Dog Days

The witch's spell hurtled after him. In a state of near-panic, Inu Yasha's last thought was gratitude that Kagome was safe in her own time. He leapt towards the bone-eaters well, tumbling over it's walls just as the spell collided.

Kagome...

-o0o-

"Are you returning to the Feudal era today, Kagome?"

Kagome turned towards her brother, and shrugged. "Maybe. Inu Yasha made it pretty clear that he didn't want me around for this battle."

Souta gaped at her, and then flopped onto the floor with Buyo. "Since when have you ever listened to Inu Yasha in the past about that?"

He's got a point. Kagome rose from her desk and stretched. "Alright," she announced. "I'm going back to Inu Yasha." Thank god it's summer vacation and I don't have to worry about school for a few months. She quickly packed a bag and hurried out to the well. A curious sound stopped her as she neared the building that housed the well. "A dog?"

It was coming from inside. She threw the door open, and a small white dog leapt out, wide-eyed and panting. "Oh, how cute! Come here little doggy." Kagome knelt beside it, and clicked her tongue, holding her hand out. The dog bared it's teeth at her, growling. "I won't hurt you," she coaxed. "Come here, come on, it's alright." After a moment, the growling ceased and the dog inched closer. Kagome stretched out her hand and stroked it's ears. "That's right, you're okay now. How did you get in here, anyway?"

It's tail thumped against the floor, and it whimpered. "You must be hungry," Kagome noted, and then looked towards the well. "I guess Inu Yasha will just have to wait." She pulled the dog into her arms, and cuddled it. "You're just too cute to be true."

The dog whimpered again, and looked back towards the well.

-

"Souta, come look at this cute dog I found outside," Kagome called. She toed her shoes off in the genkan, still holding the dog. "You don't have a collar. I guess you're a stray, huh."

Souta met her in the hallway. "Where'd you find him?" Buyo sniffed at the newcomer, and started purring. "I guess Buyo likes him. Are you gonna keep him?"

She nodded. "I think I'll call him Yasha," she pronounced. The dog gave her a baleful look in return. "All we have is cat food, though. I'll just have to go to the store, I guess. I hope he's house broken." Yasha growled at this, and Kagome chuckled to herself. "I take it that's a yes." She put him down, and he began sniffing the floor and Buyo.

Souta knelt beside him, studying him. "He does kinda look like Inu Yasha. Weren't you going to go back?"

Kagome sniffed. "If Inu Yasha wants me that badly, he'll just have to come and get me, that's all. I'm not going back until he comes here and apologises."

"What'd you two fight about, anyway?"

Kagome's eyes narrowed. "Nothing."

"Doesn't seem like nothing to me, if you're still this mad about it," Souta said, and then shrugged. On the floor, Yasha's tail thumped again, and he whimpered.

"Don't worry Yasha," Kagome said. "I'll get you some food, and maybe some dog biscuits too."

-o0o-

Kagome... Inu Yasha - currently the dog - watched her skip down the road leading away from the shrine as she left to get him something to eat. He'd have been happier in his hanyou form, eating something real, but he didn't know how to tell her that. I guess I'm stuck like this for now. Ch.

But, being petted by Kagome, and held so close... if he'd had his real body, he'd probably have pushed her away. And he was a little pissed off that she blamed him for their argument. She'd started it. Crazy girl. She gets mad over the strangest things.

So he'd gone to see Kikyo. It wasn't like he'd kissed her again or anything. And it wasn't his fault he wanted her safe from that witch! Just look what she'd done to him! He was a dog - a real dog!

This sucks. He sat on the window sill and waited for Kagome to come back.

-

"Yasha? Where'd you go?"

Inu Yasha's ears perked up at the sound of her voice. He'd never noticed it before, but she had a really nice voice. It was very pleasant to listen to, especially when she called his name so gently.

"I've got treats for you! There you are." She pulled open a bag, and withdrew something that smelled delicious. "Here, try this." She offered the bone-shaped cookie to him, and he took it gently, his tail wagging. I can't believe I have a tail, he grouched to himself. It seemed to have a mind of it's own. He couldn't seem to stop that idiotic wagging.

Kagome picked him up again when he'd polished it off - it tasted even better than it smelled, and wasn't that a surprise?

He allowed himself to be ferried upstairs to her room, and inhaled deeply, enjoying the scent of Kagome that permeated everything. Kagome deposited him on her bed, and laid down next to him, stroking him from the top of his head to the base of his tail. It sent shivers of delight through his body, and for a moment he found himself wondering how he could get her to do that when he was human-shaped again.

He abruptly cut that train of thought off where it stood. If he suggested that to her, the most he'd get would be a slap across the face. I don't want to be a dog forever. Somehow, I'm going to have to break this spell. She petted him again, somehow finding all the right places to scratch, and his tongue lolled out of his mouth. But I guess this is alright for now.

Tail wagging, he curled up beside her and let himself fall asleep.

-o0o-


TBC.

I'm sorry if this sounds stilted. I'm watching the anime as I write this, so all I can picture is it actually happening, which leads to me trying to write as though it IS part of the anime. It should smooth out as I get used to writing them - this is the first Inu Yasha fanfic I've ever written. I couldn't get this image out of my mind, but it shouldn't be too long. I don't have the time to commit to a huge fic. Anyway, enjoy! Reviews will be welcomed with open arms.