Disclaimer: The characters are trademarked, and the plotline of the series Inuyasha is copyrighted, by Rumiko Takahashi.

A Distant Promise – Mini-Chapter # 31

"You sly dog!"

The kitsune was grinning, and that never did bode well. Sesshoumaru laid down the files he was sorting through and stared. It was hard to figure out what the fox-demon was feeling. On his face, there was an entirely convincing smile, but his scent betrayed a tinge of anger and frustration, as well. What on earth was Shippo talking about?

"You should have told me that you were interested in Kagome."

The files in his hand suddenly became far more interesting. He silently continued packing his briefcase. Evidently his expression must have given him away, however, since the kitsune pressed for details.

"When were you planning to inform me?" the fox-demon complained.

"Clearly, you have misunderstood the situation," Sesshoumaru denied everything. Yes, this was exactly the kind of reaction that he had been trying to avoid by leaving the kitsune out of the loop, regarding Kagome. The dog-demon was a very private person, and the fox-demon was a very prying one. "She is merely accompanying me for a weekend excursion."

"A weekend excursion," muttered the fox, "To which you were told to bring a lady friend…"

Snapping his briefcase shut, the dog-demon rose stiffly. "That is neither here nor there."

The frustration and anger in the kitsune's scent spiked, and Sesshoumaru could tell the younger youkai was trying to contain himself, but for the life of him, he could not figure out why this news would upset Shippo so much. True, the fox-demon had been trying to reunite Kagome and Inuyasha, but such plans were not exclusive to his spending time with the miko too. Sesshoumaru had been spending time with her on a regular basis for months now. It had never bothered the kitsune before.

"Yes," the fox-demon insisted stubbornly, "It matters. Because everything to do with Kagome matters. You know what she is like, and what she has seen…"

This was the last straw, naturally. No one took a short, snippy tone with Sesshoumaru, least of all a fox-kit that he had practically raised from childhood. "You shall neither level threats, nor ultimatums, nor warnings," he growled, "To this Sesshoumaru. She will not be harmed by a weekend away from her studies."

But the fox-demon's reply surprised him, and the quiet intensity in the fox's tone made Sesshoumaru pay attention once more. "Who says I was only concerned about her?" asked Shippo abruptly. "It worries me, that's all. For years, you have been alone, and then, suddenly you are spending more time with her than with your own son…

"Is this about Inuyasha?" the fox continued, "Because she knows your past?"

With a soft snort, he dismissed the kitsune's concerns. Still, it made him feel slightly better, to think this unexpected attack on his privacy had been made with his best interests at heart, not just hers. How odd.

On the other hand, the idea that Kagome could be capable of hurting him, was… well… in a word, it was ridiculous. The girl was charity personified. And it was not a crime to enjoy spending time with someone – even if that person did happen to be a remnant of one's haunted past. In fact, that made the relationship better. Despite knowing exactly how cold, standoffish and cruel he was capable of being, she had still reached out to be his friend. Thus, her familiarity meant more.

What exactly was the kitsune trying to say?

Gazing at his troublesome companion, Sesshoumaru let the silence spread between them, encouraging the fox-demon to explain. But Shippo merely shifted uncomfortably in front of his desk, all too ready to leave the office.

"Look," he asked, finally, "If Kagome were to die tomorrow, what would you do?"

Confused and displeased by the idea, the dog-demon thought of Tenseiga. Was this some kind of a trick question? He failed to see the point.

"I would resurrect her," he answered with a frown.

Yet the response seemed to satisfy Shippo, at last. A muscle twitched in the fox-demon's face, and then he broke out in laughter. Sesshoumaru growled, and picked up his briefcase, turning toward the door. He did not have to stay here, and listen to this nonsense.

As usual, though, he somehow forgot to fire the kitsune for his impudence. Perhaps he really did like the little fox, after all.