Serpents and Dog Demons

What is Happening between them?

Once Inuyasha returned to adulthood, Kagome took off to visit her home and take one of those never ending tests. They all knew that they could not afford the time, so Kagome was only going for two days. She hoped that Inuyasha would miss her. He did sortta, kindda the way you would miss a good friend, but things were changing and her short period away allowed for the group to solidify without the Miko. The most profound change was probably between Shippo and Inuyasha. The change was more on Shippo’s side then Inuyasha’s as the little Kit was finally realising and appreciating the life that Inuyasha had saved him from. The kind of childhood Inuyasha had had, and Shippo was not fool enough to think he would have survived the trails of life alone the way Inuyasha had.

Ban spent most of the two days catching up on sleep. The Jagan user was totally wrung out. A week of looking after the hyper active Little Yasha, and his night watches guarding his precious charges, finally caught up on him. Ban would be found sleeping in his hut or on Inuyasha’s tree. True he had never slept in trees before, but somehow he had gotten to like it and appreciate the fresh night air. The second night had a promise of rain in the air and Ban retreated to his hut. Hmmm.. it felt off somehow as he stretched out on his futon. He sighed softly as blue eyes closed to sleep.

Later that night, a clawed hand silently pushed the door of the hut open. Ban slept. The figure crept in and sat puppy style beside the Jagan user’s head. He sat watching the sleeping man in silence, wondering at all that had occurred. Careful claws reached out and brushed the ends of the shoulder length black hair. Inuyasha moved closer, and of course the neat pile of books beside the bed, brushed against his robe and went tumbling to the ground. Inuyasha twirled and contorted in impossible shapes, ensuring none of the books actually fell on his sleeping friend. But he could not stop the clatter the books made as they knocked over another pile and the once neat room was strewn with paper.

Inuyahsa cringed. He waited to be scolded, hit or magically sat. The silence was prolonged, feeling a little silly, Inuyasha finally looked up to see deep blue eyes staring at him.

“Umm.. err.. I’ll clean up.” Inuyasha muttered, dashing around and of course making more of a mess. Ban reached out and snagged a puppy ear.

“Ouch! Ouch! BanMidou ouch!” Inuyasha protested as he froze in place. Immediately the pressure eased. The pinch was to hold the Hanyou in place rather then hurt him.

“Just stop moving, and you’ll be fine.” Ban said. “Inuyasha you are meant for many things, cleaning up is not one of them.” Ban blew an exasperated breathe as he looked around at his once neat room. “Settle down.” Ban released the ear, and could not stop his fingers from stroking the mildly abused appendage in apology.

“How did you get in the room without waking me?” Ban asked suddenly. Half sitting, the blanket rolled down exposing his bare chest.

“Keh, I was just quiet, until I knocked the stuff over. You have too much stuff!” The Hanyou accused defensively.

“Meh, you are probably right.” Inuyasha’s eyes widened at the agreement. Ban crocked his head, there was no way he would let any one sneak up on him while he slept. Even Ginji could never leave the car without Ban being aware of his movements, of a foreign presence around him, a change in the energy flow . For the Hanyou to have got in the room, and sat beside him, for him to have been totally unaware and relaxed was.. unbelievable. Ban was sure he was not losing his edge, did it just mean his awareness saw the Hanyou as a non-threat? Or was he beginning to see the Hanyou as something else all together? Ban did not like being uncertain.

“So what brings you here?” Ban asked.

“I.. I.. Keh! I donno. I was just trying to sleep and I wanted to check on you, all of a sudden.” Inuyasha went slightly red realising how silly his words sounded. “ummm.. I..umm I guess, I’ll just get going”. Inuyasha said but he didn’t move. Ban reached out and grabbed the fire rat robe.

“Don’t go. I’ve gotten used to sleeping with Little Yasha, stay, keep me company while I sleep.” Ban said softly.

Inuyasha quietly shifted position to lean against the wall. Ban just as quiet, moved as well, so that his back was against Inuyasha’s thighs. A clawed hand tentative stroked the silky black hair, becoming bolder when Ban relaxed. Ban his back warmed by the Hanyou allowed himself to be lulled to sleep, suddenly everything was alright, and other things didn’t matter. Inuyasha watched for a time, and as a deep sense of contentment filled the messy little hut, the Hanyou slept as well.

Kagome returned at before noon the next day, a little disappointed that Inuyasha had not come to her world to get her. Things were changing.

But Inuyasha and Shippo had met her at the well again and that smoothed a lot issues. She spent a bit of time talking to and playing with Shippo, as they reached the village. The excitement about the stuff in her backpack was once again great, but like any smart woman would she made the boys wait for their treats. Lunch was boxed meals packed by her mother and it was a welcome change for everyone.

As soon as she allowed, Inuyasha and the Kit tore into the backpack, arguing about what was good and what was not.

“Hey Kagome, someone dropped a box of those stinky sticks into your bag, by accident. I’ll go bury them far away.” Inuyasha said his nose wrinkling in disgust as he held a small red and white box in the air. God the scent of these blasted things were the humans secret weapons against Inu Youkai, they were disgusting and really burned sensitive noses.

“Inuyasha, don’t be silly. That is not for you. I got that on purpose for Ban-san. Remember he said that he missed his cigarettes.” Kagome watched the dark man from the corner or her eyes and was very, very pleased when he was suddenly at full alert, and looking almost longingly at her little gift. Kagome went up to Inuyasha and quickly snatched the packet from Inuyasha who was holding the packet the same way one might hold highly radioactive material.

Kagome took the packet to Ban, bowed quickly and held it out earnestly. “Please, I have not given the best of impressions, I am sorry. Please accept this as a token of friendship, we are working together and I would like us to be friends.”

“Goodness, Kagome what ever gave you the impression we were not friends. Of course, of course we are friends.” Ban suddenly greedy and with a ridiculous grin on his face snatched the Marlboros. He took a deep sniff of the pack, delicious. “This is excellent, Thank you Kagome.” For the first time the greedy ex getbacker smiled fully at the girl. He opened the box and reverently sniffed at a long thin stick. His free hand searching for the lighter that he still had with him after 30 years. He happily took out the lighter and was about to light up, when he noticed Inuyasha had quietly stood up and was moving away from him, his nose wrinkling.

Ban froze and raised an eyebrow at the Hanyou’s strange behaviour. Kagome saw he look and explained, “Ban-san, Inuyasha doesn’t really like the smell of cigarettes, they hurt his nose, he will have to move away until you finish the smoke.”

“Keh! Don’t worry about it, I will probably need to go and collect firewood anyway.” Inuyasha said his hands stuck in the arms of his sleeves. He was about to leave when a distinct sound of crushed paper and plastic was heard. He spun in surprise.

Ban with a sad look on his face crushed the packet. “Kagome that was a princely gift, But Inuyasha’s nose is much more important then my addictions. Looks like that blasted Asclepius is getting his way after all, and its a cold turkey quit for me.” Ban his face a mirror of comic tragedy, handed the crushed box to Shippo. “Here go an bury this somewhere, where I cant find it.”

Golden eyes blinked at Ban and then at the box, before another word could be said Inuyasha had ducked off into the woods, to collect fire wood.

‘Inuyasha had gone to collect wood anyway, you can smoke you know. The smell will be gone by the time we get back.” Sango said softly. Ban shrugged and walked off, going to find some food instead.

“No,” Miroku said softly, “I don’t think BanMidou san could smoke something that would hurt Inuyasha in any way.”

“Inuyasha would not have minded especially if it brought Ban-san pleasure.” Kagome snapped back. She was happy that her gift was accepted but unhappy that it was not to be used. Though since she did not really approve of smoking it was probably for the best. Still his reason for stopping was bewildering. “Inuyasha would be the first to say that he would recover and we should not worry. He is not made of glass you know.”

“I know that, and you know that. And in Battle BanMidou san knows that too, but outside of battle I think you will have a hard time convincing BanMidou san that Inuyasha is made of anything except spun glass.” Miroku said considering.

“And Inuyasha seems to be accepting this treatment. I would chalk it up to his period as a child, but come to think of it, Inuyasha was accepting this treatment from BanMidou from almost the start. He would never have let any of us be gentle with him, even when he was hurt. ” Sango said. “There is something strange going on between them.”

“Yes, I have said that from the start. The question is what?” Kagome asked.

“I don’t know.” Sango said with a shrug “And I do believe that they do not know themselves.”

“Hmmm and mayhap you three read too much into the situation.” Kaede said coming up behind them.

“Do you really think so Kaede sama?” Sango asked.

“Huh! One has little time for pointless speculations, one will leave that to young people. One does suggest thought, if thou wishes, it mayhap be best to test the situation, rather then waste the day with words.” Kaede said craftily, she was also curious but she was not foolish enough to risk another round of the Jagan from serpentine eyes. She left the three well satisfied with her nudging.

Meanwhile Inuyasha returned with the fire wood and went into Kaede’s hut where he found the Jagan user munching on rice balls.

“You can smoke it you know. I think you should, it is stupid to waste the gift.” Inuyasha said belligerently.

“Meh, its stupider to waste months of abstinence and fall back on bad habits. Sit, have a rice ball pup.” Ban said with a lazy grin, tossing the rice ball at the Hanyou. Inuyasha caught it, sat and ate. And that ended the matter between the two.

Unbeknown to the two, Operation test BanMidou’s patience with Inuyasha was already in its later stages of planning.

The plan was simple. Ban Midou was in many ways a creature of habit. When they were in the village he tended to retire to his hut after the evening meal to read the books Kaede supplied him with. He took this very seriously and none ever disturbed him, this being the period Inuyasha spent training with Shippo or with the others.

The plan was executed immediately after dinner as soon as Ban left. Keade, Kagome and Sango began talking about a pregnant female and the problems associated with birth, very quickly, Kaede’s hut was vacated of all males. Then Miroku decided he needed to meditate, alone. Inuyasha was going to practice with Shippo, when Kagome suddenly called for Shippo in a voice that said he was in trouble. With an apologetic grin, Shippo scampered off to Kagome. Inuyasha was alone, no big. He jumped up to his favourite tree, as soon as he was a little settled, droplets of rain fell and the night got bitterly cold. (Thanks to a little fox magic)

“Inuyasha! Get under cover. We haven’t finished talking, go to Ban-san’s hut.” Kagome called out.

“Keh, I’m fine. Go away, you nosy woman.” Inuyasha growled out.

“Inuyasha!” Kagome’s voice had a warning tone to it. “You are not kid anymore, are you going to make me say it?”

“Okay, okay!” Inuyasha jumped off and stomped off to Ban’s hut. Not because of the threat of being sat, more because that was where he wanted to be anyway. The silent watchers looked at each other in disbelief, the Hanyou had capitulated too easily.

“BanMidou, can I come in, its cold out.” Inuyasha asked a little tentatively from the door. Ban didn’t bother answering so deep was he in to his reading, he grunted in approval, waved the Hanyou in, indicating for him to sit on the empty futon. Inuyasha crept in, seeing the room been tidied up by the Jagan user, the Hanyou moved slowly with care and edged out nerves. The only place in the room, free of neatly stacked piles of books was the futon, and Inuyasha with much relief finally reached that sanctuary. He sat and waited, while Ban read and made notes.

Mirrors hidden in the hut earlier reflected the scene to hidden watchers. The trap had been set now all it took was for them to wait. It took an impressive half hour for the Hanyou to begin to get bored and get restless. First all movements were kept to the Futon, but slowly the Hanyou began to expand out.

......

......

.......

POKE!

“Awk! Inuyasha?” Ban said in surprise as he turned to see the Hanyou sitting doggy style behind him with a goofy innocent smile and one claw aimed at Ban’s back.

“Um.. ant... yes, yes there was an ant.. on your back! .......

......I’ll just sit here!” Inuyasha scrambled back to the futon. Ban frowned, shrugged and went back to work. The hidden observers chuckled, it was beginning.

Inuyasha decided what ever Ban was looking at must be exciting. So Inuyasha of course had to see, to find out what was so fascinating. He tried craning from the futon but could seen nothing. It seemed to him that Ban was intentionally hiding what he was doing from him and moving in ways that made it impossible for him to see. The Hanyou suddenly became obsessed. He crept closer and tried to peer over Ban’s shoulder.

“Inuyasha!” Ban snapped in irritation, as Inuyasha jerked back and tried but failed to look innocent. “Look, if you wanna read, take any of the other books.” Ban said.

Of course that convinced Inuyasha that all the other books were useless, Ban HAD to be hoarding the best book to himself.

The watchers chuckled. Kagome knew what was coming, Inuyasha had done it to her often enough, and had to be sat or banished from her room. This was the puppy at his most exasperating, and she was curious to see what Ban would do.

Inuyasha’s assault became determined. As he did everything he threw himself into the effort of seeing what Ban was doing never considering the consequences. Like a fly Inuyasha began to swarm behind Ban, from each and every direction Inuyasha peered over Ban’s shoulders. Popping up, right and left, ears swirling madly. Totally ignoring the slight twitch that had formed under Ban’s eyes and the aura that rose from him.

Yes! This is what the watchers were waiting for.

In a lightning move Ban’s hand went threateningly for Inuyasha ear, immediately the Hanyou froze, and instead of holding the ear, Ban stroked it between his fingers. He dropped his head back so he had an upside down view of the Hanyou. “Inuyasha what are you doing?”

“Ummm..... ahah, trying to see your book.”

“There are other books.”

“But I wanna see that one..” there was a slight whine in Inuyasha’s voice as he said that. Ban let out a puff of breathe, he had a feeling any book he switched too would suddenly be the one the Puppy would be most interested in seeing. It was not about the books.

“Come here!” In a swift move, Inuyasha was suddenly seated on the floor between Ban’s legs. Ban was sitting on a hard block so was on an elevated position and could easily see over the abundance of Hanyou hair. “Now you can read with me.”

Inuyasha looked at the intricate writings before him, and at the beautiful notes Ban had been making. He could make out a couple of words here and there, but most of it was beyond him. He wrote with all the skill of a child, he could barely remember what this mother had thought him. Puppy ears flattened in humiliation.

“Thank you for showing me your book, BanMidou, I won’t disturb you anymore. I think I’ll just go outside now.” Inuyasha made to stand, but was held in place by the deceptively casual right arm draped around his shoulders. Ban had seen the puppy ears flatten and he decided he hated that.

Ban spoke softly “Inuyasha, Puppy, what’s wrong.” Silence... “You do realise you are not moving anywhere until you tell me.” Ban said.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Inuyasha burst out. “I should never have disturbed you. I cant read stuff like this. I’m Just a stupid ass Hanyou. I could... never... read ... stuff like this.”

“Inuyasha!” Ban’s eyes blazed real anger, he angled his body, pushed Inuyasha’s torso back, and caught his jaw, so that Inuyasha could see the blazing anger in blue eyes. Inuyasha quelled at the sight. “You will NEVER!” Ban said through clenched teeth “You will NEVER, NEVER speak of MY Inuyasha in those terms again! I have seen you plan battle strategy, I have trained with you, the LAST thing you are is stupid.” Golden eyes blinked uncomprehendingly at Ban. “So you cant read, when was the last time some one taught you?”

“Mmmm. .. my mom.” Inuyasha whispered transfixed by deep blue serpentine eyes.

“Huh! Do you want to learn?” Ban asked.

“Kagome, tried once, but I was too slow and got sat, Miroku got mad at me too. I.. I.. don’t want you to get mad at me.” Inuyasha said sadly.

“Ah.. puppy, haven’t you figured it our yet? I can get mad at a lot of things, hell I have even been mad at kittens, but you? Look at me with those gold eyes, and any mad I have seems to just go away.” Blue eyes clouded in confusion, but Ban’s fingers gently stroked Inuyasha’s neck. “I really don’t know why, I have tried you know, to get angry at you. But I cant. Just now when you put yourself down, is the first time I have actually managed to be angry with you, but you can see how long that lasted. Let me teach you to read Inuyasha, please.” Ban said softly.

Inuyasha’s clawed hand slipped around Ban’s neck, he pulled himself up and buried his nose in Ban’s neck as he had when he was a pup. He was a pup no longer, but he was not quite mature. “What is happening between us, BanMidou?”

Ban buried his head in the silky hair, “I don’t know, I only know that whatever it is, I don’t really want to fight it.”

The watchers who had seen everything but heard nothing, were only able to confirm one thing, Ban Midou may get angry with Inuyasha for like 5 seconds, but he then spent 2 hours teaching Inuyasha and constantly stroking a puppy ear in apology.

tbc