Chapter Text
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inuyasha/Hanyou no Yashahime characters and plotline!
Chapter 1
(The story takes place just before episode 136 about the "Invisble" demon)
"I still think something happened between them back in Mt Hakurei." Shippou said abruptly to Kagome as he studied the couple walking ahead of them, still immersed in the lovey dovey haze of just getting engaged.
"Shippou!" Kagome exclaimed with a blush, sneaking a quick glance to make sure that the two ahead were still chatting, immersed in their own world undisturbed by Shippou's outburst. She lowered her voice to a whisper, "what makes you think that?"
"You've noticed?"Shippou whispered back excitedly.
"You two…"Inuyasha rolled his eyes as he continued walking, intend on ignoring the gossip.
Kagome nodded as replied, "Sango's blushing more and they've sat closer to each other during meals and when flying on Kirara!"
"Yes!"Shippou nodded, "when you were back in your time, they've taken to spend time strolling through the Kaeda bachan's garden and taking several walks together by the river."
"They did?" Kagome exclaimed with wide eyes, "Sango's never mentioned they had been on so many dates!"
The two shared a shy giggle before their gossip was interrupted by Miroku,"We should set up camp here."
Miroku raised an eyebrow in confusion at the kitsune and the miko who was smirking in his direction. He turned to Sango, "do you think they're up to something?"
Sango shrugged as she quickly began to set up a fire place, Kagome immediately walked over to help her, intend on drilling her friend with questions.
"I'll go refill our waters!" Shippou announced as he picked up the empty containers and ran towards the stream.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes at the kitsune's enthusiasm and announced, "I'm going to hunt for some fish"
Miroku nodded as he replied, "I'll go with you, we're running low on food, we need to try and catch as much as we can."
Inuyasha and Miroku were just about to take their leave when they heard Shippou's scream.
The team immediately shot up in panic, all heading towards the stream. Nearing the stream, they saw Shippou standing tensely in front a little girl that looked to be around three, laying unconsciously on the grass.
"What's wrong Shippou?" Inuyasha was the first to approach the duo and Shippou immediately climbed onto his shoulders, "I was refilling the water when she appeared out of nowhere."
"the kid's alive" Inuyasha announced as he studied the girl before them, "but there's something off about her"
Miroku observed the child, "she has no demonic aura, she's completely human."
Kagome nodded, "she has no shikon shards either."
Inuyasha leaned in closer to the little girl to take another sniff, "she's no demon, but there is something very odd about her scent. It's familiar but I can't place it."
"Is it threatening?" Sango asked with alert in her eyes, "is this Naraku's doing?"
Inuyasha shook his head, "it's too early to tell."
"Then let's take her back to our campsite." Miroku suggested, "it would be wrong of us to leave a child out here, and perhaps her parents or whoever is in charge of her would come looking for her soon."
The team set the little girl down on a tiny blanket Kagome had laid out and continued preparing for dinner.
"There is really not much for dinner toady." Kagome sighed as she flipped the fish to the other side to get the raw end cooked.
Inuyasha shrugged, "There really isn't much in the river and the appearance of that little girl interrupted our hunting time, probably scared plenty of fish away too."
"Kagome, don't you have anymore ninja food?" Shippou asked solemnly at the tiny fish that is meant to be their dinner.
Kagome shook her head, "we've completely ran out of it."
Shippou frowned as he turned to Miroku, "Miroku, why didn't you buy more food?"
"I can't buy more even if I wanted to," Miroku replied with a sigh, "there's not enough money."
"we've ran out of money?" the group exclaimed in shock.
Miroku nodded, "that's why we need to make some money in the next village." he turned to look at the little girl, "or maybe when we return her home, we might be able to get some money and food."
"Typical swindler." Inuyasha said with a roll of his eyes.
"It would be wonderful if her parents would offer us a meal!" Shippou beamed, "she looks like she's from a well off family."
Sango nodded as she observed the girl's kimono, which seemed to be made of high quality "her village must be close by if she wandered out here."
"But isn't it weird that no one has come looking for her yet?" Kagome asked worriedly, "what if her parents are attacked?"
"I don't smell any blood nearby," Inuyasha replied, "and still no Naraku, so we would have to wait for the girl to tell us what happened to her."
The sound of the little girl tossing and turning gained the attention of the group and Shippou bounced over to the little girl.
"She's stirring." Shipou announced as he watched the little girl shift.
"Hi there!" Shippou beamed as he leaned in when the girl opened her eyes, "are you feeling better?"
The little girl looked at Shippou in alert and quickly backed away from him, reaching into her yukata, she pulled out a slingshot ready to fire it at the kitsune in case he made a threatening move. Shippou immediately backed up from the little girl with both his hands up in the air, trying to appear as unthreatening as he can.
"Hey there," Miroku immediately intervened, stepping forward, shielding Shippou,"it's alright, we only want to help! Do you want to tell us your na-"
Miroku's sentence was never finished as the little girl before them threw herself at him, burrowing herself into his arms, crying, "Chichiue(Dad)!"
Miroku's eyes widened in shock as he flew backwards from the force of her hug, not able to utter a word.
The group stared at them in shock. Concerned, Kagome's glance immediately flew towards the taijiya who had shock and disappointment swirling in her eyes. Sango shifted, wanting to get away from the scene playing out and the emotions tumbling inside her. However, her movements caught the attention of the little girl, who lift her head from her father's shoulders, her violet eyes clashing with Sango's brown ones. The little girl let go of Miroku and ran towards Sango, crashing into her arms, "Hahaue(Mom)!"
Her words sent further shock into the team.
Inuyasha inched closer to sniff the little girl once more before nodding, "that's why she smells so familiar! She smells like the two of you!"
"I told you! Something definitely happened back at Mt.Hakurei!" Shippou announced proudly to Kagome and Inuyasha as they watched the little girl tugged on Miroku sleeve to have him sit closer to her and Sango.
"uh, Shippou" Kagome blinked, still unsure how to digest the overflow of information, "if anything did happen in Mt.Hakurei, I don't think there will be a result this quickly."