Chapter 5

"Ok, I…can…do this!" Shippo grunted, as he tried to balance a heavy tray with cookies and tea in one hand, while reaching for the door handle just beyond his reach with the other. He was feeling very clever. The others told him he was not allowed to see their new guest—something about, letting her settle into her surrounds and blah, blah, blah, so he come up with a plan that wouldn't get him into too much trouble. After all, who wouldn't be hungry after a long day journey, and this would make her feel welcomed! Well…if they don't fall for it, hopefully they won't be too mad at me!

Really, he was more worried about getting Sango angry than anyone else. Miroku was a pervert and would have probably encouraged him to do this if he knew what he was up too. Even though Inuyasha always threatened him, everyone one knew that he was all bark with no bite, but Sango…she was a different story. The last time he made her upset was when he snuck a bite at Sesshomarus lunch and was stuck shoveling manure for the rose garden for months!

However, this time was different from then. What was driving him now was not the same primal instinct to eat a quail drenched with sauce made from berries which only grew once every 10 years —no, this was more powerful than that, this was curiosity.

Shippo managed to jiggle the door handle and he heard a tiny gasp from the other side of the door.

"Wh-whose there!?"

Shippo hesitated when he heard her terrified voice and mentally kicked himself. He was so excited of seeing her that he forgot to be polite and knock first. Inuyasha's bad habits must be rubbing off on me. Before he could correct his mistake, the door flew open and he tumbled into the room landing on his stomach and almost dropping the tray."Ouuuuch!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't realize…"

Shippo looked up from the floor to see a beautiful, but frighten girl, holding a metal fire poker in her hand." It's ok, I was suppose to knock first…please don't hit me."

She dropped the fire poker and helped him to his feet ". Oh no, I couldn't…I…I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, I just…didn't know…I would have a visitor." She smiled," Is this for me? It looks delicious!"

Shippo nodded and smiled nervously letting her take the tray from him to place on a dresser as he plopped himself on a chair. He had never been complimented on his baking before and he kinda liked it." Well…the truth is, I came here on my own. It wasn't fair that everyone saw you but me, I wanted to meet you too."

"I guess I'm popular around here…"

"Of course you are! The others around here might not show it, but we are all so excited to have you here."

"Why is that? What is my reason for being here exactly?"

The room grew silent. Shippo felt his heart bounding so loud in his chest he thought she could hear it too. This was bad, he didn't want to lie to her, but he wasn't allowed to say anything related to the curse. He starred at the carpet floor as if he suddenly admiring its dark red pattern, he was trying hard to think of something clever to say or to change the topic. Maybe this was the reason why he wasn't allowed to see her, he was told before he sucked at keeping secrets.

After some time passed she broke the silence. "It's ok, you don't have to tell…especially if its…something bad. Besides, you're not the one I should be asking these sorts of questions too."

"It's nothing bad—honest, I just don't really know how to explain the situation to you properly…I'm already in trouble just by being here…maybe…"

"Hey, don't worry about it, I believe you…ok?" She knelt down near the chair and patted his head." I'm glad you came I was feeling a little lonely. Are you what they call a fox demon?"

"Yeah, how do you know that?" Shippo felt a little disappointed in himself for making her feel uncomfortable, but happy she changed the topic.

"I read a lot about demons in books, I especially wanted to meet a fox demon, I hear you guys are really clever creatures."

He nodded, eyes wide and chest swollen with pride. He almost wanted to cry, but he was a demon, and demons didn't cry.

Everyone under the spell felt the world was leaving them behind as the curse kept them trapped in a void of lost time, but somehow, she had begun to shed light into that void—at least, he could feel it happening in his own dark corner. People in the outside world still knew about their existence, even it was in a camp fire story—good or bad, they still lived on in people's imagination. He hadn't felt like this in a very, very, long time. It made him feel hopeful of the future.

"I'm Shippo, what's your name?" He yawned, as sleep crept into his body.

"My name is Kagome Higurashi, it is nice to meet you. It's almost midnight, you must be so tired."

Shippo sleepily nodded in agreement. He was fading fast. Baking the cookies, making the tea, setting up the tray, carrying it up a giant staircase, and walking down a long hallway to get here, had been exhausting, but well worth it." Kagome…" He yawned again, slumping in his chair letting his body overcome with sleep." Can we…be friends?"

There was a pause as she replied with a trembling voice."Yes…we…can be friends."

He felt himself being carried and placed gently on her bed, his head carefully propped on a fluffy pillow. Shippo felt her leaving and he quickly clung on to her dress as a gesture to stay, and she did. Everyone in the castle had hope, but he knew without a doubt as the warmth of her body near his cradle him in a cloud of peace, she would be the one to set them all free.

Outside, as the snow fell silently from the sky covering the earth with a fresh blanket of white, a large beast stood near the window bathed in moonlight, watching the tiny fox demon and human girl sleep.