"I don't get it," Shippo groused, hands twined around hers. String hung limp on her fingers, and although the bright patterns attracted his attention, there was a distinct lack of pomp holding it there.
"It's cats cradle!" Kagome chirped, "There are rules...sort of. You can even invent new options to challenge your opponent!"
"What kind of rules are 'sort of'?"
Kagome faltered. Youko swooped.
"Why," he cried, "rules can always be changed! In games, in hunt...and of course, in life. If you know the rules, you can work them to your advantage."
Kagome huffed at the sudden intrusion, but Shippo considered his words carefully. There were all sorts of rules in his life...don't trap Inuyasha with anything that lasts longer than an hour...or don't teach the village kids about explosions. And always ask before rifling through Kagome's stuff-even when pocky is the goal.
But there were ways around that-like when he let Ruka find his bag of fireworks, left in a conspicuous place in the village plaza. Well, that definitely worked once.
"So how can you know there are rules and still change them?" Kagome questioned.
Youko raised a brow at Shippo, who gave a courageous smile and replied, "You've got to be creative?"
Youko preened. "Exactly!"
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