"So what was the other story with a wolf in it Kagome?" Shippo asked eagerly as they began walking again.
"Um..." Kagome said faltering, She had promised two stories about dogs with wolves in them. But the only story that came to mind was Aesop's fable The Dog and The Wolf.
But thinking on Aesop's 'moral' of the story "Better to starve free than grow fat a slave..." Quickly she glanced at Inuyasha.
For now, he seemed relaxed.
She knew if she told them the original story Inuyasha would be FURIOUS. It would be like goading him about the prayer beads only ten times worse. She would be lucky if he EVER talked to her again.
But it was the only one she could think of. 'Well, I changed the last story I can change this one too.' She thought quickly.
"There's the story of how dogs originated." Kagome invented quickly.
"That sounds like an interesting tale doesn't it Inuyasha?" Miroku teased. Inuyasha snorted at the jab and watched Kagome warily.
"Well go on Kagome, I wanna hear it." Shippo urged.
"Well... Uh, Once a long long time ago, there were two identical brother wolves who lived deep in the mountains. The older brother was Okami, and the younger was Inumi."
Inuyasha gave her a quirking look as though judging if he should believe her choice of names. Kagome kept up a natural appearance and quickly continued with the story, half making it up as she went and half taking tidbits from other stories.
"When the brothers were old enough to hunt and protect themselves they decided to part ways and find their meaning in life. But they promised to meet again and see how the other was faring. They parted ways at a fork in the road, Okami going into a dense forest and Inumi trotting on towards a great empty plain. The younger brother walked all day with no food or water until at last he found a human village Where he was so tired and hungry he could do little more than collapse at its outskirts and sleep. When he awoke he found a very young girl standing quite close to him offering him meat and water. Happily, he accepted the meal and the girl brought more and more food until he had eaten his fill."
"Wouldn't the girl's parents have been angry with her for sharing food with a wolf?" Sango asked incredulously.
"By that time she was an orphan. She lived in her parent's old hut." Kagome replied.
"Then the girl smiled, happy to have helped and started to go home. For a moment Inumi considered going on down the path again now that he was full. But for better or worse he found he liked this human and felt he owed her his gratitude so he followed her home. She was surprised but pleased to have made a new friend and as he seemed quite at ease with her and sweet-tempered she welcomed him into her small home to stay as long as he wanted."
At the words 'sweet-tempered' Shippo, Sango, Miroku and even Kirara, all blatantly looked at Inuyasha with somewhat disbelieving expressions.
He narrowed his eyes at them in return, growling low in his throat as if daring them to say something. They all quickly looked away again trying to pretend they hadn't looked at all. Inuyasha snorted at their looks and carried on.
Kagome could already tell the others intended to tease Inuyasha to death with her story, but she plowed on through it quickly trying to be as respectful as possible.
"She gave him something to drink and a spot by her fire Until they were tired. When it was time to sleep she let him up on her bed and he made himself comfortable at her feet keeping her warm.
Miroku chuckled at this part and Kagome raised her eyebrow in question. Miroku saw this and started to explain. "I was just imagi-"
Inuyasha quickly snapped "Imagining what?" at Miroku, shooting a deadly glare. At this, the monk grinned broadly and Inuyasha growled again. "Oh, nothing." The monk chuckled.
"I know what I was imagining!" Shippo said loudly smiling even broader from his spot in Kagome's basket. Kagome felt a chill as Inuyasha whipped around to deliver a death glare at the Kitsune, regardless Shippo charged head on into the unseen battlefield.
"I was imagining Inuyasha curled up like a dog at the foot of Kag-"
"Shippo!" Kagome cut in angrily "Stop it! You shouldn't tease Inuyasha like that." It was clear Shippo hadn't expected for Kagome to intervene. Neither had Inuyasha for that matter. Both demons gave her their full attention and Shippo quickly got over his surprise and countered with puppy dog eyes. big green eyes getting bigger as he pouted up at Kagome. She narrowed her eyes at him in a way she might look at Inuyasha before a sitting. "Don't you look at me like that mister, you know I'm not going to step in and save you if you goad him like that on purpose."
"I- sorry Kagome," Shippo said succumbing to the stern look on her face.
"Don't apologize to ME." She said firmly indicating a somewhat smug Inuyasha with a tilt of her head. Shippo seemed to flinch and Inuyasha found his smirk again, but only a little. "Sorry Inuyasha." Shippo apologized taking his cue without a fight.
Inuyasha seemed to accept the half-hearted apology grudgingly. because He muttered a quick, "Feh." turned up his nose haughtily and walked on pretending nothing had happened. Kagome was surprised that he had let it go so quickly, but considering how often she usually took Shippo's side in arguments she supposed Inuyasha was pacified simply because she took his side for once.
As Kagome pondered this the others waited for her to continue with the story, too afraid of sparking her anger to remind her.
After some distance in silence, it was Sango who braved the questionable mood of their priestess saying in a softly nudging tone "Um... Kagome? Can we hear the rest of the story?"
"Oh! The story!" Kagome cried jerking herself from her thoughts with an embarrassed look on her face. "Of course, sorry."
"Uh, anyway... Inumi and the girl grew to enjoy their time together And The two became the best of friends. "
Kagome took a breath and was surprised and pleased when nobody commented. Not even Inuyasha. Kagome smiled.
"This went on for several years and they grew to deeply trust each other until one day they made a promise."
At this Kagome paused, trying to find just the right thing to say. Something that would cancel out Aesop's moral completely And more than that, something she hoped Inuyasha would take to heart about the beads.
The others looked at her with anticipation. "What was the promise?" Shippo asked meekly.
But frustratingly Kagome couldn't find the right words. Then she had a thought.
"It was something you could never put into words," She said slowly. "It was a promise made so long ago the words to describe it are gone. The only way I can describe it, is that they forged a deep bond. If one of them got into trouble the other would protect them. If one was sick or injured, the other would stay by their side and take care of them. If one was lonely or sad The other would try to fill that void and make the other happy again. It was the strongest bond between humans and animals ever to be made."
Inuyasha snorted at this, and Kagome looked at him surprised and suddenly heavy hearted.
"Hey! but what about foxes or cats?" Shippo whined.
"Sorry Shippo," Kagome replied shaking her head. "Dogs have always been called man's best friend. If it makes you feel any better though foxes are distant cousins to the dog and Kirara, in places like Egypt cats are considered sacred animals and even worshiped as gods"
Kirara tilted her head slightly and twitched her tail in question, emitting a light "Mew" in response.
Shippo pouted. "I don't see how being related to Inuyasha would ever make me feel better about something," He grumbled.
"That all sounds completely made up." Inuyasha accused shortly.
"I can show you proof in my time," Kagome responded in turn with narrowed eyes. "It's common knowledge there. Besides," She huffed "Wasn't there a village awhile back that kept insisting YOU were a dog god? Obviously, it's not THAT outlandish."
"N-not the cat thing I can believe that," Inuyasha said changing his opinion quickly.
"But foxes are NOT related to dogs!" He said huffily.
"Actually, they are. Foxes are classified as members of the canine family right along with coyotes, wolves, raccoons, dogs and a few others. ALSO common knowledge in my time." She added tersely.
Kagome:1 Inuyasha:0
He glared but did not start in on the argument again. "Well get on with it then." He snapped irritably.
Kagome frowned at him but was at least glad he wasn't as uninterested in her story as he tried to lead her to believe.
She continued as bade. "So that the villagers would recognize Inumi as one of theirs and not a wild beast the girl gave him a tough leather collar. One she hoped would stand the test of time."
"At first, he detested the collar and tried to bite it off. This made the girl sad and he stopped when he realized that to her at least the collar was important. A part of their bond. it was something that bound him to the girl physically and something she took joy in seeing him exhibit. Before long, he grew to treasure the collar as a memento of their bond."
Everyone glanced at Inuyasha yet again and Kagome saw his eyebrow twitch in irritation.
"In time, when the girl was old enough, she and Inumi took up jobs as sheepherders, Because Evening after evening other beasts would come and try to make off with lambs under the humans noses. It turned out Inumi was amazing at guarding the sheep and time after time he would catch these beasts and either attack outright or bark the alert and send them running back to the woods in fear. Be it wildcat, bear, or even other wolves. Inumi was never afraid and he took his job very seriously."
This time, Kagome paused and peeked at Inuyasha who seemed to be ignoring her again. She didn't happen to notice his eyebrow had stopped twitching.
"When the time to go back and meet his brother drew close he left the village and the girl behind hesitantly, and went out on the road back the way he had come until he found the familiar fork in the road. There he waited patiently. When his older brother finally appeared They greeted happily and told each other of their fates since they had separated. Okami told his younger brother proudly that he was now a pack leader and had recently taken a mate. Inumi was happy to hear his brother faring well and told him of his own fate. "I live with a young girl in a village a few days walk from here. I protect their sheep in exchange for ample food and shelter."
"And what is that around your neck?" his brother asked.
Inumi raised his head to show Okami his collar in a better light. "It was something my human gave me to show the others of my alliance with her."
"It's rubbing against your fur," Okami growled, "Doesn't it bother you?" "You get used to it," Inumi said shrugging. At this Okami growled angrily. "You have been sorely cheated and made into a slave." He proclaimed. Inumi was shocked to hear his brother say such a thing.
"I'm no slave." He said back angrily. "I am free to do as I please."
"Then take off that foul collar and throw it in the river," Okami demanded
"That I will not do," Inumi replied sternly. "It is a memento of our bond."
"Your bond is a chain that confines you," Okami said back.
"I stand by my alliance. I like the humans. I will not have you mock my bond." He growled.
Try as he might he could not explain this bond to his older brother. And Okami only continued to mock him for it. At this the two brothers parted ways bitterly, Okami disappearing into the woods and Inumi returning to his village.
"Was that the end of the story?" Shippo asked in a disappointed tone.
"No there's more," Kagome said feeling unusually driven. The story was coming to her very easily now. She just had to end it properly.
"Not long after Inumi returned home, his brother followed him in secret and watched Inumi and the human girl from afar. He waited all day and into the late evening when the sheep were all corraled for the night. finally, Inumi left the human girl's side to check the sheep one last time for the evening and seizing his chance Okami came out of his hiding place and went into the village. The girl was heading back to her home alone when he found her. The wolf walked calmly towards her pretending to be his younger brother so he could get just close enough to kill her. And the poor girl trustingly smiled and waited on him,"
InuYasha seemed to snap from frustration because at this part of the story he started to yell "I thought you fucking said they had a "bond! How could she not tell?! And what the hell sort of dumb girl would mistake a wolf for a dog anyway?"
Kagome gave Inuyasha her best 'Are you kidding me?' face and slowly inserted logic back into the conversation. "Inuyasha, Inumi is a wolf, AND He's identical to his brother. Could you tell two identical wolves apart from a distance without your heightened sense of smell?"
Inuyasha frowned at Kagome wrinkling his nose as he scoffed glaring at the woods to their right as he walked. To the others who knew him this was as close to an admission of defeat as he ever got.
Kagome:2 Inuyasha:0
Quickly Kagome picked the story back up again not wanting to leave the others hanging or lose her momentum.
"But as he got closer and closer she realized something was terribly wrong. This wolf wasn't wearing the collar she had given Inumi. He always wore his collar. And with it, gone she felt a sense of dread in her heart."
"See Inuyasha? you wound yourself up to tight. She realized it wasn't him after all." Sango scolded the hanyou. Inuyasha simply grunted in a slightly embarrassed way and waited for Kagome to continue.
"Seeing that the wild animal before her wasn't Inumi. The girl turned and ran. Calling out for him desperately. Okami was surprised and angry that she had seen through his trick and chased her down howling for blood."
Shippo gulped loudly at this part and Inuyasha seemed to tense in dislike at this turn of events but both kept quiet as Kagome continued.
"Of course, Okami was too fast for the girl. he brought her down, Biting her ankle and then for good measure he went for her leg. Still, She fought him with all she had, kicking and hitting as much as she could but he was just too much for her to handle alone."
Shippo shrank in Kagome's basket, his eyes poking out were worriedly watching Kagome. Miroku and Sango had similarly worried expressions and even Inuyasha was visibly wincing at this part of the story.
"Just when he was about to kill her Inumi arrived, seeing and smelling the girls blood on his brother who loomed over her body, he went into a rage and lept at Okami. His teeth bared without a second thought as he knocked him away from the girl, biting viciously.
The two were infuriated with each other. Okami because his own brother valued a human's life more than his own brothers, and Inumi because his brother dared to try and kill his dearest friend. That night The two fought tooth and claw until morning and they had both exhausted almost every ounce of strength and could barely keep moving.
But no matter how hard Okami tried to get around Inumi to kill the girl his brother would thwart him. Biting and snapping at him with such ferocity Okami could not overtake him.
"Wolves do not "protect" humans." Okami howled angrily.
"Then I am no longer a wolf!" Inumi barked back.
"What? How dare you! You disgrace!" Okami shouted at Inumi feeling betrayed.
Inumi only growled at his former brother and let him say what he wanted. He already knew nothing he could say would make Okami understand his bond or his friendship with the humans. And nothing Okami could say to him would ever make up for trying to kill the girl. They were at a stand still.
"Fine! Enjoy your servitude dearest brother!" Okami relented angrily, turning tail And going back to his woods.
"If your freedom means I'm not allowed to choose my own path it isn't really freedom is it?" Inumi snapped back at him.
With that, The two former brothers parted ways, this time for good.
Since that day dogs have stayed with humans and taken the place as man's best friend while wolves have held a deep grudge against humans and dogs alike."
Instantly Shippo was on the one gap in her story. "But what about Koga? He lik-"
"The end." Kagome interrupted blushing.
However, Miroku wasn't having that ending either. "But Kagome-sama why would Koga take such a shining to you if wolves don't like humans?"
At least they sounded genuinely curious and hadn't decided she had made the whole thing up like she had feared they would.
Kagome sighed sharply. "LOOK, I've NEVER understood why Kouga likes me. I'm not a great fighter. I'm not beautiful. The only reason for him to like me that I can think of is my ability to see the jewel shards.
Shippo didn't seem to like this negative statement and scolded the girl sharply "Don't sell yourself short Kagome! You ARE beautiful, AND you smell good, AND you're really kind. It would be hard for a guy NOT to fall in love with you!"
Kagome blushed lightly and smiled her thanks at the kitsune.
Sango entered into the conversation with a very upbeat reminder, "That's true Kagome. Remember In that last village, weren't there at least three men who proposed to you at that party?"
"WHAT?" Inuyasha barked looking back at the girl in question accusingly.
Kagome winced and pretended to dislodge something from the ear closest to him. He could certainly be deafening when he wanted to be.
"Geez... I obviously didn't ACCEPT Inuyasha. what, are you going to yell at me every time a man looks my way?"
"Why didn't you TELL me some guys were hitting on you?" Inuyasha asked angrily ignoring Kagome's own question.
The girls eyebrow twitched in irritation. "It was a party. they were drunk and I'm not going to go out of my way to get strangers beaten up for complimenting me."
"If you don't want guys hitting on Kagome you should have just gone with her to the party Inuyasha," Shippo said in a sensible tone.
"Like I would have been caught dead at that dumb party!" Inuyasha snapped back red-faced.
Miroku smiled and said, "Well then get used to the idea of men trying to pick up lady Kagome when she's all alone at the 'next' party."
Inuyasha's nose crinkled in dislike at the notion. "What, you planning on leaving her alone in there or somethin?"
Shippo jumped back into the conversation ignoring Kagome's looks of embarrassment. "You never know Inuyasha. Maybe Sango leaves to get drinks, and bam!" He snapped his fingers smirking. "Three guys pounce on her, just like last time."
Kagome gave a tiny groan and fought back a darker blush.
Inuyasha's crinkled nose turned into a snarl and his sharp fangs became exposed. He whipped on Kagome with a serious expression.
"Kagome no more pa-"
"Sit." Kagome snapped before he could finish.
(-)
The idea for using Aesop's The wolf and the dog came from Tuxy1999. So thanks! :)
If anyone else has amazing ideas for this story feel free to comment. If I like it I'll use it. ~Gypsin