Title: Feign
Summary: He made promises to two different women, aware that his being faithful to one means only heartache for the other. But she understands that – and, because of that, she lets him go. Every time, she lets him go.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Inu-tachi; that honor belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. I can pretend, though, right?
Theme: This is a one-shot written for the iyfic contest community at livejournal; the theme was faithful/unfaithful.
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There she lay, her arm draped protectively around the slumbering kitsune, as she herself slept under the stars.
He gazed down on the pair, entangled in the girl's bedroll, and smiled contentedly as he remained perched directly above them. His amber eyes continued their observance of the site. Just to the right of the sleeping bag, surrounding the dying fire, rested the monk and the demon slayer. The great fire-cat, curled at the feet of her mistress, separated the two of them. His smile, a rarity for him, but allowed when he was alone, remained. For him, the scene was complete; in a rare moment of peace, his pack was able to sleep soundly.
He leaned back against the bark of the great tree, his white mane fanning out behind him, his alert ears ever-twitching. All was still and calm; the night was serene.
Taking the opportunity to think about the array of dilemmas surrounding his pack, he gazed at the moon, hoping to discover any sort of solution. Maybe it was the canine element coursing through his veins, but the moon always seemed to have a soothing effect on him.
It was then, as he gazed questioningly at the velvety black sky, when he noted that his pack and he were not alone. There, soaring above, were shinidamachu.
He rose from his seat, using his hand to steady himself as he stood upon the branch. His hair floated out beside him, courtesy of the wind, as he followed the path of the soul collectors.
It was a peaceful night, one without any threat – his pack would be safe should he leave them behind. Should he choose to follow the demons to their mistress.
From his stance, he glanced down at her again. Her eyes remained closed, her breathing even. He could leave and she would never know. He would return before the early sunrise stole her from her dreams.
It took him a moment to decide his course of action. He made a promise to a pair of women; he honored one daily – and must not forsake the opportunity to remain faithful to the other when the chance arose.
He jumped down from the tree, landing deftly next to the bedroll.
She never stirred.
He glanced back at her, gazing down at her content face. He reached out for her in a momentary lapse of self-control, his claws just raking her dark hair, before running off after the shinidamachu, taking care to cushion his footfalls as not to disturb his pack.
Once his back was turned, her eyes sprung open. Silent tears slipped down her face as she watched him run away. She, too, had spied the soul collectors flying across the sky; she knew who stood on the other side of the trees.
She knew where he was going. She knew why he had to go.
Removing her arm carefully from its place within the bedroll, she wiped her eyes before rolling alongside the kitsune, his comforting presence meaning more to her than the kit would ever know.
Then, lowering her eyelids, hoping for sleep to claim her before his return, she watched as the image of his retreating back played itself out before her eyes. He had to go – so she let him.
After all, she knew he would return. Like the half-dog that he was, he always remained faithful.