Ears

Disclaimer: I don’t own inuyasha or any of his friends, I don’t even own taptai. (You don’t own a cat, just consider them on long-term lease, so I guess the same could be said for a cat-demon)

Dedicated to AlberichFox

The gray haired hanyou observed the group below him, his mind occupied with the similarities between himself and the white-haired hanyou in the group below. He sat on a rock outcropping, his ears twisting back and forth as he constantly surveyed his surroundings while his tail twitched in counterpoint to his ears.

To any human observer that two hanyou could have almost been brothers, the main differences being the simple things that people could easily notice, most obvious was that tail that the gray haired hanyou was swishing as he felt his irritation at his current situation mount. There was also his hair and eyes, but to any human observer they would have been only cosmetic changes, and of course our gray haired companion favored a comfortable green kimono, but then these were only simple differences.

The reason that his blood ran cold had nothing to do with the outward differences though. Grass green eyes slitted shut as he contemplated what this would mean for him, while he felt his gray and white ears fold tightly against his skull, an obvious sign of his internal discomfit.

Why- oh why did it have to be a never sufficiently damned dog! He pondered as he pushed himself lightly to his feet and gently made his way out of sight of the other’s group, forcing his ears to perk up from his skull. Searching his mind through the events of the past year, his search for the great warrior his father had sent him for, he had to admit that this dog seemed to be the one he had been looking for. He shuddered slightly at the thought of even asking a dog for anything, much less to train under him.

Allowing his mind to wander he picked out a tree to spend the night in, close to the river that the group had been following for the past few days and near enough for him to keep an eye on his “target” as his mind played back the fateful events that had lead him to his current predicament.

It had been the eve of his 17th year, and his father had asked him to meet him in the town council chambers. Looking around the room, he felt the inevitable tide of his future responsibilities rushing down on him as if he were a mere rodent in the path of a hawk. He had always known that he would be expected to take an active role in the town’s government- His father was their protector of course and he hoped he had grown into the responsibilities his birth would demand of him.

His musings were cut short as said protector made his way into the empty chamber, shorter than his son, the elder demon made up for what he lacked in stature by sheer presence. His blue kimono was barely visible under his great flowing mane, giving him almost the impression of being a head floating in a sea of hair. His mother had threatened to cut it off in his sleep one night, of course she threatened quite a lot of things, but rarely went through with them.

“Well taptai, it is time for you to travel out into the world, to learn more than what just this one village can teach you.”

The gray-haired youth looked down towards his father, he had expected many things in this meeting, even looking forward to being given some responsibilities with the council as a mark of his maturity, but this?

“Father, what can I learn out there that I haven’t already learned here. My marks were always the best out of any of my friends and I have been able to better any of my trainers.” Holding his tail high behind him, he remembered his most recent training bout where he took out three of his masters at once, Taptai grinned at his father.

Expecting a reaction somewhat like this from his hard-headed son, the elder demon locked his eyes on his son’s for a moment, noting the child's pride in his abilities- before shock replaced his expression as his dad swept his feet out from under him. Almost before he had hit the ground his dad had a blade pressed against his child neck.

Meeting his father’s gaze the son was shocked to see mirth wrinkle his father’s gaze, his words helped to take some of the sting out of his current predicament.

“Taptai.” His father began, laughter lurking in the depths of his voice. “You fight very well, for a human, but you are not human. There are abilities in you that you are only vaguely aware of.”

Pulling his son back to his feet, His father reached up to scratch his son behind his ears- the marks of his mixed heritage and also to take some of the sting from his tumbling.

“In the years since your mother bound me to this place, I have come to appreciate humans, they have a great capability and will always try to do more, even when their reach exceeds their grasp. But you my son are not human. You must find someone else to train you.”

“But dad- why can’t you train me?”

Pulling his hand back, his father turned from him with a sigh. “Taptai- Just as you have more strength than the humans who trained you, I have more strength than you. I would always have to hold back with you, and you are my son. If I were to train you than you would only learn to fight as I do, and I do not have it in me to risk hurting you, so you must find someone who would train you in the full strength of your abilities”

Turning back he was surprised to see his son’s cat like ears drooping as his tail listlessly swept the floor behind him, the grass green eyes holding despair as his father told him he wasn’t good enough. Taptai wondered if maybe he should just turn and run out, surely father hadn’t asked him here just to send him away! Just as taptai was ready to turn and flee he felt his father place a hand on his shoulder, gently turning him so that they were face to face.

“Taptai- I did not mean that you are not an able fighter, nor that I would not be pleased to train you, but I fear that the years of peace we have enjoyed here may soon be at an end. I have heard of a great evil growing and I do not believe that it will leave even our village alone.” The gray ears perked up as his father confirmed some of the rumors he had heard, and helped explain why there had been so many more recent additions to the village as more people fled the evil and tried to find peace in their so called “safe” village.

“I have heard of another hanyou, like you my son, who is a great warrior. He has learned to use both sides of his heritage to his advantage, and has become a fearsome warrior.”

Reaching around his waist, the demon removed what looked to be a belt, but in his hands it flashed, then stiffened into a bo staff.

“This staff was formed from one of your grandfathers whiskers, I want you to take it with you. Learn how to use it well. I believe we will need as many well trained warriors as we can get.”

Taking the bo reverently in his hands, the young hanyou looked up to his father. “You believe this other hanyou can train me to be a great warrior?”

“Hai- He may even be able to help you unlock some of the whiskers abilities that my father told me about.”

Gazing down at the bo, which had turned back into it’s former belt-like appearance the hanyou looked back to his father with a puzzled expression.

“But how will I find him?”

“Every story I have heard of him has him in a garment of red fire rat, and he has ears like yours, just snow white.” Watching his son take this information, the old demon hid an inward sigh as his son turned, eager to be on his quest.

Taptai- please use your head. I know you have a hatred of all dog demons, especially after what they did to your grandparents, but I think this demon I have heard of will be your best hope to truly become the fighter we all know you can be.

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A soft creak brought the gray haired cat demon back from his reminiscing. Grass green eyes glimmered in the moonlight as he looked back on the branch he was currently perched on, his ears picking up the tell-tale crinkle of cracking wood.

“Gods please don’t tell me I picked a dead limb” raced through his mind as he made out the small crack back where the limb met the trunk. Trying to keep his weight from jostling the branch he stretched out straining to reach the safety of the main body of the tree when he felt the limb under him give way, dropping towards the river below. Jumping free to clear the limb when it landed, He realized that he had merely jumped from one problem to another- literally. Turning to face the oncoming rush of the river he braced his body as best as he could.

“Great- and of course I can’t swim.” was the last thought that flowed through his head as the cold water embraced him, pulling him under.

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“Kagome says you shouldn’t wander off- it’s supposed to get really cold tonight.”

Rounding on the small kitsune the white haired hanyou let loose a small growl that sent the kitsune scrambling backwards

“geesh Inuyasha- she’s just trying to look out for you, why do you always have to such a jerk.”

“Listen, I just have something I need to take care off, I’ll be back soon.” Hoping that would mollify the annoying fox child, Inuyasha turned on his heel but froze in his tracks when he heard a childish giggle followed by an “oh”. Turning back to face Shippo he was met by an insufferably smug grin on the child face.

“Oh what- runt.”

“It’s ok, Miroku told me about it, he said that sometimes a man had to “take care of things” and he would need to be by himself to do it. He said I shouldn’t discuss it with Kagome or Sango cause they would get upset about being left out, but he didn’t mention you. I guess he knew that you needed-” The rest of the fox child’s tirade were cut off when Inuyasha, first shocked at the child’s speech, then appalled and finally reaching the beginning stages of full blown “I will kill that freaking monk”- plus a certain large mouthed fox, grabbed said fox by the tail to hold him to eye level, a growl rumbling in his chest.

“I am not TAKING CARE OF THINGS”

Hanging upside down by his tail the young fox still managed to smirk at his friends obvious discomfort. Folding his arms across his chest he gave Inuyasha a questioning glance.

“But that’s what you just said- geesh Inuyasha it’s not like I care or anything, I was just trying to explain that I understood that you were doing uh whatever it is you were going to do. What were you going to do- Miroku never explained what exactly “it” was?”

Staring at the strangely still kitsune, who was still hanging by his tail, inuyasha was caught between abject terror at the thought of explaining- stuff- to the child and the red-hot thought of what he was going to do to a certain hentai monk when he got back. Looking through his white bangs at Shippo, still quietly hanging by his tail in his outstretched hand, he sat the child down with a sigh.

“Shippo, you know how Miroku gets slapped on a pretty regular basis by Sango?”

Startled by the turn in direction the conversation had taken, Shippo merely nodded up to Inuyasha, beginning to think he didn’t like where this conversation was heading.

“What Miroku was talking about would get him slapped really hard, probably by Kagome too, hell I might even slap him too if he brought that up around you.”

Staring at Inuyasha with eyes wide in terror, the fox child was on the verge of tears. “Inuyasha- you ugh- I never want to be a hentai like you and Miroku, you guys are sick.”

Glancing up at the kitsune with a small smile barely cracking his face, Inuyasha continued with a sigh.

“What I’m going to go do is check on something- I felt like we’ve been being followed for the past couple of days.”

Pausing in his condemnation, the child looked up at the dog-demon, surprised at the mild expression on his usually mercurial friend. “So, you aren’t gonna go do anything hentai?”

“No- I just didn’t want to upset the others. This presence feels strangely familiar but I don’t want to get them worried about something that I think will just be nothing.” Granted, I wouldn’t have minded being able to take care of some other stuff- but now would not be the time, especially with a nosy fox getting into the picture. The thoughts ran through Inuyasha’s mind as he recalled how close Kagome had gotten to him the other day when the demon had attacked.

Of course then came the sits- sit sit sit. Why does she always do that, especially when he was trying to be nice, I mean it’s not like I meant all the stuff I said, I just- His thoughts were interrupted when he felt a gentle tug on his pant leg.

“Inuyasha- are you still here?”

“Oh- uh what?”

“I said just go check out the stuff, I’ll cover for you.”

Looking down at the fox Inuyasha grunted his thanks, than headed back down the path.

“Yeah- he felt something alright” thought Shippo as a wry smile twisted his lips. “I may be a child but I can still tell that he wants a lot more from Kagome than he wants to let on, and of course it was getting to him- but I have a lot less problem with him doing something to help himself out than that hentai Miroku- that was just too much.”

Still shaking his head at the memories of the highly embarrassed Inuyasha, Shippo headed back to keep the rest of the group from wandering off and disturbing Inuyasha. Hopefully it would help calm his temptetous friends temper- and then he might have a better chance with Kagome.

Inuyasha though had other things on his mind, he really did sense someone else out there and of course Shippo had to bring up other stuff. Arghh! Sometimes he wished he could be more like that damn monk, ready to bed anything that moved- but nooo! First he had to fall for a priestess, talk about a frustrating position, but at least Kikyo had a pretty good idea of what his demon heritage had meant for him. Then he fell in love with her reincarnated self from the future- and somehow trying to explain to her just what he needed on occasion would not be a good idea. Just the thought of it made his neck cringe as he felt a torrent of sits so hard that he doubted even someone with his demon heritage could survive.

Inuyasha was snapped from his reverie as he heard a crash coming from the direction of the river. Looking up he could make out a large tree branch falling towards the river- and a person too! Jumping over towards the river Inuyasha could make the persons head just barely bobbing along the surface. It looked like the fall had knocked him out.

Then Inuyasha froze for a moment- his golden eyes going wide as he saw what was on top of the other’s head. Two furry ears, just like his.

Jumping in the rushing water he let out a startled yelp- damn this was cold! And why was he doing this anyway? It wasn’t like he knew this person- and anyone foolish to try swimming like this deserved whatever happened- right? Letting out a small growl Inuyasha knew he was just kidding himself- he had to find out who this person was.

Pulling with the current he quickly caught up with stranger just as his gray hair was slipping below the surface again. Grabbing his head he pulled them both to shore, realizing with a groan that the river was running fast enough to have carried them quite a ways downstream.

Gazing down at the stranger Inuyasha took in his features, reaching out he gently grasped the gray ears as if they may break at his attention.

“Kya- I wonder if my ears are this soft. No wonder Kagome always wants to pet them” He paused as his attention caused the unconscious body to shift under him, then started to shake as the cold from the water seeped into them both.

“Shippo was right, it is getting cold out.” Not cold enough to bother a hanyou under normal conditions, but when you were wearing soaking wet clothes it changed things. Taking in his surroundings Inuyasha noted a large rock that had a nice overhang, under there they would be fairly sheltered from the biting wind that had started to blow, and he could build a small fire.

Quickly stepping out of his fire rat clothing and shedding his under garments, Inuyasha had a small fire going in a short time. Pausing to relish in the warmth being reflected from the rock overhang he turned to notice the other hanyou had started to fade to a pale blue. Leaning over him he let his white hair form a curtain over the other’s face as he gazed at him, wallowing in the other’s features.

So strangely familiar, yet so different. Strange thoughts ran through his mind as he traced an ear with a clawed finger, then gently ran his hand down his face, pausing at the lips that were tinged with blue he wondered if he should get him out of these wet clothes.

Deciding that it would be foolish to save someone only to let them die from freezing, he started to struggle to work the others wet clothes from his body thinking. “Damn, why does silk have to get so clingy.”

Pulling him into his lap Inuyasha was able to finally wring the others haori from his arms- but in the process the other hanyou was now in his lap facing away from him, his rear pressed gently against inuyasha’s crotch as Inuyasha felt the beginnings of a strange warmth rising from his belly.

Oh Kami no- not now- he thought as he glanced at the others face, relief washed through him as he saw that others face was still relaxed in unconsciousness. Leaning in closer Inuyasha allowed his lips to gently brush against the other hanyou’s slightly blue ones, a shiver running down his spine.

“Now why did I do that?”

Returning his attention to the task at hand he quickly rolled the others pants down, then wrung them out and set all of their clothes on a nearby rock to dry in the warmth of the fire. Glancing back he could see the other hanyou shiver, and before he even noticed his actions he had curled his body around him, keeping the other hanyou in between himself and the fire.

“Now just why did I do that?” Inuyasha pondered as he wrapped himself protectively around the cold body pressed in front of him, his body responded to the touch even as his mind railed against his actions.

“I do not find this- male- attractive” He commanded himself, when to his utter dismay the body in front of him twitched, a tail wrapping protectively around them both as legs shifted slightly, allowing Inuyasha’s erection to nestle gently in between. Grunting slightly at the position he now found himself in, Inuyasha sighed as he wrapped an arm around the others body, a hand finding his and clinging needfully.

“Oh well- at least no one else is around to see this” Grimacing to himself he allowed himself to relax and drifted to sleep, conflicting thoughts warring with his bodies reaction.