Ohayo gosaimas minna sama!!

Here's the new chapter. I find it difficult to feel satisfied with my own work these days, but well, my mood will get better with your support ;)

Thank you for the reviews. It seems readers prefer "White dog, Blue moon." to "When the sun rises"... The latter is perhaps a bit more angsty, that could explain it... Or Sesshoumaru as a dog is perhaps fanservice (well, the plot needed it)... What do you think?

Just so you know, when I was 7 years old, I had a guinea pig named Fluffy. I also know that rabbits are not rodents, but Kagome is probably not aware.

I know what you think: what is that crazy author babbling about? Read the chapter and you'll understand. ;)

mamasama: I expect you to find out another Monty Python related bit. XD


Chapter 4: A white dog goes to College:

Kagome Higurashi was known to have... unusual tastes and hobbies. But she was a reasonable girl, if a bit eccentric. It was what the rumours said about her.

But now, her fellow students questioned her sanity, looking at her like she was some lunatic escaped from the infamous Men In White.

She was loudly arguing...

In the middle of the campus courtyard...

With a huge and intimidating white dog...

Which seemed to ignore the outburst royally, if the aloof look and the slightly raised muzzle was any indication.

No one stayed near, not understanding her ranting about jumping on bus roofs and highly stubborn canine individuals.

Swaying her limbs widely in defeat, the young woman stomped her right foot, huffed, turned around and crossed her arms on her chest, a pout marring her plump rosy lips. She was the embodiment of childish sulking.

The dog's tail twitched but the rest of his... person... stayed as immobile as a marble statue.

Someone approached "Mulder", as they secretly nick-named her, and called her in a friendly tone, waking her up from her slightly dazed state.

Her face fell automatically into a broad smile as she greeted him, pivoting minutely on her feet.

One furry ear lifted minutely and the hound's head cocked to one side in a universal expression of animal curiosity, his eyes narrowing into dangerous slits as the male touched her on the shoulder.

The young woman started and looked at her canine companion, visibly confused. She excused herself hastily from her human friend and darted towards the library, tailed regally by her four legged companion.


"What do you think you're doing, Sesshoumaru?" Kagome fumed angrily.

'I answer to no one, human.' He growled, hating the fact that he had to look up to her.

"I told you I had to go to the University every day, I thought you had understood that I meant 'without you'. Dogs are not allowed in here!!" She stomped again, her face red with frustration.

'This Sesshoumaru is not a mere mortal dog.' He stated matter of factly.

"True enough. You're a bloomin' stubborn Lord 'No-mortal-is-worthy-of-my-sacred-and-most-revered-time'. I bet even when you were a pup, you only graced your lucky company with a rare smile when you thought you were going to torture an innocent and unsuspecting white rabbit for hours. I know one particular rodent I would have liked to introduce to you, if he was not as legendary as youkais themselves. But, if you could just come back to sweet reality, you would see that you look just like one freakin' mortal huge white dog. Not a Chihuahua I can hide in my bag, indeed, but a canine nonetheless. Now stop being as immature as your half brother and go back to the shrine!!" Her countenance had visibly snapped, and she was gritting her teeth to avoid shouting her vocal chords out. They were in an empty alleyway, but still, someone could come if she was too loud.

The scolded youkai dismissed her words dripping with sarcasm with an annoyed huff and made his decision known.

'I will not leave your side.' The tone was final.

"Oh by the pink hell of barbie dolls! Whatever you want, Milord. Just don't bite or pee on anybody. And, speaking about being territorial, what was your reaction with Hojo kun about? He is a friend, for kami's sake!! I thought you were going to jump him or something!"

'You do not trust him.' He stated, his voice neutral.

"How can you tell? I've known him for a long time." Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

'You pivoted your body not to face him directly and you tensed when he touched your shoulder.' He explained patiently, his ears flicking in annoyance.

"Right. Body language. Okay, I admit, I just don't like the way he is with me." She crouched to have her head on the same level as his, not liking to speak to the once Daiyoukai from above him. It was just unnatural.

The dog relaxed slightly, appreciating the small gesture of truce.

'He lusts after you' He said bluntly.

"I understand you could put it that way, Sesshoumaru, but I've tried to discourage him on a number of occasions. He's been like this since I first fell in the well. It's been a decade now, but he just won't take 'no' for an answer." Her shoulders slumped.

'This Sesshoumaru doesn't like his scent. I have also smelled him near the shrine.' His tone was still cold and uncaring, but he had noticed the mild distress the discussion was causing her.

"Was there one human scent you ever liked, Sesshoumaru?" She quipped.

'Young and innocent females smell... acceptably.' He admitted, but his eyes were hollow now, hooded by ancient memories.

"Oh... You're thinking about Rin, aren't you? I'm sorry." She patted his shoulder gently, and he tensed visibly at the unexpected contact.

'I am not a pet miko, stop assaulting my person this instant.' He growled.

"Hum... Sorry... I know you're not a touchy feely kind of guy, but... You know, I just can't stand to see a friend as sad as you seem to be.

'What makes you think we are friends, girl?' He asked, all anger dissipated by a deep confusion.

"Oh come on!! We have fought side by side for a long time, against the same enemy. You've saved my life on occasions. You even tolerated speaking to me, and you were still the Human-hater-utter-a-single-word-and-I-will-remove-your-tongue-with-a-wooden-spoon. I took you out of that filthy pound, remember?"

He grunted his acceptance. No one could say he was an ungrateful demon.

"So. Why won't you leave me now?" She asked gently. She knew he never did anything without a good reason.

'Your aura.' He told his forepaws cryptically.

"What about it?" She prodded.

'You have the ability to purify the air around you. I can access my power source when you are close, and replenish my youki gradually.'

"You mean... You're regaining your energy just by staying near me?" She was curious now.

'Indeed.' He would not tell her of the soothing effect she had on him. She didn't have to know that.

"Okay. That's a fairly acceptable reason. I have to go into the library, and look at ancient books there. It will take me at least a couple of hours. But if you want to stay with me... You'll have to behave like a real dog. If you're a "good boy", and help me convince the keeper of the compound, she'll let you come with me. You'll have to act... Erm... Cute." She coughed the word, unsure at how the pompous nobility would pull out such a feat.

He started, raised an elegant long furry ear, the canine equivalent of a raised eye brow, and narrowed his golden eyes at her.

She stared at him unblinkingly, unwavering determination marring her features.

"You want to come or not? If you bite Hiroshi san, that just won't do, you know. Consider it as... I don't know... a stratagem to attain your goal?"

He grunted.

'This Sesshoumaru will not stoop so low as to grovel in front of a human woman.' He haughtily stated.

"Just don't bite her hand off if she pats you on the head." She rumbled.


The middle aged woman was looking at him suspiciously.

He tried to look as neutral as possible, but that was all he could do. Going against his own nature by trying to look "innocent" was just not in him, nor was deceit.

So, it was Kagome who was doing the "grovelling" part, claiming he was a "poor soul", abused and abandoned, and that he couldn't stand to be far from her.

He was sitting a few steps behind her, looking at her back to avoid the secretary's curious gaze. Thankfully, she didn't indulge in unnecessary and humiliating gestures of affection and he was allowed to follow the young girl, on the condition he wouldn't degrade the material.

Huffing haughtily at the plump woman's lack of faith in his ability to control his own sphincters, he glided silently through the many bookcases and stunned students. She went directly towards the far back of the room, to a dust smelling corner surrounded by old and crumpled books and parchments.

"This is my haven." She said proudly, caressing a random scroll amorously.

'Hn' He snorted 'And what is it you hope to find in such a place?'

"You never find any mention of onis, youkais or anything else in serious historical material. But in ancient legends you can know if the heroes mentioned are possibly of your kind. A myth always contains some layers of truth. So, I search through ancient myths and legends to know where all the preternatural spirits have gone." She sat in front of a polished table, opening a book at a marked page.

"Well, now I know you would probably provide more information about what happened, but I still have a thesis to write about it, and I can't possibly put what you would tell me in it." She beamed at him, her mood getting better just at the mention of her favourite topic.

'Whatever, human, do what you must.' He settled next to her chair, finding a way to lie down and still look like royalty. His half closed eyes were turned inwards, as he was mulling over his own memories.

An hour later, a girlish squeak jolted him from his dazed state. Rumbling at being caught somewhat off guard, he looked at the irritating blur of bright fushia somersaulting in his direction. His eyes widened a little when the crazed teen attached herself to him, pressing her breasts to his person as if he was a plush toy, nuzzling his fur shamelessly. A furious warning growl escaped his clenched teeth as the girl babbled nonsense in his ears and scraped her blunt chemical smelling nails through the thick mane of his back.

Kagome came to his rescue, pushing away the girl none too gently. She would have soon missed a limb if not for her intervention.

"You would better avoid this kind of thing with my dog, Yukino. He has been abused before, and doesn't appreciate being approached too closely. He might bite you, I would not like to be responsible for an injury that could easily be avoided." Her tone was diplomatic and patient, as if she was speaking to a small child.

She probably was, in a way, he thought ironically. How a mentally challenged pink addicted teenager could have been accepted in such a University was a mystery.

He shared his opinion with Kagome, and she giggled behind her hand.

"Kagome." The scantily dressed youngster huffed haughtily. "How is it that such a cute thing is attached to your worthless desperately flat heels? What's its name? Fluffy?"

Sesshoumaru raised his head and assessed the human female. She was thinking the warrior miko that had killed Naraku and freed him from his filthy hell to be worthless? This was the stupidest thing he had ever heard. On what basis was she reasoning, if it could be called that?

And she was thinking he was named after a vulgar chunk of fur? This was infuriating.

"Yukino. I know that in your dreamland, worth is measured by the number of bed partners you can catch in a single night, but, well, you know, when one male says that you're bright, he doesn't speak about your intelligence. By the way, I won't insult my dog by naming him like I would a small rodent." The miko had spoken in an even tone, but anger was seeping through the link.

'You mean to say, miko, that human males of this city find this creature attractive? Do they not have any sense of aesthetic, or do they just rut blindfolded?' He got up and went to Kagome's side, puffing his broad chest slightly and glaring at the offending young woman.

The young and pure miko blushed, and then snickered evilly.

"What are you laughing at Higurashi? Dear Hojo will soon see how dull and crazy you are, and then you'll have no friends left. Just stay in the dirt where you belong, you penniless tramp. What did you do to enter here? I hope the director didn't creak while you and he..."

She never finished her sentence as an irate white hell hound hovered over her now prone form.

He was growling menacingly at her terrorised face, baring his sharp fangs, his eyes gleaming with deadly intent. Kagome waited a few seconds in delight, thinking her day had taken a good turn suddenly. Then, she decided the wench had had enough.

"Sesshoumaru." She said, incapable of making her voice sound disapproving.

The dog, still rumbling threateningly, stepped slowly away from her, and she jumped to her feet with a squeak.

"You... You're going to pay for that you witch!" She squealed indignantly, and fled as quickly as her ten centimetre heels could carry her.

Kagome let her grateful and relieved feelings leak through the golden thread between them, but she seemed worried too.

'What ails you miko?' He asked almost softly.

"This woman is a twit, but she has high connections in this college. I might get thrown out for what happened today. But, honestly, even if I have to interrupt my studies, it would have been worth it. And anyway, I don't really need to stay here, because you'll tell me what I want to know, and your presence is much more bearable than hers." She spat the last word, and he understood she had dealt with the sickly clothed female more than once.

'Kagome. I understand better now how you could have put up with Inuyasha. He was never that infuriating. If she comes near my person again, I will melt her lack of decent clothing with my poison so that she stops offending my sight.' He groaned and blinked slowly as if his eyes were hurting him.

The young woman giggled happily and decided she had had enough. She missed the blue sky and the wind too much, and she was starting to be hungry. Lunch and a nap under the trees sounded just perfect, and all thoughts about what had just occurred fled from her mind as she sauntered towards the exit, followed gracefully by her silent companion.


TBC...

please review!!

Dewa mata