Of Gold and Adamant

Bright Future

My children are my joy
The very reason for living
Angels brought them by envoy
Blessings were heavenly given
May they grow in peaceful times
With no hardships to bear
With hugs and kisses their smile shines
Forever innocent living life without a care

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Shippo was pleased to see his tiny mate. Fuu was so pretty for a baby and Shippo was happy to have such an honor as being able to mate above his station in life. Without his sire living he was at the mercy of his Uncle Hideharu. If he had failed in obtaining a place within the Tashio’s family he would have been without a home since Lord Hideharu really had no patience to raise him.

As Shippo sat practicing his fox fire he was becoming a bit frustrated since it was not dancing like he planned. Although the flames were incredible and accurate he wanted to make the two flames dance around him first before they flew out to the targets.

Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru arrived, but the boy wasn’t ready for them.

“Do not embarrass me Shippo…I do not wish for the lovely Lady Inuyasha to change his mind.”

Lord Hideharu warned as he made Shippo stop his practice and go change into one of his fine kimonos. The one thing that Lord Hideharu was keen on was appearances. He expected Shippo to look splendid so that it gave the illusion the boy wasn’t whipped by him every so often.

“No my Lord Uncle, I will not.”

Lord Hideharu ruffled Shippo’s hair. He was to get the best food, training, and clothing as long as he kept favor with the Tashios.

“Yes my boy you will not or you will know my wrath.”

At that Lord Hideharu went to meet his guests as Shippo trailed behind holding back all the obscenities he would love to throw at his Uncle Jerk face. Even when Inuyasha was tough on him he wasn’t an asshole like this guy. Shippo really wished that he could live with Inuyasha again, but because his family was found it was damn near impossible to avoid them.

Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru greeted the Lord of the South cordially, but Inuyasha glared at the man from under his fan. He hated this blow hard and in some ways wished that Shippo wasn’t related to the asshole since Sesshoumaru only allowed his favorite daughter to go to the Southern Lord’s family because Shippo had proved himself in battle many times as a pup. In fact part of the reason they were here was to invite Shippo for the summer to their castle………without Lord Hideharu following since this was an invite to all the younglings who would be mated to their children. They wanted a ‘getting to know you’ outing for the future additions to the Tashio family. It was also a good way to evaluate, without the influence of the guardians, if the children were suitable mating material although of course innocent frivolity would not be halted.

“Lord Hideharu, you have heard of this summer’s excursion for young Shippo. I do concede that you agreed to have young Shippo prepared and that you of course will not be interfering in this summer’s activities.”

Sesshoumaru’s Mother stated as she just arrived at the scene to insure no further problems would come up.

“I did agree to the terms my Lady.”

The Lord stated although his eyes were on Inuyasha the whole time as he smiled charmingly making Inuyasha shuffle his feet and slap Sesshoumaru across the shoulder with his fan for growling so loud.

“Hn…….we shall see.”

Sesshoumaru didn’t believe a word of what Hideharu promised. The man was a crafty fox and a pain in his ass. Still sending flowers to his wife and chocolates………chocolates of all things! Was he trying to kill Inuyasha? Inuyasha of course craved anything and everything that was not good for a dog demon due to his pregnancy. He was still pissed that Sesshoumaru threw every box of chocolate away claiming that his half human side could handle it. Sesshoumaru preferred not to test those waters.

Hideharu could feel the tension come off of Sesshoumaru and it amused the fox. That famous temper would eventually drive Inuyasha away and into more palatable arms that were willing to show Inuyasha the soft sides of a man.

Shippo stood silently next to his Uncle and that bothered Inuyasha greatly. Shippo had always been an opinionated upstart learning most of that from Inuyasha. Inuyasha in many ways missed the smarty pants brat. It wasn’t right how he looked like stone granite. Inuyasha swore when he got him alone he would find out what was going on between Hideharu and Shippo.

“Enough yapping. I want to see what Shippo’s newest trick is. I hear he is doing great things and that his fox fire is quite fearsome.”

Shippo was not happy about showing off his talent without doing the famous fox fire dance, but he would do what he could with the little he had. It would be acceptable enough to his Uncle anyway since most kids his age couldn’t get theirs to blow up a target. Some adult foxes couldn’t do that either nor use fox fire to protect rather than just using it as a weapon.

Sesshoumaru sighed as they all went to see Shippo do his art.

Shippo stood across from moving targets. Many of them fox demons and others illusions. Shippo already deduced the illusions sending out waves of blue fire extinguishing them until there was only one being. Across from him was one of his elder cousins Choukichi

“Good job kid, now block this!”

Sending out his own flame, Choukichi’s flame grows and rolls towards Shippo. Shippo decides since there is no other option to enlarge his own flame. It is difficult, but Shippo pulls it off and pushes the flame back towards Choukichi until finally he has to jump out of the way to avoid the blast as the two flames collide in one big explosion.

“He is indeed a fast learner is he not?”

Hideharu stated with pride. Sesshoumaru had to nod yes since he was impressed with Shippo, but in many ways he always had been. It was almost sad though to see the boy push so hard to be so grown up.

Inuyasha frowned and looked away. A single tear flowed down his cheek. He couldn’t stand the thought of the once pup growing up so fast.

“You are displeased my Lady? I will make him do better……”

Hideharu growled since Inuyasha seemed to be unhappy with Shippo’s progress. He should have pushed Shippo harder.

“No…..he did exceptionally well. Too well for one so young, I am awe struck.”

Hideharu smiled widely. Shippo did well; therefore there was no reason to push the pup further. Shippo could now progress at his own pace since this is what the Tashio’s preferred. Had he known this he would not have been so rough with the boy.

Shippo received mountains of praise even from his cousin who he really liked. Choukichi was indeed skilled and Shippo in many ways would have preferred to be with Choukichi’s Father Uncle Lin if he had room for him. Uncle Lin was a chubby happy man and had several children with his many mates whom he kept at his large home. If it were not for the fact he was in love with all of his mates and they in turn were in love with him there would have been room for Shippo to live there at the Lin estate.

“Well Shippo, you made me look like a novice. Good going kid.”

Choukichi stated with a wry grin. Shippo smirked.

“Now I just have to learn the fire dance. I was going to try it, but I still don’t have the hang of it yet.”

Choukichi put a hand on Shippo’s shoulder.

“Hey, don’t push yourself so damn hard Shippo. There is plenty of time for that. I am still trying to find a way for my Father to bring you to our home. If I knew that Uncle Hideharu could be such a bastard to ya I would have you stay in my room with me.”

Shippo blushed a bit at that. He had told Choukichi about the whippings and beatings. He wanted to tell his Father about them, but Shippo begged Choukichi not to mention them since he did not want to be out of a home and he did not want to push Hideharu’s temper.

“It will be ok. I want to perhaps talk my way into living with Inuyasha like I did in the past. This summer excursion will be a good opportunity to do that.”

Choukichi panicked. He really liked Shippo and didn’t want his cousin away from the family yet.

“Shippo, you know that will be against the family’s wishes. They will wonder why you wish to leave us so soon and then I will have to tell Father what you told me. You know you should just let me tell him so we can live together. There is so much I could show you and no one beats you at my house unless you really do something to deserve it. It ain’t nothin’ though. Usually a knock on the head or you lose one meal for being a brat.”

Shippo sighed. He didn’t want to be a burden to anyone.

“I will think about it ok? Just don’t say anything yet and I won’t ask Inuyasha if I can live with him if you really think you can make a space for me. Now that Inuyasha is happy with me, Uncle Hideharu should be kinder. He has a major thing for Inuyasha.”

Choukichi grinned and blushed a little as he thought about Shippo. It wasn’t only Hideharu that had a hopeless crush on someone.

The two boys wandered on following the adults to lunch. It was the one thing that Shippo did look forward to since after using so much energy he needed the sustenance. Now it was just a matter of time before he could get Inuyasha alone to talk to him about what was going on. If anyone could help it would be Inuyasha.