I don’t own Inuyasha…

Oh…and Shippo comes to find Kagome in this chapter…

Chapter Six

Out in the forest…

            Sesshoumaru crept silently through the forest, making sure not to be seen, heard or smelled.  The rain made it quite a challenge to track any prey thought Sesshoumaru as he picked up a faint scent coming from the east.  ‘Hm…a kitsune…a young kitsune…’ the Demon Lord thought abstractly as his eyes grew red.  The hunt had begun.

To the east…

            Shippo knew not to be out alone.  His foster parents had sent him with his new brother to fetch some kind of special plant in the Western Lands.  While searching, the young kitsune caught just a whiff of Kagome’s scent at a hot springs a couple miles east of Sesshoumaru’s castle.  Hoping against hope, Shippo had wondered off in that general direction.  ‘Now I’m lost…’ Shippo thought despairingly.  Suddenly, Shippo felt a rush of youki spread through his senses.  He was being hunted!  Shippo broke out into a run, much to his adversary’s delight.

            Sesshoumaru had since transformed to his true form and had yelped in extreme pleasure at his prey’s insistence to run.  Sesshoumaru took one large leap and pounced on the kitsune.  His prey yelped in pain as Sesshoumaru’s huge paw tore into Shippo’s side.  Smelling blood, Sesshoumaru stuck his nose into Shippo’s wounded side.  It smelled like heaven to the blood-starved Demon Lord.  But then, smelling deeper, Sesshoumaru recognized the Miko’s scent.  ‘What the…is this the kitsune that traveled with…?’ Sesshoumaru’s mind came back into reality with this thought.  The Demon Lord transformed back into his human form and picked up the now unconscious form of Shippo and headed back home.

At the castle…Kagome’s room…

            Kagome had since calmed down from the scene outside. The Miko had also changed into a light blue kimono with scenes of spring sewn in.  Suddenly, there came a running of feet to Kagome’s room.  The doors swung open and a servant looked doe-eyed at Kagome, “Miko-sama! You are needed! There is an injured boy!”  Kagome ran with the servant to a small room, obviously the infirmary.  Kagome cried aloud when she saw the blood-soaked Shippo.  “How did he get this way?” Kagome demanded of the physician. 

The demon averted his eyes away from Kagome’s gaze.  “HOW?” Kagome yelled.  Shippo stirred.  “Kag…Kagome…” The Miko comforted the kitsune as she summoned some of her healing powers.  The wound sealed up and the bleeding stopped after what seemed like forever.  Soon, Shippo was resting comfortably.  Kagome turned her attention back to the quivering physician.  “Now…I will ask only one more time…who did this?” Kagome asked the demon in a low, dangerous tone.  The physician gave in to his self-preservation instincts.  “It was Lord Sesshoumaru who found him…that is all I know.”  Kagome was stalking down the hall in two seconds flat.  He was going to talk or die trying…  

In Sesshoumaru’s office…

            Sesshoumaru had cleaned off the kitsune’s blood as soon as possible.  The Demon Lord was deep in thought when the doors to his office were flung open and there stood a very angry Kagome.  The Miko whipped in and slammed her fist down on the desk, making it splinter just a fraction.  Sesshoumaru looked to the desk than to Kagome’s livid countenance.  “You found him? What happened, Sesshoumaru?”  The Demon Lord inwardly sighed, “No…I did not find him…I brought him here after my hunt…” Kagome thought this through before putting two and two together, “You tracked down a child?!?!” Kagome trembled with unspent rage.  Kagome’s aura flared, “You should know that I consider him MY CHILD!”  With that, Kagome launched herself at Sesshoumaru, ready to purify him to kingdom come. 

Sesshoumaru blocked the attack easily and slammed the Miko into the bookshelf.  “I suggest you calm down, Miko” Sesshoumaru ground out.  Inside, Sesshoumaru was pleased, in a twisted sort of way.  ‘She finally shows life…’ Sesshoumaru thought as he looked down at Kagome’s inert form.  The Miko stood up after a few seconds, shaking off the pain.  Kagome took a deep breath and then glared at the Demon Lord.  “I want you to stay away from Shippo…I will stay here no longer than three days…” Sesshoumaru let a small smile play on his lips.  “You will stay as long as I wish, Miko-san. But I will leave the kitsune alone. He will keep Rin company at the least.”  The last part was more of an order for Shippo than for Kagome.  The Miko huffed and stormed out of the room.

In the next room…

            A figure sat stooped, pressing their ear to the wall.  What he just heard could be of good use to his employers…

Oiy vey! Please don’t flame me for hurting Shippo.  He’s ok.  He will be companion to Rin in a while…More intrigue to come in the next chap