A Dog's Nose Knows

By: Sandreline

Hello everyone! Thank you all so very much for your kind words in regards to this new story. I hope that you continue to enjoy it. I believe I am going to throw MANY curve balls for this one, because my muse is going crazy!

Chapter 3: In Friendship We Trust

The Darth Vader theme song was still playing in Serenity's head as InuYasha approached, when suddenly he disappeared. The hair on the back of her neck stood up just in time to alert her to spin around and catch his fist as he swung at her.

Wide blue eyes gazed into lowered amber orbs as the half demon stilled. "That's one hell of a reflex…" He told her, his voice laced with scrutiny.

"I told you I had some experience." Serenity told him as sincerely as she could.

The half demon huffed. "Let's see what you can do." This time, InuYasha's other arm came down and up towards her, and Serenity leapt back. Her new friend did not let up as he charged her, throwing punch after punch.

The silver haired woman was easily able to dodge the first few, and then managed to grab his arm when he tried to get her with a wide right punch. Out of habit, the Lunarian grabbed his arm and pulled towards her, spinning on the ball of her left foot as she used his momentum against himself. As her motion began to propel him away, she brought her right leg up to impact him with a hard kick to his ribs, thus finishing the defensive move and sending the half demon away from her.

InuYasha turned to face her. "I knew you couldn't be a full blooded human!"

Serenity stood there with wide eyes. "What are you talking about?"

"You didn't even notice when I started to pick up speed, but I was going way too fast for a normal human to keep up with!" InuYasha growled. "You didn't even have an issue keeping me away or fighting back!"

Serenity shrank back slightly. "I can explain…" She began.

"Why? Why not just tell me that you were a half demon too?"

"Eh?"

InuYasha crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm not stupid," He told her. "Your hair is as silver as my brothers! Only dog demons have that trait." His eyes narrowed. "Do you really think I'd be as pathetic as to treat you the same way everyone treats me? You're the same as me! Why not just fess up?"

Serenity blinked. (He thinks I am a half demon!) Part of her wanted to laugh at the thought. Another part of her wanted to go with it, even though she could never forgive herself for lying to him. However, she could use this to her advantage. Not only would it allow her friendship with InuYasha to continue, but she would be able to keep an eye on the demons and how much they knew about her and her court, and maybe even eavesdrop here and there. It would allow her to find out what they had planned. In a way she would be using her friendship with InuYasha, and as much as it hurt her… she had gone lost too much as it was. She could not afford to be the innocent teenager she used to be.

"I'm sorry, InuYasha…" Serenity began, her voice soft. She may not be apologizing for what he thought, but she was sincerely sorry. She felt that InuYasha was a genuine friendship, and she did not wish to do anything to tarnish it.

"Feh, don't apologize, you idiot!" He snapped at her, effectively cutting off the rest of her apology. "Just don't hold back!"

Blue eyes went wide as he lunged for her, this time in a blur and no longer treating her as a frail human. Serenity leapt up and over his head as his fist slammed into the flooring. As she landed, she could feel the tremors under her feet, and realized that the padding must be a special material to absorb the force of demonic attacks without being in need of constant repair. Her red-clad companion whirled around to face her. "Why'd you ask for training? Ya seem to be doing fine to me!" As he spoke, he charged her again, this time with his claws extended.

"Against weaker demons, sure!" Serenity told him as she continued to move out of the way. "But against stronger demons, I do not believe I can handle physical combat." (At least, not without giving myself away.) She thought, causing her loose her momentarily loose her focus. InuYasha's claws were able to slash her arm, and boy did it hurt. His claws were no joke!

InuYasha froze. The slash on her arm was not deep, but it was no small scratch. He lifted his claws to his eyes, seeing the overly silver glint to his new friend's blood. The scent of it swept through him, and he could not help but notice that Serenity had frozen as well. The perfume that she wore to help conceal her scent had no effect over her blood, which was pure. He brought his claws closer to him nose, his eyes closing as he inhaled the scent. It was soft, and pure. Too pure for a half demon.

Amber eyes snapped open, and the claws that were glittered with her blood folded down into a fist. Her wound was already closing before his eyes, healing far too quickly even for a full blooded demon, and the blood that had been seeping out began to sink back into her skin.

Before even Serenity could realize what happened, InuYasha had her by her throat against the closest wall. Granted he was not suffocating her, but his hold was firm enough to keep the Lunarian from struggling. "What are you?" He asked. His demon energy was great, though softened by his human blood. However, at such close proximity, it did cause a little difficulty in allowing her to breathe easily.

"Not human."

"You're not demon, either!" He growled as he bared his fangs at her in warning.

Serenity brought her hands up to grab hold of his wrists, letting the empathy powers of Venus flow through her, thus allowing InuYasha to calm down for her to rationally explain. His demon energy pulled back, and his hold loosened. Still holding his wrists, she lowered them from her neck and looked him straight in his eyes. "InuYasha, I do not want you to think that my friendship is anything but true. I enjoy spending time with you, and believe that we can become very good friends." She gave a pause as InuYasha's eyes told her he was unsure what was happening, and if he could trust her. "You are a half demon and half human; while shunned for your blood, you are still able to move as you please in the world. However, I do not have such a luxury. If the humans and demons were to find out who I am, they would fight with everything they have to own me as a weapon." She took a deep breath, her face shadowing worry. "If that were to happen, I would be unable to continue to protect this planet and its people."

"You're one of them, aren't you?" He removed his wrists from her hold, thus ending her calming effect on his being. "One of those women in the short skirts."

Serenity's right eye twitched. "We did not design the outfits, for the record…"

InuYasha growled, and threw his fist. Serenity closed her eyes and braced for the impact; she did deserve it, for her deception.

Blue eyes snapped open as the sound of impact entered her left ear, yet she felt no pain. The half demon had punched the wall beside her, his ears flattened against his hair. "Your scent is telling the truth. You really want to be my friend."

Her eyes softened. "Yes."

With a growl, InuYasha retracted his hand. "We have to get you out of here."

"Huh?"

"The loyalty of the demons that are here lie first with Sesshomaru, and that bastard is one of the Lords. They'll tell him who you are, and take you away."

The half demon's eyes widened when she wrapped her arms around him, her nose going to the crook of his neck. "Thank you, InuYasha." She whispered.

His face turned red, and for a moment he stuttered. "Don't start with the mushy crap! Get off!"

Serenity laughed as she pulled away, taking a moment to enjoy his embarrassment.

"Since ya still need me to train you, we'll find somewhere else to do it. For now, let's get you out of here. If anyone asks, you are half dog demon like me. It will work, unless they smell your blood." His amber eyes bore into hers. "But I want the truth when we get out of here, ya got it?"

Serenity nodded once.

InuYasha walked to the door, being sure to glance around first. Deciding the coast was clear, he turned to her. "Grab your bag and change; wait for me to get you."

She smiled and gave him a mock salute. He huffed, but watched as she moved into the bathroom. Instead of changing, she merely reached for her bag. Before his eyes, her clothing changed in a soft flash of light. "What the hell?"

"I will tell you everything, once we are out." She winked at her new friend, and he scowled. His ears were swiveling left and right as he led her out of the house and back to his vehicle.

"We got a bit of a ride, start talking." He told her as he pulled off of his estate.

Serenity leaned back in the seat. "It started a thousand years ago…"

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"Jakken, report."

"L-L-Lord Sesshomaru!" The toad demon squeaked over the phone. "Everything is running sm-smoothly, milord!" He added.

"Anything to be brought to my attention?" The Lord of the West was as short and direct as always.

"N-no, milord!" Jakken replied. "Master InuYasha brought a strange female with him to the house today, is all!"

"Hn." He replied. "Who was she?"

Jakken squeaked, memories of his encounter with the female coming to mind. "I believe she was half dog demon, milord! She had hair as silver as your own, and longer! She was rather magnificent, for a half breed!" As an afterthought, he added, "Her manners reflected high quality breeding. She may be from a wealthy family."

"Hn." So the half breed has found himself a friend. "Jakken, I want to know everything about her. We do not want another female using the brainless half breed to get into money and power."

"Y-yes milord! This lowly servant shall do so at once!" The demon lord did not reply, deeming the toad unworthy, and simply hung up. The knowledge that his younger sibling had brought a female home gave him much to think about. The half breed had never brought a companion to their domain, let alone a female. Then again, if she was a half demon as well, then perhaps it was understandable. In any event, he would need to meet her. Female dog demons were not as abundant as the males, and the fact that if she did indeed come from an influential family yet continue to remain unknown to them was an enigma.

Sesshomaru took a drink of sake as he returned to his laptop. For now, he had more important things to do. The demon Lord was going over the media reports for the attack from several days ago. His father had brought up the good point that the scent of his apparent Mate could have been drifted on the wind from nearby – she could have been a bystander, or a victim of the youma. Investigating this was more pressing than giving another thought to his half-brother's acquaintance.

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"It's so crazy that it has to be true." The half demon crazed as he pulled up to her apartment complex.

"Well, if you need proof, you are welcome to come up and meet Luna and Artemis!" She smiled while opening the passenger door.

"Feh, might as well." He grumbled as he looked around. "This place isn't very safe."

"I can take care of myself." She told him with a secret smile.

"Feh, whatever." He told her as he followed her up the stairs. Serenity laughed as she took out her keys and proceed to open the door.

"Luna, Artemis!" She called as she entered, shutting the door after allowing the half demon to come inside.

A while blur hissed as it charged the half demon, claws extended. Serenity's eyes widened when InuYasha was able to catch Artemis by the back of his neck in mid-air, holding him before his face. InuYasha had his ears flattened against his hair while growling, and Artemis found himself with a large sweat drop sliding down his head.

"I hate cats," InuYasha growled, dropping the white feline to the ground.

"We hate dogs." A feminine voice said from the floor. Luna had approached in a more dignified manner, though her red eyes sent a stern gaze to her charge.

"What?" Serenity asked innocently. She still had no idea how such a small being could be so frightening what she wanted to be.

"I had been expecting this, really. You just cannot pass up an opportunity to make friends with a potential enemy." Luna sighed. "You always see the best in people."

"Talking cat. Now I've seen it all." The half demon grumbled.

"Stupid dog. I have seen nothing new." Luna replied without hesitation.

"Alright then…" Serenity spoke up. "InuYasha, these are my advisors, Luna and Artemis. This is InuYasha, the brother of Lord Sesshomaru."

"Half-brother." InuYasha corrected.

"Serenity, is this a wise decision?" Artemis questioned, his pride having been broken but still worried about his monarch.

"Feh, as if I'd let anything happen to her." InuYasha grumbled.

"How about we all sit down and I get us something to eat?" Serenity suggested.

"Ramen." InuYasha commanded as he dropped onto the couch in a typical male fashion.

Serenity rolled her eyes. Life was never dull for one moment, was it?

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So, what do you all think so far? Is it coming along? Am I rushing anything? Do you still like it?

Thank you all so much for your continued support! I hope to be able to keep meeting your expectations! YOU ARE ALL THE BEST!

~Sandreline