Title: Conflict of Interests
Author: SakuraRyuu
Prompt: Puppy Love Challenge - Sit, boy!
Genre: Comedy, Friendship, Hentai
AU/CU: AU
Rating: T
Warnings: Language, Implied Sexual Situations
A/N: Inuyasha and all characters in this fan fiction are the property of Rumiko Takahashi.
Kagome stood in the isle of the kennel, unsure where to start. She had come to the animal shelter to find a new dog, and while she was in the waiting area filling out papers she had been sure this was what she wanted to do. The area had been inviting, but once she was buzzed through the metal door to the holding area, she was hit with sadness. While the previous room had been warm, the walls painted and the floor tiled, this area was cold, with concrete blocks building up the walls, cement floors, and the sounds of barking dogs. There was a window to her left with sliding glass panels, and in front of her was a door, framed with metal pipe and chain link over the frame. From the look, it led into a back area behind the office. Just between the metal door behind her and the chain link door in front of her was a walkway to her right.
She began to walk down the walkway looking into each holding area through the chain link doors, hoping someone would catch her eye. She had come here hoping to find a new friend but so far all she had managed to do was make herself sad. There were so many dogs to choose from and they all needed good homes. How was she supposed to choose just one?
On her way back up the opposite side of the walk she heard a tiny sound. It reminded her of a baby whining. Reaching the end of the isle she heard the sound again, and walked quickly toward it. Noticing it wasn't a dog in any of the rooms she went to the window by the metal door to make someone aware.
"Excuse me." Kagome rapped lightly on the glass panel that closed her off from the office area. The person that had checked her in when she got there was no longer in the office from where she could see. Another woman approached, sliding the glass aside.
"Can I help you?" She looked haggard and worn, definitely tired, with her grey hair hanging in tendrils that had fallen loose from it's braid.
"Yes, there's a dog somewhere, whining. Is he ok?"
The woman looked at her like she had lost her mind. "Miss, there are many dogs back there, and some of them are whiners." The woman tried to slide the window closed again but Kagome shot her hand out and grabbed on to the edge of the glass.
"Please, do you have any other dogs in a back area? I have to know if that dog is ok. It will eat at me until I do."
The woman decided to take pity on her and said, "Hang on just a second and I'll get someone who works in the kennel to help you." Kagome gave her a warm smile and waited. A short while later a stocky, older man came up to her from the chain link door that led to the back area.
"Hiya, miss, how are you?" He offered his hand.
Kagome took his hand into both of hers, shaking it politely. "Fine, thank you, and how are you?"
"Just fine, thanks. What can I do you for?" Kagome noticed he wasn't so much stocky as he was round, and his hair came out in black tufts from under his cap. He held on to the suspenders of his overalls as they spoke, and he had a huge, bushy mustache Kagome was almost certain had to be a very hairy caterpillar for the way it moved when he spoke. She liked him because he seemed so comfortable.
Kagome clasped her hands in front of her. "I was walking through and heard a dog whining. All these dogs seem to be fine, so I was wondering if you have a dog that's been hurt in the back?"
"We have several back there that need a little extra TLC." He eyed her suspiciously for a moment, seeming to size her up. Then he smiled. "I can take you back if you'd like but I gotta warn you, its sad. Some of the dogs have been seriously mistreated, and they won't come to you. You'll have to go to them if they let you close at all. And you can't upset them."
She nodded, replying, "I understand. I'll be careful." He turned and she followed him back through the chain link door.
Walking through she closed it behind her making sure the latch was in place. She walked around the circumference of the large room that had smaller, but similar holding areas for dogs that needed to be alone. Some were malnourished and bony, but she could see they were being taken care of by the way they wagged their tales at her. Then she heard the whining again.
She turned to see one dog, laying on his side in a holding area. She walked toward him and squatted down to sit on the heels of her feet, holding onto the chain link for balance. The older man walked up behind her.
"What's wrong with with him?"
"Nothing we can tell. He just lays there. He get's up to eat, drink, and relieve himself but then lays right back down. It's like he's lost his will."
Kagome looked at the large St. Bernard. His fur was clean and his eyes were alert, but it was like the man had said. He seemed to have lost his well.
"What's wrong, big guy? Why are you so sad?" He whined at her, thumping just the end of his tail on the hard floor. Turning back to her companion she asked, "So you have just left him here to die?"
"What else can we do? If he won't perk up there's no way for us to make him feel happy. We're a no kill shelter, but we can't put him out for people to see. Not with him just laying there like a lump and whimpering."
Turning her attention back to the dog she smiled. "You want to come home with me boy?" The dog's tail started wagging in earnest. He harrumphed at her and rolled over onto his belly, raising his head.
"Well, I'll be. That's the most emotion we've gotten out of him since he's been here. Even when we feed him he don't react like that. You must be just what this old boy's lookin' for."
Kagome stood to see the man was still holding onto him overalls. "I want him. Can you show me back to the window and let them know I picked him?" The man nodded and led her back to the doorway.
After filling out the paperwork and charging his fees to her credit card, the kennel keeper brought her dog out to her. He seemed to be prancing up to her, panting as he moved. "Sit, boy." Kagome was surprised when he sat right down. "What a good boy you are!" She scratched him affectionately behind his left ear. Pulling a leash out of her shoulder bag she slipped it around his neck. "Come on, boy. Let's go to the pet store." Kagome thanked the receptionist and the keeper and left, her dog at her side.
"We need to think of a name for you. I can't just keep calling you boy." She looked at him sitting in the passenger's seat of her Range Rover like he belonged there. She tossed out a few names to see if anything would get a reaction. "Jack." Nothing. "Beethoven." Nothing. "I didn't think that would work, but it was worth a try. Hooch." Nothing. "Berney." The dog turned his head and looked at her. "Berney?" He tilted his head to the side and looked at her quizzically. "Alright, if you're sure. Berney it is." He reached over and licked her face. Putting her truck in gear she headed for the pet store.
The first isle she went to had collars and leashes.
"Sit." Again Berney plopped his butt on the ground. "Ok, I waaant..." she hemmed to herself as she looked over her options. "Brown leather." She picked up a huge, brown leather collar and tried it on. "Ha! Got it perfect on the first try! Now we need a harness." She explained, "I'm sorry but I don't want to choke you and I don't want you to pull me when we go on walks." She went through the line of harnesses, trying different ones on until she found one that fit, and that Berney didn't scratch at. Feeling accomplished she said, "Alright, now you need a bed, some bones, food, treats, and bowls. And what about a squeak toy?" Berney snorted. "Ok, no squeak toys, then. But we do need bath supplies, alright?" Smiling down at her new friend she scratched him under his chin. Kagome led them through the store, buying up everything she thought he would need.
It took three trips to get Berney and everything Kagome had bought into the house. First she brought Berney in and let him loose in the back yard. The two remaining trips were used for dog stuff, and it she was heavily weighed down both times. Unpacking everything on the kitchen table she found a place for the dog bed in the family room, got food and water set out in the kitchen, and put his bath stuff in the shower in a special holder just for him. The toys and treats went in a special Berney drawer in the kitchen. Satisfied, she went out to the yard and called for Berney to come in. He sniffed the house from top to bottom, and Kagome showed him where his food and bed were. Feeling accomplished she retreated to the kitchen to start dinner.
An hour later found supper on the table and all hell breaking loose in the entryway. Kagome ran from the dining room to the entry when she heard ferocious barking and snarling from what sounded like two huge, wild dogs. Rounding the corner she stopped cold when she saw Berney guarding the way into the house, his hackles up and paws taking purchase in the rug. He was barking fiercely at Sesshomaru, refusing to allow him to enter the house. In return, the inuyoukai was barking and snarling right back, not to be challenged in his own home.
Kagome said the first thing that came to mind. "Sit, boy!"
Berney drop to his haunches, still snarling. Sesshomaru, not to be outdone, sat on the entryway bench, being sure to keep his head higher than Berney's, still making just as much noise.
