Serpents and Dog Demons

Thanks you all for the support and the reviews. Busy busy time but wanted to post something, please please read, review and enjoy.

Chapter 14 : Things will never be the same

Inuyasha was in pain, with a strangled shout he woke from his dreams, only to be caught in a waking nightmare. His cells felt like they were being shredded, his body ached and his blood boiled. The Hanyou's howl of pain had the small group jerking out of sleep and prepared for an attack.

There was nothing attacking them, no menace in sight, they only saw Inuyasha huddled over, writhing in agony. Maturity was upon the Hanyou, and like everything else in his life, it was not going to be easy.

Ban who had been on Patrol almost 2 miles from the camp; raced back at the howl. It had been just 10 days since the fight with Sesshoumaru, the change was taking place a couple of days early. Ban gritted his teeth typical for that blasted cross dresser to be wrong. If he had suspected it was that day, nothing would have moved Ban from camp.

It took Ban almost 10 minutes to get to the camp, everything seemed to be normal. Inuyasha no longer howling. Instead the pup seemed to be sitting by the fire, tense but snapping at the group that he was alright. Ban approached quietly, something was going on, masking his presence he listened in to the conversation.

"Inuyasha you have to tell us what is wrong. We can help." Kagome was insisting, as she wrung her hands in worry and passed a bowl of soup to the Hanyou.

The bowl seemed to shake for a second, but the Hanyou glared at his hand and the shaking stopped. "Keh! There is nothing wrong, and even if there was something wrong – you can 't do a fuck about it can you?" Inuyasha snapped his nerves on the edge.

"Inuyasha you don't have to be rude, we are just being concerned, why do you have to be so stubborn. You know my medicine is superior, if you are in pain I can help." Kagome getting irritated snapped back.

"Kagome, this is a Shiro Inu time of maturity, I don't think that Inuyasha is sick, there is really not much we can do about it." Sango said trying to calm her down.

"There is only nothing you can do if you have no knowledge of modern medicine. You have all seen the stuff my medicine can do.. haven't you!" Kagome demanded, getting small nods of reluctant agreement from the adults in the group, Shippo getting worried huddled next to Inuyasha who was seemed focused on his meal and was ignoring Kagome. The young Miko was pleased with the acknowledgement "Yes right. We have medicine known as pain killers, Inuyasha I have some here, you can take some of this to numb the pain, and you will feel better during this maturity thing." Kagome said happily as she pulled out a packet of strong painkillers and unscrewed the cap.

"See all you have to do is take a couple of these and you will feel much better." Kagome said pouring out two pills onto her palm and holding her palm out to the Hanyou.

Inuyasha who was totally focused on hiding the fact that his body was still in agony, looked up in surprise as the Miko shoved her hand under his nose. His sensitive nose twitched as the smell of chemicals and strange substances assaulted his olfactory senses. Immediately the pain increased, Inuyasha gritted his teeth and shoved the pain aside, as he glared at the strange small stones on the Miko's palm.

"I ain't taking that shit, woman. Get them outta my face, I don't need nasty stinky human stuff, this is Youkai business, Kagome, so leave me alone." Inuyasha turned, his nose hurting from the smells, he pushed Kagome's hand away from his face. He used the strength he would normally use with humans, but maturity was on the Hanyou, and his muscles usually so coordinated, spasmed from the sudden movement. His arm jerked involuntarily and Kagome was shoved backwards, she stumbled and sat hard on her butt.

Inuyasha looked shocked and sorry at the Miko who was staring at him in surprise. The group who could see it was a genuine accident began to chuckle, and Kagome ignoring the fact that Inuyasha was trying to apologize, lost her legendary temper. "You STUPID JERK! I WAS JUST TRYING TO HELP, HOW CAN YOU BE SO SELFISH!! INUYASHA SII.....AHHHHHHH!!!"

Kagome never finished the accursed phrase.

A clawed hand closed around her shirt collar and twisted. Kagome was lifted into the air and stared in incomprehension into a pair of furious golden eyes. There was not a hint of red in those eyes, the bright gold instead burned with fury and pain as they glared at her.

"Selfish? Selfish? If that was not sad, it would be pathetic Kagome. You are trying to help? Like the time you sat me from a fucking tree because you wanted to check on my wounds? How the hell was that supposed to make me better? When that blasted Hell Sword freed me from the beads, I stayed and saved you, I risked everything for YOU!!! And how did you show your gratitude? You put the god damned collar back on me! How was that helping Kagome? Do you treat anyone else that way?" Inuyasha glared at the Miko, anger masking the deep pain. Held by her collar, she was on tip toes but he was not hurting her.

The rest stared in silence. Unable or unwilling to act, Ban still hidden, smiled in satisfaction. Finally, finally... Inuyasha would free himself.

"I am in fucking PAIN Kagome." Inuyasha growled at her, "All I wanted was to be left fucking alone to deal with it, how the hell is that selfish? Sango only hits Miroku when he touches her, what did I DO to deserve this? What have I done to deserve this treatment Kagome? Why is it okay to hurt me for something I said? Why is it okay to hurt me for disagreeing with you, wanting different things from you? What makes it okay? Kagome Tell me?" Inuyasha asked shaking her a little, hurt and frustration bubbling in his voice. "You defend everyone else from getting even a little bit hurt.. SO WHY for god's sake is it alright to hurt me?" The last words were full of the anguish the Hanyou usually hid from the world, Ban's whole being trembled as he forced himself to be still... He wanted to – no needed to - go to the pup, respond to the pain. But Inuyasha's needs took precedence and the pup needed to do this for himself, without interference.

Inuyasha continued his eyes burning into Kagome's, she was too stunned to respond. " Why? Why is it okay to hurt me Kagome? Is it okay to hurt me because I'm a Hanyou? An abomination? Is it okay to hurt me because I am a MAN, so I can take it? Does that make it okay? Or is it okay because you CAN hurt me? Because you want to control me? Do you think I deserve to be hurt Kagome? I can't duck, I can't run away, I can't fight this blasted chain you have on me!!! Or do you have me chained because at the end of the day that is all you believe me to be? A rabid dog that needs controlling? Not your friend, not your team-mate. Or is it all you truly believe a Hanyou like me deserves Kagome? For the honor of being in your team and defending you, I should be controlled and sat? Is that it Kagome? Is that FUCKING it?"

Inuyasha pushed Kagome away, his whole being shook to the bottom of his soul. He had kept the words in his heart for so damn long, he had never meant for them to pour out like that. But his system was out of balance and his emotions barely in his control. The Miko had fucking saved him from the sleeping death, he cared for her, always had, but like Kikyo there was always a price he had to pay for their attention, and it hurt, it hurt so damn much.

"Enough! Its too fucking much! You wont do this to me anymore!" Inuyasha said his hands going to the chain. He grasped them firmly, they flared with light, resisting him, he did not care, he was sick of the chain and it was coming off. "I don't fucking deserve this!" Muscles strained against the beads, Inuyasha slowly began lifting them up. In the past he had always gotten angry and frustrated at the beads, now none of those emotions clouded him. Pure determination filled the Hanyou, the beads were coming off.

"YES! Inuyasha does NOT deserve this, not all all!!!" Shippo tears falling freely from green eyes scrambled up Inuyasha, he grabbed the beads and added his puny strength to the Hanyou.

"Get the beads off Inuyasha! You can do it!" Miroku and Sango said together giving their support, the Hanyou's pain, wounded them, how long had they not seen his suffering.

Kagome, her face pale, stared at the Hanyou. "I'm sorry, Im so sorry!" She sobbed out, she could not bear to face him, turning she ran to Sango how reflexively caught the girl in a comforting hug. Sango's eyes were glued on the Hanyou, who was straining but amazingly the beads were moving. Inch by agonizing inch the beads moved upwards, sweat rolled down Inuyasha's brow, muscles bulged.

"Do it Inuyasha, free yourself." A soft smoky voice said from the shadows, and at those words, Inuyasha's Youki suddenly flared, with a burst of adrenalin he yanked the beads up over his head, Shippo eeeped as he tumbled down catching and holding on to the robe. Inuyasha's eyes were riveted to the chain that he had worn for so long, he was free... he was finally free and he had done it himself. His hands jerked and the beads fell scattered to the ground. Pain forgotten Inuyasha's eyes sparked and sparkled, his smile grew and grew, he was shaking again but not from pain.

The was a roar of approval and Inuyasha was suddenly laughing, as Ban grabbed the Hanyou and lifted him triumphantly into the air. The Hanyou was laughing, and then just as suddenly. Moisture hit the Jagan Master's face, and Inuyasha was enfolded in a powerful hug. Emotions overwhelmed the Hanyou, as he sobbed like a lost child into the Jagan user's chest. He had done it, but it was too much, just too much. Inuyasha could not hold back the wracking sobs, sobs of a strong man, who had surpassed himself, who had overcome a tremendous obstacle and won. A man who knew that in the victory, something had been lost, things would change and life would never be the same again.

Ban held the young half demon tightly. Shippo scrambled up again and Ban opened his arm a little, and allowed the Kitsune to share in the embrace. The Fire Cat in her large form, butted her head against Inuyasha's back, and then cat like rubbed her sides against her back. The three humans came closer, they were part of the circle, but they did not reach out to touch. The team stood silently and respectfully, as the Hanyou allowed himself to relax in Ban's embrace and his emotions still raw, gave in to the escape of oblivion. Inuyasha slumpped into unconsciousness, and cradled safely was placed almost reverently beside the fire.

Without even acknowledging the others, Ban snuggled next to the unconscious Inuyasha, holding the inert form tight, Ban joined him in sleep. Shippo and Kilala both curled up nearby, and the humans in unspoken accord, watched over the resting demons and Hanyous. It was a strange end to the night, but none spoke, lost in their own thoughts.

--Tbc---

The beads are offf... so whatcha think did I manage to pull of a strong but vulnerable Inuyasha? please review.