“What’re you kids doing here?” Seiichi demanded, squinting at them Jakkenishly. “You two barely look big enough t’ve left the teat.”

Beside him, Daiji snickered.

Smiling, Shin stepped forward to answer, before Kaori could pop off at the mouth. “Hiya—we were just playing around in the woods and got lost.”

“That so?”

“Uh-huh,” Shin said, nodding earnestly.

“Playin’ around in the dead middle of these woods, ye were?” Seiichi pressed him narrowly. “And ye jus’ so happened to stumble ‘cross our camp?”

“Yep,” Shin said brightly. “You got it. Would you mind pointing us back toward the river? We need to get home soon before our folks start looking for us.”

“He’s a slick-talker fer a kid,” Daiji grunted at Seiichi, picking at his teeth with a plucked blade of grass. As Shin started to smile, the big oaf glowered and said, “I hate slick-talking kids.”

Shin’s smile slipped. 

Seiichi nodded. “He’s got a weird look to ‘im, all right. And that little girl”—he pointed a yellow-tipped nail at Kaori—”looks like some kinda ninja. You a spy, little girl?”

“No,” Kaori said hotly, “and I’m not a ninja either. I’m—”

“—just pretending,” Shin said, cutting her a warning look. “She likes to dress up like a ninja, that’s all.” 

Kaori’s cheeks flushed, but she took the hint and clammed up. Shin could tell from the looks on their faces that Seiichi and Daiji weren’t quite buying it yet, though.

“And I take it yer jus’ pretending to be lord’s brat in those fancy silks, are ye?” Seiichi said, looking him over.

Oops, Shin thought, twitching his best innocent grin. Forgot about that.

“Look like a couple a’ sneak thieves to me,” Daiji grunted.

“Seems so,” Seiichi said, looming over them. “So how long have ye been tailing us, little thieves? Hidin’ in the bushes ‘til the coast is clear so ye can loot us at yer leisure, eh?”

“No,” Shin said, putting up his hands. “You’ve got it all wrong. We just—”

“How dare you accuse of us stealing,” Kaori exclaimed, slashing a finger toward the war horses and loot, “when all this stuff here is stolen! You’re the thieves, not us.”

Shit, Shin thought, his heart sinking. Now we’re in trouble…

Seiichi’s yellow eyes blazed as he pointed back at her. “Hear that, Daiji? I knew it! I knew they were some kinda spies. I told the boss when we left that last town that the brothel owner used sticky-fingered brats like these to steal back her goods!”

Daiji grunted. 

Shin shook his head. “Listen—we’re not spies, and we’re not thieves, either. We’re not looking for any trouble. We’ve just been out here hunting in the woods, and now we just want to head back home.”

It was the honest truth—and the bit of reiki he put into the words made them ring all the clearer.

“Hunting for what?” Seiichi said, peering down at him warily.

Shin drew in a breath of relief. Now he’d tell them chipmunks or something normal, and they’d be all in the clear.

But before he could answer, Kaori said bossily, “Centipedes.”

Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi

Unedited – will clean up later! <3