Moyuhi Mt.

Don't own Inuyasha!!!


Inuyasha, as usual, was the first to awaken in the morning. He was glad he didn't find these bugs Kagome was talking about. This morning in particular he was roused at dawn, since the familiar half-painful tingle of his transformation brought him out of his pleasant dreams and forced him back to reality. One of the few things he actually liked about being human was the ability to be lazy--but this morning, no longer could he lay about in bed. Unwillingly, he rolled over, disentangling himself from the covers. "Mmmph...damn...always right now..." He yawned, his increasingly doglike tongue curling. It would have been interesting to watch, since he'd happened to pick the very moment his fangs were growing out. Finishing his yawn, he grunted in discomfort.
Kagome had looked so concerned for him last night. It wasn't that the change was actually extremely painful; it was rather the sensation of knowing it should really hurt--yet didn't that badly. He'd never truly get used to all the sliding, squishing, and shifting sensations that went along with it, as his skull changed shape and his bones resized themselves and his muscles tingled as they returned to demonic strength. It made him feel creepy inside. He was angered at being waked at so crucial a moment in so wonderful a dream, but he couldn't remember exactly what that had been. The change made him forget most of what he was dreaming about.
Once the change was complete, Inuyasha rolled back over and attempted to nod off, but to no avail. That was another good thing about being human--he could tune things out. Now half demon, all the annoying sounds and scents pressed in on him, and his body was full of restless energy once more. "Curse it all..." Can't leave 'til I say goodbye to the kid, but I can't wake him now. What do they expect me to do all morning? Chase the damn cat? Disgruntled, he rose and dressed, feeling antsy but striving to be quiet.
He went outside to the woods to relieve himself, not wanting to bother with figuring out the urine-scented porcelain device in the bathing room. On his way back the cat, Buyo, trailed after him, obviously eager for a pet or an early feeding, but Inuyasha ignored the animal's affectionate overtures. Instead of sitting about sulking, he decided to creep up to Kagome's room and see if his quiet presence would awaken her any sooner.
Bored, bored, bored... He made the easy hop up to her bedroom window, perching himself on the sill in his usual disinterested crouch and pretending he wasn't watching her sleep. She was kind of cute lying there; that wavy black hair and smooth, soft skin...her scent filling the room and settling his restlessness. For some reason, he felt like he wanted to join her on the soft bed and return to snoozing in blissful oblivion. Well, I was snoozing in blissful oblivion until I changed back. That's demonhood for you; get your required four or five hours of sleep a night and then pace around like a moron the rest of the time.
Now why am I picking faults with being a demon and thinking about the good side of being human? What's got into me?...Kagome did. he wondered to himself. Maybe it had something to do with Kagome's startling insights into his humanity the previous evening. He leaned up against the window frame and set his head back against the wood, closing his eyes. It was a nice, peaceful morning, with the birds singing and the breeze blowing; the quiet sounds of Kagome's breath and heartbeat...her scent calming him like a gentle song...
"Mmm...Inuyasha? What are you doing in my room?" asked Kagome's sleepy voice.
Inuyasha jerked awake, surprised he'd been dozing. He popped up from the windowframe, hastily forming an excuse. "I was...waiting for you, of course. Come on, slowpoke, the morning's wasting. Hurry and get up." The sun was now well up in the sky, and he wondered how on Earth he'd managed to sleep that long.
Kagome's sleep-filled blue eyes shone with amusement even as she yawned widely, sitting up to stretch. "Okay, okay, I'm coming. I won't keep you waiting too long."
"Fine, and I didn't find those bugs you were talking about. I'll be down below," he said gruffly. Embarassed at being caught snoozing, he didn't press her further, but hopped from the windowsill to the lawn and sat on the step just outside the house door, granting the girl her privacy. He listened to noises inside the house, to Grandfather's creaky voice and Mrs. Higurashi puttering in the kitchen; he sniffed, catching the scent of food being prepared.
His quiet reprieve ended when he heard Sota's shrill voice indoors, wondering to the whole world where Inuyasha was and lamenting that he'd left without saying goodbye. Kagome's voice shouted that he was downstairs, and he heard the boy's feet thumping rapidly through the house, yelling his name. Inuyasha rolled his eyes and sighed, but got up and went in.
"I'm still here, brat," he said roughly, watching the youngster's face light up.
Sota bounded over to hug him, surprising the daylights out of him. "G'morning, Inuyasha! I'm so glad you didn't leave!"
Inuyasha was unsure of what to do with this unexpected display of affection. "I'm just...just waiting for your sister to get dressed. We need to get going." He carefully peeled the child off his legs and sent him on his way with a clumsy pat on the shoulder. "You...um, need to get out of your sleeping clothes, too. G'wan, now--get out of here."
Sota grinned and pattered up to his room.
"Oh, don't leave too soon," Mrs. Higurashi called from the kitchen. "I've got a wonderful hot breakfast on."
Inuyasha's mouth watered at the delicious smell wafting in from the kitchen. It had only tickled his nose before, but now that he was in the house it was a siren's call. He stuck his head in the door, watching the woman expertly handling her cookware.
She noticed him over her shoulder. "If you want breakfast to be ready faster, why don't you set the table? The plates and such are in these cupboards."
"Uh...sure..." Hesitantly, Inuyasha minced into the kitchen, grabbed a stack of items, and hurried out to the table.
"Thank you, dear!" Mrs. Higurashi called after him.
Inuyasha ducked his head and reddened at being called "dear." But it made him feel good, too; someone cared to thank him for his help, and he was being useful for something other than killing monsters. It reminded him of his mother, too. Buyo rubbed about his legs on his trips to and from the kitchen, hoping for handouts, and he once nearly tripped over the cat with a handful of cups. After the table was set, Kagome finally made it down, followed shortly by Sota. Breakfast was soon commenced, with Kagome watching in disbelief as the dog-demon helped carry out pots of hot food. Delicious as it was, once the meal began it didn't last long.
Kagome watched Inuyasha out of the corner of her eye during the entire meal. He ate much more reservedly than last night, though with no less enthusiasm, and his face looked relaxed and almost pleasant, instead of grouchy and tense. He actually blushed and hid a smile when her mother made a point of praising him for helping her out in the kitchen.
After breakfast, while Kagome helped her mother with the dishes and Sota followed Inuyasha outdoors, Mrs. Higurashi chatted happily at her daughter about what a good fellow Inuyasha was. "He's quite a sweet boy," she said cheerfully. "He's so willing to help out, especially if you ask him nicely and thank him when he's done well." She leaned close to her daughter, whispering conspiratorily. "He really is like a puppy dog, you know. Just praise and reward him often, and he'll do anything for you."
"Mom..." Kagome sighed. She just didn't see that in Inuyasha.
Mrs. Higurashi went back to washing. "I wonder why he follows you home so often."
Kagome rolled her eyes. "He's got his reasons, Mom. I'm his shard detector."
"That can't be it." Mrs. Higurashi paused while scrubbing a pan. "You know, honey, I think he really likes you."
Kagome nearly dropped the plate she'd been rinsing. "Mother!" she hissed, glancing frantically about and praying that Inuyasha was nowhere within his particularly keen earshot.
Mrs. Higurashi's eyes gleamed mirthfully. "Oh, come now, dear, you mean to tell me you don't notice when a cute boy like him is willing to come over to your house and help your dear old mother with breakfast? I thought Hojo was obvious. Why don't you notice when Inuyasha does the same kinds of things for you in his own way?"
Kagome blushed intensely and groaned. Mother-dearest was in "girl talk" mode. "Mom...!"
Mrs. Higurashi nudged her and returned to her pan-scrubbing. "I think it's cute that he's sweet on you, honey. Look at all the things you've told me: He carries your backpack, he gives you a lift through rough territory, he saves your life repeatedly, he's willing to inconvenience himself to come wait for you--it's wonderful, Kagome!" Mrs. Higurashi giggled. "Your father was the same way."
Kagome hurriedly rinsed the last plate, blushing furiously. "Uh, I gotta go, Mom--he's waiting for me now. I should be back in a couple days--bye!" She gave her mother a peck on the cheek and then hauled buns out of the kitchen. Once in the hallway leading upstairs, she leaned against the wall with a groan. "Thank God Inuyasha didn't hear that...!"
"Hear what?" A familiar white-maned head poked around the corner.
Kagome jumped. "Ack! Inuyasha--!"
"Come on, Mistress Snail, the day's wasting," the dog-demon informed her gruffly before disappearing again.
Kagome sighed in relief, then hustled upstairs to pack. Once her bag was full--very full, as usual--she trundled downstairs to find Inuyasha waiting impatiently for her to arrive.
"Finally!" he huffed, snatching her pack from her shoulders and striding out the door. "I was beginning to think you died or something!"
Mrs. Higurashi winked at her behind Inuyasha's back. Kagome reddened once more, ducked her head, and followed him out.
Outside, on the way to the well, Kagome actually found herself contemplating her mother's words. True, Inuyasha did many things for her--so many things that she'd lost count. And last night...
Last night he'd turned human.
He'd been so nice--for him, anyway. Especially after the mirror. When he'd stood at her bedroom door, looking so friendly and gentle...she'd almost forgotten who he was. He'd looked so different from his normal self, with the soft tenor of his voice and the stark contrasts in his features. He'd gone from hard demon angles to human, boyish softness in his face; from glowing white to ebony black hair; from incredible strength and deadly sharp claws to complete normalcy and harmless fingernails; from abruptness, intensity, and restlessness to shyness, quiet embarassment, and unfamiliar vulnerability. She'd lost herself in those deep violet eyes...and forgotten.
"Hey, you, are you awake yet?"
His rough, impatient voice jerked her out of her reverie. "Huh? Uh, oh, yeah. Just thinking. Planning ahead."
Inuyasha snorted. "That's good. Finally using that little brain of yours."
"You--!" Kagome glared at his back as he entered the wellhouse, wondering why in all the world she had ever thought anything nice about him.
oOoOoOo
They were near the edge of the forest in Musashi's Domain when Inuyasha paused, ears pricked alertly and his eyes focused on something far distant. "Something's wrong," he growled, nose twitching. "In the village." His eyes widened. "There's a demon in the village!"
Dropping her pack, he bolted off, sprinting across the fields at full speed. "Inuyasha, wait for me!" Kagome cried, hoisting her pack and running after him as fast as she could.
Inuyasha dashed through the village, skidding to a stop in the main square and rising to his feet. The townsfolk were running about in terror, and cried out in relief as he arrived. The demon he'd sensed and scented whirled to face him.
He allowed surprise to take him for but a second. The invader was a humanoid female with long, mottled cloud-silver hair and dark amber eyes--and a dog-demon by the smell of her. A silky silver dog-tail twitched behind her, fluffed, but besides that there was little other indication of her nonhuman blood. Like Sesshomaru, her humanlike disguise was near-perfect, save her hair, eyes, and elflike ears. She wore a silver-blue and white bodysuit with a longer, lighter blue tunic/robe over it. The front of the robe was not closed, displaying the bodysuit's rather flattering emphasis on her ample figure. She had an odd, not-quite-snarl on her face.
"What are you doing here?" Inuyasha demanded curtly, tensed to fight. He was wary; he had never associated with another dog-demon save his brother--and Shitakiwa, who didn't quite count.
The female dog-demon stared at him for a moment, then suddenly gasped and clutched her hands to her chest. "Oh! It's you!" Her voice was sweet and babbly, her eyes wide, innocent, and admiring. She gestured to the townsfolk. "I was just asking these nice people where I might find you, but here you are!" She danced from foot to foot, her tail wagging joyfully behind her.
Inuyasha stared incredulously at her. Now this was new; he'd never seen a demon that was such a...ditz before. "Uh...who are you?"
The girl trotted closer to him, her expression totally enraptured. "Hee hee! My name's Kashina. I've come all the way from the Western Dog Clans to meet you, yes you!"
"The Western...Dog Clans what?"
Kashina knealt before him, trying to hide her excited giggles behind seriousness. "My Lord Inuyasha of the White Clan, I am the daughter of the Silver Clan Daimyo--and I've come to take you home!"
"Home?" Inuyasha's eyes were the size of dinner plates. "ahh...what home?"
Kagome picked that moment to arrive, panting and dropping her pack on the ground. "Whew! Inuyasha, don't leave me behind like that! I don't...oh--who's this?"
"Hello there!" the silver-haired girl bubbled, popping back to her feet. "You must be one of Lord Inuyasha's little human friends. I'm Kashina!" She smiled sweetly at Kagome.
"Hello," Kagome replied, finding the newcomer quite pleasant. "Say, you're..."
"A dog-demon? Yup! Just like my lord Matiro-Inu."
"Ma-who?"
"Lord Inuyasha, silly," Kashina told her with a wink, pointing to the still-frozen half-demon. "It's the honored title of the White Dog Lord."
"What are you talking about?" Kagome asked.
"Sh-she means my father," Inuyasha stuttered, eyes still very large. "M-my father was the Daimyo of the White Clan as well as the Western Lands..."
"Yes--Lord Seibunishi. My father knew him well," Kashina said. "I've come with important news from the Dog Clans." She looked around, at the human people who still watched them warily from their houses and hidey-holes. "Let's leave these poor silly humans and go talk, Matiro-Inu."
"Uh..." Inuyasha still looked somewhat surprised.
Kagome watched him, puzzled. What was it? Had Kashina somehow frightened him? Something isn't right here... "Inuyasha, are you alright?"
"Uh, yeah sure why not." He seemed rather distracted. "Um, could you go on to Kaede's? I need to talk to Lady Kashina."
Oh, she rates a "Lady" but I'm just "girl," huh? Kagome thought with a flash of ire. "But Inuyasha--"
"Kagome, go now."
She flinched back. "Oh. Fine, I'll see you later. Don't be late--we've got shards to find!"
It felt funny to be the one to remind him of that, but he didn't seem to have heard her--he was leading Kashina back towards the forest. Kagome sighed, shouldering her pack once more.
Kashina glanced back over her shoulder at Kagome. Her expression was no longer sweetly happy--it was smug, smiling, and even...cruel. She looked straight into Kagome's eyes with a terrible expression, her lip lifting in what might have been a grin--or a snarl. Kagome felt a sudden flash of cold fear. She wanted to run after Inuyasha and call him back, but she was frozen to the spot, terrified. She let them go, her body paralysed with fear and her heart pounding.
No, don't go...Inuyasha, she's all wrong! Inuyasha...!
oOoOoOo
By the time Inuyasha was back in the forest, he was sufficiently recovered from his surprise to regain his surly, suspicious attitude. He would hear her out, but he wouldn't trust her--not yet. "Okay, Kashina, who are you really and what do you want?"
Kashina turned to face him, her expression still pleasant but more subdued. "I was sent here by my father to locate the son of Lord Seibunishi. My father is hinpatsu, the Daimyo of the Silver Dog Clan. He has requested that the Mashiro-Daimyo's heir be returned to the Dog Clans; since Lord Seibunishi's death the Western Lands have been without a leader."
"Why aren't you bothering Sesshomaru with this?" Inuyasha growled. "He's the eldest son and the Great Demon of the West. I'm the younger, and half human to boot."
"Lord Sesshomaru is not the Great Demon of the West," Kashina replied, her eyes brightening. "He has been going about as lord of this region but he has no real authority. My father is the acting ruler of the entire Western Lands right now."
"W-What?" Inuyasha felt as though the breath had been knocked from him. "Your father--is the Great Demon--?"
"Well, more like the regent," Kashina said, one finger to her chin thoughtfully. Even though she was being serious, she was still cutely innocent. "The Silver Dog Clan is the next step down in the hierarchy of the Dog Clans. Lord Seibunishi felt that Sesshomaru was far too irresponsible to become the Great Demon of the West, so before he died he requested at the Council of Daimyos that his friend Lord hinpatsu become the regent until his chosen heir was of age."
"And his chosen heir is...?" Inuyasha rasped, fearing he already knew.
"You!"
Inuyasha sat down hard on the ground. Kashina immediately plopped down in front of him, all worry and concern. "Ooooh, you're not hurt, are you? I hope I didn't shock you too much! I'm so sorry my lord!"
Inuyasha flopped over backwards and stared at the leaves overhead. For a while all he did was lay there. Then he began to laugh.
"Matiro-Inu...?" Kashina asked, perplexed by his actions.
Inuyasha laughed until his stomach hurt and tears came. "Sesshomaru isn't who he says he is! Ha! Serves the bastard right! He's been masquerading as the Great Demon and kicking me all over the place but he's been the one in the doghouse all along!" He continued to laugh uproarously, finally sitting up to wipe his eyes. "This is just perfect..." he chuckled.
Kashina's face lit up. "Oh! So does that mean you'll come? How wonderful! You'll love it! And Daddy will be so glad to meet you!" She suddenly gasped and smiled even more. "I know! I'm the daughter of the noblest family--besides yours! I just know Daddy will ask you to marry me! Lord Inuyasha, we'll be so happy!" She giggled happily and hugged him, snuggling against him. "It really is just perfect!"
Her affection was interrupted before she could get comfortable. Inuyasha was ten feet away in the space of a heartbeat and she was facedown on the ground, having fallen there when the half-demon leaped out of her arms. She pulled herself up to stare at him in shock as he stood across the clearing, guarded and tense.
"Don't get any ideas, Kashina," Inuyasha said lowly, his previous mirth vanished in the face of hard warning. "I haven't agreed to anything."
"But...!"
"I'll give you my answer when I'm ready--and I will not include marriage! Wait if you want, hang about the village if you like, but I will not answer until I have considered everything. Do not harm anyone in that village--do you understand? If a single human dies by your claws, you die by mine!" With that final surly growl, he turned his back on her and strode away through the forest, heading back to the village.
When he was out of earshot, Kashina's entire demeanor changed. She snarled in the direction he'd gone, her face twisting with anger. "fuck!" she muttered. "He's wary. It's gonna be a big job to make him trust me, much less get him in the sack." She shook her head. "Drat Daddy and this fool plan of his...this is going to be harder than I thought. Half-breeds... I swear it's human intuition that let's 'em know I'm coming..."
oOoOoOo
Inuyasha flopped down beside the firepit in Kaede's hut without much preamble at all. Kaede was out and about, but Kagome was sitting by the fire. He did not acknowlege her when he came in; instead, he stared at the flickering light of the dim coals, lost in his thoughts.
Kashina's announcements had done more than amuse him--they had disturbed him greatly. He knew very little about the fabled Dog Clans, only that his father had been a part of them. He knew that dog-demons had some important influence over the Western Lands, but had never met any besides Sesshomaru and his wolf-dog demon friend, Shitakiwa--whom he hadn't seen since before he'd ever even heard of Kikyo and the Shikon Jewel. His knowlege of his own demon half stemmed from his mother's limited teachings, his time with Shitikiwa, his direct observations of other non-dog demons, and his interactions with Sesshomaru. And if his half-brother was a prime example of the dog-demons, he wanted nothing to do with them.
"What did Kashina want to talk to you about?" Kagome asked from across the fire, cradling a cup of tea.
"Nothing," Inuyasha grumbled in reply. "Just some dog-demon stuff you wouldn't know about."
"I don't trust her, Inuyasha," the schoolgirl said softly. "There's...something wrong."
"Yeah, there is," Inuyasha said. "But it's not her. She's a harmless ditz."
"Are you sure?"
He snorted. "I have never in my life seen a full demon make such a fool of herself and not fly into a rage. She's so clueless she doesn't even get mad."
"You know that from just one conversation?" Kagome demanded, a trifle sharp.
"Look--just how many demons do you know?" Inuyasha demanded.
"Well, there's you and Shippo and Myoga and Kirara--but nearly every other demon I've met has tried to kill me, so I have to say I'm a little cautious," Kagome said primly.
"Don't bother with Kashina," Inuyasha growled. "It's none of your business anyway, so just stay out of it."
"Fine--I will!"
"Fine!"
Kagome angrily turned away, sipping on her cooling tea. She knew Inuyasha could probably take care of himself with the dog-demon girl, and she was worrying over nothing. But she couldn't banish the tiny knot of fear that had settled coldly in the pit of her stomach, nor the nagging feeling that there was far more to Kashina than even that terrifying smile she'd received.

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