Author's notes: I'm not dead, people! After a long lay-off, I finally decided to stretch my ficwriting powers again in my newest story like no other. It's SessKik, but mark my words it won't be like my previous arc, Satsukibare. I have long since considered writing this, but due to time considerations I put it off for quite some time. Well, now you could enjoy something new. ;) But before that, I'd like to make a few points clear. In this story:

1) There is NO Shikon no Tama, or Naraku for that matter
2) Inuyasha and co. don't exist
3) Rin and Jaken don't play a part here
4) Kikyou is a real human, not a clay doll person

And finally...

5) If you don't like the pairing or this extreme alternate universe setting, please hit the back button now because flamers aren't my thing.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters I used in this story. They are the property of Rumiko Takahashi.

A PUPPY LIKE NO OTHER

By Antarel Nefertili

Prologue: Kuromiko

It would seem strange if the Lord of the West was found walking in human territory, but that was the exact case at the moment. Whether out of boredom or utter curiosity, it is unknown; after all, who knows what went on in Sesshoumaru's mind? However, that doesn't change the fact that he is a Demon Lord, and he won't let any youkai or human pass him by without realizing that.

Sesshoumaru passed among the reddening maples with the same subtlety of the autumn foliage shedding their leaves quietly for winter. His long silver hair and regal form, set against a background of vermillion tones, were indeed the stuff worthy of a fine painter's talents, but unfortunately no painter was present to survey the scene. Not that he would have the chance to paint that sight; chances are, Sesshoumaru would lop his head off before he could get a good hold of his brushes.

'The West is devoid of anything interesting,' he thought, not even seeing the least beauty in the maple leaves scattering at his feet. 'But alas, nothing could compare to the dullness here.'

Suddenly, a steady sort of chanting cut sharply across the chilly air. Sesshoumaru stopped in his tracks, his sharp sense of hearing picking up the lines. To his irritation, the person chanting was warbling and slurring the words so much that it was acoustically impossible to make out the words. However, the very cadence of the chant was enough for him to recognize, and he knew at once what kind of person was responsible.

'A miko, huh? What a pain in the ear. I'll take care of that annoying voice soon enough.'

...o0o...

Tsubaki was very intent on her spell, but she did not miss the aura of the taiyoukai as he neared her. She couldn't be more pleased. She had originally set up her enchantments so as to attract lesser youkai so she could absorb them and thus maintain her eternal youth, but what was this? She had caught a Demon Lord in her web, or at least she thought she had. It was a chance she shouldn't miss.

He approached her from the back, and she feigned disinterest while suppressing whoops of triumph. This one was certainly more powerful than any she had ever encountered before. To Tsubaki, its powers are more than enough to assure her of all the physical beauty she wanted.

"You are on my way, miko," the youkai said coldly, with a note of a threat hanging in the deadly tone.

At his words, Tsubaki let out a chuckle and slowly turned to face the adversary.

"I'd like to correct you, youkai," she said with her snakelike malice, a cunning smirk spreading on her features. "I am no pure shrine maiden who confines herself in dusty temples until she expires. I am more powerful than that. I am a kuromiko."

Kuromiko. Dark miko. The black brood priestesses perhaps more forbidding than any youkai alive.

Such threatening titles which would have made other humans shudder didn't even elicit a dramatic response from the silver-haired demon. He merely tilted his head to the side and let out a bored grunt.

"That doesn't change the fact that you're a ningen," he retorted. "Get out of my way, lower life, before I end your life personally with my claws."

Tsubaki's expression contorted into a nasty grimace. What thick skin this demon had! Well, she would skin him soon enough.

"Of course you will," said she, "If you could, that is."

Taking that as the acceptance to his challenge, the youkai with the Prussian blue mark on his forehead and the dark priestess began their clash of powers. He focused his demonic force at her, while her own spiritual powers fought back. The mere fact that she was able to set up a good counterattack, or that she was unable to break through his powers at the first blow, was a surprise for both of them.

"Hmm," Tsubaki taunted. "This youkai doesn't seem too shabby."

Her enemy had an immediate reply.

"You are a little more respectable than a speck of dust. Remarkable for a human."

Spiritual energy and youkai chi contended against each other. The surrounding forest took the damage of the taiyoukai and kuromiko's battle. Trees which still managed to remain upright on their roots lost their leaves prematurely as the hurricane forces swept them. Other living creatures, youkai and animal alike, fled in terror at the deadly clash. For a while, it seemed like the match was at a stalemate, then unexpectedly...

"AAARGH!"

Tsubaki let out an exclamation of pain as her power gave way. The demon's attack hit her full force, and she found herself knocked flat to the ground. She tried to stand up, but she felt as though she couldn't muster enough energy to do so. How could he… How could it… No youkai had been able to defeat her before!

The demon eyed the tattered form of the dark priestess with an indifferent look. Serves her right. Now he could leave in peace. Turning his back on her, he continued on his way as though nothing happened.

Teal eyes narrowed and burned with the desire for revenge. He had destroyed her beauty, her good looks - the things that mattered most to her. And what damage he had done to her body couldn't amount to half the damage he had given her pride. He would pay for what he had done.

Gathering all her remaining power into a main focal point, Tsubaki raised her right hand in a gesture of doom.

"CURSE YOU, DEMON!"

Before he had the chance to react, her spiritual anger charged at him with supernatural speed. He felt himself being knocked off his feet and carried away by the force. The whiteness was blinding; he couldn't fathom what was happening.

Smiling evilly at her work, Tsubaki's body went limp on the ground, out for the count.

...o0o...

When Sesshoumaru regained consciousness, the first thing that shocked his senses was the ache all over his body. As a taiyoukai, such pain was foreign to him. That kuromiko must really be capable enough to render such damage to him.

Staggering, he managed to stand up and resume his walking. However, he felt that something was very wrong. Why were the trees so much taller? Why does it feel so cold? Why...?

The 'why' finally hit him when he looked down and saw two sets of paws on the ground instead of hands. Not daring to believe, he assessed himself from the side. He saw another two sets of paws for his feet. Well, he must have changed into his true youkai form without him knowing.

Thinking that such matter could be easily remedied, Sesshoumaru readied to focus his youki and change himself back into his human form, but it suddenly occurred to him that there was no youki for him to focus. What had become of him?

He examined himself one more time. Ragged-looking paws. No excess fur wrapping around his torso starting from the shoulder. Heck, he wasn't exactly furry, period. He was thin and poor-looking, with his ribs sticking out clearly from the off-white fur. The more he tried to convince himself that he was only in his true form, the more he began to think that this wasn't his true youkai form.

'Myself... I must see myself...'

Running on his four paws, Sesshoumaru searched frantically for any pool of water that could serve as a mirror. He found one almost immediately, a puddle in the middle of a nearby muddy road. What he saw gave the ultimate proof that he wasn't what he thought he was.

Staring back at him from the murky water was a little dog. There was no crescent mark on its forehead, nor magenta marks along its mouth. It was thin. It was horrid. Hardly like an inuyoukai at all.

He had become an ordinary dog.

Hehe, so there goes Sesshy as a poor puppy dog. And just who is going to adopt him? Stay tuned for upcoming chapters, and please leave a review or two behind as a gesture of appreciation. Thanks!