mother once. I'm not losing her again." Shippou looked at her. She took in his features a second time. He seemed so different from a few moments ago. His usual jovial face had completely vanished revealing her broken and lost child.
Tears poured from her sapphire eyes. "My son," Kagome wrapped her arms around Shippou's abdomen, clutching him tightly. "I missed you dearly."
"And I you, 'kaa-chan."
Kagome pulled away from her son, sniffling and wiping away her tears. She sent a soft smile at him. "Don't you still talk with Sesshomaru?"
Shippou gavea noncommittal shrug after wiping away traces of his own tears. "Sure, but I haven't talked to him in over a year. He took care of me after you left but sent me to live with Kouga after I became of age. Said something about not being able to handle my 'rebellious stage' and my nutrition costs."
Kagomelet out a derisive snort.
"Stingy bastard," they said.
"Ne, Shippou. Is Kouga still in Japan?" she asked.
He nodded. "Yup. Kouga's still in the country. He's coming over later, actually." Shippou flashed a wolfish grin that he undoubtedly picked up from Kouga. "Want to see him again?"
Kagome nodded eagerly. "Uh huh!"
"Hey, Okaa-chan. How come Fluff Butt never told you we were still alive?"
"I don't know. I've only been here a week or so, and with everything that's been going on, I can't blame him if he forgot." She replied, shrugging.
"What business?"
Her face grew serious. "You'll find out when Kouga gets here."
Shippouwas about to protest when the bell rang, signaling the end of the lunch break. "Damn," he muttered. "Fine. Okaa-chan, tell me when the wolf's here." He kissed her cheek quickly before gathering up his things.
During all of class, all Kagome could think about were Shippou and Kouga. What had happened during the past five hundred years? Did they mate? Why hadn't they came and found her? There were so many questions she wanted to ask.
At their free time, Amu noticed Kagome staring intensely at Shippou. "Ne, Higurashi-san. You like Kogitsune-sensei or something?"
Shippou, being the demon with oh-so sensitive hearing coughed loudly, as though hiding a laugh. Kagome shot a glare at her son before turning to Amu and replying, "Of course not. I see no way to like him in any way." That isn't incest, she added silently.
"I see." Amu looked somewhat skeptical.
"What about you and Hotori-kun?" Kagome retorted, attempting to change the subject. She smirked in satisfaction when she saw Amu blush the same color as Shippou's hair.
"What makes you think that!?"
Kagome gave the Guardian a sly smile. "A girl just knows." She bit her tongue to keep from spitting out, "And it's also pretty obvious, Hinamori-san. You don't hide it very well."
"I suppose." Amu smiled wistfully. Despite that it didn't fit her character, Kagome doubted Amu cared. "Higurashi-san, I'm not sure if you know what it's like but, my heart thumps faster with him, I smile more, I find myself doing things I normally wouldn't be doing!"
"I know what you mean." Kagome said softly.
"What?"
"To be in love."
Amu looked bewildered. "Love!? Higurashi-san, I'm not in love!" she protested. "But how would you know, Higurashi-san?" Amu asked pointedly.
"Kagome-chan."
Amu blinked owlishly. "What?"
"Kagome-chan. You can call me that, you know?"
"O-okay, K-Kagome-chan." she stammered. Quickly catching herself, Amu continued, "And it's Amu-chan to you."
Kagome shot her a grin. "Alright, Amu-chan. But you know, I think you and Souma-kun make a much better couple." She couldn't help but laugh at Amu's blushing and stutters. At times, getting people flustered could be quite amusing, despite the fact that she was telling the truth...
The end of the day had finally arrived and Kagome was nearly jumping with excitement. Shippou laughed at her across the classroom as they waited for Kouga to arrive.
"'kaa-chan, you'll wear yourself out!"
Giggling, Kagome replied, "I don't care. I'm excited!"
"Are you going to go all teary like you were with me?"
"I seem to recall someone sobbing on my shoulder." she shot back, looking in satisfaction as she saw a faint blush dust Shippou's cheeks.
"So I sob when I see my mother whom I haven't seen in over five hundred years," he protested. "Sue me."
"I would, but I don't want a homeless son." Kagome retorted cheekily. They laughed at her words before it died down, leaving them in a comfortable silence.
Sharp foot steps rang through the door, approaching them. "Kouga." muttered Shippou.
The door flew open as a wolf demon entered the room. "Hey, Shippou. What's up?" His puplil-less eyes fell upon the two. "Really kid. I know you like pretty stuff, but I didn't think you were a pedophile."
Shippou rolled his eyes. "Old man, you think I'd try something with my mother?"
Meanwhile, Kagomewas gaping at her old friend. Despite his age, he didn't look a day over twenty-five. He still had his hair pulled back into a high pony tail, showing off his normal human ears. Despite the Armani suit fitting snugly around his toned body, Kouga still had that roguish look to him.
"Mother!?" the wolf demon spluttered. "Kagome-chan!?"
"No, Sesshomaru. Who else do you think?"
Kouga glared at the kitsune. His eyes softened as they landed on the miko. "Kagome-chan?"
She gave him a vigorous nod. "Hi Kouga-kun!" Kagome chirped happily.
The ookami let out a small chuckle before sweeping her off her feet in a hug. "I missed you Kagome!"
"I missed you too!" Kagome managed a weak laugh before choking out, "Kouga-kun, you're restricting my air."
He chuckled happily and complied. "Kagome-chan, how's life with Fluffy?"
She giggled at the nickname. "Sesshomaru's not going to like it when you call him that."
Shippou snorted. "We've been calling him that for the past three centuries. It won't do us any good to stop now. He finally stopped nagging us last decade."
"It's amazing he didn't cut your head off!" said Kagome, between guffaws. When she calmed down, she turned to Kouga and answered, "Sesshomaru's been nice. He trained me and gave me a place to stay. But the mansion's so huge, I get lost four days out of five!" She pouted. "And it really sucks when I have to pee."
Kouga roared with laughter. "Perhaps our little Kagome-chan should start wearing a diaper."
She glowered at him. "I may be turned into a little kid, but I'm not that little."
"You'll always be little to me, Kagome."
Said girl sent Kouga one last glare before asking, "Did you mate yet?"
"With Ayame." His face was suddenly glowing with love and adoration for his mate. "We mated around 4 centuries ago. Hehe, our..." he paused to count on his fingers, "57th kid last decade. Little bugger's a handful."
Kagome gaped at him. "Fifty-seven?" He nodded. "Damn. You must pay the babysitter a lot of money, then."
Shippou let out a sound that sounded something like, "Tchah!" He turned to the conversing pair. "'kaa-chan, they had me babysit. They didn't even pay me!" the kitsune whined.
The priestess giggled. "Shippou, do you have a mate?"
He shook his head. "No, but I'm courting Rin-chan. Remember her?"
"The adorable little girl with the side ponytail?" Shippou nodded and she squealed. (Kagome didn't bother questioning her longevity. No doubt that Sesshomaru carried out the traditional demon adoption ritual.) "I bet she's just gorgeous now! You're very lucky to court her, Shippou."
"Don't I know it," he grumbled. "I had to fight Sesshomaru to be able to gain his permission. Old dog put me through the fight from hell."
Kouga and Kagome laughed at Shippou's misfortune before he interrupted. "Okaa-chan, what was it that you needed to tell us?"
Kagome's face was instantly void of her previous joy. "Did Sesshomaru tell you about the X-eggs?" Kouga nodded.
"He briefed me on it and had me fill Shippou in."
"Then we have that covered. But something happened this morning that should never have been."
"What happened, Kagome?" The addressed person internally winced at Shippou's clipped tone.
She sighed. "The Shikon no Tama is back."
Only one word was uttered by the two demons.
"Fuck..."
Dun, dun, dun! Hehe, when I was writing the first part of the chapter, I was wondering if people would think that Kagome had a heart egg. And Shippou and Kouga are back in the story! These first few chapters are kind of just introducing everyone in that I can't do in one chapter. The rest SHOULD be following the plot, but my writing tends to get away from me sometimes. I think at one point, this chapter turned out to be about Nadeshiko and Kagome before I changed it.
I'm done with my long-ass authors' note now! Reviews are greatly appreciated!