Chapter Twenty-Nine: Your safe.

Hope landed on the ground hard her butt growing about as sore as her throat, coughing Hope looked up at Shippo who still sat motionless but instead of looking at the wall he started at her, his eyes gaining a bit of its life back. Hope rubbed her neck and coughed trying to catch her breath, turned to look at the demon but she couldn't see anything throw the smoke. Hope felt her self-starting to pass out, but she couldn't let go just yet. Hope turned and tried to crawl to her feet but was unable to stand, still struggling to breath Hope scooted her way over to Shippo trying to get to him when she heard something move behind her, knowing it had to be the demon Hope moved faster to Shippo's side and grabbed an arrow and turned pulling her bow up to her with her foot. Hope struggled with pulling the bow back her arms and legs felling like limp dead weight.

"I… Can't die here!" The demon growled.

Hope cried out as she was unable to pull the bow back as far as she needed to hit the demon. Hope felt her self start to black out when she caught sight of blue light glowing behind her, the demon stood and gasped out her surprise to what ever was happening, Hope was to weak to turn and was more scared to turn.

"No you can't, you are not suppose to be able to do that!" The demon growled.

Hope fell limp on the floor her breathing returning to normal. The Demon growled and formed herself back together, Shippo stood and glared at her. Lifting her hand she pointed it to Shippo as it flickered the fire building up from her remaining strength. Shippo growled and jumped over grabbing her by the throat squeezing it. The women looked at him gently her eyes pleading for help.

"That wont work on me anymore." Shippo growled.
"Do you… thi. Think.. you.. can… chock me.. to.. death..?" The demon chocked out.
"You'll feel the pain you have made others suffer." Shippo muttered.
"O..only, a… a.. Man.. In.. Love. Could not.. be.. taken by me… Only a man… in… love… can.. call is soul… back… from…me…" She chocked.

Shippo looked back at Hope her body laying limp on the floor her hair gently falling around her face a few peaces laying soft on her neck and shoulder. Turning back to the demon Shippo dropped her and extended his claws slicing her neck open as the demon dissolved into ashes on the floor he screams echoing around the hut. Sighing Shippo turned and walked back over to Hope and gently picked her up into his arms. Laying soundly asleep in his arms Hope shuddered a bit at the thought it might be the demon who had her. Shippo smiled and tightened his grip.

"It's alright, your safe Hope." He muttered.

--

Shippo walked throw the woods following the track they had made before back to town, he felt Hope move in his arms and he looked down at her. Hope gently looked up at him her eyes glazed over with tiredness.

"S…Shippo?" Hope strutted throw her sore throat.
"I've got you." He muttered.
"A…A.. Are you ok?" She chocked out.
"I'm fine, are you ok?"

Hope smiled and nodded then looked forward to see how far the town was, no able to see it yet Hope looked back up at him. Shippo stopped and put Hope gently on her feet letting her hold onto him for balance. Hope looked up at him as she stood safely in his arms her hands gripped on his shirt.
"Shippo… I have been meaning to apologize, for the other night." Hope muttered.
"Hope, please don't. I don't want to hear really." Shippo sighed.

Hope looked up at him her eyes growing sad as she nodded in agreement and turned to keep on walking to the town still a little rough on her feet and her throat still burnt, still a little dizzy Hope stumbled as her foot hit a rock starting to fall she gasped and waited for another hurtful fall on her butt, but was caught by Shippo falling into his arm Hope blushed as she looked up at him.

"Shippo.. I…I.." Hope stuttered.

Shippo looked down at her when they both heard a noise just a few feet a head, they turned to see the rest of the group standing patiently. Ashten stood smiling at the fact his sister looked so flushed, and couldn't wait to pick on her for it later. Ivan stoop tapping his foot a little staring. Lilly stepped back her eyes swelling with tears and shacking her head. Hope stood and turned to them, Shippo stepped back and turned to his head a little low.

"It's not what you think really!" Hope muttered unable to make her voice any higher.

Lilly gave a glare to Shippo and Hope before storming past them her head low and her fists clinched. Shippo stood silent as Ivan walked by his eyes intensely set on Hope who still felt weak from almost being strangled. Shippo sight and turned walking behind the others. Ashten quickly came up beside Hope who started walking as well but was behind the others.

'I can't believe I was about to tell him that, I mean he saved my life and all, but can I really.. I mean how long dose it take, but surely not Shippo, and he liked Lilly I am sure of it. I mean, gah what is wrong with me.' Hope thought to herself.

Ashten looked to his sister but didn't say anything he just sighed and looked back to road. Hope looked up from the ground and started at Shippo as he walked, her heart beating so fast she could barley breath, she was sure Ashten could hear the loud thump agents her chest. Breathing in Hope looked down at the Shikon jewel and smiled.

'No Matter what happens, I am happy you brought me here, I am glad to be part of this, no matter how much trouble I get into, I never want to leave.' Hope thought as she picked the jewel up with her free hand.

--

Bloopers:

Shippo: What was you going to say!?
Lilly: It wasn't like that remember Shippo!
Hope: I wasn't going to say anything!
Ashten: Shippo and Hope sitting in a tree, k-I-s-s-I-n-g, soon comes and marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage!
Lilly: Hits Ashten in the head with the back of her hand
Ashten: OUCH!