Standard Disclaimer: All characters belong to their respective artists, none of them belong to me.
Note:This is the (long awaited!) sequel to For The Pure and The Sinners - read it first please! - that's been done and sitting on my computer for ever so long. i just hadn't gotten around to editing it. i'm lazy and i'm sorry. but it's done now an i'm posting it in one go. Enjoy!!
Shippou's Romance
Sessha-chan
Chapter 1
Love at First Glance
'Why don't you have a girl yet, Shippou-kun?' Kagome's voice echoed through his mind in a relentless circle. He sighed and informed his secretary via the intercom that he would not be taking any calls or visitors, clientèle or otherwise. Like the good little employee she was she agreed instantly asked if he wanted his schedule cleared. In the matter of a few minutes Shippou's schedule was empty. He leaned back in his wonderfully comfortable chair and draped a hand over his eyes, allowing his human illusion to drop in the knowledge that his battle-axe of a secretary would die before she allowed anyone through his office doors.
"You're five hundred years old and counting old man," he muttered to himself, "Have you been doing something wrong for Inari-sama to have refused you a mate for so long?"
Alright, so he wasn't all that old in a youkai sense but even for youkai half a millennia was a long time to go without getting mated. His adopted mother had no idea how close to home her words had struck him. She had found her mate and was now doting on their first child, a daughter. Maia was adorable, tugging at Shippou's heart and dredging up his longing to be a father himself, something he had stamped down centuries ago.
But now he had a 'little sister' to drag back all his old desires.
With a small smile Shippou dug out his cell phone and flipped through the directory. Finding the desired number he selected it and waited for the connection to go through. It rang three times before it was picked up.
"Hello?" Boy, she sounded tired. He hoped he hadn't woken her up from a nap or something.
"Hey momma," he greeted, "I didn't wake you up, did I?"
"Shippou-kun?" Kagome suddenly seemed more awake, "No, don't worry about me. How are you doing? Do you need anything?"
Ever the caring one, he smiled to himself. "No, I'm fine. Work's keeping me busy enough, I guess. How are you doing?"
He heard Kagome sigh, "I'm fine. Tired, but that's normal. I haven't been sleeping all that well since Kakashi left on that long-term mission a week back."
She sounded worried. Not unexpected when a mated couple is separated. "Do you know when he'll be back?"
"Not for another week at the least," she tried – too hard – to sound normal. The worry leaked through anyways. He had centuries to learn how to read people by voice alone – handy when talking on the phone. He did not have to see his mother know what she was feeling.
"You're worried," he stated.
"Of course I am," At least she did not try to deny the fact. "He's out risking his life and I can't do a blessed thing about it,"
"He'll be fine," Shippou assured her, "He has a family to come home to,"
"He'd better come back. I refuse to conduct his funeral ceremony," she snorted.
"Good. Keep thinking like that. By the way, how's Maia-chan doing? My little sister doing her big brother proud?"
"Unfortunately. You know, I really think letting you babysit that one time was a mistake. She's acting too much the kitsune for the well-being of my nerves." Now Kagome laughed, "You really should see her. Kakashi's been teaching her how to throw kunai – blunted of course. She's really good! Even though she's only almost three she's already been accepted into the Academy. Oh! Shippou-kun, I have news!" She sounded excited, on the edge of her seat excited.
"What is it? Good news?"
"You can't tell Kakashi. I just found out yesterday that I'm expecting another baby,"
"Really? How far along are you?" This was good news. He couldn't stop himself from grinning like a fool.
"Only about a month. It was the morning sickness that tipped me off." She laughed brightly, "Won't Kakashi be surprised when he comes home!"
"Oh hey," Shippou sat up, "That reminds me, do you have any plans for next week?"
Kagome was silent, thinking, "I don't think I have much of anything planned," she said slowly, "Why?"
"Mind if I come up for a visit?" he asked, "The office is starting to get to me,"
"Not a problem!" he could hear her smile,
Monday morning was gray and overcast with threatening clouds. Shippou sighed, smelling on the wind that rain was only hours away. But that was alright, for him at least. The Hidden Village of Konohagakure had just come into view through the trees and with it the promise of family and shelter. He hoped Kagome had not decided to wait for him at the gate. With rain threatening it just might be a little unwise to take a small child out and wait in the chill.
He showed the gate guard his papers. He had a pass with the seal of the Hokage as well as Kagome and Kakashi's signatures on it, vouching for him so he could enter the village without resorting to... alternative measures. Of course, this made visiting just a little less interesting. It was fun to taunt the unwitting shinobi by slipping past their guard and entering their stronghold. But when Kagome had found out that was how he was getting in and out of the village she had summarily put an end to it.
The guard waved him past, into the walled settlement. He could not see his mother waiting anywhere so he decided to stroll casually through the streets in a confident, indirect path that led to the Shrine that Kagome had taken charge of. A few people recognized the face of the human disguise he wore. They waved and called greetings. He waved back, feeling particularly amused. The village was full of people with phobias of youkai yet youkai walked among them on a regular basis, now more than ever since Kagome had moved in.
If only they knew.
He smiled to himself as he reached the stairs that led up to the little shrine. It was not as large as the Higurashi shrine that his mother had been raised in but it was of a respectable size. There were only one hundred steps to the torii and courtyard rather than the five hundred of the Tokyo shrine. Hence, small. And since the old priest that had been running it before had passed away Kagome was the only one seeing to the religious complex. A large task for a new mother.
He climbed the steps to the top, happily breathing in the scents of his family. Kakashi's scent lingered but was old and fading. Not surprising. Kagome's was fresh and permeated the very land, spreading a calming aura. There was even the underlay of Maia's scent.
She must be talking by now, he thought, amazed. It had been a while since his last visit.
"Shippou-kun!" Kagome flung open the front door to the shrine keeper's house well before he reached it.
"Momma!" he grinned and scooped her up in a tight embrace, "Congrats on the new kit,"
"Baby, Shippou-kun," she corrected him gently, "Kitsune have kits, humans have babies,"
"Same thing," he laughed, setting her down, "So where's my little sister?"
"Napping. And don't even think about waking her up. I just got her down. She's been cranky all morning," Kagome fixed him with a stern look. "You look like you haven't eaten,"
"I haven't yet," he admitted sheepishly. Trust Kagome to notice that. "How could you tell?"
"You're a businessman. You're away from your secretary, the only woman who reminds you to straighten your hair and makes sure you have time to at least down a power bar. I don't know how you can live like that but come in and I'll make you something for breakfast,"
"Breakfast? It's almost noon," he followed her into the humble home.
"If it's your first meal of the day it's breakfast and screw when it's eaten," Kagome shrugged, "What would you like?"
"Got any rice and miso soup? That'll be fine for me," he sat himself obediently down at the kitchen table. The rest of the house may be mostly old traditional but Kagome had insisted on a modern, western-style kitchen. That led to a high kitchen table with chairs. Not as cozy as a kotatsu but it would do.
"Are you sure that's all you want?" She asked, opening the refrigerator, "I have some left over from my breakfast. I made too much since I wasn't sure when you'd get here. I can heat that up for you if you want,"
"Works for me," he draped his upper body across the tabletop, closing his eyes as he stretched luxuriously.
Kagome watched him, amusement dancing in her sapphire eyes, "How long have you been awake?"
"Only a couple of days," he shrugged languidly. Kagome coughed. "Not that long. No idea why I'm so tired,"
"Maybe you're coming down with something," she suggested, preparing his requested meal.
"Like what? I don't get sick,"
Kagome shrugged. "Oh, by the way, I'm expecting someone over in an hour or so. I hope you don't mind. I promised Tsunade-san that I'd tutor some of the medic trainees in herb usage."
Shippou perked up, "Want me to help with that?"
"And leave me to be totally outclassed by a Master?" Kagome laughed and slipped a bowl of piping hot miso soup out of the microwave and onto the table. "Thanks for the offer, but I'd rather not have my reputation overshadowed by your skill. You do have five hundred years on me not to mention a genetic predisposition to know about the stuff,"
"Suit yourself," he shrugged, "How many are you tutoring today?"
"One. I've met her before. Quiet girl about my age. Not suited to be a shinobi at all. Too tenderhearted, you know, but she'll make a great medic,"
"Good for her," Shippou nodded and dug into his soup just as Kagome slipped another bowl onto the table, this one filled with a generous helping of rice.
"I want you to be on your best behavior whens he gets here. She's very shy and I don't want you scaring her,"
Shippou looked up, feigning offense, "Me? Scare her?"
"You are pretty... exuberant," Kagome quirked an eyebrow at him, "Sometime you can be a little intimidating too,"
"I'll be good," he promised.
"Thank you,"
An hour later Shippou looked up from his conversation with Kagome and smiled as the most adorable Kagome-lookalike toddled into the living room. She was clutching a blue blanket on one hand, dragging it behind her on the floor, and rubbing her eyes with the other hand.
"Mama?" she said sleepily. Then suddenly she perked up, her bright blue eyes the size of saucers. "Unca Po?" she screeched, running right into his legs and wrapping her tiny arms around them. "Unca Po! Unca Po!"
"It's my Maia," Shippou caught her underneath her arms and tossed her into the air. She shrieked in delight.
"Just don't drop her," Kagome smiled, sitting back in her chair.
"Never," Shippou promised, catching her again and pulling her in for a tight hug. "And how has my Maia been doing?"
"I got a new toof," she said, sticking a finger into her mouth to show him where. He obediently inspected the growing tooth and nodded his approval.
"You have almost all your teeth now," he complimented her then hefted her into the air again, testing her weight, "And you're getting so heavy,"
"No I'm not," she denied.
"Yes you are. You've been growing up overnight again, haven't you?" he ran his fingers through her messy hair, straightening it. "What have you been up to, my maia?"
"Gonna start school soon," she nodded, settling herself comfortably in his lap. Comfortable for her. Her feet got into some places that made the centuries old kitsune wince. "Daddy showed me how to throw. I'm real good! You wanna see?"
"Sure. Show me,"
Maia scrambled off his lap, almost falling to the floor. She scampered to her room while Shippou raised an eyebrow at his mother. Kagome smiled and nodded towards the door that led out to the private backyard. Maia ran back into the living room, her hands full with blunted kunai.
"Come on, Unca Po," she commanded, leading the way outside.
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Shippou laughed, following his little sister.
Kagome smiled and watched her children from her position indoors. Maia threw the blunted kunai at the target Kakashi had set up for her. Most of them hit, only one or two missing. She would make quite the kunoichi when she grew up.
There was a knock at the door. Kagome unwound herself and got to her feet, casting one last glance over her shoulder at Shippou and Maia before padding through the house to answer the door.
"G-good morning, Hatake-san," stuttered the timid Hyuuga heir.
Kagome smiled brightly, "Hinata-chan, come in. We'll be working in the kitchen for now. Maia's out in the yard with Hatsuharu-kun," she said, using Shippou's human alias.
"H-Hatsuharu?" Hinata's pale white eyes begged and answer, looking confused.
"I'm sure you'll meet him. He's a... an old friend of mine," she smiled. "Come along now,"
"Y-yes,"
Kagome led the way into the kitchen, feeling somewhat at a loss as to what to do with a student. She had never had the experience of teaching before and had no idea where to start.
"So," she said, motioning for Hinata to take a seat, "would you like some tea?"
"Yes please,"
Kagome nodded and set about puttering around the kitchen, filling the kettle and locating teacups and tea. Hinata seated herself quietly at the table, folding her hands nervously in her lap. The miko watched out of the corner of her eye as the medicnin in training fixed her gaze firmly on the tabletop, refusing stalwartly to look up and examine the room she had found herself in. It tugged at Kagome's heartstrings. The girl had no fighting spirit and, from what she had been told, she was the family disappointment. From what Naruto had said – and he should know since he had enough contacts through his position as Captan of the ANBU – the only people who cared about her, acted friendly and nonjudgmental, were the 'Rookie Nine.'
Poor girl.
The kettle whistled and Kagome expertly whipped up the frothy green tea, handing one cup to Hinata, hoping to set her at ease.
"So, Hinata-chan, would you like to tell me about yourself? Or do you want me to go first?" she said, smiling as she sat. Hinata blinked at her, so startled she actually looked up. Kagome shrugged, "Me first? Alright then. My name's Hatake Kagome. I was raise in Tokyo in my family shrine. I have a younger brother and we lived with our mother and grandpa. I got married to Kakashi three and a half years ago. I was raised to be a miko and take over the family shrine but stuff happened, I came into my powers late and got dragged into a nasty war and ended up here when it was all over. That's when I met Kakashi. I have a daughter, Maia, who's going to be entering the Academy in a couple months. You'll probably be subjected to many of my... interesting friends. I'll apologize in advance," she laughed lightly, "You'll get used to them, I'm sure,"
Hinata stared at her with wide, white eyes. Kagome could tell she was trying to figure out what was going on.
"M-my name is H-hyuuha H-hinata," she said at last, ducking her head shyly, "I have one younger sister and we... we live with our father in the m-main h-house. I-I I'm not a very good shinobi but I'm getting b-better. I-I w-want to be a m-medicnin," she trailed off nervously.
Kagome smiled encouragingly, "I think that's a wonderful goal. Not everyone is cut out to be a front-line fighter. I know I'm not. I was always stuck being protected on the sidelines and I hated feeling so useless,"
"M-me too," Hinata smiled tremulously, her reservations dimming as she found they had something in common.
"See? So you know how I felt. I'm still that way, unfortunately, needing to be rescued." Kagome changed the subject, "Anyways, what do you want to start with? Teas? Poultices?"
"T-teas would be fine. If that's alright with you, Hatake-san..." she ducked her head again.
"Hinata-chan, call me Kagome," Kagome said softly, as nonthreatening as possible. "I'd like to be friends, if that's all right with you,"
"Fr-friends?" Hinata's eyes widened, eerie white and round.
"If that's alright with you," Kagome nodded.
"I-I-I..." Hinata blushed, "I th-think I would l-like that,"
"Then it's settled." and with a bright, cheery smile Kagome turned to sort through the cupboards, "I don't know how long Sh- Hatsuharu-kun will be able to keep Maia busy so lets get started before they come in," she suggested.
"MAMA!!" shrieked a child's voice, "MAMA! UNCA PO'S TICKLING ME! HELP!"
"Excuse me," Kagome sighed and meandered to the living room so she could poke her head out into the backyard. "Don't torment her too much, Shippou-kun," she called, almost laughing at the sight the pair made. Shippou had cornered his little sister and had her pinned between a tree and the fence.
"But Momma!" he whined playfully. Maia shrieked again, laughing as only a child could.
"No buts. Wear her out for lunch, Shippou, that's an order,"
Shippou cackled gleefully, "As you command, Momma!"
Kagome laughed and shut the door on her daughter's screaming and laughter. She shook her head and wandered back to the kitchen and her timid student.
Shippou trudged happily back into the house, Maia clinging to his shoulder, draped bonelessly over his back. They had run around the backyard for a good hour at the very least. He was inexplicably proud that he could keep up with his little sister's near inexhaustible amount of energy.
As he entered the house something tickled his nose. He did not recognize the scent, a person, female. She practically exuded a lack of self-confidence that he found pitiable. It also made him wonder curiously what she was doing in his mother's house.
"I'm hungry, Unca Po," Maia whined in his ear.
"Well, let's go hit Momma up for something to eat, hmm my Maia?" he suggested.
"Food!" she cheered.
He laughed and picked his way through the house to the kitchen. They were making teas, he noted even before they came into view.
"Sh-" Kagome caught her words and corrected herself, "Hatsuharu-kun, you can get something to eat from the fridge,"
"Not a probl--" his voice froze as he caught sight of his mother's student. Food for Maia was a distant memory as the world around him narrowed to nothing but the gentle, white-eyed angel. Who was absolutely oblivious to his presence, so intent on her task was she. He noticed everything about her in an instant from the sure way she worked with the dried plants to the way she shied away from human contact, her downcast, timid eyes and her shy smile.
He hadn't even realized he had stilled until Maia tugged insistently on his hair. "Unca Po," she complained, "Maia's hungry!"
The girl looked up at the child's voice, blinking in slight confusion. Her eyes lighted upon Shippou's illusion-clad self and her mouth formed a shocked 'o,' her hands flying up to cover her lapse.
"H-hello," she squeaked, bowing suddenly, a bright red blush staining her pale cheeks.
Shippou smiled slowly, almost hesitantly. "Hello. Please excuse us, Maia needs some lunch. We shouldn't be underfoot for too long,"
"Take your time," Kagome frowned at him, feeling confused at how he was acting. Caption: teenager! He wasn't acting like the self-assured centuries old kitsune son she had grown so used to. Very suspicious.
Shippou muttered something and turned to the refrigerator. Maia instructed him as to what she wanted and he obligingly pulled it out. He didn't even realize that he had pulled out pudding until Kagome took it away from him and put it back in the fridge, handing him a container of something else instead. He saw her confused expression and it only made him blush.
"M-" he caught himself, "Kagome, can I talk to you? Privately" he asked, setting Maia down so she could prepare her own meal.
"Sure," She nodded, "Hinata could you watch Maia-chan for me?"
"N-not a p-problem," Hinata stuttered.
"Thanks," she nodded to Shippou, preceded him out of the kitchen and down the hall and out of human earshot.
"Momma," he took a deep breath and cast a stunned glance back towards the kitchen, "I think I just found my mate,"