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Don't Get Involved, Baka

Chapter 3

Swearing Eternal Service

-Zelman-

I looked down at the child, Shippo. (I had been told after many complaints from said child and almost being burned to ash numerous times in his anger) His eyes were a strange color for one of my kind but I ignored that fact, knowing that he could have either been turned, or he was of mixed blood. His copper hair, courtesy of the blood of Asura, was pulled into a low ponytail with a green ribbon that clashed with said hair, but matched with said eyes. I swallowed the urge to rip the girly hair tie off his head.

No male student of mine was going to wear a ribbon in their hair.

"Ne, sensei, did I do this right?" drove me out of my thoughts and I blinked, focusing on the ashes that used to be a bird.

Sensei? Oh right, that's me, isn't it? I walked over to the ashes and poked through it, thinking. The kid was learning awfully quickly, but that was to be expected of someone his age. The age he was now was when our bloodline learned the fastest. I felt him shifting from one foot to the other in apprehension. A flash of light suddenly caught my eyes from the ashes and I picked up the item, playing with it for a few moments before turning towards my pupil.

"Do you know what this is?" I asked and he took it, looking it over.

"OH, this is the missing gear I was looking for!" he exclaimed, plucking it from my grasp, "so the birdy did steal it."

"What's it from?"

"A clock!"

"What type?"

"Okaa-san's type!" he replied happily and I quirked an eyebrow.

"And what exactly was the bird doing with it, now?"

"The evil birdy stole it."

"I see." I sifted through the ashes one last time before standing up and ruffling the kid's hair. "Good job, we're done for the day" I informed and he pouted. I blinked once before raising my head and staring down my nose at him.

"Any objections?" I questioned and he nodded.

"Yeah, it's only been five minutes since this so-called 'lesson' started." he informed and I scowled.

"I never clarified how long the lessons were going to be. If you don't like how long they are then too bad for you. Scram, kid, I've got other business to attend to."

"You already finished your rounds for today, though."

"I'm a Lord, I've got paperwork, now shoo, beat it."

"I'll help!"

"Do you even know how to read yet, kid?" I asked, skeptical. The glare he gave me made a shiver run down my spine. I knew that my natural barriers were fighting back his powers and a burst of flames appeared a foot away from my face.

"My name is Shippo. Get it right" he growled and I smirked. He must have gotten that impulse from his adoptive mother. The flames were closer this time, but only by about an inch. He had some major work to do if he wanted to set me on fire when my barriers weren't even up to half their full strangth.

"Okay then, Shippo, do you know how to read?"

"Yes" he replied tartly.

"Huh."

"I do! Really!"

"I still say no."

His eyes narrowed, fists clenched at his hands as he released a snarl of annoyance. "You're even worse than inubaka" he grumbled but I ignored him, deciding to leave. I turned and walked down the alley. His footsteps alerted me of an unwanted, under-age stalker but I chose to ignore that, too. If he was desperate then I wouldn't stop him. Wasn't my fault if he got into trouble, either. Not like I enjoyed having a random kid following me everywhere.

"Jerk" he grumbled after about half an hour and the footsteps stopped, fading away. I smirked at my victory and turned right, down and empty alley. It was time for me to head home.

-Kagome-

"I'm home!" she called but recieved no reply, not even the tackle that always knocked the wind out of her from her favorite little son. Where was he, anyway?

"Kagome, is that you?" Sango called as she made her way down the stairs and their eyes connected in silent conversation.

"Where is he?" Kagome demanded.

"He left to train with Zelman in the morning, not ten minutes after you left for work. He hasn't returned since then. Everyone's out looking for him right now."

"He went with Zelman? The Zelman?" she asked, just to make sure.

"Hai."

"To train?"

"Hai."

"That moron!" she screamed in frustration and bolted out the door, completely forgetting about the fact that she still had high heels on. She couldn't wait to get her hands on either black blood, for she was not in a happy mood. Kagome in bad mood meant someone was going to die by Kagome's hands. Or, in this case, re-die.

"They shall pay for making me run like this" she hissed underneath her breath, clearly not finding any of this amusing.

--------------------

Shippo looked around at the thugs that had surrounded him and smiled gleefully.

"Hi!" he chirped and the thugs looked at eachother in confusion. Weren't kids supposed to be afraid at a time like this? "I'm Shippo, what's your name?"

"Listen, kid, where's your mom?"

"She's at work!" he explained, "but she should be back home soon. Can you help me get back home? I got lost." The thugs looked at eachother again. The leader shook his head and Shippo pouted. "But I don't want to have to hurt you. You people seem nice."

Nice? The men clad in black blinked stupidly for a few moments, clearly not believing their ears. Some random kid on the street had just called them nice! Nice! Them! They all laughed inwardly at the thought.

"Listen, kid, scram."

"That's what he said, too, and that's why I'm lost. I am not going to leave and get even more lost. I'm not that stupid."

The leader waved his hand and all the thugs began closing in on him, brandishing their weapons. Shippo scowled and easily set one guy's clothing on fire. The man let out a terrified screech and promptly began to roll back and forth on the ground.

"Baka" Shippo grumbled and the other thugs immediately stopped their approach, dropping their weapons and falling to their hands and knees, bowing so hard that their heads smacked the ground with a loud 'slam!'

"G-gomen nasai! We didn't realize who you were! Please, spare our lives, Asura-sama! Spare us!"

Shippo blinked, confused, but quickly shoved it off and sat down. "Hey, do wanna see some tricks that I learned?" he asked excitedly, holding up a leaf. "They're really cool!"

"H-hai, Asura-sama!"

Shippo had no idea who this 'Asura-sama' was, but it kept the others from trying to make him go away so he decided to play along for now. He held up the leaf and pressed it against his head. There was a loud 'poof!' and a puff of smoke as Shippo transformed.

"Tada!" Shippo exclaimed when the smoke disappeared to reveal a Ginta look-alike. He took the leaf off and their was another puff of smoke. He was back in his original form by the time it had cleared.

"Sugoi!" the thugs gasped, clapping in excitement. Yes, they were positive now that this was Asura-sama, and if not Asura himself, then his reincarnation.

"Shippo!" a feminine voice cried and their hero turned towards the noise.

"Okaa-san!" he laughed, causing the thugs to murmur in confusion. Did Asura even have a mother? Shippo hopped into Kagome's arms and hugged her tightly. "I made so many new friends! See?"

Shippo waved his hand towards the group of thugs and Kagome laughed nervously. She glanced at Shippo to see if he knew who these people were but he seemed absolutely oblivious.

"H-Hello" she stammered, giving a tiny wave and they waved back, awe on every single one of their faces.

"Asura-sama's mother is truly beautiful" one whispered and Kagome sweat-dropped. Asura's mother...? What kind of lies did Shippo spout to these poor, poor souls?

"A-ano..." she began but was cut off by many nods and grunts of agreement. They bowed low once again.

"Please, allow us to assist you in whatever plight you may be in!" the leader announced and the others nodded.

"Demo..."

"Asura-sama spared us, we must repay him somehow!"

The others nodded once again.

"I..."

"Onegai!" they all chorused at the same time.

"...o-okay..." she mumbled and they all cried out in glee before jumping to their feet and surrounding them both. Shippo laughed at his mother's expression and she glared at him with a look that said 'you will pay for this'. He stopped laughing the moment he saw the glare and cleared his throat, scratching the back of his head.

"We shall protect you, Asura-sama!" one shouted.

"We will make sure you return home unharmed!"

"We shall guard your home from all intruders!"

"A-arigatou..." Kagome mumured as she began to walk away. They followed her, trailing behind her with determined looks on their faces. She rolled her eyes and gazed at Shippo. It was so like him to bring home people that swore their eternal service. Why couldn't she find a normal kid? Not only that, but this was the worst gang in the area. Then again, it was Zelman's. He must have decided to keep them just because they were blumbering idiots.

She glanced back at them.

She had to admit, they served good entertainment.

Meanwhile, in the darkness of a nearby alleyway, a certain black blood prince chuckled with amusement at his own ingeniusness. Oh, how he loved watching the woman before him squirm as she attempted to control her emotions.

"Zelman - 1, Kagome - 0."

It was time to move on to the next phase of his plan.

----------------------------

Kagome sighed as she entered the house, glancing outside at the numerous people camping outside. Sango noticed her gaze and peeked out the window only to snort and burst out laughing. Kagome glared at her.

"You have quite a few bodyguards, don't you, Kagome?" Sango laughed and Kagome held up Shippo by the back of his shirt, shoving him in Sango's face.

"It's all his fault" she stated bitterly. "If he didn't go with Zelman we wouldn't be in this predicament."

"But at least you know you'll be protected" Shippo reasoned, arching his back so he could face his mother.

"Protected?" she scoffed, "they can't tell the difference between a child and a long-dead warrior!"

"Oh, so that's what Asura is..." Shippo murmured and Kagome groaned. This could not be happening to her. She could just imagine what Zelman's reaction would be if he ever found out. He would be laughing and mocking her, and smirking at her with that damn evil smirk of his... at least he wouldn't set her on fire, though, would he?

On second thought, he just might just to spite her.

Kagome shook her head. Bad thoughts were not good. Bad thoughts about people setting her on fire were probably even worse. Bad thoughts about a Vampire Lord setting her on fire was by far the worst. No. Bad thoughts about a Vampire Lord that was too lazy to do anything but set her on fire was the worst way to die.

Other than getting run over by a xylophone.

Or choking on a snowflake.

Or-

Kagome shook her head and dropped Shippo on the ground, finished glaring at the back of his head.

"DAMN YOU ZELMAN!!!!" she screamed in frustration, "DAMN YOU TO ALL SEVEN LAYERS OF HELL AND BACK!"

To Be Continued...

Hope you liked it! I have two other stories that I want to post but I know that I'm never going to finish them! Sigh. But I probably will when I'm done with this story, or another one of my stories. IDK... W.e. REVIEW PLEASE!!!! I LOVE REVIEWS!