Chapter Text
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inuyasha nor Yashahime characters!
Chapter 1
Shippou dragged his feet as he walked up to the stream near the demon slayer village. Naraku had gotten away. Again. The team had tracked him wandering close to the Sango’s village, they had been so close to defeating the very demon that had made their lives hell. But he bested them once more, making a narrow escape and leaving the team wounded, their spirits dejected.
This was what? The fifth time?
Everyone was looking grim, even Inuyasha was abnormally silent. After one night’s rest, the team had allowed themselves to take some time to reorganize and gather supplies before continuing on their journey, Shippou had volunteered to refill their water supply, aiming to use this time to freshen up by the stream. He splashed his face with the fresh water, sighing at the refreshing feeling, just as he was about to fill the water bottle, a voice interrupted him.
“Are you a kitsune?”
Shippou turned to find a boy around five dressed in blue yukata, looking cautiously at him.
“Do you mean any harm?” the boy continued as he studied Shippou, his hand twitching close to the tiny boomerang he had on him.
“Yes, I’m a kitsune.” Shippou said as he looked at the boy tensely, “but I mean no harm.”
The change in the boy was instant.
“Well then,” the boy beamed, “do you want to play with me?”
Shippou blinked in surprise, he can’t remember the last time a human child had asked him to play with them. “uh, I should be getting back to my team. They should be missing me by now-”
“A kitsune team?”the boy asked excitedly, “you travel in a pack?”
“No,”Shippou replied, “my team consists of humans and a hanyao, we kill yaokais that are harming others” Feeling the need to boast he added, "we are actually pretty famous."
“Really?” the boy asked with wonder in his eyes.
“Yup!” Shippou boasted, “You've never heard of Shippou the great kitsune that leads a demon slaying team!”
“You’re a demon slayer?” the boy piqued up in interest, “I’m one too!”
“You’re one too?” Shippou asked skeptically, “aren’t you like 4?”
“I’m about to be five, but I’m training to become one like my mother!” the boy boasted, “she’s one of the greatest if not the greatest tajiya out there!”
“Another taijiya?” Shippou asked, this is wonderful news for Sango and maybe a good news could cheer the whole team up, “What’s your name?”
“Hisui," the boy beamed, "my name is Hisui!”
“Where is that little rascal?” Inuyasha growled as he looked out at the direction of the forest, “we should get going.”
“He said he was going to refill the water.” Kagome replied, “he should be back soon.”
“Maybe he got caught up with something?” Miroku suggested, “like picking up acorns?”
“Or maybe he is just playing pranks on some poor unsuspecting victims.” Inuyasha said as he stood up, “I’m heading over to get the kitsune!”
“I’ll go with you!” Miroku announced as he stood up.
“We should probably all go together.” Sango suggested as she stood up, “there’s no telling if Naraku sent anything after us.”
They were nearing the stream when they heard childish laughter and cheering.
“Yah! Shippou!” Inuyasha yelled as he narrowed his eyes at the kitsune who was tossing stones at a target with a little boy. Shippou tensed before turning around and throwing an acorn at Inuyahsa to distract him.
“That’s a pretty good aim for a child that age.” Sango stated as she looked at the little boy who continued with his target practicing, oblivious to the chaos Shippou and Inuyahsa were creating.
Miroku frowned, "but is there any other villages nearby? It's a pretty far distance from the village we passed by."
it didn't make sense for the boy to be out here by himself, where there was no village within walking distance. Kirara’s tail suddenly twitched, she sniffed the air in alert and let out a loud meow.
“What’s wrong? Kirara?” Sango asked, her nerves on edge as she checked their surroundings for any danger. The hoshi's word made sense. The closest village was a few days travel by foot. It was odd for the boy to be out here all by himself. Kirara did not respond and had her eyes focused onto the little boy. She sniffed the air one more time before rushing down the hill towards the little boy.
“Is he a demon?” Kagome asked as she studied the boy.
“No, he doesn’t smell like one at all,” Inuyasha furrowed his eyebrows as he dropped Shippou down on the ground, “in fact he smells oddly familiar.”
“He said his mother is a taijiya too!” Shippou announced, “and he is training to be one too! Has a tiny hiraigotsu and everything.”
“I didn’t know that others had survived the attack.” Sango said in shock and interest.
They watched as Kirara tackled the boy playfully. The boy picked up the demon cat in his arms and turned to face them with a wide grin. With arms waving frantically at them, the boy yelled, “Hahaue!”
Everyone froze in confusion. They didn't have time to react as the little boy ran towards the group, burrowing his face into Sango’s kimono, “Hahaue! I completed my training for the day, I-”
“Sango chan?”
“Sango?”
The group chorused in shock. However, no one more surprised than the taijiya herself.
“Little boy, I think you mistook me for someone el-” Sango started, but was interrupted by Miroku who knelt down beside the little boy.
“Hey kid, are you lost?” Miroku asked, “This is no reason for you to call random woman you come across as your mother, though I must admit that is quite the scheme and I should have come up with a similar plan when I was your age. However, we will help you find-”
What happened next had everyone frozen once more as the little boy’s feet connected with Miroku’s shin, making him fly backwards, clutching his shin in pain.
Inuyasha was about to reprimand the boy when the fuming boy pointed a finger a Miroku, “It’s your fault I never get to fight real demons with hahaue! You’re always tricking hahaue to go on long demon slaying journeys and leaving us to Shigeru ojiisan! But this time I will not let her fall for it!”
“What?”Kagome asked as she studied the two before them. That’s when it clicked, the similar features of the boy to that of Sango and Miroku.
“Ah!” Inuyasha exclaimed as he held the boy up by his collar to examine him closely, “that’s why you smell so familiar! You smell like Miroku and Sango!”