Cats and Dogs: Inuyasha Nibunnoichi

By Bruce Cougar

Disclaimer: These characters, settings, and events are the works of Rumiko Takahashi, not me. I am merely borrowing them for this story so don't sue me please. Note: This is an AU story so events might be a little different, or really diferent, or not happen at all. If this makes you unhappy that this isn't like the anime or manga THEN READ OR WATCH RANMA 1/2 AND DON'T COMPLAIN! Thank you and I hope you enjoy my story

"Indicates spoken words"

'Indicates internal thought'

Indicates Chinese

-Part 2-

My Side of the Mountain

Legato spent the next several hours journeying deep into the mountains. After the initial shock of the day's events had subsided, he found that this new form had many surprises. It turned out that his new ears did a lot more than make him look bizarre. His hearing was now improved to the point where even the littlest noises were picked up by his dog ears. He found he could focus and hear things not even close to his field of vision and things that he never could have heard as a human. His eyesight was also better. While he never had any problem before, the dog-eared youth was now positive his vision was above 20/20.

But the most noticeable though was his nose and his sense of smell. Legato found himself literally bombarded with smells. Like his hearing, he was now picking up things a human's nose wasn't delicate enough sense.

'Now I know how a tracking dog feels.' While he now had senses beyond that of a human, he didn't feel particularly overwhelmed by them. The way his body interpreted and reacted to these new sensations, one would almost say he had been like this his whole life. He laughed inwardly at that notation, still, he couldn't just ignore how he quickly he had adapted to being a demon. That was another thing on his mind.

Had he truly become a demon? That was something that Legato was not conviced of. Jusenkyo by its self was a bizzare and for the most part mysterious place to begin with. Legato then considered the fact that the curse didn't work at all the way the guide said it should. Instead of creating an alternate cursed form like it should have, he now posesed a body that didn't change no matter how hot or cold the water was.

So what had he turned into? Since he didn't change he had reason to believe that his body wasn't really human or demon; He was starting to realize that maybe he was a mixture of the two. That had to be it, there was nothing else he could think of to explain it. When he fell in, his human body fused with the body of the dog demon, creating an ever-present form. A form that was both cursed and uncursed at the same time. It was like he was born again, his parents being a human and a demon. This union creating a most unsual offspring.

"Not that far off really, if that's the case than my mother was the human and that sorry excuse of a father would've been the demon." The last part being said with obvious resentment and disgust.

So what could he be called? Was he a demon-like human, a human-like demon, a half-human, or was he a half-demon. No, he was Legato, he may have changed on the outside but he was still the same person on the inside. Still, of all those names he thought of, half-demon was the one that Legato liked and decided that's the one he'd use.

"Half-demon, that has a nice ring to it. Not that anyone else will care WHO I am, all they'll see is a monster." That last part Legato said with a sad tone.

It was sad but true, he was now alone both on the inside and the outside. It began in the village he grew up in, with everyone treating him like he was some kind of living mistake. Just about everyone there cared nothing for him and were always picking on him and teasing him. They hated him, and the only thing that kept Legato from hating them back were his mother's words and teachings. Looking back on it he really had to give her credit for keeping him on the right path. A path were he didn't end up cruel and mean-spirited.

Then there was the Art, which he loved with all his heart and dedicated his life to, had caused him to be an outcast in a more broader sense. Aside from the the families he stayed with as a kid and when he stopped on his journey; He spent of his time on the road training. This was different from mistrearment in his childhood however because Legato chose to journey to become a great martial artist.

Because it was his choice Legato was more than willing to accept the consequences, both good and bad. With his strength and skill he had proven time and time again through combat and training that he wasn't just good by comparsion to others, he was very good. The opponents he faced and defeated in fights hardly ever respected him or congradulated him. More often the case people were envious, jealous, and even despised him for being better than them. This alienated him from his peers and often left him alone. Again, this was a hardship he could endure if it meant he came out of it a better person.

And now there was this curse, something new to him altogether. After looking at himself again he concluded that he wasn't at all hideous or ugly or even repuslive. In fact, by his rough guess, this curse made him more attractive. It wasn't that it had made him more handsome. His demon side had given him a more exotic look to his features. When he compared himself to any monster or demon he had seen in books or movies, he found he looked nothing at all like them. If not for the dog ears on his head he could probably pass for a human.

With a heavy sigh Legato put those thoughts aside as he broke through the forest and came to a clearing. Upon surveying it, he found it had all he needed. It had a stream for fresh water and to bathe in. It had plenty of wide open space to train and even a cave to seek shelter in on stormy nights.

"not exactly the nicest place ever, but it could be worse."

Legato set his backpack and began to set up camp. When he was done he gave a look of appraisal at his temporary home.

"Not bad at all..." The dog-eared martial artist gave a fanged smile as he started his workout.

One month later...

"SHI SHI HOKODAN!"

The chi energy shot out from his cupped hands and went flying toward a rock pile, the target he had chosen. The result was as expected as the rocks were reduced to a pile of rubble.

It's more powerful than ever. The boy grinned with satisfaction as he admired his handywork. As powerful as it had been with his old self, the Lion's Roar Shot was now even more powerful in his new form. As Legato continued his training session, he thought back at how eye opening these last few weeks had been.

He had discovered that there were many perks to being the half-demon that he was. His physical attributes, while they were way above average before, were now greater than he would have ever imagined. His strenght was now beyond what any normal human could hope to achieve. His speed was also enhanced to the point that Legato could make himself a moving blur if he wanted to. Speeds that would make a cheeta hard pressed to keep up with him.

The most remarkable thing though was his stamina. It wasn't the fact that he had more endurance than before. It was the fact that his endurance didn't decrease. Legato simply didn't get tired and could run through the forest or train all day if he wanted to. He never even broke a sweat.

He had also honed his canine senses to better aid him. When his food supply began to run low he turn to sense of hearing and smell to hunt for his dinner. He found hunting and tracking to almost be second nature to him.

What was even more remarkable than all the other things was his body's healing ability. He had always had excelent regenerative properties, as did most martial artists, but now he shrugged off injuries like they didn't even matter. Cuts and bruises healed in a matter of a few minutes. Even normaly life threatening injuries were not a problem anymore.

Legato recalled last week when he had an accident while training. He was working on his technique in the air. Upon landing on a rotten branch, he fell about two stories landing flat on his back and on a jagged rock, effectively impaling him.

He could still remeber the pain he felt and the horror of seeing that rock sticking through his chest. His clothes were soaked with blood and stumbling back to camp was quite a task. At first Legato was certain he was going to die from such an injury; After all, this would have killed him before Jusenkyo, wouldn't it?

When he had bandaged himself up Legato could only wait for fate to decide outcome as he lay in his sleeping bag. He wasn't sure if he would make it through the night, he was definetly counting on his body to pull through it. The next day, Legato was pleasantly suprised to see that he was not only alive, but the wound was about halfway to healing completely. The day after that the wound was completely gone, with not even a scratch or a scar, it was like it never happened.

While training he also discovered he could use his claws very effectively in battle. He had developed two claw based techniques, one for hand-to-hand combat and the other used as a projectile. Both of these attacks work by Legato focusing his chi into his nails.

All in all, Legato could honestly say he achieved his goal of finding himself and was now ready to head back into the world. The question was; was the world ready for him?

Legato was now pretty much wrapping up his workout, and ready to call it a day. Before he was done, the dog-eared youth decided to put his body and skills to the test.

'I'll end this with all I got.' With that thought in mind, Legato began focusing his chi. As he charged up his battle aura he also called up all his painful memories, making his ki as heavy as it could get.

'Here goes nothing, maxium power!'

"ULTIMATE SHI SHI HOKODAN!"

The energy ball shot from out of him, climbing high into the sky before it came barreling back down. Any opponent caught under this would be slammed forcefuly into the ground and be in a world of pain. Fortunately for Legato, the use of a perfected Lion's roar Shot also caused one to lose their ki; rendering the massive chi blast harmless as it passed through him.

It was like the world itself became distant and far away. Even with his enhanced senses, he barely registered in his state of willness the energy ball around him. When the world came back to him and he came out of his emotional numbness; Legato could not help but stare in awe at the results.

He now stood in the center of a large crater about forty feet deep and eighty feet in diameter. With the grace an Olympic gymnast could only hope to achieve, Legato leapt out of the hole landing softly on his feet. He was left in awe of the effect of his most powerful technique.

After the intial amazment was over the dog-eared martial artist suddenly found himself panting. He may not get worn down from physical labor, but the Lion's Roar Shot did drain his energy. The fact that he had just performed a perfect Shi Shi Hokodan at full power only made him that more tired.

"Maybe I over did it a little." Legato said with an exasperted sigh and turned back in the direction of his camp. He made the decision that tomorrow would be the day he would head back into the world. After all, he couldn't keep himself isolated in this mountain forever? No, he wouldn't hide himself forever. With that thought in mind, Legato continued back for a well deserved break.

Elsewhere, in a village of warrior women...

Colonge had been in meditation over the day's events. That peace had been shattered when informed of a strange occurance by the village watch. The three hundred year old matriarch had sensed the energy long before ever getting word of it. The sentry reported seeing a huge chi pillar shooting into the sky before it formed a chi ball that crashed back into the forest.

The two and a half foot tall women emerged from her hut carrying a cane three times her size. The village she lived in may have seen primitive to outsiders, but its beauty was in its simplisty. Row of huts along the village walls, stores and shops closer to the middle, and the council long house and challenge log in the center.

She was greeted by a fellow village elder Creme, who also became interested in the occurance. Creme was about the same size as Cologne and besides different clothing and hairstyle, would have looked like her identical twin.

You recognize that move Colonge? It was half question, half statement.

Come now Creme, what kind of silly question is that? You know just as well as I do that was one of our tribe's most secret technique, the Lion's Roar Shot Colonge replied.

And a perfected Shi Shi Hokodan at that, the poor soul seems to have fully mastered the techique. Creme said sagely.

Quite right, I wonder what misery could have befallen the indivdual to make it so powerful?

Does anyone in the tribe know the perfected Lion's Roar Shot?) Cologne asked even though she already knew the answer.

Creme shook her head, then added. No, the last person in our village who could perform the perfected Shi Shi Hokodan was sister Lipstick, and she died many years ago.

Cologne nodded, deep in thought, when her brain came up with somthing else. (The Musk?

Creme smirked. They wouldn't announce themselves like that, Herb isn't what you would call subtle by any means, but he wouldn't give himself away.

Both of them just stared for a moment before both elders came up with the same conclusion.

An outsider Both said in unison.

Predatory gleems appeared in their eyes, and wicked smile began to creep over their aged mouths. After all, there was a chance that this outsider was a female, on the other hand, there was just as much chance this stranger was a male. And the thought of a male outsider with that much power had them both practicly drooling.

I think I would like to meet this outsider.

(My thoughts exactly Colonge.

-END PART 2-

Coming Soon: Part 3, Legato has a chance encounter with the Amazons and finds himself with his hands full.

Author's Note: The stage is now set for Legato to meet everyone favorite Amazon. There are some people who don't like Shampoo. I've seen her portrayed as either a brainless bimbo or a ruthless pursurer of her prize. The people who think that are free to think that all they want. I, however am not one of those people, so don't expect this to be an anti-Shampoo story because I in fact like her. Now Akane on the other hand...