It was six years since Inu-Yasha had come to live with the Higurashi family, and despite the coming of maturity, not much had changed. Inu-Yasha and Kagome were still the closest of friends, despite the fact that Inu-Yasha hadn't been able to regain his proper hanyou body. They, along with Koga, Sango, and Miroku, had searched the majority of Japan for someone able to reverse the spell cast on the hanyou, but it was to no avail. They had talked to demons and humans alike, but so far they hadn't had any luck. Inu-Yasha still hadn't regained any of his past memories, but he was quite happy with his life with the Higurashi family. He had eagerly come to think of Kagome's mother as his own, though Ji-Chan still hated him, and had been put in an old-folks home after attempting, and failing miserably, to seal Inu-Yasha under a bed with a sutra five years back.
x
After their first meeting, Sango and Miroku became very close friends to Kagome, Inu-Yasha and Koga. At school, Koga had somehow gained popularity, seeing as he was the okami prince, though he tried to hide from it as often as possible despite how proud his surrogate mother and father were of him.
x
Kagome, however, was still called a freak, but as soon as Inu-Yasha had come into her life, she had stopped paying any heed to other students. Inu-Yasha's words had struck a chord with her at a young age: she loved demons and would never hurt them; she shouldn't be ashamed of her powers. Others were not so accepting, though. As the murders of youkai still continued sporadically over the years, even Miroku had stopped using his powers openly. Now, at the age of fifteen-and-a-half, the miko girl behaved more like an okami youkai, like her cousin, than anything else. Her mother was proud of her for that, and for increasing her miko skills to a level in which she could create small barriers despite public discouragement.
x
School, for Inu-Yasha though, was quite easy. Due to his inability to write, he didn't have to take tests other than oral ones, and studying with his friends was a breeze.
In grade six, he and Kagome had had a teacher, a moth youkai named Miss Suri, who had adored Inu-Yasha as soon as he set paw into her classroom, and since some of the other teachers were a little unfair to him, Miss Suri had always made sure that, no matter what grade he was in, she would always be teaching one of Inu-Yasha's classes. She had even completed a successful petition to have special desks made for any quadruped students, using Inu-Yasha as an excuse to get a movement started. This had actually spurred more enrolment from a few more demons whom appeared much more animal than human.
xXxXxXx
It had been six years, and Inu-Yasha was still a dog, but that didn't much matter to him. At the moment, all that mattered was Kagome. Ever since he was fourteen, Inu-Yasha had been having slightly more romantic feelings for Kagome, but now, the hanyou was hardly able to get his best friend out of his head. At all.
x
Previous to turning sixteen, he had always been reluctant to leave Kagome's side, because of bullying and whatnot, but now, it was all but impossible. He knew that Kagome could fight; in fact, he and Koga had taught her how when she was nine. Still, he hated the feeling of being away from her, though he couldn't figure out why.
x
Koga had told him it must be some dog instinct-type thing, but Inu-Yasha wasn't so sure. Koga had also said that sometimes, he had that feeling too; it was called love.
Inu-Yasha had laughed at this. Well, of course he loved Kagome, he had replied, how could he not? She had housed him, fed him, cuddled him when he was down, been there for him through thick and thin. She had even let him sleep in her bed. For six years! No shit he loved her. After that, Koga had shaken his head and began to laugh. Inu-Yasha had merely looked confused and asked him what the hell was so funny.
"No… You don't understand," Koga had said through a snicker, "You don't just love Kagome. You're in love with her, dude."
"In love?" he had replied, "Definition please."
Koga had sighed smiled at the clueless hanyou.
"In love… is when you feel something special for one person alone. Something very special, right here."
Koga put his hand over his heart.
"It's when… you… feel like you can't go on without that one special someone; you feel like you'd go crazy if they ever decided they didn't like you anymore, you know? Do you feel that about Kagome?"
Inu-Yasha had stared into Koga's eyes for a moment, thinking.
"You mean… it's like your heart hurts every time that special person leaves your side?" he had inquired.
Koga nodded.
"It's also the feeling you get when you wanna ask a girl to be your mate," he said.
"Then… I think you're right," the hanyou had replied, "I… am in love with Kagome."
Koga had beamed at him and laughed again, thumping the large dog on the back.
"That 'a boy!" he said, "First thing is to identify the thing. Now all you gotta do is find out how she feels about you, and then tell her!"
x
It had turned out, that the finding out how Kagome felt about him was surprisingly easy. All he had to do was "read" her scent when he was around her. It was obvious that she felt the same way about him as he did about her. Now all Inu-Yasha had to do was tell her. And that was what turned out to be the hard part.
xXxXxXx
It had been almost a week since Inu-Yasha's conversation with Koga. And he still hadn't said a word about his feelings to Kagome. It was getting harder and harder to speak to the girl without stumbling over his words and blushing deeply under his fur. He couldn't go on like this. The hanyou was laying outside the house, under a tree, trying to puzzle out his thoughts and his feelings, his head laying on his paws. What was he supposed to do? He was a hanyou trapped in a dog's body, and he was in love with a miko girl. Not only would it be weird for them, because at the moment they were very different species, but what if he never regained his true body? He couldn't really be with her until he was truly a hanyou again.
x
He sighed. Everything was so confusing. He wanted to tell her more than anything, but the two of them were equally hard-headed, and equally shy about speaking about their feelings. He knew that since she had nearly no way of being sure of how he felt, she wouldn't say a word until he did. Inu-Yasha growled under his breath, his ears folding backwards against his skull. He couldn't take it anymore.
"That's it, I'm tellin' her…" he mumbled to himself.
He stood and shook his silvery fur, and then trotted into the house through the huge dog door that had been installed for him. The door was actually big enough to fit a sixteen-year-old boy who was walking around on his hands and knees. That was approximately the size Inu-Yasha was anyhow.
x
He sniffed as he entered the house, scenting out Kagome. She was in her room. Their room. Inu-Yasha's tail wagged a little at the prospect of just being near to her, so he carefully padded through the house.
"Inu-Yasha, is that you?" came the voice of Kagome's mother.
"Hai," Inu-Yasha replied.
He knew that Kagome's mother, whom he had also come to call Mom, couldn't understand a word that he said. In fact, everything he said came out as a series of yips, barks, and growls to anyone who couldn't understand him, but he knew she would recognize his bark. It still puzzled him as to why certain humans, like Kagome, Miroku, and Sango, were able to understand him, and others weren't. Yui poked her head out of the kitchen and smiled at him.
"Would you like a snack?" she asked.
Inu-Yasha smiled gratefully, but shook his head politely and continued down the hall. He quickly scaled the stairs to Kagome's room. Her door was left slightly ajar, and he nosed his way into the room cautiously.
x
"Kag? Is it okay if I come in?" he asked.
Kagome was lying on her stomach within the messed-up blankets on her bed, reading what seemed to be a Star Wars novel. She smiled at him as he entered.
"No duh, Inu-Yasha, this is your room too," she said.
The hanyou smiled and padded over to the bedside, and then leapt into the sheets beside Kagome and lay beside her. She smirked at him and began to gently caress his ears with one hand. He couldn't help a small, contented growl and he leaned into Kagome, nuzzling her neck lovingly. She giggled.
"Affectionate today, ain't ya?" she asked.
"Sorry, does it bother you?" he asked embarrassedly.
"No way," Kagome replied.
The girl nuzzled into his neck fur, and then hugged him tightly.
"It doesn't ever bother me, you lunatic," she said.
Inu-Yasha locked his amber eyes on Kagome's hazel ones. They were sparkling with warmth and affection that made the boy just want to melt into her arms.
"Kagome… um…" he mumbled quietly.
"Yeah?" she said, "What's up, puppy-dog?"
"Ano…" Inu-Yasha said, "Eh…"
Kagome adjusted herself so that she was looking directly into those shimmering pools of molten gold he called eyes and smiled.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Kagome… I…" he started, but then his throat tightened and he couldn't make the words come out.
He was puzzled by this. Was it because of his nervousness? He gulped it back, licked his lips, and then tried again.
"Kagome," he sighed, "I… gotta tell you something…"
"Yeah?" she replied.
"It's really important. Do you promise not to laugh?"
Kagome gave him her warmest smile and cupped his cheek.
"Of course I do," she said, "But I have to tell you something too."
"You do?" Inu-Yasha inquired, "Well… You first then."
Kagome shook her head.
"Nah, you go."
"No, it's okay. You first."
"No, you."
"You."
"You."
"You!"
"You!"
"You, or I'll put my tail on your face while your asleep!"
"You, or I'm not making you omelette anymore!"
The two unannounced lovers glowered at each other with identical, unrelenting frowns, before both gave in to small smiles.
"Okay… How about at the same time?" she asked.
"Works for me… But you'll still make me omelette, right?"
Kagome sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Of course," she laughed, "Now… One…"
"Two…"
"Three!"
"I love you!"
x
The cry was simultaneous, and they stared into each other's eyes, the smile on Kagome`s face growing, and Inu-Yasha's tail beginning to wag.
"You do?" Kagome asked hopefully.
Inu-Yasha nodded and smiled.
"You…?"
She gave him a nod as well, and he began to beam.
"YES!" he howled victoriously, "TRIUMPH!"
With a laugh, he pounced on Kagome and licked her face, his tail thrashing furiously.
Kagome giggled, and to his surprise, grabbed his snout and gave him a kiss on the tip of his wet, black nose. He gave a sighed of pleasure and collapsed, rolling off her to lie by her side.
"I wanted to tell you for so long…" he chuckled, "I feel so much better now."
Kagome nodded in agreement.
"I wanted to tell you too," she replied, "And… I do feel better."
She took Inu-Yasha's large paw in her hand and laid it over her heart.
"It sort of hurt every time we were apart," she confessed.
"Really?" Inu-Yasha inquired, his eyes widening, "For me too."
Kagome smiled at him and sighed happily, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face into his fur.
"I think I've been in love with you ever since I met you," she giggled.
Inu-Yasha smiled and gave a huff as an agreement.
"Ah, puppy love," he chuckled, "Ah... bad joke… But… Kagome?"
Kagome looked up at his from his fur and blinked inquisitively.
"Hai?" she replied.
"W… Will you…" he stammered shyly, "When we get older and stuff… and I get this spell off of me… Will you be my mate Kagome?"
He stared into her eyes, his wide and sparkling with so much hope that it was impossible for Kagome to stop smiling.
"Duh," she laughed, "Of course I will."
She ruffled his ears.
"I'd absolutely love to."
Inu-Yasha's smile grew, if that was even possible, and he blew out a long sigh of happiness and relief before bursting into a giggling fit. He shoved his snout against the crook of her neck, mumbling "Thank you," over and over again.
"Oh god, Kagome, you're amazing," he whispered, "Thank you so much."
"It's my pleasure," Kagome chuckled.
She gave him a kiss on the forehead and stroked her fingers through his fur.
"You big puppy," she said.
Inu-Yasha smiled at her and sighed happily.
I'm in heaven… he thought, but his grin fell slowly, and Kagome gave him a puzzled frown.
"Hey, what's wrong?" she asked.
"Are you sure… that this won't be too weird for you? With me being a dog and all?" he asked, "I mean... you'll... wait for me right?"
Kagome tilted her head at his comment, and then began to laugh.
"Of course, why would you even ask?" Kagome replied, "But I'll wait as long as it takes."
She cupped his face and gave him a wide smile.
"Right?" she repeated.
Inu-Yasha grinned and leaned against her hand, thoroughly enjoying the feeling of her fingers running through his fur.
"Right. Thanks," he said.
He sighed.
"I feel so lucky," he whispered, "But Kagome… do you really think it could work out?"
"Sure I do," she replied, "I know we've looked, but I bet we can find someone who's powerful enough to reverse the spell."
Inu-Yasha smiled and wagged his tail, giving Kagome a lick on the cheek. She sat up, as did he, and he wrapped his forelimbs around her shoulders in the closest thing to an embrace that he could give her. Inu-Yasha snorted, though his face was burning with a blush under his fur, and he laid his chin on Kagome's shoulder.
"You… You really love me…" he whispered, shaking his head with disbelief, "Wow…"
"'Course I do," she said, "You're my best friend, my constant companion, and the sweetest guy I know; the guy who comforts me when I'm down and always cheers me up, and…"
She drew back slightly and beamed at him.
"How could I not?" She asked as she nuzzled into his fur again.
Inu-Yasha sat back on his haunches again, his back beginning to strain a little with a slightly unnatural position, and Kagome grinned into his face.
"And, I'll be the only girl in school who can say she's dating her dog," she joked, ruffling his ears.
Inu-Yasha laughed loudly but then shook his head.
"That's weird," he replied.
"Haaa, yeah," Kagome agreed, "I won't say that. But still."
Kagome laughed and shook her head, and gave his ears a gentle tweak, and they perked.
"Oh," he said suddenly, "I almost forgot!"
x
He leapt off the bed and couched, sticking his head under Kagome's dresser.
"What are you doing?" she inquired.
Inu-Yasha snorted as a reply, and then pulled his head out again, a small, white box clutched in his mouth.
He walked back over to her and wagged his tail, giving a small grunt to get her to take it.
Kagome slowly took the box from him and examined it before looking to him in surprise.
"Got you a little something," he said proudly.
"How?" Kagome inquired.
"I kept a money stash in the well house," he admitted, "I saved up, you know, finding stuff, and your mom gave me money every time I did a tour around the shrine for guests, and got Koga to go into a store to get it for you."
Kagome blinked with surprise and Inu-Yasha nosed at the box to get her to open it. She nodded and opened the box to find the inside lined with velvet, and a silver ring positioned inside.
"I hope you like it," Inu-Yasha said.
Kagome merely stared in awe at the ring and took it out to examine it. It was a plain silver band, other than a red stone imbedded into it.
"Like it?" Kagome whispered, and then she smiled, "I love it Inu-Yasha. Thanks so much."
She slipped it on her ring finger, and Inu-Yasha beamed and wagged his tail madly.
"I… was gonna give it to you for you birthday," he said, "But I thought now would be better."
He tilted his head, his smile growing.
"Just consider it an "I'm so glad that you're in love with me" present."
Kagome giggled and hugged him around the neck again.
"Thank you!" she said, "You're so amazing! …Aw… But I didn't get you anything…"
She stared at him guiltily, but he gave her a reassuring smile and ruffled her hair with his paw.
"That's okay," he said, "And um… Kagome? You'll be my girlfriend then, right?"
Kagome blinked at Inu-Yasha in surprise before bursting into laughter, nodding quickly.
x
Then, they both heard the phone ring, and heard Kagome's mother answer it. After a brief conversation, there was a click as the phone was hung up.
"Kagome?" she called, "Can you set Koga's room up? He's coming over and he's going to be staying for a while."
"Sure!" Kagome replied.
Inu-Yasha looked up at her.
"Want help?" he inquired.
"Nah, but thanks," Kagome said, "You go watch some T.V. or something."
Inu-Yasha nodded and padded down the stairs as Kagome went into the guest room to set it up for her cousin.
x
The hanyou, meanwhile, walked into the living room to find Kagome's mother sitting on the couch, watching a weekend soap opera.
"Inu-Yasha," she said with a smile, "Dear, come sit with me."
She patted the spot beside her, and Inu-Yasha gratefully obliged, hopping onto the couch.
"Having a good day?" she asked.
Inu-Yasha smiled and nodded.
He and Yui had a sort of system; she would only ask him yes or no questions and he would respond by either nodding or shaking his head.
"That's good," she said.
Inu-Yasha nodded again, and then stretched slightly and lay down, his body half curled on his portion of the couch. Yui smiled at him and rested her hand on his head, gently scratching his ears.
"This show is written horribly," she chuckled, "Wouldn't you agree?"
Inu-Yasha laughed and nodded full-heartedly.
"Absolutely awful," he said.
"Hmm… I wonder if Melissa is going to figure out her boyfriend is a convict on the run this week?" she mused, "Or maybe Joey will realize Marvin's been stealing his stuff."
Inu-Yasha laughed and shook his head.
"Damned American T.V. shows," he said, "They should just keep them over there."
"If I knew what you had just said son, I would agree with you completely," Yui said.
Inu-Yasha smiled at her and patted her leg with his paw.
"Personally, I hope a rogue moth demon jumps in through the window demanding souls and eats half of them," Kagome said as she bounded down the stairs and into the room.
"Kagome," her mother said disapprovingly.
"What? It happened on a battle re-enactment last week," she said defensively, "Funny stuff."
"Ahah, I remember that," Inu-Yasha chuckled, "That was awesome. Except, why didn't they just get a moth demon to play the moth demon, instead of having a guy in a Mothra costume?"
Kagome just laughed and shook her head.
"Okay, shove your head Yasha, I want to watch the bad show too," Kagome said.
"Pfft, fine," he replied with mock irritation.
He leaned back a bit, allowing Kagome to lift up his front half to give herself room on the couch and, quickly, she kissed him on the nose. He let out a woof of surprise and Yui looked at them, surprised as well.
"I wasn't aware you two were kissing now," Kagome's mother laughed.
Kagome blushed slightly and shrugged.
"I think… Well…" she said slowly.
"Are you two finally going out?" Yui inquired.
Inu-Yasha looked up at the blushing Kagome, and they both nodded. Yui's face lit up and she beamed widely.
"Wonderful! Oh, wait until your aunt and uncle hear! They'll be so happy for you! And Koga too, and Sango and Miroku and Ginta and Hakkaku, but I won't tell Ji-Chan… He might try to assassinate you, Yasha… Um… Oh, now I have to make red rice for you two… Hold on, or… Maybe a cake? What do you think?"
Kagome and Inu-Yasha stared at the rambling woman in shock.
"You've had this planned for a while, haven't you?" Kagome accused.
"Of course dear!" she chuckled, "It was obvious that you and Inu-Yasha would be together! Now… Do you want the traditional stuff, or just a cake?"
"Vanilla cake," Kagome said, "It's easiest. No chocolate though."
"Right, Inu-Yasha can't eat chocolate until he gets his body back… Okay…"
Still muttering dinner plans to herself, Kagome's mother tapped her chin and walked into the kitchen. Inu-Yasha looked up at Kagome and grinned.
"She's taking this well," he said.
"Why wouldn't she?" Kagome laughed, "Remember when she tried to set us up under the mistletoe on your birthday last year? After Christmas?"
"She did?" Inu-Yasha laughed, "Oh shit. I totally missed that."
Kagome laughed in agreement, and then heard a knock at the door.
x
"Yo? Anyone home?" Koga called.
"Hey Koga, come in!" Kagome replied.
Koga was in the room in seconds.
"Watching soaps, eh?" he laughed.
He had a backpack over his shoulder and a large travelling bag in the other.
"Yeah, they suck so much that it's funny," Inu-Yasha said, "What's up with the bags? Going some where?"
"Yeah; upstairs," Koga chuckled, "I'm going to be staying here for a while."
"How long?" Kagome inquired.
Koga gave a slight shrug and lowered his belongings onto the ground.
"I dunno, two, maybe three… years…"
"Years?" Kagome asked, startled.
"Yeah, Mom and Dad are going out of the country for quite a while on business. I decided to stay," Koga replied, "You know, finish highschool without having to learn German, that sort of thing."
"Cool," Inu-Yasha replied, "You can help us deal with Yui's cakes then…"
"Oh…" Koga said, his eyes widening, "So… Are you two…?"
He pointed between Inu-Yasha and Kagome, and Kagome smiled and nodded, so Koga beamed.
"You dog!" he said, leaping onto the back of the couch and thumping Inu-Yasha's back, "I mean… Wow! You guys!"
He laughed, hugged Kagome, and ruffled Inu-Yasha's ears.
"Props guys," he laughed, offering them both his fist.
Kagome giggled and lightly punched it and Inu-Yasha slapped it with his paw.
"And you even gave her the ring, Yasha," Koga said, "Sweet."
He slid onto the couch where Yui had been previously.
"Ooh… "The Young and The Restless, season whatever"… Heh, cool. I hate this show; let's watch."
xXxXxXx
Dinner was eventful, to say the least. Yui had decided to make the traditional red rice for Inu-Yasha and Kagome anyway, while she and Koga ate domburi instead. Koga told the story of how Ginta and Hakkaku, two other okami youkai who constantly addressed him as "Prince", had tired to set him up with another youkai named Ayame… But Koga was terrified of her. Yui looked a bit disappointed, probably because she would be glad to make the red rice again for her nephew and any girlfriend he might get. Meanwhile, Inu-Yasha and Kagome, who had heard the story already, were trying not to laugh.
x
Koga's parents, as well, had been in stitches during the story. His mother, Yui's sister, was of course, a human, while her husband was a bat youkai. Koga had been adopted as a week-old pup after his parents' deaths. His parents had been close friends of the Higurashi family, and their deaths had been a huge shock. Yui's sister, Taka, had readily adopted Koga as her own son. Koga knew little of his parents' deaths, other than that they had been murdered, most likely by an infamous "Youkai-Hunter".
xXxXxXx
After dinner, the vanilla cake was served, and then the family sat down to watch Star Wars Episode 4, as per Kagome's choice, but the DVD was scratched and skipped every few seconds.
"That's it," Kagome grumbled, standing from her perch on the arm of the couch, "I'm going out to rent the dang thing? Anyone wanna come?"
"I will," Inu-Yasha automatically volunteered.
Kagome looked to Koga, expecting an automatic response from his as well, but found that he was snoozing, cosily cuddled in a quilt as he sat up against the side of the couch. She giggled behind her hand and gestured for Inu-Yasha to follow her. Kagome picked up her wallet from a small table near the door and put it in her pocket before heading out the door, Inu-Yasha at her side.
x
They walked down the street in a comfortable silence, Inu-Yasha leaning comfortably against Kagome's thigh.
"So…" she said slowly.
"So…" Inu-Yasha agreed, "…Hey, you wanna go through the park?"
"Park?" Kagome repeated, and then shrugged, "Sure, sounds fun."
Inu-Yasha grinned and wagged his tail, and then snorted as a bit of dust went up his nose and he shook his fur, rattling the deadened rosary adorning his neck.
"Bah… Damned dirt," he grumbled.
Kagome chuckled and ruffled his ears.
"You'll live," she chuckled.
x
The park wasn't far, and they arrived there quickly. It was a large fenced in area, with grass and rolling hills, along with scattered trees and a small forested area. Since it was sunset, there were very few people outside, save for two or three, walking or playing with their dogs. As soon as they entered the park however, a tennis ball landed at Inu-Yasha's paws. He looked down at it and tilted his head, batting at it gently with his paw as Kagome giggled at him. Then, another dog, a German Shepard a little smaller than himself, trotted up.
"Hey," she said cheerfully to Inu-Yasha, wagging her tail, "Wanna pass it back?"
"Oh… sure…" he replied.
He nosed the ball to the Shepard dog and she smiled appreciatively, and then gave him a sniff.
"Hey, you wanna play?" she said cheerfully, "I have a ball, do you want to?"
"Sorry, I'm on a walk," he explained simply.
The Shepherd wagged her tail at the word and hopped her front feet up and down.
"Exciting!" she said, "Where are you going? This place is nice, I like it here. My guy brings me here a lot."
"Yeah," Inu-Yasha agreed, and before he could answer her question, she ran about in a circle and dashed off.
"Right, see ya!" she said cheerfully, and then picked up the tennis ball and loped back to where "her guy" was waiting. Kagome laughed as Inu-Yasha looked a bit flustered.
"She was young," Kagome said, patting his head.
"Excitable," Inu-Yasha agreed with a nod, "I'm glad I never went through the tennis ball and walkies phase."
Kagome laughed and put her hands in her pockets before starting to walk again, and the hanyou followed a little lazily. She noticed Inu-Yasha getting some glances of what what almost admiration from other people walking their dogs. Kagome turned her gaze on him a little curiously. Truth be told, she never really saw him as a dog. She saw him simply as "Inu-Yasha", but when she tried to force that away for just a moment, he really was a very impressive dog. He was huge, over three feet tall at the head and his fur was a shining silver that barely ever seemed to get dirty. His chest puffed out proudly and he always walked with his tail aloft in confidence. She smiled at him fondly and they continued through the park. Near the opposite exit, there were some rolling hills and a path above them. The two headed there, towards their destination.
x
As they approached, however, there was the sound of bike tires on the grass, and some familiar scents blowing on the wind. Familiar, but not at all welcome. Inu-Yasha's lip curled in a snarl.
"Heads up, Kag," he growled, "Creepers to your right."
Kagome nodded and looked where the hanyou had indicated. Upon the hill beside them,sure enough, four forms on bikes appeared at the top. Kagome knew them; not by name, but by deeds. One was a scrawny human with bleached blond hair, and was clearly a subordinate. Another was a large, green skinned bull youkai, while yet another was some sort of toad. The ringleader was another human with short, spiked up dark hair and an extremely arrogant and cocky smile. Those four were in her grade, and had picked on her for years. She and any of her friends who were near enough had already gotten into of plenty of fistfights with them.
"Hey, look what we got here," the ringleader called, "The Wolf-Bitch and her pet. Aw."
They made Inu-Yasha's fur bristle angrily, but he held in a snarl at a sign from Kagome. She'd handle it as long as it was just insults. If it got serious, then it was his turn.
Besides, they couldn't understand him anyhow
"Wolf-Bitch?" Kagome called back, "Yeah, that's real original. How about you get some new material? You've been saying that one for years."
"Ooh, snippy girl," the bull snorted.
"You can bet your freaky-ass nose ring," Kagome said.
She winked at the youkai. The bull snorted and clapped a hand over his snout while Kagome smirked.
"Hey, they say the classics are the best," the human continued, "So Wolf-Bitch, what 'cha doin' out here so late, eh?"
"You call this late?" she asked, "It's not even eight yet… What, your mommies put you to bed at six usually? Or… can you just not tell time?"
The human's cocky smirk spread on his face and he rode his bike down the hill, skidding to a stop in front of them. Inu-Yasha held back another snarl, though all the fur on the back of neck was standing on edge and his ears were pressed to his skull. Kagome frowned and cupped her chin, darting forward and peering into her opponent's face.
"So it's true…" she muttered.
"What?" the boy asked a little dumbly.
"You're a lot uglier close up," she said as she stepped back, and then smiled and shrugged, "Now step aside."
"Nah ah," he said, wagging a finger at her, "Where're you going, Wolf-Bitch?"
"I swear, if he says, "Wolf-Bitch" one more time…" Inu-Yasha snarled, but Kagome gently fondled one of his ears to keep him at least partially calm.
"If you have to know…" Kagome said, rolling her eyes, "To your mom's."
There was a chorus of "oooh" from the boys up the hill and their leader shot them a glare to silence them as Kagome shouldered past the boy blocking her way, though he grabbed jacket quickly.
x
Immediately, Inu-Yasha let out a loud and aggressive bark. Standing on his hind legs, he pushed Kagome out of the way so that he was nose to nose with the human, baring his fangs and blowing dog breath into his face. The boy was shocked, though tried not to show it, as Inu-Yasha forced his eyes to flicker with the red of his full youkai blood inside his dog body.
"Now you listen, and you listen good," he growled out.
The bully was shocked. He could suddenly hear Inu-Yasha's words, as could the others on the hill. The hanyou had a way of doing that when he was angry. Ever since the odd transformation when he was ten, Kagome had researched it, and determined that it was his full youkai blood surfacing. In his dog form, Inu-Yasha had found that he could harness his anger and transform himself, and when he did, nearly everyone could hear him.
x
"You listening, ass-wipe?" Inu-Yasha inquired at a hiss, "Cuz I ain't saying it again. Her name's KAGOME and don't you dare lay your filthy hands on her, got it? I may be stuck as a dog, but she's my girl, and I'll be damned if I'm gonna let a snot-nosed little human like you and your clique of illiterate morons touch her."
The human before him gawked in shock, but slowly, his arrogant smirk appeared again, and he laughed.
"Ah, nice trick Wolf-Bitch," he chuckled, looking over Inu-Yasha's shoulder at Kagome, "What, you got a speaker on your dog or something?"
He squirmed slightly under Inu-Yasha's crimson gaze, and tried to push him down, but Inu-Yasha was much too strong.
"You weren't listening," he growled, lowering himself slowly, "Now you're gonna pay…"
"Inu-Yasha, don't kill the poor boy," Kagome joked.
Inu-Yasha snorted out a quiet laugh as his aura grew into a demonic, bristling wind about him, buffeting his fur and making him appear a full three times larger than his normal size. The human turned to gawking again as Inu-Yasha took a step towards him, his paw step and energy seeming to quake the earth.
"Don't worry boss!" came the gruff grunt of the bull youkai, "I'll save ya!"
The bull and toad were off their bikes now, and they rushed down the hill. The bull attempted to jump on Inu-Yasha, but a flick of the dog-boy's massive tail sent him flying.
The toad, meanwhile, took a different rout. He tackled Kagome.
x
Kagome fell with a grunt as the toad leapt at her and pinioned her in the dirt.
"Mmm…Delectable," he laughed in a nasally voice, running his long, amphibian tongue along Kagome's cheek, "What will you do, hmm? Purify me? Prove everyone right?"
"Gross!" she yelped, grabbing the toad's long face and shoving him upwards.
"Hey, ow!" he whined as her finger went into his eye.
In an instant, however, Inu-Yasha's jaws closed around the body of the toad and he flung his head back, tossing the youkai into the air with ease. The demon screamed and plopped to the ground as Inu-Yasha whirled to Kagome, his red eyes wide with worry. Kagome, panting, sat up on her knees and brushed the dirt off her face.
"Are you okay?" Inu-Yasha asked gently.
He touched his nose to Kagome's saliva-violated cheek and tenderly nuzzled her. She giggled despite herself and nodded.
"Fine," she said, "I'm fine."
Inu-Yasha nodded his approval and turned, growling menacingly at the four boys. The one who hadn't said a thing "eeped", as did the toad, and they rushed back to their bikes and sped away over the hill. The bull righted himself from where he had been tossed, shook his head, and staggered towards his terrified and baffled looking boss.
"This… This isn't over," the human growled.
Inu-Yasha gave a deep bark that caused both of his opponents to jump, and then race away, the bull forgetting his bike all together. Kagome giggled and Inu-Yasha blew out a sigh of relief, the red in his eyes fading to amber and he shrank down to his normal size.
"You gotta stop doing that," Kagome chided jokingly, "Third time this month."
"Well, what d'you want me to do?" he asked, "It's funny making 'em squeal like whelps."
"Oh, my hero," Kagome laughed, and squatted so that she was his height.
She gently held his snout and gave him a kiss on the end of his nose. Inu-Yasha's eyes closed contentedly and he wagged his tail.
"You're welcome," he chuckled.
xXxXxXx
Soon, their over-extended excursion through the park was ended as they came back to the street. Kagome yawned behind her hand, but then suddenly jolted.
"Oh no…" she muttered.
She felt in her pockets, and then looked around on the ground.
"What?" Inu-Yasha inquired.
Kagome looked at him with large, worried eyes.
"Your ring… I can't find it," she said, "I… It must've got knocked off when that demon tackled me…"
Inu-Yasha frowned, but then his left ear perked and he grinned.
"That's okay; you go get the movie, and I'll go back and look for it," he said, "We'll meet back at the spot in the park, okay?"
"Okay…" Kagome said, and then rubbed her brow, "I'm sorry."
"Forget it," Inu-Yasha assured her, "I'll see ya."
With that, he turned on his haunches and sniffed carefully along the ground, retracing their steps exactly. Kagome watched him and sighed sadly.
"Poor thing…" she whispered, and then shoved her hands in her pockets, walking off down the street to the video store.