A Pup and a Cub

Disclaimer: Aaaaaah! I do NOT own Inu Yasha!

A Pup and a Cub by FrustratedPhoenix

Chapter 2: What the…!


With a grunt Kagome hefted her overflowing yellow pack across her shoulders before she began the arduous climb up the well. “Where is Inu Yasha?”, she thought. “That Baka was supposed to help me bring back supplies! He’d better have a good excuse.” If she weren’t so worried about Kaede she’d track the hanyou down and ‘sit’ him until he was nothing more than a little red splat.

Normally, a nasty case of the flu wouldn’t cause a Modern Era miko concern. But in the Feudal Era, Influenza could wipe out entire villages within days. And as much as Kagome hated to admit this to herself, Kaede’s strength and energy had been dwindling long before the disease gripped the aging miko’s exhausted body. Over half a century spent fighting demons, poverty and famine had finally taken a toll on Kaede.

Reaching the lip of the Bone Eater’s Well, Kagome took a deep breath before agonizingly lifting herself and the hefty pack over the well’s rim. The weight of the pack caused her to tumble over the edge landing painfully on the forest floor. Looking like a turtle on its back, Kagome wriggled trying to right herself. With a defeated sigh, she unbuckled the pack’s straps to free herself. Embarrassed, the mighty Guardian of the Shikon no Tama glanced around the glade praying no one had witnessed her lack of grace.

“Hmm. No one’s around, not even Shippo and he can smell pockey a mile away.” A
foreboding shiver tingled down her spine. Lugging the pack onto her back, Kagome hurriedly trudged down the forest path toward the village. The ominous feeling intensified the closer she drew to the outskirts of the tiny village. If Kagome had learned anything during her quest it was to trust her instincts; she threw her pack on the ground and raced towards Kaede’s hut.

A crowd of villagers surrounded Kaede’s home blocking Kagome’s view. Her heart pounded loudly in her ears drowning out the worried whispers of the villagers. Kagome elbowed her way through the throng only to stop in stunned horror. Kaede’s hut was a pile of rubble.

“What the…!”

Slowly tearing her eyes away from the wreckage, Kagome surveyed the decimated garden. Amidst the debris sat a wounded Kaede quietly consoling the upset kitsune curled within her gentle embrace. Sango restrained Hakkaku and Ginta in headlocks on either side of her as she attempted to calm the two extremely irate wolf demons. Fighting to be heard over Hakkaku and Ginta’s wails and curses, Miroku was pleading with Azarni, Kaede’s dearest friend.

“I beg you, Lady Azarni. Please undo the spell.”

“No! Those two whelps need a lesson in manners.”

“I agree. But, those two stubborn fools have obligations. The well-being of Kouga’s pack is at stake not to mention Inu Yasha’s quest to recover the Shikon no Tama and destroy Naraku.”

“Even if I so desired to free those wild animals from my spell, I would be unable to do so.”

“Surely, some way exists to…”

“I told ye, I am unable to reverse the spell. The curse should lift itself within the week, which is more than those two beasts deserve.”

Kagome hurried to Kaede’s side. “Are you alright? Kaede, what happened? Where’s Inu Yasha?”

“Calm down, Child and I’ll explain everything to ye.”

Sniffling, Shippo wiped his eyes with his sleeve. “Inu Yasha and Kouga got into another fight and almost killed Kaede”, he wailed.

“Where are the bakas? When I get my hands on those two…!”

Shippo pointed to a spot not too far behind Kaede. All Kagome saw was a pile of clothes and armor.

“Shippo, this is no time for games; now, where are they?”

Grabbing Kagome’s hand Shippo dragged her toward the pile of clothes. “They’re probably still asleep.”

Kagome nudged the pile with her foot then jumped back with a squeak when the red bundle started to wiggle. A tiny version of Inu Yasha poked his head out of the over-sized hoari. Golden eyes stared sleepily at Kagome. Yawning, Inu Yasha snuggled back into the warmth of his hoari and promptly fell back to sleep.

Kagome opened and closed her mouth several times before a scratching noise broke through her incoherent thoughts. Peeking down Kouga’s armor she stared into the blue eyes of the Wolf Prince. Whining, Kouga asked, “Will you help me out? Pweeeease!”

Kagome reached inside the armor, gently picking up the cub. Kouga curled his tail around her arm and smiling sweetly at Kagome he said, “Thanks, Pretty Lady!”

All the priestess could utter was “Holy shit!”