Little Red Riding Hood

Story title: Little Red Riding Hood
Chapter 2: The Red Cloak
Author: Pucie

As Kagome sat there, taking a short break from her herb gathering, she suddenly felt the splatter of a raindrop on her right forearm. She looked up to the sky and noticed that it had become ominously dark. "Great. . .just what I need, rain," she sighed as she reached into the yellow bag that still never seemed to be very far from her side. "I know it's in here somewhere," she mumbled as she rifled through the contents of the backpack. "Ah HA! I knew I'd find it if I looked long enough," she exclaimed as she pulled a red, hooded cloak from her backpack. "I don't think I'll ever be able to thank Inuyasha or the others enough for this. . ."


~Flashback~

"Happy Birthday, Kagome!" She gasped in surprise to see all of her closest friends gathered in her new hut in Edo.

"We know how hard it was for you to leave your family behind, little sister," Sango said as she came forward to give Kagome the first of many hugs.

"And we know how much you miss us all when we go back to our own villages," Miroku said as he stepped forward to take his turn and gave her a bear hug, surprisingly free of groping.

"We wanted you to know how much we all love you, okaa-san," her adopted kitsune son said as he launched himself into her waiting arms. He slipped out of her embrace and climbed up to sit on her shoulder.

"I know that when you first met me, I wasn't exactly the nicest person. But I wanted you to know that I truly consider you a part of my family now. I would have nothing if not for your selflessness. . . . .sister," Kikyo said as she smiled and stepped forward to embrace the now crying miko.

"Oi, wench, you have a leak, you might want to take care of that," Inuyasha said, finally stepping out of the shadows.

Kagome was able to laugh, even in spite of her tears, 'He always did have a way with words' she thought as she smirked slightly.

Inuyasha's expression turned serious and he pulled her in close for a hug, "Kagome. . . .I'll never be able to thank you enough for all you've done for me. You gave me life when you released me from the Goshinbuku Tree. You gave me friendship, even when I turned you away. You gave me a family, when you shared your own with me. You gave me trust, when I didn't even trust myself. But most of all, you gave me hope. . . .You believed in me, even when no one else did. You believed in me so fiercely, that you made me believe in myself. Something that no other being had done for me before. You loved me, you cried for me, you almost gave your life for me on several occasions." He finally pulled away from her to look at her with a tender gaze. Her tears continued to fall. . . .

"Do you remember that day on the battlefield? The day when you gave me my heart back by resurrecting Kikyo? You told me that I was the best friend you'd ever had. . . .but you forgot something. . .I am your friend, but more than that, I'm your brother. I'm so lucky, proud, and honored to be your friend. You were the first real bit of family I have had in a long time. . .and for that, you'll be my best friend for the rest of my days. I'll never forget you. Now, quit crying already, you're supposed to be happy, stupid!"

Kagome looked around the room, and saw the one thing she thought she'd never have again after the well had closed forever, she saw family. "I don't know what to say," she said tearfully. "This is too much, you all mean so much to me, I can't even find the words to describe how incredibly happy you all have made me."

Inuyasha suddenly grinned, " If you can't find the words, how come you're still talking?"

"Baka!" She exclaimed.

"Don't forget her present!" Shippo shouted, and ran over to the corner of the hut. He leaned down and rummaged around under his futon, but quickly returned once he had found what he was looking for.

"Okaa-san! We all pitched in and got you this present for your birthday! Open it! Open it!" He said as he handed her the package and jumped up and down excitedly.

She smiled down at her son, "Shippo, I think you want to see what's in here even more than I do!"

"Oh momma! It's just that it's a great present, and I think you'll really really like it!!" He squealed as she started undoing the silk that was holding the package together.

She slowly unraveled the silken bundle, to reveal a red piece of material. She lifted it from the bundle, and shook it out carefully. It was a red cloak, looking a little confused, she glanced up at her newfound family with a question in her eyes. "Ok, it's a red cloak, what's the secret? No offense, I love it, but what's so special about it?"

It was Inuyasha who answered her question, " It's made from my firerat robes. Ever since Sesshoumaru decided to share half of his duties of Lord of the Western Lands with me, I have to wear robes "fitting of my station, and title", as Fluffy put it. I didn't want to get rid of it, because of the sentimental value, so like Shippo said, we all pitched in and had this made for you. I supplied the robes, and the money to have the cloak made. Kikyo blessed it with her Holy Powers, so that it will generate a mild barrier for it's owner, making them invisible to all of most of a youkai's senses. They won't be able to smell you, or sense your aura. Miroku blessed it with an ofuda to make it so that the wearer seems mildly repellant to any youkai who doesn't know them. Sango shaved bits of off Hiraikotsu, and they were fashioned into the buttons. And Shippo added a kitsune spell of cunning, which will enable the wearer to escape danger rather quickly. This way, you will always have a small piece of us with you wherever you and Shippo go. We, your family, will be by your side always."

Once again, Kagome was shocked to tears, never in all her life had she ever received a gift as precious as the one she now held in her hands. "Thank you. . .thank you all! This is the best birthday I've had in a long time. . ."

"Ok ok, we get it already!" Inuyasha blurted out, "Now, let's get down to business! Show me the ramen!!"

~End Flashback~

~Present~
She slowly stood as she put the cloak on correctly, and sent a silent, thankful prayer to the Kami's. Because the weaving of the firerat fur was so dense, her cloak also happened to be waterproof. Definitely a plus, considering her current situation.

She knew she couldn't go back without finding the rest of the herbs she would need for Kikyo's birthing potion. So, silently she trudged ahead, and murmured out loud, "I wish I could just see Kouga again, whether he's mated or not, I would have liked to have said a proper goodbye. I guess for now all I can do is wait, and hope he'll at least come to visit me."

The mysterious youkai who had been following the miko, gasped when he saw her pull out the firerat cloak. 'That used to belong to that half-breed mutt. I knew she would eventually mate with him, it was only a matter of time.' He still couldn't help feeling disappointed. Even after all this time, he had hoped to take her and make her his. Contrary to what everyone else thought about the situation, he had always seen Kagome as so much more than a miko shard-detector. Admittedly, that was what had first drawn him to her, but as he got to know her, he was able to see her for the person she really was, on the inside where it counts. "I wonder if mutt-face realizes just how damned lucky he is. . " he murmured. He moved closer still to the miko, and realized he could not smell her scent in the air. 'Strange,' he thought to himself, 'I know my nose hasn't gotten that bad. . .yet. No matter, I don't have to smell her to know she has a mate. Why else would she be wearing the firerat that half-breed used to live in. . .Kami-sama, I hope she washed that thing before she put it on. . . .' He had finally gotten close enough to pick up some of her words. . . ."Kouga" "Goodbye", were just about the only thing he could make out. But those words clinched the deal for him and his heart. She had taken a mate, just like he told her to. He decided he might as well get this over with and finally let the past just stay in the past. He knew if he didn't at least talk to her one last time, it would come back to haunt him one day. The council of elders had decided that his contract to Ayame could indeed be broken, but he had to spend one year in her service as compensation for rejecting her as his mate. He couldn't help it though, there was only one girl in the world for him, and sadly, she was taken. He decided then and there that he would mate Ayame, and make her the alpha bitch of his pack. She was strong, and would help rebuild the pack. He knew that most demon matings aren't done for the love, but for the benefit of one's pack. So he would swallow his pride, and take a mate. Even if that meant taking a mate he would never be able to love. But first, he had to talk to the woman who had captivated his heart for so long, he had to give her a proper goodbye and set his past into memory. So, he finally jumped down from the tree he had been hiding in, and ran to catch up with her.

"Kagome!" he said as he reached out a hand towards her shoulder.


A/N ok, I had to explain the importance of the cloak, before I could have them meet. . .So how do you like it so far?