Strange Circumstances

VI

Kagome lay her head in Clow's lap as they all sat around a camp fire. Her eyes closed in bliss as he brought a slender hand up to stroke her hair, reminding her of when she was a child and her mother would do just that. As she tilted her head this direction and that, giving her friends the impression of a cat, she couldn't help the content smile on her face.

"Clow-san, why is it that you are making these cards? It doesn't seem that you need them to activate your powers..." Miroku asked, curiosity sparkling in his eyes.

"Ah, I do not. But there is someone in the future that will need the cards to activate her powers," the sorcerer said quietly, pushing his newly created 'glasses' up his nose.

"Kagome?" Sango asked, and he chuckled.

"No. Our dear miko is quite gifted. I imagine after I tutor her a bit, she will come into her own power. After all, she is the other half of my soul," Clow said, smiling down at the female whose head was in his lap.

"I'll be able to create crazy elementals like you? Awesome," she said sarcastically, sticking her tongue out at him.

"I'm sure you could even create a magical being if you tried," he encouraged, and she scoffed.

"I highly doubt anyone could do that!" she challenged, and he glanced over at Kirara.

"I'll show you," he said, smirking, before disappearing, causing her head to hit the forest floor.

"Ow!"

VI

"See!"

Kagome jumped as Clow appeared in front of them, as he had on their first meeting, and she smiled indulgently at him as he thrust a bundle of cloth into her arms.

"Where do you go when you disappear?" she asked, causing him to laugh.

"You'll find out soon enough my love!" he grinned, Kagome's face heating up at his words.

"Oi! Open the blanket wench!" Inuyasha said, looking over her shoulder curiously.

"How dare you call my mistress a wench you parasitic toadstool!"

They all blinked at the growling voice, and Kagome dropped the bundle in shock.

"Ah...he has quite the mouth on him doesn't he?" Clow laughed nervously as the blanket floated midair, before unraveling, revealing what Kagome swore was a lion stuffed animal with wings.

"Kawaiii!" She and Sango squealed quietly, Kagome lunging forward to pull the floating plush into her arms, squishing him between her breasts.

"M-Mistress...not that I mind...but this...is highly...inappropriate!" the small push gasped for air, and she held him at arms length in shock.

"Not that I doubt your powers Clow-san, but I thought you would create something...larger," Miroku said hesitantly, and the sorcerer sighed.

"I thought so too...I don't know where I went wrong..." he said thoughtfully, and the plush's beady eyes turned to glare at him, before he flew from Kagome and erupt into flames.

Clow quickly found himself on the ground with a smug, full size lion with equally as large feathered wings pinning him to the ground.

"Come again dad?" the creature growled, only to blink when he felt two arms encircle his neck.

"You're so cool!" Kagome gushed, and the beast blushed.

"Well, I am rather cool I suppose, mistress," he allowed the man to stand, sitting on his haunches as Kagome looked at him curiously.

"You aren't full of yourself at all, Keruberosu," Clow murmured, and the cat let a small stream of fire blow towards the sorcerer, coming short of his nose by an inch.

"I think I have a right to be," the winged lion purred smugly.

"Clow, can we call him Kero for short?" Kagome asked as she scratched behind the beasts ear.

"Whatever you wish my love," the sorcerer sighed silently, jealous of the attention being paid to his creation.

Maybe I should undo him, he contemplated, but seeing the happy smile on Kagome's face, he found that he didn't have the will to do so.

"Why did you have to name me after a DOG?" the cat sniffed at his 'creator', knowing full well that his name also translated into 'Cerebus'.

Then again, I could always re-create him with less attitude.

VI